《Beggar Cultivation System》


 Chapter 1 Faceless Woman(Part-1)

    "How old is he?" a woman wearing hospital scrubs asked the person on the other side of the room. One of them checked the equipment, while the other monitored the patient peacefully lying on the bed. They made sure that the old man was alive and breathing.The equipment surrounding them could only be described as something that came out of a sci-fi book. Digital panels upon digital panels kept appearing in the air, detailing the condition of the convalescent old man.


    "He''s 110 years old," the nurse on the side said.


    "110 years old? He''s probably already lived a good life, but he''s still holding on," the woman checking the equipment said.


    "Probably? Use the word ''definitely.'' Don''t you know him? He is the richest man in the whole world!"


    "Richest man? That Apollo Leone?!" The nurse exclaimed in surprise. She then looked carefully at the old man''s face. Apollo Leone had white hair so thin and sparse that she could count it easily. His body resembled a twig, a cold twig from the winter snow.


    "Hey, keep your voice down," the nurse checking the vitals of the old man looked up with a frown. "Didn''t you read the roster?"


    The nurse checking the equipment could only scratch her cheek.


    Seeing this, the nurse on the old man''s side shook her head. While they were doing their tasks, Apollo''s closed eyes twitched ever so slightly.


    "I heard he doesn''t want to die yet. He even gave this hospital a big sum just to make sure we will give him the best treatment."


    "But looking at him, I don''t think we''ll be able to save him¡­" They talked about the old man on the bed for a while before they left.


    Once the door closed, silence lingered in the air.


    "I want to live¡­"


    Darkness.


    That''s all that he could see.


    "All my effort¡­ all my money, are they going to die with me?" He heard what the two nurses were talking about.


    Just like what they said, he was the richest man in the world. No one could compare to him. His money became much more when he focused on creating a company that focused on prolonging the lifespan of a human being.


    Biology, Medicines, Technology, Gerontology, etc¡­ The company covered almost everything that could prolong the lifespan of a human.


    But there was nothing the company could do. In the end, he ended up in a private hospital subsidiary to his company, though he was the only one who knew this.


    "I don''t want to die."


    Suddenly, in the darkness, light shone upon him. It was so strong that in his mental world, he wanted to close his eyes. But there wasn''t much he could do. His world was swallowed by intense brightness.


    After a while, he felt his foot touching the ground, and the sound of birds reached his ears.


    Opening his eyes slowly, he couldn''t help but tilt his head. He then looked around the surroundings.


    Apollo was standing in a wide plain of grass. He could see a creek nearby with small fish swimming gleefully. Looking up, he noticed the birds playing with each other and chirping to create a beautiful melody.


    "I''m alive?" Apollo muttered in disbelief. He looked around once more before he burst into laughter. Although he didn''t know what was really happening, he felt intense happiness.


    He ran to the creek and stared at his own reflection. Brown hair and blue eyes. He was familiar with this feature, but something great was different¡­


    Reaching out his hand to touch his face, his body shook. "I became younger too?!"


    Then, like a lunatic, he stared at the sky and laughed like never before. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "HAHAHAHA!"


    The excitement of being alive clouded his mind, preventing him from thinking further about his situation.


    He was alive and young, there was nothing for him to think about¡­


    While he danced and sang like a crazy person, he suddenly heard the sound of strings. He couldn''t help but stop as the melody immediately caught his attention.


    Apollo turned to the side. He saw a tree up on a hill. He had already noticed it when he surveyed the surroundings, but at first, he only thought of it as normal.


    Squinting his eyes, he became surprised as someone was currently underneath the tree, wearing a white dress and holding a guitar-like instrument.


    "There''s someone beside me here? That''s great!" Apollo said before he dashed towards the hill.


    "Hey! Why are you¡ª" After he arrived, he was about to ask a question when he halted. The melody coming from her instrument was so mesmerizing that it made him close his eyes and savor the moment.


    He felt like he was in a dream and at the same time in reality, but it didn''t matter. In his perceptions, what was important was the song caressing his heart and soul.


    Apollo Leone doesn''t know how long it has been. He only opened his eyes when the tune ended.


    "You are so talented," he praised with a smile. Because the woman had her back to him, he couldn''t see her appearance.


    "Thank you," the woman turned around.


    "No wo¡ª" Apollo froze in his spot. The woman didn''t have a face. It was only darkness, like a black hole staring straight at him.


    Then the world started shaking, and the lush grass and trees began to wither. Dark clouds rolled across the sky, shrouding the warmth of the sun.


    "W-what¡­ why¡­ how¡­" Apollo became confused and scared. He finally realized his situation.


    What is happening?! Why am I here? Is this hell?!


    As a person who believes in science, what is happening right now shattered his worldview. He could feel everything was real. The sensation of his feet touching the now cold ground and the smell permeating his nose made him certain that he was not dreaming.


    He took a step back while his eyes never left the faceless woman.


    "Don''t be scared, Apollo Leone," the woman spoke. Neither warm nor cold, it was like a thought speaking directly to him.

 Chapter 2 Faceless Woman(Part-2)

    "How did you know my name¡­" His thoughts were in chaos and his breathing heavy."I know everything about you," the faceless woman chuckled. "Call me¡­ hmm¡­ what should I call myself¡­"


    The woman put a hand under her chin, her mind racing to form the right words.


    Apollo looked at her behavior strangely. This lasted a few minutes, giving him time to reflect on everything.


    I died because of old age¡­ in the end, even with all that money, I couldn''t extend my life, Apollo thought bitterly.


    "Call me Aster," the faceless woman finally decided on her name. Her hands strummed the strings on the guitar. Compared to the serenity she had just produced before, this time it was grating to the ears.


    Apollo couldn''t help but frown.


    "Aster¡­ what is happening?" He asked, eager to know everything. His mind, the moment he woke up in this place, was so lightheaded he didn''t know what he was doing, but now, his thought process became normal. The faceless woman in front of him was the only one who could explain everything to him.


    "You probably already guessed. You died," Aster said.


    "Yeah, then what is this place?" Apollo gestured around.


    "Neither Hell nor Heaven," Aster answered, her light voice turning monotone.


    "Neither Hell nor Heaven¡­" Apollo repeated, his breathing turning heavy. He couldn''t fully understand what it meant, but he knew it must be something that even the world that he lived in didn''t know of.


    "Before I tell you everything, let''s first recap your whole life," Aster strummed the chords, making Apollo frown from the discomfort.


    Suddenly, his eyes blurred as something materialized from thin air. He was very familiar with what was around him right now. It was a holographic screen. He couldn''t count how many of them. He could also see images and videos playing on the screen.


    It''s him¡­


    "Apollo Leone. One might say you are a child prodigy. Smart, handsome, a jack of all trades," Aster remarked as a screen went in front of them.


    Apollo saw himself from when he was just a child. He was standing on stage with awards being given to him. The scene changed, and he became much older. It was still the same, awards upon awards.


    Then he became an adult where he landed his first job. It was a high-paying one where he didn''t have to worry about bills and what he had to eat. But he was not yet satisfied. He wanted more money where he could do whatever he wanted.


    So he created his first business.


    The screens surrounding them displayed all this.


    He instantly became successful with money coming in. Was it enough? No, still not satisfied, he created another one, until he became the youngest and the wealthiest person in the world.


    Apollo Leone felt bliss seeing his success coming into fruition.


    "You lived a good life. Almost perfect¡­ Almost."


    The holographic screens changed scene, and Apollo saw himself in the bathroom, throwing up blood.


    Then he was admitted to a hospital. With the advancement of technology, he was cured.


    Or so he thought.


    After a few years, his illness came back, but fortunately, with the previous success of curing him, he didn''t suffer much.


    Women, money, and all the hedonistic pleasure that the world offers, he had it all.


    Aster also watched all these, though Apollo couldn''t see any emotion because she didn''t have a face.


    "It''s an illness that keeps coming back. You lived between a life of pleasure and a curse," Aster turned towards Apollo.


    The translucent screens surrounding them now showed Apollo in his sufferings. The time it took to show how happy he was became less until he was on his deathbed, where doctors and nurses entered his hospital room to check his conditions.


    He saw his children and grandchildren crying. Apollo couldn''t help but tear up seeing this scene.


    "But you are only focused on yourself. You only see yourself in your own world," Aster shook her head.


    The scene changed, and Apollo''s eyes widened before they became bitter.


    He was the wealthiest for a reason. He dwelled on the good and the bad, though the bad was in the light.


    People suffered from his success. He didn''t care about the poor; he just wanted them to work hard to generate more wealth.


    The way he did things was frowned upon by others.


    Those who suffered from him cheered when they heard of the death of Apollo Leone.


    Closing his eyes, Apollo took a deep breath. "I know everything. They''re suffering. But it doesn''t have to do with me. That''s what I believe."


    "You are not here to be judged on right or wrong," Aster said.


    "Then what?" Apollo asked again. The translucent screens surrounding them shattered, and the dark world came back.


    "You are dead and at the same time not," Aster said in another cryptic phrase. "Do you want to live?"


    "I don''t understand everything, but yes!" Apollo answered with enthusiasm.


    "You will live again," Aster turned around and walked towards the tree behind her. The tree opened in the middle to reveal a black hole.


    Apollo saw her entering while her words echoed in his head. I will live again?!


    Excitement erupted from him, so he followed behind her.


    His vision swirled, and he saw himself standing in¡­ a universe. "This¡­"


    Apollo couldn''t believe what he was seeing. He woke up in a dark world, and now he was standing in the vast universe. He reached out his hand, and it passed through a galaxy, their colorful particles following his hand before they went back to their original form.


    Aster waved her hand, and the universe shifted. The place became a blur; they entered a universe and galaxies until they stopped in front of a planet that resembled Earth.


    "This world? It''s not Earth?" Apollo realized. He shifted to the faceless woman.


    "Yes," Aster nodded. "You will be reborn here."


    "Reborn¡­ on another planet," Apollo muttered. He knew what it meant; it''s reincarnation. Because Earth''s technology is already advanced, much research went into this, though nothing superficial came out of it.


    To think it''s real.


    "What is this planet called?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It has many names. Depends on what galaxies you came from, but the people living inside call it Luan."


    "Luan¡­ I see," Apollo smiled. "If I can get to live again, even though it''s on a different planet, I will cherish it. Besides, with my ability to make money, it won''t be long until I become the top of this world."


    His words echoed in the surrounding space.


    Aster, who had her back against the ambitious man, turned towards him. "Don''t be happy yet. This world is different from Earth. Far different."


    "What do you mean?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "You should find out by yourself," Aster coldly said. "Besides, you will not be reborn without a catch."


    Hearing this damped down Apollo''s anticipation. He could only smile bitterly as he also thought of this.


    "You wanted to be on top? Then you will have to live your whole life as a beggar."


    "B-beggar?!" Apollo couldn''t believe his ears. "No! Absolutely no!"


    "Hehe, I won''t take no for an answer. It''s taking too much time. Goodbye," Aster waved her hand.


    Before Apollo could protest another word, his vision blurred, and he saw himself falling towards the planet in front of him.


    "Ahhh!" He shouted as the fast speed made him dizzy.


    His body vaporized and became a speck of light. It circled around the planet, seemingly looking for something.


    Aster, who was watching all this, started strumming her guitar. Its grotesque sound spread far and wide, waking up the old folks with a frown painted on their faces.


    The light finally stopped and dropped in a specific part of the planet. Seeing this, the faceless woman turned around and went back to the dark world.

 Chapter 3 The Start (Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System, Chapter 1.The world spun, swirling with all kinds of colors until the sound of passing air surfaced. Then came the chirping of birds for a second, followed by the murmur of men talking. Like a missile, congested particles of light, invisible to humans, passed through a rooftop.


    "Ouch!" Apollo grunted in pain as he felt like he hit something hard and soft simultaneously. While his mind was still blurry, he could hear voices.


    Unable to understand what they were saying, it was hard for him to distinguish whether they were men or women, or how many of them there were.


    "What is happening?" Apollo''s thoughts raced, trying to piece together his chaotic surroundings. Then, the conversation he had with that faceless woman about reincarnation surfaced in his mind.


    Reincarnation?


    Slowly, his blurry vision started to clear. After a while, his eyes adjusted, and the scene in front of him came into focus. Before him lay a table reaching his nose, adorned with tantalizing dishes emitting an aroma that made his stomach churn. Although he couldn''t discern the specific dishes, their presentation hinted at their expense.


    Scanning his surroundings, Apollo noted the high ceiling adorned with chandeliers made of unfamiliar gems and walls decorated in a style he had never seen before.


    Voices drew his attention back to the people at the table: eight in total, including him. Clad in medieval-style attire reminiscent of the textbooks he had studied, Apollo wore a dark blue tailcoat with intricate designs.


    Suddenly, a nudge jolted him, and he turned to his right to find a woman with worried eyes. Her black hair was tied in a bun, and her ocean-blue eyes peered at him beneath lightly applied makeup that concealed slight wrinkles. Her lips were adorned with a reddish-pink lipstick.


    Like the other women at the table, she wore a gown adorned with expensive decorations.


    She began speaking the language he had been hearing since his arrival. Confused, Apollo tilted his head.


    "Language detected¡­ comprehending¡­"


    "Language learned: Luanian."


    A blue translucent screen appeared before him.


    Eh? Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise as he finally understood the woman''s words.


    "Apollo, are you okay?" she asked softly.


    "Y-yes," Apollo answered, his voice small, almost childlike. No. He glanced at his reflection in the plate and noticed his rounded face. Just like the woman beside him, he had blue eyes and black hair.


    I''m still handsome, and my name is still Apollo? I thought reincarnation is when I reincarnated as a baby?


    This is like when kids finally realize they have consciousness?


    "Then why aren''t you eating your food?" the woman asked again.


    "Hehe," Apollo could only scratch his cheek, his eyes still fixed on the translucent screen in front of him.


    It flickered before something changed. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Transferring Data¡­ 1%"


    "Finish your food, Son, so you''ll be like me, strong and handsome!" The middle-aged man on his left flexed his biceps. With brown hair and eyes, he winked at the woman on Apollo''s right. "Right, Hon?"


    "Oh, stop it," the woman giggled.


    "Gina, Froi¡­" An aged voice echoed, and both the big guy and the giggling woman shut their mouths.


    "Sorry, father," Froi apologized and started eating his meal. Gina followed suit while nudging her son.


    Apollo started eating, and soon his mouth was full. The cute scene made the others smile.


    At the head of the table sat an old man with white hair. Just like them, he was wearing a medieval-like suit, probably the most expensive suit Apollo could distinguish.


    The old man started talking about various things to which Apollo didn''t care.


    I guess the woman on my right is my mother, Gina, and this bear-like middle-aged man on my left is my father, Apollo thought, his mouth not stopping from chewing the delicious meal.


    That must be my grandfather¡­ He then looked at the old man talking.


    Uncle and aunties¡­ Apollo glanced at the people eating and laughing in front of him.


    Cousins? There are two children just like him, a boy and a girl, with white hair and eyes, perhaps twins.


    It''s a cheerful scene.


    This is not bad. I thought I would really become a beggar. That woman, Aster, must be joking, Apollo thought with a smile.


    After they were done eating, he looked at the floating screen and noticed it had reached 20%.


    I wonder what will happen when it reaches 100%.


    Froi stood up. "Let''s go, Apollo."


    Apollo nodded. He wiped his mouth and jumped off the table, then headed towards the exit with Gina and Froi. They were the last to leave.


    "Where are we going?" Apollo asked. So far, the only knowledge he has is that he reincarnated into this body with a rich family. If he is going to compare it to his last life, he is living like royalty.


    He became the richest man, so the things around him don''t surprise him much.


    What he''s most curious about is the history and what kind of world he''s living in.


    Now that he has a good starting point, he wants to make the most of it and become the most powerful and richest man in this world. At the same time, he wants to start early to extend the life of humans.


    This world doesn''t seem to have high technology. That should be my focus on business, then, Apollo thought.


    "Son, why do you look so serious?" Froi asked with a laugh, seeing Apollo''s face scrunching up.


    "Nothing, hehe," Apollo chuckled bitterly. Being called a son by a stranger still feels strange to him.


    "Let''s go sleep," Gina said with a graceful yawn. After walking down the hallway and turning many corners, the trio finally arrived at the entrance of their room. The room was spacious, with a master bedroom and Apollo''s own.


    "Goodnight."


    "Goodnight!" Apollo replied cheerfully.


    When the door closed, he jumped on his bed. The feeling of the mattress enclosing him made him sigh in relief.


    So far, so good.


    Then he looked at the percentage displayed on the translucent screen from the corner of his eyes.


    "Transferring Data¡­ 80%"

 Chapter 4 The Start (Part-2)

    "I think I just need to wait for a few hours more before it becomes one hundred percent," Apollo muttered. He glanced outside and saw the moon being shrouded by the clouds. Then his eyes turned to the wall.There was a painting of him and his parents along with the whole family.


    "My last name didn''t change," he noticed that on the frame, there''s an engraving of ''Leone''.


    He is a different person, but his name stayed the same.


    While he''s thinking about his whole situation and his future, sleepiness crept in.


    ¡­


    Transfer Complete.


    A voice echoed inside Apollo''s consciousness. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at the translucent screen in the corner of his eyes.


    "Transfer Complete. Initiation¡­"


    "Initiation? Another loading?" Apollo thought with a frown. "Forget it. What is that smell¡­"


    Apollo shook his head.


    He was about to fall asleep when a sudden knock came on his door followed by a loud bang.


    "Apollo! Wake up!"


    Froi walked inside Apollo''s room. His back was sweaty, and he was breathing heavily.


    "W-what happened?!" Apollo sat up, but he had no time to say another word as his father immediately went to his side and picked him up.


    Froi then ran outside.


    Wait!


    Suddenly, a strong heat assaulted Apollo''s face. His eyes widened from shock. Because he was being held with his face on his father''s shoulder, he could see everything his father was running from.


    Fire covered the hallway, and Apollo could see the mansion falling apart.


    "W-what about mother?" Apollo asked. Although these people are strangers to him, he is still worried about them.


    "She''s¨C" Froi couldn''t finish his words as the scene from earlier entered his mind.


    His wife Gina was nothing but a scorched corpse. He wanted to cry out and hug her, but the intense fire made him unable to go forward. Froi had to hold in his tears and decided to save his son.


    "Dead¡­" Froi said while gritting his teeth.


    Dead? Apollo observed the fire. He could feel the intense heat hitting his face even with this distance. This kind of fire only needed a few seconds to turn a human into charcoal.


    What the hell happened here¡­


    Suddenly a strong explosion erupted behind Froi''s back. They were only a few meters away from the exit when the shockwave hit them and shattered the wall.


    Their bodies were thrown outside and landed on the courtside.


    Froi held his son in time, and they rolled on the ground a couple of times before they managed to stop.


    "Sh*t!" Froi cursed. Without looking back, he stood up and proceeded to run. His back was already burning, and the smell of meat permeated his son''s nose.


    This smell would have made Apollo frown, but instead, his eyes turned into shock.


    The mansion that he stayed in for just a night was now crumbling to the ground. The fire reached the sky. Screams also accompanied this hellish scene. He could see people wearing the Leone''s insignia down on the ground with blood flowing from them.


    But his attention was piqued more on what was happening above the burning mansion.


    "They''re flying!" Apollo shouted while pointing at the two men standing in the air. His grandfather and an unknown man. They were looking at each other with intensity. They were talking, but the distance wouldn''t let him read their lips.


    "Don''t look!" Froi said. He covered his son''s eyes and continued to run with all his might.


    The Leone mansion was located far north of the city. If they traveled at their top speed, they would reach the nearest district. Because of their wealth, they had their own land in the city.


    But it wouldn''t be long before the family completely collapsed.


    Froi knew this just by looking at the man facing his father, the Leone Founder.


    Apollo, on the other hand, could only see darkness. He was being held tightly while running fast. He could feel that his father was breathing heavily; Froi was probably injured.


    "What''s happening?!" Apollo shouted, curious about the situation.


    The mansion was on fire, with his grandfather flying in the air with a stranger. That woman Aster didn''t tell me this fact! A world where people can fly? That''s only in fiction¡­ wait¡­ he already reincarnated and even became a different person.


    Shaking this thought off, he heard his father. "Just don''t look!"


    Another explosion sounded, and the whole area shook from the shockwave. The trees around them bent, and rocks were sent flying into the air.


    "Come on!" Froi could see the shattered gate of their manor. There were people watching outside, but the explosion made them run back to their houses.


    "Here!" Someone shouted, and Froi noticed a person wearing a hood.


    He stopped in front of him and put Apollo on his feet.


    "My son¡­" Froi took a deep breath. He looked into Apollo''s eyes. The only thing he could see was confusion. "You don''t seem afraid."


    The sound of explosions continued in the manor, and fire kept rising into the dark sky.


    I''m more amazed than afraid, Apollo thought.


    Because he had already experienced death, the fear of the unknown lessened. He was also curious about the whole situation. Everything was confusing. He had just been reborn, and now he found out that people could fly with some sort of abilities.


    He glanced at the translucent screen from the corner of his eyes and noticed it was still the same.


    "Transfer Complete. Initiating¡­"


    "Keep that attitude, my son-" Froi coughed, blood seeping from his mouth. "You are the future of Leone."


    What attitude? Apollo was even more confused.


    Froi noticed that his son became more serious. He smiled before he stood up and nodded at the hooded man. "Take care of him."


    "I will, Master Froi!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man wanted to kneel, but Froi shook his head. "Take care!"


    "Wait!" Apollo shouted. "How can they fl¨C"


    He was more curious about the reason why those two people could fly.


    Before he could finish his question, he felt something hit the side of his neck. He went unconscious and fell into the hooded man''s arms.


    "We don''t have time for questions and answers, kid," the hooded man whispered before he ran inside the city.


    The dark sky made his body disappear. Amidst the chaotic crowd, no one noticed them.


    Froi turned around. His back was aching with pain, burned to the bone. Most people would have fainted from the pain or instantly died.


    But he didn''t.


    A haze appeared around him, and he breathed white smoke.


    His body became a blur, and he ran back to the mansion. Every step covered dozens of meters. Because he covered his son''s eyes, Apollo didn''t manage to see why they could travel so fast.

 Chapter 5 First Mission(Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System, Chapter 2."Argh¡­ my head¨C" Apollo muttered in pain. He felt lightheaded, and the back of his neck was aching. He opened his eyes and saw the ground moving. His body was bouncing, making him even dizzier.


    An alley? Apollo thought, trying his best to understand his surroundings. The memories from earlier surfaced in his mind, and he finally realized he was being carried on someone else''s shoulder.


    He looked at the person''s face. Underneath that hood, Apollo noticed¡­ greed? He was very familiar with this look. He was over a hundred years old in his past life. From poor to the wealthiest man in the world, one could say he experienced it all.


    This guy! A bad feeling surfaced, and his stomach churned. Something was coming up from his throat; he could even taste it now.


    When he was about to throw up his dinner, his body was hurled into the air before he hit the wall.


    The impact caused him to puke, food and blood intertwined.


    Apollo coughed a few times. His back ached in pain, and he felt like his bones were broken. "You!"


    "This place should be good enough," The hooded man said.


    This alley was dark, making it hard for Apollo to distinguish the man''s whole features.


    Apollo took a deep breath to alleviate some of the pain. He didn''t cry out, surprising the man.


    "As expected of a Leone," The man praised.


    "You¡­ who are you?" Apollo asked after wiping his mouth with his sleeve.


    There were only a few clues he could think about. The whole situation was still confusing to him. This man was probably part of the family or was hired by his father, though in the end betrayed them.


    "Hehe kid, I''m just here for the money!" The man smirked maliciously.


    "You!" Apollo couldn''t help but be angry. Although he only met his father in this life for an evening, that man seemed to be a good person, and this guy was taking advantage of his father.


    "Shh!" The man suddenly made a quiet gesture.


    "They are done. I should get going. Nice meeting you, kid! Thank your father for the money! If he is still alive! Hahahaha!" The man disappeared like a ghost, and only his voice remained, echoing in the murky alley.


    What the hell?


    Only Apollo remained, and some rats walked in the corner of the building.


    After a while,


    "Initiation complete!"


    A blue translucent screen suddenly appeared in front of him, surprising him.


    Then another screen materialized. It was his whole body picture wearing the signature Leone''s noble suit. Beside the picture was his name, age, and underneath was his background description.


    Apollo Leone.


    Age: 7 Years Old.


    Background:


    Apollo Leone is the child of Froi Leone and Gina Leone. After they had a heartfelt dinner, they were then attacked by an unknown man. His grandfather tried to protect the family to no avail. Froi, on the other hand, hired someone to bring his child to a secret place, but because the man only wanted some money, Apollo was left in an alley.


    This¡­ is like a prologue of a game, Apollo thought while leaning on the wall. The injury from the throw made it hard for him to move.


    That hooded man was probably hired by someone else other than Froi. Apollo frowned. His father already hired the man, and all he had to do was bring him to the safe place. The job is done, and his reputation is not sullied. But if the man has been bribed by someone else to fail the mission, then it''s a different story.


    Apollo deduced this clue just from reading his background.


    The translucent screen changed.


    "What now?" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Beggar Cultivation System has been activated. Welcome Host!"


    "Who!" A mechanical voice entered his mind. He stood up abruptly and looked around the alley. But there''s no one around.


    "You have been chosen by Aster to be given a second chance. I will be helping you in your journey from now on. But this second chance is not easy. You will have to be a beggar if you want to live."


    The voice ignored him and continued its dialogue.


    Apollo immediately realized that the voice is inside his head. Having witnessed strange phenomenon after phenomenon, he is no longer surprised. That faceless woman¡­ She said I will have to live as a beggar and now it''s starting.


    "Please say Status Screen," The voice instructed.


    "Status Screen?" Confused, Apollo still muttered.


    A screen materialized in front of him with his name on it.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 0.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: None.


    Attributes: None."


    "This is your status screen where you can see the state of your body and your cultivation stage,"


    "Cultivation?" Apollo tilted his head. "What is that?"


    "Cultivation is the state of a human body. Once reached a certain stage, humans can destroy mountains and split rivers with only their bare hands."


    The voice said. It''s an explanation that the past Apollo wouldn''t accept but he is now different. He put a hand under his chin and recalled what he just saw from the mansion. Two men are flying in the air. It''s an amazing scene and he probably wouldn''t be able to forget it for his whole life.


    Apollo''s eyes lit up as realization dawned on him. So cultivation is the reason why they can fly. In his previous life, only vehicles can fly, and even if humans can do it, they are still using equipment. But as long as one can cultivate, even without high tech equipment, flying is still achievable.


    "This cultivation thing, can I do that?" Apollo asked with excitement.


    "Yes, but in order for you to cultivate, you will have to first finish your mission."


    "Mission?" Apollo muttered, and another screen appeared beside the status screen.


    "Mission: Find your beggar spot.


    Time Limit: 3 hours.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation.


    Rewards: 10 Alm points."


    Beggar Cultivation System Chapter 2.


    "What is this? A game?" Apollo was surprised. And this mission has punishment? Although he doesn''t have any idea what this lightning tribulation is, he knew that the word lightning is dangerous!


    "Good luck on your first mission! Oh and you may call me System! See you later!" The System said before it went silent.

 Chapter 6 First Mission(Part-2)

    Apollo stood there, stunned. He forgot the pain from his body for a moment. Sh*t! I still haven''t recovered from all this mess, and this System wants me to do some mission? I want to rest!"But lightning tribulation¡­ it sounds dangerous," Apollo frowned. "There''s nothing much for me to gain by standing here, and if I want to be on top of this world¡ª"


    The word cultivation surfaced in his mind.


    That, I have to cultivate! Wealth and power, Apollo began to imagine the future.


    Shaking his head, he got rid of this thought and his original body''s family and conflict.


    He decided to focus on the mission at hand.


    His desire to be on top made his small feet walk faster. But after a few steps, he stopped and looked at his clothes. Wearing this suit is like giving myself to the enemy. Someone wanted the Leones to die, and if they found out he was walking in the streets, Apollo wouldn''t want to think about the consequences.


    He looked around and found trash on the side with a dirty robe on top.


    "This will do," Apollo said after putting it on. Then he made his way outside the alley.


    ¡­


    Apollo peeked his head out from the corner to observe the streets. Even though it''s dawn, there are still people on the street looking in the direction of the burning mansion.


    Taking this chance, he went out.


    His head kept moving from here and there. He is amazed by the houses and buildings around. They resemble the medieval houses he saw in the history book.


    Stone-grey and Brown-grey are the most common colors this place is using.


    While he''s observing the place, he''s also looking for a suitable beggar spot.


    Staying this close to the Leone''s mansion won''t do him good, Apollo thought. He decided to just keep walking and walking.


    After an hour, when the burning mansion is out of sight, he stood in front of a store.


    "This is a good beggar spot!" Apollo muttered. If he is going to live as a beggar from now on, then it must be in a good spot where people could see him and give him some money, right? Also, this place is quite far from the original body''s mansion. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "System? Did I finish my mission?" Apollo asked with expectation.


    "No," The system voice entered his mind.


    "Why?" Apollo couldn''t help but frown.


    "It will be too crowded. Easily noticeable by the authorities,"


    "Ah¡­ I see," Apollo finally realized. Come to think of it, he hadn''t seen any beggars since he started walking on the streets. Where are they?


    He started walking again. So I have to find a place with fewer people, and the authorities won''t be able to find it or won''t care.


    An hour or so later, he saw a wall, standing at least a dozen meters in height. Compared to the buildings he saw earlier, in this place are rundown stores and houses.


    There are only a few that he considered to be in good condition.


    "Aha! System? What about this one?" Apollo asked, his breathing heavy. Walking for that long with these short legs is exhausting. He is standing in front of the corner of a restaurant. The spot doesn''t stink, and people won''t notice him much.


    "Mission Complete!" The translucent screen appeared in front of him.


    "Finally!" Apollo sighed in relief. He went towards the corner and sat down. His shaking legs finally had some rest.


    "System, now that I''ve completed my first mission, can you continue with the tutorial?"


    "You have received 10 Alm Points. You can use them to buy items in the store to become stronger."


    He brought up his status screen and noticed that his Alm Points had become ten.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 10.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: None.


    Attributes: None."


    Apollo nodded in excitement. "So how do I bring up the store?"


    "Just say ''store'' or think about it."


    "I see," Apollo tried it, and another screen appeared in front of him.


    He could see all kinds of unfamiliar items. He picked a flower with red flaming petals, and the flower enlarged with descriptions underneath.


    "Blood Phoenix Alstro.


    Once eaten, the Cultivator will undergo a tremendous change. Flames will rise, and feathers will fall. Evaporating the whole sea will be child''s play.


    Price: 100,000 Alm Points."


    That many?! At first, he felt excited reading the description, but when he looked at the price, he couldn''t help but be shocked.


    "W-wait¡­ Is there another way to get Alm Points?" Apollo asked, feeling foolish.


    "To receive alms," the system replied.


    "Hehe, I see," Apollo scratched his cheek.


    He played with the store for a while.


    Ice Dragon Meat.


    Ten-tailed Serpent Heart.


    Universe Fist Scroll.


    He read their descriptions with shining eyes.


    But all of them were too expensive! Fortunately, he found out that the food didn''t cost a lot. 1 Alm point was enough to feed him for a day.


    "There''s also a mobile phone," Apollo muttered. He kept scrolling and came to a realization that this store had all the items he could think of. And as long as he had Alm Points, then he could buy anything!


    Suddenly, a strong whistling sound reverberated in the air. He looked up and noticed a figure zooming past in the sky.


    Then another figure followed.


    And another.


    And another.


    He saw at least ten individuals flying through the air, chasing someone.


    "That guy is the one who caused the destruction of Leone," Apollo thought. "But that Leone is not me. I''m different." He decided to forget about anything that was related to this body.


    Or so he thought.


    "If I want to fly, I have to get stronger. And to become stronger, I have to receive alms. That''s the only way to reach the top of this world," Apollo thought with determination.


    In his past life, he died even though he had everything. He doesn''t want that to happen again. He didn''t want to die; he wanted¡­ to live forever. It''s just his desire. Nothing grand, Apollo admitted it. Mediocre?


    He doesn''t care, as long as he can fulfill his desire, then nothing matters more.


    "System, is there anything here I can use to increase my current strength with only 10 Alm points?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes. I will sort it for you."


    The store selections changed.


    "Simple Breathing Technique.


    A breathing technique to enhance the body and mind.


    Price: 8 Alm points."


    Simple Breathing Technique? Even the explanation is simple. It''s better than nothing.


    Apollo bought it, and a scroll appeared in his hand.


    "How do I use this?"


    "Think about it," the system said.


    Apollo thought that he wanted to use the scroll, and the scroll turned into particles of light before it entered his forehead.


    Suddenly, new information entered his mind. The ways and techniques to inhale the qi flying in the air and then make it circulate his whole body¡ªso this is the Simple Breathing Technique.


    "Hmm, I should try it after sleeping. I''m too tired," Apollo yawned. He looked around and found nothing to use as bedding, so he just lay on the ground.


    "I shouldn''t get involved with Leone. It will ruin my plan to be on top," Apollo muttered.


    Time to sleep!


    He was about to close his eyes when suddenly¡­


    "Issuing a mission¡­"


    "Mission: Revenge for your family.


    Part 1: Kill the hooded man who threw you in the alley.


    Time Limit: One month.


    Reward: 100 Alm Points.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation."


    "Oh f*ck."

 Chapter 7 Cultivation Stage(Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System, Chapter 3.The sound of birds chirping echoed in the sky, their small shadows dancing on the ground before flying off into the distance.


    With the sun already halfway to its highest peak, the streets were bustling with activity. Wooden tables and chairs were set up, adorned with fruits, fish, and meats. Vendors, minding their own business, sat behind their stalls, awaiting customers. However, this part of the city was not the most crowded, so they did not expect all their goods to sell.


    "Argh¡­" Someone grunted, their body still numb from the previous night''s endeavors.


    Apollo woke up with a start, his small body sitting upright as he glanced around to the sound of people walking.


    "What time is it?" Apollo muttered, scratching his eyes with the back of his hand.


    After composing himself, he looked up and concluded it must be past 9 in the morning.


    "I''m so tired that I fell asleep without realizing," Apollo smiled bitterly.


    Recalling the new mission gave him a headache. He had already decided to forget everything related to this body, but the system had issued him a mission to avenge his family.


    "Come on, I just wanted to live as a beggar! Besides, I''m technically still seven years old. Killing someone at this young age? This system is pretty heartless," Apollo thought to himself.


    "Well, it''s not like I hadn''t done it in my past life¡­"


    Suddenly, he felt his stomach grumbling.


    Thinking about food, he summoned the store interface and chose a simple bread and water, costing him 0.2 Alm points.


    After eating, he observed the people walking the streets, noting their simpler attire compared to those near his family''s mansion.


    "This area must be for the middle to lower-class people," Apollo muttered.


    "I still don''t have any clue about this city and its culture," he thought.


    Should he scout the area? Gather some information before attempting the Simple Breathing Technique?


    Apollo stood up and approached the nearest vendor selling bread.


    "Hello!" Apollo greeted with a smile.


    The vendor, with a plump body, looked up and lost interest when he saw it was just a beggar boy. "Go away, kid."


    "I just want to ask a question," Apollo persisted.


    Sighing, the vendor leaned on his chair. He had black hair and a rounded face. "So what is it? If it''s a meaningless question, just go away."


    "How is the city?" Apollo asked, his eyes burning with curiosity.


    "The hell? Is that your question?" The vendor was surprised, studying the boy''s eyes before realizing something.


    "Is this a scheme to steal my bread? Distract me with that kind of question while your hands move to steal my goods?" he thought suspiciously.


    "Just go, kid," the vendor waved dismissively.


    "Please?" Apollo pleaded.


    "Go away," the vendor repeated with a humph.


    "Please???? You are handsome! I want to be like you! You can probably get all the girls, right?" Apollo said, his hands clasping in front of him, adding a hint of flattery to his tone.


    "Go¡ªehem!" The vendor coughed, his face flushing from the unexpected praise. "Okay, kid. Let me tell you this."


    Haha! Really, a simple compliment like that made you cave in? Apollo thought, while outside, he nodded his head and perked up his ears.


    "I don''t know why you''re asking this strange question. Anyway, you know what happened last night? The Leone family has been eradicated by a great cultivator¡ª" The vendor was about to raise his voice, but fortunately, he managed to lower it in the end.


    "The city is in turmoil because that is a great family. The Lord is very upset that such a thing happened inside the city," the vendor sighed.


    Apollo was about to ask another question when he heard something crashing. He turned back and saw that across the street, a stall full of vegetables and fruits was on the ground. A young man was standing with his foot on the vendor''s head.


    "I''m a f*cking cultivator! I don''t have to pay!" The young man was wearing a robe with an insignia of a sword on its left chest. He kept stomping his foot on the vendor''s head while his face was grinning maliciously.


    "And that¡­" The big-bellied vendor lowered his voice even more. "This city is full of these Cultivators who only know how to bully the weak. He''s still a student, just imagine what he will become when he graduates."


    Apollo squinted his eyes. "They are strong, but what is someone like him doing here?"


    "Didn''t I say he''s just a student? He is probably just at the foundation stage and most likely from a common family. You know what it means to be common? It means you are poor," the vendor explained.


    "I see," Apollo nodded before becoming curious. "Foundation stage, what is that?"


    The vendor looked at the kid with a frown. "You don''t even know that?"


    Suddenly, he remembered something. He took out a book from under the table and handed it to Apollo.


    "Here, you can have this."


    "What is this?" Apollo held the simple book in front of his eyes.


    "It''s just a simple book about cultivation. Oh, it also has a map," the vendor said. "You can go now. We''ve already taken too much time." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright!" Apollo was about to leave for another place when he stopped and looked at the vendor. "Can you tell me your name?"


    "My name? You can just call me Big Chub! And don''t even think about stealing my bread!" Big Chub waved his hand.


    "I see, thank you!" Then Apollo ran with his small legs.


    Big Chub watched the kid''s back, feeling excitement surge within him. Blue eyes! That kid has blue eyes! Only nobles have blue eyes! And he even asked for my name!


    Haha, to think that I will meet a playful noble who decided to dress like a beggar.


    Fortunately, I managed to play it off like I don''t know anything, or else¡­ Is that kid going to reward me for being good to him? Grinning from ear to ear, he happened to look at the young man still beating up the vendor. They locked eyes, and Big Chub immediately bowed his head in apology.


    That was close¡­ Wait, why is some of my bread missing?

 Chapter 8 Cultivation Stage(Part-2)

    Munch!Apollo took a bite of brown bread, his mouth soon full, making him appear like a chipmunk.


    After finishing his food, he looked around and decided to ask an old lady sitting in front of her house. He just wanted to get a basic understanding of the city and perhaps about this world. The answer he got from the first vendor wasn''t enough.


    "Hello, old lady!" Apollo greeted enthusiastically.


    At first, the old lady smiled while observing the people around. But when a boy covered in dirt appeared in front of her and even dared to call her an ''Old lady,'' her smile disappeared, replaced with a frown.


    She looked coldly at the boy.


    "Go away!"


    "Eh? I''m just here to ask¡ª"


    "I said, go away!" The old lady took a cane and threatened to hit Apollo with it.


    Run!


    Apollo ran, his little feet moving at full speed. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, he breathed heavily. "I guess not everyone is friendly."


    Shaking his head, he continued to look for someone to ask questions. Some of them answered him, while others just shooed him away. In the end, when it was almost noon, Apollo returned to his beggar spot and sat down.


    He also noticed that the restaurant beside him was already full of people. I thought this place wouldn''t have many people, but I was wrong.


    It''s a good thing.


    Then he recalled all the answers he got from the people kind enough to entertain him.


    So this city is called Klown City. And the area where he''s at is on the northwest side of the city where most common families stay. That''s why he could see walls standing strong in the distance. Although Apollo doesn''t know the reason for this, he has a clue.


    He also noticed some of the student cultivators walking around the street. According to the people he talked to, this city has a school for young men to become cultivators.


    When mentioning these cultivators, they seemed repulsed just by the mention of them.


    And remembering that cultivator who was beating up a vendor even though it was his own wrongdoing, Apollo could probably understand why.


    Power can make someone arrogant.


    "In the end, I still don''t know much about cultivation," Apollo sighed. Then he took out the book Big Chub gave him. "Cultivation stages? Let''s see."


    On the cover page were simple words: "Cultivation Basics." The author was whoever the F that is. This is most likely a common book, so Apollo didn''t bother with who wrote this. He turned to page one.


    "Cultivation Stages:


    Foundation Building.


    Qi Condensation.


    Core Creation.


    Soul Manifestation.


    Realm Fabrication.


    King Terra.


    Absolute One."


    Wow! That many? Apollo continued to read.


    Seven cultivation stages, and the further you go, the stronger you are. The author also stated that if one tried to advance to the next stage and failed, one could be crippled for life or even die.


    So it''s dangerous. Apollo turned to the second page. It''s about the basic details of the Foundation Building.


    "Foundation Building:


    Train one''s body to its peak to reach full potential. Once achieved, the Cultivator can punch a hole in a rock¡­"


    Then he turned to the next page.


    "Qi Condensation:


    Absorb Qi in the air to circulate the whole body. This will revitalize the organs and the mind. Once achieved, the Cultivator doesn''t have to worry about stamina¡­"


    "Core Creation¡­"


    "Soul Manifestation¡­"


    "Realm Fabrication¡­"


    "King Terra¡­"


    He continued to read the book until he was on the last stage.


    "Absolute one:


    No one knows if it''s even real or not. No records have been written about it, only the name of this last cultivation stage."


    "The more mysterious it is, the more I want to be there," Apollo muttered with a smile. Determination flashed in his eyes as he closed the book.


    Unfortunately, the book only tells the basics of each stage. It didn''t even tell me how to advance to the next stage. But who am I to judge? I still haven''t even begun my cultivation journey, Apollo thought.


    Status Screen.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 1.8 Alm Points.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: None.


    Attributes: None."


    Wait a minute¡­ mine says about Spirit Cultivation and Physique Cultivation but the book didn''t mention this one. Apollo became confused. Well, it could be that they are the same? He will only know once he becomes a cultivator.


    I still don''t know what these Attributes are.


    He made the interface vanish before taking a deep breath. Now that he knew the basic state of the city and cultivation, the Simple Breathing Technique came to mind.


    Come to think of it, it is very similar to the method of Qi Condensation cultivators.


    "System,"


    "Yes, Host?"


    "Will this Simple Breathing Technique allow me to reach the Foundation Building stage?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes."


    "How¨C" Apollo didn''t finish his words as he remembered the description for this technique.


    What most common Qi condensation cultivators do is revitalize their whole body, but the Simple Breathing Technique can enhance the body and the mind. They both use Qi to do their technique, but the way they use it is very different.


    I see, then he noticed that his Alm points are at 1.8. It''s low. If I really want to become strong, I need to have enough to buy good techniques in the store. Thinking about this, he walked a few steps forward and sat back down. He became more noticeable because of this.


    His previous spot made it hard for the people to see him.


    He then postured his hands face up, a basic gesture to ask for money.


    The breathing technique didn''t require him to do it in a position, so he chose this. While cultivating, he could also ask for alms. It''s basically hitting two birds with one stone.


    Taking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes and exhaled. His body relaxed, and all his pores opened up.


    He then followed the method in the Simple Breathing Technique.


    The sound of footsteps and people talking faded into the background. Even his own breathing disappeared. There''s only one thing that he could hear, it''s his thoughts.


    Absorb the Qi.


    But where is it?


    Suddenly, specks of light appeared around him. They flickered like fireflies and they also moved. Unknown and mysterious.


    He could see it even with his eyes closed. Apollo felt overwhelmed and at the same time, blessed.


    Let it inside¡­


    The Qi around started moving towards him. They entered his body through his pores.


    Like a bolt of lightning, Apollo felt satisfaction.


    Then he guided the Qi in a specific pattern according to the technique.


    This feeling¡­

 Chapter 9 Got Too Excited(Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System, Chapter 4."Are we there yet?" A woman''s voice echoed inside a chariot. The chariot was silver in color with an insignia of a black serpent on its sides. There were two white horses pulling it, and the Charioteer was wearing simple robes.


    "Not yet, Ma''am Bel," the Charioteer said.


    "Okay." Bel had brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a uniform of black and white with the same serpent insignia on her chest. A broadsword covered in white bandages sat on her lap. She glanced outside and noticed they were leaving the middle area of the city.


    "Why did she choose to buy that place?" Bel couldn''t help but mutter in confusion. She was thinking about her friend who bought a restaurant in the northwest side of Klown. That friend of hers also came from a great family just like her; she could have just bought a restaurant in a prime location.


    "Probably because she finds it a good area for her business?" the Charioteer commented. There was a partition between them with a small window.


    "That could be the reason," Bel nodded. "Sir June, how many minutes more before we arrive? I still need to train."


    "In about 5 minutes," June said, his hair covered by his robe was blown for a bit, revealing his black hair.


    "I see."


    ...


    Apollo still had his hands above his forehead, waiting for kind individuals to give him some money. He was kneeling in this position, and the sun''s burning gaze didn''t make him change his position.


    "It''s hot," he thought, not because of the sun, but because of the particles around him entering his whole body through his pores.


    Even though he felt hot, he still felt comfortable. The Qi circulated inside him in a pattern according to the Simple Breathing Technique. His chest and mouth also moved to take in more Qi.


    He could feel that his insides were getting stronger. Even his mind was being cleared every time the Qi passed through it.


    A cracking sound that could only be heard by him echoed in his ears. His bones were slowly being broken before reconstructing on their own. The reconstructed bone was much stronger than before.


    Apollo couldn''t track time in this state. He continued to take in Qi and control it according to the instructions in his head.


    Although this street was not the most crowded in the city, it still had a particular amount of people. They came here to buy some things, to eat, or to just sightsee.


    A man wearing a somewhat expensive suit was walking with his cane. He had just come out from the restaurant beside the beggar.


    "That''s good," the man said while patting his belly. Now that he had his fill, he wanted to go to another place to entertain himself. He took a step forward, but from the corner of his eye, he noticed a beggar sitting on the corner of the restaurant. Disgust appeared on his face. Because he wanted to find some fun, he decided to walk towards the boy.


    With a smirk that told he was going to do something bad, he stood in front of Apollo, his shadow casting over the boy.


    "Hehe, what is a beggar boy doing here? You should¨C" The man couldn''t finish his words as he felt something different.


    The man felt calm for an unknown reason. The muscle pain that he got as he became older was being alleviated. What is happening? Confused, the man looked around while scratching his head.


    He continued standing there, not knowing what was happening. In the end, his thoughts about bullying Apollo disappeared. With a calm mind and a great feeling, he smiled.


    "You are lucky, kid," the man reached out from his pocket and put one silver on the boy''s hand. Then he started walking off into the distance. Unbeknownst to him, the Qi passed through his body, making him feel rejuvenated. This cleared his mind and brought him a great feeling.


    This effect comes from the Simple Breathing Technique that Apollo was currently doing. If the outsider could already feel this level of outcome, Apollo''s current sensation was on a different planet.


    This is great! If I continue like this, will I reach the Foundation Building? Apollo thought with excitement.


    Although he still doesn''t have a clue as to how long he has to do this, he knew it wouldn''t be far before he became a real cultivator.


    Suddenly, the sound of his stomach grumbling echoed in his ears. This made him stop what he was doing and opened his eyes.


    But the moment his eyes opened, from the corner of his eye, he saw a notification.


    "You received 1 silver coin. Converting¡­"


    "You received 10 Alm points!"


    "Eh? Did my strategy work?" Apollo''s eyes lit up. He noticed that a silver coin was in his hands.


    Not only could he cultivate using his Simple Breathing Technique, but he could also earn Alm points at the same time.


    "I should treat myself with good food then!" Apollo brought up the store and searched for earth''s food.


    "Burger, chicken, and a soft drink¡­" Apollo picked three meals costing him 0.6 Alm points. The food mysteriously materialized in front of him and he started digging in.


    After eating his fill, he burped and smiled in satisfaction. He decided to walk back to the corner where people wouldn''t notice him much. "I definitely feel stronger than before after using that Simple Breathing Technique. Should I test my strength?" Apollo raised his fist and clenched it.


    He already had a basic understanding of Cultivators. They are physically strong and can fly.


    Thinking about the flying individuals made him more determined.


    He stared in front of the wall and an idea came to mind. He raised both hands in front of him like a boxer. His eyes were sharp and his body was heavily steady. He had trained in various martial arts in his previous life to protect himself so his form could be said to be perfect.


    "Let''s see if I can break this wall!" Apollo muttered and with a shout, he pulled his hand back and like a catapult, he punched towards the wall! Bang!


    "Argh! Motherf*cker!" Apollo cried out in pain. He fell on his knees while holding his right hand with his left. His fingers were broken and his wrist was twisted to the side. Tears and snot fell to the ground. Regret, that''s all he could think about.


    "I should have asked the system!"


    "I''m a d*mbss!" Apollo cursed again, unable to handle the pain. "Store!"


    The store interface appeared in front of him.


    "System! Show me an item that can heal my hand, make sure it''s cheap!"


    "Okay, Host!" The System responded and the store list started sorting itself.


    Apollo tried his best to read while enduring the intense pain.


    "Health Potion,


    A potion that can heal common wounds.


    Price: 5 Alm Points."


    "Buy!"


    Suddenly, a glass bottle appeared in front of him and Apollo immediately opened the potion and drank it in one gulp.


    "Sh*t! Sh*t!" Apollo could only curse at the moment. He wiped his mouth as the glass bottle turned into particles of light. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, the pain coming from his hand disappeared. Then his wound started healing at a fast rate. Seeing this, Apollo sighed in relief. He leaned on the wall while waiting for his hand to fully heal.


    "I became too excited about becoming stronger," Apollo muttered bitterly. There''s no way I could be stronger that easily, right? He knew that a good process is necessary to achieve a great effect.

 Chapter 10 Got Too Excited(Part-2)

    But I''m definitely stronger than before, Apollo could feel that he has at least twice the strength of a 7-year-old. He only did the Simple Breathing Technique for an hour or two, and the effect is already so great.And that potion... Apollo observed his right hand. It''s like he never got injured from his dumb decision.


    "Hey System,"


    "Yes, Host?"


    "You said I will be able to reach the Foundation Building stage with this technique, how long will it take?"


    "Two weeks if the Host cultivates it 8 hours a day," The System answered.


    "Two weeks? So reaching that stage is that easy?" Apollo muttered in surprise. If the Cultivators heard his words, they would have rushed at him and beat him up for saying those words.


    "Time to get back to work then!" Apollo went back to his previous spot and raised his hands above his forehead.


    Hopefully, another good Samaritan will give him money. Silver gives him 10 Alm points, so probably a bronze coin will give him 1 Alm point and a gold coin will give him 100 Alm points.


    He also wanted to reach that stage as soon as possible because of the mission the System issued him. He had to find that guy who threw him in the alley within a month and then kill him.


    Although he doesn''t have any idea as to what stage that guy is, at least reaching the Foundation Building stage will boost his confidence.


    Cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique is the only thing he could do at the moment besides collecting Alm points.


    Although the introduction of the Breathing Technique is simple, he felt like it would be good for his foundation. These thoughts come from his many years in business. Rome was not built in a day, right?


    ...


    "We''re here, Ma''am Bel," June''s voice echoed outside the silver chariot.


    "Okay," Bel responded. The door opened, and she went out, then she put the bandage-covered broadsword behind her back.


    She looked up and read the signboard.


    "Filly Restaurant¡­ what a lame name," Bel shook her head with a smile.


    She started walking towards the entrance when she noticed June still standing and seemed to be looking at something.


    "Hey, what are you looking at?" She asked while turning to the direction he''s glancing. She saw a young beggar on the side of the restaurant with his hands above his forehead.


    "Ignore him, let''s go!"


    "Yes, Ma''am," June took one more glance before he followed behind her. The beggar boy seemed kinda off. Strange, where do I get this feeling?


    They entered the restaurant and were greeted with a luxurious interior. There''s already diners eating with a smile on their faces.


    "Haha, really, turning this rundown place into something like this," Bel smiled. Outside, one might think it''s just a simple restaurant, but once they enter inside, they will be greeted with this high-class scene.


    A server went forward and bowed towards her. "Miss Bel, our lady is waiting for you. Please follow me."


    "Okay,"


    They followed the server, who led them to the second floor. After walking for a while, the server stopped at a door and knocked a couple of times until the sound of a woman echoed from behind it.


    "What is it?"


    "Miss Bel from the Helflick Family is here," the server replied.


    "I see, you can go now." The woman''s voice instructed, and the server bowed to the two guests before departing.


    The door opened, revealing a woman wearing the same uniform as Bel''s: a black and white suit with a robe on top, adorned with the same serpent insignia on her chest. Her hair was reddish-brown, and her eyes resembled the ocean. A rounded glass rested on top of her nose, adding a sense of authority to her demeanor.


    "You came. Come inside," the woman said, moving aside to let them in.


    "Thanks, Filly," Bel said, glancing around the room.


    Filly nodded towards June, and the two women took a seat.


    "So, what brings you here?" Filly went straight to the point. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Straight as ever," Bel smiled. "Leone disappeared overnight, and our family wanted to take part in, you know... slicing its remaining legs."


    "I figured," Filly laughed. "You wanted to take part in it?"


    "Yes," Bel confirmed. "I heard they still have good fighters remaining to protect their business. I wanted to fight them to improve my experience."


    "I''m not surprised. You''re a battle maniac," Filly chuckled.


    "Haha, I''m not going to deny it. So, do you want to join?" Bel asked.


    "Nah, I''m good here," Filly waved her hand. "Besides, it won''t be long before this area develops."


    "Oh? Is that the reason you bought this place? I might say I really like the interior," Bel praised.


    "Yes, and thanks."


    They conversed for a while before Bel stood up. "I need to go back to the sect. Thanks for the chat."


    "Feel free to come back," Filly smiled, standing up and hugging her friend.


    "Oh, by the way, there''s a beggar boy sitting beside your restaurant. I''m just reminding you," Bel mentioned as she recalled the boy.


    Filly frowned upon hearing this. "Thanks for telling me."


    "Alright, see you!"


    After the two left, Filly remained standing there. "A beggar near my restaurant? That''s not good."


    She had chosen to buy this building in this area because of its future development. If she wanted to build a great reputation for her restaurant, she had to ensure that diners had a pleasant experience. If there was someone near her restaurant who was going to ruin people''s appetites before they even entered, it would definitely not be good for business.


    "I have to make him go away," Filly muttered, then called one of her servants.


    A servant knocked on the door, and Filly let him in. "There''s a beggar boy near the restaurant. Do whatever you can to make him go away."


    The servant''s eyes lit up. It''s time to show my skills!


    "Yes, Ma''am!" The servant bowed before leaving with big strides.


    Hehe, boy, don''t blame me. I''m only doing my job, the servant thought, smiling maliciously.

 Chapter 11 Being Sent Away(Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System Chapter 5.June and Bel emerged from the front door of Filly''s Restaurant, then proceeded to walk towards their ride.


    Along the way, they both glanced at the corner of the restaurant where the young beggar was still on his knees with his hands above his forehead.


    "Quite persistent," Bel muttered before shaking her head. "But I think this will be the last time he''ll be here."


    June didn''t answer, though his eyes couldn''t help but turn serious. He looked up at the sun before glancing back at Apollo.


    The heat from the sun didn''t bother him, and his posture remained steady¡­ this boy is not only persistent but also has the willpower to live, June thought.


    Soon, they entered the chariot and went on their way.


    ¡­


    After doing the Simple Breathing Technique for a while longer, Apollo heard his stomach rumbling again.


    Without a choice, he stopped what he was doing with a sigh.


    So doing that technique has its downside too. Apollo still didn''t have much information about Cultivation, so he was still unaware of some things.


    He brought up his hand in front of him and clenched it. Doing the Simple Breathing Technique for almost an hour raised his strength again.


    Of course, he wouldn''t be so dumb again to punch a wall to test his strength, right?


    Apollo knew better than to repeat his mistakes. But if he were to compare his strength to the first time he tried the technique, he felt like he was twice as strong.


    Anyway, food comes first. Fortunately, as long as he has Alm points, he can buy anything.


    "But buying cheap items from stores that I could also get from the city is just a waste of Alm points," Apollo muttered.


    The value of Alm Points is more precious than gold. Just thinking about the effects of the Simple Breathing Technique and the Health potion proves its worth. Apollo started regretting spending his Alm points on food.


    "I have to be more frugal," Apollo nodded to himself. "Status screen."


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 6.2


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: None.


    Attributes: None."


    Only his Alm Points changed, but his Cultivation states are still the same.


    "Hey System, I''ve already made some progress on the breathing technique. Why have Spirit Cultivation and Physique Cultivation not changed?" Apollo asked.


    "Host, your strength is still within the realms of normal humans. At the moment, it wouldn''t reflect on your status screen," the System answered.


    "I see¡­ So I really have to reach the foundation building to see some changes," Apollo nodded.


    Now that he decided not to use his Alm points to buy food, he reached into his pocket and took out the silver coin the ''good Samaritan'' gave him. "I wonder how much bread I could buy with this."


    Apollo still doesn''t have an idea of the value of coins here.


    Standing up, he was about to go find Big Chub when a shadow cast over him.


    "Hehe, kid, you are in for bad luck." A man wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and black pants stood in front of Apollo. His face was average, ugly in fact.


    "Eh?" Apollo looked up and saw the malicious smile adorning the man''s face. Glancing at the man''s attire and the smell of food emanating from him, Apollo turned to the entrance and saw the glass door on its way to close.


    "Are you working in this restaurant, Mister?" Apollo asked with his childish voice.


    "So what if I am?" The man smirked. "A beggar shouldn''t ask too many questions. Anyway, why don''t you go away and never come back here. You are going to ruin our customers'' appetite if they see a beggar near our restaurant."


    Apollo immediately realized what was happening. This is common in his previous world. High-end restaurants wanted to protect their image, so of course they wouldn''t let a beggar ruin it. They would send one of their workers to make the beggar go away or call the authorities.


    And this is happening to him right now.


    "I see," Apollo put a hand under his chin. His posture, along with a frown and serious eyes, made him appear like an adult.


    Seeing this, the worker couldn''t help but get irritated.


    "Hey kid, haven''t you heard what I said? Get the heck out!" The man said angrily.


    Apollo didn''t bother answering him; instead, he asked the system, "System? What will happen if I abandon my beggar spot?"


    "Host, if you abandon your beggar spot, this System won''t have a choice but to send a Lightning Tribulation in your direction," the System answered emotionlessly.


    Apollo is starting to get more curious about this Lightning Tribulation thing. "What is Lightning Tribulation? Care to tell me?"


    "I can send you a vision if you really want to know what Lightning Tribulation is. Do you want to accept the vision?" The System asked.


    "Vision? Sure."


    Suddenly, the sound of thunder echoed in his ears and goosebumps rose over him. Then his eyes started seeing intense lightning, crashing into the ground and pulverizing it. Lightning upon lightning, and every time it hits the ground, his body will shiver.


    The man in front of him, on the other hand, started to get annoyed.


    This beggar is ignoring me!


    "You really left me with no choice!" The man raised his hand and held Apollo''s robe.


    Apollo, who''s still watching the destruction of the lightning tribulation, was woken up from the sudden yank.


    His eyes returned to normal and looked directly at the worker''s face.


    This kid has blue eyes¡­ the servant shook his head as he couldn''t recall what was special with blue eyes.


    "This is what you get for not listening to me," The servant started pulling Apollo away.


    "What if I don''t want to?" Apollo suddenly said. In his mind, he kept replaying the vision that he had seen: intense lightning striking down the ground and pulverizing it.


    "If that thing lands on me¡­ then it is bye-bye for being alive again. Will he get a second chance after he dies for the second time? Apollo is not sure. He hasn''t even reached the apex of this world yet. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha! You will! Trust me," The man smirked. He uses his strength and easily pulls the beggar boy towards his intended destination. This caused the passerby to glance at them but they didn''t dare interfere. It''s not their business after all.


    Apollo just let the man pull him away though his eyes are already cold. He still hasn''t tested his strength on someone, so this will be a good time.


    There''s a nearby alley, and the man threw Apollo inside.


    Expecting the boy to tumble, the servant smirked, waiting for the scene. But Apollo spun in the air and landed on his feet.


    This caused the man to be surprised.


    "Cheap trick," The man said before walking towards the boy.


    "What are you going to do? Beat up a defenseless boy like me?" Apollo asked with a smile.


    "A beggar deserves it. They keep dirtying this beautiful city," The servant said with disgust on his face.


    The man decided to resort to violence; in this way, the job will be done, and he will also have some fun.


    "I guess you really do want to prove yourself to your boss," Apollo concluded this much.


    The man is surprised that he has been seen through.


    "Hmph! I will break your bones so you won''t dare loiter in our restaurant anymore!" The servant shouted before rushing towards Apollo!

 Chapter 12 Being Sent Away(Part-2)

    Apollo''s eyes turned cold. This guy is serious.He went into his boxing stance and waited for the opponent to get nearby. After doing the Simple Breathing Technique for the second time, Apollo felt like he was in his peak body from his previous life. Besides business, he also spent a considerable amount of time learning various martial arts. With his talent, he mastered most of them.


    Although armed with an arsenal of modern martial arts, his favorite is still boxing.


    "Take this!" The servant punched towards Apollo.


    But would Apollo let himself be a punching bag? He dodged to the side with a sidestep, narrowly avoiding the punch.


    "Eh?" The servant''s eyes widened. This kid dodged my attack? Then he felt a threat coming at his face, prompting him to jump back.


    Apollo landed on the ground after a failed kick in the air. After dodging to the side, he immediately executed a jump spinning hook, a taekwondo technique. But his opponent was better than he thought.


    He could feel that his body was at its peak, just like from his previous life, but this seemingly normal person in front of him could still dodge him.


    Is it because I''m still a child? Apollo thought.


    "You got lucky," said the servant. "But this time, I will make sure you learn your lesson!"


    The man ran towards the beggar boy again, his speed faster than before.


    Apollo looked at the man in surprise. His speed!


    Without a choice, he crossed his arms in front of him to block the punch. The attack caused the beggar boy to tumble on the ground.


    Seeing this, the servant from Filly''s Restaurant couldn''t help but smile. "Hehe, that''s what you get."


    Although curious about how the boy could dodge his first punch, he attributed it to just some luck.


    "You¡­ are strong," Apollo stood up while patting his clothes. He recalled the explosive speed the servant displayed and couldn''t help but think it''s beyond human.


    Wait¡­


    Apollo looked at the man''s eyes with shock. "Are you¡­ a cultivator?"


    When the servant heard this question, he puffed up his chest and raised his chin. "You are a smart beggar. And yes, you are right. I''m a Cultivator, although I''m still a half-step away from reaching the Foundation Building, I''m definitely a Cultivator!"


    Apollo frowned when he heard this. Only a half step and this guy is already so strong? He wouldn''t be surprised if this servant could defeat five strong fighters in his previous life without breaking a sweat.


    He could only fight three at best! And he wouldn''t be able to defeat them without suffering from injuries.


    Only now did Apollo realize how strong cultivators could be. What would happen if he were facing a real Foundation Building Cultivator instead of this half step?


    It would be total annihilation!


    "What? Scared? Too late, kid! You already annoyed me!" The servant said with a malicious smile. In the first place, he felt that this is an easy job, so he is just having fun right now.


    Who would care about a beggar? They are just scum in society. Disposable humans that they could treat however they like. This is the man''s belief.


    "Too late? Do bullies always like to talk big?" Apollo shook his head.


    Why do I have to worry about his strength? If I want to reach the top of this world, I have to be brave, Apollo thought while clenching his fist.


    "You!" The servant pointed a finger at the boy before assuming his battle stance. "Let this be a lesson that you should know your place!"


    The man attacked Apollo again, and the boy watched the movement of his opponent intensely.


    Now! Apollo dodged to the side and the punch missed him, but having expected this, the servant followed up with another punch.


    This guy¡­ Apollo tilted his body, and the attack passed him.


    The servant kept punching and kicking him with speed that would leave most fighters in his previous world baffled, but there is one thing that they will agree on.


    This man doesn''t know how to fight!


    Realizing this, Apollo couldn''t help but smile. The servant''s movements are so wide and predictable that after all this time, he has not been hit.


    Damn it! How can this beggar dodge my attacks?! The servant thought frustratedly. He never thought that making a beggar go away would be such a pain in the ass.


    Did I underestimate this boy¡­ No! I''m a half-step Cultivator! There''s no way a beggar could also be a Cultivator!


    The servant''s attacks became more erratic. He just wanted to punch the face of this smiling boy. But a few moments later, a kick managed to land on his stomach, making him take a couple of steps back.


    Coughing sounds echoed in the damp alley followed by a childish chuckle.


    "You know, speed is nothing when it is used wrong," Apollo walked towards the servant.


    "Fuck you! I was just careless!" The servant ran towards the boy with his fist raised.


    "Sure," Apollo could only shrug. Fists and kicks rained on him, but the movements were chaotic and disorganized. It''s like someone is just spamming the buttons of a controller, trying to defeat the opponent as fast as possible.


    "Ahhhhhh!" The servant shouted with reddened eyes.


    Why?! Why can''t I hit this beggar?! Fuckkkkkk!


    Suddenly, a punch landed on the servant''s face. But it was not over yet.


    Apollo jumped and sent a knee attack to the man''s stomach. The servant fell on his knees while clutching his face and stomach at the same time.


    He couldn''t believe what was happening. The supposedly easy task is making him kneel. A humiliation to him, who considered himself above ordinary people because of his half-step cultivation.


    And to kneel in front of a beggar? If his colleagues found out about it, they would for sure make fun of him. And when Miss Filly finds out about his defeat, she will definitely fire him from working for her!


    "Argh! I will kill you!" The servant''s eyes turned red with killing intent. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, I won''t let you," Apollo dashed and sent a kick with all his strength. Before the servant could stand up, the attack landed on his head, sending him tumbling to the ground and hitting the nearby trash.


    Dizzy and in pain, the man tried to stand up, but Apollo was one step ahead.


    He ran towards the servant and delivered a flying knee, a common Muay Thai technique.


    The attack landed on the man''s forehead, blood erupted, and the servant fell to the ground with his eyes white and mouth foaming.


    "Woah! What an intense fight. I never had this thrill since that illness took over," Apollo referred to the time in his previous life when he caught the disease that made his life miserable. He had to use all kinds of advanced equipment just for it to go away, though it still managed to find its way back.


    Shaking his head to get rid of the sentiments, he glanced down at the servant below.


    "Will this bring me trouble?" Apollo frowned. "That restaurant definitely doesn''t want me there, but I''ve already registered my beggar spot beside it."


    Anyway, I just have to become strong fast so they wouldn''t be able to do anything to me, Apollo thought before walking away from the alley, leaving the Filly Servant foaming at the mouth. He admitted that he is not a good person and wouldn''t care if the man died.


    That guy provoked him and was the first one to attack him. It''s not wrong to protect himself, right?

 Chapter 13 Fountain(Part-1)

    "Tell me what happened," Filly asked, pushing her glasses up as she leaned back in her study chair."So after I went out the front door, I immediately saw the beggar you''re talking about¡­" Filly''s servant had bandages wrapped around his forehead, and his face was swollen from being beaten.


    He recounted what he remembered before waking up in the damp alley.


    "After I had a talk with him, he was still adamant, so I pulled him into an alley and punched him there,"


    The image of Apollo tumbling on the ground after his punch surfaced in his mind. He was certain he had beaten up the beggar boy; there was no way the kid could have done this to him¡­ the servant thought.


    "And that''s the last thing I remember," the servant said bitterly. When he woke up in the alley, his forehead was bleeding, and he felt pain all over his body. He immediately went to find the boss but was stopped by her bodyguards. After explaining, they called for other servants to help tend to his injuries before allowing him to see their boss, Filly.


    Filly frowned. Did another Cultivator try to save the beggar?


    "Is the beggar still there?" she asked. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I think he left. He probably learned his lesson not to loiter around our restaurant," the servant smiled proudly, though he grunted in pain the next second.


    Filly clapped her hands, and another servant entered the room.


    "Check if there''s a beggar boy near the restaurant," she ordered, and the servant immediately did as told. After a while, the servant returned and confirmed that the beggar was no longer there.


    "Good," Filly nodded before turning to the man with a bandage on his forehead. "Tell me your name."


    The servant''s eyes widened. Being asked his name by Miss Filly meant he was one step closer to his dream!


    "Ned! You can call me Ned, Miss Filly!" Bern shouted enthusiastically.


    "I see, Ned. Your rewards will be sent to your room. You can go now," Filly waved her hand, and Ned bowed.


    "Yes!" Ned left in a joyous mood, even ignoring the blood seeping from his bandage.


    Once the door closed, Filly couldn''t help but ponder who would dare provoke her by beating up one of her workers, especially if the job was specifically ordered by her. She also didn''t doubt the beggar; an insignificant figure didn''t deserve her attention.


    "Well, as long as the job is done," Filly decided to put the matter behind her. She prioritized her business above all else.


    ...


    Apollo is currently standing in line for a hot steamed bun. Most of the people around looked at him with disgust because of how dirty he is. But he wasn''t bothered by any of it. What he just wanted was to get his food and to go back to cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique.


    He waited for a few more minutes before his turn finally came. The seller also looked at him with condescending eyes, but they still sold him the food after Apollo handed over a silver coin.


    Apollo bought five buns and still had a change of five bronze coins. So he decided to find a store that sells water, but after walking the street for so long, he realized they don''t sell any beverages.


    In order for him to get a drink, he would have to find a restaurant and buy something to eat there.


    Looking at his remaining money, he knew it''s far from enough.


    Apollo was about to give up when he noticed a fountain not far from his position. He seated himself on the bench near it and started eating his buns there. When he finished his food and wanted to get a drink, he walked towards the fountain and scooped the water with his hands.


    "This is good!" Apollo couldn''t help but be surprised when he tasted the water. It has a refreshing feeling and coldness at the same time. He continued drinking, his upper body inside the fountain while his small feet dangled outside.


    The people walking looked in his direction with surprise. They pointed fingers at him and started talking among themselves.


    The spectacle caused them to stop and watch as this is not an everyday scene for them.


    Apollo continued to satisfy his thirst. This lasted for a while until the sound of people talking reached his ears. This made him raise his head and notice them watching him like he was in the zoo. "Eh?"


    Suddenly, a shout made him turn back.


    "What''s happening here?!"


    Two men wearing white and red uniforms with black pants and a scabbard on their side walked towards Apollo''s direction. When they saw what was happening, veins popped up on their foreheads, especially when they found out that a beggar was the culprit.


    "Beggar¡­ I thought we cleaned them up?" one of the men muttered.


    "Probably someone slipped out," his companion answered.


    Oh am I in trouble? Apollo thought while wiping his mouth with his sleeves. Looking at their angry faces, he knew he did something bad, although he''s not sure if it''s because he''s a beggar or because he drinks from this fountain.


    Or maybe both.


    "You dare drink from that precious fountain?!" the guard said, standing in front of the boy. "That''s a very precious fountain! And by drinking from it, you deserve to die!"


    "Eh?" Apollo is confused. Is that fountain really precious? How come¡­ that''s when he noticed that his body is rejuvenated. This made him frown, and he closed his eyes to feel the qi around him. Because his progress with the Simple Breathing Technique is still not far, he has to concentrate in order to see the qi.


    Oh, that''s why, Apollo realized his mistake. The fountain is not just any fountain; it seems to be an artifact that has the property to make the qi around it more concentrated. He looked around and noticed Student Cultivators watching the scene to pass their time; they don''t seem to care about the concentrated qi.


    Is it too low of quality for them? Thinking about this, it seems to be the case, but to the guards in front, the fountain is a precious item. I guess there are other fountains in the city that help raise the quality of the qi.


    The guards are tasked with protecting the property of the city and maintaining peace. Well, the meaning of ''peace'' depends on them. And to them, they have to get rid of this beggar that is the source of ''dirtiness'' in the city of Klown.


    Seeing them surrounding him, Apollo smiled bitterly.


    "You know what? I think I should go," Apollo waved his hand at them before he splashed the fountain towards their eyes.


    "Ah, f*ck!" The two guards wiped their faces, only to see the beggar already running into the distance.


    "Let''s go after him!"


    The guards became angry and humiliated that a beggar dared to splash them with water, and seeing the onlookers laughing at them, they unsheathed their swords and ran after the beggar boy.


    But the Student Cultivators shook their heads; they knew that the city guards and the beggar were just normal people, so with their superior ego, they think of this as just passing entertainment.


    What they worry about most is how they are going to increase their strength so the school will give them more resources.

 Chapter 14 Fountain(Part-2)

    When Apollo came back to his Beggar Spot, it was already nighttime."Damnit, those two guards are very persistent," he said in frustration. He only managed to get away from them by leading them to a red-light district, where they were immediately distracted by the beautiful ladies on the street.


    He sat in the corner of the restaurant, where most people wouldn''t notice him unless they purposely looked in his direction.


    Thinking about it, he realized he was defenseless here. Just like what happened with the worker from the restaurant next door, he had been noticed and almost beaten up. If he didn''t know any martial arts or hadn''t cultivated the Simple Breathing Technique, he would have found himself black and blue.


    "Store," Apollo muttered, and the store interface appeared in front of him.


    "System, is there an item that can protect me here in my Beggar Spot?" Apollo asked. He had a Beggar Spot, but he still didn''t know its significance.


    "Yes," the System answered, and the store interface changed. A few seconds later, dozens of items he hadn''t seen before appeared.


    Apollo ignored the expensive ones and focused on the cheap items.


    "Shield of Beggar - A shield will cover the Beggar Spot, protecting the Beggar from being attacked from the outside. The limit is two times stronger than the Beggar''s cultivation. One-time use. Price: 100 Alm Points."


    "Dilemma of the Passerby - This can make passersby ignore the Beggar Spot unless they purposely seek out the Beggar. Price: 80 Alm Points."


    "Full Concealment - Once the Beggar enters his Beggar Spot, no one from the outside world will be able to see him. Effect: Permanent. Price: 200 Alm Points."


    "So there are items exclusively for my Beggar Spot?" Apollo muttered while browsing the contents. He couldn''t help but be amazed by the effects of each item. If he had these items at his disposal, he wouldn''t have to worry about being bothered. The only problem he had was begging for Alms.


    But glancing at his Alm Points...


    Apollo smiled bitterly. Shaking his head, he went out of his Beggar Spot and sat on the ground with his hands above his head. He started cultivating his Simple Breathing Technique.


    He decided to master this technique before buying another one. His experience in his previous life taught him to focus on one subject before jumping to another.


    Apollo wanted to apply this to his cultivation journey. Only when he reached the bottleneck of the Breathing Technique would he learn battle techniques, movement techniques, and so on. He already had in mind what he should buy next.


    Of course, he already knew the other techniques in the system store, and just thinking about them made him crave them, but his negligible amount of Alm Points dampened his excitement.


    In the end, what mattered more was the Alms that he would get. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sitting with his hands above his forehead, he breathed in and out according to the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique.


    His senses soon detected the qi around him, and it was absorbed through his mouth and nose. The sensation of his body being revitalized and getting stronger made Apollo smile. Although the process was slow, he still liked the feeling and didn''t feel any urgency.


    ...


    A thin man was whistling a tune he had heard from the city orchestra, his arms wrapped around two young ladies. They were laughing merrily, their faces flushed a deep shade of red.


    "Where are we going now?" one of the young ladies asked, her finger tracing circles on the man''s chest.


    "Hehe, after all that fun, we should get something to eat," the thin man said, his hands squeezing their bottoms.


    A yelping sound escaped from them, though deep inside they were disgusted by this man who couldn''t even last a few minutes.


    "Oh yeah, there''s a new restaurant that just opened up a few days ago. We should check it out," one of the girls suggested.


    "Aye aye, my lady!"


    They walked for a while before they saw the sign for Filly Restaurant. From the outside, it looked like a simple establishment.


    "What''s so special about this?" the thin man asked with a frown.


    "The owner of this restaurant is Filly from the north side of the city," one of the ladies said, admiration evident in her voice.


    "Filly? That woman?" The thin man recalled the image of Filly Mideous, and his eyes turned red with lust.


    The Mideous Family is well-known in the city, on par with the Leone family, who had just been destroyed. They have various businesses but are more invested in cultivation. Filly is the only young woman in their family who insisted on focusing on business. There''s even a rumor that she had a big fight with the family''s patriarch just to buy this restaurant.


    Seeing those eyes, the two ladies knew what he was thinking.


    "Let''s go!" The thin man excitedly walked towards the entrance but stopped when he noticed a beggar boy beside the restaurant. This beggar is dirtying my goddess''s restaurant! Unacceptable!


    He decided to make the beggar go away so that when he met Filly and told her of his ''good'' deed, she would begin to notice him. His delusion made him walk towards the boy.


    "He is very pitiful," one of the ladies beside him couldn''t help but mutter.


    "Yeah," the other lady nodded in agreement.


    Hearing this, the expression on the thin man''s face stiffened. Damnit! Calm down, I have to act cool!


    "Yeah, he''s very pitiful," the thin man said as he walked in front of the boy. He took out a silver coin from his pocket and put it in the boy''s hand. "Here you go, go get yourself something to eat."


    Seeing this, the ladies looked at him with shining eyes.


    That''s the way you should look at me! the man thought with a smirk on his face. He coolly hugged the two girls and they walked inside the restaurant. But deep inside, he was fuming that he had to give that beggar a silver coin just to show off!


    I will make sure not to see that beggar ever again! the thin man thought with cold eyes.

 Chapter 15 Training Ground(Part-1)

    The sound of birds echoed in the distance, and the people setting up their stalls made the streets quite noisy.Apollo opened his eyes and noticed it was already morning.


    "What? I''ve been doing it for hours?" Apollo muttered in surprise. Engrossed in his cultivation, he hadn''t noticed the time. "And someone even gave me a silver coin?"


    He glanced at his Alm points and noticed they had gone up by 10. Adding his previous Alm points, he now had 16.2 Alm points.


    "Lucky," Apollo said, putting the coin in his pocket before he went back to the corner of the restaurant.


    I wonder how much strength I''ve gained, Apollo thought while clenching his fist.


    "System, can I see the progress of my Simple Breathing Technique?"


    "Sure, Host."


    A translucent screen materialized in front of him, displaying the percentage of his progress.


    Simple Breathing Technique: 10%


    Description: A breathing technique to enhance the body and mind.


    "Let''s see if there are any changes in my status screen," Apollo said, and his status screen appeared in his mind.


    STATUS SCREEN:


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 16.2


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Foundation Building


    Attributes: None


    "What?!" Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise. A night of cultivating that technique had made him a Half-Step Foundation Building Cultivator? This is such a godly technique! Although it didn''t sound grand, just thinking about the strength and speed that the worker from Filly Restaurant displayed made Apollo nervous. If not for his experience and wit, that guy could have beaten him with just one punch.


    Though he had to use his full strength and not underestimate his opponents, the worker was so arrogant, thinking Apollo was just a normal beggar.


    Looking at his other stats that hadn''t changed, Apollo concluded that the Simple Breathing Technique could only affect his Physique Cultivation. If he wanted to see some changes in Spirit Cultivation and Attributes, he would have to buy something from the store.


    Shaking his head, he decided to think about this another time. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo sent a punch into the air, and hearing the wind tearing apart, he couldn''t help but smile. "But I still don''t know my real strength. Is there a place here to test it?"


    The beggar boy pondered. He wanted to get a better feel for his strength so he could adjust to his body. It wouldn''t be good if his body was not accustomed to his sudden strength; it would be like a kid driving a ten-wheeler truck.


    "Is there a gym here or something?" Apollo muttered before deciding to find one in the city.


    But after taking a couple of steps, he heard his stomach growling.


    "Hmm, I should buy some bread from Big Chub." Apollo decided to visit his ''friend'' and ask him where he could also test his strength.


    He left his beggar spot and looked to his right where the Filly Restaurant was. Apollo could feel that this restaurant would give him a hard time if they found out he was still there, even though they had already sent someone to make him go away. He wanted to avoid conflict at the moment and only when he was confident in his strength would he try to confront them.


    What''s wrong with a beggar staying beside your restaurant? It''s not like I will steal your food!


    While thinking about this, he went to find Big Chub.


    ...


    "There''s no beggar beside the restaurant, Ma''am Filly."


    "It seems he really left. That''s good, you can now go back," Filly waved her hand, and her worker left after a bow.


    She had sent someone to check if there was a beggar loitering around; she just wanted to make sure, and her half-step worker must have done his job right.


    Filly then proceeded with her work. She was currently creating new kinds of food to add to the restaurant''s menu. She noticed that the food the customers were eating was very simple. Although it tasted good, she felt that something was lacking.


    She massaged her forehead and leaned on her chair. Sighing, she looked outside the window and saw the rising sun.


    ¡­


    "What are you doing here, kid?" Big Chub asked the beggar in front of his stall.


    "Can I buy some of your bread?" Apollo raised the silver coin.


    "Sure, kid!" Big Chub laughed. "Haha, just pick the bread that you want."


    "Okay!" Apollo picked three pieces of bread and handed over his coin.


    "That would be 2 bronze coins," Big Chub said, taking out the change and giving it to Apollo.


    "Thanks!" Apollo started eating the bread in front of him.


    Seeing this, Big Chub couldn''t help but frown. This boy¡­ isn''t he a young kid from a rich family? Why is he acting like he''s not? Wait, don''t tell me!


    "Kid, tell me the truth. Are you really a beggar?" Big Chub leaned closer.


    Apollo''s cheeks were filled to the brim with bread, making him look like a chipmunk.


    "Yeah, why?" Apollo answered with his mouth full, making his words barely understandable.


    Big Chub slapped his forehead. That is too d*mb of me!


    "Kid, don''t you know? Your eyes, they''re blue. Only rich families have those eyes!" Big Chub said seriously.


    Apollo''s eyes widened. He didn''t know that having blue eyes was such a big deal. Is that why when he asked around, other people treated him nicely? Did they think I''m a rich kid just trying to play around?


    I have to make a change! This will only bring trouble. What if the guy who brought down the Leone family finds out that one of them managed to escape? With his half-step strength, Apollo is not confident in staying alive.


    Fortunately, he went to find Big Chub, or else he would only know this information when it was already too late.


    "You okay? You''re red," Big Chub asked with concern in his voice.


    "I''m alright!" Apollo shook his head.


    "Okay, I''m just saying be careful." Big Chub realized that he was starting to care about this boy. "Anything else?"


    "Y-yeah," Apollo put the remaining bread inside his robe while thinking that he would buy something from the system store that could hide his appearance. "Do you know a place where one can see their strength?"


    "Yes, there are a lot in this city. But why?" Big Chub raised an eyebrow. For some reason, he was quite intrigued by this beggar.


    "I just want to take a look," Apollo answered without changing his expression.


    "I see¡­ you probably wanted to see Cultivators doing their training," Big Chub nodded his head as if he understood the boy.


    "Yes!" Apollo found this more reasonable. He didn''t want to waste his brain cells thinking of an excuse.


    "There''s a public training ground in the south. You could check it out," Big Chub suggested. He also wanted the beggar to go away, as his customers who wanted to buy from him left when they saw a beggar standing in front of his stall.


    "I see! Thank you, Big Chub!" Apollo said with a smile before he ran off into the distance.


    Seeing the kid''s back, Big Chub shook his head. Then he noticed from the corner of his eye that one of his breads was missing.


    Realization dawned on him as he finally found the culprit who had stolen his bread!


    "Kid!"

 Chapter 16 Training Ground(Part-2)

    Apollo took a last bite of his bread before patting his belly. As he neared the restaurant, he looked around to see if any workers were nearby before hurrying into his beggar spot."Eh? Someone threw their trash here?" Apollo noticed a few slabs of wood, some clothes, and other items he didn''t recognize beside his beggar spot.


    Come to think of it, I don''t have any roof, Apollo thought while looking at the blazing sun. What if it suddenly rains?


    Apollo picked up the slabs of wood and the clothes on the side. First, using his strength, he tore the clothes to make strips before placing the wood to form a roof. Then he used the strips to tighten the slabs. After a while, a simple roof was made. It was enough for him to stand and lie down under.


    He sat down and brought up his system store.


    "System, show me the items that can change my eye color," Apollo ordered the system.


    The list in the store started changing until a few items were left.


    Apollo bought the cheapest item, which was the "Contact Lenses," a common item from his previous life. It cost him 0.5 Alm points.


    After buying it, a white light appeared in the air before it transformed into two contact lenses. Apollo put them on and blinked a couple of times before he got used to them.


    There was no mirror nearby, so he went out of his beggar spot and looked for a puddle.


    Seeing that his eyes had changed from blue to black, he smiled in satisfaction.


    "Perfect," Apollo said. "Time to go to the training ground!"


    ¡­


    After walking for almost an hour and trying not to stand out too much in the crowd, he finally found the training ground. Along the way, he also sight-saw places but felt bored as the infrastructure of the city was very monotonous. He felt like he was in a rural area but at the same time not. Even if he saw an expensive-looking building, he always compared it to his previous life.


    Well, this is just my opinion. Others might find it appealing and aesthetic. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo looked at the hundreds of meters of training ground. There were already cultivators doing their training. They were practicing fighting techniques. Some were alone, and others were in groups.


    Their shouts rang in the air, making the scene quite serious.


    There was also a wooden weapon rack on the side where spears, swords, bows, and other weapons were placed. But what caught Apollo''s attention was the stage in the middle of the training ground with two men fighting gracefully with their fists.


    "A sparring arena?" Apollo muttered in excitement but held it back the next second. Thinking about it, it made sense that an arena would be placed in a training ground. Even some gyms in his previous life had this.


    Now, where should I test my strength? Apollo looked around and noticed a scarecrow on the side with a vertical stone beside it. He walked towards it and saw that the stone had a shallow trench in the middle with glass covering it. There was also water inside the cavity, though it was currently at the bottom.


    Apollo saw that there was writing on the stone. The bottom was the Foundation Building, the middle was the Qi Condensation, and at the top was the Core Creation.


    Underneath the Foundation Building were small words.


    4th Step.


    3rd Step.


    2nd Step.


    1st Step.


    Half-Step.


    Between the Foundation Building, Qi Condensation, and the Core Creation, these same words are also written.


    "So there are also small stages within Cultivation? These weren''t mentioned in the book Big Chub gave me," Apollo muttered before looking at the scarecrow. He already had an idea of how to test his strength.


    He took a deep breath and clenched his fist, preparing for a punch, when suddenly a voice made him punch the air instead.


    "Who do we have here?"


    Apollo looked back with a frustrated expression. He saw a thin man wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest. Two men grinned beside him.


    The thin man was the same one who had given Apollo a silver coin, though now there were no ladies with him.


    "Do I know you?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "Of course not. I''m not surprised you don''t know me," the thin man smiled mockingly. "A beggar like you only knows trash and rats."


    These words caused the two young men beside him to laugh aloud.


    "You are right, Bernie," one of the young men said.


    "I wonder why the city guards let a beggar run around the city," the other added.


    Bernie smirked at his friend''s remark. He was consolidating his strength, having just reached the Half-Step Foundation Building, when he saw the beggar entering the training ground. Then he remembered him as the beggar to whom he had given a silver coin.


    He wasn''t rich in the first place; he just wanted to protect his ego in front of the girls.


    This world really doesn''t lack idiots. Coming here just to make fun of me for no apparent reason? Apollo sighed in frustration.


    "You don''t belong here, kid," Bernie said. There was no point in trying to get back the silver coin; it was probably long gone.


    "This is a public training ground. Don''t you know the word ''public''?" Apollo retorted.


    "You dare talk back?!" Bernie felt offended. He was now officially a cultivator; how could he let a normal person disrespect him?


    "This beggar deserves to get beaten up."


    "Yeah, we cultivators are the backbone of this city, we are the protectors while this beggar is nothing but dirt,"


    The two men beside Bernie said, their eyes looking at Apollo with disgust.


    "Yes! What are you going to do? Beat me up?" Apollo smirked with his hands crossed in front of him, though deep inside he couldn''t help but feel nervous.


    The three in front of him seemed to be cultivators. What if they were at the 1st Step of the Foundation Building or even higher? His Half-Step strength wouldn''t be enough to defeat them!


    "You!" Bernie pointed his finger at the smiling beggar. "Don''t blame me for this! I''m just going to help the city guards get rid of a beggar then!"


    Apollo gulped.

 Chapter 17 Training Ground(Part-3)

    "You three, what are you doing?" Someone shouted behind Bernie and the two men.Hearing this voice, the trio visibly shakes before they turn around slowly. A man wearing a dark grey robe and a bamboo hat stood before them, his hands crossed in front of him.


    "S-sir Guo!" The trio bowed their heads. "W-were just making this Beggar go away!"


    Perspiration appeared on their faces. They didn''t dare to look up because this person in front of them is not someone they could just disrespect.


    "Hm?" Sir Guo glanced at the young boy wearing dirty and torn robes. "So what if he is a beggar?"


    "That''s¡­" Bernie shook from the question. He doesn''t know what to answer. "B-but, even the city despises them¡­"


    "This is a public training ground, right? Don''t you know the word PUBLIC?" Sir Guo asked again, his eyes turning cold.


    Bernie who happened to look up when he answered put his head back down seeing those scary eyes. But deep inside, after hearing those questions, he felt humiliated.


    That''s the same question the beggar asked me! Are they saying i''m d*mb?!


    Sheathed with rage, his anger was directed at the beggar behind him.


    Apollo''s eyes sparkled in delight. Finally, someone reasonable appeared! He is losing hope in this world, thinking idiots and morons are the one dominating it.


    "Answer me!" Sir Guo shouted at the silent trio.


    The trio shivered from fear and they answered at the same time. "You are right Sir Guo!"


    "Good, now f*ck off," Sir Guo waved his hand and the trio left though without glaring at the beggar first.


    Bernie''s eyes are burning and he swears to himself that he will get rid of the beggar. This is a loss of face that he will never forget. He is a f*cking Cultivator! How could he let someone else humiliate him? Especially if they are a Beggar!


    The commotion attracted the other cultivators and seeing Sir Guo, they went back to their training.


    "Thanks," Apollo thanked the straw hat guy.


    "You¡­" Sir Guo observed Apollo, his eyes squinting for a moment before he waved his hand and walked towards the arena. "Go on. Just don''t watch other people train, it''s a disrespect."


    Apollo nodded in appreciation. He quite understood what Sir Guo meant. Watching other cultivators train means knowing their techniques and habits. This is also a manner that a lot of martial artists in his previous life practised.


    He then watched Sir Guo sit by the stairs of the stage.


    Strangely, that guy is smiling like a fool¡­ This made him glanced at where the bamboo hat man was looking.


    "This guy¡­" Apollo hopelessly smiled. Sir Guo is watching the ladies doing their training like a p*rvert. No, he definitely is!


    Apollo shook his head and observed the Cultivators for a moment. After the commotion, everyone was busy doing their training and seeing them not looking in his direction, he decided to do what he came here for.


    He wanted to test his strength but there''s only the scarecrow here that seems to only measure the cultivation stage by attacking it. Apollo already knew his cultivation stage, so there''s no point in doing this but this also made him curious about his current standing as a Half-Step Foundation Building.


    Apollo clenched his fist and punched as hard as he could on the scarecrow.


    Suddenly, the water in the middle of the stone reached the Half-step and continued until it reached the middle of it.


    "Good," Apollo smiled. Although he doesn''t know if the pace of his cultivation is fast or not, the name Simple Breathing Technique tells that it''s not extraordinary, right?


    He already half achieved his goal here. Besides the weapon racks, the scarecrow, and the stage, there''s nothing much that he could do at the moment. And if he really wanted to fully understand the level of his strength, he had to fight someone.


    Apollo''s eyes linger on the stage for a moment before he shook his head. Whatever, I''ll just do it another time.


    Because of the mission that needs to be completed within a month, he has to get stronger as fast as possible. Thinking about the punishment if he failed the mission, Apollo couldn''t help but shiver. If that lightning struck him¡­ Apollo doesn''t want to think about the consequences.


    As Apollo walked out from the training ground, there''s two people who kept tabs on him.


    This will be that last time you will see the day, Bernie thought while swinging his sword tightly.


    This kid¡­ Sir Guo watched the beggar walk away, his eyes burning with excitement.


    Apollo came back on the street where his beggar spot is. But a few meters away, he saw the two guards that chased him when he drank from the fountain. He found a hiding spot and watched them talk with the same Filly restaurant worker he beat up in the alley.


    "So there''s a beggar here but you beated him up?" The guards asked.


    "Yes, that boy won''t dare stay here anymore!" The worker patted his chest in confidence.


    "I see. Just in case he appears again, immediately call us, okay?" The guard instructed while observing the bruise on the man''s face.


    "I will!"


    "Can you tell me your name?"


    "Ned Sir!" Ned said his name aloud.


    "I see, we better get going." The guards nodded their heads before they walked away.


    After bidding his farewell, Ned also entered the restaurant.


    Apollo didn''t manage to hear what they said but in his previous life, he learned how to lip read and he understood their conversation.


    D*mn, I really need to do something about this, Apollo thought. After looking for a while, he hurriedly went inside his beggar spot. Under the shade of the walls and the shadow, he sat inside his made up roof.


    He put a hand under his chin and thought about a strategy. Apollo needed to conceal himself as fast as possible or else trouble would come for him. Suddenly, his eyes lightened up, an idea came into mind.


    He brought up the system store.


    "System, show me the luck items, starting from cheapest," Apollo ordered and the store interface sorted itself out. Then he was left with only a dozen items.


    Reading the description of each item, his idea became more and more plausible.


    He glanced at his Alm points and noticed it''s now only 16. The cheapest item is worth 5 Alm points but Apollo considered it as an investment for his plan.


    "Buy it!"


    sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 18 Wish Me Luck(Part-1)

    The sun started to kiss the horizon, adding a warm tint to Klown City. The vendors on the street began packing up as the nightlife of the city came alive. Lights upon lights covered the city in brilliance.A beggar sat beside a restaurant, his body barely visible. Unless people glanced in his direction, no one would notice him. Even if they did, only those with brain damage or an ego superiority complex would try to mess with him.


    Apollo raised his hands above his forehead and started cultivating his Simple Breathing Technique. But before that, he activated the item he had just bought from the store.


    "Wish Me Luck has been activated!


    The heavens will bless the host while the hell will pull the curses away from you. The host''s luck will increase, but the percentage is random.


    Luck Increase Percentage: 5%


    Time duration: 1 hour."


    "Only five percent? How stingy," Apollo muttered bitterly. He shook his head and focused on his cultivation. But unbeknownst to him, this five percent was nothing to laugh at.


    ...


    Two women came out of Filly Restaurant, laughing merrily. They were dressed rather casually, not too expensive and not too cheap either.


    "Hahaha, you should have seen that guy''s face,"


    "I wish I could. He is probably mourning that he lost someone like you,"


    "I know, right,"


    They both laughed as one of the restaurant''s workers stood by the side, seemingly waiting for something.


    "Oh right, your tip," One of the women noticed the man in the white polo. She reached into her handbag and took out five bronze coins. When she was about to hand them over, the door suddenly burst open as two drunk men stumbled out of the restaurant.


    This startled the two women, and the lady with the coins threw them into the air out of surprise. Strangely, when the bronze coins fell, they rolled to the side of the restaurant like soldiers in line.


    But this phenomenon went unnoticed as the ladies started a fight with the drunk men.


    "You fools! How dare you startle us!"


    "Hm? Hiccup! Sorry¡­ we''re¡­ Hiccup! Taken! Ugly b*tches!"


    "You! Argh! F*ck you!"


    "Hey! Hiccup! Don''t bite me!"


    ...


    Eh? It''s only been a few minutes, and I already have five Alm points? Apollo thought while deep in his own world. There was only him and the qi that he was absorbing.


    Every time these cute and tiny particles entered his body, Apollo couldn''t help but smile from the sensation of getting stronger. Although the progress was ''not fast,'' he was still satisfied.


    This is good; my investment came back fast. Apollo''s thoughts about the item Wish Me Luck had changed. He anticipated that he would receive more Alm points if this continued.


    But this was only wishful thinking.


    A few minutes later, he suddenly felt uneasy. This feeling started subtly but turned stronger in the next second.


    "Here you are. I''ve been looking for you!" A voice woke Apollo from his cultivation, and what he saw made him realize what was going to happen next.


    "The *diot who doesn''t know the word public?" Apollo muttered while looking up at the arrogant face of Bernie.


    "Kid, you''re really p*ssing me off!" Bernie''s forehead started throbbing with anger. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I can p*ss you off for real!" Apollo stood up and clutched his pants.


    "Haha! I dare you!" Bernie laughed in annoyance. There''s no way he will really...


    Suddenly, the sound of water splashing echoed.


    Bernie could feel the lower part of his pants and his shoes getting wet.


    He looked down and saw a stream of yellow liquid. Then the stench assaulted his nose.


    "Sigh¡­ I''ve been holding it back since I drank that fountain," Apollo sighed in relief while pulling his pants up.


    Bernie started shaking, his face turning as red as a tomato and veins bulging on his forehead. The only thing missing was smoke coming out of his ears.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo tilted his head, feigning ignorance though deep inside, he was laughing.


    "I''m going to k*ll you," Bernie growled.


    Without waiting for a response, Bernie forcefully grabbed Apollo by the collar.


    "Hey! Where are you taking me?!" Apollo protested, but he didn''t resist and just let himself be dragged by the thin man.


    "Of course, to the place where you''re going to die! But I''m a fair young man; I will let you fight me!" Bernie said, his eyes red with fury and killing intent emanating from him.


    "Okay," Apollo replied lightly. This is good, he thought, looking at Bernie''s hand on his collar.


    This guy doesn''t seem to be that strong. Is this part of my luck? I really wanted to test my strength on someone, and this guy came along, Apollo smiled.


    Bernie sprinted towards an alley. He wanted to do this secretly, but even if people found out, he believed they wouldn''t make a big deal out of it. He was doing them a favor by getting rid of a beggar.


    They traveled for a while until they reached the training ground. It was already night, and no cultivators were training at this hour.


    Bernie jumped and landed in the arena. On the way, he threw the beggar onto the stage, and Apollo rolled on the ground a couple of times before he stopped.


    "F*ck, that stinks!" Bernie shouted in frustration, looking at his soaked pants and shoes with disgust.


    "You know what''s the stinkiest?" Apollo said, standing up.


    "Shut up!" Bernie glared.


    "It''s your breath! Hahaha!" Apollo laughed aloud.


    "I said SHUT UP!" Bernie shouted, striking forward.


    Apollo''s smile stiffened as he felt his skin tingling. This was the feeling he had honed from the numerous assassination attempts in his previous life.


    As the richest and most talented man on Earth, many had wanted to kill him. This had made him develop a certain skill to sense impending threats.


    Without wasting more time, Apollo jumped to the side.


    The air where he had been standing moments ago suddenly exploded, sending winds in every direction.


    "Oh? I didn''t know you could dodge that," Bernie smirked. He had just learned this battle technique from the academy. If he had really wanted to kill this beggar, he would have done it in the alley, but just like Apollo, he had other purposes in mind.


    "That''s dangerous¡­" Apollo muttered, his eyes widened from the scene.

 Chapter 19 Wish Me Luck(Part-2)

    "You will be the perfect toy to test my air palm!" Bernie shouted, raising his hand in front of him. He had already forgotten about his wet pants and shoes; his thoughts were focused solely on using the practice dummy in front of him.D*mn! This guy has the same purpose as mine! Apollo clenched his teeth, knowing this was not going to be an easy fight.


    Is this really the effect of Wish Me Luck? It''s more like wishing me the best of luck to stay alive! Apollo thought bitterly.


    "Scared? You should be!" Bernie laughed, seeing the wide eyes of the beggar.


    "Why would I be scared? You haven''t even hit me yet!" Apollo smirked. Worrying about not winning this fight would only lower his confidence. So what if that guy has better techniques than me? I still have the system!


    Apollo glanced at his Alm points.


    Alm Points: 21


    I could buy some battle techniques with that, but...


    Apollo raised both fists in front of him. He wanted to see if he could beat the thin man in front of him with just his half-step physical strength. He also concluded that Bernie was at the same level as him or slightly better in cultivation.


    Furthermore, this would also align with his goal of testing his strength on someone else.


    "Haha! What is that battle form?!" Bernie laughed, seeing the stance the beggar took.


    "Does all you know is laugh?" Apollo shook his head. "Why didn''t you laugh when I pissed on you?" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing this made Bernie stop, his eyes turning cold again.


    "I will kill you!" Bernie shouted before he threw a slap forward!


    Apollo had already dodged before the attack even landed.


    Just watching the wide movement of that slap allowed him to determine when the air would explode.


    Bang!


    The wind caused the beggar''s clothes to flap, but this didn''t hinder him from moving forward. Boxing has a footwork that is great for dodging and evading. Although it isn''t good for dashing at the enemy when they are afar, Apollo''s strength had already surpassed that of a human, and his speed was faster than before.


    "Tsk!" Bernie frowned. He sent another palm strike, but the beggar managed to dodge it again! This beggar!


    The anger in his heart intensified. This made him raise both hands and start sending countless air palms!


    Banging sounds reverberated in the training ground.


    Sh*t! Apollo cursed in his mind as he felt the air exploding around him. He used his footwork to the best of his abilities, but one of the attacks still managed to land on him.


    His body was sent backward before the air palms bombarded him!


    "Argh!" Apollo grunted in pain, his robes starting to tear apart.


    Seeing the beggar struggling under his attacks, Bernie''s smile reached his ears. His laughter echoed along with the sound of air exploding.


    "Die! Die! Die!" Bernie pulled his right hand back before sending a palm strike with all his might!


    Suddenly, blood spurted and the stage was tainted in red.


    "Eh?" The attack stopped, and Apollo couldn''t help but be confused. He looked up only to notice Bernie holding his right hand, which was bleeding profusely.


    Is the luck finally happening?


    "Sh*t! F*ck!" Bernie looked at his hand, veins popping up and blood constantly falling. I''ve already reached the Beginner stage of this technique, how did I mess up?!


    When there''s a mishap using a battle technique, cultivation technique, or any other techniques that require one to use their body, there''s a great risk of self-injury. Some have even died because of their carelessness.


    Bernie was confident this wouldn''t happen to him, especially at the Beginner stage. The steps at this stage are simple and don''t require intricate precision, but for some reason, he injured himself!


    With his eyes red, he decided to redirect his anger and injury to the beggar who ''caused'' all this!


    But when he looked up, the beggar was already gone.


    "Here!"


    Bernie turned to the side when he heard that hateful voice.


    Bang!


    A punch landed on the thin man''s face, and he took a couple of steps back.


    Bernie wasn''t given time to recover as Apollo was already in front of him.


    Because of his small frame, Apollo had to jump to attack the thin man''s face. He sent five to six punches while still in the air, and Bernie took them all, his lips bursting.


    "Argh! F*ck off!"


    Without caring about his injuries, Bernie responded with his left palm!


    The air exploded between them, sending both the beggar and Bernie to opposite sides of the arena.


    "Huff!" Apollo breathed heavily. He could feel his body aching from the impact. If he hadn''t reached the Half-Step Foundation Building, he would have received a greater injury.


    That attack is really strong! Apollo couldn''t help but admire the technique. He glanced up only to see Bernie taking what seemed like a pill.


    Confused, Apollo tilted his head while trying his best to recover as much as possible.


    In the next second, he realized what that pill was used for.


    His wound stopped bleeding, Apollo thought, squinting his eyes.


    Bernie''s bloody right hand stopped dripping blood, and his pale complexion regained its color. He wiped his mouth with his left hand and turned to the beggar, his eyes radiating killing intent.


    "Ahhhhh!" Like a maniac, Bernie started running towards Apollo, his left hand raised, ready to send his palm attacks.


    Seeing this, Apollo clenched his fist. He hadn''t received any serious injury; he just felt exhausted. Nevertheless, the excitement of this fight got to his head.


    He decided to use the system store only when he felt that he couldn''t win the fight. Apollo was still confident in his abilities, especially with the Wish Me Luck item doing its wonders!


    Apollo raised his fists in front of him in a boxing stance. He waited for his opponent to get close, and that''s when he would use all his knowledge about boxing!

 Chapter 20 Wish Me Luck(Part-3)

    "Die, beggar!" Bernie shouted. He never would have thought that teaching a beggar a lesson would be this hard. He even injured himself just for this kid!This is going to be a demon in his cultivation journey if he doesn''t solve this problem all at once!


    Apollo took a deep breath before he rolled to the side. His previous spot exploded, sending winds in every direction. Then he saw the thin man preparing for another palm attack. Before the air could explode him into a mess, he sidestepped to get near his opponent.


    This time, the beggar was more prepared. The moment Bernie raised his hand, Apollo was already in front of him. He jumped and delivered an uppercut, his fist connecting with Bernie''s chin!


    "Argh!" Bernie grunted in pain as he fell to the ground. He felt intense dizziness, but his anger made him recover immediately. As soon as he regained his vision, he saw the beggar diving towards him with a kick!


    "F*CK YOUUU!" Bernie shouted, the veins on his left hand throbbing as he used his full strength for this attack.


    Palms and kicks collided!


    "Ahhhh!"


    But because Bernie used the Air Palm, the beggar was sent flying back. With a thudding sound, Apollo fell to the ground, his hair messy and his head spinning.


    "That hurt¡­" Apollo shook his head, trying to clear his dizziness. Every world really doesn''t lack crazy people! He had seen that this world was far crueler than his previous life, and ever since he awoke in this body, he had experienced that cruelty firsthand!


    After a while, the beggar slightly recovered and slowly stood up, watching his opponent. He saw that Bernie was already on his feet, eyes red with murder.


    Apollo couldn''t help but smile bitterly. He was already hurt all over his body and felt that if the fight continued, he would pass out. But his opponent didn''t seem to tire at all!


    The beggar looked at his own body and noticed cuts spreading from his face down to his hands, blood flowing though not as intensely as Bernie''s¡­


    Eh? Apollo saw that Bernie''s left hand was already covered in blood, continuously flowing down and forming a puddle beneath him. That guy is going to bleed himself to death!


    Come to think of it, Apollo realized that the guy in front of him was going to die just for a beggar. Did he hurt his head when he was a child?


    What''s his beef with the beggar?


    Apollo watched Bernie walking towards him, seemingly not realizing that his hands were already injured.


    "D*mn f*ck! How come you''re still alive?!" Bernie shouted. He just wanted to test his new technique on this boy, but instead, the kid was giving him a hard time!


    "I also wanted to ask you the same question," Apollo said with a smirk.


    "Haha! Do you really think you can beat a cultivator like me?!" Bernie laughed in great annoyance. "You are just a beggar! A mere ant before me! Someone who should bow to a cultivator like me!"


    "A half-step cultivator, you might say," Apollo corrected the thin man. At first, he felt pressured, thinking the guy in front of him might be stronger than a half-step cultivator. But after exchanging blows, Apollo concluded that their strength was almost the same.


    Hearing this further infuriated Bernie. He referred to himself as a ''cultivator,'' and he hadn''t mentioned anything about the stage of his cultivation. He knew he was just an amateur, a beginner who had just begun his cultivation journey. Even acquiring the Air Palm technique at his current level could be considered luck¡ªor something he shouldn''t have done, but he did.


    Bernie felt humiliated that his cultivation stage was known by the beggar. He didn''t understand how the beggar knew this or why this was happening to him. No, he couldn''t think straight. His ego and pride were hurt. What he prioritized more was saving his face.


    "Arghhh!" Bernie grunted like a beast in the intensity of his fury. He wanted to smash this beggar into pieces, to see his blood tainting the ground. The thin man raised his hands, intending to send as many air palms as he could.


    But great pain came after. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "W-what! I can''t move my hands!" Bernie tried again to no avail. He looked at his hands and saw that the veins were mangled. He couldn''t even feel them anymore!


    He kept trying to make his hands move, but even after a few minutes had passed, there was nothing he could do. Only the sound of his pained grunts echoed in the arena.


    Apollo took this time to recover his strength. Seeing the thin man moaning in pain, he didn''t feel an ounce of pity. That guy had just tried to kill him, and besides, he was not a saint to forgive his opponent. The beggar took a deep breath and decided to end this.


    An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Apollo''s eyes turned cold, and a killing intent erupted from him.


    Bernie noticed this. He looked up and saw those eyes, his senses telling him that something bad was going to happen. He shivered as he realized that the beggar was not an ordinary boy.


    "W-what are you going to do?" he asked, his voice shaking.


    "I''m just going to do what you can''t do to me," Apollo smiled.


    Seeing that smile, Bernie gulped. He looked around, trying to find something that could help him in this situation. But what could he find on this wide stage? Nothing. So he gritted his teeth and decided to ram his body into the beggar!


    "Ahhhhhh!" Bernie lowered his head and increased his speed.


    But Apollo was one step faster. He dodged to the side and attacked with his knee.


    Cough!


    Bernie coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to his knees.


    "In the end, you couldn''t even beat a beggar," Apollo said, pulling the thin man''s hair to make him look up. His smirk caused Bernie to shiver with fear. "First, I''m going to make you blind!"


    Apollo raised two fingers and aimed at Bernie''s eyes.


    "N-no!" Bernie stuttered. "P-please nooooo!"


    "I''m going to do it! Then I''m going to kill you!" Apollo smirked. He pulled his hand back and, like an arrow released from a bowstring, his fingers accelerated towards the thin man''s eyes!


    "Nooooooo!" Bernie shouted, but in the next second, his head tilted forward as he passed out from fear. Yellow liquid pooled underneath him, and the stench assaulted Apollo''s nose.


    "Hmph! You can''t even hold your head high when you''re hopeless. Pathetic," Apollo shook his head, and Bernie fell on his stomach with a thud.


    Now that the fight had ended, Apollo fully understood his body. Unlike in his previous life, where one air palm could have practically disabled him for life, in this life, with the cultivation of a half-step, he could even take on a car and survive.


    So this is real strength, Apollo thought, raising his hand in front of him and clenching it. With his ambition to always be the best and on top of everyone, his determination skyrocketed. With a smile on his face, he turned around, but in the next second, he took a step back.


    A man was suddenly in front of him. He wore a straw hat and a grey robe that hid his clothes underneath. The only thing Apollo could see in the dim light were the man''s glinting eyes.


    "You¡­ are that guy¡­" Apollo began, but the newcomer interrupted him.


    "You can call me Sir Guo," Sir Guo said, his mouth turning into a smile.


    "Wish Me Luck deactivating!


    Time Left: 0s"

 Chapter 21 Going Back from a Fight(Part-1)

    Apollo took a deep breath to calm his nerves. The man who Bernie and others feared was standing right in front of him.Am I going to have another fight? But this guy is definitely stronger! Apollo started to get nervous. He looked at his own body and noticed that the numerous wounds were still bleeding. If he wanted to heal immediately, he''d have to buy that health potion again, but that would cost him Alm points.


    He was saving up so he could hide in his beggar spot. Apollo didn''t want to spend points mindlessly, especially when he could still move, even if his body was aching.


    Sh*t, I don''t have a choice! He was about to summon the system store when he heard Sir Guo''s voice.


    "Don''t be tense," Sir Guo said with a smile. "I''m not here to fight."


    "Oh, t-that''s good," Apollo sighed in relief while deep inside he remained vigilant. This guy is a perv! What if he also likes young boys? Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine.


    "You¡­ are you really a beggar?" Sir Guo asked.


    "Yes!" Apollo answered, his chest puffing up. "I''m a beggar from heart to soul!"


    Hearing this answer made Sir Guo speechless. Why are you so proud?


    "I see¡­" Sir Guo nodded before he looked the beggar up and down. "You''re already at a half-step foundation building. How old are you?"


    "You can tell?" Apollo was surprised at first, then understood what was happening. The guy in front of him was definitely an expert. This was probably the reason why Bernie and the others were afraid of him. "Am I obliged to tell my age?"


    Sir Guo''s eyes widened, but Apollo didn''t notice. "You are right. But you seem to be young, so I have to tell you something¡­"


    "What is it?" Apollo tilted his head. In the next second, he noticed Sir Guo walking towards him. He took a couple of steps back to maintain some distance.


    "You are a beggar. No one will take you seriously. Even if you are a half-step, you are just a better ant than them. Your current status¡­ it''s nothing," Sir Guo''s smile disappeared.


    When Apollo heard this, his eyes turned cold. He felt humiliated, and this was a feeling he detested. Even in his previous life, belittling him was equal to challenging him.


    "So?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "So¡­ that is what other egotistical and prideful cultivators will think about you," Sir Guo continued, and the smile returned to his face. "I don''t know how you got yourself a cultivation technique, but others won''t like it. They will try to steal it from you and then kill you. You better stay away from conflict, kid."


    As Sir Guo spoke, he motioned towards the passed-out man on the floor.


    Apollo understood what he meant and dropped his guard, bowing. "Thank you for the reminder, Sir Guo!"


    "Nah, don''t mention it. I''m just one of the reasonable ones," Sir Guo waved his hand dismissively.


    "I see¡­ Did you come here just to remind me?" Apollo asked.


    "No. I''m here to make an arrest," Sir Guo pointed at the thin man, Bernie. "A mere half-step dared to steal from the Cultivation Library of the Academy."


    "Oh?" This piqued Apollo''s curiosity about the Cultivation Library and the Academy Sir Guo mentioned. But he already had the system and the store. There was no need for him to check that out, right?


    "I should get going then!" Apollo bowed again. "Thank you again, Sir Guo!"


    "Sure, goodbye," Sir Guo waved his hand and watched the beggar run outside the training ground.


    After a while, only he and the snoring Bernie were left in the arena. Sir Guo put a hand under his chin, recalling what had just happened. "Is he really a beggar¡­ or is there something hidden I can''t see yet?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At first, he didn''t care about the beggar, but Apollo did something that made him curious. When Apollo punched the measuring scarecrow, Sir Guo noticed the water level reaching past the half-step foundation building.


    This surprised him, so he decided to check up on Apollo at night. When he saw Bernie confronting the beggar, Sir Guo followed them to the training ground.


    He planned to intervene if the beggar was about to die, intending to arrest Bernie for stealing the Air Palm technique. If the beggar died, then it was his fate, but contrary to Sir Guo''s expectations, the beggar won instead.


    "Even without using any battle techniques, he won¡­" Sir Guo muttered. "And something is strange about him. I can''t feel his qi."


    Sir Guo rubbed his chin in thought. Is someone secretly teaching that kid? Or is he a wandering cultivator pretending to be a beggar? There are many eccentric cultivators who do this kind of thing; he even encountered one in another city, so he wouldn''t be surprised if the beggar was a hidden master. This was also one of the reasons he didn''t antagonize Apollo.


    If he really is just a beggar¡­ Klown, that b*stard, wouldn''t like this. He''s been capturing all the beggars in the city, and if he finds out that there''s still one running around, he will surely send someone to go after the beggar.


    "This is getting interesting¡­" Sir Guo smiled. He isn''t the kind of person who would snitch on someone; he''d rather sit back and watch everything unfold. Besides, he''d love to see Klown''s angry face.


    Suddenly, his thoughts were disrupted when a coughing sound reached his ears.


    "Cough! W-what happened?" Bernie shook his head, his vision still blurry. Fragments of memories started coming back, and after a while, he remembered everything. "F*ck that beggar!"


    He stood up but fell back down the next second. "Arghh! My arms¡ª"


    Looking at his limp hands, he realized that he had been beaten up by a beggar.


    "H-how?"


    "It''s because you are weak," a voice echoed. At first, Bernie was confused, but soon his eyes widened with fear. He turned to the side and saw the most dreaded person in the Academy. "Sir Guo! I¡ª Hello!"


    "Hello my *ss!" Sir Guo looked at the thin man coldly. "You stole an elementary grade technique from the Cultivation Library. You have committed a crime. Your status as a student will be stripped, and this will also include your cultivation!"


    Hearing this, Bernie''s eyes shook as he realized the f*cked up situation he had landed himself in.

 Chapter 22 Leones Heir is Still Alive?(Part-1)

    "Twenty-one Alm points," Apollo muttered, looking at his Alm points. In his hands were the bronze coins that had rolled to his side, thanks to the Wish Me Luck item.After playing with the coins for a while, he assessed his own body.


    "It will probably take a few days to heal the wounds with my current physical capabilities," Apollo mumbled. He considered whether to buy a health potion but decided against it.


    His wounds would heal, and waiting for just a couple of days wouldn''t hurt, right?


    With this in mind, he left his beggar spot and looked around to make sure no one was watching before he ran to the nearest alley.


    His clothes were torn, and Apollo wanted to find some replacements in the trash. Although there were clothes in the system store with great features that could even save his life, he felt that buying items that could protect or hide him in his beggar spot was more worthwhile at the moment.


    The Beggar Spot was going to be one of his foundations, especially when the System seemed to place great importance on it.


    "I still need sixty more Alm points to buy that item," Apollo recalled the item he was saving up for while rummaging through the trash in the alley.


    Dilemma of the Passerby. It sounded cool, and it was the cheapest of the items for his Beggar Spot.


    After a while, Apollo took out some oversized clothes and robes. Using a metal plate he found on the ground, he made them fit him.


    "Good enough," Apollo nodded to himself. Then he carefully went back to his beggar spot. It was already past midnight, and the Filly Restaurant was closed at this time.


    Time to cultivate again! Apollo closed his eyes and followed the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique.


    He had just come back from a fight, and although his body wanted some rest, Apollo decided to take this chance to further progress his breathing technique.


    The system store had almost everything one could think of. There were all kinds of items that could make anyone a strong cultivator instantly without any struggle, but the prices were so high that even Apollo gave up on buying them.


    He wasn''t talking about hundreds or just thousands of Alm Points. The minimum for such items was hundreds of thousands!


    Apollo sighed as the qi around him started to get absorbed. With every inhale, qi entered his mouth and nose.


    It reconstructed everything as it entered, strengthening every cell. This also made his mind at peace, causing him to lose track of time.


    The fight with the thin man, Bernie, made him want to get stronger as fast as possible. Fighting that guy was already tough. What if the time came when he had to finish the mission and fight the man in the robe who had thrown him in the alley? That man in the robe was definitely stronger than Bernie!


    There was no way his father, who had sacrificed himself so Apollo could live, would let a weak man protect Apollo, right?


    After his mind wandered for a bit, he relished the pleasure of getting stronger.


    ...


    As the sun rose on the horizon, the morning people went about their routines. Slowly, the streets of Klown City filled with its citizens.


    The northwest part of the city was where some of the wealthy and affluent families resided. They had their own plots of land and greenery that made those who saw the place marvel. But there was one place where they would only feel empathy and pity.


    A carriage with a serpent insignia on its side made its way outside a grand mansion. The scenery of trees and grass passed by its windows.


    The driver of the carriage glanced back at the mansion. The mansion was burned, and there was a big gap in the rooftop. The mansion had basically crumbled to the ground, with only its foundation remaining, though they were black from being exposed to intense fire.


    The garden beside it is nothing but a pit of holes, a scene of utter destruction.


    The once powerful Leone family is gone, June thought. The Leones were one of the city''s wealthiest families, with businesses that spanned the entire city and even reached neighboring areas.


    Of course, their success made their competitors envious.


    "Those greedy bastards!" Bel shouted inside the carriage. She was looking out at the scenery with a frown, biting her nail in frustration. "Can''t they just wait and confirm everything before they make a move?" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There''s nothing we can do about it," June sighed, feeling the same frustration.


    "If I were at Qi Condensation, they would never treat me like a child!" Bel clenched her fist.


    They had just come back from a meeting with the other families about what to do with the Leone''s businesses. The meeting place was the Leone mansion, and when Bel heard about this, she couldn''t help but smile bitterly. They were basically rubbing salt in the wound.


    The meeting was about dividing up the remaining Leone businesses. Those businesses were likely to fail soon, so the other families wanted to merge with them as quickly as possible. Bel agreed with this idea in general, but when she found out there was still a chance that a Leone heir might be alive, she protested. She wanted to confirm whether an heir existed first.


    If there was one, she wouldn''t participate in their plans and would even try to dissuade them.


    Bel had no interest in business; she just wanted to participate in case there was a hidden master in any of the Leone''s businesses. She loved fighting, and this was supposed to be a great experience for her. But if there was still an heir, then interfering would be wrong. It was different if the business didn''t have a leader.


    In fact, it was actually good that others wanted to take it over so the workers could keep their jobs.


    But if someone was still going to lead the Leone workers, they had no right to meddle in their business.


    "They don''t care whether a Leone is still alive," June said. "At the end of the day, there''s going to be only one Leone."


    Bel sighed after hearing this. "Where did they even get this news?"


    "Who knows," June shrugged. "So what are we going to do now?"


    "Hmm¡­" Bel put a hand under her chin. "Why don''t we find the lost Leone? We can also confirm if the news is true."


    "But your studies¡­ your parents wouldn''t like it if they found out you were neglecting your cultivation," June reminded her.


    "Don''t worry about it!" Bel smiled proudly, her eyes never leaving the scenery. "I''m only a breath away from becoming a Half-Step Qi Condensation Cultivator."


    "I see," June said before he went quiet.

 Chapter 23 Leone Heir is Still Alive?(Part-2)

    "Say we do find him, what are you going to do?" June asked, his eyes glancing into the carriage. There was a window with curtains behind him where he could see Bel."That''s¡­" Bel frowned at the question. "Then I''ll help him become the head of the Leone family! Surely, their enemies will come for me, which means there''s going to be a fight!"


    June couldn''t help but chuckle. Bel had always loved fighting, even as a child. Now, she was willing to create drama by finding the lost heir of Leone just to satisfy her desire for combat.


    June smiled proudly.


    "Do you think Father will like this idea?" Bel asked hesitantly.


    "I''m sure he will," June said. "He''ll even support you."


    "Oh, I remember now, the Leone family and ours are quite close," Bel muttered, her eyes lighting up.


    ¡­


    "Nothing much has changed," Apollo muttered, taking a bite of his bread while looking at his progress on the status screen. He had just come back from Big Chub, where he had a quick conversation, bought some bread, and managed to steal one as well.


    The status screen hadn''t changed after 12 hours of cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique.


    Well, it doesn''t matter, I''ve clearly become stronger than before, Apollo thought. If he were to fight Bernie with his current strength, he was sure he would defeat him within a minute!


    After a few bites, he finished the bread. Then he stepped out of his beggar spot and stood in front of it where people could see him. Only a handful of passersby glanced in his direction, too busy with their own business to be bothered by him.


    Apollo also made sure the workers in the restaurant next to him were busy with their jobs.


    It seems Filly Restaurant is doing well, Apollo thought before he sat down and put his hands above his forehead in a begging manner.


    He didn''t cultivate right away. Instead, he opened his system store and searched for the item he was planning to buy.


    "Wish Me Luck: The heavens will bless the host while hell will pull the curses away from you. The host''s luck will increase, but the percentage is random.


    Time duration: 1 hour.


    Alm points: 5"


    Buy!


    Without hesitation, Apollo bought the item and immediately used it.


    "Wish Me Luck has been activated!


    The heavens will bless the host while hell will pull the curses away from you. The host''s luck will increase, but the percentage is random.


    Luck Increase Percentage: 4%


    Time duration: 1 hour."


    It''s one percent less? Hopefully, my investment will pay off, Apollo sighed before focusing on his cultivation.


    Although there was still much he didn''t know about ''Cultivation,'' Apollo was certain that with the help of the system store, he could learn everything he needed. But he didn''t want to waste his Alm points on things he could learn without buying from the store.


    Besides, he felt that with the System, he didn''t need to go out. He could stay in his beggar spot and slowly become stronger. He wanted to be on top of this world, but it wouldn''t happen in just one night of cultivation; he needed to be patient.


    After a while, his senses enveloped all the qi around him, and he started absorbing it through his mouth and nose.


    ¡­


    A man wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his right chest was walking in an alley. The sun''s orange glare peered through the entrance of the alley. Slowly, his features were revealed. He had black hair and sharp dark eyes. One could say that he looked very ordinary; his body was also quite average.


    He glanced around the alley and couldn''t help but frown.


    "He''s not here, as expected," the man muttered. "I gave him a hard hit and he still managed to get out? A Leone indeed."


    Where should I find that boy¡­ he thought for a while before shaking his head. The city was big, and if he really wanted to find him, he would have to spend a lot of time, which he didn''t want to do.


    "The examination for advancement is coming up; I have to focus on becoming first," the man mumbled, starting to get a headache. "D*mnit! How did they even find out that the kid is still alive?! I should have killed him!"


    Out of frustration, he punched the wall beside him, causing the air to explode and leaving a big crack in the wall.


    He took a deep breath to calm himself down. Then the man started walking out of the alley. He decided to take a stroll for a while before heading back to the academy.


    The moment he walked out of the alley, he immediately attracted the gazes of the people around him. Of course, he knew the reason was because of his uniform. As a student at the most prestigious school in Klown City, he was highly respected by ordinary people, though he knew some of that respect was not genuine.


    Well, it''s not like I really care about it. Most average cultivators have their egos inflated the moment they become one, tarnishing the reputation of the students of Sea Dragon Academy, the school the man was currently attending.


    The man decided to waltz to the west of the city.


    He kept looking around on his way, making sure he didn''t miss anything suspicious. He even went into some alleys just to make sure. It didn''t take him long to reach the less developed district.


    "There are more people than I thought," the man muttered before he started looking for the Leone kid. This was the only time he would do this; then he would just make some excuse that he didn''t find the boy.


    He noticed a restaurant nearby and started walking towards it. He was quite hungry, so he decided to fill his stomach first. The man habitually took out his pouch of money while on his way to the door. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In his peripheral vision, he saw something, but the door suddenly opened and two drunk men walked out with a server behind them. They were the same men who had argued with the two women the previous night.


    The student wearing the black and white uniform observed them before he walked past, but one of the drunk men bumped into him, causing his pouch to fall to the ground. The sound of coins rolling echoed, but the sharp-eyed student stared intently at the drunk man who had bumped into him.


    "Haha¡­ hiccup! My bad, kid! Hiccup!" The drunk men didn''t even look at him before they swerved away.


    "Sir, I''m very sorry about them," the server bowed his head toward the student and handed him the pouch that had fallen.


    "No worries," the student took the pouch before entering the restaurant. Did I just miss something? he thought before shrugging while considering whether to kill the two drunk men or just let them be.

 Chapter 24 Idea(Part-1)

    When Apollo opened his eyes, it was already morning. The night of cultivation had left him feeling energetic, so he stood up and stretched his body."Ah, that''s good!" Apollo mused in relief. After stretching for a while, he heard his stomach growling. Time to get some food, but before that, let''s see if my cultivation has changed.


    With a thought, he brought up his status screen.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 26


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    Nothing had changed in his cultivation, but Apollo had already expected this. The system had said it would take up to two weeks to reach the full Foundation Building stage. And if he really wanted to cultivate quickly, he would have to do it day and night without rest. But could he let himself starve to death? Definitely not!


    "My Alm points have also increased," Apollo muttered. When he bought his second Wish Me Luck, his Alm points were 21, but now they had become 26, an increase of 5.


    The beggar boy looked around his surroundings and noticed a silver coin beside his makeshift roof. He picked it up and couldn''t help but smile. "An increase of 4% luck can also earn me this amount? This is really great!"


    If he kept buying those lucky items, his Alm points would steadily increase. This thought crossed Apollo''s mind before a frown appeared on his face. What if the luck didn''t come as Alm points? Then he would only lose them! Besides, his luck increased randomly, so this was also a gamble.


    With a hand under his chin, Apollo thought hard about this matter. Buying them too frequently, and if the luck came in a different form, he would only lose Alm points. But what if the luck that came in a different form surpassed the value of Alm points?


    Apollo''s eyes were about to brighten when another thought came to mind. There''s also a chance I won''t be able to gain a thing after using Wish Me Luck.


    "Then I should avoid buying them too frequently," Apollo finally decided. After solving this ''crisis'' in his mind, he stepped out from his beggar spot by the side of the restaurant. But the moment his small figure emerged, a man wearing a white long-sleeve polo and black pants, holding a trash bag, bumped into him. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ouch!" The man yelped in pain as he fell to the ground, the trash spilling everywhere.


    "Sorry, my bad!" Apollo apologized and tried to help the man up. But the moment their eyes met, silence lingered for a while before they separated.


    "You dare stay here!" Ned shouted, pointing his finger at the beggar. "You want another beating, huh?!"


    "Beating? Haha," Apollo couldn''t help but laugh at the man''s words. The guy in front of him was the same one who had tried to make Apollo go away before.


    "What are you laughing at, you beggar?!" Ned felt humiliated.


    "Nothing," Apollo sighed with a smile on his face. "Gotta go!"


    The beggar waved his hand and turned around to go in his intended direction. But Ned wouldn''t let him have his way!


    With his half-step cultivation, Ned sprinted in front of the beggar ''instantly''.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Ned smirked.


    "It is none of your business," Apollo responded with an annoyed expression.


    "I think it is! I gave you a chance before, but you didn''t treasure it!" Ned crossed his arms in front of him.


    "So? What are you going to do about it?" Apollo asked with a daring expression.


    "You! I will teach you a lesson until you won''t even be able to move!" Ned shouted, grabbing the beggar by his collar. He started dragging the boy towards the nearest alley.


    This again? Apollo shook his head, letting the man in the white polo shirt drag him.


    Once they entered the alley, Ned threw Apollo to the ground. Apollo didn''t let himself get dirtied; as he was about to hit the ground, he extended his hands and performed a simple cartwheel.


    Seeing this surprised Ned for a moment before he dismissed it as a cheap trick.


    "Hehe, boy, you are done!" Ned cracked his knuckles and neck before slowly walking toward the beggar.


    "Sigh¡­ Let''s get this over with. I''m really hungry!" Apollo said, motioning for Ned to come at him.


    "You are making me laugh," Ned remarked, though the anger and frustration in his voice were evident. "Don''t blame me!"


    With a shout, Ned dashed towards the beggar.


    ...


    Apollo walked down the street with bread in his hands, his mouth full to the brim. He didn''t buy the food from Big Chub; that guy probably already suspected him of stealing some bread, so Apollo wanted to avoid him for a couple of days.


    "This is too bland," Apollo muttered after swallowing. The food in this world wasn''t advanced, and there wasn''t enough variety to choose from. Even the way they cooked some of the food was too simple, with only salt and a few common spices.


    Why am I even worrying about this? Apollo shook his head to get rid of the thought before he looked around. After beating Ned until he passed out and foamed at the mouth, Apollo had bought some bread and decided to take a stroll.


    He wanted to learn more about the city, and this was a great chance for a walk. Since he had changed his clothes, he appeared more ''normal'' than before, though some of the rich people still looked at him with frowns and disgust.


    Nevertheless, this helped him blend more with the crowd.


    Apollo was currently on a street he hadn''t visited before. This place had stores like weapon shops and armor shops. There was also an Alchemy building that a lot of people were entering.


    That place must be a hospital, Apollo thought, glancing at the Alchemy building before he started walking in a certain direction.


    After a while, he felt bored and wanted to go back to his spot and start his cultivation. Suddenly, a commotion caught his attention.


    Apollo turned and noticed people watching something. Curious, he carefully made his way towards the scene. He squeezed through the crowd and saw two guards dragging a man wearing tattered clothes.


    The beggar boy''s eyes brightened for a moment before dimming. He finally met another beggar, but he was being taken away. I thought I was the only one in the city? Apollo watched the other beggar being dragged away before he noticed an instrument on the ground and some other items with price tags in front of them.


    Apollo suddenly had a realization upon seeing this.


    "There''s also a beggar here!" someone suddenly shouted, pointing at Apollo. This caused Apollo to jolt awake, and he immediately ran away, not without glaring first at the person who had called him out.

 Chapter 25 Idea(Part-2)

    Apollo had already thought about it, but he was too focused on cultivation. This new experience kept his excitement from dying down.After seeing the other beggar and his equipment strewn across the ground, the idea came back to him. In his previous life, beggars used their talents, like singing and playing instruments, to earn alms. Some even performed strange acts to get people to give them money.


    But will it work? Apollo thought as he sat in his beggar spot, watching people walk by while contemplating the issue. In the end, he decided to ask the system.


    "If I sing or do something that will amaze passersby and they give me money, will it count as alms?" Apollo asked this crucial question.


    "No, you are a beggar, not an entertainer," the system coldly replied, devoid of any emotion.


    This answer disappointed Apollo, but he realized that those beggars received alms because of their talents, not because they were begging.


    "You are a true beggar. You must beg for your alms, not earn them through talents," the system continued, seemingly reading his mind.


    "I see," Apollo nodded in understanding. This is going to be harder than I thought.


    Apollo then walked out of his beggar spot and peeked at the restaurant beside him. They were still busy, so this was the perfect time to collect Alm points!


    He stood outside his beggar spot just enough for people to notice him before sitting down and placing his hands above his forehead. After taking a deep breath and stabilizing his mind, he also cultivated his Simple Breathing Technique.


    ... S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What now?" Filly asked with a frown on her face. A man covered in bandages, his face black and blue, stood before her.


    "I-I can''t remember much," Ned said, his voice muffled due to his missing teeth.


    "Then tell me what you can remember," Filly massaged her forehead.


    "That beggar is back," Ned said seriously. "I went to confront him, and after that¡­ after that¡­ I can''t remember a thing. That''s when I woke up in the alley¡­"


    Ned trailed off, his face turning red with shame.


    Upon hearing this, Filly''s face darkened. That beggar is back? This won''t do! He will only ruin the image of my restaurant!


    "So that beggar trashed you into this state," Filly looked at Ned from head to toe.


    "No!" Ned shouted, almost reopening his wounds.


    "Oh? Then tell me why it''s a no," Filly asked coldly, her eyes looking at him like he was something disposable.


    Ned gulped nervously. "T-there''s no way, right? A beggar can''t beat someone like me, a half-step foundation builder. Even ten normal people wouldn''t be able to land a hit on me. Someone else must have done this to me!"


    "And that someone is the beggar," Filly said.


    Ned wanted to protest, but when he saw the look in his boss''s eyes, he had no choice but to shut his mouth.


    "You can go back now," Filly sighed and waved her hand.


    "O-okay," Ned said awkwardly.


    "And call Gail on your way out," Filly ordered, and Ned bowed his head before leaving the room.


    Filly leaned back in her chair, her mind racing as she thought about the beggar beside her restaurant. Something was fishy. That beggar was not simple. A Wanderer? Or someone backing him up? But why?


    "If something is really going on, getting involved with him is probably not a good idea," Filly muttered just as someone knocked on her door. "Come in!"


    A new worker entered and bowed. This time, it was a woman named Gail.


    "You called for me, Miss?" Gail, frail-looking with pale skin and the stature of a twig, seemed like a strong gust of wind could topple her.


    "Yes," Filly nodded, her expression easing upon seeing her trusted aide. "I need your assistance."


    "Oh? Do you want me to dispose of someone?" Gail''s countenance suddenly changed, her aura becoming cold as killing intent erupted from her.


    "Calm down," Filly ordered coldly. Although Gail looked like a young girl who could be easily bullied, she was actually at the fourth step of the Foundation Building stage. She wasn''t a normal cultivator; she had been personally trained by Filly''s family to be a bodyguard and a killer.


    "S-sorry," Gail realized what she had done, bowed her head, and her face turned red. "So, what is it?"


    "There''s a beggar beside my restaurant. Accompany me tonight. I don''t think he is that simple," Filly said.


    "Alright," Gail nodded. "Is he dangerous?"


    "That is why I need you. We can dispose of him if he is not. If he is..." Filly trailed off. She began to think that if the beggar was really a Wanderer or if someone strong was behind him, there could be something to gain, like befriending them or at least maintaining a status quo. There was also the possibility that the beggar was nothing or not strong at all.


    The two talked for a while before Gail suddenly remembered something. Besides being a bodyguard and a restaurant worker, she was also somewhat of an assistant.


    "I remember something. The store across the street has been bought by the owner of Skyline Savory," When Gail mentioned this, there was a hint of worry in her voice.


    "Skyline Savory, the most popular restaurant in Klown? Why?!" Filly stood up abruptly in shock.


    "I think they want to expand," Gail answered.


    Damn it! Filly''s thoughts became disarrayed. Skyline Savory was the most popular restaurant in Klown City, even well-known in neighboring cities. They were one of the reasons why so many outsiders visited Klown! This fact alone spoke to the quality of their restaurant.


    As a scion, Filly had eaten at that restaurant a few times and admitted that their food was very delicious. They were the reason she decided to set up her own restaurant!


    "This is bad, very bad," Filly sat back down, her headache growing stronger.


    "Y-yeah, if they open here, our restaurant won''t be able to stand against them," Gail added.


    "We have to do something," Filly mumbled as her eyes wandered over the papers on the table. Written on them were the cooking strategies she had thought of, but most had failed, and those that succeeded barely made a difference in the cooking process.


    "Well, are we still going out tonight?" Gail asked.


    Hearing this, Filly decided to take out her frustration on the beggar beside her restaurant. With anger in her eyes, she nodded. "Of course!"

 Chapter 26 Outside the City(Part-1)

    Apollo is cultivating peacefully. The night sky shone upon him and although he didn''t use the lucky item, there''s still two bronze coins on his palm.The beggar woke up after a few hours of cultivation. He immediately noticed the coins in his palms and he couldn''t help but tilt his head.


    "So I can still earn 2 alm points even without using that item?" Apollo muttered in annoyance. Then where did my luck go? But thinking about it, the Wish Me Luck item has brought him 4-5% luck so far.


    I wonder if my strength has increased. With this thought in mind, Apollo brought up his status screen.


    STATUS SCREEN


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 28


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    "Eh?!" Apollo''s eyes widened in shock. "I reached the 1st step already? I didn''t even feel it!"


    He stood up and his body made a cracking sound. Apollo realized that his body is light all over and this is the sensation he hadn''t felt even in his previous life. He raised his hand and clenched it, he could feel the strength stored within.


    Apollo is excited. Finally, does this mean I am now officially a Cultivator? But the system said it will take me at most 2 weeks? The beggar decided to ask this question to the System.


    "System, didn''t you say that it will take me at most 2 weeks to reach the Foundation Building? It''s only been a few days!" Apollo asked.


    "Yes, that is exactly right. If you continue at your pace, you will reach the 4th Step Foundation Building in 2 weeks time." The System answered in its usual monotonous voice.


    "4th Step? The last step¡­" Apollo now understood what the System meant when it said those words. So cultivating this Simple Breathing technique will be able to reach him that far. Although he doesn''t know what that stage signifies, Apollo believes that it''s not something grand.


    Cultivation has seven stages and he is just on the first stage, isn''t it mediocre when one thinks about it?


    Shaking his head, Apollo decided to test out his strength at some place, probably a wooded area where he could let loose.


    He peeked through the restaurant beside him and noticed there''s still a lot of patrons eating. The workers are busy attending to them. Apollo still doesn''t want to involve himself with this restaurant, they keep sending him away and he is just waiting for his Alm points to reach the needed amount for him to be able to buy that ''item''.


    After making sure that the coast is clear, Apollo covered his face with his robe before he quietly made his way out of the street.


    Apollo actually already thought about a place. He headed north with his small frame while he kept looking around. He is also memorizing the place just in case he gets lost.


    Ten to fifteen minutes later, he reached the central part of the city. This is his first time here and he couldn''t help but be in awe. Although it couldn''t compare to his previous life, the centre of the city is still amazing. There''s all kinds of buildings, they are more grand and their design exudes expensiveness.


    His eyes stopped on a plaque that said Phoenix Cultivation School.


    "Is this one of the schools where cultivators studied?" Apollo muttered. "It looks more like a temple."


    The school is like the temple he saw from his previous life. It''s quiet and has a sacred vibe to it. Because he stood there and just staring at the school, one of its guards stationed outside the gate noticed.


    "Hey! What are you staring at?!"


    Hearing this jolt the beggar awake. Then he immediately ran in the distance.


    "D*mn, I should hurry up!" Apollo just said these words when he stopped again as he saw another cultivation school with a stone serpent encircling the whole building.


    Great Serpent Cultivation School? Apollo remembered that the guy he just fought in the training ground has the same serpent insignia on his chest, is this where he''s studying? This school is so cool! This is the coolest building that the beggar saw since he arrived in this world.


    "Why do I keep getting distracted?" Apollo shook his head. He already noticed that the school''s guard was looking at him and before he attracted more attention, he ran again.


    In no time, he left the central part of the city and arrived north of Nowem. He kept walking until he saw a wall that partitioned the city from the outside. His eyes then focused on the entrance. There''s still a number of people that come and go in the city with their carriage.


    Apollo''s destination is outside the city. He already asked around and they said that there''s a forest outside of Nowem. That is the perfect place that the beggar had in mind. There, he could do whatever he wanted and he didn''t have to be afraid if he would disturb someone else.


    The guards on the gates are carefully observing those who''re entering and don''t seem to care about the people going out.


    Just to make sure, he decided to follow behind a carriage. There''s still the unknown threat who destroyed the original body''s family and Apollo doesn''t want to attract too much attention.


    When they were about to cross the gate, a guard happened to look in their direction. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You there! Stop!" The guard shouted and the carriage stopped.


    Hearing the shout, Apollo became nervous but his nervousness was unfounded when the guard went straight for the driver. After a series of questions and answers, the carriage was given permission to pass the gate.


    Apollo heaved a sigh of relief.


    As this is the first time that he went out of the city, he couldn''t help but look around. There''s nothing much to see besides grass and the forest in the distance.


    Apollo followed behind the carriage for a while before he decided to run towards the forest.


    Because of his excitement, he didn''t realize the speed that he''s running at.

 Chapter 27 Outside the City(Part-2)

    When Apollo entered the forest, he slowed his steps and looked around. The trees were tall, swaying in the dark wind, and the sounds of nocturnal animals occasionally echoed through the night."A wolf?" Apollo muttered, recognizing the distant sound. Without any cultivation, he would have been terrified and might not have dared to enter the forest. The thought of encountering a bear or other large animals would have seemed like suicide. But now, with his body strengthened by cultivation, he felt like the world was in his hands.


    With newfound confidence, Apollo wandered through the forest, searching for the perfect spot to test his strength. The training ground only had a scarecrow for measuring strength, and Apollo wanted to see his power in action.


    After a while, he found a tree smaller than the others he had seen so far, with only a three-meter clearing in front of it.


    Apollo stood in front of the tree and clenched his fist. His test was simple: punch the tree and see if it would break. If he succeeded, he would find a bigger, tougher tree and repeat the process until he found one he couldn''t break with his fist.


    "This looks like red maple," Apollo muttered, though the tree didn''t quite match. It was darker, with black leaves and a trunk that would need two people to hug. Despite the dark sky, Apollo could see well thanks to his heightened senses from his 1st-step cultivation. It was a wonderful feeling.


    Red maple was a common tree known for its durability and strength. But the tree in front of him seemed like an upgrade.


    "Let''s see!" Apollo took a deep breath and raised his right hand. Clenching his fist hard, he punched the tree.


    A banging sound echoed, followed by the sound of breaking wood.


    "Woah!" Apollo shouted in amazement. He looked at his hand and then back at the tree. He had punched a hole in it! Although it wasn''t enough to make it fall, he was amazed at the power his fist could produce.


    "Let''s do it again!"


    Soon, the sound of fists crashing into the tree reverberated through the forest.


    Bang!


    A tree fell to the ground, raising a small dust cloud.


    "Huff," Apollo breathed out, sweat dripping down his face. "It took longer than I expected."


    He had to punch through the tree repeatedly until it finally collapsed.


    "At least I got to feel my strength," Apollo muttered. After regulating his breathing and using the Simple Breathing Technique to recover some stamina, he decided to wander around the area.


    Suddenly, the howl of a wolf reached his ears.


    "Should I?" Apollo''s eyes shone with an idea. Now that he knew his current strength, he felt the urge to test it in a real fight. With this in mind, he looked up at the trees and jumped.


    He tried to imitate the moves of ninjas from the movies he had seen in his previous life, but he slipped after stepping on a trunk and was about to jump again.


    "Ahhh!"


    Bang!


    Apollo fell to the ground, his eyes wide with fear. Oh god, I thought I was a goner! When he slipped, he had forgotten for a moment that his body was no longer the same as before. He stood up and patted himself down.


    He tried again and jumped. Leaping at least five meters was easy now, but he still slipped from the tree. With another bang, he crashed to the ground.


    "Ah!!" Apollo shouted in frustration. He repeated this process until he was covered in dirt and his body ached.


    "Sh*t, f*ck it!" Apollo opened his system store and sorted through it. "Show me a skill that can help me be good at running and parkouring!"


    Heaven Maneuvering Technique: Once learned, one could walk on anything¡ªbe it water, air, outer space, the Higher Dimension, or even the void. This technique doesn''t require Qi; one only needs to use their physical body and mind.


    Alm Points Needed: 1,000,000


    Cosmic Treading Technique: Allows one to travel the universe in the blink of an eye. Requires a huge amount of Qi to use.


    Alm Points Needed: 900,000


    Meteoric Walk¡­


    Instant Appearance¡­


    Door to Door¡­


    Apollo read each movement technique, and his eyes couldn''t help but widen. Every technique was incredibly powerful¡ªand expensive. If I had these techniques¡­ Just thinking about it excited him. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Show me the cheapest," Apollo ordered. The list sorted itself, revealing one item.


    Simple Movement Technique: A movement technique that embodies the essence. Once fully mastered, learning other movement techniques will be akin to drinking water.


    Alm Points Needed: 10


    "This is good," Apollo muttered while reading the description. It has ''simple'' in its name, but it''s far from that. The beggar bought it, and new information started entering his mind.


    After a while, Apollo took a deep breath and exhaled. He suddenly felt that his feet didn''t belong to him. He tried to walk, and his step was stable and light.


    Let''s try again! Apollo looked up at the tree and jumped.


    One meter¡­


    Two meters¡­


    Three meters¡­


    Five meters¡­


    Seven meters¡­


    Ten meters!


    In just one leap, Apollo reached ten meters in height! Woah!


    Apollo landed on a tree trunk and looked down before a smile appeared on his face. "Great!"


    Then, like a monkey, he jumped from tree to tree. Using the Simple Movement Technique, his vision and body coordination became better. He felt like he was on the ground even though he was up in the trees, maneuvering on slippery and small trunks.


    After having fun for a while and getting used to his newfound ability, he climbed the highest tree and stayed there.


    "D*mn, I ended up using my Alm points!" Apollo brought up his status screen with a frown.


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 18


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None.


    Sigh¡­ Apollo realized that he was not very good at saving up. In his previous life, he didn''t need to save up as money kept coming in. But now, in this world, as a beggar, he had to learn.


    Awooo!


    The sound of a ''wolf'' howling reverberated, and Apollo was brought back to his goal. "I should test my strength on that wolf and then go back."

 Chapter 28 Outside the City(Part-3)

    Apollo landed on the ground with a thud. He looked around the area and still couldn''t find what he was looking for. After a few minutes of jumping from tree to tree like a monkey, he arrived beside a hill."Where is that wolf¡­" Apollo muttered. He was sure he was heading in the right direction, but where was it? He glanced up and saw the moon peeking behind the rocky hill.


    Up there? Apollo was about to climb the hill when he stopped. "Something feels strange."


    He could sense it, but he couldn''t pinpoint what was causing the feeling. Apollo hesitated, unsure whether to keep looking for the wolf or just go back. In the end, he sighed and decided to call it a night. There was still plenty of time for him to test his strength in a real battle. What if another fool tried to pick a fight with him? Wouldn''t that be a free sparring partner?


    Hopefully, that fool isn''t foolishly strong enough to beat my ass, Apollo thought with a bitter smile.


    Shaking his head, he turned around and started walking back.


    That''s when¡­


    Howl!


    The wolf he had been looking for suddenly howled again, louder and clearer this time. It only meant one thing: the wolf was near! Apollo abruptly turned around but didn''t see the wolf.


    He slowly looked up and, sure enough, a four-legged animal was standing on the hill with its head pointed to the sky.


    "I guess the fool is this guy," Apollo chuckled. "Hey, down here!"


    When the wolf heard this, it looked down and growled menacingly.


    "Fighting against a wolf¡­ it still sounds crazy," the beggar muttered in amusement. He started lightly jumping to pump his heart and did some simple stretches to calm his mind. This was going to be his first fight against a wild animal, and he wanted to make as few mistakes as possible.


    The wolf jumped from the hill and made its way down. Because of the night, its body was still shrouded in darkness. Although Apollo''s vision had improved, it only applied to nearby details; if something was fully covered by the dark, he could only make out the silhouette.


    Apollo prepared himself and assumed his boxing stance. As he waited, that strange feeling came back. Excitement turned into nervousness.


    When the wolf fully revealed itself, he finally understood why he felt that way. The wolf in front of him stood at least 2 meters tall. But what was more prominent was its black fur and two tails. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing the menacing growling, Apollo woke from his daze. I should change my thinking. The trees from earlier were not the same as the trees from his previous life.


    Apollo kept comparing this world to his previous one. When he heard the howls, he thought it was just a normal wolf, but reality proved him wrong.


    And now, he found himself in trouble. Was it arrogance because of his sudden strength? Apollo thought this must be one reason for his mistake.


    Run or fight? The beggar thought and decided after a few seconds. He was already here, so he decided to fight. What if this guy was just scary-looking but weaker than him? Then he would have chickened out for nothing. And if the black wolf was really strong, he could just escape.


    Roar!


    Apollo became tense. He waited for the black wolf to make the first move to gauge its strength.


    The wolf observed the small human with its red eyes. A few seconds later, it roared angrily and launched itself toward the beggar!


    "Here it is!" Apollo prepared himself and widened his eyes.


    In his vision, the black wolf moved fast, but he felt he could keep up if he really tried.


    Apollo jumped back, the sharp claw barely missing him. He could even hear the wind being torn apart¡ªthat''s how strong the attack was.


    If that claw landed, I would definitely be in two! Apollo thought, breathing heavily. The wolf didn''t give him time to rest and attacked again.


    Apollo jumped back, and when the wolf landed, he ran to the side with his quick feet.


    The black wolf ran after him while the beggar made sure to keep track of the animal''s movements. He purposely slowed down, and the wolf took this chance to jump on him.


    Now! Apollo sidestepped and turned around abruptly before punching with all his strength! With a shout, his fist connected with the wolf''s jaw!


    The wolf growled in pain as its body was sent crashing to the ground, rolling a few times and creating small dust clouds. Seeing this, Apollo raised his hand and clenched it. Although he already had a basic understanding of his 1st-Step Foundation Building and could even make a tree fall with just his fist, he still felt excited that he could make a wolf of this size roll on the ground.


    The wolf stood up and shook its head to clear its dizziness. Then, it looked at the tiny human with killing intent.


    He''s angry. Apollo readied himself. He didn''t dare to underestimate the wolf just because he had managed to land a hit once.


    Roar!


    The black wolf howled at the sky before charging toward him! Apollo ran again, intending to use the same technique.


    Dodge! Turn! And punch!


    But contrary to what he expected, the moment his fist was about to hit the wolf''s jaw, something struck his chest! With a thud, his body hit the ground hard!


    "Argh!" Apollo grunted in pain. He didn''t expect the black wolf to be so smart that fooling it twice wouldn''t work! D*mn! I bit off more than I can chew! And what is that other idiom¡­ I have eyes but can''t see Mount Tai! Apollo recalled all the idioms he could think of about his current situation.


    He looked at his chest and noticed that blood was tainting his robe. It hurts. Apollo glanced at the black wolf with anger in his eyes.


    As the wolf growled at him, almost mockingly, Apollo stood up and dusted off his clothes. Although his chest hurt, it wasn''t enough to keep him from moving.


    Seeing the human standing up, the wolf howled again before dashing towards Apollo.


    Apollo raised both hands in front of his face and waited. He decided to fight the wolf head-on. He could think of other tricks like before, but he was already angry. Besides, he thought fighting head-on was cooler.


    This time the black wolf didn''t dodge. Instead, it opened its jaws wide and tried to bite the beggar.


    Apollo carefully observed its movements. He ducked to the side and was about to kick when a tail immediately attacked him. He crossed his hands in front of him and managed to block the attack, though the impact still caused him to take a few steps back.


    Faster!


    Before the wolf could turn towards him, Apollo stopped his momentum and lunged at his enemy!


    With a thud, his fist managed to land on the side of the black wolf, causing it to howl in pain and tumble to the ground. This is not enough. Apollo ran after the wolf and sent another punch.


    Bang!

 Chapter 29 Outside the City(Part-4)

    The sound of a wolf howling in pain echoed through the forest. With a loud bang, the black wolf crashed into a tree, snapping it in two."How''d you like that?" Apollo smirked.


    The black wolf shook its head while standing up slowly. It looked at the tiny human and growled. It didn''t dare move, just observed him.


    This guy knows it''s going to be hard to defeat me, Apollo thought. But he decided to end this fight by killing the wolf. He wasn''t a good person to begin with, and he wouldn''t hesitate to end a life if needed. Besides, this black wolf tried to kill him, so it was only fair that he would do the same to the wolf, right?


    Apollo ran toward the wolf and jumped high. He raised his foot in the air before sending it downwards!


    Roar!


    The black wolf responded with its own attack, one of its tails sweeping up! The impact caused both of them to be thrown back. Apollo landed and dashed forward again. He wasn''t going to let the wolf recover from the impact and wanted to bombard it with attacks. It was risky, but Apollo knew that if the black wolf managed to land another hit on him, his life would be in danger.


    When he was about to reach the black wolf, it suddenly turned around and started running toward the forest. Seeing this, Apollo couldn''t help but be amazed at how cunning this wolf was. If you can''t win, then run. They had the same thought, but the wolf applied it first.


    "Come back here!" Apollo shouted as he chased after the wolf. Using his Simple Movement Technique, he parkoured his way to get close to the wolf. With his surroundings turning into a blur, he caught up with the wolf.


    He reached out his hand and grabbed one of its tails, but the other tail struck his hand.


    "Argh!" Apollo grunted in pain. He noticed that his hand was bleeding, causing great pain. He gritted his teeth and caught up again. Using his injured hand, he held one of the wolf''s tails. As expected, the other tail tried to attack his hand, but Apollo anticipated this. Using his free hand, he caught it and pulled hard!


    "Ahhh!" Apollo shouted as his body was dragged by the wolf. He stomped his feet, creating a long trail on the ground before shouting, "Take this!"


    The beggar used all the strength he could muster to stop the wolf from running before he twisted his body and threw the black wolf as hard as he could!


    The wolf howled in the air, its body crashing into a tree and creating a small dust cloud upon impact.


    Apollo breathed heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead. The pain from his right hand made him frown, but now was not the time to mull over it. Instead, he focused on the wolf. "That throw was hard¡­ Did I kill it?"


    He walked toward the broken tree and noticed that the black wolf was trying to stand up, but its legs gave out.


    There were broken pieces of wood stuck in its body, and blood constantly flowed down. The wolf was also breathing heavily, and when it noticed the tiny human, it growled, but compared to before, it was very weak and low.


    Looking at its state, Apollo concluded that it was on the verge of death. He looked around and saw a piece of wood with sharp, pointy edges. He went and picked it up. "Let me end your suffering."


    The black wolf seemed to resign to its fate as it let out a final howl.


    Apollo let it howl and waited until its head fell to the ground from exhaustion. Seeing this, the beggar raised the wood and plunged it into the wolf''s head.


    Blood splashed onto his clothes.


    "Sigh¡­ I almost died," Apollo muttered bitterly. Although it may have seemed that he had the upper hand, his life was still on the line, and with one wrong move, the situation could have turned around.


    Fortunately, the black wolf decided to escape instead of fighting him to the death.


    Apollo turned around and started walking back.


    Howl!


    Suddenly, the howl of a wolf echoed in the forest. When the beggar heard this, he glanced back at the black wolf he had just killed. Realization dawned on him. Don''t tell me!


    Another howl sounded, but this time, it came from a different direction. Then, one after another, wolves'' howls reverberated through the forest.


    Apollo gulped, his eyes wide with fear. He looked at the dead wolf and recalled their fight. That guy didn''t escape because he was afraid! He escaped to buy time for his pack to arrive! That''s why the black wolf kept howling even while running away.


    If he had been calm and not clouded by arrogance due to his newfound strength, he would have considered this possibility before deciding to fight a wolf. But regretting it now wouldn''t do him any good. Instead, he took a deep breath to calm his mind.


    "Gotta run now!" Apollo decided to return as soon as possible. He valued his life above all else, and staying here was akin to suicide. Although his body ached from the previous fight, his running speed didn''t slow down; instead, he became even faster.


    He used his Simple Movement Technique to the best of his abilities. He ran up a tree and decided to traverse back by jumping from one tree to another. Wolves had more advantage on land, and as he expected, the moment he started his return, there were already black wolves running after him.


    Howl!


    They howled to the sky while running in the direction of the human scent. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo looked down and counted them. There were at least a dozen of them, and their speed was fast. They also ran in the same direction but not on the same track, making it easier for them to hunt an escaping prey.


    If he had been a few seconds later in escaping, he would have found himself fighting against those wolves, and the outcome would have been dire.


    Suddenly, the howl of a wolf echoed, louder than the others. Apollo glanced down and noticed a wolf running toward his direction while looking up at him.


    Sh*t! They found me!


    The other black wolves started gathering beneath him, behind him. Thankfully, they couldn''t climb the trees and travel as he did.


    Faster!


    After a while, Apollo could finally see the city wall, and the light of hope shone in his eyes.


    There were still a few more trees before he reached the clearing. Here, there would be only grass. Apollo started to worry that the moment he jumped and landed on the ground, the black wolves would lunge at him. He gritted his teeth and decided to let fate work its wonder.


    Apollo jumped hard, causing the trunk to shatter and his body to propel forward. The black wolves howled angrily in his direction. As he saw the ground closing in, Apollo prepared himself.


    The moment he landed, he rolled forward and started running toward the caravan lining up to enter the gate.


    Breathing heavily, he turned around and saw that the black wolves were looking in his direction but didn''t dare to leave the forest.


    "Woah, thank god," Apollo put a hand over his chest. His heart was beating like never before. His body was even shaking from the nervousness. He noticed that the wolves started to retreat back into the forest, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

 Chapter 30 Confrontation

    After Apollo hid behind a caravan, he found an alley where he decided to rest. The pain in his hand was severe, and he wanted to treat it as soon as possible.Looking at his Alm points, the beggar boy couldn''t help but smile bitterly. "I''m really not good at saving up."


    In his previous life, because of his talent, he didn''t need to worry about saving, as money kept flowing into his bank account. Only now did he realize that being wealthy also has its downsides.


    He brought up his System window and bought a health potion, which cost him five Alm points.


    Apollo glanced at his Alm points and noticed they had dropped from 18 to 13. From the previous 28, they were now down to 13. But buying that movement technique was worth it, he thought as the wound on his right hand started healing at a fast rate.


    "Now, my clothes¡­" He sniffed and smelled the strong stench of blood, both his own and that of the black wolf he had killed. "Do I have to find another robe?"


    Apollo searched the alley but found nothing to use as clothes. He sighed and searched the System store instead. After a while, he found what he was looking for.


    **Cleaning Bead:** A common cultivation item. Once used, it will release Qi that envelops its owner, cleaning the owner''s clothes and body. Needs to absorb Qi for an hour before it can be used again.


    **Alm Points Cost:** 3


    Do I really need to buy this? Apollo faced a dilemma. He wanted to save up so he could buy the item that would help him hide in his beggar spot, but he couldn''t stand reeking of blood. He could choose to wash his clothes, but if he did that, he''d have to do it every time he fought. It would be a waste of time.


    In the end, Apollo sighed and bought the item. White particles appeared in front of him before they coalesced into a white bead. He observed it in his hands for a few seconds before using it. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It let out a subtle light, and a stream of Qi emanated from it. Apollo was enveloped by the light. A few seconds later, the light returned to the white bead, and the beggar''s clothes became clean. His hair was shiny, and he could even smell a flowery fragrance.


    "This is good," Apollo smiled. He felt like he had just taken a cold shower. Even his teeth were clean, and his robe looked as good as new.


    "I have to go back now and earn more Alm points," Apollo muttered after glancing at his remaining Alm points. There are actually good-hearted people who still give money to the homeless, and he expected that even without that Wish Me Luck item, he could still earn Alm points.


    With his clean clothes and face, he walked more confidently on the street, and no one suspected that he was a beggar. Still, some curiously glanced in his direction, as he was the only kid wandering around at this hour.


    Apollo had to walk for almost an hour to reach the district where his beggar spot was. Whistling a tune, he arrived at his destination. He looked around and saw that the workers from the Filly restaurant were still busy inside. The night was still young, and there were patrons eating inside the restaurant.


    He walked towards his beggar spot beside the restaurant, a place most people wouldn''t even glance at because it was hidden by another building unless they purposely looked at the partition.


    "Finally¡­" Apollo sighed in relief. He sat inside the shelter he had made and decided to rest for a bit.


    After a while, he went out and sat where people could see him. He then raised both hands above his forehead and started cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique. Just thinking about the strength he would gain when he reached the 4th-Step Foundation Building excited him.


    Apollo took a deep breath to calm his mind. Following the pattern in his mind, the surrounding Qi began to be absorbed by him. It followed a certain path and circulated through his whole body, bathing his cells and slowly reforming them.


    As peace set in, the outside world became dark, and in his senses, there was only him and the Qi.


    But unbeknownst to him, this peace wouldn''t last long.


    ¡­


    Inside the Filly Restaurant.


    The lights coming from the chandeliers gave off an opulent ambiance in the room. There were two floors inside, with the second floor designed like a balcony to observe the first floor. This was specially renovated to separate classes.


    Filly was currently standing on the second floor, one of her hands on the handrail as she watched her workers clean the tables below.


    A frown appeared on her face when she noticed plates with leftover food. This would never happen at ''that'' restaurant.


    "M-ma''am," Gail hesitatingly called out. Seeing Filly''s serious face made her uncertain if she should share the news.


    "Gail, what is it?" Filly turned towards her.


    "It''s about¡­ the Skyline Savory," Gail trailed off.


    The frown on Filly''s face deepened. "Tell me."


    "They put up a sign on their newly acquired building across the street. They said they are going to open tomorrow noon," Gail replied with worry in her voice.


    "D*mnit!" Filly slammed her hand on the handrail, causing it to crack. "They are fast!"


    "What should we do?" Gail asked.


    Filly took a deep breath to calm down. I still haven''t finished my research on how to further improve the taste of my food¡­ She believed that the food in her restaurant was good enough to be considered one of the top in Klown, but compared to Skyline Savory, it was like heaven and earth.


    Her chefs were also experts, so she believed that if she was going to compete with the restaurant across the street, it had to be through the uniqueness of their food.


    She had to be innovative about this.


    "Do you want me to sneak inside¡­ and find out their recipes?" Gail whispered when she saw that her boss stayed silent.


    "That''s too risky," Filly shook her head. "After that restaurant opens, business will probably slow down. No, it will definitely slow down. I still need time to finish my research, and once I complete it, we will make a comeback."


    "Oh, so are we still going to operate?" Gail asked.


    "Yes, operate as usual." Filly nodded before she remembered something. "About that beggar, let''s go see if he''s still there. I need to let out some steam."


    Hearing this, Gail''s eyes lit up. "Sure!"

 Chapter 31 Confrontation(Part-2)

    Apollo cultivated peacefully, his breathing steady and quiet. With his legs crossed and hands above his forehead, he resembled a statue, unmoving and calm. The Qi around him was absorbed, encircling before entering through his mouth and nose. Following the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique, it revolved inside his body, strengthening every cell.If the scarecrow from the training ground were beside him, it would record his cultivation progress, with the water slowly rising.


    As time passed, the number of people on the street gradually diminished. Some glanced in the beggar boy''s direction, but no one stepped up to give him alms. This changed when the Filly restaurant beside the beggar was almost closed.


    Two women came out from the glass door and immediately noticed the beggar as they turned left.


    "So that''s him," Filly muttered. They walked towards him and stopped a few steps away.


    "Hmm?" Gail, standing behind her, tilted her head to the side, sensing something unusual. She scrutinized the beggar but found nothing amiss besides his posture. "Where have I felt this feeling before?"


    "What do you mean?" Filly asked, curious about the expression on Gail''s face.


    "It''s nothing, really. I just feel a certain familiarity," Gail explained.


    "I see," Filly nodded, making a mental note before glancing back at the beggar. She observed him closely but couldn''t discern the ''familiarity'' Gail mentioned. Perhaps it was just Gail''s imagination?


    "Ehem!" Filly cleared her throat loudly, trying to get the beggar''s attention. "Ehem! Ehem!"


    Still, the beggar remained unresponsive. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He''s asleep," Gail pointed out, hearing the steady rhythm of his breathing.


    "Wake him up," Filly ordered, stepping to the side.


    "Alright," Gail pushed her glasses up before she stood in front of the beggar. "Let''s see if you still won''t wake up with this!" She raised her foot to send a swift kick towards the beggar''s head.


    "That''s not what I me¨C" Filly''s eyes widened, caught off guard by Gail''s sudden action. She didn''t manage to finish her words as the kick landed, sending the beggar tumbling to the ground and hitting the wall of the neighboring building.


    Filly''s body visibly tensed up. She assumed her battle stance, using her senses to their fullest. Although she wasn''t as focused on cultivation due to her business pursuits, she was still a 2nd-step Foundation Building cultivator.


    After a few seconds, nothing happened.


    "Nothing?" Filly adjusted her posture, her face slightly red with embarrassment. She turned to Gail with an annoyed expression. "Why did you do that? I told you to wake him up, not kick him!"


    "S-sorry!" Gail bowed, her face flushed with embarrassment. Trained to ''wake up'' people using various methods, the conventional approach hadn''t immediately come to mind.


    Filly sighed while massaging her forehead. "Sigh¡­ let''s see if he''s awake."


    "Aw, what the hell?!" Suddenly, someone shouted, and both women looked at the beggar. He was already on his feet, dusting off his clothes and rubbing his face. He looked at them angrily and shouted, "Don''t you guys have basic respect for human beings?!"


    Filly and Gail exchanged glances before Filly stepped forward.


    "We do, but not to a beggar like you," Filly said matter-of-factly, keeping a wary eye on him, still unsure if there might be an ''expert'' hiding behind him. It was still a suspicion, and nothing was certain yet. There was a chance this beggar was a wandering cultivator or simply an ordinary beggar, and Ned was just being unlucky.


    "Why do people keep discriminating against beggars?" Apollo muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. Despite his words, he knew he might have done the same if he were still in his previous world. He wasn''t a saint to begin with.


    "I will say this once: you need to leave, or don''t blame me if we resort to force," Filly warned, squinting at him.


    "And who are you to tell me that?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, crossing his hands defensively in front of him. Despite his outward demeanor, he felt nervous deep inside. He glanced at the woman in front of him, then at the woman with glasses who looked at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity.


    He sensed that the woman with glasses was strong; if he hadn''t blocked her attack at the last minute, he might have passed out from her kick. His hand that he used for blocking still ached.


    "Me? I''m the owner of Filly restaurant!" Filly announced proudly, puffing up her chest at the mention of her establishment.


    Damn! The boss is here! That''s why she brought a strong bodyguard! Apollo thought quickly. "Oh? Is that so?


    Then see you later!"


    Before Filly could respond, he darted away towards the distance.


    "Gail! Stop him!" Filly shouted, watching as the boy quickly gained distance. He was surprisingly fast!


    "In my own way or the conventional method?" Gail asked, readying herself.


    "Just do whatever you like!"


    "Alright!" Gail nodded, crouching down. With a deep breath, she catapulted herself forward, her movements blurring as she appeared instantly in front of the beggar!


    "Eh?" Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise at the woman''s incredible speed. A hand covered his face suddenly, and then he felt himself falling backward, a sharp impact following with pain shooting through his back.


    Bang!


    Gail used her right hand to cover Apollo''s face and pinned him to the ground. "Stay still!"


    "Great!" Filly commented from behind them.


    Gail glanced up at Filly. "What should we do now?"


    After a moment''s thought, Filly spoke decisively. "Let''s bring him inside the restaurant. We can question him there and find out his true identity."


    "Understood," Gail nodded, reaching to grab Apollo. But she recoiled in surprise when something wet and slippery touched her palm, causing her to let go of Apollo''s face. "W-what is that?"


    She glanced down at Apollo and noticed his tongue sticking out as far as it could with his eyes closed.


    Realizing what had happened, Apollo opened his eyes and saw the woman with glasses looking at him with disgust. "Hehe, my bad!"


    "Come here!" Gail grabbed Apollo like a chicken and dragged him inside the restaurant, while Filly opened the door for them.

 Chapter 32 Confrontation(Part-3)

    Apollo had seen all kinds of films where the protagonist is being interrogated. Question upon questions is being bombarded, intimidation is being used and sometimes even force. But looking at his current situation, this isn''t interrogation, this is a staring contest!The beggar squinted his eyes to stare at Filly intently.


    Seeing this, Filly did the same with her hands under her chin.


    Oh? You want some challenge?! Apollo squinted his eyes more so until his face scrunched up and his eyelids to twitch from the intensity.


    Filly was about to squint hard but someone coughed causing her to look behind the beggar boy. She saw Gail looking at them with a strange expression on her face.


    What am I doing? Filly shook her head and took a deep breath.


    "I''ve told you kid, you wouldn''t like it when you disregard my order," Filly said with a smirk on her face.


    "Is the street yours?" Apollo asked, his right eyebrow raised. "From what I know, you only own the restaurant!"


    "Hah? Is that so? Still! You are not allowed near my restaurant!" Filly responded. "Even the city will approve of my actions if I chased you away."


    "Tsk," Apollo couldn''t help but click his tongue. He glanced around the room and noticed that the woman with glasses was already gone. Escaping is going to be hard if that girl is around. He has to think of other ways.


    Seeing the beggar quiet, Filly leaned back on her chair. Deep inside, she''s hoping that the worst case won''t come. Gail went out to see if the ''person'' behind this beggar will try to get him, if he didn''t come then it means one of their speculation was wrong.


    After a while, Gail came back. She shook her head to Filly after finding nothing strange outside the restaurant.


    Filly nodded before she stared at the beggar. If there''s no one outside coming for the beggar, there''s only two suspicions left they have to confirm.


    Is this guy a normal beggar or a wanderer?


    "You¡­ Did you beat up one of my workers, a half-step foundation building cultivator?" Filly asked, her eyes scanning the beggar from head to toe once more. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I don''t know," Apollo shrugged his shoulders indifferently.


    "Hey, remember your life depends on this," Filly said with a tap on her table.


    Hearing this, Apollo glanced at her, his eyes cold like that of a wolf looking at his prey. "You don''t get to decide on my life."


    Filly couldn''t help but be shocked. She instinctively looked at her bodyguard. Gail noticed the fear in her eyes so she took a step forward and put a hand on Apollo''s shoulder. She clutched it tightly forcing the beggar to turn to her.


    When Apollo glanced back, the memories of her subduing him easily resurfaced. This made him cower, recalling that he''s still on the losing ground.


    "Hehe, what''s up?" Apollo asked with awkwardness while his hand pushed Gail''s hand. "Anyway, does it matter if I beat that guy up or not? You''re going to kick me out of your premises right? Although technically those are not yours."


    Gail took a step back to listen to their conversation.


    This beggar¡­ Is he a Wanderer or not? But it seems he has the brain for saying that, Filly thought. "You are right. No matter what you say, I will still get rid of you. My restaurant has the image to uphold and your kind is tainting it."


    "Is that so?" Apollo muttered with a smirk on his face. If she really wants to get rid of me? Why bring me here and ask some questions? Can''t she just order this woman with glasses to kill me?


    He glanced back and saw Gail staring at him intently. The way this woman scrutinized him¡­ he looked back at Filly then thought of the situation. They are confirming something.


    But I can''t just lose my Beggar spot, that lightning will kill me! Fighting is also useless because this woman behind him can easily suppress him.


    Apollo started observing the room before his eyes landed on the opened notebook on the table in front of Filly.


    Although it''s upside down, he tried his best to read it.


    Research on how to improve the restaurant''s food? Apollo''s mind worked to its fullest. He recalled that there''s a renovation going on in front of this restaurant with a sign that said "Skyline Savory branch under construction."


    With this thought in mind, the restaurant that he passed by when he went to the forest surfaced in his mind. That restaurant is very grand when it comes to its design, there''s also a sign that says "Skyline Savory."


    His eyes lightened up as he realized something.


    Although he hadn''t tasted the real food here, he knew what the taste of their bread was thanks to Big Chub. There''s only one word that he could think of when describing their taste, simple. There''s only flour, salt, and sugar that he could taste. A common bread that one could make in their household. Even if they try to make it unique, there''s only little that they can do besides the design.


    This tells the condition of their culinary world. There''s a high chance that this also applies to restaurants.


    Seeing that the beggar doesn''t have much to say, Filly waved her hand at Gail. "Get rid of him."


    "To kill him or not?" Gail asked just to make sure.


    "Up to you," Filly said. A wanderer or not, this beggar doesn''t seem to be that strong.


    "Okay," Gail took a step forward and put her hand on Apollo''s shoulder.


    "Wait!" Apollo said aloud, causing Filly to frown.


    "What?"


    "You wouldn''t be able to beat the restaurant in front with your current food," Apollo said with a smirk on his face.


    "You!" Filly slammed her hand on the table. She felt like she was being belittled by this little beggar. "Hah! What do you know?!"


    "Come here kid," Gail pulled the beggar but Apollo pushed her hand and focused on Filly.


    "Let me stay beside your restaurant and I can help you with that."

 Chapter 33 Confrontation(Part-4 End)

    "And why would I do that?" Filly raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. Seeing how desperately this beggar wanted to stay beside her restaurant, she was more certain he was not a Wandering Cultivator."That new restaurant will open soon, and I''m pretty sure your business will take a great hit¡­ unless you have some breakthrough in enhancing your food," Apollo said, thinking about Skyline Savory. This was just a guess, but he believed that restaurant was too powerful for Filly to handle. A restaurant situated in the center of the city deciding to expand to another area?


    It just showed how successful their business was.


    Seeing Filly frowning at his words, Apollo confirmed that his guess was true. He had seen Skyline Savory, and the structure and materials used in its building were worth a lot of money.


    "Even if you are right, I still don''t believe you," Filly said, waving her hand dismissively. "Take him away."


    Gail nodded and started pulling Apollo.


    Feeling the woman''s strength, Apollo allowed himself to be dragged. But his eyes remained fixed on the notebook on the table.


    He had only managed to read a handful of information on one page, but with his mind, that was enough to come up with a solution. He really didn''t want to lose his beggar spot. He could just come back after being thrown out, but the woman with glasses seemed to want to kill him.


    "You must have guessed already, the taste is too simple! There''s nothing unique about your food!" Apollo shouted, causing Gail to frown. She raised her hand, about to knock the beggar unconscious when Filly shouted back.


    "Wait!" Filly stared at the beggar strangely. "Have you eaten some of my food?"


    "No," Apollo shook his head. "But I can tell."


    He could tell just based on the bread he had tasted so far and from Filly''s reaction that he was right.


    Filly''s mind became chaotic. She turned to her journal, then looked back at the beggar. "I will hear you out."


    She realized she wasn''t going to lose anything by listening. If he was speaking nonsense, Gail could handle him.


    Apollo smiled as he walked up to her table. "May I take a look at your journal?"


    Hesitation appeared on Filly''s face, but considering her business was on the line, she sighed and handed him the notebook. "Do you even have clean hands?"


    "Does it matter?" Apollo rolled his eyes before opening the journal and starting to read.


    Gail stood by Filly''s side and asked, "Why did you give him a chance?"


    "I''m not going to lose anything anyway," Filly answered, glancing at her. Observing her face, she seemed to be troubled by something. "Is something bothering you?"


    "It''s just that¡­" Gail glanced back at the beggar. "He is not normal."


    "What do you mean?" Filly asked. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He blocked my attack earlier, and even when I hit him, his body could handle it with ease," Gail explained.


    "Eh?" Filly turned to the beggar. Then perhaps, an eccentric cultivator? Is he really a Wanderer? A Wanderer is a cultivator who travels the world. There are actually many of them, and one of their known traits is wanting to experience life. Often, they pretend to be someone else: a farmer, a sailor, even a beggar.


    This is their way of cultivating. Of course, they must possess a cultivation technique before they wander around.


    Unlike Filly and those students who studied in Martial School, Wanderers have more experience as they have seen a lot.


    There are all kinds of ways of cultivation, and these are just common ones; some even cultivate by tending to flowers. Cultivation is very mysterious, and not even the most experienced can fully understand it.


    Filly didn''t think of another reason anymore. If this beggar really had cultivation, she would just let him be. It would be up to his luck whether the city would discover him or not. The city was being cleaned of beggars, and if he was found, she wouldn''t interfere. Besides, she thought they wouldn''t do anything to him once they found out he was a Wanderer, only if he was.


    The sound of flipping pages echoed for a while before Apollo handed the book back.


    As I thought, their method is pretty simple, Apollo mused. They don''t even have an oven! They only know how to cook over a fire and on a pan. Their use of ingredients is also straightforward¡ªthey just put them in a pan and let them cook. Even more ridiculous is that they only know a handful of spices!


    Apollo sighed, disheartened that the culinary arts of this world were not very advanced.


    "Give me a pen and another journal," Apollo said.


    Gail and Filly looked at each other for a moment before Gail took out another notebook from a drawer along with a pen. She handed them to Apollo and took a step back.


    "Hey, if you fail to impress me¡ª" Filly stopped mid-sentence. There''s a high chance this boy is just pretending to be a beggar, so she refrained from saying more.


    Apollo wasn''t bothered by her. Instead, he thought for a moment before starting to write in the journal. His plan was simple: write down a cooking technique and ingredients. He also added recipes for famous dishes from his previous life like fried chicken and spaghetti.


    Only the sound of his writing reverberated in the room. This lasted for almost 30 minutes before the beggar closed the journal. "Here you go."


    Filly took the journal but didn''t open it yet. She stared intently at the beggar before nodding her head. "If this can really help me, I will let you stay near my restaurant. But if it doesn''t¡­ don''t blame me when you find yourself being eaten by a dog."


    "Yeah, yeah, sure," Apollo nodded uninterestedly.


    "Gail, escort him out," Filly ordered.


    Soon, she was the only one left in the room.


    She glanced at the journal, thinking how crazy it was to expect anything from a beggar. Filly opened it and started reading. At first, she read it without expecting much, but after a few seconds, her eyes widened in disbelief.


    These cooking techniques! And these ingredients! Reading those ''otherworldly'' techniques made her mouth slightly open. Some of them were simple, yet when combined with other techniques, they created a harmony that could enhance the flavor of the food!


    And what is this Fried Chicken and Spaghetti? Filly continued to read, her amazement reaching its peak after she finished the journal.


    "This is too phenomenal¡­ especially how to cook the fried chicken and spaghetti¡­" Filly muttered, saliva threatening to fall from her mouth.

 Chapter 34 Finding The Ingredients

    Apollo sighed after walking out of Filly''s restaurant. He put a hand on his aching shoulder while turning around to look back. He saw Gail standing behind the glass door, watching his every move.That woman was observing him curiously and seemed to be in deep thought.


    "What a creep," Apollo muttered, averting his gaze. He went back to his beggar spot and sat down inside his small shelter. He couldn''t help but think that his day was too eventful. That wasted a lot of his time! He could have been cultivating instead of running his mouth!


    He shook his head and noticed that the building in front of him was very different from when he first saw it. It''s probably the most elegant building in this rundown district.


    "They really know how to flaunt their money," Apollo muttered. He shook his head, then brought up his status screen.


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 10 sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None.


    Looking at his remaining Alm points, he felt bitter that his foolish decisions almost cost him his life because of those black wolves, and he also spent some of his Alm points!


    He sighed again before thinking about his mission. Apollo felt frustrated when he thought that he still had to meddle with this body''s family problems. He doesn''t feel any affection for the Leone Family in this world. He is a different person with a different life! But that d*mn System gave him a mission about those troubles!


    "I should go back to cultivating," Apollo murmured as he closed his eyes, crossed his legs, and started practicing the Simple Breathing Technique. If he wanted to finish his mission, he had to reach the 4-step Foundation Building stage. And he had to do it one or two weeks before the mission deadline. Or else!


    Thunder rumbled through the clouds above, casting an electrifying brilliance over the streets of Klown City.


    His mind soon entered a dark world where there was only him and the Qi around. His worries about the restaurant beside him disappeared. He believed that once they adhered to the journal he wrote, they wouldn''t lose to Skyline Savory. Hopefully, they would let him go and not bother him anymore. Well, even if they didn''t agree, he still had other plans to ensure he wouldn''t lose his beggar spot.


    ...


    The next morning.


    The sound of a door opening echoed, and someone stuck their head outside. She looked at the restaurant in front while pushing her glasses up. She noticed that people were already working inside, setting up tables and wiping the glass windows.


    Gail pulled her head back in and walked upstairs to where Filly was.


    "Really¡­" Gail muttered bitterly after opening the door. Filly was slumped over her desk, clearly deep in sleep, evident from her snoring.


    Gail walked over to the table and tapped it a few times, causing Filly to jerk awake and look around the room. "W-what time is it?"


    "It''s 6 am, Miss Filly," Gail said.


    "Oh¡­ great¡­" Filly yawned. She had slept for at most two hours and had to work again. That journal had kept her awake and made her create her future plan. She glanced at the notebook on her table, and her eyes lightened up with hope. If I want to beat Skyline Savory, this is the only solution!


    She took a deep breath to calm her mind and recover some of her strength.


    "Let''s go, we have a lot of work to do!" Filly said, standing up.


    "Oh, okay, but what about the workers here? No one is going to manage them," Gail said with worry in her voice.


    "Right," Filly slapped her forehead and stopped in her tracks. She went back to her seat and sat down. She thought for a moment before glancing at Gail, then at the journal. That beggar¡­ no, I couldn''t call him a beggar. If he has this information and seems to have a cultivation¡­ Perhaps, he''s really a wanderer. With this in mind, she decided not to mess with him.


    Besides, she thought she might need him again.


    "Gail, I need you to find me some ingredients," Filly said.


    "Okay, tell me, Miss Filly," Gail pushed her glasses up.


    "Remember everything I tell you, and promise me that after I tell you these ingredients, you will keep it a secret! Don''t tell anyone, not even my father," Filly said, looking at Gail seriously.


    Feeling the solemn atmosphere, Gail also became serious. She nodded and put her hand on her chest. "I swear with my life and cultivation, no words will come out of my mouth regarding these ingredients!"


    "Good!" Filly smiled before starting to list the common spices and ingredients.


    After hearing all the ingredients, Gail couldn''t help but tilt her head to the side. She couldn''t recognize some of them. Chili? Ginger? Garlic? What are those?


    Seeing her confused expression, Filly explained further. "Yeah, I also don''t recognize some of them. Regardless, I need you to find them as soon as possible."


    "I will do my best!" Gail bowed after saying those words.


    "Good. Call the head chef on your way out," Filly ordered, and Gail nodded.


    As she waited for the chef, she started reading again. Oh right, I still have to make the chefs take an oath not to reveal all this information, Filly thought.

 Chapter 35 Mayors Castle

    One could say it''s the greatest structure and building in the entire Klown City. This building stood in the middle of the central district. It has a tower on its side, but there''s no bell, only a statue of a man holding a trident.This building resembles both a castle and a church. It''s large enough to fit two martial schools. People were already walking on the marble floor that led toward the entrance.


    The guards in front of the metallic door didn''t dare slack off. The morning sunlight reflected off their silver armor that covered them from head to toe, while their eyes scanned the surroundings, especially the officials entering the building.


    A dozen meters away, a man stood beside the open gate. He wore a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest. When all the officials had entered the Mayor''s Castle, the man walked toward the entrance, where one of the guards stopped him.


    "This way," the guard said, leaving his post to lead the man. They walked for a while and stopped in front of a gold-encased door. Another guard stood in front of the giant door, but this one wore gold armor.


    The silver-armored guard bowed before leaving.


    As the gold-encased door opened, the man took a deep breath.


    "Munch!" The sharp, crisp sound of biting echoed through the room, causing the man to glance at the table and see someone eating something that made him frown in disgust. So the rumor is true.


    "Gulp... Welcome, Arke."


    "Good morning, Mayor Klown," Arke said, bowing his head to the mayor of the city.


    Klown was large and round, his cheeks rosy and plump with a double chin that wobbled when he looked up at Arke. His clothes were made of expensive materials that strained at the seams. His suit was laced with intricate gold patterns that exuded opulence.


    "Why don''t you take a seat?" Klown pointed at the farthest seat with his knife.


    Arke nodded slowly while his eyes focused on what Klown was eating. Those are hu¡ª


    With a banging sound, Klown stabbed his food and brought it up. Seeing the eyeball, Arke wanted to throw up but held it in. He didn''t want to embarrass himself at his first meeting with the mayor.


    "Thank you for the offer, but I just ate," Arke said, bowing his head.


    "If you say so," Klown muttered before putting the eyeball in his mouth. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mayor closed his eyes to savor the food in front of him. He didn''t speak again, continuing to finish his ''meal.'' After eating a finger, leaving only the bone, he put it back on the plate and burped aloud.


    He couldn''t help but lick his bloodied mouth. "Ah, this is really delicious."


    When Arke heard this, he looked to the side, not daring to glance at the fatso who could eat human meat like it was nothing. Is he cultivating some demonic technique? If he is, why are the Martial Schools not doing anything? This doubt remained in his heart.


    Klown wiped his mouth with a white towel, staining it with blood, and said, "I will get straight to the point."


    Arke turned back to the mayor and waited.


    "I want you to kill that boy before the Advancement Examination. Finish what you didn''t finish. This is going to be your last chance," Klown said, staring Arke dead in the eyes.


    Arke was visibly shaken when he heard the mayor''s words. "I-I will definitely kill that boy!"


    "You have to. You know what will happen to you if you can''t succeed, right?" Klown asked with a smirk.


    Arke nodded slowly, glancing at the human bones piled up in front of the mayor.


    "Then go now," Klown waved his hand, and Arke stood up to bow before leaving the room.


    As the sound of the door closing echoed, Klown''s eyes became cold, and bloodlust erupted from him. The sunlight that passed through the windows turned red while the temperature dropped.


    "Soon, this world will be mine."


    ¡­


    Apollo opened his eyes after a night of cultivation. He brought up his Status screen and saw that his cultivation was still the same, but he could feel that he was stronger than yesterday.


    "I should get something to eat," Apollo muttered. He left his beggar spot and was about to go to Big Chub when he noticed the line in front of the newly opened restaurant. "Oh? There are already a lot of customers?"


    He glanced to the side and saw that Filly''s restaurant had fewer customers than before. They''re already taking the hit¡­ Skyline Savory is really an influential restaurant, Apollo thought with a shake of his head. He started walking in the direction of Big Chub.


    But he was confident in the journal that he wrote.


    After a few minutes of walking, he saw the stall where Big Chub was selling. He hurriedly walked towards him and greeted him with a smile. "What''s up, Big Chub!"


    Hearing the shout, Big Chub glanced at the sound and saw Apollo. He looked at his clothes and couldn''t help but be surprised. "Is that a new robe? You look much cleaner for a beggar."


    "Hehe, it''s because not all beggars are the same," Apollo said. He started choosing the bread on the table and handed his money to Big Chub. "By the way, do you have some gossip you can share with me?"


    Big Chub rolled his eyes before he focused on the beggar. "You are lucky."


    "Why?" Apollo asked before biting the bread in his hand.


    "The city is cleaning up the beggars on the streets. Haven''t you noticed? There aren''t many beggars wandering around anymore," Big Chub explained.


    Actually, Apollo had already noticed and he also tried to find other beggars but found only three or four of them. This made him think about what was happening.


    "What they''re doing is too extreme. I wonder why¡­" Apollo muttered, though it sounded muffled because of the bread in his mouth.


    "I agree with you," Big Chub sighed. "In the past, they did take care of the beggars on the street but not to the point where they specifically looked for them."


    "I see," Apollo frowned. "Is there going to be a big event soon?"


    "Why do you ask?" Big Chub questioned but still answered the boy''s inquiry. "Oh, come to think of it, the Advancement Examination is going to be held soon."


    "Advancement Examination?" Apollo tilted his head to the side.


    "It''s where the Student Cultivators in the Martial School will participate. They must prove that their cultivation is not stuck and that they are making great progress. One will fail if their cultivation is still the same. I''m not particular about the details of the examination, but I heard there''s a combat test."


    "Oh? It sounds interesting," Apollo said, taking one last bite of his food.

 Chapter 36 Trying the Ingredients!(Part-1)

    "It sure is an interesting event," Big Chub muttered while handing Apollo his change."Thanks," Apollo took the change and put it in his pocket. "Then how does one enter a Martial School?"


    Hearing the question, Big Chub glanced at the beggar strangely. "Don''t tell me you want to enter?"


    "Haha, I''m just curious," Apollo waved his hand.


    "Well, there''s no customer besides you, so let''s chat more," Big Chub said. "First of all, you need to have the talent for cultivation. This comes to only one in a thousand people. Then you have to go to any Martial School. If you prove to them that you have the talent, they will accept you."


    "I see," Apollo nodded.


    "Anything else?" Big Chub sighed just in time to notice the beggar''s hand slowly moving toward one of his breads. "Hey! Hands!"


    Apollo swiftly waved it over the bread. "There are flies everywhere."


    Big Chub''s eye twitched. This beggar!


    "One piece of bread, please!" someone shouted from the side, and Big Chub handed the other customer a bread with a smile on his face.


    Apollo took this chance to snatch a piece of bread and put it in his pocket.


    When the vendor glanced at him, Apollo asked another question. "What about the library? Does this city have one?"


    "This city? Are you not from here? Is that why you don''t know anything?" Big Chub shook his head and answered the question. "Library¡­ that is the place filled with books, right? Only Martial Schools have it and those people with wealth and power."


    Apollo sighed in disappointment upon hearing the answer. If I really wanted to fully understand cultivation, do I really need to sign up for this so-called Martial School?


    He could buy books in the store, but they are too expensive!


    He brought up his System Store while still talking to Big Chub and sorted out the items to Cultivation Books.


    **Basic of Cultivation:** Understand the foundation of cultivation. Qi, enlightenment, and spirit will be in your hands.


    **Alm Points Needed:** 100 Alm points.


    This is the cheapest book that can help him understand cultivation, but he needed a hundred Alm points!


    What he just needed to know were the very basics!


    Apollo sighed and suddenly remembered the book that Big Chub had given him, which contained information about the cultivation stages, maps, and other relevant details. "If the library is strictly regulated, then it means books are also controlled, right?"


    "Right," Big Chub nodded.


    "Then how did you get your hands on the book you gave me?" Apollo asked.


    "Well¡­" Big Chub scratched his cheek while averting his eyes from the beggar.


    "Was it stolen?!" Apollo''s eyes widened.


    "Shh! Keep your mouth shut!" Big Chub hurriedly made a quiet gesture, afraid that others might hear their conversation. He looked to his left and right before lowering his voice. "You see¨C"


    "Did you give it to me to get rid of the book?" Apollo squinted at the vendor. This fatso gave me some trouble!


    "Do you want some more bread? Here!" Big Chub handed two pieces of bread to the beggar, and of course, Apollo immediately took them.


    "Hmph! I will accept your bribe even though it''s against my will!" Apollo said, stuffing the two breads inside his now bulging pocket.


    Against your will? Then why did you take it so fast?! Big Chub glared at the beggar.


    "Cough! So, how did you get it?" Apollo went back to the topic.


    "Just to clarify, only books with cultivation content are not allowed in the public, though it''s still hard for us common people to get hold of some books," Big Chub said.


    "Okay, and?" Apollo didn''t let the vendor change the topic.


    "Come on, give some respect to your elders!" Big Chub said assertively, but the beggar remained adamant.


    Apollo continued to look at the vendor with raised eyebrows. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okay, okay! I''ll tell you!" Big Chub gave up. "It''s because of those guys."


    Apollo looked back and saw some young men and women wearing their martial uniforms. They were laughing merrily as they walked in the distance. Furthermore, their eyes turned to disgust when they saw the normal people glancing in their direction.


    "They had a fight among each other. They made quite a ruckus, injuring some ordinary people. That book that I gave you, it''s probably from them. I just found it under this table." Big Chub tapped the table where his breads were placed.


    Apollo looked at the vendor with doubt in his eyes.


    "Believe me or not, that''s what really happened," Big Chub said. "But how come there''s a lot more martial students here than usual¡­"


    Apollo glanced in the direction where the group of student cultivators was heading and couldn''t help but wonder how Filly''s Restaurant was currently doing.


    "I should go back. See ya, Big Chub!" Apollo waved his hand before running back to his beggar spot.


    Big Chub watched as the beggar disappeared into the distance. Did I see wrong? His eyes became black; I probably imagined it before that his eyes were blue. He shook his head and started attending to his other customers.


    ...


    Filly was currently standing on the second floor of her restaurant. She couldn''t help but sigh, seeing that there were only a few of her regular customers eating below.


    That Skyline Savory branch in front of her restaurant was really such a beast that on its opening day, most of her customers had changed sides.


    She gritted her teeth in frustration. "That beggar better not be lying!"


    Filly placed her hope on the journal that Apollo wrote for her. The methods and new cuisine in it were so heavenly defying, and if the method written in the notebook was really true, she would owe that beggar a lot.


    It had been a few hours since Gail left, and she couldn''t wait any longer. Gail had gone out to procure the ingredients so they could start immediately to recreate what was written in the journal.


    With the sound of the door opening, Filly glanced at the entrance and her eyes lit up. Gail was wearing a robe that covered her face. In her hand was a bamboo bag filled with vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients Filly couldn''t recognize.


    Gail went up the stairs and the two of them entered Filly''s room.


    "Did you acquire everything?" Filly asked, worry evident in her voice.


    Gail took off her robe and shook her head in disappointment. "Unfortunately not. There are some ingredients not available in the market."


    "Then what did you get?"


    Gail went to the table and began taking out the things inside the bamboo bag. "I only managed to get this coconut, lime, this red pointy fruit, these grasses with white fruits on their ends, and this¡­ and this¡­"


    She took them out one by one while describing them.


    "That must be what he called chili," Filly said, holding the red thin pointy fruit. "Can this thing even be eaten? Where did you get this?"


    Gail appeared embarrassed. "Well, the illustration from the journal matched one of the ingredients we used for poison concocting¡­ so I went to my master and asked for some."


    "P-poison?!" Filly dropped the ''fruit.'' "That d*mn beggar! How dare he! Does he want to kill my customers?!"

 Chapter 37 Trying Out the Ingredients!(Part-2)

    "Calm down, Miss Filly," Gail hurriedly said. "Although we use this so-called chili in our poison making, it is actually not poisonous."Upon hearing this, Filly calmed down. "Oh, is that so?"


    "Yes, Miss," Gail nodded. "It has quite a funny taste though; it''s as if¡ª"


    She couldn''t finish her words as Filly raised the red pointy ''fruit'' and put it in her mouth. She started chewing, her face turning curious. After she swallowed it, she glanced at Gail in confusion. "I didn''t taste anything, and why is your face like th¡ª"


    "Ahh!" Filly shouted, her face red like a tomato. She clutched her neck and let out her tongue, which shared the same hue. "Whash haphenig?!"


    "M-Miss, take a deep breath and blow on your tongue! Wait for me here, I''ll go get some milk!" Gail said in a hurry. She was surprised that Filly had eaten the red pointy ''fruit''. She was about to explain its taste, but Filly didn''t listen! But this was not the right time to mull over what had just happened.


    After reassuring her boss, she hurriedly made her way out and went to the kitchen to procure some two-headed goat milk.


    Filly put her tongue back in and started blowing on it. She couldn''t understand the feeling, but that stingy taste evidently lessened. However, her throat and tongue still burned.


    When Gail came back with a glass of milk, Filly immediately took it and drank it in one gulp. As her gulping sound echoed, Gail sighed in relief.


    "Hah," Filly put down the glass of milk, her breathing heavy and eyes watery. "A-are you sure this is not poisonous? I feel like I''m dying!"


    "Y-yes, Miss," Gail scratched her cheek. "I was about to tell you its effects and taste, but¡­"


    Filly glanced at the chilies on the table and couldn''t help but shiver. She took a deep breath to calm down. If she had known that the red pointy ''fruit'' had that taste, she wouldn''t have hastily eaten it. "I was hasty. But are you sure that kid is not trying to do something funny?"


    If one of the ingredients already has this effect, what about the others? Filly began to doubt the authenticity of the journal, especially if she didn''t recognize some of them. But if that beggar is really a Wanderer, a cultivator pretending to be a beggar who has traveled the world, then it makes sense that she doesn''t understand the ingredients on the table.


    Shaking her head, Gail glanced at the plants and ''fruits''. "But one thing is for sure, these ingredients are not poisonous."


    "I see," Filly nodded. "Then where did you get the other ingredients?"


    "I found some of them outside the city, in that area filled with grasses and plants," Gail explained, describing where she had found each ingredient on the table. She had found the coconut in the market, as it''s one of the fruits that has become popular these days.


    After explaining the origins of the ingredients, Gail glanced at Filly strangely. "Did the beggar write the effects and taste in the journal?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well, he did," Filly answered while avoiding her gaze.


    "Then why didn''t you¡­" Gail glanced at the chili on the table before looking back at Filly, who was now glaring at her.


    "Don''t say another word about it!" Filly said. That is going to be one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. Just thinking about how she looked after eating that stingy fruit made her face red.


    "S-sorry," Gail bowed.


    "I was lost in excitement, I forgot about what I read," Filly explained and cleared her throat. "Anyway, at least we got something we could try. These ingredients should be enough to make our food good."


    "Probably," Gail nodded.


    "Call the chef while I study the journal," Filly ordered, and Gail left the room. She then sat down behind her table and started reading the journal. According to the beggar, these ingredients can complement each other, and it''s up to them how they are going to use them. But there''s also a recommendation in the journal that the kid wrote.


    This coconut, for example, could be used to make something like ''oil''.


    They have to cut it open and take out the delicious juice from it along with the coconut meat. Then they will have to blend the coconut meat with water until it becomes thick and creamy. After that, they will have to take out the coconut milk by ''straining'' the meat. The coconut meat, on the other hand, can be used as flour, which is surprising as she thought flour could only be made from grain.


    Anyway, after they take the coconut milk, they will have to cook it for 1 to 2 hours on low heat while constantly stirring it until the coconut milk darkens. The ''oil'' will then separate from the coconut milk and will stay on top.


    There''s still the process of removing the lump from the coconut oil. Just one ingredient already involves a lot of steps. Will it get more complicated if she has to use all these ingredients? Filly glanced at the ingredients on the table before she went back to reading.


    If she were to compare the process in the journal to the methods she knows, it is miles apart, with the journal taking an enormous lead. She thought that having high-quality meat like two-headed goat, Flame Rooster, Ice Jackal, and other monsters was enough to make delicious food just by cooking them over the fire or in a pan.


    However, the journal suggests otherwise, indicating that simple ingredients are more than enough.


    Soon, a knock came on the door, and Gail entered with a man who had a large belly. The man took off his white hat and bowed his head. "Miss Filly, you wished to see me?"


    Filly closed the journal and put it in a safe that only she could open.


    "Yes, we are going to experiment with something," Filly said. "Do you know how to make a dish with these ingredients?"


    Filly pointed at the ingredients on the table.


    The man, known as Temor, had black hair with streaks of white here and there. His eyes were squinty, and even when he fully opened them, not much could be seen. He was one of the chefs in the main household of Kleinford, the family to which Filly belonged, and he had been asked to move here at Miss Filly''s request.


    He glanced at the ingredients on the table and shook his head. "I only recognize a few of them, but I don''t know how to make dishes with them."

 Chapter 38 9 Percent Luck(Part-1)

    Most of them believe that they only need great ingredients to make delicious food. Temor was considered a great chef even when he was still with the Kleinford Family. He knew how to maintain a constant temperature while cooking and was skilled at handling monster meat, easily separating it from the bones.But when he glanced at the table, nothing came to mind.


    "Are we going to experiment with this? Create a new dish?" Temor was quick to pick up.


    "Yes," Filly nodded. She stood up and started walking towards the door. "Let''s go."


    Gail took the ingredients and followed her boss, while Temor stood there for a moment before following them.


    Once they were inside the kitchen, Gail laid out the ingredients and Filly glanced at Temor. "Whatever happens here and everything I say stays here, got it?" She looked at Temor menacingly.


    "Y-yes," Temor answered with a nod while glancing at Gail. To be honest, he was more afraid of her than his boss. "But if I may say something."


    "What is it?" Filly asked.


    "All we need is better monster meat. The more we have, the more dishes we can serve," Temor suggested. He knew about the situation at their restaurant due to the Skyline Savory branch that had just opened in front of them. If they had better quality monster meat than that restaurant, the quality of their food would also improve.


    There was no need to experiment with ingredients that most chefs didn''t even recognize.


    Monster meat is very different from normal animals as it has a more flavorful taste, an out-of-this-world experience for those who try it for the first time. And if one wants to eat more delicious meat, they need to find a stronger monster than the previous one. This is one of the reasons why Skyline Savory is so famous: they have a source that provides them with strong monsters.


    They also have great chefs who have cultivated the fire technique, allowing them to cook the monster meat without changing temperature. Just like Temor. However, Filly only had him.


    "I have thought of that," Filly said. "But we don''t have a steady supply of high-quality monster meat. We have to manually hire Hunters who can''t even guarantee they''ll bring back what we need. That also takes time, and by the time they come back, we already have our customers."


    Hearing this, Temor sighed, knowing his boss was right. Just the name Skyline Savory was enough to drive any restaurant owner mad, let alone having a branch open in front of them.


    "So, Miss, this is the method you came up with?" Temor asked, glancing at the ingredients on the table.


    "Yes, well technically¡­" Filly recalled the beggar beside her restaurant. She didn''t want to rely on him yet unless she had to. She also needed to confirm if what the kid wrote was true. "Let''s get started. I''ll tell you what to do."


    "Alright," Temor nodded, and Gail went to stand in front of the door.


    "Let''s start with this coconut," Filly pointed at the coconut on the table.


    "Okay, what about these other ingredients?" Temor asked.


    "Set them aside for now. What we need to do is make ''oil'' out of it," Filly answered.


    "Oil? What is that?" Temor was confused. Isn''t this a fruit that you can drink?


    "It''s something essential for cooking," Filly explained while recalling the contents of the journal. Even she was confused about its use. "Cut the coconut in half¡ª"


    Soon, they started the process of making oil. Filly instructed her chef according to the method in the journal.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Apollo was cultivating beside Filly''s restaurant with his hands raised above his forehead. There were already five bronze coins on it, increasing his Alm points by five.


    But his eyes kept twitching, and a frown appeared on his face. In the end, he sighed and opened his eyes. "They are too noisy."


    The number of people lining up in front of the Skyline Savory branch increased as time passed, causing the noise they created to disturb his cultivation. At first, he could handle it, but it didn''t take long before he got frustrated.


    Apollo squinted and noticed that the restaurant was packed to the brim with people. "This f*cking restaurant! Bring me back my peace!"


    He started to wonder if Filly would succeed in copying the recipes and methods in the journal that he wrote for them. If they succeeded, he would talk to them about maintaining quietness.


    The beggar clenched his fist and noticed the five bronze coins in his hand. "Oh? Some people are really generous," Apollo muttered while glancing back at the restaurant. Well, if they could provide me with some Alm points, then it''s good.


    Suddenly, an idea came to mind. He glanced at the number of people and saw that there were also Martial Students lining up. Those people were probably rich, as they could afford to eat in this kind of place. With this in mind, Apollo smiled and decided to buy the Wish Me Luck items that could increase his luck by a random percentage.


    He opened up his System store and bought the item. A light blue translucent interface materialized in front of him, asking if he would like to use the item. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Use it," Apollo muttered. The translucent screen disappeared, then another screen materialized, displaying the countdown for the Wish Me Luck item.


    "Wish Me Luck has been activated!


    The heavens will bless the host while hell will pull the curses away from you. The host''s luck will increase, but the percentage is random.


    Luck Increase Percentage: 9%


    Time duration: 1 hour."


    A 9 percent increase in luck? I wonder what will happen, Apollo thought with a smile on his face. With this item activated, he disregarded the noise in the surrounding area and went back to cultivating. There was still the mission that he had to take care of, and he didn''t want to slack off, especially when he had to kill a person who was clearly stronger than him.

 Chapter 39 9 Percent Luck(Part-2)

    If the beggar kid thought he could remain undisturbed despite the noise in front of him, he couldn''t be more wrong.Ten minutes after he activated the Wish Me Luck item, a commotion erupted outside the Skyline Savory branch.


    The shouting was so loud that the frown on Apollo''s face deepened. What now?! He opened his eyes to witness two groups glaring at each other. He wouldn''t have been surprised if sparks were flying from their eyes.


    Apollo glanced at their outfits and couldn''t help but sigh. The old clich¨¦ of two groups from different schools starting a fight once they see each other. Is there anything new? Shaking his head, he was about to go back to cultivating and tried to ignore them, but realization kicked in, making him watch the scene in front of him in earnest.


    He recognized one of the groups wearing black and white uniforms with a serpent insignia on their chests. They were from the Great Serpent Cultivation School, and the man in front of them seemed to be the leader, sporting brown hair and brown eyes. His build was above average, but the way he carried himself exuded great confidence.


    Moreover, the man''s face could also be considered handsome.


    The other group, on the other hand, wore dark blue uniforms with crossed swords on top of a shield insignia on their chests. Their group leader was a two-meter-tall man with muscles that threatened to burst from his uniform. He sported short black hair and hawk-like eyes, with a mustache adorning his mouth.


    "Ha! I knew it, I can smell your disgusting face even from a mile away!" the mustache man said to the handsome man in front of him with a smirk on his face. "Why don''t you guys scram?"


    "Yeah! Go away!"


    "Serpent my *ss! More like a worm!"


    "Hahaha! Right!"


    His companions shouted from behind the mustached man. They kept ridiculing the group in front of them, who shouted back. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The handsome man raised a hand for his companions to stop. "We are going to end up like dogs if we keep shouting like them."


    This comment infuriated the mustache man''s group, though they were silenced by their leader''s glare. "Michael, two lions can''t stay on the same mountain. You know that, right?" the mustache man said to the serpent group leader.


    Michael nodded. "Of course, I know that idiom. That''s why we will never leave. It''s either you leave, or we fight."


    "Boss Yohan, let''s fight them!" Yohan''s companion shouted from behind, but he just waved his hand, causing them to shut up.


    "Haha, you really are daring," Yohan said with a laugh. However, in the next second, his expression became cold and serious. A threatening aura emanated from him, and his muscles visibly tensed up. "Can''t wait till we meet at the Advancement Examination, huh? If you really want to fight, then let''s fight!"


    The normal humans watching from the side couldn''t help but take a step back from the immense pressure the big guy emitted. Even the other martial students on the scene reacted the same way.


    This pressure! Michael frowned as he felt the intense pressure. "You¡­ have you reached the 4th step?"


    "Spot on, my boy!" Yohan laughed aloud. "I was wrong when I said there were two lions here. In fact, there''s not even a lion anymore¡ªI became a f*cking dragon! So fear me! We are no longer equals, Michael!"


    The serpent students behind Michael couldn''t help but clench their teeth. Fear engulfed them as the pressure from Yohan was too intense. Just the thought of being beaten up by him made them hesitate. Some even took a step back and didn''t dare to make another sound.


    Michael noticed the movement from behind him and knew that if he lost here, they would no longer look at him the same way and would probably never see him as a leader anymore.


    Yohan saw everything and a smile appeared on his face. He looked at Michael''s companions and said, "You guys follow this guy? Can''t you see that he is nothing in front of me? So, do you want to leave, or do you want to fight?"


    Hearing this, Michael''s companions looked at each other. They only followed Michael because, first of all, he is famous at the school and also a 3rd step Foundation Building cultivator who has a lot of potential to reach greater heights.


    But in the next moment, their eyes widened.


    "Don''t turn my words on me," Michael said, his eyes looking seriously at the mustache man. "Do you think you are the only one who advanced?"


    Apollo, who was watching and listening to all this, couldn''t help but clench his fists in excitement. Here comes the twist! He had been watching the scene like he was watching a movie from his previous life. But the experience and drama that he was witnessing were definitely better because it was happening in real life!


    "What¡­ don''t tell me?" Yohan appeared surprised.


    With a smirk on his face, Michael''s body was suddenly surrounded by a blue haze, accompanied by the sound of hissing from a snake. When the Great Serpent students heard this sound, they couldn''t help but shout in excitement. "It''s the Great Serpent Technique that only those who reached Qi Condensation can learn!"


    "Really? Isn''t that Battle Technique very hard to learn?" one of the serpent students asked with amazement in his voice.


    "Yes, but once learned, their battle strength will increase exponentially! Even though it''s still the beginner stage, Michael''s strength should be enough to compare to a 4th-step Foundation Building stage!"


    "But how come Michael can learn it even though he''s still at 3rd step?"


    "I was saving this for my Advancement, but I don''t think I can hide it now," Michael said as a light blue translucent serpent emerged from the haze around him. It encircled his whole body, behaving like a real snake before glaring at the mustache man. "Although this technique is only for Qi Condensation, once one has enough understanding and talent, they will be able to learn it."


    That''s the twist I''m talking about! Apollo thought in excitement.


    Yohan''s face darkened. He wanted to humiliate the man in front of him, but reality proved him wrong. Both of them had something up their sleeves that made the situation even worse.


    "What should we do?" one of his companions asked.


    "Shut up!" Yohan glared and slapped the person who asked the question, causing the man to fly through the air and land beside the beggar.


    "Eh?" Apollo appeared confused when the man landed beside him.


    "You really are something. As expected of my rival," Yohan said to Michael emotionlessly. He glanced around and noticed they had already gathered quite a number of spectators. Even the manager of the Skyline Savory branch came out, a frown on his face, clearly very angry. "But we should stop here. We''re disrupting the appetite of other patrons."


    "What''s with the sudden change in attitude?" Michael asked with a smirk on his face. "Afraid?"


    "No, I''m more than eager to kill you right now, but I don''t want to shed blood in this place and risk being banned from eating here," Yohan explained while glancing at the manager.


    "I see," Michael nodded. "Let''s settle this in the Examination, and I will make sure to crush you there!"


    "Let''s go! I''ve lost my appetite," Yohan waved his hand and walked away, followed by his underlings.


    Michael also decided not to eat and left with his companions behind him.


    "Wait! Are you just going to leave this guy here?!" Apollo shouted, but no one bothered looking in his direction. "What the hell?"

 Chapter 40 9 Percent Luck(Part-3)

    Apollo glanced at the passed-out martial student beside his feet. His face was swollen and red from the slap from that mustache guy. It seemed like he had just slapped a fly away from his face.Don''t they have some sort of camaraderie? The beggar shook his head before he went back to cultivating. But the moment he sat down, continuous notifications appeared in front of him.


    "You received 1 Alm point!"


    "You received 1 Alm point!"


    "You received 1 Alm point!"


    "You received¡­"


    This lasted until twelve notifications sounded.


    Apollo couldn''t help but be confused. "What''s happening?" He glanced at his hand, but there were no coins that had ''unknowingly'' appeared. Then his eyes landed on the man sleeping next to him. Bronze coins had fallen out of his pocket, amounting to twelve bronze coins!


    That¡­ that guy is an angel! the beggar thought, his eyes almost tearing up. Apollo''s view about that guy named Yohan changed. He started to wonder when they''re going to come back and slap¡ªsend another good soul to do another good deed.


    Apollo smiled as he started to imagine dozens of passed-out men beside his feet with their coins falling from their pockets. He would be rich in Alm points by then!


    But is this only the 9 percent luck? Apollo felt that it was too little. However, when he thought about it, it made sense. His luck had only increased by 9 percent, not to a shocking point of 20 percent and above. If he had that increase in luck, he would really question the system.


    With a sigh, he noticed that the people lining up in front of the Skyline Savory branch had quieted down. Although there was still noise, compared to before, it was quieter. He also noticed the man standing beside the door, looking in his direction with a frown on his face. That man had a visibly bald patch on his head, thick eyebrows, and a low flat nose.


    But the way he stood there, he emitted a certain kind of vibe that Apollo could certainly understand. From his attire, he seemed to be rich, and from the way the patrons looked at him with respect¡­ Apollo concluded that the manager of the restaurant in front of him was right outside looking in his direction.


    What? Don''t tell me this guy also wanted to get rid of me to maintain their image? Ha! Do you think I will be scared with that stare of yours? Apollo smirked. But just to make sure¡­


    He picked up the coins on the table and stood up while whistling a tune. Apollo walked into the distance before he hid behind a building where he could see the manager. Only when the manager went inside the restaurant did Apollo come back a few feet away from his beggar spot to cultivate and gain Alms at the same time.


    "Sh*t, I have to raise my strength as soon as possible!" Apollo muttered and didn''t bother the man sleeping beside him. Following the methods in the Simple Breathing Technique, he guided the Qi around him to strengthen his body. Soon, he entered the blank space with only him and his partner, the Qi.


    ...


    A groaning sound emerged, and a young man about 17 or 18 years old woke up with dizziness, his vision blurry for a second before he realized it was already night. While still in a daze, a stinging pain attacked his face, causing him to grit his teeth. He reached out his hand, touched his face, and found it swollen and numb.


    "Argh, sh*t! I have to get back!" the man muttered and did his best to stand.


    "Hey," someone said, making him turn to the sound. He saw a kid wearing a dark grey robe with black hair and black eyes that looked at him innocently. "C-can you spare me some coins, Mister?"


    The man glanced at the boy from head to toe, and a frown appeared on his face. "Fck off, you fcking beggar!"


    "F*ck you too!" Apollo cursed back.


    "F*ck you more!" the martial student shouted while walking away.


    "Fck you whatever the fck your name is!" Apollo raised a hand and flipped the middle finger.


    Although the man couldn''t understand what it meant, he copied the beggar and did the same thing. "Fck you, beggar! If I wasn''t in a hurry and injured, I would have beaten the sht out of you!"


    "Come here and do it!" Apollo shouted. "And f*ck your mom!"


    That comment caused the martial student to stop and glare at the beggar. "What did you say? Don''t you ever bring up my mom!"


    "Okay, I won''t!" Apollo shouted.


    The man stared at the beggar for a while before he shook his head and hurriedly walked away. He had to cultivate to prepare for the advancement examination and couldn''t waste this night, as this was the only time of the day when he could cultivate in peace.


    However, a few steps away, that beggar shouted again.


    "F*ck your mom! Your father! Your sister! And everyone in your family! You cheap ss motherfcker!" Apollo''s voice reverberated in the street, and the other people walking couldn''t help but turn in the beggar''s direction.


    The man''s swollen face became redder, and veins threatened to erupt on his forehead. He turned around angrily, but the beggar was already at the end of the street with a middle finger up in the air!


    "Argh!" the man wanted to shout, but the pain on his face caused him to grunt instead.


    Ten minutes later, Apollo came back beside Filly''s restaurant, a smile on his face and a bun in his hand.


    "So that''s what they feel when they beg but don''t get what they want," Apollo muttered before taking a bite from his bread. That was actually the first time he had begged someone to give him coins since he got the system. Actually, that was the first time he had begged someone in his entire two lives. It felt awful to be rejected, especially when he also got cursed. Can''t he just reject me nicely?


    Shaking his head, he sat down and finished his food.


    "Sigh¡­ that item ended two hours ago, and I only got 12 Alm points," Apollo expected to get more after getting the coins that fell from that man''s pocket as he still had the time. However, no more surprising events had happened.


    That''s when he noticed a scroll on the side where that martial student had slept. Eh? What is this? Apollo picked it up, curiosity in his eyes. He opened it and read the contents.


    "Official Invitation For The Advancement Examination!


    Prove your Cultivation and Strength. Every student must participate in order to fully assess the Martial School and its Martial Students. Those who rank at the top will receive the following prizes:


    Top 1: Advanced Cultivation Bead, a Private Cultivation Abode in the inner sector of your Martial School (The resources are provided by the officials.), a chance to choose a cultivation technique from Klown''s Cultivation Library, a one-on-one meeting with Mayor Klown. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Top 2: Advanced Cultivation Bead, a chance to choose a cultivation technique from Klown''s Cultivation Library, a one-on-one meeting with Mayor Klown.


    Top 3: Advanced Cultivation Bead, a chance to choose a cultivation technique from Klown''s Cultivation Library.


    Top 4 & 5: Advanced Cultivation Bead.


    This invitation must be kept by your side at all times. Once lost, you won''t be able to participate in the Advancement Examination!"


    Apollo shook his head at the unfortunate soul who left it here, probably that cheap man who wouldn''t spare a coin for him. The beggar shamelessly forgot that he had stolen that man''s money!


    "But what am I going to do with this?" Apollo muttered. After finishing his bread, he was about to throw the scroll inside under his roof when an idea came to mind.


    "What if?"

 Chapter 41 Will It Work?(Part-1)

    Inside Filly''s restaurant, in the kitchen, two women and one man glanced at the almost transparent liquid in the glass jar. There were at least five coconuts on the side, severed in half with their contents gone."Did we succeed?" Gail asked.


    Temor glanced at their boss, Filly, who now had the journal in her hand and kept glancing back and forth from it to the glass jar.


    "Miss Filly, did we succeed?" Temor asked, sweat dripping down his forehead. They had been cooking these coconuts for a few hours now and had started from scratch a few times until they managed to make the whitish transparent liquid inside the glass jar.


    "I think so," Filly answered, hesitation in her voice.


    "You think so?" Hearing the answer caused Temor to sigh.


    "The journal said that there are two types of oil that can be used from coconuts: unrefined and refined. It is recommended that we go for refined coconut oil as it''s better for high-temperature cooking, and that''s what we did," Filly explained. "It''s just that, how are we going to use it for cooking? The journal didn''t say anything."


    Gail and Temor couldn''t help but be speechless. We have been cooking this thing without knowing its use? And there''s a lot of process involved! They had to filter and heat, then do it again and again. Temor''s Qi was on the verge of depletion; if they repeated the process one more time, he would definitely pass out!


    "Can I take a look at that?" Temor asked for the journal.


    "N¡ª" Filly was about to decline, but looking at the current situation, she had to trust in the journal and her chef. "Okay."


    She handed the notebook to Temor, and he started reading it right away. "Thank you, Miss!"


    Temor was also curious about the contents inside the journal, as his boss was overprotective of it. What is the content that makes Miss Filly like this? With this in mind, he started reading and soon his eyes widened, just like Filly''s when she first read it. He couldn''t believe that something like this existed!


    Whoever wrote this¡­ although Temor is not sure if everything is true, just reading it is enough to make him believe everything!


    "So, did you find how to use it?" Filly asked, worry evident in her eyes.


    The question woke Temor. He looked up and shook his head before he went back to reading again. "Not yet."


    "O-okay," Filly said and waited.


    After a while, Temor sighed, amazement in his voice. "Whoever wrote this is a genius or a fool. However, I did find the use of this so-called oil."


    Hearing this, Filly''s eyes lit up. "What is it?"


    "Although I''m not sure how it is going to enhance our food, this oil has to be used before we put the meat in a pan or a bowl," Temor explained.


    "Is that so? Where did you find it?" Filly asked, confused. She didn''t recall anything about it in the journal.


    Temor opened the journal and went to the page with the methods and ingredients for Fried Chicken. He pointed at the method section and said, "Here, it says to put the oil first before putting the marinated chicken."


    Filly went closer and sure enough, there was the method. So based on that, they can use this oil before the other ingredients. "Should we try it?"


    "Sure," Temor nodded. "Let me just get the Scavenger."


    "Wait! Don''t use that!" Filly said. "Why don''t we use a normal chicken? We are just going to waste that Scavenger if this oil can''t enhance our dish."


    "It makes sense, Miss. Let''s do that," Temor nodded.


    "Gail, find us some chicken, the more the merrier," Filly ordered the spectacled woman, and Gail nodded her head before she went out.


    "Can you tell me who wrote that journal?" Temor asked, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well," Filly hesitated. She couldn''t just admit that the journal had been written by a ''beggar,'' right? "Let''s just say that if he is lying, I will kill him."


    "If he is not?" Temor glanced at the journal, then at the glass jar filled with the refined coconut oil.


    "I will bow my head to him and treat him as the guest of honor of Kleinford," Filly said, her eyes filled with determination.


    Temor couldn''t believe his ears. That''s the highest honor a member from a respectable family can offer to someone outside their family! But if everything in the journal is true, then it makes sense that Filly would do this. She loves business more than anyone in Kleinford, and this journal has the potential to help them compete against giant restaurants like Skyline Savory.


    Soon, Gail came back with 9 to 10 chickens in her hands. She put them on the table and stepped back to watch everything.


    "Temor," Filly said, and the chef nodded, understanding what she meant.


    Temor went to the table and started killing the chickens. Their cries echoed, but in no time, they were lifeless on the table. They were going to use one chicken first to see the effects of the oil. Temor held the chicken in one hand, then used his Qi to create a fire out of thin air, burning the feathers into ashes until the chicken''s skin was exposed.


    He is a 2nd Step Foundation Building Cultivator with a specialized Ignition Technique for cooking that was provided by Filly''s family, the Kleinford. This allows him to store Qi and mobilize the Qi around him to create a fire. However, he can only use this for cooking as it doesn''t have enough firepower for fighting.


    After this step, he started cleaning the chicken, especially the organs inside its body. Two to three minutes later, a freshly cleaned and cut chicken was laid on the table.


    "What part do you want to use?" Temor asked his boss.


    "Use the leg," Filly said, "because I like that part."


    "Okay," Temor nodded and took the leg of the chicken, putting it aside. Then he took out a flat pan and put it on top of the grill grate where there were already coals and wood underneath. "I''m just going to copy what I understood from the journal. It said we need to heat the pan first before adding the oil."


    Filly nodded, recalling this part in cooking fried chicken. Though they were only testing out the effects of the oil, so they would only cook the chicken leg without doing anything else.


    Raising his hand, Temor ignited the coals and wood under the grill grate. He waited for about 30 to 40 seconds before taking the jar and pouring the oil into the pan. Because they only had this amount of oil, he didn''t use all of it, just about a fourth.


    Filly waited with bated breath while Gail watched with curiosity in her eyes.


    Soon, they heard the sizzling sound of oil. Hearing this, Temor picked up the chicken leg and placed it in the oil. The sound of sizzling grew louder, causing Filly to become uneasy.


    "Now we wait," Temor said, feeling the same nervousness.

 Chapter 42 Will It Work?(Part-2)

    Smoke rose to the ceiling, seemingly trying to find its way out. Then it saw its hope, moving towards the chimney where it was swallowed whole. The sound of sizzling echoed, and the trio¡ªGail, Filly, and the chef Temor¡ªwatched the pan with refined coconut oil and the chicken leg on top.Temor sniffed and his eyes widened. This¡­ there''s no burnt smell? He sniffed again and gulped unknowingly. He observed the meat closely and noticed juices seeping out from the part where it was currently cooking. The pale chicken leg also became a bit red. Compared to when he normally cooks, there''s no liquid of this sort and the meat doesn''t become rosy like this one.


    Temor had already tried this method of cooking his dishes, but he hadn''t achieved this kind of effect. He glanced at Filly and noticed she was already drooling. Even he was having a hard time resisting such food. However, he had to hold on.


    He waited for a few more seconds, and when one side of the leg became fully red, he decided to turn it over so the top part would also be cooked.


    The trio couldn''t help but observe the side of the leg where it was in contact with the oil and the pan. The cooked leg was golden brown in color after some of the heat dissipated. Filly sniffed, and the smell caused her to close her eyes and savor it.


    "W-why is there liquid coming out? What is that?" Gail asked, looking at the sizzling liquid seeping out from the chicken leg. "I haven''t seen anything like that."


    Temor took a deep breath and shook his head. "I''m not sure. But if I''m going to guess¡­ that''s probably the essence of the meat."


    "The essence?" Filly asked, while Gail tilted her head to the side.


    "Well, that''s the most logical reason I can think of why that is happening right now. It could probably be because of the oil too, but we will still have to taste it to see if the meat was really enhanced," Temor explained while glancing at them.


    "Oh?" Filly raised an eyebrow. "But the smell is really different from when we cook it without oil."


    "Yeah, it is more tantalizing, and also the meat became golden brown in color. Just looking at it makes me want to devour it as soon as possible," Temor said with a bitter smile.


    Filly and Gail remained silent, though they felt the same way.


    As the chicken part was almost cooked, Filly, a somewhat perfectionist, noticed that some parts were lighter than others. "Temor, can you cook the areas where it''s lighter? I just want it to be even in color."


    "That''s easy, Miss," Temor said with a smile. He raised his hand and, with a snap, the fire under the grill grate moved erratically before behaving like tentacles. Legs made of fire emerged and touched the lighter areas of the chicken leg.


    As the tantalizing smell intensified, Filly''s mouth started watering. "Is it cooked yet?"


    Temor didn''t answer immediately. He continued to observe the chicken for a moment before waving his hand, causing the fire to diminish instantly, as if it had never been there. However, the heat from the charcoal indicated the fire''s previous existence.


    "It''s done," Temor said as the sizzling sound from the oil decreased. He retrieved a spatula and plate, then placed the chicken leg on the plate. Smoke rose from the chicken, followed by its mouthwatering aroma. "We should taste it to see the difference when cooking with oil."


    "I will taste it first," Filly said firmly. However, Gail, who was beside her, shook her head.


    "No, let me, Miss. We still don''t know if the reaction from the oil makes the chicken toxic. My body is resistant to common to intermediate poisons and toxins. I should be able to handle it if anything goes wrong," Gail said with determination in her voice.


    Hearing this, Filly looked at her before glancing at the golden-brown chicken leg. In the end, she sighed and stepped aside. "That makes sense. Go for it." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you, Miss!" Gail bowed, but the moment her head lowered, her saliva dripped to the ground. Fortunately, no one noticed it, and she also stepped on it, making sure to get rid of the evidence.


    Temor handed her a knife and fork. "Taste it first and savor it as much as you can. If you feel anything unusual, tell us immediately."


    "Okay," Gail nodded and took the utensils. Looking at the chicken meat, which she never thought could have such an appearance, her mouth started watering and her eyes sparkled with excitement.


    She brought down the knife and started cutting a piece of the chicken leg. As soon as the meat was severed, juices flowed out, making the scene even more tantalizing and luscious than before.


    Gail gulped as the meat was right in front of her eyes. She opened her mouth and took a bite. As she started chewing, her eyes widened in disbelief.


    "This!"


    "W-what? Tell us what you feel!" Filly said anxiously.


    "It''s¡ª" Gail couldn''t finish her words as she began to chew again. Only after she swallowed did she continue. "It''s very delicious!"


    She was about to take another piece of the chicken when Filly held her hand. "Wait a minute."


    Seeing the serious expression on her boss''s face, Gail was ''awoken'' from her state. Her face turned red with shame. "I''m sorry."


    "No, it''s okay," Filly shook her head. "Tell me specifically what it tastes like and if it''s toxic."


    "Okay," Gail nodded. "First of all, it''s not toxic. As for the taste¡ª"


    "It''s better than what we''re serving!" Temor interrupted the woman with glasses. There was already a fork in his hand with a piece of chicken on it and a visible bite taken out of the meat. "The skin''s crispiness is just right, so right that each bite makes the skin crackle. Compared to when I normally cook it, the meat inside became tender and juicy. Yeah, that''s the word for it.


    With each bite, the flavor bursts in your mouth."


    After saying those words, Temor wiped the meat juices from the side of his mouth.


    "That''s¡­ amazing," Filly said, her eyes glancing at the chicken leg with expectation. She grabbed a fork and took a piece of the meat. In one bite, she devoured her share. Her eyes widened, and after she swallowed, she licked her lips clean. "You''re right! There''s even a hint of coconut.


    Although it isn''t as flavorful as the best monster meat we have, in terms of taste and texture, it''s definitely on the way there."


    Soon, the only thing left of the chicken leg was its bone.


    The trio looked at the plate with longing in their eyes.


    "To think that we only used one ingredient and this normal chicken became this," Temor muttered. "Why don''t we use the Scavenger?"


    Filly smiled when she heard this. "Sure."


    The Scavenger is a bird-type monster with a beak that could pierce a boulder and legs that could outrun a 2nd-Step Foundation Building Cultivator. They are one of the most common monsters used for cooking. They greatly resemble a chicken, and like them, Scavengers can''t fly.

 Chapter 43 Found Him(Part-1)

    The sun rose from the horizon, providing warmth and comfort to the streets of Klown City. People began to wake up and start their usual routines. Some began setting up their stalls so they could sell as soon as possible.Big Chub arrived at his spot and began putting all the bread on the table that he had baked before the sun even rose. As a hardworking and friendly vendor on this street, many people greeted him, to which he responded with a simple smile and hello.


    "Hello, Big Chub. How was your night?"


    "Haha, as usual, still heavy!"


    "Haha!" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After he finished setting up his stall, he sat down on his chair and began the most boring part of his job: waiting for customers to arrive. Big Chub yawned, his double chin wobbling from the size of his mouth.


    As tears appeared at the corners of his eyes, he noticed someone walking in his direction. Oh? As soon as I set up my stall? Good! He put on the best smile he could muster when the young man appeared in front of him. "Good morning, what would you like?"


    The young man was wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest. Seeing this, Big Chub concluded that the young man was from the Great Serpent Cultivation School. But isn''t it too early for them to be out? Although there was doubt in his heart, he continued to smile. However, the next moment, his smile became stiff.


    The young man threw a gold coin towards him, which fell to the ground. As the sound of the coin rolling echoed, the young man asked, "A young boy, probably around 7 to 8 years old, with black hair and blue eyes, wearing a dirty brown robe. Have you seen him?"


    Big Chub was quiet for a moment before he bowed his head in apology. "Well, sir, I don''t think I have seen such a kid in this area. My apologies."


    Although he said these words with calm, his heart was actually palpitating and his eyes were shaking. His mind automatically thought about the beggar, but he didn''t want to jump to conclusions right away.


    When he looked up, he saw the young man observing him with cold eyes. Sh*t! Did he find out I''m lying?! He suddenly remembered that the young man was from that serpent school, so he''s probably a cultivator.


    A frown appeared on Arke''s face. He looked down at the fatso and said, "Pick it up."


    "Eh?" Big Chub appeared confused. "P-pick up what?"


    "The gold coin. Pick it up," Arke explained, his eyes turning cold and his voice condescending.


    Big Chub felt indignant, but he still showed a smile and went to pick up the coin.


    "Yeah, that''s it. You are more fitting when on your knees, you pig," an annoying voice sounded from behind the vendor. When he turned around, Big Chub saw the table filled with bread that he had made with his own hands flying towards him. With a crashing sound, wood and bread were thrown into the air, followed by a grunting sound.


    "That gold is enough to cover the cost," Arke said before he walked away.


    The commotion caused the other people and vendors to look in the direction of the crash. Only when the young man put down his leg and walked away did some of them run to Big Chub''s stall.


    Big Chub emerged from the pile of wood and bread, coughing heavily.


    "Are you okay?" one of the vendors in the street asked worriedly.


    "I''m¡­ I''m okay," Big Chub waved his hand. "Don''t mind me, guys, haha, just a small altercation."


    "Those damn Cultivators! They only know how to bully the weak!" someone said aloud. However, a hand quickly covered his mouth.


    "Shh! Don''t say something like that! What if they can hear us?"


    This caused them to talk quietly while sharing their experiences of being bullied by Cultivators.


    Big Chub sighed and glanced at the gold coin in his hand. It isn''t it you, right? He couldn''t help but think about the beggar. That young man''s description almost resembled the beggar who always bought bread from him. But the beggar wore a dark grey robe, not brown, and his eyes were black, not blue¡­ Suddenly, he recalled the first time he saw that kid, and his eyes widened.


    Don''t tell me he''s really a kid from a wealthy family?! Big Chub started imagining things as speculations kept appearing in his mind. In the end, he thought of the most likely reason.


    That kid is from a wealthy family and his butler has come to find him! But that young man doesn''t seem to be a good person, while that kid is very nice. What if that young man is evil and is chasing after the beggar?! This thought caused his breathing to become heavy and his eyes to widen.


    The more Big Chub thought about it, the more it made sense.


    "Big Chub? Big Chub? Are you okay? Why are you so pale and blank?" someone asked out of concern.


    "He probably hit his head!"


    "Kid, I''ll save you!" Big Chub suddenly shouted and started running in the direction where the young man had gone.


    "Wait, don''t tell me?!" The other vendors couldn''t help but be surprised. "Is he going to fight that young man?!"


    "Go Big Chub! You can do it!" After someone shouted, the others followed suit.


    "We believe in you! Go beat that guy''s *ss!"


    "Big Chub! I will forever remember you!"


    "We will light an incense for you!"


    The scene was so touching that even the passersby who didn''t know what was happening also began to cheer.


    However, in the next moment, everyone''s faces became stiff as Big Chub had only run two or three meters away from them when he put both hands on his knees, buckets of sweat falling from his body. Even his pants had fallen quite a bit, showcasing the deep trench that he''d been hiding.


    The onlookers stifled their laughter and tried to avoid their gazes.


    Big Chub tried to stand up again, but after just taking a couple more steps, he fell to his knees. "I can''t¡­ go on anymore!"

 Chapter 44 Found Him(Part-2)

    Apollo opened his eyes from his deep cultivation. His body felt energized, even though he hadn''t slept at all. He had been cultivating all night under the makeshift roof he made, and only woke up when he heard the sound of people entering the Skyline Savory branch. It wouldn''t be long before a long line formed in front of them.He couldn''t help but sigh; the success of others was not looking good for him.


    But the moment he opened up his status screen out of habit, his eyes widened at what he saw before he chuckled. "Already at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building? That''s good!"


    "Hey System, can you at least give me a sign every time my cultivation goes up?" Apollo asked the System. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No," the System answered coldly.


    "Well, alright, it''s not like it''s that big of a deal," Apollo shrugged before he stood up. His body made a loud cracking sound, causing the beggar to smile in relief. Seeing that people were already getting their breakfast, Apollo decided to reward himself with lots of bread!


    Big Chub, here I come!


    But before that, Apollo used the cleaning bead, and the Qi from it washed over him. His clothes became presentable, and his hair shiny along with his teeth. "This is better!"


    Whistling a tune from his previous life, he came out of his beggar spot and walked towards the bread vendor. However, after taking a couple of steps, a shadow was cast over him. Seeing that someone was blocking him, Apollo couldn''t help but frown and raised his head.


    A young man wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest, with black hair and eyes, looked fiercely at the beggar. Apollo took a step back from this menacing look.


    What''s wrong with this guy? Apollo thought. Seeing that the young man was just looking at him without moving an inch, he shook his head and tried to walk past him. However, the moment he took a step, the young man stood in front of him.


    Apollo stepped to the side, but the young man still blocked him. "Hey! What''s wrong with you?!" The young man didn''t answer, making the beggar kid frustrated.


    So you''re just blocking me, huh? Apollo smirked and stepped to the right. The young man stood in front of him, and the beggar stepped to the left, with the young man following him. Apollo kept doing this; he would take a step forward, and the young man would block him until they looked like they were dancing.


    Some onlookers looked at them strangely. Why are they dancing in the middle of the street?


    But Apollo took this chance. When his back was in the direction of Big Chub''s, with the young man blocking him in front, he immediately turned around and ran!


    "Haha, got you!" Apollo shouted with a laugh. His small feet took him a couple of steps before someone grabbed the back of his clothes and lifted him up.


    His body was forcefully turned around, and Apollo saw the young man''s face.


    "Hehe," Apollo smiled, forcefully. "Hello."


    "You¡­ who are you?" Arke asked. The boy in his hand had black hair and black eyes; however, he felt a certain familiarity, as if he had seen this young boy before.


    "Me¡­ I''m A¡ª" Apollo was about to say his name when he realized something. Strange, this man''s voice¡­ I''ve heard it somewhere. "I''m just your friendly neighborhood beggar!"


    "Oh, a beggar?" Arke tilted his head to the side. He looked Apollo up and down, but the boy''s clothes were too clean for him to be a beggar. But the boy''s face and height¡­ No, that Leone kid is much thinner than this one and two inches shorter. Am I wrong? But just to be sure, I should take him back and question him. "You will be coming with me."


    "Huh?" Apollo was surprised. "No way!"


    "You don''t have a say in this, kid," Arke said with a smirk on his face.


    "You are wrong! I have plenty of say in this!" Apollo shouted, contemplating whether he should use his strength to get out of this situation. His body was still adapting to the new strength upon reaching the 2nd-step Foundation Building, and he didn''t want to end up killing this young man.


    Apollo had already concluded that this young man was a cultivator based on his uniform; he just didn''t know what the man''s cultivation level was. What if he is just a half-step cultivator? Apollo would be deemed a murderer if he ended up killing this young man!


    Arke didn''t answer and just started dragging the beggar. Apollo couldn''t help but frown. Ah, whatever. He raised his hand and decided to punch the young man when a hand reached out and held the young man''s hand that was holding Apollo.


    Seeing the soft pale hand, Apollo glanced to the side and saw a woman with spectacles wearing simple clothing: a white polo shirt and black slacks. He immediately recognized this woman; she was the one always beside Filly, the owner of the restaurant next to his beggar spot.


    What was her name again? Oh, right, Gail!


    "Arke, let go," Gail said, her voice cold and serious, her eyes deadly.


    "Oh? Who do we have here, the maid from Kleinford, right?" Arke glanced at Gail with a mocking smile on his face.


    "Let go," Gail repeated, her voice becoming lower.


    "Hahahaha!" Arke laughed aloud, tightening his grip on the beggar. Suddenly, his laugh stopped, and he stared coldly at Gail. "What if I don''t want to?"


    "Then¡­" Gail put strength into her hand, forcefully removing Arke''s hand from the beggar''s clothes.


    Apollo fell on his bottom with a thud but just sat there, his eyes widening for a bit before lighting up. He looked up and saw the young man''s smirk and cold eyes.


    Feeling the immense strength coming from the spectacled woman, Arke also used his strength; however, he only managed to push Gail''s hand a few inches away before he started losing strength.

 Chapter 45 Found Him(Part-3)

    "Okay, you win!" Arke pulled back his hand abruptly and started massaging it.Seeing this, Gail nodded. Then she helped Apollo stand on his feet.


    "Thanks," Apollo said, his eyes never leaving the young man named Arke.


    "Is he your brother?" Arke asked, confusion evident on his face.


    "None of your business," Gail said. Although she''s always shy around her boss, she is cold to others, especially if she doesn''t like them. Just like this man, Arke.


    "It could be or it could be not," Arke said, glancing at the kid. "Hey you, consider yourself lucky, at least for now."


    "I''m not into someone who''s older than me, especially if we are the same gender," Apollo said, a mocking smile on his face. "I know I''m handsome, but hunt someone else! Not a kid like me!"


    Hearing this caused Gail to look at Arke with a strange and disgusted expression. Even some passersby glanced at Arke with the same look.


    "You!" Arke pointed a finger at the beggar, his face red with anger. When did that become my intention?! This kid! "You are good!"


    Feeling the intense gazes from around him, Arke harrumphed and started walking away. He realized that the kid was good with words and if he tried to say something more, the kid would turn it around on him. It was better to walk away and get revenge later. Besides, from how Gail behaved, the two were not related.


    Furthermore, if the kid was a beggar, even if he didn''t get revenge, someone else would, and that someone would be formidable.


    Seeing that Arke had left, Gail shook her head with a sigh. She glanced at the beggar and couldn''t help but think that this kid was very cunning.


    "What''s his name?" Apollo asked.


    "Arke, a cultivator at the 4th-Step stage of Foundation Building. He is quite strong," Gail said, her tone indicating that she did not underestimate the young man.


    A 4th-step?! Hearing that word almost caused Apollo to choke.


    "Are you okay?" Gail asked worriedly.


    "Y-yeah," Apollo took a deep breath to calm his heart. Woah, fortunately I didn''t try to do anything funny besides what I said! "But, if he is strong, how come you managed to force his hands away from me?"


    "Well, we can say that I have the advantage in strength," Gail explained while scratching her cheek.


    "Oh, I see," Then that means this woman is also at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage. So she went easy on me when she subdued me that night. Apollo glanced at the fair-looking woman beside him. She looks like she doesn''t work out, but behind that fair skin is a strength that he couldn''t even imagine.


    "By the way, how''s the journal? Did you guys manage to create something out of it?" Apollo asked, curious.


    "Yes," Gail answered and bowed her head. "Thank you for that. We now stand a chance to get back on our feet."


    "Well, if you guys don''t bother me anymore for staying beside your restaurant, then that''s good," Apollo waved his hand while glancing inside the Filly restaurant. The restaurant was almost deserted, with only a few diners eating.


    "Do you want to go inside? Miss Filly will be happy to see you," Gail offered. If this kid could help them personally, then their progress would surely increase. However, Miss Filly said that she didn''t want to bother the ''kid'' yet, as he looked like he didn''t want to be bothered either. But now that the ''beggar'' was in front of her, Gail didn''t want to miss the chance.


    "Nah, if there''s some progress with the journal, then it means you guys can copy everything inside," Apollo shook his head. "I should get going! See ya!"


    "W-wait!" Gail shouted, but Apollo had already run off into the distance.


    She couldn''t help but sigh. "I didn''t even get to say sorry."


    ¡­


    "You are alive!" Big Chub''s eyes widened when he saw Apollo standing in front of him without any bruises on his body. "Haha, I knew nothing would happen to you."


    "What happened here?" Apollo asked, looking around at the destroyed stall with broken pieces of wood and bread on the ground.


    "Have you met that young man from the Great Serpent Cultivation School?" Big Chub asked while placing the wood to the side.


    "Yes, I''ve met that d*ck," Apollo nodded.


    "He was the one who caused this," Big Chub said, frustration evident in his voice. "If I wasn''t holding myself back, I would have beat the sh*t out of him!"


    Apollo didn''t believe the vendor''s last words, but deep inside, his anger towards that man Arke increased. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"


    "I''m fine, haha, but that man gave me one gold coin. That''s more than enough to buy a new table and replace all the bread here," Big Chub said with a laugh.


    "At least he knows he has to pay for collateral damage," Apollo said with a nod. "Did he say something?"


    Big Chub stood up and stared at the beggar. "Yes."


    "What is it?" Apollo asked.


    "He asked me if I saw a kid, black hair and blue eyes, with brown robes, around 7 to 8 years old," Big Chub explained, staring at the beggar intently.


    "Oh?" Hearing this made Apollo raise an eyebrow. Then a knowing smile appeared on his face. Found you. "Is that all he asked?"


    "Yeah," Big Chub nodded. He looked around before he lowered his body and whispered, "Hey kid, tell me the truth, it''s you, right?"


    "I can''t tell you that," Apollo shook his head. He couldn''t help but think about the threat, that young man, and the cultivator who destroyed this original body''s family. "You will only hurt yourself."


    "Haha," Big Chub laughed, his belly shaking along with him. "I knew it. Don''t you worry, kid, I will protect you!"


    "Well, good luck if you can," Apollo said with a smile. "Let me help you with that."


    "I wouldn''t refuse, this is part of your problem," Big Chub said, slapping the kid''s back, causing him to look at him. "Haha, I''m just kidding!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two cleaned up the stall, and soon enough, it became more presentable.


    "I know you are here to buy some of my bread," Big Chub took two pieces of bread from the side. "Here, you can take this, it''s clean."


    Apollo took the bread and took a bite out of it. "Thanks. I should get going now."


    "Alright, just be careful," Big Chub nodded.


    "You too."

 Chapter 46 Coincidence?

    The moon''s brilliance cast upon the streets, and the nightlife began in Klown City.Apollo opened his eyes, a sigh escaping his mouth. "That''s him, I''m sure of it."


    He brought up his mission and saw that he only had around two and a half weeks left before the deadline. Lightning tribulation¡­ that''s going to be another death, the beggar thought with a bitter smile.


    Shaking his head, he thought about his plan. This morning, that young man came and was definitely looking for him. Thinking about it, it''s very strange. That guy left him in an alley even though he was tasked to send the Leone heir to a specific place, probably the rendezvous point, and left with the money. But why is he looking for him now?


    Apollo suspected that something was at play here that he didn''t know of.


    "Hmm, the mansion was destroyed by an unknown man, then he was left by Arke, but now he''s looking for him¡­" Apollo muttered and realized something. "A third party perhaps?"


    The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. But he didn''t jump to conclusions yet. He just kept this doubt in his heart and decided to focus on another thing.


    "Gail said that guy is at the 4th-Step of the Foundation Building Stage, two stages above mine," Apollo muttered. "If I want to defeat that guy, I have to be on the same cultivation stage. But killing him¡­"


    A frown appeared on his face. Killing the hooded man who threw him in the alley is a prerequisite to complete the mission. He has to be stronger than Arke in order to do that, and Arke seems to be a smart person. Being smart and strong, he will be a tough opponent.


    If I calculate my pace, it''s going to take at most a week before I reach the fourth step, and the remaining time¡­ I should use that to kill him, Apollo''s eyes turned cold.


    Even in his past, he had many bloods on his hands, competitors who tried to do funny things to him first. He is a very easy-going person, but that doesn''t mean he is soft-hearted. He won''t let others bully him, and if they did, he would seek revenge, petty or not.


    But how? This thought caused him to ruffle his own hair.


    Suddenly, two men wearing uniforms with a crossed swords and shield insignia on their chests walked past in front of him.


    "I didn''t know they had such rules."


    "Yeah, right? We have to protect our invitation, or else we won''t be able to participate in the Advancement Examination. And if it''s stolen, it could be used by others even if they''re not enrolled!"


    "That''s the first time I''ve heard that rule."


    "Well, they said it''s been that way for many years. Those who didn''t manage to participate in the Advancement without any proper excuse were expelled, and those who got the invitation and passed the advancement became official students. That''s what some of our seniors did to enter the school."


    As they walked away, their voices became lower.


    "Eh?" Apollo couldn''t help but be surprised. "Did I buy the Wish Me Luck Item?"


    Just as he was thinking about how to kill Arke, these two Martial Students walked in front of him and shared such crucial information at the right time. Coincidence? Or is the god in this world so generous that they will help him solve this problem?


    Wait, is she the god? Apollo suddenly recalled that faceless woman. Shaking his head, he glanced at the corner and saw the rolled-up invitation scroll.


    "So they have these kinds of rules," Apollo took hold of the invitation. "The guy who lost this is such a fool. Why would he carry such a precious item around with him? Anyway, with this, I can now participate in the Advancement Examination, and Arke will definitely be there."


    Apollo smiled before it vanished as quickly as it had come, as another problem occurred to him: his identity. If he goes like this, it''s equivalent to exposing that he is the Leone Heir, which is the last thing he wants to do.


    The beggar began to think of a solution in the dark night. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    "This is really amazing. The meat doesn''t stick to the pan, and the smell is more intense than before," Temor said with amazement in his voice.


    "Yeah," Filly nodded, salivating at the sight of cooked meat from a monster called Bronze Reinforced Cow.


    "It''s done!" Temor said, taking the meat out of the pan and placing it on a plate.


    Just like before, they held their forks and started taking pieces of meat. Gail, who was quietly standing on the side, closed her eyes to savor the moment.


    "I''m never going to get tired of this," Filly said after a while.


    "Me too," Gail commented from the side. "Ah, I wish Mr. Beggar had agreed to my request."


    Filly turned to her in surprise. "Y-you met up with him? Didn''t I tell you that we shouldn''t bother him?"


    "It''s just a coincidence. I happened to see him being dragged by Arke, so I had to step in," Gail explained with a wave of her hand.


    "Oh? Arke?" Filly raised an eyebrow. "That guy dared to disrespect my honorable guest?"


    "But I managed to handle it¡ªwait, I mean, Mr. Beggar did," Gail recounted the story, and Filly couldn''t help but laugh.


    "He deserves it," Filly said with a chuckle. Then she remembered something. "What is the request you''re talking about?"


    "Oh, I asked if he wanted to come here, but he declined, saying we can recreate the recipes in the journal," Gail said, disappointment still evident in her voice.


    "That''s unfortunate," Filly sighed. "He doesn''t want to be bothered."


    Gail nodded and glanced at the plate, but the meat was already gone. She noticed that Temor was smacking his lips in satisfaction, causing her to pout.


    "What are you guys talking about? I was busy studying the taste," Temor said shamelessly.


    "Nothing. Anyway, let''s focus on what we have to do. Now that we''ve proven that this oil can be used on any meat, we could start implementing it in our dishes," Filly said, one of her hands under her chin.


    "Miss Filly, isn''t it too soon?" Temor asked worriedly.


    "I know, but at least we should show them that we are fighting back. Besides, I hope that with this improvement in our dish, some customers will come back," Filly explained.


    "Then what about the other recipes? The so-called spices, the fried chicken, and the spaghetti?" Temor asked.


    "We will continue our research with that," Filly said. "And we will start with the fried chicken starting tomorrow. The journal says that this recipe basically only needs two or three ingredients to cook, excluding the chicken itself. There are still a lot of ingredients that we don''t have, especially for the spices."


    Then she turned to Gail. "That is your job from now on¡ªfind all the ingredients in the journal."

 Chapter 47 Fried Chicken

    Two days later.When Apollo woke up from his cultivation, the sun''s rays assaulted his eyes, and voices entered his ears, incoherent, and he could only understand small words.


    He reached out with the back of his hand to scratch his eyes. The glaring sunlight returned to normal, but the voices still remained. He took a deep breath and focused only on himself. A few seconds later, the murmur disappeared.


    Bringing up his Status Screen, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 28


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 2nd-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    He was still at the 2nd-Step, but his senses had already advanced along with his strength. However, his Cultivation remained the same. Still, this gave him an idea that this night or tomorrow morning he would reach the 3rd-Step Foundation Building stage.


    Apollo had also received an additional 6 Alm points over the past two days, which is not a lot, but it''s better than nothing.


    Raising his hand, he clenched it and punched the air. He heard the air explode under his fist, causing winds to appear around him. Such a simple punch could already produce this much force. Just imagine Gail''s strength if she didn''t hold back. Just that thought caused Apollo to shudder in fear.


    He stood up and decided to buy something to eat. As he walked out of his beggar spot and into the streets, he couldn''t help but glance inside Filly''s restaurant. "Oh? There are more customers than before?" Although it couldn''t be compared to the time when there was no Skyline Savory branch in front of their restaurant, this is still great progress.


    His eyes then landed on the menu situated beside their door.


    "So they managed to create the oil, that''s good," Apollo muttered with a smile on his face. The menu was entirely different from before. There were extra words to each dish with meat on them.


    Two-Headed Goat Meat Cooked with Oil.


    Scavenger Cooked with Oil.


    Bronze Reinforced Cow Cooked with Oil.


    And more.


    "Oil is essential; this is a great start,"


    Apollo turned around and walked to meet up with Big Chub. That vendor also knows a lot of gossip, and Apollo has learned a lot from him regarding the city.


    After talking with him, I should get back to cultivating.


    ¡­


    Filly glanced at the diners eating merrily below. She couldn''t help but smile at the sight of new customers. This is a great sign. Suddenly, footsteps echoed, and she turned to the sound. She saw Gail walking towards her with excitement in her eyes.


    "Did he do it?" Filly asked expectantly.


    "Yes!" Gail answered.


    "Let''s go see it."


    The two of them walked down the stairs and went into the kitchen. When the door opened, a strong smell caused them to be dazed. Filly''s eyes landed on the plate. Golden brown-coated chicken legs lay on it. The rocky texture and the exposed white meat invited them to take a big bite.


    But she held herself back, though she couldn''t help but sniff again, and the smell caused her to stand in front of the plate.


    "I''ve managed to recreate it," Temor said, a proud smile on his face. "Although we still don''t have black pepper and paprika, I think this is still considered Fried Chicken."


    "So only flour, salt, eggs, and oil?" Filly asked.


    "Yes," Temor nodded his head. "I haven''t tasted it yet, but looking at its appearance, I know it won''t disappoint us." S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Filly nodded and reached out her hand. She picked up one piece of the fried chicken and held it in front of her. The texture in her hand was very rough and crispy at the same time. When she applied pressure to it, a crackling sound echoed, and she noticed that the rough texture had lifted, exposing some of the white meat.


    Temor couldn''t wait any longer, so he took his own piece and started eating it. A crunching sound reverberated in the room, causing Filly and Gail to glance in his direction. That sound¡­ that crunchiness! Just hearing that made the two of them gulp.


    Without dilly-dallying any longer, Filly took a bite of the fried chicken in her hand. That crunchiness echoed again, followed by the juices exploding in her mouth. Her eyes widened, though her mouth didn''t stop its movement. At first, the texture was rough, but as she swallowed and took another bite, the softness and tenderness of the meat filled her mouth.


    Filly closed her eyes to savor the taste, especially as the crispiness and tenderness mingled with each other.


    Seeing the two of them enjoying the food so much, Gail didn''t wait another second to take her own piece of fried chicken. Soon, the three of them finished the food on the plate.


    "If this goes on, I will double in size," Temor said with a chuckle.


    The two women laughed.


    After calming themselves down, Filly sighed. "We''re only using normal chicken, and the taste is already so great."


    "Yup, we could even sell this now, even with just normal chicken. I''m pretty sure this is going to be a popular dish soon!" Temor said with a clenched fist. He is the chef of the Kleinford family and now works under Miss Filly Kleinford. Of course, he wanted the best for them.


    "Yeah, we could even defeat that restaurant in front with just this," Filly nodded in agreement. "But what I want is for my restaurant to be the best, so that even Skyline Savory won''t stand a chance."


    Hearing the determination in her voice, Gail and Temor looked at her in surprise before they smiled.


    "Then let''s use the Scavenger next," Temor said. "When are we going to sell this?"


    "We wait until people know that our dish is new compared to before. After we have enough hype, we will proceed to sell this. We move one step at a time, take the ''beast'' down by its legs before we hit its head," Filly said, a smirk on her face.


    "Hahaha! I like that!" Temor laughed while Gail chuckled.


    Then Filly turned to Gail. "How is your progress?"


    "I found some, but there''s only a few of them. If we want to use them as ingredients, we will need to have our own garden to cultivate the spices ourselves," Gail explained.


    "I see. Well, it makes sense. Most of the ingredients in the journal are unknown to most of us, let alone others," Filly said with a nod.


    "I''ll go take the Scavenger out," Temor said. He soon returned with a two-meter-tall black chicken with a razor-sharp beak and claws. Using his skilled hands, he started peeling off the feathers while also using his fire technique to easily pluck them out.


    The two women watched with amazement at how easily Temor dismantled this giant bird. Soon, a freshly cleaned and cut Scavenger lay on the table.

 Chapter 48 3rd-Step

    "Should I go out to test my strength?" Apollo muttered while glancing at his cultivation stage, which had reached the 3rd-step foundation building stage. After meeting up with Big Chub, he immediately went back to cultivate the Simple Breathing Technique, which took him a few hours before he advanced to the 3rd-Step. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Apollo stood up, and his body made a cracking sound. This feels really good!


    With his body stronger than before, he felt like he was not in control, so he wanted to get used to it again. Apollo believed that if he kept getting stronger without his mind getting used to it first, it would only give him a hard time as time went on.


    "I have to go back to that place," Apollo muttered, his face turning serious.


    There were still a lot of people in the streets even though the moon was already high in the sky. Considering the time, it was around 8 pm. The night was still young for them to go home. As he stepped onto the street, his eyes habitually glanced at the restaurant beside his beggar spot.


    A few more customers had returned to the restaurant, but compared to the Skyline Savory in front of them, they were still miles apart, especially since the Skyline Savory branch''s building was a lot bigger and wider. It was probably one of the reasons they chose to buy this building.


    Then, as his eyes landed on the Skyline Savory branch, he couldn''t help but tilt his head as a man with a bald patch on his head was looking directly in his direction.


    He wore a simple brown medieval-looking suit, and if Apollo had to guess the man''s age, it was probably around his 40s.


    They looked at each other for a while before the man turned around because the server from the restaurant talked to him. Then they went to who knows where.


    "Did I just get ogled by a middle-aged man?" Apollo muttered, a shiver running down his spine when he realized that his handsome look also attracted the same gender. "Sh*t, better get moving now before I dazzle another one!"


    Apollo hurriedly went to his destination.


    ...


    I am back, and this time I will kill as many as I can! Apollo thought with great determination in his eyes. He stood in front of the forest where he had first tested his strength.


    Using his Simple Movement Technique, he climbed up a tree intending to land on its trunk. However, because of his new strength, he miscalculated and landed on the ground instead. Fortunately, his body reacted quickly, and he landed on his feet.


    "Woah, that was close!" Apollo wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead. "Again!"


    This time, he carefully used his strength and landed on the tree trunk. Being up in the tree felt safer, especially when he was going to hunt that black wolf with two tails that he had a close call with before.


    With this in mind, he started jumping from tree to tree. The Simple Movement Technique allowed him to easily adapt to his body, and after a while, his somewhat stiff movements became fluid due to his new strength.


    As he passed by the broken tree that he had used as a target, he stopped and decided to jump down. Landing beside the tree, he touched its surface.


    Then he looked around for something bigger and probably tougher too. His eyes lit up when he saw another red maple-looking tree in the distance. "I should test my strength on this first."


    This tree was bigger and wider than the previous one he had broken.


    Standing in front of it, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, a glint passed by.


    With a strong bang, the tree shook, causing its leaves to fall like snow. Apollo pulled his hand, which was stuck inside the tree, causing chips of wood to fall to the ground. He raised his hand and looked at it before glancing at the hole he had made.


    Well, time to break another tree! With this thought, he continued to punch the tree until it finally snapped. When the tree fell, it caused a dust cloud to emerge. Seeing this satisfied the beggar.


    Suddenly, the sound of howling reverberated.


    "That''s it!" Apollo''s eyes lit up. Another perfect sparring partner had finally shown its presence.


    But that was not the end, as another howl echoed. When Apollo thought that was all there was to it, another one came. Three black wolves? Can I do it? Apollo couldn''t help but frown.


    "I can do it! I''ll just escape like before if things go awry!" Determination returned to his eyes, prompting him to jump back into the trees and find the nearest wolves he could.


    He still bore hatred toward them for trying to gang up on him. That had scared the living sh*t out of him. But now, he was going to hunt them. Well, hopefully I can kill them quickly before the others arrive.


    Following the sound of their howls, Apollo ventured through the treetops like a monkey. It didn''t take long for him to reach his destination, where the howls grew louder.


    Hidden by the leaves, he didn''t immediately confront the black wolves. Instead, he observed them first. However, what he saw changed his plan.


    "Someone is fighting them," Apollo squinted his eyes.


    The three wolves were together, surrounding a person. They attacked simultaneously, but the person wielded a great sword that caused the wolves to tumble to the ground with every strike.


    "Oh? He''s strong!" Apollo was surprised. "A cultivator?"


    Then he heard the person shout in pain as one of the wolves managed to land a blow with its tail on ''his'' chest, causing ''him'' to jump back to gain some distance.


    Hearing the shout surprised the beggar. So it''s not a ''he'' but a ''she''? With this thought, he jumped to another tree to get a closer look at the person fighting the three wolves.

 Chapter 49 Duskfang Shadowtails(Part-1)

    A student from that serpent school? Apollo thought with a frown. Do all the students in this school always like to get themselves in trouble? He jumped to another tree to get a clearer view of the woman. She had brown hair that reached her shoulders and almond-shaped brown eyes. In her hand was a dark silver broadsword that seemed out of place with her five-foot-seven figure.Her other hand was bleeding, but the black wolf had only hit her chest¡­ She was already injured before she fought these wolves. They were probably drawn by the scent of her blood, the beggar thought.


    "This is bad," Apollo muttered, seeing the woman being overwhelmed by the three black wolves. Her strength was slowly diminishing, and it wouldn''t be long before the wolves took advantage of her weakness and killed her.


    To help or not? Apollo was having a hard time deciding. He glanced at his number of Alm points before sighing. Hopefully, I don''t have to use my Alm points. With this thought in mind, he jumped down from the tree and ran toward the ongoing battle.


    The woman was sent backward, tumbling to the ground a couple of times before she hit a tree. She vomited a mouthful of blood from the impact.


    "Cough! Sh*t! These darn Duskfang! Argh!" The woman couldn''t help but curse. The pain from her wounds made her grunt. But seeing the black wolves closing in on her, she gritted her teeth and stood up, using her broadsword for support.


    "If I''m going to die here, then I''m going to drag you with me!"


    As if they understood her words, the wolves howled at the sky before lunging at her!


    With a banging sound, the tree snapped in two from their attacks, causing it to fall to the ground. They howled again when they ''saw'' that their attack had worked. But as they sniffed the air, their heightened senses caught another scent. As the dust clouds lessened, they immediately growled and bared their teeth at the newcomer supporting their prey.


    "They are pissed," Apollo muttered with a bitter smile before turning to the woman, who was struggling to stand. "Hey, are you okay?"


    Because the beggar was smaller compared to the martial student, the woman only had to look to her side to see her savior. "Y-yes¡­ thank you."


    "No need for that," Apollo said, his eyes turning back to the black wolves. "Can you still fight?"


    "I¡­ I''ll try," the woman said through gritted teeth. She glanced at the monsters in front of her, and determination returned to her eyes. She took a step forward, dragging her broadsword on the ground. With her other hand injured, she couldn''t fully wield her weapon. "I don''t know why you saved me even after seeing these monsters, but I will buy you some time!


    You must be a cultivator, so run as fast as you can to the city!"


    Hearing the determination in her voice made Apollo reconsider his choices. This woman''s resolve can make me cry; isn''t it rude to turn down her offer? Apollo nodded. "If you say so¡ª"


    However, the moment he turned around, a bitter smile appeared on his face. "But you know what, I''ll fight with you."


    Hearing this caused the woman to look at him with wide eyes before a dazzling smile appeared on her face. "Thank you¡­ I''m Bel, by the way. And you?"


    "J-just a beggar. Yup, I''m just a beggar," Apollo repeated, his eyes looking ahead with nervousness.


    Beggar? Bel was confused. Shaking her head, she decided to put the matter aside and focus on the present. "We don''t have much time; they''re already preparing to attack. I''ll handle the two while you handle the last¡ª"


    "No," Apollo interrupted her. "You handle the three, I''ll handle the two."


    "What do you me¡ª Wait, don''t tell me! Argh!" Bel grunted in pain from her wounds but held on. "Where?"


    "I''m looking at them right now," Apollo whispered.


    "Okay, change of plans! We''ll go with your idea!" Bel said through gritted teeth. Five Duskfang Shadowtails?! What happened to this forest?!


    There''s no going back now, Apollo thought while making sure he kept tabs on the two black wolves in front of him. Their tails whipped the air, causing it to make an explosive sound.


    "They are stalling! Let''s go, on the count of three!" Bel shouted, and using her remaining strength, she held her broadsword in front of her with only her right hand.


    "One!"


    "Two!"


    Bel bent her knees, ready to dash at the three monsters in front of her. Although she was injured, it didn''t mean she couldn''t fight anymore. On the contrary, with another person beside her who was also a cultivator, she regained some of her strength, especially since there was a possibility that both of them could die in this fight.


    If she were alone, she wouldn''t even think about getting out of here alive.


    "Th¡ª" Bel wasn''t able to finish her shout as she felt that the man beside her had already dashed towards his opponents!


    This action caused the three Duskfangs in front of her to jump at her. "Why did you do that?!"


    She slashed with her sword horizontally, sending one of the wolves to the side before she jumped to dodge another wolf. But the last wolf immediately came running towards her. Bel anticipated this, so she dashed towards it and thrust with her sword!


    However, because of her injury, her movement was slower than usual, allowing the wolf to barely dodge it. Fortunately, she still managed to injure one of its legs.


    "The first one to attack has the advantage!" Apollo shouted in answer to her question. "Behind you!"


    Hearing this, Bel attacked behind her out of instinct. A cry of pain sounded from behind her. Then she noticed that a wolf had already jumped to her side, its mouth wide open, threatening to bite her head off.


    "Eat this!" Bel raised the sword in front of her head, blocking the attack. Sparks appeared from the impact as the black wolf''s teeth bit her broadsword.


    "Tail on your left!"


    He shouted again, and trusting him even though they had just met, she decided to abandon her sword so she could jump back in time!


    The Duskfang''s tail hit her previous spot, causing the ground to crack.


    "That''s close¡­" Bel muttered in fear. But her fear turned into amazement when she realized what had just happened. That guy is watching out for her even though he''s fighting two black wolves? She glanced at the beggar and saw him fighting the Duskfang Shadowtails with just his bare hands. The monsters couldn''t even take advantage!


    Just who is he? Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 50 Duskfang Shadowtails(Part-2)

    Apollo glanced to his left, a tail sweeping fast at his head. If this attack landed, he would surely suffer a great injury. He could either be dead or out cold, but it would still be the same, as the moment he became unconscious, the other wolf would definitely bite him to death.In his current situation, he couldn''t continue to observe what was happening on Bel''s side. Using his senses to the best of his abilities, the world seemed to slow down, his mind focusing on the other wolf. It seemed that the other wolf was waiting for the tail to land. That would give him enough time!


    With this in mind, Apollo ran to the wolf on his left, dodging the tail with a twist of his body before sending a punch to the Duskfang''s face. The wolf tried to send another tail, but the beggar was one step faster, and when the punch connected, the Duskfang Shadowtail crashed to the ground, creating a long trench.


    Apollo couldn''t get excited seeing the wolf injured because of his new strength, as the other Duskfang was already behind him, threatening to bite his head off. However, the beggar had already expected this, and with a light jump and a twist of his body, he sent a kick towards the monster! With a banging sound, another long trench was created, followed by a howl of pain from the wolf.


    Seeing this, his eyes lightened up, but it wasn''t yet time to enjoy this. His attention went back to Bel, and he saw her struggling to fight off the two Duskfangs. Eh? Two? He glanced to the side and saw a headless wolf. She''s strong!


    Even with her injured body, she could still kill such monsters.


    Furthermore, she was holding her own against the two wolves.


    "Why are you just watching! Behind you!" Bel shouted when she saw Apollo just standing still.


    This woke the beggar, and he realized that the two wolves he was fighting were already on their feet and running towards him!


    "I figured you guys were still alive," Apollo muttered, a smile forming on his face as confidence rose within him. Now that he knew he stood a chance even with two Duskfangs ganging up on him, he could finally enjoy the fight and also understand his new strength along with his fighting skills.


    The Duskfangs in front of him were covered in their own blood, but they still maintained their speed. Apollo also dashed towards them, and when he was just a meter away from the nearest wolf, he jumped into the air and did a somersault before he landed on the farthest wolf. This caught them off guard, but the wolf still managed to react in time, sending one of their tails at him.


    Expecting this, Apollo squinted his eyes to time the attack and, with a clutch of his hand, held the tail. Before the wolf could use its other tail, the beggar pulled strongly before sending a punch!


    Blood tainted his robe and hand after his fist landed on the wolf''s jaw.


    The Duskfang in front of him started crying in pain. Taking this chance, Apollo held the two tails and threw the wolf at the other monster charging towards him. They both crashed into each other and, because of the speed, they heavily injured themselves.


    "Strike!" Apollo shouted.


    "Ahhh!" Suddenly, he heard a shout and turned to see Bel rolling on the ground. "Ah sh*t, I forgot about her!"


    He immediately ran towards her, avoiding the Duskfang Shadowtail she was fighting. Still, one of them managed to land a hit on his back, causing him to grunt in pain.


    "Hey, you okay?!" Apollo asked through gritted teeth. He didn''t dare turn his back on the enemies as they would definitely attack once he did. He stared at them angrily, and they stared back but didn''t pounce on them yet.


    "N-no," Bel shook her head slowly. She tried to stand up but coughed a mouthful of blood. In the end, she just sat there, her chest continuously flowing with red. She couldn''t even hold her sword, let alone stand up. "Run¡­ now¡­ I will buy you time¡­ go to¡­ Helflick family¡­"


    In her current state, talking was hard, but her eyes remained clear and determined.


    "What do you mean? You can''t buy me time, it''s too expensive," Apollo said.


    "Then¡­ what¡­" Bel glanced at the man''s face¡­ wait, a man? He''s just a kid! Only now did she realize that she''s fighting these Duskfangs with a kid! Surprised and shocked, she became more determined for him to run. "You''re just¡­ a kid¡­ go back¡­"


    "Me, a kid?" Apollo chuckled. "Stay there and watch. I''ll kill them."


    "W-wait¡­ argh," Bel grunted.


    "Let me borrow this for a while," Apollo whispered, picking up her dark silver broadsword. Using both hands, he lifted it up and pointed it towards the Duskfangs. He noticed that there were now four of them in front of him¡ªthe two injured ones he fought and the two that Bel was fighting against. Four against one? I''m crazy, Apollo thought bitterly.


    It seems I still have to spend my Alm points.


    He brought up his System Store and started searching for items that could help him in this situation.


    Teleportation Crystal: Teleports the user to any place, any plane, any dimension. One-time use item.


    Alm Points Cost: 200,000


    Mist Place: Turns the user into mist, allowing one to pass through almost anything. But beware, winds will cause the user to be off track. One-time use item.


    Alm Points Cost: 1,000.


    Apollo continued to look for an item that could help them escape. But they were too expensive, and what he wanted was just a cheap item. All he had to do was kill these four monsters. Although he was confident in dealing with one or two, fighting against four was out of the question, especially since two of them were still uninjured.


    And the last two Duskfangs were driven with fury to the point that they would definitely fight him even at the cost of their lives. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His eyes then landed on the sword he was holding.


    System, show me the cheapest Technique for swords, Apollo ordered, and the interface in front of him started sorting itself out until only one item remained.


    Simple Sword Technique: Learn the fundamentals of sword technique. Once the user practices this technique to completion, learning higher tier Techniques will be easy.


    Alm Points Cost: 25.


    Sh*t, 25?! This will only leave me with 2 Alm points! If he bought this, his hard-earned Alms would be gone. He glanced at Bel and saw her looking at him with worry in her eyes.


    In the end, he sighed and bought the technique. Suddenly, information that he had no prior knowledge of started entering his mind. The methods and processes from the Simple Sword Technique were stored inside his brain.

 Chapter 51 Duskfang Shadowtails(Part-3)

    Just like the Simple Movement Technique, Apollo has to learn it to use it. He still hadn''t really practiced the Simple Movement Technique, though, and his process with it only involved methods of jumping from here, increasing his speed, and keeping his balance.And now, Apollo had to learn the Simple Sword Technique right here, right now!


    But learning? Apollo smirked. In the first place, it''s one of the reasons why he became the richest man in the world in his previous life. He was talented in every area he decided to dabble in. He could learn fast. That''s why he was considered a genius.


    He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. At the same time, he sorted out the knowledge inside his mind. Thrust, slice, deflect, cut¡­ Apollo opened his eyes and a glint flashed by.


    Holding the broadsword in front of him, a smile formed on his lips. "Come!"


    With a strong roar, the Duskfang Shadowtails started running towards him.


    Bel, who was watching all this, couldn''t help but be nervous. If she were still at her peak, she could easily defeat them; however, her current strength had fallen to that of a 2nd-step foundation-building cultivator.


    Suddenly, her worry turned into surprise when the kid in front of her moved with the sword.


    The nearest Duskfang moaned in pain as it slid across the ground. The side of its stomach oozed blood. But the wolf still managed to stand up and pounce back on the beggar.


    Apollo dodged to the side and slashed, his sword leaving a deep wound on the already wounded Duskfang. It wailed in pain while slowly backing off. With one of them unable to fight, he glanced at the other three, with one already on its way to shred him with a sharp claw.


    This one was the other injured wolf that he had fought.


    Thrust!


    The broadsword pierced the wolf''s neck, blood splattering on the ground and on Apollo''s clothes.


    This is nice! Apollo thought with amazement. Following the technique from the Simple Sword Technique in his mind, he felt like he was one with the sword. It was like an extension of his limbs. Furthermore, he was just following what was inside his mind, and his fighting abilities had already risen. What if he began to practice this technique to the fullest?


    This thought excited the beggar, and his attacks became more forceful and swift! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Take this!" Apollo shouted. Using both hands to hold the broadsword, he swung it around him, sending the Duskfangs to the ground while they howled in pain. "Hehe, who''s the boss now?"


    Apollo walked towards them with a smirk on his face. The four Duskfang Shadowtails tried to stand on their feet, but only two managed, while the other two lay on the ground, whimpering and howling.


    "Stop growling and come at me," Apollo said to the two who were baring their teeth at him.


    Seemingly understanding what he meant, they roared at him, but before they could take a step, Apollo dashed towards them and swung the broadsword! Their necks were pierced, and like a waterfall, red fell from their necks, forming a puddle of blood.


    After killing them, he went to the remaining Duskfangs on the ground. He also pierced them, but this time in their heads.


    "Finally done!" Apollo smirked. He then started walking towards Bel. "Eh? Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Bel was woken from her surprise. This kid¡­ his sword technique, strange¡­ He only did simple slashes, but he managed to kill them all. It''s too simple, there''s no ''real'' technique whatsoever. Anyone could do what he just did; in fact, even a toddler can do those slashes!


    "Hey, I know I''m handsome, but we should go. These guys are cunning. Their brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, and neighbors will arrive here any time now. Let''s go if you don''t want to die," Apollo said while helping her to her feet.


    "O-okay," Bel nodded as she realized the grave situation. Duskfang Shadowtails, a wolf-type monster, are cunning. Hearing their kin howling in pain must have alerted the others, especially since the scent of blood is so strong here.


    While supporting Bel, they hurriedly went back to the city. Apollo remained vigilant, his eyes observing the forest while dragging the sword in his other hand.


    Suddenly, a squishy sensation came from the side of his face. He couldn''t help but turn to his left and saw the humongous work of mother earth. Because Bel was taller than him, she had to put her right arm around him, making their bodies very close to each other.


    I have to focus! Apollo thought, but soon his face turned red and a foolish smile appeared. Every time they had to jump on a rock or take a wide step, the mountain beside his face moved, squishing him further.


    "What are you¡­ grinning at?" Bel asked. Due to the loss of blood, she felt quite dizzy, so she hadn''t noticed what was happening.


    "N-nothing," Apollo answered.


    "Then¡­ why¡ª"


    Suddenly, continuous howling came from behind them, making them look at each other with wide eyes.


    "Let''s hurry up!" Apollo shouted. He immediately forgot the squishy sensation on the side of his face as the threat to his life overcame it. Even so, their speed was still slow. "Hey! Is your sword important?"


    Hearing the question, Bel was about to ask why when she realized what he was going to do. "Yes! It''s¡­ very important!"


    "I have to carry you so we can run faster! Where''s your scabbard?" Apollo asked hurriedly.


    "I¡­ I lost it," Bel answered with a sigh.


    "Sh*t!" Apollo couldn''t help but curse. Then an idea came to mind when he saw a crevice under a tree. "I''ll hide it! You can just get it back after we get out of here and heal yourself!"


    Bel frowned when she heard this, but looking at herself, having to be supported because of her injury, and hearing the howling from the Duskfang Shadowtails behind them, she didn''t have a choice but to nod her head.


    "Good," Apollo went to the tree with a crevice and put the broadsword inside. "Done, let''s go!"


    Bel nodded her head, then Apollo picked her up in a princess style. "Hold on!"


    Using his Simple Movement Technique, he ran towards the woods and into the lights in the distance. Even with additional weight, Apollo''s speed was still fast.


    "I see it!" Apollo''s eyes lit up seeing the wall of Klown in the distance.


    Bel turned to the city and couldn''t help but sigh in relief.


    Apollo smiled, but it didn''t last a second as he suddenly felt goosebumps all over him. That was when he heard the sound of air tearing behind him, then great pain came from his back.


    "ARGH!" Apollo moaned in pain but gritted his teeth and held on. Without looking at his attacker, he continued towards the grassland.


    Bel looked behind him when she heard him moaning in pain, and her eyes widened from what she saw. "That''s!"


    Suddenly, a strong wind came at them as they finally left the forest. As they hurriedly made their way to the city, Bel''s eyes remained on the forest, her eyes shaking with fear.

 Chapter 52 You Can Use Qi Like That?!(Part-1)

    "Ah!" Apollo shouted as he tripped on a rock, his body rolling to the ground along with Bel. Every time his back hit the ground, an intense pain washed over him. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"He rolled for a while before he managed to stop. His eyes blinked at the night sky as the moon''s brilliance peeked out from behind the clouds. Suddenly, from the corner of his eyes, he noticed two huge ''mountains'' falling on his face! Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yes! I mean no! Apollo was conflicted, and with a bang, Bel fell on top of him.


    "Argh¡­" Bel grunted in pain. She felt dizzy and disoriented.


    Apollo, on the other hand, couldn''t even say a word from the pain coming from his back. But the moment the sensation of being squashed returned, the pain immediately vanished, and a foolish smile appeared on his face. Although he couldn''t properly breathe, it was a sacrifice he was willing to pay for this glorious moment.


    Ah, I could die like this¡­ Apollo moved to go deeper inside the ''mountains,'' but this caused Bel to realize that someone was under her.


    "Oh, sorry," Bel said, still oblivious to the situation, before she pushed herself aside and sat down beside the beggar. Feeling the pain coming from all over her body, she took a deep breath to calm down. Then she sat herself in a lotus position and began a breathing technique.


    "Wait, no¡ª" Apollo shouted but shut his mouth in the next second. Fortunately, Bel seemed to be in deep concentration. He sat down when he noticed she was quiet and saw that she was ''cultivating.''


    No¡­ Apollo squinted his eyes and ''saw'' the Qi in the surroundings gathering around her. But instead of circulating her body following a certain pattern, the Qi went to her wounds and started slowly mending them.


    Seeing this, the beggar''s eyes lit up. So Qi can also be used like that?! I wish I had known sooner!


    After a while, Bel opened her eyes and sighed in relief when she noticed that her wound had stopped bleeding. Although she couldn''t fully heal it and could only stop the bleeding, it was still better than dying from blood loss.


    "You can use Qi to help wounds stop bleeding?!" Apollo asked with excitement.


    The shout startled Bel, and she couldn''t help but glance at Apollo strangely. "You didn''t know?"


    "Yes," Apollo nodded, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Can you tell me how?"


    Bel looked at him from head to toe and remembered that this was just a kid. "Well, first you need to be able to move the Qi around us, but only 4th-Step Foundation Building Cultivators and above can do this."


    "And then?"


    "Then, once you can see and move the Qi, you have to guide it to your wounds and let it take care of them," Bel explained. "But considering your age, you''re still not at that stage, right? One must train from a young age to have a chance to get past the 3rd-Step in Foundation Building.


    Most of us only achieve that stage after cultivating for at least three years, and even the talented ones have to cultivate for two years. Wait, how old are you again?"


    "I''m se¡ª old enough," Apollo was about to say his real age but changed it at the last second.


    "Old enough?" Bel smiled. "Anyway, once you guide the Qi to your wounds, it will know what to do."


    "I see," Apollo nodded before asking another question. "By the way, how old were you when you reached the 3rd-Step Foundation Building?"


    "Hehe, I''m actually a genius¡­ I was fifteen back then, and it took me one and a half years to achieve the 3rd-Step," Bel scratched her cheek but couldn''t hide the pride in her eyes. "And it took me three years to achieve the 4th-Step when average cultivators take four to five years."


    Hearing this caused Apollo''s eyes to widen, not because he was amazed but because he felt that it was too slow! "Then when did you actually achieve the first step?"


    Although she was confused why he was asking this question, she still answered. "I was nine or ten, I think, when I started cultivating. Then, in just a year, I reached the 2nd-Step. You must already know that one must train their body and mind from a very young age to be able to cultivate, right?"


    Seeing the kid in front of her looking at her with wide eyes, she couldn''t help but feel happy. Then her question to him from earlier came back. "You¡­ are ten or eleven, right?"


    "Y-yes¡­ my height is just smaller compared to kids my age," Apollo answered with a lie, not wanting to expose his real age. If people knew he was already at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building, he could smell endless trouble coming for him. What if they found out that he would be at the 4th-Step after this week? They would go crazy over him!


    "I see¡­ strange, how come you don''t know all this?" Bel asked, her eyes staring directly at him.


    "I¡­ I cultivate solo?" Apollo said hesitantly.


