The next day.
The Great Yan Dynasty had entered a state of alert. Lin Fan had no idea what the Yan Emperor had done upon his return or if those golden-armored soldiers had been executed. From Lin Fan's perspective, it couldn't have ended well. The Yan Emperor, with his profound cultivation and insight into human nature, would have easily noticed the disturbed state of the soldiers who witnessed the indecent scene between the emperor and the empress. Such soldiers were like lambs to the slaughter.
Lin Fan summed up the situation with a perfect phrase: "The academy's gate."
Lin Fan didn't dare take out the two rings for examination. For experts, there are ways to trace items, and if he took them out, Lin Fan was sure the Yan Emperor would appear before him within a second and crush him like an ant.
So, Lin Fan could only empty the contents of the two rings into his backpack. A dazzling array of gold and fragrant treasures poured out, the brilliance nearly blinding Lin Fan's titanium dog eyes.
He had struck it rich this time.
Lin Fan had been stuck at the third stage of the Xiantian realm for a long time. Just upgrading his skills without advancing his cultivation was driving him crazy. But now, with these resources, he was set for a level-up.
"Ding, congratulations on discovering 10 high-grade Xuan-level pills, the *Demon Embryo Pill*."
"*Demon Embryo Pill*: Made from the fully formed fetus of a pregnant woman during the yin phase, refined using secret techniques, for cultivating demonic arts."
"Each pill grants 80,000 experience points."
Lin Fan's expression changed slightly as he looked at the jet-black pills in the bottle. What a sinister pill. The refining method involved harvesting fetuses, which was unfathomable for someone in the highest position of the Great Yan Dynasty. It was utterly unscientific.
Lin Fan furrowed his brow, pondering. Could the Yan Emperor be problematic? Even the Holy Demon Sect didn't have such a wicked pill-refining method. Though these pills could increase his experience, consuming them would mean ingesting a fetus. Lin Fan couldn't bring himself to do such a thing.
Finding such wicked pills made Lin Fan suspicious. The Yan Emperor and the empress could very well be perverts. It was best to sort through the items carefully.
After categorizing the pills, Lin Fan looked at the small pile of unwanted ones with a pang of regret. These pills were for abnormal consumption only. Some were made from fetuses, others from female yin blood—all quite sinister. Thankfully, there were some normal pills, which Lin Fan promptly began to consume.
"Ding, congratulations on consuming 10 low-grade Earth-level *Yuan Yuan Pills*, experience +1,200,000."
"Ding, congratulations on consuming a mid-grade Earth-level *Breaking Heaven Pill*, experience +200,000."
"Ding, congratulations on consuming 10 high-grade Xuan-level *Cloud Dragon True Pills*, experience +800,000."
...
Lin Fan shoveled the pills into his mouth, indifferent to their effects. As long as they increased his experience, that was all that mattered. The Yan Emperor and the empress truly were top-notch experts; their pills were abundant and varied.
"Ding, congratulations on leveling up."
"Ding, congratulations on leveling up."
"Ding, congratulations on leveling up."
After devouring the pills, Lin Fan jumped three levels, from the third to the sixth stage of the Xiantian realm. He knew these pills were precious. With a little talent and these pills, any novice could reach the godly state.
Lin Fan's method of consuming the pills was wasteful. Pills combine rare materials to produce unexpected effects, but Lin Fan only absorbed the experience from them, ignoring their benefits.
"Ding, congratulations on +1000 True Essence."
"Ding, congratulations on +1000 True Essence."
"Ding, congratulations on +1000 True Essence."
Now, at the sixth stage of the Xiantian realm, Lin Fan considered himself quite skilled. Though still distant from true experts, he had his divine weapon, a brick, ready to knock down anyone in his path.
After finishing the pills, Lin Fan searched for more treasures.
"Ding, congratulations on discovering a low-grade Heaven-level battle technique, *Dragon Emperor's Overlord*."
"Do you wish to learn it?"
Lin Fan was thrilled. He didn't expect to find a battle technique. He knew their value from his time in the Holy Demon Sect. Unlike cultivation techniques, battle techniques are crucial for short-term bursts of strength, heavily taxing one's True Essence.
For any sect, its core teachings are vital, and battle techniques are even more so. One can't learn them without reaching a certain status.
"*Dragon Emperor's Overlord*: Nine levels, each increasing combat power by 10%."
"*Dragon Emperor's Overlord* Level 1, (0/100,000)."
Reading the description, Lin Fan was pleased. The possessions of experts were indeed extraordinary; this battle technique was something to boast about for a lifetime. Mastering it up to level nine could potentially double his combat power. If he could further it to a hundred levels, that would be a tenfold increase. The thought was terrifying.
After checking everything, Lin Fan found nothing else of value. He decided to keep the two rings in his backpack for later use or refining once his auxiliary profession as a master craftsman advanced.
A few days passed.
Lin Fan's students returned to the academy. The past few days had been life-changing for them, their future now brimming with hope.
"Teacher," the thirteen students greeted him with excited smiles. Over the past few days, they had all broken through to the Hou Tian realm, even if only the first stage. This was a monumental achievement for them.
Lin Fan assessed his students, all at the first stage of the Hou Tian realm. Zui Mo surprised him; in such a short time, she had reached the second stage. The rest were still at the first level of the *Titanium Demon Body*, but Zui Mo had advanced to the second. It was astonishing.
"Liu Shui Shui, you've done well. I'm very pleased. Keep up the good work," Lin Fan encouraged her, patting her head. Her talent had improved from mediocre to average.
"Yes, Teacher," Liu Shui Shui replied, brimming with excitement. She never thought she'd break through to the Hou Tian realm, and it thrilled her.
Lin Fan encouraged each student, patting their heads. When he got to Zui Mo, he nodded approvingly.
"Zui Mo, you're incredible. You're the most diligent student I've ever seen." Advancing the *Titanium Demon Body* required enduring beatings, and Zui Mo must have taken quite a few hits to reach the second level.
"Thank you, Teacher," Zui Mo nodded firmly.
"Good, keep it up," Lin Fan smiled, patting her head.
"Ding, congratulations on cultivating a genius student."
"Ding, congratulations on +1000 experience in the auxiliary profession of Sage Teacher."
"Ding, congratulations on advancing to Master in the auxiliary profession of Sage Teacher."
"Ding, the *Encouragement Hand* skill upgraded, capable of enhancing a student's potential to a peerless genius."
"Ding, unlocking a master-exclusive skill…"
"*Consecration*."
Lin Fan was taken aback by this newly developed skill. Was it the exclusive skill of an enlightened monk, a divine power to consecrate lost souls?