“H-How much?”

Wang Xicheng’s voice trembled.

He rubbed his eyes hard, then pinched his thigh fiercely.

The intense pain told him this wasn’t a dream.

He leaned closer again, staring intently at the small display screen.

The numbers on it hadn't changed at all.

Nine nines.

Wang Xicheng felt his brain completely crash at that moment.

He had been at the Imperial Capital Academy for two years, and this was the first time he had seen such a long string of numbers.

Is this even points anymore?

Wang Xicheng looked at Gandalf in shock.

He really wanted to ask.

Great Master, you wouldn't happen to be the Principal's illegitimate son, would you?

“C-Could it be that the System is malfunctioning?”

The guard next to him was already breaking out in a cold sweat.

He nervously re-operated the verification device.

The result remained unchanged.

“I-It really is... nine hundred ninety-nine million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand...”

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, couldn't be bothered to explain to them.

He retrieved the points card and asked calmly.

“Now, can we go in?”

“Y-Yes! Of course, you can!”

How could that guard dare to block them for another second?

He shivered, quickly bowed, and with an almost fawning posture, respectfully pushed open the heavy metal door behind him.

“Please, come in! Please, come in!”

Zhou Huai took a step and walked inside.

Wang Xicheng was still frozen in place until Zhou Huai’s voice came from inside the door, and he suddenly snapped back to reality, scurrying after him.

The scene on the twenty-third floor was completely different from downstairs.

There were no noisy crowds, nor was there a dazzling array of display cabinets.

The entire hall was vast and quiet, the floor paved with obsidian as smooth as a mirror, and embedded in the dome above were countless moonstones emitting a soft glow, like a vast starry river.

Rare treasures were individually displayed on independent crystal pedestals.

Soft spotlights shone from different angles, illuminating every detail of each treasure to its fullest, exuding a fatal allure.

Every item here was a work of art.

As soon as Wang Xicheng entered, he was completely stunned by the sight before him.

He gaped, like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden for the first time, his eyes filled with shock and longing.

“Oh my god... Is this... is this the twenty-third floor?”

“It’s just too... too luxurious!”

Zhou Huai’s gaze quickly swept over the display stands closest to the entrance.

Displayed on them were several complete epic-tier sets.

【Blaze Lord’s Armor】, Exchange Points: 500,000.

【Deep Sea Roarer’s Robe】, Exchange Points: 650,000.

...

These pieces of equipment were all crafted by Forging Masters, with powerful attributes and magnificent designs.

Zhou Huai even saw a familiar name on one of the display stands.

【Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Set (LV40)】, Forger: Murong Chen.

Exchange Points: 700,000. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

A barely perceptible smile curved at the corner of Zhou Huai’s mouth.

Isn't this his cheap disciple?

He didn't expect the equipment he forged to be worth 700,000 points.

Wang Xicheng leaned towards the 【Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Set】, his eyes wide with admiration.

He smacked his lips, his face full of envy.

“A masterpiece by Great Master Murong Chen!”

“It's said that the equipment he forges not only has powerful attributes but also comes with fire effects, which are incredibly cool!”

“If I could wear a set like this, I’d wake up laughing in my dreams!”

Zhou Huai looked at his unpromising appearance and found it amusing.

These top-tier pieces of equipment, which were highly coveted by others, were no different from trash to him.

Even things Ouyezi casually forged were several times stronger than these.

He didn't linger and continued deeper into the hall.

Soon, his gaze was drawn to a special display stand.

Suspended above the stand were several clusters of flames, each of a different color and form.

Crimson like [N O V E L I G H T] blood, azure like ice, jet black like ink.

Each cluster of flame emitted a distinctly different energy fluctuation.

【B-grade Exotic Flame · Earth Core Lava】, Exchange Points: 5,000,000.

【A-grade Exotic Flame · Sky-Burning Flame】, Exchange Points: 20,000,000.

Upon seeing these exotic flames, Wang Xicheng again let out a prairie dog-like shriek.

“Holy crap! Exotic flames! They even have exotic flames!”

“And the lowest grade is B-grade! This is too extravagant!”

Zhou Huai’s gaze lingered for a moment on the A-grade 【Sky-Burning Flame】.

The quality of this flame was indeed exceptional.

Unfortunately, Gandalf had already undergone Fusion with the Soul-Devouring Underworld Flame and could not undergo Fusion again.

He shook his head and continued forward.

The next display stand showcased various peculiar fruits exuding an enticing aroma.

【Fruit of Strength】, Permanently increases Strength attribute by 20 points after consumption, Exchange Points: 500,000.

【Fruit of Agility】, Permanently increases Agility attribute by 22 points after consumption, Exchange Points: 500,000.

...

The number of attribute fruits here was far greater than what he had seen in the Jiangning City military armory back then.

Zhou Huai didn't hesitate at all.

Since Principal Chen had already given his word, he naturally wouldn't be polite.

“This one, this one, and this one...”

He stretched out his hand, pointing at the display stand.

“I want all the fruits that can increase Mental Energy.”

The staff member responsible for this area was a capable-looking middle-aged woman.

She was startled when she heard Zhou Huai’s words, then a professional smile appeared on her face.

“Alright, sir.”

She deftly took out the fruits Zhou Huai had designated from the display stand, one by one, and packed them.

Roughly counted, there were a full twenty-six of them.

These fruits alone could provide Zhou Huai with over five hundred points of Mental Energy bonus.

“Next.”

Zhou Huai’s gaze fell on the potion display stand next to it.

【Super Mana Recovery Potion】, Instantly restores 80% of Mana after consumption, Exchange Points: 200,000.

【Super Health Recovery Potion】, Instantly restores 80% of Health after consumption, Exchange Points: 200,000.

These were good things that could save lives at critical moments.

Zhou Huai spoke again, his tone calm.

“I’ll take twenty bottles of each of these potions.”

The female staff member’s smile grew even brighter.

Today, she had encountered a truly big client.

Zhou Huai was frantically shopping in front, while Wang Xicheng, like a little follower, carried a large pile of packed boxes behind him, his mouth never closing.

He felt like he was dreaming today.

These top-tier resources, which he wouldn't even dare to dream of on normal days, were now being casually swept up by the Great Master, like cheap cabbages.

This scene quickly attracted the attention of the few other students in the hall.

They all cast astonished gazes.

“Damn, who is that guy? So arrogant?”

“Are you stupid? You don’t even recognize him? That’s Gandalf, the rising star of the Academy right now!”

“Oh, it’s that Dungeon Maniac!”

“My goodness, just those things alone must be worth tens of millions of points, right? Where did he get so many points?”

“That’s a true Great Master, he has plenty of ways to get points. Didn’t you see Wang Xicheng is just his subordinate following him?”

Just as everyone was discussing amongst themselves.

Zhou Huai’s gaze had been completely drawn to the display stand in the very center of the hall.

It was a huge, circular display stand carved from a single block of ice.

Suspended above the stand was a fist-sized, irregularly shaped ice crystal.

The ice crystal glowed with a dreamlike, iridescent, seven-colored glaze.

It just hung there quietly, like a star fallen from the Nine Heavens, emitting a brilliant and mysterious radiance.

【S-grade Exotic Ice · Aurora Heart】

【Exchange Points: 100,000,000.】