    "Solo? That''s da¨C" Bel couldn''t finish her words as a stinging pain came from her wounds. "We have to go back now¡­ It will be bad if I just leave my wounds like this."


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, but the moment he stood up, pain came from his back. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain while he helped Bel to her feet. Then, just like before, he supported her until they made it to the city gate.


    Bel glanced one more time at the forest before looking at the gate. It was already midnight, and they were the only ones entering the city.


    "Stop!" One of the guards stationed in front of the gate halted them. "Identify yourselves and your purpose for entering Klown City."


    "We¨C" Apollo hesitated. He would never tell or admit for the rest of his life that he was a Leone. He was about to say a fake name he had already come up with when Bel took out something and showed it to the guard.


    "This¡­ I''m sorry I didn''t recognize you, Miss Bel from the Helflick Family!" The guard bowed his head, and the others followed suit.

 Chapter 53 You Can Use Qi Like That?(Part-2)

    "No worries," Bel said. "Let''s go."They were about to take a step forward when the guard put a hand in front of them. "But Miss, I still have to know this kid''s identity."


    Apollo tensed up when he heard this. He glanced at the guard and saw him looking at him with suspicion. In the end, he still had to say his made-up name. "I''m actually¡ª"


    "He''s a guest," Bel said, staring at the guard seriously. "And the person who saved my life. Can''t you see we''re injured?!"


    The guard was surprised by the angry voice coming from Bel. He didn''t have a choice but to bow his head again. "My apologies!" Then he stepped aside to let them inside the gate.


    Bel scoffed at the guard. "Talk to my father if you are still not satisfied."


    Hearing this caused the guard to visibly tense up. "I wouldn''t dare so, Miss Bel!"


    "Hmph!" Bel gave the guard a disdainful look before she glanced at Apollo with a smirk.


    Soon, the two of them entered the gate without any obstructions.


    "Where do you live?" Apollo asked, intending to help her on the way home.


    "I live northwest of Klown," Bel said, her face scrunching up as her injury started acting up again. Even though she had already stopped the bleeding using the surrounding Qi, it didn''t mean the pain from the wounds had also stopped.


    "It''s not far from here," Apollo muttered. "I''ll take you there."


    However, Bel shook her head. "No need. Let''s just go there and sit. They will come for me."


    "Alright then," Apollo nodded and helped her to a closed store with a stool in front of it.


    After he sat her down, Apollo looked around the surroundings before he stared at Bel. "How do you know they are coming for you? I didn''t see you contact anyone." He asked out of curiosity.


    "They will know about it," Bel didn''t say anything else.


    "I see. Then I should get going," Apollo said. It was already midnight, and the pain from his back was becoming unbearable as time passed. He just wanted to go back to his beggar spot and heal the wounds the way Bel did.


    "Why don''t we wait for my men? They can take you to your place," Bel said, looking at him with worry in her eyes.


    "No need. I can take care of myself," Apollo insisted. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing him determined, Bel sighed. "But let me tell you something first. You said you cultivate on your own, right?"


    "Y-yes," Apollo nodded.


    "Why don''t you join me? You will be under my family, the Helflick Family," Bel offered before she continued. "Besides, cultivating alone without any affiliation is dangerous. Cultivators stronger than you can easily bully you."


    "I''m sorry, but I will have to refuse," Apollo declined. "I should get going now! Bye!"


    "W-wait!" Bel shouted, but the kid had already run quite a distance. He probably heard her but chose not to stop and continued running.


    Bel sighed, then immediately grimaced from her injuries.


    It didn''t take long for someone to arrive in front of her, riding a chariot with the Great Serpent Insignia on its side. This was a chariot especially given to the school''s top students so they could have leisure time outside the school.


    Bel had been using it since then. Her charioteer, June, jumped off from the rider''s seat while the two white horses stopped in front of Bel.


    "Are you okay, Miss?" June asked, evident worry in his voice. He wore a simple dark grey robe that covered his whole body, only revealing his face with streaks of black hair coming out from the robe. He was officially assigned by her family as a bodyguard to protect her at all times.


    "I''ve managed to stop the bleeding, but I need medicine," Bel said, standing up and walking towards the entrance of the chariot.


    "Here," June held out his hand with a silver, almost white, marble on it.


    "Thanks," Bel took the marble and ate it. Contrary to its hard appearance, the marble was actually soft and easy to swallow.


    "Miss," June called out to Bel in hesitation, who was already inside the chariot. "Your father is very angry."


    "I expected it," Bel said. "Sneaking out in the middle of the night just to find ''that'' person? Anyone would get angry."


    "I don''t know what punishment we will get, but I think it''s going to be harsher than the last time," June said bitterly while jumping into the driver''s seat.


    "June, I found something inside the forest."


    "What is it?" June asked while making the two white horses move.


    "Something sinister, horrid within¡­"


    ¡­


    Apollo arrived at his beggar spot, breathing heavily. The pain coming from his back was just too much. He gritted his teeth and took off his upper clothes. Then he reached out to touch his back, and a stinging pain came. Still, he managed to feel his back, which had become scorched. Almost half of his back had been burned by that attack before they made it out of the forest.


    It seemed that whatever had attacked him had some burning attributes.


    Bel didn''t notice that he was injured because she never looked at his back.


    "This f*cking hurts!" Apollo couldn''t help but shout in pain. He went inside that forest just to test his strength again and also to get back at the black wolves. Well, he did manage to kill four of them but still ended up getting injured in the end.


    Taking a deep breath to calm his mind, he glanced at his remaining Alm points.


    Alm Points: 2.


    With only two left, he couldn''t even buy the Health Potion that would help him heal his injuries. Was buying that Simple Sword Technique worth it? Apollo knew that even though he only learned the very basics of that technique, his fighting capabilities were definitely elevated.


    Worth it? Apollo couldn''t decide at the moment. Then he recalled how Bel managed to stop the bleeding of her wounds.

 Chapter 54 You Can Use Qi Like That?(Part-3)

    Copying her, he crossed his legs, took a couple of breaths, closed his eyes, and started feeling the Qi around him. She said that only those at the 4th-Step Foundation Building and above could command Qi, but for some reason, he could do it even though he was still at the 3rd-Step.Deciding to think about this further later, Apollo started gathering the Qi around him. Instead of inhaling it, he guided it towards his back and other parts of his body with small cuts.


    As soon as the Qi made contact with his back, Apollo expected to feel great pain, but contrary to his expectation, he felt a coolness that massaged his back. The pain vanished, followed by relief. He also noticed that the small cuts on his hands and legs closed up on their own, though their marks still remained.


    He guided the Qi for a while, making the wound on his back slightly better. However, it didn''t take long before he found the limit of this method. Because the wound was quite severe, he only managed to stop the burning sensation, heal the skin, and close the small cuts.


    But the Qi could only heal a small amount of muscle that had been burnt. No matter how many times the Qi touched it, nothing changed. Furthermore, it became painful instead of the comforting sensation he had felt earlier.


    Without a choice, Apollo opened his eyes and stopped healing using the Qi.


    "What''s happening?" Apollo muttered in confusion. But recalling what happened earlier, Bel could only manage to stop her wound from bleeding, and she was already at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage. She could only achieve this much. "But this is better than feeling that pain."


    The beggar sighed and put on his clothes. He looked at the moon in the sky while recalling his conversation with Bel.


    Apollo gained a lot from their conversation. He learned that there''s no cultivator his age. At seven years old, most of them are still training their body and mind, preparing to become a cultivator. But he was already at the 3rd-Step, and it wouldn''t be long before he reached the 4th-Step.


    So revealing his age, his name, and his cultivation to someone is a big no. Trouble will come if he does, which he doesn''t want. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She also said that cultivating alone without any affiliation to someone else or an organization is very dangerous. Apollo understood what she meant. Cultivation is not simple. That''s why there''s only one talented person in a thousand people who can achieve the Foundation Building Stage. They have a method to reach that stage besides their talents.


    What if people desired that method, no matter how simple it is? And what if those strong cultivators laid eyes on him, a defenseless and weak cultivator that they could easily bully and take advantage of?


    Apollo had already realized that people with strength in this world had the authority. If you are weak, you don''t have a say, unless you are brave enough to face the consequence of death.


    "I have to be more lowkey than before," Apollo muttered, though he knew it was just a matter of time before people found out that he was more than just a beggar. He was talented, smart, and handsome. This thought put a smug smile on his face.


    Then his thoughts went back to his injuries. Although he had managed to alleviate some of the damage, he knew that if he left it untreated, it would harm him more in the long run. He had to heal it as soon as possible.


    I need Alm points, Apollo thought. "But what will happen if my cultivation increases? Will it heal by itself?" the beggar muttered.


    How long will it take then? Apollo decided to look at his status screen and ask the system. However, the moment the interface appeared, another one materialized with the word ''Notification'' on top.


    Seeing this, Apollo was surprised before his surprise turned into shock when his eyes landed on the text written on the interface.


    "You have been marked by the Alphadusk Shadowtail.


    Because you have incurred the wrath of the Alpha, he put a mark on you. Alphadusk Shadowtail will hunt you no matter where you are. Kill or be killed. The time of the hunt depends on the Alpha and the situation."


    After reading this, Apollo couldn''t help but glance back at the moon. "Fck. Fck you."


    If he could see his back right now, he would see that a black mark had been engraved. It was where the burning sensation had come from.


    Apollo started regretting going back into that forest. If he had known about this, he would never have dared to step foot inside that forest filled with two-tailed wolves. Actually, Apollo had already considered that there was going to be an Alpha among them and had been careful not to make too much noise when he decided to hunt some Duskfang Shadowtails.


    But the situation changed, and he had to adjust.


    He also noticed that the notification was sent to him around the time he was hit in the back when he was carrying Bel. That Alphadusk Shadowtail must have been the culprit.


    After cursing at the sky for a while, Apollo sighed and waved his hand in front of him, making the interface disappear in a particle of light.


    "I should cultivate and think about this later," Apollo muttered. The notification said that the Alpha would hunt him depending on the situation. Well, it also meant that there was time for him to get stronger. Although this put pressure on him, he realized that it wouldn''t matter to get nervous. It was better to get stronger faster and earn more Alm points.


    With this thought in mind, he closed his eyes and started inhaling the Qi in the surroundings. Following the Simple Breathing Technique, which was obviously not as simple as he first thought it would be, he instructed the Qi in a pattern.


    Peace and calm, Apollo relished in this moment as he entered the ''void'' with only him and the Qi around.


    But unbeknownst to him, the hunt of the Alpha was not going to be a hunt, but a declaration of war.

 Chapter 55 Scrambled Eggs(Part-1)

    "So they are still holding on?" a man asked. He was wearing a brown medieval suit, simple but elegant. His body was not too thin and not too fat either, but the most noticeable feature was the bald patch on his head. He was currently inside a room, sitting while drinking a steaming cup of tea."Seems to be like that, Manager Fu," a man wearing the Skyline Savory attire said. It was a simple suit of dark blue and white with the name of the restaurant sewn on the right chest. This man was the personal assistant to the manager of this branch. With dark brown hair and black eyes, the man stood in front of Manager Fu with his hands behind his back.


    "Are they planning something?" Manager Fu muttered, his eyes glancing at the window that let him see what was happening downstairs. The workers of this branch were already up in the morning, preparing the plates and cleaning the place.


    Unlike the Filly restaurant with two floors for their diners, their restaurant only used the first floor for the patrons, while the second floor was where the kitchen and the staff were. However, the first floor had a partition: the common area and the VIP area where the wealthy and affluent ate.


    "Do you want me to investigate?" the assistant, Alek, asked.


    "No need. It''s just a matter of time before they close down. Even if they still have customers, it won''t be enough to cover their operational costs," Manager Fu said, a confident smile on his face.


    Alek also smiled. Being part of the greatest restaurant in the city, and probably in other cities too, made him feel proud. This gave him confidence to look down on commoners even though he was not a cultivator.


    "I have a question," Manager Fu turned back to his assistant.


    "Tell me, Manager Fu," Alek said.


    "There''s a beggar beside that little girl''s restaurant, right?" Manager Fu asked.


    Hearing the question, Alek thought for a while. "I think I saw him. It''s a kid. Around 8 or 9?"


    "So he''s really a beggar? Not just some kid playing around?" Manager Fu asked once more.


    "I think so. Why, Manager Fu?" Alek asked.


    "If that kid is a beggar, why haven''t they kicked him out yet? That will tarnish their reputation," Manager Fu said. "I think we''re missing something."


    "Do you want me to take care of him?" Alek asked, his eyes turning cold. Although he was not a cultivator, it didn''t mean he couldn''t hire one and let them do the job.


    "No need," Manager Fu shook his head. "That''s actually better. They tarnish their own reputation by not doing anything about that beggar."


    "Haha, you really are smart, Manager Fu," Alek praised the man in front of him with a smile.


    "Of course. And I also think that''s probably one of the reasons why their customers left them and decided to eat here!" Manager Fu said, laughing.


    "Hahahah!" Although Alek didn''t find it funny, he still laughed because that''s what a good employee does. Stroking your boss''s ego was one of the reasons why he had made it this far.


    ...


    As the early morning sun rose, the door to the Filly Restaurant opened, and Gail''s head peeked out. Seeing that the Skyline Savory branch was busy preparing for the day, she stepped outside and stood in front of their menu.


    She started writing on it before heading back inside the restaurant. Once inside, she immediately went upstairs to where Filly was situated.


    "It''s done," Gail said with a smile on her face.


    "Good," Filly nodded. "Now we wait until they discover it."


    "Okay, but¡­ why do we have to do it discreetly?" Gail tilted her head in confusion. "Can''t we just go advertise it to people so they will know that our menu has changed and new ingredients have been added?"


    Filly shook her head. "We can''t. Skyline Savory will definitely make a move. I wouldn''t even be surprised if they sent someone to spy on us and maybe steal the recipe to our new menu. Once they feel threatened, they will show their fangs." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, I get it," Gail finally understood.


    After a while, the two of them went out of the room and stood before the railings on the second floor to observe what was happening below. There were already two customers entering. Because it was still early in the morning, they decided to order a simple meal of milk and bread.


    However, when they saw the menu, they couldn''t help but look closer as they found something new.


    "What''s this? Scrambled Egg with Bread?" the woman muttered.


    "A monster egg, perhaps?" the man answered while glancing up at the waiter.


    "No, Sir and Ma''am, it''s just a normal egg but cooked differently," the server said. "Would you like to try it?"


    The couple looked at each other before they nodded. "Sure, two orders, please."


    "Coming right up!" The waiter took their menu before he went to the kitchen and relayed the order to the chefs.


    "I wonder if they will like it," Filly muttered while observing everything. Her eyes landed on the kitchen where she saw Temor immediately start cooking.


    "Although it''s simple, it''s delicious," Gail said from the side. "I didn''t know that eggs could be cooked like that."


    "It''s new to me too," Filly said with a chuckle. That ''beggar'' classified it as simple in the journal that he wrote, but this simple dish is too simple yet still delicious. There are a number of ''simple'' recipes in the journal that they still haven''t tried, but they knew that all of them must be delicious.


    They already believe that everything written in the journal is true and new, something that they hadn''t thought was possible.


    "It''s impossible without that oil," Gail said.


    "Shh!" Filly glared while making a quiet gesture.


    "S-sorry," Gail bowed her head.


    "Remember, Gail, oil is going to be our secret. Even if people know about the other ingredients, we do not say the word oil. We will never reveal our secret," Filly whispered so only the two of them could hear.


    Gail nodded vigorously.


    In no time, the couple''s meal was brought to them by the server.


    Two orders of milk and scrambled egg with bread.

 Chapter 56 Scrambled Eggs(Part-2)

    "What''s¡­ this?" the woman with a bob cut asked.Her partner, on the other hand, held a spoon and scooped some of it. Bringing the golden yellow dish, glistening with ''sparkles,'' in front of him, the man couldn''t help but gulp. Although he wasn''t sure how they made this, from what they ordered, it seemed to be the Scrambled Egg.


    The man sniffed, and his eyes widened. It was definitely egg, but it had a scent of saltiness and savory at the same time. He took another sniff while his eyes remained fixated on it. Comforting and very appetizing! Without any hesitation, he opened his mouth and put the spoon inside.


    Then he put the spoon down and started chewing. He only needed to take a bite or two before he swallowed it.


    The man sighed.


    "Is there something wrong, sir?" the server, who remained standing on the side, asked, concern evident in his voice.


    "No," the man shook his head and, with a slightly red face, continued to eat the egg. "It''s just too delicious! I''ve never tasted anything like this before!"


    His partner, the woman with a bob cut, watched him with wide eyes. She looked at her plate with curiosity.


    "Why don''t I lend you a hand, miss?" the server smiled as he took a knife and fork.


    "Sure," the woman nodded.


    Then the server started cutting the bread in half. "Putting the Scrambled Egg here will make it taste even better. Try it, miss."


    The server put some of the Scrambled Egg on top of the bread before stepping back.


    "T-thank you," the woman said, thanking the waiter. She then picked up the light brown bread with the fluffy golden yellow on top. She gulped when she saw the appearance up close, especially the glistening and how it wobbled when she moved her hand.


    She glanced in front and, seeing that her boyfriend was enjoying the meal, she smiled and ate the bread.


    The bread was common, like most restaurants offered, even here in Filly Restaurant. However, this time, its taste was amplified.


    This! The woman''s eyes widened in surprise. She could hear the crunchiness from the bread, but after a bite, what followed was a soft sensation, something fluffy and creamy attacking her palate. There was a bit of saltiness, watery and somewhat slippery, but the savory taste of egg came on top.


    Along with the taste of bread, they mingled to create an enticing meal.


    Seeing the two of them enjoying their food, the server smiled knowingly. They had also tasted this new dish as part of their job. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They had the same reaction: shock, surprise, amazement.


    When they heard that there was going to be a Skyline Savory branch in front of their restaurant, the servers thought they would lose their jobs because of it. And as they saw the number of their customers lessen, they started to lose hope.


    That was when they noticed the new addition to their menu. Every dish with meat on it had an additional word beside its name, "Cooked with Oil."


    And when they tasted it, the hope that had been extinguished was reignited.


    Filly Restaurant was fighting.


    Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the stairs, and the server glanced habitually. When he saw that the boss was walking towards them, the server stood up straight.


    "Hello, I am the owner of this restaurant, Filly Kleinford. Sorry for disturbing your meal," Filly said to the couple with a smile on her face.


    However, they were too focused on their food to notice her presence at all. Filly just smiled and watched them eat. Her eyes darted from their faces to their clothes and then to the dish on the table. They were enjoying it so much that they didn''t notice that someone important was in front of them.


    Important? This word caused Filly to scoff at herself in her mind. She had gotten used to being treated high and mighty by common people. Is it because she''s a noble? A noble, ha¡­ it''s not that important.


    As her eyes stayed on their plate, a realization struck her.


    Inside my restaurant, what''s more important is the food. This realization made her glance at the second floor, particularly where the wealthy and affluent usually eat.


    The couple finished their meal and only then did they notice that Filly was standing beside the server.


    "Oh my, sorry Miss Filly!" The woman immediately stood up while apologizing. Filly didn''t have to introduce herself, as she was quite well-known to the people who were eating here. She was a noble who decided to open a restaurant even though her family focused on Cultivation. As rumors spread fast, most of them already knew the story.


    "No worries, it should be me apologizing for trying to interrupt your meal," Filly said while also bowing.


    "No need to bow, Miss," The woman tried to stop her, but Filly still did so.


    "Haha, I should," Filly said before she glanced at their empty plate. "How was the meal?"


    "I must say, this is the best breakfast I''ve ever had in my entire life!" The woman replied with sparkling eyes.


    "Yup, I agree," the boyfriend nodded in agreement, though he couldn''t hide the disappointment in his voice when he noticed that their food was already gone.


    "That''s good to hear," Filly smiled. "Would you like to order again?"


    "Well¡­" the couple looked at each other for a moment before they glanced at their empty plate. "Sure, why not? It''s still early and we''re still not satisfied."


    "Haha, don''t worry, this round will be on us," Filly said with a laugh.


    "Really? But you don''t have to," The woman said.


    "Consider this as my appreciation for your feedback," Filly replied. She then glanced at the server, and the server nodded in understanding.


    "Then, thank you, Miss Filly,"


    "You''re welcome," Filly smiled before she went back upstairs.


    Gail, who was watching all this, followed after her boss. They entered the room again, and Filly sat on her chair.


    She sat there, one hand under her chin while the other tapped on the table.


    Seeing Filly this serious made Gail tilt her head. "Is there something wrong, Miss?"


    "I just realized something," Filly said. "I will remove the concept of status inside this restaurant. No more noble, no more class differentiation. If one enters as a diner, then they will have the same status as other diners."


    Gail''s eyes widened before a smile appeared on her face.


    "That''s a great idea, Miss."

 Chapter 57 Earn It Back(Part-1)

    "Ah, this sh*t still aches," Apollo muttered with a frown. "I need to buy a Health Potion."But looking at his remaining Alm points made him smile bitterly. To think that he actually believed he would be able to save up for real this time. However, reality proved him wrong. From 28 Alm points, he was left with just 2.


    Saving is so hard! Apollo thought in frustration. If he hadn''t gone out that night, he would still have those Alm points and wouldn''t be injured. But then, that woman would probably be a goner by now.


    Bel Helflick, was it? She should give me a reward or something.


    Apollo admitted that he was neither good nor evil. He just followed what he felt. At that time, when he saw Bel being surrounded by Duskfang Shadowtails, he had the urge to save her, so he did. Yes, he did feel regret after he was injured and had to use his Alm points. However, there''s nothing he could do at the moment but earn them back.


    Apollo decided not to eat for the time being and just continue to cultivate. He stood in front of his beggar spot where people could see him if they looked in his direction.


    He sat down, put his hands, palms up, above his forehead, and started following the pattern from the Simple Breathing Technique.


    The invitation that fell from one of the martial students from the Great Serpent Cultivation School also stated the time for the Advancement Examination, and there was only a week left before it started. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo expected that by that time, he would have reached the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage already.


    And the matter of exposing his identity? He already figured out a way, but to do that, he had to earn back Alm points.


    The beggar also decided that only when he completed the mission would he buy the item for his beggar spot, as the mission would award him a hundred Alm points once completed.


    So f*ck saving up! Nah, I''m just kidding. Apollo took a deep breath and started gathering the surrounding Qi.


    When he was about to move it within his body, he suddenly stopped. He opened his eyes and looked around the street. It was around 9 in the morning, and there were already a lot of people walking down the streets. They wore smiles on their faces while some looked disheartened for some unknown reason.


    There were also Martial Students from time to time entering the Skyline Savory branch across the street.


    While observing, the beggar''s face became serious as he recalled what Bel had told him.


    She said that only those at the 4th-Step Foundation Building and above can feel the Qi and command it according to their will. Then how come he can do it?


    Apollo frowned as this was a bad sign. What if a cultivator at that stage or even higher walked in front of him and suddenly noticed that the Qi around them was moving towards him? Isn''t it the same as telling them that he is a cultivator?


    Exposing himself to that woman from the Helflick Family was already a risky move; he didn''t want any more trouble coming his way.


    This made him stand up and return to his Beggar Spot.


    He sat back down inside his makeshift shelter made of trash he had found nearby. With his hand under his chin, he questioned the System.


    "Hey, System," Apollo called out.


    "Yes, Host?" The emotionless voice of the System echoed in his ears.


    "How come I can control the Qi around me even though this feat is only accessible to 4th-Step Foundation Building Cultivators and above?" Apollo asked.


    "This question can be answered by purchasing the Basics of Cultivation from the System Store. Would you like to buy the item?" The System replied immediately, its voice slightly higher than normal.


    Apollo''s mouth twitched along with his eyes. This motherf*cker! I only have 2 Alm points and you want me to buy that item worth a hundred?! And I''m just asking a question!


    "I thought you were an emotionless entity, but your voice changes when it comes to selling your products, eh?" Apollo squinted at the interface in front of him, seemingly looking at the System itself.


    The System remained silent, but the interface disappeared. This was its way of indicating it wouldn''t answer.


    Apollo sighed. Asking the System another question would probably be another futile effort. He was about to ask if those Cultivators who had reached the 4th-Step and above could sense that he could control the Qi around him even though he was only at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building. However, upon careful thought, it wouldn''t matter, as it wouldn''t be long before he reached that stage.


    Apollo went back in front of his beggar spot and started cultivating again. Hopefully, no one would discover that he could move the Qi. It didn''t take long for him to ignore the surrounding noise and plunge back into the deep darkness, with only him and the Qi entering his nose and mouth.


    ...


    As the sun reached its peak, a man with a bald patch on his head stood in front of a window on the second floor of the Skyline Savory branch. He gazed at the restaurant across the street with the plaque of Filly Restaurant.


    Seeing that there were more customers than usual, he couldn''t help but tilt his head in confusion.


    "Is something wrong, Manager Fu?" Alek''s voice came from behind.


    "Do you know how many customers that little girl had yesterday?" Manager Fu asked without taking his eyes off the restaurant across the street.


    "At this hour? They had about 10 to 11," Alek answered after careful thought. "Why?"


    "Because right now, they have about 18 customers," Manager Fu said without turning back. "And now 20," he continued as he saw two customers, a couple, entering the Filly Restaurant.


    "20?" Alek frowned when he heard this number. "On our opening, there were barely any who ate there, and even if they had customers following that day, it was probably just a few."


    Manager Fu nodded as he also knew this fact. "There''s something going on that we don''t know."

 Chapter 58 Earn It Back(Part-2)

    "Did they perhaps acquire monster meat of higher quality than ours?" Alek said, though it was more like he was talking to himself."It''s possible. But they would need to hire strong hunters," Manager Fu said. "Though I doubt that little girl has the funds. Her family is a cultivation family that focuses solely on cultivation. Her doing business is akin to lowering her status from the core family. They will only give her enough funds based on her status."


    "But why is her restaurant still holding on?" Alek asked before his eyes lit up. "Could it be that they have a supplier?"


    Hearing this, Manager Fu laughed.


    Alek couldn''t help but smile when he heard his boss laughing. So am I right? But in the next second, he realized that Manager Fu was laughing for a different reason.


    "Alek, they don''t have a supplier, and they never will," Manager Fu said, his chest puffing up with pride and a smirk appearing on his face.


    "W-what do you mean?" Alek couldn''t help but ask, curiosity brimming in his eyes.


    "It''s because¡­ Skyline Savory is the owner of all the meat suppliers in the city," Manager Fu turned around and glanced at his awe-stricken assistant.


    "A-all of them?" Alek asked.


    "All of them," Manager Fu nodded in confirmation.


    "So they are basically buying from us?" Alek looked at the Filly Restaurant through the window.


    "Haha, you are right," Manager Fu smiled. "Well, there''s also a possibility that they are buying their meat from other sources that Skyline Savory doesn''t know of or they procure their monster meat by hiring hunters. Nevertheless, from what I know, they are one of Skyline''s buyers."


    "That''s¡­ amazing!" Alek said with excitement.


    "Of course it is," Manager Fu said. "If they have better monster meat, we will know about it."


    "Right, but¨C" Alek trailed off. "How come they have more customers than yesterday?"


    The smile on Manager Fu''s face disappeared. He turned back to look at the restaurant. "Alek, they are buying from Skyline Savory, and our restaurant has the best monster meat in this city. We are the only ones who have that. No matter what gimmick they are doing, we''re still at the top."


    "We are still at the top," Alek repeated, puffing up his chest just like the manager.


    "I just wonder why¡­ Did they lower the prices?" Manager Fu muttered.


    Because of their close proximity, Alek heard it clearly. He put a hand under his chin and started thinking. Suddenly, he heard the voices of the patrons coming from the first floor.


    "Probably because they are after our customers? Around this time, all our tables and chairs are already filled. People will have to line up now in order to eat, and those who''re hungry don''t want that, right? So they don''t have a choice but to go to Filly."


    Hearing this caused Manager Fu''s eyes to light up. "They''re eating our leftover crumbs. Sneaky."


    "But don''t they know that people eat between an hour or two? And even if people leave the line, more patrons will come," Alek said to the side.


    "I was not wrong for picking you as my assistant," Manager Fu laughed and patted Alek''s shoulder.


    "Hahaha," Alek also laughed, feeling proud of his wits.


    ...


    Filly, who was in her room, sat in the corner with her legs crossed. Her breathing was steady, even slow compared to how she normally breathed.


    With her eyes closed, she continued to practice her breathing technique. Even though she wasn''t that focused on cultivation, it didn''t mean she would neglect it. She still cultivated every day, but not to the extreme of sitting there for the entire day. At most, she would cultivate for two hours. And right now, she was merely doing this for the sake of better skills and maintaining her strength.


    Furthermore, cultivating also cleared her mind. So she took this as a form of resting.


    Suddenly, a knock came from the door.


    Filly opened her eyes and went to answer it. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Miss, were you cultivating?" Gail asked hesitantly.


    "Yes, but no worries, I was just about to finish," Filly said. "What''s wrong?"


    Gail was about to say something when a shout came from the first floor.


    "Where''s the owner?!" A female voice echoed like thunder. "Show yourself!"


    "Well, that''s what I was about to say," Gail said bitterly before her eyes turned cold and bloodlust erupted. "I can take care of her; I just need your permission."


    "No," Filly shook her head, knowing full well what would happen if she agreed. "Let me handle this."


    "Okay," Gail withdrew her bloodlust, and her usual shy demeanor around her boss returned.


    They started walking toward the first floor, and along the way, Filly glanced down and saw a woman wearing a white gown that extended to her ankles. She immediately recognized the expensive clothing just by looking at those intricate patterns. The woman had someone beside her wearing a maid outfit.


    As she walked down the stairs, Filly and the customer locked eyes.


    "M-miss," someone went to Filly''s side with bandages on some parts of his body.


    "Ned, tell me what happened," Filly turned to Ned, who was already better than in previous days after he got beaten up by Apollo.


    "She wanted to¨C" Ned didn''t manage to finish his words as he was interrupted.


    "Filly, right?" The woman took a step forward and stood in front of Filly. "How dare you forbid me from going up to the second floor? Isn''t that where the VIP area is?"


    Oh, so this is the reason, Filly finally understood why this woman was angry.


    After she decided that there would be no more class differentiation in her restaurant, she immediately implemented it, making her workers forbid patrons from eating on the second floor. Filly was planning on turning the second floor into the same setup as the first floor so people could eat with each other no matter their status.


    At first, she wanted to put the kitchen there but thought otherwise when she considered her workers.


    "I''m sorry, but there''s no more VIP area in our restaurant. Besides, the second floor is currently being cleaned and reorganized," Filly said ''apologetically'' to the woman.


    "No more VIP?" The woman frowned when she heard this. "So you expect me, Charlotte, a noble, to eat here with these filthy commoners?!"


    Her words caused the other patrons to clench their teeth, but they didn''t dare to stand up for themselves. Their eyes then turned to the owner of the restaurant, seemingly expecting her to say something that might degrade them.

 Chapter 59 Earn It Back(Part-3)

    "Commoners?" Filly chuckled. "Here in my restaurant, there''s no such thing as commoners. Did you come here to eat or to flaunt your status? If it''s the latter, then get out. Food is what matters more in this restaurant."Hearing this made the diners look at her in a different light. Most of them came here to eat because of the new menus, while some were frequent diners since the opening of the restaurant and had stayed loyal ever since.


    Ned, on the other hand, smiled. Yeah, this is my goddess. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow, so your restaurant has fallen this low?" Charlotte looked around with disgust in her eyes. "To think Skyline Savory has also damaged your brain. This restaurant is no better than a commoner''s restaurant. If it weren''t for Skyline being full, I wouldn''t even be here."


    "Get out," Filly stated strongly.


    Charlotte stared at her from head to toe before she scoffed. "You call yourself a noble? You are a stain to that title."


    "Don''t make me repeat myself again," Filly said, her eyes looking at Charlotte coldly.


    Gail, on the other hand, took a step forward and released her killing intent. The temperature seemed to drop significantly, and people felt like there was a knife around their necks. This sensation was especially intense for Charlotte as she directly received the bloodlust.


    The maid beside Charlotte became worried. "Let''s go, Miss. This is dangerous."


    Charlotte was sweating, and her eyes were shaking with fear. In the end, she turned around ''angrily'' and started walking towards the door. "I won''t let this slide!"


    As the sound of the door closing echoed in the restaurant, the diners went back to eating while their eyes glanced at Filly with admiration.


    "That was quite a scene," Temor said from the side. He was happily cooking when he heard the commotion, so he naturally went out to watch.


    Filly sighed. She had expected this, just not so early. Then, as she glanced around, she noticed that there were more customers than yesterday.


    This is good, the restaurant is already showing signs of recovery, Filly thought. Just using oil alone can already attract them. She also noticed the frequent customers and couldn''t help but feel thankful for them.


    "Now that we''re here, why don''t we go into the kitchen?" Temor asked his boss, and Filly nodded. "I have something to show you."


    ¡­


    Two and a half days later.


    Ah, finally! I''m at the 4th-Step! Apollo thought in excitement. He brought up his Status Screen to see the changes.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 17


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    All this time, what he was doing was cultivating, eating, then back to cultivating. And the food that he ate was bread from Big Chub. Although it wasn''t that great, it was better than being hungry. He also earned an additional 15 Alm points.


    Buying that Wish Me Luck item at that time was worth it, Apollo thought. When his Alm points reached 5, he didn''t buy the Health Potion even though his back was aching and itchy. Instead, he bought the Wish Me Luck item, increasing his Luck by 9%.


    Then he waited for something to happen and, as expected, something did. A man was thrown out from the Skyline Savory branch across the street. The man flew up and landed beside him, his money falling out of his pocket. And, of course, as a good citizen, Apollo helped the guy by putting the coins in his own pocket.


    Apparently, that guy was bothering another patron, which led to a fight and caused the man to be kicked out by the restaurant''s guard.


    Apollo counted the Alm points that he got, earning him 20 Alm points. However, at that time, he felt greedy. He bought another Wish Me Luck item, and the random luck that he got was only at 1%, causing him to almost vomit blood. As expected, nothing happened. He had just wasted 5 Alm points. The beggar didn''t try to buy another one hastily, afraid that he would lose ''hard-earned'' points again.


    Back to the present, the sun was already on its way to meet the horizon.


    After the initial excitement, Apollo went back inside his Beggar Spot to feel his strength. He couldn''t go out anymore to that forest with some monster planning to hunt him down. It would be akin to suicide. He raised his fist and punched the air, causing it to explode and raise small winds around him.


    His clothes and hair made a flapping sound for a few seconds before they went back to normal.


    "Woah!" Apollo exclaimed in amazement. He looked at his fist and clenched it. This strength¡­ I feel like I could bulldoze through anything!


    This made him really want to test out his strength. But he couldn''t go to that forest anymore.


    "Training ground?" Apollo muttered. He could go there, but the only things worthwhile were the scarecrow and the weapons rack. There''s no need for him to use that scarecrow, as the only function it has is to measure one''s strength. The weapons rack, however¡­ He could use the sword to practice his Simple Sword Technique.


    "Well, if I''m going to participate in that Advancement Examination, I might as well practice my techniques," Apollo finally decided to go back to the training ground. "I don''t want to embarrass myself."


    With this thought in mind, he stood up and walked towards the direction of Big Chub''s stall. That guy closed before the sun went down. It didn''t take him long before he reached the stall, and Big Chub was already preparing to pack up his things.


    "Hey," Apollo greeted with a smile. "Are you going to close now?"


    "What''s up, kid, yeah I''m about to go home." Big Chub also smiled. "Are you going to buy something? I still have some."


    "Sure, give me two," Apollo said while taking out his coin.


    "Don''t bother to pay, kid, it''s on me," Big Chub said, handing him three breads instead of two.


    "Are you sure? I have money, you know," Apollo asked, though his hands had already grabbed the bread.


    "I''m going to throw it away anyway," Big Chub shrugged. "They wouldn''t last the night, and there''s no more beggar here besides you. Come to think of it, how come you didn''t get caught by the city guards?"


    "I think I''m lucky," Apollo said, biting the bread in half. "Or they are just busy?"


    "Busy?" Big Chub raised an eyebrow before he thought of something. "You''re probably right. Some big shots are coming to this city. They are even ordering us not to sell for the time being, not until the event is finished."


    "Eh? That''s bad," Apollo said with his mouth full.


    "I know, right? That event will last for at least a week!" Big Chub sighed, then pointed at a stall a few meters away. "Also, look at that. The city is setting up its own stall for the sake of their visitors. So they want to be the only ones to earn money?"


    Apollo glanced in the direction he was pointing and saw a bunch of people building a stall that was definitely bigger and more spacious than Big Chub''s and the other vendors'' stalls.

 Chapter 60 Yoma(Part-1)

    "Maybe because they wanted the visitors to think they have such great streets that even the vendors on the side are extravagant," Apollo commented, finishing the bread in his hand."Those people sure are good at pretending," Big Chub said, shaking his head.


    "Do you know who the visitors are?" Apollo couldn''t help but ask. For the city to make such great efforts to set up their own stall just to keep up appearances for the sake of the visitors, they must be really important.


    "I don''t know, but if I''m going to guess, it''s probably those high and mighty officials from other cities," Big Chub said while putting the table inside the handcart. Then he started sweeping the floor.


    "Officials? Makes sense," Apollo nodded, understanding what he meant.


    "Makes sense?" Big Chub looked up at the beggar. "Hey, don''t act like you know what I meant. Haven''t you only asked for basic information since we first met?"


    Hearing this caused Apollo to cough.


    "Hahaha," Big Chub laughed. "You should go home now, kid. It''s getting late."


    "Then see you in a week?" Apollo asked, taking a big bite of his remaining bread.


    "You should visit me sometime. I live further down the road. Just ask where Slumstreet is; people will tell you." Big Chub said before he waved his hand and started pulling his handcart.


    "Okay!" Apollo said. He watched as Big Chub''s figure got smaller and smaller while the sun finally hid behind the horizon.


    Slumstreet? I never knew such a place existed. Well, Apollo hasn''t really explored the city that much, so there are still places he doesn''t know of.


    After eating all his bread, he started walking towards the training ground.


    Fortunately, with the cleaning bead with him, he doesn''t appear to be a beggar, as his robes became as good as new when using the cleaning bead. But he still makes sure not to attract too much attention to himself. What if some people recognize him, as he''s always sitting beside Filly''s Restaurant and in front of the Skyline Savory branch?


    Apollo looked around while walking the street and found out there weren''t many martial students roaming around.


    There are only a few days left before the Advancement Examination begins, and they are probably training or cultivating to increase their strength.


    Although he''s joining for an entirely different reason, he still needs to train in order to complete his mission. Killing an experienced 4th-Step Foundation Building stage opponent is going to be harder when there''s a possibility that the man he''s going to kill has already reached the Qi Condensation stage.


    How is he going to do that when he still doesn''t know the details of the exam? Apollo already had a plan. That man is a man of pride and ego; he will never settle for less and he will try to reach the very top. There''s a high chance that they will meet if Apollo aims for the top spot. And even if there''s no chance, the beggar will create one.


    As a man who became the wealthiest person in his previous life, being cunning is one of the requirements to achieve that feat.


    Soon, Apollo arrived at his destination. He expected that no one would be at the training ground at this hour. However, contrary to his expectations, there were a few martial students training with each other or alone.


    Some of them noticed the newcomer but only took a glance before they went back to their training.


    Apollo was relieved that no one tried to approach him just so they could feel superior and bully the ''weak.'' If someone did, he could use them as a sparring partner to get used to his new strength.


    But it would be better if that really happened, Apollo thought before he shook his head and started walking towards the weapon rack.


    He looked at each of the weapons and found that although they were made of wood, they were still carved with sharpness.


    Apollo reached out his hand and took hold of a sword. His Simple Sword Technique immediately made him familiar with the wooden sword as if it were his own hand.


    He casually swung it and the wooden sword sliced the air. Apollo heard a very thin whooshing sound, causing the grass on the ground to sway to one side.


    Although his mastery over his sword technique was just about the basics, his strength made it seem like a completely different technique.


    "This is cool," Apollo muttered with a smile on his face. "A simple sword slice can already produce this effect." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a confident smile, he looked up from the grass, and his smile became stiff. A few meters away, two martial students were fighting with each other, each wielding a sword... a glowing sword! And when they clashed, their swords erupted in magnificent lights. Strong winds made their clothes flap and raised dust clouds in the air.


    Apollo''s eyes widened at the scene. "This! W-what''s this?!"


    Every sword clash was heavy and colorful. The beggar felt like he was watching a sci-fi or fantasy movie.


    Soon the two men stopped their sparring, sweat dripping from their faces.


    Even after they were done, Apollo couldn''t get rid of the surprise on his face. He had felt good about himself that he could send airwaves with just a slice of his sword, but the moment he looked up, someone was sparring with glowing swords! And every attack was powerful and beautiful at the same time!


    His eyes glanced at the weapons they were using, and his confidence took another blow when he saw they were wooden swords just like the one he was holding!


    "Sloppy. The sword technique is not perfect, only suitable for 3rd-Step and below," someone said behind the beggar.


    Apollo visibly tensed. Someone is behind me without me noticing? He slowly turned around, and a man wearing a dark grey robe and a bamboo hat was standing a few feet behind him.


    "You are¡­ Sir Guo, right?" Apollo asked hesitantly.


    "Correct," Sir Guo said, his eyes glancing at Apollo. "You are not a student at any Martial School in this city. What''s your name?"


    Apollo''s face became serious, his previous surprise completely gone.


    "My name? I''m Yoma," Apollo said, using the fake name he had come up with.


    "Yoma? What a very strange name," Sir Guo said, observing the kid in front of him.


    Yomama is the strange one, Apollo thought but didn''t dare to say it out loud.

 Chapter 61 Yoma(Part-2)

    So what I''ve seen is just an incomplete technique suitable for 3rd-Step Foundation Building and below? Apollo thought, his eyes glancing back at the two martial students who were already talking with each other, probably discussing their previous spar.Well, come to think of it, his sword technique is called Simple Sword Technique, and the word ''simple'' is already in it. Being excited about only producing air waves with every attack is not something to be proud of.


    "So tell me, Yoma, why are you here?" Sir Guo asked, curiosity evident in his voice.


    "Am I obligated to tell you that?" Apollo asked back. This is the second time that he said these words as this is not the first time the two of them met.


    "Not really," Sir Guo shook his head with a smile. "I''m just curious, that''s all."


    Apollo stared at the man with the bamboo hat with squinted eyes before he smiled. "I''m joining the Advancement Examination."


    "Oh? You stole one of the invitations?" Sir Guo asked.


    "Sort of," Apollo didn''t go into details. How could he? Should he say some martial student was thrown beside his feet, unconscious, and the moment he woke up and left, the invitation fell from his pocket? That''s too much of a coincidence, isn''t it?


    "Is that so?" Sir Guo raised an eyebrow.


    "Yup," Apollo nodded. "By the way, you seem to be an important figure here. Do you know the details about the Advancement?"


    Sir Guo went silent for a while before he opened his mouth. "You have an invitation but don''t know anything about the examination? You are not from here."


    The beggar didn''t answer and just continued staring at the man with the bamboo hat.


    "You are a strange kid," Sir Guo said. "You caught my attention, but¡­ I''m also not particular about the details. However, if there''s something I''m sure of, this year will be interesting."


    Useless, Apollo immediately thought with disappointment. Why did I even bother asking?


    "What? Disappointed? You should be glad that I even answered your question," Sir Guo frowned.


    "No, I''m actually glad, Sir Guo!" Apollo said, almost shouting from ''excitement.''


    "That should be it," Sir Guo smiled. "If you are going to train, then train. I should go back to cultivating."


    "Sure, sure." Apollo nodded, waving his hand.


    The man with the bamboo hat walked towards the platform in the middle of the training ground and sat on its step.


    Apollo recalled that this man was a creep who liked staring at women. He looked around and found that there were no women in sight. Don''t tell me he also likes men? This made him more disgusted with Sir Guo, especially when that guy said he caught his attention.


    Although he didn''t know Sir Guo''s position, he seemed to be an important figure, seeing that the martial students were looking at him with fear and admiration. It''s better not to have too much interaction with people like him.


    Shaking his head, the beggar went to find his spot.


    Apollo looked around once more and saw a man surrounded by translucent swords. He was waving the wooden sword in his hand, making the translucent swords around him follow his movements.


    The beggar turned to the side and noticed a man dashing from left to right, leaving an afterimage behind.


    Apollo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His confidence had taken such a toll that he just wanted to find a hole and hide inside forever.


    Sir Guo mentioned that the two men who sparred earlier were using a Sword Technique only suitable for 3rd-Step and below. So there''s a high possibility that the others here are the same.


    Even with low cultivation, as long as they have good Techniques, their strength will receive an enormous boost.


    The upcoming Advancement Examination will likely be a competition. They even said that there''s going to be a battle test.


    Apollo will have to fight these cultivators with such techniques. Even with his 4th-Step Foundation Building cultivation, it won''t guarantee that he will win, let alone kill that guy to complete his mission.


    If even a 3rd-Step Foundation Building cultivator has such Techniques, what about Arke? A more experienced cultivator?


    Just thinking about this stressed the beggar. "Sh*t! Just focus!" Apollo cursed. He closed his eyes, raised the sword in front of him, and slashed.


    The feeling of cutting the air, producing sharp sounds, and sending airwaves calmed his chaotic mind.


    It''s just a simple cut that even a toddler could do. There''s no extravagant effect, but the strength behind it is evident. However, when one compares it to what the martial students did previously, it''s miles apart. That''s what Apollo thinks.


    Following the movement from the Simple Sword Technique, Apollo kept slashing with the same motion.


    At first, his movements were not steady, but as time passed, he felt like he became a robot, moving with precise motion.


    Raising his sword high, the beggar brought it down in a forceful motion. However, this time, the sword didn''t create a whistling sound nor was wind brought up.


    "Eh?" Apollo couldn''t help but tilt his head. "What''s happening?"


    He raised his sword and slashed again. But the same thing happened for the second time. The attack became so simple that it couldn''t even be considered an attack. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With confusion written on his face, Apollo searched for the reason inside his mind. As the Simple Sword Technique was etched deep inside his mind, he immediately found out the reason why.


    Wait, that''s it?


    "Once an attack is perfected, the sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered before a frown appeared on his face. "What the actual f*ck does that mean?!"


    Out of frustration, he waved the sword horizontally, and the sword made a whistling sound followed by wind that messed up his hair and raised up dust.


    "Eh? It''s back?" Apollo became more confused. He raised his sword and brought it down, but the attack didn''t produce the same effect as it did just now.


    The beggar raised it in front of his eyes but found that nothing was strange with the wooden sword. Suddenly, he realized something.


    He slashed the wooden sword horizontally, and the whistling sound came back. Then Apollo raised his hand before bringing it down. The sword acted like a stick, simple and weak.

 Chapter 62 Yoma(Part-3)

    "Once an attack is perfected, the sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered. Although it was confusing at first, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He couldn''t put it into words, but somehow, he understood it. An understanding that only he could grasp.Vertical Slash, Horizontal Slash, Diagonal Slash, Stab, Block, Deflect, Disarm¡­ Apollo recalled all the moves from the Simple Sword Technique and the training method to perfect them. All he had to do was keep practicing, which he did with the Vertical Slash. But isn''t it too fast to perfect it?


    Maybe because the sword technique is really simple.


    Compared to the eye-catching techniques the martial students could do, his technique was simply child''s play.


    But if my Horizontal Slash is already perfect, how come it doesn''t produce much strength? He looked around and saw the scarecrows that could measure strength. There was a martial student testing his strength on one with a sword in hand.


    The scarecrow could also act as a training dummy? This made Apollo want to test out his sword technique on it. Although he wasn''t expecting much, he should at least know the strength of his attack. But the beggar decided to perfect every sword attack first.


    Holding the wooden sword with both hands, he sliced horizontally. The sword created a whistling sound and sent airwaves in front of him. Just like with the Vertical Slash, he kept practicing the attack, again and again, until he lost track of time.


    As his breathing grew heavy and sweat covered his forehead, with one final slash, the Horizontal Slash finally became silent and ''uneventful.''


    Apollo wiped his sweat with his sleeves. He rested for a bit before trying the Horizontal Slash again. Just like what happened with the Vertical Slash, the sword attack became nothing but a simple swing.


    Still, Apollo didn''t underestimate the technique, as he still didn''t know if there was something else. After resting for a bit, he took a deep breath to calm his heavy breathing before practicing the Diagonal Slash this time. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sound of air being sliced echoed, but because there were martial students in the training ground also practicing their techniques, the sound coming from the beggar was drowned out.


    There was only one particular person observing him.


    "What''s wrong with this kid?" Sir Guo muttered in confusion. He already knew that the kid was hiding something. That kid Yoma is a beggar, according to the martial student Bernie, but can a beggar defeat a Cultivator who has undergone training and studied in a Martial School? Highly unlikely.


    This kid¡­ or man? "A wanderer?" Sir Guo muttered. A wanderer seemed the most plausible explanation, but¡­ what the hell was a wanderer like him doing? He watched Yoma swing his sword like how military men train. Although the strength behind it was something that only comes from a 4th-Step Foundation Building Cultivator, his technique was just a simple sword slash. No fancy special effects whatsoever.


    If Yoma is a Wanderer acting like a beggar, why is he also acting like a fool? This confused Sir Guo.


    Wanderers, or sometimes called Rogue Cultivators, are those Cultivators who don''t belong to any association or organization. They cultivate alone with their Cultivation techniques that they got from relics, passed down from their family, Martial Schools, or from other ways.


    Sir Guo had met some Wanderers and even made friends with them, but he had never met someone this young. It was impossible for a kid to have reached the 4th-Step Foundation Building, and Sir Guo couldn''t detect Qi inside the boy.


    So there was only one explanation he could conclude at the moment. This ''kid'' was actually a grown-up man.


    "You''re a grown *ss man and acting like this?" Sir Guo muttered while shaking his head. "What a shame."


    ¡­


    After perfecting the diagonal slash, Apollo moved on to perfect the other slashes. Each attacking method took him at least 30 minutes to complete, and the longest took him an hour, which was the stabbing attack. However, he couldn''t proceed to perfect the block, deflect, and disarm techniques as he didn''t have a sparring partner.


    Apollo raised his wooden sword and brought it down. Then he followed up by slicing the air horizontally before doing the diagonal slash and the stab. Each attack was so simple one might think it couldn''t even kill a chicken.


    Apollo sighed. He was also skeptical about all this. But he still believed in the Simple Sword Technique that came from the System Store. Even the Simple Breathing Technique was such a godly technique that it made him a super genius. At 7 years old, he was already at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage while his peers were still training their bodies to be able to cultivate.


    But unbeknownst to him, the Simple Sword Technique and the Simple Breathing Technique were actually what their names implied. They were just really simple techniques.


    Apollo''s once-in-a-million-years talent made him cultivate faster than anyone else, even though he was just using the Simple Breathing Technique. This also applied to the Simple Sword Technique. It was a Sword Technique worth 25 Alm points that only consisted of the basics of every sword technique.


    The beggar immediately perfected it and unknowingly went beyond it, making the Simple Sword Technique his own creation.


    This was the main reason he reigned on top of his previous world. But the beggar didn''t know this.


    Apollo raised the wooden sword in front of him, recalling the details of the Simple Sword Technique. He suddenly felt like there was more to the technique than what was inside his mind.


    "Anyway, it''s time to test out the strength!" Apollo muttered in excitement. He glanced in the direction of the scarecrows and found no one was using the training dummy. In fact, he was the only one left here.


    Apollo smiled bitterly. Even that creepy man had left already.


    He looked at the position of the moon and stars and concluded that the time must be between 9 and 10. Although the sky above was different from his previous life, after looking at it every night, Apollo could somehow manage to tell the time.


    Shaking his head, he walked towards the nearest scarecrow.


    Upon standing in front of it, Apollo raised the wooden sword in front of him.


    "The sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered. Although this came from the Simple Sword Technique, the more he repeated it, the more he felt that these were his own words.


    While still in doubt, Apollo brought down the wooden sword.


    He felt a slight resistance before the trajectory of his sword became smooth. After the swing, Apollo observed the scarecrow before he turned to the vertical stone beside it. The water level didn''t change.


    "What a crappy technique," Apollo said in annoyance. "It''s definitely not a sword anymore, it turned into nothing but a toy that couldn''t even produce much strength! Heck! Even a toy could hurt someone!"


    Feeling disappointed and angry at the System that scammed him out of 25 Alm points, he thought, F*ck you, System!


    He was about to hit the scarecrow out of frustration when suddenly, it fell to the ground, split on both sides.


    "Eh?"

 Chapter 63 Yoma(Part-4)

    Looking at the split scarecrow, Apollo couldn''t help but be surprised. "I did that?" He raised the wooden sword to observe it closely. The wooden sword had sharp edges, but they weren''t enough to cut into anything unless it was paper.Apollo glanced at the half scarecrow and then at the sword in front of him.


    Suddenly, the earlier scene of a martial student using this scarecrow as a training dummy came to mind. Is it because of him? Apollo frowned.


    There was only one way to find out. Apollo turned to the other scarecrows. They were scattered across the training ground, originally numbering ten. Now there were only nine remaining.


    He walked to the nearest scarecrow, took a look around to make sure no one was watching, and, finding no one, he attacked the scarecrow with a horizontal slash. He felt the same slight resistance before the sword''s trajectory became smooth.


    Apollo waited.


    A second or two later, the wind blew in his direction, causing the upper half of the scarecrow to fall to the ground.


    Apollo could feel Qi leaving from the fallen scarecrow half.


    "Woah!" The beggar exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise¡­ and excitement. "Sh*t, I can do that?"


    He thought his attack was weak because it didn''t produce much of a ''special effect,'' but contrary to his expectation, he could slice this scarecrow that was meant to handle attacks! Even that previous martial student could only make the scarecrow sway from side to side. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Enveloped in excitement, he turned to the other scarecrows, walked to the nearest one, and slashed his sword in a diagonal slash. The top of the scarecrow slid diagonally, falling to the ground with a thud.


    Good! Apollo tried another attack on another scarecrow. Stab!


    Like cutting tofu, the wooden sword passed through the thick leather filled with Qi that reinforced its whole structure. The beggar pulled the sword out and looked inside the hole, seeing the other side of the training ground with shining eyes.


    Filled with exhilaration, Apollo visited each scarecrow and used his sword technique on them.


    "Hahaha!" Apollo laughed, seeing the last training dummy fall to the ground split on both sides. Feeling cool and amazed with himself, he raised the wooden sword and put it on his shoulder.


    However, the next moment his laughing face turned stiff. He felt a burning sensation on his shoulder. Turning to his right where he placed the wooden sword, he saw blood seeping out from the point of contact.


    "What the f*ck?! Ouch!" Apollo cursed in pain. He lifted the wooden sword, and blood gushed out from his right shoulder. Come on, friendly fire?!


    He immediately sat down and gathered the Qi around him, guiding it to his right shoulder. The burning sensation was met with a cooling feeling from the Qi, and the beggar sighed in relief.


    After a while, the wound stopped bleeding, and it was just a matter of time before it fully closed, though a scar would be left. He would have to use a Health Potion to fully heal everything, including the scars. But with his current Alm points, Apollo didn''t want to waste even one of them.


    "My back isn''t even fully healed yet and I''m injured again?" Apollo muttered in frustration. He raised his right hand and swung it around. Fortunately, the wound didn''t affect his ability to move his arm. This also served as a lesson for him not to casually play with sharp objects.


    He glanced at the wooden sword on the ground, deep in thought.


    "Once an attack is perfected, the sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered the sentence again. "Dull or not, I could use anything to cut anything."


    This understanding made him hold the wooden sword once more. He made sure not to do that foolishness again. Just thinking about it made him want to break this sword in two.


    "Be good to me because you are mine now," Apollo said to the wooden sword. The wind blew, messing up his hair and clothes. It felt like the sword was answering him.


    Although the wooden sword looked sloppy, when Apollo wielded it, it became as sharp as a real sword. He could cut the training dummy even though the other martial students couldn''t. Or were they not purposely cutting it? This thought made him glance at the scarecrows on the ground.


    "Sh*t, did I mess up?" Apollo whispered, but there was no bitterness in his voice. No one was looking; what should he worry about?


    The beggar smiled and was about to place the sword on his shoulder when he stopped midway and immediately pointed the sword towards the ground.


    "D*mnit! You almost got me!" Apollo shook his head with a sigh. "I should head back."


    Apollo glanced around once more before he walked towards the street that would lead him back. Along the way, he couldn''t help but think it would be better if there was someone he could spar with. He wanted to test his strength in a fight and also see the capabilities of the Simple Sword Technique. The beggar had long since ''realized'' that the technique was not as simple as the name implied.


    Filled with disappointment, he casually walked back.


    But the heavens seemed to have heard his wish as, in the next moment, someone shouted from his right. Apollo turned to the sound and raised an eyebrow.


    "Beggar!"


    "You are¡­ that guy?" Apollo asked, staring at the thin man with one bridge spectacle placed on his nose. It was a wonder how those glasses hadn''t fallen yet.


    The thin man wore a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on the left chest. However, compared to what the beggar had seen from the other martial students from the Great Serpent Martial School, the man''s clothes were filled with holes and tears. He resembled more of a beggar than Apollo.


    Apollo couldn''t remember the thin man''s name, probably because no one had mentioned it, but he knew him. It was the same guy he fought on the platform in the middle of this training ground.


    "Because of you, I lost it all!" Bernie shouted with a hoarse voice. His eyes were red, and his lips were cracked. "I lost it! I lost it! My life! I was supposed to be among them, the elites!


    I was supposed to be looking down on people like you! It''s because of you!"

 Chapter 64 Red Whirlwind(Part-1)

    "This is classic," Apollo muttered with a hint of amusement in his voice. "After defeating a bad guy, he comes back for revenge. Clich¨¦ but¡­ you arrived at the right time.""You are just a beggar! A f*cking beggar! How dare you ruin my life!" Bernie shouted, his voice so hoarse that some of the words became incoherent. But the beggar could still understand him.


    Bernie started walking towards Apollo, his steps unstable, and one might think he would fall immediately. But he remained determined.


    Seeing this, Apollo raised an eyebrow. He remembered that this guy was a Half-step or at the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage when they first fought. At that time, although it took some time, the beggar still managed to defeat the thin man.


    Apollo sniffed, and the smell of alcohol entered his nose. Just based on the smell, this guy was extremely drunk.


    "You!" Bernie stopped a few feet away from the beggar. "Are you happy, huh?! Do you want to laugh?! Lau¡ªhiccup! Laugh at me!"


    "Hey man, think through your actions wisely," Apollo tried to persuade the man. "I get it, okay? You lost something after I defeated you, but is it really my fault? Isn''t it because you were not competent enough to defeat me?"


    "F*ck you! Hiccup! It''s impossible for someone like me to be defeated by a beggar! Hiccup! You must have done something!" Bernie shouted at the top of his lungs. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seems talk no jutsu won''t work on this guy, Apollo thought. "So you want revenge?"


    "Hell yeah! I''ll f*cking kill you! Hiccup! Tear you into pieces and eat your flesh!" Bernie''s face became red as blood vessels threatened to erupt.


    "You''ve been talking too much; let''s just get this over with," Apollo said with a sigh. He was confident that this was going to be an easy battle, as the beggar had already defeated this guy when he was still at the Half-Step Foundation Building stage. His strength was far beyond that point already, and Apollo didn''t think much of his opponent besides him being drunk.


    Furthermore, Apollo also wanted to see if he could cut this guy with his wooden sword. Killing someone? From the looks of it, this thin man would definitely kill him; no doubt about that. Apollo was not a person who would let others bully him. If someone was going to kill him, he would make sure he did the same.


    "Don''t, hiccup! Underestimate me! I''ve been dreaming about this! Hiccup! Hahaha!" Bernie laughed out loud, his hoarse voice sounding like a monster in this dark night. Then he raised his hand and pointed towards the beggar.


    "I have taken great effort just to steal this one."


    Hearing this, Apollo squinted, and his relaxed face turned serious. What does he mean by that? He stole something? What is it? The beggar''s doubt was immediately answered in the next second.


    "Die, beggar!" Bernie declared, and suddenly, in front of his palm, a bright red whirlwind appeared, causing the grass around them to sway chaotically.


    Apollo''s eyes widened. He felt a threat coming his way.


    With a whooshing sound, the red whirlwind flew towards the beggar''s direction. Feeling the stinging air, Apollo utilized his Simple Movement Technique and jumped to the side. This technique is just like the Simple Sword Technique, requiring movement that has to be perfected. Apollo also wanted to master this technique before the Advancement Examination began.


    But right now, he had to make use of his current progress with the Simple Movement Technique.


    As the sound of ground tearing from the attack echoed, Apollo saw that the thin man was preparing to send another attack.


    "I have to stop him!" Apollo''s eyes became cold. He bent his knees and, with the strength of a 4th-Step Foundation Building Cultivator, dashed towards his opponent!


    "Beggar! I won''t let you!" Bernie shouted and immediately sent the red whirlwind towards the beggar, even though the whirlwind was not yet at its full strength, just like the first attack he sent.


    But it was enough to push Apollo backwards.


    Apollo crossed his hands, blocking the red whirlwind. "Argh!" He gritted his teeth while his body was pushed 3 to 4 meters away from the thin man.


    After the attack disappeared, Apollo could feel a burning sensation on his arms. Glancing at them, he saw that they were red. Fortunately, the only thing he received was a bruise on his skin that covered the side of his arms that blocked the attack.


    "Hahaha! Hiccup! Take this!" Bernie laughed with excitement upon seeing that he succeeded in hurting the beggar. He raised his hand once more to prepare for another round of attack.


    Apollo squinted while his mind worked. The second attack was much weaker compared to the first release. Bernie had to channel his Qi for each attack, which needed a few seconds to use at full strength.


    The beggar immediately found a weakness. I have to disrupt him before he can use the full strength of his attack, Apollo thought. With this in mind, Apollo used one of the movements from the Simple Movement Technique that allowed him to cross a distance quickly. Coupled with his raw strength, the beggar almost became a blur and instantly appeared on the side of the thin man.


    "Gotcha," Apollo smirked while using the Stab attack, aiming at Bernie''s neck.


    However, in the next second, Bernie pointed his hand at the beggar, the red whirlwind in front of his palm following along.


    "Sh*t!" Apollo cursed, but without time to shield himself, the small red whirlwind landed on his body, sending him backwards.


    The beggar flipped a few times before he landed on his feet. He looked at his chest and saw that the robe was shredded. Fortunately, he didn''t receive much injury.


    Because it was sudden, Bernie had to immediately send the red whirlwind in order to protect himself.


    "You can''t defeat me, kid! Hiccup! You will never be able to defeat me! I''m above you!" Bernie shouted with a crazed laugh.


    Apollo went silent. He recalled what had just happened, and a plan came to mind. The thin man was definitely weaker and slower than him, but because Apollo didn''t know what his opponent could do, he found himself at a disadvantage. However, that''s only going to happen at the start.


    Now that he knew that the red whirlwind stayed in front of the thin man''s palm even if he moved around, Apollo came up with a strategy. All he had to do was¡ª


    Suddenly, a strong wind assaulted him, messing up his hair and creating a flapping sound in his clothes. Apollo raised his wooden sword in front of him out of instinct, and what happened next made him discard his plan.


    "Or this will do," Apollo muttered, a smirk forming on his face as the red whirlwind that was sent towards him while he was deep in thought was cut in half by his wooden sword.

 Chapter 65 Red Whirlwind(Part-2)

    "Hiccup!" Bernie didn''t seem to realize what had just happened as he raised his hand once more, pointing it at the beggar who was now walking towards him. "Come here! Hiccup! You must be very, Hiccup! Afraid! Right?Right?!"


    "Yeah, I am," Apollo said, but his calm voice told otherwise. He could actually cut the projectiles the thin man was throwing and hadn''t even put much strength behind it, only raising his sword out of instinct. However, just to make sure, he wanted to confirm it again. "Throw another one, maybe it will kill me this time."


    Hearing this, Bernie felt like he was being humiliated. "I''m only playing with Hiccup! You! You really want to die, huh?! Then take this!"


    A red whirlwind was hurled towards the beggar, tearing the grass on the ground while a strong whistling sound echoed in the area.


    Apollo placed the wooden sword in front of him and waited for the attack to land. He could see that behind those cringe-worthy words the thin man said, he packed quite a bit of power and Qi into this one.


    As the red whirlwind was only a few feet away from him, the beggar raised the sword higher.


    Vertical Slash!


    The wooden sword didn''t make a sound and just moved as if it were in the vacuum of space. The moment it touched the projectile, the sword continued all the way down without meeting any resistance and, with a whooshing sound, the red whirlwind was cut in half!


    "How''d you like¡ª Hiccup!" Bernie didn''t manage to finish his words when he saw that scene, his drunk mind slowly clearing up.


    "I knew it," Apollo smiled. He brought the sword in front of his eyes and smacked his lips. "You are full of surprises."


    Apollo knew that it wasn''t because of the sword, but because of the Simple Sword Technique. A sword is meant to cut, not to be flashy or produce special effects.


    "You¡­ This is wrong!" Bernie shouted while clutching his head. "Wrong! How could you! No!"


    "This guy is crazy," Apollo muttered, shaking his head.


    "Hiccup! F*ck you! I can still defeat you!" Bernie raised his hand again and fired another red whirlwind.


    But the beggar only had to raise the sword and slice the attack halfheartedly.


    "Die! Die!" Bernie didn''t stop at just one; he continued to fire while shouting at the same time. The blood vessels in his eyes had already erupted, making his red eyes even redder. The current Bernie resembled a demon, but contrary to his appearance, his heart that had been burning with rage and confidence a few moments ago was now beating with fear and anxiety.


    He went through a lot of trouble just to steal this ''deadly'' technique even though he wasn''t fully qualified to learn it because of his lack of cultivation. After forcefully learning it at the Beginner Stage, he immediately went to find the Beggar. However, no matter where he looked, he couldn''t find him.


    Frustrated and feeling disappointed, he decided to drink alcohol at the bar. He kept drinking until he got drunk. That''s when he went out of the bar and saw some martial students. Even though he was drunk, an idea came to his mind as the martial students came from the direction of the training ground.


    Hoping to find the beggar there, Bernie went to the training ground, and his decision was proven correct when he saw Apollo. This made his thirst for revenge act up.


    Because of the beggar, he was kicked out of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Bernie blamed the beggar even though it was his own fault for stealing a cultivation technique from the school''s library, the Air Palm Explosion.


    If it weren''t for him, Bernie wouldn''t have revealed that technique, which caused him to be expelled. Yeah, it''s the beggar''s fault, not mine. How can someone lower than me dare to humiliate me like that? This thought made the fury in Bernie''s heart reach its highest point.


    But despite all this, the current situation made Bernie rethink his choices.


    How is this guy so strong?! Bernie kept sending red whirlwinds, but the beggar cut through them like it was nothing! Suddenly, he could taste a strong metallic tang in his mouth.


    Although his insides were already injured, Bernie continued to use the Air Palm Explosion.


    "Die! Die! Die!" Bernie kept shouting, but in the next second, he couldn''t hold on anymore as he vomited a mouthful of blood. His skin became as pale as paper.


    Apollo, who was already a few feet away from the thin man, tilted his head. It didn''t take him long to realize what was happening. This guy mentioned that he took great effort to steal¡­ his technique? Maybe there''s a side effect and his body couldn''t handle it.


    "Hey, you okay?" Apollo asked.


    "You! Don''t come near me!" Bernie waved his hand as he fell to his knees, coughing hard.


    "Come on, man, you should have taken my talk no jutsu from earlier," Apollo said and proceeded to walk towards the defenseless thin man.


    "F*ck you!" Bernie cursed, looking up, but when he saw those cold eyes, a shiver ran down his spine. "I¡­ I," He fell on his bottom and slowly moved backward using his hands and feet.


    Seeing this, Apollo smirked. "You must be thinking, how can a beggar like me defeat you? How come I am so strong, and no matter what you do, you are still hopeless?"


    Bernie stopped in his tracks, his shaky eyes staring at the beggar with fear. Fck! Fck! Don''t humiliate me! This thought remained in his heart, but he didn''t dare to say anything at the moment. Bernie had already realized that he bit off more than he could chew.


    Even with the Air Palm Explosion, he couldn''t kill the beggar. No matter how dumb and drunk he was, he still recognized his situation, especially when he greatly valued his life. "Pl-please spare me¡­"


    The beggar stopped as Bernie was already below him. Although Apollo''s current height is around 4 feet, his cold presence made up for the lack of height, making him appear bigger in the thin man''s eyes.


    "No," Apollo shook his head, placing his wooden sword beside Bernie''s neck.


    "Y-you can''t kill me!" Bernie pleaded, the alcohol within his body long since evaporated from the fear he was currently feeling. "I¡­ I know someone important, if he finds out I was killed, he will definitely find you!"


    Of course, this was a lie.


    Apollo went silent, his eyes staring directly at the thin man. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the beggar not saying anything, Bernie sighed in relief. My bluff worked. I''m just barely at the 1st-Step Foundation Building. Who would want to associate with a weakling like me? he thought.


    "Yup, that''s right, put your sword down and let''s talk this out, okay?" Bernie forcefully smiled.


    "Okay," Apollo answered and ''brought down'' his sword.


    "That''s goo-" Bernie couldn''t finish his words as his vision started spinning. Eh? With a thudding sound, he saw his body in front of him. Headless.

 Chapter 66 Red Whirlwind(Part-3)

    Blood spurted, tainting the grass red.Apollo stared at the head that rolled to the side, his eyes unwavering. "That''s what you deserve."


    Shaking his head, he searched the body of the headless Bernie and found a scroll and a pouch filled with a few silver coins. Apollo didn''t open it yet, even though he was curious about its contents. But if he were to guess, it was probably the technique Bernie used to send red whirlwinds. You said you stole something, right? This must be it.


    This will be mine now, so your efforts won''t be in vain, Apollo thought with a cunning smile on his face.


    After putting the scroll inside his robe, Apollo took all the silver coins from the pouch before putting it back. Then he glanced around the training ground and started walking back. Although he didn''t manage to use the other movements from the Simple Sword Technique, Apollo was more than satisfied knowing the capability of the technique.


    Cutting people''s skills and abilities sounds cool, though I still don''t know its limitations, Apollo thought.


    Soon, his figure disappeared into the streets.


    The only thing that remained in the training ground was the headless body of Bernie and the broken scarecrows scattered across the ground.


    Time passed, the moon descended into the horizon as the clouds changed positions and shapes. Then the sunlight peeked through from the east, adding warmth to the residue from the cold night.


    "What the h*ll?!" a martial student shouted first thing in the morning when he arrived at the training ground. Seeing the headless body and smelling the scent of blood permeating the air, the martial student couldn''t help but throw up his breakfast.


    Soon, more people arrived and the news quickly spread.


    "Let me through," someone said. Although the voice wasn''t loud, the people in the area could still hear it clearly as it was imbued with Qi that helped the speaker to say it directly into the receivers'' ears. This requires great control of Qi and isn''t something a Foundation Building Cultivator could easily learn.


    The martial students turned to the sound and saw a man wearing a dark grey robe with a bamboo hat on top of his head.


    "Sir Guo is here, make way!"


    Sir Guo walked towards the headless body, a frown appearing on his face when he recognized the person. "Bernie." He knelt on one knee, touched the cold body, and immediately estimated the time of death.


    It happened last night, around the time I left, Sir Guo thought. He then began searching the thin man''s body and only found an empty pouch. Shaking his head, he stood up and glanced at the half scarecrows. He walked towards the nearest and inspected the training dummy.


    "A solid cut¡­ such swordsmanship," Sir Guo''s face turned dark. He couldn''t detect a trace of Qi behind the slash. It''s like the scarecrow was cut purely based on strength and swordsmanship. But that''s impossible.


    This scarecrow is Qi reinforced and only those who have reached Qi Condensation can damage this training dummy¡­ unless the person who did this is solely focused on cultivating their body, a Physical Cultivator. And this person is also capable of using a sword.


    No person came to his mind, causing the frown on Sir Guo''s face to worsen.


    ...


    "Yeah, that''s what I heard. It happened this morning in the training ground," a woman wearing a white maid outfit that reached her legs whispered to another maid beside her.


    "That''s scary."


    "I know, right? The big event is coming soon and something like this happens. I think it''s a bad omen."


    "Shh, don''t say things like that. What if it becomes true? Anyway, the world is dangerous. It''s better if we behave and don''t go out at night."


    "You''re right, and don''t offend anyone!"


    Suddenly, both of them stopped in their tracks and saw someone walking towards them. They immediately stood up straight and bowed simultaneously.


    "Good morning, Miss Bel!" the two maids greeted the newcomer at the same time.


    "Good morning," Bel greeted back, putting down a bucket of water before helping them up. "You don''t have to bow when you see me. I''m a maid, remember?"


    "B-but," the two looked at each other before staring back at Bel. Seeing her serious eyes, they let out a sigh of defeat. "Alright, Miss Bel."


    "Good," Bel said with a chuckle. She was wearing the same outfit as them, a white maid attire that reached her legs. However, compared to them, her beauty and fair skin made it seem like her clothes were just sleeping attire, comforting and pleasing to the eyes.


    Being a maid until the day before the Advancement Examination began was her punishment after her father found out that she had sneaked out of the mansion to find the missing heir of Leone.


    Her injury was also healed around this time, leaving nothing but fair skin behind.


    Furthermore, she had a talk with her father and some important family members. She personally requested this meeting, and at first, her father seemed reluctant, but in the end, he caved in.


    She recounted to them what had happened in the forest. Bel also specifically described how her savior saved her, putting great emphasis on his good deeds. Unfortunately, she had forgotten to ask for his name. After that, Bel told them what she saw when she and her savior were about to escape from the forest. As she expected, the family members were shocked.


    Nonetheless, she was still punished. Well, it''s not like she was expecting to be absolved of her misdeed.


    June, her personal bodyguard, was also punished, which greatly saddened Bel. She felt remorse for her actions, and no matter how much she pleaded, her father was still adamant about punishing June.


    In the end, she was tasked with being a maid while June had to guard the front gate, alone.


    "What are you guys talking about?" Bel asked, curious about their gossip.


    "It''s about what happened this morning in the training ground," one of the maids said.


    "What about it?" Bel tilted her head.


    "Someone died, beheaded." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Woah? Really?" Bel raised an eyebrow. "Probably some egotistical scion did that."


    "Yeah, that''s what we think too. But rumors said that the person who died had stolen a cultivation technique."


    They talked about the incident for a while before someone approached Bel.


    "Miss Bel, your father is asking for your presence," a butler wearing a black suit bowed.


    "Oh? Is that so? Then let''s go," Bel said to the butler before she turned to the two maids. "Let''s chat again sometime."


    "Alright, take care, Miss Bel!"

 Chapter 67 Mathias

    A giant door opened, producing a deep and slow grating sound that echoed in the room.Bel entered the wide room, her eyes naturally staring at the far end where a table was placed. Behind her, the butler took hold of the door''s handle and slowly pulled it. With a banging sound, the door closed, leaving only Bel and the man behind the table.


    "You know, father, you should consider fixing your door. It''s loud and unpleasant to hear," Bel commented, a smile forming on her lips.


    A man with black hair and a moustache that reached the sides of his lips sat behind the table, his silver eyes staring at the paper in his hands.


    "I think I should raise your punishment. Why don''t you fix my door then?" the man said, placing the paper back on the table.


    "I was just kidding, father," Bel hurriedly said, her smile turning stiff.


    That giant door was not broken and was meant to produce sounds like that when opening and closing. It was to instill authority over the person entering the room and a sign that someone had entered.


    "Call me Sir Mathias. You are still a maid, right?" Mathias smiled.


    "Fa¨C You are right, Sir Mathias," Bel said, calling her father by his first name felt weird, but she still did what she was told.


    "Good,"


    Mathias Helflick stood up. He wore a tunic made of rich deep blue velvet, and over it was a black woolen cloak that draped elegantly.


    He walked towards the side where a bookshelf reached high to the ceiling. Mathias glanced over it before his eyes landed on a particular book. "How is it? Being a maid?" he asked while he opened the book.


    "It''s easy," Bel answered, puffing up her chest with a proud smile on her face. "And fun too! I get to talk with them about interesting topics, and it''s not so boring after all."


    When Mathias heard this, the side of his mouth twitched. Girl, I assigned you as a maid to punish you, but why are you enjoying it? Why did I even bother doing that if you are not going to cry like how most noble women do?


    Then he remembered that he raised his daughter right. Yeah, I''m such a good dad. This thought almost brought tears to his eyes. Fortunately, he managed to hold them in.


    "That''s good," Mathias said, acting nonchalant. After glancing at the contents of the book for a while, he went to open another one.


    "And I also heard that someone died this morning. He was beheaded," Bel shared what she and the other maids talked about. Her eyes were still burning with gossip. Seeing that her father didn''t say a word and just continued reading the book, she couldn''t help but get curious.


    "What are you reading, fa¡ª Sir Mathias?" Bel couldn''t help but ask. She walked towards her father and looked over his shoulder to see the book he was holding.


    The content of the book had a drawing of a black wolf with nine tails on its back. A white gem was on its forehead, glowing and almost covering its face, barely showing its ferocious teeth.


    Underneath the charcoal drawing were words written in big letters that also shared the same ferociousness coming from the image above.


    "Nine-Tail Wolf," Bel muttered, her bright voice turning low and cold while her eyes shook with fear. She didn''t have to read the descriptions below the name of the creature as she already knew about it all.


    Bel took a step backward and waited for her father.


    After a while, Mathias closed the book and walked towards his table. He pulled the chair, the sound it caused bounced off the wall. He sat down and stared at his daughter.


    "Are you training well?" Mathias asked, not speaking about the book yet.


    "Yes," Bel nodded her head. "Advancement Examination will happen soon. I will make sure to take first place."


    "Good," Mathias smiled and pointed at the book on his table. "We can''t let this thing ruin it."


    "You¡­ are you going to take action against that monster?" Bel asked, surprise evident in her voice.


    "I''ve already talked about it with the other families. They agreed to clean up the wolves in that forest, along with their Alpha," Mathias said. "Klown also answered that he will lend some of his forces. However, he requested not to make it big, at least not until the event is finished."


    "But that will only make the matter worse," Bel frowned. "They are clearly there for a reason. If we are going to fight them, we have to defeat them as thoroughly as possible. Otherwise, they will try to attack the city. They are monsters, and they will definitely do it."


    Hearing this, Mathias sighed. "I know, but it was Klown''s order. To him, the visitors are more important."


    "That fatso, I really hate him," Bel said through gritted teeth.


    "Haha," Mathias laughed bitterly. He also felt that way; he hated the mayor of this city.


    "Nine-Tailed Wolf¡­ why did they appear?" Bel muttered, her eyes landing on the book placed on the table.


    "That''s what we also want to find out. But the most important thing is to clean them up," Mathias said.


    "Then what about the Alpha?" Bel stared at her father with worry in her eyes. "Are you also going to fight it?"


    "I don''t know," Mathias shook his head. "But there''s a high chance that I will."


    Hearing this, Bel clenched her fists. "But your cultivation¡­ from what I know, three Core Creation Cultivators are needed to defeat it, and you are the only one here in this city."


    Mathias looked at his daughter lovingly. "My daughter, I know you are worried. But fighting it is not the only option we came up with."


    "What else?" Bel asked.


    "You said they are here for a reason, right? During this time, before the event ends, we will try our best to find out why. Maybe¡­ maybe, someone is planning this," Mathias explained. However, deep inside, although there''s the possibility that someone is planning all this, he didn''t believe it. Some monsters are smart, especially wolves. They are known for being cunning and very intelligent.


    More so, when they have an Alpha that can command them. They are fighting with an army and a monster that needs three Core Creation Cultivators to defeat it.


    Nine-Tailed Duskfang is a strong monster that doesn''t appear often. A normal Duskfang Shadowtail has to live for at least a thousand years to become an Alpha. This made them a ferocious monster and a very intelligent one as they have a bounty of experience. And about its abilities and skills, there''s not much record about it.


    But there''s a known fact regarding this monster: once you are marked as its target, it will hunt you until you are dead. It won''t stop chasing after its target, even to the end of the world. This is one of the reasons why cities are destroyed by them.


    "Fortunately, no one has encountered that monster yet¡­" Mathias muttered before he realized something. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he stood up abruptly. "Bel! Tell me, were you marked?"


    "Marked?" Bel tilted her head before she immediately understood what he meant. A cultivator must be good at studying as they need to comprehend a lot of things. Bel had read a lot of books, including the one on the table. Her mind worked fast, and she recalled the contents. "N-no, father, I don''t think so."


    "Are you sure?" Mathias asked, squinting his eyes.


    "I''m pretty sure about it," Bel nodded with a serious face.


    "That''s good," Mathias sat back down with a sigh.


    "But¡­" Bel frowned as she remembered someone. "I just don''t know if my savior was marked or not."


    Mathias stared at her, feeling a headache coming his way. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 68 What Would You Like To Eat(Part-1)

    Apollo glanced at the coins in his hands and couldn''t help but smile. Another 5 Alm points, he thought as the number of Alm points he had increased.He stood up and went back inside his beggar spot. Under his roof, he brought up his Status Screen.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 22


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    "This is good," Apollo muttered with a smile. He had been cultivating since he arrived last night and only went outside his beggar spot this early morning in order to earn Alm points. Some good souls gave him 5 bronze coins, which he greatly appreciated. In this world filled with brain rot, egotistical people, there were still some good ones.


    As his eyes stared at his status screen, he couldn''t help but glance at his Spirit Cultivation. So far, the only thing he had used was the Physique Cultivation, which he could increase by cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique.


    He had already asked the System about it, and the system only said that it was meant for his spirit and mind. A very simple explanation that made the beggar want to beat the System if it had a physical body.


    Apollo then glanced at his Attributes. "System, can you tell me what this is?" After all this time, he was going to ask this question for the first time.


    A light blue translucent screen appeared in front of him, and words started appearing along with the emotionless voice of the System.


    "Attributes are your affinity with nature. Most people are born with it, while cultivators search and learn it," the System explained in simple words as always.


    "Affinity with nature?" Apollo muttered. "So lightning, wind, fire, water, metal, and so on?"


    "Correct," the System answered.


    "Oh, it means I don''t have any inborn Attributes," Apollo finally understood. "Then how am I going to obtain one?"


    However, the moment he asked this question, he immediately knew what answer the System was going to give.


    "Buy it in the System store or learn it on your own," the System stated the obvious.


    "Yeah, yeah," the beggar rolled his eyes. He waved his hand, and the interface disappeared in a particle of light. "So attributes¡­ just like in a game."


    Apollo had already realized that the System was just like some RPG games in his previous life. Although he was not a gamer, he at least played some games a few times in his life.


    "Once I learn some of the attributes, it will probably boost my strength," the beggar muttered.


    Thinking about Attributes, Apollo recalled the man he fought last night. That guy seemed to have learned the attribute of wind, as he only used wind attacks since they first met. With this in mind, he reached inside his robe and took out the scroll he got from the thin man.


    He rolled it open, and the words Palm Air Explosion immediately greeted his eyes, boldly written on top of the scroll. Apollo then read all the contents inside the scroll.


    "So I''m right. In order to learn this technique, one must have the attribute of Wind," Apollo muttered. "And one must have at least the Cultivation stage of Qi Condensation. That guy is not even at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building, and he learned this? What a reckless young man. And how did he even get his hands on this?"


    Shaking his head, the beggar placed the technique inside his robe. It smelled like there was more to this technique, especially how that thin man obtained it. But Apollo didn''t want to concern himself with it.


    The beggar''s mind then went to something else


    "It''s definitely slower than before," Apollo said, referring to his speed of getting stronger. He could feel that his cultivation had become slow. It felt like something was blocking him from moving forward. Is this the limit of the Simple Breathing Technique? Do I have to buy another cultivation technique? Apollo frowned.


    But looking at his current amount of Alm points¡­ Nah. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I should think about this later and get something to eat. Apollo decided to put the matter at the back of his mind for the time being. He left his beggar spot and went into the streets.


    He was about to walk towards where Big Chub sold his bread when he stopped in his tracks, remembering that Big Chub wouldn''t be selling for at least a week.


    Thinking about this, Apollo glanced around before his eyes landed on the restaurant beside his beggar spot, The Filly Restaurant. He actually didn''t want to have any more contact with Filly and the others, as they seemed to belong to a noble family. However, without Big Chub and the other vendors, he had to find someplace else to eat.


    Well, he could buy from those newly established stalls, but from what he knew, they were expensive and came from the City itself. He would only expose himself by buying from those stalls.


    "Hopefully, they have cheap food," Apollo muttered before he walked in front of the restaurant. Looking inside the door, he noticed that there were already quite a few people, but glancing back at the Skyline Savory branch, their numbers were miles apart.


    He then noticed the menu beside the door.


    "Oh? They are selling scrambled eggs?" Apollo immediately noticed this, as he already knew the other dishes. Looking at the price, it cost around 5 loaves of bread compared to when he bought from Big Chub. "It''s just a scrambled egg, why are they selling it this expensive?"


    Apollo sighed but still took a step forward and went to open the door.


    The moment he stepped inside, the patrons went quiet.


    Seeing this, Apollo smiled bitterly. I''ve already expected that there''s going to be some reaction, but isn''t this too excessive? Becoming so quiet the moment I entered?


    In the next moment, the diners began murmuring with each other. The word beggar was thrown around from time to time. This is a mistake¡­ Apollo shook his head and decided to go out.


    Although he gave this restaurant a journal that contained some simple recipes from his previous life, he did so as part of a request. With that journal, the boss of this restaurant promised not to bother him anymore. And she took the promise seriously, as Apollo wasn''t approached by any of the workers to make him go away.


    Apollo didn''t want to ruin her business by sullying the restaurant''s reputation, and he wanted to maintain the status quo.


    However, as he was about to go out, someone shouted, "Mr. Beggar, wait!"


    Apollo turned to the sound and saw a man with a bandage on his forehead and some gauze on his face. The beggar immediately recognized the man as the same worker he had taught a lesson to, using his fist.


    What was his name again¡­ Ned?


    Ned hurriedly walked towards Apollo and stopped a few feet away. He looked at the beggar seriously before a smile formed on his lips. "Welcome! What would you like to eat?"

 Chapter 69 What Would You Like To Eat?(Part-2)

    Inside a room on the second floor of the Filly Restaurant, the boss sat behind a table, holding a journal that the beggar had written. She had read this notebook numerous times but still went back to it from time to time.Filly sighed as she closed the journal. "How am I going to face him?" she wondered aloud, referring to the beggar beside her restaurant. A beggar? Filly smiled knowingly. How did a ''beggar'' know all these recipes? The more she thought about it, the more she was certain that he was not a beggar but a Wanderer who had seen the world.


    He knew ingredients and dishes that even her chef, Temor, hadn''t heard of. There was a high possibility the beggar had learned it from somewhere far away because if the ingredients were just from neighboring cities, she would have known them already.


    Filly didn''t want to bother him anymore, believing he was a Wandering Cultivator pretending to be a beggar. He probably didn''t want to be bothered either, as he only wanted to stay beside her restaurant.


    She just didn''t know how else she was going to repay him. The journal in her hands was very precious; it was the chance that would allow her to surpass Skyline Savory, and Filly greatly appreciated the ''beggar'' even though her actions towards him had been very rude.


    Filly wanted to invite him to be an Honorable Guest for her family, but she couldn''t find a chance to do so. He was either cultivating or gone.


    While deep in thought, hurried footsteps approached the door, followed by a knock.


    "Miss?" Gail''s voice, filled with urgency, echoed.


    Hearing this, Filly immediately stood up and went to open the door. "What''s wrong? Did something happen?"


    "H-he''s here," Gail said, her eyes shining with excitement.


    "Who are you talking about?" Filly asked.


    "Mr. Beggar!" Gail said, almost shouting.


    "Really?!" Filly couldn''t believe it. She was just thinking about how to repay him, and now he was inside the restaurant?


    "Yes!" Gail nodded vigorously. "He just ordered a plate of scrambled eggs with bread along with some milk."


    "Let''s go see him!" Filly hurriedly walked out. "I will serve him myself!" Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    ¡­


    Apollo was seated two to three tables away from the kitchen. Along the way, the stares from the other customers made him sigh. What''s wrong with beggars eating in a restaurant? I''m going to pay! If he didn''t want to make a scene, he would have beaten those judging eyes.


    There were only a few customers, but the way they looked at him felt like there were thousands of them staring, piercing his very soul. Fortunately, no one acted high and mighty or tried to kick him out. Even the restaurant workers treated him as a customer, so how could the patrons act like that?


    "Tsk," Apollo clicked his tongue in annoyance. As he sat down, his eyes couldn''t help but wander towards the kitchen. He could only see through the small window where a man was moving about. However, compared to how a normal chef cooks, Apollo caught a glimpse of fire surrounding the man.


    Raising an eyebrow, Apollo closed his eyes and felt the surrounding Qi moving towards the kitchen. "Their chef is a cultivator? How extravagant," he whispered, with slight amazement in his voice.


    Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the stairs. Apollo opened his eyes and noticed the boss of the restaurant glancing in his direction before going to the kitchen. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gail, on the other hand, walked towards him with a smile on her face. "Welcome, Mr. Beggar! I thought you would never come back here!"


    "Haha, I didn''t have a choice," Apollo smiled bitterly.


    "Miss Filly is very glad that you came. She''s in the kitchen right now preparing your food. Don''t worry, it won''t take long before it arrives," Gail reassured. Filly had ordered her to entertain the ''beggar'' and not let him get bored.


    "That''s good," Apollo nodded. He noticed that the other patrons were looking in their direction, apparently surprised at what was happening. Those diners who were here previously when a woman wanted to go to the VIP area couldn''t help but get confused.


    Didn''t they think that everyone had an equal status once they were inside the restaurant? Then why were they treating the ''beggar'' like he was more important than them? Their thoughts were confirmed when the boss, Filly, walked out with a plate in one hand and a glass of milk in the other.


    She walked with a straight back while looking at the beggar, a radiant smile on her face and her eyes shining with expectation.


    "Welcome," Filly said, placing the plate and glass on the table in front of Apollo. "This is your scrambled egg with bread and a glass of milk."


    "Thanks," Apollo said, glancing at the food on the table.


    Gail and Filly took a deep breath. They exchanged glances with each other, enveloped in nervousness. But the moment Apollo took hold of his fork, they heaved a sigh of relief.


    Although excited, Filly contained it and just waited. She didn''t want to spoil the mood of Mr. Beggar as she still had a lot to say. This time, she wouldn''t miss the opportunity.


    Apollo stared at the golden brown scrambled egg before he raised the fork and took some of it. He put the dish closer and saw the glistening oil coating the whole egg. He sniffed and the savory smell permeated his nose. He couldn''t help but reminisce about his previous life.


    Scrambled eggs, it''s a simple dish that he couldn''t get tired of eating, and he guessed most people in his previous life thought so too.


    And this dish is now in this world. It was made perfectly. Apollo opened his mouth and put the fork inside. He chewed and the softness and flavor of the dish exploded within his mouth. Because he''d only been eating bread since he arrived here, he felt like he had just eaten the most delicious meal in this world.


    After chewing for a bit, Apollo swallowed. Then he continued to eat some of the scrambled eggs, before putting half of them inside the bread. The crunchiness echoed in his mind the moment he took a bite, then softness followed. The bread was enhanced by the filling, and coupled with milk, Apollo tasted ''home''.


    It didn''t take him long to finish his meal. Putting down the utensils, he noticed Gail and Filly standing to the side just watching him.


    "Hey, why are you guys just standing there?" Apollo tilted his head, confused.


    This woke up the two women and Filly smiled. "How is it? The food."


    "It''s good, you guys did good," Apollo gave a thumbs up. "Although it lacks quite a few ingredients to make it more delicious."


    Hearing the compliment, Filly''s smile widened. "You are right, we haven''t acquired some of the spices yet."


    Around this time, the door from the kitchen opened and Temor walked out. He couldn''t help but turn in their direction in great curiosity. Who would be so important as to make Filly Kleinford deliver the food herself? Then his eyes widened when he saw they were surrounding a beggar.

 Chapter 70 What Would You Like To Eat?(Part-3)

    Temor walked towards them and stopped beside the spectacled woman. His ears perked up when he heard Filly''s words."Hey, who''s that?" Temor nudged Gail with a whisper.


    "That''s Mr. Beggar," Gail answered in a hushed voice.


    "Mr. Beggar?" Temor raised an eyebrow. "But he''s just a kid¡­ and a beggar? Why does the boss seem to be placing great importance on him? She even delivered the food herself."


    Gail glanced at him with a side eye before a smile formed on her lips. "I guess you still don''t know about it."


    Hearing the mysterious words, Temor couldn''t help but get more curious.


    "Well, it doesn''t matter, this is good enough," Apollo said. He reached inside his pocket and asked, "How much?"


    "No, you don''t have to pay," Filly said while waving her hands. "I owe you a lot."


    Apollo''s hand quickly let go of the coins. "Are you sure?"


    Please say yes, the beggar thought.


    "I''m pretty sure," Filly nodded. "If you didn''t write that¡­ I wouldn''t see a chance to go against the restaurant in front." Her last words became a whisper, afraid people would hear her voice.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Apollo looked around and counted the number of people. "You have to do well. Take the chance when the hype of the Skyline Savory branch dies down. It will give you a boost."


    Filly''s eyes widened when she realized what he meant. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"


    "No worries," Apollo said, waving his hand and standing up. "I should get going. Thank you for the food."


    "W-wait," Filly hurriedly said. "I''m not properly thanking you enough."


    "It''s more than enough," Apollo said, shaking his head.


    "No, I insist," Filly replied, her eyes filled with determination. She then reached into her pocket and took out a bronze medal with a book engraving along with a big ''K'' over it. "This is a family token, only given to someone a core family member deems as their honorable guest."


    Temor''s eyes widened upon hearing this. He finally realized what was happening and who the beggar in front of them was. It''s him? The one who wrote the journal?! He couldn''t believe it. How could a kid, and also a beggar, write that otherworldly book?


    And how did he even know all those ingredients and recipes? This confused the chef even more.


    Seeing Temor''s face keep changing, Gail chuckled in amusement. "A Wanderer," she whispered, enlightening the chef.


    "W-wanderer? This young?!" Temor whispered back, almost shouting. Of course, he knew what a Wanderer, or Rogue Cultivator, was. They move from place to place as part of their cultivation and like to pretend to be someone else, adopting a different status and lifestyle.


    There are many Cultivators who have tried to copy them, but cultivating alone without the backing of a school or organization proved to be more difficult than they thought. There are many dangers involved, unlike when one is inside a school or behind their organization. Those who manage to uphold being a Wanderer are either extremely lucky or very strong.


    He glanced at the beggar currently talking with Filly. He''s the one who wrote it¡­ A kid and at the same time a beggar can manage to write something like that journal? It''s too unbelievable, but if he is a Wanderer, then it makes sense.


    Temor''s eyes changed from curiosity to amazement. Just like Gail, he stood by the side waiting for the two of them to finish talking.


    "What''s this for?" Apollo asked while observing the medal closely. It was made of bronze and, after weighing it in his hand, he estimated it had the same weight as ten bronze coins. "Can I sell this?" He asked another question without even waiting for Filly to answer.


    Filly couldn''t believe her ears. Seeing the seriousness in the beggar''s eyes, she immediately shook her head. "Unfortunately, you can''t. It''s too valuable, and each core family member was only given one token."


    "That''s a pity," Apollo sighed in disappointment.


    "Anyway, you can use that when you want a request from the Kleinford family head," Filly smiled proudly. Although her status within the family had lowered because she wanted to pursue business more than cultivation, she was still undoubtedly a legitimate member. Bringing up her family name still satisfied her, especially when she could see the surprise on people''s faces when she mentioned it.


    However, to her dismay, the ''beggar'' didn''t display any particular emotion as he put the token inside his robe like it was nothing but a casual object.


    "Is that all?" Apollo asked, glancing around. He noticed that the other patrons were looking in their direction, clearly intrigued by their conversation. I''m drawing attention to myself, he thought. Why did I even bother thinking that I could remain unknown? he thought bitterly.


    "Y-yeah," Filly said, scratching her cheek. "That''s all¡­ but can yo¡ª"


    "Okay, I should get going then!" Apollo said before hurriedly making his way outside the restaurant.


    Glancing at the beggar''s back, Filly sighed. "It seems asking him for help would be far-fetched."


    "Miss Filly, don''t worry about it. We will get plenty of opportunities in the future," Gail said to the team.


    "Hopefully," Filly nodded. Then seeing the curious gazes from the diners, she coughed. "Let''s go inside the kitchen and talk about serious matters." Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    Temor, who was about to say a word, closed his mouth and followed behind the two ladies. Once inside the kitchen, Filly stared at the plate with a red substance on it.


    "So this is it?" Filly tilted her head.


    "Yeah, it''s the chili powder for the fried chicken," Temor said. He decided to ask about the whole situation regarding the beggar later as his boss went straight to the point. He took out a bowl with flour-coated chicken. He then took the chicken and coated it with the chili spices. "I used that so-called garlic and that onion according to the journal and turned them into a powder.


    But I made sure that the chili powder wouldn''t be overwhelmed by the two."


    Of course, there were also other ingredients that he used, but he only mentioned the main ones.


    After coating it with the chili powder, the chicken became reddish-brown. He raised his hand and lit up the wood under the cooking grill. Then he took out the pan filled with oil. This was a specially made pan so the chicken could be deep fried in oil. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After the pan was heated, Temor placed the reddish-brown coated chicken inside. The sizzling sound soon echoed, and the trio waited with bated breath.

 Chapter 71 Im Not Spending!(Part-1)

    Night came, and Apollo glanced at the two bronze coins on his palm."This brings me to 19 Alm points," he muttered while standing up and going back inside his beggar spot.


    The Beggar Spot doesn''t limit his movements, and as long as he recognizes his place as his beggar spot, the System won''t punish him with a Lightning Tribulation.


    Sitting under his makeshift roof, he couldn''t help but think about the upcoming Advancement Examination. There were only three days left before it began, and he hadn''t seen any Martial Students so far.


    It seems they are now really focusing on increasing their strength.


    Apollo put a hand under his chin. "That guy must be also in deep cultivation."


    He expected Arke to come back to take revenge. But that guy didn''t even show his shadow. Did he get scared because I made him look like a person who likes boys? Apollo thought in amusement. Although thinking about it was funny, he knew that wasn''t the case.


    Arke was commissioned to take him away to a safe place, but he didn''t. He said it was only for money, but Apollo had long since realized that there was a third party involved, especially when looking at the mission the System gave him.


    "Mission: Revenge for your family.


    Part 1: Kill the hooded man who threw you in the alley.


    Time Limit: 5 days left.


    Reward: 100 Alm Points.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation."


    It''s a chapter mission with different parts to complete. Apollo has to finish this mission before the time limit ends, or the lightning tribulation will come. Just thinking about the punishment made him shiver in fear.


    Apollo let out a heavy sigh.


    "Hopefully, they will never find out," Apollo muttered, referring to the upcoming event. When he was at the training ground previously, he actually told Sir Guo that he was going to enter the Advancement Examination, which is contradictory to what he said about staying low-key.


    However, who said Apollo is going to enter as Apollo? He smiled while bringing up the System Store and looking at a particular item. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    It cost only 20 Alm points, but its effect is more than enough for the Advancement Examination.


    "Although it only lasts for two hours, it''s better than nothing," Apollo muttered before he crossed his legs and started cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique. The world turned black, and the only thing that remained was him and the surrounding Qi that revolved around him.


    He continued to inhale it through his nose and mouth, but it didn''t take him long before he opened his eyes in evident confusion.


    He could feel it again: something was blocking him from getting stronger, but at the same time, he knew that he could break past this. Apollo then recalled that the System said the limit of this Technique is only at the 4th-Step, so why did he feel like he could get stronger if he really tried?


    This made him want to question the System, but thinking about it, he didn''t. What if it''s a bug? The System will definitely fix it. Yeah, yeah, that sounds about right, Apollo reached a ridiculous conclusion that he didn''t believe himself but was just too lazy to ask the System. If he feels like he can break ''that'' barrier, he will do it.


    Thus, the beggar went back to close his eyes and force the cultivation.


    Following the pattern from the Simple Breathing Technique, Apollo let the Qi circle inside his body, trying to break the cells that were already at their full potential. The Qi wanted to break them and then heal them in order to give birth to a stronger cell. Nevertheless, no matter how much it tried, it only managed to budge the cell.


    Apollo frowned, and with his eyes closed, he made the Qi revolve faster than before. It didn''t take him long to realize that this action was wrong.


    He threw up a mouthful of blood the next second, and the Qi inside him dissipated.


    "T-that f*cking hurts," Apollo cursed, wiping his bloodied mouth with his sleeves. Frustrated, he turned to the System. "Hey System, how can I break this barrier?"


    A light blue interface appeared with words written on it, and the emotionless voice of the System echoed inside his mind. "The Simple Breathing Technique only lets the user reach the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage. If the user wants to reach a higher stage, he has to buy a new Cultivation Technique."


    "Yeah, I figured that much. Then why can I feel it?" Apollo asked. The System went quiet for a moment before the interface in front of him disappeared. Seeing this, the beggar frowned. "Hmph! If you''re not going to tell me, then I''ll figure it out on my own!"


    He searched the pile of trash on the side and took out a book. This is the book that Big Chub gave him, and Apollo decided to throw it away because it would mean trouble if people found out a beggar had a book in hand. They would definitely think he stole it, as books are only accessible to those with money.


    Fortunately, he only threw it near him.


    He blew on the book and patted it to get rid of the dust. Then Apollo went to the page where the Cultivation Stages were introduced. His eyes stopped on the words "Qi Condensation" and the description written beside it.


    Qi Condensation: Absorb Qi in the air to circulate through the whole body. This will revitalize the organs and the mind. Once achieved, the Cultivator doesn''t have to worry about stamina¡­


    "So the Simple Breathing Technique skips the training that normal Foundation Building Cultivators do and lets those who learn it basically achieve the same effect by just sitting and absorbing Qi," Apollo muttered. Well, he already knew about this fact. "But if the Simple Breathing Technique resembles what Qi Condensation Cultivators do¡­ I''ll just have to adjust it.


    Then I don''t have to buy anything from the System Store!"


    This thought caused the beggar''s eyes to shine with excitement. I''m really smart! With this, I can save my Alm points!


    With this in mind, he threw the book back in the trash and closed his eyes. The pattern from the Simple Breathing Technique only allows him to move the Qi to enhance his muscles, bones, and skin. But Qi Condensation can enhance the whole body, including the organs and the brain, revitalizing them as well.


    "All I have to do is change the pattern, increase the volume of Qi to penetrate the bones and muscles¡­" Apollo whispered while mobilizing the Qi around him. In a split second, the world became dark, and the Qi was absorbed through his nose and mouth.


    Suddenly, an idea came to mind. Because the introduction about Qi Condensation includes the whole body, Apollo mobilized some of the Qi to enter through his skin.


    S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 72 Im Not Spending!(Part-2)

    I think¡­ it''s working, Apollo thought. He could feel his organs being washed by Qi, like a hand massaging them. He didn''t follow the pattern from the Simple Breathing Technique; instead, he treated his body like a bucket, continuously pouring Qi and submerging his insides with it.His brain felt cool as the Qi entered it, putting his mind in a state of calmness. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A smile formed on his lips; however, in the next second, like he was hit by a bolt of lightning, his body became stiff. He started shaking before he threw up blood for the second time.


    "Argh," the beggar grunted in pain. Seeing the blood on the ground, he couldn''t help but spit some more. "Sh*t, something is wrong."


    He did feel that his organs were being revitalized by the Qi, but he suddenly felt overwhelmed.


    "It''s the pattern," Apollo immediately realized. "But if I want to have a perfect pattern, I have to do trial and error."


    Glancing at the blood on the ground, the beggar gritted his teeth before he closed his eyes and tried the method again, this time changing the pattern of how the Qi moved inside his body.


    His face relaxed, then scrunched.


    Blood spilled to the ground, forming a pool.


    "Not yet," Apollo wiped his mouth. "Again."


    He kept entering the black world with only him and the Qi, before it was tainted red as he kept vomiting blood.


    Just to save his Alm points, Apollo kept trying and trying.


    Does he feel ridiculous doing such things? Yeah, but he is not doing this just for the sake of saving up; it''s the challenge of going against the System that made him want to do this.


    ¡­


    Somewhere in Klown City, in the courtyard of a private villa.


    A man sat cross-legged in a garden, bare-backed and only wearing pants. He didn''t have a big figure, but his muscles were compact and glistening with sweat.


    With eyes closed, the man frowned before a relaxing smile appeared on his face. Soon, the sweat evaporated as the temperature in the surrounding area increased.


    Water vapor covered the garden, shrouding his body into a shadowy figure.


    This lasted for a few hours before the temperature went back to normal. As the mist started disappearing, the man opened his eyes, and a glint shone within.


    "I can finally enter it," he muttered in contentment. Arke stood up and went inside the villa where a table was set up along with hot steaming tea.


    Sitting at it, he reached out his hand and took hold of the cup. But he didn''t drink it yet. Instead, he just kept staring at it, specifically his reflection in the tea.


    With this ''realization,'' I will take first place, he thought. He had been cultivating seriously these past few days, aiming to be able to ''enter'' that place. The place where only the most talented cultivators can go.


    The Void. A state of cultivation that, once achieved, increases their cultivation speed. And Arke, with dedication and talent, managed to enter a part of it.


    Arke closed his eyes and the surroundings dimmed for a bit. The invisible Qi turned barely visible, shining subtly, as if on the verge of collapsing. He could ''see'' the Qi; although it wasn''t bright, he could still ''see'' it. With a sigh of contentment, the surroundings returned to their original light before he took a sip of the tea.


    This was a great day for him.


    "With my cultivation increasing in speed, it won''t be long before I reach the 1st-Step Qi Condensation," Arke muttered. He had already achieved the Half-Step Qi Condensation two days ago, and although he wouldn''t be able to reach the 1st-Step Qi Condensation before the Advancement Examination began, he was still satisfied and confident that he would take first place.


    He continued to drink his tea, taking his time and relishing these moments.


    As the tea was almost reaching the bottom of the cup, slow and steady footsteps came from behind. This caused Arke to stand up and stare in the direction of the sound.


    His fist suddenly turned bright red, and with a spark, it was covered in flames.


    "Do not worry, I am no enemy¡­ Well, not currently," someone said from the shadows. The voice was low and cold, but most prominent was the age behind it. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Show yourself," Arke shouted, his eyes staring dangerously. What does he mean by that?


    The footsteps stopped, and a man wearing a black butler suit appeared. He had short white hair, white eyebrows, and a mustache. A monocle rested on top of his hawk-like nose, while his eyes squinted in a smile, though his lips told otherwise.


    "Who are you?" Arke asked, the fire covering his hands burning intensely. This old man can sneak up behind me without me noticing first. If it weren''t for the deliberate footsteps, Arke wouldn''t have known someone was walking behind him.


    "I''m the mayor''s butler, Holst," the butler said, bringing his hand in front of his stomach while bowing, though he only moved his head a bit before he stood back up straight.


    Hearing this, Arke''s eyes shook. "You¡­ it must be about that kid, right?"


    "You are smart," Holst nodded, his expression unchanged. "You still can''t find him?"


    The fire around Arke disappeared, the temperature returning to normal. Shaking his head, he answered, "Not yet."


    "I figured," Holst looked around the villa before staring back at Arke, his eyes remaining squinted, hiding the pupils behind. "You do know that you only have two days left, right?"


    Arke frowned; nevertheless, he still nodded. "I know. But, what if he''s already dead? Or out in another place outside the city?"


    "It''s your task, so you worry about it," Holst said. "However, we have competition, and you are given another task. We will extend your mission for¡­ let''s see, two days."


    "Competition? What do you mean?" Arke asked, not feeling delighted that he was only given two days for another task.


    "Bel Kleinford, she''s also on the kid''s tail," Holst explained.


    "Bel? That b*tch?" Arke muttered. "So the other task? Do you want me to¡ª"


    "Kill her in the upcoming Advancement Examination. In four days, you have to complete your tasks, or else¡­ Your body will serve as dinner for Mr. Klown," Holst said, his tone lowering even more, making the surrounding air turn cold.


    Arke''s body was covered in a red haze, seemingly trying to fight back the ''cold''. Arke recognized this kind of ''cold''. It wasn''t because the temperature was lowered, but because this old man was emitting death itself.


    "I understand," Arke nodded.


    "Good," Holst smiled. "I see you have entered the Void, quite talented, enough to kill that girl. I should get going now, kid. If you fail, hopefully you taste good."


    Arke''s eyes widened at the butler''s words. H-how did he know? It''s impossible! I just achieved that state a few hours ago, and I haven''t told anyone else. Did he figure it out just by looking at me? He was about to open his mouth when he noticed that the old butler was already gone.


    This time, Arke was shocked. He didn''t even feel the old man leaving.


    His legs gave way, and he fell into the chair.

 Chapter 73 Im Not Spending!(Part-3)

    With a crashing sound, the table shattered into pieces as Arke''s hand slammed down. Frustration, anger, and fear coursed through him, making him want to shatter everything he could see.Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he began planning.


    The most important thing was finding that kid, but no matter how many times he searched the city, he couldn''t find him. Well, he did find a kid, but he was a beggar with different eye color and slightly taller than the Leone heir he threw in the alley. He didn''t actually memorize the kid''s face, as he felt the task was too easy and didn''t believe a kid could survive.


    Arke expected the heir to starve to death or be used as a slave by a slave trader. So what''s the point of finding him? It''s basically the same as him already being dead.


    Suddenly, he recalled the old butler''s words. "A competition? Bel is also after the kid? Why?"


    Arke frowned, biting his nails while shaking his knees. In the end, he shook his head. Whatever that b*tch is planning, it must be hindering the mayor''s plan. That''s why they wanted me to kill her, but it also means committing a grave crime as they wanted me to kill her openly in the Advancement Examination.


    They don''t want to dirty their hands, b*stards, Arke gritted his teeth. However, even if he was angry with them, there was nothing he could do. That butler could kill him without him even knowing it.


    "I have to find him as soon as possible," Arke muttered, his mind returning to the Leone heir.


    In the whole city, there were only a few people he found suspicious who might have a clue as to where that kid was, including the beggar beside the Filly Restaurant. But Gail, a 4th-Step Foundation Building, is friends with him. Arke''s doubt lessened when he thought about it, but a suspicion is still a suspicion. I should check on him last.


    With this in mind, he decided to go back to cultivating and wait until sunrise before going after the suspicious people in his mind.


    ...


    A reek of blood permeated the corner of a restaurant. If one even took a whiff of the smell, they would definitely throw up what they had eaten because of the intensity.


    Beside the Filly Restaurant, where most people wouldn''t even bother looking because it was somewhat hidden by the structures, was a makeshift roof, small but enough to fit two to three people.


    Someone was sitting cross-legged inside, his complexion pale, cheeks sunken, and mouth bloodied. But his expression was at peace, even with blood covering his whole body.


    With a smile on his face, Apollo opened his eyes. His pale white skin was slightly returning to its original color.


    The bloody smell, however, made him frown in the next second. "Oh great." He muttered, glancing at the blood all over his body and on the ground. Shaking his head, he reached into his pocket and took out a white marble.


    Apollo activated the Cleaning Marble, making it shine a bright light that covered his body. In no time, his smelly and dirty figure became spotless and clean. Even his messy and dry hair became shiny, though his pale skin remained.


    Then he pointed the bead towards the ground and activated it once more after the bead gathered enough Qi from the air.


    The blood-covered ground was shrouded in light, and when the light disappeared, the blood was gone. The floor even became shiny. Seeing this, Apollo couldn''t help but sigh in amazement. It''s a cheap item, but its use is worth more than its features.


    At first, he only thought that it worked on clothes, but the Cleaning Bead was more useful than he had imagined.


    Putting the item back in his pocket, he smiled and called out to the System.


    "Hey System."


    "Yes, Host?" A light blue interface materialized in front of him along with the emotionless voice of the System echoing inside his mind.


    "I did it! Hahaha!" Apollo laughed mockingly. "I revised the Simple Breathing Technique, and now I can cultivate my way through the Qi Condensation Stage!"


    After throwing up blood for a whole night, doing trial and error of changing the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique, he finally succeeded in making it a technique that would allow him to reach the Qi Condensation Stage. Furthermore, he increased the volume of the Qi and made it enter his skin, not just through his mouth and nose.


    The ''barrier'' that was blocking him from reaching that stage was finally gone. He could feel his strength increasing every time he cultivated, though he didn''t know how long it would take for him to reach that stage. Even so, it was a joyous matter that the first thing he wanted to do was brag to the System.


    The System went silent for a moment before the interface in front of the beggar disappeared in a particle of light.


    "Hmph, you should at least compliment me. I threw up a lot of blood!" Apollo scowled at the System.


    Although the night was hard and painful, all for the sake of saving up and going against the System, Apollo couldn''t hide the smile on his face. You think you can always rip me off? Ha, no way!


    The System remained silent, and the beggar took it as a sign of defeat. Continue your journey at My Virtual Library Empire


    With a sigh, Apollo realized that going against the System was actually fun. This made him think about his Simple Sword Technique and the Simple Movement Technique. If there was still time before the Advancement Examination began, the beggar decided to perfect the Simple Movement Technique and maybe revise the Simple Sword Technique to make it better so he wouldn''t have to buy from the System again.


    "It''s still early," Apollo muttered, glancing up at the sky. "I should cultivate more before I go for my breakfast." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With this thought in mind, he closed his eyes, and the world turned black in an instant. In this dark world that seemed like the vacuum of space, there was only him and the countless blinding yellowish-white Qi that looked like stars and galaxies.


    Apollo did the Revised Simple Breathing Technique. He just called it that as he was too lazy to think of a name.


    The surrounding Qi was immediately pulled towards him; some entered his nose and mouth while the rest entered through his skin. Using the new pattern that he created, he guided the Qi to revitalize his whole body, especially his organs and his brain.


    He could feel that something within him was breaking, but it was very subtle unless he really focused on it. It was also the place where the Qi gathered the most before circulating throughout his whole body.


    Apollo pinpointed the place and found it was a few fingers below his navel.


    Isn''t this where the Dantian is?

 Chapter 74 SlumStreet(Part-1)

    A few hours later, Apollo stood up from his beggar spot and went to the street. He wanted to find a place that sold cheap food. He didn''t want to go back to the Filly Restaurant, as diners kept looking at him like he was some sort of animal in a zoo.But the moment he stepped onto the streets, someone shouted from his side.


    Turning to the sound, he saw Ned standing beside the door of the restaurant. He had a smile on his face, and in his hands was a wooden basket.


    "Good morning, Mr... Beggar?" Ned greeted.


    "Hello," Apollo nodded, his eyes glancing at the basket in the server''s hand. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Here," Ned handed the basket to him. "I was tasked to give this to you every morning from now on." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s this?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, though he already guessed the contents.


    "It''s your morning breakfast. Bread, scrambled eggs, and fried chicken from the Scavenger," Ned said, his eyes glancing at the basket, and he couldn''t help but gulp, thinking about the food inside.


    "Oh? They already know how to make fried chicken? They''re fast," Apollo muttered in amazement. He didn''t open the basket and stared at the server. "Why so generous?"


    "Miss Filly said you deserve such treatment. All meals from us will always be at your service," Ned smiled. He already had an idea of what was happening. Gail had specifically instructed him not to offend Mr. Beggar and to treat him with the utmost respect. Furthermore, he personally saw his goddess, Filly, giving a token to the kid in front of him.


    There must be something going on deeper than what was on the surface.


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes lit up. He raised his hand and patted the man''s shoulder, though he had to tiptoe to do so. "Good. Tell her I won''t forget this."


    "Sure will do, Mr. Beggar," Ned smiled.


    "It''s Yoma, call me Yoma," Apollo said.


    "Alright, Mr. Yoma," Ned nodded.


    Then the two of them just continued to look at each other. Ned couldn''t help but become confused.


    Seeing this, Apollo coughed. "Do you have something to push the food down in my stomach?"


    Ned tilted his head. "What do you¡ª Oh! I''m sorry, I forgot!" He hurriedly went inside the restaurant and returned with a glass of milk in his hands. "Here you go."


    "Haha, thanks," Apollo laughed, taking hold of the glass of milk. "Where do I put this after I am done?"


    "You can just put them in the corner. I''ll go get it immediately," Ned said, pointing to the corner where most people wouldn''t see.


    "Okay," Apollo nodded.


    "Mr. Yoma, regarding your lunch and dinner, I will personally deliver it to you," Ned said.


    Apollo smiled. "You guys are really thoughtful."


    "Hahaha."


    The two talked for a bit before Apollo went back to his beggar spot.


    "I guess it wasn''t bad befriending her," Apollo muttered while lifting up the cover of the basket. The moment the basket was opened, the smell of fried chicken permeated the air.


    Apollo sniffed, and his eyes lit up. "Wow, they also make spicy fried chicken?!"


    Looking inside the basket, there were scrambled eggs, bread, and two pieces of fried chicken. One was golden brown in color and the other reddish brown. His eyes naturally fell on the spicy fried chicken. The oil and the chili made the fried chicken more appealing to the eyes.


    Reaching out his hand, he placed the chicken in front of his nose and sniffed. Suddenly, his excitement died down. "Such a shame, they only use simple spices."


    Apollo could tell they only used 3 to 4 ingredients to make the chili spices. They didn''t even use soy sauce. Most of the ''juices'' probably came from the oil. Even so, Apollo opened his mouth and took a bite.


    A crunching noise echoed as the beggar pierced through the meat. He wasn''t expecting anything, but the moment the taste of meat touched his tongue, an explosive flavor erupted.


    "What the?!" Apollo stared at the fried chicken in his hand with wide eyes. The flavor of the meat was too intense! He continued to chew, and the flavor became even more delicious as he swallowed. "This¡­ what''s this?"


    It was a kind of chicken he hadn''t tasted before. It was juicier and more savory. Some of the juice even dripped down the side of his mouth. This balanced the spiciness of the chicken perfectly. No, the chicken even enhanced it.


    Then Apollo recalled that Ned said the chicken came from the Scavenger. "Scavenger? Is that some sort of monster?" Apollo muttered, taking another bite of the chicken.


    Soon, the only sound in his small corner was that of him eating.


    With a burp, Apollo tapped his stomach a couple of times. "That''s delicious." Although it couldn''t compare to the top restaurants in his previous life, the fried chicken made from the Scavenger was good enough to place the dish between a middle-tier and a top-tier restaurant. And they were only using simple ingredients excluding the chicken!


    Should I provide them with more recipes, Apollo thought. Just thinking about the food from his previous life made him crave it more. "Hmm, if their restaurant becomes more popular and people get used to their food, they will need more recipes for new hype. I should help them when the time comes."


    After cleaning up, he put the empty glass inside the basket and placed it in the corner where Ned had indicated.


    Apollo clapped his hands a few times to get rid of the dirt. "Now now, should I go back to cultivating or should I go see my friend?"


    The beggar referred to Big Chub, whom he hadn''t seen for the past two days. Because he always buys bread from him, Apollo wanted to see how his friend was doing. It didn''t take him long to make a decision, so he went out to the streets and headed to the place where Big Chub said he lived.


    Apollo walked for at least 10 minutes before arriving at the street where Big Chub previously sold his bread. Glancing at the new stalls that were made with materials only meant for restaurants, Apollo couldn''t help but think how extravagant the city was.


    Shaking his head, he went in the direction where Big Chub lived. After reaching the end of the road, he turned left and looked for someone to ask where Slumstreet was.


    "Slumstreet? You go straight, then right, then¡­." An old woman gave directions.


    "Thank you," Apollo said.

 Chapter 75 SlumStreet(Part-2)

    Back on the street where the Filly Restaurant was situated, Arke stood at the corner where the ''beggar'' usually stayed. But he couldn''t see him. Where did he go? With a frown on his face, he moved to stand in front of the restaurant''s door. He was about to open it when the door swung open from the inside."Mr. Yoma?" Ned peeked out with excitement on his face. "Oh, just a customer."


    Arke stared at the server, who opened the door wide and gestured for him to enter. "Welcome, Sir."


    "Have you seen a beggar near your restaurant?" Arke didn''t enter and asked instead.


    "Mr. Yoma? Are you looking for him?" Ned asked back, tilting his head. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Mr. Yoma? So that''s his name," Arke muttered, his eyes shining with understanding. His suspicion about the beggar was completely removed. Why else would this waiter call him ''Mister''? Even Gail is friends with him.


    Apollo Leone and Gail didn''t interact in the past and probably don''t know each other''s names.


    In the end, he didn''t find anything even after checking all the suspicious people he had in mind. Thinking about what he did to some of them, he almost couldn''t hold back his bloodlust.


    Arke strongly believed that the Leone heir was either dead or in a miserable state. With a sigh, he couldn''t help but think it would have been better if the beggar was the Leone heir.


    He was about to turn around, go back to his villa, and rethink his plan when he suddenly stopped. His eyes lit up as he came up with a ''genius'' plan.


    "Are you going to enter, Sir?" Ned asked in confusion, seeing that the person in front of him was just standing still.


    "Sure," Arke nodded and smiled. I should think about this new plan of mine here while eating.


    ...


    Apollo arrived in front of a big hole in the giant wall that encircled the whole city. Looking at the sign beside the hole, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    "So this is the entrance to Slumstreet? But isn''t this just outside?" the beggar muttered, shaking his head. There''s a sewer that he needs to cross to get inside the hole. Fortunately, there are small wooden boards that act as a bridge. Though he could just jump over it, it would disrespect the people who sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears to make this ''bridge''.


    After crossing the sewer, he stepped on stairs made from a pile of rocks. Once inside the hole, he couldn''t help but wonder who made such a thing. The wall that fortified Klown City is at least 5 meters thick and 50 to 60 meters high. It''s a wonder how long it took to construct this thing.


    Apollo reached the end of the hole and jumped over the stone stairs. Landing on a patch of grass, he looked around his surroundings.


    There were only a few trees he could see; the rest was just grass. Apollo didn''t think much of it and just felt it was normal, probably because the city was surrounded by a wide plain of grass with only a few trees. If he wanted to find the forest, he had to travel for a while, just like that place where the Duskfangs were.


    His eyes then landed on small houses in the distance. This was called Slumstreet, but it was more like a small countryside with only a few dozen or so houses. Apollo walked towards the wooden houses. The materials they used were mostly wood, with some metals here and there to fortify the foundations.


    It was sloppy, but it was miles better than his makeshift roof in his beggar spot.


    He looked inside the houses but found no one. He spotted some cages with pigs inside and chickens walking on the grass. Even so, he didn''t find anyone. That was when his senses told him someone was running behind him. He immediately turned around to see a young boy, slightly smaller than him, dashing past and running into the distance.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo didn''t have time to ask the boy as he could see worry and urgency on the boy''s face. Suddenly, a bad feeling rose within the beggar. Following the boy, they arrived at the furthest house in Slumstreet. There are a lot of people, Apollo thought, realizing the reason he hadn''t seen anyone so far.


    He recognized some of them as they sold on the same street as Big Chub. What''s the commotion? The beggar tiptoed to see better, but because of his small frame, he could only see the top of the house.


    Apollo walked towards the nearest person he recognized. "Hey, do you know where Big Chub is?"


    The person he asked turned towards him, and upon seeing that it was the beggar, the man couldn''t help but look at him with sadness. "It''s you, beggar kid. I think it would be better for you not to know."


    "What do you mean?" Apollo asked, his face turning serious. The foreboding feeling increased, seeing the man''s expression and some of the people who looked at him with sadness.


    "Why don''t you play somewhere else?" The man forcefully smiled. "I''ll let my son play with you."


    Hearing this, Apollo shook his head and started pushing through the people in front of him.


    "Hey, kid, don''t!" The man shouted, but Apollo had already made his way through the crowd.


    After pushing the last person aside, Apollo finally saw the house. Just like any other house, it was made of wood and was only enough for one to two people to live in. There was a handcart on the side filled with things Big Chub used for his stall.


    Apollo''s eyes then landed in front of the door. On the ground, someone was covered in a white cloth, though the cloth was already tinted with red. He didn''t have to smell to know that the cloth was soaked in blood.


    The beggar walked towards the person. Some tried to stop him, but he just pushed them aside. Kneeling in front of it, he reached out his hand and lifted the cloth where the face was located.


    Once the face was revealed, the onlookers couldn''t help but look away, tears brimming in their eyes.


    Some of the kids, on the other hand, started crying, their small voices echoing in the surroundings. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo placed the cloth back before standing up.


    "He was a good person," a middle-aged woman said, walking towards the beggar. She put her hand on Apollo''s head, seemingly trying to comfort him. With evident sadness in her voice, she continued, "He is the reason why we even have this Slumstreet."

 Chapter 76 SlumStreet(Part-3)

    "He helped us build these houses, made sure that we were safe, and that all of us were happy," the middle-aged woman said, wiping the side of her eyes with the back of her hand. "You must be one of his friends inside the city, right? He may look like a swindler, but he is a very kind man.""You know, if Big Chub were alive, he would definitely protest that he doesn''t look like a swindler," Apollo commented, raising his head towards the middle-aged woman.


    "Haha, you are right," the middle-aged woman forced a laugh before she glanced at the body on the ground. "They don''t care about us. Even if the city knows that people were killed here, they wouldn''t send their men to apprehend the evildoer."


    "This evildoer¡­ have you seen his appearance?" Apollo asked, his eyes turning cold.


    "No," the woman shook her head. She stared at the beggar, and seeing his eyes, she ''understood'' what was on his mind. "I know what you''re thinking. We also share the same thought, but the evildoer is a cultivator; there''s nothing we can do."


    "How did you know it''s a cultivator who did this?" Apollo asked.


    The middle-aged woman sighed. The way this kid talks is like an adult. Nevertheless, the woman still answered. "Someone saw the killer wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes widened. The Great Serpent Martial School? Who would do such a thing? And why? S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Who saw it?" Apollo asked.


    "Let''s go bury Big Chub now," the middle-aged woman didn''t answer the beggar''s question this time. She looked the beggar in the eyes with concern. "We should just let this go, okay? Or you will only endanger yourself. Big Chub deserves a proper burial, so let''s get going."


    Two men stepped forward with a wooden board in their hands. They placed Big Chub''s body on the board before lifting it up.


    As the people began dispersing, Apollo remained standing still.


    But one person remained beside him.


    Apollo turned to the side where a kid was standing, seemingly hesitating. It was the same kid who had bumped into him. Black hair that reached his shoulder, black eyes, small nose, and lips.


    "You know something," the beggar said, standing in front of the kid. "Can you tell me your name?"


    "I-I''m Don," Don looked up as Apollo was slightly taller than him.


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    "Hi Don, can you tell me what you saw?" Apollo realized that this kid must be the person who saw the cultivator. He probably went to the city to ask for help, but seeing no one following him, the plea for help must have been ignored.


    "It''s a guy¡­ black hair, just like us. But his eyes¡­" When Don recalled the man''s appearance, his body shivered. "I felt scared. He went straight to Big Chub''s house, and I heard a scream. So I ran to the city to ask for help. But they said they wouldn''t bother with the slums."


    As expected, Apollo sighed. "What about the guy''s eyes? What did you see in them?"


    "I just felt fear. I¡­ I felt like I was going to die," Don said, his mouth shaking.


    "You should rest, kid," Apollo put a hand on the kid''s shoulder. A kid saying ''kid'' to another kid could baffle anyone who saw this scene.


    "Hmm," Don nodded, wiping the side of his eyes. "Let''s go after them. I want to see Big Chub one last time."


    "You go first," Apollo said.


    "Alright," Don waved his hand before he ran after the group of people.


    Apollo watched the kid''s back, beginning to organize his thoughts. Something was telling him that he was the reason why this happened to Big Chub. No, he was sure of it, and there was already a candidate in his mind.


    Although he felt sad, it wasn''t to the point of actually wanting to get revenge, but he felt obligated if he was really the person behind this. Where should I buy my bread now? While he was still deep in thought, an interface appeared in front of him. However, this time, it was not blue but a red interface with big words written on it.


    "Alert! Someone has entered your Beggar Spot!"


    Seeing this, the beggar''s eyes widened, and he hurriedly went back to the city. What''s happening?!


    ¡­


    Arke walked out of the Filly Restaurant. He couldn''t help but smack his lips. "I didn''t know they had such good food. Fried Chicken? I''ll make sure I come back."


    At first, he didn''t think much and just ordered to fill his stomach. However, the moment he tasted the new dish, he ended up ordering three meals. Even right now, he still wanted to go back and eat again.


    But he had a priority that needed to be done first. With this in mind, he went to where the beggar stayed.


    It was a place where most people wouldn''t even bother noticing unless they really wanted to. It''s a perfect place to hide. Is that the reason why the city guards didn''t arrest him yet? Arke thought, a smile forming on his lips as he felt lucky. If the guards had taken the beggar, then he couldn''t go through with his plan.


    Arke firmly believed that he wouldn''t be able to find the Leone heir. So instead of finding something he couldn''t even locate, why not just create one?


    He walked inside and saw the small roof. "This place is disgusting."


    Shaking his head, he knelt down to look inside and saw nothing but a scroll. Oh, what''s this? Curious, he reached out his hand and held the scroll. Upon opening it, he couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    "Hahaha! Really! I''m too lucky!" Arke held his stomach from the intensity of his laughter. "The heavens must really want to see blood!"


    After a while, he took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh, though the smile on his face remained. He threw the scroll back, his eyes turning cold. "So he is also going to enter the Advancement Examination? What made him think that he could just enter it without any cultivation? Ambitious and a fool. I''ll kill him then."


    He turned around and walked back to the street. But the moment his body came out from the corner, he immediately noticed the beggar who was looking in his direction with cold eyes.


    "Yo, beggar kid," Arke greeted, his lips turning into a smirk.


    "So it''s you," Apollo said.


    "Me? What did I do?"

 Chapter 77 SlumStreet(Part-4)

    "You killed him, right? Big Chub," Apollo said, his eyes glancing at his beggar spot before staring back at the martial student in front of him."Big Chub?" Arke shook his head. "I don''t know him, but I did kill a few this morning."


    "Almost two meters tall, round, double chin," Apollo described the features of his friend.


    "Oh, I get it! That one from the Slumstreet. Yeah, I killed him. Why?" Arke asked, a smirk appearing on his face. "You want revenge?"


    "I just wanted to confirm it," Apollo said, his lips turning into a smile. "So, what brings you here? Don''t tell me you are here¡­ because of me?! I told you I''m not into the same gender, and especially not older guys!" He shouted the last words, causing passersby to look in their direction.


    Looks of disgust immediately fell upon Arke, who glared at them, but this action only made him appear guilty.


    "You know, kid, f*ck you," Arke cursed, spitting in front of the beggar.


    Seeing this, Apollo raised an eyebrow. He gathered saliva in his mouth and spit on the ground. "F*ck you too."


    "Haha, you are not afraid of some trouble," Arke chuckled, spitting again on the ground in annoyance. "I see that you are also going to enter the Advancement Examination. What can you do without even a Cultivation?"


    "Who said I do¡ª" Apollo didn''t continue his words as he realized something. This guy doesn''t know I have cultivation? Why? But I can clearly tell if a person is a cultivator or not. This guy can''t do that? Better ask the System later.


    "Why don''t we see it then?" He spit again.


    "Sure, kid, but¡­ I will definitely kill you," Arke said. He was about to spit for the third time but saw the passersby looking in his direction. In the end, he just swallowed his saliva.


    He could actually kill him at any other time, as framing a dead person as someone else is easier. But he wanted to have fun for a bit and humiliate this kid in front of thousands of people. A revenge for how the beggar humiliated him by making him look like someone who likes boys.


    Just thinking about it made him grit his teeth, especially now when some passersby were still looking at him with disgust. Holding back his rage, he took a deep breath to calm down. "See you, kid. You better make sure that you attend, or I will make you suffer and wish you were dead."


    Arke turned around and walked into the distance. Even if the beggar didn''t attend the Advancement Examination because of his threat, he would still kill him. Fortunately, his task was extended for two more days, giving him time to dispose of the beggar and make him seem like the Leone Heir. Does he believe that he is going to fool them?


    Arke was certain that there''s no way for them to know if the dead person was the Leone Heir or not. And in the worst-case scenario, he would just run for his life.


    The beggar just stood there, watching the martial student leave.


    "Nah, who''s fool enough to show themselves to the world when enemies are lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce on their prey?" Apollo muttered, shaking his head before he went inside his beggar spot.


    Sitting cross-legged under his makeshift roof, he asked the System. "Hey System, how come Arke didn''t know I have cultivation?"


    A light blue interface appeared in front of him with words materializing, followed by the System''s voice.


    "You are the True Beggar; you are nothing but a human begging for alms. As the True Beggar, you will never emit Qi as only Cultivators can do so."


    Hearing the answer from the System, Apollo couldn''t help but tilt his head. "True Beggar? D*mn, that''s a cool but degrading title. Anyway, so I can''t emit Qi, therefore I''m not a Cultivator, but I can still use the Qi and act as a Cultivator?"


    "Correct," the System answered.


    "It''s like you found a loophole just to not label me as a Cultivator," Apollo muttered, shaking his head. The interface disappeared as he sighed.


    Thinking about it, however, Apollo realized it''s actually a good thing. He doesn''t have to worry about strong Cultivators finding trouble with him because his cultivation is lower than theirs. They will just see him as a beggar and nothing else. Well, they can still bully him because they see a beggar on the street and want to pass their time or have fun.


    Nevertheless, it''s not like he will just let them bully him.


    While he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a knock on the wall in front of him.


    Apollo saw a hand from the other side and immediately knew who it was. "It''s finally lunchtime?" He stood up and went outside his hiding place.


    The moment his figure appeared, Ned, who didn''t dare peek inside, stood up straight and handed over the lunch basket in his hand. "Here you go. It has fried chicken, meat from a Thunderpig, and a glass of milk."


    "Thanks," Apollo smiled, taking hold of the basket. "I greatly appreciate what you guys are doing."


    "You''re welcome," Ned smiled back. "No, we should be the ones saying thanks. Although I don''t know why my Goddess greatly values you, I know it''s for the good of this restaurant."


    "Haha, you''re not angry that I beat you up?" Apollo asked, glancing at the server''s bandages. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "W-wait! Y-you''re the one who beat me up?" Ned stood like he''d been struck by lightning. His eyes widened in realization and shock.


    Seeing this, Apollo immediately waved his hand. "Okay, bye!" He hurriedly went back to his beggar spot.


    He opened the basket, and the smell of the fried chicken along with the meat from a monster wafted up. Apollo licked his lips. Although Big Chub had just died, the beggar still had an appetite. No, even if the world were to fall, if there''s food in front of him, he would definitely eat it.


    No matter how sad one might be, there''s no greater sadness than having an empty stomach.


    "Sorry, Big Chub. I''ll mourn your loss another time," Apollo prayed for his friend before he started digging in.


    He didn''t think much about the fried chicken as he had already eaten one that morning and his palate was familiar with it. However, when he looked at the Thunderpig meat, he couldn''t help but be in awe as it was perfectly cooked. Every side of the meat was the same color. Nothing was overcooked or undercooked.


    Is this the power of having a cultivator as a chef? Apollo thought while slicing the meat. Then he put a piece in his mouth, and the juices from the meat and the coconut oil exploded in his mouth.


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    "Delicious!"

 Chapter 78 Day Of The Advancement!(Part-1)

    After eating his meal, Apollo put the basket in the corner where Ned would pick it up later. He went back inside his beggar spot and sat under his makeshift roof."I should get back to cultivating," Apollo muttered. If he could increase his strength before the Advancement Examination began, that would be great. "If I don''t reach the Half-Step Qi Condensation before the examination, I should find a place to master my Simple Movement Technique."


    With this in mind, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. The moment he wanted to feel and see the Qi, the world instantly turned black, with only him and the countless bright Qi surrounding him.


    Then he began to mobilize them, inhaling through his mouth, nose, and skin. They entered his body without any hindrance and followed the Revised Simple Breathing Technique.


    His body relaxed on its own and his mind was at peace. Time became insignificant, and everything felt like an eternity.


    ...


    Two days later.


    In the manor of the Helflick Family, inside the office of the family head, were two men and one woman.


    Mathias sat behind his office table, spectacles perched on his nose as he read a report. "Tsk tsk, they are showing signs that they''re going to attack," he muttered, putting the paper down.


    "Are they preparing for an attack?" Bel asked worriedly, while June, standing beside her, although not showing emotion, had eyes that told otherwise.


    "Very likely," Mathias nodded. "But don''t worry, the Advancement Examination will proceed as planned, so nothing will hinder you from getting first place."


    Bel went silent for a moment before she sighed. "Hopefully. But what will happen to that man who got marked?"


    "We don''t know," Mathias shook his head. "Worst case scenario, he will be dead before we can kill the Alpha." Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "That''s... unfortunate," Bel muttered. Her mind then wandered to the kid who had saved her life in that forest. Thankfully, he didn''t get marked by that monster.


    When Mathias remembered that the Alphadusk Shadowtail had a trait of marking its target and not letting it go even to the ends of the world, he immediately sent an order to search for a person with a mark on their back. He also took note of the kid who saved his daughter.


    As they began their search, it didn''t take long to find a middle-aged man with the target mark of the Alpha on his back. This made them halt the search for Bel''s savior.


    The middle-aged man said that he went to that forest to procure herbs for his ill wife. That''s when he met the Alphadusk Shadowtail, which attacked him from behind but didn''t chase after him.


    "We promised him that his wife will be healed and we will compensate her greatly for his sacrifice. He will be deemed a hero, and his body will be buried in the Hero''s burial," Mathias said, his tone as serious as usual. Being the head of a great family such as this made him witness a lot, and this kind of thing was nothing new to him.


    Hearing this eased the worry on Bel''s face. "That''s good. Hopefully, he will get through this alive."


    "That''s what I hope too," Mathias smiled, stood up, and went straight to the door. The giant door opened, and a creaking sound echoed in the room. "Let''s go. I want to watch you succeed."


    Bel chuckled and followed after her father. "You know, Father, you should really fix these doors."


    June smiled, walking behind them.


    Because the mansion was big, they had to take a lot of turns just to reach the front entrance. Outside the gate, there was already a carriage waiting for them.


    June, as always, took the driver''s seat while the father and daughter went inside the carriage.


    "Father, you know if we just jumped from outside your room, we would have arrived here in just a matter of seconds," Bel complained as soon as she took her seat. "The house is too big, and walking is too slow."


    June was about to make the horses move when he stopped, his ears perking up. He shared the same sentiments as her, making him curious about the family head''s answer.


    Mathias glanced at his daughter with a sigh. "You''re too hasty, my child. Did you know that walking is a great way to calm our minds? Besides, if I let you do that, what do you think our house would look like?"


    Bel began to imagine the scene: her, June, and the others jumping from here and there just to get to their destination¡­


    "The house would look like a kid''s playground," Mathias answered for her. "That would degrade our status and make people lose respect for the Helflick Family."


    "It''s a waste of convenience," Bel muttered in disappointment.


    As the carriage began to move, Mathias couldn''t help but think she was right. But because he wanted to maintain the respect of other people towards them, he had to maintain the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me of his family, even though he also wanted to just fly around to get to his destination.


    But such a shame, how people look at them is also a ''kind'' of power.


    "By the way, Bel, you said that your savior is just a kid?" Mathias changed the subject.


    "Yeah, I also couldn''t believe it. He can defeat three to four Duskfang Shadowtails on his own, and he barely looks like he''s ten years old!" Bel said, her eyes burning with excitement. "I think he''s the most talented person I''ve ever seen!"


    She actually wanted to find him, but because she was punished for sneaking out, she couldn''t leave the mansion and had to become a maid.


    "A kid with that strength? He''s likely at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building or at the 3rd-Step," Mathias said before he looked deeply into his daughter''s eyes. "However, you have to be careful. We are not sure if he is just a kid or pretending to be a kid. There''s even the possibility he saved you just to get on your good side."


    Bel nodded in understanding. "I understand, Father."


    "Good," Mathias nodded with a smile. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I wonder if he is going to participate. With his strength, he could defeat a martial student before the examination begins and take their place instead. Bel couldn''t help but think about her savior, the ''beggar.''

 Chapter 79 Day Of The Advancement!(Part-2)

    Filly looked at herself in the mirror. She was now wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on her chest and glasses on top of her nose. She didn''t usually wear glasses, but she felt like she needed them this time for a change. Pushing up her spectacles, she couldn''t help but sigh. "It would be better if I just failed this Advancement."She wasn''t particularly fond of cultivating, but it didn''t mean she was going to fail the Advancement Examination on purpose. With her strength, she was confident she would pass the exam, though she would be dreaming if she thought her ranking would reach the top.


    Just barely passing was enough for her as she still needed to graduate from the martial school to repay her family. And after that¡­ Filly looked at herself in the mirror with great determination. "I will live my life the way I want."


    A knock came on the door, and Filly knew it was time. She opened the door and saw Gail wearing the same uniform as her. "Is the carriage ready?"


    "Yes, Miss," Gail nodded.


    "Alright, let''s go," Filly said, and they went downstairs. However, she was about to step down when she saw the scene below. "We have a lot of customers."


    "Yeah," Gail said from behind, glancing at the number of customers eating on the first floor. "And they''re almost all eating the same thing."


    Filly smiled as the smell of fried chicken permeated the air. "We only launched the dish yesterday, and our customers have doubled. And it''s only the regular fried chicken made from the Scavenger."


    "This is a good sign, Miss."


    "I know," Filly said, and they both started going downstairs. "I expect more people to come in the next few days, and that''s also when the official battle against Skyline Savory will begin."


    Hearing this, Gail''s eyes widened in surprise. "Isn''t it too soon?"


    "Yes, but we have to take advantage of the current event. The city will be filled with people because of the Advancement Examination. Some officials from other cities will visit, and we also have to attract them," Filly explained as they reached the door. Along the way, her workers wished them the best of luck.


    They were about to open the door when it was opened from outside and Ned entered. He was scratching his head in confusion, holding the wooden basket.


    "What''s wrong?" Filly asked with a raised eyebrow.


    "He''s not there," Ned said.


    "Who?"


    "Mr. Yoma," Ned said, sighing.


    "Mr. Yoma?" Filly and Gail looked at each other. "Who''s Mr. Yoma? Didn''t I tell you to give the basket to Mr. B¡ª"


    Filly didn''t finish her words as she understood what was happening. So that''s his name. Yeah, I was rude for not asking his name. This thought made her feel disappointed.


    Seeing her face, Ned became worried. "I''ll go immediately to find him!"


    "No need," Filly stopped him before he could leave the restaurant. "He''s probably somewhere else. Just check from time to time if he''s back."


    "Alright then," Ned said, scratching his cheek. "Good luck with the Advancement, Miss!"


    "Thanks," Filly nodded, and along with Gail, they went outside and entered the carriage. Soon, the horses pulled the carriage towards the venue where the Advancement would be held.


    "Gail, are you confident?" Filly asked as the carriage started moving.


    "I''m confident that I will at least reach the top 5," Gail said. "But reaching the top 2 or top 1, I need great luck."


    "It''s because of Bel, right?" Filly smiled, mentioning her friend.


    "Yeah, but what I''m most worried about is Arke," Gail''s eyes turned serious. "He is a man that even Bel will have a hard time fighting. He is also a Cultivator with a fire attribute."


    Filly didn''t know the person Gail was talking about, but hearing that the guy named Arke had a fire attribute made her mood heavy. "That''s a tough opponent. But don''t worry, reaching the top 5 is good enough. That''s also good for business."


    "Right," Gail smiled. "This will definitely attract customers."


    Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    Because the event will have a lot of people watching, it''s the perfect place to make Filly''s Restaurant famous. If Gail reaches at least the top five, people will get curious about her. Those unfamiliar with her will definitely want to know her identity. Then, once they find out that she works for Filly''s restaurant, they will also get curious about it.


    Filly wanted a chain reaction that would end up making her restaurant famous.


    The carriage reached an intersection, and they began to move slowly. Filly pushed the curtain of the window to the side to get a better view and saw carriages moving in the same direction as them. There were also a lot of people walking on the side, some were martial students, while others were just commoners wanting to watch the event.


    While she was looking outside, her eyes fell on someone wearing a full dark grey robe that covered his whole body. She could only see the person''s side profile, but she noticed the half mask that covered his eyes.


    Oh? Someone is hiding their identity? Filly raised an eyebrow. For that person to hide their identity, they are probably one of the cultivators who defeated a martial student and got their hands on an invitation card.


    Gail, who happened to look outside, also noticed the person. "That person is really small," she couldn''t help but comment.


    "That height and figure¡­" This comment made Filly think of someone. It can''t be? She shook her head the next moment for thinking such a ridiculous thing.


    "What''s wrong?" Gail asked.


    "Nothing," Filly shook her head while pulling the curtain back. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their carriage, along with the other carriages, went outside the city. Their destination was a mountain where the event would be held. Those in the carriages took about 20 to 30 minutes, while those on foot had to walk for at least an hour just to get there.


    After arriving at the foot of the mountain, Filly and Gail went out of their carriage, their eyes naturally went to the top of the mountain.


    "It''s too high," Filly couldn''t help but mutter in astonishment.


    "The venue is different this time," Gail said, looking around. This was not the first time she participated in the Advancement Examination, and the last venue was held inside one of the martial schools in the city.


    There were already a lot of people at the foot of the mountain, most of them were students, and some came with their parents or guardians.

 Chapter 80 Day Of The Advancement!(Part-3)

    Apollo glanced at the mountain in the distance. Adjusting the mask on his face, he followed the people heading in the same direction. "D*mn it, why do they make the venue so far from the city?" he muttered in annoyance. He had been walking for 30 minutes now and still hadn''t reached the venue.The others seemed to share his sentiments as they shook their heads, though this mainly applied to those who were only there to watch. The martial students, on the other hand, didn''t utter a word and just continued moving forward without making a scene.


    Apollo felt relieved that no egotistical cultivator was among them.


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Just as he was thinking about this, a shout came from his right, making him turn toward the sound.


    "Move, you lowly commoners!" A carriage made its way through the crowd, the curtain open, and a man who was likely a noble looked at the people outside with disgust and ridicule in his eyes.


    The people had no choice but to make way. The martial students were angry at first, but seeing that someone from a carriage shouted those words, they only gritted their teeth and stepped back. Even though they were already cultivators, there was still social stratification among them. Those whose backgrounds were commoners had to bow down to the nobles.


    Even if some of them were stronger, they had to swallow their pride and give way to those at the top of the social class.


    Unless they were extremely talented and strong, they had to abide by these unwritten rules. Furthermore, only nobles, the wealthy, and the talented had the ability to have a carriage.


    The man inside the carriage had blonde hair and red eyes. He wore a maroon uniform with a white lion insignia on the right chest. He couldn''t help but smile when he saw them making way for him. "That''s right! Hahaha! You guys are nothing but slaves to us!" he shouted, causing the people to glare at him.


    This made the man shiver, and he hurriedly closed the curtain. He knew that some of them were stronger than him, so he had to make a ''strategic retreat.'' Yup, strategic! What if he met some of them in the Advancement Examination and they decided to take revenge on him? What if they became crazy, ignored social status, and beat him up to death?


    It wasn''t unprecedented for commoners to take action against a noble because they couldn''t take it anymore. Thus, he made the driver of his carriage make the horses run faster.


    The man was right, as the moment the carriage sped up, a strong killing intent erupted from the crowd, causing the martial students to turn toward the source.


    Apollo was among them. He glanced behind and saw a two-meter-tall man with muscles that threatened to burst from his martial uniform. His uniform was dark blue with an insignia on his right chest, a crossed sword on top of a shield. Black hair, hawk-like eyes, and a mustache that flared up because of the intensity of the aura he was letting out.


    The beggar recognized the man. It was the same person who made a scene in front of the Skyline Savory branch.


    What was his name again? Oh right! Yohan! Apollo could see that he was angry, and the goons behind the two-meter-tall man were trying hard to calm him down.


    "So he''s also walking. Where''s the pretty boy then?" Apollo muttered, looking around to see the man Yohan had a beef with. But after looking for a while, he didn''t see him. "He probably went by carriage."


    Shaking his head, Apollo continued to walk towards the mountain. As far as he could see, this was the tallest mountain in the area. It was like looking at Mount Everest from his previous life, though this mountain was full of greenery, not snow and ice.


    Along the way, Apollo brought up the System Store and looked at the items that could help him in this event. I should only buy it when necessary, the beggar thought before closing the store. As his eyes wandered back to the mountain, he couldn''t help but stare northwest, towards the forest where the black wolves were.


    The place was too far from here, but he could still see the dense trees, which reminded him of the Alpha that would hunt him down. He was nervous that it might appear out of nowhere. Fortunately, nothing had happened in the past few days.


    However, Apollo suddenly felt uneasy. He squinted for a moment before staring back at the mountain, his heart pounding like crazy. When he glanced at the forest where the Duskfang Shadowtails resided, he felt as if something was staring back at him. Despite being miles apart, the sensation felt like it was only a few meters away.


    The feeling of being watched remained even though he wasn''t looking at the forest anymore. After a few seconds, it disappeared.


    That monster definitely knows my position, Apollo thought, frowning behind his black mask. He adjusted his half mask and let out a heavy breath. If that monster really hunted him now, there was nothing he could do besides run away.


    But am I fast enough? Apollo doubted it. Even though he hadn''t slept last night to master the Simple Movement Technique, he still wasn''t confident he could outrun that monster. Thinking about it, Apollo realized that the Alphadusk could have killed him before, but the monster didn''t.


    It seemed like he was being toyed with.


    "Tsk, don''t come or I''ll burn you to a crisp," Apollo muttered. If he couldn''t run away, it didn''t mean he would die without a fight.


    "System, are you sure you won''t punish me because I''ll leave my beggar spot for a few days?" Apollo asked the system.


    "I am sure of it, Host. As long as you recognize that place as your Beggar Spot, I won''t be able to issue a punishment. As a True Beggar, you have to rummage for food, money, and other useful items, but you must return to your Beggar Spot.


    If you want to change your Beggar Spot, you can always buy a Change Beggar Spot Item in the System Store," the emotionless voice of the System echoed in the beggar''s mind. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ha, do you think I''ll fall for that? I was just asking to make sure!" Apollo said with a smirk.


    Soon, he arrived at the foot of the mountain, and the boisterous sound of the people echoed around him.

 Chapter 81 Day Of The Advancement!(Part-4)

    "There''s already a lot," Apollo muttered, looking at the number of people at the foot of the mountain. He could see that most were martial students, while some came with their guardians or parents.The place was wide and had a lot of space. Even though there were already many participants, it didn''t feel too packed.


    Some of the martial students had parasols and chairs that they brought with them. Apollo could even see a small house in the distance with martial students hanging out. The way they moved indicated they were of noble origin, while the commoners had to stand under the sun.


    Why didn''t they bring their own parasols? Afraid to offend the nobles? Apollo thought, shaking his head. Even though there was social stratification in his previous life, it wasn''t to the point where they blatantly showed it to the public.


    The invitation scroll only stated the gathering time but didn''t specify when the exam would begin.


    Apollo found a tree to sit underneath, the shade countering the heat from the sun. It seems like the exam won''t begin soon, he thought, seeing that the number of people was still increasing. This made him curious about how many martial students the city had. He had seen at least five martial schools in the city, each comparable in size to the top universities in his previous life.


    In fact, the martial schools were much grander and gave off a solemn vibe, like looking at a sleeping beast.


    "I should take this time to increase my strength," Apollo muttered, closing his eyes and cultivating the Revised Simple Breathing Technique. Normally, he wouldn''t dare to do this with other people around, especially Cultivators. But right now, he didn''t have to worry about his identity being exposed and attracting attention.


    He wore a mask that he bought from the System Store, costing him 5 Alm points. This black half mask, which only covered his eyes and nose, had the ability to block any prying technique below his cultivation level.


    Apollo was not too worried about those with higher cultivation than him seeing through the mask. He was completely different from Apollo Leone the moment he arrived in this world. He found that his body had become slightly taller, he had gained weight, and, coupled with his contact lenses that changed his blue eyes to black, he was confident that no one would recognize him as the Heir of the Leone.


    As the world instantly turned dark and the Qi ''appeared'' around the beggar brilliantly, the guardians and parents who came with the martial students were escorted away by men wearing silver armor.


    Because of this, the area became less populated, but the guardians could still watch from afar.


    Around this time, a carriage arrived, and a woman and a middle-aged man stepped out of it.


    The martial students immediately recognized them.


    "That''s Bel Helflick!"


    "Her father is also here! Mathias Helflick!"


    Even the nobles looked at the newcomers with excitement in their eyes.


    "I''ll have to leave you here," Mathias said, glancing at the people looking in their direction. "There is somewhere I need to go." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But you said you were going to watch?" Bel asked.


    "Haha, I will. But the exam won''t start for an hour," Mathias explained.


    "How do you know that?" Bel looked at her father with wide eyes.


    "Silly daughter, I''m the family head. Of course, I know things that you guys don''t," Mathias smiled before he started walking toward the two guards who were waiting for him in the distance.


    The students naturally made way for the only Core Creation Cultivator in the city.


    Looking at her father''s back, Bel couldn''t help but sigh with worry. She already had a guess about what matter he was going to attend to. It''s probably the plan about that monster. Hopefully, the worst won''t come.


    "Bel!" someone shouted, making Bel turn to the sound.


    "Hello, Filly and Gail!" Bel smiled, greeting her friends.


    "Good to see you," Filly hugged her friend while Gail nodded with a smile.


    "Same," Bel said. "When did you arrive?"


    "Around 10 minutes ago," Filly said. "Did I hear correctly that the exam will only start after an hour?"


    "Yup," Bel nodded.


    "I see. Do you know what the exam is like?" Filly asked, wondering if Bel knew something.


    However, Bel shook her head. "I don''t know. This is the first time the examination will happen outside the city. It''s probably different from the last Advancement, and if they didn''t change the exam, they will for sure raise the difficulty."


    "I wonder why," Filly muttered in confusion.


    "It''s probably because of those rumors," Gail said from the side.


    "Rumors?" Filly turned to her. "What rumors?"


    "Some Cultivation Techniques are being stolen from the library of each martial school," Gail explained.


    "Oh, I also heard about that," Bel recalled the time when she was a maid. She gossiped when there was a chance with the other maids and heard a lot of rumors. This included that some techniques from the martial schools were being stolen. "If I were them, I would raise the difficulty for this exam."


    Filly understood what she meant. "Yeah, those who learned new techniques will have to show them in order to pass. They are basically finding out those perpetrators with this examination."


    "This is still a rumor though," Bel said. "And we are not sure if they are really going to do that."


    "I guess you are right," Filly said, while Gail nodded in agreement.


    "Let''s just wait for the exam to begin and we will see," Bel said. "Hopefully, the exam is not ridiculous."


    "Haha, right," Filly chuckled. Then she noticed Gail seemingly distracted by something. "Hey Gail, what are you looking at?"


    Gail was woken up, shaking her head, she answered, "Nothing. I just saw that same guy we saw from earlier."


    Hearing this, Filly turned to where she was looking and saw someone sitting cross-legged under the shade of the tree. He had a black half mask adorning his face while his robe covered his body.


    "Oh, he''s probably not a student," Bel commented from the side. "But it''s like he wanted to be one."


    "I heard it''s hard for them to pass the exam. They probably only defeated weak cultivators just to get the invitation," Filly said. "I just don''t understand why they make such rules."


    "But some of them can be really strong," Bel said, her eyes squinting at the man under the shade. Have I seen him before? Looking at his robes, although they looked clean, she could see holes and tears. Judging by the tears, it was like they were clawed at by ''something''.


    Suddenly, she recalled someone, and her eyes widened. Is that him?! But it can''t be, right?

 Chapter 82 Day Of The Advancement!(Part-5)

    Apollo opened his eyes, the Qi around him ''disappearing'' while the surroundings returned to normal. He looked at the sky and concluded that he had cultivated for around 40 to 50 minutes.He stood up and walked towards the crowd. It seems it''s still not starting. What are they waiting for? Apollo sighed. As he stood in a corner, he couldn''t help but notice that someone was looking in his direction. This made him shiver, and his body tensed visibly.


    He looked around to see if that ''monster'' had appeared, but he only saw a woman staring at him like it was the first time she saw a human.


    Bel? Apollo immediately recognized the woman. Why is she looking at me like that? Did she find out? No, it can''t be. Did she reach Qi Condensation?


    Apollo spread his senses towards her to feel the state of her cultivation. Oh? She''s still at the 4th-Step, but it won''t be long before she reaches Half-Step Qi Condensation. Still, this makes it hard for her to identify me.


    So I got scared for nothing, Apollo thought before staring ahead.


    "Look!" someone exclaimed while pointing at the top of the mountain.


    Apollo also looked up, and his eyes widened at the scene. "He''s flying," the beggar muttered in amazement. The others shared the same expression as him. Even though they had seen someone fly a couple of times in their lives, they still kept getting amazed, especially when it happened right in front of them.


    Bel, who was shocked that the small man she was staring at could also spread his senses and check her cultivation, didn''t have a choice but to turn to the sound.


    Someone was flying down from the top of the mountain. His white hair and dark red clothes made a flapping sound from the wind. It didn''t take him long to reach the foot of the mountain, where he hovered above the martial students.


    He sported white eyebrows that perked up at their ends with eyes deep red in color, like an intense fire creating a deep contrast on his pale and wrinkly face. His red dress, a long robe Shenyi Hanfu with a continuous cut from top to bottom, hid his not-too-thin body.


    "Uncle Popo?" Bel muttered.


    "That''s the headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School. Is he going to be our examiner?" Filly asked from the side.


    A 4th-Step Qi Condensation... Gail clenched her fist, determination brewing within her eyes. At 4th-Step Qi Condensation, a cultivator can fly using the condensed Qi inside them. But they need to have great control over their Qi, and only talented ones can do so, as flying at this stage is a sign that they have a chance to advance to another stage.


    Of course, there are techniques that can allow one to fly even without reaching 4th-Step Qi Condensation, but they are very rare and hard to learn.


    Gail also wished to fly someday.


    "Everyone quiet down," the old man said. He didn''t shout, but his voice still echoed within the field. "I apologize for the wait. Before we begin, I would like to introduce myself. I''m the headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School, Master Popo, and I''m also the one who will be the examiner for your first test."


    The martial students closed their mouths while they looked at the headmaster floating above them. Some of the guardians and their parents even kneeled to the ground, showing their great respect. They were not cultivators and didn''t have a high status, so they had learned to bow their heads in situations like this.


    The nobles looked at this scene while puffing up their chests. That''s what commoners should do, to kneel and bow to us, the mighty ones. This was their thought as smiles formed on their lips.


    Apollo, who happened to glance in their direction, immediately knew what the nobles were thinking. These people really like the feeling of being superior. And why do the commoners even need to kneel down? The class differentiation in this world is really too much! Although he was thinking about this, it didn''t mean he would take action.


    He would rather focus on what the old man was going to say than think about them. However, it was a different matter if these nobles tried to offend him.


    Staring back at the old man floating in the air, Apollo perked up his ears. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "As you may have realized, the venue for this Advancement is different from the last time. It''s because we decided to raise the difficulty," Master Popo said. "Those who have only made small improvements will have very little chance of passing the exam.


    This is very different from past examinations, where we only valued how much your Qi had increased and your potential to go to the next stage of your cultivation. However, the Advancement this time is harder. There''s no luck involved, only hard work!"


    When the martial students heard that the exam had become more difficult, the scene became quite noisy. Some wanted to express their disagreement but only dared to whisper it among themselves.


    "Quiet," Master Popo said, and the noise died down in an instant. "The first part of the exam will now begin!"


    The moment his words fell, a strong wind blew in their direction, causing the old man''s robe to flap chaotically.


    However, something unexpected happened. Because he was flying above the first few rows, they had to look up almost vertically, and that''s when they saw it.


    Even some martial students from a distance managed to catch a glimpse of it.


    Apollo''s mouth opened slightly, an incredulous expression appearing on his face. This old man! Why is he not wearing an inner layer of clothes?! His birdie! Old man, this is not Japan!


    The beggar immediately brought up the System Store to look for a technique that could blur an object of his choice. With the help of the System, the store sorted itself out until only one item remained.


    Japanization Blur Beam: Blur anyone or anything of your choice. This technique doesn''t have limitations. It can be used anywhere and anytime, be it in the vacuum of space or in another dimension.


    Price: 100,000,000 Alm Points.


    This¡­ it''s fcking expensive!*

 Chapter 83 First Test(Part-1)

    The martial students from the Fire Shrine Cultivation School slapped their foreheads while some looked around, whistling a tune, seemingly acting like they didn''t know their headmaster. Some even covered the insignia of their school.He did it again, they thought in exasperation. They were greatly embarrassed and just wanted to find a hole and hide there forever.


    The women, on the other hand, immediately looked away, their faces red from what they had seen.


    "Disgusting," Bel muttered, a frown on her face. "Fortunately, my father doesn''t like to fly around even though he can and is the strongest in the city."


    Master Popo didn''t seem to know that his ''son'' was showing. He turned around and pointed to the mountain. "You will have to climb the mountain all the way to the top. You have until the sun disappears on the horizon."


    Another wind blew in his direction, his hanfu robe wildly moving about, providing another view for his audience.


    The martial students were shocked once more, but it was better than seeing the old man''s front.


    Apollo''s face had already darkened. This guy! You don''t even have a btt! How dare you show it to us?!* Shaking his head, the only thing he could do was stare at the mountain.


    "So we just have to climb the mountain?" Apollo muttered. It sounded easy, especially to them. However, the beggar believed it was more than that. And as he expected, what happened next proved him right.


    The whole area began shaking, and some of the rocks from the barren rocky mountain rolled down. The middle of the mountain started changing like it was alive. Stones were raised, forming stairs that reached the very top.


    Seeing this, the cultivators looked at each other in confusion. Stairs? It makes the test easier.


    "Hehe, climbing this mountain to the top sounds like a piece of cake, right? But you guys couldn''t be more wrong!" Master Popo smirked, turning around to stare at the students.


    Okay, here it comes! Incoming missiles! Apollo already closed his eyes, and those who didn''t manage to do so in time were hit by another view.


    They exclaimed but immediately shut their mouths. They knew better than to offend a cultivator with the ability to fly.


    Seeing their faces filled with ''grief,'' Master Popo smiled in satisfaction. It seems they have already realized the ''gravity'' of the test. Literally.


    "I guess it would be better if you found it out yourselves! Let the test begin!" Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Hearing this, the martial students looked at each other for a moment before they started walking towards the stairs.


    "Why don''t we observe first?" Bel asked.


    "Why?" Filly tilted her head. "All we have to do is run to the top of the mountain. Maybe they will give more points to the first one who arrives at the top."


    "Miss, I don''t think it''s that simple. Even the disgusting Master Popo said so," Gail commented.


    "Gail is right," Bel glanced at Gail with a smile. "We should watch first and see what happens. We still have a few hours before the sun sets."


    "Oh, okay," Filly nodded. She was talented in business but lacked in other areas, so she knew when to take a step back. Besides, Bel was considered the most talented cultivator in the entire city, so it would only be wise to follow her.


    Bel smiled before glancing at the masked man. He was standing still, watching the other martial students go up the stairs. It seems we have the same thought. Although this man had the same height and figure as her savior, she knew that her savior was just a kid. And from what she understood about him, he couldn''t let out his senses and observe other people''s cultivation.


    Deciding not to concern herself with the masked man, she continued to watch the martial students.


    Around this time, Master Popo flew back to the top of the mountain and landed on the last stair. Sitting on it with his legs wide apart, he took out a smoking pipe. Taking a deep breath from it, he blew out a thick smoke.


    Master Popo focused his eyes, and the small figures like dots at the very bottom of the steps zoomed in, giving him a clear view of what was happening below. Looking at the martial student who was a few steps ahead of the others, he couldn''t help but mutter, "It should be about time."


    Just as his words fell, the first martial student frowned but continued up the stairs. However, it didn''t take long before he had difficulty raising his foot.


    This made the others confused. What''s he doing, bringing his foot up and down like a fool? Some shook their heads and decided to finish the test as quickly as possible.


    Those who thought this way jumped from their position or ran. But the moment they passed the first person, they slowed down, and those who jumped landed heavily on the stairs. Cracking sounds echoed as some bones were dislocated.


    Master Popo smiled in satisfaction, hearing the shouts of pain coming from the martial students below. "Hehe, this is going to be interesting."


    ...


    "As expected," Apollo muttered, seeing some of the martial students having a hard time going up the stairs. "It seems something is holding them back." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They couldn''t even properly use their Movement Techniques, as the moment they walked up the stairs, they started slowing down or coming to a complete stop.


    Hmm, around 10 steps before they felt the effect, Apollo thought. Then he realized something. So the higher we go up, the more difficult it will be. He glanced at the person currently in first place, and his eyes immediately turned cold. "Arke."


    Arke was walking up the stairs neither fast nor slow. He was consistent with every step, as if the ''thing'' that was holding back the other martial students was nonexistent to him.


    "But considering the height of this mountain, with his speed, he will probably take an hour or so to reach the top," Apollo put a hand under his chin. "That pervert only said that we have to go to the top of the mountain before night comes. He didn''t say anything about ranking, so it''s wiser to conserve strength and take the time to go up."


    The beggar also noticed people not wearing uniforms but walking to the steps. There were at least five of them, and most of them had nervous expressions. It seemed they were the ones who got invitation cards from the other martial students.


    Including him, there were only six of them.


    "I should join them," Apollo muttered, walking towards the non-uniform individuals.


    "Let''s go. Arke is showing off," Bel said, glancing at the masked man.


    "Alright," Filly and Gail nodded their heads.

 Chapter 84 First Test(Part-2)

    Standing in front of the stairs, Apollo glanced around at the participants. They were basically jumping before landing on or around the tenth step, then proceeding to just run or walk up the mountain.Bel, Filly, and Gail also did the same, though Bel and Gail landed on the 17th and 16th steps, respectively.


    Filly landed on the 13th step. Seeing her companions already ahead of her, she couldn''t help but shout, "Wait for me!" Then she started running towards the two.


    The beggar turned to the step in front of him. What is it that''s holding them? Curious, he raised his foot and put it on the first step. He didn''t raise his other foot yet, trying to see if he could feel the ''thing'' that made the others struggle up the stairs.


    He waited for a few seconds but didn''t feel a thing. That''s when he heard a grunt a few steps away from him. Looking up, he saw a man not wearing the martial student''s uniform who couldn''t take another step. Apollo couldn''t see the man''s face, but the way he grunted and tried to raise his foot made the beggar understand what was happening.


    Spreading his senses, Apollo realized that the man was not a cultivator but just a normal human. What was he thinking? And how did he even get his hands on the invitation? This made him curious, so he walked up the stairs to stand beside the man.


    "Hey," Apollo said, glancing at the man''s face. But the scene almost made him burst out laughing. The man''s face was so scrunched up it looked like he was taking a massive sh*t!


    "¡­W-what?" The man was silent for a moment before he managed to say something through gritted teeth.


    "What do you¡ª" Apollo closed his mouth just in time as his laugh threatened to come out. He took a breath to calm down and repeated his words. "What do you feel?"


    The man slowly turned his head to the speaker.


    No! Don''t look at me! Apollo immediately looked away, his mouth twitching while his nose flared.


    "I¡­ feel¡­ great¡­ pressure¡­ I-I can''t¡­ move," the man explained with great difficulty.


    "Do you feel like something is pressing down on you?" Apollo asked, his face turned to the side.


    "Y-yes¡­" the man answered.


    "How did you¡­" Apollo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, determination to look at the man''s face appeared. It''s rude to talk to someone without looking at them directly. So he did. However, he instantly turned his head back, his face red from holding in his laughter. Still, he continued his words.


    "How did you get your invitation?"


    "I¡­ bought it¡­ with¡­ my hard-earned¡­ money," the man explained. Although the pressure was too great and taking the next step was too hard, he was still trying his best. "I¡­ want¡­ to cultivate¡­ it''s my dream¡­"


    As expected, Apollo had already realized this fact. Sighing with eyes closed, he patted the man''s shoulder to comfort him. "Dream, as long as you work hard, I believe you will achieve it!"


    Then he looked up, his eyes now open, and started walking up the stairs. Leaving those cool words felt great. Hehe, I''m really a friendly neighborhood beggar! The sound of crashing from behind echoed. Apollo smiled, thinking there were even special sound effects for his cool performance. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That special sound effect, however, was the sound of the man falling down the stairs because the beggar''s pat added more pressure. The man''s body, already on the verge of giving up, collapsed in an instant.


    After taking a few steps, he saw the other non-martial students already having a hard time moving their feet. So, as a friendly neighborhood beggar, he walked up to them, gave them some advice on how to achieve their dreams of becoming a cultivator, and then proceeded to walk up the stairs in a cool manner.


    Special sound effects of crashing soon echoed, making the smile on the beggar''s face widen. He actually knew what the sound was coming from behind. The beggar was actually doing them a favor as with their capabilities they would only end up as laughing stocks. Worst case, nobles would find amusement with them, and the ridicule and mockery would shatter their dreams.


    Apollo didn''t do this because he was good-hearted and really wanted to help them. It''s just that he admired their guts for even trying to join this Advancement Examination despite not having any cultivation.


    Shaking his head, he moved on to find the other one.


    Oh? Where''s the last one? Apollo didn''t find the last non-martial student who got their hands on the invitation card either by defeating a martial student, buying it from them, or through other means.


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    Glancing up, he found the person walking at the same pace as Filly, Gail, and Bel.


    "He''s already a cultivator?" Apollo muttered. He didn''t need to spread his senses, feel the Qi, or examine the state of the body to tell that the last non-martial student was a cultivator.


    Without anyone to give advice to, the beggar walked up the stairs but stopped before the tenth step. Most of them failed here. I should be able to feel it now. With this in mind, he started walking up while preparing for that pressure to come down on him. However, even after taking a couple of steps, he still didn''t feel a thing.


    Nothing? Apollo became confused, though he shrugged his shoulders soon after. "Maybe I will feel it on the twentieth step."


    Noon was on its way and there was still plenty of time before the day''s end.


    Filly, Bel, and Gail walked the steps side by side.


    "Are you okay?" Bel couldn''t help but ask the restaurant owner.


    "I''m alright," Filly smiled. "My body just feels slightly heavier than usual."


    "Don''t worry, I feel it too, though subtly," Bel said.


    "I think it''s the natural force of gravity. The higher we go up, the more it increases," Gail commented.


    "Oh? If that''s really the case¡­" Bel took out a coin. She glanced at Gail, and the two nodded, seemingly understanding each other. "Let''s wait for a moment."


    "Why?" Filly asked.


    "Just watch," Bel turned to her with a smile.


    They didn''t have to wait long before a martial student walked up the stairs beside them. His step was heavy and his knees were shaking.


    "Hey, catch this," Bel said, throwing the coin into the air casually. The martial student was surprised and out of instinct, he caught the falling coin. But in the next moment, he gritted his teeth as his hand almost reached the ground.


    "W-what the hell?!" The martial student couldn''t help but get angry.


    Bel and Gail smiled as their theories were confirmed, while the restaurant owner finally understood what was happening.

 Chapter 85 Mathias And The Other Four(Part-1)

    A silver carriage stopped in front of a vast forest, and Mathias Helflick stepped out of it.Looking around, he found a tent set up nearby. He walked towards it, and the sound of people arguing echoed. Mathias frowned when he heard the heated voices. "These guys¡­ they are at it again." Shaking his head, he parted the entrance of the tent and went inside.


    There, he saw four individuals wearing expensive clothing around a table: one wearing a black hanfu with intricate white patterns, an old woman in a white dress that reached her ankles, and another in a black suit with simple designs, though one could easily tell that the fabric used was very expensive.


    Three of them were arguing while the last person, wearing a butler suit and a monocle on his left eye, was sitting away from them with a cup of tea in his hands.


    Mathias knew all of them but paid particular attention to the person in the butler attire.


    Holst put down the cup and stood up upon seeing the newcomer. He put his hand on his stomach and bowed. "My apologies. Welcome, Sir Mathias."


    "You don''t have to do that," Mathias waved his hand before he focused on the trio who were still arguing with each other.


    The one wearing the black hanfu was a middle-aged man just like Mathias but older by a few years. He was the family head of the Kleinford family, a man known for his contribution to the Border Wars decades ago, Nathan Kleinford. Black-haired and dark-eyed, he came from a commoner family and made his way to his current position. He was also a cultivation fanatic.


    However, his talent made it hard for him to advance beyond the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation. That''s why he focused on training his family.


    "Like I said, three of the tails will be ours! I''ve had my Elite Cultivators sent for this mission!" Nathan said, his nose flaring up.


    "Respect the old, shall we?" the old woman in the white dress said. "Three tails? You are taking it too far. The Alchemy House will benefit greatly with that number. Besides, there are five of us here, and there are only nine tails that we can share!"


    The old woman was the branch manager of the Alchemy House in Klown City and was known as Helen. Not many people knew about her as she was always inside the Alchemy Building and only met with people of status, but the Alchemy House was very famous as it had many branches in the Empire. The one in Klown was only one among hundreds of branches.


    "Respect? I only give respect to those who deserve it! And I will never give it to someone who can''t even grant a request for making a Talent Boost Supplement!" Nathan said, scoffing at the Alchemy House manager.


    "Ah wow! So you''re still holding a grudge because of that?" Helen shook her head with a frown. "You are acting like a child."


    "What did you say?!" Nathan stood up, pointing his finger at Helen. "I dare you to say it again!"


    "I said!" Helen stood up, the temperature increasing exponentially. The air started to boil, producing a heat haze. "You are acting like a child!"


    "You!" Nathan''s face turned red with anger. Suddenly, his black hanfu became darker and moved chaotically while his hair started going up, although there was no wind inside the tent.


    "Ehem!" Mathias coughed, attracting their attention just in time before the two heated cultivators began fighting. "Let''s calm down."


    "Calm down? Tell this old fogey to stop being a jerk. I''ve given her the ingredients for the supplements, but she confiscated them instead!" Nathan said angrily, his robe letting out black shadows.


    "And how many times have I told you that we can''t create those supplements, and the ingredients you gave are of too low a quality!" Helen explained, the hot temperature remaining unchanged.


    "You can''t? Or you won''t?! And why didn''t you hand back the ingredients?!"


    "Why don''t we just fight?!" Helen had, of course, already used the ingredients to make a pill. Although she said the ingredients Nathan gave were of low quality, that only applied to making the Talent Boost Supplements. Using those ingredients, she created top-tier pills that were sold at a high price. But she would never admit this!


    Mathias could only let out a heavy sigh and smile bitterly. I guess I don''t have a choice. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, a terrifying glint appeared within his eyes and a strong light erupted from them.


    "Calm down," Mathias said. His voice wasn''t loud, but the sound thundered within their minds. While his eyes glowed intensely, he walked up to the empty seat and sat down. "Take your seats."


    Nathan and Helen nodded their heads as the temperature returned to normal along with Nathan''s clothes. Without looking at each other, they took their seats.


    The butler of Klown also returned to his seat. Although Mathias was emitting intense pressure, Holst''s eyes remained the same, and a smile stayed on his face.


    Seeing that everyone had calmed down, Mathias'' eyes returned to normal. Then he turned to the person who hadn''t spoken since he arrived, the man in the simple but expensive suit. He was the youngest among them, probably around 25 or 26, with dark hair and brown eyes, and a delicate, straight nose.


    "Theo¡­ You must be eyeing the whole body," Mathias said.


    "If you guys allow me to have it, then I wouldn''t mind, though I only need the meat. My Skyline will need it for the upcoming banquet. We can''t disappoint the visitors, right?" Theo turned to Holst, who nodded.


    "I see," Mathias then turned to Helen and Nathan. "You two, let go of the past from now on. We can discuss what we''re going to do with the body of the alpha after we defeat it. Let''s talk about what we''re going to do for now."


    Nathan and Helen glared at each other but didn''t make another scene. Instead, Nathan cleared his throat. "Ahem, as I was just saying, I''m mobilizing my elite Cultivators, whom I personally trained. This will greatly increase our chances of killing that monster."


    "That''s good," Mathias nodded, turning to Helen. "Have you managed to concoct enough poison to immobilize the Alphadusk?"


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    "Yes, but what I''m doing is against the conduct of the Alchemy House. I will have to write them a letter and explain the situation. I will need all of your statements later on, including the mayor''s," Helen said, glancing at the butler who bowed his head slightly towards her. "You guys don''t want to lose an Alchemy House within your city, right?"


    "I don''t see a problem with that," Mathias agreed. He then stared at the butler. "Did the mayor say anything else?"


    Holst nodded. "Yes, we have to keep the noise down. He is currently entertaining the visitors as we speak, and he doesn''t want them to be uncomfortable."


    Cowards, Helen, Nathan, and Mathias thought at the same time. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 86 Mathias And The Other Four(Part-2)

    Mathias didn''t say anything and just changed the subject to something he knew would get a strong reaction, especially from Nathan and Helen. "I''ve already sent letters to all the headmasters. They said they won''t participate as they have their own problems to solve.""Bullsh*t! Even if they didn''t have problems, they would never care about us!" Nathan said through gritted teeth.


    "So they don''t care even if the city is going to get destroyed?" Helen smiled angrily. "Those guys only care about their own personal gains."


    "Look who''s talking," Nathan commented with a smirk.


    "Look who''s also talking!" Helen shouted, glaring at the Kleinford family head.


    Nathan glared back, and when the two were about to fight again, Mathias tapped the table, dispersing their heated emotions. "They don''t answer to the empire. We can''t force them."


    The five of them were more closely related to the empire than the cultivation schools. Even though Mathias didn''t like the mayor and was highly suspicious of him, it didn''t mean that he wanted the city to get destroyed.


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    Nathan Kleinford and the other great families were the backbone of the city, so they also supported the empire.


    And although the Alchemy House was not part of the empire, Helen wanted to help kill that monster as the Alpha''s tails were precious and very rare. Also, as a branch manager, she didn''t want to lose customers if the city got destroyed. She wasn''t particularly attached to the city; she cared more about her customers.


    The Skyline Savory owner, on the other hand, shared the same thought as her.


    There was nothing more to say about the butler as he directly served under the mayor of the city.


    The cultivation schools were like their own worlds. They didn''t care much about others and only cared about themselves. Furthermore, from what Mathias knew, the cultivation schools in Klown City were only branches of their main ones. He didn''t know where they belonged as there wasn''t much information he could find.


    "They are showing signs of aggressiveness. It won''t be long before they start making their moves," this time, the butler was the one who spoke, bringing the conversation back to the main topic.


    "How did the hunt go?" Mathias asked.


    "We have already killed around a hundred of them, but they just keep appearing," Holst said. "They are also actively hunting the cultivators we sent."


    "Have we lost any men?"


    "Fortunately, we haven''t. What they encountered were only normal Duskfangs. But their number, we suspect it to be at least a thousand," Holst explained.


    "A thousand? Is that a normal number if there''s going to be an attack by the Alphadusk?" Mathias muttered, causing the rest to keep quiet.


    "No," Theo broke the silence. His eyes glanced over them, stopping at the butler for a moment before turning to the Core Creation cultivator. "Usually the Alphadusk attacks alone. These Alphas, although they are considered the leaders of their pack, actually despise their inferior kinds. And even if they use some of the Duskfangs, they will only use a few, not hundreds, even more so a thousand."


    "Oh?" Mathias and the others raised an eyebrow. "How did you know that information? It''s the first time I''ve heard that."


    Theo smiled mysteriously. "I''m not as simple as you think."


    "Keep it hidden then," Nathan scoffed. "But are you telling the truth?"


    "Are you doubting me?" Theo raised an eyebrow.


    "You are just a kid who got lucky with his restaurant," Nathan said, smirking at the Skyline owner.


    Theo let out a chuckle when he heard this. "Really. Believe me or not, it''s up to you. I can always start anew in another place if this city gets destroyed."


    "Don''t mind him. He''s only saying that because his daughter also ventured into the restaurant business," Helen said from the side while side-eyeing the Kleinford family head. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nathan glanced at the Alchemy House branch manager angrily, the Qi around him started churning once more.


    "I believe you," Mathias said, his eyes flashing with a brilliant white light before returning to normal. The heated tension between Nathan and Helen dissipated along with it.


    "So, what do we do?" Helen asked. "Should we go with the plan from earlier? If there''s a thousand of them, getting rid of them as soon as possible would be the wisest decision."


    Mathias didn''t answer her question yet; instead, he looked at Holst. "What do you think?"


    "It''s up to you. I''m merely a representative for the mayor. Our only request is to keep it quiet so as not to disturb the visitors," the butler said, his expression never changing. His eyes squinted, and he wore an amiable smile.


    "Okay," Mathias nodded. "Tonight, we will gather all our forces and make a plan to clean up these wolves, especially their Alpha."


    "Alright!" Nathan said with evident excitement in his voice. Although his cultivation was stuck at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation stage, he still made sure to train his body and cultivate every day. A small improvement was better than nothing. Besides, it had been a long time since he went into battle, and he was eager to fight those monsters.


    "I''ll go get my men ready," Helen stood up, not without glaring at Nathan first, who glared back at her.


    "Are we wrapping it up now? Then I should go too," Nathan said.


    "Are you not going to the top of the mountain to meet the visitors first?" Holst asked before the two could leave. "The other families are already there."


    "Oh? Is that so?" Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Then it would be rude of me not to go there, right? I should also tell them about the change of plans."


    "That would be a great idea," Mathias said.


    "You are not going to come with me?" Nathan asked.


    The Helflick family head shook his head. "No, I will check the site and see if there''s something we''re missing."


    "Okay," Nathan nodded before he walked outside the tent.


    "It''s your ''family'' matters, so I won''t go there," Helen said, following Nathan.


    "Then I should go too," the butler stood up, bowing his head to the Core Creation cultivator.


    As Holst left the tent, Mathias turned to the Skyline owner, who was looking at the butler''s back.


    "He is strange," Theo said, his eyes glinting and a mysterious smile appearing on his face.


    "What do you mean?" Mathias asked, confused.


    "Nothing," Theo shook his head. "I don''t have to fight, right?"


    "No," Mathias said.


    "That''s good." Without saying another word, Theo walked out of the tent.


    Seeing this, Mathias let out a heavy sigh. "It would be better if the Cultivation School''s headmasters joined us."

 Chapter 87 Yohan

    If the Headmasters don''t want to join in defeating the Alphadusk Shadowtail, there''s nothing Mathias can do. Even the Empire can''t simply request their help, let alone a mere Core Creation Cultivator like him.Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Although Mathias is considered the only one in the city to have reached such a stage, he suspects that the Martial Schools have someone at the same level as him, or even higher. It''s just that they haven''t revealed themselves yet.


    Fortunately, the Martial Schools accept disciples regardless of their background, as long as they have the talent to cultivate.


    Shaking his head, he glanced at the documents on the side and picked them up. They detailed the plan for their battle against the Alpha of those black wolves. Because they had held various meetings prior to this, a detailed plan had already been written down.


    The meeting that had just concluded was to determine if there was anything that needed changing, which is why it ended so quickly. When it comes to strategizing, they don''t need much time to make a plan. With the new information from Theo, they had no choice but to move the plan forward.


    Thinking about Theo, Mathias felt that he was very mysterious. At just 26, Theo already had enough influence in the city to be considered one of its backbones. This was largely due to his restaurant, which even attracted visitors from other cities. Mathias himself had eaten there and could say it was the best meal he''d ever had.


    But what''s more terrifying is Theo''s cultivation. He had already reached the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation stage. That''s the main reason why Mathias let Theo stand beside them, not because of the influence of his restaurant. And the only one who knew about this was Mathias; not even Helen, Nathan, or Holst were aware.


    Mathias''s Core Creation cultivation made him perceptive to others'' cultivation, though he didn''t know how Theo managed to hide his stage from everyone else.


    Mathias then recalled what Theo said before he left, about the butler Holst being strange. This made Mathias think deeply about the matter. He became absentminded as his eyes stared at the documents. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I''m getting distracted, he thought, shaking his head. He read their plan once more before standing up and leaving the tent to check on the other areas where the men were preparing for the hunt of the Alpha.


    Right now, he wasn''t worried about the first test, as he was sure it would be a piece of cake for his daughter. There was no need to rush back, so he could take his time before the sun reached the horizon.


    ¡­


    Apollo whistled a tune he remembered from Earth as he casually walked up the stairs. His pace was neither fast nor slow. Behind him, Martial Students struggled to even lift their feet, their faces scrunched up as sweat dripped to the ground.


    "So it''s gravity," Apollo muttered as he stopped beside a cultivator who was shaking all over from the intense pressure. "But how come I haven''t felt anything?"


    Looking back, he realized he had been walking up the stairs for at least 30 minutes, yet he hadn''t felt a single bit of pressure that should have hindered him like it did the others.


    Apollo felt like he was just strolling through a park. He also took the time to admire the scenery around him, realizing just how vast this world was. What was it called again? The World of Luan? Planet Luan?


    Even though he''d been walking for at least 30 minutes, Apollo was still miles away from reaching the top of the mountain. But he wasn''t in a hurry. Along the way, seeing some of the others struggling made him realize the nature of the ''pressure'' they were experiencing, though he still didn''t have a clue as to why it affected them and not him.


    "Is it based on looks? Because I''m the most handsome, that pressure didn''t affect me?" Apollo muttered, feeling proud of how smart he was. But he knew the real reason wasn''t that simple.


    Is the reason something that can''t be seen? If so, there''s no point in worrying about why they''re struggling.


    Shaking his head, he resumed walking. If he kept his current pace, he''d probably reach the top of this rocky mountain in about an hour and a half. Of course, Apollo could sprint up in less than ten minutes, but that would draw too much attention.


    As he was thinking, a commotion erupted behind him.


    Turning toward the sound, he saw a two-meter-tall man fighting with another martial student.


    "Yohan? What is this guy up to?" Apollo muttered, raising an eyebrow. He decided to stop and watch the fight.


    Yohan''s fist was glowing with a deep blue light, and with a punch, a one-meter transparent projectile shot out from his fist. Its momentum created strong winds, and the martial student facing the attack had no choice but to raise his hands in an attempt to block it.


    However, his efforts proved futile. The moment the blue fist touched his hands, a powerful force slammed into him, sending his body flying through the air and down to the foot of the mountain.


    "Hahaha! Dare to stand in front of me?!" Yohan shouted, laughing at the sky, while the martial students who witnessed the scene widened their eyes in surprise.


    "You! Why did you do that?!" one of the martial students shouted. "Is that what the test is about?"


    Once someone spoke up, the others followed. Several martial students in this part of the mountain started shouting at the towering man.


    "Hahaha! You fools! There''s no rule that says we can''t fight each other, right?" Yohan sneered. "If I eliminate some of you now, won''t the test later on be easier?"


    His words echoed, causing the martial students to fall silent as realization set in. With fewer competitors, they''d have a better chance of securing top positions!


    This caused them to look at each other, hesitation flashing in their eyes.


    Seeing their uncertainty, Yohan smiled. Come on, fight each other!

 Chapter 88 Tree Branch(Part-1)

    Yohan''s companions had been left behind. They didn''t even make it past the 30th step and had to turn back, though he didn''t care about them. It was better to go alone rather than drag along those bootlickers.Seeing the others hesitate, Yohan started to get pissed. If they weren''t going to fight each other, then they should fight him! With this in mind, without any warning, he jumped into the air and unleashed a transparent light blue fist! Since they were lower than him, his shadow cast over some of them, making them look up.


    When they saw the oncoming attack, they hurriedly mobilized their own techniques.


    Dragon Palm!


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    Fiery Whip!


    A spectacle of lights erupted. Sword slashes, a dragon''s roar, a whip made of fire, and more slammed against the incoming translucent fist.


    Apollo, who was watching all this, couldn''t help but click his tongue in amazement. That''s too f*cking wonderful! Especially the explosion after the attacks collided. A strong wind blew everywhere, sending his hair and clothes flying chaotically.


    The beggar suddenly felt jealous of their techniques. Ah, I wish I could also do flashy moves! The only battle technique he knew was the Simple Sword Technique, which he could use to cut through other techniques, but compared to them, his sword skills were very mediocre!


    Squinting to peer through the smoke and dust raised by the impact, Apollo shook his head at the result. He wasn''t surprised at all to see Yohan standing still while the martial students below were either passed out or thrown towards the foot of the mountain.


    Yohan was at the 4th-Step of the Foundation Building stage, and the cultivators he fought were at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building stage or below. The result was expected.


    "The fun''s over," Apollo muttered, seeing that no more martial students were challenging Yohan. He turned around and was about to continue walking up the mountain when suddenly, his instincts warned him of incoming danger! Using his Simple Movement Technique, he jumped into the air and did a couple of flips before landing a few steps higher.


    He glanced back and saw that his previous spot had exploded, raising small clouds of dust as some of the rocks rolled down.


    Apollo turned to Yohan, who was looking at him with a smirk.


    "You''re good!" Yohan shouted. "You were just watching the fight, so why not join?"


    "Nah, thanks for the invite, but I''m fine," Apollo replied in his normal voice. If he wanted to change it, he''d have to buy a new voice from the System, which would cost him Alm points.


    As the tension grew, the martial students watching from above hurriedly ran up the mountain, while those below them rushed down the stairs.


    They knew who Yohan was¡ªhe was well-known among the martial students and considered a thug who always tried to pick fights. Now that he had reached the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage, he had become even more brazen. The only ones who could probably handle him were his rival Michael or the other top students from each martial school.


    The onlookers couldn''t help but pity the non-uniform participant caught in Yohan''s sights.


    Seeing this, Yohan''s expression darkened. This guy dares to reject me? "Sigh¡­ Why did I even bother asking? I''ll just defeat anyone I see!"


    Apollo lowered his body slightly, assessing the situation. This guy''s a dmbss who only uses his fists instead of his brain, the beggar thought. If Yohan really tried to eliminate the other participants just to have an easier time in the next exams, he''d become a target for everyone.


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    Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if they teamed up just to take him down. What''s more, if the stronger martial students joined the fight, Apollo believed that even Gail could defeat Yohan.


    Shaking his head at the guy''s foolishness, Apollo readied himself. He didn''t bring his wooden sword, unsure if people would recognize it as the training sword from the training ground. Instead, he brought something else.


    He reached under his robe and took out the weapon he planned to use for this Advancement Examination.


    Yohan, who was about to raise his fist and send this ''outsider'' back to where he came from, stopped in his tracks when he saw the ''thing'' the masked man had pulled out. His tense muscles relaxed, and a second later, he looked to the sky and burst into loud laughter. "HAHAHA! What''s that? A tree branch?! HAHAHA!"


    His laughter echoed across the mountain, so loud that even those far away heard it clearly.


    The nearby martial students glanced at the tree branch the masked man was holding. They couldn''t help but chuckle as well.


    What could a tree branch do? Tickle Yohan?


    "Hey! Have you lost your mind?" Yohan asked the masked man. "If you intend to fight me with that thing, why don''t you just jump down the mountain?"


    As the laughter of this two-meter muscle man echoed in his ears, the beggar couldn''t help but sigh. They don''t know how great you are, Apollo thought while staring at the half-arm-length tree branch he had picked up from the side of the road.


    In the past two days, before he mastered his Simple Movement Technique, Apollo discovered that the Simple Sword Technique didn''t only apply to literal swords.


    The sword was no longer just a sword but a tool to use a sword¡ªit was the enlightenment he gained after perfecting the Simple Sword Technique. Ever since that day, he''d had the feeling that once he touched something and thought of it as a sword, then it was indeed a sword, no matter its shape or form. Out of curiosity and boredom, he first tried using this insight with a spoon.


    Using the spoon as a sword, he slashed the wall beside his Beggar Spot, and the spoon cut through it like a knife through tofu. When he pulled his hand back, he saw a deep cut in the wall.


    Excited, he tried it multiple times, changing the ''weapon'' a few times as well.


    Thinking back to that time, Apollo couldn''t help but smile bitterly at the state of the wall after he practiced on it. Hopefully, no one would notice.


    "Yohan, right?" Apollo pointed the tree branch at the muscle-bound man. "Why don''t you come over here and find out the true strength of a tree branch?"

 Chapter 89 Tree Branch(Part-2)

    A tree branch, half the length of an average man''s arm and so thin that even a small child could break it without effort. Light brown with a small twig at the very end and a light green leaf at the tip of that twig, threatening to fall with the slightest disturbance. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Apollo pointed it toward Yohan, who stood a few meters below him. The wind blew, messing with his hair and causing his robes to flap.


    "You!" Yohan squinted at the challenge. He didn''t attack yet, instead observing the masked man standing dozens of steps above him. This man was only about four feet tall, more akin to a child''s height. Wait¡­ suspicion suddenly rose within his heart. Is this fool just a kid? Nevertheless, the masked man dared to provoke him, which greatly infuriated him.


    He would never let others think of him as a pushover, even if it was just a kid. "Haha, you''re not afraid of death, are you?!"


    "Nope," Apollo shook his head, though deep inside, he wanted to say yes. I mean, who wouldn''t be? Especially now that he''s in a world where strength matters most. Flying, special effects, cultivation techniques¡ªthere are still so many things he wants to experience and achieve. And the end goal of it all? To stand at the very top, just like he did in his previous life.


    "Then I will make you!" Yohan shouted, and with a bend of his knees, he jumped into the air and sent a punch! A light blue, translucent fist materialized, causing the wind to go wild!


    Feeling the attack coming at him, Apollo remained calm. Although it looked threatening, he felt a certain serenity under this light blue fist. Yohan really didn''t care and would try to eliminate as many participants as he could in this first test. I guess I''ll have to defeat you.


    I don''t want to show my skills yet, but you''ve left me no choice, the beggar thought, raising the tree branch in front of him.


    As the attack was about to hit, Apollo brought down the branch as fast as he could! He didn''t use much strength, but the tree branch cut through the light blue fist like it was nothing! The attack split in half and dissolved into particles of light. The only residue left was the chaotic wind that kicked up dust around them.


    Yohan, still in the air, couldn''t process what had happened at first. Only when he landed did he realize what had just taken place. My attack was cut? By a tree branch?! He couldn''t believe it. He couldn''t accept it.


    But how? Something must have gone wrong; there''s no way a tree branch can cut through the technique I painstakingly learned!


    "You, what did you do?!" Yohan demanded, his eyes cold as a threatening aura emanated from him.


    "Nothing," Apollo shrugged, pointing his ''weapon'' back at the two-meter-tall man. "So that''s it?"


    "How did you cut it?!" Yohan still couldn''t believe it.


    "I don''t know. Maybe your attack is so weak that even a tree branch can cut through it?" Apollo asked, ''innocently.''


    "No! It can''t be! I''ve trained this technique day and night; there''s no way!" Yohan shouted. Then his cold eyes locked onto the masked man as his determination returned. "You just got lucky."


    Sigh¡­ a fool, really, the beggar thought, shaking his head. Yohan had clearly seen what had happened, but he insisted it was just luck? What''s wrong with his head? If Apollo were the one whose technique had been cut by a mere tree branch, he''d either run away or try to clear up the misunderstanding immediately.


    Seeing that Yohan was preparing for another attack, Apollo decided to make him see ''reality.'' "Come at me again, then! I''ll make you believe that what you saw is the truth!"


    Fortunately, the dust cloud was still there, making it hard for the onlookers to see what was happening unless they had techniques to see through the fog. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Ah! I will kill you!" Yohan pulled his hand back, his muscles contracting and veins popping. This time, he aimed to kill, unleashing his bloodthirst. Although killing was forbidden, it only applied to the students of the martial school, but this masked man in front of him was an outsider who happened to have an invitation from one of the martial students.


    So killing him wouldn''t fall under the martial school''s rules! With this in mind, Yohan sent a punch!


    The attack was more threatening and deadly than before, producing a loud whistling sound that left the onlookers confused about what was happening inside the dust cloud.


    But that was the only thing they heard¡ªa strong whistling sound as the wind pushed the dust away, allowing them to see what was happening.


    However, those watching the battle above didn''t have time to process what was happening, as they suddenly heard a roaring sound coming from behind them. Turning around, their eyes widened as they saw another person running down the stairs! His body was covered in a dark blue haze, and although they couldn''t see his face because of it, they still recognized the newcomer!


    "That''s Michael!" one of them, who hailed from the Great Serpent Martial School, shouted.


    "Watch out!" someone warned, and they hurriedly stepped aside.


    The haze around Michael churned and turned into a dark blue serpent. With its mouth wide open, the serpent lunged at the stunned Yohan. But if people looked closely, they would see that the two-meter-tall cultivator wasn''t looking at the oncoming attack; instead, he stared wide-eyed at the masked man.


    With a bang, the serpent bit the shocked Yohan, followed by a blur as they continued down the mountain!


    "I''m your enemy, Yohan!" Michael shouted as he appeared in front of Yohan. His brown hair flowed with the intense wind while his deep brown eyes stared intently at his rival. "Why bother with weaklings?! Now that we''re in the mountains, let''s see who will come out on top!"


    The shout woke up the dazed Yohan, who stared back at the pretty boy martial student. This guy! Why now?! "Stay the f*ck away from me!" Yohan punched the serpent biting him, his fist glowing with a bright light as it passed through the dark blue attack and landed on Michael!


    Michael immediately crossed his hands in front of him, barely managing to block the attack. The two were separated, both landing on the stairs, though Michael shattered the steps, creating a long ravine with his feet.


    The beggar, on the other hand, put the tree branch back in his robes. Looking at the two of them who landed dozens of steps below him, Apollo couldn''t help but let out a heavy sigh. He was ready to defeat Yohan, but before he could do it, the pretty boy appeared. It seems like the rivals will settle the score here.


    "Hmm, they can handle themselves," Apollo said, turning around and beginning to walk up the stairs. Because of the sudden change, the onlookers didn''t bother with him and continued to watch the new drama.

 Chapter 90 Tree Branch(Part-3)

    "Michael," Yohan squinted at his rival. "You arrived at the wrong time.""What do you mean, the wrong time?" Michael smirked. "I''ve been watching you since you arrived. You even dared to play around? I thought you would come for me, and we''d settle the score once and for all."


    "Me? Play around?" Yohan muttered, recalling what had just happened before this motherf*cker arrived. He had used almost all his strength in that punch, driven by frustration. At that time, he made sure to keep his eyes wide open and watch how that masked man could cut through his attack. And when he saw it, shock overwhelmed him.


    The masked man didn''t make any fancy moves¡ªjust a vertical slash, fast but lacking in power. However, this seemingly weak attack cut through the translucent light blue fist he had conjured with almost all his strength! Yes, he held back a bit, but it was negligible; it wouldn''t have made a difference. That guy cut through his technique so casually that Yohan''s confidence was immediately shattered!


    But how?! That masked man didn''t even mobilize the Qi around him! How could he ''touch'' his technique and even cut through it using just a f*cking tree branch?! This is more than a humiliation! Does it mean my strength, my cultivation, my talent, and my years of hard work only compare to a tree branch?!


    Just thinking about it made Yohan want to smash everything around him! As a threatening aura emanated from him, his dazed eyes turned to Michael, who was saying something with a mocking smile on his face. Since Yohan was deep in thought, he only caught the last part.


    "... Are you listening? What? Did you get so scared that you can''t speak anymore?" Michael asked, running his hand through his hair. "I don''t blame you. Even when I look in the mirror, I always get scared because of how talented and handsome I am."


    "Scared?" Yohan raised an eyebrow, his muscles growing bigger and harder as an intense aura erupted from him. "Michael, you don''t know sh*t! But first, I''ll defeat you, then I''ll get back at him!"


    The smile on Michael''s face disappeared, replaced by a cold look. Although he didn''t know what his rival was talking about, he felt a surge of frustration hearing Yohan''s voice. "I''ll show you that only one king can sit on his throne!"


    With a shout, the haze around Michael intensified while the roar of a serpent echoed in the surroundings. With a bang, he disappeared from his spot, and when he reappeared, the dark blue serpent emerged from his body and attacked the muscle-bound martial student!


    Seeing this, Yohan slammed his foot on the ground, his body becoming a blur as he appeared right before the serpent. His fist glowed with an intense cool blue, and with a punch, an almost two-meter translucent fist shot out! It was the same technique he had used against the masked man. But this time, he wanted to see if there was something wrong with his technique, or if that guy was insanely strong.


    With a glimmer of hope, a strong explosion erupted, sending shockwaves and dust into the air! Some martial students below, already struggling to take another step, were sent flying back, their bodies rolling down the stairs and landing at the foot of the mountain.


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    ...


    Hearing the explosion from behind, Apollo didn''t turn around; he just continued moving forward.


    "So it doesn''t matter how strong their attacks are?" the beggar muttered, recalling his previous battle. The last attack from Yohan was probably strong enough to cause a building to collapse, yet Apollo''s tree branch had cut through it like it was nothing. "This Simple Sword Technique is overpowered."


    He couldn''t help but think highly of the System Store. Even this cheap battle technique was extraordinary, so the pricey ones must be even more incredible. Just imagining the effects of techniques worth a hundred Alm Points or more made Apollo excited.


    But what I have right now is more than enough, Apollo thought. Although he still didn''t know the limits of this technique, he was confident he would be able to complete his mission. However, it was better to be prepared.


    While some of the martial students were watching the battle below, he walked past them, deep in thought.


    If I were to fight someone with the same technique as mine, how would I handle them? Apollo put a hand under his chin. Fighting someone who could cut through anything would be tough. No matter how strong the attack, it would just end up in half. So, if Apollo were to fight someone like that¡­ Suddenly, his eyes glinted with understanding.


    The solution was simple¡ªanyone with intelligence could come up with it if they really thought about it.


    I''ll have to protect against the residue, Apollo thought. Even if he could cut through an attack, if the residue was still enough to hurt him, he would take damage. His enemy might not care if their attacks got cut as long as they landed something.


    Furthermore, he couldn''t defend his blind spots, like his back or above him, unless he sensed the attacks before they arrived or was fast enough to counter them. His enemy could exploit this weakness, especially if they had techniques that allowed them to attack from all sides.


    Or if they were smart enough, they could distract him until they landed a blow, or send so many attacks that he couldn''t keep up anymore. They could also use the environment, like collapsing the ground he was standing on, burying him in a pile of rocks and dirt. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''d be dead if someone fast attacked me before I could even pull out a weapon," Apollo muttered bitterly. Thinking about it, he realized just how much the Simple Sword Technique was lacking. It was an amazing technique, but once its weakness was discovered, the user became vulnerable.


    What if I revise it, just like I did with the Simple Breathing Technique? This idea made Apollo''s eyes shine with excitement.

 Chapter 91 The Stolen(Part-1)

    Legs wide open, a puff of smoke blowing from his mouth, Master Popo couldn''t help but smile as he placed the hand holding his pipe on his knee. His eyes were fixed on the battle below; the flashing lights and sounds of explosions were like music to his ears."Now the fun begins," Master Popo muttered, taking another puff from his tobacco pipe. Once they realized that the test was more than just climbing the mountain, chaos would ensue¡ªa scenario the instructor eagerly anticipated.


    It didn''t take long before some of the martial students began fighting, trying to eliminate other participants to reduce the number of competitors for the later test.


    This caused some of the martial students to hurriedly run up the stairs, while others banded together to fend off those trying to eliminate them, especially in groups.


    After watching the fight for a bit, Master Popo sighed, losing interest almost immediately.


    Nothing caught his eye except for that guy who had already learned the Great Serpent Technique, despite his cultivation only being at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building.


    "If he only focused on his cultivation, he would have probably reached Half-Step Qi Condensation by now," Master Popo muttered with disappointment.


    Then his eyes landed on the first person leading the martial students. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hmm, Arke?" Master Popo took another puff from his tobacco pipe before blowing the smoke into the air. "The Great Serpent has a lot of talented students."


    While observing the first martial student, it seemed like Arke felt the gaze and stared back with a small smile on his face.


    "Though arrogant and¡­ a fool," Master Popo muttered. "It seems no one outstanding will emerge this year."


    Although there were a few talented ones, their abilities were not enough to awe or shock him. It seemed like raising the difficulty of this exam would prove more challenging for the martial students. However, it was necessary to ensure the success of their plan to identify those who had stolen some of the cultivation techniques from their martial school.


    Thinking about this matter, Master Popo found it very strange. How had they managed to get past the security of each library without anyone noticing at first? If there were no regular checks of each scroll and technique, they wouldn''t have noticed that their cultivation techniques were being stolen by their own students.


    Even the three most powerful martial schools in Klown City had some of their techniques stolen: the Great Serpent Cultivation School, the Fire Shrine Cultivation School, of which he was the Headmaster, and lastly, the Sword and Shield Martial School.


    This led them to raise the difficulty of the Advancement Examination. They wanted to root out all the students who had learned the stolen techniques. The Headmasters, including Master Popo, were certain that one way or another, the culprits would reveal themselves under the intensity of the exam.


    As he pondered this, his eyes never left those who were fighting, even though he felt bored watching them. After a while, he saw something that made him stand up.


    A martial student wearing a black and red uniform with an insignia of a red fire on his chest was fighting another student. His entire body was practically red, and even the veins on his face were bright red. He looked like he was being cooked, emitting smoke from the top of his head. No, he was definitely being roasted!


    "This fool! Using the Furnace Strengthening Technique with his mere 3rd-Step Foundation Building cultivation?! He''s killing himself!" Master Popo muttered in a mix of annoyance, anger, and frustration. The martial student belonged to his Martial School and was using one of the stolen techniques from the library.


    It''s a technique meant only for those who have reached the Qi Condensation Stage and above.


    It wasn''t a technique that required one to be a genius to learn. However, if someone managed to learn it below the required Cultivation Stage, their body wouldn''t be able to handle the intense heat generated by the technique. Slowly, their insides would melt, followed by their muscles and bones, until they became nothing more than a pile of hot paste on the ground.


    Even Master Popo wouldn''t use it casually unless absolutely necessary. It could increase one''s strength, but if used excessively, even his 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage wouldn''t be able to protect him.


    The martial student using the Furnace Strengthening Technique was winning the fight against his opponent, but it was evident that he was in great pain.


    Seeing this, Master Popo knew the student was already experiencing the melting of his organs.


    "What a fool," he muttered. Although frustrated, he couldn''t intervene to save the kid, as it would expose their plans. Fortunately, they had anticipated such situations and made proper arrangements.


    With at least a thousand participants in this Advancement Examination, dozens of them immediately turned to glance in the direction of the Fire Shrine student using the stolen technique.


    One of them, who was closer to the burning student, turned to look at the instructor standing on the very last step of the mountain. His eyes focused on the Headmaster of the Fire Shrine.


    Master Popo nodded, and the man pretending to be a participant dashed towards the burning martial student. With a powerful punch, he sent the roasted student tumbling towards the foot of the mountain.


    There were twelve 1st-Step Qi Condensation cultivators hiding among the martial students. They were pretending to be participants, but their main purpose was to identify anyone using stolen techniques and remove them by any means necessary. These cultivators came from the martial schools, though the students didn''t recognize them, as they mostly worked in other areas. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This should serve as a lesson," Master Popo muttered. As soon as the student who used the stolen technique crashed to the ground, a group of men wearing white hanfu suits dragged him to a specific location. His condition was unknown, but he would definitely be treated as a prisoner or a criminal.


    But this wasn''t the end. The Headmaster of the Fire Shrine soon noticed another martial student using a stolen technique. This student didn''t belong to his school but to another martial school. Everyone involved in this plan was already familiar with all the stolen techniques and their effects, so Master Popo immediately recognized the technique.


    He wasn''t the only one, as those pretending to be participants quickly made their move.

 Chapter 92 The Stolen(Part-2)

    Seeing the chaos erupting around him, Apollo couldn''t help but sigh. I knew it. Once someone starts, others will follow. Yohan''s idea of eliminating other participants early had spread through the crowd. Shouts, curses, and flashes of special effects filled the air as various techniques were unleashed, each one making Apollo look on with envy.In the end, he had no choice but to quicken his pace up the stairs.


    There were others like him who decided to finish the first test as quickly as possible, leaving the chaotic crowd behind.


    Turning to take a look, Apollo noticed something unusual and raised an eyebrow. He saw a few individuals kicking, punching, and throwing other participants before stepping back and watching the fights. What was strange was that each of them was a cultivator at the 1st-Step Qi Condensation stage.


    "Do I have to deal with them too?" Apollo muttered incredulously. There were at least twelve of them with the same cultivation level. If he had to fight them before even reaching Arke, he would likely face his first punishment.


    Please no, Apollo thought, shivering at the memory of those intense lightning strikes. He continued watching for a bit, then noticed something odd about their movements.


    They seemed to be waiting for something before making a move, and they weren''t attacking each other. He also noticed some of them exchanging glances from time to time.


    What are they doing? Apollo tilted his head in confusion. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t figure it out. It seems like I''m missing something¡­ The beggar shook his head and decided to set the matter aside for now.


    As he continued his way up the mountain, he passed by some struggling martial students who had chosen not to fight. They could only smile bitterly, knowing they had reached their limits. Some gave up and just sat on the stairs.


    This is how life is; not everything goes your way.


    Apollo went past them, his eyes fixed on the top of the mountain. He hadn''t even reached halfway yet, and it would probably take two more hours or so before he arrived at the summit.


    "I still can''t feel it," Apollo sighed. The pressure he had been expecting didn''t materialize, even though he had already taken hundreds of steps. Will I only feel it after a thousand steps? The beggar thought, feeling a bit smug. Maybe the first exam is about the handsomeness and prettiness of an individual¡ªif one is ugly, they feel the gravity increase, he thought with a smirk.


    ...


    "You''re the first," Master Popo said to the martial student who had arrived. His legs were wide open, and his left hand held a tobacco pipe.


    "I didn''t feel a thing," Arke said, an arrogant smile on his face.


    "Oh, really?" Master Popo asked with a smirk. He could see that Arke''s face was slightly sweaty and his breathing somewhat heavy.


    "Of course," Arke replied. Because the instructor was sitting with his legs wide open, Arke couldn''t help but glance downward, which he immediately regretted, making him look straight ahead instead.


    "Then go on," Master Popo waved his right hand.


    "No, I''ll stay," Arke said, standing behind the instructor. "I want to watch."


    Hearing this, Master Popo just shrugged his shoulders. "Up to you then."


    Arke looked at the participants walking up the stairs. His eyes paused on Bel for a moment, who was casually talking with her friends, before he looked for someone else. That beggar didn''t show up. He probably got scared. Thinking about this, Arke sighed. It would have been better if he had attended so I could kill two birds with one stone.


    But seeing this first exam, I knew that beggar wouldn''t even be able to take three steps. But it doesn''t matter. I can just find him later on to continue my plan.


    His gaze then returned to Bel. His other mission was to kill her later in the exam, specifically during the battle exam. At first, he was worried that once he killed her, he''d have to run for his life. But two days ago, Holst came back to discuss the details of the plan. Apparently, once he "accidentally" killed her and that b*tch''s father tried to attack him, the butler would protect him.


    This guaranteed his safety, relieving him of his worries.


    As his eyes turned cold, thinking about that woman''s face in anguish as her life faded, Bel, who he was looking at, turned in his direction. She smiled as well, though it was filled with mockery and belittlement.


    Haha, just you wait. Later on, you won''t even be able to smile, Arke thought.


    "If you keep letting out your killing intent, I will burn you to ashes," Master Popo said coldly, a threatening aura emanating from him.


    "M-my bad," Arke quickly apologized, his body shivering from the intensity of the Headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School. He had forgotten that the instructor was the headmaster of one of the strongest martial schools in the city. But who could blame him? What kind of headmaster would show his birdie to his audience?


    Two hours later. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo finally arrived at the very top of the mountain. The sun was still up, but it was only an hour away from kissing the horizon.


    "In the end, I didn''t feel a thing," Apollo muttered, a bit disappointed. There were still participants below who were trying their hardest to reach the top. Heck, there was a cultivator one last step away from finishing the first test, but he couldn''t even lift his foot anymore!


    The beggar glanced back at the martial student, whose face was full of veins, his teeth gritted so hard that his mouth was full of blood. He had even gathered some fans on the sidelines who were cheering him on to take that final step.


    Apollo also wanted to see the man succeed; he felt great admiration for the guy''s determination.


    "You can do it!"


    "Come on!"


    "Just one more step and your dream will come true!"


    Hearing the shouts of encouragement from people he didn''t know but who still believed in him, the martial student screamed at the top of his lungs while lifting his right foot onto the last step!


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    Apollo clenched his fist, and finally, with one last struggle, the man managed to put both feet on the final step!


    "He did it!"


    "Whoa! That''s great, man!"


    "I¡­ did it¡­" the martial student said, blood dripping to the ground. He raised his hand and clenched it. "I did¡­ it!"


    The fans and even Apollo were about to cheer when suddenly, the man''s eyes rolled back and he fell backward. As the sound of him crashing echoed, Apollo and the others sighed simultaneously.


    "That''s a pity."


    "F*ck! I wasted my saliva for nothing!"

 Chapter 93 The Mysterious Person

    It must have hurt. Physically and Emotionally. That guy was about to pass the first exam but due to exhaustion, his body fell backwards.Apollo felt great pity. Nevertheless, faith works strangely.


    With a sigh, he looked around the surroundings, the instructor was long gone even though there were still participants walking up the mountains and the sound of explosion coming from below though one could tell the fight was coming closer.


    "Seems like those two are not done fighting yet," Apollo muttered before glancing at the wide expanse of grass. In the middle of it is a platform big enough to cover two football fields. The martial students didn''t dare step foot on it yet, surrounding the platform while they talked with their friends or acquaintances.


    However, some of them are looking to one side, particularly those who arrived first.


    Curious, Apollo turned to what they were looking at and saw another platform. But this platform, unlike the big one in the middle, is floating in the air without any support whatsoever.


    Apollo was surprised as the air under the platform was behaving as normal, without any disturbance. "Magnetic?" Apollo spread his senses but instead found out his limit as he couldn''t get near the platform.


    He tried again and failed a second time. This made him stop and just observe it with squinted eyes. It''s purely made of stone. How did they manage to do it? The more he looked at it the more curious he got. If it''s possible, he would like to go near it to observe it closely but he will gather attention if he does that.


    Furthermore, on the platform there were ten seats with two meter-tall silver armored guards standing on each corner, they stood straight with spears in their hands.


    Just looking at them, the beggar could feel an intense aura, an aura that someone who had gone to a bloody war before.


    "That floating platform must be where the visitors will watch the examination," Apollo muttered. Although still curious about how this platform could float in the air without moving an inch, he put the matter to the back of his head.


    As the Martial Students came to the top of the mountain, the surroundings soon became noisy.


    Apollo glanced at the sun who was about to kiss the horizon. "Those two guys are still fighting?" He couldn''t help but turn to look at the entrance. If this goes on, Yohan and Michael will get eliminated. The beggar doesn''t want to see them eliminated so soon. He hopes to fight them, to get more experience in fighting against ''strong'' cultivators.


    Although he did manage to beat up a cultivator before and even kill him, he felt that he only won because that student was weak. Merely at the 1st-Step Foundation building stage though Apollo still got hit because of the surprise factor.


    Fortunately, before the sun completely disappeared beyond the horizon, two men jumped from the staircase and landed just in time before they got eliminated.


    Yohan and Michael are breathing heavily, sweat covering their faces while some parts of their bodies are bleeding. In the end, no one emerged victorious and the both of them only ended up hurting each other, unnecessarily.


    "Hehe¡­ that''s enough playing," Michael said with a smirk on his face, coughing in between his words. "If I didn''t hold back, you would have been eliminated."


    "I was the one who was holding back!" Yohan said, spitting the blood in his mouth to the ground. "You see, I was just checking your current strength to see if you are worthy to be my opponent."


    "Haha! I guess we have the same thought!" Michael chuckled, blood seeping down from his mouth.


    The two looked at each other for a moment before they simultaneously turned around. And the moment that they are not facing each other, the smile and smirk on their faces disappear followed by gritting their teeth in pain. Their bodies are aching while their insides are in disarray because of how many blows they landed on each other.


    The two fight for hours, at first they were using their techniques but as time passed and exhaustion came, they only fought using their fist. Even so, no one can take advantage of their rival, resulting in a draw.


    F*ck, if I can''t even defeat Michael, how can I defeat that guy?! Yohan thought in frustration. Thinking about that masked man, he couldn''t help but look for him. It didn''t take him long to find the masked man, who was also looking in his direction.


    Yohan pretended that his body was not aching in great pain. He stood up straight, puffed his chest forward, and stared with confidence. However, when he saw the masked man smirking at him, he felt that he was being humiliated. Just you wait! I don''t know how you did it but I will make you pay! He thought before taking a deep breath of air as the pain increased.


    Sh*t, I have to hurry up before the next test begins.


    ¡­


    That guy is pretending to be okay and thinking about how he will defeat me, Apollo thought while shaking his head. D*mb people are easily predictable.


    Suddenly, he noticed someone from the corner of his eyes walking in his direction. Turning towards it, he saw a person covered from head to toe using a black robe, even though their hands were perfectly hidden inside the wide and long sleeves.


    But compared to Apollo who only hid the upper part of his face, this person who''s already standing in front of him has a white mask that covers the whole face.


    Because of his small frame, the beggar has to look up to see the emerald green eyes behind the white mask. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    "I guess we''re the only outsiders left," The person said in a deep and low voice.


    Hearing the voice, Apollo felt something strange. But he can''t pinpoint exactly what it was though one thing for sure, the beggar thinks that the person in front of him is a man.


    "Yeah," Apollo nodded, a smile adorning his face.


    "How did you get yours?" The mysterious man asked. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Someone dropped it so I picked it up," Apollo answered truthfully.


    "Oh? Haha, I guess we didn''t have to go through so much trouble defeating a martial student. Someone gave it to me," the mysterious person said.


    "We are lucky I guess," Apollo said, shrugging his shoulders.


    "You are,"


    Hearing this made the beggar raise an eyebrow. What does he mean by that? Apollo decided to just keep quiet and see what this guy was up to.


    "You don''t seem to be that tired," The mysterious man said, staring at Apollo from head to toe. "And also quite small."


    "Don''t belittle someone because they are little," Apollo said, the smile on his face didn''t change. "The first test was easy, I didn''t feel anything. You are also not tired right?"


    "You are correct, and my apologies if I said something that might offend you," The mysterious person said, his voice remaining the same.


    "Don''t mention it. We are basically in the same boat," Apollo said, waving his hands.


    Apollo then went quiet. This mysterious person is one of the six individuals who got their hands on the invitation card through other means and only him and the beggar remained.


    "I know that you are strong," The mysterious person said, his emerald green eyes staring intently at the beggar. "I can feel it."


    "You are very strange," Apollo said, the smile on his face already long gone.


    "Haha, I get that a lot," The mysterious person chuckled before he started walking away. "Let''s meet again."


    "What''s with him?" Apollo muttered, letting out a heavy sigh. There''s a lot of strange people in this world. He was just minding his own business and suddenly, someone walked up to him, struck up a conversation, and left like it was nothing.


    Suddenly, he finally realized the strange feeling that he felt. This¡­ was I being picked up?! F*ck! Even with the masked on, it couldn''t hide my handsomeness!


    Thinking about this, a shiver ran down his spine. No way! No way! Apollo looked around to find that person but the mysterious man disappeared without a trace. If I feel that feeling again in the future, I will make sure to run away or beat up the guy! Apollo thought with determination in his eyes.


    Around this time, the night has already arrived and no more participants have managed to pass the first test.


    At first, there were a thousand of them but right now, there are only a few hundred left. They waited for a while more before someone landed on the stage and when the students saw who it was, they immediately turned their heads to look away.


    "He''s back," Apollo squinted at Master Popo who stopped in front of them. Then to his shock, the instructor squatted! His hanfu robes couldn''t hide what was supposed to be hidden! Because he is squatting on top of the platform, everyone can see it though they didn''t as their faces are already away even before he does a squat.


    Unfortunately, those with slow reactions managed to catch a glimpse that is going to remain forever in their minds.


    Apollo who already had his back on the stage couldn''t help but sigh in frustration. F*cking hell!

 Chapter 94 True Dragon(Part-1)

    "Now that everyone is here, I will tell you about your next test," Master Popo said, a smile on his lips as he glanced at the Martial Students. They avoided looking in his direction¡ªsome glancing down, others staring into the distance. He was already used to this. At first, he found it disrespectful and rude, but as time passed, he gradually got accustomed to it.Of course, he had tried to question some of them, but they refused to answer, fear evident on their faces. When someone did try to answer, especially the women, their faces would always turn red, leaving them unable to speak.


    This led him to one very possible conclusion: they were awe-stricken by his looks, by how he carried himself, and by his charm, which was out of this world. No matter what he did, they would always fall for him. Even some men didn''t dare to look at him, likely out of jealousy of his handsome appearance.


    "Those who have participated in the previous Advancement Examination must have realized that we test three Aptitudes," Master Popo said, raising three fingers. "Talent, Comprehension, and Combat Proficiency."


    So walking up to the top of the mountain was the first test? Apollo thought.


    "Being able to stand here in front of me is a sign that you passed the first test, demonstrating enough talent to cross the boundary from the Foundation Building stage to the Qi Condensation stage," Master Popo continued.


    In the previous Advancement Examination, the Martial Schools only tested the student''s talent for breaking through to their next stage. This meant that if a student was at the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage, and they had the talent to advance to the 2nd-Step, they passed the first test.


    This time, however, the test assessed the student''s talent for potentially breaking through the Qi Condensation Stage.


    "Now, for your second test¡­" Master Popo was about to explain the contents of the second test when he looked up at the sky. He couldn''t help but sigh, knowing he was about to be interrupted. "Let''s wait for a moment."


    Confused, the Martial Students turned to see what he was looking at, and their eyes widened in surprise.


    Apollo also glanced up and, like the others, was shocked by what he witnessed. A golden chariot was flying toward them. In the night sky, it looked like a 10-meter meteor about to hit the ground. The chariot had intricate patterns and designs that even a layman could tell were the work of a master. But what surprised the beggar even more were the creatures pulling the flashy chariot.


    "Dragon?" Apollo couldn''t help but mutter, his eyes shining with excitement at seeing a legendary creature that was respected even in his previous life.


    There were two dragons of the Western kind¡ªlong necks, long bodies, and tails, but somewhat short legs. Their wings created a loud flapping sound with each powerful stroke through the air. They were brown in color, and even from a distance, Apollo felt intimidated by their presence.


    Compared to the silver-armored guards on the floating platform, they seemed like chickens before wolves¡ªmiles apart, like the difference between heaven and earth.


    Apollo felt a great sense of awe as the dragons landed on the ground. Dust clouds emerged at the moment of landing, and the two dragons let out a terrifying roar into the air. The world seemed to stand still as the Martial Students fell silent, their chests heaving up and down before they broke out into a wild murmur.


    "It''s a very inferior dragon," someone said beside the beggar, making him turn and look up at the person. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    Bel nodded with a smile. "Hello, I''m Bel."


    "Hello," Apollo greeted back, lowering his voice. This was the second time someone had approached him to strike up a conversation, though he could guess why this woman decided to talk to him despite not knowing his identity.


    "But they looked too intimidating to be considered inferior dragons," another person commented, stopping beside Bel before glancing curiously at the small masked man. "Who is he?"


    Gail, who was standing behind them, also stared at Apollo curiously.


    Nice question, Filly, Bel''s smile widened. Although she had dismissed the idea that this masked man was someone she knew at the foot of the mountain, the suspicion lingered. Now, having this chance, she wanted to find out one last time to ease her mind regarding the identity of this masked person.


    However, she didn''t hold out much hope, which is why she came with another purpose.


    "Can you tell me your name in exchange for mine?" Bel asked.


    Apollo looked at Bel before glancing at the restaurant owner, then back at her. This woman still wants to uncover my identity? Why? He sighed inwardly while answering her question. "I''m nobody. But people call me Can Deez," Apollo said, trying his hardest to remain calm as a mischievous smile threatened to curl his lips.


    "Can Deez?" Bel raised an eyebrow. "You have a very strange name."


    "Can Deez n¡ª Cough," Apollo coughed, just in time before he let out the ''devil'' in this world.


    "What?" Bel tilted her head, unsure of what he had said.


    "Nothing," Apollo waved his hand, holding back his laughter. Then he asked a question he was more curious about. "You said those are inferior dragons? Why do you say that?"


    Bel stared at the masked man with narrowed eyes. He''s not telling the truth. But this was expected¡ªwho would give their real name when they were clearly hiding their identity behind a robe and a mask? And why was he asking something with such an obvious answer? "Do you not kn¡ª"


    "Yeah, why did you say that? Those two dragons are clearly very intimidating," Filly asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Never mind, it seems like he''s not the only one who''s clueless, Bel thought before answering their questions.


    "Look at their size¡ªthey''re too small," Bel said.


    "You call that small? They''re at least 5 meters tall!" Filly stared at the dragons in awe.


    "Haha, silly girl," Bel chuckled. "The size of True Dragons is beyond imagination. Legends say they can reach the size of a whole continent, and that''s when they''re still considered young."


    "Really?" Filly turned to Bel with an incredulous expression.


    "But you''re only basing that off of legends," Apollo said from the side, skeptical.


    "Right, but I''m sure those two aren''t True Dragons," Bel smiled, explaining further. "True Dragons cannot be tamed, nor would they allow themselves to be enslaved and pull a chariot for humans. They are too prideful to consider humans as anything more than mere grass."


    "But¡­ how do you know all this?" Filly asked.


    "Miss Filly," Gail said. "If you read some books in the family library, you''d know that the Helflick Family descends from Dragon Hunters. They have an innate ability that allows them to sense the purity of a dragon''s bloodline."


    "Wow! That''s so cool!" Filly stared at Bel with surprise and admiration.


    "Don''t look at me like that. It''s actually a useless ability," Bel chuckled. "Besides, there are no True Dragons anymore, and my family is just a drop in the ocean of its history¡ªmerely a name and something to talk about."


    Apollo, who had been listening all this time, couldn''t help but become curious, so he brought up the System Store and searched for dragon-related items.

 Chapter 95 True Dragon(Part-2)

    The System Store sorted itself out when he ordered it to only show dragon-related items.And the first thing it showed was an item with a ridiculous price tag. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    True Dragon Summon: Permanently summon a True Dragon and become their friend, companion, or Master. They will follow whatever you say.


    Alm Points Cost: 100,000,000,000.


    What the fck?!* Apollo couldn''t help but be shocked at the amount of Alm Points needed to buy this item. That amount was basically saying, "You can''t buy me, you cheap ass motherfcker!" How many years would he need to save up to reach that price? 10 years? 100 years? Heck, Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if it took at least a million years to afford that!


    Shaking his head, he stared at the next item, which also had a ridiculous price.


    True Dragon Summon (Temporary): Temporarily summon a True Dragon for 1 hour and become their friend, companion, or Master. They will follow whatever you say.


    Alm Points Cost: 500,000,000.


    500 million Alm Points for a temporary summon? And only for an hour? The System is basically ripping me off! Hundreds of thousands of years in exchange for an hour? Who''s the fool who''s going to do that?!


    Apollo looked at more items, each one with a price he couldn''t afford unless he was immortal, living forever as a beggar begging for money.


    After numbing his eyes with the prices, he finally decided to look for the cheapest ones.


    The cheapest item was worth 100 Alm Points¡ªit was a book about the history of True Dragons. There was a lot of stuff that didn''t seem cool, so he just skimmed past them until his eyes landed on an item called Dragon Eyes.


    Dragon Eyes: Reveals the bloodline purity of a dragon with just one look. Once acquired, it can be passed down through generations.


    Alm Points Cost: 500 Alm Points.


    Oh? Is this Bel''s innate ability? Apollo continued to look for more and found similar items.


    Inferior Dragon Eyes: Reveals the bloodline purity of a dragon with just one look. Once acquired, it can be passed down through generations, but the power of the ability will dwindle as generations pass.


    Alm Points Cost: 350 Alm Points.


    It was a "cheap" item that couldn''t increase one''s strength, more like a detection or identification ability. Apollo felt it wasn''t useful. He continued to search for more items before stopping at one in particular. This one could increase his strength, but it cost ten thousand Alm Points.


    Dragon Vial: A vial containing dragon blood. Once ingested, one will acquire the bloodline of a True Dragon. The purity is random, with a 1% limit of the True Dragon''s bloodline, if one is extremely lucky.


    Oh great, another ridiculous item. For 10,000 Alm Points, one can acquire a True Dragon Bloodline, but the percentage is at most 1%? Apollo finally gave up and closed the System Store.


    Around this time, Bel continued their conversation. Then someone exclaimed as people began emerging from the golden chariot.


    They turned to look at the newcomers, who were wearing expensive hanfu, just like what Master Popo wore, though it was clear they were wearing something underneath¡ªunlike him, who liked to "show off."


    The floating platform levitated toward them, lowering itself to the ground, and the newcomers stepped onto it before taking their seats.


    "They can fit inside that chariot?" Filly couldn''t help but mutter in confusion.


    "It actually has more space inside than you''d expect from its size," Bel said.


    "Dimension Augmentation," Gail explained. "Only cultivators with this rare ability can do that."


    "How come you guys know all this?" Filly asked with a defeated sigh.


    "If you read books more often, you''d know about it," Gail said, smiling.


    Apollo glanced at each person who took their seats, his eyes stopping on an obese man adorned with shiny golden ornaments. The man was talking to an old man wearing a white hanfu, who nodded occasionally. Five others seemed uninterested in them, while the last three interacted with them like subordinates sucking up to their bosses.


    "The mayor is here personally," Bel said, disgust evident in her voice. "And he''s brought visitors."


    "I thought they didn''t like each other. Why are they sitting together?" Gail couldn''t help but ask, though she immediately regretted it when she remembered there was an outsider beside them.


    "I don''t know," Bel shrugged, glancing at the masked man. Then, turning towards him, she asked the second reason she had approached him. "Mr. Can Deez?"


    "What?" Apollo looked up at Bel, trying not to laugh.


    "Join us after the Advancement Examination," Bel said with a smile.


    Hearing this, Filly and Gail exchanged looks.


    "Eh? What do you mean by that?" Apollo asked.


    "Join the Great Serpent Cultivation School," Bel clarified. "You clearly want to join a martial school, right? That''s why you got the invitation through other means."


    Apollo raised an eyebrow behind his mask. "Let me think about it," he said, before focusing on Master Popo, who was now standing up and staring at one of the people on the floating platform. Apollo noticed a deep furrow on the instructor''s face, which piqued his curiosity.


    "I can sense that you''re strong," Bel said. "Releasing one''s senses to observe another person''s cultivation¡ªthat''s something only a talented cultivator or someone at the 4th-Step Foundation Building can do."


    Hearing this, Gail glanced at the masked man with newfound respect. Initially, she saw him as someone Bel was curious about, but now, realizing he could release his senses, he became a potential rival among the top martial students in this Advancement Examination. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eh? But I could already do that when I was still at the 3rd-Step, Apollo thought. This made him realize that something wasn''t adding up with the current situation. Is it because of the Simple Breathing Technique?


    "You''re definitely going to pass the third test. The only question is how well you''ll do and what place you''ll end up in. You''re sure to receive other recruitment offers, but I''m personally inviting you now. Of course, you can take your time to think about it," Bel smiled.


    Apollo just stared at her for a moment before turning to Master Popo, who was now looking at them. "He''s about to start."

 Chapter 96 Second Test(Part-1)

    What''s with the entrance? Master Popo ''spoke'' telepathically to one of the Headmasters seated on the floating platform.A middle-aged man with long black hair that reached his shoulders and a black goatee that touched his neck turned to face the headmaster of the Fire Shrine. His black eyes stared straight ahead, revealing little emotion. He wore a black and white hanfu with intricate designs of fierceness, and a serpent insignia in the middle of his chest.


    His black pants were simple but clearly made of high-quality material.


    But what stood out most was the sword placed in front of him, leaning between his legs and resting on his shoulder. It was a very thin sword covered in a black scabbard. The handle was wrapped in a white cloth bandage, with a piece of it dangling at the end.


    Continue with the examination. I want to see the state of my Great Serpent Students, the man ''said,'' communicating directly to the Fire Shrine Headmaster''s mind.


    Hey, you can''t just order me around like that. Why did you guys use those dragons and make such a grand entrance? We don''t have to give them that kind of respect, Master Popo replied, narrowing his eyes at the Great Serpent Headmaster. Tell me, Axton, what''s your plan?


    It''s Master Axton, Axton''s voice echoed in Master Popo''s mind. There''s been a change of plan. An improvement.


    Oh? Tell me, Master Popo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the change of plan.


    Just continue the exam and pull out those problematic students, Master Axton said, his ''voice'' firm. You''ll see soon enough.


    Suspense? I like it, Master Popo said, smiling before turning to look at the martial students below. He was about to squat down and continue speaking when the Headmaster of the Great Serpent stopped him.


    I would advise against that, Master Axton ''said'' to him.


    Why? the Fire Shrine Headmaster asked, though he immediately ''found'' the answer. Is it because of the plan?


    Just give the rules while standing, a different voice chimed in.


    Master Popo turned to the person sitting next to the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. A man with muscles that seemed ready to burst out of his dark blue hanfu robe stared coldly at Master Popo. He had a round bald head with small eyes, making it hard for others to tell if they were open or closed.


    You guys are the planners, Master Popo conceded. Although they each managed different Martial Schools, when they shared a common interest, they actually listened to one another, and rarely antagonized each other unless one of them did something unreasonable.


    As Master Popo began his speech, Elmo, the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield Martial School, turned to Axton. Popo still doesn''t realize?


    Axton closed his eyes, leaning more comfortably in his chair. No, but let him be. He cultivates such weird techniques that he''s become so full of himself he doesn''t realize his own actions.


    He''s gotten dumber with time, Elmo commented, before making small talk with the visitors beside him. Although their constant flattery irritated him, he had to endure it for the sake of their plan. His eyes glanced at the obese man sitting at the far end of the platform. The mayor happened to look in his direction and offered a kind smile that made Elmo feel disgusted.


    ...


    "Let''s start your second test," Master Popo said, standing upright this time. The martial students looked at him, though they remained vigilant, wary of a sudden gust of wind or the possibility that he might unexpectedly squat down again. "This test will assess your comprehension.


    Unlike the previous Advancement, where you only needed to solve sets of problems in a few hours, this time, you''ll have to learn a Battle Technique."


    The martial students gasped in shock.


    "Learning a Battle Technique? In just a few hours?" Filly muttered, wide-eyed.


    "He didn''t mention the time yet," Bel pointed out, narrowing her eyes at the instructor on the platform. As if on cue, Master Popo continued.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll give you three days to learn a Battle Technique. You''ll pass the second test if you reach the Beginner stage within that time," Master Popo smiled, clapping his hands. The platform suddenly began to shake, and stone slabs emerged from it, scattered across the two football field-sized platforms.


    There were at least a hundred slabs, each with carved inscriptions.


    "As you can see, these stone slabs have Battle Techniques inscribed on them. Find one you like and study it. There''s no limit to the number of people per slab, and it''s advisable to memorize it as soon as possible," Master Popo instructed, his eyes scanning the martial students who were astonished to see such a vast array of Battle Techniques spread across the platform.


    They could hardly believe it. Why were the Martial Schools being so extravagant this time? Each Battle Technique was precious, even the low-quality ones, though most students wouldn''t bother with those. Those with sharp eyesight could see that the techniques etched into the stone slabs were far from simple. They knew that mastering one could lead to exponential growth.


    However, this was a test, and they had only three days to reach the Beginner stage to pass. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Three days to reach the Beginner Stage?" Filly muttered, worry evident in her voice. "Can I do it? Even with a low-quality Battle Technique, I''d need at least a week to reach the Beginner stage."


    "Miss Filly, that''s because you''ve been focused on other matters," Gail said from the side. "With your talent, three days should be enough to reach the Beginner stage for low- to mid-quality Battle Techniques. The real challenge is reaching the Mastery Stage. Some techniques aren''t suitable for our bodies, and that''s what takes more time."


    Filly blushed at the compliment.


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    "Let''s choose Battle Techniques that suit us. That way, our chances of passing will increase," Bel suggested.


    Apollo, who had been listening all this time, was excited by the number of Battle Techniques on the platform. He had already mastered the Simple Sword Technique, and although he wasn''t sure if it was considered a Battle Technique, he had been thinking about acquiring another one to enhance his fighting capabilities. This second test gave him an opportunity to learn without spending any Alm points.


    He was also eager to find a flashy technique this time, and he decided to search for one among the hundred stone slabs.

 Chapter 97 Second Test(Part-2)

    The Beggar didn''t know how his comprehension abilities would compare to these talented cultivators, and he would only find out when he stepped onto the platform."But aren''t they basically giving these Battle Techniques away for free?" Filly voiced her doubts. Although she wasn''t deeply involved in cultivation matters, she knew that these techniques were extremely valuable. If someone memorized them, they could write them down and sell them to other cultivators, making a ton of profit, as these techniques were highly expensive.


    Her business instincts kicked in as she considered whether to do this.


    Bel was about to answer her friend when Master Popo, seemingly hearing Filly''s doubts, responded instead.


    "However, don''t think that just because you''re allowed to memorize these techniques, you''ll be able to take them home," Master Popo smirked. "These stone slabs are not simple. They have a Memory Alteration mechanism created by our Array Masters. Only those who pass the second test will be able to retain these techniques in their minds. Consider it a gift."


    To the Martial Schools, these techniques were actually just average, but they still needed to carefully regulate them. It could be very dangerous if someone without cultivation talent attempted to learn one of these techniques; it would be basically suicide. So they had to take precautions.


    When Bel heard this, she couldn''t help but sigh heavily. Such a shame.


    "So, jump on the platform as the test officially begins!" Master Popo announced before flying up to the floating platform.


    One by one, the martial students jumped onto the stage and immediately began searching for the Battle Techniques they wanted to learn.


    Apollo, however, didn''t jump right away. Instead, he followed the instructors with his eyes. Are they really going to stay there for three days straight? he wondered, noticing that the Headmasters and visitors were just sitting there. The only one showing any interest in what was happening was the old man whom Klown was constantly talking to.


    It''s their problem, Apollo thought, shaking his head as he walked toward the platform. He had a feeling something was going on behind the scenes. His experience from his previous life told him that this Advancement Examination was hiding something. Recalling what he saw in the previous test only heightened his suspicions.


    However, what mattered more to him was completing the first part of his mission and returning to his Beggar Spot to continue his cultivation. Whatever scheme was unfolding in the shadows, he didn''t care.


    As he thought about his mission, he couldn''t help but search for his target, and it didn''t take him long to spot him. Arke was also walking toward the platform, taking his time and not in a hurry.


    Being observant, Apollo noticed something unusual. While walking, Arke kept glancing in the direction of the floating platform, specifically toward the mayor. Klown was displaying the same behavior. Although this was the first time Apollo had seen the mayor, it wasn''t hard to recognize him, given the statues and paintings of him all over the city.


    Don''t tell me! These two have something going on between them?! Apollo shivered at the thought. Shaking his head, he knew it wasn''t that simple. I''ll think about it later. For now, I need to focus on passing this second test. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He jumped and landed on the platform. It was already packed with people, and they crowded around the stone slabs like they were at a market.


    "Now, let''s see," Apollo said, moving toward the nearest stone slab where six or seven others were already reading the inscriptions.


    Because of his small height, he couldn''t see much, so he had to wait until some of them left. Once they did, he took the opportunity to stand in front of the slab.


    It was almost two meters tall, so he had to look up to read the first part of the technique.


    "Hand-Sword Technique¡­" Apollo muttered the title before reading the entire inscription. After a while, he shook his head and moved on. It was a simple technique that could turn one''s hand into a sharp sword, but he lost interest. He already had the Simple Sword Technique, and although he hadn''t tried it yet, he felt like he could achieve the same effect.


    Besides, he preferred using a branch or wooden sword to increase his attacking range.


    He continued to search for another technique. After waiting for some more people to leave, he stood in front of the next stone slab and read the battle technique.


    "Water Barrier Technique. Conjure a barrier made out of water to block attacks. Once learned, one will be able to move the Qi in the surroundings to use the technique¡­" Apollo continued to read the description and the cultivation method.


    So these so-called Battle Techniques encompass a lot¡­ I guess there must be movement-related techniques as well since those could also be considered Battle Techniques. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Furthermore, one doesn''t have to reach the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage to mobilize the surrounding Qi, as long as they have a technique that allows them to do so. However, this skill is limited to the technique they learn, meaning they couldn''t use it to move Qi toward their injuries and heal them.


    But this Water Barrier Technique¡­ Do I need it? Apollo wondered. With his Simple Sword Technique, which could cut through any attacks sent his way, it was basically an offense-is-the-best-defense scenario.


    Apollo left, making sure to memorize the technique in case he decided to choose it later.


    He continued hopping from one stone slab to another, deciding to memorize all of them and pick one later. At the same time, he was curious about the Memory Alteration mechanism in these stone slabs. To him, they were just normal stones with some carvings on them. They didn''t feel extraordinary whatsoever.


    I guess I''ll only find out how they work after this second exam since I''ll probably only remember one technique.


    After memorizing all of them, he found a place to sit down and chose the Battle Technique he really wanted to learn.

 Chapter 98 Hydra Mirage(Part-1)

    As everyone began finding their own spots to cultivate the techniques they chose, Apollo did the same after examining almost all the stone slabs and memorizing the one that caught his eye and seemed like a flashy technique.Along the way, he studied the structure of the stone slabs, finding nothing out of the ordinary besides the unknown inscriptions covering their surfaces and the technique written on them.


    Some Martial Students stayed on the platform, while others jumped off and decided to sit on the grass.


    Apollo was one of them, finding an area with only a few students. As he walked toward it, he couldn''t help but glance at the floating platform, where the visitors were still seated, talking to each other and occasionally watching the students.


    These were the same visitors for whom the mayor had made an effort to set up stalls and clean the streets. However, when they arrived here, they didn''t bother introducing themselves after the grand entrance with the dragons.


    It was contrary to what he was used to, where, at an event, important figures would be introduced or give a long, boring speech. But this is better¡ªstraight to the point, no bullsh*tting, Apollo thought as he took a seat on the grass and crossed his legs.


    Having memorized dozens of Battle Techniques from the platform, it was now just a matter of choosing the one that suited his taste best.


    Closing his eyes, he recalled all the techniques in his mind. What he wanted were flashy, cool-looking techniques¡ªsomething that would make people stand in awe when he used it.


    After recalling all the flashy techniques, he finally decided on one. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hydra Mirage," Apollo muttered, his eyes shining with excitement. It''s a battle technique that allows the user to create clones of themselves made out of water and mist. At the beginner stage, the user can create two mirrors of themselves.


    Unlike Cultivation Techniques, which are categorized by the Cultivation Stages, Battle Techniques are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, and Master stages.


    Of course, there are Battle Techniques with fewer stages, and some don''t have any stages at all, though the common ones have these five.


    Apollo chose this particular technique to complement the weaknesses of his Simple Sword Technique. His sword technique wasn''t perfect and had blind spots that, once discovered, could be deadly. So, if he had a technique that could confuse the enemy, he would be able to fully utilize his Simple Sword Technique.


    With this in mind, he closed his eyes and followed the process in his mind. This technique didn''t require much movement and focused more on gathering the Qi in the surroundings and mobilizing it to create lifelike images of himself.


    However, according to the technique, he had to absorb the Qi and circulate it through his body in a specific pattern. The circulation of Qi would replicate his body, from the inside out, even down to the number of hairs on his head.


    It was like a signature, and this signature would be the key to using the Hydra Mirage Technique. The process was actually more intricate than that. Many details were involved, and they had to be carefully considered. One wrong move, and Apollo would have to start all over.


    Following the technique, the Qi around the beggar started churning as Apollo absorbed it according to the process. His surroundings darkened, darker than the night sky. There was only him and the bright Qi circulating around him.


    He had to reach the beginner stage of this technique before the three-day grace period ended. To Apollo, however, this seemed more than enough time. Although the technique appeared complicated, the moment he began learning it, he easily understood the process and could perform it with ease.


    He absorbed the Qi through his mouth, nose, and pores, then guided it along the pattern outlined by the technique.


    At first, the Qi circulated slowly but gradually picked up speed.


    It didn''t take long for Apollo to familiarize himself with the Battle Technique, though he wasn''t done yet as he hadn''t reached the beginner stage.


    There were many steps, and Apollo had reached the part where he had to transform the Qi infused with his body''s signature into mist. It sounded confusing, but by following the procedure, the beggar found it relatively easy.


    Even so, he didn''t immediately apply the technique. Instead, he continued studying the next steps¡ªturning the Qi into water and molding the water into a copy of himself.


    He practiced the technique in his mind hundreds of times until he felt confident he could apply it in the real world. When Apollo stopped cultivating the Hydra Mirage, the night sky returned, and the moon''s brilliance illuminated the surroundings, making it easy for even a normal human to see.


    Glancing up at the stars, Apollo concluded that he''d been cultivating for three to four hours. Curious if the visitors were still there, he found them still seated on the floating platform. However, one of them, who had previously appeared cheerful, now had a grave expression as he stared at a cultivator in a white robe. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo couldn''t hear what they were discussing, but the white-robed cultivator seemed to be delivering a message that darkened the man''s mood. His eyes then flicked to the Headmasters, who were nodding occasionally and appeared relaxed and in good spirits, unlike Klown.


    The visitors, on the other hand, were talking animatedly, while the old man beside the mayor remained as impassive as when he first arrived.


    Something must be going on, the beggar thought before shaking his head. It''s not my concern.


    Some of the martial students were sitting down, eyes closed, deep in cultivation, while others were on their feet, practicing sets of movements¡ªlikely battle techniques that required physical repetition.


    They were all occupied with their own tasks, making this the perfect time to test what he had learned from the Hydra Mirage so far.


    Apollo didn''t need to stand up to use the technique.


    "Let''s see how cool you are," the beggar muttered. With a thought, he began using the Hydra Mirage. The Qi was drawn toward him, circulated through his body once, and then exited. Mist began to form around him. The beggar''s eyes gleamed as the mist beside him started churning, gradually transforming into a cross-legged, masked figure. As the mist dissipated, a complete copy of himself sat beside him.

 Chapter 99 Hydra Mirage(Part-2)

    The copy wore the exact same clothes as Apollo: a black robe covering his body and a black half-mask obscuring the top half of his face. Apollo looked closer and noticed that even the mask had the same details. It felt like he was staring into a mirror.The copy sat there, its eyes dull and unmoving.


    Apollo had only intended to test what he''d learned so far, and it seemed like the results were better than he''d expected. At the beginner stage of the Hydra Mirage, he could conjure up to two clones of himself, and he could even make them move according to his will, though he wasn''t sure how fluid their movements would be.


    Let''s see if I''ve really reached the beginner stage, Apollo thought, smiling. He wasn''t expecting much; the instructors had given them three days, and it had only been about three hours since he started learning the technique. There''s no way I could complete the second test so easily... right? With this in mind, he activated the technique once more.


    Mist appeared as the Qi he absorbed flowed out of his body, and to his right, another copy of himself materialized.


    Staring at the lifelike copy, Apollo couldn''t help but be amazed. Did I really do it? Does this mean I''ve managed to reach the beginner stage in just three hours?


    He looked around and saw that the other Martial Students were preoccupied with their own Battle Techniques. Then, he made his clones stand up, and they did so the moment he thought about it. There was no delay; as soon as he willed it, they obeyed. Apollo then positioned them to stand in front of each other.


    "Fight!" Apollo thought, his eyes burning with excitement as he controlled one of the clones. Like a video game, he had one clone fight the other while he sat on the grass, watching the battle. However, it proved to be difficult. Controlling a clone was easy, but using it to fight against another clone felt like battling a boss that couldn''t be hit.


    So these clones also know my fighting style, Apollo mused as the clone he controlled failed to land a hit on the other. Then he stopped the fight. If a normal battle won''t work... Slap Fight!


    It was a popular sport in his previous life where two participants took turns slapping each other. Apollo enjoyed watching it; it was entertaining to see their faces distort from the impact.


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    Thinking about it made him even more excited about what was to come. This time, he didn''t control one of the clones. Instead, he gave the order for them to take turns slapping each other as hard as they could.


    As soon as he thought it, one of the clones raised its hand and slammed it into the other copy''s face!


    Apollo''s eyes widened in anticipation, but they quickly turned to surprise as the slap caused the clone''s head to explode! But instead of blood, the explosion was made of mist that scattered with the wind.


    Apollo smiled bitterly at the sight. I guess that was to be expected; it''s only at the beginner stage and still fragile, he thought. According to the Hydra Mirage technique in his mind, his clones would only get tougher as he progressed.


    Surprisingly, even without a head, the clone raised its hand and slapped the fully intact copy.


    Huh? So they''re still functional without a head? Apollo tilted his head as the intact clone''s head also exploded into mist. What happened next nearly made him burst out laughing¡ªthe two headless copies of himself continued slapping the place where their heads used to be.


    Shaking his head, he made them stop, and with a thought, the two clones dissolved into water and fell to the ground.


    All this time, the martial students hadn''t been disturbed, probably because some of them were also making noise, and the people on the floating platform were too busy talking among themselves.


    Did I just learn an exceptionally easy Battle Technique? Apollo wondered. So, have I already passed the second test? This made him glance at the other students. But they''re still not done, and I''ll definitely stand out if I declare that I''ve already reached the Beginner stage of this technique.


    He let out a heavy sigh. "What should I do?" he muttered. There are still three days left, and it only took me three hours to complete the second test. "That pervert said there''s an array on the Stone Slab that will make those who didn''t pass the test forget the techniques on the slab. It''s safe to say that even if some of us memorize all the techniques, we''ll only be able to keep one if we pass."


    Apollo waited to see if he would forget the other techniques, but even after a few minutes, he could still remember them. Is it because the test hasn''t ended yet, and the Memory Alteration mechanism hasn''t been activated?


    That''s probably the case¡­ Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Should I use this time to learn the other techniques, just to pass the time? It didn''t take him long to decide. He closed his eyes and began learning all the Battle Techniques stored in his mind.


    ...


    On the floating platform, the visitors perked up when the white-robed cultivator arrived and said something that made them fall silent and listen carefully.


    "So they tried to steal another technique from our Library?" Axton asked, a subtle smile on his lips. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes," the white-robed cultivator nodded.


    "Where are they?" the Great Serpent Headmaster asked, focusing on the fate of the thieves rather than the Library.


    "After the successful ambush, we captured them and put them in a cellar for questioning," the white-robed cultivator reported.


    "Good," Axton nodded. "Just don''t let them die."


    Klown, who had been listening the whole time, wore a shocked expression, and it took him a moment to regain his composure.


    "Are you okay, Mayor Klown?" the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield Martial School, Elmo, asked, his voice filled with apparent concern. However, a closer look into his eyes would reveal that he didn''t mean it.


    "Yeah," Klown nodded, but his voice betrayed his anger. "I can''t believe someone would be so daring as to steal cultivation techniques from the Martial Schools in my city!"

 Chapter 100 Hydra Mirage(Part-3)

    "Did they only try to steal from one martial school?" one of the visitors asked.The white-robed cultivator looked to the headmaster of the Great Serpent Martial School, seemingly asking if it was alright to answer the visitor''s question.


    Master Axton nodded, a subtle smile on his face.


    "No, sir. The Great Serpent, Sword and Shield, and the Fire Shrine were all infiltrated at the same time," the white-robed cultivator explained.


    "Why?" another visitor asked.


    The white-robed cultivator shook his head.


    "The reason is still unknown, but it''s very likely that someone is behind them," Axton said, glancing at the visitors, stopping briefly at Klown before turning his gaze back to the white-robed cultivator. "You may go now. After we''re done here, I''ll meet with them personally."


    "As you wish," the white-robed cultivator bowed his head, then disappeared in a blur.


    "Tsk tsk!" Master Popo, who had been silent until now, shook his head with a smirk. He was already sitting on a chair he''d somehow acquired. "If I find the culprit, I''ll skin him alive."


    "You should focus on the Advancement, Instructor Popo," Elmo said. "Someone is already showing signs."


    "Oh?" Master Popo raised an eyebrow, turning to look at the ground, where he saw someone wearing clothes that covered their body from head to toe and a white mask hiding their face.


    This person was one of the outsiders who had passed the first test. Master Popo could see that they were already showing signs of progressing to the Beginner Stage of the Battle Technique they had chosen, which came from the Sword and Shield Martial School.


    "Lily Valley¡ªit''s a fairly decent technique, and the most talented person in my school managed to reach the Beginner Stage in just two and a half days," the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield said, his eyes burning with interest. The mysterious person in the distance was sitting cross-legged while translucent lily flowers materialized around her before disappearing a second later.


    "If this person keeps going at this pace, I wouldn''t be surprised if they reached the Beginner Stage in just a day and a half."


    Hearing this, the visitors were surprised. They had come from a neighboring city, personally invited by the Mayor to witness this year''s Advancement Examination. They decided to watch this second test to see if any particularly talented individuals emerged this year, and this outsider seemed to be one of them.


    They looked at each other, their eyes glinting with understanding. From what they knew, if a person not wearing a uniform attended this exam, they were an outsider who had obtained an invitation through other means. If they managed to pass all the tests, they would have a chance to become a student of the Martial School they chose to attend.


    However, they were still considered outsiders if they had not yet chosen a school, which meant these talented individuals could be recruited.


    "It''s a she," Master Axton said, the previous matter with the white-robed cultivator seemingly forgotten.


    Master Popo and Elmo spread their ''senses'' to feel the Qi around the mysterious person, and sure enough, the movement of nature around her indicated that she was a woman.


    "It seems like we have a very talented one this year," Mayor Klown said with a forced smile. Seeing that they were now focused on another matter brought him some relief.


    The three Headmasters exchanged knowing smiles.


    "You guys wouldn''t mind if I had her join my school?" Elmo asked. Lily Valley is a Battle Technique meant for defense; although it isn''t the strongest even at the Mastery Stage, it''s actually a popular technique that even he used from time to time when fighting someone.


    When someone uses the Lily Valley, countless lilies appear around them, which they can use to block their enemy''s attacks. Once they reach Mastery, a cultivator at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building stage can block an attack from a 2nd-Step Qi Condensation stage, though it must be a common attack.


    "Well, it''s your Martial School''s technique, so you can have her," Master Popo said, shrugging his shoulders.


    Axton didn''t speak, but he nodded in agreement.


    However, on the floating platform, the old man beside the Mayor was staring at the mysterious person in the distance, his eyes trembling before he let out a defeated sigh.


    Still stubborn as ever, he thought. He had white hair and white eyebrows, and his deep green eyes were like a forest. He was a representative of the visitors'' group invited to watch this Advancement Examination. Although he had suspicions about why this pig beside him had invited them, as time passed, his doubts gradually diminished, though something still lingered.


    Thinking of this as a simple vacation, he had brought his granddaughter... who should be here watching the examination... but, shaking his head, he decided to look for talented students.


    This second test would last for three days, but they were only going to stay for a few hours, as that was usually when talented martial students would show their might¡ªjust like that mysterious person.


    "Haha, thanks," Elmo laughed heartily. It seemed like a good seed would soon arrive at his school. Even if the mysterious woman chose another school, they could still reject her, and she wouldn''t have a choice but to choose his school.


    "Let''s see who the second student to show off will be," Master Popo said, glancing at each of the Martial Students on the ground. Suddenly, his eyes landed on a particular person wearing a black robe and a half mask that covered the top of his face. Oh? There''s another one? This made him spread out his senses to gauge the ability of this small man.


    Hmm, seems mediocre, he thought before his gaze moved to the other students, landing on a woman wearing spectacles who was busy conjuring something in front of her.


    Mist appeared before congregating into something, though it immediately dispersed the moment it formed.


    "Haha," Master Popo chuckled, glancing at the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. "One of your students is attempting to learn your technique."


    Hearing this, Axton turned to where the Fire Shrine Headmaster was pointing and saw Filly Kleinford already attempting the Hydra Mirage. "That''s not how you do it, kid," he muttered while shaking his head. This is a Battle Technique that he personally created and is also a technique that he always uses. "It''s not a powerful technique, but it''s actually a headache to learn."


    "Kleinford, eh? So she''s the daughter of Nathan Kleinford," Elmo commented from the side. Kleinford, Helflick, and the other families had come to greet them before they arrived here, and it was the first time he had met Nathan, the famous War Border Hero.


    ¡­


    Filly stared at the gathering mist in front of her, her eyes deep in concentration as she tried her best to mobilize the Qi in the surroundings as much as she could.


    However, before the mist could even form properly, it exploded into a mist of water, splashing her face.


    Filly took off her glasses and wiped the water from them. After putting them back on, she couldn''t help but sigh. She was foolish for thinking she could do it after simply circulating the surrounding Qi inside her body. It''s actually pretty hard. She turned to look at Gail, who had her eyes closed peacefully.


    Gail was just sitting there, cross-legged, and hadn''t moved since she picked the technique she wanted to learn.


    "I''m too hasty," Filly muttered with a bitter smile. Shaking her head, she decided to just focus on the first step of the technique and familiarize herself with it before trying to apply it.


    With this in mind, she closed her eyes and started cultivating the technique seriously.


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    Meanwhile, a few feet away, Bel Helflick opened her eyes, a glint passing through them. "Hmm, interesting."


    She had picked a common Battle Technique from the Martial School she was studying at, the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Because it was common, she had already seen it a couple of times within the school. She also chose it because she was quite familiar with it, thinking it would be very easy to learn.


    Bel wasn''t the only one who thought this way; those who wanted to pass the second test chose techniques they were familiar with.


    Since it wasn''t allowed to use Battle Techniques they had already learned prior to this examination, they had to be smart, and choosing common techniques made it easier for them.


    Bel did the same. However, even though the Petal Sword was a common Battle Technique, normal cultivators would need at least 2 or 3 weeks to reach the Beginner stage, and she wouldn''t be surprised if most of them needed at least a month, which would also force them to postpone their cultivation.


    But this only applied to common cultivators. Bel smiled, closing her eyes once more.


    Petal Sword was a technique that could affect a wide area. Although it was common and not the strongest Battle Technique she knew, it was very practical and straightforward, so she might consider using it after she mastered it.


    With her eyes closed, she mentally reviewed all the techniques, engaging in mental training first to familiarize herself.

 Chapter 101 Cup Of Noodles(Part-1)

    "Hmm, it seems like more of them have improved greatly compared to last time," Master Axton said as the moon shone brightly on the platform. Even without additional light, the moon''s brilliance was more than enough to illuminate the mountain.It was already midnight, and they had been observing the Martial Students who were showing significant progress. Some of them were already beginning to demonstrate their understanding of the techniques they were practicing, as they could produce some of the desired effects.


    However, the test was not yet complete. On the third day, the students would have to display their newly learned techniques. After that, there would be one final test¡ªthe Practical Battle Exam¡ªwhere those who passed the second test would fight each other. This last test was the most popular, as the public would be granted access to watch the fights.


    Nonetheless, those who passed the second exam were almost guaranteed to succeed in the Advancement Examination, as the second exam had already determined whether the Martial School would continue to support their cultivation journey.


    "It''s time to go back," Elmo said, standing up while picking up the shield behind his chair and the broadsword at his side. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing this, the visitors also stood up, along with Mayor Klown.


    "Let''s return to the Chariot; the meal has already been served," Klown said, motioning for them to follow his lead before turning to the Headmasters. "Shall we?"


    The trio exchanged glances for a moment before Elmo and Axton shook their heads.


    "I have to go meet those criminals," Axton said, his figure becoming wild and strange. Then suddenly, he turned into a puddle of water, dropping to the ground.


    Elmo chuckled, staring at the Mayor. "I need to train, Mr. Mayor." His body became a blur, disappearing from his spot as if he had never been there.


    Klown then turned to Master Popo, who rolled his eyes before flying toward the middle platform.


    "Tsk," Klown couldn''t help but grit his teeth in anger and humiliation. The Headmasters clearly didn''t respect him, openly disregarding him. But he had to hold it in and smile at the visitors. At the same time, he sensed that something was wrong¡ªsomething he didn''t want to happen, though he had to continue his act.


    ¡­


    When Apollo opened his eyes, it was already morning. He could see birds flying in the distance while the sun''s rays peeked over the horizon.


    "This is great," he muttered, a smile forming on his lips. Apollo had managed to learn three more Battle Techniques in just one night. Although he hadn''t reached the Mastery Stage, he had still achieved the Beginner Stage in each of them.


    Fire Blast, a Battle Technique from the Fire Shrine Martial School, allowed the user to gather Qi and transform it into a blazing fire that could be sent toward opponents. It was a good technique¡ªthough not particularly strong, in his opinion, it was flashy enough that those unaware might think he was preparing a deadly attack.


    The second technique he learned was True Hardening, which could increase his body''s endurance and toughness at the cost of speed. It didn''t produce flashy special effects like Fire Blast, but Apollo felt he needed a technique that could help protect his body. However, learning these techniques seemed somewhat pointless if he was going to forget them after the second test ended.


    Still, he found the process enjoyable, so he continued to learn more.


    The third technique he learned was one that envelops his body with Qi, making him lighter and increasing his speed. This technique, when combined with his Simple Movement Technique, complemented his abilities well. Although he hadn''t yet tried out these three techniques, he was confident that he could execute them at the Beginner Stage.


    Looking around, he noticed that some of the students were already awake, their faces set in deep frowns, seemingly struggling with their training. Apollo then turned his attention to those who still had their eyes closed, yet wore peaceful expressions.


    There were also some students practicing the movements of their techniques. Some did so with relaxed expressions, while others gritted their teeth in frustration, repeatedly failing and trying again.


    "Aren''t they going to take a break? Eat something?" Apollo muttered to himself. With his cultivation already at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage, he wouldn''t feel hunger for a day or two without eating. However, once he did feel hungry, he would need to consume a large amount of food. Fortunately, he hadn''t encountered that situation yet¡ªafter all, who would let themselves go hungry? Not Apollo.


    With that in mind, he brought up his Status Screen to check his remaining Alm Points.


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 26


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None.


    In the two days before the Advancement Examination began, he had managed to increase his Alm Points to 31. He had used 5 of those points to buy the black half-mask he was wearing, leaving him with 26. He intended to save 25 points for emergencies, leaving just 1 for food and drinks. Thankfully, consumables weren''t too expensive¡ªextremely cheap, in fact.


    Apollo brought up his System Store, sorting it to display only Earth''s food.


    "Should I treat myself to something good?" Apollo muttered, licking his lips in anticipation. He browsed through the options, all foods he had enjoyed in his previous life¡ªsteak, sushi, pizza, burgers¡­ The choices were dazzling, making it difficult to decide.


    In the end, he settled on a box of macaroni and cheese pizza along with a bottle of carbonated drink. Yup, this is the right choice, Apollo thought, smiling as he was about to confirm the order. But then, he saw the price.


    W-what?! 1.1 Alm Points?! Apollo''s eyes widened. Damnit! Ah, I was craving this¡­ Macaroni and cheese pizza was one of his favorite meals in his previous life, especially as a midnight snack. It was perfect.


    Sighing in disappointment, he decided to change his choice.


    One order of a burger costs 0.5 Alm points, and a carbonated drink costs 0.2 Alm points. If he spent 1 Alm point on food, he''d be left with only 0.3 points. But there were still two more days before the second test ended. Apollo only wanted to eat once per day, and if he bought this ''expensive'' food now, he''d have nothing left for the third day.


    Shaking his head, he continued browsing for more affordable options. It didn''t take him long to make a choice: cup noodles for 0.2 Alm points and a bottle of mineral water for 0.1 Alm points.


    "Do you want to buy it?" the System asked in its usual emotionless voice.


    "Buy," Apollo said. As soon as the words left his mouth, two white lights appeared on the ground in front of him, materializing into a steaming cup of noodles and a bottle of water. "Feels like I''m back in high school."


    With a sigh, he reached out for the noodles, placing the water bottle beside him. But then he realized something. Where''s the chopstick? Apollo glanced around but couldn''t find it. He stood up and searched more thoroughly, but the chopstick was nowhere to be found. A foreboding feeling washed over him.


    "System? Where''s the chopstick or fork?"


    A translucent screen appeared in front of him, displaying a message, followed by the System''s voice:


    "You will have to buy the chopsticks from the System Store at the cost of 0.1 Alm points. Would you like to place an order?" the System asked.


    F*ck you, System! Apollo cursed through gritted teeth. Shouldn''t it be free? You''re just proving that you''re an *sshole who only cares about profit and not the customer''s comfort! He berated the System, but it remained silent, merely waiting for his response.


    Seeing this, Apollo''s frustration grew. It was infuriating to be angry at something that showed no emotion¡ªit was like being mad at a rock, making him feel foolish.


    If you had a physical body, I''d beat you into a pulp! Apollo thought with determination.


    The interface in front of him started flickering, a sign that it was on the verge of collapsing. Argh! I hate this! Before the interface could disappear, Apollo placed the order, and a pair of chopsticks materialized in front of him. Grasping them in his hand, the simple wooden chopsticks felt like gold.


    "This is very frustrating," Apollo muttered, sitting down on the grass. He let out a heavy sigh before looking around. Fortunately, no one was paying attention to him; otherwise, they''d be shocked to see objects appearing out of thin air.


    The instructor was also nowhere to be seen, probably off somewhere else.


    With another sigh, he fully peeled back the lid of the cup of noodles, releasing a burst of aroma. Apollo inhaled deeply, his eyes closed, a smile spreading across his face. His earlier frustration with the System seemed to vanish into thin air.


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    It''s been so long since I had this, Apollo thought as he lifted a handful of noodles with his chopsticks.

 Chapter 102 Cup Of Noodles(Part-2)

    A seafood-flavored Cup of Noodles¡ªthat''s what the Beggar chose. Seeing the bits of shrimp tangled in the noodles, Apollo couldn''t help but gulp. The tantalizing smell of the sea wafted up to his nose, salty, a bit spicy, and utterly refreshing.This brought back memories of his college days, alone in his dorm with just a cup of noodles and his books. Back then, he was popular throughout the university, talented in many areas. He also had enough money to eat whatever he wanted thanks to his side hustle, but he still chose to eat a Cup of Noodles from time to time, especially while studying.


    With his eyes closed, he reminisced about the past before taking a bite of the noodles. He didn''t have to chew much before swallowing; one particularly long noodle was still inside the cup. Apollo slurped, the sound echoing around him.


    "Ah," Apollo sighed with satisfaction, the saltiness and slight spiciness lingering in his mouth. "This is amazing." Although he had craved the pizza earlier, now that he was eating the noodles, the regret vanished, replaced by satisfaction.


    Looking down into the cup, he saw the golden-yellow noodles swimming in the creamy white-yellow broth, with spices dancing alongside them. Apollo raised the cup and took a sip. The soup flowed into his mouth, down his throat, and all the way to his stomach. For a moment, he felt as though he was standing by the vast ocean, with the intense wind blowing against his face.


    "Ah!" This time, he let out an even stronger sigh. The Beggar smacked his lips before licking them. With a smile on his face, he continued to enjoy his Cup of Noodles.


    However, while he relished his breakfast, the people around him were less pleased.


    Sitting at the edge of the mountain, there were only ten to eleven Martial Students nearby, each sitting a few meters apart. But the distance, coupled with their keen sense of smell, put frowns on their faces.


    What''s that smell? At first, they tried to ignore it, but as time passed, the frowns deepened. They couldn''t help but open their eyes and follow the aroma. The smell wasn''t bad; in fact, it was quite pleasant, though it still disturbed them. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When they turned toward the source, they saw a small masked man eating, the slurping sounds loud and clear.


    "This guy, how dare he eat during the exam?" one of them muttered. "What is he even eating?"


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    They continued to watch, letting out some of their presence to alert the ''oblivious'' man. But their efforts were futile, and the smell only made them hungrier. Finally, one of them stood up and strode toward the Masked Man with determined steps.


    The onlookers'' eyes widened in anticipation. Yeah, teach him a lesson! But what the man said next left them speechless.


    "Hey, where did you buy that?" he asked, making Apollo look up, a piece of noodle dangling from his mouth.


    "Somewhere far," Apollo replied before continuing his meal.


    "Do you have more? Can I have some?" the man asked.


    "No," Apollo shook his head. "Sorry, it''s not for free."


    "Then how much?" the man asked, pulling out a pouch from his uniform. The sound of coins clinking echoed as he opened it.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow, observing the man from head to toe. He didn''t belong to the Great Serpent or the other two schools where most of the students came from. But the way he carried himself suggested noble birth.


    "Sorry, I don''t trade for money. I only accept Alms," Apollo said, shaking his head. At the same time, he wondered if this would work. Because he was always busy with other things, he hadn''t had enough time to experiment with how he could exploit the system.


    What if he tried to make them give him money? Would it still count? Or not?


    "Alms?" The man looked at the masked figure from head to toe. Average height, small stature, and clothes made from cheap materials¡ªthe only extraordinary thing was the mask. He does look like a beggar, but who would be foolish enough to believe it? There''s no way a mere beggar could stand on the same ''stage'' as us, the man thought. "How many Alms do you need?" he asked, playing it safe.


    Oh? Apollo''s eyes brightened. "Six bronze coins."


    Without hesitation, the man took out a silver coin and flicked it toward Apollo, who caught it with ease. "Here, keep the change."


    "I won''t decline then," Apollo replied, smiling as he pocketed the silver coin and waited for the notification to arrive.


    But even after a few seconds, the System remained silent. What''s happening?


    "Hey, you''re not scamming me, are you?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow as his eyes turned cold.


    "No, of course not," Apollo said. "Just wait a second."


    Hey, System! Where are the Alm points? Apollo asked the system angrily. He actually wanted to minimize his interactions with this petty System as much as possible. That''s why he didn''t ask if his method would work. Now that he thought about it, he realized that he sometimes made choices that were quite immature¡ªsomething he hadn''t done in his previous life.


    Shaking his head, he finally heard the System''s response.


    "You haven''t received any Alms for me to convert into Alm points," the System answered, a translucent screen appearing in front of the beggar with the words displayed.


    What the hell?! Wasn''t this guy giving me Alms? Didn''t he say so himself? Apollo protested.


    "A true beggar does not scheme. You are a beggar, not a seller. You are bound to receive, without any use of trickery, only patience," the System replied, its voice emotionless but with a tone that felt like a divine message. "However, using the System Store, you can buy items that will help increase your Alm Points."


    Divine message, my *ss!


    Apollo couldn''t help but get angry. Am I going to waste my Alm points for this guy?


    The System didn''t respond.


    Looking up, the Beggar saw that the man was starting to get frustrated. Sh*t, he already gave me the money. Should I give it back?


    "If you don''t give me what I want, don''t blame me if I resort to force," the man said.


    "Alright," Apollo sighed in defeat. In the end, he wanted to fulfill their transaction. As an honest person who hasn''t committed any crime, he couldn''t ''cheat'' his customer.


    A white light appeared in front of him, and a Cup of Noodles materialized out of thin air.


    Seeing this, the man''s eyes brightened with understanding. Space Storage? I knew it¡ªwhat kind of beggar would have access to such an item?


    Apollo handed over the goods, waving his hand dismissively. "Here, this is the last one, so I was very hesitant to give it away."

 Chapter 103 Cup Of Noodles(Part-3)

    Seeing the man walk away with his ''Alm points,'' Apollo smiled bitterly. This is annoying. Oh right, I didn''t give him a fork! The beggar began to worry that the man would come back asking for utensils. Fortunately, the man seemed to have the ability to produce items out of thin air, relieving Apollo from having to spend another Alm point¡ªthough he would definitely refuse if that guy came back.This situation gave Apollo a better understanding of his role in this life. A true beggar. He could only earn Alm Points by literally just begging. He couldn''t exchange them for something else; the coins he received would be invalid. The one and only requirement was for people to give him Alms willingly, not because they wanted something from him. Any trickery wouldn''t work.


    "But System," Apollo recalled the time when a martial student fell unconscious beside his feet, his coins rolling out of his pocket. "How come that guy''s money turned into Alm Points?"


    "The money came out of his pocket, rolled toward you, and he didn''t take it back."


    "Oh, I see," Apollo finally understood everything. He also realized something, his eyes glancing at the guy who had just bought a cup of noodles from him. "So System, earning Alm Points also considers how people think of me?"


    "Yes," the System answered truthfully.


    "Then it makes sense," Apollo said with a bitter smile. Ah, I wish I''d had this talk with the System sooner. I get easily distracted, he finally realized, which is very contrary to the cool-headed old self from his previous life.


    Letting out a heavy sigh, he continued to finish his food, trying to forget the 2 Alm Points he had just given away.


    But unbeknownst to him, while he relished his food, to others, it was a nightmare under the morning sun. Especially as another person joined in, making slurping sounds and smacking his lips from time to time.


    The smell also became more intense, making it hard for them to cultivate their chosen techniques.


    "F*ck! Is this their strategy to reduce the competition?" one of them couldn''t help but say aloud. He was very angry because the smell was so tantalizing that it made him hungry. "Argh! This is frustrating!"


    As time passed, the effects of the delicious food caused one of them to stand up. With a shout, he started running toward the cliff! "F*ck this exam! If I can''t pass, I''ll at least fulfill the needs of my stomach!" The man jumped, his figure disappearing instantly.


    This caused some of those who were having a hard time understanding their techniques and probably wouldn''t pass the second test to do the same. If they were pretty sure they couldn''t pass the exam, why not just surrender now, eat something good, go home, and have a nice sleep?


    The scene of students jumping down the mountain was seen by the Instructor, who came flying from a distance.


    "What''s wrong with them?" Master Popo muttered, landing on the platform in the middle of the mountain. He didn''t expect that some of them would give up after just a day. It was very unexpected, putting a frown on his face.


    Nevertheless, they were just the martial students they didn''t particularly pay great attention to, and most of them would fail anyway, so it didn''t matter if some of them gave up now.


    Master Popo squatted down, watching the students practice their chosen techniques. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Meanwhile, west of this tall mountain lies the forest where the Duskwolves Shadowtails reside.


    Mathias arrived in a carriage, his usual suit replaced by a gray Hanfu robe that reached his ankles, with sleeves almost covering his hands. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    He glanced at the tent set up nearby and the soldiers neatly arranged and ready for battle in the distance. Mathias also noticed a number of Cultivators from various noble families in Klown City.


    Everyone is ready. Mathias was about to walk toward the tent when he turned back. There was nothing but a wide expanse of grass, though his eyes seemed to pierce through everything.


    "As expected of Mathias from the Dragon Hunter lineage, you can see through my technique," A man appeared out of nowhere, as if he''d always been there. He wore a butler suit with a monocle over his left eye.


    "Morning, Butler Holst," Mathias greeted with a smile. "The Dragon Hunters are mere history, and I only share a speck of dust from their bloodline."


    "Still, that is a very rare bloodline," Holst said, his eyes steady. "Have they arrived?"


    "The owner of Skyline Savory, Theo," Mathias said, glancing at the tent.


    "Haha, the city''s greatest force of attraction," Holst chuckled as the two began to walk toward the tent. "If not for Skyline Savory, the city center would be a lifeless street."


    "You are right," Mathias nodded, sharing the sentiment. Soon, they arrived and saw Theo sitting quietly in one of the chairs.


    "Good morning," Theo said, his voice as nonchalant as ever.


    "Morning," Mathias greeted, taking a seat at the head of the table.


    Holst nodded with a smile before taking his seat beside the Skyline owner.


    They didn''t have to wait long before the Branch Manager of the Alchemy House entered the tent. Looking around, she didn''t see Nathan, causing her to smile.


    "Hehe, that guy''s still not here? He''s probably still inside his wife," Helen commented, taking a seat to Mathias''s right.


    "What did you say?!" someone shouted from outside, and Nathan stormed in angrily.


    "You heard what I said," Helen smirked at the Kleinford family head.


    "You and your mouth don''t know respect!" Nathan retorted, lifting both his sleeves.


    This again, Mathias sighed. Before they could fight again, he tapped the table, drawing their attention. "Let''s begin the official matter."


    Nathan could only grit his teeth, pulling his seat away from Helen.


    "The Duskfangs are already making their move," Mathias said, glancing at each of them, noting their calm expressions. "They''ve begun hunting our men more aggressively than before, killing dozens. This morning, they launched another attack. Although our men managed to defend themselves, they still suffered heavy casualties."


    The attack happened inside the forest where the Hunting Team was deployed. Their main purpose was to kill as many monsters as possible before the Alpha began her hunt.


    "She couldn''t wait any longer," Holst commented.


    "Correct," Mathias nodded. "We''ve already moved the plan forward, but she is... agitated."


    "Are you suggesting that we¡ª" Helen began, but she didn''t finish her sentence. It was enough for the Helflick family head to understand.


    "We start our attack now," Mathias said.


    "But I still need one more day to concoct those toxins!" Helen protested, a frown on her face.


    "Then we''ll try to defeat her as soon as possible," Mathias said, staring at Helen with determination. "If we can''t, we''ll hold her off as best as we can until you succeed in making those toxins."

 Chapter 104 Second Test Showcase(Part-1)

    Helen sighed upon hearing this. The toxins she was producing were key to killing that monster, but with the plan moving forward again, she would have to work even harder. "Then make sur¡ª""If that''s what you''ve decided, then we won''t say much," Nathan said from the side, interrupting the Branch Manager of the Alchemy House, who glared at him in turn. "So should we go straight to the boss or take out the small fry first?"


    "We will go for the Alpha along with the Elite soldiers and the Family Cultivators," Mathias said. "The rest will keep the Duskfangs contained within the forest."


    "Let''s make sure we use their men thoroughly," Nathan said, his eyes glinting with cunning. "We''re the only ones here, and the other families are busy trying not to personally involve themselves in this fight." Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Nathan Kleinford was referring to the other noble families who had decided to stay behind in the city after meeting with the visitors and the martial school''s Headmasters. They sent their men while they hid behind the city walls. Although they were also cultivators, and not as strong as them, they could at least help with killing the small fry. But they didn''t.


    "It''s more than good enough that they sent their best men," Mathias said, glancing at Nathan before turning to look at Holst. "Do you have any suggestions?"


    "I will follow your plan," Holst said.


    "Alright," Mathias nodded. "What about our guy?"


    "I already have my men escorting him to that place," Nathan said, taking out a map, placing it on the table, and pointing to a location. "It''s far enough from the city. If that monster tries anything funny and decides to destroy the city first, she would need at least a few minutes to get there. That''s more than enough time for us to chase her down."


    Being a smart and cunning monster, they wouldn''t be surprised if the Alphadusk tried to escape or refuse to play their ''game.''


    "It''s a pity," Helen sighed. "Hopefully, our plan will work so he can survive."


    "Don''t worry. Once she arrives, we''ll try to pull him out as soon as possible," Mathias said. He also felt bad about the man who had been marked by the Alpha. They had no choice but to use him as he was one of the key elements necessary for their plan to work.


    They didn''t know much about this Alphadusk, especially her abilities, which lowered the man''s chances of survival. They could send him away once the Alpha arrived, but they weren''t confident they could hold the monster in one place, so they needed the marked man to be in the same area. This monster was very persistent about her prey, and even if she escaped, she would find another way.


    The best course of action was to kill her as soon as possible.


    Furthermore, even if the man died, the Alphadusk would find another prey. Since she lived in the forest near the city, it was very likely she would return there. They also couldn''t send her marked prey to another location because after she killed them, she would definitely come back to the forest.


    Keeping that monster nearby would only put the city on constant alert.


    The five of them continued their discussion, mainly about the details of the plan. Soon, they exited the tent one by one and went to stand in front of the soldiers and cultivators.


    ...


    Two days later.


    The sun peeked over the horizon as birds soared into the sky. At the top of the mountain, the temperature was cold enough to make a normal human shiver, but the Martial Students, with their strong bodies, easily adapted to the chill.


    "How are you holding up?" Gail asked the restaurant owner, who had a tired expression on her face.


    "Hungry. I miss fried chicken," Filly sighed heavily. She had already put away her glasses, her hair was a bit messy, and dark circles had formed under her eyes from not sleeping for the past two days. Normally, she wouldn''t get dark circles even if she didn''t sleep for a few days, but she had been working her mind tirelessly during this time.


