Yu Chengzhi was just getting ready to nose around and ask a few questions.
Seeing him creep up to eavesdrop, a few students glanced at him and walked off into the distance!
"Look at that old man over there eavesdropping on us."
"I noticed him too. Let's go, let's go."
"Old enough to know better and he's still eavesdropping. He looks like some casual outsider from off-campus. We should just have them kicked out."
"Forget it, no point bickering with his kind. Let's go."
Yu Chengzhi: "............"
*Old man*, *casual outsider*...
Since when did college students get so good at handing out such warm and friendly titles?
Seeing the dark look on Yu Chengzhi's face, the woman beside him covered her mouth and chuckled. "What did I tell you? What did you overhear? Tell me."
"I won't!"
"Stingy! Let's go, we're already cutting it pretty close! Li Peng and the rest are going to be waiting impatiently over there!"
...........
"Is everyone here?"
In the principal's office, Li Peng looked around at the pairs of principals and their wives as he spoke.
"Not yet, Yu Chengzhi and the others haven't arrived."
"This guy really drags his feet!"
"Hahaha, let's wait a bit!" Li Peng gave a hearty laugh. "By the way, Old Zhang, about that Purgatory Training Camp we were just discussing—how many slots did the Military Department give your university this year?"
"About a dozen. We gave them all to our top-tier students above Tier 6."
"Ah, above Tier 6—that's a higher level than the average instructor."
"The entry qualifications are normally distributed to the top-tier students of each university, as well as the scions of major clans. Mostly, those great clan scions don't even deign to attend university at all."
"That's true enough. Still, relying on family resources allows them to improve faster than university students, which means the major clans end up with quite a few more slots than the universities. On top of that, they operate collectively and form alliances, whereas our students mostly fight on their own after entering the camp and don't get much of an advantage."
"Every year is much the same, nothing surprising there. The main purpose of the Purgatory Training Camp isn't to hand out welfare benefits," Li Peng said, and everyone nodded in agreement.
They were all well aware that the Purgatory Training Camp offered rich resources.
However, the primary purpose was observation!
Observing these students' character, combat performance, and so on.
Laying the groundwork for future selections by the Military Department!
That was why it didn't last very long, usually wrapping up in a few days.
They all thought about this in silence.
"Oh? You're all here."
Outside, a hearty voice suddenly rang out, shattering the silence within.
Everyone looked toward the burly man striding in, and for a moment, they were stunned!
Then:
"Grandmaster Li!"
Li Peng recognized him immediately and rose to his feet.
Seeing this, the other principals stood up as well, greeting Li Xiao.
Smiles plastered every single one of their faces.
Most of them were Tier 8 or Tier 9 Spirit Tamers.
Yet Li Xiao was a Grandmaster-tier Spirit Tamer!
With formidable strength!
And considerable clout within the Jinling Military Department!
Usually, he was a shadowy figure, as elusive as a dragon.
Why had he come over today?
"Grandmaster Li, what brings you here today?"
Li Peng invited Li Xiao to take a seat and poured him a cup of tea.
"I'm here for two reasons. First, to deliver a commendation order."
"Here is the commendation order, along with crystal core rewards."
As he spoke, Li Xiao produced the commendation order and other items.
Seeing the other principals looking completely baffled, Li Peng explained, "A few days ago, Instructor Xu Bing of our school led some students out for a practical class and happened to run into the Guard Army wiping out a feral beast pack, so they stepped in to help."
"Ah, so that's it."
A sudden realization dawned on everyone.
"The other reason I came here is to check out a student at your school named Ye Qing. This student has recently made quite a name for himself among us. During the cleanup of the feral beast pack earlier, he put on a brilliant display and slaughtered a great many feral beasts."
"Just yesterday, he went even further and wiped out An Fei's entire squad from the Demon Spirit Guard. You have no idea how ruthless this little fellow is—he went straight for the Demon Spirit Guard members, lopped off their heads, and brought them to our Military Department to collect the bounty."
Boom!
With those words, everyone present fell completely silent!
An Fei's squad?
They had heard of him too—a Tier 5 Spirit Tamer who excelled at ambushes!
And his entire crew was no slouch in terms of strength either.
They'd all been taken care of?
What kind of ruthless maniac was this!
Since when did Jinling University produce a character like this?!
Instantly, all eyes turned to Li Peng.
