Asking My Little Sister for Support

On the way back.

The night breeze was slightly cool.

After the excitement faded from Lu Ming's face, unease began to creep back in as he followed beside Jiang Hao.

"Jiang Hao, are you really confident?"

Lu Ming rubbed his hands together, still feeling uncertain.

"That's Lin Qiu—and he's mastered the Martial Skill, Shadowless Blade."

"What if he makes another breakthrough in these three days..."

Jiang Hao found it amusing and cut him off with a glance.

"Don't worry."

Jiang Hao replied with just two words!

The confidence around him seemed to carry some inexplicable power.

Looking at Jiang Hao's profile, Lu Ming found the anxiety in his heart strangely soothed.

"Alright!"

"Three days from now, I'll be there cheering you on!"

Lu Ming nodded heavily.

After returning home.

Jiang Hao greeted his family, then headed straight into the courtyard.

Under the night sky, Jiang Hao cast aside all distractions and began his usual stance training.

He performed the movements of Nine Revolutions Stance Skill: Seventh Revolution with impeccable precision.

Blood qi surged through his body, tempering his physique again and again.

Only when he finished the eighth round and the familiar exhaustion washed over him did Jiang Hao slowly conclude his training. Then, he brought up his Personal Panel.

[Host: Jiang Hao]

[Strength: Martial Trainee (Blood Qi Intensity 8.85)]

[Technique: Nine Revolutions Stance Skill Mastery - Seventh Revolution (16/100)]

[Martial Skill: Spear Arts · Mastery (74/100)]

Looking at the number under strength, Jiang Hao's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Only 8.85?"

Jiang Hao thought to himself.

This number was only 0.05 higher than when he had broken through last night.

Based on his previous training speed while taking Low-grade Nutrient Solution, a full day of hard cultivation should have increased it by at least 0.1. He should have been close to 8.9 by now.

As for the 74 proficiency in Spear Arts, that had increased from training at school!

While focusing on raising his Blood Qi Intensity, Jiang Hao would not neglect his Martial Skill training either!

"As expected."

"Without the support of Low-grade Nutrient Solution, relying on hard training alone has slowed my cultivation speed considerably."

Three days later would be the day he fought Lin Qiu.

Lin Qiu's blood qi had already been just one step away from a breakthrough. After half a month, he had likely broken through to 9.0 as well.

To be safe, Jiang Hao's own Blood Qi Intensity had to break through to 9.0 too. Only then could he be at ease!

But he was out of money again.

Those one hundred thousand Alliance Coins had been completely burned through during ten days of high-intensity training.

"Money."

Jiang Hao's mind began rapidly searching for a solution.

One familiar face after another drifted through his mind.

Dad and Mom?

Jiang Hao dismissed that thought immediately.

His parents had already given him one hundred thousand. That was nearly most of the family's savings. They had done it so he could make one final push for the Martial Arts Exam without regrets; he absolutely could not ask them for a second sum.

Not only could he not ask for more—once he had money in the future, he had to repay those one hundred thousand at the first opportunity!

Then Lu Ming?

Jiang Hao shook his head as well.

Lu Ming's family circumstances were similar to his own, perhaps even worse.

Given the relationship between them, if Jiang Hao asked, Lu Ming would probably borrow it even if he had to sell the pots and smash the iron.

But precisely because of that, he couldn't bring himself to ask.

That money was also Lu Ming's hope of getting into a Martial Arts University.

He needed resources for cultivation too.

PASS.

Classmates?

Teachers?

Jiang Hao hadn't considered them at all.

In the end.

The image that settled in Jiang Hao's mind was Jiang Keke's lively, radiant face.

His adorable little sister!

Jiang Hao's thoughts instantly became clear.

Jiang Keke was a Star-grade Martial Bone genius in the Key Class of Eighth Martial High.

The resources she received at school included not only generous cultivation subsidies, but even substantial scholarships every month.

She was a genuine little rich girl.

And with Jiang Keke's talent and current grades, once she reached her senior year, she would absolutely secure a guaranteed admission spot at a Key Martial Arts University.

