10: Saint Lan Academy, First Encounter with Nie Li

The news of the Yun Family crippling Elder Ye Hong with a single kick swept through the entire City of Radiance like a storm, pushing the previously obscure Yun Family into the limelight.

Amidst their shock, various factions began to re-evaluate the strength of this "declining Family," especially the mysterious and unfathomable Yun Feng, who filled them with both apprehension and curiosity.

The Ye Family, surprisingly, remained silent and did not immediately retaliate.

This abnormal behavior made other factions realize that the young man from the Yun Family was probably even more terrifying than rumored.

After this incident, the Yun Family's internal cohesion soared to unprecedented heights.

Resources flowed continuously under Yun Feng's "sublimation," and the strength of the younger generation rapidly improved, bringing the entire Family to life with vibrant vitality.

Several days later, the Saint Orchid Academy's admission notice for the new semester arrived at the Yun Family.

Saint Orchid Academy, the most prestigious academy in the City of Radiance, was the starting point for countless young Demon Spiritualists' dreams.

As per tradition, all major Families in the City of Radiance would send their eligible offspring to the academy to study.

In the past, the Yun Family's disciples were unremarkable among them, but things were different now.

"Feng'er, are you willing to go to the academy?" Yun Fengs Grandfather's attitude towards Yun Feng was now one of complete equality in discussion, even carrying a hint of seeking his approval.

Yun Feng put down the admission letter in his hand, his gaze calm.

Of course, he had to go.

According to his memories from his previous life and the intelligence he had recently gathered, Nie Li, the fated son who underwent Rebirth, should have already returned to the academy by now, preparing to begin his magnificent academy life.

That place would be an important stage for the main plot to unfold.

"Go, why not?" Yun Feng's lips curved slightly.

"It's boring to stay cooped up in the Family all the time.

It's not bad to go to the academy to see the scenery and meet 'friends'."

He deliberately emphasized the word "friends," a meaningful glint flashing in his eyes.

Three days later, amidst the awestruck and worshipful gazes of the Yun Family's younger generation, Yun Feng, along with several other qualified cousins, went to Saint Orchid Academy.

Yun Qiao was also among them; the little girl now blindly worshipped Yun Feng, chattering incessantly.

Saint Orchid Academy was located in the eastern district of the City of Radiance, covering a vast area.

The ancient buildings were magnificent, and the Aura of Cultivating students and powerful mentors could be seen everywhere.

Completing admission procedures, assigning dormitories, receiving uniforms... everything was orderly.

Yun Feng deliberately restrained all his Aura, disguising himself as an "ordinary" new student who had just achieved Bronze One-star, blending into the crowd, completely inconspicuous.

However, while he was low-key, some people couldn't be.

Just as their group was passing through the central plaza of the academy, preparing to head to the teaching area, a commotion erupted ahead of them.

They saw a young man dressed in luxurious clothes with an arrogant expression, leading several followers, blocking the path of another young girl dressed simply with delicate features.

The girl bit her lip, her eyes stubborn, but she couldn't hide a trace of panic.

"Shen Fei, what do you want to do again?" Beside the girl, a tall and sturdy young man with an honest face stood in front of her, glaring at the luxuriously dressed young man.

Yun Feng's gaze swept over them, and he immediately recognized the individuals.

The luxuriously dressed young man was Shen Fei of the Sacred Aristocratic Family, who relied on his Family background to act tyrannically in the academy.

The delicate girl was Xiao Ning'er, and the honest young man protecting her was Lu Piao, one of Nie Li's good brothers.

"Tsk, a classic scene." Yun Feng chuckled inwardly, but his gaze bypassed them and landed on a simply dressed young man who was slowly approaching not far away.

The young man looked young, his face still somewhat immature, but his eyes were astonishingly bright, as if they could see through people's hearts, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile hung on his lips, as if everything was under his control.

Nie Li!

He finally appeared.

"Xiao Ning'er, it's your good fortune that this young master has taken a liking to you; don't be ungrateful!" Shen Fei shouted arrogantly, reaching out to grab Xiao Ning'er.