Meeting their gazes, Li Peng made the introductions: "Don't look at me with those eyes. This little fellow is a freshman right here with us; it's only natural that you wouldn't know."
What?!
A freshman?!
"This little fellow is rather miraculous, actually. He contracted an F-grade Weapon Spirit—would you believe it? That Weapon Spirit underwent a mutation, transforming from an F-grade into a divine sword surpassing the S-grade!"
..........
With that, Li Peng launched into a full explanation.
Coupled with the triumphant expression on his face, it made everyone's teeth itch with a powerful urge to go over and tear his mouth apart!
Still, put themselves in his shoes: if a student like that appeared in *their* university, they'd boast even more outrageously than Li Peng!
Listening along, Li Xiao gained a deeper understanding of Ye Qing's situation.
"So this time, I'm also here to deliver an invitation to the Purgatory Training Camp for him!"
Hiss!
At those words, everyone drew a sharp breath!
Delivering one to a freshman?
That had to be a first!
Still, with a Weapon Spirit above S-grade and the ability to wipe out An Fei's party, Ye Qing had earned his qualifications!
"Should we go find Ye Qing right now?"
Li Peng suggested, and everyone readily agreed.
These principals were also keen to see what kind of character this was.
Seeing everyone's reaction, Li Peng beamed with pride.
The other principals looked at his expression, brimming with envy and jealousy.
Why did a student like that appear at Jinling University instead of *their* school?!
Just as they were about to set off, Yu Chengzhi made a tardy entrance.
"Yo? Where are you all heading?"
"You guys arrived way too late!"
"Sorry, sorry, got held up by something on the way!"
"Right now, we're going to go check out a student named Ye Qing..."
Following that, one of the principals briefly filled Yu Chengzhi in.
What?!
Hearing this, Yu Chengzhi's expression shifted dramatically.
He gave a dry cough. "I seem to... have heard of this student."
"Oh? You've heard of him? When did you hear about him?" Li Peng jumped in.
"Just now, right here on campus. They were talking about him, and it must be the same person," Yu Chengzhi said, organizing his thoughts. "It's spreading all over campus that this student contracted two Weapon Spirits at the same time."
What!
Boom!
In an instant, as those words left his mouth!
It was as if a sudden thunderclap had exploded from flat ground!
Everyone choked back their words!
The room plunged into absolute silence!
You could have heard a pin drop!
Tremendous shockwaves churned through everyone's hearts!
Even Li Xiao, who possessed the composure of a calm lake despite thunder rumbling in his chest, couldn't help the involuntary twitch at the corner of his mouth!
Nonsense!
Utter nonsense!!!
This was pure absurdity!
If that were really true, then there was no point in issuing his invitation to the Purgatory Training Camp anymore!
Nor was there any need for him to go see this student!
Beside him, Li Peng's mouth twitched as well. This—how could this possibly be?!
What on earth was Ye Qing messing around with?!
As for the other principals, their expressions varied wildly.
"I think... maybe we don't need to go after all."
"I think so too."
Everyone chimed in.
............
Meanwhile, on campus!
A strange, exotic fragrance burst forth!
Spreading outward!
A radius of one kilometer!
Two kilometers!
Five kilometers!
Ten kilometers!
...........
The entire campus began to stir into a commotion!
"What... is this smell?" Xu Bing looked up into the air, a puzzled look on her face!
.............
Hiss!
"It smells so good!"
"Who's tinkering with what?"
"I don't know, but it feels so comfortable. I feel like the lingering injuries on my body aren't hurting nearly as much!"
"You're not kidding, it's true—my wounds actually starting to itch."
...........
Voices rose up on all sides as numerous students looked up at the sky in bewilderment, trying to find the source of this exotic fragrance!
By now, the Academic Affairs Office had also begun an investigation!
Over here!
Just as the group of principals prepared to head back inside,
a wave of exotic fragrance drifted over on the wind.
It brought them all to a halt!
"So fragrant! What is this smell?"
"Smells a bit like herbal medicine."
"You're talking nonsense now. What kind of medicine could possibly have a scent this rich?"
"Wait!"
Li Xiao took a couple of sniffs of the herbal fragrance. "It is indeed medicinal, and there's a faint trace of energy inside it."
"Principal! Principal!"
In the distance, the secretary came running over.
"Secretary Liu, what's going on with this aroma?!"
"That's exactly what I was coming to report!"
"Right now, the whole school is shrouded in this scent. I investigated immediately and tracked down the source! It seems—it seems like Ye Qing is refining something!"
