-I bet she's going to ignore him,- Lu Piao says brazenly.
Xiangju slaps him on the head and crosses his arms.
-Just watch then.-
"Scripture of the Holy Fire-Electric... After volume two, I can't understand anything anymore... Xiangju and Nie Li... One can remember all the details, and the other even remembers the page. I always thought my talent was among the best at Orchid Institute, but to think the gap between me and them is this vast."
-Are you also interested in the Scripture of the Holy Fire-Electric?- Nie Li arrives cheerfully, with a friendly smile on his face.
Before responding, Ye Ziyun takes a step back.
-Yes, this book is indecipherable for me after the second chapter, its content seems very profound,- she responds in a serious yet polite manner, though it can be said she did it out of courtesy. The guys around can clearly tell that Nie Li did not make the best first impression on her.
-This script is from a long time ago. Reading this book directly, you wouldn't have much foundation to understand it. I recommend... this one,- Nie Li says, handing a book to Ye Ziyun.
-If you study the language of the Heijin Kingdom, I'm sure you'll be able to read it without any problems!- The girl looks at Nie Li impressed; to have such knowledge, he must have read a lot.
-But learning a language just to read a single book doesn't make much sense, especially since the Scriptures of the Holy Fire-Electric wouldn't be suitable for your physique.-
-Eh? What kind of technique do you think would be suitable for me, then?-
-Blizzard-type techniques, of course!-
-How does he know that?? My physique was tested by my grandfather, but the technique used demands a huge vital energy. If this information leaked...-
-Your family surely tested your vital attribute, but they probably didn't test your vital form. If you want, I can do it,- Nie Li offers. Ye Ziyun immediately declines, thinking Nie Li just wanted to take advantage of her.
-Hahaha, I think you're worrying more than necessary! We only need a new Soul Crystal, one that hasn't been used before. Concentrate your vital force on the crystal and just observe.-
-It's really that simple?- "Seems like I misunderstood him," the girl thinks.
-I'll be here tomorrow if you need. Same time.- After saying this, Nie Li turns and walks away.
-He's playing hard to get, hahaha,- Xiangju mentally laughs at the situation, impressed by his friend.
-Will playing hard to get work?- Lu Piao asks in shock, until the girl calls him back.
"The underdog wins!"
-First Xiangju with Xiao Ning'er and now Nie Li with Ye Ziyun??? These guys are really amazing,- the boys say.
-I must say I underestimated him...- Du Ze admits.
Ye Ziyun shows Nie Li a high-level inscription that, for some reason, doesn't work. Even the teachers and the vice-principal couldn't identify the problem, but the boy sees the issue at a glance. Ye Ziyun's curiosity about him grows.
They sit down and discuss various things. Nie Li even completes an inscription scroll for her. The girl is very excited about all this, leaving with a smile and the promise to return the next day.
Nie Li smiles foolishly, happy with what happened.
Until...
Shen Yue arrives, furious, grabbing Nie Li by the collar.
-Shen Yue..?- Nie Li asks, surprised.
-What were you and Zi Yun talking about???-
-Let me go... Or I'll have to be rude.-
-Rude?? Hahaha, you really think you're something because you read a few books? Stay away from Zi Yun, or I'll force you to!-
-This jerk, get him!- Lu Piao shouts, and everyone rushes forward until six bronze-level bodyguards block their way.
-You guys are only bronze one-star and dare to act tough...- Xiangju steps forward, face to face with one of the bodyguards.
-Hehe, seems like this kid doesn't know his place...- A feminine-looking bodyguard with a ponytail steps forward, smiling insanely at the boy with a scarf.
-Xiangju, they're bronze level... Be careful,- Du Ze warns their leader, but the boy doesn't back down.
People in the library start to notice and get worried a fight might break out, but they are also excited to see it. In their minds, it was obvious Xiangju would lose, but why do they feel they can't miss this?
Zhu Xiangju hasn't tried to increase his vital force for some time, so he's still at bronze one-star, specifically with 132 points of vital energy and a physique of 127 points. But despite not increasing his cultivation level, the intense meditation training he did in recent days has greatly improved his control over his vital energy. So, even though he is outnumbered, his mastery gives him a clear advantage.
Before his friends could start a war, Nie Li grabs Shen Yue's hand, pressing his pressure points and rendering his arm useless.
-Could you repeat what you said you would do, you filthy animal?-
-You think you can come here and threaten me and my friends just because you're from the Sacred Family? You should be ashamed of that! You might consider yourself a genius for having a green vital field, but you're nothing but trash!- Nie Li spits the words in Shen Yue's face.
Shen Yue is shocked; how could he be reduced to this with just a squeeze from Nie Li?? He's almost a bronze rank, while Nie Li shouldn't have a strength greater than 20!!
