The street was brightly lit, lined with countless eateries, and filled with the rich aroma of delicious food. Alice looked left and right, her eyes sparkling like a curious kitten. "Wow, every restaurant here looks so good! Desserts, barbecue, fried fish, noodles… I want to try everything!"
Roy chuckled helplessly and shook his head. "Pick whichever one you like. Once we're full, we'll head back to cultivate."
Veil crossed his arms and smirked. "Hah, Alice is the most indecisive person I know. She'll probably spend the whole day on this street."
Alice immediately turned to glare at Veil. "Nonsense! I'm not indecisive!"
Veil shrugged. "Then hurry up and choose."
Alice frowned, seriously examining the menus displayed outside each restaurant. "Hmm… this place has caramel pudding, that one has honey-braised peaches, and the one up front has cream cake… What should I do?! What should I do?!"
Roy sighed and suggested, "How about this—we find a restaurant that has both desserts and main courses, so you can try everything at once."
Alice's eyes lit up. "Roy, you're my food savior!"
The trio walked into a cozy-looking restaurant with a diverse menu.
Alice eagerly flipped through the menu. "I want the strawberry cream cake, honey-braised peaches, and fried chicken! And for my main course… creamy pasta!"
Veil glanced at her choices. "Are you planning to move into this restaurant?"
Alice put her hands on her hips. "Why not? Cultivation requires energy. This is called energy storage!"
Roy couldn't help but laugh. "She has a point. We worked hard today, so let's indulge a bit."
Veil didn't hold back either. "I'll have the grilled steak, seafood pizza, and a lemon tart."
Roy kept it simple. "Grilled chicken leg, garlic-roasted fish, and a pudding."
When the food was served, Alice's eyes sparkled. "Let's dig in!"
She eagerly sliced into the cream cake, and the sweet aroma of strawberries and cream filled the air. "Mmm, so delicious! Roy, you have to try this!"
Roy tasted the honey-braised peaches. The soft peaches and sweet honey blended perfectly. "Yeah, it's really good."
Veil took a bite of his grilled steak, looking satisfied. "The steak is cooked just right. Meat truly is a man's best friend."
Alice laughed as she ate. "You two are my best companions—always willing to eat with me."
Veil pretended to be serious. "Once we finish eating, you'll need to fulfill your promise—scaring off any enemies we encounter."
Alice patted her chest confidently. "Don't worry! Alice never goes back on her word!"
The lively atmosphere was abruptly disrupted by the sudden arrival of a figure.
A young man dressed in a deep blue combat outfit casually walked over to Roy and his friends' table. He sat down uninvited, his face wearing a faint smile that carried a hint of arrogance.
Roy, Alice, and Veil all frowned, clearly displeased with this unwelcome intrusion.
Alice was the first to speak, her tone laced with caution. "Who are you? Did you sit at the wrong table, or are you here to mooch our food?" She leaned forward slightly, like a protective cat with sharp eyes.
The young man ignored her and turned his gaze to Roy, his smile growing even more smug. "So, you're the one who took the Thunderroot Flower at the auction, huh?"
Roy finally realized who he was dealing with. He responded flatly, "Auctions are all about strength. If you had more spirit stones, I couldn't have outbid you."
The young man chuckled dismissively, leaning back in his chair as his fingers tapped lightly on the table. "I only let it go because that item wasn't worth more. But judging by your uniforms, you must be inner disciples of Celestara Academy, right?"
Roy, Alice, and Veil exchanged a wary glance, their alertness heightening.
The young man continued, "If you manage to get a spot in the inter-academy tournament, I'll be waiting for you there."
Veil's face darkened, and he slammed the table as he stood. "What are you bragging about? If you want a fight, we can start right now!"
The young man remained unmoved, still smiling with an air of superiority. "You three have some skill. How about becoming my subordinates? Maybe I'll even give you a few pointers."
His eyes landed on Alice, and a hint of provocation tugged at the corners of his mouth. "As for you, how about becoming my woman?"
Alice's fury exploded, her rage boiling over. "What the hell did you just say? Do you want me to smash your face in right now?"
Roy stood up as well, his tone ice-cold. "I suggest you show some respect. Don't think we're easy targets. Even if all three of us attack you together, I doubt you'll make it out of this street."
