257: I, Lao Lei, am so envious!

“Lei Lie, do you know what this herb is called?”

Hearing this, Lei Lie scratched his short, steel-needle-like hair with his fan-like large hand, a look of simple honesty and bewilderment on his face. He replied in a booming voice,

“What’s its name? I don’t know!”

“I don’t recognize these flowers and plants.”

He pointed to the crimson, ice-patterned herb, his tone as casual as if discussing a trivial matter.

“I just saw a really fierce Fifth-Tier Magical Beast, about three or four stars, guarding this thing to the death. I figured anything that kind of guy treats as a treasure must be a good thing, right? So I just put in a little effort, beat it down, and snatched it!”

“A three or four-star Fifth-Tier Magical Beast?!”

“Hiss—!”

As soon as Lei Lie’s words fell, a collective gasp echoed throughout Donghua Pavilion!

All the New Students who heard this, including Lin Xiu, Bai Ling, and others, widened their eyes, looking at the burly, honest man before them as if he were a monster!

A Fifth-Tier Magical Beast!

That was an existence equivalent to a human Dou Wang Expert!

And reaching the three or four-star level, its strength was by no means weak among Fifth-Tier Magical Beasts, enough to dominate an area deep in the mountains!

To be able to forcibly snatch precious medicinal herbs guarded by a Magical Beast of that level, what terrifying strength would that require?!

This meant that this seemingly crude senior, even if he wasn't a true Dou Wang, was definitely a Nine-Star Dou Ling who had long been immersed at the Peak Dou Ling level, or even possessed the ability to challenge those of a higher rank!

And he must be the type who was extremely fierce in combat and exceptionally skilled in close-quarters fighting!

Thinking that they had almost mistaken such a formidable individual for an enemy coming to provoke them, many New Students broke out in a cold sweat.

At the same time, they also realized more deeply that the Inner Academy truly harbored hidden talents; any old acquaintance of Leader Jiang who popped up was such a terrifying figure!

Simultaneously, they admired Jiang Donghua even more.

To be able to interact with such powerful individuals as equals, and even have them proactively come to offer gifts, their leader’s standing was far higher than they had imagined!

Jiang Donghua looked at Lei Lie’s honest, “I don’t understand, but I think it’s amazing” expression, and couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.

He pointed to the three vibrant herbs, describing them as if they were his own treasures.

“You certainly know how to snatch things. This crimson, ice-patterned one is called Icefire Soul-Melding Grass, extremely rare, requiring growth at the intersection of extreme cold and earth fire.”

“This one entwined with lightning arcs is Silver Lightning Bone-Tempering Flower, typically born on mountain peaks frequently struck by lightning. And this ink-jade-like one is Thick Earth Spirit Root, buried deep where earth pulse spiritual energy is rich.”

He paused, then continued.

“These are all top-grade auxiliary ingredients for refining fourth-grade pill and even fifth-grade pill. Their medicinal properties are potent, and their energy is pure.”

Jiang Donghua’s tone shifted, carrying a hint of regret.

“There’s only one stalk of each, too few. It’s not enough to be used as a main ingredient to open a furnace for pill refining. At most, they can only serve as a medicinal primer or to enhance the efficacy of certain specific pills.”

Although they couldn't be immediately refined into high-grade pills, Lei Lie’s sincerity and the inherent value of these medicinal ingredients were beyond doubt.

Jiang Donghua never took things from others for free, especially not from friends who had risked danger to obtain them.

He flipped his palm, and a warm jade bottle appeared in his hand, its body faintly emitting a Red Light and hot energy fluctuations.

“I won’t take your herbs for nothing either.”

Jiang Donghua handed the jade bottle to Lei Lie.

“Inside are two fire spirit pills, fourth-grade pill. Although I can also tell that with your current strength and cultivation path, these probably won’t provide much direct improvement for you.”

Jiang Donghua’s eyesight was sharp, discerning that Lei Lie’s foundation was incredibly solid, and a fourth-grade pill would mostly be icing on the cake for him.

“But it’s a fourth-grade pill after all, with pure energy. It’s useful for restoring Dou Qi at critical moments or for exchanging for things you need. Just take it as a small return gift from me.”

Lei Lie had no intention of asking for anything in return when he gave the herbs. He even felt a bit embarrassed when Jiang Donghua said the herbs weren't enough for refining pills, thinking that what he brought wasn't very useful.

Now, seeing that Jiang Donghua not only explained the origin of the herbs in detail but also gave him precious fourth-grade pill in return, he quickly waved his hand.

“Hey, hey, Brother Jiang, you’re too polite! I just snatched them for you to play with, how can I take your pills…”

Jiang Donghua, however, without further ado, directly pushed the jade bottle into his hand and said with a smile,

“Why be polite with me? Take it.”

Lei Lie looked at the jade bottle in his hand, which radiated warm energy, and then at Jiang Donghua’s undeniable smile.

Only then did he stop refusing, grinning honestly. He carefully put the jade bottle into his embrace, scratching his head as he said,

“Hehe, then Old Lei will shamelessly accept it! Thank you, Brother Jiang! If you ever need any rough work like fighting or snatching things in the future, just call me!”

After handing the pill to Lei Lie, Jiang Donghua casually glanced behind him, seemingly a little surprised, and asked in a calm tone,

“How come you’re the only one who came? I thought Liu Qingsi would come with you.”

At the mention of that name, Lei Lie’s rugged face immediately showed an exaggerated expression, a mix of disdain and helplessness. He pouted and said,

“Bah! Don’t even mention it!”

“That woman is a cultivation fanatic, not like Old Lei at all!”

“She wishes she could spend twelve hours a day soaking in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, using the earth core fire jade marrow there to temper her Dou Qi and refine her cultivation!”

“Unlike me, I can’t sit still! I either go to the arena to fight real battles with real weapons, enjoying the thrill, or I go into the deep mountains and old forests to try my luck, seeing if I can find some treasures or spar with powerful Magical Beasts!”

When talking about cultivation, Lei Lie’s tone became somewhat excited and urgent. He waved his big hand and said,

“Brother Jiang, you wouldn’t know! This past year, Liu Qingsi and I have been frantically cultivating, just hoping to reach Peak Dou Ling sooner!”

His voice carried a clear hint of envy and emotion.

“Sigh! We’re both so envious!”

“You didn’t see it, but half a year ago, after Brother Xiao Han took the earth core fire jade marrow you gave him, he entered seclusion and soon successfully broke through to Dou Wang! Then he returned to Central Continent according to his family’s summons! That was a Dou Wang!”

Lei Lie smacked his lips, his eyes full of yearning, but then he somewhat dejectedly patted his muscular chest.

“And look at Liu Qingsi and me, we’ve worked ourselves to death. Our progress this year has been fast, but we’ve only just managed to cross the threshold of Nine-Star Dou Ling!”

“We’re still some distance from a true Peak Dou Ling, let alone breaking through that Dou Wang barrier! The road is still long!”

Hearing this, Jiang Donghua merely smiled faintly, not saying much about the earth core fire jade marrow, as if it were a trivial matter he had done casually. He patted Lei Lie’s shoulder.

“The path of cultivation should be gradual; it cannot be forced. Nine-Star Dou Ling is already first-rate in the Inner Academy.”