One month later.
At the edge of the Inner Academy, beside the First Elder, Zi Yan's eyes were slightly red as she looked at Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan handed her two storage rings. His gentle gaze carried a hint of reluctance as he looked at her and said, "Zi Yan, this storage ring contains the pills I refined for you. They come in all kinds of flavors, and there are a lot of them—enough for you to eat for a long time. This other storage ring contains some snacks I refined."
Zi Yan put away the storage rings and held them tightly in her hand, saying unwillingly, "Lin Yuan, you have to come back early and take me out on adventures with you."
Lin Yuan nodded. "Mm. Zi Yan, you must also cultivate diligently while you're in the academy."
Then Lin Yuan turned toward the First Elder, bent slightly at the waist, and said respectfully, "From now on, Zi Yan will have to trouble the First Elder to take more care of her."
Over the past half year or so, perhaps because of Zi Yan, the relationship between Lin Yuan and Su Qian had grown much closer. Su Qian had become a senior whom Lin Yuan deeply respected, while Lin Yuan had become a junior whom Su Qian greatly valued in both talent and temperament.
"Mm, this old man understands." Stroking Zi Yan's somewhat dejected little head, Su Qian took out a jade slip and handed it to Lin Yuan. "Take this. It's the secret technique you previously asked this old man to keep an eye out for—one that can temporarily boost strength. Consider it a parting gift."
Lin Yuan accepted the jade slip and solemnly cupped his hands toward Su Qian. "Many thanks, First Elder."
"No need for such courtesy. Brat Lin, when you're outside, don't disgrace the reputation of Jia Nan Academy," Su Qian said, patting Lin Yuan on the shoulder with a teasing remark.
"Yes! This student understands," Lin Yuan replied seriously.
After that, Lin Yuan bent down and gave Zi Yan a tight hug. Dozens of breaths later, Lin Yuan released her, turned around, and flew toward the Outer Academy.
Zi Yan stood there in a daze for a while, then lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.
"Old man, I'm going to cultivate properly and make sure that when Lin Yuan comes back next time, I can punch him hard!" Zi Yan said heavily, her tone revealing a firmness completely different from her usual self.
"Good! This old man will help you," Su Qian said, stroking his beard. A trace of age-worn emotion flashed through his eyes as he sighed inwardly, 'Indeed, bonds between people are what most easily make one grow.'
"Then, old man, can my medicinal ingredient quota be increased a bit? I need to eat more to become stronger," Zi Yan's crafty voice reached Su Qian's ears after she had adjusted her emotions.
"You little girl!" Su Qian laughed helplessly, finally feeling reassured. He still preferred seeing Zi Yan cheerful and carefree.
Soon after, amid the cheerful bickering between one old and one young, the two headed back toward the Inner Academy.
Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy.
When Lin Yuan arrived at the Outer Academy, he found that five people were already waiting for him—Elder Huo, Hu Gan, Wu Tianlang, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao.
Lin Yuan stepped forward and performed a respectful salute to Elder Huo, Hu Gan, and Wu Tianlang. These three were all benefactors on his path of cultivation: Elder Huo had opened the door to his career as an alchemist; Hu Gan, as Vice Dean, had brought him into the "Forging Elites Plan" and nurtured him; and Wu Tianlang had taken great care of him during his training in the Enforcement Team, even once saving his life.
The three exchanged glances. Hu Gan stepped forward and handed Lin Yuan a black token. On the front of the token was a large character, Lin.
"Take this. This is Jia Nan Academy's envoy token. When you're traveling outside, there will be times when it comes in handy. After all, on the Northwestern Continent, most factions are still willing to give our Jia Nan Academy some face."
After that, Elder Huo, Hu Gan, and Wu Tianlang each gave their own words of advice.
"While traveling outside, do not forget to diligently improve your alchemy. Do not waste your talent on the path of alchemy."
"While traveling outside, do not forget your Dou Qi cultivation. Strength is the foundation of the Dou Qi Continent."
"While traveling outside, do not forget that Jia Nan Academy is your strongest backing. Do not tarnish the academy's name."
Lin Yuan cupped his fists and bowed deeply to the three elders. "This student will keep all of your teachings firmly in mind."