    "I meant your technique. Did you learn it?" Gail asked, a small smile on her face.


    "Oh, yes!" Filly replied. "Let me show you."


    She began gathering the Qi from the surroundings, drawing it into her body before releasing it as a watery mist. The mist enveloped the two of them, making it difficult for Gail to see where Filly was.


    Gail noticed the mist churning on one side and turned toward it, spotting the restaurant owner. But when the mist dispersed, there were now two Fillys, one on each side of Gail.


    "Congrats," Gail said, her eyes fixed on her right.


    "You knew it was the real me?" Filly asked with a tilt of her head. The other Filly turned into a puddle of water, splashing onto the ground.


    "When you reach the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage, you become more attuned to nature. Besides, your clone didn''t have any presence; it felt lifeless," Gail explained. "But what''s important is that we''ll pass the second test." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s only the beginner stage," Filly shrugged, just as Bel approached them.


    They chatted about various things, waiting for the second test to end. Since it was still early in the morning, they figured they''d probably have to wait a few more hours before the Instructor said anything.


    An hour before noon, Master Popo arrived at the middle platform. Clearing his throat, he announced, "There''s only an hour left before we end the second test."


    His announcement brought relief to the Martial Students who were already idling around the area. But to some, it was like a death knell, interrupting their pursuit of reaching the Beginner Stage of their chosen techniques. Their faces filled with dread, some turning pale. Still, they continued to cultivate, hoping that at the last minute, they would unlock their potential.


    Even so, reality proved harsh. As soon as noon arrived, Master Popo clapped his hands, causing ripples to emanate from his center. This awakened those still in cultivation, while those already awake stood straighter, waiting for the next instruction.


    "We will begin the next part of the second test, which is to show that you have truly learned the Beginner Stage of your chosen technique," Master Popo said, smiling at the students below. "But before that¡­"


    Suddenly, the stone slabs began vibrating, glowing simultaneously.

 Chapter 105 Second Test Showcase(Part-2)

    When Apollo heard that the second test was about to end, he couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief.He had spent the past two days cultivating, mainly studying and learning the Battle Techniques stored in his mind. He didn''t learn all of them, only a few, and decided to stop when he started to get bored. Besides, some of the techniques weren''t flashy enough, or he simply didn''t like them.


    Apollo found that the Battle Techniques were actually not that hard to learn; he only needed a few hours to reach the Beginner Stage for each one. The fastest took three and a half hours, while the longest took around five to six hours.


    But when he saw the Stone Slabs on the platform vibrating and glowing, he began to worry. Apollo remembered that these stone slabs had a special inscription made by an Array Master, ensuring that students could only retain what they had genuinely learned.


    Wait! Suddenly, the Beggar''s eyes lit up. Did I become too d*mb after I got transmigrated into this body? Apollo thought with a bitter smile. As long as he learned the techniques, he would retain them, but those he didn''t fully learn would vanish from his memory due to the Memory Alteration Mechanism on the stone slabs.


    Apollo crossed his fingers; he wasn''t a hundred percent sure. He waited for the effects to take place, and when the Stone Slabs stopped glowing, he felt like something was missing in his life.


    This made him raise an eyebrow. He tried to recall the techniques that he had only memorized but not learned. Nothing. They were gone. Then he recalled the techniques he had fully learned, which brought a smile to his face.


    Fortunately, they remained, Apollo thought, letting out a sigh of relief. It seems like it was a good choice to learn them when he had the time. No, it was definitely a brilliant idea.


    With these techniques, he wouldn''t have to buy anything from the System at all.


    Thinking about this, he couldn''t help but feel smug. How''d you like that, System? Although the System remained silent, Apollo was still satisfied.


    "If you realize that you''ve forgotten your chosen technique, you may now go back and go home," Master Popo said, glancing at each student who displayed a disappointed expression. "You don''t have to stay, or else you''ll only make a fool of yourself. And for those of you thinking of using a technique you already learned beforehand, it won''t work. How? We will know."


    As his words fell, it didn''t take long before someone started walking toward the stairs. Soon, others followed, and out of the hundreds of participants, only about 300 Martial Students were left.


    Oh? That many? Apollo raised an eyebrow. Is it really that hard? He could even see some noble-looking martial students crying while others only gritted their teeth. Their backs were hunched with loneliness and defeat.


    After those who hadn''t managed to learn left the mountain, Master Popo clapped once more. The platform started shaking, and the stone slabs were absorbed by the platform.


    At the same time, two dragons pulling a golden chariot arrived, and the visitors, along with the Mayor, ascended to the floating platform. After taking their seats, they didn''t cause a scene and simply watched the exam.


    Master Popo glanced in their direction before looking up toward the sky, where he saw Axton and Elmo flying toward them. They landed on the floating platform and also took their seats.


    No one interrupted him, so he continued.


    "One by one, come up on stage and show your chosen technique," Master Popo said.


    Here it goes, Apollo''s eyes brightened with anticipation. He was also curious to see how the others would fare in the second test.


    The Martial Students around him visibly tensed up¡ªsome relaxed, others nervous.


    "But don''t be too confident. If you get cold feet and fail to demonstrate that you''ve achieved the Beginner stage on this platform, you''ll have to say goodbye," Master Popo smiled. Even if all of them had reached the Beginner stage, failing to show it would mean failing this Advancement Examination.


    Since some techniques require intense concentration, it''s possible that some students might not be able to execute them if they''re too nervous or interrupted.


    "Come up on stage one by one; there''s no specific order, but we only have until tonight. Let the Showcase of Techniques begin!" Master Popo declared, his voice loud enough to reach every corner of the mountain.


    The Martial Students looked at each other, waiting for the first person to step onto the stage.


    It didn''t take long before someone began walking toward the platform, and everyone recognized the person. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Arke," Apollo muttered, his eyes turning cold. His prey walked with confidence, relaxed with every stride, though he appeared arrogant to the onlookers.


    Arke ascended the stage, glancing at the platform along the way. His eyes landed on the Mayor, who looked back with a cold expression. Seeing Clown''s face irritated him; if he didn''t care about his life, he would have jumped at that pig''s face. Just thinking about it made his blood boil, but fortunately, he was still rational enough not to do anything that would cost him his life.


    Although there was a smile on his face, the pressure of his two missions weighed heavily on his heart. First, he hadn''t found that Leone heir, who was definitely dead by now or probably in another city, already acting as a slave. Still, he had some confidence in his plan. From what he knew, only a handful of people had seen that kid''s face.


    Since the kid was sheltered at home, Arke was quite confident he could fool them.


    As for his second mission¡ªkilling that b*tch, Bel Helflick¡ªit was definitely going to be hard, but he didn''t have to worry about the consequences. He decided to place his trust in Butler Holst''s word. And if they didn''t keep their promise to protect him, it wouldn''t be cowardly to escape, right?


    "What technique are you going to show us?" Master Popo asked.


    "Wind Descend and Serpent Roar," Arke replied. Although his voice wasn''t loud, everyone could still hear him.


    "Oh?" Master Popo raised an eyebrow. The Martial Students below exclaimed when they heard what the first participant said. "Then show us."

 Chapter 106 Second Test Showcase(Part-3)

    Wind Descent is a common Battle Technique for wind-attribute cultivators. Fortunately, one can still use it even without the wind attribute, though the effects are greatly diminished.Gathering Qi from the surroundings, sharp winds will follow, descending from top to bottom. It''s not a very powerful technique¡ªeasy to tell, as each Battle Technique written on the Stone Slabs is average at best.


    The other technique, Serpent Roar, can deter the enemy, immobilizing them if their mental fortitude is weak. It''s like a mind control technique that affects the target''s brain.


    Apollo remembered these two Techniques, but due to the memory-altering mechanism, the memories vanished.


    The Beggar watched as Arke, the first participant, stood on the platform with his arm raised, pointing at the training dummy shaped like a scarecrow. The first technique Arke was going to display was Wind Descent.


    Qi churned on the stage, gathering around Arke and disappearing inside him. Without pause, sharp winds descended on the scarecrow, shattering it into pieces. The resulting winds scattered, causing those standing near the platform to squint, some looking away as parts of the dummy almost hit them.


    Seeing the effect of the technique, Apollo couldn''t help but turn serious. It was one of the techniques he chose not to learn because he didn''t like it. Now, seeing its effect, he realized that if he had fought using only the Simple Sword Technique, he probably wouldn''t have stood a chance if someone had used Wind Descent on him.


    Apollo felt fortunate that he got to keep the Battle Techniques he managed to learn in this second test. With 7 to 8 techniques at his disposal, he felt more confident about completing his mission.


    An exclamation sounded as Arke began using his second technique.


    The platform shook briefly, and another training object emerged. But this time, it was a living creature, so it was inappropriate to call it an object.


    "That''s one big hell of a chicken," Apollo muttered in amazement, seeing a chicken almost two meters tall on stage. The creature looked around before its eyes landed on the person in front of it.


    "That''s still considered small, to be honest," Bel said, already standing beside the beggar. "But that size is perfect for making a meal out of it."


    She glanced at Filly, who was a short distance away, already eyeing the chicken monster while licking her lips, her eyes shining.


    Scavenger? So that''s what she used for the fried chicken, Apollo recalled the meal that Filly''s Restaurant always provided for him. They stayed true to their word, always bringing him food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thinking about it, he wondered how the restaurant was currently doing. This Advancement Examination is a big event¡ªthere''s probably more diners than before.


    "You''re here again," Apollo turned to Bel, who smiled back at him.


    "Of course, I want to befriend the person who''s going to join the same school as mine," Bel said.


    "I don''t recall agreeing yet," the Beggar replied, looking back at the stage just in time to see Arke emitting a strange and somewhat suffocating aura that made the chicken shriek in fear.


    "Hopefully, you will, but it''s not bad making friends, right?" Bel shrugged.


    Arke passed the second exam without breaking a sweat, as expected from one of the most talented individuals in all the Martial Schools in the city.


    "Shouldn''t you go up by now?" Apollo asked.


    "You''re right," Bel nodded. She was about to take a step when she stopped. "Seems like someone else wants to take the stage," she said, noticing a person wearing a black robe that covered their entire body and a white mask that concealed their identity.


    "Oh, it''s that person," Apollo muttered.


    "You know them?" Bel asked.


    "No," Apollo shook his head. "They''re just... strange."


    The mysterious person began demonstrating their skills, and to everyone''s surprise, they had also learned two battle techniques. Apollo was the only one who remained calm. He had already suspected as much. Although this person was strange, during the first test, they showed no signs of fatigue¡ªjust like him.


    "We have another talented one," Bel said with a smile.


    "What, are you doing some kind of recruitment service for your school?" Apollo asked.


    "Haha, of course not," Bel chuckled. "I just want the best for my uncle."


    "Uncle?" Apollo repeated, glancing at the floating platform where the Headmasters and visitors were watching the ongoing exam. He then looked at the uniforms around him, most of them belonging to the Great Serpent Cultivation School, the Sword and Shield, and the Fire Shrine. The others came from smaller cultivation schools.


    It seems like this Helflick family is really influential, Apollo thought.


    After the mysterious person displayed their skills, the others took the stage one by one. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon, Bel finally had her chance to go up. Apollo didn''t offer any words of good luck¡ªshe would pass anyway, so what was the point? However, she passed more splendidly than the others, displaying three Battle Techniques, which caused exclamations from everyone. The visitors in the stands stood up in disbelief.


    Even Apollo couldn''t help but see Bel in a different light. When he first met her, she seemed like a hopeless child, clinging to her last hope. But now, she radiated confidence and strength.


    Her injury back then must have been severe for her to be unable to defeat three Duskfang Shadow Tails.


    After displaying the three Techniques one at a time, she returned down the stairs, receiving words of praise from the instructor.


    "As expected of the daughter of a Core Creation Cultivator. It''s a pity you joined that Snake," Master Popo said with a sigh.


    "Don''t be like that," Bel replied with a chuckle, walking back down and standing beside the masked figure.


    "It''s your turn," she said.


    "Hmm," Apollo thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I''ll wait for a bit."


    "Why? You''re going to end up on stage anyway, unless you don''t want to pass the Advancement," Bel asked.


    Apollo didn''t answer and just continued watching. After a few more people took their turns, the restaurant owner, Filly, stepped up, which piqued his curiosity. He was surprised to find that they had learned the same technique.


    Mist appeared on the stage, and when it dispersed, two Fillys were standing side by side. The instructor nodded, and she walked back down the stairs with a sigh of relief.


    "She barely learned the Beginner Stage," Apollo muttered, though Bel heard him clearly.


    "Oh? Why do you say that?"


    "Because we learned the same technique," Apollo replied, a smile on his face.


    Then Gail took her turn, also displaying two Battle Techniques¡ªone offensive and one defensive.


    "I guess it''s my turn," Apollo said.


    "Good luck," Bel smiled, staring at his small back. Her eyes burned with anticipation, curious about what he was going to display. She could sense that this guy was definitely talented, probably on the same level as her. Hopefully, he wouldn''t disappoint her expectations.

 Chapter 107 Second Test Showcase(Part-4)

    "That daughter of his is really something¡ªlike father, like daughter," Elmo said with a chuckle."I''m not surprised," Axton replied, a small smile on his face. "She''s the most talented in the entire city. She can already enter the Void, though I''m not sure to what extent. But she was already capable of it when she was still at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building stage."


    "The Void, huh? I remember I only achieved that state when I was at the 1st-Step of Qi Condensation," Elmo said, his tone serious. "Are you thinking of sending her to that place?"


    "Probably," Axton smiled mysteriously before his expression turned cold, and his eyes glinted. "But before that, we should fix this ''problem'' of ours."


    Elmo laughed upon hearing this. "Actually, it''s expected. We are a thorn. I''d probably do the same if I were insane."


    "Let''s just wait a bit longer. We can''t act unless it''s necessary," Axton said, watching the participants display their Techniques on stage.


    They spoke quietly, avoiding the use of Telepathic Messages, purposely keeping their conversation private.


    On the other side of the seats, the Mayor of the city, Klown, was talking with the representative of the convoy. He suddenly fell silent for a moment before starting to run his mouth again.


    As Martial Students displayed their talents on stage, some couldn''t conjure their Techniques¡ªlikely because they had only barely achieved the Beginner Stage, or perhaps they weren''t focused enough, resulting in their failure in the Advancement Examination.


    They were so close.


    Soon, another person came up on stage, wearing an outfit that exuded mystery. However, compared to the other mysterious person in a white mask, this half-masked individual wore shabby robes. His small stature made them question his age. Some tried to peer through his mask but failed, as their senses couldn''t penetrate his aura.


    Axton and Elmo were also curious, so they attempted the same. However, nothing surprising emerged¡ªjust an average-looking young man with black hair and black eyes, clearly not someone from an influential background. But they didn''t care about such mundane details. The participant''s small stature compared to his peers was actually normal, something seen everywhere.


    But what happened next made the two exchange surprised glances.


    "Master Axton, it seems we''ll have a fight on our hands for this one," Elmo said, his eyes filled with excitement.


    "He''s using a technique from my School, so it''s only right that I have the first say, don''t you think?" Axton asked.


    "Hmm, makes sense. I''ll give you the first word," Elmo sighed, then glanced at the instructor who was watching the current participant with burning eyes. "What about him?"


    "Water and Fire don''t mix," Axton said. "Unless one is a fool, who would choose him?"


    Elmo laughed aloud, causing the Visitors to stare at him in confusion.


    ...


    Apollo walked up to the stage, all eyes on him, but he didn''t feel any pressure. He was already used to this; being under the gaze of a crowd was essentially second nature to him. As someone who frequently stood on stages or in front of important figures, he would be more nervous if there were no people around.


    At the same time, he could feel prying eyes trying to see past his half-masked face. Most of these attempts were deflected, but the beggar could sense that three individuals managed to break through the defense of his mask.


    As expected, Apollo thought. Fortunately, he was prepared. His face was already different, thanks to using a contact lens to change the color of his eyes. Before he went up on stage, he spent five Alm points to buy an item that could change his appearance. He had essentially morphed into another person, though he chose to keep his height the same.


    However, the effect of this item would only last for an hour.


    The Headmasters must be among them, Apollo thought as he reached the platform. He stood in front of the Instructor, who nodded and asked what Technique he was going to demonstrate.


    "Hydra Mirage," Apollo said, and Master Popo stepped aside.


    Apollo began gathering Qi from the surroundings, the amount enough to summon winds. He absorbed it through his mouth, nose, and pores. Like a vacuum, it entered his body in an instant, and when it came out, it was already mist that scattered across the stage.


    The mist dispersed as quickly as it had formed, and two Apollos appeared at his sides.


    Hmm, was this good enough? Apollo knew it was, but¡­ looking at his clones, he felt like it wasn''t enough. He was only participating in this event for the sake of his Mission, and after that, he would return to his beggar spot, start cultivating, and earn Alm points. He would also eat free, good food from Filly''s restaurant.


    However, Apollo could feel there was still room for more clones. Curious, and no longer afraid of attracting attention now that his appearance was completely different, he let his intrusive thoughts win the battle against reason.


    Furthermore, the others had displayed two Battle Techniques while he was only going to show one. Their performances might be more impressive than what he was about to do, right? With this in mind, Qi entered his body once more, mist emerged, and when it cleared, eight more clones materialized around him. Including himself, there were now eleven half-masked men on stage.


    At the Beginner Stage of the Hydra Mirage, it was possible to make the clones move, which he did to demonstrate that he had truly reached this stage. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The clones began performing acrobatics on the stage¡ªtumbling, backflipping, and somersaulting. Suddenly, he had an idea. To make it more interesting, he had them move in a choreographed manner. They moved in unison, their steps and claps creating a rhythmic sound that echoed through the mountain.


    Apollo followed the beat with his head, choreographing a Hip-Hop-Cheer dance routine he had seen in his previous life.


    The sound and the steps made some of the onlookers bob their heads as they watched the scene with fascination. They realized that the clones were definitely dancing. Although there was no music, the claps and steps were purposefully timed to create a cheerful beat.


    In the end, the clones gathered and threw one of them into the air. Then they immediately dispersed, letting the body fall in the middle of them, where it exploded into a water splash, acting as the group''s dramatic finale.


    Nice! Apollo smiled from ear to ear.

 Chapter 108 Sudden Change(Part-1)

    Silence lingered in the air.Apollo''s smile turned awkward. With a sigh, the ten clones shimmered strangely before dissolving into puddles of water that splashed onto the ground.


    "Did I pass?" Apollo asked the Instructor, who was staring at him with wide eyes.


    "Do you want to join my martial school?" Master Popo asked, his voice serious and tinged with urgency. He glanced at the platform and noticed that Axton and Elmo were also eyeing the young man. "You will immediately become an Outer Circle Student with your own private yard."


    Hearing this, Apollo was surprised by the exclamations from the Martial Students in the background. I only made the clones dance, why are they so amazed? Apollo thought, glancing at the students before staring at the Instructor, who was looking at him with burning eyes.


    "Sorry, I can''t," Apollo replied, shaking his head. Although he didn''t know what the Outer Circle in their School was, he wasn''t interested.


    "Join me, and I will personally teach you the Expose Fire Technique," Master Popo insisted, still determined. As his words fell, a gust of wind blew, causing his clothes to billow. Because he wasn''t wearing anything underneath his Hanfu, something peeked out¡ªor more accurately, it seemed like it was tired of being in the shadows and wanted some sunlight for a bit of vitamins.


    "It''s the greatest technique passed down through generations to each Headmaster of the Fire Shrine Martial School, but I will make an exception for you."


    Apollo, already looking up at the sky, shook his head vigorously. Expose Fire Technique?! If the requirement is always showing one''s bird, then hell no!


    "Thanks, but I''m good," Apollo said. "Did I pass?"


    "Yes, you did," Master Popo replied, letting out a defeated sigh. "But I stand by my offer."


    The Beggar didn''t respond. He just turned around and walked down the platform as fast as he could. The Martial Students looked at him differently this time¡ªwith great curiosity and amazement, particularly those from the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    He returned to his previous spot where Bel was still staring at him, displaying the same expression.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo couldn''t help but ask.


    "You¡­ you can conjure ten Hydra Mirage Clones?" Bel asked, her voice trembling.


    "Yeah," Apollo answered, and seeing her expression, he understood what was happening. "It''s amazing, isn''t it?"


    "Definitely!" Bel nodded her head. "I can think of only one person who can do that."


    "Let me guess," Apollo glanced at the platform, where the two Headmasters seated beside each other were looking in his direction. Although he didn''t know which one was which, he knew one of them was the Headmaster of the Great Serpent. "Your Headmaster?"


    "Yes!" Bel said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "From what I know, he''s the only person who can use the Hydra Mirage with at least ten clones!"


    "Oh," Apollo nodded half-heartedly. With his appearance completely changed from before, he was no longer worried about attracting too much attention. And although the effects would only last for an hour, who would bother looking at him again after they already knew his identity?


    "Uncle Popo even personally recruited you and wanted to teach you his¡­ technique, which I highly advise against. The side effects¡ª" Bel''s face turned slightly red.


    "The side effects are disgusting, I figured," Apollo said, glancing back at the Instructor, who was still putting on his own ''show'' on the stage. It took a while before the wind disappeared, which was quite strange, as it only dispersed when the Instructor cleared his throat and continued the examination.


    Around this time, Filly and Gail walked over in their direction, with the restaurant owner looking at him with great curiosity.


    "I didn''t know you were so talented, Mr. Can Deez," Filly said, her tone filled with admiration.


    Apollo almost couldn''t hold back his laughter, which resulted in a series of coughs before he managed to clear his throat. Dmn, I almost forgot about that name.*


    "I didn''t do anything particularly amazing," Apollo said, trying to remain cool.


    "Don''t be humble," Gail smiled. "What you just showed takes years of training, experience, and talent. But you did it in just three days."


    Three hours, in fact, Apollo thought, though he didn''t say it aloud. They probably wouldn''t even believe it anyway.


    "I think it would be a good idea to join the Great Serpent," Filly suggested.


    "I''m still thinking about it," Apollo sighed. He couldn''t understand how he was suddenly surrounded by three beautiful ladies¡ªnot that he minded.


    As the exam continued, they conversed while watching the participants display their abilities.


    Apollo could feel eyes darting in his direction from time to time. The Headmasters didn''t focus solely on him, as they also observed the other students. However, the Beggar could feel a particular person watching him intensely. Turning towards the source, he saw Arke staring at him. When their eyes met, Arke raised a hand and made a killing gesture across his neck.


    That''s so cringe-worthy, Apollo thought, fighting the urge to slap that smug face.


    "I really hate him," Gail muttered, noticing Arke''s gaze in their direction. Although she wasn''t sure who he was really looking at, just seeing him made her angry. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bel also turned to see who they were staring at, and upon seeing the arrogant man, she sighed. "Arke¡­ He''s a strong candidate to take first place in this Advancement."


    "Do you think you can beat him?" Filly asked, frowning at the man in the distance. She didn''t know him well, but his behavior reminded her of other arrogant noble kids, which annoyed her.


    "We''ve sparred in previous Advancements, and in all our fights, I always won," Bel said confidently. "But I''m not so sure at the moment. I don''t know how much stronger he''s gotten since then¡ªhe could have caught up to me or maybe even surpassed me."


    "I think you can do it," Filly smiled. "Your father is a Core Creation Cultivator; strong genes run in your family, so defeating him again should be a piece of cake. But make sure you teach him a lesson! He disrespected Mr. Beggar!"


    Apollo, who had been quietly listening, shivered when he heard that name. Slowly, he started to step away from their group. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Hearing about her father, Bel glanced at the floating platform. Her father was still not there; he had promised to watch her, but it seemed he would only do so for the final test. She couldn''t remember a time when her father ever broke a promise.


    Filly''s last words also caught her attention, prompting her to ask the restaurant owner, "Mr. Beggar?"

 Chapter 109 Sudden Change(Part-2)

    "You remember the one you told me about?" Filly asked."Yeah, that kid?" Bel recalled that she had talked to Filly about the remaining business of the Leone Family, which Filly had declined, being too busy with her restaurant. At that time, Bel had noticed a beggar kid beside the restaurant and, as a good friend, reported it to Filly, hoping to help.


    Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, but it was still too vague.


    "Yup, that guy Arke wanted to take him away. Fortunately, Gail was there and was able to stop him¡ªnot that we were worried," Filly said, lowering her voice so that only the trio could hear. "We suspect he''s a Wanderer pretending to be a beggar."


    Bel''s eyes widened. "What makes you say that?"


    "He gave us unique recipes in exchange for being able to stay beside my restaurant," Filly explained. Thinking about it, she felt like what she had done for him wasn''t enough. "Let''s go after the exam¡ªI''ll personally serve you!"


    "Then I won''t refuse," Bel smiled, though her thoughts were elsewhere. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What am I missing? She tried to piece it together, focusing on the word "Beggar."


    Her memory flashed back to the time she ventured into the forest, hoping to find the lost Leone Heir. She had thought he might be hiding outside the city and ended up in a forest filled with monsters. She was injured after encountering dozens of Duskfang Shadowtails. Due to her limited stamina and their overwhelming numbers, she suffered grave injuries.


    She barely escaped with her life after using a precious item that teleported her to a random location. She had tried to rest and heal her injuries before calling it a night, but luck wasn''t on her side. A few wandering Duskfangs sniffed her out, leading to another fight.


    That was also when she met her savior, who had introduced himself¡­


    "J-just a beggar. Yup, I''m just a beggar."


    Those words echoed in her ears like a bolt of lightning, connecting all the dots.


    "Can I meet him?" Bel asked, her tone serious as she stared at Filly.


    Seeing her friend like this, Filly and Gail exchanged a glance before the restaurant owner responded, "I suppose so."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t come empty-handed," Bel smiled.


    "That''s alright. He seems easygoing," Filly said.


    About thirty minutes later, the second test finally ended.


    Master Popo coughed, drawing the audience''s attention. "Everyone, the second test has officially ended, and those of you still standing have passed. Now, we''ll move on to the final test¡ªthe Battle Exam."


    The Martial Students went silent, their determination and fighting spirit radiating from them. This was the test that would determine their true strength. Rivalries would be settled; each of them was an enemy they had to surpass.


    "There''s no time to waste, and the audience is already dying to witness your great battle," Master Popo said, smiling mysteriously.


    Hearing this, the Martial Students tilted their heads in confusion. What does he mean by that?


    They weren''t given time to ponder as white-robed cultivators landed on the stage. Their uniforms were adorned with all kinds of inscriptions¡ªmysterious and hard to understand¡ªthough the Martial Students immediately recognized who they were.


    Array Masters. There were at least twenty of them.


    Master Popo turned to the floating platform, specifically toward the Headmasters, who nodded in approval.


    "Let''s begin," the instructor said. Before the Martial Students could wonder what was happening, the Array Masters on the stage began gathering Qi from the surroundings. The force of their power summoned strong winds that engulfed the entire mountaintop.


    Apollo, who had already distanced himself from the trio, couldn''t help but look at the Array Masters. What are they doing?


    As the Qi converged in the center, the Array Masters started performing strange gestures, moving in perfect synchronization¡ªnot a beat early or late. The Beggar and the others watched in fascination as inscriptions materialized in the air. These golden-yellow inscriptions covered the entire area, and the moment they did, the whole mountain began to shake!


    Feeling the intense earthquake, Apollo thought it was the end of the world. Looking up, he saw that the inscriptions had transformed into a golden-yellow transparent dome that enveloped the mountaintop.


    Like the others, he was baffled by the sudden change. But his question was soon answered when the shaking paused for a moment, only for them to suddenly feel as if they were falling.


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    Being familiar with this sensation, Apollo realized that the area had suddenly become a giant elevator, with the golden-yellow transparent dome protecting them. The mountaintop was descending. He watched as the jagged walls became a blur.


    "I didn''t know they could do things like this," Apollo muttered, recalling the book Big Chub had given him. According to the book, cultivators could perform incredible feats¡ªmove mountains, part the sea, pull giant rocks from the sky, and more. He finally understood what it meant, experiencing what was happening now.


    He looked at the reactions of the others. Some displayed expressions similar to his own, while others remained calm. It seemed those who weren''t surprised were either nobles or had strong backing.


    It only took a few dozen seconds before the scenery changed, and they found themselves inside the giant mountain, which was as tall as Mount Everest, if not taller.


    "It''s a stadium," Apollo muttered, noticing the rows of seats filled with people already shouting in excitement. They descended like stars as the audience''s cheers drowned out the area.


    The "mountaintop," now a platform the size of two football fields, created a dust cloud as it landed. The mountain shook slightly, but no one paid particular attention to it. Meanwhile, the floating platform ascended toward a wall in the distance, about ten feet above the audience, where another platform was located.


    The two platforms joined together, and the people on both sides began talking with each other.


    "Seems like the important figures of the city have gathered," Apollo concluded from the way they moved and the clothes they wore.

 Chapter 110 Offer(Part-1)

    Apollo sat in a comfortable chair, with a table full of food before him. The spread included fruits he didn''t recognize, water, and meat from the Scavenger.Reaching out, he grabbed a piece of chicken. As he examined it closely, the Beggar concluded it was cooked using a simple method¡ªover a fire. The burnt smell was typical for this method, but upon closer inspection, he noticed that the chicken was evenly cooked on all sides, which seemed impossible unless one had precise control over the temperature.


    "But for those Cultivator Chefs, it''s very possible," Apollo muttered, taking a big bite. After days of eating only cup noodles, he was tired of them. The meat was soft yet firm, making it easy to chew, and he swallowed it quickly. "This is really delicious. Even without using spices, it could still be served in mid to high-class restaurants."


    Apollo finished his meal and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied burp. As he relaxed, he began to understand why there wasn''t much effort to advance the culinary arts in this world.


    If this simple Scavenger meat tastes this good, imagine the others. Besides, the Beggar suspected that what he had tasted so far was just average.


    The culinary scene in this world wasn''t advanced, although Apollo didn''t know why. But he didn''t need to dwell on it. As long as there was food on the table to fill his stomach, that was enough. Shaking his head, he grabbed some fruit to cleanse his palate.


    At the same time, he glanced around the room where other Martial Students were trying to relax. Some were chatting with each other while others were watching the Mayor''s boring speech on the stage.


    The Beggar sighed. In the end, I still have to sit through these boring speeches. After the mountaintop was swallowed into this place, they were taken to a private room where they could watch the stage. There were dozens of rooms, each housing at least twelve Martial Students.


    Now, it was a battle to determine the top places, and everyone was trying to relax as best they could before the third test began.


    "Blah blah blah, you''re just praising yourself," Apollo muttered, staring at the rotund Mayor ''blubbering'' on stage. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The City¡ªmy city¡ªis becoming more prosperous as time passes. This is due to the efforts of the people, and especially me¨C" Klown''s voice echoed everywhere.


    "Ah, when is the test going to start?" Apollo was growing bored. As he leaned back in his chair, he decided to take a nap, but just as he was about to close his eyes, someone approached him, blocking the light from a glowing stone on the ceiling.


    "Hey," a voice said, the tone familiar to the Beggar.


    Looking up, Apollo raised an eyebrow when he saw the pretty boy Yohan had fought in the first test.


    "Michael?" Apollo muttered, surprised to see the brown-haired newcomer.


    "You know me?" Michael asked, his brown eyes widening slightly. But then he thought about it¡ªhe was handsome and popular, so it was only natural, wasn''t it?


    "Is that so," Michael couldn''t help but feel disappointed. Nevertheless, he stated his purpose. "I came here to make you an offer."


    "I don''t accept," Apollo shook his head and closed his eyes, not bothering to hear another word from the man.


    "I haven''t even said anything yet!" Michael frowned. He was accompanied by his goons, who glared angrily at the half-masked man after hearing the ''disrespect.''


    "How dare you talk to Michael like that?!"


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    "Know your place, you midget!"


    Apollo opened his eyes, staring at the martial student who had called him a midget. "Say that again."


    The one who said it wore glasses, his body thin and lacking much muscle. But with his chest puffed up and head held high, he smirked and repeated his words, slowly and clearly. "MID¡ªGET!"


    Apollo stood up from his seat, and with just a step, he instantly appeared in front of the beanpole, who still wore that annoying smirk. His fist was already on its way to crash into that face!


    With a loud bang, the force of the wind caused the tables and chairs to shake for a moment.


    The twig-like man fell on his bottom, his glasses askew, sweat appearing on his face. His lips trembled with fear, but he still managed to force a smile when he realized that Michael had managed to stop the punch from landing on him.


    "Not on my watch," Michael said, his voice low and cold. His body was covered in a dark blue haze, the roar of a serpent echoing from time to time. He clutched the attacker''s fist, and their standoff made their hands tremble with intensity. Feeling the strength coming from the masked man''s hand, Michael was surprised, though he made sure not to show it.


    If he weren''t using the Great Serpent Technique, he would have definitely failed to block that punch.


    "Not on your watch?" Apollo lifted his head to stare directly into Michael''s eyes. "You came here to make an offer, and when I refused, you found it offensive? One of your men even insulted me."


    "They are my men, that''s why¡ª" Michael couldn''t finish his sentence as the thin man stood back up, pointing fingers at Apollo.


    "You deserve it, you lowly piece of trash! In front of the great Michael, you are nothing but a toy to be played with! It''s your honor that he''s even asking you properly!" Twiggy said.


    "Let me give you a lesson," Apollo said, his eyes shifting from Michael to the malnourished man. "The world doesn''t belong to you."


    Michael prepared for a retaliation, but what happened next surprised him. The ''masked man'' in front of him suddenly turned into a puddle of water!


    Realizing this, he quickly turned around, ready to shout a warning, but he was too late. The masked man''s fist had already connected with the Goon of a Fool!


    Teeth flew through the air along with a fountain of blood as Twiggy crashed into the wall! With another loud crash, he fell to the ground, revealing a crack in the wall.

 Chapter 111 Offer(Part-2)

    Apollo wiped his hand on his robe. As silence lingered in the air, he returned to his seat, passing by the shocked Michael, who stood with his mouth wide open."Scram if you don''t belong in this room," Apollo said, his eyes closed, leaning back comfortably in his chair.


    The onlookers stared at him in surprise. What he had just displayed was outright disrespect to Michael, a noble and one of the top students in the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Michael was a popular student with a high chance of reaching the top spot in this year''s Advancement Examination.


    Making an enemy of him was definitely not a good idea, especially for a nobody.


    Michael stared at his goon, now passed out on the floor. He waved his hand, and his other men immediately moved to carry the thin man. "Send him to the Healers; he will no longer participate in this exam."


    Hearing this, the people present were surprised, especially Michael''s men, who turned to look at the masked man with anger in their eyes. They were about to protest, but when they noticed the look on their leader''s face, they knew better than to push him further.


    "I was about to make you an offer to join the school, be my right-hand man, and I would have given you a generous reward in return," Michael said, turning to the masked man. That had been his main purpose in coming to this room, but because of that fool, he didn''t achieve his plan.


    This masked man had displayed a spectacular performance during the second test, and as a Great Serpent Martial Student, Michael knew how hard it was to create ten clones with Hydra Mirage. From what he knew, only the Headmaster could do that, which showed just how talented the man in front of him was.


    But it seemed Michael had still underestimated the Beggar. Completely disregarding him and even punching one of his men, Michael was angry, though he chose not to show it, especially after witnessing what the masked man had just done.


    Although he couldn''t explain how or when the swap happened, one thing was certain: the masked man had held back that punch. Otherwise, more than just teeth would have flown out.


    Hearing Michael''s words, the students in the room were even more surprised. But considering what the masked man had just shown, it was no wonder Michael wanted such a person on his side.


    "Though it seems you don''t need that," Michael continued before he began walking away. "But I''ll make sure I get my revenge."


    The entire exchange had been so brief that it didn''t even take five minutes.


    Apollo opened his eyes once he felt Michael''s presence disappear. Shaking his head, he reached for another piece of fruit and started eating. "Enemies from here and there. Ah, life is great," Apollo muttered, though he wasn''t too worried about these arrogant young masters.


    His mind drifted back to the previous scene, a smile forming on his lips. It seems like I can also use the Swap Ability, which is only accessible when one reaches the Intermediate stage. It was a surprise to him, as at first, he only felt that he could do it when he thought about the Hydra Mirage.


    But my energy drained so fast, Apollo massaged his forehead. Besides the fatigue, he could also feel a headache coming on. I should only use that when necessary. If he wants to surpass this hurdle, he''ll have to reach the Qi Condensation stage, though he still doesn''t know when that will be.


    Furthermore, there are still more techniques in his head that he hasn''t tried yet. Apollo decided to find some time to use them on stage, just to see their effects and if they''re worth using in the long term. Having many ''arsenals'' is great, but it''s only useful if he knows his ''guns'' well. Otherwise, he might end up shooting himself in the foot.


    ...


    "Father," Bel said with a wide smile.


    "I knew you would pass," Mathias stood up from his seat upon hearing his daughter''s call.


    "It was a piece of cake. I thought you wouldn''t be able to come," Bel looked at her father from head to toe to check for injuries. "You seem okay?"


    "Haha, just a minor injury," Mathias chuckled, pointing at his chest. Seeing the worry on his daughter''s face, he immediately reassured her. "Don''t worry, it doesn''t hurt."


    They were on a platform connected by a bridge to the mountain wall entrance. The area was covered by a translucent dome, protecting them from prying ears in case someone was listening from the audience. Tables and comfortable chairs decorated the platform, while important figures from the city talked among themselves. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    Bel recognized some of them¡ªthe greedy noble families. Their fake smiles were as usual, which no longer surprised her.


    "I hate them. They tore apart what was left of the Leone business, which was meant for the heir," Bel muttered, her eyes cold and her fists clenched as she remembered that the Leone family was now nothing more than history.


    Mathias waved his hand, covering them in a translucent dome. Inside, they were the only ones who could hear each other.


    "Business is business. There''s nothing we can do," Mathias smiled bitterly. "And I want you to stop looking for the kid."


    "Why?" Bel frowned.


    "It''s dangerous. Besides, we''re not even sure if he''s still alive. And even if he is, he''s probably in another city, a slave," Mathias said, voicing the harsh truth.


    "Father, I won''t give up," Bel stared at her father with great determination.


    Seeing her like this, he could only sigh. "Alright, alright. Just so you know, I''ve already given you my advice, so don''t expect too much."


    "I know," Bel smiled before changing the topic. "So, you managed to kill it, right?"


    Mathias looked around and saw that some were glancing in their direction. With a wave, the translucent dome became cloudy, making it hard for others to see what was happening.


    "Yes, we did, though it took us two and a half days," Mathias said, his voice low.


    "That''s great!" The smile on Bel''s face widened. "So, it means he''s alive?"


    "That¡ª" Mathias opened his mouth before closing it.


    "He''s dead," Bel concluded, her smile fading and replaced by a solemn sigh.


    "It was inevitable. We tried to protect him as much as we could, but that Alpha was very persistent. She managed to get past our defenses and killed him with her tail."

 Chapter 112 The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-1)

    "He made a great sacrifice, protecting the city from harm," Mathias said, his expression serious. Many lives were lost in that fight, and sacrifices were inevitable.Bel remained silent for a moment before she let out a sigh. "The city is now safe without that monster. That''s great, really."


    "Yeah," Mathias smiled, placing a hand on his daughter''s head. "Anyway, the third test is about to start, so you should head back now."


    With a wave of his hand, the barrier around them disappeared.


    "Alright! See you!" Bel said, turning around and walking back to the room where she was staying.


    "Mr. Mathias," someone called, making Mathias turn toward the sound. He saw Axton approaching with a small smile.


    "Mathias is a fine Headmaster," Mathias said with a chuckle.


    "Axton is fine, Mathias," the Headmaster of the Great Serpent responded.


    "We''ve had plenty of talks about this, and you know I can''t do that¡ª"


    The two continued discussing various matters while, at the same time, the mayor on stage concluded his speech.


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    "It''s starting," Apollo muttered, popping the last piece of fruit into his mouth. He stood up and moved closer to the railing, just like the others, as they saw Master Popo already standing in the middle of the platform.


    The audience''s noise died down simultaneously. Apollo looked at their numbers and estimated them to be in the thousands. Some had probably come from other places just for this event.


    "The third test is the Battle Examination. There are fourteen rooms, and the Martial Students inside will fight each other by drawing lots," Master Popo explained. "The final winner of each room will then fight against the winners of the other rooms. As before, they will draw lots to determine their first opponents, and then a bracket system will apply."


    So after drawing lots, it''s going to be a tournament format, Apollo thought with a small nod. The rules are actually very simple, but are they going to fight on that platform one by one? He glanced at the two football field-sized platforms. It would take a long time and be a waste of space. Fortunately, his doubts were immediately answered by another explanation from the instructor.


    "I will recount the prizes for those who don''t know," Master Popo said, glancing at the audience. "The Martial Students who reach the Top 1 will receive an Advance Cultivation Bead, a private abode in the inner sector of their Martial School provided by us and the officials, the chance to choose a Cultivation Technique from the City''s Cultivation Library, and a one-on-one meeting with the Mayor."


    Hearing this, exclamations erupted from the audience. Each reward was so great they could only imagine it. At the same time, the two football field platform started shaking before splitting into five stages that spread in the area, away from each other.


    Apollo could understand most of the rewards, though he didn''t know what this Advance Cultivation Bead was. Curious, he brought up the System Store and searched for the item.


    Advance Cultivation Bead: A bead created by an ancient alchemist on Planet Luan. Once taken by a cultivator, they will experience exponential growth in their cultivation. The strength of the bead depends on the talent of the user. However, the user must fully consolidate their newfound strength, or their body will not be able to handle the energy stored within them.


    Additional Information: No more beads of this kind have been produced since the ancient alchemist''s death; it is merely a forgotten piece of history in the river of time on Planet Luan.


    Alm Points Cost: 100


    Reading the description, the Beggar couldn''t help but be surprised, especially since the Alm Points Cost was actually cheap considering the item''s effect.


    This item is definitely great, but the description said that this bead ceased to exist after the ancient alchemist''s death.


    This information made Apollo doubt the rewards for the top places. But when he thought about it, there was actually a plausible explanation. The original Advance Cultivation Bead might be gone, and a knockoff version was created. Over time, people might have come to believe that this ''knockoff'' was the real one, forgetting the true bead.


    Perhaps the original method was lost, and someone tried to recreate it, but the effects aren''t as potent as the real one.


    Nonetheless, he still wasn''t interested in the rewards, though his interest returned when he noticed the Alm Points Cost of the real Advancement Cultivation Bead in the System Store.


    It''s only worth a hundred? Apollo''s eyes lit up. If he could obtain multiple of these items, reaching the final cultivation stage would definitely be easy! But his excitement quickly faded. There''s no way, right?


    "System, what will happen if I keep consuming these beads after consolidating them?" Apollo asked on instinct, which he regretted immediately.


    "You will only find out if you purchase the item," the System responded, a light blue translucent interface appearing in front of the Beggar.


    "F*ck off then," Apollo cursed. "You know what, I think you stole all the real beads so you could profit from them! You''re such a petty thief."


    His insults fell on deaf ears as the System went silent, the interface disappearing.


    Anyway, if Apollo were to reach the top places, the only benefit for him would be the Cultivation Techniques, since he could buy the real Advance Cultivation Bead from his System Store. As for the private meeting with the Mayor, he would just ditch that guy.


    Shaking his head, he continued to listen to the instructor''s speech.


    "Second place will also receive an Advance Cultivation Bead, a Cultivation Technique from the City''s Cultivation Library, and a one-on-one meeting with the Mayor," Master Popo said. "Third place will also receive an Advance Cultivation Bead and can choose a technique from the City''s Cultivation Library. The fourth and fifth places will only receive the beads.


    With that said, the Third Test officially begins!" Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    A man wearing a simple white robe entered their room, carrying a basket with numbers written on them. The basket had a special inscription that made it impossible to see what was inside, even with special techniques.


    "Draw your lots here, and once everyone has drawn, your opponent will be the one with the same number as yours," the man said.


    The Martial Students looked at each other, their eyes filled with fighting spirit. After the first person drew their lot, the others followed suit, with the Beggar drawing last.


    Apollo looked at his paper with the number ''7'' on it.

 Chapter 113 The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-2)

    Apollo put the paper in his pocket and looked around the room. Some people openly announced their numbers, while others, like him, kept quiet and observed.But someone shouted, catching his attention.


    "I''m number seven! Who''s number seven?" a man in the fiery red uniform of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School shouted. After calling out a few times, a frown appeared on his face. "Whoever my opponent is, you''re a coward!"


    Apollo, who had been observing the man, couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. Shaking his head, he decided to wait for their numbers to be called before teaching the man a lesson. He wasn''t fond of being insulted, and if he could, he would indulge in his pettiness. With his identity hidden behind his mask and oversized outfit, he definitely wouldn''t hold back.


    After all the participants had taken their numbers, Master Popo cleared his throat. "Good luck to all the students!" And with that, he flew towards the joined platform in the distance. As he passed over the audience, they caught sight of the Instructor''s hidden agenda as the wind caused his Hanfu to expose everything. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    That section of the audience went quiet while the rest of the stadium burst with excitement.


    Another person took the stage, apparently the host for the Battle Exam. Wearing a black butler-like suit, the Host smiled at the audience before his eyes glazed over the rooms. "Due to the number of participants, we''ve split the stage into five sections, allowing ten participants to compete at a time. But before we begin, let me remind you: killing another participant is strictly prohibited.


    However, there may be cases where a student makes a mistake or fails to hold back their technique, resulting in a grave situation, like accidentally killing an opponent. In such cases, an investigation will be conducted, and it''s up to the Officials to decide whether the student is disqualified. Now, let''s begin the first rounds!"


    Five men in white robes stepped onto the five stages, acting as referees.


    The Martial Students in the rooms waited for their numbers to be called. Apollo watched with a curious expression.


    "Room 1, 1." A voice echoed in the room, and before Apollo could locate its source, the voice continued.


    "Room 1, 2."


    "Room 1, 3."


    "Room 1, 4."


    "Room 1, 5."


    "Oh? The test is in order?" Apollo muttered, raising an eyebrow. From what he knew, he was currently in Room 9. "It seems like it will take some time before our turn comes."


    Still, he decided to watch the matches first. They were a few feet above the audience, and of course, there were people even higher, on the floating platforms in the distance.


    Apollo stared at them for a moment before his eyes returned to the stages below. Ten students were already on them, two on each, staring at each other with fighting spirit radiating from them.


    Although this wasn''t the first time he had seen Cultivators fight among themselves, the excitement of wanting to see them in action still remained. Furthermore, there was a high chance he would be fighting them later, so it was better to observe their abilities beforehand.


    The referees raised their hands and brought them down as soon as the students were ready. The fight officially began, and the Cultivators on stage unleashed their respective techniques.


    Colorful abilities lit up the stage, and the sound of fists clashing echoed through the arena.


    Apollo watched with wide eyes, not wanting to miss a second. He noticed that there were weapon racks filled with wooden swords, sabers, axes, spears, and even bows and arrows for the students to choose from. So, using real weapons is prohibited, he thought.


    The Host and even the Instructor hadn''t mentioned this rule, but considering it, ever since the first test, only a handful of students had brought their own swords, and their cultivation stages were only at the 1st or 2nd-Step Foundation Building stage. They probably didn''t know about it either.


    The rules of the fight were to make the opponent fall off the stage, knock them out, or force them to surrender. Killing was not allowed¡ªunless¡­ Considering what the Host had said earlier, if it was an accident, there was a chance that the student could remain in the exam and not get disqualified at all. This made Apollo look for his target, but Arke was nowhere to be found. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shaking his head, he decided to just finish his mission and make it look like an accident. If he did it intentionally, he would definitely be imprisoned.


    Around this time, a whistle sounded, indicating that one of the fights had ended. If there was a big disparity in strength, fights usually ended quickly. However, if two people of nearly equal strength fought, with the endurance and stamina of Cultivators, it could last for hours, even days. And their fights often ended destructively.


    "Room 1, 6." Another voice announced as new participants stepped onto the free stage.


    Apollo watched for a while before deciding to go back inside the room. He picked up a chair and table, then returned to the viewing platform, setting up his leisure spot. He also didn''t forget to grab some fruits and beverages along the way.


    "Ah, this is it," Apollo muttered, a smile on his face as he ate the fruit. Watching a fight like this made it even more relaxing.


    The other students beside him couldn''t help but turn to him in surprise. Why didn''t we think of that? they wondered. But looking around, they knew better than to act so casually. They also wanted to maintain an image¡ªunlike this easygoing approach, where they could eat while others might stare from time to time. And look at that!


    He even had his feet up on the railings!


    It''s so d*mn¡­ relaxing!


    Some couldn''t help but be envious, though they remained true to their ideals.


    As the fight went on, the excitement of the crowd reached a peak, echoing inside the mountain. One after another, Martial students took the stage, displaying their might. Some faced off against their rivals, while others dominated their opponents without even taking a step.

 Chapter 114 The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-3)

    "Sorry, I do not take alms in exchange for something else," said a man sitting beside a bustling high-rise restaurant. He sat on a thick, soft mat, cross-legged, but one could tell he reached at least six feet in height when he stood up. He had long, streaked black hair that reached the floor, softly arched eyebrows, and deep blue eyes.


    The man wore a ''simple'' dark grey robe, black pants, and black shoes. Beside him was a gourd and a curved plate with glistening coins on it.


    "But The Great Beggar, I''ve walked past hundreds of planets for hundreds of years just to get here. Can you do me a favor?" the person in front of The Great Beggar said, urgency and worry in his voice. He wore very lascivious clothing¡ªcolorful, wide, and stylishly expensive. A solemn and suffocating aura surrounded him, making the onlookers stare at him, terrified and helpless.


    He was accompanied by three ''guards'' who stood at least five meters in height, their mere presence causing the air to swirl and churn. They had the same features as humans, but their size made them look like small giants. With giant swords in their hands, they protected the stylish old man.


    "What''s your name?" The Great Beggar asked.


    "I''m... the guardian of the... in the Cosmos of..." the stylish old man said, puffing out his chest as great pride radiated from him.


    Hearing this, The Great Beggar pointed at the sky. There were floating islands everywhere, with solemn-looking pavilions on top of them. Chariots pulled by winged horses passed by from time to time, and Cultivators flew around, either using swords or simply utilizing Qi.


    However, what The Great Beggar was pointing at was beyond that¡ªbeyond the islands and the sky. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The stylish old man stared where The Great Beggar was pointing, his eyes zooming past the islands, piercing through the sky, and reaching the dark space beyond. But he was not done yet; his vision continued, passing by planets upon planets until it stopped at a massive mansion, thousands of kilometers across, floating in the emptiness of the universe. It sat on densely packed clouds.


    The mansion was structured with jade-like materials that glistened in a solemn light, with massive white pillars intricately carved with the Four Heavenly Beast motifs.


    In front of it were giant golden gates that emitted an ethereal glow, while the entire mansion radiated an aura of profound spiritual energy.


    This structure was considered the brightest star in the universe.


    "I want you to do something for me if you really want my favor," The Great Beggar said.


    "The Temple of...?" The stylish old man turned back to The Great Beggar with an incredulous expression. "What do you want me to do?"


    "Bring me back my foolish pet," The Great Beggar said, his eyes cold, and it was clear he was angry. "You will have the authority to use my name."


    The stylish old man immediately knelt on the ground, disregarding his status, and placed his hand on his chest. "I will do as you command immediately!"


    With that, he and the five-meter-tall guards turned into blinding white light before disappearing from the planet.


    The Great Beggar put down his hand, just in time for someone from the restaurant beside him to come out with a tray of food.


    "Master, your lunch," the person said, handing him the tray. However, just as The Great Beggar was about to touch it, the person said something that made him stop. "Room 9, 1."


    The Great Beggar tilted his head. "Room 9, 1? Why are you saying that?"


    "Room 9, 2."


    "Room 9, 3."


    Suddenly, the whole world experienced a great earthquake, and the sky began to fall apart.


    ...


    Apollo opened his eyes with a yawn. "Ah, I fell asleep." He noticed people moving behind him as they went down the rooms and into the stages below.


    After watching for about two and a half hours and eating various fruits, he had dozed off when it was Room 7''s turn. The fights usually ended quickly because the strongest hadn''t met yet, and even if a fight lasted through the first round, it wouldn''t take more than 10 minutes for the winner to be decided.


    As the fight continued below, Apollo sat up straight and recalled his dream. "It''s been quite some time since I had a strange dream," he muttered. Since arriving in this world, he had been so focused on cultivation that he barely had enough time to sleep.


    The dream he just had was very surreal. He couldn''t remember most of it, but in the dream, he was still a handsome beggar. That was the most important part. Apollo had started to forget the details, despite trying his best to imprint his handsome face in his mind.


    Soon, the entire dream faded from his memory, and at the same time, an announcement echoed through the room.


    "Room 9, 4."


    "Room 9, 5."


    One more, and it''s going to be my turn. Apollo stood up and began doing some simple stretches. About ten minutes later, his number was called.


    "Room 9, 6."


    "Room 9, 7."


    Apollo smiled as he started walking toward the exit along with the other three participants. His opponent, who had previously shouted and called him a coward, asked the two others about their numbers, and after finding out, his eyes locked onto the masked man.


    "You''re number seven?" the man asked with a raised eyebrow. He had an average build, but a fiery aura radiated from him.


    "I am," Apollo answered, glancing back in amusement.


    "Ohhhh," the Fire Shrine student let out a long "Oh" before he shut his mouth. His previous demeanor disappeared as he observed Apollo from head to toe.


    Soon, they arrived at the stadium where the stages were.


    Apollo went to the stage where he was going to fight, but before he jumped on it, he stopped by the weapon racks. His opponent, on the other hand, landed on the stage and waited for him.


    "Hmm," Apollo reached out his hand and took hold of a wooden sword. He swung it around for a moment, then shook his head while putting it back on the rack. "I wonder if I can use my sticks."


    As he landed on the stage, his opponent smirked.


    "You should use a weapon. At least with that, you''ll look cool, even if you end up on the ground begging for mercy."


    "Haven''t you seen what I did back in the room?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow behind his mask. Didn''t I just display something that shocked them? Why is this guy still talking big?


    "You just caught Michael off guard; that''s why you managed to land a hit on one of his men," the Fire Shrine student said. "Anybody could do that if they were prepared."


    "Oh, that''s why you''re letting your arrogance show," Apollo nodded as if he understood.


    "It''s not arrogance," the man shook his head. "It''s confidence."


    "You talk big, and I hate people like you," Apollo said. Initially, he was just annoyed by people like the one standing before him, scattered all over the city. But as he encountered more of them, his annoyance turned into hatred. Whenever he saw one, the desire to crush them brewed within him. And now, an opportunity to do justice for all those who hate arrogant ''young masters'' had finally come.


    "Real weapons are prohibited. If you have one, take it out now," the referee said.


    The Fire Shrine student shook his head. "I don''t have one, and using a weapon to defeat this guy would be overkill."


    "I should be the one saying that," Apollo replied, reaching under his robe before throwing the stick he found on the streets out of the ring, where it landed beside the weapon rack.


    Seeing this, both the opponent and the referee fell silent, their eyes following the stick''s trajectory. Only when it landed did they turn back to Apollo.


    "Do you think of me as a pushover who can be defeated with just a stick?" the Fire Shrine student asked in a low voice, the temperature around him beginning to rise. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Yes, but if you use my stick, you could end up dead," Apollo smirked.


    The referee shook his head slightly. This kind of taunting before a fight was common, meant to anger the opponent or simply because some enjoyed the banter. However, it was the first time he''d seen someone use a stick to taunt their opponent. But since it worked, it was fine.


    "Participants, ready!" The referee raised his hand between them.


    Apollo lowered his body slightly. Tension built as the excitement of the audience echoed around them. They were watching five stages, and Apollo could feel numerous eyes on him, especially those three on the floating platform. Fortunately, he didn''t sense any prying eyes trying to penetrate the mask''s abilities.


    He could see that his opponent was already on the verge of dashing towards him, which was quite amusing, given the expression on his face¡ªsmoke practically seemed ready to billow out of his nose.


    "Ready! Fight!" The referee brought down his hand, and the moment the fight started, the Fire Shrine student used a movement technique that propelled him towards the masked man!

 Chapter 115 The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-4)

    A strong burst of fire erupted from the Fire Shrine Martial Student, causing a cloud of dust to appear as the temperature on the stage heated up.


    The student smirked arrogantly as he lowered his hand. "Let''s see if you can take that."


    He noticed that his opponent, the masked man, hadn''t dodged the attack at all. Not wanting to waste this chance, he increased the strength of the technique he was using.


    In a fight between Cultivators, their bodies move dozens of times faster than those of normal humans, making battles end quickly. Some fights are decided with a single hit, while others can take hundreds of exchanges, but to the untrained eye, it all seems to happen within a minute or two.


    This is why the Battle Exam is progressing so quickly.


    As dust clouds covered the spot where the masked man stood, the Fire Shrine Martial Student felt certain he had defeated his opponent. Even after a few seconds had passed, his opponent hadn''t made a move.


    The student turned to the referee, as if to signal the end of the battle. However, the referee shook his head.


    Seeing this, a sense of unease began to creep into the Fire Shrine Student''s heart. When he turned back to the dust cloud, he saw it churning, and in the next moment, a giant ball of fire flew toward him!


    "That''s Fire Blast!" the student exclaimed in shock. This wasn''t just a Beginner Stage Fire Blast; it was at the Intermediate stage, and the size was as big as a human! "Sh*t!"


    He immediately used his movement technique, barely dodging the attack. A powerful explosion erupted where he had just stood, shaking the entire stage and drowning out the noise from the other stages and the shouts of the audience.


    The Fire Shrine Student stared at the spot where the Fire Blast landed, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. The strong marble was cracked all over, darkened like coal, with smoke rising from it.


    If that technique had hit me... The Fire Shrine Student shuddered at the thought.


    The stadium fell silent for a moment before a wave of excitement echoed through the venue. The audience''s attention was now focused on them, ignoring the other stages.


    Meanwhile, the dust cloud had settled, revealing Apollo''s figure. With his hand still raised, he looked at the spot where his attack had landed. "Tsk, it took quite some time to gather enough Qi and release it, but it still ended up missing." He sighed in disappointment, lowering his hand.


    He scanned the area and quickly spotted his opponent, who was already struggling to stand up.


    "You¡­ that''s a Fire Shrine technique at the Intermediate stage," the student said, standing up with his eyes fixed on Apollo. "How do you know that technique, and how did you reach the Intermediate stage without being a student of the Fire Shrine? Who are you?!"


    "Do I have to answer that question?" Apollo asked in return.


    "You have to! It''s a crime to learn techniques from a martial school without being their student!" the student shouted. "So tell me! Who are you, and how did you get your hands on the technique?!"


    "Are you d*mb?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. "Didn''t we just complete the Second Test? I learned the technique from the Stone Slabs."


    Hearing this, the Fire Shrine Student pointed at the masked man. "That''s bllsht! There''s no way you managed to learn the Fire Blast and the hydra whatever technique and even reached the Intermediate Stage!"


    "Yeah, yeah," Apollo waved his hand dismissively. "Are we going to continue the fight or not? There are other participants waiting to use this stage."


    The student gritted his teeth before turning to the referee. "Isn''t he basically cheating right now?"


    What''s this guy even on about? Apollo couldn''t help but get annoyed. He''d only made one attack, and already his opponent was acting like a coward, whining to the referee.


    "No," the referee said, shaking his head. "Continue the fight or you will be disqualified."


    "B-but," the student began to protest, but seeing the stern look on the referee''s face, he knew he had no choice but to shut his mouth. Sh*t! This guy is definitely hiding something!


    The student realized his opponent was not to be underestimated after witnessing the use of the Intermediate Stage Fire Blast. He wanted to get the masked man disqualified, but his tricks weren''t working. While he wasn''t afraid to fight, he was definitely afraid of getting hurt.


    "F*ck it! I don''t know how you got your hands on Fire Blast, but you''re not the only one with an Intermediate Stage Technique!"


    "Haven''t I already told you? Then come at me!" Apollo shouted, raising his hand once more. He began gathering the Qi in the air toward his outstretched hand, forming it into a fiery fireball.


    This was actually his first time using this technique in battle, and from what his opponent said, he was already at the Intermediate Stage¡ªwhich confused the Beggar, as he had only learned this technique a few days ago and hadn''t even practiced it.


    After gathering enough Qi to make the Fire Blast as tall as a human, Apollo didn''t fire it immediately. Instead, he observed what his opponent was going to do. Although he appeared to be using the technique with ease, it was actually draining his energy, especially his mental strength, as sleepiness began to creep in.


    His opponent, the Fire Shrine Student, was covered in flames, his hair being blown up by his red aura as his eyes stared menacingly at the Beggar.


    "I''ll make you regret infuriating me!" the student shouted. With a stomp, his spot exploded, and his body became a blur, instantly appearing in front of Apollo!


    Oh? The Beggar raised an eyebrow as he realized what the student was about to do. If that''s the case... He gathered more Qi, making the Fire Blast even bigger.


    Unaware of the change, the Fire Shrine Student punched the fireball with his strengthened body, using his full strength!


    Another explosion erupted in the venue, much louder than before. The sight of the giant fire and dust cloud fueled the audience''s excitement, causing them to shout even louder. Amidst the noise, something churned within the dust cloud as someone flew out from it, landing on the stage and rolling a couple of times before stopping at the edge. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Fire Shrine Student was covered in black ash, but his eyes burned with excitement. "I did it! I''m still conscious! That guy must be out cold! Hahaha!"


    His laughter echoed across the stage. He had confronted the Fire Blast head-on, relying on his technique that increased his physical strength and defense. He made the fireball explode by punching it as hard as he could. That explosion should have been enough to leave his opponent gravely injured! And he hadn''t taken much damage himself, aside from the ashes covering his body.


    This thought made him sit up and admire his ''handiwork,'' but what he saw nearly made him cough up blood.


    "What the hell?!"

 Chapter 116 The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-5)

    The stadium was silent at first, but in the next second, it erupted in excitement.


    "What the hell?!" Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Surprised?" Apollo asked, his body glowing with a subtle light, having taken little damage from the explosion. "Hehe, you think you''re so smart, eh?"


    "That''s¡­" The Fire Shrine student squinted his eyes. He could see that his opponent was covered in a faint glow, his muscles gleaming with a rough, metal-like texture. He recognized this technique¡ªTrue Hardening¡ªfrom the Shield and Sword Martial School.


    Many of its students had learned it, and because he had fought some of them and seen it with his own eyes, he identified the technique after a few seconds. "True Hardening?!"


    "Oh? You know this one?" Apollo asked, a smile playing on his lips. He swung his arm, noticing that his body felt heavier than before. His speed had decreased by almost half, though he was still faster than normal people.


    "Who are you?!" The Fire Shrine Student shouted, even the referee staring at the masked man in surprise.


    "Me?" Apollo smirked as he deactivated the True Hardening Technique. "My name is known far and wide, but I''m mostly known as Can Deez."


    "Can Deez?" The student muttered, a confused expression crossing his face. The name sounded strange, leading him to suspect that the masked person wasn''t from around here.


    Apollo smiled and then shook his head. "I think it''s time to end this."


    Hearing this, the student frowned, feeling underestimated. Their fight was louder than the others, drawing almost all eyes to them. He couldn''t allow himself to be humiliated like this.


    He activated his technique once more, letting out a fiery aura as his hair danced in the wind. He thought, He must have drained a lot of his mental fortitude¡ªthere''s no way he can keep using those techniques! With this in mind, the Fire Shrine Student shouted and dashed toward the masked person!


    Apollo smirked, but this time, he didn''t raise his hand to use the Fire Blast. Instead, he made a gesture with his hands, stretching both his forefinger and middle finger while keeping the rest closed. He placed his right hand horizontally in front of his vertically positioned left hand, maintaining the finger position.


    "I''m going to let you taste my Kagebeggar No Jutsu!" Apollo said, and a burst of mist erupted around him, turning into ten clones!


    The Fire Shrine Student didn''t stop and continued to charge forward. Apollo sent his clones to fight against his opponent. Watching the man struggle, he couldn''t help but smile. Yup, this is what you get for being so arrogant.


    As he watched the Fire Shrine Student battle his clones with great relish, he noticed that the referee was looking at him.


    ''You should stop playing and really end it now,'' the referee''s voice echoed in Apollo''s mind, surprising him.


    Seems like I was found out, Apollo thought with a bitter smile. Although he was curious how the referee did it, he nodded. Their fight was taking longer than the others. With this in mind, Apollo used his Simple Movement Technique, instantly appearing in front of the struggling Fire Shrine Student, who stared at him with wide eyes.


    But before the guy could take another step, Apollo punched him in the face, sending him flying out of the stage.


    The sudden ending left those watching this particular stage in disbelief. If you could end it this easily, why drag out the fight? But it was a feast for the eyes, so they shouted in great excitement.


    "Winner!" The referee raised his hand toward the masked person.


    "That was easy," Apollo muttered, dusting his hands with a clap.


    ...


    On the joint floating platform, Axton, Elmo, and Master Popo exchanged glances.


    "Did he really learn three Techniques in just a few days?" Master Popo asked, his expression incredulous.


    "Who knows," Elmo shrugged. "But his True Hardening is well on its way to the Intermediate stage."


    "He could be a disciple of a great master, and maybe he learned these Techniques beforehand," Master Popo speculated. "There''s even a possibility that he already knew the Hydra Mirage before the exam."


    "I highly doubt it," Axton, the Headmaster of the Great Serpent School, shook his head. "When he first used the Hydra Mirage, his control of Qi was all over the place, and he compensated by pulling in as much as he could. But it seems like his control has improved in just a short time."


    "So you''re saying a monster has emerged?" Elmo asked, his eyes filled with curiosity as he stared at the half-masked man who was already walking back.


    "Possibly," Axton nodded.


    "Monster or not, with his progress with the Fire Blast, it would be better if he joined my school," Master Popo said. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ha, you think he would join you?" Elmo scoffed. "He clearly wants my Sword and Shield School, otherwise why would he learn True Hardening?"


    "Then why would he learn Hydra Mirage?" Master Axton interjected.


    "It''s because your Technique is easy!" Elmo retorted, and Master Popo nodded in agreement.


    "Easy?" Axton shook his head but didn''t argue further.


    At that moment, someone approached them. "So, you guys are already eyeing someone?"


    Without turning, they already knew who it was.


    "Mayor Klown, are you interested in him as well?" Axton asked, a small smile on his lips.


    "Well, hearing what you all are discussing, should I be?" Klown asked, his belly wobbling slightly as he turned to face the three Headmasters.


    "Hahaha, it''s not even the finals yet. Isn''t that why you insisted on changing the prize to your own choosing? To draw some of them to your side," Axton said with a chuckle.


    "I appreciate that you accepted this selfish request of mine, but would you believe me if I said I genuinely want to spread the City''s own cultivation technique to more people?" Klown asked, his calm expression unchanged.


    "That depends," Axton said.


    "Depends on what?" Klown asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.


    "Depends on us," Axton replied, turning to the mayor along with the other two.

 Chapter 117 Conceded

    "Now you understand why I think we''re just frogs in a well," Yohan said as the match with the masked man ended. He turned to the person next to him.


    "It''s just a bunch of skills he learned beforehand," Michael smirked. "Anyone can do that. Who knows if he planned all this just to look cool and get the Headmasters'' attention?"


    "He clearly toyed with a 3rd-Step Foundation Building Stage opponent," Yohan pointed out.


    "So?" Michael stared at his rival.


    "You still don''t get it," Yohan chuckled condescendingly. "I''ve seen things that would shatter your ego."


    "My ego? Hahaha, is that why you''re acting like a coward?" Michael laughed as if he''d heard the funniest joke.


    "Laugh all you want," Yohan said, turning back to watch the stages. "I no longer consider you my rival."


    Hearing this, Michael''s laughter stopped abruptly. "Yeah, with your weak resolve, you don''t deserve to be my rival anymore."


    "No," Yohan shook his head. "That guy, I''m going to defeat him. Fighting you would just be a waste of my energy and time. Clearly, you''re nothing compared to him. If I defeat him, I''ll be above you."


    "What did you say?! Are you saying I''m weaker than that midget?!" Michael''s voice rose in anger.


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    "Did I say that?" Yohan laughed. "I don''t recall saying anything like that, but you''re right! Hahaha!"


    Suddenly, a dark blue haze surrounded Michael, the roar of the Great Serpent emanating from his body, surprising the Martial Students around them who were watching the ongoing exam. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I don''t mind fighting again," Yohan''s smile widened as his body exuded the pressure of a 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage. He activated his Technique, causing his packed muscles to bulge, threatening to burst out of his Hanfu suit.


    A translucent serpent emerged from the haze around Michael, hissing at the brute in front of them. "Let''s settle this now, then!"


    As they were about to throw hands, they felt a pressure that made their bodies heavy, making it hard for them to breathe. They both turned in the same direction and saw a person wearing a simple white robe, staring at them with cold eyes.


    Like a bucket of cold water dousing their fiery tempers, the two of them calmed down, deactivating their Techniques simultaneously.


    "Hmph! Let''s meet on the final stage. This time, I''ll definitely crush you!" Michael said before turning around angrily and walking back to his designated room.


    ...


    "Those two are at it again," Gail said, staring across the room where Michael and Yohan were on the verge of brawling.


    "They consider each other rivals, and neither has gained an advantage since they joined the Martial School," Bel explained. "By the way, what room are you in?"


    "Room 11¡ªno, 15," Gail said. "Fortunately, we''re not in the same room."


    "Unfortunately, we are," Filly sulked from the side.


    Hearing this, the two of them laughed.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll hold back," Bel smiled.


    "Nah, I''ll immediately forfeit," Filly waved her hand. She and Bel were assigned to the same room and, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, they had the same number. This meant they would have to fight each other in the first round.


    "I can at least pretend I''m having a hard time fighting you¡ªyour father is watching, you know," Bel pointed at the floating platform with a nudge of her head.


    "Father? I don''t care about him," Filly chuckled. "I think he only came here for the visitors and to give face to the other families."


    "Miss Filly, I don''t think it''s like¡ª" Gail began, but Filly shushed her. "Alright."


    "Anyway, even if you don''t win now, you could at least try to increase your rank in the losing brackets," Bel said. "I''ve heard they''ll increase the resources based on rank."


    "Oh? Is that so?" Filly put a hand under her chin. "That includes money, right?"


    "Of course," Bel answered with a smile.


    "Then I''ll try! My restaurant could use that boost!"


    The three of them laughed, and soon enough, their room number was called.


    "Good luck," Gail said, waving her hand.


    Filly and Bel arrived on the stage. As soon as the fight began, Filly jumped off the stage.


    "I concede!" Filly said to the Referee, who ended the match without a word. This was common and had happened a few times already, so no one was surprised. It''s called being smart if you know you''re only going to end up defeated and badly injured if you try to fight. It''s not shameful to make a strategic retreat, but that doesn''t mean the audience will like it.


    "Boo!"


    Booing echoed from that side of the stage, which put a frown on Filly''s face.


    "Let them be," Bel said as she walked beside her friend. "They''re like that. When fights are boring, they don''t like it. They want drama and explosions."


    "Should I ban them from my restaurant?" Filly couldn''t help but ask. "I think it won''t be long before I can stand toe to toe with Skyline Savory!"


    "Skyline Savory?" Bel smiled. "Do you know who''s on the floating platform?"


    "Who?" Filly tilted her head as they headed for the exit.


    "The owner of Skyline," Bel answered.


    "Oh?" Filly raised an eyebrow. Although she hadn''t seen the owner, she already hated their guts.


    As the two talked, the audience suddenly exclaimed, making them turn to see what was happening. On one of the stages, two participants were fighting: one in a robe that covered their whole body, wearing a white mask that hid their identity, and the other from the Sword and Shield cultivation school.


    As usual, the student had the body of a bull, which wasn''t surprising, as most students from that school were brutes.


    The two participants were engaged in hand-to-hand combat, both covered in a glowing flower that blocked each other''s attacks.


    "He''s already using the Lily Valley technique he learned just a few days ago?" Bel muttered, surprise in her voice, as she looked at the mysterious person on stage.


    "Who is he?"

 Chapter 118 Aleks Investigation(Part-1)

    Apollo returned to his room and sat on the chair he had placed on the viewing deck. Leaning back to get comfortable, he watched the ongoing battles.


    He saw Martial Students using various techniques, some of which were strange, while others were straightforward but incredibly powerful¡ªstronger even than his Fire Blast.


    Thinking about his Fire Blast, he couldn''t help but admire its effects. His opponent had mentioned that it was already at the Intermediate stage, and as Apollo recalled the technique, he realized the Fire Shrine student was right. But Apollo hadn''t realized he had achieved that stage, which left him confused. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    All he had done was increase the output by gathering more Qi from the air, compressing it while maintaining the Fire Blast''s visual effects; otherwise, the fireball would have shrunk. But it seemed that what he did was essentially the technique''s intermediate stage. It was surprising because he didn''t rely on the technique in his mind¡ªinstead, he just followed his instincts.


    "This Fire Blast is very flexible," Apollo muttered. "Is it because it''s a common technique? That must be the case."


    Although he wasn''t sure, it felt right when he thought about it. Shaking his head, he continued to watch, and after a while, one of the stages caught his attention.


    It was a fight between a mysterious person and a student with bulging muscles. Their fists collided, producing a sound that made the audience shout in excitement. With flowers flying around them, the visual effects were so good that Apollo sat up straight to watch the fight more intently.


    Although the previous battles he had watched were flashy, this one was different. It offered him more detailed entertainment compared to battles filled with explosions, which made it hard to follow the participants'' movements.


    The fight only lasted 30 to 40 seconds before it ended with the muscle-bound student vomiting blood, flying into the air, and landing outside the stage. Another burst of excitement erupted from the audience.


    "That was a good fight," Apollo smiled. "And it seems like there are only two or three more rooms left before the first round ends."


    An hour or so later, the first round came to an end, and the second one started immediately. The white-robed person returned, holding a basket with papers in it.


    Just like before, the winners of each room took a paper with their number written on it. Some of them might draw a paper without a number, instead finding the word ''Pass'' written on it, though this only applied to rooms with an odd number of participants.


    Apollo stared at his number, which was 1, before looking around. Unlike before, they didn''t openly challenge their opponents. He then returned to his seat and waited. After a break of about 10 minutes, the exam continued.


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    Back in Klown City, on the street where Filly''s Restaurant was located, patrons filled the inside, with some lining up outside.


    "Fried chicken coming right up!" Ned shouted, holding plates piled with fried chicken. After placing them on customers'' tables, he rushed back to the kitchen to get more orders.


    "Where''s the rest of the fried chicken?" Ned asked, noticing that there were only a few pieces left on the tray.


    "Can''t you see I''m still cooking them?" Temor replied. He was constantly moving, his hands multitasking as he fried the chicken while also cooking other meals at the same time. Fire flickered around him as he did his best to cook as fast as he could.


    "Oh, my bad," Ned said, grabbing the other dishes. "I''ll serve the other meals then."


    "Go tell them the fried chicken will be ready in five more minutes," Temor instructed.


    "Alright!" Ned replied before leaving the kitchen, while the other waiters came in to pick up some plates.


    Temor explained to them that he needed more time to cook more fried chicken. He never would have expected that after his boss left for the Advancement Examination, the number of patrons would suddenly increase¡ªeven more than before, when there wasn''t a Skyline branch yet.


    And the Examination hasn''t even ended yet!


    Though many people were at the venue, even more had decided to stay in the city and sightsee. Some had come from other cities and provinces.


    They expected an increase in diners, but Temor hadn''t anticipated this much! This was the first time he had to cook so many dishes since he became a chef!


    However, this was good for the restaurant. The boss would definitely be happy. Temor could also see that people were enjoying their food. Heck, he could even hear exclamations from diners praising how good the food was. As the chef responsible for all this, he couldn''t help but feel proud.


    On the first day, most customers ordered the upgraded version of meat cooked with coconut oil. On the second day, he cooked mostly scrambled eggs. But once they discovered the fried chicken, Temor''s hands were constantly busy.


    This forced him to expand his energy to use the Qi in the surroundings, and there were times when he was on the verge of vomiting and passing out. But he held on, for the sake of the restaurant and his loyalty to his boss.


    He cooked meat from a Winged Cow, Thunder Goat, and other Monster creatures using coconut oil, along with the fried chicken.


    The smell wafted out from the kitchen, causing some patrons to gulp unknowingly.


    The door opened as one of the customers waiting in line finally entered the restaurant. He looked around, and seeing the satisfied faces of the diners, a surprised expression appeared on his face.


    "What''s happening?" Alek, the assistant of Manager Fu, muttered. He stared at the food on the tables. The meat glistened in a bright red color, and he could even see how tender it was. At the same time, the smell made him gulp.


    He looked around more and saw a golden-yellow dish on a plate, along with some bread and milk. They all glistened with a substance he couldn''t quite identify, but it made the visuals more appetizing.


    Then his eyes landed on a golden-brown food held by a customer. The moment the customer bit into it, a crunching sound reached Alek''s ears, making him gulp unknowingly.


    "This¡­ I''m hungry." Alek touched his stomach before he found an empty table.

 Chapter 119 Aleks Investigation(Part-2)

    "Go do that and tell them the fried chicken will be ready in five more minutes," Temor instructed.


    "Alright!" Ned replied before leaving the kitchen, while the other waiters came in to grab some plates.


    Temor also explained to them that he needed more time to cook the additional fried chicken. He never would have expected that after his boss left for the Advancement Examination, the number of patrons would suddenly increase¡ªeven more than before, when there was no Skyline branch yet.


    And the examination isn''t even over yet!


    Although many people are at the venue, even more of them decided to stay in the city and sightsee. Some came from other cities and provinces.


    They had expected an increase in diners, but Temor hadn''t anticipated this much! This is the first time he''s had to cook so many dishes since becoming a chef!


    However, this is good for the restaurant. The boss will definitely be happy. He could also see that people were enjoying their food. Heck, he could even hear exclamations from the patrons about how good the food was. As the chef responsible for all this, he couldn''t help but feel proud.


    On the first day, most customers ordered the upgraded version of meat cooked with Coconut Oil. Then, on the second day, he cooked mostly scrambled eggs. But when they discovered the Fried Chicken, Temor''s hands were constantly busy.


    This forced him to expand his Energy to use the Qi in the surroundings, and there were times when he was on the verge of vomiting and passing out. But he held on, for the sake of the restaurant and his loyalty to his boss. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He cooked meat from Winged Cows, Thunder Goats, and other monstrous creatures using Coconut Oil, along with the Fried Chicken.


    The smell wafted out from the kitchen, causing some patrons to gulp unknowingly.


    The door opened as one of the customers waiting in line finally entered the restaurant. He looked around, and upon seeing the satisfied faces of the diners, a surprised expression appeared on his face.


    "What''s happening?" Alek, the assistant of Manager Fu, muttered. He stared at the food on the tables. The meat was glistening with a bright red color, and he could see how tender it was. At the same time, the aroma made him gulp.


    He looked around more and saw a golden yellow dish on a plate, along with some bread and milk. They all glistened with a substance he couldn''t identify, but it made the visuals even more appetizing.


    Then his eyes landed on a golden-brown food item held by a customer. The moment the customer bit into it, a crunching sound reached Alek''s ears, making him gulp unknowingly.


    "This¡­ I''m hungry," Alek said, touching his stomach before finding an empty table.


    The next day.


    "We are not overthinking this," Manager Fu said through gritted teeth. Looking at the people lining up in front of Filly Restaurant, he felt like he didn''t deserve his position as the Skyline Savory manager for letting such a situation happen.


    The line in front of the restaurant across the street was almost as long as theirs!


    "Alek," Manager Fu turned to stare at his assistant. "Go investigate now. I want you to find out what''s going on inside. Also, order a meal and eat. Let''s see if they''re doing something we''re unaware of."


    "Don''t worry! I''ll give you a full report!" Alek said, bowing his head before walking out of the room. Already anticipating something like this, he had a set of clothes prepared. When he emerged from Skyline, he was dressed in a simple shirt, pants, and shoes, resembling a lowly commoner¡ªa disguise that made Alek want to discard the outfit immediately.


    But for the sake of his mission, he swallowed his disgust and joined the back of the line at Filly Restaurant.


    After some time, he finally got the chance to enter the restaurant, and the first thing he noticed was the number of diners. He looked around and saw what they were eating. Some were enjoying meat that glistened with some substance. The patrons were clearly savoring their meals.


    He also spotted a golden-yellow food he couldn''t identify, as well as a crunchy, golden-brown dish with white inside¡ªperhaps chicken, but likely from a monster.


    Alek gulped unknowingly. What the hell? He couldn''t believe it. The aroma inside was so tantalizing that he just wanted to order immediately and eat.


    But first, he needed to find an empty seat. As soon as he sat down, a waiter came over and handed him a menu.


    Alek didn''t say much and just started browsing the pamphlet.


    "Winged Cow cooked with Oil?" Alek muttered. "Oil? What''s that?" He noticed several dishes with the same word in their descriptions. There was even a dish called Chicken Cooked in Oil. It was just a simple chicken, not even a monster, and they dared to sell it? A frown appeared on his face.


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    "Chicken cooked in oil, please!" someone shouted, making Alek turn towards the sound. He saw a patron a few tables away, with an empty plate in front of him. It seemed the customer wasn''t done eating yet, as he ordered another meal.


    "Coming right up!" the waiter answered enthusiastically. Although weariness showed on their faces, genuine smiles were still painted on their lips.


    Seriously? Someone really ordered such a dish?! Alek couldn''t believe it. With monster meat on the menu, why would anyone order an ordinary creature?


    There were dishes on the menu that he couldn''t recognize, like Scrambled Egg and Fried Chicken. He looked around once more and found that most people were eating that golden-brown food with meat inside. He then read the description of the dish on the menu and discovered they were eating the so-called Fried Chicken.


    With great curiosity¡ªand possibly because of the enticing aroma¡ªhe ordered the same dish as them.


    "One order of Fried Chicken," the assistant said to a passing waiter.


    "Alright, please wait a moment, sir," the waiter replied before heading to the kitchen but returned the next second, empty-handed.


    "I''m sorry, but would it be alright if you wait five more minutes?" the waiter asked apologetically.

 Chapter 120 Aleks Investigation(Part-3)

    "Five minutes? Alr¡ª" Alek was about to nod but stopped suddenly. This is the enemy''s restaurant¡ªif there''s a chance to make a scene and make them look bad... His eyes lit up before he coughed a few times. "Five minutes?! Why do I have to wait that long?!


    I came here to eat, not to wait!"


    His shout caused people to look in his direction; they even paused their meals as their eyes bore into the scene maker.


    Feeling the intense stares from all the patrons, Alek''s lips twitched. He didn''t know if they were looking at him with admiration or hate, but now that his voice had reached every corner of the restaurant, he had no choice but to continue.


    "Are you just going to stand there?! Is this how you treat your customers, by making them wait?!" Although it didn''t make sense, Alek continued, "I want my food right now!"


    "Feel free to leave," the waiter''s smiling face disappeared, replaced by a cold look as he motioned toward the door with both hands. "There are people waiting in line outside who would gladly take your spot."


    Hearing the response, which was the opposite of what he expected, Alek was left speechless. His mouth opened and closed several times before he finally found words to say.


    "Wow! So you''re willing to throw customers out?!" Alek shouted.


    "Let the next customer in," the waiter said.


    "Wait!" Alek immediately raised a hand, stopping them. "I''ll sit down and wait. It''s just five minutes, right? It won''t take that long."


    The waiter stared for a moment before a smile returned to his face. "Then our apologies for the wait."


    "Don''t worry about it!" Alek replied with a bitter smile. As the intense gazes gradually disappeared, he let out a sigh of relief. Sht, I messed up. Fortunately, they didn''t throw me out, or else my mission would have failed!* he thought with worry in his heart.


    Alek waited with a red face, feeling both shame and humiliation. He noticed that some of the diners were just commoners, while there were nobles on one side who simply focused on eating their food, unbothered by the lowlife beside them. They were probably just borderline nobles, on the verge of being demoted, Alek thought as he stared at them with disgust.


    Although he himself had been a commoner before he gained the position of Assistant, he worked for the great Skyline Savory, so technically, he was higher than most of them, right? He continued to think this as he waited for his food.


    Five minutes later, the waiter returned, holding a plate with the golden-brown fried chicken made from the Scavenger. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    "Here you go," the waiter said, placing the plate in front of Alek.


    Staring at the food in front of him, Alek couldn''t help but stab it lightly with a fork before bringing it closer for inspection. Like the other meals, it glistened with some kind of substance, though this particular dish wasn''t as excessive as the others. He sniffed it, and his eyes widened.


    It was the first time he''d smelled something like this¡ªstrange, but the appearance and aroma were very appetizing.


    Hearing the crunching sounds from other diners, Alek gulped. "This better not taste good." He didn''t want the food to be delicious¡ªwho would want their opponent to have a better product than them? Opening his mouth, he bit into the fried chicken. The crunch echoed inside his head, but it wasn''t the end yet as his teeth pierced through the white meat.


    Alek chewed, the crispiness echoing in his ears before the soft texture hit his taste buds. With a swallow, he stared at the fried chicken on the plate, his face impassive.


    However, deep inside, he was screaming. He was screaming at how delicious this dish was! What the f*ck?! Who made such godly food?! It''s so unfair that I''ve only tasted this now!


    Raising his hand, he continued eating his meal, immediately syncing with the symphony of the other diners as crunching sounds echoed inside the room.


    Alek had eaten Scavengers too many times to count. The meat of such monsters definitely tasted good, especially those adults with strength almost equal to a Qi Condensation stage. He would never get tired of it. But the Scavenger he was eating now was of a quality he had never experienced before¡ªthe way it was cooked surpassed anything he had ever tasted.


    It was like heaven and earth!


    Furthermore, the rough texture covering the meat was equally wonderful. Even the skin, which he hadn''t been fond of before, he ate with relish. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Every order only had one fried chicken, and it didn''t take long for the Assistant to finish his food.


    Looking at the bone on the plate, Alek couldn''t help but lick his lips. "That was good!" And he wasn''t even full yet. He started to crave another one, his taste buds still yearning for the dish.


    Should I order another plate? Alek thought. He was here to investigate, not to have fun eating this new food. As he felt conflicted, he saw a waiter holding a plate with something yellow on top.


    Hmm, I should taste all of them so I can provide a more detailed explanation. With this in mind, his eyes lit up as he raised his hand and called for the waiter.


    "What''s that yellow food?" Alek asked.


    "Oh, that is called scrambled eggs with bread and milk," the waiter explained.


    "Then give me that," Alek ordered. As the waiter nodded and was about to go to the kitchen, Alek held him back. "You know what, I also want one of each meal on the menu."


    "Oh?" A rich patron? the waiter thought. "But you''ll probably have to wait at least 10 minutes."


    "10 minutes? Even if it takes an hour, I''ll wait!" Alek said.


    Back in the manager''s room at the Skyline Savory branch, Manager Fu was looking at the documents in his hand. It was the report on the restaurant''s sales and expenses. After a while, he put it down and stared at the clock.


    "It''s been an hour and a half now, and he''s still not done?" Manager Fu muttered, a frown appearing on his face. Shaking his head, he stood up from his seat and went to the window to look at the situation across the street.


    The line was already almost as long as the line at their restaurant. He looked around and saw that Alek was no longer in line. He was probably inside the restaurant by now. But what''s taking him so long?

 Chapter 121 The Final Winners(Part-1)

    Fire Blast!


    An explosion erupted, causing dust clouds to billow, charring the stage and shaking it. Someone shouted, and with a thud, hit the ground outside the platform. All kinds of sounds reverberated inside the arena¡ªfists colliding, explosions, the ground erupting¡ªbut the loudest were the shouts from the audience.


    Apollo lowered his right hand, sparks still flying around him. The referee in the distance announced that the fight was over and declared him the winner of the round. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Two more rounds to go," Apollo muttered, jumping off the stage and walking back to his room. Once inside, he noticed that only a few competitors were left. He returned to his seat to wait for his next fight.


    The examination had been going on for a few hours now, and it wouldn''t be long before the final winner of each room emerged.


    Apollo recognized most of the possible winners, who had displayed spectacular fights: Gail, that four-eyed woman; Bel Helflick; Michael; Yohan; that mysterious person who wore a full-body robe; and Arke, who fought without doing much except sending his opponent flying with a single punch.


    They were all potential winners of their respective rooms, and based on their performances, it was almost certain they would be the last ones standing.


    As he watched the ongoing exam, he noticed one of the stages was vacant, and Apollo''s prey walked toward it. That arrogant smile of his remained, treating the exam as nothing but child''s play.


    Ike''s opponent also stepped onto the stage. He had the same build as Ike and radiated an aura of confidence. Clearly, this opponent was not an average martial student.


    Seeing the two, Apollo sat up straight. "Seems like he''ll have to show some of his abilities," he muttered, a smile appearing on his face. It''s always better to know what your opponents can do, especially if you can find their weaknesses.


    The referee raised his hand, and the moment the fight began, Arke and his opponent dashed toward each other. With a resounding clash of their fists, a burst of wind erupted around them.


    Seeing the shockwave-like wind, Apollo couldn''t help but whistle. They were only displaying physical might, but their attacks felt like they were using special techniques. Apollo could even sense that if he took their attacks head-on, he would definitely be on the losing side.


    Although he knew his physical strength was far stronger than most, and could even be considered at the top due to his cultivation at the 4th-Step Qi Condensation stage, Apollo still felt that his strength wasn''t all that great. He had encountered opponents where a single punch could cause him injury.


    They probably train themselves in battle techniques that increase their strength, he thought. Most of his techniques only increased his battle prowess when he wanted them to. Of course, excluding the Simple Sword Technique and the Simple Movement Technique he had mastered, which made him feel like a part of them.


    Hmm, should I consider learning a technique that will increase my physical strength through training? Apollo pondered, not considering buying anything from the System Store.


    Suddenly, a roar sounded from the stage where Arke was fighting. His opponent was covered in a dark brown haze, with a translucent bear-like creature emerging from it.


    "That''s the Steel Bear Manifestation Technique from the Sword and Shield!" someone shouted beside him. Some martial students had decided to stay in the room even though they had already been defeated.


    That''s quite an intimidating name, Apollo thought as Arke''s opponent grew larger. Then, like a bear, he moved on all fours, dashing toward his smirking prey.


    The spectators watching the scene held their breath, eyes wide as they awaited the impact. But the expected collision didn''t come. Instead, in the next moment, water materialized around Arke, circling him for a moment before covering his right arm. The water formed into a vambrace, and at the same time, a sword made of water appeared in his hand. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Raising his hand, Arke delivered a vertical slash, the ''sword'' creating a long, sharp, watery blade that extended from it.


    The bear-like opponent tried to stop and dodge the attack, but because of his speed, he couldn''t evade in time, resulting in him taking the slash head-on. Blood spurted as the Bear slid across the stage before stopping right in front of Arke.


    Arke then raised his foot and began stomping on the Bear''s head.


    Seeing this, Apollo could only shake his head. "This guy is really an *sshole." The fight ended with some of the white-robed men carrying the unconscious Bear to the area where they would heal him. Fortunately, he was still alive.


    The next fight that caught Apollo''s attention was between Bel and a perverted-looking guy who stared at her from head to toe while licking his lips.


    This is the kind of guy I want to beat up, Apollo thought, but it seemed like Bel did an even better job. Using a wooden broadsword she had chosen from the weapon rack, she beat the sh*t out of the pervert, mainly focusing on his face and below his abdomen.


    The men watching the scene could only look away, as they could somewhat feel what the pervert was going through. Even Apollo flinched when he heard Bel''s opponent scream like a little girl.


    It must have been very painful, and unconsciously, the Beggar had already covered his lifeline with his hands.


    After the fight ended, the white-robed men returned, carrying the bloodied participants to the healing room while the women cheered the most.


    The martial students with the most potential and talent went on stage one by one, and unsurprisingly, they became the final winners of their rooms.


    "As expected," Apollo muttered, standing up from his chair and stretching his body a bit. "I guess it''s time for the bigshots to fight."


    As his room and number were called, he started walking toward the arena. At the same time, someone else did the same, and they both walked side by side.


    "You''re just a f*cking commoner, aren''t you?" his opponent asked, a mocking smile on his face.


    Apollo turned to the student and remembered that this man was the blonde coward he had encountered on the way to the Examination''s venue. This guy had arrived in a chariot and insulted people along the way.


    He matched all the descriptions of the kind of person the Beggar wanted to beat up.

 Chapter 122 The Final Winners(Part-2)

    Apollo didn''t answer and just continued walking forward. However, the annoying fellow beside him didn''t stop running his mouth. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hey, answer me! I''m talking to you!"


    "Okay, Blondy, you''ve got my attention," Apollo stopped, turning to the egotistical noble. How come he always encountered people like this? Is this the current meta in this world? he thought. He was tired of people like this. "Your words better be worth my time."


    "Haha," Blondy laughed. "Man, can''t you just answer your lord''s request? Why act so tough when you only know a few tricks?"


    "Lords? And what? Few tricks?" Apollo looked the man up and down, a mocking smile appearing on his face. "In my eyes, you''re just a kid pretending to be strong. But deep inside, you''re just a scared, brain-rotted young man who still pees his bed from time to time."


    Hearing this, Blondy''s expression turned incredulous, his eyes confused at first before his face reddened with fury.


    "What did you just say?!" Blondy raised his voice, fists clenched and teeth gritted.


    "You heard me," Apollo said before turning around and walking toward the arena in the distance.


    "I will f*cking kill you!" Blondy shouted from behind.


    Apollo didn''t answer, but a satisfied expression appeared on his face. Annoying these egotistical, silver-spooned nobles was really pleasurable, especially seeing their reddened faces. Apollo felt great satisfaction. Would he do it again? Definitely! He even wanted to actively seek them out just to fulfill his desire.


    Soon, the two of them jumped onto the stage, facing off against each other while Blondy stared at the Beggar with menacing eyes.


    "I will make you regret what you just said to me," Blondy said. This was the final round to determine the winner of their room, and he would never hold back. He wouldn''t even care if he ''accidentally'' killed this annoying masked man.


    "Then do it. You''re just wasting your breath with empty threats," Apollo said, smirking at the blonde.


    "Are you two ready?" the Referee asked after letting them trash-talk each other.


    "I was born ready," Apollo said, quoting a phrase he''d heard from a movie back in his previous life.


    "Ha, me too!" Blondy shouted.


    "Then let the fight begin!" The Referee brought down his hand, signaling that the battle had begun.


    Apollo readied himself, expecting his opponent to immediately attack him, but contrary to his expectations, Blondy just stood there, watching his every move.


    Oh? Smart? Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "You know, I''ve been watching your previous fights," Blondy said. "And I think I''ve found your weakness." Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Is that so? Then do tell," the Beggar taunted, his expression remaining relaxed and calm.


    "You don''t engage much with your opponents and you prepare long-range attacks, which leads me to believe¡­" A confident smile appeared on Blondy''s face. "You''re not good at hand-to-hand combat."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes ''widened.'' "W-what do you mean? I''m actually very good at it."


    "Haha, you stutter, you f*cking commoner who thinks just because he defeated a few people, he deserves to stand in front of me," Blondy laughed aloud. He was sure he was correct, especially when he heard his opponent stutter when he mentioned the weakness.


    "W-why don''t we find out then!" Apollo said, his voice ''shaking.''


    "Sure, sure," Blondy said, lowering himself. "Too bad, hand-to-hand is my forte."


    With a bang, Blondy instantly appeared in front of the masked man, his fist already coming down to hit Apollo''s.


    But in this slowed-down world, a cunning smile appeared on the Beggar''s face.


    Sigh¡­ these people are really just fools.


    With a resounding crack, Blondy''s fist exploded into his opponent''s face, surprising him. However, what happened next made him shiver. The "masked person" in front of him turned into water before splashing onto the ground.


    "Wow, that''s a great punch, to be honest, though it would have been better if you hit the real one," a voice sounded from behind. When Blondy turned around, he saw Apollo in the distance, looking at him with a mocking smile.


    "You!" Blondy''s face turned even redder than before. "You coward!"


    "Coward?" Apollo chuckled. "Then let''s see who the real coward is!"


    He raised his hand and started gathering Qi from the surroundings into his palm, converting it into a fiery blaze that sparked around him. All this time, this was the technique he''d mainly been using, along with Hydra Mirage and True Hardening, if his opponent managed to close in on him. As time passed, his control over Fire Blast was becoming easier and faster.


    This was probably why Blondy thought he wasn''t good at hand-to-hand combat, which was somewhat true. Apollo still hadn''t met anyone who made him think otherwise about his ability to fight with only his fists.


    With his conjuring time faster than before, he fired at his opponent, the fireball speeding toward him threateningly!


    Seeing this, Blondy used his Movement Technique, which made his body faster and lighter. He immediately dodged to the side, his previous spot exploding into charred ground.


    "Sh*t!" Blondy cursed as he felt the intense heat. "Let''s fight using only our fists!"


    "Hahaha, no way!" Apollo shouted back as he fired another Fire Blast.


    Continuous explosions sounded on the stage while Blondy dodged each of them. But some of the residue landed on him, making his steps unstable, which led to one of the Fire Blasts landing directly on him.


    A burst of excitement erupted from the audience. Every time this half-masked fighter was on stage, explosions always rang out, which was exactly what the audience wanted.


    The dust cloud churned, and Blondy flipped a couple of times in the air before landing on the edge of the stage.


    His body was red, like he had just been cooked. After coughing a couple of times, Blondy wiped his mouth and saw blood on his hands.


    "How does your own blood taste?" Apollo asked, walking towards his opponent with slow, deliberate steps.


    Blondy looked down, not answering the question.


    "Eh? What''s wrong, dude?" Seeing that the student still didn''t answer, Apollo couldn''t help but tilt his head.


    "How much?" Blondy asked, still looking down.


    "How much?" Apollo repeated, confused by what his opponent meant.


    "How much for you to jump off the stage? I will pay!" Blondy looked up, his eyes radiating determination, but there was still fear in them. F*ck it! This is humiliating, but if I can''t defeat someone, then I will just have to use money!


    Apollo couldn''t help but feel shocked when he heard this. Seriously, you just got hit once, and now you''re giving up on fighting and instead want to buy me off to forfeit this match? Just how cowardly are you?!

 Chapter 123 The Final Winners(Part-3)

    "Do you think I will just agree to your terms?" Apollo scoffed at the coward before him. Although Blondy was on the ground, half-kneeling, their heights were still almost the same.


    "One thousand gold coins," Blondy said, gritting his teeth.


    "Then we have a d¡ª" Apollo''s smile turned stiff before a serious expression returned to his face. "Even if it''s ten thousand gold coins, I will never agree!"


    "Eleven thousand gold coins!" Blondy shouted, his eyes turning red and veins popping out on his forehead. This was the amount of money he had saved up for as long as he could remember. Why? For this exact moment! Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    Apollo''s eyes widened. Eleven thousand?! This guy is f*cking rich!


    "Well¡­" Apollo''s voice trailed off as a look of deep thought crossed his face.


    Seeing his opponent conflicted, Blondy felt that with one more push, he would finally succeed in coercing this man.


    "Come on, that''s a great deal. Even to us nobles, that is already a high sum, more so to lowly commoners like you," Blondy said, an arrogant smile appearing on his face. Take it, you fool, before I lose my patience!


    Apollo''s conflicted expression disappeared, replaced by a determined smile. "You know what? I think I will accept it."


    "Hahaha, good, good, as expected from people like you," Blondy laughed, standing up and patting his clothes. "Don''t worry, I''ll give you the money. So why don''t you jump now?"


    "In your dreams," Apollo said, raising his hand and gathering the surrounding Qi into his palm, converting it into a raging fire!


    Because of their proximity, the heat was so intense that the air distorted. At this distance, even a common technique could be deadly.


    "You!" Blondy''s eyes widened in disbelief. In my dreams?! "You think I''m a pushover?!"


    "Yup, and a coward. Do you need me to repeat myself?" Apollo asked as the fire in his hand grew larger. If his attack landed, who knew what state Blondy would end up in afterward.


    The Beggar glanced to the side and noticed the Referee slightly lowering himself, probably preparing to interfere to save Blondy''s life. Apollo already knew that the Referee''s strength was at least at the Qi Condensation stage, though he wasn''t sure of the specific step. But Apollo remained resolute; this guy had been getting on his nerves ever since they first met.


    "Don''t make me do this, you piece of sh*t!" Blondy shouted through gritted teeth.


    "Oh? You have something up your sleeve?" Apollo smiled. "Then show me!"


    Without saying another word, the Beggar fired his Fire Blast! At the same time, the Referee instantly appeared beside them, but he was still a step too late as a resounding explosion erupted.


    Two figures flew through the air, flipping several times before landing on the stage.


    Apollo stared at the cloud of dust that covered almost half the stage. He ignored the Referee, who was glaring at him with deadly eyes.


    "If your opponent ends up dead, I will have to disqualify you, and you will be sent to prison for questioning," the Referee said.


    "Shh." Apollo raised a finger to his lips, signaling for the Referee to be quiet.


    "You¡ª" The Referee''s eyes twitched, but he held his tongue and continued to stare at the cloud of smoke. He realized there must be something else he had missed for this small masked man to act so confidently.


    And he was right, for as the dust cloud began to settle, a silhouette appeared within it.


    However, this time, they felt something different.


    "Hehe, the fight isn''t over yet," Apollo said, turning to the Referee. "And it seems like he''s more than alive and kicking."


    The Referee didn''t respond and instead stepped back to fulfill his duty. But deep inside, he felt doubt creeping into his heart. Why did that guy use that technique now? And why did he try to buy off his opponent with such a ridiculous amount of money? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Referee pondered this but didn''t take long to arrive at a possible answer. He glanced at the floating platform and saw the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School nodding his head at him.


    Meanwhile, Apollo stared intently at the dissipating dust cloud. He could sense that something about Blondy had changed. Being at the 3rd Step of the Foundation Building Stage, Blondy could exert a pressure that would make a normal person suffocate, but what he was emanating now was beyond that.


    It was a natural feeling of being overwhelmed, something Apollo had only felt when he confronted Yohan, a cultivator at the 4th Step of the Foundation Building Stage. Apollo couldn''t do the same, even though he was at the same stage, probably because of his status as a Beggar.


    Can the trick up his sleeve increase his cultivation stage by one? Apollo wondered as the dust cloud completely cleared, revealing Blondy. His muscles were bulging, threatening to burst out of his clothes. His blonde hair now resembled a lion''s mane, reaching down his back, and his hands had grown sharp, pointy nails.


    "I told you not to make me do this!" Blondy said in a hoarse voice, his lion-like teeth on full display.


    "Well, too late, you already did it," Apollo shrugged. Then he squinted as he ''saw'' the Qi surrounding Blondy was chaotic, swirling around him like it didn''t know what to do. As the Beggar cultivated the Revised Simple Breathing Technique, he had become more sensitive to Qi than before.


    What''s wrong with his Qi? Apollo thought. Even though the Qi was chaotic outside, some of it still managed to enter Blondy''s body, enabling him to use his current technique.


    "I will make you regret refusing my offer!" Blondy roared. He bent his knees, cracking the floor beneath him. With a powerful push, he propelled himself toward the Beggar!


    Seeing this, Apollo raised his hand and unleashed another Fire Blast. With a bang, the fire exploded, but Blondy emerged from it unscathed, reaching Apollo in no time.


    Apollo activated his Hydra Mirage, and mist poured out from him, coalescing into ten clones. The lifelike clones immediately swarmed the humanoid lion, kicking and punching him. However, Blondy needed only a single swipe of his hand to make two or three clones disappear into splashes of water.


    As the last clone was slashed in half, Blondy looked around but couldn''t find his opponent. Suddenly, he sensed a threat from above, and when he looked up, he saw the half-masked man descending on him, covered in a subtle glow with a fist poised to strike his head!


    With a roar, Blondy responded with his own punch!

 Chapter 124 The Final Winners(Part-4)

    "D*mn it, some of them managed to learn Lionsoul Transformation," Elmo muttered, cursing under his breath as he saw the lion-like human on one of the stages. "Although he barely learned it, seeing my school''s techniques getting stolen is still annoying." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were already participants in the third exam showcasing techniques that were not meant for them, clearly stolen from the martial schools. Since each martial school kept records of what was lost, they could easily identify if a student was using a stolen technique.


    However, they decided not to immediately disqualify the students. Instead, they allowed them to fight before issuing the disqualification. The Referees had already been informed about this.


    "Why is your school so obsessed with Transformation Techniques? They have a lot of drawbacks," Master Popo said from the side, holding a cup of alcohol filled to the brim.


    "It''s because true strength comes from one''s own fists!" Elmo said, puffing up his chest and smiling proudly. With his build resembling a big bear, his chest muscles looked like they were about to burst out of his fitted hanfu robe.


    "I can burn a Black Poison Lion with just a snap," Master Popo said.


    "Did I ask you?" Elmo replied, raising an eyebrow at the exhibitionist.


    "No, just sharing information in case you turn into one," Master Popo laughed before taking a sip of his wine.


    "Don''t argue," Axton said, noticing that Elmo''s forehead was already throbbing. "We have more important matters at hand."


    All this time, they were communicating through their collective mind.


    "Thought Transfer?" someone asked, stopping beside the three Headmasters. There were other Headmasters present, but they considered the Great Serpent, Sword and Shield, and Fire Shrine as their leaders, so they didn''t stand out.


    "We are," Axton said, this time speaking out loud.


    "I see," Mathias nodded but didn''t ask what they were discussing. "I''ve heard what happened."


    "About what?" Axton asked, his eyes returning to the fight between the half-masked man who displayed great talent and techniques and the half-lion.


    "Thieves stealing cultivation and battle techniques," Mathias answered, his eyes shifting back and forth between the two fighters on a particular stage. The two kept changing locations as their fists resounded each time they struck. At the same time, the half-masked small man kept sending out clones, seemingly disregarding his energy reserves.


    "Oh, I guess everyone must have heard about it already," Axton said.


    "Probably," Mathias nodded before pointing at the humanoid lion with a tilt of his head. "Is he one of them?"


    "He is not a thief, but he is one of the students using the stolen techniques acquired by the real thieves," Elmo explained while Master Popo wandered over to the table filled with food.


    They didn''t lower their voices, but they also didn''t speak too loudly. However, as most of the people on the floating platform were cultivators, they pricked up their ears to listen carefully.


    "Oh?" Mathias stared at the Headmasters with a raised eyebrow. "Does this involve all the martial schools in the city?"


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    "The three of us, and some others," Axton replied.


    "Hmm," Mathias frowned. "Something fishy."


    "Haha, it''s very smelly, if I must say," Elmo chuckled while Axton revealed a small smile.


    "An organization, perhaps?" Mathias muttered. "Do you need my help?"


    Hearing this, the cultivators on the platform stopped what they were doing and listened more carefully. If these Headmasters joined forces along with the only Core Creation expert in the city, it would be the strongest alliance in the history of Klown City!


    "What''s he up to?" Nathan muttered with a frown on his face. He was in the middle of a discussion with one of the noble families about some trade goods. Among the people who had joined forces to fight against that Alphadusk Shadowtail, he and Mathias were the only ones who decided to watch the Advancement Examination.


    Even Holst was not here, though that wasn''t strange; he was probably handling the city''s matters in place of the Mayor, who was currently watching the Examination.


    "We didn''t even agree to help you with your matter regarding the wolf; how can we agree?" Axton said. "So, did you kill it?"


    "Just let me know, my arms are always open," Mathias laughed. "And yes, we did kill it, but we lost dozens."


    "As long as you killed it, that''s what really matters!" Elmo said. "Come to think of it, was it a female?"


    "We do not know. It didn''t have private parts. Why do you ask?" Mathias stared at the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield with curiosity in his eyes.


    "Nothing, I just remembered something, but it''s probably not true," Elmo waved his hand dismissively.


    "I see."


    Suddenly, a banging sound echoed, and they turned to the ongoing battle between the masked man and the half-lion.


    ...


    Apollo managed to send Blondy flying with his Fire Blast Technique. However, he was not done yet, as he sent another Fire Blast, which landed on the already standing humanoid lion.


    With a loud explosion, winds caused chaos on the stage, making Apollo''s robe flap in the wind. At the same time, the sound of something hitting the ground reached his ears, making him stare at the dissipating dust cloud. He saw Blondy on his knees.


    The Qi around him had become more chaotic, and it seemed like it wouldn''t be long before it stopped clinging to the humanoid lion.


    "So I was right," Apollo said, walking towards his opponent. "Your technique¡ªyou haven''t fully learned it. I think you barely reached the beginner stage, and it''s already taking a toll on your body."


    "S-shut up!" Blondy shouted, glaring at the Beggar angrily. "Fck you! Why didn''t you accept my offer, huh? You think so highly of yourself, is that it?! You''re just a fcking commoner!"


    Apollo stopped in front of Blondy. Even though they were the same height, his opponent was already kneeling. The Beggar''s pressure made the blonde lower himself even further.


    "Commoner?" Apollo smirked before leaning forward and whispering in Blondy''s ear, "I''m lower than a commoner. I''m a f*cking beggar. And I don''t fear nobles, especially ones like you."


    Hearing this, Blondy''s eyes widened. He couldn''t believe it. This man, who could use Hydra Mirage with ten clones, an intermediate Fire Blast, and True Hardening, called himself a beggar?


    Their fight had only lasted a few minutes, but Blondy realized that no matter what he did, he couldn''t hit his opponent, and even if he did, it would turn out to be just a clone.


    The Fire Blast kept hitting him, causing him to become infuriated until he lost control of his Lionsoul Transformation, which weakened its effects. True to its destructive nature, the Fire Blast landed on him, leaving him in this state.


    "W-what do you want? Just jump off the stage, and I will grant it!" Blondy said as his body returned to normal.


    "You think I''m a fool?" Apollo smirked, shaking his head. "But you can grant me one thing."


    "Tell me!" Blondy''s eyes regained a glimmer of hope.


    "Don''t cry to your mama when you get home," Apollo said, though he regretted it the next moment, realizing how cringe it sounded. But before Blondy could respond, Apollo pushed him, and with only one or two steps to the edge, Blondy fell off the stage.

 Chapter 125 The Final Winners(Part-5)

    A white-robed man went to retrieve the fallen Blondy, who kept shouting at them. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hey! I''m not that injured! Where are you taking me?!" Although he could feel pain all over his body and was greatly exhausted, it wasn''t to the point where he wanted to be taken by them just to heal his injuries. In fact, he could do it himself using the healing items he had brought along, and he would fully recover in a few hours.


    But the white-robed men didn''t answer; they just dragged him out of the venue while he kept shouting.


    Apollo, watching all this, shook his head. At the same time, he heard the announcements from the other stages that their rounds had also ended. He saw Bel standing alone on one of the stages and the other competitors on another stage. Clearly, they had won without a hiccup.


    He didn''t see Gail, probably because she would be among the fighters for the next round.


    "Seems like no surprises for the expected winners of each room," Apollo muttered as he jumped off the stage and headed back to his room.


    Along the way, Bel approached him. "You did great."


    "So did you," Apollo responded.


    "Your opponent belongs to one of the noble families in the city. Although he doesn''t belong to the three main Martial Schools, his status makes up for it," Bel said.


    "Oh? So?" Apollo glanced at her, though he already had an idea why she was saying this.


    "They are petty, and they definitely won''t let go of you," Bel chuckled before nodding towards the platform. "Just look at that man¡ªhe''s clearly staring at you like you''re a dead person."


    Apollo turned to see a middle-aged man standing beside the railing of the platform, looking at him coldly. Just like Blondy, whom he had just fought, the middle-aged man also had the same hair color. Nevertheless, Apollo raised his hand and waved at the man like an old friend.


    "What are you doing?" Bel asked with a frown, lowering the small masked man''s hand. "Aren''t you afraid?"


    "Why would I be?" Apollo asked back, a smile forming on his face. "They don''t know me. Actually, no one knows me. I''m a ghost, and I can disappear whenever I want."


    Hearing this, Bel had a look of understanding for a moment before she shook her head. "You''re right, no one knows you, but it doesn''t mean that will remain forever. They are one of the noble families; their strength and resources are beyond what a Foundation Building Cultivator can handle. Well, unless you have some sort of backing, like a Martial School."


    Apollo stared at Bel with a raised eyebrow. This woman sounded like the System for a moment.


    "Okay, I get it," Apollo said before hurriedly walking away, leaving Bel staring at his back with a speechless smile.


    Shaking her head, she noticed Gail walking past the masked man and stopping in front of her.


    "Gail, what''s up?" Bel asked in confusion, seeing the serious look on the girl''s face.


    "Nothing, I just feel a bit uneasy," Gail said, smiling bitterly. Somehow, ever since the third test began, she had been feeling this way. Her heart beat faster than normal, and this feeling¡ªvaguely¡ªshe felt when facing danger. As someone trained to be an assassin, she was sensitive to threats, but so far, she hadn''t seen anything suspicious besides the ''power-ups'' of some of the Martial Students.


    "You know, women''s instincts are stronger than men''s," Bel sighed. "I also feel a bit uneasy now that you mention it."


    "S-Something like danger coming your way?" Gail hesitantly asked.


    "Right! Haha, I guess great minds think alike," Bel chuckled. "Anyway, good luck!"


    "Thanks."


    ...


    One after another, the winner of each room was finally decided. Master Popo flew back to the central stage, and at the same time, the other stages started moving until the whole stage became one once more. The two-football-field-wide stage was like a behemoth in the middle of the venue.


    "I would like to congratulate the winners of each room who displayed amazing skills and battle techniques," Master Popo said, though his nonchalant tone might have suggested a lack of sincerity. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "The third test is not yet done, as we still need to determine who will be the top one," Master Popo continued, looking around the venue. The audience watched with great excitement, but he could see that some of them were exhausted. "But before that, we will take an hour break before continuing the Exam.


    Use this time to eat and replenish your energy, as the Exam will only get more exciting from here on out!"


    With that said, the audience shouted, their voices reverberating inside the venue.


    At the top of the platform, the important people were talking among themselves, including Klown, who was having a heartfelt conversation with the leader of the delegations.


    "I was wondering, where is your granddaughter? I thought you came with her?" Klown asked.


    "She''s probably back in your city, fooling around," the old man said.


    "You are blessed to have such a granddaughter. I''ve heard she is the most talented cultivator in your city, right?"


    "She is, and no one else will be," the old man said, a proud smile appearing on his face.


    "Haha, you are right!" Klown laughed. The way he moved and talked made him seem very approachable, like a defenseless, wobbling middle-aged man. But the Families and the Headmasters thought otherwise, though they didn''t say anything. "But if she''s back in the city, she should go to the Skyline Savory. I bet she will have the time of her life there!"


    Hearing this, the other visitors walked towards him, and their voices echoed as they shared how much they wanted to go there.


    "Don''t worry, don''t worry!" Klown waved his hand. "Although we may be far away from them, it doesn''t mean that their food is not. Besides, I''ve prepared a special meal for all of us here!"


    The visitors'' eyes lit up, and even some of the family heads, as they already had an idea of what the mayor was referring to.


    As they continued their talk, Klown suddenly frowned, though it only lasted for a second before the ''amiable'' smile returned to his face.


    "Excuse me for a second, I need to go to the bathroom," Klown said, standing up while adjusting his expensive attire. Then he started walking towards the exit, but unbeknownst to him, a few people noticed the strangeness.


    Axton and Elmo looked at each other while Mathias remained quiet.

 Chapter 126 Klowns Plan

    Cultivators are known to move mountains, split the sea, and pull giant blazing rocks from the sky. This is all true¡ªthey can do many things unimaginable to normal men. Just like how they reconstructed the tallest mountain in the area of Klown City.


    In one of the quiet corridors leading to a bathroom area in the mountain, the sound of footsteps echoed as an obese man waited beside the wall.


    "Holst," Klown said, seeing his butler walking toward him.


    "My Lord," Holst bowed his head, and compared to when he did it for other people, his bow was almost vertical.


    "How did it go?" Klown asked, his face serious. The amiable smile he had displayed to the visitors was long gone. He radiated an aura of coldness and fierceness at the same time. If one looked at him and compared him to when he was around people, it was like comparing heaven and earth¡ªno, it was like comparing heaven and hell.


    "I think you must have heard already that we managed to kill the Alphadusk," Holst said.


    "I''ve heard about it. It''s such a shame that he''s still alive," Klown said. "What I want to know is, did you get it?"


    "I did," Holst nodded, taking out an object from within his suit. It was a small glass jar with a wooden cap that could fit in one''s palm. Inside the jar was a dark green liquid that swayed as the butler handed it to the mayor.


    Taking a close look at it, Klown smiled lightly before handing it back. "Tell our alchemist to recreate it as soon as possible."


    "Will do, my lord," Holst put the jar back inside his suit. What was inside the glass jar was the same liquid they used to immobilize the Alphadusk. It was created by Helen, the branch manager of the Alchemist House, who handed them three objects at the last minute, ensuring their victory.


    Holst took that chance to steal one of the jars, which was now inside his suit. They would definitely find out that one of the jars was missing, but he didn''t care, as he was confident that they would never know he had stolen it.


    "Hehe, luck was on our side that the Alpha happened to stay in that forest," Klown couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "It''s your wits that have brought us one step closer to completing our plan," Holst said, his squinted eyes remaining the same, but his lips had already turned into a smile.


    "I know," Klown nodded, not humble in taking the credit. "But they have sniffed us out."


    "Those three Headmasters?" Holst asked.


    "Yes," Klown nodded. "They are really smart, but they can''t do a thing with only their suspicions. What''s the situation with the Cultivation Techniques and the Battle Techniques?"


    "They have been distributed to dozens of people, cultivators or not, and it''s only a matter of time before more find out," Holst answered.


    "Good. We will lie low for the time being. The stolen techniques are out in the open. No matter how much they want to minimize the damage, what''s done is done. The situation is favoring us," Klown said. "Furthermore, we put a strong Mind Binding on the thieves.


    If anyone tries to pry into it, it will kill them."


    Klown orchestrated all of this by sending some of his men to steal the techniques from the Martial School. Of course, it was harder than it sounded, and many of his men had died trying. However, what mattered more was the end result, as they managed to complete the mission. Besides, there were plenty of disposable men he could deploy.


    "But the Headmasters¡ªthey will never let this slide," Holst warned.


    "I know," Klown said with a confident smile, "but it will be too late for them."


    The Headmasters of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, the Sword and Shield, and the Fire Shrine Martial School are not to be trifled with. Furthermore, besides them, there are noble families who are against the mayor.


    Klown has many obstacles he needs to overcome to complete his plan, and one of them, who is on the same level as the Headmasters or even higher, is the Helflick Family Head, Mathias.


    Thinking about that man, Klown knew that Mathias was playing it safe. There''s no way a Core Creation Cultivator couldn''t sense that something was brewing within the city, but he hadn''t done anything to show his stance¡ªat least, not until a moment ago, when Mathias openly said that his arms were open to help the Headmasters.


    "Mathias, he''s siding with them," Klown muttered in a low voice.


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    Hearing this, Holst didn''t seem surprised. "My Lord, isn''t that why you wanted his girl to die?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha, you are right," Klown said, patting Holst on the shoulder. "I bet she tasted good. Anyway, tell that kid to do his best. Let him know that I''m watching him."


    Klown was referring to Arke, who he had tasked with killing Bel Helflick.


    "I will. But what about his other mission? He isn''t showing any signs of progress," Holst asked.


    "Who said I''m letting him go, even if he completes all his missions?" Klown''s eyes turned cold as he licked his lips. "Besides, Leone is no more, and even if that kid lives, there''s nothing he can do. I just want my plan to be perfect."


    The two talked for a while before they parted ways. Klown''s amiable and friendly smile returned the moment he arrived at the floating platform, while Holst went to find Arke.


    Master Popo was already back, eating fruits and drinking wine with the others. Fortunately, he was standing¡ªotherwise, the moment he took his seat, he would display something inappropriate.


    "Everyone, sorry for the wait," Klown said. "I called for the food along the way, so eat as much as you can and don''t hold back!"


    With a clap, the waiters entered the platform, holding trays filled with delicacies. What stood out the most was the meat, and the intense aroma coming from it made the onlookers gulp unknowingly.


    "What kind of monster did you kill for this meat to have such an aroma?" one of the visitors asked with a laugh.


    "It was Alphadusk Shadowtail," Klown answered, and the moment his words fell, the visitors exclaimed in surprise.


    "Really?! Wow, then we must taste this!"

 Chapter 127 Apollos Bowel(Part-1)

    When a Cultivator reaches a certain stage, they no longer need to use a bathroom, as their body destroys the unnecessary ''objects'' inside them. However, for those at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage, they still need to relieve themselves once in a while, although they can use simple techniques to make their body destroy any foreign entities.


    But Apollo doesn''t know this fact and doesn''t have such a technique, so he stood up from his chair and left his room. At the moment, he was the only one in room nine. He went out to find someone to ask for directions to the bathroom.


    "Thank you," Apollo said before following the person''s instructions.


    Along the way, he observed the structure around him and couldn''t help but sigh in amazement. "Cultivators are really amazing; they managed to reconstruct this mountain." Although the place looked simple, it still left an impression of grandeur.


    Apollo walked for a while before he saw the path that led to the bathroom, but when he got there, there was a long line of people waiting to go inside. Fortunately, there were two bathrooms¡ªone for men and the other for women¡ªor it would have been very weird if this world only had open bathrooms.


    Thinking about this, the Beggar began to wonder what their bathrooms looked like. Ever since he arrived in this world, he had only taken a sh*t and piss in places not many people knew about. It was his safe haven where he could think freely, and that''s also where he greatly appreciated having the Cleaning Bead he bought from the System Store.


    The bead cleaned whatever its light covered, including his ''disposals'' and the places where they came from.


    "Do they even have a toilet?" Apollo muttered. Seeing the line again, he concluded that it would take some time before his turn arrived. Shaking his head, he decided to go to another bathroom area.


    Because the Martial Schools expected a great number of people to attend, they reconstructed the mountain to have as many bathrooms as possible to accommodate everyone''s needs.


    It only took Apollo a few minutes to reach the next area, but just like the first bathroom, there was another line of people waiting.


    "Sh*t, actual sh*t," Apollo cursed. Why didn''t they do this earlier? It''s not like they were forbidden when the exam was still ongoing! Shaking his head, he went to another area, but it was still the same¡ªpeople lining up, waiting to relieve themselves.


    In the end, it took him almost twenty minutes just to end up not being able to use a bathroom.


    "F*cking hell," Apollo sighed. "It seems like I''ll have to find a secluded place." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With this in mind, he went down a corridor through twists and turns. However, he immediately stopped when he felt something strange in the air.


    What''s this? Apollo looked ahead and could ''see'' the Qi moving in a certain pattern. Although it was subtle, it was enough for him to notice.


    It looks like a wavelength, the Beggar thought, following the Qi slowly. He put the matter of his bowel behind him, as he was more curious about this phenomenon.


    The Qi that moved in a pattern was in a left corridor a few meters away from him, and the closer he got, the stronger the wavelength became.


    As he was about to turn left, he suddenly recalled something. This wavelength¡­ can I tap into it? It was just a hunch, but somehow, Apollo felt like he could do it.


    Apollo felt like he had seen this sort of wavelength in his previous life. Furthermore, it was the frequencies that made him more familiar with it. It was like he was looking at a signal being sent to a ''receiver.''


    Stopping beside the wall, he closed his eyes to feel the Qi more closely. Although he couldn''t see the surrounding structure, he could still sense the Qi around him, especially the wavelength-like Qi.


    He followed the frequencies coming from it, matching them with his own by gathering the Qi behind him. Suddenly, a voice entered his mind, making him abruptly open his eyes.


    "I didn''t know you could make other people use Thought Transfer," someone said, the sound echoing inside his head.


    "I just pulled you into my own Thoughts," another voice replied.


    Apollo frowned. He couldn''t recognize the second voice, but he knew the first one. Arke? And what''s this Thought Transfer? Is that what they''re doing right now?


    "So, why did you call for me? Is it about that kid?" Arke asked.


    "It''s one of the reasons. Now that you brought it up, how did it go? Did you find the kid?"


    "Of course I did," Arke said in a light tone. Clearly, he was confident in his words. "That Leone kid, I will bring his body to the mayor."


    Apollo, who had been listening, couldn''t help but tilt his head. Are they talking about me? And who''s the person Arke is talking to? He also mentioned the mayor. Suddenly, he realized that he had stumbled upon a big secret.


    He held his breath and continued to ''listen'' to the conversation. Apollo didn''t want them to know that he was eavesdropping. Furthermore, if logic served him right, the person Arke was talking to was probably the ''mastermind,'' and behind this mastermind was another one: the mayor, that obese man on the platform.


    Excitement, thrill, and anticipation of what could happen made Apollo''s eyes shine brightly. Actually, the Beggar had already suspected that something was going on within the city, which was not surprising considering that, even in his previous life, shady business ran rampant in the shadows. He just didn''t know what the business was here.


    Apollo continued to listen to the cold and husky voice.


    "Make sure you do your missions right, especially with that girl. Kill her, and this is the only chance we will give you. You know what will happen if you fail, right?"


    "I know. I will probably get eaten. But I don''t taste good," Arke''s voice lowered, tinged with some bitterness.


    Eaten? Apollo made a note of this word. There was probably another meaning that only they knew. And who is this girl they''re talking about?


    "Bel Helflick. She will prove to be a challenge for you. Are you confident?"


    "Don''t look down on me," Arke said, evidently offended by the man''s words as his voice rose. "If I wanted to kill her, she wouldn''t be able to do a thing."


    "Oh, is that so? Just so you know, she can also enter the Void, and her progress is far beyond yours."


    "But she''s a b*tch and doesn''t have the courage and battle wits that I do," Arke said.


    "If you say so. I''ve already told you the consequences if you fail." Continue your journey at My Virtual Library Empire


    "I got it."

 Chapter 128 Apollos Bowel(Part-2)

    Apollo listened for a while until the voices completely disappeared from his mind.


    "We will watch your performance."


    It seems like they have left, the Beggar thought. Shaking his head, he decided to go find a place to relieve himself. But as soon as he moved forward, someone came out from the left corridor and collided with him.


    Apollo fell on his bottom.


    "Ouch!" the Beggar yelled. Looking up with a frown under his mask, he saw a man wearing a black suit, with a monocle adorning his left eye.


    "Oh my, are you okay?" the man, who appeared to be in his 30s or 40s, asked with concern in his voice.


    "Y-yeah, thank you for asking," Apollo said, standing up while patting his back.


    "That''s good to hear," the man said, bowing slightly.


    Apollo stared at the person in front of him and realized that this was the same man Arke had been talking to. The voice clearly matched, so there was no doubt about it. He immediately brought up the System Store to buy an item that could change his face for an hour. The moment the item took effect, he suddenly felt an invasive force trying to get past his Mask defense, which immediately broke.


    "My apologies for bumping into you. I am Holst, the butler of the Mayor. If you need some compensation, feel free to ask," Holst said, bowing once more.


    "Haha, no need. I just fell, and I''m a Cultivator. It''s only a small matter," Apollo said, waving his hand while feeling relieved; otherwise, a second later, his real face would have been revealed.


    "If you say so," Holst smiled slightly, his squinted eyes unchanged. "Then excuse me."


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, and the two walked past each other.


    After taking a couple of steps, Holst turned around and shouted, "Wait!"


    "Why?" Apollo also turned to stare at the butler. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    "How long have you been standing here?" Holst asked, pointing at the corner of the left corridor.


    "A minute or two. My bowels are acting strange, so I needed to take a breather," Apollo said, putting a hand over his stomach and starting to massage it. "You know, there''s a crowd of people in the bathroom area, and I wanted to find a place where I could do my business."


    "Oh¡­" Holst nodded. "I see. Just make sure to clean up."


    "Will do!" Apollo said before hurrying away while still massaging his stomach.


    Holst didn''t move, just watched the half-masked man disappear into the distance.


    That man''s excuse sounds ridiculous, but there''s no way he could hear what we were talking about, as we were inside the Thought Transfer skill, Holst thought, ultimately believing what the man said. However, when he thought further about it, it somewhat made sense considering the number of people in this place.


    Shaking his head, Holst went on his way.


    ¡­


    "Ah, that''s better," Apollo said as he stood up after using his Cleaning Bead on the ground and himself. It was spotless, so clean that the ground didn''t look like a ground at all, but more like a shiny stone reflecting sunlight. Looking at the sun''s direction, he concluded that the time was around 4 to 5 pm.


    This place was outside the venue and could be considered the back of the mountain, though he was still a few dozen meters above the foot of the mountain.


    This is peaceful, he thought, feeling the air and seeing the forest in the distance. After being surrounded by so many people watching his every move and their shouts constantly reverberating, being outside felt completely different.


    "This is the perfect place for a solo camp," Apollo muttered, imagining himself with a camping chair, a bonfire, and a grill with barbecue on top. And don''t forget the beer! Just thinking about it made him reminisce about his past.


    Letting out a sigh, he was about to turn around after taking in the scene when he suddenly felt the same sensation he had when the Exam first started.


    "Sh*t, that monster is staring at me," Apollo muttered with a frown as he stared into the distance, toward the forest where the Duskfangs were. He could feel it, and it was stronger this time. "Better go back before it tries to hunt me down."


    With that, he immediately turned around and walked back inside the ''cave'' that led back to the venue.


    At the same time, he couldn''t help but feel strange. The System said I would be hunted, but after that notice, the Alphadusk Shadowtail didn''t attack me at all and just kept observing me.


    However, the feeling boring into him right now told him that the Alpha was not going to wait any longer.


    "Just let me finish my mission before you attack!" Apollo hurriedly walked back inside. That was the ideal scenario he wanted; otherwise, he would fail the mission and probably lose his life at the same time.


    Once he completed the mission, he would welcome the Alpha with open arms. Was he confident that he could kill it? No, Apollo didn''t think so, but it didn''t mean he wasn''t confident of staying alive.


    Once he was back inside the venue, the feeling of being watched disappeared. He headed towards his room but stopped just as he was about to enter.


    Recalling what he had just heard from Arke and the butler Holst, Apollo hesitated, wondering whether to give a heads-up to Bel or not. They definitely wanted to kill her, and Arke wouldn''t hold back at all.


    Since killing was forbidden, the participants knew that going further than knocking out their opponents would get them in trouble. However, with backing from the Mayor, Arke wouldn''t have this problem. If they valued him greatly, they would protect him. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But it was also possible they would act like they didn''t know Arke and might even kill him to get rid of their ''evidence.''


    Bel would suffer unless she stopped holding back and fought Arke with the intent to kill. They would definitely make the two fight as soon as possible since their plan could fail if Arke were defeated before he could even fight Bel, and vice versa.


    Should I warn her? Apollo thought, but it didn''t take him long to decide. Bel Helflick was a good person; the Beggar could sense a strong sense of justice in her. Besides, Apollo didn''t want to live with the regret of letting Bel, who had been good to him from the start, die at the hands of his own prey.


    With this in mind, he went to find Bel''s room.

 Chapter 129 Warning Bel(Part-1)

    Apollo stared at the number on the door before raising his hand and knocking. As the sound echoed, a woman''s voice came from the other side.


    "Who is it?"


    "Ap¡ªCan Deez," Apollo almost said his real name before remembering the alias he had given them. "May I come in?"


    "Oh, of course, you can!" Bel shouted.


    "Okay, sorry for the intrusion." The Beggar opened the door, and the scent of jasmine immediately wafted toward him. Looking around, he saw that the room was completely different from his. It had undergone a complete makeover; the previous furniture had disappeared and was replaced with new pieces. Where did she get all this? "I didn''t know you had the time to decorate your room."


    In the middle of the room was a comfortable-looking mat, and sitting cross-legged on it was Bel Helflick, her back to him.


    "Gail and Filly helped," Bel explained. "You already know the two, right?"


    "Of course," Apollo said, walking past her and standing on the viewing deck for a moment before walking back toward her. "I''m sorry for coming here unannounced."


    "Don''t worry about it," Bel waved her hand while slowly opening her eyes. "So, have you decided? To join the Great Serpent Cultivation School?"


    "I''m still thinking about it," Apollo shook his head. "I''m here for a different matter."


    Oh? Bel tilted her head in confusion. A different matter? She couldn''t think of any other reason Mr. Can Deez would want to talk to her.


    "It''s about Arke," Apollo said.


    Hearing that man''s name, Bel''s eyes widened for a moment. "What about him? Is he targeting you? Don''t worry, I will beat him up!"


    "I can take him on myself," Apollo chuckled. "But what about you? I''ve heard he can enter the Void."


    "Like I said, I will b¡ªWait, did you just say Void?" A frown appeared on Bel''s face.


    "That''s what I''ve heard," Apollo nodded. He had overheard this during the conversation between Arke and that butler named Holst. He didn''t know exactly what the Void was, but it seemed to be something a Cultivator could enter.


    "Where did you hear that?" Bel asked.


    "It doesn''t matter," Apollo shook his head. "What matters more is your chances of defeating him."


    Bel stood up, walked toward the table, and took a mouthful of water. With a sigh, she turned to stare at the small masked man. "I am confident in defeating him¡ª"


    "That''s a r¡ª" Apollo couldn''t finish his words as Bel continued.


    "But it''s hard, more so if he can already enter the Void," Bel said, her low and heavy tone indicating she was taking this matter seriously. "Before, when we fought, it was always neck and neck, and I only won because my Cultivation was more advanced than his, even though we are on the same Step. I could also enter the Void way before he could.


    But if what you''re saying is true, then he must have already reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage."


    Apollo was surprised. That guy has reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage? But I didn''t feel a thing when I saw him. Is he using an item to hide his stage?


    "You said you can also enter the Void. May I ask what that is?" Apollo asked.


    "You don''t know?" Bel asked back. For a moment, the figure of her savior and the man in front of her merged together, though it immediately disappeared when she recalled this man was far stronger than her savior.


    "No," Apollo admitted. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I see. It''s a state," Bel said. "A state where a Cultivator can enter, and once they do, their cultivation speed increases exponentially."


    "What does it feel like?" Apollo asked, curious about this state as the information might be useful. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Peaceful, that''s the word I would use. The world turns dark with only you and the surrounding Qi around," Bel said, a smile forming on her lips. "But I can only make a few feet around me turn dark, and it''s not complete darkness. The Qi is also not bright."


    Hearing her description, Apollo couldn''t help but feel that it was very familiar. And it only took him a second to realize that he''d been doing it since he started cultivating! Is that the state she''s referring to, or is it an entirely different thing?


    "Oh¡­" Apollo could only let out a long "Oh."


    "Anyway, he is not the only one who has reached that stage," Bel said, a confident smile forming on her lips.


    "You mean?" Apollo stared at her with slight amazement.


    "Yup," Bel chuckled before her aura completely changed, and a strong pressure gripped the Beggar''s neck.


    Apollo frowned as the pressure disappeared immediately. He didn''t frown because of the pressure itself, but because the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage aura surrounding Bel had vanished, reverting to a 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    "How is it?" Bel chuckled.


    "Your cultivation¡ªit went back to the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage," Apollo pointed out.


    "Haha, it''s because I have an item," Bel said, taking out a necklace from under her shirt before putting it back. "So, you are also at the 4th-Step."


    "Yes," Apollo let out a sigh. "Anyway, back to that guy¡ªbe careful around him. I think he''s a crazy dog."


    "Crazy dog? That''s an understatement. He is beyond that," Bel said, her voice filled with disgust.


    "What? Did he do something besides being arrogant and treating people not on the same level as him like dogsh*t?" Apollo asked.


    "How''d you know him so well? You describe him better than I do," Bel said.


    "It''s because I''ve met a lot of people just like him. They run rampant in this world," Apollo explained.


    "Hahaha," Bel laughed before her face turned cold. "You are right. Anyway, Arke is so depraved that he kills innocent people on a whim. He even forces himself on women, especially those weaker than him and the commoners."


    "The laws favor the strong," Apollo said. Arke not being punished for all of this just shows how f*cked up the culture of this world is.


    "That''s why I hate Klown," Bel said, her anger seeming to peak when she mentioned the Mayor.

 Chapter 130 Warning Bel(Part-2)

    It was the Mayor again, Apollo thought, hearing the hate coming from Bel. "What''s with the Mayor? He seems friendly," the Beggar said, taking a few steps toward the viewing deck where he could see the Mayor on the floating platform, talking with other important people.


    Bel stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the Mayor with anger and disgust.


    "Friendly? Didn''t you just mention that the law favors the strong?" Bel turned to the Beggar with a raised eyebrow.


    "I''m being sarcastic," Apollo smiled bitterly before nodding toward Klown. "I can tell he''s just being phony with the others."


    "He''s actually two-faced, a wolf in disguise. No, he''s a monster in disguise," Bel said.


    "A monster? That''s probably why he''s so big. Even in his human form, he couldn''t hide his true nature," Apollo said, and the two looked at each other for a moment before they burst into laughter.


    It was a scene of a small man and a woman almost twice his size having fun together.


    This made Bel recall the time when she was punished as a maid and had the time of her life gossiping with the other maids.


    "Maybe you''re also two-faced," Bel said, putting a hand on the masked man''s shoulder, though she didn''t have to raise it much to reach him. "A dwarf in disguise." Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Suddenly, silence lingered in the air.


    "I''m sorry, I was just joking," Bel hurriedly said, taking her hand away. "I didn''t mean it."


    Oh god, I got too relaxed and forgot I wasn''t talking to the maids!


    "Haha, no worries, I get that a lot," Apollo waved his hand, smiling bitterly. So they don''t think I''m just a kid? "I was born like this, smaller compared to my peers."


    Seeing that Mr. Can Deez was not offended, Bel let out a sigh of relief. "It''s not normal, but there are cases. I''ve heard there''s a Headmaster from another school in another city who looks like a kid because of his height."


    "Oh?" Apollo wasn''t interested in that, but more interested in their previous topic before they got sidetracked by his height. "But why do you hate the Mayor? It''s normal to pretend to be friendly with others, especially if one is in power."


    "I know." Being back on topic made Bel glare at the Mayor, who was laughing on the platform. "But he''s really a disgusting human."


    "The reason being?"


    "It''s instinct," Bel turned to the masked man with a small smile. "I hate him, that''s all, but there''s definitely a reason for it. Even my father hated him."


    "Instinct?" Apollo repeated. But you''re not wrong, though. Considering what he heard from the previous conversation, the Mayor is probably the hidden boss in the city. Well, technically, he is the boss as the Mayor, but true to being two-faced, he''s doing something shady behind that amiable and friendly smile.


    "Hahaha, to hate someone based on instinct? It sounds unreasonable, but I trust it and my father," Bel explained. "And that''s also the reason why we are having this conversation."


    "Hmm, should I say thank you?" Apollo asked, a smile on his face.


    "No need," Bel waved her hand.


    They talked for a while before they saw Master Popo already flying down from the platform, blessing the audience below him with his ''dragon.''


    "It''s starting. I should get back," Apollo said. "Just be careful with Arke."


    "Okay, I will," Bel said and waved goodbye.


    As the door closed and Can Deez disappeared, the smile on her face was replaced by worry. Her instincts had been acting up ever since the Advancement Examination began; it was subtle, but it was there. However, after the conversation with Can Deez, that instinct became stronger.


    "Is Arke planning something?" Bel muttered, turning to stare at Master Popo, who was already on the stage.


    ...


    Master Popo said a few words before handing the stage over to the host.


    "I am going to explain the rules for the second part of the Third Exam," the host said, his voice reverberating around the arena. "It''s actually simple. Just like the first part, the participants will have to pick a number, and those with the same number will be opponents. But this is a tournament format, and the winner of each round will advance to the next until they reach the final round."


    Hearing the shout of excitement from the crowd, the host continued, "Let''s start the second part of the Battle Test!"


    Back in Room Nine.


    The door opened, and a person wearing white robes entered, holding a basket.


    Seeing this, Apollo stood in front of him and reached his hand inside. When he took it out, he was holding a piece of paper with a number written on it. Number 8? S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s the number?" the white-robed man asked. Apollo showed it to him. "I see. Wait for your turn before you go out."


    "All right," Apollo said, and the white-robed man walked out. "This is going to be fun."


    The Beggar walked toward the viewing deck and sat in his chair. He was actually excited; he was finally going to have fun fighting. Furthermore, this was going to be a great experience, as the participants for this second part were stronger than before.


    "Hopefully, I''ll get to fight Arke before Bel," Apollo muttered. If Bel died in the first round, Apollo would deeply regret it. Anyway, he had done his best, and it was up to luck and her skill whether she would live or not.


    Apollo still hadn''t decided if he would save her if things went awry. "I should worry about it later."


    It was only guilt and the possible regret that would come afterward if he kept Bel in the dark.


    After a while, the host, who was still talking to the audience, received a message that all the participants had taken their numbers. With this information, he diverted the conversation back to the exam.


    "Now, we will start the first round!" the host shouted, and the audience cheered. It was like they had rehearsed this beforehand.


    The first two fighters went up on stage, and although they were not the well-known ones, the audience still shouted in excitement, remembering their previous performances.


    Apollo also watched intently, in case he would have to fight one of them.

 Chapter 131 Manager Fus Turn

    Manager Fu sat in his office behind his desk, holding a piece of paper with glasses perched on his nose. A frown creased his face as he struggled to focus on reading the document.


    "D*mn it! What''s taking him so long?!" Manager Fu cursed, slamming the paper down on the table. He stood up and walked to the window, looking across the street at the restaurant where the line had already surpassed theirs. "What''s happening over there?!"


    As he fumed with anger, considering whether to go to the Filly Restaurant himself, the door opened, and he saw Alek walking out.


    "There he is!" For a moment, Manager Fu thought he saw a satisfied smile on his assistant''s face before it quickly disappeared. Because of the distance, the manager wasn''t sure if he was imagining things. "Let''s see what he has to say."


    He went back to his chair and pretended to be engrossed in his work.


    It didn''t take long for a knock to come at the door.


    "Come in," Manager Fu shouted, and his assistant walked inside. Putting down the paper, he looked up and raised an eyebrow at Alek. "What took you so long?"


    Hearing the cold tone, Alek visibly tensed up. "M-my apologies! But I was too engrossed in investigating and did my best to learn everything about that restaurant!"


    "Oh?" Manager Fu put down his glasses. "Tell me what you have found out."


    This was the important matter at hand, and the manager stared at his assistant intently.


    "They¡ª" Alek hesitated, unsure whether to tell the truth or not. If he told the truth, Manager Fu would definitely get angry at him for taking so much time eating all the food across the street. It would be disrespectful to Skyline and the manager himself. But if he didn''t tell the truth... It didn''t take him long to decide. "They''ve done something."


    "No sh*t, of course, I know that," Manager Fu said, starting to get annoyed.


    "It''s about their food," Alek hurriedly said. "It''s... it''s..."


    "It''s what? Don''t beat around the bush and just hurry up!" Manager Fu shouted.


    "It''s a lot better than ours," Alek explained, looking away with a guilty expression.


    Hearing this, Manager Fu looked at his assistant in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"


    "Exactly what I said. The quality of their food has already surpassed ours," Alek said, staring back at the manager.


    "That''s impossible! Skyline is the only meat distributor in the city! And even if they managed to find some outside, the city wouldn''t let them get it through!" Manager Fu said, a frown appearing on his face.


    Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire


    "I know," Alek nodded, then shook his head. "They''re not using high-quality monster meat like ours, but the way they cook it is entirely different."


    Hearing this, Manager Fu''s eyes shone with understanding. "A new cooking method?"


    "Perhaps. I couldn''t get close to the kitchen. There''s a small window, but it wasn''t enough to see everything," Alek said. He also suspected this might be the case, but that could only explain the Filly''s menu item, ''Meat Cooked in Oil,'' not the other dishes. "And I don''t think it''s that simple."


    "Tell me," Manager Fu said, more curious than ever. The line in front of the Filly Restaurant was long, longer than theirs. It had reached the point where some of their customers had decided to join the opponent''s line.


    "They have other dishes¡ªdifferent and something I''ve never seen before," Alek explained, and just thinking about it made him crave the food again.


    "A new dish?" Manager Fu raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes," Alek nodded.


    Manager Fu put a hand under his chin. "Hmm, it''s impossible for them to have created something new."


    "May I ask why?"


    "If they had, they would have released it long ago," Manager Fu smirked, though it immediately disappeared. "Tell me more, this time with more detail." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alek recalled the investigation he had done, especially the taste and appearance of the new dishes he had eaten.


    "So that''s the reason why it took you so long?!" Manager Fu slapped his assistant''s head, causing a resounding sound to echo in the room.


    "M-my apologies!" Alek said.


    "You just helped them gain more sales!" Manager Fu said angrily.


    "I couldn''t help it," Alek replied with a bitter smile. "It was just too good."


    "And you even have the guts to say that!" Manager Fu raised his hand and started smacking his assistant''s head once more.


    "Ah! Sorry!"


    After the two of them calmed down, Manager Fu went back to his seat.


    "Let''s think of a plan," Manager Fu said. "Clearly, this new dish is the reason why that little girl''s restaurant is gaining traction. Although we don''t know where it came from, it''s clear as day that our branch is losing."


    "So what do you want to do? I''ve tried making a scene¡­ but their eyes¡­ I couldn''t stand it," Alek said, his face turning red from embarrassment as he recalled making a scene inside the Filly Restaurant.


    "You still lack the guts," Manager Fu sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "In this situation, we''ve already let them take our legs. We have to fight back."


    "How?" Alek asked.


    "But before that, I will have to personally see our enemies," Manager Fu said.


    "But I''ve already done that!"


    "Fool, what you just told me isn''t enough! Besides, I am the one who''s making the plan, and I need to personally experience what you just described!" Manager Fu said, standing up and walking towards the door.


    "Oh! You are right!"


    ¡­


    Twenty to thirty minutes later.


    Manager Fu stood in line outside the Filly Restaurant. Hearing the voices of anticipation and excitement from the other people waiting, he couldn''t help but become more curious.


    Apparently, some of them had been here yesterday, or this morning, and it was already nearing evening, yet they were back again.


    They have regulars who are willing to eat three times a day? It seems like what Alek described is true. The new dish must be that delicious.


    Actually, when he first heard the description, he couldn''t believe it, but as Alek recalled his experience in more detail, Manager Fu began to crave these new dishes himself.


    Now, Manager Fu was wearing simple clothing that might make one think he was a commoner. Although a bit uncomfortable, he decided to wear this outfit for the sake of the secret investigation.


    He had to wait for at least forty minutes before it was his turn.


    Ah, finally! He almost lost his patience. Letting out a sigh of relief, he entered the restaurant. But the moment he took a step inside, someone blocked his path.


    "Sorry, you can''t enter this restaurant," Ned said.


    "Wait, why?!" Manager Fu frowned. "I have been waiting for forty minutes! You can''t just say that!"


    "Aren''t you the manager of the Skyline branch?" Ned asked, his eyes turning cold. "There''s no way we wouldn''t recognize our own enemy."

 Chapter 132 The End Of Rivalry(Part-1)

    After two rounds of fighting on the stage, an interesting pair came up. Apollo, who had been watching all this time, sat upright and stared at the two participants with anticipation in his eyes.


    "Yohan and Michael. This round will end their rivalry," Apollo muttered. It was like he was watching two UFC fighters on stage finally settling their scores, but this was even more exciting.


    The two had already fought in the first test, but because Apollo had only watched for a while, he didn''t get to see much of their fight. Though he already had a good guess about their capabilities and was pretty confident that he could defeat them without breaking a sweat.


    Nevertheless, rivals fighting against each other is still a pretty interesting thing, and it''s quite hard to determine who will be the final winner, as the two have almost the same strength, even though one of them has a higher cultivation stage than the other.


    After the two of them talked to each other, the referee raised his hand and began the fight.


    With a strong banging sound, a translucent two-meter fist and a serpent collided with each other, causing great winds to erupt as the audience shouted in excitement.


    Because the five stages had combined into one, the two football field-sized platform served as the participants'' fighting area, providing them with more maneuverability. And, considered top students, they could cover the whole platform in just a few seconds.


    On top of the stage, the moment their attacks landed, Yohan and Michael used their Movement Techniques, instantly passing through the dust cloud and meeting inside, with their fists colliding!


    With a banging sound, the dust cloud was pushed away, and because Michael was physically weaker than his opponent, he had to take a couple of steps back in order to stabilize his body.


    Taking this chance, Yohan sent another giant fist!


    But expecting this, Michael conjured another serpent from the aura around him and made it act as a shield, protecting him from the fist that shattered along with his newly conjured serpent.


    The Great Serpent Technique is a Battle Technique that allows its user to increase their strength and, along with it, summon the Great Serpent for both offense and defense. It was meant for Qi Condensation Cultivators and above, but because of Michael''s talent and compatibility with the technique, he learned it even though his Cultivation was still at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building Stage.


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    "You really are giving it your best!" Michael shouted, his eyes staring at Yohan with seriousness.


    "Ha, of course I will. If I don''t, I will never be able to fight my true rival!" Yohan shouted back, both his hands covered by a light blue translucent fist.


    Being a student from the Sword and Shield Martial School, his battle techniques were all very straightforward. The one he was using was a Technique that increased his attack and allowed him to also perform long-ranged attacks. He also had a defensive technique, though he preferred to only use it when necessary.


    "True rival? Hahaha! Okay then! But only if you defeat me!" With that said, Michael''s body, which was covered in a haze, became brighter, and two Great Serpents emerged, their mouths open as they sped towards the brute in the distance!


    "You are not worthy of my time!" Yohan shouted, using his Movement Technique to try to cross the two serpents in front of him, but their bodies moved strangely and appeared in front of him, blocking his path and forcing him to fight them instead.


    This time, Michael focused on keeping Yohan busy while he gathered the Qi in the surrounding area. The haze on one part of his body began moving strangely, a form threatening to emerge but failing within a second.


    Expecting this, Michael continued to stall for time. It was very taxing on his energy, as he was attempting to create another projection of the Great Serpent.


    Suddenly, an explosion sounded as one of his projections shattered. Seeing this, Michael hurriedly reconstructed the broken one, causing his attempt to create the third serpent to fail.


    Yohan was moving around the stage while the Great Serpents followed him. The sight of a translucent fist striking the two snakes made the audience cheer in excitement, especially when the brute managed to shatter one of them. Although their speed was fast and not many people could see the details, this didn''t stop them from shouting at the top of their lungs.


    "I got it!" Michael muttered, a confident smile appearing on his face. With enough Qi to fuel his technique, he managed to create another projection of the Great Serpent from his body. "You''re dead!"


    The serpent roared as if it were truly alive. Michael gave the order, and the third serpent joined the chase.


    Continuous banging echoed on the stage as the Great Serpents slammed against the floor or landed blows on the brute.


    Slowly, Yohan began showing signs of an opening, and when one fully presented itself, Michael immediately took the chance. One of the serpents landed a hit, sending Yohan into the air. But it was not the end; the other serpent coiled around him, suspending him in mid-air. Then the third serpent came, moving faster than before, its head aimed to ram into Yohan!


    The attack landed squarely, the force sending the brute rolling across the floor while the second serpent shattered from the impact!


    Seeing this, Michael smiled in satisfaction. All it takes is one mistake to win a battle. This was the first time he had used this strategy, which is why he caught Yohan off guard. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hahaha! I guess you are the one who is not worth my time!" Michael smirked. Yohan''s momentum didn''t stop, and with a few more rolls, he would fall off the stage.


    But as Michael was about to turn around to wave at his fans, he saw Yohan raising his hand, which was covered in a giant translucent fist! A strong banging sound reverberated as Yohan punched the stage, effectively stopping himself from falling off!


    Silence lingered for a second before the audience erupted in cheers!


    "You think I will be defeated so easily?" Yohan smirked, dust clouds forming around him. "We''ve fought so many times, and you should know that."

 Chapter 133 The End Of Rivalry(Part-2)

    "Tsk," Michael stared at his rival with disdain. "It would have been better if you fell."


    "That''s impossible," Yohan shook his head, a smirk on his face as he walked toward his opponent.


    "You know what''s impossible? You defeating me!" Michael shouted, his body surrounded by a dark blue haze. Two Great Serpents emerged from it, attacking the brute!


    Seeing this, Michael smiled. "The same trick? It won''t work!"


    With his two hands covered in a light blue projection, Yohan moved his body between the two serpents and grabbed their bodies with his projected hands just as they were about to attack!


    "Argh," Yohan grunted in pain as the two heads bit into his shoulders, blood beginning to seep out. He gritted his teeth. "Take this!"


    Before Michael could gather enough Qi to summon his third Great Serpent, his body was hurled into the air as the projections were connected to the haze surrounding him!


    "Sh*t!" Michael hadn''t expected Yohan to sacrifice being injured just to pull this off! "Ahhhhh!"


    The audience cheered at the sight, some even laughed. A man holding the bodies of two serpents while being bitten by them, flinging his opponent around the stage, was a refreshing spectacle.


    Apollo couldn''t help but chuckle at the scene. "That''s a smart move."


    The brute clearly wanted to end the battle and settle their rivalry once and for all. In their previous fights, they probably didn''t want to give it their all, leaving the outcomes as draws. But now, with the grand stage they''re standing on and the audience, along with important people from the city and beyond, this is the perfect place to end it all.


    Apollo had only known them briefly, but he was quite interested in their ''bromance.'' Who would have thought that being a bystander, a spectator, would be so interesting and entertaining that the beggar didn''t want their rivalry to end?


    But alas, no matter how much Michael tried to gather the Qi, he couldn''t focus as his body was being flung around the stage, hitting the ground from time to time. He couldn''t create another Great Serpent projection to disrupt the brute''s madness.


    In the end, Yohan shouted and, using all his strength, slammed Michael into the ground!


    A loud bang reverberated throughout the arena, silencing the audience.


    Dark blue particles of light scattered across the platform while blood continued to drip to the ground. "Hehe, I won," Michael muttered. He took a deep breath and gathered the Qi from the surroundings to heal the wounds on his shoulders before he walked toward the crater in the distance where his opponent lay.


    Looking at Michael''s pretty face, now marred with bruises and blood, Yohan smirked. "I told you, I would win."


    "Michael from the Sword and Shield Martial School wins!" the referee shouted, and the audience cheered. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo, who had been sitting upright, leaned back in his chair comfortably. Fortunately, the chair was quite high, or else he wouldn''t have been able to see the stage with the viewing deck railing in front of him.


    He instinctively reached out to the table beside him, but feeling that there were no fruits left, he stood up and went inside. Someone had placed food on the table while he was busy watching the fight, and besides the fruits, dinner was served.


    "This looks like a fish," Apollo muttered, staring at the fish on the plate. As usual, it was cooked simply, but the aroma coming from it smelled like it had been prepared using other ingredients, though, upon closer inspection, the beggar couldn''t find any.


    He took all of the food and went to the viewing deck to eat there instead. Apollo was the only one doing this; the other participants just watched from their decks while standing up. As he walked toward his chair, he could feel eyes on him. Apollo turned and saw Bel and Gail in the distance, staring at him.


    Apollo raised the food high, and the two shook their heads. The other winners were also watching him, but he ignored them, sat comfortably in his chair, and started eating his meal.


    The taste of the fish made him ignore the battle about to begin on the platform.


    This fish could rank at the top, Apollo thought, his eyes widening as he took a bite. They didn''t use any ingredients besides the fish, but it could already compare to a top restaurant delicacy from his previous life.


    It was tender and juicy, without any fishy smell.


    Suddenly, he noticed a yellow fruit, almost like a lemon from his previous life but resembling an apple. This fish would taste better if I squeeze this ''lemon'' on it, he thought as he picked up the lemon-like fruit.


    Apollo raised a finger and looked at it. "Will it work?" he wondered aloud, wanting to test his idea. He placed his finger horizontally beside the fruit and sliced it!


    The round yellow fruit didn''t change, but when he looked at his finger, he saw it was covered in juice. Apollo then parted the fruit with one hand, and the lemon-like fruit split in two.


    "D*mn, this is great!" Apollo''s eyes shone with excitement. At first, he only felt like he could use the Simple Sword Technique with his finger, and seeing that he could actually do it made him smile in satisfaction.


    The Simple Sword Technique is passive when he uses objects shaped like a sword, but when he uses objects such as the tree branch inside his robe or part of his body, he has to use it actively, or he would have accidentally killed himself long ago.


    With this confirmed, he squeezed the ''lemons'' over the fish.


    Apollo then tasted the food, hoping for a sour flavor, but to his disappointment, only the taste of the fish filled his mouth. Tilting his head, he tried squeezing the lemon-like fruit again, but there was no effect; the taste remained the same.


    "What''s wrong? Is the ''lemon'' being overpowered?" Apollo muttered before shaking his head. At the same time, the fight on the platform was about to end. The two participants were people he didn''t know, but they used a wooden sword and spear, which was a new sight to the beggar as he finished his food. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 134 Silence

    Apparently, there were more rooms than Apollo had counted. Well, it wasn''t surprising since he hadn''t counted them exactly and just estimated their number.


    After the participants on the two-football-field-sized platform finished their fight, someone Apollo knew finally came up on stage. It was Gail, fighting against another woman whose body made the male audience rise from their seats. Something else also rose, but it was better to leave it at that.


    Apollo looked at Gail, then at her opponent. It was like watching a top student going up against the "b*tch" of the school. Gail wore simple but elegant attire¡ªa dress that didn''t hinder her movement. Combined with her bun hairstyle and glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, she radiated an aura of solemnity.


    Her opponent, on the other hand, wore a tight-fitting suit embroidered with flowers, with the middle revealing her two ample mounds, seemingly on the verge of bursting from her clothes. As she walked across the stage, her perky bottom moved, causing the male audience to erupt with shouts and whistles.


    Apollo wasn''t interested in any of that; he was too "young" to think about such disgusting matters... right? Well, if it had been his previous life and he were in his twenties, he might have been among the males, secretly cheering at the sight. Of course, he would have made sure no one knew it was him.


    The Referee raised his hand and commenced the fight. The moment his words fell, Apollo leaned back in his chair and didn''t watch the battle.


    He didn''t need to because it ended the moment his back hit the chair.


    Silence lingered in the stadium, and even after the winner had left the stage, the crowd didn''t utter a word. The male''s "goddess," however, remained on the platform, clutching her stomach and coughing up blood.


    Suddenly, laughter echoed, and they turned toward a floating platform to see a man with short black hair, wearing a black Hanfu, laughing out loud.


    Apollo also turned in that direction and somewhat guessed who this person was. Gail worked for Filly, and from what he knew, Filly''s family was like Bel''s and the Leone''s. That''s probably the Head, he thought.


    It didn''t take long for the audience to come back to life as the women started cheering, compared to the men, who were silent at first.


    ¡­


    "You trained a monster," Mathias chuckled as Nathan stood beside him while the Headmasters were on the other side. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hahaha," Nathan laughed for a while. "No, she is simply talented. If she hadn''t held back, she could have killed her opponent."


    "One also needs hard work; talent is not enough," Mathias said, taking a sip from the glass in his hand.


    "That is true, but she was born to be a killer, and all I did was push her into the pit," Nathan replied with a satisfied smile.


    "A pit she won''t be able to climb out of," Mathias said, giving a sideways glance at the Kleinford head.


    "Once I''m gone, she''s the only one capable of being the family''s spear," Nathan said, his eyes turning melancholy for a moment before becoming cold. "You know, Leone is gone¡ªthe family with Core Creation, just like you¡ªbut they have become nothing but a memory. If someone of their strength can suddenly disappear overnight, what''s more for someone like me?"


    Hearing this, Mathias also became serious.


    The fall of the Leone family was a shocking event that greatly alarmed the other families, especially Kleinford and Helflick, who had close ties with the Leone. However, as expected of the wolf in disguise, they immediately went for the remaining assets, leaving the Leone with almost nothing. Even their mansion was gone, confiscated by the City.


    Mathias glanced at the families on the platform, merrily talking and eating with each other. Some of them actively took part in seizing the remaining businesses, while the others only watched.


    His family and the Kleinford tried to stop some of them, but they remained adamant. Mathias didn''t use his Core Creation strength out of respect and relied only on laws and agreements. But he ended up "defeated." In the end, the remnants of the Leone family didn''t stand a chance.


    Mathias waved his hand slightly, and they were covered by an invisible film. "It''s impossible for the perpetrator to be acting alone." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know," Nathan nodded. "It''s them. It''s the only logical explanation."


    "They are willing to break the balance," Mathias commented, a cold smile appearing on his face. "But I won''t let them."


    "Oh? Is that why you said those words to the Headmasters?" Nathan''s eyes widened in understanding.


    Mathias didn''t answer and just stared at his friend. He waved his hand again, and the invisible film disappeared. "It''s always better to be prepared. Who knows? We might experience what happened to Leone that night."


    "Haha, that man who killed the Head... I wonder who he is," Nathan chuckled, his eyes landing on the new participants on stage. "Oh, it''s your daughter."


    Hearing this, Mathias immediately turned to the platform and saw his daughter picking up a broadsword on the side, while her opponent was already waiting for her.


    "How many seconds do you think it will take for her to defeat her opponent?" Nathan asked, his tone challenging the Core Creation beside him.


    "A minute," Mathias said.


    "Only a minute? Gail is faster, then," Nathan said proudly.


    "Bel is not like the killer you trained," Mathias shook his head. "She respects her opponents¡ªunless they do something to offend her. Bel will also hold back significantly in order to learn."


    "Learn? What''s left to learn when your opponent is weaker than you?" Nathan said. "If you can defeat someone, don''t beat around the bush; just defeat them."


    "You are right, but Bel is different. She isn''t the type to hastily end a fight unless it''s necessary," Mathias explained.


    Nathan didn''t say much and just shrugged his shoulders. People fight differently, and not everyone has the same fighting style. Unless they have a master who engraves their own teachings and knowledge, habits and interests will develop, creating their own styles.


    As soon as the fight started, Bel''s opponent immediately dashed toward her. With sword in hand, Bel maintained her composure and let her opponent attack while she either defended or dodged.


    A minute passed, and Bel''s wooden broadsword shone brightly, sending her opponent rolling across the platform before falling off it. It was a calculated move that didn''t injure her opponent much. Compared to when she battered an opponent who disgusted her, the approach she just took was very gentle.

 Chapter 135 Bel Against Arke(Part-1)

    The final exam continued with Apollo defeating an opponent he didn''t know. The fight, some might say, was repetitive, as the Beggar just bombarded his adversary with Fire Blasts. However, as he used the technique more, he became more proficient, and it grew stronger.


    A person standing on one of the viewing decks watched the explosions on stage.


    "This person¡­" Arke squinted his eyes. He could sense that fighting against this small half-masked individual would be challenging. If he wanted to kill Bel, he would need to fight her as soon as possible, or there was a chance he might get injured beforehand¡ªor worse, get defeated. "They should have arranged it."


    But thinking about it, it would be too suspicious if, in the first round, he fought Bel and, let''s say, ''accidentally'' killed her.


    It was better if they were pitted against each other before the final fight.


    As the exam continued, it was finally Arke''s turn. He stepped onto the platform and defeated his opponent without breaking a sweat. Of course, he made sure his opponent was alive, but it would have been better if the guy had died, as he would now live his life in a vegetative state. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It didn''t take long for this round of the exam to end, and the new round began soon after.


    The door opened, and a white-robed man entered, holding a basket with numbers.


    Seeing this, Arke walked toward the man, and the two looked at each other. "Pick carefully," the man said. Arke''s hand stopped midair before he put it inside the basket.


    He moved his hand around, carefully touching each piece of paper until he felt one with a slight crease. Arke stared at the white-robed man, who avoided his gaze. Smirking, he pulled out the paper.


    "Thanks," Arke said, the smirk not leaving his face, while the white-robed man bowed slightly and walked out of the room.


    As the door closed, Arke stared at his paper, which had the number ''1'' written on it.


    "Oh, I guess it''s showtime," Arke muttered, the smirk turning cold as his eyes narrowed dangerously.


    He walked back to his viewing deck, his eyes scanning each room. He paused for a moment at the small masked man sitting on his deck before continuing until his gaze stopped on his prey: Bel Helflick, who was staring at her paper.


    Bel looked up, and their eyes met. Like a spark igniting between them, they locked gazes with intensity.


    "You are dead," Arke mouthed. He didn''t care if Bel took the hint or thought he was just being provocative. But no matter what she thought, she was going to die.


    ¡­


    "After this round, it will be time to determine the top students," Apollo muttered, staring at his paper before putting it away. He had the number ''3'' written on it, and it seemed like he wouldn''t have to wait long.


    Around this time, the host took the stage, hyping up the audience.


    "We have a very interesting lineup for this round!" the host shouted, excitement evident in his voice. He looked around at the audience as he continued. "Just hearing about these two fights will definitely make your blood boil! Two well-known Martial Students are going to start this round! And without further ado, let''s get started!"


    The audience erupted in cheers, while Apollo couldn''t help but frown.


    Hearing the host, there were only two individuals he could think of.


    "Don''t tell me, they''re going to fight now?" Apollo muttered. Sure enough, the audience''s excitement reached an all-time high as the two participants walked toward the platform. "I guess this is the perfect time to do it, to reduce suspicion."


    Apollo turned to the platform and saw the Mayor already standing beside the railing. This was the first time Klown had shown great interest in the Exam; previously, he had just sat around talking with visitors as if the Advancement Examination didn''t exist at all.


    Clearly, the Mayor was planning something. Why would he want to kill the daughter of the only Core Creation Cultivator in the city, and a very important noble family member at that? Apollo was curious but shook his head, deciding to just watch since it didn''t concern him.


    He was here for his own mission, to complete it and not to meddle with the city''s hidden agenda.


    But if Bel died here, he wondered what the Mayor''s next move would be. Would they protect Arke or let him fend for himself? If they decided to protect him, Apollo would have a chance to kill his target, but if they chose to abandon Arke, Apollo would have to think of other ways to complete his mission. Furthermore, if Bel managed to defeat Arke, Apollo might have to reconsider his approach. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    Sitting upright to get a better view of the stage, Apollo didn''t want to miss a thing in this fight. This time, the two participants would have to show their true strength¡ªno holding back, with both revealing all their cards.


    This was a fight that no one should miss, as it didn''t happen often.


    The participants on the stage talked for a while before the Referee raised his hand and commenced the fight. The audience erupted at the same time, and the moment the Referee''s hand fell, two powerful auras erupted on the stage.


    One aura was sharp and stinging, the other destructive. The two forces clashed, trying to overpower each other, but neither gained the upper hand. However, the onlookers near the two football-field-sized platforms were affected by the auras, finding it difficult to breathe.


    Seeing this, the Referee signaled with his hands, and white-robed men with array inscriptions on their clothes landed on the stage. They performed synchronized hand movements, causing unknown characters to appear in the air before covering the entire stage.


    A somewhat visible barrier, filled with intricate writings, surrounded the platform, containing the two fighting auras inside, allowing the onlookers to breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the barrier didn''t hinder their vision, so they could watch everything.


    Apollo couldn''t help but sigh in amazement at the work of these Array Masters. Although he couldn''t understand how they did it¡ªhe hadn''t even sensed the Qi being disturbed¡ªthey still managed to conjure such a vast barrier. The barrier''s defensive capabilities were still unknown, but the spectacle was enough to be impressive.

 Chapter 136 Bel Against Arke(Part-2)

    The aura emanating from Arke was only at the Half-Step Qi Condensation stage, but it was already causing intense suffocation for the nearest onlookers. The Referee had no choice but to signal the Array Masters to conjure a One-Layer Array Inscriptions Barrier. The Referee deemed it sufficient to contain the participants'' strength.


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    "Why do you look like that?" Arke asked, a smirk on his face as he stared at his opponent. He had his hands in the pockets of his black pants, while his upper uniform was unbuttoned at the top.


    The uniform of the Great Serpent Cultivation School was a combination of Hanfu and Tang suit styles. Although simple, the colors and engravings on the clothing made it more appealing than normal attire.


    Bel''s face was serious, her eyes intently focused on Arke. She held a wooden broadsword she had chosen from the weapon racks. Being from the same Martial School, she wore the same uniform as her opponent¡ªa black-and-white uniform with a serpent insignia on the right chest.


    "What? Did you go deaf?" Arke asked mockingly, but Bel remained silent.


    In reality, she was closely observing Arke. Although they were just standing, the aura they emitted suggested that a single move could ignite a fight.


    Deep down, Bel couldn''t help but recall her conversation with Mr. Can Deez. He hadn''t come to her room just for a simple talk; Can Deez had warned her about her current opponent. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The subtle instinct she had been feeling grew stronger after their conversation. Now, standing in front of Arke, that feeling intensified even more.


    What is he trying to tell me? A frown appeared on her face, but she decided to trust Mr. Can Deez and the instincts that had never failed her.


    "I''ve heard you can enter the Void," Bel said, her tone cold as she raised her broadsword slightly.


    Arke, who had been smiling mockingly, suddenly looked at his opponent with wide eyes. "Where did you hear that?"


    "Was it supposed to be a secret?" Bel asked, an incredulous expression on her face. Why did he seem shocked? How did Mr. Can Deez hear about it if the news isn''t out there? He still doesn''t know? That''s strange.


    Arke was thinking the same thing. He hadn''t told anyone that he could enter the Void, unless someone like Holst had figured it out on his own. But that Butler only discovered it because Arke had entered the Void while Holst was watching him from the shadows.


    Did Holst spread the news? Arke frowned. But what benefit would they gain? Did the Headmasters find out about it? But I haven''t even entered the Void since the Advancement Examination!


    Arke had planned to reveal his ability when the time was right, to shock his opponents as he claimed first place. But now, Bel already knew about it!


    Furthermore, when it''s revealed that a cultivator can enter the Void, especially while still a Martial Student, it can be either a blessing or a curse that follows them for life¡ªunless they have the strength and backing to protect themselves. He wasn''t like Bel, who had the protection of a Core Creation Cultivator. He was a lone wolf in this world, relying on powerful people to survive.


    What if the Noble Families found out? They would certainly want to recruit him! And if they couldn''t, they might try to eliminate him.


    Besides, if they investigated enough, they would find out that he was closely associated with Klown, having visited him several times.


    And what if those Evil Cultivators got wind of this? They would undoubtedly come for him!


    The limelight he''d been waiting for had suddenly disappeared, leaving a bad taste in his mouth. He wanted to curse the person who let the news out!


    "Who did you hear that from?!" Arke repeated, his voice colder than before.


    Seeing her opponent so agitated, Bel couldn''t help but let out a small smile. Is this what my instinct was warning me about? Bel had a feeling she understood why he was reacting this way.


    Being able to enter the Void meant the cultivator was among the talented few who had the potential to go beyond the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage. Only a handful had managed to do so, and each one was a recognized talent. It was crucial to keep it a secret unless, like her, they had the backing of a Core Creation cultivator, such as her father, or an organization of equivalent strength.


    There were many talented individuals who could also enter the Void but had died because they couldn''t protect themselves. Even if one couldn''t enter the Void but possessed something that caught the wolves'' eyes, they would either end up dead or have that something stolen from them.


    If it were any other opponent, Bel might have sympathized, but with Arke, she felt a sense of satisfaction seeing his frustrated face.


    "Does it even matter?" Bel asked in return. "Don''t worry, if you become the first place, you won''t have to worry about them."


    Hearing this, Arke restrained his anger. Bel was right. There was no need to worry about people fighting over him if he became the first place. Besides, didn''t he have the mayor on his side?


    Arke glanced toward the floating platform in the distance. Despite the distance, he could still see the mayor clearly. Well, who couldn''t?


    "Yeah, I can enter it," Arke admitted, a confident smile returning to his face. "Haha, surprised? You''re no longer number one."


    "Do you think being number one is my goal?" Bel shook her head. "It''s merely a stepping stone, and what I aim for is beyond that. You can have it if you want, but only if you can defeat me."


    "Tsk! You''re really a b*tch," Arke spat on the ground. "But it doesn''t matter. Talk big all you want; in the end, you''ll fall before my hands."


    Arke scanned her from head to toe, licking his lips.


    "Those filthy eyes of yours," Bel''s expression turned to anger. What she hated most were men like him. And the person in front of her embodied everything she despised. There were many rumors about Arke, most of them true.


    A murderer, someone who forced himself on women without their consent, and even made them suffer.


    Bel hated this person the most.


    "You should be grateful I''m still willing to give you this gaze, but alas, such a shame," Arke said with a sigh.


    "We won''t get anywhere talking like this," Bel said. "Let''s end this once and for all!"

 Chapter 137 Bel Against Arke(Part-3)

    There are different types of swords one can use: longsword, shortsword, two-handed, double-edged, rapier, broadsword, and more. Sword Cultivators, who use swords as their weapon, also focus on cultivating the Way of the Sword.


    Cultivation is mysterious and profound.


    They find enlightenment in all kinds of things, and those who do achieve something extraordinary. Well, Cultivation itself is beyond the ordinary. Initially, they used fists and words, but once they took up swords, Sword Cultivators were born.


    Techniques upon techniques have been created throughout the river of time. Countless wars bathed the land in blood as Cultivators began to study the Cultivation of Weapons.


    Bel Helflick uses a broadsword, a weapon of choice for many Martial Students and veterans. With its wide blade and double sharp edges, it''s a very popular sword. This sword also allows the user to extend their reach, giving them enough room to breathe.


    Bel cultivates the Great Serpent Sword Technique, a Battle Technique that Headmaster Axton personally used. She earned the technique when she placed first in the school''s competition¡ªat a time when she was only in her first year, which immediately drew people''s attention to her.


    It''s a technique that doesn''t rely on the type of sword used, but Bel feels most comfortable wielding a broadsword.


    She raised the sword in front of her and began using the technique. Bel closed her eyes, and the moment she opened them, a sharp glint flickered in her gaze. The wooden broadsword suddenly glowed, and the roar of a mythical serpent echoed from it.


    She had barely completed the Beginner Stage of the technique, and if she wanted to reach the next stage, she needed another enlightenment. However, the pressure radiating from the technique made her opponent activate his own, proving that her current stage was sufficient.


    Arke''s surroundings suddenly heated up, while his body became enveloped in dark, murky smoke.


    "I''m going all out!" Arke shouted, his cold eyes locked on his opponent. "And I must say, I can''t control this technique very well!"


    "Can''t control it? Who would believe that?" Bel smirked.


    "Then don''t blame me if something goes wrong!" With that, Arke lowered his stance, placing his hands in front of him.


    Bel mirrored his movement, but neither made the first move.


    They knew each other''s capabilities, especially their techniques, as they had fought numerous times before. One wrong move could be fatal, so they carefully observed each other''s movements.


    This time, they remained silent as the audience held its breath.


    The referee, however, watched the two contestants intently. If there was little disparity in their strength, there was a chance one of their moves could end the other''s life. He had to remain vigilant and be ready to act the moment the situation became life-threatening.


    Suddenly, Bel''s and Arke''s auras shifted slightly, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished from their spots. When they reappeared, they were right in front of each other. A fist cloaked in dark, murky smoke clashed against a blindingly bright wooden broadsword, producing a powerful impact that stirred chaotic winds across the platform!


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    The silence was broken as the audience erupted with excitement!


    Bel put all her strength into her sword, but her opponent did the same. Their hands trembled, yet neither could overpower the other.


    "I have the Poison Body, you b*tch! You should know that getting close is a bad idea!" Arke shouted, and the dark smoke covering him surged toward Bel.


    "I know!" Bel responded. As if expecting this, a white light appeared above her head, and the same glowing broadsword she was holding materialized in the air, hurling itself toward Arke!


    Arke didn''t panic. Instead, he directed part of the murky smoke to block the incoming attack while sending the rest toward Bel. But Bel had already leapt back.


    The materialized broadsword collided with the smoke, exploding into a dark, watery mist.


    When one completes the Beginner Stage of the Great Serpent Sword Technique, they can duplicate the sword they''re using without losing any of the original sword''s strength. However, the number of swords the user can duplicate depends on their talent. Of course, the technique also increases attacking power and sharpness, though its true potential is only realized at the Intermediate Stage.


    Arke quickly followed after Bel, using his movement technique. Watery Qi surrounded his feet, and in just a few steps, he was right in front of her.


    He hasn''t changed, Bel thought as three bright broadswords materialized around them, shooting toward Arke before he could close the distance!


    The broadswords exploded into a watery mist as a cocoon of black, murky smoke enveloped Arke just in time. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bel smirked and swung her sword. A projection of an azure serpent emerged from her weapon, its jaws wide open as it attacked the black cocoon!


    The serpent bit into the cocoon, pushing it toward the edge of the platform. If this continued, Arke would no doubt fall off the stage!


    However, Bel narrowed her eyes. She knew it wasn''t over yet. There was no way Arke would be defeated that easily. Preparing for her next attack, she bent her knees and brought the broadsword to her side, gripping it with both hands.


    The wooden broadsword let out a faint ''weiing'' sound, vibrating softly at first. But soon, it vibrated so intensely that Bel''s arms began to shake with it.


    Bel waited, and sure enough, before the cocoon fell, it exploded, shattering the Great Serpent projection into a dark, watery mist! As the mist clouded the area, it began to churn, and Arke emerged, once again covered in dark, murky smoke!


    He possessed a physique known as the Poison Body, which gave him a natural talent for using poison. The dark smoke that surrounded him¡ªcalled Poison Dust¡ªcould be used for both offense and defense. Furthermore, when he activated Battle Techniques, he could infuse them with his poison, making them even deadlier.


    Using a Battle Technique from the Great Serpent Cultivation School that enhanced his strength, Arke dashed toward his opponent, employing his movement technique at the same time.


    Seeing that Bel was preparing for another strike, Arke smirked. Pulling his fist back, the roar of a serpent echoed, and a black projection of the Great Serpent appeared behind him!


    The audience fell silent, their eyes glued to the stage. All they could see were the glowing broadsword and the black Great Serpent, racing toward each other, ready to collide!

 Chapter 138 Bel Against Arke(Part-4)

    As Bel swung her sword with both hands, another dark blue Great Serpent emerged from it. It was almost identical to the one Arke had conjured, except for the color¡ªhis serpent represented poison, while hers was the Great Water Serpent!


    Two roars echoed throughout the venue, so powerful that the One-Layer Inscription Array Barrier surrounding the stage began to vibrate.


    The attacks collided, summoning chaotic winds and a dust cloud that obscured the view for much of the audience. But the battle wasn''t over yet. Sparks flew within the cloud, dispersing the dust and revealing Bel and Arke locked in combat, the projections of the serpents behind them intensifying the standoff.


    The two combatants moved so swiftly across the football-field-sized platform that it seemed too small for them, each covering the distance in just a few steps. The barrier continued to shudder every time Bel''s wooden sword collided with Arke''s smoke-covered fist.


    "So this is the power of the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage?" Apollo muttered, amazement clear in his voice as he watched intently, not blinking since the fight had started. Though they fought on the platform, Apollo could feel the weight behind each of their attacks.


    Bel wielded a wooden broadsword, which no longer looked like wood¡ªit was enveloped in a bright light that flowed like water whenever she swung it. Her sword movements were unpredictable yet fluid, and combined with the aura of the serpent surrounding her, the visual effects were so impressive that even the beggar began to feel jealous.


    He had learned techniques from the second exam, but Bel was demonstrating what true special effects looked like!


    Sighing, Apollo turned his attention to Arke, who remained cool despite being bombarded by swords and the projection of the Great Serpent. In fact, he didn''t seem at a disadvantage at all. Using only his fists and the dark, murky smoke surrounding him, he deflected Bel''s strikes. His composure and skill spoke to just how talented he was.


    Neither fighter made a mistake that would give their opponent an opening.


    Apollo''s fists clenched as he watched, excitement building inside him. Their strength was only at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, but the display of power was something he had only seen in movies in his previous life.


    Glancing at the floating platform, he noticed that the Headmasters didn''t appear impressed¡ªor they were simply masking their reactions. This was the first time the beggar had seen a battle of this magnitude, and he wanted to see if the Headmasters were as shocked as he was. But they gave no sign of it.


    From what Apollo knew, the participants below were only at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Gail, from what Apollo could sense, was only at the 4th-Step Foundation Stage.


    As he pondered this, a sudden exclamation from the audience snapped him out of his thoughts. Surprised, Apollo turned his attention back to the stage and saw Arke on the verge of falling off the platform. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Bel was relentlessly swinging her sword, while five to six bright broadswords appeared around them, bombarding Arke, who was doing his best to spread the murky smoke around him to block the attacks.


    ...


    "Hehe, why are you suddenly being so aggressive?" Arke chuckled. Even with just one more step before falling off the stage, he remained calm, a mocking smile on his face. The poisonous, murky dark smoke around him swirled protectively, blocking attacks from all directions while his hands skillfully deflected the bright broadsword Bel wielded.


    Bel didn''t reply, her cold eyes locked on Arke. She unleashed a horizontal slash, while one of the duplicated swords shot straight toward his chest.


    Before the sword could reach him, a barrier of dark smoke blocked it just in time, while her horizontal slash was deflected by Arke''s smoke-covered hands.


    Throughout the fight, neither had found any openings to exploit. The only reason Arke was now near the edge of the platform was because Bel''s instincts had sharpened, pushing her to put all her strength into cornering him. But his smug, unworried expression frustrated her.


    Bel could sense they were evenly matched in strength, yet she felt weighed down, as if she were being toyed with.


    Suddenly, she felt a threat from below. Without hesitation, she used her movement technique and jumped back, narrowly avoiding a sharp spike of dark smoke that had been aiming for her head.


    As soon as she landed, Arke was already in front of her! With a loud bang, she was sent flying through the air!


    Bel flipped several times before she managed to stabilize herself midair. She glanced at her wooden sword and noticed a small crack. Fortunately, she had barely blocked the attack, but the effects of the Great Serpent Sword Technique had worn off, nearly shattering her weapon.


    Looking down, she saw Arke charging toward her, watery Qi surrounding his feet as he closed in from below.


    "Sh*t!" Bel rarely cursed, but this time, it felt necessary! While still airborne, she used the surrounding Qi to propel herself away from her approaching opponent. At the same time, she raised one hand and pointed it at Arke. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although she primarily cultivated the Way of the Sword, that didn''t mean she lacked other techniques. Inscriptions appeared before her outstretched hand, and a torrent of water shot forth!


    The sudden change in direction forced Arke to pause for a split second, but it was just enough time for the water beam to strike him! Without missing a beat, he punched through the torrent, splashing water across the stage!


    As the water obscured his vision for a moment, Arke saw a flash of light. Instinctively, he created a barrier of dark, murky smoke in front of him.


    A bright blue broadsword pierced through the barrier, stopping mere inches from his forehead before dissolving into a puddle of water that splashed to the ground.


    Arke retracted the smoke and saw Bel in the distance, her glowing wooden broadsword pointed at him. Surrounding her were five or six duplicate swords, all aimed in his direction.


    "Hahaha! This is fun!" Arke laughed out loud, while the audience roared with excitement.

 Chapter 139 Bel Against Arke(Part-5)

    Apollo nearly fell from his seat as the intensity of the fight below escalated. There were moments when he was certain one of their attacks would land, but the other would always surprise him, managing to block it at the last second!


    Close calls happened one after another in mere seconds. A single mistake, and one of them could have fallen off the stage or been seriously injured. The fight was so visually captivating, it felt like watching a live-action movie, but what was happening on the stage was far more incredible!


    The second standoff between the participants brought a hush over the stadium. With floating swords surrounding Bel and the murky dark smoke enveloping Arke, Apollo decided to stand, just like the other participants from the other room. In fact, most people were already on their feet, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the platform.


    "This would be better with popcorn!" Apollo muttered in disappointment. Should I suggest that to Filly? Come to think of it, where is she? He glanced around and spotted her on one of the viewing decks, standing beside Gail, both of them watching intently with worry evident on their faces.


    It wasn''t surprising since they were close friends with Bel.


    Turning back to the stage, Apollo noticed that the two combatants were ready to resume their fight.


    "This is exciting!"


    ¡­


    Arke laughed for a moment before his eyes turned cold, a dangerous smile curling on his lips. "Sigh¡­ when was the last time we fought? Oh right, it was when you protected those weaklings at school. What''s so great about protecting them? Anyway, I thought that fight would finally decide who''s really stronger between us. But¡­"


    "I defeated you," Bel smirked. "Like always, I end up on top."


    "Oh, you''re right," Arke said, unfazed by his repeated losses. "But would you believe me if I told you the only reason you beat me is because I let you?"


    Hearing this, Bel''s instincts flared. What does he mean by that? He could''ve defeated me but chose not to? No, that''s impossible. In all our fights, he gave it everything he had. Shaking her head, she stared at her opponent coldly.


    "You''re just saying that to save face."


    "No, I''m saying this because I want you to know I can defeat you whenever I want!" Arke shouted, charging toward her!


    Bel swung her wooden sword, sending the floating, glowing broadswords hurtling toward Arke.


    They moved fast, closing in on him in an instant, but with his movement technique, Arke narrowly dodged them, stopping right in front of Bel. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He threw a punch with his smoke-covered hand, but Bel met him with a horizontal slash, forcing him to step back. Instead of being discouraged, though, a confident smile spread across his face.


    Bel quickly conjured another set of five or six copies of her glowing wooden broadsword. Without wasting a moment, she sent them flying at Arke, who was already closing in again.


    But she wouldn''t let him have his way. Activating her movement technique, Bel engaged Arke in close combat, all while distracting him with the floating broadswords surrounding them.


    "Got you!" Bel exclaimed, a wide smile spreading across her face as one of the floating swords struck Arke''s back! Seizing the opportunity, she gathered Qi around her wooden sword, and the roar of a serpent echoed. With a powerful slash, the Great Serpent projection surged forward, attacking Arke head-on!


    "Haha!" Arke laughed, crossing his arms in front of him, allowing the Great Serpent projection to slam into him!


    The impact sent water splashing into the air, and Arke''s body tumbled across the ground. After rolling several times, he pushed off with his hands, flipped mid-air, and landed squarely on his feet. His hands ached, but he still laughed and dashed forward again!


    Seeing this, Bel was stunned. What''s wrong with this guy?


    But this worked in her favor, so she didn''t hesitate. Conjuring more duplicates of her glowing broadsword, she kept sending them toward Arke, who dodged and blocked as best he could.


    Whenever Arke got within a meter of her, one of the floating swords would find its way to his body, disrupting his movements and giving Bel the chance to strike with her sword.


    Once again, Arke rolled across the ground, but it was as if he didn''t feel the blows at all. He sprang to his feet and charged at her, desperate to get as close as possible.


    Arke was practically sacrificing his body just to land a hit! But it was a foolish tactic, as his body kept taking damage over and over. If this continued, Bel would surely win!


    Even the audience was perplexed, unable to understand what was happening.


    Another Great Serpent materialized, attacking Arke and nearly pushing him off the platform. He barely managed to use his movement technique to close the gap between them.


    This cycle repeated several times, until Arke''s face was covered in blood.


    Bel gritted her teeth. Like the others, she couldn''t understand what was going on. Arke was smarter than this! What the hell is wrong with him? This was practically suicide! She didn''t feel sorry for him, but she worried she might accidentally kill him, which she didn''t want.


    "Hahaha!" Arke laughed, his bloodied face just a foot away from hers. Bel punched him with her free hand, but he came back, his mouth full of blood. "I''ve decided I don''t care anymore! This is the real me!"


    Bel frowned as her instincts screamed at her. Something was very wrong.


    With another loud bang, Arke was slammed to the ground again, but like before, he got back up as if nothing had happened. The dark, murky smoke surrounding him made him look like a devil.


    "But don''t blame me! I can''t control this! Hahaha!" Arke cackled as another slash hit his chest.


    I need to end this madness now, Bel thought, the unease inside her growing stronger with each passing moment.


    "You''ve gone crazy, Arke," Bel said, gripping her wooden broadsword with both hands and positioning it in front of her. "I don''t know what''s gotten into you, but as always, I will defeat you!"


    "Then do it!" Arke shouted, though this time he paused to allow Bel to prepare for her attack.


    Bel took it as a challenge. The glow on her wooden broadsword intensified, rippling like water, while the roar of the Great Serpent echoed as its projection materialized above her!


    "Take this!" Bel raised her wooden sword high. Using the Great Serpent Sword technique to its fullest, she swung down with all her might.


    At the same time, Arke made his move, his confident smile never faltering. "Hahaha!"


    A loud bang echoed across the arena, and the audience, on the verge of cheering, suddenly froze, their eyes widening in disbelief at what they were witnessing.


    Meanwhile, Apollo frowned.


    "Why didn''t she fully commit to her technique?" he muttered to himself.


    Back on the stage, Bel rolled across the ground several times before managing to stop by stabbing her wooden sword into the platform. It glowed faintly, flickering before it finally broke as she steadied herself.


    Bel coughed up a mouthful of blood, and when she saw the color, her eyes widened in shock. "You poisoned me?"


    "Did I?" Arke raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I already told you, I have the Poison Body. Getting too close to me is bad for your health."


    "Don''t give me that b*llshit! I know about your Poison Body!" Bel spat, wiping her mouth as she stood up. "We''ve fought before, and your poison wasn''t strong enough to harm me. But this time, you did something different."


    Arke shrugged, a playful gleam in his eyes. "I don''t know. Maybe."


    "Tsk," Bel gritted her teeth. She raised her broken wooden sword and pointed it at him. She tried to gather Qi to brighten the broadsword again, but it didn''t take long before she realized something was terribly wrong. She coughed up another mouthful of blackened blood.


    "Too bad," Arke said, appearing in front of her in an instant and punching her square in the chest!


    Bel was sent flying once more, crashing into the stage and raising a cloud of dust.


    Before Arke could rush toward her again, the dust cloud swirled, and the broken wooden broadsword flew at him! Smirking, he casually tilted his head, letting the weapon sail past him.


    "It''s futile! Now it''s my turn!" Arke shouted. He dashed toward her, his fist colliding with her crossed arms as she barely managed to block in time. However, the tables had turned¡ªBel was clearly weakened. His black, murky smoke-covered fist broke through her defense, forcing her to spit up another mouthful of black blood.


    As she was flung into the air, Arke appeared beside her and struck her again, slamming her into the ground.


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    A thunderous explosion rocked the stage, causing the platform to crack!


    Dust clouds billowed, obscuring Bel''s condition, but the sound of fists clashing continued to echo from within.

 Chapter 140 Mathias Rage(Part-1)

    Silence lingered in the air as the unexpected unfolded.


    No one uttered a word, their eyes fixed on the swirling dust cloud where the sound of battle continued.


    Suddenly, the roar of a serpent broke through the tension, and a black Great Serpent emerged from the smoke, diving back into the cloud with a resounding crash!


    The dust churned, and Bel''s body was hurled into the air, crashing onto the platform and rolling dozens of times. In her wake, streaks of her tainted, blackened blood marked the ground. Even the audience could tell something was terribly wrong with her.


    Bel struggled to stand, her hands trembling, her head spinning. She coughed up another mouthful of blood and wiped her mouth, glaring at her opponent as he slowly approached. She finally understood how Arke had done this.


    Now it made sense¡ªwhy he had acted so recklessly, why he hadn''t cared about getting injured. Every time he got close to her, he would reach out, and a small amount of dark, murky smoke would seep into her body. At first, she hadn''t thought much of it, believing her body could withstand the smoke. But this time was different¡ªhe was actively forcing the dark smoke inside her.


    Worse, the smoke inside her was far more potent than what he let out during their earlier fights. It was so strong that it was disrupting her ability to gather Qi from the surroundings.


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    Bel only realized this when they fought within the dust cloud. With each of Arke''s punches, more dark smoke enveloped her, and now he wasn''t even trying to hide it.


    Her instincts were screaming louder than ever¡ªwarning her of one thing.


    Death. She could sense it. Yet her eyes remained resolute.


    At the same time, the Referee sent a thought to her. "Do you want to concede?" His tone was neutral, but anyone looking at his face would see a frown.


    Bel glanced at the Referee and shook her head.


    "You should accept his offer," Arke said with a smirk, clenching his fist. Her actions made it clear the Referee had asked if she wanted to admit defeat. "Let me tell you this: I can''t control my power."


    "And let me tell you this: I will never give up!" Bel shouted, lowering her stance before dashing toward him.


    Arke sighed, though it was more for show than anything. He accepted her charge with open arms¡ªbut clenched fists!


    With a thunderous crack, Arke''s fist struck her chest, sending her flying backward. Not wasting the opportunity, Arke activated his movement technique and caught up to her.


    Their eyes met as Bel barely managed to regain her footing.


    "Goodbye," Arke whispered, his right hand now enveloped in the thick, dark murky smoke¡ªso dense it nearly took on a liquid form. "Let''s meet in the afterlife." His words were spoken softly, meant only for her to hear.


    Bel''s eyes widened, and before she could comprehend the meaning of his words, his fist slammed into her chest. The sickening crack of bones echoed, followed by her body soaring through the air and crashing into the One-Layer Inscription Barrier!


    The barrier hummed and vibrated for a moment, and with a dull thud, Bel collapsed outside the stage.


    The sound woke the audience, still in shock, who burst into cheers. Some favored Bel, while others rooted for Arke. However, the fight was far more spectacular than they had expected, making their blood boil! They were amazed at how evenly matched the two were, especially when it seemed like one was about to lose, only for the other to make a sudden comeback.


    "Arke wins!" the Referee announced, raising his hand.


    White-robed men rushed to Bel''s side to check her condition, while the Host stepped onto the stage, about to offer congratulations and comment on the incredible fight. Suddenly, something flashed before their eyes. The white-robed men around Bel took a few steps back and bowed their heads.


    The Host noticed the newcomer and, upon recognizing who it was, stood respectfully straight and fell silent.


    The only Core Creation Cultivator in Klown City appeared beside Bel. Glancing at his pale daughter, her mouth stained with black blood, he spread his senses over her entire body. Mathias''s face darkened when he sensed the volume of poison within her. He turned to the participant still on the stage and glared at him with cold, piercing eyes.


    The audience, unaware of the tension, continued to chatter, making the arena quite noisy. This further soured Mathias''s mood. "Too noisy," he muttered. As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire venue fell silent as a suffocating pressure emanated from him.


    The pressure weighed on everyone in the venue, making it hard for them to even open their mouths. Though they could still breathe, the relief was short-lived.


    At the center of the pressure, Arke was already kneeling on the ground. Sweat poured down his face as he gasped for air. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A blur appeared in his peripheral vision, and when Arke looked up, he saw a boot in front of him. Staring up, he found Mathias looming over him with cold, unblinking eyes.


    "Y-Your Excellency, w-what¡­ brings you¡­ here?" Arke stammered, his voice barely audible as he struggled to speak, taking in large gulps of air between words.


    "You know what you did," Mathias said, his low voice cutting straight through Arke.


    "I¡­ I¡­ don''t know¡­ what you¡­ mean¡ª" Arke''s face contorted as he clutched his throat. The pressure was unbearable, and speaking any more would likely make him pass out.


    "Pretend all you want." Mathias raised his right hand toward Arke''s head, his eyes flashing dangerously as a terrifying light erupted from them. "I''ll give you one last chance to admit what you''ve done. Don''t blame me if I can''t control my powers."


    Hearing this, Arke''s eyes widened. He quickly masked his surprise with fear. He glanced around, hoping for help, but saw no one stepping forward. Damn it! Are they just going to abandon me?!


    "Your chance is gone," Mathias muttered as strong winds whipped around them. Particles of light gathered in his palm, forming into a small white ball aimed at Arke''s head. "Begone."


    Arke''s mind went blank as the Core Creation Cultivator''s words hit him. Only one thought occupied his mind.


    I''m going to die.


    "I wouldn''t advise that," a voice suddenly echoed, making both Arke and Mathias turn toward the source.


    "Holst," Mathias said, narrowing his eyes at the newcomer.

 Chapter 141 Mathias Rage(Part-2)

    Apollo had long known that Arke intended to kill Bel, and even as she lay battered, coughing up black blood, he didn''t intervene. He had already given his warning and decided he would only step in if he felt like it.


    As Bel was thrown outside the stage, crashing into the barrier, Apollo glanced toward the floating platform and saw Mathias watching the battle intently. His face betrayed no emotion, and the people beside him said little. But with one look, the Beggar could tell that some of them were enjoying the show.


    "Is he just going to stand there?" Apollo muttered. His daughter was in grave danger¡ªsurely, he must have noticed something was wrong, right? And sure enough, before the white-robed men could reach Bel, the Core Creation Cultivator became a blur.


    Apollo was stunned. When he looked down, Mathias was already standing beside his daughter. He''s too fast! Apollo hadn''t even seen him move! He hadn''t even blinked, and Mathias was gone!


    The power of Core Creation¡­ the thought made Apollo clench his fist, excitement sparking in his eyes. Shaking his head, he refocused on what was happening below.


    Mathias stood next to his daughter, and suddenly released a pressure so intense that Apollo felt his knees weaken. The audience went silent, as if someone had pressed a mute button.


    The pressure gripped Apollo''s throat, making him frown. He tried to calm himself, hoping it would ease the pressure, but it remained the same. With a sigh, he decided to just endure the heaviness weighing on him and observe.


    Seeing Mathias disappear from his spot and reappear in front of the already kneeling Arke, Apollo raised an eyebrow. "Seems like he''s been caught." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, the question was whether they would protect Arke. Mathias raised his hand, and particles gathered before it, coalescing into a bright, small ball. That''s when another blur appeared, and a newcomer arrived on the two-football-field platform.


    "Oh, he''s here. So they''ve decided to protect him," Apollo muttered. "This is getting interesting."


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    "I advise you not to do that," Holst said, glancing briefly at Arke before fixing his gaze on the Core Creation Cultivator. Bowing his head, he continued, "Bel is injured, but she''s still alive. Their strength disparity is small, and it''s inevitable that one of them would gravely injure the other. Furthermore, the Referee asked if Bel wanted to concede, but she chose to continue the fight."


    "Oh? You think I''m a fool?" Mathias replied, a cold smile forming on his face, his eyes burning brighter. "There''s poison inside her body. A poison so potent, it could kill even a Core Creation Cultivator like me within hours if left untreated."


    "There''s poison?" Holst tilted his head slightly, appearing ''confused.'' "But it doesn''t matter. The fight is over, and Arke didn''t break any rules. Bel is still alive¡ªwe should send her to the Healer Room to administer an antidote for the poison. Surely, they must have one for a Poison Body."


    "Poison Body? A mere Poison Body can do that?" Mathias''s voice grew lower and heavier with each passing second. "I doubt the Healer Room has an antidote for this."


    "If that''s what you believe¡­" Holst shook his head. "Then there''s nothing more we can do."


    Mathias pointed his hand at the butler, the small ball of light spinning rapidly. "Why are you the one speaking to me?"


    "It was the Mayor''s order," Holst said.


    The Core Creation Cultivator turned to the floating platform and saw Mayor Klown glaring at them, his face dark with anger. That f*cking pig, Mathias thought. He was furious, his mind in turmoil. Normally calm and collected, the sight of his daughter suffering from a potent poison that didn''t come from a Poison Body had shattered his composure. All he wanted now was to crush these people.


    "Mayor? Hahaha!" Mathias laughed bitterly. "Do you think I''ll let a Mayor dictate what I can do?"


    Holst frowned, his smile vanishing. Murmurs rippled through the floating platform as the noble families whispered among themselves.


    "He''s lost it. He''s openly disrespecting the mayor in front of everyone."


    "Yeah, but Bel''s alive, and the fight was fair. Arke''s poison is part of his cultivation. It would be unfair if he couldn''t use it."


    The whispers were divided¡ªsome supported Mathias, while others were against him.


    Nathan glanced at those claiming the fight had been fair and square, disgust flashing in his eyes. Fools, he thought. Mathias wouldn''t act like this unless something was seriously wrong. Clearly, Mathias had sensed something off, and it was likely related to the poison. If that was true, the matter needed investigation.


    But when it came to a Poison Body cultivator, using poison wasn''t considered cheating¡ªthat was their strength. According to the rules, killing an opponent was strictly prohibited. However, the Host had stated that fights between participants with minimal strength disparity could lead to grave injuries, and even death. If a death was proven accidental, the fight could continue.


    The current situation was tricky. Bel was still alive, but if she died after the round ended, it wouldn''t be Arke''s fault¡ªunless it was proven he intentionally tried to kill her.


    As the Mayor listened to Mathias''s blatant disrespect, his face flushed red with rage. How dare he?! I''m the Mayor, the one who runs this city! You live under me! You''re not from one of the Martial Schools to talk like that!


    He glanced at the Headmasters, who had remained silent. Although most of the participants were from the Martial Schools, this event was a joint one, which was why the rewards included the top martial students having access to the city''s own Cultivation Library.


    Klown had a say in what was happening.


    "Master Axton, Master Popo, Master Elmo," Klown called out to the three main Headmasters. "Please, tell Mathias to stop this madness."


    Master Axton, the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, glanced at Klown, then turned back to the platform. He said nothing, simply watching.


    At that moment, Mathias aimed his hand back at the kneeling Arke. "Any last words?"


    "Stop it," Holst said, but his only response was the sound of the glowing ball of light spinning faster in Mathias''s hand, growing brighter.


    "I... I..." Arke stammered, unable to find words. Desperately, he turned to Holst with pleading eyes. Please, save me!


    Holst looked away, but Arke noticed the faintest hint of a smile on the butler''s face before it vanished.


    As the tension reached its peak and Mathias prepared to turn the student before him into ashes, someone sent him a thought transfer. It was the second time someone had tried to interfere, and his frustration flared, but when he heard the voice, he calmed slightly.


    ''Calm down, Mathias.''


    The Core Creation Cultivator looked back toward the floating platform and saw Master Axton staring at him intently.

 Chapter 142 Mathias Rage(Part-3)

    Seeing that the Core Creation cultivator had suddenly stopped moving and was just staring at the floating platform, Apollo couldn''t help but tilt his head.


    "What''s wrong with him?" Apollo muttered. "Is he not going to kill Arke? Wait, that can''t be right. If he did, would it be considered mission complete?"


    Unable to come up with an answer, he turned to the System.


    "Hey, System, if Arke dies without me personally killing him, does it count as mission complete?" Apollo asked.


    A translucent interface materialized before him, with words appearing on it, followed by the emotionless voice of the System echoing in his head.


    "Yes, the mission states: Kill the hooded man who threw you in the alley. If the Hooded Man dies by other means, it will be considered Mission Complete."


    "Oh, that''s good to hear!" Apollo clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he watched the ongoing scene. Come on, father of Bel! Kill him! You''re better than this! Don''t waste time!


    If Mathias killed Arke, then Apollo wouldn''t have to fight his prey at all. But as the seconds passed, the Core Creation cultivator still didn''t move, continuing to stare at the platform.


    This made Apollo raise an eyebrow. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He glanced at the platform and noticed something unusual. That''s odd. The Qi is behaving strangely again.


    The Qi moved in subtle, wave-like patterns, and Apollo realized he wouldn''t have noticed it earlier if the crowd had still been shouting. Narrowing his eyes, he traced the source of the signal to one of the Headmasters, who had a thin black sword at his side.


    Apollo didn''t know this man, but he could tell he was powerful.


    They''re exchanging signals, he thought, recalling how the butler had communicated with Arke before. However, this was happening at a much greater distance, and the wavelength was fainter. Apollo grew curious¡ªcould he tune into the signal and listen in? All he had to do was spread his senses, calibrate them to match the wavelength, and spy on their conversation.


    With this in mind, he placed his hands on the railing. Due to his height, only his head was visible, but that didn''t stop him from focusing his eyes on the wavelength, spreading his senses toward it.


    Halfway there, it felt like his senses were moving through water¡ªhe had to mentally ''paddle'' to move forward. A few feet away from the wavelength, the sensation changed, becoming like trudging through mud, each step more difficult than the last. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gritting his teeth, Apollo''s intense curiosity pushed him to his limits. He finally reached the signal, syncing with it.


    "Just do what I said," a voice entered his mind, calm and collected, with no hint of worry or urgency.


    "My daughter¡­ You''re not lying when you say you can prolong her life?" another voice asked, this one hoarse, with a tinge of frustration.


    Though they were speaking with their minds, Apollo could still distinguish their tones. So Bel''s situation really is dire. Seems like Arke did a good job, he thought, listening intently. It was difficult¡ªhe had to maintain absolute focus or risk losing the connection.


    "Don''t worry, you have the word of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Besides, we have the same enemy," the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School said.


    Mathias glanced at his daughter, then at Arke and the butler, Holst, before turning back to the platform. "Hopefully, my decision isn''t wrong."


    He lowered his hand, and his body reappeared beside his daughter. Mathias then picked her up, and the two of them disappeared in a blur.


    At the same time, the pressure that had been gripping the audience''s necks vanished. They heaved sighs of relief, with some clutching their throats.


    Apollo retracted his senses and returned to his seat. He had missed part of the secret deal, catching only the last bit of the conversation. Nevertheless, it was a success that he''d been able to tune into the signal''s frequency and hear their clandestine message.


    This ability is amazing! Apollo thought, his eyes shining. In his previous life, he had been talented in various fields, and whenever he chose to learn something new, he could master it quickly, without needing years of practice.


    Apollo admitted that his talent had been so great, it often felt like he was being held back.


    Shaking his head, he focused back on the stage. It was a shame Mathias hadn''t killed Arke, as that would''ve saved him the trouble of completing the mission himself.


    At that moment, the Host also looked toward the platform. After receiving instructions, he cleared his throat and made the announcement.


    "This round has ended fair and square! We will proceed with the next round!"


    The audience snapped out of their shock and once again filled the venue with shouts of excitement, as if the previous scene had never happened.


    ...


    Footsteps echoed through the hall as a man carrying a woman in his arms walked down the corridor. Several white-robed men passed by, bowing in great respect when they saw him.


    "Where is the Healer''s Room?" Mathias asked, his voice low and cold.


    "I''ll guide you," one of them replied, leading the way. Mathias followed, passing rooms filled with men and women, either sitting or lying in bed.


    After a short walk, they arrived at a private room where someone was already waiting inside. The room had only one bed, indicating it was reserved for important individuals.


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    The person inside wore a white and gold hanfu, and the smell of medicine filled the air.


    "Lay her down," said an old man with spectacles and long white hair that reached his waist. "Master Axton has already informed me of the situation. I am a 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage Healer. You may call me Kir."


    Mathias did as instructed, laying his daughter on the bed. She was breathing heavily.


    Looking at Bel''s pale face, anger flared briefly in his eyes, but he forced it down.


    The Healer placed a hand on Mathias'' shoulder. "You should step back."


    Mathias nodded and took a few steps back. Kir then placed his hands over Bel, and Qi began to flow from his body, enveloping her. Unlike Martial Students, who could only manipulate Qi in their surroundings through cultivation techniques, Kir used the Qi stored within his own body.


    After some time, Kir pulled his hands back and looked at Mathias.


    "How is she?" Mathias asked. Though he already knew his daughter''s condition, the healer before him had studied the Way of Medicine, and his diagnosis would be more accurate.


    "We can extend her life," Kir said, adjusting his glasses. "At least a week, at most two. If we wish to fully heal her, we''ll need help from the Alchemy House."

 Chapter 143 Can Deez Versus The Brute

    The round continued, and soon it was finally the Beggar''s turn.


    His opponent was a brute wearing the uniform of the Sword and Shield sect, staring at him like he was about to devour him alive.


    They stood facing each other, the size difference so stark it seemed like Apollo could be flicked away with a single movement.


    "Real weapons are not allowed. If you have one, throw it off the stage now," the Referee said, eyeing the two participants.


    Yohan shook his head. "I don''t have one."


    Apollo, on the other hand, reached under his robe and pulled out the tree branch he had found on the side of the road. This scene caused the audience to chuckle, though they weren''t surprised anymore¡ªevery time this small, masked man fought, he always threw in a stick.


    "Don''t underestimate me!" Yohan shouted, seeing his opponent about to toss his "weapon."


    "Are you sure about that?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "Hell yeah! Don''t think I''m not worthy of you going all out! Let''s fight fair and square, no holding back!" Yohan said, his eyes full of determination.


    The Referee glanced at the brute, confused. What''s wrong with this guy? It''s just a tree branch, right?


    I guess I shouldn''t hide this anymore, Apollo thought, nodding. "Alright then, I''ll use my weapon in honor of your courage."


    "Good! This time, I won''t hold back!" Yohan said, cracking his neck and fists.


    The Referee looked at the two in disbelief. A tree branch? He sighed and walked over to the small, masked man. "Is this stick your weapon?"


    "Yes," Apollo nodded. "I know real weapons aren''t allowed, but this guy insisted I use mine. So it should be okay, right? Both parties consented."


    The Referee paused. Apollo was right¡ªthere was an unspoken rule that if both parties agreed to use weapons, the Referee would have to comply. This also meant the participants were aware they could potentially kill each other. However, he still had to report it and get permission from the Headmasters.


    The Referee turned to the Headmasters on the floating platform. The trio conferred briefly before Master Axton nodded.


    Apollo felt the familiar signal but didn''t bother tuning in this time¡ªhe had a good idea of what they were discussing.


    "Let me see... your weapon," the Referee said, clearly uncomfortable calling a tree branch a weapon.


    The Beggar handed it over. After inspecting it closely to ensure it was just an ordinary stick, the Referee gave it back. "So, it''s allowed?"


    "Yes," the Referee nodded, a strange expression on his face. "It''s a regular tree branch and not even comparable to the wooden weapons we have here. Are you sure you want to use this?"


    "Don''t underestimate the power of nature," Apollo said, raising the tree branch in front of him. "Even though this is just a normal stick, it''s the sharpest thing in the world."


    "If you say so," the Referee shrugged, clearly not buying it. He moved to the center of the stage and raised his hand. "Let the fight begin!" Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    With that, Yohan activated his Battle Technique. A dark blue haze surrounded his body before materializing into giant hands that covered his own.


    He punched his giant fists together, causing ripples to appear with each collision. A smirk crept across his face as he stared coldly at his opponent. "In our previous fight, you just got lucky, and I held back. But now! You will see my true power!"


    Apollo yawned, motioning with his tree branch. "Just come at me."


    Seeing his opponent''s laid-back attitude, Yohan felt disrespected. His face twitched, and anger made him grit his teeth. "I will crush you!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A resounding explosion echoed as Yohan activated his movement technique, appearing in front of the Beggar in mere seconds. "Take this!" he shouted, his giant fist, covered in energy, flying toward Apollo''s face.


    Apollo stepped aside, the punch barely missing him. He responded with a left-handed slap, using the True Hardening Technique. This increased his body''s mass and doubled the strength of his attack.


    However, Yohan blocked the slap with his other hand!


    The force propelled him backward, his feet leaving marks on the stage.


    "I said don''t underestimate me! Use your weapon!" Yohan yelled, eyes blazing with intensity.


    "But that wouldn''t be fun, right? You''d just get defeated instantly," Apollo grinned. Belittling people who overestimated themselves was actually quite entertaining.


    "Then I''ll make you use it!" Yohan shouted with determination, closing the distance in just a few steps. He unleashed a barrage of punches, their might causing the air to crackle, as the two fighters covered the stage.


    Tsk! This is frustrating! Yohan thought, noticing the small, masked man was only using his free hand while dodging most of the attacks.


    "You leave me no choice!" Yohan shouted, leaping back and pulling his right hand behind him.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow. He was still enjoying the fight, but now Yohan was gearing up for something big. Has he reached his limit already? "Oh, you''re preparing your final move?"


    "Hell yeah!" Yohan yelled. The dark haze around him gathered on his right hand, and the translucent fist grew to a massive five meters in size.


    "Hmm, I guess it''s time to end this," Apollo muttered, bringing his tree branch in front of him.


    All this time, the Referee had been watching intently, especially curious about the small, masked man who had yet to use his tree branch. Why bring out a stick if you''re not going to use it? But as Apollo raised the tree branch like a sword, the Referee anticipated a spectacle, though he didn''t hold much hope.


    Yohan''s eyes lit up. "That''s it! Good! Now take this!" he shouted, charging toward Apollo.


    Apollo did the same, and the two dashed past each other.


    As if nothing had happened, the Beggar calmly placed his tree branch back inside his robe and turned to the Referee. "Don''t worry, he''s still alive."


    The Referee looked confused, glancing at the still-standing Yohan. Are they just playing around? But then his eyes widened as Yohan''s giant translucent fist disintegrated, and Yohan collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.


    Silence.

 Chapter 144 Gails Determination(Part-1)

    The Referee''s eyes widened, his mouth hanging open as he looked at the two-meter-tall brute lying on the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    He clearly saw what happened.


    But how? How could a tree branch do this? The Referee turned to the masked contestant, his eyes full of questions. In that split second, the tree branch had passed through the translucent giant fist as if it were nothing, continuing toward Yohan''s chest and cutting it like a real blade.


    Even though it happened fast, with the Referee''s cultivation level, he didn''t miss a thing.


    The small masked man hadn''t even used the Qi in the surroundings to strengthen his tree branch, and his movement was a simple, basic swing anyone could do. There was no apparent strength behind the attack, yet it still managed to injure Yohan, who had a big, tough body! Could the tree branch actually be that sharp?!


    And from the looks of it, the masked man had even held back to avoid killing his opponent.


    "You¡­ how did you do it?" the Referee asked, his face a mixture of curiosity and confusion.


    "It''s a secret," Apollo replied with a mysterious smile. "So, I won, right?"


    The Referee didn''t respond immediately but turned toward the floating platform. A few seconds later, he raised his hand and announced, "Can Deez, the Outsider, has won this round!"


    Suddenly, the audience erupted into cheers and shouts of excitement. They hadn''t expected the tree branch wielder to win using just that branch! At first, they had assumed Can Deez was merely being playful, the stick just a prop. But this round proved them wrong¡ªnot only had Can Deez won, but he''d shown them that his stick was a real weapon, capable of cutting even someone with a tough body.


    Although they hadn''t seen the attack clearly, Yohan bleeding on the ground was proof enough!


    Apollo smiled and jumped off the stage.


    ...


    Meanwhile, on the floating platform, the three Headmasters exchanged glances.


    "You guys saw it, right?" Elmo asked, his eyes gleaming and a satisfied smile on his face.


    "Can Deez? He has a very strange name," Axton muttered, stroking his chin as he stared at the small masked figure making his way back.


    "It''s probably not his real name," Master Popo commented. "But it doesn''t matter. I''ll make sure he ends up in my school!"


    Elmo and Axton glanced at each other before the Sword and Shield Headmaster sneered at Popo. "You don''t even teach swordsmanship, and that kid just displayed the True Understanding of the Sword. He''s probably the only one in this city, or even the neighboring cities, to have achieved such a state."


    "He''s a rare talent," Axton agreed. "To learn the True Understanding of the Sword at such a young age and to master the Hydra Mirage technique with ten clones in such a short time¡ªhe''s among the top talents in this county."


    "He''s also mastered the True Hardening technique," Elmo added.


    "And the Fire Blast. But wait¡ªwhat is the True Understanding of the Sword?" Master Popo tilted his head, genuinely puzzled.


    "See! You don''t even know what it means, and you want Can Deez as one of your students?" Elmo raised an eyebrow. "Stop kidding around, Popo!"


    "What do you mean I''m kidding? Didn''t you see how talented he is as a Fire Cultivator? He''s the perfect student for me!" Master Popo retorted, his nose flaring as the temperature around him began to rise.


    "Oh? So you want to fight?" Elmo cracked his neck.


    "You two, stop it," Master Axton said just in time, preventing the two from starting a fight. "It''s still up to Can Deez to decide. We can''t force him to make his choice."


    "Tsk, he''s a rare talent, just like you said. But I won''t give up that easily," Master Popo said with determination.


    "Do as you see fit, then," Elmo shrugged before turning to Axton. "You already have plenty of talented students¡ªcan''t you let us fight this out?"


    "We can''t force him to make his choice," Axton repeated.


    Elmo sighed. That small masked man was truly talented, so much so that all three Headmasters were eager to have him study in their schools. A talent like his only comes once in a thousand years.


    However, unbeknownst to them, Can Deez had only shown a fraction of what he was capable of, holding back many of the Battle Techniques he had learned from the second test.


    "But what about that little girl? Do you think she''ll be okay?" Master Popo asked, this time using Thought Transfer.


    "She''s still alive, but it won''t be long before she succumbs to the poison, even if we try to prolong her life. Unless we find a great Healer and Alchemist, which is unlikely in this place." Master Axton explained.


    "That''s why you made that proposal," Elmo said. "We are cruel."


    "There''s nothing more I can do," Axton said, his eyes fixed on the ongoing battle on stage. "If that''s her fate, we must respect it. But if she''s meant to live, she will live. We cultivate to gain enlightenment, to defy fate, the heavens, and the natural law of death."


    ...


    At the same time, in one of the Winner''s Rooms...


    The door opened, and two women walked in.


    Filly slumped into a chair with a thud, her face a mixture of anger, frustration, and sadness. "Ah! I''ll f*cking kill him!" In the end, all she could do was shout to express her feelings.


    Gail sat beside her. Though her face remained expressionless, the coldness in her eyes and her clenched fists betrayed her anger. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If I find him, I''ll skin him alive, then I''ll skewer his body and roast him over a fire!" Filly said, her nose flaring in rage.


    The two had just come back from seeing Bel in the Healer''s Room. After witnessing their friend, pale and breathing heavily, still unconscious, they couldn''t help but feel both sadness and fury.


    And the one responsible for this was that disgusting and annoying Arke!


    "I will avenge her," Gail said quietly.


    Hearing this, Filly turned to Gail and nodded. "Yup! We should avenge Bel! Should we¡­ you know¡­ assassinate him? That''s your specialty, right? I can be your assistant!"


    "Filly," Gail turned to the restaurant owner, "I will fight him on stage. I''ll kill him in front of everyone, to honor our friend."


    "But that will land you in jail," Filly said, worry filling her eyes.


    "If it puts me in jail, that''s fine. At least I''ll have avenged her."

 Chapter 145 Gails Determination(Part-2)

    Gail walked toward the platform, the shouts from the audience ringing in her ears, but all she could focus on was the person walking toward the stage from the other side.


    It was the mysterious figure, covered from head to toe in a black robe with a white mask that obscured his entire face. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just like the small masked man, Can Deez, her opponent was also an Outsider who had received an Invitation by other means.


    The two jumped onto the stage, taking their positions at opposite ends of the two-football-field-wide platform, their eyes locked on each other while the Referee stood between them.


    "If you have any real weapons, take them out now," the Referee said. "You can also choose any wooden weapon from the racks."


    Gail approached the weapon rack and selected two short swords, while the mysterious figure shook his head at the Referee. After returning to her spot, Gail held one short sword in a reverse grip and positioned the other in front of her, below her eyes, staring intently at her opponent.


    A cold, merciless aura radiated from her. Unlike before, when she would only prepare to attack once the fight had begun, this time she readied herself early¡ªevidence of her determination to win. But part of that resolve stemmed from knowing that her opponent was no pushover.


    Recalling the mysterious man''s previous fights, Gail knew they had always ended instantly¡ªjust as hers had.


    "Are you two ready?" the Referee asked, glancing between the contestants.


    "Ready," they said in unison.


    "Then let the fight begin!" the Referee raised his hand, and as soon as the words left his lips, the two contestants vanished from their spots, reappearing in the center of the stage¡ªwooden short swords clashing against a blazing bright sword!


    Gail''s eyes widened as she stared at the glowing sword in her opponent''s hand. She quickly realized that this glowing blade was his Battle Technique.


    He''s not holding back, she thought. This was the first time the mysterious figure had revealed this Technique. It seems he''s realized I''m not an easy opponent.


    Without losing her composure, Gail''s body became a blur as she reappeared behind him!


    The audience gasped, shocked by Gail''s incredible speed!


    However, the mysterious figure reacted swiftly, placing his glowing sword behind his back, just in time to block Gail''s attack! The force caused him to step forward, and using this momentum, he activated his movement technique to dodge her next strike.


    His body dissolved into a puff of smoke and materialized a few feet away.


    Gail didn''t pursue him, her eyes widening slightly. "Teleportation?"


    "Short distance¡ªjust like what you can do," the mysterious figure replied, a hint of admiration in his voice. He pointed his blazing white sword at her. "Tell me your name."


    "Gail. And you?" Gail asked, lowering herself into a defensive stance, with one sword in front of her and the other held behind her.


    "My name..." the mysterious figure trailed off, then continued. "I''m M."


    "M? Just M?" Gail asked, frowning.


    "Yes," M nodded.


    "Alright then," Gail nodded back before both fell into a tense silence.


    A few seconds passed, and they dashed toward each other, the sound of their weapons clashing echoing across the arena!


    To the audience, it was a marvel that a wooden weapon could hold up against that blazing sword of light, but to the Cultivators, it was a simple matter of using the Qi in the surroundings to reinforce the wooden short swords. This enhanced the weapon''s durability and could even increase its sharpness. With mastery over this technique, one could use almost anything as a weapon.


    The two fought at close range, refraining from using any special techniques.


    Gail dodged an attack before delivering a kick, but her opponent deflected it with a punch, forcing her foot back to the ground. Using the momentum, she spun around for a 360-degree kick!


    With a sharp bang, M was sent flying to the side, his left hand raised beside his face, barely managing to block in time.


    But Gail was already upon him, her two short wooden swords aimed at his chest. Time seemed to slow as M watched the attack approaching. With a smirk, his body turned to smoke, and he reappeared behind Gail! Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Got you, M thought as his glowing sword slashed toward her back!


    But something unexpected happened. Gail''s body turned into water the moment his sword made contact! With a splash, the water fell to the ground.


    M immediately sensed danger from behind him, and as he turned, he saw Gail, her two short swords already aimed at his chest!


    Gail''s strike landed, sending M tumbling across the stage. Dust clouds billowed as the sound of M rolling echoed through the platform.


    However, Gail''s battle instincts told her the fight wasn''t over. The moment her foot touched the ground, she vanished, reappearing within the dust cloud! The cloud churned as the two combatants emerged, M bleeding from his chest, their weapons clashing fiercely and shaking the stage with each blow!


    The relentless back-and-forth ignited the audience''s excitement.


    "We fight with the same style, but you''re still inexperienced," Gail said calmly. She wasn''t belittling him but offering sincere advice. "Expect the unexpected, and do the unexpected."


    "Thank you for the advice," M replied, dodging one of her short swords while blocking the other with his glowing blade. "I''ll keep that in mind."


    "You should surrender," Gail said. "If we keep this up, one of us will end up dead."


    "Why should I be the one to surrender?" M asked. He agreed with her reasoning. Based on their battle, they were both holding back, resisting the urge to kill. It was a hard instinct to control, and if they slipped, one of them would be dead by now.


    "Because I need to kill someone on this stage," Gail said, her eyes burning with determination.


    "Oh?" M locked eyes with her, remaining silent for a moment as they exchanged blows. Then, after a brief pause, he finally made up his mind. "Alright."


    The two jumped back from each other, and the mysterious figure raised both hands, his glowing sword disappearing in a flurry of light particles. "I surrender."

 Chapter 146 Sudden Surrender

    The sudden surrender was unexpected, causing the audience to shout in protest. Booing echoed throughout the stadium, but the two participants were unfazed by it.


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    "Thank you," Gail tossed the short wooden sword to the side and bowed her head. Relief washed over her face, knowing she was one step closer to avenging her friend.


    "No worries. I was just getting bored, so I decided to join. Besides, I''m not interested in the prize," the Mysterious Person said with a chuckle.


    "Bored?" Gail muttered, staring at M with an incredulous expression. This person is more mysterious than I thought, she mused before shaking her head. "I''ll never forget this favor. If you ever need help in the future, as long as it''s within my abilities, feel free to find me in Klown City."


    "Haha, thanks," M said, turning around and walking away. "Let''s meet again someday. I had fun fighting with you."


    "Me too," Gail replied, watching him leave.


    At the same time, the Referee raised his hand and announced the winner.


    "Gail has won this round!"


    As the announcement rang out, Gail sighed, her gaze shifting to one of the Winner''s Rooms. Her eyes landed on a small figure sitting in a chair, watching the stage.


    After this round, I''ll probably have to fight Can Deez. Should I talk to him? Gail wondered.


    Suddenly, Can Deez waved at her, meeting her gaze.


    Gail smiled and began walking towards Can Deez''s room.


    ...


    "So you want me to surrender?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow at the woman standing in front of him.


    "Yes," Gail nodded, her expression serious. "I don''t want to hurt you. Bel seems to value you, and she wanted you to join the Great Serpent Martial School. I don''t want either of us to end up hurt; it would only upset Bel more."


    "Is that the only reason?" Apollo asked.


    "No," Gail shook her head.


    "What else?"


    "I want to avenge her," Gail said, her eyes growing cold as the temperature in the room dropped. "I''m going to kill the guy who did this to her."


    Apollo could hear the determination in her voice. He wasn''t surprised. Gail and Filly seemed like the type of people who valued their friendships more than anything else.


    But Apollo shook his head. "I can''t do that."


    Gail tilted her head. "Why? I''m telling you, if we fight at full strength, one of us will end up gravely injured." She wasn''t entirely sure of the small masked person''s true power, but she had a vague sense that their fight would be either a close match or a draw. It was better to avoid a potentially serious outcome by having one of them surrender.


    "No, it''s not that," Apollo said, looking outside the room. They were inside, not on the viewing deck, and all he could see were the distant figures of the audience.


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    "We have the same purpose," Apollo revealed with a smile.


    "Purpose? What do you mean?" Gail asked, tilting her head in confusion.


    "I''m going to kill that guy, too," Apollo said casually, as if it were no big deal.


    Gail''s eyes widened, tears threatening to spill. "A-are¡­ you going to avenge Bel, too?"


    Why is she crying?! Apollo couldn''t help but sigh. "Unfortunately, that''s not what I had in mind."


    "W-what?" Gail wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiling awkwardly. "So why do you want to kill him, too?"


    "I hate his face, and I just feel like it," Apollo said with a shrug.


    "Isn''t that a bit... shallow?" Gail muttered before shaking her head. "But if you also want to kill him, are you confident?"


    "I am," the Beggar smirked. "Are you?"


    "I''ll try my best. If I die, then it''s fate," Gail said, her determination returning.


    "Then I should be the one to do it," Apollo replied, his expression turning serious. "I don''t plan on dying, and I''m more confident in staying alive."


    Gail squinted at the small masked man. "Are you sure?"


    "A hundred and one percent sure," Apollo chuckled. "Besides, he hasn''t seen all I can do, but I''ve already seen his full strength."


    "I see... If that''s the case..." Gail locked eyes with Can Deez and nodded. "I''ll surrender."


    They both felt certain they would fight in the next round as the battles continued below.


    Apollo would be the one to face Arke.


    Soon, their names were called, and both of them headed to the arena.


    The Referee was about to start the fight when Gail raised her hand. "I surrender this fight."


    "Are you sure?" the Referee asked, confused. Gail was only one win away from fighting for the top spot in the event, yet she chose to surrender. Though he didn''t understand her reasoning, he had no right to make her fight if she didn''t want to.


    "Yes," Gail nodded before turning to Apollo. "Can Deez, I hope my decision isn''t wrong."


    "Can Deez wins!" the Referee declared, and the moment his words fell, the audience erupted in protest.


    "What the hell is wrong with her?!"


    "Why surrender?! Fight!"


    "Fight!"


    "Fight!"


    Despite the outcry, the winner was declared, and there was nothing the crowd could do.


    "Don''t worry," Apollo said as he began walking away.


    ...


    Outside of Klown City, northwest of it, lay a vast expanse of forest. The trees towered hundreds of meters into the sky, and some trunks were so wide it would take dozens of people to encircle them.


    Beside the forest was a campsite with five or six tents. People moved about, carrying supplies, while others gathered around a bonfire, roasting skewered meat. They wore silver armor adorned with Klown City''s insignia¡ªa castle with a crown on top¡ªas they talked and ate happily.


    "It''s about time for the Examination to end," one of them said, taking a large bite from the meat in his hand.


    "I wonder who will win. Personally, I''m rooting for Bel. Hopefully, she''ll take the top spot."


    The group continued discussing the ongoing examination, each sharing their thoughts on who might win the Advancement Examination. Most favored Bel as the likely victor, while some mentioned the infamous Arke or other well-known Martial Students.


    After they finished eating, someone approached them.


    "Hey, it''s your group''s turn to retrieve the remaining body."


    "Alright," the group leader, a bald man with a white mustache, replied. He was known as Noli, a regular soldier from Klown City. He''d been assigned as one of the leaders tasked with gathering the remains of AlphaDusk Shadowtail, a beast slain in the forest. Only five or six groups were left, as the rest had already returned to the city.


    Noli and his squad took out their equipment and began walking into the forest. Each of them had at least reached the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    With the moon''s brilliance lighting their path, they moved through the forest at a steady pace, not rushing.


    "You know, every time I come here, I feel like I''m being watched," one of them said suddenly, a frown on his face as he glanced around the forest.


    "Oh? You feel it too?" Noli raised an eyebrow before a playful smile appeared on his face. "Maybe it''s the Alpha''s spirit wandering the forest."


    "Hey, leader, don''t scare us!"


    The group leader chuckled. "I was just joking. But honestly, I do feel like we''re being watched. It crawls on my skin, and I hate it. But we''ve been here a few times, and nothing bad has happened, right? It''s probably just our imagination, trying to scare ourselves."


    "Hmm, you''re right," his squad members agreed.


    They walked for a while before arriving at a clearing where the body of the Alphadusk Shadowtail lay. The massive beast, as big as a mansion, lay lifeless. Parts of its body were missing, especially where its nine tails had once been. Those had been the first things cut off, as they were the most valuable part.


    "They lured this monster out of the forest, but it still came back," Noli said, staring at the Alpha. "It would''ve been better if it had died outside."


    Soon, they began their work, using their weapons to cut into the beast''s body.


    After a while, one of the men paused, wiping the sweat from his forehead. As he lowered his hand, something caught his eye. His body went stiff, and his mouth began to stutter.


    "G-g-g-g-g¡ª"


    Noli, standing in front of him, looked up with an annoyed expression. "What are you mumbling about?!"


    The man took a deep breath, pointed into the distance, and shouted, "Ghost!"


    "Ghost? I told you, I was just joking!" Noli shook his head and turned to where the man was pointing. "Don''t be so scare¡ª Ah! Ghost! Run!"


    Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the forest, and the group erupted in shouts. But it only lasted for a few seconds before silence fell over the forest.


    As the cloud moved away from the moon, its brilliance encased the shadow inside the forest. It has sharp red eyes, pointed ears, a long nose, and mouth with human bodies still dangling from within. But the most prominent feature is the ten swaying tails behind the creature.

 Chapter 147 Apollo Versus Arke(Part-1)

    Arke sat comfortably in his room, a wine glass in hand, within reach of a table piled high with fruits and meat.


    With a satisfied smile, he reached for a red fruit and began eating it with relish.


    "Ah, this is heaven," Arke sighed in contentment. "That b*tch will definitely die! Hahaha! And she''ll suffer greatly!" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His laughter echoed inside the room, blending with the sounds of fighting outside.


    As he laughed, he touched his chest, feeling that his injuries had fully healed. His smile widened. "With my wounds gone, I don''t have to worry about winning first place."


    After the battle with Bel, he had been gravely injured. If he hadn''t been healed in time, he''d still be stuck in the Healing Room.


    Thinking back to their fight, he knew it had been a close call. He had to abandon his defense, focusing solely on getting close enough to use his poison. Fortunately, it paid off, and the poison managed to enter her body.


    But as his thoughts lingered on the aftermath of the fight, Arke gritted his teeth.


    He had been humiliated by Mathias in front of hundreds of people, forced to kneel with his life in the other man''s hands. Helpless, he had waited for death¡ªa situation more infuriating than anything he''d ever experienced.


    "Tsk! But I still won. You''ll see your daughter suffer, slowly slipping away from you!" Smirking coldly, he resumed eating the food on the table.


    "You seem so happy," a voice suddenly echoed in the room.


    Recognizing it, Arke placed the fruit back on the plate and turned toward the sound.


    Standing at the viewing deck was a figure in a black-and-white butler uniform¡ªHolst.


    Arke couldn''t help but wonder how this man always appeared out of nowhere, unnoticed.


    "Who wouldn''t be?" Arke smirked.


    "You''re right," Holst said, turning to face Arke. "But you still have one more mission."


    "Ha, don''t worry about it. It''s going to be easy from here on out," Arke said confidently.


    "If you say so," Holst replied, his eyes as narrow as ever. "We''ll meet again after you complete the last mission."


    As Arke was about to respond, the butler suddenly vanished from sight, as if he''d never been there.


    What the hell? Arke shook his head. At that moment, there was a knock on the door, which opened to reveal a man in a simple white robe.


    "It''s time for the final round. Prepare yourself," the white-robed man said. "Please follow me."


    "I see," Arke smiled. "I guess it''s time to win this examination!"


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, back in Apollo''s room.


    "Are you sure you can kill him?" Filly asked, concern written all over her face as she looked at the small, masked man.


    "Don''t worry, I''m a lot stronger than you think," Apollo replied. They were talking about killing someone like it was a simple matter.


    "What about the consequences?" Filly asked, staring into Can Deez''s eyes.


    "I said, don''t worry," Apollo repeated firmly.


    "I think we should trust him," Gail chimed in from the side, having listened quietly until now. They had come to ask if Can Deez was truly confident about this.


    "Alright then," Filly nodded reluctantly. Though she didn''t know the small masked man well, she felt a strange familiarity with him, which made her all the more concerned.


    A knock came at the door as they were talking, and a person in a white robe entered.


    "Mr. Can Deez, it''s time for the final round," the robed person said. "Please follow me."


    Hearing this, Apollo stood up from his seat and followed the man. "You should just enjoy the show," he said before leaving. Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    With those words, his figure disappeared, leaving the two women behind.


    "I wonder why I feel so close to him," Filly muttered before turning to Gail. "What do you think? Do you think he can do it? I may not be as strong as you guys, but I also want to kill that guy!"


    Gail remained silent, her eyes still fixed on the door.


    "What''s wrong?" Filly asked, noticing Gail''s unresponsiveness. "Hey, Gail!"


    The shout snapped Gail out of her thoughts. Shaking her head, she looked at Filly. "S-sorry. It''s just¡­ I''ve been feeling strange, like something heavy is pressing on my mind. My instincts¡­ they''re telling me something''s wrong. I smell danger."


    Worry appeared on Filly''s face. "Do you think something bad will happen to him?"


    "I don''t know," Gail said, shaking her head, a frown on her face. "I''ve been feeling this way for a while now."


    "You were trained by my family to be an assassin, right? Your instincts must be right," Filly said.


    "Sometimes instincts can be confusing. Besides, Bel''s instincts are more accurate than mine," Gail explained.


    Suddenly, the Host''s voice boomed throughout the stadium, prompting them to move to the viewing deck.


    Filly walked over to a chair and sat down. With a full view of the platform, she couldn''t help but think how amazing it looked. Gail stood beside her, her eyes fixed on Can Deez''s back.


    "Ladies and gentlemen! It''s finally time for the final battle of this Advancement Examination!" the Host shouted, excitement evident in his voice. "Over the past days, we''ve seen eliminations, blood, and tears from the first test up to this very moment! Today is glorious, as we will finally witness who will reign at the top of this Examination!"


    The audience erupted in cheers, their voices echoing through the venue.


    "And furthermore, we have an outsider as one of the finalists! Facing off against Arke, the student with a Poison Body! Who will emerge victorious? The underdog or the infamous champion?" The Host continued, gauging the crowd''s excitement, which had reached its peak. "Let''s welcome Arke and Can Deez!"


    The two participants walked onto the stage, both jumping onto it at the same time.


    The Host stood in the middle of the massive platform, while the Referee waited on the sidelines.


    As the Host hyped up the crowd, the two participants locked eyes, with Arke grinning from ear to ear.


    After a while, the Host stepped away, and the Referee moved forward, though he didn''t start the match just yet, giving the two contestants time to prepare themselves.

 Chapter 148 Apollo Versus Arke(Part-2)

    "An outsider, eh?" Arke smirked. "I''ve seen you fight, and I must say, you''re quite good."


    "Thanks," Apollo replied, his voice emotionless as he stared intently at his opponent.


    "Haha, don''t think that just because I gave you a small compliment, we''re on the same level," Arke''s smile turned cold. "Your size is the first proof we''re not even in the same league! Hahaha!"


    This guy loves trash talk, Apollo sighed, choosing not to respond.


    "What? Aren''t you going to say anything? Come on, say something!" Arke shouted, his eyes turning red with irritation. "Sigh... Anyway, hopefully, you''ll give me a decent fight before I claim first place. But here''s a bit of advice: don''t get too close to me.


    That woman I fought in the previous round got careless, and look what happened¡ªshe got poisoned. Was it my fault? No, not at all! Poison is my cultivation!"


    What Arke didn''t mention, and the secret he intended to keep forever, was that the poison he used on Bel was no ordinary toxin. It was known to only a few select individuals, a rare poison called Decaying Blood, which he had assimilated into his body days before the examination. Arke had only heard of it once, but the Mayor, determined to see Bel dead, had tasked Holst with giving it to him.


    "You talk too much," Apollo muttered. "Can''t you just shut up and wait for me to defeat you? Who knows¡ªaccidents happen, and maybe you''ll be the careless one this time."


    "Wow, big words for a shorty," Arke sneered, unfazed by the small masked man''s taunts.


    "And you talk sht with a shtty face," Apollo shot back.


    A vein popped up on Arke''s forehead. "You¡ª!" In that moment, the small masked man''s image overlapped with the memory of the kid outside Filly''s Restaurant who had humiliated him. The thought made his anger flare.


    Arke decided to take out his frustration from that day on the person in front of him. He didn''t even consider the possibility that this could be the same person¡ªwho would think a beggar could be a 4th-Step Foundation cultivator? Only a wandering cultivator could possibly link the two, but none would bother with an advancement examination meant for 14 to 18-year-olds.


    Seeing the mocking look in Can Deez''s eyes, Arke gritted his teeth. He had been the one to start the trash talk, but somehow, he was the one getting angry.


    "Ahem, you can pick your weapons from the rack now," the Referee said, looking over at Apollo.


    Arke didn''t bother going to the weapon rack. Instead, he settled into his fighting stance while Apollo reached under his robe and pulled out a tree branch.


    Seeing the branch, Arke let out a chuckle, his anger evident. "Really? You''re going to use a tree branch to fight me? Are you underestimating me?!"


    Oh? He didn''t see my fight with Yohan? This is good, Apollo thought, a smile creeping across his face.


    "No, I just figured this would be more than enough," Apollo said, raising the tree branch in front of him. He really enjoyed infuriating these brainless types.


    "Hey, Ref! Can''t you just start the fight already?!" Arke shouted at the referee. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The referee frowned, but seeing that both fighters were ready, he raised his hand and brought it down. "The fight begins!"


    ...


    On the floating platform, the Headmasters were conversing amongst themselves.


    "Who do you think will win?" Elmo asked, a smile forming on his lips. "Care to make a bet?"


    "I think Arke will win," Master Popo replied. "Though that guy is certainly a rare talent, having learned True Understanding of the Sword, he''s still no match for Arke. Arke''s already at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, while Can Deez is at... Wait, what''s his cultivation level?"


    Hearing this, Elmo realized they had overlooked an important detail. "Now that you mention it, I can''t sense his cultivation at all."


    "He''s at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage," Axton said, squinting at the small masked man on the stage.


    "As expected of the great Axton. Your senses are truly extraordinary," Elmo laughed. "So, only at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage? Arke has the upper hand in cultivation, so he stands a better chance of winning."


    "So, what''s our bet?" Master Popo asked, rubbing his hands together.


    Elmo grinned and looked at the two headmasters. "One inner ticket, and the winner takes it all."


    Axton and Master Popo both turned to Elmo with raised eyebrows.


    "Are you sure? That''s a heavy bet, if I must say," Master Popo said, his expression serious.


    "Hell yeah!" Elmo grinned. "Let''s bet on how quickly the fight will end."


    Master Popo shrugged. "It''s just one Inner Ticket. I''ll call it¡ª8 minutes, with Arke winning the match." Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    "What about you, Axton?" Elmo asked, turning to the Headmaster of the Great Serpent School.


    "As Popo said, this is a heavy bet. Are you really sure?" Axton asked once more.


    "Hahaha, don''t worry about it!" Elmo laughed. "So, are you in?"


    Axton fell silent, his eyes focused on the participants on the stage while the Host continued to hype up the crowd.


    "The fight will end in three minutes," Axton said.


    "Oh? So who do you think will win?" Elmo asked, curious to know who Axton was backing, even though the bet was only on the time.


    "Can Deez," Axton replied.


    "I see," Elmo nodded. "Then I''ll call 5 minutes, with Arke winning the fight. The closest to the time wins the bet¡ªsound good?"


    "Sure," Master Popo agreed, while Axton nodded.


    As the referee raised his hand to start the match, Axton suddenly glanced up at the open ceiling, where the moon was almost directly overhead, its brilliance shining into the arena. After the two football field-sized platforms had landed inside, the night sky was clearly visible.


    Axton stared at the moon for a moment before refocusing on the stage.


    "Let the fight begin!"


    The two participants disappeared from their spots and soon, their blurry figure covered the whole stage while the sound of banging reverberated. At the same time, the barrier covering the stage started vibrating.

 Chapter 149 Apollo Versus Arke(Part-3)

    Six Battle Techniques. That was the total number Apollo had learned from the second test of the Advancement Examination.


    True Hardening made his body more durable, also increasing his mass at the same time.


    Fire Blast, a Fire Technique, allowed him to summon fire using Qi and use it to attack his enemies.


    Hydra Mirage, a Technique, let him create multiple bodies made out of water. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He also learned a movement technique that could lighten his body, making it easier for him to move. Coupled with his own Simple Movement Technique, which he got from the System, it formed a powerful combo.


    There was also a Sword Technique called Water Integration Slash, which could turn his weapon into a watery state, making it sharper and allowing him to send a projectile in the shape of a slash. However, he only learned this technique because it looked flashy; he didn''t use it often since his Simple Sword Technique was more practical.


    The last technique he learned was Wind Blast. Like the Fire Blast Technique, it allowed him to use the surrounding Qi to summon wind, blasting his opponent away. But Apollo preferred the Fire Blast technique, so he seldom used Wind Blast.


    As the sound of the referee announcing the start of the battle rang out, Apollo waited for his opponent to make the first move. However, Arke remained still and vigilant.


    They stared at each other, observing who would take the first step.


    Seems like he''s not going to take me lightly, Apollo thought.


    Arke was smart. Although infuriated by the small masked man, he didn''t rush in. Like Apollo, he closely observed his opponent. He knew the person in front of him was a skilled cultivator, but seeing the tree branch the small masked person held made Arke grit his teeth. He felt humiliated fighting someone wielding a stick, especially after being trash-talked.


    When it became clear that Can Deez was not going to make the first move, Arke decided to end the standoff. He was confident in his abilities, especially since he was at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage. There was no way a nobody could defeat him. Furthermore, he still had poison lingering in his body¡ªenough to make even a Foundation Building Stage cultivator suffer.


    Although the poison could no longer kill, it was more than enough to secure his victory, though he''d only use it if he felt at a disadvantage.


    "You think you can defeat me with just a stick? Don''t mock me, you piece of sh*t," Arke sneered, dark, murky smoke swirling around him. "I wonder how a joker like you managed to stand before me. Consider yourself lucky!"


    "Blah blah, you talk too much. Just make the first move, and we''ll see!" Apollo shot back, motioning for his opponent to come at him.


    "Hah! I''ll make you suffer!" With a shout, Arke activated his Movement Technique, his body becoming a blur as he appeared in front of the masked man in just a few steps!


    Arke threw a punch, his fist covered in smoke. But as his eyes narrowed, he realized his opponent hadn''t moved at all, simply letting the attack land. This shorty is up to something! Sure enough, the moment his fist connected with Can Deez''s face, the body exploded in a splash of water!


    His instincts kicked in, and when he turned around, he saw a fire attack already on its way!


    With a loud bang, an explosion echoed as fire and smoke rose into the air! The audience shouted in excitement at the scene.


    Apollo, now on the other side of the battlefield, began gathering Qi once more. One attack wasn''t enough, so he decided to keep bombarding his prey. He had already thought it through, in order to complete his mission without attracting too much attention, he needed to kill Arke, unintentionally.


    This would result in him being taken away by the officials, as killing another participant was prohibited¡ªunless it was an accident.


    An accident where both sides struggled intensely, where one wrong move could cost a life. Apollo had to stage this scene. But first, he needed to gauge the strength of his opponent. Although he had observed Arke''s previous battles, it was different from experiencing his opponent''s battle prowess firsthand.


    A second Fire Blast was conjured and hurled toward Arke. Another explosion erupted. Just as Apollo was about to cast a third attack, the fire and smoke began to move erratically.


    Apollo saw his opponent charging out of the smoke with incredible speed, his pace not slowed at all. Arke was covered in the dark, murky smoke that acted as his defense, and only small burn marks covered his body. Clearly, he wasn''t seriously injured.


    However, the Beggar remained calm and pointed his hand toward his prey.


    "Hahaha! It''s futile!" Arke laughed maniacally.


    "Then I''ll just have to increase the output!" Apollo smirked.


    "You think you can just suddenly increase your technique''s power?! You need to adv¡ª" Arke couldn''t finish his sentence as another Fire Blast flew toward him, fiercer than before. With no time to dodge, the attack hit him, and though he barely blocked it with his hands, he was still sent flying dozens of meters back.


    Arke waved his aching hands as the fire and smoke cleared. "What... how?!" He squinted at his opponent and saw Can Deez conjuring two Battle Techniques simultaneously!


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    Fire Blast and Wind Blast?!


    Apollo raised both hands¡ªone conjuring the Fire Blast, the other summoning the Wind Blast. But instead of firing them one after the other, he stacked the Wind Blast behind the Fire Blast.


    If Apollo had only used the Fire Blast and tried to increase its power alone, it would have taken a few seconds¡ªenough time for his opponent to close the distance. It was a spontaneous decision, but surprisingly, it worked. He conjured two Battle Techniques at once, using the surrounding Qi and altering their properties to enhance his attacks.


    "Take this!" Apollo shouted, and the combined Battle Techniques flew toward Arke!

 Chapter 150 Apollo Versus Arke(Part-4)

    "F*ck you!" Arke shouted, punching the oncoming Battle Techniques! With a resounding explosion, fire rose into the air while he was sent flying back. The moment that he landed, he looked up with fury in his eyes. His body aches, especially his hands which he used for blocking.


    To think that his opponent would use two Battle Techniques at the same made him take this matter more seriously.


    Seeing that Can Deez was about to make the same attack, Arke stood up straight while using more Qi to make his Poison Body tougher. He decided to focus on defense for the time being, as getting close to his opponent is very risky. Although he wanted to pound the face of the small masked man, he didn''t let his emotions get on his way.


    Furthermore, what his opponent was doing was not only risky for him, but to the user himself. Using two Battle Techniques is very taxing to the Energy, it''s not one plus one equals two but a more equation to be considered as Can Deez has to divide his senses in two to execute two Battle Techniques.


    Worried at first, Arke can only smirk confidently. Come on, just keep doing what you''re doing! Let''s see how long can you hold that up!


    But unbeknownst to him, Apollo is relax as ever.


    This is easy, Apollo thought. When he think of using two Battle Techniques, he doesn''t expect that he will succeed. Fortunately, he managed to do it by multitasking. He also had a realization that made him able to achieve this spectacle because of the other technique that he learned, Hydra mirage.


    This Technique requires him to use his senses well and to control his ten clones, he had to divide his mind which at first was quite hard but as he used it more on his previous battles, he got more used to it.


    And now, using the same principle to conjure these two Battle Techniques at the same time, is more easy than he thought. Using them feels like he is using them individually. He doesn''t feel burdened whatsoever and he doesn''t even need to think much to use them.


    But looking at that confident smile¡­ Apollo squinted at his opponent in the distance, a smirk appearing on his face.


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    Arke is just standing there, waiting for him to send another attack. Apollo realized that his opponent decided to focus on defense, which was confusing since Arke only needed to dodge his attack and get near him. Does he think I wouldn''t be able to keep up doing this? Apollo thought, almost certain.


    If that''s the case¡­


    One after another, the combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast was sent towards the dark smoke-covered participant.


    Arke crossed his hands in front of him, blocking all of the attack while taking a few steps every time they landed.


    "Ah! F*ck, does this guy have unlimited stamina?!" Arke couldn''t help but grit his teeth out of frustration. He already received at least four combinations of Wind Blast and Fire Blast, but one more is coming to raise the number!


    With a banging sound, his body took the hit, causing him to take a couple of steps back while blood threatened to come out from his mouth. Holding it back, he stared ahead and saw that another attack was being prepared.


    He couldn''t dodge, the attacks were just too fast. Probably because of the additional Wind blast. Furthermore, even if he could, he wouldn''t, it would be too humiliating if he couldn''t get close to his opponent and just dodged around like a coward.


    As he waited for the sixth round to arrive, he noticed that Can Deez has a frown on his face while also gritting his teeth. The two Battle Techniques on the other hand were conjuring pretty slowly while the Fire Blast is flickering in and out.


    Seeing this, the confident smile came back on Arke''s face. Can Deez is already at his ''limit''.


    And sure enough, the small masked man fell on his knees while the battle techniques disappeared completely. He was ''panting hard''.


    "Haha!" Arke laughed aloud while the dark murky smoke surrounding him focused on his hands, as they congregated, they became darker and the smoke reached at least a few feet into the air. He walked towards his opponent and although his body was aching, his footsteps were steady, evident confidence radiating out from him. "I guess you must have reached your limit, right?"


    The small masked man didn''t answer, his head low while his breathing was heavy.


    Arke stopped a few meters away from his opponent, this distance was enough for him to cover in just one or two steps. Looking at the state of the small masked man, the smile on his face widened. He knew this feeling very well as he had experienced this a couple of times when he trained his Battle Techniques nonstop.


    It felt like a mountain was being pressed on his whole body while his mind tried to fight the fight which would only end up futile as only time would be able to move the pressure.


    "You got too ahead of yourself," Arke said, his cold eyes staring at his opponent. "Using two offensive Battle Techniques at the same time? What a rookie move. You have big head. Just because you are standing in front of me doesn''t mean you can act tough. The strong should only have that right against the weak!


    A weakling like that doesn''t stand a chance should know how to bow your head!"


    Apollo didn''t answer while his shoulders moved up and down. This tells how ''tired'' he was. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why don''t you lower your head more?" Arke said. "Or do you want me to do it for you instead?"


    "Then make me do it," Apollo raised his head, his eyes staring back coldly while a smirk painted his face. "Don''t tell me you only know how to run your mouth and spit saliva all over the place?"


    At the same time, he reached back inside his robe and took out his tree branch which he put when he used the combination of two battle techniques.


    Hearing the mockery, Arke''s face twitched. This guy knows how to infuriate me! Hmph! His eyes became colder while the dark murky smoke became strange, some wisp of the smoke split from the rest before they moved towards his opponent''s direction.


    It was so subtle and discreet that one wouldn''t think it was strange. It was dark smoke that behaved abnormally and depending on the wind. No one would think that a small wisp would have a strong poison that could make any Foundation Building Stage weak.


    "F*ck you!" Arke shouted as he had enough. Using his movement technique, he instantly arrived in front of Can Deez!


    Apollo smiled. This is it! This fight will be toe to toe! I should hold myself back from time to time and make them think we are having a hard time!

 Chapter 151 Apollo Versus Arke(Part-5)

    A shadow ran in a certain direction, its footsteps neither slow nor fast. Clearly, this shadow was in no hurry. It stood like a small mountain, its dark, sleek, shadow-like hair swaying in the wind. Ten long, flowing tails moved as though alive, each one shimmering faintly as if made from the shadows themselves. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Its glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, and its nose sniffed the air occasionally. After a while, it stopped, staring at a mountain one or two thousand kilometers away.


    The creature let out a low, threatening growl, saliva dripping to the ground as its sharp, pointed teeth emerged.


    "Human... prey..." the creature muttered, its voice garbled and rough. Suddenly, strange writing appeared in front of it, turning into a cloud of smoke from which images materialized.


    Its red eyes focused coldly on a human fighting with someone in the distance. Silently, it moved forward, blending with the shadows.


    ¡­


    Apollo barely dodged a fist covered in dark, murky smoke, then countered with a slash from his tree branch weapon. The dark smoke barrier was instantly sliced in half, but his opponent had already leaped back. The Beggar pursued Arke, closing the distance in an instant, and the two exchanged blows once more.


    Fist and tree branch clashed, but neither could land a decisive hit.


    Hmm, this is harder than I thought, Apollo mused, dodging a fist that sent the air exploding beside him.


    He already knew the extent of Arke''s strength. Though Arke had a higher cultivation level, Apollo was confident he could win the fight with little to no injuries. However, he had to pretend to struggle in order to execute his plan¡ªto feign a desperate struggle and "accidentally" kill his opponent. But this was easier said than done; he had to make sure his attacks didn''t seriously injure Arke.


    Apollo also had to pretend he couldn''t use his other Techniques and was limited to hand-to-hand combat. Taking damage was part of the plan, to make the act more convincing.


    Arke''s fist slammed into Apollo''s chest, sending him tumbling across the stage. He quickly pushed off with his hands and jumped to his feet. As he landed, he saw Arke charging toward him, cuts covering his body.


    Just as Apollo prepared to lunge at his opponent, dizziness hit him, and his chest throbbed. He felt blood rising in his throat, and before he could stop it, he spat out a mouthful.


    Seeing the black-red blood on the ground, Apollo realized he''d been poisoned. At the same time, a notification appeared in front of him.


    "Ding! You have been poisoned with Nightshade Essence."


    Nightshade Essence? Apollo looked up, noticing the cunning smile on Arke''s face, and felt a wave of confusion. When did I get poisoned? He hadn''t felt a thing.


    As his body grew heavy and dizziness clouded his mind, Apollo knew this was bad. Gritting his teeth, he refused to back down and pushed forward.


    Swinging his tree branch, he cut through a barrier, but a blur shot past him¡ªArke had appeared beside him, throwing a punch at his face!


    Gritting his teeth, Apollo didn''t raise his hands to block it. Instead, he let the punch land!


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    A loud bang echoed as the Beggar''s body flew through the air, crashing to the ground. Dust rose around him as the audience erupted in excitement.


    Inside the dust cloud, Apollo grunted in pain. "Argh, this f*cking hurts."


    At first, he was just pretending to be weak, staging a scene so that when he completed his mission, no trouble would come for him. However, the poison in his body made the act all too real.


    Sitting on the ground, he checked his Alm points before bringing up the System Store. Apollo had saved some of his points just for this kind of situation.


    "Show items that can remove the poison in my body and sort them by price, descending order," Apollo commanded. The Store flickered for a moment before displaying the options.


    The first item was a tonic costing three Alm points. But according to the description, it would only alleviate the poison, not completely remove it.


    He scanned the items until his eyes landed on an elixir: Simple Poison Removal. It cost seven Alm points, taking half of his savings.


    Simple Poison Removal: An item that can remove any poison from the user''s body, but only simple poisons. Tap to see the list of simple poisons this item can cleanse.


    Apollo tapped and quickly saw the poison afflicting him.


    This is it! With that in mind, he bought the item and immediately used it. Hidden within the dust cloud, a glass bottle materialized before him, filled with a light blue liquid. Apollo uncorked it and drank it in one gulp.


    A refreshing, cooling sensation flowed down his throat and spread through his body. The coolness enveloped him, and his dizziness and pain vanished.


    In no time, the poison was completely purged, and his mind cleared.


    Still, he acted as though he were gravely injured while the dust cloud began to settle.


    Arke stood a few meters in front of him, a mocking smile on his face.


    "What? Feeling weak?" Arke asked with a chuckle.


    "W-what... did you... do?" Apollo asked, breathing heavily between his words.


    "I don''t know," Arke shrugged, lowering his body and raising both fists. The temperature around him rose, and his eyes locked onto his opponent coldly. "But I''ve decided to end this fight now."


    Oh? Seeing Arke preparing to lunge, a smile formed on Apollo''s lips, though he quickly hid it. He stepped back, worry etched on his face.


    "Sh*t! If I''m going to die, I won''t die alone!" Apollo shouted, raising his tree branch with both hands, gritting his teeth.


    The referee standing nearby broke into a cold sweat when he heard this. It seemed like both fighters were ready to disregard the consequences. His expression grew serious as tension pressed down on him.


    He knew he had to stop the fight before one of them was killed. Gathering Qi from the surroundings and reinforcing his stance, he waited for the battle to continue.


    "Take this!" Arke yelled, dashing toward his opponent. He was brimming with confidence, certain of victory now that Can Deez had inhaled the poison. Killing intent radiated from him as he focused on ending his opponent.


    But in the next moment, Arke saw his opponent appear before him, and suddenly, his vision twisted and spun.


    It felt cold. He wanted to move but couldn''t. With a thud, he saw a headless figure, and Can Deez stood behind it.

 Chapter 152 The Hunt Began(Part-1)

    With a thud, a body fell to the ground, blood pooling where a head used to be.


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    At the same time, the Referee appeared beside the body, but it was too late. The head was already rolling into the distance.


    Looking at it, the Referee was shocked. Arke had died instantly, his face frozen in the same expression¡ªconfident smile and mocking eyes. The moment the Referee realized one of them might die, he had dashed forward to save someone. A fist that could pierce a body and a tree branch that was actually a very sharp weapon flashed in his mind.


    But now, staring back at him, he saw Can Deez kneeling on the floor.


    He had intended to save Can Deez. Instead, it was Arke who had died.


    It was too fast.


    Recalling the sequence, the slow and seemingly weak Can Deez had suddenly moved with lightning speed, beheading his opponent in a single stroke! All the Referee had thought about was saving the small masked man, never expecting this outcome.


    As Can Deez lay on the floor, breathing heavily, the Referee realized it must have been a final burst of strength. In the face of danger, people could reach their full potential for a split second, surpassing their usual limits. Can Deez had likely experienced this.


    And sure enough, moments later, Can Deez collapsed completely.


    A heavy silence hung in the air before the crowd erupted in excitement!


    The Referee, however, wasn''t as thrilled. He didn''t immediately announce the winner but turned his eyes to the officials on the floating platform.


    After a while, he received confirmation that one of them had been bound to die in that final moment. Arke had clearly intended to kill, his murderous intent impossible to miss. That was likely why Can Deez hadn''t held back.


    The Referee raised his hand and announced the winner.


    "Can Deez, the outsider, has won the final test!" he declared.


    The audience erupted into cheers. Even with a dead body on the platform, their excitement didn''t wane¡ªif anything, it grew even more intense.


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    "That''s a surprise," Elmo chuckled. "I lost."


    "D*mn it," Master Popo sighed. "Was that really just a final burst of strength? He got way too fast all of a sudden."


    "Even if it wasn''t, he did the right thing. Otherwise, he would''ve died," Elmo said, shaking his head. "Besides, Arke''s killing intent was strong. He made it clear what he wanted. In that situation, going all out was the only option to win. Anyway, a loss is a loss.


    One Inner Ticket it is."


    The two glanced at the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School and, seeing the smile on his face, couldn''t help but tilt their heads.


    "You look too happy. Please don''t show it. Even though it''s only one ticket, it still stings, you know," Elmo said, smiling bitterly.


    "I''m not smiling because I won the bet," Master Axton replied, his eyes focused on the dead body on the platform, as large as two football fields.


    Elmo followed his gaze and understood what was on the headmaster''s mind.


    "Karma came swiftly, didn''t it?" Elmo sighed. "But I think he deserved it."


    Master Popo nodded. "Bel was such a good girl. I would''ve taken her as my personal disciple if you two hadn''t stopped me!"


    As the trio conversed, on the other side of the floating platform, the Mayor stared at the body on the stage. He licked his lips and turned to the butler beside him.


    "You know what to do, right?" Klown asked through Thought Transfer. He didn''t have cultivation, but he could use it because Holst had allowed him to connect to his mind.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure his body ends up on your plate," Holst replied.


    "Seems like he won''t be able to complete his mission," Klown remarked, though he didn''t sound disappointed at all. Whether the Leone Heir lived or not didn''t matter anymore now that their plan was moving in the right direction. Arke''s usefulness was long gone. No¡ªhe still had one final use: to fill the Mayor''s stomach.


    Thinking about it, Klown licked his lips again.


    As the butler was about to speak, a frown creased his face. He looked up toward the open ceiling of the mountain, squinting, but all he could see was the cold brilliance of the moon.


    "What''s wrong?" Klown asked, this time not using Thought Transfer.


    Holst didn''t answer. Instead, he turned toward the Headmasters, and sure enough, they were also looking in the same direction.


    "We should retreat," Holst said.


    Klown wanted to ask why, but seeing the serious look on Holst''s face, he decided to comply. "Alright." He then turned to the Visitors, especially the leader of the convoy.


    "Let''s go back to the ci¡ª" Klown couldn''t finish his sentence. In the next second, a deafening roar came from above. He looked up, his eyes widening in shock.


    ¡­


    Back on the platform, Apollo was playing ''unconscious'' on the floor. It took all his willpower to resist the urge to scratch his bottom.


    When are they going to take me away? Apollo wondered. He was waiting for the white-robed men to remove him from the scene, and that would be his chance to make his escape.


    But as he lay there, he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his back.


    Apollo frowned as the heat intensified with each passing second. What''s happening?!


    A sense of foreboding washed over him, his mind racing to figure out what was going on.


    Was it¡­ the mark on my back? Apollo was sure of it¡ªthere was no other explanation. Don''t tell me that monster is already near?! Thinking about it more carefully, he realized that creature had been watching him ever since he left the city. It seemed like the monster couldn''t wait any longer.


    Suddenly, a notification appeared before him. Even though his eyes were closed, he could still see the translucent screen.


    "The Alphadusk Shadowtail has begun its hunt!"


    At the same time, a powerful roar echoed from above, causing the Beggar to shiver involuntarily.


    Fck! This is not a good time! I still have to pretend!* But unbeknownst to him, even if he didn''t pretend, he wouldn''t be punished. The Headmasters themselves weren''t against his actions in killing Arke.

 Chapter 153 The Hunt Began(Part-2)

    The roar echoed inside the venue, causing the audience to look around.


    "There!" someone shouted, pointing toward the open ceiling of the mountain where the moon shone brilliantly. However, their focus wasn''t on the moon; their eyes were locked on a creature standing atop the mountain, staring down at them.


    "W-what the hell is that?!"


    "That''s a monster!"


    Hearing the shouts, the audience soon fell into disarray. It didn''t take long for panic to set in, with some people immediately running toward the exits. They pushed and shoved, trying to escape as quickly as possible. Those with cultivation used their strength to rush ahead of the normal people.


    Monsters. They were creatures that almost all ordinary folks dreaded. If they could help it, they''d avoid ever seeing one.


    A monster meant destruction. Klown City had already endured several monster attacks that had killed hundreds, if not thousands. The trauma lingered, keeping the citizens constantly on edge, always fearing that one day, monsters would strike again.


    Thankfully, Cultivators often stepped in to slay these beasts. But that didn''t erase the fear. It was a deep-rooted terror, one hard to shake off, driving people to flee at the slightest sign of danger. Moreover, the monster standing on the mountain was clearly no ordinary creature. Even those without cultivation could feel the pressure emanating from it.


    As shouts filled the venue, the person pretending to be unconscious on the two-football-field-sized platform couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat.


    Sht! This is so frustrating!* Apollo wanted to stand up and flee with the crowd, but that would blow his cover! Should I wait longer? Someone should be getting me out of here by now! There''s no way they''re just going to leave that monster here, right? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With that thought, he decided to keep playing unconscious. Suddenly, the platform vibrated as something massive landed on it.


    A wave of killing intent radiated out. It was so overwhelming that Apollo''s breathing became labored. It felt just like when Mathias, a Core Creation Cultivator, unleashed his aura! No, this time, it was stronger¡ªpiercing straight to his heart!


    Apollo shivered as he felt a powerful gaze fall upon him. He could hear a low, deep growl coming from behind. He didn''t know how close it was, but the sound seemed as if it was right next to his ear.


    Where is everyone?! Can someone please come and save me?!


    The monster roared again, its voice making the entire mountain tremble. Small rocks even fell from above.


    Sht! Sht! With no other choice, and probably out of curiosity to see the creature, Apollo opened his eyes, moved his head slightly, and took a glance.


    Tall! It had to be at least 20 meters in height! Its dark fur looked like shadows, with ten tails swaying behind it as though they were alive. And those eyes! They were so red they resembled blood.


    Suddenly, the Alphadusk Shadowtail locked eyes with him, and Apollo''s body felt like it had been electrocuted.


    One gaze¡ªthat was all it took for Apollo to know he couldn''t defeat this monster!


    I fcked up, Apollo thought before his expression turned serious. But I won''t back down without a fight!


    He stood up slowly, his body ''shaking'' from the ''injuries'' he''d sustained in the previous fight. Still pretending to be hurt, Apollo shook his head, looked around, and then tilted his head to the side.


    "What''s happening?" Of course, Apollo knew exactly what was happening. He turned around and looked at the creature again.


    As their eyes met, the Beggar couldn''t help but gulp. This is it! It''s either fight or run! Raising his tree branch in front of him, he squinted at the Alphadusk Shadowtail.


    He had a plan in case he ever encountered this monster, but to pull it off, he needed to get close to the creature¡ªwithout getting killed first.


    The two stared each other down for a moment before the Alpha roared! However, halfway through its roar, something flashed in Apollo''s eyes, and in the next moment, the Alpha''s head was knocked to the side. The creature stumbled, taking a few steps backward from the force.


    A person landed beside Apollo, holding a giant sword and shield that almost matched their two-meter height.


    "You should go back, kid," Elmo said, glancing at the small masked man with a smirk. "Let the old fogies handle this monster."


    Hearing this, Apollo, who had been prepared to risk his life to kill the monster, widened his eyes in surprise. Then relief washed over him. Finally, they came¡ªand it''s even the Headmasters! There''s no way this wolf can kill me now!


    The Ten-Tailed Alphadusk Shadowtail shook its head for a moment, its eyes locking on the big brute standing beside its prey. The Alpha opened its mouth, but in the next second, fire erupted from beneath it! The monster''s roar turned into a howl of pain!


    At the same time, another person landed beside the Beggar, and Apollo instinctively turned to look¡ªbut immediately regretted it. Just before the person landed, Apollo''s eyes caught sight of the forbidden fruit!


    "Haha, or you can stay and watch us kill this motherf*cking creature!" Master Popo grinned at the small masked man. "You know, in my school, we don''t want students to be restricted by order. They should be fiery and brave¡ªjust like real fire! So, what do you think? Isn''t it great?"


    Elmo stared at the headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School with an incredulous expression. How shameless of this old man! Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Ahem! Can Deez, that''s your name, right? Stay if you want, but you should be able to protect yourself. In the Sword and Shield Martial School, we teach all kinds of offensive and defensive techniques, not just raw destruction that doesn''t discriminate between friend and foe."


    "You!" Master Popo glared at Elmo angrily, but Elmo only sneered.


    I''m more than happy to get out of this place, Apollo thought, smiling bitterly. "I think I should go back."


    The two headmasters didn''t pay him any more attention and began their battle.


    Taking this chance, Apollo jumped off the stage and started running toward the exit. However, he slammed into something and fell on his bottom. Shaking his head, he saw a dark, translucent barrier where he had collided.


    "A barrier?" Apollo stood up as the monster roared once more behind him. This time, it was interrupted for the third time as one of its tails was cut off, but he didn''t bother looking back. He raised his hand and punched the barrier. His fist bounced off while the barrier only rippled. "What sh*tty luck!"


    Then Apollo remembered that his Simple Sword Technique could make any object sharp. He had even used it to cut through techniques before. He took out his tree branch and slashed at the barrier. However, instead of breaking the barrier, his tree branch shattered.


    "No!" Apollo held the broken stick in front of him, disappointment evident in his eyes.


    "It''s not going to work, kid," someone said. Hearing the voice, Apollo turned around and saw the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Meanwhile, the other two Headmasters were still busy berating each other as the Alpha remained trapped inside the hellfire.


    "But why? I could cut through all the techniques before!" Apollo asked, genuinely confused. He didn''t bother hiding information, as the other party seemed to know what he could do with his tree branch.


    Axton turned around and stared at the small masked man. "I could tell you, but you''re not one of my students. If you want, my school is open to you."


    Apollo frowned. These guys... why are they promoting their schools when there''s a monster right behind them?


    Suddenly, a great pressure descended, causing Apollo to cough. At the same time, the wolf howled into the air and began absorbing the fire surrounding it through its nose and mouth.


    "Watch out!" Master Popo shouted before disappearing from his spot. Elmo didn''t hesitate either, vanishing just as quickly.


    Axton dodged as well, as a massive wave of fire shot toward where they had all stood moments before. The temperature increased so much that the air began to boil.


    Apollo clearly saw what happened. The Alphadusk Shadowtail had absorbed the intense fire and then fired it back at the Headmasters. The spot where they had been standing was now melting, the heat even reaching the ground floor.


    If that attack had landed on me, I''d be dead, Apollo thought, gulping nervously.


    Elmo reappeared on the left side of the two-football-field platform, Axton on the right, while Master Popo floated in the air. No one was bothered by his aerial display as they were too focused on the monster.


    "I thought they already killed this monster?" Master Popo couldn''t help but ask.


    Axton squinted at the Alphadusk Shadowtail''s back and saw the tail he had cut off regenerating rapidly. He counted the tails and understood what was happening.


    "They did kill the Alphadusk Shadowtail, but that one had nine tails. This one has ten. All this time, there were two Alphadusks," Axton explained, his voice serious.


    "I knew it!" Elmo said. "I read about this in a book once, but I only remembered now. There''s a case where two Alphas can rule one forest¡ªa male and a female. If they''re the same gender, they''ll fight to the death. I think this one is the male!"


    "Oh, I see," Master Popo nodded, a confident smile on his face. "Then I''ll take the back. You guys handle it head-on!"

 Chapter 154 The Hunt Began(Part-3)

    "Humans¡­ kill¡­" The Alphadusk Shadowtail growled with its deep, incoherent voice.


    Hearing this, Axton and the others weren''t surprised. Monsters like this, which had risen to the top of their group and experienced growth far beyond their peers, often developed stronger and new abilities. Many of them gained the ability to speak, though they struggled to articulate words due to their bodily structure.


    "I¡­ will¡­ kill¡­ humans!" the Alpha howled into the air before dashing toward the nearest human!


    Elmo''s body emitted a strong haze as the winds moved erratically around him, and his weapons glowed brilliantly.


    "Come!" Elmo shouted, lowering his body slightly before using his movement technique to instantly appear in front of the monster!


    He swung his sword, the air splitting and whistling as the pressure descended, but a black tail blocked his attack. Although the tail moved like a shadow, it had such durability that the Headmaster''s sword couldn''t penetrate it. However, Elmo didn''t lose his cool. Instead, he used his shield to punch the monster!


    The attack landed on the wolf''s head, forcing it to the side, but another tail came at Elmo, which he deflected with his sword.


    Upon landing, he jumped back with a chuckle. "This guy''s smart¡ªjust what I''d expect from a wolf."


    At the same time, Axton took the opportunity to appear above the monster, his sword as thin as a cicada''s wing, aiming for the Alpha''s head. The blade met no resistance, penetrating the monster with ease. However, five or six tails immediately lunged at him, forcing Axton to withdraw his sword and deflect the tails.


    The sound of collisions echoed a few times before the Alpha opened its mouth. A dark orb gathered and, within a second, fired toward Axton!


    Axton''s body instantly evaporated, leaving only mist in the air. The dark orb continued on its path, crashing into the wall and causing rocks to fall on the fleeing audience.


    Fortunately, the white-robed men were quick to act, using their abilities to shield the audience.


    The Alphadusk shook its head, its wounds healing instantly. Its eyes locked onto Axton, who had reappeared a distance away, first in a form of water before returning to his true self.


    The Alpha bared its teeth and charged at the Great Serpent Headmaster!


    "I think you pissed it off, Axton!" Elmo shouted with a laugh, dashing toward the monster. But before he could get close, a tail shot toward him. Expecting this, Elmo activated one of his Battle Techniques, his body increasing in size! With a slash of his sword, the tail was deflected, and a sharp gust of wind followed, slicing several tails in half.


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    The Alphadusk roared in pain, but it didn''t slow down at all as its severed tails regenerated almost immediately.


    "Tsk!" Elmo glanced up at Master Popo, who hovered in the air. "Hey! Is it ready?"


    "Yup!" Master Popo called back, his hands moving frantically as inscriptions materialized in front of him. Having seen the monster absorb his fire and use it to counterattack, he realized it was futile to use the same method. Instead, he focused on immobilizing the creature. "Done!"


    Suddenly, the inscriptions emitted a bright yellow-red glow, and burning whips shot toward the monster''s tails!


    The whips held each of the Alpha''s tails, stopping it just a few feet from biting Axton''s head.


    The Alphadusk tried to snap its jaws, but all it could do was clatter its sharp teeth.


    "Die¡­" the Alpha growled. However, no matter how hard it tried to step forward, the whips binding its tails kept it from killing the human in front of it.


    With no other choice, the Alpha opened its mouth to create another dark orb. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Axton had already thrown a punch at the monster''s head! With a loud bang, the Alpha tumbled across the ground, and just before it fell off the platform, Master Popo tightened his grip on the whips, pulling it back.


    Master Popo landed, and the two headmasters appeared at his sides.


    "This should weaken its strength," Master Popo said with a confident smile.


    "Should we kill it?" Elmo asked, turning to the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    "What else do you know about it?" Axton responded instead of answering directly.


    "I''ve already told you everything I know," Elmo said, shaking his head. "But I do know one person who''s familiar with all kinds of animals."


    "Who?" Axton asked.


    "Theo, the owner of Skyline Savory," Elmo replied.


    Upon hearing this, Axton nodded as if understanding. "Then let''s capture this monster and bring it to him. There''s not much recorded about this Ten Tail Alphadusk Shadowtail. Maybe Theo can help document it for future reference."


    "Alri¡ª" Elmo began, but he stopped mid-sentence as a blur shot past them. Realizing something, he turned to the Alpha and saw something that made his eyes widen and brought a bitter smile to his face.


    The Alpha was wildly waving all its tails, flinging the whips around. At the far end of the golden-red whips was the Headmaster of the Fire Shrine, his Hanfu robes chaotically flapping in the wind, with something inappropriate showing as he clung desperately to his whips.


    "Ah! The Binding Whips are losing their strength!" Master Popo shouted as his body was flung into the air.


    "It seems like this monster can absorb even a Restraining Technique," Axton muttered, squinting as he stared at the Fire Shrine Headmaster. "Let go!"


    "Oh, right!" Master Popo realized, releasing his grip on the Binding Whips. The moment his hands left them, the whips disintegrated into particles that shot through the Alpha''s body.


    Master Popo was flung through the air, flipping several times before stabilizing himself. He floated, shaking his head in frustration. He glared at the monster. "F*ck yo¡ª" He couldn''t finish as a dark orb was already headed his way, aiming to blow him up.


    Seeing this, Master Popo raised his hand and activated his technique. Qi surged from within his body, turning into blazing fire, which he sent toward the orb. A strong explosion erupted, causing the whole mountain to shake!


    Using his movement techniques, Master Popo transformed into flames and landed beside the other headmasters.


    "Sh*t, that was risky," the Fire Shrine Headmaster cursed. "Can I stop holding back now? I really want to kill this monster!"


    "No, you can''t," Axton replied, shaking his head. "People are still evacuating."


    Without even exchanging words, they had been holding back their strength. There were still civilians escaping, and because of their numbers, it was taking quite a long time.


    The Alphadusk glared at them, its ten tails swaying behind it. "Humans¡­ kill¡­"


    Meanwhile, Apollo, who had been watching all this time, was amazed by the scene. Everything had occurred in just a minute or two, and the visual effects were dazzling, especially when the trio moved and used their Battle Techniques.


    His eyes lingered on the Headmasters before focusing on the Great Serpent Head.


    That guy should''ve been dead. Apollo was shocked when Axton was hit by that dark orb, which obliterated him instantly, leaving nothing behind but mist. However, he reappeared away from the monster in a puddle of water, reforming into his true self.


    That''s definitely a Hydra Mirage, but more perfect and advanced, the Beggar thought, his eyes shining with excitement. He recalled the final state of that Technique: the clone one creates is so lifelike that it behaves like the true self, with its energy being almost identical to the original. This means, when using their senses on the clone, others would believe it''s the real body.


    Apollo could create ten clones and control them to move like the real him. However, he had to control them manually, dividing his attention. Fortunately, the technique wasn''t overly taxing.


    The Beggar began to suspect that the Great Serpent Headmaster on the platform was not the real body.


    Unbeknownst to him, he was right.


    "It would''ve been better if your real body were here," Elmo said, glancing at Axton while raising his weapons. The monster was gathering Qi from the surroundings, and ten dark orbs appeared on top of each tail. This time, his expression was more serious than before.


    "I''m more than enough," Axton replied, his face reflecting the same calm resolve.


    "Or it would''ve been better if Mathias were here!" Master Popo chimed in.


    At the same time, the wolf howled into the air before launching the ten orbs!


    "Contain it inside this place!" Axton shouted, and the other two nodded, their bodies turning into blurs as they blocked the orbs with their Techniques.


    Apollo clenched his fist, marveling at the magnificent scene. But in the next moment, his eyes widened as two orbs shot directly toward him!


    "F*ck! I don''t have my weapon!" Apollo yelled, frantically looking around but finding nothing he could use. Knowing that the unbreakable barrier behind him came from the Alpha, he couldn''t risk using his fingers as weapons.


    With this in mind, he raised both hands and unleashed a combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast!

 Chapter 155 The Hunt Began(Part-4)

    Continuous explosions echoed through the venue as the entire mountain shook from the intensity. Rocks fell, followed by screams.


    Apollo was covered in fire and smoke, his body sent flying backward, crashing into the dark barrier. The barrier stretched on impact, but he couldn''t penetrate it, and his body bounced back to the ground.


    After rolling a few times, the Beggar coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    "Ah, f*ck," Apollo cursed. Using the combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast against that dark orb had been a bad idea. But with no time to dodge and his Simple Sword Technique ineffective against the Alphadusk''s abilities, he had no choice but to counter the attack with his own.


    He managed to survive, but he was still caught in the aftermath.


    Standing up amid the sounds of explosions and howls, Apollo looked around. The three Headmasters were now fighting the Alpha more intensely. Dark orbs materialized, and the Headmasters defended against them, ensuring they didn''t reach the still-escaping audience. However, due to the blasts, rocks were falling, crushing some people to death.


    Apollo realized the Headmasters were containing the fight within the arena. Stabilizing his internal wounds while gathering Qi from the surroundings, he focused on the barrier, which made it impossible for him to escape, though the Techniques'' aftermaths could pass through. There has to be a crack in it somewhere, Apollo thought as the barrier vibrated from the impacts.


    Sure enough, he spotted a section vibrating more than the rest. Squinting, he enhanced his vision and saw small cracks.


    That''s it! Apollo finally saw hope of escaping the battlefield.


    But to do that, he had to cross the two football field-sized platform. "Please don''t bother me," Apollo muttered, taking a deep breath.


    After stabilizing his wounds to where the pain wasn''t as intense, he used his Simple Movement Technique and paired it with the technique he learned from the second test.


    As Qi circulated through his body in a specific pattern, he felt weightless, like a feather, like a dandelion dancing with the wind.


    Determined to escape, he dashed toward the cracked barrier. In just a few seconds, he had almost crossed the platform.


    But as he neared the crack, his senses tingled, the hairs on his neck standing on end. Time seemed to slow. Without knowing what was coming after him, his mind raced for a solution. He noticed the weapon rack lying broken on the ground, cold wooden weapons scattered everywhere. His eyes locked onto a sword, and without hesitation, he changed direction, grabbed the sword, and slashed behind him!


    A tail, dark as a shadow, collided with his wooden sword!


    Time seemed to slow as the wooden sword became the sharpest thing in the world, slicing through the tail as if it were tofu.


    The Alphadusk grunted in pain, its eyes locking onto the Beggar, while its other tails focused on forming Dark Orbs and sending them toward the Headmasters.


    Wait, I can cut this monster, but I can''t cut through its techniques? Apollo thought, confused, though he quickly shook his head¡ªthere was no time to dwell on it.


