I started by submitting to the Douluo Continent, and the nation helped me become a god.

Li Fulan's elixir business was booming.

How popular was he? So popular that every morning, as soon as he set up his stall, all twelve pills would be sold out in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. So popular that noble students even started queuing overnight outside his dormitory to buy the medicine. So popular that even the merchant guild from the neighboring Tian Dou City sent people to inquire about him, wanting to discuss an "exclusive agency" deal.

In just half a month, Li Fulan transformed from an unknown teaching assistant into the most sought-after and popular figure at Notting College.

When walking on the street, people who know him or not greet him.

"Hello, Teacher Li!"

"Good morning, Brother Li! Do you have any stock today?"

"Mr. Li, could you save one for me? I'll pay extra!"

Li Fulan accepted all the compliments with a smile, feeling incredibly pleased with herself.

But what truly elevated his status was the change in attitude of the old foxes at the academy.

Flander, the dean of Notting Academy, was notoriously stingy and mercenary. The old man was usually incredibly frugal, even skimping on the oil in the teachers' canteen. But ever since he learned that Li Fulan's pills could sell for ten gold soul coins each, his attitude changed completely.

First, they sent someone to "offer condolences" and brought a basket of fruit.

Then he personally visited the college to discuss the "grand blueprint for the college's development."

Finally, a transfer order came down, and Li Fulan was promoted to the academy's "Special Teaching Assistant" in a special way, specifically responsible for teaching a newly opened elective course - "Soul Power Basics and Resource Application".

To put it bluntly, it means letting him sell medicine under the academy's name, with the academy taking a 30% cut.

Li Fulan was fully aware of this, but he couldn't be bothered to expose it. With the academy's backing, his business would only thrive. A win-win situation, why not?

Thus, the title "Teacher Li" was officially confirmed.

Today was his third time attending class.

Although it's advertised as an elective course, its popularity is astonishing.

The spacious lecture hall was packed, with people even crowding the aisles. Some sat on the steps, some leaned against the walls, and a few of the bolder ones even climbed onto the windowsills just to get a better look at Teacher Li on the podium.

The air was filled with a mixture of the smells of ink, sweat, and that unique, heart-pounding medicinal fragrance. The fragrance emanated from Li Fulan; it was faint, yet it made one's heart itch.

Li Fulan dressed up specially today.

He wore a well-tailored dark green robe with gold thread embroidered on the cuffs, a jade belt around his waist, and his hair was neatly combed. He looked both refined and noble.

He stood on the podium, holding a pointer in his hand, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, a faint smile on his lips.

"Students, quiet down."

His voice wasn't loud, but it had a strange penetrating power.

The noisy classroom fell silent instantly, and hundreds of eyes stared at him, their gazes filled with fervent adoration.

This feeling is fucking awesome.

Li Fulan felt a surge of satisfaction in her heart, but remained outwardly composed.

"I know that many of you here have heard this outdated argument before."

He strolled leisurely, his leather shoes clicking rhythmically on the wooden floor. His gaze swept over the few aristocratic students in the front row, their notebooks filled with his "drug-related experiences" that he had previously shared.

"They say soul power cultivation requires a gradual approach, relies on one's own efforts, and involves comprehending the natural world... Ha."

He let out a soft laugh, a laugh that carried three parts mockery and seven parts disdain.

"Levels 0 to 10 represent the first stage of a Soul Master's cultivation. It's like laying the foundation for a house; if the foundation isn't solid, how can you build a tall building? How can you break through to become a Title Douluo?"

He turned around abruptly, slamming his pointer heavily on the blackboard with a sharp crack.

"Yet some people, at this most crucial stage, are superstitious about 'natural body tempering' and refuse any external assistance. What is this?"

He looked around, his voice suddenly rising.

"This is foolish! This is a waste of talent! This is irresponsible towards life!"

A chorus of agreement immediately erupted from the audience.

"Teacher Li is right!"

"Exactly! Only a fool wouldn't use resources!"

"After taking Teacher Li's 'Strengthening Bone Pills,' my backache and leg pain are gone, and I can climb five flights of stairs without any effort!"

