Chapter 133: Azure Dragon Constellation Demon Taming Art (Eighth update, requesting everything)

Time flowed slowly, and before one knew it, it was nearing noon. Only then did Instructor Ning stop lecturing and announce that today's class was over, and that they should return to listen again in three days.

Compared to when she first arrived, Instructor Ning's face was now full of exhaustion; her pretty face was frighteningly pale, and there was an unnatural flush on her cheeks.

The more it was like this, the more it made people worry!

"Instructor, please wait a moment!" Just then, Li Zhangsheng hurriedly called out to Instructor Ning and continued, "I want to use my Credit Exchange Half-Price Benefit to exchange for an Intermediate Demon Taming Art!"

In the Credit Exchange Manual, there were dozens of Intermediate Demon Taming Arts. Judging from the Academic Credits required, even though they were all Intermediate Demon Taming Arts, there were still differences in quality.

Li Zhangsheng's targets were the three most top-tier Intermediate Demon Taming Arts: the Red Lotus Beast Taming Manual, the Dark Night Beast Taming Manual, and the Star Demon Taming Art.

Each of these three Demon Taming Arts required one thousand Academic Credits; if the Credit Exchange Half-Price Benefit was used, only five hundred Academic Credits would be needed.

Among these three Intermediate Demon Taming Arts, the Red Lotus Beast Taming Manual leaned towards the bizarre, the Dark Night Beast Taming Manual leaned towards the yin and soft, while the Star Demon Taming Art was upright and balanced.

"You gathered the Academic Credits so quickly? Tell me, which one do you want to exchange for?"

It would be a lie to say Instructor Ning Bizhen was not surprised. She naturally knew the background of her students. Among her three students, Luo Jing and Yuan Yongyan came from County Gentry families and naturally did not lack resources; only Li Zhangsheng was different, as his family was at best a Local Power, and his resources were quite limited.

Although she was puzzled, acting on the thought that everyone had secrets, Ning Bizhen had no intention of prying. At the same time, she herself was overwhelmed and unable to spare the effort.

"I want to exchange for the Star Demon Taming Art!" Among the three Demon Taming Arts, Li Zhangsheng chose the Star Demon Taming Art!

This also had to do with the characteristics of the Star Demon Taming Art. As long as it was a starry night, the Star Demon Taming Art would trigger a special effect, significantly increasing the progress of condensing Mental Power, while simultaneously guiding starlight to temper the body, greatly strengthening the Monster Tamer's physique.

Of course, the drawbacks were also very obvious: as long as it was a night without starlight, the speed of condensing Mental Power would not be much different from ordinary Intermediate Demon Taming Arts, and it would be impossible to guide starlight to temper the body.

There were ways to eliminate such drawbacks, but it required some special resources—either dispersing the dark clouds in the sky or forcibly guiding Star Power to descend.

Monster Tamers mainly focused on assisting their Demon Pets. If it were a normal sparring match, it would be fine, but as long as it involved a life-and-death battle, it would no longer be bound by worldly rules. Both sides would use any means necessary to kill the other as the final goal, and Monster Tamers were very easily targeted—for example, the method Li Zhangsheng used to kill Lin Zheng!

Under these circumstances, strengthening the Monster Tamer's self-preservation ability became very important. Besides some life-saving Secret Techniques and special Treasures, strengthening the physical body became the first choice for many Monster Tamers.

The Star Demon Taming Art had a great strengthening effect on the physical body.

"The Star Demon Taming Art!" Originally, Ning Bizhen thought Li Zhangsheng was going to exchange for a relatively cheap Intermediate Demon Taming Art, but as it turned out, he wanted to exchange for the most top-tier Intermediate Demon Taming Art, which completely exceeded her expectations.

One had to know that ordinary Intermediate Demon Taming Arts only cost three or four hundred Academic Credits, yet the Star Demon Taming Art was as high as one thousand Academic Credits. The difference in value between the two was obvious, which was the reason for Ning Bizhen's surprise.

Where did Li Zhangsheng get so many Academic Credits?

Even using the Credit Exchange Half-Price Benefit, it still cost five hundred Academic Credits. Even for Luo Jing, who had reached the Third Rank, it was very difficult to earn five hundred Academic Credits in a short time.

