Rising Again

Over the past few days, after receiving pills supplied by the Alchemist Association, the Winged Dragon Family's business had soared higher by the day.

In a bustling district of Glory City, a sea of people crowded outside the Winged Dragon Family's pill shop, filling the place with lively chatter.

Early in the morning, the shop had barely opened before a sizable queue had already formed. Residents throughout the city were talking about the pills the Winged Dragon Family sold.

"Hey, have you heard? The pills the Winged Dragon Family sells now are all the Alchemist Association's hottest products. They work exactly the same!

"When they were sold at the Alchemist Association, there were so many people that I couldn't get any. Now it's great-as long as you've got the money, you can buy as many as you want," a middle-aged man said excitedly.

A young woman beside him agreed. "Exactly! I bought a bottle of Soul-Nourishing Pills a few days ago, too. After taking them, I felt my Soul Force grow quite a bit."

"Who would have thought? The Sacred Family had nearly crushed the Winged Dragon Family's business. Who could have expected them to suddenly gain the Alchemist Association's support and secure a shipment of pills?" an old man said, stroking his beard.

Not only ordinary residents but also young members of prominent families were drawn there.

"It looks like the Winged Dragon Family is on the rise. These pills really are good quality," a young nobleman told his attendant as he selected pills.

"Young master, why don't we buy some extra and take them back for the others in the family to try?" the attendant suggested.

"Yes, buy more. I never expected the Winged Dragon Family to suddenly establish ties with the Alchemist Association. It seems we can't underestimate them anymore," the young nobleman said with a nod.

The Winged Dragon Family's members were happily run off their feet. Watching the endless stream of customers and money pouring in, they all wore joyful smiles.

Xiao Ning'er was happier still. These past few days, she had spent almost every day with Xiao Tianhao, discussing how to better promote the pills and cultivating together to strengthen their Soul Force. In their free time, they also ate together and went for walks.

One day, however, Xiao Ning'er happened to see Xiao Tianhao with Huyan Lanruo. They were talking and laughing, and seemed very close.

Xiao Ning'er froze. A sharp pain stabbed through her heart, and anger surged within her.

She had always thought that she and Xiao Tianhao were already boyfriend and girlfriend. She had never expected him to have another woman.

Furious, Xiao Ning'er turned and left. After returning to the Winged Dragon Family, she refused to acknowledge Xiao Tianhao again.

Apart from attending classes and visiting Ye Ziyun, she stayed almost entirely at home, turning a deaf ear to any messages from Xiao Tianhao.

Xiao Tianhao noticed the change in Xiao Ning'er. He knew she must have seen him when Huyan Lanruo came to find him that day.

Still, he did not want to rush over and explain himself. Though he had never been in a relationship, he knew an angry girl would not be easy to soothe. He would wait a few days and talk to Ning'er once her anger had subsided a little.

While Xiao Ning'er was sulking over Xiao Tianhao and Huyan Lanruo, Chu Yuan finished preparing his revenge.

He had recruited seven students who were jealous of Xiao Tianhao or held grudges against him. Most were consumed by envy, jealousy, and resentment because Xiao Tianhao, a mere commoner, had won the favor of both Xiao Ning'er and Huyan Lanruo, daughters of the main lines of wealthy, prominent families. Chu Yuan had only needed to promise them a few benefits to secure their agreement.

One evening, the sky was growing dark.

Xiao Tianhao was walking back to his dormitory as usual.

He had actually noticed long ago that someone was following him, but he gave nothing away. Deliberately slowing his steps, he lured the group closer.

Seeing that Xiao Tianhao appeared completely unguarded, Chu Yuan and the others secretly rejoiced.

They followed Xiao Tianhao to a secluded corner of the academy. Dense trees surrounded the spot, and hardly anyone came there. It was the perfect place to strike.

"Hmph, Xiao Tianhao, you're going to learn your lesson today!" Chu Yuan darted out from behind a tree and snarled.

The seven students with him also closed in, surrounding Xiao Tianhao on all sides.

Xiao Tianhao looked at them and sneered. "I wondered who it was. Isn't this Young Master Chu? What, is your face itching for another slap?"

Chu Yuan's face flushed with anger. "Don't get so cocky! With this many of us here, you couldn't escape even if you sprouted wings."

With that, Chu Yuan struck first. Putting all his strength into his right fist, he swung viciously at Xiao Tianhao's face, as though he meant to vent every bit of his jealousy and resentment through that single punch.

At the same time, the other students rushed him together. Some reached for Xiao Tianhao's arms, while others kicked at his waist.

Unhurried, Xiao Tianhao shifted slightly to one side and easily dodged Chu Yuan's fist.

Then he caught Chu Yuan's punching arm and twisted it hard. Chu Yuan cried out in pain, his body involuntarily twisting along with it.

Just then, a student lunged from behind, trying to grab Xiao Tianhao.

Without even turning his head, Xiao Tianhao kicked backward, striking the student squarely in the crotch.

The student let out a muffled groan and dropped to his knees, clutching his crotch, his face contorted with agony.

