Speaking of that, Jia De’s blackened face turned slightly better. This afternoon, some mighty awoken would come inspect the Frozen College, and he was one of the reception team.
Thinking of the inspection, Jia De’s face got blackened again. The cla.s.s he taught now had over 100 awoken. But, there was an exception that would stain his long years of teaching. The worst awoken in the coming exam would be from his cla.s.s!
“I must find a way to kick this trash out of my cla.s.s. Working and waiting for twenty years, now I finally see the chance to get into a higher academy. I would never allow any trash like him to ruin my plan. My future cannot be undone by a piece of c.r.a.p!” Jia De secretly planned in heart.
But then it came to him that Su Yan was a core member nominated by the dean, who could only be expelled by the dean! Jia De couldn’t help fretting over it.
Should Su Yan have known of his thoughts, he would have been infuriated to the point of spitting blood. He, Su Yan, a merit student, had been cultivating nonstop for seven whole days.
He had no idea how strong he was now. Though most of his energy was consumed by the dragon totem, the remaining should be enough to make him stronger.
What’s more, the potential of his body was constantly enhanced in the process of cultivating the Incipient Scripture. And it was far from being satiated.
“I’m so hungry.”
Opening his eyes, Su Yan felt extremely exhausted. Feeling his stomach with gentle stroke, he just had an impulse to gulp down one whole roasted bull.
“Why am I so hungry? How long have I been cultivating?”
Standing up, he nearly collapsed down, which really startled him. He now apparently was stronger than before, why so feeble?
“d.a.m.n, I almost forgot it.”
Su Yan quickly opened the cultivating manual. It wrote clearly that humans could continually absorb natural essence to speed the process of awakening, which would cause a lack of qi and blood to sufficiently support the human body.
Now Su Yan suffered insufficiency of blood and essence and weak qi channels, the result of breaking the original limit of life without supplementation.
Su Yan felt extremely feeble now.
“d.a.m.n!” The more he read the manual, the more terrified he got. It wrote in great detail that his life would be drastically shortened if no sufficient blood and qi were supplemented for a long time. Worst of all, he could die in just a few years.
Su Yan had no doubt about that as he could obviously feel his weakness. Even a man of unusual strength would be starved to death without food for days on end.
He had mined too much potential of his body for the past 7 days but failed to supplement any qi or blood, causing nutritional deficiency.
“I was too anxious to cultivate. Now this is troublesome, but it also suggests the Incipient Scripture is formidable.”
With a mixed feeling of shock and amazement, he opened the door, realizing the quickest way to replenish qi and blood was eating.
First, the common food was now expensive. Huaxia Alliance did not possess a territory too big, providing only a small portion for growing crops. As a result, the ordinary grains were extremely expensive, let alone meat, which would be impossible for ordinary households to afford.
Besides, the beasts worldwide now got more powerful than ever. To hunt down some beasts for food would require some mighty awoken. And to replenish qi and blood for the awoken, it required a myriad of precious flesh of various mutated beasts, which was also too costly for common people.
“Money, this is a problem. Where the h.e.l.l can I make money to buy some meat?”
Wearing a wry smile, Su Yan now was indeed penniless. He had thought that he could cultivate hard to improve his strength so as to survive in this world. But it never occurred to him that his life would be in danger now for lack of food.
It required one to be alive to actually break the original limit of life. Su Yan just made up his mind to go out and find some way to supplement his qi and blood.
“The new world is amazing with the pollution-free sky.”
Leaving the students’ dormitory and looking at the blue sky, Su Yan couldn’t help stretching himself. With the fresh air taken in, nearly all his fatigue went away.
He pa.s.sed a small garden with exuberant plants. Inside it there were quite a few young couples dating.
Walking alone on the cobblestone path, Su Yan looked so lonely in his black uniform.
“Em?”
Su Yan’s expression suddenly altered as he just felt a scorching heat from his arm, and it got hotter. Furious about the p.r.i.c.kling pain on the arm, he shouted in heart, “I’m now in such a terrible condition, and you still plan to rob my energy? You d.a.m.n totem, stop it!”
Su Yan would never want to return to his original state but the dragon totem just got so unruly, emitting a great deal of heat that nearly melted his arm.
“You d.a.m.n totem!”
Su Yan got rageful, and left the garden soon, fearing the dragon totem would make louder noise that attracted unnecessary attention. Strange enough, the moment he left the garden, it quieted down immediately.
What was that?
