Although Lin Jin's expression wasn't exactly pleasant, Peng Ming couldn't help but ask.
"Dean Lin, about this matter…"
Lin Jin turned to him with a smile that looked more like a sneer.
"Wasn't the Viscount in such a rush just now? Why the hesitation now?"
Peng Ming stared at him, speechless.
Why is this guy so petty? He had only questioned him once—would he hold a grudge forever?
His eyes shifted, a flash of cunning passing through them.
Without missing a beat, he continued, "It was indeed abrupt of me. Looking at it now, perhaps Fan'er continuing his cultivation here at your academy is the best option."
"To show my gratitude and support for the institution, I've decided to make a donation—completely free of charge."
As he spoke, Peng Ming extended his pudgy right hand and spread his fingers wide.
"Half a million?"
"..."
Peng Ming stared at Lin Jin as if he were looking at an idiot. Half a million? You wish.
"Fifty thousand. Fifty thousand gold Spirit coins."
He practically choked on the words, face full of pain. Even with his wealth, a donation of that size was enough to make him feel the sting for months to come.
"Fifty thousand…" Lin Jin repeated softly, sipping his tea, maintaining a mask of indifference—even disdain.
But inside, he was reeling. What a haul!
Peng Ming, no fool, could see the excitement flicker behind Lin Jin's eyes.
He gave a small chuckle and shook his head, then glanced over at the still-confused Peng Fan.
He sighed inwardly. He probably doesn't even realize how abnormal his cultivation speed is.
As the thought passed, Peng Ming's expression turned serious again. He locked eyes with Lin Jin.
"Dean Lin, let's not play games."
"We both know Fan'er's cultivation speed is unnatural. It's far beyond what his talent should allow. I won't ask how you're doing it—I want to know: are there any side effects?"
Lin Jin's face remained unreadable. He tilted his head slightly, confusion painted across his features.
"What have I done?" he said innocently.
"It's all due to his effort, isn't it?"
Peng Ming searched his expression for any clue, any hint of a crack in the mask—but found nothing but feigned ignorance.
'Yeah right', he cursed inwardly.
'This guy is sly as a fox.'
Still, he looked over at Peng Fan and sighed again.
Whatever method Lin Jin was using, it was his son who benefited.
"Do you have any more questions, Viscount?" Lin Jin asked with a pleasant smile. His tone had shifted entirely—gone was the cold edge from earlier, replaced with the warmth of spring.
Hmph. So fifty thousand gold Spirit coins do make a difference, Peng Ming thought bitterly, his heart aching at the thought.
He shot Peng Fan a glare.
"I won't keep you any longer, Dean Lin. But I have a few things to discuss with Fan'er, so I'll be taking him with me."
"Feel free," Lin Jin replied smoothly.
Peng Fan, who had been enjoying the back-and-forth like a spectator at a play, suddenly stiffened.
He looked up to see his father's smile—and gulped.
"Dad… why are you holding onto this like a grudge? Is it not over yet?"
He quickly turned to Lin Jin, his eyes pleading, and said in a trembling voice, "Dean…"
But Lin Jin lowered his head, eyes fixed on the documents on his desk, pretending not to see anything.
Peng Ming, without a word, grabbed Peng Fan by the collar and dragged him toward the door.
"Dean! Dean! Help!"
Bang!
The office door slammed shut.
Only then did Lin Jin lift his head and let out a quiet sigh.
It's not that I didn't want to save you… But hey, it's a family matter.
I can't exactly interfere.
Besides, when are those fifty thousand gold spirit coins supposed to arrive?
Oh, right—the system had just handed out some solid rewards too.
"Triple Cultivation Acceleration Pack. It's like asking for sleep and having someone hand you a pillow."
Lin Jin raised his eyebrows with a smile. With that pack, breaking through to Spirit King within half a year shouldn't be an issue.
And that was only the least valuable of the rewards.
Among the other two, one was:
"Self Improvement Aura+5%"
A passive bonus is applied to every student and teacher in the entire academy. Once the Academy grew in numbers, that 5% boost in cultivation speed would become incredibly powerful.
As for the final reward…
"…Hmm."
Lin Jin's gaze fell to the small bottle on his desk, his expression turning thoughtful.
It was a bottle of Primary Qualification Transformation Liquid, something he'd just taken out—but the packaging…
It wasn't exactly strange.
It was more… familiar.
Or maybe ridiculously familiar.
"Wait, they made it Coke-flavored?"
Lin Jin sighed and picked up the bottle, giving it a little shake. Bubbles fizzed up inside.
[Item Name: Primary Qualification Transformation Liquid (Coke Flavor), Rarity: SR, Effect: Increases innate Spirit power, Usage Restriction: For individuals with innate Spirit power below level 3. After use, Spirit power is raised to level 3. Ineffective for those already at level 3 or above.]
Although Lin Jin hadn't tasted Coke in a while, this bottle of enhancement liquid was tempting in more ways than one.
Still, as attractive as it was, the effect was too valuable to waste. He had to resist the urge.
"A good item. An excellent item."
He carefully stored it away in his Spirit guide.
With this, he could solve a major problem.
Take Peng Fan and the others, for example.
Even if their cultivation speeds had been boosted by various means, their fundamental qualifications hadn't changed.
Innate Spirit power didn't just affect cultivation speed—it also determined long-term potential and achievements.
Look at the Grandmaster, for instance. His Spirit power had been stuck at level 29 for years, unable to break through to level 30.
The reason? His innate Spirit power was too low.
A treasure like this needed to be used wisely. Good steel should be used where it matters most.
There were several students in the academy who might benefit from it, but if he had to choose, he'd only consider Peng Fan and Pang Hu.
Pang Hu had an innate Spirit power of two, which was neither high nor particularly effective in its use.
In terms of value, only Peng Fan was truly worth it.
"Tsk. What a lucky kid."
Lin Jin shook his head with a half-smile.
"A good family background, a stroke of good fortune, and now a Dean like me looking out for him. Where else in the world would you find blessings piled that high?"