A Dog Bites A Man, But A Man Cannot Bit A Dog

Jiang Taotao's expression remained impassive, but the others in the yard exchanged surprised glances.

"Only level 17? What a joke," one sneered. "You can't just bring in any stray cat or dog."

With a haughty air, a man with a staff strode into the courtyard.

Ning Yiyi frowned, clearly irritated. "Ling Zhen, mind your words! Moyu is the top scholar in the nation."

Ling Zhen scoffed, "So what if he's the national champion? To us, that means nothing."

"I've seen plenty of national champions before, and they all turned out to be worthless," he continued, his arrogance palpable.

His disdain was shared among those present, affirming that the national champion held no weight in their eyes.

"Ling Zhen, you talk nonsense! It reeks," Ning Yiyi shot back, her voice sharp.

Ling Zhen dismissed her with a cold glance, then turned his attention back to Lin Moyu. "So you're Lin Moyu. I know you were introduced by Lord Baishen."

"Don't think your connection gives you any special privilege here," he sneered. "In our Qianlong team, strength is all that matters."

"We'll tolerate you for this trial, but keep your mouth shut. Don't drag us down, or I'll be the first to make you regret it."

Lin Moyu felt a surge of incredulity at Ling Zhen's arrogance. He had encountered pride before, but nothing quite like this.

"Idiot," Lin Moyu muttered under his breath.

Ling Zhen's expression darkened. "What did you say?!"

Flames erupted from his staff, sending a wave of energy coursing through the air.

Ning Yiyi stepped protectively in front of Lin Moyu. "Ling Zhen, don't even think about it!"

Jiang Taotao moved to stand beside Ning Yiyi, addressing Ling Zhen firmly. "Enough, Ling Zhen. Stand down."

Ling Zhen's fiery aura diminished as he reluctantly extinguished the flames. "I'm doing this for your sake, Sister Taozi," he said, shooting Lin Moyu a venomous glare before retreating to the side, simmering with resentment.

Turning to Lin Moyu, Jiang Taotao said, "We'll gather here tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock for the trial. I can't disclose the specifics until then."

Lin Moyu nodded, "Understood."

"Let's go shopping and prepare," Ning Yiyi suggested, pulling Lin Moyu away.

Watching them depart, Jiang Taotao sighed. "Ling Zhen, I know you're frustrated. But personal issues can't interfere with the trial, especially since he's connected to Lord Baishen."

Ling Zhen grumbled, "I'm aware of the stakes, but it's infuriating. If we're going to lead, we need competent people. Have you heard of a necromancer?"

Jiang Taotao replied, "He's the top scholar in the nation. While that might not impress us, there's got to be something noteworthy about his achievement."

Another teammate chimed in, "I heard necromancers are a new class that emerged this year. It's said to be a unique profession."

Ling Zhen remained dismissive. "New classes pop up every few years, and most of them are garbage."

Meanwhile, Ning Yiyi led Lin Moyu to the Imperial Exchange, her tone shifting to a more serious note. "Don't engage with that guy. He's just a lunatic, and it's not worth your time."

Lin Moyu shrugged. "A dog may bark at a man, but a man shouldn't retaliate against a dog."

Ning Yiyi chuckled, clearly amused by his retort. "I didn't expect you to be so witty!"

Once at the Imperial Exchange, Lin Moyu quickly sold off the items he had collected from the Xihai Mine dungeon. Instead of consigning them, he opted to hand over the materials directly for recycling tasks, while the weapons and equipment were sold outright.

Weapons varied from black iron to diamond grades, with legends and myths intertwined in their classification. Bronze weapons, being entry-level gear, were only suitable for level 10 to 20 professionals and fetched low prices—around 10,000 gold coins each.

After clearing his inventory, Lin Moyu received a total of 230,000 gold coins in return. Although it wasn't a fortune, it was enough for his immediate needs.

Ning Yiyi suggested, "Since we're going to the trial tomorrow, you should stock up on red and blue potions."

The "red and blue medicines" she referred to were healing and mana potions, respectively. The healing potion, characterized by its red hue, could treat injuries, while the blue mana potion restored mental energy.

Both were essential consumables for professionals.

[Elementary Healing Potion: Treats injuries for professionals below level 20. Cooldown time: 1 hour.]

[Elementary Mana Potion: Restores mental energy for professionals below level 20. Cooldown time: 1 hour.]

Each potion cost 1,000 gold coins. Following Ning Yiyi's advice, Lin Moyu purchased ten bottles of each, totaling 20,000 gold coins.

He also bought two primary skill scrolls, spending another 200,000 gold coins. Now, he was left with just 10,000 gold coins.

"Money really does fly," he muttered.

Next, they visited the Xuefu Exchange, where Lin Moyu bought a communicator for 100 points.

The communicator resembled a watch and was convenient to wear—a necessity for every student. They exchanged contact information, enabling them to reach each other anytime.

Ning Yiyi waved her hand playfully, revealing her fair, delicate skin. "Now I can bother you whenever I want!"

Lin Moyu smiled at her playful spirit, feeling lighter as they continued their day together.