Chapter 97: Credit Exchange (Seeking Recommendation Votes)

After Ning Bizhen left, Li Changsheng followed the map to the Storage Area located in the southwest.

The Storage Area was undoubtedly very important, as most of the Academy's supplies were stored there, and it was also the location of the Credit Exchange.

Soon, Li Changsheng arrived at a courtyard.

The courtyard was large, covering about ten mu, facing south, and was a two-story brick-and-wood structure; in the center was a curved screen wall engraved with images of the four celestial spirits—the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—which were so lifelike and majestic that they seemed as if they were about to walk right out of the painting.

In the center of the courtyard stood an incense burner, a full two zhang tall, carved with images of Pixiu on the outside and featuring nine square holes on top, from which swirling, pale blue smoke emanated.

After just one whiff, Li Changsheng felt his spirits lift; he felt invigorated, as if all his fatigue had vanished, and he felt a bit more curious about this incense burner.

After taking a brief look, Li Changsheng withdrew his gaze and stepped into the main hall of the courtyard, which was spacious and contained an octagonal sealed stone platform with a tight and exquisite structure, with a window and a staff member at each corner.

These windows were the Credit Exchange, where one could only exchange Academic Credits for resources.

Of course, one could also exchange Soul Crystals for Academic Credits; depending on the student's cultivation realm, there was a certain quota for credit exchange each semester.

Naturally, if one made a significant contribution to the Academy, the exchange quota could also be increased.

The hall was bustling with people lined up in eight long queues, almost all of whom were freshmen; they looked around while waiting in line, full of curiosity about the place.

Since he had arrived early, there were not many people in line.

"Hey, Li Changsheng, help me grab that exchange manual over there!"

Just as Li Changsheng was standing there observing, a voice suddenly came from the side; the person had a Thunder God Mouth and was about the same age as Li Changsheng.

At just a glance, Li Changsheng recognized the person.

There was no helping it; the Thunder God Mouth was too conspicuous, and it was likely the only one in Yuanling Academy.

Zhang Yi!

Although the two had met once, Li Changsheng still couldn't help but feel strange about how Zhang Yi knew his name.

However, he still followed Zhang Yi's instructions, walked over to a table, picked up two Credit Exchange Manuals, and handed one to Zhang Yi.

"Thanks!"

"By the way, how did you know my name?"

Zhang Yi waved his hand and said quite casually, "You were the first place in the freshman assessment; if I don't remember you, who else would I remember! By the way, I'm Zhang Yi, who lives next door to you, in Number Three Courtyard. As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor; we should communicate more in the future!"

"Easily done, easily done!" Li Changsheng replied perfunctorily, feeling a bit more curious about Zhang Yi.

Based on the gap in influence and strength, there were naturally tiers among clans, broadly categorized as Local Powerful Clan, County-level Clan, Famous Clan, and Imperial Clan.

The Pengcheng Zhang Clan was one of the most powerful clans in Yuan Prefecture; although it was still a County-level Clan, it was only one step away from being a Famous Clan, and it was more than a notch stronger than the Li Family, which was a Local Powerful Clan.

Although Zhang Yi looked quite ugly, he was, after all, the youngest son of the Clan Leader of the Zhang Family; not only was he not arrogant or domineering, but he also showed no jealousy toward Li Changsheng's exceptionally handsome face, appearing approachable instead, which greatly exceeded Li Changsheng's expectations.

Although it was inevitable that there would be arrogant and domineering people in noble families, most of them behaved with great cultivation because they represented their families to a certain extent and valued the family's face extremely highly.

The older and more powerful a family was, the more they tended to value their reputation; as long as a clansman lost face for the family, they would inevitably be punished by the family.

After getting to know Zhang Yi, Li Changsheng went to a queue that looked the shortest, opening the exchange manual while waiting in line.

In the manual's table of contents, there were sections for Alchemical Pills, treasures, Secret Technique, Beast Taming Manual, and others, along with their corresponding page numbers.

As for High Quality Fairy, they could be exchanged at the Beast Taming Garden.

Looking at the dazzling array of items above, especially those precious treasures, it would be a lie to say Li Changsheng wasn't tempted.

