Chapter 325 Are You Being Watched?

The moment he stepped onto the jade stairs.

Jiang Yun could feel the surrounding space fluctuate slightly, as if passing through an invisible barrier.

The scene before him suddenly opened up.

Unlike the open plaza-style layout of the first floor.

The space on the second floor of the Myriad Phenomena Treasury appeared more exquisite and private.

It looked more like a circular corridor hall.

The area was slightly smaller than the first floor.

The ceiling height was still staggering.

The dome was still a deep starry sky.

But the stars were brighter.

The starlight shedding down was also softer and more concentrated.

Illuminating every display area.

The floor had been replaced with warm white jade, polished to a mirror-like shine.

The surrounding walls were no longer monotonous stone walls.

They were embedded with rows of more ornate silver-white metal shelves with faint reliefs; each compartment was like an independent artwork display stand, emitting a faint glow.

In the central area, semi-transparent energy pillars were arranged in an orderly fashion, with more precious items suspended inside, glowing with vibrant colors.

The most obvious change was the number of people.

The foot traffic on the second floor was far less than on the first.

Making it seem much more spacious.

The students coming and going here.

Also had markedly different temperaments.

Most of them had steady expressions and composed steps, with powerful auras faintly emanating from their bodies.

Jiang Yun sensed roughly that, as far as the eye could see, there were almost no Silver Rank figures; the vast majority were Gold Rank Beast Tamers, and he could even occasionally glimpse one or two students with obscure, deep auras and sharp eyes, who were Prodigies that had already entered the Amethyst Rank.

Clearly.

The amount of contribution points and personal strength.

Constituted the invisible threshold for entering this second floor.

The air was filled with a richer energy aura and the fragrance of treasures; just taking a deep breath made one feel slightly refreshed.

Jiang Yun's gaze was immediately drawn to the items within the surrounding shelves and light pillars.

The items here.

Whether in appearance, emitted energy fluctuations.

Or the rank labeled on the light screen below.

Were all clearly a notch higher.

At a glance, the Amethyst Rank had become the mainstream.

Moreover, most were Medium Grade, High Grade, or even Top Grade.

Occasionally, he could see a few items emitting a deeper, more profound aura, with the words 'Diamond Low Grade' clearly marked on their light screens!

However.

Their prices were also enough to deter ordinary students.

An Amethyst Medium Grade Profound Ice Heart-Protecting Mirror!

Price: 400 contribution points.

A bottle containing only three Amethyst High Grade Realm-Breaking Pills.

Price: 850 contribution points.

A piece of Diamond Low Grade wind thunder wood core.

The price was impressively 1,600 contribution points!

An Amethyst Top Grade Teleportation Formation Pattern.

Price: 880 contribution points!

"The cheapest Amethyst Rank costs two or three hundred points... better ones are five or six hundred, even seven or eight hundred... Diamond Rank easily breaks a thousand."

Jiang Yun felt a secret chill in his heart.

Once again feeling how quickly contribution points were spent.

His three thousand-plus points.

Might not be enough to buy many truly good things here.

He quietly activated his data entries manifestation talent.

His gaze swept over a few items of interest.

[Name]: Earth Vein Spirit Milk

[Rank]: Amethyst High Grade

[Effect]: Formed from the condensation of earth essence. Contains pure earth attribute energy and majestic vitality. When consumed by an earth attribute beast, it can greatly strengthen its physical defense and power, and permanently enhance its perception and application of earth power, with a small probability of Awakening high-level earth-type skills. If consumed by non-earth attribute beasts or Beast Tamers, it can also provide strong effects in consolidating the foundation, healing, and prolonging life.

[Price]: 720 contribution points

...[Name]: Phantom Maze Formation Plate

[Rank]: Amethyst Top Grade

[Effect]: A portable Formation Plate inscribed with a simplified version of the Phantom Maze Formation. Once activated, it can quickly set up a phantom Formation within a ten-zhang radius, interfering with the visual and Divine Sense perception of intruders, creating phantoms, and confusing directions. It has a significant effect on targets below the Amethyst Rank and a certain degree of interference on those at the Amethyst Rank. It lasts for the duration of one incense stick and becomes useless after three uses when the Formation Plate's energy is exhausted.

[Price]: 950 contribution points

...[Name]: Dragon Blood Body Tempering Pill

[Rank]: Diamond Low Grade

[Effect]: A Body Tempering treasure pill refined primarily from sub-dragon essence blood. After consumption, one must endure the impact of Dragon blood Evil Qi; once successfully refined, it can greatly enhance physical strength, blood energy, and recovery ability, with a slight chance of condensing faint dragon scale defense patterns on the body's surface, permanently increasing resistance to Dragon Might.

