81: The Secret Realm Joint Examination! An unprecedented reward from the Heavenly Dao!

Peaceful days always fly by.

After Qin Lang went on a shopping spree for top-tier equipment, although his savings had shrunk considerably, his sense of security was maxed out.

During this time, besides occasionally going to Kunao Avenue to guide Ye Linger in pharmaceutics.

He spent most of his time researching the miscellaneous knowledge returned by the System.

Ye Linger really lived up to expectations.

After her Life God Gene was restored, combined with the careful guidance of Qin Lang, her "cheat-code mentor."

Her Apothecary Rank soared like a rocket.

Now, she was a true three-star high-grade Gene Apothecary.

She was only a thin layer away from concocting a Saint-Grade Potion.

"Qin Lang, look at this formula..."

The third floor of the Lingxin Pharmacy Pavilion.

Holding a blueprint covered in formulas, Ye Linger leaned in close to Qin Lang like a curious child.

"If I add a bit of 'Stardust Sand' here, can I improve the Fusion rate?"

Qin Lang took a glance and casually made two corrections on the blueprint.

"Stardust Sand won't work; its properties are too volatile."

"Swap it for 'Moon Dew Grass' sap and extract it using the cold-press method; the effect should be better."

Ye Linger's eyes lit up, and she immediately ran to the lab bench to verify it.

Qin Lang watched her busy figure and nodded with satisfaction.

Who could understand the joy of this kind of nurturing?

At the same time.

A piece of heavyweight news suddenly appeared pinned in red at the top of Olympus Academy's campus forum.

[Important Notice Regarding This Semester's Final Examination!]

[By decision of the School Affairs Committee, this final examination will no longer take the form of a traditional arena tournament!]

[Examination Location: Deep Space Secret Realm No. 003!]

[Examination Method: Secret Realm Survival and Exploration!]

As soon as this news came out, the entire academy instantly exploded.

"Holy crap? A Secret Realm examination?"

"Isn't that only for juniors? Are we freshmen going there to die?"

"I heard it's a special space formed after Blue Star's ascension; it's full of mutated Starry Sky Alien Species and even hostile alien races!"

"Is the school crazy?"

Qin Lang looked at the notification on his phone, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

Deep Space Ruins?

It seemed that because Blue Star was accelerating into its deep space orbit, the higher-ups wanted to use this method to speed up the growth of the younger generation.

After all, a greenhouse cannot grow a towering tree.

Immediately after, the second notice made everyone's breathing quicken.

[This examination is a 'Five-School Joint Examination'!]

[In addition to our Olympus Academy and Kunlun Academy, there are also Wanhao Academy, Shennong Academy, and Tianchen Academy!]

[Examination Rewards:]

[The first place in each grade level will receive one 'heavenly dao talisman'!]

heavenly dao talisman!

Once these three words appeared, even someone like Qin Lang, who was used to big scenes, couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat.

This thing was a true life-saving Divine Artifact.

In this era of unknown Deep Space Ruins, owning a heavenly dao talisman was equivalent to having an extra life.

After use, it could ignore any spatial blockade and instantly open a mini-portal back to Blue Star.

Even if one were thrown to the edge of the Universe, they could rely on it to get home.

"This is quite a generous move..."

Qin Lang rubbed his chin.

Previously, rewards of this level were only given to military powerhouses who had performed great deeds.

Now they were actually giving it to students as an examination reward?

It seemed the situation was even more severe than imagined.

Just as he was thinking, his phone vibrated.

It was a voice message from Gao Meng.

"Brother Lang! Did you see the notice?"

"A heavenly dao talisman! That's the good stuff!"

"But... it's a bit uncertain this time."

"I heard that over at Wanhao Academy, those rich kids have really gone all out for this exam."

"Although they can't bring high-level bodyguards inside, they've got all sorts of one-time ultimate weapons, top-tier equipment, combat potions... they're practically armed to the teeth."

