Chapter 287: Growth

After Alyssa left, Li Mochen stopped Hazel, who was still running.

"Alright! I apologize, Hazel. They're right—I shouldn't treat you like a child. Enrolling is necessary, but I promise you can choose which grade to enter, okay? However, you have to pass the Linden Academy assessment on your own. I won't provide any help. Let's make a deal: whichever grade level you pass, that's where you'll study."

Only then did Hazel stop, lifting her helmet to reveal a sweat-drenched but joyful face: "Then it's settled! Let's pinky swear now! Whoever breaks their word is a dog."

When Li Mochen reluctantly extended his pinky to hook with hers, Hazel proudly lifted her chin: "Let me tell you, I already self-studied the entire first-year college curriculum by the time I was nine. Don't think you can stump me with exams, Mo!"

Li Mochen was taken aback: "That impressive? But your GPA is only 3.2."

That was still within the range of a good student, but not exceptionally outstanding.

"It's mainly due to skipping classes, and I didn't dare score too well—that family would—"

Hazel didn't finish. A look of disgust crossed her face: "Mo, can't I really get back at them? I promise I won't go too far. Just give them a taste of what they did to me."

Li Mochen shook his head firmly: "I've said it before: if you still want revenge after coming of age, I won't stop you. But not now. Or you could cultivate the Dual Element Profound Transformation Art to the ninth level before adulthood."

As long as Hazel hadn't truly mastered the Calamity Flame Dragon Force, the will of the Calamity Flame Dragon Maiden would remain dormant within her, ready to exploit her emotions and risk influencing or seizing her consciousness at any time.

"But I've already awakened the bloodline of the Silent Demon Dragon, and my Ice Heart Dominating Sea Art is already at the fourth level."

After muttering discontentedly, Hazel still pouted: "Fine, I'll listen to you."

She could see that Li Mochen was serious, and she also realized there might be hidden dangers within her body.

Moreover, she had no intention of angering Li Mochen over such a trivial matter—that would be foolish. But then, Hazel put her helmet back on.

Seeing this, Li Mochen frowned: "Don't push yourself. You've already finished today's practice."

"I know, but I also know that my body now can't be damaged no matter how hard I train, right? As for my mental state, there's no need to worry—my will isn't that fragile."

Hazel waved her hand dismissively and continued running swiftly on the indoor track, letting out cheerful laughter.

"I feel that the 'Unified Sprint Step' you taught me, Mo, is really useful. You know what? Every drop of sweat I shed and every bit of control I gain brings me joy."

Li Mochen only felt a pang of distress, watching her back with a furrowed brow.

The 'Unified Sprint Step' was a footwork technique from the Primordial Vault Realm, a supplementary cultivation method used by cultivators below the Golden Core stage to temper their physique and increase their cultivation. It utilized rapid running to accelerate the circulation of mana and true essence throughout the body, opening up all the energy channels.

This method was especially suitable when applied to Hairou. She usually found it difficult to mobilize the vast magical source within her body to circulate along the routes she envisioned. However, when using the 'Guan Yi Ben Yuan Step,' everything inside her could operate by inertia.

Naturally, this technique was no longer the true 'Guan Yi Ben Yuan Step'; Li Mochen had transformed it, completely changing its appearance into the walking transportation method of the 'Ice Heart Tyrant Sea Art.'

This could greatly increase Hairou's success rate in transporting the cycle, raising it from the previous thirty percent to the current ninety percent.

But this method also subjected Hairou to extreme pain. This was because the magical source movement speed of this walking transportation method was ten times more intense than the sitting transportation method of the 'Ice Heart Tyrant Sea Art'!

Li Mochen's suggestion to Hairou was to practice the 'Guan Yi Ben Yuan Step' about ten times a day, resting for an hour after each session. But today, Hairou had already run back and forth over five hundred laps on this three-hundred-meter indoor track, nearly one hundred and fifty kilometers—that is, a full thirty rounds of transportation!

"BOSS's training method must be very painful, right?"

Hairou's personal maid, Isadora Weeks, sighed behind Li Mochen: "Miss is really working hard. In my fifty years of life, I've never seen anyone mentally stronger than her. I guess she will eventually be worthy of the power within her and become a true demigod. I can guess her thoughts—she wants to help you, BOSS."

Li Mochen sighed again. This was exactly what he regretted.

If he had known it would come to this, he shouldn't have talked nonsense when he first brought Hairou back. This girl seemed to have taken his words back then as her spiritual support and belief, thinking that was the meaning of her existence. No matter how he tried to explain or persuade her afterward, it was useless.

And now he was helpless, unable to stop this girl.

Although most of Hairou's calamity fire dragon power was sealed by him, this girl still had a demigod-level physical constitution. In particular, her dragon scales, inherited from the Calamity Fire Dragon Lady, were among the best in defense even among demigod-level experts. When Hairou herself was unwilling, even he couldn't break through her defenses now.

"Let her be. Isa, take good care of her for me. Remind her not to exceed ten o'clock, and nutrition must be maintained—she must finish the food according to the diet plan I set. Also, keep an eye on my dragon vein for me, and make sure that little guy doesn't get a chance to slack off. EMM~ We might have an operation tomorrow night; try to have it complete all training plans before 5 p.m. Be stern. If really necessary, you can ask Hairou for help."

Li Mochen had a different attitude toward the little dragon vein.

The day before yesterday, this little guy finally reached level seven, and even its bloodline had been slightly purified. But the 'lazy' nature of Western dragons was also becoming prominent in it.

Li Mochen found that whether Eastern or Western dragons, these divine beasts could become incredibly powerful among beasts just by eating and sleeping, without any training. So why should they train and cultivate like humans?

This nature manifested in the little dragon vein as various forms of laziness and slyness. It was becoming less and less diligent in following Li Mochen's training plan, requiring constant supervision to make it truly practice.

Moreover, the little dragon vein had a nemesis: Hairou, who possessed demigod dragon power, was undoubtedly a superior dragon race in the eyes of the Blazing Dragon. The little dragon vein had no resistance before her; it would go east if pointed east, west if pointed west, and dared not cut corners on Hairou's commands.

After giving these instructions to Isadora, Li Mochen walked out of the gymnasium and returned to the Unicorn Apartment, a few dozen meters away, via a private corridor opened for him by the Nathan Sports Group.

Hairou's hard work also gave him a sense of urgency. Next, he planned to go to the apartment's alchemy room to prepare some equipment he had long intended to make—such as the planned spatial artifacts.

Since entering November, Li Mochen had been completely bogged down in a busy state—the expansion of Xuri Company, the acquisition of commercial real estate, the sorting and integration of Li Chunchu's legacy and Antonio's industries, negotiations and signings for commercial endorsements, and the three events he attended afterward. This had consumed almost all of Li Mochen's energy, to the point that he couldn't even maintain his normal cultivation time.

Only today could Li Mochen spare some time to do what he wanted.