Four days flashed by.
"I've got the hang of all the practicable Dou Techniques." Lin Xiu glanced at the panel, where the Ability section listed dozens of Dou Technique names.
The next step was to level them up and fuse them to elevate them to a higher level.
Lin Xiu didn't intend to do this at the Academy.
"It's troublesome to find someone to spar with first, and besides, every move in the Academy attracts the attention of the elders. It wouldn't be easy to explain such rapid progress later."
Lin Xiu remembered that both Huo Lan on the way to the Academy and Hu Gan by the lake had noticed him.
Clearly, he just wanted to quietly grow and develop.
He caught a White Carp and once again exchanged it with Elder Huo for two types of healing medicine.
Then, Lin Xiu headed straight to the Task Hall.
"Junior Lin Xiu?"
Upon hearing the voice, Lin Xiu looked over and surprisingly found someone familiar.
"Hello, senior." The girl was the senior Lin Xiu had encountered during the exam in Te Lan City.
"Are you here to pick up a task?" The girl seemed to be part-timing at the Task Hall. "You've just enrolled, not even a month yet. It's too dangerous outside for you. It's best to cultivate in the Academy first."
"I went out not long ago, senior." Lin Xiu knew she was concerned about him.
However, he also had his own reasons for having to go out.
They talked about tasks.
The girl knew a lot about tasks and, sensing Lin Xiu's firm intention to go out, recommended many tasks with relatively rich rewards but low difficulty.
"Thank you, senior."
Lin Xiu chose several tasks and, after deciding to go out, planned his route.
After all, as a 4 Star Dou Practitioner, one might still be considered formidable in Wu Tan City.
But this is Jia Nan Academy, adjacent to the Black-Corner Region.
Being just a Dou Practitioner, it's not the place to wander around as one pleases.
"By the way, senior sister, are there any tasks that reward Dou Techniques?" Lin Xiu asked casually.
The senior sister obviously knew the Task Hall tasks inside out, saving him a lot of effort compared to searching one by one.
"There is one recently, but it's quite difficult. Also, the task reward is just a Yellow Rank Low Level secret Dou Technique, and so far, no one has taken it," the girl replied after frowning and pondering for a moment.
"What task is it?" Lin Xiu was quite surprised; he had just asked casually.
As for the Yellow Rank Low Level, others might look down on it, but it doesn't mean he does.
A secret Dou Technique of that type happened to be exactly what Lin Xiu urgently needed.
"Collecting the stingers of the Red Bee Queens."
The girl brought out a booklet, flipped through it for a while, and then pushed it in front of Lin Xiu.
The task issuer was Su Xiao, without any title, obviously a fellow student.
"Junior brother, the red bees are a type of Magic Beast that gathers in colonies. They only leave their nests on a large scale when the Winter Sunflowers bloom each year.
And the Red Bee Queen is usually a Second Rank Magic Beast, extremely fast, with poisonous stingers carrying fire toxins. If stung, the body will feel a burning pain, which takes at least half a month to dissipate."
Worried that Lin Xiu might not understand the seriousness of the situation, the girl explained in great detail.
Incidents of being stung by red bees happen frequently every year, and she has seen many classmates suffering in agony.
"Senior sister, do red bees have any weaknesses in general?" Lifting his head, Lin Xiu looked at the girl, shifting his gaze away from the booklet.
Clearly taken aback, the girl seemed quite surprised; it seemed that Lin Xiu was a bit reckless.
She had explained everything in such detail, yet he still asked?
"Red bees are sensitive to thunder and afraid of water. If you intend to take on this task, I suggest you act during a thunderstorm," the girl replied. Seeing Lin Xiu's expression becoming excited, she quickly added, "However, during thunderstorms, red bees won't venture out. At such times, there are plenty of red bees inside the nest, and you won't even come into contact with the Red Bee Queen."
"Thank you, senior sister, I'll take this task." Nodding, Lin Xiu decisively accepted the task.
"You... sigh." Letting out a sigh, the girl registered Lin Xiu for the task, but in her eyes, there was a hint of pity.
