Chapter 151: Because We Are Poor

"Of course I'm going to Longxiang Academy. Besides, if I don't show up, how can the other party come out?" Lin Xiaobao felt a certain amount of pressure, but he didn't have the habit of worrying.

"How could I have forgotten about this?" Reminded by Lin Xiaobao, Chen Zhong put the previous matter aside. Although there was a hint of a conspiracy in it, in Chen Zhong's eyes, it didn't really count as much. He then said seriously, "Although I know you have had some fortuitous encounters of your own, you still need to take entering Longxiang Academy seriously. If you have the opportunity, ask Dean Kuang for guidance more often. His mastery of formations is even greater than mine."

"Isn't Big Brother the number one formation master in the Longxiang Continent?" Although Lin Xiaobao had witnessed Kuang Lizhen's formations, he didn't think the man was all that much superior to Chen Zhong.

Chen Zhong shook his head. "My formations came from a secret manual I happened to obtain by chance. Most of the arrays I set up are learned and evolved from it, whereas Dean Kuang's formations are mostly self-created through his own comprehension of the Dao of formations. The difference between the two is something you can understand even if I don't spell it out."

Viewed in this light, Chen Zhong's title as the number one formation master referred to practical combat, but from a theoretical standpoint, Kuang Lizhen was the true number one. Of course, if Chen Zhong could thoroughly comprehend that secret manual of his, he could theoretically surpass Kuang Lizhen, but judging by Chen Zhong's tone, he clearly hadn't reached that level yet.

"Also, after entering Longxiang Academy, you can contribute more to earn credits, and use those credits to enter the Asking Tower for cultivation." Speaking of the Asking Tower, Chen Zhong's face also showed a look of yearning. "Actually, the reason Longxiang Academy has endured and flourished for so many years is inextricably linked to the fact that many students, after growing powerful in cultivation, remain captivated by the Asking Tower and are reluctant to leave, choosing instead to stay at the academy as instructors."

Seeing that both Gu Yixiang and Chen Zhong held the Asking Tower in such high regard, Lin Xiaobao grew even more curious. It seemed that this Longxiang Academy was a place he simply had to visit.

As for the enemies lurking in the shadows, Lin Xiaobao believed they would eventually reveal themselves; he just needed to be a little more cautious, so he didn't dwell entirely on it. "Since that's the case, I might as well wander around the treasure exchange convention and see if I can unearth some good things!"

"The convention hasn't even officially started yet. What good things could there be?" Chen Zhong said with an amused expression. "You'd be better off staying here and keeping me company with some drinks!"

"I promised Second Sister-in-law that I'd help her get a couple of Tribulation-Averting Pills, so I still need to go gather some medicinal ingredients." A mischievous smile hung on Lin Xiaobao's face.

"Second Sister-in-law?" Chen Zhong was somewhat baffled.

"Isn't Gu Yixiang of the Qingyu Pavilion my Second Sister-in-law?" Lin Xiaobao smiled brightly.

Seeing Lin Xiaobao speak this way, Chen Zhong hurriedly looked around and lowered his voice. "You brat, don't talk nonsense! If Xinran hears this, I won't have an easy time, and you won't get any peace either!"

Pausing for a moment, Chen Zhong added, "Since you want to experience the treasure exchange convention, I won't stop you then. As for drinking, we brothers have plenty of time ahead!"

There's definitely something fishy going on! Wearing a mischievous smile, Lin Xiaobao walked back toward the valley where the treasure exchange convention was being held.

Emerging from the backyard of the Xuanyang Hall, the crowds in the valley had grown even larger. People were either discussing exchange terms at others' stalls or gathered in groups of three or five to chat about past events.

In short, it was a scene of great prosperity for the mystical sects. After sweeping his gaze around, Lin Xiaobao spotted Lin Tian and the others, then hurried over.

Along the way, he occasionally overheard talk about the destruction of the Wind and Snow Pavilion, the Flowing Cloud Sect, and the Long family. However, such events did not cause much of a stir in today's gathering; after all, those able to attend today were no ordinary figures, and such factions truly meant little in their eyes.

"How is it? Did you see anything you liked?" Lin Xiaobao stopped and asked Lin Tian.

Lin Tian shook his head. Clearly, upon hearing the bad news about the Wind and Snow Pavilion, he had lost interest in these treasures.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaobao said no more, and turning instead to Qin Feng, asked, "Do you have any Tribulation-Averting Pills on you? Lend me a few."

Qin Feng looked at Lin Xiaobao incredulously. "Do you think Tribulation-Averting Pills are jellybeans? You want to borrow a few? I daresay even Senior Pill King probably doesn't have more than a handful of them on him!"

Lin Xiaobao couldn't help but shake his head helplessly, looking at Gu Yixiang as if to say, *You saw it yourself, I already asked.*

"Why are you thinking about Tribulation-Averting Pills? Oh, have your eyes on the Spirit-Returning Bracelet?" After the realization dawned on him, Qin Feng looked at Lin Xiaobao and asked.

Lin Xiaobao shook his head, however. "I don't have much interest in the Spirit-Returning Bracelet. I just feel somewhat sorry for Mr. Ziyang, so I want to help him out."

"Forget it, as if I don't know you, you brat!" A thought suddenly occurred to Qin Feng, and he said, "Anyway, there's still plenty of time before the treasure exchange convention ends. Why don't you concoct a batch of Tribulation-Averting Pills right now? With your speed, there's definitely no problem. I can lend you my pill cauldron, but you have to give me one Tribulation-Averting Pill as payment!"

"I'd love to concoct them, but where am I supposed to get the medicinal ingredients?" Lin Xiaobao threw up his hands. "In my penniless state, even if I saw the ingredients, I wouldn't be able to afford them!"

Seeing that Lin Xiaobao was willing to brew the pills, Qin Feng grew greatly interested and immediately guaranteed, "I'll provide the ingredients, but you have to give me two more Tribulation-Averting Pills, and I must observe the entire pill-concoction process."

To be honest, Qin Feng had attempted to concoct Tribulation-Averting Pills twice before, but both times ended in failure. Having witnessed Lin Xiaobao's pill-making techniques, he also wanted to learn how Lin Xiaobao managed to produce such pills, which had an exceptionally low success rate.

"Deal!" Lin Xiaobao agreed without even haggling over the price.

Seeing how readily Lin Xiaobao agreed, Qin Feng had a nagging feeling that he had been scammed, but after calculating the costs, he figured he wasn't taking a loss after all!

"Good, I'll go exchange for the ingredients right now and come look for you once I'm ready!" Perhaps the temptation of witnessing the creation of Tribulation-Averting Pills was too great, as Qin Feng eagerly set off to gather the materials.

"You brat, I reckon that if anyone hangs out with you, you'd sell them and they'd still end up helping you count the money!" Although Gu Yixiang was teasing Lin Xiaobao, there was no small amount of gratitude in her tone. After all, the Spirit-Returning Bracelet wasn't of much use to Lin Xiaobao; he was only doing this because he had promised her the two pills.

"Who told us to be poor?" Lin Xiaobao shrugged, offering no objection.

Just then, he caught sight of Wen Hongcai's figure not far away. At the treasure exchange convention, Wen Hongcai was actually standing together with members of the Yun family. After a brief moment of thought, Lin Xiaobao said, "Fairy Sister, I'm going over there for a moment. Please take my master around to look at things; if there's anything he likes, just buy it, and I'll settle the bill with you later."