The group continued moving through the forest, tension lighter than before.
Lanruo walked just a little too comfortably beside Shisui.
"You've been avoiding me," she said lightly.
"I have not," Shisui replied calmly. "I have been on assignment."
"That's the same thing," she smiled.
Behind them, Karma and Chen Linjian were openly listening now.
Ziyun wasn't even pretending not to.
Lanruo continued,
"You've been assigned to the Uzumaki heir for years now. Don't you ever get tired?"
"No," Shisui answered simply.
She smiled faintly. "Of course you don't."
There was a small silence.
Then—
Shisui spoke smoothly, tone polite and steady.
"You mentioned earlier you had questions about inscriptions."
Lanruo blinked. "Yes?"
"Nie Li is more knowledgeable in that field," Shisui said. "You should ask him."
Up ahead, Nie Li slowly turned his head.
"…Why do I suddenly feel involved?"
Karma covered his mouth to hide a grin.
"Professional deflection," he whispered.
Lanruo narrowed her eyes slightly at Shisui.
"…I see."
Then she turned and stepped toward Nie Li.
"Very well," she said sweetly. "Nie Li, tell me about inscription layering."
A short distance away, leaning casually against a tree—
Chu Meng watched.
Sixteen years old.
Disciple of the Chu Family.
Three-Star Bronze Rank.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
A nobody like Nie Li…
Yet somehow—
Young Master Chen Linjian spoke to him seriously.
Shisui Uchiha acknowledged him.
Huan Lanruo smiled at him.
The City Lord's daughter Ye Ziyun worried about him.
And even Karma Uzumaki—the Prince of Glory City—stood near him casually.
His jaw tightened.
What exactly is special about him?
Up ahead—
Lanruo was speaking lightly with Nie Li about inscriptions, her tone curious and interested.
That was enough.
Chu Yuan pushed off the tree and strode over.
"What are you two talking about?" he asked, inserting himself between them slightly.
Lanruo's smile didn't fade.
But internally—
Chu Meng… troublesome.
Nie Li blinked once.
Who is this guy?
Karma and Shisui both glanced at him briefly—
Then looked away.
Not worth reacting to.
Lanruo answered calmly, "We were discussing inscription patterns."
Chu Yuan let out a short laugh.
"Inscriptions?" He smirked. "Lanruo, my understanding of inscriptions far surpasses that of a thirteen-year-old brat."
He looked down at Nie Li deliberately.
"I've studied advanced formation arrays for years."
He continued boasting lightly.
Nie Li didn't react outwardly.
Karma did.
He slowly turned his head toward Chu Yuan.
"…You're annoying."
The smile he wore was relaxed.
But the words weren't.
"Shu shu."
Chu Meng's expression stiffened.
Before Karma could escalate further—
Nie Li stepped forward slightly.
"I'll challenge you," Nie Li said calmly.
Silence fell.
Chu Meng blinked.
"…What?"
"You look down on me," Nie Li said evenly. "Let's settle it."
Chu Meng scoffed. "What can a thirteen-year-old brat do?"
Karma's eyes lit up.
"Oh."
Oh yes.
He suddenly produced a whistle from somewhere inside his sleeve.
Ye Ziyun blinked.
…Where did he even get that?
Before she could question further—
He reached into his coat again and pulled out a pair of tinted goggles.
No one saw where they came from.
He slid them on dramatically.
The lenses flashed in the sunlight.
"Safety first," he declared seriously.
Then Karma blew the whistle loudly.
FWEEEEEEET!
Everyone nearby turned.
Karma jumped between the two like an overly enthusiastic referee.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" he announced loudly. "Since we're all bored and tension is high—let's spice things up!"
He adjusted his goggles like a professional host.
"Welcome to the "I'm better than you" Championship!"
The crowd blinked.
"…What?"
Karma spun the whistle around his finger.
"Two males. One fragile pride each."
He gestured grandly.
"No killing. No crippling. Just clean hits."
He paused for dramatic effect.
He leaned closer to the crowd and stage-whispered,
"Winner keeps dignity. Loser loses… everything."
He grinned wickedly.
