8: Chapter 8, S-Rank! A Rebellious Movement!

At the very instant Chen Xi's finger brushed against the skin of Li Murou's chest,

A majestic torrent of information surged into Chen Xi's sea of consciousness.

[Ding!]

[Compatible target detected: Rhythm Musician (Unique Hidden)]

[Generating class core card adaptation plan...]

[Plan generation complete!]

[Target Talent: Reversal Movement (SSS-rank)]

[Core Card Effect: Once this core card is equipped, your Rhythm Musician talent will be fully activated. All your base attributes will be significantly increased. Simultaneously, all buff movements you perform will lose the ability to increase attributes for teammates, transforming instead into debuff curse movements applied to enemies with doubled effectiveness!]

[Crafting Formula: Musical Instrument Card + Musical Instrument Card. Note: The higher the grade of the two base Musical Instrument Cards, the higher the grade of the fused class core card.]

[Optimal Inlay Site: Left Atrium. Note: Inlaying the core card in this site allows it to resonate with the practitioner's heartbeat rhythm, increasing all core card effects by an additional 100%!]

Feeling the stream of crystal-clear information in his mind, the corners of Chen Xi's mouth curled up uncontrollably.

Transforming originally mediocre buff effects into terrifying debuffs with doubled effectiveness...

This SSS-rank talent truly had something to it.

However, Chen Xi, who was immersed in great joy, was instantly pulled back to reality by a tearful exclamation.

"Cap... Captain Chen... What... what are you doing!"

Li Murou clutched her chest tightly with both hands and jumped back, her face flushing crimson.

In those large, watery eyes, there was now shyness, anger, and a trace of subtle grievance.

She never imagined that the captain she had just started to trust would actually...

Actually make such a frivolous move!

All of Chen Xi's attention just now had been focused on finding the optimal fit for the core card.

To him, the whole process was like a doctor searching for a patient's acupuncture points, filled with academic rigor.

Only now, with Li Murou's shout, did he suddenly realize where his finger had just landed.

"Ah, this!"

A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on Chen Xi's forehead.

He hurriedly withdrew his hand and raised both palms to show his innocence, explaining in a panic:

"Mu Rou, listen to me. The first step in crafting and inlaying a class core card is to find the part of the body that best fits the practitioner's energy! Only by placing the core card in the most correct position can its maximum potential be realized!"

Seeing the still-doubtful look in Li Murou's eyes, he grew anxious and spoke even faster:

"It just so happens... no, I should say, it's probably because your class is 'Rhythm Musician' and all sources of power are related to 'rhythm' and 'beat,' so the optimal site given by the system is your heart!"

Hearing Chen Xi's explanation, which sounded well-reasoned and grounded, the blush on Li Murou's face did not fade,

But her sense of shame and anger finally softened slightly.

She recalled seeing in textbooks before,

That certain special inheritances or equipment did indeed need to be bound to specific parts of the body to be activated.

Could it be... that he was telling the truth?

"O... Okay." She nodded skeptically, but her hands clutching her chest showed no sign of letting go.

Seeing her attitude soften, Chen Xi breathed a small sigh of relief.

But immediately after, he had to brace himself and throw out an even more awkward problem.

He cleared his throat, his gaze drifting elsewhere as he didn't dare look Li Murou in the eye, and said in as professional a tone as possible:

"Um... Mu Rou, there's one more thing... that is, when performing the core card embedding in a bit, I might need you to pull the collar of your top down a little lower..."

"What!?"

The atmosphere that had just softened instantly dropped back to the freezing point.

"Why... why does it have to be like that!"

Li Murou's voice changed pitch; she widened her eyes, looking tense and agitated.

"Don't get excited first!"

Chen Xi explained quickly, not daring to be vague in the slightest:

"This is a strict requirement for class core card inlaying! The core card is essentially a highly concentrated energy crystal; it must directly touch the practitioner's flesh and blood to establish the deepest energy link, ultimately merging perfectly into your body to become a part of your power!"

"If separated by clothing, energy conduction will be greatly obstructed. Not only will the inlay fail, but the powerful energy might even backlash against your body, causing irreversible damage!"

This time, Li Murou fell into a complete state of internal struggle.

Her mind was in a mess.

On one hand, Chen Xi's explanation sounded flawless and full of scientific reasoning, as if he wasn't intentionally taking advantage of her.

On the other hand...

To make such a shameful move in front of a boy she had known for less than a day...

She really couldn't do it.

Looking at Li Murou's inner battle, Chen Xi was also extremely helpless.

He truly had no other intentions; his heart was filled only with thoughts of how to fully stimulate the potential of an SSS-rank genius like Li Murou for the future of the Nirvana Battle Team.

But who would have thought that the very first step would encounter such an embarrassing problem.

But he couldn't just give up over such a small matter.

Even less could he, because of a special inlay site,

Settle for second best and inlay this SSS-rank class core card in another place where the effect would be greatly diminished.

That would be irresponsible to Li Murou and irresponsible to himself.

Thinking of this, Chen Xi's gaze instantly became incredibly firm.

He no longer dodged, but looked directly into Li Murou's eyes.

With an unprecedented sincerity and solemnity, he said slowly:

"Mu Rou, trust me."

Just a few simple words, yet they seemed to carry a strange magic.

Li Murou gazed at Chen Xi's clear and determined eyes.

In them, she saw not a single trace of stray thoughts or desire, only pure obsession with becoming stronger and infinite expectations for the future.

She remembered Yan Zidong's contemptuous mockery.

She remembered her past dark days of being shunned, and then remembered what Chen Xi had said to her.

"You are an indispensable piece of our puzzle."

Yeah...

Just for a moment... and looking at Chen Xi, he really, probably didn't have any other intentions...

To get stronger! To no longer be looked down upon!

After a moment of deep thought, Li Murou finally made up her mind.

She slowly lowered her head, her fair neck flushing a lovely pink.

In a voice as small as a mosquito's buzz, she whispered:

"Okay... I trust you."

"Come on!"

As if to bolster her own courage,

Li Murou suddenly looked up, her watery eyes sparkling with a complex light of shyness and determination.

After speaking, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Then, with trembling hands, she grabbed the collar of her light blue sportswear and pulled it hard to both sides!

Riiip—

The soft fabric was roughly pulled down, revealing a large area of snowy, delicate skin and beautiful, exquisite collarbones.

That heart-stirring scenery looked even more dazzling under the bright lights of the base room.