Did You Mean It, or Were You Just Being Polite?

"Go to the Northwest Frontline to hunt Exotic Beast? Lanjing is tens of thousands of kilometers away from the Kunlun Ruins in the Northwest, right? Are there any Star Boat available tomorrow?"

"There are definitely Star Boat. Taking Star Boat to the Northwest Frontline and back would only take an hour."

"I remember the rules for hunting Exotic Beast are that hunting Tier 1 Exotic Beast rewards you with 20 Credit, hunting Tier 2 Exotic Beast rewards you with 50 Credit, and hunting Tier 3 Exotic Beast rewards you with 100 Credit."

Our whole class pitched in; I wonder how many Credit we can earn in a day."

When the students in the class heard that they were to hunt down the Exotic Beast, they began to discuss it amongst themselves.

"Hunting Exotic Beast?"

Tang Guanlin's gaze shifted. His strength was undeniable; he was at the Organ Refining Stage. As long as the competition involved martial arts, he wouldn't be afraid. On the platform, Pang Xiuming continued, "Hunting Exotic Beast alone is unsustainable, so you two can each find an outside helper. You can look within our class or outside."

All students, gather at the Star Boat Landing Plaza of Blue Star University at 8:00 AM tomorrow morning. Class dismissed!

After Pang Xiuming finished speaking, he left the classroom.

"Holy crap, hunting Exotic Beast?"

Huang Yuande's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Chen Lie and said, "Chen Lie, the instructor said we can ask for help from other classes. Why don't you just call your girlfriend from the Sunan Province Genius Group yesterday to help you?"

At this moment, Chen Huafeng from the back row leaned in. "What? Girlfriend? That girl from the Sunan Province Genius Group yesterday is Chen Lie's girlfriend? That's awesome! A guy from East River Province found a martial arts genius girlfriend from a martial Provincial Genius Group. Bringing her home for the New Year, wouldn't that be incredibly prestigious?"

"You two shouldn't talk nonsense. I don't know the specifics of the situation yet," Chen Lie Chen Huafeng, tapping Huang Yuande table.

"I'm not making this up, but regarding tomorrow's Exotic Beast -hunting competition, are you saying you won't ask that member of the Sunan Province Genius Group for help?" Huang Yuande asked. "No need, I can handle it myself," Chen Lie replied.

"Hunting Exotic Beast isn't a one-person job. The members of the Sunan Province Genius Group are definitely not weak. If you get them to help you, you'll definitely be able to beat that show-off Tang Guanlin."

Chen Lie waved his hand. It was just hunting Exotic Beast. Even if all 149 students in the class were combined, they probably wouldn't have hunted as many as he had.

Just as Chen Lie got up to leave the classroom, Chi Naixue walked up to him.

"Chen Lie, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Arriving beside Chen Lie, Chi Naixue parted her red lips slightly and spoke softly.

"What's up?"

"It's about the Class Promotion Assessment quota. I heard that the standards for this Class Promotion Assessment are very strict. Strength Value too low or your martial arts skills are weak, you won't be eligible."

With five times your Strength Value, I'm afraid you'll have a hard time passing the Class Promotion Assessment.

"Who told you my Strength Value is 5 times?" Chen Lie retorted.

"Didn't you fill in 'five times the Strength Value' on your enrollment form? Have you improved again?"

Chi Naixue was taken aback, then said, "No matter what, it will be very difficult for you to pass the Class Promotion Assessment. You might as well give up on this Class Promotion Assessment and wait another half a month..."

Chen Lie said expressionlessly, "You advised me to wait half a month, what's your reason?"

Chi Naixue replied softly, "Tang Guanlin's strength has already reached the Organ Refining Stage. The training environment in the Key Class is currently insufficient to meet his martial arts progress. I think we are all classmates and all came from the Hunan-Guangdong Provincial Genius Group, so we are destined to meet. Why don't you voluntarily withdraw from the competition for the spot and give up your place in the Class Promotion Assessment..."

