111: Girl pursuing boy

After sending Jiang Donghua off, Xiao Han didn't say much, merely sweeping a cold glance around before turning to leave, causing the students secretly peeking to quickly lower their heads and make way.

"Dou King..."

He murmured softly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

As the strongest of the three, a Nine-Star Dou Ling, he was only a step away from becoming a Dou King. Yet, this single step had trapped countless geniuses, with some unable to cross it their entire lives.

And now, Jiang Donghua had given him a chance, a chance sufficient to truly elevate him into the ranks of the Inner Academy's top powerhouses!

"Seclusion!"

He unhesitatingly stepped into his cultivation chamber, a burst of cold energy erupting around him, instantly covering the entire room in a thick layer of frost. He sat cross-legged, took out a jade bottle, and gazed at the blood-red medicinal liquid within, battle intent burning in his eyes.

"When I emerge from seclusion, the inner academy strong ranking list will surely be reshuffled!"

Liu Qingsi watched Xiao Han's receding figure, her red lips slightly pursed, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

"This guy, he's quite decisive..."

She lowered her head, looking at the jade bottle in her hand, her fingertips gently caressing it, feeling the violent energy contained within.

As a Seven-Star Dou Ling, she was still some distance from becoming a Dou King, but Jiang Donghua's words ignited an unprecedented desire in her heart.

"If I can truly break through to Dou King, who in the Inner Academy would dare to look down on me then?"

She snorted coldly, her dark green Dou Qi coiling around her like a poisonous snake. She then turned and left, needing to quickly raise her strength, at least to Nine-Star Dou Ling, to ensure the meridian-burning barrier-breaking pill's effect was maximized.

On the other side, Lei Lie grinned, his rugged face full of excitement.

"Hahaha! This time, I've really stumbled upon a treasure!"

He clenched the jade bottle, a fierce glint in his eyes. Though not as exceptionally talented as Xiao Han, he excelled in his robust physique and firm will.

If he could truly endure the scorching power of the meridian-burning barrier-breaking pill, he might not be unable to surpass them!

"Seclusion! Seclusion! I won't emerge from seclusion this time until I break through to Dou King!"

He laughed loudly as he departed, his burly figure like a moving mountain, causing the surrounding students to quickly make way.

The news of the trio entering seclusion quickly stirred up a huge commotion in the Inner Academy.

"What? Xiao Han, Liu Qingsi, and Lei Lie have all entered seclusion at the same time?!"

"I heard they obtained some kind of pill from that kid in the Outer Academy!"

"For powerhouses on the strong ranking list's top ten to take it so seriously, that pill must be extraordinary!"

Inner Academy, inside a secluded cultivation pavilion.

Red Silk, clad in black and red robes, her voluptuous figure leaned against the window, her fingertips tapping restlessly on the window frame.

Her large, foxy eyes were now filled with vexation and anxiety.

"Damn it, how could I have been so stupid as to try and take a pill from an Alchemist?!"

"A Fourth-Grade Alchemist in just one year, and with Elder Mo Xuan backing him. This is big trouble now!"

The more Red Silk thought about it, the more alarmed she became.

Alchemists were already rare, let alone one with such monstrous talent?

At Jiang Donghua's growth rate, he would certainly enter the Inner Academy next year. If he held a grudge then...

"No, I must find a way to make amends!"

She abruptly stood up, her ample chest rising and falling with her hurried breaths. She then frantically searched through her storage ring.

"A fourth-tier demonic core? No, too common."

"A Profound Rank High-Grade Dou Technique? He might not even care for it ~"

After searching for a while, her gaze suddenly sharpened, and she retrieved a crystal from the depths of her storage ring. It was entirely crimson, its surface covered in golden patterns.

"Crimson Fire Jade?!"

She had luckily obtained this during a mission last year, intending to keep it for her own breakthrough to Dou King.

"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a cub!"

She gritted her teeth, carefully put away the jade, and then took out her most precious demonic core.