"And the loser crawls on the ground and barks like a dog."
Dead silence.
Then—
A few students burst out laughing.
Chen Linjian covered his face.
Shisui looked at the sky as if questioning fate.
Ziyun muttered, "…Why does he make everything worse?"
Karma crossed his arms.
"Well? Afraid?"
Nie Li sighed.
Chu Meng sighed.
Both of them stared at Karma like they deeply regretted being born in the same era as him.
Karma pointed at them.
"Yes. That look. That's the drama I paid for."
They both spoke at the same time.
"Accepted."
The crowd erupted in excitement.
Chu Meng smirked confidently.
"I'll let you strike first," he said arrogantly. "I don't bully children."
Ye Ziyun grabbed Nie Li's sleeve.
"Don't act rashly! Chu Meng is a Three-Star Bronze Rank."
Nie Li smiled lightly.
"Don't worry."
Ziyun pouted.
"Who's worried about you?!"
Her glare shifted toward Karma—
Who was absolutely glowing with joy.
He now held a random stick like a ceremonial staff.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Karma shouted dramatically.
He pointed the stick toward Nie Li.
"On this side—Nie Li! Ordinary school librarian!"
"Small body! Massive attitude!"
"Looks like a child! Talks like your disappointed uncle!"
Nie Li stared at Karma as if witnessing a betrayal of historic proportions.
"…You could have just said my name."
Karma spun and pointed at Chu Meng.
"And on the other side—Young Master of the Chu Family, Chu Meng, sixteen years old… and still only Three-Star Bronze Rank!"
Chu Meng's face darkened.
Behind them—
Chen Linjian covered his mouth to hide a laugh.
Huan Lanruo smiled openly.
Even Shisui's lips curved faintly.
Karma leaned toward the crowd.
"Place your imaginary bets!"
Students gathered in a circle.
Excitement buzzed in the air.
Nie Li stepped forward calmly.
Chu Meng rolled his shoulders confidently.
Karma jumped backward dramatically, raising the stick high.
"Fighters ready—"
He pointed dramatically between them.
"STAR—"
He grinned like a child who just lit fireworks indoors.
"—TO!"
The crowd roared.
And the duel began.
Nie Li stood calmly, shoulders relaxed.
A faint ripple of soul force surrounded him.
He inhaled slowly.
First use the soul power to strengthen the body.
Across from him, Chu Meng smirked confidently.
"I'll give you three strikes," Chu Meng said casually. "Otherwise people might say I bully kids."
Karma raised the stick dramatically.
"Such generosity! Truly the spirit of charity!"
Chu Meng shot him a glare.
Nie Li didn't waste another second.
"OK!"
He lunged forward.
Dust kicked up beneath his feet as he closed the distance instantly.
Chu Meng didn't move.
He simply watched.
"This kind of kiddy punch…" Chu Meng sneered.
Karma leaned forward dramatically.
"Oh no. He said 'kiddy punch.' That's always a mistake."
Nie Li's fist shot forward—
But at the last moment—
He shifted his footing.
Chen Linjian's eyes sharpened.
"Messed up footwork?"
Karma adjusted his goggles.
"Or upgraded footwork."
First Strike
Nie Li twisted his hips sharply.
Instead of striking high—
His fist drove forward and down—
BAM!
Directly into Chu Meng's stomach.
The impact echoed.
Chu Meng's eyes bulged.
"WU—!"
His body lifted slightly before collapsing forward.
PLOP.
He hit the ground on his knees.
Then—
"VOMIT—!"
The crowd erupted.
Karma blew the whistle.
"AND THAT'S A CLEAN HIT! STRIKE ONE! STOMACH CHECK FAILED!"
Huan Lanruo blinked.
"…Interesting."
Ye Ziyun covered her mouth in surprise.
Chen Linjian's expression darkened thoughtfully.
"How did Nie Li topple Chu Meng in just one strike? Chu Meng is a three-star Bronze Rank. His physique alone is one-star Bronze."
Karma whispered loudly,
"Apparently not stomach-star Bronze."
Shisui gave him a side glance.
Karma grinned.