The remaining students sucked in sharp breaths at the sight, their attacks suddenly becoming hesitant.

But relying on their numbers, they still pressed the attack, coming at Xiao Tianhao from different directions.

Xiao Tianhao's gaze remained calm as he wove through the group with nimble footwork.

Seizing an opening, he punched one student in the chest. The student stumbled back several steps and nearly fell.

Chu Yuan broke free of Xiao Tianhao's hold and charged again.

Curling both hands into claws, he grabbed at Xiao Tianhao's throat.

Xiao Tianhao frowned, dodged sideways, then swiftly punched Chu Yuan in the shoulder.

Chu Yuan staggered in pain, but still refused to give up. Gritting his teeth, he lunged again.

Xiao Tianhao decided to end this quickly. Focusing his mind, he activated the ability of his Demon Eye Demon Spirit.

In an instant, an invisible wave of mental force surged outward. Agonizing pain exploded in the heads of Chu Yuan and the other students, as though countless needles were stabbing into their brains. Their fierce attacks immediately became limp and powerless.

"Aah!" Chu Yuan screamed, clutching his head with both hands as his gaze grew dazed. The other students also grabbed their heads and screamed, staggering as their attacks ground to a halt.

Taking advantage of the opening, Xiao Tianhao used the Demon Eye's ability again, creating a mental illusion.

Within the illusion, Chu Yuan and the others no longer saw Xiao Tianhao. Instead, they saw one another as enemies.

As though trapped in a life-or-death battle, they unleashed everything they had, savagely attacking their former "allies."

"How dare you ambush me!" one student roared, swinging a fist at the person beside him.

"You struck first! I'll fight you to the death!" another student shouted, his eyes red as he kicked at his opponent.

For a time, Chu Yuan and the others turned on one another, plunging the scene into utter chaos.

They traded punches and kicks in a furious brawl, cries of pain ringing out from time to time.

Xiao Tianhao stood to one side, watching coldly. He had no intention of letting them off easily. These people had tried to attack him underhandedly out of jealousy and resentment. Today, he had to teach them a lesson they would not forget.

After a while, Chu Yuan and the others gradually emerged from the illusion. Looking at their badly injured companions, then at the utterly composed Xiao Tianhao, they were filled with terror.

"You... are you a man or a ghost?" Chu Yuan asked, his voice trembling. By now, he was overwhelmed with regret. He should never have provoked this seemingly ordinary commoner.

Xiao Tianhao stepped forward and looked down at Chu Yuan. "I'll warn you one more time. Don't provoke me again, or it won't end this simply next time."

With that, he turned and left, leaving the injured students groaning in pain.

After this incident, Xiao Tianhao had thoroughly scared the courage out of Chu Yuan. He never dared entertain thoughts of revenge against Xiao Tianhao again.

Word of the incident also quietly spread through the academy. Those who had harbored resentment toward Xiao Tianhao reined in their thoughts as well, no longer daring to provoke him lightly.

Because Xiao Tianhao had demonstrated such formidable strength, quite a few more girls had recently begun sending him love letters and confessing their feelings.

Of course, he politely turned them all down.

Meanwhile, the Winged Dragon Family's pill sales remained red-hot.

The family's finances improved steadily, and its members felt even greater trust in and gratitude toward Xiao Ning'er.

But the knot in Xiao Ning'er's heart remained untangled. She still refused to speak to Xiao Tianhao.

Although Xiao Tianhao had dealt with the trouble from Chu Yuan, Xiao Ning'er's cold shoulder left him deeply troubled.

He knew he had to find an opportunity to explain everything properly to Xiao Ning'er. Otherwise, their relationship might fall apart over this.

Elsewhere in the academy, Nie Li remained focused on his cultivation. He sensed the undercurrents stirring within the academy but paid them little attention.

The Alchemist Association's prestige rose further thanks to the booming sales of the Winged Dragon Family's pills.

Seeing these results, President Gu Yan and the other elders admired Xiao Tianhao's proposal even more and were considering expanding their cooperation with the Winged Dragon Family.

The Sacred Family, meanwhile, was furious to learn that the Winged Dragon Family was gradually recovering its strength through the pill business.

But Glory City had strict rules, and they did not dare move openly against the Winged Dragon Family.

Glory City's overall strength also increased considerably because of this wave of enthusiasm for pills.

City Lord Ye Zong had been in a cheerful mood for several days straight. He no longer even wanted to concern himself with Xiao Tianhao's origins.

Indeed, after so many days of investigation, the City Lord's Mansion's subordinates still had not uncovered Xiao Tianhao's exact origins. It was as though he had appeared out of thin air.

Still, it also seemed clear that Xiao Tianhao harbored no ulterior motives toward Glory City, and Ye Zong did not want to waste any more time investigating.

(This new book is setting sail! To all my clever, kind, beautiful, and handsome readers, please follow the book and tap the update request button more often. If you can, send some free "Generate Power with Love" gifts to support the author. Thank you, everyone!)