However, Fang Xiyuan seemed to be only at the Fifth-grade, beginner tier, while Lin Yunshu had reached the Fifth-grade, peak tier.
Whether Fifth-grade high-tier or low-tier, for Li Yang, a student with no rank, it was something she could only look up to.
Li Yang looked at the “Beginner Star Bearer Cultivation Method” that Fang Chuyun handed over and said, “Actually, I already have a copy.”
Fang Chuyun asked, “Did you buy it yourself? Be careful, there are many fake versions of the beginner methods out there. If you practice recklessly, it could harm your foundation.”
Li Yang replied honestly, “I didn’t buy it myself. Zhong Kun sent it to me from the provincial capital.”
This was nothing to hide, and it wouldn’t expose the little secret Zhong Kun had asked her to keep.
She continued, “I met Zhong Kun during the practical exam, and later found out he was Zhong Qian’s younger brother.”
Fang Chuyun understood, “Oh, from the Zhong family…”
She didn’t think much of it and said, “That’s fine, these are all standard editions.
They’ll be distributed at school as well.”
Li Yang nodded and said, “I just flipped through it, and I’m a little confused.”
Fang Chuyun said, “It’s alright. This thing is hard to learn and requires time to comprehend. Even when we get to military school, most of the time we’ll be self-studying. My dad’s point is, since you’ve already reached the limit of physical strength, don’t waste these few months. Whatever you can comprehend, just take it.”
Li Yang was taken aback and asked, “Aren’t the military school teachers supposed to teach us? Why is it self-study?”
“It’s not very meaningful,” Fang Chuyun replied.
“The teachers in military school will offer classes, but it’s basically the same as what’s written in the book. Just follow the instructions. It’s similar to how we improve physical strength. We all know that if we eat regularly and exercise, we’ll improve our physique. The role of the teachers is just to supervise, but in the end, we rely on ourselves.”
“I see…”
Li Yang asked curiously, “Then why do we need to work hard to get into military school?”
Fang Chuyun explained, “Once you become a Star Bearer, you’ll understand. Every time you advance a tier, it requires a lot of resources. But after joining military school, you’ll have access to the basic resources provided by the school. There are also other ways to acquire resources… In short, there are many benefits to attending military school, and teaching is not as important.”
Li Yang roughly understood.
She recalled what Assistant He Song had said about the various bounty tasks in military school.
Not only could these tasks help students improve their abilities, but students could also earn money to buy necessary resources.
For example, Star-Attracting Pills…
Even the most basic ones cost 100,000 per pill, which is unaffordable for ordinary people.
“By the way…” Li Yang cleared her throat and continued, “Zhong Kun gave me a Star-Attracting Pill, but I don’t know what it’s for.”
Fang Chuyun, straightforward as always, immediately asked, “Is the Zhong family trying to recruit you?”
Li Yang: Fang Chuyun said seriously, “Li Yang, you have a bright future ahead of you. Don’t easily pledge allegiance to a family. The Zhong family has prestige in Donghua Province, but on a national level, they’re nothing special. When you get to Zhongdu, you’ll have more and better options!”
Li Yang understood Fang Chuyun’s concern and smiled, “No, this is just a personal favor between me and Zhong Kun. During the practical exam, I helped him solve a problem with a mutated plant, and he didn’t want to owe me a favor, so he gave me a Star-Attracting Pill.”
Fang Chuyun sighed in relief, saying, “That’s good.”
Li Yang continued, “Besides, I’m a student who hasn’t even attracted stars into my body yet. The Zhong family probably won’t think much of me.”
Fang Chuyun replied, “A person with a physical strength limit is very rare. Even for major families, they can only train one or two such people every year.”
Li Yang smiled and pointed out, “But I don’t have the Zhong surname.”
Fang Chuyun was taken aback and said, “True, families like the Zhong family value their own bloodline and wouldn’t start training someone from another family.”
Fang Chuyun was still a bit young, while Li Yang had a clearer perspective.
This so-called limit of physical strength was similar to her perfect score in the college entrance exam in her past life.
Indeed, a perfect score on the exam was rare.
Once achieved, it would be reported and the person would be recognized as an excellent candidate.
But no matter how excellent they were, their future wasn’t guaranteed.
At least, no major company would start signing contracts with them right after the exam ended.
Li Yang steered the conversation back, asking, “So this Star-Attracting Pill can only be used after becoming a Star Bearer?”
Fang Chuyun confirmed, “Yes, only after attracting stars into your body will this pill be useful.”
