At this moment, everyone had the urge to punch him.
Instructor Niu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He gritted his teeth and said, "We're letting you off without making you pay for damages, and you want a refund?"
"Pay for damages?" Feng Hao was stunned, growing more confused. "Pay for what? Did I break the simulator? But everything seemed normal when I was using it."
"Normal, my ass!" Instructor Niu roared. "Do you have any idea how much of the energy reserve you used up?"
"Energy reserve? What's that?" Feng Hao was still completely lost.
Yue Linglong, who was standing nearby, finally couldn't watch anymore. She stepped forward and explained, "The energy reserve is the simulator's supply of magic power. You killed so many monsters inside that the reserves were severely depleted—equivalent to a year and a half of normal use."
"…"
Feng Hao finally understood. He gave the simulator a strange look. 'God as my witness, I really had no idea the machine worked like that,' he thought. 'If I'd known, I would've stayed inside longer.'
Yue Linglong continued, "How on earth did you manage it?"
"What's so hard about it? You just have to prepare enough Qi Recovery Pills," Feng Hao said with a dismissive pout.
Hearing this, the expressions on everyone's faces grew even stranger.
Zhao Hao's face twitched. "Twenty days... where did you get that many Qi Recovery Pills?"
Feng Hao shot him a disdainful glance. "Tch. Pills are the one thing I'm not short on."
Zhao Hao's face darkened. He then remembered Feng Hao's background. With that Alchemist from the Miao Medicine Tower backing him, a luxury like using massive quantities of pills to hone a Secret Technique was indeed no problem at all.
"All that effort just to hone the Dark Force Basic Secret Technique?" Yue Linglong couldn't help but ask.
"Ever heard of 'rich and willful'?" Feng Hao retorted with a pout.
Yue Linglong watched him with a profound gaze, seemingly lost in thought.
The whole story was out now. Although the academy had suffered a huge loss, there were no rules against using pills as an aid. Therefore, Zhao Hao had no grounds to demand compensation. "In any case, from this day forward, Feng Hao is banned from using the simulator!"
"On what grounds?" Feng Hao's expression changed as he protested.
"On the grounds that I'm the dean, and what I say goes here," Zhao Hao said resentfully.
Feng Hao was speechless for a moment. Annoyed, he said, "Fine, don't let me use it. Then refund me the Magic Crystals for the remaining ten days."
"No refunds," Zhao Hao snorted.
"..." Internally, Feng Hao was cursing up a storm, but he knew he had to bow to authority. Besides, he'd profited handsomely from this, so being difficult would be pushing it. "Alright, how about this? I'll transfer the access for the remaining ten days to the students of Class One."
Yue Linglong's eyes lit up, and she quickly chimed in, "Dean, I think that's a viable solution."
Everyone present was left speechless, especially Hu Mingshan and the other teachers, who mentally cursed Yue Linglong for her shamelessness.
The corner of Zhao Hao's mouth twitched violently, his whole face on the verge of cramping up. But Yue Linglong was an intern teacher sent from a superior academy, so he had to give her face. "Fine! The access for the remaining ten days will be given to the students of Class One. Everyone, dismiss!"
And just like that, the crowd dispersed with a clamor, and the whole incident came to a close.
After most people had left, Feng Hao chuckled and looked at Yue Linglong. "Teacher Yue, seeing as how things are, how about we just forget about this month's class fees?"
"The class fees are a separate matter!" Yue Linglong smiled, pressing her lips together, and left without giving Feng Hao a chance to argue.
Feng Hao felt lines of frustration form on his forehead. 'I knew that woman wouldn't speak up for me for no reason,' he thought with a wry smile, his gaze falling upon Xi Yueyao, who was standing to the side.
Xi Yueyao's little face was set in a stern expression. She hadn't said a word from beginning to end, looking for all the world like a pouting, angry child.
"Class Leader Yaoyao, are you here to welcome me back?" Feng Hao asked teasingly.
"Hmph!" Xi Yueyao snorted softly and turned her head away.
Feng Hao knew how to handle this girl. He ignored her and turned to Miao Feng instead. "Xiaomiaozi, has everything been okay at the shop lately?"
