Chu Yuan frantically tried to pull his Soul Power back, but Nie Li closed his Soul Sea very quickly. Chu Yuan managed to retrieve only about half of it.
Chu Yuan felt his Soul Power being wrenched apart. It split in two, and half of it was trapped forever in Nie Li's Soul Sea. His face turned pale, his legs went weak, and he nearly fell. The tearing had badly injured him, draining all the strength from his body as a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Everyone around them exchanged bewildered glances.
It was difficult for outsiders to see what was happening in a clash of Soul Power. They had no idea that half of Chu Yuan's Soul Power had been trapped forever in Nie Li's Soul Sea. All they saw was Chu Yuan's pained, frightened expression, while Nie Li looked energized and bright-eyed. In other words, Chu Yuan had clearly been at a disadvantage in their clash.
What they couldn't understand was that Nie Li's Soul Power hadn't even reached Bronze 1-star, while Chu Yuan was already a Bronze 3-star Demon Spirit Master!
Why was Chu Yuan the one who'd come off worse?
Nie Li felt the surging Soul Power in his Soul Sea. A glint flashed in his eyes. It hadn't fully melded with his own power yet, but he'd already absorbed part of it. His Soul Sea shone with dazzling blue light, growing brighter and brighter.
Nie Li could feel himself drawing closer and closer to Bronze 1-star. If his Soul Power were tested now, it would probably measure at least 95.
In his Soul Sea, the barrier to Bronze 1-star was beginning to crack. It was on the verge of shattering.
His Soul Power continued to rise and merge.
Nie Li heard a rumble in his mind. A ripple spread through his Soul Sea, and faint, indistinct dragon roars seemed to echo from within. Whatever lay hidden in his Soul Sea appeared to have grown stronger.
Bronze 1-star!
A flash of light passed through Nie Li's eyes. He didn't know what was hidden in his Soul Sea. In his previous life, he'd never noticed anything concealed there while cultivating. His Soul Sea seemed different in this life. Could it have something to do with the Book of the Temporal Demonic Spirit?
Though he'd experienced this once before, Nie Li was still thrilled by his breakthrough. It meant he'd taken an important step on the path of cultivation and embarked on a road of destiny entirely different from the one he'd walked in his previous life!
Nie Li had only refined part of Chu Yuan's Soul Power. Given some more time, he could refine all of it and make it his own. Once he'd finished, he might even be able to break through to Bronze 2-star!
If Shen Xiu knew how quickly Nie Li's cultivation was improving, what would she think?
"Chu Yuan actually lost?"
"I never expected this to be the result!"
"If Nie Li didn't have a way to counter him, he wouldn't have dared challenge Chu Yuan across ranks! I thought Nie Li was just ridiculously arrogant, but it turns out he really does have the strength to back it up!"
The crowd discussed the outcome in astonishment.
The result had stunned Ye Ziyun, Chen Linjian, Hu Yan Lanruo, and Shen Yue alike.
"Seems I underestimated him after all," Chen Linjian murmured. Challenging someone three ranks above you was something only a handful of supreme geniuses could pull off. Did Nie Li really have only a Red Soul Sea? Chen Linjian found it hard to believe. If someone told him Nie Li had an exceedingly rare Blue Soul Sea, that would be far more believable than a Red Soul Sea.
Delight sparkled in Ye Ziyun's eyes. She hadn't fallen for Nie Li, and she was still annoyed by the way he was always so slick and glib with her. But that didn't stop her from caring about him. When Nie Li challenged Chu Yuan, she'd felt nervous for him. She never expected him to win; the outcome had truly taken her by surprise.
Shen Yue stared at Nie Li's back, grinding his teeth. He'd always thought Nie Li had beaten him through sheer luck, but now he realized Nie Li had been toying with him all along! No wonder the three Bronze 2-star subordinates he'd sent to gang up on Nie Li hadn't laid a finger on him. It wasn't just because Nie Li had been wearing Bronze Armor—Nie Li's strength had been far beyond Bronze 2-star. He'd only pretended to take a beating that day! Thinking of how so many people had wronged him filled Shen Yue's chest with such pent-up fury that he felt ready to explode.
That treacherous, despicable bastard, Nie Li!
Hu Yan Lanruo's ample bosom rose and fell. Nie Li hadn't even reached Bronze 1-star, yet he'd managed to challenge a Bronze 3-star powerhouse across ranks. He'd given her an enormous surprise. Just how many secrets was he hiding?
"I'll have to find a time to take a good look and see what else you're hiding!" Hu Yan Lanruo's cheeks flushed faintly, a bewitching glimmer of desire flashing in her eyes.
Chu Yuan, who'd just fought Nie Li, was drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. The damage to his Soul Power had severely weakened him. It would take at least half a year for him to recover.
"This isn't over!" Chu Yuan glared at Nie Li with hatred.
