Xiao Che grinned at Bai Ling and tilted his token toward her, pointing at the most outrageous comment.

“Look at this. Quite the passionate review. This brother is willing to sacrifice his own brother’s three years of singlehood just to see you glance back.”

“You—!”

A faint blush rose on Bai Ling’s cheeks as she reached out to cover his token, glaring at him in mock annoyance.

“Stop reading! Turn it off!”

The expression on her face looked less like anger and more like having a tiny secret exposed—half embarrassed, half adorably flustered.

“Understood, understood.”

Xiao Che wisely stopped while he was ahead and obediently closed the ranking interface.

This Lingxu Profound Mirror really was a prime place for gossip.

Even Senior Sister Bai Ling couldn’t escape discussion and evaluation.

“Well?”

Bai Ling cleared her throat lightly, the faint blush still lingering as she guided the topic back.

“Lively, isn’t it?”

“Lively?” Xiao Che withdrew his gaze, his expression complicated. “It’s more like… an intelligence hub and gossip frontline rolled into one.”

“Gossip?”

Bai Ling seemed intrigued by the word, her eyes flickering. “It doesn’t sound like praise. But it does fit.”

“Senior Sister, has the Profound Heaven Continent really advanced this far in information systems? Does everyone have this?”

“What are you thinking?”

Bai Ling laughed softly.

“The Lingxu Profound Mirror only functions fully within the coverage of the Academy’s Myriad Laws Lingxu formation. Leave the Academy, and the token is reduced to a basic identity marker and simple messaging tool.”

She paused, her tone tinged with reminiscence.

“This Lingxu Profound Mirror was personally constructed by our Dean a hundred years ago and integrated into the Academy’s grand formation foundation.”

“The Dean?”

“Yes. Dean Li Fugui.” Bai Ling nodded.

Xiao Che froze for a split second, nearly breaking composure.

“Li… Fugui? That name… is refreshingly down-to-earth.”

“Right?” Bai Ling laughed again, clearly used to that reaction.

“They say that was his mortal name. Later, after reaching unfathomable cultivation, he felt the name was just fine and kept it.”

“Is this Dean Li Fugui currently at the Academy? I’d love to see him.”

Xiao Che’s interest was piqued.

Anyone capable of designing a system like the Lingxu Profound Mirror had a seriously forward-thinking mind. Could this Li Fugui be another transmigrator?

“He’s long gone.”

“Ah… d-dead?”

“Pfft! Watch your mouth!”

Bai Ling shot him an amused glare.

“He left to wander the world a hundred years ago. After reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, he felt something stir in his heart and went off to pursue the ‘essence of the Great Dao.’”

“Currently, Academy affairs are jointly overseen by three Vice Deans. My grandfather is one of them.”

She glanced at the sky.

“Well, that’s that. I’ve shown you around and introduced you to the Lingxu Profound Mirror. My guide duties are complete.”

She turned toward the courtyard exit, her waist swaying lightly, skirt flowing gracefully.

Then she looked back at him and winked, her charm particularly vivid in the glow of dusk.

“Junior Brother Xiao, get familiar with the environment. The Academy… is far more interesting than you think.”

“Oh, right.”

As if remembering something, she tapped her token and added sweetly:

“Today’s guiding and explanation services—discounted friendship price, fifty contribution points. Add the previous fifty for helping you ‘skip the line,’ plus fifty for ‘righteous intervention’…”

She paused, pretending to calculate.

“Hmm. That makes a total of one thousand one hundred fifty contribution points you owe me.”

“I’ve already sent you the debt confirmation through the Spirit Network. Do check it.”

The smile on Xiao Che’s face froze instantly.

Watching her enchanting figure drift away, he silently scanned his token.

Sure enough, a flashing message appeared beside the Lingxu Profound Mirror interface, from:

【Bai Ling (Tianshu Court · Teaching Assistant)】

「Debt Confirmation: Assistance and guidance services rendered. Total: 1,150 contribution points. Creditor: Bai Ling. Deadline: None (but early repayment recommended; interest negotiable).」

Xiao Che stared at the line for a long moment before letting out a helpless laugh.

“Senior Sister really runs a tight business.”

He murmured the words, the corner of his mouth slowly curving upward.

“Debt can wait. But this spirit network… I should explore it. See if I can find something worthwhile.”

He sank his consciousness inward. The screen lit up and switched directly to the “Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.”

Clear categories appeared: Materials, Pills, Artifacts, Techniques, Miscellaneous.

His finger slid across the screen as his eyes scanned item after item.

Low-grade spirit stones: 1 contribution point each.

Yellow-tier low-grade Spring Recovery Pills: 30 points per bottle.

Standard-issue low-grade spirit artifact Qingfeng Sword: 100 points.

“One hundred points a month. Tight, but manageable. If I want anything good…”

He shook his head and moved to the techniques section.

“Gengjin Sword Art (Yellow-tier High Grade): 400 points.”

“Gentle Water Heart Sutra (Profound-tier Low Grade): 2,000 points.”

“As expected. Techniques are the real money pits.”

He rubbed his temples and suddenly thought of Xiao Qing.

“Right. Qing’er has dual firewood spirit roots. I need to keep an eye out for something suitable for her. And my own Gale Step technique should probably be upgraded.”

He continued scrolling.

“Greenwood Blazing Flame Art (Profound-tier Low Grade): Wood and fire mutually generating; ideal for alchemy foundation. 2,500 points.”

“Perfect for Qing’er. Completely unaffordable.”

He memorized the name, then switched to movement techniques.

“Flowing Cloud Step (Yellow-tier High Grade): 350 points.”

“Seven Star Tread (Profound-tier Low Grade): 1,500 points.”

Xiao Che sucked in a breath.

Profound-tier was out of reach. Even Yellow-tier High Grade felt painfully expensive.

Just as he was muttering to himself, his gaze snagged on a particular entry.

“Nine Revolutions Pure Yang Art (Fragment · First Volume)”

Rank: Unknown (suspected Earth-tier or above)

Requirement: Limited to those with Supreme-grade Fire Spirit Root or Pure Yang Dao Body

Exchange Price: 10,000 contribution points

328 people marked as “Interested”

Note: The Academy’s sole fragment, sourced from an ancient ruin. Subsequent volumes lost. Dangerous to cultivate; may trigger Pure Yang flames to burn the practitioner. Proceed with caution!

Ten thousand points!

Xiao Che’s eyelids twitched. His breathing stalled for a moment.

He stared at the “328 Interested” tag, black lines almost forming on his forehead.

“Hah… this spirit network even has ‘favorites’ and ‘want’ features? That Dean Li Fugui… he really might be one of us.”

“I have to meet this uniquely styled Dean someday.”

Clearly, countless people had their eyes on this technique—but just like him, they could only drool from afar.

It was like a crowd of poor kids gathered around an unparalleled treasure, staring longingly with empty pockets.

Supreme-grade fire spirit root… Pure Yang Dao Body… Earth-tier or above…

Those words together felt like bait crafted specifically for him.

An Earth-tier technique would be a legacy treasure anywhere in the East Continent.

“Tailor-made…”

His throat felt dry.

“Unfortunately, it’s priced like a custom luxury.”

He sighed. He currently had a grand total of one hundred points—nowhere near even a fraction of the cost.

He finally understood.

At White Deer Academy, contribution points ruled everything.

He needed to find a way to earn money—

No.

Contribution points.