"Nope." Miao Feng shook his head, his eyes filled with excitement and admiration. "Senior Brother, you've really made a name for yourself this time!"
"What's the use of being famous? Now I can't even use the simulator anymore," Feng Hao grumbled, then changed the subject. "By the way, are there any other cool pieces of equipment in the academy?"
"There are! The equipment room for the Enhanced Cultivation Pods is right next door. They can speed up the absorption of Magic Crystals," Miao Feng replied honestly.
Feng Hao's eyes lit up. "They have something that good? Let's go check it out, quick!"
Just as the two were about to leave, Xi Yueyao, who had been left hanging, could finally hold it in no longer. "You rotten Feng Hao, halt! That's an order from your class leader!"
"Oh? Does the class leader want to come with us?" Feng Hao asked with a mischievous grin.
"You're paying!" Xi Yueyao said resentfully.
"No problem."
...
After the Monster Simulator incident, Feng Hao's name spread throughout Rongcheng Academy, and he was given the title of "The Strongest Auditor in History."
Furthermore, the news that Feng Hao was sponsoring Class One with twenty thousand Magic Crystals a month had also somehow gotten out. This sparked a wave of envy, jealousy, and hatred from the other classes. A few homeroom teachers even started approaching Feng Hao, hoping to convince him to audit their classes instead—price negotiable.
Naturally, Feng Hao wouldn't agree. Was he the type of person to forsake his friends for profit?
In the Enhanced Cultivation Pod equipment room, Feng Hao had become a super VIP. Only he was willing to spend the money to monopolize a pod, and he would even invite Xi Yueyao and Miao Feng over to cultivate from time to time.
He had no choice. His genetic activity was too low, so this was money that had to be spent to speed up his cultivation!
Now, with the help of the cultivation pod, Feng Hao quickly broke through to level 16. After allocating and absorbing the [Gene Essence], his personal genetic data was enhanced once again:
Gene Level: 16
Qi Blood: 6900 (2100)
Vitality: 31 (15)
Magic Power: 160
Strength: 220 (108)
Dark Force: 832
Magic Damage: 112
Defense: 197 (21)
Gang Qi: 480
Speed: 489 (105)
Attack Speed: 213 (117)
Divine Sense: 192
Breath Concealment: 160
Divine Sense Strength: 32
Weakness Enhancement: 32
Looking at his Secret Technique skill, after twenty days of madly grinding its proficiency, the panel attributes for Dark Force Kill were already quite strong:
[Dark Force Kill]
Proficiency: 100
Magic Energy Cost: 15 points
Effect: Deals 200% Dark Force damage
Mark Recall: None
Channeling Time: None
"Now *this* is what being an Assassin is all about!" Feng Hao nodded in satisfaction as he looked at his attribute panel.
Originally, Feng Hao had wanted to max out the proficiency for Dark Force Kill, but after he reached 100 proficiency, he couldn't feel any further improvement no matter how much he grinded. That was why he left the simulator early.
However, he was certain from the [Secret Technique Mark] that the proficiency for Dark Force Kill wasn't actually maxed out. He just didn't know what the problem was.
'I'll go find Yao Girl.'
Muttering to himself, Feng Hao stepped out of the cultivation pod and headed straight for the academic building.
In a few days, it would be time for the academy's annual trial assessment. He planned to team up with Miao Feng and Xi Yueyao to make a big splash, get some good materials, and craft a decent set of equipment for himself.
In this world, materials from different demonic beasts had different properties. If you wanted equipment that suited you, you had to hunt the beasts yourself!
There was plenty of standard-issue equipment for sale on the market, but not only were the stats terrible, the prices were also sky-high. Thus, any Mage with a bit of strength would choose to gather their own materials and then find an Artifact Refiner to craft their gear.
Feng Hao now deeply regretted not learning Artifact Refining back when he played 'Mage.' Otherwise, it would have been another money-making skill, and he could have crafted his own equipment.
Back in the Class One classroom, his classmates were all very respectful to his face. What they said behind his back, however, was another story.
