Different Stances, Half-Month Break

"Little Brother Ji Xuan, the academy goes on break tomorrow. Can you go shopping in Spirit City with me?"

Inside the Fighting Arena of Spirit Hall Academy.

Ji Xuan had just finished today's fighting challenges. With twenty-three consecutive victories, his current score had reached 330 points, raising his ranking by one place to twenty-second.

He came to an empty spot at the edge of the arena and had just sat down to rest.

A graceful figure approached him, neatly blocking his view.

Ji Xuan looked up. The newcomer was none other than Hu Liena.

She gave him a radiant smile, yet an even denser aura of seduction than before emanated from her, silently curling around him.

This little fox...

Fortunately, the Wisdom Skull of Spiritual Condensation he had absorbed earlier had greatly enhanced his Spiritual Power, bringing it to the Advanced Soul Ancestor level.

Otherwise, with his current Soul Power Level, it would have been difficult for him to resist Hu Liena's Soul Elder-level seductive power.

In the distance, the male students of the Elite Class who had been watching Hu Liena all along were nearly numb when they saw their Goddess approach Ji Xuan once again.

No matter how eagerly they tried to please her, Hu Liena had never once given them a proper glance.

Ji Xuan, on the other hand, was always neither warm nor cold toward her, yet Hu Liena only became more proactive.

The stark contrast left them utterly frustrated, but... they simply could not defeat Ji Xuan. In the end, all they could do was let out helpless sighs.

Elsewhere, quite a few female students who secretly admired Ji Xuan felt as though their hearts were about to shatter.

Ji Xuan was a little young, but he was powerful, strikingly handsome, and carried himself like an immortal cast down to the mortal world. It was difficult for young girls to keep their hearts from stirring.

Still, they knew their place. Even Hu Liena, the Saintess, often received nothing but indifference despite taking the initiative to speak with him. What chance did they have?

"I don't have time," Ji Xuan said blandly, frowning slightly. "Also, stop using your seduction on me."

With his Spiritual Power, Hu Liena's seduction naturally had no effect on him. If he used the skull's Spiritual Impact skill, Hu Liena would definitely suffer a mental backlash.

However, Ji Xuan knew that Hu Liena bore him no ill will, so naturally, he would not attack her.

"Ji Xuan..."

Seeing that Ji Xuan's expression remained cold, the light in Hu Liena's eyes dimmed slightly, and the seductive aura around her dispersed.

With a trace of disappointment and confusion in her voice, she asked, "What exactly is wrong with me? Why have you always been so cold toward me?"

At Spirit Hall Academy, she was the Saintess admired by countless people. Others had always gone out of their way to please her. When had she ever suffered such a grievance?

She believed that her talent, appearance, strength, and background were all exceptional.

Yet she had already taken such initiative. Why did Ji Xuan remain unmoved, his attitude still so distant?

Ji Xuan rose to his feet and looked at Hu Liena before him, sighing inwardly. "There's nothing wrong with you. It's just..."

Ji Xuan looked toward the distant Martial Soul Divine Mountain.

"I belong to the Worship Hall faction," Ji Xuan said calmly. "And your teacher is Pope Bibi Dong."

Ji Xuan paused. "There is an irreconcilable conflict between your teacher and the Worship Hall."

Ji Xuan was not made of stone. He was a normal young man as well.

How could he possibly feel nothing when faced with someone as beautiful and forward as Hu Liena?

Hu Liena froze at his words.

There was an irreconcilable conflict between her teacher and the Worship Hall?

Seeing Hu Liena's slightly stunned expression, Ji Xuan continued.

"Since we stand on different sides, we may inevitably become enemies in the future. It would be better to keep our distance."

Ji Xuan's words were like an invisible needle piercing Hu Liena's heart.

A flicker of disbelief passed through her eyes. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that any words seemed pale and powerless before the word "stance."

Ji Xuan withdrew his gaze, glanced at Hu Liena, and shook his head inwardly. He said nothing more before turning and leaving the Fighting Arena.

This entanglement, cut off before it had even begun, might have been the best choice for both of them.

In Spirit Hall, where strength reigned supreme and factions were clearly divided, excessive personal feelings—especially becoming too deeply entangled with Pope Bibi Dong—were by no means wise.

Hu Liena came back to her senses and watched Ji Xuan's retreating back until he disappeared around the corner...

Hu Liena withdrew her gaze, bit down hard on her lower lip, lowered her head, and murmured softly, "Stance..."

What kind of conflict existed between her teacher and the Worship Hall?

Why had her teacher refused to tell her?

An unprecedented sense of unwillingness quietly overwhelmed Hu Liena's earlier disappointment.

The students who had been watching from afar took in the entire scene.

They did not know what the two had said. It seemed like Hu Liena had confessed? And Ji Xuan had rejected her?

Everyone immediately wore different expressions and began whispering among themselves.

"Damn, isn't Ji Xuan being way too harsh on Her Highness the Saintess?"

"Ah, my heart hurts so much. The Goddess looks so sad."

"Damn it! I'm going to challenge That Kid to a duel!"

Within the crowd, Xie Yue frowned tightly when he saw his Younger Sister suffer another setback.

As Hu Liena's Elder Brother, he understood his Younger Sister all too well.

When had she ever cared so much about a man? When had she ever suffered such humiliation?

As her Elder Brother, his heart instantly filled with both pain and anger.

What was lacking in his Younger Sister? Why had Ji Xuan rejected her?

Beside Xie Yue, Yan stared at the despondent Hu Liena in the distance, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists as fury filled his eyes!

He glared fixedly in the direction Ji Xuan had vanished.

Over the past month, every time he saw Hu Liena take the initiative to approach That Kid Ji Xuan, his heart had ached.

But whenever he saw Hu Liena smile, he suppressed the anger in his heart.

As long as Nana is happy...

But... Ji Xuan! Why? Why exactly?!

Nana likes you so much, so why did you treat her like this?! You even made her so sad this time!!!

The anger that had accumulated in his heart for so long could no longer be contained at this moment...

The next day, early in the morning.

Ji Xuan arrived alone at the Peak of Martial Soul Divine Mountain.

The wind at the Mountain Peak made his clothes flutter loudly.

This academy break would last a full half month.

For most students, this might have been a rare opportunity to relax, have fun, or return home to visit family.

But for Ji Xuan, it was precious time that could not be wasted.

After a full month of actual combat, he had long sensed the bottleneck in his Lightning Sword Intent.

The purpose of this secluded training was to break through to the Great Accomplishment realm of Lightning Sword Intent.

Ji Xuan walked onto a Flat Ground at the highest point of the Mountain Peak.

With a thought, the Martial Soul Sword of Order appeared in his hand, its Golden Runes lighting up...

"Rumble!"

The sky above Ji Xuan darkened as lightning and thunder erupted at once.

"Success or failure will be decided in this attempt."

Ji Xuan murmured to himself.

Then, Golden Threads coiled around the sword blade as the Power of Order drew down a bolt of lightning.

Ji Xuan was instantly bathed in thunderous radiance.