107: Let me know

After Jiang Donghua left the Alchemy Department, he first went to the Gryphon Beast Flight Station in the Outer Academy.

Jia Nan Academy covers an extremely vast area, with the Outer Academy and Inner Academy separated by hundreds of miles. If ordinary students wished to travel between them, they either relied on their own legs or had to ride the Gryphon Beasts trained by the academy.

And Gryphon Beasts became the preferred choice for most students.

The flight station was located on a towering stone platform on the west side of the Outer Academy. Over a dozen massive Gryphon Beasts were lazily sprawled, occasionally flapping their wings and stirring up gusts of wind.

As Jiang Donghua approached, a Law Enforcement Team student responsible for scheduling blocked him.

"Stop! Gryphon Beasts are only for the Law Enforcement Team and students with passes. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed near!"

Jiang Donghua didn't waste words; he directly pulled out a silver token from his Huai, engraved with the emblem of the Alchemy Department.

"Fourth-Grade Alchemist, Jiang Donghua, on a mission to the Inner Academy by my master's command."

Upon seeing the token, the Law Enforcement Team student's attitude immediately became more respectful.

"So it's Senior Brother Jiang! My apologies, I'll arrange it for you right away."

Soon, a Gryphon Beast was led over. Jiang Donghua flipped onto its back, settling firmly in the saddle.

The Gryphon Beast's back was broad, but its feathers were as hard as iron, making it not very comfortable to sit on.

"Hold on tight, Senior Brother!"

The scheduling student blew a whistle, and the Gryphon Beast immediately spread its wings, gave a powerful flap, and soared into the sky!

"Whoosh—!"

A strong wind rushed at him. Jiang Donghua instinctively gripped the saddle ropes, and his entire body was lifted off the ground, his vision instantly broadening.

The entire Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy complex rapidly shrank beneath his feet, and the distant mountains, forests, and lakes came into full view.

"This thing really flies fast!"

Jiang Donghua muttered under his breath, trying to steady himself.

The Gryphon Beast's flight speed was extremely fast. In just a moment, the outline of the Outer Academy had receded, replaced by an even more magnificent complex of buildings—the Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy!

The Gryphon Beast landed at the Inner Academy's flight station. Jiang Donghua jumped off the saddle, rubbed his somewhat numb legs, and then strode deeper into the Inner Academy.

The buildings of the Inner Academy were older than those of the Outer Academy. Every palace exuded an aura of antiquity, and many buildings even bore traces of battles, left by the clashes of successive Inner Academy powerhouses.

"Where on earth is that guy Lei Lie?"

Jiang Donghua looked around, his brows slightly furrowed.

Jiang Donghua stood in the central plaza of the Inner Academy, looking at the intricate palaces, training grounds, and trial towers all around him, feeling a headache coming on.

"This Inner Academy is just too big!"

He had originally thought that as famous powerhouses in the Inner Academy, Lei Lie, Xiao Han, and Liu Qingsi's whereabouts would not be difficult to inquire about.

But reality slapped him hard. There were tens of thousands of Inner Academy Students, and powerhouses were as numerous as clouds. Even the prominent figures on the strong ranking list couldn't be constantly monitored.

"Tsk, where did these three guys run off to?"

Jiang Donghua rubbed his temples, deciding not to wander around like a headless fly anymore, but to directly ask someone.

He looked around and saw a few Inner Academy Students walking out of a training ground. He quickly went up and stopped them.

"Senior Brothers, have you seen Lei Lie, Xiao Han, or Liu Qingsi?"

The students were first taken aback, then showed strange expressions.

"Lei Lie? Xiao Han? Liu Qingsi?"

One of them looked Jiang Donghua up and down.

"What do you want with them?"

"Something important. Please tell me where they are."

Jiang Donghua said patiently.

"Heh, we've certainly seen the powerhouses on the strong ranking list, but that doesn't mean we know where they are right now."

Another student shrugged.

"How could we possibly know the whereabouts of people of their caliber?"

Jiang Donghua frowned.

"Then where was the last place you saw them?"

"As for Lei Lie, it seems he was sparring with someone in the arena yesterday."

A female student recalled.

"As for Xiao Han and Liu Qingsi, I heard they've been in seclusion at the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower recently."