    His plan was disrupted again as two more tails came his way, the one he had cut already regenerated.


    Seeing this, Apollo gritted his teeth. "F*ck it!" he muttered, cutting through the dark tails while slowly making his way toward the cracked part of the barrier.


    Meanwhile, Axton sliced a dark orb in half, causing it to explode in black flames beside him. Noticing Apollo''s struggle, Axton couldn''t help but smile.


    Axton stared at the small masked man for a moment, realizing his True Understanding of the Sword was more potent than he had imagined. He turned toward the audience seats, finding them empty. His eyes turned cold.


    "The audience is gone. Don''t hold back now!" Axton ordered, his body radiating a bright blue light as the roar of the Great Serpent erupted from him.


    "Haha, this guy''s dead!" Elmo laughed aloud, his body emitting a pressure so intense it caused the air around him to crack.


    Master Popo licked his lips, his gaze fixed intently on the monster. "I''m going to roast you alive!" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While the trio smiled, relieved they no longer had to worry about the audience, one person was far from relaxed.


    Ah! Fck! Fck! Apollo cursed in his mind a hundred times over, struggling against the two tails. Although he could cut through them like they were nothing, they regenerated so quickly that his attacks became meaningless.


    He soon reached his limit, and one of the tails struck him in the chest, sending him flying across the ground until he crashed into the barrier.


    "Argh," Apollo grunted in pain, blood threatening to spill from his mouth.


    It was the second or third time he had hit the barrier, and Apollo was starting to get really angry.


    He stood up, his face red with rage, but the next scene made his eyes widen in disbelief.


    A Great Serpent, as massive as the Alpha, had appeared, staring at the monster while letting out a deep growl. Compared to what Apollo had seen from the participants, the one on stage looked so lifelike he could even see its scales!


    But that wasn''t all.


    A fiery shrine hovered in the air, made entirely of blazing flames that twisted and weaved together, forming intricate pillars, walls, and an altar where Master Popo sat cross-legged. Though the shrine radiated red, it emitted an ethereal glow, solemn and mysterious.


    Dmn, he looks cool!* Apollo couldn''t help but admit. Although he hated this Exhibitionist, seeing him look so serious made him momentarily forget Master Popo''s previous antics.


    His gaze shifted to Elmo, the Sword and Shield Headmaster, who had a projection of a giant emerging from his body, towering at least twenty meters high. Clad in battle-worn obsidian armor etched with glowing runes, the giant wielded a mighty greatsword in one hand and an indestructible shield in the other. The air around them cracked under the immense pressure.


    Seeing these incredible visuals, the Beggar began to drool, his eyes burning with jealousy. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    Meanwhile, the Alpha pulled back its two tails, growling at the three apparitions before it. The monster howled into the air, up toward the open ceiling where the brilliance of the moon shone down on them.


    "This is too cool!"

 Chapter 156 The Hunt Began(Part-5)

    Apollo stared at them with shining eyes, but he was jolted out of his stupor when the wolf howled into the air. Suddenly, a sense of dread rose inside his heart, and sure enough, the Alphadusk emitted a dark light, growing at least five meters taller. The monster unleashed a pressure far stronger than before.


    The Beggar felt as though a mountain was pressing down on him.


    "Sh*t! Gotta get out of here!" Apollo glanced at the three Headmasters before heading toward the cracked part of the barrier.


    This time, no tails pursued him, and he sighed in relief. Standing in front of the crack, he raised his fist and punched hard. With a loud bang, the barrier shook, small pieces falling to the ground like shards of glass.


    Seeing this, Apollo couldn''t help but smile. He kept pounding on the barrier, using his True Hardening technique. The crack widened, and before long, the Beggar shattered the barrier completely, creating an opening large enough for him to escape.


    Suddenly, a strong explosion erupted behind him, and the shockwave propelled the Beggar outside the barrier. As he hurtled through the air, Apollo flipped and landed squarely on his feet. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Glancing back, he saw the shrine made of fire cast a torrent of flames at the monster, which responded with a shadowy wave!


    The winds were so chaotic that rocks were flying everywhere. One of the rocks hurtled toward Apollo. He sliced it in half with the wooden sword in his hand. But then another rock came flying at him.


    "This place is dangerous," Apollo muttered, slicing through the projectile before using his movement technique to dash toward the exit.


    Just as he was about to reach the exit, he sensed another threat from behind. Glancing back, he saw a giant dark orb headed straight for him! His eyes widened¡ªhe knew that if it hit, he would surely die!


    But in the next moment, the Great Serpent appeared from the side, swallowing the dark orb with its wide mouth!


    "I''ll remember that forever!" Apollo shouted at the Great Serpent Headmaster as he disappeared through the exit.


    Watching the small masked man''s retreating figure, Axton commanded the Great Serpent to attack the Alphadusk.


    "Take this!" Elmo shouted from the side, his giant projection swinging its sword.


    As the battle raged on, the entire mountain shook, with parts of it beginning to crumble. If this continued, the mountain would collapse from within.


    ...


    Outside the tallest mountain in the area, people were scattered everywhere¡ªmost of them running back toward the city, while those with chariots quickly climbed in and ordered their charioteers to get them out of there as fast as possible.


    Filly and Gail arrived at the foot of the mountain, both breathing heavily, especially the restaurant owner.


    "What the hell is that monster?" Filly asked, panting.


    "It''s¡­" Gail glanced at the mountain with squinted eyes. "An Alphadusk Shadowtail."


    "Alphadusk?!" Filly''s eyes widened in shock and fear. "I never thought I''d see one in my entire life!" Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "But I thought they only had nine tails," Gail muttered, her voice filled with confusion. She had been trained as an assassin, and that didn''t just mean learning how to kill. She was smart, and she had read a lot of books.


    "Well, books can be wrong sometimes," Filly explained, glancing around the area. Seeing that most people were fleeing and only the Cultivators remained, she tilted her head, realizing she hadn''t spotted the person she was looking for. She knew Bel was safe¡ªafter they visited her, her father took her somewhere else. But the one she was looking for wasn''t Bel. "Where is he?"


    "Who?" Gail asked.


    "Can Deez," Filly said.


    Gail''s eyes widened as she suddenly remembered that Can Deez had been left on the stage!


    "He''s still inside!" Gail exclaimed, turning back to the mountain with worry.


    "Sh*t, we forgot about him!" Filly slapped her forehead. "But the Headmasters are there, right? He should be safe with them?"


    Gail shook her head. "In battles between the strong, their stage is much wider and grander than what we fought on."


    "What do you mean?" Filly tilted her head in confusion.


    "Earth," Gail pointed toward the ground. "This is their battlefield."


    "I don''t under¡ª" Filly didn''t finish her sentence as the mountain began shaking violently! Everyone looked up as the mountain''s peak exploded like a volcano!


    But instead of lava, four giants emerged!


    "Watch out!" Gail shouted, stepping in front of the restaurant owner as a giant rock fell in their direction. Two white lights flashed in front of her, metallic gleams materializing¡ªcold and deadly¡ªas she brandished her two short swords!


    Just as the boulder was about to crush them, the wind whistled, and slashing light caused the giant rock to crumble into pieces!


    "Let''s fall back," Gail said, and Filly nodded in agreement.


    The other Cultivators defended themselves from the falling debris, unleashing a flurry of Techniques that lit up the dark night.


    Filly and Gail stopped dozens of meters from the mountain''s base, where they deemed it safe to observe the battle.


    Looking at the mountain, they saw the Great Serpent, the Shrine made of fire, the Titan clad in obsidian armor, and the almost thirty-meter-tall wolf with ten tails!


    The Alphadusk caused the onlookers to gape in awe. This was the first time many of them had seen a monster they''d only read about in books and heard about in rumors.


    "Such magnificence," Filly muttered, her eyes shining with amazement as the battle raged on.


    A torrent of fire lit the night sky in red, followed by a flood from the Great Serpent and booming strikes from the Titan.


    But the Alphadusk was no pushover, responding with a surge of dark smoke that almost turned to liquid, and Dark Orbs that exploded on impact, summoning chaotic winds. Even from a distance, they could feel the hot wind against their skin.


    "I''ll go back and save him," Gail said, determination filling her eyes.


    "That''s too risky!" Filly stared at her in alarm.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll be safe. Besides, he did me a favor by killing that guy¡ªit''s only right I repay him," Gail smiled.


    "But¡­ but¡­" Filly stammered, tears welling up in her eyes. Just as she was about to agree, she suddenly spotted someone running toward them from the base of the mountain. "Is that¡­ him?"


    "Hm?" Gail turned around and saw the person she had been about to rescue.


    "Can Deez!"

 Chapter 157 The Hunt Ends(Part-1)

    Apollo ran with all his might as the mountain behind him shook intensely from the ongoing battle. Rocks fell like meteors. He maneuvered, dodging them with his nimble body.


    In the distance, he spotted a group of Cultivators watching, and Apollo decided to head there¡ªit seemed like a safe area where the falling rocks couldn''t reach.


    As he neared them, a whistling sound echoed from behind. Already having an idea of what was coming, Apollo gritted his teeth and quickly gathered the surrounding Qi, pushing his body to its limits.


    With a deafening explosion, the ground behind him erupted, propelling his body forward! Apollo flipped through the air. Feeling the heat on his back, he shook his head, stabilized himself, and landed on his feet in front of the shocked Cultivators.


    Turning around, he saw the upturned ground, dark smoke, and lingering flames.


    "That guy is still determined to kill me," Apollo muttered, staring at the wolf in the distance. Even though the monster was fighting against the three Headmasters, it still had time to send one of its Dark Orbs after him. Fortunately, he dodged it.


    "Can Deez!" someone called his made-up name, drawing his attention. Hearing it, he was getting more used to the alias.


    Apollo recognized the speaker as the restaurant owner, Filly, along with her assistant, Gail.


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    "Oh, hi," Apollo greeted halfheartedly, turning back to watch the fight.


    Seeing him act nonchalant, Filly wasn''t offended. She looked him over with concern. "Are you okay? I thought you were badly injured from your previous fight."


    Apollo lowered one arm, holding it with the other, gritting his teeth as if in pain from a great ''injury.'' He replied, "I''m okay¡­ I just need some rest."


    "Oh, that''s good," Filly sighed in relief. Although they hadn''t known each other for long, she felt like she knew him far longer than their brief encounters suggested.


    "We thought you were in grave danger," Gail added, also relieved.


    "Me too, me too," Apollo said, his eyes never leaving the battlefield.


    Come on, kill that wolf, Apollo thought, squinting at the Alphadusk in the distance. The mark on his back ached, and he had the unsettling feeling that he was being watched, making him very uncomfortable. He knew that if the monster managed to defeat or escape the Headmasters, it would come for him next¡ªand that was something he desperately wanted to avoid.


    Having fought the monster, he knew he was no match for it. Their strength was as different as Heaven and Earth. He had only dealt with two of its tails, and they had almost taken his life!


    It was a wonder how he had survived at all.


    Seeing that Can Deez was focused on the fight, Filly and Gail didn''t try to talk to him. The battle was magnificent, so they decided to watch as well. It wasn''t every day they got to witness a fight between the Headmasters, and there was much to learn.


    The Great Serpent opened its mouth wide and unleashed a torrent of water powerful enough to raze a street to the ground.


    But the monster blocked it by creating a shadow barrier in front of itself, then countered with its tails. However, the Fire Shrine anticipated this and lashed out with a fiery whip, catching some of the tails. Still, others evaded the attack, dodging like they had minds of their own.


    Alas, the Alphadusk was up against three Headmasters, who had plenty of experience and excellent teamwork. The Titan appeared beside the tails that dodged the whip, grabbing hold of them.


    The wolf howled into the air as its tails were restrained. It twisted and turned but couldn''t break free.


    The Great Serpent seized the opportunity, tightening its coils around the monster before positioning its head directly in front of it. Its jaws opened wide, and a glaring light began to form!


    The watching Cultivators gasped, their eyes shining with excitement. They knew the battle was nearing its end.


    "This¡­ this is amazing!" Filly exclaimed, clenching her fists. "So this is the strength of 3rd-Step Qi Condensation and 4th-Step Qi Condensation stages!"


    Hearing this, Apollo glanced at her in confusion. The Headmasters are only at the Qi Condensation stage, and they''re displaying all these otherworldly effects? he thought. Then what about cultivators at the Core Creation stage and beyond?!


    The thought sent his imagination into overdrive. He couldn''t fathom the strength and power of those higher stages.


    "It''s because of their Techniques," Gail explained, staring intently at the Headmasters.


    Apollo''s ears perked up.


    Not being deeply involved in cultivation, Filly didn''t fully understand. "What do you mean?"


    "Battle Techniques. Even if someone doesn''t have high cultivation, if they''ve mastered a strong Battle Technique, they can fight cultivators with a higher cultivation than them. Some Techniques even ignore cultivation differences altogether. There''s a story of a cultivator who only trained in Battle Techniques but was strong enough to stand toe to toe with Core Creation cultivators.


    Though it''s just a story, no one''s proven it."


    "That sounds amazing," Filly said, eyes wide. "Maybe¡­ I could do that too?"


    Gail chuckled. "It''s much harder than straight cultivation." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Filly pouted.


    Suddenly, a deafening howl pierced the night sky.


    Apollo saw the glaring light from the Great Serpent engulfing the head of the ten-tailed Alphadusk Shadowtail! The mountaintop lit up like a bright star against the darkness.


    After a few moments, the light faded, and the three projections stepped back from the monster. The wolf collapsed, rolling down the steep mountainside before crashing to the ground, raising a cloud of dust that covered its entire body.


    The Martial Students watching erupted into cheers. It was a clear victory for the Headmasters!


    "Finally," Apollo muttered, sighing in relief and smiling as he saw the monster had fallen. The pressure on his shoulders lifted, and he saw the world in a slightly brighter light, though that was more of a figurative statement given the darkness of the night. Shaking his head, he turned to the two women beside him. "Seems like the show has ended."


    "Yeah," Gail nodded. "Against the Headmasters, I''m not surprised."

 Chapter 158 The Hunt Ends(Part-2)

    "They are really strong, aren''t they?" Apollo smiled. "Anyway, I should get going."


    "Wait, why? The exam hasn''t ended yet," Gail said, staring at him with confusion.


    Why? Now that the monster is dead and I''ve completed my mission, there''s no reason for me to stay, Apollo thought. Besides, he glanced at his Alm points and couldn''t wait to return to his Beggar spot to spend them.


    Alm Points: 107


    It was more than enough to buy the item he had been struggling to save up for! Additionally, he was eager to rest as his entire body was aching, especially his organs, which had taken a beating from the explosions and impacts.


    After killing Arke, he had earned an additional one hundred Alm points. But with the sudden appearance of the monster, he hadn''t had the chance to fully enjoy the satisfaction of accumulating so many points.


    "Yeah, don''t leave so soon! You were top in this advancement examination! You should at least receive your prizes," Filly said.


    "Looking at the situation right now, do you think they''ll issue the rewards?" Apollo said, gesturing around him.


    "That¡­ well¡­" Filly didn''t know how to respond. "You''re leaving, but you''re staying in the city, right? There''s no way you''d join the examination without wanting the prize or aiming to enter one of the Martial Schools."


    "I''m leaving this city," Apollo said, meeting Filly''s gaze. "And as for the prize, I don''t need it."


    "W-what? Are you sure? That''s an Advanced Cultivation Bead!" Filly said, her expression incredulous. Even though she wasn''t focused on cultivation, she understood the bead''s significance. It was something she herself would covet. With it, her strength could increase by what would take her a year or two of hard work!


    "You can also choose Techniques from the City''s Cultivation Library," Gail added from the side. She couldn''t understand why this masked person had joined the examination, risked his life, and now refused the top prize.


    "Well¡­ who said I don''t want the prize?" Apollo said, reconsidering. After almost dying several times and playing fair in the exam, it seemed only right to claim his prize before disappearing completely. There would be no more Can Deez after this.


    "So you''re going to stay? Bel would also want you to join our school," Filly said with anticipation.


    "About that, I don''t think I''ll be able to join any school," Apollo said, shaking his head, which left the two disappointed.


    "So you don''t want to know why your True Understanding of the Sword didn''t work on that barrier?" Suddenly, a voice said, and the trio turned toward the source.


    They saw three men landing on the ground.


    The cultivators around immediately bowed their heads. Even Gail and Filly did so, leaving the Beggar standing there, looking at them before turning his attention to the Headmasters.


    "I''ll figure it out on my own," Apollo said.


    "Oh?" Axton raised an eyebrow, then smiled in amusement. "I''m personally inviting you to join my school. Think about it."


    "Hey! Don''t be sneaky," Elmo frowned when the Great Serpent Headmaster managed to invite the small masked man before him.


    "I''m not. I''m just saying he could join my school; it''s still up to him whether he''ll accept my offer or not," Axton said with a smile, seemingly forgetting about the fight with the monster.


    "Kid, you''d be better off joining my school," Elmo said, pointing to himself with a confident grin.


    "Don''t listen to them," Master Popo added from the side. "You''re very talented with Fire-based Techniques. I can show you how to maximize your full potential."


    Seeing this, Gail and Filly, along with the cultivators on the scene, couldn''t help but be surprised. They had just fought a great battle with that monster, and now the Headmasters were openly recruiting the small masked man as if there wasn''t a city-destroying monster lying at the foot of the mountain!


    As Apollo was about to speak, a sudden ache in his back made him frown behind his mask. A foreboding feeling stirred within his heart.


    "Did you guys manage to kill the monster?" Apollo asked, staring at the Headmasters intently.


    Hearing the question, Master Popo raised an eyebrow. "Of course! What, are you doubting our strength?"


    "No," Apollo shook his head.


    Axton was about to nod and explain that the monster was clearly dead when he stopped. His hair stood on end, and he turned around to look at the foot of the mountain.


    And sure enough, the monster was gone!


    "The Alpha is gone. Let''s go quickly¡ª" Axton started, but he was cut off by a shout. Turning to the sound, he saw the small masked man had vanished from his spot and was already at a distance, with a dark tail wrapped around his body!


    "Save him!" Axton shouted before using his movement technique. However, as he took his first step, his body wobbled. Looking down, he saw his foot was translucent, like water. Seeing this, he turned to the other Headmasters. "Quickly save him; this body is already at its limit."


    Elmo and Master Popo also realized what was happening. Without a word, they used their own movement techniques and began pursuing the small masked man.


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    ¡­


    Meanwhile, a whistling sound echoed through Apollo''s ears as the scenery around him became a blur.


    "Damn it! You coward, sneaking up on me!" Apollo cursed the monster that was holding him hostage.


    Even though the Alpha was bleeding profusely, it was running fast.


    The Beggar twisted his body and squinted at the direction they were headed. It was toward the forest where he had fought his first monster, and also the place where he had been marked by the creature currently dragging him with its tail.


    "Are you not going to put me down?!" Apollo shouted, his eyes turning red.


    The monster let out a deep growl. The tail holding the Beggar shifted, placing him in front of the wolf''s eyes. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Kill¡­ human¡­ die¡­" The Alphadusk Shadowtail growled, its cold red eyes piercing through Apollo''s soul.


    Apollo visibly shivered as he felt death was just an inch away. Glancing back at the forest, he knew that once they were inside, he would have to say goodbye for the second time, which he desperately wanted to avoid.


    He didn''t want to die. He couldn''t. He wasn''t at the top yet.


    "Don''t make me do this," Apollo muttered, determination radiating from him.


    However, the monster only responded by licking its lips.


    As they were about to enter the forest, Apollo stared at the moon before looking back at the monster.


    "System, I''m going to abandon my Beggar Spot," Apollo said firmly, and the moment his words fell, a loud thunderclap roared from the sky!

 Chapter 159 The Hunt Ends(Part-3)

    Clouds gathered.


    Thunder rolled.


    And lightning flashed.


    They arrived instantly, seemingly ready to wreak havoc wherever they touched.


    Apollo''s eyes reflected the countless flashes in the night sky. A bitter smile crept across his face. There''s no turning back now, he thought as the night briefly turned to day.


    He was still being dragged by one of the tails of the Alphadusk Shadowtail. However, compared to their usual speed, they seemed to be moving slower than before.


    The Alpha looked up at the sky and howled angrily. Dark orbs materialized around them and shot toward the clouds, but they vanished like drops in the ocean.


    The monster roared as its speed gradually slowed.


    Apollo glanced upward, feeling a pressure he had never experienced before. It was far stronger than anything Mathias had shown or even the ten-tailed Alpha had displayed.


    "Is it too late to back out now?" Apollo muttered, but his words seemed to anger the heavens. A lightning bolt struck beside them, instantly turning the ground into molten lava!


    Apollo gulped, while the monster let out a low growl.


    Then, more lightning came, scorching the ground around them! At the same time, Apollo realized his vision was rising. Looking down, he saw that the Alphadusk was already up in the air!


    The monster''s hair stood on end as it struggled fiercely, but its efforts were futile. No matter what it tried, the power of the heavens was almighty.


    Apollo also felt the grip of the tail around him weaken. Clearly, the wolf was too alarmed by the current situation to focus on its marked prey.


    He seized the opportunity and slashed at the tail, channeling the Simple Sword Technique through his entire arm. His hand became as sharp as a blade, cutting through the tail as easily as slicing paper.


    Even without the tail holding him up, Apollo didn''t fall. Instead, his body floated.


    Suddenly, a deafening thunderclap echoed, far louder than the others. Simultaneously, an interface materialized in front of him.


    "You have 3 seconds before the Lightning Tribulation arrives," the System''s voice echoed alongside the notification.


    "Sh*t." Apollo knew there was no turning back. Seeing the wolf preoccupied with its battle against the air, he began swimming toward the ground.


    3. The countdown began.


    Apollo gritted his teeth, his hands and feet moving faster than ever. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    2. Apollo was nearly at the ground, but he didn''t touch it. Instead, he looked up and saw he was directly beneath the monster.


    1¡­ A thunderclap rang out, his ears buzzing and his vision turning white. Even as he instinctively closed his eyes, the brilliance seared into his mind.


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    ¡­


    Master Popo and Elmo halted in their tracks when they saw the thunderclouds that had appeared so suddenly. A heavy pressure descended on them, making it hard to breathe. Frowns formed on their faces.


    "This feeling¡­" Elmo squinted at the rolling clouds, then a thunderbolt shattered the ground beside the Alpha that held the small masked man. "A Lightning Tribulation¡­ but how?"


    "This is dangerous," Master Popo said, his tone cold and low. "If we get closer, we''ll be subject to heavenly judgment as well. Should we¡­ go and save him?"


    Elmo didn''t respond as the monster started floating into the air.


    "There should be enough time. From what I know, the Heavens judge the subject''s strength and adjust the Lightning Tribulation accordingly. It''s a fifty-fifty chance," Elmo said.


    "So, are you suggesting we should continue?" Master Popo smiled. "Let''s go before it''s too late!"


    Elmo nodded. But the moment they took a step forward, a thunderclap echoed, their ears buzzing before everything went silent! Their eyes widened as they saw a lightning strike engulf the monster and everything within dozens of meters around it!


    The impact immediately turned the ground into molten lava, and fierce winds blew, forcing the two Headmasters to take several steps back before raising shields around themselves. Even with the shields, they could still feel how powerful the lightning strike had been.


    It came so fast that they hadn''t been given a chance to save the small masked man!


    The two Headmasters glanced at each other, seeing the disappointment reflected in each other''s eyes. They could only sigh heavily before starting their retreat.


    Meanwhile, back where the Martial Students were watching:


    Filly covered her mouth with her hands while Gail clenched her fist.


    "W-why¡­ why is there a Lightning Tribulation all of a sudden?!" Filly exclaimed. Even from their distance, they could feel the pressure emanating from the lightning.


    "He¡­ he''s dead," Gail muttered, lowering her head to stare at the ground.


    Filly didn''t answer, her eyes fixed on the light in the distance. Though the lightning had faded, a brilliant glow still lingered where it had struck.


    "B-but why him?" Filly asked, but Gail couldn''t come up with an answer other than the small masked man being incredibly unlucky.


    Axton, overhearing her question, stared at the brilliant light with a raised eyebrow as realization dawned on him.


    He''s been marked, Axton thought. All this time, there were two marked individuals¡ªone by a nine-tailed and another by a ten-tailed Alphadusk Shadowtail.


    The Great Serpent Headmaster saw the two approaching Headmasters while his body was already one-third composed of water.


    "The situation is not good," Elmo said gravely, stopping in front of Axton. "The light won''t disappear for another five minutes, and the area is too saturated with Heavenly Lightning. Approaching it might trigger the tribulation again."


    "We couldn''t save the kid," Master Popo sighed heavily.


    Axton wasn''t surprised but remained suspicious about why the Lightning Tribulation had suddenly been triggered.


    There was one likely reason. Cultivators typically trigger a Lightning Tribulation when they reach a certain cultivation stage, usually Core Creation. However, the lightning here was far more powerful than usual¡ªenough to pressurize everyone within a kilometer radius.


    "Call the Array Masters," Axton ordered, half of his body already translucent. "Seal off the Tribulation zone and prepare for possible combat."


    Elmo immediately understood the reason for the order. He nodded and began sending thought transmissions to the nearest Array Masters. Besides the Martial students on the scene, there were also regular cultivators¡ªofficial ones¡ªand Array Masters who had chosen to stay and watch.


    Soon, white-robed men with inscriptions on their clothes appeared around them. After being informed of the situation, they immediately sprang into action.


    They surrounded the bright light and performed a series of hand gestures before countless inscriptions materialized in front of them. The array inscriptions glowed with a yellow-white light, expanding until they covered the radius where the ground had turned to lava. The pressure from the tribulation was contained, preventing it from leaking out.


    "This body has reached its limits," Axton said, glancing at Master Popo and Elmo. His body had almost completely turned to water, with only his eyes and head remaining. "I''ll need a few more hours before I can create another clone. You two should handle the rest."


    "Don''t give orders like you''re our superior," Elmo chuckled. "Don''t worry, I know what to do."


    "It''s a pity," Master Popo sighed heavily. "A once-in-a-thousand-years talent has died so suddenly."


    "That''s nothing new," Elmo remarked. "There have been more talented individuals than him who ended up the same. Some are alive but wish they were dead. Only a small percentage manage to succeed."


    "It''s a curse for the talented. The Heavens don''t want too many of them," Axton said as his entire body turned to water.


    "He was the perfect disciple for me," the Exhibitionist said with regret.


    "Stop daydreaming. No one''s more perfect for you than a naked man," Elmo retorted, and soon the two began bickering.


    Axton shook his head before turning into a puddle of water, splashing onto the ground.


    They had seen and experienced all sorts of things. The death of a talented cultivator was regrettable, but they didn''t dwell on it for long. There were more pressing matters at hand.


    As the burning white light dispersed, it revealed the massive body of the ten-tailed Alphadusk Shadowtail. The monster''s body lay stiff in a pool of lava. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air, and parts of the creature''s body began to crack and fall into the molten pool.


    One of the array masters studied the scene before shaking his head.


    "No signs of life," the array master said, letting out a sigh of relief.


    "What about the martial student?" his companion asked.


    "Do you think someone at the 4th-Step of Foundation Building could survive a Lightning Tribulation?"


    "No."


    "Exactly. There''s no way he survived that. Just look at the lava and the air distorting from the heat. This place would have turned toxic if not for our inscriptions."


    At the same time, the clouds in the sky parted, revealing the brilliance of the moon.


    Klown City was in an uproar as rumors spread: a mythical monster had turned out to be real, the Advancement Examination had been disrupted, and the tallest mountain in the region had collapsed from the inside out.


    But the news that shocked them most was the Lightning Tribulation, felt throughout the entire city.

 Chapter 160 Stacking Items

    "I hate this," a man muttered in a dark alley, his soft voice filled with pain. The alley was murky, with pools of water scattered around. Dirty sewage flowed through, and rodents drank from it. When they sensed a presence, they looked up and saw a small figure. They quickly scattered, screeching. "Shut up."


    Apollo sighed, letting his body slump against the wall. He raised his hand, noticing parts of it were burnt and red. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is frustrating," he said with a bitter smile. His once somewhat decent dark robe was now gone, turned to ashes, leaving him in just his inner clothes and pants, both riddled with holes and tears. Burn marks were visible on several parts of his body, not just his hands.


    He pulled up his Status Screen and saw that his Alm points had decreased.


    Alm Points: 37


    Apollo had purchased an item that cost him fifty Alm points¡ªa huge sum that made his heart ache, watching his hard-earned currency drain away. However, it was necessary. Without it, he would''ve been lying in a pool of lava, his body slowly turning to ash.


    At the very last moment, before the countdown ended, he made a split-second decision and transacted with the System.


    He ordered the System to buy the cheapest item that could help him survive. Instantly, he felt something cover his body and a pulling sensation that left him unable to resist. When he opened his eyes, he found himself flung through the air by the impact of the Lightning Tribulation. He was covered by nothing visible, yet something was there, protecting him.


    Most of the lightning residue barely touched him, though some still managed to scorch him.


    Apollo rolled across the ground at least a hundred times before he came to a stop. In great pain, he didn''t bother looking back and instead escaped into the dark night, eventually finding himself in the city, hidden in this dark, murky, and wet alley.


    After assessing his condition, he took a deep breath to alleviate the pain. At the same time, he couldn''t help but ask the System, "System, what happened in that last moment? What item did you choose for me?"


    "Assessing your situation at the time, I purchased the cheapest items to increase your survival rate," the System replied, displaying another interface with a list of items and their Alm prices. "This is the list of items I personally selected. Unfortunately, the item that would have kept your body completely unscathed was too expensive for your current Alm points."


    Apollo stared wide-eyed at the interface. This... I never thought of this method!


    Stacking items to achieve a specific effect, the System had bought seven to eight items to ensure his survival. The most expensive one was a Very Low Distance Teleportation Scroll, just enough to move him away from the epicenter of the attack.


    The other items included luck boosters (the same item he''d bought before), barrier items that activated simultaneously, and dodging items that helped him avoid the remaining lightning strikes.


    After staring at the list of items for a while, Apollo closed it. But the System, seemingly reading his mind, continued.


    "This method allows you to barely stay alive, and it''s all up to luck that the host has survived this long. You have still suffered significant injuries that could last for weeks. Would you like to buy healing items to restore your health to peak condition?" the System asked emotionlessly.


    "F*ck of¡ª" Apollo began but paused, considering for a moment before nodding. "How much?"


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    "One hundred Alm Points. Your body will be restored to peak condition, and hidden injuries will be healed," the System answered.


    "F*ck off," Apollo waved his hand. "Just give me the simple Health Potion."


    "System does not give items. Would you like to buy a simple Health Potion?" the System asked.


    "Alright," Apollo rolled his eyes. A white light materialized in front of him, forming a glass bottle filled with red liquid. He uncorked it and drank the potion in one gulp. With a sigh, he felt a burning sensation inside him, followed by a wave of refreshing relief. Raising his hands, he watched as they healed rapidly, though the process stopped before they were fully restored.


    The Health Potion worked well for common injuries like burns, but his burns were severe, reaching his muscles, and in some places, even the bone. His internal organs were also in disarray, and it was a wonder he was still alive.


    After reassessing his body, Apollo concluded he would need one or two more Health Potions. But with his remaining Alm Points now down to 32, he decided against it. Shaking his head, he started moving forward, gritting his teeth.


    People crowded the streets, each going their own way, but they were all talking about one thing¡ªthe Heaven-sent lightning outside the city.


    Listening to their conversations, Apollo showed no emotion, quietly heading towards the street where his Beggar Spot was. He just wanted to return, heal his body, and cultivate again.


    With only 32 Alm Points left, the item that would help him hide inside his Beggar Spot would have to be put on hold again. It was frustrating. It had taken him a long time to gather a hundred Alm Points, and they were gone in just one night.


    Apollo took another alley that would lead him to another street. Two or three more streets, and he''d finally reach his Beggar Spot.


    After a while, he emerged from the alley and saw the Filly Restaurant ahead. It was still open, with several patrons inside.


    Letting out a sigh of relief, he returned to his Beggar Spot. There, in the corner, he noticed a basket placed near him. The tantalizing smell of fried chicken wafted through the air. Smiling, he picked up the basket.


    "I missed this."


    It had only been a couple of days, but it felt like much longer. Once seated inside his made up roof, he opened the basket and saw the familiar fried chicken. Licking his lips, he started digging in with relish.

 Chapter 161 Deadline of Bel

    June arrived at the Helflick mansion, driving the family carriage. A worried expression painted his face as he hurriedly stepped off the driver''s seat and walked towards a certain place.


    The size of the mansion made him resent the rule against running or using movement techniques inside the residence.


    After twisting and turning through the halls, he finally arrived in front of a room with a giant door.


    The maids stood on both sides of the hallway, sharing the same worried expression.


    When they saw the newcomer, they bowed their heads respectfully.


    "She''s inside?" June asked in a low tone.


    "Yes, Lord Mathias is also inside," one of the maids answered.


    "Alright, thanks," June nodded, standing before the giant door. Staring at the name of the "Daughter of the Core Creation" written on it, he couldn''t help but take a deep breath to calm his erratic heart.


    Raising his hand, he knocked a couple of times and waited.


    After a moment, a voice came from behind the door.


    "June, come in."


    "Yes," June responded, pushing the door open. The smell of incense and medicine immediately hit his nose. Frowning, he stepped inside, his eyes landing on the bed.


    The room was spacious, large enough to fit two or three rooms inside. A study table stood in front of a window that overlooked a garden full of flowers. The room was also furnished with bookshelves, another table with a large mirror, and a light brown closet.


    The bed was draped with curtains attached to the ceiling, supported by pillars at each corner, obscuring a clear view of the inside.


    The curtain stirred in the breeze from the open window, and June caught sight of Bel Helflick lying on the bed, her face pale and her breathing slow.


    Sitting beside her was the Head of the Helflick Family, Mathias.


    "My lord," June greeted, bowing his head before turning to Mathias. "I heard what happened and returned immediately. Is there anything I can do to help?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    June had been left at the foot of the mountain with just the horses and the family carriage. He stayed there for several days, mostly cultivating and waiting for the exam to end.


    However, when the mountain exploded and the three apparitions appeared, fighting against the Alphadusk Shadowtail, like the others, he had fled to a safe distance to watch the battle.


    At the time, he hadn''t been too worried about Bel''s situation, knowing her father was with her. But when he heard rumors and didn''t see Mathias fighting the monster, he had a bad feeling, prompting him to rush back.


    Mathias, seemingly not hearing the question, gently caressed his daughter''s face. Sensing the tension, June wisely fell silent and waited. He was deeply concerned, especially after seeing Bel''s pale face.


    After a while, Mathias finally spoke. "Bel doesn''t have much time left."


    June''s eyes widened. "Wh-what happened?"


    "Poison from a Poison Body," Mathias replied.


    "But that alone shouldn''t be enough to put her in this state¡­" June muttered, then immediately realized the gravity of the situation. "Who would dare?!"


    "He''s dead," Mathias said, glancing at June. "The only thing we can do now is prolong her life, find a cure, and save her."


    "Tell me what to do," June said, determination radiating from his eyes.


    "Find someone who specializes in poisons, someone who can understand the poison inside her body and heal her," Mathias ordered, standing up. The room was lit by candles mounted on the walls, with plates underneath to catch the wax. "Meanwhile, I''ll speak with the Alchemy House manager."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll find that person¡ªno matter how far, even to the ends of the world. I''ll find them," June vowed firmly.


    Mathias nodded. "Bel''s life depends on us."


    ...


    Meanwhile, in front of the north gate of Klown City, people in expensive clothing gathered, with the mayor surrounded by the visitors.


    "I''m very sorry for what happened," Mayor Klown apologized, bowing his head. But before he could lower it fully, one of the visitors stopped him.


    "Don''t do that. It was the monster''s fault."


    Klown immediately raised his head. "It''s a shame to let such a creature run loose. But fortunately, the Headmasters helped us kill it."


    They talked for a while, mostly about the Examination and the ten-tailed Alphadusk. A few minutes later, a man in a white robe approached them.


    "How''s the situation?" Klown asked.


    "It has been stabilized," the man replied.


    "What about its body?" Klown stared intently into the man''s eyes.


    Feeling the pressure, the man avoided eye contact. "T-the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield took it. He said they''ll take it to a professional."


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    Damn it! Klown was fuming inside, but on the outside, he maintained an amiable smile. "That''s fine. Go back to your duties."


    The man bowed and left the area.


    Klown turned to the representative of the visitors from the other city. "Shall we head inside? We''ll have a feast at my manor."


    The old man shook his head. "My apologies, but I need to return to my temporary residence. I still have to talk with my granddaughter."


    "Oh? She''s back? Why didn''t she come here?" Klown chuckled, his two chins wobbling.


    "She''s too playful to stay in one place," the old man replied, a small smile appearing on his face.


    "Well, she''s still young¡ªit''s not surprising," Klown laughed.


    "But we''ll definitely come! Hahaha!" The other visitors and noble families joined in the laughter.


    "Haha, then let''s go!" Klown led the partygoers, laughing with them.


    A carriage was already prepared for the mayor, and the moment he entered it, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a look of disgust.


    "F*cking ants," Klown muttered in frustration. He hated it when people sucked up to him, trying to get on his good side. "If they want my favor, they should cut off their limbs and offer them, instead of running their filthy mouths."


    A chuckle echoed inside the carriage, making the mayor turn toward the sound.


    "Can''t you stop doing that?" Klown frowned at his butler.


    "Sorry, I can''t help it," Holst said, his eyes and lips stretching into an even wider smile.


    "Then you should learn to," Klown snapped.


    "I''ll try," Holst placed a hand on his chest and bowed before continuing. "Anyway, the matter with the little girl will take two or three weeks before she completely succumbs to the poison."


    "But she''ll definitely die, won''t she?" Klown asked.


    "Yes, unless they find someone who can cure her. A great healer and a poison master. But that combination of talents is very rare and hard to come by. And even if they do manage to find one, from what I''ve gathered, it''ll take at least a month to reach them, and another month to return."


    Hearing this, the smile returned to the mayor''s face. "That''s good. And what about the body?"


    "It''s ready and waiting for your enjoyment," Holst replied.

 Chapter 162 Lightning Attribute

    Apollo opened his eyes after cultivating through the night, feeling more refreshed and energized than ever. However, when he looked at his burns, he couldn''t help but let out a heavy sigh. Besides cultivating the Revised Simple Breathing Technique, he had also used the surrounding Qi to heal and alleviate his injuries.


    But no matter what he did, he couldn''t make the Qi enter his organs, only healing the minor injuries, especially his skin.


    It seemed like he would really need to buy a couple more Health Potions to completely heal all of his injuries.


    Status Screen, Apollo thought, and an interface materialized before him.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 32


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building


    Attributes: Lightning


    Staring at his remaining Alm Points, he knew he couldn''t afford to spend more of them. This world was dangerous, and he realized just how important these points were. They could save his life in perilous situations and also make him stronger.


    However, buying from the System? Just thinking about it made him sick. Besides, he believed his Techniques were more than enough, so there was no need for him to buy an item to increase his strength unless absolutely necessary.


    As he was about to close his Status Screen, his eyes caught sight of the Attributes section, and seeing the new addition, he couldn''t help but be surprised.


    I have Lightning Attributes? But how? Apollo couldn''t think of a reason how he got this Attribute, and the System was the only one he could turn to.


    "Hey System, why is there an update to my Attributes? How come I have Lightning?" Apollo asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.


    An interface appeared, words materializing as the emotionless voice of the System echoed in his mind.


    "The residue from the Lightning Tribulation entered your body, effectively changing your cells to handle and adapt to the electrical discharge. This allowed the Host''s body to attune perfectly to Lightning Attributes," the System explained.


    "This¡­ this is cool!" Apollo clenched his fist, his eyes radiating with excitement. "So that means I can generate lightning?!"


    With this in mind, he raised his right hand, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.


    Lightning, come!


    When he opened his eyes, his whole body tensed up, shivering from the effort of his concentration!


    But only the sound of a fart echoed in his Beggar Spot. No lightning, not even a spark, appeared on his hand.


    Silence.


    The silence lingered for a while before Apollo slowly lowered his hand, embarrassment covering his face as he turned to the System.


    "I can''t generate lightning?" Apollo asked, trying to hide his embarrassment.


    Fortunately, the System responded like a typical system. "The Host cannot generate lightning without any medium or techniques, unless mastered."


    "So basically, this Attribute is useless? I could just find a Lightning Technique and generate lightning, right?" Apollo asked, his eyes turning cold.


    "Attributes help the user attune with Nature, communicate with it, and use its power to strengthen oneself. If the user learns a Lightning-related Technique, he will instantly master it and use the Technique''s full potential, and even beyond. The Attribute can also be used without Techniques and Qi once fully understood. Mastering your Attribute fully depends on your Talent."


    It was a simple explanation, and Apollo immediately understood. In simple terms, he could use lightning without any Technique or even Qi once fully mastered. It was like drawing power from the main source¡ªa more potent and stronger force.


    This Attribute would also help him learn Lightning-related Techniques as easily as drinking water.


    But how was he going to master his Attribute? He asked the System, and it simply repeated its last sentence.


    "The understanding of your Attributes fully depends on your Talent."


    Apollo repeated the words as the interface disappeared in particles of light.


    "Understanding?" Apollo recalled all of his knowledge about lightning from his previous life. He hadn''t specifically studied lightning, but he knew some basics.


    He tried to think about it while raising his hand again, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t do it.


    Sighing, he decided to think about the matter later. There wasn''t much information he could use to figure out a direction on how to develop his Lightning Attribute.


    Closing his eyes, he went back to cultivating since it was still early in the morning. That guy Ned would only be out 2 or 3 hours later.


    As his mind entered the black void of cultivation, with only him and the surrounding Qi, he started gathering the energy. Following the pattern he created for the revised version of the Simple Breathing Technique, the Qi circulated within him.


    His mind relaxed, allowing him to think more clearly.


    And that''s when he suddenly realized something.


    Nature? Communicate with it? Apollo quickly grasped how he might come to fully understand his Attribute, though he still needed to test this theory.


    It would probably take time, but it was better than having no direction at all.


    ¡­


    Ned stepped out of the Filly Restaurant with a relieved smile on his face. Just last night, Mr. Beggar had returned and eaten the food he had left in the corner.


    He didn''t ask where the beggar had been but was glad that his efforts wouldn''t go to waste anymore. After a few days of leaving food untouched, he had been disappointed that such delicious meals would be left uneaten.


    With a basket in his hand, he walked to the corner, placed the food on the ground, and turned to head back inside.


    But just as he was about to open the door, he heard a carriage stop in front of the store.


    Seeing the insignia on the side of the chariot, his eyes lit up, and sure enough, when the door opened, two women stepped out.


    "Miss Filly! Miss Gail!" Ned shouted before bowing his head.


    Gail nodded, while Filly glanced at the basket in Ned''s hands. "Has he come back yet?"


    "He did, just last night," Ned said, smiling. "I was about to give this to him."


    "I see," Filly nodded. "Then go ahead."


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    "I will," Ned bowed again before heading back to the corner.


    Filly didn''t want to bother the beggar beside her restaurant for now¡ªthere was too much on her mind. Bel''s fate was still unknown, whether she would live or not, and the small masked man she had befriended during the Examination had died from the Tribulation. Absentmindedly, she opened the door, but when she saw her restaurant, she almost didn''t recognize it.


    "At least we have some good news," Gail muttered, peeking out from behind her.


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 Chapter 163 Bubba(Part-1)

    "A pity, I couldn''t get all my prizes," Apollo muttered regretfully, taking a bite from his bread filled with eggs. He had a basket in front of him with a plate of scrambled eggs, bread, and milk¡ªhis breakfast provided by the restaurant beside him.


    Thinking about all the prizes he missed made him deeply disappointed. Should I show myself and claim my rewards? Apollo considered, his mouth full of food. But they would definitely question how he survived the lightning. What if they decide to kidnap me? The thought made him shiver.


    He still didn''t know the personalities of the Headmasters, and it was better to be cautious than risk putting his head on the chopping block.


    In the end, he decided to let the rewards slip through his fingers. Not only had he lost so many of his Alm points, but he had also forfeited his hard-earned prizes just to save himself from that lightning punishment!


    The thought of it made him angry at the System for having such a strange rule. Abandoning my Beggar Spot will result in a Lightning Tribulation?! And if he really wanted to leave and find another place, he''d have to pay a fee¡ªan expensive fee!


    That fcking swindler! I''ll never buy from you again! Apollo took one last bite of his bread and downed his milk in a single gulp, letting out a loud burp afterward.


    "Ah¡­" Sighing, Apollo began to clean up, putting the basket back in the corner for Ned to collect later.


    He then went back inside his Beggar Spot and looked at his clothes. He was only wearing small pants and a simple shirt, and even though he had used the Cleaning Bead on them, they still looked shabby.


    I should get some new clothes. But before that, I should visit him, Apollo thought and headed out to the street. He immediately attracted stares but, already used to it, wasn''t bothered. Still, he didn''t want to attract the attention of the guards, so he moved quietly along the alleys and walls. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    Slumstreet was located beside the wall, outside of Klown City.


    Wooden houses lined the area, some seemingly on the verge of collapse but still standing through the test of time. People were on the street¡ªsome selling goods, others chatting with their neighbors in front of their homes.


    It was a simple place, but they all had the same expression on their faces: sadness. Even though some managed to smile, their eyes told a different story.


    There was a hill nearby Slumstreet where tombs were set up. Flowers were scattered on the ground, their scents battling the sorrow that hung in the air.


    In front of a particular tombstone with a wooden plaque, decorated with all kinds of flowers, a boy stood, holding a piece of bread. He knelt, placing the bread in front of the plaque. "I know you''re watching over us, but don''t worry¡ªI''ll protect Slumstreet, just like you did."


    The boy had black hair down to his shoulders and black eyes. He wore a simple shirt and ripped, wide pants.


    "You should eat the bread instead," someone suddenly said, startling the boy to his feet. He quickly turned around.


    "Who are you?!" the kid shouted. But upon closer inspection of the person in front of him, he let down his guard¡ªit was another kid. "Oh, it''s you."


    "Don, right?" Apollo asked, smiling.


    "Yes, may I ask your name?" Don tilted his head to the side innocently. He didn''t act the same as he did in front of older people, unaware that the person before him was actually over a hundred years old, despite having the body of a 7- to 8-year-old.


    "I''m Ap¡ª" Apollo cleared his throat before continuing, "I''m Yoma."


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    "Yoma? Nice to meet you," Don smiled and reached out his hand.


    Apollo shook hands with him before returning to his earlier point. "You should take the bread and eat it. Big Chub wouldn''t mind."


    "So that''s what you call Brother Bubba," Don said with a smile, then shook his head. "I can''t do that. It''s my way of showing respect."


    "That''s up to you then," Apollo shrugged, thinking Big Chub''s real name suited him, especially given his size.


    "Are you also here to pay your respects?" Don asked, squinting at Apollo, noticing the lack of any offerings.


    "More or less," Apollo replied, walking in front of the tomb.


    "I see," Don muttered, taking a couple of steps back to watch as Yoma stood there quietly.


    Apollo stared at the plaque and let out a sigh. "I''ve killed the one who killed you. He''ll definitely go to hell, and if you happen to be there, you should take your revenge. Beat him up¡ªthough he''ll probably beat you into a pulp instead. But it''s the thought that counts, so that should be okay."


    There was no answer, only the wind blowing through the grass and flowers.


    "But if you happen to be in Heaven¡­ well, maybe there was a misjudgment," Apollo chuckled, shaking his head. "Anyway, you can say I''ve done my job by personally taking revenge, though it mainly aligned with my mission. But even if it wasn''t my mission, I still would''ve done it."


    He stood there for a while longer before turning back to the boy behind him.


    "How''s Slumstreet doing?" Apollo asked.


    "It''s the same as always¡ªbarely getting by," Don answered honestly. Then his expression turned cold, and with clenched fists, he continued, "But I heard we''re getting kicked out, and our homes will be destroyed in a week or two."


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow as possible reasons came to mind. "Where did you hear that?"


    "This morning, two average guards and a big one talked with Miss Millie. They said we''ll have to move out¡­ I don''t remember everything, but I think they mentioned something about the walls¡ªmaking them bigger or expanding them? Yeah, that''s the word." Don said, looking up and nodding occasionally.


    Sure enough, Apollo thought. Was this the Mayor''s order? If it was, the decision to expand the walls made sense, but Apollo knew the Mayor wasn''t as good as he appeared to the public. He hadn''t met the Mayor personally, but he''d heard enough to paint a clear picture of Klown''s character.


    While expanding the walls might be a wise decision, Slumstreet would be lost in the process.


    "Are they providing shelter for you guys?" Apollo asked, already knowing the answer.


    "No," Don shook his head. "I don''t remember their full conversation, but I know they''re bad guys. So, I doubt we''ll have anywhere to go after."

 Chapter 164 Bubba(Part-2)

    Looking at the kid in front of him, Apollo couldn''t help but sigh. The harsh reality of the world forces even young boys to mature, knowing they won''t have a place to go once the walls expand. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The threat of monsters from the nearby forest could be the reason, or perhaps it has something to do with the Lightning Tribulation. But considering this is the Mayor''s doing, there must be something deeper¡ªsomething more sinister.


    Apollo didn''t have any concrete clues for the time being, but even if he did, it''s unclear whether he would help. As long as his cultivation or peace wasn''t disturbed, he would let it be.


    "This Miss Millie, who is she?" Apollo asked.


    "Besides Brother Bubba, Miss Millie helps us a lot. She convinced the Mayor to give us a place outside the city," Don explained. "She talked to you back then, right?"


    Apollo glanced at the tomb behind him, then nodded at the kid, recalling the woman he had spoken with in front of Big Chub''s house. "I remember."


    "Why are you asking?" Don tilted his head. "Do you want to talk to her? I can take you there. Oh! And she has really delicious milk!"


    The Beggar looked at Don strangely. Come on, don''t say it like that! My mind is going somewhere else! Shaking his head, Apollo couldn''t help but ask, just to clarify and cleanse his thoughts, "What do you mean, delicious milk?"


    "She got monster milk from the city," Don said.


    "Oh, I see," Apollo smiled. "Anyway, I should get going now."


    "You''re leaving so soon? Why not stay here and play?" Don stared at his new friend, reluctance in his eyes.


    Sorry, I don''t play with kids. That''s what Apollo wanted to say, but instead, he thought of another excuse. "I still have other matters to take care of. Besides, I was only here to deliver a message to Big Chub."


    "Is that so¡­." Don nodded, smiling bitterly. "Then let me take you to the entrance!"


    "Haha, no need," Apollo shook his head. "You should head back."


    "Well, if you insist."


    "See you," Apollo waved.


    "See yo¡ª" Don couldn''t finish his words as his new friend became a blur in front of him. When he blinked, Yoma was gone. "G-ghost?!"


    His whole body shivered, fear engulfing him, and he almost fainted from dizziness. However, after taking a couple of deep breaths¡ªsomething he always did when scared¡ªhe calmed down a bit.


    "N-no, he can''t be a ghost," Don muttered, confusion etched on his face. "The others clearly talked to him¡­ but how did he do that?"


    Suddenly, one possibility crossed his mind, his eyes widening in surprise and shock. "Is he a cultivator?!"


    Staring at the spot where Yoma had disappeared, amazement spread across his face, followed by excitement. "A cultivator is a friend of Brother Bubba, and he came here to pay his respects! He must be a good person! I should go tell Miss Millie!"


    A savior¡ªthat''s what Don believed. That kid¡­ no, that Mr. Cultivator could help them! A glimmer of hope shone in his eyes as he bolted down the small hill toward Miss Millie''s house!


    ...


    It was a simple technique he had come up with casually. Deriving elements from the Hydra Mirage Technique¡ªa movement technique that makes his body as light as a feather¡ªand combining it with the Simple Movement Technique, he managed to turn his body somewhat transparent before running off into the distance, creating the illusion that he could vanish into thin air.


    When he cultivates, and the world turns dark with only him and the Qi, his mind enters a state where he can think freely. This allows him to realize many things¡ªsome fleeting, some within reach. They linger in his mind, waiting to be tested.


    Watching the shocked Don from behind a tree, Apollo couldn''t help but smile with satisfaction. Astonishing and impressing others with his abilities felt somewhat rewarding. However, that trick would only work on regular people. Even a 1st-Step Foundation Building Cultivator with decent perception would easily see through it.


    Shaking his head, Apollo walked back toward the city entrance from Slumstreet, passing through a hole in the wall wide enough for two people to fit through at once.


    Once inside the city, Apollo didn''t return to his Beggar Spot immediately. Instead, he wandered into an alley, specifically searching through the trash, hoping to find some clothes. His current attire was uncomfortable, and he looked more like a beggar than ever before.


    In the first alley, he found nothing but a piece of ripped fabric. In the second, he was lucky enough to find a pair of pants. Though there was a hole in one leg, they were still better than what he was currently wearing.


    He didn''t put them on right away but used the Cleaning Bead first. The Bead emitted a bright light that enveloped the pants, and when the light disappeared, the pants were as clean as if they were brand new. Satisfied, he switched into them after taking off his old pair. He continued rummaging through other alleys and, after about an hour, found a dark brown robe.


    Again, the Bead emitted its light, and the robe was cleaned as if new. Once he put it on, along with his pants, he looked decent enough that one might assume he was just an ordinary kid. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    "This is great," Apollo murmured, still amazed at the Cleaning Bead''s power. Even if someone offered him a hundred thousand gold coins¡­ ten thousand¡­ no, even just a hundred gold coins, he would definitely sell the Bead. Well, it''s not like he couldn''t buy another one anyway.


    With a smile on his face, he headed back toward the street where his Beggar Spot was located. However, from a distance, he noticed a commotion in front of the Filly Restaurant.


    "What''s going on?" Apollo muttered, curiosity lighting up his face as he approached the restaurant. There, he saw a woman wearing expensive clothing and jewelry, speaking loudly to Filly, the owner. She was accompanied by other women and men, all dressed in similarly extravagant attire. Apollo instantly knew they were Nobles¡ªwho wouldn''t? They practically announced their status by how they dressed.

 Chapter 165 Fillys Conflict

    "How dare you place us on the same floor as these commoners?!" the noblewoman shouted, pointing at the commoners eating inside the Filly Restaurant. "You, the owner, should know better! They are not on the same level as us!"


    "Yeah! I won''t eat with these filthy people around me!" Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "You''re ruining your reputation by letting them eat here!"


    "Why not give us the entire floor? That would be good for your business!"


    The noblewoman''s entourage chimed in, their faces filled with disgust as they glanced at the commoners. They didn''t bother to lower their voices, clearly mocking the regular patrons.


    The commoners, on the other hand, were furious but could only bow their heads in shame. Those inside the restaurant, eating their meals, heard the nobles'' harsh words through the open doors. Their hands trembled, and they lost their appetite.


    Filly, the restaurant owner, stared at the noblewoman and recognized her. It was the same woman who had come in a few days earlier, saying similar things.


    "Commoners or not, anyone who eats in my restaurant is a customer, regardless of their status. Everyone will receive equal treatment," Filly declared firmly, her gaze cold as it fixed on the nobles, especially the one leading them.


    "Oh, really? You''re going to stick to that?" the woman sneered. "What do you think will happen when the other nobles find out about this?"


    "And what will you do?" Filly challenged, raising an eyebrow.


    "We''re nobles. We have power, and more importantly, we have connections," the woman said confidently. "What do you think will happen to your supply of meat if we cut it off?"


    Filly''s eyes widened, her face flushing with anger, and her fists clenched tightly. After a few deep breaths, she managed to calm herself.


    "Do what you want," Filly said, smiling, though it was clear the smile was forced.


    "Oh? Hahaha! Don''t blame us when you''re left selling nothing but bread!" the woman laughed, joined by the other nobles. As they left, they shot glares at Filly and the commoners but avoided making eye contact with the woman standing behind Filly.


    "Do you want me to deal with them?" Gail asked, her eyes tracking the nobles as they walked away, her killing intent leaking out intermittently.


    "No need," Filly sighed, shaking her head. "It''s not worth stooping to their level. Besides, this situation made me realize something."


    "What''s that?" Gail asked.


    Filly was about to answer when she noticed someone out of the corner of her eye. A smile spread across her face as she turned to greet the person. "Hello, Mr. Beggar."


    "Oh, hello," Apollo responded. It felt strange talking to Filly after acting as Can Deez. Hmm, not that he had changed much¡ªjust his voice, not his behavior.


    "I''m sorry you had to witness that scene," Filly said with a bitter smile.


    "Hello," Gail greeted as well, bowing her head.


    Apollo nodded at her before turning back to Filly. "Don''t worry about it. That''s pretty normal, if you ask me."


    "Well, I guess you''re right," Filly said. In the world of business, there will always be people trying to drag you down. They''re like hungry wolves, tearing each other apart. Challenges and tribulations¡ªbusiness is a different kind of battlefield.


    "But have you thought of a plan?" Apollo asked.


    Hearing the question, Filly realized Mr. Beggar was asking out of concern. Is he going to help me? This thought made her eyes light up. "Yes, I''ve thought of something, but I don''t know if it''s going to work."


    "Tell me," Apollo said. Having gotten used to food being delivered to his ''doorstep,'' he couldn''t just let the restaurant next to him go bankrupt. If that happened, he''d either be stuck eating bland bread or be forced to use his precious Alm Points just to get decent food.


    "They''ll definitely follow through on their threats," Filly said. "They''re the type to use their family connections to oppress others."


    "You can do the same, but in a different way," Apollo smiled, glancing at Gail, who stood beside the restaurant owner.


    He knows. He''s definitely not just a regular beggar, Gail thought, confirming that Mr. Beggar was indeed a wanderer. His words suggested he knew her profession.


    "Yeah, I could just show them that I''m better than them," Filly nodded, though she clearly didn''t grasp his full meaning. "I''m planning to start my own Monster Meat Distribution, specifically for my restaurant."


    "That''s a good idea. That way, they won''t be able to cut off your supply," Apollo agreed, before glancing at the Skyline Savory branch nearby. "But I don''t think your opponents will let you do that so easily."


    Filly and Gail followed his gaze and noticed the branch manager hurriedly looking away, pretending to be busy.


    Suddenly, Gail had a realization. "Is he the one orchestrating all of this?"


    Being sharp in business, Filly immediately understood what Gail was implying. "Possibly."


    "Do you have any suggestions?" Filly turned to Mr. Beggar with pleading eyes.


    "Well¡­" Apollo scratched his cheek. If it were his business, he''d only need a day or two to shut down the Skyline Savory branch overnight. "Just fight back with everything you''ve got. Use your connections, and don''t hold back on your strategies. That''s all. Bye."


    Apollo was too lazy to offer more advice. If things got worse, he''d just eat plain bread or save up his Alms to eat at other restaurants. Hopefully, they''d accept a beggar. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wa¡ª" Filly couldn''t finish her words as the beggar had already returned to his spot beside the restaurant. Letting out a sigh, she turned to Gail. "What do you think?"


    "Hmm," Gail thought for a moment before nodding. "I think Mr. Beggar is right. We can''t let them bully us. You handle the Meat Distribution, and I''ll handle the bullies."


    "Alright then," Filly agreed after a moment of thought. "But no killing, okay?"


    "Don''t worry," Gail smiled mysteriously.


    Filly stared at her friend for a moment before sighing and heading back into the restaurant. "Let''s go."

 Chapter 166 New Mission

    "Please elaborate," Axton said.


    "Simple. They are still restrained by the Heavens. Their kind hasn''t reached True Enlightenment to trigger such an event," Theo explained.


    "Hmm, is that so? But how did it manage to reach a ten-tail state? From what I know, their limit was nine tails," Axton asked, looking at the young man with curiosity. Theo, still in his twenties, had already reached the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation stage and possessed vast knowledge regarding Monsters and Beasts.


    Moreover, his restaurant had gained such prestige that even noble families feared to offend him.


    "About that, I needed to examine their tails, but unfortunately, they''ve already turned to ash or become part of the lava," Theo said, disappointment evident in his eyes.


    Axton nodded, deep in thought.


    If the monster didn''t trigger the Lightning Tribulation, then what did? The Great Serpent Headmaster didn''t doubt the authenticity of Theo''s words.


    "You must be wondering what triggered the Lightning Tribulation," Theo pointed out, though it was easy to tell.


    "Yes," Axton admitted. "Though there''s one possibility left¡ªa very small one, both figuratively and literally."


    "I understand," Theo smiled slightly. "But it''s highly unlikely he''s still alive."


    "He''s the only one I haven''t investigated," Axton said. "It wouldn''t hurt to find out."


    "Then good luck," Theo nodded. "If the monster wasn''t the reason, he might be, or he might not."


    "It would be very bad if such an event occurred for no known reason. I''d rather someone be the trigger than have a Lightning Tribulation come down without cause," Axton chuckled. "I should get going."


    "Alright," Theo stood up. "Shall I walk you out?"


    "No need," Axton waved his hand, his body turning translucent before melting into a puddle of water on the floor.


    Looking down at his mat, Theo''s expression darkened. "He doesn''t know how to use the door, and he even wet my mat. Rude."


    ¡­


    On the street where Filly''s Restaurant stood, next to the building was the Beggar''s spot.


    Sitting cross-legged beneath his makeshift roof, Apollo had his eyes closed, brows furrowed, and teeth gritted.


    After a while, he opened his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.


    "This is no good," the Beggar muttered. He had been cultivating the Revised Simple Breathing Technique since returning from Slumstreet, but his cultivation hadn''t progressed at all.


    He was following the pattern he had created¡ªthe Qi followed his command, entering through his mouth, nose, and pores. It circulated within him, moving below his navel, then suddenly disappearing as if entering a black hole.


    Frustrated, the Beggar decided to come up with ways to improve the Revised Simple Breathing Technique.


    Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, the world returned to complete darkness, leaving only him and the surrounding Qi fireflies. This time, however, he didn''t use the Qi from his environment. Instead, he focused on the Revised Simple Breathing Technique itself. Improvement¡ªthat was his goal.


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    A few minutes later, the Beggar opened his eyes, bewilderment clear on his face. It was perfect. The Revised Simple Breathing Technique was flawless. Any attempt to change even a small part of the pattern would throw the entire technique into disarray, turning it into a harmful practice if he tried to use it.


    If there''s nothing wrong with the technique¡­ Apollo looked down at his stomach, specifically below his navel. Every time he completed one circulation, the Qi would enter below his navel and disappear. Hmm¡­ if that''s the case¡­


    Apollo closed his eyes, entered the dark world, and focused on cultivating his Breathing Technique again. This time, he cultivated slowly, carefully following the movement of the Qi. When it reached below his navel, his dantian, his vision suddenly changed. He found himself ''staring'' directly at the area a few fingers below his navel.


    Inside, he saw the Qi entering a small ball of light. It resembled the Qi but was smaller and brighter. This tiny ball was absorbing the Qi nonstop.


    Oh? Apollo opened his eyes, his gaze glinting with amazement. That must be why I don''t feel any improvement, he realized. He noticed that the ball was slowly growing larger as it absorbed more Qi.


    Now understanding the source of his frustration, a smile returned to his face. He no longer had to worry and could focus solely on cultivating. With this realization, he started cultivating more seriously. However, a passing thought soon crossed his mind¡ªone he would regret.


    Now that the first part of his mission was complete, when was the System going to issue another mission?


    It was just a fleeting thought, but two or three hours later, something happened that made him stop his cultivation with frustration and regret.


    A light blue translucent interface materialized before him, displaying the following words:


    ---


    Mission: Revenge for your family.


    Part 2: Find out the Plan of the Mayor.


    Time Limit: Two Months.


    Reward: 200 Alm Points, Random Reward Box.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation.


    ---


    "Ah, what the f*ck, System? It was just a passing thought! Why take it seriously?!" Apollo couldn''t help but angrily question the System.


    "The System issues new missions when the time is right, and the System deemed this to be the right moment," the System responded.


    "Seriously? I haven''t even reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation yet!" Apollo complained, but the System remained silent. "F*ck you!"


    The interface vanished into particles of light, completely ignoring the outburst of its host.


    Seeing this, Apollo took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself. He brought up the mission interface and reread the new mission. With a clear mind, he realized there was no reason to be angry.


    The System had always been pretentious, never caring about his well-being. He didn''t have a choice but to follow its orders.


    "But System, is this really how we''re set up? You give me missions without any option to decline?" Apollo asked, not expecting much of a response. To his surprise, the annoying entity offered an explanation.


    "The System issues missions on behalf of the original body, the body the host has taken over. The Original Body sought revenge, and it is up to the Host to fulfill the Original Body''s lingering desires," the System explained.


    "What the hell?" Apollo was startled by the revelation.

 Chapter 167 Noble Plan

    Klown City, the central street where luxurious and expensive buildings stand, was bustling. In one particular building, known as Skyline Savory, the interior was packed to the brim with people, most of them nobles and wealthy merchants. Outside, some stood in line, waiting to enter and indulge in the restaurant''s delicious lunch. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even under the blazing sun, they waited patiently with parasols held over their heads by their butlers or maids.


    The restaurant was filled with quiet conversations, their tones never rising, so only those seated at the same table could hear each other. However, with dozens of voices combined, a constant murmur filled the air. Despite the noise, the atmosphere appeared peaceful. But if one listened closely to their conversations...


    "I liked that woman, so I gave her money, and guess what? She immediately crawled into my lap, begging me to take care of her. Hahaha," one man chuckled softly. Even their laughter was refined, not loud but elegant.


    The voices of the women were even softer, but their words carried the same air of superiority.


    "A boy¡ªjust a commoner¡ªbumped into me this morning. I ordered my new butler to teach him a lesson. They''re both the same kind, but I gave the butler a chance to prove himself by giving that boy a good beating. I think the boy was barely breathing by the end of it¡­ Ah, just seeing those begging eyes¡­"


    "Hahaha¡­"


    "I''m planning on buying slaves soon. Any recommendations? I prefer strong men."


    At one of the tables, a group of five to six men and women were eating while talking in hushed tones.


    "What benefits did he give you, Trina?" one of the women asked.


    Trina, the same woman who had caused the scene that morning in front of Filly''s restaurant, smirked as she answered. "It''s none of your business. But even if he didn''t give me benefits, I''d still do it."


    "Oh, right, you had a conflict with that b*tch," the woman said.


    Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "How dare she remove the VIP area? She''s tarnishing the name of nobles by putting us on the same level as those commoners. Who does she think she is?" Trina''s eyes turned cold as she stabbed the meat on her plate before biting into it.


    "Are we really going to go through with this?" one of the men asked, hesitation clear on his face. "You know¡­ her father is Nathan Kleinford, the Border War Killer."


    "So what?" Trina raised an eyebrow. "Filly''s already been cast aside. Her family focuses on cultivation, but she''s wasting time doing business. She''s bound to fail."


    "So, we''re going to cut off her meat supply? But how?"


    "Like I said, we''ll use our connections!" Trina replied. "We should also convince the other nobles. What if other restaurants start following that b*tch''s behavior? What if every restaurant we go to forces us to dine on the same floor as commoners? Breathing the same air as them is utterly disgusting!"


    Hearing this, the nobles exchanged glances of realization. The man who had hesitated earlier now looked more determined.


    "Yeah, we should do everything we can to make her understand the consequences of defying us nobles! She''s sunk so low she''s acting like a commoner!"


    "That''s the spirit!" Trina smiled.


    "But I''ve heard their food is delicious..." one of them said.


    Trina glared at the person. "I bet you heard that from a commoner?"


    "That''s..." The person scratched his cheek awkwardly.


    While they were plotting the downfall of Filly''s Restaurant, on the very top floor of Skyline Savory, there was a standalone room. A table, bookshelves, a cauldron, and a wide mat occupied the center, with a chandelier hanging overhead, though it emitted no light.


    The only lighting came from sunlight streaming through the window, falling on the person sitting cross-legged on the mat.


    He had dark hair, brown eyes, and delicate lips and nose. One could easily guess his age just from his youthful face and skin.


    As he sat there, the air around him swirled in gentle currents, his hair dancing with the breeze. The young man was cultivating peacefully, as though he had been there for eons.


    Suddenly, the window swung open, causing the curtains to flap noisily before settling back into place.


    Theo opened his eyes, staring at the window for a moment before glancing at the bookshelves. There, a figure stood, already holding one of his books. The newcomer wore a loose black hanfu, with black hair cascading down to his waist like a waterfall. On his back, a thin black sword was strapped, covered in a white strip of cloth with the excess trailing like a tail.


    "You arrived early," Theo remarked, standing up from his mat.


    "It''s better to be early than never," Axton replied, closing the book and returning it to the shelf.


    "It''s better late than never," Theo corrected the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Sect as he walked toward his table.


    "I know," Axton smiled. "So, how did it go?"


    "It''s impossible for that creature to have triggered the Lightning Tribulation," Theo said, nodding toward the cauldron. He wasted no time getting to the point.


    "Oh?" Axton raised an eyebrow, walking over to the cauldron and lifting the lid. Smoke billowed out, and the tantalizing smell of cooked meat filled the air. "This smells delicious."


    The cauldron was two meters wide and one and a half meters long. Inside was a giant head, far larger than the cauldron, yet somehow it fit perfectly. The creature cooking inside was the Ten-Tail Alphadusk Shadowtail, a monster that resembled a small mountain.


    "So, this is where you cooked its wife too?" Axton asked, staring at the monster''s eyes¡ªone of which dangled from its socket while the other floated in the boiling broth. There was no fire under the cauldron, yet the monster was still cooking.


    "Some of her parts, but most of her meat was cooked by my Fire Chefs," Theo explained. "The Ten-Tail was overcooked by the Tribulation, so this was the only way I could prepare it and still retain some of its flavor. Want to taste it?"


    "No," Axton firmly declined. "Anyway, back to the topic. If it wasn''t the monster, how did the Tribulation come about? Did someone trigger it?"


    "It definitely wasn''t that monster. It can''t, and it never will be able to," Theo replied.

 Chapter 168 Wishes

    "Why didn''t you tell me this from the start?" Apollo asked the System, raising his eyebrows. So, the reason for all these missions is because of the original body''s wishes? But wait, wasn''t that kid only seven years old when I took over his body?


    This realization made Apollo''s face turn serious. If that kid still has unresolved wishes, does that mean he''s occupying a body with the original soul still alive?


    Curious, Apollo asked the System, and its response made the Beggar realize why he sometimes acted impulsively or childishly.


    "The Original Body and the Host from another world have fused into one. But because of the Original Body''s immature state, you have taken most of the control," the System explained.


    "Hmm, that explains why I''ve been making immature choices," Apollo acknowledged. "And the Original Body seems pretty smart for a kid."


    Apollo Leone, the seven-year-old boy, had suddenly been struck by disaster, which led to the loss of his entire family. The pain he experienced was so immense that even though another person took over his body, his wishes remained strong.


    "Why are we following his wishes?" Apollo asked, feeling it was a bit unfair. "Why not mine?"


    "You and the true Apollo Leone are the same person. The System issues missions to fulfill the Original Body''s wishes, and once those wishes are completed, the Host will be free from the constraints of the past," the System explained in its usual emotionless tone.


    "Constraints of the past?" Apollo repeated, tilting his head. "If we fulfill his wishes¡­ will you still give me missions?"


    "No. The System uses missions to resolve the lingering feelings of the Original Body," the System replied, much to the Beggar''s relief.


    "That''s good," Apollo said with a smile, before turning serious again as another question came to mind. "But why?"


    "Taking over someone else''s body, even though they are still alive, is against Heaven''s Will, the Natural Order, the Dao, and the laws of Life and Death. The Creator, Aster, went to great lengths to bring the Host across worlds, and this is the least the System can do to make up for the Original Body," the System explained.


    Hearing these words, Apollo felt as if the System sounded almost human for a second. Shaking his head, he processed the explanation and realized the System had just revealed crucial information.


    Against Heaven''s Will? Natural Order? Dao? Life and Death? Apollo frowned. These weren''t just metaphors¡ªthe way the System described them made them sound real, like actual forces.


    But when he thought about the System, the place where he met Aster, and his own reincarnation, it didn''t seem far-fetched. The things the System mentioned must be true.


    And then, there was that faceless woman. The System said she went to great lengths just to make him reincarnate. This only deepened Apollo''s suspicions. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From the beginning, he had already been skeptical about everything.


    Why him? What was the reason for choosing him? Of course, Apollo had already asked the System, but it refused to answer. In the end, he chalked it up to the only reason he could accept at the moment¡ªhis handsomeness.


    It''s the only reason that makes sense, at least for now.


    "Anyway, no more missions once the Original Body''s wishes are fulfilled, right?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," the System confirmed.


    "Good, good, I''m going to be free!"


    Just thinking about the Lightning Tribulation made the Beggar shiver in fear. He had experienced it firsthand, and although he didn''t take the hit directly, he was still struck by the residual energy, which left him severely injured. Even now, as he sat under his makeshift roof, he could still feel the pain inside his body and the burns that hadn''t yet healed.


    It would probably take two or three weeks before his body fully recovered.


    Apollo didn''t want to spend his remaining Alm Points, as he might need them for an emergency. Furthermore, he was still saving up to buy an item that would help him hide within his Beggar Spot. He wouldn''t be able to receive Alm Points if he wasn''t near his Beggar Spot, but he didn''t want to be constantly visible while resting.


    Although his Beggar Spot was secluded, if people really looked into it, they would immediately find him. There had already been a few instances where he was discovered, but the people left as soon as they saw him, not wanting to associate with a beggar.


    Now that he knew the reason behind the missions and that they would disappear once he fulfilled the Original Body''s wishes...


    Wait! Would the rewards of Alm Points also disappear? Apollo''s eyes widened as he suddenly realized this.


    "System! If there are no missions, does that mean there will be no Alm Point rewards?" Apollo asked, hoping the System would give him a satisfying answer. But, as ever, the System was harsh.


    "Yes," the System answered coldly, before continuing. "The Host is the embodiment of a True Beggar¡ªno shortcuts, only begging. The System is granting exemptions solely for the sake of the Original Body''s wishes."


    Apollo immediately understood what the System meant. The Alm Points were given to help him grow stronger so he could complete the remaining missions.


    If that''s the case, then he had wasted so many Alm Points! Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Ah, I feel dizzy," Apollo muttered, massaging his forehead. His judgment must have been influenced by the Original Body''s immaturity.


    If he were his ''real'' self, from his previous life, he wouldn''t have made such a mistake. He would have tread more carefully, with every step calculated. But now, this new version of him was somewhat impulsive.


    But unbeknownst to him, his headache was about to get worse...


    ---


    Inside the Great Serpent Cultivation School, in a room with only a dark brown mat on the wooden floor, Axton, the Headmaster, floated cross-legged above the mat. In front of him hovered an orb made of an unknown material.


    Axton glanced at the orb for a moment before looking at the letter in his hand.


    It was a request to use the item floating in front of him. Additional words were written at the bottom:


    "You have been granted permission to use the Eyeball of the Finder, but it may only be used to locate one individual, and its usage is limited to seeing the position of the target."


    "This is more than good enough," Axton muttered with a satisfied smile. He was doing this out of curiosity, nothing more. But if his hunch turned out to be right, it would just mean he was lucky.

 Chapter 169 Eyeball Of The Finder

    Putting the letter aside, Axton stared at the orb floating in front of him.


    The Eyeball of the Finder is an item that helps its user locate a target. However, it requires a medium to find the person in question. The orb in front of the Great Serpent Headmaster had special inscriptions and required approval from the Higher Ups for him to use it. They could also limit the orb''s functionality, but Axton thought that his level of approval was more than sufficient.


    He pulled something from his robe¡ªa dark brown tree branch that one could easily find on any road. However, this particular stick had clearly been snapped. It was the same stick the small masked man, Can Deez, had used in the Advancement Examination.


    Axton threw the stick toward the orb. The Eyeball of the Finder emitted a bright light that engulfed the branch, disintegrating it into particles of light before they were absorbed by the orb. Suddenly, an eye appeared inside the orb, darting around as if searching for something. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When it couldn''t find what it was looking for, the orb''s eye opened wide, releasing a brilliant light that illuminated the dark room.


    At the same time, the surrounding Qi began to be drawn toward the orb. Axton''s eyes twitched at the amount of Qi being pulled in. Curiosity kills the cat, he thought. The Qi inside the Great Serpent Cultivation School was far more potent, concentrated, and pure compared to the Qi in the outside world, free of any impurities. And the Eyeball of the Finder was absorbing it, as if drinking water.


    "I probably won''t be able to use the Qi in this room for about three days," Axton muttered with a bitter smile.


    After a while, the orb stopped absorbing the Qi, and the eye inside it closed. However, Axton wasn''t alarmed¡ªhe knew the process wasn''t over yet. Sure enough, the orb projected an image. It was foggy, but it clearly showed a street with blurry figures constantly moving about.


    "Oh?" Axton raised an eyebrow as the scene changed, revealing the front of a building with people lined up. The image lasted for only a second before fading completely, and the light from the orb dimmed.


    As silence lingered in the room, Axton landed on the floor. He walked toward the door with a relaxed expression, but deep inside, he was quite excited.


    He had gotten what he wanted¡ªand more than he expected.


    He''s alive, Axton thought. The Eyeball of the Finder wouldn''t have worked if the person he was searching for were dead. But the orb had worked, even pinpointing the target''s location.


    A word echoed in the Great Serpent Headmaster''s mind:


    Disciple. Disciple. Talent. Disciple.


    ...


    Meanwhile, inside the kitchen of the Filly Restaurant...


    Filly and Gail were watching their Fire Chef work at the table.


    Temor''s hands moved constantly, and the sound of his fists banging against the table echoed through the room.


    "How''s the rest of the ingredients?" Filly asked, her eyes never leaving the table.


    "They''ve found most of them," Gail replied. "Tomatoes, onions, garlic, dried oregano¡­"


    Gail listed several ingredients before letting out a sigh. "It was hard. They said they searched day and night, barely managing to gather everything. Some were traded, others bought directly."


    Because of the Advancement Examination, Gail and Filly had decided to hire mercenaries to find all the ingredients they needed. Of course, they chose mercenaries they could trust, most of whom were closely related to the Kleinford family.


    "Finding unfamiliar ingredients is like searching for a needle in a haystack," Filly said with a smile. "Luckily, they managed it. How''s our own garden?"


    "It''s doing well. Planting has started, and with Qi nourishing the crops, they''re growing fast," Gail said with a smile. "But it''s no surprise, since they''re not Beast Plants."


    "That''s good to hear," Filly said. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    "But our meat distribution¡­" Gail frowned, recalling the events of that morning. A sudden wave of killing intent emanated from her, only to subside when she felt Filly''s hand on her shoulder.


    "Let''s not talk about that for now," Filly said. "Let''s focus on perfecting the spaghetti. I want Bel to be the first to taste it."


    "A-alright," Gail replied, taking a deep breath to calm herself.


    "This should be good enough," Temor said, laying the product on the table. It was a pale yellow, carefully kneaded dough. Following the instructions from the journal, the Fire Chef had completed the first step in creating the so-called noodles for their new dish¡ªspaghetti.


    "Gail, it''s your turn," Filly said.


    Gail nodded and stepped up to the table, drawing her two short swords.


    The air shimmered as her blades flashed. When she put her weapons away, the kneaded dough on the table had been cleanly sliced into perfect strips, each one even, with no excess or shortage.


    After she was done, she stepped aside.


    "I''ll prepare the ingredients now," Temor said, pulling them from a basket.


    As they watched their chef work, a knock came at the kitchen door. Ned entered, looking flustered.


    "What''s wrong?" Filly asked, worry evident in her voice.


    "H-he''s h-here!" Ned stammered.


    "Who?" Filly frowned.


    "Axton, the Great Serpent Headmaster!"


    Filly and Gail exchanged incredulous glances.


    "D-don''t joke like that," Filly said, staring coldly at Ned.


    "I''m not! He''s really here!" Ned insisted.


    Hearing the urgency in his voice, Filly turned to Gail, who had already closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she looked at Filly and nodded.


    "Let''s go out and greet him," Gail said with a bitter smile.


    Filly''s body trembled at the confirmation.


    She wasn''t prepared at all. She hadn''t expected someone so important to visit her restaurant!


    "How do I look?" Filly asked, fussing with her hair and clothes.


    "We don''t have time for that. We can''t keep the Headmaster waiting," Gail said.


    "Alright, let''s go meet him!"


    The two went out, leaving the Fire Chef to continue his work. Although Temor is curious and also wanted to go out, he couldn''t just ignore Filly''s words.

 Chapter 170 Why Are You Here?!

    Apollo was cultivating peacefully, a relaxed smile on his face. After discovering the reasons for all of his missions and cursing the System over the lack of Alm Points he would receive in the future, he had no choice but to accept everything. In the end, no matter how many doubts filled his heart, there was nothing he could do with his limited strength.


    It was more important for him to increase his power than to rely solely on the Alm Points and the System.


    Focusing on his dantian, he ''saw'' that the small ball of Qi had grown to half the width of a normal person''s nail. After several hours, this was the extent of his progress. Still, he was satisfied.


    What would happen when this ball of Qi became as large as his fist? It was worth anticipating, especially when it concerned his cultivation.


    Opening his eyes, Apollo intended to stand, stretch, and relax before continuing his cultivation. But as soon as he moved, he noticed two feet right in front of him. His eyebrow rose at the sight of black hanfu boots.


    Looking up, his soul nearly left his body.


    This person! Why the hell is he here?! Apollo''s mind raced. He had carefully hidden his identity during the Advancement Examination. When they checked his new face back then, no one had bothered to look past his mask. Even if they tried now, he was confident he could react in time and purchase another item to change his appearance for an hour.


    Even as Yoma, Apollo had never encountered the Great Serpent Headmaster. So, there was only one possibility: Did he specifically come to find me? If so, they must not think the Beggar was dead.


    "W-who are you?!" Apollo jumped to his feet, his small head bursting through his makeshift roof. Splinters flew through the air, but he didn''t care. Wearing a nervous, scared expression, he asked again, "What are you doing here?! This is my spot! Go away!"


    The Great Serpent Headmaster smiled, unable to help himself upon hearing the small, trembling voice. "You don''t need to act."


    "Act? What do you mean?! I''m not acting!" Apollo replied, though inside he was anxious. He had no desire to associate with any of the Headmasters, but it seemed inevitable. Please believe my acting!


    "Can Deez," Axton said, staring straight into the Beggar''s eyes.


    Can deez dck fit in your mouth?! Apollo wanted to retort, but he held himself back. Besides, that sounded... quite colorful.


    "Who''s that?" Apollo frowned.


    "Or Yoma," Axton continued, smiling. "I know everything." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yomama should have taught you a lesson not to be a busybody! Once again, Apollo restrained himself, knowing he couldn''t afford to offend the Cultivator in front of him.


    For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence. Apollo felt immense pressure building up inside him, even though Axton emitted no aura. He simply stood there, but it was enough for the Beggar to feel as if he were gazing upon a divine being. Apollo hadn''t realized it earlier, as everything that happened on that mountain had occurred too quickly.


    "Okay, you win," Apollo finally said, sighing in defeat. He took a step forward but stopped short, accidentally crushing part of the wood he''d used to build his makeshift roof. D*mnit!


    "So, what''s your real name?" Axton asked, his smile widening. "Are Yoma and Can Deez fake names?"


    "Yoma is the real one," Apollo said, his face serious. He would never tell anyone that his real name was Apollo Leone. That name only spelled trouble.


    "Yoma," Axton repeated, his jet-black eyes locking onto the Beggar''s, as if trying to pierce through any facade.


    "Yeah, yeah, Can Deez and I are the same person. How did you find me?" Apollo asked, genuinely curious.


    "That''s a secret," Axton replied. Inside, however, he couldn''t help but think it was a waste to use the Eyeball of the Finder to locate someone within the city. He could''ve done it himself, though it would have taken a few hours.


    The Eyeball of the Finder had led him to the restaurant beside them. When he asked the owner about Can Deez, they refused to answer. Sensing something off, Axton had spread his senses and found Apollo here.


    "Is that so¡­ then why did you come looking for me?" Apollo asked, before his eyes lit up. "Is it about my reward?!"


    An opportunity to claim his rewards for ranking first in the previous Advancement Examination was right in front of him! He definitely wasn''t going to miss this.


    "Rewards?" Axton nodded. "That wasn''t part of my plan initially, but since you brought it up, I''ll give you your rewards."


    Not part of the plan initially? Apollo thought. So that''s not the main reason for finding me? Still, he was happy to finally claim his hard-earned prizes. "So where is it? I wouldn''t mind having that Advanced Cultivation Bead right now," he said, reaching out his small hand.


    Axton stared at the hand, surprised by Yoma''s straightforwardness. Still, he waved his hand, and a white light materialized, forming into a light green bead that emitted a soft glow.


    The bead landed gently in Apollo''s hand. Feeling the coolness radiating from it, Apollo suddenly felt revitalized. Moreover, the surrounding Qi became more active, dancing around the light green object.


    Apollo''s eyes widened in awe. "This is cool."


    "I''m surprised you can see it," Axton remarked, impressed but for entirely different reasons.


    Ignoring the comment, Apollo looked up at the Great Serpent Headmaster. "How do I take this? Should I swallow it whole?"


    "Swallow? Who told you that? You sh¨C" Axton shook his head. "Let''s discuss that later. You still have other prizes to claim. You can get them now." Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Really?" Apollo''s eyes sparkled, but then he turned serious. "But you said giving me rewards wasn''t your initial plan. Tell me why you came here first."


    Axton was silent for a moment before nodding. "I came here thinking you were dead. But it turns out I was wrong."


    "I just got lucky," Apollo chuckled, slipping the Advanced Cultivation Bead into his robe.


    "That''s impossible," Axton said, his eyes turning cold. "I want you to come with me to my Martial School."


    "Why would I do that?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, clearly on guard.


    "To be safer," Axton said, glancing back at the streets.


    "Give me reasons to follow you. To me, it''s safer if we talk here," the Beggar replied, smiling confidently.

 Chapter 171 Own World!

    "Because if you refuse, I''ll tell the other Headmasters that you''re still alive. And let me tell you, they''re far more persistent and can be very annoying," Axton said with a smirk.


    If Elmo and Master Popo saw what Axton was doing right now, they would definitely shout one word at him:


    Hypocrite!


    Headmaster? More like a Headache, Apollo thought, resisting the urge to massage his forehead.


    "I''m starting to hate you," Apollo said honestly.


    "Don''t be," Axton replied. "So, shall we?"


    "I don''t really have a choice," Apollo shrugged. He didn''t know how this Headmaster had figured out that he hated attention and trouble, but it seemed there was no other option but to go along with it.


    "There''s already a carriage waiting outside," Axton said, gesturing for the Beggar to lead the way.


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, heading towards the street where a black and white carriage bearing the insignia of the Great Serpent Cultivation School awaited.


    As Axton watched Yoma''s back, his eyes gleamed. He''s definitely a Wanderer, he thought. He had already spoken with Filly, who suspected Yoma of being a Wandering Cultivator posing as a beggar. Now, seeing the man in person, the Headmaster was certain their suspicions were correct. However, even if Yoma was a Wanderer, Axton was determined to take him in as his disciple.


    And even if Yoma turned out to be much older than he appeared, he wouldn''t mind.


    When it comes to the Master-Disciple relationship, age doesn''t matter. As long as one has something to teach and the disciple is willing to learn, then status, age, power, and money are nothing but worldly possessions¡ªthings that can be discarded. Wisdom, however, is something invaluable.


    Following the Beggar, Axton climbed into the carriage, and soon they set off down the central street of Klown City, heading back to the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    As the carriage turned a corner, Filly and Gail stepped out of their restaurant, their faces filled with curiosity and amazement.


    "I didn''t know Mr. Beggar was such a big shot that even Headmaster Axton would personally visit him," Filly muttered, her eyes sparkling.


    "Hmm," Gail nodded, sharing the same sentiment.


    ¡­


    The journey took at least twenty minutes before the black and white carriage, pulled by two horses, arrived in front of a massive structure.


    Apollo stepped out, jumping down from the carriage. As his feet hit the ground with a thud, his eyes naturally turned toward the grandeur in front of him. Though he had already seen this structure once before, he was still awed by its impressive size.


    It was an ancient-looking building, constructed from polished stone, maple-like wood, bronze metals, and unknown materials he couldn''t identify. While not as tall as the skyscrapers from his previous life, the building''s sheer width was remarkable¡ªit felt like you could fit three or four football fields inside.


    However, what truly captured Apollo''s attention was the enormous white serpent statue coiled around the building. The serpent was so lifelike that he almost felt as though he were standing before a real monster, even though he had never encountered such a creature before. The statue''s scales were intricately crafted, and its eyes seemed to pierce through anyone who dared to look at it.


    "That''s the legendary Great Serpent," Axton introduced, stepping out of the carriage.


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    "I could tell. That''s where your school got its name, right?" Apollo asked. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Even a fool could tell," Axton chuckled. "Follow me."


    At first, Apollo was reluctant, but his curiosity got the better of him as he admired the structure of the so-called Cultivation School. He trailed behind the Headmaster.


    In front of the building was a metallic gate guarded by two men in black and white armor, standing still with spears in hand.


    The moment they saw Axton approaching, they hurriedly knelt on one knee.


    "Well, Headmaster!" they shouted.


    "Carry on," Axton waved them off as the gate opened.


    "You''re really highly regarded," the Beggar remarked, observing the treatment.


    If any noble had overheard how casually Apollo spoke to the Headmaster, they would have surely insulted him, lectured him on proper decorum, and then proceeded to fawn over the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    "It''s one of the perks of the title," Axton explained.


    Ahead, a flight of stairs led up to a giant door adorned with the sculpture of the Great Serpent embedded in the center. This time, there were no guards, only the intricate serpent design.


    Axton raised his hand and pushed the massive door open. As the creaking echoed, Apollo tilted his small head to peek around the Headmaster. His eyes widened at what he saw beyond the door.


    "This is?!" Apollo muttered in disbelief.


    "Surprised?" Axton asked. Nice acting skills, he thought. Worthy of a Wanderer.


    Apollo nodded vigorously at the sight before him. Beyond the door was a whole new world¡ªliterally!


    It was a bustling street filled with martial students going about their day. In the distance, a mountain loomed, dotted with ancient buildings.


    As they stepped inside, the door closed with a resounding bang. When Apollo turned around, the entrance had vanished!


    All he could see were streets lined with martial students, buildings, and vendors selling their wares. He squinted up at the sky, noticing the sunlight and clouds. There''s even a sun and clouds here! Did I just teleport? Apollo thought, feeling a rush of excitement.


    "Welcome to the Great Serpent Cultivation School," Axton said, greeting students who bowed their heads as they passed. "So, what do you think?"


    "This is amazing!" Apollo said, genuinely impressed.


    "The main school put in great effort to apply the Teleportation Inscriptions," Axton explained, continuing forward. Apollo followed naturally. "It was a very complex inscription, requiring the expertise of dozens of great Array Masters."


    Apollo''s amazement grew. "So, you''re telling me this is just a branch school, and you''re just a branch Headmaster?"


    "Spot on," Axton confirmed with a smile.


    A branch school with its own world?! Apollo thought, wondering what the main Great Serpent Cultivation School must look like.


    "Anyway, you were curious about why I found you, right?" Axton returned to the topic.


    "Yes," Apollo said, his excitement fading as curiosity took over.


    "Follow me."

 Chapter 172 Offer

    "Where?" Apollo asked, his eyes darting around the place. Beyond the giant mountain in the distance, filled with ancient houses, he noticed a dozen floating mountains overhead. Some had waterfalls that didn''t fall to the ground but were instead absorbed by the clouds beneath them, acting as their support.


    Squinting, he saw animals flying around some of them. No, they were monsters.


    "To my abode," Axton said, pointing toward the top of the mountain, where a black-and-white ancient building stood. Even from a distance, one could tell the structure was made of high-quality materials.


    "Now that I''ve followed you this far, it wouldn''t hurt to change locations once again," Apollo sighed.


    "Good," Axton nodded with a smile, then whistled.


    Suddenly, a shriek came from above. When Apollo looked up, he instinctively took a step back. A four- to five-meter-tall falcon with blue feathers descended in front of them, spreading its wings and crying into the sky before bowing its head toward the Beggar.


    "Jump on," Axton said, watching the Wanderer''s continued act of surprise. Truly a Wanderer at heart.


    "Oh, alright," Apollo nodded. Although a bit nervous, he jumped onto the bird''s back.


    "It''s a Water-Attributed Falcon, a regular monster cultivated by my students," Axton explained with a confident smile. "Over time, they evolved a normal monster into this form."


    "That sounds amazing," Apollo replied half-heartedly, stroking the bird''s back.


    The Blue Falcon moved its head, clearly enjoying the sensation.


    "Can I keep this?" Apollo asked, staring at the Headmaster with hopeful eyes.


    "Hmm, of course," Axton nodded.


    "Really?!" Apollo was overjoyed. "Then¡ª"


    But before he could finish, the Great Serpent Headmaster continued.


    "But you must understand¡ªonly my students can have that bird as their companion," Axton smirked, his body beginning to float.


    Apollo''s enthusiasm immediately dampened. Of course, he thought. No free lunch, even in this world. In any world, for that matter. He had already somewhat guessed the Headmaster''s true purpose for seeking him out. Back at the Advancement Examination, the three Headmasters had all invited him to join their Martial Schools, but Apollo didn''t want to.


    The only reason he followed the Serpent this time was because of the threat¡ªand the prize.


    The bird cried into the air, then spread its wings wide. With a powerful flap, Apollo suddenly felt a pulling sensation from his back, making him grip the Falcon''s feathers tightly. Looking down, he realized they were already dozens of meters in the air, with the Great Serpent Headmaster flying beside them.


    As the intense winds whipped at his face, Apollo took in his surroundings and realized something. The street below seemed to be the only one; around it was a light blue ocean. Beyond the mountain, a water-like film¡ªsome kind of barrier¡ªenclosed this small world.


    "An island inside a school," Apollo mused, describing what he was seeing.


    After a while of flying, they arrived at the balcony of the highest floor of the black-and-white building at the top of the mountain.


    "This is my humble abode," Axton said as he walked into the dark room, with the artificial sunlight being the only source of illumination.


    Apollo jumped off the giant bird and glanced around the so-called ''humble abode'' of the Headmaster. There were only wooden walls, and the only furniture in the room was a mat in the center.


    Humble? More like you couldn''t afford any furniture, Apollo thought. But he was in no position to say such things, knowing full well that he couldn''t afford furniture either. Seeing that someone else had the same minimalist taste in d¨¦cor as he did, he felt a slight connection to the Headmaster¡ªperhaps a centimeter closer than before.


    "Why don''t you just get straight to the point?" Apollo asked once they were inside. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    Axton didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he went to the mat and ''sat'' cross-legged, though he was actually floating in midair.


    "Become my personal disciple," Axton said seriously, his voice low as he stared straight into the beggar''s eyes.


    "I knew you were going to ask me that," Apollo let out a heavy sigh. "But like I said during the exam, I''m not joining any school."


    "Who said anything about joining a Martial School?" Axton asked, a smile spreading across his face. "I''m asking you to be my personal disciple, with no affiliation to any school."


    "But isn''t that basically the same thing?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. He couldn''t see the difference at all. Whether he became a Martial Student or the Headmaster''s personal disciple, he''d still be under someone''s authority. And he could already tell that it would limit his freedom. "So, I''m going to refuse."


    "You don''t want great benefits?" Axton asked, his smile fading. "Cultivation techniques that even the Martial Students of my school can''t get their hands on, resources like the Advanced Cultivation Bead, and protection as my personal disciple. Are you sure you don''t want that? Plus, there''s an allowance of five thousand gold coins per month."


    "Like I said, I''m going¡ªwait, let me think for a moment," Apollo turned around, placing a hand under his chin as his mind raced. If there were sound effects, it would be the sound of gears shifting into place.


    Cultivation techniques no student can access, an Advanced Cultivation Bead that would exponentially boost my cultivation, and protection as his personal disciple?


    "What about my initial prize? Are you still going to give it to me?" Apollo asked, glancing back at Axton.


    "Yes," Axton nodded.


    Apollo immediately turned around. So, more rewards. He was having a hard time deciding. Everything pointed to it being beneficial if he accepted the Headmaster''s offer¡ªbut why?


    Apollo turned to face Axton, staring at him intently. "What''s the purpose of me being your personal disciple?"


    "Purpose?" Axton chuckled. "Of course, it''s to receive my knowledge, my teachings, and to gain enlightenment with my help."


    "Is that really out of good intentions?" Apollo looked at Axton skeptically. "You''re saying I''m the only one benefiting, but what about you? Honestly, this seems like a loss for you."


    "Loss?" Axton shook his head. "You may be a Wanderer, but I can tell you''re only at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage. Although you have incredible talent, talent alone can still get you killed. And yes, I''ll benefit from this too. It''s not just goodwill; it''s for the future. A master for a day is a master for life.


    What if you become an almighty figure one day? I''m expecting you to pull me up as well."


    Wanderer? What the hell does he mean by that? Although curious, Apollo decided to ask about it later. He fell into deep thought, weighing his options. Being in a Master-Disciple relationship seemed like acknowledging someone as a new parent, and from the "parent''s" perspective, it''s an investment.


    The benefits were certainly enticing¡ªlike a beautiful woman inviting him over. But something held him back¡ªhis "mistress."


    "System, there''s no time limit for being away from my beggar spot, right?" Apollo asked the System.


    "No, but if the System deems the Host no longer has the intention to return to his Beggar Spot, I will have no choice but to initiate another Lightning Tribulation punishment," the System replied in its usual cold, emotionless tone.


    "I see," Apollo nodded.


    "So, what''s your choice?" Axton asked, noticing the Wanderer was deep in thought. He needs another push, the Headmaster thought, a sly glint flashing in his eyes. "Just so you know, if you refuse my offer, the other Headmasters will find out you''re still alive. My offer includes protection, which means I''ll hide your identity from them and protect you with all my abilities."


    Hearing the thinly veiled threat, Apollo clenched his fist before sighing. "Then let them bother me. I wouldn''t mind it. Worst case, I''ll just leave the city."


    The answer left the Great Serpent Headmaster speechless. A Wanderer¡­ yeah, he''s definitely one.


    "Tell me why," Axton said, still puzzled. He couldn''t fathom why someone would reject his offer. Although he had told the other two Headmasters to let the masked man make his own choice, it still irked him that his offer was being refused.


    "Let''s say I accept your offer and become your personal disciple. Does that mean I have to stay here?" Apollo asked instead of answering directly. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Only Martial Students of the Great Serpent are required to stay in the school unless it''s their designated day to go out," Axton explained. "But as my personal disciple, you can decide whether to stay here or outside the school."


    "Oh, is that so?" Apollo muttered, his expression unreadable. "And what about the resources? Will you keep giving me Advanced Cultivation Beads?"


    "Of course. I can give you four to five beads every month if you want."


    "Even if I''m outside? You''ll still give them to me?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," Axton nodded. "As long as you''re my personal disciple and accept all my teachings, you''re free to do whatever you want."


    "Alright, I accept," Apollo said with a satisfied smile.


    The Great Serpent Headmaster''s eyes widened, surprise at first before he calmed down.

 Chapter 173 Eli

    The door of the Great Serpent Cultivation School opened, and two figures stepped out from the island behind.


    "I can find my way out from here," Apollo said, turning to the person beside him. The young man looked around 16 or 17 years old, with umber-colored hair, black eyes, and an average face. He wore the black and white uniform, but this particular one had three blue lines on the collar that extended onto the shoulders.


    "Are you sure, Senior Brother Yoma?" Eli asked, staring at the ''kid'' in front of him with mixed emotions. His tone was awkward, but he forced himself to sound natural.


    "Of course," Apollo replied, pointing towards the gate a dozen meters away. "I just need a minute or two of walking straight, and I''ll be out. Don''t worry¡ªI won''t get lost."


    "If that''s the case, then I''ll stay here and watch you walk out," Eli said with a determined voice.


    "If that makes you feel better, go ahead," Apollo shrugged and was about to turn around when he noticed the young man seemed to have something on his mind. "Go on, don''t be afraid to ask."


    "Well¡­" Eli sighed, still staring at the ''kid'' with perplexity, amazement, and curiosity. "I just can''t believe the Headmaster personally appointed a new Senior Martial Student without any announcement or news. It''s so sudden. And looking at you¡­"


    "I look nothing like a Senior Martial Student, right? More like a beggar?" Apollo finished the thought for him. This was his new identity now, besides being a Beggar. But it was a cover, meant to hide his ''true'' identity as the Headmaster''s Personal Disciple.


    "That''s one way to put it," Eli scratched his cheek, eyeing Apollo''s ragged outfit bitterly. "But you''re definitely a kid, right? Headmaster Axton said so, and I wouldn''t dare doubt him. Plus, you''re allowed to stay outside the school, unlike us. We have to submit a request or wait for special circumstances."


    "You could just say I''m one of those special circumstances," Apollo smiled.


    "I see, haha. Sorry if I said something offensive," Eli apologized, bowing his head to the newly appointed Senior Brother of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. At the moment, only Eli knew this news.


    "No offense taken," Apollo waved him off.


    "That''s a relief," Eli sighed. "Fortunately, you''re not like some of the other Senior Brothers and Sisters who flaunt their status and bully those below them."


    "Oh, you shouldn''t let them do that to you," Apollo said, looking at Eli seriously. "Revenge is a dish best served hot." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    It was the exact opposite of the saying, but who cares? Apollo didn''t. He was just trying to help the young man. Even though Eli hadn''t shared all the details, Apollo could easily paint the picture. It was clear Eli had been bullied for a while. What if they banded together and didn''t wait long? sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Heck, they might even choose to get revenge.


    "That''s¡­ wise advice," Eli''s eyes brightened, and the way he looked at Apollo changed. "You truly deserve the title of Senior Brother!"


    "Haha," Apollo chuckled, shaking his head. "Anyway, I should get going now. Heed my advice, and you shall see¡­"


    Only sorrow and defeat, with a very small chance of victory.


    "I hope to see you again soon, Senior Brother Yoma!" Eli bowed his head enthusiastically.


    "Yeah, yeah!" Apollo waved, walking toward the gate as Eli''s eyes followed him. Only when Apollo stepped outside the school did the gaze finally disappear.


    Apollo glanced at the two guards stationed by the gate. Despite the gate opening on its own, the guards remained unfazed. Their discipline impressed him¡ªthey didn''t even spare him a glance.


    Suddenly, the clatter of hooves echoed in the distance. Turning towards the sound, Apollo spotted the same carriage that had brought him to the school, now stopping in front of him.


    The door opened on its own, and the charioteer jumped down from the driver''s seat, bowing his head to the newly appointed ''Senior Brother.''


    "Good day, Senior Brother. From now on, I will be your personal driver," the charioteer announced.


    Personal driver? The Headmaster is really thoughtful, Apollo thought, shaking his head. "No need. After you drop me off today, I can manage on my own," he said.


    "B-but the Headmaster personally tasked me," the driver replied, looking up with a troubled expression.


    "I insist, so don''t worry about it," Apollo smiled before walking toward the carriage and hopping inside.


    The driver sighed but returned to his seat. Soon, the carriage began moving, the rhythmic sound of hooves filling the air.


    Leaning back to sit more comfortably, Apollo fell deep in thought. Taking out the Advance Cultivation Bead, he recalled his earlier conversation with the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    After accepting the position as Axton''s Personal Disciple, they discussed his rewards. He could receive 4 to 5 Advance Cultivation Beads each month, but the Headmaster advised against using more than one at a time. Overuse would be harmful to his cultivation, as his body would need time¡ªtwo to four weeks¡ªto consolidate the effects of each bead.


    The proper method, Axton explained, was to draw Qi from the bead rather than from the surrounding environment.


    On another note, the Headmaster mentioned that meeting with the Mayor was unnecessary, though he didn''t elaborate. Axton also assured Apollo that the Great Serpent School''s techniques were far superior to anything found in Klown''s Library, so there was no need to seek techniques from the city''s collection.


    Though Apollo could have spent some time choosing a Cultivation Technique, he decided to delay that for now. He wanted to see how far he could progress with his Revised Simple Breathing Technique. If he ever felt it wasn''t enough, he could return to the Great Serpent School. For now, his current battle techniques seemed sufficient.


    Reflecting on the benefits of being the Headmaster''s Personal Disciple, Apollo couldn''t quite understand why he was given so much freedom.


    Is it because I''m a Wanderer? he thought, realizing he had forgotten to ask what exactly that meant.


    Shaking his head, he tucked the bead back into his robe. When he looked outside, he noticed the carriage turning right, heading toward the street where his beggar spot was located.


    "You can drop me off here," Apollo said. The carriage halted, and he stepped out, nodding to the charioteer. "Thanks."


    "I could take you all the way to your place," the driver offered.


    "No need," Apollo shook his head. "You can go now."

 Chapter 174 New Scarecrows

    Apollo watched the carriage disappear around the corner before he began walking. Instead of heading toward the street where his beggar spot was, he turned left, heading in the direction of the training ground.


    "I need a sword," the beggar muttered to himself. Now that he was here, he figured he should take advantage of the opportunity. The training ground was the closest, so he decided to go there.


    Apollo hoped to find a spare wooden sword that he could ''borrow.'' He could have asked the Headmaster for one, but in his excitement over the rewards and benefits, he had forgotten to request a weapon. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t need a real weapon anyway. With his Simple Sword Technique, he could make anything as sharp as a real sword¡ªsharper, even, if necessary. There was also something else he wanted to try, but he needed the wooden sword to make it work.


    After walking for a while, he sighed. "It would''ve been better if I could take out that blue falcon," he muttered, glancing at the setting sun casting an orange glow over the streets.


    The Headmaster had forbidden him from using the falcon, even though the creature had been given to him. Apollo could only use the Water-Attributed Falcon within the Great Serpent Cultivation School. It was frustrating, but there was nothing he could do about it.


    ---


    "You can just put it there," Sir Guo instructed, as two men in simple clothing placed a scarecrow on the ground. Unlike traditional scarecrows, this one didn''t have a pole through it¡ªit stood upright like a person. Made of wood and grass, it was dressed in an old shirt and pants that concealed its bamboo legs.


    "This is the last one," one of the men said, wiping the sweat from his brow.


    Sir Guo nodded, and the two workers headed for the exit. They were responsible for crafting the specialized scarecrows designed to measure a cultivator''s strength.


    Looking around, Sir Guo smiled in satisfaction. Finally, all the training dummies had been replaced with new ones. They were more durable than before, able to withstand a few strikes from someone at the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    The culprit who had destroyed all the previous dummies a few weeks ago was still unknown, and it was suspected that the same person was responsible for killing one of the Martial Students.


    Just thinking about it frustrated the guardian of the grounds. "If I ever catch him, he''ll wish he wasn''t alive."


    Since the training ground was a joint effort between the martial schools and the mayor, Sir Guo didn''t have to worry about the cost of replacing the scarecrows. However, it still took time to make them, and the grounds required at least ten.


    Looking up, Sir Guo noticed it was almost nightfall. A few martial students were still training with their swords and techniques, most of them Outer Disciples on missions or tasks that allowed them to leave their Martial Schools.


    "I''ll stay here and wait for them to leave before heading back," Sir Guo muttered, walking over to the stage steps and sitting down.


    Just as he took his seat, he noticed someone entering the training ground.


    "Oh, he''s back?" Sir Guo raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar figure of the beggar walking in.


    ---


    "Did they install new training dummies?" Apollo muttered to himself. He remembered slicing all of the scarecrows in two and leaving them like that. "These new ones look strong."


    He walked toward the nearest one and tapped it with the back of his hand. The soft thump and the sensation he felt were strange¡ªit had the same feel as human flesh. Yet, the dummy was clearly made of wood, bamboo, and some grass he couldn''t recognize, though its texture felt oddly lifelike.


    Squinting, he noticed faint letters, similar to the ones used by Array Masters when they activated their abilities. He still couldn''t understand how they did it without drawing on the surrounding Qi, and it amazed him every time.


    Shaking his head, Apollo looked around and saw a few martial students training. His eyes then landed on a man sitting on the stage steps.


    Sir Guo was staring at him. Apollo quickly looked away. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "The perv is eyeing me again," Apollo muttered to himself. Not wanting to engage in a stare-down with a pervert, he found a spot and sat down. He decided to cultivate and wait for most of the students to leave before grabbing a wooden sword from the weapon rack. Then, he could finally try out the technique he''d been dying to test since coming up with it.


    Closing his eyes, his world turned dark until it was just him and the firefly-like Qi surrounding him.


    Immersed in cultivation, Apollo lost track of time. The small ball of Qi in his dantian gradually grew larger as time passed. He could feel it wouldn''t be long before he''d unlock the door to another realm.


    But his peace was shattered when he sensed someone standing in front of him.


    Opening his eyes, he saw Sir Guo, wearing his bamboo hat, looking down at him.


    "F*ck!" Apollo jumped back. "Don''t do that!"


    "Do what?" Sir Guo tilted his head. "I was just looking at you."


    "Don''t stare at me like that!" Apollo protested. He had felt it¡ªSir Guo''s gaze seemed to pierce right into his soul!


    "I don''t understand what you mean, but you should go now, kid," Sir Guo said. "We''re the only ones left."


    Apollo glanced around and saw that the other martial students had left. He must have been cultivating for several hours.


    But this was good.


    "Nah, I''m going to stay and train," Apollo said casually.


    Sir Guo went silent for a moment before speaking again. "What are you planning?"


    "Planning? Didn''t you just hear what I said? I''m staying to train," Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    Sir Guo narrowed his eyes at the beggar. He felt uneasy. The last time he left Yoma here, the scarecrows had been cut in half, and a dead body had been found on the training grounds. It had only happened once, and it could''ve been a coincidence, but Sir Guo couldn''t shake his suspicions about this beggar.


    "What? Am I not allowed to train at this hour?" Apollo asked when Sir Guo didn''t respond.


    "You can, but the only light you''ll have is from the moon," Sir Guo pointed out.


    "That''s fine," Apollo nodded.


    "Then I''ll be going." Sir Guo stared at the beggar one last time before turning to leave. Despite his suspicions, he wasn''t too worried. The new scarecrows were reinforced and could only be damaged by someone at the Qi Condensation Stage. As far as Sir Guo knew, this beggar was only at the Foundation Building Stage.

 Chapter 175 Simple Wind Sword Technique(Part-1)

    After Sir Guo left, Apollo let out a sigh of relief.


    "He''s definitely suspecting something," the beggar muttered. But it seemed like he wasn''t going to be forced to spill any information, which was good. That''s something Apollo liked about Sir Guo¡ªa reasonable man. However, as he stood in front of the weapon rack, taking a wooden sword from it, he suddenly felt a gaze on him. A shiver ran down his spine¡ªit was the same gaze he had felt just moments ago.


    That guy is still here, Apollo thought, narrowing his eyes. But thinking about it, he realized he''d probably do the same if he were suspicious of someone. A smile crept onto his face as he jumped to the middle of the stage.


    With the sword in hand, he began practicing the movements from the Simple Sword Technique. He had already mastered it, but right now, he was just putting on a show.


    "Let''s see how long you can hold out," Apollo''s eyes glinted. Glancing at the dark sky, he estimated it was around eight o''clock in the evening. He had plenty of time to convince that pervert that he was just here to train, nothing more.


    An hour or so later, the gaze finally disappeared, though Apollo continued his movements to be sure that Sir Guo had really left.


    Apollo waved the wooden sword hundreds of times before looking around the training ground. Finding nothing strange, he let out another sigh of relief.


    Now that he was alone, he could finally practice without worrying about others.


    He also didn''t have to worry about "borrowing" the wooden sword once he was done here. Whether he could return it or not was still up in the air.


    Staring at the wooden sword, Apollo sliced the air, the sound of the blade cutting through it whistling in his ears. But that was all there was to the Simple Sword Technique. Even though he had mastered it, there were no special effects. And that was why he had come here in the first place.


    Apollo had realized this during the previous Advanced Examination. He could cut anything his weapon touched, but its reach was limited, and he had to get in close to strike his enemies.


    Bringing the sword in front of him, an idea formed in his mind.


    "What would happen if I combined Wind Blast with the Simple Sword Technique?" Apollo muttered, the thought making his heart beat faster.


    He had already managed to combine the Fire Blast and Wind Blast techniques. Although the combination wasn''t perfect and had its flaws, it had proven to be destructive.


    Now, what if he applied that method to his Simple Sword Technique? Just like he had revised the Breathing Technique, he could revise the Simple Sword Technique into something new. If he succeeded, he wouldn''t have to rely on the System. Sure, he could ask the Great Serpent Headmaster for a sword technique, and Apollo was sure Axton wouldn''t refuse. But the beggar wanted something of his own.


    He wanted to tailor the technique to his preferences, adjusting it to his body rather than the other way around.


    Apollo closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths, recalling the Wind Blast technique. Its principle was the same as the Fire Blast, which made it easy for him to combine the two. But what he was about to attempt was an entirely different matter.


    Wind Blast allowed him to send a torrent of wind in the direction he desired¡ªa very straightforward technique.


    Apollo used Wind Blast, the surrounding Qi churning in front of him, but instead of sending the torrent forward, he made it stay in place.


    His eyes narrowed at the strange swirling air before him, carefully studying its behavior. If anyone else were around, they would be shocked to see a technique like Wind Blast held in place. It required an extreme understanding of the technique, as well as highly advanced control of mental fortitude and Qi manipulation. One wrong move, and the Wind Blast would either fail or release on its own.


    Apollo didn''t realize that what he was doing was something even the most talented cultivators would struggle with. But here he was, calmly circling the chaotic wind with a hand under his chin.


    How am I going to combine this with my Simple Sword Technique? Apollo frowned. He only needed to grasp the principle, but nothing came to mind. Read chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Letting out a sigh, Apollo moved the churning wind to the side. Just as he was about to wave the wooden sword to get a feel for the Simple Sword Technique, his eyes suddenly lit up.


    Turning to the chaotic air, he commanded it to take shape¡ªa sphere. Though it was hard to see the form clearly, the Wind Blast definitely took on a spherical shape.


    Square, rectangle, star, hexagon¡­ Apollo tried various shapes, and the Wind Blast transformed without any issues.


    "If that''s the case¡­" Apollo raised the wooden sword, and with a thought, moved the Wind Blast toward the blade. However, before it could reach the sword, the technique suddenly dissipated into nothing.


    Seeing this, Apollo realized that too much time had caused the Wind Blast to disappear.


    Taking a deep breath, he used the technique again, this time making it envelop the wooden sword in his hand.


    The Wind Blast was no longer the same. In Apollo''s hands, it had become an entirely different technique. He could even make himself invisible using principles derived from Hydra Mirage. For Apollo, creating new techniques by adapting others had become second nature. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo stared at the wind-covered wooden sword, a proud expression on his face.


    He had finally succeeded in fusing Wind Blast with a weapon!


    "Let''s see your might!" With a shout, the beggar slashed with his wooden weapon, the sound of air tearing as the wind around the sword churned.


    However, what happened next made Apollo realize he had made a mistake. With a loud bang, his body was sent flying into the air, while his wooden sword flew in the opposite direction.

 Chapter 176 Simple Wind Sword Technique(Part-2)

    Twisting in midair, Apollo stabilized himself and landed on his feet on the stage.


    He immediately checked his body, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw that he hadn''t sustained any injuries.


    "That''s dangerous," Apollo muttered, fear in his voice. He was still injured from the Advancement Examination and couldn''t afford to make it worse. Shaking his head, he walked over to the wooden sword and saw that the wind surrounding it had dissipated.


    He slashed the sword, expecting the Wind Blast to release as a wind slash, but the outcome wasn''t what he had hoped for. The Wind Blast exploded as it was meant to, but not in the way he wanted.


    Nothing changed. Different approach, but the same result.


    He hadn''t truly fused the Wind Blast with the Simple Sword Technique; the Wind Blast merely covered the wooden sword. Apollo realized this when he checked his body¡ªhe wasn''t injured because the output was greatly reduced. If the two techniques had actually combined, his body would have been shredded.


    Picking up the wooden sword, Apollo tried again. If he couldn''t do it in one try, he''d try a second time. If the second time failed, he''d keep trying¡ªthird, fourth, fifth¡ªuntil he succeeded.


    The sound of air exploding echoed across the stage. Fortunately, the Training Ground was far from any buildings, or they would have been disturbed by the continuous explosions.


    Thirty to forty minutes later, Apollo finally succeeded.


    "Ha!" the Beggar shouted, slashing with his wind-covered sword. The sword let out a whistling sound as the chaotic wind released as a long wind slash. The attack was fast, and the lower part of the slash cut through the stage floor like it was nothing!


    The wind slash continued off the stage and disappeared after a dozen meters.


    Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise. This¡­ this is too overpowered! Looking down at the stage, he saw the floor was cleanly sliced, without any jagged edges! And that was just the bottom part of the technique. If he had aimed the attack at the stage itself¡­


    He was tempted, but shook his head a moment later. Clearly, this stage must have cost a fortune to build.


    His gaze then landed on the newly installed training dummies.


    They''re meant to withstand techniques¡­ it''s not my fault if I destroy them again, right? Apollo quickly made up his mind and jumped toward the nearest scarecrow.


    Raising the wooden sword and covering it with the Wind Blast, Apollo was about to slash the dummy when he stopped. "I forgot to name this technique."


    Great Sword Wind?


    Wind Sword Technique?


    Simple Wind Sword Technique? Yeah, this is it! Apollo thought.


    After giving his new technique a rather generic name, he raised the wooden sword and slashed the scarecrow.


    A two-meter tall wind slash shot from the sword, slicing the training dummy clean in half! The attack continued, striking the scarecrow behind it and cutting it like it was nothing, all while carving a ravine into the grassy ground.


    Apollo smiled in satisfaction at the success of his experiment. He knew there must be other techniques capable of producing the same effect, but this Simple Wind Sword Technique was something he had created personally. With it, he could cut anything from a distance, no longer needing to get close to his enemies to use the Simple Sword Technique on them.


    A sword that can cut almost anything, even Battle Techniques. Apollo suspected that with the Simple Wind Sword Technique, he could now cut through the barrier from the Ten-Tail Alphadusk Shadowtail, though he couldn''t prove this theory anymore since that guy was already dead.


    Come to think of it, Axton had promised to explain why his True Understanding of the Sword didn''t work on that black barrier, but Apollo had forgotten to ask. He already guessed that the reason he could cut through almost all Battle Techniques was due to his True Understanding of the Sword¡ªsomething he hadn''t known about until the Headmaster of the Great Serpent had mentioned it.


    Apollo didn''t know if it was something amazing or not, but honestly, he didn''t care much.


    Looking around and spotting more scarecrows, Apollo smiled mischievously and ran to the nearest one, slashing it with his wind-covered sword.


    "Hahaha! This is fun!" Apollo laughed loudly as he ran around the training ground, cutting the scarecrows in half. The ground was cleanly sliced as the wind slash tore through everything like it was nothing but paper.


    After a while, Apollo finally calmed down. Surveying the destruction he had caused, he scratched the back of his head with a bitter smile. He couldn''t help but get carried away. The System had explained that he and the Original Body had merged, with him taking most of the control, but bursts of childishness and immaturity still slipped out from time to time.


    Shaking his head, he glanced up at the moon, its brilliance shining down on him. It was nearing midnight, and Apollo decided it was time to stop experimenting. With the Wind Blast and Fire Blast having the same principle, he figured he could probably combine the Fire Blast with the Simple Sword Technique too.


    However, the Beggar decided to save that for another time, as he''d already spent the entire night having fun. Besides, he needed to cultivate and increase his strength as quickly as possible¡ªhis instincts told him the second part of his mission wouldn''t be easy.


    Apollo took one last look at the training ground before turning and heading out. Once he reached the street, he realized he couldn''t just walk around with a wooden sword in hand. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He wanted to make it at least somewhat presentable, so before heading back to his Beggar Spot, he ducked into an alley. There, among the trash, he found a piece of cloth, which he used to wrap the wooden sword.


    "This is great," Apollo muttered with a smile. He didn''t need a strap for the sword¡ªhe figured it looked cooler to carry it in his hands anyway.

 Chapter 177 Who Did This?!

    "I knew it! Mr. Beggar is really a Wanderer!" Gail exclaimed, her eyes burning with excitement. "There''s no way Headmaster Axton would personally visit him, and they even left in the same carriage!"


    "Yeah, fortunately, we redeemed ourselves and treated him with respect," Filly said with a sigh of relief, placing her hand over her chest.


    Seeing Yoma and the Great Serpent Headmaster leave together, with Yoma even taking the lead, confirmed their suspicions about the beggar staying beside their restaurant. This also meant Yoma was far from ordinary.


    "We should respect his Way of Cultivation and act like we don''t know his ''real'' identity," Filly said seriously, and Gail nodded in agreement, wearing the same determined expression.


    "This is a good sign for the restaurant," Temor added from the side, stirring something with a spatula.


    They were inside the kitchen, where the Fire Chef continued his work.


    "Hopefully," Filly smiled, watching the wok in front of her chef. Inside was a bubbling red liquid, simmering in the heat. Small condiments occasionally surfaced before being swallowed by the red sauce.


    On the table beside Temor were steaming, white-yellowish noodles, which had gone through a meticulous process to achieve their soft, gleaming texture under the Light Rock hanging from the ceiling.


    These noodles, unlike anything they''d seen or heard of before, awaited their final touch.


    "How much longer until it''s ready?" Filly asked, her eyes darting between the noodles and the red liquid in the wok.


    The aroma made her mouth water, and she gulped, her stomach growling in anticipation of this new dish.


    "Two minutes," Temor replied. Like the two women, he was also eager to taste the new creation. Following the instructions from the journal the beggar had written, he had barely managed to replicate the steps. Some ingredients were still missing, but the journal mentioned it was fine to skip a few as long as the main ones were used.


    "Two minutes..." Filly glanced at Gail, and the two chuckled, seeing the eagerness in each other''s eyes. "We can wait that long."


    Exactly two minutes later, Temor extinguished the fire under the wok with a snap of his fingers.


    He quickly poured the contents over the noodles resting on the plate. As the noodles soaked in the red liquid, the trio gathered around the dish.


    "So, what now?" Filly asked, staring at the plate with curiosity and excitement.


    "The journal said we should stir it until the noodles are fully coated with the sauce," Temor explained, handing her a fork. "Here, please do the honors."


    "Oh, a-alright," Filly nodded, taking the fork and carefully piercing the sauce-covered noodles. Feeling their softness, she began to stir.


    The steam from the dish swirled with her movements, while the aroma intensified, filling their noses.


    The sauce and noodles soon blended together, and the pearly white plate was now coated in red. Releasing the fork in the center of the dish, Filly turned to the Fire Chef.


    "Is this alright?" Filly asked.


    Temor nodded but didn''t say much. However, his eyes were so wide they looked like they might pop out of their sockets.


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    "What''s wrong?" Filly asked, noticing his surprised expression. The only response she got was the sound of him gulping.


    Then she realized something, her gaze fixing on Temor''s lips. His lips were red, with sauce smeared at the corners.


    "You... when did you..." Filly was at a loss for words. Shaking her head, she didn''t blame the chef. Being closer to the dish, he must have been holding back his appetite longer than the rest of them.


    Turning to the table, she was even more shocked to see that nearly half of the spaghetti was already gone.


    She then noticed Gail, her mouth stuffed full, red sauce covering her lips, eyes closed in deep satisfaction.


    "You guys didn''t even wait for me," Filly pouted, grabbing the fork, stabbing some noodles, and putting them in her mouth.


    The moment she took a bite and her taste buds touched the dish, her eyes widened like theirs had. The noodles were soft, smooth, and easy to bite. The flavor was sweet, with all the condiments blending perfectly to create something she had never tasted before!


    Swallowing the noodles was effortless; they slid down her throat like water.


    "Ah," Filly sighed in contentment. "This... this is heavenly!"


    "Right!" Gail nodded, wiping her mouth with a cloth.


    "It''s sweet, a little sour... and spicy!" Temor added from the side, taking another bite of the spaghetti. Soon, the only sound in the kitchen was their slurping.


    ...


    As morning came,


    Sir Guo was walking towards the Training Ground with a spring in his step. A small smile played on his lips; he couldn''t wait to see the new scarecrows. Though he had seen them yesterday, his excitement hadn''t faded.


    But as soon as he arrived, he saw a group of Martial Students gathered at the entrance.


    One of them turned around and spotted him. Nudging the person beside him, the news spread quickly, and the students parted to make way.


    A foreboding feeling crept over Sir Guo as the crowd parted, revealing the training area.


    "What?!" Sir Guo vanished from his spot, reappearing in the center of the Training Ground. "WHO DID THIS?!"


    He shouted, staring at the devastation. The place was sliced up, with cuts so deep they seemed to disappear into the void, nothing but darkness visible beyond. The edges were unnervingly clean¡ªno jagged lines at all.


    The training dummies, the newly installed scarecrows, shared the same fate. Some were sliced in half, others completely reduced to bits, now little more than a pile of rubble.


    Sir Guo''s heart sank at the sight. They were brand new! The thought of the old elders blaming him made his blood boil. And the idea of that fat Mayor nitpicking him only added to his frustration.


    When he turned and saw the stage, he almost fainted from fury. The stage had been cut in half?! Who in their right mind would do something like this?!


    "If I EVER FIND YOU, I WILL KILL YOU!" he bellowed.


    ...


    The sound of sneezing echoed from the corner of a restaurant.


    "Is someone badmouthing me behind my back?" The Beggar muttered as he opened his eyes after a night of cultivation.


    Shaking his head, he stood up from the cold floor, glancing around his Beggar Spot.


    It was empty now that he had cleaned up the shattered makeshift roof. Useless, now that he thought about it. Other than being a place to beg for Alm Points, it served no real purpose.


    "Hey System, why even bother having this feature if the Beggar Spot is so simple?" Apollo complained to the System.


    A translucent screen materialized before him, displaying words as an emotionless voice echoed inside his head.


    "You can decorate it with items from the System Store. There is a specialized section for your Beggar Spot, and using Alm Points, you could strengthen it so much that even a nuclear bomb wouldn''t leave a scratch."


    "Yeah, I know, I was just complaining," Apollo said, waving his hand. He knew the System''s words were true¡ªhe had already seen that section. But with his meager amount of Alm Points, dreaming of owning something that could block a nuclear explosion seemed far off.


    Letting out a sigh, he brought up his Status Screen to check for changes while feeling something stirring in his dantian that brought a satisfied smile to his face.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 32


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning


    Sure enough, he had finally reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage. After an entire night of cultivation, he managed to make the ball of Qi below his navel grow bigger until it couldn''t expand anymore. He had tried several times to break past the limit, but no matter what he did, it didn''t budge. Around that time, his body had felt hot all over, then cold, before returning to normal.


    Still focused on cultivation, he decided not to "wake up" and just continued meditating in that Void with only himself and the surrounding Qi.


    But he didn''t let this small success cloud his judgment. He knew his new mission wouldn''t be simple. He had to investigate and uncover the Mayor''s plans, which meant personally getting involved. He would be getting closer to danger, and a mere Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage wouldn''t be enough. He didn''t know how many experts the Mayor had under his command, so it was better to be prepared.


    With this in mind, he left his Beggar Spot and sat cross-legged at the corner of the restaurant, where people could see him.


    Raising his hands above his forehead, his signature begging pose, he began grinding for Alm Points.


    He''s been dragging this matter in a few days as he was focused on getting past the barrier from the Foundation Building Stage. Now that he is at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he decided to focus on getting Alm Points before getting back at increasing his Cultivation. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 178 Spaghetti?

    With his hands held palms-up above his forehead, Apollo resumed cultivation. Although he preferred to cultivate while sitting cross-legged inside his Beggar Spot, once his mind was set on cultivation, he quickly became absorbed in it.


    His surroundings turned black, like a void. The firefly-like Qi entered his body, following the pattern of the Revised Simple Breathing Technique. However, Apollo didn''t expect much¡ªafter a full circulation of the Qi, the ball of energy below his navel didn''t budge.


    Anticipating this, he reversed the flow of the Revised Simple Breathing Technique until the darkness shattered, and the street came back into view.


    Opening his eyes, Apollo began to think.


    I need another revision for this breathing technique, he thought. His previous revision had been solely focused on breaking past the Foundation Building stage. Now that he''d done so, the technique was no longer effective.


    Apollo needed to create a new version. He could buy a Cultivation Technique from the System Store, but a Beggar had to be frugal. Besides, spending his hard-earned Alm Points would be wasteful. If there was a way to avoid using them, he would.


    The Beggar was confident he could revise the Revised Simple Breathing Technique again.


    What if I revise it to reach the final stage of the Simple Breathing Technique? This thought crossed Apollo''s mind, and the more he considered it, the more excited he became.


    Why keep revising the technique after each breakthrough? Instead, he could modify it now to carry him all the way to the highest cultivation stage.


    With that in mind, Apollo closed his eyes again, letting the void return. But this time, he didn''t mobilize the Qi. Instead, he focused on the structure of the Revised Simple Breathing Technique.


    The pattern, the amount of Qi required, the number of circulations¡­ As his mind raced to its limits, shaping a new version of the Simple Breathing Technique, Apollo lost track of time. He wanted to change the technique so it would allow him to reach the Absolute One stage. But this was easier said than done.


    Just as Apollo felt he was on the verge of figuring it out, he was struck by a sharp headache. The pain was so intense that the dark world shattered into particles of light.


    The sound of a carriage rolling by, the footsteps of passersby, and their voices filled his ears. When he opened his eyes, he expected to be writhing in pain, but the headache had vanished.


    "What happened?" Apollo muttered in confusion. He had clearly felt the pain¡ªso intense that, for a split second, he wanted to die. Then, the void had shattered, and when he opened his eyes, the headache disappeared as if it had never been there.


    Shaking his head, he tried again. Once more, as he neared a breakthrough, a violent headache disrupted his progress. The dark world disintegrated, and Apollo opened his eyes, finding the pain had vanished.


    "That was real," the Beggar realized, his expression growing serious. "But why? Something''s interfering with me."


    Determination flashed in his eyes as curiosity brewed within him. He tried again, but this time, when the headache struck, he gritted his teeth and held on. Yet, despite his efforts, the same result occurred.


    "Damn it¡­" Apollo cursed, frustrated that he couldn''t accomplish what he''d set out to do. "Do I really have to revise it one step at a time?"


    He couldn''t understand what was happening at all.


    Then Apollo recalled his conversation with Axton, the Headmaster of the Great Serpent. Axton had said that Apollo could talk to him whenever he was curious about something, troubled, or in need of help.


    But going back to him so soon... Apollo was too lazy to do that.


    "Hey System," Apollo called out. "Why¡ªnever mind."


    He didn''t finish his sentence, knowing the System would only try to sell him something.


    Apollo looked up at the morning sky and let out a sigh.


    Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and began revising the Simple Breathing Technique to push past the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage. The sun was still young, and Ned wouldn''t bring his breakfast for another two hours. He had time to beg and revise.


    "You received 1 Alm Point¡­"


    "You received 1 Alm Point¡­"


    ...


    Gail and Filly stepped out of the carriage.


    Both wore smiles, their steps light as feathers, as they approached the door of Filly''s Restaurant. Just as Gail was about to open it, someone came out holding a basket.


    Ned smiled when he saw his goddess and Gail. "Good morning, Miss Filly and Miss Gail."


    "Good morning," Filly replied, while Gail nodded. She glanced at the basket in Ned''s hand, then looked over to the corner of the restaurant, where she spotted a small head peeking out, with hands raised above his forehead. Two bronze coins rested in his palms as he sat motionless. Noticing this, Filly took the basket from Ned. "I''ll take this. You can get back to work."


    "Oh, alright," Ned said, scratching the back of his head. "I''ve already placed the new dish inside, along with fried chicken, scrambled eggs, and a glass of milk."


    "Good job, thanks," Filly said, peeking inside the basket.


    As Ned turned back into the restaurant, Filly and Gail exchanged glances.


    "I should personally thank him," Filly said.


    "Yes," Gail agreed. "Why don''t we invite him inside?"


    "That¡­" Filly hesitated, glancing at the beggar for a moment before shaking her head. "Like you said, we should respect his Way of the Dao. He wants to sit outside, so we shouldn''t go against his wishes."


    "You''re right," Gail smiled.


    "Then let''s go. Remember, he''s a beggar," Filly whispered, walking toward Apollo.


    Standing in front of him, Filly was about to greet him when Gail placed a hand on her shoulder.


    "We should give alms," Gail said, nodding toward the coins on Apollo''s hands.


    Realizing this, Filly sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you reminded me."


    Gail pulled a gold coin from her outfit and placed it in Apollo''s hand.


    The moment the coin touched his fingers, Apollo stirred, then opened his eyes.


    "Oh, it''s you two," Apollo greeted with a smile.


    "Good morning, Mr. Beggar."


    "Good morning, Sir Yoma."


    The two women greeted him with the utmost respect.


    What''s with these two? Apollo felt strange. His gaze then landed on the basket in the restaurant owner''s hands.


    "Oh my, you don''t have to personally give this to me," Apollo said, feeling embarrassed.


    "No, don''t worry about it," Filly shook her head with a smile, handing the basket to the beggar. "Besides, we''re here to express our gratitude once again."


    Apollo stood up, holding the basket in his small hands. "Gratitude for what?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Open the basket, and you''ll know," Filly said mysteriously.


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    Hearing this, Apollo had a guess about what was going on. As he opened the basket, a familiar smell hit his nose. He ignored the scent of fried chicken and eggs, focusing instead on a new aroma. Sure enough, a plate of spaghetti came into view.


    The noodles were covered in a deep red sauce, and he could see some of the condiments sprinkled throughout.


    It looked so tantalizing that the beggar couldn''t help but gulp.


    "Wow, you guys succeeded," Apollo said in surprise.


    "Haha, yes! It was all thanks to your journal," Filly bowed her head. "Once again, I am very grateful. If you ever need help, I''m always here."


    "It''s no big deal," Apollo waved his hand. He still had the token from her, a sign that he was a respected guest of their family, though he hadn''t used it yet. Besides, he thought the token was more than enough.


    "I insist. My restaurant, my manpower¡ªwhatever you need, I will provide," Filly said determinedly.


    "That''s too much," Apollo sighed. "Anyway, thank you for bringing this to me."


    "With this, I think we''re ready to fight back," Filly said, clenching her fist.


    "The food is so good and new that even Skyline Savory can''t compare," Gail commented from the side.


    "That''s good to hear," Apollo nodded. "Don''t hold back. A snake''s venom is still deadly, even if the snake is already dead."


    Hearing this, Filly and Gail were both surprised. Such wisdom! The image of the Wanderer, the Beggar, was elevated in their hearts.


    "Thank you! Thank you!" Filly bowed, followed by Gail.


    Seeing them behave so respectfully, Apollo could only smile bitterly.


    The trio chatted for a while before the two women left.


    Apollo glanced at their retreating figures, then returned to his beggar spot. Sitting on the ground, he opened the basket, took out the plate of spaghetti, and began eating.


    The moment the food touched his tongue, Apollo felt like a child again, reliving his love for spaghetti.


    Some of the condiments used in the sauce were ingredients not found on Earth. The meat came from a monster, though the beggar didn''t know what type they had used.


    Before long, he finished his breakfast. Letting out a satisfied burp after drinking the whole glass of milk, Apollo smacked his lips in contentment.


    "This is delicious," Apollo muttered, a smile spreading across his face.

 Chapter 179 Fillys Plan(Part-1)

    Apollo placed the plates back inside the basket. He waited a couple of minutes, but no one came to take it.


    "I shouldn''t take their goodwill for granted," the Beggar muttered, picking up the basket and heading to the restaurant beside him.


    He had only eaten for about twenty minutes, but when he opened the door and called for Ned, he immediately sensed a heavy atmosphere in the air.


    Apollo glanced at the patrons, but they all ate with relish, seemingly unaware of the oppressive feeling.


    Then his eyes landed on Gail, Filly, Temor, and Ned whispering amongst themselves in the distance. It was clear that they were the source of the heavy atmosphere, and Apollo could feel it immediately.


    Is this one of the Qi Condensation abilities? Apollo thought. He still hadn''t tested his current strength or fully familiarized himself with his new cultivation. This new sensation was something he hadn''t experienced before¡ªor perhaps he had, in places where emotions ran high, like funerals, clubs, or parties.


    Looking around for a place to set the basket, his eyes fell on a table with only a flower vase, no chairs around it.


    That will do.


    He walked over and placed the basket on the table, but as soon as he did, he felt their gazes on him.


    "Oh, hello," Apollo greeted Filly, Gail, Temor, and Ned with a small smile. "I didn''t want to bother you, so I let myself in."


    "Mr. Beggar!"


    "Mr. Yoma,"


    "Sir Yoma,"


    "Mr. Beggar!"


    The four greeted him in unison.


    Though Filly had spoken to the beggar just twenty minutes ago, she was still excited to see him again.


    "You could have just left the basket in the corner. We would have picked it up," Filly said, stepping in front of him.


    "Haha, I can''t take your goodwill for granted," Apollo said, scratching the back of his head.


    "You''ve done more than enough," Filly replied, shooting Ned a fiery glance.


    Ned shivered and quickly bowed his head. "I''m sorry! I lost track of time! It won''t happen again!"


    "Don''t exaggerate," Apollo waved his hand. "I''m just a beggar, and this is only a small matter."


    "Hello, I''m Temor. This isn''t the first time we''ve met, but it''s the first time I''m introducing myself," Temor said, cupping his fist in greeting.


    "Hello, you did a great job with the fried chicken and spaghetti," Apollo responded, mimicking the gesture.


    "Haha, no need for praise. It was only because of y¡ª" Temor stopped mid-sentence, feeling an intense gaze on him. He saw the restaurant owner staring at him and realized his mistake. It was supposed to be a secret that they were treating the beggar as more than he appeared.


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    Apollo tilted his head at the chef, but when Temor said no more, he shook his head and turned to Filly. "Is something wrong?"


    Curiosity got the better of him, so he asked.


    The trio exchanged glances before Filly finally spoke. "N-nothing."


    "Are you sure?" Apollo asked again, squinting at them. "I may just be a beggar, but maybe I can help."


    Filly hesitated before shaking her head. "No¨C You know what¡­ we do have a problem." She decided to be honest, which surprised Gail beside her.


    "Oh, then tell me," Apollo said, perking up.


    "Let''s go upstairs," Filly suggested.


    "I guess we''ll stay here," Temor said, placing a hand on Ned''s shoulder.


    Apollo thought for a moment before nodding.


    "All right."


    ...


    "We just received news that our meat distributor has cut ties with us," Filly said, massaging her forehead.


    "They also mentioned that even if we try to go with another distributor, it''ll be the same," Gail added.


    "But it was too sudden," Filly said with a bitter smile. "I thought they''d at least give me a week."


    "They must be too eager for revenge," Apollo commented. He was sitting at the restaurant owner''s table, while the two women stood before him.


    It was an odd scene. Apollo had insisted on standing while Filly sat, but they''d forced him to take the chair, leaving him no choice. As he settled into the soft chair, he couldn''t help but compare it to the cold floor of his beggar spot. This felt like heaven.


    Should I buy something like this? Apollo wondered, but quickly dismissed the thought.


    "We don''t know what to do. Well, actually, we do, but it''ll take time¡ªat least two weeks to recover," Filly said.


    "But by then, we''ll have lost some of our customers. We don''t know how many, but it won''t be a small number," Gail added, adjusting her glasses.


    "I see," Apollo nodded, already understanding the full situation. "You said that even if you approached another meat distributor, the result would be the same?"


    "Yes," Filly replied, her eyes filled with hope. Mr. Yoma was clearly interested in their problem, and since he''d given them advice before that helped form their plan, maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe had more guidance to offer.


    "They have a monopoly on monster meat in this city," Apollo said, his eyes glinting with understanding.


    "Monopoly?" Filly and Gail exchanged confused glances.


    Seeing their expressions, Apollo realized they didn''t know the term.


    "When a business grows to the point where it has no competitors, that''s called a monopoly," Apollo explained in simpler terms.


    "Oh, I get it!" Filly clapped her hands with excitement. "So that''s what it means! Monopoly! I thought we were just weak and they were strong. Wait¡­ are you saying?!"


    "Yes," Apollo nodded, watching as the shock spread across her face. "Skyline Savory owns all the meat distributors in Klown City."


    "B-but¡­" Filly''s face cycled through a range of emotions: shame, anger, embarrassment, and finally defeat. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All this time, we''ve been buying from our competitor," Gail said with a bitter smile.


    "That''s the scary part of monopolies," Apollo sighed. He couldn''t help but reminisce about his past. In his previous life, he hadn''t just monopolized businesses¡ªhe''d built an empire. Everything he touched, he owned.


    The two women remained silent, with Filly lowering her head.


    "But don''t worry," Apollo said with a smile. "Monopolies don''t last forever. You just have to devour them."


    Filly and Gail looked at him, and seeing the confidence in his smile, their heavy feelings lightened.


    "What should we do?" Filly asked, taking a deep breath.


    "First, tell me your plan."

 Chapter 180 Fillys Plan(Part-2)

    "So basically, meat distribution relies solely on these Hunters?" Apollo asked. "And you''ve already hired some?"


    "We have a few, and we''re in the process of adding more, but it will take at least two weeks before we can gather enough Hunters," Filly explained. "But this meat distribution is solely for us."


    "You''re not planning to sell the monster meat to others?" Apollo asked.


    "Correct," Filly answered.


    "That''s a good idea," Apollo nodded with satisfaction. "It can create a diversion, but if someone wants to buy from you, don''t hesitate to sell. Just don''t advertise it. Let the buyers spread the word themselves."


    Filly''s eyes widened as she grasped his point. "But this still doesn''t solve the problem that our supply of monster meat will be greatly reduced. We can serve a dozen customers a day, but serving everyone will be hard with the limited supply." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s why, in the meantime, you''ll have to make the most of the two weeks before you can hire all the Hunters you need."


    Hunters are the backbone of meat distribution for restaurants. They''re responsible for finding, buying at low prices, and sometimes even killing the monsters themselves.


    "Play with pricing and promotions," Apollo continued.


    "Promotions? Like calling for customers?" Filly asked.


    "Yes, but you need to reach a much wider audience," Apollo said. "Have you ever seen wanted posters for criminals?"


    "Of course!" the two women nodded.


    "Do you want me to hunt some of them?" Gail''s killing intent seeped out, her eyes glowing red as she prepared for action.


    Filly nudged her friend with her elbow. "That''s not what he meant."


    "Oh," Gail scratched her cheek in embarrassment, withdrawing her killing intent.


    "Just like those wanted posters, create something that will grab people''s attention." Apollo had noticed, while wandering through the city''s alleyways, that most posters were simple sketches of criminals or written descriptions. He hadn''t seen any advertisements.


    "You want me to draw people?" Filly asked, a confident smile on her face. "I''m pretty good at it. But how will drawing faces attract customers?"


    "Silly, we''re not posting criminals," Apollo chuckled. "If you''re good at drawing, sketch your spaghetti, fried chicken, and every dish in your restaurant. Then, paste those posters on walls with your restaurant''s address."


    Hearing this, Filly stared at Apollo like he was a divine being. Why didn''t I think of this? Word of mouth was effective, but slow. If she implemented Mr. Beggar''s idea, just the thought of it made her heart race.


    "And what about the pricing?" Filly asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "Focus on your fried chicken and spaghetti for now. Create a bundle where customers can either buy a single meal at a higher price or get both dishes at a discounted price," Apollo suggested, leaving the restaurant owner stunned.


    "Then they''ll definitely go for the bundle, and with the promotion, our sales¡­" Filly could almost see money raining down.


    "Haha, but don''t get too excited just yet. That''s not enough," Apollo smirked, raising his hand. "A pen and journal."


    ...


    The beggar walked out of Filly''s Restaurant with a relaxed smile on his face.


    "Ah, it''s been so long since I really dove deep into business," Apollo muttered, walking back to the corner of the restaurant where he usually begged for Alm Points.


    He had talked with Filly and Gail for an hour, discussing and revising their plan. He also wrote another journal to help them create new dishes they hadn''t heard of before. Since their supply of Monster Meat would be limited in the coming weeks, they needed to improvise and use common ingredients that would give them an edge in the business war.


    Helping them made him think about his past life. Really, forgetting about my previous world is hard.


    Apollo wanted to move on, but he just couldn''t. That was probably why he was willing to help Filly. Still, what really mattered was their hard work and luck. They could follow his plan, but it wasn''t a hundred percent guaranteed they''d succeed. There were more factors to consider. What if Klown involved himself in this business war?


    A far-fetched thought, but not impossible.


    Shaking his head, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold coin Gail had given him.


    It was his first gold coin, but with the situation involving Filly and his hunger at the time, he had forgotten about it.


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    Suppressing his excitement, though his eyes betrayed him, he brought up his Status Screen.


    However, what he saw next made his soul turn cold.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 34


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning


    "What the hell?! How come I only received two Alm Points?!" Apollo''s nose flared up. "System! You''d better explain this!"


    A translucent screen appeared before him, accompanied by the emotionless voice of the System echoing in his ears.


    "You have received an Invalid Coin. The giver does not think of you as a real beggar, hence the gold coin cannot be converted into Alm Points."


    "F-fuck you," Apollo cursed through gritted teeth. "You''re being unreasonable, System!"


    "The System is not being unreasonable. A True Beggar receives Alm Points from a Good Samaritan who believes the host is a real beggar."


    "Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you... fuck you," Apollo repeated dozens of times before letting out a defeated sigh.


    Staring at the gold coin in his hand, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly. Such a waste, he thought, putting the coin back in his pocket.


    Actually, he wasn''t surprised that the System made the coin invalid. The System was very firm about making him a beggar¡ªno excuses and no shortcuts. But what surprised him more was that Gail didn''t think of him as a beggar.


    But why? I clearly look like one! Should I undress myself and run around naked? Wait, no, that''ll just make me look like a crazy person.


    "Ah, fuck it," Apollo cursed, placing his hands over his forehead and closing his eyes in frustration. Soon, the world turned dark, and the universe with its Qi acting as stars.

 Chapter 181 Elders

    "So the rumor is true? That you''ve given the title of Personal Disciple to an outsider?" an old man asked, wearing a white hanfu robe that reached his ankles.


    "I won''t deny it," Master Axton replied, glancing at the School Elders around the table. There were seven of them, five men and two women, all with gray hair and wrinkled faces, a testament to their age and experience.


    "The Senior Apprentices won''t like this," one of the old men said. Elder Yuan, the elder responsible for crafting weapons in the Great Serpent School, was a master blacksmith with numerous disciples eager to acknowledge him as their master.


    Axton glanced at him, his eyes glinting with understanding. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I expected that," he said, a relaxed smile on his face.


    "We don''t know what they''ll do," Elder Yuan continued, staring intently at the Headmaster. "Do you think your Personal Disciple can handle them?"


    "I don''t know," Axton shook his head. "But I think he can defeat Heru."


    "Haha," Elder Yuan laughed before turning serious. "My disciple has been eyeing that position. I don''t think he''ll take this lightly."


    "Actually, all of the Senior Disciples will be watching," one of the female elders added, the others nodding in agreement.


    "Don''t underestimate them," Elder Yuan smirked. "Especially the one I''ve nurtured."


    "I''m not. I''m just stating facts," Axton smiled. Only the outer and inner disciples participated in the previous Advancement Examination. Those who had reached the title of Senior were not allowed to join. They hadn''t seen his chosen Personal Disciple in action, but Axton was confident that Yoma could defeat them.


    The Elders also didn''t participate in such affairs, as they were focused on cultivation and school matters.


    "If you say so. But remember, once he''s defeated by any Senior Disciple, the one who defeats him will take his place," Elder Yuan reminded.


    "Rules are rules. I''ll follow through," Axton said. Once he chose a Personal Disciple, the battle for the position would begin.


    Each of the Elders seated around the table had a Senior Disciple under them. The goal of these Senior Disciples was to secure the position of Personal Disciple to the Headmaster, which meant they would be the next candidate to lead the Great Serpent Cultivation School in Klown City. Axton had delayed this decision for years, waiting to find someone truly worthy of the title.


    As Headmaster, Axton was required to personally train his Personal Disciple, whether he liked them or not.


    However, the Headmaster had yet to reveal the real reason for choosing Yoma as his Personal Disciple. He wanted Yoma to take his time and not feel pressured by the future. But looking at the current situation, the Wanderer''s peace would soon be disrupted.


    Still, Axton wasn''t overly concerned; in fact, he was quite confident.


    Yoma only needed to defeat all of the Qi Condensation Senior Disciples without losing. One loss, and he would be out.


    "Enough of that," Axton said, his tone turning serious. "Let my Personal Disciple and the Seniors settle this among themselves. Let''s move on to official matters."


    The atmosphere shifted. What had been a somewhat relaxed meeting just moments ago now grew tense, the air turning heavy.


    The Elders straightened up, the smiles fading from their faces.


    "We''re gathered here to address the thieves who''ve stolen techniques from our library," Axton began, glancing at each of the Elders. They showed little emotion, as expected of those with far more experience than he had. "I assume you''re all aware that someone is behind them."


    "With cultivation and battle techniques being stolen from every martial school in this city, it''s obvious someone''s pulling the strings," one of the Elders remarked. "Even a fool knows who''s responsible."


    "That man knows how to smile, but beneath that fat exterior, he hides his true self," Elder Yuan said, his eyes flashing coldly.


    "Even if we suspect the same person, the prisoners won''t talk. If we try to force information or use special techniques on them, their heads explode," Axton explained. "And we''re not allowed to act unless they show clear signs of hostility."


    The Elders frowned at this, some visibly frustrated.


    "We should send a request to the higher-ups," one of the Elders said through gritted teeth. "Why are they allowed to scheme like this while we have to ask permission just to defend ourselves?"


    Others voiced their agreement.


    The Great Serpent Cultivation School in Klown City was only a branch of the main school. They had to answer to the central authority and seek approval for major decisions.


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    Axton sighed. He too disliked the restrictive system that prevented them from acting freely. "We have to follow orders¡ªto maintain peace and not instigate conflict with the Empire."


    "Well, we can''t ignore their wishes," Elder Yuan added. "We can''t afford to be the ones responsible for starting another war."


    At the mention of "war," the atmosphere grew even heavier.


    War¡ªthe very word carried a weight that chilled them. It had been so long since the last one, but the truce between the bona fide and the mundane had held for nearly ten thousand years. Back then, the ancestors had lived in the mountains, isolated from the common people.


    But once the mundane discovered the extraordinary powers of the first cultivators, greed had driven them to call upon forbidden power.


    Axton had only read about it in books, but he understood that the desire for peace had been their ultimate goal.


    "True immortality and enlightenment¡ªthat''s our purpose. It always has been and always will be. Strength is just a byproduct," Axton said. "But we face a threat determined to disrupt our path to cultivation. We may not be able to fight openly without approval, but that doesn''t mean we''ll sit back and let them bite at our heels."


    The Elders fixed their gazes on the Headmaster. "What''s your plan?"


    "Personal Disciples¡ªthey don''t belong to the school. They answer only to me until I decide to hand over my position," Axton said, a cunning smile playing on his lips.


    Peace was the goal, but the means to achieve it didn''t matter.


    "You mean¡­" Elder Yuan squinted, catching on to Axton''s implication.

 Chapter 182 Helping Slumstreet

    A few days later.


    Apollo was cultivating peacefully. A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he cultivated while begging. Despite only receiving two Alm Points, he wasn''t bothered. His full focus was on the ball of Qi in his dantian.


    He had spent a few days revising the Revised Simple Breathing Technique, and finally, he had succeeded.


    The ball of Qi was compressing, and after much trial and error, he realized he had been wrong all along. He had tried to make the ball bigger, but no matter what he did, it wouldn''t budge. Then, after further attempts, he figured out the truth.


    Strangely, instead of expanding the ball of Qi, he needed to compress it, making the Simple Breathing Technique suitable for the next cultivation stage.


    It felt as though he was starting over, but Apollo knew the compressed Qi was becoming more potent. At the same time, he could feel his strength increasing once more.


    This brought a smile to his face, and he couldn''t wait to reach the next stage. Though he still wasn''t familiar with the power of the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he decided to focus on getting to the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage and then familiarize himself with his newfound strength.


    However, his peaceful cultivation was interrupted when he sensed a presence in front of him.


    Usually, when someone gave him Alm Points, they lingered for just a second before walking away. But this person was standing still.


    Confused, Apollo opened his eyes, pocketed the bronze coins, and looked up.


    "Don?" Apollo asked in surprise.


    "Ah, h-hello!" The boy with shoulder-length hair bowed, flustered. Sweat dripped down his face, his chest heaving as if he had been running.


    Seeing him in this state made Apollo frown. He stood up and glanced around but saw no one following the boy. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo asked.


    Don looked up, meeting Apollo''s eyes, and couldn''t help but shiver. Then, he dropped to both knees and slammed his forehead into the ground.


    "Please! Mr. Cultivator, help us!" Don pleaded, his voice trembling with pain.


    That must''ve hurt, Apollo thought, surprised by the boy''s self-inflicted brutality. "Stand up and tell me what happened," he said, helping the boy to his feet.


    Apollo was speechless. Don''s forehead was bleeding, and tears threatened to spill from his eyes. The boy sniffled, pulling back his snot. "I¡­ I didn''t have a choice. Please forgive me for disturbing you, sir."


    "Don''t call me sir. I''m just a beggar, and we''re the same age. What do you mean you didn''t have a choice? What really happened?" Apollo asked. Don was clearly in a hurry.


    "We need your help. We''re being forced to leave now. Some of us have already been hurt," Don explained hurriedly, his voice filled with worry. "T-they said¡­ they said they''d kill Miss Millie, so I ran to find you."


    Apollo glanced at Don''s body and, sure enough, saw the bruises. But should he help them? What good would it bring him?


    Seeing Apollo grow quiet, Don became anxious.


    Was I too rude? I spoke to him so suddenly. Is he going to punish me too? This thought made Don grit his teeth.


    "I''m sorry! I should get going now!" Don bowed again, tears splashing on the ground. He couldn''t waste another second¡ªMiss Millie''s life and the others were at stake.


    "Let''s go," Apollo said after a moment of thought, smiling at the boy. "I''ll help you."


    Hearing this, Don looked up with wide eyes. "But Mr. Cultivator¡­ If we''re just going to bother you¡ª"


    "I''m your friendly neighborhood beggar! So don''t worry about it!" Apollo patted the kid''s shoulder before heading in the direction of Slumstreet.


    Don was stunned. A beggar? Why is he acting like a beggar when he''s clearly a cultivator? Cultivators were his dream¡ªthey were highly respected. They had wealth, power, and strength. But all he''d ever heard about them were bad things.


    He was ready to be rejected. When he suggested asking for help from his new friend to Miss Millie a few days ago, she had warned him not to trust cultivators because no one ever knew what they were thinking.


    However, the events earlier left him with no other choice.


    Staring at Apollo''s back with admiration and gratitude, Don clenched his fist. He hurriedly ran after him, and the two headed to Slumstreet.


    ¡­


    The sound of fists hitting flesh echoed outside the city.


    This was a street most people avoided¡ªa place where society''s unwanted were accepted with open arms.


    The houses were built of the simplest materials: wood, trunks, and dirt. They looked as though they were on the verge of collapse but somehow held together.


    Though rundown, this street had once been filled with laughter and joyous voices. But now, silence ruled. Some kept their heads lowered, unable to bear watching the scene unfold. Mothers clutched their children tightly as tears fell from their eyes.


    A middle-aged woman collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood. Her hair was disheveled, dirt and blood smeared across her face. Her body was black and blue from the beating.


    Around her, men lay on the ground, red pools forming beneath them. Their lifeless eyes stared blankly, their bodies riddled with holes and cuts from a sword.


    A man in silver armor knelt down and yanked the woman''s hair, lifting her into the air. As her feet dangled, the man spat on the ground. "Didn''t we give you a few days to leave?! Yet you filthy scum are still here! Are you disregarding the mayor''s order, huh?!"


    Miss Millie stared at the captain with defeated eyes. "Pl¡­ease¡­ a few¡­ more¡­ days¡­" she pleaded, but the pain wracking her body made it difficult to form the words.


    The captain, with his blonde hair and brown eyes¡ªclear signs of noble lineage¡ªgrinned at her pleading. To him, her cries for mercy were music. Ruthlessness gleamed in his eyes.


    He forced Miss Millie to look at the fallen bodies around them.


    "You see this? This is your fault!" he shouted.


    Silver-armored soldiers stood nearby, weapons pointed at the onlookers, ready to strike down anyone who dared interfere.


    Miss Millie''s eyes filled with sorrow as she glanced at the dead individuals who had tried to help her. My fault¡­ it''s all my fault¡­


    "If you had listened! Hahaha! But this is great! I''ve been waiting to clean up you filthy rats with my own hands, and now the time has come!" The captain''s laughter rang out, echoed by his men.


    Miss Millie heard nothing. She stared at the people of Slumstreet in the distance, watching her with worried expressions. Some of the men were preparing to come to her aid, but she shook her head at them.


    It''s my fault¡­ if only I''d listened and not tried to protect our home¡­ no one would''ve gotten hurt¡­


    "But even if you had left, I would still have hunted you all down and killed you!" the captain shouted, his words finally piercing through to her.


    "You!" Miss Millie turned her furious gaze toward him.


    "What?" The silver-armored man smirked, but it faltered when she pulled a short dagger from her pocket. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "I''ll kill you!" Miss Millie swung the dagger at him!

 Chapter 183 The Captain(Part-1)

    A short sword flew through the air, landing a few feet away, followed by a person rolling across the ground.


    "Ah, fuck you! You almost killed me!" the noble captain shouted, his face burning with fury as he lowered his fist. If he had been a second later, his neck would have been cut, and blood would have sprayed everywhere.


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    Some of the onlookers immediately rushed toward the fallen middle-aged woman. However, the silver-armored guards were faster, kicking, punching, and slicing at those who tried to help with their swords.


    Screams echoed as those who tried to assist had no choice but to retreat. They could only stare helplessly at Miss Millie.


    "You''ll regret that, bitch!" The captain glared at the woman coldly, his killing intent flaring. He walked toward her, releasing his cultivation pressure.


    At the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage, his pressure was enough to terrify ordinary people. They retreated, even from afar, their faces filled with fear as they anticipated what would come next.


    The captain picked up the short sword and stood over the coughing woman.


    Blood splattered onto the ground, turning brown dirt a deep red, and some of her inner organs could be seen mingling with the liquid.


    Miss Millie wiped her mouth and looked up at the man in front of her. Those eyes¡­ they always had the same look when directed at people like us. Ants, insects they could crush at any moment. Miss Millie resigned herself to her fate. Death.


    "Die!" The captain raised the short sword high, preparing to stab her in the head. A wicked smile spread across his face. He was angry but also excited¡ªeager to feel the pleasure of taking another life once again.


    However, just as the sword was about to pierce her, he suddenly felt a threat from his side. Before he could react, his body was sent hurtling through the air as winds swirled violently around the spot where he once stood!


    The world spun, dizziness overtaking him. In this blurry haze, he caught a glimpse of two small figures running toward the middle-aged woman. With a thud, the captain crashed into the ground, raising a cloud of dust!


    Silence.


    A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by a shout.


    "Miss Millie!" Don cried out, his small voice drawing everyone''s attention. He hurried toward the street leader, worry etched on his face.


    Miss Millie opened her eyes in confusion. She had expected to die, never to see the world again. But it hadn''t happened. Instead, Don, one of the street kids, stood in front of her. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you okay?" Don asked, though he didn''t need an answer as he took in Millie''s battered face.


    "W-what¡­ what''s happening?" Miss Millie stammered.


    "I went and found him!" Don said, stepping aside to reveal the person behind him. "Mr. Cultivator!"


    Miss Millie looked past the boy and saw a seven- or eight-year-old child clapping his hands. The silver-armored guards lay on the ground around him. Their condition was unclear, but the blood pooling beneath them made it obvious.


    "I told you, I''m just your friendly neighborhood beggar," Apollo said, walking toward the middle-aged woman.


    Dealing with these ''scary'' looking guards was a piece of cake. They were at the 1st-Step and 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage, but with his current cultivation and the Simple Sword Technique, they were nothing but moving dummies. His fingers alone were enough to pierce their silver armor and kill them. He had left his new wooden sword back at the beggar spot, deeming it unnecessary.


    It wouldn''t have made a difference if he had brought it.


    Staring at the kid beside Don, Miss Millie recognized him. He was the same boy who had wanted to visit Bubba but instead found him already covered with a cloth. According to Don, this same kid was also a cultivator. Glancing at the silver-armored guards on the ground, it seemed to be true.


    Miss Millie tried to stand, but her injuries caused her to stumble. Don quickly supported her. "W-what¡­ happened¡­ to the¡­ captain?"


    "Mr. Cul¡ª Beggar blew him away!" Don said, a smile on his face. Their savior kept insisting he wasn''t a cultivator but a beggar, so Don went along with it.


    "A simple trick. Fortunately, we arrived just in time," Apollo said, glancing at the middle-aged woman before turning to the dissipating dust cloud.


    "W-we¡­ should¡­ get out¡­ of here," Miss Millie urged, staring at the cultivator. "Th-they will¡­ kill¡­ us."


    "I''m not surprised," Apollo nodded. If these guards had come in peace, they wouldn''t have hurt anyone. But they had already killed some of the Slumstreet people, showing their true intentions.


    Whether they left or not, it was clear the guards intended to kill them.


    "You all should leave. I''ll stay here and buy you some time," Apollo said, glancing at the approaching figures.


    Miss Millie''s eyes widened at their savior. "You¡­ this is more than enough. We couldn''t afford to waste your time, sir."


    "Haha, Big Chub is my friend, and I''m helping as best as I can," Apollo smiled at them. Though he looked like a child, the way people gazed at him was filled with admiration and respect. No one believed his current appearance was his real form. There was no way a child could be a cultivator¡ªthey assumed he was older, using a technique to change his appearance. Miss Millie was sure of it.


    She fell silent, but hearing the cries of the children and seeing the wounded people who had tried to save her, she gritted her teeth and nodded at the cultivator who introduced himself as a beggar.


    She had hesitated before, which had caused the deaths of others. She couldn''t afford to make the same mistake again.


    "I will stay with you!" Don shouted, his face filled with determination as he looked up at the beggar.


    "Go with them. You''ll only be a burden," Apollo said, patting the boy on the shoulder.


    "B-but¡ª!" Don tried to insist, but Miss Millie placed her hand on his shoulder. When he looked at her, she shook her head.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure you come back here, and no one will bully you anymore," Apollo said, glancing at the people around him, his voice full of assurance.


    "Thank¡­ you¡­" Miss Millie bowed her head, and the others followed suit.


    Everyone bowed their heads, faces filled with gratitude. They cried, worried about the future, but for now, staying alive was what mattered most.

 Chapter 184 The Captain(Part-2)

    They brought the dead bodies with them, unable to leave the people they cherished behind. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching them go, with Don glancing back in hesitation, Apollo waved his hand at them.


    Letting out a sigh, he looked up at the light blue sky. Clouds drifted slowly, rays of sunlight passing through. The sky remained untouched by the turmoil below.


    "Big Chub, your troubles are endless," Apollo muttered with a smile. "But I''ve already deemed you as my friend, and I''ll help you, even when you''re on the other side."


    Big Chub was one of the reasons Apollo decided to help, but the other was tied to his second mission. He couldn''t just cultivate in his beggar spot; he needed to make progress. Involving himself in the Slumstreet situation was the perfect opportunity to move forward.


    Apollo glanced at the spot where the captain had fallen. The man was already back on his feet, shaking his head to clear the dizziness.


    "Hey!" Apollo called out, catching his attention.


    "You!" The captain looked around, realizing the scum had already fled. "Where are they?!"


    "They''re gone. I don''t know where," Apollo shrugged. "Why don''t we talk?"


    The captain''s eyes zeroed in on the only person left.


    "Talk? You think I have time for that?!" The captain shouted, pulling his sword from its scabbard. "I''ll hunt them down and kill every last one of them! But first, let me taste your blood!"


    Apollo squinted at the man charging toward him. How did this guy become a captain? Did he not notice his men were already dead on the ground? Overconfident, egocentric people like this¡ªespecially nobles¡ªwere exactly the kind of people Apollo loved to beat down.


    He released his senses, scanning the silver-armored noble and instantly identifying the man''s cultivation level. He was at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage, but his energy was unstable.


    That''s strange, Apollo thought. It was the first time he''d sensed something like this in a person.


    Shaking his head, he lowered his body slightly, preparing for the captain''s approach. He hadn''t fully familiarized himself with his body since his recent cultivation improvements, and this seemed like a good opportunity to test his strength. The guards he''d killed earlier were too weak to give him a real challenge, but the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage captain might be enough to practice on.


    However, what happened next made him smile bitterly. This guy¡­ he doesn''t even know how to fight. A sloppy sword slash aimed at Apollo''s neck was easily dodged with a single step back.


    The captain''s face flashed with surprise before regaining confidence. "That was a fluke! Die!"


    "Yeah, sure," Apollo replied half-heartedly, dodging the follow-up attacks as if it were a casual stroll.


    After a series of attacks, with the captain using all his Battle Techniques, the noble finally realized he couldn''t land a hit on the boy in front of him.


    "W-who are you?!" the captain stammered, his eyes nervously locked on Apollo. "You¡­ you''re the reason I was sent flying!"


    "Finally, you''re using your brain," Apollo said with a sigh. This guy wasn''t even worth testing his strength on. It was a complete waste of time.


    The captain''s eyes landed on his men, and he immediately realized they were all dead.


    A shiver ran down his spine as a spark of fear flickered in his mind. "A-are you also... a Cultivator?" he asked, his voice trembling.


    Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Nah, I''m just a beggar," Apollo smirked, walking toward him with small, deliberate steps.


    But even though his steps were small, to the captain, Apollo appeared as tall as a mountain.


    "W-why are you helping these filthy scums?! You... We are above them!" the captain shouted, taking several steps back. His eyes darted toward the city entrance in the distance.


    Calculating the distance, he estimated that he only needed a few seconds to reach it.


    Clearly, this kid¡ªno, this person¡ªwas someone he couldn''t defeat. But he couldn''t understand it. With this person''s strength, why was he helping these filthy people? The captain wondered.


    "Above?" Apollo''s smirk turned cold. "Why do people like you always think so highly of yourselves? Haven''t you heard the saying: ''Beyond the sky, there is always a higher sky, beyond people, there are always greater people, and beyond them, there are asians who are just good at everything?''"


    Hearing this, the captain''s eyes widened. Those words... He had never heard them before, but they resonated... They resonated like the Heavens!


    "You... you..." the captain stammered, fear engulfing him. He had bumped into someone he should never have crossed! I have to get back to the city and report this to the mayor! With that thought, he turned, used his movement technique, and hurriedly ran toward the city wall.


    Watching the man''s retreating back, Apollo sighed. Kiss up, kick down¡ªthat''s the best way to describe people like him.


    The captain glanced back and, seeing no one following him, smiled in relief. That person must have realized I''m a noble and doesn''t want to offend me. But you''ve already incurred my wrath, and you shall taste my revenge! His eyes glinted coldly as he began to imagine that small person''s face filled with fear.


    ...


    "So, you think you can just escape? We weren''t done talking, and leaving like that is very rude," Apollo said, standing over the man who was now coughing up blood on the ground.


    In the end, the captain couldn''t escape. His silver armor was in pieces, with only a few fragments still attached, revealing his inner clothes.


    "D-don''t... you know... who... I... am?!" the captain stammered, staring at Apollo. But the look he received made him avert his gaze to the ground.


    "A noble who thinks highly of himself but is actually a coward," Apollo replied. They were inside one of the houses in Slumstreet, which now served as their interrogation room.


    The captain''s face flushed with a mix of anger and shame. His emotions triggered another coughing fit, causing him to spit more blood onto the ground.


    "Tell me your name," Apollo commanded, pulling a nearby chair and sitting down.


    "Why... did you... bring me... here? What do you want?" the captain asked.


    "Tell me your name," Apollo repeated, his voice growing cold.


    As the atmosphere became suffocating, the captain gritted his teeth before sighing in defeat.


    "Armen, North Klown City Captain."

 Chapter 185 The Captain(Part-3)

    "You''re a noble, right?" Apollo asked, sitting cross-legged on the chair.


    "Of course!" Armen answered, leaning against the wooden wall with difficulty. His chest was covered in blood, the result of a previous wind slash from the kid''s hand. Recalling what had happened, his body couldn''t help but shiver.


    It was so fast. The kid, who was likely a cultivator pretending not to be one, had suddenly appeared in front of him. Before he knew it, the wind became as sharp as a blade, cutting through his armor and slicing his chest.


    The pain was immense, but Armen had thought that would be the end of it. He couldn''t have been more wrong. The kid beat him black and blue, shattering most of his armor before dragging him to one of the filthy houses. Looking at his current situation, it was clear the kid¡ªwho was pretending to be one¡ªwanted something from him. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If you don''t know... besides being the North Guard Captain of Klown City... I hail from the Callum family. We may not be as strong as Kleinford or Helflick, but our influence matches or even surpasses theirs," Armen introduced, a confident smirk crossing his face. Despite his injuries and difficulty speaking, when it came to his family''s pride, he managed to ignore the pain.


    "I don''t care about anything you just said," Apollo replied. "I only want to know: does your family have a deep connection with the mayor?"


    Armen was offended by the kidnapper''s words, but when the mayor was mentioned, his expression grew serious.


    "Are you planning... something against him?" Armen asked, struggling to breathe between words.


    "Answer my question," Apollo said, waving his hand. A wind slash followed his movement.


    Suddenly, an arm flew into the air, blood spurting, followed by a shriek. It was like a pig being butchered, making the beggar''s ears ache.


    "Why?!" Armen shouted, clutching his severed arm. Blood splattered his face as he stared at the kidnapper sitting calmly on the chair. "Why?!"


    "Why?" Apollo smiled ''innocently.'' "I just felt like it."


    "Argh! I will kill¡ª" Armen tried to stand, but Apollo''s next words made him sit back down, gritting his teeth in pain as he tried to stop the blood loss.


    "Don''t answer my question, and I''ll cut off another limb," Apollo said, a wicked smile playing on his lips. Seeing the captain behaving now, he repeated his earlier question. "Does your family have a deep connection with the mayor?"


    Armen stared at his kidnapper, anger burning in his heart, but he couldn''t hide his fear. His eyes shook violently. "Y-yes."


    "Good," Apollo nodded, satisfied with the answer. If by the end of the day this person had no real connection with the mayor beyond his position, Apollo would have been disappointed. He had plenty of experience and had seen all types of people.


    Although he had only heard rumors¡ªlikely true¡ªabout the mayor and had seen him from afar, he knew that Klown was not the type of person to value those under him unless they were of real use.


    Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if the mayor despised the bootlickers.


    He wanted to integrate himself into the hidden workings of the city, and he knew he''d have better chances if he offended someone with connections to the mayor.


    "My next question," Apollo said. "Tell me what you know about the mayor."


    Is that even a question? You''re basically ordering me with no chance to refuse! Armen thought, but his severed arm was a reminder that he should answer honestly.


    "W-what do¡­ you want to know?" Armen asked. He decided to choose his life¡ªand his remaining limbs. He could always run away and live in another city once the news got out that he had betrayed Klown. That was the worst-case scenario, but hopefully, the kidnapper wouldn''t tell anyone that he had sold out the city. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hmm." Apollo put a hand under his chin in deep thought. The second part of his mission required him to figure out the mayor''s plan within two months.


    But he was just starting out, so he wasn''t expecting to solve it immediately. He just wanted to find a direction¡ªa clue that would help him move forward.


    "Tell me anything bad about him, something that normal people wouldn''t even dare to think he would do," Apollo said, staring straight into his hostage''s eyes.


    Thinking about their current situation, Apollo couldn''t help but find it amusing. He was, literally, a kidnapper.


    Armen frowned, both from the pain of his injuries and from the weight of the information this ''pretend-kid'' wanted to know.


    "Why are you silent?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, his hand pointing at Armen''s remaining arm.


    Armen shivered in fear and hurriedly opened his mouth. "I-I know something¡­ but it''s just a rumor."


    "A rumor''s fine, but do you believe it?" Apollo smiled.


    Armen thought for a moment, then nodded. "It''s very likely to be true."


    "Oh? Then tell me," Apollo leaned in, his curiosity piqued.


    "He¡­ eats people," Armen said hesitantly.


    Apollo went silent. That was a rumor he hadn''t expected. The mayor is a cannibal? "Why do you think it''s true?"


    "Haven''t you noticed there aren''t any beggars left in the city? Rumor has it that the mayor abducted them and ate them," Armen said, his voice trembling along with his eyes. Just thinking about it made him feel sick.


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. So they didn''t clean up the beggars for visiting dignitaries, but because the mayor wanted to eat them?


    "We abducted some of them, but what''s strange is that we had to send them to the mayor''s castle instead of just killing them and burning their bodies to ashes," Armen continued. The bleeding from his arm had stopped, and the pain had lessened enough for him to speak without gasping between words.


    "So you think it''s true," Apollo said.


    "It''s a gut feeling¡­ but I know others who think the same," Armen said, glancing at Apollo''s hand before looking him directly in the eye. "I''ve told you all I know. These rumors¡ªfilth¡ªnormal people haven''t heard them. Only those of us in high positions."


    "Everything you''ve told me so far isn''t enough to support a rumor that the mayor''s eating people." Apollo squinted at his hostage. "Where did the rumor start?"


    I''m telling the truth! Armen thought before answering. "I think¡­ it started with the chefs."


    "Chefs?" Apollo repeated, his eyes glinting with understanding. "Do you have anything else to add?"


    "Hmm," Armen thought for a moment. "This is the only thing that meets your criteria."


    "I see." Apollo jumped off the chair, turned around, and walked toward the door. "Then we''re done here."


    Hearing this, Armen felt a surge of relief. He''s letting me go? This is good! Once I get out of here, I''ll make sure to take my revenge! He glanced at the kid''s back with hatred. The pain coursing through his body only fueled his desire to make his kidnapper suffer even greater agony¡ªso much that he''d wish for death!


    Apollo suddenly turned back. "Oh, I almost forgot."


    Armen tilted his head in confusion, but in the next second, he saw a sharp gust of wind coming straight at him!


    "What the¡ª!!"


    A head dropped to the ground, rolling a few times before stopping. Armen''s face, frozen in shock, remained on the severed head while the body fell limply, blood spurting from the neck.


    "This should be enough," Apollo smiled, clapping his hands. Glancing at the head, he hoped the butterfly effect would kick in.


    Once people realized the North Guard Captain of Klown City hadn''t returned, suspicion would rise. Apollo expected them to send men to investigate, but they would only find the bodies of their comrades¡ªand their captain.


    "Should I leave a clue?" Apollo muttered, then shook his head. "I need more time."


    He didn''t want them to figure out too easily that a beggar was behind this. There was still plenty of time to complete his mission, and enough time for them to uncover the real culprit behind the murders.


    Hopefully, they''d fall for his plan. Apollo would then deal with those who came after him, all while digging for clues about the mayor''s true intentions. When things escalated enough for the mayor to intervene, that''s when he''d complete his mission.


    Apollo began imagining his plan. He could already see some flaws, but he''d adjust as needed when the time came.


    Shaking his head, he walked out of the house, making himself invisible using a technique derived from Hydra Mirage. Apollo hurried back to his beggar spot, keeping the technique active.


    He couldn''t afford to be seen in this area, as trouble would find him sooner than he was ready for.


    ¡­


    As night fell, five figures in silver armor emerged from the city wall''s gate that led to the Slumstreet.


    Each of them boasted cultivation levels ranging from the 1st-Step to the 2nd-Step Foundation Building stage.


    They carried lamps that illuminated their path.


    "What''s taking them so long?" one of the guards asked.


    "Who knows? Maybe they had some fun without telling us!" another replied.


    They chatted as they walked.


    "What''s that smell?"


    The others sniffed the air, and sure enough, they detected the same scent.


    "It''s blood." They exchanged uneasy glances as a sense of foreboding settled over them. Quickly, they rushed to their destination and found silver-armored guards lying lifeless on the ground.


    "Shit! They''re dead!"


    "Where''s the captain?!"


    "Captain!"


    They spread out, and soon enough, they found the captain inside one of the houses.

 Chapter 186 Line

    In the end, the beggar decided not to leave a clue. He would let the butterfly effect play out and come back to him. Of course, he would find opportunities to speed it up. All he had done was make a small move, but to the affected parties, it was anything but small.


    Back at Klown''s mansion, the news spread quickly.


    The death of a Guard Captain was a serious matter, casting a heavy atmosphere over the place.


    Holst, with his usual squinting eyes, spoke to a silver-armored guard in front of a giant door. After the guard bowed and left, the butler pushed the door open, the creaking sound reverberating as he entered the room.


    Inside, there was a rectangular table with twelve seats, but only one was occupied¡ªthe head chair, where a figure sat, eating. In front of him were plates filled with reddish-black meat, steam rising into the air.


    Holst glanced at the plates before bowing to the mayor.


    "I have bad news and good news. Which would you like to hear first?" the butler asked.


    "I don''t care which," Klown replied, slicing the meat on his plate and placing it in his mouth with a fork.


    He chewed, his triple chin moving as his jaw worked.


    "Then I''ll start with the bad news," Holst nodded. "One of the Guard Captains was found dead in a house in Slumstreet. His head was decapitated. The other guards were also found dead, while the dwellers managed to escape."


    Klown swallowed, wiping his red-stained mouth with a white towel. "Appoint a new captain, preferably someone from his family. What about the body? They have good meat; we shouldn''t waste it."


    "We''ve already retrieved it. He''s in the storage room, waiting for your palate," Holst said. The bad news only required one command from the mayor to resolve. However, the main issue remained unsolved. "Do you want me to personally investigate the matter?"


    "Let his family handle it," Klown said. "There''s no way those slum dwellers have someone capable of killing a 4th-step Foundation Building stage guard. If they do, it must have been a passing cultivator."


    "What if the Callum family can''t find the culprit?" Holst asked.


    "Then we''ll have no choice but to step in. That person clearly disrespected the city¡ªmy city¡ªby killing one of my Guard Captains. It''s a crime punishable by death." Klown''s eyes grew cold. "In the meantime, let''s focus on our plan."


    "Then I''ll give you the good news," Holst smiled. "With the slum dwellers gone, we can start expanding the walls and completing the Line. That should be enough to finish ''it.'' Once we''re done, it will be time for us."


    "Hmm," Klown nodded, eating another bite before asking, "The Line¡­ they''re not going to notice it, right?"


    "Yes," Holst confirmed. "They''re a secluded people who wouldn''t dare provoke conflict with the Empire. They may have students outside, but those kids are focused on their missions in other places. They''re not smart enough to notice anything unusual in the city."


    "That''s good to hear," Klown smiled. "But they''re definitely suspicious. They''ll eventually find time to investigate, and I wouldn''t be surprised if they''re doing it right now."


    "Sir, I think you''re forgetting something," Holst''s eyes, which were always squinting, turned upward at both sides, confidence radiating from him. "The Line is invisible to them. We''re the only ones who can see it."


    "Oh right," Klown laughed aloud, his body wobbling with the movement. Bits of ''food'' spilled from his mouth, landing on his plates and the table.


    Holst glanced at the scene. Although disgusted inside, he didn''t show it. Instead, he laughed along with the mayor.


    "Why don''t you join me?" Klown asked, pointing at the chair beside him with his knife. "There''s plenty of food, and I must say, it''s top quality."


    "My apologies, but I''ve already eaten," Holst bowed his head.


    "It''s your loss," Klown said, putting another piece of meat in his mouth, then pointing toward it and smiling at his butler. "It''s really delicious, especially this one¡ªArke."


    "I''m glad you enjoy it," Holst replied, glancing at the plate before the mayor. Arke, the Poison Body¡­ he met his end just as we planned.


    "Tomorrow morning, I want Armen," Klown ordered, finishing his meal.


    "I''ll make sure the chefs prepare him with extra care," the butler nodded.


    "And we will start the Line."


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, back at the Helflick Mansion¡­


    Gail and Filly entered the room, guided by a maid.


    "This is her room," the maid said, bowing her head before leaving.


    Filly glanced at the basket she was holding and took a deep breath. "Let''s go."


    Gail pushed the door open, and the scent of medicine hit them. Their eyes naturally fell on the bed. They had been here a couple of times before, but back then, their friend was full of laughter.


    The two walked towards the bed, with Filly sitting beside the peacefully sleeping Bel.


    "I brought something for you," Filly muttered, raising the basket in front of Bel before placing it on the table beside the bed. "I''m sure you''ll like it."


    They fell silent, though their heavy breathing broke the quiet. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Shall we go now? I think Bel will wake up tomorrow," Gail asked. They had heard the news that, thanks to medicine from the Alchemy House, Bel had managed to wake up.


    But she was extremely weak, and even staying awake for a few minutes was a great challenge.


    "Hmm," Filly nodded, letting out a heavy sigh. Seeing their friend in this state, they couldn''t bear to stay much longer. Their hearts ached for her.


    She stood up and was about to turn around when she suddenly felt a hand grab her.


    Surprised, she looked back, and sure enough, Bel''s hand was holding hers. A small smile played on her friend''s lips.


    "W-what¡­ did¡­ you¡­ bring me?" Bel weakly asked.


    "You''re awake!" Filly exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth.


    Gail rushed back to their side, staring at Bel happily. "Good evening, Bel."


    "Haha¡­ good evening¡­" Bel chuckled.


    "I brought you something delicious!" Filly said, taking the basket and opening it to reveal the contents.


    The smell overpowered the scent of medicine, and Bel sniffed with her nose.


    "Smells¡­ delicious," Bel commented, her eyes marveling at the food on the plate.


    "It smells delicious, looks delicious, and it also tastes delicious!" Filly said, bringing out a fork.


    Bel tried to sit up, but her body wouldn''t respond. "I¡­ want¡­ to taste¡­ it." Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Sure," Filly took a small bite and fed it to her. Fortunately, Bel could open her mouth to eat, and there were no orders against feeding her. It was good that she could eat¡ªshe needed the nutrients to prolong her life.


    Bel''s eyes widened as the otherworldly food entered her mouth.


    Delicious!

 Chapter 187 Gambling Is Bad

    Filly fed her friend with a smile on her face. Seeing Bel eat with ''relish,'' she became more satisfied with her decision to bring the new dish from their restaurant.


    Bel looked like a child as red sauce painted her lips.


    After taking a sip of water, Bel stared at Filly and Gail. "I''m going¡­ to¡­ pass¡­ out¡­ thank you."


    As soon as she said those words, her eyes closed, and she fell asleep once more.


    Filly and Gail exchanged a bitter glance. "Seems like we''ll have to come back another time," Filly chuckled.


    "Yes," Gail nodded.


    After a moment, they left the room, and the maid guided them toward the mansion''s exit.


    "By the way, where are the Family Head and June?" Filly asked the maid.


    Knowing the visitors'' close relationship with Bel and the family, the maid answered honestly. "We don''t know where they went, but they''re searching for a cure for Madam Bel."


    "A cure?" Filly tilted her head. "But she can move now, right? I think that''s a good sign that the medicine is working."


    The maid sighed. "That''s what we thought as well. But the Family Head thinks otherwise. I believe in him."


    "The poison that Arke used¡­ It must be something even the Alchemy House doesn''t have a cure for," Gail commented, a frown forming on her face.


    "I don''t understand why the Headmasters didn''t disqualify that shitty guy," Filly muttered, gritting her teeth.


    "The Mayor intervened, and the examination is a joint event held by the city and the martial schools. The Great Serpent, Fire Shrine, and Sword and Shield Martial School aren''t the only cultivation schools in the city," Gail explained.


    Soon, they arrived outside the mansion and entered the carriage that would take them home. It was nearing midnight, and the restaurant had already closed.


    Looking out the window, Filly let out a heavy sigh, her thoughts weighed down by sadness over Bel.


    "Why don''t we¡­" Gail hesitated.


    "What?" Filly asked, turning toward her.


    "Why don''t we ask for his help?" Gail suggested.


    "Ask for whose help?" Filly asked.


    "Mr. Beggar. Yoma," Gail said.


    Hearing this, Filly''s eyes widened. Right! Mr. Beggar is a Wanderer, someone even the Headmaster of the Great Serpent personally visits. And as a Wanderer, he must be knowledgeable about many things! The recipes he provided for the restaurant were proof of that!


    "We can try," Filly nodded. "The worst that can happen is he rejects us."


    ¡­


    "This is good," Apollo muttered in the dark universe, with the Qi around him acting as stars.


    He was focusing inside himself, specifically his Dantian, where a small ball of Qi resided. It had become smaller compared to when he had just reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Although he had made great progress, Apollo felt like he needed one more week before he could achieve a breakthrough.


    Opening his eyes after a night of deep cultivation, he saw that the sun was already casting its brilliance on the streets. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was calm. There weren''t many people walking around, and there was no noise or footsteps to irritate the beggar''s ears.


    Apollo felt it was strange but not strange enough to dwell on, as he preferred it this way.


    Status Screen, the beggar thought, and a translucent screen materialized before him.


    STATUS SCREEN


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 43


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning."


    Forty-three Alm Points... Better than I expected, Apollo smiled. A few days of grinding the people with Alms had earned him at least ten Alm Points. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    If I keep this momentum, I''ll be able to buy that item in just two weeks, or maybe a month, Apollo thought.


    Passerby Shadow¡ªthat''s what he wanted. It was an item that would make his beggar spot invisible, or at least appear invisible, as people would need deep concentration to see through it unless the beggar allowed it. It only hid his spot and himself when inside, and while it couldn''t completely protect him from an attack, it was better than people discovering his hideaway.


    Out of boredom, he brought up the System Store and began browsing the items.


    Then, an item caught his eye.


    It was the Wish Me Luck that he had used previously. He had decided not to use it again, as it felt like gambling.


    Shaking his head to dismiss the thought, he scrolled down through the items, but quickly scrolled back up and immediately bought it.


    The moment his Alm Points were deducted by five, regret overwhelmed him.


    "Ah, why did I do that?!" Apollo scratched his head in frustration.


    Gambling is bad! Gambling is bad!


    But deep down, he hoped he would get lucky.


    "You used Wish Me Luck!"


    "Luck Increase Randomizing..."


    "Luck Increase! 10%!"


    Seeing this, Apollo''s eyes widened. Ten percent?! This is good!


    He stood up and moved in front of his beggar spot, where people could see him. He noticed the basket of his breakfast sitting to the side, but he didn''t want to waste the luck item, as it only lasted an hour before expiring.


    Raising both hands above his forehead and sitting cross-legged, Apollo waited in anticipation. The only reason he bought the item was to increase his Alm Points.


    Apollo wasn''t good at saving. In his previous life, he hadn''t needed to¡ªhis business talent kept money flowing in, so he never had to worry about what he wanted to buy or whether his funds would run out.


    Expecting a great return, the beggar waited. However, a few minutes passed, and nothing happened. His Alm Points didn''t move at all.


    Confused, he opened his eyes and looked around, but no good Samaritan had come forward to give him money. Is it because the morning is still young? The street was quiet, with only a few people walking by.


    I don''t believe I won''t at least get a return on my Alm Points! Gritting his teeth, he resumed begging.


    Twenty minutes later.


    Apollo finally sensed someone approaching. He opened his eyes excitedly and saw black-brown shoes.


    "Thank you! You are good! I greatly appre¡ª" Apollo couldn''t finish his words as he recognized the person in front of him.


    He realized something. Why is the street so quiet? It was the silence before the storm, and the storm had arrived right in front of his face.


    "I finally found you! You training ground wrecker!" Sir Guo shouted angrily, pointing a finger at the beggar.

 Chapter 188 Im Not Paying!(Part-1)

    Apollo stared at the bamboo hat guardian, confused. Tilting his head, he asked, "What do you mean by that?"


    "Don''t pretend to be innocent!" Sir Guo shouted angrily. "I know you''re the one who cut the dummies in half! You even broke the stage!"


    Apollo stood up, pointing his finger at the ground guardian. "Don''t accuse me without proof! I''m just a beggar! How could I even cut those scarecrows, huh?!"


    "Huh? Do you think I''ll believe your nonsense?" Sir Guo sneered, crossing his arms. "You''re a Wanderer, so stop acting childish and behave your age! Come with me¡ªyou have to pay for all the damage!"


    Fck! What the hell is even a Wanderer?! But I''m definitely not one!* "No way!" Apollo shouted. There was no way he''d admit to destroying the dummies and the stage.


    If they make something meant to take a hit, why get so angry when it breaks?


    "You!" Sir Guo''s face turned red with fury. "If you keep lying and being stubborn, don''t blame me if I resort to force!"


    "Use force on a kid?" Apollo smirked, raising an eyebrow. He glanced behind him and saw that they had already attracted a crowd of onlookers.


    People love drama, and a morning spectacle was something they wouldn''t dare miss.


    "Pretend to be a kid all you want," Sir Guo said, narrowing his eyes at the beggar. "Are you coming or not? Or do you want to fight? Let me tell you this¡ªI''m not someone you can defeat. Ha! Even the Headmasters wouldn''t dare start a fight with me!"


    "But I''m not a Headmaster!" Apollo retorted, though he was actually nervous. What the fuck, System? I bought the right item, right? So why the hell is this happening? Wish Me Bad Luck with a ten percent negative luck?!


    A screen materialized before him, and the System''s emotionless voice echoed in his head.


    "The Host bought the Wish Me Luck item, and it is functioning as intended. The System''s products are flawless, with no defects. Should the Host find a defect, the System will reward the Host, the System Store, and all of its products," the System replied.


    "Nah, fuck you," Apollo muttered. He believed the System. If it said there were no defects, then it was probably true.


    His luck had increased by ten percent, but that didn''t mean he''d actually get lucky.


    "I see, so you really want force," Sir Guo said, nodding, his expression turning serious as the brim of his bamboo hat hid his eyes. "Then come with me!"


    He spread his hands, attempting to grab the beggar, but his hands passed through the air, wrapping around his own body instead.


    "Eh?" Sir Guo looked around in confusion. The wrecker was gone. "Where is he?"


    He closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, a sharp glint flashed in his gaze. Sir Guo turned to his right, where a vague figure¡ªnearly imperceptible to normal people due to how perfectly it blended with the surroundings¡ªwas sprinting away.


    The figure was fast, and it would only take a few seconds for him to disappear!


    "Not this time!" Sir Guo coldly smirked, the air around him crackling with electricity.


    Suddenly, his body vanished, the world around him turning into a blur!


    Apollo, running with all his might, gritted his teeth. Using this invisible technique, derived from the Hydra Mirage combined with the Simple Movement Technique, was making his breathing heavy. It was too energy-consuming!


    Just a little farther, and he would be able to escape that pervert!


    However, in the next moment, a flash of electricity zoomed past him. His eyes widened as a figure materialized, blocking his path!


    "Ah, fuck!" Apollo cursed, but he couldn''t stop in time or change direction. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Got you!" Sir Guo smirked, grabbing the beggar''s collar and lifting him up. "Do you think you can outrun me? Your actions only prove you''re guilty!"


    "No, I''m not!" Apollo protested, trying to push the hand away while his feet flailed in the air. But the grip lifting him felt like a wall.


    The beggar realized there was no way out of this.


    "Come with me!" Sir Guo commanded, smiling in victory as he started dragging the beggar back to the training ground.


    But suddenly, his face twitched.


    "Help! Help! This guy is kidnapping me!" Apollo shouted at the top of his lungs, staring at the onlookers watching the scene unfold. "I''m not into men! I''m not into men! But this guy is forcing me!"


    "You!" Sir Guo''s eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"


    He looked around and saw the looks people were giving him. His face flushed red with embarrassment. I''m also not into men!


    "Shut up!" Sir Guo hurriedly walked faster.


    "Help! Help!" Apollo kept shouting, but no one intervened. When he caught the eyes of a few people, they just turned away, pretending not to have seen anything. Cowards! This is why the poor stay poor while the rich get richer!


    There was a carriage nearby, just a few buildings away from his beggar spot. As they approached and still no one was stepping up, Apollo''s face turned conflicted.


    He knew that once he entered the carriage, he''d have to pay for all the damages! But how the hell was he going to come up with the money?


    "Wait! Wait!" Apollo called out to Sir Guo.


    "What?! Don''t embarrass me anymore, kid! You know full well you''re in the wrong!" Sir Guo said with great determination. He''d been scouring the city to find the beggar. But because of other work, he hadn''t caught him until now.


    "How are you so sure it''s me?" Apollo asked. "Just because I was there the night before it happened doesn''t mean I''m the culprit!" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sir Guo stopped in his tracks, the carriage right in front of them. Turning to the beggar, he smiled confidently. "I don''t need proof. You just admitted it yourself."


    "I admitted it? I don''t think so," Apollo said, staring at the training ground guardian innocently. But inside, he cursed himself. Why the hell did I say that?!


    Sure enough, Sir Guo''s next words caused Apollo''s shoulders to slump.


    "How did you know it happened the night before, unless you were there?"


    "Well..." Apollo scratched his cheek. "Rumors travel fast... so..."


    "No more excuses."


    The carriage door opened, and Sir Guo tossed the beggar inside like a sack of garbage.

 Chapter 189 Im Not Paying!(Part-2)

    "This is what you did," Sir Guo said, pointing towards the pile of destroyed dummies.


    "Come on, it''s not that bad," Apollo sighed, shaking his head.


    "Not that bad?!" Sir Guo was livid. "You cut them in half! Some of them are unrecognizable! And look at the ground! And the stage!"


    The training ground guardian pointed to the damage before glaring at the beggar.


    Apollo whistled nonchalantly, though his eyes glanced over the destruction. The ground had a clean cut, several meters deep, and the stage was in a similar state.


    "How much?" he asked casually, crossing his arms and staring at Sir Guo.


    "Each training dummy costs a thousand gold coins, and the stage..." Sir Guo trailed off, glancing at Apollo with a sneer. "I had someone check the repairs¡ªtwo thousand five hundred gold coins for the stage, and a thousand gold coins for the damaged ground."


    Apollo nodded, counting the dummies. "So, eighteen thousand five hundred gold coins?"


    "Yes," Sir Guo smiled, relieved that Apollo wasn''t protesting. Maybe being annoying is part of his act as a Wanderer. "It''s a small amount for a Wanderer, actually. Back when I was a Wanderer, I had so much money that I c¡ª"


    Sir Guo couldn''t finish. The moment he blinked, the beggar in front of him was gone!


    He turned towards the entrance, spotting a vague figure almost reaching it.


    "Stop escaping!" Sir Guo shouted in frustration, his body sparking with electricity as he instantly appeared in front of the fleeing beggar. "The same trick won''t work!"


    Just like before, he grabbed the collar of his target, but the moment he applied force, the figure dissolved into a humanoid shape of water!


    "A decoy!" Sir Guo realized. He quickly spread his senses, immediately locating Apollo.


    In the distance, Apollo was already running vertically up a wall, trying to escape.


    "I told you, it''s no use!" Sir Guo shouted confidently. Lightning flashed around him, forming into a spear of electricity. With a wave of his hand, the spear blurred and struck Apollo in an instant.


    A loud zapping sound echoed, followed by a thud and a small dust cloud. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sir Guo transformed into lightning, reappearing beside the unconscious beggar.


    "Haha, you''re really annoying!" Sir Guo laughed angrily at the sleeping kid. "You just got hit by my lightning spear. You won''t be able to move for thirty minutes or so."


    Although Apollo couldn''t hear him, Sir Guo still felt the need to brag.


    He began dragging the beggar like a sack of garbage back to their previous spot, deciding to wake him there.


    However, as Sir Guo was about to slap him awake, Apollo''s eyes fluttered open, full of confusion.


    "What happened?" Apollo muttered, his vision blurry, but he could still make out the light blue sky and the silhouette of a person.


    As his memories returned, he suddenly stood up, fully alert.


    Without acknowledging Sir Guo, Apollo took off running again. Eighteen thousand five hundred gold coins?! Where the hell am I supposed to get that kind of money?! And even if I had it, there''s no way I''m paying for those damages!


    But after taking a couple of steps, something struck Apollo''s back. It was hot, and his body started shaking before he blacked out.


    Sir Guo stared at the unconscious beggar with a heavy expression. This guy¡­ the way he behaves¡­ he really doesn''t want to pay for the damages. Has he just started being a Wanderer? But what caught Sir Guo''s attention more was something else. The issue of the destroyed training ground and dummies was put aside for now, as there was something else he needed to confirm first.


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    Apollo woke up after a while, confusion on his face, but his memories quickly returned.


    Shit! I have to get out of here! I don''t want to pay!


    But this time, he didn''t even get the chance to take a step before another lightning spear hit him in the back.


    Sir Guo started counting. Each time the beggar woke up, he fired another lightning spear, knocking Apollo out again. He repeated the process several times, and each time¡­ "It became less."


    Apollo would pass out from the lightning spear but only needed a few seconds to wake up compared to the initial two to three minutes.


    "He''s adapting," Sir Guo muttered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He sent another lightning spear, causing the beggar to collapse, but this time, Apollo immediately sprang back to life.


    "Hey! You sadistic bastard! Fuck you!" Apollo shouted angrily at Sir Guo. "Is this fun for you?! Can''t you stop already?! I said I''ll pay!


    I just need some time!"


    In the end, the ''torture'' forced Apollo to give in. He realized that no matter what he did, the difference in strength between them was like heaven and earth¡ªsomething he couldn''t bridge at the moment.


    Sir Guo clearly had a higher Cultivation and techniques Apollo couldn''t counter.


    But what the hell just happened? Apollo frowned, not because of Sir Guo''s silence, but because his back still ached. He couldn''t help but recall the strange sensation. His body would shake, then he''d black out.


    It''s like¡­ his eyes suddenly widened. Lightning?! Come to think of it, that pervert had used something like appearing in front of him in a blue blur with a zapping sound.


    Yeah, that''s definitely lightning!


    He hurriedly checked his body and realized there were remnants of lightning inside him. They bounced around his organs before settling in his heart.


    What the hell did I just witness? Apollo raised an eyebrow, then smiled.


    He could feel the lightning inside his heart. Is this because of the Lightning Attribute? Apollo wondered. He wanted to figure out how to use his attribute, but decided to focus on other matters first. However, it seemed he had just confirmed what he needed to do from now on with his attribute.


    "Hey!" Apollo called out to the still-silent Sir Guo. "I''m going to escape! Try hitting me with that again!"


    But he was met with silence.


    "Yoo-hoo! I said I''m going to escape! Hit me with your lightning!" Apollo repeated, but the training ground guardian didn''t move. "What''s wrong with you, dude? Did you suddenly turn into a coward?"


    This time, Sir Guo moved. He slowly walked toward the beggar, a smile forming on his lips. "Don''t run away. I have a proposal for you."


    Apollo took a few steps back, but when he heard the word ''proposal,'' he stopped in his tracks and tilted his head.

 Chapter 190 Another Master

    "Proposal?" Apollo muttered, glancing at the piled-up dummies and then at the training ground pervert. Seeing that smile, his body shivered. "I''ve already told you, I''m not into men!"


    Hearing this, Sir Guo''s face twitched. "Hey! Listen, my proposal will greatly benefit you." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo stared at Sir Guo suspiciously. "Is it about me doing something for you in exchange for the damage I did to the dummies and the training ground?"


    "You''re a smart fellow, Wanderer," Sir Guo smiled. "I want you¨C"


    "What''s a Wanderer?" Apollo interrupted before the ground guardian could finish.


    "A Wanderer is a¡­" Sir Guo trailed off, squinting at the beggar. Seeing the genuine confusion on Yoma''s face, he sighed. Okay, he''s still pretending... or maybe, there''s a possibility the beggar really doesn''t know what it means. But that seemed impossible.


    The reason Sir Guo was certain the kid in front of him was a Wanderer was that no child of seven or eight could reach the Half-Step Qi Condensation stage. Wait! Half-Step Qi Condensation? He was just at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building stage before... Hmm, maybe his artifact or technique that hides his Cultivation is malfunctioning.


    Sir Guo suspected that the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage wasn''t the beggar''s real cultivation. Nevertheless, it wouldn''t hurt to explain.


    "Well, Wanderers are cultivators who decide to explore the world rather than stay in one place to cultivate. They don''t have any affiliation, and even if they do, they don''t care about it," Sir Guo explained, with Apollo nodding occasionally. "And they like to pretend to be someone else, to protect their peace, their Way of Cultivation."


    "Oh, I see. But you said you''re also a Wanderer, right? Why did you take this position?" Apollo asked. He finally understood what a Wanderer was¡ªbasically, they were nomads. Does he think I''m a Wanderer? Hmm, let''s pretend I am.


    I might be able to use this to my advantage, Apollo thought. Though he still couldn''t grasp what the Way of Cultivation meant.


    "It''s because... Anyway, hear my proposal. Maybe we can work something out," Sir Guo said, smiling as he looked Apollo up and down.


    Seeing those eyes gazing at him like a snake, Apollo''s body couldn''t help but shiver. "If you propose something I don''t like, you''ll taste my wrath!" he threatened, though he would probably just run. It''s a strategic retreat, not a shameful thing to do.


    "Remember, you''re the one at fault here. I''m already being generous by making an offer so you can pay off your debt," Sir Guo smirked.


    Apollo was silent for a moment before narrowing his eyes. "Tell me."


    "Become my disciple," Sir Guo said, bringing his hands behind his back and puffing out his chest. He looked down at the beggar with confident eyes.


    Eh? Apollo couldn''t help but be surprised. Disciple? He wants me to be his disciple? This pervert?!


    "I think I''ll have to pass on that," Apollo said after a moment of thought. He didn''t trust this bamboo hat-wearing man. What if Sir Guo tried something funny while he had his eyes closed and was cultivating? Just thinking about it terrified the beggar.


    "If you agree, you won''t have to pay all the damages. Besides, when it comes to the relationship between master and disciple, there''s no age requirement," Sir Guo said, squinting at Yoma.


    "I agree!" Apollo shouted with determination. Fuck! That''s 18,500 gold coins! There''s no way I''ll ever have that kind of money to pay off my debt!


    "That''s great," Sir Guo said.


    "But why?" Apollo asked, intrigued. Sir Guo had sought him out to make him pay for the damages, but now, after that torturous ordeal, he was offering Apollo the chance to be his disciple.


    "Lightning attribute¡ªyou have it too, right?" Sir Guo asked.


    At this, Apollo had a realization. Sir Guo also had the Lightning Attribute. He hadn''t immediately made the connection, thinking the bamboo hat guy had just used some special technique. But now, with Sir Guo''s question, it all clicked.


    "Yes," Apollo nodded, his eyes lighting up. "Are you going to teach me how to use it?" Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Of course. Now that you''re my disciple, I''ll teach you everything you need to know about wielding the attribute," Sir Guo smiled.


    Apollo grew excited but turned serious. "But why? You still haven''t really answered my question. There''s no such thing as a free meal in this world. What''s your angle?"


    "Hahaha!" Sir Guo burst out laughing. After taking a moment to collect himself, he looked at Apollo with a mysterious gleam in his eyes. "You accepted this offer because you wanted to pay off your debt¡ªjust leave it at that. When the time is right, I''ll tell you the reason."


    "And when is the right time? I think now would be a good time," Apollo said. "I may have accepted becoming your disciple, but that doesn''t mean I''ll be your pushover."


    "Then give me 18,500 gold coins," Sir Guo said, extending his hand.


    Apollo stared at the hand before glaring at his new master. "You''re an asshole."


    "Proud of it," Sir Guo grinned.


    Oh? Apollo raised an eyebrow. He hated that smile, but he decided to let it slide for now.


    "Alright, let''s not waste time. Teach me everything you know so we can get this over with," Apollo said, excitement clear in his voice.


    To his surprise, he was more eager about learning from Sir Guo than he had been when he accepted Headmaster Axton as a master. Both men had forced him into becoming their disciple, something Apollo despised. It felt like swallowing something so bad that it made him want to vomit.


    Headmaster Axton of the Great Serpent Cultivation School had promised to teach him whatever he wanted, from battle techniques to cultivation practices and more. Yet, none of that had truly interested Apollo. He could have asked Axton about the Lightning Attribute, but it was more likely that the headmaster had the Water Attribute.


    Sir Guo, on the other hand, shared the same Lightning Attribute as Apollo, making him more relatable¡ªthough still a pervert in Apollo''s eyes.


    "I have two masters. This is going to be a headache," Apollo thought, though he knew that if people found out, they''d go mad.


    Having two masters in the world of cultivation was a grave sin.


    "Don''t be hasty," Sir Guo shook his head. "I''ll find you again when the time is right. For now, go back to pretending to be a beggar."


    I''m really a beggar, Apollo thought, though he had no intention of telling Sir Guo that. Let him believe whatever he wants¡ªit could only work in Apollo''s favor.


    With a sigh, Apollo turned to leave. He was excited to learn more about his attribute, but the company of Sir Guo made him uncomfortable.

 Chapter 191 Heru

    Staring at the beggar''s back, the smile on Sir Guo''s face widened. Ah, finally, I found someone.


    Sir Guo had once been a Wanderer. He came from a powerful sect, a martial school in another region that specialized in Lightning¡ªwhether in cultivation techniques, battle techniques, or attributes. They only accepted disciples with the talent to cultivate their unique Way of Cultivation, and he had been one of them.


    An outer disciple, Sir Guo was eventually kicked out due to his lack of talent and inability to advance further in his cultivation. His peers had long since surpassed him, while he struggled for years to make even the slightest progress.


    After his expulsion, he drifted from place to place, eventually adopting the Way of the Wanderer. He found peace in observing ordinary cultivators striving to advance their cultivation. That''s why he chose to become the guardian of Klown City''s Training Ground.


    It had been three years since then, and during that time, he had made a decision¡ªto find his own disciple, regardless of status or age, and turn them into the greatest Lightning Cultivator.


    But before that could happen¡­ Sir Guo had another task for his new disciple. His eyes glinted with mischief as a chuckle escaped his lips. "Fatso, my friend¡­ you''ve been getting on my nerves."


    ---


    Meanwhile, back at the Great Serpent Cultivation School¡­


    The island was bustling with martial students. Some were cultivating by the beach as the ocean waves crashed nearby; others were inside their homes or walking the streets, buying from vendors who were also students trying to earn a living.


    Atop the tallest mountain, where the most expensive buildings stood, an old man with hair as white as clouds was meditating peacefully on a brown mat.


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    Around him, blades made of water floated in the air, catching the sunlight and glinting like real swords. These water blades were sharper than any steel, deadly, and capable of cutting through almost anything.


    This was Elder Yuan, one of the seven elders of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. He wore a white hanfu robe with the school''s insignia on the back, concealing his thin frame within its folds.


    With his eyes closed, concentrated Qi flowed into his body, following a practiced pattern before settling into the dark blue orb within his dantian. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he was close to forming his core, the next step required to reach the Core Creation Stage.


    Elder Yuan cultivated in peace, time seeming to fade away as the water blades continued to circle around him.


    He had been meditating for a few hours, which in cultivation terms was not long at all, but rather, very short. However, his peace was interrupted by a knock on the door. Without opening his eyes, he said, "Come in." His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it resonated through the room and beyond the door.


    The door creaked open, and a man entered before kneeling on the wooden floor.


    "Master," the man said. He was middle-aged, with black hair that reached his shoulders, sharp eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. His mustache and beard further emphasized his age. He wore the black-and-white uniform of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, but unlike the regular students, his hanfu robe had gold linings.


    "Heru," Elder Yuan said, opening his eyes slowly. He stared at one of his disciples, the Senior Brother of the Great Serpent School, one of the seven.


    "Is it true?" Heru got straight to the point. He wasn''t one for small talk.


    "Yes," Elder Yuan smiled. "But don''t worry. I believe in you. You''ve been eyeing that position and have proven yourself more than once to be worthy of becoming the Personal Disciple."


    "Thank you, Master," Heru smiled confidently, though his face soon darkened. "But he chose an outsider for the first candidate. That''s a clear disrespect to the school, don''t you think, Master?"


    "You''re right," Elder Yuan nodded, his expression growing serious. "He may be the youngest Headmaster of one of the school''s branches, but he lacks experience. We all want what''s best for the Great Serpent, but disrespecting it is a different matter.


    Heru, you need to prove that only those born and raised within the heart of the Great Serpent Cultivation School have the right to become the Personal Disciple¡ªthe future Headmaster."


    "Yes, Master!" Heru bowed, his eyes glinting dangerously. And I will make sure to kill that brat, he thought. He was furious. It felt like someone had trampled on his status, and that someone was just a mere commoner with no strength to back it up. He looked up determinedly and asked, "When can I issue a challenge?"


    "You can issue a challenge at any time," Elder Yuan said. Neither of them considered the possibility of losing. They were confident the appointed Personal Disciple was a pushover, someone Heru could easily defeat. "Once you defeat him, the real challenge will begin. You''ll need to defend your position from the other six Seniors."


    "I will."


    Elder Yuan and Heru weren''t the only ones having this conversation. The other Seniors sought out their masters, and after confirming the rumor, they too decided to issue challenges as soon as possible.


    In the highest building on the tallest mountain, the Headmaster was floating atop a mat. In front of him stood a figure dressed in a black-and-white robe that concealed their identity.


    They spoke for a while before the hooded figure vanished into a puddle of water.


    Axton was silent for a moment, then a frown creased his face. "What is that guy planning?"


    The Wanderer had met with another Wanderer. Sir Guo and his disciple had talked at the training ground for a while before Yoma left the scene.


    The person Axton had assigned to monitor Yoma reported that an agreement had been made, but due to the distance, they couldn''t overhear the conversation.


    Axton had tasked one of his men with keeping an eye on Yoma to understand him better and gather information. So far, Yoma hadn''t done anything strange aside from staying at the Filly Restaurant, and this was the only time something unusual had happened.


    "Hmm, I should request his presence," Master Axton muttered.

 Chapter 192 Breakthrough

    "A little bit more," Apollo muttered, eyes closed, his face serious. Inside the dark universe, he sat cross-legged while the Qi, like stars, entered his body in a torrent.


    They followed the pattern of the Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique. Yes, that''s the name the beggar came up with for the second revision of the breathing technique.


    With this revision, he could now reach the 4th-Step of the Qi Condensation Stage without needing to buy from the System. But currently, he was on his way to breaking past the Half-Step.


    His focus shifted inward, landing below his navel at his dantian, where a small ball of Qi resided. The surrounding Qi settled in the ball, but instead of getting bigger, it grew smaller¡ªshrinking back to the size it was when he first reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Apollo concentrated on the ball. He noticed its color and texture had changed. Previously, it had been made of light, but now, upon closer inspection, it appeared denser, almost like it was solidifying.


    He also figured out what was happening at this stage.


    At Half-Step, the ball of Qi grew over time, expanding until it reached its limit¡ªa sign he was ready to break through. Then, he had to compress it all the way back to its original size. And now, Apollo was close to achieving that.


    "A few more!" Apollo muttered, just as the sound of thunder rang in his ears¡ªso loud it echoed within him.


    Tribulation?! The memory of the time he abandoned his beggar spot resurfaced in his mind. A shiver ran down his spine. If it''s really a tribulation, then I''m dead!


    But as he waited for the lightning to strike, nothing happened. Instead, a refreshing sensation washed over him, accompanied by a cracking sound from his body. It felt like a thousand hands were massaging him, bringing comfort and making him smile.


    Still in the Void, Apollo watched as the ball of Qi inside his dantian stabilized. The surrounding Qi dispersed, and the ball spun slowly, calm and peaceful.


    "I''ve broken through," Apollo muttered, opening his eyes. The sounds of footsteps, voices, and birds filled his ears as the universe of Qi faded, replaced by the everyday scene of people going about their lives.


    He sat with his hands resting on his forehead in front of his beggar spot, enough for good Samaritans to notice him.


    Without looking at the alms in his hands, he pocketed them and brought up his Status Screen.


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 45


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning


    "Finally!" Apollo clenched his fist in excitement. After a few days, he had finally reached the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage from the Half-Step. "It took some time, but this is good."


    If cultivators or even the Headmasters heard this, they would be shocked and humiliated by his words. Breaking from Half-Step to 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage took even the talented a few months, while the average needed a year or more.


    Just like all his previous breakthroughs, Apollo''s body felt light all over, his strength threatening to burst forth, and his senses tingled from the noises and smells around him. However, this time, he sensed something different. There was another power he could use besides the Qi in the surroundings.


    Apollo took a deep breath, and the overwhelming sensation faded. "Hmm, I should test my strength."


    He wanted to assess his new strength and familiarize himself with it. But as he looked back at his beggar spot, he shook his head. Should I go to the Training Ground? he thought, but decided against it. He wanted privacy, and the training ground would be crowded.


    And speaking of the training ground, it had been two days since he talked to Sir Guo. The bamboo-hat man had said he would call for him, but it seemed Sir Guo was still busy.


    "Then there''s only one place I can test my strength," Apollo thought, recalling the forest outside Klown City, where the wolves with cold eyes resided. "Revenge!"


    But just as he stood up, a carriage stopped in front of him. His eyes naturally fell on the insignia painted in black and white on its side¡ªthe great serpent. The insignia was originally blue, but the Great Serpent Cultivation School favored the yin and yang colors.


    Apollo turned to the driver and recognized him. His personal charioteer jumped off and opened the door.


    "Headmaster Axton is requesting your presence," the driver said, bowing his head.


    "Why?" Apollo asked.


    "I don''t know," the charioteer replied, shaking his head.


    Apollo stared at the driver before letting out a sigh. I guess this isn''t bad. I can test my strength there, he thought before nodding. "Alright, by the way, what''s your name?"


    "I''m Luban," the driver introduced himself. He was average-looking, easy to forget.


    "I see," Apollo said, extending his senses. Luban was just a normal person without cultivation. So they''re also accepting people without cultivation, he thought.


    The beggar entered the carriage, and soon, the view outside started moving.


    Inside, he brought up his Status Screen once more and stared at his Alm Points.


    Using five Alm Points to buy the Wish Me Luck item was such a waste. I didn''t even get my money back! Though he managed to get some points from begging, he had only earned two Alm Points. He had gained a ten percent luck increase, but for nothing. The thought annoyed him.


    If I had known, I wouldn''t have bought that cursed item! Gambling only lets you win a few times, but when it decides to fucks you up, it will really fucks you up bad! It''s a money succubus!


    Shaking his head to dispel the regret, he shifted his thoughts to his new cultivation.


    Surely, the Great Serpent Cultivation School has a place for me to cultivate. And as the Personal Disciple of the Headmaster, that should be one of my benefits, right? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon, the carriage arrived at the martial school, and the gates opened as he stepped onto the ground.


    "Thank you," Apollo said to his driver.


    "I''m always at your command, sir," Luban bowed his head.


    Beside the guards standing on either side of the gate, another person walked toward the beggar. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Welcome back, Personal Disciple Yoma!" Eli, the umber-haired Inner Circle disciple of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, greeted him.

 Chapter 193 Back At The Martial School

    "What''s up, Eli," Apollo greeted as the carriage behind him rolled away.


    "Let''s go, Personal Disciple. The Headmaster is waiting for you," Eli said, motioning for Apollo to take the lead. He still couldn''t believe that a kid had been chosen by the Headmaster. There was little he knew about the Personal Disciple, but he trusted the Headmaster. All Eli had to do was fulfill his duty wholeheartedly.


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, walking towards the entrance of the serpent-constricted building.


    It was a giant, ancient structure, comparable to¡ªor even better than¡ªanything from his previous life. But Apollo knew its true size and beauty couldn''t be fully appreciated from the outside, only from within.


    As he was about to push open the door, he heard his companion cough.


    "Ehem, Personal Disciple Yoma," Eli called awkwardly.


    Apollo turned, tilting his head in confusion. "What is it?"


    "Well¡­ you see," Eli scratched his cheek. "Once we enter, if you feel the atmosphere suddenly shift, please don''t be offended."


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Why do you say that?"


    "I think it''s better if you see for yourself," Eli replied.


    "In that case," Apollo nodded, pushing the door wide open. An intense white light enveloped the two of them, and Apollo could feel the ground disappear beneath his feet as his body was pulled in a certain direction. A few seconds later, the sensation of solid ground returned.


    Apollo opened his eyes to find himself in a bustling street filled with students, all absorbed in their own world. The air was thick with youthful energy, prompting him to take a deep breath. He also noticed the Qi in this place was of much higher quality than in the outside world, and it flowed into his body effortlessly. Even without actively cultivating, the Qi entered his body, energizing him.


    But then, the atmosphere shifted. Gazes locked onto him, and murmurs spread through the crowd.


    Seeing this, Apollo turned to Eli, who looked back at him with a bitter smile.


    "I guess this is what you meant," Apollo said, his ears perking up.


    "So, he''s the Personal Disciple?"


    "He''s just a kid. Why did Headmaster Axton pick someone like him?"


    "I know, right? There are better candidates. Why him?"


    They clearly knew who he was, and that made Apollo frown. I thought the Headmaster would keep it a secret. Why do the martial students already know about me?


    "How did they find out?" Apollo asked his guide.


    "That¡­ I don''t know," Eli shook his head. "But rumors travel fast, especially when it concerns the position of the Personal Disciple."


    "Oh? Is it really that valuable?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes, but I''m not clear on all the details. All I know is your position is the end goal for some of the students," Eli explained, taking the lead this time. "Personal Disciple Yoma, follow me."


    "Okay," Apollo nodded, walking behind Eli. Hmm, seems like this Personal Disciple thing is a bigger deal than I thought.


    The two walked for a while before Eli turned to Apollo.


    "From here on, we''ll fly," Eli said.


    "Fly?" Apollo recalled the flying mount he had received as a gift from the Headmaster for being named the Personal Disciple.


    "Yes," Eli nodded, bringing his fingers to his mouth and letting out a sharp whistle. The sound echoed loudly.


    A few seconds later, two shrieks echoed from the sky.


    Apollo looked up and saw two falcons circling in the air before diving toward them. Just as they were about to hit the ground, they spread their wings, slowing their descent.


    The gust of wind kicked up dust, their hair blowing, and their clothes fluttering in the breeze.


    The two falcons landed gracefully, one lowering its head toward Eli, the other toward Apollo.


    "Haha, what''s up," Apollo chuckled, rubbing the Water-Attributed Falcon. It let out a small shriek, enjoying the touch. Then he glanced at Eli''s falcon, noticing the difference in its feathers. "Why does yours only have streaks of blue?"


    "This one is still undergoing training. She hasn''t yet reached her full potential," Eli explained. "Let''s hop on, and I''ll lead you to Headmaster Axton''s residence."


    "I can find my way there," Apollo said, hopping onto the back of his mount. He''d been there before and wasn''t worried about getting lost.


    "My duty isn''t finished until I get you there," Eli replied, mounting his blue-streaked brown falcon. "Let''s go!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    With a powerful flap of their wings, they ascended, the streets below shrinking as they flew higher.


    They soared side by side, and Apollo admired the island beneath them.


    "Personal Disciple Yoma, I think you should give your mount a name!" Eli shouted above the wind.


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes lit up. "You''re right!" He looked down at his blue falcon, who glanced back at him, as if understanding what was happening. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The beggar began to think, but then realized he didn''t know the falcon''s gender. "What''s my mount''s gender?" he asked Eli.


    "Male!" Eli replied.


    Hmm, what should I name him? Apollo put a hand under his chin. After a few seconds, his eyes gleamed. "I got it! I shall name you Bluetooth!"


    Bluetooth shrieked happily, clearly satisfied with his new name.


    Apollo felt proud of himself. When it came to naming, he considered himself the best in the world. Well, maybe not. The real reason he chose the name ''Bluetooth'' was because of his mount''s blue feathers. Blue feathers, Bluetooth¡ªvery similar, very classic, very thoughtful, very demure¡­ Apollo nodded to himself, a smile forming on his face.


    "Bluetooth?" Eli glanced at the blue falcon, puzzled, especially at the bird''s teeth. They were clearly white, so why ''Bluetooth''? But it was impossible to guess the Personal Disciple''s thoughts.


    "We''re getting close," Eli reminded him, and soon they arrived at the highest building on the only mountain on the island.


    The two falcons landed on the balcony, where the open residence of the Headmaster came into view.


    Apollo jumped off Bluetooth, gave him a rub on the head, and walked inside.


    There, he saw Headmaster Axton floating in mid-air, a thin black sword resting on his lap as dense Qi flowed into his body.


    The beggar didn''t interrupt, choosing to wait while Eli stood a few steps behind him.


    After a while, when Apollo was already yawning out of boredom, the Headmaster''s eyes opened.


    "Oh, I see you''ve arrived," Axton said.

 Chapter 194 Private Area For Training

    "We''ve arrived, and even though you noticed us, you chose not to greet us and made us wait," Apollo said, clearly annoyed.


    Eli''s eyes widened in shock. He never would have expected the Personal Disciple to be so daring as to speak such words to the Headmaster! It was rude and disrespectful!


    However, what surprised him even more was the Headmaster chuckling and not minding the rude comment.


    "I couldn''t just step out of the Void," Axton said as his feet touched the floor.


    "Void?" Apollo tilted his head. "What''s that?"


    "You don''t know?" Axton asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Eli also looked at the Personal Disciple in confusion. Seeing the Headmaster''s expression, he felt incredulous. Did Headmaster Axton recruit someone clueless about cultivation?! His trust wavered momentarily, but he shook his head, keeping his eyes focused and determined.


    "Should I?" Apollo asked.


    "Of course!" Axton replied. "You''re a Wanderer. How come you don''t know about that?"


    Eli was stunned when he heard this. So all this time, the person he had been tasked to guide and accompany was actually a Wanderer? He had thought of Yoma as nothing but a clueless kid a moment ago, but now that image had shifted. Is this why the Headmaster chose Yoma? Eli wondered.


    "A Wand¨C" Apollo coughed, realizing that even Axton believed he was a Wanderer. He couldn''t understand why, but it seemed Sir Guo wasn''t the only one who thought so. "Me? A Wanderer? Nope."


    "You can keep pretending, but I''m certain you are," Axton said, nodding his head as if completely sure.


    "Well, if you say so," Apollo shrugged. He decided to let them believe whatever they wanted. It worked in his favor, allowing his real identity to remain buried if people kept mistaking him for someone else. "So why did you call for me?"


    "Ah, my apologies. I will leave now," Eli hurriedly said from the side, bowing to the Headmaster.


    Axton shook his head. "No, you will stay and wait for my orders."


    "Oh, okay," Eli nodded, though confused. Deep inside, he was excited. Working directly for the Headmaster was an honor that many Inner Circle Disciples would never have the chance to experience. He stood up straight, eager to serve.


    Axton turned to Apollo, his eyes narrowing. "What did you talk about with that man?"


    "That man?" Apollo tilted his head. "What man?"


    "Master Guo," Axton said, the smile fading from his face.


    "I don''t know him," Apollo shook his head, though deep inside, he knew exactly who Axton was referring to. There was only one person named Guo that he knew.


    "Master Guo, though most refer to him as Sir Guo," Axton clarified.


    "Oh, that guy. Yeah, we talked at the training ground. But how did you find out?" Apollo squinted at the Headmaster, though he already had an idea.


    "I sent someone to keep an eye on you," Axton said casually, a smile returning to his face.


    "I figured," Apollo sighed in frustration. "But I don''t think you should do that."


    Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    "You are my disciple, so of course I can," Axton replied, his face growing serious. "Now, what did you and Master Guo discuss?"


    "Nothing serious. I just wrecked the training ground a few nights ago, and now he''s asking for compensation," Apollo said truthfully, leaving out the most important details.


    "Is that all?" Axton raised an eyebrow. Wrecking the training ground¡­ that''s a first. The person he sent to watch over the beggar had also reported that the training ground was in such bad shape, with scarecrows piled up on one side, slashed apart. So the culprit was now standing right in front of him.


    "Yes. What else do you think we''d talk about?" Apollo asked with a shrug. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Axton was silent for a moment before he nodded. "I see¡­ but let me remind you: stay away from him."


    "Then where am I supposed to train from now on?" Apollo asked. He didn''t dwell on the topic about the Bamboo hat man, afraid that his tongue would slipped out about Sir Guo as another Master. "That place doesn''t have a lot of people at night, and it''s perfect for training."


    "That training of yours caused the destruction of the training ground, didn''t it?" Axton smiled. "You can train here from now on. I''ll give you a private area where you can train to your heart''s content. You won''t have to worry about causing any destruction."


    "Okay, I won''t refuse that," Apollo said. With this arrangement, he didn''t have to sneak around to the forest or other places to train and get familiar with his body. As he thought about this, something came to mind, and his expression turned serious. "But I''m curious about something. Didn''t you say you were going to keep this master-disciple thing a secret? Your students already know about it."


    It was frustrating to think about. He wanted peace and to avoid too much attention, but things were turning out the opposite.


    "I did keep it a secret, but that doesn''t mean people couldn''t figure it out themselves," Axton replied, casting a glance at Eli, who stood quietly to the side.


    Eli looked away, his face reddening, but he remained silent.


    Apollo shook his head. He couldn''t just back out now, and the benefits he''d gained so far were almost too good to be true. He suspected that Axton wasn''t telling him everything, perhaps waiting for the right moment. Still, Apollo decided to stick around for the benefits. If he ever sensed anything shady that he didn''t like, he''d just leave.


    "Anyway, I''ve answered your questions. Was that the only reason you called me here?" If Axton said yes, Apollo would be sorely disappointed. This could''ve been handled with a letter or by sending Luban, the carriage driver. No need for a face-to-face conversation.


    "That was the initial reason, but something else came up, and I think you''ll like it," Axton said with a mysterious smile.


    "What is it? Can''t you just tell me?" Apollo asked, growing frustrated.


    "You''ll see," Axton said, then turned to Eli. "You''ll be the referee."


    Eli''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Apollo glanced at the umber-haired student. Referee? Am I about to fight someone?


    Just then, shrieks came from Bluetooth.


    Apollo turned and saw his falcon staring into the distance.


    Following Bluetooth''s gaze, Apollo spotted two falcons flying towards them, each carrying a rider on its back.


    Their speed was fast, and soon they landed on the balcony with a thud.

 Chapter 195 What Challenge?!

    Elder Yuan and his disciple jumped off their mounts, the two blue-streaked falcons flying into the distance the moment they landed.


    They walked into the Headmaster''s room, their eyes focusing on Axton, clearly ignoring the two ''kids'' on the side.


    "We heard that the Personal Disciple has arrived, and we came as soon as possible," Elder Yuan said amiably, though his deep eyes betrayed his tone. "We issued a challenge two days ago, and you said we''d have to wait for the Personal Disciple. Now that he''s here, you''re not going to go back on your word, right?"


    "Of course not," Headmaster Axton shook his head. "Feel free to challenge him."


    "Good," Elder Yuan smiled, turning to his disciple. "You heard the Headmaster. Express your gratitude."


    Heru nodded before bowing deeply to Headmaster Axton. "My sincerest gratitude, Headmaster!"


    "Now, where is he?" Elder Yuan asked, looking around and frowning at the others in the room. Who are they? His gaze fell on the seven- to eight-year-old beggar-looking kid, then landed on the umber-haired student wearing an Inner Circle outfit. He looked between the two, his face growing incredulous as he realized something.


    One of them wears the Inner Circle outfit, and the other¡­ looks like he came from the outside, a slum-looking kid. Wait! Don''t tell me¡­


    Elder Yuan stared wide-eyed at the beggar-looking kid. "Is this kid¡­"


    "You are right, Elder Yuan. He is my Personal Disciple," Headmaster Axton confirmed.


    Meanwhile, Apollo stared at Elder Yuan before turning to the Headmaster inquisitively. What the fuck is going on?! Challenge? What challenge?!


    Suddenly, a burning gaze landed on him, making him turn to the middle-aged man with a mustache and beard.


    "What the fuck are you looking at?!" Apollo snapped angrily, his small voice echoing in the room. He was frustrated, greatly so. He had already guessed what was happening. This middle-aged man was here to challenge him, and although he didn''t know the nature or reason for the challenge, the thought of it made him furious.


    Apollo hated the feeling of dancing in the hands of a mastermind.


    "You!" Heru''s face twitched, turning red. He hadn''t expected this kid¡ªthe Personal Disciple that the Headmaster had chosen¡ªto have such a foul mouth. He had barely looked at the kid, and before he could even say a word, the kid had insulted him first. "Watch your mouth, kid!


    I don''t know how you managed to convince the great Headmaster to make you his Personal Disciple, but I''ll make sure to take your place!"


    Heru was confused about how this kid became a Personal Disciple, but the more he thought about it, the more confident he became. This is going to be easy! I''ll make sure you regret ever stepping foot in this place!


    "Take my place?" Apollo sneered. So this is what''s going on¡ªa challenge for the position of Personal Disciple. Headmaster Axton hadn''t told him anything about this rule, and Apollo had only just pieced it together in this brief exchange. "You think it''ll be that easy?!"


    Apollo decided to teach this person a lesson before lashing out at the Headmaster. Heru hadn''t done anything yet, but the beggar had already sensed that the middle-aged man had the ''Young Master Syndrome,'' where they think highly of themselves and bully those below them.


    Furthermore, he couldn''t just give up the benefits of being the Personal Disciple: a private area to train, money, cultivation techniques, battle techniques, and more¡ªmost of which he hadn''t even used yet, besides his mount.


    Eli, on the side, had already taken a few steps back, unable to look directly at one of the Senior Brothers. He knew their true colors, and although he hadn''t suffered personally, he had seen and heard enough.


    He knew that the moment the Personal Disciple said those words, Heru was dead set on making Yoma suffer.


    As Heru was about to open his mouth to put the kid in his place, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy, making him turn to his master.


    Heru hurriedly lowered his head.


    "I didn''t know you''d choose such a filthy Personal Disciple," Elder Yuan said coldly, staring at the Headmaster. Though Axton''s position was higher than his, that didn''t mean he would bow his head.


    "Elder Yuan, we both know that cultivation is just one of an individual''s strengths," Axton replied, narrowing his eyes at the elder. "My Personal Disciple shouldn''t be underestimated."


    At the same time, he sent a Thought Transfer to Yoma.


    ''I know you''re angry, but don''t worry, you can defeat him. I didn''t tell you because it wasn''t necessary.''


    Apollo glanced at the Headmaster in annoyance. The pressure in the air was suffocating, but he could handle it. He could sense that he could communicate with Axton, so he did¡ªbut not through his mouth.


    ''You sent someone to spy on me, right? I guess you know what happened in Slumstreet,'' Apollo said. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    ''I know, but I''ll reserve that matter for another time.''


    ''What if I killed this guy?'' Apollo stared at Heru.


    ''You''ll win, but you won''t be able to kill him,'' Axton said.


    ''Is that so? Then what should I gain from this? I know you''re hiding something else, but I need something in return if you want to use me.''


    Apollo was no fool. He had long suspected that the entire ordeal¡ªfrom the moment he was recruited (or rather, threatened by the Headmaster) until now¡ªhad another purpose. A plan that he wasn''t fully a part of yet. However, Apollo wanted to complete all his missions and had decided that having a strong connection would be beneficial for his goals.


    ''You''re as smart as I expected from someone who embarks on the Way of Cultivation as a Wanderer. If you manage to hold your position as the Personal Disciple, then I''ll tell you everything you need to know,'' Axton said.


    Hearing this, Apollo''s expression relaxed. ''Then it''s a deal.'' S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Elder Yuan was silent for a moment before he turned to his disciple. "Teach the Personal Disciple a lesson."


    "I will!" Heru glanced at the beggar with determination, his eyes red with anger. From the moment they first met, it had already felt like a fight was brewing between them. Though the exchange was brief, Heru preferred it that way and wanted nothing more than to battle the kid as soon as possible.

 Chapter 196 Against Heru(Part-1)

    An outright challenge¡ªthey had said it aloud, completely disregarding the presence of the Headmaster. But Apollo wouldn''t just let all the benefits, which he hadn''t even used yet, slip through his fingers.


    "Let''s change location," Headmaster Axton said, ignoring the challengers'' threats against his Personal Disciple.


    After a while, they arrived at an open area surrounded by buildings, with a tree in one corner. It was spacious, though not as large as the two-football-field platform from the previous Advancement Examination. Still, the Headmaster deemed it more than enough.


    There was a balcony on one of the buildings, where the Headmaster and Elder Yuan could watch the battle unfold. Their disciples were already on the ground, staring at each other with determination.


    "Usually, Heru shows his arrogance first with his words, but your disciple seems like he wouldn''t let anyone speak before him," Elder Yuan commented, his eyes fixed on the soon-to-be battlefield.


    "I still don''t know him well. There''s a lot I have yet to learn, but it''s interesting," Headmaster Axton said, causing Elder Yuan to frown.


    "You don''t know much about your own disciple? What, don''t tell me you just picked him up off the street?" Elder Yuan raised an eyebrow.


    "More or less," Axton said with a mysterious smile. Elder Yuan hadn''t witnessed the previous Advancement Examination, but he knew that the person who won first place had supposedly perished from the Lightning Tribulation outside the city. What he didn''t know was that the once-in-a-thousand¡ªno, ten-thousand¡ªyears talent was standing right in front of him.


    Only Elmo, Master Popo, and the Great Serpent Headmaster knew the truth. They had seen it up close. Anything can be cut, whether with real weapons or not. The Beggar''s True Understanding of the Sword had already reached a level that even Axton admired.


    And Yoma was cloaked in mystery, one of the reasons Axton had decided to make him his disciple, even using threats to get what he wanted. He admitted he was being hypocritical¡ªsomething that would surely draw the wrath of the other Headmasters who had their eyes on Yoma.


    "More or less?" Elder Yuan repeated, clearly dissatisfied. He studied the ''kid'' closely while continuing, "You''re disrespecting the position. But knowing you, that kid must be hiding something. I can''t see through his cultivation. Did you give him an artifact?"


    "It''s always like that. Even I can''t gauge his cultivation unless he purposely shows his Qi," Axton said. From what he remembered, Yoma was at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage during the Advancement Examination. Yoma was a Wanderer, a beggar. Although his cultivation was low, it simply meant that Yoma had only just begun.


    "It doesn''t matter," Elder Yuan said with a confident smile. "Heru is at the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, and he''s the strongest among the Senior Status."


    Headmaster Axton didn''t disagree with the elder''s statement. In fact, he agreed. Heru was indeed strong.


    But Yoma was his Personal Disciple¡ªnot just another Senior.


    ...


    A fight... I haven''t even properly assessed my body, Apollo thought bitterly. He still didn''t know how much his strength had increased or what changes had occurred inside him. But determined to remain the Personal Disciple for the benefits, he decided to test himself right here and now. Spreading his senses, he gauged his opponent''s cultivation.


    He''s one stage higher than me... this should be easy, Apollo thought, though he shook his head immediately. He was being overconfident.


    "Let me tell you this¡ªI''m not going to hold back," Heru said, pointing a black sword at his opponent.


    "I''m just a kid, please have mercy!" Apollo raised his hands, his tone dripping with sarcasm.


    "A kid? You think I''ll believe that nonsense?" Heru smirked. He''d already received a thought transfer from his master, warning him not to trust his opponent''s appearance. There was no way the Headmaster would entrust the heavy burden of being the Personal Disciple to a mere child.


    Apollo sighed. This guy thinks I''m not a kid? I am! Even though he was over a hundred years old, he still had the body¡ªand emotions¡ªof a child.


    "Believe whatever you want," Apollo shrugged.


    "Hmph!" Heru scoffed. "You''ve offended me, and I''ll make sure you regret being born!"


    "Cringe ass words!" Apollo shot back. He never tired of verbally sparring with someone suffering from Young Master Syndrome. And he definitely never got tired of shattering their overinflated egos!


    "You!" Heru''s face twitched, veins bulging. "Just because you''ve received the title of Personal Disciple doesn''t mean we''re equals! You''re just an ant I can easily crush!"


    "Blah blah blah! Why don''t we just fight it out?" Apollo finally snapped, itching to crush the middle-aged man''s face and show him who was boss.


    At the same time, Eli received a signal from the Headmaster. Nodding to Axton, he turned to the challenger and the Personal Disciple. "We will begin in five seconds!"


    This was the first time he''d acted as a referee for a fight between Qi Condensation stage cultivators. Eli was nervous, but he gritted his teeth and began the countdown.


    "Five!"


    Apollo glanced at his opponent''s sword and sighed. Damn it! I forgot my wooden sword!


    The battle had come so suddenly that Apollo had left his weapon behind.


    "Four!"


    "Haha, are you getting cold feet?" Heru asked, smirking as he noticed Apollo looking back.


    "Of course not," Apollo smiled. "Why would I be afraid of someone I can easily defeat?"


    Arrogance against arrogance, and the one with the higher ego would lose.


    Heru''s eyes narrowed angrily. "I''ll skin you alive!"


    "Do it, then!" Apollo said, gesturing for him to come forward.


    "Three!"


    Heru was even more furious. This was the first time someone had dared to talk back. Everyone he insulted usually kept their heads down, not even daring to meet his gaze. Heru enjoyed that¡ªhumiliating people and watching them silently endure it. But this time, his target was fighting back, enraging him to the point where his veins threatened to burst.


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    Heru and Apollo fell silent. One held a sword, the other clenched his fists in front of him.


    Apollo narrowed his eyes at his opponent.


    "One! Fight!"


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 Chapter 197 Against Heru(Part-2)

    "Take this!" Heru shouted, his body appearing in front of the beggar as he swung his black sword!


    Apollo remained calm, dodging the attack with a step back.


    Heru was fast. Apollo hadn''t even seen the man take a step; it was as if he had appeared in front of him from the start. There was no sound of footsteps, only the sharp swish of the sword cutting through the air.


    The attack missed. Apollo''s eyes stayed locked on his opponent''s movements.


    He raised his hand, summoning wind and fire, but before he could launch the attack, it was cut in half!


    "You got lucky!" Heru shouted, his sword swinging horizontally toward Apollo''s neck.


    Apollo kept his cool, stepping back again. However, what happened next shocked him.


    "F*ck!" Apollo cursed as Heru''s black sword transformed into a black snake lunging for his head!


    "Got you!" Heru smiled confidently. When it came to fights between cultivators, they were either over in an instant or dragged out for ages. It seemed like this would be over quickly!


    But as the snake sword bit down on what should have been Apollo''s head, the ''kid'' suddenly turned into water!


    With a splash, Heru looked behind him. Sure enough, there Apollo stood.


    "That''s the Hydra Mirage!" Heru frowned. "Upper intermediate... How did you master it so easily when you''re just an outsider and only recently became the Personal Disciple?!"


    "Of course, it''s because I''m very talented," Apollo smirked, pointing the stick he was holding at Heru. It was a tree branch he''d grabbed nearby. It wasn''t straight, but it was better than nothing. "I''m so talented I could even defeat you with just a stick!"


    "Damn you!" Heru shouted, his snake sword growing larger as it slithered toward the beggar. A stick?! This kid is clearly disrespecting me! Fueled by rage, Heru unleashed his full strength.


    The ground shattered as the snake sword surged forward, and Apollo felt the weight of the pressure, his expression turning serious.


    So this is the power of a 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage! Apollo frowned. He was at the 1st-Step, but the gap in their strength felt vast. It wasn''t as exaggerated as the ten-tail Alphadusk Shadowtail, but Apollo knew this fight wouldn''t be as easy as he first thought.


    As the wind swirled chaotically around him, Apollo gathered the surrounding Qi, coating the tree branch in his hand.


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    As he did, his dantian began to feel strange, the ball of Qi inside him trembling. But as soon as he successfully executed the Simple Wind Sword Technique, the shaking stopped.


    Apollo noted the sensation and swung the branch down with all his might.


    He poured every bit of force and Qi he could into the strike.


    A deafening explosion erupted, shaking the entire area. The ground was torn up, rocks flew everywhere, and a thick cloud of dust filled the air. The ''air'' above rippled every time a rock touched it before the debris fell back to the ground.


    Eli had to use Qi to stabilize himself, avoiding being swept up in the shockwave.


    He glanced up and saw the barrier holding strong, sighing in relief. Then he turned his gaze to the dust cloud where the Personal Disciple had been.


    Eli never would have expected that Yoma could withstand a few hits from the strongest Senior Brother. But it seemed the final struggle of the Personal Disciple hadn''t paid off. It wasn''t surprising that the fight ended quickly¡ªsuch is usually the case when there''s a large gap in strength.


    He raised his hand, ready to announce the winner, when the dust cloud suddenly churned!


    Before he could react, Eli saw wind and fire intertwining, surging toward Senior Brother Heru!


    Heru, on the other hand, casually swung his weapon, the snake devouring the attack with ease. He smirked at the dispersing dust cloud. "I''m surprised you managed to block that."


    "It''s easy," came the voice of the small kid. When the dust cleared, Yoma stood there, covered in dirt.


    "Easy?" Heru chuckled. "Yeah, just keep pretending."


    "I''m not," Apollo said, though he was pretending. His whole body ached with pain! If he were still at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he would have been lying on the ground, unconscious from the intensity of the attack!


    But with his newfound strength, he had managed to block the giant snake weapon, which could have leveled an entire street. He was lucky. Fortunately, he had decided to tap into all the power available at the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    His attack had also landed on Heru''s snake weapon.


    Apollo glanced at the weapon in Heru''s hand, his eyes widening when he saw not a single crack. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But my Simple Wind Sword Technique can cut anything! Even with just the Simple Sword Technique, he could slash through anything like paper! Except¡­ that time when he tried to make a hole in the Alphadusk barrier¡­ Apollo narrowed his eyes, realizing he had misunderstood his Simple Sword Technique. It wasn''t all-powerful. There was something at play here that prevented him from destroying Heru''s weapon.


    "This is fun," Heru said, licking his lips. After their earlier exchanges, he had gauged his opponent''s cultivation, boosting his confidence. His opponent was only a 1st-Step Qi Condensation cultivator; worrying about defeat was pointless. Smirking, Heru added, "I''ll make sure you''re humiliated in front of the Headmaster!"


    Apollo remained silent, raising his tree branch once more. Suddenly, his senses flared, tensing his body, but his opponent didn''t move¡ªhe merely turned his weapon back into a snake.


    I have to control my senses, Apollo thought. This was why he didn''t want to fight someone before fully familiarizing himself with his body. It was like driving a sports car after only being used to a toy car.


    But this is good, Apollo smiled. A real challenge. His opponent wasn''t showing everything he had, clearly hiding some techniques, though Apollo didn''t mind. If things went badly, he would just admit defeat and relinquish his title as the Personal Disciple. He valued his life more than anything, after all.


    "Let''s continue!" Heru shouted, the surrounding Qi being absorbed into his snake weapon.


    Seeing this, Apollo infused his tree branch with the Simple Wind Sword Technique¡ªthe very technique that had destroyed the training ground.

 Chapter 198 Against Heru(Part-3)

    "1st-Step Qi Condensation..." The Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School muttered, narrowing his eyes at the beggar fighting against the strongest senior brother.


    He broke through in such a short time? Axton thought, a smile forming on his lips. It could be that Yoma was hiding his true cultivation, or perhaps he really had broken through quickly. Either way, this was good. Everyone had their secrets, and Axton respected that.


    "Your Personal Disciple is not bad," Elder Yuan commented. "But he''s only at the 1st-Step Qi Condensation stage, and he''ll need more than that if he wants to defeat my disciple."


    "As a Soul Creation cultivator, you should know better that cultivation isn''t always the deciding factor in a battle," Axton said, glancing at the elder before turning back to the fight.


    "Haha, but Heru has the skill, the experience, and the technique to back up his cultivation," Elder Yuan said proudly, his eyes radiating confidence. "Your disciple knows how to fight and has a decent grasp of the Way of the Sword, but his abilities don''t match Heru''s."


    "We''ll see about that," Headmaster Axton replied.


    As the two fought, Axton couldn''t help but feel confused as he watched his Personal Disciple.


    Yoma was only blocking or dodging Heru''s attacks, and when he did try to retaliate, Heru easily blocked it.


    His Personal Disciple had a unique technique, merging Fire Blast and Wind Blast to create his own attack¡ªa feat most cultivators couldn''t achieve, a testament to Yoma''s great talent. However, the attack lacked power. It was pure Unrefined Qi, making it impossible for Yoma to cause any real damage.


    A Qi Condensation cultivator not using Refined Qi¡­ what''s his plan? Axton narrowed his eyes, trying to understand Yoma''s mind.


    ...


    A black snake swept past Apollo''s head, tearing up the ground behind him. It raced toward the building, but the air solidified, blocking the snake sword.


    Apollo slashed with his tree branch, a wind slash materializing and speeding toward his opponent!


    But Heru''s body flickered before reappearing beside him!


    Anticipating this, Apollo activated True Hardening and his Simple Movement Technique, aiming a punch at his opponent''s head. However, Heru''s reaction speed was faster¡ªhis sword returned to its original form, blocking the incoming fist!


    With a loud bang, Heru''s body flew backward, crashing into the barrier with a heavy thud.


    Apollo seized the moment, raising his free hand to unleash the Fire Wind Blast. The attack caught Heru off guard!


    Dust clouds billowed into the sky.


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    The Beggar narrowed his eyes, feeling a sudden sense of unease. Sure enough, the dust cloud dispersed, revealing a blue serpent surging toward him. Apollo''s eyes widened in shock.


    He hurriedly slashed at it with his tree branch, coated in the Simple Wind Sword Technique, but the snake remained undamaged.


    Apollo''s body was thrown across the ground, carving a long ravine. He nearly crashed into the barrier but managed to stop himself with a stomp of his foot.


    Straightening up, he stared ahead. Heru''s weapon had turned blue, the black snake now a great serpent, its shimmering blue scales reflecting the sunlight.


    "You really pissed me off!" Heru snarled, his eyes red with anger. The snake weapon coiled around him, hissing menacingly. "Enough playing! I''m going to use my full strength!"


    Apollo tensed. He realized he couldn''t win. He couldn''t even cut through Heru''s technique like he had with previous opponents. This was frustrating. He didn''t want to surrender, didn''t want to give up his position as Personal Disciple. But it was becoming clear that he was outmatched.


    As he saw his opponent already swinging his weapon, Apollo let out a sigh. In terms of cultivation, experience, strength, and techniques, Heru had the advantage, and there was no way he could surpass them in this fight. His only hope was to make his Simple Sword Technique work, just like before.


    He started gathering the Qi from the surroundings, the Simple Wind Sword Technique covering his "weapon." Then, that familiar feeling returned¡ªhis dantian was shaking.


    Out of curiosity, in the span of a moment, he looked inside his dantian. There, the small ball of Qi he had carefully compressed was shaking intensely. It behaved as if it wanted to release something, beckoning to him.


    Feeling an instinctive pull, Apollo decided to use it.


    As the snake sword was about to reach him, he followed his instinct, drawing on the ball of Qi inside him instead of the surrounding Qi.


    Apollo slashed with his tree branch, and what happened next caused both his and his opponent''s eyes to widen.


    The tree branch, which he had snapped from a nearby tree, cut the great serpent in half. He felt only a slight resistance before his "weapon" sliced the technique cleanly in two.


    Silence.


    Heru pulled back his weapon, the sword turning black as the snake disappeared into particles of light.


    The sword was undamaged, but the technique, materialized using Heru''s Refined Qi, had been completely dispersed.


    Heru stared at Apollo, his face flushing red with anger. "That was luck! I''ll kill you!"


    Yup, here we go, his Young Master Syndrome is acting up, Apollo thought, a smile playing on his lips. He glanced at the tree branch for a moment before focusing on Heru, who was transforming his weapon into a great serpent once more. Apollo had finally realized the new strength he possessed after reaching the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    The ball of Qi inside his dantian was compressed energy that he had absorbed from the outside, growing stronger and more powerful once stored.


    Realizing this and the potential of the ball of Qi, Apollo gained confidence.


    Using his Simple Movement Technique and pairing it with another technique he had learned from the Advancement Examination, he appeared in front of the great serpent attached to Heru''s sword.


    The serpent opened its mouth wide, threatening to bite his head off. However, Apollo casually slashed with his tree branch, a strong wind cutting his opponent''s technique in half!


    "No!" Heru shouted, seeing his technique unravel. He hurriedly tried to recreate it, but the beggar was already in front of him. Gritting his teeth, Heru dodged to the side, his body turning into liquid.


    But Yoma suddenly moved faster than before!


    "Got you," Apollo said, using the Qi inside him to speed up his movements. He swung his stick, and Heru instinctively raised his black sword to block the attack. A loud grating sound echoed, followed by Heru''s body being sent flying into the air, crashing against the barrier!


    Silence hung in the air, and Apollo could hear nothing but the sound of his own breathing.


    Raising his tree branch and staring directly at it, Apollo couldn''t help but smile. It hadn''t broken¡ªnot even a scratch on it since he first picked it up. Even though it had taken several hits, its appearance hadn''t changed. The leaf hanging from the end swayed gently in the wind.


    At the same time, the beggar finally assessed his body, his limits, and the potential of that ball of Qi.


    His ears perked up at the sound of grunting. Turning to the source, he saw Heru standing, shaking his head.


    The two locked eyes, but this time, Heru''s gaze was filled with fear.


    "Hahaha, what now? Have you finally realized the difference between our strength?" Apollo asked, gently placing the tree branch on his shoulder. He immediately regretted it¡ªthe stick, without any sharp edges, cut into his flesh. He felt the blood seeping out, but he had to maintain his act. Enduring the pain from his foolish mistake, he stared mockingly at his opponent.


    "You know, I''ve been messing around with you, but you were blinded by your ego, so I decided to shatter it. How does that taste?"


    Heru gritted his teeth. "You¡­ you cheated!" he shouted, growing more convinced the more he thought about it. There was no way a nobody could defeat him¡ªthe strongest Senior Brother! He still had plenty of tricks up his sleeve!


    "Cheated?" Apollo chuckled. "Now that you''re down, you''re accusing me of cheating? Where''s your shame? Stuck up your butt?!"


    Heru was left speechless before exploding in anger. "Watch your f*cking mouth!" Despite his chest bleeding and pain coursing through him, his fury drowned out his injuries.


    "You cheated!" Heru turned to the shocked referee, who hadn''t said a word. "Hey! Disqualify him!" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eli was jolted out of his stupor. He was experiencing a mix of emotions, but there was only one word that could describe it¡ªphenomenal!


    The fight had been so amazing it left his body frozen. One moment, Heru had the advantage, overwhelming the Personal Disciple. And just when Eli thought Yoma was definitely going to lose, the Personal Disciple had turned the tide in an instant¡ªexploding with strength and speed!


    The tree branch in his hand had acted like the sharpest object in the world, breaking through Senior Brother Heru''s technique and even slicing his sword in half!


    The fight had lasted only a few minutes, but the emotions it stirred in the referee could last for centuries!


    Shaking his head to calm himself, Eli looked toward the balcony in the distance, where the Headmaster and Elder Yuan were watching.


    He didn''t immediately declare the winner, waiting for confirmation. But it seemed he didn''t need to say a word, as the elder vanished from his spot and reappeared on the ground, where Heru''s broken sword lay.


    Elder Yuan made the sword float around him before walking toward his disciple.


    "Master!" Heru shouted, dropping to one knee. "Please bring justice to your disciple! I was cheated!"


    Apollo raised an eyebrow when he heard this but didn''t say a word, simply observing what the old man would do.


    Elder Yuan glanced at the Personal Disciple for a moment, then turned to Heru. "You are defeated. We should go." There was no emotion in his voice or on his face. But when Heru heard his tone, his body shivered.


    "A-alright," Heru nodded, picking up his broken sword from the ground in front of him.


    Elder Yuan turned to the Headmaster, who had materialized beside the Personal Disciple. "This is not the end. Heru was defeated, but that doesn''t mean the others will be."


    "I know," Headmaster Axton nodded.


    Meanwhile, Apollo stared at Heru with a mocking smile. Raising a hand, he closed his fist, leaving only his middle finger up at the middle-aged man.


    Heru, who was already staring at Yoma with anger and humiliation, couldn''t help but tilt his head in confusion.


    "Let''s go," Elder Yuan said, and the master and disciple left the scene, their mounts arriving to fetch them.


    "Bye-bye!" Apollo waved.


    "Your shoulder is bleeding," Headmaster Axton pointed out.


    "Oh, f*ck!"

 Chapter 199 Find Out His Evil Plans

    "Why did you only use your Refined Qi at the final moment?" Axton asked curiously. He wanted to learn more about his disciple, as he needed Yoma for his plans.


    "Refined Qi? What is th¡ª" Apollo cut himself off as he realized what the Headmaster meant. So the ball of Qi inside his dantian is called Refined Qi. "Seeing the ultra-ego turn as weak as a chick¡ªit''s a pleasure I''ll always want to see. People like him, it''s an achievement to break them down."


    "Oh?" The Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School raised an eyebrow before a smile formed on his lips. "Your words will fuel their anger towards the lowlife they think you are."


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    "Let them be," Apollo chuckled, swinging his right arm to test his newly healed shoulder. It had been foolish to rest the tree branch on his shoulder, trying to act cool and mighty.


    They were now back inside the Headmaster''s room, with Eli out on the balcony feeding the two Water-Attributed Falcons.


    "You won, but more will come," Axton said. "Even though you defeated the strongest of the Seniors, the others are not to be taken lightly."


    "I didn''t sign up for this," Apollo narrowed his eyes at the Headmaster. "I wanted peace, not to attract too much attention. You didn''t even protect my identity, and now you''re just going to let them issue challenges?"


    "I know you agreed for the benefits your position could bring," Axton said, floating toward the mat and crossing his legs. "But I don''t offer free meals."


    "I know," Apollo nodded. "That''s why you should tell me the real reason you chose me. The real reason. Or should I just give up this position? I won''t care about the benefits if trouble keeps finding me."


    Axton fell silent. He glanced at the balcony, then waved his hand. A translucent dome enclosed the two of them. "It''s trouble that will fuel your growth. I chose you because I wanted to teach you. From what I''ve observed, you''ve just embarked on the Way of the Wanderer.


    I don''t know where you got your Cultivation Technique to reach this stage, but great talent is both a curse and a blessing. Even though you''re a Wanderer, it doesn''t mean you should completely abandon the advantage of connections."


    Wanderer. They always think I am that, Apollo thought. He''d heard this term plenty of times, but his understanding of it remained shallow. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You haven''t told me the real reason," Apollo said, narrowing his gaze at the Headmaster. "But let me guess¡­" He locked eyes with Axton. "You need someone to do your dirty work."


    Axton''s eyes widened, and he didn''t bother hiding his expression, confirming Apollo''s suspicions.


    Apollo had danced on the palms of others many times in his past life, always cutting off the hands in the end. This had honed his ability to sense hidden agendas behind convincing words.


    He even suspected that Sir Guo, the training ground guardian, had similar motives. But at the time, Apollo had chosen to pursue the benefits he could gain. He could have paid off his debt by going to the Great Serpent Headmaster, but that would''ve meant another form of debt¡ªa favor he didn''t want weighing on his shoulders.


    "You''re smart," Axton said, nodding in satisfaction. "This will be easy. You''re right."


    "I had a strong gut feeling," Apollo smirked. Deep inside, he began weighing what he could gain from this conversation.


    Axton had threatened to expose Apollo''s presence, ensuring trouble would find him if he declined the offer to become the Personal Disciple. Left with no choice, Apollo accepted. But it seemed the Headmaster was the type who liked to play with words, as Apollo''s presence was still exposed.


    If he was going to be taken advantage of, Apollo decided he would do the same. He recalled his second mission¡ªto find out the Mayor''s plan. With Axton''s influence, the Headmaster must know valuable information that could paint a clearer picture of Klown''s evil mind.


    "This school is only a branch of the main one," Axton began, his tone serious and low. "The threshold is lower here. A Qi Condensation Stage cultivator can become one of the Seniors, and Core Creation cultivators earn the title of Elder."


    Oh, a melancholy storytime before getting to the main point, Apollo thought, but he still listened carefully, curious about the School.


    "The outside world believes Klown City only has one Core Creation cultivator¡­ Anyway, as just a branch school, we have no authority to make big decisions. We have to send requests and wait for approval¡ªa long process with a high chance of being declined."


    "A complete waste of time if you''re trying to achieve something urgent," Apollo commented, and Axton nodded.


    If that''s the case, Apollo realized the Great Serpent''s main school must be a behemoth that didn''t care much about its branches.


    "Yes, but what''s happening is more urgent¡ªa threat that could destroy the people and the city where the School stands," Axton said, his expression turning cold.


    Hearing this, Apollo couldn''t help but think about the Mayor. Could he be the reason for the Great Serpent''s concern? The more Apollo thought about it, the more certain he became.


    "This threat is the reason you chose me?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," Axton confirmed with a nod. "The Great Serpent School can''t move against the Empire without approval from the Main School, per a treaty made tens of thousands of years ago."


    Empire? The Cultivation Schools aren''t part of it? Apollo''s eyes flickered. He quickly figured out that this world had two major powers at odds with each other.


    "So you want me to fight your enemies?" Apollo smirked at the Headmaster. "Don''t you think I''m too young and weak for that?"


    "Hahaha," Axton laughed, shaking his head. "If you can, great¡ªbut I expect only one thing from you in exchange for the benefits and the position."


    "And what''s that?" Apollo asked, though deep down he couldn''t help but think of Axton as a hypocrite. He''s the one pulling me into their drama, and I still have to repay them?


    "Investigate the Mayor. Find out his evil plans," Axton replied.


    The moment Apollo heard this, he was struck silent¡ªbefore bursting into laughter.


    This just f*cking aligns with my mission, doesn''t it?!

 Chapter 200 Yo Momma

    The Great Serpent Cultivation School cannot make an obvious move against the Mayor, who is part of the Empire. They have no choice but to use someone else to achieve their goals.


    And that person is the beggar, Apollo Leone.


    However, to his surprise, what''s happening now aligns perfectly with his goal¡ªto uncover Klown''s plans.


    "So, I''m going to be your puppet then?" Apollo asked, feigning reluctance.


    "No," Axton shook his head. "You''re doing this as part of being my Personal Disciple. Your status is completely different from the other Martial Students, who are fully tied to the school."


    Apollo ''thought'' for a moment before nodding. "I can investigate. The information I gather will help with the request to the Main School?" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Indeed," Axton nodded with a smile, impressed by how quickly his disciple caught on. He hadn''t even gone into detail, yet Yoma had figured it out on his own.


    "Alright, I''ll do it," Apollo agreed.


    "I knew you wouldn''t decline," Axton said. "You''ve already offended one of his men. Their family will come looking for you, and it won''t be long before they discover the killer of their kin."


    "When did you start spying on me?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. He hadn''t sensed anyone watching him.


    "The moment you stepped out of my school," Axton replied with a smile. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    Suddenly, they heard a screech from the balcony. Looking back, they saw the brown falcon with blue streaks growing restless.


    Eli turned towards them with apologetic eyes. "My apologies! My mount wants to go home."


    "You should go," Axton said. "I won''t be able to provide much more information about the Mayor, but I believe you can handle it. The North Guard Captain''s family is the key."


    I know, Apollo thought, sharing the same sentiment. Great minds think alike.


    "Do you have a library? I think I''ll stay here for now," Apollo said.


    "We do. Eli will guide you there," Axton waved his hand, and the translucent barrier around them disappeared.


    "Okay," Apollo nodded, walking toward the balcony.


    ¡­


    "This is the Great Serpent Library," Eli introduced as the two falcons landed in front of a large building. "You can just enter. No one will dare obstruct you."


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, jumping off Bluetooth.


    "Do you need my company?" Eli asked, stroking his falcon''s head.


    "No need, you should go back," Apollo said, waving his hand. "I know you still need to cultivate, and I can find my way out once I''m done."


    Eli hesitated before sighing. "Okay. But if you need my help, you can just ask around, and they''ll show you my residence."


    As Eli left with his mount, Apollo turned toward the building. It was four to five stories tall, ancient, and stacked in layers. Statues of the Great Serpent adorned its roofs, coiling up to the top, watching over those who entered.


    There were several people coming and going, but no one seemed to pay him much attention. A few cast curious glances, but no one approached to question the kid.


    Apollo smiled. This is good. These students didn''t seem to know that he was the Personal Disciple, and the news of his battle with one of their Seniors hadn''t reached them yet. Hopefully, it wouldn''t.


    After taking in his surroundings, he walked toward the door, where an old man sat cross-legged beside it.


    The reason he wanted to enter this place was to gain knowledge about this world, cultivation, and the state of affairs in the country. He realized he couldn''t just stay in his beggar spot and cultivate while remaining ignorant of Planet Luan, especially when it came to cultivation. There were terms and probably basic knowledge he should already know.


    Furthermore, there might be information he could use to grow stronger.


    Just as he was about to enter the door, someone shouted from the side.


    "Stop right there!"


    Apollo turned toward the voice and saw the old man pointing at him before beckoning with his hand.


    The beggar was confused, but he still walked toward the old man.


    "Why?" Apollo asked.


    "Who are you?!" the old man shouted. He had sparse white hair, almost bald, big round eyes, a goatee, and a mouth with only three or four teeth left. He wore a black-and-white hanfu robe, though upon closer inspection, it was clearly old and hadn''t been washed in a long time.


    Apollo sniffed, a frown appearing on his face as the foul smell from the old man hit him.


    Still, he didn''t dare judge. Although the old man looked like a beggar, just like him, there was a possibility he was a powerful expert.


    "I''m Yoma," Apollo introduced himself, cupping his fist and bowing his head. It took all of his effort not to add anything else. However, what happened next shocked him into silence.


    "Yoma¡­ yomama is fat!" The old man said before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! Yomama is fat!"


    The words struck Apollo''s heart, sending a shiver down his spine as he realized what had just happened.


    Did this old man just dupe me with my own trick?!


    Apollo''s eyes burned with fighting spirit. He stared at the old man coldly.


    "Don''t bring my mama into this," Apollo said.


    "Hahaha! I already did!" The old man laughed mockingly.


    "I see, I see," Apollo nodded before cracking his neck side to side. "Then don''t blame me."


    "What are you gonna do?" The old man raised an eyebrow, clearly challenging him.


    Apollo smiled, but this time, it wasn''t the same as before. It was cold¡ªso cold that the Antarctic wouldn''t stand a chance.


    "I agree, my mama is fat," Apollo said. "But yo momma is fatter¡ªso fat, she needs three chairs just to sit down."


    Apollo didn''t drop the big one yet. He was taking it slow.


    Hearing this, the old man''s smile vanished. "I see how it is. In that case... yo momma is so fat, when she sleeps inside your home, her pig feet are still out on the street."


    "Yo momma''s so fat, when I told her to touch her toes, she said, ''What are those?''" Apollo fired back without missing a beat.


    The old man went silent, narrowing his eyes before responding, "Yo momma is so fat, when she went for a swim at the beach, the ocean level rose tenfold."


    That''s a big one, Apollo thought. Taking a deep breath, his brain worked at lightning speed. "Yo momma''s so fat, when she fell, no one was laughing, but the ground was cracking up."


    At that moment, a group of students walked by. When they heard Apollo''s words, they looked at each other before bursting into laughter. They turned to see the commotion¡ªa child bickering with an old man.


    "Crazy Zhang is at it again, and who''s that kid? He''s hilarious and even dares to talk back to Crazy Zhang! Hahaha!"

 Chapter 201 Zhang The Great(Part-1)

    Crazy Zhang felt like vomiting blood when he heard the comeback. His face turned red as he quickly tried to recover. "Yo momma is so fat, when she went to the beach, a whale swam up and sang, ''We are family, even though you''re fatter than me!''"


    "Yo momma is so fat, her bellybutton gets home an hour before she does," Apollo fired back instantly, almost like he didn''t need to think at all. He smirked as more students gathered around to watch.


    Their laughter echoed as they observed the commotion with great interest.


    It was a new form of entertainment, and they perked up, eagerly waiting for the next insult. Who knew that trading insults could be so hilarious?


    Hearing the laughter, Crazy Zhang''s mind went blank for a moment. He couldn''t think of another fat joke, so he switched tactics. "Yo momma''s so ugly that she¡ª" But Apollo was faster.


    "Yo momma''s so ugly, when she joined an ugly contest, they said, ''Sorry, no professionals,''" Apollo cut him off.


    "Hey! I wasn''t done yet!" Crazy Zhang shouted, pointing a finger at Apollo. "Yo momma''s so ugly that¡ª"


    "Yo momma''s so ugly, when she took a bath, the water ran out¡ªliterally," Apollo interrupted again, causing the old man to burst into fury.


    "You''re cheating! You should let me finish before you¡ª" Crazy Zhang tried to protest.


    "Yo momma''s so old, I slapped her on the back and her boobs fell off!" Apollo''s voice rose, causing even louder laughter to fill the air. Yup, this is what real victory feels like! Apollo thought. He could see it¡ªthe old man''s face had scrunched up so much, he looked uglier than his momma.


    But Apollo wasn''t done yet. He kept firing insults, one after another, generating even more laughter. However, as time passed, the audience started to grow numb. Their eyes shifted toward Crazy Zhang with pity.


    "Crazy Zhang has met his match," one of the martial students whispered as they watched the old man grow more and more furious.


    "Yeah, he likes to pull pranks and jokes that aren''t funny at all," another agreed.


    After a while, when only Apollo''s voice echoed through the air, Crazy Zhang finally had enough.


    "Okay, stop! Stop!" The old man raised his hand in surrender, his face a deep shade of red as he gritted his teeth angrily. "You win, kid!"


    "I know I won," Apollo said, puffing his chest out. "I warned you not to bring my momma into this."


    "Hmph!" Crazy Zhang scoffed. "It was your fault for giving me a fake *ss name. But I''ll make sure you taste my revenge! Zhang the Great is not someone you can offend!"


    "Revenge? Haha, I''ll be waiting for you. Better come up with a better comeback next time, Zhang the *ss," Apollo challenged.


    Crazy Zhang''s face twitched, but seeing the students staring at him with disappointment and pity, he knew it was time to leave.


    "The next time, my words will eat you alive, until you won''t even dare to step outside!" Crazy Zhang shouted, gathering a mouthful of saliva and spitting. However, instead of landing on the ground, it splattered on his own feet.


    Silence.


    The beggar almost imagined seeing a negative thousand aura points appear above the old man''s head.


    Crazy Zhang definitely noticed his embarrassment, his face twitching, but he still tried to act cool. "Hmph! Just wait for me!" With that, he flew off.


    Flew? Apollo''s eyes widened at the sight of the old man flying into the distance. So that guy really is an expert! But why is he acting so childish?!


    As he stared after the old man, the students who had gathered also began to disperse. They were curious about the identity of the kid, but they had better things to do.


    However, one person remained. She hesitated for a moment before walking toward Apollo.


    "Mr. Beggar?"


    Apollo heard a familiar voice, and when he turned, he was surprised. "Oh, Miss Gail!"


    "Gail is fine, Mr. Beggar," Gail said, pushing her glasses up.


    "Okay, Gail," Apollo nodded. "It''s nice seeing you here. Where''s Filly?"


    "Filly is back at her restaurant," Gail replied. "She made a special request and was allowed to stay outside as long as she wanted. But I have to return occasionally to further my knowledge and cultivation."


    "Filly''s not taking her cultivation seriously," Apollo muttered, before asking an important question. "Who was that old man?"


    "That''s Crazy Zhang," Gail said with a smile. "I must say, what just happened was hilarious. Seeing Crazy Zhang get a taste of his own medicine was satisfying."


    "Crazy Zhang?" Apollo repeated, nodding. "He does look like a crazy person. But he can fly, so his cultivation must be at least at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, right? Why does everyone call him crazy instead of giving him respect?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His curiosity was piqued.


    "He is crazy," Gail explained. "He''s been here for countless years¡ªno one knows how long, but rumors say he''s been here since the Great Serpent branch was established. Some say he''s a Wanderer, others say he''s an Elder or a student who refuses to leave, despite his cultivation being high enough to join the main branch.


    He likes pulling pranks and making jokes, but none of them are funny, and many students hate him for it."


    "So, basically, he''s just a crazy person with high cultivation?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," Gail nodded.


    "I see. But do I need to worry about him?" Apollo scratched the back of his head. The old man had said he would get his revenge, and that worried Apollo. What if Crazy Zhang decides to assassinate me instead of bickering with ''yo momma'' insults?


    Gail smiled and shook her head. "You don''t have to worry about him. In all the years I''ve been here, he''s never involved himself in a physical fight."


    "I see, that''s good to hear," Apollo said, letting out a sigh of relief.


    "Mr. Beggar, if I may ask, why are you here?" Gail asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.


    "I have business with the Headmaster," Apollo answered honestly, though he didn''t share the details. At the same time, he realized that people only recognized him as a Personal Disciple when he was with Eli.


    "Is that so¡­" Gail nodded before glancing at the library. "Shall we enter together? I can be your guide." Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "I wouldn''t mind your company," Apollo smiled. He''d much rather spend time with a woman than a man.

 Chapter 202 Zhang The Great(Part-2)

    "There are five floors in this building," Gail explained, as the beggar beside her looked around with interest.


    Apollo gazed upward, spotting the stairs leading to the upper floors. His eyes then drifted around the room, noticing the shelves filled with scrolls and books, which almost reached the ceiling.


    Chairs and tables were scattered throughout, where martial students studied their materials. Some sat on the floor, books on their laps as they meditated, their eyes closed in concentration.


    There was also a reception area nearby, where students lined up to get approval to take books and scrolls outside. Martial students were in charge of granting permission.


    The structure reminded Apollo of his time as a college student in his previous life.


    "Do you want to see the Battle Techniques and Cultivation Techniques?" Gail asked.


    "I will, but I want to start with books on the world, politics, history, and common knowledge," Apollo answered.


    Gail appeared confused. "Pardon me for asking, but why are you interested in those?"


    "Just curiosity," Apollo said.


    "I see. Then follow me," Gail replied, dropping the subject. She didn''t understand Mr. Beggar at all but decided to guide him without further questions.


    Soon, they reached the far end of the first floor, where fewer people were gathered.


    "This is where you''ll find common knowledge," Gail said. "Some of these books and scrolls date back thousands of years. Feel free to explore."


    "Thanks," Apollo smiled. "Where can I find the battle techniques and cultivation techniques? So I don''t have to ask later."


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    "They''re on the upper floors. Outer Disciples can access the second floor, Inner Disciples can go up to the third, and seniors can reach the fourth. Only Elders and the Headmaster can enter the fifth floor, unless someone is granted special permission."


    "Got it," Apollo nodded. "Thank you."


    "You''re welcome," Gail smiled before waving. "I should head to the third floor. I need a technique to help boost my strength."


    "Good luck," Apollo said, watching her disappear around the corner.


    With a sigh, Apollo shook his head, turning back to the rows of bookshelves stretching for dozens of meters.


    He observed the variety of books. They came in different colors and sizes, some as thick as a person''s thigh, others as thin as a cicada''s wing.


    He looked behind him, greeted by the same scene¡ªendless shelves forming a hallway of knowledge.


    "Where do I start?" Apollo muttered with a bitter smile. He regretted not asking Gail for recommendations but decided to make the best of it. Walking to the nearest shelf, he randomly picked a book, intentionally avoiding the scrolls.


    "What''s this?"


    As he opened the book, he was greeted by an image of two people¡ªone man and one woman¡ªon top of each other. The title above them caught his eye.


    "The Secret Of Being One: The Proper Way To Penet¡ª Hold the f*ck up!" Apollo hurriedly slammed the book shut, his face turning red. After taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, he decided to try another book. Strangely, it didn''t seem that odd to him that such a book was hidden among the thousands of others in this corner of the library.


    With so many books and scrolls, these might even be considered common knowledge.


    Apollo grabbed another book, opened it, and sighed with relief when he saw the first page without the perverted imahes though regretted afterwards when he read the title.


    The Secret Of Being One Prequel: The Body Is Blank, One Must Know How To Heat It Up.


    His hands shook as he placed the book back. "What the f*ck? A prequel? Seriously?! I refuse to believe this will happen again!"


    In frustration, he grabbed another random book and opened it to the first page.


    "The Secret Of Being One Series Three: Ecstasy Through Physical Touch and¡ª F*ck!" Apollo cursed. "I just want a normal book!"


    Fuming, he was about to shove it back onto the shelf but paused. Who the hell was this insane author? He reopened the book and scanned the bottom right corner for the author''s name.


    The moment his eyes landed on it, his body tensed, and his hands clenched the book tightly.


    "Zhang the Great..." Apollo muttered, his eyes narrowing coldly. Gail''s words about the old man echoed in his mind, and he realized he had just been the victim of one of Crazy Zhang''s pranks. "I''ll wait for your revenge, huh? We''ll see."


    ¡­


    Apollo sat on the floor, staring hopelessly at the bookshelf, overwhelmed by the thousands of books before him.


    If he wanted to find what he was looking for, it could take forever. In the end, only one solution came to mind. Even though he didn''t want to do it, he had no choice.


    With a resigned sigh, he brought up his Status Screen.


    ---


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 45


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning


    ---


    "Forty-five Alm Points," Apollo stared at the number. He had barely managed to earn back what he''d wasted on his last use of the Wish Me Luck item.


    Next, he summoned the System Store, and a new interface appeared beside the Status Screen.


    "Show me items that will help me find the books I''m looking for in this place," Apollo ordered the System. Within seconds, the store sorted itself, displaying the items he had requested.


    His eyes quickly settled on the first item, which was also the cheapest.


    ---


    Basic Locator: Find anything the user desires. Input the type of item, and if the user comes close, the Basic Locator will emit a beeping sound.


    Alm Points Cost: 5


    --- S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo didn''t bother checking the other options; he immediately decided on the first one.


    As soon as he bought it, his Alm Points dropped by five.


    The interface vanished, and a white light materialized in front of him, turning into a black circular object.


    Apollo caught it¡ªit resembled a compass, but instead of a magnetic needle, there was just a button and a directional display.


    Pressing the button, a message flashed in his mind, asking for the item he was searching for.

 Chapter 203 History

    In ancient times, cultivators lived in peace, far from ordinary people, in secluded abodes and mountains where they silently sought enlightenment.


    Their presence was known only to a few. Some witnessed them flying through the skies, altering the terrain, turning barren land into fields of flowers, and summoning wind and rain. These accounts remained stories that few dared to believe¡ªexcept for the witnesses. Some regarded them as deities, protectors of the land, blessing it with their power.


    To the cultivators, this was ideal. They could focus on their quest for immortality without the interference of the outside world. Their sole reason for embarking on the path of cultivation was to gain eternal life¡ªa limitless span of time in which they could achieve nirvana. They called this the True Way of Cultivation.


    It was a peaceful existence. War and poverty had no impact on their lives.


    However, everything changed when one ordinary person, having heard the stories, decided to seek them out.


    This individual had no cultivation, no powers. The journey was long and perilous, nearly costing the seeker their life, with helpless nights and nightmares haunting them.


    But persistence paid off, and the adventurous soul eventually found what they sought.


    After countless days and nights, dodging death at every turn, the person finally stood before the legendary cultivators, kneeling before them, pleading for strength. The reasons for their request were unknown, but the desire to fly, to alter landscapes, and summon rain was strong.


    Yet, their plea was denied. For hours, days, and weeks, the person begged.


    But the mountain closed itself, and suddenly, they found themselves at the base once more, barred from re-entry. No matter the path, they would always return to where they began.


    It was a crushing blow¡ªto their spirit, to their dreams, and to the reason they sought the cultivators in the first place.


    As sorrow settled in, it was soon replaced by anger. Revenge fueled the person''s heart.


    The Ancestor Cultivators believed that peace would return once the person left.


    But, alas, greed and the desire for power led to the cultivators'' discovery.


    More ordinary people, led by the rejected pioneer, sought them out, amassing strength and influence over the years. This growing force soon rivaled that of the cultivators, as ordinary people gained powers comparable to their once-mythical deities.


    With no other choice, the ascetics left their mountains, engaging in battle with those who sought to take their power.


    Years of war followed, spreading far and wide, transforming the land, the animals, and the flora. Creatures became dangerous, turning into flesh-eating monsters. The natural world itself became terrifying.


    Neither side could gain the upper hand. A stalemate ensued, leading to a treaty¡ªan agreement for peace and order.


    But the aftermath of the war lingered. Monsters continued to roam, and the cultivators'' techniques spread throughout the world. Over time, variations and new techniques emerged. Ordinary people learned to stand toe-to-toe with their once-divine counterparts, while the cultivators formed sects and martial schools to preserve the True Way of Cultivation.


    Enlightenment and immortality.


    Strength and power. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    "Two powers that tried to best one another¡­" Apollo muttered as he read the book in his hands. He sat cross-legged, leaning against the bookshelves, with great interest in his eyes. "A war that lasted at least ten thousand years? This sounds like bullsh*t."


    Apollo placed a hand under his chin. Though it seemed like something straight out of a fictional novel, the beggar didn''t doubt its authenticity.


    It was the first book he had read after using the Basic Locator. A very convenient item, the locator allowed him to input the objects he was looking for, and it would alert him when he was near the target. However, he still had to move around to maximize its usefulness.


    Apollo glanced at the book on his lap. It was a very basic history book. The content was sparse, leaving him with more questions than answers.


    Why did the person seek out the cultivators?


    What was the influence that allowed ordinary people to stand toe-to-toe with their deities?


    And who was that person? Who were the Ancestors?


    As these questions lingered in his mind, he continued flipping through the book. After the initial story, nothing else captured his attention.


    Setting it aside, he stood up and picked up the Basic Locator, which had just finished charging. Like his Cleaning Bead, the item needed to store Qi to function.


    Apollo continued browsing the area, using the Basic Locator to find topics that piqued his interest before diving into the books.


    In no time, he felt satisfied with the additional knowledge he''d gained. He mainly focused on useful information, like politics and cultivation. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Glancing at the scattered books on the floor, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to leave the mess behind. Cleaning wasn''t his concern.


    He walked toward the stairs leading to the second floor. Now that he was here, he intended to make the most of it. After all, it was one of the perks of being a Personal Disciple.


    Just as he was about to place his foot on the first step, someone called out to him.


    "You there!"


    Apollo turned toward the voice and saw a person approaching. One glance told him all he needed to know¡ªa young master had locked onto him as a target.


    It had been a while since someone with the "Young Master Syndrome" offered themselves up for humiliation. He didn''t consider his previous opponent, Heru, to be one of them¡ªHeru had been somewhat restrained, probably because of the presence of his master and the Headmaster.


    However, Apollo''s gut told him that the noble now standing in front of him was one of the untamed.


    "What?" Apollo asked, deliberately using a rude tone.


    The noble raised an eyebrow. "Watch your tone, kid. Don''t you know who I am?!"


    Ah, Don''t you know who I am?! Classic. Apollo smirked inwardly. He could already taste the satisfaction of humiliating the young noble. What was the word for it? Faceslapping?


    "Should I?" Apollo asked, smiling coldly. "Why don''t you enlighten me?"


    "Hahaha, I expected nothing less from someone who looks like a beggar." The noble smiled mockingly. "I''m from the Callum Family, so pay your respects!"

 Chapter 204 Aaron & Mahika

    The Callum Family estate is situated northwest of Klown City. A multi-storied building, its stones are carefully polished, and the exterior is adorned with a lush garden, bathed in an ethereal glow from the sunlight. The mansion is expansive, with maids bustling about, tending to their duties.


    Great luxury exuded from the structure, showcasing the history and might of the Callum Family.


    At the very top was the Family Head''s room.


    A forty-five-year-old man sat behind a bronze-colored table, a deep frown on his face. The chair he occupied matched the table''s style, and behind him hung a portrait of himself on the wall. He wore expensive clothing, adorned in gold and silver.


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    Aaron Callum, Head of the Callum Family, narrowed his eyes at the individuals in the room.


    "Still no one can find the culprit behind my son''s death?" he asked, his tone icy cold.


    The people before him lowered their heads, one of them shaking his head.


    "The culprit disappeared," one of them responded. "We''ve already searched the entire city. Even with the city''s help, we couldn''t find the killer."


    "Useless!" Aaron stood up and hurled the vase on the table to the floor. It shattered into shards, spilling its contents. Some of the liquid splashed onto the people, but they didn''t dare utter a sound. "Use your goddamn pig brains! Don''t just rely on the city! They''re useless as sh*t!"


    His face flushed with fury. Although people often mistook him for amiable, in truth, he had the foulest mouth in the city and cursed frequently.