Note: The consumer needs a strong physical foundation or the assistance of a meridian-protecting treasure; otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the Meridians.

[Price]: 1,500 contribution points

The effects of these items were indeed Heaven-Defying; whether it was the Formation Plates that directly improved beast abilities or provided life-saving assistance, or the Body Tempering treasure pills that could significantly strengthen oneself, they were far beyond the conventional resources of the first floor.

Unfortunately, the Earth Vein Spirit Milk's attribute didn't match; the phantom Formation Plate was somewhat redundant for Jiang Yun, who possessed Brick Stone Rank Divine Sense and two powerful beasts; and while the Dragon Blood Body Tempering Pill was good, its price was high and it carried some risk, so it wasn't his current urgent need.

Right now, he only wanted resources that could quickly improve the Realms of Little Fire and Little Skylark.

Jiang Yun shook his head.

Continuing to stroll through the second-floor corridor.

His gaze swept over the display cabinets and light pillars one by one.

Looking for treasures that might directly benefit himself or his two beasts.

Just then.

A somewhat excited sound of dispute came from not far ahead, breaking the originally relatively quiet atmosphere of the second floor.

Jiang Yun looked toward the sound.

He saw that in front of a silver-white shelf against the wall.

Five or six people were gathered.

Four of them were clearly together.

Led by a young man dressed in brocade robes with an arrogant demeanor, the other three crowded around him with playful and mocking expressions.

Surrounded in the middle was a tall, thin young man in an ordinary academy uniform, his face flushed with anger and anxiety.

"Wang Chao! You... don't go too far! I clearly saw this azure jade spirit marrow first and just bought it for 600 contribution points! How can you just snatch it?!"

The tall, thin young man pointed at a palm-sized jade box emitting a warm green light in the robed youth's hand, his voice trembling with rage.

The robed youth called Wang Chao leisurely toyed with the jade box in his hand, sneered upon hearing this, and glanced at the other from the corner of his eye.

"Yours? If you call out to it, will it answer?"

A sharp-featured lackey beside him immediately chimed in.

Speaking in a sarcastic tone.

"Exactly! Liu Tao! Why don't you take a look at yourself? A pauper who relies on being frugal and shamelessly doing those unwanted trash missions for a year or so just to barely reach the threshold of the second floor doesn't deserve such good azure jade spirit marrow! Using this on you is simply a waste of a precious resource!"

Another lackey also joined in.

"Our Brother Chao is a Prodigy ranked ninety-third on the Earth Rankings! It's your blessing that he's interested in your little trinket! If you know what's good for you, get lost and stop being an eyesore! If you keep chirping, believe it or not, Brother Chao will make it impossible for you to stay in the academy?"

Liu Tao trembled all over with rage.

His eyes were turning red.

"Ranked ninety-third on the Earth Rankings... can you just snatch a student's things? The academy has rules! Transactions within the Myriad Phenomena Treasury are protected by Formations; you... you are violating academy regulations!"

"Academy regulations?"

Wang Chao acted as if he had heard a joke.

He laughed twice.

Then his expression darkened.

Stepping forward.

A Gold Rank Six Beast Tamer pressure faintly emanated, closing in on Liu Tao, his tone carrying an undisguised threat.

"Liu Tao, I'm taking your stuff because I think highly of you. Don't be ungrateful! If you dare to chirp one more word at me, believe it or not, I'll show you right now what 'rules' really mean?"

He deliberately lowered his voice.

But that fierce intent made one shiver.

"Outside this treasury, accidental injuries or even the unfortunate death of a beast are not uncommon in the academy. Do you... want to try?"

Liu Tao was forced back half a step by this pressure.

His face instantly turned a few shades paler.

His eyes were filled with fear and humiliation.

He clenched his fists.

Looking at the box of azure jade spirit marrow in Wang Chao's hand that he had saved up for by being frugal and completing countless missions, and feeling the other's blatant malice, his full chest of anger and resentment ultimately turned into a deep sense of powerlessness.

He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly.

He spoke no more.

Other students around also noticed the commotion, but most just glanced over and coldly looked away or whispered a few words; no one stepped forward.

A student ranked high on the Earth Rankings was a deterrent in himself, not to mention Wang Chao had several helpers. It was clearly unwise to offend an Earth Ranking Prodigy and his gang for an unrelated person.