Li Yang asked again, “So, by the name, does this pill attract starlight?”
“Exactly. It’s one of the most important resources after we become Star Bearers. Without the Star-Attracting Pill, cultivation would be very slow.”
Li Yang’s thoughts shifted, and she said, “Zhong Kun told me that the Star-Attracting Pill he gave me is of very high quality, much better than those on the market. I want to…”
Fang Chuyun, aware of Li Yang’s situation and her lack of money, knew that the scholarship money from the city and provincial capital would only be disbursed after the cultural exam.
“Do you want to sell it for money?”
Li Yang took out the Second-grade Star-Attracting Pill and said, “Yes, but I don’t have any channels for selling it.”
Fang Chuyun, with a good understanding of alchemy and also having learned a bit from her sister, Fang Suyun, who ran a medicinal company, immediately recognized the pill’s value.
“This Star-Attracting Pill is at least Second-grade!”
Fang Chuyun immediately said.
“A First-grade Star-Attracting Pill usually costs between 100,000 and 150,000, while a low-tier Second-grade pill is worth at least 250,000.”
Li Yang: “!” Second-grade pills are that expensive?
She sighed again.
Becoming a Star Bearer was truly unaffordable for ordinary people.
Cultivation required Star-Attracting Pills.
According to Zhong Kun, to advance from First-grade low-tier to First-grade high-tier, she would need at least four pills.
That would be at least a million to start, right?
Li Yang looked at Fang Chuyun and cautiously asked, “Would you want this Star-Attracting Pill?”
Fang Chuyun replied, “Sure, sell it to me. After all, it’s circulating within the Zhong family.”
She would eventually need it, and the quality of this Second-grade Star-Attracting Pill seemed quite good.
Li Yang thought for a moment and asked, “Do you have any First-grade low-tier Star-Attracting Pills?”
“You want to exchange it for a lower-tier one? Why? This one has better quality, with less rejection, and will speed up your cultivation.”
Li Yang shook her head and said, “I don’t want to waste it.”
Fang Chuyun: Li Yang explained calmly, “I don’t need such fast cultivation, so I want to exchange it for a low-tier Star-Attracting Pill. That way, the tolerance for mistakes during cultivation is higher.”
This was the difference between someone from a poor family and someone from a prestigious family.
The latter pursued high-quality pills and wanted to speed up their cultivation.
But the former had no such luxury.
They had to be frugal and make the most of every resource.
Fang Chuyun paused and then said, “Alright, I’ll exchange it for three First-grade low-tier Star-Attracting Pills.”
Li Yang immediately responded, “Then I’ll give you an extra 50,000.”
She had just enough money for that.
Fang Chuyun replied, “No need. My sister’s company can produce First-grade low-tier Star-Attracting Pills, and I can get them at a discount. Three pills will cost 250,000.”
Li Yang, impressed, said, “Your sister is amazing!”
Fang Chuyun replied, “Her minor is in alchemy, so she runs a related business.”
Li Yang genuinely admired her.
A medicinal company…
It sounded very wealthy!
Fang Chuyun acted quickly and decisively.
She took the Second-grade Star-Attracting Pill from Li Yang and soon returned with three First-grade low-tier Star-Attracting Pills.
The two chatted a bit more before Fang Chuyun left.
After closing the door, Li Yang looked at the low-tier Star-Attracting Pills on the table.
She wondered how much lifespan it would take to improve the quality of these low-grade pills.
If it wasn’t too much, it could be a good way to make money.
Li Yang picked up one of the low-tier Star-Attracting Pills and thought to herself, “Consume one year of lifespan to improve the quality of the Star-Attracting Pill.”
System: “With your limited alchemy experience, you attempt to purify a very poor Star-Attracting Pill. Fortunately, although your alchemy skills are poor, the pill quality is even worse. After a year of persistent effort, you improved the quality of the pill to Second-grade.”
Li Yang: “!”
She ignored the system’s long-winded explanation and looked at the final line.
It actually improved to Second-grade, and it only cost one year of lifespan!
Sure enough, those five years weren’t wasted.
After her alchemy experience increased, the lifespan consumed also decreased.
A Star-Attracting Pill worth 100,000 could now be worth 250,000.
This business was definitely worth it!
Of course, this was all assuming she entered Zhongdu Academy’s Agricultural Department and had a stable and safe “lifespan” income.
Li Yang grew more and more drawn to that golden wheat field.
Gold was good.
Not just life, but money too!