Tao Xinyi stood on tiptoe, grabbed the zipper, and yanked it down in one smooth motion.
“Come on! Let teacher have a look! Xiong Er, can you lend me this costume for a few days…”
The moment the zipper was fully open, Tao Xinyi froze, her whole body stiffening.
It must be an illusion! Definitely an illusion!
She quietly zipped it back up, then yanked it open again.
Still bear fur behind the zipper!
The entire zipper had been glued on with 502 super glue!
Tao Xinyi: ∑(°口°ノ)ノ
This isn’t a costume? It’s actually a bear?
A platinum-rank spirit beast?
Her brain buzzed as if someone had smashed it with a brick!
Are you kidding me?
This is the “outstanding student” Jiang Nan was talking about? How on earth did he bring it all the way from the spirit ruins to the academy?
He even got it ID papers? Is he some kind of god?
And stuck a zipper on it? Pfft…
Xiong Er turned around. “Sister Xinyi! All done meow?”
Tao Xinyi: !!!
A platinum-rank spirit beast that can talk with a heavy accent!
Her little face went pale, looking as if she had seen a ghost!
My entire worldview cannot handle what’s happening right now!
It’s going to collapse!
“Student Xiong Er, wait here a moment! I need to call the principal!”
Tao Xinyi dashed into the corridor and rang Xiao Chuihuo.
Xiao Chuihuo: “Hello? Xinyi! Have you seen the outstanding student Jiang Nan brought back? How is he? Good material?”
Tao Xinyi glanced around and whispered, “Principal, listen to me, Jiang Nan brought back a bear!”
Xiao Chuihuo: “Why are you telling me this? The teddy bear plush he brought back is obviously for his girlfriend!”
“Young people these days! Dating is perfectly normal!”
Tao Xinyi panicked. “It’s not a plush! It’s a real bear!”
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Xiao Chuihuo’s forehead.
“Well, young people keeping cats or dogs as pets is normal! Jiang Nan keeping a bear… doesn’t seem too excessive!”
“I’m asking about the new student!”
Tao Xinyi rubbed her temples. “The bear is the new student Jiang Nan brought back! Platinum-one spirit beast! It can talk!”
Xiao Chuihuo: *spurt* (❍ฺε❍ฺlll)
He sprayed the mouthful of Da Hong Pao tea he had just sipped all over the floor!
*Cough cough!* “What the hell did he bring back?”
Tao Xinyi: “A bear! The talking kind! It called me Sister Xinyi and said I’m old!”
Xiao Chuihuo nearly choked to death!
I was excitedly waiting to see what kind of genius an eighteen-year-old platinum-one would be!
And you bring me a platinum-one black bear spirit beast?
It talks? Pull the other one!
“Bring the bear to the principal’s office, now!”
…
Outside the physical training hall, Wei Teng was waiting anxiously.
Jiang Nan teleported right beside him.
Wei Teng’s eyes lit up. “Master! I watched all your videos! So cool! Can you teach me? I want to learn both the Scallion Explosion Despair Slash and the Thirteen Floating Sky Slashes!”
Jiang Nan grinned. “Small stuff, I’ll teach you later! Today I need something else!”
“Where did you get your spirit blade Ghost Slash forged?”
Wei Teng blinked. “At Grandpa Liu’s place! What’s up? Did master find some spirit-hosting material too?”
Jiang Nan sneaked a glance around. “Found a massive chunk! No idea what it is!”
Wei Teng’s eyes sparkled. “Grandpa Liu will definitely know, he’s the expert!”
“When I found a piece of Yin Steel Jade in the Jade Dragon Spirit Ruins, I took it to Grandpa Liu Qiutian. He forged it for free! Just give him the leftover scraps!”
“His blade work is insane too! Everything I know, he taught me!”
Jiang Nan’s eyes widened at the words “free forging”.
“Let’s go! Right now!”
Following Wei Teng, they arrived at a building in the corner of the academy.
A sign read “Spirit Material Research Lab”.
Jiang Nan was dumbfounded. He had imagined some hidden blacksmith hut deep in the mountains!
It was so modern!
Inside, display cases showed all kinds of spirit-hosting minerals.
Researchers bustled around microscopes and vacuum equipment.