-You really think Ye Ziyun is yours? Next time I see you pursuing or even talking to her, I'll break all your teeth!-
Shen Yue's vital force starts to leak from his body; he's about to attack Nie Li!!!
Xiangju doesn't waste time. He concentrates all his force in his right arm and punches the bodyguard in front of him on the chin, knocking him out instantly. The other ugly bodyguard next to him tries to punch the boy, but he dodges, and Du Ze and Lu Piao hold the one-star warrior's arm with all their might, making it impossible for him to move. Meanwhile, Xiangju delivers a cross punch to the warrior's face, knocking him out. Two other one-star warriors try to surround Xiangju, but Wei Nan and Zhan Ming kick them in the groin, bringing them down.
One of the remaining ones is in a strength contest with Xiangju, both trying to overpower each other, but having the same level of strength, they don't move. The other one is fighting Lu Piao and Du Ze at the same time, but even though they haven't reached bronze level, they're so close that he can't defeat them.
Wei Nan joins to help Xiangju, kicking the one-star warrior's knee, almost breaking it, making him lose his footing and kneel on the ground, giving Xiangju the chance to knee him in the face with all his strength, knocking him out instantly.
The last one is fighting Zhan Ming, Lu Piao, and Du Ze, so it doesn't take long for him to fall.
All this happened so fast that Shen Yue didn't even realize what was happening around him, so he launches all his energy towards Nie Li, trying to destroy his vital field in one go.
Before they could react, Nie Li is already being hit by that ocean of energy in front of him. The guys want to intervene, but Xiangju raises his arm to stop them. They think of protesting, but the boy looks at Nie Li with such a serious expression that they decide to trust their friend as well.
Everyone is tense while observing... The difference in strength between the two is obvious, like day and night. Shen Yue is at least twice as strong as the redhead. But he wastes too much energy.
Nie Li smiles after perfectly analyzing his opponent's level.
-You're RIDICULOUS and still dare to be arrogant! Today I'm going to DESTROY you!- Shen Yue shouts, insane.
-Pathetic,- Nie Li says, condensing all his energy into a small point, making it pierce through Shen Yue's energy and hitting him right in the head. Along with the energy released by Nie Li, he also transmitted all his past life's murderous intent, an intent fueled by the blood and soul of countless enemies infinitely more powerful than Shen Yue. This could never be something this little Sacred Family boy could withstand, so he gets so scared that he even wets his pants.
-You are deplorable… Wet your pants out of fear of someone weaker than you. You're worse than ridiculous; you're simply disappointing,- Nie Li says with a serious expression. Shen Yue doesn't even respond; he is catatonic.
-This is the last time I'm going to warn you… If you lay a finger on any of my friends or even get close to any of them or Ziyun… I will kill you.- Nie Li whispers in Shen Yue's ear, causing a few more drops to fall from his pants. The redhead then grabs his collar and throws Shen Yue out the window.
-And don't come back!-
-C-chief…- One of the Bronze Rank warriors, the one Wei Nan hit in the groin, crawls toward the window.
-W-what just happened?? Are my eyes deceiving me??- One of the boys, who was just an observer, says to the other two.
-Not only did Nie Li defeat Shen Yue, but Xiangju and his group also took down six Bronze Rank demon spiritualists…-
The boys look at each other, confused, but for some reason, they start cheering with joy. This was proof that Xiangju had already won the bet; he had already become a Bronze one-star, and only a few days had passed since the bet. What kind of insane training was he doing? Xiangju's group just gained their first three official fans.
-That's right, I knew you could do it!- Xiangju jumps on Nie Li's back, celebrating with the boy. Everyone just laughs and congratulates him. Nie Li also praises them for defeating the Bronze Rank spiritualists, especially Xiangju, who managed to face them alone, even without real battle experience. After that, Xiangju tells them to go train while he has other things to do.
But before he leaves, Nie Li pulls Xiangju aside for a conversation.
-What is it, Brother Nie Li?-
-You asked me about a way to get elixirs, and we need a lot of money for that.-
-Yes, did you think of something?-
-Actually, yes. But we will need much more money than we have. We need all the Purple Grass the market can provide, even beyond that.-
-With this, will we get a lot of money?- Xiangju asks with a confused expression, but he knows exactly what it will be used for.
-Much more than enough,- Nie Li says with a smile on his face. Just as Nie Li is about to say goodbye, Xiangju says one last thing.
-Brother Nie Li, I need you to teach me a new technique.-
-Giving up on the Supreme Sun Phoenix? I warned you it was painful… Okay, listen carefully then…- The boy begins to dictate but is interrupted.
-No, no, it's not for me. It's for Ning'er. The attribute is wind-lightning, winged dragon form.-