The young man burst into laughter, as if their anger didn't faze him in the slightest. "Just kidding, no need to get so worked up. Until next time." With that, he stood up and strode away without a care.
Alice ground her teeth in frustration. "That guy really looked down on us!"
Roy narrowed his eyes, watching the young man's retreating figure. "He knows our names, so he's clearly prepared. It seems he's gathered plenty of information about us. But if we meet him again, I'll make sure he learns his lesson."
Veil clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked. "Absolutely! I couldn't stand him from the start. Acting so cocky in front of us—he's just asking for trouble!"
After finishing their meal, Alice patted her stomach contentedly. "I'm so full!"
Veil chuckled. "Alright, now that we're satisfied, it's time to head back to the academy. We got the pills we wanted at the auction today, so it's time to go into seclusion."
Roy smiled. "We've got six months. We need to speed up our progress. Let's go back!"
Upon returning to their courtyard, Roy and the others entered their respective training chambers without hesitation. They all aimed to make a spectacular breakthrough in six months.
After all, the elite disciples and personal protégés would all participate in the competition six months from now. Their strength would undoubtedly be far beyond that of ordinary inner disciples.
Roy sat cross-legged, his eyes tightly shut. His inner spiritual energy surged wildly as he absorbed the full effects of the Thunderroot Flower. A faint layer of purple lightning enveloped his body, resembling a thin suit of thunder armor. The air was charged with electric energy, and the courtyard echoed with continuous rumbles of thunder.
"Boom!" A sudden burst of spiritual energy erupted from Roy's body, enveloping the entire courtyard in lightning.
"Level 38," Roy muttered, feeling the power surging within him. But he didn't stop. The medicinal effect was still active, and he needed to seize this opportunity to push for an even higher level.
The pill's energy continuously strengthened Roy's spiritual veins, solidifying his foundation as the thunder essence in his body grew denser. His consciousness seemed to enter a vast sea of thunder. Overhead, endless storm clouds rolled, and beneath him, torrents of lightning surged.
"The opportunity to comprehend mid-tier Thunder Intent is getting closer!" Roy's heart was filled with excitement, but he remained focused and composed. He resonated with the power of thunder, channeling its energy through every vein and meridian.
"Boom!" Another thunderous explosion sounded, and Roy's entire body became engulfed in lightning.
"Level 40!" Roy's eyes snapped open, and faint arcs of electricity flickered in his pupils. "This power feels incredible—like I've stepped into the realm of peak warriors!"
Meanwhile, Alice was also deeply immersed in her training. The Soulleaf she consumed had elevated her mental energy to its peak. A faint silver glow surrounded her body, a sign of her intense spiritual energy.
"Boom!" A crisp spiritual fluctuation rippled through the air as Alice successfully broke through to Level 40.
"So, this is what Level 40 feels like," Alice murmured softly, her eyes filled with wonder. Her mastery over her battle techniques had also become more refined and precise.
"Roy and Veil must have broken through too," she thought with a smile, closing her eyes again to continue absorbing the pill's power and further strengthening her spiritual veins.
In another corner of the courtyard, Veil was focused on enhancing his physical body. After consuming the Xuanhuang Pill, his skin took on a golden sheen, and his muscle definition became more pronounced—like a sculpture forged from steel.
"Boom!" Veil threw a powerful punch, and the air itself seemed to explode from the force.
"Level 42!" Veil grinned as he felt the immense spiritual energy and physical strength coursing through him. "In this competition, I'll make sure those arrogant personal disciples witness my true strength!"
He continued refining his physical power, letting his spiritual energy circulate through his muscles and bones, making them tougher and stronger with each cycle.
The three of them remained absorbed in their breakthroughs, time slipping by like a stream. In just two months, their progress had been astonishing.
Roy could feel his sword intent gradually merging with his thunder intent, filling him with confidence. "Four months from now, I'll stand at the pinnacle of the academy competition!"
Alice clenched her fists, her eyes filled with determination. "This time, I won't let anyone look down on me!"
Veil's fists tightened with a crackling sound, his fighting spirit burning. "I'll prove with my strength that we're just as good as any personal disciple!"
They all closed their eyes again, continuing their relentless training as they awaited their next transformation.