"You don't need to waste your breath, I've already reserved the spot."

Upon hearing Chen Lie's direct refusal, Chi Naixue frowned, her tone turning colder. "Chen Lie, are you really not going to reconsider?"

"There's nothing to consider," Chen Lie said calmly.

Huang Yuande, standing behind, couldn't help but ask in bewilderment, "Chi Naixue, you're not at all like the goddess Chi in the hearts of all the trainees at the Xiangguang Province Genius Training Camp. What's your relationship with Tang Guanlin? Why are you standing up for him like this?"

Chen Lie also came with our Xiangguang Province, even earlier than Tang Guanlin. Isn't your bias a bit too obvious?"

Chi Naixue said calmly, "I don't favor anyone, but objectively I feel that Chen Lie's strength is unlikely to pass the Class Promotion Assessment. Giving the Class Promotion Assessment spot to Tang Guanlin would not be a waste."

"Chen Lie, our advisor said there will be a competition to hunt Exotic Beast. What do you think your chances of winning are? You're likely to lose. Why don't you give up your spot in advance and do Tang Guanlin a favor? He'll definitely repay you in the future, otherwise you won't get anything in return."

Chen Lie was almost laughing in anger at Chi Naixue's words. After a long while, he finally managed to utter two words: "Get lost!"

Chi Naixue's expression changed immediately upon hearing Chen Lie speak so rudely to her.

After her proactive conversations over the past two days, she had assumed Chen Lie's opinion of her had improved, only to find out she had been delusional. She took a deep breath, telling herself that it wasn't surprising that Chen Lie, as the Martial Leader, was selfish and self-serving, prioritizing his own will and interests. After calming herself, she said coldly, "The number one in East River Province wouldn't even rank in the top thousand on this Blue Star. In Xiangguang Province, he'd be just a trainee in Genius Training Camp."

Although we've only been classmates for less than a month, I still want to kindly remind you not to bring the arrogance you had in your impoverished Chuanzhong Province to Blue Star University. Overestimating yourself will only harm you.

"Don't even mention you, even Zou Mingjun, the Martial Leader of our Xiangguang Province, can only barely be considered a top-tier martial arts genius at Blue Star University." After saying this, Chi Naixue turned and left.

Huang Yuande gave Chen Lie a thumbs up and told Chi Naixue to "get lost," something these Special Enrollment Student from Xiangguang Province wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Outside the classroom, Tang Guanlin saw Chi Naixue walk out with an icy expression, and he immediately understood.

"That kid didn't agree, did he?"

"Not only did they not, but their tone was quite excessive," Chi Naixue said.

"This is exactly what I expected. I was trying to communicate with him calmly, but he immediately started hurling insults. It seems he's brought his Martial Leader prowess to Blue Star University level," Tang Guanlin said.

Chi Naixue raised her eyebrows and said, "I don't understand. He has no chance of winning tomorrow's Exotic Beast -hunting competition, so why won't he take the initiative to back down?"

"Perhaps they have something to rely on."

Tang Guanlin frowned. Since Chen Lie had connections with that member of the Sunan Province Genius Group Sunan Province, he would most likely seek help from that Genius Group in tomorrow's Exotic Beast -hunting competition.

Southern Jiangsu and East Su are adjacent provinces, both belonging to the Wudong region. Although the Martial Arts Index of the two provinces differs by four places, the gap is negligible. The two neighboring provinces occasionally hold martial arts exchanges, so he had heard of Ruan Liusu. Although he had never fought with him, he knew that Ruan Liusu's strength was at the upper level in Sunan Province, while he was only at the middle level in the Sudong Province Genius Group.

His strength is most likely inferior to Ruan Liusu's, so we must be wary of him in tomorrow's Exotic Beast -hunting competition.

"Do you want to choose a tutor from within the class tomorrow, or find someone outside the class?"

If it's in class, do you need my help?

Tang Guanlin shook his head and said, "I won't trouble you. I know people in the Sudong Province Genius Group."

