C20 !
Spirit Crossing was no simple feat, particularly in a world where spiritual energy was so scarce. Even with the aid of a Spirit Crossing Charm, Ye Rong found himself expending a great deal of effort.
His concentration was intense, channeling his soul into the intricate lines of the charm. Simultaneously, he invoked the ancient tomes to draw in the spiritual energy of the rising sun, using his body as a conduit to infuse the butterfly knife with this power.
He was undertaking Spirit Crossing and spirit attraction at the same time! Spirit Crossing involved imbuing a part of his own soul into the butterfly knife, creating a deep connection with it. Spirit attraction, on the other hand, was about awakening the knife's own spirit, establishing a stable and vibrant inner cycle to ensure the Spirit Crossing wouldn't fail.
Before long, sweat beaded on Ye Rong's forehead. "This is even harder than I thought," he muttered to himself.
The low spiritual energy of the material, his weakened state, and the world's low sensitivity to spiritual energy compounded the challenge, making Ye Rong's Spirit Crossing attempt grueling.
"But what can possibly stop me?!" A fierce determination flashed in Ye Rong's eyes. He had progressed from a mere novice to the threshold of Communicating with Deity, enduring countless hardships along the way.
His resilience might not always be apparent, but in times of adversity, his tenacity shone through. He would never give up. As long as there was the slightest glimmer of hope, he would persevere in his research.
From dawn to dusk and as the stars took their place around the moon, Ye Rong lost all sense of time, wholly absorbed in the process of Spirit Crossing.
Outside the men's dormitory at Diaton University, Chen Ling walked back and forth with a worried expression.
"Why hasn't Ye Rong returned yet?" she wondered aloud. "Securing a meeting with Prof. Fu was no small feat. If Ye Rong succeeds, he might overcome this ordeal. But now, two days have passed without him attending classes or coming back to the dorm. Where on earth could he be?"
She sighed, her concern growing. "Does he truly believe he can defeat Zhao Qi?"
"If this fight happens... it's already too late if we don't act, but if it does happen, it'll be even worse."
Chen Ling shook her head in frustration, a rare display of anger as she stomped her foot and stormed off.
"Hey, isn't that Chen Ling?" a boy exclaimed, pointing at her retreating figure from the front of the dormitory.
"Yes, it is! I saw Chen Ling just yesterday and thought it was a fluke, but here she is again today!"
"Talk about luck! Seeing the new campus beauty two days in a row—it's like my whole perspective has broadened!"
"Luck, my foot! The campus beauty showing up at the guys' dorm has to mean she's waiting for someone. The freshman belle is already off the market—that's not good news!"
"What's more, she's waiting at the guys' dorm. Among all the high-and-mighty types at our school, how many actually stay in these dorms? She's been snapped up by some regular guy, and we've been clueless!"
The conversation sparked a sense of regret, and a crowd of boys gathered around.
"Come to think of it, I've got a bit of gossip. Anyone heard of Ye Rong from the history department's fifth class?"
...
On the third day, Chen Ling returned to the male dormitory, but Ye Rong was still nowhere to be found.
She waited until 1:40 p.m. before she finally turned and headed towards the House of Iron Fist.
"Ye Rong, if you run away this time, don't bother coming back," Chen Ling muttered, a flicker of concern crossing her brow, oblivious to the throng of boys trailing behind her.
"We've got to see who's got such quick hands! If it's really that Ye Rong kid, he's way too bold! Isn't he a die-hard fan of Lin Baobao? Juggling two campus beauties? That's just unacceptable!"
"Unacceptable!" echoed the group of boys in hushed agreement.
You can't keep a secret forever. Though the original poster on the Retainer's Forum hadn't revealed Ye Rong's looks, the word still got out. The news spread like wildfire, and anyone with a penchant for gossip had caught wind of it.
By 1:47 p.m., the area in front of the House of Iron Fist was swarming with people. At a time when most would be eating, sleeping, or resting, the usually quiet House of Iron Fist was bustling with activity!
Chen Ling's expression turned stony, her gaze intensifying with solemnity.
"It's Ms. Chen! Ms. Chen is here!"
A voice rang out at the entrance of the House of Iron Fist.
"Make way!" The crowd parted, creating a clear path.
"Looks like another team is joining the fray!" The young man trailing behind Chen Ling slipped in, and was naturally assumed to be part of her entourage.
Perhaps the buzz around the Retainer's Forum was too gripping, with names like Shangguan Xian, Zhao Qi, Lin Baobao, and the enigmatic figure stirring interest. Or maybe it was the long-standing quietude among the well-acquainted Diaton University community that made the emergence of such a mystery so captivating. Either way, the news had drawn a significant crowd.
Upon witnessing Chen Ling's arrival, Han Xiaotian's expression involuntarily stiffened, his features contorting into a grimace.
The average student was clueless, but he was painfully aware. He had played a part in the commotion.
The thought of Han Xiaotian, the notorious school tyrant, being mercilessly hit on the head with a stone had piqued the curiosity of many school "big shots." A quick investigation revealed the scuffle involved Han Xiaotian, the new campus beauty Chen Ling, and Ye Rong.
A school tyrant's confession to the new campus beauty was one thing, but being rejected was another. To make matters worse, the new belle had come to the defense of a country boy, who then had the audacity to hit Han Xiaotian with a stone and flee. Two days had passed, and Han Xiaotian had yet to exact his revenge, much to the amusement of the school's "big shots." The incident was a thrilling spectacle.
This was one of the reasons behind Han Xiaotian's deep-seated animosity towards Ye Rong.
But before that incident could die down, the mysterious individual challenged Zhao Qi and dared to touch the hand of Diaton University's top belle. To add to the intrigue, this mysterious person was likely Ye Rong himself! The combination of these events had set the House of Iron Fist abuzz.
Chen Ling's presence was not for Han Xiaotian, but for Ye Rong, which only served to redden Han Xiaotian's face, as if he had been metaphorically slapped once again.
"The class monitor has decided to join the excitement as well?" Across the room, a man clad in a suit and leather shoes welcomed Chen Ling with a warm smile, gesturing for her to take a seat beside him.
Tan Jiangqiu!
The refined and elegant Tan Jiangqiu!
Tan Jiangqiu may not have been a dominant figure at Diaton University, but that wasn't due to a lack of capability. Rather, he preferred to keep a low profile, his every action radiating a gentlemanly charm that earned him the moniker of the elegant young master.
In truth, the influence of the Tan family in Ineron was by no means inferior to that of the Han family, perhaps even slightly surpassing it. The two families had a history of competition and grievances, making them archenemies.
And naturally, the scions of these families were enemies as well.
"Indeed, they're classmates of mine; I felt compelled to check in," Chen Ling acknowledged with a nod before taking her seat.
Her gaze swept the room, taking in Han Xiaotian, Wang Tianhao, Shangguan Xian, Zhao Sheng...
The situation had clearly escalated.
With the elite of Diaton University looking on, if Zhao Qi emerged victorious, he would certainly not spare Ye Rong. He wouldn't demand his hand in public, but he would take action privately. The number of witnesses made it a matter of pride.
"Ye Rong, since you've chosen not to return for three days, then you might as well stay away. Please, don't come."
If he didn't show up, the challenge would end without a victor. Even if it meant facing retribution, it was the only way to avoid a crippling outcome.