"Especially that guy named Wang Teng; supposedly his family prepared a full set of four-star top-tier gear for him!"

"They're trying to crush us with money!"

Qin Lang smiled and replied with a voice message.

"Crush us with money?"

"Then let's see whose money is harder."

Competing in equipment? Competing in potions?

Sorry, but everyone here is a little brother compared to me.

Just as Qin Lang was about to turn off his phone and continue lounging around.

A pleasant notification sound suddenly echoed in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected bound target 'Shangguan Xue' has reached a Breakthrough in cultivation to the tenth level of Core Condensation!]

[System return mechanism triggered...]

[Congratulations, host, you have received a thirty-fold cultivation experience return!]

Boom!

A massive, unimaginable amount of Primal Energy instantly exploded within his body.

Qin Lang felt his Dantian expanding frantically like an inflated balloon.

Fifteenth level of Core Condensation... twentieth level... twenty-fifth level... This power was so violent that he had to sit up on the bed and operate the Mind-Cultivation Technique of the "Formless Sword Art" with all his might to guide it.

A full half-hour passed.

Before this power finally settled down.

Qin Lang sensed his current cultivation.

Thirty-second level of Core Condensation!

If word of this inconceivable Realm got out, it would probably scare those old research pedants to death.

"Whew..."

Qin Lang exhaled deeply, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

"Sister Xue is really something!"

"At this rate, she will definitely Breakthrough to the Third Tier before the final examination."

"When that happens... I'll be able to ride the momentum and complete an even higher-quality Breakthrough."

This was just the beginning.

One week later.

[Ding!]

[Detected bound target 'Su Muyue' has reached a Breakthrough in cultivation to the eighth level of energy shaping!]

[System return mechanism triggered!]

[Elemental cultivation increased to the thirty-fifth level of energy shaping!]

Another massive surge.

Qin Lang felt like a human nuclear bomb right now.

Just leaking a bit of his aura could shake this dormitory building to the ground.

Half a month later.

Kunao Avenue, Lingxin Pharmacy Pavilion.

"It's a success!"

An excited scream broke the silence of the laboratory.

Ye Linger held up a potion glowing with golden light, her face flushed with excitement.

"Qin Lang, look!"

"One-star Saint Grade! Unlocking Potion!"

On the wall of the potion vial, a clear colored halo was slowly circulating.

Although there was only one layer, that unique Saint Grade aura was unmistakable.

[Ding!]

[Detected bound target 'Ye Linger' has successfully concocted a one-star Saint-Grade Potion!]

[Apothecary proficiency has significantly increased!]

[Cultivation feedback: Second level of energy shaping -> Third level of energy shaping!]

Qin Lang walked over with a smile, took the potion, and examined it.

"Not bad. Even though it's only a single-layered halo, at your age, it's already a miracle."

Ye Linger stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

"Compared to your triple-layered halo, it's still far off."

"Yours... is practically a divine skill."

The look in her eyes as she watched Qin Lang was full of admiration.

During this time, under Qin Lang's "force-feeding" style of teaching, she felt as if a door to a new world had opened.

Those originally obscure and difficult pharmacological concepts became easy to understand when explained by Qin Lang.

This speed of progress made even her feel a bit afraid.

"Don't be discouraged."

Qin Lang returned the potion to her and casually rubbed her head.

"You're only just beginning."

"Once you've completely mastered the Power of Creation..."

"This kind of Saint-Grade Potion will be as common as mass-produced cabbages."

Ye Linger nodded vigorously, a raging fighting spirit burning in her eyes.

"Yes! I will work hard!"

"Before the final examination, I'm going to prepare a set of the highest-tier Saint-Grade Potion packs for each of you!"

Seeing her full of energy, the corner of Qin Lang's mouth curled into a satisfied arc.

This was truly a good helper.

With these three capable "tools."

In this Secret Realm Joint Examination... whether it's those alien beasts or the rich kids from Wanhao Academy.

They're probably all going to be in big trouble.