    "Fcking useless!" Aaron shouted, pointing his finger at his people. "Did any of you fckers even think to follow those slums?!"


    Hearing this, the individuals in the room exchanged glances before mustering the courage to shake their heads.


    "See! Your pig brains are stopping you from thinking, motherf*ckers!" The Callum Head pounded his fist on the table. Though he lacked the talent for cultivation, his fist remained unscathed against the bronze table.


    Seeing no one respond, Aaron took a deep breath, calming himself slightly. "F*ck! Why do I bother hiring fools?"


    He sat back down, leaning on his chair. Aaron closed his eyes for a moment before glaring coldly at them.


    "Why are you not saying anything?" he demanded. "Come on! Say something!"


    He wasn''t angry because he had lost his son, but because of the humiliation his family was enduring. He would rather lose a kin than allow their reputation to be tarnished.


    One brave individual stepped forward. After taking a deep breath, he spoke. "My apologies for our incompetence! We will do our best to find the killer as soon as possible! We will start by following the slums and gathering information!"


    As one of them kowtowed on the ground, the rest followed suit, their heads thudding against the floor.


    "Finally, someone with a brain!" Aaron said, though there wasn''t a hint of praise in his tone. "Now get out of here, pig heads! And don''t show your faces again without progress, or I will personally kill each one of you!"


    A shiver ran down everyone''s spine. They knew their family head well¡ªhe wasn''t the type to joke around. When he said he would do something, he meant it.


    Each of them understood that if they didn''t find the killer of the Family Head''s son, their lives would be forfeit.


    "Our apologies once again! Please await our good news!"


    As the door closed slowly, Aaron Callum''s eyes burned with rage. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He couldn''t stand what had happened. This humiliation¡ªhe would return it to the culprit a hundredfold!


    ...


    Callum Family? Apollo raised an eyebrow when he heard this. To think he would hear that name so soon.


    The north guard captain he killed back in the slum streets also said he was from the Callum Family. Is it fate''s work for the beggar to clash with another one of their kin so soon?


    A smile formed on his lips. This was good¡ªit should help make the butterfly effect work faster.


    "Oh, Callum Family, I''ve heard that name before," Apollo said. "Aren''t you guys the ones who collect sh*t in the city to consume? I must say, your family has quite the taste."


    Behind the noble stood three martial students, one of the requirements for the Young Master Syndrome. When they heard what the ''kid'' said, their faces shifted from shock to anger.


    "Watch your mouth! You don''t know who you''re talking to!"


    "He''s from one of the great families in Klown City!"


    "By saying those words, he can cut your tongue out!"


    The flies buzzed around, but the beggar focused only on the noble.


    "Am I right?" Apollo asked again, the noble''s face already red with anger.


    "You! You will pay! I, Mahika, am not someone a lowlife like you can insult!" Mahika shouted, pointing a finger at the kid.


    "Then what are you gonna do?" Apollo smiled mockingly. "I just wanted to go to the upper floor to check out some techniques, and you''re obstructing me."


    "Techniques?!" Mahika scoffed, looking Apollo up and down. "Who are you? Just by judging your appearance, you don''t belong here. I''m a student at this academy, and I''m just worried an insect managed to sneak in! So I''m going to clean this place up!"


    Apollo glanced at the noble and then at the goons. He instantly understood why they had stopped him, even without them saying it. They clearly just wanted to bully him.


    However, the beggar is not someone easily stepped on.


    "If you''re just going to run your mouth, then stay here. I''m going upstairs," Apollo said, turning toward the stairs and starting to walk.


    Mahika was left speechless. Did he just ignore my words?! I''m a noble, for fck''s sake!* He felt deeply humiliated. He turned to his men and nodded.


    They immediately understood what he meant and ran up the stairs, blocking the kid''s path.


    Got ya, Apollo thought, his eyes glinting. He wanted them to be aggressive, and they had just fallen for it.


    "Get out of my way," Apollo said, staring coldly at the goons.


    "They won''t move unless I tell them to," Mahika said, crossing his arms. "Answer my question. Who are you, and why are you here?!"


    Apollo glanced at the noble, a cunning smile spreading across his face. If they wanted to use their status to oppress someone, then he would do the same. "Me? Once you hear it, don''t piss your pants."


    "Try me," Mahika challenged, raising an eyebrow.


    Apollo ran his fingers through his hair, introducing himself in a cool manner. "I''m Yoma, the Personal Disciple!"


    Silence.


    Silence lingered for a moment before laughter echoed.

 Chapter 205 Im Just A Kid!

    Hearing the laughter around him, Apollo couldn''t help but let out a sigh. You asked for my identity, and when I tell the truth, you laugh at me? Typical young master. However, the more they underestimated him, the more humiliation they would face once they learned the truth, and the beggar couldn''t wait for that moment.


    "Hahaha! Personal disciple?! Really?" Mahika clutched his stomach as if he had never laughed before. "Did you hit your head somewhere? You''re dreaming big, kid."


    "If you''re not going to believe me, then tell your dogs to get out of my f*cking way," Apollo said coldly.


    Hearing this, Mahika narrowed his eyes at the kid. This kid clearly doesn''t respect me, he thought, irritated by the repeated slights. Although he was curious how someone so filthy had managed to enter the Great Serpent Cultivation School, at least he''d found someone to bully and satisfy his desire to boost his ego.


    "Kneel before me, beg for your life, and I might consider sparing you," Mahika Callum said, ignoring the kid''s words.


    "Tell your dogs to move out of my way," Apollo repeated, his tone even colder.


    The goons behind Mahika shouted in anger, hearing themselves called dogs for the second time.


    "F*ck you, kid!"


    "Kneel before the great Mahika Callum, or do you want us to force you? Let me remind you, we''ll break your bones if you resist!"


    "Then do it," Apollo challenged, glancing back at the goons.


    "Young Master Mahika!" They turned to their master, awaiting orders like loyal hounds.


    "Do it. Let him taste what real pain feels like¡ªjust don''t kill him," Mahika commanded with a nod, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. They were inside the Great Serpent Library, but he wasn''t afraid to cause trouble. At worst, he would be punished by staying in his courtyard. With the backing of a great family, there was no way the school would punish him severely.


    "Hahaha! I''ve been craving to break some bones lately!" one of the goons said, cracking his neck from side to side.


    "You''re in for some bad luck, kid!" another said, while the last one only smiled coldly.


    Apollo glanced at the noble before turning to the braindead goons behind him.


    As they closed in, a cunning smile appeared on his face. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs, and with a shout, his voice reverberated through the library!


    "Ahhh! Help! I''m just a kid!"


    The small voice was so loud that it echoed through every corner, reaching everyone''s ears in no time.


    Those peacefully cultivating and minding their own business had no choice but to open their eyes and stare in the direction of the sound.


    Each of them saw yet another commotion happening on the stairs.


    Meanwhile, Apollo dropped to the floor, scrambling backward on his hands and feet. He looked back and forth between the goons and the noble with fear in his eyes.


    "Help! Help!" Apollo shouted again, causing the four individuals to look at each other in shock.


    Mahika appeared surprised for a moment before chuckling mockingly. Seeing the kid shaking in fear as he tried to scramble away, a wave of pleasure washed over him. Stepping on insects and watching them beg for their lives... that was the best feeling in the world. "Too late, kid! I already gave you a chance, but you didn''t take it!


    This is on you. You should be grateful that I''m letting you live!"


    With that, he motioned for his goons to make a move.


    Apollo''s body was ''shaking with fear,'' and as they neared him, he turned to the approaching students. "Help! These guys are trying to take advantage of me! I already told them I''m not into guys!"


    Deep inside, he chuckled. I should be an actor. This wasn''t the first time he''d pulled a stunt like this, but he couldn''t get enough of it.


    Because of the commotion, a group of martial students had gathered. Some of them recognized Apollo, and when they heard his shout, they turned to the four bullies with strange looks¡ªsome showing utter disgust. Those who recognized the noble kept their mouths shut, but their eyes couldn''t hide what they were feeling.


    "W-what?! We''re not doing anything to him!" one of the goons blurted out defensively.


    "Not yet! But you clearly have the intention!" Apollo shot back, glaring at the goons before locking eyes with Mahika, whose mouth was slightly open. "And this guy even said... even said he wouldn''t stop, even if I begged for mercy! He admitted that he would like it if I begged for mercy!"


    The beggar''s words snapped the noble out of his shock. The sudden turn of events had caught him off guard.


    Feeling the gazes of the martial students now on him, Mahika''s face turned red with rage and embarrassment. He glared at the kid, teeth gritted. "You! You''re lying! I would never think of doing anything with the same gender, let alone a kid!"


    "You''re the one who''s lying!" Apollo shot back, standing up from the floor and pointing at the young master. "Who would admit such evil, huh?! You even ordered your men to gang up on me so I couldn''t resist!"


    "We''re not those kind of people!"


    "Yeah! We were just going to punish you for being rude to Young Master Mahika!"


    "My men are right!" Mahika turned to the students around him, desperate to clear up the misunderstanding. If word of this commotion reached the family head... just thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine. "I, Mahika from the great Callum Family, would never do such vile things!"


    The martial students'' expressions changed, seemingly believing his words. Seeing their reaction, Mahika let out a sigh of relief. Then he turned to stare coldly at the kid¡ªwait, was he smiling?


    "Defend yourself all you want!" Apollo shouted, looking at the martial students pleadingly. "There are four of them, and I''m just one! How could I resist them? What power do I have if they try to frame me and claim I''m the guilty one? I was just looking around, and suddenly they wanted a piece of my handsome face and body!"


    The crowd shifted uneasily at Apollo''s words. Those who knew Mahika and his bad deeds at school started to believe that the four really were capable of such vile acts.


    It was unclear who voiced agreement with the kid first, but soon, others followed. The four bullies could feel the weight of the martial students'' disapproving stares as fingers were pointed and whispers filled the air.


    But they still managed to catch bits of the conversation.


    "Really?... To a kid?" Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Disgusting¡­"


    "Vile¡­" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 206 Second Floor

    As the whispers echoed through the library, Aaron and his men''s faces turned red with shame and humiliation.


    Just by looking at the situation, it was clear they were ganging up on a defenseless kid, and what the kid said had rallied the martial students against them.


    Mahika noticed other nobles looking in his direction with mockery and disgust. They didn''t even bother lowering their voices. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    "I didn''t know Mahika was that kind of guy." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah."


    "But I''m not surprised. You can tell he''s into the same gender. Just look at those eyes¡ªdisgusting."


    "He even stooped so low as to try something with a kid."


    Nobles loved to step on one another, and they weren''t about to miss this chance to humiliate Aaron.


    None of them questioned why a kid was even in the library. They were more focused on the commotion than the kid''s status.


    Mahika finally had enough. He stared at the kid with killing intent. "You! I''ll make sure you won''t leave this place alive!"


    "Are you threatening me?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Hell yeah, I am!" Mahika snapped, not caring if others heard him. Then he turned to his men and waved his hand. "Let''s get out of here!"


    Apollo didn''t say another word and just watched them leave as the crowd parted.


    Looks like I''ll have to fight them soon, Apollo thought, though he wasn''t the least bit worried. He had already gauged their cultivations, which were far below his. In fact, he was currently the strongest person in the room. Unless another Qi Condensation stage cultivator showed up, he was confident he could defeat all the martial students there.


    Seeing that no more drama was unfolding, the crowd dispersed, returning to their own business.


    Apollo shook his head and proceeded to the second floor. To think that just trying to go up a floor would cause such a scene. It was as if fate was pulling strings to make him bump into these people. Not that he minded¡ªit was satisfying to see those ego-filled young masters humiliated. It was a sense of fulfillment he would never tire of.


    ¡­


    The beggar arrived on the second floor, and the moment he stepped in, his eyes were drawn to the sight of scrolls and books floating on circular platforms. There were also doors along the walls, with some students lining up to enter. This piqued Apollo''s curiosity.


    Glancing up, he saw stones embedded in the ceiling that illuminated the floor with a dim light. Turning to the corners, he noticed white-robed men standing still, their eyes constantly scanning the area, as if afraid to miss a single detail.


    The first floor didn''t have these white-robed men, likely because the content there wasn''t as valuable.


    Apollo wanted to find some flashy techniques to add to his arsenal of special effects and increase his strength. As he gazed at the various scrolls and books, his eyes burned with excitement.


    What if I learn all of them? Will I become overpowered? The thought sent his excitement soaring.


    The second floor housed battle techniques and cultivation techniques, but Apollo wanted to learn everything. He walked over to the nearest scroll and began reading, but soon realized it would be pointless to learn them all.


    The first technique he read wasn''t flashy, and the book said it would take a year to fully master. Apollo was confident he could learn it in just a few weeks, but it still wasn''t worth the effort. He moved on to the next one. Like the first, it wasn''t flashy and wasn''t very good.


    He turned to a scroll that described a cultivation technique. After reading it, he shook his head and placed it back. It was a technique that capped out at the 4th Step of the Foundation Building stage, which he had already surpassed.


    Shaking his head, Apollo continued to flip through the techniques, his actions causing the martial students around him to raise their eyebrows. Some approached the white-robed men, asking why they weren''t taking action against the unruly kid who was only glancing at a few pages before moving on to the next one. It seemed like he was just playing around¡ªwell, he was a kid, after all.


    However, the white-robed men remained still, not making any move. The martial students had no choice but to back off. Although some were unsatisfied, they knew better than to mess with the white-robed men. Furthermore, they realized that things weren''t that simple. A kid suddenly causing a scene, and the white-robed men ignoring it? Clearly, the kid had some status backing his mischievousness.


    In no time, Apollo had flipped through at least a hundred techniques. He let out a sigh as he placed the last scroll back on the shelf.


    "Have I become picky with techniques?" he muttered with a bitter smile.


    Of all the books and scrolls he''d read, none had impressed him enough to bother learning them. Most of them were good, but Apollo felt like it would be a waste of time to try. The reason? Time. He would lose valuable time if he tried to master all the techniques on this floor. Sure, he could revise some of them to make them stronger, but Apollo realized it wasn''t worth the effort.


    Then an idea popped into his mind. Should I just go straight to the top floor and learn the strongest technique? The more he thought about it, the more determined he became.


    Why waste time and effort on weaker techniques when he could focus on the strongest ones? And it would definitely be worth it if he could revise some of those.


    With this thought in mind, he left the area and headed straight for the third floor¡ªthe floor where Gail said she would be.


    After a minute of walking, he arrived at his destination. The number of books here was much smaller, probably around three dozen, and they were glowing, unlike those on the second floor.


    Apollo didn''t immediately begin his usual flipping spree. Instead, he set out to find Gail.


    ...


    At the same time, Mahika and his men landed in a courtyard from their Water-Attributed Falcons.


    "Argh!" The moment Mahika landed, he immediately lashed out at his surroundings, punching and kicking the air. "I hate this! I hate this! I swear I''ll kill that kid! How dare he frame and humiliate me¡ªme, from the great Callum Family!"


    His goons didn''t dare utter a word. They could only lower their heads, not out of fear of Mahika, but because of someone else.


    "Did someone frustrate you?" a voice echoed.


    Mahika turned toward the sound. In the middle of the courtyard, where flowers bloomed, sat a woman at a table, holding a cup of tea with wisps of steam rising from it.


    "Senior Sister! I need your help!"

 Chapter 207 Senior Sister Lily

    Long, streaked black hair, thin eyebrows, long eyelashes, and deep blue eyes. She sat there, wearing a green hanfu dress adorned with silver lining. A flower emblem was embedded on her chest as she gazed at her cousin, who was kneeling on the ground before her.


    "What? Did you offend someone you shouldn''t have?" the woman asked, taking a sip of her tea.


    "No," Mahika shook his head. "Senior Sister Lily, it''s the opposite."


    "Oh? Tell me," Lily said, raising an eyebrow. Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Okay, so we were in the library, minding our own business, when this kid came in and offended me! He''s rude and even framed me to make it look like I like men!" Mahika explained, omitting the details and changing the story to make it seem like the kid was at fault. Recalling what happened, his eyes turned cold. "I want to kill him as soon as possible!"


    Senior Sister Lily stared at her cousin for a moment before taking another sip of tea. She knew her cousin very well, and knowing him, he had probably bullied someone again. Still, she wasn''t the type to care about his actions. What intrigued her was that Mahika had met someone who managed to humiliate him.


    Mahika only sought her help when he was truly desperate.


    "So what do you want?" Lily asked, her eyes drifting to a note beside her cup.


    "Help me reduce my punishment," Mahika said through gritted teeth. "I know they''ll punish me for what I''m about to do, but I really want to kill that kid!" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lily went silent, her fingers tapping on the table.


    Killing another student was strictly forbidden, punishable by imprisonment, death, or the destruction of one''s cultivation core¡ªevery cultivator''s nightmare. But with her master''s help, she could minimize her cousin''s punishment. They could even stage the incident to make the killing appear justified and reasonable.


    The Elders wouldn''t care, and even if they suspected something, they wouldn''t take action unless the very existence of the school was threatened. That''s why nobles and those with influence could bully and treat those of lower status like dirt.


    Lily''s eyes lingered on the note before turning to Mahika. "You said the person you want to kill is just a kid? How did he get in here?"


    "I don''t know," Mahika shook his head. "But it doesn''t matter! I''ll make sure he suffers more than death before I kill him!"


    The goons behind him kept their heads bowed, listening intently to the conversation.


    A kid, huh? Lily thought. It must be true. She stared into her cousin''s eyes and nodded. "Alright, I''ll help you."


    Hearing this, Mahika''s face lit up. "Thank you, Senior Sister! You''re the best!"


    "Thank you, Senior Sister!" the goons echoed from behind.


    This was the first time Mahika had made such a request, and he had expected rejection, but reality proved otherwise.


    "Go away," Senior Sister Lily waved her hand. "Don''t interrupt my tea time anymore."


    "Okay!" With clenched fists and renewed determination, Mahika and his men left the courtyard.


    As their figures disappeared into the distance, the wind blew, causing the flowers to sway and their fragrance to fill the air.


    "Heru is strong, but he''s not that smart," Lily muttered, taking a sip of her tea before standing up. "I should rally them and let Aaron test the kid''s strength."


    A kid? Lily didn''t believe that someone capable of defeating Heru was just a child. The note on the table stated that Heru had suffered a crushing defeat that morning, something that had never happened to him before.


    She stood and walked inside her residence. Soon, five birds flew from her place, each holding a small scroll in their claws.


    ¡­


    Apollo saw Gail in the distance, standing at the counter, holding a book and talking to the person behind the desk.


    He approached and overheard their conversation.


    "Sorry, you don''t have enough mission points to learn this technique," the martial student administering the techniques said without much emotion.


    "Is that so," Gail sighed, disappointed. She had spent some of her mission points on the Advancement Examination, and it seemed she needed to go on another mission to learn the technique in her hands.


    "You can check out the other techniques. You can learn those," the receptionist suggested.


    "No need," Gail said, shaking her head. She turned around, surprised to see Yoma standing in front of her. "Mr. Beggar!"


    "Hello," Apollo greeted her with a chuckle. He glanced at the book in her hands. "Having some trouble?"


    "No," Gail replied, though she seemed hesitant.


    "It seems like it," Apollo smiled. It wouldn''t be a problem for him to use his Personal Disciple card so she could learn the technique, right?


    "I c-can just do another mission to earn more mission points," Gail hurriedly added.


    "Hahaha, don''t worry, I''ve got this!" Apollo smiled confidently. He walked past her and stood in front of the receptionist. But because of his small frame, he had to tiptoe to see the martial student behind the desk. "Hey, do me a favor, will you? Let her have the book."


    Gail''s eyes widened. Is he really going to help me? Such generosity! And does he have enough influence to bypass the mission points requirements? The image of the beggar wanderer in her heart rose to another height.


    The martial student looked at the kid in confusion, frowning at his words. "Who are you? We can''t do that. She must follow the rules if she wants to learn the techniques."


    "I am¡­" Apollo started to introduce himself but then stopped. Well, this is awkward. They didn''t know him, and he had no way to prove he was the Personal Disciple aside from his words.


    I shouldn''t have talked so big.


    "Don''t worry about it," Gail said from the side, still smiling. Just the thought of him wanting to help her was good enough. "I''m strong, and I can easily complete the missions. Earning the points will be easy."


    Apollo sighed in embarrassment, scratching the back of his head. "I''m sorry I couldn''t help."


    "Haha, I''m grateful you wanted to help, Mr. Beggar," Gail said, bowing her head.


    The receptionist watched this interaction in confusion. They knew who Gail was¡ªshe was one of the popular martial students at the Great Serpent Martial School. But the person she was speaking to with such respect was just a kid.

 Chapter 208 Fourth Floor(Part-1)

    The martial student in charge of the techniques turned to one of the white-robed men guarding the floor. Suddenly, their eyes widened briefly before they looked at the kid in surprise.


    "Do you need my assistance?" Gail asked, shifting the conversation to why the beggar was on this floor.


    "Yes," Apollo nodded. "It''s about the techniques."


    "Oh? Please tell me, I''ll do my best to help!" Gail said.


    "It''s nothing serious. I just want to learn strong and flashy techniques, but I couldn''t find any good ones on the second floor, so I came here," Apollo explained. "Do you have any suggestions?"


    "You want something strong and flashy?" Gail repeated. She turned around and glanced at the techniques floating on the circular platform. "I think all the techniques on this floor are flashy and strong."


    "Hmm," Apollo put a hand under his chin. He had become picky with techniques and didn''t want to waste time constantly improving one just to match his strength. "What about something unique? A technique that no one, or only a few people, have learned?"


    Apollo decided to look for something really strong, unique, and well-suited to him. This way, he wouldn''t have to worry about whether the technique could keep up with his strength or if he would have to constantly improve it.


    "Unique techniques? Then the fourth floor will meet your criteria," Gail said. "The techniques upstairs are much stronger and more unique, but they''re very hard to cultivate. All the Senior Martial Students have learned at least one technique from the fourth floor, and they''re the only ones who''ve managed it. Excluding the Elders and previous Seniors, of course."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes lit up. "Then let''s check it out." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright," Gail nodded, but as they were about to leave, the martial student behind the reception desk stopped them.


    "Wait!"


    "Hm?" Apollo and Gail turned to look.


    "We made a mistake," the receptionist said, handing the book to Gail. "Your mission points are enough for you to learn this."


    "Really?!" Gail brightened up.


    "Yes," the martial student nodded, smiling at her while glancing at the kid beside her. "But you already know the rules¡ªyou can only learn the technique inside the training room and must return the book when you''re done."


    "I know, thank you!" Gail took the book, her eyes shining with excitement.


    "That''s great," Apollo smiled. "Let''s go."


    The two of them left, with the martial student watching their backs.


    That was close. I mustn''t offend the Personal Disciple, the martial student thought, letting out a sigh of relief. If he hadn''t received a mental message from one of the white-robed men, he would surely have been punished for being rude to the Headmaster''s Personal Disciple.


    Apollo and Gail walked side by side toward their destination and soon arrived at the fourth floor.


    The fourth floor had a door guarded by two figures wearing black-and-white armor, standing on either side.


    The floor''s d¨¦cor was simple. Staring at the guards, Apollo couldn''t help but mutter, "Using Qi Condensation guards¡­ the techniques inside must be really valuable."


    Gail nodded. "But before, the guards were only at the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage. The school had no choice but to replace them with stronger ones; they couldn''t afford to lose more techniques."


    "Some of the techniques were stolen?" Apollo asked, surprised. This was the first time he''d heard about it.


    "Yes," Gail confirmed. "A lot of martial students managed to get hold of these stolen techniques. During the last advancement, the Headmasters tricked them into using the stolen techniques. From what I know, they were suspended."


    Apollo recalled the suspicious events that happened during the examination and realized this explained a lot.


    So that''s why, during the first test, some individuals were actively causing trouble. Apollo had already suspected something was off, but now it was clear what had transpired. Some of the battles back then were strange, with students suddenly gaining power or strength at the last moment. White-robed men had appeared to capture certain cultivators.


    "Is this school the only victim?" Apollo asked, his expression turning serious. He suddenly felt suspicious about this new information, and his gut told him he might have stumbled upon something that could help with his mission.


    "No," Gail shook her head. "Other martial schools were also infiltrated. The Fire Shrine, the Sword and Shield, and even smaller schools had their techniques stolen."


    Apollo frowned. A mass theft? Why? But given the scale of the operation, whoever was behind this had to be organized. And with an organized effort came an organizer.


    He didn''t need to think too hard to suspect the mastermind. The fatso mayor must be involved, Apollo thought. Even if Klown wasn''t the mastermind, Apollo was ready to blame him. He was already set on stepping on someone¡ªwhy not step harder?


    This news was a key piece of the puzzle Apollo needed to complete his mission.


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    "Have they caught the thieves?" Apollo asked.


    "I don''t know," Gail replied with a bitter smile. She noticed Mr. Beggar''s growing interest in the topic. "But I can investigate for you."


    "No need. You''re already busy with cultivation and the restaurant," Apollo said, shaking his head. "You''ve done more than enough just by accompanying me. Should we head inside?"


    "I''ll stay here and wait for you," Gail said, glancing at the guards in the distance. "I don''t have the authority to enter."


    "I see," Apollo nodded. "Then I''ll go in. You don''t have to wait for me if you get bored."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t," Gail said as the beggar walked toward the door. She was curious if he could enter, and if he could, his status must be equal to that of the Seniors.


    As Apollo approached the giant door, he could feel a condensed energy leaking out from it. It wasn''t Qi but something different¡ªa soothing sensation that calmed his mind and helped him think clearly.


    He stopped a few feet from the guards. "Can I enter?" he asked, and as soon as the words left his mouth, one of the guards raised his hand and pushed the giant door open.


    Seeing this, Apollo let out a sigh. The guards know my identity, but the martial student behind the counter didn''t. If he''d known in advance, he wouldn''t have talked big and embarrassed himself.

 Chapter 209 Fourth Floor(Part-2)

    As the door closed with a quiet thud behind him, Apollo looked around the floor with curiosity.


    There were twelve techniques floating atop circular platforms, emitting subtle glows. The surrounding Qi circulated around them, so dense that Apollo could perceive it even without focusing his senses.


    He realized that the soothing sensation came from the twelve techniques, like flowers releasing pollen into the air.


    The beggar glanced around and noticed a single door and a staircase leading to another floor. There was no reception desk, no white-robed men on standby¡ªhe was the only person in the room.


    Looking back at the floating scrolls and techniques, Apollo couldn''t help but smile. "This is paradise."


    He could feel the power in each technique, even though he hadn''t opened them yet.


    He considered the stairs for a moment before walking toward the nearest floating book.


    As his hand touched the cool, rough cover, a thought crossed his mind. What if I tried to steal all of this?


    Apollo chuckled. If only I could. Being a good and law-abiding citizen, he wouldn''t dare steal them.


    He opened the book, and the title caught his eye.


    "Sword Serpent Transformation?" the beggar muttered, flipping through the pages. He saw an illustration of a man wielding a sword, then the sword turning into a giant serpent, swallowing a whole mountain, taking a huge bite out of the ground, and freezing the ocean.


    He continued flipping until he reached the end. Closing the book, Apollo smacked his lips. "So, this is that guy''s battle technique."


    He recalled his previous fight with Heru¡ªthe guy who challenged him had used the same technique, turning his sword into a great serpent. Apollo had struggled to deal with it, and even with his Simple Sword Technique, he couldn''t break the sword serpent.


    According to the book, Heru was only at the beginning stage of the technique. Apollo could only imagine the destruction the sword serpent could cause once fully mastered.


    Staring at the book in his hand, he was about to put it back when he paused. "This is great, but it''s not unique anymore. Still, it wouldn''t hurt to memorize it."


    With that thought, he began flipping through the book again, this time carefully memorizing all the text and images. It took him almost ten minutes to fully commit the technique to memory. Once he was done, he placed the book back, the technique resuming its place on the circular platform.


    However, as soon as he stepped back and reached for another technique, his mind suddenly went blank. A confused look crossed his face. "What happened?"


    He felt like something was missing¡ªsomething significant, but he couldn''t quite pinpoint what.


    Suddenly, it clicked. He glanced back and realized he had forgotten everything about the Sword Serpent Transformation. He had clearly memorized it, but the moment he put the book back, it vanished from his memory like smoke.


    Thinking about it further, Apollo realized this was their way of preventing people like him from memorizing the techniques. If someone managed to memorize all these valuable techniques, the security of this floor would be pointless. They could simply replicate the books and sell them¡ªsomething Apollo might do if he were an *sshole. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Should I just let it go? the beggar thought, before shaking his head. His eyes burned with determination as he stepped toward the Sword Serpent Transformation.


    He couldn''t give up on this challenge.


    Grasping the book, he began reading and memorizing its contents. Once finished, he didn''t put it back right away. Instead, he observed the circular platform and the technique in his hands.


    Apollo started walking backward, watching to see if he would forget the contents as he moved farther from the platform with the book in his arms. But even when he was about to hit the wall, the technique remained clear in his mind.


    So it must be the book, Apollo thought. He dropped the technique, and as soon as it hit the floor, the familiar feeling of something missing returned.


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    The book, meanwhile, became a blur, and in the next second, it reappeared, floating on the circular platform.


    "If they can''t even put the books down, how are they able to learn it?" Apollo muttered in confusion. He looked around the room, his eyes landing on the door. Then it clicked.


    This must be the training room they mentioned on the previous floor¡­ what if? Apollo walked back to the book and memorized it again for the third time. Once done, he approached the door with the technique in hand.


    He pushed it open, greeted by an expanse of whiteness.


    "Woah!" Apollo exclaimed. He slowly stepped inside, glancing around. There was a weapon rack in the distance filled with wooden weapons, and besides that, nothing but white stretched before him. Even so, he was impressed. Looking down, he saw his shadow, even though there was no sun overhead. "This is amazing."


    The door behind him closed on its own, but he focused back on the book.


    Apollo dropped it, the technique landing with a thud on the ground.


    "I knew it," the beggar smiled. The Sword Serpent Transformation in his mind remained intact. He realized that you couldn''t memorize the scrolls or books outside; you had to enter the training room to retain them.


    As he figured out the mechanism behind these techniques, he became even more amazed at how those thieves had managed to steal the school''s cultivation and battle techniques.


    "Seems like I don''t have a choice but to learn this one," Apollo muttered, sighing. He didn''t want to waste time learning this technique¡ªeven though it was powerful, it no longer felt unique to him. Besides Heru, there were likely more individuals who had mastered the Sword Serpent Transformation. Still, now that he was here, he figured he might as well learn it to at least the beginner stage.


    He didn''t know if there was a time limit for being on the fourth floor¡ªnot that he cared. He would wait for them to call him out if needed.


    Apollo walked to the weapon rack and picked up a wooden sword. After swinging it a few times to get a feel for it, he nodded in approval. It was the same type of wooden sword he had "borrowed" from the training ground.


    "I should start."

 Chapter 210 Fourth Floor(Part-3)

    Apollo raised the wooden sword in front of him. With his eyes closed, he began following the process from the Sword Serpent Transformation technique.


    To reach the beginner stage, he had to feel the sword and become familiar with it. He had to make it an extension of himself, not just a simple weapon.


    However, for the beggar, this was an easy task. With his mastery of the Simple Sword Technique, which allowed him to turn any weapon into a sharp sword, he immediately made the wooden sword a part of him.


    Then came the second part: visualization. He had to visualize the mythological Great Serpent within the wooden sword. Apollo needed to engrave this image using Qi.


    There were two types of Qi, which he had learned about on the first floor of the library: Unrefined Qi and Refined Qi.


    Unrefined Qi referred to the Qi in the outside world. This Qi mingled with the air and was filled with impurities.


    Refined Qi, on the other hand, was exclusive to cultivators who had reached Qi Condensation and above. This type of Qi was Unrefined Qi absorbed by cultivators, circulated through their bodies, and stored in the ball of Qi located in their dantian. It became stronger, and its quality was much higher than that of the unrefined variety.


    Cultivators could use Refined Qi by drawing it from the ball of Qi in their dantian, rather than from the outside world. This much stronger energy was one of the requirements to learn the Sword Serpent Transformation.


    Following the instructions from the book, the beggar began drawing power from the ball of Qi in his dantian. The Refined Qi flowed out of his body, covering the wooden sword through his fingers.


    Apollo''s eyes focused on the sword. He saw it change, transforming into something else. As the head of the serpent started forming, the beggar couldn''t help but feel excited. Don''t tell me I''ll succeed on my first try?


    However, his excitement quickly vanished when the wooden sword returned to normal, the Refined Qi disintegrating.


    "Sh*t," Apollo cursed with a bitter smile. It was a wild dream to think he could learn a technique, reserved for a select few, in just one try. "Again."


    This time, he became more focused. His only goal for now was to reach the beginner stage of the Sword Serpent Transformation, not to master it just yet.


    He recalled his previous attempts, especially his mistakes.


    Apollo corrected them, and soon, the wooden sword fully transformed into the great serpent. But alas, it only lasted for a few seconds before the weapon returned to normal.


    "I didn''t use enough Refined Qi," Apollo realized. He took a deep breath of the outside Qi and refined it in his dantian, filling the ball of Qi.


    Besides visualization, he had to ensure the right amount of Qi was used, or the technique would break.


    On his third attempt, Apollo finally managed to transform the wooden sword into a living blue Great Serpent, though the handle of the weapon remained unchanged. It behaved like a real snake, but Apollo knew it wasn''t. It felt more like he was holding an automatic toy. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Now what next..." the beggar muttered. Even though he had managed to transform the sword into a smaller version of the great serpent, he still hadn''t reached the beginner stage. "Infusing more Refined Qi? This snake is such a glutton."


    Apollo followed the process carefully. One wrong move, and he would have to restart while the Refined Qi from his condensed ball of Qi slowly diminished. To reach the beginner stage of the Sword Serpent Transformation, the great serpent should be detailed, at least two or three meters long, and able to change size depending on his will.


    But so far, he could only change the sword into a mediocre snake.


    ¡­


    It took around thirty minutes for the beggar to finally reach the beginner stage of the Sword Serpent Transformation technique.


    Apollo waved the weapon in his hand, and the great serpent roared, its mouth wide open as it bit at the air, its razor-sharp teeth creating a loud snapping sound that reverberated through the training room.


    With another wave, the great serpent''s body elongated, thrashing around the room, its tail slamming into the floor with a resounding thud.


    "This is great!" Apollo exclaimed, as the serpent''s size shrank back down until it returned to being the wooden sword. Glancing at it, he smiled in satisfaction. At first, he had been somewhat against learning it, but once he did, he realized it wasn''t so bad after all.


    "Now that I''m done with this one... I should learn all of them!" Apollo muttered with excitement. The technique in his mind shouldn''t disappear like before, right? The beggar had only learned the beginner stage, but fully memorized the technique. He would be greatly upset if he could only remember what he''d learned so far.


    Picking up the book from the floor, he walked out the door. The moment his foot stepped back onto the dark floor, he braced himself for the worst.


    "It''s still there," Apollo sighed in relief, letting the book drop to the ground. His eyes landed on the floating techniques with renewed excitement. Now that he had figured out how to retain the techniques in his mind, he wouldn''t be stingy with himself.


    He walked to the nearest scroll, picked it up, unfurled it, and memorized it before walking back inside the training ground.


    The second technique was a Cultivation Technique. As Apollo stared at the scroll in his hand, he felt conflicted.


    This cultivation technique was called the Great Serpent Assimilation Cultivation Technique, and unlike battle techniques, this one focused on raising the cultivation of an individual¡ªjust like his Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique.


    In the beggar''s opinion, the Great Serpent Assimilation Cultivation Technique was actually a great technique, much better than what he was currently using. Once learned, he would be able to use water-related battle techniques more easily. He could even control natural water without using Qi. Furthermore, the technique would allow him to reach the Core Creation Stage. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, the downside was that he would have to give up his current cultivation and start over, though the scroll mentioned it wouldn''t take long to catch up to his previous cultivation.


    "Hmm, should I?" Apollo muttered, feeling conflicted. But all my efforts revising the Simple Breathing Technique will go to waste. If I cultivate this Great Serpent Assimilation, I''ll have to start from scratch, the beggar thought.


    He stared at the scroll for a moment before shaking his head. With a yawn, he walked back outside. Apollo was too lazy to start over. Besides, he wanted to see how much further he could revise his Simple Breathing Technique.

 Chapter 211 Fifth Floor(Part-1)

    Apollo walked out of the training room with a yawn. The book in his hand fell to the ground, disappearing in a blur before reappearing in its original position, floating atop the circular platform.


    He looked around and nodded with a smile. "They''re great," the beggar muttered, referring to the floating techniques. He hadn''t learned the Cultivation Techniques since they required him to restart his cultivation. Instead, he focused on the Battle Techniques.


    Although he only reached the beginner stage in each, his main goal was to memorize the techniques, not master them in one sitting, as that would take too long.


    From the Sword Serpent Transformation to more bizarre techniques, the beggar was satisfied.


    Suddenly, he remembered Gail waiting for him outside. He had probably spent about three hours learning seven or eight battle techniques¡ªlonger than he expected.


    "Hopefully, she already went home," the beggar muttered, shaking his head.


    Now that he was done on this floor... Apollo''s eyes landed on the nearby stairs.


    He could only see a few steps before they disappeared into darkness, like the mouth of a beast waiting for its prey.


    The techniques on this floor were already powerful and amazing, so what about the floor above? Apollo''s curiosity was piqued.


    The Headmaster had said he had free access to all the techniques as a Personal Disciple. The fifth floor shouldn''t be off-limits to him.


    With this in mind, Apollo didn''t hesitate and began walking toward the stairs. However, as he was about to pass through the doorway, he suddenly stopped.


    A liquid barrier appeared in front of him.


    "Oh, a barrier?" Apollo raised his hand and touched it, ripples forming as his fingers glided over the surface. "Seems like I can''t ente¡ª" Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    The water barrier suddenly let out a bright light, cutting off his words. The brilliance enveloped him for a moment, and when it faded, the barrier was gone.


    Apollo shrugged. "Pardon the intrusion!" With that, he started climbing the stairs. At first, he could still see the steps, but as he continued, they gradually disappeared, and soon, the beggar found himself surrounded by darkness.


    He didn''t know how long he had been walking or how many steps he had taken, but thankfully, it wasn''t an endless staircase that would drive anyone mad.


    The sound of water splashing echoed as his foot hit the floor. At the same time, the entire area was subtly lit, allowing him to see the water reaching his ankles.


    Apollo glanced behind him, noticing the stairs had disappeared, replaced by an endless expanse of water stretching far and wide.


    The place resembled the training ground, though splashing sounds echoed with each step he took.


    "Now what?" Apollo muttered in confusion. All he could see was endless water¡ªno books, no scrolls. "Don''t tell me this place is still under construction?!"


    If that were the case, he''d be seriously upset.


    But his words seemed to trigger something. Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from the distance. When his eyes focused on the source, he saw water rising dozens of meters high.


    Apollo''s eyes widened. "What the f¡ª" He couldn''t finish his words as, in the next second, the giant mass of water exploded!


    The powerful blast sent shockwaves through the air, and the force of the water flung the beggar high into the sky!


    "Ahhh!" Apollo screamed, his body flipping dozens of times.


    As his vision blurred, he heard a roar so loud that his ears began ringing, and his body shivered from the intensity of it.


    A cold, piercing gaze locked onto him, but before he could process what was happening, the beggar slammed into the water-covered floor, creating a splash that shot dozens of feet into the air. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "F*ck!" Apollo cursed. The fall didn''t hurt him, but being caught off guard by the sudden shift in the situation left him no time to react.


    He stared into the endless darkness for a moment before another roar echoed, the intimidating sound reverberating through the area.


    The beggar''s hair stood on end.


    What the hell is happening?! Apollo stood up, water dripping from him, but he couldn''t care less. His eyes were locked on the area where the explosion had occurred.


    What he saw nearly made him wet himself.


    I shouldn''t have entered this place! Apollo felt immense regret as those piercing cold eyes never left him.


    He now understood the feeling of being an ant. No matter how talented he was or how many techniques he had learned, he realized he was insignificant in front of true power. The creature before him was something even the Ten Tail Alphadusk Shadowtail couldn''t compare to!


    ---


    Meanwhile, outside, at the entrance to the fourth floor.


    Gail sat cross-legged beside the wall, a technique scroll resting on her lap. The third floor and below didn''t have memory-erasing mechanisms on their books and scrolls, allowing students to take the techniques anywhere on the island. However, they had to return them within a set time, finished or not, or else they would face severe punishment.


    She had been cultivating in this spot for three hours, and when she opened her eyes, she still couldn''t see any sign of Mr. Beggar.


    Gail let out a sigh. "Sorry, but I have to leave. I still need to help Filly." She spoke to the air, hoping her words would somehow reach the beggar inside.


    I''ll just repay the favor another time, she thought. She glanced at the book in her hands for a moment before standing up and turning toward the stairs. However, the moment she took a step, the whole floor suddenly shook!


    A powerful earthquake almost caused Gail to fall, but she managed to grab the railing, steadying herself.


    At the same time, a roar echoed from behind her. It wasn''t loud, but as soon as it reached her ears, her whole body began trembling, as if she were standing face to face with death itself.


    Wide-eyed, she turned to the fourth floor''s entrance. The door was still shaking.


    She noticed the guards on standby exchanging glances before one of them pulled out a talisman.


    The guard held the engraved rectangle of paper in front of his mouth, whispered a few words, and it began to glow. Then, it disintegrated into particles of light, flowing in one direction, passing through the walls and into the outside world.


    Seeing this, Gail knew they had used the Long-Distance Voice Talisman. The fact that they''d resorted to this item made her realize how serious the situation had become.


    "You should leave," one of the guards said to the stunned woman.


    "B-but Mr. Yoma is still in there!" Gail stammered, her heart racing. Knowing that the beggar was behind the door where the roar had come from filled her with dread.


    "You should leave," the guard repeated, this time with a commanding and cold tone.


    Gail looked at the two guards with gritted teeth before letting out a resigned sigh. In the end, there was nothing more she could do but leave the floor.


    ...


    "I f*cked up," Apollo muttered, gulping as his eyes stayed fixed on the creature in the distance.


    He had gotten greedy with the techniques. The old sayings¡ªtoo much of anything is bad and curiosity killed the cat¡ªwere ringing true. Apollo could think of several proverbs to describe his disastrous situation, but he didn''t have time to dwell on them as the creature roared once more.


    The Great Serpent floated in front of him, a glowing light-blue brilliance radiating from its massive form, illuminating the entire watery expanse.


    It was as big as a mountain and wide enough to cover two or three streets. The creature''s body was covered in shimmering blue scales, tiny sapphires scattered across its skin, each one radiating an otherworldly glow. Its eyes, cold and bottomless like the deepest ocean trench, were locked on the beggar unblinkingly, while its long, sinuous body coiled through the air.


    Water floated around the beast as if alive, twisting and swirling in sync with the creature''s subtle movements.


    With a mere flick of its tail, water surged, forming towering waves that nearly reached its full height. Winds whipped up as well, causing the beggar''s clothes and hair to flap violently in the gusts.


    Apollo gulped for what felt like the hundredth time. Compared to this monster, the Alphadusk that almost killed him during the Advancement Examination was nothing! The difference between them was like heaven and earth.


    I''m just here for some techniques, not to meet a monster of this magnitude! Apollo regretted ever stepping into this godforsaken place.


    He began weighing his options, though it quickly became clear there was only one: escape.


    He pulled up his Status Screen to check his remaining Alm Points.


    Alm Points: 40


    The basic locator had cost him five Alm Points. It was functional and useful, but in his current situation, he needed every Alm Point he could get!


    "Hey System!" Apollo called out, still not breaking eye contact with the Great Serpent. The statue outside the Great Serpent Cultivation School almost resembled the creature in front of him¡ªalmost, because the stone couldn''t capture the overwhelming pressure radiating from the serpent!


    "Yes, Host?"


    "Is 40 Alm Points enough to get me out of here if things go south?" Apollo asked, crossing his fingers.


    "Try using the feature and we will find out if it''s enough," the System responded in its usual emotionless voice.


    Apollo''s face turned bright red with anger at the answer.


    "You scum! F*ck you, System! If you had a physical body, I''d beat your *ss!" Apollo shouted, his nose flaring in frustration.


    The only response he got was the translucent screen in front of him disappearing into particles of light.


    Taking a deep breath to calm his rage, Apollo started scanning the area for an exit. That''s when he heard a voice.


    "Human¡­ you will¡­ take¡­ my challenge."


    Apollo turned toward the giant creature, his face showing momentary shock before he snapped out of it with a shake of his head. He shouldn''t be surprised that the Great Serpent could talk.

 Chapter 212 Fifth Floor(Part-2)

    Apollo stared at the humongous figure, his eyes wide.


    "Challenge?" the beggar muttered. He only wanted the strongest technique in the Great Serpent Library, but this monster wanted him to take a challenge? There could only be one explanation: the technique on this floor must be incredibly powerful.


    Although Apollo felt his current situation was dangerous, he knew there was no way this Great Serpent was here without reason. Clearly, a valuable object lay hidden on the fifth floor, guarded by this powerful presence.


    The beggar took a deep breath to calm his nerves. If he couldn''t escape, then he would face what lay ahead¡ªnot by fighting it, as there was a thousand percent chance he''d die. Besides, he came here for the technique, and his initial goal wasn''t going to change.


    "What challenge?!" Apollo called out, his voice echoing in the vast space.


    "Don''t¡­ shout¡­" the Great Serpent rumbled, its tone cold and low, making the temperature plummet.


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    The beggar shivered as a mist of breath escaped his mouth, his heavy breathing adding to the eerie atmosphere.


    "What challenge?" Apollo repeated, this time his voice barely above a whisper. He didn''t want to die¡ªno way he''d waste his second life.


    "Come¡­ here," the Great Serpent commanded, its voice rumbling deeply. The slow, thunderous speech made the beggar''s hair stand on end.


    "Alrig¡ª" Apollo started to answer when his vision blurred. Before he knew it, he was standing directly in front of the serpent. He blinked a few times, trying to process what had just happened.


    What the hell? That''s cool! Apollo thought, impressed. He hadn''t felt a thing¡ªno Qi, no warning¡ªjust a blur before he was teleported.


    "State¡­ your¡­ name," the Great Serpent said.


    "I''m Ap¡ª" Apollo coughed. "I''m Yoma."


    The beggar kept his voice low, not daring to raise it in fear it might cost him his life.


    The Great Serpent was silent for a moment. The water around it began swirling faster as its voice boomed.


    "Yoma¡­ is not¡­ your¡­ real name!"


    Apollo felt the serpent''s piercing gaze go straight through him, making his whole body shiver. The air grew thick with killing intent. Swallowing hard, the beggar smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, my bad. I was just trying to protect my real identity. My name is Apollo.


    Apollo Leone."


    For the first time since arriving in this world, he revealed his real name.


    "Apollo¡­ Leone," the Great Serpent repeated. "Hundreds¡­ of individuals¡­ have tried¡­ to enter¡­ this place¡­ however¡­ you are¡­ the first¡­ to have¡­ qualified."


    Hearing this, Apollo smirked confidently. It''s because I''m so talented! he thought, though he kept silent, waiting for the creature to reveal the details of the challenge.


    "A¡­ vessel¡­ capable of embodying¡­ the real¡­ me¡­ to transform¡­ into something¡­ greater¡­" The Great Serpent''s voice turned melancholic as it spoke.


    As Apollo listened and stared at the Great Serpent, he was suddenly reminded of a scene from a television show he''d seen in his previous life.


    A person with spiky hair collecting seven shiny balls, summoning a creature from them that''s huge and wide, just like the one in front of him. Then they were granted three wishes¡ªmoney, power, strength¡ªanything could be granted. But reality and fiction are very different. Apollo had to face a challenge to get what he wanted. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hundreds¡­ of fragments¡­ scattered across¡­ Continent Drakaris¡­ hoping¡­ to find¡­ the one¡­ who can¡­ inherit¡­" The Great Serpent''s slow voice reverberated.


    Apollo, listening closely, crossed his arms with a raised eyebrow. Continent Drakaris¡ªhe knew that''s where Klown City was located. Luckily, he had learned the basics back on the first floor, or he''d still be clueless.


    Fragments? What''s this monster talking about? Apollo didn''t need much time to figure it out. Fragments¡ªit was referring to itself. These fragments were likely located at the top of each Great Serpent Cultivation School''s library, scattered across Drakaris.


    "Inherit¡­ the true¡­ identity¡­ of the true¡­ Great Serpent¡­ Apollo Leone¡­" The Great Serpent''s gaze softened.


    Okay, here comes the main part! Finally, the serpent was going to explain the challenge. Apollo''s ears perked up, afraid to miss a single detail. Just from the creature''s story, the technique on this floor had to be something unique and incredibly powerful!


    "The Great Serpent¡­ embodied¡­ water¡­" the snake continued. "Water¡­ embraces the land¡­ water¡­ extinguishes fire¡­ thousands¡­ of years ago¡­"


    Oh, god! Can''t you just get straight to the point! Apollo''s face twitched in irritation. He began tapping his finger on his arm. The Great Serpent''s voice was slow enough to test his patience, and now it was going off into some ancient story!


    Come on! I''m here for the technique, not to listen to a fairy tale! But the creature pressed on with its tale.


    "My kind¡­ ran rampant¡­ we were the kings¡­ and queens¡­ of water¡­ but our existence¡­ became known¡­ to man¡­" The Great Serpent looked toward the ''ceiling,'' the endless void of darkness, its eyes seeming to pierce through time. "War¡­ we couldn''t¡­ escape¡­ some¡­ were imprisoned¡­ some died¡­ some chose¡­ to fight¡­"


    Apollo didn''t need to hear the rest. The history books on the first floor had already provided enough information for him to piece together the War.


    The War of Greed had brought the unknown to light. Dragons, serpents, great turtles, and more legendary creatures appeared, and once peace was broken, their presence became entangled in the battle between Cultivators and normal humans who had gained power from other influences.


    Theories and doubts were also written in those books, some of which Apollo agreed with. The Ancient Cultivators and normal humans had made a treaty, in part to face the threat of the Legendary Creatures.


    Apollo waited, tuning out the rest of the Great Serpent''s words. It was just bragging about how great its species was and how powerful they had been. The serpent even claimed the dragons couldn''t compare to them.


    Though the serpent''s speech was slow, its pride was unmistakable.


    Apollo lost track of time, and just as he was about to reach the end of his patience, the Great Serpent finally stopped.


    "Apollo¡­ the one¡­ who is¡­ qualified¡­" The Great Serpent stared coldly at him, its body shifting subtly, the scales glinting.


    "Yes?" Apollo asked unenthusiastically. For god''s sake, if this snake dares to tell another story, I''ll throw my life away and pick a fight with it! Luckily, the worst-case scenario¡ªone he definitely wasn''t ready to try¡ªdidn''t happen.


    "Take my¡­ challenge¡­ to inherit¡­ the Great¡­ Serpent Ascendant¡­ Transformation¡­" The Great Serpent spoke in a mysterious tone.


    Hearing this, Apollo clenched his fists in excitement. Finally!

 Chapter 213 Fifth Floor(Part-3)

    The Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School was cultivating peacefully inside his quarters. His body floated cross-legged above a mat, while a thin black sword lay across his lap.


    With eyes closed, the surrounding Qi flowed into his body, circulating before settling below his navel, where his Ball of Qi rotated slowly.


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    This clone of his had reached the 3rd-Step of the Qi Condensation stage, and it wouldn''t be long before ''he'' reached the 4th-Step.


    As the surroundings remained dark and the fireflies of Qi entered his body, Headmaster Axton couldn''t help but smile as he thought of his Personal Disciple.


    The scene from Yoma''s first challenge against Heru replayed in his mind. He''s truly a great find, the Headmaster thought with satisfaction.


    He couldn''t think of anyone more deserving of the position of Personal Disciple than Yoma. Someone who had mastered the True Understanding of the Sword, Yoma was more than qualified. Furthermore, he was smart and brave, venturing into the path of the Wanderer.


    As Axton cultivated, thinking about the kid¡ªwhich might come off as suspicious to others if they found out¡ªa brown bird suddenly entered the balcony, chirping loudly as it circled in the air.


    Hearing this, Axton opened his eyes and stared at the bird. "Come here."


    The bird chirped one last time before flying in front of the Headmaster, holding a small scroll in its claws.


    The moment Axton took it, the bird flew away.


    There was a seal stamped on the scroll: a crossed sword atop a shield. Axton instantly recognized where it came from.


    Unfurling it, the paper burned to ashes. However, the smoke didn''t scatter. Instead, it gathered into a three-foot cloud, and an image slowly formed.


    Seeing the person on the cloud, Axton smiled. "Why did you send such an expensive long-distance live message?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I had to," Elmo said, his tone serious. His eyes scanned the space behind the Great Serpent Headmaster but found no one. "Where is he? Is he still alive?"


    "Oh? Straight to the point, I see. But I don''t know what you''re talking about," Axton shrugged, his smile unfading.


    "I think you do," Elmo stated firmly. "You may be smarter than me, but that doesn''t mean I''m slow or dumb."


    "Haha," Axton laughed, shaking his head. With a sigh, he asked, "How did you find out?"


    "Just like you, I spoke with the Skyline Savory," Elmo smirked through the cloud of smoke. "I realized it too late, though. The sudden tribulation was strange, so I asked that monster expert for his thoughts. So, back to my first question: where is he, and is he still alive?"


    "You won''t stop until I tell you, will you?" Axton sighed.


    "No," Elmo nodded firmly.


    "He''s dead, clear as day," Axton lied. There was no way he''d reveal that he already had the talented Yoma under his wing.


    "I don''t believe it," Elmo shook his head. "Besides, there''s something else I''ve heard."


    "What?" Axton raised an eyebrow, though he already had an inkling of what the other headmaster had discovered.


    "You took in a Personal Disciple?" Elmo asked, smirking and narrowing his eyes at Axton. The more cunning a person was, the less their words could be trusted. "That was sudden, wasn''t it? Rumors travel fast, so I know all about it."


    Who would believe that? Axton thought. It was true that rumors traveled fast, but he was certain these particular rumors were only circulating inside his school. Clearly, Elmo must have used underhanded methods. However, the Great Serpent Headmaster wouldn''t call out his friend, since he was guilty of the same behavior.


    The only clueless one was Fire Shrine Master Popo, who was more focused on showing off his jewels.


    "I can neither deny nor confirm that rumor," Axton said, smiling mysteriously.


    "I see," Elmo went silent for a moment, then nodded. "I''ve got what I wanted, so I''ll cut off the connection."


    "Sure. Hopefully, you''re satisfied," Axton said.


    "I am, but a bit frustrated, to be honest," Elmo replied before the smoke cloud dispersed with the wind.


    As it faded, the Great Serpent Headmaster shook his head. Hiding the truth from the other Headmasters wasn''t going to be easy, but at least he was keeping his promise to the beggar.


    Gazing at the clear blue sky beyond the balcony for a moment, he prepared to return to his cultivation. But just before he could enter the Void, the building shook. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but with Axton''s heightened senses, he felt it clearly.


    His attention shifted toward the direction of the Library. "What''s happening?" Axton muttered, a sense of foreboding welling up inside him.


    In the next instant, particles of light passed through the walls, stopping in front of him.


    Axton''s eyes widened. Long-distance voice communication? There were various items, methods, and techniques for communication, but this was typically used only in emergencies¡ªjust like the Long Distance Live Message Elmo had used earlier out of curiosity.


    The particles of light shaped themselves into a mouth, and a voice emerged from it.


    "The entire fourth floor of the Great Serpent Cultivation Library shook violently, followed by the roar of the Great Serpent, calling for the Headmaster''s presence. The Personal Disciple is currently inside."


    Axton recognized the voice of the guard stationed at the fourth-floor entrance. His eyes widened momentarily before he hurriedly moved toward the balcony.


    His heart pounded in his chest, his breathing heavy.


    "Don''t tell me he managed to enter that place?!" Axton muttered, launching himself into the air. In an instant, his body blurred as he sped toward the school''s library.


    ...


    Great Serpent Ascendent Transformation? That''s a great fcking name!* Apollo thought, excitement coursing through him. His eyes burned with anticipation. "So, what''s the challenge?" he finally asked, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer.


    "Fight¡­ me," the Great Serpent said, its booming voice echoing.


    Silence lingered.


    "Hell nah!" Apollo blurted, quickly snapping out of his shock. Who in their right mind would fight a battle with such a high chance of defeat? Only madmen or people with a death wish! Not me! He valued his life above all else. He might be called a coward or a p*ssy, but at least he wasn''t six feet under!


    Shaking his head, he turned to leave, searching for the exit. But suddenly, the surroundings blurred again, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of the Great Serpent once more.


    "Fight¡­ me¡­ one¡­ of my¡­ clones¡­" the Great Serpent said. "If you¡­ win¡­ you shall¡­ inherit¡­ the Great Serpent¡­ Ascendent¡­ Transformation¡­"

 Chapter 214 Clone Of The Great Serpent(Part-1)

    "Clearly, you''re strong, so this clone of yours should be a downgraded version of yourself, right?" Apollo asked, pointing at the serpent''s sinuous body. He wasn''t sure whether the Great Serpent in front of him was the real deal or just a projection, but he could feel that this serpent was something he couldn''t defeat with his current cultivation.


    "I am¡­ but a mere¡­ fragment¡­ however, my clones¡­ are enough for¡­ you," the Great Serpent explained in its slow, low voice.


    "Enough for me? To defeat it or for it to defeat me?" Apollo asked, but the serpent didn''t respond. Its glowing body brightened before shrinking into a two-meter-tall ball of light.


    The light slowly descended in front of the beggar.


    "I guess we''re starting then," Apollo muttered, his demeanor turning serious. His small frame stood face-to-face with the ball of light as his body tensed. If this ball of light made any sudden moves that threatened him, he was ready to act.


    Lowering his stance, the beggar waited.


    A few seconds later, the ball of light began to shift. Its form changed into various shapes until it settled into the figure of a two-meter-tall man.


    Then the details emerged¡ªlong white hair with a hint of blue, reaching down to the waist. The man''s face had no eyebrows, but was covered in pale blue, almost white scales. His eyes were a deep ocean blue, reminiscent of the unreachable depths of Point Nemo.


    His body was covered in white and blue scales, which seemed to function as armor.


    Apollo''s eyes widened as he took in the sight. A sudden flicking sound echoed behind the man, and when Apollo looked, he saw a long white tail swishing over the water-covered floor.


    Though the winds summoned weren''t as powerful as those from the larger Great Serpent, they were strong enough to blow the beggar''s hair and clothes.


    "You¡­ are you the Great Serpent?" Apollo asked, raising his fists in front of him.


    "I am but a mere clone, a fragment scattered across the entire Drakarin continent," the Great Serpent answered. His voice was much clearer now than when he was in his snake form.


    Apollo nodded. The serpent had already explained the fragment earlier. So these fragments were clones of the real Great Serpent? Then where was the real one? The question lingered in his mind, and he decided to search for the answer later.


    He had only learned the basic knowledge on the first floor, and if he wanted to understand more, he would need to spend more time reading, which he wasn''t keen on doing right now.


    "If I defeat you, I''ll gain the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation?" Apollo asked. He didn''t know much about the technique yet, but it sounded cool, and he hoped it lived up to its name.


    "Yes," the clone nodded, flicking its tail once more. "We shall begin."


    Upon hearing this, Apollo jumped back to maintain distance, covering both his hands with the Simple Wind Sword Technique.


    Apollo narrowed his eyes, every nerve on high alert. He hadn''t expected that acquiring this technique would lead him into a battle¡ªand against one of the Legendary beings, the Great Serpent, no less.


    Even though it was only a clone, Apollo would still consider it the real deal¡ªjust for the sake of the story he''d tell later, if he decided to brag about the battle.


    Apollo took a deep breath as his opponent remained still, seemingly waiting for him to make the first move.


    "Hey! Why aren''t you moving?" Apollo shouted, but the humanoid Great Serpent stayed silent, its tail swaying behind it. "Fine! I''ll take the first move!"


    If his opponent wouldn''t act first, he''d gladly take the initiative! However, the moment Apollo stepped forward, the scaled man became a blur, and before the beggar knew it, a white and blue fist was inches from his face!


    "F*ck!" Apollo cursed, realizing he couldn''t dodge in time. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a loud crack, the fist slammed into his face, sending him flying through the air and crashing into the water, parting it in half!


    Apollo quickly flipped himself up, somersaulting in the air before landing squarely on his feet.


    "That hurt," he muttered, rubbing his now-red cheek. He tasted blood on his lips. Wiping it with his hand, he glared angrily at the distant Great Serpent. "I''m just a kid! Can''t you hold back?!"


    The humanoid Great Serpent didn''t respond.


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    "Damnit," Apollo spat into the water, watching the blood fall slowly towards the floor. "You''ve pissed me off."


    Fire Blast and Wind Blast. The two techniques appeared before him as he raised his hands, aiming at his opponent.


    As the blasts formed, Apollo noticed that the Great Serpent still wasn''t moving. He narrowed his eyes. The moment he''d moved earlier, the serpent had appeared in front of him, but now, as he combined Fire Blast and Wind Blast, the snake remained stationary.


    "Fine! Stay still then!" Apollo shouted, releasing his attack.


    Like a meteor, the fire and wind blasts shot through the water, surging toward the Great Serpent!


    But just as the blast left his hands, Apollo felt an overwhelming sense of danger. And sure enough, the serpent blurred again, reappearing right in front of him as the fire and wind combination exploded at its previous location!


    Seeing the incoming fist, Apollo raised his own, throwing a punch with all his strength!


    A shockwave erupted between them, sending water splashing high into the air, revealing the black floor beneath.


    Apollo could feel the immense power behind the white and blue fist, pushing his hand back. He gritted his teeth, staring into the creature''s deep blue eyes.


    Simple Wind Sword Technique!


    Suddenly, Apollo''s fist turned razor-sharp, slicing through the serpent''s hand, sending blood spraying onto the floor!


    "Gotcha!" Apollo smirked as he forced the Great Serpent''s hand back.


    Seizing the opening, he launched a punch with his other fist! But the serpent''s kick came faster, sending his body flying to the side!


    Apollo tumbled across the water-covered floor, his entire body drenched.


    He quickly stood up and wiped his face.


    "Argh," Apollo groaned in pain. Glancing down, he saw blood trickling from his waist. "I can''t react in time!"


    The Great Serpent was incredibly fast. He had thought his punch would land, but the monster was always one step ahead.

 Chapter 215 Clone Of The Great Serpent(Part-2)

    "He''s not going to move again," Apollo muttered, noticing that the Great Serpent was only watching him, its tail swaying despite clearly being at a disadvantage.


    Is this his way of looking down on me? Apollo thought, shaking his head. He had to defeat the serpent; he realized there was no leaving this place otherwise.


    Taking a couple of deep breaths, he activated his True Hardening Technique, one of the abilities he''d learned during the second round of the previous Advancement Examination.


    At the same time, he focused intently on every detail of his opponent.


    "I just have to react in time," Apollo thought. He had seen it¡ªhe could injure the Great Serpent with his Simple Wind Sword Technique. Although he hadn''t managed to cut through the fist entirely, it was a good sign. He had something that could threaten the creature, but he had to worry about the serpent''s swift, almost unavoidable attacks. Fortunately, the attacks weren''t fatal in one blow. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With determination, he raised his hand, and fire gathered in front of him, raising the temperature around him and illuminating the space. He didn''t call for the Wind Blast yet¡ªhe had other plans for it.


    "Take this!" Apollo shouted, firing the Fire Blast toward the serpent! But as expected, the Great Serpent blurred, instantly appearing in front of the beggar. "Not this time!"


    Wind Blast!


    But instead of coming from in front of Apollo, it descended from above!


    Apollo smiled as the Wind Blast struck the serpent directly! But he wasn''t done yet. Using his hand like a sword, he slashed horizontally at the creature!


    Blue blood spurted as his fingers sliced through the scales as if they were nothing!


    "You''re nothing after a¡ª" Apollo couldn''t finish his words as the serpent''s tail whipped toward his chest. "Damn!"


    The tail moved so fast that Apollo barely managed to react by crossing his arms in front of him. With a loud bang, his body skidded across the water-covered floor.


    His hands were trembling, a testament to the serpent''s power.


    Glancing at the Great Serpent, he saw its chest still spurting blood. A smile crept onto his lips but quickly vanished as pain shot through his chest.


    Looking down, he saw a long wound, shaped like the Great Serpent''s tail.


    "Ugh, that''s gross," Apollo muttered through gritted teeth. He stopped the bleeding using the surrounding Qi, letting out a sigh of relief. But when he looked back at his opponent, he was shocked. "This is cheating!"


    The serpent''s chest had already healed, new scales forming rapidly.


    Regeneration, faster, and stronger than me. This is tough! Apollo thought with a frown. He didn''t have the Headmaster to rely on this time, unlike his previous boss fight with Alphadusk. Now, he had to figure this out on his own.


    "But distractions work," Apollo muttered. Fortunately, the Great Serpent was only standing still. Revising his Wind Blast technique to summon it from any direction instead of just in front of his hands had allowed him to land a hit. With this discovery, the beggar had found one of the serpent''s weaknesses.


    Apollo squinted at his opponent, scanning it from head to tail before his gaze settled on the Great Serpent''s neck.


    "That''s the spot!"


    Severing the head could kill almost any creature. With his Simple Wind Sword Technique, Apollo bent his knees and sprinted toward his opponent!


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    "Where is he?" Headmaster Axton asked as he arrived on the fourth floor of the school''s library.


    "He''s still inside, Headmaster," one of the guards tasked with protecting the fourth floor bowed his head and replied.


    "How long has he been in there?" Axton stared at the closed doors with a frown on his face.


    "A few hours," the guard answered.


    "A few hours?" Axton repeated, surprised. He hadn''t expected his Personal Disciple to enter this floor so soon, even though Yoma already possessed techniques that could defeat the other Seniors. Did he enter out of curiosity, or was he determined to learn more techniques?


    Nevertheless, those who attempted to learn the techniques here typically had to stay inside for weeks or even months just to memorize and master their chosen technique.


    But the beggar had only been inside for a few hours, and something had already happened.


    "Is there anyone else inside besides the Personal Disciple?" Axton asked, his eyes locking on the guard.


    They didn''t dare meet his gaze, so they lowered their heads. One of them responded, "Personal Disciple Yoma is the only one inside, Headmaster."


    "Is that so..." Axton nodded, his expression serious. There was only one explanation for what was happening. His Personal Disciple Yoma had likely managed to enter the fifth floor!


    If that was the case¡­ Axton''s eyes burned with anticipation and excitement. "You can do it," he whispered, cheering inwardly for his disciple.


    ...


    Twenty minutes later.


    Mist rose into the air before being scattered by a strong wind.


    "Ah! Take this, you piece of snake!" Apollo''s small voice reverberated inside the chamber as five or six wind blasts surrounded the Great Serpent!


    The moment the blasts landed and enveloped the serpent, Apollo dashed toward his opponent, his hands covered with the Simple Wind Sword Technique. Even from a distance, he was already slicing through the air, wind slashes materializing and bombarding the Great Serpent.


    "Die!" Apollo shouted, his hands turning into a blur as he continued to slash at the creature. His body was covered in his own blood as the Great Serpent repeatedly landed attacks on him. Though he could injure the snake, he remained at a disadvantage.


    This forced him to exploit the Great Serpent''s one weakness: its tendency to get distracted. Apollo had also revised the Wind Blast Technique and the Fire Blast Technique on the spot, enabling him to use them from any position with five to six blasts at once. Although the combined attack power was lower than before, it was still enough to catch the serpent off guard!


    Blue blood sprayed across the beggar''s body, but he didn''t stop. On the contrary, his hands moved even faster!


    "Ah!" Apollo shouted, but before he realized it, the Simple Wind Sword Technique vanished from his hands. At the same time, exhaustion overtook him as his energy to control both Unrefined and Refined Qi ran out.


    He jumped back and stared at the fire- and wind-covered spot where his opponent had been.


    "Hehe, I won," the beggar muttered, panting. "No way that snake could have survived that, right?"

 Chapter 216 Clone Of The Great Serpent(Part-3)

    Apollo stared at the swirling fire and wind, his breathing labored and parts of his body bleeding.


    Fighting the Great Serpent for at least twenty minutes was exhausting. Every time he took a step, the serpent would appear in front of him, forcing them into close combat. The creature''s fists and kicks inflicted damage but never enough to kill him outright. It felt as if the serpent was programmed not to deal a fatal blow in one hit.


    But Apollo knew that if he didn''t retreat, the accumulated damage would eventually kill him.


    If he didn''t take a step, his opponent wouldn''t either. Apollo used those brief moments of stillness to gather his thoughts and heal his injuries, prolonging the fight.


    Gathering the surrounding Qi, he slowly patched up his wounds. As he did so, an idea sparked in his mind.


    "What if I use Refined Qi?" he muttered, his eyes gleaming. Refined Qi was far superior to the unrefined version¡ªstronger and more efficient. If he used it to heal his injuries... Excited by the idea, he quickly put it into practice.


    Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the Refined Qi stored below his navel. The ball of energy churned to life, releasing Qi into his body. Apollo guided it to his wounds, and sure enough, they healed much faster than when he used Unrefined Qi.


    A satisfied smile crept across his face at the discovery.


    But when he opened his eyes, shock replaced his smile.


    The Great Serpent was still alive, its deep blue eyes locked onto his. Its injuries were healing at an alarming rate!


    "Shit!" Apollo cursed. Without waiting for his own wounds to fully heal, he activated his Simple Movement Technique, combining it with all the other movement techniques he had learned from the Advancement Examination, as well as the one he''d recently mastered on the fourth floor.


    Water swirled around his body, mingling with gusts of wind as he dashed toward the serpent!


    The Great Serpent moved too, and they collided halfway! A loud bang echoed as their fists met, shockwaves rippling from the impact!


    A tail lashed out, but Apollo dodged by snapping his head back. Twisting his body, he delivered a kick enhanced by the Simple Wind Sword Technique, sending a wind slash that cut into the serpent''s side!


    Not enough! Apollo gritted his teeth. The monster''s regeneration was too fast, and he had to deal as much damage as possible.


    In a blur, his small frame appeared behind the Great Serpent, though the creature''s tail was already aiming for his chest.


    Fire Blast! Though it was a smaller variation, it was enough to deflect the tail.


    Apollo''s eyes narrowed at the rapidly healing wound on the serpent''s back. Filled with killing intent, he plunged his hand inside!


    The sound of flesh tearing echoed through the air, followed by the spurt of blue blood.


    Apollo''s face was drenched in it, but he remained expressionless, though the burning rage in his eyes betrayed his emotions.


    "I did it..." he muttered, realizing what had just happened. It was a short burst of speed¡ªprobably fueled by adrenaline¡ªbut it had paid off. "I di¡ª"


    But before he could finish, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Looking down, he saw the serpent''s tail had pierced through his chest.


    Apollo managed to change the direction of the tail using the small variation of Fire Blast. If he had used the original version, he would have blown himself up along with the serpent, which would have only put him at a greater disadvantage. The smaller Fire Blast gave him just enough time to pierce the back of the Great Serpent.


    He slowly looked up and saw the Great Serpent glancing at him.


    Silence lingered, but it was shattered as the beggar coughed up another mouthful of blood.


    "You won," the Great Serpent said.


    "Eh?" Apollo looked surprised at first before a smile crept onto his face. "That''s good to hear... I won, but at what cost?"


    The Great Serpent said nothing more. Its body, starting from the left, began disintegrating into particles of light.


    Seeing this, Apollo let out a sigh. Soon, the entire snake disappeared.


    The beggar collapsed onto the water-covered floor, his blood staining it red.


    Because of his small frame, his face was nearly submerged in the water, but it hardly mattered. The pain in his chest was unbearable, but right now, all he wanted was to sleep.


    To sleep in eternal peace.


    That thought crossed his mind for a moment, causing him to abruptly open his eyes.


    "Hell nah! I''m not going to die!" the beggar shouted, hurriedly sitting cross-legged as he began healing his injuries with the Refined Qi in his dantian.


    Fck, it hurts,* the beggar thought, gritting his teeth as his wounds slowly started to mend.


    Looking down at his chest, he could see his insides, even catching a glimpse of his back through the gaping wound.


    Apollo focused the Refined Qi on his chest, his organs slowly regenerating, though not as fast as when he healed lighter wounds.


    "I will not die here!" he declared, his gaze fixed on the spot where the Great Serpent had vanished.


    Suddenly, the entire area began shaking violently. The beggar continued healing his wounds while watching his surroundings. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That snake said he''d give me a technique if I defeated him, so why''s the place falling apart?!" Apollo muttered, worrying whether the Great Serpent had tricked him.


    The space around him started to crack and collapse. Each piece that hit the ground disappeared as if it had never been there. They fell, one by one.


    Apollo glanced upward and saw the black space crumbling above him. But he couldn''t move¡ªif he did, he might worsen his injuries.


    He closed his eyes and let the black space fall onto him. Apollo felt only a soft breeze brushing his hair. When he opened his eyes, his surroundings had completely changed.


    Dark wooden walls and ceiling, just like on the fourth floor, but the only object in the room was a circular platform in the center.


    On top of the platform floated a glowing scroll, emitting a whitish-blue light. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Seeing it, Apollo''s face lit up. "This must be the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation!"


    He was about to stand but remembered his injuries weren''t fully healed yet. Reining in his excitement, he focused on healing his body first.


    The new technique sounded amazing, but his health was the most important thing right now.

 Chapter 217 Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation

    Headmaster Axton stood in front of the fourth-floor entrance alongside the other guards. He remained perfectly still, his eyes closed in deep concentration.


    It had been twenty minutes since the fourth floor had shaken from within, and nothing had happened since then. But the Headmaster knew it wasn''t over yet.


    Did he really manage to enter that place? If he did¡­ I''ll have to report this to the Main School. This is great news, Axton thought, a small smile forming on his face.


    No one had ever entered the fifth floor since the founding of this branch in Klown City. Even Axton himself had been refused entry, no matter how hard he tried. The thought that his personal disciple could do it filled him with satisfaction.


    Even if his disciple wasn''t the chosen one, Axton still felt proud.


    He could only imagine the envy he would receive once the Elders and other members from the Main School learned that his personal disciple had been chosen by the Great Serpent.


    As he waited patiently, the entire building suddenly shook once more. Feeling the intense vibrations, Axton opened his eyes and stared at the entrance with anticipation. Please, let it be real!


    ¡­


    Apollo stood up after healing the wounds on his chest. He hadn''t fully healed¡ªhis muscles were still exposed, and his skin was parted¡ªbut he had managed to heal his organs, which was the most important part. His muscles and skin would heal on their own, though it would take time.


    He walked towards the circular platform and stood in front of the floating scroll.


    Immediately, Apollo''s body felt revitalized as he neared the object.


    Swallowing nervously, he raised his hand and touched the scroll. A cooling sensation traveled from his hand, spreading throughout his entire body. Slowly, he unfurled it, and intense light bathed his face.


    At first, all he could see was white, but soon, the figure of the Great Serpent emerged, rising from the scroll and circling above him. The snake roared into the air.


    The beggar watched in fascination as the Great Serpent dove toward him, mouth wide open.


    Instinctively, Apollo raised his hands above his head, but it was useless¡ªthe serpent entered his body!


    After a moment, Apollo examined himself. He felt light, as though his body had been rejuvenated. Although his injuries weren''t fully healed, he felt as if he could go another round against the humanoid Great Serpent. Shaking his head, he looked around for the scroll and tilted his head in confusion when he couldn''t find it.


    "Where is¡ª?" Apollo stopped mid-sentence as realization struck. The technique¡­ it''s inside my brain?


    Excited, he brought up the technique. It felt as though he were looking at another interface, yet it wasn''t quite the same.


    Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation:


    Description: This high-level technique allows the Chosen One to channel the power of the Great Serpent, gradually transforming into a colossal serpent. With each stage of mastery, the user gains serpent-like traits, enhanced senses, regenerative scales, and more, until full transformation is achieved.


    Reading the description, Apollo''s eyes widened in disbelief, and soon a laugh escaped his lips. "Hahaha! This is amazing!"


    Apollo laughed for a while before he continued reading the full technique. There were five stages he needed to complete in order to fully master it. And when he read the final stage, he became even more satisfied.


    Final Stage: Great Serpent Embodiment ¨C Full transformation into the Great Serpent, gaining control over massive torrents of water and devastating tail strikes.


    "So basically, I can transform!" Apollo clenched his fist. Although he didn''t know the full strength of the Great Serpent, they were known as Legendary Creatures of immense power, so formidable that even Ancestor cultivators didn''t dare provoke them. Their strength was such that a single attack could raze an entire continent to the ground. Just imagining it made the beggar''s blood boil.


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    Should I learn it now? Apollo considered, glancing around his surroundings.


    Then he looked down at his chest. "Hmm, I should do it back at my beggar spot."


    He could use the place the Headmaster gave him, but he felt drawn to return to his beggar spot instead. It was a matter of preference, and Apollo realized he had grown attached to that little corner.


    He also missed the food from his previous life that the Filly restaurant provided for him. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Taking one last look around, he started walking toward the exit, whistling a tune. This was a great day for him. He was satisfied with what he had gained, and although he had almost died in his fight with the clone of the Great Serpent, it was all worth it. Just thinking about transforming into a serpent, flying through the air, and causing massive waves with a flick of his tail made him walk faster.


    ¡­


    Axton waited, tapping his foot rhythmically against the floor. He was starting to worry as his personal disciple had not yet returned. Although he didn''t know exactly what lay within the fifth floor, he was aware there was a trial¡ªand the possibility of death.


    Just as his worry reached its peak, the entrance creaked open, and Axton''s eyes widened with anticipation.


    A small head peeked out from behind the door, scanning the area before revealing its full body.


    "Personal Disciple Yoma," Axton greeted, regaining his composure.


    "Oh, Headmaster! What brings you here? We just met, and now you''re here again. Did you miss me?" Apollo asked, adjusting his robe.


    He shifted the torn part to his side and created another tear on the opposite side to balance it out. It looked like a rough design, but it would do to hide the fact that he was injured. His robe was already full of rips and wear, so one more hole wouldn''t make a difference. He still used his Cleaning Bead to make himself look more presentable, wiping away the remaining blood.


    Headmaster Axton was momentarily speechless. Shaking his head, he replied, "We heard explosions, and the entire building started vibrating, so I came to investigate what was happening."


    "Right, I felt that too," Apollo said casually. Of course, he did¡ªhe was the one who caused it.


    Axton studied his disciple for a moment before raising his hand. A transparent dome enveloped the two of them. They had just met a few hours ago, but it seemed another serious conversation was needed.


    "Tell me the truth. You entered that place, didn''t you?" Axton asked, his voice filled with expectation.


    "Place? What place?" Apollo tilted his head, a look of ''confusion'' on his face. "Oh, do you mean that white area? The training room?"


    Apollo had already decided he wouldn''t admit to possessing that overpowered technique. It was up to the Headmaster to draw his own conclusions.

 Chapter 218 South Beach

    "Training room? No, not that," Headmaster Axton said. "I meant the fifth floor. Did you enter it?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fifth floor? Is there even a fifth floor?" Apollo asked ''innocently.''


    "Yes, there is!" Axton said, his eyes narrowing at the beggar. "Answer me truthfully! This is an important matter."


    "Like I said, I don''t know what you''re talking about," Apollo''s tone turned cold.


    Seeing the beggar''s stubbornness, Axton''s face turned red. This person is very frustrating! Why is he not telling the truth?! "Personal Disciple Yoma, the fifth floor is something only the chosen one can enter. If you did, tell me¡ªit''s a very important matter for the school."


    I figured, Apollo thought, but the more important it was, the less he wanted to reveal the truth. He could sense the consequences if they found out. Although he didn''t know the specifics, he knew enough to realize it would only bring trouble. He didn''t want to take on too much.


    "I really don''t know what you''re talking about," Apollo said. "Why don''t you just check inside and see for yourself?"


    Axton fell silent. Seeing the determination on the beggar''s face, he let out a heavy sigh. "Alright then. I''ll know the truth once I go inside."


    "Good, then I''ll be going." Apollo smiled and began walking toward the stairs.


    Watching his Personal Disciple''s back for a moment, Axton''s eyes wavered. Shaking his head, he stepped into the fourth floor with determination to uncover the truth.


    As soon as he entered, his eyes immediately focused on the entrance to the fifth floor, ignoring the dozen techniques around him.


    He walked toward it and raised his hand. His hand passed through the entrance without encountering the water barrier that had always been there. His suspicions were confirmed¡ªYoma had indeed entered the upper floor.


    "But why doesn''t he want to admit it?" Axton muttered. Since the beggar had returned, it meant he had successfully passed the test.


    Curious, Axton ascended the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the empty space. A few moments later, he arrived on the fifth floor. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    In the center of the room was a circular platform, just like the ones on the fourth and third floors. However, there was no technique floating here.


    "Why?" Axton suddenly felt conflicted. Should he report this or not? Clearly, his Personal Disciple didn''t want anyone to know the truth. "Personal Disciple? I got lucky."


    Axton felt incredibly fortunate that Yoma, the Chosen One to become the next Headmaster of the entire Great Serpent Cultivation School¡ªnot just in this city, but of the main school itself¡ªwas his Personal Disciple.


    According to his orders, if someone managed to enter the fifth floor and return alive, they were to be reported immediately. It was no secret that the chosen one would become the next owner of the Great Serpent''s legacy.


    Axton hadn''t even taught Yoma a single thing, and now the beggar would become the next master. The irony made the headmaster smile bitterly.


    "I''m useless," he muttered, shaking his head. Then, with determination glinting in his eyes, he made up his mind. "I should respect his decision."


    ¡­


    Apollo walked out of the school''s library. He noticed that the Martial Students were still buzzing about what had happened.


    "Mr. Yoma!" someone shouted.


    The beggar turned toward the voice and saw Gail running toward him.


    "You''re still here?" Apollo asked. "Why didn''t you go back yet?"


    "I was waiting for you," Gail said. "Are you okay? The fourth floor suddenly started shaking, and I was worried something bad might have happened to you."


    "I''m alright, thanks for asking," Apollo replied. "I actually don''t know what happened, but something must have gone wrong. Someone''s already investigating it."


    "I see," Gail sighed with relief. "As long as you''re okay."


    "I''m heading back. Do you want to come with me?" Apollo asked.


    "Well, sure," Gail nodded, though she glanced at the library first. She was curious about what had happened, but Filly needed her.


    Apollo whistled, imbuing it with Qi, necessary to call his mount, Bluetooth.


    Soon, his Water-Attributed Falcon landed in front of them.


    "That''s a full Water-Attributed Falcon," Gail said, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "What? Is that good?" Apollo asked, rubbing his bird.


    "Of course," Gail nodded, raising her hand. "Can I pet him?"


    "Sure, be careful though, he''s quite sensitive," Apollo said. He stepped back to give Gail space to stroke his bird.


    "This is amazing," Gail praised, her hand moving back and forth over the falcon''s head. "He''s also really big."


    "Hahaha, don''t praise him too much, or he''ll blush," Apollo joked, making Gail laugh.


    Bluetooth enjoyed the attention for a few more moments before Gail stopped. "I should call my mount too."


    "Why don''t you ride with me?" Apollo offered, jumping onto his mount''s back.


    "I wouldn''t dare. Besides, my falcon would get jealous," Gail replied before she whistled.


    Soon, the two of them took off, and as they flew into the sky, a young man pulled out a talisman.


    "Something happened in the library, but they didn''t stick around and left. Their destination is the south beach, the exit." The man''s eyes glinted coldly, a cunning smile appearing on his face as the talisman burned into particles of light.


    ¡­


    As Apollo felt the wind hit his face, he couldn''t help but think about what had just transpired on the fifth floor. If that fight had taken place on the street where his beggar spot was, they would have leveled the whole area.


    That Great Serpent said I was the chosen one, and even Headmaster Axton mentioned it. Chosen? Chosen for what, though? Apollo tried to figure out what it all meant but gave up after a moment. He also knew Axton wouldn''t believe everything he said, but it was up to the Headmaster to decide what to do.


    Apollo already got what he wanted by visiting the library, and if Axton did something he didn''t like, he could just drop the role of Personal Disciple. Having that overpowered technique was more than enough. He wouldn''t care about the other benefits anymore.


    But hopefully, no trouble would come his way now that he had the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. Yet, in the next moment, Apollo began to wonder if he was destined to attract trouble wherever he went.


    The two falcons landed on the south beach of the island.


    "See you next time," Apollo said, bidding farewell to Bluetooth. "It''d be great if I could bring you outside."


    Bluetooth let out a small shriek, seemingly agreeing with his words.


    Gail also said goodbye to her mount, and then the two Water-Attributed Falcons flew into the distance.


    "Why does this school use falcons instead of serpents? What''s the point of naming it the Great Serpent, then?" Apollo mused.


    "Falcons are easier to tame and train," Gail explained. "Besides, serpents are proud creatures, and finding one would be difficult."


    "I was just musing," Apollo said. "Let''s head back."


    Gail nodded, and the two turned to the exit, where a light blue portal whirred slowly.


    When people entered the Great Serpent Cultivation School, they''d appear on the island''s street. If they wanted to return to the outside world, they''d head to one of the four beaches¡ªnorth, west, south, or east¡ªwhere they''d find a portal.


    Apollo wanted to return immediately to heal his injuries. It was uncomfortable moving with wounds all over his body.


    But before they could enter the portal, the beggar sensed danger¡ªso did Gail. They quickly jumped away from their position just as it exploded from the strike of a water serpent.


    Seeing this, Apollo frowned. Now what? He had just dealt with the Great Serpent, and now someone else was picking a fight with him?!


    "Tsk, you shouldn''t have dodged that," someone said, annoyance evident in their voice.


    Turning to the source, Apollo saw familiar faces.


    It was Mahika, a young master from the Callum Family¡ªone of those families with sickness in their heads.


    He''d brought his usual goons, though this time there were more of them.


    "Let me guess, you''re here for revenge from the last humiliation," Apollo said. It wasn''t really a guess, more of a fact. He already knew how people with ''Young Master Syndrome'' thought. You offend me, I''ll bully you. I get defeated, I seek revenge. I get defeated again, I bring backup.


    Rinse and repeat. Their thinking revolved around this tedious cycle, which was pretty annoying, to be honest.


    "Hell yeah!" Mahika shouted, his eyes burning with anger. "You think you can just leave this place so easily, huh?! You offended me, the great Mahika from the great Callum Family! I''ll never let someone humiliate me!"


    "Mahika! What do you think you''re doing?!" Gail demanded, her voice cold and low. At the same time, a strong killing intent radiated from her.


    Only now did Mahika recognize the person beside Apollo. "You¡­ Gail?!"


    "Answer me," Gail said, her red eyes piercing into Mahika''s heart.


    Mahika began to shiver, but recalling that he had his Senior Sister''s backup, his confidence returned.


    "I''m punishing this kid for offending me! Don''t get in my way, b*tch!"

 Chapter 219 Teaching Mahika A Lesson

    "What did you just say to me?!" Gail asked, her red eyes widening. At the same time, a black and red aura erupted from her, and the temperature dropped instantly.


    Seeing this, Mahika took a half step back but shook his head the next moment. "I said don''t you dare interfere, b*tch!" he repeated, though after saying those words, he couldn''t help but swallow hard.


    He knew Gail¡ªmost of them did. They were both inner-circle martial students, but their strength was worlds apart. Furthermore, he knew things that only nobles were privy to.


    Gail was a killer, personally trained by Nathan Kleinford. It was unknown how many people she had killed¡ªshe was ruthless, like a dog ready to attack on command.


    She was also one of the candidates to become a Senior Sister, which made everyone fear and respect her.


    This made Mahika curious about the relationship between the kid and the killer. Nevertheless, he trusted his cousin, Senior Sister Lily.


    "You''re dead!" With killing intent radiating from her, Gail took a step forward, ready to dash forward and teach the foul-mouthed noble a lesson. But just as she moved, a hand landed on her shoulder.


    It was small, and she immediately recognized the owner. Glancing to her side, she saw the beggar tiptoeing, his hand on her shoulder.


    "Let me handle this. This guy only wants me," Apollo said, his eyes cold as he stared at the young master and his goons. "He has the guts to say those words to you, but I''m his target."


    Hearing this, Gail hesitated. The killing intent around her began to fade. She glanced at the beggar, and seeing his determination, she sighed before glaring at Mahika.


    Mahika, on the other hand, smiled when he saw Gail stepping back. His main goal was to kill the kid, and no matter the relationship between her and the beggar-looking kid, it wouldn''t matter once he achieved his objective.


    "You really like to talk big," Mahika sneered. "Where do you even get your confidence from?"


    "From your mother¡ªshe taught me how to be confident in bed," Apollo replied with a shrug, his eyes mocking the young master.


    Gail and the others were silent for a moment before their eyes widened in realization.


    "You!" Mahika pointed a finger at the beggar. "How dare you bring my mother into this!"


    "It''s her fault for raising a fool like you. Don''t blame me," Apollo smirked.


    Mahika''s face turned crimson with rage. With a wave of his hand, his goons surrounded the beggar.


    "Kill him!" he ordered, his voice dripping with killing intent.


    Gail took a few more steps back, curious about the beggar''s strength. She was certain he was a Wanderer. Moreover, his status, having entered the Fourth Floor of the library, was equal to or higher than the Seniors''.


    The beggar watched as the goons closed in on him. He just wanted to get back to his beggar spot and cultivate in peace, but Mahika and his men were giving him a headache. Couldn''t Mahika just swallow his pride?


    Shaking his head, Apollo decided to end this nonsense quickly.


    Wind Blasts appeared in front of each of the goons, their eyes widening as the air suddenly churned. Before they could react, the air exploded!


    "Ahhh!" they screamed as they were sent flying. Some landed on the sandy beach, while others made a splash in the ocean.


    Mahika''s smile remained, but his eyes twitched. What just happened?! It was so sudden that he was left speechless.


    He glanced at his men. They were groaning in pain, their bodies battered, with flesh exposed and blood painting the sand red. Those who had fallen into the ocean were struggling to swim ashore.


    "It''s your turn next," the kid said, drawing Mahika''s attention back to him.


    "You¡­ What is your cultivation stage?!" Mahika asked, narrowing his eyes at the kid.


    "Does it even matter?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, walking toward the noble.


    "You''re right," Mahika nodded, lowering his body into a fighting stance. He didn''t lose confidence¡ªin fact, he was actually excited. Fighting against Gail, he wouldn''t be able to win, but this kid only had a simple trick. "It seems you have the strength to back up your words, but I can defeat them just like you did. I''ll have to take you seriously then."


    "Yeah, yeah," Apollo said. Young Master Syndrome¡ªthey had confidence that could reach the sky. Even with the truth right in front of them, if their ego and pride were being trampled on, they would never see themselves as losing. They''d always find excuses. Such people made the beggar want to beat them up. "Why don''t you just shut your mouth and come at me!"


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    "Then die!" With killing intent radiating from Mahika, he used his movement technique, instantly appearing in front of the beggar!


    But what met his eyes was a fist covered in fire!


    Death.


    Mahika felt time slow down. Memories from his childhood all the way to this moment played in his mind. He relived his life over and over. Countless emotions overwhelmed him, though they were shattered as intense fire consumed him.


    "Argh!!" Mahika crashed into the sand, creating a long ravine. He screamed in pain, clutching his burning face as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.


    Apollo blew on his right fist, the fire disappearing in the wind. "That''s what you get for being arrogant."


    It was a variation he''d created from the Fire Blast Technique. By covering his fist with the technique instead of making the fire appear in the air, its explosive properties activated upon contact. Though it wasn''t as strong as the original, it still dealt significant damage.


    Mahika continued to writhe in pain, his screams echoing across the south beach.


    "That was awesome," Gail praised, standing beside Yoma, watching Mahika''s suffering with amazement.


    "Haha, I know," Apollo said sheepishly, rubbing his nose.


    "The technique you used was simple but very effective," Gail smiled. "As expected from Mr. Yoma¡ªyou''re really strong."


    "Nah, I just got lucky," Apollo said, turning to the portal. "Should we go back?"


    "Sure," Gail nodded, her eyes lingering on Mahika as they walked toward the exit. "He should use the Water Healing Technique. It will help him fight the pain and prevent further damage from the fire."


    "Does everyone know that technique?" Apollo asked. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, it''s mandatory to learn all the basic techniques," Gail answered.


    "I see," Apollo chuckled, standing in front of the portal. "People like him, when they''re in pain, can''t think straight. I bet he''ll jump into the ocean."


    "That''s going to sting like hell," Gail smiled.


    "Definitely," Apollo laughed. As their bodies entered the portal, the sound of splashing water echoed, followed by a pig-like scream.

 Chapter 220 Lilys Request

    "You like this, b*tch?!"


    "Yes! I like it, Master Aaron!"


    The sound of flesh slapping together echoed in the room, accompanied by the creaking of the bed.


    Screams of pleasure filled the air, and the scent of their act permeated the place.


    "Take this, b*tch!" Aaron shouted, slamming his hips forward. The woman in front of him, on all fours, began to tremble. Her eyes rolled back, and her tongue lolled out. It lasted for a few seconds before she collapsed onto the bed.


    Aaron stepped back, admiring his handiwork. Three women lay naked on his bed, all breathing heavily, clearly having been "satisfied."


    He noticed one of them looking at him with pleading eyes. Licking his lips, he walked over to the bedside table and picked up a pink marble. He admired it for a moment. "One more round won''t hurt."


    The pink marble enhanced his stamina and also served as a contraceptive. It was a new invention from the Alchemy House and quite expensive, but with his wealth, he could afford thousands of them.


    "Just wait, b*tch, I''m gonna f*ck your brains out," Aaron Callum said with a smirk. The women on his bed were his maids, hired specifically for this purpose.


    As he was about to take another pink marble, a knock came at the door, interrupting their next round.


    "F*ck! What?!" Aaron shouted, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist. He stormed toward the door.


    Meanwhile, the women on the bed exchanged relieved glances. It was exhausting pretending to enjoy his small tool, but it was their job. They had to act like they felt immense pleasure, even though all they really felt was the slamming of his hips.


    They had even mastered the art of making their bodies tremble and their eyes roll back just to boost his ego.


    Aaron opened the door to find a man in a simple hanfu robe, head lowered.


    "My apologies for interrupting, Master Aaron," the man said. "But Miss Yer has requested your presence on an urgent matter."


    "Yer? That damn sister of mine," Aaron scowled. "She''s probably just bringing more trouble. Tell her to scram and stop bothering me, or do you want me to make you disappear?"


    "Spare me, Master Aaron!" The man hurriedly dropped to his knees, banging his head against the floor. "But Miss Yer knew you''d say that and insisted she won''t leave without seeing you. She also said it concerns the family."


    Aaron glared at the man, then glanced at the women behind him before letting out a sigh.


    "Wait a minute," he muttered. After quickly changing his clothes, he returned to the door. "Let''s go! This better be worth my time, or I''ll kill you!"


    The man shivered, but he was only doing his job. Under Aaron''s rule, his fate would be sealed if he angered the head of the Callum family.


    They arrived at the main hall, where three individuals were waiting.


    "What is it?" Aaron asked coldly, addressing his sister.


    Miss Yer had blonde hair and blue eyes. Her face was caked in makeup, making her already round face appear even more bloated. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had once been a beauty, but after years of heavy cosmetic use, her looks had deteriorated. Aaron couldn''t stand the sight of what used to be his pretty sister, now looking so ugly he just wanted to punch her in the face.


    "Brother! You''re finally here!" Miss Yer shouted, her face made even uglier by the snot and tears.


    "Just tell me why you''re here and don''t waste my time," Aaron said, showing no concern for their blood relation. Beside Miss Yer stood a young man, his face wrapped entirely in bandages, and a middle-aged man supporting him.


    "Look at your nephew!" Miss Yer pointed at her son, who was being propped up by her husband. "Someone did this to him inside the Great Serpent School! Help us bring justice for my baby Mahika!"


    Aaron finally looked at the young man covered in bandages. He knew his nephew¡ªan annoying, dumb, untalented fool. Seeing Mahika in this state didn''t stir any emotions in him, except frustration. "Is this all the reason you came here? It''s none of my business if this pig-brain couldn''t even defend himself."


    "Brother! He''s still your nephew!" Miss Yer shouted, her face turning red with anger.


    "I don''t care about the untalented," Aaron Callum said coldly. "If that''s all, you should leave."


    "Wait, no!" Miss Yer quickly pulled out a scroll from under her blouse. "Lily sent this for you. Please, help us avenge Mahika."


    Hearing his daughter''s name, Aaron snatched the scroll, ignoring Yer''s pleas.


    He immediately recognized Lily''s handwriting and realized this wasn''t just a trick to get his attention.


    Aaron began reading and quickly understood the situation.


    It had occurred three hours ago. Lily admitted to using her cousin to test the strength of the Personal Disciple, though Mahika had been the one insisting. Nevertheless, she had promised to help him avoid punishment, but things had backfired.


    Lily was requesting her father''s help in investigating the Personal Disciple who had put Mahika in this state¡ªnot for Mahika''s sake, but because she needed help for her own reasons.


    After finishing the letter, Aaron handed it to the man who had accompanied him. "Burn it."


    The man nodded, and with a flick of his hand, the scroll turned to ashes.


    Personal Disciple¡­ Aaron thought. He knew it was a significant position, one that Lily had been eyeing for years. And now someone had claimed it before her. Aaron understood his daughter well¡ªshe wouldn''t back down without a fight, whether through force or underhanded methods.


    Without another word, he turned and began walking away.


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    "Brother, aren''t you going to help us?!" Miss Yer asked, panicking.


    "No," Aaron Callum answered firmly. His daughter was far more important to him than they were.


    "B-but my son! His face is unrecognizable! It''s a stain on our family!" Miss Yer pleaded. "What will people think if they find out we''re a family they can bully so easily?!"


    Aaron stopped in his tracks. He glanced at his sister, then at his nephew. "Then I''ll just remove the stain."


    Miss Yer''s eyes widened as she realized what he meant. She knew her brother too well. He was ruthless, both inside and outside the family. Before she could say anything, the sound of flesh tearing filled the room.


    Miss Yer turned toward the sound and saw her son''s limp head hanging to the side, a gaping wound in his chest. Blood sprayed onto the floor.


    The man beside Aaron lowered his hand.


    "There, no more stain," Aaron smirked as Miss Yer''s painful scream echoed through the hall.

 Chapter 221 We Have To Train

    "Burning that *sshole''s face was a good idea," Apollo muttered with a smile. He was currently sitting under a makeshift roof back at his beggar spot. This was the second time he''d built a roof, which he had brought with him from the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    True to his job, his driver had waited for him outside the school, and, along with Gail, they returned to this street. Gail had offered to help by providing materials, but he had politely refused. He liked the sense of fulfillment that came from doing things himself.


    Apollo recalled his recent fight. Besides teaching Mahika a lesson, he had also intended to make him suffer by burning his face. With that, his Young Master Syndrome would likely drive him to run to his parents, prompting them to seek revenge. This would hopefully lead them to find Apollo sooner, a key part of his plan to complete his mission. It might seem dumb and unnecessary since he only needed to investigate the mayor''s plans, but the dumber the plan, the more exciting it became.


    Shaking his head, he pulled up his Status Screen.


    STATUS SCREEN:


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 40


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning, Water


    Apollo glanced at his Alm Points, which had dropped from 45 to 40 after purchasing the Basic Locator. He didn''t regret it, though, as the item''s function was extremely useful. As long as it was a physical object, it would emit a sound if he was near what he wanted to find. He could even input specific types of books or titles. It was like a search bar from his previous life, though he had to be close to an object to discover exactly what he was looking for.


    His eyes then moved to his Spirit Cultivation. Back on the first floor of the Great Serpent Library, he had read about all the subjects that intrigued him, including Spirit Cultivation. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    Spirit Cultivation focuses on the mind. Instead of strengthening the body, it enhances the mind. Cultivators who follow this path can become Array Masters, Blacksmith Masters, Soul Masters, and more. There''s also another type of cultivation¡ªBody Cultivation. Unlike traditional cultivation, Body Cultivators don''t need Qi to cultivate. They put their bodies under constant stress, training each part until they gain strength comparable to most Qi cultivators. Of course, there are methods to speed up the process using herbs and medicines.


    Body Cultivators can''t use cultivation or battle techniques, but their bodies become so strong that they are sometimes referred to as Human Monsters. They are rare, and even Klown City doesn''t have one.


    Apollo''s gaze moved down further until it landed on his Attributes. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In addition to Lightning, a Water Attribute had been added.


    His eyes widened in realization. "Was it because of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation?"


    He hadn''t even mastered his Lightning Attribute yet, and now another one had appeared. But a smile spread across his face.


    Apollo wasn''t sure why his other master hadn''t called him for another lesson, but he didn''t mind. This would give him more time to learn his new technique. With that thought, he closed his eyes and began studying the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation.


    ...


    Three days later, Apollo opened his eyes, a mysterious glint flickering in them, though a bitter smile formed on his lips. "This is exhausting."


    Suddenly, water droplets appeared around him. With a thought, they moved, swirling in the air. He formed the droplets into a ball of water, then shaped it into various forms.


    He played with the water for a while before letting it fall to the ground with a splashing sound.


    "Three days, and I''ve barely managed to reach this stage," he muttered, letting out a sigh. What he had achieved in these three days wasn''t even worth calling a stage. It was merely a prerequisite to enter the Beginner Stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. Although he could conjure water and shape it into weapons and forms, its strength was only comparable to a weak variation of Fire Blast or Wind Blast.


    At the Beginner Stage, he would be able to control water and shape it into anything he desired, from armor to weapons. According to the technique imprinted in his mind, the strength he could wield at this stage¡ªwithout any augmentation like Refined or Unrefined Qi¡ªwas enough to harm a Core Creation Cultivator.


    Just the thought excited him, but it was easier said than done. This was the first time he had struggled to comprehend a technique. In the past, it had taken him thirty minutes to an hour to learn a technique to the Beginner Stage. Now, three days had passed, and he hadn''t made much progress.


    Apollo felt frustrated, but as he thought more about it, it made sense. The technique had been stored on the highest floor of the Great Serpent Library, and he was the only one who had ever reached the fifth floor. He should have known from the start that it wouldn''t be easy.


    Complacency is never a good practice.


    Shaking his head, he noticed Ned in the corner, placing his breakfast on the floor. His stomach growled, prompting him to stand up and pick up the basket.


    "Thanks," Apollo smiled at the Filly worker.


    "You''re welcome," Ned smiled back. "Thanks to you, we''ve managed to become popular again."


    Apollo glanced inside the restaurant and saw that all the seats were filled with diners. "That''s good news. By the way, how did it go with the other nobles?"


    Ned''s smile widened. "They did cut off our meat supply, but we implemented your suggestions. Filly made bundles of fried chicken and spaghetti, and they''ve been selling fast. From what I know, starting tomorrow, the restaurant will have its own meat distribution."


    "That''s good to hear. The nobles'' efforts were in vain. They must be pissed seeing that the restaurant, which was supposed to fail, is still standing and gaining more customers by the day," Apollo replied.


    "Haha, yes," Ned chuckled, nodding toward the restaurant across the street. "And look at that guy¡ªwe''ve figured out he''s the culprit behind the meat distribution problem."


    Apollo turned to the Skyline Savory branch and saw the branch manager watching the Filly Restaurant from behind the door, his face filled with worry. Apollo couldn''t help but laugh. "Hahaha, he deserves all the stress and anxiety."


    Ned laughed too. The two chatted for a while before Ned returned inside.


    As Apollo was about to head back to his beggar spot, a shadow fell over him.


    Looking up, he saw a bamboo hat and the middle-aged face beneath it.


    "We have to train," Sir Guo said, smirking at his disciple.

 Chapter 222 Lightning and Electricity

    "Master Sir Guo, what are you doing here?" Apollo asked.


    "Let''s train, kid," Sir Guo smiled. "You want to master your Lightning Attribute, right? I''m free, and it looks like you are too, so let''s go now!"


    "Actually, I''m not free yet," Apollo said, raising his basket. "I still need to eat my breakfast."


    "You can eat it on the way," Sir Guo said, glancing at the basket. He couldn''t help but sniff as the delicious aroma wafted out. "Let''s go!"


    He turned and began walking toward the carriage in the distance.


    Apollo stood there, looking at his back for a moment, before letting out a sigh. "I guess I''ll eat my breakfast in the carriage then," he decided, immediately regretting it. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The carriage started moving toward the training ground the moment he entered, the sound of the wheels rolling across the ground echoing around him.


    ¡­


    Apollo and Sir Guo arrived at the training ground, with the beggar staring angrily at the man in the bamboo hat.


    "Why did you eat my breakfast?!" Apollo asked, his nose threatening to let out smoke.


    "It smelled delicious. I didn''t know food like that existed. You know, in all my years, that''s the first time I''ve tasted something that good," Sir Guo said, letting out a burp. Seeing his disciple glaring at him, he scoffed. "I''m your master¡ªyou shouldn''t be stingy with me!"


    "Don''t power trip me, you f*cker!" Apollo began cracking his knuckles.


    "What, you want to fight?" Sir Guo raised an eyebrow.


    "Ye¡ª" Apollo didn''t get the chance to finish as a bolt of lightning struck him. He couldn''t react in time, and before he knew it, he was on the ground, shaking from the electricity coursing through his veins.


    A few seconds later, he stood up. "You! Don''t you dare do that again!"


    "Or what?" Sir Guo raised a finger, lightning zapping on top of it.


    "Nothing," Apollo said hurriedly. He knew he couldn''t beat this guy with his current strength, so he could only grit his teeth and swallow the humiliation. He became even more eager to reach the Beginner Stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation, just so he could teach this annoying fellow a lesson!


    "Good," Sir Guo said, his smile turning mischievous. "Today''s training is for you to handle as much lightning as you can."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s face went blank. He had just been electrocuted, and now Sir Guo was saying the training for today was to get hit by even more lightning?!


    Without wasting any more time, his body turned invisible as he began running away from this lightning hell!


    A zapping sound echoed, followed by the beggar''s body collapsing to the ground. His body shook for a few seconds before he managed to fight it off¡ªonly for another lightning bolt to hit him, this time stronger than before.


    "Take as much as you can! Don''t worry, it''ll be over before you know it!" Sir Guo said, laughing merrily.


    While shaking, Apollo Leone regretted everything. He shouldn''t have trashed the training ground, he shouldn''t have accepted the offer to become this madman''s disciple. The beggar began missing his other master. Although Headmaster Axton had threatened him into becoming his Personal Disciple, at least he didn''t force him to train and gave him some freedom instead.


    Such disparity made Apollo prefer the latter more.


    The training ground had been personally closed by Sir Guo, so it was just him and the trembling beggar.


    Apollo didn''t know how long or how many times he had been hit by lightning, but as time passed, the shaking lessened until he only felt a tingling sensation every time the lightning struck.


    "I told you it would be fast," Sir Guo said, walking toward him.


    Apollo slowly got to his feet, shaking his head to clear the dizziness. The moment Sir Guo was a few feet away, Apollo turned and attacked with a punch!


    The sound of zapping echoed, but this time, the lightning didn''t come from the man in the bamboo hat¡ªinstead, it surrounded Apollo''s fist!


    Sir Guo raised his hand, easily blocking the attack. "You really are talented. You can already use it just moments after your body got used to the electricity."


    Apollo was surprised at first that Sir Guo blocked his attack, but his eyes widened when he noticed the lightning around his hand.


    "Wow!" Apollo exclaimed, bringing his fist in front of him. "I can do this?"


    "Yes," Sir Guo nodded. "Though it can only hurt normal people for now, it''s still excellent progress."


    Apollo stared at his hand in amazement for a moment before turning to his lightning master. "I''m curious¡ªwhy did you decide to teach me only now?"


    He hadn''t forgotten his previous suffering, but the question had just come to mind.


    "We''re here to train, but if you''re really curious¡­" Sir Guo trailed off. "I''ve been investigating something. I''ll tell you when the time comes. In the meantime, we should train your Lightning Attribute as much as we can."


    Apollo narrowed his eyes at the man in the bamboo hat. Investigating what? His gut told him that by accepting Sir Guo''s offer, he''d landed himself in yet another problem. He shouldn''t have associated with these powerful individuals unless it was absolutely necessary.


    "Let me tell you this¡ªI only became your disciple to pay off my debt, not to become your slave. Once I''m done learning all I need to know about the Lightning Attribute, we''ll call off the deal. Got it?" Apollo said, silently promising himself that he would beat up this annoying man before cutting ties.


    "Sure, sure," Sir Guo nodded. "I''m only doing this because I want to pass on my legacy."


    It was half a lie and half the truth. Sir Guo did want to find a worthy disciple to pass on his knowledge, but he also wanted to show his former sect what his student was capable of.


    Apollo stared at Sir Guo for a moment before nodding. Now that the training had begun, he got serious. Strength was what mattered most in the end. If he became the strongest, if he stood at the top of the world, he wouldn''t have to worry about dying. "What''s next?"


    "I''m going to teach you the true essence of the Lightning Attribute," Sir Guo smiled.


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    "True essence?" Apollo repeated.


    "Now that you can conjure lightning, this is going to be easy," Sir Guo said. "Cultivators with attributes can use them to boost their cultivation and strength without relying on Qi¡­"

 Chapter 223 Dons Situation

    Filly watched the customers eating in her restaurant with a smile on her face. Just like her, the diners were smiling as they enjoyed their meals.


    Most of them had ordered the same thing: the bundle of Fried Chicken and Spaghetti. The idea of offering this meal at a lower price as a bundle instead of individually was a brilliant strategy to encourage customers to choose it.


    The Filly Restaurant had experienced sales growth in the past few days, and it always excited Filly to come to her restaurant.


    "We owe Mr. Beggar a lot," Gail said from beside her.


    "Yes," Filly nodded. Yoma was the one who suggested this strategy while they waited for their own meat distribution to be completed. It ensured that they wouldn''t lose customers, and on the contrary, they gained more.


    Glancing outside, she noticed customers waiting in line to enter. They were waiting patiently, but eagerness was evident on their faces.


    Seeing this, a problem came to the owner''s mind. "Our workers aren''t enough. There are more and more people waiting outside." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gail also turned to look at the line outside. "Yeah, that''s a problem."


    "We need to increase the number of workers and expand the restaurant to accommodate all of them," Filly said, glancing behind her. They were standing on the second floor, which wasn''t yet open to customers. "This was meant to be a kitchen and storage space if possible¡­ Should I open this for customers?"


    Gail was silent for a moment. She wasn''t an expert in business, but that didn''t mean she didn''t understand some things.


    "More workers, more products," Gail said. "I think we should add more staff?"


    "I know, but the main issue is the customers. We can''t just fit them all here. Even if we open the second floor, if more people still come, we''ll face the same problem," Filly said. She wanted to minimize problems while maximizing profits. Expanding the restaurant wasn''t easy either, as the other building owners wouldn''t agree¡ªunless she had an enormous sum of money on hand.


    "Hmm..." Gail placed a hand under her chin, thinking. Then she noticed one of the workers, Ned, walking inside while scratching his head. Usually, at this time, he''d have a basket in his hands after Mr. Beggar had eaten his breakfast. Suddenly, an idea came to her. "What if we sell the food as take-out for those who can''t find a seat?"


    Hearing this, Filly''s eyes widened. "That''s a great id¡ª" Then she realized something. Shaking her head, she sighed, "Our competition could use that to bring us down. What if they copy our food once they get ahold of it?"


    "It''s possible, but..." Gail smiled. "We''re the only ones who know the recipes, right? Most of the ingredients we use are unknown to them, and the methods to process them are something I''m sure they wouldn''t know or even think of."


    "That makes sense," Filly said. "We can use baskets. That way, customers can take the food with them wherever they go. They won''t have to wait for others to finish before they can enter."


    With this in mind, they went into her office and began planning.


    Their own meat distribution was almost complete. They also had their own garden for spice production. Furthermore, they had hunters gathering more coconuts for oil. Their plan was on the right track, and Filly could almost see Skyline Savory across the street crumbling because of her efforts.


    ...


    A few kilometers away from Klown City lay a vast desert. Mountains of dunes and valleys stretched as far as the eye could see.


    On a hill, a small boy stood, gazing over the dusty brown terrain, his eyes filled with worry. Clenching his fists, he turned to look back at the camp behind him.


    Don and all the slum dwellers had been walking for days, trying to get as far away from Klown City as possible.


    He didn''t understand why Millie insisted they keep traveling so far. Surely, they were safe now, and there was no need to keep going.


    The slum people had set up simple tents. Some were talking amongst themselves, while others trained with broken wooden swords.


    Millie had said they should learn to fight, which Don understood. It was necessary to protect themselves from the city folk, especially the guards.


    Thinking about what had happened to their home just outside Klown City, Don gritted his teeth.


    "I swear, I''ll get my revenge! I''ll become a cultivator!" Don muttered, his voice filled with determination. His thoughts turned to their savior, who had introduced himself as Yoma¡ªa beggar. Suddenly, an idea came to him. "What if I became his disciple?"


    He glanced toward the direction of Klown City, tempted to return and find their savior to ask Yoma to take him in as a disciple.


    "Why are you out here? It''s time to eat," a voice called from behind him.


    "I''m thinking about our savior," Don answered honestly. "What if I go back and find him and¡ª"


    "And ask him to take you in as a disciple?" Millie finished his sentence.


    Don stared into Millie''s eyes. "Yes."


    "No," Millie shook her head, sighing softly as she patted the boy''s head. "That''s a dangerous path to take. Besides, you need talent to walk the same road as our savior. I know you, Don. I know your dreams, but escaping that place is better for now."


    "But what if I do have talent? I can save us! I can protect everyone!" Don said with determination. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Don, you''re already strong and very brave," Millie sighed again. She knew that if Don truly had the talent to cultivate, it would be good for him, but in order to use that talent, he''d have to train hard for years. By the time he was strong enough to protect them, it might already be too late.


    Millie knew the city well, having worked for years as a maid in the mayor''s mansion. She feared the possibility that the city guards were still hunting them. They needed to find a safe place to hide as soon as possible.


    "We need as much manpower as we can to protect our people, Don," Millie continued. "For now, you need to hold onto your dreams. If the time is right and it''s truly meant for you, fate will work in your favor. Besides, you''ll have to lead our people."


    Don''s eyes widened at her words. Lead them? He glanced at the people he cared about, then turned back to Millie. "Are you leaving?"


    Millie was about to answer when she spotted a cloud of dust in the distance. Narrowing her eyes, she recognized the Klown Guards approaching on horseback.


    "Everyone! Pack everything quickly, and let''s go!"

 Chapter 224 Balls Of Lightning

    Don''s face filled with shock as he turned to look where Miss Millie was gazing. He, too, noticed the cloud of sand moving in their direction.


    They moved quickly, packing their belongings in no time.


    Don carried a bag stuffed to the brim, a wooden sword in his hand. The bag was nearly twice his size, but he didn''t utter a word of complaint. The other kids, like him, carried whatever they could manage. The past few days of running had matured them, and they now understood the gravity of their situation. Moving slowly could put them all in danger.


    Soon, they began descending the hill.


    Millie took the lead. Her blouse was torn from all the walking, and her hair was dry and frizzy, but her steps remained steady.


    In the distance, she spotted a valley with a crevice that could serve as cover.


    "There!" Millie shouted, pointing toward the spot. They hurriedly followed her, but before entering the dark, deep hole, she warned, "Raise your swords and prepare for combat!"


    They had already encountered several monsters, costing the lives of some of the slum people. However, Millie had to take this gamble, hoping they wouldn''t be attacked the moment they entered.


    Millie led the way into the crevice, with the others following closely behind. Don took up the rear.


    He glanced back toward where they had come from and saw no one, but it felt as if those ruthless bastards were already closing in.


    ¡­


    "So basically, it''s another form of power I can use instead of Qi? Then how do I make it stronger?" Apollo asked while juggling three balls of lightning. The size of tennis balls, they crackled with energy every time they landed in his hands and left them.


    Sir Guo''s face remained impassive, his eyes following the three lightning balls. He didn''t seem impressed outwardly, but inside, his heart was shaking intensely.


    This motherfucker can already multicast?! He had just finished lecturing on how to release the Lightning Attribute properly and how to shape it. Giving lightning a form was no easy task. It had taken Sir Guo weeks to master this feat. It was only the beginner stage, but its difficulty was something most cultivators couldn''t comprehend.


    Weaving each lightning strand, sensing their minute movements, and commanding them to form a shape required unwavering focus.


    Sir Guo had assumed that Yoma would take weeks, just like him. But that assumption was clearly a mistake.


    As soon as his lecture ended, and Sir Guo expected Yoma to struggle, a shocking sight punched him in the gut. The beggar already had a ball of lightning in his hand. Then, as if that wasn''t enough, Yoma created a second ball, followed by a third.


    In contrast, Sir Guo had taken months to achieve what his disciple was demonstrating with ease.


    Sir Guo took a deep breath. I have to calm down! At the same time, he realized the immense talent his disciple had. He stared at Yoma like a priceless treasure he would protect for life. His determination to keep him grew stronger.


    "You only have a small amount of Lightning Attribute. If you want it to grow stronger, you''ll need to face more powerful lightning. But remember, taking on lightning that''s too strong won''t automatically increase your attribute. That''s not how it works. Your body needs to handle and assimilate the lightning," Sir Guo explained, raising his hand. A lightning bolt, stronger than any he had shown Yoma before, appeared. Despite his shock at Yoma''s multicasting, he pretended to remain unfazed. "You have some talent. I think you''ll become a successful lightning user."


    "Some talent?" Apollo glanced at Sir Guo suspiciously before a confident smile spread across his face. "I''m not just some talented. I''m very talented!"


    He threw the three balls of lightning into the air. Just before they hit the ground, they morphed into lightning spears. They floated in front of him and on either side, all pointed at his master. "What do you think?" Apollo smirked.


    "Don''t get complacent," Sir Guo said, shocked once again that Yoma could shape lightning into more advanced forms, though he made sure not to show it. With a flick of his fingers, the lightning spears exploded. "You''re still weak compared to me."


    "Just admit I''m very talented!" Apollo raised an eyebrow. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re not," Sir Guo said, his face turning serious. "So, do you want to strengthen your attribute or not?"


    "Of course I do!" Apollo replied.


    "Alright, then take this." Sir Guo didn''t wait for his disciple to respond and sent a stronger lightning bolt toward him.


    The crackling sound filled the air, followed by Apollo''s body shaking violently. Foam formed at Yoma''s mouth, his eyes rolling back. This scene continued for an hour in the training ground.


    ¡­


    Apollo returned to his beggar spot, massaging his left shoulder with his right hand.


    "F*ck that guy! I''m going to teach him a lesson once I''m done learning from him!" he muttered angrily, gritting his teeth at the memory of his grueling training.


    That guy is definitely a sadist!


    Shaking his head, Apollo walked past the Filly Restaurant, ignoring the commotion inside. Clearly, Skyline Savory had pulled another scheme to bring down their rival.


    Not in the mood for gossip, he headed back to his beggar spot and sat beneath his makeshift roof.


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    "Ah," Apollo sighed, feeling at home in his small corner. His beggar spot was about the size of a small room, though he only occupied one corner of it. It felt empty and¡­ dark. Raising his hand, he activated his Lightning Attribute, filling the space with crackling light.


    Staring at his lightning, he noticed it was stronger than when he first used it. Being electrocuted repeatedly had paid off.


    With a twist of his hand, he shaped the lightning into a glowing orb, then made it float under his roof.


    "This is nice," Apollo smiled, but then his expression turned serious. "I should cultivate before they find me. Hopefully, they''ll find me soon."


    He was referring to the Callum Family, the key to elevating his presence to the higher-ups.

 Chapter 225 Taken Away

    A few days later, Apollo''s body was covered in lightning as he moved around the training ground while also using his Simple Movement Technique. His body became a blur, and crackling sounds echoed with every step.


    Sir Guo clenched his fist, his eyes alight with amazement and excitement. In just a few days, his disciple had mastered full control over his Lightning Attribute¡ªand, in fact, had surpassed him in terms of proficiency.


    If his Lightning Attribute''s power equals mine, he could match my strength, Sir Guo thought. Yoma is truly a rare talent, one who would easily outshine even the most gifted students at the martial school he came from.


    The training ground was cleared of students, leaving only the man in the bamboo hat and Yoma.


    After a moment, a burst of lightning materialized in front of Sir Guo, and the beggar emerged.


    "What do you think? I''m really talented, right?" Apollo asked with a smug expression.


    "Average," Sir Guo replied with a smirk.


    "Average?" The beggar scoffed. "I think you''re just afraid to admit it." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Trust me, I''ve seen people more talented than you," Sir Guo remained firm. "Anyway, I''ll be gone for a few days. I have something to take care of."


    "Maybe you don''t have anything more to teach me," Apollo said, eyeing the bamboo-hatted man suspiciously.


    "Ha! You think that''s all there is to learn about the Lightning Attribute? You still have a lot to learn," Sir Guo replied.


    "Alright, then I''ll head out if we''re done for today," Apollo waved his hand. Although he didn''t particularly like Sir Guo, he admitted the guy was a skilled instructor. Apollo had learned a lot, especially about Attributes, which he could also apply to his Water Attribute.


    "Hey," Sir Guo called before the beggar could take a step.


    "What?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "Why did you become a Wanderer?" Sir Guo asked, his face serious.


    "Wanderer¡­" Apollo frowned. A Wanderer¡ªmoving from place to place, learning the ways of the world, blending in with common people. That was how most cultivators operated back in the day, according to a book he''d read in the Great Serpent Library. It was after the war between the Ancestor Cultivators and the common people.


    Nowadays, most cultivators had chosen a faction: the Martial Schools, often called Sects, the Empire, or other unknown factions. Only a few remained Wanderers, but it was risky; without connections, Wanderers often attracted trouble.


    "Why are you asking?" Apollo replied.


    "I''m a Wanderer myself," Sir Guo said. "I don''t have anyone to rely on but myself since I left¡­ that place. But after years of wandering, I decided to guard this training ground." He didn''t go into details, as it would take days to explain. "My reason for wandering? To find my disciple. So, what about you? What''s your reason?"


    Basically none. You guys just assumed I''m a Wanderer, Apollo thought, though he wasn''t about to reveal his true identity.


    "I just like it," Apollo said. "No particular reason¡ªjust for my own pleasure."


    Sir Guo was silent for a moment before he sighed. "If you''re not willing to tell me, so be it. You can go now."


    "Alright, see you never!" Apollo began walking toward the entrance. He still didn''t have enough strength to teach the man in the bamboo hat a lesson, which was frustrating.


    As he watched the beggar''s back, Sir Guo couldn''t help but feel eager for what the future would bring.


    ...


    Apollo''s daily routine was straightforward: once he finished his attribute training, he would return to his beggar spot to cultivate his Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation Technique, where he was making slow progress. Afterward, he''d beg for Alm Points. When night fell, he would cultivate his Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique and in two or three more days, he would likely reach the next Step.


    With this in mind, he couldn''t resist summoning the status screen.


    STATUS SCREEN


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 50


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning, Water."


    His Alm Points had reached fifty, bringing him closer to purchasing the item he wanted: Passerby Shadow. It would make him unnoticeable in his beggar spot unless someone specifically looked for him, and he''d even be able to choose who could see him. Although it wouldn''t fully hide him from those using techniques to find him, it was convenient and cheap.


    He had been saving his Alm Points for it, though it was easier said than done. There was always something tempting to buy, or a necessity he couldn''t avoid.


    As he thought about his Alms, Apollo grew curious about the people who gave him money. It always seemed to happen when his eyes were closed, and even when he was awake, it usually felt like an accident.


    It was strange, but Apollo didn''t mind as long as he benefited from it.


    As he walked back, the sun was near the horizon, seemingly eager to kiss it goodbye.


    Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves and rolling wheels filled the air. A carriage stopped in front of him, and he instinctively took a few steps back.


    Apollo frowned, inspecting the silver carriage. It bore an insignia painted in gold¡ªan eagle with three pointed horns that he was certain belonged to a monster he couldn''t quite recognize.


    He glanced at the driver, who stared back coldly. That look alone told him they were far from friendly. Discover exclusive tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    The carriage door opened, and a woman stepped out, dressed in luxurious attire. She wore a white dress with intricate trimmings that reached her ankles and held a closed fan in her hand.


    She had blonde hair and blue eyes, her round face heavily coated in makeup, making it appear even rounder.


    The beauty and beast in one person, Apollo thought, as the woman glared at him with fury.


    "Is this the kid you were talking about?" she asked someone.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow, waiting as a familiar voice echoed from inside the carriage.


    "Yes, Mother, he''s the one who did this to me." Turning to the sound, Apollo saw a man wrapped in bandages, his deep blue eyes staring daggers at him. Apollo instantly recognized him and couldn''t help but smile.


    "I see, so you''re the one who burned my son''s face!" the woman said coldly.


    "Is that Mahika?!" Apollo feigned surprise, though he wasn''t truly shocked. "He looks more handsome now that we can''t see his face."


    "F*ck you!" Mahika shouted from inside the carriage. He wanted to storm out and beat the kid, but he couldn''t face the shame if people saw him. Besides, he knew he couldn''t defeat the kid.


    "How dare you say that!" Yer pointed an accusing finger at the beggar, her voice brimming with anger. "You''re coming with me to face your punishment! We won''t kill you, but you''ll wish we had!"


    "Hey! Don''t point at me!" Apollo narrowed his eyes at her. "You should be thanking me! If I hadn''t held back, I would have killed him!"


    "Kill? The nephew of the great Aaron Callum?!" Yer sneered. "You''ve just given us even more reason to punish you with that words."


    Perfect, Apollo thought. They had finally tracked him down and wanted to take him with them¡ªhis plan was officially in motion. But before that, he figured he''d have some fun. He noticed several cultivators beginning to surround him.


    Spreading his senses, he noted that the strongest among them was only at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    "You''ll come with us, whether you like it or not," Yer declared. Just looking at her son wrapped in bandages made her anger toward his assailant skyrocket; she couldn''t wait to exact her revenge.


    She hadn''t expected her brother to help after initially declining her request. Although she didn''t know why he''d changed his mind, she was grateful for the chance to settle the score for her son¡ªMahika, who was waiting just as eagerly for it.


    "You''ll get your revenge soon, son. Don''t worry," Yer said, glancing at Mahika in the carriage with a warm look.


    "Thank you, Mom," Mahika replied, his eyes glued to the beggar, glaring as if he could devour him with a stare.


    "Take him! We''ll bring him to my brother!" Yer ordered, and the Callum cultivators responded with a shout.


    "Yes, Madam!"


    As they closed in, Apollo glanced at the growing crowd that had taken notice of the commotion.


    Taking a deep breath, he shouted, "Help! Someone help! These people are trying to kidnap me so Mahika can get back at me!" Apollo''s small, innocent voice echoed down the street, drawing even more attention. The men surrounding him paused, unsure.


    Meanwhile, Mahika''s entire body tensed as he remembered the incident in the Great Serpent Library''s first-floor hall.


    "Shut him up! Let''s hurry up!" Mahika yelled, panicked. He couldn''t allow the kid to frame him a second time.


    As Apollo was dragged toward a separate carriage, he seized another opportunity to shout, "Help! Mahika Callum is a pervert! He has a thing for kids lik¡ª" But his words were cut off as a hand clamped over his mouth.


    Still, he was satisfied to see passersby whispering and casting curious glances in Mahika''s direction, the gossip already starting to spread.

 Chapter 226 Inside Callum Mansion

    "I wonder what they''re talking about," Apollo said casually to the young man whose head was wrapped in bandages.


    "Damn you! If I find out that you''ve tainted my name, I''ll make sure that even after your death, I''ll trample on your corpse!" Mahika growled, glaring at the kid behind him.


    They were walking toward the entrance of the Callum Mansion, escorted by cultivators wearing robes emblazoned with the family insignia, as they followed Yer and her son.


    "Let him talk; this is the last day he''ll ever speak again," Miss Yer said, casting a cold glance at the beggar.


    "Are you guys going to kill me?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow, though not a hint of fear showed in his eyes.


    "What do you think?" Mahika smirked, his killing intent radiating off him. "The Family Head ordered us to find you after he heard what you did to me! You''re really done for!"


    Mahika didn''t mention that they''d practically begged his uncle, Aaron Callum, the Family Head, for help. Though initially rejected, Aaron had agreed to get involved a few days later.


    The Callum Family Head was known for his ruthlessness. If someone displeased or offended him, their head would soon be rolling. Even Yer dared not act too arrogantly in her brother-in-law''s presence. The memory of it was enough to make her afraid to speak loudly in front of Aaron.


    "Oh, really?" Apollo asked, his casual tone showing complete disregard for Mahika''s threat. But deep inside, he was a bit nervous. This would be the first time he''d make a big move, and against a prominent family, no less. If word got out, his identity would undoubtedly be exposed.


    Actually, he had planned to take things slowly, one step at a time, until the head of the Callum family finally noticed him. But now, he was about to meet the Family Head after only encountering two of their members. Apparently, they didn''t know that the beggar before them was responsible for killing one of their valuable assets¡ªthe former North Guard Captain.


    Now that he was here, Apollo decided he''d use this opportunity to investigate the mayor through the Callum Family Head. From what he understood, rumors about the mayor''s darker side circulated only among the upper echelons, nobles, and officials. They had done a good job of keeping those rumors under wraps. Apollo only knew that Klown had a plan and was the hidden villain in the city. To learn more, he''d need to approach these powerful figures.


    Mahika couldn''t help but scoff, annoyed that the kid remained unfazed. He felt his mother tugging at his arm, signaling him to calm down with a cold look.


    Taking a deep breath, he nodded at Yer.


    Soon, they entered the massive mansion, passing through several hallways. After taking multiple left and right turns, they finally arrived at a grand door inscribed with an image of a monstrous eagle.


    "I think you should put a carriage here," Apollo commented, yawning as he spoke.


    "You''re poor, so you don''t understand the significance of longer walks just to get to a room!" Mahika said mockingly.


    "I understand just fine, but you don''t seem to get that cleanliness is important. Why not use your bandages to clean the floor we just walked across?" Apollo raised an eyebrow at the bandaged man. "Come on, don''t be shy¡ªshow your handsome face to the world!" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You! I''ll kill you!" Mahika tried to lunge at the kid but was held back by the robed men.


    "Calm down, son. What do you think my brother would do if he found out you tried to beat the kid before he could?" Yer said, though not without glaring at the beggar first. She was referring to the night her son had barely escaped death.


    Hearing this, Mahika could only shove the cultivators away angrily.


    "Hehe, that''s a good boy who knows how to listen to his owner," Apollo chuckled.


    Mahika gritted his teeth, veins threatening to burst from his fury.


    Yer stepped forward and knocked on the door a few times. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    Then they waited.


    And waited.


    "Don''t tell me he''s still... busy masturbating?" Apollo muttered, not bothering to lower his voice for the others.


    A few stifled laughs came from the robed men.


    "Who was that?!" Yer whipped around, glaring at the family cultivators, but none of them dared to admit it. She then fixed a murderous gaze on the kid. "Shut up!"


    "All right, I will!" Apollo mimed zipping his lips with his fingers.


    A few moments later, a deep voice echoed from the other side of the door.


    "Come in."


    "Let''s go." One of the robed men pushed the door open, and the group entered.


    Apollo looked around, nodding in mild appreciation. The place was extravagant, decorated in gold and silver. A suit of golden armor stood in one corner, with a two-meter-tall gold sword beside it. The curtains were made of expensive material, and the bookshelves at the far end held books bound in golden covers.


    The beggar was impressed by the display, though not to the point where he will throw his hands into the air and offer his *ss. His gaze landed on the man seated on a gold-and-silver chair behind a desk.


    He must be the Callum Family Head, Apollo thought.


    "We''re here, brother," Miss Yer said, her voice not loud but enough to reach the man behind the table.


    But the Family Head continued reading the document in his hands. Apollo couldn''t help but frown. They were standing right in front of him, yet he chose to keep them waiting? The beggar felt a surge of irritation.


    "Hey, if you''re just going to keep reading those pointless papers, I''m heading back. My time is limited, you know!" Apollo shouted, his voice echoing through the room.


    Everyone turned to him in shock.


    Mahika wore the same stunned expression before a satisfied smile crossed his face. You''re clearly asking for death. He straightened proudly, recalling the wound that had nearly killed him on his uncle''s orders. If his mother hadn''t stayed up all night pleading for his recovery, he''d be six feet under by now. Thinking about it, why they didn''t also heal his face?


    Aaron Callum slowly raised his head, his burning eyes fixed on the kid. "How dare you interrupt my reading!"


    "You''re the one who interrupted me when I was about to go home!" Apollo shouted back. He wasn''t afraid of the man before him, especially after discovering that the Callum Family Head was just a normal person! When he spread his senses, he sensed that the strongest person hiding in the shadows with cheap tricks was only at the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Apollo''s confidence was through the roof. He had already defeated someone at the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation stage and even taken down a clone of the Great Serpent, which was definitely stronger.


    Facing these people? The beggar''s nervousness vanished, replaced by a relaxed smile.


    A loud bang echoed as Aaron Callum slammed his hands on the table. He stood and pointed a finger at the kid.


    "I''m not someone you can easily mess with! I''ll give you a choice¡ªkill yourself, or I''ll kill you!" Aaron shouted, his face red with fury. No one had ever dared to speak to him like that. Even other family heads, despite their pretenses, spoke to him with respect and never outright insulted him.


    When Mahika and his mother heard this, they let out small smiles before quickly hiding them. Deep down, they couldn''t contain their excitement.


    "Uncle, let me do it!" Mahika raised his hand eagerly. But his mother tried to stop him, though she was already too late.


    "Shut your mouth!" Aaron snapped at his nephew before focusing back on Apollo. "I''ll give you three seconds!"


    The Callum Family Head didn''t care anymore, even if the kid in front of him was a Personal Disciple of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. From what he understood, a Personal Disciple wasn''t technically part of the Martial School, so he wasn''t breaking any treaty by acting. He felt no hesitation about killing the kid.


    His daughter, Lily, had sent a letter a day earlier instructing him to bring the personal disciple to the mansion once located. Aaron couldn''t understand why the kid had let himself be taken so easily¡ªhe had expected more resistance, at which point he''d send in his strongest fighter. Furthermore, he wanted to confirm the truth of his daughter''s letter; he found it hard to believe that a kid could be a personal disciple.


    But watching this so-called Personal Disciple act rudely in front of him, his fiery, easily-irritated nature couldn''t let it slide.


    "Hmm, should I kill myself?" Apollo muttered, placing a hand on his chin as if in thought, though he decided in an instant. "No f*cking way, dude."


    "Then you leave me no choice." Aaron waved his hand, and a figure clad in a robe with the family insignia stepped from the shadows, releasing an intense pressure. "Whether you''re the Personal Disciple or not, you''ll die here and now."

 Chapter 227 Dancing Blade

    "You''re done, kid. You''ve pissed off someone you shouldn''t have," the newcomer said, pulling out two scimitars. He spun them in his hands a few times before pointing one at the beggar. "They call me Dancing Blade. I''ve killed hundreds, including women and children, so don''t expect me to hold back just because you''re a kid."


    Mahika and his mother exchanged a fearful look. This was the same man who had severely injured Mahika. They hadn''t even understood how it had happened¡ªone moment, he was standing, and the next, he was on the ground with a gaping wound in his chest.


    Mahika glanced hesitantly at his mother.


    "Don''t even think about it," Yer whispered. "We should be content just to watch him get what he deserves."


    Mahika could only sigh heavily. He wanted to personally finish off the kid, but the family head wanted the best man on the job.


    "Do we really have to do this?" Apollo asked, cracking his knuckles. "What if I end up killing you? Would I be wrong for defending myself?"


    Dancing Blade was about to answer when Aaron Callum shouted.


    "Who do you think you are?! Here, I am the law! And you broke the number one rule by offending me! You''ll die here! It''s better if you don''t resist and just accept your fate!" Aaron''s eyes were wide with fury, his anger through the roof; killing the kid seemed to be the only way to satisfy him.


    Apollo thought the family head was overacting. Couldn''t he control his emotions? But seeing the way Aaron glared at him with bloodshot eyes, Apollo could only sigh. Now he understood why young masters with high egos behaved as they did.


    An apple doesn''t fall far from its tree, but some apples fall on people''s heads¡ªand besides Isaac Newton, Apollo seemed to have been struck too, gaining insight into the "young master syndrome."


    "Well, I wonder what will happen if Axton finds out that his Personal Disciple was kidnapped and nearly killed," Apollo threatened, mostly curious about Aaron Callum''s reaction.


    "Ha! Do you think I''d believe that? A kid being a Personal Disciple? Dream on! Kill him, Dancing Blade!" Aaron Callum commanded.


    "My pleasure!" Dancing Blade grinned, swinging his scimitar.


    When Mahika heard the kid claim he was the Personal Disciple and even refer to the Headmaster of the Great Serpent by his first name, his anger flared. "Personal Disciple?! Just because he''s strong doesn''t mean he holds that title! Such arrogance!"


    Seeing he would actually have to fight, Apollo shrugged and raised a hand in an inviting gesture. "Come at me." Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Oh? Not afraid, are we? Then die!" Dancing Blade shouted, using his movement technique to appear instantly in front of the kid.


    Aaron Callum smiled with confidence. Dancing Blade was the strongest fighter he kept by his side, his go-to man for the dirtiest jobs. Loyal and silent, he never complained and always followed orders. That''s why the Callum Family Head valued this scimitar-wielding fighter so highly. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo remained calm, as relaxed as ever. The scimitar in front of him glowed bright red, heating the air around it until it was boiling.


    His opponent wore a crazed smile as the weapon drew nearer to the beggar.


    Should I end this quickly? Or have some fun? Apollo thought. It was probably best to finish the fight fast, then kill everyone in the room¡ªincluding the family head¡ªbefore making his escape. But when he saw their confident, expectant faces waiting for his death, he decided to deal them a psychological blow instead.


    With this in mind, he activated his True Hardening Technique along with another skill he''d picked up on the second floor of the Great Serpent Library.


    A translucent, light-blue dome materialized in front of him, blocking Dancing Blade''s attack.


    A sharp, metallic clang echoed through the room, and the onlookers stared at the kid with wide eyes.


    He blocked that? Mahika was just as shocked, though he breathed a sigh of relief when the barrier shattered and the kid was thrown back by the impact.


    "You''ve got some skills, kid!" Dancing Blade said, appearing in front of Apollo once more.


    "And you''ve got some seriously bad breath!" Apollo retorted, covering his nose as his opponent swung at him again. Using the same technique, he formed another barrier, though it broke after a few seconds of contact. The scimitar grazed his arm, but with True Hardening activated, the wound was shallow.


    Apollo was hurled backward once again. Glancing at his arm as he landed, he couldn''t help but smile. Using Refined Qi for True Hardening made the technique far stronger compared to using Unrefined Qi from his surroundings. Though he could easily dodge the attack, he chose to let it land instead.


    "Ah, I wish I could personally kill him," Mahika muttered in disappointment.


    Aaron, meanwhile, had settled back into his chair, watching the one-sided fight with satisfaction. He didn''t want the battle to end too soon¡ªhe wanted to savor the kid''s suffering.


    Yes, he admitted he was surprised the boy was actually a cultivator, but a Personal Disciple? He''d never believe that. Perhaps his daughter had made a mistake.


    Dancing Blade raised his scimitar, now smeared with Apollo''s blood, and licked it slowly.


    "That''s disgusting," Apollo said, frowning as he healed his wounds.


    "No, you should be honored that I taste your blood before I kill you," Dancing Blade sneered.


    "Why not taste my fist instead!" Apollo shouted, dashing toward his opponent with the Simple Movement Technique.


    Holding back his full strength to give them a false sense of hope, he knew that if he went all out, his opponent''s head would already be rolling on the ground.


    "Take this!" Dancing Blade slashed through the air, sending countless fiery arcs toward Apollo. They moved so quickly that they surrounded him in an instant.


    But just as the blazing slashes were about to slice him into pieces, Apollo suddenly vanished from his spot.


    Dancing Blade''s eyes widened in disbelief. Where did he go?! A chill ran down his spine as he realized something crucial.


    Turning around, Dancing Blade saw a fist coming straight for his head! Crap! He braced himself for impact, but to his surprise, the punch slowed down at the last moment. Taking advantage of the unexpected pause, Dancing Blade launched a counterattack with a cross slash. His scimitars glowed red-hot, unleashing a burning strike!


    "Argh!" Apollo cried out in "pain," his body sent flying through the air, spinning a few times before landing face-first on the ground.


    "That''s a solid strike!" Aaron shouted from his seat, excitement evident in his voice. It had been weeks since the Advancement Examination ended, and he hadn''t had time to watch a battle in the city''s Arena. This fight was satisfying his craving for action.


    "Yes! Good!" Mahika cheered, clenching his fists. He had been shocked by the kid''s sudden speed when he appeared behind Dancing Blade, but was relieved when Dancing Blade managed to counter in time.


    Mahika''s mother and the other cultivators in the room joined in with their own cheers.


    However, Dancing Blade wore a frown. The kid''s speed had increased so suddenly that he could barely keep up, but at the last second, the boy slowed down. Did he use some kind of technique? he wondered.


    Apollo stood up and noticed parts of his robe smoldering. He hurriedly patted them out. "You almost burned my clothes!" he shouted indignantly at his opponent.


    "You''re lucky you''re still alive," Dancing Blade replied, ignoring the remark and gripping his scimitars tighter.


    "It''s because I chose to be," Apollo smirked. He had used a movement technique he''d learned from the fourth floor of the Great Serpent Library called Water Phase Technique. Though he''d only mastered the beginner stage, combining it with his Simple Movement Technique had boosted his speed beyond what the scimitar wielder could perceive. Even Apollo was surprised by his own speed.


    Water Phase Technique allowed him to pass through most objects, but at the beginner stage, he could only phase through thin objects. That''s why he''d maneuvered around his opponent rather than phasing directly in front to arrive behind Dancing Blade.


    He still had plenty of other techniques up his sleeve, but Apollo felt he''d shown them just enough to give them a sliver of hope.


    "Bullsh*t! This time, I won''t hold back anymore!" Dancing Blade growled, releasing his full killing intent. Since the start, he had aimed to kill the kid, but his repeated failures gnawed at him.


    "Me too!" Apollo replied, raising his right hand and pointing it at his opponent. The Simple Wind Sword Technique activated, and a visible, calm wind formed around his hand, appearing deceptively harmless.


    Dancing Blade glanced at the wind surrounding Apollo''s hand, then locked eyes with him. "Die, kid!"


    In an instant, he vanished from his spot!


    But Apollo wasn''t about to let his opponent make the first move. His body blurred and disappeared just as quickly!


    Aaron Callum, his sister, Mahika, and the other onlookers watched with wide eyes, though they all assumed they knew the outcome.


    Who could it be other than the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage cultivator, Dancing Blade?

 Chapter 228 Spare Me!

    "The fight''s over," Aaron Callum muttered with satisfaction, noting the classic pose signaling the end of a duel¡ªfighters standing back-to-back, weapons or hands at their sides. It was a pose he''d seen countless times in tournaments and battles, a display he admired.


    He stood up and clapped his hands. "Well done, Dancing Blade. That was a feast for the eyes! I''ll reward you grea¨C"


    However, his words halted abruptly as Dancing Blade collapsed, eyes rolled back, blood pooling around him.


    The kid turned to Aaron, a cold smile on his face. "Why not give me the reward instead?"


    "This can''t be!" Aaron''s eyes widened. "You! You defeated my best fighter? A 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage? But you''re just a kid!" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A kid? Who told you I was just a kid?" Apollo smirked, glancing at Mahika, whose body was still covered in bandages. "I told you¡ªI''m the Personal Disciple."


    Meeting Apollo''s gaze, a shiver ran down Mahika''s spine as he recalled their encounter on the first floor of the Great Serpent Library. The kid had admitted he was the Personal Disciple, but Mahika hadn''t believed him. Even when the kid defeated him on the south beach, the idea hadn''t crossed his mind.


    He realized, too late, that he''d seriously messed up by offending someone powerful.


    "So it''s true!" Aaron''s voice shook.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow. What does he mean by that? In seconds, he pieced it together¡ªthe Callum family head had suspected his status before Apollo even arrived. But Mahika hadn''t believed it, so Aaron had used them as pawns for his own agenda. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    Regardless, it was pointless to dwell on the twisted logic of these egotistical people. He had his own plans now.


    "Sure, it''s true¡­whatever that means to you," Apollo chuckled, locking his gaze on Aaron. "So, tell me, who holds more status here¡ªyou or me?"


    Aaron took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His usual fiery temper cooled. He had essentially kidnapped the Personal Disciple, if the kid was telling the truth. But had he truly offended the Great Serpent Cultivation School? Technically, the Personal Disciple doesn''t belong to the school¡­


    Yet, what about Axton, the kid''s master?


    I should''ve listened to my daughter and let her handle it herself, Aaron thought, filled with regret. His daughter, Lily, had told him to bring the Personal Disciple to the mansion if he found him. She hadn''t suggested using force, but Aaron hadn''t believed a kid could hold that title. So, he''d let his emotions take over.


    "Why don''t we talk this through?" Aaron suggested, stepping forward and rubbing his hands together nervously. "My daughter wanted to meet you¡ªwhy don''t we sit down and wait for her?"


    Seeing the sudden change in her brother''s demeanor, Miss Yer took a step forward. "But, brother! He harmed my child!"


    "Shut the f*ck up!" Aaron snapped, glaring at her. "Why don''t you scram!"


    Yer gritted her teeth, throwing a glare at Apollo before turning away. "Mahika, let''s go!"


    With his head lowered, Mahika followed his mother, with the other cultivators trailing behind.


    "All of you, stay here," Apollo said, staring them down.


    "Who are you to order us, huh?!" Yer shouted back.


    "Yer! Listen to the Personal Disciple!" Aaron barked.


    "B¨C" Yer wanted to protest, but seeing her brother''s stern expression, she could only grit her teeth and comply. She returned to her previous spot, seething, and waited.


    Apollo chuckled, eyeing the Callum family head. "Why the sudden change in attitude? Do you finally believe I''m the Personal Disciple?"


    "I believed it from the start. I just needed to confirm it. You know, identity theft is common these days," Aaron Callum replied with a nervous chuckle. "Let''s sit down and talk."


    "No." Apollo shook his head. "Is your daughter one of the Senior Sisters?"


    "Yes, why?" Aaron asked.


    So she wants to meet me because she plans to challenge my position, Apollo concluded. It seemed Aaron was unaware of this. The rules about being the Personal Disciple are only known to the Great Serpent''s Seniors and Elders.


    With this thought, Apollo began cracking his neck, then his knuckles.


    Seeing this, Aaron felt a sinking feeling. "W-what are you doing?!"


    He was nervous. With his strongest fighter dead, no one in the mansion could defeat the kid before him.


    "Cleaning up witnesses," Apollo said, and as the words left his mouth, lightning erupted around him. The intense light blinded those nearby, and in an instant, he vanished.


    Mahika shielded his eyes from the light, but when he looked again, he saw the kid has disappeared while lightning moved around him.


    "Mother!" he shouted, glancing over, only to witness his mother''s head fly into the air. "Mother!!!"


    Heads rolled as the scent of burnt flesh filled the air.


    The other cultivators met the same fate, witnessing only flashes of blinding light before succumbing to the after life.


    Mahika''s face dripped with sweat as he realized his fate. Gritting his teeth, he activated his movement technique, racing toward the door. But just as he neared it, lightning flashed in front of him, and Apollo materialized.


    "I''ve been wanting to kill you," Apollo said in a chillingly innocent tone.


    "P-please, spare me!" Mahika pleaded, snot and tears streaming down his face.


    "Sorry, no can do," Apollo replied, raising his hand, surrounded by a razor-sharp wind, and slicing it horizontally across Mahika''s neck.


    Mahika attempted to defend with a water barrier, but it was useless; Apollo''s strike was unstoppable.


    Death is unstoppable, Mahika thought as his head spun through the air.


    "Another egotistical young master down. Cravings satisfied," Apollo smiled, sending a small Fire Blast, tinged with lightning, toward Mahika''s corpse. The moment it landed, the flame ignited, engulfing the entire body and head.


    Apollo moved to the other corpses, doing the same.


    All the while, Aaron Callum watched in horror, his body trembling. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead and down his back.


    In his eyes, the kid was no longer a kid but a bloodthirsty monster.


    "Now, it''s your turn," Apollo said with a smirk, appearing before the Callum family head, the flames casting an ominous glow behind him.


    Aaron Callum gulped, paralyzed with fear.

 Chapter 229 Aaron Spilling The Truth

    "D-Don''t kill me!" Aaron Callum shouted as the kid advanced toward him. "I''m still one of the great family heads in this city! My influence is beyond anything you could fathom!" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Influence?" Apollo smirked. "If I burned you to death, what could your influence possibly do? And even if it could, you''d be long dead by then."


    Aaron gritted his teeth. The kid was right; in the face of death, his influence wouldn''t bring him back to life.


    "Still! You shouldn''t offend me! If I shout, my warriors will come and apprehend you! I have hundreds of them!" Aaron threatened, trying to regain his composure.


    "Haven''t you noticed how fast I am?" Apollo stared at the Callum family head as if he were a fool. "Did you hit your head or something? I could kill you before they even arrive."


    "F*ck! Tell me what you want¡ªis it money? Cultivation techniques? We have plenty! I''ll give you as much as you want!" Aaron quickly said, pride evaporating in the face of his life being threatened.


    "None of that interests me," Apollo replied, shaking his head.


    "Then name it! Whatever it is, I''ll fulfill it for you!" Nothing mattered more to Aaron than saving his own life. "I could even give you my daughter!"


    "Hmm." Apollo placed a hand under his chin, pretending to be in deep thought, though it was merely an act to heighten Aaron''s nerves. "Forget about your daughter. I want information."


    "Information? About¡­ what?" Aaron asked, taking a shaky breath. The fact that the kid was asking for information instead of money or techniques made him even more uneasy. And when he heard Apollo''s next words, a chill ran down his spine.


    "About Mayor Klown. His hideous plan¡ªyou surely know something, right?" Apollo said coldly.


    "I¡­" Aaron gulped, his eyes darting. "I¡­ don''t know what you''re talking about. What plan?"


    "Do you want to live or not?" Apollo raised his hand, lightning crackling from it.


    "I¡­ I really don''t know anything about this ''hideous plan'' you''re talking about!" Aaron stammered through gritted teeth.


    "If that''s the case, then I''ll torture you slowly before I kill you," Apollo said, waving his hand. Before Aaron could react, his hand fell to the ground!


    "Ahhhh!" Aaron screamed in agony, clutching his severed arm and writhing on the floor.


    Apollo watched him with cold eyes. He wasn''t a good person in his previous life either; he did only what he felt like doing, and that was probably why he had so many haters back then.


    "Every time you refuse to answer my question, I''ll take another limb. Then your eyes, nose, and teeth. And if you still refuse, I''ll skin you alive. Got it?" Apollo''s voice was like a death sentence.


    "Y-yes¡­" Aaron panted heavily. He reached inside his clothing with his remaining hand and pulled out a small bottle filled with blue liquid, swallowing it in one gulp. The bleeding from his severed arm stopped, and miraculously, it began healing, albeit slowly.


    Seeing this, Apollo felt a flicker of curiosity about the bottle but decided to stay focused on the matter at hand.


    "Tell me about his plan," he ordered, moving to sit in the chair behind the desk, watching Aaron intently.


    Aaron Callum stood up with a frown. Though the bleeding had stopped, his arm was still throbbing in pain. "If I tell you¡­ don''t kill me."


    "Of course, as long as I''m satisfied with the answer," Apollo lied with a smile. The kind of person in front of him? He didn''t deserve to live. Giving Aaron false hope would just make the situation more interesting.


    "I don''t know all the details, but¡­ he wants to get rid of all the Cultivation Schools in the city," Aaron said.


    "Oh, so that''s why he organized large-scale thefts targeting each of the Cultivation Schools?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow as he conjured a serpent made of lightning.


    Aaron glanced nervously at the lightning serpent. Realizing his life was on the line, he decided to tell everything. Betraying the mayor felt like his only option now.


    "That''s the gist of it," Aaron explained. "I think he believes that if the Techniques from the Martial Schools are accessible to the public, people won''t need the schools anymore."


    "You think?" Apollo stared coldly at the Callum family head.


    "Yes¡­ Klown didn''t go into detail. Maybe he has other plans, but he didn''t tell us everything," Aaron quickly replied, grimacing as the pain from his severed arm made him breathe deeply.


    "Us¡­ So you and the other families sided with him?" Apollo pressed. "Did all of you side with him?"


    "Not everyone," Aaron shook his head. "The Kleinford, Helflick, and Leone families opposed it."


    Hearing his family''s name, Apollo''s heart skipped a beat, confirming one of his suspicions about the mayor.


    Apollo fell silent, deep in thought, before continuing. "Tell me everything you know about Klown''s plan besides what you just mentioned."


    Taking a deep breath, Aaron began to speak.


    Apparently, Klown had gathered the family heads to discuss his vision of removing the Cultivation Schools from the city. Legally, Klown didn''t have the authority to shut them down, as the empire and the Cultivation Schools had an agreement: each major city must have a martial school to strengthen and protect it. But Klown felt his authority was being challenged, his actions limited. He wanted full control of the city with no oversight. He promised to grant more power to any families that helped him if his plan succeeded.


    "But if ordinary people gain access to Cultivation Techniques, wouldn''t that create chaos? And what if they decide to challenge the mayor himself?" Apollo pointed out.


    By now, Aaron''s injury had healed, though he would be one arm short forever. "Klown said he''d handle anyone who opposed him."


    "If he was thinking clearly, he''d keep the Techniques hidden in a vault, only using them as rewards to recruit loyal followers after he successfully removed the Martial Schools. Broadcasting the Techniques to the public is a strange move," Apollo mused, feeling that there was more to Klown''s plan than just removing the Martial Schools. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "That¡­ we didn''t question much," Aaron replied with a bitter smile.


    "Then why is he expanding the wall?" Apollo asked, voicing a crucial question.


    "He never told us the reason for that. Even we were shocked when we heard he was planning to expand the wall."

 Chapter 230 Death Of Aaron

    Apollo was silent for a moment before he asked another question. "What do you think of Klown?"


    One of the rumors he''d heard was that the Mayor ate people¡ªaccording to the former north guard captain he''d killed.


    "What do I think of him¡­" By now, the Callum family head had completely forgotten his allegiance to the mayor. "A big piece of sh*t."


    Look who''s talking, Apollo thought, finding Aaron''s answer more than enough.


    "Then what about the rumor of him eating people? Is it true?" Apollo asked, the lightning serpent circling around him.


    "You''ve heard about that?" Aaron Callum looked surprised. "It''s only known to the highest-ranking individuals in the city. The truth circulates only among those who follow him."


    "So, you''re saying the rumor isn''t just talk but a fact?" Apollo said, narrowing his eyes.


    "Yes," Aaron nodded. "Have my answers satisfied you? Do you need more information?"


    "Thank you for answering; I''m greatly satisfied," Apollo smiled, hopping off the chair as his small frame walked past the Callum family head.


    Hearing this, Aaron let out a sigh of relief, thinking the kid was keeping his word. But soon after, a dark expression returned to his face as feelings of humiliation, shame, and anger washed over him. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fist tight.


    I''ll have my revenge, Aaron thought, suddenly sensing someone behind him. He turned to find the Personal Disciple at the entrance, watching him with a cold gaze and a powerful killing intent.


    A bad feeling welled up within Aaron.


    "By the way, I don''t keep promises with people I intend to kill," Apollo said as the lightning serpent crackled around him.


    "But you made a promise!" Aaron shouted, stumbling back in fear.


    "Yes, but I''m a motherf*cker!" The moment Apollo spoke, the lightning serpent roared, transforming into a bolt of energy that appeared instantly in front of Aaron!


    Aaron Callum''s eyes widened, and before he knew it, his world turned bright as electricity surged through him, burning his entire body inside and out.


    Seeing this, the beggar smirked. Once the Callum family head fell to the floor, he cast a Fire Blast, igniting the room in flames. With fire raging behind him, Apollo walked out.


    "I should get out as fast as possible," he muttered, his body turning invisible with a technique he''d derived from the Hydra Mirage. Then, in a flash of lightning, he vanished.


    ¡­


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    News of the tragedy spread quickly in Klown City and soon reached the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    In one of the Senior courtyards, Lily sat in her garden when she received a letter from a messenger bird.


    Before she even opened it, a bad feeling rose within her. As she read the letter, her face paled.


    "My father¡­ he''s dead?" Lily Callum muttered in disbelief. According to the letter, Aaron Callum had died in an intense fire that consumed the mansion, while her aunt Yer and cousin Mahika had been found with severed heads, along with other cultivators on the scene, before they, too, were engulfed in flames.


    The tragedy had struck suddenly and in broad daylight. The culprit was still unknown.


    However, disbelief soon faded from her face, replaced by acceptance. In truth, she wasn''t surprised. Her father had a fiery temper and had made numerous enemies; it wasn''t unthinkable that one of them would finally come for him.


    Lily didn''t feel any pity or sympathy for her family; instead, she felt disappointed. She had planned to return to her family and meet that perso¡ªwait, did he kill them? The thought crossed her mind, and she couldn''t shake it.


    "If he really did kill them, I''ll have a reason to do the same," Lily muttered, her voice laced with killing intent. She wasn''t doing this for her family''s sake but rather for the position of Personal Disciple. She had been eyeing that role ever since she became a Senior, and she would achieve her dream no matter what it took.


    With a snap of her fingers, the letter in her hand shredded to pieces as small, sharp water blades sliced through it.


    "I''m stronger than Heru now," Lily smiled, watching the paper fragments fall to the ground. Just a few days ago, she had finally achieved a breakthrough with her battle technique, Water Blade Disintegration. She had reached the intermediate stage, which boosted her strength significantly. Unless the other Seniors managed similar breakthroughs, she would remain at the top. Her chances of defeating that kid, the Personal Disciple, had become more certain.


    Standing up, she decided to head back into her training room to stabilize her technique. When she''d sent the letter to her father, asking him to bring the Personal Disciple to their mansion, she''d planned to take an underhanded approach, hoping to challenge the kid in front of her master and away from the Headmaster''s watchful eye. Now, it seemed all she could do was wait for him to return.


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    When night arrived, Apollo sat at his usual spot with his hands on his forehead, begging for money. A few hours later, he opened his eyes and looked at what he had collected.


    "One bronze coin?" Apollo muttered, disappointed. His Alm Points had only increased by one. Sighing as he pocketed the coin, he looked up at the night sky. "Hey, System, is there any way to increase my Alm Points faster? Do I really have to beg¡­literally? Can''t you give me some leeway?"


    A light blue translucent screen materialized before him, and the system''s strict, emotionless voice echoed in his mind.


    "No. You embody the essence of a True Beggar. You must live by the laws of begging to survive. There are no shortcuts."


    "Useless piece of sh*t," Apollo cursed.


    The System didn''t respond as the screen vanished.


    "Staying here to beg is pointless¡­ If I really want to increase my Alm Points, I''ll need to go somewhere more crowded," Apollo muttered. He had been avoiding crowded areas to keep a low profile, but it seemed this street wouldn''t be enough.


    Fortunately, he could beg in different places, and the money would still convert to Alm Points; he wasn''t confined to just this spot.


    "Hmm, I should find a new place to beg, but I need to complete my second mission first," Apollo thought, feeling he was close. All he needed was to find out why the wall was being expanded and why the stolen cultivation and battle techniques were made public. Currently, people hadn''t made any moves, likely because they were still in the learning phase.

 Chapter 231 Bel Last Day?

    As night passed and morning arrived, news of the deaths of the Callum family head and other members spread across the city, raising concerns among the other great families. Meanwhile, the perpetrator was cultivating peacefully.


    From the beggar''s perspective, the world had turned into a pitch-black void, with the surrounding Qi shining like bright stars.


    The Qi entered his body, following the pattern of his Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique before settling into the Qi ball a few inches below his navel, strengthening it further. As it grew larger, Apollo suddenly sensed that if he continued, something might explode.


    Realizing this, he didn''t hesitate to break through the barrier! With anticipation and excitement, Apollo advanced to the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage!


    The Qi ball expanded, and the Refined Qi within grew stronger.


    Opening his eyes, a glint appeared within them. He raised his hand and clenched his fist, noting that while his physical strength didn''t feel significantly enhanced, his power had definitely doubled.


    As he savored the feeling of surpassing his previous stage, a problem came to mind. "I need to familiarize myself with my newfound strength again," he muttered with a bitter smile. Every time he broke through a step, he needed to understand his new strength to use it to its full potential. But thinking he''d have to repeat this process every time he advanced, Apollo felt it was just a waste of time.


    "If I keep getting stronger, so be it. There''s no need for me to keep familiarizing myself with new strength," he decided, nodding to himself.


    Then, his stomach growled. Breaking through must have consumed a lot of energy. Though he''d recently discovered he could stave off hunger by cultivating, he still craved real food.


    Glancing to the corner, he saw a familiar basket, with smoke drifting from the opening. Licking his lips, he picked it up and opened it. Inside, alongside the spaghetti, was a piece of meat glistening in coconut oil.


    Seeing this, a smile appeared on his face, realizing they finally had their own meat distributor. "That''s good," he muttered, beginning his breakfast.


    After he finished, he let out a small burp and approached the entrance of the restaurant beside him. Just as he was about to knock to alert Ned, the door opened from inside, and Filly and Gail stepped out.


    The trio exchanged surprised glances before Apollo let out a chuckle.


    "Good morning! I see you finally have your own meat distributor¡ªcongratulations!" Apollo said.


    "Thanks," Filly replied, but her smile was forced.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo asked, noticing her expression.


    "It''s about Bel," Filly said, her tone dropping. "This¡­ this is probably her last day."


    "Last day?" Apollo repeated, quickly realizing what she meant. He had nearly forgotten about Bel and her lingering injuries.


    "Yes, she can''t fight the poison in her body any longer," Filly explained, trying to hold back tears.


    Gail, on the other hand, kept her head lowered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Although a trained assassin, she was sensitive when it came to her friends.


    "I''m sorry, but we have to go see her," Filly said, bowing slightly before she and Gail walked past Apollo toward the waiting carriage.


    "Hmm." Apollo glanced at the basket in his hand, then at Ned, who had appeared in the doorway. "Here, take this."


    He handed the basket to the worker and then followed after the two.


    "Can I come?" he asked.


    Filly and Gail exchanged glances before nodding.


    "Sure."


    "Thanks," Apollo said. Once they were in the carriage, they began their journey northwest of Klown City.


    ¡­


    June, Bel Helflick''s personal bodyguard, arrived in front of the family mansion in his carriage. Without greeting the guards on either side of the gate, he sprinted inside, breaking the rule against running or flying within the mansion to maintain decorum. But his mind was set solely on reaching Bel''s room as quickly as possible.


    It took him only fifteen seconds, but each second felt like an eternity.


    June finally stopped in front of a pair of double doors. Taking a deep breath to calm his pounding heart, he pushed them open.


    The door creaked quietly, and as he entered, the intense smell of medicine assaulted his nose. He frowned, but soon grew accustomed to it.


    Looking around, he noticed two figures standing by the bed.


    One was the Helflick family head, Bel''s father, Mathias¡ªblack-haired, with a mustache reaching the sides of his lips and cold, silver eyes. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The other was Nathan Kleinford, Filly''s father. He had black hair and dark eyes, and he wore a black hanfu robe, radiating an air of battle-hardened resilience.


    They turned toward June, and Nathan nodded in greeting.


    "I''ve arrived, Family Head Mathias," June said, bowing his head.


    "Did you find a cure?"


    "I did, but I don''t know if it will work," June replied hesitantly.


    "Try it," Mathias commanded, his eyes burning with hope. Like June, he''d been working tirelessly to find a cure for his daughter. He''d spent days and nights in the Alchemy House with the branch manager''s help, concocting dozens of pills and potions. But none of them had worked. Clenching his fists, Mathias watched as June approached his daughter''s bedside.


    Mathias glanced at Bel, lying frail on the bed. Her body was thin as a twig, as if a single gust of wind might break her. Her cheeks were sunken, her lips cracked.


    Her chest rose and fell laboriously, each breath a struggle. Seeing her in this state, June gritted his teeth. Please work, he thought as he took a small bottle from inside his robe. It contained a black liquid, and as he opened it, the smell of poison filled the air.


    "Poison against poison?" Nathan muttered, glancing at Mathias. Seeing only fierce determination in his friend''s eyes, he remained silent, waiting.


    June administered the liquid, helping Bel drink it in a single gulp. As the black liquid disappeared down her throat, he stepped back and waited.


    A few seconds later, Bel''s eyes slowly opened.


    "It worked," Nathan and June said in unison, relief evident in their voices.


    "No," Mathias said, his voice dashing their hopes. "It won''t last long."

 Chapter 232 Saving Bel

    "F¡­father¡­" Bel''s weak voice echoed, her eyes lingering on her father before drifting to the Kleinford family head and then to June. "Un¡­cle¡­ Ju¡­ne¡­"


    Her voice was quiet and slow, but they heard it clearly. Bel''s eyes had dimmed, holding no brightness or cheerfulness¡ªonly acceptance.


    "How¡­ do you feel?" Mathias asked, his voice choked, though he tried his best to remain calm. His clenched fists betrayed his true feelings. He walked over to her bed and sat beside her.


    "I''m¡­ good¡­" Bel answered, each breath labored and forceful.


    "That''s good, that''s good," Mathias repeated, raising her hand and gently touching her faintly warm cheek.


    "I¡­ won''t¡­ be able¡­ to survive¡­ right?" Bel gave a weak smile.


    Nathan Kleinford looked away, as did June, unable to bring themselves to tell her the truth. Their hearts were heavy, seeing Bel¡ªthe once lively, bright young girl¡ªlying frail on her bed.


    "It''s my fault," June muttered, his teeth clenched. "If I had traveled further, if I had been faster¡­ I could''ve found the right cure¡­"


    Bel glanced at June, then smiled softly at her father. "How¡­ much¡­ longer?"


    "Ten minutes or so," Mathias sighed, forcing a smile. He could sense the poison she had just consumed battling the poison that was killing her. June must have acquired the potion from one of the Poison Masters in the region¡ªno small feat, as they rarely grant requests.


    "Ten¡­ minutes¡­ I''m¡­ happy¡­" Bel murmured, though regret flickered in her expression. "But¡­ I haven''t¡­ found them¡­"


    "Who is it, daughter? Do you want to see someone? I''ll do my best to find them!" Mathias held her hands tightly.


    "Leone''s¡­ heir¡­ and¡­ my savior¡­" Her mind flashed with the image of the young man who had helped her when she was searching for the lost Leone heir. Even now, on the brink of darkness, she still longed to see him.


    "Leone," Nathan muttered, exchanging a glance with the Helflick family head. "Klown must be behind it."


    "There''s no one else it could be," Mathias replied. "But the chances of the heir being alive are slim. Don''t worry, Bel¡ªI''ll do everything I can to find him!"


    With that, he rose to go, ready to search the city for the Leone heir, but Bel stopped him, grasping his hand.


    "Stay¡­ here¡­ Father," Bel smiled, her face glowing like a flower, bringing warmth to the sadness that filled the room. "Stay¡­ with¡­ me."


    Bel knew she would never see the heir or her savior again. It was a shame, but she accepted it.


    "Don''t worry, kid. I''ll always look out for your family," Nathan promised. Seeing Bel lying so frail made him realize the importance of family. He regretted not showing more love to his own children, especially the one who had chosen business over cultivation.


    As he thought of her, a knock at the door drew everyone''s attention.


    "Your friends are here," Mathias said. "Come in!"


    The door opened, and three individuals stepped into the room. As they entered, the strong smell of medicine hit their noses, making them frown, though they quickly adjusted.


    Filly took the lead, followed by Gail and the beggar.


    "Father," Filly greeted Nathan, then nodded to the Helflick family head. "Uncle Mathias."


    "You came," Mathias said, standing up from the bed.


    "Yes," Filly replied, her gaze settling on her friend lying on the bed. "Bel."


    "Filly¡­" Bel smiled, trying to sit up.


    June stepped in to help her.


    "Than¡­ks¡­" Bel nodded at her bodyguard, who had been by her side since she was little.


    "I brought¡­your favorite," Filly choked out, lifting the basket in her hand. Her eyes moistened, tears threatening to fall.


    "Spaghetti?" Bel asked weakly, and when Filly nodded, her face brightened.


    "Here you go." Filly moved to her bedside, opened the basket, and took out a plate of noodles topped with red sauce. "You can eat, right?"


    "Yes¡­" Bel nodded, a bit of strength returning as she smelled her favorite food. She had eaten this only a few times before, as Filly would often visit her with it and feed her.


    "Good," Filly said, stirring the food so the sauce coated the noodles. Using a fork, she began feeding Bel.


    With each bite, Bel''s face grew a little brighter, and she seemed more lively.


    The beggar stood silently to the side, observing Bel''s fragile state. He knew it wouldn''t be long before she took her last breath. It reminded him of scenes he''d witnessed in his previous life, in the hospitals he owned¡ªterminal lucidity, where people close to death would suddenly gain a burst of strength.


    As Filly fed Bel, the room grew quiet. Watching closely, the beggar picked up an anomaly in the air. The surrounding Qi was pulsing with a distinct wavelength, emanating from Mathias and Nathan. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo hadn''t come here just to see Bel. He also wanted to understand her father, and Filly''s father being here was an added advantage. Knowing these two families opposed the Mayor, Apollo sensed an opportunity to learn something valuable.


    What are they talking about? Apollo wondered, spreading his senses and aligning with the frequency of the Unrefined Qi.


    "¡­they will pay for it," Mathias ''said,'' his voice as cold as ice.


    "I suspect they hired whoever did this to her," Nathan replied in the silent connection.


    "They''re the only ones capable of something like this," Mathias said. "I have to take action. Are you in?"


    "Of course," Nathan replied. "They can''t be the only ones with a plan. What about Axton and the others?"


    "They''re still neutral, likely awaiting approval from their main branch. But I believe they''ll side with us," Mathias explained.


    "That''s good to hear. Also, Aaron''s death will unsettle the Mayor. I think he''ll make an obvious move soon," Nathan said, glancing at Mathias.


    "We have to be prepared. I will make them suffer for hurting my daughter," Mathias murmured, a hint of killing intent in his voice. The temperature in the room dropped momentarily, reflecting his rage.


    Bel looked at her father with concern. "Are¡­ you¡­ okay?"


    "I''m alright, Bel," Mathias replied.


    "I see¡­" Bel said softly. She had just finished eating and noticed a person she didn''t recognize. Turning to the young man, she tilted her head. "You¡­ are?"


    "This is Mr. Yoma," Gail introduced. "He stayed near Filly''s restaurant. He''s¡­ a beggar and a friend."


    "Oh¡­ I¡­ remember," Bel managed a small smile. "Hello."


    "Hello." Apollo stepped forward, glancing at the two influential figures before meeting Bel''s eyes directly. "Do you want to live?"


    The unexpected question left everyone stunned.


    Nathan frowned. "Hey, kid, this isn''t the place to say things like that."


    "I''m asking her," Apollo said, looking directly at Nathan.


    "You!" Nathan''s face flushed with anger as he looked at his daughter. "Filly! Why did you bring a beggar here?!"


    "Father, he''s not just a beggar," Filly replied, then turned to Apollo with hopeful eyes. She had a fleeting thought that maybe the man who helped save her restaurant could also save her friend, but quickly dismissed it, not wanting to impose on him.


    "He''s not just a beggar?" Nathan repeated, still frowning.


    "Are you a Wanderer?" Mathias asked, his gaze cold, as if one wrong answer would make him lash out.


    "You could say that," Apollo nodded.


    "I see. Then are you saying you can save my daughter?" Mathias asked. June, standing behind him, looked at the beggar with a glimmer of hope, willing to cling to any chance of saving Bel.


    "Yes, but it''s not free," Apollo replied, placing one hand behind his back, where he quietly materialized a bottle of green liquid¡ªthe same potion he used after being poisoned by Arke, the poison that now threatened Bel''s life.


    "Name your price. As long as you save my daughter, I''ll pay whatever you want," Mathias said.


    "All I need is cooperation," Apollo replied, looking pointedly at both Nathan and Mathias. "From the two of you."


    "Us?" Nathan muttered, intrigued by the beggar''s proposal.


    "Yes, but let''s discuss that later. Right now, let''s focus on saving Bel," Apollo said.


    The reminder shifted their attention back to Bel Helflick. She was struggling to breathe, her eyes fixed on the beggar.


    "So, do you want to live?" Apollo asked again. He respected her choice¡ªif she wished to pass peacefully, he would let her.


    Bel took several deep breaths and, using the last of her strength, nodded slowly.


    "Give her this," Apollo said, tossing the bottle to June, who caught it instinctively. "Be careful¡ªthat''s very valuable."


    June didn''t open it right away but looked to the family head.


    "Do it," Mathias nodded.


    With Mathias''s approval, June uncorked the bottle and approached the bed.


    Filly and Gail clasped their hands tightly, a storm of emotions swirling within them.


    Please, let this work!


    June raised Bel with his free hand. Her eyes are on the verge of closing as her chest moved up and down strongly. A great responsibility is currently on his hands.


    Bringing the potion closed to Bel''s lips, the smell made her nose to twitch.


    Bel instinctively opened her mouth and taking this chance, June made her drink the liquid inside the bottle.

 Chapter 233 Shes Safe?

    As the green liquid entered Bel''s throat, everyone held their breath¡ªexcept the beggar, who was confident in its effectiveness. Apollo had been poisoned by Arke before and believed he''d endured a stronger dose than what Bel currently suffered. Yet, one drink of this basic antidote, which cost him three Alm Points, had been enough to counter it.


    "Don''t give us false hope, kid," Nathan warned, his gaze fixed on the beggar with a sharp glint in his eyes. "You don''t want to taste our wrath."


    "I''m not," Apollo replied with a smile.


    "I trust Mr. Yoma, Father, so don''t scare him," Filly said from the side.


    "He''s not scaring me at all," Apollo shrugged. "Unless I''m facing death itself."


    "Big words for someone without cultivation," Nathan smirked. "I don''t see any concealing artifact on you. Why call yourself a Wanderer?"


    "Father!" Filly snapped, glaring at him. She knew her father well¡ªif he disliked someone, he''d pick them apart, looking for faults. And currently, he seemed to be showing that attitude toward Mr. Yoma. "He''s an esteemed guest! I gave him the token."


    "What?! Are you serious?" Nathan looked at his daughter in surprise. The tokens he''d given his children were valuable, representing his willingness to grant them a favor, though it still depended on whether he found the request reasonable.


    "I''m serious," Filly replied, letting out a sigh. "I''ll explain later. For now, please show some respect."


    Meanwhile, as Nathan and Apollo sized each other up, Mathias''s gaze remained fixed on his daughter.


    "It''s done," June muttered, placing Bel''s head gently back on the pillow as he stepped away, holding the empty bottle.


    "So, what now?" Nathan asked.


    "We wait," Apollo replied.


    The tension in the room rose as they waited, with Filly and Gail clenching their fists as Bel''s time drew near. They didn''t know if the potion would work and could only watch.


    But Mathias, who had worn a solemn expression moments ago, now wore a small smile. He could feel it¡ªhis daughter''s condition was rapidly improving. The poison that had plagued her for weeks was succumbing to the green liquid she''d just taken.


    It was like a polluted stream being cleansed by holy water. The aura of death that had surrounded her vanished, her pale complexion turned rosy, and her labored breaths grew calm.


    In just a minute, the poison was completely gone.


    Mathias approached the beggar, his towering figure looming above Apollo. With a broad smile, he extended his hand. "I''m Mathias Kleinford. I owe you my daughter''s life."


    "Nah, I''m just helping because I want something," Apollo replied, shaking Mathias''s hand. "Name''s Yoma."


    Apollo had grown so accustomed to introducing himself as Yoma that it felt natural, almost as if it were truly his name. For a moment, he found himself missing his other persona¡ªCan Deez.


    Ah, I wonder when I''ll get to use that name again.


    "Yoma, I''ll fulfill your request, as long as it''s reasonable and within our means," Mathias said, locking eyes with him.


    "Oh, trust me, you''ll like it," Apollo nodded.


    When the others in the room realized Bel''s condition was improving, their faces lit up with relief. Nathan was the second to notice, after Mathias, and could only scoff at this supposedly "Wanderer" kid. "It better be something we can do."


    Filly and Gail exchanged excited, relieved glances. When they turned back to the bed, they saw Bel looking at them.


    "Bel! You''re awake!" Filly rushed to her friend''s side, with Gail close behind, while June let out a smile.


    "What¡­ happened?" Bel asked, still a bit disoriented. Though free from the poison that had been killing her, her body was weak, drained of energy.


    "You''re safe!" Filly exclaimed, holding Bel''s hands. "Mr. Yoma saved you!"


    "He gave you medicine," Gail added.


    "Mr¡­ Yoma?" Bel murmured. She didn''t remember her last struggle but gathered that the kid was the person they were talking about. She looked over at him¡ªhe was picking his nose, casually looking back at them¡ªand managed a smile. "Thank¡­ you¡­"


    "Don''t worry about it. I''m just your friendly neighborhood beggar, helping people in need in exchange for something I want," Apollo puffed up his chest, adding, "Not a philanthropist, just doing a trade." Unlike a certain spider-themed superhero from his previous life, he helped people based on his own reasons¡ªeither for pleasure or because he wanted something out of it. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha," Bel let out her first laugh in ages, tears welling in her eyes.


    Seeing her like this, Filly and Gail burst into tears while also laughing.


    "What did I do?" Apollo muttered, confused by their reaction.


    "They''re just happy," Mathias said. "Bel will need at least three days to fully recover. Let''s leave them be and talk elsewhere."


    "Alright," Apollo shrugged. "But aren''t you going to celebrate your daughter''s recovery?"


    "I will¡ªafter I kill someone," Mathias replied, his eyes flashing coldly.


    Apollo had a good guess who Mathias was referring to. He then turned to Nathan, who had suddenly grown quiet, and was surprised to see him fighting back tears. "You can cry, old man. Don''t hold it back¡ªit''s bad for your health."


    "I''m not crying!" Nathan shot back angrily, though he wiped his eyes first.


    "If you say so," Apollo smirked, then turned to Mathias. "Shall we?"


    Mathias nodded, and the two left Bel''s room, leaving June, Filly, and Gail behind.


    "Do¡­ you¡­ still have¡­ my favorite?" Bel asked softly after she''d regained some composure.


    Hearing this, Filly and Gail exchanged smiles before chuckling. "We brought plenty."


    Filly waved her hand, and three or four baskets appeared. She handed one to June, who stayed by Bel''s side, then opened another basket for her friend.


    "By the way, this basket is our newest product," Filly explained. "People can now buy food from my restaurant and take it with them to eat wherever they like."


    "That''s¡­ a good¡­ idea," Bel said, opening her mouth as Filly began to feed her.


    "And do you know how we were able to make your favorite?" Filly smiled. "It''s all thanks to him, Mr. Yoma. He provided us with the ingredients and helped save my restaurant."


    When Bel heard this, her admiration for the beggar grew. She had been saved yet again by a kid¡­ wait?! Her eyes sparkled as realization dawned on her.


    Just then, a slurping sound came from behind them. When they turned, they saw June eating happily, lost in his food.

 Chapter 234 Kleinford, Helflick, Leone

    "So, tell us what you need," Mathias got straight to the point, holding a cup of tea in his hand, as did Nathan, who was sipping his drink with relish.


    "I never thought you''d bring out your most valuable tea," Nathan said, clearly pleased.


    Meanwhile, Apollo looked down at his cup, which contained only milk. "Why do you two have tea while I get milk?"


    "You''re a Wanderer pretending to be a kid, right?" Mathias smiled. "Wouldn''t drinking tea disrupt your Way of Cultivation?"


    "I suppose you''re right," Apollo replied, finishing his milk in one gulp. He knew only the basics of the Way of Cultivation that the Helflick family head spoke of. Essentially, it''s about cultivating by following one''s beliefs and fate. If someone aims to become a sword master, they have to immerse themselves completely in the way of the sword¡ª It''s not about f*cking a sword and using it as a d*ldo, but by deeply understanding and focusing their cultivation toward mastery of the sword. The concept is abstract, relying heavily on spirituality and fate.


    Apollo couldn''t exactly reveal that he didn''t fully understand this Way of Cultivation.


    "So, let''s hear it," Mathias prompted.


    "But first, I need to reveal something else," Apollo set his cup down on the table. They were seated in Mathias''s study around a rectangular table. "I''m actually the Personal Disciple of Headmaster Axton."


    Nathan, in mid-sip of his tea, nearly choked, some of his drink spilling onto the floor and table. Embarrassed, he quickly used the surrounding Qi to make the spilled liquid disappear.


    "Oh?" Mathias raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, the battle for Headmaster has begun."


    "Anyway, about what I want¡ªwait, what did you just say?" Apollo asked, wide-eyed.


    "The battle to become the next Headmaster¡­ don''t tell me he didn''t mention it to you?" Mathias looked at the beggar in surprise.


    "He didn''t," Apollo said, shaking his head in frustration. That damn guy! He''s trying to pile more responsibility onto me! Once I''m done with this mission, I''ll give up my position as Personal Disciple!


    "I''m not surprised," Nathan remarked. "He''s the type to say ''don''t do this or that'' but secretly do it himself."


    "Anyway! This concerns him as well, and also that fat mayor of ours!" Apollo said, raising his tone to steer the conversation back on track.


    Mathias''s face darkened at the mention of the mayor. He waved his hand, and a transparent dome formed around the room, while Nathan sat up straight, now eyeing the beggar with great seriousness.


    "If it''s about the mayor, I think I have an idea. Has he finally decided to make a move?" Mathias asked.


    "Yes, and I was sent to investigate," Apollo nodded. "Axton will need to send an official request to act against the mayor, but I don''t know how long it will take to get a response from the main branch. That''s why I''m asking you two to assist me with my investigation."


    Mathias didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he exchanged a glance with Nathan, and as he did so, the atmosphere grew tense, the Qi vibrating in subtle, synchronized frequencies.


    This time, the beggar didn''t eavesdrop on their conversation.


    "So, you''re saying Axton is ready to make a move, but he''s being held back by the treaty?" Nathan asked.


    "Yes," Apollo replied. "Klown has a plan¡ªa hideous one he''s hiding. And that''s what I''m trying to uncover."


    Apollo was determined to finish the mission as quickly as possible, and if they could provide him with information, he hoped to complete it in no time.


    "What have you found so far?" Mathias asked, taking a sip of his tea. "We''re also preparing to act. Maybe we can join forces."


    "Certainly," Apollo nodded, before revealing a piece of shocking information. "I went to the Callum family, interrogated the family head, and found out that all the great noble families have already sided with the mayor¡ªexcluding you two, of course, and the deceased Leones."


    Nathan, who had been reaching for his cup, froze, his hand shaking. They had suspected that some families were aligning with the mayor, but they hadn''t expected that all of them were already on Klown''s side! What shocked him more was that the beggar had actually met with Aaron Callum and extracted information from him. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    "Are you responsible for his death?" Mathias looked directly into Yoma''s eyes.


    "Maybe, maybe not," Apollo shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. "Anyway, Klown is also behind the theft of Techniques from each Martial School. He''s made these stolen techniques public, which is a strange move, to be honest."


    "Yeah, that''s very strange," Mathias murmured, rubbing his chin as he regarded the beggar with intrigue. "You keep surprising me, Yoma. I think we''ll make a great team in bringing Klown down." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ve been craving pig lately," Apollo chuckled.


    "Hmph, anyone could have killed Aaron," Nathan remarked, finally lifting his cup and feigning indifference. "Did you find anything else?"


    "Yes, it''s disturbing¡ªhe''s eating people," Apollo frowned. "He''s also expanding the wall, though Aaron didn''t know why."


    "So it''s true," Nathan and Mathias exchanged a look, realizing the rumors they''d heard were indeed real.


    "We''ve noticed his work on the wall," Mathias said, leaning back more comfortably. "What''s his reason?"


    "He wants to be the sole ruler in this city. He thinks the cultivation schools limit his authority," Apollo explained, a mocking smile on his face. "Quite ambitious, isn''t he? He''ll probably crave more power once he succeeds with his plans."


    "You know a lot," Mathias commented. "Do you need more information from us?"


    "Yes," Apollo answered. "Any information that might help with my investigation."


    "But what if Axton isn''t able to act?" Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Will you join us in taking down that clown?"


    "Of course," Apollo smiled. He already had an idea of what his third mission might be, so he was preparing for it in advance.


    "I see. That''s good to hear," Mathias said as he stood up. He walked over to the bookshelves, took out a book, then returned to his seat and slid it across the table toward the beggar.


    "What''s this?" Apollo picked up the book and read the title: Demons'' Historic Rise.


    Nathan looked at the Helflick family head. "You still think this is the reason?"


    "Yes, and after this new friend of ours confirmed my suspicions, I''m even more certain," Mathias replied, his eyes glinting.

 Chapter 235 Ghost?!

    The historic rise of demons. According to the records, the power that enabled ordinary people to stand against the Ancient Cultivators was granted by the Demons.


    No one knows exactly how people back then discovered the existence of Demons or how they encountered them. But as time passed, ancient ruins were uncovered, and ritual symbols began to appear, leading scholars to speculate that these rituals may have called forth an outside influence.


    Yet, they couldn''t rule out the possibility that these rituals weren''t the actual reason Demons began influencing people. Perhaps a true Demon broke through on its own, without any ritual or intervention. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for where these Demons came from? No one knows.


    "But hardly anyone believes in this part of history," Mathias said, taking a sip of his tea while the beggar read through the book he had been given.


    "It''s a fairy tale," Nathan commented. "No one has ever seen these beings. I think one of our ancestors simply went rogue and decided to wreak havoc."


    "Well, it''s the best explanation I could come up with," Mathias replied, his gaze resting on Apollo. "So, Yoma, what do you think?"


    Apollo closed the book with a bang, tossing it back onto the table. He hadn''t bothered finishing it¡ªthe writing felt like a fairy tale, with no illustrations of the so-called Demons. The text claimed these Demons disrupted the world''s peace, causing the planet''s flora and fauna to mutate, animals to transform, and legendary creatures to awaken from their slumber.


    The beggar rested his chin on his hand, a contemplative look crossing his face.


    So monsters, otherworldly cultivation powers, and legendary creatures are normal to them¡ªbut they don''t believe in Demons?


    "Do you believe in ghosts?" Apollo asked the two family heads.


    "It''s a fairy tale!" Nathan said, finishing his tea in one gulp. "If ghosts were real, I''d be haunted by thousands!"


    "Some places believe in them, others don''t," Mathias said. "But I think such things might be explained if we broadened our Way of Cultivation. Our path is about strength and enlightenment¡ªnot gazing at the supernatural."


    "Battle and war! That''s what a man should seek!" Nathan said, eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Ghosts are for cowards! They''re not real!"


    "Are you sure?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow with a slight smirk.


    "One hundred percent!" Nathan nodded, smirking back. "Don''t tell me you believe in that nonsense?"


    "I do. Then explain the thing behind you," Apollo said, gesturing behind Nathan.


    "Behind me?" Nathan repeated, turning slowly. "There''s nothing beh¡ª"


    Suddenly, Nathan froze, spotting a white shadowy figure standing behind him. "Get lost!" he shouted, hurling a punch at the apparition!


    With a loud clap, the white shadow disintegrated, sending a strong gust through the room, causing all the furniture to shake.


    "Hahaha!" Apollo''s laughter echoed as he clutched his stomach at the scene.


    Even Mathias couldn''t help but smile, amused by his friend''s reaction to the prank.


    "You!" Nathan turned to the beggar angrily. "You dare pull a trick on me?!"


    "That was hilarious," Apollo said, wiping the corner of his eye with a finger.


    Using what he''d learned from Sir Guo about Attributes, he applied his Water Attribute to create the white apparition. With his understanding of Hydra Mirage and other Water Techniques, his mastery over the Water Attribute nearly matched his control over Lightning, even without dedicated training.


    The white shadow was crafted from evaporated water that he molded into a human shape. Apollo had simply imagined it, and his skill had brought it to life effortlessly.


    "No, it''s not funny!" Nathan gritted his teeth.


    "Oh, yes, it is! You looked terrified!" Apollo chuckled.


    "I did not!" Nathan stood, pointing a finger at the beggar. "Let''s fight!"


    "Later. We still have something important to discuss," Apollo waved his hand dismissively, refocusing on the Helflick family head. "Let me share my thoughts."


    Nathan sat back down, discreetly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.


    "If we''re going to consider the possibility of an actual Demon, then I think the wall expansion may be connected to some ritual," Apollo explained. "I can''t think of any other reason for it. As for the stolen Techniques being spread among commoners, I haven''t figured out the motive behind that yet."


    "Our information is still incomplete," Mathias nodded. "And we''re far from certain. Why not discuss it with Headmaster Axton while we investigate further?"


    "I was just about to," Apollo said, hopping off his chair. "I should get going."


    "I''ll walk you out," Mathias offered, standing up.


    "No need," Apollo waved him off. "I can find my way, and I insist, so don''t say anything more."


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    "Well," Mathias chuckled, "if you say so."


    As the door closed behind Apollo, Mathias turned to Nathan, who was staring at it, still sulking. "What''s wrong?"


    "What''s wrong? You know what''s wrong! That kid just disrespected me!" Nathan scoffed. "It''s infuriating."


    "Let him be. Besides, it was pretty funny," Mathias chuckled.


    "You too?" Nathan Kleinford was left speechless, realizing his friend had also enjoyed the prank.


    ¡­


    Apollo exited the Helflick mansion, grumbling to himself about the nobles'' preference for winding hallways and long corridors¡ªgetting to his destination always felt like a chore.


    Looking up, he saw it was already noon. The sun blazed high, casting an intense light over everything.


    As he made his way down the steps toward the gate, a voice called out to him.


    Turning, he saw Bel''s bodyguard standing by the carriage.


    "Mr. Yoma, over here!" June greeted him with a smile. He usually kept his face hidden under his robe, but today, he didn''t feel like it.


    Apollo approached the carriage. "Hello."


    "I''ll take you back," June offered.


    "Alright, sorry for the trouble," Apollo said, hopping inside the carriage without hesitation.


    "It''s no trouble at all," June replied, taking the driver''s seat.


    The carriage began its journey back to Filly Restaurant, pulled steadily by the horses.


    "Filly and Gail are already at the restaurant," June said. The small window allowed the beggar to hear him clearly.


    "I see. How''s Bel?" Apollo asked.


    "She''s resting peacefully, thanks to you, sir," June replied.


    "That''s good to hear," Apollo said, gazing out the window.


    After a pause, June spoke up. "If I may say, you look familiar."


    "Familiar?" Apollo repeated, studying the driver''s back.


    "Apollo Leone, Mr. Froi and Madam Gina''s only son."

 Chapter 236 The Calling

    It was like a dying flower suddenly blooming in Apollo''s heart.


    "You think I look like their son?" Apollo asked, his gaze turning cold.


    "You do resemble him, haha," June chuckled. "Mr. Froi and Madam Gina are good people. I''ve spoken to them a few times. The Leones are all good people¡ªeven their family head has no enemies among the other families. They''re one of the leading forces in the city, the Leone family head alongside Master Mathias, the two Core Creations."


    Apollo remained silent. His heart pounded, urging him to ask more questions, but he said nothing, simply looking out the window.


    The carriage continued its way back to the street where Apollo''s beggar spot was. Once it stopped, Apollo opened the door and jumped down.


    "Thank you," Apollo said.


    "You saved Miss Bel; it''s the least I could do," June replied.


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, starting toward his spot but pausing. "Do you think he''s still alive? The lost Leone heir?"


    "I don''t know, but it''s very likely he''s already dead. Though, Miss Bel still believes he''s alive," June answered.


    "Why?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "To bring justice and restore the Leones," June replied, glancing up at the sky. "I should get back, Mr. Yoma."


    "Sure," Apollo said, and as the carriage moved away, he sighed. It was comforting that they believed the heir was dead, but a bit unsettling that Bel might still be seeking his true identity. Even if she uncovered something, it would only lead to one of his other personas.


    Shaking his head, he noticed a basket with smoke drifting from its small openings near the corner of the restaurant.


    Smiling, he went over and picked it up, noticing people leaving the restaurant with similar baskets in hand.


    "Takeout?" Apollo muttered, surprised, before a grin spread across his face. "So they''ve figured out this method."


    It was a clever strategy, though it would mean needing more workers to keep up with demand.


    Apollo felt like he was witnessing the birth of fast food. "Time to fill my stomach!"


    He returned to his spot, settled under his makeshift shelter, and snapped his fingers. His lightning bulb flickered to life.


    As he ate, he considered heading to the Great Serpent Cultivation School to speak with the Headmaster about their next steps. He was nearing the end of his second mission, and the thought made him eager to finish it soon.


    ¡­


    At the Mayor''s mansion, Butler Holst stood before a door, his eyes as squinted as ever.


    He knocked a few times, waiting.


    After a moment, a voice came from the other side. "Come in."


    Holst pushed the door open, its creak echoing as he entered.


    His gaze quickly settled on the mayor, who stood before a giant board. "You called for me?" Holst asked, walking up behind him.


    They were in Klown''s study¡ªlined with bookshelves, a table and chairs, a lamp illuminating the room, and another table holding wine and a glass.


    It was a simple, standard room.


    "How''s the Line?" Klown asked, eyes still on the board. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A week more, and the expansion will be complete," Holst replied, glancing at the board.


    It was a detailed map of Klown City, with a thick red line surrounding the city, overlapping the wall. The city was marked with various red symbols, intersecting and overlapping, all converging at the city''s center.


    "Three days. Can you do it?" Klown asked.


    "It''s impossible," Holst shook his head, then added, "But if we rush, we could do it in four and a half days."


    "That''s good enough," Klown said, moving behind his desk and sinking into his chair. The weight of his massive body caused it to creak loudly, as if ready to snap at any second. "Is there anything else we should worry about? I don''t want anyone ruining my plan."


    "They know we''re planning something," Holst replied. "I believe they''re ready to make a move once we show any cause for concern."


    "Have they discovered anything?" Klown''s tone was low and icy.


    "I''m not sure, but Aaron Callum, his sister, and his nephew are dead. They were killed and burned to erase all evidence," Holst explained. "Although the culprit escaped, it seems part of their plan."


    "Kleinford? Helflick?" Klown raised an eyebrow.


    "Perhaps, and we can''t rule out the Martial Schools either. They may have joined forces," Holst replied. "They''re waiting, and once they act, a civil war is inevitable."


    "It''s expected. I''ve made obvious moves, and I wouldn''t be surprised if they''ve joined forces, just like we did with the other families," Klown smiled. "But by the time they take a step, we''ll already be several steps ahead."


    Holst allowed himself a brief smile, though it vanished quickly. "What if the Elders get involved?"


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    "It won''t matter," Klown''s smile turned cold. "We''re summoning something no Core Creation can handle. Something even their ancestors feared."


    The Mayor raised his thick hand and clenched it into a fist. "Do you want to achieve greatness with me?" he asked, casting a significant look at his butler.


    "Yes, Master," Holst bowed.


    "If I die, will you carry on with my plan?" Klown stood and moved closer to Holst.


    "I will follow your plan until I die!" Holst answered, dropping to his knees.


    "Good, that''s the spirit," Klown said, producing a knife and slicing open his palm. "Drink my blood."


    Holst looked up in confusion, then set his face in determination. "I will."


    "This won''t boost your cultivation or strength, but it will allow us to continue even if things go awry," Klown explained, and Holst nodded. "So, drink my blood until you feel it¡ªthe Calling."


    Holst took a deep breath, leaned toward the Mayor''s hand, and without hesitation, began drinking the blood flowing from Klown''s sliced palm.


    Blood dripped to the floor until there was none left. Holst pulled back and noticed that Klown''s hand, previously wounded, was now fully healed as if untouched. Glancing up with his mouth full of the Mayor''s blood, he saw Klown looking at him with strange eyes.


    "When was the last time you did the Deed?" Klown asked, reaching for his coat.


    "A few years ago..." Holst stood, his heartbeat thundering as strange images and sensations filled his mind¡ªRed Lines, Symbols, dark voices¡­


    "You''ll need this while you''re being Called," Klown murmured, licking his lips as his coat slipped to the floor. "Just enjoy Holst."


    Holst who''s now shaking from the number of images attacking his mind, stared at the Mayor reaching for his clothes and a small smile appeared on his face.

 Chapter 237 Red Energy Burner

    Axton opened his eyes as he noticed a figure flying toward him in the distance. With a squint, he focused his vision on a Water-Attributed Falcon and, upon recognizing the rider, hurriedly landed on his mat and walked to the balcony.


    As the falcon touched down, Axton smiled. "You came back so soon. Did you find anything useful?"


    Apollo jumped down from his mount. Seeing the Great Serpent Headmaster standing in front of him rather than floating on his mat as usual, he couldn''t help but look at Axton curiously. "What did you eat?"


    "Huh?" Axton was confused. "What do you mean?"


    "You usually stay cultivating, even when I''m right in front of you. It''s strange to see you here personally welcoming me," Apollo said, his eyes glinting with curiosity.


    "I finished my session and happened to see you coming from a distance," Axton replied. "Shall we go inside?"


    Axton knew that Yoma had accessed the Technique from the fifth-floor library¡ªa technique long sought after for centuries. The one who held this power would likely become the next Great Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Yoma was clearly hiding his mastery of it, and Axton respected his choice.


    "Nah, here''s good. The ambiance here is nice¡ªunlike your place," Apollo said, nodding toward the dim room behind Axton. "It''s dark and heavy in there."


    "If you say so."


    There was a table and chairs on the balcony, so they took their seats while Bluetooth lay down nearby and began dozing off.


    "So, what did you find out?" Axton asked.


    Apollo recounted the recent events¡ªhis abduction by the Callum family, killing them, extracting information, and his subsequent conversation with the Kleinford and Helflick families.


    Axton was shocked upon hearing that Yoma had killed the Callum family head.


    "You really killed him?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.


    "Yes, don''t worry. I erased all evidence that could lead back to me," Apollo replied. "So, what''s your take on the ghosts and demons?"


    The headmaster regarded the young man for a moment, then sighed. "Ghosts are real."


    "I knew it," Apollo muttered. Cultivation? Powers? Legendary beasts? But no ghosts? That''s absurd!


    "But not many believe in them, especially in this region," Axton explained. "As for demons, we''ve also suspected that might be the case."


    "Demons are real?" Apollo asked, noticing Axton hadn''t answered directly.


    "I''m not certain," Axton admitted, shaking his head. "But I believe they are. I''ve only read about them, though; their last recorded appearance was five thousand years ago. Only those ''old fogies'' may have seen them."


    "I suggest making another request. I''m convinced demons are real. They''ll have to take this matter seriously," Apollo suggested.


    "It won''t be easy," Axton replied, turning serious. "We''ll need proof¡ªonly then will they take action."


    "Proof? How?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "If there''s really a demon involved¡­" Axton trailed off, and with a snap of his fingers, an object materialized on the table. "Take this. Bringing it out would usually break the Treaty, but for you, it''s different."


    Apollo stared at the small, dark, and rusty lamp on the table. It was a simple oil lamp with a wick in the center¡ªno fire, no glass, no burner.


    "A lamp?" Apollo muttered. "How am I supposed to use this?"


    "It''s no ordinary lamp," Axton replied, smiling. "This is called the Red Energy Burner. Its purpose is to detect demonic energy. If a red flame lights up, there''s demon energy in the area. That alone would serve as evidence."


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    "I see," Apollo nodded, then voiced a doubt. "Then why didn''t you use this before?"


    "It''s an artifact that requires approval from all the Elders," the headmaster sighed. "We had suspicions, but none of us truly believed. Besides, it''s been five thousand years, and the method for summoning demons was thought to be lost."


    "So because the method was lost, you all assumed demons wouldn''t return?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. It sounded like the typical setup for ancient threats in the anime and shows he watched in his previous life.


    "Yes," Axton replied honestly.


    "If there''s really demonic energy back in the city, you''ll regret not acting sooner," Apollo chuckled.


    "Haha, likely so." Axton laughed.


    "I should get going," Apollo said, standing with the Red Energy Burner in hand.


    "Alright." Axton stood as well and, noticing that Apollo was merely holding the lamp, asked, "You don''t have a Space Ring?"


    "No," Apollo shook his head, understanding what the headmaster meant, as he''d read about such items on the first floor of the library.


    "Take this." A ring materialized in front of Axton, which he tossed to Apollo. "It has enough space to store a whole carriage."


    "I''ve heard these are quite expensive artifacts. Are you sure you want to just give it to me?" Apollo asked, catching the ring. The Space Ring was crafted from silver with intricate, small inscriptions carved all over. Looking closely, he noticed the lines were so fine and complex that it resembled an advanced microchip, yet otherworldly, like some strange doodle.


    "You''ve received more valuable things than that," Axton replied. "Like your Water-Attributed Falcon¡ªhe''s worth two Space Rings."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes sparkled as they landed on his mount, who shivered under his gaze. Shaking his head to dismiss the thought, he waved and said goodbye. "I should get going."


    He slipped on the ring, and the lamp vanished.


    But as he was about to leap onto Bluetooth, a loud shriek sounded from afar.


    Turning to the noise, Axton frowned as he recognized the newcomers.


    "It seems you won''t be leaving so soon," Axton noted.


    "What? But I still need to eat my dinner!" Apollo complained, staring at the two falcons approaching. Inside the Great Serpent Cultivation School, it was eternally daytime, yet outside, the sky was dark.


    ...


    Lily and her master landed on the balcony with their mount.


    The moment her feet touched the ground, her eyes naturally fell on the ''kid'' standing beside Headmaster Axton.


    "You must be the Personal Disciple," she said, her tone indicating she wasn''t here for a friendly visit.


    "And you must be one of the Seniors here to challenge me?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, a small smile on his face.


    "So you already know what''s about to happen? Let''s get to it, then¡ªyou can scram afterward," Lily replied, smiling coldly.


    "Elder Yunan, this isn''t a good idea," Axton said to the old woman beside Lily. Her hair was as white as snow, wrinkles and crow''s feet visible on her face, while her thin body was cloaked in a gray robe.


    "That is not for you to decide, Headmaster Axton," Elder Yunan replied, dismissing his title as head of the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    "I''m not trying to persuade you to stop the challenge. It''s a warning," Axton explained.


    "A warning?" Elder Yunan chuckled, smiling proudly. "My Lily here has already reached the intermediate stage of her Battle Technique, the Water Blade Disintegration. Her strength has long since surpassed Heru''s."


    Hearing this, Axton looked at Lily with amazement, though he shook his head a moment later. It wouldn''t matter, he thought, as he took a step back. He decided to let Yoma handle things as he saw fit.


    "Wow, you must be so proud of yourself," Apollo said, unimpressed.


    "Of course!" Lily responded confidently. "So, do you accept my challenge?"


    "You''re a Callum, right?" Apollo didn''t answer directly but asked her a question.


    At this, the smile faded from Lily''s face, replaced by a cold look. "Yes. What? Are you going to mock my father''s death?"


    "No," Apollo shook his head. "I''m not heartless." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It doesn''t matter. I don''t care if he''s dead or not," Lily said.


    "If that''s the case¡­ your father''s dead because you''re such a disappointment! Just because you surpassed that coward Heru doesn''t mean you can defeat me!" Apollo snapped. He was already hungry and just wanted to return to his beggar spot, but this Senior Sister was wasting his time.


    Stunned by the sudden outburst, Elder Yunan and Lily glared at him.


    "You! How dare you say such things!" Lily pointed at the beggar. "Come! Defeat me and back up those words!"


    Apollo just wanted to end this nonsense once and for all. He wasn''t in the mood to humor this egotistical noble, as he had more important things to do. Not only was he starving, but he also wanted to see if the lamp in his Space Ring would light up.


    "If you want to be humiliated so badly, then I accept your challenge!" Apollo said, turning to Axton. "Let''s go to the open area where I defeated Heru."


    "Sure," Axton replied, unbothered by Yoma''s tone. He was used to how the beggar talked and how he could be an *sshole most of the time.


    "I will kill you," Lily hissed, not hiding her killing intent. Her dream was at stake¡ªthe dream she had yearned for all these years was finally within reach!


    "Hmph!" Apollo scoffed at the delulu. He began to consider how is he going to make her regret her actions.

 Chapter 238 Water Blade Disintegration

    Standing across from each other, Lily smirked coldly at the kid in front of her. Finally, the day had come! She had originally planned to use an underhanded method to force the fight within her family mansion, which would have prevented the Personal Disciple from refusing her. Without the Headmaster of the Great Serpent present, they could have even used dirty tricks to ensure her victory.


    However, that plan fell apart when her father was killed, with the culprit escaping. She suspected that the Personal Disciple before her might be the culprit but quickly dismissed the thought as a mere coincidence. There was no way this kid could have killed the Dancing Blade, someone even she couldn''t defeat, despite her more advanced Battle Technique.


    It was simply impossible.


    "What if I accidentally kill him?" Lily asked aloud, glancing at Headmaster Axton.


    "Then we''ll count it as an accident," Axton replied, not the least bit interested in the battle. His confidence in Yoma had grown, especially knowing that the Wanderer possessed the one and only Technique on the fifth-floor library. He didn''t even consider Yoma as merely his Personal Disciple, as that title underestimated the beggar''s future potential.


    A future that would also elevate Axton''s own status¡ªthat''s why he respected Yoma''s decisions, even if it meant pretending to play along.


    "That''s good, that''s good," Lily repeated as she turned to the beggar. "You heard that, right? I can''t control my strength."


    "You know, you''re not the first person to try this trick," Apollo said, pulling a stick from under his robe.


    "A stick?" Lily was taken aback before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha, you''re joking, right?"


    "No," Apollo replied, glancing at the referee. "Eli, let''s start this nonsense and shut this b*tch up."


    Eli had been assigned as the referee, and he didn''t dare refuse. Glancing at Lily, who was glaring at him, he took a deep breath and announced, "Let the fight begin!"


    "B*tch? You have a foul mouth," Lily sneered, raising her hand toward the beggar. "I''ll end this fight in one move."


    "You won''t. I''m telling you that," Apollo said, raising his hand just like her.


    Neither moved, merely staring and assessing each other.


    "You should teach your Personal Disciple some respect," Elder Yunan remarked, standing on one of the balconies with a view of the battle. "But it doesn''t matter; Lily will replace him soon enough."


    "We can''t be so sure about that," Axton replied. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    Hearing the confidence in the Headmaster''s voice, the Elder narrowed her eyes at Axton suspiciously. "You seem very confident."


    "Just watch, and you''ll understand," Axton suggested.


    "Take this!" Lily shouted as the surrounding Qi began to churn. Water droplets materialized in the air, forming a thin, curved shape¡ªalmost as delicate as a cicada''s wing and resembling transparent glass, but made of water.


    The phenomenon surrounded the beggar, who remained calm.


    Lily clenched her fist, her smile widening until she looked almost deranged.


    Time seemed to slow as the sharp and deadly water blades in the air appeared around the beggar!


    I won, she thought, as her attack continuously struck her opponent. The ground exploded, dust clouds and water mist erupting at the point of impact. The barrage lasted a few seconds, each one like music to her ears.


    "Hahaha! I told you! I''d win in one move!" Lily shouted, her voice crazed. However, as the dust cloud and water mist dispersed, the figure she''d expected to see dismembered was gone. She glanced down at the shattered ground, but there were no signs of blood or body parts.


    "Hey, why don''t you look back?" someone said from behind her.


    Recognizing the voice, it felt as if cold water had been poured over her. She turned slowly and saw her opponent, alive and well. There were no signs of injuries on his body, nor any water from her attack. He stood there as if he''d been in that exact spot since they''d arrived.


    "You! How?!" Lily shouted, taking a step forward. She couldn''t believe it. She hadn''t even felt the air move as he dodged. Lily was certain her Water Blade Disintegration Technique had landed! She''d seen it with her own eyes!


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t take another step forward," Apollo warned, raising his left hand toward her.


    Lily took a deep breath to calm herself. Failing on her first attack felt humiliating, especially after declaring she''d end the fight in one move. But her confidence remained intact. "So what? Don''t be so proud of your cheap trick. I was just careless."


    "I''m giving you a warning," Apollo said, his tone cold and low.


    "Then try me." Lily narrowed her eyes, taking another step forward. But the moment her foot touched the ground, the surrounding Unrefined Qi began to churn, gathering until it turned into droplets of water and then taking a shape she was all too familiar with.


    Watching the Qi transform into water blades surrounding her disciple, Elder Yunan''s eyes widened with disbelief. She turned to the Headmaster. "Does he also practice the same Battle Technique?"


    But Axton looked equally astonished. Yoma also knew Water Blade Disintegration?! He wouldn''t have been surprised if Yoma had learned the technique on the fourth floor of the library, but what the Personal Disciple was displaying was the Intermediate Stage! Reaching that stage typically took two years!


    Had Yoma learned it beforehand? But that seemed impossible. It wasn''t one of the stolen techniques, and if he had learned it before, there would be records in the library.


    Regardless of the explanation, this was a good outcome for Yoma.


    "I don''t know," Axton replied with a smile.


    As the water droplets transformed into water blades, Lily''s mouth dropped open in shock.


    "Water Blade Disintegration?" she muttered, her eyes fixed on the beggar. "But¡­ you only just became the Personal Disciple! How did you reach the same stage as me?"


    "It''s called talent, b*tch," Apollo smirked. He''d only learned this technique at the beginner stage, just to memorize it, but it seemed that with his new Attribute and some progress with the technique he''d gotten from the fifth floor, his progress with other water-related Battle Techniques had also leapt forward.


    "Talent?" Lily murmured, her gaze shifting to the ground.


    "I advise you to surrender," Apollo said, his hands moving slightly as the water blades began to emit a sharp sound.


    Surrender¡ªthe word echoed in Lily''s mind, jolting her awake. "No!" she shouted, raising her hand. Her dream of becoming the Personal Disciple¡ªshe couldn''t just give it up!


    "Then I''ll end this fight in one move," Apollo replied, smiling coldly as he clenched his fist!


    sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 239 Red Liquid

    Apollo lowered his hand as the rain of water blades fell on his opponent. Lily hastily created a water barrier and tried to move out of the way, but the sheer number of water blades far exceeded her expectations.


    "What the hell?!" Lily shouted as the relentless attack continued. The Personal Disciple was displaying an Intermediate Stage Water Blade Disintegration technique¡ªthe same stage as hers, but the power and volume of his water blades were beyond anything she could produce!


    In the end, Lily couldn''t keep up with the onslaught, and her defense shattered. "Ahh!" Her scream echoed as water mist and dust swirled around her. With a thud, she fell to the ground, unconscious.


    Just as the beggar had promised, he finished the fight in a single move. The ground was upturned, shattered, and covered with countless cuts. They''d only exchanged one attack each, but the devastation they caused would have been enough to destroy any street.


    The battle ended so quickly that Eli could only stare, wide-eyed.


    After a moment, he shook his head, raised his hand, and announced the winner.


    "Personal Disciple Yoma wins!"


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    "I warned you," Axton said, turning to the Elder beside him.


    "That can''t be¡­" Elder Yunan stared at her fallen disciple before her gaze shifted to Yoma. "He changed it."


    "Changed what?" Axton asked, confused by her surprise.


    "The technique!" Elder Yunan said, turning to the Headmaster. "At the Intermediate Stage of that technique, once it''s used, the practitioner has to wait for the attack to end before they can use it again¡­ but he¡­ the water blades kept pouring down. If one landed, another would appear."


    Axton turned to the Personal Disciple, surprised. "That would require an enormous reserve of Refined Qi."


    "Yes, but even with his 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he shouldn''t be able to achieve that¡ªunless he has some special physique," Elder Yunan said, finally looking back at Axton. "We lost. I accept it."


    Axton watched as the Elder jumped off the balcony to retrieve her disciple.


    "He''s already at the 2nd-Step?" Axton murmured, shaking his head as Yoma casually stepped onto the railing of the balcony where he stood.


    "Hey, I should head back," Apollo said. "And let the other Seniors know not to challenge me if they can''t even handle one of my attacks."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll tell them not to bother you anymore," Axton replied, nodding. The difference in strength between the Seniors and this Personal Disciple was clear. Yoma might even be able to defeat all of them if they attacked him at once. "By the way, when did you reach the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage?"


    "Recently," Apollo replied with a grin before he whistled. Moments later, his mount arrived. Jumping onto it, he turned to the Headmaster. "Bye."


    ¡­


    When the beggar arrived back at his usual spot, he immediately noticed his dinner waiting in the corner. It was around eight at night, and he''d been craving his food.


    "Ah, finally," he muttered, opening his basket. The smell of meat cooked in coconut oil wafted up, filling his nose. Without wasting another second, he dug in.


    The sound of his knife and fork clinking against the plate echoed as he quickly finished his meal.


    "This is delicious," Apollo said with a smile. The meat came from Monsters¡ªa kind he''d never tasted before. It was so high-quality it surpassed all the food he''d eaten in his past life, leaving him craving more. Coupled with coconut oil and other seasonings the Filly Restaurant had begun experimenting with, the flavor was even richer.


    Downing his milk in one go, he let out a satisfied burp, then stood up and handed the basket to Ned, who happened to step outside.


    "Here you go, thanks," Apollo said.


    "You''re always welcome," Ned replied, smiling. "But do you want more? Mr. Yoma, don''t hesitate to ask. We''ll always fulfill your requests."


    "Hm." Apollo considered having a snack, but this world didn''t seem to offer the types he had in mind. Unless¡­ he shared another recipe with them. Maybe another time. "I''m full. Maybe next time; I need to be somewhere else."


    "Is that so."


    "Yup. Okay, see you," Apollo said, waving as he began walking away.


    His destination: the newly expanded wall, still under construction.


    If there really is a ritual going on¡­ I should be able to find something here, he thought. Already familiar with the city, it didn''t take him long to reach the edge.


    "So, this is how they''re expanding it," Apollo murmured, finding a place to hide and observe the ongoing construction. Even though it was night, there were still many people working on the wall. Watching their movements, he noted, "They''re in a rush. Why?"


    Doubt crept in, though he quickly formulated an answer: they couldn''t wait any longer.


    But as he watched the workers, nothing seemed amiss. They were working around the clock but behaving normally.


    "Is there really a ritual?" If his investigation was correct, and if the rumors of demons were true, the wall expansion might be linked to a ritual meant to summon them. It seemed obvious, especially after his conversations with the family heads and Headmaster Axton.


    Apollo decided to wait.


    Thirty minutes later, still nothing unusual. "Is Klown really just expanding the wall for safety?"


    But he doesn''t need to do that at all.


    Just as he was about to give up, he noticed a figure holding a glass filled with red liquid. The person walked alongside the wall, pouring the liquid onto the ground.


    Apollo narrowed his eyes as the liquid transformed into red particles upon touching the ground.


    "Got you," he muttered, smiling but staying hidden. He continued watching the stranger until he was certain no other workers were paying attention, then made his move.


    Activating his invisibility, he quietly approached, sneaking up on the man with the red liquid before grabbing him.


    The man struggled to free himself, but Apollo held him firmly, keeping a hand over his mouth and dragging him to a secluded spot out of sight.


    He threw the man to the ground, the glass shattering on impact, and the remaining red liquid dissolved into particles of light.


    "W-who are you?" the man stammered, fear evident in his voice. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Answer all my questions honestly if you want to live," Apollo said, his eyes coldly fixed on the stranger.

 Chapter 240 Interrogation

    Hearing the threatening words, the man was terrified, but when he realized his kidnapper was just a kid, he sighed in relief¡ªuntil he noticed his glass jar, now shattered on the ground, with its red liquid spilled.


    "You! Do you know what you just did?!" the man shouted, pointing a finger at Apollo.


    Is this man a fool or what? Apollo thought. Didn''t he just get dragged here by a kid, and he couldn''t even escape my grip? He shook his head at the man''s foolishness.


    "I swear, kid, you won''t like what happens when I report you to my superior!" the man threatened. But before he could continue, a lightning bolt shocked him to his core, cutting off his scream abruptly. He fell to the ground, convulsing, while blood from his severed hand pooled around him.


    "All you have to do to stay alive is answer my questions honestly," Apollo said, staring deeply into the man''s eyes. "One limb for every lie or refusal. Understood?"


    Shaking, the man managed a slow nod, fully aware of his predicament.


    Apollo waited until the man''s trembling subsided, then asked his first question. "What''s the liquid you''re pouring beside the wall?"


    "T-that''s¡­" The man hesitated but then gritted his teeth. "I don''t know. I was just told to pour the red liquid; they didn''t say anything else."


    "You''re lying," Apollo replied, raising his hand as if to sever another limb.


    "I''m telling the truth!" the man blurted, panicked. "I really don''t know! None of us do! I''m just one of the workers assigned to pour it!"


    "Oh?" Apollo lowered his hand. "How many of you are doing this?"


    "There are at least seven of us, I think," the man replied.


    "And where are they pouring the red liquid?"


    "Three of us are doing it along the wall around the city¡­ the others are spread evenly within it," the man answered, attempting to sit up, his face slick with sweat from the pain of his severed arm. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Are you following a specific line?" Apollo asked, rubbing his chin.


    "We are."


    "I see," Apollo nodded, piecing together more of the truth. He was now almost certain the wall expansion was more than just a protective measure for the city. Smirking, he raised his hand again. "That''s all I needed to know."


    "W-wait! What are you doing?!" the man''s eyes widened in terror. "I thought you said I''d live if I answered honestly!"


    "You assumed I''d let you live," Apollo replied coldly, his smile vanishing. Before the man could utter another word, Apollo slashed across his neck, and blood splattered on the ground. The man tried to stop it, but there was nothing he could do but resign himself to his fate.


    Apollo stared at him with a blank expression. Killing was nothing new; he''d done it in his previous life. To him, this was just routine.


    Apollo returned to his hiding spot to continue observing the wall. Once he was sure no workers were nearby, he approached it. Kneeling down, he inspected the ground but found nothing unusual. He even pressed his hand against the stone, but it felt like ordinary rock.


    "It must be something that can''t be seen," Apollo muttered as he looked around once more before taking out the artifact he got from the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    A lamp appeared out of thin air, taken from his space ring. The moment he held the Red Energy Burner, the wick ignited with a red flame.


    Seeing this, Apollo nodded, unsurprised. "There''s definitely Demon energy here." With this evidence, all he had to do was report back to Axton. But as he took a step away from the wall, the flame went out. "Oh?" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Raising an eyebrow, he stepped closer to the wall, and the lamp lit up again. Taking a few steps back, the fire disappeared. He repeated this a few times to confirm his suspicion. "The liquid he poured¡­ that must be the source of the Demon energy," he muttered, realizing the truth.


    He looked down at the ground, an idea forming. Kneeling, he used the Simple Wind Sword technique on his right hand and cut out a piece of the stone. Then, with the piece of ground and the lamp in hand, he took several steps back.


    This time, the red flame didn''t go out, and he smiled in relief. Satisfied, he placed both items back inside his space ring.


    "I''m closer to finally completing the mission," Apollo muttered as he made his way back to the Great Serpent Cultivation School. He had met with Axton earlier, but the faster he wrapped up the investigation, the faster he could complete the second mission.


    All he had to do now was uncover why Klown was stealing techniques from each Cultivation School and spreading them throughout the city.


    ---


    The next day.


    In front of the Filly Restaurant was the Skyline Savory Branch.


    Manager Fu stepped out of his office and scanned the dining area. Counting the customers, his frown deepened.


    "It''s fewer than yesterday," he muttered in annoyance. Walking to the entrance, he stared at the competitor across the way. Filly Restaurant''s customer count had soared so high that Skyline couldn''t even compare. It was like heaven and earth.


    Filly Restaurant had introduced something new. Besides offering new dishes, they now allowed customers to order food to take away, attracting even more patrons. People didn''t have to wait for someone to finish eating to place an order; they could take their food in a basket and eat wherever they pleased.


    This innovation made Manager Fu hit his head, cursing himself for not thinking of it first.


    He watched as a customer exited Filly Restaurant, carrying a basket. "Just you wait. Once we''ve finished copying your food, we''ll reclaim what''s ours!" he muttered, clenching his fist.


    Then, he walked toward the kitchen, where the chefs were gathered.


    "How''s it going?" he asked.


    One of the chefs reluctantly replied, "We can''t copy it. We don''t know the ingredients they''re using or how they''re preparing it."


    "What?!"

 Chapter 241 The Techniques

    "What do you mean you can''t copy it?!" Manager Fu shouted, his eyes red with frustration.


    One of the chefs took a piece of fried chicken from the basket on the table.


    "This¡­ it''s something we''ve never seen before," the chef said, staring at the food as if it were gold. "The ingredients, the method¡­ it''s otherworldly! Just look at how shiny it is! And the smell alone tells you it''s incredibly delicious."


    "So what if you haven''t seen it before?! Just do your job and copy it!" Manager Fu roared, his voice booming through the kitchen. "Or do you not want your jobs anymore?!"


    Hearing this, the chefs finally sprang into action. They couldn''t afford to lose their jobs, as they had mouths to feed.


    Watching them work, Manager Fu scoffed. "Worthless," he muttered angrily as he walked toward the door. As he opened it, he found his assistant Alek waiting outside.


    "Manager Fu," Alek greeted him with a bow.


    "What is it? If it''s not important, get out of my sight," Manager Fu snapped.


    "It''s very important," Alek replied, smiling mysteriously.


    Intrigued by his assistant''s expression, Manager Fu said, "Let''s go upstairs."


    They soon entered the manager''s office, where Manager Fu took his seat while Alek stood before him.


    "Speak," Manager Fu commanded.


    "Here." Alek retrieved a scroll from his suit and spread it out on the desk. "This might help us."


    "What''s this?" Manager Fu muttered, but as he read the scroll''s contents, his eyes widened in disbelief. "A Cultivation Technique? Where did you get this?"


    "I can''t say, but it''s our ticket to bringing that restaurant down!" Alek said excitedly. "Someone gave it to me two weeks ago, telling me I could share it."


    "This is illegal," Manager Fu said sternly. "If the authorities find out we have this, it''ll ruin the restaurant, and not only will you lose your life, but I''ll also lose my job!" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t worry," Alek chuckled. "Haven''t you heard?"


    "Heard what?" Manager Fu asked.


    "There are tons of people learning these techniques! Cultivation and Battle Techniques just appeared out of nowhere, and people are secretly practicing them."


    "Really?" Manager Fu was stunned. "They didn''t get caught?"


    "No, and here''s the best part: the authorities don''t seem to care," Alek replied. "This means we can learn this technique and finally stand up to that restaurant!"


    Hearing this, Manager Fu''s eyes brightened. They''d tried everything to take down the Filly Restaurant, but it kept bouncing back, and now it had far surpassed them.


    "That''s a good idea. But even with this, we won''t be able to beat them," Manager Fu said. "She has that woman who nearly won the last Advancement Examination."


    "Then we''ll hire more people and teach them this technique ourselves! Once we hit the Half-Step Foundation Building stage, we''ll attack when Filly and the others aren''t there!" Alek suggested. At this point, they didn''t care what methods they used to stop Filly Restaurant''s rise.


    "Have you learned this?" Manager Fu asked, gesturing to the scroll.


    "Hehe, of course," Alek grinned, punching the air. The force of his blow caused a gust that ruffled the manager''s hair. "I thought I lacked the talent for Cultivation, but after practicing this every night, I reached the Half-Step Foundation Building Stage."


    "In that case, you''ll teach me now!" Manager Fu said, excitement lighting up his face as he stood up.


    "Alright!"


    ...


    "What do you feel?" Mathias Helflick asked his daughter, who sat cross-legged on her bed.


    "I feel great, Father," Bel answered, slowly opening her eyes after cultivating. Her body was still thin, but the aura she radiated was strong, as if she hadn''t been on the brink of death three days prior.


    "That''s good to hear," Mathias smiled. "How''s your cultivation progressing? You almost dropped a stage."


    "Haha, I''ll need three more days to reach my peak, and I think I can go beyond it," Bel said.


    "You mean¡­ you''re ready to enter the Qi Condensation Stage?" Mathias asked, surprised.


    "Yes, Father," Bel nodded.


    "Then you''ll be the youngest person to achieve that in this region," Mathias said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    "Haha," Bel laughed. "Is that really something to be proud of?"


    "Of course, daughter," Mathias replied. "But remember, we must remain humble. No matter how strong you become, there are always those stronger than you."


    "I won''t forget your teachings, Father," Bel said, smiling warmly. "By the way, there''s something I want to tell you."


    "What is it?"


    "I think I''ve found my savior," Bel said, recalling the day she was saved from the poison.


    "Really? Who? Tell me¡ªI''ll reward him handsomely," Mathias said, aware of how much she wished to meet her rescuer. Despite their search, they hadn''t been able to find him.


    "Yoma. He''s my savior," Bel replied with a sigh. At first, she was skeptical, but the more she recalled that day in the forest, the more certain she became. She''d almost forgotten what her savior looked like, but when Yoma appeared, she noticed the similarities, realizing it only upon deeper reflection.


    "Are you sure?" Mathias asked, surprised.


    "I''m a hundred percent sure," Bel nodded. "Can I meet him?"


    Mathias paused, then answered. "Yes, you can, but not right now. He and I are in the middle of something very important."


    "Oh? Tell me, Father, I''m curious," Bel said, her eyes alight with curiosity.


    "I can''t. Just focus on yo¡ª" Mathias stopped mid-sentence, a frown crossing his face.


    "What''s wrong?" Bel asked, concern evident in her voice.


    "I need to go somewhere. Stay here," Mathias said as he left her room. As the door slammed shut, he blurred into motion, arriving swiftly in front of a small house outside their mansion meant for their maids and butlers.


    But this house was on fire.


    A man dressed in a tattered butler''s suit was outside, desperately trying to put out the flames.


    Mathias waved his hand, summoning a strong wind that immediately extinguished the fire.


    The man turned, startled, and quickly knelt. "My apologies, Master!"


    Mathias said nothing, instead scanning the area until he spotted a book lying nearby with visible burns on its cover. Then he turned to the butler. "You attempted to learn a fire battle technique without any cultivation?"


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    "Y-yes," the man stammered, bowing his head in shame. "But something went wrong."

 Chapter 242 Mission Completed(Part-1)

    "Of course something is going to go wrong," said Mathias, the head of the Helflick family, coldly. "A talentless, ordinary person attempting to learn something beyond them¡ªit''s suicide."


    "Forgive me!" The butler bowed, his head slamming against the ground.


    By now, the fire had already attracted other maids and butlers, their whispers filling the air.


    "You are aware that under my house, on my property, no one is allowed to learn Cultivation or Battle Techniques unless proven to have the talent and capability to walk the Way of Cultivation, correct?" Mathias asked, towering over the man, his eyes like daggers.


    "Y-yes, Master Mathias!" the butler answered, pressing his head harder to the ground. "I will take full responsibility and face the consequences!"


    Mathias nodded, glancing at the book near the burned house before turning to the gathered maids and butlers. "Those who have learned Techniques behind my back, step forward, and don''t even think of hiding it."


    After his words fell, silence lingered until three people stepped forward¡ªtwo butlers and a maid.


    "Who succeeded?" Mathias asked. One of the butlers raised his hand. "I see¡­ each of you will face punishment. Any objections?"


    "No, Master!" they answered in unison, kneeling and pressing their heads to the ground.


    Mathias nodded before addressing the one who started the fire. "Tell me, where did you get the technique?"


    The butler didn''t dare lie. "When I was outside, someone gave it to me. He said it was a gift and that many people were already learning it, so I shouldn''t be afraid if I did the same."


    "Oh?" Mathias raised an eyebrow. He asked the same question of the others and received the same answer, though the two butlers shared the same technique. "This is concerning."


    He waved his hand, and the ash-covered book floated toward him before disappearing inside his space ring. "Someone will come for you to carry out your punishments." With that, his body blurred, and he disappeared from sight.


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    But the matter was far from over. The moment Mathias arrived at his study, he summoned an assistant and issued an order. Sitting in his chair behind the desk, he gazed at his assistant. "I want you to investigate all our maids, butlers, guards, chefs¡ªeveryone working here¡ªto find out if any of them are cultivating in secret. Confiscate their techniques and issue punishment."


    "Understood, Master Mathias," his assistant replied, then left the room.


    Mathias placed a hand under his chin, his eyes glinting in thought, though he felt as if the reason was just at the tip of his tongue. "What is your plan, Klown?" he muttered before shaking his head. Taking out papers, he began writing. Soon, two birds flew from the Helflick mansion¡ªone headed for the Great Serpent Headmaster and the other for the Kleinford family head.


    ¡­


    Apollo had just finished begging at his usual spot. Opening his eyes, he saw the three bronze coins in his hands. His Alm points returned to forty-five.


    "This is really slow," the beggar muttered with a sigh. Shaking his head, he stood up and noticed his lunch in the corner. Taking it with him, he returned to his beggar spot, his gaze landing on the pile of books. Pushing them aside, he started eating spaghetti, fried chicken, and some meat from monsters he didn''t recognize.


    The pile of books beside him came from the first-floor library of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. After he activated the Red Energy Burner, causing it and the ground where the man he killed had poured red liquid to ignite in crimson flames, he returned to the Great Serpent¡ªthough not without first reducing the man to ashes to erase the evidence.


    He handed the lamp to Headmaster Axton, who was visibly shaken upon seeing it. They remained silent for a while as the Headmaster prepared to contact the main branch with the lamp as proof. This matter required immediate action. Afterward, Apollo decided to read as many books on Demons as possible from the library''s first floor, taking some with him to continue reading at his beggar spot as it grew late.


    After finishing his meal, he picked up the last book and opened it to the page where he had left off. The books covered the history of demons, stories of their evil deeds, and interesting details he often debunked. The last book he held focused on the ritual.


    Unlike what Array Masters or Inscription Masters do, performing a ritual doesn''t require Qi. There are all kinds of rituals and methods, but what they have in common is that they all summon Demons and require a sacrifice. A heart in exchange for the Demon''s emergence.


    Different rituals demand different sacrifices: some need only one person, others a child, some an unborn life, and some a mass sacrifice of hundreds, if not thousands, of people to make the summoning work. To Apollo, this was the true essence of Demon Summoning.


    The book in his hand offered no detailed descriptions, only speculation and theory. There wasn''t even an example of what these rituals looked like. Yet Apollo believed every word. From what he had witnessed so far, he was certain there was a ritual in the city that would cost human lives.


    "So why is Klown making the techniques public?" Apollo muttered, resting his chin on his hand. He glanced at the open book, and it only took a moment for realization to strike. With all he had learned from reading about Demons¡ªand combining that with his knowledge from his previous life¡ªa thought crystallized in his mind. "This whole city is a farm¡­ a farm waiting to be harvested."


    Suddenly, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. The more he followed this line of thought, the more convinced he became. Klown wanted to fatten up all his cattle with nutrients before his client arrived!


    In the next moment, his eyes widened as the System interface materialized before him.


    "Second Mission Completed!"


    "Mission completed..." Apollo muttered as if he couldn''t believe what he was seeing. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 1 - 1: Faceless Woman(Part-1)

    "How old is he?" a woman wearing hospital scrubs asked the person on the other side of the room. One of them checked the equipment, while the other monitored the patient peacefully lying on the bed. They made sure that the old man was alive and breathing.


    The equipment surrounding them could only be described as something that came out of a sci-fi book. Digital panels upon digital panels kept appearing in the air, detailing the condition of the convalescent old man.


    "He''s 110 years old," the nurse on the side said.


    "110 years old? He''s probably already lived a good life, but he''s still holding on," the woman checking the equipment said.


    "Probably? Use the word ''definitely.'' Don''t you know him? He is the richest man in the whole world!"


    "Richest man? That Apollo Leone?!" The nurse exclaimed in surprise. She then looked carefully at the old man''s face. Apollo Leone had white hair so thin and sparse that she could count it easily. His body resembled a twig, a cold twig from the winter snow.


    "Hey, keep your voice down," the nurse checking the vitals of the old man looked up with a frown. "Didn''t you read the roster?"


    The nurse checking the equipment could only scratch her cheek.


    Seeing this, the nurse on the old man''s side shook her head. While they were doing their tasks, Apollo''s closed eyes twitched ever so slightly.


    "I heard he doesn''t want to die yet. He even gave this hospital a big sum just to make sure we will give him the best treatment."


    "But looking at him, I don''t think we''ll be able to save him¡­" They talked about the old man on the bed for a while before they left.


    Once the door closed, silence lingered in the air.


    "I want to live¡­"


    Darkness.


    That''s all that he could see.


    "All my effort¡­ all my money, are they going to die with me?" He heard what the two nurses were talking about.


    Just like what they said, he was the richest man in the world. No one could compare to him. His money became much more when he focused on creating a company that focused on prolonging the lifespan of a human being.


    Biology, Medicines, Technology, Gerontology, etc¡­ The company covered almost everything that could prolong the lifespan of a human.


    But there was nothing the company could do. In the end, he ended up in a private hospital subsidiary to his company, though he was the only one who knew this.


    "I don''t want to die."


    Suddenly, in the darkness, light shone upon him. It was so strong that in his mental world, he wanted to close his eyes. But there wasn''t much he could do. His world was swallowed by intense brightness.


    After a while, he felt his foot touching the ground, and the sound of birds reached his ears.


    Opening his eyes slowly, he couldn''t help but tilt his head. He then looked around the surroundings.


    Apollo was standing in a wide plain of grass. He could see a creek nearby with small fish swimming gleefully. Looking up, he noticed the birds playing with each other and chirping to create a beautiful melody.


    "I''m alive?" Apollo muttered in disbelief. He looked around once more before he burst into laughter. Although he didn''t know what was really happening, he felt intense happiness.


    He ran to the creek and stared at his own reflection. Brown hair and blue eyes. He was familiar with this feature, but something great was different¡­ S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Reaching out his hand to touch his face, his body shook. "I became younger too?!"


    Then, like a lunatic, he stared at the sky and laughed like never before.


    "HAHAHAHA!"


    The excitement of being alive clouded his mind, preventing him from thinking further about his situation.


    He was alive and young, there was nothing for him to think about¡­


    While he danced and sang like a crazy person, he suddenly heard the sound of strings. He couldn''t help but stop as the melody immediately caught his attention.


    Apollo turned to the side. He saw a tree up on a hill. He had already noticed it when he surveyed the surroundings, but at first, he only thought of it as normal.


    Squinting his eyes, he became surprised as someone was currently underneath the tree, wearing a white dress and holding a guitar-like instrument.


    "There''s someone beside me here? That''s great!" Apollo said before he dashed towards the hill.


    "Hey! Why are you¡ª" After he arrived, he was about to ask a question when he halted. The melody coming from her instrument was so mesmerizing that it made him close his eyes and savor the moment.


    He felt like he was in a dream and at the same time in reality, but it didn''t matter. In his perceptions, what was important was the song caressing his heart and soul.


    Apollo Leone doesn''t know how long it has been. He only opened his eyes when the tune ended.


    "You are so talented," he praised with a smile. Because the woman had her back to him, he couldn''t see her appearance.


    "Thank you," the woman turned around.


    "No wo¡ª" Apollo froze in his spot. The woman didn''t have a face. It was only darkness, like a black hole staring straight at him.


    Then the world started shaking, and the lush grass and trees began to wither. Dark clouds rolled across the sky, shrouding the warmth of the sun.


    "W-what¡­ why¡­ how¡­" Apollo became confused and scared. He finally realized his situation.


    What is happening?! Why am I here? Is this hell?!


    As a person who believes in science, what is happening right now shattered his worldview. He could feel everything was real. The sensation of his feet touching the now cold ground and the smell permeating his nose made him certain that he was not dreaming.


    He took a step back while his eyes never left the faceless woman.


    "Don''t be scared, Apollo Leone," the woman spoke. Neither warm nor cold, it was like a thought speaking directly to him.

 Chapter 2 - 2: Faceless Woman(Part-2)

    "How did you know my name¡­" His thoughts were in chaos and his breathing heavy.


    "I know everything about you," the faceless woman chuckled. "Call me¡­ hmm¡­ what should I call myself¡­"


    The woman put a hand under her chin, her mind racing to form the right words.


    Apollo looked at her behavior strangely. This lasted a few minutes, giving him time to reflect on everything.


    I died because of old age¡­ in the end, even with all that money, I couldn''t extend my life, Apollo thought bitterly.


    "Call me Aster," the faceless woman finally decided on her name. Her hands strummed the strings on the guitar. Compared to the serenity she had just produced before, this time it was grating to the ears.


    Apollo couldn''t help but frown.


    "Aster¡­ what is happening?" He asked, eager to know everything. His mind, the moment he woke up in this place, was so lightheaded he didn''t know what he was doing, but now, his thought process became normal. The faceless woman in front of him was the only one who could explain everything to him.


    "You probably already guessed. You died," Aster said.


    "Yeah, then what is this place?" Apollo gestured around.


    "Neither Hell nor Heaven," Aster answered, her light voice turning monotone.


    "Neither Hell nor Heaven¡­" Apollo repeated, his breathing turning heavy. He couldn''t fully understand what it meant, but he knew it must be something that even the world that he lived in didn''t know of.


    "Before I tell you everything, let''s first recap your whole life," Aster strummed the chords, making Apollo frown from the discomfort.


    Suddenly, his eyes blurred as something materialized from thin air. He was very familiar with what was around him right now. It was a holographic screen. He couldn''t count how many of them. He could also see images and videos playing on the screen.


    It''s him¡­


    "Apollo Leone. One might say you are a child prodigy. Smart, handsome, a jack of all trades," Aster remarked as a screen went in front of them.


    Apollo saw himself from when he was just a child. He was standing on stage with awards being given to him. The scene changed, and he became much older. It was still the same, awards upon awards.


    Then he became an adult where he landed his first job. It was a high-paying one where he didn''t have to worry about bills and what he had to eat. But he was not yet satisfied. He wanted more money where he could do whatever he wanted.


    So he created his first business.


    The screens surrounding them displayed all this.


    He instantly became successful with money coming in. Was it enough? No, still not satisfied, he created another one, until he became the youngest and the wealthiest person in the world.


    Apollo Leone felt bliss seeing his success coming into fruition.


    "You lived a good life. Almost perfect¡­ Almost."


    The holographic screens changed scene, and Apollo saw himself in the bathroom, throwing up blood.


    Then he was admitted to a hospital. With the advancement of technology, he was cured.


    Or so he thought.


    After a few years, his illness came back, but fortunately, with the previous success of curing him, he didn''t suffer much.


    Women, money, and all the hedonistic pleasure that the world offers, he had it all.


    Aster also watched all these, though Apollo couldn''t see any emotion because she didn''t have a face.


    "It''s an illness that keeps coming back. You lived between a life of pleasure and a curse," Aster turned towards Apollo.


    The translucent screens surrounding them now showed Apollo in his sufferings. The time it took to show how happy he was became less until he was on his deathbed, where doctors and nurses entered his hospital room to check his conditions.


    He saw his children and grandchildren crying. Apollo couldn''t help but tear up seeing this scene.


    "But you are only focused on yourself. You only see yourself in your own world," Aster shook her head.


    The scene changed, and Apollo''s eyes widened before they became bitter.


    He was the wealthiest for a reason. He dwelled on the good and the bad, though the bad was in the light.


    People suffered from his success. He didn''t care about the poor; he just wanted them to work hard to generate more wealth.


    The way he did things was frowned upon by others.


    Those who suffered from him cheered when they heard of the death of Apollo Leone.


    Closing his eyes, Apollo took a deep breath. "I know everything. They''re suffering. But it doesn''t have to do with me. That''s what I believe."


    "You are not here to be judged on right or wrong," Aster said.


    "Then what?" Apollo asked again. The translucent screens surrounding them shattered, and the dark world came back.


    "You are dead and at the same time not," Aster said in another cryptic phrase. "Do you want to live?"


    "I don''t understand everything, but yes!" Apollo answered with enthusiasm.


    "You will live again," Aster turned around and walked towards the tree behind her. The tree opened in the middle to reveal a black hole. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo saw her entering while her words echoed in his head. I will live again?!


    Excitement erupted from him, so he followed behind her.


    His vision swirled, and he saw himself standing in¡­ a universe. "This¡­"


    Apollo couldn''t believe what he was seeing. He woke up in a dark world, and now he was standing in the vast universe. He reached out his hand, and it passed through a galaxy, their colorful particles following his hand before they went back to their original form.


    Aster waved her hand, and the universe shifted. The place became a blur; they entered a universe and galaxies until they stopped in front of a planet that resembled Earth.


    "This world? It''s not Earth?" Apollo realized. He shifted to the faceless woman.


    "Yes," Aster nodded. "You will be reborn here."


    "Reborn¡­ on another planet," Apollo muttered. He knew what it meant; it''s reincarnation. Because Earth''s technology is already advanced, much research went into this, though nothing superficial came out of it.


    To think it''s real.


    "What is this planet called?"


    "It has many names. Depends on what galaxies you came from, but the people living inside call it Luan."


    "Luan¡­ I see," Apollo smiled. "If I can get to live again, even though it''s on a different planet, I will cherish it. Besides, with my ability to make money, it won''t be long until I become the top of this world."


    His words echoed in the surrounding space.


    Aster, who had her back against the ambitious man, turned towards him. "Don''t be happy yet. This world is different from Earth. Far different."


    "What do you mean?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "You should find out by yourself," Aster coldly said. "Besides, you will not be reborn without a catch."


    Hearing this damped down Apollo''s anticipation. He could only smile bitterly as he also thought of this.


    "You wanted to be on top? Then you will have to live your whole life as a beggar."


    "B-beggar?!" Apollo couldn''t believe his ears. "No! Absolutely no!"


    "Hehe, I won''t take no for an answer. It''s taking too much time. Goodbye," Aster waved her hand.


    Before Apollo could protest another word, his vision blurred, and he saw himself falling towards the planet in front of him.


    "Ahhh!" He shouted as the fast speed made him dizzy.


    His body vaporized and became a speck of light. It circled around the planet, seemingly looking for something.


    Aster, who was watching all this, started strumming her guitar. Its grotesque sound spread far and wide, waking up the old folks with a frown painted on their faces.


    The light finally stopped and dropped in a specific part of the planet. Seeing this, the faceless woman turned around and went back to the dark world.

 Chapter 3 - 3: The Start (Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System, Chapter 1.


    The world spun, swirling with all kinds of colors until the sound of passing air surfaced. Then came the chirping of birds for a second, followed by the murmur of men talking. Like a missile, congested particles of light, invisible to humans, passed through a rooftop.


    "Ouch!" Apollo grunted in pain as he felt like he hit something hard and soft simultaneously. While his mind was still blurry, he could hear voices.


    Unable to understand what they were saying, it was hard for him to distinguish whether they were men or women, or how many of them there were.


    "What is happening?" Apollo''s thoughts raced, trying to piece together his chaotic surroundings. Then, the conversation he had with that faceless woman about reincarnation surfaced in his mind.


    Reincarnation?


    Slowly, his blurry vision started to clear. After a while, his eyes adjusted, and the scene in front of him came into focus. Before him lay a table reaching his nose, adorned with tantalizing dishes emitting an aroma that made his stomach churn. Although he couldn''t discern the specific dishes, their presentation hinted at their expense.


    Scanning his surroundings, Apollo noted the high ceiling adorned with chandeliers made of unfamiliar gems and walls decorated in a style he had never seen before.


    Voices drew his attention back to the people at the table: eight in total, including him. Clad in medieval-style attire reminiscent of the textbooks he had studied, Apollo wore a dark blue tailcoat with intricate designs.


    Suddenly, a nudge jolted him, and he turned to his right to find a woman with worried eyes. Her black hair was tied in a bun, and her ocean-blue eyes peered at him beneath lightly applied makeup that concealed slight wrinkles. Her lips were adorned with a reddish-pink lipstick.


    Like the other women at the table, she wore a gown adorned with expensive decorations.


    She began speaking the language he had been hearing since his arrival. Confused, Apollo tilted his head.


    "Language detected¡­ comprehending¡­"


    "Language learned: Luanian."


    A blue translucent screen appeared before him.


    Eh? Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise as he finally understood the woman''s words.


    "Apollo, are you okay?" she asked softly.


    "Y-yes," Apollo answered, his voice small, almost childlike. No. He glanced at his reflection in the plate and noticed his rounded face. Just like the woman beside him, he had blue eyes and black hair.


    I''m still handsome, and my name is still Apollo? I thought reincarnation is when I reincarnated as a baby?


    This is like when kids finally realize they have consciousness?


    "Then why aren''t you eating your food?" the woman asked again.


    "Hehe," Apollo could only scratch his cheek, his eyes still fixed on the translucent screen in front of him.


    It flickered before something changed.


    "Transferring Data¡­ 1%"


    "Finish your food, Son, so you''ll be like me, strong and handsome!" The middle-aged man on his left flexed his biceps. With brown hair and eyes, he winked at the woman on Apollo''s right. "Right, Hon?"


    "Oh, stop it," the woman giggled.


    "Gina, Froi¡­" An aged voice echoed, and both the big guy and the giggling woman shut their mouths.


    "Sorry, father," Froi apologized and started eating his meal. Gina followed suit while nudging her son.


    Apollo started eating, and soon his mouth was full. The cute scene made the others smile.


    At the head of the table sat an old man with white hair. Just like them, he was wearing a medieval-like suit, probably the most expensive suit Apollo could distinguish.


    The old man started talking about various things to which Apollo didn''t care.


    I guess the woman on my right is my mother, Gina, and this bear-like middle-aged man on my left is my father, Apollo thought, his mouth not stopping from chewing the delicious meal.


    That must be my grandfather¡­ He then looked at the old man talking.


    Uncle and aunties¡­ Apollo glanced at the people eating and laughing in front of him.


    Cousins? There are two children just like him, a boy and a girl, with white hair and eyes, perhaps twins.


    It''s a cheerful scene.


    This is not bad. I thought I would really become a beggar. That woman, Aster, must be joking, Apollo thought with a smile.


    After they were done eating, he looked at the floating screen and noticed it had reached 20%.


    I wonder what will happen when it reaches 100%.


    Froi stood up. "Let''s go, Apollo." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo nodded. He wiped his mouth and jumped off the table, then headed towards the exit with Gina and Froi. They were the last to leave.


    "Where are we going?" Apollo asked. So far, the only knowledge he has is that he reincarnated into this body with a rich family. If he is going to compare it to his last life, he is living like royalty.


    He became the richest man, so the things around him don''t surprise him much.


    What he''s most curious about is the history and what kind of world he''s living in.


    Now that he has a good starting point, he wants to make the most of it and become the most powerful and richest man in this world. At the same time, he wants to start early to extend the life of humans.


    This world doesn''t seem to have high technology. That should be my focus on business, then, Apollo thought.


    "Son, why do you look so serious?" Froi asked with a laugh, seeing Apollo''s face scrunching up.


    "Nothing, hehe," Apollo chuckled bitterly. Being called a son by a stranger still feels strange to him.


    "Let''s go sleep," Gina said with a graceful yawn. After walking down the hallway and turning many corners, the trio finally arrived at the entrance of their room. The room was spacious, with a master bedroom and Apollo''s own.


    "Goodnight."


    "Goodnight!" Apollo replied cheerfully.


    When the door closed, he jumped on his bed. The feeling of the mattress enclosing him made him sigh in relief.


    So far, so good.


    Then he looked at the percentage displayed on the translucent screen from the corner of his eyes.


    "Transferring Data¡­ 80%"

 Chapter 4 - 4: The Start (Part-2)

    "I think I just need to wait for a few hours more before it becomes one hundred percent," Apollo muttered. He glanced outside and saw the moon being shrouded by the clouds. Then his eyes turned to the wall.


    There was a painting of him and his parents along with the whole family.


    "My last name didn''t change," he noticed that on the frame, there''s an engraving of ''Leone''.


    He is a different person, but his name stayed the same.


    While he''s thinking about his whole situation and his future, sleepiness crept in.


    ¡­


    Transfer Complete.


    A voice echoed inside Apollo''s consciousness. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at the translucent screen in the corner of his eyes.


    "Transfer Complete. Initiation¡­"


    "Initiation? Another loading?" Apollo thought with a frown. "Forget it. What is that smell¡­"


    Apollo shook his head.


    He was about to fall asleep when a sudden knock came on his door followed by a loud bang.


    "Apollo! Wake up!"


    Froi walked inside Apollo''s room. His back was sweaty, and he was breathing heavily.


    "W-what happened?!" Apollo sat up, but he had no time to say another word as his father immediately went to his side and picked him up.


    Froi then ran outside.


    Wait!


    Suddenly, a strong heat assaulted Apollo''s face. His eyes widened from shock. Because he was being held with his face on his father''s shoulder, he could see everything his father was running from.


    Fire covered the hallway, and Apollo could see the mansion falling apart.


    "W-what about mother?" Apollo asked. Although these people are strangers to him, he is still worried about them.


    "She''s¨C" Froi couldn''t finish his words as the scene from earlier entered his mind.


    His wife Gina was nothing but a scorched corpse. He wanted to cry out and hug her, but the intense fire made him unable to go forward. Froi had to hold in his tears and decided to save his son.


    "Dead¡­" Froi said while gritting his teeth.


    Dead? Apollo observed the fire. He could feel the intense heat hitting his face even with this distance. This kind of fire only needed a few seconds to turn a human into charcoal.


    What the hell happened here¡­ S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly a strong explosion erupted behind Froi''s back. They were only a few meters away from the exit when the shockwave hit them and shattered the wall.


    Their bodies were thrown outside and landed on the courtside.


    Froi held his son in time, and they rolled on the ground a couple of times before they managed to stop.


    "Sh*t!" Froi cursed. Without looking back, he stood up and proceeded to run. His back was already burning, and the smell of meat permeated his son''s nose.


    This smell would have made Apollo frown, but instead, his eyes turned into shock.


    The mansion that he stayed in for just a night was now crumbling to the ground. The fire reached the sky. Screams also accompanied this hellish scene. He could see people wearing the Leone''s insignia down on the ground with blood flowing from them.


    But his attention was piqued more on what was happening above the burning mansion.


    "They''re flying!" Apollo shouted while pointing at the two men standing in the air. His grandfather and an unknown man. They were looking at each other with intensity. They were talking, but the distance wouldn''t let him read their lips.


    "Don''t look!" Froi said. He covered his son''s eyes and continued to run with all his might.


    The Leone mansion was located far north of the city. If they traveled at their top speed, they would reach the nearest district. Because of their wealth, they had their own land in the city.


    But it wouldn''t be long before the family completely collapsed.


    Froi knew this just by looking at the man facing his father, the Leone Founder.


    Apollo, on the other hand, could only see darkness. He was being held tightly while running fast. He could feel that his father was breathing heavily; Froi was probably injured.


    "What''s happening?!" Apollo shouted, curious about the situation.


    The mansion was on fire, with his grandfather flying in the air with a stranger. That woman Aster didn''t tell me this fact! A world where people can fly? That''s only in fiction¡­ wait¡­ he already reincarnated and even became a different person.


    Shaking this thought off, he heard his father. "Just don''t look!"


    Another explosion sounded, and the whole area shook from the shockwave. The trees around them bent, and rocks were sent flying into the air.


    "Come on!" Froi could see the shattered gate of their manor. There were people watching outside, but the explosion made them run back to their houses.


    "Here!" Someone shouted, and Froi noticed a person wearing a hood.


    He stopped in front of him and put Apollo on his feet.


    "My son¡­" Froi took a deep breath. He looked into Apollo''s eyes. The only thing he could see was confusion. "You don''t seem afraid."


    The sound of explosions continued in the manor, and fire kept rising into the dark sky.


    I''m more amazed than afraid, Apollo thought.


    Because he had already experienced death, the fear of the unknown lessened. He was also curious about the whole situation. Everything was confusing. He had just been reborn, and now he found out that people could fly with some sort of abilities.


    He glanced at the translucent screen from the corner of his eyes and noticed it was still the same.


    "Transfer Complete. Initiating¡­"


    "Keep that attitude, my son-" Froi coughed, blood seeping from his mouth. "You are the future of Leone."


    What attitude? Apollo was even more confused.


    Froi noticed that his son became more serious. He smiled before he stood up and nodded at the hooded man. "Take care of him."


    "I will, Master Froi!"


    The man wanted to kneel, but Froi shook his head. "Take care!"


    "Wait!" Apollo shouted. "How can they fl¨C"


    He was more curious about the reason why those two people could fly.


    Before he could finish his question, he felt something hit the side of his neck. He went unconscious and fell into the hooded man''s arms.


    "We don''t have time for questions and answers, kid," the hooded man whispered before he ran inside the city.


    The dark sky made his body disappear. Amidst the chaotic crowd, no one noticed them.


    Froi turned around. His back was aching with pain, burned to the bone. Most people would have fainted from the pain or instantly died.


    But he didn''t.


    A haze appeared around him, and he breathed white smoke.


    His body became a blur, and he ran back to the mansion. Every step covered dozens of meters. Because he covered his son''s eyes, Apollo didn''t manage to see why they could travel so fast.

 Chapter 5 - 5: First Mission(Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System, Chapter 2.


    "Argh¡­ my head¨C" Apollo muttered in pain. He felt lightheaded, and the back of his neck was aching. He opened his eyes and saw the ground moving. His body was bouncing, making him even dizzier.


    An alley? Apollo thought, trying his best to understand his surroundings. The memories from earlier surfaced in his mind, and he finally realized he was being carried on someone else''s shoulder.


    He looked at the person''s face. Underneath that hood, Apollo noticed¡­ greed? He was very familiar with this look. He was over a hundred years old in his past life. From poor to the wealthiest man in the world, one could say he experienced it all.


    This guy! A bad feeling surfaced, and his stomach churned. Something was coming up from his throat; he could even taste it now.


    When he was about to throw up his dinner, his body was hurled into the air before he hit the wall.


    The impact caused him to puke, food and blood intertwined.


    Apollo coughed a few times. His back ached in pain, and he felt like his bones were broken. "You!"


    "This place should be good enough," The hooded man said.


    This alley was dark, making it hard for Apollo to distinguish the man''s whole features.


    Apollo took a deep breath to alleviate some of the pain. He didn''t cry out, surprising the man.


    "As expected of a Leone," The man praised.


    "You¡­ who are you?" Apollo asked after wiping his mouth with his sleeve.


    There were only a few clues he could think about. The whole situation was still confusing to him. This man was probably part of the family or was hired by his father, though in the end betrayed them.


    "Hehe kid, I''m just here for the money!" The man smirked maliciously.


    "You!" Apollo couldn''t help but be angry. Although he only met his father in this life for an evening, that man seemed to be a good person, and this guy was taking advantage of his father.


    "Shh!" The man suddenly made a quiet gesture.


    "They are done. I should get going. Nice meeting you, kid! Thank your father for the money! If he is still alive! Hahahaha!" The man disappeared like a ghost, and only his voice remained, echoing in the murky alley.


    What the hell?


    Only Apollo remained, and some rats walked in the corner of the building.


    After a while,


    "Initiation complete!"


    A blue translucent screen suddenly appeared in front of him, surprising him.


    Then another screen materialized. It was his whole body picture wearing the signature Leone''s noble suit. Beside the picture was his name, age, and underneath was his background description.


    Apollo Leone.


    Age: 7 Years Old.


    Background:


    Apollo Leone is the child of Froi Leone and Gina Leone. After they had a heartfelt dinner, they were then attacked by an unknown man. His grandfather tried to protect the family to no avail. Froi, on the other hand, hired someone to bring his child to a secret place, but because the man only wanted some money, Apollo was left in an alley.


    This¡­ is like a prologue of a game, Apollo thought while leaning on the wall. The injury from the throw made it hard for him to move.


    That hooded man was probably hired by someone else other than Froi. Apollo frowned. His father already hired the man, and all he had to do was bring him to the safe place. The job is done, and his reputation is not sullied. But if the man has been bribed by someone else to fail the mission, then it''s a different story.


    Apollo deduced this clue just from reading his background.


    The translucent screen changed.


    "What now?"


    "Beggar Cultivation System has been activated. Welcome Host!"


    "Who!" A mechanical voice entered his mind. He stood up abruptly and looked around the alley. But there''s no one around.


    "You have been chosen by Aster to be given a second chance. I will be helping you in your journey from now on. But this second chance is not easy. You will have to be a beggar if you want to live."


    The voice ignored him and continued its dialogue.


    Apollo immediately realized that the voice is inside his head. Having witnessed strange phenomenon after phenomenon, he is no longer surprised. That faceless woman¡­ She said I will have to live as a beggar and now it''s starting.


    "Please say Status Screen," The voice instructed.


    "Status Screen?" Confused, Apollo still muttered.


    A screen materialized in front of him with his name on it. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 0.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: None.


    Attributes: None."


    "This is your status screen where you can see the state of your body and your cultivation stage,"


    "Cultivation?" Apollo tilted his head. "What is that?"


    "Cultivation is the state of a human body. Once reached a certain stage, humans can destroy mountains and split rivers with only their bare hands."


    The voice said. It''s an explanation that the past Apollo wouldn''t accept but he is now different. He put a hand under his chin and recalled what he just saw from the mansion. Two men are flying in the air. It''s an amazing scene and he probably wouldn''t be able to forget it for his whole life.


    Apollo''s eyes lit up as realization dawned on him. So cultivation is the reason why they can fly. In his previous life, only vehicles can fly, and even if humans can do it, they are still using equipment. But as long as one can cultivate, even without high tech equipment, flying is still achievable.


    "This cultivation thing, can I do that?" Apollo asked with excitement.


    "Yes, but in order for you to cultivate, you will have to first finish your mission."


    "Mission?" Apollo muttered, and another screen appeared beside the status screen.


    "Mission: Find your beggar spot.


    Time Limit: 3 hours.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation.


    Rewards: 10 Alm points."


    Beggar Cultivation System Chapter 2.


    "What is this? A game?" Apollo was surprised. And this mission has punishment? Although he doesn''t have any idea what this lightning tribulation is, he knew that the word lightning is dangerous!


    "Good luck on your first mission! Oh and you may call me System! See you later!" The System said before it went silent.

 Chapter 6 - 6: First Mission(Part-2)

    Apollo stood there, stunned. He forgot the pain from his body for a moment. Sh*t! I still haven''t recovered from all this mess, and this System wants me to do some mission? I want to rest!


    "But lightning tribulation¡­ it sounds dangerous," Apollo frowned. "There''s nothing much for me to gain by standing here, and if I want to be on top of this world¡ª"


    The word cultivation surfaced in his mind.


    That, I have to cultivate! Wealth and power, Apollo began to imagine the future.


    Shaking his head, he got rid of this thought and his original body''s family and conflict.


    He decided to focus on the mission at hand.


    His desire to be on top made his small feet walk faster. But after a few steps, he stopped and looked at his clothes. Wearing this suit is like giving myself to the enemy. Someone wanted the Leones to die, and if they found out he was walking in the streets, Apollo wouldn''t want to think about the consequences.


    He looked around and found trash on the side with a dirty robe on top.


    "This will do," Apollo said after putting it on. Then he made his way outside the alley.


    ¡­


    Apollo peeked his head out from the corner to observe the streets. Even though it''s dawn, there are still people on the street looking in the direction of the burning mansion.


    Taking this chance, he went out.


    His head kept moving from here and there. He is amazed by the houses and buildings around. They resemble the medieval houses he saw in the history book.


    Stone-grey and Brown-grey are the most common colors this place is using.


    While he''s observing the place, he''s also looking for a suitable beggar spot.


    Staying this close to the Leone''s mansion won''t do him good, Apollo thought. He decided to just keep walking and walking.


    After an hour, when the burning mansion is out of sight, he stood in front of a store.


    "This is a good beggar spot!" Apollo muttered. If he is going to live as a beggar from now on, then it must be in a good spot where people could see him and give him some money, right? Also, this place is quite far from the original body''s mansion.


    "System? Did I finish my mission?" Apollo asked with expectation. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No," The system voice entered his mind.


    "Why?" Apollo couldn''t help but frown.


    "It will be too crowded. Easily noticeable by the authorities,"


    "Ah¡­ I see," Apollo finally realized. Come to think of it, he hadn''t seen any beggars since he started walking on the streets. Where are they?


    He started walking again. So I have to find a place with fewer people, and the authorities won''t be able to find it or won''t care.


    An hour or so later, he saw a wall, standing at least a dozen meters in height. Compared to the buildings he saw earlier, in this place are rundown stores and houses.


    There are only a few that he considered to be in good condition.


    "Aha! System? What about this one?" Apollo asked, his breathing heavy. Walking for that long with these short legs is exhausting. He is standing in front of the corner of a restaurant. The spot doesn''t stink, and people won''t notice him much.


    "Mission Complete!" The translucent screen appeared in front of him.


    "Finally!" Apollo sighed in relief. He went towards the corner and sat down. His shaking legs finally had some rest.


    "System, now that I''ve completed my first mission, can you continue with the tutorial?"


    "You have received 10 Alm Points. You can use them to buy items in the store to become stronger."


    He brought up his status screen and noticed that his Alm Points had become ten.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 10.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: None.


    Attributes: None."


    Apollo nodded in excitement. "So how do I bring up the store?"


    "Just say ''store'' or think about it."


    "I see," Apollo tried it, and another screen appeared in front of him.


    He could see all kinds of unfamiliar items. He picked a flower with red flaming petals, and the flower enlarged with descriptions underneath.


    "Blood Phoenix Alstro.


    Once eaten, the Cultivator will undergo a tremendous change. Flames will rise, and feathers will fall. Evaporating the whole sea will be child''s play.


    Price: 100,000 Alm Points."


    That many?! At first, he felt excited reading the description, but when he looked at the price, he couldn''t help but be shocked.


    "W-wait¡­ Is there another way to get Alm Points?" Apollo asked, feeling foolish.


    "To receive alms," the system replied.


    "Hehe, I see," Apollo scratched his cheek.


    He played with the store for a while.


    Ice Dragon Meat.


    Ten-tailed Serpent Heart.


    Universe Fist Scroll.


    He read their descriptions with shining eyes.


    But all of them were too expensive! Fortunately, he found out that the food didn''t cost a lot. 1 Alm point was enough to feed him for a day.


    "There''s also a mobile phone," Apollo muttered. He kept scrolling and came to a realization that this store had all the items he could think of. And as long as he had Alm Points, then he could buy anything!


    Suddenly, a strong whistling sound reverberated in the air. He looked up and noticed a figure zooming past in the sky.


    Then another figure followed.


    And another.


    And another.


    He saw at least ten individuals flying through the air, chasing someone.


    "That guy is the one who caused the destruction of Leone," Apollo thought. "But that Leone is not me. I''m different." He decided to forget about anything that was related to this body.


    Or so he thought.


    "If I want to fly, I have to get stronger. And to become stronger, I have to receive alms. That''s the only way to reach the top of this world," Apollo thought with determination.


    In his past life, he died even though he had everything. He doesn''t want that to happen again. He didn''t want to die; he wanted¡­ to live forever. It''s just his desire. Nothing grand, Apollo admitted it. Mediocre?


    He doesn''t care, as long as he can fulfill his desire, then nothing matters more.


    "System, is there anything here I can use to increase my current strength with only 10 Alm points?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes. I will sort it for you."


    The store selections changed.


    "Simple Breathing Technique.


    A breathing technique to enhance the body and mind.


    Price: 8 Alm points."


    Simple Breathing Technique? Even the explanation is simple. It''s better than nothing.


    Apollo bought it, and a scroll appeared in his hand.


    "How do I use this?"


    "Think about it," the system said.


    Apollo thought that he wanted to use the scroll, and the scroll turned into particles of light before it entered his forehead.


    Suddenly, new information entered his mind. The ways and techniques to inhale the qi flying in the air and then make it circulate his whole body¡ªso this is the Simple Breathing Technique.


    "Hmm, I should try it after sleeping. I''m too tired," Apollo yawned. He looked around and found nothing to use as bedding, so he just lay on the ground.


    "I shouldn''t get involved with Leone. It will ruin my plan to be on top," Apollo muttered.


    Time to sleep!


    He was about to close his eyes when suddenly¡­


    "Issuing a mission¡­"


    "Mission: Revenge for your family.


    Part 1: Kill the hooded man who threw you in the alley.


    Time Limit: One month.


    Reward: 100 Alm Points.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation."


    "Oh f*ck."

 Chapter 7 - 7: Cultivation Stage(Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System, Chapter 3.


    The sound of birds chirping echoed in the sky, their small shadows dancing on the ground before flying off into the distance.


    With the sun already halfway to its highest peak, the streets were bustling with activity. Wooden tables and chairs were set up, adorned with fruits, fish, and meats. Vendors, minding their own business, sat behind their stalls, awaiting customers. However, this part of the city was not the most crowded, so they did not expect all their goods to sell.


    "Argh¡­" Someone grunted, their body still numb from the previous night''s endeavors.


    Apollo woke up with a start, his small body sitting upright as he glanced around to the sound of people walking.


    "What time is it?" Apollo muttered, scratching his eyes with the back of his hand.


    After composing himself, he looked up and concluded it must be past 9 in the morning.


    "I''m so tired that I fell asleep without realizing," Apollo smiled bitterly.


    Recalling the new mission gave him a headache. He had already decided to forget everything related to this body, but the system had issued him a mission to avenge his family.


    "Come on, I just wanted to live as a beggar! Besides, I''m technically still seven years old. Killing someone at this young age? This system is pretty heartless," Apollo thought to himself.


    "Well, it''s not like I hadn''t done it in my past life¡­"


    Suddenly, he felt his stomach grumbling.


    Thinking about food, he summoned the store interface and chose a simple bread and water, costing him 0.2 Alm points.


    After eating, he observed the people walking the streets, noting their simpler attire compared to those near his family''s mansion.


    "This area must be for the middle to lower-class people," Apollo muttered.


    "I still don''t have any clue about this city and its culture," he thought.


    Should he scout the area? Gather some information before attempting the Simple Breathing Technique?


    Apollo stood up and approached the nearest vendor selling bread.


    "Hello!" Apollo greeted with a smile.


    The vendor, with a plump body, looked up and lost interest when he saw it was just a beggar boy. "Go away, kid."


    "I just want to ask a question," Apollo persisted.


    Sighing, the vendor leaned on his chair. He had black hair and a rounded face. "So what is it? If it''s a meaningless question, just go away."


    "How is the city?" Apollo asked, his eyes burning with curiosity.


    "The hell? Is that your question?" The vendor was surprised, studying the boy''s eyes before realizing something.


    "Is this a scheme to steal my bread? Distract me with that kind of question while your hands move to steal my goods?" he thought suspiciously.


    "Just go, kid," the vendor waved dismissively.


    "Please?" Apollo pleaded.


    "Go away," the vendor repeated with a humph.


    "Please???? You are handsome! I want to be like you! You can probably get all the girls, right?" Apollo said, his hands clasping in front of him, adding a hint of flattery to his tone.


    "Go¡ªehem!" The vendor coughed, his face flushing from the unexpected praise. "Okay, kid. Let me tell you this."


    Haha! Really, a simple compliment like that made you cave in? Apollo thought, while outside, he nodded his head and perked up his ears.


    "I don''t know why you''re asking this strange question. Anyway, you know what happened last night? The Leone family has been eradicated by a great cultivator¡ª" The vendor was about to raise his voice, but fortunately, he managed to lower it in the end.


    "The city is in turmoil because that is a great family. The Lord is very upset that such a thing happened inside the city," the vendor sighed.


    Apollo was about to ask another question when he heard something crashing. He turned back and saw that across the street, a stall full of vegetables and fruits was on the ground. A young man was standing with his foot on the vendor''s head.


    "I''m a f*cking cultivator! I don''t have to pay!" The young man was wearing a robe with an insignia of a sword on its left chest. He kept stomping his foot on the vendor''s head while his face was grinning maliciously.


    "And that¡­" The big-bellied vendor lowered his voice even more. "This city is full of these Cultivators who only know how to bully the weak. He''s still a student, just imagine what he will become when he graduates."


    Apollo squinted his eyes. "They are strong, but what is someone like him doing here?"


    "Didn''t I say he''s just a student? He is probably just at the foundation stage and most likely from a common family. You know what it means to be common? It means you are poor," the vendor explained.


    "I see," Apollo nodded before becoming curious. "Foundation stage, what is that?"


    The vendor looked at the kid with a frown. "You don''t even know that?"


    Suddenly, he remembered something. He took out a book from under the table and handed it to Apollo.


    "Here, you can have this."


    "What is this?" Apollo held the simple book in front of his eyes.


    "It''s just a simple book about cultivation. Oh, it also has a map," the vendor said. "You can go now. We''ve already taken too much time."


    "Alright!" Apollo was about to leave for another place when he stopped and looked at the vendor. "Can you tell me your name?"


    "My name? You can just call me Big Chub! And don''t even think about stealing my bread!" Big Chub waved his hand.


    "I see, thank you!" Then Apollo ran with his small legs.


    Big Chub watched the kid''s back, feeling excitement surge within him. Blue eyes! That kid has blue eyes! Only nobles have blue eyes! And he even asked for my name!


    Haha, to think that I will meet a playful noble who decided to dress like a beggar.


    Fortunately, I managed to play it off like I don''t know anything, or else¡­ Is that kid going to reward me for being good to him? Grinning from ear to ear, he happened to look at the young man still beating up the vendor. They locked eyes, and Big Chub immediately bowed his head in apology. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was close¡­ Wait, why is some of my bread missing?

 Chapter 8 - 8: Cultivation Stage(Part-2)

    Munch!


    Apollo took a bite of brown bread, his mouth soon full, making him appear like a chipmunk.


    After finishing his food, he looked around and decided to ask an old lady sitting in front of her house. He just wanted to get a basic understanding of the city and perhaps about this world. The answer he got from the first vendor wasn''t enough.


    "Hello, old lady!" Apollo greeted enthusiastically.


    At first, the old lady smiled while observing the people around. But when a boy covered in dirt appeared in front of her and even dared to call her an ''Old lady,'' her smile disappeared, replaced with a frown.


    She looked coldly at the boy.


    "Go away!"


    "Eh? I''m just here to ask¡ª"


    "I said, go away!" The old lady took a cane and threatened to hit Apollo with it.


    Run!


    Apollo ran, his little feet moving at full speed.


    After a while, he breathed heavily. "I guess not everyone is friendly."


    Shaking his head, he continued to look for someone to ask questions. Some of them answered him, while others just shooed him away. In the end, when it was almost noon, Apollo returned to his beggar spot and sat down.


    He also noticed that the restaurant beside him was already full of people. I thought this place wouldn''t have many people, but I was wrong.


    It''s a good thing.


    Then he recalled all the answers he got from the people kind enough to entertain him.


    So this city is called Klown City. And the area where he''s at is on the northwest side of the city where most common families stay. That''s why he could see walls standing strong in the distance. Although Apollo doesn''t know the reason for this, he has a clue.


    He also noticed some of the student cultivators walking around the street. According to the people he talked to, this city has a school for young men to become cultivators.


    When mentioning these cultivators, they seemed repulsed just by the mention of them.


    And remembering that cultivator who was beating up a vendor even though it was his own wrongdoing, Apollo could probably understand why.


    Power can make someone arrogant.


    "In the end, I still don''t know much about cultivation," Apollo sighed. Then he took out the book Big Chub gave him. "Cultivation stages? Let''s see."


    On the cover page were simple words: "Cultivation Basics." The author was whoever the F that is. This is most likely a common book, so Apollo didn''t bother with who wrote this. He turned to page one.


    "Cultivation Stages:


    Foundation Building.


    Qi Condensation.


    Core Creation.


    Soul Manifestation.


    Realm Fabrication.


    King Terra.


    Absolute One."


    Wow! That many? Apollo continued to read.


    Seven cultivation stages, and the further you go, the stronger you are. The author also stated that if one tried to advance to the next stage and failed, one could be crippled for life or even die.


    So it''s dangerous. Apollo turned to the second page. It''s about the basic details of the Foundation Building.


    "Foundation Building:


    Train one''s body to its peak to reach full potential. Once achieved, the Cultivator can punch a hole in a rock¡­"


    Then he turned to the next page.


    "Qi Condensation:


    Absorb Qi in the air to circulate the whole body. This will revitalize the organs and the mind. Once achieved, the Cultivator doesn''t have to worry about stamina¡­"


    "Core Creation¡­"


    "Soul Manifestation¡­"


    "Realm Fabrication¡­"


    "King Terra¡­"


    He continued to read the book until he was on the last stage.


    "Absolute one:


    No one knows if it''s even real or not. No records have been written about it, only the name of this last cultivation stage."


    "The more mysterious it is, the more I want to be there," Apollo muttered with a smile. Determination flashed in his eyes as he closed the book.


    Unfortunately, the book only tells the basics of each stage. It didn''t even tell me how to advance to the next stage. But who am I to judge? I still haven''t even begun my cultivation journey, Apollo thought.


    Status Screen.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 1.8 Alm Points.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: None.


    Attributes: None."


    Wait a minute¡­ mine says about Spirit Cultivation and Physique Cultivation but the book didn''t mention this one. Apollo became confused. Well, it could be that they are the same? He will only know once he becomes a cultivator.


    I still don''t know what these Attributes are.


    He made the interface vanish before taking a deep breath. Now that he knew the basic state of the city and cultivation, the Simple Breathing Technique came to mind.


    Come to think of it, it is very similar to the method of Qi Condensation cultivators.


    "System,"


    "Yes, Host?"


    "Will this Simple Breathing Technique allow me to reach the Foundation Building stage?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes."


    "How¨C" Apollo didn''t finish his words as he remembered the description for this technique. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What most common Qi condensation cultivators do is revitalize their whole body, but the Simple Breathing Technique can enhance the body and the mind. They both use Qi to do their technique, but the way they use it is very different.


    I see, then he noticed that his Alm points are at 1.8. It''s low. If I really want to become strong, I need to have enough to buy good techniques in the store. Thinking about this, he walked a few steps forward and sat back down. He became more noticeable because of this.


    His previous spot made it hard for the people to see him.


    He then postured his hands face up, a basic gesture to ask for money.


    The breathing technique didn''t require him to do it in a position, so he chose this. While cultivating, he could also ask for alms. It''s basically hitting two birds with one stone.


    Taking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes and exhaled. His body relaxed, and all his pores opened up.


    He then followed the method in the Simple Breathing Technique.


    The sound of footsteps and people talking faded into the background. Even his own breathing disappeared. There''s only one thing that he could hear, it''s his thoughts.


    Absorb the Qi.


    But where is it?


    Suddenly, specks of light appeared around him. They flickered like fireflies and they also moved. Unknown and mysterious.


    He could see it even with his eyes closed. Apollo felt overwhelmed and at the same time, blessed.


    Let it inside¡­


    The Qi around started moving towards him. They entered his body through his pores.


    Like a bolt of lightning, Apollo felt satisfaction.


    Then he guided the Qi in a specific pattern according to the technique.


    This feeling¡­

 Chapter 9 - 9: Got Too Excited(Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System, Chapter 4.


    "Are we there yet?" A woman''s voice echoed inside a chariot. The chariot was silver in color with an insignia of a black serpent on its sides. There were two white horses pulling it, and the Charioteer was wearing simple robes.


    "Not yet, Ma''am Bel," the Charioteer said.


    "Okay." Bel had brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a uniform of black and white with the same serpent insignia on her chest. A broadsword covered in white bandages sat on her lap. She glanced outside and noticed they were leaving the middle area of the city.


    "Why did she choose to buy that place?" Bel couldn''t help but mutter in confusion. She was thinking about her friend who bought a restaurant in the northwest side of Klown. That friend of hers also came from a great family just like her; she could have just bought a restaurant in a prime location.


    "Probably because she finds it a good area for her business?" the Charioteer commented. There was a partition between them with a small window.


    "That could be the reason," Bel nodded. "Sir June, how many minutes more before we arrive? I still need to train."


    "In about 5 minutes," June said, his hair covered by his robe was blown for a bit, revealing his black hair.


    "I see."


    ...


    Apollo still had his hands above his forehead, waiting for kind individuals to give him some money. He was kneeling in this position, and the sun''s burning gaze didn''t make him change his position.


    "It''s hot," he thought, not because of the sun, but because of the particles around him entering his whole body through his pores.


    Even though he felt hot, he still felt comfortable. The Qi circulated inside him in a pattern according to the Simple Breathing Technique. His chest and mouth also moved to take in more Qi.


    He could feel that his insides were getting stronger. Even his mind was being cleared every time the Qi passed through it.


    A cracking sound that could only be heard by him echoed in his ears. His bones were slowly being broken before reconstructing on their own. The reconstructed bone was much stronger than before.


    Apollo couldn''t track time in this state. He continued to take in Qi and control it according to the instructions in his head.


    Although this street was not the most crowded in the city, it still had a particular amount of people. They came here to buy some things, to eat, or to just sightsee.


    A man wearing a somewhat expensive suit was walking with his cane. He had just come out from the restaurant beside the beggar.


    "That''s good," the man said while patting his belly. Now that he had his fill, he wanted to go to another place to entertain himself. He took a step forward, but from the corner of his eye, he noticed a beggar sitting on the corner of the restaurant. Disgust appeared on his face. Because he wanted to find some fun, he decided to walk towards the boy. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a smirk that told he was going to do something bad, he stood in front of Apollo, his shadow casting over the boy.


    "Hehe, what is a beggar boy doing here? You should¨C" The man couldn''t finish his words as he felt something different.


    The man felt calm for an unknown reason. The muscle pain that he got as he became older was being alleviated. What is happening? Confused, the man looked around while scratching his head.


    He continued standing there, not knowing what was happening. In the end, his thoughts about bullying Apollo disappeared. With a calm mind and a great feeling, he smiled.


    "You are lucky, kid," the man reached out from his pocket and put one silver on the boy''s hand. Then he started walking off into the distance. Unbeknownst to him, the Qi passed through his body, making him feel rejuvenated. This cleared his mind and brought him a great feeling.


    This effect comes from the Simple Breathing Technique that Apollo was currently doing. If the outsider could already feel this level of outcome, Apollo''s current sensation was on a different planet.


    This is great! If I continue like this, will I reach the Foundation Building? Apollo thought with excitement.


    Although he still doesn''t have a clue as to how long he has to do this, he knew it wouldn''t be far before he became a real cultivator.


    Suddenly, the sound of his stomach grumbling echoed in his ears. This made him stop what he was doing and opened his eyes.


    But the moment his eyes opened, from the corner of his eye, he saw a notification.


    "You received 1 silver coin. Converting¡­"


    "You received 10 Alm points!"


    "Eh? Did my strategy work?" Apollo''s eyes lit up. He noticed that a silver coin was in his hands.


    Not only could he cultivate using his Simple Breathing Technique, but he could also earn Alm points at the same time.


    "I should treat myself with good food then!" Apollo brought up the store and searched for earth''s food.


    "Burger, chicken, and a soft drink¡­" Apollo picked three meals costing him 0.6 Alm points. The food mysteriously materialized in front of him and he started digging in.


    After eating his fill, he burped and smiled in satisfaction. He decided to walk back to the corner where people wouldn''t notice him much. "I definitely feel stronger than before after using that Simple Breathing Technique. Should I test my strength?" Apollo raised his fist and clenched it.


    He already had a basic understanding of Cultivators. They are physically strong and can fly.


    Thinking about the flying individuals made him more determined.


    He stared in front of the wall and an idea came to mind. He raised both hands in front of him like a boxer. His eyes were sharp and his body was heavily steady. He had trained in various martial arts in his previous life to protect himself so his form could be said to be perfect.


    "Let''s see if I can break this wall!" Apollo muttered and with a shout, he pulled his hand back and like a catapult, he punched towards the wall! Bang!


    "Argh! Motherf*cker!" Apollo cried out in pain. He fell on his knees while holding his right hand with his left. His fingers were broken and his wrist was twisted to the side. Tears and snot fell to the ground. Regret, that''s all he could think about.


    "I should have asked the system!"


    "I''m a d*mbss!" Apollo cursed again, unable to handle the pain. "Store!"


    The store interface appeared in front of him.


