Chapter 197: Final Exam

After the three parted ways, Chen Mobai returned to the Spirit Plant Department.

Coincidentally, Lu Jun had also completed the transfer procedures for Xiaoyang Ridge. Starting next year, Chen Mobai would claim two mu of medicinal fields and sixteen mu of spirit fields under his name. Adding the three mu he claimed this year and the seven mu he developed himself, he would have a total of twenty-six mu of spirit fields, making him a small landlord.

"Junior Brother Chen," Lu Jun said, speaking with characteristic generosity, "feel free to voice any requests you have. If you need Green Light Arrays, you can claim a few more sets."

As the inspector of the Spirit Plant Department, Sun Gaochang handled all spirit stones and material disbursements. Lu Jun, as his subordinate, was indeed capable in this regard.

Chen Mobai directly claimed five sets of Green Light Arrays and a bag of Dew-Condensing Grass seeds. This Dew-Condensing Grass is a first-tier mid-grade spirit herb, used as an auxiliary ingredient in many elixirs. It is also a crucial ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, and a large quantity is needed. The surplus medicinal fields in Giant Wood Ridge were all used to cultivate this spirit herb.

He was also supposed to claim rice seeds, but Chen Mobai knew the Spirit Plant Department's rice seeds were of average quality. He decided to use the Jade Sprout Spirit Rice cultivated on his seven mu of spirit fields as seeds instead. If he weren't afraid of exposure, he would have wanted to use the rice seeds from the Immortal Sect. However, the academy's experimental fields yielded at least three hundred jin per mu, which was too advanced for the Tianhe Realm.

Before leaving, Chen Mobai also inquired about Elder Zeng from the Alchemy Department refining Foundation Establishment Pills. This was not something that needed to be hidden; many people were keeping an eye on it. Lu Jun directly told him that the auxiliary ingredients were indeed being prepared, but Elder Zeng was currently refining a batch of "White Jade Spirit Ginseng Pills," so it might be after the New Year, or even longer, before he would begin refining Foundation Establishment Pills. As for the exact time of refinement, they, as lower-level disciples, could only wait.

Hearing this, Chen Mobai could only sigh. At this point, he had done his best.

That evening, he left Shenmu City and returned to the edge of Xiaoyang Ridge, where his ten mu of spirit fields were located.

Time passed quickly.

At the entrance of Wuqi Dao Academy, Chen Mobai, Ming Yihua, Yun Yangbing, and others hired a car to the train station.

"See you next year."

Since the three came from different blessed lands within the Immortal Sect, they had to part ways at the train station. After boarding the train, Chen Mobai went directly to the first-class cabin to read alone. He was reading the ancient original text of the Critical Method, the "Jade Lock Golden Gate Art."

His first year at Wuqi Dao Academy was incredibly fulfilling. His main courses, "Puppetry" and related "Spirit Mechanism Automation," as well as "Agronomy," all concluded with high scores, maintaining his persona as a practical genius. However, there were gains and losses. His other main course, "Talismans," didn't go so well during the final exam. The requirement was to draw a first-tier high-grade spirit talisman similar in difficulty to the "Crimson Flame Three Swords Talisman." Because Chen Mobai hadn't studied deeply enough, all three attempts failed, and he unfortunately failed the course.

Fortunately, in his elective "Talisman Ink Pigment Extraction," he used the Cinnabar Spirit Sand he obtained from Shen Juanxiu. Relying on the high quality of the material, he blended the talisman ink assigned by the instructor for the final project to a nearly second-tier level, earning a high score. The "Calligraphy" teacher was also kind-hearted; as long as students registered, didn't skip classes, and submitted ten calligraphy assignments by the end of the semester, everyone passed. By the end of the semester, Chen Mobai completed 11 credits, narrowly passing.

It was also at the end of the semester that Chen Mobai learned that the academy's credits could be exchanged for many spirit elixirs, magical artifacts, and talismans not available on the open market. For example, students could exchange 5 credits for one of the "Three Foundation Establishment Treasures." Another example was Profound Fire Spirit Liquid, a spirit water that could warm and expand meridians, increasing the success rate of Foundation Establishment, valued at 15 credits.

Generally, students at Wuqi Dao Academy would save their credits and use them after successfully achieving Foundation Establishment. Those cultivating the *Can Tong Qi* would use them to exchange for high-tier spirit treasures suitable for their spiritual root constitution. Even those not cultivating the *Can Tong Qi* could exchange them for needed second-tier spirit items. For instance, those in the Talisman major would exchange for second-tier talisman paper and ink for breakthroughs; those in the Puppetry major would exchange for precious parts to create higher-grade puppets; those in the Artifact Forging major would exchange for needed materials. Credits could also be used to apply for opportunities to use high-tier magical artifacts like the Crimson Heart Treasure Mirror or the Formless Puppet, and so on. However, to prevent speculation and profiteering, the academy stipulated that exchanges could only be made at the end of each academic year, and each person's credits could only be used by themselves and were not transferable.

Chen Mobai was quite open-minded and didn't save his credits. He directly used his credits to exchange for a portion of Spirit Ascension Powder and Condensing Qi Fluid. The Spirit Ascension Powder was for his father, while the Condensing Qi Fluid was to be sold to Shen Juanxiu. Before the exchange, he called this wealthy senior student. She had bought a Meridian Protection Pill this year, and combined with the Spirit Ascension Powder Chen Mobai had acquired earlier, she only needed one portion of Condensing Qi Fluid to complete the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures. Chen Mobai happened to be short on money, and Shen Juanxiu needed it, so they immediately reached an agreement over the phone.

After returning to Danxia City, he first handled this large transaction. Because she had been notified in advance, Shen Juanxiu had already prepared enough Merit Points this time. The Immortal Sect market price for each of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures was 800,000 Merit Points, but these items were in short supply, so they usually had a 20% premium. Shen Juanxiu directly gave Chen Mobai 1,000,000 Merit Points. Besides their good relationship, it was also because she intended to maintain this connection. After all, the last person from Danxia City to enter Wuqi Dao Academy was now the Crimson Robe True Person.

Chen Mobai didn't decline. However, since he returned late, people he knew from Danzhu Academy, such as Chen Si, Luan Jingsheng, and others, had already left school for home, so he couldn't catch up with them. He also brought a basket of spirit fruits to visit the Crimson Robe True Person, but the latter was in seclusion, so he couldn't meet him.

Less than two days after returning home, Chen Mobai realized he probably shouldn't have come back. He had underestimated the status of a Wuqi Dao Academy student. Seeing more reporters outside his window than when he had first gotten in, Chen Mobai sighed. He had wanted to invite his high school classmates for a meal, but given the circumstances, it was better not to bring them trouble. So, after staying in Danxia City for two days, Chen Mobai decided to go to Qingshan Village to lie low.

Of course, before leaving, Chen Mobai made a detour to Chixia Academy and gave Chen Xinglan the Spirit Ascension Powder he had exchanged from the academy. Father and son meeting was naturally a mix of joy and emotion.

"I was waiting for you too, but I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise," Chen Xinglan said, sighing with emotion after receiving the Spirit Ascension Powder. He had already decided that after seeing his wife and son, he would immediately enter a death seclusion.

The family reunion didn't last long. To prevent Chen Xinglan's emotions from fluctuating too much, Chen Mobai quickly left with Tang Pancui. After arriving at Qingshan Village, Chen Mobai called Lu Hongsheng, Song Zheng, Yan Bingxuan, and others one by one to keep in touch. Originally, there had been talk of a high school class gathering, but he could only apologize. In the evening, Chen Mobai dialed the last person he hadn't contacted yet: Qing Nü.