After showing off his charm and wealth, he put the Gauntlets back into his Space Ring and left with his lackeys, chest puffed out and hands clasped behind his back, looking immensely pleased with himself.
Ye Ziyun's two classmates were naturally green with envy. Born into ordinary families, they dreamed of marrying into the Shen family. After all, he had spent sixty thousand Demon Spirit Coins without batting an eye, and a Space Ring was something even a fortune could scarcely buy. Marrying into that family would mean a lifetime of wealth and luxury.
With his back to Nie Li and the others, Shen Yue smiled even more disdainfully.
Lu Piao bared his teeth and declared that it was despicable-a full-on silver-bullet offensive.
As Shen Yue passed Ye Ziyun and her friends, the two girls were still swooning over him. He smiled at Ye Ziyun, but she remained unmoved.
Behind him, Lu Piao grumbled sourly. What kind of skill was conquering women with money? Did being rich make him so great? Then he secretly fumed: why couldn't he be the rich one?
He guessed Ye Ziyun would probably fall for Shen Yue, leaving Nie Li without a chance.
Nie Li smiled and said, "Zi Yun isn't that kind of person."
Another person came walking down the street. It was Xiao Ning'er.
Seeing her good friend arrive, Ye Ziyun wanted to go over and greet her happily.
But Xiao Ning'er acted as though she hadn't seen her at all, continuing on her way and walking straight past.
Only after watching for a while did Lu Piao catch on. Nie Li had called her Zi Yun so affectionately! Could she be the most beautiful woman he wanted to marry?
Nie Li gave a light huff, refusing to tell him.
He told them it was time to get down to business.
The people in the sky screen didn't know, but everyone beneath it certainly did.
They had been husband and wife in their previous life. Who else could it be but her?
"Zi Yun."
Nie Li wanted to get just a little closer, but calling out to her like that in public made Ye Ziyun blush and retreat two steps.
She had only just turned thirteen this year. Surely talk of marriage was still far too distant for her?
Especially when someone she had never even met a few days ago suddenly told her today that they had been husband and wife in their previous life?
W-what am I supposed to do in a situation like this?
Nobody ever taught me how to handle this!
Looking at Ye Ziyun's lovely, flushed face, Nie Li chuckled to himself.
No rush, no rush. My wife is right here. It's not as if she can run away!
Beside them, Xiao Ning'er's eyes dimmed a little.
In his previous life, Nie Li hadn't been as outstanding as he was in this one, so she had never really crossed paths with him.
That left her far behind Ye Ziyun, even when she wanted to put her feelings into action.
But that was all right. She was a woman who would never give up.
In any case, in this life, her heart no longer had room for any man other than Nie Li.
The sky screen continued.
After all, how much time had passed? Not even an hour.
Nie Li and his two companions arrived at the Trial Grounds.
Lu Piao carried a basket on his back containing two bags of Feathered Arrows. He wore a bamboo hat and Plate Armor, and held two Crossbows.
All that equipment had his blood pumping with excitement.
Du Ze couldn't help asking Nie Li whether this really wouldn't get them into trouble.
Nie Li laughed. It was mainly to draw people's attention; the important thing was to enter the Trial Grounds while no one else was going in.
The Trial Grounds were thick with trees and home to many dangerous animals and demon beasts.
The three exchanged glances. Lu Piao stayed where he was to draw attention, while Nie Li and Du Ze ran behind a large tree.
Then Lu Piao didn't dare move a muscle.
Actually, it wasn't quite that he didn't dare move. He was trembling slightly.
There was a snake right in front of him.
Just as the snake was about to lunge at him, an enormous sheep's hoof stomped it into the ground.
It was a Horned Sheep, a low-level demon beast that lived in the Trial Grounds.
Lu Piao swallowed hard. This thing was much scarier than that snake.
The Horned Sheep's heavy breath washed over him as its hooves began pawing relentlessly at the ground.
Unable to endure his fear any longer, Lu Piao tossed both Crossbows behind him, spun around, and ran.
"Nie Li, you set me up!"
Du Ze had no choice but to grab the crossbow bolts and follow.
Nie Li pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly, shook his head, and hurried after them.
The Horned Sheep gave furious chase, its horns coming within a hair of Lu Piao's backside.
Watching from beneath the sky screen, Lu Ning was beside himself with worry, and so was Xiao Xue.
Du Ze raced up a tree ahead of them and fired two shots in succession, but the Horned Sheep dodged both.
Lu Piao cried out that he had chosen his friends poorly.
Spotting an opening between two large trees, Lu Piao hurriedly dove through it.
He successfully made it to the other side, but the Horned Sheep got stuck between them.
He pulled another Crossbow from behind his back and chuckled at the Horned Sheep's futile struggle to get out.
He fired a shot, only to hit its horn.
That completely enraged the Horned Sheep. A pillar of red light shot into the sky, a savage aura radiated from its entire body, and numerous scarlet markings appeared across it.
All three knew the Horned Sheep had gone berserk.
In its fury, the Horned Sheep smashed through both trees and continued chasing Lu Piao.
It also smashed through every tree that stood in its way.
Eventually, Lu Piao had nowhere left to run.
"Oh no, there's no time, Nie Li!"
Nie Li remained utterly calm. He leaped onto a large tree and aimed his crossbow bolt at the Horned Sheep, his eyes revealing a cool, bloodthirsty gleam.
He pulled the trigger, driving the bolt into the Horned Sheep just as it was about to ram Lu Piao and sending the beast flying.
Seeing that his son was safe, Lu Ning couldn't help patting his chest. Thank goodness, thank goodness.
Quite a few people were frightened by Nie Li's gaze, which looked as though he was stalking prey.
On second thought, that was only to be expected of someone who had ultimately survived.
Lu Piao had thought he was doomed, but when he saw the Horned Sheep lying motionless, he asked whether it was dead.
Du Ze ran over and wiped away his sweat, marveling that the potion Nie Li had made was so powerful.
Lu Piao asked Nie Li what kind of potion it was.
Nie Li pulled the Feathered Arrow out of the Horned Sheep's body and explained that this was a Special Anesthetic he had formulated specifically for Horned Sheep.
By using a Fusion Potion to blend black marsh grass and zoysia grass, both of which naturally had anesthetic properties, he had greatly strengthened the black marsh grass's numbing effect. Then he coated the arrowheads with the potion, creating a killing move specifically designed for Horned Sheep.
Hearing that, Lu Piao perked up again. Why not simply use this stuff to hunt stronger demon beasts?
Nie Li laughed. That was wishful thinking. This anesthetic only worked on Horned Sheep, not other demon beasts. Hadn't he noticed that Horned Sheep never ate zoysia grass?
Nie Li told them to get to work. They still had a big night's work ahead of them.
Beneath the sky screen, Ye Sheng looked at Nie Li. "The number of Horned Sheep dropped sharply a while ago. That must have been the three of you, right?"
Nie Li and the others chuckled and rubbed their heads.
It wasn't really a big deal. Although their numbers had fallen, these demon beasts were very common. They could simply catch more.
Before you continue