“You got your period or what? Please, my dear totem, do not cause any more trouble. I’ve been supplying energy for you for so long, don’t you think it is reasonable to offer me some benefits?”
“Su Yan?” A soft voice appeared with some hesitation. But these two words she just uttered did surprise some of the young couples dating here.
When they got a better view of the girl, some male students’ eyes brightened with excitement as if having taken a stimulant, making their companions’ face blackened.
On the tranquil path stood a young girl who looked charming and elegant. Her skin was fair, her bright eyes radiating, and her waist so slim that you could hold it with just one hand.
She stood there looking at Su Yan, her dark and bright hair falling to her shoulders. She was about the same age as Su Yan, but even the loose uniform could not conceal her shapely figure, curvaceous and captivating.
“Bai Mengying!”
Now all those young couples dating in the garden gazed at her. As the second to be given core members.h.i.+p, she was also one of the celebrities of the college. And some students even called her Senior Sister secretly, because she was warmhearted and generous in sharing her cultivation experience to help others awaken, winning most of the students’ support.
“It’s really you.” Eyes brightening with joy, she took elegant steps towards Su Yan, her hair swaying gracefully with the wind.
“It’s her.” Su Yan searched her in his memory and recalled that they used to cultivate together 3 years ago. He was quite impressed by this girl, who, though being defeated repeatedly, would rose up and kept fighting at such a young age.
A persistent and kind girl.
Su Yan, though uncomfortable, walked to her out of politeness. However, the dragon totem moved restlessly again when he stepped into the garden.
“Sorry, I’m afraid I have to leave now.” Hurriedly leaving the garden, Su Yan nearly cursed out of rage. But then the totem quieted down when he just stepped out of the garden.
Composing himself, Su Yan realized something unusual. There must be a reason why something ridiculous as this repeatedly occurred. But then he thought of the students around and shook his head, “Seems like I can only come back at night and check what secret is hidden here.”
“Why do you always avoid me?” Seeing Su Yan hastily walking away, Bai Mengying looked at his back with sadness and regret in eyes. She murmured in heart, “You defeated me for eight times. But we’ve agreed for the ninth duel when I’m back. How long will you keep me waiting? Couldn’t you just let me win once?”
Intelligent and talented since birth, Bai Mengying could not accept the fact that she had been defeated by Su Yan for 8 consecutive times.
Back then she even gave up the idea of defeating Su Yan, for she alone in the whole Frozen College knew that Su Yan had reached the awakening peak, capable of producing 100 horsepower in a punch.
How formidable he was!
“Mengying!”
A student with strong breathing ran near. It was Xiang Yang, also a celebrity of the college. He was 17 or 18 years old, tall and handsome like ornamental jade, looking cold and proud.
“Look! It’s Xiang Yang!” Some girls screamed out of excitement, eyes sparkling. The cool, proud and confident look he presented really made their hearts beat violently. Seeing Bai Mengying standing by him, all girls felt envious.
“Big news! Bai Mengying and Xiang Yang standing side by side! I heard that Xiang Yang has been chasing Bai Mengying for quite some time. They are both geniuses of the Frozen College and are bound to enter a higher school, even Huaxia College.”
“Comparisons are odious! It is rumored that Xiang Yang now possesses the force of 100 horsepower. Even the teachers are no match for him.”
A couple in the garden discussed with excitement. There wasn’t a soul in the college who didn’t know of Xiang Yang and Bai Mengying.
“Isn’t it Su Yan who just ran away hurriedly? He used to be the Senior Brother of the college. Pity that he is now too weak. I guess he is quite clear of the huge gap between you two and has no courage to stand by your side.” Coming to Bai Mengying’s side, he talked with happy smiles on face, not seeing Su Yan as a compet.i.tor at all.
Knitting her eyebrows, Bai Mengying distasted Xiang Yang’s words. But thinking of the mediocre life that Su Yan was about to live, she just felt so unfair.
“This is weird. What the h.e.l.l is going on?’
Su Yan just got back to his dorm. Now the dragon totem quieted down completely. But why did it scorch so much?
He had been to the garden for several times and nothing like this ever happened. Su Yan pondered, “Something has gone seriously wrong. It was the dragon totem who gave me the Incipient Scripture. So it won’t hurt me. I’ll go check the little garden some time later.”
Feeling the faint dragon tattoo on his arm, Su Yan noticed that it was brighter than a few days ago. “Is it because it devoured the energy I cultivated? What secret does it have?”
By nightfall, the entire Base No.9 was quiet.
