The Three Realms Thief Chapter 4

Xu Yuan tried hard to recall the original owner’s learning memories.

This recollection actually proved to be somewhat useful.

Countless knowledge points seemed to be awakened, appearing in his memory, giving him some ideas on how to solve the problem he had just encountered.

He flipped through the exercise book and wrote “Yin-Yang harmony; five elements cycles; sovereign, minister, assistant, and guide” under the fill-in-the-blank question “Three Principles of Alchemy.”

This practice, in turn, strengthened his memory.

It took him more than ten minutes.

Xu Yuan finally classified and re-memorized all the high school knowledge of alchemy.

It was quite thought-provoking.

He originally thought that those masters who could fly and escape only needed a flick of their spiritual power to cast various magical spells at will.

But that was not the case.

Just looking at the subject of alchemy, one could see how extensive and profound it was, like a vast ocean.

—It is divided into basic theories and laws, material science (spiritual herbs, minerals, auxiliary materials, etc.), tools and alchemical furnaces (types of alchemical furnaces, knowledge of artifact refining), alchemical formulas (types of alchemical fires, temperature control), elixirs, and so on.

It was simply a self-contained grand discipline.

If one were arrogant and conceited in the face of such a knowledge system; even if they had the ability to “compete,” their future would be extremely limited.

Xu Yuan corrected his attitude, immersed himself in it, and began to write diligently in the exercise book.

He would sometimes write furiously, and sometimes flip through his old notes and books.

Time passed unknowingly.

Twenty-odd minutes later.

Xu Yuan was drawing three kinds of alchemy hand seals in the exercise book.

Suddenly, he saw a finger-sized little person struggle to climb up from the edge of the desk.

This little person, folded from yellow paper, crawled across the desk and came to the exercise book.

It rolled over and unfolded itself.

—It was a talisman.

A message talisman.

This was the most basic talisman, on which one could write something, then fold it into a human shape, and send it to report to the target.

He saw a line of crooked words written on the talisman:

“I got a good book, do you want to read it?”

This was—

Xu Yuan looked up.

A shifty-eyed fat man, sitting a few rows ahead, was winking at him.

It was his best friend, Zhao Afei.

—Isn’t this passing notes in class?

It seems that no matter which world it is, everyone’s habit of passing notes in class will not change!

Xu Yuan found it quite amusing and wrote on the talisman:

“What book?”

After writing, he flicked it lightly.

The talisman floated up, automatically folded into a human shape, covered its butt that Xu Yuan had flicked, turned around and left, climbed down the desk, ran quickly on the floor, and then went onto Zhao Afei’s desk.

Before long.

The little person came back again, and unfolded:

“The Thirty-Six Stratagems of Love, you’ll know when you read it, it’s definitely good, I specially got it for you.”

Xu Yuan wrote:

“…Why would I read that!”

He looked up and glanced at Zhao Afei.

“Aren’t you going to write a love letter?” Zhao Afei sent another message, “To write a love letter to Yang Xiaobing, of course, you need such classic reference materials.”

Yang Xiaobing…

Xu Yuan looked up and searched through his memories.

He remembered.

Yang Xiaobing was the girl in the gymnasium.

She was indeed beautiful, the belle of the class and the school, and she received countless love letters every day.

Her cultivation talent was also extremely high.

Yang Xiaobing grew up with the original owner and was a very good friend.

Even in the historical side story he had just created, she was the only witness to his secret efforts.

With this relationship, Yang Xiaobing had always taken good care of the original owner.

But for some unknown reason, someone spread rumors that Xu Yuan was going to confess his love.

The end result was the scene in the gymnasium.

Yang Xiaobing returned the love letter.

Their relationship plummeted to freezing point.

A hint of coldness flashed in Xu Yuan’s eyes.

I am the man who will be nailed hundreds of meters high three days later, vying for glory with the “Mountains and Rivers Bridge”, and looking down at the night view of the rivers and mountains!

Someone actually spread rumors about me and wrote a love letter for me?

