Terrifying Prices

Although this was the residential area for new students, it was still divided into different ranks, with the divisions naturally arranged outward from the center of the spirit array.

The Fourth Grade Spirit Gathering Array covered an enormous area. The closer one was to the center of the grand array, the denser the spiritual energy became.

From Mentor Qiu Zongsheng, they learned that the new students' residential area was divided into Grade A, B, C. Liu Bai and the others could only live in the outermost Grade C Area for free.

Of course, being within the Fourth Grade Spirit Gathering Array, even the spiritual energy at its edges was far stronger than that of their former spiritual academies. As for living in better areas, they could only rely on Spirit Value...

"A Grade A Room requires two thousand Spirit Value per month, while Grade B costs one thousand Spirit Value." Qiu Zongsheng smiled as he spoke to them.

All the new students were dumbfounded...

This worked too? They even had to pay rent?

Even Liu Bai, who had mentally prepared himself, was speechless. In his previous life, he had spent every day struggling over housing. He had not expected that even after transmigrating, he still could not escape such things.

"Little fellows, Spirit Value is very important in the Northern Azure Spirit Academy..."

Qiu Zongsheng explained, "This is actually a way to encourage cultivation. Our Northern Azure Spirit Academy has over a hundred Fourth Grade Spirit Gathering Arrays, over sixty Level Five Spirit Gathering Arrays, twenty Level Six Spirit Gathering Arrays, ten Seventh-grade Spirit Gathering Arrays, and one—and only one—Eighth-grade Spirit Gathering Array!"

Hiss.

This time, even some worldly new students could not help sucking in a breath. They were truly shocked. So many high-grade Spirit Gathering Arrays—it was terrifying.

Liu Bai was also deeply shaken. From what he knew of spirit arrays, there were nine grades of spirit arrays circulating throughout the Great Thousand World. Grades one through five were considered ordinary spirit arrays, corresponding only to those below the Supreme Realm.

At the sixth grade, however, spirit arrays underwent a transformation. The power of a Sixth Grade Spirit Array could exceed that of a fifth-grade one by more than a hundred times. Such a terrifying gap was absolutely impossible among the preceding grades.

Of course, Sixth Grade Spirit Arrays were generally called Human Grade Grand Arrays, and only a Spirit Array Master could set one up.

By the same logic, Seventh Grade Spirit Arrays were called Earth Grade Grand Arrays, Eighth-grade Spirit Arrays were called Heaven Tier Grand Arrays, and each grade of grand array was further divided into low, mid, and high tiers according to power.

As for Ninth-grade Spirit Arrays, they were also known as Grandmaster Spirit Arrays!

Only those who had reached the level of Spirit Array Grandmaster could possibly master such terrifying grand arrays, and their power could even rival Earthly Sovereign experts!

In the current Great Thousand World, this was the common classification of spirit arrays. After all, in this boundless world, people could count the Spirit Array Grandmasters they had seen on one hand, much less those above them.

Only because Liu Bai was a transmigrator and knew the original plot well did he know that above Spirit Array Grandmasters were Great Grandmasters, and naturally, Grandmaster Spirit Arrays...

Spirit arrays of that level could form a world of their own, transcending the mundane. In Liu Bai's memories, throughout the entire Great Thousand World, the only person shown capable of controlling such an array was Mu Chen's mother, Qing Yan Jing.

That did not mean Qing Yan Jing was the only Spirit Array Great Grandmaster in the Great Thousand World, but it was enough to show just how rare they were.

"Among these spirit arrays, only the Fourth Grade Spirit Gathering Array can be entered for free cultivation. To enter the other Spirit Gathering Arrays, you must pay Spirit Value. I heard that a single day in a Seventh-grade Spirit Gathering Array costs five thousand Spirit Value."

Bang!

Everyone was once again completely floored. They finally understood what Spirit Value meant within the Northern Azure Spirit Academy. Here, without Spirit Value, one could barely take a single step.

Liu Bai scratched his head. Compared to everyone else's dilemma, his choice was actually easy.

No matter how much Spirit Value he had right now, it would not be enough. Moreover, he did not especially need a spirit array to improve his strength. Thus, his first thought was not to spend even more Spirit Value cultivating in higher-grade Spirit Gathering Arrays, but to exchange for the items he needed as soon as possible.

Although Qiu Zongsheng was a mentor, he was kind and not as cold and distant as the other mentors. He was also very responsible toward his duties.

Seeing the many new students already frowning in distress, he could not help speaking again. "Actually, you need not worry. You still have the easiest way to obtain Spirit Value...

Every month, you only need to pour your strongest spiritual energy into your Spirit Value Token. If your strength has improved over that month, you will automatically receive varying amounts of Spirit Value as a reward. In addition, every time you make a breakthrough, you can likewise receive a reward. Therefore, cultivating diligently is the best path forward."

