Lu Yin nodded and looked at the others. When he saw Michelle, he felt a little awkward. "Um, I'll help you comprehend battle force."
Michelle frowned. "There's no need, I've already comprehended it." Then, battle force appeared around her body. It was the same as when Lu Yin had first comprehended it, and although it had yet to reach the level of one line, it was indeed battle force.
Comprehending battle force and not comprehending battle force were two different concepts. Michelle's strength had reached a new level.
During this period of time, Lu Yin had improved very quickly, but the others had not been slow either. Being able to enter the Astral Combat Academy was a testament to one's talent, and everyone had broken through to the Limiteer realm.
Astral-10's overall strength was considered to be in the upper echelons of the Astral Combat Academy.
However, this only applied to them, as the students who entered Astral-10 in the future might not be lucky enough to be taught by so many mentors.
After chatting with everyone for a while, Lu Yin was about to go find Old Cai, but Xia Luo stopped him.
"Do you know where Silver is?" Xia Luo asked.
Lu Yin shook his head.
Xia Luo was helpless. "It looks like he really has gone missing." He then looked at Lu Yin. "Brother Lu, will you go to the Cosmic Sea in the future?"
Lu Yin was surprised. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," Xia Luo replied.
Lu Yin thought about it. "Maybe."
"If it's possible, please take me with you. I also want to explore the Cosmic Ocean," Xia Luo said.
Lu Yin nodded. "Alright, I'll contact you when the time comes."
After a few simple words, Xia Luo left.
Lu Yin had never been able to see through him, but Xia Luo had never shown any enmity towards him, nor had he ever harmed him. More importantly, this person had a primeval surname that allowed him to freely roam the universe. Entering Astral-10 proved that his surname was legitimate, but Lu Yin had scouted the internet and found no strong family with the surname Xia.
Forget it, Lu Yin decided to ignore him. The universe's various powers were intricate and complicated, and Lu Yin didn't even know which powers there were, let alone guess Xia Luo's identity.
Lulu hadn't returned yet, but he had enough money on him to pay off his debt. He didn't like owing others, but since she wasn't back yet, he decided to wait until the next time they met.
It was only fifty star essence, and Lu Yin already had a way to become rich. It was too simple.
"Old Cai, your student has returned," Lu Yin said respectfully from the Treasury.
Old Cai looked up. "You're more troublesome than I thought."
Lu Yin was confused. "Cause trouble?
The students didn't cause any trouble. "
"Is that so? News of your exploits in the Northline Flowzone have already spread." Old Cai rolled his eyes.
"That can't be. I didn't do anything."
"Kid, do you know what the rebirth of Northgate Taisui means?"
"Aside from certain places and events, old freaks with power levels over 400,000 won't appear. However, if they do, it means that they have complete control over the entire Northline Flowzone. There's only one Northgate Taisui in the entire Northline Flowzone, and he's the stabilizing force of the Northline Flowzone. When he appears, even the Blaze Realm and the Sword Sect have to give him face. You actually managed to take advantage of him, which means that this matter is far more influential than you becoming the champion of the Tournament of the Strongest."
Lu Yin knew that Northgate Taisui's appearance would have great influence, but he had not expected it to be this great. "Old Cai, I'm just borrowing the Nightking Clan's power to protect myself. I didn't do anything."
Old Cai solemnly replied, "The process isn't important; the results are. The courage, methods, and background that you've displayed during this entire incident have all surpassed the standards of a normal student. Right now, you're no longer an ordinary student in everyone's eyes. You're like Nightqueen Yanqing, a freakish genius with a powerful background. Do you know what this means?"
When he saw Lu Yin's confused expression, Old Cai laughed. "It means that someone wants to deal with you, and it won't just be you alone. They'll also use all of your resources. Once they make a move, you'll definitely die with no chance of survival. Your enemy will target you with the same mindset as Nightqueen Yanqing, and they'll take into account all possible contingencies." Lu Yin frowned.
When he had first arrived in the Northline Flowzone, he had been hunted down by a Hunter. Now, if someone wanted to attack him again, not only would they send out Hunters, but they might even send out peak Hunters like Poison Flame. Someone like that would kill him without any chance of survival, and he would die without knowing why. Not even a trace of information would be leaked.
Lu Yin had racked his brains, and he had even used Nightking Yuanjing to show that he would not be threatened. This was equivalent to pushing himself to the edge of a cliff. If someone decided to deal with him, it would definitely be a thunderous blow.
However, Lu Yin did not regret his actions, as the strength that he had displayed had already surpassed the protection that his status provided him. Once news of the Northline Flowzone spread, it would put an end to any potential attacks. There were pros and cons to this!
Right now, what he lacked was a power similar to Rabbit Lei's ability to launch a counterattack.
When he saw Old Cai's calm demeanor, Lu Yin's eyes flashed, and he respectfully asked, "Old Cai, I'm from Astral-10. Does Astral-10 have a way to protect me?"
Old Cai raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?
