Chapter 52 The Magic of Money, Yuanwu's Question!

[After receiving Wu Changhe's approval, you left the teaching building.]

[Time flew by.]

[In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.]

[Evening self-study, Combat Training Hall.]

[The lights illuminated the venue as bright as day, and the atmosphere was even more enthusiastic than usual...]

[On Arena No. 1, two figures were interweaving at high speed.]

["Hah!"]

[Liu Xiyue let out a clear cry, the Ice-Crack Soft Sword in her hand dancing like a wild silver snake.]

[As the blade trembled, it conjured over a dozen sword shadows—some real, some illusory—sealing off all of her opponent's paths of retreat.]

[After this week of special training, under your 'feeding moves,' her progress was visible to the naked eye.]

[After all, she was the daughter of a Grandmaster.]

[Although, compared to a 'Combat Realist' like you who had fought your way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood...]

[She certainly lacked the ruthlessness and intuition honed on the edge of life and death.]

[But her Foundation was simply too solid.]

[With a father who was a Grandmaster in the Mountain-Sea Realm, she had been instilled with Martial Arts knowledge from a strategic height since childhood.]

[Her vision, theory, and fundamentals were all top-tier.]

[Previously, she only lacked the tempering of actual combat; now, with Li Ang as a 'Sparring Partner' who was willing to be ruthless...]

[She was like a dry sponge meeting water, frantically absorbing combat experience.]

[However, even though her offensive was like a surging tide...]

[Standing opposite her, you remained completely relaxed.]

[Holding your blade with one hand, your footwork never even left a one-meter circle.]

[The combat blade in your hand turned into an airtight iron wall; let the wind blow and the rain fall, I stand firm and unmoved.]

["Clang! Clang! Clang!"]

[With every collision, you could precisely strike the weak point of the soft sword's force.]

[This was an absolute defense zone, forged through countless swings, leaving no room for error.]

[Liu Xiyue grew more anxious as she fought, constantly searching for any possible way to break through your defense.]

[But you were like a great mountain, giving her a sense of powerless frustration that you were unshakable.]

[While parrying with ease, your thoughts had already drifted far away.]

[In your mind, a string of glittering golden numbers was currently floating.]

["Hehe, five million... a full five million federation coin."]

[You sighed inwardly.]

[This was the 'private coaching fee' Liu Xiyue had prepaid you.]

[Across your three simulations, plus your past and present lives, you had never seen such a large amount of cash flow!]

[Yes, you admitted it: at this moment, you were blinded by money.]

["It's so good to be rich..."]

["With this money, once the matter with the 'Heart-Eroding Cult' settles down..."]

["I can drag Old Wu to the Black Market for a shopping spree."]

["Those expensive high-tier exotic beast blood essences and rare potions that help break through Blood Qi bottlenecks—I can take them all!"]

[You looked at the girl before you; though her swordsmanship was sharp, her gaze was clear.]

[Not only did you feel no pressure, but you even felt she was radiating the aura of a wealthy benefactor.]

[In your eyes, she was a mobile treasure trove.]

["I must cling tightly to the wealthy Liu Xiyue's thigh!"]

[She didn't just have federation coin; she also had the heritage accumulated by the Liu Family of Haicheng over many years.]

[And... the Yuan Wu Dharma Gate!"]

[At this point, your thoughts began to wander, considering a much more profound question.]

["Must I wait until entering Twin Stars to advance to the Origin Opening Realm?"]

[In this world, if an ordinary Martial Artist wanted to break the life barrier and open the human body's hidden treasuries...]

[In addition to reaching Blood Qi Perfection, they had to be guided by a 'Yuan Wu Dharma Gate.']

[But this path was too narrow for ordinary people.]

[The first path: the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination.]

[This was also the most orthodox path.]

[By getting into a key Martial Arts university, the school would teach you the corresponding Dharma Gate based on your Aptitude.]

[This was why everyone fought so hard to get into university.]

[The second path: joining a Great Family.]

[But this path was full of humiliation.]

[The Dharma Gates of Great Families were never shared with outsiders.]

[Want to learn? Fine.]

[Either marry into the family and become a relative...]

[Or sign an extremely harsh 'indentured contract,' becoming a family vassal or death warrior for life.]

[Even your descendants would be controlled by others.]

[For someone as proud as you, this was absolutely unacceptable.]

[The third path: Hidden Sects.]

[That was even harder.]

[Most of those Sects were secluded from the world, with extremely high recruitment standards—nothing short of a peerless Genius would do.]

[Furthermore, their rules were tedious and outdated, often requiring one to sever all worldly ties.]

[It was very difficult for modern people to adapt.]

[The fourth path: Official Agencies.]

[For example, the 'Alien Cult Investigation Bureau.']

[But such agencies were mysterious and unpredictable; ordinary people couldn't even get close to the core.]

["However..."]

[Your gaze fell upon Liu Xiyue.]

["If I can get it from Liu Xiyue through a 'trade'..."]

["To obtain the Liu Family's Ice-Attribute Yuan Wu Dharma Gate or other Liu Family treasures as a reference...]

["Or use that 'Pledge of Allegiance' to exchange for a Dharma Gate from Great Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian..."]

["This is highly likely to be feasible!"]

["As long as the resources are in place and the Dharma Gate is in hand, I can try to charge into the Origin Opening Realm during high school!"]

[Just as you were immersed in beautiful fantasies about the future and how to swindle the rich woman...]

