Ye Tian had just reached the door to their dorm when Zhou Xiang, Chu Hongyuan, and Qian Xiaohao rushed out. Zhou Xiang grabbed Ye Tian's arm and asked, "Boss, what happened? How is the dean going to punish you?"
Ye Tian knew how the three of them were feeling. He smiled faintly and said, "I'm not dead yet. We won't know the final outcome until after the reward ceremony for the wilderness excursion, but don't worry, I'll be fine!"
The three of them looked at Ye Tian, half-convinced. "Boss, you ended up like this because of us. We feel terrible. I, Zhou Xiang, swear that I'll follow you for the rest of my life. I'll do whatever you ask of me!"
"Us too! If you get expelled, we won't stay at Linyuan Academy either!" Chu Hongyuan said.
"Alright, alright! It's not as dramatic as you're making it sound! I won't be expelled, so you can relax. But I won't be staying at the academy for much longer anyway, so you should be prepared for that!" Ye Tian said with a laugh. He was quite pleased to have brothers like them.
"Boss, what do you mean by that? Are you planning to leave? Or is the academy not letting you stay?" Zhou Xiang, being the most talkative, immediately interjected.
"No, it's not that. My strength has already reached the requirements for the Imperial City Academy. Naturally, I want to go to a better place for my cultivation. You guys need to work hard too, so we can meet up again in the Imperial City in the future!" Ye Tian said, though he knew his words would make them a little upset.
"The Imperial City Academy? You make it sound so easy, Boss. Even if we work as hard as we can, we'll never be qualified to enter the Imperial City Academy. You know what our talent and strength are like. It seems like it's going to be really hard to see you in the future!" Zhou Xiang said dejectedly, a look of frustration on his face.
"You idiot. Who said you have to get into the Imperial City Academy to be in the Imperial City? Don't forget, the Imperial City has the Imperial Guard! They recruit new guards every year! Any young person whose strength has reached the Three Veins has a chance to become a guard. If you perform well, you might even become a minor officer or something.
It won't be hard for us to be together then. And the Imperial City Academy also recruits outstanding students to become generals every year. So we absolutely have a chance to be together, but the prerequisite is that you all have to work hard," Ye Tian said, glancing at the three of them to gauge their reactions.
"Boss, is that really true? Who'd you hear that from? The Imperial City! That's the place I've always dreamed of going!" Zhou Xiang said excitedly.
"Of course it's true, which is why you have to work hard. I heard it from the dean, naturally. But becoming an Imperial City Guard isn't easy either. There are a lot of assessments, so don't get your hopes up too soon. Also... are you guys going to make me stand here at the door all day?" Ye Tian shot the three of them a look.
"Boss, please, come in! I'll pour you some tea!" Zhou Xiang exclaimed, making a welcoming gesture.
"Cut it out! Enough nonsense. How are your injuries?" Ye Tian asked seriously as he walked into the dorm room and sat on the edge of a bed.
"It'll still take some time for our injuries to heal. We're lucky we didn't die this time! Don't worry, Boss, we're not dead yet. We still have to follow you and make a name for ourselves in the Imperial City!" Zhou Xiang said.
"Exactly, we'll be fine in a few days! Don't you worry! The reward ceremony is tomorrow. Boss will definitely get first place!" Chu Hongyuan said with a smile.
"That's hard to say. There are a lot of experts in the academy. Some people even pool all the Magic Crystals they've collected and give them to one person. The chances are pretty slim. But regardless of whether I get first place or not, I'm going to the Imperial City Academy. As for the rewards, I can take them or leave them," Ye Tian said.
"If you don't want them, you can give them to us! The rewards for first place are incredibly generous. Spirit Stones, Cultivation and Martial Skills—those are all things we desperately need. You have to go for it, Boss!" Zhou Xiang said, his face full of anticipation.
Just then, Ye Tian took a porcelain vial from his Storage Ring. Inside was a type of white elixir called a Spirit Leveling Pill. It was an excellent elixir, at least Fifth Grade if ranked.
A single one could sell for thousands of Spirit Stones, and even then, money couldn't buy them. "Take these elixirs. Keep the rest for later. Getting injured is an unavoidable part of growing stronger. Don't tell anyone else about the elixirs, you hear? It could be dangerous!"
Zhou Xiang looked at the porcelain vial in Ye Tian's hand, then snatched it. He uncorked it and tipped out an elixir. Instantly, a medicinal fragrance wafted out, bringing with it a feeling of incredible clarity.
"Boss, what kind of elixir is this? It must be a high grade, right? Did the dean give it to you?" Zhou Xiang asked.
"It's a Spirit Leveling Pill, at least Fifth Grade. It's excellent for healing injuries. One for each of you. Hurry up and pass them out. You talk too much! I'm going to rest my mind, so don't disturb me," Ye Tian said.
"Oh my god! A Fifth Grade elixir! I'm actually looking at a Fifth Grade elixir, and I get to take it! I can't bear to use something so precious! A single one could sell for thousands of Spirit Stones, and I'm just going to swallow it in one gulp? What a waste!" Zhou Xiang said, sounding distressed.
Ye Tian shot Zhou Xiang a look. "If you don't want to take it, I won't force you. Just give the elixirs to the other two. You won't need your share. Since you think it's so precious, I'll naturally help you 'look after' it!"
"No, no! How could you take back something you already gave me, Boss! I'll take it right now!" After speaking, Zhou Xiang immediately popped the elixir into his mouth and swallowed it in one go, as if afraid Ye Tian would go back on his word.
He then gave the other two elixirs to Chu Hongyuan and Qian Xiaohao. They took them and swallowed them right away, both sparing a glance at Zhou Xiang.
The Spirit Leveling Pill was truly worthy of being a Fifth Grade elixir. The moment it entered their mouths, it dissolved into a liquid that flowed down their throats and into their stomachs. Then, its medicinal power rapidly spread, coursing through their Eight Extraordinary Veins. A warm current instantly filled their entire bodies, making them feel refreshed and relaxed.
Their injuries began to heal at a visible rate, giving them the feeling of having taken a Miracle Elixir. Zhou Xiang and the others were so astonished they were left speechless.
The three of them immediately began to circulate the Spiritual Power in their bodies to absorb the medicinal energy. Soon, all three had entered a state of Meditation.
Ye Tian smiled faintly and also closed his eyes to rest. 'Looking back on everything that's happened recently, I still feel like my strength is too weak,' he thought. 'The War Dragon Heavenly Arm is powerful, but it has too many restrictions. The activation time is too long. If I run into real danger, it would be difficult to escape.'
A day passed in the blink of an eye. Seeing that Zhou Xiang and the other two were still digesting the power of the Spirit Leveling Pills, Ye Tian didn't disturb them and quietly slipped out of the room.
By now, the outside was already bustling with noise. Those who managed to make it to the Martial Arts Training Ground had to be considered lucky, especially the female students.
Ye Tian was just about to head for the Teleportation Gate when he heard Ye Feifei's voice from behind him. "Brother Tian, wait for us!"