Nanalie's Little Schemes! The Breakthrough of Wu Changkong

"..."

That afternoon, in the villa district of Eastsea City.

[Lu Li, are you happy today?]

[I suppose so. How about you?]

[Heehee, if you're happy, then I'm happy.]

[You silly girl (emoji)]

[Eek, what a suggestive nickname! But then again, what's wrong with being a little fool who likes you? If I could be liked by you, that would be even better.]

["..."]

In the villa district of Eastsea City.

Lu Li looked at the messages Nanalie sent over the communicator, chatting with her idly. Sometimes, he had to admit that this little love-struck girl...

Was actually quite cute.

Although being love-struck was sometimes worth criticizing, if it was someone being love-struck over him...

Then that was clearly a different story.

Just then, a call came through from Wu Changkong:

"Brother Lu Li, I have fulfilled my mission..."

"I am now a seven-ring Soul Saint."

The moment the call connected, an excited voice came from the other end, laced with indescribable emotion. Breaking through a bottleneck that had lasted for years was a monumental change for Wu Changkong.

"Then congratulations to you, Changkong."

Lu Li was not surprised by this and said with a smile.

Absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Fruit was enough to restore the other man's cultivation and potential to what they once were.

"Your cultivation has been stagnant for many years. With the medicinal effects of the Mysterious Ice Grass, a breakthrough like this certainly won't just be level 71. For the next few days, focus on stabilizing your cultivation."

He thought for a moment and added with a smile.

"As for the children..."

"Leave them to me."

"..."

At the Donghai Academy faculty apartments.

Wu Changkong looked at the seventh soul ring beneath his feet, feeling his cultivation as a Soul Saint, his heart far from calm.

Just as Lu Li had said, his cultivation was not just level 71, but had already reached level 74. The effects brought by the Mysterious Ice Grass were even better than he had anticipated.

And likewise...

He owed a massive favor.

Wu Changkong was never someone who was good at talking to others, especially at this moment; he truly couldn't find the words to say to Lu Li on the other end of the line.

"Brother Lu Li, I know that saying this feels pale and powerless, but... I am truly grateful to you."

"I will definitely do my best to repay you."

He said with difficulty.

He didn't know how to express his gratitude in detail, but he knew that without the other man, the chance to break through to a Soul Saint alone would have been far more remote.

This Soul Saint cultivation, which had been within reach many years ago but had arrived so late, was something he had waited for for many years.

He was no longer young.

"We're brothers, it's no big deal."

"As long as I could help, there's no need for us to say more."

"If you really must repay me, then just cultivate hard and reach the Title Douluo realm as soon as possible."

Listening to Wu Changkong's words, Lu Li shook his head with a smile. He gave him the Mysterious Ice Grass because he acknowledged him as a friend, nothing more. Furthermore...

A 100% increase in cultivation speed had already far exceeded the value of this Mysterious Ice Grass, so there was no need for any repayment.

A heavenly treasure that he would find barely filling even if he ate it, traded for a buff that provided 100% extra cultivation speed at the Title Douluo stage—he had made a huge profit.

"Thank you, but one thing is one thing."

"This matter cannot just be brushed aside."

Wu Changkong shook his head. The better Lu Li treated him, the more he had to strive to repay him, because only then...

Would he be worthy of being the other man's brother.

Taking without giving would only lead their relationship to decline.

"By the way, Brother Lu Li, can you handle the children's classes? Like the practical combat lessons..."

He suddenly thought of something and asked, puzzled.

He was relatively at ease regarding the theory classes, but as for the combat classes and the like, he couldn't help but wonder if it would be brother Lu Li again...

It was no exaggeration to say that if it were the man himself, he was genuinely afraid that a single punch might send the little ones' heads flying off their shoulders.

"Rest assured, regarding the combat classes..."

"I have found a suitable sparring partner for the children."

Lu Li smiled slightly and stated truthfully.

"That couldn't be better."

Wu Changkong finally let out a sigh of relief.

A sparring partner didn't sound like anything too formidable; he figured the other party had probably just found a student from the higher grades, which was fine—fighting against stronger Soul Masters would also help the children improve...

After this, Wu Changkong didn't take up much of Lu Li's time and ended the call quickly, while on Lu Li's communicator screen, there were already many messages from Nanalie.

[Why send an ellipsis? Is it because you have countless sweet nothings you want to say to me but are too shy, Lu~ Li~]

[Hey, hey, why did you stop talking?]

[Did you disappear or... has someone stolen the time you were supposed to invest in me?]

[...]

"A friend called me, I was just replying."

Lu Li had just sent this message when, the very next moment, a call from her came through immediately.

"I forgot until you mentioned it; I could have just called you instead. That way, I wouldn't have to worry about you chatting with other people."

