Chapter 52: Spirit Crystals and Doubt

  Transtor: Krukist

  Sure, a basic First-Grade Spirit Feast fetched a few hundred Spirit Stones, but Lin Yu’s dish boosted Third-Grade cultivators—beyond some Sed-Grade feasts. Plus, his status had shifted.

  Shuitian sidered a nudge, but recalling Lin Yu’s scheming, he skipped it. “I know Ziyan os your food, but this month’s critical. She’s lived off potions for years, and I’ll be with her—so stow your money-grubbing and focus on p up.”

  He snorted. “You’re so sure you’ll crush He Wu in a month, but if you lose, my wrath’ll bury you.”

  Lin Yu grinned cheekily. “With your resources and Han Ya’s help on teiques and bat, a puny He Wu? Piece of cake.”

  He waved dismissively, swagger dripping. “No sweat! No sweat!”

  Yet beh the bravado, his eyes glinted with caution. fiden beating He Wu? Real. Coess? A mask.

  Lin Ling’er knew him best. His ret quirks aside, she caught the unease in his gaze, stepping close to whisper, “Brother…”

  Before she finished, Lin Yu cut in, ughing, “No worries—I’ll win. I’m way better than you.”

  Her tension didn’t ease—tears welled instead. F a smile, she said, “I believe you.”

  Han Ya watched it unfold.

  Later, in the carriage, Han Ya asked gently, “Ling’er, your brot guts—why so sad?”

  Lin Ling’er’s dam broke—tears streamed as Han Ya soothed her. Sniffling, she said, “If he were truly fident, he wouldn’t say that. He’s not fooling us—he’s fooling himself.”

  Han Ya froze, then gaped. *Deceive himself into believing—and that’s fidence?*

  Lin Ling’er wiped her nose, voice thick. “His body shook—he hid it, but I saw. Master, today’s been too much. If I were him, I’d crack.”

  Han Ya nodded. From m’s ary csh with Situ g, to sparring wits with titans, to taunting He Wu while plotting gains—Lin Yu held steady. “He kept his head through all that?” she marveled aloud.

  The e, Mama Liu, chimed in, eyes sharp. “I saw it all. Lin Yu’s got rare poise. If he’s truly a Spirit-Devourer, his talent’s top-tier—bound to cim a spot in the kingdom’s future.”

  Pausing, she mused, “He reminds me of young Shuitian—pity didn’t choht back then. Wonder about this kid…”

  Han Ya smiled faintly. “With Puye paving his way, he’ll walk smoother. Who knows what’s ahead?”

  She hugged Lin Ling’er close. “Don’t fret—I’ll keep your brother safe.”

  At the manor, she called Shuitian “Master ”; here, “ Puye”—a nod to the Academy’s other Puye lurking in the shadows.

  Mama Liu sighed at the thiing night. *Peace for a few years, and now it stirs again.*

  In Shuitian’s quarters, Lin Yu rose, heading for his assigned room. The day—too much. A Body Fer now, his flesh held, but his mind sagged.

  Shuitian tossed him a small pouch. “Your seven-day stash with Han Ya’s crew.”

  “This month, I’ll give you four drops. To curb reckless use and root damage, this batch is three vials of physique-boosting elixir and five First-Grade spirit beast crystals.”

  Lin Yu’s eyes lit up. Spirit crystals—rare beast drops, brimming with wild, votile energy—were for refining elixirs, not raw use. Even mighty Mystic Martialists risked ruin abs them directly.

  But for him, they’d juice his mental puter. Certain they’d work, he hesitated, asking, “ I absorb the essen these crystals?”

  Shuitian fixed him with a steady look. “That’s on you.”

  Lin Yu blihrown. Shuitian still doubted he irit-Devourer. Why trust a random pick for Vice Head with such genius? Too rational—he wasn’t sold.

  Lin Yu stared, dazed. He’d have to test it today. Taking a deep breath, he wondered—could a real Spirit-Devourer handle crystals? What did the texts say?

  Should he charge them up?

  Head up or down, it’s still a bde.

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