Life is tough, so Honglong resorts to performing?

Chapter 101 In the Library (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)
What's it like to suddenly become a viral meme?

If this world had a forum like Zhihu from my previous life, Loren would definitely post a question like this.

At this moment, he was walking on the street leading to a nearby university, holding a magic crystal terminal in his hand, and conducting a high-intensity self-search.

Every now and then, there's a refresh, and several new images appear.

If the version of myself that went viral wasn't in my true form, rather than a humanoid one... I'd probably be surrounded by people right now.

This prolific output made Loren realize that he was ultimately on a one-way street to becoming a comedian.

He originally wanted to be an idol.

"Fortunately, I'm not exactly a serious comedian or a comedy actor."

Loren thought to himself.

He's just a vehicle for netizens to create fun; life isn't in his hands.

Similarly, after thinking it over, Loren also felt that perhaps he shouldn't focus his attention on this group of people.

Sticking to the old monetization channels for now might be the best option for him.

The timing may not be right yet, as the market has a certain lag.

The devils' retreat has only just begun. Those entertainment forces and online trolls that relied on the devils may not have even realized the devils' retreat yet.

Simply put, they haven't been taught a lesson by reality, haven't experienced the iron fist of emerging forces, and still think they are the industry leaders of the past, manipulating public opinion.

Seeking cooperation with them at this time would undoubtedly be like offering a warm welcome only to be met with a cold shoulder.

It would be better to wait until these guys are smashed to pieces and beaten senseless before rescuing a couple of useful down-on-their-luck individuals.

"Don't worry, time is on our side."

As Loren thought this, his mood calmed down.

After several teleportation attempts, he finally arrived at the Magic Academy in Emerald Leaf City.

As a regional comprehensive university with a primary student body from the local area, Emerald Leaf Magic Academy ranks in the middle among many cities in the Federation. The program lasts five to ten years, with a basic graduation standard of second-tier mage.

When Loren arrived at the door, a young man was standing there, looking around as if searching for something.

Upon seeing this, Loren stepped forward to strike up a conversation.

"Is a 'magician' the same as a 'master'?"

"You just can't learn?"

The man frowned when he saw that the newcomer was a young man with red hair and a round face.

This guy doesn't look like someone who studies properly. Is he really not using his student ID to pick up girls at the library?
"it's me."

Loren nodded.

"Here you go. I won't be here for the next few days. If you need it again the next day, just send me a message. When you're done, just leave it on a table or chair in the library, and I'll pick it up from the lost and found."

"Remember to take a picture for me before you leave. If the lost and found office doesn't have it and they find out from the security footage that you took it, we'll take legal action."

"no problem."

Loren remained unfazed by the man's suspicion and caution.

After taking the student ID from the other person, he took out a hat from his storage bag, skillfully put it on his head to cover his eye-catching red hair, and then swiped his card to enter the campus.

"It's been a long time..."

Looking at the flow of people coming and going in the school, at their youthful and inexperienced faces, even though it wasn't the first time he had seen them, Loren still felt a little dazed.

Back when he was in Linyue City, he had helped many students like him with their general courses.

Loren thought that if he weren't a red dragon, he might have spent his twenties in school like them, living a similar life to these young people of the same age.

Of course, the prerequisite is that you have family wealth or talent.

The family wealth and talent are sufficient to apply for and pay for the Dharma Master's student loan.

Some busybodies have calculated that for an average mage apprentice with average talent and aptitude to reach the second tier of a formal mage, the assets required would be between one million and two million.

The most expensive common items were the continuous supply of dragon's blood and imitation dragon's blood medicines.

Dragons are naturally high-magic creatures. The vast majority of dragon blood preparations on the market come from various dragon descendants, wyverns, and dragon beasts, with only a very small portion coming from true dragons.

The exact amount of true dragon blood contained in those dragon blood preparations derived from true dragons remains a mystery.

Whether dragon blood is truly effective within the body or merely a gimmick has been a subject of debate.

After all, under the previous federal species protection laws, apart from the black market, the most common way for people to obtain the blood of a true dragon was to find an adult dragon, pay a certain price, and receive an academic donation from him.

This is also the overt source of the "blood of the dragon" in most biopharmaceutical companies.

Even with the most advanced technology, the total amount of medicine that can be produced from these openly sourced dragon blood is still limited, and this amount can be estimated.

If you consume too much, you'll be targeted by dragons, and these dragons are usually not the five-colored dragons, but the metal dragons.

And once they're targeted... those biotech companies will be severely punished, if not ruined.

Compared to the agile and evil five-colored dragons, the metal dragons are much more principled in some ways.

However, after the species protection law is repealed, these previously substantial academic donations will transform into normal commercial transactions...

As for the black market, these places will most likely be crushed and killed by legitimate large companies...

"I wonder if there are any rich people dead here. Who knows, maybe one of the dragon bloods I sold will be made into medicine and end up in the mouth of some rich kid here?"

Loren thought to himself with amusement.

Without this ecosystem paved with blood, the Federation's magic industry might not have developed so quickly and rapidly.

The vast majority of mage apprentices possess only a few tricks and a level one spell; without any extraordinary encounters, they remain level one mage apprentices until death.

However, the large-scale sale of dragon blood preparations improved their innate talent, and the Federation's structural optimization project for spell models reduced the difficulty of learning spells.

Over time, this accumulation of resources means that if you have the talent to become a mage apprentice, you are only one to two million copper coins away from becoming a second-tier mage.

Of course, with the advancement of technology, this blood-soaked ecosystem is actually nearing its end.

The cost of dragon blood substitutes for elves is getting lower and lower, and is now approaching the price of dragon blood from some sub-dragon species.

In the future, the entry threshold for becoming a mage may be lower, and the upper limit may be higher, but the cost may also be higher.

However, if you have enough talent, you can save up a thousand or so yuan to buy a high-level mage's online course, then showcase your talent and become their disciple. Of course, you might also become an academic slave...

After thinking it over carefully, Loren felt that his current life was better.

Without the Red Dragon's talent and legacy, I would never have achieved my current strength and access to resources at my current age.

"What I currently possess is perhaps the best I can obtain."

Loren thought to himself. He banished those inappropriate thoughts from his mind and headed straight for the school's mage library.

After swiping his card, Loren entered the library.

The interior structure of the library is not much different from the university library in my previous life. If I had to point out a difference, it would probably be that the decoration style here is closer to the wood elf style, with more green plants and vines as decorations for the environment.

The number of students in the library is generally low, which is normal. Most common spells are recorded in the spell archive, and the majority of the books here document the principles behind spells.

And these are precisely the things that Loren lacks most.

After finding a seat, Loren took out the three-piece substitute teaching kit he had prepared when he used to substitute teach for others from his storage bag.

A water cup, a notebook, and an ordinary writing pen.

Then, he went to the relevant theory section and found several theory books that were highly recommended on the Mage Kingdom forum, which he brought back to read.

Loren watched quickly and became quite engrossed.

As the recommender said, these books are quite insightful yet easy to understand, which greatly helps him compensate for the non-academic nature of his Echoes papers.

At the same time, its writing style is closer to the military-grade spell papers that Loren will write later, which explain the principles rather than the models.

Loren was so engrossed in the sea of ​​knowledge that he didn't notice a group of people gathering around him.

"What do you think of him?"

In a private group chat, a group of people began to discuss Loren.

"The frequency with which he flips through the book, the focused look in his eyes—if he's not faking it, the medicine he's using must cost at least several thousand. It's not exam week yet, so there's no need for him to suddenly improve. He's definitely a rich young master."

"Our exam week is just his daily routine."

"His clothes had no brand names, but they were very exquisite, with no loose threads or wires. They might have been custom-made."

So you can fish there?

"It's hard to say. None of us have ever met him. If he were really rich, someone should have been in contact with him."

"Could it be that he transferred schools specifically because of that incident? No way!"

"That matter? What matter?"

"I heard that our school's dean and the director of that zoo that's been all over the news lately are best friends. They did some big things together in a northern city."

"The two of them each exchanged for a special item. The arena where the red dragon resides is what he got; it's a relic of a giant from hundreds of years ago!"

"What?! Is that even possible?"

"So what did our dean change to?"

"I heard that the agreement has been changed, an agreement regarding the number of Dragon Vein Warlocks."

"Dragon Vein Sorcerer? What dragon?"

"Since they said it's in the north, it must be the White Dragon!"

"White Dragon, White Dragon is fine too! Frost Dragon City is one of the top 100 cities in the Federation. Becoming a Dragon Vein Sorcerer and living in Frost Dragon City would definitely be better than making a living in Emerald Leaf City!"

"Who says it isn't?"

"Do you think this young master might know something inside?"

"Maybe so. Does anyone want to try to get something out of him?"

"Then let me do it."

"Excuse me, can we study together?"

Loren's immersive study was interrupted. He frowned, looked up and glanced at the woman. She was dressed simply and cleanly, with a bright and elegant appearance and a delicate face. She seemed a little shy as she lowered her head in the face of Loren's gaze.

No, you're too weak...

Loren thought to himself, as a red dragon capable of casting spells with charm, Loren had no doubts about the other party's motives.

After all, that's what we dragons are like.

Just by existing there, it attracts both the opposite sex and even the same sex, just like a flower attracts a bee.

But even if you get close, if you really have any improper thoughts about us, that would be going too far.

What makes you think you have the status and talent to approach us?

Our mage level is high enough for you to graduate, okay?

"inconvenient."

Loren looked away and continued flipping through the book, because he couldn't stay here for long; he had to go to work tomorrow.

So Loren wasn't going to mince words anymore.

"The gap is too big; there's nothing for you and me to discuss."

The girl was clearly not expected to receive such a blunt rejection, and her cheeks flushed instantly.

The "advisory team" not far behind her was spamming the group chat:
"He's so arrogant!"

"He's definitely not someone our school could produce; he's most likely a transfer student!"

"This kind of behavior that completely disregards the feelings of others... might really be for the Dragon Vein Sorcerer's spot!"

The chat in the group became even more lively, and when Loren saw that the other party still hadn't left, he took out his third-tier mage certificate.

"If you really want to talk to me, you can attend my classes later."

Loren's expression and tone changed, and he adopted the imposing manner he used to have when he was a magic tutor.

Lies! We Five-Colored Evil Dragons are professionals at lying!
Upon seeing this, the girl opposite hurriedly began to apologize, while Loren waved his hand slightly and pointed to the side, indicating that she should look at the nearby signs.

The words "No Loudness" in black lettering on a white background made the girl blush with embarrassment. She ran away as fast as she could, and as she left, the people nearby also disappeared one after another.

"Little brat, trying to play these games with me..."

Loren paid no attention to the missing people and continued studying the principles in his book.

He loves learning so much; learning can generate money and, more importantly, it makes him happy.

In the distance, the girl who had run away gathered together with the others, and they began to ponder the legitimacy of Loren's new teacher status.

As a group of mage apprentices, their memories are at least not bad.

After repeatedly checking the school's official website, they became even more certain that their school had not received any new teachers recently!

This guy is fake! He's a forgery!

"So, should we expose him?"

"Are you crazy? He dares to impersonate a teacher in our school and continue to brazenly read books. Do you really think his third-tier mage certificate is fake?"

"They might just be trying to get rid of us..."

"Who knows, he might be someone from the north, here to test his skills to become a Dragon Vein Sorcerer..."

Amidst the lively discussion among the group, Loren seemed to have become some unspeakable, special figure who had simply stumbled upon this place.

Little did they know, the new meme they were using right now—a parody of Little Red Dragon's expressions—came from the seemingly unfathomable red-haired big shot right in front of them…

(End of this chapter)