Ye Qing?!
Hearing this name, everyone's heart gave a violent jolt!
"Lead the way!" Li Xiao commanded in an unquestionable tone. This student was someone he simply had to see today!
</p>
</p>
</p>
Chapter 17: Black Lotus!
Nearby, the principals heard the secretary's words and felt a jolt in their chests!
It was *that* student who had stirred this up?!
Was this something a mere student could pull off?!
Well, they simply had to go see for themselves now!
Without further ado, they fell in right behind Grandmaster Li, striding purposefully in that direction.
Over here.
Ye Qing and Zhou Lingxue were also catching the rich herbal fragrance.
"I messed up!"
Ye Qing immediately slapped his thigh!
"What is it, hubby?"
Zhou Lingxue stood nearby, looking completely baffled.
"The energy leaked out! How much medicinal potency did we just lose? Next time, I'm going to custom-order a pot lid and clamp it shut!"
Ye Qing muttered, and Zhou Lingxue nodded in agreement. Indeed!
"Still, looks like it's almost ready to become medicine!"
Anticipation began to build in Ye Qing!
Whoosh!
The next moment!
A sudden gale surged wildly!
At that moment, the Shennong Cauldron acted like a whirlpool!
Madly absorbing the energy in the air!
Not only did the previously escaped medicinal potency return—
it even drew back manifold times more ambient energy!
Pouring it all back into the Shennong Cauldron in a torrential rush!
"Good lord! You can even play it like this!"
Ye Qing couldn't help rubbing his hands together in rising anticipation.
A short while later!
It was done!
Ye Qing looked into the Shennong Cauldron.
Zhou Lingxue stood beside him, raising her head to peer inside.
"This doesn't quite look like what I imagined," Zhou Lingxue remarked. Inside, it seemed to be entirely medicinal paste; she had originally thought the finished product would be nice, round little pills like traditional elixirs.
"Maybe once Lianmeng's level goes up a bit, or perhaps it's because these were just ordinary Spirit Plants, which is why it turned out like this."
"Alright, stop staring. Go grab a porcelain bottle so we can roll this medicinal paste up into little pills!"
"Oh, oh, right!"
Zhou Lingxue went inside and fetched a porcelain bottle.
Then, the two of them set to work rolling them!
"Ye Qing! What, what on earth are you doing?!"
Just as they were halfway through rolling the pills,
they heard a voice call out from not far away.
Sounding rather anxious.
He looked up.
Yo.
The principal?
Looking so anxious.
And alongside him, so many people?
Who was this burly man in the lead?
Judging by the attire, he looked like a member of the Military Department!
"Principal, as you can see—refining medicine!"
Refining medicine!
Just those two short words!
Left everyone dumbfounded!
Even Li Xiao stared at the medicinal pill in Ye Qing's hand, his eyes narrowing slightly. Standing closest, he could feel the medicinal fragrance radiating from those pills better than anyone!
Just taking a whiff made his whole body feel refreshed!
Extraordinary!
Truly extraordinary!
Then!
Their gazes dropped onto the Shennong Cauldron!
Hiss!
What...
What was this?!
As they observed the ancient patterns etched into the Shennong Cauldron, that archaic, heavy aura carrying the oppression of divine might pressed down heavily upon them.
Li Xiao and the principals fared a bit better, but the spirit forms of the other Weapon Spirits present all turned pale.
"What is this!"
Li Xiao pointed directly at the Shennong Cauldron and demanded.
"This is my newly contracted Weapon Spirit, a large cauldron that can refine medicine."
As expected!
This fellow really had contracted multiple ones simultaneously!
And this fellow—was he some kind of freakish monster?
Just looking at this Weapon Spirit, it was extraordinary indeed!
It felt like this Weapon Spirit was not the least bit inferior to that divine sword!
Li Peng's mouth twitched, though he could also sense the anomaly in Ye Qing!
Contracting multiple Weapon Spirits at the same time—was that supposed to be possible?!
Hm?!
So full of energy?
Something wasn't right!
"You—you contracted multiple ones at once? Is there anything wrong with your body?"
Li Peng asked anxiously.
"None at all. I feel even sturdier."
Boom!
Ye Qing's casual remark felt like five thunderbolts striking the group from the blue!
A monster!
An unadulterated monster!
Instantly, everyone turned their eyes to Li Xiao!
