Chapter 154: Resource Exchange! Permit to the Thunder Realm!

"Senior sister, long time no see."

Seeing Jiang Chu xuan walking gracefully from afar, Xu Jingming smiled and waved to her among the crowd.

"Senior Chu xuan."

Song Qiuyun beside her also wore a smile.

"I'm glad you're both safe."

Seeing both were unharmed, not a single wound on their bodies, Jiang Chu xuan finally let out a breath.

"It's all thanks to your pills, Senior Sister. Otherwise, we'd have been in real trouble back in the Demon Cavern."

Xu Jingming chuckled.

Jiang Chu xuan's second-rank pills were indeed far more potent than those sold in ordinary shops.

Without these pills, the severe injuries we suffered after encountering that fifth-rank beast in the Demon Cavern—

—would never have healed completely in just two days.

"Of course not—look who made them."

The white-haired girl Jiang Chu xuan proudly puffed out her chest.

She then walked over to Song Qiuyun, taking her small hand:

"I've reserved seats at Qingya Residence. Let's go together."

"Are you treating us?"

"If treating means treating, by the way—did you bring back the rare herbs and flowers I asked for?"

"Of course I did. And in large quantities. I just don't know if you can handle it."

"Hehe, as alchemists, we're not afraid of large quantities—only of too little!"

"Senior Chu xuan, I've also gathered some rare herbs and flowers."

"..."

To others, Jiang Chu xuan appeared aloof and cold—but before Xu Jingming, she was unusually lively.

The three laughed and chatted as they walked together toward the exit of the training ground.

"The airship will depart in five minutes. All new students, disembark promptly."

Vice Principal Ling Shuang, dressed in pale black ancient attire and floating midair in Training Ground No. 1, called out loudly.

Her peripheral vision swept over Xu Jingming and the other two leaving together on the ground.

"Huh? Why is there one more?"

Ling Shuang raised a delicate eyebrow.

After noticing Jiang Chu xuan's stunning beauty and graceful figure, she shook her head slightly:

"That little Xu Jingming sure has good luck with girls."

According to genetic theory, the stronger the innate ability of a cultivator, the higher the chance their offspring will awaken a rare ability.

Thus, whether in Great Xia or other nations,

both men and women are permitted to have multiple spouses if they awaken an A-rank or higher ability.

The state even encourages high-rank cultivators to mate with each other, producing offspring with even stronger abilities.

That's why master and grandmaster families can grow enormously large within just a few decades—this reason is also hidden within.

But this requires mutual consent and acceptance among all parties involved.

Additionally, for those who awaken rare abilities but simply cannot find a partner,

the state itself may intervene to arrange one...

Of course,

for someone like Xu Jingming—who possesses an SS-rank ability, has an excellent appearance and demeanor,

and whose strength and future are limitless—such problems simply don't exist.

It's perfectly normal for multiple girls to admire him; Ling Shuang understood.

If she herself had still been a girl when she met a boy like Xu Jingming, she likely would've been smitten too.

Unfortunately, as a Space-rank S ability user,

during her university years, no peer—male or female—could match her.

Otherwise, she wouldn't still be single at over thirty...

After lunch, Xu Jingming took out all the rare herbs and flowers he had collected.

Needless to say, the ecosystem of the Demon Cavern was vastly superior to ordinary wilderness zones.

E-rank and D-rank rare herbs and flowers, rarely seen in ordinary wilderness, were everywhere inside the Demon Cavern.

Thus, during the month spent in the central region of the Demon Cavern,

Xu Jingming gathered over two hundred D-rank and C-rank rare herbs and flowers, plus more than ten B-rank ones.

"Did you empty the entire Demon Cavern of its rare herbs and flowers?"

Inside the room, Jiang Chu xuan's rosy lips parted slightly as she stared at the mountain of rare herbs and flowers piled on the floor.

She had been on study trips before—but she'd only gathered fewer than ten.

This pile before her, if not for the herbal scent, would've looked like nothing but weeds!

Compared to Xu Jingming's haul, Song Qiuyun's dozen or so rare herbs and flowers seemed modest by comparison.

"This is nothing. Few cultivators have the strength to reach the central region of the Demon Cavern.

If I'd stayed longer inside, I could've gathered even more!"

Xu Jingming grinned. "Senior Sister, I'm leaving all these rare herbs and flowers to you."

"I really didn't want to agree, but since I'm the one who asked you to collect them—

looks like I'll be busy for a while."

Jiang Chu xuan sighed, shaking her head, then gathered all the herbs and flowers into her space ring.

Perhaps this was what they called "painful yet joyful"...

The new student courses would resume on the third day after the study trip—December 15th.

Jiang Chu xuan had already finished her classes today.

After lunch, Song Qiuyun proposed watching Jiang Chu xuan brew pills and invited Xu Jingming along.

Xu Jingming had little interest in this, so he parted ways with the two girls and headed alone to the Magic University Resource Department.

He planned to exchange the S-rank cultivation resource granted by Jing University.

Unlike the grand standalone buildings of the Pill and Equipment Departments,

the Magic University Resource Department occupied only a small building, barely over ten meters tall.

It was less like a building and more like a large warehouse.

Xu Jingming stepped into the first-floor lobby of the Resource Department.

Since most students ordered resources directly online,

the lobby was quiet, with few students present.

Of course, Magic University always provided excellent supporting services.

Even with so few students in the lobby, staff still offered enthusiastic service.

Xu Jingming received immediate attention upon entering.

He had expected to need to call Vice Principal Ling Shuang on the spot to verify eligibility for resource exchange.

But to his surprise, the young female staff member smiled immediately upon hearing his purpose:

"Honored S-rank cultivator, Vice Principal Ling has already given specific instructions. Once your identity is confirmed, resource exchange may proceed."

"Vice Principal Ling is thoughtful—she notified you so quickly."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly and handed over his student ID.

Shortly after verifying his identity,

the staff member respectfully led him upstairs to Room 204 in the Resource Department.

The room resembled the reading hall of the Combat Technique Library—simple sofas and a small round table.

On the table, a holographic projection of Eva emitted a faint glow.

"You may use Eva to browse available S-rank cultivation resources. Once decided, call me."

The staff member bowed and closed the door. Xu Jingming sat beside the table.

He extended his right hand and playfully pinched the holographic projection:

"Little Eva, we meet again."

"Hmph, pinching my face again—I'm going to be mad!"

Eva let out a tiny huff, wriggling her spherical form in protest—but it was useless.

Her comical posture only made Xu Jingming smile.

"Eva, what S-rank resources can I exchange for a seventh-rank Breakthrough Pill?"

After teasing Eva a bit, Xu Jingming remembered his purpose.

Hum—

Eva's form flickered faintly, then a list appeared in projection.

It listed countless S-rank resources, leaving Xu Jingming momentarily dazzled.

"Damn, no wonder this is a top-tier university—this kind of depth is insane."

Xu Jingming marveled inwardly.

So many S-class resources—if I checked them one by one, when would I ever finish?

So he asked directly: "Eva, which of these S-class cultivation resources most greatly enhances control over lightning-based abilities?"

Hum—

The virtual list before him flickered faintly, leaving only one item:

【Thundering Realm Access Pass (S-class): With this pass, you may enter the Thundering Realm in Hedong City, Jiangnan Province for training.】