Leaving Marshal Zhao's office, Zhou Huai did not stop for even a moment.

He controlled Gandalf and headed straight to the Body Tempering Tower located at the Imperial Capital Academy.

This was the fastest way to raise his Level that Zhou Huai could think of right now.

Back then, it was precisely thanks to Professor Li's Body Tempering experiment that Gandalf's Level skyrocketed all the way from the thirties to Level 42 in a short period of time.

Now, he had to once again rely on Professor Li's help to quickly raise the Levels of his Avatars.

The higher the Level, the more abundant the skills that could be mastered, and his strength could also be upgraded by several tiers.

As long as Gandalf reached Level 50, he would be able to comprehend a brand-new, powerful skill.

At this moment, the Imperial Capital Academy was still as prosperous a scene as usual.

All kinds of young students shuttled back and forth through it. They were in groups of three or five, talking and laughing, their faces brimming with youth and vitality, filled with infinite expectations for the future.

Yet they did not know that a terrifying disaster covering the entire Great Xia Nation was getting closer and closer to them.

Zhou Huai had no time to sigh with emotion. Following the route in his memory, he soon arrived at the location of the Body Tempering Tower.

A solitary, silver-gray tall tower stood in the most remote corner of the academy, completely out of tune with the surrounding scenery.

"Dong, dong, dong."

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf and gently knocked on that thick metal heavy door.

After a moment, a voice that was slightly aged and carried a hint of impatience came from inside.

"Who is it? Don't you know I am conducting an important experiment?!"

Accompanied by a burst of clattering metal friction sounds, the door was pulled open a crack from the inside.

A head poked out from behind the door.

It was precisely Professor Li.

This old man was still in that sloppy appearance as before, with his iconic Mediterranean hairstyle, and his few remaining hairs stubbornly sticking up wildly.

He squinted his cloudy old eyes, displeasedly examining this unfamiliar student outside the door.

"You are... from which department? What do you want with me?"

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf, a warm smile appearing on his face.

"Professor Li, don't you recognize me so soon?"

Hearing this familiar voice, Professor Li was stunned for a moment, and then, as if remembering something, a terrifying sharp glint suddenly erupted from his cloudy eyes.

He abruptly pulled open the door and grabbed Gandalf's arm, the strength being shockingly large.

"Oh! Oh oh oh! I remember!"

"It's you! That pervert who can endure a Body Tempering intensity of Level 2.5 with a blank expression!"

Professor Li's face was full of wild joy and excitement, an expression just like a madman who had discovered a peerless treasure.

"Hahaha! You're finally back! You've come at just the right time!"

While speaking, he dragged Gandalf into the tower without any explanation, muttering incessantly in his mouth.

"I'm old, my memory isn't very good, and I always forget some things."

"But I could never forget you! The impression you brat left on me is simply too profound!"

"I've always wanted to find you, but the headmaster, that old fellow, told me you took an extended leave and haven't been at the school."

"You have no idea how disappointed I was!"

Gandalf was dragged by him to the point of staggering, a gentle smile still hanging on his face.

"Lately there really are some personal matters that need to be dealt with."

Professor Li enthusiastically welcomed Gandalf into his familiar laboratory.

Zhou Huai looked around. The environment was still similar to when he came last time; everywhere was piled with all kinds of bizarre instruments and scattered blueprints, and the air was permeated with a faint mixed scent of metal and potions.

"The timing of your arrival is simply destined by the heavens!"

Professor Li rubbed his hands, pacing back and forth in place with excitement.

"Just the day before yesterday! My experiment achieved a breakthrough!"

"I have successfully stabilized the intensity of the Body Tempering instrument at Level 3.0!"

He abruptly turned around and stared at Gandalf with glowing eyes, looking like he was gazing at a piece of perfect art.

"I was just lacking a perfect experimental subject! And you delivered yourself to my doorstep!"

Zhou Huai's heart stirred.

Level 3.0 intensity?

Back then, just an intensity of 2.5 made Gandalf's Level soar like a rocket.

Then wouldn't the effect of Level 3.0 intensity be even more terrifying?

This was precisely what he needed the most right now.

He controlled Gandalf, swept his gaze around the laboratory, and asked with feigned doubt.

"That's right, Professor Li. Where is that very pretty Professor Chen from last time?"

Hearing this question, the look of excitement on Professor Li's face restrained slightly.

"Professor Chen?"

He scratched his balding head.

"Oh, you mean Professor Chen Lanxin, right?"

"Her? She hasn't come for a while."

Professor Li's tone became somewhat casual.

"It is said that she has already resigned from her position at the Imperial Capital Academy and gone to the Freedom Federation for further studies."

The Freedom Federation?

"Going to the Freedom Federation for further studies?" Gandalf repeated.

"Yeah." Professor Li nodded, his tone carrying emotion.

"The Freedom Federation's development in the fields of life primeval force and Formation is ahead of our Great Xia Nation by decades."

"The Classer System there is also completely different from ours."

"How many top scholars and Geniuses break their heads wanting to go to the Freedom Federation."

He sighed and waved his hand.

"Since Professor Chen has this opportunity, the school naturally has no choice but to let her leave."

"Let's not talk about her anymore, just an outsider, not important."

Professor Li's attention quickly returned to the experiment. He became excited once more, dragging Gandalf and walking toward the Body Tempering instrument in the deepest part of the laboratory.

"Come, come, come! Don't waste time!"

"Quickly let me see what kind of brilliant sparks can collide between my Level 3.0 intensity Body Tempering instrument and your perverted body!"

Zhou Huai controlled Gandalf, his gaze falling upon that brand-new Body Tempering instrument in the center of the laboratory.

The entire instrument had indeed undergone drastic improvements.

The originally solitary glass container was now surrounded by several slightly smaller metal tanks. Thick, python-like translucent pipelines connected to each other, inside which flowed a dim blue brilliance, resembling the blood vessels of some kind of creature.

The console had also been upgraded from old physical buttons to a huge holographic projection operating interface, on which countless complex data streams flashed rapidly, full of futuristic technological sense.

Even the core glass container had become thicker in material, darker in color, exuding an indestructible texture.

"Did you see it?!"

Professor Li spread his arms like a child showing off a beloved toy, his face full of complacency and fanaticism.

"This is my painstaking masterpiece! Body Tempering instrument version 3.0!"

"The energy circulation System, mental pressure buffering device, real-time vital signs feedback System... I've replaced them all with the latest ones!"