Chapter 774: Hu Yaoyao's Invitation

‘One-Yuan Heavy Water, ten top-grade spirit stones for one bottle. I need ten bottles—that is, a hundred top-grade spirit stones!’

‘From the peak of the Bridge Heaven realm to the late stage of the Return to One realm, my soul consumed four stones. To reach the peak, two more might not be enough. Then come the Void Step realm, the Cocoon Seal realm, the Half-Saint… each requires more. Without a hundred stones, it’s hard to manage…’

The more he thought, the more his head ached.

It seemed the wish to break through to the Saint Domain in ten days was impossible.

Not to mention other things—just spirit stones alone were insufficient.

‘I need to find a way to earn money recently…’ He rubbed his brow.

Living off past savings was certainly not an option.

But several hundred top-grade spirit stones was no small sum; even he couldn’t think of a method for now.

‘Let’s first check the increase in cultivation!’

Knowing this was not the time to dwell on it, he looked down at the strength brought by his recent advancement.

His soul had reached the late stage of the Return to One realm, and his power had soared again, directly leaping from 3.2 million ding across two major levels to 10 million ding!

If combined with his physical body and true qi, each at 8 million ding, he could unleash a colossal force of 26 million ding, comparable to an early-stage Cocoon Seal realm expert!

(Cocoon Seal realm: early stage 25 million ding, mid stage 28 million ding, late stage 31 million ding, peak 34 million ding!)

It had to be said, the progress was terrifying.

He turned to look at his clone not far away. This fellow, like him, had also reached the late stage of the Return to One realm and then stopped.

‘Want to have a contest?’

Seeing him look over, the clone’s eyes lit up, eager to try.

‘Uh… better not!’

Zhang Xuan shook his head awkwardly.

Although the clone’s main cultivation came from the witch soul, this fellow’s physical body was too powerful. It seemed that the stronger the soul force, the stronger his abilities became.

He had improved a lot now, and with his body, he could easily fight above his level, but compared to this fellow, he was still far behind.

In other words, if he really fought him, he would definitely be thoroughly thrashed.

The original being unable to defeat the clone was already embarrassing enough; he had no hobby of seeking repeated humiliation.

He put the clone back into his storage ring, pushed open the door, and walked out of the room.

Luo Qiqi came up to him.

Zhang Xuan had now changed into clean clothes. With his soul force advancing, his eyes were round and mellow, his aura more restrained, giving an unfathomable impression.

‘Teacher, Senior Brother Hu Yaoyao just sent someone with a letter, inviting you to a banquet…’

Luo Qiqi looked at him with slight puzzlement.

Last night, the teacher said he was going to find Hu Yaoyao to inquire about Senior Wu Yangzi’s whereabouts, but he returned injured in the afternoon… She had thought it was a conflict with this senior brother, but seeing the invitation he sent, it seemed not.

Yesterday, the teacher and this Hu Yaoyao had no interaction at all.

Then… what did he do all night?

And who injured him?

‘Banquet? What banquet?’

Zhang Xuan was startled.

Could it be that this Hu Yaoyao was already prepared to make a move against him?

‘Look!’

Luo Qiqi handed him a letter.

Zhang Xuan opened it.

Inside was an invitation. It contained a few pleasantries, the gist being that after meeting the two yesterday, he felt an instant connection, and today he specially invited them to a banquet, hoping they would not decline, etc.

The address: Jinghong Academy, Lark Residence.

‘Lark Residence?’ Zhang Xuan looked at her.

‘This is Senior Brother Hu Yaoyao’s private residence, located within Jinghong Courtyard!’

Luo Qiqi explained. Fearing the teacher might not understand, she added, ‘The elite district is divided into A, B, C, D, corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth years. Outstanding fifth-year students do not live here. Instead, they reside in the academy corresponding to their first auxiliary profession. To show importance, the academy also builds special villas for them, even better than the elite district…’

Zhang Xuan nodded.

When he came to the elite district before, Huang Xing and the others had told him.

There were only four areas here, and he lived in Area D.

‘Teacher, he didn’t agree yesterday, but suddenly invites today—I’m afraid he has ill intentions…’

Sensing something wrong, Luo Qiqi frowned slightly.

‘He does have ill intentions! But if we don’t go, do you have another way to find out where Senior Wu Yangzi’s former residence is?’ Zhang Xuan looked at her.

Luo Qiqi shook her head with a bitter smile.

If there were another way, she would have acted long ago, and wouldn’t be so passive now.

‘That’s it. No use dwelling on it! Since she invites us to a banquet, let’s go and see!’

Zhang Xuan said.

Yesterday, he had wanted to go find her to get information, but because she was changing clothes and it was inconvenient to watch, he had to give up. Since she invited him today, he naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

Inviting him and Luo Qiqi together to a banquet—she couldn’t possibly change clothes in front of them, could she!

As long as she didn’t do that, he had a way to make her obediently reveal the information she knew.

Now that he was broke, finding Wu Yangzi’s treasure might turn the situation around and save him from this miserable state.

‘Then… shall we set off now?’ Seeing the teacher agree to go, Luo Qiqi stopped worrying and asked.

‘Now?’

