"Mr. Hao..."
The warehouse manager showed a troubled expression.
Mr. Hao Yi frowned, "What, just last week I checked, and that box of top-grade second-class steel armor Implant was still here, and now it's gone?"
"It's not...."
The manager was somewhat servile, "That box of top-grade second-class steel armor Implant has already been reserved by Mr. Wang."
Mr. Hao Yi asked, "Mr. Wang, you're talking about Wang Qitai?"
"Yes."
The manager nodded cautiously.
Mr. Hao Yi scoffed, "When did I become unaware that Implants from the Martial Arts Hall could be reserved?"
The manager's body shuddered, displaying a bitter smile,
"Mr. Wang came here yesterday and specifically instructed me that he would come to collect that box of top-grade second-class steel armor Implant today and asked me to prepare for defrosting in advance."
Mr. Hao Yi's expression turned cold, he said to Li Fei, "Give him the receipt."
Upon hearing this, Li Fei handed over the receipt for purchasing the Implant for 360 Yuan.
The manager accepted it with a bitter smile.
Mr. Hao Yi looked at him expressionlessly, "According to the rules of the Martial Arts Hall, as a special-grade lecturer, I have an entitlement to one third-class or lower Implant every year. Now, my entitlement is still valid, the Implant I want is here, and I have given you the receipt. Go get me that Implant immediately!"
The manager, stunned by Mr. Hao Yi's imposing presence, dared not say more and turned around to fetch the item.
A few minutes later, he came back holding a wooden box about a meter long, still exuding coldness.
"Mr. Hao, here's what you asked for, it's been defrosted," he said.
"Mhm."
Mr. Hao Yi signaled Li Fei to take the wooden box and then told the manager, "Make sure you log this, and if Wang Qitai comes to ask, you tell him I took it."
"Yes."
"Let's go."
Mr. Hao Yi beckoned Li Fei, and they left the warehouse.
Afterward, he took Li Fei back to the Medicine Bath Room and handed him a list to go collect medicines from the supply building.
Li Fei took the list to the supply building, where the person in charge of dispensing medicines told him the cost was 78 Yuan.
"Practicing martial arts is so expensive."
Li Fei lamented once more.
After paying, he returned to the Medicine Bath Room with a large bag of medicine and saw Mr. Hao Yi had already opened the wooden box containing the Implant and was arranging the contents.
At first, when Li Fei heard the word 'steel armor,' he thought that the box would contain scales from some exotic beasts, but now he saw that inside was a large amount of black powder with an acrid smell.
Mr. Hao Yi, wearing gloves, was placing the black powder into various containers of different sizes.
"Go boil a pot of hot water. Once it's boiling, follow the order on the prescription and add one ingredient every five minutes," Mr. Hao Yi instructed.
Li Fei immediately followed the instructions.
Shortly afterward, the water in the pot came to a boil.
Just as Li Fei was about to add the medicine, someone suddenly knocked on the Medicine Bath Room's door.
Li Fei looked at Mr. Hao Yi, who nodded at him, so he went to open the door.
Standing outside was a grim-faced old man, followed by a tall woman with her long hair coiled up with a jade hairpin.
Without even glancing at Li Fei, the old man strode into the room, his first look toward Mr. Hao Yi's side, and upon seeing that the black powder was still there, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mr. Hao Yi, this Implant is very important to me. If you need to rebuild your Steel Core, I can find you a top-grade third-class golden scale. That matches your Tao Foundation much better, there's no need to use the current one."
The old man spoke straightforwardly and quickly to Mr. Hao Yi.
Mr. Hao Yi looked at the man peculiarly, "Who told you I'm rebuilding my Tao Foundation?"
```
The old man was none other than Wang Qitai, who had reserved a top-grade second-class Steel Armor Implant. Like Hao Yi, he was also a special-class instructor at Xing City Martial Arts Hall.
He was taken aback by the question:
"You're not reconstructing your Tao Foundation, so what do you need this second-grade top-class steel armor for?"
"It's for my student."
Hao Yi glanced at Li Fei.
"Him?"
It was only then that Wang Qitai turned his attention to Li Fei, scrutinizing him seriously before sneering,
"He's not even a Martial Artist, and you want him to use a second-grade top-class steel armor at the Embryo Cultivation Stage? Are you trying to kill him?"
"That's none of your concern; you can leave now."
Hao Yi said with an expressionless face.
Wang Qitai's face turned ugly, "Hao Yi, must you oppose me?"
He was the most senior special-class instructor at the Xing City Martial Arts Hall, with a wide network of connections. Everyone, including the Hall Master, showed him some degree of respect—everyone, that is, except Hao Yi.
Thus, the relationship between the two had always been poor.
Hao Yi took a step forward, looking him in the eye,
"I'm following the rules of the Martial Arts Hall to extract the Implant. If you have a complaint, feel free to appeal to the Hall Master."
"You!"
Wang Qitai was about to explode in anger when he was suddenly stopped by the young woman behind him, "Grandfather, let me speak with Mr. Hao."
Wang Qitai looked at the young woman; his face softened noticeably, and he nodded.
Taking a step forward, the woman bowed respectfully to Hao Yi,
"Mr. Hao, my name is Wang Fengqing, a third-year student at Wu'an University. I've just broken through to the Tao Foundation Stage, and I plan to construct the Martial Arts Foundation 'Azure Brilliance'. This box of gold-attribute, second-grade top-class Steel Armor Implant will increase my chances of successfully cultivating 'Azure Brilliance', so I respectfully request that Mr. Hao allow me to have it. I am willing to use my own authority to purchase a more suitable Implant from Wu'an University for your student. Or, if Mr. Hao has any other conditions, please feel free to mention them."
Her words were neither servile nor overbearing, sincere, and managed to soften Hao Yi's expression somewhat.
"A third-year student capable of breaking through to the Tao Foundation Stage is indeed respectable. No wonder you dare to cultivate 'Azure Brilliance'."
His gaze towards Wang Fengqing now contained a hint of surprise.
"Hmph."
Behind her, Wang Qitai let out a contemptuous snort, showing a look of pride.
But Hao Yi's words soon darkened his expression again,
"My student here plans to construct the Martial Arts Foundation 'Mixed Element Heavenly Gold'. The box of gold-attribute, second-grade top-class Steel Armor Implant is equally important to him, so I cannot give it to you."
Unable to contain himself, Wang Qitai pointed at Li Fei and said,
"Ha? You claim he's going to cultivate 'Mixed Element Heavenly Gold'? If he had such qualifications, would he be at the Martial Arts Hall as your student?!"
Hao Yi's expression towards him soured as he spoke more forcefully,
"That's none of your business. I'll say it one last time, take your granddaughter and leave this place!"
As his words fell, an intimidating aura erupted from him.
Li Fei, standing beside him, instinctively felt fear, as if a commoner had suddenly encountered a tiger on the road. It was the oppression of a higher life-form crushing down!
This was the first time he had felt such extraordinary power from his teacher.
Wang Qitai subconsciously took a step back, staring intently at Hao Yi, seemingly quite wary of him.
After a long moment, he finally turned to Li Fei with a sinister smile,
"Kid, I'd advise you to understand what 'Mixed Element Heavenly Gold' really is. Otherwise, you won't even know when you're going to die!"
With that, he turned and left in a huff.
Wang Fengqing gave Li Fei a deep look before following her grandfather out.
Once they had left, Li Fei spoke calmly,
"Teacher, the water is boiling now."
...
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