18: Going from muskets to cannons

Jiang Donghua let out a long breath, his tense nerves finally relaxing.

He looked at his four teammates and said solemnly.

"Thank you."

Ouyang Xue gently shook her head.

"We simply took what we needed."

Zhao Wuchen put away his flying dagger and smiled.

"Let's go, it's time to register."

The five stopped delaying and quickly walked toward the staircase.

The other students along the way parted, their eyes filled with awe. To snatch food from the jaws of a Five-Star Dou Zhe and the Crimson Sky City faction—these five were clearly not to be trifled with!

At the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, Elder Duan was languidly sitting on a rattan chair, holding an ancient book.

Seeing Jiang Donghua and the others emerge, he lifted his eyelids.

"What did you gain?"

Jiang Donghua respectfully took out the 'Heaven Burning Art' jade slip.

"One profound rank mid-level cultivation technique."

He took the jade slip, and as his fingertip gently brushed the surface, the slip immediately lit up with a Red Light, then returned to normal.

"It has been registered. The technique is yours."

Shi Lie and the others also registered their gains in turn.

Before leaving, Jiang Donghua looked back at the majestic Scripture Pavilion, a slight smile on his lips.

With the Heaven Burning Art, his AFK efficiency could finally skyrocket!

On the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion, three guardians sat around a jade table.

Elder Duan slowly brewed tea. Amidst the swirling steam, his gaze was exceptionally clear.

"The Fire Attribute on that boy is not simple."

"Indeed."

The old man who had been resting with his eyes closed nodded slightly.

"Fiery yet not violent—it is excellent kindling for an Alchemist."

The last guardian, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly spoke.

"This Fire Attribute carries a trace of gentle Wood Attribute within it. He is very likely a promising Alchemist."

Elder Duan chuckled and pushed the teacups toward the two men.

"Madman Yan really stumbled upon a treasure this time."

"However..."

The old man with closed eyes picked up his teacup and said meaningfully.

"A tree that stands out in the forest will inevitably be destroyed by the wind."

Elder Duan was unconcerned.

"That depends on what kind of wind it is."

The three exchanged a smile, saying no more.

Amidst the faint aroma of tea, winds began to gather outside the pavilion.

All five of them were cautiously glancing around the entire way after leaving the Scripture Pavilion.

It was only then that Jiang Donghua suddenly realized that every one of his four companions possessed a storage ring.

Turns out he was the poorest one!

Compared to him, this clueless monk...

...these few guys were certainly much more familiar with the layout of the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy.

Lin Xiuyuan said plainly.

"It's not safe to keep the items on hand. Why don't we go to the cultivation rooms together?"

The others naturally nodded.

Jiang Donghua followed Lin Xiuyuan and the others through the wide stone path of the Outer Academy. At first, he felt nothing, but when he saw the distant outline of the cultivation rooms, his steps suddenly halted, and his mouth involuntarily dropped open.

"This... this thing is bigger than the entire Black Iron City, isn't it?!"

He stared with wide eyes at the mountain-like complex: towering spires, layer upon layer of cultivation rooms, and even several special training grounds suspended in mid-air, surrounded by faint energy barriers that emitted heart-palpitating fluctuations.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at him, the corner of his mouth curling up.

"What's wrong? Never seen the world before?"

Jiang Donghua swallowed.

"Do you want to spar again?"

Lin Xiuyuan's expression changed, thinking of how the Fire Attribute restrained his Wood Attribute.

He could only turn his head, pretending not to have heard.

The others couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

Just then, a loud voice came from the entrance of the cultivation rooms.

"Yellow Rank cultivation rooms, five hundred gold coins per session! Profound Rank cultivation rooms, three thousand gold coins per session!"

"New Students get one free trial. You old hands, how dare you pretend to be New Students in front of this old man?"

"Do you believe I'll slap you twice?!"

Everyone turned to look, only to see a white-haired, grizzled old man standing at the entrance with his hands on his hips. His tiger eyes were wide open, and he held a thick wooden staff, looking exactly like a bandit leader.

