58: Chapter 58 Why am I so poor!

"Don't get happy too early. The school giving you such preferential treatment will inevitably come with corresponding pressure. As for what specifically, we'll have to wait until school starts to find out," Lin Mo said, dousing him with cold water.

Changing the subject, he added, "However, with your abilities, handling it should be more than enough—after all, the school probably doesn't know yet that you've already broken through to the Subtle Realm."

Zhang Wen deeply agreed. Flowers in a greenhouse couldn't become truly strong; he would just deal with whatever came his way.

"There's one more thing I want to discuss with you." Lin Mo paused. "I hadn't planned on mentioning it, but since you've just made a Breakthrough, it's perfect timing. There's a Secret Realm about to open that only allows those in the Subtle Realm to enter, and I have three spots. If you're willing to go, I'll have your Senior Brother and Senior Sister take you along."

Zhang Wen's heart stirred. Wasn't this exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for?

"Ding! Task detected. host, please be sure to choose to enter the Secret Realm. Rewards will be assessed based on the host's performance," the System prompt sounded at the right moment.

"Hehe, finally! ~(¯▽¯~)" A smile curled at the corners of Zhang Wen's mouth as he looked up at Lin Mo. "Master, I'll go! Thank you, Master, for thinking of me!"

Lin Mo's lip twitched. He felt something was odd, but it was hard to say anything.

"Then prepare yourself well. It'll be in the next few days; I'll notify you then."

"Okay, Teacher! Goodbye, Teacher! (¯▽¯)/~~" Zhang Wen said and left without looking back.

...

Back at the villa, Zhang Wen poked the home's AI, mysterious view. "mysterious view, mysterious view, for this Secret Realm trip, what gear do you think I should bring to look more professional?"

mysterious view's electronic voice suddenly became serious. "Based on the host's current combat power analysis, it is recommended to just bring yourself."

Zhang Wen was petrified on the spot, his finger hovering in mid-air. "No way, officer, are AIs even 'involution-ing' into stand-up comedy now?" He rubbed his chin, getting narcissistic.

"But then again, for a combat power ceiling like me, going to a small Secret Realm is indeed like visiting a vegetable market—wait, even at a vegetable market, you have to bring a plastic bag!"

In the end, he still stuffed two bottles of recovery potions and a pack of healing Medicinal Pills into his pockets, looking like an elementary schooler going to war with Band-Aids.

"How about I browse the System shop? What if there's some high-value junk? •ᴗ•" Just as he finished speaking, a virtual interface popped up with a "shua," nearly startling him into throwing out his back.

Opening the Cultivation Technique section, D to SSS-grade techniques were piled up like Double Eleven delivery packages. Zhang Wen waved his hand grandly. "Filter for Thunder Element and Water Element techniques above S-grade! Anything below S-grade? Does that even match my status as a host?"

In the [Thunder Element Cultivation Techniques] column, SSS-grade ones like "Nine Heavens Resounding Hell Art" and "Purple Lightning Void-Escaping Scripture" were each priced at 1 million points, making his eyelids twitch.

The [Water Element Cultivation Techniques] were even more ruthless. "Mysterious Abyss Ice-Condensing True Method" and "Heavenly River Overturning Record" were all marked with "Do not disturb unless you have a million points," as if they had conspired together.

Zhang Wen felt the 7,000-plus points in his pocket and suddenly understood the feeling of a beggar browsing a luxury store. He closed the technique page dejectedly. "Forget it, no matter how high your martial arts, you're still afraid of a kitchen knife. Let's go look at weapons. (ง•̀_•́)ง"

"System, give me a Thunder Element spear above S-grade! Don't bring out anything below S-grade to dazzle me!"

The interface shifted. Good heavens—

The S-grade Thunder God Sun-Piercing Spear was 500,000; the SS-grade Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Spear was 1.2 million; and the SSS-grade Thunder-Eroding Soul-Rending Spear was directly marked at 2 million. The lightning special effects on the spear tip almost blinded his titanium alloy dog eyes.

"Alright, I officially announce that I've joined the 'Point Poverty Household' association." Zhang Wen snapped the interface shut. If he kept looking, he was afraid he'd perform a bankruptcy on the spot.

Out of sight, out of mind! ＜(｀^´)＞! He clenched his fists and stared out the window. "Little Vicious Beasts in the Secret Realm, your nemesis Zhang Wen is coming! Once I pack you all up and trade you for points, these techniques and weapons will eventually be named Zhang!"

Thinking of himself throwing punches and kicks in the Secret Realm with points raining down like raindrops, and then clearing out the shop later, the drool at the corner of Zhang Wen's mouth almost formed a stream—well, let's dream first.