"Alright."

Chi Naixue nodded slightly. She knew that there were many people like Huang Yuande among the Special Enrollment Student in Xiangguang Province. While some might say she, as the Special Enrollment Student representative, favored Tang Guanlin, she wasn't actually biased towards anyone. In the Martial Era, wasn't it only natural that the strong should receive preferential treatment?

She asked herself honestly, and realized she hadn't taken sides. This time, she would remain neutral and let them be.

After having lunch with Huang Yuande, Chen Lie began the early stages of Organ Refining Stage the fourth organ of the Refining Organs stage, the "Ren Fire Heart," in the Cultivation Room of the Teaching Building in the afternoon.

Of the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) and five Five Viscera, only the Ren Fire Heart) and the Wu Earth Spleen) remain.

The afternoon's cultivation passed quickly. Chen Lie used the Qi and blood nourishing method from the <Flood Dragon Rebirth Technique> to gently temper his heart twice. This is how the Organ Refining Stage works; one must first use the gentlest Blood Qi Circulation Method to temper the organs to a certain strength before truly beginning Organ Refining. If the initial tempering is inadequate, directly attempting Organ Refining is an improper practice, resulting in a rough Organ Refining and easily leaving hidden injuries. This is also a shortcoming of most Organ Refining techniques on Blue Star.

Unlike Organ Refining the Skin Refining, Muscle Refining, and Bone Refining can leave hidden dangers if one is not careful during the practice.

After finishing his afternoon of cultivation, Chen Lie returned to his Dormitory to rest.

The next morning, while Chen Lie was still meditating on the sofa practicing the Star God Cultivation Method of the <Lingguang Divine Refining Chapter>, he heard a loud knocking on the door. At the same time, voices came from outside.

"Chen Lie, are you awake? Let's hurry to the Star Boat Parking Plaza, we're leaving promptly at eight o'clock!"

Chen Lie stopped cultivating, walked to the door, and opened the Dormitory door, where he saw Huang Yuande and Chen Huafeng standing outside.

Huang Yuande grinned and said, "It's already seven o'clock. I saw in the class group chat that a lot of people have already arrived at Star Boat Plaza and are waiting." "Okay, wait for me, I'll be right out."

Chen Lie returned to the Dormitory bathroom to wash up, and walked out of the Dormitory in less than five minutes.

After we went down to the Dormitory Building, Chen Huafeng asked, "Weren't you competing with Tang Guanlin today to see who could hunt more Exotic Beast? Did you find any helpers?"

Chen Lie shook his head and said, "I didn't look for anyone, I can manage on my own."

"You alone? That definitely won't work! I heard Tang Guanlin found a former member of the Genius Group from East Su Province. If the mentor sees you alone, they definitely won't agree, and they might have to change the competition event."

Chen Lie thought for a moment and said, "Then let Huang Yuande team up with me!"

"I?"

Huang Yuande, who was standing next to Chen Lie, was stunned when he heard Chen Lie's words.

"Huang Yuande? Looking for Huang Yuande as a partner? That's ridiculous!"

"Huang Yuande's strength isn't even enough to handle a Tier 1 Exotic Beast. He might even distract you and make you protect him," Chen Huafeng said. Huang Yuande scratched the back of his head and said, "Yeah, Chen Lie, I'm a real pain in the neck. If you come to me, you might end up hunting fewer Exotic Beast."

"It's alright, less hunting is fine," Chen Lie said.

Huang Yuande and Chen Huafeng were puzzled. If that was the case, why not just admit defeat? Why go through all this trouble?

Before long, Chen Lie and his two companions arrived at the Star Boat Plaza of Blue Star University.

There are more than ten small Star Boat parked in Star Boat Plaza.

More than one hundred students from the 15th Key Class were waiting beneath a small Star Boat.

After arriving at Star Boat Plaza, Chen Lie and his two companions walked directly into the large crowd.

Soon, it was 7:30 in the morning.