Nanalie's pleasant voice came from the other end, her tone carrying a hint of cuteness as she spoke with a laugh.

As for whether Lu Li's friend was male or female, or who it was...

She wouldn't ask; it would make her seem too sensitive.

"I don't really chat with many people."

Lu Li shook his head with a smile. Did Nanalie really think he was some kind of heartthrob?

Although there were indeed many people who had a good impression of him, he hadn't added many friends before turning eighteen, and Nanalie was, in a sense, an exception.

"Is that so?"

"Then I must carry quite a bit of weight in your heart, right?"

There was a trace of skepticism in Nanalie's tone, but she still said it with a smile. Whether it was true or false, at least...

She was definitely different from others in Lu Li's heart, right?

As long as that was the case, it couldn't be better.

"..."

"Perhaps."

Lu Li chuckled. If Nanalie weren't so blunt, he wouldn't have said anything.

But since she was already being this direct...

It would be too much if he remained cold and unfeeling.

"Eh?"

"Lu Li, what did you say?"

Hearing Lu Li's sudden response, Nanalie, far away in Tiandou City, was startled for a moment, and then her eyes immediately curved into crescent moons.

Could it be that...

"What's wrong? You are my friend; why make such a big fuss about having weight?"

Listening to her surprised voice, Lu Li let out a soft laugh and said slowly.

"Ugh, just a friend! I thought it was something else..."

Nanalie pouted. This Lu Li, she really wanted to give him a good lesson; how could he be so mean?

The weight she was talking about clearly wasn't that kind of weight, okay?

"If you have the guts, come to Tiandou City again."

"See if I don't..."

"Teach you a lesson, you annoying guy."

Nanalie gave a light huff and said fiercely.

Last time, she had been too soft-hearted.

If there were a next time...

Then she would make him see what she was really capable of!

"Alright."

"I'll be waiting."

Lu Li responded to this with a smile, feeling nothing much in his heart; if this Little Bell could truly sanction him, then he would be the weak one.

That would be a sign of his own weakness.

"You actually dared to answer, Lu Li. Then let me ask you a question—do you dare to answer it!"

Nanalie gave a soft huff and said.

"Go ahead."

A hint of curiosity appeared on Lu Li's face as he nodded.

"The person who just called you, was it a man or a woman?"

"..."

"A man."

A look of helplessness crossed Lu Li's face. If she felt a sense of crisis, she should just say so; why make it about whether he dared to answer or not?

"Mm, wonderful!"

Nanalie's tone softened immediately as she said with a smile.

If it was a boy, she could rest easy...

"Next time you come to Tiandou City, I'll take you to eat something delicious."

"What kind of delicious food?"

"I won't tell you, hee hee..."

"..."

Time flew by until the next day.

That morning, at the training grounds, the combat class for the Zero Class had already begun. Except for Gu Yue, everyone else was standing on the combat platform once again with the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Xiao Ba.

"Yesterday, we probably didn't even break one-tenth of its defense. Today, our goal is—"

Tang Wulin and the others exchanged glances, each seeing the determination in the other's eyes:

"One-tenth!"

"..."

A look of silence appeared on Lu Li's face, his words catching in his throat.

Should he say that the children's minds were simple and unadorned, or should he say that they really lacked ambition?

Was breaking one-tenth such a high requirement?

But this was fine, too.

Improving a little bit every day, accumulating over time, the progress these little ones made wouldn't be insignificant.

"Teacher Lu Li, what about me?"

Gu Yue came to his side, lost in thought.

"As for you, go back and cultivate."

"This kind of combat class doesn't have much meaning for you, Gu Yue. You can come if you want, but I suggest you don't."

Lu Li scrutinized her for a moment before speaking earnestly.

For a true genius, especially this Silver Dragon King who possessed countless combat experiences and techniques, what kind of classes were needed? Meditation was all that was required.

Just like him—aside from meditation, he only cultivated his side professions.

For geniuses like them, there was only one thing to do: work hard to improve their own cultivation and potential. As for the rest...

The numbers would teach everyone everything.

"..."

"Alright."

Gu Yue nodded. Brother Lu Li acting as a teacher really brought a different style to things.

At the same time, on the other side.

Wu Changkong walked out of the faculty apartments, ultimately feeling a bit uneasy as he made his way to the training grounds, a look of contemplation on his face.

"I don't know what kind of combat class Brother Lu Li is giving the little ones. Let me take a look..."

But soon, watching the Tyrannosaurus Rex swat Wei Xiaofeng away with a single claw on the combat platform, he silently placed a question mark in his heart.

Are you sure...

This is an appropriate sparring partner???

"..."

Nanalie: Do you guys think I still have a chance?