"Bullshit! Xiao Ning'er is my fiancée. What the hell does that have to do with you? Are you so desperate for a woman you've gone crazy?" Shen Fei stood up, clutching his dagger. Veins bulged across his face as he glared at Chang Ping like he wanted to kill him.
"Bang!"
Chang Ping suddenly fired at Shen Fei's dagger. There was a sharp clang, and the dagger flew out of Shen Fei's hand.
Shen Fei stared at his torn-open palm, dread rising in his heart. He hadn't expected this strange weapon to be so loud and so powerful. If it had hit him in the forehead, it probably would've blown his skull apart.
"What was that? Say it again so I can hear you." Chang Ping blew on the smoke curling from the muzzle.
A wise man knew when to back down.
"You win!" Shen Fei glared at Chang Ping with venom in his eyes. Clutching his split palm and tucking his tail between his legs, he shoved through the onlooking students and slunk away.
"Master Shen, wait for me!"
"You've really gotten yourself into trouble now!"
"Get ready to face the Sacred Family's wrath!"
The noble scions ran off, too.
Chang Ping slipped the Desert Eagle back into his pocket and gave a scornful snort.
He'd never heard of a fly that could sting!
"Hero, you should run!"
"That's right! You hit Shen Fei. The Sacred Family won't let this go. Hurry and find somewhere to hide."
"The Sacred Family's Family Head, Shen Hong, is a peak Black Gold Demon Spirit Master. He's second only to the legendary Demon Spirit Master Lord Ye Mo and the City Lord. He's not someone you can take on. What's more, their family has four Black Gold martial artists. Impulsiveness is the devil, young man. Be more careful in your next life!"
The onlookers voiced their concerns in unison.
"A mere Black Gold powerhouse doesn't impress me!" Chang Ping snorted. It wouldn't be long before he became a legendary martial artist. If the Sacred Family dared come looking for trouble, he'd make sure none of them left alive! They'd spill their blood right there!
"What's going on, Old Yang? Why's there such a crowd at the school gate?" A warm voice suddenly spoke up.
Chang Ping turned around and saw that an old man with white hair and a youthful face had appeared behind him without anyone noticing.
Ye Sheng?
Chang Ping knew him. He was the vice-dean of Saint Orchid Academy.
The gatekeeper told Ye Sheng everything that had just happened. Ye Sheng narrowed his eyes, a trace of gravity crossing his face.
I'm screwed! Ye Sheng's probably afraid of getting burned and won't let me into Saint Orchid Academy.
Chang Ping snorted and turned to leave.
If this place won't have me, there are plenty of others that will!
"Wait! Weren't you trying to get into Saint Orchid Academy? Why are you leaving?" Ye Sheng called after him.
"I hit Shen Fei. You're still going to let me in?" Chang Ping stopped, asking without turning around.
Ye Sheng chuckled. "If you meet the talent requirements and can afford the tuition, why would I turn you away?"
"So you're saying I can join Saint Orchid Academy?" Chang Ping turned around with a smile.
He was so eager to get into the academy not only because he wanted to meet the woman of his dreams, but also because he hoped to obtain a priceless treasure.
"You can, as long as you pass the talent test." Ye Sheng stroked his beard, smiling warmly.
The Three Great Peak Families seemed harmonious and friendly on the surface, but they fought fiercely behind the scenes, especially the Snowy Wind Family and the Sacred Family.
The Sacred Family's Family Head had always coveted the City Lord's position and had tried every means to force the Snowy Wind Family's Family Head out of office. He'd nearly succeeded several times.
Ye Sheng was a member of the Snowy Wind Family, so he was naturally happy to see the Sacred Family get knocked down a peg. He intended not only to protect Chang Ping, but also to recommend him to the family's influential figures and make him a thorn in the Sacred Family's side that would never come loose.
"Let's go! Start the test! I can't wait any longer!"
To everyone's astonishment, Chang Ping—whom they'd already sentenced to death—strode into Saint Orchid Academy with swagger.
"What the hell is going on?"
"That brat must be Vice-Dean Ye Sheng's illegitimate son. Why else would he protect him like that?"
"Cousin, did you see? The hero avenged you! If your spirit is watching over us, please help him pass the test! Good people shouldn't go unrewarded!"
Along a tree-lined path, dew dripped from the leaves.
"Son, would you mind letting this old man take a look at your weapon?" Ye Sheng suddenly asked.
"Of course!" Chang Ping pulled out the Desert Eagle, removed the magazine, and handed it to Ye Sheng.
One should never intend harm, but always guard against it.
If the old geezer took a fancy to his Desert Eagle and decided to kill him and cover up the evidence, he'd be in real trouble.
Still, he'd read the novel, comic, and anime, so he knew Ye Sheng probably wasn't that kind of person.
Ye Sheng cradled the Desert Eagle, turning it this way and that as he studied it for a long while.
"I never imagined such a cleverly made weapon existed! May I ask where you got it, young friend?"
Young friend?
Chang Ping raised an eyebrow. Why was this old coot trying to buddy up to him?
"A friend gave it to me! What, do you want one too, old man?"
"Would you sell me one?" Ye Sheng asked eagerly.
"Fifty million Demon Spirit Coins each!" Chang Ping held out his right hand, then added, "Firm price!"
Fifty million? What a rip-off! The most expensive Silver Weapon on the market cost only one million Demon Spirit Coins!
Ye Sheng jumped and hurriedly shoved the Desert Eagle back into Chang Ping's hands.
Broke-ass.
Chang Ping gave a soft snort, slid the magazine back into the gun, and tucked it into his pocket.
He'd asked for too little! This was a firearm with infinite bullets!
Besides, the Desert Eagle had cost him five thousand Strength Value. He gained eight Strength Value a minute. How long would it take him to earn that back?
Time is money, old man. Get it?
Perhaps Chang Ping's greed had scared him off. Ye Sheng didn't speak again during the walk.
Testing room.
Two machines, each taller than a person, stood in the otherwise empty room.
One looked like a witch's magic crystal; the other like a multimeter for measuring voltage, current, and resistance.
"Let's test your Soul Force first." Ye Sheng pointed at the crystal. "Place your palm against the Soul Crystal, focus, and slowly channel your Soul Force into it."
Chang Ping nodded and followed Ye Sheng's instructions.
One, two, three...
Tiny points of light appeared inside the crystal.
"Your Soul Force is a little weak, but a blue Soul Sea is extremely rare. You've passed the test! Go straight to the Demon Spirit Master Beginner Class!" Ye Sheng was overjoyed, though he didn't let it show on his face.
There were seven Soul Sea colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. Based on centuries of experience in the Glory City, the farther along the colors went, the greater one's talent for cultivating Soul Force.
Those with red Soul Seas could reach Bronze at most; orange, Silver; yellow, Gold; green, Black Gold; and cyan, legendary.
The only legendary Demon Spirit Master in the Glory City at present, Lord Ye Mo, had a cyan Soul Sea.
This boy's talent is even greater than Lord Ye Mo's! I've really struck gold! Ye Sheng was deeply relieved that he hadn't given up on Chang Ping.
Before you continue