Seeing this, Wang Chao.

A smug smile appeared on his face.

He patted Liu Tao's shoulder.

And said hypocritically.

"That's more like it, junior. One must know how to adapt to the situation. These 600 contribution points will be considered your tuition fee to show respect to your senior. In the future, if you run into trouble in the academy, you can mention my name, Wang Chao, hmm?"

After saying that.

He ignored the deathly-pale Liu Tao.

And smugly tucked the azure jade spirit marrow into his robes.

Leading his three lackeys.

They prepared to leave swaggeringly.

Jiang Yun took in the entire scene, his brow furrowing slightly.

He naturally looked down on Wang Chao's behavior of bullying others with his power and seizing things by force.

Although the academy had rules, they clearly couldn't eliminate this kind of bullying hidden in the shadows.

His gaze swept toward the jade box in Wang Chao's hand.

His data entries talent quietly activated:

[Name]: azure jade spirit marrow

[Rank]: Amethyst High Grade

[Effect]: Essence produced from the depths of spirit jade veins. Contains pure and gentle wood attribute life spiritual energy. When consumed by a wood attribute beast, it can accelerate growth, heal hidden injuries, and has a small probability of enhancing its life Origin. It can also serve as a supplementary material for certain Advanced Medicinal Pills, or be absorbed by a wood attribute Beast Tamer to slowly nourish the Meridians and improve affinity for wood-type energy.

[Price]: 600 contribution points

The effect was quite good.

Especially for wood attribute Beast Tamers or beasts, it was considered a treasure.

Unfortunately.

The attribute didn't match Jiang Yun's Little Fire or Little Skylark.

Jiang Yun shook his head inwardly.

Although he despised Wang Chao's character, as a newcomer who had just crossed paths with the Jingfeng Sect and done too many things to draw attention.

He really had no extra energy or necessity to meddle in a matter unrelated to him, especially when the victim had already chosen to yield.

There were plenty of injustices in this academy.

He wasn't a savior.

He withdrew his gaze.

Turning around, he prepared to continue looking for the resources he needed.

However.

Just as he turned.

The sharp-featured lackey beside Wang Chao.

Sharply caught sight of Jiang Yun.

Although Jiang Yun had a steady temperament, his face was young after all, and he was alone, wearing only ordinary casual clothes, making him look completely different from the steady-aura seniors roaming the second floor.

"Brother Chao, look at that kid over there."

The sharp-featured lackey leaned into Wang Chao's ear.

And whispered.

Nodding toward Jiang Yun's departing back.

"He looks very unfamiliar, and doesn't seem old, maybe sixteen or seventeen at most? He looks like a greenhorn freshman who just entered the academy!"

Hearing this, Wang Chao paused.

Looking in the direction the lackey pointed.

His gaze fell on Jiang Yun's back.

Sizing him up.

When he noticed the Identity Token hanging at Jiang Yun's waist—seemingly ordinary but made of extraordinary material—and Jiang Yun's leisurely pace, as if strolling through his own backyard garden, a flash of greed and calculation crossed his eyes.

A freshman who could appear alone on the second floor of the Myriad Phenomena Treasury at this time was either a scion of a powerful family with plenty of contribution points or an outlier like Liu Tao who had struck it lucky or was exceptionally good at saving money.

Whichever it was.

Being alone in such a place.

To people like them.

Was a potential fat sheep.

Especially freshmen, who often didn't understand the dark side of the academy well and mostly didn't dare to speak up when bullied, or lacked the means to effectively fight back.

Wang Chao had also been a bit short on funds recently.

He didn't have enough contribution points for several items he had his eye on.

He was just worrying about where to find a new source of income.

This kind of thing...

A cold, sinister smile curved at the corners of his mouth.

He gave his three lackeys a meaningful look.

"Since he can come to this second floor, he must have some grease on him. This kind of freshman is the easiest to handle! Come on, follow him and see what he plans to buy... once he's finished his exchange and leaves the treasury..."

He didn't say the rest.

But the lackeys already understood.

Their faces all broke into ill-intentioned smiles.

"Understood, Brother Chao!"

"Hehe, another job!"

"Freshmen are so considerate, knowing to send us contribution points to spend."

The four of them ignored the despondent Liu Tao.

Adjusted their direction.

And unhurriedly followed behind Jiang Yun.

Keeping a distance.

Like hyenas that had locked onto their prey.