Surging Strength

Zhao Meixian spoke methodically. "Those you mentioned are all low-grade ferocious beasts. Fourth Order Ferocious Beasts already count as mid-grade ferocious beasts, and demand far exceeds supply. Even for the Zhao Family, the difference between our purchase price and retail price is only fourfold, nowhere near ten times. So, at most, I can give you nine third-order high-grade snake-type ferocious beast corpses, plus 30 million in funds."

Yang Lie said, "Fine! But those nine snake-type ferocious beast corpses must all be of the same species, and they can't be Three Ring Golden Pattern Ferocious Snakes. As for the 30 million, preferably half in cash and half in spirit stones."

"No problem!"

Zhao Meixian smiled sweetly and turned her gaze to Fang Lingxiu. "What about you? Do you want ferocious beast corpses or money?"

Fang Lingxiu answered decisively, "Give me the money!"

Zhao Meixian waved a hand. "Hongmei, the contracts!"

"Yes, Miss!"

Han Hongmei stepped forward, swiftly printed several contracts, and handed them to Yang Lie and Fang Lingxiu.

As Yang Lie read the contract, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. "As long as I advance to the Golden Core Realm while I'm still studying, all these debts will be waived, and I'll only owe you a favor?"

Zhao Meixian replied calmly, "If you advance to the Golden Core Realm while still a student, you'll be one of the Human Alliance's greatest talents. One favor from you would be far more valuable than a mere few billion Kong Yuan."

Within the Human Alliance, many factions invested in talented students under their command. Once someone rose above the rest and became a top martial arts powerhouse, a single favor from them might save the fate of a major faction.

Yang Lie and Fang Lingxiu read through the contracts and found no traps before signing their names.

After the investment details had been settled, everyone dispersed.

"A-Lie, congratulations on winning the competition! Come on, my dad has already reserved a restaurant. Let's celebrate properly today!"

The moment Yang Lie left the reception room, Qian Xiner, dressed in fresh and pretty clothes, came up to greet him with a sweet smile.

"Alright!"

Yang Lie smiled slightly and followed Qian Xiner to the restaurant, where he enjoyed a grand meal with the Qian Family.

Once he returned home, Yang Lie immediately entered the Small World.

"If I swallow this Three Ring Golden Pattern Ferocious Snake Fruit, I'll gain the full strength of a third-order high-grade ferocious beast!"

Yang Lie swallowed the Three Ring Golden Pattern Ferocious Snake Fruit in one bite. An incomparably terrifying heat surged through his body, instantly igniting the power hidden within him and turning into a fierce, scorching torrent that continuously strengthened and nourished his body and soul.

Crack! Crack!

Bursts of popping bones rang out from Yang Lie's body. He had actually grown three centimeters taller in one go, making him appear even taller and more handsome.

Feeling the power surging within him, Yang Lie's eyes flashed with excitement. "My combat strength should now be comparable to that of a Hundred Refinements Realm martial artist, right? I just wonder which level of Hundred Refinements Realm martial artist I can contend against."

The Hundred Refinements Realm was also divided into nine levels: skin refining, bone refining, marrow refining, blood refining, Tendon Refining, organ refining, viscera refining, five-sense refining, and brain refining. Each minor advancement in the Hundred Refinements Realm brought a tremendous increase in strength.

"For my next stage of cultivation, it would be best to consume High-Grade Spirit Rice! I have two mu of Spirit Land. One mu can be used to grow High-Grade Spirit Rice, while the other can continue growing ferocious beast fruits."

Yang Lie directly took out one hundred spirit stones and tossed them onto the ground, then took out a Pure White Pearl Rice seed.

"Would you like to evolve that Pure White Pearl Rice seed into a High-Grade Pure White Pearl Rice Seed? This evolution requires 100 spirit stones. Furthermore, the evolved seed can only be planted within this world. If you wish to plant it in the outside world, you must spend 10,000 spirit stones to adjust it."

"Plant it in this world!"

At Yang Lie's command, the one hundred spirit stones on the ground instantly broke down and vanished.

A jade-green ray shot from the sapling at the far end of the space and shone upon the Pure White Pearl Rice seed in Yang Lie's hand.

A mysterious rune faintly appeared on the seed, then vanished in a flash.

"Evolution complete!"

Only then did Yang Lie bury the seed in the center of one mu of land.

"After one growing season, I'll have enough High-Grade Spirit Rice seeds. The only problem is waiting 120 days. Spirit stones can be used to speed it up."

"If I want the High-Grade Spirit Rice seeds to gain the trait of accelerated growth, I need 1,000 spirit stones. I can't afford that! But speeding up the growth of one High-Grade Spirit Rice seed tenfold only takes ten spirit stones. That much, I can still afford."

"Accelerate its growth!"

Yang Lie took out ten spirit stones and threw them onto the ground. They quickly broke down.

The next day, Zhao Meixian sent someone to deliver a third-order high-grade Black Shadow Ferocious Snake. Yang Lie directly buried the ferocious beast in the Small World to cultivate Ferocious Snake Fruits.

Five days later, school began.

Beihe Number One High School, Year Two Advanced Class.

"That girl is so pretty! Who is she? I don't remember our school having a girl like that!"

"There's actually a girl prettier than Fang Lingxiu? That's unbelievable!"

"..."

The students gathered in the advanced class could not help discussing Zhao Meixian as they watched her from afar.

"She really came! And she's certainly eye-catching!"

Yang Lie glanced at Zhao Meixian and saw that many girls had surrounded her, chattering away with endless questions.

The morning classes ended quickly.

During martial arts class.

"Teacher He, I want to learn the Heaven-Grade Martial Skill Azure Dragon Fist!"

After He Qing had finished instructing all the students, Yang Lie walked over and got straight to the point.

Nangong Minghai, the class monitor of Class One, sneered. "He wants to learn a Heaven-Rank Martial Skill? He's overestimating himself!"

Yang Lie had held the title of second place in his year last year, so naturally quite a few people disliked him. After all, it was impossible for everyone to like him.

"A Heaven-Rank Martial Skill! Isn't that aiming a little too high?"

"Very few people can master a Heaven-Rank Martial Skill during high school! Most of them are geniuses who get into Super First-Rate Universities!"

"..."

Many students were drawn over and looked curiously at Yang Lie.

Zhao Meixian's eyes lit up. He really wants to get into a Super First-Rate University. Interesting!

Fang Lingxiu thought, A Heaven-Rank Martial Skill! I should be able to learn one too, right?

He Qing said calmly, "First, demonstrate the Dragon Snake Stance Method and Snake Fist for me once!"

"Yes!"

Yang Lie circulated his true qi and performed the Dragon Snake Stance Method and Snake Fist. He seemed to transform into a snake-shaped ferocious beast, radiating terrifying pressure as gusts of fist wind swept out.

He Qing looked pleased. "Not bad! Your Dragon Snake Stance Method and Snake Fist have both reached a certain level of mastery! You qualify to cultivate the higher-tier Python Great Strength Fist!"

Yang Lie asked curiously, "Teacher, why can't I cultivate Azure Dragon Fist?"

He Qing said, "The Heaven-Grade Martial Skill Azure Dragon Fist is an incomparably powerful fist technique. However, it is also extremely difficult to cultivate. Generally, only Heaven and Human Realm martial artists, or bloodline martial artists gifted with dragon blood, can cultivate it. If ordinary people force themselves to practice it, they will only injure their bodies."

"The reason lower-tier martial skills exist is so one can cultivate and transform step by step through martial skills of different ranks, eventually reaching the point where even ordinary people can cultivate Heaven-Rank Martial Skills."