    "System! Show me an item that can heal my hand, make sure it''s cheap!"


    "Okay, Host!" The System responded and the store list started sorting itself.


    Apollo tried his best to read while enduring the intense pain.


    "Health Potion,


    A potion that can heal common wounds.


    Price: 5 Alm Points."


    "Buy!"


    Suddenly, a glass bottle appeared in front of him and Apollo immediately opened the potion and drank it in one gulp.


    "Sh*t! Sh*t!" Apollo could only curse at the moment. He wiped his mouth as the glass bottle turned into particles of light.


    After a while, the pain coming from his hand disappeared. Then his wound started healing at a fast rate. Seeing this, Apollo sighed in relief. He leaned on the wall while waiting for his hand to fully heal.


    "I became too excited about becoming stronger," Apollo muttered bitterly. There''s no way I could be stronger that easily, right? He knew that a good process is necessary to achieve a great effect.

 Chapter 10 - 10: Got Too Excited(Part-2)

    But I''m definitely stronger than before, Apollo could feel that he has at least twice the strength of a 7-year-old. He only did the Simple Breathing Technique for an hour or two, and the effect is already so great.


    And that potion... Apollo observed his right hand. It''s like he never got injured from his dumb decision.


    "Hey System,"


    "Yes, Host?"


    "You said I will be able to reach the Foundation Building stage with this technique, how long will it take?"


    "Two weeks if the Host cultivates it 8 hours a day," The System answered.


    "Two weeks? So reaching that stage is that easy?" Apollo muttered in surprise. If the Cultivators heard his words, they would have rushed at him and beat him up for saying those words.


    "Time to get back to work then!" Apollo went back to his previous spot and raised his hands above his forehead.


    Hopefully, another good Samaritan will give him money. Silver gives him 10 Alm points, so probably a bronze coin will give him 1 Alm point and a gold coin will give him 100 Alm points.


    He also wanted to reach that stage as soon as possible because of the mission the System issued him. He had to find that guy who threw him in the alley within a month and then kill him.


    Although he doesn''t have any idea as to what stage that guy is, at least reaching the Foundation Building stage will boost his confidence.


    Cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique is the only thing he could do at the moment besides collecting Alm points.


    Although the introduction of the Breathing Technique is simple, he felt like it would be good for his foundation. These thoughts come from his many years in business. Rome was not built in a day, right? Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    "We''re here, Ma''am Bel," June''s voice echoed outside the silver chariot.


    "Okay," Bel responded. The door opened, and she went out, then she put the bandage-covered broadsword behind her back.


    She looked up and read the signboard.


    "Filly Restaurant¡­ what a lame name," Bel shook her head with a smile.


    She started walking towards the entrance when she noticed June still standing and seemed to be looking at something.


    "Hey, what are you looking at?" She asked while turning to the direction he''s glancing. She saw a young beggar on the side of the restaurant with his hands above his forehead.


    "Ignore him, let''s go!"


    "Yes, Ma''am," June took one more glance before he followed behind her. The beggar boy seemed kinda off. Strange, where do I get this feeling?


    They entered the restaurant and were greeted with a luxurious interior. There''s already diners eating with a smile on their faces.


    "Haha, really, turning this rundown place into something like this," Bel smiled. Outside, one might think it''s just a simple restaurant, but once they enter inside, they will be greeted with this high-class scene.


    A server went forward and bowed towards her. "Miss Bel, our lady is waiting for you. Please follow me."


    "Okay,"


    They followed the server, who led them to the second floor. After walking for a while, the server stopped at a door and knocked a couple of times until the sound of a woman echoed from behind it.


    "What is it?"


    "Miss Bel from the Helflick Family is here," the server replied.


    "I see, you can go now." The woman''s voice instructed, and the server bowed to the two guests before departing.


    The door opened, revealing a woman wearing the same uniform as Bel''s: a black and white suit with a robe on top, adorned with the same serpent insignia on her chest. Her hair was reddish-brown, and her eyes resembled the ocean. A rounded glass rested on top of her nose, adding a sense of authority to her demeanor.


    "You came. Come inside," the woman said, moving aside to let them in.


    "Thanks, Filly," Bel said, glancing around the room.


    Filly nodded towards June, and the two women took a seat.


    "So, what brings you here?" Filly went straight to the point.


    "Straight as ever," Bel smiled. "Leone disappeared overnight, and our family wanted to take part in, you know... slicing its remaining legs."


    "I figured," Filly laughed. "You wanted to take part in it?"


    "Yes," Bel confirmed. "I heard they still have good fighters remaining to protect their business. I wanted to fight them to improve my experience."


    "I''m not surprised. You''re a battle maniac," Filly chuckled.


    "Haha, I''m not going to deny it. So, do you want to join?" Bel asked.


    "Nah, I''m good here," Filly waved her hand. "Besides, it won''t be long before this area develops."


    "Oh? Is that the reason you bought this place? I might say I really like the interior," Bel praised.


    "Yes, and thanks."


    They conversed for a while before Bel stood up. "I need to go back to the sect. Thanks for the chat."


    "Feel free to come back," Filly smiled, standing up and hugging her friend.


    "Oh, by the way, there''s a beggar boy sitting beside your restaurant. I''m just reminding you," Bel mentioned as she recalled the boy.


    Filly frowned upon hearing this. "Thanks for telling me."


    "Alright, see you!"


    After the two left, Filly remained standing there. "A beggar near my restaurant? That''s not good."


    She had chosen to buy this building in this area because of its future development. If she wanted to build a great reputation for her restaurant, she had to ensure that diners had a pleasant experience. If there was someone near her restaurant who was going to ruin people''s appetites before they even entered, it would definitely not be good for business.


    "I have to make him go away," Filly muttered, then called one of her servants.


    A servant knocked on the door, and Filly let him in. "There''s a beggar boy near the restaurant. Do whatever you can to make him go away."


    The servant''s eyes lit up. It''s time to show my skills!


    "Yes, Ma''am!" The servant bowed before leaving with big strides.


    Hehe, boy, don''t blame me. I''m only doing my job, the servant thought, smiling maliciously.

 Chapter 11 - 11: Being Sent Away(Part-1)

    Beggar Cultivation System Chapter 5.


    June and Bel emerged from the front door of Filly''s Restaurant, then proceeded to walk towards their ride.


    Along the way, they both glanced at the corner of the restaurant where the young beggar was still on his knees with his hands above his forehead.


    "Quite persistent," Bel muttered before shaking her head. "But I think this will be the last time he''ll be here."


    June didn''t answer, though his eyes couldn''t help but turn serious. He looked up at the sun before glancing back at Apollo.


    The heat from the sun didn''t bother him, and his posture remained steady¡­ this boy is not only persistent but also has the willpower to live, June thought.


    Soon, they entered the chariot and went on their way.


    ¡­ S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After doing the Simple Breathing Technique for a while longer, Apollo heard his stomach rumbling again.


    Without a choice, he stopped what he was doing with a sigh.


    So doing that technique has its downside too. Apollo still didn''t have much information about Cultivation, so he was still unaware of some things.


    He brought up his hand in front of him and clenched it. Doing the Simple Breathing Technique for almost an hour raised his strength again.


    Of course, he wouldn''t be so dumb again to punch a wall to test his strength, right?


    Apollo knew better than to repeat his mistakes. But if he were to compare his strength to the first time he tried the technique, he felt like he was twice as strong.


    Anyway, food comes first. Fortunately, as long as he has Alm points, he can buy anything.


    "But buying cheap items from stores that I could also get from the city is just a waste of Alm points," Apollo muttered.


    The value of Alm Points is more precious than gold. Just thinking about the effects of the Simple Breathing Technique and the Health potion proves its worth. Apollo started regretting spending his Alm points on food.


    "I have to be more frugal," Apollo nodded to himself. "Status screen."


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 6.2


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: None.


    Attributes: None."


    Only his Alm Points changed, but his Cultivation states are still the same.


    "Hey System, I''ve already made some progress on the breathing technique. Why have Spirit Cultivation and Physique Cultivation not changed?" Apollo asked.


    "Host, your strength is still within the realms of normal humans. At the moment, it wouldn''t reflect on your status screen," the System answered.


    "I see¡­ So I really have to reach the foundation building to see some changes," Apollo nodded.


    Now that he decided not to use his Alm points to buy food, he reached into his pocket and took out the silver coin the ''good Samaritan'' gave him. "I wonder how much bread I could buy with this."


    Apollo still doesn''t have an idea of the value of coins here.


    Standing up, he was about to go find Big Chub when a shadow cast over him.


    "Hehe, kid, you are in for bad luck." A man wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and black pants stood in front of Apollo. His face was average, ugly in fact.


    "Eh?" Apollo looked up and saw the malicious smile adorning the man''s face. Glancing at the man''s attire and the smell of food emanating from him, Apollo turned to the entrance and saw the glass door on its way to close.


    "Are you working in this restaurant, Mister?" Apollo asked with his childish voice.


    "So what if I am?" The man smirked. "A beggar shouldn''t ask too many questions. Anyway, why don''t you go away and never come back here. You are going to ruin our customers'' appetite if they see a beggar near our restaurant."


    Apollo immediately realized what was happening. This is common in his previous world. High-end restaurants wanted to protect their image, so of course they wouldn''t let a beggar ruin it. They would send one of their workers to make the beggar go away or call the authorities.


    And this is happening to him right now.


    "I see," Apollo put a hand under his chin. His posture, along with a frown and serious eyes, made him appear like an adult.


    Seeing this, the worker couldn''t help but get irritated.


    "Hey kid, haven''t you heard what I said? Get the heck out!" The man said angrily.


    Apollo didn''t bother answering him; instead, he asked the system, "System? What will happen if I abandon my beggar spot?"


    "Host, if you abandon your beggar spot, this System won''t have a choice but to send a Lightning Tribulation in your direction," the System answered emotionlessly.


    Apollo is starting to get more curious about this Lightning Tribulation thing. "What is Lightning Tribulation? Care to tell me?"


    "I can send you a vision if you really want to know what Lightning Tribulation is. Do you want to accept the vision?" The System asked.


    "Vision? Sure."


    Suddenly, the sound of thunder echoed in his ears and goosebumps rose over him. Then his eyes started seeing intense lightning, crashing into the ground and pulverizing it. Lightning upon lightning, and every time it hits the ground, his body will shiver.


    The man in front of him, on the other hand, started to get annoyed.


    This beggar is ignoring me!


    "You really left me with no choice!" The man raised his hand and held Apollo''s robe.


    Apollo, who''s still watching the destruction of the lightning tribulation, was woken up from the sudden yank.


    His eyes returned to normal and looked directly at the worker''s face.


    This kid has blue eyes¡­ the servant shook his head as he couldn''t recall what was special with blue eyes.


    "This is what you get for not listening to me," The servant started pulling Apollo away.


    "What if I don''t want to?" Apollo suddenly said. In his mind, he kept replaying the vision that he had seen: intense lightning striking down the ground and pulverizing it.


    "If that thing lands on me¡­ then it is bye-bye for being alive again. Will he get a second chance after he dies for the second time? Apollo is not sure. He hasn''t even reached the apex of this world yet.


    "Haha! You will! Trust me," The man smirked. He uses his strength and easily pulls the beggar boy towards his intended destination. This caused the passerby to glance at them but they didn''t dare interfere. It''s not their business after all.


    Apollo just let the man pull him away though his eyes are already cold. He still hasn''t tested his strength on someone, so this will be a good time.


    There''s a nearby alley, and the man threw Apollo inside.


    Expecting the boy to tumble, the servant smirked, waiting for the scene. But Apollo spun in the air and landed on his feet.


    This caused the man to be surprised.


    "Cheap trick," The man said before walking towards the boy.


    "What are you going to do? Beat up a defenseless boy like me?" Apollo asked with a smile.


    "A beggar deserves it. They keep dirtying this beautiful city," The servant said with disgust on his face.


    The man decided to resort to violence; in this way, the job will be done, and he will also have some fun.


    "I guess you really do want to prove yourself to your boss," Apollo concluded this much.


    The man is surprised that he has been seen through.


    "Hmph! I will break your bones so you won''t dare loiter in our restaurant anymore!" The servant shouted before rushing towards Apollo!

 Chapter 12 - 12: Being Sent Away(Part-2)

    Apollo''s eyes turned cold. This guy is serious.


    He went into his boxing stance and waited for the opponent to get nearby. After doing the Simple Breathing Technique for the second time, Apollo felt like he was in his peak body from his previous life. Besides business, he also spent a considerable amount of time learning various martial arts. With his talent, he mastered most of them.


    Although armed with an arsenal of modern martial arts, his favorite is still boxing.


    "Take this!" The servant punched towards Apollo.


    But would Apollo let himself be a punching bag? He dodged to the side with a sidestep, narrowly avoiding the punch.


    "Eh?" The servant''s eyes widened. This kid dodged my attack? Then he felt a threat coming at his face, prompting him to jump back.


    Apollo landed on the ground after a failed kick in the air. After dodging to the side, he immediately executed a jump spinning hook, a taekwondo technique. But his opponent was better than he thought.


    He could feel that his body was at its peak, just like from his previous life, but this seemingly normal person in front of him could still dodge him.


    Is it because I''m still a child? Apollo thought.


    "You got lucky," said the servant. "But this time, I will make sure you learn your lesson!"


    The man ran towards the beggar boy again, his speed faster than before.


    Apollo looked at the man in surprise. His speed!


    Without a choice, he crossed his arms in front of him to block the punch. The attack caused the beggar boy to tumble on the ground.


    Seeing this, the servant from Filly''s Restaurant couldn''t help but smile. "Hehe, that''s what you get."


    Although curious about how the boy could dodge his first punch, he attributed it to just some luck.


    "You¡­ are strong," Apollo stood up while patting his clothes. He recalled the explosive speed the servant displayed and couldn''t help but think it''s beyond human.


    Wait¡­


    Apollo looked at the man''s eyes with shock. "Are you¡­ a cultivator?"


    When the servant heard this question, he puffed up his chest and raised his chin. "You are a smart beggar. And yes, you are right. I''m a Cultivator, although I''m still a half-step away from reaching the Foundation Building, I''m definitely a Cultivator!"


    Apollo frowned when he heard this. Only a half step and this guy is already so strong? He wouldn''t be surprised if this servant could defeat five strong fighters in his previous life without breaking a sweat.


    He could only fight three at best! And he wouldn''t be able to defeat them without suffering from injuries.


    Only now did Apollo realize how strong cultivators could be. What would happen if he were facing a real Foundation Building Cultivator instead of this half step?


    It would be total annihilation!


    "What? Scared? Too late, kid! You already annoyed me!" The servant said with a malicious smile. In the first place, he felt that this is an easy job, so he is just having fun right now.


    Who would care about a beggar? They are just scum in society. Disposable humans that they could treat however they like. This is the man''s belief.


    "Too late? Do bullies always like to talk big?" Apollo shook his head.


    Why do I have to worry about his strength? If I want to reach the top of this world, I have to be brave, Apollo thought while clenching his fist.


    "You!" The servant pointed a finger at the boy before assuming his battle stance. "Let this be a lesson that you should know your place!"


    The man attacked Apollo again, and the boy watched the movement of his opponent intensely.


    Now! Apollo dodged to the side and the punch missed him, but having expected this, the servant followed up with another punch.


    This guy¡­ Apollo tilted his body, and the attack passed him.


    The servant kept punching and kicking him with speed that would leave most fighters in his previous world baffled, but there is one thing that they will agree on.


    This man doesn''t know how to fight!


    Realizing this, Apollo couldn''t help but smile. The servant''s movements are so wide and predictable that after all this time, he has not been hit.


    Damn it! How can this beggar dodge my attacks?! The servant thought frustratedly. He never thought that making a beggar go away would be such a pain in the ass.


    Did I underestimate this boy¡­ No! I''m a half-step Cultivator! There''s no way a beggar could also be a Cultivator!


    The servant''s attacks became more erratic. He just wanted to punch the face of this smiling boy. But a few moments later, a kick managed to land on his stomach, making him take a couple of steps back.


    Coughing sounds echoed in the damp alley followed by a childish chuckle.


    "You know, speed is nothing when it is used wrong," Apollo walked towards the servant.


    "Fuck you! I was just careless!" The servant ran towards the boy with his fist raised.


    "Sure," Apollo could only shrug. Fists and kicks rained on him, but the movements were chaotic and disorganized. It''s like someone is just spamming the buttons of a controller, trying to defeat the opponent as fast as possible.


    "Ahhhhhh!" The servant shouted with reddened eyes.


    Why?! Why can''t I hit this beggar?! Fuckkkkkk!


    Suddenly, a punch landed on the servant''s face. But it was not over yet.


    Apollo jumped and sent a knee attack to the man''s stomach. The servant fell on his knees while clutching his face and stomach at the same time.


    He couldn''t believe what was happening. The supposedly easy task is making him kneel. A humiliation to him, who considered himself above ordinary people because of his half-step cultivation.


    And to kneel in front of a beggar? If his colleagues found out about it, they would for sure make fun of him. And when Miss Filly finds out about his defeat, she will definitely fire him from working for her!


    "Argh! I will kill you!" The servant''s eyes turned red with killing intent.


    "No, I won''t let you," Apollo dashed and sent a kick with all his strength. Before the servant could stand up, the attack landed on his head, sending him tumbling to the ground and hitting the nearby trash.


    Dizzy and in pain, the man tried to stand up, but Apollo was one step ahead.


    He ran towards the servant and delivered a flying knee, a common Muay Thai technique.


    The attack landed on the man''s forehead, blood erupted, and the servant fell to the ground with his eyes white and mouth foaming.


    "Woah! What an intense fight. I never had this thrill since that illness took over," Apollo referred to the time in his previous life when he caught the disease that made his life miserable. He had to use all kinds of advanced equipment just for it to go away, though it still managed to find its way back.


    Shaking his head to get rid of the sentiments, he glanced down at the servant below. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Will this bring me trouble?" Apollo frowned. "That restaurant definitely doesn''t want me there, but I''ve already registered my beggar spot beside it."


    Anyway, I just have to become strong fast so they wouldn''t be able to do anything to me, Apollo thought before walking away from the alley, leaving the Filly Servant foaming at the mouth. He admitted that he is not a good person and wouldn''t care if the man died.


    That guy provoked him and was the first one to attack him. It''s not wrong to protect himself, right?

 Chapter 13 - 13: Fountain(Part-1)

    "Tell me what happened," Filly asked, pushing her glasses up as she leaned back in her study chair.


    "So after I went out the front door, I immediately saw the beggar you''re talking about¡­" Filly''s servant had bandages wrapped around his forehead, and his face was swollen from being beaten.


    He recounted what he remembered before waking up in the damp alley. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "After I had a talk with him, he was still adamant, so I pulled him into an alley and punched him there,"


    The image of Apollo tumbling on the ground after his punch surfaced in his mind. He was certain he had beaten up the beggar boy; there was no way the kid could have done this to him¡­ the servant thought.


    "And that''s the last thing I remember," the servant said bitterly. When he woke up in the alley, his forehead was bleeding, and he felt pain all over his body. He immediately went to find the boss but was stopped by her bodyguards. After explaining, they called for other servants to help tend to his injuries before allowing him to see their boss, Filly.


    Filly frowned. Did another Cultivator try to save the beggar?


    "Is the beggar still there?" she asked.


    "I think he left. He probably learned his lesson not to loiter around our restaurant," the servant smiled proudly, though he grunted in pain the next second.


    Filly clapped her hands, and another servant entered the room.


    "Check if there''s a beggar boy near the restaurant," she ordered, and the servant immediately did as told. After a while, the servant returned and confirmed that the beggar was no longer there.


    "Good," Filly nodded before turning to the man with a bandage on his forehead. "Tell me your name."


    The servant''s eyes widened. Being asked his name by Miss Filly meant he was one step closer to his dream!


    "Ned! You can call me Ned, Miss Filly!" Bern shouted enthusiastically.


    "I see, Ned. Your rewards will be sent to your room. You can go now," Filly waved her hand, and Ned bowed.


    "Yes!" Ned left in a joyous mood, even ignoring the blood seeping from his bandage.


    Once the door closed, Filly couldn''t help but ponder who would dare provoke her by beating up one of her workers, especially if the job was specifically ordered by her. She also didn''t doubt the beggar; an insignificant figure didn''t deserve her attention.


    "Well, as long as the job is done," Filly decided to put the matter behind her. She prioritized her business above all else.


    ...


    Apollo is currently standing in line for a hot steamed bun. Most of the people around looked at him with disgust because of how dirty he is. But he wasn''t bothered by any of it. What he just wanted was to get his food and to go back to cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique.


    He waited for a few more minutes before his turn finally came. The seller also looked at him with condescending eyes, but they still sold him the food after Apollo handed over a silver coin.


    Apollo bought five buns and still had a change of five bronze coins. So he decided to find a store that sells water, but after walking the street for so long, he realized they don''t sell any beverages.


    In order for him to get a drink, he would have to find a restaurant and buy something to eat there.


    Looking at his remaining money, he knew it''s far from enough.


    Apollo was about to give up when he noticed a fountain not far from his position. He seated himself on the bench near it and started eating his buns there. When he finished his food and wanted to get a drink, he walked towards the fountain and scooped the water with his hands.


    "This is good!" Apollo couldn''t help but be surprised when he tasted the water. It has a refreshing feeling and coldness at the same time. He continued drinking, his upper body inside the fountain while his small feet dangled outside.


    The people walking looked in his direction with surprise. They pointed fingers at him and started talking among themselves.


    The spectacle caused them to stop and watch as this is not an everyday scene for them.


    Apollo continued to satisfy his thirst. This lasted for a while until the sound of people talking reached his ears. This made him raise his head and notice them watching him like he was in the zoo. "Eh?"


    Suddenly, a shout made him turn back.


    "What''s happening here?!"


    Two men wearing white and red uniforms with black pants and a scabbard on their side walked towards Apollo''s direction. When they saw what was happening, veins popped up on their foreheads, especially when they found out that a beggar was the culprit.


    "Beggar¡­ I thought we cleaned them up?" one of the men muttered.


    "Probably someone slipped out," his companion answered.


    Oh am I in trouble? Apollo thought while wiping his mouth with his sleeves. Looking at their angry faces, he knew he did something bad, although he''s not sure if it''s because he''s a beggar or because he drinks from this fountain.


    Or maybe both.


    "You dare drink from that precious fountain?!" the guard said, standing in front of the boy. "That''s a very precious fountain! And by drinking from it, you deserve to die!"


    "Eh?" Apollo is confused. Is that fountain really precious? How come¡­ that''s when he noticed that his body is rejuvenated. This made him frown, and he closed his eyes to feel the qi around him. Because his progress with the Simple Breathing Technique is still not far, he has to concentrate in order to see the qi.


    Oh, that''s why, Apollo realized his mistake. The fountain is not just any fountain; it seems to be an artifact that has the property to make the qi around it more concentrated. He looked around and noticed Student Cultivators watching the scene to pass their time; they don''t seem to care about the concentrated qi.


    Is it too low of quality for them? Thinking about this, it seems to be the case, but to the guards in front, the fountain is a precious item. I guess there are other fountains in the city that help raise the quality of the qi.


    The guards are tasked with protecting the property of the city and maintaining peace. Well, the meaning of ''peace'' depends on them. And to them, they have to get rid of this beggar that is the source of ''dirtiness'' in the city of Klown.


    Seeing them surrounding him, Apollo smiled bitterly.


    "You know what? I think I should go," Apollo waved his hand at them before he splashed the fountain towards their eyes.


    "Ah, f*ck!" The two guards wiped their faces, only to see the beggar already running into the distance.


    "Let''s go after him!"


    The guards became angry and humiliated that a beggar dared to splash them with water, and seeing the onlookers laughing at them, they unsheathed their swords and ran after the beggar boy.


    But the Student Cultivators shook their heads; they knew that the city guards and the beggar were just normal people, so with their superior ego, they think of this as just passing entertainment.


    What they worry about most is how they are going to increase their strength so the school will give them more resources.

 Chapter 14 - 14: Fountain(Part-2)

    When Apollo came back to his Beggar Spot, it was already nighttime.


    "Damnit, those two guards are very persistent," he said in frustration. He only managed to get away from them by leading them to a red-light district, where they were immediately distracted by the beautiful ladies on the street.


    He sat in the corner of the restaurant, where most people wouldn''t notice him unless they purposely looked in his direction.


    Thinking about it, he realized he was defenseless here. Just like what happened with the worker from the restaurant next door, he had been noticed and almost beaten up. If he didn''t know any martial arts or hadn''t cultivated the Simple Breathing Technique, he would have found himself black and blue.


    "Store," Apollo muttered, and the store interface appeared in front of him.


    "System, is there an item that can protect me here in my Beggar Spot?" Apollo asked. He had a Beggar Spot, but he still didn''t know its significance.


    "Yes," the System answered, and the store interface changed. A few seconds later, dozens of items he hadn''t seen before appeared. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo ignored the expensive ones and focused on the cheap items.


    "Shield of Beggar - A shield will cover the Beggar Spot, protecting the Beggar from being attacked from the outside. The limit is two times stronger than the Beggar''s cultivation. One-time use. Price: 100 Alm Points."


    "Dilemma of the Passerby - This can make passersby ignore the Beggar Spot unless they purposely seek out the Beggar. Price: 80 Alm Points."


    "Full Concealment - Once the Beggar enters his Beggar Spot, no one from the outside world will be able to see him. Effect: Permanent. Price: 200 Alm Points."


    "So there are items exclusively for my Beggar Spot?" Apollo muttered while browsing the contents. He couldn''t help but be amazed by the effects of each item. If he had these items at his disposal, he wouldn''t have to worry about being bothered. The only problem he had was begging for Alms.


    But glancing at his Alm Points...


    Apollo smiled bitterly. Shaking his head, he went out of his Beggar Spot and sat on the ground with his hands above his head. He started cultivating his Simple Breathing Technique.


    He decided to master this technique before buying another one. His experience in his previous life taught him to focus on one subject before jumping to another.


    Apollo wanted to apply this to his cultivation journey. Only when he reached the bottleneck of the Breathing Technique would he learn battle techniques, movement techniques, and so on. He already had in mind what he should buy next.


    Of course, he already knew the other techniques in the system store, and just thinking about them made him crave them, but his negligible amount of Alm Points dampened his excitement.


    In the end, what mattered more was the Alms that he would get.


    Sitting with his hands above his forehead, he breathed in and out according to the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique.


    His senses soon detected the qi around him, and it was absorbed through his mouth and nose. The sensation of his body being revitalized and getting stronger made Apollo smile. Although the process was slow, he still liked the feeling and didn''t feel any urgency.


    ...


    A thin man was whistling a tune he had heard from the city orchestra, his arms wrapped around two young ladies. They were laughing merrily, their faces flushed a deep shade of red.


    "Where are we going now?" one of the young ladies asked, her finger tracing circles on the man''s chest.


    "Hehe, after all that fun, we should get something to eat," the thin man said, his hands squeezing their bottoms.


    A yelping sound escaped from them, though deep inside they were disgusted by this man who couldn''t even last a few minutes.


    "Oh yeah, there''s a new restaurant that just opened up a few days ago. We should check it out," one of the girls suggested.


    "Aye aye, my lady!"


    They walked for a while before they saw the sign for Filly Restaurant. From the outside, it looked like a simple establishment.


    "What''s so special about this?" the thin man asked with a frown.


    "The owner of this restaurant is Filly from the north side of the city," one of the ladies said, admiration evident in her voice.


    "Filly? That woman?" The thin man recalled the image of Filly Mideous, and his eyes turned red with lust.


    The Mideous Family is well-known in the city, on par with the Leone family, who had just been destroyed. They have various businesses but are more invested in cultivation. Filly is the only young woman in their family who insisted on focusing on business. There''s even a rumor that she had a big fight with the family''s patriarch just to buy this restaurant.


    Seeing those eyes, the two ladies knew what he was thinking.


    "Let''s go!" The thin man excitedly walked towards the entrance but stopped when he noticed a beggar boy beside the restaurant. This beggar is dirtying my goddess''s restaurant! Unacceptable!


    He decided to make the beggar go away so that when he met Filly and told her of his ''good'' deed, she would begin to notice him. His delusion made him walk towards the boy.


    "He is very pitiful," one of the ladies beside him couldn''t help but mutter.


    "Yeah," the other lady nodded in agreement.


    Hearing this, the expression on the thin man''s face stiffened. Damnit! Calm down, I have to act cool!


    "Yeah, he''s very pitiful," the thin man said as he walked in front of the boy. He took out a silver coin from his pocket and put it in the boy''s hand. "Here you go, go get yourself something to eat."


    Seeing this, the ladies looked at him with shining eyes.


    That''s the way you should look at me! the man thought with a smirk on his face. He coolly hugged the two girls and they walked inside the restaurant. But deep inside, he was fuming that he had to give that beggar a silver coin just to show off!


    I will make sure not to see that beggar ever again! the thin man thought with cold eyes.

 Chapter 15 - 15: Training Ground(Part-1)

    The sound of birds echoed in the distance, and the people setting up their stalls made the streets quite noisy.


    Apollo opened his eyes and noticed it was already morning.


    "What? I''ve been doing it for hours?" Apollo muttered in surprise. Engrossed in his cultivation, he hadn''t noticed the time. "And someone even gave me a silver coin?"


    He glanced at his Alm points and noticed they had gone up by 10. Adding his previous Alm points, he now had 16.2 Alm points.


    "Lucky," Apollo said, putting the coin in his pocket before he went back to the corner of the restaurant.


    I wonder how much strength I''ve gained, Apollo thought while clenching his fist.


    "System, can I see the progress of my Simple Breathing Technique?" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sure, Host."


    A translucent screen materialized in front of him, displaying the percentage of his progress.


    Simple Breathing Technique: 10%


    Description: A breathing technique to enhance the body and mind.


    "Let''s see if there are any changes in my status screen," Apollo said, and his status screen appeared in his mind.


    STATUS SCREEN:


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 16.2


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Foundation Building


    Attributes: None


    "What?!" Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise. A night of cultivating that technique had made him a Half-Step Foundation Building Cultivator? This is such a godly technique! Although it didn''t sound grand, just thinking about the strength and speed that the worker from Filly Restaurant displayed made Apollo nervous. If not for his experience and wit, that guy could have beaten him with just one punch.


    Though he had to use his full strength and not underestimate his opponents, the worker was so arrogant, thinking Apollo was just a normal beggar.


    Looking at his other stats that hadn''t changed, Apollo concluded that the Simple Breathing Technique could only affect his Physique Cultivation. If he wanted to see some changes in Spirit Cultivation and Attributes, he would have to buy something from the store.


    Shaking his head, he decided to think about this another time.


    Apollo sent a punch into the air, and hearing the wind tearing apart, he couldn''t help but smile. "But I still don''t know my real strength. Is there a place here to test it?"


    The beggar boy pondered. He wanted to get a better feel for his strength so he could adjust to his body. It wouldn''t be good if his body was not accustomed to his sudden strength; it would be like a kid driving a ten-wheeler truck.


    "Is there a gym here or something?" Apollo muttered before deciding to find one in the city.


    But after taking a couple of steps, he heard his stomach growling.


    "Hmm, I should buy some bread from Big Chub." Apollo decided to visit his ''friend'' and ask him where he could also test his strength.


    He left his beggar spot and looked to his right where the Filly Restaurant was. Apollo could feel that this restaurant would give him a hard time if they found out he was still there, even though they had already sent someone to make him go away. He wanted to avoid conflict at the moment and only when he was confident in his strength would he try to confront them.


    What''s wrong with a beggar staying beside your restaurant? It''s not like I will steal your food!


    While thinking about this, he went to find Big Chub.


    ...


    "There''s no beggar beside the restaurant, Ma''am Filly."


    "It seems he really left. That''s good, you can now go back," Filly waved her hand, and her worker left after a bow.


    She had sent someone to check if there was a beggar loitering around; she just wanted to make sure, and her half-step worker must have done his job right.


    Filly then proceeded with her work. She was currently creating new kinds of food to add to the restaurant''s menu. She noticed that the food the customers were eating was very simple. Although it tasted good, she felt that something was lacking.


    She massaged her forehead and leaned on her chair. Sighing, she looked outside the window and saw the rising sun.


    ¡­


    "What are you doing here, kid?" Big Chub asked the beggar in front of his stall.


    "Can I buy some of your bread?" Apollo raised the silver coin.


    "Sure, kid!" Big Chub laughed. "Haha, just pick the bread that you want."


    "Okay!" Apollo picked three pieces of bread and handed over his coin.


    "That would be 2 bronze coins," Big Chub said, taking out the change and giving it to Apollo.


    "Thanks!" Apollo started eating the bread in front of him.


    Seeing this, Big Chub couldn''t help but frown. This boy¡­ isn''t he a young kid from a rich family? Why is he acting like he''s not? Wait, don''t tell me!


    "Kid, tell me the truth. Are you really a beggar?" Big Chub leaned closer.


    Apollo''s cheeks were filled to the brim with bread, making him look like a chipmunk.


    "Yeah, why?" Apollo answered with his mouth full, making his words barely understandable.


    Big Chub slapped his forehead. That is too d*mb of me!


    "Kid, don''t you know? Your eyes, they''re blue. Only rich families have those eyes!" Big Chub said seriously.


    Apollo''s eyes widened. He didn''t know that having blue eyes was such a big deal. Is that why when he asked around, other people treated him nicely? Did they think I''m a rich kid just trying to play around?


    I have to make a change! This will only bring trouble. What if the guy who brought down the Leone family finds out that one of them managed to escape? With his half-step strength, Apollo is not confident in staying alive.


    Fortunately, he went to find Big Chub, or else he would only know this information when it was already too late.


    "You okay? You''re red," Big Chub asked with concern in his voice.


    "I''m alright!" Apollo shook his head.


    "Okay, I''m just saying be careful." Big Chub realized that he was starting to care about this boy. "Anything else?"


    "Y-yeah," Apollo put the remaining bread inside his robe while thinking that he would buy something from the system store that could hide his appearance. "Do you know a place where one can see their strength?"


    "Yes, there are a lot in this city. But why?" Big Chub raised an eyebrow. For some reason, he was quite intrigued by this beggar.


    "I just want to take a look," Apollo answered without changing his expression.


    "I see¡­ you probably wanted to see Cultivators doing their training," Big Chub nodded his head as if he understood the boy.


    "Yes!" Apollo found this more reasonable. He didn''t want to waste his brain cells thinking of an excuse.


    "There''s a public training ground in the south. You could check it out," Big Chub suggested. He also wanted the beggar to go away, as his customers who wanted to buy from him left when they saw a beggar standing in front of his stall.


    "I see! Thank you, Big Chub!" Apollo said with a smile before he ran off into the distance.


    Seeing the kid''s back, Big Chub shook his head. Then he noticed from the corner of his eye that one of his breads was missing.


    Realization dawned on him as he finally found the culprit who had stolen his bread!


    "Kid!"

 Chapter 16 - 16: Training Ground(Part-2)

    Apollo took a last bite of his bread before patting his belly. As he neared the restaurant, he looked around to see if any workers were nearby before hurrying into his beggar spot. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Eh? Someone threw their trash here?" Apollo noticed a few slabs of wood, some clothes, and other items he didn''t recognize beside his beggar spot.


    Come to think of it, I don''t have any roof, Apollo thought while looking at the blazing sun. What if it suddenly rains?


    Apollo picked up the slabs of wood and the clothes on the side. First, using his strength, he tore the clothes to make strips before placing the wood to form a roof. Then he used the strips to tighten the slabs. After a while, a simple roof was made. It was enough for him to stand and lie down under.


    He sat down and brought up his system store.


    "System, show me the items that can change my eye color," Apollo ordered the system.


    The list in the store started changing until a few items were left.


    Apollo bought the cheapest item, which was the "Contact Lenses," a common item from his previous life. It cost him 0.5 Alm points.


    After buying it, a white light appeared in the air before it transformed into two contact lenses. Apollo put them on and blinked a couple of times before he got used to them.


    There was no mirror nearby, so he went out of his beggar spot and looked for a puddle.


    Seeing that his eyes had changed from blue to black, he smiled in satisfaction.


    "Perfect," Apollo said. "Time to go to the training ground!"


    ¡­


    After walking for almost an hour and trying not to stand out too much in the crowd, he finally found the training ground. Along the way, he also sight-saw places but felt bored as the infrastructure of the city was very monotonous. He felt like he was in a rural area but at the same time not. Even if he saw an expensive-looking building, he always compared it to his previous life.


    Well, this is just my opinion. Others might find it appealing and aesthetic.


    Apollo looked at the hundreds of meters of training ground. There were already cultivators doing their training. They were practicing fighting techniques. Some were alone, and others were in groups.


    Their shouts rang in the air, making the scene quite serious.


    There was also a wooden weapon rack on the side where spears, swords, bows, and other weapons were placed. But what caught Apollo''s attention was the stage in the middle of the training ground with two men fighting gracefully with their fists.


    "A sparring arena?" Apollo muttered in excitement but held it back the next second. Thinking about it, it made sense that an arena would be placed in a training ground. Even some gyms in his previous life had this.


    Now, where should I test my strength? Apollo looked around and noticed a scarecrow on the side with a vertical stone beside it. He walked towards it and saw that the stone had a shallow trench in the middle with glass covering it. There was also water inside the cavity, though it was currently at the bottom.


    Apollo saw that there was writing on the stone. The bottom was the Foundation Building, the middle was the Qi Condensation, and at the top was the Core Creation.


    Underneath the Foundation Building were small words.


    4th Step.


    3rd Step.


    2nd Step.


    1st Step.


    Half-Step.


    Between the Foundation Building, Qi Condensation, and the Core Creation, these same words are also written.


    "So there are also small stages within Cultivation? These weren''t mentioned in the book Big Chub gave me," Apollo muttered before looking at the scarecrow. He already had an idea of how to test his strength.


    He took a deep breath and clenched his fist, preparing for a punch, when suddenly a voice made him punch the air instead.


    "Who do we have here?"


    Apollo looked back with a frustrated expression. He saw a thin man wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest. Two men grinned beside him.


    The thin man was the same one who had given Apollo a silver coin, though now there were no ladies with him.


    "Do I know you?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "Of course not. I''m not surprised you don''t know me," the thin man smiled mockingly. "A beggar like you only knows trash and rats."


    These words caused the two young men beside him to laugh aloud.


    "You are right, Bernie," one of the young men said.


    "I wonder why the city guards let a beggar run around the city," the other added.


    Bernie smirked at his friend''s remark. He was consolidating his strength, having just reached the Half-Step Foundation Building, when he saw the beggar entering the training ground. Then he remembered him as the beggar to whom he had given a silver coin.


    He wasn''t rich in the first place; he just wanted to protect his ego in front of the girls.


    This world really doesn''t lack idiots. Coming here just to make fun of me for no apparent reason? Apollo sighed in frustration.


    "You don''t belong here, kid," Bernie said. There was no point in trying to get back the silver coin; it was probably long gone.


    "This is a public training ground. Don''t you know the word ''public''?" Apollo retorted.


    "You dare talk back?!" Bernie felt offended. He was now officially a cultivator; how could he let a normal person disrespect him?


    "This beggar deserves to get beaten up."


    "Yeah, we cultivators are the backbone of this city, we are the protectors while this beggar is nothing but dirt,"


    The two men beside Bernie said, their eyes looking at Apollo with disgust.


    "Yes! What are you going to do? Beat me up?" Apollo smirked with his hands crossed in front of him, though deep inside he couldn''t help but feel nervous.


    The three in front of him seemed to be cultivators. What if they were at the 1st Step of the Foundation Building or even higher? His Half-Step strength wouldn''t be enough to defeat them!


    "You!" Bernie pointed his finger at the smiling beggar. "Don''t blame me for this! I''m just going to help the city guards get rid of a beggar then!"


    Apollo gulped.

 Chapter 17 - 17: Training Ground(Part-3)

    "You three, what are you doing?" Someone shouted behind Bernie and the two men.


    Hearing this voice, the trio visibly shakes before they turn around slowly. A man wearing a dark grey robe and a bamboo hat stood before them, his hands crossed in front of him.


    "S-sir Guo!" The trio bowed their heads. "W-were just making this Beggar go away!"


    Perspiration appeared on their faces. They didn''t dare to look up because this person in front of them is not someone they could just disrespect.


    "Hm?" Sir Guo glanced at the young boy wearing dirty and torn robes. "So what if he is a beggar?"


    "That''s¡­" Bernie shook from the question. He doesn''t know what to answer. "B-but, even the city despises them¡­"


    "This is a public training ground, right? Don''t you know the word PUBLIC?" Sir Guo asked again, his eyes turning cold.


    Bernie who happened to look up when he answered put his head back down seeing those scary eyes. But deep inside, after hearing those questions, he felt humiliated.


    That''s the same question the beggar asked me! Are they saying i''m d*mb?!


    Sheathed with rage, his anger was directed at the beggar behind him.


    Apollo''s eyes sparkled in delight. Finally, someone reasonable appeared! He is losing hope in this world, thinking idiots and morons are the one dominating it.


    "Answer me!" Sir Guo shouted at the silent trio.


    The trio shivered from fear and they answered at the same time. "You are right Sir Guo!"


    "Good, now f*ck off," Sir Guo waved his hand and the trio left though without glaring at the beggar first.


    Bernie''s eyes are burning and he swears to himself that he will get rid of the beggar. This is a loss of face that he will never forget. He is a f*cking Cultivator! How could he let someone else humiliate him? Especially if they are a Beggar!


    The commotion attracted the other cultivators and seeing Sir Guo, they went back to their training.


    "Thanks," Apollo thanked the straw hat guy.


    "You¡­" Sir Guo observed Apollo, his eyes squinting for a moment before he waved his hand and walked towards the arena. "Go on. Just don''t watch other people train, it''s a disrespect."


    Apollo nodded in appreciation. He quite understood what Sir Guo meant. Watching other cultivators train means knowing their techniques and habits. This is also a manner that a lot of martial artists in his previous life practised.


    He then watched Sir Guo sit by the stairs of the stage.


    Strangely, that guy is smiling like a fool¡­ This made him glanced at where the bamboo hat man was looking.


    "This guy¡­" Apollo hopelessly smiled. Sir Guo is watching the ladies doing their training like a p*rvert. No, he definitely is!


    Apollo shook his head and observed the Cultivators for a moment. After the commotion, everyone was busy doing their training and seeing them not looking in his direction, he decided to do what he came here for.


    He wanted to test his strength but there''s only the scarecrow here that seems to only measure the cultivation stage by attacking it. Apollo already knew his cultivation stage, so there''s no point in doing this but this also made him curious about his current standing as a Half-Step Foundation Building.


    Apollo clenched his fist and punched as hard as he could on the scarecrow.


    Suddenly, the water in the middle of the stone reached the Half-step and continued until it reached the middle of it.


    "Good," Apollo smiled. Although he doesn''t know if the pace of his cultivation is fast or not, the name Simple Breathing Technique tells that it''s not extraordinary, right?


    He already half achieved his goal here. Besides the weapon racks, the scarecrow, and the stage, there''s nothing much that he could do at the moment. And if he really wanted to fully understand the level of his strength, he had to fight someone.


    Apollo''s eyes linger on the stage for a moment before he shook his head. Whatever, I''ll just do it another time.


    Because of the mission that needs to be completed within a month, he has to get stronger as fast as possible. Thinking about the punishment if he failed the mission, Apollo couldn''t help but shiver. If that lightning struck him¡­ Apollo doesn''t want to think about the consequences.


    As Apollo walked out from the training ground, there''s two people who kept tabs on him.


    This will be that last time you will see the day, Bernie thought while swinging his sword tightly.


    This kid¡­ Sir Guo watched the beggar walk away, his eyes burning with excitement.


    Apollo came back on the street where his beggar spot is. But a few meters away, he saw the two guards that chased him when he drank from the fountain. He found a hiding spot and watched them talk with the same Filly restaurant worker he beat up in the alley.


    "So there''s a beggar here but you beated him up?" The guards asked.


    "Yes, that boy won''t dare stay here anymore!" The worker patted his chest in confidence.


    "I see. Just in case he appears again, immediately call us, okay?" The guard instructed while observing the bruise on the man''s face.


    "I will!"


    "Can you tell me your name?"


    "Ned Sir!" Ned said his name aloud.


    "I see, we better get going." The guards nodded their heads before they walked away.


    After bidding his farewell, Ned also entered the restaurant.


    Apollo didn''t manage to hear what they said but in his previous life, he learned how to lip read and he understood their conversation.


    D*mn, I really need to do something about this, Apollo thought. After looking for a while, he hurriedly went inside his beggar spot. Under the shade of the walls and the shadow, he sat inside his made up roof.


    He put a hand under his chin and thought about a strategy. Apollo needed to conceal himself as fast as possible or else trouble would come for him. Suddenly, his eyes lightened up, an idea came into mind.


    He brought up the system store.


    "System, show me the luck items, starting from cheapest," Apollo ordered and the store interface sorted itself out. Then he was left with only a dozen items.


    Reading the description of each item, his idea became more and more plausible. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He glanced at his Alm points and noticed it''s now only 16. The cheapest item is worth 5 Alm points but Apollo considered it as an investment for his plan.


    "Buy it!"

 Chapter 18 - 18: Wish Me Luck(Part-1)

    The sun started to kiss the horizon, adding a warm tint to Klown City. The vendors on the street began packing up as the nightlife of the city came alive. Lights upon lights covered the city in brilliance.


    A beggar sat beside a restaurant, his body barely visible. Unless people glanced in his direction, no one would notice him. Even if they did, only those with brain damage or an ego superiority complex would try to mess with him.


    Apollo raised his hands above his forehead and started cultivating his Simple Breathing Technique. But before that, he activated the item he had just bought from the store.


    "Wish Me Luck has been activated!


    The heavens will bless the host while the hell will pull the curses away from you. The host''s luck will increase, but the percentage is random.


    Luck Increase Percentage: 5%


    Time duration: 1 hour."


    "Only five percent? How stingy," Apollo muttered bitterly. He shook his head and focused on his cultivation. But unbeknownst to him, this five percent was nothing to laugh at.


    ...


    Two women came out of Filly Restaurant, laughing merrily. They were dressed rather casually, not too expensive and not too cheap either.


    "Hahaha, you should have seen that guy''s face,"


    "I wish I could. He is probably mourning that he lost someone like you,"


    "I know, right,"


    They both laughed as one of the restaurant''s workers stood by the side, seemingly waiting for something.


    "Oh right, your tip," One of the women noticed the man in the white polo. She reached into her handbag and took out five bronze coins. When she was about to hand them over, the door suddenly burst open as two drunk men stumbled out of the restaurant.


    This startled the two women, and the lady with the coins threw them into the air out of surprise. Strangely, when the bronze coins fell, they rolled to the side of the restaurant like soldiers in line.


    But this phenomenon went unnoticed as the ladies started a fight with the drunk men.


    "You fools! How dare you startle us!"


    "Hm? Hiccup! Sorry¡­ we''re¡­ Hiccup! Taken! Ugly b*tches!"


    "You! Argh! F*ck you!"


    "Hey! Hiccup! Don''t bite me!"


    ...


    Eh? It''s only been a few minutes, and I already have five Alm points? Apollo thought while deep in his own world. There was only him and the qi that he was absorbing.


    Every time these cute and tiny particles entered his body, Apollo couldn''t help but smile from the sensation of getting stronger. Although the progress was ''not fast,'' he was still satisfied.


    This is good; my investment came back fast. Apollo''s thoughts about the item Wish Me Luck had changed. He anticipated that he would receive more Alm points if this continued.


    But this was only wishful thinking.


    A few minutes later, he suddenly felt uneasy. This feeling started subtly but turned stronger in the next second.


    "Here you are. I''ve been looking for you!" A voice woke Apollo from his cultivation, and what he saw made him realize what was going to happen next.


    "The *diot who doesn''t know the word public?" Apollo muttered while looking up at the arrogant face of Bernie.


    "Kid, you''re really p*ssing me off!" Bernie''s forehead started throbbing with anger.


    "I can p*ss you off for real!" Apollo stood up and clutched his pants.


    "Haha! I dare you!" Bernie laughed in annoyance. There''s no way he will really...


    Suddenly, the sound of water splashing echoed.


    Bernie could feel the lower part of his pants and his shoes getting wet.


    He looked down and saw a stream of yellow liquid. Then the stench assaulted his nose.


    "Sigh¡­ I''ve been holding it back since I drank that fountain," Apollo sighed in relief while pulling his pants up.


    Bernie started shaking, his face turning as red as a tomato and veins bulging on his forehead. The only thing missing was smoke coming out of his ears.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo tilted his head, feigning ignorance though deep inside, he was laughing.


    "I''m going to k*ll you," Bernie growled.


    Without waiting for a response, Bernie forcefully grabbed Apollo by the collar.


    "Hey! Where are you taking me?!" Apollo protested, but he didn''t resist and just let himself be dragged by the thin man.


    "Of course, to the place where you''re going to die! But I''m a fair young man; I will let you fight me!" Bernie said, his eyes red with fury and killing intent emanating from him.


    "Okay," Apollo replied lightly. This is good, he thought, looking at Bernie''s hand on his collar. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This guy doesn''t seem to be that strong. Is this part of my luck? I really wanted to test my strength on someone, and this guy came along, Apollo smiled.


    Bernie sprinted towards an alley. He wanted to do this secretly, but even if people found out, he believed they wouldn''t make a big deal out of it. He was doing them a favor by getting rid of a beggar.


    They traveled for a while until they reached the training ground. It was already night, and no cultivators were training at this hour.


    Bernie jumped and landed in the arena. On the way, he threw the beggar onto the stage, and Apollo rolled on the ground a couple of times before he stopped.


    "F*ck, that stinks!" Bernie shouted in frustration, looking at his soaked pants and shoes with disgust.


    "You know what''s the stinkiest?" Apollo said, standing up.


    "Shut up!" Bernie glared.


    "It''s your breath! Hahaha!" Apollo laughed aloud.


    "I said SHUT UP!" Bernie shouted, striking forward.


    Apollo''s smile stiffened as he felt his skin tingling. This was the feeling he had honed from the numerous assassination attempts in his previous life.


    As the richest and most talented man on Earth, many had wanted to kill him. This had made him develop a certain skill to sense impending threats.


    Without wasting more time, Apollo jumped to the side.


    The air where he had been standing moments ago suddenly exploded, sending winds in every direction.


    "Oh? I didn''t know you could dodge that," Bernie smirked. He had just learned this battle technique from the academy. If he had really wanted to kill this beggar, he would have done it in the alley, but just like Apollo, he had other purposes in mind.


    "That''s dangerous¡­" Apollo muttered, his eyes widened from the scene.

 Chapter 19 - 19: Wish Me Luck(Part-2)

    "You will be the perfect toy to test my air palm!" Bernie shouted, raising his hand in front of him. He had already forgotten about his wet pants and shoes; his thoughts were focused solely on using the practice dummy in front of him.


    D*mn! This guy has the same purpose as mine! Apollo clenched his teeth, knowing this was not going to be an easy fight.


    Is this really the effect of Wish Me Luck? It''s more like wishing me the best of luck to stay alive! Apollo thought bitterly.


    "Scared? You should be!" Bernie laughed, seeing the wide eyes of the beggar.


    "Why would I be scared? You haven''t even hit me yet!" Apollo smirked. Worrying about not winning this fight would only lower his confidence. So what if that guy has better techniques than me? I still have the system!


    Apollo glanced at his Alm points.


    Alm Points: 21


    I could buy some battle techniques with that, but...


    Apollo raised both fists in front of him. He wanted to see if he could beat the thin man in front of him with just his half-step physical strength. He also concluded that Bernie was at the same level as him or slightly better in cultivation.


    Furthermore, this would also align with his goal of testing his strength on someone else.


    "Haha! What is that battle form?!" Bernie laughed, seeing the stance the beggar took.


    "Does all you know is laugh?" Apollo shook his head. "Why didn''t you laugh when I pissed on you?"


    Hearing this made Bernie stop, his eyes turning cold again.


    "I will kill you!" Bernie shouted before he threw a slap forward!


    Apollo had already dodged before the attack even landed.


    Just watching the wide movement of that slap allowed him to determine when the air would explode.


    Bang!


    The wind caused the beggar''s clothes to flap, but this didn''t hinder him from moving forward. Boxing has a footwork that is great for dodging and evading. Although it isn''t good for dashing at the enemy when they are afar, Apollo''s strength had already surpassed that of a human, and his speed was faster than before.


    "Tsk!" Bernie frowned. He sent another palm strike, but the beggar managed to dodge it again! This beggar!


    The anger in his heart intensified. This made him raise both hands and start sending countless air palms!


    Banging sounds reverberated in the training ground.


    Sh*t! Apollo cursed in his mind as he felt the air exploding around him. He used his footwork to the best of his abilities, but one of the attacks still managed to land on him.


    His body was sent backward before the air palms bombarded him!


    "Argh!" Apollo grunted in pain, his robes starting to tear apart.


    Seeing the beggar struggling under his attacks, Bernie''s smile reached his ears. His laughter echoed along with the sound of air exploding.


    "Die! Die! Die!" Bernie pulled his right hand back before sending a palm strike with all his might!


    Suddenly, blood spurted and the stage was tainted in red.


    "Eh?" The attack stopped, and Apollo couldn''t help but be confused. He looked up only to notice Bernie holding his right hand, which was bleeding profusely.


    Is the luck finally happening?


    "Sh*t! F*ck!" Bernie looked at his hand, veins popping up and blood constantly falling. I''ve already reached the Beginner stage of this technique, how did I mess up?!


    When there''s a mishap using a battle technique, cultivation technique, or any other techniques that require one to use their body, there''s a great risk of self-injury. Some have even died because of their carelessness.


    Bernie was confident this wouldn''t happen to him, especially at the Beginner stage. The steps at this stage are simple and don''t require intricate precision, but for some reason, he injured himself!


    With his eyes red, he decided to redirect his anger and injury to the beggar who ''caused'' all this!


    But when he looked up, the beggar was already gone.


    "Here!"


    Bernie turned to the side when he heard that hateful voice.


    Bang!


    A punch landed on the thin man''s face, and he took a couple of steps back.


    Bernie wasn''t given time to recover as Apollo was already in front of him.


    Because of his small frame, Apollo had to jump to attack the thin man''s face. He sent five to six punches while still in the air, and Bernie took them all, his lips bursting.


    "Argh! F*ck off!"


    Without caring about his injuries, Bernie responded with his left palm!


    The air exploded between them, sending both the beggar and Bernie to opposite sides of the arena.


    "Huff!" Apollo breathed heavily. He could feel his body aching from the impact. If he hadn''t reached the Half-Step Foundation Building, he would have received a greater injury.


    That attack is really strong! Apollo couldn''t help but admire the technique. He glanced up only to see Bernie taking what seemed like a pill.


    Confused, Apollo tilted his head while trying his best to recover as much as possible.


    In the next second, he realized what that pill was used for.


    His wound stopped bleeding, Apollo thought, squinting his eyes.


    Bernie''s bloody right hand stopped dripping blood, and his pale complexion regained its color. He wiped his mouth with his left hand and turned to the beggar, his eyes radiating killing intent.


    "Ahhhhh!" Like a maniac, Bernie started running towards Apollo, his left hand raised, ready to send his palm attacks.


    Seeing this, Apollo clenched his fist. He hadn''t received any serious injury; he just felt exhausted. Nevertheless, the excitement of this fight got to his head.


    He decided to use the system store only when he felt that he couldn''t win the fight. Apollo was still confident in his abilities, especially with the Wish Me Luck item doing its wonders!


    Apollo raised his fists in front of him in a boxing stance. He waited for his opponent to get close, and that''s when he would use all his knowledge about boxing! Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 20 - 20: Wish Me Luck(Part-3)

    "Die, beggar!" Bernie shouted. He never would have thought that teaching a beggar a lesson would be this hard. He even injured himself just for this kid!


    This is going to be a demon in his cultivation journey if he doesn''t solve this problem all at once!


    Apollo took a deep breath before he rolled to the side. His previous spot exploded, sending winds in every direction. Then he saw the thin man preparing for another palm attack. Before the air could explode him into a mess, he sidestepped to get near his opponent.


    This time, the beggar was more prepared. The moment Bernie raised his hand, Apollo was already in front of him. He jumped and delivered an uppercut, his fist connecting with Bernie''s chin!


    "Argh!" Bernie grunted in pain as he fell to the ground. He felt intense dizziness, but his anger made him recover immediately. As soon as he regained his vision, he saw the beggar diving towards him with a kick!


    "F*CK YOUUU!" Bernie shouted, the veins on his left hand throbbing as he used his full strength for this attack.


    Palms and kicks collided!


    "Ahhhh!"


    But because Bernie used the Air Palm, the beggar was sent flying back. With a thudding sound, Apollo fell to the ground, his hair messy and his head spinning.


    "That hurt¡­" Apollo shook his head, trying to clear his dizziness. Every world really doesn''t lack crazy people! He had seen that this world was far crueler than his previous life, and ever since he awoke in this body, he had experienced that cruelty firsthand!


    After a while, the beggar slightly recovered and slowly stood up, watching his opponent. He saw that Bernie was already on his feet, eyes red with murder.


    Apollo couldn''t help but smile bitterly. He was already hurt all over his body and felt that if the fight continued, he would pass out. But his opponent didn''t seem to tire at all!


    The beggar looked at his own body and noticed cuts spreading from his face down to his hands, blood flowing though not as intensely as Bernie''s¡­


    Eh? Apollo saw that Bernie''s left hand was already covered in blood, continuously flowing down and forming a puddle beneath him. That guy is going to bleed himself to death!


    Come to think of it, Apollo realized that the guy in front of him was going to die just for a beggar. Did he hurt his head when he was a child?


    What''s his beef with the beggar?


    Apollo watched Bernie walking towards him, seemingly not realizing that his hands were already injured.


    "D*mn f*ck! How come you''re still alive?!" Bernie shouted. He just wanted to test his new technique on this boy, but instead, the kid was giving him a hard time!


    "I also wanted to ask you the same question," Apollo said with a smirk.


    "Haha! Do you really think you can beat a cultivator like me?!" Bernie laughed in great annoyance. "You are just a beggar! A mere ant before me! Someone who should bow to a cultivator like me!"


    "A half-step cultivator, you might say," Apollo corrected the thin man. At first, he felt pressured, thinking the guy in front of him might be stronger than a half-step cultivator. But after exchanging blows, Apollo concluded that their strength was almost the same.


    Hearing this further infuriated Bernie. He referred to himself as a ''cultivator,'' and he hadn''t mentioned anything about the stage of his cultivation. He knew he was just an amateur, a beginner who had just begun his cultivation journey. Even acquiring the Air Palm technique at his current level could be considered luck¡ªor something he shouldn''t have done, but he did.


    Bernie felt humiliated that his cultivation stage was known by the beggar. He didn''t understand how the beggar knew this or why this was happening to him. No, he couldn''t think straight. His ego and pride were hurt. What he prioritized more was saving his face.


    "Arghhh!" Bernie grunted like a beast in the intensity of his fury. He wanted to smash this beggar into pieces, to see his blood tainting the ground. The thin man raised his hands, intending to send as many air palms as he could.


    But great pain came after.


    "W-what! I can''t move my hands!" Bernie tried again to no avail. He looked at his hands and saw that the veins were mangled. He couldn''t even feel them anymore!


    He kept trying to make his hands move, but even after a few minutes had passed, there was nothing he could do. Only the sound of his pained grunts echoed in the arena.


    Apollo took this time to recover his strength. Seeing the thin man moaning in pain, he didn''t feel an ounce of pity. That guy had just tried to kill him, and besides, he was not a saint to forgive his opponent. The beggar took a deep breath and decided to end this.


    An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Apollo''s eyes turned cold, and a killing intent erupted from him.


    Bernie noticed this. He looked up and saw those eyes, his senses telling him that something bad was going to happen. He shivered as he realized that the beggar was not an ordinary boy.


    "W-what are you going to do?" he asked, his voice shaking.


    "I''m just going to do what you can''t do to me," Apollo smiled.


    Seeing that smile, Bernie gulped. He looked around, trying to find something that could help him in this situation. But what could he find on this wide stage? Nothing. So he gritted his teeth and decided to ram his body into the beggar! S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ahhhhhh!" Bernie lowered his head and increased his speed.


    But Apollo was one step faster. He dodged to the side and attacked with his knee.


    Cough!


    Bernie coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to his knees.


    "In the end, you couldn''t even beat a beggar," Apollo said, pulling the thin man''s hair to make him look up. His smirk caused Bernie to shiver with fear. "First, I''m going to make you blind!"


    Apollo raised two fingers and aimed at Bernie''s eyes.


    "N-no!" Bernie stuttered. "P-please nooooo!"


    "I''m going to do it! Then I''m going to kill you!" Apollo smirked. He pulled his hand back and, like an arrow released from a bowstring, his fingers accelerated towards the thin man''s eyes!


    "Nooooooo!" Bernie shouted, but in the next second, his head tilted forward as he passed out from fear. Yellow liquid pooled underneath him, and the stench assaulted Apollo''s nose.


    "Hmph! You can''t even hold your head high when you''re hopeless. Pathetic," Apollo shook his head, and Bernie fell on his stomach with a thud.


    Now that the fight had ended, Apollo fully understood his body. Unlike in his previous life, where one air palm could have practically disabled him for life, in this life, with the cultivation of a half-step, he could even take on a car and survive.


    So this is real strength, Apollo thought, raising his hand in front of him and clenching it. With his ambition to always be the best and on top of everyone, his determination skyrocketed. With a smile on his face, he turned around, but in the next second, he took a step back.


    A man was suddenly in front of him. He wore a straw hat and a grey robe that hid his clothes underneath. The only thing Apollo could see in the dim light were the man''s glinting eyes.


    "You¡­ are that guy¡­" Apollo began, but the newcomer interrupted him.


    "You can call me Sir Guo," Sir Guo said, his mouth turning into a smile.


    "Wish Me Luck deactivating!


    Time Left: 0s"

 Chapter 21 - 21: Going Back from a Fight(Part-1)

    Apollo took a deep breath to calm his nerves. The man who Bernie and others feared was standing right in front of him.


    Am I going to have another fight? But this guy is definitely stronger! Apollo started to get nervous. He looked at his own body and noticed that the numerous wounds were still bleeding. If he wanted to heal immediately, he''d have to buy that health potion again, but that would cost him Alm points.


    He was saving up so he could hide in his beggar spot. Apollo didn''t want to spend points mindlessly, especially when he could still move, even if his body was aching.


    Sh*t, I don''t have a choice! He was about to summon the system store when he heard Sir Guo''s voice.


    "Don''t be tense," Sir Guo said with a smile. "I''m not here to fight."


    "Oh, t-that''s good," Apollo sighed in relief while deep inside he remained vigilant. This guy is a perv! What if he also likes young boys? Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine.


    "You¡­ are you really a beggar?" Sir Guo asked.


    "Yes!" Apollo answered, his chest puffing up. "I''m a beggar from heart to soul!"


    Hearing this answer made Sir Guo speechless. Why are you so proud?


    "I see¡­" Sir Guo nodded before he looked the beggar up and down. "You''re already at a half-step foundation building. How old are you?"


    "You can tell?" Apollo was surprised at first, then understood what was happening. The guy in front of him was definitely an expert. This was probably the reason why Bernie and the others were afraid of him. "Am I obliged to tell my age?"


    Sir Guo''s eyes widened, but Apollo didn''t notice. "You are right. But you seem to be young, so I have to tell you something¡­"


    "What is it?" Apollo tilted his head. In the next second, he noticed Sir Guo walking towards him. He took a couple of steps back to maintain some distance.


    "You are a beggar. No one will take you seriously. Even if you are a half-step, you are just a better ant than them. Your current status¡­ it''s nothing," Sir Guo''s smile disappeared.


    When Apollo heard this, his eyes turned cold. He felt humiliated, and this was a feeling he detested. Even in his previous life, belittling him was equal to challenging him.


    "So?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "So¡­ that is what other egotistical and prideful cultivators will think about you," Sir Guo continued, and the smile returned to his face. "I don''t know how you got yourself a cultivation technique, but others won''t like it. They will try to steal it from you and then kill you. You better stay away from conflict, kid."


    As Sir Guo spoke, he motioned towards the passed-out man on the floor.


    Apollo understood what he meant and dropped his guard, bowing. "Thank you for the reminder, Sir Guo!"


    "Nah, don''t mention it. I''m just one of the reasonable ones," Sir Guo waved his hand dismissively.


    "I see¡­ Did you come here just to remind me?" Apollo asked.


    "No. I''m here to make an arrest," Sir Guo pointed at the thin man, Bernie. "A mere half-step dared to steal from the Cultivation Library of the Academy."


    "Oh?" This piqued Apollo''s curiosity about the Cultivation Library and the Academy Sir Guo mentioned. But he already had the system and the store. There was no need for him to check that out, right?


    "I should get going then!" Apollo bowed again. "Thank you again, Sir Guo!"


    "Sure, goodbye," Sir Guo waved his hand and watched the beggar run outside the training ground.


    After a while, only he and the snoring Bernie were left in the arena. Sir Guo put a hand under his chin, recalling what had just happened. "Is he really a beggar¡­ or is there something hidden I can''t see yet?"


    At first, he didn''t care about the beggar, but Apollo did something that made him curious. When Apollo punched the measuring scarecrow, Sir Guo noticed the water level reaching past the half-step foundation building.


    This surprised him, so he decided to check up on Apollo at night. When he saw Bernie confronting the beggar, Sir Guo followed them to the training ground.


    He planned to intervene if the beggar was about to die, intending to arrest Bernie for stealing the Air Palm technique. If the beggar died, then it was his fate, but contrary to Sir Guo''s expectations, the beggar won instead.


    "Even without using any battle techniques, he won¡­" Sir Guo muttered. "And something is strange about him. I can''t feel his qi."


    Sir Guo rubbed his chin in thought. Is someone secretly teaching that kid? Or is he a wandering cultivator pretending to be a beggar? There are many eccentric cultivators who do this kind of thing; he even encountered one in another city, so he wouldn''t be surprised if the beggar was a hidden master. This was also one of the reasons he didn''t antagonize Apollo.


    If he really is just a beggar¡­ Klown, that b*stard, wouldn''t like this. He''s been capturing all the beggars in the city, and if he finds out that there''s still one running around, he will surely send someone to go after the beggar.


    "This is getting interesting¡­" Sir Guo smiled. He isn''t the kind of person who would snitch on someone; he''d rather sit back and watch everything unfold. Besides, he''d love to see Klown''s angry face.


    Suddenly, his thoughts were disrupted when a coughing sound reached his ears.


    "Cough! W-what happened?" Bernie shook his head, his vision still blurry. Fragments of memories started coming back, and after a while, he remembered everything. "F*ck that beggar!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He stood up but fell back down the next second. "Arghh! My arms¡ª"


    Looking at his limp hands, he realized that he had been beaten up by a beggar.


    "H-how?"


    "It''s because you are weak," a voice echoed. At first, Bernie was confused, but soon his eyes widened with fear. He turned to the side and saw the most dreaded person in the Academy. "Sir Guo! I¡ª Hello!"


    "Hello my *ss!" Sir Guo looked at the thin man coldly. "You stole an elementary grade technique from the Cultivation Library. You have committed a crime. Your status as a student will be stripped, and this will also include your cultivation!"


    Hearing this, Bernie''s eyes shook as he realized the f*cked up situation he had landed himself in.

 Chapter 22 - 22: Leones Heir is Still Alive?(Part-1)

    "Twenty-one Alm points," Apollo muttered, looking at his Alm points. In his hands were the bronze coins that had rolled to his side, thanks to the Wish Me Luck item.


    After playing with the coins for a while, he assessed his own body.


    "It will probably take a few days to heal the wounds with my current physical capabilities," Apollo mumbled. He considered whether to buy a health potion but decided against it.


    His wounds would heal, and waiting for just a couple of days wouldn''t hurt, right?


    With this in mind, he left his beggar spot and looked around to make sure no one was watching before he ran to the nearest alley. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His clothes were torn, and Apollo wanted to find some replacements in the trash. Although there were clothes in the system store with great features that could even save his life, he felt that buying items that could protect or hide him in his beggar spot was more worthwhile at the moment.


    The Beggar Spot was going to be one of his foundations, especially when the System seemed to place great importance on it.


    "I still need sixty more Alm points to buy that item," Apollo recalled the item he was saving up for while rummaging through the trash in the alley.


    Dilemma of the Passerby. It sounded cool, and it was the cheapest of the items for his Beggar Spot.


    After a while, Apollo took out some oversized clothes and robes. Using a metal plate he found on the ground, he made them fit him.


    "Good enough," Apollo nodded to himself. Then he carefully went back to his beggar spot. It was already past midnight, and the Filly Restaurant was closed at this time.


    Time to cultivate again! Apollo closed his eyes and followed the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique.


    He had just come back from a fight, and although his body wanted some rest, Apollo decided to take this chance to further progress his breathing technique.


    The system store had almost everything one could think of. There were all kinds of items that could make anyone a strong cultivator instantly without any struggle, but the prices were so high that even Apollo gave up on buying them.


    He wasn''t talking about hundreds or just thousands of Alm Points. The minimum for such items was hundreds of thousands!


    Apollo sighed as the qi around him started to get absorbed. With every inhale, qi entered his mouth and nose.


    It reconstructed everything as it entered, strengthening every cell. This also made his mind at peace, causing him to lose track of time.


    The fight with the thin man, Bernie, made him want to get stronger as fast as possible. Fighting that guy was already tough. What if the time came when he had to finish the mission and fight the man in the robe who had thrown him in the alley? That man in the robe was definitely stronger than Bernie!


    There was no way his father, who had sacrificed himself so Apollo could live, would let a weak man protect Apollo, right?


    After his mind wandered for a bit, he relished the pleasure of getting stronger.


    ...


    As the sun rose on the horizon, the morning people went about their routines. Slowly, the streets of Klown City filled with its citizens.


    The northwest part of the city was where some of the wealthy and affluent families resided. They had their own plots of land and greenery that made those who saw the place marvel. But there was one place where they would only feel empathy and pity.


    A carriage with a serpent insignia on its side made its way outside a grand mansion. The scenery of trees and grass passed by its windows.


    The driver of the carriage glanced back at the mansion. The mansion was burned, and there was a big gap in the rooftop. The mansion had basically crumbled to the ground, with only its foundation remaining, though they were black from being exposed to intense fire.


    The garden beside it is nothing but a pit of holes, a scene of utter destruction.


    The once powerful Leone family is gone, June thought. The Leones were one of the city''s wealthiest families, with businesses that spanned the entire city and even reached neighboring areas.


    Of course, their success made their competitors envious.


    "Those greedy bastards!" Bel shouted inside the carriage. She was looking out at the scenery with a frown, biting her nail in frustration. "Can''t they just wait and confirm everything before they make a move?"


    "There''s nothing we can do about it," June sighed, feeling the same frustration.


    "If I were at Qi Condensation, they would never treat me like a child!" Bel clenched her fist.


    They had just come back from a meeting with the other families about what to do with the Leone''s businesses. The meeting place was the Leone mansion, and when Bel heard about this, she couldn''t help but smile bitterly. They were basically rubbing salt in the wound.


    The meeting was about dividing up the remaining Leone businesses. Those businesses were likely to fail soon, so the other families wanted to merge with them as quickly as possible. Bel agreed with this idea in general, but when she found out there was still a chance that a Leone heir might be alive, she protested. She wanted to confirm whether an heir existed first.


    If there was one, she wouldn''t participate in their plans and would even try to dissuade them.


    Bel had no interest in business; she just wanted to participate in case there was a hidden master in any of the Leone''s businesses. She loved fighting, and this was supposed to be a great experience for her. But if there was still an heir, then interfering would be wrong. It was different if the business didn''t have a leader.


    In fact, it was actually good that others wanted to take it over so the workers could keep their jobs.


    But if someone was still going to lead the Leone workers, they had no right to meddle in their business.


    "They don''t care whether a Leone is still alive," June said. "At the end of the day, there''s going to be only one Leone."


    Bel sighed after hearing this. "Where did they even get this news?"


    "Who knows," June shrugged. "So what are we going to do now?"


    "Hmm¡­" Bel put a hand under her chin. "Why don''t we find the lost Leone? We can also confirm if the news is true."


    "But your studies¡­ your parents wouldn''t like it if they found out you were neglecting your cultivation," June reminded her.


    "Don''t worry about it!" Bel smiled proudly, her eyes never leaving the scenery. "I''m only a breath away from becoming a Half-Step Qi Condensation Cultivator."


    "I see," June said before he went quiet.

 Chapter 23 - 23: Leone Heir is Still Alive?(Part-2)

    "Say we do find him, what are you going to do?" June asked, his eyes glancing into the carriage. There was a window with curtains behind him where he could see Bel.


    "That''s¡­" Bel frowned at the question. "Then I''ll help him become the head of the Leone family! Surely, their enemies will come for me, which means there''s going to be a fight!"


    June couldn''t help but chuckle. Bel had always loved fighting, even as a child. Now, she was willing to create drama by finding the lost heir of Leone just to satisfy her desire for combat.


    June smiled proudly.


    "Do you think Father will like this idea?" Bel asked hesitantly.


    "I''m sure he will," June said. "He''ll even support you."


    "Oh, I remember now, the Leone family and ours are quite close," Bel muttered, her eyes lighting up.


    ¡­


    "Nothing much has changed," Apollo muttered, taking a bite of his bread while looking at his progress on the status screen. He had just come back from Big Chub, where he had a quick conversation, bought some bread, and managed to steal one as well.


    The status screen hadn''t changed after 12 hours of cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique.


    Well, it doesn''t matter, I''ve clearly become stronger than before, Apollo thought. If he were to fight Bernie with his current strength, he was sure he would defeat him within a minute!


    After a few bites, he finished the bread. Then he stepped out of his beggar spot and stood in front of it where people could see him. Only a handful of passersby glanced in his direction, too busy with their own business to be bothered by him.


    Apollo also made sure the workers in the restaurant next to him were busy with their jobs.


    It seems Filly Restaurant is doing well, Apollo thought before he sat down and put his hands above his forehead in a begging manner. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t cultivate right away. Instead, he opened his system store and searched for the item he was planning to buy.


    "Wish Me Luck: The heavens will bless the host while hell will pull the curses away from you. The host''s luck will increase, but the percentage is random.


    Time duration: 1 hour.


    Alm points: 5"


    Buy!


    Without hesitation, Apollo bought the item and immediately used it.


    "Wish Me Luck has been activated!


    The heavens will bless the host while hell will pull the curses away from you. The host''s luck will increase, but the percentage is random.


    Luck Increase Percentage: 4%


    Time duration: 1 hour."


    It''s one percent less? Hopefully, my investment will pay off, Apollo sighed before focusing on his cultivation.


    Although there was still much he didn''t know about ''Cultivation,'' Apollo was certain that with the help of the system store, he could learn everything he needed. But he didn''t want to waste his Alm points on things he could learn without buying from the store.


    Besides, he felt that with the System, he didn''t need to go out. He could stay in his beggar spot and slowly become stronger. He wanted to be on top of this world, but it wouldn''t happen in just one night of cultivation; he needed to be patient.


    After a while, his senses enveloped all the qi around him, and he started absorbing it through his mouth and nose.


    ¡­


    A man wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his right chest was walking in an alley. The sun''s orange glare peered through the entrance of the alley. Slowly, his features were revealed. He had black hair and sharp dark eyes. One could say that he looked very ordinary; his body was also quite average.


    He glanced around the alley and couldn''t help but frown.


    "He''s not here, as expected," the man muttered. "I gave him a hard hit and he still managed to get out? A Leone indeed."


    Where should I find that boy¡­ he thought for a while before shaking his head. The city was big, and if he really wanted to find him, he would have to spend a lot of time, which he didn''t want to do.


    "The examination for advancement is coming up; I have to focus on becoming first," the man mumbled, starting to get a headache. "D*mnit! How did they even find out that the kid is still alive?! I should have killed him!"


    Out of frustration, he punched the wall beside him, causing the air to explode and leaving a big crack in the wall.


    He took a deep breath to calm himself down. Then the man started walking out of the alley. He decided to take a stroll for a while before heading back to the academy.


    The moment he walked out of the alley, he immediately attracted the gazes of the people around him. Of course, he knew the reason was because of his uniform. As a student at the most prestigious school in Klown City, he was highly respected by ordinary people, though he knew some of that respect was not genuine.


    Well, it''s not like I really care about it. Most average cultivators have their egos inflated the moment they become one, tarnishing the reputation of the students of Sea Dragon Academy, the school the man was currently attending.


    The man decided to waltz to the west of the city.


    He kept looking around on his way, making sure he didn''t miss anything suspicious. He even went into some alleys just to make sure. It didn''t take him long to reach the less developed district.


    "There are more people than I thought," the man muttered before he started looking for the Leone kid. This was the only time he would do this; then he would just make some excuse that he didn''t find the boy.


    He noticed a restaurant nearby and started walking towards it. He was quite hungry, so he decided to fill his stomach first. The man habitually took out his pouch of money while on his way to the door.


    In his peripheral vision, he saw something, but the door suddenly opened and two drunk men walked out with a server behind them. They were the same men who had argued with the two women the previous night.


    The student wearing the black and white uniform observed them before he walked past, but one of the drunk men bumped into him, causing his pouch to fall to the ground. The sound of coins rolling echoed, but the sharp-eyed student stared intently at the drunk man who had bumped into him.


    "Haha¡­ hiccup! My bad, kid! Hiccup!" The drunk men didn''t even look at him before they swerved away.


    "Sir, I''m very sorry about them," the server bowed his head toward the student and handed him the pouch that had fallen.


    "No worries," the student took the pouch before entering the restaurant. Did I just miss something? he thought before shrugging while considering whether to kill the two drunk men or just let them be.

 Chapter 24 - 24: Idea(Part-1)

    When Apollo opened his eyes, it was already morning. The night of cultivation had left him feeling energetic, so he stood up and stretched his body.


    "Ah, that''s good!" Apollo mused in relief. After stretching for a while, he heard his stomach growling. Time to get some food, but before that, let''s see if my cultivation has changed.


    With a thought, he brought up his status screen.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 26 S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    Nothing had changed in his cultivation, but Apollo had already expected this. The system had said it would take up to two weeks to reach the full Foundation Building stage. And if he really wanted to cultivate quickly, he would have to do it day and night without rest. But could he let himself starve to death? Definitely not!


    "My Alm points have also increased," Apollo muttered. When he bought his second Wish Me Luck, his Alm points were 21, but now they had become 26, an increase of 5.


    The beggar boy looked around his surroundings and noticed a silver coin beside his makeshift roof. He picked it up and couldn''t help but smile. "An increase of 4% luck can also earn me this amount? This is really great!"


    If he kept buying those lucky items, his Alm points would steadily increase. This thought crossed Apollo''s mind before a frown appeared on his face. What if the luck didn''t come as Alm points? Then he would only lose them! Besides, his luck increased randomly, so this was also a gamble.


    With a hand under his chin, Apollo thought hard about this matter. Buying them too frequently, and if the luck came in a different form, he would only lose Alm points. But what if the luck that came in a different form surpassed the value of Alm points?


    Apollo''s eyes were about to brighten when another thought came to mind. There''s also a chance I won''t be able to gain a thing after using Wish Me Luck.


    "Then I should avoid buying them too frequently," Apollo finally decided. After solving this ''crisis'' in his mind, he stepped out from his beggar spot by the side of the restaurant. But the moment his small figure emerged, a man wearing a white long-sleeve polo and black pants, holding a trash bag, bumped into him.


    "Ouch!" The man yelped in pain as he fell to the ground, the trash spilling everywhere.


    "Sorry, my bad!" Apollo apologized and tried to help the man up. But the moment their eyes met, silence lingered for a while before they separated.


    "You dare stay here!" Ned shouted, pointing his finger at the beggar. "You want another beating, huh?!"


    "Beating? Haha," Apollo couldn''t help but laugh at the man''s words. The guy in front of him was the same one who had tried to make Apollo go away before.


    "What are you laughing at, you beggar?!" Ned felt humiliated.


    "Nothing," Apollo sighed with a smile on his face. "Gotta go!"


    The beggar waved his hand and turned around to go in his intended direction. But Ned wouldn''t let him have his way!


    With his half-step cultivation, Ned sprinted in front of the beggar ''instantly''.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Ned smirked.


    "It is none of your business," Apollo responded with an annoyed expression.


    "I think it is! I gave you a chance before, but you didn''t treasure it!" Ned crossed his arms in front of him.


    "So? What are you going to do about it?" Apollo asked with a daring expression.


    "You! I will teach you a lesson until you won''t even be able to move!" Ned shouted, grabbing the beggar by his collar. He started dragging the boy towards the nearest alley.


    This again? Apollo shook his head, letting the man in the white polo shirt drag him.


    Once they entered the alley, Ned threw Apollo to the ground. Apollo didn''t let himself get dirtied; as he was about to hit the ground, he extended his hands and performed a simple cartwheel.


    Seeing this surprised Ned for a moment before he dismissed it as a cheap trick.


    "Hehe, boy, you are done!" Ned cracked his knuckles and neck before slowly walking toward the beggar.


    "Sigh¡­ Let''s get this over with. I''m really hungry!" Apollo said, motioning for Ned to come at him.


    "You are making me laugh," Ned remarked, though the anger and frustration in his voice were evident. "Don''t blame me!"


    With a shout, Ned dashed towards the beggar.


    ...


    Apollo walked down the street with bread in his hands, his mouth full to the brim. He didn''t buy the food from Big Chub; that guy probably already suspected him of stealing some bread, so Apollo wanted to avoid him for a couple of days.


    "This is too bland," Apollo muttered after swallowing. The food in this world wasn''t advanced, and there wasn''t enough variety to choose from. Even the way they cooked some of the food was too simple, with only salt and a few common spices.


    Why am I even worrying about this? Apollo shook his head to get rid of the thought before he looked around. After beating Ned until he passed out and foamed at the mouth, Apollo had bought some bread and decided to take a stroll.


    He wanted to learn more about the city, and this was a great chance for a walk. Since he had changed his clothes, he appeared more ''normal'' than before, though some of the rich people still looked at him with frowns and disgust.


    Nevertheless, this helped him blend more with the crowd.


    Apollo was currently on a street he hadn''t visited before. This place had stores like weapon shops and armor shops. There was also an Alchemy building that a lot of people were entering.


    That place must be a hospital, Apollo thought, glancing at the Alchemy building before he started walking in a certain direction.


    After a while, he felt bored and wanted to go back to his spot and start his cultivation. Suddenly, a commotion caught his attention.


    Apollo turned and noticed people watching something. Curious, he carefully made his way towards the scene. He squeezed through the crowd and saw two guards dragging a man wearing tattered clothes.


    The beggar boy''s eyes brightened for a moment before dimming. He finally met another beggar, but he was being taken away. I thought I was the only one in the city? Apollo watched the other beggar being dragged away before he noticed an instrument on the ground and some other items with price tags in front of them.


    Apollo suddenly had a realization upon seeing this.


    "There''s also a beggar here!" someone suddenly shouted, pointing at Apollo. This caused Apollo to jolt awake, and he immediately ran away, not without glaring first at the person who had called him out.

 Chapter 25 - 25: Idea(Part-2)

    Apollo had already thought about it, but he was too focused on cultivation. This new experience kept his excitement from dying down. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After seeing the other beggar and his equipment strewn across the ground, the idea came back to him. In his previous life, beggars used their talents, like singing and playing instruments, to earn alms. Some even performed strange acts to get people to give them money.


    But will it work? Apollo thought as he sat in his beggar spot, watching people walk by while contemplating the issue. In the end, he decided to ask the system.


    "If I sing or do something that will amaze passersby and they give me money, will it count as alms?" Apollo asked this crucial question.


    "No, you are a beggar, not an entertainer," the system coldly replied, devoid of any emotion.


    This answer disappointed Apollo, but he realized that those beggars received alms because of their talents, not because they were begging.


    "You are a true beggar. You must beg for your alms, not earn them through talents," the system continued, seemingly reading his mind.


    "I see," Apollo nodded in understanding. This is going to be harder than I thought.


    Apollo then walked out of his beggar spot and peeked at the restaurant beside him. They were still busy, so this was the perfect time to collect Alm points!


    He stood outside his beggar spot just enough for people to notice him before sitting down and placing his hands above his forehead. After taking a deep breath and stabilizing his mind, he also cultivated his Simple Breathing Technique.


    ...


    "What now?" Filly asked with a frown on her face. A man covered in bandages, his face black and blue, stood before her.


    "I-I can''t remember much," Ned said, his voice muffled due to his missing teeth.


    "Then tell me what you can remember," Filly massaged her forehead.


    "That beggar is back," Ned said seriously. "I went to confront him, and after that¡­ after that¡­ I can''t remember a thing. That''s when I woke up in the alley¡­"


    Ned trailed off, his face turning red with shame.


    Upon hearing this, Filly''s face darkened. That beggar is back? This won''t do! He will only ruin the image of my restaurant!


    "So that beggar trashed you into this state," Filly looked at Ned from head to toe.


    "No!" Ned shouted, almost reopening his wounds.


    "Oh? Then tell me why it''s a no," Filly asked coldly, her eyes looking at him like he was something disposable.


    Ned gulped nervously. "T-there''s no way, right? A beggar can''t beat someone like me, a half-step foundation builder. Even ten normal people wouldn''t be able to land a hit on me. Someone else must have done this to me!"


    "And that someone is the beggar," Filly said.


    Ned wanted to protest, but when he saw the look in his boss''s eyes, he had no choice but to shut his mouth.


    "You can go back now," Filly sighed and waved her hand.


    "O-okay," Ned said awkwardly.


    "And call Gail on your way out," Filly ordered, and Ned bowed his head before leaving the room.


    Filly leaned back in her chair, her mind racing as she thought about the beggar beside her restaurant. Something was fishy. That beggar was not simple. A Wanderer? Or someone backing him up? But why?


    "If something is really going on, getting involved with him is probably not a good idea," Filly muttered just as someone knocked on her door. "Come in!"


    A new worker entered and bowed. This time, it was a woman named Gail.


    "You called for me, Miss?" Gail, frail-looking with pale skin and the stature of a twig, seemed like a strong gust of wind could topple her.


    "Yes," Filly nodded, her expression easing upon seeing her trusted aide. "I need your assistance."


    "Oh? Do you want me to dispose of someone?" Gail''s countenance suddenly changed, her aura becoming cold as killing intent erupted from her.


    "Calm down," Filly ordered coldly. Although Gail looked like a young girl who could be easily bullied, she was actually at the fourth step of the Foundation Building stage. She wasn''t a normal cultivator; she had been personally trained by Filly''s family to be a bodyguard and a killer.


    "S-sorry," Gail realized what she had done, bowed her head, and her face turned red. "So, what is it?"


    "There''s a beggar beside my restaurant. Accompany me tonight. I don''t think he is that simple," Filly said.


    "Alright," Gail nodded. "Is he dangerous?"


    "That is why I need you. We can dispose of him if he is not. If he is..." Filly trailed off. She began to think that if the beggar was really a Wanderer or if someone strong was behind him, there could be something to gain, like befriending them or at least maintaining a status quo. There was also the possibility that the beggar was nothing or not strong at all.


    The two talked for a while before Gail suddenly remembered something. Besides being a bodyguard and a restaurant worker, she was also somewhat of an assistant.


    "I remember something. The store across the street has been bought by the owner of Skyline Savory," When Gail mentioned this, there was a hint of worry in her voice.


    "Skyline Savory, the most popular restaurant in Klown? Why?!" Filly stood up abruptly in shock.


    "I think they want to expand," Gail answered.


    Damn it! Filly''s thoughts became disarrayed. Skyline Savory was the most popular restaurant in Klown City, even well-known in neighboring cities. They were one of the reasons why so many outsiders visited Klown! This fact alone spoke to the quality of their restaurant.


    As a scion, Filly had eaten at that restaurant a few times and admitted that their food was very delicious. They were the reason she decided to set up her own restaurant!


    "This is bad, very bad," Filly sat back down, her headache growing stronger.


    "Y-yeah, if they open here, our restaurant won''t be able to stand against them," Gail added.


    "We have to do something," Filly mumbled as her eyes wandered over the papers on the table. Written on them were the cooking strategies she had thought of, but most had failed, and those that succeeded barely made a difference in the cooking process.


    "Well, are we still going out tonight?" Gail asked.


    Hearing this, Filly decided to take out her frustration on the beggar beside her restaurant. With anger in her eyes, she nodded. "Of course!"

 Chapter 26 - 26: Outside the City(Part-1)

    Apollo is cultivating peacefully. The night sky shone upon him and although he didn''t use the lucky item, there''s still two bronze coins on his palm.


    The beggar woke up after a few hours of cultivation. He immediately noticed the coins in his palms and he couldn''t help but tilt his head.


    "So I can still earn 2 alm points even without using that item?" Apollo muttered in annoyance. Then where did my luck go? But thinking about it, the Wish Me Luck item has brought him 4-5% luck so far.


    I wonder if my strength has increased. With this thought in mind, Apollo brought up his status screen.


    STATUS SCREEN


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 28


    Spirit Cultivation: None. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    "Eh?!" Apollo''s eyes widened in shock. "I reached the 1st step already? I didn''t even feel it!"


    He stood up and his body made a cracking sound. Apollo realized that his body is light all over and this is the sensation he hadn''t felt even in his previous life. He raised his hand and clenched it, he could feel the strength stored within.


    Apollo is excited. Finally, does this mean I am now officially a Cultivator? But the system said it will take me at most 2 weeks? The beggar decided to ask this question to the System.


    "System, didn''t you say that it will take me at most 2 weeks to reach the Foundation Building? It''s only been a few days!" Apollo asked.


    "Yes, that is exactly right. If you continue at your pace, you will reach the 4th Step Foundation Building in 2 weeks time." The System answered in its usual monotonous voice.


    "4th Step? The last step¡­" Apollo now understood what the System meant when it said those words. So cultivating this Simple Breathing technique will be able to reach him that far. Although he doesn''t know what that stage signifies, Apollo believes that it''s not something grand.


    Cultivation has seven stages and he is just on the first stage, isn''t it mediocre when one thinks about it?


    Shaking his head, Apollo decided to test out his strength at some place, probably a wooded area where he could let loose.


    He peeked through the restaurant beside him and noticed there''s still a lot of patrons eating. The workers are busy attending to them. Apollo still doesn''t want to involve himself with this restaurant, they keep sending him away and he is just waiting for his Alm points to reach the needed amount for him to be able to buy that ''item''.


    After making sure that the coast is clear, Apollo covered his face with his robe before he quietly made his way out of the street.


    Apollo actually already thought about a place. He headed north with his small frame while he kept looking around. He is also memorizing the place just in case he gets lost.


    Ten to fifteen minutes later, he reached the central part of the city. This is his first time here and he couldn''t help but be in awe. Although it couldn''t compare to his previous life, the centre of the city is still amazing. There''s all kinds of buildings, they are more grand and their design exudes expensiveness.


    His eyes stopped on a plaque that said Phoenix Cultivation School.


    "Is this one of the schools where cultivators studied?" Apollo muttered. "It looks more like a temple."


    The school is like the temple he saw from his previous life. It''s quiet and has a sacred vibe to it. Because he stood there and just staring at the school, one of its guards stationed outside the gate noticed.


    "Hey! What are you staring at?!"


    Hearing this jolt the beggar awake. Then he immediately ran in the distance.


    "D*mn, I should hurry up!" Apollo just said these words when he stopped again as he saw another cultivation school with a stone serpent encircling the whole building.


    Great Serpent Cultivation School? Apollo remembered that the guy he just fought in the training ground has the same serpent insignia on his chest, is this where he''s studying? This school is so cool! This is the coolest building that the beggar saw since he arrived in this world.


    "Why do I keep getting distracted?" Apollo shook his head. He already noticed that the school''s guard was looking at him and before he attracted more attention, he ran again.


    In no time, he left the central part of the city and arrived north of Nowem. He kept walking until he saw a wall that partitioned the city from the outside. His eyes then focused on the entrance. There''s still a number of people that come and go in the city with their carriage.


    Apollo''s destination is outside the city. He already asked around and they said that there''s a forest outside of Nowem. That is the perfect place that the beggar had in mind. There, he could do whatever he wanted and he didn''t have to be afraid if he would disturb someone else.


    The guards on the gates are carefully observing those who''re entering and don''t seem to care about the people going out.


    Just to make sure, he decided to follow behind a carriage. There''s still the unknown threat who destroyed the original body''s family and Apollo doesn''t want to attract too much attention.


    When they were about to cross the gate, a guard happened to look in their direction.


    "You there! Stop!" The guard shouted and the carriage stopped.


    Hearing the shout, Apollo became nervous but his nervousness was unfounded when the guard went straight for the driver. After a series of questions and answers, the carriage was given permission to pass the gate.


    Apollo heaved a sigh of relief.


    As this is the first time that he went out of the city, he couldn''t help but look around. There''s nothing much to see besides grass and the forest in the distance.


    Apollo followed behind the carriage for a while before he decided to run towards the forest.


    Because of his excitement, he didn''t realize the speed that he''s running at.

 Chapter 27 - 27: Outside the City(Part-2)

    When Apollo entered the forest, he slowed his steps and looked around. The trees were tall, swaying in the dark wind, and the sounds of nocturnal animals occasionally echoed through the night.


    "A wolf?" Apollo muttered, recognizing the distant sound. Without any cultivation, he would have been terrified and might not have dared to enter the forest. The thought of encountering a bear or other large animals would have seemed like suicide. But now, with his body strengthened by cultivation, he felt like the world was in his hands.


    With newfound confidence, Apollo wandered through the forest, searching for the perfect spot to test his strength. The training ground only had a scarecrow for measuring strength, and Apollo wanted to see his power in action.


    After a while, he found a tree smaller than the others he had seen so far, with only a three-meter clearing in front of it.


    Apollo stood in front of the tree and clenched his fist. His test was simple: punch the tree and see if it would break. If he succeeded, he would find a bigger, tougher tree and repeat the process until he found one he couldn''t break with his fist.


    "This looks like red maple," Apollo muttered, though the tree didn''t quite match. It was darker, with black leaves and a trunk that would need two people to hug. Despite the dark sky, Apollo could see well thanks to his heightened senses from his 1st-step cultivation. It was a wonderful feeling.


    Red maple was a common tree known for its durability and strength. But the tree in front of him seemed like an upgrade.


    "Let''s see!" Apollo took a deep breath and raised his right hand. Clenching his fist hard, he punched the tree.


    A banging sound echoed, followed by the sound of breaking wood.


    "Woah!" Apollo shouted in amazement. He looked at his hand and then back at the tree. He had punched a hole in it! Although it wasn''t enough to make it fall, he was amazed at the power his fist could produce.


    "Let''s do it again!"


    Soon, the sound of fists crashing into the tree reverberated through the forest.


    Bang!


    A tree fell to the ground, raising a small dust cloud.


    "Huff," Apollo breathed out, sweat dripping down his face. "It took longer than I expected."


    He had to punch through the tree repeatedly until it finally collapsed.


    "At least I got to feel my strength," Apollo muttered. After regulating his breathing and using the Simple Breathing Technique to recover some stamina, he decided to wander around the area.


    Suddenly, the howl of a wolf reached his ears.


    "Should I?" Apollo''s eyes shone with an idea. Now that he knew his current strength, he felt the urge to test it in a real fight. With this in mind, he looked up at the trees and jumped.


    He tried to imitate the moves of ninjas from the movies he had seen in his previous life, but he slipped after stepping on a trunk and was about to jump again.


    "Ahhh!"


    Bang!


    Apollo fell to the ground, his eyes wide with fear. Oh god, I thought I was a goner! When he slipped, he had forgotten for a moment that his body was no longer the same as before. He stood up and patted himself down. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He tried again and jumped. Leaping at least five meters was easy now, but he still slipped from the tree. With another bang, he crashed to the ground.


    "Ah!!" Apollo shouted in frustration. He repeated this process until he was covered in dirt and his body ached.


    "Sh*t, f*ck it!" Apollo opened his system store and sorted through it. "Show me a skill that can help me be good at running and parkouring!"


    Heaven Maneuvering Technique: Once learned, one could walk on anything¡ªbe it water, air, outer space, the Higher Dimension, or even the void. This technique doesn''t require Qi; one only needs to use their physical body and mind.


    Alm Points Needed: 1,000,000


    Cosmic Treading Technique: Allows one to travel the universe in the blink of an eye. Requires a huge amount of Qi to use.


    Alm Points Needed: 900,000


    Meteoric Walk¡­


    Instant Appearance¡­


    Door to Door¡­


    Apollo read each movement technique, and his eyes couldn''t help but widen. Every technique was incredibly powerful¡ªand expensive. If I had these techniques¡­ Just thinking about it excited him.


    "Show me the cheapest," Apollo ordered. The list sorted itself, revealing one item.


    Simple Movement Technique: A movement technique that embodies the essence. Once fully mastered, learning other movement techniques will be akin to drinking water.


    Alm Points Needed: 10


    "This is good," Apollo muttered while reading the description. It has ''simple'' in its name, but it''s far from that. The beggar bought it, and new information started entering his mind.


    After a while, Apollo took a deep breath and exhaled. He suddenly felt that his feet didn''t belong to him. He tried to walk, and his step was stable and light.


    Let''s try again! Apollo looked up at the tree and jumped.


    One meter¡­


    Two meters¡­


    Three meters¡­


    Five meters¡­


    Seven meters¡­


    Ten meters!


    In just one leap, Apollo reached ten meters in height! Woah!


    Apollo landed on a tree trunk and looked down before a smile appeared on his face. "Great!"


    Then, like a monkey, he jumped from tree to tree. Using the Simple Movement Technique, his vision and body coordination became better. He felt like he was on the ground even though he was up in the trees, maneuvering on slippery and small trunks.


    After having fun for a while and getting used to his newfound ability, he climbed the highest tree and stayed there.


    "D*mn, I ended up using my Alm points!" Apollo brought up his status screen with a frown.


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 18


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None.


    Sigh¡­ Apollo realized that he was not very good at saving up. In his previous life, he didn''t need to save up as money kept coming in. But now, in this world, as a beggar, he had to learn.


    Awooo!


    The sound of a ''wolf'' howling reverberated, and Apollo was brought back to his goal. "I should test my strength on that wolf and then go back."

 Chapter 28 - 28: Outside the City(Part-3)

    Apollo landed on the ground with a thud. He looked around the area and still couldn''t find what he was looking for. After a few minutes of jumping from tree to tree like a monkey, he arrived beside a hill.


    "Where is that wolf¡­" Apollo muttered. He was sure he was heading in the right direction, but where was it? He glanced up and saw the moon peeking behind the rocky hill.


    Up there? Apollo was about to climb the hill when he stopped. "Something feels strange."


    He could sense it, but he couldn''t pinpoint what was causing the feeling. Apollo hesitated, unsure whether to keep looking for the wolf or just go back. In the end, he sighed and decided to call it a night. There was still plenty of time for him to test his strength in a real battle. What if another fool tried to pick a fight with him? Wouldn''t that be a free sparring partner?


    Hopefully, that fool isn''t foolishly strong enough to beat my ass, Apollo thought with a bitter smile.


    Shaking his head, he turned around and started walking back.


    That''s when¡­


    Howl!


    The wolf he had been looking for suddenly howled again, louder and clearer this time. It only meant one thing: the wolf was near! Apollo abruptly turned around but didn''t see the wolf.


    He slowly looked up and, sure enough, a four-legged animal was standing on the hill with its head pointed to the sky.


    "I guess the fool is this guy," Apollo chuckled. "Hey, down here!"


    When the wolf heard this, it looked down and growled menacingly.


    "Fighting against a wolf¡­ it still sounds crazy," the beggar muttered in amusement. He started lightly jumping to pump his heart and did some simple stretches to calm his mind. This was going to be his first fight against a wild animal, and he wanted to make as few mistakes as possible.


    The wolf jumped from the hill and made its way down. Because of the night, its body was still shrouded in darkness. Although Apollo''s vision had improved, it only applied to nearby details; if something was fully covered by the dark, he could only make out the silhouette.


    Apollo prepared himself and assumed his boxing stance. As he waited, that strange feeling came back. Excitement turned into nervousness.


    When the wolf fully revealed itself, he finally understood why he felt that way. The wolf in front of him stood at least 2 meters tall. But what was more prominent was its black fur and two tails.


    Hearing the menacing growling, Apollo woke from his daze. I should change my thinking. The trees from earlier were not the same as the trees from his previous life.


    Apollo kept comparing this world to his previous one. When he heard the howls, he thought it was just a normal wolf, but reality proved him wrong.


    And now, he found himself in trouble. Was it arrogance because of his sudden strength? Apollo thought this must be one reason for his mistake. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Run or fight? The beggar thought and decided after a few seconds. He was already here, so he decided to fight. What if this guy was just scary-looking but weaker than him? Then he would have chickened out for nothing. And if the black wolf was really strong, he could just escape.


    Roar!


    Apollo became tense. He waited for the black wolf to make the first move to gauge its strength.


    The wolf observed the small human with its red eyes. A few seconds later, it roared angrily and launched itself toward the beggar!


    "Here it is!" Apollo prepared himself and widened his eyes.


    In his vision, the black wolf moved fast, but he felt he could keep up if he really tried.


    Apollo jumped back, the sharp claw barely missing him. He could even hear the wind being torn apart¡ªthat''s how strong the attack was.


    If that claw landed, I would definitely be in two! Apollo thought, breathing heavily. The wolf didn''t give him time to rest and attacked again.


    Apollo jumped back, and when the wolf landed, he ran to the side with his quick feet.


    The black wolf ran after him while the beggar made sure to keep track of the animal''s movements. He purposely slowed down, and the wolf took this chance to jump on him.


    Now! Apollo sidestepped and turned around abruptly before punching with all his strength! With a shout, his fist connected with the wolf''s jaw!


    The wolf growled in pain as its body was sent crashing to the ground, rolling a few times and creating small dust clouds. Seeing this, Apollo raised his hand and clenched it. Although he already had a basic understanding of his 1st-Step Foundation Building and could even make a tree fall with just his fist, he still felt excited that he could make a wolf of this size roll on the ground.


    The wolf stood up and shook its head to clear its dizziness. Then, it looked at the tiny human with killing intent.


    He''s angry. Apollo readied himself. He didn''t dare to underestimate the wolf just because he had managed to land a hit once.


    Roar!


    The black wolf howled at the sky before charging toward him! Apollo ran again, intending to use the same technique.


    Dodge! Turn! And punch!


    But contrary to what he expected, the moment his fist was about to hit the wolf''s jaw, something struck his chest! With a thud, his body hit the ground hard!


    "Argh!" Apollo grunted in pain. He didn''t expect the black wolf to be so smart that fooling it twice wouldn''t work! D*mn! I bit off more than I can chew! And what is that other idiom¡­ I have eyes but can''t see Mount Tai! Apollo recalled all the idioms he could think of about his current situation.


    He looked at his chest and noticed that blood was tainting his robe. It hurts. Apollo glanced at the black wolf with anger in his eyes.


    As the wolf growled at him, almost mockingly, Apollo stood up and dusted off his clothes. Although his chest hurt, it wasn''t enough to keep him from moving.


    Seeing the human standing up, the wolf howled again before dashing towards Apollo.


    Apollo raised both hands in front of his face and waited. He decided to fight the wolf head-on. He could think of other tricks like before, but he was already angry. Besides, he thought fighting head-on was cooler.


    This time the black wolf didn''t dodge. Instead, it opened its jaws wide and tried to bite the beggar.


    Apollo carefully observed its movements. He ducked to the side and was about to kick when a tail immediately attacked him. He crossed his hands in front of him and managed to block the attack, though the impact still caused him to take a few steps back.


    Faster!


    Before the wolf could turn towards him, Apollo stopped his momentum and lunged at his enemy!


    With a thud, his fist managed to land on the side of the black wolf, causing it to howl in pain and tumble to the ground. This is not enough. Apollo ran after the wolf and sent another punch.


    Bang!

 Chapter 29 - 29: Outside the City(Part-4)

    The sound of a wolf howling in pain echoed through the forest. With a loud bang, the black wolf crashed into a tree, snapping it in two.


    "How''d you like that?" Apollo smirked.


    The black wolf shook its head while standing up slowly. It looked at the tiny human and growled. It didn''t dare move, just observed him.


    This guy knows it''s going to be hard to defeat me, Apollo thought. But he decided to end this fight by killing the wolf. He wasn''t a good person to begin with, and he wouldn''t hesitate to end a life if needed. Besides, this black wolf tried to kill him, so it was only fair that he would do the same to the wolf, right?


    Apollo ran toward the wolf and jumped high. He raised his foot in the air before sending it downwards!


    Roar!


    The black wolf responded with its own attack, one of its tails sweeping up! The impact caused both of them to be thrown back. Apollo landed and dashed forward again. He wasn''t going to let the wolf recover from the impact and wanted to bombard it with attacks. It was risky, but Apollo knew that if the black wolf managed to land another hit on him, his life would be in danger.


    When he was about to reach the black wolf, it suddenly turned around and started running toward the forest. Seeing this, Apollo couldn''t help but be amazed at how cunning this wolf was. If you can''t win, then run. They had the same thought, but the wolf applied it first. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Come back here!" Apollo shouted as he chased after the wolf. Using his Simple Movement Technique, he parkoured his way to get close to the wolf. With his surroundings turning into a blur, he caught up with the wolf.


    He reached out his hand and grabbed one of its tails, but the other tail struck his hand.


    "Argh!" Apollo grunted in pain. He noticed that his hand was bleeding, causing great pain. He gritted his teeth and caught up again. Using his injured hand, he held one of the wolf''s tails. As expected, the other tail tried to attack his hand, but Apollo anticipated this. Using his free hand, he caught it and pulled hard!


    "Ahhh!" Apollo shouted as his body was dragged by the wolf. He stomped his feet, creating a long trail on the ground before shouting, "Take this!"


    The beggar used all the strength he could muster to stop the wolf from running before he twisted his body and threw the black wolf as hard as he could!


    The wolf howled in the air, its body crashing into a tree and creating a small dust cloud upon impact.


    Apollo breathed heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead. The pain from his right hand made him frown, but now was not the time to mull over it. Instead, he focused on the wolf. "That throw was hard¡­ Did I kill it?"


    He walked toward the broken tree and noticed that the black wolf was trying to stand up, but its legs gave out.


    There were broken pieces of wood stuck in its body, and blood constantly flowed down. The wolf was also breathing heavily, and when it noticed the tiny human, it growled, but compared to before, it was very weak and low.


    Looking at its state, Apollo concluded that it was on the verge of death. He looked around and saw a piece of wood with sharp, pointy edges. He went and picked it up. "Let me end your suffering."


    The black wolf seemed to resign to its fate as it let out a final howl.


    Apollo let it howl and waited until its head fell to the ground from exhaustion. Seeing this, the beggar raised the wood and plunged it into the wolf''s head.


    Blood splashed onto his clothes.


    "Sigh¡­ I almost died," Apollo muttered bitterly. Although it may have seemed that he had the upper hand, his life was still on the line, and with one wrong move, the situation could have turned around.


    Fortunately, the black wolf decided to escape instead of fighting him to the death.


    Apollo turned around and started walking back.


    Howl!


    Suddenly, the howl of a wolf echoed in the forest. When the beggar heard this, he glanced back at the black wolf he had just killed. Realization dawned on him. Don''t tell me!


    Another howl sounded, but this time, it came from a different direction. Then, one after another, wolves'' howls reverberated through the forest.


    Apollo gulped, his eyes wide with fear. He looked at the dead wolf and recalled their fight. That guy didn''t escape because he was afraid! He escaped to buy time for his pack to arrive! That''s why the black wolf kept howling even while running away.


    If he had been calm and not clouded by arrogance due to his newfound strength, he would have considered this possibility before deciding to fight a wolf. But regretting it now wouldn''t do him any good. Instead, he took a deep breath to calm his mind.


    "Gotta run now!" Apollo decided to return as soon as possible. He valued his life above all else, and staying here was akin to suicide. Although his body ached from the previous fight, his running speed didn''t slow down; instead, he became even faster.


    He used his Simple Movement Technique to the best of his abilities. He ran up a tree and decided to traverse back by jumping from one tree to another. Wolves had more advantage on land, and as he expected, the moment he started his return, there were already black wolves running after him.


    Howl!


    They howled to the sky while running in the direction of the human scent.


    Apollo looked down and counted them. There were at least a dozen of them, and their speed was fast. They also ran in the same direction but not on the same track, making it easier for them to hunt an escaping prey.


    If he had been a few seconds later in escaping, he would have found himself fighting against those wolves, and the outcome would have been dire.


    Suddenly, the howl of a wolf echoed, louder than the others. Apollo glanced down and noticed a wolf running toward his direction while looking up at him.


    Sh*t! They found me!


    The other black wolves started gathering beneath him, behind him. Thankfully, they couldn''t climb the trees and travel as he did.


    Faster!


    After a while, Apollo could finally see the city wall, and the light of hope shone in his eyes.


    There were still a few more trees before he reached the clearing. Here, there would be only grass. Apollo started to worry that the moment he jumped and landed on the ground, the black wolves would lunge at him. He gritted his teeth and decided to let fate work its wonder.


    Apollo jumped hard, causing the trunk to shatter and his body to propel forward. The black wolves howled angrily in his direction. As he saw the ground closing in, Apollo prepared himself.


    The moment he landed, he rolled forward and started running toward the caravan lining up to enter the gate.


    Breathing heavily, he turned around and saw that the black wolves were looking in his direction but didn''t dare to leave the forest.


    "Woah, thank god," Apollo put a hand over his chest. His heart was beating like never before. His body was even shaking from the nervousness. He noticed that the wolves started to retreat back into the forest, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

 Chapter 30 - 30: Confrontation

    After Apollo hid behind a caravan, he found an alley where he decided to rest. The pain in his hand was severe, and he wanted to treat it as soon as possible.


    Looking at his Alm points, the beggar boy couldn''t help but smile bitterly. "I''m really not good at saving up."


    In his previous life, because of his talent, he didn''t need to worry about saving, as money kept flowing into his bank account. Only now did he realize that being wealthy also has its downsides.


    He brought up his System window and bought a health potion, which cost him five Alm points.


    Apollo glanced at his Alm points and noticed they had dropped from 18 to 13. From the previous 28, they were now down to 13. But buying that movement technique was worth it, he thought as the wound on his right hand started healing at a fast rate.


    "Now, my clothes¡­" He sniffed and smelled the strong stench of blood, both his own and that of the black wolf he had killed. "Do I have to find another robe?"


    Apollo searched the alley but found nothing to use as clothes. He sighed and searched the System store instead. After a while, he found what he was looking for.


    **Cleaning Bead:** A common cultivation item. Once used, it will release Qi that envelops its owner, cleaning the owner''s clothes and body. Needs to absorb Qi for an hour before it can be used again.


    **Alm Points Cost:** 3


    Do I really need to buy this? Apollo faced a dilemma. He wanted to save up so he could buy the item that would help him hide in his beggar spot, but he couldn''t stand reeking of blood. He could choose to wash his clothes, but if he did that, he''d have to do it every time he fought. It would be a waste of time.


    In the end, Apollo sighed and bought the item. White particles appeared in front of him before they coalesced into a white bead. He observed it in his hands for a few seconds before using it.


    It let out a subtle light, and a stream of Qi emanated from it. Apollo was enveloped by the light. A few seconds later, the light returned to the white bead, and the beggar''s clothes became clean. His hair was shiny, and he could even smell a flowery fragrance.


    "This is good," Apollo smiled. He felt like he had just taken a cold shower. Even his teeth were clean, and his robe looked as good as new.


    "I have to go back now and earn more Alm points," Apollo muttered after glancing at his remaining Alm points. There are actually good-hearted people who still give money to the homeless, and he expected that even without that Wish Me Luck item, he could still earn Alm points.


    With his clean clothes and face, he walked more confidently on the street, and no one suspected that he was a beggar. Still, some curiously glanced in his direction, as he was the only kid wandering around at this hour.


    Apollo had to walk for almost an hour to reach the district where his beggar spot was. Whistling a tune, he arrived at his destination. He looked around and saw that the workers from the Filly restaurant were still busy inside. The night was still young, and there were patrons eating inside the restaurant.


    He walked towards his beggar spot beside the restaurant, a place most people wouldn''t even glance at because it was hidden by another building unless they purposely looked at the partition.


    "Finally¡­" Apollo sighed in relief. He sat inside the shelter he had made and decided to rest for a bit. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, he went out and sat where people could see him. He then raised both hands above his forehead and started cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique. Just thinking about the strength he would gain when he reached the 4th-Step Foundation Building excited him.


    Apollo took a deep breath to calm his mind. Following the pattern in his mind, the surrounding Qi began to be absorbed by him. It followed a certain path and circulated through his whole body, bathing his cells and slowly reforming them.


    As peace set in, the outside world became dark, and in his senses, there was only him and the Qi.


    But unbeknownst to him, this peace wouldn''t last long.


    ¡­


    Inside the Filly Restaurant.


    The lights coming from the chandeliers gave off an opulent ambiance in the room. There were two floors inside, with the second floor designed like a balcony to observe the first floor. This was specially renovated to separate classes.


    Filly was currently standing on the second floor, one of her hands on the handrail as she watched her workers clean the tables below.


    A frown appeared on her face when she noticed plates with leftover food. This would never happen at ''that'' restaurant.


    "M-ma''am," Gail hesitatingly called out. Seeing Filly''s serious face made her uncertain if she should share the news.


    "Gail, what is it?" Filly turned towards her.


    "It''s about¡­ the Skyline Savory," Gail trailed off.


    The frown on Filly''s face deepened. "Tell me."


    "They put up a sign on their newly acquired building across the street. They said they are going to open tomorrow noon," Gail replied with worry in her voice.


    "D*mnit!" Filly slammed her hand on the handrail, causing it to crack. "They are fast!"


    "What should we do?" Gail asked.


    Filly took a deep breath to calm down. I still haven''t finished my research on how to further improve the taste of my food¡­ She believed that the food in her restaurant was good enough to be considered one of the top in Klown, but compared to Skyline Savory, it was like heaven and earth.


    Her chefs were also experts, so she believed that if she was going to compete with the restaurant across the street, it had to be through the uniqueness of their food.


    She had to be innovative about this.


    "Do you want me to sneak inside¡­ and find out their recipes?" Gail whispered when she saw that her boss stayed silent.


    "That''s too risky," Filly shook her head. "After that restaurant opens, business will probably slow down. No, it will definitely slow down. I still need time to finish my research, and once I complete it, we will make a comeback."


    "Oh, so are we still going to operate?" Gail asked.


    "Yes, operate as usual." Filly nodded before she remembered something. "About that beggar, let''s go see if he''s still there. I need to let out some steam."


    Hearing this, Gail''s eyes lit up. "Sure!"

 Chapter 31 - 31: Confrontation(Part-2)

    Apollo cultivated peacefully, his breathing steady and quiet. With his legs crossed and hands above his forehead, he resembled a statue, unmoving and calm. The Qi around him was absorbed, encircling before entering through his mouth and nose. Following the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique, it revolved inside his body, strengthening every cell.


    If the scarecrow from the training ground were beside him, it would record his cultivation progress, with the water slowly rising.


    As time passed, the number of people on the street gradually diminished. Some glanced in the beggar boy''s direction, but no one stepped up to give him alms. This changed when the Filly restaurant beside the beggar was almost closed.


    Two women came out from the glass door and immediately noticed the beggar as they turned left.


    "So that''s him," Filly muttered. They walked towards him and stopped a few steps away.


    "Hmm?" Gail, standing behind her, tilted her head to the side, sensing something unusual. She scrutinized the beggar but found nothing amiss besides his posture. "Where have I felt this feeling before?"


    "What do you mean?" Filly asked, curious about the expression on Gail''s face.


    "It''s nothing, really. I just feel a certain familiarity," Gail explained.


    "I see," Filly nodded, making a mental note before glancing back at the beggar. She observed him closely but couldn''t discern the ''familiarity'' Gail mentioned. Perhaps it was just Gail''s imagination?


    "Ehem!" Filly cleared her throat loudly, trying to get the beggar''s attention. "Ehem! Ehem!"


    Still, the beggar remained unresponsive.


    "He''s asleep," Gail pointed out, hearing the steady rhythm of his breathing.


    "Wake him up," Filly ordered, stepping to the side.


    "Alright," Gail pushed her glasses up before she stood in front of the beggar. "Let''s see if you still won''t wake up with this!" She raised her foot to send a swift kick towards the beggar''s head.


    "That''s not what I me¨C" Filly''s eyes widened, caught off guard by Gail''s sudden action. She didn''t manage to finish her words as the kick landed, sending the beggar tumbling to the ground and hitting the wall of the neighboring building.


    Filly''s body visibly tensed up. She assumed her battle stance, using her senses to their fullest. Although she wasn''t as focused on cultivation due to her business pursuits, she was still a 2nd-step Foundation Building cultivator.


    After a few seconds, nothing happened.


    "Nothing?" Filly adjusted her posture, her face slightly red with embarrassment. She turned to Gail with an annoyed expression. "Why did you do that? I told you to wake him up, not kick him!"


    "S-sorry!" Gail bowed, her face flushed with embarrassment. Trained to ''wake up'' people using various methods, the conventional approach hadn''t immediately come to mind.


    Filly sighed while massaging her forehead. "Sigh¡­ let''s see if he''s awake."


    "Aw, what the hell?!" Suddenly, someone shouted, and both women looked at the beggar. He was already on his feet, dusting off his clothes and rubbing his face. He looked at them angrily and shouted, "Don''t you guys have basic respect for human beings?!"


    Filly and Gail exchanged glances before Filly stepped forward.


    "We do, but not to a beggar like you," Filly said matter-of-factly, keeping a wary eye on him, still unsure if there might be an ''expert'' hiding behind him. It was still a suspicion, and nothing was certain yet. There was a chance this beggar was a wandering cultivator or simply an ordinary beggar, and Ned was just being unlucky.


    "Why do people keep discriminating against beggars?" Apollo muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. Despite his words, he knew he might have done the same if he were still in his previous world. He wasn''t a saint to begin with.


    "I will say this once: you need to leave, or don''t blame me if we resort to force," Filly warned, squinting at him.


    "And who are you to tell me that?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, crossing his hands defensively in front of him. Despite his outward demeanor, he felt nervous deep inside. He glanced at the woman in front of him, then at the woman with glasses who looked at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity.


    He sensed that the woman with glasses was strong; if he hadn''t blocked her attack at the last minute, he might have passed out from her kick. His hand that he used for blocking still ached.


    "Me? I''m the owner of Filly restaurant!" Filly announced proudly, puffing up her chest at the mention of her establishment.


    Damn! The boss is here! That''s why she brought a strong bodyguard! Apollo thought quickly. "Oh? Is that so?


    Then see you later!"


    Before Filly could respond, he darted away towards the distance.


    "Gail! Stop him!" Filly shouted, watching as the boy quickly gained distance. He was surprisingly fast!


    "In my own way or the conventional method?" Gail asked, readying herself.


    "Just do whatever you like!"


    "Alright!" Gail nodded, crouching down. With a deep breath, she catapulted herself forward, her movements blurring as she appeared instantly in front of the beggar!


    "Eh?" Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise at the woman''s incredible speed. A hand covered his face suddenly, and then he felt himself falling backward, a sharp impact following with pain shooting through his back.


    Bang! S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gail used her right hand to cover Apollo''s face and pinned him to the ground. "Stay still!"


    "Great!" Filly commented from behind them.


    Gail glanced up at Filly. "What should we do now?"


    After a moment''s thought, Filly spoke decisively. "Let''s bring him inside the restaurant. We can question him there and find out his true identity."


    "Understood," Gail nodded, reaching to grab Apollo. But she recoiled in surprise when something wet and slippery touched her palm, causing her to let go of Apollo''s face. "W-what is that?"


    She glanced down at Apollo and noticed his tongue sticking out as far as it could with his eyes closed.


    Realizing what had happened, Apollo opened his eyes and saw the woman with glasses looking at him with disgust. "Hehe, my bad!"


    "Come here!" Gail grabbed Apollo like a chicken and dragged him inside the restaurant, while Filly opened the door for them.

 Chapter 32 - 32: Confrontation(Part-3)

    Apollo had seen all kinds of films where the protagonist is being interrogated. Question upon questions is being bombarded, intimidation is being used and sometimes even force. But looking at his current situation, this isn''t interrogation, this is a staring contest!


    The beggar squinted his eyes to stare at Filly intently.


    Seeing this, Filly did the same with her hands under her chin.


    Oh? You want some challenge?! Apollo squinted his eyes more so until his face scrunched up and his eyelids to twitch from the intensity.


    Filly was about to squint hard but someone coughed causing her to look behind the beggar boy. She saw Gail looking at them with a strange expression on her face.


    What am I doing? Filly shook her head and took a deep breath.


    "I''ve told you kid, you wouldn''t like it when you disregard my order," Filly said with a smirk on her face.


    "Is the street yours?" Apollo asked, his right eyebrow raised. "From what I know, you only own the restaurant!"


    "Hah? Is that so? Still! You are not allowed near my restaurant!" Filly responded. "Even the city will approve of my actions if I chased you away."


    "Tsk," Apollo couldn''t help but click his tongue. He glanced around the room and noticed that the woman with glasses was already gone. Escaping is going to be hard if that girl is around. He has to think of other ways.


    Seeing the beggar quiet, Filly leaned back on her chair. Deep inside, she''s hoping that the worst case won''t come. Gail went out to see if the ''person'' behind this beggar will try to get him, if he didn''t come then it means one of their speculation was wrong.


    After a while, Gail came back. She shook her head to Filly after finding nothing strange outside the restaurant.


    Filly nodded before she stared at the beggar. If there''s no one outside coming for the beggar, there''s only two suspicions left they have to confirm.


    Is this guy a normal beggar or a wanderer?


    "You¡­ Did you beat up one of my workers, a half-step foundation building cultivator?" Filly asked, her eyes scanning the beggar from head to toe once more.


    "I don''t know," Apollo shrugged his shoulders indifferently.


    "Hey, remember your life depends on this," Filly said with a tap on her table.


    Hearing this, Apollo glanced at her, his eyes cold like that of a wolf looking at his prey. "You don''t get to decide on my life."


    Filly couldn''t help but be shocked. She instinctively looked at her bodyguard. Gail noticed the fear in her eyes so she took a step forward and put a hand on Apollo''s shoulder. She clutched it tightly forcing the beggar to turn to her.


    When Apollo glanced back, the memories of her subduing him easily resurfaced. This made him cower, recalling that he''s still on the losing ground.


    "Hehe, what''s up?" Apollo asked with awkwardness while his hand pushed Gail''s hand. "Anyway, does it matter if I beat that guy up or not? You''re going to kick me out of your premises right? Although technically those are not yours."


    Gail took a step back to listen to their conversation.


    This beggar¡­ Is he a Wanderer or not? But it seems he has the brain for saying that, Filly thought. "You are right. No matter what you say, I will still get rid of you. My restaurant has the image to uphold and your kind is tainting it."


    "Is that so?" Apollo muttered with a smirk on his face. If she really wants to get rid of me? Why bring me here and ask some questions? Can''t she just order this woman with glasses to kill me?


    He glanced back and saw Gail staring at him intently. The way this woman scrutinized him¡­ he looked back at Filly then thought of the situation. They are confirming something.


    But I can''t just lose my Beggar spot, that lightning will kill me! Fighting is also useless because this woman behind him can easily suppress him.


    Apollo started observing the room before his eyes landed on the opened notebook on the table in front of Filly.


    Although it''s upside down, he tried his best to read it.


    Research on how to improve the restaurant''s food? Apollo''s mind worked to its fullest. He recalled that there''s a renovation going on in front of this restaurant with a sign that said "Skyline Savory branch under construction."


    With this thought in mind, the restaurant that he passed by when he went to the forest surfaced in his mind. That restaurant is very grand when it comes to its design, there''s also a sign that says "Skyline Savory."


    His eyes lightened up as he realized something.


    Although he hadn''t tasted the real food here, he knew what the taste of their bread was thanks to Big Chub. There''s only one word that he could think of when describing their taste, simple. There''s only flour, salt, and sugar that he could taste. A common bread that one could make in their household. Even if they try to make it unique, there''s only little that they can do besides the design.


    This tells the condition of their culinary world. There''s a high chance that this also applies to restaurants.


    Seeing that the beggar doesn''t have much to say, Filly waved her hand at Gail. "Get rid of him."


    "To kill him or not?" Gail asked just to make sure.


    "Up to you," Filly said. A wanderer or not, this beggar doesn''t seem to be that strong.


    "Okay," Gail took a step forward and put her hand on Apollo''s shoulder.


    "Wait!" Apollo said aloud, causing Filly to frown.


    "What?"


    "You wouldn''t be able to beat the restaurant in front with your current food," Apollo said with a smirk on his face. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You!" Filly slammed her hand on the table. She felt like she was being belittled by this little beggar. "Hah! What do you know?!"


    "Come here kid," Gail pulled the beggar but Apollo pushed her hand and focused on Filly.


    "Let me stay beside your restaurant and I can help you with that."

 Chapter 33 - 33: Confrontation(Part-4 End)

    "And why would I do that?" Filly raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. Seeing how desperately this beggar wanted to stay beside her restaurant, she was more certain he was not a Wandering Cultivator.


    "That new restaurant will open soon, and I''m pretty sure your business will take a great hit¡­ unless you have some breakthrough in enhancing your food," Apollo said, thinking about Skyline Savory. This was just a guess, but he believed that restaurant was too powerful for Filly to handle. A restaurant situated in the center of the city deciding to expand to another area?


    It just showed how successful their business was.


    Seeing Filly frowning at his words, Apollo confirmed that his guess was true. He had seen Skyline Savory, and the structure and materials used in its building were worth a lot of money.


    "Even if you are right, I still don''t believe you," Filly said, waving her hand dismissively. "Take him away."


    Gail nodded and started pulling Apollo.


    Feeling the woman''s strength, Apollo allowed himself to be dragged. But his eyes remained fixed on the notebook on the table.


    He had only managed to read a handful of information on one page, but with his mind, that was enough to come up with a solution. He really didn''t want to lose his beggar spot. He could just come back after being thrown out, but the woman with glasses seemed to want to kill him.


    "You must have guessed already, the taste is too simple! There''s nothing unique about your food!" Apollo shouted, causing Gail to frown. She raised her hand, about to knock the beggar unconscious when Filly shouted back.


    "Wait!" Filly stared at the beggar strangely. "Have you eaten some of my food?"


    "No," Apollo shook his head. "But I can tell."


    He could tell just based on the bread he had tasted so far and from Filly''s reaction that he was right.


    Filly''s mind became chaotic. She turned to her journal, then looked back at the beggar. "I will hear you out." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She realized she wasn''t going to lose anything by listening. If he was speaking nonsense, Gail could handle him.


    Apollo smiled as he walked up to her table. "May I take a look at your journal?"


    Hesitation appeared on Filly''s face, but considering her business was on the line, she sighed and handed him the notebook. "Do you even have clean hands?"


    "Does it matter?" Apollo rolled his eyes before opening the journal and starting to read.


    Gail stood by Filly''s side and asked, "Why did you give him a chance?"


    "I''m not going to lose anything anyway," Filly answered, glancing at her. Observing her face, she seemed to be troubled by something. "Is something bothering you?"


    "It''s just that¡­" Gail glanced back at the beggar. "He is not normal."


    "What do you mean?" Filly asked.


    "He blocked my attack earlier, and even when I hit him, his body could handle it with ease," Gail explained.


    "Eh?" Filly turned to the beggar. Then perhaps, an eccentric cultivator? Is he really a Wanderer? A Wanderer is a cultivator who travels the world. There are actually many of them, and one of their known traits is wanting to experience life. Often, they pretend to be someone else: a farmer, a sailor, even a beggar.


    This is their way of cultivating. Of course, they must possess a cultivation technique before they wander around.


    Unlike Filly and those students who studied in Martial School, Wanderers have more experience as they have seen a lot.


    There are all kinds of ways of cultivation, and these are just common ones; some even cultivate by tending to flowers. Cultivation is very mysterious, and not even the most experienced can fully understand it.


    Filly didn''t think of another reason anymore. If this beggar really had cultivation, she would just let him be. It would be up to his luck whether the city would discover him or not. The city was being cleaned of beggars, and if he was found, she wouldn''t interfere. Besides, she thought they wouldn''t do anything to him once they found out he was a Wanderer, only if he was.


    The sound of flipping pages echoed for a while before Apollo handed the book back.


    As I thought, their method is pretty simple, Apollo mused. They don''t even have an oven! They only know how to cook over a fire and on a pan. Their use of ingredients is also straightforward¡ªthey just put them in a pan and let them cook. Even more ridiculous is that they only know a handful of spices!


    Apollo sighed, disheartened that the culinary arts of this world were not very advanced.


    "Give me a pen and another journal," Apollo said.


    Gail and Filly looked at each other for a moment before Gail took out another notebook from a drawer along with a pen. She handed them to Apollo and took a step back.


    "Hey, if you fail to impress me¡ª" Filly stopped mid-sentence. There''s a high chance this boy is just pretending to be a beggar, so she refrained from saying more.


    Apollo wasn''t bothered by her. Instead, he thought for a moment before starting to write in the journal. His plan was simple: write down a cooking technique and ingredients. He also added recipes for famous dishes from his previous life like fried chicken and spaghetti.


    Only the sound of his writing reverberated in the room. This lasted for almost 30 minutes before the beggar closed the journal. "Here you go."


    Filly took the journal but didn''t open it yet. She stared intently at the beggar before nodding her head. "If this can really help me, I will let you stay near my restaurant. But if it doesn''t¡­ don''t blame me when you find yourself being eaten by a dog."


    "Yeah, yeah, sure," Apollo nodded uninterestedly.


    "Gail, escort him out," Filly ordered.


    Soon, she was the only one left in the room.


    She glanced at the journal, thinking how crazy it was to expect anything from a beggar. Filly opened it and started reading. At first, she read it without expecting much, but after a few seconds, her eyes widened in disbelief.


    These cooking techniques! And these ingredients! Reading those ''otherworldly'' techniques made her mouth slightly open. Some of them were simple, yet when combined with other techniques, they created a harmony that could enhance the flavor of the food!


    And what is this Fried Chicken and Spaghetti? Filly continued to read, her amazement reaching its peak after she finished the journal.


    "This is too phenomenal¡­ especially how to cook the fried chicken and spaghetti¡­" Filly muttered, saliva threatening to fall from her mouth.

 Chapter 34 - 34: Finding The Ingredients

    Apollo sighed after walking out of Filly''s restaurant. He put a hand on his aching shoulder while turning around to look back. He saw Gail standing behind the glass door, watching his every move.


    That woman was observing him curiously and seemed to be in deep thought.


    "What a creep," Apollo muttered, averting his gaze. He went back to his beggar spot and sat down inside his small shelter. He couldn''t help but think that his day was too eventful. That wasted a lot of his time! He could have been cultivating instead of running his mouth!


    He shook his head and noticed that the building in front of him was very different from when he first saw it. It''s probably the most elegant building in this rundown district.


    "They really know how to flaunt their money," Apollo muttered. He shook his head, then brought up his status screen.


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 10


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None.


    Looking at his remaining Alm points, he felt bitter that his foolish decisions almost cost him his life because of those black wolves, and he also spent some of his Alm points! S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He sighed again before thinking about his mission. Apollo felt frustrated when he thought that he still had to meddle with this body''s family problems. He doesn''t feel any affection for the Leone Family in this world. He is a different person with a different life! But that d*mn System gave him a mission about those troubles!


    "I should go back to cultivating," Apollo murmured as he closed his eyes, crossed his legs, and started practicing the Simple Breathing Technique. If he wanted to finish his mission, he had to reach the 4-step Foundation Building stage. And he had to do it one or two weeks before the mission deadline. Or else!


    Thunder rumbled through the clouds above, casting an electrifying brilliance over the streets of Klown City.


    His mind soon entered a dark world where there was only him and the Qi around. His worries about the restaurant beside him disappeared. He believed that once they adhered to the journal he wrote, they wouldn''t lose to Skyline Savory. Hopefully, they would let him go and not bother him anymore. Well, even if they didn''t agree, he still had other plans to ensure he wouldn''t lose his beggar spot.


    ...


    The next morning.


    The sound of a door opening echoed, and someone stuck their head outside. She looked at the restaurant in front while pushing her glasses up. She noticed that people were already working inside, setting up tables and wiping the glass windows.


    Gail pulled her head back in and walked upstairs to where Filly was.


    "Really¡­" Gail muttered bitterly after opening the door. Filly was slumped over her desk, clearly deep in sleep, evident from her snoring.


    Gail walked over to the table and tapped it a few times, causing Filly to jerk awake and look around the room. "W-what time is it?"


    "It''s 6 am, Miss Filly," Gail said.


    "Oh¡­ great¡­" Filly yawned. She had slept for at most two hours and had to work again. That journal had kept her awake and made her create her future plan. She glanced at the notebook on her table, and her eyes lightened up with hope. If I want to beat Skyline Savory, this is the only solution!


    She took a deep breath to calm her mind and recover some of her strength.


    "Let''s go, we have a lot of work to do!" Filly said, standing up.


    "Oh, okay, but what about the workers here? No one is going to manage them," Gail said with worry in her voice.


    "Right," Filly slapped her forehead and stopped in her tracks. She went back to her seat and sat down. She thought for a moment before glancing at Gail, then at the journal. That beggar¡­ no, I couldn''t call him a beggar. If he has this information and seems to have a cultivation¡­ Perhaps, he''s really a wanderer. With this in mind, she decided not to mess with him.


    Besides, she thought she might need him again.


    "Gail, I need you to find me some ingredients," Filly said.


    "Okay, tell me, Miss Filly," Gail pushed her glasses up.


    "Remember everything I tell you, and promise me that after I tell you these ingredients, you will keep it a secret! Don''t tell anyone, not even my father," Filly said, looking at Gail seriously.


    Feeling the solemn atmosphere, Gail also became serious. She nodded and put her hand on her chest. "I swear with my life and cultivation, no words will come out of my mouth regarding these ingredients!"


    "Good!" Filly smiled before starting to list the common spices and ingredients.


    After hearing all the ingredients, Gail couldn''t help but tilt her head to the side. She couldn''t recognize some of them. Chili? Ginger? Garlic? What are those?


    Seeing her confused expression, Filly explained further. "Yeah, I also don''t recognize some of them. Regardless, I need you to find them as soon as possible."


    "I will do my best!" Gail bowed after saying those words.


    "Good. Call the head chef on your way out," Filly ordered, and Gail nodded.


    As she waited for the chef, she started reading again. Oh right, I still have to make the chefs take an oath not to reveal all this information, Filly thought.

 Chapter 35 - 35: Mayors Castle

    One could say it''s the greatest structure and building in the entire Klown City. This building stood in the middle of the central district. It has a tower on its side, but there''s no bell, only a statue of a man holding a trident.


    This building resembles both a castle and a church. It''s large enough to fit two martial schools. People were already walking on the marble floor that led toward the entrance.


    The guards in front of the metallic door didn''t dare slack off. The morning sunlight reflected off their silver armor that covered them from head to toe, while their eyes scanned the surroundings, especially the officials entering the building.


    A dozen meters away, a man stood beside the open gate. He wore a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest. When all the officials had entered the Mayor''s Castle, the man walked toward the entrance, where one of the guards stopped him.


    "This way," the guard said, leaving his post to lead the man. They walked for a while and stopped in front of a gold-encased door. Another guard stood in front of the giant door, but this one wore gold armor.


    The silver-armored guard bowed before leaving.


    As the gold-encased door opened, the man took a deep breath.


    "Munch!" The sharp, crisp sound of biting echoed through the room, causing the man to glance at the table and see someone eating something that made him frown in disgust. So the rumor is true.


    "Gulp... Welcome, Arke."


    "Good morning, Mayor Klown," Arke said, bowing his head to the mayor of the city. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Klown was large and round, his cheeks rosy and plump with a double chin that wobbled when he looked up at Arke. His clothes were made of expensive materials that strained at the seams. His suit was laced with intricate gold patterns that exuded opulence.


    "Why don''t you take a seat?" Klown pointed at the farthest seat with his knife.


    Arke nodded slowly while his eyes focused on what Klown was eating. Those are hu¡ª


    With a banging sound, Klown stabbed his food and brought it up. Seeing the eyeball, Arke wanted to throw up but held it in. He didn''t want to embarrass himself at his first meeting with the mayor.


    "Thank you for the offer, but I just ate," Arke said, bowing his head.


    "If you say so," Klown muttered before putting the eyeball in his mouth.


    The mayor closed his eyes to savor the food in front of him. He didn''t speak again, continuing to finish his ''meal.'' After eating a finger, leaving only the bone, he put it back on the plate and burped aloud.


    He couldn''t help but lick his bloodied mouth. "Ah, this is really delicious."


    When Arke heard this, he looked to the side, not daring to glance at the fatso who could eat human meat like it was nothing. Is he cultivating some demonic technique? If he is, why are the Martial Schools not doing anything? This doubt remained in his heart.


    Klown wiped his mouth with a white towel, staining it with blood, and said, "I will get straight to the point."


    Arke turned back to the mayor and waited.


    "I want you to kill that boy before the Advancement Examination. Finish what you didn''t finish. This is going to be your last chance," Klown said, staring Arke dead in the eyes.


    Arke was visibly shaken when he heard the mayor''s words. "I-I will definitely kill that boy!"


    "You have to. You know what will happen to you if you can''t succeed, right?" Klown asked with a smirk.


    Arke nodded slowly, glancing at the human bones piled up in front of the mayor.


    "Then go now," Klown waved his hand, and Arke stood up to bow before leaving the room.


    As the sound of the door closing echoed, Klown''s eyes became cold, and bloodlust erupted from him. The sunlight that passed through the windows turned red while the temperature dropped.


    "Soon, this world will be mine."


    ¡­


    Apollo opened his eyes after a night of cultivation. He brought up his Status screen and saw that his cultivation was still the same, but he could feel that he was stronger than yesterday.


    "I should get something to eat," Apollo muttered. He left his beggar spot and was about to go to Big Chub when he noticed the line in front of the newly opened restaurant. "Oh? There are already a lot of customers?"


    He glanced to the side and saw that Filly''s restaurant had fewer customers than before. They''re already taking the hit¡­ Skyline Savory is really an influential restaurant, Apollo thought with a shake of his head. He started walking in the direction of Big Chub.


    But he was confident in the journal that he wrote.


    After a few minutes of walking, he saw the stall where Big Chub was selling. He hurriedly walked towards him and greeted him with a smile. "What''s up, Big Chub!"


    Hearing the shout, Big Chub glanced at the sound and saw Apollo. He looked at his clothes and couldn''t help but be surprised. "Is that a new robe? You look much cleaner for a beggar."


    "Hehe, it''s because not all beggars are the same," Apollo said. He started choosing the bread on the table and handed his money to Big Chub. "By the way, do you have some gossip you can share with me?"


    Big Chub rolled his eyes before he focused on the beggar. "You are lucky."


    "Why?" Apollo asked before biting the bread in his hand.


    "The city is cleaning up the beggars on the streets. Haven''t you noticed? There aren''t many beggars wandering around anymore," Big Chub explained.


    Actually, Apollo had already noticed and he also tried to find other beggars but found only three or four of them. This made him think about what was happening.


    "What they''re doing is too extreme. I wonder why¡­" Apollo muttered, though it sounded muffled because of the bread in his mouth.


    "I agree with you," Big Chub sighed. "In the past, they did take care of the beggars on the street but not to the point where they specifically looked for them."


    "I see," Apollo frowned. "Is there going to be a big event soon?"


    "Why do you ask?" Big Chub questioned but still answered the boy''s inquiry. "Oh, come to think of it, the Advancement Examination is going to be held soon."


    "Advancement Examination?" Apollo tilted his head to the side.


    "It''s where the Student Cultivators in the Martial School will participate. They must prove that their cultivation is not stuck and that they are making great progress. One will fail if their cultivation is still the same. I''m not particular about the details of the examination, but I heard there''s a combat test."


    "Oh? It sounds interesting," Apollo said, taking one last bite of his food.

 Chapter 36 - 36: Trying the Ingredients!(Part-1)

    "It sure is an interesting event," Big Chub muttered while handing Apollo his change.


    "Thanks," Apollo took the change and put it in his pocket. "Then how does one enter a Martial School?"


    Hearing the question, Big Chub glanced at the beggar strangely. "Don''t tell me you want to enter?"


    "Haha, I''m just curious," Apollo waved his hand.


    "Well, there''s no customer besides you, so let''s chat more," Big Chub said. "First of all, you need to have the talent for cultivation. This comes to only one in a thousand people. Then you have to go to any Martial School. If you prove to them that you have the talent, they will accept you."


    "I see," Apollo nodded.


    "Anything else?" Big Chub sighed just in time to notice the beggar''s hand slowly moving toward one of his breads. "Hey! Hands!"


    Apollo swiftly waved it over the bread. "There are flies everywhere."


    Big Chub''s eye twitched. This beggar!


    "One piece of bread, please!" someone shouted from the side, and Big Chub handed the other customer a bread with a smile on his face.


    Apollo took this chance to snatch a piece of bread and put it in his pocket.


    When the vendor glanced at him, Apollo asked another question. "What about the library? Does this city have one?"


    "This city? Are you not from here? Is that why you don''t know anything?" Big Chub shook his head and answered the question. "Library¡­ that is the place filled with books, right? Only Martial Schools have it and those people with wealth and power."


    Apollo sighed in disappointment upon hearing the answer. If I really wanted to fully understand cultivation, do I really need to sign up for this so-called Martial School?


    He could buy books in the store, but they are too expensive!


    He brought up his System Store while still talking to Big Chub and sorted out the items to Cultivation Books.


    **Basic of Cultivation:** Understand the foundation of cultivation. Qi, enlightenment, and spirit will be in your hands.


    **Alm Points Needed:** 100 Alm points.


    This is the cheapest book that can help him understand cultivation, but he needed a hundred Alm points!


    What he just needed to know were the very basics!


    Apollo sighed and suddenly remembered the book that Big Chub had given him, which contained information about the cultivation stages, maps, and other relevant details. "If the library is strictly regulated, then it means books are also controlled, right?"


    "Right," Big Chub nodded.


    "Then how did you get your hands on the book you gave me?" Apollo asked.


    "Well¡­" Big Chub scratched his cheek while averting his eyes from the beggar.


    "Was it stolen?!" Apollo''s eyes widened.


    "Shh! Keep your mouth shut!" Big Chub hurriedly made a quiet gesture, afraid that others might hear their conversation. He looked to his left and right before lowering his voice. "You see¨C"


    "Did you give it to me to get rid of the book?" Apollo squinted at the vendor. This fatso gave me some trouble!


    "Do you want some more bread? Here!" Big Chub handed two pieces of bread to the beggar, and of course, Apollo immediately took them.


    "Hmph! I will accept your bribe even though it''s against my will!" Apollo said, stuffing the two breads inside his now bulging pocket.


    Against your will? Then why did you take it so fast?! Big Chub glared at the beggar.


    "Cough! So, how did you get it?" Apollo went back to the topic.


    "Just to clarify, only books with cultivation content are not allowed in the public, though it''s still hard for us common people to get hold of some books," Big Chub said.


    "Okay, and?" Apollo didn''t let the vendor change the topic.


    "Come on, give some respect to your elders!" Big Chub said assertively, but the beggar remained adamant.


    Apollo continued to look at the vendor with raised eyebrows.


    "Okay, okay! I''ll tell you!" Big Chub gave up. "It''s because of those guys."


    Apollo looked back and saw some young men and women wearing their martial uniforms. They were laughing merrily as they walked in the distance. Furthermore, their eyes turned to disgust when they saw the normal people glancing in their direction.


    "They had a fight among each other. They made quite a ruckus, injuring some ordinary people. That book that I gave you, it''s probably from them. I just found it under this table." Big Chub tapped the table where his breads were placed.


    Apollo looked at the vendor with doubt in his eyes. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Believe me or not, that''s what really happened," Big Chub said. "But how come there''s a lot more martial students here than usual¡­"


    Apollo glanced in the direction where the group of student cultivators was heading and couldn''t help but wonder how Filly''s Restaurant was currently doing.


    "I should go back. See ya, Big Chub!" Apollo waved his hand before running back to his beggar spot.


    Big Chub watched as the beggar disappeared into the distance. Did I see wrong? His eyes became black; I probably imagined it before that his eyes were blue. He shook his head and started attending to his other customers.


    ...


    Filly was currently standing on the second floor of her restaurant. She couldn''t help but sigh, seeing that there were only a few of her regular customers eating below.


    That Skyline Savory branch in front of her restaurant was really such a beast that on its opening day, most of her customers had changed sides.


    She gritted her teeth in frustration. "That beggar better not be lying!"


    Filly placed her hope on the journal that Apollo wrote for her. The methods and new cuisine in it were so heavenly defying, and if the method written in the notebook was really true, she would owe that beggar a lot.


    It had been a few hours since Gail left, and she couldn''t wait any longer. Gail had gone out to procure the ingredients so they could start immediately to recreate what was written in the journal.


    With the sound of the door opening, Filly glanced at the entrance and her eyes lit up. Gail was wearing a robe that covered her face. In her hand was a bamboo bag filled with vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients Filly couldn''t recognize.


    Gail went up the stairs and the two of them entered Filly''s room.


    "Did you acquire everything?" Filly asked, worry evident in her voice.


    Gail took off her robe and shook her head in disappointment. "Unfortunately not. There are some ingredients not available in the market."


    "Then what did you get?"


    Gail went to the table and began taking out the things inside the bamboo bag. "I only managed to get this coconut, lime, this red pointy fruit, these grasses with white fruits on their ends, and this¡­ and this¡­"


    She took them out one by one while describing them.


    "That must be what he called chili," Filly said, holding the red thin pointy fruit. "Can this thing even be eaten? Where did you get this?"


    Gail appeared embarrassed. "Well, the illustration from the journal matched one of the ingredients we used for poison concocting¡­ so I went to my master and asked for some."


    "P-poison?!" Filly dropped the ''fruit.'' "That d*mn beggar! How dare he! Does he want to kill my customers?!"

 Chapter 37 - 37: Trying Out the Ingredients!(Part-2)

    "Calm down, Miss Filly," Gail hurriedly said. "Although we use this so-called chili in our poison making, it is actually not poisonous."


    Upon hearing this, Filly calmed down. "Oh, is that so?"


    "Yes, Miss," Gail nodded. "It has quite a funny taste though; it''s as if¡ª"


    She couldn''t finish her words as Filly raised the red pointy ''fruit'' and put it in her mouth. She started chewing, her face turning curious. After she swallowed it, she glanced at Gail in confusion. "I didn''t taste anything, and why is your face like th¡ª"


    "Ahh!" Filly shouted, her face red like a tomato. She clutched her neck and let out her tongue, which shared the same hue. "Whash haphenig?!"


    "M-Miss, take a deep breath and blow on your tongue! Wait for me here, I''ll go get some milk!" Gail said in a hurry. She was surprised that Filly had eaten the red pointy ''fruit''. She was about to explain its taste, but Filly didn''t listen! But this was not the right time to mull over what had just happened.


    After reassuring her boss, she hurriedly made her way out and went to the kitchen to procure some two-headed goat milk.


    Filly put her tongue back in and started blowing on it. She couldn''t understand the feeling, but that stingy taste evidently lessened. However, her throat and tongue still burned.


    When Gail came back with a glass of milk, Filly immediately took it and drank it in one gulp. As her gulping sound echoed, Gail sighed in relief.


    "Hah," Filly put down the glass of milk, her breathing heavy and eyes watery. "A-are you sure this is not poisonous? I feel like I''m dying!"


    "Y-yes, Miss," Gail scratched her cheek. "I was about to tell you its effects and taste, but¡­"


    Filly glanced at the chilies on the table and couldn''t help but shiver. She took a deep breath to calm down. If she had known that the red pointy ''fruit'' had that taste, she wouldn''t have hastily eaten it. "I was hasty. But are you sure that kid is not trying to do something funny?"


    If one of the ingredients already has this effect, what about the others? Filly began to doubt the authenticity of the journal, especially if she didn''t recognize some of them. But if that beggar is really a Wanderer, a cultivator pretending to be a beggar who has traveled the world, then it makes sense that she doesn''t understand the ingredients on the table.


    Shaking her head, Gail glanced at the plants and ''fruits''. "But one thing is for sure, these ingredients are not poisonous."


    "I see," Filly nodded. "Then where did you get the other ingredients?"


    "I found some of them outside the city, in that area filled with grasses and plants," Gail explained, describing where she had found each ingredient on the table. She had found the coconut in the market, as it''s one of the fruits that has become popular these days.


    After explaining the origins of the ingredients, Gail glanced at Filly strangely. "Did the beggar write the effects and taste in the journal?"


    "Well, he did," Filly answered while avoiding her gaze.


    "Then why didn''t you¡­" Gail glanced at the chili on the table before looking back at Filly, who was now glaring at her.


    "Don''t say another word about it!" Filly said. That is going to be one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. Just thinking about how she looked after eating that stingy fruit made her face red.


    "S-sorry," Gail bowed.


    "I was lost in excitement, I forgot about what I read," Filly explained and cleared her throat. "Anyway, at least we got something we could try. These ingredients should be enough to make our food good."


    "Probably," Gail nodded.


    "Call the chef while I study the journal," Filly ordered, and Gail left the room. She then sat down behind her table and started reading the journal. According to the beggar, these ingredients can complement each other, and it''s up to them how they are going to use them. But there''s also a recommendation in the journal that the kid wrote. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This coconut, for example, could be used to make something like ''oil''.


    They have to cut it open and take out the delicious juice from it along with the coconut meat. Then they will have to blend the coconut meat with water until it becomes thick and creamy. After that, they will have to take out the coconut milk by ''straining'' the meat. The coconut meat, on the other hand, can be used as flour, which is surprising as she thought flour could only be made from grain.


    Anyway, after they take the coconut milk, they will have to cook it for 1 to 2 hours on low heat while constantly stirring it until the coconut milk darkens. The ''oil'' will then separate from the coconut milk and will stay on top.


    There''s still the process of removing the lump from the coconut oil. Just one ingredient already involves a lot of steps. Will it get more complicated if she has to use all these ingredients? Filly glanced at the ingredients on the table before she went back to reading.


    If she were to compare the process in the journal to the methods she knows, it is miles apart, with the journal taking an enormous lead. She thought that having high-quality meat like two-headed goat, Flame Rooster, Ice Jackal, and other monsters was enough to make delicious food just by cooking them over the fire or in a pan.


    However, the journal suggests otherwise, indicating that simple ingredients are more than enough.


    Soon, a knock came on the door, and Gail entered with a man who had a large belly. The man took off his white hat and bowed his head. "Miss Filly, you wished to see me?"


    Filly closed the journal and put it in a safe that only she could open.


    "Yes, we are going to experiment with something," Filly said. "Do you know how to make a dish with these ingredients?"


    Filly pointed at the ingredients on the table.


    The man, known as Temor, had black hair with streaks of white here and there. His eyes were squinty, and even when he fully opened them, not much could be seen. He was one of the chefs in the main household of Kleinford, the family to which Filly belonged, and he had been asked to move here at Miss Filly''s request.


    He glanced at the ingredients on the table and shook his head. "I only recognize a few of them, but I don''t know how to make dishes with them."

 Chapter 38 - 38: 9 Percent Luck(Part-1)

    Most of them believe that they only need great ingredients to make delicious food. Temor was considered a great chef even when he was still with the Kleinford Family. He knew how to maintain a constant temperature while cooking and was skilled at handling monster meat, easily separating it from the bones.


    But when he glanced at the table, nothing came to mind.


    "Are we going to experiment with this? Create a new dish?" Temor was quick to pick up.


    "Yes," Filly nodded. She stood up and started walking towards the door. "Let''s go."


    Gail took the ingredients and followed her boss, while Temor stood there for a moment before following them.


    Once they were inside the kitchen, Gail laid out the ingredients and Filly glanced at Temor. "Whatever happens here and everything I say stays here, got it?" She looked at Temor menacingly.


    "Y-yes," Temor answered with a nod while glancing at Gail. To be honest, he was more afraid of her than his boss. "But if I may say something."


    "What is it?" Filly asked.


    "All we need is better monster meat. The more we have, the more dishes we can serve," Temor suggested. He knew about the situation at their restaurant due to the Skyline Savory branch that had just opened in front of them. If they had better quality monster meat than that restaurant, the quality of their food would also improve.


    There was no need to experiment with ingredients that most chefs didn''t even recognize.


    Monster meat is very different from normal animals as it has a more flavorful taste, an out-of-this-world experience for those who try it for the first time. And if one wants to eat more delicious meat, they need to find a stronger monster than the previous one. This is one of the reasons why Skyline Savory is so famous: they have a source that provides them with strong monsters.


    They also have great chefs who have cultivated the fire technique, allowing them to cook the monster meat without changing temperature. Just like Temor. However, Filly only had him.


    "I have thought of that," Filly said. "But we don''t have a steady supply of high-quality monster meat. We have to manually hire Hunters who can''t even guarantee they''ll bring back what we need. That also takes time, and by the time they come back, we already have our customers."


    Hearing this, Temor sighed, knowing his boss was right. Just the name Skyline Savory was enough to drive any restaurant owner mad, let alone having a branch open in front of them.


    "So, Miss, this is the method you came up with?" Temor asked, glancing at the ingredients on the table. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, well technically¡­" Filly recalled the beggar beside her restaurant. She didn''t want to rely on him yet unless she had to. She also needed to confirm if what the kid wrote was true. "Let''s get started. I''ll tell you what to do."


    "Alright," Temor nodded, and Gail went to stand in front of the door.


    "Let''s start with this coconut," Filly pointed at the coconut on the table.


    "Okay, what about these other ingredients?" Temor asked.


    "Set them aside for now. What we need to do is make ''oil'' out of it," Filly answered.


    "Oil? What is that?" Temor was confused. Isn''t this a fruit that you can drink?


    "It''s something essential for cooking," Filly explained while recalling the contents of the journal. Even she was confused about its use. "Cut the coconut in half¡ª"


    Soon, they started the process of making oil. Filly instructed her chef according to the method in the journal.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Apollo was cultivating beside Filly''s restaurant with his hands raised above his forehead. There were already five bronze coins on it, increasing his Alm points by five.


    But his eyes kept twitching, and a frown appeared on his face. In the end, he sighed and opened his eyes. "They are too noisy."


    The number of people lining up in front of the Skyline Savory branch increased as time passed, causing the noise they created to disturb his cultivation. At first, he could handle it, but it didn''t take long before he got frustrated.


    Apollo squinted and noticed that the restaurant was packed to the brim with people. "This f*cking restaurant! Bring me back my peace!"


    He started to wonder if Filly would succeed in copying the recipes and methods in the journal that he wrote for them. If they succeeded, he would talk to them about maintaining quietness.


    The beggar clenched his fist and noticed the five bronze coins in his hand. "Oh? Some people are really generous," Apollo muttered while glancing back at the restaurant. Well, if they could provide me with some Alm points, then it''s good.


    Suddenly, an idea came to mind. He glanced at the number of people and saw that there were also Martial Students lining up. Those people were probably rich, as they could afford to eat in this kind of place. With this in mind, Apollo smiled and decided to buy the Wish Me Luck items that could increase his luck by a random percentage.


    He opened up his System store and bought the item. A light blue translucent interface materialized in front of him, asking if he would like to use the item.


    "Use it," Apollo muttered. The translucent screen disappeared, then another screen materialized, displaying the countdown for the Wish Me Luck item.


    "Wish Me Luck has been activated!


    The heavens will bless the host while hell will pull the curses away from you. The host''s luck will increase, but the percentage is random.


    Luck Increase Percentage: 9%


    Time duration: 1 hour."


    A 9 percent increase in luck? I wonder what will happen, Apollo thought with a smile on his face. With this item activated, he disregarded the noise in the surrounding area and went back to cultivating. There was still the mission that he had to take care of, and he didn''t want to slack off, especially when he had to kill a person who was clearly stronger than him.

 Chapter 39 - 39: 9 Percent Luck(Part-2)

    If the beggar kid thought he could remain undisturbed despite the noise in front of him, he couldn''t be more wrong.


    Ten minutes after he activated the Wish Me Luck item, a commotion erupted outside the Skyline Savory branch.


    The shouting was so loud that the frown on Apollo''s face deepened. What now?! He opened his eyes to witness two groups glaring at each other. He wouldn''t have been surprised if sparks were flying from their eyes.


    Apollo glanced at their outfits and couldn''t help but sigh. The old clich¨¦ of two groups from different schools starting a fight once they see each other. Is there anything new? Shaking his head, he was about to go back to cultivating and tried to ignore them, but realization kicked in, making him watch the scene in front of him in earnest.


    He recognized one of the groups wearing black and white uniforms with a serpent insignia on their chests. They were from the Great Serpent Cultivation School, and the man in front of them seemed to be the leader, sporting brown hair and brown eyes. His build was above average, but the way he carried himself exuded great confidence.


    Moreover, the man''s face could also be considered handsome.


    The other group, on the other hand, wore dark blue uniforms with crossed swords on top of a shield insignia on their chests. Their group leader was a two-meter-tall man with muscles that threatened to burst from his uniform. He sported short black hair and hawk-like eyes, with a mustache adorning his mouth.


    "Ha! I knew it, I can smell your disgusting face even from a mile away!" the mustache man said to the handsome man in front of him with a smirk on his face. "Why don''t you guys scram?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah! Go away!"


    "Serpent my *ss! More like a worm!"


    "Hahaha! Right!"


    His companions shouted from behind the mustached man. They kept ridiculing the group in front of them, who shouted back.


    The handsome man raised a hand for his companions to stop. "We are going to end up like dogs if we keep shouting like them."


    This comment infuriated the mustache man''s group, though they were silenced by their leader''s glare. "Michael, two lions can''t stay on the same mountain. You know that, right?" the mustache man said to the serpent group leader.


    Michael nodded. "Of course, I know that idiom. That''s why we will never leave. It''s either you leave, or we fight."


    "Boss Yohan, let''s fight them!" Yohan''s companion shouted from behind, but he just waved his hand, causing them to shut up.


    "Haha, you really are daring," Yohan said with a laugh. However, in the next second, his expression became cold and serious. A threatening aura emanated from him, and his muscles visibly tensed up. "Can''t wait till we meet at the Advancement Examination, huh? If you really want to fight, then let''s fight!"


    The normal humans watching from the side couldn''t help but take a step back from the immense pressure the big guy emitted. Even the other martial students on the scene reacted the same way.


    This pressure! Michael frowned as he felt the intense pressure. "You¡­ have you reached the 4th step?"


    "Spot on, my boy!" Yohan laughed aloud. "I was wrong when I said there were two lions here. In fact, there''s not even a lion anymore¡ªI became a f*cking dragon! So fear me! We are no longer equals, Michael!"


    The serpent students behind Michael couldn''t help but clench their teeth. Fear engulfed them as the pressure from Yohan was too intense. Just the thought of being beaten up by him made them hesitate. Some even took a step back and didn''t dare to make another sound.


    Michael noticed the movement from behind him and knew that if he lost here, they would no longer look at him the same way and would probably never see him as a leader anymore.


    Yohan saw everything and a smile appeared on his face. He looked at Michael''s companions and said, "You guys follow this guy? Can''t you see that he is nothing in front of me? So, do you want to leave, or do you want to fight?"


    Hearing this, Michael''s companions looked at each other. They only followed Michael because, first of all, he is famous at the school and also a 3rd step Foundation Building cultivator who has a lot of potential to reach greater heights.


    But in the next moment, their eyes widened.


    "Don''t turn my words on me," Michael said, his eyes looking seriously at the mustache man. "Do you think you are the only one who advanced?"


    Apollo, who was watching and listening to all this, couldn''t help but clench his fists in excitement. Here comes the twist! He had been watching the scene like he was watching a movie from his previous life. But the experience and drama that he was witnessing were definitely better because it was happening in real life!


    "What¡­ don''t tell me?" Yohan appeared surprised.


    With a smirk on his face, Michael''s body was suddenly surrounded by a blue haze, accompanied by the sound of hissing from a snake. When the Great Serpent students heard this sound, they couldn''t help but shout in excitement. "It''s the Great Serpent Technique that only those who reached Qi Condensation can learn!"


    "Really? Isn''t that Battle Technique very hard to learn?" one of the serpent students asked with amazement in his voice.


    "Yes, but once learned, their battle strength will increase exponentially! Even though it''s still the beginner stage, Michael''s strength should be enough to compare to a 4th-step Foundation Building stage!"


    "But how come Michael can learn it even though he''s still at 3rd step?"


    "I was saving this for my Advancement, but I don''t think I can hide it now," Michael said as a light blue translucent serpent emerged from the haze around him. It encircled his whole body, behaving like a real snake before glaring at the mustache man. "Although this technique is only for Qi Condensation, once one has enough understanding and talent, they will be able to learn it."


    That''s the twist I''m talking about! Apollo thought in excitement.


    Yohan''s face darkened. He wanted to humiliate the man in front of him, but reality proved him wrong. Both of them had something up their sleeves that made the situation even worse.


    "What should we do?" one of his companions asked.


    "Shut up!" Yohan glared and slapped the person who asked the question, causing the man to fly through the air and land beside the beggar.


    "Eh?" Apollo appeared confused when the man landed beside him.


    "You really are something. As expected of my rival," Yohan said to Michael emotionlessly. He glanced around and noticed they had already gathered quite a number of spectators. Even the manager of the Skyline Savory branch came out, a frown on his face, clearly very angry. "But we should stop here. We''re disrupting the appetite of other patrons."


    "What''s with the sudden change in attitude?" Michael asked with a smirk on his face. "Afraid?"


    "No, I''m more than eager to kill you right now, but I don''t want to shed blood in this place and risk being banned from eating here," Yohan explained while glancing at the manager.


    "I see," Michael nodded. "Let''s settle this in the Examination, and I will make sure to crush you there!"


    "Let''s go! I''ve lost my appetite," Yohan waved his hand and walked away, followed by his underlings.


    Michael also decided not to eat and left with his companions behind him.


    "Wait! Are you just going to leave this guy here?!" Apollo shouted, but no one bothered looking in his direction. "What the hell?"

 Chapter 40 - 40: 9 Percent Luck(Part-3)

    Apollo glanced at the passed-out martial student beside his feet. His face was swollen and red from the slap from that mustache guy. It seemed like he had just slapped a fly away from his face.


    Don''t they have some sort of camaraderie? The beggar shook his head before he went back to cultivating. But the moment he sat down, continuous notifications appeared in front of him.


    "You received 1 Alm point!"


    "You received 1 Alm point!"


    "You received 1 Alm point!"


    "You received¡­"


    This lasted until twelve notifications sounded.


    Apollo couldn''t help but be confused. "What''s happening?" He glanced at his hand, but there were no coins that had ''unknowingly'' appeared. Then his eyes landed on the man sleeping next to him. Bronze coins had fallen out of his pocket, amounting to twelve bronze coins!


    That¡­ that guy is an angel! the beggar thought, his eyes almost tearing up. Apollo''s view about that guy named Yohan changed. He started to wonder when they''re going to come back and slap¡ªsend another good soul to do another good deed.


    Apollo smiled as he started to imagine dozens of passed-out men beside his feet with their coins falling from their pockets. He would be rich in Alm points by then!


    But is this only the 9 percent luck? Apollo felt that it was too little. However, when he thought about it, it made sense. His luck had only increased by 9 percent, not to a shocking point of 20 percent and above. If he had that increase in luck, he would really question the system.


    With a sigh, he noticed that the people lining up in front of the Skyline Savory branch had quieted down. Although there was still noise, compared to before, it was quieter. He also noticed the man standing beside the door, looking in his direction with a frown on his face. That man had a visibly bald patch on his head, thick eyebrows, and a low flat nose.


    But the way he stood there, he emitted a certain kind of vibe that Apollo could certainly understand. From his attire, he seemed to be rich, and from the way the patrons looked at him with respect¡­ Apollo concluded that the manager of the restaurant in front of him was right outside looking in his direction.


    What? Don''t tell me this guy also wanted to get rid of me to maintain their image? Ha! Do you think I will be scared with that stare of yours? Apollo smirked. But just to make sure¡­


    He picked up the coins on the table and stood up while whistling a tune. Apollo walked into the distance before he hid behind a building where he could see the manager. Only when the manager went inside the restaurant did Apollo come back a few feet away from his beggar spot to cultivate and gain Alms at the same time.


    "Sh*t, I have to raise my strength as soon as possible!" Apollo muttered and didn''t bother the man sleeping beside him. Following the methods in the Simple Breathing Technique, he guided the Qi around him to strengthen his body. Soon, he entered the blank space with only him and his partner, the Qi.


    ...


    A groaning sound emerged, and a young man about 17 or 18 years old woke up with dizziness, his vision blurry for a second before he realized it was already night. While still in a daze, a stinging pain attacked his face, causing him to grit his teeth. He reached out his hand, touched his face, and found it swollen and numb.


    "Argh, sh*t! I have to get back!" the man muttered and did his best to stand.


    "Hey," someone said, making him turn to the sound. He saw a kid wearing a dark grey robe with black hair and black eyes that looked at him innocently. "C-can you spare me some coins, Mister?"


    The man glanced at the boy from head to toe, and a frown appeared on his face. "Fck off, you fcking beggar!" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "F*ck you too!" Apollo cursed back.


    "F*ck you more!" the martial student shouted while walking away.


    "Fck you whatever the fck your name is!" Apollo raised a hand and flipped the middle finger.


    Although the man couldn''t understand what it meant, he copied the beggar and did the same thing. "Fck you, beggar! If I wasn''t in a hurry and injured, I would have beaten the sht out of you!"


    "Come here and do it!" Apollo shouted. "And f*ck your mom!"


    That comment caused the martial student to stop and glare at the beggar. "What did you say? Don''t you ever bring up my mom!"


    "Okay, I won''t!" Apollo shouted.


    The man stared at the beggar for a while before he shook his head and hurriedly walked away. He had to cultivate to prepare for the advancement examination and couldn''t waste this night, as this was the only time of the day when he could cultivate in peace.


    However, a few steps away, that beggar shouted again.


    "F*ck your mom! Your father! Your sister! And everyone in your family! You cheap ss motherfcker!" Apollo''s voice reverberated in the street, and the other people walking couldn''t help but turn in the beggar''s direction.


    The man''s swollen face became redder, and veins threatened to erupt on his forehead. He turned around angrily, but the beggar was already at the end of the street with a middle finger up in the air!


    "Argh!" the man wanted to shout, but the pain on his face caused him to grunt instead.


    Ten minutes later, Apollo came back beside Filly''s restaurant, a smile on his face and a bun in his hand.


    "So that''s what they feel when they beg but don''t get what they want," Apollo muttered before taking a bite from his bread. That was actually the first time he had begged someone to give him coins since he got the system. Actually, that was the first time he had begged someone in his entire two lives. It felt awful to be rejected, especially when he also got cursed. Can''t he just reject me nicely?


    Shaking his head, he sat down and finished his food.


    "Sigh¡­ that item ended two hours ago, and I only got 12 Alm points," Apollo expected to get more after getting the coins that fell from that man''s pocket as he still had the time. However, no more surprising events had happened.


    That''s when he noticed a scroll on the side where that martial student had slept. Eh? What is this? Apollo picked it up, curiosity in his eyes. He opened it and read the contents.


    "Official Invitation For The Advancement Examination!


    Prove your Cultivation and Strength. Every student must participate in order to fully assess the Martial School and its Martial Students. Those who rank at the top will receive the following prizes:


    Top 1: Advanced Cultivation Bead, a Private Cultivation Abode in the inner sector of your Martial School (The resources are provided by the officials.), a chance to choose a cultivation technique from Klown''s Cultivation Library, a one-on-one meeting with Mayor Klown.


    Top 2: Advanced Cultivation Bead, a chance to choose a cultivation technique from Klown''s Cultivation Library, a one-on-one meeting with Mayor Klown.


    Top 3: Advanced Cultivation Bead, a chance to choose a cultivation technique from Klown''s Cultivation Library.


    Top 4 & 5: Advanced Cultivation Bead.


    This invitation must be kept by your side at all times. Once lost, you won''t be able to participate in the Advancement Examination!"


    Apollo shook his head at the unfortunate soul who left it here, probably that cheap man who wouldn''t spare a coin for him. The beggar shamelessly forgot that he had stolen that man''s money!


    "But what am I going to do with this?" Apollo muttered. After finishing his bread, he was about to throw the scroll inside under his roof when an idea came to mind.


    "What if?"

 Chapter 41 - 41: Will It Work?(Part-1)

    Inside Filly''s restaurant, in the kitchen, two women and one man glanced at the almost transparent liquid in the glass jar. There were at least five coconuts on the side, severed in half with their contents gone.


    "Did we succeed?" Gail asked.


    Temor glanced at their boss, Filly, who now had the journal in her hand and kept glancing back and forth from it to the glass jar.


    "Miss Filly, did we succeed?" Temor asked, sweat dripping down his forehead. They had been cooking these coconuts for a few hours now and had started from scratch a few times until they managed to make the whitish transparent liquid inside the glass jar.


    "I think so," Filly answered, hesitation in her voice.


    "You think so?" Hearing the answer caused Temor to sigh.


    "The journal said that there are two types of oil that can be used from coconuts: unrefined and refined. It is recommended that we go for refined coconut oil as it''s better for high-temperature cooking, and that''s what we did," Filly explained. "It''s just that, how are we going to use it for cooking? The journal didn''t say anything."


    Gail and Temor couldn''t help but be speechless. We have been cooking this thing without knowing its use? And there''s a lot of process involved! They had to filter and heat, then do it again and again. Temor''s Qi was on the verge of depletion; if they repeated the process one more time, he would definitely pass out!


    "Can I take a look at that?" Temor asked for the journal.


    "N¡ª" Filly was about to decline, but looking at the current situation, she had to trust in the journal and her chef. "Okay." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She handed the notebook to Temor, and he started reading it right away. "Thank you, Miss!"


    Temor was also curious about the contents inside the journal, as his boss was overprotective of it. What is the content that makes Miss Filly like this? With this in mind, he started reading and soon his eyes widened, just like Filly''s when she first read it. He couldn''t believe that something like this existed!


    Whoever wrote this¡­ although Temor is not sure if everything is true, just reading it is enough to make him believe everything!


    "So, did you find how to use it?" Filly asked, worry evident in her eyes.


    The question woke Temor. He looked up and shook his head before he went back to reading again. "Not yet."


    "O-okay," Filly said and waited.


    After a while, Temor sighed, amazement in his voice. "Whoever wrote this is a genius or a fool. However, I did find the use of this so-called oil."


    Hearing this, Filly''s eyes lit up. "What is it?"


    "Although I''m not sure how it is going to enhance our food, this oil has to be used before we put the meat in a pan or a bowl," Temor explained.


    "Is that so? Where did you find it?" Filly asked, confused. She didn''t recall anything about it in the journal.


    Temor opened the journal and went to the page with the methods and ingredients for Fried Chicken. He pointed at the method section and said, "Here, it says to put the oil first before putting the marinated chicken."


    Filly went closer and sure enough, there was the method. So based on that, they can use this oil before the other ingredients. "Should we try it?"


    "Sure," Temor nodded. "Let me just get the Scavenger."


    "Wait! Don''t use that!" Filly said. "Why don''t we use a normal chicken? We are just going to waste that Scavenger if this oil can''t enhance our dish."


    "It makes sense, Miss. Let''s do that," Temor nodded.


    "Gail, find us some chicken, the more the merrier," Filly ordered the spectacled woman, and Gail nodded her head before she went out.


    "Can you tell me who wrote that journal?" Temor asked, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer.


    "Well," Filly hesitated. She couldn''t just admit that the journal had been written by a ''beggar,'' right? "Let''s just say that if he is lying, I will kill him."


    "If he is not?" Temor glanced at the journal, then at the glass jar filled with the refined coconut oil.


    "I will bow my head to him and treat him as the guest of honor of Kleinford," Filly said, her eyes filled with determination.


    Temor couldn''t believe his ears. That''s the highest honor a member from a respectable family can offer to someone outside their family! But if everything in the journal is true, then it makes sense that Filly would do this. She loves business more than anyone in Kleinford, and this journal has the potential to help them compete against giant restaurants like Skyline Savory.


    Soon, Gail came back with 9 to 10 chickens in her hands. She put them on the table and stepped back to watch everything.


    "Temor," Filly said, and the chef nodded, understanding what she meant.


    Temor went to the table and started killing the chickens. Their cries echoed, but in no time, they were lifeless on the table. They were going to use one chicken first to see the effects of the oil. Temor held the chicken in one hand, then used his Qi to create a fire out of thin air, burning the feathers into ashes until the chicken''s skin was exposed.


    He is a 2nd Step Foundation Building Cultivator with a specialized Ignition Technique for cooking that was provided by Filly''s family, the Kleinford. This allows him to store Qi and mobilize the Qi around him to create a fire. However, he can only use this for cooking as it doesn''t have enough firepower for fighting.


    After this step, he started cleaning the chicken, especially the organs inside its body. Two to three minutes later, a freshly cleaned and cut chicken was laid on the table.


    "What part do you want to use?" Temor asked his boss.


    "Use the leg," Filly said, "because I like that part."


    "Okay," Temor nodded and took the leg of the chicken, putting it aside. Then he took out a flat pan and put it on top of the grill grate where there were already coals and wood underneath. "I''m just going to copy what I understood from the journal. It said we need to heat the pan first before adding the oil."


    Filly nodded, recalling this part in cooking fried chicken. Though they were only testing out the effects of the oil, so they would only cook the chicken leg without doing anything else.


    Raising his hand, Temor ignited the coals and wood under the grill grate. He waited for about 30 to 40 seconds before taking the jar and pouring the oil into the pan. Because they only had this amount of oil, he didn''t use all of it, just about a fourth.


    Filly waited with bated breath while Gail watched with curiosity in her eyes.


    Soon, they heard the sizzling sound of oil. Hearing this, Temor picked up the chicken leg and placed it in the oil. The sound of sizzling grew louder, causing Filly to become uneasy.


    "Now we wait," Temor said, feeling the same nervousness.

 Chapter 42 - 42: Will It Work?(Part-2)

    Smoke rose to the ceiling, seemingly trying to find its way out. Then it saw its hope, moving towards the chimney where it was swallowed whole. The sound of sizzling echoed, and the trio¡ªGail, Filly, and the chef Temor¡ªwatched the pan with refined coconut oil and the chicken leg on top.


    Temor sniffed and his eyes widened. This¡­ there''s no burnt smell? He sniffed again and gulped unknowingly. He observed the meat closely and noticed juices seeping out from the part where it was currently cooking. The pale chicken leg also became a bit red. Compared to when he normally cooks, there''s no liquid of this sort and the meat doesn''t become rosy like this one.


    Temor had already tried this method of cooking his dishes, but he hadn''t achieved this kind of effect. He glanced at Filly and noticed she was already drooling. Even he was having a hard time resisting such food. However, he had to hold on.


    He waited for a few more seconds, and when one side of the leg became fully red, he decided to turn it over so the top part would also be cooked.


    The trio couldn''t help but observe the side of the leg where it was in contact with the oil and the pan. The cooked leg was golden brown in color after some of the heat dissipated. Filly sniffed, and the smell caused her to close her eyes and savor it.


    "W-why is there liquid coming out? What is that?" Gail asked, looking at the sizzling liquid seeping out from the chicken leg. "I haven''t seen anything like that."


    Temor took a deep breath and shook his head. "I''m not sure. But if I''m going to guess¡­ that''s probably the essence of the meat."


    "The essence?" Filly asked, while Gail tilted her head to the side.


    "Well, that''s the most logical reason I can think of why that is happening right now. It could probably be because of the oil too, but we will still have to taste it to see if the meat was really enhanced," Temor explained while glancing at them.


    "Oh?" Filly raised an eyebrow. "But the smell is really different from when we cook it without oil."


    "Yeah, it is more tantalizing, and also the meat became golden brown in color. Just looking at it makes me want to devour it as soon as possible," Temor said with a bitter smile.


    Filly and Gail remained silent, though they felt the same way.


    As the chicken part was almost cooked, Filly, a somewhat perfectionist, noticed that some parts were lighter than others. "Temor, can you cook the areas where it''s lighter? I just want it to be even in color."


    "That''s easy, Miss," Temor said with a smile. He raised his hand and, with a snap, the fire under the grill grate moved erratically before behaving like tentacles. Legs made of fire emerged and touched the lighter areas of the chicken leg.


    As the tantalizing smell intensified, Filly''s mouth started watering. "Is it cooked yet?"


    Temor didn''t answer immediately. He continued to observe the chicken for a moment before waving his hand, causing the fire to diminish instantly, as if it had never been there. However, the heat from the charcoal indicated the fire''s previous existence.


    "It''s done," Temor said as the sizzling sound from the oil decreased. He retrieved a spatula and plate, then placed the chicken leg on the plate. Smoke rose from the chicken, followed by its mouthwatering aroma. "We should taste it to see the difference when cooking with oil."


    "I will taste it first," Filly said firmly. However, Gail, who was beside her, shook her head.


    "No, let me, Miss. We still don''t know if the reaction from the oil makes the chicken toxic. My body is resistant to common to intermediate poisons and toxins. I should be able to handle it if anything goes wrong," Gail said with determination in her voice.


    Hearing this, Filly looked at her before glancing at the golden-brown chicken leg. In the end, she sighed and stepped aside. "That makes sense. Go for it."


    "Thank you, Miss!" Gail bowed, but the moment her head lowered, her saliva dripped to the ground. Fortunately, no one noticed it, and she also stepped on it, making sure to get rid of the evidence.


    Temor handed her a knife and fork. "Taste it first and savor it as much as you can. If you feel anything unusual, tell us immediately."


    "Okay," Gail nodded and took the utensils. Looking at the chicken meat, which she never thought could have such an appearance, her mouth started watering and her eyes sparkled with excitement.


    She brought down the knife and started cutting a piece of the chicken leg. As soon as the meat was severed, juices flowed out, making the scene even more tantalizing and luscious than before.


    Gail gulped as the meat was right in front of her eyes. She opened her mouth and took a bite. As she started chewing, her eyes widened in disbelief.


    "This!"


    "W-what? Tell us what you feel!" Filly said anxiously.


    "It''s¡ª" Gail couldn''t finish her words as she began to chew again. Only after she swallowed did she continue. "It''s very delicious!"


    She was about to take another piece of the chicken when Filly held her hand. "Wait a minute."


    Seeing the serious expression on her boss''s face, Gail was ''awoken'' from her state. Her face turned red with shame. "I''m sorry."


    "No, it''s okay," Filly shook her head. "Tell me specifically what it tastes like and if it''s toxic."


    "Okay," Gail nodded. "First of all, it''s not toxic. As for the taste¡ª"


    "It''s better than what we''re serving!" Temor interrupted the woman with glasses. There was already a fork in his hand with a piece of chicken on it and a visible bite taken out of the meat. "The skin''s crispiness is just right, so right that each bite makes the skin crackle. Compared to when I normally cook it, the meat inside became tender and juicy. Yeah, that''s the word for it. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With each bite, the flavor bursts in your mouth."


    After saying those words, Temor wiped the meat juices from the side of his mouth.


    "That''s¡­ amazing," Filly said, her eyes glancing at the chicken leg with expectation. She grabbed a fork and took a piece of the meat. In one bite, she devoured her share. Her eyes widened, and after she swallowed, she licked her lips clean. "You''re right! There''s even a hint of coconut.


    Although it isn''t as flavorful as the best monster meat we have, in terms of taste and texture, it''s definitely on the way there."


    Soon, the only thing left of the chicken leg was its bone.


    The trio looked at the plate with longing in their eyes.


    "To think that we only used one ingredient and this normal chicken became this," Temor muttered. "Why don''t we use the Scavenger?"


    Filly smiled when she heard this. "Sure."


    The Scavenger is a bird-type monster with a beak that could pierce a boulder and legs that could outrun a 2nd-Step Foundation Building Cultivator. They are one of the most common monsters used for cooking. They greatly resemble a chicken, and like them, Scavengers can''t fly.

 Chapter 43 - 43: Found Him(Part-1)

    The sun rose from the horizon, providing warmth and comfort to the streets of Klown City. People began to wake up and start their usual routines. Some began setting up their stalls so they could sell as soon as possible.


    Big Chub arrived at his spot and began putting all the bread on the table that he had baked before the sun even rose. As a hardworking and friendly vendor on this street, many people greeted him, to which he responded with a simple smile and hello.


    "Hello, Big Chub. How was your night?"


    "Haha, as usual, still heavy!"


    "Haha!"


    After he finished setting up his stall, he sat down on his chair and began the most boring part of his job: waiting for customers to arrive. Big Chub yawned, his double chin wobbling from the size of his mouth.


    As tears appeared at the corners of his eyes, he noticed someone walking in his direction. Oh? As soon as I set up my stall? Good! He put on the best smile he could muster when the young man appeared in front of him. "Good morning, what would you like?"


    The young man was wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest. Seeing this, Big Chub concluded that the young man was from the Great Serpent Cultivation School. But isn''t it too early for them to be out? Although there was doubt in his heart, he continued to smile. However, the next moment, his smile became stiff.


    The young man threw a gold coin towards him, which fell to the ground. As the sound of the coin rolling echoed, the young man asked, "A young boy, probably around 7 to 8 years old, with black hair and blue eyes, wearing a dirty brown robe. Have you seen him?"


    Big Chub was quiet for a moment before he bowed his head in apology. "Well, sir, I don''t think I have seen such a kid in this area. My apologies."


    Although he said these words with calm, his heart was actually palpitating and his eyes were shaking. His mind automatically thought about the beggar, but he didn''t want to jump to conclusions right away.


    When he looked up, he saw the young man observing him with cold eyes. Sh*t! Did he find out I''m lying?! He suddenly remembered that the young man was from that serpent school, so he''s probably a cultivator.


    A frown appeared on Arke''s face. He looked down at the fatso and said, "Pick it up."


    "Eh?" Big Chub appeared confused. "P-pick up what?"


    "The gold coin. Pick it up," Arke explained, his eyes turning cold and his voice condescending.


    Big Chub felt indignant, but he still showed a smile and went to pick up the coin.


    "Yeah, that''s it. You are more fitting when on your knees, you pig," an annoying voice sounded from behind the vendor. When he turned around, Big Chub saw the table filled with bread that he had made with his own hands flying towards him. With a crashing sound, wood and bread were thrown into the air, followed by a grunting sound.


    "That gold is enough to cover the cost," Arke said before he walked away.


    The commotion caused the other people and vendors to look in the direction of the crash. Only when the young man put down his leg and walked away did some of them run to Big Chub''s stall.


    Big Chub emerged from the pile of wood and bread, coughing heavily.


    "Are you okay?" one of the vendors in the street asked worriedly.


    "I''m¡­ I''m okay," Big Chub waved his hand. "Don''t mind me, guys, haha, just a small altercation."


    "Those damn Cultivators! They only know how to bully the weak!" someone said aloud. However, a hand quickly covered his mouth.


    "Shh! Don''t say something like that! What if they can hear us?"


    This caused them to talk quietly while sharing their experiences of being bullied by Cultivators. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Big Chub sighed and glanced at the gold coin in his hand. It isn''t it you, right? He couldn''t help but think about the beggar. That young man''s description almost resembled the beggar who always bought bread from him. But the beggar wore a dark grey robe, not brown, and his eyes were black, not blue¡­ Suddenly, he recalled the first time he saw that kid, and his eyes widened.


    Don''t tell me he''s really a kid from a wealthy family?! Big Chub started imagining things as speculations kept appearing in his mind. In the end, he thought of the most likely reason.


    That kid is from a wealthy family and his butler has come to find him! But that young man doesn''t seem to be a good person, while that kid is very nice. What if that young man is evil and is chasing after the beggar?! This thought caused his breathing to become heavy and his eyes to widen.


    The more Big Chub thought about it, the more it made sense.


    "Big Chub? Big Chub? Are you okay? Why are you so pale and blank?" someone asked out of concern.


    "He probably hit his head!"


    "Kid, I''ll save you!" Big Chub suddenly shouted and started running in the direction where the young man had gone.


    "Wait, don''t tell me?!" The other vendors couldn''t help but be surprised. "Is he going to fight that young man?!"


    "Go Big Chub! You can do it!" After someone shouted, the others followed suit.


    "We believe in you! Go beat that guy''s *ss!"


    "Big Chub! I will forever remember you!"


    "We will light an incense for you!"


    The scene was so touching that even the passersby who didn''t know what was happening also began to cheer.


    However, in the next moment, everyone''s faces became stiff as Big Chub had only run two or three meters away from them when he put both hands on his knees, buckets of sweat falling from his body. Even his pants had fallen quite a bit, showcasing the deep trench that he''d been hiding.


    The onlookers stifled their laughter and tried to avoid their gazes.


    Big Chub tried to stand up again, but after just taking a couple more steps, he fell to his knees. "I can''t¡­ go on anymore!"

 Chapter 44 - 44: Found Him(Part-2)

    Apollo opened his eyes from his deep cultivation. His body felt energized, even though he hadn''t slept at all. He had been cultivating all night under the makeshift roof he made, and only woke up when he heard the sound of people entering the Skyline Savory branch. It wouldn''t be long before a long line formed in front of them.


    He couldn''t help but sigh; the success of others was not looking good for him.


    But the moment he opened up his status screen out of habit, his eyes widened at what he saw before he chuckled. "Already at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building? That''s good!"


    "Hey System, can you at least give me a sign every time my cultivation goes up?" Apollo asked the System.


    "No," the System answered coldly.


    "Well, alright, it''s not like it''s that big of a deal," Apollo shrugged before he stood up. His body made a loud cracking sound, causing the beggar to smile in relief. Seeing that people were already getting their breakfast, Apollo decided to reward himself with lots of bread!


    Big Chub, here I come!


    But before that, Apollo used the cleaning bead, and the Qi from it washed over him. His clothes became presentable, and his hair shiny along with his teeth. "This is better!"


    Whistling a tune from his previous life, he came out of his beggar spot and walked towards the bread vendor. However, after taking a couple of steps, a shadow was cast over him. Seeing that someone was blocking him, Apollo couldn''t help but frown and raised his head.


    A young man wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest, with black hair and eyes, looked fiercely at the beggar. Apollo took a step back from this menacing look.


    What''s wrong with this guy? Apollo thought. Seeing that the young man was just looking at him without moving an inch, he shook his head and tried to walk past him. However, the moment he took a step, the young man stood in front of him.


    Apollo stepped to the side, but the young man still blocked him. "Hey! What''s wrong with you?!" The young man didn''t answer, making the beggar kid frustrated.


    So you''re just blocking me, huh? Apollo smirked and stepped to the right. The young man stood in front of him, and the beggar stepped to the left, with the young man following him. Apollo kept doing this; he would take a step forward, and the young man would block him until they looked like they were dancing.


    Some onlookers looked at them strangely. Why are they dancing in the middle of the street?


    But Apollo took this chance. When his back was in the direction of Big Chub''s, with the young man blocking him in front, he immediately turned around and ran!


    "Haha, got you!" Apollo shouted with a laugh. His small feet took him a couple of steps before someone grabbed the back of his clothes and lifted him up.


    His body was forcefully turned around, and Apollo saw the young man''s face.


    "Hehe," Apollo smiled, forcefully. "Hello."


    "You¡­ who are you?" Arke asked. The boy in his hand had black hair and black eyes; however, he felt a certain familiarity, as if he had seen this young boy before.


    "Me¡­ I''m A¡ª" Apollo was about to say his name when he realized something. Strange, this man''s voice¡­ I''ve heard it somewhere. "I''m just your friendly neighborhood beggar!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, a beggar?" Arke tilted his head to the side. He looked Apollo up and down, but the boy''s clothes were too clean for him to be a beggar. But the boy''s face and height¡­ No, that Leone kid is much thinner than this one and two inches shorter. Am I wrong? But just to be sure, I should take him back and question him. "You will be coming with me."


    "Huh?" Apollo was surprised. "No way!"


    "You don''t have a say in this, kid," Arke said with a smirk on his face.


    "You are wrong! I have plenty of say in this!" Apollo shouted, contemplating whether he should use his strength to get out of this situation. His body was still adapting to the new strength upon reaching the 2nd-step Foundation Building, and he didn''t want to end up killing this young man.


    Apollo had already concluded that this young man was a cultivator based on his uniform; he just didn''t know what the man''s cultivation level was. What if he is just a half-step cultivator? Apollo would be deemed a murderer if he ended up killing this young man!


    Arke didn''t answer and just started dragging the beggar. Apollo couldn''t help but frown. Ah, whatever. He raised his hand and decided to punch the young man when a hand reached out and held the young man''s hand that was holding Apollo.


    Seeing the soft pale hand, Apollo glanced to the side and saw a woman with spectacles wearing simple clothing: a white polo shirt and black slacks. He immediately recognized this woman; she was the one always beside Filly, the owner of the restaurant next to his beggar spot.


    What was her name again? Oh, right, Gail!


    "Arke, let go," Gail said, her voice cold and serious, her eyes deadly.


    "Oh? Who do we have here, the maid from Kleinford, right?" Arke glanced at Gail with a mocking smile on his face.


    "Let go," Gail repeated, her voice becoming lower.


    "Hahahaha!" Arke laughed aloud, tightening his grip on the beggar. Suddenly, his laugh stopped, and he stared coldly at Gail. "What if I don''t want to?"


    "Then¡­" Gail put strength into her hand, forcefully removing Arke''s hand from the beggar''s clothes.


    Apollo fell on his bottom with a thud but just sat there, his eyes widening for a bit before lighting up. He looked up and saw the young man''s smirk and cold eyes.


    Feeling the immense strength coming from the spectacled woman, Arke also used his strength; however, he only managed to push Gail''s hand a few inches away before he started losing strength.

 Chapter 45 - 45: Found Him(Part-3)

    "Okay, you win!" Arke pulled back his hand abruptly and started massaging it.


    Seeing this, Gail nodded. Then she helped Apollo stand on his feet.


    "Thanks," Apollo said, his eyes never leaving the young man named Arke.


    "Is he your brother?" Arke asked, confusion evident on his face.


    "None of your business," Gail said. Although she''s always shy around her boss, she is cold to others, especially if she doesn''t like them. Just like this man, Arke.


    "It could be or it could be not," Arke said, glancing at the kid. "Hey you, consider yourself lucky, at least for now."


    "I''m not into someone who''s older than me, especially if we are the same gender," Apollo said, a mocking smile on his face. "I know I''m handsome, but hunt someone else! Not a kid like me!"


    Hearing this caused Gail to look at Arke with a strange and disgusted expression. Even some passersby glanced at Arke with the same look.


    "You!" Arke pointed a finger at the beggar, his face red with anger. When did that become my intention?! This kid! "You are good!"


    Feeling the intense gazes from around him, Arke harrumphed and started walking away. He realized that the kid was good with words and if he tried to say something more, the kid would turn it around on him. It was better to walk away and get revenge later. Besides, from how Gail behaved, the two were not related.


    Furthermore, if the kid was a beggar, even if he didn''t get revenge, someone else would, and that someone would be formidable.


    Seeing that Arke had left, Gail shook her head with a sigh. She glanced at the beggar and couldn''t help but think that this kid was very cunning.


    "What''s his name?" Apollo asked.


    "Arke, a cultivator at the 4th-Step stage of Foundation Building. He is quite strong," Gail said, her tone indicating that she did not underestimate the young man.


    A 4th-step?! Hearing that word almost caused Apollo to choke.


    "Are you okay?" Gail asked worriedly.


    "Y-yeah," Apollo took a deep breath to calm his heart. Woah, fortunately I didn''t try to do anything funny besides what I said! "But, if he is strong, how come you managed to force his hands away from me?"


    "Well, we can say that I have the advantage in strength," Gail explained while scratching her cheek.


    "Oh, I see," Then that means this woman is also at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage. So she went easy on me when she subdued me that night. Apollo glanced at the fair-looking woman beside him. She looks like she doesn''t work out, but behind that fair skin is a strength that he couldn''t even imagine.


    "By the way, how''s the journal? Did you guys manage to create something out of it?" Apollo asked, curious.


    "Yes," Gail answered and bowed her head. "Thank you for that. We now stand a chance to get back on our feet."


    "Well, if you guys don''t bother me anymore for staying beside your restaurant, then that''s good," Apollo waved his hand while glancing inside the Filly restaurant. The restaurant was almost deserted, with only a few diners eating.


    "Do you want to go inside? Miss Filly will be happy to see you," Gail offered. If this kid could help them personally, then their progress would surely increase. However, Miss Filly said that she didn''t want to bother the ''kid'' yet, as he looked like he didn''t want to be bothered either. But now that the ''beggar'' was in front of her, Gail didn''t want to miss the chance.


    "Nah, if there''s some progress with the journal, then it means you guys can copy everything inside," Apollo shook his head. "I should get going! See ya!"


    "W-wait!" Gail shouted, but Apollo had already run off into the distance.


    She couldn''t help but sigh. "I didn''t even get to say sorry."


    ¡­


    "You are alive!" Big Chub''s eyes widened when he saw Apollo standing in front of him without any bruises on his body. "Haha, I knew nothing would happen to you."


    "What happened here?" Apollo asked, looking around at the destroyed stall with broken pieces of wood and bread on the ground.


    "Have you met that young man from the Great Serpent Cultivation School?" Big Chub asked while placing the wood to the side.


    "Yes, I''ve met that d*ck," Apollo nodded.


    "He was the one who caused this," Big Chub said, frustration evident in his voice. "If I wasn''t holding myself back, I would have beat the sh*t out of him!"


    Apollo didn''t believe the vendor''s last words, but deep inside, his anger towards that man Arke increased. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m fine, haha, but that man gave me one gold coin. That''s more than enough to buy a new table and replace all the bread here," Big Chub said with a laugh.


    "At least he knows he has to pay for collateral damage," Apollo said with a nod. "Did he say something?"


    Big Chub stood up and stared at the beggar. "Yes."


    "What is it?" Apollo asked.


    "He asked me if I saw a kid, black hair and blue eyes, with brown robes, around 7 to 8 years old," Big Chub explained, staring at the beggar intently.


    "Oh?" Hearing this made Apollo raise an eyebrow. Then a knowing smile appeared on his face. Found you. "Is that all he asked?"


    "Yeah," Big Chub nodded. He looked around before he lowered his body and whispered, "Hey kid, tell me the truth, it''s you, right?"


    "I can''t tell you that," Apollo shook his head. He couldn''t help but think about the threat, that young man, and the cultivator who destroyed this original body''s family. "You will only hurt yourself."


    "Haha," Big Chub laughed, his belly shaking along with him. "I knew it. Don''t you worry, kid, I will protect you!"


    "Well, good luck if you can," Apollo said with a smile. "Let me help you with that."


    "I wouldn''t refuse, this is part of your problem," Big Chub said, slapping the kid''s back, causing him to look at him. "Haha, I''m just kidding!"


    The two cleaned up the stall, and soon enough, it became more presentable.


    "I know you are here to buy some of my bread," Big Chub took two pieces of bread from the side. "Here, you can take this, it''s clean."


    Apollo took the bread and took a bite out of it. "Thanks. I should get going now."


    "Alright, just be careful," Big Chub nodded.


    "You too."

 Chapter 46 - 46: Coincidence?

    The moon''s brilliance cast upon the streets, and the nightlife began in Klown City.


    Apollo opened his eyes, a sigh escaping his mouth. "That''s him, I''m sure of it."


    He brought up his mission and saw that he only had around two and a half weeks left before the deadline. Lightning tribulation¡­ that''s going to be another death, the beggar thought with a bitter smile.


    Shaking his head, he thought about his plan. This morning, that young man came and was definitely looking for him. Thinking about it, it''s very strange. That guy left him in an alley even though he was tasked to send the Leone heir to a specific place, probably the rendezvous point, and left with the money. But why is he looking for him now?


    Apollo suspected that something was at play here that he didn''t know of.


    "Hmm, the mansion was destroyed by an unknown man, then he was left by Arke, but now he''s looking for him¡­" Apollo muttered and realized something. "A third party perhaps?"


    The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. But he didn''t jump to conclusions yet. He just kept this doubt in his heart and decided to focus on another thing.


    "Gail said that guy is at the 4th-Step of the Foundation Building Stage, two stages above mine," Apollo muttered. "If I want to defeat that guy, I have to be on the same cultivation stage. But killing him¡­"


    A frown appeared on his face. Killing the hooded man who threw him in the alley is a prerequisite to complete the mission. He has to be stronger than Arke in order to do that, and Arke seems to be a smart person. Being smart and strong, he will be a tough opponent.


    If I calculate my pace, it''s going to take at most a week before I reach the fourth step, and the remaining time¡­ I should use that to kill him, Apollo''s eyes turned cold.


    Even in his past, he had many bloods on his hands, competitors who tried to do funny things to him first. He is a very easy-going person, but that doesn''t mean he is soft-hearted. He won''t let others bully him, and if they did, he would seek revenge, petty or not.


    But how? This thought caused him to ruffle his own hair.


    Suddenly, two men wearing uniforms with a crossed swords and shield insignia on their chests walked past in front of him.


    "I didn''t know they had such rules."


    "Yeah, right? We have to protect our invitation, or else we won''t be able to participate in the Advancement Examination. And if it''s stolen, it could be used by others even if they''re not enrolled!"


    "That''s the first time I''ve heard that rule." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well, they said it''s been that way for many years. Those who didn''t manage to participate in the Advancement without any proper excuse were expelled, and those who got the invitation and passed the advancement became official students. That''s what some of our seniors did to enter the school."


    As they walked away, their voices became lower.


    "Eh?" Apollo couldn''t help but be surprised. "Did I buy the Wish Me Luck Item?"


    Just as he was thinking about how to kill Arke, these two Martial Students walked in front of him and shared such crucial information at the right time. Coincidence? Or is the god in this world so generous that they will help him solve this problem?


    Wait, is she the god? Apollo suddenly recalled that faceless woman. Shaking his head, he glanced at the corner and saw the rolled-up invitation scroll.


    "So they have these kinds of rules," Apollo took hold of the invitation. "The guy who lost this is such a fool. Why would he carry such a precious item around with him? Anyway, with this, I can now participate in the Advancement Examination, and Arke will definitely be there."


    Apollo smiled before it vanished as quickly as it had come, as another problem occurred to him: his identity. If he goes like this, it''s equivalent to exposing that he is the Leone Heir, which is the last thing he wants to do.


    The beggar began to think of a solution in the dark night.


    ...


    "This is really amazing. The meat doesn''t stick to the pan, and the smell is more intense than before," Temor said with amazement in his voice.


    "Yeah," Filly nodded, salivating at the sight of cooked meat from a monster called Bronze Reinforced Cow.


    "It''s done!" Temor said, taking the meat out of the pan and placing it on a plate.


    Just like before, they held their forks and started taking pieces of meat. Gail, who was quietly standing on the side, closed her eyes to savor the moment.


    "I''m never going to get tired of this," Filly said after a while.


    "Me too," Gail commented from the side. "Ah, I wish Mr. Beggar had agreed to my request."


    Filly turned to her in surprise. "Y-you met up with him? Didn''t I tell you that we shouldn''t bother him?"


    "It''s just a coincidence. I happened to see him being dragged by Arke, so I had to step in," Gail explained with a wave of her hand.


    "Oh? Arke?" Filly raised an eyebrow. "That guy dared to disrespect my honorable guest?"


    "But I managed to handle it¡ªwait, I mean, Mr. Beggar did," Gail recounted the story, and Filly couldn''t help but laugh.


    "He deserves it," Filly said with a chuckle. Then she remembered something. "What is the request you''re talking about?"


    "Oh, I asked if he wanted to come here, but he declined, saying we can recreate the recipes in the journal," Gail said, disappointment still evident in her voice.


    "That''s unfortunate," Filly sighed. "He doesn''t want to be bothered."


    Gail nodded and glanced at the plate, but the meat was already gone. She noticed that Temor was smacking his lips in satisfaction, causing her to pout.


    "What are you guys talking about? I was busy studying the taste," Temor said shamelessly.


    "Nothing. Anyway, let''s focus on what we have to do. Now that we''ve proven that this oil can be used on any meat, we could start implementing it in our dishes," Filly said, one of her hands under her chin.


    "Miss Filly, isn''t it too soon?" Temor asked worriedly.


    "I know, but at least we should show them that we are fighting back. Besides, I hope that with this improvement in our dish, some customers will come back," Filly explained.


    "Then what about the other recipes? The so-called spices, the fried chicken, and the spaghetti?" Temor asked.


    "We will continue our research with that," Filly said. "And we will start with the fried chicken starting tomorrow. The journal says that this recipe basically only needs two or three ingredients to cook, excluding the chicken itself. There are still a lot of ingredients that we don''t have, especially for the spices."


    Then she turned to Gail. "That is your job from now on¡ªfind all the ingredients in the journal."

 Chapter 47 - 47: Fried Chicken

    Two days later.


    When Apollo woke up from his cultivation, the sun''s rays assaulted his eyes, and voices entered his ears, incoherent, and he could only understand small words.


    He reached out with the back of his hand to scratch his eyes. The glaring sunlight returned to normal, but the voices still remained. He took a deep breath and focused only on himself. A few seconds later, the murmur disappeared.


    Bringing up his Status Screen, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 28


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 2nd-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    He was still at the 2nd-Step, but his senses had already advanced along with his strength. However, his Cultivation remained the same. Still, this gave him an idea that this night or tomorrow morning he would reach the 3rd-Step Foundation Building stage.


    Apollo had also received an additional 6 Alm points over the past two days, which is not a lot, but it''s better than nothing.


    Raising his hand, he clenched it and punched the air. He heard the air explode under his fist, causing winds to appear around him. Such a simple punch could already produce this much force. Just imagine Gail''s strength if she didn''t hold back. Just that thought caused Apollo to shudder in fear.


    He stood up and decided to buy something to eat. As he walked out of his beggar spot and into the streets, he couldn''t help but glance inside Filly''s restaurant. "Oh? There are more customers than before?" Although it couldn''t be compared to the time when there was no Skyline Savory branch in front of their restaurant, this is still great progress.


    His eyes then landed on the menu situated beside their door.


    "So they managed to create the oil, that''s good," Apollo muttered with a smile on his face. The menu was entirely different from before. There were extra words to each dish with meat on them.


    Two-Headed Goat Meat Cooked with Oil.


    Scavenger Cooked with Oil.


    Bronze Reinforced Cow Cooked with Oil.


    And more.


    "Oil is essential; this is a great start,"


    Apollo turned around and walked to meet up with Big Chub. That vendor also knows a lot of gossip, and Apollo has learned a lot from him regarding the city.


    After talking with him, I should get back to cultivating.


    ¡­


    Filly glanced at the diners eating merrily below. She couldn''t help but smile at the sight of new customers. This is a great sign. Suddenly, footsteps echoed, and she turned to the sound. She saw Gail walking towards her with excitement in her eyes.


    "Did he do it?" Filly asked expectantly.


    "Yes!" Gail answered.


    "Let''s go see it."


    The two of them walked down the stairs and went into the kitchen. When the door opened, a strong smell caused them to be dazed. Filly''s eyes landed on the plate. Golden brown-coated chicken legs lay on it. The rocky texture and the exposed white meat invited them to take a big bite.


    But she held herself back, though she couldn''t help but sniff again, and the smell caused her to stand in front of the plate.


    "I''ve managed to recreate it," Temor said, a proud smile on his face. "Although we still don''t have black pepper and paprika, I think this is still considered Fried Chicken."


    "So only flour, salt, eggs, and oil?" Filly asked.


    "Yes," Temor nodded his head. "I haven''t tasted it yet, but looking at its appearance, I know it won''t disappoint us."


    Filly nodded and reached out her hand. She picked up one piece of the fried chicken and held it in front of her. The texture in her hand was very rough and crispy at the same time. When she applied pressure to it, a crackling sound echoed, and she noticed that the rough texture had lifted, exposing some of the white meat.


    Temor couldn''t wait any longer, so he took his own piece and started eating it. A crunching sound reverberated in the room, causing Filly and Gail to glance in his direction. That sound¡­ that crunchiness! Just hearing that made the two of them gulp.


    Without dilly-dallying any longer, Filly took a bite of the fried chicken in her hand. That crunchiness echoed again, followed by the juices exploding in her mouth. Her eyes widened, though her mouth didn''t stop its movement. At first, the texture was rough, but as she swallowed and took another bite, the softness and tenderness of the meat filled her mouth.


    Filly closed her eyes to savor the taste, especially as the crispiness and tenderness mingled with each other.


    Seeing the two of them enjoying the food so much, Gail didn''t wait another second to take her own piece of fried chicken. Soon, the three of them finished the food on the plate.


    "If this goes on, I will double in size," Temor said with a chuckle.


    The two women laughed.


    After calming themselves down, Filly sighed. "We''re only using normal chicken, and the taste is already so great."


    "Yup, we could even sell this now, even with just normal chicken. I''m pretty sure this is going to be a popular dish soon!" Temor said with a clenched fist. He is the chef of the Kleinford family and now works under Miss Filly Kleinford. Of course, he wanted the best for them.


    "Yeah, we could even defeat that restaurant in front with just this," Filly nodded in agreement. "But what I want is for my restaurant to be the best, so that even Skyline Savory won''t stand a chance."


    Hearing the determination in her voice, Gail and Temor looked at her in surprise before they smiled.


    "Then let''s use the Scavenger next," Temor said. "When are we going to sell this?"


    "We wait until people know that our dish is new compared to before. After we have enough hype, we will proceed to sell this. We move one step at a time, take the ''beast'' down by its legs before we hit its head," Filly said, a smirk on her face.


    "Hahaha! I like that!" Temor laughed while Gail chuckled.


    Then Filly turned to Gail. "How is your progress?"


    "I found some, but there''s only a few of them. If we want to use them as ingredients, we will need to have our own garden to cultivate the spices ourselves," Gail explained.


    "I see. Well, it makes sense. Most of the ingredients in the journal are unknown to most of us, let alone others," Filly said with a nod. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ll go take the Scavenger out," Temor said. He soon returned with a two-meter-tall black chicken with a razor-sharp beak and claws. Using his skilled hands, he started peeling off the feathers while also using his fire technique to easily pluck them out.


    The two women watched with amazement at how easily Temor dismantled this giant bird. Soon, a freshly cleaned and cut Scavenger lay on the table.

 Chapter 48 - 48: 3rd-Step

    "Should I go out to test my strength?" Apollo muttered while glancing at his cultivation stage, which had reached the 3rd-step foundation building stage. After meeting up with Big Chub, he immediately went back to cultivate the Simple Breathing Technique, which took him a few hours before he advanced to the 3rd-Step.


    Apollo stood up, and his body made a cracking sound. This feels really good!


    With his body stronger than before, he felt like he was not in control, so he wanted to get used to it again. Apollo believed that if he kept getting stronger without his mind getting used to it first, it would only give him a hard time as time went on.


    "I have to go back to that place," Apollo muttered, his face turning serious.


    There were still a lot of people in the streets even though the moon was already high in the sky. Considering the time, it was around 8 pm. The night was still young for them to go home. As he stepped onto the street, his eyes habitually glanced at the restaurant beside his beggar spot.


    A few more customers had returned to the restaurant, but compared to the Skyline Savory in front of them, they were still miles apart, especially since the Skyline Savory branch''s building was a lot bigger and wider. It was probably one of the reasons they chose to buy this building.


    Then, as his eyes landed on the Skyline Savory branch, he couldn''t help but tilt his head as a man with a bald patch on his head was looking directly in his direction.


    He wore a simple brown medieval-looking suit, and if Apollo had to guess the man''s age, it was probably around his 40s.


    They looked at each other for a while before the man turned around because the server from the restaurant talked to him. Then they went to who knows where.


    "Did I just get ogled by a middle-aged man?" Apollo muttered, a shiver running down his spine when he realized that his handsome look also attracted the same gender. "Sh*t, better get moving now before I dazzle another one!"


    Apollo hurriedly went to his destination.


    ...


    I am back, and this time I will kill as many as I can! Apollo thought with great determination in his eyes. He stood in front of the forest where he had first tested his strength.


    Using his Simple Movement Technique, he climbed up a tree intending to land on its trunk. However, because of his new strength, he miscalculated and landed on the ground instead. Fortunately, his body reacted quickly, and he landed on his feet.


    "Woah, that was close!" Apollo wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead. "Again!"


    This time, he carefully used his strength and landed on the tree trunk. Being up in the tree felt safer, especially when he was going to hunt that black wolf with two tails that he had a close call with before.


    With this in mind, he started jumping from tree to tree. The Simple Movement Technique allowed him to easily adapt to his body, and after a while, his somewhat stiff movements became fluid due to his new strength.


    As he passed by the broken tree that he had used as a target, he stopped and decided to jump down. Landing beside the tree, he touched its surface.


    Then he looked around for something bigger and probably tougher too. His eyes lit up when he saw another red maple-looking tree in the distance. "I should test my strength on this first."


    This tree was bigger and wider than the previous one he had broken.


    Standing in front of it, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, a glint passed by.


    With a strong bang, the tree shook, causing its leaves to fall like snow. Apollo pulled his hand, which was stuck inside the tree, causing chips of wood to fall to the ground. He raised his hand and looked at it before glancing at the hole he had made.


    Well, time to break another tree! With this thought, he continued to punch the tree until it finally snapped. When the tree fell, it caused a dust cloud to emerge. Seeing this satisfied the beggar.


    Suddenly, the sound of howling reverberated.


    "That''s it!" Apollo''s eyes lit up. Another perfect sparring partner had finally shown its presence.


    But that was not the end, as another howl echoed. When Apollo thought that was all there was to it, another one came. Three black wolves? Can I do it? Apollo couldn''t help but frown.


    "I can do it! I''ll just escape like before if things go awry!" Determination returned to his eyes, prompting him to jump back into the trees and find the nearest wolves he could.


    He still bore hatred toward them for trying to gang up on him. That had scared the living sh*t out of him. But now, he was going to hunt them. Well, hopefully I can kill them quickly before the others arrive.


    Following the sound of their howls, Apollo ventured through the treetops like a monkey. It didn''t take long for him to reach his destination, where the howls grew louder.


    Hidden by the leaves, he didn''t immediately confront the black wolves. Instead, he observed them first. However, what he saw changed his plan.


    "Someone is fighting them," Apollo squinted his eyes.


    The three wolves were together, surrounding a person. They attacked simultaneously, but the person wielded a great sword that caused the wolves to tumble to the ground with every strike.


    "Oh? He''s strong!" Apollo was surprised. "A cultivator?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then he heard the person shout in pain as one of the wolves managed to land a blow with its tail on ''his'' chest, causing ''him'' to jump back to gain some distance.


    Hearing the shout surprised the beggar. So it''s not a ''he'' but a ''she''? With this thought, he jumped to another tree to get a closer look at the person fighting the three wolves.

 Chapter 49 - 49: Duskfang Shadowtails(Part-1)

    A student from that serpent school? Apollo thought with a frown. Do all the students in this school always like to get themselves in trouble? He jumped to another tree to get a clearer view of the woman. She had brown hair that reached her shoulders and almond-shaped brown eyes. In her hand was a dark silver broadsword that seemed out of place with her five-foot-seven figure.


    Her other hand was bleeding, but the black wolf had only hit her chest¡­ She was already injured before she fought these wolves. They were probably drawn by the scent of her blood, the beggar thought.


    "This is bad," Apollo muttered, seeing the woman being overwhelmed by the three black wolves. Her strength was slowly diminishing, and it wouldn''t be long before the wolves took advantage of her weakness and killed her.


    To help or not? Apollo was having a hard time deciding. He glanced at his number of Alm points before sighing. Hopefully, I don''t have to use my Alm points. With this thought in mind, he jumped down from the tree and ran toward the ongoing battle.


    The woman was sent backward, tumbling to the ground a couple of times before she hit a tree. She vomited a mouthful of blood from the impact.


    "Cough! Sh*t! These darn Duskfang! Argh!" The woman couldn''t help but curse. The pain from her wounds made her grunt. But seeing the black wolves closing in on her, she gritted her teeth and stood up, using her broadsword for support.


    "If I''m going to die here, then I''m going to drag you with me!"


    As if they understood her words, the wolves howled at the sky before lunging at her!


    With a banging sound, the tree snapped in two from their attacks, causing it to fall to the ground. They howled again when they ''saw'' that their attack had worked. But as they sniffed the air, their heightened senses caught another scent. As the dust clouds lessened, they immediately growled and bared their teeth at the newcomer supporting their prey.


    "They are pissed," Apollo muttered with a bitter smile before turning to the woman, who was struggling to stand. "Hey, are you okay?"


    Because the beggar was smaller compared to the martial student, the woman only had to look to her side to see her savior. "Y-yes¡­ thank you."


    "No need for that," Apollo said, his eyes turning back to the black wolves. "Can you still fight?"


    "I¡­ I''ll try," the woman said through gritted teeth. She glanced at the monsters in front of her, and determination returned to her eyes. She took a step forward, dragging her broadsword on the ground. With her other hand injured, she couldn''t fully wield her weapon. "I don''t know why you saved me even after seeing these monsters, but I will buy you some time!


    You must be a cultivator, so run as fast as you can to the city!"


    Hearing the determination in her voice made Apollo reconsider his choices. This woman''s resolve can make me cry; isn''t it rude to turn down her offer? Apollo nodded. "If you say so¡ª"


    However, the moment he turned around, a bitter smile appeared on his face. "But you know what, I''ll fight with you."


    Hearing this caused the woman to look at him with wide eyes before a dazzling smile appeared on her face. "Thank you¡­ I''m Bel, by the way. And you?"


    "J-just a beggar. Yup, I''m just a beggar," Apollo repeated, his eyes looking ahead with nervousness.


    Beggar? Bel was confused. Shaking her head, she decided to put the matter aside and focus on the present. "We don''t have much time; they''re already preparing to attack. I''ll handle the two while you handle the last¡ª"


    "No," Apollo interrupted her. "You handle the three, I''ll handle the two."


    "What do you me¡ª Wait, don''t tell me! Argh!" Bel grunted in pain from her wounds but held on. "Where?"


    "I''m looking at them right now," Apollo whispered. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okay, change of plans! We''ll go with your idea!" Bel said through gritted teeth. Five Duskfang Shadowtails?! What happened to this forest?!


    There''s no going back now, Apollo thought while making sure he kept tabs on the two black wolves in front of him. Their tails whipped the air, causing it to make an explosive sound.


    "They are stalling! Let''s go, on the count of three!" Bel shouted, and using her remaining strength, she held her broadsword in front of her with only her right hand.


    "One!"


    "Two!"


    Bel bent her knees, ready to dash at the three monsters in front of her. Although she was injured, it didn''t mean she couldn''t fight anymore. On the contrary, with another person beside her who was also a cultivator, she regained some of her strength, especially since there was a possibility that both of them could die in this fight.


    If she were alone, she wouldn''t even think about getting out of here alive.


    "Th¡ª" Bel wasn''t able to finish her shout as she felt that the man beside her had already dashed towards his opponents!


    This action caused the three Duskfangs in front of her to jump at her. "Why did you do that?!"


    She slashed with her sword horizontally, sending one of the wolves to the side before she jumped to dodge another wolf. But the last wolf immediately came running towards her. Bel anticipated this, so she dashed towards it and thrust with her sword!


    However, because of her injury, her movement was slower than usual, allowing the wolf to barely dodge it. Fortunately, she still managed to injure one of its legs.


    "The first one to attack has the advantage!" Apollo shouted in answer to her question. "Behind you!"


    Hearing this, Bel attacked behind her out of instinct. A cry of pain sounded from behind her. Then she noticed that a wolf had already jumped to her side, its mouth wide open, threatening to bite her head off.


    "Eat this!" Bel raised the sword in front of her head, blocking the attack. Sparks appeared from the impact as the black wolf''s teeth bit her broadsword.


    "Tail on your left!"


    He shouted again, and trusting him even though they had just met, she decided to abandon her sword so she could jump back in time!


    The Duskfang''s tail hit her previous spot, causing the ground to crack.


    "That''s close¡­" Bel muttered in fear. But her fear turned into amazement when she realized what had just happened. That guy is watching out for her even though he''s fighting two black wolves? She glanced at the beggar and saw him fighting the Duskfang Shadowtails with just his bare hands. The monsters couldn''t even take advantage!


    Just who is he?

 Chapter 50 - 50: Duskfang Shadowtails(Part-2)

    Apollo glanced to his left, a tail sweeping fast at his head. If this attack landed, he would surely suffer a great injury. He could either be dead or out cold, but it would still be the same, as the moment he became unconscious, the other wolf would definitely bite him to death.


    In his current situation, he couldn''t continue to observe what was happening on Bel''s side. Using his senses to the best of his abilities, the world seemed to slow down, his mind focusing on the other wolf. It seemed that the other wolf was waiting for the tail to land. That would give him enough time!


    With this in mind, Apollo ran to the wolf on his left, dodging the tail with a twist of his body before sending a punch to the Duskfang''s face. The wolf tried to send another tail, but the beggar was one step faster, and when the punch connected, the Duskfang Shadowtail crashed to the ground, creating a long trench.


    Apollo couldn''t get excited seeing the wolf injured because of his new strength, as the other Duskfang was already behind him, threatening to bite his head off. However, the beggar had already expected this, and with a light jump and a twist of his body, he sent a kick towards the monster! With a banging sound, another long trench was created, followed by a howl of pain from the wolf.


    Seeing this, his eyes lightened up, but it wasn''t yet time to enjoy this. His attention went back to Bel, and he saw her struggling to fight off the two Duskfangs. Eh? Two? He glanced to the side and saw a headless wolf. She''s strong!


    Even with her injured body, she could still kill such monsters.


    Furthermore, she was holding her own against the two wolves. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why are you just watching! Behind you!" Bel shouted when she saw Apollo just standing still.


    This woke the beggar, and he realized that the two wolves he was fighting were already on their feet and running towards him!


    "I figured you guys were still alive," Apollo muttered, a smile forming on his face as confidence rose within him. Now that he knew he stood a chance even with two Duskfangs ganging up on him, he could finally enjoy the fight and also understand his new strength along with his fighting skills.


    The Duskfangs in front of him were covered in their own blood, but they still maintained their speed. Apollo also dashed towards them, and when he was just a meter away from the nearest wolf, he jumped into the air and did a somersault before he landed on the farthest wolf. This caught them off guard, but the wolf still managed to react in time, sending one of their tails at him.


    Expecting this, Apollo squinted his eyes to time the attack and, with a clutch of his hand, held the tail. Before the wolf could use its other tail, the beggar pulled strongly before sending a punch!


    Blood tainted his robe and hand after his fist landed on the wolf''s jaw.


    The Duskfang in front of him started crying in pain. Taking this chance, Apollo held the two tails and threw the wolf at the other monster charging towards him. They both crashed into each other and, because of the speed, they heavily injured themselves.


    "Strike!" Apollo shouted.


    "Ahhh!" Suddenly, he heard a shout and turned to see Bel rolling on the ground. "Ah sh*t, I forgot about her!"


    He immediately ran towards her, avoiding the Duskfang Shadowtail she was fighting. Still, one of them managed to land a hit on his back, causing him to grunt in pain.


    "Hey, you okay?!" Apollo asked through gritted teeth. He didn''t dare turn his back on the enemies as they would definitely attack once he did. He stared at them angrily, and they stared back but didn''t pounce on them yet.


    "N-no," Bel shook her head slowly. She tried to stand up but coughed a mouthful of blood. In the end, she just sat there, her chest continuously flowing with red. She couldn''t even hold her sword, let alone stand up. "Run¡­ now¡­ I will buy you time¡­ go to¡­ Helflick family¡­"


    In her current state, talking was hard, but her eyes remained clear and determined.


    "What do you mean? You can''t buy me time, it''s too expensive," Apollo said.


    "Then¡­ what¡­" Bel glanced at the man''s face¡­ wait, a man? He''s just a kid! Only now did she realize that she''s fighting these Duskfangs with a kid! Surprised and shocked, she became more determined for him to run. "You''re just¡­ a kid¡­ go back¡­"


    "Me, a kid?" Apollo chuckled. "Stay there and watch. I''ll kill them."


    "W-wait¡­ argh," Bel grunted.


    "Let me borrow this for a while," Apollo whispered, picking up her dark silver broadsword. Using both hands, he lifted it up and pointed it towards the Duskfangs. He noticed that there were now four of them in front of him¡ªthe two injured ones he fought and the two that Bel was fighting against. Four against one? I''m crazy, Apollo thought bitterly.


    It seems I still have to spend my Alm points.


    He brought up his System Store and started searching for items that could help him in this situation.


    Teleportation Crystal: Teleports the user to any place, any plane, any dimension. One-time use item.


    Alm Points Cost: 200,000


    Mist Place: Turns the user into mist, allowing one to pass through almost anything. But beware, winds will cause the user to be off track. One-time use item.


    Alm Points Cost: 1,000.


    Apollo continued to look for an item that could help them escape. But they were too expensive, and what he wanted was just a cheap item. All he had to do was kill these four monsters. Although he was confident in dealing with one or two, fighting against four was out of the question, especially since two of them were still uninjured.


    And the last two Duskfangs were driven with fury to the point that they would definitely fight him even at the cost of their lives.


    His eyes then landed on the sword he was holding.


    System, show me the cheapest Technique for swords, Apollo ordered, and the interface in front of him started sorting itself out until only one item remained.


    Simple Sword Technique: Learn the fundamentals of sword technique. Once the user practices this technique to completion, learning higher tier Techniques will be easy.


    Alm Points Cost: 25.


    Sh*t, 25?! This will only leave me with 2 Alm points! If he bought this, his hard-earned Alms would be gone. He glanced at Bel and saw her looking at him with worry in her eyes.


    In the end, he sighed and bought the technique. Suddenly, information that he had no prior knowledge of started entering his mind. The methods and processes from the Simple Sword Technique were stored inside his brain.

 Chapter 51 - 51: Duskfang Shadowtails(Part-3)

    Just like the Simple Movement Technique, Apollo has to learn it to use it. He still hadn''t really practiced the Simple Movement Technique, though, and his process with it only involved methods of jumping from here, increasing his speed, and keeping his balance.


    And now, Apollo had to learn the Simple Sword Technique right here, right now!


    But learning? Apollo smirked. In the first place, it''s one of the reasons why he became the richest man in the world in his previous life. He was talented in every area he decided to dabble in. He could learn fast. That''s why he was considered a genius.


    He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. At the same time, he sorted out the knowledge inside his mind. Thrust, slice, deflect, cut¡­ Apollo opened his eyes and a glint flashed by.


    Holding the broadsword in front of him, a smile formed on his lips. "Come!"


    With a strong roar, the Duskfang Shadowtails started running towards him.


    Bel, who was watching all this, couldn''t help but be nervous. If she were still at her peak, she could easily defeat them; however, her current strength had fallen to that of a 2nd-step foundation-building cultivator.


    Suddenly, her worry turned into surprise when the kid in front of her moved with the sword.


    The nearest Duskfang moaned in pain as it slid across the ground. The side of its stomach oozed blood. But the wolf still managed to stand up and pounce back on the beggar.


    Apollo dodged to the side and slashed, his sword leaving a deep wound on the already wounded Duskfang. It wailed in pain while slowly backing off. With one of them unable to fight, he glanced at the other three, with one already on its way to shred him with a sharp claw.


    This one was the other injured wolf that he had fought.


    Thrust!


    The broadsword pierced the wolf''s neck, blood splattering on the ground and on Apollo''s clothes.


    This is nice! Apollo thought with amazement. Following the technique from the Simple Sword Technique in his mind, he felt like he was one with the sword. It was like an extension of his limbs. Furthermore, he was just following what was inside his mind, and his fighting abilities had already risen. What if he began to practice this technique to the fullest?


    This thought excited the beggar, and his attacks became more forceful and swift!


    "Take this!" Apollo shouted. Using both hands to hold the broadsword, he swung it around him, sending the Duskfangs to the ground while they howled in pain. "Hehe, who''s the boss now?"


    Apollo walked towards them with a smirk on his face. The four Duskfang Shadowtails tried to stand on their feet, but only two managed, while the other two lay on the ground, whimpering and howling.


    "Stop growling and come at me," Apollo said to the two who were baring their teeth at him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seemingly understanding what he meant, they roared at him, but before they could take a step, Apollo dashed towards them and swung the broadsword! Their necks were pierced, and like a waterfall, red fell from their necks, forming a puddle of blood.


    After killing them, he went to the remaining Duskfangs on the ground. He also pierced them, but this time in their heads.


    "Finally done!" Apollo smirked. He then started walking towards Bel. "Eh? Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Bel was woken from her surprise. This kid¡­ his sword technique, strange¡­ He only did simple slashes, but he managed to kill them all. It''s too simple, there''s no ''real'' technique whatsoever. Anyone could do what he just did; in fact, even a toddler can do those slashes!


    "Hey, I know I''m handsome, but we should go. These guys are cunning. Their brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, and neighbors will arrive here any time now. Let''s go if you don''t want to die," Apollo said while helping her to her feet.


    "O-okay," Bel nodded as she realized the grave situation. Duskfang Shadowtails, a wolf-type monster, are cunning. Hearing their kin howling in pain must have alerted the others, especially since the scent of blood is so strong here.


    While supporting Bel, they hurriedly went back to the city. Apollo remained vigilant, his eyes observing the forest while dragging the sword in his other hand.


    Suddenly, a squishy sensation came from the side of his face. He couldn''t help but turn to his left and saw the humongous work of mother earth. Because Bel was taller than him, she had to put her right arm around him, making their bodies very close to each other.


    I have to focus! Apollo thought, but soon his face turned red and a foolish smile appeared. Every time they had to jump on a rock or take a wide step, the mountain beside his face moved, squishing him further.


    "What are you¡­ grinning at?" Bel asked. Due to the loss of blood, she felt quite dizzy, so she hadn''t noticed what was happening.


    "N-nothing," Apollo answered.


    "Then¡­ why¡ª"


    Suddenly, continuous howling came from behind them, making them look at each other with wide eyes.


    "Let''s hurry up!" Apollo shouted. He immediately forgot the squishy sensation on the side of his face as the threat to his life overcame it. Even so, their speed was still slow. "Hey! Is your sword important?"


    Hearing the question, Bel was about to ask why when she realized what he was going to do. "Yes! It''s¡­ very important!"


    "I have to carry you so we can run faster! Where''s your scabbard?" Apollo asked hurriedly.


    "I¡­ I lost it," Bel answered with a sigh.


    "Sh*t!" Apollo couldn''t help but curse. Then an idea came to mind when he saw a crevice under a tree. "I''ll hide it! You can just get it back after we get out of here and heal yourself!"


    Bel frowned when she heard this, but looking at herself, having to be supported because of her injury, and hearing the howling from the Duskfang Shadowtails behind them, she didn''t have a choice but to nod her head.


    "Good," Apollo went to the tree with a crevice and put the broadsword inside. "Done, let''s go!"


    Bel nodded her head, then Apollo picked her up in a princess style. "Hold on!"


    Using his Simple Movement Technique, he ran towards the woods and into the lights in the distance. Even with additional weight, Apollo''s speed was still fast.


    "I see it!" Apollo''s eyes lit up seeing the wall of Klown in the distance.


    Bel turned to the city and couldn''t help but sigh in relief.


    Apollo smiled, but it didn''t last a second as he suddenly felt goosebumps all over him. That was when he heard the sound of air tearing behind him, then great pain came from his back.


    "ARGH!" Apollo moaned in pain but gritted his teeth and held on. Without looking at his attacker, he continued towards the grassland.


    Bel looked behind him when she heard him moaning in pain, and her eyes widened from what she saw. "That''s!"


    Suddenly, a strong wind came at them as they finally left the forest. As they hurriedly made their way to the city, Bel''s eyes remained on the forest, her eyes shaking with fear.

 Chapter 52 - 52: You Can Use Qi Like That?!(Part-1)

    "Ah!" Apollo shouted as he tripped on a rock, his body rolling to the ground along with Bel. Every time his back hit the ground, an intense pain washed over him. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"


    He rolled for a while before he managed to stop. His eyes blinked at the night sky as the moon''s brilliance peeked out from behind the clouds. Suddenly, from the corner of his eyes, he noticed two huge ''mountains'' falling on his face!


    Yes! I mean no! Apollo was conflicted, and with a bang, Bel fell on top of him.


    "Argh¡­" Bel grunted in pain. She felt dizzy and disoriented.


    Apollo, on the other hand, couldn''t even say a word from the pain coming from his back. But the moment the sensation of being squashed returned, the pain immediately vanished, and a foolish smile appeared on his face. Although he couldn''t properly breathe, it was a sacrifice he was willing to pay for this glorious moment.


    Ah, I could die like this¡­ Apollo moved to go deeper inside the ''mountains,'' but this caused Bel to realize that someone was under her.


    "Oh, sorry," Bel said, still oblivious to the situation, before she pushed herself aside and sat down beside the beggar. Feeling the pain coming from all over her body, she took a deep breath to calm down. Then she sat herself in a lotus position and began a breathing technique.


    "Wait, no¡ª" Apollo shouted but shut his mouth in the next second. Fortunately, Bel seemed to be in deep concentration. He sat down when he noticed she was quiet and saw that she was ''cultivating.''


    No¡­ Apollo squinted his eyes and ''saw'' the Qi in the surroundings gathering around her. But instead of circulating her body following a certain pattern, the Qi went to her wounds and started slowly mending them.


    Seeing this, the beggar''s eyes lit up. So Qi can also be used like that?! I wish I had known sooner!


    After a while, Bel opened her eyes and sighed in relief when she noticed that her wound had stopped bleeding. Although she couldn''t fully heal it and could only stop the bleeding, it was still better than dying from blood loss.


    "You can use Qi to help wounds stop bleeding?!" Apollo asked with excitement.


    The shout startled Bel, and she couldn''t help but glance at Apollo strangely. "You didn''t know?"


    "Yes," Apollo nodded, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Can you tell me how?"


    Bel looked at him from head to toe and remembered that this was just a kid. "Well, first you need to be able to move the Qi around us, but only 4th-Step Foundation Building Cultivators and above can do this."


    "And then?"


    "Then, once you can see and move the Qi, you have to guide it to your wounds and let it take care of them," Bel explained. "But considering your age, you''re still not at that stage, right? One must train from a young age to have a chance to get past the 3rd-Step in Foundation Building.


    Most of us only achieve that stage after cultivating for at least three years, and even the talented ones have to cultivate for two years. Wait, how old are you again?"


    "I''m se¡ª old enough," Apollo was about to say his real age but changed it at the last second.


    "Old enough?" Bel smiled. "Anyway, once you guide the Qi to your wounds, it will know what to do."


    "I see," Apollo nodded before asking another question. "By the way, how old were you when you reached the 3rd-Step Foundation Building?"


    "Hehe, I''m actually a genius¡­ I was fifteen back then, and it took me one and a half years to achieve the 3rd-Step," Bel scratched her cheek but couldn''t hide the pride in her eyes. "And it took me three years to achieve the 4th-Step when average cultivators take four to five years."


    Hearing this caused Apollo''s eyes to widen, not because he was amazed but because he felt that it was too slow! "Then when did you actually achieve the first step?"


    Although she was confused why he was asking this question, she still answered. "I was nine or ten, I think, when I started cultivating. Then, in just a year, I reached the 2nd-Step. You must already know that one must train their body and mind from a very young age to be able to cultivate, right?"


    Seeing the kid in front of her looking at her with wide eyes, she couldn''t help but feel happy. Then her question to him from earlier came back. "You¡­ are ten or eleven, right?"


    "Y-yes¡­ my height is just smaller compared to kids my age," Apollo answered with a lie, not wanting to expose his real age. If people knew he was already at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building, he could smell endless trouble coming for him. What if they found out that he would be at the 4th-Step after this week? They would go crazy over him!


    "I see¡­ strange, how come you don''t know all this?" Bel asked, her eyes staring directly at him.


    "I¡­ I cultivate solo?" Apollo said hesitantly.


    "Solo? That''s da¨C" Bel couldn''t finish her words as a stinging pain came from her wounds. "We have to go back now¡­ It will be bad if I just leave my wounds like this."


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, but the moment he stood up, pain came from his back. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain while he helped Bel to her feet. Then, just like before, he supported her until they made it to the city gate.


    Bel glanced one more time at the forest before looking at the gate. It was already midnight, and they were the only ones entering the city.


    "Stop!" One of the guards stationed in front of the gate halted them. "Identify yourselves and your purpose for entering Klown City." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We¨C" Apollo hesitated. He would never tell or admit for the rest of his life that he was a Leone. He was about to say a fake name he had already come up with when Bel took out something and showed it to the guard.


    "This¡­ I''m sorry I didn''t recognize you, Miss Bel from the Helflick Family!" The guard bowed his head, and the others followed suit.

 Chapter 53 - 53: You Can Use Qi Like That?(Part-2)

    "No worries," Bel said. "Let''s go."


    They were about to take a step forward when the guard put a hand in front of them. "But Miss, I still have to know this kid''s identity."


    Apollo tensed up when he heard this. He glanced at the guard and saw him looking at him with suspicion. In the end, he still had to say his made-up name. "I''m actually¡ª"


    "He''s a guest," Bel said, staring at the guard seriously. "And the person who saved my life. Can''t you see we''re injured?!"


    The guard was surprised by the angry voice coming from Bel. He didn''t have a choice but to bow his head again. "My apologies!" Then he stepped aside to let them inside the gate.


    Bel scoffed at the guard. "Talk to my father if you are still not satisfied."


    Hearing this caused the guard to visibly tense up. "I wouldn''t dare so, Miss Bel!"


    "Hmph!" Bel gave the guard a disdainful look before she glanced at Apollo with a smirk.


    Soon, the two of them entered the gate without any obstructions.


    "Where do you live?" Apollo asked, intending to help her on the way home.


    "I live northwest of Klown," Bel said, her face scrunching up as her injury started acting up again. Even though she had already stopped the bleeding using the surrounding Qi, it didn''t mean the pain from the wounds had also stopped. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s not far from here," Apollo muttered. "I''ll take you there."


    However, Bel shook her head. "No need. Let''s just go there and sit. They will come for me."


    "Alright then," Apollo nodded and helped her to a closed store with a stool in front of it.


    After he sat her down, Apollo looked around the surroundings before he stared at Bel. "How do you know they are coming for you? I didn''t see you contact anyone." He asked out of curiosity.


    "They will know about it," Bel didn''t say anything else.


    "I see. Then I should get going," Apollo said. It was already midnight, and the pain from his back was becoming unbearable as time passed. He just wanted to go back to his beggar spot and heal the wounds the way Bel did.


    "Why don''t we wait for my men? They can take you to your place," Bel said, looking at him with worry in her eyes.


    "No need. I can take care of myself," Apollo insisted.


    Seeing him determined, Bel sighed. "But let me tell you something first. You said you cultivate on your own, right?"


    "Y-yes," Apollo nodded.


    "Why don''t you join me? You will be under my family, the Helflick Family," Bel offered before she continued. "Besides, cultivating alone without any affiliation is dangerous. Cultivators stronger than you can easily bully you."


    "I''m sorry, but I will have to refuse," Apollo declined. "I should get going now! Bye!"


    "W-wait!" Bel shouted, but the kid had already run quite a distance. He probably heard her but chose not to stop and continued running.


    Bel sighed, then immediately grimaced from her injuries.


    It didn''t take long for someone to arrive in front of her, riding a chariot with the Great Serpent Insignia on its side. This was a chariot especially given to the school''s top students so they could have leisure time outside the school.


    Bel had been using it since then. Her charioteer, June, jumped off from the rider''s seat while the two white horses stopped in front of Bel.


    "Are you okay, Miss?" June asked, evident worry in his voice. He wore a simple dark grey robe that covered his whole body, only revealing his face with streaks of black hair coming out from the robe. He was officially assigned by her family as a bodyguard to protect her at all times.


    "I''ve managed to stop the bleeding, but I need medicine," Bel said, standing up and walking towards the entrance of the chariot.


    "Here," June held out his hand with a silver, almost white, marble on it.


    "Thanks," Bel took the marble and ate it. Contrary to its hard appearance, the marble was actually soft and easy to swallow.


    "Miss," June called out to Bel in hesitation, who was already inside the chariot. "Your father is very angry."


    "I expected it," Bel said. "Sneaking out in the middle of the night just to find ''that'' person? Anyone would get angry."


    "I don''t know what punishment we will get, but I think it''s going to be harsher than the last time," June said bitterly while jumping into the driver''s seat.


    "June, I found something inside the forest."


    "What is it?" June asked while making the two white horses move.


    "Something sinister, horrid within¡­"


    ¡­


    Apollo arrived at his beggar spot, breathing heavily. The pain coming from his back was just too much. He gritted his teeth and took off his upper clothes. Then he reached out to touch his back, and a stinging pain came. Still, he managed to feel his back, which had become scorched. Almost half of his back had been burned by that attack before they made it out of the forest.


    It seemed that whatever had attacked him had some burning attributes.


    Bel didn''t notice that he was injured because she never looked at his back.


    "This f*cking hurts!" Apollo couldn''t help but shout in pain. He went inside that forest just to test his strength again and also to get back at the black wolves. Well, he did manage to kill four of them but still ended up getting injured in the end.


    Taking a deep breath to calm his mind, he glanced at his remaining Alm points.


    Alm Points: 2.


    With only two left, he couldn''t even buy the Health Potion that would help him heal his injuries. Was buying that Simple Sword Technique worth it? Apollo knew that even though he only learned the very basics of that technique, his fighting capabilities were definitely elevated.


    Worth it? Apollo couldn''t decide at the moment. Then he recalled how Bel managed to stop the bleeding of her wounds.

 Chapter 54 - 54: You Can Use Qi Like That?(Part-3)

    Copying her, he crossed his legs, took a couple of breaths, closed his eyes, and started feeling the Qi around him. She said that only those at the 4th-Step Foundation Building and above could command Qi, but for some reason, he could do it even though he was still at the 3rd-Step.


    Deciding to think about this further later, Apollo started gathering the Qi around him. Instead of inhaling it, he guided it towards his back and other parts of his body with small cuts.


    As soon as the Qi made contact with his back, Apollo expected to feel great pain, but contrary to his expectation, he felt a coolness that massaged his back. The pain vanished, followed by relief. He also noticed that the small cuts on his hands and legs closed up on their own, though their marks still remained.


    He guided the Qi for a while, making the wound on his back slightly better. However, it didn''t take long before he found the limit of this method. Because the wound was quite severe, he only managed to stop the burning sensation, heal the skin, and close the small cuts.


    But the Qi could only heal a small amount of muscle that had been burnt. No matter how many times the Qi touched it, nothing changed. Furthermore, it became painful instead of the comforting sensation he had felt earlier.


    Without a choice, Apollo opened his eyes and stopped healing using the Qi.


    "What''s happening?" Apollo muttered in confusion. But recalling what happened earlier, Bel could only manage to stop her wound from bleeding, and she was already at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage. She could only achieve this much. "But this is better than feeling that pain."


    The beggar sighed and put on his clothes. He looked at the moon in the sky while recalling his conversation with Bel.


    Apollo gained a lot from their conversation. He learned that there''s no cultivator his age. At seven years old, most of them are still training their body and mind, preparing to become a cultivator. But he was already at the 3rd-Step, and it wouldn''t be long before he reached the 4th-Step.


    So revealing his age, his name, and his cultivation to someone is a big no. Trouble will come if he does, which he doesn''t want.


    She also said that cultivating alone without any affiliation to someone else or an organization is very dangerous. Apollo understood what she meant. Cultivation is not simple. That''s why there''s only one talented person in a thousand people who can achieve the Foundation Building Stage. They have a method to reach that stage besides their talents.


    What if people desired that method, no matter how simple it is? And what if those strong cultivators laid eyes on him, a defenseless and weak cultivator that they could easily bully and take advantage of?


    Apollo had already realized that people with strength in this world had the authority. If you are weak, you don''t have a say, unless you are brave enough to face the consequence of death.


    "I have to be more lowkey than before," Apollo muttered, though he knew it was just a matter of time before people found out that he was more than just a beggar. He was talented, smart, and handsome. This thought put a smug smile on his face.


    Then his thoughts went back to his injuries. Although he had managed to alleviate some of the damage, he knew that if he left it untreated, it would harm him more in the long run. He had to heal it as soon as possible.


    I need Alm points, Apollo thought. "But what will happen if my cultivation increases? Will it heal by itself?" the beggar muttered.


    How long will it take then? Apollo decided to look at his status screen and ask the system. However, the moment the interface appeared, another one materialized with the word ''Notification'' on top.


    Seeing this, Apollo was surprised before his surprise turned into shock when his eyes landed on the text written on the interface. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You have been marked by the Alphadusk Shadowtail.


    Because you have incurred the wrath of the Alpha, he put a mark on you. Alphadusk Shadowtail will hunt you no matter where you are. Kill or be killed. The time of the hunt depends on the Alpha and the situation."


    After reading this, Apollo couldn''t help but glance back at the moon. "Fck. Fck you."


    If he could see his back right now, he would see that a black mark had been engraved. It was where the burning sensation had come from.


    Apollo started regretting going back into that forest. If he had known about this, he would never have dared to step foot inside that forest filled with two-tailed wolves. Actually, Apollo had already considered that there was going to be an Alpha among them and had been careful not to make too much noise when he decided to hunt some Duskfang Shadowtails.


    But the situation changed, and he had to adjust.


    He also noticed that the notification was sent to him around the time he was hit in the back when he was carrying Bel. That Alphadusk Shadowtail must have been the culprit.


    After cursing at the sky for a while, Apollo sighed and waved his hand in front of him, making the interface disappear in a particle of light.


    "I should cultivate and think about this later," Apollo muttered. The notification said that the Alpha would hunt him depending on the situation. Well, it also meant that there was time for him to get stronger. Although this put pressure on him, he realized that it wouldn''t matter to get nervous. It was better to get stronger faster and earn more Alm points.


    With this thought in mind, he closed his eyes and started inhaling the Qi in the surroundings. Following the Simple Breathing Technique, which was obviously not as simple as he first thought it would be, he instructed the Qi in a pattern.


    Peace and calm, Apollo relished in this moment as he entered the ''void'' with only him and the Qi around.


    But unbeknownst to him, the hunt of the Alpha was not going to be a hunt, but a declaration of war.

 Chapter 55 - 55: Scrambled Eggs(Part-1)

    "So they are still holding on?" a man asked. He was wearing a brown medieval suit, simple but elegant. His body was not too thin and not too fat either, but the most noticeable feature was the bald patch on his head. He was currently inside a room, sitting while drinking a steaming cup of tea. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Seems to be like that, Manager Fu," a man wearing the Skyline Savory attire said. It was a simple suit of dark blue and white with the name of the restaurant sewn on the right chest. This man was the personal assistant to the manager of this branch. With dark brown hair and black eyes, the man stood in front of Manager Fu with his hands behind his back.


    "Are they planning something?" Manager Fu muttered, his eyes glancing at the window that let him see what was happening downstairs. The workers of this branch were already up in the morning, preparing the plates and cleaning the place.


    Unlike the Filly restaurant with two floors for their diners, their restaurant only used the first floor for the patrons, while the second floor was where the kitchen and the staff were. However, the first floor had a partition: the common area and the VIP area where the wealthy and affluent ate.


    "Do you want me to investigate?" the assistant, Alek, asked.


    "No need. It''s just a matter of time before they close down. Even if they still have customers, it won''t be enough to cover their operational costs," Manager Fu said, a confident smile on his face.


    Alek also smiled. Being part of the greatest restaurant in the city, and probably in other cities too, made him feel proud. This gave him confidence to look down on commoners even though he was not a cultivator.


    "I have a question," Manager Fu turned back to his assistant.


    "Tell me, Manager Fu," Alek said.


    "There''s a beggar beside that little girl''s restaurant, right?" Manager Fu asked.


    Hearing the question, Alek thought for a while. "I think I saw him. It''s a kid. Around 8 or 9?"


    "So he''s really a beggar? Not just some kid playing around?" Manager Fu asked once more.


    "I think so. Why, Manager Fu?" Alek asked.


    "If that kid is a beggar, why haven''t they kicked him out yet? That will tarnish their reputation," Manager Fu said. "I think we''re missing something."


    "Do you want me to take care of him?" Alek asked, his eyes turning cold. Although he was not a cultivator, it didn''t mean he couldn''t hire one and let them do the job.


    "No need," Manager Fu shook his head. "That''s actually better. They tarnish their own reputation by not doing anything about that beggar."


    "Haha, you really are smart, Manager Fu," Alek praised the man in front of him with a smile.


    "Of course. And I also think that''s probably one of the reasons why their customers left them and decided to eat here!" Manager Fu said, laughing.


    "Hahahah!" Although Alek didn''t find it funny, he still laughed because that''s what a good employee does. Stroking your boss''s ego was one of the reasons why he had made it this far.


    ...


    As the early morning sun rose, the door to the Filly Restaurant opened, and Gail''s head peeked out. Seeing that the Skyline Savory branch was busy preparing for the day, she stepped outside and stood in front of their menu.


    She started writing on it before heading back inside the restaurant. Once inside, she immediately went upstairs to where Filly was situated.


    "It''s done," Gail said with a smile on her face.


    "Good," Filly nodded. "Now we wait until they discover it."


    "Okay, but¡­ why do we have to do it discreetly?" Gail tilted her head in confusion. "Can''t we just go advertise it to people so they will know that our menu has changed and new ingredients have been added?"


    Filly shook her head. "We can''t. Skyline Savory will definitely make a move. I wouldn''t even be surprised if they sent someone to spy on us and maybe steal the recipe to our new menu. Once they feel threatened, they will show their fangs."


    "Oh, I get it," Gail finally understood.


    After a while, the two of them went out of the room and stood before the railings on the second floor to observe what was happening below. There were already two customers entering. Because it was still early in the morning, they decided to order a simple meal of milk and bread.


    However, when they saw the menu, they couldn''t help but look closer as they found something new.


    "What''s this? Scrambled Egg with Bread?" the woman muttered.


    "A monster egg, perhaps?" the man answered while glancing up at the waiter.


    "No, Sir and Ma''am, it''s just a normal egg but cooked differently," the server said. "Would you like to try it?"


    The couple looked at each other before they nodded. "Sure, two orders, please."


    "Coming right up!" The waiter took their menu before he went to the kitchen and relayed the order to the chefs.


    "I wonder if they will like it," Filly muttered while observing everything. Her eyes landed on the kitchen where she saw Temor immediately start cooking.


    "Although it''s simple, it''s delicious," Gail said from the side. "I didn''t know that eggs could be cooked like that."


    "It''s new to me too," Filly said with a chuckle. That ''beggar'' classified it as simple in the journal that he wrote, but this simple dish is too simple yet still delicious. There are a number of ''simple'' recipes in the journal that they still haven''t tried, but they knew that all of them must be delicious.


    They already believe that everything written in the journal is true and new, something that they hadn''t thought was possible.


    "It''s impossible without that oil," Gail said.


    "Shh!" Filly glared while making a quiet gesture.


    "S-sorry," Gail bowed her head.


    "Remember, Gail, oil is going to be our secret. Even if people know about the other ingredients, we do not say the word oil. We will never reveal our secret," Filly whispered so only the two of them could hear.


    Gail nodded vigorously.


    In no time, the couple''s meal was brought to them by the server.


    Two orders of milk and scrambled egg with bread.

 Chapter 56 - 56: Scrambled Eggs(Part-2)

    "What''s¡­ this?" the woman with a bob cut asked.


    Her partner, on the other hand, held a spoon and scooped some of it. Bringing the golden yellow dish, glistening with ''sparkles,'' in front of him, the man couldn''t help but gulp. Although he wasn''t sure how they made this, from what they ordered, it seemed to be the Scrambled Egg.


    The man sniffed, and his eyes widened. It was definitely egg, but it had a scent of saltiness and savory at the same time. He took another sniff while his eyes remained fixated on it. Comforting and very appetizing! Without any hesitation, he opened his mouth and put the spoon inside.


    Then he put the spoon down and started chewing. He only needed to take a bite or two before he swallowed it.


    The man sighed.


    "Is there something wrong, sir?" the server, who remained standing on the side, asked, concern evident in his voice.


    "No," the man shook his head and, with a slightly red face, continued to eat the egg. "It''s just too delicious! I''ve never tasted anything like this before!"


    His partner, the woman with a bob cut, watched him with wide eyes. She looked at her plate with curiosity.


    "Why don''t I lend you a hand, miss?" the server smiled as he took a knife and fork.


    "Sure," the woman nodded.


    Then the server started cutting the bread in half. "Putting the Scrambled Egg here will make it taste even better. Try it, miss."


    The server put some of the Scrambled Egg on top of the bread before stepping back.


    "T-thank you," the woman said, thanking the waiter. She then picked up the light brown bread with the fluffy golden yellow on top. She gulped when she saw the appearance up close, especially the glistening and how it wobbled when she moved her hand.


    She glanced in front and, seeing that her boyfriend was enjoying the meal, she smiled and ate the bread.


    The bread was common, like most restaurants offered, even here in Filly Restaurant. However, this time, its taste was amplified.


    This! The woman''s eyes widened in surprise. She could hear the crunchiness from the bread, but after a bite, what followed was a soft sensation, something fluffy and creamy attacking her palate. There was a bit of saltiness, watery and somewhat slippery, but the savory taste of egg came on top.


    Along with the taste of bread, they mingled to create an enticing meal.


    Seeing the two of them enjoying their food, the server smiled knowingly. They had also tasted this new dish as part of their job. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They had the same reaction: shock, surprise, amazement.


    When they heard that there was going to be a Skyline Savory branch in front of their restaurant, the servers thought they would lose their jobs because of it. And as they saw the number of their customers lessen, they started to lose hope.


    That was when they noticed the new addition to their menu. Every dish with meat on it had an additional word beside its name, "Cooked with Oil."


    And when they tasted it, the hope that had been extinguished was reignited.


    Filly Restaurant was fighting.


    Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the stairs, and the server glanced habitually. When he saw that the boss was walking towards them, the server stood up straight.


    "Hello, I am the owner of this restaurant, Filly Kleinford. Sorry for disturbing your meal," Filly said to the couple with a smile on her face.


    However, they were too focused on their food to notice her presence at all. Filly just smiled and watched them eat. Her eyes darted from their faces to their clothes and then to the dish on the table. They were enjoying it so much that they didn''t notice that someone important was in front of them.


    Important? This word caused Filly to scoff at herself in her mind. She had gotten used to being treated high and mighty by common people. Is it because she''s a noble? A noble, ha¡­ it''s not that important.


    As her eyes stayed on their plate, a realization struck her.


    Inside my restaurant, what''s more important is the food. This realization made her glance at the second floor, particularly where the wealthy and affluent usually eat.


    The couple finished their meal and only then did they notice that Filly was standing beside the server.


    "Oh my, sorry Miss Filly!" The woman immediately stood up while apologizing. Filly didn''t have to introduce herself, as she was quite well-known to the people who were eating here. She was a noble who decided to open a restaurant even though her family focused on Cultivation. As rumors spread fast, most of them already knew the story.


    "No worries, it should be me apologizing for trying to interrupt your meal," Filly said while also bowing.


    "No need to bow, Miss," The woman tried to stop her, but Filly still did so.


    "Haha, I should," Filly said before she glanced at their empty plate. "How was the meal?"


    "I must say, this is the best breakfast I''ve ever had in my entire life!" The woman replied with sparkling eyes.


    "Yup, I agree," the boyfriend nodded in agreement, though he couldn''t hide the disappointment in his voice when he noticed that their food was already gone.


    "That''s good to hear," Filly smiled. "Would you like to order again?"


    "Well¡­" the couple looked at each other for a moment before they glanced at their empty plate. "Sure, why not? It''s still early and we''re still not satisfied."


    "Haha, don''t worry, this round will be on us," Filly said with a laugh.


    "Really? But you don''t have to," The woman said.


    "Consider this as my appreciation for your feedback," Filly replied. She then glanced at the server, and the server nodded in understanding.


    "Then, thank you, Miss Filly,"


    "You''re welcome," Filly smiled before she went back upstairs.


    Gail, who was watching all this, followed after her boss. They entered the room again, and Filly sat on her chair.


    She sat there, one hand under her chin while the other tapped on the table.


    Seeing Filly this serious made Gail tilt her head. "Is there something wrong, Miss?"


    "I just realized something," Filly said. "I will remove the concept of status inside this restaurant. No more noble, no more class differentiation. If one enters as a diner, then they will have the same status as other diners."


    Gail''s eyes widened before a smile appeared on her face.


    "That''s a great idea, Miss."

 Chapter 57 - 57: Earn It Back(Part-1)

    "Ah, this sh*t still aches," Apollo muttered with a frown. "I need to buy a Health Potion."


    But looking at his remaining Alm points made him smile bitterly. To think that he actually believed he would be able to save up for real this time. However, reality proved him wrong. From 28 Alm points, he was left with just 2.


    Saving is so hard! Apollo thought in frustration. If he hadn''t gone out that night, he would still have those Alm points and wouldn''t be injured. But then, that woman would probably be a goner by now.


    Bel Helflick, was it? She should give me a reward or something.


    Apollo admitted that he was neither good nor evil. He just followed what he felt. At that time, when he saw Bel being surrounded by Duskfang Shadowtails, he had the urge to save her, so he did. Yes, he did feel regret after he was injured and had to use his Alm points. However, there''s nothing he could do at the moment but earn them back.


    Apollo decided not to eat for the time being and just continue to cultivate. He stood in front of his beggar spot where people could see him if they looked in his direction.


    He sat down, put his hands, palms up, above his forehead, and started following the pattern from the Simple Breathing Technique.


    The invitation that fell from one of the martial students from the Great Serpent Cultivation School also stated the time for the Advancement Examination, and there was only a week left before it started.


    Apollo expected that by that time, he would have reached the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage already.


    And the matter of exposing his identity? He already figured out a way, but to do that, he had to earn back Alm points.


    The beggar also decided that only when he completed the mission would he buy the item for his beggar spot, as the mission would award him a hundred Alm points once completed.


    So f*ck saving up! Nah, I''m just kidding. Apollo took a deep breath and started gathering the surrounding Qi.


    When he was about to move it within his body, he suddenly stopped. He opened his eyes and looked around the street. It was around 9 in the morning, and there were already a lot of people walking down the streets. They wore smiles on their faces while some looked disheartened for some unknown reason.


    There were also Martial Students from time to time entering the Skyline Savory branch across the street.


    While observing, the beggar''s face became serious as he recalled what Bel had told him.


    She said that only those at the 4th-Step Foundation Building and above can feel the Qi and command it according to their will. Then how come he can do it? Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo frowned as this was a bad sign. What if a cultivator at that stage or even higher walked in front of him and suddenly noticed that the Qi around them was moving towards him? Isn''t it the same as telling them that he is a cultivator?


    Exposing himself to that woman from the Helflick Family was already a risky move; he didn''t want any more trouble coming his way.


    This made him stand up and return to his Beggar Spot.


    He sat back down inside his makeshift shelter made of trash he had found nearby. With his hand under his chin, he questioned the System.


    "Hey, System," Apollo called out.


    "Yes, Host?" The emotionless voice of the System echoed in his ears.


    "How come I can control the Qi around me even though this feat is only accessible to 4th-Step Foundation Building Cultivators and above?" Apollo asked.


    "This question can be answered by purchasing the Basics of Cultivation from the System Store. Would you like to buy the item?" The System replied immediately, its voice slightly higher than normal.


    Apollo''s mouth twitched along with his eyes. This motherf*cker! I only have 2 Alm points and you want me to buy that item worth a hundred?! And I''m just asking a question!


    "I thought you were an emotionless entity, but your voice changes when it comes to selling your products, eh?" Apollo squinted at the interface in front of him, seemingly looking at the System itself.


    The System remained silent, but the interface disappeared. This was its way of indicating it wouldn''t answer.


    Apollo sighed. Asking the System another question would probably be another futile effort. He was about to ask if those Cultivators who had reached the 4th-Step and above could sense that he could control the Qi around him even though he was only at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building. However, upon careful thought, it wouldn''t matter, as it wouldn''t be long before he reached that stage.


    Apollo went back in front of his beggar spot and started cultivating again. Hopefully, no one would discover that he could move the Qi. It didn''t take long for him to ignore the surrounding noise and plunge back into the deep darkness, with only him and the Qi entering his nose and mouth.


    ...


    As the sun reached its peak, a man with a bald patch on his head stood in front of a window on the second floor of the Skyline Savory branch. He gazed at the restaurant across the street with the plaque of Filly Restaurant.


    Seeing that there were more customers than usual, he couldn''t help but tilt his head in confusion.


    "Is something wrong, Manager Fu?" Alek''s voice came from behind.


    "Do you know how many customers that little girl had yesterday?" Manager Fu asked without taking his eyes off the restaurant across the street.


    "At this hour? They had about 10 to 11," Alek answered after careful thought. "Why?"


    "Because right now, they have about 18 customers," Manager Fu said without turning back. "And now 20," he continued as he saw two customers, a couple, entering the Filly Restaurant.


    "20?" Alek frowned when he heard this number. "On our opening, there were barely any who ate there, and even if they had customers following that day, it was probably just a few."


    Manager Fu nodded as he also knew this fact. "There''s something going on that we don''t know."

 Chapter 58 - 58: Earn It Back(Part-2)

    "Did they perhaps acquire monster meat of higher quality than ours?" Alek said, though it was more like he was talking to himself.


    "It''s possible. But they would need to hire strong hunters," Manager Fu said. "Though I doubt that little girl has the funds. Her family is a cultivation family that focuses solely on cultivation. Her doing business is akin to lowering her status from the core family. They will only give her enough funds based on her status."


    "But why is her restaurant still holding on?" Alek asked before his eyes lit up. "Could it be that they have a supplier?"


    Hearing this, Manager Fu laughed.


    Alek couldn''t help but smile when he heard his boss laughing. So am I right? But in the next second, he realized that Manager Fu was laughing for a different reason.


    "Alek, they don''t have a supplier, and they never will," Manager Fu said, his chest puffing up with pride and a smirk appearing on his face.


    "W-what do you mean?" Alek couldn''t help but ask, curiosity brimming in his eyes.


    "It''s because¡­ Skyline Savory is the owner of all the meat suppliers in the city," Manager Fu turned around and glanced at his awe-stricken assistant.


    "A-all of them?" Alek asked. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All of them," Manager Fu nodded in confirmation.


    "So they are basically buying from us?" Alek looked at the Filly Restaurant through the window.


    "Haha, you are right," Manager Fu smiled. "Well, there''s also a possibility that they are buying their meat from other sources that Skyline Savory doesn''t know of or they procure their monster meat by hiring hunters. Nevertheless, from what I know, they are one of Skyline''s buyers."


    "That''s¡­ amazing!" Alek said with excitement.


    "Of course it is," Manager Fu said. "If they have better monster meat, we will know about it."


    "Right, but¨C" Alek trailed off. "How come they have more customers than yesterday?"


    The smile on Manager Fu''s face disappeared. He turned back to look at the restaurant. "Alek, they are buying from Skyline Savory, and our restaurant has the best monster meat in this city. We are the only ones who have that. No matter what gimmick they are doing, we''re still at the top."


    "We are still at the top," Alek repeated, puffing up his chest just like the manager.


    "I just wonder why¡­ Did they lower the prices?" Manager Fu muttered.


    Because of their close proximity, Alek heard it clearly. He put a hand under his chin and started thinking. Suddenly, he heard the voices of the patrons coming from the first floor.


    "Probably because they are after our customers? Around this time, all our tables and chairs are already filled. People will have to line up now in order to eat, and those who''re hungry don''t want that, right? So they don''t have a choice but to go to Filly."


    Hearing this caused Manager Fu''s eyes to light up. "They''re eating our leftover crumbs. Sneaky."


    "But don''t they know that people eat between an hour or two? And even if people leave the line, more patrons will come," Alek said to the side.


    "I was not wrong for picking you as my assistant," Manager Fu laughed and patted Alek''s shoulder.


    "Hahaha," Alek also laughed, feeling proud of his wits.


    ...


    Filly, who was in her room, sat in the corner with her legs crossed. Her breathing was steady, even slow compared to how she normally breathed.


    With her eyes closed, she continued to practice her breathing technique. Even though she wasn''t that focused on cultivation, it didn''t mean she would neglect it. She still cultivated every day, but not to the extreme of sitting there for the entire day. At most, she would cultivate for two hours. And right now, she was merely doing this for the sake of better skills and maintaining her strength.


    Furthermore, cultivating also cleared her mind. So she took this as a form of resting.


    Suddenly, a knock came from the door.


    Filly opened her eyes and went to answer it.


    "Miss, were you cultivating?" Gail asked hesitantly.


    "Yes, but no worries, I was just about to finish," Filly said. "What''s wrong?"


    Gail was about to say something when a shout came from the first floor.


    "Where''s the owner?!" A female voice echoed like thunder. "Show yourself!"


    "Well, that''s what I was about to say," Gail said bitterly before her eyes turned cold and bloodlust erupted. "I can take care of her; I just need your permission."


    "No," Filly shook her head, knowing full well what would happen if she agreed. "Let me handle this."


    "Okay," Gail withdrew her bloodlust, and her usual shy demeanor around her boss returned.


    They started walking toward the first floor, and along the way, Filly glanced down and saw a woman wearing a white gown that extended to her ankles. She immediately recognized the expensive clothing just by looking at those intricate patterns. The woman had someone beside her wearing a maid outfit.


    As she walked down the stairs, Filly and the customer locked eyes.


    "M-miss," someone went to Filly''s side with bandages on some parts of his body.


    "Ned, tell me what happened," Filly turned to Ned, who was already better than in previous days after he got beaten up by Apollo.


    "She wanted to¨C" Ned didn''t manage to finish his words as he was interrupted.


    "Filly, right?" The woman took a step forward and stood in front of Filly. "How dare you forbid me from going up to the second floor? Isn''t that where the VIP area is?"


    Oh, so this is the reason, Filly finally understood why this woman was angry.


    After she decided that there would be no more class differentiation in her restaurant, she immediately implemented it, making her workers forbid patrons from eating on the second floor. Filly was planning on turning the second floor into the same setup as the first floor so people could eat with each other no matter their status.


    At first, she wanted to put the kitchen there but thought otherwise when she considered her workers.


    "I''m sorry, but there''s no more VIP area in our restaurant. Besides, the second floor is currently being cleaned and reorganized," Filly said ''apologetically'' to the woman.


    "No more VIP?" The woman frowned when she heard this. "So you expect me, Charlotte, a noble, to eat here with these filthy commoners?!"


    Her words caused the other patrons to clench their teeth, but they didn''t dare to stand up for themselves. Their eyes then turned to the owner of the restaurant, seemingly expecting her to say something that might degrade them.

 Chapter 59 - 59: Earn It Back(Part-3)

    "Commoners?" Filly chuckled. "Here in my restaurant, there''s no such thing as commoners. Did you come here to eat or to flaunt your status? If it''s the latter, then get out. Food is what matters more in this restaurant."


    Hearing this made the diners look at her in a different light. Most of them came here to eat because of the new menus, while some were frequent diners since the opening of the restaurant and had stayed loyal ever since.


    Ned, on the other hand, smiled. Yeah, this is my goddess.


    "Wow, so your restaurant has fallen this low?" Charlotte looked around with disgust in her eyes. "To think Skyline Savory has also damaged your brain. This restaurant is no better than a commoner''s restaurant. If it weren''t for Skyline being full, I wouldn''t even be here."


    "Get out," Filly stated strongly.


    Charlotte stared at her from head to toe before she scoffed. "You call yourself a noble? You are a stain to that title."


    "Don''t make me repeat myself again," Filly said, her eyes looking at Charlotte coldly.


    Gail, on the other hand, took a step forward and released her killing intent. The temperature seemed to drop significantly, and people felt like there was a knife around their necks. This sensation was especially intense for Charlotte as she directly received the bloodlust.


    The maid beside Charlotte became worried. "Let''s go, Miss. This is dangerous."


    Charlotte was sweating, and her eyes were shaking with fear. In the end, she turned around ''angrily'' and started walking towards the door. "I won''t let this slide!"


    As the sound of the door closing echoed in the restaurant, the diners went back to eating while their eyes glanced at Filly with admiration.


    "That was quite a scene," Temor said from the side. He was happily cooking when he heard the commotion, so he naturally went out to watch.


    Filly sighed. She had expected this, just not so early. Then, as she glanced around, she noticed that there were more customers than yesterday.


    This is good, the restaurant is already showing signs of recovery, Filly thought. Just using oil alone can already attract them. She also noticed the frequent customers and couldn''t help but feel thankful for them.


    "Now that we''re here, why don''t we go into the kitchen?" Temor asked his boss, and Filly nodded. "I have something to show you."


    ¡­


    Two and a half days later.


    Ah, finally! I''m at the 4th-Step! Apollo thought in excitement. He brought up his Status Screen to see the changes. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 17


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    All this time, what he was doing was cultivating, eating, then back to cultivating. And the food that he ate was bread from Big Chub. Although it wasn''t that great, it was better than being hungry. He also earned an additional 15 Alm points.


    Buying that Wish Me Luck item at that time was worth it, Apollo thought. When his Alm points reached 5, he didn''t buy the Health Potion even though his back was aching and itchy. Instead, he bought the Wish Me Luck item, increasing his Luck by 9%.


    Then he waited for something to happen and, as expected, something did. A man was thrown out from the Skyline Savory branch across the street. The man flew up and landed beside him, his money falling out of his pocket. And, of course, as a good citizen, Apollo helped the guy by putting the coins in his own pocket.


    Apparently, that guy was bothering another patron, which led to a fight and caused the man to be kicked out by the restaurant''s guard.


    Apollo counted the Alm points that he got, earning him 20 Alm points. However, at that time, he felt greedy. He bought another Wish Me Luck item, and the random luck that he got was only at 1%, causing him to almost vomit blood. As expected, nothing happened. He had just wasted 5 Alm points. The beggar didn''t try to buy another one hastily, afraid that he would lose ''hard-earned'' points again.


    Back to the present, the sun was already on its way to meet the horizon.


    After the initial excitement, Apollo went back inside his Beggar Spot to feel his strength. He couldn''t go out anymore to that forest with some monster planning to hunt him down. It would be akin to suicide. He raised his fist and punched the air, causing it to explode and raise small winds around him.


    His clothes and hair made a flapping sound for a few seconds before they went back to normal.


    "Woah!" Apollo exclaimed in amazement. He looked at his fist and clenched it. This strength¡­ I feel like I could bulldoze through anything!


    This made him really want to test out his strength. But he couldn''t go to that forest anymore.


    "Training ground?" Apollo muttered. He could go there, but the only things worthwhile were the scarecrow and the weapons rack. There''s no need for him to use that scarecrow, as the only function it has is to measure one''s strength. The weapons rack, however¡­ He could use the sword to practice his Simple Sword Technique.


    "Well, if I''m going to participate in that Advancement Examination, I might as well practice my techniques," Apollo finally decided to go back to the training ground. "I don''t want to embarrass myself."


    With this thought in mind, he stood up and walked towards the direction of Big Chub''s stall. That guy closed before the sun went down. It didn''t take him long before he reached the stall, and Big Chub was already preparing to pack up his things.


    "Hey," Apollo greeted with a smile. "Are you going to close now?"


    "What''s up, kid, yeah I''m about to go home." Big Chub also smiled. "Are you going to buy something? I still have some."


    "Sure, give me two," Apollo said while taking out his coin.


    "Don''t bother to pay, kid, it''s on me," Big Chub said, handing him three breads instead of two.


    "Are you sure? I have money, you know," Apollo asked, though his hands had already grabbed the bread.


    "I''m going to throw it away anyway," Big Chub shrugged. "They wouldn''t last the night, and there''s no more beggar here besides you. Come to think of it, how come you didn''t get caught by the city guards?"


    "I think I''m lucky," Apollo said, biting the bread in half. "Or they are just busy?"


    "Busy?" Big Chub raised an eyebrow before he thought of something. "You''re probably right. Some big shots are coming to this city. They are even ordering us not to sell for the time being, not until the event is finished."


    "Eh? That''s bad," Apollo said with his mouth full.


    "I know, right? That event will last for at least a week!" Big Chub sighed, then pointed at a stall a few meters away. "Also, look at that. The city is setting up its own stall for the sake of their visitors. So they want to be the only ones to earn money?"


    Apollo glanced in the direction he was pointing and saw a bunch of people building a stall that was definitely bigger and more spacious than Big Chub''s and the other vendors'' stalls.

 Chapter 60 - 60: Yoma(Part-1)

    "Maybe because they wanted the visitors to think they have such great streets that even the vendors on the side are extravagant," Apollo commented, finishing the bread in his hand.


    "Those people sure are good at pretending," Big Chub said, shaking his head.


    "Do you know who the visitors are?" Apollo couldn''t help but ask. For the city to make such great efforts to set up their own stall just to keep up appearances for the sake of the visitors, they must be really important.


    "I don''t know, but if I''m going to guess, it''s probably those high and mighty officials from other cities," Big Chub said while putting the table inside the handcart. Then he started sweeping the floor.


    "Officials? Makes sense," Apollo nodded, understanding what he meant.


    "Makes sense?" Big Chub looked up at the beggar. "Hey, don''t act like you know what I meant. Haven''t you only asked for basic information since we first met?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing this caused Apollo to cough.


    "Hahaha," Big Chub laughed. "You should go home now, kid. It''s getting late."


    "Then see you in a week?" Apollo asked, taking a big bite of his remaining bread.


    "You should visit me sometime. I live further down the road. Just ask where Slumstreet is; people will tell you." Big Chub said before he waved his hand and started pulling his handcart.


    "Okay!" Apollo said. He watched as Big Chub''s figure got smaller and smaller while the sun finally hid behind the horizon.


    Slumstreet? I never knew such a place existed. Well, Apollo hasn''t really explored the city that much, so there are still places he doesn''t know of.


    After eating all his bread, he started walking towards the training ground.


    Fortunately, with the cleaning bead with him, he doesn''t appear to be a beggar, as his robes became as good as new when using the cleaning bead. But he still makes sure not to attract too much attention to himself. What if some people recognize him, as he''s always sitting beside Filly''s Restaurant and in front of the Skyline Savory branch?


    Apollo looked around while walking the street and found out there weren''t many martial students roaming around.


    There are only a few days left before the Advancement Examination begins, and they are probably training or cultivating to increase their strength.


    Although he''s joining for an entirely different reason, he still needs to train in order to complete his mission. Killing an experienced 4th-Step Foundation Building stage opponent is going to be harder when there''s a possibility that the man he''s going to kill has already reached the Qi Condensation stage.


    How is he going to do that when he still doesn''t know the details of the exam? Apollo already had a plan. That man is a man of pride and ego; he will never settle for less and he will try to reach the very top. There''s a high chance that they will meet if Apollo aims for the top spot. And even if there''s no chance, the beggar will create one.


    As a man who became the wealthiest person in his previous life, being cunning is one of the requirements to achieve that feat.


    Soon, Apollo arrived at his destination. He expected that no one would be at the training ground at this hour. However, contrary to his expectations, there were a few martial students training with each other or alone.


    Some of them noticed the newcomer but only took a glance before they went back to their training.


    Apollo was relieved that no one tried to approach him just so they could feel superior and bully the ''weak.'' If someone did, he could use them as a sparring partner to get used to his new strength.


    But it would be better if that really happened, Apollo thought before he shook his head and started walking towards the weapon rack.


    He looked at each of the weapons and found that although they were made of wood, they were still carved with sharpness.


    Apollo reached out his hand and took hold of a sword. His Simple Sword Technique immediately made him familiar with the wooden sword as if it were his own hand.


    He casually swung it and the wooden sword sliced the air. Apollo heard a very thin whooshing sound, causing the grass on the ground to sway to one side.


    Although his mastery over his sword technique was just about the basics, his strength made it seem like a completely different technique.


    "This is cool," Apollo muttered with a smile on his face. "A simple sword slice can already produce this effect."


    With a confident smile, he looked up from the grass, and his smile became stiff. A few meters away, two martial students were fighting with each other, each wielding a sword... a glowing sword! And when they clashed, their swords erupted in magnificent lights. Strong winds made their clothes flap and raised dust clouds in the air.


    Apollo''s eyes widened at the scene. "This! W-what''s this?!"


    Every sword clash was heavy and colorful. The beggar felt like he was watching a sci-fi or fantasy movie.


    Soon the two men stopped their sparring, sweat dripping from their faces.


    Even after they were done, Apollo couldn''t get rid of the surprise on his face. He had felt good about himself that he could send airwaves with just a slice of his sword, but the moment he looked up, someone was sparring with glowing swords! And every attack was powerful and beautiful at the same time!


    His eyes glanced at the weapons they were using, and his confidence took another blow when he saw they were wooden swords just like the one he was holding!


    "Sloppy. The sword technique is not perfect, only suitable for 3rd-Step and below," someone said behind the beggar.


    Apollo visibly tensed. Someone is behind me without me noticing? He slowly turned around, and a man wearing a dark grey robe and a bamboo hat was standing a few feet behind him.


    "You are¡­ Sir Guo, right?" Apollo asked hesitantly.


    "Correct," Sir Guo said, his eyes glancing at Apollo. "You are not a student at any Martial School in this city. What''s your name?"


    Apollo''s face became serious, his previous surprise completely gone.


    "My name? I''m Yoma," Apollo said, using the fake name he had come up with.


    "Yoma? What a very strange name," Sir Guo said, observing the kid in front of him.


    Yomama is the strange one, Apollo thought but didn''t dare to say it out loud.

 Chapter 61 - 61: Yoma(Part-2)

    So what I''ve seen is just an incomplete technique suitable for 3rd-Step Foundation Building and below? Apollo thought, his eyes glancing back at the two martial students who were already talking with each other, probably discussing their previous spar.


    Well, come to think of it, his sword technique is called Simple Sword Technique, and the word ''simple'' is already in it. Being excited about only producing air waves with every attack is not something to be proud of.


    "So tell me, Yoma, why are you here?" Sir Guo asked, curiosity evident in his voice.


    "Am I obligated to tell you that?" Apollo asked back. This is the second time that he said these words as this is not the first time the two of them met.


    "Not really," Sir Guo shook his head with a smile. "I''m just curious, that''s all."


    Apollo stared at the man with the bamboo hat with squinted eyes before he smiled. "I''m joining the Advancement Examination."


    "Oh? You stole one of the invitations?" Sir Guo asked.


    "Sort of," Apollo didn''t go into details. How could he? Should he say some martial student was thrown beside his feet, unconscious, and the moment he woke up and left, the invitation fell from his pocket? That''s too much of a coincidence, isn''t it?


    "Is that so?" Sir Guo raised an eyebrow.


    "Yup," Apollo nodded. "By the way, you seem to be an important figure here. Do you know the details about the Advancement?"


    Sir Guo went silent for a while before he opened his mouth. "You have an invitation but don''t know anything about the examination? You are not from here."


    The beggar didn''t answer and just continued staring at the man with the bamboo hat.


    "You are a strange kid," Sir Guo said. "You caught my attention, but¡­ I''m also not particular about the details. However, if there''s something I''m sure of, this year will be interesting."


    Useless, Apollo immediately thought with disappointment. Why did I even bother asking?


    "What? Disappointed? You should be glad that I even answered your question," Sir Guo frowned.


    "No, I''m actually glad, Sir Guo!" Apollo said, almost shouting from ''excitement.''


    "That should be it," Sir Guo smiled. "If you are going to train, then train. I should go back to cultivating."


    "Sure, sure." Apollo nodded, waving his hand.


    The man with the bamboo hat walked towards the platform in the middle of the training ground and sat on its step.


    Apollo recalled that this man was a creep who liked staring at women. He looked around and found that there were no women in sight. Don''t tell me he also likes men? This made him more disgusted with Sir Guo, especially when that guy said he caught his attention.


    Although he didn''t know Sir Guo''s position, he seemed to be an important figure, seeing that the martial students were looking at him with fear and admiration. It''s better not to have too much interaction with people like him.


    Shaking his head, the beggar went to find his spot. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo looked around once more and saw a man surrounded by translucent swords. He was waving the wooden sword in his hand, making the translucent swords around him follow his movements.


    The beggar turned to the side and noticed a man dashing from left to right, leaving an afterimage behind.


    Apollo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His confidence had taken such a toll that he just wanted to find a hole and hide inside forever.


    Sir Guo mentioned that the two men who sparred earlier were using a Sword Technique only suitable for 3rd-Step and below. So there''s a high possibility that the others here are the same.


    Even with low cultivation, as long as they have good Techniques, their strength will receive an enormous boost.


    The upcoming Advancement Examination will likely be a competition. They even said that there''s going to be a battle test.


    Apollo will have to fight these cultivators with such techniques. Even with his 4th-Step Foundation Building cultivation, it won''t guarantee that he will win, let alone kill that guy to complete his mission.


    If even a 3rd-Step Foundation Building cultivator has such Techniques, what about Arke? A more experienced cultivator?


    Just thinking about this stressed the beggar. "Sh*t! Just focus!" Apollo cursed. He closed his eyes, raised the sword in front of him, and slashed.


    The feeling of cutting the air, producing sharp sounds, and sending airwaves calmed his chaotic mind.


    It''s just a simple cut that even a toddler could do. There''s no extravagant effect, but the strength behind it is evident. However, when one compares it to what the martial students did previously, it''s miles apart. That''s what Apollo thinks.


    Following the movement from the Simple Sword Technique, Apollo kept slashing with the same motion.


    At first, his movements were not steady, but as time passed, he felt like he became a robot, moving with precise motion.


    Raising his sword high, the beggar brought it down in a forceful motion. However, this time, the sword didn''t create a whistling sound nor was wind brought up.


    "Eh?" Apollo couldn''t help but tilt his head. "What''s happening?"


    He raised his sword and slashed again. But the same thing happened for the second time. The attack became so simple that it couldn''t even be considered an attack.


    With confusion written on his face, Apollo searched for the reason inside his mind. As the Simple Sword Technique was etched deep inside his mind, he immediately found out the reason why.


    Wait, that''s it?


    "Once an attack is perfected, the sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered before a frown appeared on his face. "What the actual f*ck does that mean?!"


    Out of frustration, he waved the sword horizontally, and the sword made a whistling sound followed by wind that messed up his hair and raised up dust.


    "Eh? It''s back?" Apollo became more confused. He raised his sword and brought it down, but the attack didn''t produce the same effect as it did just now.


    The beggar raised it in front of his eyes but found that nothing was strange with the wooden sword. Suddenly, he realized something.


    He slashed the wooden sword horizontally, and the whistling sound came back. Then Apollo raised his hand before bringing it down. The sword acted like a stick, simple and weak.

 Chapter 62 - 62: Yoma(Part-3)

    "Once an attack is perfected, the sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered. Although it was confusing at first, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He couldn''t put it into words, but somehow, he understood it. An understanding that only he could grasp.


    Vertical Slash, Horizontal Slash, Diagonal Slash, Stab, Block, Deflect, Disarm¡­ Apollo recalled all the moves from the Simple Sword Technique and the training method to perfect them. All he had to do was keep practicing, which he did with the Vertical Slash. But isn''t it too fast to perfect it?


    Maybe because the sword technique is really simple.


    Compared to the eye-catching techniques the martial students could do, his technique was simply child''s play.


    But if my Horizontal Slash is already perfect, how come it doesn''t produce much strength? He looked around and saw the scarecrows that could measure strength. There was a martial student testing his strength on one with a sword in hand.


    The scarecrow could also act as a training dummy? This made Apollo want to test out his sword technique on it. Although he wasn''t expecting much, he should at least know the strength of his attack. But the beggar decided to perfect every sword attack first.


    Holding the wooden sword with both hands, he sliced horizontally. The sword created a whistling sound and sent airwaves in front of him. Just like with the Vertical Slash, he kept practicing the attack, again and again, until he lost track of time.


    As his breathing grew heavy and sweat covered his forehead, with one final slash, the Horizontal Slash finally became silent and ''uneventful.''


