81: Chapter 81: 10-pull guarantee, undercurrents are brewing.

As the night deepened, the lanterns of the Drunken Immortal Building swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting a warm yellow halo.

After bidding farewell to Zhao Yu, Su Qingyue, and Ding Siyi, Zhang Wen walked along the academy's stone path toward his villa.

The evening breeze carried the fresh scent of vegetation, dispersing the lingering bustle from earlier.

It also allowed the doubts in his mind regarding the old man's phrase, "the one from thirty years ago," to settle somewhat.

Returning to his solitary villa, the sensor lights flickered on the moment he pushed open the door, filling the living room with soft light.

He loosened his collar and was about to pour a glass of warm water when a cold, mechanical voice suddenly rang out in his mind—

[Ding! Detected that the host ranked first in the New Student Martial Arts Field, achieving the "New Student Top Ranker" achievement.]

[Calculating rewards...]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: 10,000 Points, 10 Gacha Draws, and a significant Physique enhancement.]

Zhang Wen's footsteps paused, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes.

He walked over to the sofa, sat down, and thought silently: "Open System panel."

A pale blue virtual light screen immediately materialized before his eyes:

[host: Zhang Wen]

[Cultivation: Subtlety Realm Middle Stage]

[Talent: Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder (SSS-Rank Talent)]

[Points: 37,500]

[Draws: 10]

Looking at the numbers on the panel, Zhang Wen's fingertips lightly tapped the edge of the light screen.

Ten draw opportunities was a pleasant surprise. He took a deep breath and said internally, "Use draw opportunities."

[Ding! Draw beginning... Congratulations to the host for obtaining...]

"Continue."

[Ding! Obtained a Rock from the Roadside x1.]

[Ding! Obtained Damp Qi Gathering Powder x1 (Most of the medicinal effect has been lost, smells moldy).]

[Ding! Obtained a Low-grade Ancient Zither with Broken Strings x1 (Only three strings left, and they're all crooked).]

[Ding! Obtained Yao Beast Dung Samples x3 (Reportedly from a Rank 3 Yao Beast; useless except for the stench).]

[Ding! Obtained a Faded Transmission Jade Pendant x1 (Cracks immediately upon Spiritual Qi injection).]

Zhang Wen's brow twitched slightly. Had this gacha pool scraped the bottom of a storage room? His fingertips tapped the tabletop. "Keep drawing."

[Ding! Obtained Rusted Formation Plate Fragments x2 (The runes on them are worn down to mere faint traces).]

[Ding! Obtained Expired Spirit Fruit Preserves x1 (The sugar coating has hardened into blocks, impossible to bite).]

[Ding! Obtained a Damaged Storage Bag x1 (Empty inside and leaks Spiritual Qi).]

[Ding! Obtained Unknown Bird Feathers x5 (Severe shedding, crumbles at a touch).]

After nine draws, Zhang Wen looked at the pile of items on the System panel that could only be described as "trash," the pressure from his fingertips unconsciously tightening.

These things were too pathetic to even throw at a Yao Beast.

He took a deep breath, not bothering to say much. "Last one."

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the single-use consumable item: 'Nine Heavens Thunder Talisman: Instant Cast']

[Can instantly trigger the power of the 'Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder' within the body to condense a thunder arrow with a 30% power increase. Requires no charging time. Limited to the current Realm. After use, requires three days of quiet recuperation to stabilize Spiritual Qi fluctuations.]

Zhang Wen's eyes suddenly lit up.

The previous nine items combined couldn't compare to this single talisman! Was this the so-called 10-pull pity?

Although his Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder was powerful, the vulnerability during its charging phase was often exploited by others.

This instant-cast talisman perfectly filled that gap—especially now with undercurrents surging, he might need this to break a deadlock at any moment.

Stuffing the pile of junk into the furthest corner of the System space, Zhang Wen took out the phantom of the thunder talisman to examine it closely.

Lightning Radiance faintly flowed across the surface of the talisman. Touching it, he felt as if the Thunder Power in his body resonated with it, a vast explosive force hidden within.

He walked to the window. The night wind ruffled his robes as the lights of the distant dormitory buildings flickered.

The waves stirred by his SSS-Rank Talent today had not yet subsided.

The hostility from the Lei Family and Feng Yingcai was like fangs in the dark, ready to pounce at any moment.

But the phantom of the thunder talisman at his fingertips told him it was enough.

"A one-time use, huh..." Zhang Wen chuckled softly, storing the talisman back into the space.

"Just right for crushing those ill intentions that can no longer be hidden."

Moonlight fell into his eyes, reflecting a fleeting flash of Lightning Radiance.

The only killing weapon hidden in this ten-pull was perhaps the best source of confidence for dealing with the coming trouble.

"Are you sure Zhang Wen is alone?"

"Positive, Boss. Don't you trust our intel?" the lackey beside him guaranteed, slapping his chest.

Hearing this, Lei Tian felt at ease.

"Are you sure we need to mobilize so many people for just one Zhang Wen?" Feng Yingcai asked, not understanding.

"Hmph, it's not your place to judge how I do things. Besides, where do you think we are?"

"This is the best residential area in the school. If we're too slow and get caught by the school staff, none of us will have a good time," Lei Tian said disdainfully.

"Furthermore, his master Lin Mo is being tied down by my Lei Family's people. Today is the day Zhang Wen dies."

...

With a "click," the door lock was picked by a specialized Magical Artifact. Lei Tian entered in a file with seven Student Union Cultivators and Feng Yingcai.

Spiritual Qi instantly wove into a dense net, sealing off the living room completely.

"Zhang Wen, I trust you've been well?"

Lei Tian deliberately slowed his pace, playing with a token engraved with "Student Union," though his gaze was like poisoned ice.

"I hear you've been in the limelight lately, and quite a few people have been defeated by you?"

Zhang Wen set down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the faintly visible Student Union badges on everyone's chests.

A cold sneer played on his lips. "The Lei Family certainly knows how to find loopholes. Sending Student Union members to ambush a student—aren't you afraid of tainting the academy's rules?"

"Rules?" Lei Tian raised his voice sharply, as if he had heard a massive joke.

"When you injured my subordinate Wang Hao and insulted me, why didn't you mention the rules?"

"Today, I am here in the name of the Student Union Disciplinary Committee to 'invite' you for questioning!"