"Arena? Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower?"

Jiang Donghua's heart stirred, and he cupped his hands.

"Thank you!"

With that, he turned and left, heading straight for the arena.

The Inner Academy Arena was a place for disciples to spar and compete. Every day, countless powerhouses clashed there, and the sounds of battle were incessant.

When Jiang Donghua arrived, two Two-Star Dou Ling students were fiercely battling in the arena. The surrounding area was packed with spectators. He squeezed into the crowd, scanned around, but didn't find Lei Lie.

"Strange, didn't they say he was at the arena?"

He grabbed a nearby spectator and asked.

"Senior Brother, has Lei Lie been to the arena today?"

"Lei Lie?"

The student shook his head.

"No, he did fight here yesterday, but he hasn't shown up today."

Jiang Donghua sighed inwardly, it seemed he had come up empty again.

Since the arena was empty, Jiang Donghua could only turn towards the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.

The Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower is a sacred training ground in the Inner Academy. The tower contains rich fire-attribute energy, which greatly benefits students who cultivate fire-attribute techniques. However, it is also one of the most chaotic places in the Inner Academy, where powerhouses frequently contend for training rooms.

As Jiang Donghua approached the tower, he felt a scorching aura wash over him.

The tower body was entirely crimson, as if it had been forged by flames, and the top of the tower even had faint flashes of fire.

"I hope this isn't a wasted trip!"

As Jiang Donghua reached the entrance of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, before he could even step inside, a sharp shout suddenly rang out.

"Stop!"

He paused, looking up to see a black-robed instructor blocking the tower gate. His gaze was as sharp as a knife, and a scorching aura subtly emanated from him, clearly a result of long-term cultivation in a place rich in fire-attribute energy.

"An Outer Academy Student?"

The instructor frowned, sizing up Jiang Donghua with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"Who allowed you to trespass into the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower? Don't you know the rules?"

Before he finished speaking, a powerful pressure suddenly erupted. The aura of a Four-Star Dou Ling surged like a tide, and the surrounding air seemed to grow several degrees hotter.

Jiang Donghua's expression changed slightly, but he didn't panic, merely stating in a deep voice.

"Instructor, I am a disciple of the Alchemy Department, sent by my master to the Inner Academy for business, not trespassing."

"Alchemy Department?"

The instructor snorted coldly.

"People from the Alchemy Department can just casually enter the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower? This is a vital training area of the Inner Academy. Without Inner Academy identification, no one is allowed to enter!"

His voice was not quiet, immediately attracting the attention of many surrounding Inner Academy Students.

"An Outer Academy fellow? How did he end up here?"

"Heh, probably trying to mooch a training room, truly doesn't know his place."

"So what if he's from the Alchemy Department? The Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower isn't for just anyone!"

Gaze after gaze, some mocking, some disdainful, were cast upon him. Jiang Donghua instantly became the target of all eyes.

He frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased, but didn't act out. He simply took out the silver token from his robes again and said in a deep voice.

"I have a token from an Alchemy Department elder. This trip is indeed for an important matter, so I ask for the instructor's understanding."

The instructor glanced at the token, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but it quickly returned to indifference.

"A token?"

He scoffed.

"Even an elder of the Alchemy Department doesn't have the authority to arbitrarily arrange for Outer Academy Students to enter a critical Inner Academy area! Unless you have a direct order from the Great Elder of the Inner Academy, otherwise, leave immediately!"

Jiang Donghua's eyes darkened.

It seemed that relying solely on the token wouldn't work.

Jiang Donghua was unceremoniously chased out of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower by the instructor. Standing outside the tower, he frowned deeply, annoyed.

"Tsk, the rules of this Inner Academy are really troublesome!"

He stared at the crimson giant tower, and suddenly a thought flashed through his mind.

"Wait, since Xiao Han and Liu Qingsi are cultivating inside, with their strength, they must have exclusive training rooms! What if I find someone who can get in to help pass on a message?"

Thinking of this, he immediately turned around, his gaze sweeping over the Inner Academy Students entering and exiting.

Soon, he locked onto a male student who seemed relatively amiable, quickly walked up, and cupped his hands.

"Senior Brother, could you do me a favor? I'd like to find Liu Qingsi or Xiao Han. Could you help me pass on a message?"