"I'm always ready!" Nie Li raised an eyebrow. He hadn't taken Chu Yuan seriously in the first place. Reborn, he had much greater goals and had never considered these people his rivals. Chu Yuan was injured, and it would take him months, perhaps even longer, to recover. By then, he'd find himself looking up at Nie Li.
Would an eagle soaring high take any notice of a speck of dust on the ground?
Chu Yuan turned away, looking somewhat unsteady and disheveled.
The duel between Nie Li and Chu Yuan became the center of everyone's conversation. Nobody looked down on Nie Li anymore just because he hadn't reached Bronze 1-star.
They didn't know that the duel had already helped Nie Li break through to Bronze 1-star!
Now that he'd reached Bronze 1-star, Nie Li's strength had increased by more than a few notches! If he truly fought them now, he'd be a match for any one of them.
After this little incident, the group continued along the narrow, rugged mountain path.
"Little brother, you've really surprised me. I saw you pitching your tent alone in a corner last night. Why not set it up beside mine tonight? We could discuss cultivation together." Hu Yan Ruolan walked up to Nie Li, stopping just inches away.
Looking down, Nie Li saw that Hu Yan Lanruo's ample breasts were nearly pressed against him. Their fullness and deep cleavage were faintly visible, and those raised peaks were especially tantalizing.
The faint, fragrant scent of orchids drifted to his nose. There was no denying that Hu Yan Ruolan was quite alluring.
In his previous life, Nie Li had been an ordinary boy whom no girl would ever look twice at. It wasn't until the City of Brilliance fell that he'd had the chance to meet Ye Ziyun and find the goddess of his dreams. He hadn't expected that in this life he'd first meet Xiao Ninger, then have Hu Yan Ruolan come on to him so boldly. He seemed to have a little too much luck with women.
Unfortunately, Nie Li was no longer the ordinary boy he'd been in his previous life. He wouldn't be so easily tempted by beauty. In his heart, there was only Ye Ziyun.
It was Ye Ziyun's love for the ordinary Nie Li from his previous life that had transformed his entire life. Later, Ye Ziyun had left this world with regrets. One of the most important reasons Nie Li had been reborn was to protect her!
Hu Yan Lanruo thought she could tempt him with her beauty, but she'd sorely underestimated him.
Seeing Hu Yan Lanruo using her sexy figure to tempt Nie Li, Ye Ziyun pouted. She didn't like Hu Yan Lanruo at all. She was far too alluring, and Ye Ziyun couldn't stand it. She glanced at Nie Li. With Hu Yan Lanruo tempting him like this, that boy would probably come scampering over to her. Whatever. It had nothing to do with her. Ye Ziyun turned away, thinking to herself.
"Thank you for the offer, Miss Lanruo. You're already at Silver Rank, so I doubt there's much I could discuss with you. I'll have to decline," Nie Li said coolly.
Ye Ziyun paused midstep and glanced back at Nie Li in surprise. She'd never expected him to turn her down.
Hu Yan Lanruo's beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief, too. She'd never slept with a man, but she knew all too well what a stunning asset she had. She often toyed with men until they were utterly enthralled, then left them wanting. She'd thought tempting a little boy like Nie Li would be effortless. Yet from the moment they'd met, his gaze had been clear, and he'd turned down her invitation without hesitation.
Hu Yan Ruolan was overcome with embarrassment and fury. Her eyes suddenly narrowed to slits, gleaming with a bewitching light. Her voice grew softer and more honeyed as she spoke coyly. "Little brother Nie Li, don't you want to get a little closer to big sister?"
Nie Li's pupils contracted slightly. A wave of heady fragrance filled his nostrils. Hu Yan Lanruo's skin glowed with a dewy sheen; her high breasts and shapely bottom were nothing but temptation. Any man who saw her like this would want to pin the sexy, seductive woman beneath him and ravage her.
Though Hu Yan Ruolan stood an arm's length away, all kinds of illusions appeared in Nie Li's mind. Hu Yan Lanruo's breasts pressed tightly against his chest, their soft, silky touch seeming utterly real. Hu Yan Lanruo folded her arms over her chest and watched Nie Li with keen interest, pleased with herself. You've fallen for my bewitchment. Let's see you keep pretending now!
Hu Yan Lanruo thought Nie Li had refused her only to show off in front of Ye Ziyun. He was surely lecherous underneath. If she used a little bewitchment, wouldn't he come crawling right over to her?
Nie Li's heart stirred. A flash of light passed through his eyes, and his pupils cleared in an instant. The illusion shattered.
A little bewitchment like this, and she thought she could control Nie Li? She was underestimating him. Such a technique could only ensnare those whose minds weren't resolute enough. Nie Li had lived two lifetimes; his will was as solid as a rock. How could he be so easily tempted?
"Snow Cherry Demonic Spirit. I didn't expect Miss Lanruo to have such a rare Demonic Spirit," Nie Li said, looking at Hu Yan Lanruo with interest.
Hu Yan Lanruo stared at Nie Li as if she'd been struck by lightning.
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