Ling Xiao looked at the six from his group and said, “You six, go in. If you’re short on spirit stones, I’ll cover it. I’ll lend each of you three thousand low-grade spirit stones, enough for a month’s training. But remember, you’ve got to pay me back.”
“We’ll definitely repay you!” Dai Yuling, Leng Hao, and the others excitedly took the spirit stones and entered the training rooms without hesitation.
Low-grade spirit stones were no big deal to them now. Completing academy tasks made earning them back easy.
With time pressing, and since Ling Xiao had spares to lend, they had no worries about repaying.
“Let’s head to the second floor,” Ling Xiao said, watching the six enter the rooms, then striding toward the next level.
Feng Yanran was still reeling from shock.
Weren’t warriors from the Heavenly Dragon Continent supposed to be poor?
What was up with Ling Xiao?
Three thousand spirit stones per person, six people, that’s eighteen thousand low-grade spirit stones!
“Yanran, aren’t you coming?” Lan Yuer called back, snapping Feng Yanran out of her daze.
She hurriedly followed.
The strongest guard on the second floor was a peak First Line Heaven warrior.
Lan Yuer forcefully claimed a training room and began cultivating.
Second-floor private rooms cost one thousand low-grade spirit stones daily, while the large training room, now also requiring payment, cost one hundred per person per day.
Lan Yuer, well-off, didn’t need to borrow from Ling Xiao.
“Keep going!” Ling Xiao said, aiming for the third floor, his ideal training spot.
But getting there wasn’t easy.
As the three reached the third floor, they saw three figures blocking the path, meditating cross-legged.
All three were Two Polarities Heaven realm, the central figure in striking red robes at the late stage, the other two at the early stage.
“Are warriors of this calibre really content being the Divine Phoenix Academy’s guard dogs?” Ling Xiao asked, surprised.
“They likely rotate. It’d be a waste for warriors of this level to stay out here constantly,” Feng Yanran explained.
“No wonder,” Ling Xiao nodded, continuing forward.
“Stop! Can’t you see we’re training? Get lost!” the red-robed man snapped, glaring coldly at Ling Xiao, his words dripping with disdain.
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, “I know you’re training. I’m just passing through.”
He kept walking, ignoring their murderous stares.
“Didn’t you hear me? Scram! A mere Heavenly Vein Warrior daring to train on the third floor? Look in a mirror and see if you’re worthy!” the red-robed man roared. He could tolerate defiance from someone of equal strength, but a Heavenly Vein Warrior like Ling Xiao ignoring him was infuriating.
“Senior Brother, no need to get mad. With the three of us here, how could a Heavenly Vein Warrior get past unless he sprouts wings and flies over?” a Divine Phoenix Academy warrior beside him said.
“True enough!” the red-robed man sneered, looking at Ling Xiao. “Kid, I’ll give you one chance. Get through us, and I’ll let you train in the large room.”
“Idiot!” Ling Xiao glanced at him dismissively. A Three Talents Heaven warrior might scare him, but a mere Two Polarities Heaven warrior? He didn’t care.
With his soul power and Mountain and River Martial Soul, he could send this guy packing instantly.
“What did you say!” the red-robed man bellowed, but before he finished, a flash of light passed overhead. Ling Xiao, who’d been in front of them, was now behind.
“What!” The red-robed man’s face darkened, humiliated.
A late-stage Two Polarities Heaven warrior, yet someone slipped past him. Utter disgrace.
“Get him out!” he barked at the warrior beside him.
“Yes, Senior Brother!” The early-stage Two Polarities Heaven warrior, dismissing Ling Xiao, leapt forward like a agile snake, landing behind him.
He struck Ling Xiao’s back with a palm. “Heh, Qingxu Academy brat, you don’t know what’s good for you. Time for a lesson!”
Killing was forbidden near the Heavenly Origin Tower, a royal rule, so he held back, aiming only to injure.
Thanks to that rule, or he’d be a corpse the next moment.
“Scratching an itch?” Ling Xiao’s cold, mocking voice rang out. The Divine Phoenix Academy warrior felt a terrifying recoil from his palm, sending him flying to the tower’s base.
“My hand!” He wasn’t killed by the fall, but his right hand was charred black.
Terrifying!
Feng Yanran, no stranger to Ling Xiao’s fights, was still stunned.
This was a Two Polarities Heaven early-stage warrior, yet Ling Xiao, without even striking, repelled him with defensive techniques and scorched his hand.
“This guy’s incredible. No wonder the vice-dean personally brought him to the academy!” Qingxu Academy students, also at Two Polarities Heaven, watched from the third-floor corridor.
Though not weak, they only secured spots to train in the corridor, as no private rooms were free.
At this level, spirit stones weren’t an issue, but they couldn’t access the large training room either.
The red-robed man’s pupils shrank, staring at Ling Xiao’s back. It wasn’t an illusion—his back glowed like the sun.
Even from a distance, it instilled fear.
This Heavenly Vein Warrior’s strength didn’t match his cultivation. How did he train?
“You were the loudest just now. Cat got your tongue?” Ling Xiao turned, sneering at the red-robed man. “If you lack the skill, don’t play tough. It’ll get you killed!”
He didn’t plan to fight further; cultivation was the priority.
Each private room had a time display, like a sundial, showing when occupants would leave.
Four rooms would be free within half an hour, one in just minutes.
So, he decided to wait.
