The Adults' Indulgence, Going Their Separate Ways

In Mingyang City, in the capitalist cultivation world, Ancient Cultivator Lü Yuan had given tens of thousands of starving people hope of survival.

As he set about having them prepare to leave with him early the next morning-

Punk Lü Yuan, meanwhile, had already left the street and stopped at the place he had arranged to meet Lin Qi and Wang Yan.

It lay between First Technical Primary School and Third Technical Primary School. Because they had rented homes in different places, both sides had to take a detour to get there.

Lin Qi had yet to arrive, presumably not because she was lazy, but because she had things to prepare and pack.

Even so, she wasn't late. Lü Yuan and Wang Yan had simply arrived early.

That was right, Wang Yan had already arrived. He was still the first one there-

He stood motionless, staring at Lü Yuan without saying a word.

Of course, perhaps that was only because he didn't know how to speak to Lü Yuan.

After all, he had clearly been the one who lost last time.

Yet just a few days afterward, Lü Yuan had called him out and given him the fourth-grade artifact-refining technique he had obtained through a fortuitous encounter.

In exchange for the fourth-grade talisman technique he had won from Wang Yan.

Then, a little over a week ago, after hearing from someone else that Wang Yan needed to buy materials, Lü Yuan had lent him five thousand Spirit Stone Vouchers over Immortal Chat.

He had even said that once school started, he would bring Wang Yan along to earn money for cultivation.

A rival, a friend like that-Wang Yan really didn't know how to face him.

Even Elder Hun was growing more and more interested in the deeply loyal Lü Yuan.

In fact, if he hadn't been in poor condition, he would probably have shown himself and taken another disciple by now.

Seeing Wang Yan unable to get a word out for so long, Lü Yuan thought for a moment and more or less guessed why.

After all, he really had shown a great deal of loyalty and devotion-

Of course, he didn't think he had lost out by doing so. Quite the opposite. After all, if Wang Yan really did have an old grandpa on him,

then the little favors he was giving him now would bring him returns at least tens of times greater in the future.

And even if he didn't, that was fine too.

In fact, the sixth-grade Cultivation Method, Burning Instruction, which Wang Yan had previously offered to share with him of his own accord-

was already enough to make the investment worthwhile.

Still, since we aren't at the same school, we'll need to keep in touch as well as invest in each other, or our relationship might grow distant.

Lin Qi and Wang Yan both have good character, and they both have plenty of value.

It would be far too wasteful, far too much of a pity, not to tie two such good people to my side and squeeze them dry.

At that thought, Lü Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly and took the initiative, casually picking a topic.

It wasn't for any other reason, only to deepen their "friendship" and raise their "favorability."

Just like when Gala had Muli talk to female characters.

The ultimate goal was simply to make them drop more gold coins.

"Hmm... as expected, with that fortuitous encounter, you've entered Embryonic Breathing too."

Lü Yuan looked Wang Yan up and down. "But you didn't tell either of us about it on Immortal Chat-"

He asked softly, "How long did it take?"

Wang Yan made no attempt to hide it. "Less than half a month-"

"More precisely?"

"Thirteen days."

Hearing that, Lü Yuan smiled slightly. "Interesting. That's faster than the usual speed for someone with two Spirit Apertures and high Spiritual Qi Aptitude, only a little behind Lin Qi..."

"It seems the Secret Method I gave you wasn't the only thing that improved your Spiritual Qi Aptitude. Your fortuitous encounter included something similar?"

Wang Yan nodded. There was no need to deny it, and he couldn't possibly hide it anyway.

In fact, if Lü Yuan hadn't dealt him such a heavy blow that day, he could have entered Embryonic Breathing even sooner-

"Then, at your current pace, it seems no one at Third Primary School will be able to keep up with you."

Lü Yuan remarked, "In that case, perhaps you'll reach the top of Third Primary School even faster than I reach the top of First Primary School."

