139: Chapter 139 Qiao Feifei is incredibly steady

In the days that followed, it felt as though they had entered a new, subtle cycle.

The independent Martial Arts University classroom that Qiao Shiyu had applied for became a base that everyone visited almost every day.

The three beautiful young girls—Qiao Shiyu, Bai Lulu, and Qiao Feifei.

They had long since paid the so-called "instruction fees" in advance (and continuously) in a "special" and "countlessly excessive" manner.

Consequently, Lin Yun's guidance became increasingly devoted and… a matter of course.

As the days passed, the shyness and awkwardness that had initially threatened to overwhelm them gradually melted away like thin ice under the sun.

Perhaps it was because they had grown accustomed to meeting every day.

Perhaps it was because those "secrets" were quietly accepted in tacit understanding.

Or perhaps it was the girls' own competitive and unyielding natures that were ultimately difficult to suppress completely.

In any case, the familiar "friendly exchanges" between Qiao Shiyu and Bai Lulu began to revive.

Although it was no longer like before, where sparks would fly and sharp words would be exchanged the moment they met.

Yet, the atmosphere of secret competition, mutual comparison, and the occasional snide remark filled the air once more.

When Lin Yun instructed Qiao Shiyu on a subtle variation of the "Rending Wind Claw."

Bai Lulu would inevitably "accidentally" demonstrate a high-difficulty connection of her "Flowing Cloud Steps" nearby.

When Bai Lulu successfully practiced a new Combat Technique to the introductory level.

The very next day, Qiao Shiyu would push another Combat Technique of the same grade to the introductory level, and it would "just so happen" to counter the former.

The two seemed to have returned to the track of "sworn enemies."

Only this time, the dimensions of their competition seemed more diverse.

Beyond martial arts and appearance, it would occasionally extend to:

"Brother Lin Yun looked at me one extra time today."

"He replied to my message faster yesterday."

This kind of childish yet cute level.

Qiao Feifei continued to play the role of his little tag-along and "master of balancing."

Striving to maintain a fragile peace between her aunt and her good friend.

At the same time, a thought would occasionally cross her mind.

If her aunt really married Brother Lin Yun, what would she do?

Should she… go along with them?

Every time she thought of this, her cheeks would quietly flush red.

Then she would hurriedly shake her little head, suppressing this absurd thought.

But when she turned to see Lin Yun's gentle smile, she couldn't help but let her mind wander again.

Time flew by in this noisy yet inexplicably harmonious atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, there were only five days left until the official start of Tianshui Martial Arts University.

That afternoon, inside the martial arts classroom.

After a satisfying round of practice and sparring, everyone was sitting in the rest area, drinking water and resting.

Qiao Shiyu wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, her small face flushed from the exercise.

She looked at Bai Lulu with a familiar provocation in her eyes:

"Hey, Dead Meatball, tomorrow, same place, dare you?"

Bai Lulu unhurriedly tidied her slightly disheveled long hair. Hearing this, she raised her charming eyes and curled the corners of her lips:

"What is there to be afraid of? Little Bean, don't get so nervous that you're shaking and waste the precious Medicinal Pill."

"You're the one shaking!" Qiao Shiyu immediately retorted. "I'm in great condition! I'll definitely succeed on the first try!"

"Oh? Then I'll wait and see~"

Listening to their conversation, Lin Yun asked curiously: "Are you two… planning to break through to the Second Stage tomorrow?"

"Yes!"

Qiao Shiyu nodded vigorously, her large eyes sparkling.

"Dead Meatball and I have been stuck at First-Stage Perfection for a long time, and our Foundation is already very solid."

"Only by breaking through to the Second Stage can we challenge the 'Trial Tower' and the 'Combat Power Tower,' quickly earn credits, and exchange them for those more Advanced Cultivation resources in the university!"

Bai Lulu also nodded, rarely refraining from refuting Qiao Shiyu, her expression serious:

"The Second Stage is a threshold. After breaking through, everything—from cultivation speed and physical strength to the resources one can access—will be completely different."

Lin Yun understood.

The internal competition mechanism of the Martial Arts University clearly encouraged students to improve their Realm as quickly as possible.

His gaze then fell on Qiao Feifei, who was sipping an energy drink nearby, with some confusion:

"Feifei, what about you? I remember you've also been at First-Stage Perfection for about half a year, right? Don't you plan to break through as well?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Feifei put down her drink.

Her small face revealed a look of caution and helplessness that didn't quite fit her usual lively and cheerful demeanor—a trait belonging to the children of great families.

"I want to, Brother Lin Yun." She sighed.

"But I'm not Aunt or Lulu."

"They can rely on their super-high talent and Family status to directly apply to their families for the 'universe origin pill' to use for their Breakthrough."

"As for me…"

She counted on her fingers:

"At most, I can apply for one 'Hua-Ye Gui-Yuan Pill'."

"Although it is also a Breakthrough Medicinal Pill, its effect is significantly worse than the 'universe origin pill'."

"It's mainly for assisting in condensing the power of blood and Qi, and the Breakthrough probability… depends on the individual."

"With my talent, the probability of breaking through to the Second Stage using a 'Hua-Ye Gui-Yuan Pill' worth 400 million is probably… sixty percent? Seventy percent? In short, it's not safe enough."

Qiao Feifei shrugged, looking like "I'm poor but I'm cautious."

"So I plan to wait a bit longer. When I've saved enough money, I'll make up the difference and apply directly for the 'universe origin pill'."

"Although a 'universe origin pill' costs 1 billion, it's expensive as hell."

"But the Breakthrough probability can reach over ninety percent, or even infinitely close to one hundred percent, which is safer."

She paused, then couldn't help but whisper a complaint:

"Sigh, why isn't there a Medicinal Pill that guarantees a one hundred percent Breakthrough?"

"Even the 1 billion 'universe origin pill' isn't quite safe enough for me."

"I heard that in our Qiao Family, there was once a branch member who was called a 'Genius'."

"He insisted on taking three 'universe origin pills' before successfully breaking through, almost eating away the Family fortune of that branch… it's too scary."

Listening to Qiao Feifei's meticulous and even somewhat "worrying about nothing" plan.

Lin Yun's Family couldn't help but chuckle.

Su Yingxue couldn't help but tease:

"Feifei, you little girl, you're not very old, but you sure know how to calculate. You're imperturbably steady."

Qiao Feifei immediately puffed out her small chest, righteous and confident:

"That's a must! I have to be like this!"

"Sister Yingxue, you don't know, I only get 30 million in pocket money a year!"

"Every cent has to be calculated carefully and used where it counts!"

"Breaking through to the Second Stage is a matter concerning my future Martial Arts Foundation. If I don't succeed on the first try…"

"Not only would the money for the Medicinal Pill go down the drain, but it could also damage my physical Foundation and affect subsequent cultivation. Wouldn't that be a total waste? I can't afford to gamble!"

She spoke so earnestly, like a little housekeeper worrying about making ends meet.

Su Yingxue held back her laughter and continued to tease her:

"But what if you're lucky and successfully break through using just one 'Hua-Ye Gui-Yuan Pill'?"

"Wouldn't that save 600 million immediately? How cost-effective!"