"Of course, if you want to earn it faster, you can go to the Thunder Domain. It is an extremely popular place in our Northern Azure Spirit Academy."

Following Qiu Zongsheng's introduction, everyone looked over and could see that the sky in that direction seemed somewhat darker. Space faintly twisted there, and lightning flickered.

"The Thunder Domain is a cultivation ground opened by the Northern Azure Spirit Academy. It contains endless heavenly lightning. Such heavenly lightning can temper spiritual energy while also strengthening the body. Any student who has reached the Divine Soul Realm may enter. While cultivating, they can also condense the heavenly lightning into Heavenly Thunder Beads. These are extremely popular in the Northern Azure Spirit Academy. I hear that Heavenly Thunder Beads have now reached a price of two hundred Spirit Value each in the Spirit Value Hall."

Those words immediately made many people's eyes light up. One of those Heavenly Thunder Beads was worth two hundred Spirit Value. If they could condense ten or twenty of them a month, would they not be able to live in the A-grade Area forever with ease?

The new students immediately felt much better.

Only, Liu Bai knew very well that things were nowhere near as wonderful as everyone imagined...

"Mentor, aside from needing to reach the Divine Soul Realm, are there any other requirements for entering the Thunder Domain?" Liu Bai asked calmly.

His words made the hearts of many new students jolt. Judging from the Northern Azure Spirit Academy's previous money-grubbing behavior, it was entirely possible!

Under everyone's tense gazes, Qiu Zongsheng spread his hands. "Naturally."

"Entering the Thunder Domain also requires Spirit Value. Though not much—five hundred Spirit Value will allow you to enter as you please."

Everyone's faces darkened at once, and quite a few of them even gritted their teeth...

The Northern Azure Spirit Academy was far too ruthless!

Qiu Zongsheng had no better way to teach these new students. After all, had he not come to babysit a bunch of brats for the sake of Spirit Value himself?

"Alright, everyone can now choose where to live. If anyone wishes to move to the A-grade or B-grade areas, you may tell me."

Liu Bai currently had eight thousand Spirit Value, and Su Xuan had about the same. The others, such as Li Jing, were not nearly as wealthy. Their Spirit Value was only barely enough for them to stay in the B-grade Area for a month.

But that was enough. With their strength, earning one thousand Spirit Value within a month would not be too difficult. Perhaps they could even move to the A-grade Area afterward.

"Boss Liu Bai, which area are you choosing?" Guo Xiong came over and asked curiously.

Though this fellow was tall and powerfully built, and seemed very straightforward, he was actually quite curious by nature. Especially around friends, he had plenty to say.

"Grade C!" Liu Bai answered without the slightest hesitation.

"What? Grade C?" Guo Xiong looked as though he had been shocked for a hundred years, his voice involuntarily rising.

Hearing him, Su Xuan and the other girls came over as well. Su Xuan asked in confusion, "Why choose the free Grade C Area? With your current Spirit Value, you could stay in the A-grade Area for several months, could you not?"

When someone had asked earlier, Qiu Zongsheng had said that each residence could house two people. Thus, Su Xuan had already decided to choose the A-grade Area and live there with her younger sister, Su Ling'er.

Though Su Ling'er was currently a burden to Su Xuan, Su Xuan's abilities were enough to provide the Spirit Value her sister needed during the early stages of cultivation.

Besides, with Su Ling'er's talent, it was inevitable that she would grow stronger in the future. At that point, supporting herself would be no problem at all.

Liu Bai did not explain much to them. He merely said that he needed Spirit Value to exchange for certain things.

Seeing this, the others said no more. Yet when choosing their residential areas, Liu Bai was surprised to find that aside from the Su Xuan sisters, Guo Xiong and the other two, as well as An Ran and even Li Jing, had all chosen the same area as him.

"...What are you all doing?" Liu Bai looked at them speechlessly, his face full of confusion.

Guo Xiong chuckled. "Did you forget? Back in the Northern Cang Realm, the three of us said we would acknowledge you as our boss."

The two icy beauties, An Ran and Li Jing, merely looked at him with cold expressions. In the end, they seemingly could not even be bothered to come up with an excuse.

Liu Bai could only shake his head helplessly.

Still, he could understand their choices.

After all, even if they chose otherwise, they could only choose the B-grade Area, which was not much better than the Grade C Area. They might as well save up Spirit Value first and move directly into the A-grade Area later.

Moreover, they had personally witnessed Liu Bai's strength and potential. He was no weaker than Su Xuan, Crane Demon, and the others, and even stronger than Zhou Fan. As new students, finding themselves a backer was perfectly normal.

