—

Host: Su Qing.

Realm: Body Tempering Perfection [Cyan Flood Dragon Posture: Perfection]

Gathering Spirit Limit [First Level Five Qi God Demon Skill: Perfection]

Physique: 413

Spiritual Qi: 1246

Synthesis Lv. 13 (431/1400) [Synthesis Success Rate +13%, Mutated +1%, Evolution +10%, Divinization +1%, Demonization +1%]

—

After finishing the synthesis, the Synthesizer had also upgraded to Level 13.

After Su Qing spent the two Evolution Talent Points at once, he decided he probably shouldn’t increase his Evolution Talent anymore.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to unlock some of the rare Synthesis Talents.

’For Divinization and Demonization, I need at least a 5% trigger chance for both. The Mutated chance can stay as it is.’

Little Divine Pill, Blood Purifying Divine Pill, Divine Pill.

Su Qing consumed them one by one.

However, they didn’t seem to have much of an effect.

"Spiritual Power?"

Su Qing thought for a moment. ’I could probably make it display on the synthesis panel. But on second thought, that’s probably not necessary. I’ll worry about it after I find a related Cultivation Technique. Just looking at the number won’t increase it, so I might as well not look.’

"Replicate the Geng Metal Sword Technique."

Su Qing used his old trick again.

He just kept synthesizing.

A ten percent synthesis success rate.

’Today, I’ll definitely get a once-Evolved Geng Metal Sword Technique.’

...

...

[Synthesis Successful: Demonization Triggered]

[Geng Metal Sword·Demon: Use Gold Spiritual Qi to infuse Demon Intent Geng Gold Sword Qi. When cultivated to Perfection, it can nurture Geng Metal Demon Sword Intent.]

"Damn it! I’ve synthesized this a dozen times, and forget triggering Evolution even once... I actually triggered Demonization."

’Deep down, I actually want to be a good person.’

"Not bad, though. Continue synthesizing."

"Replicate Geng Metal Sword·Demon nine times."

Immediately after, his head felt as if it had been struck violently by a hammer.

It took him a full ten minutes to recover.

’Just one Demonization, and it’s already become so much more potent.’

"Synthesize."

[Synthesis Successful: Evolution Triggered]

[First Layer Geng Metal Sword·Demon: 20x the effect of Geng Metal Sword·Demon]

’It’s always "First Layer" this and "Second Layer" that. Can’t it just be +1, +2, or something?’

Su Qing found the display rather unpleasant to look at.

As it turned out, the panel actually began to change.

[Geng Metal Sword·Demon+1: 20x the effect of Geng Metal Sword·Demon]

’Now that looks much better.’

Su Qing looked at the synthesis panel, completely satisfied.

But Su Qing was still not satisfied. He definitely had to try replicating it again.

This time, however, he was a little more careful.

"Replicate Geng Metal Sword·Demon+1 one time."

His head felt like it had been hammered again, the effect identical to replicating Geng Metal Sword·Demon nine times.

’Still manageable.’

Su Qing remained in his room, focusing solely on synthesis.

Synthesize.

Synthesize.

He continued until nightfall.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~

"Su Qing."

"Are you in there?"

Xu Ningying was knocking on the door.

Only then did Su Qing stop synthesizing.

"What is it?" Su Qing’s voice was languid as he walked over to get the door.

When Xu Ningying saw Su Qing open the door, she took a careful look at his eyes, then quickly looked away.

She was afraid she’d get lost in them if she stared for too long.

"About that residence you mentioned wanting to buy, I had someone ask around. There’s a family in Shangjing that wants to move, so they’re selling their house for only 2,200 taels."

"It has one main house, four side rooms, a kitchen, and so on, plus a large courtyard."

"What do you think?"

Xu Ningying asked. She clasped her hands in front of her, perhaps because it was better posture, or perhaps she herself didn’t know why she was doing it.

"Er..."

Su Qing hadn’t originally wanted to buy it, since Xu Ningying’s residence already gave him a place to stay.

’I can’t just live in someone else’s house forever,’ Su Qing thought.

"Mm, okay. Have your people use the silver in my room to handle the purchase."

"You’re not going to take a look yourself?"

Xu Ningying asked in confusion. She was stunned. ’He’s deciding so rashly?’

Su Qing smiled. "As long as it’s a place to live. It’s not right for me to keep staying here with you." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

With that, Su Qing asked, "Are there any private schools around here? I want to attend some lessons, preferably ones that teach reading."

Su Qing’s question stunned Xu Ningying once again.

"Huh? You don’t know how to read? Then how do you cultivate? How do you read books?"

Su Qing just smiled. "Just tell me where I can find a private school."

Xu Ningying looked at Su Qing with a peculiar expression.

Su Qing felt helpless. ’In the past, even if I didn’t recognize the words, my Synthesizer would record them after one look and transmit the information directly into my brain. How can I get by without learning to read? The characters of this dynasty are pictographic, but they’re different. I still need to learn them.’

"Fine, I’ll take you. By the way, how old are you?"

Xu Ningying put a hand to her head in exasperation and asked.

"How old? I should be about 16."

Su Qing thought about it. It was just an estimate, but 16 seemed right. ’That should be the age of this body.’

"Sixteen?" Xu Ningying questioned loudly, looking at Su Qing’s eyes in disbelief. But after meeting his gaze, she didn’t dare look for long and turned her head away.

"I’m really sixteen," Su Qing said, exasperated.

"Hah. And here I thought you’d already reached the age of manhood."

Su Qing shook his head.

"Just take me to a private school. I can learn on my own just fine."

"Fine, fine." Xu Ningying knew Su Qing had his secrets, but she didn’t dare to dwell on them.

Su Qing’s massive transformation made Xu Ningying wonder if he was the abandoned scion of some legendary Immortal Cultivation family.

One who would undergo a change upon reaching a certain age.

Su Qing had no idea that his multicolored eyes had sparked so many thoughts in Xu Ningying’s mind.

On the way, he chatted a lot with Xu Ningying.

It was all just small talk, though.

Things like where Su Qing was from.

Su Qing also asked some questions about Shangjing.

He asked about the officials, and whether there were any silk-panted young masters in Shangjing.

Who could blame him? Su Qing had read too many novels, and generally speaking, silk-panted young masters were nothing but trouble.

"We’re here. This is the private school."

"Though, fewer people are willing to come in the winter."

Su Qing looked at the golden plaque on the building’s facade and immediately shook his head.

"Nope. This place definitely has a lot of powerful and noble families. Too much trouble."

"Just find me one that teaches reading. I don’t need to learn about any great principles."

’That’s right, what damn principles do I need to learn?’

The only principle in this world was that the weak were prey for the strong, and only the fittest survived.

And Su Qing was advancing on the path to becoming one of the strong.

"Then let’s go to the most common type of introductory school."

"There are plenty of old and young scholars inside who can teach you how to read."

Su Qing nodded. All he wanted was simply to learn how to read.

...

Xu Ningying led him to a different place.

Sanmei Academy

The plaque was as ordinary as could be.

Su Qing nodded. The exterior alone looked plain and down-to-earth, which was exactly the effect he wanted.

"This is as far as I’m taking you. Go in and ask yourself. You can start learning as soon as you pay the fee."

"This is Sanmei Academy. Once you’re inside, you’re on your own. I’m heading back."

In truth, Xu Ningying looked down on this place. The people who came and went were mostly uncouth commoners.

There were quite a few old lechers, too.

It was mostly filled with uneducated common folk learning to read, and Xu Ningying had no desire to step inside.

She simply disdained it.

Su Qing just nodded and went in.