A Head-on Clash

The atmosphere seemed to freeze. Everyone looked from Chu Fei to Liu Tingyun, then back again.

Liu Tingyun remained calm and nodded slightly. "The agreement is valid. Of the investment worth over 240,000, not a single cent will be missing.

But according to the agreement, the team provides supplies, not cash."

Chu Fei pressed forward step by step. "Then what supplies are you preparing this time?"

Liu Tingyun chuckled. "We're still considering it. What, are you worried the team will skim off part of the investment?"

Chu Fei nodded and admitted it outright. "The Superbrain Potion shows that the team's stated investment contains a lot of padding."

Liu Tingyun laughed softly. "It has always been this way. The Superbrain Potion is a controlled resource. If you tried to buy it yourself, whether you could obtain any at all would be a question."

Chu Fei immediately changed the subject. "Then my second purpose today is to break through the First Limit, along with the corresponding supplies and so on.

First, I don't know how to break through the First Limit, but it will definitely require a great deal of resources, and the Greedy Wolf Team can certainly help with that.

Second, I believe the Greedy Wolf Team will not fool around with a seedling of limitless potential."

Liu Tingyun narrowed her eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

"No, I'm stating a fact."

A faint cold glint flickered in Liu Tingyun's eyes. "You're quite arrogant! You've left yourself absolutely no way out! Aren't you afraid of retribution?"

"If one lacks the resolve to burn one's bridges, one should not walk the path of an Awakened.

In more than thirty years, Dawn Academy has produced only a little over thirty Awakened.

The hardships involved may far exceed what I imagine.

But precisely because of that, I need to give it my all."

Liu Tingyun set down her spoon and looked seriously into Chu Fei's eyes.

After a long while, Liu Tingyun said quietly, "In all my years handling investments, you're the first person who has made me want to hit someone."

Chu Fei: "..."

Liu Tingyun continued, "But you have also earned my respect. As for breaking through the First Limit, I can think of three methods for now."

Chu Fei looked straight into Liu Tingyun's eyes.

Liu Tingyun raised her left hand and extended a slender index finger, though her tone was firm and forceful:

"First, train and fight like crazy. When you're hungry, eat mutated beast flesh. As long as you don't die, keep training and fighting like mad, growing through training and battle.

This method is highly dangerous, but once you break through, you can be considered the strongest at the same level, with the most solid foundation.

With supplies worth 240,000, there is a good chance you could break through the Second Limit as well.

Second, still train like crazy, but with little actual combat. Breaking through the First Limit would be possible.

This is relatively safe, but without combat experience, cultivation lacks testing, and there will inevitably be some problems.

Third, intensive physical training combined with high-difficulty mental training.

This is the safest, but also the hardest way to break through. Mental training is actually the most difficult kind of training. You might exhaust all 240,000 worth of supplies and still make no progress."

Chu Fei immediately said, "I choose the third!"

"..." Liu Tingyun's eyes widened.

Your choice now completely contradicts what you just showed.

Not only Liu Tingyun—even the teachers nearby frowned slightly.

Liu Tingyun was stunned for quite a while before asking with a trace of mockery, "Can you tell me why?"

Chu Fei answered calmly, "Two reasons.

First, I'm only fourteen. There are still eight months until the final deadline, so I have plenty of time.

Second, the core of Big Data Cultivation is knowledge. Frenzied physical training is certainly effective, but in essence, it runs counter to the accumulation of knowledge.

Continuing mental training may be difficult, but I believe this is the correct path."

Liu Tingyun began scrutinizing Chu Fei carefully. After watching him for a while, she smiled. "Bold yet cautious, courageous and resourceful. Now I truly believe you can become an Awakened.

But if you choose the first method, I can guarantee that you will break through the First Limit, and there is a considerable chance of breaking through the Second Limit as well."

"No. I believe the third method is the right one. Countless past experiences have taught us that haste makes waste."

Liu Tingyun took a deep breath. "What if I told you I'm not discussing this with you?"

Chu Fei met her head-on. "Then Captain Liu will have to unilaterally breach the agreement. I will not return the previous investment."

Liu Tingyun's gaze upon Chu Fei grew increasingly sharp.

The teachers around them shifted their gazes back and forth between the two.

Some felt that Chu Fei did not know what was good for him, that he was hypocritical and scheming despite his young age.

But others felt that Chu Fei had a point. They broke out in a cold sweat for him and even felt that Liu Tingyun was being a little excessive.

Everyone wore different expressions, but Chu Fei's face was the most resolute of all.

Liu Tingyun gritted her pearly teeth. Her crystal spoon split open the cake, leaving behind a savage scar before finally pressing against the tray and bending.

After a moment of silence, Liu Tingyun smiled again, though there was no smile in her eyes. "You've truly made me see you in a new light. Aren't you afraid of angering me?"

You're already angry!

But would being afraid help?

Chu Fei's face was resolute and his gaze firm, but his words were calm. "Captain Liu, my life in the village taught me that retreat cannot buy peace, pleading brings no response, currying favor leads to no good outcome, and the price of tolerance is being bullied everywhere.

If you want others to value you, you must fight for it yourself!

My acceptance of the Greedy Wolf Team's investment is fundamentally a mutually beneficial cooperation, not one-sided charity.

In fact, I do not believe the Greedy Wolf Team has such excess kindness to give charity.

You invest for future returns.

I accept the investment to grow stronger.

At our core, we are all pursuing profit. No one is nobler than anyone else."

His words were calm, yet they rang out with force.

Quite a few teachers gradually changed the way they looked at Chu Fei, and admiration began to appear in their eyes.

One must respect oneself before others will respect them.

Liu Tingyun's fingers curled slightly. Her fingertips seemed to be sharpening, and a faint metallic sheen began flickering over her nails.

"Screech..."

Her nails scraped across the stainless-steel table, producing a piercing sound and leaving several conspicuous scratches.

The harsh sound also jolted Liu Tingyun awake.

The sharpness in Liu Tingyun's eyes instantly receded, and the changes in her hand quickly vanished.

Chu Fei continued staring at Liu Tingyun, though he felt somewhat creeped out inside. Holy shit, so this is an Awakened? She starts scratching iron plates at the slightest disagreement.

Though he appeared incomparably tough on the surface, he was actually panicking inside. He simply had no way back, so he had no choice but to stand firm.

Liu Tingyun finally spoke. "As the Greedy Wolf Team is the investor, I believe we have the right to provide guidance, don't we?"

She had backed down.

"Of course!" Chu Fei immediately replied. "I can be said to have no cultivation experience at all, and I also hope to receive the team's guidance."

With both sides taking a step back, the atmosphere suddenly became much livelier.

Liu Tingyun took another couple bites of cake. "How about this? After dinner, let's sit down and have a proper discussion. We can analyze your cultivation situation together."

Chu Fei immediately said, "I request that Teacher Cao Liwen participate."

Teacher Cao immediately gave him an approving look.

Liu Tingyun immediately said, "And I would like Director Zhou to help provide some reference as well."

Zhou Haiyi readily agreed.

Cao Liwen looked dejected.