Whether it is or not, you'll find out by trying.
Su Bai believed in the principle that practice makes perfect, and he couldn't dismiss the Sacred Fire Technique just because its description was a bit frightening.
But where could he find the flesh and blood of creatures at the Body Tempering stage or above? His family usually only ate ordinary beast meat.
"Mom, I want to eat spirit beast meat."
Su Bai put down his chopsticks and looked at his mother expectantly.
Mother Su replied, "Spirit beast meat? You look like a spirit beast to me. A free-range chicken at the Body Tempering stage costs several thousand. I can't bear to eat that."
Su Bai clicked his tongue inwardly.
His family only ate such expensive ingredients once a year during holidays. If he used them for spellcasting, his mother would probably beat him up.
Mother Su added, "I remember your first monthly exam after starting high school is in two days. If you can get into the top ten in your class, it wouldn't be a bad idea to treat you to a big meal."
Top ten in the class?
Su Bai's heart stirred.
He was currently at the sixth level of Body Tempering, and his academic performance was average, usually ranking around seventeenth or eighteenth.
Normally, breaking into the top ten would be difficult, but now things were different.
Even without the upgraded Sacred Fire Technique, the perfected Fireball Technique alone would be a game-changer in the Daoist exam, significantly boosting his score.
"Alright, it's settled."
Su Bai nodded.
Mother Su was a little surprised.
She knew her son well—aside from winning an award in kindergarten, he had been average throughout primary and middle school.
Was he trying to save face in front of his female classmate, or had he really been studying in secret, preparing to surprise everyone?
Shen Hanlu also became wary.
Could it be that because she stole his lunch, he had decided to stop hiding his strength?
Could the timeline really change because of a chicken leg and a wing?
Unaware of their thoughts, Su Bai continued eating while considering other ways to obtain spellcasting materials.
Even though there were only two days left before the monthly exam, he didn't want to wait.
Then, an idea struck him.
There were many demon specimens displayed in his father's study—trophies brought back from demon-hunting missions.
If he accidentally broke one or two specimen fingers, accidentally put them in his pocket, and accidentally burned them… it would all make perfect sense.
After all, he was his father's biological son. He wouldn't be beaten to death over something like that.
"I'm full."
Su Bai quickly finished his meal, placed his bowl in the sink, and, taking advantage of the others not paying attention, quietly slipped into his father's study.
"Auntie, I'm done eating. I'll help wash the dishes."
Shen Hanlu watched him disappear down the hallway before turning sweetly to Bai Lan.
As the eldest daughter of the Shen family, she would never have done housework in her previous life at this age.
But in the future, when she had fallen to her lowest point, she survived by weaving mats and making shoes, honing her life skills.
Mother Su waved her hand with a smile. "You're a guest. There's no need for that."
Seeing Shen Hanlu insist, she seemed to notice something and pointed at the girl's slightly messy hairstyle.
"You must've been in a rush this morning. Let me comb your hair."
Shen Hanlu thought for a moment, then agreed.
After cleaning up, Mother Su stood behind her with a comb and untied her hair ribbon.
Her thick, smooth black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and the comb glided through effortlessly.
Feeling the warm hand on her head, Shen Hanlu felt a faint stir in her heart.
Her mother had left her when she was young; she hadn't felt such warmth in a long time.
Growing up in such a warm family, Su Bai shouldn't have turned evil yet.
Just as she thought this, Su Bai's sneaky figure flashed past her and disappeared into a room.
Though it was only a glimpse, Shen Hanlu noticed something strange—his pockets were bulging, as if holding something.
The shape looked like a pen, but thicker and shorter.
"What is he hiding?"
At first confused, she suddenly grew tense.
"Could he already see me as a threat and plan to eliminate me with a hidden weapon? Is that some kind of poison?"
A vivid scenario formed in her mind.
While following him, she would lose sight of him in a crowd. Then suddenly, a gust of wind—followed by a needle piercing her neck.
Under the influence of a sinister drug, she would lose all ability to resist…
So he had always been evil?
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became.
It might sound unreasonable to attack a classmate over lunch, but this was the future final boss—anything he did could be justified.
Even if it was only speculation, Shen Hanlu decided to prepare for the worst.
"Hmph. No matter how cunning you are, you'd never expect me to be a reincarnator. If you make a move, I'll expose your weakness."
"Su Bai, you don't want your parents to find out you're a bad kid, do you?"
She found opportunity within danger.
Soon, her hair was neatly tied up.
"Thank you, Auntie. I'll go home and take a nap. Please call me when Su Bai leaves."
She touched her neatly styled bun and smiled.
Mother Su nodded, watching her leave, then murmured with a knowing smile,
"Already going to and from school together? These two get along better than I thought."
At 1:30 p.m., after a short nap, Shen Hanlu left her apartment and met Su Bai waiting by the elevator.
She glanced at his pocket.
The previous rod-shaped object was gone, replaced by two round bulges about the size of walnuts.
So what were those? Some kind of miniature thunder weapon?
What an evil fellow.
Immediately alert, she followed him into the elevator.
At the entrance of the residential complex, Su Bai scanned a shared flying sword with his phone.
Moments later, the sword popped out.
Shen Hanlu tried the same, but her phone displayed a payment screen.
Looking at the three-yuan fee, she asked in confusion, "Su Bai, why is it asking me to pay? Is my phone infected with a virus?"
Su Bai glanced at her screen. "Of course you have to pay. Do you think the Rat Mountain Sword Sect runs a charity?"
"Then why didn't you pay?"
"I have a monthly pass. With the student discount, it's only fifty yuan. As long as each ride is under an hour, there's no extra charge."
After calculating, Shen Hanlu found it reasonable. "Then help me get one too."
Su Bai clicked his tongue but took her phone anyway.
"Enter your payment password yourself."
She leaned in and entered a six-digit code.
The screen loaded… then displayed: Payment Failed.
Su Bai stared at the phone.
Top-tier model, worth twenty thousand yuan—
And she didn't even have three yuan.
"For reasons I can't explain, I currently… don't even have three yuan."
Shen Hanlu looked away.
Su Bai patted his flying sword. "Then ride with me. It's four kilometers—we won't make it on foot."
"I won't…" she began, instinctively refusing.
"So what do you want?"
"I—I'll pay you fifty later, okay?"
"Take it or leave it."
Su Bai didn't bother arguing. He jumped onto the sword and prepared to leave.
"Wait! Don't leave me behind! I'll ride, okay?!"
Panicking, Shen Hanlu jumped onto the sword and grabbed his clothes.
The flying sword shot toward Shengyang No. 1 Middle School.
But halfway there, both their phones—and those of everyone nearby—vibrated simultaneously.
Su Bai slowed down and checked his phone.
A blue warning appeared.
[Blood Demon Blue Alert: Spatial fluctuations detected within a one-kilometer radius. A micro-space rift is about to form. Please activate self-defense measures and seek shelter immediately.]
Just as he finished reading, a crack over three meters long suddenly tore open in the air ahead.
On the other side of the crack, everything was crimson.