Zhang Xuan looked outside. Only then did he remember that it was already afternoon when he returned from Jinghong Courtyard. Adding the time for healing and cultivation—two or three hours—the outside was now pitch black.

‘Let’s go!’

The banquet had a set time. Looking at the time, it was almost due. No point in hesitating.

Leaving the villa, the two headed toward Jinghong Academy.

Jinghong Academy was not as vast as the Artifact Refinement Academy, but it occupied a very wide area. Before long, they arrived at the courtyard where Hu Yaoyao had changed clothes yesterday.

‘So Lark Residence is this…’

Confirming it, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Yesterday, he had followed Hu Yaoyao and come here once. It was one of the more splendid buildings in the vicinity, indeed much more spacious than his place in the elite district.

‘Originally, this place wasn’t called that. Legend has it that when Senior Brother Hu Yaoyao took the Six-Star Jinghong Master exam, he wore magnificent attire and performed the Rainbow Ripple Dance, attracting larks to watch and sing incessantly for a long time… That’s why this courtyard was renamed Lark Residence.’

Luo Qiqi knew the story and transmitted her voice.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

The Rainbow Ripple Dance, combined with fine clothes, indeed had astonishing power. It could launch a thought attack, catching people off guard, and could also attract birds and beasts.

The lark was a small-sized brute beast with no offensive power, but it was captivated by beautiful things. To have such creatures sing and linger after a dance was the greatest praise for a dancer.

‘Yes, after this incident, Jinghong Courtyard also established Senior Brother Hu Yaoyao’s irreplaceable status! He was even personally accepted as a direct disciple by the dean of Jinghong Courtyard!’

Luo Qiqi said.

Being the dean naturally meant being one of the ten elders. For such a figure to personally take a disciple showed Hu Yaoyao’s status.

Because of this, the Prodigy Society could be one of the most notable major societies in the entire academy, attracting countless followers.

‘Are you two Master Zhang Xuan and Master Luo Qiqi?’

As they were transmitting their conversation, they heard the Lark Residence door creak open. The woman named Xinru walked out, cupping her fists respectfully.

Zhang Xuan hadn’t looked closely at this Xinru yesterday. Today, up close, he realized her strength was not weak.

She had already reached the eighth level of Mortal Transformation, definitely a famous expert among the fourth-year students.

For such a person to be used as a servant in Hu Yaoyao’s residence—no wonder he was the president of the Prodigy Society. Truly not simple.

‘That’s right!’ Luo Qiqi nodded.

‘President Yaoyao has instructed that as soon as you two arrive, you are to be invited in immediately!’

Xinru smiled and led the way.

Following behind, they entered the courtyard.

Yesterday, he had flown in from the air and hadn’t realized how large this courtyard was. Walking in now, he found it was seven or eight times the size of his villa in the elite district.

In the pond, many koi fish swam back and forth. In the surrounding gardens, petals bloomed, emitting fragrance.

Moreover, there was clearly a spirit-gathering array here. The spiritual energy was even richer than in the elite district. Living here, even an ordinary person would be full of energy and free from illness.

‘Please come in!’

Passing a corridor and two small bridges, they arrived at a great hall.

It was brightly lit, as bright as day.

‘No one?’

Entering the hall, Zhang Xuan looked around, full of confusion.

In the spacious room, tables for hosts and guests were laden with food and wine, but the room was empty. Hu Yaoyao, who had invited them, was not present.

‘President Yaoyao had some matters to attend to and went out. He instructed me to ask you two to wait here a moment; he will be back soon…’

Xinru explained with a smile.

‘Alright!’

Yesterday, he knew that this Hu Yaoyao would definitely try to deal with him. Since he hadn’t appeared now, he must have prepared something. Zhang Xuan didn’t ask further and smiled lightly.

He and Luo Qiqi sat down in the guest seats.

It had to be said, the other party had prepared quite well. The table was almost entirely filled with precious spirit beast meat, colorful and fragrant, making one’s mouth water at the scent.

‘This one meal probably costs several hundred mid-grade spirit stones. As expected of the Prodigy Society president, truly rich… If worst comes to worst, I’ll fleece him a bit later…’

Scanning the table and knowing the meal was expensive, Zhang Xuan stroked his chin.

Now he was broke, almost red-eyed.

This guy spent several hundred mid-grade spirit stones on one meal—couldn’t he help out a poor man like him?

‘Please enjoy yourselves slowly. I’ll go check on the president…’

Seeing them sit down, Xinru filled their wine cups, smiled lightly, and withdrew.

‘Teacher, what… is she up to?’

Looking at the dazzling array of delicacies and the brightly lit hall, Luo Qiqi looked puzzled.

‘No matter what she’s up to, she will definitely tell us the location of Wu Yangzi’s former residence today. Rest assured!’

Zhang Xuan smiled lightly.

If it were yesterday, he wouldn’t have had such confidence. But as a Six-Star Jinghong Master, even Wei Ranxue admired him. No matter what tricks this Hu Yaoyao pulled, he could easily handle them, even break them with force!

At worst, he would use dance techniques to first bewitch her.

‘Oh…’

Although still a bit worried, Luo Qiqi nodded.

She didn’t know where the teacher’s confidence came from, but since he dared to say so, perhaps he had already thought of a way.