Lu Piao tried to stop him but was easily pushed away by one of Shen Fei's followers; the strength gap was obvious.

"Stop!"

Just as Xiao Ning'er's face turned pale with fright, two voices rang out almost simultaneously.

One came from Nie Li, the simply dressed young man who rushed forward, and the other came from Yun Feng in the Yun Family's group, seemingly a "subconscious" outburst.

Nie Li was faster; he flashed between Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er, and with a seemingly casual flick, he parried Shen Fei's hand, his footwork agile and skillful.

Yun Feng, on the other hand, stood in place with a look of "indignation" and "nervousness," as if his previous shout was a spontaneous reaction out of urgency.

Now that Nie Li had acted, he timely showed expressions of "relief" and "it's good someone stepped up."

After Nie Li dealt with Shen Fei (the process was the same as in the original work, a clever use of Soul Power and verbal taunts made Shen Fei suffer a hidden loss, and he left disgruntled), he comforted Xiao Ning'er and Lu Piao before turning his gaze to Yun Feng, who had also spoken up earlier.

He looked at Yun Feng with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

This young man in front of him only had the Aura of Bronze One-star, wore ordinary Yun Family clothing, and had an unremarkable appearance.

But for some reason, Nie Li's keen spiritual sense perceived an extremely subtle calmness from the other party, like a deep abyss.

This feeling was completely different from what he felt when looking at others after his Rebirth.

"Thank you for speaking up, fellow student." Nie Li cupped his hands at Yun Feng, his tone calm.

Having returned from Rebirth, he knew the principle that having one more friend meant one more path, especially with someone he couldn't quite see through.

Yun Feng quickly waved his hand, a perfectly timed shy and admiring expression on his face: "N-nothing, I was just anxious for a moment.

You're amazing, Nie Li, you sent that guy away with just a few words."

He directly called out Nie Li's name, as if he had heard of him before.

A glint flashed in Nie Li's eyes: "You know me?"

"Of course," Yun Feng showed a sincere smile, "Nie Li of the Tianhen Aristocratic Family, I heard your name at the academy before (actually made up, but it fit his 'well-informed' persona).

I'm Yun Feng, from the Yun Family."

"The Yun Family?" Nie Li was thoughtful; he had naturally heard about the Yun Family's recent prominence, especially Yun Feng, who had crippled Shen Hong with a single kick... Could it be this seemingly harmless young man in front of him?

His vigilance subtly increased, but he showed no trace of it on his face.

"So it's Yun Feng, a pleasure to meet you." Nie Li smiled, "Let's look out for each other at the academy from now on."

"Absolutely, absolutely!" Yun Feng's smile was bright, like an ordinary young man who had made a new friend.

Just then, two more people walked over: one was a cold-tempered, stunningly beautiful purple-haired girl—Ye Ziyun, the City Lord's daughter; the other was a fiery, feisty red-haired girl—Huyan Lanruo.

"Nie Li, are you alright?" Ye Ziyun asked with concern, her gaze sweeping over Yun Feng with a hint of curiosity.

"Little Nie Li, playing the hero again?" Huyan Lanruo, on the other hand, directly hooked her arm around Nie Li's neck, her actions intimate, causing Ye Ziyun to frown slightly.

Nie Li awkwardly pulled away from Huyan Lanruo and introduced, "This is Yun Feng, a friend from the Yun Family.

Yun Feng, this is Ye Ziyun, and this is Huyan Lanruo."

Yun Feng greeted them one by one, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, yet polite to his new classmates; his acting was impeccable.

Looking at Nie Li, surrounded by several important future female characters, and the trace of a Rebirth's superiority and desire for control that, though well-hidden, he still perceived, Yun Feng's smile deepened.

"The Protagonist Halo is indeed dazzling," he thought silently.

"However, from today onwards, your path will probably not be as smooth as you remember.

After all, there's me, the biggest variable."

His academy life, and his "friendship" with Nie Li, the fated son, thus began.

He knew that the days ahead would be very interesting.

He not only had to "help" Nie Li grow faster but also had to leverage Nie Li's Protagonist Luck to gain greater benefits for himself and the Yun Family!