You want us old fellows to stay close to you and protect you? "
"Of course not. It's just that this is the Treasury, and I hope to obtain some self-defense items," Lu Yin said expectantly.
Old Cai's eyes narrowed, and he licked his lips. "This is a self-defense item. The Treasure Pavilion does have it, but …" Old Cai's right hand tapped lightly on the table. Every time he tapped, his thumb rubbed against his index finger and middle finger. Then, he tapped the table again, repeating the same action. This action was obviously asking for money, but it wasn't too obvious. Accompanied by the sound of tapping on the table, it strangely had an unfathomable aura.
Lu Yin stared at Old Cai's fingers, and waves surged in his heart. This action was too cool, and he thought back to the many times he had asked people for money. His actions were vulgar, inelegant, and stingy, but Old Cai's action was too grand. It was easy to understand without appearing unscrupulous. It was the quintessence of asking for money that had been honed over countless years.
Lu Yin stared blankly. He knew what his greatest gain today was: this action, this grand action of asking for money.
Old Cai coughed when he saw Lu Yin staring at his right hand. "Kid, why are you in a daze?"
Lu Yin stared blankly for a moment before coming to his senses. He subconsciously said, "Old Cai, I really need to learn more from you."
Old Cai was baffled.
Lu Yin had just realized that Old Cai had purposely used what had happened in the Northline Flowzone to scare him. This old man's desire for money was no less than Lu Yin's.
"I exchanged my spear for some money in the Northline Flowzone, and I want to donate it to the academy. Would you be willing to accept it?"
Lu Yin asked carefully, afraid that he would ruin the elegant, unfathomable action of asking for money.
Old Cai smiled and looked at Lu Yin with gratification. "You've grown up, kid. You know how to repay the academy. Very good, very good. Give it to me. The academy is planning to recruit new students soon, so we need a lot of money."
Lu Yin's face twitched, and he reluctantly took out a Mavis Bank card. "There are a million star crystals in this card. Please accept it on behalf of the academy."
Old Cai's eyes lit up, but he did not seem too excited. His fingers continued to tap on the table leisurely.
It was clearly not enough. That was what the old man meant.
"Seventh Bro, is this your grandfather?
He's the same. Being greedy for money is part of your family's tradition, "the monkey said.
Lu Yin's face darkened, and he blocked the monkey before taking out another card. "There are a million star crystals in this card. Please accept it, Old Cai."
Old Cai's breathing quickened, and his lips curled up. However, he did not accept the card and instead looked up at the sky.
Lu Yin gulped, and his expression turned even uglier. The old man knew that he had scammed the Northgate family out of a hundred star essence, and he was not going to take it all away. That was a hundred star essence, which was equivalent to ten million star crystals. That was too much.
However, Lu Yin would not skimp on the money that he had to spend. Since the old man had mentioned the dangers that Lu Yin would encounter in the future, it was obvious that he had made preparations. Lu Yin could only say that this amount of money was not enough to meet his expectations.
Lu Yin steeled his heart and took out thirty star essence, along with the two million star crystals that he had received earlier, and handed them all to Old Cai.
Old Cai laughed heartily and looked at Lu Yin with admiration. "You're filial, kid. Not bad, you're a good kid. The academy did not nurture you for nothing. Good, good, good. However, you've contributed to the academy, so the academy will not treat you unfairly. Take this."
Old Cai tossed the item over to Lu Yin. It was a square object that was about the size of a palm and had a strange frame made of green bamboo. There was a black metal ball in the center that was sealed on three sides, and the last side was completely open.
Lu Yin felt strange as he held the item. "Old Cai, what's this?"
"This is called a Money Bomb, kid. Don't underestimate it. If you hold it properly and aim it at your enemy, it can launch an attack that can instantly kill a Hunter. Of course, you have to catch them off guard," Old Cai explained in a sinister tone.
Lu Yin's pupils shrank as he looked at the item in his hand. "This thing can instantly kill a Hunter?"
Old Cai proudly replied, "Of course. This is my secret weapon, and it's the only one in the entire universe."
Lu Yin felt like he had been cheated.
"What, you don't trust me?" Old Cai was unhappy.
Lu Yin stared at the Money Bomb, as he truly did not trust the old man. After all, it was a life-saving item, and he had spent almost fifty star essence just to obtain this item. He felt a little indignant about it.
However, he had already spent the money, and Old Cai's expression told him that he could not get it back. Helpless, Lu Yin put it away and bitterly thanked Old Cai, "Thank you for the gift, Mentor."
Old Cai stroked his mustache. "One Money Bomb costs fifty star essence, two for eighty star essence, and three for one hundred star essence. You can have as many as you want. Kid, you have to patronize my business more in the future, hahahaha."
Lu Yin's face darkened as he left.
Fifty star essences were gone just like that, and Lu Yin's heart ached. He'd thought that Old Cai would give him something that looked like a bluff, something that could scare off his enemies. Instead, he'd given him something so lousy.
As he walked, Lu Yin felt indignant, but he did not dare ask Old Cai for a refund. After some thought, he decided to head to the Sand Ocean.