There were smelting rooms, composition analysis labs, and more.
A few senior students were here customising their personal weapons.
A trendy old man wearing a floral headscarf, an earring, white beard, and an eyepatch over his left eye strode over.
He completely ignored Wei Teng, eyes fixed on Jiang Nan, practically glowing.
“You’re the one who crushed Xiao Wei with blade work, right? He only inherited seventy percent of my true skill! Want to spar with this old man?”
Jiang Nan chuckled. “No need, no need! How could this kid show off in front of a master? I found some spirit-hosting material and was hoping Grandpa could forge a few weapons for me!”
Liu Qiutian’s eyes shone brighter. “Don’t be modest, kid! Your blade work has real flavour!”
“Take it out! Let this old man have a look!”
Jiang Nan grinned and pulled out the ruby chunk.
*BOOM!*
The terrifying weight cracked the floor tiles, drawing everyone’s attention.
Liu Qiutian’s eyes nearly popped. “Holy crap! What the hell is this thing?”
He crouched over it, tapping and inspecting, excitement beyond words.
Jiang Nan: …
Didn’t they say he was an expert?
Why does he look like he’s never seen the world? Is he reliable? He won’t scam my treasure, right?
Wei Teng was stunned. “Even Grandpa Liu hasn’t seen it?”
Liu Qiutian was thrilled. “Never seen it! There are tons of spirit materials in this world I haven’t encountered! Every one has unique properties!”
“No idea what this thing does! The purity is absolutely top-tier! Come on, let’s study it!”
Under Jiang Nan’s shocked gaze, he single-handedly lifted the motorcycle-sized ruby and walked inside!
Proof positive!
Your grandpa is still your grandpa!
In the research lab, Liu Qiutian ran the ruby through every instrument.
Analysing composition, properties, structure, melting point, everything. Jiang Nan was dizzy just watching.
Ten-odd minutes later,
Liu Qiutian came out hugging the ruby, face bursting with excitement.
“Unprecedented! Truly unprecedented! Kid, put your hand on it and pour in spiritual energy!”
Jiang Nan did as told.
As spiritual energy flowed in, the whole ruby glowed with a hazy red light.
Liu Qiutian’s arm turned metallic, then he hammered down with terrifying force!
*BOOM!*
The massive impact even sparked, yet the floor remained unharmed!
A warm surge of energy flowed up his arm into his body!
Jiang Nan’s eyes widened in shock. His fatigue seemed to vanish, stamina slightly restored!
Liu Qiutian was pumped. “Feel it? This material’s property is unique!”
“As long as you infuse spiritual energy, it absorbs vibration and converts that shock back into energy to replenish stamina!”
“Plus the hardness is insane! Perfect for armour or weapons!”
Jiang Nan could barely contain his excitement!
This property is broken!
Weapons or armour made from this would make prolonged combat effortless!
It even has a blood-drinking effect?
Absorb shock and convert it to stamina?
Liu Qiutian licked his lips. “Give this thing a name! It’ll go in the materials science textbooks later!”
Jiang Nan was taken aback. “I name it?”
“You discovered it first, of course you name it!”
Jiang Nan wiped his nose, a sudden surge of pride welling up.
“Let’s call it Blood-Drinking Southern Red! Domineering enough?”
Liu Qiutian roared with laughter. “Interesting! Alright, what weapon do you want? This huge chunk can make plenty!”
Jiang Nan shyly asked, “It’s free, right?”
“Psh, what kind of talk is that! Could this old man charge you? Just leave me the scraps and offcuts!”
Jiang Nan gave a big thumbs-up.
“Grandpa Liu’s integrity is unmatched!”
“Then make me a meteor hammer! No need for fancy processing!”
“Just carve a length of chain out of this Blood-Drinking Southern Red for me! The rest can be the hammer head!”
Liu Qiutian: ???
What kind of meteor hammer needs a bloody chain carved out of it!
You’re not planning to leave me a single scrap!
[Resentment from Liu Qiutian +1000!]
“N… no, that’s wasteful! Can you even swing it?”
“Your blade work is so good, let me forge knives! I can make several! You…”
Jiang Nan: “It’s fine! Meteor hammer! I’m strong! I can swing it!”
[Resentment from Liu Qiutian +1000!]
[From…]