Taking on eight tasks in succession, Lin Xiu left the Task Hall.
"Brother Xiu, are you going out again?" Just as he returned to the dormitory, Lin Dun noticed Lin Xiu's movements and immediately approached him.
"Yeah, going out for some training." Lin Xiu packed up his clothes.
"Can I come with you?" Facing Lin Xiu, who turned to look at him, Lin Dun continued, "If we're together, we can look out for each other. I might not be strong, but I won't hold you back, and besides, I can cook outdoors."
"Sure, grab a few pieces of clothing." Upon hearing about cooking, Lin Xiu immediately agreed.
After saying goodbye to their respective Mentors, Lin Xiu sought out Huo De, as his Mentor wasn't at the Academy at the moment.
Once outside the Academy, the two ventured into the forest.
Along the way, whenever they encountered Magic Beasts, Lin Xiu handled them mostly, only letting Lin Dun intervene when facing wild beasts.
"Brother Xiu, you don't have to take care of me like this. I can handle Magic Beasts," Lin Dun said as evening approached, squatting by the well-built fire pit, cooking while watching Lin Xiu, who was sitting beside him, wiping his long sword.
After half a day, Lin Dun accumulated quite a bit of gratitude, feeling that Lin Xiu was taking care of him too much.
However.
Upon hearing Lin Dun's words, Lin Xiu's sword-wiping motion paused for a moment. 'Taking care of? Is there a misunderstanding? I'm clearly worried that you'll snatch my experience.'
"Don't worry, the road ahead is long, and you'll have your moments," Lin Xiu didn't explain.
Primarily because it wasn't easy to explain.
After dinner, the two found a sheltered cave and prepared to rest there for the night.
Since they were in the wilderness, they took turns keeping watch.
Lin Dun took the first half of the night, while Lin Xiu entered a meditative state.
The forest at night wasn't quiet; the wind rustled through the leaves, carrying insect chirps into the distance.
[You completed a cultivation cycle, gaining +16 Realm Experience]
[You completed a cultivation cycle...]
[Your realm has advanced! You gained 1 Attribute Point!]
In the latter half of the night, Lin Xiu suddenly received a prompt. Within his dantian, Dou Qi surged and with a gentle tremor, it became denser than before.
Lin Xiu had a thought.
[Name: Lin Xiu]
[Age: 18]
[Realm: 5 Star Dou Practitioner (5/500)]
[Constitution: 15]
[Spirit: 8]
[Aptitude: 20]
[Ability: Wind Thunder Technique (Black Mid) lv8 (800/800)
Mountain Breaker (Yellow High) lv6 (30/600)
Thundering Palm (Black Mid) lv8 (800/800)
Swift Wind Steps (Yellow Mid) lv4 (160/400)
Energize (Yellow Mid) lv5 (160/500)
Flying Flowers Through Leaves (Yellow Mid) lv3 (80/300)
...]
[Attribute Points: 35]
"If only I could allocate points to my realm, that would be great," Lin Xiu sighed lightly as he glanced at the Attribute Points.
After mastering a large number of low-level Dou Techniques, Lin Xiu currently had no shortage of Attribute Points.
After some thought, Lin Xiu decided to raise both Constitution and Spirit to 20 points at once.
Using up 17 Attribute Points, he still had 18 remaining.
"Wait, what's this?"
When Lin Xiu's Spirit attribute broke through 20, he noticed that the Dou Qi in his body began to cultivate on its own, without needing him to concentrate his mind to control it.
Moreover, his five senses seemed to have improved; sounds that were faint before became clear at this moment.
From the sound alone, Lin Xiu could vaguely simulate scenes in his mind.
Hearing a "snap" sound, Lin Xiu opened his eyes, and to Lin Dun's bewildered gaze, he suddenly rushed into the forest.
"It turns out there are two wolves."
Dashing out thirty meters, Lin Xiu saw the source of the sound: two wild wolves were up to something. Upon noticing Lin Xiu's sudden appearance, the female wolf instinctively wanted to flee.
The male wolf hadn't even drawn its weapon when it was swiftly dragged away and disappeared.
---
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