He wasn't worried that Wang Yan's abnormal cultivation speed would bring trouble upon him.

Because unlike Lü Yuan, who had previously worried because he possessed a top-grade Spirit Root,

Wang Yan's current cultivation speed might draw attention and make it impossible to conceal his fortuitous encounter, but it wouldn't bring a fatal disaster upon him.

Over the years, among all the people in the Lower City who had obtained fortuitous encounters, few had actually been able to hide them even from the early stages.

After all, cultivation speed didn't lie.

Yet why had most of those people not died, had their fortuitous encounters stolen, or been forced to hand them over...

Why had most of them instead risen safely and steadily thanks to those encounters?

By now, most people who obtained fortuitous encounters even registered them of their own accord.

Why was that?

Because the adults allowed it-

That was the answer everyone their age knew, and one the adults deliberately spread.

Why?

Because the adults had to give the lowly livestock a little hope before they would obediently offer up all their value.

Just as with the factory nominees, the adults didn't want the lowly livestock of the Lower City to fall into complete despair.

On the contrary, the adults hoped for a few more junior college students, especially the legendary kind-

For example, someone whose background and talent were both rock bottom, yet who soared to the heavens after stumbling upon a fortuitous encounter.

They made perfect examples for propaganda, bait to hook the other lowly livestock.

Some fortuitous encounters had even been deliberately scattered by the adults themselves.

That was why the adults allowed this to happen-

But all of this rested on one condition, something the adults never said outright but everyone understood.

Your fortuitous encounter, or rather, what it contained, couldn't cross certain red lines.

For example, the situation Lü Yuan had worried about before, and the Secret Method Lin Qi possessed that could improve anyone's Spiritual Qi Aptitude.

That was also why Lin Qi had worried he would report her back then.

As for why...

Naturally, it was because letting word of such things spread would cause the adults trouble. As for the reason, there was presumably no need to elaborate.

"Still, whether it's what I gave you or something you already have, keep it well hidden-"

Lü Yuan added, "Those things all cross the red lines. Don't let anyone else know about them."

Wang Yan understood why he said that. "I understand. I know what I'm doing, and I have a way to cover it up."

"Then that's for the best." Lü Yuan nodded slightly.

"Have you... already reached the Embryonic Breathing First Layer?" Now that the subject was out in the open, Wang Yan began speaking up too.

"Mm." Lü Yuan smiled faintly. "What, competing over who reaches the top faster isn't enough? You want to compete with me in this too?"

He had been about to say something else, but the sudden sound of footsteps made him turn his head.

Lin Qi had arrived too.

She stood a short distance away and tilted her head. "Looks like... I'm late?"

Lü Yuan looked away. "At least you're self-aware-"

"Would it kill you not to take a jab at me?" Lin Qi sighed as she came closer.

"What else would I do?" Lü Yuan shrugged.

The Three Great Generals of Mingyang City had gathered once again, and so they walked and chatted as agreed.

They chatted like ordinary friends, talking about everything, without doing so for the sake of their interests. None of them was arrogant or flattering.

That was probably why the three of them got along so well.

This time, however, they were bound to part sooner.

Lü Yuan and Lin Qi were at First Technical Primary School, while Wang Yan had been assigned to Third Technical Primary School.

At a crossroads, they had to go their separate ways. If they walked any farther together, Lü Yuan and Lin Qi would be taking too long a detour.

There were no melodramatic words. They parted calmly and headed toward their respective futures.

But Wang Yan stopped abruptly. He suddenly turned around and shouted at Lü Yuan's retreating back:

"I'll catch up to you! I'll definitely catch up to both of you!"

Lü Yuan didn't stop, and neither did Lin Qi. She only looked at Wang Yan in confusion, not knowing what he meant.

But Lü Yuan still didn't stop.

Only when Wang Yan was about to lower his head did Lü Yuan slowly raise a hand and wave, his back still turned.

He said calmly, "I'll be waiting to see it."