Chapter 412: Never Doubt Master (1)

(Eighty thousand words were omitted here for review.)

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the bed. The young lady's fair, oval face displayed a gentle and sweet smile as she woke up in the arms of her beloved.

She loved the boy beside her deeply. It wasn’t because of his good looks, nor because he had slain a Saint in his fury, but because of the connection between their hearts and souls.

Propped up on one elbow, she looked radiant in the morning light. She twirled a few strands of her hair, brushing them lightly across Li Xiaofei’s face. Li Xiaofei reached out and gave her a playful squeeze without opening his eyes, then pulled her close with an assertive, possessive embrace.

The morning was beautiful. The room was filled with warmth and intimacy on this early summer morning. After a long while, the restless energy settled.

In the bathroom, the two leaned against each other in the bathtub. The matters of the Tan family had been resolved so smoothly that many of the prepared plans were now unnecessary. The young lady was ready to report to Beixia University.

As for the Tan family?

“I once promised Grandfather that as long as the Tan family survived, that would be enough. Leading the family to a new era of glory is not something I am interested in or willing to do. No matter how great the glory, it always comes to an end. I have awakened the divine bloodline, gained strength in leaps and bounds, and even mastered some Saint-level abilities, but my martial foundation is still insufficient. So, I will focus most of my energy on cultivating at the university.”

“I will leave the Tan family matters to Baiqu. She has the experience and ambition and is more suited to be the head of the family. With you, the Saint Slayer, overseeing things, no one will dare challenge the Tan family in Xiajing City.”

“Besides, the third high general has already expressed support. The state will offer policy assistance to the Tan family’s enterprises. The Tan family should continue to exist, but not grow too powerful.”

The young lady’s thoughts were clear as she leaned against Li Xiaofei and laid out her plans. Li Xiaofei agreed wholeheartedly. A so-called Saint Slayer was enough to subdue the Ouyang family with their three Saints. It was also enough to prompt a national general to visit personally.

What did that mean? It meant that martial strength was the true foundation in this world. This world was no longer the same as it was five hundred years ago. When an individual’s combat ability could become akin to nuclear deterrence, the traditional power structures would inevitably collapse and reorganize. The young lady focusing her energy on martial cultivation was indeed the wisest choice.

“I also have some ideas I’d like to discuss with you in detail.”

With one hand resting on her soft curves, Li Xiaofei whispered his plans into her ear.

Over the days spent at White Deer Academy, Li Xiaofei had given serious thought to many things. Red Flag High School, Liuhe Base City, the light-network virtual livestream room, and White Deer Academy...

These places, through unexpected turns of fate, had become part of his network. How could he connect these places? He had a vague plan forming in his mind. And so, he began discussing it thoroughly with the young lady.

***

At White Deer Academy.

“Junior, thank you,” Song Lingge, one of the seven sisters, said with a grateful expression. “I finally understand why my Innate Art has always progressed so slowly. It turns out I was focusing on the wrong things.”

Li Junjie scratched the back of his head and said, “You’re welcome, Senior. You’re really amazing too.”

“Let me treat you to milk tea,” Song Lingge said with a bright smile.

“I... I...” Li Junjie blushed a bit.

School life was completely different from his time in the gang. Back then, he was surrounded by rough-and-tumble followers, and most conversations were resolved by swearing and threats. At worst, a few punches would settle things.

But school was a whole new world where he was surrounded by gentle voices and sweet smiles. Li Junjie found himself in unfamiliar territory, so he couldn’t help but feel flustered and unsure of what to do. Sipping his milk tea on the way back, Li Junjie couldn't help but reflect on how these beautiful senior sisters were harder to deal with than the most ferocious star beasts he had faced in the wild.

From afar, Song Lingge watched his tall figure, a smile spreading involuntarily across her face.

“Hehe, Lingge, this is the first time you’ve asked a boy to have milk tea with you,” said Ding Rong, the eldest of the sisters as she suddenly appeared.

“I just wanted to thank Junior Li,” Song Lingge quickly explained, startled, as she clutched her chest.