All 150 students in the 15th Key Class were present. During this time, Tang Guanlin brought a beautiful girl with him. As the class monitor, Mu Ningshu stepped forward and looked at the beautiful girl next to Tang Guanlin Tang Guanlin, asking, "Tang, who is this...?" "This is Yang Yumo, a member of our Sudong Province Genius Group," Tang Guanlin introduced.

"Oh, it's you, Yang. Hello."

Upon hearing that this girl was actually a member of the Sudong Province Genius Group, Mu Ningshu immediately felt a greater sense of respect for her.

East Su Province is among the top ten provinces on Blue Star, and the gap between it and Jinhai Province is very small. The members of the Sunan Province Genius Group must be very strong.

Yang Yumo simply nodded slightly to Mu Ningshu.

Behind the crowd, Huang Yuande, his face turning green, said, "This Tang Guanlin knows quite a few pretty girls. He's a member of the Sudong Province Genius Group, so his martial arts must be top-notch."

"Tang Guanlin was a member of the Sudong Province Genius Group before, so it's normal for him to know other members of the Sudong Province Genius Group," Chen Huafeng said. At this moment, Pang Xiuming, the tutor of the 15th Key Class, also arrived.

After Pang Xiuming arrived, he immediately called out everyone's names. Once everyone in the class was present, he announced, "Classmates, now that everyone is here, let's board the Star Boat."

As soon as Pang Xiuming spoke, the students of 15th Key Class, lined up and boarded the airship.

A small Star Boat, capable of holding over a thousand people, was Star Boat up by the students of 15th Key Class, who then dispersed and sat down.

Chen Lie, Huang Yuande, and Chen Huafeng went to the middle of the Star Boat and found a place to sit down.

At this point, students from other classes began boarding the Star Boat.

As soon as he sat down, Huang Yuande said, "Chen Lie, you really can't rely on me for support. I only increased my Blood Qi Value by 2,000 units in the last couple of days, and I still can't handle a Tier 1 Exotic Beast head-on. If you ask me to go, I'll definitely just hold you back."

Chen Huafeng, who was standing next to him, asked, "Yeah, you might as well just admit defeat instead of asking Huang Yuande to be your partner."

"Look at Tang Guanlin, he directly brought in a Genius Group member from one of the top ten provinces on Blue Star to assist him, how can we possibly win?"

Chen Lie neither agreed nor disagreed with Huang Yuande and Chen Huafeng's advice, only saying, "Let Huang Yuande come with me, it's fine."

Seeing Chen Lie's attitude, Huang Yuande wanted to say something to persuade him, but at that moment, a clear voice rang out.

"Chen Lie, what a coincidence!"

Upon hearing the voice, Chen Lie and the other two all turned to look.

A stunningly beautiful girl with a high ponytail, dressed in a standard martial arts uniform, smiled and waved to Chen Lie.

"We haven't seen each other since we parted ways in East River Province after military training. I never expected to meet you here today."

"Oh, it's Ji Lingxuan, hello."

Chen Lie greeted Ji Lingxuan without making a sound, but he couldn't help but be surprised.

As expected of a martial arts genius who has risen to prominence in just one year, Ji Lingxuan's martial arts realm has reached the Organ Refining Stage Completion in less than a month since she came to Blue Star University, and she has already stepped into the Blood Refining Stage with one foot in it.

In her previous life, Ji Lingxuan was the undisputed Three-Province Martial Champion, Infinity Building prestige in the Three Provinces of Chuanzhong.

However, Chen Lie was not at a high enough level to know how Ji Lingxuan was doing at Blue Star University. Now it seems that the land of Chuanzhong had indeed limited Ji Lingxuan's talent. Once she arrived at Blue Star University, she began to spread her wings and soar.

"I wonder which campus and class you are in at Blue Star University, Chen Lie?" Ji Lingxuan asked.

"First Campus, 15th Key Class)," Chen Lie said.

"The Key Class?"