Howling…
In the wilderness there came bouts of fierce beast roars. And some formidable beasts howling to the moon and absorbing natural essence on some far mountains could be vaguely seen.
The wilderness at night was extremely dangerous, beasts haunting, reek of blood pervading the air, and lantern-like and ferocious beast eyes staring closely at the base.
All streets were empty, all doors were closed, and no one had ever forgotten the devastating beast tides that nearly tore Base No.9 into pieces three years ago.
There were over 30 million residents in Base No.9, and each fortress and entrance were guarded by troops.
Hearing the beast roars, Su Yan couldn’t help sighing, “Huaxia Alliance must have been through a really tough time for the past one hundred years. Even now it’s not a peaceful time. If Base No.9 were breached, Huaxia City would no longer be safe.”
This was the biggest threat to the humans. Therefore, awakening was of critical significance.
In Base No.9 there were ten colleges in total. Now at the gate of the Frozen College, a group of teachers stood respectfully under the stone statue of Warlord Zu Yan, waiting for the n.o.ble guests coming soon.
“Did you hear that some guests of the higher college from Huaxia City are coming here to visit? It is said that they would even pre-enroll some students without testing.”
“Gee! They are here to rob talented students. There are quite a few talents in our college, who would definitely be chosen in advance and promised with lucrative terms.”
Many students were so jealous as they all longed for the opportunity to enter a higher college and enjoy favorable cultivation resources without taking the big exam.
“I guess students must have all left. Time to move!”
Su Yan set out before darkness fell. Rapidly getting to the small garden, he again felt the scorching heat from his dragon totem.
“I’d very much like to see what you are up to.” He walked quickly into the garden. The deeper he got into, the hotter his dragon totem became. Sometimes the temperature of the totem would drop when he deviated.
It was guiding him.
Suddenly he recalled that his blood nearly bubbled when he walked closer to Mount Qomolangma. So it followed that this dragon totem was also indicating something.
“Probably.”
The moment he got near to the lake, his arm was like on fire. Su Yan grimaced with pain and looked at the rippling lake. It was an artificial lake shrouded with flowing mists.
“Is it here?” Taking a full tour around the lake, Su Yan was sure that this was the place as the temperature of his totem would drop when he walked far away from the lake.
He looked around and surprisingly found a couple making love in the wildness.
“Looking for something exciting? Then I’ll offer them something real.”
Smiling wickedly, Su Yan grinned so broadly that his mouth nearly met his ears. He was not unfamiliar with such things. Back in college, he even dressed up as ghosts to frighten those young couples having s.e.x in the garden.
Sneaking near, Su Yan looked across the bush and saw a girl who was about to be stripped naked under the moonlight. Stimulated by her fair skin, Su Yan’s heart involuntarily throbbed faster.
He couldn’t help marveling at the fair and delicate skin. In the new era, cosmetics were no longer necessary.
Peeping secretly in the bush, and just when the o.r.g.a.s.mic squeals appeared, Su Yan roared in an oppressed voice, “Moo…!”
It was so loud and sonorous like a bull howling in anger, ready to tear the heaven and earth apart.
Crack!
With a clear cracking sound and the screams of a girl, the couple was terrified out of their wits. It was the sound of beasts. A beast broke into the garden!
“Is it broken? Poor thing. I pray for you in the name of the moon…”
Two bare figures with fair skin dashed out of the garden at a monstrous speed. Blaming himself, Su Yan jumped into the artificial lake without hesitation.
The water was freezing, making him more alert.
But then his expression altered drastically. The golden rays from the dragon totem looked incredibly weird under water.
“Good lord, glad that I scared them away. This wouldn’t do me any good if leaked out.”
Swimming rapidly downward, Su Yan soon reached the bottom of the small lake. Then he acutely found the golden rays from the totem falling directly on a completely black rock that was already cracked.
A mixed feeling of surprise and joy overwhelmed him. The dragon totem was indeed guiding him.
“What is the rock?”
Raising his hand, he felt for the rock with his palm. Though his qi channels were weak, his strength were prodigious. As soon as he touched the cracked rock, its skin quickly fell off like a beautiful woman stripped of her clothes.
Su Yan was flabbergasted. It was an ivory rock about the size of a fist , s.h.i.+ning. Taken aback in heart, Su Yan had never met any jade exquisite as this. More importantly, it was completely natural without any impurity, emitting brilliant lights that brightened the whole lake.
Swallowing his saliva out of anxiousness, he said in a bit of a daze, “It should be sold at a high price.”
Then he noticed the dragon totem quieted down, emitting no more golden rays.