"I bought three Spirit Gathering Pills last time, and my soul power increased by two levels immediately! My dad was stunned!"

Li Fulan nodded in satisfaction, enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.

His gaze swept casually over the excited faces, finally piercing through the crowd and landing precisely on the corner of the last row of the classroom.

There sat a figure that seemed out of place in his surroundings.

Tang San.

He was wearing his faded school uniform, his back ramrod straight, like a javelin. He was looking down, seemingly engrossed in a book, oblivious to the noise around him.

Li Fulan squinted and looked closely, discovering it was a tattered book about plant illustrations, with the cover curled up at the edges.

The young man looked worse than he had two weeks ago; his eyes were dark and his cheekbones were protruding. He had lost a lot of weight and exuded an aloof and unapproachable aura.

Among the students in the room, all with rosy cheeks and overflowing spiritual energy, he stood out like a malnourished weed.

Li Fulan's lips curled up slightly.

The opportunity is here.

"Tang San, classmate."

His voice suddenly rose, tinged with amusement.

The noise in the classroom came to an abrupt halt, and everyone's eyes followed the sound, landing on the thin figure in the corner.

Tang San's body stiffened for a moment.

He slowly closed the book in his hand and stood up. When he raised his head, his dark eyes held a deep wariness and a hint of barely perceptible disgust.

"Teacher Li, what advice do you have for me?"

His voice was calm, but the knuckles of his fingers gripping the book were slightly white.

"I wouldn't call it giving advice."

Li Fulan looked at him with a smile, a smile like a cat seeing a mouse.

"I'm just very curious. Since my herbal medicine shop opened, almost every teacher and student in the school has patronized it. Even Grandpa Wang, who guards the gate, bought two 'Rejuvenation Pills' to soak in alcohol, saying they're incredibly effective."

He paused, then changed the subject.

"You, Tang San, seem to have never stepped into my shop? Why is that? Is it because my pills aren't good enough? Or is it...?"

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, his smile widening.

"You simply can't afford it?"

As soon as he said that, all the students' eyes were immediately focused on Tang San.

The gazes were varied: some mocking, some pitying, and some watching with amusement. Several work-study students who had grudges against Tang San made no attempt to hide their sneers.

Tang San's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

He took a deep breath, clenched his fists at his sides slightly, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

"Teacher Li, I believe that a Soul Master's cultivation should be grounded in reality."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear, uttering each word distinctly.

"Every medicine has its side effects. Over-reliance on external aids can lead to an unstable foundation, creating potential problems when advancing in the future. I have more faith in my own hard work and effort."

He spoke these words with conviction, clearly having given them considerable thought.

This is the guiding principle of the Xuan Tian Bao Lu, and also the creed he has upheld throughout his two lifetimes. In his view, the soul power generated by elixirs is like a sandcastle on the beach—it looks beautiful, but it collapses with a single wave.

However, he was met with a sneer from Li Fulan.

"Down-to-earth? Sweat?"

Li Fulan shook her head, a regretful expression on her face saying, "This child is hopeless."

He turned to face the whole class and spread his hands.

"Listen to this, everyone. This is typical stubborn thinking. In this day and age, with the rapid advancements in soul-guided technology and alchemy, there are still people clinging to these primitive ideas."

He turned his head, his gaze returning to Tang San.

"Tang San, I'll ask you one more time. How long has it been since you last took a pill? Or rather...?"

He paused deliberately, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Do you really not want to eat it, or can't you afford it at all?"

This rhetorical question is extremely malicious.

A murmur arose in the classroom, the whispers like countless tiny needles pricking Tang San's back.

Tang San's face instantly turned bright red.

The shame of being exposed in public made him feel suffocated, as if something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't say a word.

He really couldn't afford it.

The part-time worker's meager salary was barely enough to eat, and he had to be very careful with his spending. All his savings were used to buy scrap metal to forge hidden weapons; where would he find the spare money to buy any elixirs?

But how could he possibly admit to something like that in public?

"I don't take medicine because..."

Tang San gritted his teeth, trying to explain, his voice trembling slightly.

"It's because I believe in my own potential!"

"Potential? What a wonderful potential."

Li Fulan interrupted him, the pointer drawing a graceful arc in the air.