"Plus the fifth-tier demonic core I painstakingly snatched from the midst of a chaotic battle?"

Red Silk took a deep breath, a flicker of heartache in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

"Rather than waiting for him to retaliate later, it's better to proactively humble myself!"

She adjusted her robes, her voluptuous figure looking even more alluring outlined by the tight black and red attire, but at this moment, she had no time to worry about such things.

"I must personally apologize before he enters the Inner Academy!"

Red Silk walked out of the Alchemy Department's main entrance and stood in the sunlight, subconsciously adjusting her black and red robes, making the already tight fabric cling even closer to her voluptuous curves.

She tilted her head slightly, her fingertips gently tracing her delicate jawline, a confident arc forming on her red lips.

"Hmph, what's an apology? If I can win him over..."

Jiang Donghua's calm face flashed through her mind, along with that subtle, almost imperceptible smile he had when he took the demonic core.

"So what if he's an Alchemist? He's still a man, isn't he?"

She had always been confident in her charm; many people in the Inner Academy pursued her, and at least three of the top thirty on the strong ranking list had shown her affection.

It was just that she had always been haughty, feeling that those people weren't worthy of her.

"A future Alchemist who's at least Fifth-Grade, or even Sixth-Grade, is worth me being a little proactive."

She hummed softly, her fingertips unconsciously caressing her storage ring, already planning which dress to wear for her next trip to the Outer Academy.

After the woman left, Jiang Donghua scratched his head, looking at the fifth-tier demonic core in his hand with a faint smile.

"This Senior Sister is a bit too dramatic."

He recalled Red Silk's trembling yet feigned composure, almost bursting into laughter.

"I should be thanking her; if she hadn't helped call people back then, I wouldn't have even met Liu Qingsi and the others."

As for holding a grudge?

"Who has time to remember such trivial matters!"

Three days later, at the entrance of the Alchemy Department.

Red Silk had abandoned her usual sharp style, now wearing a moon-white, belted long dress, her dark hair half-up, with even a faint dusting of gold powder at the corners of her eyes, making her appear both elegant and subtly seductive.

"According to intelligence, he'll be out today."

She leaned casually against a pillar on the veranda, her fingertips playing with a strand of hair.

When Jiang Donghua's figure appeared at the bottom of the steps, Red Silk immediately turned at just the right moment, her skirt sweeping an elegant arc.

"Oh, Junior Brother Jiang? What a coincidence."

Jiang Donghua looked up, saw Red Silk sparkling in the sunlight, and it took him two seconds to recognize her.

"Senior Sister, you've changed your style?"

Red Silk covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes glinting.

"What, doesn't it look good?"

Jiang Donghua nodded honestly.

"It looks good, it's just..."

He pointed to the undried spot on the veranda steps.

"Senior Sister, you're wet."

Red Silk's smile froze.

I don't believe I can't win you over. You won't eat the meat that's in front of you!

Even if you, Jiang Donghua, are a medicine jar, I don't believe you have absolutely no reaction inside.

Ever since Red Silk began frequently entering and exiting the Outer Academy's Alchemy Department, the entire Alchemy Hall's atmosphere had become peculiar.

"Bang—!"

Another muffled sound of an exploding furnace. A young Alchemist frantically extinguished the flames, a dazed, silly smile still on his face, his eyes fixed on the graceful figure not far away.

Red Silk leaned against the window, her light, sheer dress swaying gently in the wind, her long legs subtly visible. Her fingertips played with a strand of hair, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, and as her gaze shifted, it carried a captivating, soul-stirring magic.

"Oh dear, another furnace exploded?"

Her red lips parted, her tone carrying a hint of innocent concern.

"Alchemy is truly difficult ~"

"N-not difficult! I'll start over right away!"

The student jolted, frantically cleaning up the medicinal dregs, but accidentally knocked over the neatly stacked medicinal ingredients next to him.

"Crash—"

The medicinal liquid spilled everywhere, leaving the entire alchemy table a mess.

Red Silk covered her mouth and chuckled softly, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes.