In Glory City, the currency that everyone uses is demon spirit coins.
Typically, two or three thousand demon spirit coins are enough to cover a family's yearly expenses.
The value of various items in Glory City, including weapons, armor, demon spirit crystals, and demon beast pelts, is measured in demon spirit coins.
The tuition fee for one year at Saint Orchid Academy is more than three thousand demon spirit coins, which is quite a burden for ordinary families.
Yet many families, despite living frugally, insist on sending their children to the academy because becoming a martial artist or a demon spirit master, even at just the Bronze level, can change the family's fortune.
A Bronze-level martial artist working for the city guard can earn about five or six thousand demon spirit coins a year.
Additionally, there are opportunities to venture into the depths of the Saint Ancestor Mountain Range for extra rewards.
Nie Li's family, the Heavenly Mark Family, is a rather declining noble family.
The head of the family, Nie Hengxun, is a one-star Gold-ranked demon spirit master.
The family's annual income hovers around six hundred thousand demon spirit coins.
The family's expenses are extensive, with over three hundred thousand demon spirit coins spent solely on the education of the family's younger generation.
This often leads the family to sell off properties to maintain itself.
However, the Heavenly Mark Family continues to send every young member to Saint Orchid Academy.
Clan leader Nie Hengxun always said that only by nurturing outstanding juniors can the Heavenly Mark Family rise again.
Despite hardships, every junior in the family deserves the best training.
In his past life, Nie Li had found this hard to understand and felt distant from his strict clan leader.
But after being reborn, he realized the clan leader's earnest intentions.
As part of the Heavenly Mark Family, Nie Li resolved to strengthen and make the family one of the most prestigious in Glory City.
Returning to his past, Nie Li's memory held many powerful techniques.
But first, he needed to earn some money to buy a few basic Soul Crystals to test his Soul Realm's attributes and decide on a suitable cultivation technique.
If he found a method suited to his cultivation, it would have an extraordinary effect.
Dong, dong, dong!
The bell rang throughout Glory City, marking the end of classes.
Students of Saint Orchid Academy streamed out through the high walls, bustling along the lively streets by the academy's gates, while street vendors shouted loudly to advertise their wares.
"Brand new Bronze Armor, inscribed with Snowstorm Runes! Noble young masters and misses, are you interested?" A gray-robed peddler enthusiastically hawked his goods, quickly attracting the attention of many students.
Although Bronze Armor was beyond the means of ordinary students, there were many students from wealthy families at Saint Orchid Academy, making it possible to sell with a bit of luck.
"Look, it's Bronze Armor with Snowstorm Runes!" the students buzzed with excitement.
It was a pair of bracers, emitting a deep green light with mysterious symbols and a faint icy chill emanating from them.
"How much do they cost?" a student muttered.
"Sixty thousand demon spirit coins!" the peddler said, smiling broadly.
"Heavens, so expensive!" For most families, sixty thousand demon spirit coins were well beyond reach, even over many years.
"But these are Bronze Armor with Snowstorm Runes, crafted with the demon spirit crystal and blood of a fully grown Snowstorm Fairy. Such a creature isn't easily hunted, and these bracers carry immense offensive power, perfect for those practicing snow and wind-type techniques!" said the peddler animatedly, wiping his mouth as he described the goods.
Many students looked longingly at the pair of Bronze bracers but slowly moved away, unable to afford such luxury.
"Six thousand demon spirit coins for just Bronze Armor! I can't even imagine how much Silver Armor or Gold Armor would cost!" Lu Piao muttered, reflecting on his meager five hundred demon spirit coins of pocket money per month.
Despite coming from a wealthy family, a Bronze Armor was far from an impulse buy.
Nie Li, Lu Piao, and Du Ze walked and observed, marveling at the variety of goods available on the street, finding both expensive and affordable items.
"Nie Li, what are you planning?" Lu Piao asked, puzzled by Nie Li's constant observing.
While they were talking, a figure approached the peddler.
"Look, it's Shen Yue!" Lu Piao pointed with his nose, "And Ye Ziyun!"
Nie Li looked over to see Ye Ziyun chatting happily with some girls.
Her lovely face and sweet smile were like sunshine, captivating all who saw her.
Among them all, Ye Ziyun was undoubtedly the most dazzling, making it hard for one to look away.
The surroundings seemed to brim with life just because of Ye Ziyun's presence.
Shen Yue occasionally glanced over as well.
"I happen to need a pair of Bronze bracers. Wrap these up for me," Shen Yue said casually to the peddler.
"Right away, young master!" The peddler beamed and quickly wrapped up the Bronze bracers.
"Here's sixty thousand demon spirit coins!" Shen Yue nonchalantly pulled out six demon spirit cards from his Spatial Ring, each card representing ten thousand demon spirit coins.
Throwing out sixty thousand demon spirit coins without a care, Shen Yue placed the Bronze bracers into his Spatial Ring without batting an eye.
The nearby girls gasped softly in awe at his wealth.
Several attractive girls gave Shen Yue admiring glances, but he ignored them, looking proudly at Nie Li and his friends before gazing warmly at Ye Ziyun, as if to say, "There's nobody but you in my eyes."
"Shameless!" Lu Piao growled, baring his teeth and claws, "Using wealth to impress!"
"Rich, indeed! He's got money to throw around and even has a Spatial Ring," Du Ze said, shrugging.
He looked at Nie Li and shook his head, "Nie Li, he's handsome and rich. How will you compete?"
"Hehe, Ziyun doesn't care about that money!" Nie Li said nonchalantly, glancing over.
Ye Ziyun completely ignored Shen Yue and continued chatting with her friends.
She glanced occasionally at Xiao Ning'er, who seemed a bit distracted.
Xiao Ning'er looked aloof and preferred to keep to herself, rarely mingling with classmates.
Nie Li knew that the friendship Ye Ziyun yearned for most was with Xiao Ning'er.
In their past lives, the difference in their statuses ultimately drew them apart.
Seeing Ye Ziyun's expression, Shen Yue's spirit seemed somewhat deflated.
"Alright, so Ye Ziyun doesn't care about money. Nie Li, maybe she's interested in girls instead? That means you still don't stand a chance!" Lu Piao teased with a wink.
Nie Li chuckled, unfazed by Lu Piao's jests.
In his previous life, he was the only man for Ye Ziyun.
Smiling, he said, "Let's go. Time to start our plan!"
Lu Piao and Du Ze straightened, nodding in agreement.
"Lu Piao, go buy two light crossbows and five tubes of one hundred bolts each. Light crossbows cost one hundred sixty demon spirit coins each, and the bolts are thirty demon spirit coins a tube. Don't let a peddler rip you off!" Nie Li instructed Lu Piao, "We'll meet at the Trial Grounds entrance of the academy."
"Got it!" Lu Piao nodded, a bit intrigued by Nie Li's knowledge of crossbows and their prices as Nie Li wasn't known for purchasing expensive items, given his typical pocket money of fifty demon spirit coins per month.
"Du Ze, let's go buy some Black Marsh Grass!" Nie Li said.
Black Marsh Grass has some paralytic effects.
Du Ze's family was even less affluent than Nie Li's.
Naturally, Nie Li didn't expect Du Ze to pay, so he handled the costs while shopping.
Black Marsh Grass was affordable; one demon spirit coin could buy a handful.
In addition, Nie Li bought some basic fusion potions and gathered plenty of Knotroot Grass from a small hill near Glory City.
"What on earth are you planning?" Du Ze asked, puzzled.
Nie Li grinned mysteriously.
"Black Marsh Grass has very weak paralytic effects and is used mainly for easing pain when applied to wounds. Knotroot Grass is a common weed with unknown properties, but when mixed with fusion potion and Black Marsh Grass, it can greatly enhance the paralytic effect!"
Du Ze was momentarily stunned.
"So how strong is this paralytic effect?"
Nie Li chuckled.
"It won't do much against ordinary demon beasts, being weaker than basic paralytic potions. But have you ever noticed that horned goats never eat Knotroot Grass?"
"Horned goats?" Du Ze paused, as if sensing where this was going, his eyes brightening.
"Nie Li, are you an Alchemist?"
"An Alchemist?" Nie Li thought for a moment, laughing heartily.
"I guess you could call me that."
An Alchemist refers to those who use various spirit herbs to concoct pills or prepare mixtures.
Nie Li wasn't an Alchemist in his past life, only dabbling in such matters.
However, the so-called potion makers in Glory City were nowhere near true Alchemists! Nie Li could easily surpass them.
Although, during his adventures on the Saint Spirit Continent, he had encountered real Alchemists who lived in the Toxic Forest, withstanding the peril of toxic demon beasts—those were the true Alchemists!
Nie Li went about mixing the concoctions, preparing six full bottles.
The Trial Grounds of Saint Orchid Academy were established by the legendary demon spirit master Lord Ye Mo and Black Gold demon spirit master Principal Gao Yuan.
Enclosed by high walls, each year, heroes from Glory City capture low-level demon beasts and release them into the Trial Grounds.
All students at or below Silver level can enter.
Students can hunt demon beasts and keep any pelts, demon spirit crystals, or demon spirits for themselves.
Some students from less wealthy families hunt here to supplement their household income.
Nie Li and his friends hadn't reached Bronze one-star yet.
Their destination was the safest area of the Trial Grounds, inhabited by horned goats.
Although aggressive, they are herbivores and will only injure humans without continuing the attack, making it relatively safe.
After meeting at the entrance of the Trial Grounds and verifying their identity with the guards, the three entered together.
In the newbie apprentice area of the Trial Grounds, sparse trees dotted patches of grass where horned goats roamed slowly.
Their blood-red eyes were full of wildness and irritability, their ears perking up at the slightest sound.
Any intruder in their territory would face immediate attack.
Just then, a sound came from nearby, and the nearest horned goat gave a low growl, running toward the noise.
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(End of the chapter)