"Since Tang San is so confident in potential, let's conduct a direct comparative experiment. Let the facts speak for themselves and see whether your 'natural body tempering' is more powerful, or my 'scientific drug use' is superior."

After he finished speaking, he waved to the first row.

"Zhang Wei, come up here."

"Okay, Teacher Li!"

With a strong and resonant reply, a figure jumped up from his seat.

It was Zhang Wei, the son of that wealthy businessman.

The kid darted up to the podium in a few quick steps, as fast as a rabbit.

Zhang Wei at this moment was completely different from the man he was just half a month ago.

His school uniform was clearly a size too small, clinging tightly to his body and revealing the outline of his bulging muscles. Those muscles were so defined, like several steamed buns stuffed inside, it was quite frightening to look at. His skin had an eerie bronze color, glistening with oil, and his whole body resembled an inflated balloon, exuding an explosive sense of power.

But what's most striking about him is his head.

Perhaps because he had been taking Li Fulan's "Special Spirit Gathering Pill," "Strengthening Bone Pill," and "Brain Gold Soul Power Liquid" like food for the past two weeks, the excess nutrients and medicinal power had accumulated wildly in his body with nowhere to be released. As a result, a sharp protrusion had strangely appeared in the center of his head—the crown of his head.

The protrusion was very obvious, and the top even reflected the light, like a small pyramid on one's head, or the tip of a freshly steamed peach, or even...

Forget it, I can't think about it anymore. The more I think about it, the more creepy it becomes.

Zhang Wei was completely unconcerned about the "ornament" on his head; in fact, he was quite proud of it. When he bragged to others, he often said that it was a sign of "the opening of the crown chakra," a precursor to a breakthrough in his cultivation level.

At this moment, he strode up to the podium, bowed deeply to Li Fulan, and his posture was as respectful as if he were worshipping his ancestor.

"Teacher Li, what are your instructions?"

"Let Tang San see what the power of elixirs really is."

Li Fulan stepped aside, crossed her arms, and adopted a spectator's stance.

"Stop it, don't hurt them."

"Don't worry, Teacher Li, I'll only use 30% of my strength!"

Zhang Wei sneered, turned around, and looked at Tang San with contempt. He clenched his fist, making a crackling sound like firecrackers.

"Tang San, today I'll show you what money... no, what the power of elixirs really is!"

boom!

Zhang Wei stomped his foot, causing the podium to tremble and nearly crack several wooden planks.

A layer of pale yellow soul power emanated from his body. Although the soul power was somewhat impure, like river water mixed with impurities, its weight and magnitude had actually reached level ten, and he had successfully hunted a ring!

Keep in mind that just half a month ago, he had only just broken through to level seven.

This speed of promotion is simply astonishing.

A collective gasp filled the classroom.

"Wow, Zhang Wei's soul power fluctuations are too strong!"

"Gained almost three levels in half a month? That's unbelievable!"

"Is this what happens when you take drugs? I want to buy some! I want to be like that too!"

Hearing the gasps of amazement around him, Zhang Wei's smugness deepened. He approached Tang San step by step, the oppressive aura making the surrounding air feel heavy.

"Tang San, kneel down now and beg Teacher Li to sell you one pill; it might still be in time."

He looked down at Tang San, his nostrils practically pointing to the sky.

"Otherwise, don't come crying to your parents when you get beaten to a pulp!"

Faced with Zhang Wei's provocation, Tang San did not show any fear or anger as everyone expected.

He simply stood there quietly, his gaze not falling on Zhang Wei's exaggerated muscles, nor paying attention to his mixed soul power.

His gaze, like a precise scalpel, was fixed firmly on Zhang Wei's head.

That sharp, reflective protrusion.

"Zhang Wei."

Tang San suddenly spoke, his voice strangely calm.

Zhang Wei paused, "What? Trying to beg for mercy?"

Tang San raised his hand, pointed at Zhang Wei's head, and showed a sincere, academically inquisitive look of confusion on his face.

"I have a question."

"Before you take action, could you please tell me...?"

Tang San paused, his lips twitching slightly, as if he was trying his best to suppress a smile.

Why is your head so pointy?