Hearing this, Elder Huo, Hu Gan, and Wu Tianlang each patted his shoulder in turn, then departed one after another, leaving only Hu Jia and Wu Hao at the scene.
Lin Yuan nodded to Hu Jia and Wu Hao, smiling as he greeted them. "Hu Jia, Wu Hao, long time no see. Did you come to see me off?"
Hu Jia, now a three-star Dou Practitioner, looked at Lin Yuan with a complicated expression. In the end, it turned into determination as she said firmly, "I didn't expect you to pull so far ahead all at once. I heard from my grandfather—you're already a mid-tier Dou King, right? You've even reached the stage of traveling the continent. Looks like if this young lady wants to surpass you, it's going to take quite a bit of effort."
Wu Hao, also a three-star Dou Practitioner, looked at Lin Yuan with burning fighting intent. Gripping his blood-red sword tightly, he said in a deep voice, "Although you're far ahead, I won't give up. I'll chase after you closely from behind."
Hearing this, Lin Yuan nodded solemnly and said with gravity, "That is as it should be. Those with great ambition achieve great bearing. I will take the first step on the path of cultivation and continue advancing as the goal standing before you, turning the objective you set today into a lofty aspiration. I hope you can keep up with my footsteps."
"Since that's the case—"
As if thinking of something, Lin Yuan took out two jade bottles containing pills from his storage ring. Dense pill mist swirled within the bottles—at a glance, they were clearly extremely high-quality pills. Then, under the puzzled gazes of Hu Jia and Wu Hao, Lin Yuan raised his right palm.
"These are peak Fourth-Grade pills that I personally developed—the Earth Marrow Body-Tempering Pill. They can temper the physical body and lay a foundation in advance for breaking through the bottlenecks of Dou Grandmaster, Dou Spirit, and even Dou King in the future. If you have the confidence to return to me, within five years, items of equal or greater value through your own efforts, then step forward, strike palms with me to seal the pact, and take these pills," Lin Yuan said with a light smile.
Among peak Fourth-Grade pills, the Earth Marrow Body-Tempering Pill was already top-tier. To surpass it would require at least Fifth-Grade medicinal materials—obtaining such value on one's own would be no easy task.
Hearing this, expressions shifted across Hu Jia's and Wu Hao's faces. After a moment, all extraneous emotions were replaced by firm determination. The two exchanged a glance.
Wu Hao stepped forward first, reached out, and struck palms heavily with Lin Yuan, taking one Earth Marrow Body-Tempering Pill as he said in a deep voice, "I accept this pact."
After that, Hu Jia also stepped forward, reached out, and struck palms heavily with Lin Yuan, taking one Earth Marrow Body-Tempering Pill as she said seriously, "This young lady accepts this pact as well."
From afar, unseen by Hu Jia and Wu Hao, Elder Huo, Hu Gan, and Wu Tianlang also witnessed the pact formed between Lin Yuan and the two.
Even Wu Tianlang's usually stern face revealed a trace of a smile, and his normally steady voice carried a hint of lightness. "With Wu Hao's temperament, he'll probably start taking cultivation even more seriously from now on."
Hu Gan was also very pleased and said cheerfully, "Heh heh, with this kind of agreement, my girl won't be able to take it easy anymore either. Her pride is quite strong—looks like she'll be putting much more effort into cultivation from here on out."
Elder Huo stroked his beard, a hint of nostalgia appearing in his eyes. "The high-spirited pacts of youths—excellent, truly excellent."
Hu Jia took out three wine cups, poured the wine, and handed them to Wu Hao and Lin Yuan. The three raised their cups and clinked them together.
"Until we meet again, Lin Yuan."
"Until we meet again, Lin Yuan."
With that, the three downed the wine in their cups in one gulp.
"Then until we meet again! Thank you both for seeing me off today. I hope that the next time we meet, you'll be able to surprise me!" Lin Yuan laughed heartily as he turned around and flew into the sky, ultimately transforming into a streak of cyan light that swept across the Outer Academy sky and headed northwest.
"Jia Ma Empire—Lin Yuan has returned."
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