At that moment, Ye Tianhao had become the center of attention at the Training Ground.
But the heir to the Ye Family was cold and aloof.
He had long since grown accustomed to people looking at him with admiration and flattery, so he remained utterly unmoved by their attentiveness.
He turned and went straight to Song Shi for guidance on saber techniques.
Song Shi ordered the other students lingering nearby to leave, but even so, quite a few chose to stay in the vicinity and make a show of training.
Once Song Shi finished instructing him, they crowded around again.
Whenever Ye Tianhao stopped to rest, someone immediately brought him tea and water and fussed over him, only to receive an icy look in return.
After being pestered for so long, the great genius Ye finally furrowed his brow, seemingly impatient.
"Get back to training! What do you think you're doing, crowding around here?" Peng Chao walked over then and rebuked the others mercilessly.
Under pressure from Peng Chao, everyone could only obediently withdraw.
Ye Tianhao glanced at Peng Chao without taking him to heart and prepared to continue practicing the Tiger Roar Saber Technique.
But Peng Chao spoke.
"I'm a senior student at the Martial Arts Hall, and the first person here to practice a Killing Technique. Next month, I'll be taking the Martial Arts Apprentice assessment. Whether it's basic information about the hall or experience with saber techniques, I can help you."
This introduction was undoubtedly a display of Peng Chao's abilities.
Sure enough, Peng Chao did attract Ye Tianhao's attention, though his attitude remained arrogant. "You sound passable. I suppose you can stay by my side."
Delight flashed across Peng Chao's face. Feigning composure, he said, "I've long heard of your great reputation, Young Master Ye-"
Ye Tianhao waved a hand, impatient with his insincere pleasantries. As though ordering a servant at home, he said coldly, "Demonstrate the ninth move of the Tiger Roar Saber Technique for me now."
"The ninth move... my pleasure."
Peng Chao showed none of the anger of someone who had been insulted. On the contrary, he happily picked up a wooden saber and began demonstrating before Ye Tianhao, freely offering every bit of his years of experience.
After all, he was the only person in this Martial Arts Hall who could talk to Ye Tianhao!
He's the Ye Family's sole heir. As long as I can gain his appreciation, I'll surely rise straight to the top someday.
In a corner, Li Xi looked astonished and eager when he saw that even Peng Chao had personally stepped forward.
It felt as though a cat were scratching at his heart.
Turning around, he saw Lin Shuguang continuing to practice his saber techniques as though he saw nothing, and felt deeply puzzled.
Wasn't he tempted at all?
"Junior Brother Lin, that's the Ye Family's sole heir."
Lin Shuguang's tone was casual. "What does that have to do with me?"
Li Xi hurriedly leaned closer. "It has everything to do with us. A martial arts family like the Ye Family has cultivation resources beyond anything we can imagine.
In the Martial Dao world, the strong prey on the weak. If you want to improve quickly, you need cultivation resources.
"As long as we gain this Young Master Ye's appreciation, he might reward us with some resources. That would be much easier than cultivating on our own."
Lin Shuguang glanced at him, then shook his head. "Better to rely on yourself than on someone else."
Li Xi was speechless. He thought Lin Shuguang was a block of wood.
His pride had kept him from shamelessly approaching like everyone else, only to be met with Ye Tianhao's cold gaze.
That was why he wanted to coax Lin Shuguang, this Saber Technique Genius, into stepping forward, so he could openly follow along and establish a connection with Ye Tianhao.
Damn it, this blockhead clearly couldn't understand a word anyone said!
It seemed he would have to find a way himself...
Standing in the corner, Li Xi narrowed his eyes as he watched Peng Chao energetically demonstrating saber techniques for Ye Tianhao in the distance.
Training ended that evening.
Under everyone's envious gazes, Ye Tianhao left in his private car.
Peng Chao stood at the entrance, beaming because he had been able to speak with Ye Tianhao. As though he could already see himself becoming a Martial Artist and commanding the scene in the future, he grew increasingly smug.
"Leaving? I'll give you a ride." In the hall's courtyard, neither Feng San nor Lin Shuguang had joined the crowd.
Bzz, bzz-
A message arrived on the phone in his pocket.
Lin Shuguang's eyes lit up.
It was that phone!
He turned to Feng San and politely declined. "No, thanks. I have something else to do tonight."
Feng San paused. "All right, then. Stay safe on your way back."
"Yeah, you too."
Lin Shuguang and Feng San left one after the other.
As they left, Peng Chao, surrounded by people currying favor with him, glanced at Lin Shuguang, whether deliberately or otherwise, with disdain in his eyes.
Turning down a heaven-sent opportunity. What a fool.
After leaving the Martial Arts Hall, Lin Shuguang stealthily made his way to the address provided in the message.
"Longhu Park's north gate... the third arched bridge..."
Rather than walking openly down the main path, Lin Shuguang deliberately found a high vantage point to observe the surroundings in case someone was watching.
The benefits of the high-level Basic Body Refining Technique were fully apparent now.
The dim light could not impair Lin Shuguang's vision as completely as it would other people's.
After waiting half an hour and confirming that no one was there, Lin Shuguang finally rose and slipped over.
Beneath the third arched bridge, he finally found a spot bearing an inconspicuous special mark.
Sure enough, he found a metal box.
He opened it. Inside was a small, black-patterned ball, about the size of a fist.
"What is this? It's not a bomb from those Demonic Cultivators, is it?"
Lin Shuguang: "..."
He sucked in a cold breath, silently closed the box again, and held it carefully in his hands. Suddenly, it seemed to have grown heavy.
Lin Shuguang glanced at the large lake beside him, resisted the urge to throw away the "bomb" in his hands, then turned and fled home under cover of darkness.
It was inconvenient for Lin Shuguang to ask anyone about the ball's true purpose, so he could only look through reference materials himself.
To his surprise, he actually found it in the black notebook Song Shi had given him.
[Demon God Armor: Once activated with blood essence, it covers the entire body, increasing defense by anywhere from one to five times and boosting Blood Energy by ten to fifty percent... prices start at fifty million! Available on the market, but priceless!]
Lin Shuguang sucked in a cold breath.
It was already fifty million several years ago... and he even specifically noted that it was available on the market, but priceless...
In his room, he took out the small black ball again, his eyes burning.
What could he do with fifty million?
He could spend freely to upgrade himself!
His heart surged, but of course, Lin Shuguang could not bear to sell it either.
Leaving aside whatever risks that might bring him.
Besides, this thing was like a turtle shell. He could bring it out in a crisis to save his life.
Following the activation ritual described in the notebook.
Lin Shuguang forced out a drop of blood essence and let it fall easily onto the small black ball.
It soaked in instantly.
The palm of Lin Shuguang's left hand, which held the small black ball, immediately felt a chill.
The small black ball melted into liquid. Starting from his left palm, countless black threads spread wildly across his entire body.
In an instant.
Armor covered Lin Shuguang's body, his blood surged, and he looked like a demon god!
Edison said that getting up early to cast recommendation votes could make you better-looking... no wonder I've been handsome for so many years.
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