Ji Lingxuan's tone was surprised and doubtful. Logically speaking, Chen Lie had defeated her and become the Chuanzhong Martial Champion. He was Region-Level Genius and could have directly joined the Super Genius Class. Instead, because of the obstruction of a candidate for Administrator of Blue Star, he had to Qidian from the Key Class. Putting herself in his shoes, she could feel indignant for Chen Lie.

Even for the top ten martial arts geniuses on the Blue Star Blood-Qi Extreme Realm Ranking, this is going too far.

Ji Lingxuan looked at Chen Lie and realized that they both came from poor families, just like herself. Chen Lie's family seemed to be better off than hers, but in the eyes of the powerful and wealthy, there was no difference between them. She could understand the hardships and difficulties Chen Lie had gone through.

Chen Lie generously shared with her the exquisite cultivation methods of the Organ Refining Stage, and she secretly resolved that if she had the ability in the future, she would definitely help Chen Lie get justice.

"I'm in the Second Campus, in the 16th Genius Class. If you need any help, you can contact me on Green Bubble. If I can help you, I will definitely do so," Ji Lingxuan said.

From behind, a girl said, "Captain, our classmates from Cloud River Province are waiting for us."

Ji Lingxuan glanced at the girl and Chen Liedao, "Chen Lie, then I'll go first..."

"Etc!"

Huang Yuande slapped his forehead and stood up. "Excuse me, are you a student in the Genius Class?"

Ji Lingxuan nodded slightly.

"Then your strength should be at the Blood-Qi Extreme Realm Bone Refining, right?" Huang Yuande asked again.

The girl behind him scoffed, looking at Huang Yuande with the eyes of someone looking at a country bumpkin, and said, "Bone Refining Stage? Our Captain Ji was already at the Organ Refining Stage before he even entered Blue Star University."

Two days ago, the two Genius Class competed in a martial arts tournament against the Martial Leader from one of the top twenty provinces on Blue Star. In less than a hundred moves, they defeated the one named Wang Tengyun. Chen Huafeng murmured during the match, "Wang Tengyun? He seems to be the Martial Leader from the twentieth province on Blue Star, Hejian Province."

"Wow, that's incredible! He can defeat the martial Martial Leader of the top twenty provinces on Blue Star within a hundred moves?"

Huang Yuande was taken aback, then asked, "Um... classmate, what you just said about never refusing to help Chen Lie if he needs it, was that genuine, or just a polite gesture?"

Ji Lingxuan frowned slightly and said, "Of course, it's what I truly mean!"

"That's perfect. Our class advisor is holding a competition to hunt Exotic Beast and compete for a spot in the Class Promotion Assessment. Chen Lie is one of the two participants, and according to the rules, each of them can find an assistant."

His opponent was also a formidable figure who should have directly joined the Genius Class, and he even found a member of the genius group from the top ten provinces of the Blue Star Sudong Province Genius Group, to assist him.

Chen Lie couldn't find anyone to help him, so he insisted on dragging me along to assist him. I only have two thousand Blood Qi Value and a little over four times that Strength Value. With that little strength, I'm not even enough to deal with a Tier 1 Exotic Beast. The only thing he can do by coming to me is to hold him back.

"Didn't you genuinely want to help Chen Lie? Now, what a coincidence, this is just the right opportunity," Huang Yuande said.

Ji Lingxuan glanced at Chen Lie with her clear eyes and said without hesitation, "If Chen Lie needs my help, I will certainly do my best." "That's wonderful!"

Huang Yuande immediately clapped and cheered.

The girl behind Ji Lingxuan said, "Captain, we still have a mission today..."

"The task isn't urgent, let's postpone it until tomorrow. You can go back now; just tell them I have personal matters to attend to today." Ji Lingxuan glanced at the girl behind her. "This..." The girl hesitated for a moment, then said, "The instructor is here to witness this task firsthand. Is it appropriate to postpone it until tomorrow?"

Ji Lingxuan said, "I will explain to the mentor. Just tell the truth."

"Tell the truth?"

The girl was speechless. What could she say?