“This is…” His eyes reddened, his body trembling uncontrollably out of excitement. This dragon totem could nose for treasure! And it just found one for him!
“Easy, boy. Easy.”
Taking a deep breath, Su Yan was too excited to calm down.
“What treasure is this?”
Su Yan could feel a very thick and powerful source of essence in the gem.
Shocked by the rich energy it contained, Su Yan stared at the rock, mused for a while, then gripped it firmly. Surprisingly, he could not extract the energy out as he expected.
While he was getting anxious, his eyes suddenly brightened at an idea. Su Yan instantly started practicing the Incipient Scripture, which had such an alarming consuming rate. His whole body was burning like a furnace, consuming energy at an astonis.h.i.+ng speed. Just then, a white light came out of the gem and shot right into his mouth.
He swallowed it, his body trembling violently, his bones roaring, and his original weak qi and blood immediately getting strong. At this moment, Su Yan just felt like he had some perfect tonic, replenis.h.i.+ng part of his feeble body.
“My G.o.d, what is this treasure?”
Su Yan was startled. He was just fretting over how to supplement his weak body. And it never occurred to him that the incredible energy from the gem would bring such an amazing effect.
More importantly, he even sensed that some of his body’s potential had been further developed by the purest essence of heaven and earth.
Su Yan’s hands trembled uncontrollably out of excitement. This was no doubt a priceless treasure!
“Hahahaha…I"m filthy rich!” Su Yan was excited beyond words, his smile spreading out to his ears again.
A gem was not even worth mentioning. Legend has it that dragons loved collecting manifold treasures, guarding sparkling precious babies every day.
This dragon totem of his could nose for treasures, guiding him to everything precious.
“d.a.m.n! Someone is coming.”
Being shocked, Su Yan carefully hid it in his clothes. Fortunately, the light it glistened was not too strong and could be concealed by his clothes.
Though underwater, it wouldn’t be a challenge for him to hold his breath for some time with his current cultivation.
He heard many voices seemingly talking about beasts, then patted hard on his forehead out of chagrin. He just acted too vividly that it led someone to probe the matter as a beast invasion was never something trivial.
Hiding under the lake, Su Yan dared not to make any sound and didn’t plan to go above water until these people all left.
“Right here.”
Some people crowded along the river, mostly teachers of the college.
Gao Hua’s face turned from blue to red then white. His female companion was too ashamed to even show her face. Just a moment ago, they ran out naked and ran into the teachers on the spot.
It would be much better if they just ran into some students. But teachers?! Gao Hua now even had the impulse to b.u.mp dead against a piece of tofu.
Jia De’s face distorted out of wrath. The glorious image of the Frozen College was now distained. How could they run out bare and naked! What a shame!
“Mr. Jia, you did surprise us today.” An old man taunted.
Though infuriated, Jia De still replied respectfully with a forced smile, “Er…They are still young. It’s quite understandable under such great pressure.”
Seeing that, Gao Hua was quite taken aback. Jia De was one of the most outstanding martial artists of the college. Irritable as he was, how come he would be so obedient? Who were these people?
“Hahaha…” The old man from the higher college shook his head and laughed, “It is impossible for beasts to get in the school. It must be a prank. Whoever made this wouldn’t be waiting for us. Let"s go now. We"re a little late today, so we won"t stay much longer.”
Jia De and other teachers looked anxious. The Frozen College used to be the best in Base No.9. However, it all changed when their dean disappeared three years ago. From then on, quite a few great teachers were poached by other colleges, leaving it at the bottom of the list regarding the enrolment rate for annual college entrance examination. Worst of all, not a single student had been admitted to Huaxia College for the past few years.
This time, about a dozen teachers from the higher college came. The chief was a young man in silver robe, looking cold. Scanning around in a commanding manner, he gave a simple nod.
Teachers from the Frozen College sighed in pity, knowing the influential figure from Huaxia College just made a decision to leave.
“They’re finally gone!” Getting relieved, Su Yan felt it was about time then swam upwards.
“Hold on!”
Just as they were about to leave the garden, the man in silver robe stopped. A trace of disdain flas.h.i.+ng by in his eyes, he said with an arrogant tone, “Interesting!”
Those present all looked at him in horror.
Just then, two silvery beams of light shone from his pupils, lightening up the dark garden.
Jia De shuddered. What a terrible young man! Those two silvery lights seemed mighty enough to pierce the sky.
“Someone’s here!”
All were stunned as they never expected that someone would be hiding in the lake.