BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Feeling a Bit Guilty



Word Count: 2,071 Words

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In the end, after refining the medicinal ingredients into candies for Zi Yan, Xiao Yan curiously followed her outside a warehouse.

He learned through Zi Yan's introduction that this was the Medicinal Warehouse of the Inner Academy, overseen by Elder Hao. It stored all the medicinal ingredients acquired by the academy.

When students gathered medicinal ingredients from the wild, they could choose either to sell them themselves in the trading area or to directly sell them to the Inner Academy in exchange for Fire Energy or even acquire Qi Methods and Dou Techniques.

A vast collection of medicinal ingredients had accumulated over time.

As the Inner Academy's storage facility for precious medicinal materials, this Medicinal Warehouse had rather strict defenses. Not only was it overseen by the elite Dou King Elder Hao, but over a dozen instructors also patrolled around the clock. Generally, students were forbidden from entering this area.

However, Zi Yan's special ability allowed her to manipulate space. She tore open the barrier and secretly slipped into the warehouse!

Xiao Yan was now one hundred percent certain that Zi Yan's bloodline strength allowed her to traverse the void, bearing some similarities to the abilities of the Nihility Devouring Flame!

He glanced around as he followed Zi Yan inside. Amazement gradually appeared on his face. The inner walls of the entire room were wrapped in a layer of milky-white jade. Even the floor beneath their feet was composed of neatly arranged, seam-free pieces of white jade. Faint fluorescent light emanated from these white jade pieces.

'What a grand gesture, as expected of the Inner Academy's Medicinal Warehouse,' Xiao Yan clicked his tongue. These white jade pieces were extremely expensive, yet they were highly effective in preserving medicinal ingredients. In this airtight environment, these valuable ingredients retained even the slightest medicinal properties, and their storage time was greatly extended. Such an arrangement was far beyond what he could achieve by storing ingredients in his storage ring.

Back then, only the Misty Cloud Sect's medicinal warehouse had such grandeur. Medusa's impoverished treasury couldn't compare at all.

The spacious room that was surrounded by white jade had a couple built-in walkways. On both sides of the walkways stood tall, large shelves made of white jade. Xiao Yan casually walked toward one of them, his gaze drifting over the shelves. Various unique medicinal ingredients, which one could identify as being extremely rare at a glance, were quietly placed there, their distinct medicinal fragrances faintly drifting through the air.

"Yin Magical Flame Grass... Purple Spirit Plastic Flower... Hmm, this seems to be the... Cold Blood Fruit?"

Xiao Yan walked along the walkways beside the shelves as he slowly made his way around. The variety of unique medicinal ingredients deepened the shock on his face. In the end, he was unable to name some of them. However, from the medicinal fragrances they emitted, one could tell that they belonged to a category of spiritual medicines so rare that one might not find one in ten thousand medicinal ingredients.

However, all these medicinal ingredients were enveloped by energy shields.

"Do you want some?" Zi Yan's jade-like hand passed unimpeded through the energy shield as it retrieved a stalk of Dou King Grass.

Xiao Yan's throat moved as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Were it not for his remaining rationality, he might have been unable to resist collecting all these medicinal ingredients into his storage ring. However, the thought flashed through his mind and was quickly suppressed. If he really did such a thing, he probably wouldn't be able to remain in the Inner Academy; in that case, the matter of obtaining the Fallen Heart Flame would also fall through. No matter how rare these medicinal ingredients were, they couldn't compare to the Fallen Heart Flame.

Moreover, he could say with 100% certainty that Zi Yan being able to take medicinal ingredients from here wasn't just because of her special ability, but likely also the Inner Academy's way of nurturing her.

If he were to take medicinal ingredients from here, there was an eight or nine out of ten chance that he would be discovered.

Xiao Yan swallowed and shook his head. "You should take less in the future. If you take too much, I'm afraid-"

Just as he was earnestly lecturing Zi Yan, a palm-sized fruit suddenly caught his attention. 'Asparagus Ice Fire Fruit!!! The last main ingredient for the Ground Spirit Pill!' Xiao Yan was shocked. He hadn't expected to find it here!

Zi Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly. Her slender little hand appeared as if from thin air as she reached through the protective shield, took out the Asparagus Ice Fire Fruit, and waved it in front of him.

"Xiao-Yan-Zi, do you want this fruit?" Zi Yan, with her black hair in double pigtails, revealed a devilish smile on her childish face, especially those little tiger teeth that made her look like

a little devil.

In Xiao Yan's eyes, she was indeed a little devil, tempting him to fall together with her!

Xiao Yan sighed. He definitely wanted it.

He took out a brocade box from his storage ring and, with a helpless sigh, handed it to Zi Yan. "Well, I can't just take it for nothing. Inside is a low-grade tier 5 medicinal pill, roughly equivalent in value to the Asparagus Ice Fire Fruit."

"Please help me place it inside. At least it can be considered an exchange."

Xiao Yan still upheld his integrity and refrained from committing theft in front of Zi Yan. Although it was a one-sided transaction, at least it remained a form of exchange.

He looked at the pouting Zi Yan and gently patted her little head. How could he not know what she was thinking? Taking medicinal ingredients directly from the warehouse was far more comfortable and convenient than competing with powerful magical beasts in the wilderness. She wanted his approval.

"If you run out of medicinal ingredients in the future, I'll accompany you to find some."

"Really!"

"Of course it's true. Here, take this. Consider it your reward for helping me find the Asparagus Ice Fire Fruit."