"I'm providing educational commentary."
Chu Meng knelt on the ground.
He struggled to stand.
Nie Li stood calmly in front of him.
"Your basics are too weak," Nie Li said flatly.
Too weak? It's obvious he grew up with luxury
To think he thought of multiple backup plans…
Karma leaned dramatically on his stick.
"Librarian analysis complete."
The crowd murmured.
"Nie Li must have hidden his strength!"
"At least Bronze Rank…"
Chu Meng gritted his teeth.
He tried to push himself up.
"Stand up!" someone shouted from the crowd.
Karma cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Sir! The floor is not your ally!"
Chu Meng's hands trembled as he forced himself to breathe steadily.
And then—
Karma stepped forward, tapping the stick lightly against his shoulder.
He looked down at Chu Meng through his tinted goggles.
"Oh nooo," he said dramatically.
He turned toward the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please remember—this is a three-move game."
He held up two fingers.
"There are still two more moves left."
The crowd burst into laughter.
Chu Meng's face turned red.
Karma tilted his head.
"Sir, you cannot be defeated in the tutorial stage. We haven't even reached the boss music yet."
Even Ye Ziyun couldn't hold back her smile.
Lanruo covered her mouth lightly, eyes sparkling.
Chen Linjian shook his head, clearly amused.
Even Shisui's lips curved faintly upward.
Karma crouched slightly near Chu Meng.
"Do you need a break? Water? Emotional support?"
The crowd laughed louder.
Chu Meng's jaw tightened.
"Shut up!"
Karma stood up immediately and raised the whistle.
"Oh good! He can still shout! Vital signs stable!"
Laughter rippled through the gathered students again.
Nie Li exhaled quietly.
"…Can we continue?"
Karma spun the stick once.
"Of course!"
He stepped back dramatically.
"Round two! Pride recovery attempt!"
Chu Meng staggered back, fury burning across his face.
From the side, someone laughed.
"Haha! This brat!"
Karma instantly cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted,
"Correction! This brat still has two moves left to go!!!"
He blew his whistle dramatically.
The crowd burst into laughter.
Ye Ziyun covered her mouth. "He's so mean…"
Chu Meng's eyes burned with humiliation.
"You deserve this!"
"I'm gonna kill you!"
He lunged forward.
"Tornado Kick!"
His leg swept through the air in a powerful arc, wind pressure spiraling around it as it aimed straight for Nie Li's head.
A few students gasped.
"No doubt," Nie Li muttered, "he's from a big family that already learned martial arts before reaching Silver Rank."
Chen Linjian's eyes sharpened.
Karma leaned sideways slightly, hand shading his goggles like he was watching a sports match.
"Ooh! Wind effects! Budget increased!"
Chu Meng's kick roared forward—
—but Nie Li calmly shifted his stance.
At the last second—
He stepped in.
Pivoted.
And drove his heel directly into Chu Meng's supporting leg.
Chu Meng's body flipped awkwardly mid-air before crashing into the dirt—
A crater formed beneath him.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Karma slowly lowered his goggles.
"…Oh."
He blew the whistle once.
The crowd stared in shock.
"I don't think I can even handle two of Nie Li's moves," Chen linjian whispered. "And he's just thirteen years old…"
Nearby, someone muttered,
"But Chu Meng said he has a Red Soul Sea… can he really cultivate to Silver Rank?"
Chen Linjian crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Wait until he reaches Silver Rank and fuses with a demon spirit… I'm afraid he'll be stronger than you. I have this feeling that Nie Li is not that simple…"
Huan Lanruo watched quietly, lips curving slightly.
"Looks like Big Sis underestimated you…"
Ye Ziyun's eyes sparkled faintly.
"The Nine Revolutions Ice Phoenix technique he taught me is already so powerful… The technique he's using must be even better."
Meanwhile—
Chu Meng forced himself upright, dirt clinging to his robes.
Flames of embarrassment practically rose behind him.
Karma leaned toward Nie Li and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear:
"One more hit and he unlocks the Barking Achievement."
The crowd burst into laughter again.
Shisui turned slightly away to hide the faint smile.