Protagonist Halo? Sorry, I Chopped Half of It Off!

A few days later.

Served by two beautiful maids, Lin Yuan leisurely finished breakfast before yawning and swaying his way toward the Dragon Summer Country Capital Martial Arts Academy.

Ever since he had won the tournament championship and received the Old Man's "Lying-Flat Special Permit," he felt that life had become increasingly comfortable.

Going to school now was, to him, nothing more than changing locations to sleep.

The moment he entered campus, he sharply caught the sound of several students huddled together not far away.

They had lowered their voices, discussing something in a secretive manner.

"Have you heard? That Ye Xuan is practically insane!"

"What happened? What did he do this time?"

"A few days ago, he actually went to the black market alone and took that Level Six Mission that had been hanging there for a month—to hunt a Phantom Leopard!"

"Holy crap! Real or fake? Does he have a death wish? That's a Tier Two Ferocious Beast!"

"Exactly! But guess what? That guy actually succeeded! Though I heard he only had half his life left when he returned, he still managed to slaughter the Phantom Leopard!"

"My god! That's way too fierce! Doesn't that mean he struck it rich? A Phantom Leopard's spirit core is top-grade material!"

"Isn't it? I heard he made a killing this time! He was probably hit hard by losing to Young Master Lin in the tournament, so now he's cultivating with his life on the line, trying to win back his pride!"

Hearing their discussion, Lin Yuan, who was passing by, slowed slightly.

Ye Xuan?

Hunted a Phantom Leopard?

And obtained a High-grade Phantom Spirit Core?

Something stirred in Lin Yuan's heart.

This guy...

Was his luck really that good?

More importantly, with a Tier Two Ferocious Beast, could Ye Xuan, at the Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level, really kill it alone?

The strength of a Tier Two Ferocious Beast was comparable to the Marrow Cleansing Realm, but because ferocious beasts possessed powerful sinews and bones, it was nearly impossible for an ordinary Marrow Cleansing Second Level cultivator to kill one alone.

Clearly...

Ye Xuan truly was no ordinary person.

But after giving it some thought, Lin Yuan immediately understood the key.

The Protagonist Halo. Nothing strange about that.

After all, Ye Xuan was the Child of Destiny in this book, Extreme Martial God, the author's Favorite Son.

With destiny's favor upon him, he was destined to rise.

Only...

The corner of Lin Yuan's mouth curved into an amused smile.

His road to rise was far more rugged now than it had been in the Original Work.

In the original plot.

Ye Xuan had risen to fame in a single battle during the tournament, stepping on him, this "Villain," to climb upward in limitless glory.

Then, he would earn the attention of the academy's upper management.

All kinds of top-tier cultivation resources, Cultivation Manuals, and opportunities to cultivate in secret realms would be showered upon him as though they cost nothing.

He only needed to cultivate step by step to raise his strength safely and quickly.

But what about now?

Lin Yuan had stolen the tournament championship, eclipsed his limelight, and naturally, the academy's rewards no longer had anything to do with him.

Having lost him as an "ATM" and lost the academy's preferential resource allocation, Ye Xuan had only one path left if he wanted to grow stronger.

That was to take missions at the black market, go to the most dangerous places, live with blood on the blade's edge, and trade his life for resources.

Though he could still obtain fortuitous encounters, weren't the risks more than ten times greater than in the Original Work?

And besides, those scant resources he earned through painstaking, life-risking struggle probably amounted to less than half of what the Lin Family and the academy could provide!

Just Then, the students who had been discussing the matter finally noticed Lin Yuan passing by them.

"Y-Young Master Lin!"

Their faces turned pale with a swish, their discussion abruptly cut off. They were so frightened they nearly bit their tongues.

They had just been talking about how Ye Xuan had been provoked by Lin Yuan, and now the man himself had overheard them?

The group hurriedly forced out smiles uglier than crying, bending at the waist as they greeted Lin Yuan.

"Good morning, Young Master Lin!"

"Morning, Young Master Lin!"

Then, without waiting for any reaction from Lin Yuan, they fled at a quick pace without looking back, as though they had seen a ghost.

Watching their panicked retreating backs, Lin Yuan merely found it somewhat amusing.

He shook his head, too lazy to fuss over it, and strolled straight toward the familiar ancient tree in the Back Garden.

Ye Xuan was risking his life?

What the hell did that have to do with me?

Even if the sky fell, don't even think about disturbing my sleep.

With the swagger of someone who recognized neither kin nor kinship, Lin Yuan was about to head for his personal Lying-Flat Sanctuary—

The century-old tree in the Back Garden.

But halfway there, a beautiful figure suddenly charged out from the side and blocked his path.

"Well, Champion Lin, heading off for another big nap?"

The newcomer was none other than Gu Ningxue.

Today, she wore a sharp martial arts uniform that vividly outlined her fiery, curvaceous figure.

Her Big Wavy Perm was tied into a high ponytail, making her look exceptionally valiant.

"Something wrong?"

Lin Yuan lifted his eyelids slightly, his tone lazy.

"Of course there is, and it's a huge piece of good news." Gu Ningxue crossed her arms, an enigmatic smile on her face.

She did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "On behalf of the academy's School Team, I formally invite you to join. In one month, it will be the annual National University Martial Arts League. We need your strength."

The National University Martial Arts League?

Lin Yuan searched his memories. This was indeed a relatively important plot point in the Original Work.

It was the highest-level contest among all the top martial arts academies in Dragon Summer Country.

It was also the best stage for young geniuses to make their mark and earn attention at the national level.

Achieving good results in the league would not only bring glory to one's school; individuals could also gain massive resources and honors, even being directly recruited under exceptional terms by the military or major powers.

"Represent the school, exchange techniques with geniuses from other top academies across the country, bring honor to the academy, and receive countless honors and rewards." Gu Ningxue looked at him and coaxed him patiently. "So? Interested?"

Yet after hearing her out, Lin Yuan merely yawned and looked at her as though she were an idiot.

"Do you think a genius like this young master needs to fight others over those three melons and two dates worth of resources?"

Gu Ningxue: "..."

That statement had completely killed the conversation.

The top-tier resources ordinary people dreamed of were, in his mouth, merely "three melons and two dates"?

Though he was telling the truth, that was far too demoralizing!

Ignoring her constipated expression, Lin Yuan instead raised a brow and asked, "Besides, something isn't right here. Inviting me onto the team is such a major matter. Shouldn't the Principal or the dean personally come? Why did they send you?"

Gu Ningxue curled her lips and said nothing.

But her expression already explained everything.

Lin Yuan understood in an instant.

That bunch of old foxes!

They definitely knew he was difficult to talk to. If they came to him directly, they would most likely leave with their noses bruised against a wall.

And Gu Ningxue was one of the few girls in the academy whose family background could stand alongside his, and she had also grown rather close to him recently.

So they assigned this task to Gu Ningxue, hoping to use a Honey Trap?

Or rather...

Did they think the chances of success would be a little higher if they negotiated through Gu Ningxue?

Dream on!