The student was initially listening casually, but upon hearing the names Liu Qingsi and Xiao Han, his face instantly changed. He looked Jiang Donghua up and down with a strange gaze, as if looking at a madman.

"You, looking for them?"

Jiang Donghua nodded.

"Yes, I have something important."

The student's mouth twitched, then he let out a scoff and rolled his eyes.

"Seeking death isn't played like this!"

With that, he walked away quickly without looking back, as if afraid of being associated with Jiang Donghua.

Jiang Donghua was stunned, before he could react, another female student passed by. He quickly spoke again.

"Senior Sister, could you..."

"No, no, no!"

The female student directly raised her hand to interrupt, a look of disdain on her face.

"I don't want to get into trouble!"

"Trouble?"

Jiang Donghua frowned.

"I just want to let them know someone is looking for them, not challenge them."

The female student sneered.

"Do you think anyone can meet the people on the strong ranking list? Especially Liu Qingsi and Xiao Han, they are most averse to being disturbed during cultivation. The last person who rashly went to pass a message is still lying in bed!"

Only then did Jiang Donghua realize the seriousness of the problem.

The top powerhouses on the strong ranking list were simply untouchable in the eyes of Inner Academy Students!

He looked around and noticed that the Inner Academy Students who had initially been somewhat curious about him were now all looking at him with expressions of amusement, some even whispering.

"Where did this greenhorn come from? Daring to disturb those two?"

"Probably a new Outer Academy Student, doesn't know his place."

"Heh, when he gets beaten out later, he'll know regret."

Jiang Donghua took a deep breath, feeling helpless.

"It seems I can only think of another way..."

Jiang Donghua stood outside the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding Inner Academy Students, some mocking, some indifferent, a cold sneer forming in his heart.

"Since no one dares to go, then I'll use profit to embolden them!"

He flipped his hand, and a completely emerald green pill appeared in his palm. A faint spiritual glow circulated on the pill's surface, emitting a rich medicinal fragrance that instantly attracted everyone's attention.

"mysterious spirit pill?!"

An experienced student cried out in alarm, his eyes filled with shock and greed.

The mysterious spirit pill, a third-grade pill, could directly raise a Great Dou Master's cultivation by one star, and even had a 30% chance of helping a Peak Great Dou Shi break through to Dou Ling!

Such a pill was a rare commodity even in the Inner Academy; ordinary students couldn't even dream of obtaining it!

Jiang Donghua's lips curled into a slight smile, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Whoever can go and inform Xiao Han or Liu Qingsi, this mysterious spirit pill is theirs."

The entire area fell silent instantly.

The next second, an uproar broke out!

"Is that real? That's a mysterious spirit pill!"

"What's his background? He can just casually produce such a pill?"

"Wait, isn't he an Alchemist?!"

The Inner Academy Students who had initially avoided him now all stared at the pill in Jiang Donghua's hand with fiery eyes, their breathing growing rapid.

Finally, a burly student couldn't hold back, strode forward, and said in a deep voice.

"Is that true?"

Jiang Donghua nodded calmly.

"Naturally."

A fierce glint flashed in the burly student's eyes, and he gritted his teeth.

"Alright! I'll go!"

He turned to rush into the tower, but before he took two steps, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and firmly yanked him back.

"Are you crazy?!"

Another student growled.

"To provoke Xiao Han for a pill? If he gets angry, you won't even keep your life!"

The burly student's face stiffened. He had clearly thought of Xiao Han's terrifying nature, and his steps immediately faltered.

Seeing this, Jiang Donghua chuckled lightly and spoke again.

"What, a dignified Inner Academy Student, doesn't even have the guts to pass on a message?"

These words were like a spark, instantly igniting everyone's self-esteem.

"Damn it, I'll risk it!"

Another student gritted his teeth and stepped forward.

"I'll go find Liu Qingsi! Her temper is better than Xiao Han's, she probably won't directly attack!"

"I'll go too!"

"Count me in!"

In a flash, seven or eight students rushed towards the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, vying with each other, afraid that if they were a step too slow, the pill would fall into someone else's hands.

Jiang Donghua nodded with satisfaction, chuckling inwardly.

"Indeed, in the face of profit, even the greatest fear can be diluted."