Currently, several teachers at the Liluo City Royal Art Academy are seated before their teacher badges, observing Yan Xiaobao, hoping he might reveal more about his skills or provide insights into his past. Unfortunately, the Memory Stones cannot process sound, so the only thing they can see right now is what’s in his pocket. Nevertheless, these teachers remain patient, staying in their positions to observe Yan Xiaobao and wait for even the slightest clue.
As Yan Xiaobao left the classroom, he slipped his student badge into his pocket and headed toward the cafeteria, where he had a quick lunch before rushing back to the courtyard. His excitement had not waned; he was eager to once again attempt his Flame Spark Skill.
Yan Xiaobao dashed into his home, quickly changed his clothes, and ran back outside, accidentally leaving his student badge in the jacket pocket in his bedroom.
"How did you manage to create it?" Lan Feng asked clearly, as Hui Yue once again activated Mars Fire, noting how the flame in his palm started small but rapidly grew as Pearl White Qi surged forth, mixed with a few drops of blue liquid feeding the fire.
"It’s because of you," Xu Yue said, her face breaking into a wide smile, though she remained focused on the flame to ensure it didn’t grow wild. "I might not be able to use Spiritual Energy, but you’re already an elemental affinity Saint expert!" Yan Xiaobao exclaimed excitedly.
"Your soul and mine are intertwined, so even if I can’t truly harness spiritual energy, I can still actualize some of your affinities within your Qi, turning this harmless spark into an intense blaze!" As Yan Xiaobao’s excitement surged, his control over Spark Star weakened, forcing him to quickly cut off Qi’s supply as the flame roared, struggling to break free from the boundaries Yan Xiaobao had imposed.
Yan Xiaobao’s Mars Fire hand seal was one of the first seals for the Bluebird technique that he learned upon entering this new world. Long ago, Yan Xiaobao realized the contract between him and Lan Feng had altered everything.
His appearance had changed, but so had his soul. Though he was merely a student-ranked cultivator, a part of his soul had already gained Lan Feng’s power. However, so far, Yan Xiaobao still didn’t know how to fully manifest this strength, as he remained unable to perform Spiritual Art.
That being said, Spark Star is not a spiritual art skill. It’s a technique requiring Qi to create flames. Using the Phoenix’s affinity with fire and merging it into Qi enabled Yan Xiaobao to amplify the fire and control it with precision.
Yan Xiaobao spent the rest of the day practicing Spark Star, and he quickly learned his limits. As a student-level cultivator, he couldn’t make the flames truly dangerous, but both Lan Feng and Yan Xiaobao were aware that, upon reaching disciple level, it would become quite lethal.
The teachers had abandoned observing Yan Xiaobao the day prior, as they realized he had forgotten his student badge at home. However, by morning, all of the teachers resumed watching him intently.
It was Pill Distribution Day, and if Yan Xiaobao wanted to receive pills today, he would be compelled to cultivate in front of his student badge. All the teachers were excited for the chance to witness his methods, so they began observing Yan Xiaobao from the break of dawn.
Unfortunately, Yan Xiaobao was in no rush. He slept for a long time after successfully completing the Flame Spark Skill, feeling deeply relaxed. When he finally woke up, he spent the next half hour soaking in the bath, unwinding.
Yan Xiaobao’s leisurely lifestyle began to frustrate all the teachers; some even wished they could tell him aloud that he needed to start cultivating.
On the other hand, Yan Xiaobao decided to take his time, strolling toward the cafeteria where the Rong twins were waiting for him. The three enjoyed breakfast together. Yan Xiaobao smiled brightly today, feeling exceptionally good. After their meal, he wandered around campus with his friends, chatting about their plans for the next day, when they would return to Liluo City.
Yan Xiaobao knew he likely owed the Rong twins a debt, and he was confident that someday he would repay them both.
Yan Xiaobao waved goodbye to the twins as the three parted ways, heading toward their respective courtyards to prepare for Pill Distribution Day. The campus bustled with students hurrying home, all settling into meditation positions with their student badges positioned before them.
Yan Xiaobao sat down like everyone else, and many teachers felt immense satisfaction at the prospect of observing an unknown prodigy’s cultivation. Unfortunately, their excitement quickly turned to disappointment when they realized that Yan Xiaobao’s cultivation seemed just like everyone else’s—at least by all appearances.
Yan Xiaobao became deeply absorbed in his consciousness, solely focused on absorbing essence and refining Qi. He paid no attention to the sun as it slowly descended in the sky, eventually being supplanted by the magnificent moon.
What he did notice, though, was that while cultivating in the mountaintop courtyard, Pearl White Qi swelled considerably. When he finally broke through the Sixth Star Student rank, his body trembled from an intense surge.
The chairman was the only one capable of noticing how much Qi each student had gathered, dividing them into three groups. Those who collected the least Qi would receive one essence collection pill, enabling students to rapidly absorb essence and refine it at a slightly faster rate.