After all, as a Grandmaster, Li Xiao would surely know.
"What he said is likely true." Li Xiao stared at Ye Qing for a long moment before spitting out those words.
Ye Qing's current state truly didn't match the symptoms of someone whose foundation had been damaged by multiple concurrent contracts!
Still, he couldn't help finding it bizarre. With this youth in such a state, he would definitely need to report up the chain of command!
"Principal, you came to my place? What's going on?"
"What's going on?!"
Li Peng's mouth twitched violently. This brat had no inkling of how massive a commotion he'd just caused, did he?
You, oh you!
Before he could speak, Li Xiao piped up: "I'm here to deliver an invitation to the Purgatory Training Camp for you."
The Purgatory Training Camp?
Ye Qing had heard a few things about it before, but wasn't this thing normally reserved for top-tier seniors?
Beside them, Li Peng also began introducing Li Xiao's background.
Ye Qing stepped forward and took the invitation.
Glancing at it, the event was only a few days away.
"Does this thing offer a heavy tilt in resources?"
That single question, paired with a greedy, money-grubber grin, left even Li Xiao feeling somewhat numb.
"Heavy."
"Oh, oh, alright then. Otherwise it would've been a waste of my time."
Li Xiao: "............."
Li Peng: "............"
The assembled principals: "............"
Do you hear yourself speak? This is the Purgatory Training Camp! Something countless Spirit Tamers and Weapon Spirits would die for!
And you're actually worried it'll waste your time!
"Alright, I'm heading back first!" Watching Ye Qing, Li Xiao felt a growing sense of wrongness.
Given this situation, he'd better head back and report first.
Once Li Xiao left,
Li Peng questioned Ye Qing in detail about the situation. Learning that Ye Qing was indeed completely fine, he muttered the word "monster" under his breath.
At the same time, he was utterly shaken to his core: could this mean Ye Qing was actually capable of concurrent contracts?!
What an incredible talent!
Afterward, he briefed Ye Qing on all aspects of the Purgatory Training Camp and explained that its purpose was for military evaluation.
"That doesn't matter. I'm only a freshman right now; why should I worry about the Military Department? As long as there are resources, that's all I care about."
"You rascal... rest assured, resources won't be lacking for you."
Shortly after, Li Peng led the others away.
As the other principals departed, their gazes lingered continuously on Ye Qing.
That look was as if they were gazing upon some unreachable treasure.
"Alright, alright, stop staring, let's go!"
By now, Li Peng looked more like a miserly skinflint, urging everyone along and trying to get them to stop leering at his prized possession.
The crowd came in a rush and left in a hurry, leaving behind only Ye Qing, who was holding the Purgatory Training Camp invitation. Zhou Lingxue took it from his hands and glanced over it.
"The only ones who get invitations are true prodigies."
"So are they super rich, then?" Ye Qing rubbed his chin.
Zhou Lingxue: "............" You... you aren't planning to go rob them, are you?
Following that, the two of them resumed rolling the medicine.
With some dregs left over at the end, Ye Qing grabbed a bottle of white liquor and dumped all the medicinal dregs straight into the wine.
A fine bottle of bruising-and-contusion liquor!
Whoosh!
Amidst a gust of wind, Liu Lianmeng exited her materialized form.
At that moment, her face was deathly pale.
Clearly, the depletion had been severe!
After all, working hard all through last night combined with today's refinement process—it took a massive toll on both physical stamina and mental energy!
"Hubby, I want to go to sleep," Liu Lianmeng practically begged.
"Alright, go on," Ye Qing said, and Liu Lianmeng scrambled to make her escape. "Get some good rest; we've still got overtime tonight."
That sentence landing in Liu Lianmeng's ears made her stumble!
Overtime? What overtime?!
Ah?!
We're still going tonight?
Even the most wicked capitalist wouldn't pull something like this!
In an instant, she finally understood the joy on Zhou Lingxue's face back when they were first contracted!
So!
She was just being used as a human shield!
No, no, no!
She couldn't let this go on!
She had to help find the next comrade-in-arms!
Otherwise, with this kind of firepower, even if she opened all eight gates by herself, she couldn't take it!
Forget it, sleep first!
Liu Lianmeng bolted upstairs as if fleeing for her life.
Ye Qing looked at Zhou Lingxue. "Right, the principal mentioned earlier that there are crystal core rewards for slaying feral beasts. Should we go pick those up?"
"Okay."
A short while later...