Unfortunately, he only had 30 Academic Credits and could only exchange for ordinary items.

Li Changsheng immediately flipped to the page for Beast Taming Manual; to speed up his advancement, a good Beast Taming Manual was very important.

Spiral Beast Taming Manual: Low-level Beast Taming Manual, 10 Academic Credits!

Red Flame Beast Taming Manual: Low-level Beast Taming Manual, 10 Academic Credits!

Azure Wood Beast Taming Manual: Low-level Beast Taming Manual, 15 Academic Credits!

……

The number of low-level Beast Taming Manuals exceeded one hundred, and depending on their effects, the Academic Credits required for exchange ranged between 10 and 50.

Even among low-level Beast Taming Manuals, there were differences in quality; some could speed up cultivation, some could make Mental Power more Vigorous, some could reduce the consumption of Mental Power, and there were even some that came with Secret Technique.

Li Changsheng skipped the low-level Beast Taming Manuals directly and began to look at the intermediate Beast Taming Manuals; even the best low-level Beast Taming Manual would have limited help for him.

Xuanji Beast Taming Manual: Intermediate Beast Taming Manual, 300 Academic Credits!

Withered Wood Beast Taming Manual: Intermediate Beast Taming Manual, 300 Academic Credits!

Meteor Beast Taming Manual: Intermediate Beast Taming Manual, 400 Academic Credits!

……

Ethereal Beast Taming Manual: Intermediate Beast Taming Manual, 900 Academic Credits!

Illusion Sea Beast Taming Manual: Intermediate Beast Taming Manual, 900 Academic Credits!

Red Lotus Beast Taming Manual: Intermediate Beast Taming Manual, 1000 Academic Credits!

Dark Night Beast Taming Manual: Intermediate Beast Taming Manual, 1000 Academic Credits!

Star Demon Taming Art: Intermediate Beast Taming Manual, 1000 Academic Credits!

Compared to the low-level Beast Taming Manuals, the number of intermediate Beast Taming Manuals was much smaller, but there were still more than twenty, which gave an idea of the foundation of Yuanling Academy.

Unfortunately, intermediate Beast Taming Manuals required a lot of Academic Credits; Li Changsheng could only feast his eyes for now, as it would not be easy to gather enough Academic Credits in a short time.

Li Changsheng continued to flip the pages, but there was no sign of advanced Beast Taming Manuals later on.

"With the foundation of Yuanling Academy, it is very likely that they possess advanced Beast Taming Manuals; however, even if they do, I'm afraid they would cost thousands or tens of thousands of Academic Credits!" Thinking this to himself, Li Changsheng did not slow down his movements and began to look for the items he wanted to exchange.

Soon, it was Li Changsheng's turn.

Li Changsheng handed his student token to the staff member, who first checked it with a special instrument and then looked up and asked, "Freshman, what do you want to exchange for?"

"Do you have any advanced Beast Taming Manuals?"

"Yes, but your exchange Authority is insufficient; to increase your exchange Authority, you need to make sufficient contributions to the Academy!"

"How can I increase my contribution?"

"You can go take on missions, or participate in activities organized by the Academy, etc.; these can all increase your contribution!"

The staff member was very patient, answering every question they knew.

"Thank you!" Li Zhangsheng nodded to show he understood, then continued: "I want to exchange for an Advanced Incubator!"

An incubator can simulate different environments to accelerate the hatching speed of a Spirit Beast egg.

In the Credit Exchange Manual, there were several types of incubators, and the Advanced Incubator happened to cost exactly 30 Academic Credits!

"Please wait a moment!" the staff member replied, and another staff member went to fetch the Advanced Incubator; after handing the student token back to Li Zhangsheng, they had him wait to the side and let the next new student come forward to communicate.

Very quickly, Li Zhangsheng received the Advanced Incubator.

It was a cylinder with a surface made of transparent glass, a lid on top, two handles in the middle, and a crank near the bottom used to expand the incubator's area, which was sufficient to accommodate the vast majority of Spirit Beast eggs.

Li Zhangsheng did not linger, taking the incubator and returning to Number One Courtyard.

(End of chapter)