CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 154: XIAOCHAN BRAND CULTIVATION ACCELERATOR—FUN AND USEFUL

Long time no see. I’ve missed you.

Walking over, Fang Zhou smiled and asked, "Xiaochan, what are you doing here? How did your assessment go?"

Bai Xiaochan put her hands on her hips with a triumphant look. "With me, Bai Xiaochan, on the case, securing a Seed Student position was a piece of cake. Last night, the instructor informed me that I’ve passed the Support Professional assessment and have been confirmed as one of this year’s Seed Students."

At this, Bai Xiaochan clasped her hands together and looked at Fang Zhou with excitement. "I’ve been so busy with assessments these past couple of days that I didn’t have time to watch your Cave Hunting livestream. After the results came out yesterday, I got the recorded footage from other students and stayed up all night watching your battles. Fang Zhou, you were incredible!"

Just as Bai Xiaochan was about to chatter on, Meng Hongzhuang, who had just gotten out of the car, hopped into view.

She looked at Bai Xiaochan with utter contempt. "Hmph, a pretty face who just rode Lord Fang’s coattails to an easy win can actually become a Seed Student at the military academy?!"

Seeing her lifelong rival, Bai Xiaochan’s cheerful expression instantly froze. She clenched her small fists. Considering the gap in combat strength between them, she barely restrained the urge to lash out. Her words, however, were razor-sharp. "What would you, a Barbarian who only knows how to wrestle with big bears, understand about the elegance and power of our Chanting String! Hmph, even the assessment instructor praised my great potential. In just two months, I learned the powerful Support Skills Lullaby and Song of Triumph, which can greatly enhance my comrades’ Cultivation speed. If you dare taunt me again, I just won’t sing for you anymore!"

Meng Hongzhuang chuckled, ready to retort, but Fang Zhou interrupted her prepared combo attack.

Fang Zhou stepped forward, perfectly blocking the intense stare-down between his two assistants, and asked, "Xiaochan, you learned Song of Triumph?"

Bai Xiaochan lifted her head, flicked her long hair, and pretended to be calm. "It’s just a Support Skill that restores allies’ Spiritual Power and stamina. It’s nothing special, really."

Fang Zhou raised an eyebrow. Looks like this lazy girl Bai Xiaochan has been secretly working hard after all. Good, very good. Now, in addition to Lullaby, which boosts Soul Recovery Speed, the Xiaochan Brand Cultivation Accelerator has another function. It’s definitely become even more useful.

He did not hold back his praise, lavishing her with compliments until she was overjoyed and practically floating on air.

Meng Hongzhuang watched from the side, gnashing her teeth as a strong sense of crisis welled up inside her. Touching the cherished Evergreen Fruit in her pocket, she made a silent decision.

I’m latching onto Fang Zhou’s coattails, and no one is going to stop me. As for that little Bai Xiaochan, if she thinks she can compete with me, she can dream on!

At that moment, Fang Zhou noticed Meng Hongzhuang’s expression out of the corner of his eye and felt secretly satisfied.

Compete! Go on, compete! The harder you two compete, the better it is for me.

Seeing the time was right, he gently patted Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang on their shoulders and said with sincerity, "Xiaochan, Hongzhuang, since we are fortunate enough to be among the military academy’s Seed Students, we mustn’t waste this precious opportunity. From now on, we must learn from each other and improve together."

Then, his tone shifted, and he put on the face of a big boss. "So? How are you progressing on the tasks I assigned? Xiaochan, regarding the refinement of Skeleton Shackles, have you found the right Skill Materials yet? Hongzhuang, after these three days of Cave Hunting, do you have any new ideas for skills to enhance the skeletons’ combat power?"

Hearing Fang Zhou’s words, both Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang stiffened, and the tense atmosphere between them instantly vanished.

Bai Xiaochan’s eyes darted about before she coughed nervously. "Ahem. Rest assured, Fang Zhou, I won’t take my salary for nothing. I’ve already compiled a lot of information over the past few days and have some ideas. After dinner, I’ll head back to the research lab to work overtime. I’ll definitely have an answer for you by the end of the day."

Meng Hongzhuang gritted her teeth slightly and also declared with determination, "Fang Zhou, I did get some inspiration over these past three days. We Natural Summoners have a skill called Natural Coronation, which can gather the power of all our animal companions into a single Summoned Creature, greatly boosting its individual combat strength. I’ll go exchange for this skill today and work on mastering its principles to see if it can be applied to your Skeleton Army."

Fang Zhou nodded with satisfaction. Touched, he couldn’t help but take both his assistants’ small hands. "I knew it. You two are my wings. Come on, I’ll treat you to lunch in the cafeteria."

Still in a daze, Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang let Fang Zhou lead them to the cafeteria.

Behind the trio, Ye Fan, who had been about to throw a few more harsh words at Meng Hongzhuang, raised his hand in confusion, left sputtering alone in the wind.

Damn it, have you all forgotten about tomorrow’s arena challenge? How dare you ignore me so completely!

「...」

To properly reward his two assistants, Fang Zhou spent the whopping sum of one contribution point to buy them two nourishing meal sets.

After the meal, Meng Hongzhuang was brimming with energy. She said goodbye to Fang Zhou and rushed off toward the Nature Series Professional Association. To better learn the rather difficult skill, Natural Coronation, she had decided to seek guidance from some seniors.

Watching Meng Hongzhuang’s figure disappear into the distance, Fang Zhou turned to Bai Xiaochan with a kind smile.

Bai Xiaochan froze for a moment, involuntarily taking two steps back. However, she quickly recovered, pulling out the small lyre she carried on her back and giving Fang Zhou a silly grin.

Fang Zhou’s eyes showed approval as he nodded slightly.

Bai Xiaochan then energetically played Lullaby and the newly learned Song of Triumph for him, granting him two buffs.

Fang Zhou quietly took a moment to experience the effects. The effects of Lullaby were self-evident. As for Song of Triumph, while its effect couldn’t match his own Perfection-level Skill Proficiency in Calm and Relaxed, it wasn’t far behind a Spiritual Recovery Potion. According to Bai Xiaochan, once its Skill Proficiency improved, this powerful Support Skill could also grant listeners a temporary boost to their Spiritual Power recovery speed, greatly increasing their combat endurance.

Fang Zhou mulled it over. He now had several more ways to recover his Spiritual Power than before. He had the active and passive effects of his Calm and Relaxed skill, assistance from Spiritual Recovery Potions, and the large batch of Slime Candles he had just gotten from Meng Hongzhuang in exchange for the Evergreen Fruit. Now, he also had the buffs from the Xiaochan Brand Cultivation Accelerator. His efficiency in improving his Skill Proficiency would surely increase dramatically in the near future.