[Your hand movements inevitably became slightly mechanical.]

["What are you dazing off for?!"]

[A sharp cry suddenly rang out.]

[Liu Xiyue looked at your absent-minded state, and even the strange smile hanging on the corner of your mouth.]

[She was instantly filled with indignation.]

["Are you looking down on me?"]

[She bit her silver teeth, a trace of shame and annoyance flashing in her eyes.]

[The soft sword in her hand suddenly accelerated, cold Qi erupting; she no longer held back, thrusting directly at your throat.]

["Hmm?"]

[You instantly felt the Killing Intent.]

[Looking up, you met Liu Xiyue's angry eyes.]

[You immediately realized your 'fantasy time' just now had gone a bit too far; it was a lack of respect for the client.]

["Sorry."]

[A flash of apology crossed your heart, and you immediately focused your mind, smiling.]

["In that case, I'll be a bit more serious."]

[You were no longer just parrying.]

[Facing Liu Xiyue's sword moves, which had become somewhat erratic due to her anger...]

[You shifted your Baji Steps, your figure cutting into her inner circle like a ghost.]

["The sword should be light and agile, but your 'Cold Plum Blossoming' move used too much force; too much is as bad as too little."]

[With a flick of your wrist, the back of your blade lightly tapped the spine of her sword, perfectly disrupting her rhythm of power.]

[Immediately after, you began to consciously guide her attacks.]

[Like a patient gardener pruning branches, you slowly wore away the impetuousness in her swordsmanship.]

["Yes, right here, pull back your strength!"]

["Coordinate with your footwork! Don't get messy!"]

[This scene on the arena left the surrounding onlookers dumbfounded.]

["My god... Assistant Instructor Li is being way too indulgent... ahhh!"]

["Is this the leeway of the strong? I also want to be gently fed moves by Assistant Instructor Li!"]

[The boys looked at your dashing figure, so green with envy they were practically bursting.]

["He gets paid, and he gets to have close contact with the school beauty under the guise of teaching... Li the Dog is living the dream!"]

[Among the girls, Liao Lanqian from Grade 12, Class 5 was hiding in a corner.]

[She was clutching a handkerchief that was nearly torn to shreds.]

[Watching the two on the arena, whose coordination was becoming more and more seamless...]

[Her nose felt sore, and her eyes turned red again.]

[...]

[The training continued until late at night.]

[When the last set of sparring ended, Liu Xiyue was so tired she couldn't even lift a finger.]

[You and she sat side-by-side on the rest mats in the corner of the training room.]

[You casually tossed her an energy drink and a clean towel, then wiped the slight sweat from your own forehead.]

["Not bad, as expected of a Genius from Sea City."]

[You praised her sincerely.]

["Your progress is significant; today's footwork was much steadier than yesterday's."]

["That's enough for today. Get some good rest."]

[After saying that, you stood up without the slightest hesitation.]

[You patted the dust off your backside.]

["You're leaving?" Liu Xiyue was stunned for a moment.]

["No."]

[You pointed to the group of students not far away who were looking at you expectantly.]

[It was Zhang Li, Wang Qiang, and the others.]

["My work isn't finished yet."]

["Those guys' movements are still a mess; I need to go correct them."]

[After speaking, you turned and walked toward the students.]

[Wearing that signature 'Assistant Instructor Li' smile—gentle yet carrying a hint of severity.]

["Zhang Li! Stand straight! Slacking off again, are we? Three extra sets of the Body Tempering Art today!"]

["Wang Qiang, straighten your waist! Are you practicing martial arts or trying to be a shrimp?"]

[Liu Xiyue sat on the mat, holding the cold bottle of drink.]

[She used the dry towel to wipe her damp hair.]

[Her gaze pierced through the crowd, looking at the back of the person who was seriously teaching his classmates with a complex expression.]

["He is simply too strong..."]

[Liu Xiyue murmured to herself in her heart.]

["After fighting for so long, his breathing hasn't even faltered."]

["His Blood Qi is terrifyingly thick, and his Foundation is as solid as a monster's."]

["His blade techniques are even more tempered, as if they have no flaws."]

["Abundant stamina, a resilient body... this small border town of Longnan actually has such a terrifying monster."]

[What she found even more incredible was your attitude.]

["And... he actually doesn't have a hint of a Genius's arrogance."]

[She remembered when she had handed you that Crystal Card worth five million.]

[Your surprised, wide-eyed look, as if you had never seen the world.]

[And then that 'doing the job I'm paid for' attitude afterwards—diligent, responsible, and even a bit sycophantic.]

["Pfft."]

[Thinking of this, Liu Xiyue couldn't help but laugh out loud.]

[This smile was like melting ice and snow, breathtakingly beautiful.]

["This person is truly interesting."]

["He's already taken five million and clearly isn't short on money."]

["Yet he can still settle his mind and so seriously teach those students with mediocre Aptitude."]

["Greedy for money, yet having principles; powerful, yet down-to-earth."]

[Liu Xiyue watched your busy figure in the crowd, a strange light flashing in her eyes.]

["Li Ang... what kind of man is he, exactly?"]

[This Genius of a Great Family, who had been brought down to earth by you...]

[Was for the first time looking down at the world from the perspective of a loser.]

[And you didn't know that while you were busy 'making money' and 'grinding proficiency'...]

[Your image in some people's hearts had already become increasingly multidimensional and profound.]