Chapter 390: The Great Rat Pill [4k]

A few minutes later, inside the gymnasium.

Chi Jiuyu sprawled on a chair she had taken out from her storage ring, while the principal of Yuyao No. 1 Middle School stood stiffly, with a few visibly nervous students behind him.

These students had all been picked at random on the way here, and some had already been in the gymnasium.

Conveniently dragged in for the test.

"Alright, alright, let's run through the procedure first." Chi Jiuyu instructed.

After saying that, she leaned back and reached up to touch the back of her own head.

Hiss~!

Strange, why does my head suddenly hurt so much?

Could it be Shimu's Moon Shadow?

But she didn't seem to have provoked her!

"Mm."

Zhang Yunlu nodded slightly and glanced at Xu Xing, who was sitting on the sofa.

Thinking that Shijie had closed her eyes once and then opened them and forgotten everything that had just happened, and to avoid being 'settled with' by Shimu herself, she decided that from now on she would never bring it up, no matter what!

Taking out the specially prepared 'Portable Spiritual Power Measuring Terminal' from her storage ring and placing it on the table: "Come forward one by one for the test, and report your grade and age as well."

The student standing nearer the front glanced at the principal—the principal was his maternal uncle.

Only after seeing him nod did he take a deep breath and step forward.

The so-called Portable Spiritual Power Measuring Terminal was not large, silver all over, with a pure white fingerprint indentation in the middle, and a faint blue glow emanating from its edges.

Coming closer, he was a little nervous, but he still calmed himself and channeled a wisp of spiritual power into the device.

The terminal projected a holographic image containing the measured data, accompanied by a crisp mechanical voice.

"Spiritual Power Index 78.45, medium quality."

This was a device that could only measure the Qi Refining realm: 1 to 10 was the first layer of Qi Refining, 11 to 20 was the second layer, and so on.

A Spiritual Power Index of 78.45 meant this student's cultivation was at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, and he was almost at the ninth.

"Grade and age." Zhang Yunlu reminded him.

Her voice was very calm, but perhaps because of a certain coolness, the student was still startled into trembling.

After all, this was a big shot even his uncle had to handle carefully—being nervous was inevitable.

What bad luck—he had been bragging with his buddies, and suddenly got press-ganged!

And his uncle wouldn't even say what was going on…

"Senior year, nineteen years and seven months old."

After noting down the data: "Next."

The second student stepped forward; this time, without needing a reminder, she directly reported her information.

"Junior year, seventeen years and five months old."

"Spiritual Power Index 63.37, medium quality."

"…"

One after another, amid the continuously ringing crisp mechanical voice, the Spiritual Power Indices of the several chosen students were quickly measured.

The highest was only one at the eighth layer of Qi Refining—the very first one—while the rest mostly hovered around the seventh layer, and the lowest was a junior year student at the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

Emm…

To be fair, even compared to Xuanjian City No. 3 Middle School, this level was quite a bit worse.

But then again, if it were on Yuyao Star, this cultivation was actually still passable.

After all, it was a planet in the early stages of development, and the overall level was about the same as the data recorded by cultivators.

"Shijie, looks like there's no problem." Zhang Yunlu looked toward Chi Jiuyu.

As for those at Qi Refining Perfection and Foundation Establishment, most had already passed the entrance exams and gone to other star systems or the Central Continent.

After all, Yuyao Star's own conditions were not sufficient to establish a university.

The small portion still on Yuyao's fourth planet were also not in school; without employing some special means, it would be impossible to find them in a short while.

"Emm… looking at it like this, there really isn't any problem."

Sigh~

The principal secretly breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, but just as he was about to say something, he noticed Chi Jiuyu looking at him.

"Have you ever heard of the Grand Void False-Dissolving Golden Pupil?"

The Grand Void False-Dissolving Golden Pupil?

What was that?

The principal's heart lurched, and he suddenly felt uneasy.

He saw golden light suddenly flash in the eyes of that Xiang Jianzong Inspector, as if it could see through all illusions and shatter every false image.

He only felt a chill at his brow, and the sensation that he had been seen through completely; even the Nascent Soul seated within his spiritual sea seemed to be stimulated, trembling uncontrollably.

However, that gaze did not linger on him for long; after a sweeping glance, it turned toward the students who had grown nervous once more.

"That one, that one, and that one—I'll teach you a dharma art, you all try practicing it."

The other students who hadn't been picked were all a little surprised.