Bah!

Do you really think your literary talent is better than mine?

“I don’t need this thing, stop bothering.”

Xu Yuan wrote on the talisman.

“No, my Brother Xu.” Zhao Afei wrote, puzzled.

“What?” Xu Yuan asked.

“You already sent a message this afternoon, asking Yang Xiaobing to wait for you after the evening self-study, and now you’re not going to write the love letter?”

Xu Yuan was about to answer when he suddenly sensed something swaying outside the window, and immediately lowered his head, pretending to be engrossed in writing problems.

He crumpled the talisman in his hand.

Zhao Afei was also quick-witted, seeing his demeanor, he immediately picked up a pen and started calculating and solving problems on a scratch paper.

After waiting for a while.

The shadow gradually moved from outside the window to the classroom door, and then walked in.

It was a tall, thin middle-aged man, wearing thick black-rimmed glasses, holding a cigarette between his fingers, his face flushed, clearly having just returned from drinking outside.

It was the homeroom teacher!

His gaze did not look this way.

—He probably didn’t notice!

Xu Yuan subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Passing notes during self-study, almost caught by the old teacher.

If that “Thirty-Six Stratagems of Love” was found from Zhao Afei, things would be serious!

At this moment.

Xu Yuan found the feeling of being in high school again.

“Alright, students, stop for a moment.”

The homeroom teacher’s booming voice resounded.

In the classroom.

All fifty-odd students stopped what they were doing and looked up.

“Tomorrow morning at nine o’clock, the monthly exam will officially begin.”

“This is a joint exam for eight schools, and some well-known universities will send people to observe.”

“I hope everyone adopts a serious attitude, calmly faces the exam, and also seizes the time tonight to make up for any shortcomings in your knowledge points…”

The homeroom teacher began to talk endlessly.

He talked for more than ten minutes.

Xu Yuan rested his chin on his hand, his eyelids drooping, and the more he listened, the more he couldn’t help but sigh.

Damn it!

Is this a cultivation world?

What’s the difference from Earth? Just tell me, what’s the difference?

Perhaps the only difference was that the homeroom teacher didn’t teach Chinese, Math, and English.

This homeroom teacher’s surname was Liu, Liu Mingdao, and he taught talisman courses in two classes.

High school mainly had nine subjects.

—Sword, Elixir, Talisman, Artifact, Body, Beast Taming, Soul, Spirit Plant, Formation, a total of nine subjects.

Because these nine directions were the easiest to awaken spiritual sense.

They had to be studied until the college entrance examination!

It was even harder than on Earth.

Xu Yuan’s heart suddenly stirred, and he slowly relaxed.

—I have already become a Qi Cultivator.

This meant that there must be a university he could attend.

For example, a student with talent in alchemy, through exercises and practical operations, slowly finds the feeling and can stimulate water, fire, and the five elements—

This immediately propelled him into the Qi Cultivation realm!

Becoming an apprentice Qi Cultivator meant he could enter university!

Due to having studied the knowledge of the nine subjects beforehand, not only did his strength meet university requirements, but his basic knowledge was also solidified.

From another perspective.

If one didn’t cultivate diligently, scored poorly, and never found the opportunity for a breakthrough—

Then they definitely wouldn’t be able to go to university.

After graduating from high school, if one didn’t enter the Qi Cultivation realm, it was almost equivalent to being an ordinary person for life.

Then they would go to a vocational college to learn a professional skill for future employment.

“—Talismans are the most down-to-earth subject, as long as you study conscientiously, you will gain something!”

“If you have any questions, come to my office and ask me.”

The homeroom teacher finally finished speaking and left gracefully.

For a long while.

No one in the classroom spoke.

The pressure was too great.

Until Zhao Afei said in a neither loud nor soft voice:

“I heard there are dual cultivation courses in university, it’s really worth working hard for.”

The atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Many female students turned their heads and glared at him.