    Apollo wiped his sweat with his sleeves. He rested for a bit before trying the Horizontal Slash again. Just like what happened with the Vertical Slash, the sword attack became nothing but a simple swing.


    Still, Apollo didn''t underestimate the technique, as he still didn''t know if there was something else. After resting for a bit, he took a deep breath to calm his heavy breathing before practicing the Diagonal Slash this time.


    The sound of air being sliced echoed, but because there were martial students in the training ground also practicing their techniques, the sound coming from the beggar was drowned out.


    There was only one particular person observing him.


    "What''s wrong with this kid?" Sir Guo muttered in confusion. He already knew that the kid was hiding something. That kid Yoma is a beggar, according to the martial student Bernie, but can a beggar defeat a Cultivator who has undergone training and studied in a Martial School? Highly unlikely.


    This kid¡­ or man? "A wanderer?" Sir Guo muttered. A wanderer seemed the most plausible explanation, but¡­ what the hell was a wanderer like him doing? He watched Yoma swing his sword like how military men train. Although the strength behind it was something that only comes from a 4th-Step Foundation Building Cultivator, his technique was just a simple sword slash. No fancy special effects whatsoever.


    If Yoma is a Wanderer acting like a beggar, why is he also acting like a fool? This confused Sir Guo.


    Wanderers, or sometimes called Rogue Cultivators, are those Cultivators who don''t belong to any association or organization. They cultivate alone with their Cultivation techniques that they got from relics, passed down from their family, Martial Schools, or from other ways.


    Sir Guo had met some Wanderers and even made friends with them, but he had never met someone this young. It was impossible for a kid to have reached the 4th-Step Foundation Building, and Sir Guo couldn''t detect Qi inside the boy.


    So there was only one explanation he could conclude at the moment. This ''kid'' was actually a grown-up man.


    "You''re a grown *ss man and acting like this?" Sir Guo muttered while shaking his head. "What a shame."


    ¡­


    After perfecting the diagonal slash, Apollo moved on to perfect the other slashes. Each attacking method took him at least 30 minutes to complete, and the longest took him an hour, which was the stabbing attack. However, he couldn''t proceed to perfect the block, deflect, and disarm techniques as he didn''t have a sparring partner.


    Apollo raised his wooden sword and brought it down. Then he followed up by slicing the air horizontally before doing the diagonal slash and the stab. Each attack was so simple one might think it couldn''t even kill a chicken.


    Apollo sighed. He was also skeptical about all this. But he still believed in the Simple Sword Technique that came from the System Store. Even the Simple Breathing Technique was such a godly technique that it made him a super genius. At 7 years old, he was already at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage while his peers were still training their bodies to be able to cultivate.


    But unbeknownst to him, the Simple Sword Technique and the Simple Breathing Technique were actually what their names implied. They were just really simple techniques.


    Apollo''s once-in-a-million-years talent made him cultivate faster than anyone else, even though he was just using the Simple Breathing Technique. This also applied to the Simple Sword Technique. It was a Sword Technique worth 25 Alm points that only consisted of the basics of every sword technique.


    The beggar immediately perfected it and unknowingly went beyond it, making the Simple Sword Technique his own creation.


    This was the main reason he reigned on top of his previous world. But the beggar didn''t know this.


    Apollo raised the wooden sword in front of him, recalling the details of the Simple Sword Technique. He suddenly felt like there was more to the technique than what was inside his mind.


    "Anyway, it''s time to test out the strength!" Apollo muttered in excitement. He glanced in the direction of the scarecrows and found no one was using the training dummy. In fact, he was the only one left here.


    Apollo smiled bitterly. Even that creepy man had left already.


    He looked at the position of the moon and stars and concluded that the time must be between 9 and 10. Although the sky above was different from his previous life, after looking at it every night, Apollo could somehow manage to tell the time.


    Shaking his head, he walked towards the nearest scarecrow.


    Upon standing in front of it, Apollo raised the wooden sword in front of him. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered. Although this came from the Simple Sword Technique, the more he repeated it, the more he felt that these were his own words.


    While still in doubt, Apollo brought down the wooden sword.


    He felt a slight resistance before the trajectory of his sword became smooth. After the swing, Apollo observed the scarecrow before he turned to the vertical stone beside it. The water level didn''t change.


    "What a crappy technique," Apollo said in annoyance. "It''s definitely not a sword anymore, it turned into nothing but a toy that couldn''t even produce much strength! Heck! Even a toy could hurt someone!"


    Feeling disappointed and angry at the System that scammed him out of 25 Alm points, he thought, F*ck you, System!


    He was about to hit the scarecrow out of frustration when suddenly, it fell to the ground, split on both sides.


    "Eh?"

 Chapter 63 - 63: Yoma(Part-4)

    Looking at the split scarecrow, Apollo couldn''t help but be surprised. "I did that?" He raised the wooden sword to observe it closely. The wooden sword had sharp edges, but they weren''t enough to cut into anything unless it was paper.


    Apollo glanced at the half scarecrow and then at the sword in front of him.


    Suddenly, the earlier scene of a martial student using this scarecrow as a training dummy came to mind. Is it because of him? Apollo frowned.


    There was only one way to find out. Apollo turned to the other scarecrows. They were scattered across the training ground, originally numbering ten. Now there were only nine remaining.


    He walked to the nearest scarecrow, took a look around to make sure no one was watching, and, finding no one, he attacked the scarecrow with a horizontal slash. He felt the same slight resistance before the sword''s trajectory became smooth.


    Apollo waited.


    A second or two later, the wind blew in his direction, causing the upper half of the scarecrow to fall to the ground.


    Apollo could feel Qi leaving from the fallen scarecrow half.


    "Woah!" The beggar exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise¡­ and excitement. "Sh*t, I can do that?"


    He thought his attack was weak because it didn''t produce much of a ''special effect,'' but contrary to his expectation, he could slice this scarecrow that was meant to handle attacks! Even that previous martial student could only make the scarecrow sway from side to side.


    Enveloped in excitement, he turned to the other scarecrows, walked to the nearest one, and slashed his sword in a diagonal slash. The top of the scarecrow slid diagonally, falling to the ground with a thud.


    Good! Apollo tried another attack on another scarecrow. Stab!


    Like cutting tofu, the wooden sword passed through the thick leather filled with Qi that reinforced its whole structure. The beggar pulled the sword out and looked inside the hole, seeing the other side of the training ground with shining eyes.


    Filled with exhilaration, Apollo visited each scarecrow and used his sword technique on them.


    "Hahaha!" Apollo laughed, seeing the last training dummy fall to the ground split on both sides. Feeling cool and amazed with himself, he raised the wooden sword and put it on his shoulder.


    However, the next moment his laughing face turned stiff. He felt a burning sensation on his shoulder. Turning to his right where he placed the wooden sword, he saw blood seeping out from the point of contact.


    "What the f*ck?! Ouch!" Apollo cursed in pain. He lifted the wooden sword, and blood gushed out from his right shoulder. Come on, friendly fire?!


    He immediately sat down and gathered the Qi around him, guiding it to his right shoulder. The burning sensation was met with a cooling feeling from the Qi, and the beggar sighed in relief.


    After a while, the wound stopped bleeding, and it was just a matter of time before it fully closed, though a scar would be left. He would have to use a Health Potion to fully heal everything, including the scars. But with his current Alm points, Apollo didn''t want to waste even one of them.


    "My back isn''t even fully healed yet and I''m injured again?" Apollo muttered in frustration. He raised his right hand and swung it around. Fortunately, the wound didn''t affect his ability to move his arm. This also served as a lesson for him not to casually play with sharp objects.


    He glanced at the wooden sword on the ground, deep in thought.


    "Once an attack is perfected, the sword will no longer be a sword but a tool to use a sword," Apollo muttered the sentence again. "Dull or not, I could use anything to cut anything."


    This understanding made him hold the wooden sword once more. He made sure not to do that foolishness again. Just thinking about it made him want to break this sword in two.


    "Be good to me because you are mine now," Apollo said to the wooden sword. The wind blew, messing up his hair and clothes. It felt like the sword was answering him.


    Although the wooden sword looked sloppy, when Apollo wielded it, it became as sharp as a real sword. He could cut the training dummy even though the other martial students couldn''t. Or were they not purposely cutting it? This thought made him glance at the scarecrows on the ground.


    "Sh*t, did I mess up?" Apollo whispered, but there was no bitterness in his voice. No one was looking; what should he worry about?


    The beggar smiled and was about to place the sword on his shoulder when he stopped midway and immediately pointed the sword towards the ground.


    "D*mnit! You almost got me!" Apollo shook his head with a sigh. "I should head back."


    Apollo glanced around once more before he walked towards the street that would lead him back. Along the way, he couldn''t help but think it would be better if there was someone he could spar with. He wanted to test his strength in a fight and also see the capabilities of the Simple Sword Technique. The beggar had long since ''realized'' that the technique was not as simple as the name implied. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Filled with disappointment, he casually walked back.


    But the heavens seemed to have heard his wish as, in the next moment, someone shouted from his right. Apollo turned to the sound and raised an eyebrow.


    "Beggar!"


    "You are¡­ that guy?" Apollo asked, staring at the thin man with one bridge spectacle placed on his nose. It was a wonder how those glasses hadn''t fallen yet.


    The thin man wore a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on the left chest. However, compared to what the beggar had seen from the other martial students from the Great Serpent Martial School, the man''s clothes were filled with holes and tears. He resembled more of a beggar than Apollo.


    Apollo couldn''t remember the thin man''s name, probably because no one had mentioned it, but he knew him. It was the same guy he fought on the platform in the middle of this training ground.


    "Because of you, I lost it all!" Bernie shouted with a hoarse voice. His eyes were red, and his lips were cracked. "I lost it! I lost it! My life! I was supposed to be among them, the elites!


    I was supposed to be looking down on people like you! It''s because of you!"

 Chapter 64 - 64: Red Whirlwind(Part-1)

    "This is classic," Apollo muttered with a hint of amusement in his voice. "After defeating a bad guy, he comes back for revenge. Clich¨¦ but¡­ you arrived at the right time."


    "You are just a beggar! A f*cking beggar! How dare you ruin my life!" Bernie shouted, his voice so hoarse that some of the words became incoherent. But the beggar could still understand him.


    Bernie started walking towards Apollo, his steps unstable, and one might think he would fall immediately. But he remained determined.


    Seeing this, Apollo raised an eyebrow. He remembered that this guy was a Half-step or at the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage when they first fought. At that time, although it took some time, the beggar still managed to defeat the thin man.


    Apollo sniffed, and the smell of alcohol entered his nose. Just based on the smell, this guy was extremely drunk.


    "You!" Bernie stopped a few feet away from the beggar. "Are you happy, huh?! Do you want to laugh?! Lau¡ªhiccup! Laugh at me!"


    "Hey man, think through your actions wisely," Apollo tried to persuade the man. "I get it, okay? You lost something after I defeated you, but is it really my fault? Isn''t it because you were not competent enough to defeat me?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "F*ck you! Hiccup! It''s impossible for someone like me to be defeated by a beggar! Hiccup! You must have done something!" Bernie shouted at the top of his lungs.


    It seems talk no jutsu won''t work on this guy, Apollo thought. "So you want revenge?"


    "Hell yeah! I''ll f*cking kill you! Hiccup! Tear you into pieces and eat your flesh!" Bernie''s face became red as blood vessels threatened to erupt.


    "You''ve been talking too much; let''s just get this over with," Apollo said with a sigh. He was confident that this was going to be an easy battle, as the beggar had already defeated this guy when he was still at the Half-Step Foundation Building stage. His strength was far beyond that point already, and Apollo didn''t think much of his opponent besides him being drunk.


    Furthermore, Apollo also wanted to see if he could cut this guy with his wooden sword. Killing someone? From the looks of it, this thin man would definitely kill him; no doubt about that. Apollo was not a person who would let others bully him. If someone was going to kill him, he would make sure he did the same.


    "Don''t, hiccup! Underestimate me! I''ve been dreaming about this! Hiccup! Hahaha!" Bernie laughed out loud, his hoarse voice sounding like a monster in this dark night. Then he raised his hand and pointed towards the beggar.


    "I have taken great effort just to steal this one."


    Hearing this, Apollo squinted, and his relaxed face turned serious. What does he mean by that? He stole something? What is it? The beggar''s doubt was immediately answered in the next second.


    "Die, beggar!" Bernie declared, and suddenly, in front of his palm, a bright red whirlwind appeared, causing the grass around them to sway chaotically.


    Apollo''s eyes widened. He felt a threat coming his way.


    With a whooshing sound, the red whirlwind flew towards the beggar''s direction. Feeling the stinging air, Apollo utilized his Simple Movement Technique and jumped to the side. This technique is just like the Simple Sword Technique, requiring movement that has to be perfected. Apollo also wanted to master this technique before the Advancement Examination began.


    But right now, he had to make use of his current progress with the Simple Movement Technique.


    As the sound of ground tearing from the attack echoed, Apollo saw that the thin man was preparing to send another attack.


    "I have to stop him!" Apollo''s eyes became cold. He bent his knees and, with the strength of a 4th-Step Foundation Building Cultivator, dashed towards his opponent!


    "Beggar! I won''t let you!" Bernie shouted and immediately sent the red whirlwind towards the beggar, even though the whirlwind was not yet at its full strength, just like the first attack he sent.


    But it was enough to push Apollo backwards.


    Apollo crossed his hands, blocking the red whirlwind. "Argh!" He gritted his teeth while his body was pushed 3 to 4 meters away from the thin man.


    After the attack disappeared, Apollo could feel a burning sensation on his arms. Glancing at them, he saw that they were red. Fortunately, the only thing he received was a bruise on his skin that covered the side of his arms that blocked the attack.


    "Hahaha! Hiccup! Take this!" Bernie laughed with excitement upon seeing that he succeeded in hurting the beggar. He raised his hand once more to prepare for another round of attack.


    Apollo squinted while his mind worked. The second attack was much weaker compared to the first release. Bernie had to channel his Qi for each attack, which needed a few seconds to use at full strength.


    The beggar immediately found a weakness. I have to disrupt him before he can use the full strength of his attack, Apollo thought. With this in mind, Apollo used one of the movements from the Simple Movement Technique that allowed him to cross a distance quickly. Coupled with his raw strength, the beggar almost became a blur and instantly appeared on the side of the thin man.


    "Gotcha," Apollo smirked while using the Stab attack, aiming at Bernie''s neck.


    However, in the next second, Bernie pointed his hand at the beggar, the red whirlwind in front of his palm following along.


    "Sh*t!" Apollo cursed, but without time to shield himself, the small red whirlwind landed on his body, sending him backwards.


    The beggar flipped a few times before he landed on his feet. He looked at his chest and saw that the robe was shredded. Fortunately, he didn''t receive much injury.


    Because it was sudden, Bernie had to immediately send the red whirlwind in order to protect himself.


    "You can''t defeat me, kid! Hiccup! You will never be able to defeat me! I''m above you!" Bernie shouted with a crazed laugh.


    Apollo went silent. He recalled what had just happened, and a plan came to mind. The thin man was definitely weaker and slower than him, but because Apollo didn''t know what his opponent could do, he found himself at a disadvantage. However, that''s only going to happen at the start.


    Now that he knew that the red whirlwind stayed in front of the thin man''s palm even if he moved around, Apollo came up with a strategy. All he had to do was¡ª


    Suddenly, a strong wind assaulted him, messing up his hair and creating a flapping sound in his clothes. Apollo raised his wooden sword in front of him out of instinct, and what happened next made him discard his plan.


    "Or this will do," Apollo muttered, a smirk forming on his face as the red whirlwind that was sent towards him while he was deep in thought was cut in half by his wooden sword.

 Chapter 65 - 65: Red Whirlwind(Part-2)

    "Hiccup!" Bernie didn''t seem to realize what had just happened as he raised his hand once more, pointing it at the beggar who was now walking towards him. "Come here! Hiccup! You must be very, Hiccup! Afraid! Right?


    Right?!"


    "Yeah, I am," Apollo said, but his calm voice told otherwise. He could actually cut the projectiles the thin man was throwing and hadn''t even put much strength behind it, only raising his sword out of instinct. However, just to make sure, he wanted to confirm it again. "Throw another one, maybe it will kill me this time."


    Hearing this, Bernie felt like he was being humiliated. "I''m only playing with Hiccup! You! You really want to die, huh?! Then take this!"


    A red whirlwind was hurled towards the beggar, tearing the grass on the ground while a strong whistling sound echoed in the area.


    Apollo placed the wooden sword in front of him and waited for the attack to land. He could see that behind those cringe-worthy words the thin man said, he packed quite a bit of power and Qi into this one.


    As the red whirlwind was only a few feet away from him, the beggar raised the sword higher.


    Vertical Slash!


    The wooden sword didn''t make a sound and just moved as if it were in the vacuum of space. The moment it touched the projectile, the sword continued all the way down without meeting any resistance and, with a whooshing sound, the red whirlwind was cut in half!


    "How''d you like¡ª Hiccup!" Bernie didn''t manage to finish his words when he saw that scene, his drunk mind slowly clearing up.


    "I knew it," Apollo smiled. He brought the sword in front of his eyes and smacked his lips. "You are full of surprises."


    Apollo knew that it wasn''t because of the sword, but because of the Simple Sword Technique. A sword is meant to cut, not to be flashy or produce special effects.


    "You¡­ This is wrong!" Bernie shouted while clutching his head. "Wrong! How could you! No!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This guy is crazy," Apollo muttered, shaking his head.


    "Hiccup! F*ck you! I can still defeat you!" Bernie raised his hand again and fired another red whirlwind.


    But the beggar only had to raise the sword and slice the attack halfheartedly.


    "Die! Die!" Bernie didn''t stop at just one; he continued to fire while shouting at the same time. The blood vessels in his eyes had already erupted, making his red eyes even redder. The current Bernie resembled a demon, but contrary to his appearance, his heart that had been burning with rage and confidence a few moments ago was now beating with fear and anxiety.


    He went through a lot of trouble just to steal this ''deadly'' technique even though he wasn''t fully qualified to learn it because of his lack of cultivation. After forcefully learning it at the Beginner Stage, he immediately went to find the Beggar. However, no matter where he looked, he couldn''t find him.


    Frustrated and feeling disappointed, he decided to drink alcohol at the bar. He kept drinking until he got drunk. That''s when he went out of the bar and saw some martial students. Even though he was drunk, an idea came to his mind as the martial students came from the direction of the training ground.


    Hoping to find the beggar there, Bernie went to the training ground, and his decision was proven correct when he saw Apollo. This made his thirst for revenge act up.


    Because of the beggar, he was kicked out of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Bernie blamed the beggar even though it was his own fault for stealing a cultivation technique from the school''s library, the Air Palm Explosion.


    If it weren''t for him, Bernie wouldn''t have revealed that technique, which caused him to be expelled. Yeah, it''s the beggar''s fault, not mine. How can someone lower than me dare to humiliate me like that? This thought made the fury in Bernie''s heart reach its highest point.


    But despite all this, the current situation made Bernie rethink his choices.


    How is this guy so strong?! Bernie kept sending red whirlwinds, but the beggar cut through them like it was nothing! Suddenly, he could taste a strong metallic tang in his mouth.


    Although his insides were already injured, Bernie continued to use the Air Palm Explosion.


    "Die! Die! Die!" Bernie kept shouting, but in the next second, he couldn''t hold on anymore as he vomited a mouthful of blood. His skin became as pale as paper.


    Apollo, who was already a few feet away from the thin man, tilted his head. It didn''t take him long to realize what was happening. This guy mentioned that he took great effort to steal¡­ his technique? Maybe there''s a side effect and his body couldn''t handle it.


    "Hey, you okay?" Apollo asked.


    "You! Don''t come near me!" Bernie waved his hand as he fell to his knees, coughing hard.


    "Come on, man, you should have taken my talk no jutsu from earlier," Apollo said and proceeded to walk towards the defenseless thin man.


    "F*ck you!" Bernie cursed, looking up, but when he saw those cold eyes, a shiver ran down his spine. "I¡­ I," He fell on his bottom and slowly moved backward using his hands and feet.


    Seeing this, Apollo smirked. "You must be thinking, how can a beggar like me defeat you? How come I am so strong, and no matter what you do, you are still hopeless?"


    Bernie stopped in his tracks, his shaky eyes staring at the beggar with fear. Fck! Fck! Don''t humiliate me! This thought remained in his heart, but he didn''t dare to say anything at the moment. Bernie had already realized that he bit off more than he could chew.


    Even with the Air Palm Explosion, he couldn''t kill the beggar. No matter how dumb and drunk he was, he still recognized his situation, especially when he greatly valued his life. "Pl-please spare me¡­"


    The beggar stopped as Bernie was already below him. Although Apollo''s current height is around 4 feet, his cold presence made up for the lack of height, making him appear bigger in the thin man''s eyes.


    "No," Apollo shook his head, placing his wooden sword beside Bernie''s neck.


    "Y-you can''t kill me!" Bernie pleaded, the alcohol within his body long since evaporated from the fear he was currently feeling. "I¡­ I know someone important, if he finds out I was killed, he will definitely find you!"


    Of course, this was a lie.


    Apollo went silent, his eyes staring directly at the thin man.


    Seeing the beggar not saying anything, Bernie sighed in relief. My bluff worked. I''m just barely at the 1st-Step Foundation Building. Who would want to associate with a weakling like me? he thought.


    "Yup, that''s right, put your sword down and let''s talk this out, okay?" Bernie forcefully smiled.


    "Okay," Apollo answered and ''brought down'' his sword.


    "That''s goo-" Bernie couldn''t finish his words as his vision started spinning. Eh? With a thudding sound, he saw his body in front of him. Headless.

 Chapter 66 - 66: Red Whirlwind(Part-3)

    Blood spurted, tainting the grass red.


    Apollo stared at the head that rolled to the side, his eyes unwavering. "That''s what you deserve."


    Shaking his head, he searched the body of the headless Bernie and found a scroll and a pouch filled with a few silver coins. Apollo didn''t open it yet, even though he was curious about its contents. But if he were to guess, it was probably the technique Bernie used to send red whirlwinds. You said you stole something, right? This must be it.


    This will be mine now, so your efforts won''t be in vain, Apollo thought with a cunning smile on his face.


    After putting the scroll inside his robe, Apollo took all the silver coins from the pouch before putting it back. Then he glanced around the training ground and started walking back. Although he didn''t manage to use the other movements from the Simple Sword Technique, Apollo was more than satisfied knowing the capability of the technique.


    Cutting people''s skills and abilities sounds cool, though I still don''t know its limitations, Apollo thought.


    Soon, his figure disappeared into the streets.


    The only thing that remained in the training ground was the headless body of Bernie and the broken scarecrows scattered across the ground.


    Time passed, the moon descended into the horizon as the clouds changed positions and shapes. Then the sunlight peeked through from the east, adding warmth to the residue from the cold night.


    "What the h*ll?!" a martial student shouted first thing in the morning when he arrived at the training ground. Seeing the headless body and smelling the scent of blood permeating the air, the martial student couldn''t help but throw up his breakfast.


    Soon, more people arrived and the news quickly spread.


    "Let me through," someone said. Although the voice wasn''t loud, the people in the area could still hear it clearly as it was imbued with Qi that helped the speaker to say it directly into the receivers'' ears. This requires great control of Qi and isn''t something a Foundation Building Cultivator could easily learn.


    The martial students turned to the sound and saw a man wearing a dark grey robe with a bamboo hat on top of his head.


    "Sir Guo is here, make way!"


    Sir Guo walked towards the headless body, a frown appearing on his face when he recognized the person. "Bernie." He knelt on one knee, touched the cold body, and immediately estimated the time of death.


    It happened last night, around the time I left, Sir Guo thought. He then began searching the thin man''s body and only found an empty pouch. Shaking his head, he stood up and glanced at the half scarecrows. He walked towards the nearest and inspected the training dummy.


    "A solid cut¡­ such swordsmanship," Sir Guo''s face turned dark. He couldn''t detect a trace of Qi behind the slash. It''s like the scarecrow was cut purely based on strength and swordsmanship. But that''s impossible.


    This scarecrow is Qi reinforced and only those who have reached Qi Condensation can damage this training dummy¡­ unless the person who did this is solely focused on cultivating their body, a Physical Cultivator. And this person is also capable of using a sword.


    No person came to his mind, causing the frown on Sir Guo''s face to worsen.


    ...


    "Yeah, that''s what I heard. It happened this morning in the training ground," a woman wearing a white maid outfit that reached her legs whispered to another maid beside her.


    "That''s scary."


    "I know, right? The big event is coming soon and something like this happens. I think it''s a bad omen."


    "Shh, don''t say things like that. What if it becomes true? Anyway, the world is dangerous. It''s better if we behave and don''t go out at night."


    "You''re right, and don''t offend anyone!"


    Suddenly, both of them stopped in their tracks and saw someone walking towards them. They immediately stood up straight and bowed simultaneously.


    "Good morning, Miss Bel!" the two maids greeted the newcomer at the same time.


    "Good morning," Bel greeted back, putting down a bucket of water before helping them up. "You don''t have to bow when you see me. I''m a maid, remember?"


    "B-but," the two looked at each other before staring back at Bel. Seeing her serious eyes, they let out a sigh of defeat. "Alright, Miss Bel."


    "Good," Bel said with a chuckle. She was wearing the same outfit as them, a white maid attire that reached her legs. However, compared to them, her beauty and fair skin made it seem like her clothes were just sleeping attire, comforting and pleasing to the eyes.


    Being a maid until the day before the Advancement Examination began was her punishment after her father found out that she had sneaked out of the mansion to find the missing heir of Leone.


    Her injury was also healed around this time, leaving nothing but fair skin behind.


    Furthermore, she had a talk with her father and some important family members. She personally requested this meeting, and at first, her father seemed reluctant, but in the end, he caved in.


    She recounted to them what had happened in the forest. Bel also specifically described how her savior saved her, putting great emphasis on his good deeds. Unfortunately, she had forgotten to ask for his name. After that, Bel told them what she saw when she and her savior were about to escape from the forest. As she expected, the family members were shocked.


    Nonetheless, she was still punished. Well, it''s not like she was expecting to be absolved of her misdeed.


    June, her personal bodyguard, was also punished, which greatly saddened Bel. She felt remorse for her actions, and no matter how much she pleaded, her father was still adamant about punishing June.


    In the end, she was tasked with being a maid while June had to guard the front gate, alone.


    "What are you guys talking about?" Bel asked, curious about their gossip.


    "It''s about what happened this morning in the training ground," one of the maids said.


    "What about it?" Bel tilted her head.


    "Someone died, beheaded." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Woah? Really?" Bel raised an eyebrow. "Probably some egotistical scion did that."


    "Yeah, that''s what we think too. But rumors said that the person who died had stolen a cultivation technique."


    They talked about the incident for a while before someone approached Bel.


    "Miss Bel, your father is asking for your presence," a butler wearing a black suit bowed.


    "Oh? Is that so? Then let''s go," Bel said to the butler before she turned to the two maids. "Let''s chat again sometime."


    "Alright, take care, Miss Bel!"

 Chapter 67 - 67: Mathias

    A giant door opened, producing a deep and slow grating sound that echoed in the room.


    Bel entered the wide room, her eyes naturally staring at the far end where a table was placed. Behind her, the butler took hold of the door''s handle and slowly pulled it. With a banging sound, the door closed, leaving only Bel and the man behind the table.


    "You know, father, you should consider fixing your door. It''s loud and unpleasant to hear," Bel commented, a smile forming on her lips.


    A man with black hair and a moustache that reached the sides of his lips sat behind the table, his silver eyes staring at the paper in his hands.


    "I think I should raise your punishment. Why don''t you fix my door then?" the man said, placing the paper back on the table.


    "I was just kidding, father," Bel hurriedly said, her smile turning stiff.


    That giant door was not broken and was meant to produce sounds like that when opening and closing. It was to instill authority over the person entering the room and a sign that someone had entered.


    "Call me Sir Mathias. You are still a maid, right?" Mathias smiled.


    "Fa¨C You are right, Sir Mathias," Bel said, calling her father by his first name felt weird, but she still did what she was told.


    "Good," Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mathias Helflick stood up. He wore a tunic made of rich deep blue velvet, and over it was a black woolen cloak that draped elegantly.


    He walked towards the side where a bookshelf reached high to the ceiling. Mathias glanced over it before his eyes landed on a particular book. "How is it? Being a maid?" he asked while he opened the book.


    "It''s easy," Bel answered, puffing up her chest with a proud smile on her face. "And fun too! I get to talk with them about interesting topics, and it''s not so boring after all."


    When Mathias heard this, the side of his mouth twitched. Girl, I assigned you as a maid to punish you, but why are you enjoying it? Why did I even bother doing that if you are not going to cry like how most noble women do?


    Then he remembered that he raised his daughter right. Yeah, I''m such a good dad. This thought almost brought tears to his eyes. Fortunately, he managed to hold them in.


    "That''s good," Mathias said, acting nonchalant. After glancing at the contents of the book for a while, he went to open another one.


    "And I also heard that someone died this morning. He was beheaded," Bel shared what she and the other maids talked about. Her eyes were still burning with gossip. Seeing that her father didn''t say a word and just continued reading the book, she couldn''t help but get curious.


    "What are you reading, fa¡ª Sir Mathias?" Bel couldn''t help but ask. She walked towards her father and looked over his shoulder to see the book he was holding.


    The content of the book had a drawing of a black wolf with nine tails on its back. A white gem was on its forehead, glowing and almost covering its face, barely showing its ferocious teeth.


    Underneath the charcoal drawing were words written in big letters that also shared the same ferociousness coming from the image above.


    "Nine-Tail Wolf," Bel muttered, her bright voice turning low and cold while her eyes shook with fear. She didn''t have to read the descriptions below the name of the creature as she already knew about it all.


    Bel took a step backward and waited for her father.


    After a while, Mathias closed the book and walked towards his table. He pulled the chair, the sound it caused bounced off the wall. He sat down and stared at his daughter.


    "Are you training well?" Mathias asked, not speaking about the book yet.


    "Yes," Bel nodded her head. "Advancement Examination will happen soon. I will make sure to take first place."


    "Good," Mathias smiled and pointed at the book on his table. "We can''t let this thing ruin it."


    "You¡­ are you going to take action against that monster?" Bel asked, surprise evident in her voice.


    "I''ve already talked about it with the other families. They agreed to clean up the wolves in that forest, along with their Alpha," Mathias said. "Klown also answered that he will lend some of his forces. However, he requested not to make it big, at least not until the event is finished."


    "But that will only make the matter worse," Bel frowned. "They are clearly there for a reason. If we are going to fight them, we have to defeat them as thoroughly as possible. Otherwise, they will try to attack the city. They are monsters, and they will definitely do it."


    Hearing this, Mathias sighed. "I know, but it was Klown''s order. To him, the visitors are more important."


    "That fatso, I really hate him," Bel said through gritted teeth.


    "Haha," Mathias laughed bitterly. He also felt that way; he hated the mayor of this city.


    "Nine-Tailed Wolf¡­ why did they appear?" Bel muttered, her eyes landing on the book placed on the table.


    "That''s what we also want to find out. But the most important thing is to clean them up," Mathias said.


    "Then what about the Alpha?" Bel stared at her father with worry in her eyes. "Are you also going to fight it?"


    "I don''t know," Mathias shook his head. "But there''s a high chance that I will."


    Hearing this, Bel clenched her fists. "But your cultivation¡­ from what I know, three Core Creation Cultivators are needed to defeat it, and you are the only one here in this city."


    Mathias looked at his daughter lovingly. "My daughter, I know you are worried. But fighting it is not the only option we came up with."


    "What else?" Bel asked.


    "You said they are here for a reason, right? During this time, before the event ends, we will try our best to find out why. Maybe¡­ maybe, someone is planning this," Mathias explained. However, deep inside, although there''s the possibility that someone is planning all this, he didn''t believe it. Some monsters are smart, especially wolves. They are known for being cunning and very intelligent.


    More so, when they have an Alpha that can command them. They are fighting with an army and a monster that needs three Core Creation Cultivators to defeat it.


    Nine-Tailed Duskfang is a strong monster that doesn''t appear often. A normal Duskfang Shadowtail has to live for at least a thousand years to become an Alpha. This made them a ferocious monster and a very intelligent one as they have a bounty of experience. And about its abilities and skills, there''s not much record about it.


    But there''s a known fact regarding this monster: once you are marked as its target, it will hunt you until you are dead. It won''t stop chasing after its target, even to the end of the world. This is one of the reasons why cities are destroyed by them.


    "Fortunately, no one has encountered that monster yet¡­" Mathias muttered before he realized something. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he stood up abruptly. "Bel! Tell me, were you marked?"


    "Marked?" Bel tilted her head before she immediately understood what he meant. A cultivator must be good at studying as they need to comprehend a lot of things. Bel had read a lot of books, including the one on the table. Her mind worked fast, and she recalled the contents. "N-no, father, I don''t think so."


    "Are you sure?" Mathias asked, squinting his eyes.


    "I''m pretty sure about it," Bel nodded with a serious face.


    "That''s good," Mathias sat back down with a sigh.


    "But¡­" Bel frowned as she remembered someone. "I just don''t know if my savior was marked or not."


    Mathias stared at her, feeling a headache coming his way.

 Chapter 68 - 68: What Would You Like To Eat(Part-1)

    Apollo glanced at the coins in his hands and couldn''t help but smile. Another 5 Alm points, he thought as the number of Alm points he had increased.


    He stood up and went back inside his beggar spot. Under his roof, he brought up his Status Screen.


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 22


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None."


    "This is good," Apollo muttered with a smile. He had been cultivating since he arrived last night and only went outside his beggar spot this early morning in order to earn Alm points. Some good souls gave him 5 bronze coins, which he greatly appreciated. In this world filled with brain rot, egotistical people, there were still some good ones.


    As his eyes stared at his status screen, he couldn''t help but glance at his Spirit Cultivation. So far, the only thing he had used was the Physique Cultivation, which he could increase by cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique.


    He had already asked the System about it, and the system only said that it was meant for his spirit and mind. A very simple explanation that made the beggar want to beat the System if it had a physical body.


    Apollo then glanced at his Attributes. "System, can you tell me what this is?" After all this time, he was going to ask this question for the first time.


    A light blue translucent screen appeared in front of him, and words started appearing along with the emotionless voice of the System.


    "Attributes are your affinity with nature. Most people are born with it, while cultivators search and learn it," the System explained in simple words as always.


    "Affinity with nature?" Apollo muttered. "So lightning, wind, fire, water, metal, and so on?"


    "Correct," the System answered.


    "Oh, it means I don''t have any inborn Attributes," Apollo finally understood. "Then how am I going to obtain one?"


    However, the moment he asked this question, he immediately knew what answer the System was going to give.


    "Buy it in the System store or learn it on your own," the System stated the obvious.


    "Yeah, yeah," the beggar rolled his eyes. He waved his hand, and the interface disappeared in a particle of light. "So attributes¡­ just like in a game."


    Apollo had already realized that the System was just like some RPG games in his previous life. Although he was not a gamer, he at least played some games a few times in his life.


    "Once I learn some of the attributes, it will probably boost my strength," the beggar muttered.


    Thinking about Attributes, Apollo recalled the man he fought last night. That guy seemed to have learned the attribute of wind, as he only used wind attacks since they first met. With this in mind, he reached inside his robe and took out the scroll he got from the thin man.


    He rolled it open, and the words Palm Air Explosion immediately greeted his eyes, boldly written on top of the scroll. Apollo then read all the contents inside the scroll.


    "So I''m right. In order to learn this technique, one must have the attribute of Wind," Apollo muttered. "And one must have at least the Cultivation stage of Qi Condensation. That guy is not even at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building, and he learned this? What a reckless young man. And how did he even get his hands on this?"


    Shaking his head, the beggar placed the technique inside his robe. It smelled like there was more to this technique, especially how that thin man obtained it. But Apollo didn''t want to concern himself with it.


    The beggar''s mind then went to something else


    "It''s definitely slower than before," Apollo said, referring to his speed of getting stronger. He could feel that his cultivation had become slow. It felt like something was blocking him from moving forward. Is this the limit of the Simple Breathing Technique? Do I have to buy another cultivation technique? Apollo frowned.


    But looking at his current amount of Alm points¡­ Nah.


    I should think about this later and get something to eat. Apollo decided to put the matter at the back of his mind for the time being. He left his beggar spot and went into the streets.


    He was about to walk towards where Big Chub sold his bread when he stopped in his tracks, remembering that Big Chub wouldn''t be selling for at least a week.


    Thinking about this, Apollo glanced around before his eyes landed on the restaurant beside his beggar spot, The Filly Restaurant. He actually didn''t want to have any more contact with Filly and the others, as they seemed to belong to a noble family. However, without Big Chub and the other vendors, he had to find someplace else to eat.


    Well, he could buy from those newly established stalls, but from what he knew, they were expensive and came from the City itself. He would only expose himself by buying from those stalls. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hopefully, they have cheap food," Apollo muttered before he walked in front of the restaurant. Looking inside the door, he noticed that there were already quite a few people, but glancing back at the Skyline Savory branch, their numbers were miles apart.


    He then noticed the menu beside the door.


    "Oh? They are selling scrambled eggs?" Apollo immediately noticed this, as he already knew the other dishes. Looking at the price, it cost around 5 loaves of bread compared to when he bought from Big Chub. "It''s just a scrambled egg, why are they selling it this expensive?"


    Apollo sighed but still took a step forward and went to open the door.


    The moment he stepped inside, the patrons went quiet.


    Seeing this, Apollo smiled bitterly. I''ve already expected that there''s going to be some reaction, but isn''t this too excessive? Becoming so quiet the moment I entered?


    In the next moment, the diners began murmuring with each other. The word beggar was thrown around from time to time. This is a mistake¡­ Apollo shook his head and decided to go out.


    Although he gave this restaurant a journal that contained some simple recipes from his previous life, he did so as part of a request. With that journal, the boss of this restaurant promised not to bother him anymore. And she took the promise seriously, as Apollo wasn''t approached by any of the workers to make him go away.


    Apollo didn''t want to ruin her business by sullying the restaurant''s reputation, and he wanted to maintain the status quo.


    However, as he was about to go out, someone shouted, "Mr. Beggar, wait!"


    Apollo turned to the sound and saw a man with a bandage on his forehead and some gauze on his face. The beggar immediately recognized the man as the same worker he had taught a lesson to, using his fist.


    What was his name again¡­ Ned?


    Ned hurriedly walked towards Apollo and stopped a few feet away. He looked at the beggar seriously before a smile formed on his lips. "Welcome! What would you like to eat?"

 Chapter 69 - 69: What Would You Like To Eat?(Part-2)

    Inside a room on the second floor of the Filly Restaurant, the boss sat behind a table, holding a journal that the beggar had written. She had read this notebook numerous times but still went back to it from time to time.


    Filly sighed as she closed the journal. "How am I going to face him?" she wondered aloud, referring to the beggar beside her restaurant. A beggar? Filly smiled knowingly. How did a ''beggar'' know all these recipes? The more she thought about it, the more she was certain that he was not a beggar but a Wanderer who had seen the world.


    He knew ingredients and dishes that even her chef, Temor, hadn''t heard of. There was a high possibility the beggar had learned it from somewhere far away because if the ingredients were just from neighboring cities, she would have known them already.


    Filly didn''t want to bother him anymore, believing he was a Wandering Cultivator pretending to be a beggar. He probably didn''t want to be bothered either, as he only wanted to stay beside her restaurant.


    She just didn''t know how else she was going to repay him. The journal in her hands was very precious; it was the chance that would allow her to surpass Skyline Savory, and Filly greatly appreciated the ''beggar'' even though her actions towards him had been very rude.


    Filly wanted to invite him to be an Honorable Guest for her family, but she couldn''t find a chance to do so. He was either cultivating or gone.


    While deep in thought, hurried footsteps approached the door, followed by a knock.


    "Miss?" Gail''s voice, filled with urgency, echoed.


    Hearing this, Filly immediately stood up and went to open the door. "What''s wrong? Did something happen?"


    "H-he''s here," Gail said, her eyes shining with excitement.


    "Who are you talking about?" Filly asked.


    "Mr. Beggar!" Gail said, almost shouting.


    "Really?!" Filly couldn''t believe it. She was just thinking about how to repay him, and now he was inside the restaurant?


    "Yes!" Gail nodded vigorously. "He just ordered a plate of scrambled eggs with bread along with some milk."


    "Let''s go see him!" Filly hurriedly walked out. "I will serve him myself!"


    ¡­


    Apollo was seated two to three tables away from the kitchen. Along the way, the stares from the other customers made him sigh. What''s wrong with beggars eating in a restaurant? I''m going to pay! If he didn''t want to make a scene, he would have beaten those judging eyes.


    There were only a few customers, but the way they looked at him felt like there were thousands of them staring, piercing his very soul. Fortunately, no one acted high and mighty or tried to kick him out. Even the restaurant workers treated him as a customer, so how could the patrons act like that?


    "Tsk," Apollo clicked his tongue in annoyance. As he sat down, his eyes couldn''t help but wander towards the kitchen. He could only see through the small window where a man was moving about. However, compared to how a normal chef cooks, Apollo caught a glimpse of fire surrounding the man.


    Raising an eyebrow, Apollo closed his eyes and felt the surrounding Qi moving towards the kitchen. "Their chef is a cultivator? How extravagant," he whispered, with slight amazement in his voice.


    Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the stairs. Apollo opened his eyes and noticed the boss of the restaurant glancing in his direction before going to the kitchen.


    Gail, on the other hand, walked towards him with a smile on her face. "Welcome, Mr. Beggar! I thought you would never come back here!"


    "Haha, I didn''t have a choice," Apollo smiled bitterly. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Miss Filly is very glad that you came. She''s in the kitchen right now preparing your food. Don''t worry, it won''t take long before it arrives," Gail reassured. Filly had ordered her to entertain the ''beggar'' and not let him get bored.


    "That''s good," Apollo nodded. He noticed that the other patrons were looking in their direction, apparently surprised at what was happening. Those diners who were here previously when a woman wanted to go to the VIP area couldn''t help but get confused.


    Didn''t they think that everyone had an equal status once they were inside the restaurant? Then why were they treating the ''beggar'' like he was more important than them? Their thoughts were confirmed when the boss, Filly, walked out with a plate in one hand and a glass of milk in the other.


    She walked with a straight back while looking at the beggar, a radiant smile on her face and her eyes shining with expectation.


    "Welcome," Filly said, placing the plate and glass on the table in front of Apollo. "This is your scrambled egg with bread and a glass of milk."


    "Thanks," Apollo said, glancing at the food on the table.


    Gail and Filly took a deep breath. They exchanged glances with each other, enveloped in nervousness. But the moment Apollo took hold of his fork, they heaved a sigh of relief.


    Although excited, Filly contained it and just waited. She didn''t want to spoil the mood of Mr. Beggar as she still had a lot to say. This time, she wouldn''t miss the opportunity.


    Apollo stared at the golden brown scrambled egg before he raised the fork and took some of it. He put the dish closer and saw the glistening oil coating the whole egg. He sniffed and the savory smell permeated his nose. He couldn''t help but reminisce about his previous life.


    Scrambled eggs, it''s a simple dish that he couldn''t get tired of eating, and he guessed most people in his previous life thought so too.


    And this dish is now in this world. It was made perfectly. Apollo opened his mouth and put the fork inside. He chewed and the softness and flavor of the dish exploded within his mouth. Because he''d only been eating bread since he arrived here, he felt like he had just eaten the most delicious meal in this world.


    After chewing for a bit, Apollo swallowed. Then he continued to eat some of the scrambled eggs, before putting half of them inside the bread. The crunchiness echoed in his mind the moment he took a bite, then softness followed. The bread was enhanced by the filling, and coupled with milk, Apollo tasted ''home''.


    It didn''t take him long to finish his meal. Putting down the utensils, he noticed Gail and Filly standing to the side just watching him.


    "Hey, why are you guys just standing there?" Apollo tilted his head, confused.


    This woke up the two women and Filly smiled. "How is it? The food."


    "It''s good, you guys did good," Apollo gave a thumbs up. "Although it lacks quite a few ingredients to make it more delicious."


    Hearing the compliment, Filly''s smile widened. "You are right, we haven''t acquired some of the spices yet."


    Around this time, the door from the kitchen opened and Temor walked out. He couldn''t help but turn in their direction in great curiosity. Who would be so important as to make Filly Kleinford deliver the food herself? Then his eyes widened when he saw they were surrounding a beggar.

 Chapter 70 - 70: What Would You Like To Eat?(Part-3)

    Temor walked towards them and stopped beside the spectacled woman. His ears perked up when he heard Filly''s words.


    "Hey, who''s that?" Temor nudged Gail with a whisper.


    "That''s Mr. Beggar," Gail answered in a hushed voice.


    "Mr. Beggar?" Temor raised an eyebrow. "But he''s just a kid¡­ and a beggar? Why does the boss seem to be placing great importance on him? She even delivered the food herself."


    Gail glanced at him with a side eye before a smile formed on her lips. "I guess you still don''t know about it."


    Hearing the mysterious words, Temor couldn''t help but get more curious.


    "Well, it doesn''t matter, this is good enough," Apollo said. He reached inside his pocket and asked, "How much?"


    "No, you don''t have to pay," Filly said while waving her hands. "I owe you a lot."


    Apollo''s hand quickly let go of the coins. "Are you sure?"


    Please say yes, the beggar thought. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m pretty sure," Filly nodded. "If you didn''t write that¡­ I wouldn''t see a chance to go against the restaurant in front." Her last words became a whisper, afraid people would hear her voice.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Apollo looked around and counted the number of people. "You have to do well. Take the chance when the hype of the Skyline Savory branch dies down. It will give you a boost."


    Filly''s eyes widened when she realized what he meant. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"


    "No worries," Apollo said, waving his hand and standing up. "I should get going. Thank you for the food."


    "W-wait," Filly hurriedly said. "I''m not properly thanking you enough."


    "It''s more than enough," Apollo said, shaking his head.


    "No, I insist," Filly replied, her eyes filled with determination. She then reached into her pocket and took out a bronze medal with a book engraving along with a big ''K'' over it. "This is a family token, only given to someone a core family member deems as their honorable guest."


    Temor''s eyes widened upon hearing this. He finally realized what was happening and who the beggar in front of them was. It''s him? The one who wrote the journal?! He couldn''t believe it. How could a kid, and also a beggar, write that otherworldly book?


    And how did he even know all those ingredients and recipes? This confused the chef even more.


    Seeing Temor''s face keep changing, Gail chuckled in amusement. "A Wanderer," she whispered, enlightening the chef.


    "W-wanderer? This young?!" Temor whispered back, almost shouting. Of course, he knew what a Wanderer, or Rogue Cultivator, was. They move from place to place as part of their cultivation and like to pretend to be someone else, adopting a different status and lifestyle.


    There are many Cultivators who have tried to copy them, but cultivating alone without the backing of a school or organization proved to be more difficult than they thought. There are many dangers involved, unlike when one is inside a school or behind their organization. Those who manage to uphold being a Wanderer are either extremely lucky or very strong.


    He glanced at the beggar currently talking with Filly. He''s the one who wrote it¡­ A kid and at the same time a beggar can manage to write something like that journal? It''s too unbelievable, but if he is a Wanderer, then it makes sense.


    Temor''s eyes changed from curiosity to amazement. Just like Gail, he stood by the side waiting for the two of them to finish talking.


    "What''s this for?" Apollo asked while observing the medal closely. It was made of bronze and, after weighing it in his hand, he estimated it had the same weight as ten bronze coins. "Can I sell this?" He asked another question without even waiting for Filly to answer.


    Filly couldn''t believe her ears. Seeing the seriousness in the beggar''s eyes, she immediately shook her head. "Unfortunately, you can''t. It''s too valuable, and each core family member was only given one token."


    "That''s a pity," Apollo sighed in disappointment.


    "Anyway, you can use that when you want a request from the Kleinford family head," Filly smiled proudly. Although her status within the family had lowered because she wanted to pursue business more than cultivation, she was still undoubtedly a legitimate member. Bringing up her family name still satisfied her, especially when she could see the surprise on people''s faces when she mentioned it.


    However, to her dismay, the ''beggar'' didn''t display any particular emotion as he put the token inside his robe like it was nothing but a casual object.


    "Is that all?" Apollo asked, glancing around. He noticed that the other patrons were looking in their direction, clearly intrigued by their conversation. I''m drawing attention to myself, he thought. Why did I even bother thinking that I could remain unknown? he thought bitterly.


    "Y-yeah," Filly said, scratching her cheek. "That''s all¡­ but can yo¡ª"


    "Okay, I should get going then!" Apollo said before hurriedly making his way outside the restaurant.


    Glancing at the beggar''s back, Filly sighed. "It seems asking him for help would be far-fetched."


    "Miss Filly, don''t worry about it. We will get plenty of opportunities in the future," Gail said to the team.


    "Hopefully," Filly nodded. Then seeing the curious gazes from the diners, she coughed. "Let''s go inside the kitchen and talk about serious matters."


    Temor, who was about to say a word, closed his mouth and followed behind the two ladies. Once inside the kitchen, Filly stared at the plate with a red substance on it.


    "So this is it?" Filly tilted her head.


    "Yeah, it''s the chili powder for the fried chicken," Temor said. He decided to ask about the whole situation regarding the beggar later as his boss went straight to the point. He took out a bowl with flour-coated chicken. He then took the chicken and coated it with the chili spices. "I used that so-called garlic and that onion according to the journal and turned them into a powder.


    But I made sure that the chili powder wouldn''t be overwhelmed by the two."


    Of course, there were also other ingredients that he used, but he only mentioned the main ones.


    After coating it with the chili powder, the chicken became reddish-brown. He raised his hand and lit up the wood under the cooking grill. Then he took out the pan filled with oil. This was a specially made pan so the chicken could be deep fried in oil.


    After the pan was heated, Temor placed the reddish-brown coated chicken inside. The sizzling sound soon echoed, and the trio waited with bated breath.

 Chapter 71 - 71: Im Not Spending!(Part-1)

    Night came, and Apollo glanced at the two bronze coins on his palm.


    "This brings me to 19 Alm points," he muttered while standing up and going back inside his beggar spot.


    The Beggar Spot doesn''t limit his movements, and as long as he recognizes his place as his beggar spot, the System won''t punish him with a Lightning Tribulation.


    Sitting under his makeshift roof, he couldn''t help but think about the upcoming Advancement Examination. There were only three days left before it began, and he hadn''t seen any Martial Students so far.


    It seems they are now really focusing on increasing their strength.


    Apollo put a hand under his chin. "That guy must be also in deep cultivation."


    He expected Arke to come back to take revenge. But that guy didn''t even show his shadow. Did he get scared because I made him look like a person who likes boys? Apollo thought in amusement. Although thinking about it was funny, he knew that wasn''t the case.


    Arke was commissioned to take him away to a safe place, but he didn''t. He said it was only for money, but Apollo had long since realized that there was a third party involved, especially when looking at the mission the System gave him.


    "Mission: Revenge for your family.


    Part 1: Kill the hooded man who threw you in the alley. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Time Limit: 5 days left.


    Reward: 100 Alm Points.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation."


    It''s a chapter mission with different parts to complete. Apollo has to finish this mission before the time limit ends, or the lightning tribulation will come. Just thinking about the punishment made him shiver in fear.


    Apollo let out a heavy sigh.


    "Hopefully, they will never find out," Apollo muttered, referring to the upcoming event. When he was at the training ground previously, he actually told Sir Guo that he was going to enter the Advancement Examination, which is contradictory to what he said about staying low-key.


    However, who said Apollo is going to enter as Apollo? He smiled while bringing up the System Store and looking at a particular item.


    It cost only 20 Alm points, but its effect is more than enough for the Advancement Examination.


    "Although it only lasts for two hours, it''s better than nothing," Apollo muttered before he crossed his legs and started cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique. The world turned black, and the only thing that remained was him and the surrounding Qi that revolved around him.


    He continued to inhale it through his nose and mouth, but it didn''t take him long before he opened his eyes in evident confusion.


    He could feel it again: something was blocking him from getting stronger, but at the same time, he knew that he could break past this. Apollo then recalled that the System said the limit of this Technique is only at the 4th-Step, so why did he feel like he could get stronger if he really tried?


    This made him want to question the System, but thinking about it, he didn''t. What if it''s a bug? The System will definitely fix it. Yeah, yeah, that sounds about right, Apollo reached a ridiculous conclusion that he didn''t believe himself but was just too lazy to ask the System. If he feels like he can break ''that'' barrier, he will do it.


    Thus, the beggar went back to close his eyes and force the cultivation.


    Following the pattern from the Simple Breathing Technique, Apollo let the Qi circle inside his body, trying to break the cells that were already at their full potential. The Qi wanted to break them and then heal them in order to give birth to a stronger cell. Nevertheless, no matter how much it tried, it only managed to budge the cell.


    Apollo frowned, and with his eyes closed, he made the Qi revolve faster than before. It didn''t take him long to realize that this action was wrong.


    He threw up a mouthful of blood the next second, and the Qi inside him dissipated.


    "T-that f*cking hurts," Apollo cursed, wiping his bloodied mouth with his sleeves. Frustrated, he turned to the System. "Hey System, how can I break this barrier?"


    A light blue interface appeared with words written on it, and the emotionless voice of the System echoed inside his mind. "The Simple Breathing Technique only lets the user reach the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage. If the user wants to reach a higher stage, he has to buy a new Cultivation Technique."


    "Yeah, I figured that much. Then why can I feel it?" Apollo asked. The System went quiet for a moment before the interface in front of him disappeared. Seeing this, the beggar frowned. "Hmph! If you''re not going to tell me, then I''ll figure it out on my own!"


    He searched the pile of trash on the side and took out a book. This is the book that Big Chub gave him, and Apollo decided to throw it away because it would mean trouble if people found out a beggar had a book in hand. They would definitely think he stole it, as books are only accessible to those with money.


    Fortunately, he only threw it near him.


    He blew on the book and patted it to get rid of the dust. Then Apollo went to the page where the Cultivation Stages were introduced. His eyes stopped on the words "Qi Condensation" and the description written beside it.


    Qi Condensation: Absorb Qi in the air to circulate through the whole body. This will revitalize the organs and the mind. Once achieved, the Cultivator doesn''t have to worry about stamina¡­


    "So the Simple Breathing Technique skips the training that normal Foundation Building Cultivators do and lets those who learn it basically achieve the same effect by just sitting and absorbing Qi," Apollo muttered. Well, he already knew about this fact. "But if the Simple Breathing Technique resembles what Qi Condensation Cultivators do¡­ I''ll just have to adjust it.


    Then I don''t have to buy anything from the System Store!"


    This thought caused the beggar''s eyes to shine with excitement. I''m really smart! With this, I can save my Alm points!


    With this in mind, he threw the book back in the trash and closed his eyes. The pattern from the Simple Breathing Technique only allows him to move the Qi to enhance his muscles, bones, and skin. But Qi Condensation can enhance the whole body, including the organs and the brain, revitalizing them as well.


    "All I have to do is change the pattern, increase the volume of Qi to penetrate the bones and muscles¡­" Apollo whispered while mobilizing the Qi around him. In a split second, the world became dark, and the Qi was absorbed through his nose and mouth.


    Suddenly, an idea came to mind. Because the introduction about Qi Condensation includes the whole body, Apollo mobilized some of the Qi to enter through his skin.

 Chapter 72 - 72: Im Not Spending!(Part-2)

    I think¡­ it''s working, Apollo thought. He could feel his organs being washed by Qi, like a hand massaging them. He didn''t follow the pattern from the Simple Breathing Technique; instead, he treated his body like a bucket, continuously pouring Qi and submerging his insides with it.


    His brain felt cool as the Qi entered it, putting his mind in a state of calmness.


    A smile formed on his lips; however, in the next second, like he was hit by a bolt of lightning, his body became stiff. He started shaking before he threw up blood for the second time.


    "Argh," the beggar grunted in pain. Seeing the blood on the ground, he couldn''t help but spit some more. "Sh*t, something is wrong."


    He did feel that his organs were being revitalized by the Qi, but he suddenly felt overwhelmed.


    "It''s the pattern," Apollo immediately realized. "But if I want to have a perfect pattern, I have to do trial and error."


    Glancing at the blood on the ground, the beggar gritted his teeth before he closed his eyes and tried the method again, this time changing the pattern of how the Qi moved inside his body.


    His face relaxed, then scrunched.


    Blood spilled to the ground, forming a pool.


    "Not yet," Apollo wiped his mouth. "Again." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He kept entering the black world with only him and the Qi, before it was tainted red as he kept vomiting blood.


    Just to save his Alm points, Apollo kept trying and trying.


    Does he feel ridiculous doing such things? Yeah, but he is not doing this just for the sake of saving up; it''s the challenge of going against the System that made him want to do this.


    ¡­


    Somewhere in Klown City, in the courtyard of a private villa.


    A man sat cross-legged in a garden, bare-backed and only wearing pants. He didn''t have a big figure, but his muscles were compact and glistening with sweat.


    With eyes closed, the man frowned before a relaxing smile appeared on his face. Soon, the sweat evaporated as the temperature in the surrounding area increased.


    Water vapor covered the garden, shrouding his body into a shadowy figure.


    This lasted for a few hours before the temperature went back to normal. As the mist started disappearing, the man opened his eyes, and a glint shone within.


    "I can finally enter it," he muttered in contentment. Arke stood up and went inside the villa where a table was set up along with hot steaming tea.


    Sitting at it, he reached out his hand and took hold of the cup. But he didn''t drink it yet. Instead, he just kept staring at it, specifically his reflection in the tea.


    With this ''realization,'' I will take first place, he thought. He had been cultivating seriously these past few days, aiming to be able to ''enter'' that place. The place where only the most talented cultivators can go.


    The Void. A state of cultivation that, once achieved, increases their cultivation speed. And Arke, with dedication and talent, managed to enter a part of it.


    Arke closed his eyes and the surroundings dimmed for a bit. The invisible Qi turned barely visible, shining subtly, as if on the verge of collapsing. He could ''see'' the Qi; although it wasn''t bright, he could still ''see'' it. With a sigh of contentment, the surroundings returned to their original light before he took a sip of the tea.


    This was a great day for him.


    "With my cultivation increasing in speed, it won''t be long before I reach the 1st-Step Qi Condensation," Arke muttered. He had already achieved the Half-Step Qi Condensation two days ago, and although he wouldn''t be able to reach the 1st-Step Qi Condensation before the Advancement Examination began, he was still satisfied and confident that he would take first place.


    He continued to drink his tea, taking his time and relishing these moments.


    As the tea was almost reaching the bottom of the cup, slow and steady footsteps came from behind. This caused Arke to stand up and stare in the direction of the sound.


    His fist suddenly turned bright red, and with a spark, it was covered in flames.


    "Do not worry, I am no enemy¡­ Well, not currently," someone said from the shadows. The voice was low and cold, but most prominent was the age behind it.


    "Show yourself," Arke shouted, his eyes staring dangerously. What does he mean by that?


    The footsteps stopped, and a man wearing a black butler suit appeared. He had short white hair, white eyebrows, and a mustache. A monocle rested on top of his hawk-like nose, while his eyes squinted in a smile, though his lips told otherwise.


    "Who are you?" Arke asked, the fire covering his hands burning intensely. This old man can sneak up behind me without me noticing first. If it weren''t for the deliberate footsteps, Arke wouldn''t have known someone was walking behind him.


    "I''m the mayor''s butler, Holst," the butler said, bringing his hand in front of his stomach while bowing, though he only moved his head a bit before he stood back up straight.


    Hearing this, Arke''s eyes shook. "You¡­ it must be about that kid, right?"


    "You are smart," Holst nodded, his expression unchanged. "You still can''t find him?"


    The fire around Arke disappeared, the temperature returning to normal. Shaking his head, he answered, "Not yet."


    "I figured," Holst looked around the villa before staring back at Arke, his eyes remaining squinted, hiding the pupils behind. "You do know that you only have two days left, right?"


    Arke frowned; nevertheless, he still nodded. "I know. But, what if he''s already dead? Or out in another place outside the city?"


    "It''s your task, so you worry about it," Holst said. "However, we have competition, and you are given another task. We will extend your mission for¡­ let''s see, two days."


    "Competition? What do you mean?" Arke asked, not feeling delighted that he was only given two days for another task.


    "Bel Kleinford, she''s also on the kid''s tail," Holst explained.


    "Bel? That b*tch?" Arke muttered. "So the other task? Do you want me to¡ª"


    "Kill her in the upcoming Advancement Examination. In four days, you have to complete your tasks, or else¡­ Your body will serve as dinner for Mr. Klown," Holst said, his tone lowering even more, making the surrounding air turn cold.


    Arke''s body was covered in a red haze, seemingly trying to fight back the ''cold''. Arke recognized this kind of ''cold''. It wasn''t because the temperature was lowered, but because this old man was emitting death itself.


    "I understand," Arke nodded.


    "Good," Holst smiled. "I see you have entered the Void, quite talented, enough to kill that girl. I should get going now, kid. If you fail, hopefully you taste good."


    Arke''s eyes widened at the butler''s words. H-how did he know? It''s impossible! I just achieved that state a few hours ago, and I haven''t told anyone else. Did he figure it out just by looking at me? He was about to open his mouth when he noticed that the old butler was already gone.


    This time, Arke was shocked. He didn''t even feel the old man leaving.


    His legs gave way, and he fell into the chair.

 Chapter 73 - 73: Im Not Spending!(Part-3)

    With a crashing sound, the table shattered into pieces as Arke''s hand slammed down. Frustration, anger, and fear coursed through him, making him want to shatter everything he could see.


    Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he began planning.


    The most important thing was finding that kid, but no matter how many times he searched the city, he couldn''t find him. Well, he did find a kid, but he was a beggar with different eye color and slightly taller than the Leone heir he threw in the alley. He didn''t actually memorize the kid''s face, as he felt the task was too easy and didn''t believe a kid could survive.


    Arke expected the heir to starve to death or be used as a slave by a slave trader. So what''s the point of finding him? It''s basically the same as him already being dead.


    Suddenly, he recalled the old butler''s words. "A competition? Bel is also after the kid? Why?"


    Arke frowned, biting his nails while shaking his knees. In the end, he shook his head. Whatever that b*tch is planning, it must be hindering the mayor''s plan. That''s why they wanted me to kill her, but it also means committing a grave crime as they wanted me to kill her openly in the Advancement Examination.


    They don''t want to dirty their hands, b*stards, Arke gritted his teeth. However, even if he was angry with them, there was nothing he could do. That butler could kill him without him even knowing it.


    "I have to find him as soon as possible," Arke muttered, his mind returning to the Leone heir.


    In the whole city, there were only a few people he found suspicious who might have a clue as to where that kid was, including the beggar beside the Filly Restaurant. But Gail, a 4th-Step Foundation Building, is friends with him. Arke''s doubt lessened when he thought about it, but a suspicion is still a suspicion. I should check on him last.


    With this in mind, he decided to go back to cultivating and wait until sunrise before going after the suspicious people in his mind.


    ...


    A reek of blood permeated the corner of a restaurant. If one even took a whiff of the smell, they would definitely throw up what they had eaten because of the intensity.


    Beside the Filly Restaurant, where most people wouldn''t even bother looking because it was somewhat hidden by the structures, was a makeshift roof, small but enough to fit two to three people.


    Someone was sitting cross-legged inside, his complexion pale, cheeks sunken, and mouth bloodied. But his expression was at peace, even with blood covering his whole body.


    With a smile on his face, Apollo opened his eyes. His pale white skin was slightly returning to its original color.


    The bloody smell, however, made him frown in the next second. "Oh great." He muttered, glancing at the blood all over his body and on the ground. Shaking his head, he reached into his pocket and took out a white marble.


    Apollo activated the Cleaning Marble, making it shine a bright light that covered his body. In no time, his smelly and dirty figure became spotless and clean. Even his messy and dry hair became shiny, though his pale skin remained.


    Then he pointed the bead towards the ground and activated it once more after the bead gathered enough Qi from the air.


    The blood-covered ground was shrouded in light, and when the light disappeared, the blood was gone. The floor even became shiny. Seeing this, Apollo couldn''t help but sigh in amazement. It''s a cheap item, but its use is worth more than its features.


    At first, he only thought that it worked on clothes, but the Cleaning Bead was more useful than he had imagined.


    Putting the item back in his pocket, he smiled and called out to the System.


    "Hey System."


    "Yes, Host?" A light blue interface materialized in front of him along with the emotionless voice of the System echoing inside his mind.


    "I did it! Hahaha!" Apollo laughed mockingly. "I revised the Simple Breathing Technique, and now I can cultivate my way through the Qi Condensation Stage!"


    After throwing up blood for a whole night, doing trial and error of changing the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique, he finally succeeded in making it a technique that would allow him to reach the Qi Condensation Stage. Furthermore, he increased the volume of the Qi and made it enter his skin, not just through his mouth and nose.


    The ''barrier'' that was blocking him from reaching that stage was finally gone. He could feel his strength increasing every time he cultivated, though he didn''t know how long it would take for him to reach that stage. Even so, it was a joyous matter that the first thing he wanted to do was brag to the System.


    The System went silent for a moment before the interface in front of the beggar disappeared in a particle of light.


    "Hmph, you should at least compliment me. I threw up a lot of blood!" Apollo scowled at the System.


    Although the night was hard and painful, all for the sake of saving up and going against the System, Apollo couldn''t hide the smile on his face. You think you can always rip me off? Ha, no way!


    The System remained silent, and the beggar took it as a sign of defeat.


    With a sigh, Apollo realized that going against the System was actually fun. This made him think about his Simple Sword Technique and the Simple Movement Technique. If there was still time before the Advancement Examination began, the beggar decided to perfect the Simple Movement Technique and maybe revise the Simple Sword Technique to make it better so he wouldn''t have to buy from the System again. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s still early," Apollo muttered, glancing up at the sky. "I should cultivate more before I go for my breakfast."


    With this thought in mind, he closed his eyes, and the world turned black in an instant. In this dark world that seemed like the vacuum of space, there was only him and the countless blinding yellowish-white Qi that looked like stars and galaxies.


    Apollo did the Revised Simple Breathing Technique. He just called it that as he was too lazy to think of a name.


    The surrounding Qi was immediately pulled towards him; some entered his nose and mouth while the rest entered through his skin. Using the new pattern that he created, he guided the Qi to revitalize his whole body, especially his organs and his brain.


    He could feel that something within him was breaking, but it was very subtle unless he really focused on it. It was also the place where the Qi gathered the most before circulating throughout his whole body.


    Apollo pinpointed the place and found it was a few fingers below his navel.


    Isn''t this where the Dantian is?

 Chapter 74 - 74: SlumStreet(Part-1)

    A few hours later, Apollo stood up from his beggar spot and went to the street. He wanted to find a place that sold cheap food. He didn''t want to go back to the Filly Restaurant, as diners kept looking at him like he was some sort of animal in a zoo.


    But the moment he stepped onto the streets, someone shouted from his side.


    Turning to the sound, he saw Ned standing beside the door of the restaurant. He had a smile on his face, and in his hands was a wooden basket.


    "Good morning, Mr... Beggar?" Ned greeted.


    "Hello," Apollo nodded, his eyes glancing at the basket in the server''s hand.


    "Here," Ned handed the basket to him. "I was tasked to give this to you every morning from now on."


    "What''s this?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, though he already guessed the contents.


    "It''s your morning breakfast. Bread, scrambled eggs, and fried chicken from the Scavenger," Ned said, his eyes glancing at the basket, and he couldn''t help but gulp, thinking about the food inside.


    "Oh? They already know how to make fried chicken? They''re fast," Apollo muttered in amazement. He didn''t open the basket and stared at the server. "Why so generous?"


    "Miss Filly said you deserve such treatment. All meals from us will always be at your service," Ned smiled. He already had an idea of what was happening. Gail had specifically instructed him not to offend Mr. Beggar and to treat him with the utmost respect. Furthermore, he personally saw his goddess, Filly, giving a token to the kid in front of him.


    There must be something going on deeper than what was on the surface.


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes lit up. He raised his hand and patted the man''s shoulder, though he had to tiptoe to do so. "Good. Tell her I won''t forget this."


    "Sure will do, Mr. Beggar," Ned smiled.


    "It''s Yoma, call me Yoma," Apollo said.


    "Alright, Mr. Yoma," Ned nodded.


    Then the two of them just continued to look at each other. Ned couldn''t help but become confused.


    Seeing this, Apollo coughed. "Do you have something to push the food down in my stomach?"


    Ned tilted his head. "What do you¡ª Oh! I''m sorry, I forgot!" He hurriedly went inside the restaurant and returned with a glass of milk in his hands. "Here you go."


    "Haha, thanks," Apollo laughed, taking hold of the glass of milk. "Where do I put this after I am done?"


    "You can just put them in the corner. I''ll go get it immediately," Ned said, pointing to the corner where most people wouldn''t see.


    "Okay," Apollo nodded.


    "Mr. Yoma, regarding your lunch and dinner, I will personally deliver it to you," Ned said.


    Apollo smiled. "You guys are really thoughtful."


    "Hahaha."


    The two talked for a bit before Apollo went back to his beggar spot.


    "I guess it wasn''t bad befriending her," Apollo muttered while lifting up the cover of the basket. The moment the basket was opened, the smell of fried chicken permeated the air.


    Apollo sniffed, and his eyes lit up. "Wow, they also make spicy fried chicken?!"


    Looking inside the basket, there were scrambled eggs, bread, and two pieces of fried chicken. One was golden brown in color and the other reddish brown. His eyes naturally fell on the spicy fried chicken. The oil and the chili made the fried chicken more appealing to the eyes.


    Reaching out his hand, he placed the chicken in front of his nose and sniffed. Suddenly, his excitement died down. "Such a shame, they only use simple spices."


    Apollo could tell they only used 3 to 4 ingredients to make the chili spices. They didn''t even use soy sauce. Most of the ''juices'' probably came from the oil. Even so, Apollo opened his mouth and took a bite.


    A crunching noise echoed as the beggar pierced through the meat. He wasn''t expecting anything, but the moment the taste of meat touched his tongue, an explosive flavor erupted.


    "What the?!" Apollo stared at the fried chicken in his hand with wide eyes. The flavor of the meat was too intense! He continued to chew, and the flavor became even more delicious as he swallowed. "This¡­ what''s this?"


    It was a kind of chicken he hadn''t tasted before. It was juicier and more savory. Some of the juice even dripped down the side of his mouth. This balanced the spiciness of the chicken perfectly. No, the chicken even enhanced it.


    Then Apollo recalled that Ned said the chicken came from the Scavenger. "Scavenger? Is that some sort of monster?" Apollo muttered, taking another bite of the chicken.


    Soon, the only sound in his small corner was that of him eating. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a burp, Apollo tapped his stomach a couple of times. "That''s delicious." Although it couldn''t compare to the top restaurants in his previous life, the fried chicken made from the Scavenger was good enough to place the dish between a middle-tier and a top-tier restaurant. And they were only using simple ingredients excluding the chicken!


    Should I provide them with more recipes, Apollo thought. Just thinking about the food from his previous life made him crave it more. "Hmm, if their restaurant becomes more popular and people get used to their food, they will need more recipes for new hype. I should help them when the time comes."


    After cleaning up, he put the empty glass inside the basket and placed it in the corner where Ned had indicated.


    Apollo clapped his hands a few times to get rid of the dirt. "Now now, should I go back to cultivating or should I go see my friend?"


    The beggar referred to Big Chub, whom he hadn''t seen for the past two days. Because he always buys bread from him, Apollo wanted to see how his friend was doing. It didn''t take him long to make a decision, so he went out to the streets and headed to the place where Big Chub said he lived.


    Apollo walked for at least 10 minutes before arriving at the street where Big Chub previously sold his bread. Glancing at the new stalls that were made with materials only meant for restaurants, Apollo couldn''t help but think how extravagant the city was.


    Shaking his head, he went in the direction where Big Chub lived. After reaching the end of the road, he turned left and looked for someone to ask where Slumstreet was.


    "Slumstreet? You go straight, then right, then¡­." An old woman gave directions.


    "Thank you," Apollo said.

 Chapter 75 - 75: SlumStreet(Part-2)

    Back on the street where the Filly Restaurant was situated, Arke stood at the corner where the ''beggar'' usually stayed. But he couldn''t see him. Where did he go? With a frown on his face, he moved to stand in front of the restaurant''s door. He was about to open it when the door swung open from the inside.


    "Mr. Yoma?" Ned peeked out with excitement on his face. "Oh, just a customer."


    Arke stared at the server, who opened the door wide and gestured for him to enter. "Welcome, Sir."


    "Have you seen a beggar near your restaurant?" Arke didn''t enter and asked instead.


    "Mr. Yoma? Are you looking for him?" Ned asked back, tilting his head.


    "Mr. Yoma? So that''s his name," Arke muttered, his eyes shining with understanding. His suspicion about the beggar was completely removed. Why else would this waiter call him ''Mister''? Even Gail is friends with him.


    Apollo Leone and Gail didn''t interact in the past and probably don''t know each other''s names.


    In the end, he didn''t find anything even after checking all the suspicious people he had in mind. Thinking about what he did to some of them, he almost couldn''t hold back his bloodlust.


    Arke strongly believed that the Leone heir was either dead or in a miserable state. With a sigh, he couldn''t help but think it would have been better if the beggar was the Leone heir.


    He was about to turn around, go back to his villa, and rethink his plan when he suddenly stopped. His eyes lit up as he came up with a ''genius'' plan.


    "Are you going to enter, Sir?" Ned asked in confusion, seeing that the person in front of him was just standing still.


    "Sure," Arke nodded and smiled. I should think about this new plan of mine here while eating.


    ...


    Apollo arrived in front of a big hole in the giant wall that encircled the whole city. Looking at the sign beside the hole, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    "So this is the entrance to Slumstreet? But isn''t this just outside?" the beggar muttered, shaking his head. There''s a sewer that he needs to cross to get inside the hole. Fortunately, there are small wooden boards that act as a bridge. Though he could just jump over it, it would disrespect the people who sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears to make this ''bridge''.


    After crossing the sewer, he stepped on stairs made from a pile of rocks. Once inside the hole, he couldn''t help but wonder who made such a thing. The wall that fortified Klown City is at least 5 meters thick and 50 to 60 meters high. It''s a wonder how long it took to construct this thing.


    Apollo reached the end of the hole and jumped over the stone stairs. Landing on a patch of grass, he looked around his surroundings.


    There were only a few trees he could see; the rest was just grass. Apollo didn''t think much of it and just felt it was normal, probably because the city was surrounded by a wide plain of grass with only a few trees. If he wanted to find the forest, he had to travel for a while, just like that place where the Duskfangs were.


    His eyes then landed on small houses in the distance. This was called Slumstreet, but it was more like a small countryside with only a few dozen or so houses. Apollo walked towards the wooden houses. The materials they used were mostly wood, with some metals here and there to fortify the foundations.


    It was sloppy, but it was miles better than his makeshift roof in his beggar spot. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He looked inside the houses but found no one. He spotted some cages with pigs inside and chickens walking on the grass. Even so, he didn''t find anyone. That was when his senses told him someone was running behind him. He immediately turned around to see a young boy, slightly smaller than him, dashing past and running into the distance.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo didn''t have time to ask the boy as he could see worry and urgency on the boy''s face. Suddenly, a bad feeling rose within the beggar. Following the boy, they arrived at the furthest house in Slumstreet. There are a lot of people, Apollo thought, realizing the reason he hadn''t seen anyone so far.


    He recognized some of them as they sold on the same street as Big Chub. What''s the commotion? The beggar tiptoed to see better, but because of his small frame, he could only see the top of the house.


    Apollo walked towards the nearest person he recognized. "Hey, do you know where Big Chub is?"


    The person he asked turned towards him, and upon seeing that it was the beggar, the man couldn''t help but look at him with sadness. "It''s you, beggar kid. I think it would be better for you not to know."


    "What do you mean?" Apollo asked, his face turning serious. The foreboding feeling increased, seeing the man''s expression and some of the people who looked at him with sadness.


    "Why don''t you play somewhere else?" The man forcefully smiled. "I''ll let my son play with you."


    Hearing this, Apollo shook his head and started pushing through the people in front of him.


    "Hey, kid, don''t!" The man shouted, but Apollo had already made his way through the crowd.


    After pushing the last person aside, Apollo finally saw the house. Just like any other house, it was made of wood and was only enough for one to two people to live in. There was a handcart on the side filled with things Big Chub used for his stall.


    Apollo''s eyes then landed in front of the door. On the ground, someone was covered in a white cloth, though the cloth was already tinted with red. He didn''t have to smell to know that the cloth was soaked in blood.


    The beggar walked towards the person. Some tried to stop him, but he just pushed them aside. Kneeling in front of it, he reached out his hand and lifted the cloth where the face was located.


    Once the face was revealed, the onlookers couldn''t help but look away, tears brimming in their eyes.


    Some of the kids, on the other hand, started crying, their small voices echoing in the surroundings.


    Apollo placed the cloth back before standing up.


    "He was a good person," a middle-aged woman said, walking towards the beggar. She put her hand on Apollo''s head, seemingly trying to comfort him. With evident sadness in her voice, she continued, "He is the reason why we even have this Slumstreet."

 Chapter 76 - 76: SlumStreet(Part-3)

    "He helped us build these houses, made sure that we were safe, and that all of us were happy," the middle-aged woman said, wiping the side of her eyes with the back of her hand. "You must be one of his friends inside the city, right? He may look like a swindler, but he is a very kind man."


    "You know, if Big Chub were alive, he would definitely protest that he doesn''t look like a swindler," Apollo commented, raising his head towards the middle-aged woman.


    "Haha, you are right," the middle-aged woman forced a laugh before she glanced at the body on the ground. "They don''t care about us. Even if the city knows that people were killed here, they wouldn''t send their men to apprehend the evildoer."


    "This evildoer¡­ have you seen his appearance?" Apollo asked, his eyes turning cold.


    "No," the woman shook her head. She stared at the beggar, and seeing his eyes, she ''understood'' what was on his mind. "I know what you''re thinking. We also share the same thought, but the evildoer is a cultivator; there''s nothing we can do."


    "How did you know it''s a cultivator who did this?" Apollo asked.


    The middle-aged woman sighed. The way this kid talks is like an adult. Nevertheless, the woman still answered. "Someone saw the killer wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes widened. The Great Serpent Martial School? Who would do such a thing? And why?


    "Who saw it?" Apollo asked.


    "Let''s go bury Big Chub now," the middle-aged woman didn''t answer the beggar''s question this time. She looked the beggar in the eyes with concern. "We should just let this go, okay? Or you will only endanger yourself. Big Chub deserves a proper burial, so let''s get going."


    Two men stepped forward with a wooden board in their hands. They placed Big Chub''s body on the board before lifting it up.


    As the people began dispersing, Apollo remained standing still.


    But one person remained beside him.


    Apollo turned to the side where a kid was standing, seemingly hesitating. It was the same kid who had bumped into him. Black hair that reached his shoulder, black eyes, small nose, and lips.


    "You know something," the beggar said, standing in front of the kid. "Can you tell me your name?"


    "I-I''m Don," Don looked up as Apollo was slightly taller than him.


    "Hi Don, can you tell me what you saw?" Apollo realized that this kid must be the person who saw the cultivator. He probably went to the city to ask for help, but seeing no one following him, the plea for help must have been ignored. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s a guy¡­ black hair, just like us. But his eyes¡­" When Don recalled the man''s appearance, his body shivered. "I felt scared. He went straight to Big Chub''s house, and I heard a scream. So I ran to the city to ask for help. But they said they wouldn''t bother with the slums."


    As expected, Apollo sighed. "What about the guy''s eyes? What did you see in them?"


    "I just felt fear. I¡­ I felt like I was going to die," Don said, his mouth shaking.


    "You should rest, kid," Apollo put a hand on the kid''s shoulder. A kid saying ''kid'' to another kid could baffle anyone who saw this scene.


    "Hmm," Don nodded, wiping the side of his eyes. "Let''s go after them. I want to see Big Chub one last time."


    "You go first," Apollo said.


    "Alright," Don waved his hand before he ran after the group of people.


    Apollo watched the kid''s back, beginning to organize his thoughts. Something was telling him that he was the reason why this happened to Big Chub. No, he was sure of it, and there was already a candidate in his mind.


    Although he felt sad, it wasn''t to the point of actually wanting to get revenge, but he felt obligated if he was really the person behind this. Where should I buy my bread now? While he was still deep in thought, an interface appeared in front of him. However, this time, it was not blue but a red interface with big words written on it.


    "Alert! Someone has entered your Beggar Spot!"


    Seeing this, the beggar''s eyes widened, and he hurriedly went back to the city. What''s happening?!


    ¡­


    Arke walked out of the Filly Restaurant. He couldn''t help but smack his lips. "I didn''t know they had such good food. Fried Chicken? I''ll make sure I come back."


    At first, he didn''t think much and just ordered to fill his stomach. However, the moment he tasted the new dish, he ended up ordering three meals. Even right now, he still wanted to go back and eat again.


    But he had a priority that needed to be done first. With this in mind, he went to where the beggar stayed.


    It was a place where most people wouldn''t even bother noticing unless they really wanted to. It''s a perfect place to hide. Is that the reason why the city guards didn''t arrest him yet? Arke thought, a smile forming on his lips as he felt lucky. If the guards had taken the beggar, then he couldn''t go through with his plan.


    Arke firmly believed that he wouldn''t be able to find the Leone heir. So instead of finding something he couldn''t even locate, why not just create one?


    He walked inside and saw the small roof. "This place is disgusting."


    Shaking his head, he knelt down to look inside and saw nothing but a scroll. Oh, what''s this? Curious, he reached out his hand and held the scroll. Upon opening it, he couldn''t help but laugh out loud.


    "Hahaha! Really! I''m too lucky!" Arke held his stomach from the intensity of his laughter. "The heavens must really want to see blood!"


    After a while, he took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh, though the smile on his face remained. He threw the scroll back, his eyes turning cold. "So he is also going to enter the Advancement Examination? What made him think that he could just enter it without any cultivation? Ambitious and a fool. I''ll kill him then."


    He turned around and walked back to the street. But the moment his body came out from the corner, he immediately noticed the beggar who was looking in his direction with cold eyes.


    "Yo, beggar kid," Arke greeted, his lips turning into a smirk.


    "So it''s you," Apollo said.


    "Me? What did I do?"

 Chapter 77 - 77: SlumStreet(Part-4)

    "You killed him, right? Big Chub," Apollo said, his eyes glancing at his beggar spot before staring back at the martial student in front of him.


    "Big Chub?" Arke shook his head. "I don''t know him, but I did kill a few this morning."


    "Almost two meters tall, round, double chin," Apollo described the features of his friend.


    "Oh, I get it! That one from the Slumstreet. Yeah, I killed him. Why?" Arke asked, a smirk appearing on his face. "You want revenge?"


    "I just wanted to confirm it," Apollo said, his lips turning into a smile. "So, what brings you here? Don''t tell me you are here¡­ because of me?! I told you I''m not into the same gender, and especially not older guys!" He shouted the last words, causing passersby to look in their direction.


    Looks of disgust immediately fell upon Arke, who glared at them, but this action only made him appear guilty.


    "You know, kid, f*ck you," Arke cursed, spitting in front of the beggar.


    Seeing this, Apollo raised an eyebrow. He gathered saliva in his mouth and spit on the ground. "F*ck you too."


    "Haha, you are not afraid of some trouble," Arke chuckled, spitting again on the ground in annoyance. "I see that you are also going to enter the Advancement Examination. What can you do without even a Cultivation?"


    "Who said I do¡ª" Apollo didn''t continue his words as he realized something. This guy doesn''t know I have cultivation? Why? But I can clearly tell if a person is a cultivator or not. This guy can''t do that? Better ask the System later.


    "Why don''t we see it then?" He spit again.


    "Sure, kid, but¡­ I will definitely kill you," Arke said. He was about to spit for the third time but saw the passersby looking in his direction. In the end, he just swallowed his saliva.


    He could actually kill him at any other time, as framing a dead person as someone else is easier. But he wanted to have fun for a bit and humiliate this kid in front of thousands of people. A revenge for how the beggar humiliated him by making him look like someone who likes boys.


    Just thinking about it made him grit his teeth, especially now when some passersby were still looking at him with disgust. Holding back his rage, he took a deep breath to calm down. "See you, kid. You better make sure that you attend, or I will make you suffer and wish you were dead."


    Arke turned around and walked into the distance. Even if the beggar didn''t attend the Advancement Examination because of his threat, he would still kill him. Fortunately, his task was extended for two more days, giving him time to dispose of the beggar and make him seem like the Leone Heir. Does he believe that he is going to fool them?


    Arke was certain that there''s no way for them to know if the dead person was the Leone Heir or not. And in the worst-case scenario, he would just run for his life.


    The beggar just stood there, watching the martial student leave.


    "Nah, who''s fool enough to show themselves to the world when enemies are lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce on their prey?" Apollo muttered, shaking his head before he went inside his beggar spot.


    Sitting cross-legged under his makeshift roof, he asked the System. "Hey System, how come Arke didn''t know I have cultivation?"


    A light blue interface appeared in front of him with words materializing, followed by the System''s voice.


    "You are the True Beggar; you are nothing but a human begging for alms. As the True Beggar, you will never emit Qi as only Cultivators can do so."


    Hearing the answer from the System, Apollo couldn''t help but tilt his head. "True Beggar? D*mn, that''s a cool but degrading title. Anyway, so I can''t emit Qi, therefore I''m not a Cultivator, but I can still use the Qi and act as a Cultivator?"


    "Correct," the System answered.


    "It''s like you found a loophole just to not label me as a Cultivator," Apollo muttered, shaking his head. The interface disappeared as he sighed.


    Thinking about it, however, Apollo realized it''s actually a good thing. He doesn''t have to worry about strong Cultivators finding trouble with him because his cultivation is lower than theirs. They will just see him as a beggar and nothing else. Well, they can still bully him because they see a beggar on the street and want to pass their time or have fun.


    Nevertheless, it''s not like he will just let them bully him.


    While he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a knock on the wall in front of him.


    Apollo saw a hand from the other side and immediately knew who it was. "It''s finally lunchtime?" He stood up and went outside his hiding place.


    The moment his figure appeared, Ned, who didn''t dare peek inside, stood up straight and handed over the lunch basket in his hand. "Here you go. It has fried chicken, meat from a Thunderpig, and a glass of milk."


    "Thanks," Apollo smiled, taking hold of the basket. "I greatly appreciate what you guys are doing."


    "You''re welcome," Ned smiled back. "No, we should be the ones saying thanks. Although I don''t know why my Goddess greatly values you, I know it''s for the good of this restaurant."


    "Haha, you''re not angry that I beat you up?" Apollo asked, glancing at the server''s bandages.


    "W-wait! Y-you''re the one who beat me up?" Ned stood like he''d been struck by lightning. His eyes widened in realization and shock.


    Seeing this, Apollo immediately waved his hand. "Okay, bye!" He hurriedly went back to his beggar spot. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He opened the basket, and the smell of the fried chicken along with the meat from a monster wafted up. Apollo licked his lips. Although Big Chub had just died, the beggar still had an appetite. No, even if the world were to fall, if there''s food in front of him, he would definitely eat it.


    No matter how sad one might be, there''s no greater sadness than having an empty stomach.


    "Sorry, Big Chub. I''ll mourn your loss another time," Apollo prayed for his friend before he started digging in.


    He didn''t think much about the fried chicken as he had already eaten one that morning and his palate was familiar with it. However, when he looked at the Thunderpig meat, he couldn''t help but be in awe as it was perfectly cooked. Every side of the meat was the same color. Nothing was overcooked or undercooked.


    Is this the power of having a cultivator as a chef? Apollo thought while slicing the meat. Then he put a piece in his mouth, and the juices from the meat and the coconut oil exploded in his mouth.


    "Delicious!"

 Chapter 78 - 78: Day Of The Advancement!(Part-1)

    After eating his meal, Apollo put the basket in the corner where Ned would pick it up later. He went back inside his beggar spot and sat under his makeshift roof.


    "I should get back to cultivating," Apollo muttered. If he could increase his strength before the Advancement Examination began, that would be great. "If I don''t reach the Half-Step Qi Condensation before the examination, I should find a place to master my Simple Movement Technique."


    With this in mind, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. The moment he wanted to feel and see the Qi, the world instantly turned black, with only him and the countless bright Qi surrounding him.


    Then he began to mobilize them, inhaling through his mouth, nose, and skin. They entered his body without any hindrance and followed the Revised Simple Breathing Technique.


    His body relaxed on its own and his mind was at peace. Time became insignificant, and everything felt like an eternity.


    ...


    Two days later.


    In the manor of the Helflick Family, inside the office of the family head, were two men and one woman.


    Mathias sat behind his office table, spectacles perched on his nose as he read a report. "Tsk tsk, they are showing signs that they''re going to attack," he muttered, putting the paper down.


    "Are they preparing for an attack?" Bel asked worriedly, while June, standing beside her, although not showing emotion, had eyes that told otherwise.


    "Very likely," Mathias nodded. "But don''t worry, the Advancement Examination will proceed as planned, so nothing will hinder you from getting first place."


    Bel went silent for a moment before she sighed. "Hopefully. But what will happen to that man who got marked?"


    "We don''t know," Mathias shook his head. "Worst case scenario, he will be dead before we can kill the Alpha."


    "That''s... unfortunate," Bel muttered. Her mind then wandered to the kid who had saved her life in that forest. Thankfully, he didn''t get marked by that monster.


    When Mathias remembered that the Alphadusk Shadowtail had a trait of marking its target and not letting it go even to the ends of the world, he immediately sent an order to search for a person with a mark on their back. He also took note of the kid who saved his daughter.


    As they began their search, it didn''t take long to find a middle-aged man with the target mark of the Alpha on his back. This made them halt the search for Bel''s savior.


    The middle-aged man said that he went to that forest to procure herbs for his ill wife. That''s when he met the Alphadusk Shadowtail, which attacked him from behind but didn''t chase after him.


    "We promised him that his wife will be healed and we will compensate her greatly for his sacrifice. He will be deemed a hero, and his body will be buried in the Hero''s burial," Mathias said, his tone as serious as usual. Being the head of a great family such as this made him witness a lot, and this kind of thing was nothing new to him.


    Hearing this eased the worry on Bel''s face. "That''s good. Hopefully, he will get through this alive."


    "That''s what I hope too," Mathias smiled, stood up, and went straight to the door. The giant door opened, and a creaking sound echoed in the room. "Let''s go. I want to watch you succeed."


    Bel chuckled and followed after her father. "You know, Father, you should really fix these doors."


    June smiled, walking behind them.


    Because the mansion was big, they had to take a lot of turns just to reach the front entrance. Outside the gate, there was already a carriage waiting for them.


    June, as always, took the driver''s seat while the father and daughter went inside the carriage.


    "Father, you know if we just jumped from outside your room, we would have arrived here in just a matter of seconds," Bel complained as soon as she took her seat. "The house is too big, and walking is too slow."


    June was about to make the horses move when he stopped, his ears perking up. He shared the same sentiments as her, making him curious about the family head''s answer.


    Mathias glanced at his daughter with a sigh. "You''re too hasty, my child. Did you know that walking is a great way to calm our minds? Besides, if I let you do that, what do you think our house would look like?"


    Bel began to imagine the scene: her, June, and the others jumping from here and there just to get to their destination¡­


    "The house would look like a kid''s playground," Mathias answered for her. "That would degrade our status and make people lose respect for the Helflick Family."


    "It''s a waste of convenience," Bel muttered in disappointment.


    As the carriage began to move, Mathias couldn''t help but think she was right. But because he wanted to maintain the respect of other people towards them, he had to maintain the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me of his family, even though he also wanted to just fly around to get to his destination.


    But such a shame, how people look at them is also a ''kind'' of power.


    "By the way, Bel, you said that your savior is just a kid?" Mathias changed the subject.


    "Yeah, I also couldn''t believe it. He can defeat three to four Duskfang Shadowtails on his own, and he barely looks like he''s ten years old!" Bel said, her eyes burning with excitement. "I think he''s the most talented person I''ve ever seen!"


    She actually wanted to find him, but because she was punished for sneaking out, she couldn''t leave the mansion and had to become a maid.


    "A kid with that strength? He''s likely at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building or at the 3rd-Step," Mathias said before he looked deeply into his daughter''s eyes. "However, you have to be careful. We are not sure if he is just a kid or pretending to be a kid. There''s even the possibility he saved you just to get on your good side."


    Bel nodded in understanding. "I understand, Father."


    "Good," Mathias nodded with a smile.


    I wonder if he is going to participate. With his strength, he could defeat a martial student before the examination begins and take their place instead. Bel couldn''t help but think about her savior, the ''beggar.''


    sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 79 - 79: Day Of The Advancement!(Part-2)

    Filly looked at herself in the mirror. She was now wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on her chest and glasses on top of her nose. She didn''t usually wear glasses, but she felt like she needed them this time for a change. Pushing up her spectacles, she couldn''t help but sigh. "It would be better if I just failed this Advancement." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She wasn''t particularly fond of cultivating, but it didn''t mean she was going to fail the Advancement Examination on purpose. With her strength, she was confident she would pass the exam, though she would be dreaming if she thought her ranking would reach the top.


    Just barely passing was enough for her as she still needed to graduate from the martial school to repay her family. And after that¡­ Filly looked at herself in the mirror with great determination. "I will live my life the way I want."


    A knock came on the door, and Filly knew it was time. She opened the door and saw Gail wearing the same uniform as her. "Is the carriage ready?"


    "Yes, Miss," Gail nodded.


    "Alright, let''s go," Filly said, and they went downstairs. However, she was about to step down when she saw the scene below. "We have a lot of customers."


    "Yeah," Gail said from behind, glancing at the number of customers eating on the first floor. "And they''re almost all eating the same thing."


    Filly smiled as the smell of fried chicken permeated the air. "We only launched the dish yesterday, and our customers have doubled. And it''s only the regular fried chicken made from the Scavenger."


    "This is a good sign, Miss."


    "I know," Filly said, and they both started going downstairs. "I expect more people to come in the next few days, and that''s also when the official battle against Skyline Savory will begin."


    Hearing this, Gail''s eyes widened in surprise. "Isn''t it too soon?"


    "Yes, but we have to take advantage of the current event. The city will be filled with people because of the Advancement Examination. Some officials from other cities will visit, and we also have to attract them," Filly explained as they reached the door. Along the way, her workers wished them the best of luck.


    They were about to open the door when it was opened from outside and Ned entered. He was scratching his head in confusion, holding the wooden basket.


    "What''s wrong?" Filly asked with a raised eyebrow.


    "He''s not there," Ned said.


    "Who?"


    "Mr. Yoma," Ned said, sighing.


    "Mr. Yoma?" Filly and Gail looked at each other. "Who''s Mr. Yoma? Didn''t I tell you to give the basket to Mr. B¡ª"


    Filly didn''t finish her words as she understood what was happening. So that''s his name. Yeah, I was rude for not asking his name. This thought made her feel disappointed.


    Seeing her face, Ned became worried. "I''ll go immediately to find him!"


    "No need," Filly stopped him before he could leave the restaurant. "He''s probably somewhere else. Just check from time to time if he''s back."


    "Alright then," Ned said, scratching his cheek. "Good luck with the Advancement, Miss!"


    "Thanks," Filly nodded, and along with Gail, they went outside and entered the carriage. Soon, the horses pulled the carriage towards the venue where the Advancement would be held.


    "Gail, are you confident?" Filly asked as the carriage started moving.


    "I''m confident that I will at least reach the top 5," Gail said. "But reaching the top 2 or top 1, I need great luck."


    "It''s because of Bel, right?" Filly smiled, mentioning her friend.


    "Yeah, but what I''m most worried about is Arke," Gail''s eyes turned serious. "He is a man that even Bel will have a hard time fighting. He is also a Cultivator with a fire attribute."


    Filly didn''t know the person Gail was talking about, but hearing that the guy named Arke had a fire attribute made her mood heavy. "That''s a tough opponent. But don''t worry, reaching the top 5 is good enough. That''s also good for business."


    "Right," Gail smiled. "This will definitely attract customers."


    Because the event will have a lot of people watching, it''s the perfect place to make Filly''s Restaurant famous. If Gail reaches at least the top five, people will get curious about her. Those unfamiliar with her will definitely want to know her identity. Then, once they find out that she works for Filly''s restaurant, they will also get curious about it.


    Filly wanted a chain reaction that would end up making her restaurant famous.


    The carriage reached an intersection, and they began to move slowly. Filly pushed the curtain of the window to the side to get a better view and saw carriages moving in the same direction as them. There were also a lot of people walking on the side, some were martial students, while others were just commoners wanting to watch the event.


    While she was looking outside, her eyes fell on someone wearing a full dark grey robe that covered his whole body. She could only see the person''s side profile, but she noticed the half mask that covered his eyes.


    Oh? Someone is hiding their identity? Filly raised an eyebrow. For that person to hide their identity, they are probably one of the cultivators who defeated a martial student and got their hands on an invitation card.


    Gail, who happened to look outside, also noticed the person. "That person is really small," she couldn''t help but comment.


    "That height and figure¡­" This comment made Filly think of someone. It can''t be? She shook her head the next moment for thinking such a ridiculous thing.


    "What''s wrong?" Gail asked.


    "Nothing," Filly shook her head while pulling the curtain back.


    Their carriage, along with the other carriages, went outside the city. Their destination was a mountain where the event would be held. Those in the carriages took about 20 to 30 minutes, while those on foot had to walk for at least an hour just to get there.


    After arriving at the foot of the mountain, Filly and Gail went out of their carriage, their eyes naturally went to the top of the mountain.


    "It''s too high," Filly couldn''t help but mutter in astonishment.


    "The venue is different this time," Gail said, looking around. This was not the first time she participated in the Advancement Examination, and the last venue was held inside one of the martial schools in the city.


    There were already a lot of people at the foot of the mountain, most of them were students, and some came with their parents or guardians.

 Chapter 80 - 80: Day Of The Advancement!(Part-3)

    Apollo glanced at the mountain in the distance. Adjusting the mask on his face, he followed the people heading in the same direction. "D*mn it, why do they make the venue so far from the city?" he muttered in annoyance. He had been walking for 30 minutes now and still hadn''t reached the venue.


    The others seemed to share his sentiments as they shook their heads, though this mainly applied to those who were only there to watch. The martial students, on the other hand, didn''t utter a word and just continued moving forward without making a scene.


    Apollo felt relieved that no egotistical cultivator was among them.


    Just as he was thinking about this, a shout came from his right, making him turn toward the sound.


    "Move, you lowly commoners!" A carriage made its way through the crowd, the curtain open, and a man who was likely a noble looked at the people outside with disgust and ridicule in his eyes.


    The people had no choice but to make way. The martial students were angry at first, but seeing that someone from a carriage shouted those words, they only gritted their teeth and stepped back. Even though they were already cultivators, there was still social stratification among them. Those whose backgrounds were commoners had to bow down to the nobles.


    Even if some of them were stronger, they had to swallow their pride and give way to those at the top of the social class.


    Unless they were extremely talented and strong, they had to abide by these unwritten rules. Furthermore, only nobles, the wealthy, and the talented had the ability to have a carriage.


    The man inside the carriage had blonde hair and red eyes. He wore a maroon uniform with a white lion insignia on the right chest. He couldn''t help but smile when he saw them making way for him. "That''s right! Hahaha! You guys are nothing but slaves to us!" he shouted, causing the people to glare at him.


    This made the man shiver, and he hurriedly closed the curtain. He knew that some of them were stronger than him, so he had to make a ''strategic retreat.'' Yup, strategic! What if he met some of them in the Advancement Examination and they decided to take revenge on him? What if they became crazy, ignored social status, and beat him up to death?


    It wasn''t unprecedented for commoners to take action against a noble because they couldn''t take it anymore. Thus, he made the driver of his carriage make the horses run faster.


    The man was right, as the moment the carriage sped up, a strong killing intent erupted from the crowd, causing the martial students to turn toward the source.


    Apollo was among them. He glanced behind and saw a two-meter-tall man with muscles that threatened to burst from his martial uniform. His uniform was dark blue with an insignia on his right chest, a crossed sword on top of a shield. Black hair, hawk-like eyes, and a mustache that flared up because of the intensity of the aura he was letting out.


    The beggar recognized the man. It was the same person who made a scene in front of the Skyline Savory branch.


    What was his name again? Oh right! Yohan! Apollo could see that he was angry, and the goons behind the two-meter-tall man were trying hard to calm him down.


    "So he''s also walking. Where''s the pretty boy then?" Apollo muttered, looking around to see the man Yohan had a beef with. But after looking for a while, he didn''t see him. "He probably went by carriage."


    Shaking his head, Apollo continued to walk towards the mountain. As far as he could see, this was the tallest mountain in the area. It was like looking at Mount Everest from his previous life, though this mountain was full of greenery, not snow and ice.


    Along the way, Apollo brought up the System Store and looked at the items that could help him in this event. I should only buy it when necessary, the beggar thought before closing the store. As his eyes wandered back to the mountain, he couldn''t help but stare northwest, towards the forest where the black wolves were.


    The place was too far from here, but he could still see the dense trees, which reminded him of the Alpha that would hunt him down. He was nervous that it might appear out of nowhere. Fortunately, nothing had happened in the past few days.


    However, Apollo suddenly felt uneasy. He squinted for a moment before staring back at the mountain, his heart pounding like crazy. When he glanced at the forest where the Duskfang Shadowtails resided, he felt as if something was staring back at him. Despite being miles apart, the sensation felt like it was only a few meters away.


    The feeling of being watched remained even though he wasn''t looking at the forest anymore. After a few seconds, it disappeared.


    That monster definitely knows my position, Apollo thought, frowning behind his black mask. He adjusted his half mask and let out a heavy breath. If that monster really hunted him now, there was nothing he could do besides run away.


    But am I fast enough? Apollo doubted it. Even though he hadn''t slept last night to master the Simple Movement Technique, he still wasn''t confident he could outrun that monster. Thinking about it, Apollo realized that the Alphadusk could have killed him before, but the monster didn''t.


    It seemed like he was being toyed with.


    "Tsk, don''t come or I''ll burn you to a crisp," Apollo muttered. If he couldn''t run away, it didn''t mean he would die without a fight.


    "System, are you sure you won''t punish me because I''ll leave my beggar spot for a few days?" Apollo asked the system.


    "I am sure of it, Host. As long as you recognize that place as your Beggar Spot, I won''t be able to issue a punishment. As a True Beggar, you have to rummage for food, money, and other useful items, but you must return to your Beggar Spot.


    If you want to change your Beggar Spot, you can always buy a Change Beggar Spot Item in the System Store," the emotionless voice of the System echoed in the beggar''s mind.


    "Ha, do you think I''ll fall for that? I was just asking to make sure!" Apollo said with a smirk.


    Soon, he arrived at the foot of the mountain, and the boisterous sound of the people echoed around him.


    S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 81 - 81: Day Of The Advancement!(Part-4)

    "There''s already a lot," Apollo muttered, looking at the number of people at the foot of the mountain. He could see that most were martial students, while some came with their guardians or parents.


    The place was wide and had a lot of space. Even though there were already many participants, it didn''t feel too packed.


    Some of the martial students had parasols and chairs that they brought with them. Apollo could even see a small house in the distance with martial students hanging out. The way they moved indicated they were of noble origin, while the commoners had to stand under the sun.


    Why didn''t they bring their own parasols? Afraid to offend the nobles? Apollo thought, shaking his head. Even though there was social stratification in his previous life, it wasn''t to the point where they blatantly showed it to the public.


    The invitation scroll only stated the gathering time but didn''t specify when the exam would begin.


    Apollo found a tree to sit underneath, the shade countering the heat from the sun. It seems like the exam won''t begin soon, he thought, seeing that the number of people was still increasing. This made him curious about how many martial students the city had. He had seen at least five martial schools in the city, each comparable in size to the top universities in his previous life.


    In fact, the martial schools were much grander and gave off a solemn vibe, like looking at a sleeping beast.


    "I should take this time to increase my strength," Apollo muttered, closing his eyes and cultivating the Revised Simple Breathing Technique. Normally, he wouldn''t dare to do this with other people around, especially Cultivators. But right now, he didn''t have to worry about his identity being exposed and attracting attention.


    He wore a mask that he bought from the System Store, costing him 5 Alm points. This black half mask, which only covered his eyes and nose, had the ability to block any prying technique below his cultivation level.


    Apollo was not too worried about those with higher cultivation than him seeing through the mask. He was completely different from Apollo Leone the moment he arrived in this world. He found that his body had become slightly taller, he had gained weight, and, coupled with his contact lenses that changed his blue eyes to black, he was confident that no one would recognize him as the Heir of the Leone.


    As the world instantly turned dark and the Qi ''appeared'' around the beggar brilliantly, the guardians and parents who came with the martial students were escorted away by men wearing silver armor.


    Because of this, the area became less populated, but the guardians could still watch from afar.


    Around this time, a carriage arrived, and a woman and a middle-aged man stepped out of it.


    The martial students immediately recognized them.


    "That''s Bel Helflick!"


    "Her father is also here! Mathias Helflick!"


    Even the nobles looked at the newcomers with excitement in their eyes.


    "I''ll have to leave you here," Mathias said, glancing at the people looking in their direction. "There is somewhere I need to go."


    "But you said you were going to watch?" Bel asked.


    "Haha, I will. But the exam won''t start for an hour," Mathias explained.


    "How do you know that?" Bel looked at her father with wide eyes.


    "Silly daughter, I''m the family head. Of course, I know things that you guys don''t," Mathias smiled before he started walking toward the two guards who were waiting for him in the distance.


    The students naturally made way for the only Core Creation Cultivator in the city.


    Looking at her father''s back, Bel couldn''t help but sigh with worry. She already had a guess about what matter he was going to attend to. It''s probably the plan about that monster. Hopefully, the worst won''t come.


    "Bel!" someone shouted, making Bel turn to the sound.


    "Hello, Filly and Gail!" Bel smiled, greeting her friends.


    "Good to see you," Filly hugged her friend while Gail nodded with a smile.


    "Same," Bel said. "When did you arrive?"


    "Around 10 minutes ago," Filly said. "Did I hear correctly that the exam will only start after an hour?"


    "Yup," Bel nodded.


    "I see. Do you know what the exam is like?" Filly asked, wondering if Bel knew something.


    However, Bel shook her head. "I don''t know. This is the first time the examination will happen outside the city. It''s probably different from the last Advancement, and if they didn''t change the exam, they will for sure raise the difficulty."


    "I wonder why," Filly muttered in confusion.


    "It''s probably because of those rumors," Gail said from the side.


    "Rumors?" Filly turned to her. "What rumors?"


    "Some Cultivation Techniques are being stolen from the library of each martial school," Gail explained.


    "Oh, I also heard about that," Bel recalled the time when she was a maid. She gossiped when there was a chance with the other maids and heard a lot of rumors. This included that some techniques from the martial schools were being stolen. "If I were them, I would raise the difficulty for this exam."


    Filly understood what she meant. "Yeah, those who learned new techniques will have to show them in order to pass. They are basically finding out those perpetrators with this examination."


    "This is still a rumor though," Bel said. "And we are not sure if they are really going to do that." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I guess you are right," Filly said, while Gail nodded in agreement.


    "Let''s just wait for the exam to begin and we will see," Bel said. "Hopefully, the exam is not ridiculous."


    "Haha, right," Filly chuckled. Then she noticed Gail seemingly distracted by something. "Hey Gail, what are you looking at?"


    Gail was woken up, shaking her head, she answered, "Nothing. I just saw that same guy we saw from earlier."


    Hearing this, Filly turned to where she was looking and saw someone sitting cross-legged under the shade of the tree. He had a black half mask adorning his face while his robe covered his body.


    "Oh, he''s probably not a student," Bel commented from the side. "But it''s like he wanted to be one."


    "I heard it''s hard for them to pass the exam. They probably only defeated weak cultivators just to get the invitation," Filly said. "I just don''t understand why they make such rules."


    "But some of them can be really strong," Bel said, her eyes squinting at the man under the shade. Have I seen him before? Looking at his robes, although they looked clean, she could see holes and tears. Judging by the tears, it was like they were clawed at by ''something''.


    Suddenly, she recalled someone, and her eyes widened. Is that him?! But it can''t be, right?

 Chapter 82 - 82: Day Of The Advancement!(Part-5)

    Apollo opened his eyes, the Qi around him ''disappearing'' while the surroundings returned to normal. He looked at the sky and concluded that he had cultivated for around 40 to 50 minutes.


    He stood up and walked towards the crowd. It seems it''s still not starting. What are they waiting for? Apollo sighed. As he stood in a corner, he couldn''t help but notice that someone was looking in his direction. This made him shiver, and his body tensed visibly.


    He looked around to see if that ''monster'' had appeared, but he only saw a woman staring at him like it was the first time she saw a human.


    Bel? Apollo immediately recognized the woman. Why is she looking at me like that? Did she find out? No, it can''t be. Did she reach Qi Condensation?


    Apollo spread his senses towards her to feel the state of her cultivation. Oh? She''s still at the 4th-Step, but it won''t be long before she reaches Half-Step Qi Condensation. Still, this makes it hard for her to identify me.


    So I got scared for nothing, Apollo thought before staring ahead.


    "Look!" someone exclaimed while pointing at the top of the mountain.


    Apollo also looked up, and his eyes widened at the scene. "He''s flying," the beggar muttered in amazement. The others shared the same expression as him. Even though they had seen someone fly a couple of times in their lives, they still kept getting amazed, especially when it happened right in front of them.


    Bel, who was shocked that the small man she was staring at could also spread his senses and check her cultivation, didn''t have a choice but to turn to the sound.


    Someone was flying down from the top of the mountain. His white hair and dark red clothes made a flapping sound from the wind. It didn''t take him long to reach the foot of the mountain, where he hovered above the martial students.


    He sported white eyebrows that perked up at their ends with eyes deep red in color, like an intense fire creating a deep contrast on his pale and wrinkly face. His red dress, a long robe Shenyi Hanfu with a continuous cut from top to bottom, hid his not-too-thin body.


    "Uncle Popo?" Bel muttered.


    "That''s the headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School. Is he going to be our examiner?" Filly asked from the side.


    A 4th-Step Qi Condensation... Gail clenched her fist, determination brewing within her eyes. At 4th-Step Qi Condensation, a cultivator can fly using the condensed Qi inside them. But they need to have great control over their Qi, and only talented ones can do so, as flying at this stage is a sign that they have a chance to advance to another stage.


    Of course, there are techniques that can allow one to fly even without reaching 4th-Step Qi Condensation, but they are very rare and hard to learn.


    Gail also wished to fly someday.


    "Everyone quiet down," the old man said. He didn''t shout, but his voice still echoed within the field. "I apologize for the wait. Before we begin, I would like to introduce myself. I''m the headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School, Master Popo, and I''m also the one who will be the examiner for your first test."


    The martial students closed their mouths while they looked at the headmaster floating above them. Some of the guardians and their parents even kneeled to the ground, showing their great respect. They were not cultivators and didn''t have a high status, so they had learned to bow their heads in situations like this.


    The nobles looked at this scene while puffing up their chests. That''s what commoners should do, to kneel and bow to us, the mighty ones. This was their thought as smiles formed on their lips.


    Apollo, who happened to glance in their direction, immediately knew what the nobles were thinking. These people really like the feeling of being superior. And why do the commoners even need to kneel down? The class differentiation in this world is really too much! Although he was thinking about this, it didn''t mean he would take action.


    He would rather focus on what the old man was going to say than think about them. However, it was a different matter if these nobles tried to offend him.


    Staring back at the old man floating in the air, Apollo perked up his ears.


    "As you may have realized, the venue for this Advancement is different from the last time. It''s because we decided to raise the difficulty," Master Popo said. "Those who have only made small improvements will have very little chance of passing the exam.


    This is very different from past examinations, where we only valued how much your Qi had increased and your potential to go to the next stage of your cultivation. However, the Advancement this time is harder. There''s no luck involved, only hard work!"


    When the martial students heard that the exam had become more difficult, the scene became quite noisy. Some wanted to express their disagreement but only dared to whisper it among themselves.


    "Quiet," Master Popo said, and the noise died down in an instant. "The first part of the exam will now begin!"


    The moment his words fell, a strong wind blew in their direction, causing the old man''s robe to flap chaotically.


    However, something unexpected happened. Because he was flying above the first few rows, they had to look up almost vertically, and that''s when they saw it.


    Even some martial students from a distance managed to catch a glimpse of it.


    Apollo''s mouth opened slightly, an incredulous expression appearing on his face. This old man! Why is he not wearing an inner layer of clothes?! His birdie! Old man, this is not Japan!


    The beggar immediately brought up the System Store to look for a technique that could blur an object of his choice. With the help of the System, the store sorted itself out until only one item remained.


    Japanization Blur Beam: Blur anyone or anything of your choice. This technique doesn''t have limitations. It can be used anywhere and anytime, be it in the vacuum of space or in another dimension.


    Price: 100,000,000 Alm Points.


    This¡­ it''s fcking expensive!* S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 83 - 83: First Test(Part-1)

    The martial students from the Fire Shrine Cultivation School slapped their foreheads while some looked around, whistling a tune, seemingly acting like they didn''t know their headmaster. Some even covered the insignia of their school.


    He did it again, they thought in exasperation. They were greatly embarrassed and just wanted to find a hole and hide there forever.


    The women, on the other hand, immediately looked away, their faces red from what they had seen.


    "Disgusting," Bel muttered, a frown on her face. "Fortunately, my father doesn''t like to fly around even though he can and is the strongest in the city."


    Master Popo didn''t seem to know that his ''son'' was showing. He turned around and pointed to the mountain. "You will have to climb the mountain all the way to the top. You have until the sun disappears on the horizon."


    Another wind blew in his direction, his hanfu robe wildly moving about, providing another view for his audience.


    The martial students were shocked once more, but it was better than seeing the old man''s front.


    Apollo''s face had already darkened. This guy! You don''t even have a btt! How dare you show it to us?!* Shaking his head, the only thing he could do was stare at the mountain.


    "So we just have to climb the mountain?" Apollo muttered. It sounded easy, especially to them. However, the beggar believed it was more than that. And as he expected, what happened next proved him right.


    The whole area began shaking, and some of the rocks from the barren rocky mountain rolled down. The middle of the mountain started changing like it was alive. Stones were raised, forming stairs that reached the very top.


    Seeing this, the cultivators looked at each other in confusion. Stairs? It makes the test easier.


    "Hehe, climbing this mountain to the top sounds like a piece of cake, right? But you guys couldn''t be more wrong!" Master Popo smirked, turning around to stare at the students.


    Okay, here it comes! Incoming missiles! Apollo already closed his eyes, and those who didn''t manage to do so in time were hit by another view.


    They exclaimed but immediately shut their mouths. They knew better than to offend a cultivator with the ability to fly.


    Seeing their faces filled with ''grief,'' Master Popo smiled in satisfaction. It seems they have already realized the ''gravity'' of the test. Literally.


    "I guess it would be better if you found it out yourselves! Let the test begin!"


    Hearing this, the martial students looked at each other for a moment before they started walking towards the stairs.


    "Why don''t we observe first?" Bel asked.


    "Why?" Filly tilted her head. "All we have to do is run to the top of the mountain. Maybe they will give more points to the first one who arrives at the top."


    "Miss, I don''t think it''s that simple. Even the disgusting Master Popo said so," Gail commented.


    "Gail is right," Bel glanced at Gail with a smile. "We should watch first and see what happens. We still have a few hours before the sun sets."


    "Oh, okay," Filly nodded. She was talented in business but lacked in other areas, so she knew when to take a step back. Besides, Bel was considered the most talented cultivator in the entire city, so it would only be wise to follow her.


    Bel smiled before glancing at the masked man. He was standing still, watching the other martial students go up the stairs. It seems we have the same thought. Although this man had the same height and figure as her savior, she knew that her savior was just a kid. And from what she understood about him, he couldn''t let out his senses and observe other people''s cultivation.


    Deciding not to concern herself with the masked man, she continued to watch the martial students.


    Around this time, Master Popo flew back to the top of the mountain and landed on the last stair. Sitting on it with his legs wide apart, he took out a smoking pipe. Taking a deep breath from it, he blew out a thick smoke.


    Master Popo focused his eyes, and the small figures like dots at the very bottom of the steps zoomed in, giving him a clear view of what was happening below. Looking at the martial student who was a few steps ahead of the others, he couldn''t help but mutter, "It should be about time."


    Just as his words fell, the first martial student frowned but continued up the stairs. However, it didn''t take long before he had difficulty raising his foot.


    This made the others confused. What''s he doing, bringing his foot up and down like a fool? Some shook their heads and decided to finish the test as quickly as possible.


    Those who thought this way jumped from their position or ran. But the moment they passed the first person, they slowed down, and those who jumped landed heavily on the stairs. Cracking sounds echoed as some bones were dislocated.


    Master Popo smiled in satisfaction, hearing the shouts of pain coming from the martial students below. "Hehe, this is going to be interesting."


    ... sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "As expected," Apollo muttered, seeing some of the martial students having a hard time going up the stairs. "It seems something is holding them back."


    They couldn''t even properly use their Movement Techniques, as the moment they walked up the stairs, they started slowing down or coming to a complete stop.


    Hmm, around 10 steps before they felt the effect, Apollo thought. Then he realized something. So the higher we go up, the more difficult it will be. He glanced at the person currently in first place, and his eyes immediately turned cold. "Arke."


    Arke was walking up the stairs neither fast nor slow. He was consistent with every step, as if the ''thing'' that was holding back the other martial students was nonexistent to him.


    "But considering the height of this mountain, with his speed, he will probably take an hour or so to reach the top," Apollo put a hand under his chin. "That pervert only said that we have to go to the top of the mountain before night comes. He didn''t say anything about ranking, so it''s wiser to conserve strength and take the time to go up."


    The beggar also noticed people not wearing uniforms but walking to the steps. There were at least five of them, and most of them had nervous expressions. It seemed they were the ones who got invitation cards from the other martial students.


    Including him, there were only six of them.


    "I should join them," Apollo muttered, walking towards the non-uniform individuals.


    "Let''s go. Arke is showing off," Bel said, glancing at the masked man.


    "Alright," Filly and Gail nodded their heads.

 Chapter 84 - 84: First Test(Part-2)

    Standing in front of the stairs, Apollo glanced around at the participants. They were basically jumping before landing on or around the tenth step, then proceeding to just run or walk up the mountain.


    Bel, Filly, and Gail also did the same, though Bel and Gail landed on the 17th and 16th steps, respectively.


    Filly landed on the 13th step. Seeing her companions already ahead of her, she couldn''t help but shout, "Wait for me!" Then she started running towards the two.


    The beggar turned to the step in front of him. What is it that''s holding them? Curious, he raised his foot and put it on the first step. He didn''t raise his other foot yet, trying to see if he could feel the ''thing'' that made the others struggle up the stairs.


    He waited for a few seconds but didn''t feel a thing. That''s when he heard a grunt a few steps away from him. Looking up, he saw a man not wearing the martial student''s uniform who couldn''t take another step. Apollo couldn''t see the man''s face, but the way he grunted and tried to raise his foot made the beggar understand what was happening.


    Spreading his senses, Apollo realized that the man was not a cultivator but just a normal human. What was he thinking? And how did he even get his hands on the invitation? This made him curious, so he walked up the stairs to stand beside the man.


    "Hey," Apollo said, glancing at the man''s face. But the scene almost made him burst out laughing. The man''s face was so scrunched up it looked like he was taking a massive sh*t!


    "¡­W-what?" The man was silent for a moment before he managed to say something through gritted teeth.


    "What do you¡ª" Apollo closed his mouth just in time as his laugh threatened to come out. He took a breath to calm down and repeated his words. "What do you feel?"


    The man slowly turned his head to the speaker.


    No! Don''t look at me! Apollo immediately looked away, his mouth twitching while his nose flared.


    "I¡­ feel¡­ great¡­ pressure¡­ I-I can''t¡­ move," the man explained with great difficulty.


    "Do you feel like something is pressing down on you?" Apollo asked, his face turned to the side.


    "Y-yes¡­" the man answered.


    "How did you¡­" Apollo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, determination to look at the man''s face appeared. It''s rude to talk to someone without looking at them directly. So he did. However, he instantly turned his head back, his face red from holding in his laughter. Still, he continued his words.


    "How did you get your invitation?"


    "I¡­ bought it¡­ with¡­ my hard-earned¡­ money," the man explained. Although the pressure was too great and taking the next step was too hard, he was still trying his best. "I¡­ want¡­ to cultivate¡­ it''s my dream¡­"


    As expected, Apollo had already realized this fact. Sighing with eyes closed, he patted the man''s shoulder to comfort him. "Dream, as long as you work hard, I believe you will achieve it!"


    Then he looked up, his eyes now open, and started walking up the stairs. Leaving those cool words felt great. Hehe, I''m really a friendly neighborhood beggar! The sound of crashing from behind echoed. Apollo smiled, thinking there were even special sound effects for his cool performance.


    That special sound effect, however, was the sound of the man falling down the stairs because the beggar''s pat added more pressure. The man''s body, already on the verge of giving up, collapsed in an instant.


    After taking a few steps, he saw the other non-martial students already having a hard time moving their feet. So, as a friendly neighborhood beggar, he walked up to them, gave them some advice on how to achieve their dreams of becoming a cultivator, and then proceeded to walk up the stairs in a cool manner.


    Special sound effects of crashing soon echoed, making the smile on the beggar''s face widen. He actually knew what the sound was coming from behind. The beggar was actually doing them a favor as with their capabilities they would only end up as laughing stocks. Worst case, nobles would find amusement with them, and the ridicule and mockery would shatter their dreams.


    Apollo didn''t do this because he was good-hearted and really wanted to help them. It''s just that he admired their guts for even trying to join this Advancement Examination despite not having any cultivation.


    Shaking his head, he moved on to find the other one.


    Oh? Where''s the last one? Apollo didn''t find the last non-martial student who got their hands on the invitation card either by defeating a martial student, buying it from them, or through other means.


    Glancing up, he found the person walking at the same pace as Filly, Gail, and Bel.


    "He''s already a cultivator?" Apollo muttered. He didn''t need to spread his senses, feel the Qi, or examine the state of the body to tell that the last non-martial student was a cultivator.


    Without anyone to give advice to, the beggar walked up the stairs but stopped before the tenth step. Most of them failed here. I should be able to feel it now. With this in mind, he started walking up while preparing for that pressure to come down on him. However, even after taking a couple of steps, he still didn''t feel a thing.


    Nothing? Apollo became confused, though he shrugged his shoulders soon after. "Maybe I will feel it on the twentieth step."


    Noon was on its way and there was still plenty of time before the day''s end.


    Filly, Bel, and Gail walked the steps side by side.


    "Are you okay?" Bel couldn''t help but ask the restaurant owner.


    "I''m alright," Filly smiled. "My body just feels slightly heavier than usual."


    "Don''t worry, I feel it too, though subtly," Bel said.


    "I think it''s the natural force of gravity. The higher we go up, the more it increases," Gail commented.


    "Oh? If that''s really the case¡­" Bel took out a coin. She glanced at Gail, and the two nodded, seemingly understanding each other. "Let''s wait for a moment."


    "Why?" Filly asked.


    "Just watch," Bel turned to her with a smile. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They didn''t have to wait long before a martial student walked up the stairs beside them. His step was heavy and his knees were shaking.


    "Hey, catch this," Bel said, throwing the coin into the air casually. The martial student was surprised and out of instinct, he caught the falling coin. But in the next moment, he gritted his teeth as his hand almost reached the ground.


    "W-what the hell?!" The martial student couldn''t help but get angry.


    Bel and Gail smiled as their theories were confirmed, while the restaurant owner finally understood what was happening.

 Chapter 85 - 85: Mathias And The Other Four(Part-1)

    A silver carriage stopped in front of a vast forest, and Mathias Helflick stepped out of it.


    Looking around, he found a tent set up nearby. He walked towards it, and the sound of people arguing echoed. Mathias frowned when he heard the heated voices. "These guys¡­ they are at it again." Shaking his head, he parted the entrance of the tent and went inside.


    There, he saw four individuals wearing expensive clothing around a table: one wearing a black hanfu with intricate white patterns, an old woman in a white dress that reached her ankles, and another in a black suit with simple designs, though one could easily tell that the fabric used was very expensive.


    Three of them were arguing while the last person, wearing a butler suit and a monocle on his left eye, was sitting away from them with a cup of tea in his hands.


    Mathias knew all of them but paid particular attention to the person in the butler attire.


    Holst put down the cup and stood up upon seeing the newcomer. He put his hand on his stomach and bowed. "My apologies. Welcome, Sir Mathias."


    "You don''t have to do that," Mathias waved his hand before he focused on the trio who were still arguing with each other.


    The one wearing the black hanfu was a middle-aged man just like Mathias but older by a few years. He was the family head of the Kleinford family, a man known for his contribution to the Border Wars decades ago, Nathan Kleinford. Black-haired and dark-eyed, he came from a commoner family and made his way to his current position. He was also a cultivation fanatic.


    However, his talent made it hard for him to advance beyond the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation. That''s why he focused on training his family.


    "Like I said, three of the tails will be ours! I''ve had my Elite Cultivators sent for this mission!" Nathan said, his nose flaring up.


    "Respect the old, shall we?" the old woman in the white dress said. "Three tails? You are taking it too far. The Alchemy House will benefit greatly with that number. Besides, there are five of us here, and there are only nine tails that we can share!"


    The old woman was the branch manager of the Alchemy House in Klown City and was known as Helen. Not many people knew about her as she was always inside the Alchemy Building and only met with people of status, but the Alchemy House was very famous as it had many branches in the Empire. The one in Klown was only one among hundreds of branches.


    "Respect? I only give respect to those who deserve it! And I will never give it to someone who can''t even grant a request for making a Talent Boost Supplement!" Nathan said, scoffing at the Alchemy House manager.


    "Ah wow! So you''re still holding a grudge because of that?" Helen shook her head with a frown. "You are acting like a child."


    "What did you say?!" Nathan stood up, pointing his finger at Helen. "I dare you to say it again!"


    "I said!" Helen stood up, the temperature increasing exponentially. The air started to boil, producing a heat haze. "You are acting like a child!"


    "You!" Nathan''s face turned red with anger. Suddenly, his black hanfu became darker and moved chaotically while his hair started going up, although there was no wind inside the tent.


    "Ehem!" Mathias coughed, attracting their attention just in time before the two heated cultivators began fighting. "Let''s calm down."


    "Calm down? Tell this old fogey to stop being a jerk. I''ve given her the ingredients for the supplements, but she confiscated them instead!" Nathan said angrily, his robe letting out black shadows.


    "And how many times have I told you that we can''t create those supplements, and the ingredients you gave are of too low a quality!" Helen explained, the hot temperature remaining unchanged.


    "You can''t? Or you won''t?! And why didn''t you hand back the ingredients?!"


    "Why don''t we just fight?!" Helen had, of course, already used the ingredients to make a pill. Although she said the ingredients Nathan gave were of low quality, that only applied to making the Talent Boost Supplements. Using those ingredients, she created top-tier pills that were sold at a high price. But she would never admit this!


    Mathias could only let out a heavy sigh and smile bitterly. I guess I don''t have a choice. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, a terrifying glint appeared within his eyes and a strong light erupted from them.


    "Calm down," Mathias said. His voice wasn''t loud, but the sound thundered within their minds. While his eyes glowed intensely, he walked up to the empty seat and sat down. "Take your seats."


    Nathan and Helen nodded their heads as the temperature returned to normal along with Nathan''s clothes. Without looking at each other, they took their seats.


    The butler of Klown also returned to his seat. Although Mathias was emitting intense pressure, Holst''s eyes remained the same, and a smile stayed on his face.


    Seeing that everyone had calmed down, Mathias'' eyes returned to normal. Then he turned to the person who hadn''t spoken since he arrived, the man in the simple but expensive suit. He was the youngest among them, probably around 25 or 26, with dark hair and brown eyes, and a delicate, straight nose.


    "Theo¡­ You must be eyeing the whole body," Mathias said.


    "If you guys allow me to have it, then I wouldn''t mind, though I only need the meat. My Skyline will need it for the upcoming banquet. We can''t disappoint the visitors, right?" Theo turned to Holst, who nodded.


    "I see," Mathias then turned to Helen and Nathan. "You two, let go of the past from now on. We can discuss what we''re going to do with the body of the alpha after we defeat it. Let''s talk about what we''re going to do for now."


    Nathan and Helen glared at each other but didn''t make another scene. Instead, Nathan cleared his throat. "Ahem, as I was just saying, I''m mobilizing my elite Cultivators, whom I personally trained. This will greatly increase our chances of killing that monster."


    "That''s good," Mathias nodded, turning to Helen. "Have you managed to concoct enough poison to immobilize the Alphadusk?"


    "Yes, but what I''m doing is against the conduct of the Alchemy House. I will have to write them a letter and explain the situation. I will need all of your statements later on, including the mayor''s," Helen said, glancing at the butler who bowed his head slightly towards her. "You guys don''t want to lose an Alchemy House within your city, right?"


    "I don''t see a problem with that," Mathias agreed. He then stared at the butler. "Did the mayor say anything else?"


    Holst nodded. "Yes, we have to keep the noise down. He is currently entertaining the visitors as we speak, and he doesn''t want them to be uncomfortable." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cowards, Helen, Nathan, and Mathias thought at the same time.

 Chapter 86 - 86: Mathias And The Other Four(Part-2)

    Mathias didn''t say anything and just changed the subject to something he knew would get a strong reaction, especially from Nathan and Helen. "I''ve already sent letters to all the headmasters. They said they won''t participate as they have their own problems to solve."


    "Bullsh*t! Even if they didn''t have problems, they would never care about us!" Nathan said through gritted teeth.


    "So they don''t care even if the city is going to get destroyed?" Helen smiled angrily. "Those guys only care about their own personal gains."


    "Look who''s talking," Nathan commented with a smirk.


    "Look who''s also talking!" Helen shouted, glaring at the Kleinford family head.


    Nathan glared back, and when the two were about to fight again, Mathias tapped the table, dispersing their heated emotions. "They don''t answer to the empire. We can''t force them."


    The five of them were more closely related to the empire than the cultivation schools. Even though Mathias didn''t like the mayor and was highly suspicious of him, it didn''t mean that he wanted the city to get destroyed.


    Nathan Kleinford and the other great families were the backbone of the city, so they also supported the empire.


    And although the Alchemy House was not part of the empire, Helen wanted to help kill that monster as the Alpha''s tails were precious and very rare. Also, as a branch manager, she didn''t want to lose customers if the city got destroyed. She wasn''t particularly attached to the city; she cared more about her customers.


    The Skyline Savory owner, on the other hand, shared the same thought as her.


    There was nothing more to say about the butler as he directly served under the mayor of the city.


    The cultivation schools were like their own worlds. They didn''t care much about others and only cared about themselves. Furthermore, from what Mathias knew, the cultivation schools in Klown City were only branches of their main ones. He didn''t know where they belonged as there wasn''t much information he could find.


    "They are showing signs of aggressiveness. It won''t be long before they start making their moves," this time, the butler was the one who spoke, bringing the conversation back to the main topic.


    "How did the hunt go?" Mathias asked.


    "We have already killed around a hundred of them, but they just keep appearing," Holst said. "They are also actively hunting the cultivators we sent."


    "Have we lost any men?"


    "Fortunately, we haven''t. What they encountered were only normal Duskfangs. But their number, we suspect it to be at least a thousand," Holst explained.


    "A thousand? Is that a normal number if there''s going to be an attack by the Alphadusk?" Mathias muttered, causing the rest to keep quiet.


    "No," Theo broke the silence. His eyes glanced over them, stopping at the butler for a moment before turning to the Core Creation cultivator. "Usually the Alphadusk attacks alone. These Alphas, although they are considered the leaders of their pack, actually despise their inferior kinds. And even if they use some of the Duskfangs, they will only use a few, not hundreds, even more so a thousand."


    "Oh?" Mathias and the others raised an eyebrow. "How did you know that information? It''s the first time I''ve heard that."


    Theo smiled mysteriously. "I''m not as simple as you think."


    "Keep it hidden then," Nathan scoffed. "But are you telling the truth?"


    "Are you doubting me?" Theo raised an eyebrow. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "You are just a kid who got lucky with his restaurant," Nathan said, smirking at the Skyline owner.


    Theo let out a chuckle when he heard this. "Really. Believe me or not, it''s up to you. I can always start anew in another place if this city gets destroyed."


    "Don''t mind him. He''s only saying that because his daughter also ventured into the restaurant business," Helen said from the side while side-eyeing the Kleinford family head.


    Nathan glanced at the Alchemy House branch manager angrily, the Qi around him started churning once more.


    "I believe you," Mathias said, his eyes flashing with a brilliant white light before returning to normal. The heated tension between Nathan and Helen dissipated along with it.


    "So, what do we do?" Helen asked. "Should we go with the plan from earlier? If there''s a thousand of them, getting rid of them as soon as possible would be the wisest decision." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mathias didn''t answer her question yet; instead, he looked at Holst. "What do you think?"


    "It''s up to you. I''m merely a representative for the mayor. Our only request is to keep it quiet so as not to disturb the visitors," the butler said, his expression never changing. His eyes squinted, and he wore an amiable smile.


    "Okay," Mathias nodded. "Tonight, we will gather all our forces and make a plan to clean up these wolves, especially their Alpha."


    "Alright!" Nathan said with evident excitement in his voice. Although his cultivation was stuck at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation stage, he still made sure to train his body and cultivate every day. A small improvement was better than nothing. Besides, it had been a long time since he went into battle, and he was eager to fight those monsters.


    "I''ll go get my men ready," Helen stood up, not without glaring at Nathan first, who glared back at her.


    "Are we wrapping it up now? Then I should go too," Nathan said.


    "Are you not going to the top of the mountain to meet the visitors first?" Holst asked before the two could leave. "The other families are already there."


    "Oh? Is that so?" Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Then it would be rude of me not to go there, right? I should also tell them about the change of plans."


    "That would be a great idea," Mathias said.


    "You are not going to come with me?" Nathan asked.


    The Helflick family head shook his head. "No, I will check the site and see if there''s something we''re missing."


    "Okay," Nathan nodded before he walked outside the tent.


    "It''s your ''family'' matters, so I won''t go there," Helen said, following Nathan.


    "Then I should go too," the butler stood up, bowing his head to the Core Creation cultivator.


    As Holst left the tent, Mathias turned to the Skyline owner, who was looking at the butler''s back.


    "He is strange," Theo said, his eyes glinting and a mysterious smile appearing on his face.


    "What do you mean?" Mathias asked, confused.


    "Nothing," Theo shook his head. "I don''t have to fight, right?"


    "No," Mathias said.


    "That''s good." Without saying another word, Theo walked out of the tent.


    Seeing this, Mathias let out a heavy sigh. "It would be better if the Cultivation School''s headmasters joined us."

 Chapter 87 - 87: Yohan

    If the Headmasters don''t want to join in defeating the Alphadusk Shadowtail, there''s nothing Mathias can do. Even the Empire can''t simply request their help, let alone a mere Core Creation Cultivator like him.


    Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Although Mathias is considered the only one in the city to have reached such a stage, he suspects that the Martial Schools have someone at the same level as him, or even higher. It''s just that they haven''t revealed themselves yet.


    Fortunately, the Martial Schools accept disciples regardless of their background, as long as they have the talent to cultivate.


    Shaking his head, he glanced at the documents on the side and picked them up. They detailed the plan for their battle against the Alpha of those black wolves. Because they had held various meetings prior to this, a detailed plan had already been written down.


    The meeting that had just concluded was to determine if there was anything that needed changing, which is why it ended so quickly. When it comes to strategizing, they don''t need much time to make a plan. With the new information from Theo, they had no choice but to move the plan forward.


    Thinking about Theo, Mathias felt that he was very mysterious. At just 26, Theo already had enough influence in the city to be considered one of its backbones. This was largely due to his restaurant, which even attracted visitors from other cities. Mathias himself had eaten there and could say it was the best meal he''d ever had.


    But what''s more terrifying is Theo''s cultivation. He had already reached the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation stage. That''s the main reason why Mathias let Theo stand beside them, not because of the influence of his restaurant. And the only one who knew about this was Mathias; not even Helen, Nathan, or Holst were aware.


    Mathias''s Core Creation cultivation made him perceptive to others'' cultivation, though he didn''t know how Theo managed to hide his stage from everyone else.


    Mathias then recalled what Theo said before he left, about the butler Holst being strange. This made Mathias think deeply about the matter. He became absentminded as his eyes stared at the documents.


    I''m getting distracted, he thought, shaking his head. He read their plan once more before standing up and leaving the tent to check on the other areas where the men were preparing for the hunt of the Alpha.


    Right now, he wasn''t worried about the first test, as he was sure it would be a piece of cake for his daughter. There was no need to rush back, so he could take his time before the sun reached the horizon.


    ¡­


    Apollo whistled a tune he remembered from Earth as he casually walked up the stairs. His pace was neither fast nor slow. Behind him, Martial Students struggled to even lift their feet, their faces scrunched up as sweat dripped to the ground.


    "So it''s gravity," Apollo muttered as he stopped beside a cultivator who was shaking all over from the intense pressure. "But how come I haven''t felt anything?"


    Looking back, he realized he had been walking up the stairs for at least 30 minutes, yet he hadn''t felt a single bit of pressure that should have hindered him like it did the others.


    Apollo felt like he was just strolling through a park. He also took the time to admire the scenery around him, realizing just how vast this world was. What was it called again? The World of Luan? Planet Luan?


    Even though he''d been walking for at least 30 minutes, Apollo was still miles away from reaching the top of the mountain. But he wasn''t in a hurry. Along the way, seeing some of the others struggling made him realize the nature of the ''pressure'' they were experiencing, though he still didn''t have a clue as to why it affected them and not him.


    "Is it based on looks? Because I''m the most handsome, that pressure didn''t affect me?" Apollo muttered, feeling proud of how smart he was. But he knew the real reason wasn''t that simple. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Is the reason something that can''t be seen? If so, there''s no point in worrying about why they''re struggling.


    Shaking his head, he resumed walking. If he kept his current pace, he''d probably reach the top of this rocky mountain in about an hour and a half. Of course, Apollo could sprint up in less than ten minutes, but that would draw too much attention.


    As he was thinking, a commotion erupted behind him.


    Turning toward the sound, he saw a two-meter-tall man fighting with another martial student.


    "Yohan? What is this guy up to?" Apollo muttered, raising an eyebrow. He decided to stop and watch the fight.


    Yohan''s fist was glowing with a deep blue light, and with a punch, a one-meter transparent projectile shot out from his fist. Its momentum created strong winds, and the martial student facing the attack had no choice but to raise his hands in an attempt to block it.


    However, his efforts proved futile. The moment the blue fist touched his hands, a powerful force slammed into him, sending his body flying through the air and down to the foot of the mountain.


    "Hahaha! Dare to stand in front of me?!" Yohan shouted, laughing at the sky, while the martial students who witnessed the scene widened their eyes in surprise.


    "You! Why did you do that?!" one of the martial students shouted. "Is that what the test is about?"


    Once someone spoke up, the others followed. Several martial students in this part of the mountain started shouting at the towering man.


    "Hahaha! You fools! There''s no rule that says we can''t fight each other, right?" Yohan sneered. "If I eliminate some of you now, won''t the test later on be easier?"


    His words echoed, causing the martial students to fall silent as realization set in. With fewer competitors, they''d have a better chance of securing top positions!


    This caused them to look at each other, hesitation flashing in their eyes.


    Seeing their uncertainty, Yohan smiled. Come on, fight each other!

 Chapter 88 - 88: Tree Branch(Part-1)

    Yohan''s companions had been left behind. They didn''t even make it past the 30th step and had to turn back, though he didn''t care about them. It was better to go alone rather than drag along those bootlickers.


    Seeing the others hesitate, Yohan started to get pissed. If they weren''t going to fight each other, then they should fight him! With this in mind, without any warning, he jumped into the air and unleashed a transparent light blue fist! Since they were lower than him, his shadow cast over some of them, making them look up.


    When they saw the oncoming attack, they hurriedly mobilized their own techniques.


    Dragon Palm!


    Icy Sword!


    Fiery Whip!


    A spectacle of lights erupted. Sword slashes, a dragon''s roar, a whip made of fire, and more slammed against the incoming translucent fist.


    Apollo, who was watching all this, couldn''t help but click his tongue in amazement. That''s too f*cking wonderful! Especially the explosion after the attacks collided. A strong wind blew everywhere, sending his hair and clothes flying chaotically.


    The beggar suddenly felt jealous of their techniques. Ah, I wish I could also do flashy moves! The only battle technique he knew was the Simple Sword Technique, which he could use to cut through other techniques, but compared to them, his sword skills were very mediocre!


    Squinting to peer through the smoke and dust raised by the impact, Apollo shook his head at the result. He wasn''t surprised at all to see Yohan standing still while the martial students below were either passed out or thrown towards the foot of the mountain.


    Yohan was at the 4th-Step of the Foundation Building stage, and the cultivators he fought were at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building stage or below. The result was expected.


    "The fun''s over," Apollo muttered, seeing that no more martial students were challenging Yohan. He turned around and was about to continue walking up the mountain when suddenly, his instincts warned him of incoming danger! Using his Simple Movement Technique, he jumped into the air and did a couple of flips before landing a few steps higher.


    He glanced back and saw that his previous spot had exploded, raising small clouds of dust as some of the rocks rolled down.


    Apollo turned to Yohan, who was looking at him with a smirk.


    "You''re good!" Yohan shouted. "You were just watching the fight, so why not join?"


    "Nah, thanks for the invite, but I''m fine," Apollo replied in his normal voice. If he wanted to change it, he''d have to buy a new voice from the System, which would cost him Alm points.


    As the tension grew, the martial students watching from above hurriedly ran up the mountain, while those below them rushed down the stairs.


    They knew who Yohan was¡ªhe was well-known among the martial students and considered a thug who always tried to pick fights. Now that he had reached the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage, he had become even more brazen. The only ones who could probably handle him were his rival Michael or the other top students from each martial school.


    The onlookers couldn''t help but pity the non-uniform participant caught in Yohan''s sights.


    Seeing this, Yohan''s expression darkened. This guy dares to reject me? "Sigh¡­ Why did I even bother asking? I''ll just defeat anyone I see!"


    Apollo lowered his body slightly, assessing the situation. This guy''s a dmbss who only uses his fists instead of his brain, the beggar thought. If Yohan really tried to eliminate the other participants just to have an easier time in the next exams, he''d become a target for everyone.


    Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if they teamed up just to take him down. What''s more, if the stronger martial students joined the fight, Apollo believed that even Gail could defeat Yohan.


    Shaking his head at the guy''s foolishness, Apollo readied himself. He didn''t bring his wooden sword, unsure if people would recognize it as the training sword from the training ground. Instead, he brought something else.


    He reached under his robe and took out the weapon he planned to use for this Advancement Examination. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yohan, who was about to raise his fist and send this ''outsider'' back to where he came from, stopped in his tracks when he saw the ''thing'' the masked man had pulled out. His tense muscles relaxed, and a second later, he looked to the sky and burst into loud laughter. "HAHAHA! What''s that? A tree branch?! HAHAHA!"


    His laughter echoed across the mountain, so loud that even those far away heard it clearly.


    The nearby martial students glanced at the tree branch the masked man was holding. They couldn''t help but chuckle as well.


    What could a tree branch do? Tickle Yohan?


    "Hey! Have you lost your mind?" Yohan asked the masked man. "If you intend to fight me with that thing, why don''t you just jump down the mountain?"


    As the laughter of this two-meter muscle man echoed in his ears, the beggar couldn''t help but sigh. They don''t know how great you are, Apollo thought while staring at the half-arm-length tree branch he had picked up from the side of the road.


    In the past two days, before he mastered his Simple Movement Technique, Apollo discovered that the Simple Sword Technique didn''t only apply to literal swords.


    The sword was no longer just a sword but a tool to use a sword¡ªit was the enlightenment he gained after perfecting the Simple Sword Technique. Ever since that day, he''d had the feeling that once he touched something and thought of it as a sword, then it was indeed a sword, no matter its shape or form. Out of curiosity and boredom, he first tried using this insight with a spoon.


    Using the spoon as a sword, he slashed the wall beside his Beggar Spot, and the spoon cut through it like a knife through tofu. When he pulled his hand back, he saw a deep cut in the wall.


    Excited, he tried it multiple times, changing the ''weapon'' a few times as well.


    Thinking back to that time, Apollo couldn''t help but smile bitterly at the state of the wall after he practiced on it. Hopefully, no one would notice.


    "Yohan, right?" Apollo pointed the tree branch at the muscle-bound man. "Why don''t you come over here and find out the true strength of a tree branch?"

 Chapter 89 - 89: Tree Branch(Part-2)

    A tree branch, half the length of an average man''s arm and so thin that even a small child could break it without effort. Light brown with a small twig at the very end and a light green leaf at the tip of that twig, threatening to fall with the slightest disturbance.


    Apollo pointed it toward Yohan, who stood a few meters below him. The wind blew, messing with his hair and causing his robes to flap.


    "You!" Yohan squinted at the challenge. He didn''t attack yet, instead observing the masked man standing dozens of steps above him. This man was only about four feet tall, more akin to a child''s height. Wait¡­ suspicion suddenly rose within his heart. Is this fool just a kid? Nevertheless, the masked man dared to provoke him, which greatly infuriated him.


    He would never let others think of him as a pushover, even if it was just a kid. "Haha, you''re not afraid of death, are you?!"


    "Nope," Apollo shook his head, though deep inside, he wanted to say yes. I mean, who wouldn''t be? Especially now that he''s in a world where strength matters most. Flying, special effects, cultivation techniques¡ªthere are still so many things he wants to experience and achieve. And the end goal of it all? To stand at the very top, just like he did in his previous life.


    "Then I will make you!" Yohan shouted, and with a bend of his knees, he jumped into the air and sent a punch! A light blue, translucent fist materialized, causing the wind to go wild!


    Feeling the attack coming at him, Apollo remained calm. Although it looked threatening, he felt a certain serenity under this light blue fist. Yohan really didn''t care and would try to eliminate as many participants as he could in this first test. I guess I''ll have to defeat you.


    I don''t want to show my skills yet, but you''ve left me no choice, the beggar thought, raising the tree branch in front of him.


    As the attack was about to hit, Apollo brought down the branch as fast as he could! He didn''t use much strength, but the tree branch cut through the light blue fist like it was nothing! The attack split in half and dissolved into particles of light. The only residue left was the chaotic wind that kicked up dust around them.


    Yohan, still in the air, couldn''t process what had happened at first. Only when he landed did he realize what had just taken place. My attack was cut? By a tree branch?! He couldn''t believe it. He couldn''t accept it.


    But how? Something must have gone wrong; there''s no way a tree branch can cut through the technique I painstakingly learned!


    "You, what did you do?!" Yohan demanded, his eyes cold as a threatening aura emanated from him.


    "Nothing," Apollo shrugged, pointing his ''weapon'' back at the two-meter-tall man. "So that''s it?"


    "How did you cut it?!" Yohan still couldn''t believe it.


    "I don''t know. Maybe your attack is so weak that even a tree branch can cut through it?" Apollo asked, ''innocently.''


    "No! It can''t be! I''ve trained this technique day and night; there''s no way!" Yohan shouted. Then his cold eyes locked onto the masked man as his determination returned. "You just got lucky."


    Sigh¡­ a fool, really, the beggar thought, shaking his head. Yohan had clearly seen what had happened, but he insisted it was just luck? What''s wrong with his head? If Apollo were the one whose technique had been cut by a mere tree branch, he''d either run away or try to clear up the misunderstanding immediately.


    Seeing that Yohan was preparing for another attack, Apollo decided to make him see ''reality.'' "Come at me again, then! I''ll make you believe that what you saw is the truth!"


    Fortunately, the dust cloud was still there, making it hard for the onlookers to see what was happening unless they had techniques to see through the fog.


    "Ah! I will kill you!" Yohan pulled his hand back, his muscles contracting and veins popping. This time, he aimed to kill, unleashing his bloodthirst. Although killing was forbidden, it only applied to the students of the martial school, but this masked man in front of him was an outsider who happened to have an invitation from one of the martial students.


    So killing him wouldn''t fall under the martial school''s rules! With this in mind, Yohan sent a punch!


    The attack was more threatening and deadly than before, producing a loud whistling sound that left the onlookers confused about what was happening inside the dust cloud.


    But that was the only thing they heard¡ªa strong whistling sound as the wind pushed the dust away, allowing them to see what was happening.


    However, those watching the battle above didn''t have time to process what was happening, as they suddenly heard a roaring sound coming from behind them. Turning around, their eyes widened as they saw another person running down the stairs! His body was covered in a dark blue haze, and although they couldn''t see his face because of it, they still recognized the newcomer!


    "That''s Michael!" one of them, who hailed from the Great Serpent Martial School, shouted.


    "Watch out!" someone warned, and they hurriedly stepped aside.


    The haze around Michael churned and turned into a dark blue serpent. With its mouth wide open, the serpent lunged at the stunned Yohan. But if people looked closely, they would see that the two-meter-tall cultivator wasn''t looking at the oncoming attack; instead, he stared wide-eyed at the masked man.


    With a bang, the serpent bit the shocked Yohan, followed by a blur as they continued down the mountain!


    "I''m your enemy, Yohan!" Michael shouted as he appeared in front of Yohan. His brown hair flowed with the intense wind while his deep brown eyes stared intently at his rival. "Why bother with weaklings?! Now that we''re in the mountains, let''s see who will come out on top!"


    The shout woke up the dazed Yohan, who stared back at the pretty boy martial student. This guy! Why now?! "Stay the f*ck away from me!" Yohan punched the serpent biting him, his fist glowing with a bright light as it passed through the dark blue attack and landed on Michael!


    Michael immediately crossed his hands in front of him, barely managing to block the attack. The two were separated, both landing on the stairs, though Michael shattered the steps, creating a long ravine with his feet.


    The beggar, on the other hand, put the tree branch back in his robes. Looking at the two of them who landed dozens of steps below him, Apollo couldn''t help but let out a heavy sigh. He was ready to defeat Yohan, but before he could do it, the pretty boy appeared. It seems like the rivals will settle the score here.


    "Hmm, they can handle themselves," Apollo said, turning around and beginning to walk up the stairs. Because of the sudden change, the onlookers didn''t bother with him and continued to watch the new drama. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 90 - 90: Tree Branch(Part-3)

    "Michael," Yohan squinted at his rival. "You arrived at the wrong time."


    "What do you mean, the wrong time?" Michael smirked. "I''ve been watching you since you arrived. You even dared to play around? I thought you would come for me, and we''d settle the score once and for all."


    "Me? Play around?" Yohan muttered, recalling what had just happened before this motherf*cker arrived. He had used almost all his strength in that punch, driven by frustration. At that time, he made sure to keep his eyes wide open and watch how that masked man could cut through his attack. And when he saw it, shock overwhelmed him.


    The masked man didn''t make any fancy moves¡ªjust a vertical slash, fast but lacking in power. However, this seemingly weak attack cut through the translucent light blue fist he had conjured with almost all his strength! Yes, he held back a bit, but it was negligible; it wouldn''t have made a difference. That guy cut through his technique so casually that Yohan''s confidence was immediately shattered! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But how?! That masked man didn''t even mobilize the Qi around him! How could he ''touch'' his technique and even cut through it using just a f*cking tree branch?! This is more than a humiliation! Does it mean my strength, my cultivation, my talent, and my years of hard work only compare to a tree branch?!


    Just thinking about it made Yohan want to smash everything around him! As a threatening aura emanated from him, his dazed eyes turned to Michael, who was saying something with a mocking smile on his face. Since Yohan was deep in thought, he only caught the last part.


    "... Are you listening? What? Did you get so scared that you can''t speak anymore?" Michael asked, running his hand through his hair. "I don''t blame you. Even when I look in the mirror, I always get scared because of how talented and handsome I am."


    "Scared?" Yohan raised an eyebrow, his muscles growing bigger and harder as an intense aura erupted from him. "Michael, you don''t know sh*t! But first, I''ll defeat you, then I''ll get back at him!"


    The smile on Michael''s face disappeared, replaced by a cold look. Although he didn''t know what his rival was talking about, he felt a surge of frustration hearing Yohan''s voice. "I''ll show you that only one king can sit on his throne!"


    With a shout, the haze around Michael intensified while the roar of a serpent echoed in the surroundings. With a bang, he disappeared from his spot, and when he reappeared, the dark blue serpent emerged from his body and attacked the muscle-bound martial student!


    Seeing this, Yohan slammed his foot on the ground, his body becoming a blur as he appeared right before the serpent. His fist glowed with an intense cool blue, and with a punch, an almost two-meter translucent fist shot out! It was the same technique he had used against the masked man. But this time, he wanted to see if there was something wrong with his technique, or if that guy was insanely strong.


    With a glimmer of hope, a strong explosion erupted, sending shockwaves and dust into the air! Some martial students below, already struggling to take another step, were sent flying back, their bodies rolling down the stairs and landing at the foot of the mountain.


    ...


    Hearing the explosion from behind, Apollo didn''t turn around; he just continued moving forward.


    "So it doesn''t matter how strong their attacks are?" the beggar muttered, recalling his previous battle. The last attack from Yohan was probably strong enough to cause a building to collapse, yet Apollo''s tree branch had cut through it like it was nothing. "This Simple Sword Technique is overpowered."


    He couldn''t help but think highly of the System Store. Even this cheap battle technique was extraordinary, so the pricey ones must be even more incredible. Just imagining the effects of techniques worth a hundred Alm Points or more made Apollo excited.


    But what I have right now is more than enough, Apollo thought. Although he still didn''t know the limits of this technique, he was confident he would be able to complete his mission. However, it was better to be prepared.


    While some of the martial students were watching the battle below, he walked past them, deep in thought.


    If I were to fight someone with the same technique as mine, how would I handle them? Apollo put a hand under his chin. Fighting someone who could cut through anything would be tough. No matter how strong the attack, it would just end up in half. So, if Apollo were to fight someone like that¡­ Suddenly, his eyes glinted with understanding.


    The solution was simple¡ªanyone with intelligence could come up with it if they really thought about it.


    I''ll have to protect against the residue, Apollo thought. Even if he could cut through an attack, if the residue was still enough to hurt him, he would take damage. His enemy might not care if their attacks got cut as long as they landed something.


    Furthermore, he couldn''t defend his blind spots, like his back or above him, unless he sensed the attacks before they arrived or was fast enough to counter them. His enemy could exploit this weakness, especially if they had techniques that allowed them to attack from all sides.


    Or if they were smart enough, they could distract him until they landed a blow, or send so many attacks that he couldn''t keep up anymore. They could also use the environment, like collapsing the ground he was standing on, burying him in a pile of rocks and dirt.


    "I''d be dead if someone fast attacked me before I could even pull out a weapon," Apollo muttered bitterly. Thinking about it, he realized just how much the Simple Sword Technique was lacking. It was an amazing technique, but once its weakness was discovered, the user became vulnerable.


    What if I revise it, just like I did with the Simple Breathing Technique? This idea made Apollo''s eyes shine with excitement.

 Chapter 91 - 91: The Stolen(Part-1)

    Legs wide open, a puff of smoke blowing from his mouth, Master Popo couldn''t help but smile as he placed the hand holding his pipe on his knee. His eyes were fixed on the battle below; the flashing lights and sounds of explosions were like music to his ears.


    "Now the fun begins," Master Popo muttered, taking another puff from his tobacco pipe. Once they realized that the test was more than just climbing the mountain, chaos would ensue¡ªa scenario the instructor eagerly anticipated.


    It didn''t take long before some of the martial students began fighting, trying to eliminate other participants to reduce the number of competitors for the later test.


    This caused some of the martial students to hurriedly run up the stairs, while others banded together to fend off those trying to eliminate them, especially in groups.


    After watching the fight for a bit, Master Popo sighed, losing interest almost immediately.


    Nothing caught his eye except for that guy who had already learned the Great Serpent Technique, despite his cultivation only being at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building.


    "If he only focused on his cultivation, he would have probably reached Half-Step Qi Condensation by now," Master Popo muttered with disappointment.


    Then his eyes landed on the first person leading the martial students.


    "Hmm, Arke?" Master Popo took another puff from his tobacco pipe before blowing the smoke into the air. "The Great Serpent has a lot of talented students."


    While observing the first martial student, it seemed like Arke felt the gaze and stared back with a small smile on his face.


    "Though arrogant and¡­ a fool," Master Popo muttered. "It seems no one outstanding will emerge this year."


    Although there were a few talented ones, their abilities were not enough to awe or shock him. It seemed like raising the difficulty of this exam would prove more challenging for the martial students. However, it was necessary to ensure the success of their plan to identify those who had stolen some of the cultivation techniques from their martial school.


    Thinking about this matter, Master Popo found it very strange. How had they managed to get past the security of each library without anyone noticing at first? If there were no regular checks of each scroll and technique, they wouldn''t have noticed that their cultivation techniques were being stolen by their own students.


    Even the three most powerful martial schools in Klown City had some of their techniques stolen: the Great Serpent Cultivation School, the Fire Shrine Cultivation School, of which he was the Headmaster, and lastly, the Sword and Shield Martial School. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This led them to raise the difficulty of the Advancement Examination. They wanted to root out all the students who had learned the stolen techniques. The Headmasters, including Master Popo, were certain that one way or another, the culprits would reveal themselves under the intensity of the exam.


    As he pondered this, his eyes never left those who were fighting, even though he felt bored watching them. After a while, he saw something that made him stand up.


    A martial student wearing a black and red uniform with an insignia of a red fire on his chest was fighting another student. His entire body was practically red, and even the veins on his face were bright red. He looked like he was being cooked, emitting smoke from the top of his head. No, he was definitely being roasted!


    "This fool! Using the Furnace Strengthening Technique with his mere 3rd-Step Foundation Building cultivation?! He''s killing himself!" Master Popo muttered in a mix of annoyance, anger, and frustration. The martial student belonged to his Martial School and was using one of the stolen techniques from the library.


    It''s a technique meant only for those who have reached the Qi Condensation Stage and above.


    It wasn''t a technique that required one to be a genius to learn. However, if someone managed to learn it below the required Cultivation Stage, their body wouldn''t be able to handle the intense heat generated by the technique. Slowly, their insides would melt, followed by their muscles and bones, until they became nothing more than a pile of hot paste on the ground.


    Even Master Popo wouldn''t use it casually unless absolutely necessary. It could increase one''s strength, but if used excessively, even his 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage wouldn''t be able to protect him.


    The martial student using the Furnace Strengthening Technique was winning the fight against his opponent, but it was evident that he was in great pain.


    Seeing this, Master Popo knew the student was already experiencing the melting of his organs.


    "What a fool," he muttered. Although frustrated, he couldn''t intervene to save the kid, as it would expose their plans. Fortunately, they had anticipated such situations and made proper arrangements.


    With at least a thousand participants in this Advancement Examination, dozens of them immediately turned to glance in the direction of the Fire Shrine student using the stolen technique.


    One of them, who was closer to the burning student, turned to look at the instructor standing on the very last step of the mountain. His eyes focused on the Headmaster of the Fire Shrine.


    Master Popo nodded, and the man pretending to be a participant dashed towards the burning martial student. With a powerful punch, he sent the roasted student tumbling towards the foot of the mountain.


    There were twelve 1st-Step Qi Condensation cultivators hiding among the martial students. They were pretending to be participants, but their main purpose was to identify anyone using stolen techniques and remove them by any means necessary. These cultivators came from the martial schools, though the students didn''t recognize them, as they mostly worked in other areas.


    "This should serve as a lesson," Master Popo muttered. As soon as the student who used the stolen technique crashed to the ground, a group of men wearing white hanfu suits dragged him to a specific location. His condition was unknown, but he would definitely be treated as a prisoner or a criminal.


    But this wasn''t the end. The Headmaster of the Fire Shrine soon noticed another martial student using a stolen technique. This student didn''t belong to his school but to another martial school. Everyone involved in this plan was already familiar with all the stolen techniques and their effects, so Master Popo immediately recognized the technique.


    He wasn''t the only one, as those pretending to be participants quickly made their move.

 Chapter 92 - 92: The Stolen(Part-2)

    Seeing the chaos erupting around him, Apollo couldn''t help but sigh. I knew it. Once someone starts, others will follow. Yohan''s idea of eliminating other participants early had spread through the crowd. Shouts, curses, and flashes of special effects filled the air as various techniques were unleashed, each one making Apollo look on with envy.


    In the end, he had no choice but to quicken his pace up the stairs.


    There were others like him who decided to finish the first test as quickly as possible, leaving the chaotic crowd behind.


    Turning to take a look, Apollo noticed something unusual and raised an eyebrow. He saw a few individuals kicking, punching, and throwing other participants before stepping back and watching the fights. What was strange was that each of them was a cultivator at the 1st-Step Qi Condensation stage.


    "Do I have to deal with them too?" Apollo muttered incredulously. There were at least twelve of them with the same cultivation level. If he had to fight them before even reaching Arke, he would likely face his first punishment.


    Please no, Apollo thought, shivering at the memory of those intense lightning strikes. He continued watching for a bit, then noticed something odd about their movements.


    They seemed to be waiting for something before making a move, and they weren''t attacking each other. He also noticed some of them exchanging glances from time to time.


    What are they doing? Apollo tilted his head in confusion. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t figure it out. It seems like I''m missing something¡­ The beggar shook his head and decided to set the matter aside for now.


    As he continued his way up the mountain, he passed by some struggling martial students who had chosen not to fight. They could only smile bitterly, knowing they had reached their limits. Some gave up and just sat on the stairs.


    This is how life is; not everything goes your way.


    Apollo went past them, his eyes fixed on the top of the mountain. He hadn''t even reached halfway yet, and it would probably take two more hours or so before he arrived at the summit.


    "I still can''t feel it," Apollo sighed. The pressure he had been expecting didn''t materialize, even though he had already taken hundreds of steps. Will I only feel it after a thousand steps? The beggar thought, feeling a bit smug. Maybe the first exam is about the handsomeness and prettiness of an individual¡ªif one is ugly, they feel the gravity increase, he thought with a smirk.


    ...


    "You''re the first," Master Popo said to the martial student who had arrived. His legs were wide open, and his left hand held a tobacco pipe.


    "I didn''t feel a thing," Arke said, an arrogant smile on his face.


    "Oh, really?" Master Popo asked with a smirk. He could see that Arke''s face was slightly sweaty and his breathing somewhat heavy.


    "Of course," Arke replied. Because the instructor was sitting with his legs wide open, Arke couldn''t help but glance downward, which he immediately regretted, making him look straight ahead instead.


    "Then go on," Master Popo waved his right hand.


    "No, I''ll stay," Arke said, standing behind the instructor. "I want to watch."


    Hearing this, Master Popo just shrugged his shoulders. "Up to you then."


    Arke looked at the participants walking up the stairs. His eyes paused on Bel for a moment, who was casually talking with her friends, before he looked for someone else. That beggar didn''t show up. He probably got scared. Thinking about this, Arke sighed. It would have been better if he had attended so I could kill two birds with one stone.


    But seeing this first exam, I knew that beggar wouldn''t even be able to take three steps. But it doesn''t matter. I can just find him later on to continue my plan.


    His gaze then returned to Bel. His other mission was to kill her later in the exam, specifically during the battle exam. At first, he was worried that once he killed her, he''d have to run for his life. But two days ago, Holst came back to discuss the details of the plan. Apparently, once he "accidentally" killed her and that b*tch''s father tried to attack him, the butler would protect him.


    This guaranteed his safety, relieving him of his worries.


    As his eyes turned cold, thinking about that woman''s face in anguish as her life faded, Bel, who he was looking at, turned in his direction. She smiled as well, though it was filled with mockery and belittlement.


    Haha, just you wait. Later on, you won''t even be able to smile, Arke thought.


    "If you keep letting out your killing intent, I will burn you to ashes," Master Popo said coldly, a threatening aura emanating from him.


    "M-my bad," Arke quickly apologized, his body shivering from the intensity of the Headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School. He had forgotten that the instructor was the headmaster of one of the strongest martial schools in the city. But who could blame him? What kind of headmaster would show his birdie to his audience?


    Two hours later.


    Apollo finally arrived at the very top of the mountain. The sun was still up, but it was only an hour away from kissing the horizon.


    "In the end, I didn''t feel a thing," Apollo muttered, a bit disappointed. There were still participants below who were trying their hardest to reach the top. Heck, there was a cultivator one last step away from finishing the first test, but he couldn''t even lift his foot anymore!


    The beggar glanced back at the martial student, whose face was full of veins, his teeth gritted so hard that his mouth was full of blood. He had even gathered some fans on the sidelines who were cheering him on to take that final step.


    Apollo also wanted to see the man succeed; he felt great admiration for the guy''s determination.


    "You can do it!"


    "Come on!"


    "Just one more step and your dream will come true!"


    Hearing the shouts of encouragement from people he didn''t know but who still believed in him, the martial student screamed at the top of his lungs while lifting his right foot onto the last step!


    Apollo clenched his fist, and finally, with one last struggle, the man managed to put both feet on the final step!


    "He did it!"


    "Whoa! That''s great, man!"


    "I¡­ did it¡­" the martial student said, blood dripping to the ground. He raised his hand and clenched it. "I did¡­ it!" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The fans and even Apollo were about to cheer when suddenly, the man''s eyes rolled back and he fell backward. As the sound of him crashing echoed, Apollo and the others sighed simultaneously.


    "That''s a pity."


    "F*ck! I wasted my saliva for nothing!"

 Chapter 93 - 93: The Mysterious Person

    It must have hurt. Physically and Emotionally. That guy was about to pass the first exam but due to exhaustion, his body fell backwards.


    Apollo felt great pity. Nevertheless, faith works strangely.


    With a sigh, he looked around the surroundings, the instructor was long gone even though there were still participants walking up the mountains and the sound of explosion coming from below though one could tell the fight was coming closer.


    "Seems like those two are not done fighting yet," Apollo muttered before glancing at the wide expanse of grass. In the middle of it is a platform big enough to cover two football fields. The martial students didn''t dare step foot on it yet, surrounding the platform while they talked with their friends or acquaintances.


    However, some of them are looking to one side, particularly those who arrived first.


    Curious, Apollo turned to what they were looking at and saw another platform. But this platform, unlike the big one in the middle, is floating in the air without any support whatsoever.


    Apollo was surprised as the air under the platform was behaving as normal, without any disturbance. "Magnetic?" Apollo spread his senses but instead found out his limit as he couldn''t get near the platform.


    He tried again and failed a second time. This made him stop and just observe it with squinted eyes. It''s purely made of stone. How did they manage to do it? The more he looked at it the more curious he got. If it''s possible, he would like to go near it to observe it closely but he will gather attention if he does that.


    Furthermore, on the platform there were ten seats with two meter-tall silver armored guards standing on each corner, they stood straight with spears in their hands.


    Just looking at them, the beggar could feel an intense aura, an aura that someone who had gone to a bloody war before.


    "That floating platform must be where the visitors will watch the examination," Apollo muttered. Although still curious about how this platform could float in the air without moving an inch, he put the matter to the back of his head.


    As the Martial Students came to the top of the mountain, the surroundings soon became noisy.


    Apollo glanced at the sun who was about to kiss the horizon. "Those two guys are still fighting?" He couldn''t help but turn to look at the entrance. If this goes on, Yohan and Michael will get eliminated. The beggar doesn''t want to see them eliminated so soon. He hopes to fight them, to get more experience in fighting against ''strong'' cultivators.


    Although he did manage to beat up a cultivator before and even kill him, he felt that he only won because that student was weak. Merely at the 1st-Step Foundation building stage though Apollo still got hit because of the surprise factor.


    Fortunately, before the sun completely disappeared beyond the horizon, two men jumped from the staircase and landed just in time before they got eliminated.


    Yohan and Michael are breathing heavily, sweat covering their faces while some parts of their bodies are bleeding. In the end, no one emerged victorious and the both of them only ended up hurting each other, unnecessarily.


    "Hehe¡­ that''s enough playing," Michael said with a smirk on his face, coughing in between his words. "If I didn''t hold back, you would have been eliminated."


    "I was the one who was holding back!" Yohan said, spitting the blood in his mouth to the ground. "You see, I was just checking your current strength to see if you are worthy to be my opponent."


    "Haha! I guess we have the same thought!" Michael chuckled, blood seeping down from his mouth.


    The two looked at each other for a moment before they simultaneously turned around. And the moment that they are not facing each other, the smile and smirk on their faces disappear followed by gritting their teeth in pain. Their bodies are aching while their insides are in disarray because of how many blows they landed on each other.


    The two fight for hours, at first they were using their techniques but as time passed and exhaustion came, they only fought using their fist. Even so, no one can take advantage of their rival, resulting in a draw.


    F*ck, if I can''t even defeat Michael, how can I defeat that guy?! Yohan thought in frustration. Thinking about that masked man, he couldn''t help but look for him. It didn''t take him long to find the masked man, who was also looking in his direction.


    Yohan pretended that his body was not aching in great pain. He stood up straight, puffed his chest forward, and stared with confidence. However, when he saw the masked man smirking at him, he felt that he was being humiliated. Just you wait! I don''t know how you did it but I will make you pay! He thought before taking a deep breath of air as the pain increased.


    Sh*t, I have to hurry up before the next test begins.


    ¡­


    That guy is pretending to be okay and thinking about how he will defeat me, Apollo thought while shaking his head. D*mb people are easily predictable.


    Suddenly, he noticed someone from the corner of his eyes walking in his direction. Turning towards it, he saw a person covered from head to toe using a black robe, even though their hands were perfectly hidden inside the wide and long sleeves. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But compared to Apollo who only hid the upper part of his face, this person who''s already standing in front of him has a white mask that covers the whole face.


    Because of his small frame, the beggar has to look up to see the emerald green eyes behind the white mask.


    "I guess we''re the only outsiders left," The person said in a deep and low voice.


    Hearing the voice, Apollo felt something strange. But he can''t pinpoint exactly what it was though one thing for sure, the beggar thinks that the person in front of him is a man.


    "Yeah," Apollo nodded, a smile adorning his face.


    "How did you get yours?" The mysterious man asked.


    "Someone dropped it so I picked it up," Apollo answered truthfully.


    "Oh? Haha, I guess we didn''t have to go through so much trouble defeating a martial student. Someone gave it to me," the mysterious person said.


    "We are lucky I guess," Apollo said, shrugging his shoulders.


    "You are,"


    Hearing this made the beggar raise an eyebrow. What does he mean by that? Apollo decided to just keep quiet and see what this guy was up to.


    "You don''t seem to be that tired," The mysterious man said, staring at Apollo from head to toe. "And also quite small."


    "Don''t belittle someone because they are little," Apollo said, the smile on his face didn''t change. "The first test was easy, I didn''t feel anything. You are also not tired right?"


    "You are correct, and my apologies if I said something that might offend you," The mysterious person said, his voice remaining the same.


    "Don''t mention it. We are basically in the same boat," Apollo said, waving his hands.


    Apollo then went quiet. This mysterious person is one of the six individuals who got their hands on the invitation card through other means and only him and the beggar remained.


    "I know that you are strong," The mysterious person said, his emerald green eyes staring intently at the beggar. "I can feel it."


    "You are very strange," Apollo said, the smile on his face already long gone.


    "Haha, I get that a lot," The mysterious person chuckled before he started walking away. "Let''s meet again."


    "What''s with him?" Apollo muttered, letting out a heavy sigh. There''s a lot of strange people in this world. He was just minding his own business and suddenly, someone walked up to him, struck up a conversation, and left like it was nothing.


    Suddenly, he finally realized the strange feeling that he felt. This¡­ was I being picked up?! F*ck! Even with the masked on, it couldn''t hide my handsomeness!


    Thinking about this, a shiver ran down his spine. No way! No way! Apollo looked around to find that person but the mysterious man disappeared without a trace. If I feel that feeling again in the future, I will make sure to run away or beat up the guy! Apollo thought with determination in his eyes.


    Around this time, the night has already arrived and no more participants have managed to pass the first test.


    At first, there were a thousand of them but right now, there are only a few hundred left. They waited for a while more before someone landed on the stage and when the students saw who it was, they immediately turned their heads to look away.


    "He''s back," Apollo squinted at Master Popo who stopped in front of them. Then to his shock, the instructor squatted! His hanfu robes couldn''t hide what was supposed to be hidden! Because he is squatting on top of the platform, everyone can see it though they didn''t as their faces are already away even before he does a squat.


    Unfortunately, those with slow reactions managed to catch a glimpse that is going to remain forever in their minds.


    Apollo who already had his back on the stage couldn''t help but sigh in frustration. F*cking hell!

 Chapter 94 - 94: True Dragon(Part-1)

    "Now that everyone is here, I will tell you about your next test," Master Popo said, a smile on his lips as he glanced at the Martial Students. They avoided looking in his direction¡ªsome glancing down, others staring into the distance. He was already used to this. At first, he found it disrespectful and rude, but as time passed, he gradually got accustomed to it.


    Of course, he had tried to question some of them, but they refused to answer, fear evident on their faces. When someone did try to answer, especially the women, their faces would always turn red, leaving them unable to speak.


    This led him to one very possible conclusion: they were awe-stricken by his looks, by how he carried himself, and by his charm, which was out of this world. No matter what he did, they would always fall for him. Even some men didn''t dare to look at him, likely out of jealousy of his handsome appearance.


    "Those who have participated in the previous Advancement Examination must have realized that we test three Aptitudes," Master Popo said, raising three fingers. "Talent, Comprehension, and Combat Proficiency."


    So walking up to the top of the mountain was the first test? Apollo thought.


    "Being able to stand here in front of me is a sign that you passed the first test, demonstrating enough talent to cross the boundary from the Foundation Building stage to the Qi Condensation stage," Master Popo continued.


    In the previous Advancement Examination, the Martial Schools only tested the student''s talent for breaking through to their next stage. This meant that if a student was at the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage, and they had the talent to advance to the 2nd-Step, they passed the first test.


    This time, however, the test assessed the student''s talent for potentially breaking through the Qi Condensation Stage.


    "Now, for your second test¡­" Master Popo was about to explain the contents of the second test when he looked up at the sky. He couldn''t help but sigh, knowing he was about to be interrupted. "Let''s wait for a moment."


    Confused, the Martial Students turned to see what he was looking at, and their eyes widened in surprise.


    Apollo also glanced up and, like the others, was shocked by what he witnessed. A golden chariot was flying toward them. In the night sky, it looked like a 10-meter meteor about to hit the ground. The chariot had intricate patterns and designs that even a layman could tell were the work of a master. But what surprised the beggar even more were the creatures pulling the flashy chariot.


    "Dragon?" Apollo couldn''t help but mutter, his eyes shining with excitement at seeing a legendary creature that was respected even in his previous life.


    There were two dragons of the Western kind¡ªlong necks, long bodies, and tails, but somewhat short legs. Their wings created a loud flapping sound with each powerful stroke through the air. They were brown in color, and even from a distance, Apollo felt intimidated by their presence.


    Compared to the silver-armored guards on the floating platform, they seemed like chickens before wolves¡ªmiles apart, like the difference between heaven and earth.


    Apollo felt a great sense of awe as the dragons landed on the ground. Dust clouds emerged at the moment of landing, and the two dragons let out a terrifying roar into the air. The world seemed to stand still as the Martial Students fell silent, their chests heaving up and down before they broke out into a wild murmur.


    "It''s a very inferior dragon," someone said beside the beggar, making him turn and look up at the person.


    Bel nodded with a smile. "Hello, I''m Bel."


    "Hello," Apollo greeted back, lowering his voice. This was the second time someone had approached him to strike up a conversation, though he could guess why this woman decided to talk to him despite not knowing his identity.


    "But they looked too intimidating to be considered inferior dragons," another person commented, stopping beside Bel before glancing curiously at the small masked man. "Who is he?"


    Gail, who was standing behind them, also stared at Apollo curiously.


    Nice question, Filly, Bel''s smile widened. Although she had dismissed the idea that this masked man was someone she knew at the foot of the mountain, the suspicion lingered. Now, having this chance, she wanted to find out one last time to ease her mind regarding the identity of this masked person.


    However, she didn''t hold out much hope, which is why she came with another purpose.


    "Can you tell me your name in exchange for mine?" Bel asked.


    Apollo looked at Bel before glancing at the restaurant owner, then back at her. This woman still wants to uncover my identity? Why? He sighed inwardly while answering her question. "I''m nobody. But people call me Can Deez," Apollo said, trying his hardest to remain calm as a mischievous smile threatened to curl his lips.


    "Can Deez?" Bel raised an eyebrow. "You have a very strange name." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can Deez n¡ª Cough," Apollo coughed, just in time before he let out the ''devil'' in this world.


    "What?" Bel tilted her head, unsure of what he had said.


    "Nothing," Apollo waved his hand, holding back his laughter. Then he asked a question he was more curious about. "You said those are inferior dragons? Why do you say that?"


    Bel stared at the masked man with narrowed eyes. He''s not telling the truth. But this was expected¡ªwho would give their real name when they were clearly hiding their identity behind a robe and a mask? And why was he asking something with such an obvious answer? "Do you not kn¡ª"


    "Yeah, why did you say that? Those two dragons are clearly very intimidating," Filly asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion.


    Never mind, it seems like he''s not the only one who''s clueless, Bel thought before answering their questions.


    "Look at their size¡ªthey''re too small," Bel said.


    "You call that small? They''re at least 5 meters tall!" Filly stared at the dragons in awe.


    "Haha, silly girl," Bel chuckled. "The size of True Dragons is beyond imagination. Legends say they can reach the size of a whole continent, and that''s when they''re still considered young."


    "Really?" Filly turned to Bel with an incredulous expression.


    "But you''re only basing that off of legends," Apollo said from the side, skeptical.


    "Right, but I''m sure those two aren''t True Dragons," Bel smiled, explaining further. "True Dragons cannot be tamed, nor would they allow themselves to be enslaved and pull a chariot for humans. They are too prideful to consider humans as anything more than mere grass."


    "But¡­ how do you know all this?" Filly asked.


    "Miss Filly," Gail said. "If you read some books in the family library, you''d know that the Helflick Family descends from Dragon Hunters. They have an innate ability that allows them to sense the purity of a dragon''s bloodline."


    "Wow! That''s so cool!" Filly stared at Bel with surprise and admiration.


    "Don''t look at me like that. It''s actually a useless ability," Bel chuckled. "Besides, there are no True Dragons anymore, and my family is just a drop in the ocean of its history¡ªmerely a name and something to talk about."


    Apollo, who had been listening all this time, couldn''t help but become curious, so he brought up the System Store and searched for dragon-related items.

 Chapter 95 - 95: True Dragon(Part-2)

    The System Store sorted itself out when he ordered it to only show dragon-related items.


    And the first thing it showed was an item with a ridiculous price tag.


    True Dragon Summon: Permanently summon a True Dragon and become their friend, companion, or Master. They will follow whatever you say.


    Alm Points Cost: 100,000,000,000.


    What the fck?!* Apollo couldn''t help but be shocked at the amount of Alm Points needed to buy this item. That amount was basically saying, "You can''t buy me, you cheap ass motherfcker!" How many years would he need to save up to reach that price? 10 years? 100 years? Heck, Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if it took at least a million years to afford that!


    Shaking his head, he stared at the next item, which also had a ridiculous price.


    True Dragon Summon (Temporary): Temporarily summon a True Dragon for 1 hour and become their friend, companion, or Master. They will follow whatever you say.


    Alm Points Cost: 500,000,000.


    500 million Alm Points for a temporary summon? And only for an hour? The System is basically ripping me off! Hundreds of thousands of years in exchange for an hour? Who''s the fool who''s going to do that?! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo looked at more items, each one with a price he couldn''t afford unless he was immortal, living forever as a beggar begging for money.


    After numbing his eyes with the prices, he finally decided to look for the cheapest ones.


    The cheapest item was worth 100 Alm Points¡ªit was a book about the history of True Dragons. There was a lot of stuff that didn''t seem cool, so he just skimmed past them until his eyes landed on an item called Dragon Eyes.


    Dragon Eyes: Reveals the bloodline purity of a dragon with just one look. Once acquired, it can be passed down through generations.


    Alm Points Cost: 500 Alm Points.


    Oh? Is this Bel''s innate ability? Apollo continued to look for more and found similar items.


    Inferior Dragon Eyes: Reveals the bloodline purity of a dragon with just one look. Once acquired, it can be passed down through generations, but the power of the ability will dwindle as generations pass.


    Alm Points Cost: 350 Alm Points.


    It was a "cheap" item that couldn''t increase one''s strength, more like a detection or identification ability. Apollo felt it wasn''t useful. He continued to search for more items before stopping at one in particular. This one could increase his strength, but it cost ten thousand Alm Points.


    Dragon Vial: A vial containing dragon blood. Once ingested, one will acquire the bloodline of a True Dragon. The purity is random, with a 1% limit of the True Dragon''s bloodline, if one is extremely lucky.


    Oh great, another ridiculous item. For 10,000 Alm Points, one can acquire a True Dragon Bloodline, but the percentage is at most 1%? Apollo finally gave up and closed the System Store.


    Around this time, Bel continued their conversation. Then someone exclaimed as people began emerging from the golden chariot.


    They turned to look at the newcomers, who were wearing expensive hanfu, just like what Master Popo wore, though it was clear they were wearing something underneath¡ªunlike him, who liked to "show off."


    The floating platform levitated toward them, lowering itself to the ground, and the newcomers stepped onto it before taking their seats.


    "They can fit inside that chariot?" Filly couldn''t help but mutter in confusion.


    "It actually has more space inside than you''d expect from its size," Bel said.


    "Dimension Augmentation," Gail explained. "Only cultivators with this rare ability can do that."


    "How come you guys know all this?" Filly asked with a defeated sigh.


    "If you read books more often, you''d know about it," Gail said, smiling.


    Apollo glanced at each person who took their seats, his eyes stopping on an obese man adorned with shiny golden ornaments. The man was talking to an old man wearing a white hanfu, who nodded occasionally. Five others seemed uninterested in them, while the last three interacted with them like subordinates sucking up to their bosses.


    "The mayor is here personally," Bel said, disgust evident in her voice. "And he''s brought visitors."


    "I thought they didn''t like each other. Why are they sitting together?" Gail couldn''t help but ask, though she immediately regretted it when she remembered there was an outsider beside them.


    "I don''t know," Bel shrugged, glancing at the masked man. Then, turning towards him, she asked the second reason she had approached him. "Mr. Can Deez?"


    "What?" Apollo looked up at Bel, trying not to laugh.


    "Join us after the Advancement Examination," Bel said with a smile.


    Hearing this, Filly and Gail exchanged looks.


    "Eh? What do you mean by that?" Apollo asked.


    "Join the Great Serpent Cultivation School," Bel clarified. "You clearly want to join a martial school, right? That''s why you got the invitation through other means."


    Apollo raised an eyebrow behind his mask. "Let me think about it," he said, before focusing on Master Popo, who was now standing up and staring at one of the people on the floating platform. Apollo noticed a deep furrow on the instructor''s face, which piqued his curiosity.


    "I can sense that you''re strong," Bel said. "Releasing one''s senses to observe another person''s cultivation¡ªthat''s something only a talented cultivator or someone at the 4th-Step Foundation Building can do."


    Hearing this, Gail glanced at the masked man with newfound respect. Initially, she saw him as someone Bel was curious about, but now, realizing he could release his senses, he became a potential rival among the top martial students in this Advancement Examination.


    Eh? But I could already do that when I was still at the 3rd-Step, Apollo thought. This made him realize that something wasn''t adding up with the current situation. Is it because of the Simple Breathing Technique?


    "You''re definitely going to pass the third test. The only question is how well you''ll do and what place you''ll end up in. You''re sure to receive other recruitment offers, but I''m personally inviting you now. Of course, you can take your time to think about it," Bel smiled.


    Apollo just stared at her for a moment before turning to Master Popo, who was now looking at them. "He''s about to start."

 Chapter 96 - 96: Second Test(Part-1)

    What''s with the entrance? Master Popo ''spoke'' telepathically to one of the Headmasters seated on the floating platform.


    A middle-aged man with long black hair that reached his shoulders and a black goatee that touched his neck turned to face the headmaster of the Fire Shrine. His black eyes stared straight ahead, revealing little emotion. He wore a black and white hanfu with intricate designs of fierceness, and a serpent insignia in the middle of his chest.


    His black pants were simple but clearly made of high-quality material.


    But what stood out most was the sword placed in front of him, leaning between his legs and resting on his shoulder. It was a very thin sword covered in a black scabbard. The handle was wrapped in a white cloth bandage, with a piece of it dangling at the end.


    Continue with the examination. I want to see the state of my Great Serpent Students, the man ''said,'' communicating directly to the Fire Shrine Headmaster''s mind.


    Hey, you can''t just order me around like that. Why did you guys use those dragons and make such a grand entrance? We don''t have to give them that kind of respect, Master Popo replied, narrowing his eyes at the Great Serpent Headmaster. Tell me, Axton, what''s your plan?


    It''s Master Axton, Axton''s voice echoed in Master Popo''s mind. There''s been a change of plan. An improvement.


    Oh? Tell me, Master Popo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the change of plan.


    Just continue the exam and pull out those problematic students, Master Axton said, his ''voice'' firm. You''ll see soon enough.


    Suspense? I like it, Master Popo said, smiling before turning to look at the martial students below. He was about to squat down and continue speaking when the Headmaster of the Great Serpent stopped him.


    I would advise against that, Master Axton ''said'' to him.


    Why? the Fire Shrine Headmaster asked, though he immediately ''found'' the answer. Is it because of the plan?


    Just give the rules while standing, a different voice chimed in.


    Master Popo turned to the person sitting next to the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. A man with muscles that seemed ready to burst out of his dark blue hanfu robe stared coldly at Master Popo. He had a round bald head with small eyes, making it hard for others to tell if they were open or closed.


    You guys are the planners, Master Popo conceded. Although they each managed different Martial Schools, when they shared a common interest, they actually listened to one another, and rarely antagonized each other unless one of them did something unreasonable.


    As Master Popo began his speech, Elmo, the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield Martial School, turned to Axton. Popo still doesn''t realize?


    Axton closed his eyes, leaning more comfortably in his chair. No, but let him be. He cultivates such weird techniques that he''s become so full of himself he doesn''t realize his own actions.


    He''s gotten dumber with time, Elmo commented, before making small talk with the visitors beside him. Although their constant flattery irritated him, he had to endure it for the sake of their plan. His eyes glanced at the obese man sitting at the far end of the platform. The mayor happened to look in his direction and offered a kind smile that made Elmo feel disgusted.


    ...


    "Let''s start your second test," Master Popo said, standing upright this time. The martial students looked at him, though they remained vigilant, wary of a sudden gust of wind or the possibility that he might unexpectedly squat down again. "This test will assess your comprehension.


    Unlike the previous Advancement, where you only needed to solve sets of problems in a few hours, this time, you''ll have to learn a Battle Technique."


    The martial students gasped in shock.


    "Learning a Battle Technique? In just a few hours?" Filly muttered, wide-eyed.


    "He didn''t mention the time yet," Bel pointed out, narrowing her eyes at the instructor on the platform. As if on cue, Master Popo continued.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll give you three days to learn a Battle Technique. You''ll pass the second test if you reach the Beginner stage within that time," Master Popo smiled, clapping his hands. The platform suddenly began to shake, and stone slabs emerged from it, scattered across the two football field-sized platforms.


    There were at least a hundred slabs, each with carved inscriptions.


    "As you can see, these stone slabs have Battle Techniques inscribed on them. Find one you like and study it. There''s no limit to the number of people per slab, and it''s advisable to memorize it as soon as possible," Master Popo instructed, his eyes scanning the martial students who were astonished to see such a vast array of Battle Techniques spread across the platform.


    They could hardly believe it. Why were the Martial Schools being so extravagant this time? Each Battle Technique was precious, even the low-quality ones, though most students wouldn''t bother with those. Those with sharp eyesight could see that the techniques etched into the stone slabs were far from simple. They knew that mastering one could lead to exponential growth.


    However, this was a test, and they had only three days to reach the Beginner stage to pass.


    "Three days to reach the Beginner Stage?" Filly muttered, worry evident in her voice. "Can I do it? Even with a low-quality Battle Technique, I''d need at least a week to reach the Beginner stage." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Miss Filly, that''s because you''ve been focused on other matters," Gail said from the side. "With your talent, three days should be enough to reach the Beginner stage for low- to mid-quality Battle Techniques. The real challenge is reaching the Mastery Stage. Some techniques aren''t suitable for our bodies, and that''s what takes more time."


    Filly blushed at the compliment.


    "Let''s choose Battle Techniques that suit us. That way, our chances of passing will increase," Bel suggested.


    Apollo, who had been listening all this time, was excited by the number of Battle Techniques on the platform. He had already mastered the Simple Sword Technique, and although he wasn''t sure if it was considered a Battle Technique, he had been thinking about acquiring another one to enhance his fighting capabilities. This second test gave him an opportunity to learn without spending any Alm points.


    He was also eager to find a flashy technique this time, and he decided to search for one among the hundred stone slabs.

 Chapter 97 - 97: Second Test(Part-2)

    The Beggar didn''t know how his comprehension abilities would compare to these talented cultivators, and he would only find out when he stepped onto the platform.


    "But aren''t they basically giving these Battle Techniques away for free?" Filly voiced her doubts. Although she wasn''t deeply involved in cultivation matters, she knew that these techniques were extremely valuable. If someone memorized them, they could write them down and sell them to other cultivators, making a ton of profit, as these techniques were highly expensive.


    Her business instincts kicked in as she considered whether to do this.


    Bel was about to answer her friend when Master Popo, seemingly hearing Filly''s doubts, responded instead.


    "However, don''t think that just because you''re allowed to memorize these techniques, you''ll be able to take them home," Master Popo smirked. "These stone slabs are not simple. They have a Memory Alteration mechanism created by our Array Masters. Only those who pass the second test will be able to retain these techniques in their minds. Consider it a gift."


    To the Martial Schools, these techniques were actually just average, but they still needed to carefully regulate them. It could be very dangerous if someone without cultivation talent attempted to learn one of these techniques; it would be basically suicide. So they had to take precautions.


    When Bel heard this, she couldn''t help but sigh heavily. Such a shame.


    "So, jump on the platform as the test officially begins!" Master Popo announced before flying up to the floating platform.


    One by one, the martial students jumped onto the stage and immediately began searching for the Battle Techniques they wanted to learn.


    Apollo, however, didn''t jump right away. Instead, he followed the instructors with his eyes. Are they really going to stay there for three days straight? he wondered, noticing that the Headmasters and visitors were just sitting there. The only one showing any interest in what was happening was the old man whom Klown was constantly talking to.


    It''s their problem, Apollo thought, shaking his head as he walked toward the platform. He had a feeling something was going on behind the scenes. His experience from his previous life told him that this Advancement Examination was hiding something. Recalling what he saw in the previous test only heightened his suspicions.


    However, what mattered more to him was completing the first part of his mission and returning to his Beggar Spot to continue his cultivation. Whatever scheme was unfolding in the shadows, he didn''t care.


    As he thought about his mission, he couldn''t help but search for his target, and it didn''t take him long to spot him. Arke was also walking toward the platform, taking his time and not in a hurry.


    Being observant, Apollo noticed something unusual. While walking, Arke kept glancing in the direction of the floating platform, specifically toward the mayor. Klown was displaying the same behavior. Although this was the first time Apollo had seen the mayor, it wasn''t hard to recognize him, given the statues and paintings of him all over the city.


    Don''t tell me! These two have something going on between them?! Apollo shivered at the thought. Shaking his head, he knew it wasn''t that simple. I''ll think about it later. For now, I need to focus on passing this second test.


    He jumped and landed on the platform. It was already packed with people, and they crowded around the stone slabs like they were at a market.


    "Now, let''s see," Apollo said, moving toward the nearest stone slab where six or seven others were already reading the inscriptions.


    Because of his small height, he couldn''t see much, so he had to wait until some of them left. Once they did, he took the opportunity to stand in front of the slab.


    It was almost two meters tall, so he had to look up to read the first part of the technique. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hand-Sword Technique¡­" Apollo muttered the title before reading the entire inscription. After a while, he shook his head and moved on. It was a simple technique that could turn one''s hand into a sharp sword, but he lost interest. He already had the Simple Sword Technique, and although he hadn''t tried it yet, he felt like he could achieve the same effect.


    Besides, he preferred using a branch or wooden sword to increase his attacking range.


    He continued to search for another technique. After waiting for some more people to leave, he stood in front of the next stone slab and read the battle technique.


    "Water Barrier Technique. Conjure a barrier made out of water to block attacks. Once learned, one will be able to move the Qi in the surroundings to use the technique¡­" Apollo continued to read the description and the cultivation method.


    So these so-called Battle Techniques encompass a lot¡­ I guess there must be movement-related techniques as well since those could also be considered Battle Techniques.


    Furthermore, one doesn''t have to reach the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage to mobilize the surrounding Qi, as long as they have a technique that allows them to do so. However, this skill is limited to the technique they learn, meaning they couldn''t use it to move Qi toward their injuries and heal them.


    But this Water Barrier Technique¡­ Do I need it? Apollo wondered. With his Simple Sword Technique, which could cut through any attacks sent his way, it was basically an offense-is-the-best-defense scenario.


    Apollo left, making sure to memorize the technique in case he decided to choose it later.


    He continued hopping from one stone slab to another, deciding to memorize all of them and pick one later. At the same time, he was curious about the Memory Alteration mechanism in these stone slabs. To him, they were just normal stones with some carvings on them. They didn''t feel extraordinary whatsoever.


    I guess I''ll only find out how they work after this second exam since I''ll probably only remember one technique.


    After memorizing all of them, he found a place to sit down and chose the Battle Technique he really wanted to learn.

 Chapter 98 - 98: Hydra Mirage(Part-1)

    As everyone began finding their own spots to cultivate the techniques they chose, Apollo did the same after examining almost all the stone slabs and memorizing the one that caught his eye and seemed like a flashy technique.


    Along the way, he studied the structure of the stone slabs, finding nothing out of the ordinary besides the unknown inscriptions covering their surfaces and the technique written on them.


    Some Martial Students stayed on the platform, while others jumped off and decided to sit on the grass.


    Apollo was one of them, finding an area with only a few students. As he walked toward it, he couldn''t help but glance at the floating platform, where the visitors were still seated, talking to each other and occasionally watching the students.


    These were the same visitors for whom the mayor had made an effort to set up stalls and clean the streets. However, when they arrived here, they didn''t bother introducing themselves after the grand entrance with the dragons.


    It was contrary to what he was used to, where, at an event, important figures would be introduced or give a long, boring speech. But this is better¡ªstraight to the point, no bullsh*tting, Apollo thought as he took a seat on the grass and crossed his legs.


    Having memorized dozens of Battle Techniques from the platform, it was now just a matter of choosing the one that suited his taste best.


    Closing his eyes, he recalled all the techniques in his mind. What he wanted were flashy, cool-looking techniques¡ªsomething that would make people stand in awe when he used it.


    After recalling all the flashy techniques, he finally decided on one.


    "Hydra Mirage," Apollo muttered, his eyes shining with excitement. It''s a battle technique that allows the user to create clones of themselves made out of water and mist. At the beginner stage, the user can create two mirrors of themselves.


    Unlike Cultivation Techniques, which are categorized by the Cultivation Stages, Battle Techniques are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, and Master stages.


    Of course, there are Battle Techniques with fewer stages, and some don''t have any stages at all, though the common ones have these five.


    Apollo chose this particular technique to complement the weaknesses of his Simple Sword Technique. His sword technique wasn''t perfect and had blind spots that, once discovered, could be deadly. So, if he had a technique that could confuse the enemy, he would be able to fully utilize his Simple Sword Technique.


    With this in mind, he closed his eyes and followed the process in his mind. This technique didn''t require much movement and focused more on gathering the Qi in the surroundings and mobilizing it to create lifelike images of himself.


    However, according to the technique, he had to absorb the Qi and circulate it through his body in a specific pattern. The circulation of Qi would replicate his body, from the inside out, even down to the number of hairs on his head. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was like a signature, and this signature would be the key to using the Hydra Mirage Technique. The process was actually more intricate than that. Many details were involved, and they had to be carefully considered. One wrong move, and Apollo would have to start all over.


    Following the technique, the Qi around the beggar started churning as Apollo absorbed it according to the process. His surroundings darkened, darker than the night sky. There was only him and the bright Qi circulating around him.


    He had to reach the beginner stage of this technique before the three-day grace period ended. To Apollo, however, this seemed more than enough time. Although the technique appeared complicated, the moment he began learning it, he easily understood the process and could perform it with ease.


    He absorbed the Qi through his mouth, nose, and pores, then guided it along the pattern outlined by the technique.


    At first, the Qi circulated slowly but gradually picked up speed.


    It didn''t take long for Apollo to familiarize himself with the Battle Technique, though he wasn''t done yet as he hadn''t reached the beginner stage.


    There were many steps, and Apollo had reached the part where he had to transform the Qi infused with his body''s signature into mist. It sounded confusing, but by following the procedure, the beggar found it relatively easy.


    Even so, he didn''t immediately apply the technique. Instead, he continued studying the next steps¡ªturning the Qi into water and molding the water into a copy of himself.


    He practiced the technique in his mind hundreds of times until he felt confident he could apply it in the real world. When Apollo stopped cultivating the Hydra Mirage, the night sky returned, and the moon''s brilliance illuminated the surroundings, making it easy for even a normal human to see.


    Glancing up at the stars, Apollo concluded that he''d been cultivating for three to four hours. Curious if the visitors were still there, he found them still seated on the floating platform. However, one of them, who had previously appeared cheerful, now had a grave expression as he stared at a cultivator in a white robe.


    Apollo couldn''t hear what they were discussing, but the white-robed cultivator seemed to be delivering a message that darkened the man''s mood. His eyes then flicked to the Headmasters, who were nodding occasionally and appeared relaxed and in good spirits, unlike Klown.


    The visitors, on the other hand, were talking animatedly, while the old man beside the mayor remained as impassive as when he first arrived.


    Something must be going on, the beggar thought before shaking his head. It''s not my concern.


    Some of the martial students were sitting down, eyes closed, deep in cultivation, while others were on their feet, practicing sets of movements¡ªlikely battle techniques that required physical repetition.


    They were all occupied with their own tasks, making this the perfect time to test what he had learned from the Hydra Mirage so far.


    Apollo didn''t need to stand up to use the technique.


    "Let''s see how cool you are," the beggar muttered. With a thought, he began using the Hydra Mirage. The Qi was drawn toward him, circulated through his body once, and then exited. Mist began to form around him. The beggar''s eyes gleamed as the mist beside him started churning, gradually transforming into a cross-legged, masked figure. As the mist dissipated, a complete copy of himself sat beside him.

 Chapter 99 - 99: Hydra Mirage(Part-2)

    The copy wore the exact same clothes as Apollo: a black robe covering his body and a black half-mask obscuring the top half of his face. Apollo looked closer and noticed that even the mask had the same details. It felt like he was staring into a mirror.


    The copy sat there, its eyes dull and unmoving. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo had only intended to test what he''d learned so far, and it seemed like the results were better than he''d expected. At the beginner stage of the Hydra Mirage, he could conjure up to two clones of himself, and he could even make them move according to his will, though he wasn''t sure how fluid their movements would be.


    Let''s see if I''ve really reached the beginner stage, Apollo thought, smiling. He wasn''t expecting much; the instructors had given them three days, and it had only been about three hours since he started learning the technique. There''s no way I could complete the second test so easily... right? With this in mind, he activated the technique once more.


    Mist appeared as the Qi he absorbed flowed out of his body, and to his right, another copy of himself materialized.


    Staring at the lifelike copy, Apollo couldn''t help but be amazed. Did I really do it? Does this mean I''ve managed to reach the beginner stage in just three hours?


    He looked around and saw that the other Martial Students were preoccupied with their own Battle Techniques. Then, he made his clones stand up, and they did so the moment he thought about it. There was no delay; as soon as he willed it, they obeyed. Apollo then positioned them to stand in front of each other.


    "Fight!" Apollo thought, his eyes burning with excitement as he controlled one of the clones. Like a video game, he had one clone fight the other while he sat on the grass, watching the battle. However, it proved to be difficult. Controlling a clone was easy, but using it to fight against another clone felt like battling a boss that couldn''t be hit.


    So these clones also know my fighting style, Apollo mused as the clone he controlled failed to land a hit on the other. Then he stopped the fight. If a normal battle won''t work... Slap Fight!


    It was a popular sport in his previous life where two participants took turns slapping each other. Apollo enjoyed watching it; it was entertaining to see their faces distort from the impact.


    Thinking about it made him even more excited about what was to come. This time, he didn''t control one of the clones. Instead, he gave the order for them to take turns slapping each other as hard as they could.


    As soon as he thought it, one of the clones raised its hand and slammed it into the other copy''s face!


    Apollo''s eyes widened in anticipation, but they quickly turned to surprise as the slap caused the clone''s head to explode! But instead of blood, the explosion was made of mist that scattered with the wind.


    Apollo smiled bitterly at the sight. I guess that was to be expected; it''s only at the beginner stage and still fragile, he thought. According to the Hydra Mirage technique in his mind, his clones would only get tougher as he progressed.


    Surprisingly, even without a head, the clone raised its hand and slapped the fully intact copy.


    Huh? So they''re still functional without a head? Apollo tilted his head as the intact clone''s head also exploded into mist. What happened next nearly made him burst out laughing¡ªthe two headless copies of himself continued slapping the place where their heads used to be.


    Shaking his head, he made them stop, and with a thought, the two clones dissolved into water and fell to the ground.


    All this time, the martial students hadn''t been disturbed, probably because some of them were also making noise, and the people on the floating platform were too busy talking among themselves.


    Did I just learn an exceptionally easy Battle Technique? Apollo wondered. So, have I already passed the second test? This made him glance at the other students. But they''re still not done, and I''ll definitely stand out if I declare that I''ve already reached the Beginner stage of this technique.


    He let out a heavy sigh. "What should I do?" he muttered. There are still three days left, and it only took me three hours to complete the second test. "That pervert said there''s an array on the Stone Slab that will make those who didn''t pass the test forget the techniques on the slab. It''s safe to say that even if some of us memorize all the techniques, we''ll only be able to keep one if we pass."


    Apollo waited to see if he would forget the other techniques, but even after a few minutes, he could still remember them. Is it because the test hasn''t ended yet, and the Memory Alteration mechanism hasn''t been activated?


    That''s probably the case¡­ Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Should I use this time to learn the other techniques, just to pass the time? It didn''t take him long to decide. He closed his eyes and began learning all the Battle Techniques stored in his mind.


    ...


    On the floating platform, the visitors perked up when the white-robed cultivator arrived and said something that made them fall silent and listen carefully.


    "So they tried to steal another technique from our Library?" Axton asked, a subtle smile on his lips.


    "Yes," the white-robed cultivator nodded.


    "Where are they?" the Great Serpent Headmaster asked, focusing on the fate of the thieves rather than the Library.


    "After the successful ambush, we captured them and put them in a cellar for questioning," the white-robed cultivator reported.


    "Good," Axton nodded. "Just don''t let them die."


    Klown, who had been listening the whole time, wore a shocked expression, and it took him a moment to regain his composure.


    "Are you okay, Mayor Klown?" the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield Martial School, Elmo, asked, his voice filled with apparent concern. However, a closer look into his eyes would reveal that he didn''t mean it.


    "Yeah," Klown nodded, but his voice betrayed his anger. "I can''t believe someone would be so daring as to steal cultivation techniques from the Martial Schools in my city!"

 Chapter 100 - 100: Hydra Mirage(Part-3)

    "Did they only try to steal from one martial school?" one of the visitors asked.


    The white-robed cultivator looked to the headmaster of the Great Serpent Martial School, seemingly asking if it was alright to answer the visitor''s question.


    Master Axton nodded, a subtle smile on his face.


    "No, sir. The Great Serpent, Sword and Shield, and the Fire Shrine were all infiltrated at the same time," the white-robed cultivator explained.


    "Why?" another visitor asked.


    The white-robed cultivator shook his head.


    "The reason is still unknown, but it''s very likely that someone is behind them," Axton said, glancing at the visitors, stopping briefly at Klown before turning his gaze back to the white-robed cultivator. "You may go now. After we''re done here, I''ll meet with them personally."


    "As you wish," the white-robed cultivator bowed his head, then disappeared in a blur.


    "Tsk tsk!" Master Popo, who had been silent until now, shook his head with a smirk. He was already sitting on a chair he''d somehow acquired. "If I find the culprit, I''ll skin him alive."


    "You should focus on the Advancement, Instructor Popo," Elmo said. "Someone is already showing signs."


    "Oh?" Master Popo raised an eyebrow, turning to look at the ground, where he saw someone wearing clothes that covered their body from head to toe and a white mask hiding their face.


    This person was one of the outsiders who had passed the first test. Master Popo could see that they were already showing signs of progressing to the Beginner Stage of the Battle Technique they had chosen, which came from the Sword and Shield Martial School.


    "Lily Valley¡ªit''s a fairly decent technique, and the most talented person in my school managed to reach the Beginner Stage in just two and a half days," the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield said, his eyes burning with interest. The mysterious person in the distance was sitting cross-legged while translucent lily flowers materialized around her before disappearing a second later.


    "If this person keeps going at this pace, I wouldn''t be surprised if they reached the Beginner Stage in just a day and a half."


    Hearing this, the visitors were surprised. They had come from a neighboring city, personally invited by the Mayor to witness this year''s Advancement Examination. They decided to watch this second test to see if any particularly talented individuals emerged this year, and this outsider seemed to be one of them.


    They looked at each other, their eyes glinting with understanding. From what they knew, if a person not wearing a uniform attended this exam, they were an outsider who had obtained an invitation through other means. If they managed to pass all the tests, they would have a chance to become a student of the Martial School they chose to attend. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, they were still considered outsiders if they had not yet chosen a school, which meant these talented individuals could be recruited.


    "It''s a she," Master Axton said, the previous matter with the white-robed cultivator seemingly forgotten.


    Master Popo and Elmo spread their ''senses'' to feel the Qi around the mysterious person, and sure enough, the movement of nature around her indicated that she was a woman.


    "It seems like we have a very talented one this year," Mayor Klown said with a forced smile. Seeing that they were now focused on another matter brought him some relief.


    The three Headmasters exchanged knowing smiles.


    "You guys wouldn''t mind if I had her join my school?" Elmo asked. Lily Valley is a Battle Technique meant for defense; although it isn''t the strongest even at the Mastery Stage, it''s actually a popular technique that even he used from time to time when fighting someone.


    When someone uses the Lily Valley, countless lilies appear around them, which they can use to block their enemy''s attacks. Once they reach Mastery, a cultivator at the 2nd-Step Foundation Building stage can block an attack from a 2nd-Step Qi Condensation stage, though it must be a common attack.


    "Well, it''s your Martial School''s technique, so you can have her," Master Popo said, shrugging his shoulders.


    Axton didn''t speak, but he nodded in agreement.


    However, on the floating platform, the old man beside the Mayor was staring at the mysterious person in the distance, his eyes trembling before he let out a defeated sigh.


    Still stubborn as ever, he thought. He had white hair and white eyebrows, and his deep green eyes were like a forest. He was a representative of the visitors'' group invited to watch this Advancement Examination. Although he had suspicions about why this pig beside him had invited them, as time passed, his doubts gradually diminished, though something still lingered.


    Thinking of this as a simple vacation, he had brought his granddaughter... who should be here watching the examination... but, shaking his head, he decided to look for talented students.


    This second test would last for three days, but they were only going to stay for a few hours, as that was usually when talented martial students would show their might¡ªjust like that mysterious person.


    "Haha, thanks," Elmo laughed heartily. It seemed like a good seed would soon arrive at his school. Even if the mysterious woman chose another school, they could still reject her, and she wouldn''t have a choice but to choose his school.


    "Let''s see who the second student to show off will be," Master Popo said, glancing at each of the Martial Students on the ground. Suddenly, his eyes landed on a particular person wearing a black robe and a half mask that covered the top of his face. Oh? There''s another one? This made him spread out his senses to gauge the ability of this small man.


    Hmm, seems mediocre, he thought before his gaze moved to the other students, landing on a woman wearing spectacles who was busy conjuring something in front of her.


    Mist appeared before congregating into something, though it immediately dispersed the moment it formed.


    "Haha," Master Popo chuckled, glancing at the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. "One of your students is attempting to learn your technique."


    Hearing this, Axton turned to where the Fire Shrine Headmaster was pointing and saw Filly Kleinford already attempting the Hydra Mirage. "That''s not how you do it, kid," he muttered while shaking his head. This is a Battle Technique that he personally created and is also a technique that he always uses. "It''s not a powerful technique, but it''s actually a headache to learn."


    "Kleinford, eh? So she''s the daughter of Nathan Kleinford," Elmo commented from the side. Kleinford, Helflick, and the other families had come to greet them before they arrived here, and it was the first time he had met Nathan, the famous War Border Hero.


    ¡­


    Filly stared at the gathering mist in front of her, her eyes deep in concentration as she tried her best to mobilize the Qi in the surroundings as much as she could.


    However, before the mist could even form properly, it exploded into a mist of water, splashing her face.


    Filly took off her glasses and wiped the water from them. After putting them back on, she couldn''t help but sigh. She was foolish for thinking she could do it after simply circulating the surrounding Qi inside her body. It''s actually pretty hard. She turned to look at Gail, who had her eyes closed peacefully.


    Gail was just sitting there, cross-legged, and hadn''t moved since she picked the technique she wanted to learn.


    "I''m too hasty," Filly muttered with a bitter smile. Shaking her head, she decided to just focus on the first step of the technique and familiarize herself with it before trying to apply it.


    With this in mind, she closed her eyes and started cultivating the technique seriously.


    Meanwhile, a few feet away, Bel Helflick opened her eyes, a glint passing through them. "Hmm, interesting."


    She had picked a common Battle Technique from the Martial School she was studying at, the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Because it was common, she had already seen it a couple of times within the school. She also chose it because she was quite familiar with it, thinking it would be very easy to learn.


    Bel wasn''t the only one who thought this way; those who wanted to pass the second test chose techniques they were familiar with.


    Since it wasn''t allowed to use Battle Techniques they had already learned prior to this examination, they had to be smart, and choosing common techniques made it easier for them.


    Bel did the same. However, even though the Petal Sword was a common Battle Technique, normal cultivators would need at least 2 or 3 weeks to reach the Beginner stage, and she wouldn''t be surprised if most of them needed at least a month, which would also force them to postpone their cultivation.


    But this only applied to common cultivators. Bel smiled, closing her eyes once more.


    Petal Sword was a technique that could affect a wide area. Although it was common and not the strongest Battle Technique she knew, it was very practical and straightforward, so she might consider using it after she mastered it.


    With her eyes closed, she mentally reviewed all the techniques, engaging in mental training first to familiarize herself.

 Chapter 101 - 101: Cup Of Noodles(Part-1)

    "Hmm, it seems like more of them have improved greatly compared to last time," Master Axton said as the moon shone brightly on the platform. Even without additional light, the moon''s brilliance was more than enough to illuminate the mountain.


    It was already midnight, and they had been observing the Martial Students who were showing significant progress. Some of them were already beginning to demonstrate their understanding of the techniques they were practicing, as they could produce some of the desired effects.


    However, the test was not yet complete. On the third day, the students would have to display their newly learned techniques. After that, there would be one final test¡ªthe Practical Battle Exam¡ªwhere those who passed the second test would fight each other. This last test was the most popular, as the public would be granted access to watch the fights.


    Nonetheless, those who passed the second exam were almost guaranteed to succeed in the Advancement Examination, as the second exam had already determined whether the Martial School would continue to support their cultivation journey.


    "It''s time to go back," Elmo said, standing up while picking up the shield behind his chair and the broadsword at his side.


    Seeing this, the visitors also stood up, along with Mayor Klown.


    "Let''s return to the Chariot; the meal has already been served," Klown said, motioning for them to follow his lead before turning to the Headmasters. "Shall we?"


    The trio exchanged glances for a moment before Elmo and Axton shook their heads.


    "I have to go meet those criminals," Axton said, his figure becoming wild and strange. Then suddenly, he turned into a puddle of water, dropping to the ground.


    Elmo chuckled, staring at the Mayor. "I need to train, Mr. Mayor." His body became a blur, disappearing from his spot as if he had never been there.


    Klown then turned to Master Popo, who rolled his eyes before flying toward the middle platform.


    "Tsk," Klown couldn''t help but grit his teeth in anger and humiliation. The Headmasters clearly didn''t respect him, openly disregarding him. But he had to hold it in and smile at the visitors. At the same time, he sensed that something was wrong¡ªsomething he didn''t want to happen, though he had to continue his act.


    ¡­


    When Apollo opened his eyes, it was already morning. He could see birds flying in the distance while the sun''s rays peeked over the horizon.


    "This is great," he muttered, a smile forming on his lips. Apollo had managed to learn three more Battle Techniques in just one night. Although he hadn''t reached the Mastery Stage, he had still achieved the Beginner Stage in each of them.


    Fire Blast, a Battle Technique from the Fire Shrine Martial School, allowed the user to gather Qi and transform it into a blazing fire that could be sent toward opponents. It was a good technique¡ªthough not particularly strong, in his opinion, it was flashy enough that those unaware might think he was preparing a deadly attack.


    The second technique he learned was True Hardening, which could increase his body''s endurance and toughness at the cost of speed. It didn''t produce flashy special effects like Fire Blast, but Apollo felt he needed a technique that could help protect his body. However, learning these techniques seemed somewhat pointless if he was going to forget them after the second test ended.


    Still, he found the process enjoyable, so he continued to learn more.


    The third technique he learned was one that envelops his body with Qi, making him lighter and increasing his speed. This technique, when combined with his Simple Movement Technique, complemented his abilities well. Although he hadn''t yet tried out these three techniques, he was confident that he could execute them at the Beginner Stage.


    Looking around, he noticed that some of the students were already awake, their faces set in deep frowns, seemingly struggling with their training. Apollo then turned his attention to those who still had their eyes closed, yet wore peaceful expressions.


    There were also some students practicing the movements of their techniques. Some did so with relaxed expressions, while others gritted their teeth in frustration, repeatedly failing and trying again.


    "Aren''t they going to take a break? Eat something?" Apollo muttered to himself. With his cultivation already at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage, he wouldn''t feel hunger for a day or two without eating. However, once he did feel hungry, he would need to consume a large amount of food. Fortunately, he hadn''t encountered that situation yet¡ªafter all, who would let themselves go hungry? Not Apollo.


    With that in mind, he brought up his Status Screen to check his remaining Alm Points.


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 26 S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building.


    Attributes: None.


    In the two days before the Advancement Examination began, he had managed to increase his Alm Points to 31. He had used 5 of those points to buy the black half-mask he was wearing, leaving him with 26. He intended to save 25 points for emergencies, leaving just 1 for food and drinks. Thankfully, consumables weren''t too expensive¡ªextremely cheap, in fact.


    Apollo brought up his System Store, sorting it to display only Earth''s food.


    "Should I treat myself to something good?" Apollo muttered, licking his lips in anticipation. He browsed through the options, all foods he had enjoyed in his previous life¡ªsteak, sushi, pizza, burgers¡­ The choices were dazzling, making it difficult to decide.


    In the end, he settled on a box of macaroni and cheese pizza along with a bottle of carbonated drink. Yup, this is the right choice, Apollo thought, smiling as he was about to confirm the order. But then, he saw the price.


    W-what?! 1.1 Alm Points?! Apollo''s eyes widened. Damnit! Ah, I was craving this¡­ Macaroni and cheese pizza was one of his favorite meals in his previous life, especially as a midnight snack. It was perfect.


    Sighing in disappointment, he decided to change his choice.


    One order of a burger costs 0.5 Alm points, and a carbonated drink costs 0.2 Alm points. If he spent 1 Alm point on food, he''d be left with only 0.3 points. But there were still two more days before the second test ended. Apollo only wanted to eat once per day, and if he bought this ''expensive'' food now, he''d have nothing left for the third day.


    Shaking his head, he continued browsing for more affordable options. It didn''t take him long to make a choice: cup noodles for 0.2 Alm points and a bottle of mineral water for 0.1 Alm points.


    "Do you want to buy it?" the System asked in its usual emotionless voice.


    "Buy," Apollo said. As soon as the words left his mouth, two white lights appeared on the ground in front of him, materializing into a steaming cup of noodles and a bottle of water. "Feels like I''m back in high school."


    With a sigh, he reached out for the noodles, placing the water bottle beside him. But then he realized something. Where''s the chopstick? Apollo glanced around but couldn''t find it. He stood up and searched more thoroughly, but the chopstick was nowhere to be found. A foreboding feeling washed over him.


    "System? Where''s the chopstick or fork?"


    A translucent screen appeared in front of him, displaying a message, followed by the System''s voice:


    "You will have to buy the chopsticks from the System Store at the cost of 0.1 Alm points. Would you like to place an order?" the System asked.


    F*ck you, System! Apollo cursed through gritted teeth. Shouldn''t it be free? You''re just proving that you''re an *sshole who only cares about profit and not the customer''s comfort! He berated the System, but it remained silent, merely waiting for his response.


    Seeing this, Apollo''s frustration grew. It was infuriating to be angry at something that showed no emotion¡ªit was like being mad at a rock, making him feel foolish.


    If you had a physical body, I''d beat you into a pulp! Apollo thought with determination.


    The interface in front of him started flickering, a sign that it was on the verge of collapsing. Argh! I hate this! Before the interface could disappear, Apollo placed the order, and a pair of chopsticks materialized in front of him. Grasping them in his hand, the simple wooden chopsticks felt like gold.


    "This is very frustrating," Apollo muttered, sitting down on the grass. He let out a heavy sigh before looking around. Fortunately, no one was paying attention to him; otherwise, they''d be shocked to see objects appearing out of thin air.


    The instructor was also nowhere to be seen, probably off somewhere else.


    With another sigh, he fully peeled back the lid of the cup of noodles, releasing a burst of aroma. Apollo inhaled deeply, his eyes closed, a smile spreading across his face. His earlier frustration with the System seemed to vanish into thin air.


    It''s been so long since I had this, Apollo thought as he lifted a handful of noodles with his chopsticks.

 Chapter 102 - 102: Cup Of Noodles(Part-2)

    A seafood-flavored Cup of Noodles¡ªthat''s what the Beggar chose. Seeing the bits of shrimp tangled in the noodles, Apollo couldn''t help but gulp. The tantalizing smell of the sea wafted up to his nose, salty, a bit spicy, and utterly refreshing.


    This brought back memories of his college days, alone in his dorm with just a cup of noodles and his books. Back then, he was popular throughout the university, talented in many areas. He also had enough money to eat whatever he wanted thanks to his side hustle, but he still chose to eat a Cup of Noodles from time to time, especially while studying.


    With his eyes closed, he reminisced about the past before taking a bite of the noodles. He didn''t have to chew much before swallowing; one particularly long noodle was still inside the cup. Apollo slurped, the sound echoing around him.


    "Ah," Apollo sighed with satisfaction, the saltiness and slight spiciness lingering in his mouth. "This is amazing." Although he had craved the pizza earlier, now that he was eating the noodles, the regret vanished, replaced by satisfaction.


    Looking down into the cup, he saw the golden-yellow noodles swimming in the creamy white-yellow broth, with spices dancing alongside them. Apollo raised the cup and took a sip. The soup flowed into his mouth, down his throat, and all the way to his stomach. For a moment, he felt as though he was standing by the vast ocean, with the intense wind blowing against his face.


    "Ah!" This time, he let out an even stronger sigh. The Beggar smacked his lips before licking them. With a smile on his face, he continued to enjoy his Cup of Noodles.


    However, while he relished his breakfast, the people around him were less pleased.


    Sitting at the edge of the mountain, there were only ten to eleven Martial Students nearby, each sitting a few meters apart. But the distance, coupled with their keen sense of smell, put frowns on their faces. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What''s that smell? At first, they tried to ignore it, but as time passed, the frowns deepened. They couldn''t help but open their eyes and follow the aroma. The smell wasn''t bad; in fact, it was quite pleasant, though it still disturbed them.


    When they turned toward the source, they saw a small masked man eating, the slurping sounds loud and clear.


    "This guy, how dare he eat during the exam?" one of them muttered. "What is he even eating?"


    They continued to watch, letting out some of their presence to alert the ''oblivious'' man. But their efforts were futile, and the smell only made them hungrier. Finally, one of them stood up and strode toward the Masked Man with determined steps.


    The onlookers'' eyes widened in anticipation. Yeah, teach him a lesson! But what the man said next left them speechless.


    "Hey, where did you buy that?" he asked, making Apollo look up, a piece of noodle dangling from his mouth.


    "Somewhere far," Apollo replied before continuing his meal.


    "Do you have more? Can I have some?" the man asked.


    "No," Apollo shook his head. "Sorry, it''s not for free."


    "Then how much?" the man asked, pulling out a pouch from his uniform. The sound of coins clinking echoed as he opened it.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow, observing the man from head to toe. He didn''t belong to the Great Serpent or the other two schools where most of the students came from. But the way he carried himself suggested noble birth.


    "Sorry, I don''t trade for money. I only accept Alms," Apollo said, shaking his head. At the same time, he wondered if this would work. Because he was always busy with other things, he hadn''t had enough time to experiment with how he could exploit the system.


    What if he tried to make them give him money? Would it still count? Or not?


    "Alms?" The man looked at the masked figure from head to toe. Average height, small stature, and clothes made from cheap materials¡ªthe only extraordinary thing was the mask. He does look like a beggar, but who would be foolish enough to believe it? There''s no way a mere beggar could stand on the same ''stage'' as us, the man thought. "How many Alms do you need?" he asked, playing it safe.


    Oh? Apollo''s eyes brightened. "Six bronze coins."


    Without hesitation, the man took out a silver coin and flicked it toward Apollo, who caught it with ease. "Here, keep the change."


    "I won''t decline then," Apollo replied, smiling as he pocketed the silver coin and waited for the notification to arrive.


    But even after a few seconds, the System remained silent. What''s happening?


    "Hey, you''re not scamming me, are you?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow as his eyes turned cold.


    "No, of course not," Apollo said. "Just wait a second."


    Hey, System! Where are the Alm points? Apollo asked the system angrily. He actually wanted to minimize his interactions with this petty System as much as possible. That''s why he didn''t ask if his method would work. Now that he thought about it, he realized that he sometimes made choices that were quite immature¡ªsomething he hadn''t done in his previous life.


    Shaking his head, he finally heard the System''s response.


    "You haven''t received any Alms for me to convert into Alm points," the System answered, a translucent screen appearing in front of the beggar with the words displayed.


    What the hell?! Wasn''t this guy giving me Alms? Didn''t he say so himself? Apollo protested.


    "A true beggar does not scheme. You are a beggar, not a seller. You are bound to receive, without any use of trickery, only patience," the System replied, its voice emotionless but with a tone that felt like a divine message. "However, using the System Store, you can buy items that will help increase your Alm Points."


    Divine message, my *ss!


    Apollo couldn''t help but get angry. Am I going to waste my Alm points for this guy?


    The System didn''t respond.


    Looking up, the Beggar saw that the man was starting to get frustrated. Sh*t, he already gave me the money. Should I give it back?


    "If you don''t give me what I want, don''t blame me if I resort to force," the man said.


    "Alright," Apollo sighed in defeat. In the end, he wanted to fulfill their transaction. As an honest person who hasn''t committed any crime, he couldn''t ''cheat'' his customer.


    A white light appeared in front of him, and a Cup of Noodles materialized out of thin air.


    Seeing this, the man''s eyes brightened with understanding. Space Storage? I knew it¡ªwhat kind of beggar would have access to such an item?


    Apollo handed over the goods, waving his hand dismissively. "Here, this is the last one, so I was very hesitant to give it away."

 Chapter 103 - 103: Cup Of Noodles(Part-3)

    Seeing the man walk away with his ''Alm points,'' Apollo smiled bitterly. This is annoying. Oh right, I didn''t give him a fork! The beggar began to worry that the man would come back asking for utensils. Fortunately, the man seemed to have the ability to produce items out of thin air, relieving Apollo from having to spend another Alm point¡ªthough he would definitely refuse if that guy came back.


    This situation gave Apollo a better understanding of his role in this life. A true beggar. He could only earn Alm Points by literally just begging. He couldn''t exchange them for something else; the coins he received would be invalid. The one and only requirement was for people to give him Alms willingly, not because they wanted something from him. Any trickery wouldn''t work.


    "But System," Apollo recalled the time when a martial student fell unconscious beside his feet, his coins rolling out of his pocket. "How come that guy''s money turned into Alm Points?"


    "The money came out of his pocket, rolled toward you, and he didn''t take it back."


    "Oh, I see," Apollo finally understood everything. He also realized something, his eyes glancing at the guy who had just bought a cup of noodles from him. "So System, earning Alm Points also considers how people think of me?"


    "Yes," the System answered truthfully.


    "Then it makes sense," Apollo said with a bitter smile. Ah, I wish I''d had this talk with the System sooner. I get easily distracted, he finally realized, which is very contrary to the cool-headed old self from his previous life.


    Letting out a heavy sigh, he continued to finish his food, trying to forget the 2 Alm Points he had just given away. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But unbeknownst to him, while he relished his food, to others, it was a nightmare under the morning sun. Especially as another person joined in, making slurping sounds and smacking his lips from time to time.


    The smell also became more intense, making it hard for them to cultivate their chosen techniques.


    "F*ck! Is this their strategy to reduce the competition?" one of them couldn''t help but say aloud. He was very angry because the smell was so tantalizing that it made him hungry. "Argh! This is frustrating!"


    As time passed, the effects of the delicious food caused one of them to stand up. With a shout, he started running toward the cliff! "F*ck this exam! If I can''t pass, I''ll at least fulfill the needs of my stomach!" The man jumped, his figure disappearing instantly.


    This caused some of those who were having a hard time understanding their techniques and probably wouldn''t pass the second test to do the same. If they were pretty sure they couldn''t pass the exam, why not just surrender now, eat something good, go home, and have a nice sleep?


    The scene of students jumping down the mountain was seen by the Instructor, who came flying from a distance.


    "What''s wrong with them?" Master Popo muttered, landing on the platform in the middle of the mountain. He didn''t expect that some of them would give up after just a day. It was very unexpected, putting a frown on his face.


    Nevertheless, they were just the martial students they didn''t particularly pay great attention to, and most of them would fail anyway, so it didn''t matter if some of them gave up now.


    Master Popo squatted down, watching the students practice their chosen techniques.


    ...


    Meanwhile, west of this tall mountain lies the forest where the Duskwolves Shadowtails reside.


    Mathias arrived in a carriage, his usual suit replaced by a gray Hanfu robe that reached his ankles, with sleeves almost covering his hands.


    He glanced at the tent set up nearby and the soldiers neatly arranged and ready for battle in the distance. Mathias also noticed a number of Cultivators from various noble families in Klown City.


    Everyone is ready. Mathias was about to walk toward the tent when he turned back. There was nothing but a wide expanse of grass, though his eyes seemed to pierce through everything.


    "As expected of Mathias from the Dragon Hunter lineage, you can see through my technique," A man appeared out of nowhere, as if he''d always been there. He wore a butler suit with a monocle over his left eye.


    "Morning, Butler Holst," Mathias greeted with a smile. "The Dragon Hunters are mere history, and I only share a speck of dust from their bloodline."


    "Still, that is a very rare bloodline," Holst said, his eyes steady. "Have they arrived?"


    "The owner of Skyline Savory, Theo," Mathias said, glancing at the tent.


    "Haha, the city''s greatest force of attraction," Holst chuckled as the two began to walk toward the tent. "If not for Skyline Savory, the city center would be a lifeless street."


    "You are right," Mathias nodded, sharing the sentiment. Soon, they arrived and saw Theo sitting quietly in one of the chairs.


    "Good morning," Theo said, his voice as nonchalant as ever.


    "Morning," Mathias greeted, taking a seat at the head of the table.


    Holst nodded with a smile before taking his seat beside the Skyline owner.


    They didn''t have to wait long before the Branch Manager of the Alchemy House entered the tent. Looking around, she didn''t see Nathan, causing her to smile.


    "Hehe, that guy''s still not here? He''s probably still inside his wife," Helen commented, taking a seat to Mathias''s right.


    "What did you say?!" someone shouted from outside, and Nathan stormed in angrily.


    "You heard what I said," Helen smirked at the Kleinford family head.


    "You and your mouth don''t know respect!" Nathan retorted, lifting both his sleeves.


    This again, Mathias sighed. Before they could fight again, he tapped the table, drawing their attention. "Let''s begin the official matter."


    Nathan could only grit his teeth, pulling his seat away from Helen.


    "The Duskfangs are already making their move," Mathias said, glancing at each of them, noting their calm expressions. "They''ve begun hunting our men more aggressively than before, killing dozens. This morning, they launched another attack. Although our men managed to defend themselves, they still suffered heavy casualties."


    The attack happened inside the forest where the Hunting Team was deployed. Their main purpose was to kill as many monsters as possible before the Alpha began her hunt.


    "She couldn''t wait any longer," Holst commented.


    "Correct," Mathias nodded. "We''ve already moved the plan forward, but she is... agitated."


    "Are you suggesting that we¡ª" Helen began, but she didn''t finish her sentence. It was enough for the Helflick family head to understand.


    "We start our attack now," Mathias said.


    "But I still need one more day to concoct those toxins!" Helen protested, a frown on her face.


    "Then we''ll try to defeat her as soon as possible," Mathias said, staring at Helen with determination. "If we can''t, we''ll hold her off as best as we can until you succeed in making those toxins."

 Chapter 104 - 104: Second Test Showcase(Part-1)

    Helen sighed upon hearing this. The toxins she was producing were key to killing that monster, but with the plan moving forward again, she would have to work even harder. "Then make sur¡ª"


    "If that''s what you''ve decided, then we won''t say much," Nathan said from the side, interrupting the Branch Manager of the Alchemy House, who glared at him in turn. "So should we go straight to the boss or take out the small fry first?"


    "We will go for the Alpha along with the Elite soldiers and the Family Cultivators," Mathias said. "The rest will keep the Duskfangs contained within the forest."


    "Let''s make sure we use their men thoroughly," Nathan said, his eyes glinting with cunning. "We''re the only ones here, and the other families are busy trying not to personally involve themselves in this fight."


    Nathan Kleinford was referring to the other noble families who had decided to stay behind in the city after meeting with the visitors and the martial school''s Headmasters. They sent their men while they hid behind the city walls. Although they were also cultivators, and not as strong as them, they could at least help with killing the small fry. But they didn''t.


    "It''s more than good enough that they sent their best men," Mathias said, glancing at Nathan before turning to look at Holst. "Do you have any suggestions?"


    "I will follow your plan," Holst said.


    "Alright," Mathias nodded. "What about our guy?"


    "I already have my men escorting him to that place," Nathan said, taking out a map, placing it on the table, and pointing to a location. "It''s far enough from the city. If that monster tries anything funny and decides to destroy the city first, she would need at least a few minutes to get there. That''s more than enough time for us to chase her down." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Being a smart and cunning monster, they wouldn''t be surprised if the Alphadusk tried to escape or refuse to play their ''game.''


    "It''s a pity," Helen sighed. "Hopefully, our plan will work so he can survive."


    "Don''t worry. Once she arrives, we''ll try to pull him out as soon as possible," Mathias said. He also felt bad about the man who had been marked by the Alpha. They had no choice but to use him as he was one of the key elements necessary for their plan to work.


    They didn''t know much about this Alphadusk, especially her abilities, which lowered the man''s chances of survival. They could send him away once the Alpha arrived, but they weren''t confident they could hold the monster in one place, so they needed the marked man to be in the same area. This monster was very persistent about her prey, and even if she escaped, she would find another way.


    The best course of action was to kill her as soon as possible.


    Furthermore, even if the man died, the Alphadusk would find another prey. Since she lived in the forest near the city, it was very likely she would return there. They also couldn''t send her marked prey to another location because after she killed them, she would definitely come back to the forest.


    Keeping that monster nearby would only put the city on constant alert.


    The five of them continued their discussion, mainly about the details of the plan. Soon, they exited the tent one by one and went to stand in front of the soldiers and cultivators.


    ...


    Two days later.


    The sun peeked over the horizon as birds soared into the sky. At the top of the mountain, the temperature was cold enough to make a normal human shiver, but the Martial Students, with their strong bodies, easily adapted to the chill.


    "How are you holding up?" Gail asked the restaurant owner, who had a tired expression on her face.


    "Hungry. I miss fried chicken," Filly sighed heavily. She had already put away her glasses, her hair was a bit messy, and dark circles had formed under her eyes from not sleeping for the past two days. Normally, she wouldn''t get dark circles even if she didn''t sleep for a few days, but she had been working her mind tirelessly during this time.


    "I meant your technique. Did you learn it?" Gail asked, a small smile on her face.


    "Oh, yes!" Filly replied. "Let me show you."


    She began gathering the Qi from the surroundings, drawing it into her body before releasing it as a watery mist. The mist enveloped the two of them, making it difficult for Gail to see where Filly was.


    Gail noticed the mist churning on one side and turned toward it, spotting the restaurant owner. But when the mist dispersed, there were now two Fillys, one on each side of Gail.


    "Congrats," Gail said, her eyes fixed on her right.


    "You knew it was the real me?" Filly asked with a tilt of her head. The other Filly turned into a puddle of water, splashing onto the ground.


    "When you reach the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage, you become more attuned to nature. Besides, your clone didn''t have any presence; it felt lifeless," Gail explained. "But what''s important is that we''ll pass the second test."


    "It''s only the beginner stage," Filly shrugged, just as Bel approached them.


    They chatted about various things, waiting for the second test to end. Since it was still early in the morning, they figured they''d probably have to wait a few more hours before the Instructor said anything.


    An hour before noon, Master Popo arrived at the middle platform. Clearing his throat, he announced, "There''s only an hour left before we end the second test."


    His announcement brought relief to the Martial Students who were already idling around the area. But to some, it was like a death knell, interrupting their pursuit of reaching the Beginner Stage of their chosen techniques. Their faces filled with dread, some turning pale. Still, they continued to cultivate, hoping that at the last minute, they would unlock their potential.


    Even so, reality proved harsh. As soon as noon arrived, Master Popo clapped his hands, causing ripples to emanate from his center. This awakened those still in cultivation, while those already awake stood straighter, waiting for the next instruction.


    "We will begin the next part of the second test, which is to show that you have truly learned the Beginner Stage of your chosen technique," Master Popo said, smiling at the students below. "But before that¡­"


    Suddenly, the stone slabs began vibrating, glowing simultaneously.

 Chapter 105 - 105: Second Test Showcase(Part-2)

    When Apollo heard that the second test was about to end, he couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief.


    He had spent the past two days cultivating, mainly studying and learning the Battle Techniques stored in his mind. He didn''t learn all of them, only a few, and decided to stop when he started to get bored. Besides, some of the techniques weren''t flashy enough, or he simply didn''t like them.


    Apollo found that the Battle Techniques were actually not that hard to learn; he only needed a few hours to reach the Beginner Stage for each one. The fastest took three and a half hours, while the longest took around five to six hours.


    But when he saw the Stone Slabs on the platform vibrating and glowing, he began to worry. Apollo remembered that these stone slabs had a special inscription made by an Array Master, ensuring that students could only retain what they had genuinely learned.


    Wait! Suddenly, the Beggar''s eyes lit up. Did I become too d*mb after I got transmigrated into this body? Apollo thought with a bitter smile. As long as he learned the techniques, he would retain them, but those he didn''t fully learn would vanish from his memory due to the Memory Alteration Mechanism on the stone slabs.


    Apollo crossed his fingers; he wasn''t a hundred percent sure. He waited for the effects to take place, and when the Stone Slabs stopped glowing, he felt like something was missing in his life.


    This made him raise an eyebrow. He tried to recall the techniques that he had only memorized but not learned. Nothing. They were gone. Then he recalled the techniques he had fully learned, which brought a smile to his face.


    Fortunately, they remained, Apollo thought, letting out a sigh of relief. It seems like it was a good choice to learn them when he had the time. No, it was definitely a brilliant idea.


    With these techniques, he wouldn''t have to buy anything from the System at all.


    Thinking about this, he couldn''t help but feel smug. How''d you like that, System? Although the System remained silent, Apollo was still satisfied.


    "If you realize that you''ve forgotten your chosen technique, you may now go back and go home," Master Popo said, glancing at each student who displayed a disappointed expression. "You don''t have to stay, or else you''ll only make a fool of yourself. And for those of you thinking of using a technique you already learned beforehand, it won''t work. How? We will know."


    As his words fell, it didn''t take long before someone started walking toward the stairs. Soon, others followed, and out of the hundreds of participants, only about 300 Martial Students were left.


    Oh? That many? Apollo raised an eyebrow. Is it really that hard? He could even see some noble-looking martial students crying while others only gritted their teeth. Their backs were hunched with loneliness and defeat.


    After those who hadn''t managed to learn left the mountain, Master Popo clapped once more. The platform started shaking, and the stone slabs were absorbed by the platform.


    At the same time, two dragons pulling a golden chariot arrived, and the visitors, along with the Mayor, ascended to the floating platform. After taking their seats, they didn''t cause a scene and simply watched the exam.


    Master Popo glanced in their direction before looking up toward the sky, where he saw Axton and Elmo flying toward them. They landed on the floating platform and also took their seats.


    No one interrupted him, so he continued.


    "One by one, come up on stage and show your chosen technique," Master Popo said.


    Here it goes, Apollo''s eyes brightened with anticipation. He was also curious to see how the others would fare in the second test.


    The Martial Students around him visibly tensed up¡ªsome relaxed, others nervous.


    "But don''t be too confident. If you get cold feet and fail to demonstrate that you''ve achieved the Beginner stage on this platform, you''ll have to say goodbye," Master Popo smiled. Even if all of them had reached the Beginner stage, failing to show it would mean failing this Advancement Examination.


    Since some techniques require intense concentration, it''s possible that some students might not be able to execute them if they''re too nervous or interrupted.


    "Come up on stage one by one; there''s no specific order, but we only have until tonight. Let the Showcase of Techniques begin!" Master Popo declared, his voice loud enough to reach every corner of the mountain.


    The Martial Students looked at each other, waiting for the first person to step onto the stage.


    It didn''t take long before someone began walking toward the platform, and everyone recognized the person.


    "Arke," Apollo muttered, his eyes turning cold. His prey walked with confidence, relaxed with every stride, though he appeared arrogant to the onlookers.


    Arke ascended the stage, glancing at the platform along the way. His eyes landed on the Mayor, who looked back with a cold expression. Seeing Clown''s face irritated him; if he didn''t care about his life, he would have jumped at that pig''s face. Just thinking about it made his blood boil, but fortunately, he was still rational enough not to do anything that would cost him his life.


    Although there was a smile on his face, the pressure of his two missions weighed heavily on his heart. First, he hadn''t found that Leone heir, who was definitely dead by now or probably in another city, already acting as a slave. Still, he had some confidence in his plan. From what he knew, only a handful of people had seen that kid''s face.


    Since the kid was sheltered at home, Arke was quite confident he could fool them.


    As for his second mission¡ªkilling that b*tch, Bel Helflick¡ªit was definitely going to be hard, but he didn''t have to worry about the consequences. He decided to place his trust in Butler Holst''s word. And if they didn''t keep their promise to protect him, it wouldn''t be cowardly to escape, right?


    "What technique are you going to show us?" Master Popo asked. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wind Descend and Serpent Roar," Arke replied. Although his voice wasn''t loud, everyone could still hear him.


    "Oh?" Master Popo raised an eyebrow. The Martial Students below exclaimed when they heard what the first participant said. "Then show us."

 Chapter 106 - 106: Second Test Showcase(Part-3)

    Wind Descent is a common Battle Technique for wind-attribute cultivators. Fortunately, one can still use it even without the wind attribute, though the effects are greatly diminished.


    Gathering Qi from the surroundings, sharp winds will follow, descending from top to bottom. It''s not a very powerful technique¡ªeasy to tell, as each Battle Technique written on the Stone Slabs is average at best.


    The other technique, Serpent Roar, can deter the enemy, immobilizing them if their mental fortitude is weak. It''s like a mind control technique that affects the target''s brain.


    Apollo remembered these two Techniques, but due to the memory-altering mechanism, the memories vanished.


    The Beggar watched as Arke, the first participant, stood on the platform with his arm raised, pointing at the training dummy shaped like a scarecrow. The first technique Arke was going to display was Wind Descent.


    Qi churned on the stage, gathering around Arke and disappearing inside him. Without pause, sharp winds descended on the scarecrow, shattering it into pieces. The resulting winds scattered, causing those standing near the platform to squint, some looking away as parts of the dummy almost hit them.


    Seeing the effect of the technique, Apollo couldn''t help but turn serious. It was one of the techniques he chose not to learn because he didn''t like it. Now, seeing its effect, he realized that if he had fought using only the Simple Sword Technique, he probably wouldn''t have stood a chance if someone had used Wind Descent on him.


    Apollo felt fortunate that he got to keep the Battle Techniques he managed to learn in this second test. With 7 to 8 techniques at his disposal, he felt more confident about completing his mission.


    An exclamation sounded as Arke began using his second technique. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The platform shook briefly, and another training object emerged. But this time, it was a living creature, so it was inappropriate to call it an object.


    "That''s one big hell of a chicken," Apollo muttered in amazement, seeing a chicken almost two meters tall on stage. The creature looked around before its eyes landed on the person in front of it.


    "That''s still considered small, to be honest," Bel said, already standing beside the beggar. "But that size is perfect for making a meal out of it."


    She glanced at Filly, who was a short distance away, already eyeing the chicken monster while licking her lips, her eyes shining.


    Scavenger? So that''s what she used for the fried chicken, Apollo recalled the meal that Filly''s Restaurant always provided for him. They stayed true to their word, always bringing him food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thinking about it, he wondered how the restaurant was currently doing. This Advancement Examination is a big event¡ªthere''s probably more diners than before.


    "You''re here again," Apollo turned to Bel, who smiled back at him.


    "Of course, I want to befriend the person who''s going to join the same school as mine," Bel said.


    "I don''t recall agreeing yet," the Beggar replied, looking back at the stage just in time to see Arke emitting a strange and somewhat suffocating aura that made the chicken shriek in fear.


    "Hopefully, you will, but it''s not bad making friends, right?" Bel shrugged.


    Arke passed the second exam without breaking a sweat, as expected from one of the most talented individuals in all the Martial Schools in the city.


    "Shouldn''t you go up by now?" Apollo asked.


    "You''re right," Bel nodded. She was about to take a step when she stopped. "Seems like someone else wants to take the stage," she said, noticing a person wearing a black robe that covered their entire body and a white mask that concealed their identity.


    "Oh, it''s that person," Apollo muttered.


    "You know them?" Bel asked.


    "No," Apollo shook his head. "They''re just... strange."


    The mysterious person began demonstrating their skills, and to everyone''s surprise, they had also learned two battle techniques. Apollo was the only one who remained calm. He had already suspected as much. Although this person was strange, during the first test, they showed no signs of fatigue¡ªjust like him.


    "We have another talented one," Bel said with a smile.


    "What, are you doing some kind of recruitment service for your school?" Apollo asked.


    "Haha, of course not," Bel chuckled. "I just want the best for my uncle."


    "Uncle?" Apollo repeated, glancing at the floating platform where the Headmasters and visitors were watching the ongoing exam. He then looked at the uniforms around him, most of them belonging to the Great Serpent Cultivation School, the Sword and Shield, and the Fire Shrine. The others came from smaller cultivation schools.


    It seems like this Helflick family is really influential, Apollo thought.


    After the mysterious person displayed their skills, the others took the stage one by one.


    Soon, Bel finally had her chance to go up. Apollo didn''t offer any words of good luck¡ªshe would pass anyway, so what was the point? However, she passed more splendidly than the others, displaying three Battle Techniques, which caused exclamations from everyone. The visitors in the stands stood up in disbelief.


    Even Apollo couldn''t help but see Bel in a different light. When he first met her, she seemed like a hopeless child, clinging to her last hope. But now, she radiated confidence and strength.


    Her injury back then must have been severe for her to be unable to defeat three Duskfang Shadow Tails.


    After displaying the three Techniques one at a time, she returned down the stairs, receiving words of praise from the instructor.


    "As expected of the daughter of a Core Creation Cultivator. It''s a pity you joined that Snake," Master Popo said with a sigh.


    "Don''t be like that," Bel replied with a chuckle, walking back down and standing beside the masked figure.


    "It''s your turn," she said.


    "Hmm," Apollo thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I''ll wait for a bit."


    "Why? You''re going to end up on stage anyway, unless you don''t want to pass the Advancement," Bel asked.


    Apollo didn''t answer and just continued watching. After a few more people took their turns, the restaurant owner, Filly, stepped up, which piqued his curiosity. He was surprised to find that they had learned the same technique.


    Mist appeared on the stage, and when it dispersed, two Fillys were standing side by side. The instructor nodded, and she walked back down the stairs with a sigh of relief.


    "She barely learned the Beginner Stage," Apollo muttered, though Bel heard him clearly.


    "Oh? Why do you say that?"


    "Because we learned the same technique," Apollo replied, a smile on his face.


    Then Gail took her turn, also displaying two Battle Techniques¡ªone offensive and one defensive.


    "I guess it''s my turn," Apollo said.


    "Good luck," Bel smiled, staring at his small back. Her eyes burned with anticipation, curious about what he was going to display. She could sense that this guy was definitely talented, probably on the same level as her. Hopefully, he wouldn''t disappoint her expectations.

 Chapter 107 - 107: Second Test Showcase(Part-4)

    "That daughter of his is really something¡ªlike father, like daughter," Elmo said with a chuckle.


    "I''m not surprised," Axton replied, a small smile on his face. "She''s the most talented in the entire city. She can already enter the Void, though I''m not sure to what extent. But she was already capable of it when she was still at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building stage."


    "The Void, huh? I remember I only achieved that state when I was at the 1st-Step of Qi Condensation," Elmo said, his tone serious. "Are you thinking of sending her to that place?"


    "Probably," Axton smiled mysteriously before his expression turned cold, and his eyes glinted. "But before that, we should fix this ''problem'' of ours."


    Elmo laughed upon hearing this. "Actually, it''s expected. We are a thorn. I''d probably do the same if I were insane."


    "Let''s just wait a bit longer. We can''t act unless it''s necessary," Axton said, watching the participants display their Techniques on stage.


    They spoke quietly, avoiding the use of Telepathic Messages, purposely keeping their conversation private.


    On the other side of the seats, the Mayor of the city, Klown, was talking with the representative of the convoy. He suddenly fell silent for a moment before starting to run his mouth again.


    As Martial Students displayed their talents on stage, some couldn''t conjure their Techniques¡ªlikely because they had only barely achieved the Beginner Stage, or perhaps they weren''t focused enough, resulting in their failure in the Advancement Examination.


    They were so close. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Soon, another person came up on stage, wearing an outfit that exuded mystery. However, compared to the other mysterious person in a white mask, this half-masked individual wore shabby robes. His small stature made them question his age. Some tried to peer through his mask but failed, as their senses couldn''t penetrate his aura.


    Axton and Elmo were also curious, so they attempted the same. However, nothing surprising emerged¡ªjust an average-looking young man with black hair and black eyes, clearly not someone from an influential background. But they didn''t care about such mundane details. The participant''s small stature compared to his peers was actually normal, something seen everywhere.


    But what happened next made the two exchange surprised glances.


    "Master Axton, it seems we''ll have a fight on our hands for this one," Elmo said, his eyes filled with excitement.


    "He''s using a technique from my School, so it''s only right that I have the first say, don''t you think?" Axton asked.


    "Hmm, makes sense. I''ll give you the first word," Elmo sighed, then glanced at the instructor who was watching the current participant with burning eyes. "What about him?"


    "Water and Fire don''t mix," Axton said. "Unless one is a fool, who would choose him?"


    Elmo laughed aloud, causing the Visitors to stare at him in confusion.


    ...


    Apollo walked up to the stage, all eyes on him, but he didn''t feel any pressure. He was already used to this; being under the gaze of a crowd was essentially second nature to him. As someone who frequently stood on stages or in front of important figures, he would be more nervous if there were no people around.


    At the same time, he could feel prying eyes trying to see past his half-masked face. Most of these attempts were deflected, but the beggar could sense that three individuals managed to break through the defense of his mask.


    As expected, Apollo thought. Fortunately, he was prepared. His face was already different, thanks to using a contact lens to change the color of his eyes. Before he went up on stage, he spent five Alm points to buy an item that could change his appearance. He had essentially morphed into another person, though he chose to keep his height the same.


    However, the effect of this item would only last for an hour.


    The Headmasters must be among them, Apollo thought as he reached the platform. He stood in front of the Instructor, who nodded and asked what Technique he was going to demonstrate.


    "Hydra Mirage," Apollo said, and Master Popo stepped aside.


    Apollo began gathering Qi from the surroundings, the amount enough to summon winds. He absorbed it through his mouth, nose, and pores. Like a vacuum, it entered his body in an instant, and when it came out, it was already mist that scattered across the stage.


    The mist dispersed as quickly as it had formed, and two Apollos appeared at his sides.


    Hmm, was this good enough? Apollo knew it was, but¡­ looking at his clones, he felt like it wasn''t enough. He was only participating in this event for the sake of his Mission, and after that, he would return to his beggar spot, start cultivating, and earn Alm points. He would also eat free, good food from Filly''s restaurant.


    However, Apollo could feel there was still room for more clones. Curious, and no longer afraid of attracting attention now that his appearance was completely different, he let his intrusive thoughts win the battle against reason.


    Furthermore, the others had displayed two Battle Techniques while he was only going to show one. Their performances might be more impressive than what he was about to do, right? With this in mind, Qi entered his body once more, mist emerged, and when it cleared, eight more clones materialized around him. Including himself, there were now eleven half-masked men on stage.


    At the Beginner Stage of the Hydra Mirage, it was possible to make the clones move, which he did to demonstrate that he had truly reached this stage.


    The clones began performing acrobatics on the stage¡ªtumbling, backflipping, and somersaulting. Suddenly, he had an idea. To make it more interesting, he had them move in a choreographed manner. They moved in unison, their steps and claps creating a rhythmic sound that echoed through the mountain.


    Apollo followed the beat with his head, choreographing a Hip-Hop-Cheer dance routine he had seen in his previous life.


    The sound and the steps made some of the onlookers bob their heads as they watched the scene with fascination. They realized that the clones were definitely dancing. Although there was no music, the claps and steps were purposefully timed to create a cheerful beat.


    In the end, the clones gathered and threw one of them into the air. Then they immediately dispersed, letting the body fall in the middle of them, where it exploded into a water splash, acting as the group''s dramatic finale.


    Nice! Apollo smiled from ear to ear.

 Chapter 108 - 108: Sudden Change(Part-1)

    Silence lingered in the air.


    Apollo''s smile turned awkward. With a sigh, the ten clones shimmered strangely before dissolving into puddles of water that splashed onto the ground.


    "Did I pass?" Apollo asked the Instructor, who was staring at him with wide eyes.


    "Do you want to join my martial school?" Master Popo asked, his voice serious and tinged with urgency. He glanced at the platform and noticed that Axton and Elmo were also eyeing the young man. "You will immediately become an Outer Circle Student with your own private yard."


    Hearing this, Apollo was surprised by the exclamations from the Martial Students in the background. I only made the clones dance, why are they so amazed? Apollo thought, glancing at the students before staring at the Instructor, who was looking at him with burning eyes.


    "Sorry, I can''t," Apollo replied, shaking his head. Although he didn''t know what the Outer Circle in their School was, he wasn''t interested.


    "Join me, and I will personally teach you the Expose Fire Technique," Master Popo insisted, still determined. As his words fell, a gust of wind blew, causing his clothes to billow. Because he wasn''t wearing anything underneath his Hanfu, something peeked out¡ªor more accurately, it seemed like it was tired of being in the shadows and wanted some sunlight for a bit of vitamins.


    "It''s the greatest technique passed down through generations to each Headmaster of the Fire Shrine Martial School, but I will make an exception for you."


    Apollo, already looking up at the sky, shook his head vigorously. Expose Fire Technique?! If the requirement is always showing one''s bird, then hell no!


    "Thanks, but I''m good," Apollo said. "Did I pass?"


    "Yes, you did," Master Popo replied, letting out a defeated sigh. "But I stand by my offer."


    The Beggar didn''t respond. He just turned around and walked down the platform as fast as he could. The Martial Students looked at him differently this time¡ªwith great curiosity and amazement, particularly those from the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    He returned to his previous spot where Bel was still staring at him, displaying the same expression.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo couldn''t help but ask.


    "You¡­ you can conjure ten Hydra Mirage Clones?" Bel asked, her voice trembling.


    "Yeah," Apollo answered, and seeing her expression, he understood what was happening. "It''s amazing, isn''t it?"


    "Definitely!" Bel nodded her head. "I can think of only one person who can do that."


    "Let me guess," Apollo glanced at the platform, where the two Headmasters seated beside each other were looking in his direction. Although he didn''t know which one was which, he knew one of them was the Headmaster of the Great Serpent. "Your Headmaster?"


    "Yes!" Bel said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "From what I know, he''s the only person who can use the Hydra Mirage with at least ten clones!"


    "Oh," Apollo nodded half-heartedly. With his appearance completely changed from before, he was no longer worried about attracting too much attention. And although the effects would only last for an hour, who would bother looking at him again after they already knew his identity?


    "Uncle Popo even personally recruited you and wanted to teach you his¡­ technique, which I highly advise against. The side effects¡ª" Bel''s face turned slightly red.


    "The side effects are disgusting, I figured," Apollo said, glancing back at the Instructor, who was still putting on his own ''show'' on the stage. It took a while before the wind disappeared, which was quite strange, as it only dispersed when the Instructor cleared his throat and continued the examination.


    Around this time, Filly and Gail walked over in their direction, with the restaurant owner looking at him with great curiosity.


    "I didn''t know you were so talented, Mr. Can Deez," Filly said, her tone filled with admiration.


    Apollo almost couldn''t hold back his laughter, which resulted in a series of coughs before he managed to clear his throat. Dmn, I almost forgot about that name.*


    "I didn''t do anything particularly amazing," Apollo said, trying to remain cool.


    "Don''t be humble," Gail smiled. "What you just showed takes years of training, experience, and talent. But you did it in just three days."


    Three hours, in fact, Apollo thought, though he didn''t say it aloud. They probably wouldn''t even believe it anyway.


    "I think it would be a good idea to join the Great Serpent," Filly suggested.


    "I''m still thinking about it," Apollo sighed. He couldn''t understand how he was suddenly surrounded by three beautiful ladies¡ªnot that he minded.


    As the exam continued, they conversed while watching the participants display their abilities.


    Apollo could feel eyes darting in his direction from time to time. The Headmasters didn''t focus solely on him, as they also observed the other students. However, the Beggar could feel a particular person watching him intensely. Turning towards the source, he saw Arke staring at him. When their eyes met, Arke raised a hand and made a killing gesture across his neck.


    That''s so cringe-worthy, Apollo thought, fighting the urge to slap that smug face.


    "I really hate him," Gail muttered, noticing Arke''s gaze in their direction. Although she wasn''t sure who he was really looking at, just seeing him made her angry.


    Bel also turned to see who they were staring at, and upon seeing the arrogant man, she sighed. "Arke¡­ He''s a strong candidate to take first place in this Advancement."


    "Do you think you can beat him?" Filly asked, frowning at the man in the distance. She didn''t know him well, but his behavior reminded her of other arrogant noble kids, which annoyed her.


    "We''ve sparred in previous Advancements, and in all our fights, I always won," Bel said confidently. "But I''m not so sure at the moment. I don''t know how much stronger he''s gotten since then¡ªhe could have caught up to me or maybe even surpassed me."


    "I think you can do it," Filly smiled. "Your father is a Core Creation Cultivator; strong genes run in your family, so defeating him again should be a piece of cake. But make sure you teach him a lesson! He disrespected Mr. Beggar!"


    Apollo, who had been quietly listening, shivered when he heard that name. Slowly, he started to step away from their group.


    Hearing about her father, Bel glanced at the floating platform. Her father was still not there; he had promised to watch her, but it seemed he would only do so for the final test. She couldn''t remember a time when her father ever broke a promise. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Filly''s last words also caught her attention, prompting her to ask the restaurant owner, "Mr. Beggar?"

 Chapter 109 - 109: Sudden Change(Part-2)

    "You remember the one you told me about?" Filly asked.


    "Yeah, that kid?" Bel recalled that she had talked to Filly about the remaining business of the Leone Family, which Filly had declined, being too busy with her restaurant. At that time, Bel had noticed a beggar kid beside the restaurant and, as a good friend, reported it to Filly, hoping to help.


    Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, but it was still too vague.


    "Yup, that guy Arke wanted to take him away. Fortunately, Gail was there and was able to stop him¡ªnot that we were worried," Filly said, lowering her voice so that only the trio could hear. "We suspect he''s a Wanderer pretending to be a beggar."


    Bel''s eyes widened. "What makes you say that?"


    "He gave us unique recipes in exchange for being able to stay beside my restaurant," Filly explained. Thinking about it, she felt like what she had done for him wasn''t enough. "Let''s go after the exam¡ªI''ll personally serve you!"


    "Then I won''t refuse," Bel smiled, though her thoughts were elsewhere. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What am I missing? She tried to piece it together, focusing on the word "Beggar."


    Her memory flashed back to the time she ventured into the forest, hoping to find the lost Leone Heir. She had thought he might be hiding outside the city and ended up in a forest filled with monsters. She was injured after encountering dozens of Duskfang Shadowtails. Due to her limited stamina and their overwhelming numbers, she suffered grave injuries.


    She barely escaped with her life after using a precious item that teleported her to a random location. She had tried to rest and heal her injuries before calling it a night, but luck wasn''t on her side. A few wandering Duskfangs sniffed her out, leading to another fight.


    That was also when she met her savior, who had introduced himself¡­


    "J-just a beggar. Yup, I''m just a beggar."


    Those words echoed in her ears like a bolt of lightning, connecting all the dots.


    "Can I meet him?" Bel asked, her tone serious as she stared at Filly.


    Seeing her friend like this, Filly and Gail exchanged a glance before the restaurant owner responded, "I suppose so."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t come empty-handed," Bel smiled.


    "That''s alright. He seems easygoing," Filly said.


    About thirty minutes later, the second test finally ended.


    Master Popo coughed, drawing the audience''s attention. "Everyone, the second test has officially ended, and those of you still standing have passed. Now, we''ll move on to the final test¡ªthe Battle Exam."


    The Martial Students went silent, their determination and fighting spirit radiating from them. This was the test that would determine their true strength. Rivalries would be settled; each of them was an enemy they had to surpass.


    "There''s no time to waste, and the audience is already dying to witness your great battle," Master Popo said, smiling mysteriously.


    Hearing this, the Martial Students tilted their heads in confusion. What does he mean by that?


    They weren''t given time to ponder as white-robed cultivators landed on the stage. Their uniforms were adorned with all kinds of inscriptions¡ªmysterious and hard to understand¡ªthough the Martial Students immediately recognized who they were.


    Array Masters. There were at least twenty of them.


    Master Popo turned to the floating platform, specifically toward the Headmasters, who nodded in approval.


    "Let''s begin," the instructor said. Before the Martial Students could wonder what was happening, the Array Masters on the stage began gathering Qi from the surroundings. The force of their power summoned strong winds that engulfed the entire mountaintop.


    Apollo, who had already distanced himself from the trio, couldn''t help but look at the Array Masters. What are they doing?


    As the Qi converged in the center, the Array Masters started performing strange gestures, moving in perfect synchronization¡ªnot a beat early or late. The Beggar and the others watched in fascination as inscriptions materialized in the air. These golden-yellow inscriptions covered the entire area, and the moment they did, the whole mountain began to shake!


    Feeling the intense earthquake, Apollo thought it was the end of the world. Looking up, he saw that the inscriptions had transformed into a golden-yellow transparent dome that enveloped the mountaintop.


    Like the others, he was baffled by the sudden change. But his question was soon answered when the shaking paused for a moment, only for them to suddenly feel as if they were falling.


    Being familiar with this sensation, Apollo realized that the area had suddenly become a giant elevator, with the golden-yellow transparent dome protecting them. The mountaintop was descending. He watched as the jagged walls became a blur.


    "I didn''t know they could do things like this," Apollo muttered, recalling the book Big Chub had given him. According to the book, cultivators could perform incredible feats¡ªmove mountains, part the sea, pull giant rocks from the sky, and more. He finally understood what it meant, experiencing what was happening now.


    He looked at the reactions of the others. Some displayed expressions similar to his own, while others remained calm. It seemed those who weren''t surprised were either nobles or had strong backing.


    It only took a few dozen seconds before the scenery changed, and they found themselves inside the giant mountain, which was as tall as Mount Everest, if not taller.


    "It''s a stadium," Apollo muttered, noticing the rows of seats filled with people already shouting in excitement. They descended like stars as the audience''s cheers drowned out the area.


    The "mountaintop," now a platform the size of two football fields, created a dust cloud as it landed. The mountain shook slightly, but no one paid particular attention to it. Meanwhile, the floating platform ascended toward a wall in the distance, about ten feet above the audience, where another platform was located.


    The two platforms joined together, and the people on both sides began talking with each other.


    "Seems like the important figures of the city have gathered," Apollo concluded from the way they moved and the clothes they wore.

 Chapter 110 - 110: Offer(Part-1)

    Apollo sat in a comfortable chair, with a table full of food before him. The spread included fruits he didn''t recognize, water, and meat from the Scavenger.


    Reaching out, he grabbed a piece of chicken. As he examined it closely, the Beggar concluded it was cooked using a simple method¡ªover a fire. The burnt smell was typical for this method, but upon closer inspection, he noticed that the chicken was evenly cooked on all sides, which seemed impossible unless one had precise control over the temperature.


    "But for those Cultivator Chefs, it''s very possible," Apollo muttered, taking a big bite. After days of eating only cup noodles, he was tired of them. The meat was soft yet firm, making it easy to chew, and he swallowed it quickly. "This is really delicious. Even without using spices, it could still be served in mid to high-class restaurants." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo finished his meal and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied burp. As he relaxed, he began to understand why there wasn''t much effort to advance the culinary arts in this world.


    If this simple Scavenger meat tastes this good, imagine the others. Besides, the Beggar suspected that what he had tasted so far was just average.


    The culinary scene in this world wasn''t advanced, although Apollo didn''t know why. But he didn''t need to dwell on it. As long as there was food on the table to fill his stomach, that was enough. Shaking his head, he grabbed some fruit to cleanse his palate.


    At the same time, he glanced around the room where other Martial Students were trying to relax. Some were chatting with each other while others were watching the Mayor''s boring speech on the stage.


    The Beggar sighed. In the end, I still have to sit through these boring speeches. After the mountaintop was swallowed into this place, they were taken to a private room where they could watch the stage. There were dozens of rooms, each housing at least twelve Martial Students.


    Now, it was a battle to determine the top places, and everyone was trying to relax as best they could before the third test began.


    "Blah blah blah, you''re just praising yourself," Apollo muttered, staring at the rotund Mayor ''blubbering'' on stage.


    "The City¡ªmy city¡ªis becoming more prosperous as time passes. This is due to the efforts of the people, and especially me¨C" Klown''s voice echoed everywhere.


    "Ah, when is the test going to start?" Apollo was growing bored. As he leaned back in his chair, he decided to take a nap, but just as he was about to close his eyes, someone approached him, blocking the light from a glowing stone on the ceiling.


    "Hey," a voice said, the tone familiar to the Beggar.


    Looking up, Apollo raised an eyebrow when he saw the pretty boy Yohan had fought in the first test.


    "Michael?" Apollo muttered, surprised to see the brown-haired newcomer.


    "You know me?" Michael asked, his brown eyes widening slightly. But then he thought about it¡ªhe was handsome and popular, so it was only natural, wasn''t it?


    "Is that so," Michael couldn''t help but feel disappointed. Nevertheless, he stated his purpose. "I came here to make you an offer."


    "I don''t accept," Apollo shook his head and closed his eyes, not bothering to hear another word from the man.


    "I haven''t even said anything yet!" Michael frowned. He was accompanied by his goons, who glared angrily at the half-masked man after hearing the ''disrespect.''


    "How dare you talk to Michael like that?!"


    "Know your place, you midget!"


    Apollo opened his eyes, staring at the martial student who had called him a midget. "Say that again."


    The one who said it wore glasses, his body thin and lacking much muscle. But with his chest puffed up and head held high, he smirked and repeated his words, slowly and clearly. "MID¡ªGET!"


    Apollo stood up from his seat, and with just a step, he instantly appeared in front of the beanpole, who still wore that annoying smirk. His fist was already on its way to crash into that face!


    With a loud bang, the force of the wind caused the tables and chairs to shake for a moment.


    The twig-like man fell on his bottom, his glasses askew, sweat appearing on his face. His lips trembled with fear, but he still managed to force a smile when he realized that Michael had managed to stop the punch from landing on him.


    "Not on my watch," Michael said, his voice low and cold. His body was covered in a dark blue haze, the roar of a serpent echoing from time to time. He clutched the attacker''s fist, and their standoff made their hands tremble with intensity. Feeling the strength coming from the masked man''s hand, Michael was surprised, though he made sure not to show it.


    If he weren''t using the Great Serpent Technique, he would have definitely failed to block that punch.


    "Not on your watch?" Apollo lifted his head to stare directly into Michael''s eyes. "You came here to make an offer, and when I refused, you found it offensive? One of your men even insulted me."


    "They are my men, that''s why¡ª" Michael couldn''t finish his sentence as the thin man stood back up, pointing fingers at Apollo.


    "You deserve it, you lowly piece of trash! In front of the great Michael, you are nothing but a toy to be played with! It''s your honor that he''s even asking you properly!" Twiggy said.


    "Let me give you a lesson," Apollo said, his eyes shifting from Michael to the malnourished man. "The world doesn''t belong to you."


    Michael prepared for a retaliation, but what happened next surprised him. The ''masked man'' in front of him suddenly turned into a puddle of water!


    Realizing this, he quickly turned around, ready to shout a warning, but he was too late. The masked man''s fist had already connected with the Goon of a Fool!


    Teeth flew through the air along with a fountain of blood as Twiggy crashed into the wall! With another loud crash, he fell to the ground, revealing a crack in the wall.

 Chapter 111 - 111: Offer(Part-2)

    Apollo wiped his hand on his robe. As silence lingered in the air, he returned to his seat, passing by the shocked Michael, who stood with his mouth wide open.


    "Scram if you don''t belong in this room," Apollo said, his eyes closed, leaning back comfortably in his chair.


    The onlookers stared at him in surprise. What he had just displayed was outright disrespect to Michael, a noble and one of the top students in the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Michael was a popular student with a high chance of reaching the top spot in this year''s Advancement Examination.


    Making an enemy of him was definitely not a good idea, especially for a nobody.


    Michael stared at his goon, now passed out on the floor. He waved his hand, and his other men immediately moved to carry the thin man. "Send him to the Healers; he will no longer participate in this exam."


    Hearing this, the people present were surprised, especially Michael''s men, who turned to look at the masked man with anger in their eyes. They were about to protest, but when they noticed the look on their leader''s face, they knew better than to push him further.


    "I was about to make you an offer to join the school, be my right-hand man, and I would have given you a generous reward in return," Michael said, turning to the masked man. That had been his main purpose in coming to this room, but because of that fool, he didn''t achieve his plan.


    This masked man had displayed a spectacular performance during the second test, and as a Great Serpent Martial Student, Michael knew how hard it was to create ten clones with Hydra Mirage. From what he knew, only the Headmaster could do that, which showed just how talented the man in front of him was.


    But it seemed Michael had still underestimated the Beggar. Completely disregarding him and even punching one of his men, Michael was angry, though he chose not to show it, especially after witnessing what the masked man had just done.


    Although he couldn''t explain how or when the swap happened, one thing was certain: the masked man had held back that punch. Otherwise, more than just teeth would have flown out.


    Hearing Michael''s words, the students in the room were even more surprised. But considering what the masked man had just shown, it was no wonder Michael wanted such a person on his side.


    "Though it seems you don''t need that," Michael continued before he began walking away. "But I''ll make sure I get my revenge."


    The entire exchange had been so brief that it didn''t even take five minutes.


    Apollo opened his eyes once he felt Michael''s presence disappear. Shaking his head, he reached for another piece of fruit and started eating. "Enemies from here and there. Ah, life is great," Apollo muttered, though he wasn''t too worried about these arrogant young masters.


    His mind drifted back to the previous scene, a smile forming on his lips. It seems like I can also use the Swap Ability, which is only accessible when one reaches the Intermediate stage. It was a surprise to him, as at first, he only felt that he could do it when he thought about the Hydra Mirage.


    But my energy drained so fast, Apollo massaged his forehead. Besides the fatigue, he could also feel a headache coming on. I should only use that when necessary. If he wants to surpass this hurdle, he''ll have to reach the Qi Condensation stage, though he still doesn''t know when that will be.


    Furthermore, there are still more techniques in his head that he hasn''t tried yet. Apollo decided to find some time to use them on stage, just to see their effects and if they''re worth using in the long term. Having many ''arsenals'' is great, but it''s only useful if he knows his ''guns'' well. Otherwise, he might end up shooting himself in the foot.


    ...


    "Father," Bel said with a wide smile.


    "I knew you would pass," Mathias stood up from his seat upon hearing his daughter''s call.


    "It was a piece of cake. I thought you wouldn''t be able to come," Bel looked at her father from head to toe to check for injuries. "You seem okay?"


    "Haha, just a minor injury," Mathias chuckled, pointing at his chest. Seeing the worry on his daughter''s face, he immediately reassured her. "Don''t worry, it doesn''t hurt."


    They were on a platform connected by a bridge to the mountain wall entrance. The area was covered by a translucent dome, protecting them from prying ears in case someone was listening from the audience. Tables and comfortable chairs decorated the platform, while important figures from the city talked among themselves.


    Bel recognized some of them¡ªthe greedy noble families. Their fake smiles were as usual, which no longer surprised her.


    "I hate them. They tore apart what was left of the Leone business, which was meant for the heir," Bel muttered, her eyes cold and her fists clenched as she remembered that the Leone family was now nothing more than history.


    Mathias waved his hand, covering them in a translucent dome. Inside, they were the only ones who could hear each other.


    "Business is business. There''s nothing we can do," Mathias smiled bitterly. "And I want you to stop looking for the kid."


    "Why?" Bel frowned.


    "It''s dangerous. Besides, we''re not even sure if he''s still alive. And even if he is, he''s probably in another city, a slave," Mathias said, voicing the harsh truth.


    "Father, I won''t give up," Bel stared at her father with great determination.


    Seeing her like this, he could only sigh. "Alright, alright. Just so you know, I''ve already given you my advice, so don''t expect too much."


    "I know," Bel smiled before changing the topic. "So, you managed to kill it, right?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mathias looked around and saw that some were glancing in their direction. With a wave, the translucent dome became cloudy, making it hard for others to see what was happening.


    "Yes, we did, though it took us two and a half days," Mathias said, his voice low.


    "That''s great!" The smile on Bel''s face widened. "So, it means he''s alive?"


    "That¡ª" Mathias opened his mouth before closing it.


    "He''s dead," Bel concluded, her smile fading and replaced by a solemn sigh.


    "It was inevitable. We tried to protect him as much as we could, but that Alpha was very persistent. She managed to get past our defenses and killed him with her tail."

 Chapter 112 - 112: The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-1)

    "He made a great sacrifice, protecting the city from harm," Mathias said, his expression serious. Many lives were lost in that fight, and sacrifices were inevitable.


    Bel remained silent for a moment before she let out a sigh. "The city is now safe without that monster. That''s great, really."


    "Yeah," Mathias smiled, placing a hand on his daughter''s head. "Anyway, the third test is about to start, so you should head back now."


    With a wave of his hand, the barrier around them disappeared.


    "Alright! See you!" Bel said, turning around and walking back to the room where she was staying.


    "Mr. Mathias," someone called, making Mathias turn toward the sound. He saw Axton approaching with a small smile.


    "Mathias is a fine Headmaster," Mathias said with a chuckle.


    "Axton is fine, Mathias," the Headmaster of the Great Serpent responded. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We''ve had plenty of talks about this, and you know I can''t do that¡ª"


    The two continued discussing various matters while, at the same time, the mayor on stage concluded his speech.


    ¡­


    "It''s starting," Apollo muttered, popping the last piece of fruit into his mouth. He stood up and moved closer to the railing, just like the others, as they saw Master Popo already standing in the middle of the platform.


    The audience''s noise died down simultaneously. Apollo looked at their numbers and estimated them to be in the thousands. Some had probably come from other places just for this event.


    "The third test is the Battle Examination. There are fourteen rooms, and the Martial Students inside will fight each other by drawing lots," Master Popo explained. "The final winner of each room will then fight against the winners of the other rooms. As before, they will draw lots to determine their first opponents, and then a bracket system will apply."


    So after drawing lots, it''s going to be a tournament format, Apollo thought with a small nod. The rules are actually very simple, but are they going to fight on that platform one by one? He glanced at the two football field-sized platforms. It would take a long time and be a waste of space. Fortunately, his doubts were immediately answered by another explanation from the instructor.


    "I will recount the prizes for those who don''t know," Master Popo said, glancing at the audience. "The Martial Students who reach the Top 1 will receive an Advance Cultivation Bead, a private abode in the inner sector of their Martial School provided by us and the officials, the chance to choose a Cultivation Technique from the City''s Cultivation Library, and a one-on-one meeting with the Mayor."


    Hearing this, exclamations erupted from the audience. Each reward was so great they could only imagine it. At the same time, the two football field platform started shaking before splitting into five stages that spread in the area, away from each other.


    Apollo could understand most of the rewards, though he didn''t know what this Advance Cultivation Bead was. Curious, he brought up the System Store and searched for the item.


    Advance Cultivation Bead: A bead created by an ancient alchemist on Planet Luan. Once taken by a cultivator, they will experience exponential growth in their cultivation. The strength of the bead depends on the talent of the user. However, the user must fully consolidate their newfound strength, or their body will not be able to handle the energy stored within them.


    Additional Information: No more beads of this kind have been produced since the ancient alchemist''s death; it is merely a forgotten piece of history in the river of time on Planet Luan.


    Alm Points Cost: 100


    Reading the description, the Beggar couldn''t help but be surprised, especially since the Alm Points Cost was actually cheap considering the item''s effect.


    This item is definitely great, but the description said that this bead ceased to exist after the ancient alchemist''s death.


    This information made Apollo doubt the rewards for the top places. But when he thought about it, there was actually a plausible explanation. The original Advance Cultivation Bead might be gone, and a knockoff version was created. Over time, people might have come to believe that this ''knockoff'' was the real one, forgetting the true bead.


    Perhaps the original method was lost, and someone tried to recreate it, but the effects aren''t as potent as the real one.


    Nonetheless, he still wasn''t interested in the rewards, though his interest returned when he noticed the Alm Points Cost of the real Advancement Cultivation Bead in the System Store.


    It''s only worth a hundred? Apollo''s eyes lit up. If he could obtain multiple of these items, reaching the final cultivation stage would definitely be easy! But his excitement quickly faded. There''s no way, right?


    "System, what will happen if I keep consuming these beads after consolidating them?" Apollo asked on instinct, which he regretted immediately.


    "You will only find out if you purchase the item," the System responded, a light blue translucent interface appearing in front of the Beggar.


    "F*ck off then," Apollo cursed. "You know what, I think you stole all the real beads so you could profit from them! You''re such a petty thief."


    His insults fell on deaf ears as the System went silent, the interface disappearing.


    Anyway, if Apollo were to reach the top places, the only benefit for him would be the Cultivation Techniques, since he could buy the real Advance Cultivation Bead from his System Store. As for the private meeting with the Mayor, he would just ditch that guy.


    Shaking his head, he continued to listen to the instructor''s speech.


    "Second place will also receive an Advance Cultivation Bead, a Cultivation Technique from the City''s Cultivation Library, and a one-on-one meeting with the Mayor," Master Popo said. "Third place will also receive an Advance Cultivation Bead and can choose a technique from the City''s Cultivation Library. The fourth and fifth places will only receive the beads.


    With that said, the Third Test officially begins!"


    A man wearing a simple white robe entered their room, carrying a basket with numbers written on them. The basket had a special inscription that made it impossible to see what was inside, even with special techniques.


    "Draw your lots here, and once everyone has drawn, your opponent will be the one with the same number as yours," the man said.


    The Martial Students looked at each other, their eyes filled with fighting spirit. After the first person drew their lot, the others followed suit, with the Beggar drawing last.


    Apollo looked at his paper with the number ''7'' on it.

 Chapter 113 - 113: The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-2)

    Apollo put the paper in his pocket and looked around the room. Some people openly announced their numbers, while others, like him, kept quiet and observed.


    But someone shouted, catching his attention.


    "I''m number seven! Who''s number seven?" a man in the fiery red uniform of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School shouted. After calling out a few times, a frown appeared on his face. "Whoever my opponent is, you''re a coward!"


    Apollo, who had been observing the man, couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. Shaking his head, he decided to wait for their numbers to be called before teaching the man a lesson. He wasn''t fond of being insulted, and if he could, he would indulge in his pettiness. With his identity hidden behind his mask and oversized outfit, he definitely wouldn''t hold back.


    After all the participants had taken their numbers, Master Popo cleared his throat. "Good luck to all the students!" And with that, he flew towards the joined platform in the distance. As he passed over the audience, they caught sight of the Instructor''s hidden agenda as the wind caused his Hanfu to expose everything.


    That section of the audience went quiet while the rest of the stadium burst with excitement.


    Another person took the stage, apparently the host for the Battle Exam. Wearing a black butler-like suit, the Host smiled at the audience before his eyes glazed over the rooms. "Due to the number of participants, we''ve split the stage into five sections, allowing ten participants to compete at a time. But before we begin, let me remind you: killing another participant is strictly prohibited.


    However, there may be cases where a student makes a mistake or fails to hold back their technique, resulting in a grave situation, like accidentally killing an opponent. In such cases, an investigation will be conducted, and it''s up to the Officials to decide whether the student is disqualified. Now, let''s begin the first rounds!"


    Five men in white robes stepped onto the five stages, acting as referees.


    The Martial Students in the rooms waited for their numbers to be called. Apollo watched with a curious expression.


    "Room 1, 1." A voice echoed in the room, and before Apollo could locate its source, the voice continued.


    "Room 1, 2."


    "Room 1, 3."


    "Room 1, 4."


    "Room 1, 5."


    "Oh? The test is in order?" Apollo muttered, raising an eyebrow. From what he knew, he was currently in Room 9. "It seems like it will take some time before our turn comes."


    Still, he decided to watch the matches first. They were a few feet above the audience, and of course, there were people even higher, on the floating platforms in the distance.


    Apollo stared at them for a moment before his eyes returned to the stages below. Ten students were already on them, two on each, staring at each other with fighting spirit radiating from them.


    Although this wasn''t the first time he had seen Cultivators fight among themselves, the excitement of wanting to see them in action still remained. Furthermore, there was a high chance he would be fighting them later, so it was better to observe their abilities beforehand.


    The referees raised their hands and brought them down as soon as the students were ready. The fight officially began, and the Cultivators on stage unleashed their respective techniques.


    Colorful abilities lit up the stage, and the sound of fists clashing echoed through the arena.


    Apollo watched with wide eyes, not wanting to miss a second. He noticed that there were weapon racks filled with wooden swords, sabers, axes, spears, and even bows and arrows for the students to choose from. So, using real weapons is prohibited, he thought. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Host and even the Instructor hadn''t mentioned this rule, but considering it, ever since the first test, only a handful of students had brought their own swords, and their cultivation stages were only at the 1st or 2nd-Step Foundation Building stage. They probably didn''t know about it either.