Otherwise, Li Xuantong would not have gone to the trouble of establishing the Xuan Gang, and even Shen Cangsheng had founded the Judgment Group.

Having understood this, Liu Bai said nothing further and directly chose a small two-story pavilion closest to the lake.

As for Guo Xiong and the other two, they chose the residences to Liu Bai's left, while An Ran and Li Jing chose those on his right... Their residences were somewhat far from the other pavilions. Seeing this, many new students who could not enter the B-grade Area or A-grade Area began scrambling for places close to them.

There was no helping it. Admiring the strong was human nature, and seeking support was instinctive. Now that a powerful figure like Liu Bai had unexpectedly chosen to gather in the same area as them, they naturally wanted to be closer.

Su Xuan could only sigh inwardly before taking Su Ling'er to the place she had chosen.

After entering his room and lying on the soft bed, Liu Bai let out a long breath. Soon afterward, he sat cross-legged again and clenched his hand. The crystal-like Spirit Value Token appeared in his palm.

He urged a thread of spiritual energy into it, and light immediately radiated from the Spirit Value Token. Before Liu Bai's eyes, that light turned into a Light Screen filled with dazzling images and data.

"Raging Python Spear, forged from the horn of a Golden Horn Spirit Python. When spiritual energy is activated in battle, its spear light resembles a raging python and possesses extraordinary power. Mid-tier Spiritual Artifact. Price: eight thousand Spirit Value."

"Golden Crow Blazing Flame Art, Cultivation Method spiritual art, Spirit-grade Mid-tier. Price: nineteen thousand Spirit Value."

"Illusion Demon Movement Technique, Movement Spiritual Art, Spirit-grade Mid-tier. Price: eight thousand six hundred Spirit Value."

"Yin Wind Howling Array, Third-grade Array Diagram. Once formed, it is like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts, creating a demonic domain of yin wind. Its power can reduce even Heaven Fusion Realm experts to pieces. Price: fifteen thousand Spirit Value."

"Heavenly Thunder Bead, contains the aura of heavenly lightning and can temper spiritual energy and strengthen the body. Price: two hundred Spirit Value each."

A dazzling array of images passed before Liu Bai's eyes. When he saw a Spirit-grade Mid-tier Cultivation Method spiritual art called the Golden Crow Blazing Flame Art, his expression paused slightly.

"Golden Crow Blazing Flame Art... this is quite compatible with the Ancient Golden Crow Spirit Beast Core in the Northern Azure Spirit Academy."

Liu Bai had already decided to fuse the Ancient Golden Crow Spirit Core into his Fire Element Acupoint, so he needed to carefully choose a fire-element Cultivation Method.

He could forget about Spirit-grade High-tier Cultivation Methods. While browsing the Spirit Value Hall catalog earlier, he had seen one Spirit-grade High-tier Cultivation Method spiritual art...

"Three Lights Reincarnation Art, Spirit-grade High-tier Cultivation Method spiritual art. Created by a Supreme expert, it contains the mysteries of life, death, and aurora reincarnation. Price: 1.3 million Spirit Value. Property of the Northern Azure Spirit Academy."

1.3 million!

Who knew when he would be able to earn that much Spirit Value!

After looking through quite a bit of information, Liu Bai also discovered the general price ranges of the items here.

Spirit Grade Low Rank spiritual arts ranged from a minimum of one thousand Spirit Value to a maximum of ten thousand Spirit Value. Low-tier Spiritual Artifacts ranged from one thousand to five thousand Spirit Value.

Spirit-grade Mid-tier spiritual arts ranged from five thousand to fifty thousand Spirit Value. Mid-tier Spiritual Artifacts ranged from five thousand to one hundred thousand Spirit Value.

Spirit-grade High-tier spiritual arts cost at least over five hundred thousand Spirit Value. Liu Bai had even seen a Cultivation Method spiritual art priced at more than two million Spirit Value...

As for High-grade Spirit Artifacts, every single one easily cost over a million Spirit Value!

Rubbing his aching head, Liu Bai had been mentally prepared, but the prices still stunned him.

Especially Cultivation Method spiritual arts, which could cost several times more than Attack Spiritual Arts or Movement Spiritual Arts of the same grade!

"Ancient Golden Crow Spirit Core, Heaven-grade Mid-tier Spirit Beast, ranked thirty-fourth on the Earth Ranking of the Myriad Beast Record. Price: four million Spirit Value."

Tsk tsk, this one was even more outrageous. No wonder no one had exchanged for it after all these years. It was apparently still there even when the original story began.

After all, anyone who could afford that price was probably already a student of the Three Heavens Realm, and such students no longer had any need for an Ancient Golden Crow that ranked only thirty-fourth on the Earth Ranking of the Myriad Beast Record!