Chapter 234: Four-Star-Grade Formula

Over the next several days, Li Luo and the others did not receive any so-called conscription mission; presumably the academy's higher-ups were still deliberating over it.

So Li Luo and his group continued their cultivation step by step, working hard to improve their own strength. After all, they all knew in their hearts that entering the Dark Cave to carry out the purification mission was only a matter of time. Being able to gain an extra measure of power now would mean one more layer of protection once they entered the Dark Cave.

On this day.

Having finished his cultivation, Li Luo walked from the underground training room to the first-floor dining hall, where he saw Bai Bai Mengmeng had laid out a table full of delicious food. The slender girl had calves exposed beneath her skirt, fair and smooth as jade lotus roots.

"Captain, are you done with cultivation? I bought these dishes back from the cafeteria." Bai Bai Mengmeng's peach-blossom eyes fell on Li Luo as he came out, and a smile bloomed on her pure, lovely face.

"What a good little homemaker."

Li Luo praised, walked to the table, and sat down.

Bai Bai Mengmeng sat down across from him. Li Luo smiled, took out a delicate little bottle from his chest. The bottle contained an unknown liquid, and he placed it in front of Bai Bai Mengmeng.

"Is the captain giving me a gift?" Bai Bai Mengmeng asked with a smile.

Li Luo popped a strand of golden-yellow roasted meat into his mouth and said casually, "Try a drop."

Bai Bai Mengmeng was a little puzzled, but then she seemed to think of something, and her peach-blossom eyes widened. She stared at Li Luo for a few seconds, then carefully squeezed a drop of liquid from the little bottle into her mouth.

The next instant, the expression on Bai Bai Mengmeng's pretty face froze.

After quite a while, her voice trembled: "This is... sweetness?!"

Li Luo smiled and nodded. "Didn't I tell you before? While treating your taste buds I suddenly got a bit of inspiration, so over the past two days I mixed up a bottle of taste water. As you guessed, this is sweetness. Once I get more skilled at it later, I should be able to let you taste sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy. By then, your sense of taste will probably be almost fully restored."

Bai Bai Mengmeng stared blankly at the unassuming little bottle in her hand, then gripped it tightly, as if it were something incomparably precious.

"Captain, thank you." Bai Bai Mengmeng's low voice came.

Li Luo waved his hand in a very carefree manner. Just as he was about to say something, he noticed the girl before him had lowered her head, her eyes red-rimmed, with bean-sized tears continuously rolling down.

"Uh..."

Li Luo was a little embarrassed.

Just then, footsteps came from the stairway, and Student Xin Fu sauntered down. However, when he saw Bai Bai Mengmeng sitting in front of Li Luo with her head lowered, crying, looking very sad, his steps abruptly stiffened.

In that instant, countless tales of love and hate flashed through his mind, finally settling on Li Luo's face, on which were written two words.

Scumbag.

He hesitated, then said in a low voice: "Should I not be here?"

Li Luo glared at him.

And Bai Bai Mengmeng hurriedly wiped the tears from her cheeks, a little embarrassed, her cheeks flushed red.

"Bai Mengmeng, I told you I would definitely cure your taste-bud problem, so you should have confidence in me." Li Luo said understandingly.

"Besides, we are classmates and partners, with deep feelings between us. For your sake, even if I had to skip sleep and meals, it would be worth it." Li Luo sighed.

Bai Bai Mengmeng first carefully put away the little bottle, then flashed Li Luo a sweet smile: "Captain, I haven't been slacking off on my research into Spirit Water Odd Light formulas either."

Li Luo waved his hand, took a sip from his water cup, and said calmly: "Compared to the bond between us, these are all small matters. Don't overwork yourself, just take it slow."

Bai Bai Mengmeng nodded and said: "The Spirit Water Odd Light formula I've been researching this time, I've been preparing it for several years now. If I can succeed, it will definitely reach Four-Star grade!"

Pfft!

The water in Li Luo's mouth sprayed out in one go. Fortunately, he turned his head quickly, or he would have ruined an entire table of food.

Still, he couldn't be bothered with the water at the corner of his mouth. He stared at Bai Bai Mengmeng before him in shock: "A F-four-Star-grade formula?"

The entire Xiyang House had been at it for so many years, and the highest-grade formula they had was only a single Three-Star-grade formula. As for Four-Star-grade formulas, even among those top-ten Spirit Water Odd Light Houses, they were treasures that anchored the entire establishment, their value beyond estimation.

Li Luo had countless times dreamed of Xiyang House obtaining a Four-Star-grade formula that would directly send Xiyang House soaring.

But upon waking, all that remained was a sigh.

Because Four-Star-grade formulas were simply too rare. Even when one occasionally appeared on the market, its price was astronomically high.

But now, Bai Bai Mengmeng was saying that the next formula she had researched was actually Four-Star-grade!

This was something even "a pie falling from the sky" could hardly describe, so how could Li Luo not lose his composure?

At Li Luo's reaction, a trace of mischief also flashed through Bai Bai Mengmeng's eyes. She nodded and confirmed: "That's right, a Four-Star-grade formula. This is the work of many years of my heart's blood."

Li Luo was silent for a few breaths, then sighed and said earnestly: "Bai Mengmeng, we're still young. Sometimes staying up late a bit more, we can actually take it."

"Cough..."

A dry cough came from the side. Student Xin Fu sat down and said: "Captain, isn't your eagerness a bit too ugly?"

Li Luo paid him no heed. At this moment his mind was filled with nothing but the Four-Star-grade formula. His eyes shone as he looked at Bai Bai Mengmeng, and he felt an urge to kidnap her, lock her in the research lab, and whip her into working day and night on research.

All his earlier composure vanished completely before the Four-Star-grade formula.

Fortunately, in the end he managed to suppress these chaotic thoughts, put on a gentle smile, and warmly ladled out a bowl of hot soup for Bai Bai Mengmeng.

"Thank you, captain."

Bai Bai Mengmeng took it with a smile, then held the soup bowl in both hands and said: "Don't worry, captain. This formula will definitely belong to Xiyang House."

Li Luo looked gratified. What a wonderful girl. He really wanted to lock her into Xiyang House—no, invite her to Xiyang House...

After that, both sides ate their meal in a joyful atmosphere.

Boom!

However, suddenly, a deep drumbeat resounded through the Holy Profound Star Academy. The drumbeat was heavy, giving people an inexplicable sense of oppression.

All three stopped their chopsticks in unison, and the smiles that had filled their faces gradually turned to solemnity.

The door was suddenly pushed open at that moment, and Mentor Xi Chan walked in, a faint aura of murderous intent radiating from her steps.

She looked at the three of them and said: "Stop eating. The Dark Cave has opened."

"Come with me. The academy has ultimately decided that for this purification mission, the Purple Radiance Squad from the One-Star Academy must also participate, as a way to accumulate experience."

The three exchanged glances, each seeing the solemnity in the others' eyes.

Sure enough, it had come after all.

(Today's paid chapter on the public WeChat account has a picture of Qin Qin Zhulu, in a different art style. He looks very tough—everyone should go check it out.

Open WeChat and search for the public account Tiancantudou.)