"Oh no, it's Iron-Faced King Yama, Elder Zhao!"

A tall, thin person in the group's face changed, and he whispered.

"Run!"

Those fellows didn't say a word, turning around and bolting.

The reactions of the others were also extremely fast. They instantly deployed their Dou Qi veils, and multicolored energy barriers lit up with a 'swoosh.' They shot out like rabbits, leaving only Jiang Donghua and his group standing rooted to the spot, looking bewildered.

But clearly, these senior students were extremely warm-hearted.

"Why are you standing there dumbly? If you get caught, the fine won't just be a few thousand gold coins!"

"Do you really think Elder Zhao has a poor memory!"

Jiang Donghua, who was being dragged along at a run, suddenly heard a furious roar from behind him.

"Stop!"

Elder Zhao's figure flashed to the front like a ghost. His ebony staff slammed 'thump' onto the ground in front of them, kicking up a circle of dust.

This group of senior students immediately slammed to a halt, their faces plastered with fawning smiles.

"Elder Zhao, look, we're not exactly..."

"Shut up!"

Elder Zhao snorted coldly, but his gaze fell upon Jiang Donghua and his group.

"Kids, I haven't seen you before?"

Jiang Donghua quickly nodded and pulled out the academy jade token he had just received from his robes.

Zhao Wuchen quickly spoke up.

"The five of us really are New Students!"

After Elder Zhao carefully inspected the tokens, his expression softened slightly, and he muttered.

"Finally, some honest people."

As he spoke, he pulled five jade tokens, faintly glowing yellow, from his sleeve and casually tossed them to Jiang Donghua and the others.

"Yellow Rank cultivation room, one free trial. Remember the rules."

Elder Zhao held up three fingers.

"First, do not damage the formation arrays inside the room; second, do not overstay the time limit; third..."

He narrowed his eyes and scanned the fellows wearing Dou Qi veils.

"Do not bring unauthorized personnel inside to leech cultivation!"

The group of young men immediately backed up two steps with awkward smiles.

Jiang Donghua gripped the warm jade token and followed Elder Zhao to a stone room.

As the jade token was embedded into the groove of the stone door, the heavy door slowly opened, and a pure wave of Heaven and Earth energy rushed toward them.

"Go in. You will be automatically teleported out after three hours."

Jiang Donghua stepped into the cultivation room, and the stone door silently closed behind him.

Looking around, dense runes on the walls flowed with faint golden light, and the Spirit Gathering Array in the center of the floor was slowly operating.

He tentatively channeled a wisp of Dou Qi and struck the wall. With a 'buzz,' the attack vanished like a clay ox entering the sea, leaving not a single trace.

"This defense is absolutely secure for cultivation. I fear even Old Yan wouldn't be able to smash this cultivation room."

His eyes brightened. Jiang Donghua sat cross-legged in the center of the cultivation room, surrounded by red flames.

The flames sometimes transformed into blooming lotuses, and sometimes flowed like water through his meridians, causing the entire room to flicker between light and shadow.

The Heaven Burning Art, this profound rank mid-level technique, was even more domineering than he had imagined!

"Indeed, the gap between Yellow Rank and Profound Rank is like the difference between heaven and earth."

He slowly inhaled a mouthful of turbid air, sensing the speed at which the Dou Qi circulated within his body.

If the Dou Qi he cultivated previously using the Crimson Flame Art was a stream, then now, the Dou Qi in his body had transformed into a surging river, roaring forward through his meridians.

Jiang Donghua stared at the system screen that appeared before him, his brow slightly furrowed.

["Host: Jiang Donghua"]

["Realm: Two-Star Dou Zhe (156 / 2000)"]

["Main Cultivation Technique: Heaven Burning Art (profound rank mid-level)"]

["AFK Income"]

Clone 1: 5 points/hour

Clone 2: 5 points/hour

["Current Total Income: 10 points/hour"]