"A month later"
*Ugh... I had no idea that we'd be having classes. I thought I'd finally dropped all this learning bullshit.*
"Don't be like that. It's just a sword drill"
"Qingming sword drill, huh?"
"Why are you looking so bored?" Wei asked.
"Oh, nothing serious. I just didn't sleep well last night."
"Oh, you can have a rest here then. I'll cover you."
"Gladly," Xin said.
"I'll be going to my room, see you later," Xin said, walking out.
*Now that I've learnt the act of pill making, I'll try to make some.*
"You decided to make one finally"
"Yeah, I mean, I've been studying for a month now."
"So I'm guessing you're going to purchase some stuff for making the pills?"
"Yeah, of course! Coincidentally, Wei plans on going to the market today. We'll just leave together."
"Lin, I'm ready!"
"Ay, I'm coming now!"
"Whew, I finally got it!" Xin said, holding out a green pill.
"Wow, I never expected you to be able to make such a high-grade pill"
"You don't sound like it. This pill is just a grade c pill."
"You learnt it in under a month, and you call it just? I hope a pill maker hears you talk that way."
"Haha, I'm just saying. So this is a divine connection pill?"
"Yes, but this is a medium-grade one. The best form of this pill is usually golden."
"Ho...? Then I'll name it the 'Green Ambrosia' good name, isn't it?"
"Not bad, I guess."
"Gulp..."
"And you just threw it into your mouth"
"That's the normal thing to do, isn't it?"
"That's your problem kid"
"Ah... my whole body feels warm. I feel comfortable and..."
"Hehe..."
"Argh!!!!" He screamed, falling from the bed.
"Ha!hahaha!"
"God Dammit, what the fuck?!" He screamed, trying to stand.
"You just take anything you see into your body, don't you think it might be dangerous?"
"Tsk! Tell me that on time!" He said, spitting out blood.
"Okay, I'll give you a special skill right now. You'll have to run the formula to get better. If you don't do it well, then you die."
"What?! I feel like I'm dying already!"
"NOTICE: THE DRAGON FORMULA LEARNT, MOONLIGHT DRAUGHT-PILL HAS BEEN GIFTED TO THE HOST AND THE HOST HAS ACTIVATED THE DRAGON BLOOD. POINTS DEDUCTED, 1500 POINTS. BALANCE- 500 POINTS."
"Now, take the pill immediately. Sit and close your eyes. Whatever you see when you shut your eyes try your best to remember it. It's the dragon formula which can only be used by those possessing the dragon blood. No one necessarily has it, it's something only you have in this day and age."
"O-okay..." Xin said, sitting on the floor with his legs crossed while throwing the pill into his mouth.
With fingers intertwined, he formed the Dragons Claw seal, thumbs pressing against index fingers. His fingers weaved intricate patterns, transitioning from the Qian Hexagram to the Kan Hexagram. Fingers spread wide, he conjured the Eight Trigrams seal channelling elemental energy.
"Ha..." He exhaled, opening his eyes immediately.
His eyes were fiery as he stood from the floor where he sat.
"HOST HAS SUCCESSFULLY BROKEN THROUGH TO THE EARLY STAGE OF THE CORE FORMATION STAGE. SPECIAL GIFT ADDED, MANUAL FOR ELEMENTAL MANIPULATION SKILLS AND MANUAL FOR STEALTH AND DECEPTION SKILLS, ALL SECOND-RATE MANUALS."
"Ha..." He exhaled, walking out of his room.
"Hmm?"
He grabbed some water and began pouring it on his head.
"Ha..." He exhaled, banging his head on the wall.
"What the f?!"
"Ha... that feels much better." He said, smiling while looking at the wall.
"What the hell? You're bleeding!"
"Hmm? Did something about you change?" Wei asked as they stood in the academy compound ready for their sword drills.
"Hmm? Haha, nothing serious." Xin said, smiling as wooden swords were handed over to each of them.
"Okay! For this class, we'll be learning some sword drills. You should take this class seriously cause there'll be a test in two weeks."
"Test?"
"Oh God, that sounds frightening."
They were all assigned training partners, and coincidentally, Lin Xin was partnered up with Wang Jun.
"Well it obviously isn't coincidental, hehe"
"Hmph! Why would I be partnered with you? You're just a weak ant, you can't stand my strike."
"I'm sorry, what? You don't even deserve to spar with me. This is just for a class, so I'll let it be."
"You...!"
"You all, don't be too impulsive! Make sure you don't wound your partner seriously."
"Yessir!"
"Hmph! You should be thanking the teacher for the warning he gave now. I'll show you mercy."
"Heh? You're no match for me, I bet you should be the one thanking the teacher."
"What?! Do you dare to spar with me after this lesson? I'll show you that I am no pushover."
"Spar spar spar, shut the fuck up for a moment."
"..."
"Start!" The teacher announced.
"Ha!!!" Jun shouted, jumping from the floor and going for Xin's head.
"Haha, this isn't a normal sparring lesson anymore. Do you want to kill me?" Xin asked, blocking the sword with his own.
*H-how is that even possible? I used most of my strength in that strike, and he just fended my attacks off?* Jun thought, bouncing off.
"My turn," Xin said.
"Huh?" Jun asked as Xin 'appeared' behind him.
"Oh, since this is supposed to be a lesson, I'll just use 2% of my power," Xin said, about to hit him.
"Brag much"
"Crap," Jun said, putting his sword before him, trying to block the attack.
"Argh!" He screamed as the sword broke into two, and the effect of Xin's strike sent him flying.
"Mr. Lin Xin, don't you think your attack was a little bit forceful?"
"I can't remember you speaking when he tried to kill me," Xin said, walking out.
"Hmm..."
"Aigoo, I saw what happened between you and Jun. I'm afraid that he'll try to get back at you." Wei said as they walked back to their rooms.
"I'm ready for any form of attack, he can come at me if he wants to," Xin said.
*That's not even important. I've not been getting any serious tasks for the past month. The last one you gave me was to help an old woman find her money.*
"Haha, that's cause the hard ones are yet to come."
"Ha..." He sighed as they walked into some guys.
"Well, here comes one."
"Finally," Xin said, cracking his knuckles.
"MISSION: AVOID AND FORM OF VIOLENCE. REWARD: 2000 POINTS, ONE FREE SPIN AND THE MANUAL FOR LEARNING HEALING SKILLS"
"Eh?"