Coach Li had gone out of her way to check on your progress, setting aside yesterday's unpleasantness.
So why did you have to bring it up again?
Did you really think you could master the Shadowless and Extreme Shadow levels of Extreme Shadow Swordplay in such a short time?
Li Aoxue's pretty face stiffened. Frowning, she stared at Su Ye, unable to fathom what the young man before her was thinking.
A shadow fell over Su Ye. At six-foot-three, Fang Li cut an imposing figure as he planted himself in front of him.
"Shadowless?"
"Kid, are you dreaming?"
It was Fang Yuan's cousin, Fang Li, who had openly mocked Su Ye earlier.
Su Ye wore the First High School uniform. Clearly, they were all seniors.
They had all started martial arts training just three weeks ago. Fang Li considered himself talented, yet he had only reached the introductory Afterimage level.
He refused to believe Su Ye could have reached Shadowless!
Extreme Shadow Swordplay was not the only part of the College Entrance Examination, but reaching Shadowless before the exam was exceedingly rare!
Even Li Aoxue, who had ranked third in Shenyun City on her College Entrance Examination, was only at the Shadowless level now!
Granted, with her current cultivation and insight, Li Aoxue did not treat Extreme Shadow Swordplay as a skill she had to master. Still, the fact that even someone as gifted as she was had not reached Extreme Shadow showed just how difficult it was to perfect.
Fang Li looked down at Su Ye, cold amusement in his eyes and pressure in his voice.
"How about a spar?"
"Don't worry. I'll hold back. I won't put you in the ICU."
He worked his fists. His knuckles cracked, his Martial Bones thrummed, and his towering presence bore down on Su Ye!
Su Ye's gaze sharpened!
Martial Bones lay hidden within the body. Unless someone was a full realm higher, in the Blood Nourishing Realm, it was difficult to tell how many Martial Bones a person had.
But with Fang Li releasing his power so openly, Su Ye could make a rough estimate.
Six Martial Bones!
One more than Zhang Yuan knew about!
Tempering six Martial Bones by this point put Fang Li among the top ten at First High School!
"That's enough, Fang Li!"
Li Aoxue stepped in and stopped him.
Zhang Yuan wiped cold sweat from his brow and tugged at Su Ye, forcing a smile. "My buddy just likes to joke! He's joking!"
Fang Li was a vicious one!
He might have been from a distant branch of the Fang Family, with little of its blood in him, but he was exceptionally talented. More importantly, he had a brutal temper!
Just yesterday, he had beaten a student who was pursuing Li Aoxue so badly that the student ended up in the hospital!
Fang Li rolled his neck and sneered.
"Right. You did say you'd master the Extreme Shadow level."
"Hah!"
His mocking words set the students roaring with laughter.
Fang Li's smirk deepened. "Didn't you say yesterday you'd reach Extreme Shadow in a few days?"
"How about I wait until you do, then spar with you?"
"I'd have to thank you for the lesson, wouldn't I? How about another ten thousand as a fee?"
Su Ye suddenly smiled and spoke.
"Sure."
His gaze appeared calm, but he met Fang Li's stare without backing down.
Why turn down money that was being handed to him?
Su Ye kept his expression cool. He already had a plan.
If all went well, by tomorrow he would temper his fourth Martial Bone and reach... the highest level of Extreme Shadow Swordplay!
The smile slowly faded from Fang Li's face, and his eyes grew sharp.
But Li Aoxue finally cut him off.
"Enough!"
"It's about time. Class is dismissed!"
Fang Li gave Su Ye a long look. With Li Aoxue there, nothing more would happen today.
He turned and left.
Su Ye shook his head and said, "Coach Li, I'll practice in the sword hall a little longer."
"Besides, I'm waiting for someone."
He had just taken a Qi Recovery Pill, so he had no intention of wasting its restored energy. And after only just grasping the Shadowless level, he was itching to practice.
Someone snorted with laughter!
It was lunchtime, and he still wanted to practice?
And he was waiting for someone?
Wasn't he obviously making excuses to avoid Fang Li because he feared retaliation?
"What a clown. A coward, too," a student close to Fang Li muttered with a snicker.
"He probably doesn't even know who he's messed with."
The others shook their heads at Su Ye as well, pity in their eyes.
Fang Li had quite a reputation among them. As far as they could see, an ordinary student like Su Ye, whose uniform was visibly worn, stood no chance against him.
Su Ye merely smiled. Their mockery and taunts passed over him like a light breeze.
The students left, and Su Ye persuaded the worried Zhang Yuan to go ahead without him.
Alone in the silent Vast Sea Martial Arts School, Su Ye practiced his swordplay!
One strike, then another!
Every strike brought Su Ye one step closer to the top ten in the class placements!
His sword whistled through the air, faster and faster, as if it might pierce straight through it!
Every doubt will melt away before the facts, like spring snow beneath the sun!
Half an hour later.
Lin Qingyue arrived at the Vast Sea Martial Arts School and found Su Ye.
Impatience showed on her delicate face. She went straight to the point.
"Su Ye, I hope you won't go around telling people about our childhood betrothal."
"It's best for both your Su Family and my Lin Family!"
Only a few elders in the Su Family and Lin Family knew about their engagement.
How humiliating would it be if people learned that she, the dignified Young Miss of the Lin Family, had been betrothed to someone like Su Ye!
Something seemed to occur to Lin Qingyue, and a strange look flashed in her eyes.
After all, Lin Qingyue would only marry the Su Family's heir. Only then could she obtain the great opportunity her father called the Su Family's "secret."
Otherwise, why would she insist on marrying Su Ling instead? She could simply break off the engagement!
Of course, Su Ling's talent was extraordinary, and Lin Qingyue was very pleased with the prospect of marrying him.
Su Ye could guess why Lin Qingyue feared embarrassment. He replied flatly:
"I won't spread it around."
Only then did Lin Qingyue's expression ease. She took out a bottle of pills and looked down at Su Ye as if offering charity, her voice cold.
"These are Third-grade Marrow Tempering Bone Condensing Pills, among the finest of all Third-grade Pills."
"Ten of them. They're worth at least a million."
"They're better suited to Bone Tempering than Bone Tempering Pills. Take them."
Su Ye suddenly smiled. "What's this supposed to be? Hush money?"
Lin Qingyue frowned. "You think it's too little?"
Su Ye's position was painfully awkward. He was of the main bloodline, but he had no elder backing him.
Those ten Marrow Tempering Bone Condensing Pills were exactly what he lacked most, and they were worth a fortune!
Su Ye did not even look at Lin Qingyue. He turned away.
"I've heard what you came to say. You can leave."
Su Ye would keep quiet about their engagement because it was beneath him to bring it up!
Not for any other reason!
"Su Ye, you—!"
"Do you know what it means to refuse the pills I'm giving you?"
"Do you really think being the former young master of the Su Family still counts for something?! Or are you still dreaming of marrying me on the strength of a verbal promise from years ago? A toad reaching for a swan!"
Lin Qingyue glared at Su Ye's back, her eyes blazing. Her anger flared as she recalled how defiant he had been at the Su Family estate a few days earlier.
She laughed in fury!
Who does he think he is?!
You only tempered your first Martial Bone a few days ago, Su Ye. Your talent is ordinary!
Su Ye's words carried back on the wind, cold and proud.
"Lin Qingyue, I, Su Ye, refuse them because they're beneath me."
"And remember... fortunes change."
"Just don't regret breaking our engagement to marry someone else!"
Before you continue