"You damn Feng Hao! Everyone's preparing for the assessment, so how can you be so calm?" Xi Yueyao pouted, her lips pursed in displeasure.
"But I'm here now, aren't I?" Feng Hao chuckled as he walked over. "Right, Yao Girl, it's about time you gave me that dagger, isn't it?"
"Hmph!" Xi Yueyao sniffed haughtily, then took out the other Dark Moon Dagger. "Here, you're in luck! This pair of daggers has a resonance attribute."
"Resonance attribute?" Feng Hao looked at Xi Yueyao in surprise.
[Demon Pattern Resonance] is an equipment enhancement technology derived from the special fluctuations of Demon Patterns. When equipment of the same material resonates, it can activate the deeper potential of the materials. The more pieces of equipment involved in the resonance, the stronger the resonance attribute becomes—similar to set bonuses in a game.
Feng Hao was overjoyed. He never expected the Dark Moon Daggers to be a set. After taking it, he hurriedly checked it with his game panel:
[Dark Moon Dagger] (Tier One)
Lethality: 25
Dark Force Amplification: 12
Sharpness: 18
Weight: 10
Resonance Attribute: Dark Force Amplification +8
"Tsk tsk, what a masterpiece!"
Feng Hao's eyes gleamed with excitement. With this resonance attribute, it was equivalent to each dagger having 20 points of Dark Force Amplification, which meant a 20% bonus to Dark Force damage. In a game, this would be a gold-tier epic item at the very least, right? And a set piece, at that.
"As long as you perform well during the assessment, I'll give it to you," Xi Yueyao said, tilting her little head up proudly.
"No problem! When the time comes, I'll fight wherever the class leader points!" Feng Hao agreed without hesitation.
Xi Yueyao hummed in satisfaction, then suddenly frowned. "I heard that Beixing Ran girl has hooked up with Zhou Chen. She was just acting all high and mighty with me. So? Can you beat Zhou Chen?"
"I'm not even afraid of your sister, so why would I be afraid of him?" Feng Hao said with a pout. 'Still,' he mused, 'that Beixing Ran, the girl who broke off our engagement, is pretty capable. She managed to snag a recognized genius like Zhou Chen without anyone noticing.'
"That's good." Xi Yueyao smiled happily, then added, "Oh, right. My sister is looking for you."
Feng Hao froze, asking warily, "I haven't done anything to provoke her recently, have I?"
"Don't worry, she's not looking for trouble!" Xi Yueyao laughed. "My sister wants to boost her strength before the assessment, so she was hoping to ask your master to refine some Tier Two Experience Pills."
Feng Hao breathed a sigh of relief. "Experience Pills are no problem. And for the class leader's sake, I won't charge her."
"Hmph, good that you know what's best!" Xi Yueyao grew even more pleased, smiling happily.
"Alright then, I'll head back to the Miao Medicine Tower first. You go find Miao Feng and discuss the assessment with him."
...
Without wasting any more words, Feng Hao took his leave and rushed back to the Miao Medicine Tower. After all, he had received a top-tier piece of equipment from her, so he had to put some effort into this small matter.
He quickly refined a batch of Tier Two Experience Pills. After a moment's thought, Feng Hao also refined some Tier Three and Four Experience Pills, figuring they might come in handy someday and it would save him the trouble later.
By the time he finished refining the pills, it was already getting late, so Feng Hao decided to spend the night at the shop.
However, late that night, the shop was broken into by a thief. Judging by the intruder's familiar movements, it was clear they had been here many times before.
'That bunch of idiots led by Wang Gui. Their own house is getting robbed and they haven't even noticed,' Feng Hao thought. He activated [Black Eyes] and crept forward cautiously, guessing it was someone sent by the Beixing Clan to steal Experience Pills.
The thief obviously knew the shop was guarded by ordinary people, so they didn't bother to hide their aura, even acting somewhat brazenly!
"Hm? Why is there a Mage here today?" the black-clad thief quickly noticed Feng Hao lurking nearby.
"…"
Feng Hao's heart tightened. To be discovered even with the double concealment effect of [Black Eyes], the opponent's strength was clearly much higher than his. 'Wait, why does that voice sound a little familiar?'