Chapter 71: Design!

Ye Yuan was indeed avoiding everyone, but he was also in seclusion.

Now that the fourth level of Yuan Qi had been consolidated, he couldn't wait to improve his strength.

Refining second-grade pills had completely drained Ye Yuan's yuan power, indeed placing a great burden on his body.

Ye Yuan was now recovering his expended yuan power, adjusting his condition to its best, and then he would take a top-grade Yuan Qi Pill, planning to break through to the sixth level of Yuan Qi in one go.

Of course, breaking through to the sixth level of Yuan Qi would take far more time than when he went from the first to the third level.

On the second step of the Yuan Qi realm, each minor level advancement required much more yuan power than before.

Although Ye Yuan had enough top-grade Yuan Qi Pills, he still needed time to digest them.

Moreover, he was cultivating the "Lingzhe Nine Sun Divine Art," which consumed several times more yuan power than ordinary people.

But Ye Yuan wasn't anxious; he had plenty of time.

He would go into seclusion for a few days and let those people busy themselves.

Jiang Yunhe was indeed very busy. After failing to find Ye Yuan, he left the Danwu Academy.

In fact, Jiang Yunhe was always busy and spent very little time at the academy. No one knew what he did outside.

These days, he happened to return to the academy and learned that such a dazzling new star had risen in just one month.

But no matter how talented Ye Yuan was, he needed time to grow; after all, he was only at the fourth level of Yuan Qi.

As long as Ye Yuan was at the Danwu Academy, Jiang Yunhe didn't worry about this genius running away.

Since Ye Yuan had chosen the Danwu Academy, it was unlikely that Wu Daofeng would personally come to the academy to poach him.

Having gotten over the initial shock and figured out this point, Jiang Yunhe naturally went about his own business, not waiting specifically for Ye Yuan to emerge from seclusion.

At this time, Lü'er unexpectedly received a visitor—a disciple who claimed to be from the academy's Miscellaneous Affairs Office.

"You must be Junior Sister Lü'er?" The disciple from the Miscellaneous Affairs Office had a rather arrogant attitude.

Lü'er was somewhat puzzled but still replied, "Yes, may I ask who you are, Senior Brother?"

"I am a managing disciple of the Miscellaneous Affairs Office, named Zhang Heng."

"So it's Senior Brother Zhang Heng. May I ask if you have business with Lü'er?"

Although Lü'er was naive, she wasn't stupid. Zhang Heng wouldn't come to her for no reason, and his attitude seemed unfriendly.

Sure enough, Zhang Heng said, "Of course I have business! Since you've passed the entrance exam and become a Yellow-level disciple of the academy, why haven't you reported to the Miscellaneous Affairs Office?"

Lü'er looked bewildered. She had never known about this rule. Did becoming a disciple of the academy require reporting to the Miscellaneous Affairs Office?

"Senior Brother, please clarify. Lü'er has just entered and still has much to learn. But I wonder, why must a Yellow-level disciple report to the Miscellaneous Affairs Office?" Lü'er replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Zhang Heng sneered and said, "Such a large Danwu Academy supports so many of us disciples. Do you think we can just sit back and consume resources? Since we have become disciples of the academy, we naturally must contribute. All Yellow-level disciples who pass the entrance exam must serve a month of menial labor at the Miscellaneous Affairs Office. That's the academy's rule. You've become a disciple but haven't properly studied the academy regulations, and you even let others do your menial work for you. How shameful!"

Zhang Heng wasn't lying; the Danwu Academy did have such a rule. But saying it so harshly to a girl was a bit much.

Besides, Lü'er hadn't deliberately skipped work; she simply didn't understand anything. She had only been in the academy for a few days, so even if she had truly been absent, it wouldn't have been a big deal.

Zhang Heng's words were clearly meant to pick a quarrel.

Lü'er didn't mind working as a servant for a month, but Ye Yuan was currently in seclusion. If he came out and couldn't find her, he would surely worry.

"Senior Brother, could you allow me a few days? My master is in seclusion right now, and if he can't find me, he'll be anxious. Once he emerges, I will definitely report to the Chores Office," Lü'er said cautiously.

But Zhang Heng flew into a rage: "Ridiculous! Who does your master think he is? Can he override the academy rules? You've already delayed for several days—how many more do you want to delay? Every new disciple is recorded in the register, and they all take the initiative to work. Are you the only exception?"

Hearing Zhang Heng insult her master, Lü'er's eyes brimmed with tears of anger. But knowing that her master still had Wan Yuan as an enemy in the academy, she didn't want to cause him trouble, so she held back her tears and said, "Lü'er begs Senior Brother to grant a few days' grace. I will definitely report for duty then, and I don't mind working for two months if needed."

Zhang Heng, however, seemed to have no sympathy for her plight. He sneered, "I've informed you anyway. Whether you go or not is up to you. But I'll warn you: if I don't see you at the Chores Office today, don't blame me for reporting this to the instructor. According to the academy rules, you'll be expelled!"

At the word "expelled," Lü'er trembled all over.

Her master was now at the peak of his power. If she were expelled, wouldn't she become a laughingstock for him?

That was definitely not the outcome Lü'er wanted!

Undoubtedly, that word had struck Lü'er's weak spot.

Seeing Lü'er lost in thought, Zhang Heng's eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Hmph, once your master comes out, what chance will I have? It's precisely because I know he's in seclusion that I'm here to cause you trouble!" Zhang Heng sneered inwardly.

Feigning impatience, Zhang Heng turned to leave.

Seeing this, Lü'er dared not delay any longer and quickly called out, "Senior Brother, wait! I... I'll go with you to the Chores Office. But... could you allow me to leave a note for my master?"

Lü'er was too naive. She thought Zhang Heng was upright and had come to find her for that reason, not realizing he had been scheming all along just to pick a fight!

If Lü'er had secretly left a token or a note, Ye Yuan would have known what happened.

But now she told Zhang Heng she wanted to leave a note—how could Zhang Heng allow that?

Zhang Heng said impatiently, "If you're coming, come. Why so many demands? I'm leaving now; handle it yourself!"

With that, he really turned and left.

Lü'er hesitated for a moment, then went back inside, left a note, and headed out.

Of course, Lü'er didn't know that Ye Yuan would never see her note.

…

Ye Yuan was completely unaware of what was happening outside. He was at a critical juncture, breaking through to the fifth level of Yuan Qi.

He tossed top-grade Yuan Qi Pills into his mouth as if they were nothing, constantly refining the medicinal power with the Lingzhe Nine Yang Divine Art.

The Yuan power in his dantian grew more and more abundant, drawing closer and closer to the fifth level of Yuan Qi.

Finally, Ye Yuan broke through the barrier in one go, reaching the fifth level of Yuan Qi!

"Huff... At this rate, the Yuan Qi Pills won't be enough! This damn technique is too gluttonous. I'm only at the Yuan Qi stage, and my consumption is already several times greater than normal. What will it be like at the Liquid Spirit stage? Even if my father were a millionaire, he couldn't afford this!"

Ye Yuan looked at the heavily depleted top-grade Yuan Qi Pills and couldn't help but grumble about the Lingzhe Nine Yang Divine Art.