Ning Bizhen was silent for a long while before asking, "Changsheng, although the effects of the Star Demon Taming Art are very strong, tempering the body with Star Power requires one to endure the pain of starlight piercing the body at all times. This pain goes deep into the bone marrow and is hard for ordinary people to bear. Can you take it?"

Li Zhangsheng was a bit strange and asked back instead of answering, "Instructor, you seem to be very familiar with the Star Demon Taming Art. Could it be that you have also practiced it?"

Ning Bizhen nodded; she had no need to hide this matter.

"Instructor, did you persist through it?"

"Yes. When I first started practicing, I also had thoughts of giving up, but in the end, I persisted. Furthermore, as long as you continuously strengthen your physical body, the pain will also weaken accordingly!"

"Instructor, I will not change my mind. Besides, I am your student; I have even less reason to refuse the Star Demon Taming Art!" Li Zhangsheng's eyes were firm. The tempering of these past years had undoubtedly strengthened his conviction.

Three years ago, his parents both died, and his status in the family gradually declined, almost becoming an existence that no one cared about. That he could reach where he was today, besides having his second uncle Li Haoqiong shielding him, relied more on his own efforts.

Even if the road ahead was unclear, he still groped forward step by step. Even if his gait was unsteady, he never forgot his original intention and had firmly and unswervingly walked to this point!

"Very good!" Instructor Ning Bizhen was not worried but happy instead. If Li Zhangsheng had simply given up because of her words, fearing the pain of starlight piercing the body without even the courage to try, his will would be too weak, and how could he become a Stronger in the future?

The Stronger clears the path and hacks through thorns; the weak follow blindly and are content with their lot!

Besides powerful strength, a Stronger must also have a matching mindset: remaining calm in the face of adversity, the tenacity to never stop until the goal is reached, and an indomitable ambition.

If one dares not express their own opinions and stance, does not know how to refuse others, and lacks an unyielding mindset, they might be glorious for a time, but they will never be able to become a Stronger and can only become a stepping stone for others.

"Actually, this volume of the Star Demon Taming Art is incomplete. It can only cultivate the Azure Dragon Constellation, so it is also called the Azure Dragon Constellation Demon Taming Art. Our Academy actually has the complete Star Demon Taming Art, which can cultivate the Twenty-Eight Mansions, but it is an Advanced Demon Taming Art. To meet the Authority for exchange, one must have sufficient contributions!"

After Li Zhangsheng confirmed his choice, Ning Bizhen revealed the basic information about the Star Demon Taming Art.

The Azure Dragon Constellation is also known as the Eastern Seven Mansions, which are Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, and Winnowing Basket, each corresponding to a different number of stars.

Ning Bizhen paused and continued, "There will be an opportunity soon. If you can represent the Academy in the Exchange Tournament and maintain our qualification among the Four Great Academies, I believe you will be able to meet the Authority for the exchange. Of course, the premise is that you must defeat the other new students!"

"Instructor, I will definitely work hard!" Li Zhangsheng nodded forcefully; this was also his recent goal to strive for.

Soon, Li Zhangsheng transferred five hundred Academic Credits to Instructor Ning Bizhen, and the latter instructed the old woman to help him exchange for it. However, this would inevitably require going through certain procedures, and it would likely be finished by evening.

Credit Exchange brought the Academy a large amount of revenue every year, especially resources that could be used repeatedly, such as various Demon Taming Arts, Secret Techniques, and formulas, which were highly profitable.

Besides the fact that they could not be leaked, the prices for exchange at the Academy were far lower than outside, which was also the main reason why they were so popular.

In addition, resources like Alchemical Pills, Treasures, and Fairy Food were basically produced by the Academy. The Academy only needed to provide the raw materials and could use the students of the three major colleges to produce the finished products for free or at a low cost; the profit was quite astonishing!

As for other resources, the Academy would also purchase them from outside; buying low and selling high, it could be said to be a steady profit without loss.

After bidding farewell to Instructor Ning, Li Zhangsheng left the instructor dormitory area. He did not return to his courtyard but instead came to the Market District located in the northwest, deciding to carry out his plan there.

(End of this chapter)