“Dual cultivation is not what you think it is,” a male voice spoke up, “For example, cultivating alchemy requires a lot of spiritual plant materials to refine pills.”

“This requires finding a Taoist companion who cultivates spiritual plants, cooperating with each other.”

“That way, there will be materials for alchemy, and the refined pills can be sold, providing money for seeds for the spiritual plants.”

“That’s what dual cultivation means, it’s not what you think.”

“Zhao Afei, don’t talk nonsense if you don’t understand, you’re just lowering the standard of our class.”

Xu Yuan glanced over.

The speaker was Li Tao, who also had good grades, but he enjoyed showing off and lecturing others.

Zhao Afei’s face indeed turned red, and he clenched his fists, as if he would rush over at any moment.

“Li Tao.”

Xu Yuan spoke.

Li Tao turned to look at him.

“Zhao Afei specializes in alchemy, and bringing up dual cultivation was originally about finding a spiritual plant cultivator to make money together,” Xu Yuan said, “What did you think he meant?”

“He’s not just—” Li Tao said halfway, then reacted and immediately fell silent.

“Go on,” Xu Yuan asked blandly, “In your imagination, what else does dual cultivation mean?”

Li Tao was speechless.

Meeting the amused gazes of the other boys, he somewhat regretted why he had to step on Zhao Afei.

Zhao Afei was good at alchemy.

Just a weakling.

But Xu Yuan was a simpleton who practiced swordsmanship and body techniques.

If truly provoked, Xu Yuan would directly pin him to the ground and beat him up.

That wouldn’t look good.

Li Tao mumbled something under his breath, bowed his head, and began to work on the problems.

The classroom slowly fell silent.

Zhao Afei gave Xu Yuan a thumbs-up.

Before long.

The dismissal bell rang.

It was already ten o’clock at night.

Everyone was talking in twos and threes, packing their things, and preparing to leave the classroom.

Suddenly.

At the classroom door, a graceful figure peeked in and glanced at Xu Yuan.

She was wearing a faded blue and white school uniform, her collar slightly loose, revealing a white swan-like neck.

Her long, high ponytail made her look especially energetic.

—Her beauty was simply stunning.

Just looking at those watery eyes made one’s heart flutter.

It was Yang Xiaobing!

Many boys slowed down their packing, wanting to take another look at her.

She waved at Xu Yuan and mouthed:

“You’re looking for me?”

“Yes.” Xu Yuan smiled, walked out decisively, and left the building with the girl.

Walking on campus.

The early autumn night already had a hint of coolness.

In the past.

The original Xu Yuan, with his upright and unrestrained personality, would definitely have said something like, “Put on more clothes, aren’t you cold, why don’t you put on my jacket.”

But now.

Xu Yuan didn’t say a single extra word.

“They all say you’re writing a love letter? To me?”

Yang Xiaobing asked teasingly.

Looking at the other students on the tree-lined campus road, their faint glances—

Xu Yuan suddenly thought of many things.

—Three days later, she’ll return the love letter, mistakenly kidnapped by villains!

Might as well be direct.

Resolve this matter now.

Xu Yuan lowered his voice and said:

“I don’t have the habit of writing love letters before exams.”

“—But I heard someone was going to impersonate me and write a love letter, I wonder who is so despicable.”

Yang Xiaobing was stunned, then also whispered:

“It’s possible, after all, I’ve already rejected many people’s invitations, and I’m preparing to participate in the group battle with you during the monthly exam.”

The monthly exam was divided into two parts.

Individual exams, and group battles.

The individual exam was a written test.

The group battle was a four-person team fight, and the score accounted for 60% of the total score!

Xu Yuan immediately understood.

According to the original owner’s memory, Yang Xiaobing had originally planned to take the original owner to participate in the group battle.

In that case, the original owner would definitely have achieved a good score.

After the love letter incident—

Yang Xiaobing seemed to have avoided suspicion and gave up inviting the original owner.

The original owner neither reached the first level of Qi Cultivation nor had friends to help with the exam.

He only got a very poor score.