Those who had been picked were all from relatively poor families, unable to afford many resources, so they were unknown in senior year but had suddenly surged ahead in junior year.

Could it be…

Was there really some hidden circumstance?

Chi Jiuyu didn't avoid the topic and simply recited it aloud right then and there.

It actually wasn't any impressive cultivation art, just a minor body-nourishing dharma method she had casually created after reading many classics when she was advancing to Soul Transformation.

It can adjust the body to its most "authentic" state, greatly aiding cultivators before breaking through to the next realm—selling it to the Transmission Tower earned me plenty of contribution points!

Several students, including those not called upon, listened intently; even Xu Xing nodded slightly upon hearing it.

To be fair, though this guy is usually bizarre, his talent is truly unmatched.

Over a hundred characters, fluently recited, were finished quickly.

"Alright, begin."

These students are all Qi Condensation cultivators; memorizing these few characters is no difficulty.

They immediately followed the method described, beginning to cultivate and adjust their bodies; the headmaster was terrified, not even noticing his nephew's gaze upon him—yet…

Several minutes passed, and the students still showed no reaction.

Hm?

Why isn't it working yet?

Chi Jiuyu unconsciously scratched her head—and immediately winced in pain.

Ssshh~!

The headmaster paused, glancing at her strangely.

"... Cough! Cough!" She lowered her hand, staring sternly at the headmaster. "Why isn't it working yet?"

Her piercing gaze made the headmaster feel wronged.

In this matter, he truly did nothing at all!

"Report!" It was the headmaster's nephew who spoke up.

"Speak!"

"Messenger, the method you transmitted is too difficult—we can't learn it in such a short time…"

Huh?!

Chi Jiuyu looked utterly bewildered.

Too difficult?

She had considered many reasons, but never this one.

"Do you all find this difficult?"

After a moment of silence, the room erupted into noise.

"Yes!"

"How could anyone learn it in just a few minutes?!"

"I feel nothing at all—could the messenger be making this up…?"

Someone muttered under their breath.

Chi Jiuyu felt a headache coming on.

She'd wanted to show off, but got tripped up by this utterly bizarre turn.

She herself thought it was simple! Seeing this, the headmaster secretly sighed with relief.

Such a difficult method—how could anyone learn it in such a short time? Looks like he might escape this time…

"Enough!" Jiuyu Laozu's voice instantly silenced the room.

The chaotic noise vanished at once; she stole a glance at her master's junior, only to find him unmoved—as if waiting to see her humiliated…

She couldn't count on her master's junior.

At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

"Senior sister, no need to make it so complicated." It was Zhang Yunlu, speaking to Chi Jiuyu via telepathy: "Just have them breathe and circulate Qi for thirty-six Heavenly Circuits right where they stand."

Of course!

There was no need to overcomplicate it!

"You few—breathe and cultivate right here. Circulate Qi for thirty-six Heavenly Circuits." She gave the order immediately.

The students called upon were confused, but obeyed obediently.

Hearing this, the headmaster finally relaxed—this method had already been considered by them.

No error in a single character, a single line, a single word, a single meaning!

'Still lacking experience, but she's young—no big deal.'

Xu Xing sighed inwardly.

Then, with a thought—

Immediately, fine threads of cold, pure moonlight were drawn from the void, intertwining and merging with the omnipresent spiritual energy, forming a hazy white mist.

In an instant, the white mist filled the space around the students, drawn into their bodies as they breathed and cultivated.

Moonlight is the purest.

With three parts moonlight and seven parts spiritual energy, one can purify internal impurities and dissolve toxic medicinal effects.

The white mist swirled gently.

Seeing this, the headmaster instinctively felt something was wrong—he was about to act to dispel it, when sudden pain flared in his third eye.

As if any movement on his part would cause him to drop dead on the spot!

"You'd better not move…"

After using sword intent to pin the headmaster in place, Chi Jiuyu observed the sudden white mist.

Moonlight mixed with spiritual energy…

Holy shit!

She hadn't thought of this at all!

Wait—does this count as failing the test?

The principal's face darkened, but he forced a smile: "Messenger, this is..."

"Three parts moonlight essence, mixed with seven parts spiritual energy—don't tell me you can't see it."

"That might not be certain, Messenger, your methods are superb..."

"I will submit the results to Silutang—they will investigate whether it's true or false."

"..."