Xiao Yan took out another brocade box and handed it to Zi Yan. She couldn't wait to open it. Instantly, a green light burst forth, and a wave of scorching fire energy emanated from the

brocade box.

A Core-Fire Lotus Seed resembling an emerald gemstone lay quietly inside.

The energy contained within this Core-Fire Lotus Seed was definitely not weaker than that of any tier 5 medicinal ingredient, and it was perfect for Zi Yan.

"Who's in there!!!" Suddenly, an angry roar echoed from the entrance; the energy from the Core-Fire Lotus Seed had alarmed Elder Hao!

"Run! If he catches us, we'll be in for another scolding," Zi Yan urged, and she and Xiao Yan instantly spread their wings and flew out through the hole she had torn open.

By the time Elder Hao arrived, the two little thieves had long since fled.

"It must be that girl Zi Yan again. She's really treating my place like a canteen, coming to take

a bite every few days!"

"Hmm? What's this?" Elder Hao looked puzzled. The Asparagus Ice Fire Fruit was missing,

and in its place was actually a brocade box.

Elder Hao took out a jade token, deactivated the protective shield, and retrieved the brocade box. Upon opening it, he found a round pill lying quietly inside.

"A tier 5 medicinal pill!"

Elder Hao was completely stunned. The medicinal ingredient had turned into a pill???

Interestingly, the Rank 6 ice-attribute Monster Core required for the Ground Spirit Pill had been obtained by Xiao Yan from Elder Hao himself in exchange for a Core-Fire Lotus Seed.

...

Time flew by, and another month passed. Xiao Yan cultivated in the No. 1 cultivation room for another twenty days, but this time he did not break through from a 6-star Dou Spirit to a 7- star Dou Spirit. Even with his unique advantages and the powerful Flame Mantra, twenty days weren't enough to advance.

However, he was facing a challenge greater than merely improving his strength at this

moment: resisting temptation.

"Come in," Medusa's cold voice called from inside the room. Xiao Yan silently recited Xun Er's name in his heart as he tried to clear his mind of distracting thoughts.

But when he entered and saw Medusa soaking in the wooden tub, his resolve wavered slightly.

Although he could only see above her shoulders, the beauty was right before his eyes. Her fair neck was exposed, her skin as smooth as jade, and her jet-black hair was coiled up with droplets of water falling from the tips. Such a scene was difficult to describe with mere words; it was a picture of absolute perfection. Even Xiao Yan couldn't help but be amazed by her unparalleled beauty.

At that moment, he couldn't help but imagine the enchanting curves and valleys hidden beneath the water, envisioning scenes that would make one's blood boil.

A natural stunner!

Medusa's eyes sharpened as she said coldly, "Done looking!"

"N-no, I mean, yes, yes, I'm done, I'm done," Xiao Yan stammered, feeling the bone-chilling

killing intent as he hurriedly moved behind Medusa and lightly placed his trembling right

hand on her smooth back.

The moment he touched her skin, even his soul seemed to tremble.

'I'm poisoned, I must be poisoned!' Xiao Yan shouted in his heart. He was wholeheartedly devoted to Xun Er; this was just the poison taking effect!

Medusa had three forms: the serpent form of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python,

the human form with black hair, and her true form with a human upper body and a snake lower body, which was the form she had when she attacked him a month ago. Strands of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame flowed into Medusa's body through her skin, helping her condense the Heavenly Flame energy she had absorbed.

About half a day later, Xiao Yan retracted all the flames and let out a long breath. "Your body

has now fully recovered to the level of a Rank 6 magical beast, but to reach Rank 7, the energy required is immense. Who knows how long it will take if we rely solely on the Heavenly Flame energy from the No. 1 cultivation room?"@@novelbin@@

A Rank 6 magical beast was equivalent to the Dou Emperor realm. This level far exceeded the strength of Inner Academy students and even surpassed that of the elders. Significant effects would only be noticeable on the ninth or even tenth floors.

The energy acceleration from the No. 1 cultivation room was no longer as effective.

A seven-colored light flashed as Medusa quickly dressed and transformed back into her

human form. Her jade-like feet lightly stepped in the air as she coldly asked, "Can't we go to the eighth floor?"

Xiao Yan gave a wry smile as he looked at the beautiful yet cold Medusa before him. "That's

easy for you to say. Not to mention that only elders can access the eighth floor; even the Fire Energy required is something I can't afford."

He wanted to cry. His Fire Crystal Card had only a little over a hundred Fire Energy left! Forty

days in the No. 1 cultivation room had consumed 1,200 Fire Energy, and with the medicinal liquid for the wooden tub, his savings were completely depleted.

So pitiful! They said I was supposed to eat soft rice, but why am I the one spending all the money now!

Medusa saw Xiao Yan's pitiful appearance, and the coldness on her beautiful face softened a

bit.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan abruptly stood up, his eyes showing a hint of panic as he said, "Quick, you need to go back."

Medusa glanced toward the doorway and, without saying anything, transformed into a streak of light and returned to the Green Lotus before being stored in his storage ring. With a clap of Xiao Yan's hands, the Nihility Devouring Flame whooshed out, turning the wooden tub into nothingness. Then, he looked around nervously, hurriedly took out his medicinal cauldron, and extracted bursts of medicinal fragrance from several medicinal

ingredients.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knocking sound came from the door. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, are you free right now?" Hearing Xun Er's voice, Xiao Yan hastily straightened his clothes while laughing bitterly in his heart. 'I clearly didn't do anything! Why am I feeling guilty?'