...

Early the next morning, as Zhang Wen was feasting on a table of breakfast, his phone suddenly vibrated.

"Hey, Zhang Wen, if you're free now, come over? I'll introduce you to some Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters." Lin Mo's voice came through the receiver, sounding somewhat gentle.

"Otay, otay! Teather, wait a moment, I'll fly over right after I finish this mouthful of food..." Zhang Wen responded indistinctly, his mouth stuffed full. As he spoke, he precisely picked up a shiny, braised chicken leg and took a big "omnom" bite.

On the other end of the phone, Lin Mo's temples throbbed. He helplessly rubbed his forehead—when he took this disciple, had he missed the word "reliable"?

In just about ten minutes, Zhang Wen rushed in front of Lin Mo like a gust of wind, his chest still heaving slightly. The bit of grease at the corner of his mouth that hadn't been wiped clean sparkled in the morning light like a tiny diamond, looking particularly prominent.

"Wipe the corner of your mouth first. It's so shiny; those who don't know would think you just crawled out of the Canteen's stove." Lin Mo handed over a tissue, looking at Zhang Wen's greedy appearance with a hint of helpless indulgence in his tone.

Zhang Wen chuckled and hurriedly rubbed the corner of his mouth, instantly leaving a bright grease stain on the tissue.

He crumpled the tissue into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket, scratching his head and acting dumb. "Hehe, the braised chicken leg this morning was too amazing; I couldn't help myself."

Lin Mo didn't respond but turned toward the Elemental Academy's training plaza. "Follow me. I'll introduce you to the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters in our sect. They are all top-tier element experts in the academy."

Zhang Wen quickly followed, his eyes already caught by the scene on the plaza—on the left open ground, a shirtless, burly man was punching a rock wall one blow at a time. His fists were wrapped in blazing fire elements, each strike splashing a shower of sparks, with charred fist prints layering on the rock wall.

Near a water pavilion not far away, a white-skirted Senior Sister's fingertips condensed water lines that flowed around wooden stakes, sometimes turning into ice cones for piercing, sometimes into water streams for wrapping, making one's head spin.

Under the shade of a tree, there was also a young man wearing glasses, injecting earth elements into a Formation Plate on the ground. With his finger movements, a stone wall actually rose slowly from the ground.

"This is your Senior Brother, Qin Feng. He has an A-grade Fire Element talent, Tyrant Fire, and is ranked among the top on the academy's fire element list." Lin Mo pointed at the burly man hitting the rock wall. "With your beginner-level Thunder Element control, if you hit a Bottleneck, ask him for advice; it's more useful than chewing on Cultivation Techniques or Secret Manuals."

Qin Feng turned his head at the sound, a smile breaking out on his sweat-drenched face as he waved a steaming fist. "Little Junior Brother? You look quite sharp! If anyone dares to bully you with fire elements in the future, just give them my name!"

Just as Zhang Wen was about to reply, he was pulled by Lin Mo to the side of the water pavilion. "Senior Sister Su Qingyue, S-grade water talent, Thousand Waters Without Trace. Her control has reached a high level, and she's been the champion of the academy's Water Element Practical Combat Competition for two consecutive years."

Su Qingyue stopped her technique. The water droplets dripping from her hair refracted rainbows in the sunlight as she winked at Zhang Wen. "Hello, Junior Brother. If you lack cultivation resources in the future, should Senior Sister share some with you?"

Zhang Wen's eyes lit up, and he was just about to shout "Senior Sister is so righteous" when he was pulled under the shade of the tree.

"This is Senior Brother Zhao Yu. He has an A-grade Earth Element talent, Unbreakable Bedrock, and is a dual cultivator of Formations. He's especially good at using earth elements for defense. In the last academy Secret Realm trial, the Formation he set up trapped three Subtle Realm Vicious Beasts," Lin Mo introduced.

Zhao Yu pushed his glasses, still holding a glowing earth-type Spirit Stone in his hand. "Hello, Junior Brother. When we team up to brave Secret Realms in the future, just give them my name. I'll handle the Formation Plates."

Zhang Wen was a bit dazed by this display. He shouted "Hello, Senior Brother" and "Hello, Senior Sister" like he was performing a rhythmic monologue, but his heart was filled with joy—the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters of the Elemental Academy were all big shots. He probably wouldn't have to worry about not having someone to carry him on his cultivation path in the future!

"There are a few more Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who aren't at school; I'll introduce them to you later," Lin Mo added. "For this Secret Realm trip, Qingyue and Zhao Yu will take you. Learn more from them."