As he spoke, one of the students previously pointed out by Chi Jiuyu shuddered violently, his ruddy complexion instantly turning deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down and soaking his clothes.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his qi circulation abruptly severed.

"Puh—!"

A jet of black-red blood erupted from his mouth, splattering the ground, thick and viscous, and from afar, it carried an eerie sense of decay!

It didn't look like blood—it looked more like a pool of ink-stained paint.

After spitting out that blood, the student's once-vibrant vitality instantly dwindled to a faint, fragile flicker, as if about to be snuffed out, leaving him utterly lifeless...

Soon after, two more students spat blood in succession, their life forces weakening.

Once the false facade's medicinal power was stripped away, nothing remained.

The heavy stench of blood turned the faces of the few still standing pale, their eyes overflowing with unmistakable terror.

"What do you have to say now?"

The principal let out a bitter laugh, then shook his head: "Messenger, your methods are superb—I have nothing to say."

"Enough, enough! Go explain yourself to Silutang."

The moment the words sounded, a tyrannical surge of magic power descended, sealing his entire cultivation.

The instant he thought of resisting, the impulse vanished without a trace.

Then, Chi Jiuyu reached out and beckoned with one hand!

Wum wum~!

A long sword of azure-gold pierced through the air, its tip hanging a storage ring.

She caught the sword, removed the storage ring.

Then, with her spiritual sense, she forcibly broke the ring's seals and withdrew a golden pill, its inner radiance swirling like a celestial elixir.

She pinched it between her fingers and displayed it before the students: "Those who take this pill chop away their own primordial qi, overdraw their potential and foundation, to gain faster cultivation!"

The entire gymnasium fell utterly silent, only Chi Jiuyu's voice echoing.

The few students with withered life forces stared fixedly at the pill in her hand.

They never imagined the truth behind their so-called "miraculous encounters" was this!

"Moreover, long-term use of this pill causes not only depletion of body and spirit, drastic lifespan reduction, but also renders it impossible to advance further after Foundation Establishment!"

Impossible to advance further after Foundation Establishment?!

The students present were shaken; those with weakened life forces felt despair, while the rest surged with relief.

Relief that they had never taken this pill.

"Its name is Faming Pill, but I think it deserves another title," Chi Jiuyu scanned the crowd. "Shuoshu Pill."

'Shuoshu Pill...' Xu Xing felt something odd.

The name was apt enough, but he didn't know if she'd read it on the Spirit Net or thought of it herself.

If she read it on the Spirit Net, fine.

If she thought of it herself...

Had that blow somehow made her smarter?

Chi Jiuyu suddenly felt a chill at the back of her head.

No no no!

Was she getting sick?

She suppressed her chaotic thoughts and returned the pill to the storage ring.

The so-called Faming Pill is actually a demonic pill, but in this era, hardly anyone uses it anymore.

Logically, such pills should have vanished, yet in reality, demand far outstrips supply, and the pill has been refined and upgraded through several generations.

All to make resource theft easier.

Where there's demand, there's a market.

The one in Chi Jiuyu's hand, for instance, already had very subtle effects.

Unless one had cultivated the Grand Void Illusion-Piercing Golden Gaze, ordinary cultivators could never detect the user's true condition.

"Hah! When one seeks to condemn, excuses are never lacking." The principal still clung to his defiance.

At this point, he could only insist this was all a frame-up by the Xiang Jianzong's messenger.

"The storage ring came with the messenger's sword—if that's so, then..."

"Heh!" Chi Jiuyu tapped the azure-gold sword in her hand.

Amid the sword's hum, a recording crystal hung from the hilt.

"Idiot, don't you know what a Law Enforcement Recorder is?"

"..." After a pause, "Messenger, your methods are superb—perhaps this is forged."

"Fine! You only know how to say that one line, huh?"

Chi Jiuyu grew tired of hearing "Messenger, your methods are superb" over and over; she flicked a thread of sword qi to bind him.

The principal, his cultivation sealed, could not resist—he could only let Chi Jiuyu drag him out of the gymnasium.

Now came her moment to shine!

As for these students whose foundations had been damaged by the pills...

Although she can't be saved, isn't there still an elder aunt? No problem at all!

"Elder aunt?" Zhang Yunlu looked at Xu Xing.

"Put everything away." Xu Xing handed a vial of pills to a student who was still standing. "Give them these pills first."

Deal with everything together once all matters are settled.

It's still early; what they must face isn't just matters on this planet. (End of Chapter)