“Tsk, tsk, is that so?” Ding Rong smirked mischievously. “From what I’ve heard, quite a few girls at the academy already have a crush on Junior Junjie, and a few bold ones are determined to win him over within a month.”

Song Lingge said, “They can win him over if they want. What does that have to do with me?”

Ding Rong chuckled again. “That includes me.”

“What? Eldest Sister, you...” Song Lingge was taken aback, a sudden sense of unease creeping into her heart.

At that moment, Lin Wan, another of the seven sisters, walked over and said, “Eldest Sister, Lingge, my Innate Art has finally broken through to the fourth level, thanks to Junior Junjie’s explanations and help. I want to treat him to a meal. Do you think it should be on campus or off-campus? And should I wear a dress or my uniform?”

Ding Rong and Song Lingge exchanged glances, stunned.

Li Junjie, meanwhile, was unaware of any of this. He arrived at Li Xiaofei’s dormitory and found the boss standing at the door, rubbing his lower back.

“Boss, Instructor Ding said I should join the school battle team and sign up for the Screaming Zone University Tournament,” Li Junjie reported out of habit.

Li Xiaofei, still massaging his back, said, “That’s a good thing. Participating in the tournament will help hone your combat skills.”

Li Junjie grinned, and seemingly seeking praise, said, “I agreed, but I set one condition.”

Li Xiaofei had a bad feeling. “You didn’t go for the one plus one condition again, did you?”

Li Junjie nodded enthusiastically. “As expected of you, Boss. You saw right through me. I said if the school team didn’t recruit you, I wouldn’t join.”

Li Xiaofei, still stretching his back, said, “So now I’m part of the school battle team?”

Li Junjie took out a specially crafted bamboo token and said, “That’s right. This is the identity token for the school battle team. Instructor Ding asked me to hand it to you. Our first joint training is on Monday. Boss, we’ll be fighting side by side again.”

Li Xiaofei took the bamboo token and examined it closely. The natural bamboo was inscribed with mysterious formation lines, giving the token a special energy that made it both sturdy and weighty.

“If you inject inner qi into the token, it activates a defense and teleportation formation. It’s a unique feature of White Deer Academy. It’s pretty amazing.” Li Junjie demonstrated.

He channeled his inner qi into his own token. Immediately, a faint silver shield formed around him like an eggshell.

“The teleportation function can only be used in the wilderness outside the city,” Li Junjie explained.

“The wilderness outside the city?” Li Xiaofei was somewhat surprised.

Li Junjie elaborated, “Instructor Ding said that White Deer Academy’s training and trials are conducted in real environments. We have to leave the city and fight corpse beasts with real weapons.”

This revelation surprised Li Xiaofei.

Is White Deer Academy truly this bold? Is it a consequence of being too poor to afford light-core simulators?

Still, the battle token was intriguing. The formations and technology seemed to overlap in some aspects. White Deer Academy certainly had some unique qualities, but not too many.

“Come with me,” Li Xiaofei said as he turned and walked back to his dormitory. “I have a task for you.”

Li Junjie obediently followed behind. Song Lingge, Ding Rong, and Lin Wan, who were approaching quickly from a distance, saw them go in, but by the time they reached the entrance, the door was already shut.

“That Li Xiaofei, a nobody at the bottom of the ranks, dares to boss around Junior Junjie.”

“Bringing those small-town gang tactics into a university campus. How absurd.”

“Junior Junjie is a soaring dragon, while Li Xiaofei is nothing but a fierce stray dog.”

The three girls couldn’t help but feel indignant.

Inside the dormitory.

“I have a cultivation technique to teach you. After learning it, pass it on to your classmates,” Li Xiaofei said.

He carefully went through the Yi Jin Jing. This scripture could improve the body constitution of cultivators, enhance innate potential, and cleanse the body. If it was promoted within White Deer Academy, it could significantly elevate the students’ martial arts potential.

White Deer Academy had a foundation and its own techniques. The reason it had struggled to make a name for itself was its inability to attract talented students. Even the so-called geniuses of various faculties were only the best among mediocrity.

The top students at White Deer Academy still fell far short in overall quality compared to even geniuses of second-tier universities in Xiajing City.