Lending him money wouldn't affect her cultivation.

"That settles it."

"I'll just pay my little sister back double later."

With that thought, Jiang Hao made his decision.

He would borrow money from his adorable little sister!

With her little stash, not much—borrowing twenty or thirty thousand Alliance Coins should still be possible!

That night, before going to bed.

Jiang Hao walked up to Jiang Keke's door and raised his hand to knock.

"Knock, knock."

From inside the room came Jiang Keke's crisp voice. She seemed to be on a holographic call with someone.

"Ah, hold on, my brother's here!"

"I'm not talking anymore, bye, bye!"

A mutter came from within.

A few seconds later!

The sound of quick footsteps.

With a click, the door opened.

Jiang Keke was wearing pink Strawberry Bear cartoon pajamas, her little face full of confusion as she looked at him!

"Brother? What do you want?"

Jiang Hao smiled slightly.

"Were you chatting with your best friend just now?"

"You sounded pretty happy."

"Let me come in and sit for a while."

"Oh."

Jiang Keke nodded subconsciously and stepped aside.

But then she blinked her bright, wide eyes, only belatedly realizing.

Something was off.

Very off.

Her brother had never taken the initiative to come to her room before.

In his old words, "Boys and girls should keep their distance. We're grown up now, and everyone needs their own private space."

Had the sun risen in the west today?

Though Jiang Keke found it strange, she still let Jiang Hao into the room.

"Come in."

Jiang Hao walked inside.

This seemed to be the first time in two or three years that he had carefully looked over his sister's room since she entered middle school.

It was very tidy!

It was very... girlish, too.

The wallpaper was a pale pink, printed with cute clouds, stars, and moons.

At least four or five stuffed toys of varying sizes were piled on the not-so-large bed—rabbits, bears, and an anime character he didn't recognize.

The desk by the window, on the other hand, was very clean. Aside from a study lamp, there were only rows upon rows of exquisitely made holographic idol figurines.

A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air, completely different from the simple, uncluttered feel of his own room.

"Your room has changed a lot."

Jiang Hao blinked as he spoke.

"Hmph."

Jiang Keke gave a snort, casually shut the door, then skipped back to the bed in a few steps. She flopped down and skillfully hugged the large rabbit plushie, her two fair little legs swaying back and forth behind her.

"No one visits the temple without a reason."

"Ge, just say what you want. Stop beating around the bush."

Jiang Keke's big eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything.

Seeing this, Jiang Hao stopped dragging it out. He pulled over the chair in front of the desk, sat down backward, and rested his arms over the backrest.

"I made a challenge match with Lin Qiu from my class."

"Oh?"

Jiang Keke's movements halted.

"I'm still a little short on Blood Qi Intensity, so I need to buy some Nutrient Solution."

"I've spent all the money Mom and Dad gave me."

"So I came to borrow some from you."

Jiang Hao explained why he had come in one breath.

"Lin Qiu?"

At that, Jiang Keke stopped hugging the rabbit altogether, her pretty brows knitting slightly.

"The guy who knows Shadowless Blade?"

Now it was Jiang Hao's turn to be puzzled. His expression shifted slightly.

"You've heard of him?"

"Yeah."

Jiang Keke nodded, trying hard to recall.

"I think... I heard someone from another Key Class mention him."

"They said his younger brother, Lin Qiu, is also in an Ordinary Class in senior year. His talent's not bad, and his family's pretty wealthy too—they've poured a lot of resources into him."

"Apparently, he's planning to make a run at the Key Class next month!"

"I think that was the name."

Jiang Hao understood.

It seemed Lin Qiu's family was more than merely well-off.

As Jiang Keke spoke, she suddenly climbed out of bed. Wearing her fuzzy slippers, she pattered over to the desk by the window.

She pulled open the middle drawer.

From inside, she took out an exquisite little box, opened it, and removed a silver terminal storage card.

Then she came back and handed the card to Jiang Hao, her movements utterly casual.

"There are fifty thousand Alliance Coins on this."

"It's the scholarship from the city competition last time."

"Take it and use it."