    The rules of the fight were to make the opponent fall off the stage, knock them out, or force them to surrender. Killing was not allowed¡ªunless¡­ Considering what the Host had said earlier, if it was an accident, there was a chance that the student could remain in the exam and not get disqualified at all. This made Apollo look for his target, but Arke was nowhere to be found.


    Shaking his head, he decided to just finish his mission and make it look like an accident. If he did it intentionally, he would definitely be imprisoned.


    Around this time, a whistle sounded, indicating that one of the fights had ended. If there was a big disparity in strength, fights usually ended quickly. However, if two people of nearly equal strength fought, with the endurance and stamina of Cultivators, it could last for hours, even days. And their fights often ended destructively.


    "Room 1, 6." Another voice announced as new participants stepped onto the free stage.


    Apollo watched for a while before deciding to go back inside the room. He picked up a chair and table, then returned to the viewing platform, setting up his leisure spot. He also didn''t forget to grab some fruits and beverages along the way.


    "Ah, this is it," Apollo muttered, a smile on his face as he ate the fruit. Watching a fight like this made it even more relaxing.


    The other students beside him couldn''t help but turn to him in surprise. Why didn''t we think of that? they wondered. But looking around, they knew better than to act so casually. They also wanted to maintain an image¡ªunlike this easygoing approach, where they could eat while others might stare from time to time. And look at that!


    He even had his feet up on the railings!


    It''s so d*mn¡­ relaxing!


    Some couldn''t help but be envious, though they remained true to their ideals.


    As the fight went on, the excitement of the crowd reached a peak, echoing inside the mountain. One after another, Martial students took the stage, displaying their might. Some faced off against their rivals, while others dominated their opponents without even taking a step.

 Chapter 114 - 114: The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-3)

    "Sorry, I do not take alms in exchange for something else," said a man sitting beside a bustling high-rise restaurant. He sat on a thick, soft mat, cross-legged, but one could tell he reached at least six feet in height when he stood up. He had long, streaked black hair that reached the floor, softly arched eyebrows, and deep blue eyes.


    The man wore a ''simple'' dark grey robe, black pants, and black shoes. Beside him was a gourd and a curved plate with glistening coins on it.


    "But The Great Beggar, I''ve walked past hundreds of planets for hundreds of years just to get here. Can you do me a favor?" the person in front of The Great Beggar said, urgency and worry in his voice. He wore very lascivious clothing¡ªcolorful, wide, and stylishly expensive. A solemn and suffocating aura surrounded him, making the onlookers stare at him, terrified and helpless.


    He was accompanied by three ''guards'' who stood at least five meters in height, their mere presence causing the air to swirl and churn. They had the same features as humans, but their size made them look like small giants. With giant swords in their hands, they protected the stylish old man.


    "What''s your name?" The Great Beggar asked.


    "I''m... the guardian of the... in the Cosmos of..." the stylish old man said, puffing out his chest as great pride radiated from him.


    Hearing this, The Great Beggar pointed at the sky. There were floating islands everywhere, with solemn-looking pavilions on top of them. Chariots pulled by winged horses passed by from time to time, and Cultivators flew around, either using swords or simply utilizing Qi.


    However, what The Great Beggar was pointing at was beyond that¡ªbeyond the islands and the sky.


    The stylish old man stared where The Great Beggar was pointing, his eyes zooming past the islands, piercing through the sky, and reaching the dark space beyond. But he was not done yet; his vision continued, passing by planets upon planets until it stopped at a massive mansion, thousands of kilometers across, floating in the emptiness of the universe. It sat on densely packed clouds.


    The mansion was structured with jade-like materials that glistened in a solemn light, with massive white pillars intricately carved with the Four Heavenly Beast motifs.


    In front of it were giant golden gates that emitted an ethereal glow, while the entire mansion radiated an aura of profound spiritual energy.


    This structure was considered the brightest star in the universe.


    "I want you to do something for me if you really want my favor," The Great Beggar said.


    "The Temple of...?" The stylish old man turned back to The Great Beggar with an incredulous expression. "What do you want me to do?"


    "Bring me back my foolish pet," The Great Beggar said, his eyes cold, and it was clear he was angry. "You will have the authority to use my name."


    The stylish old man immediately knelt on the ground, disregarding his status, and placed his hand on his chest. "I will do as you command immediately!"


    With that, he and the five-meter-tall guards turned into blinding white light before disappearing from the planet.


    The Great Beggar put down his hand, just in time for someone from the restaurant beside him to come out with a tray of food.


    "Master, your lunch," the person said, handing him the tray. However, just as The Great Beggar was about to touch it, the person said something that made him stop. "Room 9, 1."


    The Great Beggar tilted his head. "Room 9, 1? Why are you saying that?"


    "Room 9, 2."


    "Room 9, 3."


    Suddenly, the whole world experienced a great earthquake, and the sky began to fall apart. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Apollo opened his eyes with a yawn. "Ah, I fell asleep." He noticed people moving behind him as they went down the rooms and into the stages below.


    After watching for about two and a half hours and eating various fruits, he had dozed off when it was Room 7''s turn. The fights usually ended quickly because the strongest hadn''t met yet, and even if a fight lasted through the first round, it wouldn''t take more than 10 minutes for the winner to be decided.


    As the fight continued below, Apollo sat up straight and recalled his dream. "It''s been quite some time since I had a strange dream," he muttered. Since arriving in this world, he had been so focused on cultivation that he barely had enough time to sleep.


    The dream he just had was very surreal. He couldn''t remember most of it, but in the dream, he was still a handsome beggar. That was the most important part. Apollo had started to forget the details, despite trying his best to imprint his handsome face in his mind.


    Soon, the entire dream faded from his memory, and at the same time, an announcement echoed through the room.


    "Room 9, 4."


    "Room 9, 5."


    One more, and it''s going to be my turn. Apollo stood up and began doing some simple stretches. About ten minutes later, his number was called.


    "Room 9, 6."


    "Room 9, 7."


    Apollo smiled as he started walking toward the exit along with the other three participants. His opponent, who had previously shouted and called him a coward, asked the two others about their numbers, and after finding out, his eyes locked onto the masked man.


    "You''re number seven?" the man asked with a raised eyebrow. He had an average build, but a fiery aura radiated from him.


    "I am," Apollo answered, glancing back in amusement.


    "Ohhhh," the Fire Shrine student let out a long "Oh" before he shut his mouth. His previous demeanor disappeared as he observed Apollo from head to toe.


    Soon, they arrived at the stadium where the stages were.


    Apollo went to the stage where he was going to fight, but before he jumped on it, he stopped by the weapon racks. His opponent, on the other hand, landed on the stage and waited for him.


    "Hmm," Apollo reached out his hand and took hold of a wooden sword. He swung it around for a moment, then shook his head while putting it back on the rack. "I wonder if I can use my sticks."


    As he landed on the stage, his opponent smirked.


    "You should use a weapon. At least with that, you''ll look cool, even if you end up on the ground begging for mercy."


    "Haven''t you seen what I did back in the room?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow behind his mask. Didn''t I just display something that shocked them? Why is this guy still talking big?


    "You just caught Michael off guard; that''s why you managed to land a hit on one of his men," the Fire Shrine student said. "Anybody could do that if they were prepared."


    "Oh, that''s why you''re letting your arrogance show," Apollo nodded as if he understood.


    "It''s not arrogance," the man shook his head. "It''s confidence."


    "You talk big, and I hate people like you," Apollo said. Initially, he was just annoyed by people like the one standing before him, scattered all over the city. But as he encountered more of them, his annoyance turned into hatred. Whenever he saw one, the desire to crush them brewed within him. And now, an opportunity to do justice for all those who hate arrogant ''young masters'' had finally come.


    "Real weapons are prohibited. If you have one, take it out now," the referee said.


    The Fire Shrine student shook his head. "I don''t have one, and using a weapon to defeat this guy would be overkill."


    "I should be the one saying that," Apollo replied, reaching under his robe before throwing the stick he found on the streets out of the ring, where it landed beside the weapon rack.


    Seeing this, both the opponent and the referee fell silent, their eyes following the stick''s trajectory. Only when it landed did they turn back to Apollo.


    "Do you think of me as a pushover who can be defeated with just a stick?" the Fire Shrine student asked in a low voice, the temperature around him beginning to rise.


    "Yes, but if you use my stick, you could end up dead," Apollo smirked.


    The referee shook his head slightly. This kind of taunting before a fight was common, meant to anger the opponent or simply because some enjoyed the banter. However, it was the first time he''d seen someone use a stick to taunt their opponent. But since it worked, it was fine.


    "Participants, ready!" The referee raised his hand between them.


    Apollo lowered his body slightly. Tension built as the excitement of the audience echoed around them. They were watching five stages, and Apollo could feel numerous eyes on him, especially those three on the floating platform. Fortunately, he didn''t sense any prying eyes trying to penetrate the mask''s abilities.


    He could see that his opponent was already on the verge of dashing towards him, which was quite amusing, given the expression on his face¡ªsmoke practically seemed ready to billow out of his nose.


    "Ready! Fight!" The referee brought down his hand, and the moment the fight started, the Fire Shrine student used a movement technique that propelled him towards the masked man!

 Chapter 115 - 115: The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-4)

    A strong burst of fire erupted from the Fire Shrine Martial Student, causing a cloud of dust to appear as the temperature on the stage heated up.


    The student smirked arrogantly as he lowered his hand. "Let''s see if you can take that."


    He noticed that his opponent, the masked man, hadn''t dodged the attack at all. Not wanting to waste this chance, he increased the strength of the technique he was using.


    In a fight between Cultivators, their bodies move dozens of times faster than those of normal humans, making battles end quickly. Some fights are decided with a single hit, while others can take hundreds of exchanges, but to the untrained eye, it all seems to happen within a minute or two.


    This is why the Battle Exam is progressing so quickly.


    As dust clouds covered the spot where the masked man stood, the Fire Shrine Martial Student felt certain he had defeated his opponent. Even after a few seconds had passed, his opponent hadn''t made a move.


    The student turned to the referee, as if to signal the end of the battle. However, the referee shook his head.


    Seeing this, a sense of unease began to creep into the Fire Shrine Student''s heart. When he turned back to the dust cloud, he saw it churning, and in the next moment, a giant ball of fire flew toward him!


    "That''s Fire Blast!" the student exclaimed in shock. This wasn''t just a Beginner Stage Fire Blast; it was at the Intermediate stage, and the size was as big as a human! "Sh*t!"


    He immediately used his movement technique, barely dodging the attack. A powerful explosion erupted where he had just stood, shaking the entire stage and drowning out the noise from the other stages and the shouts of the audience.


    The Fire Shrine Student stared at the spot where the Fire Blast landed, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. The strong marble was cracked all over, darkened like coal, with smoke rising from it.


    If that technique had hit me... The Fire Shrine Student shuddered at the thought.


    The stadium fell silent for a moment before a wave of excitement echoed through the venue. The audience''s attention was now focused on them, ignoring the other stages.


    Meanwhile, the dust cloud had settled, revealing Apollo''s figure. With his hand still raised, he looked at the spot where his attack had landed. "Tsk, it took quite some time to gather enough Qi and release it, but it still ended up missing." He sighed in disappointment, lowering his hand.


    He scanned the area and quickly spotted his opponent, who was already struggling to stand up.


    "You¡­ that''s a Fire Shrine technique at the Intermediate stage," the student said, standing up with his eyes fixed on Apollo. "How do you know that technique, and how did you reach the Intermediate stage without being a student of the Fire Shrine? Who are you?!"


    "Do I have to answer that question?" Apollo asked in return.


    "You have to! It''s a crime to learn techniques from a martial school without being their student!" the student shouted. "So tell me! Who are you, and how did you get your hands on the technique?!"


    "Are you d*mb?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. "Didn''t we just complete the Second Test? I learned the technique from the Stone Slabs."


    Hearing this, the Fire Shrine Student pointed at the masked man. "That''s bllsht! There''s no way you managed to learn the Fire Blast and the hydra whatever technique and even reached the Intermediate Stage!"


    "Yeah, yeah," Apollo waved his hand dismissively. "Are we going to continue the fight or not? There are other participants waiting to use this stage."


    The student gritted his teeth before turning to the referee. "Isn''t he basically cheating right now?"


    What''s this guy even on about? Apollo couldn''t help but get annoyed. He''d only made one attack, and already his opponent was acting like a coward, whining to the referee.


    "No," the referee said, shaking his head. "Continue the fight or you will be disqualified."


    "B-but," the student began to protest, but seeing the stern look on the referee''s face, he knew he had no choice but to shut his mouth. Sh*t! This guy is definitely hiding something!


    The student realized his opponent was not to be underestimated after witnessing the use of the Intermediate Stage Fire Blast. He wanted to get the masked man disqualified, but his tricks weren''t working. While he wasn''t afraid to fight, he was definitely afraid of getting hurt.


    "F*ck it! I don''t know how you got your hands on Fire Blast, but you''re not the only one with an Intermediate Stage Technique!"


    "Haven''t I already told you? Then come at me!" Apollo shouted, raising his hand once more. He began gathering the Qi in the air toward his outstretched hand, forming it into a fiery fireball.


    This was actually his first time using this technique in battle, and from what his opponent said, he was already at the Intermediate Stage¡ªwhich confused the Beggar, as he had only learned this technique a few days ago and hadn''t even practiced it.


    After gathering enough Qi to make the Fire Blast as tall as a human, Apollo didn''t fire it immediately. Instead, he observed what his opponent was going to do. Although he appeared to be using the technique with ease, it was actually draining his energy, especially his mental strength, as sleepiness began to creep in.


    His opponent, the Fire Shrine Student, was covered in flames, his hair being blown up by his red aura as his eyes stared menacingly at the Beggar.


    "I''ll make you regret infuriating me!" the student shouted. With a stomp, his spot exploded, and his body became a blur, instantly appearing in front of Apollo!


    Oh? The Beggar raised an eyebrow as he realized what the student was about to do. If that''s the case... He gathered more Qi, making the Fire Blast even bigger.


    Unaware of the change, the Fire Shrine Student punched the fireball with his strengthened body, using his full strength! S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Another explosion erupted in the venue, much louder than before. The sight of the giant fire and dust cloud fueled the audience''s excitement, causing them to shout even louder. Amidst the noise, something churned within the dust cloud as someone flew out from it, landing on the stage and rolling a couple of times before stopping at the edge.


    The Fire Shrine Student was covered in black ash, but his eyes burned with excitement. "I did it! I''m still conscious! That guy must be out cold! Hahaha!"


    His laughter echoed across the stage. He had confronted the Fire Blast head-on, relying on his technique that increased his physical strength and defense. He made the fireball explode by punching it as hard as he could. That explosion should have been enough to leave his opponent gravely injured! And he hadn''t taken much damage himself, aside from the ashes covering his body.


    This thought made him sit up and admire his ''handiwork,'' but what he saw nearly made him cough up blood.


    "What the hell?!"

 Chapter 116 - 116: The Beginning Of The Third Test(Part-5)

    The stadium was silent at first, but in the next second, it erupted in excitement.


    "What the hell?!"


    "Surprised?" Apollo asked, his body glowing with a subtle light, having taken little damage from the explosion. "Hehe, you think you''re so smart, eh?"


    "That''s¡­" The Fire Shrine student squinted his eyes. He could see that his opponent was covered in a faint glow, his muscles gleaming with a rough, metal-like texture. He recognized this technique¡ªTrue Hardening¡ªfrom the Shield and Sword Martial School.


    Many of its students had learned it, and because he had fought some of them and seen it with his own eyes, he identified the technique after a few seconds. "True Hardening?!"


    "Oh? You know this one?" Apollo asked, a smile playing on his lips. He swung his arm, noticing that his body felt heavier than before. His speed had decreased by almost half, though he was still faster than normal people.


    "Who are you?!" The Fire Shrine Student shouted, even the referee staring at the masked man in surprise.


    "Me?" Apollo smirked as he deactivated the True Hardening Technique. "My name is known far and wide, but I''m mostly known as Can Deez."


    "Can Deez?" The student muttered, a confused expression crossing his face. The name sounded strange, leading him to suspect that the masked person wasn''t from around here.


    Apollo smiled and then shook his head. "I think it''s time to end this."


    Hearing this, the student frowned, feeling underestimated. Their fight was louder than the others, drawing almost all eyes to them. He couldn''t allow himself to be humiliated like this.


    He activated his technique once more, letting out a fiery aura as his hair danced in the wind. He thought, He must have drained a lot of his mental fortitude¡ªthere''s no way he can keep using those techniques! With this in mind, the Fire Shrine Student shouted and dashed toward the masked person!


    Apollo smirked, but this time, he didn''t raise his hand to use the Fire Blast. Instead, he made a gesture with his hands, stretching both his forefinger and middle finger while keeping the rest closed. He placed his right hand horizontally in front of his vertically positioned left hand, maintaining the finger position.


    "I''m going to let you taste my Kagebeggar No Jutsu!" Apollo said, and a burst of mist erupted around him, turning into ten clones!


    The Fire Shrine Student didn''t stop and continued to charge forward. Apollo sent his clones to fight against his opponent. Watching the man struggle, he couldn''t help but smile. Yup, this is what you get for being so arrogant.


    As he watched the Fire Shrine Student battle his clones with great relish, he noticed that the referee was looking at him.


    ''You should stop playing and really end it now,'' the referee''s voice echoed in Apollo''s mind, surprising him.


    Seems like I was found out, Apollo thought with a bitter smile. Although he was curious how the referee did it, he nodded. Their fight was taking longer than the others. With this in mind, Apollo used his Simple Movement Technique, instantly appearing in front of the struggling Fire Shrine Student, who stared at him with wide eyes.


    But before the guy could take another step, Apollo punched him in the face, sending him flying out of the stage.


    The sudden ending left those watching this particular stage in disbelief. If you could end it this easily, why drag out the fight? But it was a feast for the eyes, so they shouted in great excitement.


    "Winner!" The referee raised his hand toward the masked person.


    "That was easy," Apollo muttered, dusting his hands with a clap.


    ...


    On the joint floating platform, Axton, Elmo, and Master Popo exchanged glances.


    "Did he really learn three Techniques in just a few days?" Master Popo asked, his expression incredulous.


    "Who knows," Elmo shrugged. "But his True Hardening is well on its way to the Intermediate stage."


    "He could be a disciple of a great master, and maybe he learned these Techniques beforehand," Master Popo speculated. "There''s even a possibility that he already knew the Hydra Mirage before the exam."


    "I highly doubt it," Axton, the Headmaster of the Great Serpent School, shook his head. "When he first used the Hydra Mirage, his control of Qi was all over the place, and he compensated by pulling in as much as he could. But it seems like his control has improved in just a short time."


    "So you''re saying a monster has emerged?" Elmo asked, his eyes filled with curiosity as he stared at the half-masked man who was already walking back.


    "Possibly," Axton nodded.


    "Monster or not, with his progress with the Fire Blast, it would be better if he joined my school," Master Popo said.


    "Ha, you think he would join you?" Elmo scoffed. "He clearly wants my Sword and Shield School, otherwise why would he learn True Hardening?"


    "Then why would he learn Hydra Mirage?" Master Axton interjected.


    "It''s because your Technique is easy!" Elmo retorted, and Master Popo nodded in agreement.


    "Easy?" Axton shook his head but didn''t argue further.


    At that moment, someone approached them. "So, you guys are already eyeing someone?"


    Without turning, they already knew who it was.


    "Mayor Klown, are you interested in him as well?" Axton asked, a small smile on his lips.


    "Well, hearing what you all are discussing, should I be?" Klown asked, his belly wobbling slightly as he turned to face the three Headmasters.


    "Hahaha, it''s not even the finals yet. Isn''t that why you insisted on changing the prize to your own choosing? To draw some of them to your side," Axton said with a chuckle. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I appreciate that you accepted this selfish request of mine, but would you believe me if I said I genuinely want to spread the City''s own cultivation technique to more people?" Klown asked, his calm expression unchanged.


    "That depends," Axton said.


    "Depends on what?" Klown asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.


    "Depends on us," Axton replied, turning to the mayor along with the other two.

 Chapter 117 - 117: Conceded

    "Now you understand why I think we''re just frogs in a well," Yohan said as the match with the masked man ended. He turned to the person next to him.


    "It''s just a bunch of skills he learned beforehand," Michael smirked. "Anyone can do that. Who knows if he planned all this just to look cool and get the Headmasters'' attention?"


    "He clearly toyed with a 3rd-Step Foundation Building Stage opponent," Yohan pointed out.


    "So?" Michael stared at his rival.


    "You still don''t get it," Yohan chuckled condescendingly. "I''ve seen things that would shatter your ego."


    "My ego? Hahaha, is that why you''re acting like a coward?" Michael laughed as if he''d heard the funniest joke.


    "Laugh all you want," Yohan said, turning back to watch the stages. "I no longer consider you my rival."


    Hearing this, Michael''s laughter stopped abruptly. "Yeah, with your weak resolve, you don''t deserve to be my rival anymore."


    "No," Yohan shook his head. "That guy, I''m going to defeat him. Fighting you would just be a waste of my energy and time. Clearly, you''re nothing compared to him. If I defeat him, I''ll be above you."


    "What did you say?! Are you saying I''m weaker than that midget?!" Michael''s voice rose in anger.


    "Did I say that?" Yohan laughed. "I don''t recall saying anything like that, but you''re right! Hahaha!"


    Suddenly, a dark blue haze surrounded Michael, the roar of the Great Serpent emanating from his body, surprising the Martial Students around them who were watching the ongoing exam.


    "I don''t mind fighting again," Yohan''s smile widened as his body exuded the pressure of a 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage. He activated his Technique, causing his packed muscles to bulge, threatening to burst out of his Hanfu suit.


    A translucent serpent emerged from the haze around Michael, hissing at the brute in front of them. "Let''s settle this now, then!"


    As they were about to throw hands, they felt a pressure that made their bodies heavy, making it hard for them to breathe. They both turned in the same direction and saw a person wearing a simple white robe, staring at them with cold eyes.


    Like a bucket of cold water dousing their fiery tempers, the two of them calmed down, deactivating their Techniques simultaneously.


    "Hmph! Let''s meet on the final stage. This time, I''ll definitely crush you!" Michael said before turning around angrily and walking back to his designated room.


    ...


    "Those two are at it again," Gail said, staring across the room where Michael and Yohan were on the verge of brawling.


    "They consider each other rivals, and neither has gained an advantage since they joined the Martial School," Bel explained. "By the way, what room are you in?"


    "Room 11¡ªno, 15," Gail said. "Fortunately, we''re not in the same room."


    "Unfortunately, we are," Filly sulked from the side. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing this, the two of them laughed.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll hold back," Bel smiled.


    "Nah, I''ll immediately forfeit," Filly waved her hand. She and Bel were assigned to the same room and, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, they had the same number. This meant they would have to fight each other in the first round.


    "I can at least pretend I''m having a hard time fighting you¡ªyour father is watching, you know," Bel pointed at the floating platform with a nudge of her head.


    "Father? I don''t care about him," Filly chuckled. "I think he only came here for the visitors and to give face to the other families."


    "Miss Filly, I don''t think it''s like¡ª" Gail began, but Filly shushed her. "Alright."


    "Anyway, even if you don''t win now, you could at least try to increase your rank in the losing brackets," Bel said. "I''ve heard they''ll increase the resources based on rank."


    "Oh? Is that so?" Filly put a hand under her chin. "That includes money, right?"


    "Of course," Bel answered with a smile.


    "Then I''ll try! My restaurant could use that boost!"


    The three of them laughed, and soon enough, their room number was called.


    "Good luck," Gail said, waving her hand.


    Filly and Bel arrived on the stage. As soon as the fight began, Filly jumped off the stage.


    "I concede!" Filly said to the Referee, who ended the match without a word. This was common and had happened a few times already, so no one was surprised. It''s called being smart if you know you''re only going to end up defeated and badly injured if you try to fight. It''s not shameful to make a strategic retreat, but that doesn''t mean the audience will like it.


    "Boo!"


    Booing echoed from that side of the stage, which put a frown on Filly''s face.


    "Let them be," Bel said as she walked beside her friend. "They''re like that. When fights are boring, they don''t like it. They want drama and explosions."


    "Should I ban them from my restaurant?" Filly couldn''t help but ask. "I think it won''t be long before I can stand toe to toe with Skyline Savory!"


    "Skyline Savory?" Bel smiled. "Do you know who''s on the floating platform?"


    "Who?" Filly tilted her head as they headed for the exit.


    "The owner of Skyline," Bel answered.


    "Oh?" Filly raised an eyebrow. Although she hadn''t seen the owner, she already hated their guts.


    As the two talked, the audience suddenly exclaimed, making them turn to see what was happening. On one of the stages, two participants were fighting: one in a robe that covered their whole body, wearing a white mask that hid their identity, and the other from the Sword and Shield cultivation school.


    As usual, the student had the body of a bull, which wasn''t surprising, as most students from that school were brutes.


    The two participants were engaged in hand-to-hand combat, both covered in a glowing flower that blocked each other''s attacks.


    "He''s already using the Lily Valley technique he learned just a few days ago?" Bel muttered, surprise in her voice, as she looked at the mysterious person on stage.


    "Who is he?"

 Chapter 118 - 118: Aleks Investigation(Part-1)

    Apollo returned to his room and sat on the chair he had placed on the viewing deck. Leaning back to get comfortable, he watched the ongoing battles.


    He saw Martial Students using various techniques, some of which were strange, while others were straightforward but incredibly powerful¡ªstronger even than his Fire Blast. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking about his Fire Blast, he couldn''t help but admire its effects. His opponent had mentioned that it was already at the Intermediate stage, and as Apollo recalled the technique, he realized the Fire Shrine student was right. But Apollo hadn''t realized he had achieved that stage, which left him confused.


    All he had done was increase the output by gathering more Qi from the air, compressing it while maintaining the Fire Blast''s visual effects; otherwise, the fireball would have shrunk. But it seemed that what he did was essentially the technique''s intermediate stage. It was surprising because he didn''t rely on the technique in his mind¡ªinstead, he just followed his instincts.


    "This Fire Blast is very flexible," Apollo muttered. "Is it because it''s a common technique? That must be the case."


    Although he wasn''t sure, it felt right when he thought about it. Shaking his head, he continued to watch, and after a while, one of the stages caught his attention.


    It was a fight between a mysterious person and a student with bulging muscles. Their fists collided, producing a sound that made the audience shout in excitement. With flowers flying around them, the visual effects were so good that Apollo sat up straight to watch the fight more intently.


    Although the previous battles he had watched were flashy, this one was different. It offered him more detailed entertainment compared to battles filled with explosions, which made it hard to follow the participants'' movements.


    The fight only lasted 30 to 40 seconds before it ended with the muscle-bound student vomiting blood, flying into the air, and landing outside the stage. Another burst of excitement erupted from the audience.


    "That was a good fight," Apollo smiled. "And it seems like there are only two or three more rooms left before the first round ends."


    An hour or so later, the first round came to an end, and the second one started immediately. The white-robed person returned, holding a basket with papers in it.


    Just like before, the winners of each room took a paper with their number written on it. Some of them might draw a paper without a number, instead finding the word ''Pass'' written on it, though this only applied to rooms with an odd number of participants.


    Apollo stared at his number, which was 1, before looking around. Unlike before, they didn''t openly challenge their opponents. He then returned to his seat and waited. After a break of about 10 minutes, the exam continued.


    ¡­


    Back in Klown City, on the street where Filly''s Restaurant was located, patrons filled the inside, with some lining up outside.


    "Fried chicken coming right up!" Ned shouted, holding plates piled with fried chicken. After placing them on customers'' tables, he rushed back to the kitchen to get more orders.


    "Where''s the rest of the fried chicken?" Ned asked, noticing that there were only a few pieces left on the tray.


    "Can''t you see I''m still cooking them?" Temor replied. He was constantly moving, his hands multitasking as he fried the chicken while also cooking other meals at the same time. Fire flickered around him as he did his best to cook as fast as he could.


    "Oh, my bad," Ned said, grabbing the other dishes. "I''ll serve the other meals then."


    "Go tell them the fried chicken will be ready in five more minutes," Temor instructed.


    "Alright!" Ned replied before leaving the kitchen, while the other waiters came in to pick up some plates.


    Temor explained to them that he needed more time to cook more fried chicken. He never would have expected that after his boss left for the Advancement Examination, the number of patrons would suddenly increase¡ªeven more than before, when there wasn''t a Skyline branch yet.


    And the Examination hasn''t even ended yet!


    Though many people were at the venue, even more had decided to stay in the city and sightsee. Some had come from other cities and provinces.


    They expected an increase in diners, but Temor hadn''t anticipated this much! This was the first time he had to cook so many dishes since he became a chef!


    However, this was good for the restaurant. The boss would definitely be happy. Temor could also see that people were enjoying their food. Heck, he could even hear exclamations from diners praising how good the food was. As the chef responsible for all this, he couldn''t help but feel proud.


    On the first day, most customers ordered the upgraded version of meat cooked with coconut oil. On the second day, he cooked mostly scrambled eggs. But once they discovered the fried chicken, Temor''s hands were constantly busy.


    This forced him to expand his energy to use the Qi in the surroundings, and there were times when he was on the verge of vomiting and passing out. But he held on, for the sake of the restaurant and his loyalty to his boss.


    He cooked meat from a Winged Cow, Thunder Goat, and other Monster creatures using coconut oil, along with the fried chicken.


    The smell wafted out from the kitchen, causing some patrons to gulp unknowingly.


    The door opened as one of the customers waiting in line finally entered the restaurant. He looked around, and seeing the satisfied faces of the diners, a surprised expression appeared on his face.


    "What''s happening?" Alek, the assistant of Manager Fu, muttered. He stared at the food on the tables. The meat glistened in a bright red color, and he could even see how tender it was. At the same time, the smell made him gulp.


    He looked around more and saw a golden-yellow dish on a plate, along with some bread and milk. They all glistened with a substance he couldn''t quite identify, but it made the visuals more appetizing.


    Then his eyes landed on a golden-brown food held by a customer. The moment the customer bit into it, a crunching sound reached Alek''s ears, making him gulp unknowingly.


    "This¡­ I''m hungry." Alek touched his stomach before he found an empty table.

 Chapter 119 - 119: Aleks Investigation(Part-2)

    "Go do that and tell them the fried chicken will be ready in five more minutes," Temor instructed.


    "Alright!" Ned replied before leaving the kitchen, while the other waiters came in to grab some plates.


    Temor also explained to them that he needed more time to cook the additional fried chicken. He never would have expected that after his boss left for the Advancement Examination, the number of patrons would suddenly increase¡ªeven more than before, when there was no Skyline branch yet.


    And the examination isn''t even over yet!


    Although many people are at the venue, even more of them decided to stay in the city and sightsee. Some came from other cities and provinces.


    They had expected an increase in diners, but Temor hadn''t anticipated this much! This is the first time he''s had to cook so many dishes since becoming a chef!


    However, this is good for the restaurant. The boss will definitely be happy. He could also see that people were enjoying their food. Heck, he could even hear exclamations from the patrons about how good the food was. As the chef responsible for all this, he couldn''t help but feel proud.


    On the first day, most customers ordered the upgraded version of meat cooked with Coconut Oil. Then, on the second day, he cooked mostly scrambled eggs. But when they discovered the Fried Chicken, Temor''s hands were constantly busy.


    This forced him to expand his Energy to use the Qi in the surroundings, and there were times when he was on the verge of vomiting and passing out. But he held on, for the sake of the restaurant and his loyalty to his boss.


    He cooked meat from Winged Cows, Thunder Goats, and other monstrous creatures using Coconut Oil, along with the Fried Chicken.


    The smell wafted out from the kitchen, causing some patrons to gulp unknowingly.


    The door opened as one of the customers waiting in line finally entered the restaurant. He looked around, and upon seeing the satisfied faces of the diners, a surprised expression appeared on his face.


    "What''s happening?" Alek, the assistant of Manager Fu, muttered. He stared at the food on the tables. The meat was glistening with a bright red color, and he could see how tender it was. At the same time, the aroma made him gulp.


    He looked around more and saw a golden yellow dish on a plate, along with some bread and milk. They all glistened with a substance he couldn''t identify, but it made the visuals even more appetizing.


    Then his eyes landed on a golden-brown food item held by a customer. The moment the customer bit into it, a crunching sound reached Alek''s ears, making him gulp unknowingly.


    "This¡­ I''m hungry," Alek said, touching his stomach before finding an empty table.


    The next day.


    "We are not overthinking this," Manager Fu said through gritted teeth. Looking at the people lining up in front of Filly Restaurant, he felt like he didn''t deserve his position as the Skyline Savory manager for letting such a situation happen.


    The line in front of the restaurant across the street was almost as long as theirs!


    "Alek," Manager Fu turned to stare at his assistant. "Go investigate now. I want you to find out what''s going on inside. Also, order a meal and eat. Let''s see if they''re doing something we''re unaware of."


    "Don''t worry! I''ll give you a full report!" Alek said, bowing his head before walking out of the room. Already anticipating something like this, he had a set of clothes prepared. When he emerged from Skyline, he was dressed in a simple shirt, pants, and shoes, resembling a lowly commoner¡ªa disguise that made Alek want to discard the outfit immediately.


    But for the sake of his mission, he swallowed his disgust and joined the back of the line at Filly Restaurant.


    After some time, he finally got the chance to enter the restaurant, and the first thing he noticed was the number of diners. He looked around and saw what they were eating. Some were enjoying meat that glistened with some substance. The patrons were clearly savoring their meals.


    He also spotted a golden-yellow food he couldn''t identify, as well as a crunchy, golden-brown dish with white inside¡ªperhaps chicken, but likely from a monster.


    Alek gulped unknowingly. What the hell? He couldn''t believe it. The aroma inside was so tantalizing that he just wanted to order immediately and eat.


    But first, he needed to find an empty seat. As soon as he sat down, a waiter came over and handed him a menu.


    Alek didn''t say much and just started browsing the pamphlet.


    "Winged Cow cooked with Oil?" Alek muttered. "Oil? What''s that?" He noticed several dishes with the same word in their descriptions. There was even a dish called Chicken Cooked in Oil. It was just a simple chicken, not even a monster, and they dared to sell it? A frown appeared on his face.


    Who would buy something so basic?


    "Chicken cooked in oil, please!" someone shouted, making Alek turn towards the sound. He saw a patron a few tables away, with an empty plate in front of him. It seemed the customer wasn''t done eating yet, as he ordered another meal. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Coming right up!" the waiter answered enthusiastically. Although weariness showed on their faces, genuine smiles were still painted on their lips.


    Seriously? Someone really ordered such a dish?! Alek couldn''t believe it. With monster meat on the menu, why would anyone order an ordinary creature?


    There were dishes on the menu that he couldn''t recognize, like Scrambled Egg and Fried Chicken. He looked around once more and found that most people were eating that golden-brown food with meat inside. He then read the description of the dish on the menu and discovered they were eating the so-called Fried Chicken.


    With great curiosity¡ªand possibly because of the enticing aroma¡ªhe ordered the same dish as them.


    "One order of Fried Chicken," the assistant said to a passing waiter.


    "Alright, please wait a moment, sir," the waiter replied before heading to the kitchen but returned the next second, empty-handed.


    "I''m sorry, but would it be alright if you wait five more minutes?" the waiter asked apologetically.

 Chapter 120 - 120: Aleks Investigation(Part-3)

    "Five minutes? Alr¡ª" Alek was about to nod but stopped suddenly. This is the enemy''s restaurant¡ªif there''s a chance to make a scene and make them look bad... His eyes lit up before he coughed a few times. "Five minutes?! Why do I have to wait that long?!


    I came here to eat, not to wait!"


    His shout caused people to look in his direction; they even paused their meals as their eyes bore into the scene maker.


    Feeling the intense stares from all the patrons, Alek''s lips twitched. He didn''t know if they were looking at him with admiration or hate, but now that his voice had reached every corner of the restaurant, he had no choice but to continue.


    "Are you just going to stand there?! Is this how you treat your customers, by making them wait?!" Although it didn''t make sense, Alek continued, "I want my food right now!"


    "Feel free to leave," the waiter''s smiling face disappeared, replaced by a cold look as he motioned toward the door with both hands. "There are people waiting in line outside who would gladly take your spot."


    Hearing the response, which was the opposite of what he expected, Alek was left speechless. His mouth opened and closed several times before he finally found words to say.


    "Wow! So you''re willing to throw customers out?!" Alek shouted.


    "Let the next customer in," the waiter said.


    "Wait!" Alek immediately raised a hand, stopping them. "I''ll sit down and wait. It''s just five minutes, right? It won''t take that long."


    The waiter stared for a moment before a smile returned to his face. "Then our apologies for the wait."


    "Don''t worry about it!" Alek replied with a bitter smile. As the intense gazes gradually disappeared, he let out a sigh of relief. Sht, I messed up. Fortunately, they didn''t throw me out, or else my mission would have failed!* he thought with worry in his heart.


    Alek waited with a red face, feeling both shame and humiliation. He noticed that some of the diners were just commoners, while there were nobles on one side who simply focused on eating their food, unbothered by the lowlife beside them. They were probably just borderline nobles, on the verge of being demoted, Alek thought as he stared at them with disgust.


    Although he himself had been a commoner before he gained the position of Assistant, he worked for the great Skyline Savory, so technically, he was higher than most of them, right? He continued to think this as he waited for his food.


    Five minutes later, the waiter returned, holding a plate with the golden-brown fried chicken made from the Scavenger.


    "Here you go," the waiter said, placing the plate in front of Alek.


    Staring at the food in front of him, Alek couldn''t help but stab it lightly with a fork before bringing it closer for inspection. Like the other meals, it glistened with some kind of substance, though this particular dish wasn''t as excessive as the others. He sniffed it, and his eyes widened.


    It was the first time he''d smelled something like this¡ªstrange, but the appearance and aroma were very appetizing.


    Hearing the crunching sounds from other diners, Alek gulped. "This better not taste good." He didn''t want the food to be delicious¡ªwho would want their opponent to have a better product than them? Opening his mouth, he bit into the fried chicken. The crunch echoed inside his head, but it wasn''t the end yet as his teeth pierced through the white meat.


    Alek chewed, the crispiness echoing in his ears before the soft texture hit his taste buds. With a swallow, he stared at the fried chicken on the plate, his face impassive.


    However, deep inside, he was screaming. He was screaming at how delicious this dish was! What the f*ck?! Who made such godly food?! It''s so unfair that I''ve only tasted this now!


    Raising his hand, he continued eating his meal, immediately syncing with the symphony of the other diners as crunching sounds echoed inside the room.


    Alek had eaten Scavengers too many times to count. The meat of such monsters definitely tasted good, especially those adults with strength almost equal to a Qi Condensation stage. He would never get tired of it. But the Scavenger he was eating now was of a quality he had never experienced before¡ªthe way it was cooked surpassed anything he had ever tasted.


    It was like heaven and earth!


    Furthermore, the rough texture covering the meat was equally wonderful. Even the skin, which he hadn''t been fond of before, he ate with relish.


    Every order only had one fried chicken, and it didn''t take long for the Assistant to finish his food.


    Looking at the bone on the plate, Alek couldn''t help but lick his lips. "That was good!" And he wasn''t even full yet. He started to crave another one, his taste buds still yearning for the dish.


    Should I order another plate? Alek thought. He was here to investigate, not to have fun eating this new food. As he felt conflicted, he saw a waiter holding a plate with something yellow on top.


    Hmm, I should taste all of them so I can provide a more detailed explanation. With this in mind, his eyes lit up as he raised his hand and called for the waiter.


    "What''s that yellow food?" Alek asked.


    "Oh, that is called scrambled eggs with bread and milk," the waiter explained.


    "Then give me that," Alek ordered. As the waiter nodded and was about to go to the kitchen, Alek held him back. "You know what, I also want one of each meal on the menu."


    "Oh?" A rich patron? the waiter thought. "But you''ll probably have to wait at least 10 minutes."


    "10 minutes? Even if it takes an hour, I''ll wait!" Alek said. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back in the manager''s room at the Skyline Savory branch, Manager Fu was looking at the documents in his hand. It was the report on the restaurant''s sales and expenses. After a while, he put it down and stared at the clock.


    "It''s been an hour and a half now, and he''s still not done?" Manager Fu muttered, a frown appearing on his face. Shaking his head, he stood up from his seat and went to the window to look at the situation across the street.


    The line was already almost as long as the line at their restaurant. He looked around and saw that Alek was no longer in line. He was probably inside the restaurant by now. But what''s taking him so long?

 Chapter 121 - 121: The Final Winners(Part-1)

    Fire Blast!


    An explosion erupted, causing dust clouds to billow, charring the stage and shaking it. Someone shouted, and with a thud, hit the ground outside the platform. All kinds of sounds reverberated inside the arena¡ªfists colliding, explosions, the ground erupting¡ªbut the loudest were the shouts from the audience.


    Apollo lowered his right hand, sparks still flying around him. The referee in the distance announced that the fight was over and declared him the winner of the round.


    "Two more rounds to go," Apollo muttered, jumping off the stage and walking back to his room. Once inside, he noticed that only a few competitors were left. He returned to his seat to wait for his next fight.


    The examination had been going on for a few hours now, and it wouldn''t be long before the final winner of each room emerged.


    Apollo recognized most of the possible winners, who had displayed spectacular fights: Gail, that four-eyed woman; Bel Helflick; Michael; Yohan; that mysterious person who wore a full-body robe; and Arke, who fought without doing much except sending his opponent flying with a single punch.


    They were all potential winners of their respective rooms, and based on their performances, it was almost certain they would be the last ones standing.


    As he watched the ongoing exam, he noticed one of the stages was vacant, and Apollo''s prey walked toward it. That arrogant smile of his remained, treating the exam as nothing but child''s play.


    Ike''s opponent also stepped onto the stage. He had the same build as Ike and radiated an aura of confidence. Clearly, this opponent was not an average martial student.


    Seeing the two, Apollo sat up straight. "Seems like he''ll have to show some of his abilities," he muttered, a smile appearing on his face. It''s always better to know what your opponents can do, especially if you can find their weaknesses.


    The referee raised his hand, and the moment the fight began, Arke and his opponent dashed toward each other. With a resounding clash of their fists, a burst of wind erupted around them.


    Seeing the shockwave-like wind, Apollo couldn''t help but whistle. They were only displaying physical might, but their attacks felt like they were using special techniques. Apollo could even sense that if he took their attacks head-on, he would definitely be on the losing side.


    Although he knew his physical strength was far stronger than most, and could even be considered at the top due to his cultivation at the 4th-Step Qi Condensation stage, Apollo still felt that his strength wasn''t all that great. He had encountered opponents where a single punch could cause him injury.


    They probably train themselves in battle techniques that increase their strength, he thought. Most of his techniques only increased his battle prowess when he wanted them to. Of course, excluding the Simple Sword Technique and the Simple Movement Technique he had mastered, which made him feel like a part of them.


    Hmm, should I consider learning a technique that will increase my physical strength through training? Apollo pondered, not considering buying anything from the System Store. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, a roar sounded from the stage where Arke was fighting. His opponent was covered in a dark brown haze, with a translucent bear-like creature emerging from it.


    "That''s the Steel Bear Manifestation Technique from the Sword and Shield!" someone shouted beside him. Some martial students had decided to stay in the room even though they had already been defeated.


    That''s quite an intimidating name, Apollo thought as Arke''s opponent grew larger. Then, like a bear, he moved on all fours, dashing toward his smirking prey.


    The spectators watching the scene held their breath, eyes wide as they awaited the impact. But the expected collision didn''t come. Instead, in the next moment, water materialized around Arke, circling him for a moment before covering his right arm. The water formed into a vambrace, and at the same time, a sword made of water appeared in his hand.


    Raising his hand, Arke delivered a vertical slash, the ''sword'' creating a long, sharp, watery blade that extended from it.


    The bear-like opponent tried to stop and dodge the attack, but because of his speed, he couldn''t evade in time, resulting in him taking the slash head-on. Blood spurted as the Bear slid across the stage before stopping right in front of Arke.


    Arke then raised his foot and began stomping on the Bear''s head.


    Seeing this, Apollo could only shake his head. "This guy is really an *sshole." The fight ended with some of the white-robed men carrying the unconscious Bear to the area where they would heal him. Fortunately, he was still alive.


    The next fight that caught Apollo''s attention was between Bel and a perverted-looking guy who stared at her from head to toe while licking his lips.


    This is the kind of guy I want to beat up, Apollo thought, but it seemed like Bel did an even better job. Using a wooden broadsword she had chosen from the weapon rack, she beat the sh*t out of the pervert, mainly focusing on his face and below his abdomen.


    The men watching the scene could only look away, as they could somewhat feel what the pervert was going through. Even Apollo flinched when he heard Bel''s opponent scream like a little girl.


    It must have been very painful, and unconsciously, the Beggar had already covered his lifeline with his hands.


    After the fight ended, the white-robed men returned, carrying the bloodied participants to the healing room while the women cheered the most.


    The martial students with the most potential and talent went on stage one by one, and unsurprisingly, they became the final winners of their rooms.


    "As expected," Apollo muttered, standing up from his chair and stretching his body a bit. "I guess it''s time for the bigshots to fight."


    As his room and number were called, he started walking toward the arena. At the same time, someone else did the same, and they both walked side by side.


    "You''re just a f*cking commoner, aren''t you?" his opponent asked, a mocking smile on his face.


    Apollo turned to the student and remembered that this man was the blonde coward he had encountered on the way to the Examination''s venue. This guy had arrived in a chariot and insulted people along the way.


    He matched all the descriptions of the kind of person the Beggar wanted to beat up.

 Chapter 122 - 122: The Final Winners(Part-2)

    Apollo didn''t answer and just continued walking forward. However, the annoying fellow beside him didn''t stop running his mouth.


    "Hey, answer me! I''m talking to you!"


    "Okay, Blondy, you''ve got my attention," Apollo stopped, turning to the egotistical noble. How come he always encountered people like this? Is this the current meta in this world? he thought. He was tired of people like this. "Your words better be worth my time."


    "Haha," Blondy laughed. "Man, can''t you just answer your lord''s request? Why act so tough when you only know a few tricks?"


    "Lords? And what? Few tricks?" Apollo looked the man up and down, a mocking smile appearing on his face. "In my eyes, you''re just a kid pretending to be strong. But deep inside, you''re just a scared, brain-rotted young man who still pees his bed from time to time."


    Hearing this, Blondy''s expression turned incredulous, his eyes confused at first before his face reddened with fury.


    "What did you just say?!" Blondy raised his voice, fists clenched and teeth gritted.


    "You heard me," Apollo said before turning around and walking toward the arena in the distance.


    "I will f*cking kill you!" Blondy shouted from behind.


    Apollo didn''t answer, but a satisfied expression appeared on his face. Annoying these egotistical, silver-spooned nobles was really pleasurable, especially seeing their reddened faces. Apollo felt great satisfaction. Would he do it again? Definitely! He even wanted to actively seek them out just to fulfill his desire.


    Soon, the two of them jumped onto the stage, facing off against each other while Blondy stared at the Beggar with menacing eyes.


    "I will make you regret what you just said to me," Blondy said. This was the final round to determine the winner of their room, and he would never hold back. He wouldn''t even care if he ''accidentally'' killed this annoying masked man.


    "Then do it. You''re just wasting your breath with empty threats," Apollo said, smirking at the blonde.


    "Are you two ready?" the Referee asked after letting them trash-talk each other.


    "I was born ready," Apollo said, quoting a phrase he''d heard from a movie back in his previous life.


    "Ha, me too!" Blondy shouted.


    "Then let the fight begin!" The Referee brought down his hand, signaling that the battle had begun.


    Apollo readied himself, expecting his opponent to immediately attack him, but contrary to his expectations, Blondy just stood there, watching his every move.


    Oh? Smart? Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "You know, I''ve been watching your previous fights," Blondy said. "And I think I''ve found your weakness."


    "Is that so? Then do tell," the Beggar taunted, his expression remaining relaxed and calm.


    "You don''t engage much with your opponents and you prepare long-range attacks, which leads me to believe¡­" A confident smile appeared on Blondy''s face. "You''re not good at hand-to-hand combat."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes ''widened.'' "W-what do you mean? I''m actually very good at it."


    "Haha, you stutter, you f*cking commoner who thinks just because he defeated a few people, he deserves to stand in front of me," Blondy laughed aloud. He was sure he was correct, especially when he heard his opponent stutter when he mentioned the weakness.


    "W-why don''t we find out then!" Apollo said, his voice ''shaking.''


    "Sure, sure," Blondy said, lowering himself. "Too bad, hand-to-hand is my forte."


    With a bang, Blondy instantly appeared in front of the masked man, his fist already coming down to hit Apollo''s. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But in this slowed-down world, a cunning smile appeared on the Beggar''s face.


    Sigh¡­ these people are really just fools.


    With a resounding crack, Blondy''s fist exploded into his opponent''s face, surprising him. However, what happened next made him shiver. The "masked person" in front of him turned into water before splashing onto the ground.


    "Wow, that''s a great punch, to be honest, though it would have been better if you hit the real one," a voice sounded from behind. When Blondy turned around, he saw Apollo in the distance, looking at him with a mocking smile.


    "You!" Blondy''s face turned even redder than before. "You coward!"


    "Coward?" Apollo chuckled. "Then let''s see who the real coward is!"


    He raised his hand and started gathering Qi from the surroundings into his palm, converting it into a fiery blaze that sparked around him. All this time, this was the technique he''d mainly been using, along with Hydra Mirage and True Hardening, if his opponent managed to close in on him. As time passed, his control over Fire Blast was becoming easier and faster.


    This was probably why Blondy thought he wasn''t good at hand-to-hand combat, which was somewhat true. Apollo still hadn''t met anyone who made him think otherwise about his ability to fight with only his fists.


    With his conjuring time faster than before, he fired at his opponent, the fireball speeding toward him threateningly!


    Seeing this, Blondy used his Movement Technique, which made his body faster and lighter. He immediately dodged to the side, his previous spot exploding into charred ground.


    "Sh*t!" Blondy cursed as he felt the intense heat. "Let''s fight using only our fists!"


    "Hahaha, no way!" Apollo shouted back as he fired another Fire Blast.


    Continuous explosions sounded on the stage while Blondy dodged each of them. But some of the residue landed on him, making his steps unstable, which led to one of the Fire Blasts landing directly on him.


    A burst of excitement erupted from the audience. Every time this half-masked fighter was on stage, explosions always rang out, which was exactly what the audience wanted.


    The dust cloud churned, and Blondy flipped a couple of times in the air before landing on the edge of the stage.


    His body was red, like he had just been cooked. After coughing a couple of times, Blondy wiped his mouth and saw blood on his hands.


    "How does your own blood taste?" Apollo asked, walking towards his opponent with slow, deliberate steps.


    Blondy looked down, not answering the question.


    "Eh? What''s wrong, dude?" Seeing that the student still didn''t answer, Apollo couldn''t help but tilt his head.


    "How much?" Blondy asked, still looking down.


    "How much?" Apollo repeated, confused by what his opponent meant.


    "How much for you to jump off the stage? I will pay!" Blondy looked up, his eyes radiating determination, but there was still fear in them. F*ck it! This is humiliating, but if I can''t defeat someone, then I will just have to use money!


    Apollo couldn''t help but feel shocked when he heard this. Seriously, you just got hit once, and now you''re giving up on fighting and instead want to buy me off to forfeit this match? Just how cowardly are you?!

 Chapter 123 - 123: The Final Winners(Part-3)

    "Do you think I will just agree to your terms?" Apollo scoffed at the coward before him. Although Blondy was on the ground, half-kneeling, their heights were still almost the same.


    "One thousand gold coins," Blondy said, gritting his teeth.


    "Then we have a d¡ª" Apollo''s smile turned stiff before a serious expression returned to his face. "Even if it''s ten thousand gold coins, I will never agree!"


    "Eleven thousand gold coins!" Blondy shouted, his eyes turning red and veins popping out on his forehead. This was the amount of money he had saved up for as long as he could remember. Why? For this exact moment!


    Apollo''s eyes widened. Eleven thousand?! This guy is f*cking rich!


    "Well¡­" Apollo''s voice trailed off as a look of deep thought crossed his face.


    Seeing his opponent conflicted, Blondy felt that with one more push, he would finally succeed in coercing this man.


    "Come on, that''s a great deal. Even to us nobles, that is already a high sum, more so to lowly commoners like you," Blondy said, an arrogant smile appearing on his face. Take it, you fool, before I lose my patience!


    Apollo''s conflicted expression disappeared, replaced by a determined smile. "You know what? I think I will accept it."


    "Hahaha, good, good, as expected from people like you," Blondy laughed, standing up and patting his clothes. "Don''t worry, I''ll give you the money. So why don''t you jump now?"


    "In your dreams," Apollo said, raising his hand and gathering the surrounding Qi into his palm, converting it into a raging fire!


    Because of their proximity, the heat was so intense that the air distorted. At this distance, even a common technique could be deadly.


    "You!" Blondy''s eyes widened in disbelief. In my dreams?! "You think I''m a pushover?!"


    "Yup, and a coward. Do you need me to repeat myself?" Apollo asked as the fire in his hand grew larger. If his attack landed, who knew what state Blondy would end up in afterward.


    The Beggar glanced to the side and noticed the Referee slightly lowering himself, probably preparing to interfere to save Blondy''s life. Apollo already knew that the Referee''s strength was at least at the Qi Condensation stage, though he wasn''t sure of the specific step. But Apollo remained resolute; this guy had been getting on his nerves ever since they first met.


    "Don''t make me do this, you piece of sh*t!" Blondy shouted through gritted teeth.


    "Oh? You have something up your sleeve?" Apollo smiled. "Then show me!"


    Without saying another word, the Beggar fired his Fire Blast! At the same time, the Referee instantly appeared beside them, but he was still a step too late as a resounding explosion erupted.


    Two figures flew through the air, flipping several times before landing on the stage.


    Apollo stared at the cloud of dust that covered almost half the stage. He ignored the Referee, who was glaring at him with deadly eyes.


    "If your opponent ends up dead, I will have to disqualify you, and you will be sent to prison for questioning," the Referee said.


    "Shh." Apollo raised a finger to his lips, signaling for the Referee to be quiet.


    "You¡ª" The Referee''s eyes twitched, but he held his tongue and continued to stare at the cloud of smoke. He realized there must be something else he had missed for this small masked man to act so confidently.


    And he was right, for as the dust cloud began to settle, a silhouette appeared within it.


    However, this time, they felt something different.


    "Hehe, the fight isn''t over yet," Apollo said, turning to the Referee. "And it seems like he''s more than alive and kicking."


    The Referee didn''t respond and instead stepped back to fulfill his duty. But deep inside, he felt doubt creeping into his heart. Why did that guy use that technique now? And why did he try to buy off his opponent with such a ridiculous amount of money?


    The Referee pondered this but didn''t take long to arrive at a possible answer. He glanced at the floating platform and saw the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School nodding his head at him.


    Meanwhile, Apollo stared intently at the dissipating dust cloud. He could sense that something about Blondy had changed. Being at the 3rd Step of the Foundation Building Stage, Blondy could exert a pressure that would make a normal person suffocate, but what he was emanating now was beyond that.


    It was a natural feeling of being overwhelmed, something Apollo had only felt when he confronted Yohan, a cultivator at the 4th Step of the Foundation Building Stage. Apollo couldn''t do the same, even though he was at the same stage, probably because of his status as a Beggar.


    Can the trick up his sleeve increase his cultivation stage by one? Apollo wondered as the dust cloud completely cleared, revealing Blondy. His muscles were bulging, threatening to burst out of his clothes. His blonde hair now resembled a lion''s mane, reaching down his back, and his hands had grown sharp, pointy nails.


    "I told you not to make me do this!" Blondy said in a hoarse voice, his lion-like teeth on full display.


    "Well, too late, you already did it," Apollo shrugged. Then he squinted as he ''saw'' the Qi surrounding Blondy was chaotic, swirling around him like it didn''t know what to do. As the Beggar cultivated the Revised Simple Breathing Technique, he had become more sensitive to Qi than before.


    What''s wrong with his Qi? Apollo thought. Even though the Qi was chaotic outside, some of it still managed to enter Blondy''s body, enabling him to use his current technique.


    "I will make you regret refusing my offer!" Blondy roared. He bent his knees, cracking the floor beneath him. With a powerful push, he propelled himself toward the Beggar!


    Seeing this, Apollo raised his hand and unleashed another Fire Blast. With a bang, the fire exploded, but Blondy emerged from it unscathed, reaching Apollo in no time.


    Apollo activated his Hydra Mirage, and mist poured out from him, coalescing into ten clones. The lifelike clones immediately swarmed the humanoid lion, kicking and punching him. However, Blondy needed only a single swipe of his hand to make two or three clones disappear into splashes of water. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the last clone was slashed in half, Blondy looked around but couldn''t find his opponent. Suddenly, he sensed a threat from above, and when he looked up, he saw the half-masked man descending on him, covered in a subtle glow with a fist poised to strike his head!


    With a roar, Blondy responded with his own punch!

 Chapter 124 - 124: The Final Winners(Part-4)

    "D*mn it, some of them managed to learn Lionsoul Transformation," Elmo muttered, cursing under his breath as he saw the lion-like human on one of the stages. "Although he barely learned it, seeing my school''s techniques getting stolen is still annoying."


    There were already participants in the third exam showcasing techniques that were not meant for them, clearly stolen from the martial schools. Since each martial school kept records of what was lost, they could easily identify if a student was using a stolen technique.


    However, they decided not to immediately disqualify the students. Instead, they allowed them to fight before issuing the disqualification. The Referees had already been informed about this.


    "Why is your school so obsessed with Transformation Techniques? They have a lot of drawbacks," Master Popo said from the side, holding a cup of alcohol filled to the brim.


    "It''s because true strength comes from one''s own fists!" Elmo said, puffing up his chest and smiling proudly. With his build resembling a big bear, his chest muscles looked like they were about to burst out of his fitted hanfu robe.


    "I can burn a Black Poison Lion with just a snap," Master Popo said.


    "Did I ask you?" Elmo replied, raising an eyebrow at the exhibitionist.


    "No, just sharing information in case you turn into one," Master Popo laughed before taking a sip of his wine.


    "Don''t argue," Axton said, noticing that Elmo''s forehead was already throbbing. "We have more important matters at hand."


    All this time, they were communicating through their collective mind.


    "Thought Transfer?" someone asked, stopping beside the three Headmasters. There were other Headmasters present, but they considered the Great Serpent, Sword and Shield, and Fire Shrine as their leaders, so they didn''t stand out.


    "We are," Axton said, this time speaking out loud.


    "I see," Mathias nodded but didn''t ask what they were discussing. "I''ve heard what happened."


    "About what?" Axton asked, his eyes returning to the fight between the half-masked man who displayed great talent and techniques and the half-lion.


    "Thieves stealing cultivation and battle techniques," Mathias answered, his eyes shifting back and forth between the two fighters on a particular stage. The two kept changing locations as their fists resounded each time they struck. At the same time, the half-masked small man kept sending out clones, seemingly disregarding his energy reserves. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, I guess everyone must have heard about it already," Axton said.


    "Probably," Mathias nodded before pointing at the humanoid lion with a tilt of his head. "Is he one of them?"


    "He is not a thief, but he is one of the students using the stolen techniques acquired by the real thieves," Elmo explained while Master Popo wandered over to the table filled with food.


    They didn''t lower their voices, but they also didn''t speak too loudly. However, as most of the people on the floating platform were cultivators, they pricked up their ears to listen carefully.


    "Oh?" Mathias stared at the Headmasters with a raised eyebrow. "Does this involve all the martial schools in the city?"


    "The three of us, and some others," Axton replied.


    "Hmm," Mathias frowned. "Something fishy."


    "Haha, it''s very smelly, if I must say," Elmo chuckled while Axton revealed a small smile.


    "An organization, perhaps?" Mathias muttered. "Do you need my help?"


    Hearing this, the cultivators on the platform stopped what they were doing and listened more carefully. If these Headmasters joined forces along with the only Core Creation expert in the city, it would be the strongest alliance in the history of Klown City!


    "What''s he up to?" Nathan muttered with a frown on his face. He was in the middle of a discussion with one of the noble families about some trade goods. Among the people who had joined forces to fight against that Alphadusk Shadowtail, he and Mathias were the only ones who decided to watch the Advancement Examination.


    Even Holst was not here, though that wasn''t strange; he was probably handling the city''s matters in place of the Mayor, who was currently watching the Examination.


    "We didn''t even agree to help you with your matter regarding the wolf; how can we agree?" Axton said. "So, did you kill it?"


    "Just let me know, my arms are always open," Mathias laughed. "And yes, we did kill it, but we lost dozens."


    "As long as you killed it, that''s what really matters!" Elmo said. "Come to think of it, was it a female?"


    "We do not know. It didn''t have private parts. Why do you ask?" Mathias stared at the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield with curiosity in his eyes.


    "Nothing, I just remembered something, but it''s probably not true," Elmo waved his hand dismissively.


    "I see."


    Suddenly, a banging sound echoed, and they turned to the ongoing battle between the masked man and the half-lion.


    ...


    Apollo managed to send Blondy flying with his Fire Blast Technique. However, he was not done yet, as he sent another Fire Blast, which landed on the already standing humanoid lion.


    With a loud explosion, winds caused chaos on the stage, making Apollo''s robe flap in the wind. At the same time, the sound of something hitting the ground reached his ears, making him stare at the dissipating dust cloud. He saw Blondy on his knees.


    The Qi around him had become more chaotic, and it seemed like it wouldn''t be long before it stopped clinging to the humanoid lion.


    "So I was right," Apollo said, walking towards his opponent. "Your technique¡ªyou haven''t fully learned it. I think you barely reached the beginner stage, and it''s already taking a toll on your body."


    "S-shut up!" Blondy shouted, glaring at the Beggar angrily. "Fck you! Why didn''t you accept my offer, huh? You think so highly of yourself, is that it?! You''re just a fcking commoner!"


    Apollo stopped in front of Blondy. Even though they were the same height, his opponent was already kneeling. The Beggar''s pressure made the blonde lower himself even further.


    "Commoner?" Apollo smirked before leaning forward and whispering in Blondy''s ear, "I''m lower than a commoner. I''m a f*cking beggar. And I don''t fear nobles, especially ones like you."


    Hearing this, Blondy''s eyes widened. He couldn''t believe it. This man, who could use Hydra Mirage with ten clones, an intermediate Fire Blast, and True Hardening, called himself a beggar?


    Their fight had only lasted a few minutes, but Blondy realized that no matter what he did, he couldn''t hit his opponent, and even if he did, it would turn out to be just a clone.


    The Fire Blast kept hitting him, causing him to become infuriated until he lost control of his Lionsoul Transformation, which weakened its effects. True to its destructive nature, the Fire Blast landed on him, leaving him in this state.


    "W-what do you want? Just jump off the stage, and I will grant it!" Blondy said as his body returned to normal.


    "You think I''m a fool?" Apollo smirked, shaking his head. "But you can grant me one thing."


    "Tell me!" Blondy''s eyes regained a glimmer of hope.


    "Don''t cry to your mama when you get home," Apollo said, though he regretted it the next moment, realizing how cringe it sounded. But before Blondy could respond, Apollo pushed him, and with only one or two steps to the edge, Blondy fell off the stage.

 Chapter 125 - 125: The Final Winners(Part-5)

    A white-robed man went to retrieve the fallen Blondy, who kept shouting at them.


    "Hey! I''m not that injured! Where are you taking me?!" Although he could feel pain all over his body and was greatly exhausted, it wasn''t to the point where he wanted to be taken by them just to heal his injuries. In fact, he could do it himself using the healing items he had brought along, and he would fully recover in a few hours.


    But the white-robed men didn''t answer; they just dragged him out of the venue while he kept shouting.


    Apollo, watching all this, shook his head. At the same time, he heard the announcements from the other stages that their rounds had also ended. He saw Bel standing alone on one of the stages and the other competitors on another stage. Clearly, they had won without a hiccup.


    He didn''t see Gail, probably because she would be among the fighters for the next round.


    "Seems like no surprises for the expected winners of each room," Apollo muttered as he jumped off the stage and headed back to his room.


    Along the way, Bel approached him. "You did great."


    "So did you," Apollo responded.


    "Your opponent belongs to one of the noble families in the city. Although he doesn''t belong to the three main Martial Schools, his status makes up for it," Bel said.


    "Oh? So?" Apollo glanced at her, though he already had an idea why she was saying this.


    "They are petty, and they definitely won''t let go of you," Bel chuckled before nodding towards the platform. "Just look at that man¡ªhe''s clearly staring at you like you''re a dead person."


    Apollo turned to see a middle-aged man standing beside the railing of the platform, looking at him coldly. Just like Blondy, whom he had just fought, the middle-aged man also had the same hair color. Nevertheless, Apollo raised his hand and waved at the man like an old friend.


    "What are you doing?" Bel asked with a frown, lowering the small masked man''s hand. "Aren''t you afraid?"


    "Why would I be?" Apollo asked back, a smile forming on his face. "They don''t know me. Actually, no one knows me. I''m a ghost, and I can disappear whenever I want."


    Hearing this, Bel had a look of understanding for a moment before she shook her head. "You''re right, no one knows you, but it doesn''t mean that will remain forever. They are one of the noble families; their strength and resources are beyond what a Foundation Building Cultivator can handle. Well, unless you have some sort of backing, like a Martial School."


    Apollo stared at Bel with a raised eyebrow. This woman sounded like the System for a moment.


    "Okay, I get it," Apollo said before hurriedly walking away, leaving Bel staring at his back with a speechless smile.


    Shaking her head, she noticed Gail walking past the masked man and stopping in front of her.


    "Gail, what''s up?" Bel asked in confusion, seeing the serious look on the girl''s face.


    "Nothing, I just feel a bit uneasy," Gail said, smiling bitterly. Somehow, ever since the third test began, she had been feeling this way. Her heart beat faster than normal, and this feeling¡ªvaguely¡ªshe felt when facing danger. As someone trained to be an assassin, she was sensitive to threats, but so far, she hadn''t seen anything suspicious besides the ''power-ups'' of some of the Martial Students.


    "You know, women''s instincts are stronger than men''s," Bel sighed. "I also feel a bit uneasy now that you mention it."


    "S-Something like danger coming your way?" Gail hesitantly asked.


    "Right! Haha, I guess great minds think alike," Bel chuckled. "Anyway, good luck!"


    "Thanks."


    ...


    One after another, the winner of each room was finally decided. Master Popo flew back to the central stage, and at the same time, the other stages started moving until the whole stage became one once more. The two-football-field-wide stage was like a behemoth in the middle of the venue.


    "I would like to congratulate the winners of each room who displayed amazing skills and battle techniques," Master Popo said, though his nonchalant tone might have suggested a lack of sincerity.


    "The third test is not yet done, as we still need to determine who will be the top one," Master Popo continued, looking around the venue. The audience watched with great excitement, but he could see that some of them were exhausted. "But before that, we will take an hour break before continuing the Exam.


    Use this time to eat and replenish your energy, as the Exam will only get more exciting from here on out!"


    With that said, the audience shouted, their voices reverberating inside the venue.


    At the top of the platform, the important people were talking among themselves, including Klown, who was having a heartfelt conversation with the leader of the delegations.


    "I was wondering, where is your granddaughter? I thought you came with her?" Klown asked.


    "She''s probably back in your city, fooling around," the old man said.


    "You are blessed to have such a granddaughter. I''ve heard she is the most talented cultivator in your city, right?"


    "She is, and no one else will be," the old man said, a proud smile appearing on his face.


    "Haha, you are right!" Klown laughed. The way he moved and talked made him seem very approachable, like a defenseless, wobbling middle-aged man. But the Families and the Headmasters thought otherwise, though they didn''t say anything. "But if she''s back in the city, she should go to the Skyline Savory. I bet she will have the time of her life there!"


    Hearing this, the other visitors walked towards him, and their voices echoed as they shared how much they wanted to go there.


    "Don''t worry, don''t worry!" Klown waved his hand. "Although we may be far away from them, it doesn''t mean that their food is not. Besides, I''ve prepared a special meal for all of us here!"


    The visitors'' eyes lit up, and even some of the family heads, as they already had an idea of what the mayor was referring to.


    As they continued their talk, Klown suddenly frowned, though it only lasted for a second before the ''amiable'' smile returned to his face. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Excuse me for a second, I need to go to the bathroom," Klown said, standing up while adjusting his expensive attire. Then he started walking towards the exit, but unbeknownst to him, a few people noticed the strangeness.


    Axton and Elmo looked at each other while Mathias remained quiet.

 Chapter 126 - 126: Klowns Plan

    Cultivators are known to move mountains, split the sea, and pull giant blazing rocks from the sky. This is all true¡ªthey can do many things unimaginable to normal men. Just like how they reconstructed the tallest mountain in the area of Klown City.


    In one of the quiet corridors leading to a bathroom area in the mountain, the sound of footsteps echoed as an obese man waited beside the wall.


    "Holst," Klown said, seeing his butler walking toward him.


    "My Lord," Holst bowed his head, and compared to when he did it for other people, his bow was almost vertical.


    "How did it go?" Klown asked, his face serious. The amiable smile he had displayed to the visitors was long gone. He radiated an aura of coldness and fierceness at the same time. If one looked at him and compared him to when he was around people, it was like comparing heaven and earth¡ªno, it was like comparing heaven and hell.


    "I think you must have heard already that we managed to kill the Alphadusk," Holst said. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ve heard about it. It''s such a shame that he''s still alive," Klown said. "What I want to know is, did you get it?"


    "I did," Holst nodded, taking out an object from within his suit. It was a small glass jar with a wooden cap that could fit in one''s palm. Inside the jar was a dark green liquid that swayed as the butler handed it to the mayor.


    Taking a close look at it, Klown smiled lightly before handing it back. "Tell our alchemist to recreate it as soon as possible."


    "Will do, my lord," Holst put the jar back inside his suit. What was inside the glass jar was the same liquid they used to immobilize the Alphadusk. It was created by Helen, the branch manager of the Alchemist House, who handed them three objects at the last minute, ensuring their victory.


    Holst took that chance to steal one of the jars, which was now inside his suit. They would definitely find out that one of the jars was missing, but he didn''t care, as he was confident that they would never know he had stolen it.


    "Hehe, luck was on our side that the Alpha happened to stay in that forest," Klown couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "It''s your wits that have brought us one step closer to completing our plan," Holst said, his squinted eyes remaining the same, but his lips had already turned into a smile.


    "I know," Klown nodded, not humble in taking the credit. "But they have sniffed us out."


    "Those three Headmasters?" Holst asked.


    "Yes," Klown nodded. "They are really smart, but they can''t do a thing with only their suspicions. What''s the situation with the Cultivation Techniques and the Battle Techniques?"


    "They have been distributed to dozens of people, cultivators or not, and it''s only a matter of time before more find out," Holst answered.


    "Good. We will lie low for the time being. The stolen techniques are out in the open. No matter how much they want to minimize the damage, what''s done is done. The situation is favoring us," Klown said. "Furthermore, we put a strong Mind Binding on the thieves.


    If anyone tries to pry into it, it will kill them."


    Klown orchestrated all of this by sending some of his men to steal the techniques from the Martial School. Of course, it was harder than it sounded, and many of his men had died trying. However, what mattered more was the end result, as they managed to complete the mission. Besides, there were plenty of disposable men he could deploy.


    "But the Headmasters¡ªthey will never let this slide," Holst warned.


    "I know," Klown said with a confident smile, "but it will be too late for them."


    The Headmasters of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, the Sword and Shield, and the Fire Shrine Martial School are not to be trifled with. Furthermore, besides them, there are noble families who are against the mayor.


    Klown has many obstacles he needs to overcome to complete his plan, and one of them, who is on the same level as the Headmasters or even higher, is the Helflick Family Head, Mathias.


    Thinking about that man, Klown knew that Mathias was playing it safe. There''s no way a Core Creation Cultivator couldn''t sense that something was brewing within the city, but he hadn''t done anything to show his stance¡ªat least, not until a moment ago, when Mathias openly said that his arms were open to help the Headmasters.


    "Mathias, he''s siding with them," Klown muttered in a low voice.


    Hearing this, Holst didn''t seem surprised. "My Lord, isn''t that why you wanted his girl to die?"


    "Haha, you are right," Klown said, patting Holst on the shoulder. "I bet she tasted good. Anyway, tell that kid to do his best. Let him know that I''m watching him."


    Klown was referring to Arke, who he had tasked with killing Bel Helflick.


    "I will. But what about his other mission? He isn''t showing any signs of progress," Holst asked.


    "Who said I''m letting him go, even if he completes all his missions?" Klown''s eyes turned cold as he licked his lips. "Besides, Leone is no more, and even if that kid lives, there''s nothing he can do. I just want my plan to be perfect."


    The two talked for a while before they parted ways. Klown''s amiable and friendly smile returned the moment he arrived at the floating platform, while Holst went to find Arke.


    Master Popo was already back, eating fruits and drinking wine with the others. Fortunately, he was standing¡ªotherwise, the moment he took his seat, he would display something inappropriate.


    "Everyone, sorry for the wait," Klown said. "I called for the food along the way, so eat as much as you can and don''t hold back!"


    With a clap, the waiters entered the platform, holding trays filled with delicacies. What stood out the most was the meat, and the intense aroma coming from it made the onlookers gulp unknowingly.


    "What kind of monster did you kill for this meat to have such an aroma?" one of the visitors asked with a laugh.


    "It was Alphadusk Shadowtail," Klown answered, and the moment his words fell, the visitors exclaimed in surprise.


    "Really?! Wow, then we must taste this!"

 Chapter 127 - 127: Apollos Bowel(Part-1)

    When a Cultivator reaches a certain stage, they no longer need to use a bathroom, as their body destroys the unnecessary ''objects'' inside them. However, for those at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage, they still need to relieve themselves once in a while, although they can use simple techniques to make their body destroy any foreign entities.


    But Apollo doesn''t know this fact and doesn''t have such a technique, so he stood up from his chair and left his room. At the moment, he was the only one in room nine. He went out to find someone to ask for directions to the bathroom.


    "Thank you," Apollo said before following the person''s instructions.


    Along the way, he observed the structure around him and couldn''t help but sigh in amazement. "Cultivators are really amazing; they managed to reconstruct this mountain." Although the place looked simple, it still left an impression of grandeur.


    Apollo walked for a while before he saw the path that led to the bathroom, but when he got there, there was a long line of people waiting to go inside. Fortunately, there were two bathrooms¡ªone for men and the other for women¡ªor it would have been very weird if this world only had open bathrooms.


    Thinking about this, the Beggar began to wonder what their bathrooms looked like. Ever since he arrived in this world, he had only taken a sh*t and piss in places not many people knew about. It was his safe haven where he could think freely, and that''s also where he greatly appreciated having the Cleaning Bead he bought from the System Store.


    The bead cleaned whatever its light covered, including his ''disposals'' and the places where they came from.


    "Do they even have a toilet?" Apollo muttered. Seeing the line again, he concluded that it would take some time before his turn arrived. Shaking his head, he decided to go to another bathroom area.


    Because the Martial Schools expected a great number of people to attend, they reconstructed the mountain to have as many bathrooms as possible to accommodate everyone''s needs.


    It only took Apollo a few minutes to reach the next area, but just like the first bathroom, there was another line of people waiting.


    "Sh*t, actual sh*t," Apollo cursed. Why didn''t they do this earlier? It''s not like they were forbidden when the exam was still ongoing! Shaking his head, he went to another area, but it was still the same¡ªpeople lining up, waiting to relieve themselves.


    In the end, it took him almost twenty minutes just to end up not being able to use a bathroom.


    "F*cking hell," Apollo sighed. "It seems like I''ll have to find a secluded place."


    With this in mind, he went down a corridor through twists and turns. However, he immediately stopped when he felt something strange in the air.


    What''s this? Apollo looked ahead and could ''see'' the Qi moving in a certain pattern. Although it was subtle, it was enough for him to notice.


    It looks like a wavelength, the Beggar thought, following the Qi slowly. He put the matter of his bowel behind him, as he was more curious about this phenomenon.


    The Qi that moved in a pattern was in a left corridor a few meters away from him, and the closer he got, the stronger the wavelength became.


    As he was about to turn left, he suddenly recalled something. This wavelength¡­ can I tap into it? It was just a hunch, but somehow, Apollo felt like he could do it.


    Apollo felt like he had seen this sort of wavelength in his previous life. Furthermore, it was the frequencies that made him more familiar with it. It was like he was looking at a signal being sent to a ''receiver.''


    Stopping beside the wall, he closed his eyes to feel the Qi more closely. Although he couldn''t see the surrounding structure, he could still sense the Qi around him, especially the wavelength-like Qi.


    He followed the frequencies coming from it, matching them with his own by gathering the Qi behind him. Suddenly, a voice entered his mind, making him abruptly open his eyes.


    "I didn''t know you could make other people use Thought Transfer," someone said, the sound echoing inside his head.


    "I just pulled you into my own Thoughts," another voice replied.


    Apollo frowned. He couldn''t recognize the second voice, but he knew the first one. Arke? And what''s this Thought Transfer? Is that what they''re doing right now?


    "So, why did you call for me? Is it about that kid?" Arke asked.


    "It''s one of the reasons. Now that you brought it up, how did it go? Did you find the kid?"


    "Of course I did," Arke said in a light tone. Clearly, he was confident in his words. "That Leone kid, I will bring his body to the mayor."


    Apollo, who had been listening, couldn''t help but tilt his head. Are they talking about me? And who''s the person Arke is talking to? He also mentioned the mayor. Suddenly, he realized that he had stumbled upon a big secret.


    He held his breath and continued to ''listen'' to the conversation. Apollo didn''t want them to know that he was eavesdropping. Furthermore, if logic served him right, the person Arke was talking to was probably the ''mastermind,'' and behind this mastermind was another one: the mayor, that obese man on the platform.


    Excitement, thrill, and anticipation of what could happen made Apollo''s eyes shine brightly. Actually, the Beggar had already suspected that something was going on within the city, which was not surprising considering that, even in his previous life, shady business ran rampant in the shadows. He just didn''t know what the business was here.


    Apollo continued to listen to the cold and husky voice.


    "Make sure you do your missions right, especially with that girl. Kill her, and this is the only chance we will give you. You know what will happen if you fail, right?"


    "I know. I will probably get eaten. But I don''t taste good," Arke''s voice lowered, tinged with some bitterness.


    Eaten? Apollo made a note of this word. There was probably another meaning that only they knew. And who is this girl they''re talking about?


    "Bel Helflick. She will prove to be a challenge for you. Are you confident?"


    "Don''t look down on me," Arke said, evidently offended by the man''s words as his voice rose. "If I wanted to kill her, she wouldn''t be able to do a thing."


    "Oh, is that so? Just so you know, she can also enter the Void, and her progress is far beyond yours."


    "But she''s a b*tch and doesn''t have the courage and battle wits that I do," Arke said.


    "If you say so. I''ve already told you the consequences if you fail." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I got it."

 Chapter 128 - 128: Apollos Bowel(Part-2)

    Apollo listened for a while until the voices completely disappeared from his mind.


    "We will watch your performance."


    It seems like they have left, the Beggar thought. Shaking his head, he decided to go find a place to relieve himself. But as soon as he moved forward, someone came out from the left corridor and collided with him.


    Apollo fell on his bottom.


    "Ouch!" the Beggar yelled. Looking up with a frown under his mask, he saw a man wearing a black suit, with a monocle adorning his left eye.


    "Oh my, are you okay?" the man, who appeared to be in his 30s or 40s, asked with concern in his voice.


    "Y-yeah, thank you for asking," Apollo said, standing up while patting his back.


    "That''s good to hear," the man said, bowing slightly.


    Apollo stared at the person in front of him and realized that this was the same man Arke had been talking to. The voice clearly matched, so there was no doubt about it. He immediately brought up the System Store to buy an item that could change his face for an hour. The moment the item took effect, he suddenly felt an invasive force trying to get past his Mask defense, which immediately broke.


    "My apologies for bumping into you. I am Holst, the butler of the Mayor. If you need some compensation, feel free to ask," Holst said, bowing once more.


    "Haha, no need. I just fell, and I''m a Cultivator. It''s only a small matter," Apollo said, waving his hand while feeling relieved; otherwise, a second later, his real face would have been revealed.


    "If you say so," Holst smiled slightly, his squinted eyes unchanged. "Then excuse me."


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, and the two walked past each other.


    After taking a couple of steps, Holst turned around and shouted, "Wait!"


    "Why?" Apollo also turned to stare at the butler.


    "How long have you been standing here?" Holst asked, pointing at the corner of the left corridor.


    "A minute or two. My bowels are acting strange, so I needed to take a breather," Apollo said, putting a hand over his stomach and starting to massage it. "You know, there''s a crowd of people in the bathroom area, and I wanted to find a place where I could do my business."


    "Oh¡­" Holst nodded. "I see. Just make sure to clean up."


    "Will do!" Apollo said before hurrying away while still massaging his stomach.


    Holst didn''t move, just watched the half-masked man disappear into the distance.


    That man''s excuse sounds ridiculous, but there''s no way he could hear what we were talking about, as we were inside the Thought Transfer skill, Holst thought, ultimately believing what the man said. However, when he thought further about it, it somewhat made sense considering the number of people in this place.


    Shaking his head, Holst went on his way. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    "Ah, that''s better," Apollo said as he stood up after using his Cleaning Bead on the ground and himself. It was spotless, so clean that the ground didn''t look like a ground at all, but more like a shiny stone reflecting sunlight. Looking at the sun''s direction, he concluded that the time was around 4 to 5 pm.


    This place was outside the venue and could be considered the back of the mountain, though he was still a few dozen meters above the foot of the mountain.


    This is peaceful, he thought, feeling the air and seeing the forest in the distance. After being surrounded by so many people watching his every move and their shouts constantly reverberating, being outside felt completely different.


    "This is the perfect place for a solo camp," Apollo muttered, imagining himself with a camping chair, a bonfire, and a grill with barbecue on top. And don''t forget the beer! Just thinking about it made him reminisce about his past.


    Letting out a sigh, he was about to turn around after taking in the scene when he suddenly felt the same sensation he had when the Exam first started.


    "Sh*t, that monster is staring at me," Apollo muttered with a frown as he stared into the distance, toward the forest where the Duskfangs were. He could feel it, and it was stronger this time. "Better go back before it tries to hunt me down."


    With that, he immediately turned around and walked back inside the ''cave'' that led back to the venue.


    At the same time, he couldn''t help but feel strange. The System said I would be hunted, but after that notice, the Alphadusk Shadowtail didn''t attack me at all and just kept observing me.


    However, the feeling boring into him right now told him that the Alpha was not going to wait any longer.


    "Just let me finish my mission before you attack!" Apollo hurriedly walked back inside. That was the ideal scenario he wanted; otherwise, he would fail the mission and probably lose his life at the same time.


    Once he completed the mission, he would welcome the Alpha with open arms. Was he confident that he could kill it? No, Apollo didn''t think so, but it didn''t mean he wasn''t confident of staying alive.


    Once he was back inside the venue, the feeling of being watched disappeared. He headed towards his room but stopped just as he was about to enter.


    Recalling what he had just heard from Arke and the butler Holst, Apollo hesitated, wondering whether to give a heads-up to Bel or not. They definitely wanted to kill her, and Arke wouldn''t hold back at all.


    Since killing was forbidden, the participants knew that going further than knocking out their opponents would get them in trouble. However, with backing from the Mayor, Arke wouldn''t have this problem. If they valued him greatly, they would protect him.


    But it was also possible they would act like they didn''t know Arke and might even kill him to get rid of their ''evidence.''


    Bel would suffer unless she stopped holding back and fought Arke with the intent to kill. They would definitely make the two fight as soon as possible since their plan could fail if Arke were defeated before he could even fight Bel, and vice versa.


    Should I warn her? Apollo thought, but it didn''t take him long to decide. Bel Helflick was a good person; the Beggar could sense a strong sense of justice in her. Besides, Apollo didn''t want to live with the regret of letting Bel, who had been good to him from the start, die at the hands of his own prey.


    With this in mind, he went to find Bel''s room.

 Chapter 129 - 129: Warning Bel(Part-1)

    Apollo stared at the number on the door before raising his hand and knocking. As the sound echoed, a woman''s voice came from the other side.


    "Who is it?"


    "Ap¡ªCan Deez," Apollo almost said his real name before remembering the alias he had given them. "May I come in?"


    "Oh, of course, you can!" Bel shouted.


    "Okay, sorry for the intrusion." The Beggar opened the door, and the scent of jasmine immediately wafted toward him. Looking around, he saw that the room was completely different from his. It had undergone a complete makeover; the previous furniture had disappeared and was replaced with new pieces. Where did she get all this? "I didn''t know you had the time to decorate your room."


    In the middle of the room was a comfortable-looking mat, and sitting cross-legged on it was Bel Helflick, her back to him.


    "Gail and Filly helped," Bel explained. "You already know the two, right?"


    "Of course," Apollo said, walking past her and standing on the viewing deck for a moment before walking back toward her. "I''m sorry for coming here unannounced."


    "Don''t worry about it," Bel waved her hand while slowly opening her eyes. "So, have you decided? To join the Great Serpent Cultivation School?"


    "I''m still thinking about it," Apollo shook his head. "I''m here for a different matter."


    Oh? Bel tilted her head in confusion. A different matter? She couldn''t think of any other reason Mr. Can Deez would want to talk to her.


    "It''s about Arke," Apollo said.


    Hearing that man''s name, Bel''s eyes widened for a moment. "What about him? Is he targeting you? Don''t worry, I will beat him up!"


    "I can take him on myself," Apollo chuckled. "But what about you? I''ve heard he can enter the Void."


    "Like I said, I will b¡ªWait, did you just say Void?" A frown appeared on Bel''s face.


    "That''s what I''ve heard," Apollo nodded. He had overheard this during the conversation between Arke and that butler named Holst. He didn''t know exactly what the Void was, but it seemed to be something a Cultivator could enter.


    "Where did you hear that?" Bel asked.


    "It doesn''t matter," Apollo shook his head. "What matters more is your chances of defeating him."


    Bel stood up, walked toward the table, and took a mouthful of water. With a sigh, she turned to stare at the small masked man. "I am confident in defeating him¡ª"


    "That''s a r¡ª" Apollo couldn''t finish his words as Bel continued.


    "But it''s hard, more so if he can already enter the Void," Bel said, her low and heavy tone indicating she was taking this matter seriously. "Before, when we fought, it was always neck and neck, and I only won because my Cultivation was more advanced than his, even though we are on the same Step. I could also enter the Void way before he could.


    But if what you''re saying is true, then he must have already reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage."


    Apollo was surprised. That guy has reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage? But I didn''t feel a thing when I saw him. Is he using an item to hide his stage?


    "You said you can also enter the Void. May I ask what that is?" Apollo asked.


    "You don''t know?" Bel asked back. For a moment, the figure of her savior and the man in front of her merged together, though it immediately disappeared when she recalled this man was far stronger than her savior.


    "No," Apollo admitted.


    "I see. It''s a state," Bel said. "A state where a Cultivator can enter, and once they do, their cultivation speed increases exponentially."


    "What does it feel like?" Apollo asked, curious about this state as the information might be useful.


    "Peaceful, that''s the word I would use. The world turns dark with only you and the surrounding Qi around," Bel said, a smile forming on her lips. "But I can only make a few feet around me turn dark, and it''s not complete darkness. The Qi is also not bright."


    Hearing her description, Apollo couldn''t help but feel that it was very familiar. And it only took him a second to realize that he''d been doing it since he started cultivating! Is that the state she''s referring to, or is it an entirely different thing?


    "Oh¡­" Apollo could only let out a long "Oh."


    "Anyway, he is not the only one who has reached that stage," Bel said, a confident smile forming on her lips.


    "You mean?" Apollo stared at her with slight amazement.


    "Yup," Bel chuckled before her aura completely changed, and a strong pressure gripped the Beggar''s neck. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo frowned as the pressure disappeared immediately. He didn''t frown because of the pressure itself, but because the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage aura surrounding Bel had vanished, reverting to a 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    "How is it?" Bel chuckled.


    "Your cultivation¡ªit went back to the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage," Apollo pointed out.


    "Haha, it''s because I have an item," Bel said, taking out a necklace from under her shirt before putting it back. "So, you are also at the 4th-Step."


    "Yes," Apollo let out a sigh. "Anyway, back to that guy¡ªbe careful around him. I think he''s a crazy dog."


    "Crazy dog? That''s an understatement. He is beyond that," Bel said, her voice filled with disgust.


    "What? Did he do something besides being arrogant and treating people not on the same level as him like dogsh*t?" Apollo asked.


    "How''d you know him so well? You describe him better than I do," Bel said.


    "It''s because I''ve met a lot of people just like him. They run rampant in this world," Apollo explained.


    "Hahaha," Bel laughed before her face turned cold. "You are right. Anyway, Arke is so depraved that he kills innocent people on a whim. He even forces himself on women, especially those weaker than him and the commoners."


    "The laws favor the strong," Apollo said. Arke not being punished for all of this just shows how f*cked up the culture of this world is.


    "That''s why I hate Klown," Bel said, her anger seeming to peak when she mentioned the Mayor.

 Chapter 130 - 130: Warning Bel(Part-2)

    It was the Mayor again, Apollo thought, hearing the hate coming from Bel. "What''s with the Mayor? He seems friendly," the Beggar said, taking a few steps toward the viewing deck where he could see the Mayor on the floating platform, talking with other important people.


    Bel stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the Mayor with anger and disgust.


    "Friendly? Didn''t you just mention that the law favors the strong?" Bel turned to the Beggar with a raised eyebrow.


    "I''m being sarcastic," Apollo smiled bitterly before nodding toward Klown. "I can tell he''s just being phony with the others."


    "He''s actually two-faced, a wolf in disguise. No, he''s a monster in disguise," Bel said.


    "A monster? That''s probably why he''s so big. Even in his human form, he couldn''t hide his true nature," Apollo said, and the two looked at each other for a moment before they burst into laughter.


    It was a scene of a small man and a woman almost twice his size having fun together.


    This made Bel recall the time when she was punished as a maid and had the time of her life gossiping with the other maids.


    "Maybe you''re also two-faced," Bel said, putting a hand on the masked man''s shoulder, though she didn''t have to raise it much to reach him. "A dwarf in disguise."


    Suddenly, silence lingered in the air.


    "I''m sorry, I was just joking," Bel hurriedly said, taking her hand away. "I didn''t mean it."


    Oh god, I got too relaxed and forgot I wasn''t talking to the maids!


    "Haha, no worries, I get that a lot," Apollo waved his hand, smiling bitterly. So they don''t think I''m just a kid? "I was born like this, smaller compared to my peers."


    Seeing that Mr. Can Deez was not offended, Bel let out a sigh of relief. "It''s not normal, but there are cases. I''ve heard there''s a Headmaster from another school in another city who looks like a kid because of his height."


    "Oh?" Apollo wasn''t interested in that, but more interested in their previous topic before they got sidetracked by his height. "But why do you hate the Mayor? It''s normal to pretend to be friendly with others, especially if one is in power."


    "I know." Being back on topic made Bel glare at the Mayor, who was laughing on the platform. "But he''s really a disgusting human."


    "The reason being?"


    "It''s instinct," Bel turned to the masked man with a small smile. "I hate him, that''s all, but there''s definitely a reason for it. Even my father hated him."


    "Instinct?" Apollo repeated. But you''re not wrong, though. Considering what he heard from the previous conversation, the Mayor is probably the hidden boss in the city. Well, technically, he is the boss as the Mayor, but true to being two-faced, he''s doing something shady behind that amiable and friendly smile.


    "Hahaha, to hate someone based on instinct? It sounds unreasonable, but I trust it and my father," Bel explained. "And that''s also the reason why we are having this conversation."


    "Hmm, should I say thank you?" Apollo asked, a smile on his face.


    "No need," Bel waved her hand.


    They talked for a while before they saw Master Popo already flying down from the platform, blessing the audience below him with his ''dragon.''


    "It''s starting. I should get back," Apollo said. "Just be careful with Arke."


    "Okay, I will," Bel said and waved goodbye.


    As the door closed and Can Deez disappeared, the smile on her face was replaced by worry. Her instincts had been acting up ever since the Advancement Examination began; it was subtle, but it was there. However, after the conversation with Can Deez, that instinct became stronger.


    "Is Arke planning something?" Bel muttered, turning to stare at Master Popo, who was already on the stage.


    ...


    Master Popo said a few words before handing the stage over to the host.


    "I am going to explain the rules for the second part of the Third Exam," the host said, his voice reverberating around the arena. "It''s actually simple. Just like the first part, the participants will have to pick a number, and those with the same number will be opponents. But this is a tournament format, and the winner of each round will advance to the next until they reach the final round."


    Hearing the shout of excitement from the crowd, the host continued, "Let''s start the second part of the Battle Test!"


    Back in Room Nine.


    The door opened, and a person wearing white robes entered, holding a basket.


    Seeing this, Apollo stood in front of him and reached his hand inside. When he took it out, he was holding a piece of paper with a number written on it. Number 8?


    "What''s the number?" the white-robed man asked. Apollo showed it to him. "I see. Wait for your turn before you go out." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All right," Apollo said, and the white-robed man walked out. "This is going to be fun."


    The Beggar walked toward the viewing deck and sat in his chair. He was actually excited; he was finally going to have fun fighting. Furthermore, this was going to be a great experience, as the participants for this second part were stronger than before.


    "Hopefully, I''ll get to fight Arke before Bel," Apollo muttered. If Bel died in the first round, Apollo would deeply regret it. Anyway, he had done his best, and it was up to luck and her skill whether she would live or not.


    Apollo still hadn''t decided if he would save her if things went awry. "I should worry about it later."


    It was only guilt and the possible regret that would come afterward if he kept Bel in the dark.


    After a while, the host, who was still talking to the audience, received a message that all the participants had taken their numbers. With this information, he diverted the conversation back to the exam.


    "Now, we will start the first round!" the host shouted, and the audience cheered. It was like they had rehearsed this beforehand.


    The first two fighters went up on stage, and although they were not the well-known ones, the audience still shouted in excitement, remembering their previous performances.


    Apollo also watched intently, in case he would have to fight one of them.

 Chapter 131 - 131: Manager Fus Turn

    Manager Fu sat in his office behind his desk, holding a piece of paper with glasses perched on his nose. A frown creased his face as he struggled to focus on reading the document.


    "D*mn it! What''s taking him so long?!" Manager Fu cursed, slamming the paper down on the table. He stood up and walked to the window, looking across the street at the restaurant where the line had already surpassed theirs. "What''s happening over there?!"


    As he fumed with anger, considering whether to go to the Filly Restaurant himself, the door opened, and he saw Alek walking out.


    "There he is!" For a moment, Manager Fu thought he saw a satisfied smile on his assistant''s face before it quickly disappeared. Because of the distance, the manager wasn''t sure if he was imagining things. "Let''s see what he has to say."


    He went back to his chair and pretended to be engrossed in his work.


    It didn''t take long for a knock to come at the door.


    "Come in," Manager Fu shouted, and his assistant walked inside. Putting down the paper, he looked up and raised an eyebrow at Alek. "What took you so long?"


    Hearing the cold tone, Alek visibly tensed up. "M-my apologies! But I was too engrossed in investigating and did my best to learn everything about that restaurant!"


    "Oh?" Manager Fu put down his glasses. "Tell me what you have found out."


    This was the important matter at hand, and the manager stared at his assistant intently.


    "They¡ª" Alek hesitated, unsure whether to tell the truth or not. If he told the truth, Manager Fu would definitely get angry at him for taking so much time eating all the food across the street. It would be disrespectful to Skyline and the manager himself. But if he didn''t tell the truth... It didn''t take him long to decide. "They''ve done something."


    "No sh*t, of course, I know that," Manager Fu said, starting to get annoyed.


    "It''s about their food," Alek hurriedly said. "It''s... it''s..."


    "It''s what? Don''t beat around the bush and just hurry up!" Manager Fu shouted.


    "It''s a lot better than ours," Alek explained, looking away with a guilty expression.


    Hearing this, Manager Fu looked at his assistant in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"


    "Exactly what I said. The quality of their food has already surpassed ours," Alek said, staring back at the manager.


    "That''s impossible! Skyline is the only meat distributor in the city! And even if they managed to find some outside, the city wouldn''t let them get it through!" Manager Fu said, a frown appearing on his face.


    "I know," Alek nodded, then shook his head. "They''re not using high-quality monster meat like ours, but the way they cook it is entirely different."


    Hearing this, Manager Fu''s eyes shone with understanding. "A new cooking method?"


    "Perhaps. I couldn''t get close to the kitchen. There''s a small window, but it wasn''t enough to see everything," Alek said. He also suspected this might be the case, but that could only explain the Filly''s menu item, ''Meat Cooked in Oil,'' not the other dishes. "And I don''t think it''s that simple."


    "Tell me," Manager Fu said, more curious than ever. The line in front of the Filly Restaurant was long, longer than theirs. It had reached the point where some of their customers had decided to join the opponent''s line.


    "They have other dishes¡ªdifferent and something I''ve never seen before," Alek explained, and just thinking about it made him crave the food again.


    "A new dish?" Manager Fu raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes," Alek nodded.


    Manager Fu put a hand under his chin. "Hmm, it''s impossible for them to have created something new."


    "May I ask why?" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If they had, they would have released it long ago," Manager Fu smirked, though it immediately disappeared. "Tell me more, this time with more detail."


    Alek recalled the investigation he had done, especially the taste and appearance of the new dishes he had eaten.


    "So that''s the reason why it took you so long?!" Manager Fu slapped his assistant''s head, causing a resounding sound to echo in the room.


    "M-my apologies!" Alek said.


    "You just helped them gain more sales!" Manager Fu said angrily.


    "I couldn''t help it," Alek replied with a bitter smile. "It was just too good."


    "And you even have the guts to say that!" Manager Fu raised his hand and started smacking his assistant''s head once more.


    "Ah! Sorry!"


    After the two of them calmed down, Manager Fu went back to his seat.


    "Let''s think of a plan," Manager Fu said. "Clearly, this new dish is the reason why that little girl''s restaurant is gaining traction. Although we don''t know where it came from, it''s clear as day that our branch is losing."


    "So what do you want to do? I''ve tried making a scene¡­ but their eyes¡­ I couldn''t stand it," Alek said, his face turning red from embarrassment as he recalled making a scene inside the Filly Restaurant.


    "You still lack the guts," Manager Fu sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "In this situation, we''ve already let them take our legs. We have to fight back."


    "How?" Alek asked.


    "But before that, I will have to personally see our enemies," Manager Fu said.


    "But I''ve already done that!"


    "Fool, what you just told me isn''t enough! Besides, I am the one who''s making the plan, and I need to personally experience what you just described!" Manager Fu said, standing up and walking towards the door.


    "Oh! You are right!"


    ¡­


    Twenty to thirty minutes later.


    Manager Fu stood in line outside the Filly Restaurant. Hearing the voices of anticipation and excitement from the other people waiting, he couldn''t help but become more curious.


    Apparently, some of them had been here yesterday, or this morning, and it was already nearing evening, yet they were back again.


    They have regulars who are willing to eat three times a day? It seems like what Alek described is true. The new dish must be that delicious.


    Actually, when he first heard the description, he couldn''t believe it, but as Alek recalled his experience in more detail, Manager Fu began to crave these new dishes himself.


    Now, Manager Fu was wearing simple clothing that might make one think he was a commoner. Although a bit uncomfortable, he decided to wear this outfit for the sake of the secret investigation.


    He had to wait for at least forty minutes before it was his turn.


    Ah, finally! He almost lost his patience. Letting out a sigh of relief, he entered the restaurant. But the moment he took a step inside, someone blocked his path.


    "Sorry, you can''t enter this restaurant," Ned said.


    "Wait, why?!" Manager Fu frowned. "I have been waiting for forty minutes! You can''t just say that!"


    "Aren''t you the manager of the Skyline branch?" Ned asked, his eyes turning cold. "There''s no way we wouldn''t recognize our own enemy."

 Chapter 132 - 132: The End Of Rivalry(Part-1)

    After two rounds of fighting on the stage, an interesting pair came up. Apollo, who had been watching all this time, sat upright and stared at the two participants with anticipation in his eyes.


    "Yohan and Michael. This round will end their rivalry," Apollo muttered. It was like he was watching two UFC fighters on stage finally settling their scores, but this was even more exciting.


    The two had already fought in the first test, but because Apollo had only watched for a while, he didn''t get to see much of their fight. Though he already had a good guess about their capabilities and was pretty confident that he could defeat them without breaking a sweat.


    Nevertheless, rivals fighting against each other is still a pretty interesting thing, and it''s quite hard to determine who will be the final winner, as the two have almost the same strength, even though one of them has a higher cultivation stage than the other.


    After the two of them talked to each other, the referee raised his hand and began the fight.


    With a strong banging sound, a translucent two-meter fist and a serpent collided with each other, causing great winds to erupt as the audience shouted in excitement.


    Because the five stages had combined into one, the two football field-sized platform served as the participants'' fighting area, providing them with more maneuverability. And, considered top students, they could cover the whole platform in just a few seconds.


    On top of the stage, the moment their attacks landed, Yohan and Michael used their Movement Techniques, instantly passing through the dust cloud and meeting inside, with their fists colliding!


    With a banging sound, the dust cloud was pushed away, and because Michael was physically weaker than his opponent, he had to take a couple of steps back in order to stabilize his body.


    Taking this chance, Yohan sent another giant fist!


    But expecting this, Michael conjured another serpent from the aura around him and made it act as a shield, protecting him from the fist that shattered along with his newly conjured serpent.


    The Great Serpent Technique is a Battle Technique that allows its user to increase their strength and, along with it, summon the Great Serpent for both offense and defense. It was meant for Qi Condensation Cultivators and above, but because of Michael''s talent and compatibility with the technique, he learned it even though his Cultivation was still at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    "You really are giving it your best!" Michael shouted, his eyes staring at Yohan with seriousness.


    "Ha, of course I will. If I don''t, I will never be able to fight my true rival!" Yohan shouted back, both his hands covered by a light blue translucent fist.


    Being a student from the Sword and Shield Martial School, his battle techniques were all very straightforward. The one he was using was a Technique that increased his attack and allowed him to also perform long-ranged attacks. He also had a defensive technique, though he preferred to only use it when necessary.


    "True rival? Hahaha! Okay then! But only if you defeat me!" With that said, Michael''s body, which was covered in a haze, became brighter, and two Great Serpents emerged, their mouths open as they sped towards the brute in the distance!


    "You are not worthy of my time!" Yohan shouted, using his Movement Technique to try to cross the two serpents in front of him, but their bodies moved strangely and appeared in front of him, blocking his path and forcing him to fight them instead.


    This time, Michael focused on keeping Yohan busy while he gathered the Qi in the surrounding area. The haze on one part of his body began moving strangely, a form threatening to emerge but failing within a second.


    Expecting this, Michael continued to stall for time. It was very taxing on his energy, as he was attempting to create another projection of the Great Serpent.


    Suddenly, an explosion sounded as one of his projections shattered. Seeing this, Michael hurriedly reconstructed the broken one, causing his attempt to create the third serpent to fail.


    Yohan was moving around the stage while the Great Serpents followed him. The sight of a translucent fist striking the two snakes made the audience cheer in excitement, especially when the brute managed to shatter one of them. Although their speed was fast and not many people could see the details, this didn''t stop them from shouting at the top of their lungs.


    "I got it!" Michael muttered, a confident smile appearing on his face. With enough Qi to fuel his technique, he managed to create another projection of the Great Serpent from his body. "You''re dead!"


    The serpent roared as if it were truly alive. Michael gave the order, and the third serpent joined the chase.


    Continuous banging echoed on the stage as the Great Serpents slammed against the floor or landed blows on the brute.


    Slowly, Yohan began showing signs of an opening, and when one fully presented itself, Michael immediately took the chance. One of the serpents landed a hit, sending Yohan into the air. But it was not the end; the other serpent coiled around him, suspending him in mid-air. Then the third serpent came, moving faster than before, its head aimed to ram into Yohan!


    The attack landed squarely, the force sending the brute rolling across the floor while the second serpent shattered from the impact! S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing this, Michael smiled in satisfaction. All it takes is one mistake to win a battle. This was the first time he had used this strategy, which is why he caught Yohan off guard.


    "Hahaha! I guess you are the one who is not worth my time!" Michael smirked. Yohan''s momentum didn''t stop, and with a few more rolls, he would fall off the stage.


    But as Michael was about to turn around to wave at his fans, he saw Yohan raising his hand, which was covered in a giant translucent fist! A strong banging sound reverberated as Yohan punched the stage, effectively stopping himself from falling off!


    Silence lingered for a second before the audience erupted in cheers!


    "You think I will be defeated so easily?" Yohan smirked, dust clouds forming around him. "We''ve fought so many times, and you should know that."

 Chapter 133 - 133: The End Of Rivalry(Part-2)

    "Tsk," Michael stared at his rival with disdain. "It would have been better if you fell." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s impossible," Yohan shook his head, a smirk on his face as he walked toward his opponent.


    "You know what''s impossible? You defeating me!" Michael shouted, his body surrounded by a dark blue haze. Two Great Serpents emerged from it, attacking the brute!


    Seeing this, Michael smiled. "The same trick? It won''t work!"


    With his two hands covered in a light blue projection, Yohan moved his body between the two serpents and grabbed their bodies with his projected hands just as they were about to attack!


    "Argh," Yohan grunted in pain as the two heads bit into his shoulders, blood beginning to seep out. He gritted his teeth. "Take this!"


    Before Michael could gather enough Qi to summon his third Great Serpent, his body was hurled into the air as the projections were connected to the haze surrounding him!


    "Sh*t!" Michael hadn''t expected Yohan to sacrifice being injured just to pull this off! "Ahhhhh!"


    The audience cheered at the sight, some even laughed. A man holding the bodies of two serpents while being bitten by them, flinging his opponent around the stage, was a refreshing spectacle.


    Apollo couldn''t help but chuckle at the scene. "That''s a smart move."


    The brute clearly wanted to end the battle and settle their rivalry once and for all. In their previous fights, they probably didn''t want to give it their all, leaving the outcomes as draws. But now, with the grand stage they''re standing on and the audience, along with important people from the city and beyond, this is the perfect place to end it all.


    Apollo had only known them briefly, but he was quite interested in their ''bromance.'' Who would have thought that being a bystander, a spectator, would be so interesting and entertaining that the beggar didn''t want their rivalry to end?


    But alas, no matter how much Michael tried to gather the Qi, he couldn''t focus as his body was being flung around the stage, hitting the ground from time to time. He couldn''t create another Great Serpent projection to disrupt the brute''s madness.


    In the end, Yohan shouted and, using all his strength, slammed Michael into the ground!


    A loud bang reverberated throughout the arena, silencing the audience.


    Dark blue particles of light scattered across the platform while blood continued to drip to the ground. "Hehe, I won," Michael muttered. He took a deep breath and gathered the Qi from the surroundings to heal the wounds on his shoulders before he walked toward the crater in the distance where his opponent lay.


    Looking at Michael''s pretty face, now marred with bruises and blood, Yohan smirked. "I told you, I would win."


    "Michael from the Sword and Shield Martial School wins!" the referee shouted, and the audience cheered.


    Apollo, who had been sitting upright, leaned back in his chair comfortably. Fortunately, the chair was quite high, or else he wouldn''t have been able to see the stage with the viewing deck railing in front of him.


    He instinctively reached out to the table beside him, but feeling that there were no fruits left, he stood up and went inside. Someone had placed food on the table while he was busy watching the fight, and besides the fruits, dinner was served.


    "This looks like a fish," Apollo muttered, staring at the fish on the plate. As usual, it was cooked simply, but the aroma coming from it smelled like it had been prepared using other ingredients, though, upon closer inspection, the beggar couldn''t find any.


    He took all of the food and went to the viewing deck to eat there instead. Apollo was the only one doing this; the other participants just watched from their decks while standing up. As he walked toward his chair, he could feel eyes on him. Apollo turned and saw Bel and Gail in the distance, staring at him.


    Apollo raised the food high, and the two shook their heads. The other winners were also watching him, but he ignored them, sat comfortably in his chair, and started eating his meal.


    The taste of the fish made him ignore the battle about to begin on the platform.


    This fish could rank at the top, Apollo thought, his eyes widening as he took a bite. They didn''t use any ingredients besides the fish, but it could already compare to a top restaurant delicacy from his previous life.


    It was tender and juicy, without any fishy smell.


    Suddenly, he noticed a yellow fruit, almost like a lemon from his previous life but resembling an apple. This fish would taste better if I squeeze this ''lemon'' on it, he thought as he picked up the lemon-like fruit.


    Apollo raised a finger and looked at it. "Will it work?" he wondered aloud, wanting to test his idea. He placed his finger horizontally beside the fruit and sliced it!


    The round yellow fruit didn''t change, but when he looked at his finger, he saw it was covered in juice. Apollo then parted the fruit with one hand, and the lemon-like fruit split in two.


    "D*mn, this is great!" Apollo''s eyes shone with excitement. At first, he only felt like he could use the Simple Sword Technique with his finger, and seeing that he could actually do it made him smile in satisfaction.


    The Simple Sword Technique is passive when he uses objects shaped like a sword, but when he uses objects such as the tree branch inside his robe or part of his body, he has to use it actively, or he would have accidentally killed himself long ago.


    With this confirmed, he squeezed the ''lemons'' over the fish.


    Apollo then tasted the food, hoping for a sour flavor, but to his disappointment, only the taste of the fish filled his mouth. Tilting his head, he tried squeezing the lemon-like fruit again, but there was no effect; the taste remained the same.


    "What''s wrong? Is the ''lemon'' being overpowered?" Apollo muttered before shaking his head. At the same time, the fight on the platform was about to end. The two participants were people he didn''t know, but they used a wooden sword and spear, which was a new sight to the beggar as he finished his food.

 Chapter 134 - 134: Silence

    Apparently, there were more rooms than Apollo had counted. Well, it wasn''t surprising since he hadn''t counted them exactly and just estimated their number.


    After the participants on the two-football-field-sized platform finished their fight, someone Apollo knew finally came up on stage. It was Gail, fighting against another woman whose body made the male audience rise from their seats. Something else also rose, but it was better to leave it at that.


    Apollo looked at Gail, then at her opponent. It was like watching a top student going up against the "b*tch" of the school. Gail wore simple but elegant attire¡ªa dress that didn''t hinder her movement. Combined with her bun hairstyle and glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, she radiated an aura of solemnity.


    Her opponent, on the other hand, wore a tight-fitting suit embroidered with flowers, with the middle revealing her two ample mounds, seemingly on the verge of bursting from her clothes. As she walked across the stage, her perky bottom moved, causing the male audience to erupt with shouts and whistles.


    Apollo wasn''t interested in any of that; he was too "young" to think about such disgusting matters... right? Well, if it had been his previous life and he were in his twenties, he might have been among the males, secretly cheering at the sight. Of course, he would have made sure no one knew it was him.


    The Referee raised his hand and commenced the fight. The moment his words fell, Apollo leaned back in his chair and didn''t watch the battle.


    He didn''t need to because it ended the moment his back hit the chair.


    Silence lingered in the stadium, and even after the winner had left the stage, the crowd didn''t utter a word. The male''s "goddess," however, remained on the platform, clutching her stomach and coughing up blood.


    Suddenly, laughter echoed, and they turned toward a floating platform to see a man with short black hair, wearing a black Hanfu, laughing out loud.


    Apollo also turned in that direction and somewhat guessed who this person was. Gail worked for Filly, and from what he knew, Filly''s family was like Bel''s and the Leone''s. That''s probably the Head, he thought.


    It didn''t take long for the audience to come back to life as the women started cheering, compared to the men, who were silent at first.


    ¡­


    "You trained a monster," Mathias chuckled as Nathan stood beside him while the Headmasters were on the other side.


    "Hahaha," Nathan laughed for a while. "No, she is simply talented. If she hadn''t held back, she could have killed her opponent."


    "One also needs hard work; talent is not enough," Mathias said, taking a sip from the glass in his hand.


    "That is true, but she was born to be a killer, and all I did was push her into the pit," Nathan replied with a satisfied smile.


    "A pit she won''t be able to climb out of," Mathias said, giving a sideways glance at the Kleinford head.


    "Once I''m gone, she''s the only one capable of being the family''s spear," Nathan said, his eyes turning melancholy for a moment before becoming cold. "You know, Leone is gone¡ªthe family with Core Creation, just like you¡ªbut they have become nothing but a memory. If someone of their strength can suddenly disappear overnight, what''s more for someone like me?"


    Hearing this, Mathias also became serious.


    The fall of the Leone family was a shocking event that greatly alarmed the other families, especially Kleinford and Helflick, who had close ties with the Leone. However, as expected of the wolf in disguise, they immediately went for the remaining assets, leaving the Leone with almost nothing. Even their mansion was gone, confiscated by the City.


    Mathias glanced at the families on the platform, merrily talking and eating with each other. Some of them actively took part in seizing the remaining businesses, while the others only watched.


    His family and the Kleinford tried to stop some of them, but they remained adamant. Mathias didn''t use his Core Creation strength out of respect and relied only on laws and agreements. But he ended up "defeated." In the end, the remnants of the Leone family didn''t stand a chance.


    Mathias waved his hand slightly, and they were covered by an invisible film. "It''s impossible for the perpetrator to be acting alone."


    "I know," Nathan nodded. "It''s them. It''s the only logical explanation."


    "They are willing to break the balance," Mathias commented, a cold smile appearing on his face. "But I won''t let them."


    "Oh? Is that why you said those words to the Headmasters?" Nathan''s eyes widened in understanding.


    Mathias didn''t answer and just stared at his friend. He waved his hand again, and the invisible film disappeared. "It''s always better to be prepared. Who knows? We might experience what happened to Leone that night." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haha, that man who killed the Head... I wonder who he is," Nathan chuckled, his eyes landing on the new participants on stage. "Oh, it''s your daughter."


    Hearing this, Mathias immediately turned to the platform and saw his daughter picking up a broadsword on the side, while her opponent was already waiting for her.


    "How many seconds do you think it will take for her to defeat her opponent?" Nathan asked, his tone challenging the Core Creation beside him.


    "A minute," Mathias said.


    "Only a minute? Gail is faster, then," Nathan said proudly.


    "Bel is not like the killer you trained," Mathias shook his head. "She respects her opponents¡ªunless they do something to offend her. Bel will also hold back significantly in order to learn."


    "Learn? What''s left to learn when your opponent is weaker than you?" Nathan said. "If you can defeat someone, don''t beat around the bush; just defeat them."


    "You are right, but Bel is different. She isn''t the type to hastily end a fight unless it''s necessary," Mathias explained.


    Nathan didn''t say much and just shrugged his shoulders. People fight differently, and not everyone has the same fighting style. Unless they have a master who engraves their own teachings and knowledge, habits and interests will develop, creating their own styles.


    As soon as the fight started, Bel''s opponent immediately dashed toward her. With sword in hand, Bel maintained her composure and let her opponent attack while she either defended or dodged.


    A minute passed, and Bel''s wooden broadsword shone brightly, sending her opponent rolling across the platform before falling off it. It was a calculated move that didn''t injure her opponent much. Compared to when she battered an opponent who disgusted her, the approach she just took was very gentle.

 Chapter 135 - 135: Bel Against Arke(Part-1)

    The final exam continued with Apollo defeating an opponent he didn''t know. The fight, some might say, was repetitive, as the Beggar just bombarded his adversary with Fire Blasts. However, as he used the technique more, he became more proficient, and it grew stronger. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A person standing on one of the viewing decks watched the explosions on stage.


    "This person¡­" Arke squinted his eyes. He could sense that fighting against this small half-masked individual would be challenging. If he wanted to kill Bel, he would need to fight her as soon as possible, or there was a chance he might get injured beforehand¡ªor worse, get defeated. "They should have arranged it."


    But thinking about it, it would be too suspicious if, in the first round, he fought Bel and, let''s say, ''accidentally'' killed her.


    It was better if they were pitted against each other before the final fight.


    As the exam continued, it was finally Arke''s turn. He stepped onto the platform and defeated his opponent without breaking a sweat. Of course, he made sure his opponent was alive, but it would have been better if the guy had died, as he would now live his life in a vegetative state.


    It didn''t take long for this round of the exam to end, and the new round began soon after.


    The door opened, and a white-robed man entered, holding a basket with numbers.


    Seeing this, Arke walked toward the man, and the two looked at each other. "Pick carefully," the man said. Arke''s hand stopped midair before he put it inside the basket.


    He moved his hand around, carefully touching each piece of paper until he felt one with a slight crease. Arke stared at the white-robed man, who avoided his gaze. Smirking, he pulled out the paper.


    "Thanks," Arke said, the smirk not leaving his face, while the white-robed man bowed slightly and walked out of the room.


    As the door closed, Arke stared at his paper, which had the number ''1'' written on it.


    "Oh, I guess it''s showtime," Arke muttered, the smirk turning cold as his eyes narrowed dangerously.


    He walked back to his viewing deck, his eyes scanning each room. He paused for a moment at the small masked man sitting on his deck before continuing until his gaze stopped on his prey: Bel Helflick, who was staring at her paper.


    Bel looked up, and their eyes met. Like a spark igniting between them, they locked gazes with intensity.


    "You are dead," Arke mouthed. He didn''t care if Bel took the hint or thought he was just being provocative. But no matter what she thought, she was going to die.


    ¡­


    "After this round, it will be time to determine the top students," Apollo muttered, staring at his paper before putting it away. He had the number ''3'' written on it, and it seemed like he wouldn''t have to wait long.


    Around this time, the host took the stage, hyping up the audience.


    "We have a very interesting lineup for this round!" the host shouted, excitement evident in his voice. He looked around at the audience as he continued. "Just hearing about these two fights will definitely make your blood boil! Two well-known Martial Students are going to start this round! And without further ado, let''s get started!"


    The audience erupted in cheers, while Apollo couldn''t help but frown.


    Hearing the host, there were only two individuals he could think of.


    "Don''t tell me, they''re going to fight now?" Apollo muttered. Sure enough, the audience''s excitement reached an all-time high as the two participants walked toward the platform. "I guess this is the perfect time to do it, to reduce suspicion."


    Apollo turned to the platform and saw the Mayor already standing beside the railing. This was the first time Klown had shown great interest in the Exam; previously, he had just sat around talking with visitors as if the Advancement Examination didn''t exist at all.


    Clearly, the Mayor was planning something. Why would he want to kill the daughter of the only Core Creation Cultivator in the city, and a very important noble family member at that? Apollo was curious but shook his head, deciding to just watch since it didn''t concern him.


    He was here for his own mission, to complete it and not to meddle with the city''s hidden agenda.


    But if Bel died here, he wondered what the Mayor''s next move would be. Would they protect Arke or let him fend for himself? If they decided to protect him, Apollo would have a chance to kill his target, but if they chose to abandon Arke, Apollo would have to think of other ways to complete his mission. Furthermore, if Bel managed to defeat Arke, Apollo might have to reconsider his approach.


    Sitting upright to get a better view of the stage, Apollo didn''t want to miss a thing in this fight. This time, the two participants would have to show their true strength¡ªno holding back, with both revealing all their cards.


    This was a fight that no one should miss, as it didn''t happen often.


    The participants on the stage talked for a while before the Referee raised his hand and commenced the fight. The audience erupted at the same time, and the moment the Referee''s hand fell, two powerful auras erupted on the stage.


    One aura was sharp and stinging, the other destructive. The two forces clashed, trying to overpower each other, but neither gained the upper hand. However, the onlookers near the two football-field-sized platforms were affected by the auras, finding it difficult to breathe.


    Seeing this, the Referee signaled with his hands, and white-robed men with array inscriptions on their clothes landed on the stage. They performed synchronized hand movements, causing unknown characters to appear in the air before covering the entire stage.


    A somewhat visible barrier, filled with intricate writings, surrounded the platform, containing the two fighting auras inside, allowing the onlookers to breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the barrier didn''t hinder their vision, so they could watch everything.


    Apollo couldn''t help but sigh in amazement at the work of these Array Masters. Although he couldn''t understand how they did it¡ªhe hadn''t even sensed the Qi being disturbed¡ªthey still managed to conjure such a vast barrier. The barrier''s defensive capabilities were still unknown, but the spectacle was enough to be impressive.

 Chapter 136 - 136: Bel Against Arke(Part-2)

    The aura emanating from Arke was only at the Half-Step Qi Condensation stage, but it was already causing intense suffocation for the nearest onlookers. The Referee had no choice but to signal the Array Masters to conjure a One-Layer Array Inscriptions Barrier. The Referee deemed it sufficient to contain the participants'' strength.


    "Why do you look like that?" Arke asked, a smirk on his face as he stared at his opponent. He had his hands in the pockets of his black pants, while his upper uniform was unbuttoned at the top.


    The uniform of the Great Serpent Cultivation School was a combination of Hanfu and Tang suit styles. Although simple, the colors and engravings on the clothing made it more appealing than normal attire.


    Bel''s face was serious, her eyes intently focused on Arke. She held a wooden broadsword she had chosen from the weapon racks. Being from the same Martial School, she wore the same uniform as her opponent¡ªa black-and-white uniform with a serpent insignia on the right chest.


    "What? Did you go deaf?" Arke asked mockingly, but Bel remained silent.


    In reality, she was closely observing Arke. Although they were just standing, the aura they emitted suggested that a single move could ignite a fight. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Deep down, Bel couldn''t help but recall her conversation with Mr. Can Deez. He hadn''t come to her room just for a simple talk; Can Deez had warned her about her current opponent.


    The subtle instinct she had been feeling grew stronger after their conversation. Now, standing in front of Arke, that feeling intensified even more.


    What is he trying to tell me? A frown appeared on her face, but she decided to trust Mr. Can Deez and the instincts that had never failed her.


    "I''ve heard you can enter the Void," Bel said, her tone cold as she raised her broadsword slightly.


    Arke, who had been smiling mockingly, suddenly looked at his opponent with wide eyes. "Where did you hear that?"


    "Was it supposed to be a secret?" Bel asked, an incredulous expression on her face. Why did he seem shocked? How did Mr. Can Deez hear about it if the news isn''t out there? He still doesn''t know? That''s strange.


    Arke was thinking the same thing. He hadn''t told anyone that he could enter the Void, unless someone like Holst had figured it out on his own. But that Butler only discovered it because Arke had entered the Void while Holst was watching him from the shadows.


    Did Holst spread the news? Arke frowned. But what benefit would they gain? Did the Headmasters find out about it? But I haven''t even entered the Void since the Advancement Examination!


    Arke had planned to reveal his ability when the time was right, to shock his opponents as he claimed first place. But now, Bel already knew about it!


    Furthermore, when it''s revealed that a cultivator can enter the Void, especially while still a Martial Student, it can be either a blessing or a curse that follows them for life¡ªunless they have the strength and backing to protect themselves. He wasn''t like Bel, who had the protection of a Core Creation Cultivator. He was a lone wolf in this world, relying on powerful people to survive.


    What if the Noble Families found out? They would certainly want to recruit him! And if they couldn''t, they might try to eliminate him.


    Besides, if they investigated enough, they would find out that he was closely associated with Klown, having visited him several times.


    And what if those Evil Cultivators got wind of this? They would undoubtedly come for him!


    The limelight he''d been waiting for had suddenly disappeared, leaving a bad taste in his mouth. He wanted to curse the person who let the news out!


    "Who did you hear that from?!" Arke repeated, his voice colder than before.


    Seeing her opponent so agitated, Bel couldn''t help but let out a small smile. Is this what my instinct was warning me about? Bel had a feeling she understood why he was reacting this way.


    Being able to enter the Void meant the cultivator was among the talented few who had the potential to go beyond the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage. Only a handful had managed to do so, and each one was a recognized talent. It was crucial to keep it a secret unless, like her, they had the backing of a Core Creation cultivator, such as her father, or an organization of equivalent strength.


    There were many talented individuals who could also enter the Void but had died because they couldn''t protect themselves. Even if one couldn''t enter the Void but possessed something that caught the wolves'' eyes, they would either end up dead or have that something stolen from them.


    If it were any other opponent, Bel might have sympathized, but with Arke, she felt a sense of satisfaction seeing his frustrated face.


    "Does it even matter?" Bel asked in return. "Don''t worry, if you become the first place, you won''t have to worry about them."


    Hearing this, Arke restrained his anger. Bel was right. There was no need to worry about people fighting over him if he became the first place. Besides, didn''t he have the mayor on his side?


    Arke glanced toward the floating platform in the distance. Despite the distance, he could still see the mayor clearly. Well, who couldn''t?


    "Yeah, I can enter it," Arke admitted, a confident smile returning to his face. "Haha, surprised? You''re no longer number one."


    "Do you think being number one is my goal?" Bel shook her head. "It''s merely a stepping stone, and what I aim for is beyond that. You can have it if you want, but only if you can defeat me."


    "Tsk! You''re really a b*tch," Arke spat on the ground. "But it doesn''t matter. Talk big all you want; in the end, you''ll fall before my hands."


    Arke scanned her from head to toe, licking his lips.


    "Those filthy eyes of yours," Bel''s expression turned to anger. What she hated most were men like him. And the person in front of her embodied everything she despised. There were many rumors about Arke, most of them true.


    A murderer, someone who forced himself on women without their consent, and even made them suffer.


    Bel hated this person the most.


    "You should be grateful I''m still willing to give you this gaze, but alas, such a shame," Arke said with a sigh.


    "We won''t get anywhere talking like this," Bel said. "Let''s end this once and for all!"

 Chapter 137 - 137: Bel Against Arke(Part-3)

    There are different types of swords one can use: longsword, shortsword, two-handed, double-edged, rapier, broadsword, and more. Sword Cultivators, who use swords as their weapon, also focus on cultivating the Way of the Sword. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cultivation is mysterious and profound.


    They find enlightenment in all kinds of things, and those who do achieve something extraordinary. Well, Cultivation itself is beyond the ordinary. Initially, they used fists and words, but once they took up swords, Sword Cultivators were born.


    Techniques upon techniques have been created throughout the river of time. Countless wars bathed the land in blood as Cultivators began to study the Cultivation of Weapons.


    Bel Helflick uses a broadsword, a weapon of choice for many Martial Students and veterans. With its wide blade and double sharp edges, it''s a very popular sword. This sword also allows the user to extend their reach, giving them enough room to breathe.


    Bel cultivates the Great Serpent Sword Technique, a Battle Technique that Headmaster Axton personally used. She earned the technique when she placed first in the school''s competition¡ªat a time when she was only in her first year, which immediately drew people''s attention to her.


    It''s a technique that doesn''t rely on the type of sword used, but Bel feels most comfortable wielding a broadsword.


    She raised the sword in front of her and began using the technique. Bel closed her eyes, and the moment she opened them, a sharp glint flickered in her gaze. The wooden broadsword suddenly glowed, and the roar of a mythical serpent echoed from it.


    She had barely completed the Beginner Stage of the technique, and if she wanted to reach the next stage, she needed another enlightenment. However, the pressure radiating from the technique made her opponent activate his own, proving that her current stage was sufficient.


    Arke''s surroundings suddenly heated up, while his body became enveloped in dark, murky smoke.


    "I''m going all out!" Arke shouted, his cold eyes locked on his opponent. "And I must say, I can''t control this technique very well!"


    "Can''t control it? Who would believe that?" Bel smirked.


    "Then don''t blame me if something goes wrong!" With that, Arke lowered his stance, placing his hands in front of him.


    Bel mirrored his movement, but neither made the first move.


    They knew each other''s capabilities, especially their techniques, as they had fought numerous times before. One wrong move could be fatal, so they carefully observed each other''s movements.


    This time, they remained silent as the audience held its breath.


    The referee, however, watched the two contestants intently. If there was little disparity in their strength, there was a chance one of their moves could end the other''s life. He had to remain vigilant and be ready to act the moment the situation became life-threatening.


    Suddenly, Bel''s and Arke''s auras shifted slightly, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished from their spots. When they reappeared, they were right in front of each other. A fist cloaked in dark, murky smoke clashed against a blindingly bright wooden broadsword, producing a powerful impact that stirred chaotic winds across the platform!


    The silence was broken as the audience erupted with excitement!


    Bel put all her strength into her sword, but her opponent did the same. Their hands trembled, yet neither could overpower the other.


    "I have the Poison Body, you b*tch! You should know that getting close is a bad idea!" Arke shouted, and the dark smoke covering him surged toward Bel.


    "I know!" Bel responded. As if expecting this, a white light appeared above her head, and the same glowing broadsword she was holding materialized in the air, hurling itself toward Arke!


    Arke didn''t panic. Instead, he directed part of the murky smoke to block the incoming attack while sending the rest toward Bel. But Bel had already leapt back.


    The materialized broadsword collided with the smoke, exploding into a dark, watery mist.


    When one completes the Beginner Stage of the Great Serpent Sword Technique, they can duplicate the sword they''re using without losing any of the original sword''s strength. However, the number of swords the user can duplicate depends on their talent. Of course, the technique also increases attacking power and sharpness, though its true potential is only realized at the Intermediate Stage.


    Arke quickly followed after Bel, using his movement technique. Watery Qi surrounded his feet, and in just a few steps, he was right in front of her.


    He hasn''t changed, Bel thought as three bright broadswords materialized around them, shooting toward Arke before he could close the distance!


    The broadswords exploded into a watery mist as a cocoon of black, murky smoke enveloped Arke just in time.


    Bel smirked and swung her sword. A projection of an azure serpent emerged from her weapon, its jaws wide open as it attacked the black cocoon!


    The serpent bit into the cocoon, pushing it toward the edge of the platform. If this continued, Arke would no doubt fall off the stage!


    However, Bel narrowed her eyes. She knew it wasn''t over yet. There was no way Arke would be defeated that easily. Preparing for her next attack, she bent her knees and brought the broadsword to her side, gripping it with both hands.


    The wooden broadsword let out a faint ''weiing'' sound, vibrating softly at first. But soon, it vibrated so intensely that Bel''s arms began to shake with it.


    Bel waited, and sure enough, before the cocoon fell, it exploded, shattering the Great Serpent projection into a dark, watery mist! As the mist clouded the area, it began to churn, and Arke emerged, once again covered in dark, murky smoke!


    He possessed a physique known as the Poison Body, which gave him a natural talent for using poison. The dark smoke that surrounded him¡ªcalled Poison Dust¡ªcould be used for both offense and defense. Furthermore, when he activated Battle Techniques, he could infuse them with his poison, making them even deadlier.


    Using a Battle Technique from the Great Serpent Cultivation School that enhanced his strength, Arke dashed toward his opponent, employing his movement technique at the same time.


    Seeing that Bel was preparing for another strike, Arke smirked. Pulling his fist back, the roar of a serpent echoed, and a black projection of the Great Serpent appeared behind him!


    The audience fell silent, their eyes glued to the stage. All they could see were the glowing broadsword and the black Great Serpent, racing toward each other, ready to collide!

 Chapter 138 - 138: Bel Against Arke(Part-4)

    As Bel swung her sword with both hands, another dark blue Great Serpent emerged from it. It was almost identical to the one Arke had conjured, except for the color¡ªhis serpent represented poison, while hers was the Great Water Serpent!


    Two roars echoed throughout the venue, so powerful that the One-Layer Inscription Array Barrier surrounding the stage began to vibrate.


    The attacks collided, summoning chaotic winds and a dust cloud that obscured the view for much of the audience. But the battle wasn''t over yet. Sparks flew within the cloud, dispersing the dust and revealing Bel and Arke locked in combat, the projections of the serpents behind them intensifying the standoff.


    The two combatants moved so swiftly across the football-field-sized platform that it seemed too small for them, each covering the distance in just a few steps. The barrier continued to shudder every time Bel''s wooden sword collided with Arke''s smoke-covered fist.


    "So this is the power of the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage?" Apollo muttered, amazement clear in his voice as he watched intently, not blinking since the fight had started. Though they fought on the platform, Apollo could feel the weight behind each of their attacks.


    Bel wielded a wooden broadsword, which no longer looked like wood¡ªit was enveloped in a bright light that flowed like water whenever she swung it. Her sword movements were unpredictable yet fluid, and combined with the aura of the serpent surrounding her, the visual effects were so impressive that even the beggar began to feel jealous. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had learned techniques from the second exam, but Bel was demonstrating what true special effects looked like!


    Sighing, Apollo turned his attention to Arke, who remained cool despite being bombarded by swords and the projection of the Great Serpent. In fact, he didn''t seem at a disadvantage at all. Using only his fists and the dark, murky smoke surrounding him, he deflected Bel''s strikes. His composure and skill spoke to just how talented he was.


    Neither fighter made a mistake that would give their opponent an opening.


    Apollo''s fists clenched as he watched, excitement building inside him. Their strength was only at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, but the display of power was something he had only seen in movies in his previous life.


    Glancing at the floating platform, he noticed that the Headmasters didn''t appear impressed¡ªor they were simply masking their reactions. This was the first time the beggar had seen a battle of this magnitude, and he wanted to see if the Headmasters were as shocked as he was. But they gave no sign of it.


    From what Apollo knew, the participants below were only at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Gail, from what Apollo could sense, was only at the 4th-Step Foundation Stage.


    As he pondered this, a sudden exclamation from the audience snapped him out of his thoughts. Surprised, Apollo turned his attention back to the stage and saw Arke on the verge of falling off the platform.


    Bel was relentlessly swinging her sword, while five to six bright broadswords appeared around them, bombarding Arke, who was doing his best to spread the murky smoke around him to block the attacks.


    ...


    "Hehe, why are you suddenly being so aggressive?" Arke chuckled. Even with just one more step before falling off the stage, he remained calm, a mocking smile on his face. The poisonous, murky dark smoke around him swirled protectively, blocking attacks from all directions while his hands skillfully deflected the bright broadsword Bel wielded.


    Bel didn''t reply, her cold eyes locked on Arke. She unleashed a horizontal slash, while one of the duplicated swords shot straight toward his chest.


    Before the sword could reach him, a barrier of dark smoke blocked it just in time, while her horizontal slash was deflected by Arke''s smoke-covered hands.


    Throughout the fight, neither had found any openings to exploit. The only reason Arke was now near the edge of the platform was because Bel''s instincts had sharpened, pushing her to put all her strength into cornering him. But his smug, unworried expression frustrated her.


    Bel could sense they were evenly matched in strength, yet she felt weighed down, as if she were being toyed with.


    Suddenly, she felt a threat from below. Without hesitation, she used her movement technique and jumped back, narrowly avoiding a sharp spike of dark smoke that had been aiming for her head.


    As soon as she landed, Arke was already in front of her! With a loud bang, she was sent flying through the air!


    Bel flipped several times before she managed to stabilize herself midair. She glanced at her wooden sword and noticed a small crack. Fortunately, she had barely blocked the attack, but the effects of the Great Serpent Sword Technique had worn off, nearly shattering her weapon.


    Looking down, she saw Arke charging toward her, watery Qi surrounding his feet as he closed in from below.


    "Sh*t!" Bel rarely cursed, but this time, it felt necessary! While still airborne, she used the surrounding Qi to propel herself away from her approaching opponent. At the same time, she raised one hand and pointed it at Arke.


    Although she primarily cultivated the Way of the Sword, that didn''t mean she lacked other techniques. Inscriptions appeared before her outstretched hand, and a torrent of water shot forth!


    The sudden change in direction forced Arke to pause for a split second, but it was just enough time for the water beam to strike him! Without missing a beat, he punched through the torrent, splashing water across the stage!


    As the water obscured his vision for a moment, Arke saw a flash of light. Instinctively, he created a barrier of dark, murky smoke in front of him.


    A bright blue broadsword pierced through the barrier, stopping mere inches from his forehead before dissolving into a puddle of water that splashed to the ground.


    Arke retracted the smoke and saw Bel in the distance, her glowing wooden broadsword pointed at him. Surrounding her were five or six duplicate swords, all aimed in his direction.


    "Hahaha! This is fun!" Arke laughed out loud, while the audience roared with excitement.

 Chapter 139 - 139: Bel Against Arke(Part-5)

    Apollo nearly fell from his seat as the intensity of the fight below escalated. There were moments when he was certain one of their attacks would land, but the other would always surprise him, managing to block it at the last second!


    Close calls happened one after another in mere seconds. A single mistake, and one of them could have fallen off the stage or been seriously injured. The fight was so visually captivating, it felt like watching a live-action movie, but what was happening on the stage was far more incredible!


    The second standoff between the participants brought a hush over the stadium. With floating swords surrounding Bel and the murky dark smoke enveloping Arke, Apollo decided to stand, just like the other participants from the other room. In fact, most people were already on their feet, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the platform.


    "This would be better with popcorn!" Apollo muttered in disappointment. Should I suggest that to Filly? Come to think of it, where is she? He glanced around and spotted her on one of the viewing decks, standing beside Gail, both of them watching intently with worry evident on their faces.


    It wasn''t surprising since they were close friends with Bel.


    Turning back to the stage, Apollo noticed that the two combatants were ready to resume their fight.


    "This is exciting!"


    ¡­


    Arke laughed for a moment before his eyes turned cold, a dangerous smile curling on his lips. "Sigh¡­ when was the last time we fought? Oh right, it was when you protected those weaklings at school. What''s so great about protecting them? Anyway, I thought that fight would finally decide who''s really stronger between us. But¡­"


    "I defeated you," Bel smirked. "Like always, I end up on top."


    "Oh, you''re right," Arke said, unfazed by his repeated losses. "But would you believe me if I told you the only reason you beat me is because I let you?" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing this, Bel''s instincts flared. What does he mean by that? He could''ve defeated me but chose not to? No, that''s impossible. In all our fights, he gave it everything he had. Shaking her head, she stared at her opponent coldly.


    "You''re just saying that to save face."


    "No, I''m saying this because I want you to know I can defeat you whenever I want!" Arke shouted, charging toward her!


    Bel swung her wooden sword, sending the floating, glowing broadswords hurtling toward Arke.


    They moved fast, closing in on him in an instant, but with his movement technique, Arke narrowly dodged them, stopping right in front of Bel.


    He threw a punch with his smoke-covered hand, but Bel met him with a horizontal slash, forcing him to step back. Instead of being discouraged, though, a confident smile spread across his face.


    Bel quickly conjured another set of five or six copies of her glowing wooden broadsword. Without wasting a moment, she sent them flying at Arke, who was already closing in again.


    But she wouldn''t let him have his way. Activating her movement technique, Bel engaged Arke in close combat, all while distracting him with the floating broadswords surrounding them.


    "Got you!" Bel exclaimed, a wide smile spreading across her face as one of the floating swords struck Arke''s back! Seizing the opportunity, she gathered Qi around her wooden sword, and the roar of a serpent echoed. With a powerful slash, the Great Serpent projection surged forward, attacking Arke head-on!


    "Haha!" Arke laughed, crossing his arms in front of him, allowing the Great Serpent projection to slam into him!


    The impact sent water splashing into the air, and Arke''s body tumbled across the ground. After rolling several times, he pushed off with his hands, flipped mid-air, and landed squarely on his feet. His hands ached, but he still laughed and dashed forward again!


    Seeing this, Bel was stunned. What''s wrong with this guy?


    But this worked in her favor, so she didn''t hesitate. Conjuring more duplicates of her glowing broadsword, she kept sending them toward Arke, who dodged and blocked as best he could.


    Whenever Arke got within a meter of her, one of the floating swords would find its way to his body, disrupting his movements and giving Bel the chance to strike with her sword.


    Once again, Arke rolled across the ground, but it was as if he didn''t feel the blows at all. He sprang to his feet and charged at her, desperate to get as close as possible.


    Arke was practically sacrificing his body just to land a hit! But it was a foolish tactic, as his body kept taking damage over and over. If this continued, Bel would surely win!


    Even the audience was perplexed, unable to understand what was happening.


    Another Great Serpent materialized, attacking Arke and nearly pushing him off the platform. He barely managed to use his movement technique to close the gap between them.


    This cycle repeated several times, until Arke''s face was covered in blood.


    Bel gritted her teeth. Like the others, she couldn''t understand what was going on. Arke was smarter than this! What the hell is wrong with him? This was practically suicide! She didn''t feel sorry for him, but she worried she might accidentally kill him, which she didn''t want.


    "Hahaha!" Arke laughed, his bloodied face just a foot away from hers. Bel punched him with her free hand, but he came back, his mouth full of blood. "I''ve decided I don''t care anymore! This is the real me!"


    Bel frowned as her instincts screamed at her. Something was very wrong.


    With another loud bang, Arke was slammed to the ground again, but like before, he got back up as if nothing had happened. The dark, murky smoke surrounding him made him look like a devil.


    "But don''t blame me! I can''t control this! Hahaha!" Arke cackled as another slash hit his chest.


    I need to end this madness now, Bel thought, the unease inside her growing stronger with each passing moment.


    "You''ve gone crazy, Arke," Bel said, gripping her wooden broadsword with both hands and positioning it in front of her. "I don''t know what''s gotten into you, but as always, I will defeat you!"


    "Then do it!" Arke shouted, though this time he paused to allow Bel to prepare for her attack.


    Bel took it as a challenge. The glow on her wooden broadsword intensified, rippling like water, while the roar of the Great Serpent echoed as its projection materialized above her!


    "Take this!" Bel raised her wooden sword high. Using the Great Serpent Sword technique to its fullest, she swung down with all her might.


    At the same time, Arke made his move, his confident smile never faltering. "Hahaha!"


    A loud bang echoed across the arena, and the audience, on the verge of cheering, suddenly froze, their eyes widening in disbelief at what they were witnessing.


    Meanwhile, Apollo frowned.


    "Why didn''t she fully commit to her technique?" he muttered to himself.


    Back on the stage, Bel rolled across the ground several times before managing to stop by stabbing her wooden sword into the platform. It glowed faintly, flickering before it finally broke as she steadied herself.


    Bel coughed up a mouthful of blood, and when she saw the color, her eyes widened in shock. "You poisoned me?"


    "Did I?" Arke raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I already told you, I have the Poison Body. Getting too close to me is bad for your health."


    "Don''t give me that b*llshit! I know about your Poison Body!" Bel spat, wiping her mouth as she stood up. "We''ve fought before, and your poison wasn''t strong enough to harm me. But this time, you did something different."


    Arke shrugged, a playful gleam in his eyes. "I don''t know. Maybe."


    "Tsk," Bel gritted her teeth. She raised her broken wooden sword and pointed it at him. She tried to gather Qi to brighten the broadsword again, but it didn''t take long before she realized something was terribly wrong. She coughed up another mouthful of blackened blood.


    "Too bad," Arke said, appearing in front of her in an instant and punching her square in the chest!


    Bel was sent flying once more, crashing into the stage and raising a cloud of dust.


    Before Arke could rush toward her again, the dust cloud swirled, and the broken wooden broadsword flew at him! Smirking, he casually tilted his head, letting the weapon sail past him.


    "It''s futile! Now it''s my turn!" Arke shouted. He dashed toward her, his fist colliding with her crossed arms as she barely managed to block in time. However, the tables had turned¡ªBel was clearly weakened. His black, murky smoke-covered fist broke through her defense, forcing her to spit up another mouthful of black blood.


    As she was flung into the air, Arke appeared beside her and struck her again, slamming her into the ground.


    A thunderous explosion rocked the stage, causing the platform to crack!


    Dust clouds billowed, obscuring Bel''s condition, but the sound of fists clashing continued to echo from within.

 Chapter 140 - 140: Mathias Rage(Part-1)

    Silence lingered in the air as the unexpected unfolded.


    No one uttered a word, their eyes fixed on the swirling dust cloud where the sound of battle continued.


    Suddenly, the roar of a serpent broke through the tension, and a black Great Serpent emerged from the smoke, diving back into the cloud with a resounding crash!


    The dust churned, and Bel''s body was hurled into the air, crashing onto the platform and rolling dozens of times. In her wake, streaks of her tainted, blackened blood marked the ground. Even the audience could tell something was terribly wrong with her.


    Bel struggled to stand, her hands trembling, her head spinning. She coughed up another mouthful of blood and wiped her mouth, glaring at her opponent as he slowly approached. She finally understood how Arke had done this.


    Now it made sense¡ªwhy he had acted so recklessly, why he hadn''t cared about getting injured. Every time he got close to her, he would reach out, and a small amount of dark, murky smoke would seep into her body. At first, she hadn''t thought much of it, believing her body could withstand the smoke. But this time was different¡ªhe was actively forcing the dark smoke inside her.


    Worse, the smoke inside her was far more potent than what he let out during their earlier fights. It was so strong that it was disrupting her ability to gather Qi from the surroundings.


    Bel only realized this when they fought within the dust cloud. With each of Arke''s punches, more dark smoke enveloped her, and now he wasn''t even trying to hide it.


    Her instincts were screaming louder than ever¡ªwarning her of one thing.


    Death. She could sense it. Yet her eyes remained resolute.


    At the same time, the Referee sent a thought to her. "Do you want to concede?" His tone was neutral, but anyone looking at his face would see a frown.


    Bel glanced at the Referee and shook her head.


    "You should accept his offer," Arke said with a smirk, clenching his fist. Her actions made it clear the Referee had asked if she wanted to admit defeat. "Let me tell you this: I can''t control my power."


    "And let me tell you this: I will never give up!" Bel shouted, lowering her stance before dashing toward him.


    Arke sighed, though it was more for show than anything. He accepted her charge with open arms¡ªbut clenched fists!


    With a thunderous crack, Arke''s fist struck her chest, sending her flying backward. Not wasting the opportunity, Arke activated his movement technique and caught up to her.


    Their eyes met as Bel barely managed to regain her footing.


    "Goodbye," Arke whispered, his right hand now enveloped in the thick, dark murky smoke¡ªso dense it nearly took on a liquid form. "Let''s meet in the afterlife." His words were spoken softly, meant only for her to hear.


    Bel''s eyes widened, and before she could comprehend the meaning of his words, his fist slammed into her chest. The sickening crack of bones echoed, followed by her body soaring through the air and crashing into the One-Layer Inscription Barrier!


    The barrier hummed and vibrated for a moment, and with a dull thud, Bel collapsed outside the stage.


    The sound woke the audience, still in shock, who burst into cheers. Some favored Bel, while others rooted for Arke. However, the fight was far more spectacular than they had expected, making their blood boil! They were amazed at how evenly matched the two were, especially when it seemed like one was about to lose, only for the other to make a sudden comeback.


    "Arke wins!" the Referee announced, raising his hand.


    White-robed men rushed to Bel''s side to check her condition, while the Host stepped onto the stage, about to offer congratulations and comment on the incredible fight. Suddenly, something flashed before their eyes. The white-robed men around Bel took a few steps back and bowed their heads.


    The Host noticed the newcomer and, upon recognizing who it was, stood respectfully straight and fell silent.


    The only Core Creation Cultivator in Klown City appeared beside Bel. Glancing at his pale daughter, her mouth stained with black blood, he spread his senses over her entire body. Mathias''s face darkened when he sensed the volume of poison within her. He turned to the participant still on the stage and glared at him with cold, piercing eyes.


    The audience, unaware of the tension, continued to chatter, making the arena quite noisy. This further soured Mathias''s mood. "Too noisy," he muttered. As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire venue fell silent as a suffocating pressure emanated from him.


    The pressure weighed on everyone in the venue, making it hard for them to even open their mouths. Though they could still breathe, the relief was short-lived.


    At the center of the pressure, Arke was already kneeling on the ground. Sweat poured down his face as he gasped for air.


    A blur appeared in his peripheral vision, and when Arke looked up, he saw a boot in front of him. Staring up, he found Mathias looming over him with cold, unblinking eyes.


    "Y-Your Excellency, w-what¡­ brings you¡­ here?" Arke stammered, his voice barely audible as he struggled to speak, taking in large gulps of air between words.


    "You know what you did," Mathias said, his low voice cutting straight through Arke.


    "I¡­ I¡­ don''t know¡­ what you¡­ mean¡ª" Arke''s face contorted as he clutched his throat. The pressure was unbearable, and speaking any more would likely make him pass out.


    "Pretend all you want." Mathias raised his right hand toward Arke''s head, his eyes flashing dangerously as a terrifying light erupted from them. "I''ll give you one last chance to admit what you''ve done. Don''t blame me if I can''t control my powers."


    Hearing this, Arke''s eyes widened. He quickly masked his surprise with fear. He glanced around, hoping for help, but saw no one stepping forward. Damn it! Are they just going to abandon me?!


    "Your chance is gone," Mathias muttered as strong winds whipped around them. Particles of light gathered in his palm, forming into a small white ball aimed at Arke''s head. "Begone."


    Arke''s mind went blank as the Core Creation Cultivator''s words hit him. Only one thought occupied his mind. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I''m going to die.


    "I wouldn''t advise that," a voice suddenly echoed, making both Arke and Mathias turn toward the source.


    "Holst," Mathias said, narrowing his eyes at the newcomer.

 Chapter 141 - 141: Mathias Rage(Part-2)

    Apollo had long known that Arke intended to kill Bel, and even as she lay battered, coughing up black blood, he didn''t intervene. He had already given his warning and decided he would only step in if he felt like it.


    As Bel was thrown outside the stage, crashing into the barrier, Apollo glanced toward the floating platform and saw Mathias watching the battle intently. His face betrayed no emotion, and the people beside him said little. But with one look, the Beggar could tell that some of them were enjoying the show.


    "Is he just going to stand there?" Apollo muttered. His daughter was in grave danger¡ªsurely, he must have noticed something was wrong, right? And sure enough, before the white-robed men could reach Bel, the Core Creation Cultivator became a blur.


    Apollo was stunned. When he looked down, Mathias was already standing beside his daughter. He''s too fast! Apollo hadn''t even seen him move! He hadn''t even blinked, and Mathias was gone!


    The power of Core Creation¡­ the thought made Apollo clench his fist, excitement sparking in his eyes. Shaking his head, he refocused on what was happening below.


    Mathias stood next to his daughter, and suddenly released a pressure so intense that Apollo felt his knees weaken. The audience went silent, as if someone had pressed a mute button.


    The pressure gripped Apollo''s throat, making him frown. He tried to calm himself, hoping it would ease the pressure, but it remained the same. With a sigh, he decided to just endure the heaviness weighing on him and observe.


    Seeing Mathias disappear from his spot and reappear in front of the already kneeling Arke, Apollo raised an eyebrow. "Seems like he''s been caught."


    Now, the question was whether they would protect Arke. Mathias raised his hand, and particles gathered before it, coalescing into a bright, small ball. That''s when another blur appeared, and a newcomer arrived on the two-football-field platform.


    "Oh, he''s here. So they''ve decided to protect him," Apollo muttered. "This is getting interesting."


    ¡­


    "I advise you not to do that," Holst said, glancing briefly at Arke before fixing his gaze on the Core Creation Cultivator. Bowing his head, he continued, "Bel is injured, but she''s still alive. Their strength disparity is small, and it''s inevitable that one of them would gravely injure the other. Furthermore, the Referee asked if Bel wanted to concede, but she chose to continue the fight."


    "Oh? You think I''m a fool?" Mathias replied, a cold smile forming on his face, his eyes burning brighter. "There''s poison inside her body. A poison so potent, it could kill even a Core Creation Cultivator like me within hours if left untreated."


    "There''s poison?" Holst tilted his head slightly, appearing ''confused.'' "But it doesn''t matter. The fight is over, and Arke didn''t break any rules. Bel is still alive¡ªwe should send her to the Healer Room to administer an antidote for the poison. Surely, they must have one for a Poison Body."


    "Poison Body? A mere Poison Body can do that?" Mathias''s voice grew lower and heavier with each passing second. "I doubt the Healer Room has an antidote for this."


    "If that''s what you believe¡­" Holst shook his head. "Then there''s nothing more we can do."


    Mathias pointed his hand at the butler, the small ball of light spinning rapidly. "Why are you the one speaking to me?"


    "It was the Mayor''s order," Holst said.


    The Core Creation Cultivator turned to the floating platform and saw Mayor Klown glaring at them, his face dark with anger. That f*cking pig, Mathias thought. He was furious, his mind in turmoil. Normally calm and collected, the sight of his daughter suffering from a potent poison that didn''t come from a Poison Body had shattered his composure. All he wanted now was to crush these people.


    "Mayor? Hahaha!" Mathias laughed bitterly. "Do you think I''ll let a Mayor dictate what I can do?"


    Holst frowned, his smile vanishing. Murmurs rippled through the floating platform as the noble families whispered among themselves.


    "He''s lost it. He''s openly disrespecting the mayor in front of everyone." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah, but Bel''s alive, and the fight was fair. Arke''s poison is part of his cultivation. It would be unfair if he couldn''t use it."


    The whispers were divided¡ªsome supported Mathias, while others were against him.


    Nathan glanced at those claiming the fight had been fair and square, disgust flashing in his eyes. Fools, he thought. Mathias wouldn''t act like this unless something was seriously wrong. Clearly, Mathias had sensed something off, and it was likely related to the poison. If that was true, the matter needed investigation.


    But when it came to a Poison Body cultivator, using poison wasn''t considered cheating¡ªthat was their strength. According to the rules, killing an opponent was strictly prohibited. However, the Host had stated that fights between participants with minimal strength disparity could lead to grave injuries, and even death. If a death was proven accidental, the fight could continue.


    The current situation was tricky. Bel was still alive, but if she died after the round ended, it wouldn''t be Arke''s fault¡ªunless it was proven he intentionally tried to kill her.


    As the Mayor listened to Mathias''s blatant disrespect, his face flushed red with rage. How dare he?! I''m the Mayor, the one who runs this city! You live under me! You''re not from one of the Martial Schools to talk like that!


    He glanced at the Headmasters, who had remained silent. Although most of the participants were from the Martial Schools, this event was a joint one, which was why the rewards included the top martial students having access to the city''s own Cultivation Library.


    Klown had a say in what was happening.


    "Master Axton, Master Popo, Master Elmo," Klown called out to the three main Headmasters. "Please, tell Mathias to stop this madness."


    Master Axton, the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, glanced at Klown, then turned back to the platform. He said nothing, simply watching.


    At that moment, Mathias aimed his hand back at the kneeling Arke. "Any last words?"


    "Stop it," Holst said, but his only response was the sound of the glowing ball of light spinning faster in Mathias''s hand, growing brighter.


    "I... I..." Arke stammered, unable to find words. Desperately, he turned to Holst with pleading eyes. Please, save me!


    Holst looked away, but Arke noticed the faintest hint of a smile on the butler''s face before it vanished.


    As the tension reached its peak and Mathias prepared to turn the student before him into ashes, someone sent him a thought transfer. It was the second time someone had tried to interfere, and his frustration flared, but when he heard the voice, he calmed slightly.


    ''Calm down, Mathias.''


    The Core Creation Cultivator looked back toward the floating platform and saw Master Axton staring at him intently.

 Chapter 142 - 142: Mathias Rage(Part-3)

    Seeing that the Core Creation cultivator had suddenly stopped moving and was just staring at the floating platform, Apollo couldn''t help but tilt his head.


    "What''s wrong with him?" Apollo muttered. "Is he not going to kill Arke? Wait, that can''t be right. If he did, would it be considered mission complete?"


    Unable to come up with an answer, he turned to the System.


    "Hey, System, if Arke dies without me personally killing him, does it count as mission complete?" Apollo asked.


    A translucent interface materialized before him, with words appearing on it, followed by the emotionless voice of the System echoing in his head.


    "Yes, the mission states: Kill the hooded man who threw you in the alley. If the Hooded Man dies by other means, it will be considered Mission Complete."


    "Oh, that''s good to hear!" Apollo clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he watched the ongoing scene. Come on, father of Bel! Kill him! You''re better than this! Don''t waste time!


    If Mathias killed Arke, then Apollo wouldn''t have to fight his prey at all. But as the seconds passed, the Core Creation cultivator still didn''t move, continuing to stare at the platform.


    This made Apollo raise an eyebrow. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He glanced at the platform and noticed something unusual. That''s odd. The Qi is behaving strangely again.


    The Qi moved in subtle, wave-like patterns, and Apollo realized he wouldn''t have noticed it earlier if the crowd had still been shouting. Narrowing his eyes, he traced the source of the signal to one of the Headmasters, who had a thin black sword at his side.


    Apollo didn''t know this man, but he could tell he was powerful.


    They''re exchanging signals, he thought, recalling how the butler had communicated with Arke before. However, this was happening at a much greater distance, and the wavelength was fainter. Apollo grew curious¡ªcould he tune into the signal and listen in? All he had to do was spread his senses, calibrate them to match the wavelength, and spy on their conversation.


    With this in mind, he placed his hands on the railing. Due to his height, only his head was visible, but that didn''t stop him from focusing his eyes on the wavelength, spreading his senses toward it.


    Halfway there, it felt like his senses were moving through water¡ªhe had to mentally ''paddle'' to move forward. A few feet away from the wavelength, the sensation changed, becoming like trudging through mud, each step more difficult than the last.


    Gritting his teeth, Apollo''s intense curiosity pushed him to his limits. He finally reached the signal, syncing with it.


    "Just do what I said," a voice entered his mind, calm and collected, with no hint of worry or urgency.


    "My daughter¡­ You''re not lying when you say you can prolong her life?" another voice asked, this one hoarse, with a tinge of frustration.


    Though they were speaking with their minds, Apollo could still distinguish their tones. So Bel''s situation really is dire. Seems like Arke did a good job, he thought, listening intently. It was difficult¡ªhe had to maintain absolute focus or risk losing the connection.


    "Don''t worry, you have the word of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Besides, we have the same enemy," the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School said.


    Mathias glanced at his daughter, then at Arke and the butler, Holst, before turning back to the platform. "Hopefully, my decision isn''t wrong."


    He lowered his hand, and his body reappeared beside his daughter. Mathias then picked her up, and the two of them disappeared in a blur.


    At the same time, the pressure that had been gripping the audience''s necks vanished. They heaved sighs of relief, with some clutching their throats.


    Apollo retracted his senses and returned to his seat. He had missed part of the secret deal, catching only the last bit of the conversation. Nevertheless, it was a success that he''d been able to tune into the signal''s frequency and hear their clandestine message.


    This ability is amazing! Apollo thought, his eyes shining. In his previous life, he had been talented in various fields, and whenever he chose to learn something new, he could master it quickly, without needing years of practice.


    Apollo admitted that his talent had been so great, it often felt like he was being held back.


    Shaking his head, he focused back on the stage. It was a shame Mathias hadn''t killed Arke, as that would''ve saved him the trouble of completing the mission himself.


    At that moment, the Host also looked toward the platform. After receiving instructions, he cleared his throat and made the announcement.


    "This round has ended fair and square! We will proceed with the next round!"


    The audience snapped out of their shock and once again filled the venue with shouts of excitement, as if the previous scene had never happened.


    ...


    Footsteps echoed through the hall as a man carrying a woman in his arms walked down the corridor. Several white-robed men passed by, bowing in great respect when they saw him.


    "Where is the Healer''s Room?" Mathias asked, his voice low and cold.


    "I''ll guide you," one of them replied, leading the way. Mathias followed, passing rooms filled with men and women, either sitting or lying in bed.


    After a short walk, they arrived at a private room where someone was already waiting inside. The room had only one bed, indicating it was reserved for important individuals.


    The person inside wore a white and gold hanfu, and the smell of medicine filled the air.


    "Lay her down," said an old man with spectacles and long white hair that reached his waist. "Master Axton has already informed me of the situation. I am a 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage Healer. You may call me Kir."


    Mathias did as instructed, laying his daughter on the bed. She was breathing heavily.


    Looking at Bel''s pale face, anger flared briefly in his eyes, but he forced it down.


    The Healer placed a hand on Mathias'' shoulder. "You should step back."


    Mathias nodded and took a few steps back. Kir then placed his hands over Bel, and Qi began to flow from his body, enveloping her. Unlike Martial Students, who could only manipulate Qi in their surroundings through cultivation techniques, Kir used the Qi stored within his own body.


    After some time, Kir pulled his hands back and looked at Mathias.


    "How is she?" Mathias asked. Though he already knew his daughter''s condition, the healer before him had studied the Way of Medicine, and his diagnosis would be more accurate.


    "We can extend her life," Kir said, adjusting his glasses. "At least a week, at most two. If we wish to fully heal her, we''ll need help from the Alchemy House."


    S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 143 - 143: Can Deez Versus The Brute

    The round continued, and soon it was finally the Beggar''s turn.


    His opponent was a brute wearing the uniform of the Sword and Shield sect, staring at him like he was about to devour him alive.


    They stood facing each other, the size difference so stark it seemed like Apollo could be flicked away with a single movement.


    "Real weapons are not allowed. If you have one, throw it off the stage now," the Referee said, eyeing the two participants.


    Yohan shook his head. "I don''t have one."


    Apollo, on the other hand, reached under his robe and pulled out the tree branch he had found on the side of the road. This scene caused the audience to chuckle, though they weren''t surprised anymore¡ªevery time this small, masked man fought, he always threw in a stick.


    "Don''t underestimate me!" Yohan shouted, seeing his opponent about to toss his "weapon."


    "Are you sure about that?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "Hell yeah! Don''t think I''m not worthy of you going all out! Let''s fight fair and square, no holding back!" Yohan said, his eyes full of determination.


    The Referee glanced at the brute, confused. What''s wrong with this guy? It''s just a tree branch, right?


    I guess I shouldn''t hide this anymore, Apollo thought, nodding. "Alright then, I''ll use my weapon in honor of your courage."


    "Good! This time, I won''t hold back!" Yohan said, cracking his neck and fists.


    The Referee looked at the two in disbelief. A tree branch? He sighed and walked over to the small, masked man. "Is this stick your weapon?"


    "Yes," Apollo nodded. "I know real weapons aren''t allowed, but this guy insisted I use mine. So it should be okay, right? Both parties consented."


    The Referee paused. Apollo was right¡ªthere was an unspoken rule that if both parties agreed to use weapons, the Referee would have to comply. This also meant the participants were aware they could potentially kill each other. However, he still had to report it and get permission from the Headmasters.


    The Referee turned to the Headmasters on the floating platform. The trio conferred briefly before Master Axton nodded.


    Apollo felt the familiar signal but didn''t bother tuning in this time¡ªhe had a good idea of what they were discussing.


    "Let me see... your weapon," the Referee said, clearly uncomfortable calling a tree branch a weapon. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Beggar handed it over. After inspecting it closely to ensure it was just an ordinary stick, the Referee gave it back. "So, it''s allowed?"


    "Yes," the Referee nodded, a strange expression on his face. "It''s a regular tree branch and not even comparable to the wooden weapons we have here. Are you sure you want to use this?"


    "Don''t underestimate the power of nature," Apollo said, raising the tree branch in front of him. "Even though this is just a normal stick, it''s the sharpest thing in the world."


    "If you say so," the Referee shrugged, clearly not buying it. He moved to the center of the stage and raised his hand. "Let the fight begin!"


    With that, Yohan activated his Battle Technique. A dark blue haze surrounded his body before materializing into giant hands that covered his own.


    He punched his giant fists together, causing ripples to appear with each collision. A smirk crept across his face as he stared coldly at his opponent. "In our previous fight, you just got lucky, and I held back. But now! You will see my true power!"


    Apollo yawned, motioning with his tree branch. "Just come at me."


    Seeing his opponent''s laid-back attitude, Yohan felt disrespected. His face twitched, and anger made him grit his teeth. "I will crush you!"


    A resounding explosion echoed as Yohan activated his movement technique, appearing in front of the Beggar in mere seconds. "Take this!" he shouted, his giant fist, covered in energy, flying toward Apollo''s face.


    Apollo stepped aside, the punch barely missing him. He responded with a left-handed slap, using the True Hardening Technique. This increased his body''s mass and doubled the strength of his attack.


    However, Yohan blocked the slap with his other hand!


    The force propelled him backward, his feet leaving marks on the stage.


    "I said don''t underestimate me! Use your weapon!" Yohan yelled, eyes blazing with intensity.


    "But that wouldn''t be fun, right? You''d just get defeated instantly," Apollo grinned. Belittling people who overestimated themselves was actually quite entertaining.


    "Then I''ll make you use it!" Yohan shouted with determination, closing the distance in just a few steps. He unleashed a barrage of punches, their might causing the air to crackle, as the two fighters covered the stage.


    Tsk! This is frustrating! Yohan thought, noticing the small, masked man was only using his free hand while dodging most of the attacks.


    "You leave me no choice!" Yohan shouted, leaping back and pulling his right hand behind him.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow. He was still enjoying the fight, but now Yohan was gearing up for something big. Has he reached his limit already? "Oh, you''re preparing your final move?"


    "Hell yeah!" Yohan yelled. The dark haze around him gathered on his right hand, and the translucent fist grew to a massive five meters in size.


    "Hmm, I guess it''s time to end this," Apollo muttered, bringing his tree branch in front of him.


    All this time, the Referee had been watching intently, especially curious about the small, masked man who had yet to use his tree branch. Why bring out a stick if you''re not going to use it? But as Apollo raised the tree branch like a sword, the Referee anticipated a spectacle, though he didn''t hold much hope.


    Yohan''s eyes lit up. "That''s it! Good! Now take this!" he shouted, charging toward Apollo.


    Apollo did the same, and the two dashed past each other.


    As if nothing had happened, the Beggar calmly placed his tree branch back inside his robe and turned to the Referee. "Don''t worry, he''s still alive."


    The Referee looked confused, glancing at the still-standing Yohan. Are they just playing around? But then his eyes widened as Yohan''s giant translucent fist disintegrated, and Yohan collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.


    Silence.

 Chapter 144 - 144: Gails Determination(Part-1)

    The Referee''s eyes widened, his mouth hanging open as he looked at the two-meter-tall brute lying on the ground, blood pooling beneath him.


    He clearly saw what happened.


    But how? How could a tree branch do this? The Referee turned to the masked contestant, his eyes full of questions. In that split second, the tree branch had passed through the translucent giant fist as if it were nothing, continuing toward Yohan''s chest and cutting it like a real blade. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though it happened fast, with the Referee''s cultivation level, he didn''t miss a thing.


    The small masked man hadn''t even used the Qi in the surroundings to strengthen his tree branch, and his movement was a simple, basic swing anyone could do. There was no apparent strength behind the attack, yet it still managed to injure Yohan, who had a big, tough body! Could the tree branch actually be that sharp?!


    And from the looks of it, the masked man had even held back to avoid killing his opponent.


    "You¡­ how did you do it?" the Referee asked, his face a mixture of curiosity and confusion.


    "It''s a secret," Apollo replied with a mysterious smile. "So, I won, right?"


    The Referee didn''t respond immediately but turned toward the floating platform. A few seconds later, he raised his hand and announced, "Can Deez, the Outsider, has won this round!"


    Suddenly, the audience erupted into cheers and shouts of excitement. They hadn''t expected the tree branch wielder to win using just that branch! At first, they had assumed Can Deez was merely being playful, the stick just a prop. But this round proved them wrong¡ªnot only had Can Deez won, but he''d shown them that his stick was a real weapon, capable of cutting even someone with a tough body.


    Although they hadn''t seen the attack clearly, Yohan bleeding on the ground was proof enough!


    Apollo smiled and jumped off the stage.


    ...


    Meanwhile, on the floating platform, the three Headmasters exchanged glances.


    "You guys saw it, right?" Elmo asked, his eyes gleaming and a satisfied smile on his face.


    "Can Deez? He has a very strange name," Axton muttered, stroking his chin as he stared at the small masked figure making his way back.


    "It''s probably not his real name," Master Popo commented. "But it doesn''t matter. I''ll make sure he ends up in my school!"


    Elmo and Axton glanced at each other before the Sword and Shield Headmaster sneered at Popo. "You don''t even teach swordsmanship, and that kid just displayed the True Understanding of the Sword. He''s probably the only one in this city, or even the neighboring cities, to have achieved such a state."


    "He''s a rare talent," Axton agreed. "To learn the True Understanding of the Sword at such a young age and to master the Hydra Mirage technique with ten clones in such a short time¡ªhe''s among the top talents in this county."


    "He''s also mastered the True Hardening technique," Elmo added.


    "And the Fire Blast. But wait¡ªwhat is the True Understanding of the Sword?" Master Popo tilted his head, genuinely puzzled.


    "See! You don''t even know what it means, and you want Can Deez as one of your students?" Elmo raised an eyebrow. "Stop kidding around, Popo!"


    "What do you mean I''m kidding? Didn''t you see how talented he is as a Fire Cultivator? He''s the perfect student for me!" Master Popo retorted, his nose flaring as the temperature around him began to rise.


    "Oh? So you want to fight?" Elmo cracked his neck.


    "You two, stop it," Master Axton said just in time, preventing the two from starting a fight. "It''s still up to Can Deez to decide. We can''t force him to make his choice."


    "Tsk, he''s a rare talent, just like you said. But I won''t give up that easily," Master Popo said with determination.


    "Do as you see fit, then," Elmo shrugged before turning to Axton. "You already have plenty of talented students¡ªcan''t you let us fight this out?"


    "We can''t force him to make his choice," Axton repeated.


    Elmo sighed. That small masked man was truly talented, so much so that all three Headmasters were eager to have him study in their schools. A talent like his only comes once in a thousand years.


    However, unbeknownst to them, Can Deez had only shown a fraction of what he was capable of, holding back many of the Battle Techniques he had learned from the second test.


    "But what about that little girl? Do you think she''ll be okay?" Master Popo asked, this time using Thought Transfer.


    "She''s still alive, but it won''t be long before she succumbs to the poison, even if we try to prolong her life. Unless we find a great Healer and Alchemist, which is unlikely in this place." Master Axton explained.


    "That''s why you made that proposal," Elmo said. "We are cruel."


    "There''s nothing more I can do," Axton said, his eyes fixed on the ongoing battle on stage. "If that''s her fate, we must respect it. But if she''s meant to live, she will live. We cultivate to gain enlightenment, to defy fate, the heavens, and the natural law of death."


    ...


    At the same time, in one of the Winner''s Rooms...


    The door opened, and two women walked in.


    Filly slumped into a chair with a thud, her face a mixture of anger, frustration, and sadness. "Ah! I''ll f*cking kill him!" In the end, all she could do was shout to express her feelings.


    Gail sat beside her. Though her face remained expressionless, the coldness in her eyes and her clenched fists betrayed her anger.


    "If I find him, I''ll skin him alive, then I''ll skewer his body and roast him over a fire!" Filly said, her nose flaring in rage.


    The two had just come back from seeing Bel in the Healer''s Room. After witnessing their friend, pale and breathing heavily, still unconscious, they couldn''t help but feel both sadness and fury.


    And the one responsible for this was that disgusting and annoying Arke!


    "I will avenge her," Gail said quietly.


    Hearing this, Filly turned to Gail and nodded. "Yup! We should avenge Bel! Should we¡­ you know¡­ assassinate him? That''s your specialty, right? I can be your assistant!"


    "Filly," Gail turned to the restaurant owner, "I will fight him on stage. I''ll kill him in front of everyone, to honor our friend."


    "But that will land you in jail," Filly said, worry filling her eyes.


    "If it puts me in jail, that''s fine. At least I''ll have avenged her."

 Chapter 145 - 145: Gails Determination(Part-2)

    Gail walked toward the platform, the shouts from the audience ringing in her ears, but all she could focus on was the person walking toward the stage from the other side.


    It was the mysterious figure, covered from head to toe in a black robe with a white mask that obscured his entire face.


    Just like the small masked man, Can Deez, her opponent was also an Outsider who had received an Invitation by other means.


    The two jumped onto the stage, taking their positions at opposite ends of the two-football-field-wide platform, their eyes locked on each other while the Referee stood between them. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If you have any real weapons, take them out now," the Referee said. "You can also choose any wooden weapon from the racks."


    Gail approached the weapon rack and selected two short swords, while the mysterious figure shook his head at the Referee. After returning to her spot, Gail held one short sword in a reverse grip and positioned the other in front of her, below her eyes, staring intently at her opponent.


    A cold, merciless aura radiated from her. Unlike before, when she would only prepare to attack once the fight had begun, this time she readied herself early¡ªevidence of her determination to win. But part of that resolve stemmed from knowing that her opponent was no pushover.


    Recalling the mysterious man''s previous fights, Gail knew they had always ended instantly¡ªjust as hers had.


    "Are you two ready?" the Referee asked, glancing between the contestants.


    "Ready," they said in unison.


    "Then let the fight begin!" the Referee raised his hand, and as soon as the words left his lips, the two contestants vanished from their spots, reappearing in the center of the stage¡ªwooden short swords clashing against a blazing bright sword!


    Gail''s eyes widened as she stared at the glowing sword in her opponent''s hand. She quickly realized that this glowing blade was his Battle Technique.


    He''s not holding back, she thought. This was the first time the mysterious figure had revealed this Technique. It seems he''s realized I''m not an easy opponent.


    Without losing her composure, Gail''s body became a blur as she reappeared behind him!


    The audience gasped, shocked by Gail''s incredible speed!


    However, the mysterious figure reacted swiftly, placing his glowing sword behind his back, just in time to block Gail''s attack! The force caused him to step forward, and using this momentum, he activated his movement technique to dodge her next strike.


    His body dissolved into a puff of smoke and materialized a few feet away.


    Gail didn''t pursue him, her eyes widening slightly. "Teleportation?"


    "Short distance¡ªjust like what you can do," the mysterious figure replied, a hint of admiration in his voice. He pointed his blazing white sword at her. "Tell me your name."


    "Gail. And you?" Gail asked, lowering herself into a defensive stance, with one sword in front of her and the other held behind her.


    "My name..." the mysterious figure trailed off, then continued. "I''m M."


    "M? Just M?" Gail asked, frowning.


    "Yes," M nodded.


    "Alright then," Gail nodded back before both fell into a tense silence.


    A few seconds passed, and they dashed toward each other, the sound of their weapons clashing echoing across the arena!


    To the audience, it was a marvel that a wooden weapon could hold up against that blazing sword of light, but to the Cultivators, it was a simple matter of using the Qi in the surroundings to reinforce the wooden short swords. This enhanced the weapon''s durability and could even increase its sharpness. With mastery over this technique, one could use almost anything as a weapon.


    The two fought at close range, refraining from using any special techniques.


    Gail dodged an attack before delivering a kick, but her opponent deflected it with a punch, forcing her foot back to the ground. Using the momentum, she spun around for a 360-degree kick!


    With a sharp bang, M was sent flying to the side, his left hand raised beside his face, barely managing to block in time.


    But Gail was already upon him, her two short wooden swords aimed at his chest. Time seemed to slow as M watched the attack approaching. With a smirk, his body turned to smoke, and he reappeared behind Gail!


    Got you, M thought as his glowing sword slashed toward her back!


    But something unexpected happened. Gail''s body turned into water the moment his sword made contact! With a splash, the water fell to the ground.


    M immediately sensed danger from behind him, and as he turned, he saw Gail, her two short swords already aimed at his chest!


    Gail''s strike landed, sending M tumbling across the stage. Dust clouds billowed as the sound of M rolling echoed through the platform.


    However, Gail''s battle instincts told her the fight wasn''t over. The moment her foot touched the ground, she vanished, reappearing within the dust cloud! The cloud churned as the two combatants emerged, M bleeding from his chest, their weapons clashing fiercely and shaking the stage with each blow!


    The relentless back-and-forth ignited the audience''s excitement.


    "We fight with the same style, but you''re still inexperienced," Gail said calmly. She wasn''t belittling him but offering sincere advice. "Expect the unexpected, and do the unexpected."


    "Thank you for the advice," M replied, dodging one of her short swords while blocking the other with his glowing blade. "I''ll keep that in mind."


    "You should surrender," Gail said. "If we keep this up, one of us will end up dead."


    "Why should I be the one to surrender?" M asked. He agreed with her reasoning. Based on their battle, they were both holding back, resisting the urge to kill. It was a hard instinct to control, and if they slipped, one of them would be dead by now.


    "Because I need to kill someone on this stage," Gail said, her eyes burning with determination.


    "Oh?" M locked eyes with her, remaining silent for a moment as they exchanged blows. Then, after a brief pause, he finally made up his mind. "Alright."


    The two jumped back from each other, and the mysterious figure raised both hands, his glowing sword disappearing in a flurry of light particles. "I surrender."

 Chapter 146 - 146: Sudden Surrender

    The sudden surrender was unexpected, causing the audience to shout in protest. Booing echoed throughout the stadium, but the two participants were unfazed by it.


    "Thank you," Gail tossed the short wooden sword to the side and bowed her head. Relief washed over her face, knowing she was one step closer to avenging her friend.


    "No worries. I was just getting bored, so I decided to join. Besides, I''m not interested in the prize," the Mysterious Person said with a chuckle.


    "Bored?" Gail muttered, staring at M with an incredulous expression. This person is more mysterious than I thought, she mused before shaking her head. "I''ll never forget this favor. If you ever need help in the future, as long as it''s within my abilities, feel free to find me in Klown City."


    "Haha, thanks," M said, turning around and walking away. "Let''s meet again someday. I had fun fighting with you."


    "Me too," Gail replied, watching him leave.


    At the same time, the Referee raised his hand and announced the winner.


    "Gail has won this round!"


    As the announcement rang out, Gail sighed, her gaze shifting to one of the Winner''s Rooms. Her eyes landed on a small figure sitting in a chair, watching the stage.


    After this round, I''ll probably have to fight Can Deez. Should I talk to him? Gail wondered.


    Suddenly, Can Deez waved at her, meeting her gaze.


    Gail smiled and began walking towards Can Deez''s room.


    ...


    "So you want me to surrender?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow at the woman standing in front of him.


    "Yes," Gail nodded, her expression serious. "I don''t want to hurt you. Bel seems to value you, and she wanted you to join the Great Serpent Martial School. I don''t want either of us to end up hurt; it would only upset Bel more."


    "Is that the only reason?" Apollo asked.


    "No," Gail shook her head.


    "What else?"


    "I want to avenge her," Gail said, her eyes growing cold as the temperature in the room dropped. "I''m going to kill the guy who did this to her."


    Apollo could hear the determination in her voice. He wasn''t surprised. Gail and Filly seemed like the type of people who valued their friendships more than anything else.


    But Apollo shook his head. "I can''t do that."


    Gail tilted her head. "Why? I''m telling you, if we fight at full strength, one of us will end up gravely injured." She wasn''t entirely sure of the small masked person''s true power, but she had a vague sense that their fight would be either a close match or a draw. It was better to avoid a potentially serious outcome by having one of them surrender.


    "No, it''s not that," Apollo said, looking outside the room. They were inside, not on the viewing deck, and all he could see were the distant figures of the audience.


    "Then what?"


    "We have the same purpose," Apollo revealed with a smile.


    "Purpose? What do you mean?" Gail asked, tilting her head in confusion.


    "I''m going to kill that guy, too," Apollo said casually, as if it were no big deal.


    Gail''s eyes widened, tears threatening to spill. "A-are¡­ you going to avenge Bel, too?"


    Why is she crying?! Apollo couldn''t help but sigh. "Unfortunately, that''s not what I had in mind."


    "W-what?" Gail wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, smiling awkwardly. "So why do you want to kill him, too?"


    "I hate his face, and I just feel like it," Apollo said with a shrug.


    "Isn''t that a bit... shallow?" Gail muttered before shaking her head. "But if you also want to kill him, are you confident?"


    "I am," the Beggar smirked. "Are you?"


    "I''ll try my best. If I die, then it''s fate," Gail said, her determination returning.


    "Then I should be the one to do it," Apollo replied, his expression turning serious. "I don''t plan on dying, and I''m more confident in staying alive."


    Gail squinted at the small masked man. "Are you sure?"


    "A hundred and one percent sure," Apollo chuckled. "Besides, he hasn''t seen all I can do, but I''ve already seen his full strength."


    "I see... If that''s the case..." Gail locked eyes with Can Deez and nodded. "I''ll surrender."


    They both felt certain they would fight in the next round as the battles continued below.


    Apollo would be the one to face Arke.


    Soon, their names were called, and both of them headed to the arena.


    The Referee was about to start the fight when Gail raised her hand. "I surrender this fight."


    "Are you sure?" the Referee asked, confused. Gail was only one win away from fighting for the top spot in the event, yet she chose to surrender. Though he didn''t understand her reasoning, he had no right to make her fight if she didn''t want to.


    "Yes," Gail nodded before turning to Apollo. "Can Deez, I hope my decision isn''t wrong."


    "Can Deez wins!" the Referee declared, and the moment his words fell, the audience erupted in protest.


    "What the hell is wrong with her?!"


    "Why surrender?! Fight!"


    "Fight!"


    "Fight!"


    Despite the outcry, the winner was declared, and there was nothing the crowd could do.


    "Don''t worry," Apollo said as he began walking away.


    ...


    Outside of Klown City, northwest of it, lay a vast expanse of forest. The trees towered hundreds of meters into the sky, and some trunks were so wide it would take dozens of people to encircle them. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Beside the forest was a campsite with five or six tents. People moved about, carrying supplies, while others gathered around a bonfire, roasting skewered meat. They wore silver armor adorned with Klown City''s insignia¡ªa castle with a crown on top¡ªas they talked and ate happily.


    "It''s about time for the Examination to end," one of them said, taking a large bite from the meat in his hand.


    "I wonder who will win. Personally, I''m rooting for Bel. Hopefully, she''ll take the top spot."


    The group continued discussing the ongoing examination, each sharing their thoughts on who might win the Advancement Examination. Most favored Bel as the likely victor, while some mentioned the infamous Arke or other well-known Martial Students.


    After they finished eating, someone approached them.


    "Hey, it''s your group''s turn to retrieve the remaining body."


    "Alright," the group leader, a bald man with a white mustache, replied. He was known as Noli, a regular soldier from Klown City. He''d been assigned as one of the leaders tasked with gathering the remains of AlphaDusk Shadowtail, a beast slain in the forest. Only five or six groups were left, as the rest had already returned to the city.


    Noli and his squad took out their equipment and began walking into the forest. Each of them had at least reached the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    With the moon''s brilliance lighting their path, they moved through the forest at a steady pace, not rushing.


    "You know, every time I come here, I feel like I''m being watched," one of them said suddenly, a frown on his face as he glanced around the forest.


    "Oh? You feel it too?" Noli raised an eyebrow before a playful smile appeared on his face. "Maybe it''s the Alpha''s spirit wandering the forest."


    "Hey, leader, don''t scare us!"


    The group leader chuckled. "I was just joking. But honestly, I do feel like we''re being watched. It crawls on my skin, and I hate it. But we''ve been here a few times, and nothing bad has happened, right? It''s probably just our imagination, trying to scare ourselves."


    "Hmm, you''re right," his squad members agreed.


    They walked for a while before arriving at a clearing where the body of the Alphadusk Shadowtail lay. The massive beast, as big as a mansion, lay lifeless. Parts of its body were missing, especially where its nine tails had once been. Those had been the first things cut off, as they were the most valuable part.


    "They lured this monster out of the forest, but it still came back," Noli said, staring at the Alpha. "It would''ve been better if it had died outside."


    Soon, they began their work, using their weapons to cut into the beast''s body.


    After a while, one of the men paused, wiping the sweat from his forehead. As he lowered his hand, something caught his eye. His body went stiff, and his mouth began to stutter.


    "G-g-g-g-g¡ª"


    Noli, standing in front of him, looked up with an annoyed expression. "What are you mumbling about?!"


    The man took a deep breath, pointed into the distance, and shouted, "Ghost!"


    "Ghost? I told you, I was just joking!" Noli shook his head and turned to where the man was pointing. "Don''t be so scare¡ª Ah! Ghost! Run!"


    Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the forest, and the group erupted in shouts. But it only lasted for a few seconds before silence fell over the forest.


    As the cloud moved away from the moon, its brilliance encased the shadow inside the forest. It has sharp red eyes, pointed ears, a long nose, and mouth with human bodies still dangling from within. But the most prominent feature is the ten swaying tails behind the creature.

 Chapter 147 - 147: Apollo Versus Arke(Part-1)

    Arke sat comfortably in his room, a wine glass in hand, within reach of a table piled high with fruits and meat.


    With a satisfied smile, he reached for a red fruit and began eating it with relish.


    "Ah, this is heaven," Arke sighed in contentment. "That b*tch will definitely die! Hahaha! And she''ll suffer greatly!"


    His laughter echoed inside the room, blending with the sounds of fighting outside.


    As he laughed, he touched his chest, feeling that his injuries had fully healed. His smile widened. "With my wounds gone, I don''t have to worry about winning first place."


    After the battle with Bel, he had been gravely injured. If he hadn''t been healed in time, he''d still be stuck in the Healing Room.


    Thinking back to their fight, he knew it had been a close call. He had to abandon his defense, focusing solely on getting close enough to use his poison. Fortunately, it paid off, and the poison managed to enter her body.


    But as his thoughts lingered on the aftermath of the fight, Arke gritted his teeth.


    He had been humiliated by Mathias in front of hundreds of people, forced to kneel with his life in the other man''s hands. Helpless, he had waited for death¡ªa situation more infuriating than anything he''d ever experienced.


    "Tsk! But I still won. You''ll see your daughter suffer, slowly slipping away from you!" Smirking coldly, he resumed eating the food on the table.


    "You seem so happy," a voice suddenly echoed in the room.


    Recognizing it, Arke placed the fruit back on the plate and turned toward the sound.


    Standing at the viewing deck was a figure in a black-and-white butler uniform¡ªHolst.


    Arke couldn''t help but wonder how this man always appeared out of nowhere, unnoticed.


    "Who wouldn''t be?" Arke smirked.


    "You''re right," Holst said, turning to face Arke. "But you still have one more mission."


    "Ha, don''t worry about it. It''s going to be easy from here on out," Arke said confidently.


    "If you say so," Holst replied, his eyes as narrow as ever. "We''ll meet again after you complete the last mission."


    As Arke was about to respond, the butler suddenly vanished from sight, as if he''d never been there.


    What the hell? Arke shook his head. At that moment, there was a knock on the door, which opened to reveal a man in a simple white robe.


    "It''s time for the final round. Prepare yourself," the white-robed man said. "Please follow me."


    "I see," Arke smiled. "I guess it''s time to win this examination!"


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, back in Apollo''s room. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you sure you can kill him?" Filly asked, concern written all over her face as she looked at the small, masked man.


    "Don''t worry, I''m a lot stronger than you think," Apollo replied. They were talking about killing someone like it was a simple matter.


    "What about the consequences?" Filly asked, staring into Can Deez''s eyes.


    "I said, don''t worry," Apollo repeated firmly.


    "I think we should trust him," Gail chimed in from the side, having listened quietly until now. They had come to ask if Can Deez was truly confident about this.


    "Alright then," Filly nodded reluctantly. Though she didn''t know the small masked man well, she felt a strange familiarity with him, which made her all the more concerned.


    A knock came at the door as they were talking, and a person in a white robe entered.


    "Mr. Can Deez, it''s time for the final round," the robed person said. "Please follow me."


    Hearing this, Apollo stood up from his seat and followed the man. "You should just enjoy the show," he said before leaving.


    With those words, his figure disappeared, leaving the two women behind.


    "I wonder why I feel so close to him," Filly muttered before turning to Gail. "What do you think? Do you think he can do it? I may not be as strong as you guys, but I also want to kill that guy!"


    Gail remained silent, her eyes still fixed on the door.


    "What''s wrong?" Filly asked, noticing Gail''s unresponsiveness. "Hey, Gail!"


    The shout snapped Gail out of her thoughts. Shaking her head, she looked at Filly. "S-sorry. It''s just¡­ I''ve been feeling strange, like something heavy is pressing on my mind. My instincts¡­ they''re telling me something''s wrong. I smell danger."


    Worry appeared on Filly''s face. "Do you think something bad will happen to him?"


    "I don''t know," Gail said, shaking her head, a frown on her face. "I''ve been feeling this way for a while now."


    "You were trained by my family to be an assassin, right? Your instincts must be right," Filly said.


    "Sometimes instincts can be confusing. Besides, Bel''s instincts are more accurate than mine," Gail explained.


    Suddenly, the Host''s voice boomed throughout the stadium, prompting them to move to the viewing deck.


    Filly walked over to a chair and sat down. With a full view of the platform, she couldn''t help but think how amazing it looked. Gail stood beside her, her eyes fixed on Can Deez''s back.


    "Ladies and gentlemen! It''s finally time for the final battle of this Advancement Examination!" the Host shouted, excitement evident in his voice. "Over the past days, we''ve seen eliminations, blood, and tears from the first test up to this very moment! Today is glorious, as we will finally witness who will reign at the top of this Examination!"


    The audience erupted in cheers, their voices echoing through the venue.


    "And furthermore, we have an outsider as one of the finalists! Facing off against Arke, the student with a Poison Body! Who will emerge victorious? The underdog or the infamous champion?" The Host continued, gauging the crowd''s excitement, which had reached its peak. "Let''s welcome Arke and Can Deez!"


    The two participants walked onto the stage, both jumping onto it at the same time.


    The Host stood in the middle of the massive platform, while the Referee waited on the sidelines.


    As the Host hyped up the crowd, the two participants locked eyes, with Arke grinning from ear to ear.


    After a while, the Host stepped away, and the Referee moved forward, though he didn''t start the match just yet, giving the two contestants time to prepare themselves.

 Chapter 148 - 148: Apollo Versus Arke(Part-2)

    "An outsider, eh?" Arke smirked. "I''ve seen you fight, and I must say, you''re quite good."


    "Thanks," Apollo replied, his voice emotionless as he stared intently at his opponent.


    "Haha, don''t think that just because I gave you a small compliment, we''re on the same level," Arke''s smile turned cold. "Your size is the first proof we''re not even in the same league! Hahaha!"


    This guy loves trash talk, Apollo sighed, choosing not to respond.


    "What? Aren''t you going to say anything? Come on, say something!" Arke shouted, his eyes turning red with irritation. "Sigh... Anyway, hopefully, you''ll give me a decent fight before I claim first place. But here''s a bit of advice: don''t get too close to me.


    That woman I fought in the previous round got careless, and look what happened¡ªshe got poisoned. Was it my fault? No, not at all! Poison is my cultivation!"


    What Arke didn''t mention, and the secret he intended to keep forever, was that the poison he used on Bel was no ordinary toxin. It was known to only a few select individuals, a rare poison called Decaying Blood, which he had assimilated into his body days before the examination. Arke had only heard of it once, but the Mayor, determined to see Bel dead, had tasked Holst with giving it to him.


    "You talk too much," Apollo muttered. "Can''t you just shut up and wait for me to defeat you? Who knows¡ªaccidents happen, and maybe you''ll be the careless one this time."


    "Wow, big words for a shorty," Arke sneered, unfazed by the small masked man''s taunts.


    "And you talk sht with a shtty face," Apollo shot back. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A vein popped up on Arke''s forehead. "You¡ª!" In that moment, the small masked man''s image overlapped with the memory of the kid outside Filly''s Restaurant who had humiliated him. The thought made his anger flare.


    Arke decided to take out his frustration from that day on the person in front of him. He didn''t even consider the possibility that this could be the same person¡ªwho would think a beggar could be a 4th-Step Foundation cultivator? Only a wandering cultivator could possibly link the two, but none would bother with an advancement examination meant for 14 to 18-year-olds.


    Seeing the mocking look in Can Deez''s eyes, Arke gritted his teeth. He had been the one to start the trash talk, but somehow, he was the one getting angry.


    "Ahem, you can pick your weapons from the rack now," the Referee said, looking over at Apollo.


    Arke didn''t bother going to the weapon rack. Instead, he settled into his fighting stance while Apollo reached under his robe and pulled out a tree branch.


    Seeing the branch, Arke let out a chuckle, his anger evident. "Really? You''re going to use a tree branch to fight me? Are you underestimating me?!"


    Oh? He didn''t see my fight with Yohan? This is good, Apollo thought, a smile creeping across his face.


    "No, I just figured this would be more than enough," Apollo said, raising the tree branch in front of him. He really enjoyed infuriating these brainless types.


    "Hey, Ref! Can''t you just start the fight already?!" Arke shouted at the referee.


    The referee frowned, but seeing that both fighters were ready, he raised his hand and brought it down. "The fight begins!"


    ...


    On the floating platform, the Headmasters were conversing amongst themselves.


    "Who do you think will win?" Elmo asked, a smile forming on his lips. "Care to make a bet?"


    "I think Arke will win," Master Popo replied. "Though that guy is certainly a rare talent, having learned True Understanding of the Sword, he''s still no match for Arke. Arke''s already at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, while Can Deez is at... Wait, what''s his cultivation level?"


    Hearing this, Elmo realized they had overlooked an important detail. "Now that you mention it, I can''t sense his cultivation at all."


    "He''s at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage," Axton said, squinting at the small masked man on the stage.


    "As expected of the great Axton. Your senses are truly extraordinary," Elmo laughed. "So, only at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage? Arke has the upper hand in cultivation, so he stands a better chance of winning."


    "So, what''s our bet?" Master Popo asked, rubbing his hands together.


    Elmo grinned and looked at the two headmasters. "One inner ticket, and the winner takes it all."


    Axton and Master Popo both turned to Elmo with raised eyebrows.


    "Are you sure? That''s a heavy bet, if I must say," Master Popo said, his expression serious.


    "Hell yeah!" Elmo grinned. "Let''s bet on how quickly the fight will end."


    Master Popo shrugged. "It''s just one Inner Ticket. I''ll call it¡ª8 minutes, with Arke winning the match."


    "What about you, Axton?" Elmo asked, turning to the Headmaster of the Great Serpent School.


    "As Popo said, this is a heavy bet. Are you really sure?" Axton asked once more.


    "Hahaha, don''t worry about it!" Elmo laughed. "So, are you in?"


    Axton fell silent, his eyes focused on the participants on the stage while the Host continued to hype up the crowd.


    "The fight will end in three minutes," Axton said.


    "Oh? So who do you think will win?" Elmo asked, curious to know who Axton was backing, even though the bet was only on the time.


    "Can Deez," Axton replied.


    "I see," Elmo nodded. "Then I''ll call 5 minutes, with Arke winning the fight. The closest to the time wins the bet¡ªsound good?"


    "Sure," Master Popo agreed, while Axton nodded.


    As the referee raised his hand to start the match, Axton suddenly glanced up at the open ceiling, where the moon was almost directly overhead, its brilliance shining into the arena. After the two football field-sized platforms had landed inside, the night sky was clearly visible.


    Axton stared at the moon for a moment before refocusing on the stage.


    "Let the fight begin!"


    The two participants disappeared from their spots and soon, their blurry figure covered the whole stage while the sound of banging reverberated. At the same time, the barrier covering the stage started vibrating.

 Chapter 149 - 149: Apollo Versus Arke(Part-3)

    Six Battle Techniques. That was the total number Apollo had learned from the second test of the Advancement Examination.


    True Hardening made his body more durable, also increasing his mass at the same time.


    Fire Blast, a Fire Technique, allowed him to summon fire using Qi and use it to attack his enemies.


    Hydra Mirage, a Technique, let him create multiple bodies made out of water.


    He also learned a movement technique that could lighten his body, making it easier for him to move. Coupled with his own Simple Movement Technique, which he got from the System, it formed a powerful combo.


    There was also a Sword Technique called Water Integration Slash, which could turn his weapon into a watery state, making it sharper and allowing him to send a projectile in the shape of a slash. However, he only learned this technique because it looked flashy; he didn''t use it often since his Simple Sword Technique was more practical.


    The last technique he learned was Wind Blast. Like the Fire Blast Technique, it allowed him to use the surrounding Qi to summon wind, blasting his opponent away. But Apollo preferred the Fire Blast technique, so he seldom used Wind Blast.


    As the sound of the referee announcing the start of the battle rang out, Apollo waited for his opponent to make the first move. However, Arke remained still and vigilant.


    They stared at each other, observing who would take the first step. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seems like he''s not going to take me lightly, Apollo thought.


    Arke was smart. Although infuriated by the small masked man, he didn''t rush in. Like Apollo, he closely observed his opponent. He knew the person in front of him was a skilled cultivator, but seeing the tree branch the small masked person held made Arke grit his teeth. He felt humiliated fighting someone wielding a stick, especially after being trash-talked.


    When it became clear that Can Deez was not going to make the first move, Arke decided to end the standoff. He was confident in his abilities, especially since he was at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage. There was no way a nobody could defeat him. Furthermore, he still had poison lingering in his body¡ªenough to make even a Foundation Building Stage cultivator suffer.


    Although the poison could no longer kill, it was more than enough to secure his victory, though he''d only use it if he felt at a disadvantage.


    "You think you can defeat me with just a stick? Don''t mock me, you piece of sh*t," Arke sneered, dark, murky smoke swirling around him. "I wonder how a joker like you managed to stand before me. Consider yourself lucky!"


    "Blah blah, you talk too much. Just make the first move, and we''ll see!" Apollo shot back, motioning for his opponent to come at him.


    "Hah! I''ll make you suffer!" With a shout, Arke activated his Movement Technique, his body becoming a blur as he appeared in front of the masked man in just a few steps!


    Arke threw a punch, his fist covered in smoke. But as his eyes narrowed, he realized his opponent hadn''t moved at all, simply letting the attack land. This shorty is up to something! Sure enough, the moment his fist connected with Can Deez''s face, the body exploded in a splash of water!


    His instincts kicked in, and when he turned around, he saw a fire attack already on its way!


    With a loud bang, an explosion echoed as fire and smoke rose into the air! The audience shouted in excitement at the scene.


    Apollo, now on the other side of the battlefield, began gathering Qi once more. One attack wasn''t enough, so he decided to keep bombarding his prey. He had already thought it through, in order to complete his mission without attracting too much attention, he needed to kill Arke, unintentionally.


    This would result in him being taken away by the officials, as killing another participant was prohibited¡ªunless it was an accident.


    An accident where both sides struggled intensely, where one wrong move could cost a life. Apollo had to stage this scene. But first, he needed to gauge the strength of his opponent. Although he had observed Arke''s previous battles, it was different from experiencing his opponent''s battle prowess firsthand.


    A second Fire Blast was conjured and hurled toward Arke. Another explosion erupted. Just as Apollo was about to cast a third attack, the fire and smoke began to move erratically.


    Apollo saw his opponent charging out of the smoke with incredible speed, his pace not slowed at all. Arke was covered in the dark, murky smoke that acted as his defense, and only small burn marks covered his body. Clearly, he wasn''t seriously injured.


    However, the Beggar remained calm and pointed his hand toward his prey.


    "Hahaha! It''s futile!" Arke laughed maniacally.


    "Then I''ll just have to increase the output!" Apollo smirked.


    "You think you can just suddenly increase your technique''s power?! You need to adv¡ª" Arke couldn''t finish his sentence as another Fire Blast flew toward him, fiercer than before. With no time to dodge, the attack hit him, and though he barely blocked it with his hands, he was still sent flying dozens of meters back.


    Arke waved his aching hands as the fire and smoke cleared. "What... how?!" He squinted at his opponent and saw Can Deez conjuring two Battle Techniques simultaneously!


    Fire Blast and Wind Blast?!


    Apollo raised both hands¡ªone conjuring the Fire Blast, the other summoning the Wind Blast. But instead of firing them one after the other, he stacked the Wind Blast behind the Fire Blast.


    If Apollo had only used the Fire Blast and tried to increase its power alone, it would have taken a few seconds¡ªenough time for his opponent to close the distance. It was a spontaneous decision, but surprisingly, it worked. He conjured two Battle Techniques at once, using the surrounding Qi and altering their properties to enhance his attacks.


    "Take this!" Apollo shouted, and the combined Battle Techniques flew toward Arke!

 Chapter 150 - 150: Apollo Versus Arke(Part-4)

    "F*ck you!" Arke shouted, punching the oncoming Battle Techniques! With a resounding explosion, fire rose into the air while he was sent flying back. The moment that he landed, he looked up with fury in his eyes. His body aches, especially his hands which he used for blocking.


    To think that his opponent would use two Battle Techniques at the same made him take this matter more seriously.


    Seeing that Can Deez was about to make the same attack, Arke stood up straight while using more Qi to make his Poison Body tougher. He decided to focus on defense for the time being, as getting close to his opponent is very risky. Although he wanted to pound the face of the small masked man, he didn''t let his emotions get on his way.


    Furthermore, what his opponent was doing was not only risky for him, but to the user himself. Using two Battle Techniques is very taxing to the Energy, it''s not one plus one equals two but a more equation to be considered as Can Deez has to divide his senses in two to execute two Battle Techniques.


    Worried at first, Arke can only smirk confidently. Come on, just keep doing what you''re doing! Let''s see how long can you hold that up!


    But unbeknownst to him, Apollo is relax as ever.


    This is easy, Apollo thought. When he think of using two Battle Techniques, he doesn''t expect that he will succeed. Fortunately, he managed to do it by multitasking. He also had a realization that made him able to achieve this spectacle because of the other technique that he learned, Hydra mirage.


    This Technique requires him to use his senses well and to control his ten clones, he had to divide his mind which at first was quite hard but as he used it more on his previous battles, he got more used to it.


    And now, using the same principle to conjure these two Battle Techniques at the same time, is more easy than he thought. Using them feels like he is using them individually. He doesn''t feel burdened whatsoever and he doesn''t even need to think much to use them.


    But looking at that confident smile¡­ Apollo squinted at his opponent in the distance, a smirk appearing on his face.


    Arke is just standing there, waiting for him to send another attack. Apollo realized that his opponent decided to focus on defense, which was confusing since Arke only needed to dodge his attack and get near him. Does he think I wouldn''t be able to keep up doing this? Apollo thought, almost certain.


    If that''s the case¡­


    One after another, the combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast was sent towards the dark smoke-covered participant.


    Arke crossed his hands in front of him, blocking all of the attack while taking a few steps every time they landed. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah! F*ck, does this guy have unlimited stamina?!" Arke couldn''t help but grit his teeth out of frustration. He already received at least four combinations of Wind Blast and Fire Blast, but one more is coming to raise the number!


    With a banging sound, his body took the hit, causing him to take a couple of steps back while blood threatened to come out from his mouth. Holding it back, he stared ahead and saw that another attack was being prepared.


    He couldn''t dodge, the attacks were just too fast. Probably because of the additional Wind blast. Furthermore, even if he could, he wouldn''t, it would be too humiliating if he couldn''t get close to his opponent and just dodged around like a coward.


    As he waited for the sixth round to arrive, he noticed that Can Deez has a frown on his face while also gritting his teeth. The two Battle Techniques on the other hand were conjuring pretty slowly while the Fire Blast is flickering in and out.


    Seeing this, the confident smile came back on Arke''s face. Can Deez is already at his ''limit''.


    And sure enough, the small masked man fell on his knees while the battle techniques disappeared completely. He was ''panting hard''.


    "Haha!" Arke laughed aloud while the dark murky smoke surrounding him focused on his hands, as they congregated, they became darker and the smoke reached at least a few feet into the air. He walked towards his opponent and although his body was aching, his footsteps were steady, evident confidence radiating out from him. "I guess you must have reached your limit, right?"


    The small masked man didn''t answer, his head low while his breathing was heavy.


    Arke stopped a few meters away from his opponent, this distance was enough for him to cover in just one or two steps. Looking at the state of the small masked man, the smile on his face widened. He knew this feeling very well as he had experienced this a couple of times when he trained his Battle Techniques nonstop.


    It felt like a mountain was being pressed on his whole body while his mind tried to fight the fight which would only end up futile as only time would be able to move the pressure.


    "You got too ahead of yourself," Arke said, his cold eyes staring at his opponent. "Using two offensive Battle Techniques at the same time? What a rookie move. You have big head. Just because you are standing in front of me doesn''t mean you can act tough. The strong should only have that right against the weak!


    A weakling like that doesn''t stand a chance should know how to bow your head!"


    Apollo didn''t answer while his shoulders moved up and down. This tells how ''tired'' he was.


    "Why don''t you lower your head more?" Arke said. "Or do you want me to do it for you instead?"


    "Then make me do it," Apollo raised his head, his eyes staring back coldly while a smirk painted his face. "Don''t tell me you only know how to run your mouth and spit saliva all over the place?"


    At the same time, he reached back inside his robe and took out his tree branch which he put when he used the combination of two battle techniques.


    Hearing the mockery, Arke''s face twitched. This guy knows how to infuriate me! Hmph! His eyes became colder while the dark murky smoke became strange, some wisp of the smoke split from the rest before they moved towards his opponent''s direction.


    It was so subtle and discreet that one wouldn''t think it was strange. It was dark smoke that behaved abnormally and depending on the wind. No one would think that a small wisp would have a strong poison that could make any Foundation Building Stage weak.


    "F*ck you!" Arke shouted as he had enough. Using his movement technique, he instantly arrived in front of Can Deez!


    Apollo smiled. This is it! This fight will be toe to toe! I should hold myself back from time to time and make them think we are having a hard time!

 Chapter 151 - 151: Apollo Versus Arke(Part-5)

    A shadow ran in a certain direction, its footsteps neither slow nor fast. Clearly, this shadow was in no hurry. It stood like a small mountain, its dark, sleek, shadow-like hair swaying in the wind. Ten long, flowing tails moved as though alive, each one shimmering faintly as if made from the shadows themselves.


    Its glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, and its nose sniffed the air occasionally. After a while, it stopped, staring at a mountain one or two thousand kilometers away.


    The creature let out a low, threatening growl, saliva dripping to the ground as its sharp, pointed teeth emerged.


    "Human... prey..." the creature muttered, its voice garbled and rough. Suddenly, strange writing appeared in front of it, turning into a cloud of smoke from which images materialized.


    Its red eyes focused coldly on a human fighting with someone in the distance. Silently, it moved forward, blending with the shadows.


    ¡­


    Apollo barely dodged a fist covered in dark, murky smoke, then countered with a slash from his tree branch weapon. The dark smoke barrier was instantly sliced in half, but his opponent had already leaped back. The Beggar pursued Arke, closing the distance in an instant, and the two exchanged blows once more.


    Fist and tree branch clashed, but neither could land a decisive hit.


    Hmm, this is harder than I thought, Apollo mused, dodging a fist that sent the air exploding beside him.


    He already knew the extent of Arke''s strength. Though Arke had a higher cultivation level, Apollo was confident he could win the fight with little to no injuries. However, he had to pretend to struggle in order to execute his plan¡ªto feign a desperate struggle and "accidentally" kill his opponent. But this was easier said than done; he had to make sure his attacks didn''t seriously injure Arke.


    Apollo also had to pretend he couldn''t use his other Techniques and was limited to hand-to-hand combat. Taking damage was part of the plan, to make the act more convincing.


    Arke''s fist slammed into Apollo''s chest, sending him tumbling across the stage. He quickly pushed off with his hands and jumped to his feet. As he landed, he saw Arke charging toward him, cuts covering his body.


    Just as Apollo prepared to lunge at his opponent, dizziness hit him, and his chest throbbed. He felt blood rising in his throat, and before he could stop it, he spat out a mouthful.


    Seeing the black-red blood on the ground, Apollo realized he''d been poisoned. At the same time, a notification appeared in front of him.


    "Ding! You have been poisoned with Nightshade Essence."


    Nightshade Essence? Apollo looked up, noticing the cunning smile on Arke''s face, and felt a wave of confusion. When did I get poisoned? He hadn''t felt a thing.


    As his body grew heavy and dizziness clouded his mind, Apollo knew this was bad. Gritting his teeth, he refused to back down and pushed forward.


    Swinging his tree branch, he cut through a barrier, but a blur shot past him¡ªArke had appeared beside him, throwing a punch at his face!


    Gritting his teeth, Apollo didn''t raise his hands to block it. Instead, he let the punch land!


    A loud bang echoed as the Beggar''s body flew through the air, crashing to the ground. Dust rose around him as the audience erupted in excitement.


    Inside the dust cloud, Apollo grunted in pain. "Argh, this f*cking hurts."


    At first, he was just pretending to be weak, staging a scene so that when he completed his mission, no trouble would come for him. However, the poison in his body made the act all too real.


    Sitting on the ground, he checked his Alm points before bringing up the System Store. Apollo had saved some of his points just for this kind of situation.


    "Show items that can remove the poison in my body and sort them by price, descending order," Apollo commanded. The Store flickered for a moment before displaying the options.


    The first item was a tonic costing three Alm points. But according to the description, it would only alleviate the poison, not completely remove it.


    He scanned the items until his eyes landed on an elixir: Simple Poison Removal. It cost seven Alm points, taking half of his savings.


    Simple Poison Removal: An item that can remove any poison from the user''s body, but only simple poisons. Tap to see the list of simple poisons this item can cleanse.


    Apollo tapped and quickly saw the poison afflicting him.


    This is it! With that in mind, he bought the item and immediately used it. Hidden within the dust cloud, a glass bottle materialized before him, filled with a light blue liquid. Apollo uncorked it and drank it in one gulp.


    A refreshing, cooling sensation flowed down his throat and spread through his body. The coolness enveloped him, and his dizziness and pain vanished.


    In no time, the poison was completely purged, and his mind cleared.


    Still, he acted as though he were gravely injured while the dust cloud began to settle.


    Arke stood a few meters in front of him, a mocking smile on his face.


    "What? Feeling weak?" Arke asked with a chuckle.


    "W-what... did you... do?" Apollo asked, breathing heavily between his words.


    "I don''t know," Arke shrugged, lowering his body and raising both fists. The temperature around him rose, and his eyes locked onto his opponent coldly. "But I''ve decided to end this fight now."


    Oh? Seeing Arke preparing to lunge, a smile formed on Apollo''s lips, though he quickly hid it. He stepped back, worry etched on his face.


    "Sh*t! If I''m going to die, I won''t die alone!" Apollo shouted, raising his tree branch with both hands, gritting his teeth.


    The referee standing nearby broke into a cold sweat when he heard this. It seemed like both fighters were ready to disregard the consequences. His expression grew serious as tension pressed down on him.


    He knew he had to stop the fight before one of them was killed. Gathering Qi from the surroundings and reinforcing his stance, he waited for the battle to continue.


    "Take this!" Arke yelled, dashing toward his opponent. He was brimming with confidence, certain of victory now that Can Deez had inhaled the poison. Killing intent radiated from him as he focused on ending his opponent.


    But in the next moment, Arke saw his opponent appear before him, and suddenly, his vision twisted and spun.


    It felt cold. He wanted to move but couldn''t. With a thud, he saw a headless figure, and Can Deez stood behind it. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 152 - 152: The Hunt Began(Part-1)

    With a thud, a body fell to the ground, blood pooling where a head used to be.


    At the same time, the Referee appeared beside the body, but it was too late. The head was already rolling into the distance.


    Looking at it, the Referee was shocked. Arke had died instantly, his face frozen in the same expression¡ªconfident smile and mocking eyes. The moment the Referee realized one of them might die, he had dashed forward to save someone. A fist that could pierce a body and a tree branch that was actually a very sharp weapon flashed in his mind.


    But now, staring back at him, he saw Can Deez kneeling on the floor.


    He had intended to save Can Deez. Instead, it was Arke who had died.


    It was too fast.


    Recalling the sequence, the slow and seemingly weak Can Deez had suddenly moved with lightning speed, beheading his opponent in a single stroke! All the Referee had thought about was saving the small masked man, never expecting this outcome.


    As Can Deez lay on the floor, breathing heavily, the Referee realized it must have been a final burst of strength. In the face of danger, people could reach their full potential for a split second, surpassing their usual limits. Can Deez had likely experienced this.


    And sure enough, moments later, Can Deez collapsed completely.


    A heavy silence hung in the air before the crowd erupted in excitement!


    The Referee, however, wasn''t as thrilled. He didn''t immediately announce the winner but turned his eyes to the officials on the floating platform.


    After a while, he received confirmation that one of them had been bound to die in that final moment. Arke had clearly intended to kill, his murderous intent impossible to miss. That was likely why Can Deez hadn''t held back.


    The Referee raised his hand and announced the winner.


    "Can Deez, the outsider, has won the final test!" he declared.


    The audience erupted into cheers. Even with a dead body on the platform, their excitement didn''t wane¡ªif anything, it grew even more intense.


    ¡­


    "That''s a surprise," Elmo chuckled. "I lost."


    "D*mn it," Master Popo sighed. "Was that really just a final burst of strength? He got way too fast all of a sudden."


    "Even if it wasn''t, he did the right thing. Otherwise, he would''ve died," Elmo said, shaking his head. "Besides, Arke''s killing intent was strong. He made it clear what he wanted. In that situation, going all out was the only option to win. Anyway, a loss is a loss.


    One Inner Ticket it is."


    The two glanced at the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School and, seeing the smile on his face, couldn''t help but tilt their heads.


    "You look too happy. Please don''t show it. Even though it''s only one ticket, it still stings, you know," Elmo said, smiling bitterly. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m not smiling because I won the bet," Master Axton replied, his eyes focused on the dead body on the platform, as large as two football fields.


    Elmo followed his gaze and understood what was on the headmaster''s mind.


    "Karma came swiftly, didn''t it?" Elmo sighed. "But I think he deserved it."


    Master Popo nodded. "Bel was such a good girl. I would''ve taken her as my personal disciple if you two hadn''t stopped me!"


    As the trio conversed, on the other side of the floating platform, the Mayor stared at the body on the stage. He licked his lips and turned to the butler beside him.


    "You know what to do, right?" Klown asked through Thought Transfer. He didn''t have cultivation, but he could use it because Holst had allowed him to connect to his mind.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure his body ends up on your plate," Holst replied.


    "Seems like he won''t be able to complete his mission," Klown remarked, though he didn''t sound disappointed at all. Whether the Leone Heir lived or not didn''t matter anymore now that their plan was moving in the right direction. Arke''s usefulness was long gone. No¡ªhe still had one final use: to fill the Mayor''s stomach.


    Thinking about it, Klown licked his lips again.


    As the butler was about to speak, a frown creased his face. He looked up toward the open ceiling of the mountain, squinting, but all he could see was the cold brilliance of the moon.


    "What''s wrong?" Klown asked, this time not using Thought Transfer.


    Holst didn''t answer. Instead, he turned toward the Headmasters, and sure enough, they were also looking in the same direction.


    "We should retreat," Holst said.


    Klown wanted to ask why, but seeing the serious look on Holst''s face, he decided to comply. "Alright." He then turned to the Visitors, especially the leader of the convoy.


    "Let''s go back to the ci¡ª" Klown couldn''t finish his sentence. In the next second, a deafening roar came from above. He looked up, his eyes widening in shock.


    ¡­


    Back on the platform, Apollo was playing ''unconscious'' on the floor. It took all his willpower to resist the urge to scratch his bottom.


    When are they going to take me away? Apollo wondered. He was waiting for the white-robed men to remove him from the scene, and that would be his chance to make his escape.


    But as he lay there, he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his back.


    Apollo frowned as the heat intensified with each passing second. What''s happening?!


    A sense of foreboding washed over him, his mind racing to figure out what was going on.


    Was it¡­ the mark on my back? Apollo was sure of it¡ªthere was no other explanation. Don''t tell me that monster is already near?! Thinking about it more carefully, he realized that creature had been watching him ever since he left the city. It seemed like the monster couldn''t wait any longer.


    Suddenly, a notification appeared before him. Even though his eyes were closed, he could still see the translucent screen.


    "The Alphadusk Shadowtail has begun its hunt!"


    At the same time, a powerful roar echoed from above, causing the Beggar to shiver involuntarily.


    Fck! This is not a good time! I still have to pretend!* But unbeknownst to him, even if he didn''t pretend, he wouldn''t be punished. The Headmasters themselves weren''t against his actions in killing Arke.

 Chapter 153 - 153: The Hunt Began(Part-2)

    The roar echoed inside the venue, causing the audience to look around.


    "There!" someone shouted, pointing toward the open ceiling of the mountain where the moon shone brilliantly. However, their focus wasn''t on the moon; their eyes were locked on a creature standing atop the mountain, staring down at them.


    "W-what the hell is that?!"


    "That''s a monster!"


    Hearing the shouts, the audience soon fell into disarray. It didn''t take long for panic to set in, with some people immediately running toward the exits. They pushed and shoved, trying to escape as quickly as possible. Those with cultivation used their strength to rush ahead of the normal people.


    Monsters. They were creatures that almost all ordinary folks dreaded. If they could help it, they''d avoid ever seeing one.


    A monster meant destruction. Klown City had already endured several monster attacks that had killed hundreds, if not thousands. The trauma lingered, keeping the citizens constantly on edge, always fearing that one day, monsters would strike again.


    Thankfully, Cultivators often stepped in to slay these beasts. But that didn''t erase the fear. It was a deep-rooted terror, one hard to shake off, driving people to flee at the slightest sign of danger. Moreover, the monster standing on the mountain was clearly no ordinary creature. Even those without cultivation could feel the pressure emanating from it.


    As shouts filled the venue, the person pretending to be unconscious on the two-football-field-sized platform couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat.


    Sht! This is so frustrating!* Apollo wanted to stand up and flee with the crowd, but that would blow his cover! Should I wait longer? Someone should be getting me out of here by now! There''s no way they''re just going to leave that monster here, right?


    With that thought, he decided to keep playing unconscious. Suddenly, the platform vibrated as something massive landed on it.


    A wave of killing intent radiated out. It was so overwhelming that Apollo''s breathing became labored. It felt just like when Mathias, a Core Creation Cultivator, unleashed his aura! No, this time, it was stronger¡ªpiercing straight to his heart!


    Apollo shivered as he felt a powerful gaze fall upon him. He could hear a low, deep growl coming from behind. He didn''t know how close it was, but the sound seemed as if it was right next to his ear.


    Where is everyone?! Can someone please come and save me?!


    The monster roared again, its voice making the entire mountain tremble. Small rocks even fell from above.


    Sht! Sht! With no other choice, and probably out of curiosity to see the creature, Apollo opened his eyes, moved his head slightly, and took a glance.


    Tall! It had to be at least 20 meters in height! Its dark fur looked like shadows, with ten tails swaying behind it as though they were alive. And those eyes! They were so red they resembled blood.


    Suddenly, the Alphadusk Shadowtail locked eyes with him, and Apollo''s body felt like it had been electrocuted.


    One gaze¡ªthat was all it took for Apollo to know he couldn''t defeat this monster!


    I fcked up, Apollo thought before his expression turned serious. But I won''t back down without a fight!


    He stood up slowly, his body ''shaking'' from the ''injuries'' he''d sustained in the previous fight. Still pretending to be hurt, Apollo shook his head, looked around, and then tilted his head to the side.


    "What''s happening?" Of course, Apollo knew exactly what was happening. He turned around and looked at the creature again.


    As their eyes met, the Beggar couldn''t help but gulp. This is it! It''s either fight or run! Raising his tree branch in front of him, he squinted at the Alphadusk Shadowtail.


    He had a plan in case he ever encountered this monster, but to pull it off, he needed to get close to the creature¡ªwithout getting killed first.


    The two stared each other down for a moment before the Alpha roared! However, halfway through its roar, something flashed in Apollo''s eyes, and in the next moment, the Alpha''s head was knocked to the side. The creature stumbled, taking a few steps backward from the force.


    A person landed beside Apollo, holding a giant sword and shield that almost matched their two-meter height.


    "You should go back, kid," Elmo said, glancing at the small masked man with a smirk. "Let the old fogies handle this monster."


    Hearing this, Apollo, who had been prepared to risk his life to kill the monster, widened his eyes in surprise. Then relief washed over him. Finally, they came¡ªand it''s even the Headmasters! There''s no way this wolf can kill me now!


    The Ten-Tailed Alphadusk Shadowtail shook its head for a moment, its eyes locking on the big brute standing beside its prey. The Alpha opened its mouth, but in the next second, fire erupted from beneath it! The monster''s roar turned into a howl of pain!


    At the same time, another person landed beside the Beggar, and Apollo instinctively turned to look¡ªbut immediately regretted it. Just before the person landed, Apollo''s eyes caught sight of the forbidden fruit!


    "Haha, or you can stay and watch us kill this motherf*cking creature!" Master Popo grinned at the small masked man. "You know, in my school, we don''t want students to be restricted by order. They should be fiery and brave¡ªjust like real fire! So, what do you think? Isn''t it great?"


    Elmo stared at the headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School with an incredulous expression. How shameless of this old man!


    "Ahem! Can Deez, that''s your name, right? Stay if you want, but you should be able to protect yourself. In the Sword and Shield Martial School, we teach all kinds of offensive and defensive techniques, not just raw destruction that doesn''t discriminate between friend and foe."


    "You!" Master Popo glared at Elmo angrily, but Elmo only sneered.


    I''m more than happy to get out of this place, Apollo thought, smiling bitterly. "I think I should go back."


    The two headmasters didn''t pay him any more attention and began their battle.


    Taking this chance, Apollo jumped off the stage and started running toward the exit. However, he slammed into something and fell on his bottom. Shaking his head, he saw a dark, translucent barrier where he had collided.


    "A barrier?" Apollo stood up as the monster roared once more behind him. This time, it was interrupted for the third time as one of its tails was cut off, but he didn''t bother looking back. He raised his hand and punched the barrier. His fist bounced off while the barrier only rippled. "What sh*tty luck!"


    Then Apollo remembered that his Simple Sword Technique could make any object sharp. He had even used it to cut through techniques before. He took out his tree branch and slashed at the barrier. However, instead of breaking the barrier, his tree branch shattered.


    "No!" Apollo held the broken stick in front of him, disappointment evident in his eyes.


    "It''s not going to work, kid," someone said. Hearing the voice, Apollo turned around and saw the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Meanwhile, the other two Headmasters were still busy berating each other as the Alpha remained trapped inside the hellfire.


    "But why? I could cut through all the techniques before!" Apollo asked, genuinely confused. He didn''t bother hiding information, as the other party seemed to know what he could do with his tree branch.


    Axton turned around and stared at the small masked man. "I could tell you, but you''re not one of my students. If you want, my school is open to you."


    Apollo frowned. These guys... why are they promoting their schools when there''s a monster right behind them?


    Suddenly, a great pressure descended, causing Apollo to cough. At the same time, the wolf howled into the air and began absorbing the fire surrounding it through its nose and mouth.


    "Watch out!" Master Popo shouted before disappearing from his spot. Elmo didn''t hesitate either, vanishing just as quickly.


    Axton dodged as well, as a massive wave of fire shot toward where they had all stood moments before. The temperature increased so much that the air began to boil.


    Apollo clearly saw what happened. The Alphadusk Shadowtail had absorbed the intense fire and then fired it back at the Headmasters. The spot where they had been standing was now melting, the heat even reaching the ground floor.


    If that attack had landed on me, I''d be dead, Apollo thought, gulping nervously.


    Elmo reappeared on the left side of the two-football-field platform, Axton on the right, while Master Popo floated in the air. No one was bothered by his aerial display as they were too focused on the monster. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I thought they already killed this monster?" Master Popo couldn''t help but ask.


    Axton squinted at the Alphadusk Shadowtail''s back and saw the tail he had cut off regenerating rapidly. He counted the tails and understood what was happening.


    "They did kill the Alphadusk Shadowtail, but that one had nine tails. This one has ten. All this time, there were two Alphadusks," Axton explained, his voice serious.


    "I knew it!" Elmo said. "I read about this in a book once, but I only remembered now. There''s a case where two Alphas can rule one forest¡ªa male and a female. If they''re the same gender, they''ll fight to the death. I think this one is the male!"


    "Oh, I see," Master Popo nodded, a confident smile on his face. "Then I''ll take the back. You guys handle it head-on!"

 Chapter 154 - 154: The Hunt Began(Part-3)

    "Humans¡­ kill¡­" The Alphadusk Shadowtail growled with its deep, incoherent voice.


    Hearing this, Axton and the others weren''t surprised. Monsters like this, which had risen to the top of their group and experienced growth far beyond their peers, often developed stronger and new abilities. Many of them gained the ability to speak, though they struggled to articulate words due to their bodily structure.


    "I¡­ will¡­ kill¡­ humans!" the Alpha howled into the air before dashing toward the nearest human!


    Elmo''s body emitted a strong haze as the winds moved erratically around him, and his weapons glowed brilliantly.


    "Come!" Elmo shouted, lowering his body slightly before using his movement technique to instantly appear in front of the monster!


    He swung his sword, the air splitting and whistling as the pressure descended, but a black tail blocked his attack. Although the tail moved like a shadow, it had such durability that the Headmaster''s sword couldn''t penetrate it. However, Elmo didn''t lose his cool. Instead, he used his shield to punch the monster!


    The attack landed on the wolf''s head, forcing it to the side, but another tail came at Elmo, which he deflected with his sword.


    Upon landing, he jumped back with a chuckle. "This guy''s smart¡ªjust what I''d expect from a wolf."


    At the same time, Axton took the opportunity to appear above the monster, his sword as thin as a cicada''s wing, aiming for the Alpha''s head. The blade met no resistance, penetrating the monster with ease. However, five or six tails immediately lunged at him, forcing Axton to withdraw his sword and deflect the tails.


    The sound of collisions echoed a few times before the Alpha opened its mouth. A dark orb gathered and, within a second, fired toward Axton!


    Axton''s body instantly evaporated, leaving only mist in the air. The dark orb continued on its path, crashing into the wall and causing rocks to fall on the fleeing audience.


    Fortunately, the white-robed men were quick to act, using their abilities to shield the audience.


    The Alphadusk shook its head, its wounds healing instantly. Its eyes locked onto Axton, who had reappeared a distance away, first in a form of water before returning to his true self.


    The Alpha bared its teeth and charged at the Great Serpent Headmaster!


    "I think you pissed it off, Axton!" Elmo shouted with a laugh, dashing toward the monster. But before he could get close, a tail shot toward him. Expecting this, Elmo activated one of his Battle Techniques, his body increasing in size! With a slash of his sword, the tail was deflected, and a sharp gust of wind followed, slicing several tails in half.


    The Alphadusk roared in pain, but it didn''t slow down at all as its severed tails regenerated almost immediately.


    "Tsk!" Elmo glanced up at Master Popo, who hovered in the air. "Hey! Is it ready?"


    "Yup!" Master Popo called back, his hands moving frantically as inscriptions materialized in front of him. Having seen the monster absorb his fire and use it to counterattack, he realized it was futile to use the same method. Instead, he focused on immobilizing the creature. "Done!"


    Suddenly, the inscriptions emitted a bright yellow-red glow, and burning whips shot toward the monster''s tails!


    The whips held each of the Alpha''s tails, stopping it just a few feet from biting Axton''s head.


    The Alphadusk tried to snap its jaws, but all it could do was clatter its sharp teeth.


    "Die¡­" the Alpha growled. However, no matter how hard it tried to step forward, the whips binding its tails kept it from killing the human in front of it.


    With no other choice, the Alpha opened its mouth to create another dark orb.


    But Axton had already thrown a punch at the monster''s head! With a loud bang, the Alpha tumbled across the ground, and just before it fell off the platform, Master Popo tightened his grip on the whips, pulling it back.


    Master Popo landed, and the two headmasters appeared at his sides.


    "This should weaken its strength," Master Popo said with a confident smile.


    "Should we kill it?" Elmo asked, turning to the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    "What else do you know about it?" Axton responded instead of answering directly.


    "I''ve already told you everything I know," Elmo said, shaking his head. "But I do know one person who''s familiar with all kinds of animals."


    "Who?" Axton asked.


    "Theo, the owner of Skyline Savory," Elmo replied.


    Upon hearing this, Axton nodded as if understanding. "Then let''s capture this monster and bring it to him. There''s not much recorded about this Ten Tail Alphadusk Shadowtail. Maybe Theo can help document it for future reference."


    "Alri¡ª" Elmo began, but he stopped mid-sentence as a blur shot past them. Realizing something, he turned to the Alpha and saw something that made his eyes widen and brought a bitter smile to his face.


    The Alpha was wildly waving all its tails, flinging the whips around. At the far end of the golden-red whips was the Headmaster of the Fire Shrine, his Hanfu robes chaotically flapping in the wind, with something inappropriate showing as he clung desperately to his whips.


    "Ah! The Binding Whips are losing their strength!" Master Popo shouted as his body was flung into the air.


    "It seems like this monster can absorb even a Restraining Technique," Axton muttered, squinting as he stared at the Fire Shrine Headmaster. "Let go!"


    "Oh, right!" Master Popo realized, releasing his grip on the Binding Whips. The moment his hands left them, the whips disintegrated into particles that shot through the Alpha''s body.


    Master Popo was flung through the air, flipping several times before stabilizing himself. He floated, shaking his head in frustration. He glared at the monster. "F*ck yo¡ª" He couldn''t finish as a dark orb was already headed his way, aiming to blow him up.


    Seeing this, Master Popo raised his hand and activated his technique. Qi surged from within his body, turning into blazing fire, which he sent toward the orb. A strong explosion erupted, causing the whole mountain to shake!


    Using his movement techniques, Master Popo transformed into flames and landed beside the other headmasters.


    "Sh*t, that was risky," the Fire Shrine Headmaster cursed. "Can I stop holding back now? I really want to kill this monster!"


    "No, you can''t," Axton replied, shaking his head. "People are still evacuating."


    Without even exchanging words, they had been holding back their strength. There were still civilians escaping, and because of their numbers, it was taking quite a long time.


    The Alphadusk glared at them, its ten tails swaying behind it. "Humans¡­ kill¡­"


    Meanwhile, Apollo, who had been watching all this time, was amazed by the scene. Everything had occurred in just a minute or two, and the visual effects were dazzling, especially when the trio moved and used their Battle Techniques.


    His eyes lingered on the Headmasters before focusing on the Great Serpent Head.


    That guy should''ve been dead. Apollo was shocked when Axton was hit by that dark orb, which obliterated him instantly, leaving nothing behind but mist. However, he reappeared away from the monster in a puddle of water, reforming into his true self.


    That''s definitely a Hydra Mirage, but more perfect and advanced, the Beggar thought, his eyes shining with excitement. He recalled the final state of that Technique: the clone one creates is so lifelike that it behaves like the true self, with its energy being almost identical to the original. This means, when using their senses on the clone, others would believe it''s the real body.


    Apollo could create ten clones and control them to move like the real him. However, he had to control them manually, dividing his attention. Fortunately, the technique wasn''t overly taxing.


    The Beggar began to suspect that the Great Serpent Headmaster on the platform was not the real body.


    Unbeknownst to him, he was right. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It would''ve been better if your real body were here," Elmo said, glancing at Axton while raising his weapons. The monster was gathering Qi from the surroundings, and ten dark orbs appeared on top of each tail. This time, his expression was more serious than before.


    "I''m more than enough," Axton replied, his face reflecting the same calm resolve.


    "Or it would''ve been better if Mathias were here!" Master Popo chimed in.


    At the same time, the wolf howled into the air before launching the ten orbs!


    "Contain it inside this place!" Axton shouted, and the other two nodded, their bodies turning into blurs as they blocked the orbs with their Techniques.


    Apollo clenched his fist, marveling at the magnificent scene. But in the next moment, his eyes widened as two orbs shot directly toward him!


    "F*ck! I don''t have my weapon!" Apollo yelled, frantically looking around but finding nothing he could use. Knowing that the unbreakable barrier behind him came from the Alpha, he couldn''t risk using his fingers as weapons.


    With this in mind, he raised both hands and unleashed a combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast!

 Chapter 155 - 155: The Hunt Began(Part-4)

    Continuous explosions echoed through the venue as the entire mountain shook from the intensity. Rocks fell, followed by screams.


    Apollo was covered in fire and smoke, his body sent flying backward, crashing into the dark barrier. The barrier stretched on impact, but he couldn''t penetrate it, and his body bounced back to the ground.


    After rolling a few times, the Beggar coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    "Ah, f*ck," Apollo cursed. Using the combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast against that dark orb had been a bad idea. But with no time to dodge and his Simple Sword Technique ineffective against the Alphadusk''s abilities, he had no choice but to counter the attack with his own.


    He managed to survive, but he was still caught in the aftermath.


    Standing up amid the sounds of explosions and howls, Apollo looked around. The three Headmasters were now fighting the Alpha more intensely. Dark orbs materialized, and the Headmasters defended against them, ensuring they didn''t reach the still-escaping audience. However, due to the blasts, rocks were falling, crushing some people to death.


    Apollo realized the Headmasters were containing the fight within the arena. Stabilizing his internal wounds while gathering Qi from the surroundings, he focused on the barrier, which made it impossible for him to escape, though the Techniques'' aftermaths could pass through. There has to be a crack in it somewhere, Apollo thought as the barrier vibrated from the impacts.


    Sure enough, he spotted a section vibrating more than the rest. Squinting, he enhanced his vision and saw small cracks.


    That''s it! Apollo finally saw hope of escaping the battlefield. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But to do that, he had to cross the two football field-sized platform. "Please don''t bother me," Apollo muttered, taking a deep breath.


    After stabilizing his wounds to where the pain wasn''t as intense, he used his Simple Movement Technique and paired it with the technique he learned from the second test.


    As Qi circulated through his body in a specific pattern, he felt weightless, like a feather, like a dandelion dancing with the wind.


    Determined to escape, he dashed toward the cracked barrier. In just a few seconds, he had almost crossed the platform.


    But as he neared the crack, his senses tingled, the hairs on his neck standing on end. Time seemed to slow. Without knowing what was coming after him, his mind raced for a solution. He noticed the weapon rack lying broken on the ground, cold wooden weapons scattered everywhere. His eyes locked onto a sword, and without hesitation, he changed direction, grabbed the sword, and slashed behind him!


    A tail, dark as a shadow, collided with his wooden sword!


    Time seemed to slow as the wooden sword became the sharpest thing in the world, slicing through the tail as if it were tofu.


    The Alphadusk grunted in pain, its eyes locking onto the Beggar, while its other tails focused on forming Dark Orbs and sending them toward the Headmasters.


    Wait, I can cut this monster, but I can''t cut through its techniques? Apollo thought, confused, though he quickly shook his head¡ªthere was no time to dwell on it.


    His plan was disrupted again as two more tails came his way, the one he had cut already regenerated.


    Seeing this, Apollo gritted his teeth. "F*ck it!" he muttered, cutting through the dark tails while slowly making his way toward the cracked part of the barrier.


    Meanwhile, Axton sliced a dark orb in half, causing it to explode in black flames beside him. Noticing Apollo''s struggle, Axton couldn''t help but smile.


    Axton stared at the small masked man for a moment, realizing his True Understanding of the Sword was more potent than he had imagined. He turned toward the audience seats, finding them empty. His eyes turned cold.


    "The audience is gone. Don''t hold back now!" Axton ordered, his body radiating a bright blue light as the roar of the Great Serpent erupted from him.


    "Haha, this guy''s dead!" Elmo laughed aloud, his body emitting a pressure so intense it caused the air around him to crack.


    Master Popo licked his lips, his gaze fixed intently on the monster. "I''m going to roast you alive!"


    While the trio smiled, relieved they no longer had to worry about the audience, one person was far from relaxed.


    Ah! Fck! Fck! Apollo cursed in his mind a hundred times over, struggling against the two tails. Although he could cut through them like they were nothing, they regenerated so quickly that his attacks became meaningless.


    He soon reached his limit, and one of the tails struck him in the chest, sending him flying across the ground until he crashed into the barrier.


    "Argh," Apollo grunted in pain, blood threatening to spill from his mouth.


    It was the second or third time he had hit the barrier, and Apollo was starting to get really angry.


    He stood up, his face red with rage, but the next scene made his eyes widen in disbelief.


    A Great Serpent, as massive as the Alpha, had appeared, staring at the monster while letting out a deep growl. Compared to what Apollo had seen from the participants, the one on stage looked so lifelike he could even see its scales!


    But that wasn''t all.


    A fiery shrine hovered in the air, made entirely of blazing flames that twisted and weaved together, forming intricate pillars, walls, and an altar where Master Popo sat cross-legged. Though the shrine radiated red, it emitted an ethereal glow, solemn and mysterious.


    Dmn, he looks cool!* Apollo couldn''t help but admit. Although he hated this Exhibitionist, seeing him look so serious made him momentarily forget Master Popo''s previous antics.


    His gaze shifted to Elmo, the Sword and Shield Headmaster, who had a projection of a giant emerging from his body, towering at least twenty meters high. Clad in battle-worn obsidian armor etched with glowing runes, the giant wielded a mighty greatsword in one hand and an indestructible shield in the other. The air around them cracked under the immense pressure.


    Seeing these incredible visuals, the Beggar began to drool, his eyes burning with jealousy.


    Meanwhile, the Alpha pulled back its two tails, growling at the three apparitions before it. The monster howled into the air, up toward the open ceiling where the brilliance of the moon shone down on them.


    "This is too cool!"

 Chapter 156 - 156: The Hunt Began(Part-5)

    Apollo stared at them with shining eyes, but he was jolted out of his stupor when the wolf howled into the air. Suddenly, a sense of dread rose inside his heart, and sure enough, the Alphadusk emitted a dark light, growing at least five meters taller. The monster unleashed a pressure far stronger than before.


    The Beggar felt as though a mountain was pressing down on him.


    "Sh*t! Gotta get out of here!" Apollo glanced at the three Headmasters before heading toward the cracked part of the barrier.


    This time, no tails pursued him, and he sighed in relief. Standing in front of the crack, he raised his fist and punched hard. With a loud bang, the barrier shook, small pieces falling to the ground like shards of glass.


    Seeing this, Apollo couldn''t help but smile. He kept pounding on the barrier, using his True Hardening technique. The crack widened, and before long, the Beggar shattered the barrier completely, creating an opening large enough for him to escape.


    Suddenly, a strong explosion erupted behind him, and the shockwave propelled the Beggar outside the barrier. As he hurtled through the air, Apollo flipped and landed squarely on his feet.


    Glancing back, he saw the shrine made of fire cast a torrent of flames at the monster, which responded with a shadowy wave!


    The winds were so chaotic that rocks were flying everywhere. One of the rocks hurtled toward Apollo. He sliced it in half with the wooden sword in his hand. But then another rock came flying at him.


    "This place is dangerous," Apollo muttered, slicing through the projectile before using his movement technique to dash toward the exit.


    Just as he was about to reach the exit, he sensed another threat from behind. Glancing back, he saw a giant dark orb headed straight for him! His eyes widened¡ªhe knew that if it hit, he would surely die!


    But in the next moment, the Great Serpent appeared from the side, swallowing the dark orb with its wide mouth!


    "I''ll remember that forever!" Apollo shouted at the Great Serpent Headmaster as he disappeared through the exit.


    Watching the small masked man''s retreating figure, Axton commanded the Great Serpent to attack the Alphadusk.


    "Take this!" Elmo shouted from the side, his giant projection swinging its sword.


    As the battle raged on, the entire mountain shook, with parts of it beginning to crumble. If this continued, the mountain would collapse from within.


    ...


    Outside the tallest mountain in the area, people were scattered everywhere¡ªmost of them running back toward the city, while those with chariots quickly climbed in and ordered their charioteers to get them out of there as fast as possible.


    Filly and Gail arrived at the foot of the mountain, both breathing heavily, especially the restaurant owner.


    "What the hell is that monster?" Filly asked, panting.


    "It''s¡­" Gail glanced at the mountain with squinted eyes. "An Alphadusk Shadowtail."


    "Alphadusk?!" Filly''s eyes widened in shock and fear. "I never thought I''d see one in my entire life!"


    "But I thought they only had nine tails," Gail muttered, her voice filled with confusion. She had been trained as an assassin, and that didn''t just mean learning how to kill. She was smart, and she had read a lot of books.


    "Well, books can be wrong sometimes," Filly explained, glancing around the area. Seeing that most people were fleeing and only the Cultivators remained, she tilted her head, realizing she hadn''t spotted the person she was looking for. She knew Bel was safe¡ªafter they visited her, her father took her somewhere else. But the one she was looking for wasn''t Bel. "Where is he?"


    "Who?" Gail asked.


    "Can Deez," Filly said.


    Gail''s eyes widened as she suddenly remembered that Can Deez had been left on the stage!


    "He''s still inside!" Gail exclaimed, turning back to the mountain with worry.


    "Sh*t, we forgot about him!" Filly slapped her forehead. "But the Headmasters are there, right? He should be safe with them?"


    Gail shook her head. "In battles between the strong, their stage is much wider and grander than what we fought on."


    "What do you mean?" Filly tilted her head in confusion.


    "Earth," Gail pointed toward the ground. "This is their battlefield."


    "I don''t under¡ª" Filly didn''t finish her sentence as the mountain began shaking violently! Everyone looked up as the mountain''s peak exploded like a volcano!


    But instead of lava, four giants emerged!


    "Watch out!" Gail shouted, stepping in front of the restaurant owner as a giant rock fell in their direction. Two white lights flashed in front of her, metallic gleams materializing¡ªcold and deadly¡ªas she brandished her two short swords!


    Just as the boulder was about to crush them, the wind whistled, and slashing light caused the giant rock to crumble into pieces!


    "Let''s fall back," Gail said, and Filly nodded in agreement.


    The other Cultivators defended themselves from the falling debris, unleashing a flurry of Techniques that lit up the dark night.


    Filly and Gail stopped dozens of meters from the mountain''s base, where they deemed it safe to observe the battle.


    Looking at the mountain, they saw the Great Serpent, the Shrine made of fire, the Titan clad in obsidian armor, and the almost thirty-meter-tall wolf with ten tails!


    The Alphadusk caused the onlookers to gape in awe. This was the first time many of them had seen a monster they''d only read about in books and heard about in rumors.


    "Such magnificence," Filly muttered, her eyes shining with amazement as the battle raged on.


    A torrent of fire lit the night sky in red, followed by a flood from the Great Serpent and booming strikes from the Titan.


    But the Alphadusk was no pushover, responding with a surge of dark smoke that almost turned to liquid, and Dark Orbs that exploded on impact, summoning chaotic winds. Even from a distance, they could feel the hot wind against their skin.


    "I''ll go back and save him," Gail said, determination filling her eyes.


    "That''s too risky!" Filly stared at her in alarm.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll be safe. Besides, he did me a favor by killing that guy¡ªit''s only right I repay him," Gail smiled.


    "But¡­ but¡­" Filly stammered, tears welling up in her eyes. Just as she was about to agree, she suddenly spotted someone running toward them from the base of the mountain. "Is that¡­ him?"


    "Hm?" Gail turned around and saw the person she had been about to rescue. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can Deez!"

 Chapter 157 - 157: The Hunt Ends(Part-1)

    Apollo ran with all his might as the mountain behind him shook intensely from the ongoing battle. Rocks fell like meteors. He maneuvered, dodging them with his nimble body.


    In the distance, he spotted a group of Cultivators watching, and Apollo decided to head there¡ªit seemed like a safe area where the falling rocks couldn''t reach.


    As he neared them, a whistling sound echoed from behind. Already having an idea of what was coming, Apollo gritted his teeth and quickly gathered the surrounding Qi, pushing his body to its limits.


    With a deafening explosion, the ground behind him erupted, propelling his body forward! Apollo flipped through the air. Feeling the heat on his back, he shook his head, stabilized himself, and landed on his feet in front of the shocked Cultivators.


    Turning around, he saw the upturned ground, dark smoke, and lingering flames.


    "That guy is still determined to kill me," Apollo muttered, staring at the wolf in the distance. Even though the monster was fighting against the three Headmasters, it still had time to send one of its Dark Orbs after him. Fortunately, he dodged it.


    "Can Deez!" someone called his made-up name, drawing his attention. Hearing it, he was getting more used to the alias.


    Apollo recognized the speaker as the restaurant owner, Filly, along with her assistant, Gail.


    "Oh, hi," Apollo greeted halfheartedly, turning back to watch the fight.


    Seeing him act nonchalant, Filly wasn''t offended. She looked him over with concern. "Are you okay? I thought you were badly injured from your previous fight."


    Apollo lowered one arm, holding it with the other, gritting his teeth as if in pain from a great ''injury.'' He replied, "I''m okay¡­ I just need some rest."


    "Oh, that''s good," Filly sighed in relief. Although they hadn''t known each other for long, she felt like she knew him far longer than their brief encounters suggested.


    "We thought you were in grave danger," Gail added, also relieved.


    "Me too, me too," Apollo said, his eyes never leaving the battlefield.


    Come on, kill that wolf, Apollo thought, squinting at the Alphadusk in the distance. The mark on his back ached, and he had the unsettling feeling that he was being watched, making him very uncomfortable. He knew that if the monster managed to defeat or escape the Headmasters, it would come for him next¡ªand that was something he desperately wanted to avoid.


    Having fought the monster, he knew he was no match for it. Their strength was as different as Heaven and Earth. He had only dealt with two of its tails, and they had almost taken his life!


    It was a wonder how he had survived at all.


    Seeing that Can Deez was focused on the fight, Filly and Gail didn''t try to talk to him. The battle was magnificent, so they decided to watch as well. It wasn''t every day they got to witness a fight between the Headmasters, and there was much to learn.


    The Great Serpent opened its mouth wide and unleashed a torrent of water powerful enough to raze a street to the ground.


    But the monster blocked it by creating a shadow barrier in front of itself, then countered with its tails. However, the Fire Shrine anticipated this and lashed out with a fiery whip, catching some of the tails. Still, others evaded the attack, dodging like they had minds of their own.


    Alas, the Alphadusk was up against three Headmasters, who had plenty of experience and excellent teamwork. The Titan appeared beside the tails that dodged the whip, grabbing hold of them.


    The wolf howled into the air as its tails were restrained. It twisted and turned but couldn''t break free.


    The Great Serpent seized the opportunity, tightening its coils around the monster before positioning its head directly in front of it. Its jaws opened wide, and a glaring light began to form!


    The watching Cultivators gasped, their eyes shining with excitement. They knew the battle was nearing its end.


    "This¡­ this is amazing!" Filly exclaimed, clenching her fists. "So this is the strength of 3rd-Step Qi Condensation and 4th-Step Qi Condensation stages!"


    Hearing this, Apollo glanced at her in confusion. The Headmasters are only at the Qi Condensation stage, and they''re displaying all these otherworldly effects? he thought. Then what about cultivators at the Core Creation stage and beyond?!


    The thought sent his imagination into overdrive. He couldn''t fathom the strength and power of those higher stages.


    "It''s because of their Techniques," Gail explained, staring intently at the Headmasters.


    Apollo''s ears perked up.


    Not being deeply involved in cultivation, Filly didn''t fully understand. "What do you mean?"


    "Battle Techniques. Even if someone doesn''t have high cultivation, if they''ve mastered a strong Battle Technique, they can fight cultivators with a higher cultivation than them. Some Techniques even ignore cultivation differences altogether. There''s a story of a cultivator who only trained in Battle Techniques but was strong enough to stand toe to toe with Core Creation cultivators.


    Though it''s just a story, no one''s proven it."


    "That sounds amazing," Filly said, eyes wide. "Maybe¡­ I could do that too?"


    Gail chuckled. "It''s much harder than straight cultivation."


    Filly pouted.


    Suddenly, a deafening howl pierced the night sky.


    Apollo saw the glaring light from the Great Serpent engulfing the head of the ten-tailed Alphadusk Shadowtail! The mountaintop lit up like a bright star against the darkness. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a few moments, the light faded, and the three projections stepped back from the monster. The wolf collapsed, rolling down the steep mountainside before crashing to the ground, raising a cloud of dust that covered its entire body.


    The Martial Students watching erupted into cheers. It was a clear victory for the Headmasters!


    "Finally," Apollo muttered, sighing in relief and smiling as he saw the monster had fallen. The pressure on his shoulders lifted, and he saw the world in a slightly brighter light, though that was more of a figurative statement given the darkness of the night. Shaking his head, he turned to the two women beside him. "Seems like the show has ended."


    "Yeah," Gail nodded. "Against the Headmasters, I''m not surprised."

 Chapter 158 - 158: The Hunt Ends(Part-2)

    "They are really strong, aren''t they?" Apollo smiled. "Anyway, I should get going."


    "Wait, why? The exam hasn''t ended yet," Gail said, staring at him with confusion. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why? Now that the monster is dead and I''ve completed my mission, there''s no reason for me to stay, Apollo thought. Besides, he glanced at his Alm points and couldn''t wait to return to his Beggar spot to spend them.


    Alm Points: 107


    It was more than enough to buy the item he had been struggling to save up for! Additionally, he was eager to rest as his entire body was aching, especially his organs, which had taken a beating from the explosions and impacts.


    After killing Arke, he had earned an additional one hundred Alm points. But with the sudden appearance of the monster, he hadn''t had the chance to fully enjoy the satisfaction of accumulating so many points.


    "Yeah, don''t leave so soon! You were top in this advancement examination! You should at least receive your prizes," Filly said.


    "Looking at the situation right now, do you think they''ll issue the rewards?" Apollo said, gesturing around him.


    "That¡­ well¡­" Filly didn''t know how to respond. "You''re leaving, but you''re staying in the city, right? There''s no way you''d join the examination without wanting the prize or aiming to enter one of the Martial Schools."


    "I''m leaving this city," Apollo said, meeting Filly''s gaze. "And as for the prize, I don''t need it."


    "W-what? Are you sure? That''s an Advanced Cultivation Bead!" Filly said, her expression incredulous. Even though she wasn''t focused on cultivation, she understood the bead''s significance. It was something she herself would covet. With it, her strength could increase by what would take her a year or two of hard work!


    "You can also choose Techniques from the City''s Cultivation Library," Gail added from the side. She couldn''t understand why this masked person had joined the examination, risked his life, and now refused the top prize.


    "Well¡­ who said I don''t want the prize?" Apollo said, reconsidering. After almost dying several times and playing fair in the exam, it seemed only right to claim his prize before disappearing completely. There would be no more Can Deez after this.


    "So you''re going to stay? Bel would also want you to join our school," Filly said with anticipation.


    "About that, I don''t think I''ll be able to join any school," Apollo said, shaking his head, which left the two disappointed.


    "So you don''t want to know why your True Understanding of the Sword didn''t work on that barrier?" Suddenly, a voice said, and the trio turned toward the source.


    They saw three men landing on the ground.


    The cultivators around immediately bowed their heads. Even Gail and Filly did so, leaving the Beggar standing there, looking at them before turning his attention to the Headmasters.


    "I''ll figure it out on my own," Apollo said.


    "Oh?" Axton raised an eyebrow, then smiled in amusement. "I''m personally inviting you to join my school. Think about it."


    "Hey! Don''t be sneaky," Elmo frowned when the Great Serpent Headmaster managed to invite the small masked man before him.


    "I''m not. I''m just saying he could join my school; it''s still up to him whether he''ll accept my offer or not," Axton said with a smile, seemingly forgetting about the fight with the monster.


    "Kid, you''d be better off joining my school," Elmo said, pointing to himself with a confident grin.


    "Don''t listen to them," Master Popo added from the side. "You''re very talented with Fire-based Techniques. I can show you how to maximize your full potential."


    Seeing this, Gail and Filly, along with the cultivators on the scene, couldn''t help but be surprised. They had just fought a great battle with that monster, and now the Headmasters were openly recruiting the small masked man as if there wasn''t a city-destroying monster lying at the foot of the mountain!


    As Apollo was about to speak, a sudden ache in his back made him frown behind his mask. A foreboding feeling stirred within his heart.


    "Did you guys manage to kill the monster?" Apollo asked, staring at the Headmasters intently.


    Hearing the question, Master Popo raised an eyebrow. "Of course! What, are you doubting our strength?"


    "No," Apollo shook his head.


    Axton was about to nod and explain that the monster was clearly dead when he stopped. His hair stood on end, and he turned around to look at the foot of the mountain.


    And sure enough, the monster was gone!


    "The Alpha is gone. Let''s go quickly¡ª" Axton started, but he was cut off by a shout. Turning to the sound, he saw the small masked man had vanished from his spot and was already at a distance, with a dark tail wrapped around his body!


    "Save him!" Axton shouted before using his movement technique. However, as he took his first step, his body wobbled. Looking down, he saw his foot was translucent, like water. Seeing this, he turned to the other Headmasters. "Quickly save him; this body is already at its limit."


    Elmo and Master Popo also realized what was happening. Without a word, they used their own movement techniques and began pursuing the small masked man.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, a whistling sound echoed through Apollo''s ears as the scenery around him became a blur.


    "Damn it! You coward, sneaking up on me!" Apollo cursed the monster that was holding him hostage.


    Even though the Alpha was bleeding profusely, it was running fast.


    The Beggar twisted his body and squinted at the direction they were headed. It was toward the forest where he had fought his first monster, and also the place where he had been marked by the creature currently dragging him with its tail.


    "Are you not going to put me down?!" Apollo shouted, his eyes turning red.


    The monster let out a deep growl. The tail holding the Beggar shifted, placing him in front of the wolf''s eyes.


    "Kill¡­ human¡­ die¡­" The Alphadusk Shadowtail growled, its cold red eyes piercing through Apollo''s soul.


    Apollo visibly shivered as he felt death was just an inch away. Glancing back at the forest, he knew that once they were inside, he would have to say goodbye for the second time, which he desperately wanted to avoid.


    He didn''t want to die. He couldn''t. He wasn''t at the top yet.


    "Don''t make me do this," Apollo muttered, determination radiating from him.


    However, the monster only responded by licking its lips.


    As they were about to enter the forest, Apollo stared at the moon before looking back at the monster.


    "System, I''m going to abandon my Beggar Spot," Apollo said firmly, and the moment his words fell, a loud thunderclap roared from the sky!

 Chapter 159 - 159: The Hunt Ends(Part-3)

    Clouds gathered.


    Thunder rolled.


    And lightning flashed.


    They arrived instantly, seemingly ready to wreak havoc wherever they touched.


    Apollo''s eyes reflected the countless flashes in the night sky. A bitter smile crept across his face. There''s no turning back now, he thought as the night briefly turned to day.


    He was still being dragged by one of the tails of the Alphadusk Shadowtail. However, compared to their usual speed, they seemed to be moving slower than before.


    The Alpha looked up at the sky and howled angrily. Dark orbs materialized around them and shot toward the clouds, but they vanished like drops in the ocean.


    The monster roared as its speed gradually slowed.


    Apollo glanced upward, feeling a pressure he had never experienced before. It was far stronger than anything Mathias had shown or even the ten-tailed Alpha had displayed.


    "Is it too late to back out now?" Apollo muttered, but his words seemed to anger the heavens. A lightning bolt struck beside them, instantly turning the ground into molten lava!


    Apollo gulped, while the monster let out a low growl.


    Then, more lightning came, scorching the ground around them! At the same time, Apollo realized his vision was rising. Looking down, he saw that the Alphadusk was already up in the air! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The monster''s hair stood on end as it struggled fiercely, but its efforts were futile. No matter what it tried, the power of the heavens was almighty.


    Apollo also felt the grip of the tail around him weaken. Clearly, the wolf was too alarmed by the current situation to focus on its marked prey.


    He seized the opportunity and slashed at the tail, channeling the Simple Sword Technique through his entire arm. His hand became as sharp as a blade, cutting through the tail as easily as slicing paper.


    Even without the tail holding him up, Apollo didn''t fall. Instead, his body floated.


    Suddenly, a deafening thunderclap echoed, far louder than the others. Simultaneously, an interface materialized in front of him.


    "You have 3 seconds before the Lightning Tribulation arrives," the System''s voice echoed alongside the notification.


    "Sh*t." Apollo knew there was no turning back. Seeing the wolf preoccupied with its battle against the air, he began swimming toward the ground.


    3. The countdown began.


    Apollo gritted his teeth, his hands and feet moving faster than ever.


    2. Apollo was nearly at the ground, but he didn''t touch it. Instead, he looked up and saw he was directly beneath the monster.


    1¡­ A thunderclap rang out, his ears buzzing and his vision turning white. Even as he instinctively closed his eyes, the brilliance seared into his mind.


    ¡­


    Master Popo and Elmo halted in their tracks when they saw the thunderclouds that had appeared so suddenly. A heavy pressure descended on them, making it hard to breathe. Frowns formed on their faces.


    "This feeling¡­" Elmo squinted at the rolling clouds, then a thunderbolt shattered the ground beside the Alpha that held the small masked man. "A Lightning Tribulation¡­ but how?"


    "This is dangerous," Master Popo said, his tone cold and low. "If we get closer, we''ll be subject to heavenly judgment as well. Should we¡­ go and save him?"


    Elmo didn''t respond as the monster started floating into the air.


    "There should be enough time. From what I know, the Heavens judge the subject''s strength and adjust the Lightning Tribulation accordingly. It''s a fifty-fifty chance," Elmo said.


    "So, are you suggesting we should continue?" Master Popo smiled. "Let''s go before it''s too late!"


    Elmo nodded. But the moment they took a step forward, a thunderclap echoed, their ears buzzing before everything went silent! Their eyes widened as they saw a lightning strike engulf the monster and everything within dozens of meters around it!


    The impact immediately turned the ground into molten lava, and fierce winds blew, forcing the two Headmasters to take several steps back before raising shields around themselves. Even with the shields, they could still feel how powerful the lightning strike had been.


    It came so fast that they hadn''t been given a chance to save the small masked man!


    The two Headmasters glanced at each other, seeing the disappointment reflected in each other''s eyes. They could only sigh heavily before starting their retreat.


    Meanwhile, back where the Martial Students were watching:


    Filly covered her mouth with her hands while Gail clenched her fist.


    "W-why¡­ why is there a Lightning Tribulation all of a sudden?!" Filly exclaimed. Even from their distance, they could feel the pressure emanating from the lightning.


    "He¡­ he''s dead," Gail muttered, lowering her head to stare at the ground.


    Filly didn''t answer, her eyes fixed on the light in the distance. Though the lightning had faded, a brilliant glow still lingered where it had struck.


    "B-but why him?" Filly asked, but Gail couldn''t come up with an answer other than the small masked man being incredibly unlucky.


    Axton, overhearing her question, stared at the brilliant light with a raised eyebrow as realization dawned on him.


    He''s been marked, Axton thought. All this time, there were two marked individuals¡ªone by a nine-tailed and another by a ten-tailed Alphadusk Shadowtail.


    The Great Serpent Headmaster saw the two approaching Headmasters while his body was already one-third composed of water.


    "The situation is not good," Elmo said gravely, stopping in front of Axton. "The light won''t disappear for another five minutes, and the area is too saturated with Heavenly Lightning. Approaching it might trigger the tribulation again."


    "We couldn''t save the kid," Master Popo sighed heavily.


    Axton wasn''t surprised but remained suspicious about why the Lightning Tribulation had suddenly been triggered.


    There was one likely reason. Cultivators typically trigger a Lightning Tribulation when they reach a certain cultivation stage, usually Core Creation. However, the lightning here was far more powerful than usual¡ªenough to pressurize everyone within a kilometer radius.


    "Call the Array Masters," Axton ordered, half of his body already translucent. "Seal off the Tribulation zone and prepare for possible combat."


    Elmo immediately understood the reason for the order. He nodded and began sending thought transmissions to the nearest Array Masters. Besides the Martial students on the scene, there were also regular cultivators¡ªofficial ones¡ªand Array Masters who had chosen to stay and watch.


    Soon, white-robed men with inscriptions on their clothes appeared around them. After being informed of the situation, they immediately sprang into action.


    They surrounded the bright light and performed a series of hand gestures before countless inscriptions materialized in front of them. The array inscriptions glowed with a yellow-white light, expanding until they covered the radius where the ground had turned to lava. The pressure from the tribulation was contained, preventing it from leaking out.


    "This body has reached its limits," Axton said, glancing at Master Popo and Elmo. His body had almost completely turned to water, with only his eyes and head remaining. "I''ll need a few more hours before I can create another clone. You two should handle the rest."


    "Don''t give orders like you''re our superior," Elmo chuckled. "Don''t worry, I know what to do."


    "It''s a pity," Master Popo sighed heavily. "A once-in-a-thousand-years talent has died so suddenly."


    "That''s nothing new," Elmo remarked. "There have been more talented individuals than him who ended up the same. Some are alive but wish they were dead. Only a small percentage manage to succeed."


    "It''s a curse for the talented. The Heavens don''t want too many of them," Axton said as his entire body turned to water.


    "He was the perfect disciple for me," the Exhibitionist said with regret.


    "Stop daydreaming. No one''s more perfect for you than a naked man," Elmo retorted, and soon the two began bickering.


    Axton shook his head before turning into a puddle of water, splashing onto the ground.


    They had seen and experienced all sorts of things. The death of a talented cultivator was regrettable, but they didn''t dwell on it for long. There were more pressing matters at hand.


    As the burning white light dispersed, it revealed the massive body of the ten-tailed Alphadusk Shadowtail. The monster''s body lay stiff in a pool of lava. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air, and parts of the creature''s body began to crack and fall into the molten pool.


    One of the array masters studied the scene before shaking his head.


    "No signs of life," the array master said, letting out a sigh of relief.


    "What about the martial student?" his companion asked.


    "Do you think someone at the 4th-Step of Foundation Building could survive a Lightning Tribulation?"


    "No."


    "Exactly. There''s no way he survived that. Just look at the lava and the air distorting from the heat. This place would have turned toxic if not for our inscriptions."


    At the same time, the clouds in the sky parted, revealing the brilliance of the moon.


    Klown City was in an uproar as rumors spread: a mythical monster had turned out to be real, the Advancement Examination had been disrupted, and the tallest mountain in the region had collapsed from the inside out.


    But the news that shocked them most was the Lightning Tribulation, felt throughout the entire city.

 Chapter 160 - 160: Stacking Items

    "I hate this," a man muttered in a dark alley, his soft voice filled with pain. The alley was murky, with pools of water scattered around. Dirty sewage flowed through, and rodents drank from it. When they sensed a presence, they looked up and saw a small figure. They quickly scattered, screeching. "Shut up."


    Apollo sighed, letting his body slump against the wall. He raised his hand, noticing parts of it were burnt and red.


    "This is frustrating," he said with a bitter smile. His once somewhat decent dark robe was now gone, turned to ashes, leaving him in just his inner clothes and pants, both riddled with holes and tears. Burn marks were visible on several parts of his body, not just his hands.


    He pulled up his Status Screen and saw that his Alm points had decreased.


    Alm Points: 37


    Apollo had purchased an item that cost him fifty Alm points¡ªa huge sum that made his heart ache, watching his hard-earned currency drain away. However, it was necessary. Without it, he would''ve been lying in a pool of lava, his body slowly turning to ash.


    At the very last moment, before the countdown ended, he made a split-second decision and transacted with the System.


    He ordered the System to buy the cheapest item that could help him survive. Instantly, he felt something cover his body and a pulling sensation that left him unable to resist. When he opened his eyes, he found himself flung through the air by the impact of the Lightning Tribulation. He was covered by nothing visible, yet something was there, protecting him.


    Most of the lightning residue barely touched him, though some still managed to scorch him.


    Apollo rolled across the ground at least a hundred times before he came to a stop. In great pain, he didn''t bother looking back and instead escaped into the dark night, eventually finding himself in the city, hidden in this dark, murky, and wet alley.


    After assessing his condition, he took a deep breath to alleviate the pain. At the same time, he couldn''t help but ask the System, "System, what happened in that last moment? What item did you choose for me?"


    "Assessing your situation at the time, I purchased the cheapest items to increase your survival rate," the System replied, displaying another interface with a list of items and their Alm prices. "This is the list of items I personally selected. Unfortunately, the item that would have kept your body completely unscathed was too expensive for your current Alm points."


    Apollo stared wide-eyed at the interface. This... I never thought of this method!


    Stacking items to achieve a specific effect, the System had bought seven to eight items to ensure his survival. The most expensive one was a Very Low Distance Teleportation Scroll, just enough to move him away from the epicenter of the attack. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The other items included luck boosters (the same item he''d bought before), barrier items that activated simultaneously, and dodging items that helped him avoid the remaining lightning strikes.


    After staring at the list of items for a while, Apollo closed it. But the System, seemingly reading his mind, continued.


    "This method allows you to barely stay alive, and it''s all up to luck that the host has survived this long. You have still suffered significant injuries that could last for weeks. Would you like to buy healing items to restore your health to peak condition?" the System asked emotionlessly.


    "F*ck of¡ª" Apollo began but paused, considering for a moment before nodding. "How much?"


    "One hundred Alm Points. Your body will be restored to peak condition, and hidden injuries will be healed," the System answered.


    "F*ck off," Apollo waved his hand. "Just give me the simple Health Potion."


    "System does not give items. Would you like to buy a simple Health Potion?" the System asked.


    "Alright," Apollo rolled his eyes. A white light materialized in front of him, forming a glass bottle filled with red liquid. He uncorked it and drank the potion in one gulp. With a sigh, he felt a burning sensation inside him, followed by a wave of refreshing relief. Raising his hands, he watched as they healed rapidly, though the process stopped before they were fully restored.


    The Health Potion worked well for common injuries like burns, but his burns were severe, reaching his muscles, and in some places, even the bone. His internal organs were also in disarray, and it was a wonder he was still alive.


    After reassessing his body, Apollo concluded he would need one or two more Health Potions. But with his remaining Alm Points now down to 32, he decided against it. Shaking his head, he started moving forward, gritting his teeth.


    People crowded the streets, each going their own way, but they were all talking about one thing¡ªthe Heaven-sent lightning outside the city.


    Listening to their conversations, Apollo showed no emotion, quietly heading towards the street where his Beggar Spot was. He just wanted to return, heal his body, and cultivate again.


    With only 32 Alm Points left, the item that would help him hide inside his Beggar Spot would have to be put on hold again. It was frustrating. It had taken him a long time to gather a hundred Alm Points, and they were gone in just one night.


    Apollo took another alley that would lead him to another street. Two or three more streets, and he''d finally reach his Beggar Spot.


    After a while, he emerged from the alley and saw the Filly Restaurant ahead. It was still open, with several patrons inside.


    Letting out a sigh of relief, he returned to his Beggar Spot. There, in the corner, he noticed a basket placed near him. The tantalizing smell of fried chicken wafted through the air. Smiling, he picked up the basket.


    "I missed this."


    It had only been a couple of days, but it felt like much longer. Once seated inside his made up roof, he opened the basket and saw the familiar fried chicken. Licking his lips, he started digging in with relish.

 Chapter 161 - 161: Deadline of Bel

    June arrived at the Helflick mansion, driving the family carriage. A worried expression painted his face as he hurriedly stepped off the driver''s seat and walked towards a certain place.


    The size of the mansion made him resent the rule against running or using movement techniques inside the residence.


    After twisting and turning through the halls, he finally arrived in front of a room with a giant door.


    The maids stood on both sides of the hallway, sharing the same worried expression.


    When they saw the newcomer, they bowed their heads respectfully.


    "She''s inside?" June asked in a low tone.


    "Yes, Lord Mathias is also inside," one of the maids answered.


    "Alright, thanks," June nodded, standing before the giant door. Staring at the name of the "Daughter of the Core Creation" written on it, he couldn''t help but take a deep breath to calm his erratic heart.


    Raising his hand, he knocked a couple of times and waited.


    After a moment, a voice came from behind the door.


    "June, come in."


    "Yes," June responded, pushing the door open. The smell of incense and medicine immediately hit his nose. Frowning, he stepped inside, his eyes landing on the bed.


    The room was spacious, large enough to fit two or three rooms inside. A study table stood in front of a window that overlooked a garden full of flowers. The room was also furnished with bookshelves, another table with a large mirror, and a light brown closet.


    The bed was draped with curtains attached to the ceiling, supported by pillars at each corner, obscuring a clear view of the inside.


    The curtain stirred in the breeze from the open window, and June caught sight of Bel Helflick lying on the bed, her face pale and her breathing slow.


    Sitting beside her was the Head of the Helflick Family, Mathias.


    "My lord," June greeted, bowing his head before turning to Mathias. "I heard what happened and returned immediately. Is there anything I can do to help?"


    June had been left at the foot of the mountain with just the horses and the family carriage. He stayed there for several days, mostly cultivating and waiting for the exam to end.


    However, when the mountain exploded and the three apparitions appeared, fighting against the Alphadusk Shadowtail, like the others, he had fled to a safe distance to watch the battle.


    At the time, he hadn''t been too worried about Bel''s situation, knowing her father was with her. But when he heard rumors and didn''t see Mathias fighting the monster, he had a bad feeling, prompting him to rush back.


    Mathias, seemingly not hearing the question, gently caressed his daughter''s face. Sensing the tension, June wisely fell silent and waited. He was deeply concerned, especially after seeing Bel''s pale face.


    After a while, Mathias finally spoke. "Bel doesn''t have much time left."


    June''s eyes widened. "Wh-what happened?"


    "Poison from a Poison Body," Mathias replied.


    "But that alone shouldn''t be enough to put her in this state¡­" June muttered, then immediately realized the gravity of the situation. "Who would dare?!"


    "He''s dead," Mathias said, glancing at June. "The only thing we can do now is prolong her life, find a cure, and save her."


    "Tell me what to do," June said, determination radiating from his eyes.


    "Find someone who specializes in poisons, someone who can understand the poison inside her body and heal her," Mathias ordered, standing up. The room was lit by candles mounted on the walls, with plates underneath to catch the wax. "Meanwhile, I''ll speak with the Alchemy House manager." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll find that person¡ªno matter how far, even to the ends of the world. I''ll find them," June vowed firmly.


    Mathias nodded. "Bel''s life depends on us."


    ...


    Meanwhile, in front of the north gate of Klown City, people in expensive clothing gathered, with the mayor surrounded by the visitors.


    "I''m very sorry for what happened," Mayor Klown apologized, bowing his head. But before he could lower it fully, one of the visitors stopped him.


    "Don''t do that. It was the monster''s fault."


    Klown immediately raised his head. "It''s a shame to let such a creature run loose. But fortunately, the Headmasters helped us kill it."


    They talked for a while, mostly about the Examination and the ten-tailed Alphadusk. A few minutes later, a man in a white robe approached them.


    "How''s the situation?" Klown asked.


    "It has been stabilized," the man replied.


    "What about its body?" Klown stared intently into the man''s eyes.


    Feeling the pressure, the man avoided eye contact. "T-the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield took it. He said they''ll take it to a professional."


    Damn it! Klown was fuming inside, but on the outside, he maintained an amiable smile. "That''s fine. Go back to your duties."


    The man bowed and left the area.


    Klown turned to the representative of the visitors from the other city. "Shall we head inside? We''ll have a feast at my manor."


    The old man shook his head. "My apologies, but I need to return to my temporary residence. I still have to talk with my granddaughter."


    "Oh? She''s back? Why didn''t she come here?" Klown chuckled, his two chins wobbling.


    "She''s too playful to stay in one place," the old man replied, a small smile appearing on his face.


    "Well, she''s still young¡ªit''s not surprising," Klown laughed.


    "But we''ll definitely come! Hahaha!" The other visitors and noble families joined in the laughter.


    "Haha, then let''s go!" Klown led the partygoers, laughing with them.


    A carriage was already prepared for the mayor, and the moment he entered it, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a look of disgust.


    "F*cking ants," Klown muttered in frustration. He hated it when people sucked up to him, trying to get on his good side. "If they want my favor, they should cut off their limbs and offer them, instead of running their filthy mouths."


    A chuckle echoed inside the carriage, making the mayor turn toward the sound.


    "Can''t you stop doing that?" Klown frowned at his butler.


    "Sorry, I can''t help it," Holst said, his eyes and lips stretching into an even wider smile.


    "Then you should learn to," Klown snapped.


    "I''ll try," Holst placed a hand on his chest and bowed before continuing. "Anyway, the matter with the little girl will take two or three weeks before she completely succumbs to the poison."


    "But she''ll definitely die, won''t she?" Klown asked.


    "Yes, unless they find someone who can cure her. A great healer and a poison master. But that combination of talents is very rare and hard to come by. And even if they do manage to find one, from what I''ve gathered, it''ll take at least a month to reach them, and another month to return."


    Hearing this, the smile returned to the mayor''s face. "That''s good. And what about the body?"


    "It''s ready and waiting for your enjoyment," Holst replied.

 Chapter 162 - 162: Lightning Attribute

    Apollo opened his eyes after cultivating through the night, feeling more refreshed and energized than ever. However, when he looked at his burns, he couldn''t help but let out a heavy sigh. Besides cultivating the Revised Simple Breathing Technique, he had also used the surrounding Qi to heal and alleviate his injuries.


    But no matter what he did, he couldn''t make the Qi enter his organs, only healing the minor injuries, especially his skin.


    It seemed like he would really need to buy a couple more Health Potions to completely heal all of his injuries.


    Status Screen, Apollo thought, and an interface materialized before him.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 32


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building


    Attributes: Lightning


    Staring at his remaining Alm Points, he knew he couldn''t afford to spend more of them. This world was dangerous, and he realized just how important these points were. They could save his life in perilous situations and also make him stronger.


    However, buying from the System? Just thinking about it made him sick. Besides, he believed his Techniques were more than enough, so there was no need for him to buy an item to increase his strength unless absolutely necessary.


    As he was about to close his Status Screen, his eyes caught sight of the Attributes section, and seeing the new addition, he couldn''t help but be surprised.


    I have Lightning Attributes? But how? Apollo couldn''t think of a reason how he got this Attribute, and the System was the only one he could turn to.


    "Hey System, why is there an update to my Attributes? How come I have Lightning?" Apollo asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.


    An interface appeared, words materializing as the emotionless voice of the System echoed in his mind.


    "The residue from the Lightning Tribulation entered your body, effectively changing your cells to handle and adapt to the electrical discharge. This allowed the Host''s body to attune perfectly to Lightning Attributes," the System explained.


    "This¡­ this is cool!" Apollo clenched his fist, his eyes radiating with excitement. "So that means I can generate lightning?!"


    With this in mind, he raised his right hand, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.


    Lightning, come!


    When he opened his eyes, his whole body tensed up, shivering from the effort of his concentration!


    But only the sound of a fart echoed in his Beggar Spot. No lightning, not even a spark, appeared on his hand.


    Silence.


    The silence lingered for a while before Apollo slowly lowered his hand, embarrassment covering his face as he turned to the System.


    "I can''t generate lightning?" Apollo asked, trying to hide his embarrassment.


    Fortunately, the System responded like a typical system. "The Host cannot generate lightning without any medium or techniques, unless mastered."


    "So basically, this Attribute is useless? I could just find a Lightning Technique and generate lightning, right?" Apollo asked, his eyes turning cold.


    "Attributes help the user attune with Nature, communicate with it, and use its power to strengthen oneself. If the user learns a Lightning-related Technique, he will instantly master it and use the Technique''s full potential, and even beyond. The Attribute can also be used without Techniques and Qi once fully understood. Mastering your Attribute fully depends on your Talent."


    It was a simple explanation, and Apollo immediately understood. In simple terms, he could use lightning without any Technique or even Qi once fully mastered. It was like drawing power from the main source¡ªa more potent and stronger force.


    This Attribute would also help him learn Lightning-related Techniques as easily as drinking water.


    But how was he going to master his Attribute? He asked the System, and it simply repeated its last sentence.


    "The understanding of your Attributes fully depends on your Talent."


    Apollo repeated the words as the interface disappeared in particles of light.


    "Understanding?" Apollo recalled all of his knowledge about lightning from his previous life. He hadn''t specifically studied lightning, but he knew some basics.


    He tried to think about it while raising his hand again, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t do it.


    Sighing, he decided to think about the matter later. There wasn''t much information he could use to figure out a direction on how to develop his Lightning Attribute.


    Closing his eyes, he went back to cultivating since it was still early in the morning. That guy Ned would only be out 2 or 3 hours later.


    As his mind entered the black void of cultivation, with only him and the surrounding Qi, he started gathering the energy. Following the pattern he created for the revised version of the Simple Breathing Technique, the Qi circulated within him.


    His mind relaxed, allowing him to think more clearly.


    And that''s when he suddenly realized something.


    Nature? Communicate with it? Apollo quickly grasped how he might come to fully understand his Attribute, though he still needed to test this theory.


    It would probably take time, but it was better than having no direction at all.


    ¡­


    Ned stepped out of the Filly Restaurant with a relieved smile on his face. Just last night, Mr. Beggar had returned and eaten the food he had left in the corner.


    He didn''t ask where the beggar had been but was glad that his efforts wouldn''t go to waste anymore. After a few days of leaving food untouched, he had been disappointed that such delicious meals would be left uneaten.


    With a basket in his hand, he walked to the corner, placed the food on the ground, and turned to head back inside.


    But just as he was about to open the door, he heard a carriage stop in front of the store.


    Seeing the insignia on the side of the chariot, his eyes lit up, and sure enough, when the door opened, two women stepped out.


    "Miss Filly! Miss Gail!" Ned shouted before bowing his head.


    Gail nodded, while Filly glanced at the basket in Ned''s hands. "Has he come back yet?"


    "He did, just last night," Ned said, smiling. "I was about to give this to him." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I see," Filly nodded. "Then go ahead."


    "I will," Ned bowed again before heading back to the corner.


    Filly didn''t want to bother the beggar beside her restaurant for now¡ªthere was too much on her mind. Bel''s fate was still unknown, whether she would live or not, and the small masked man she had befriended during the Examination had died from the Tribulation. Absentmindedly, she opened the door, but when she saw her restaurant, she almost didn''t recognize it.


    "At least we have some good news," Gail muttered, peeking out from behind her.

 Chapter 163 - 163: Bubba(Part-1)

    "A pity, I couldn''t get all my prizes," Apollo muttered regretfully, taking a bite from his bread filled with eggs. He had a basket in front of him with a plate of scrambled eggs, bread, and milk¡ªhis breakfast provided by the restaurant beside him.


    Thinking about all the prizes he missed made him deeply disappointed. Should I show myself and claim my rewards? Apollo considered, his mouth full of food. But they would definitely question how he survived the lightning. What if they decide to kidnap me? The thought made him shiver.


    He still didn''t know the personalities of the Headmasters, and it was better to be cautious than risk putting his head on the chopping block.


    In the end, he decided to let the rewards slip through his fingers. Not only had he lost so many of his Alm points, but he had also forfeited his hard-earned prizes just to save himself from that lightning punishment!


    The thought of it made him angry at the System for having such a strange rule. Abandoning my Beggar Spot will result in a Lightning Tribulation?! And if he really wanted to leave and find another place, he''d have to pay a fee¡ªan expensive fee!


    That fcking swindler! I''ll never buy from you again! Apollo took one last bite of his bread and downed his milk in a single gulp, letting out a loud burp afterward.


    "Ah¡­" Sighing, Apollo began to clean up, putting the basket back in the corner for Ned to collect later.


    He then went back inside his Beggar Spot and looked at his clothes. He was only wearing small pants and a simple shirt, and even though he had used the Cleaning Bead on them, they still looked shabby.


    I should get some new clothes. But before that, I should visit him, Apollo thought and headed out to the street. He immediately attracted stares but, already used to it, wasn''t bothered. Still, he didn''t want to attract the attention of the guards, so he moved quietly along the alleys and walls. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    Slumstreet was located beside the wall, outside of Klown City.


    Wooden houses lined the area, some seemingly on the verge of collapse but still standing through the test of time. People were on the street¡ªsome selling goods, others chatting with their neighbors in front of their homes.


    It was a simple place, but they all had the same expression on their faces: sadness. Even though some managed to smile, their eyes told a different story.


    There was a hill nearby Slumstreet where tombs were set up. Flowers were scattered on the ground, their scents battling the sorrow that hung in the air.


    In front of a particular tombstone with a wooden plaque, decorated with all kinds of flowers, a boy stood, holding a piece of bread. He knelt, placing the bread in front of the plaque. "I know you''re watching over us, but don''t worry¡ªI''ll protect Slumstreet, just like you did."


    The boy had black hair down to his shoulders and black eyes. He wore a simple shirt and ripped, wide pants.


    "You should eat the bread instead," someone suddenly said, startling the boy to his feet. He quickly turned around.


    "Who are you?!" the kid shouted. But upon closer inspection of the person in front of him, he let down his guard¡ªit was another kid. "Oh, it''s you."


    "Don, right?" Apollo asked, smiling.


    "Yes, may I ask your name?" Don tilted his head to the side innocently. He didn''t act the same as he did in front of older people, unaware that the person before him was actually over a hundred years old, despite having the body of a 7- to 8-year-old.


    "I''m Ap¡ª" Apollo cleared his throat before continuing, "I''m Yoma."


    "Yoma? Nice to meet you," Don smiled and reached out his hand.


    Apollo shook hands with him before returning to his earlier point. "You should take the bread and eat it. Big Chub wouldn''t mind."


    "So that''s what you call Brother Bubba," Don said with a smile, then shook his head. "I can''t do that. It''s my way of showing respect."


    "That''s up to you then," Apollo shrugged, thinking Big Chub''s real name suited him, especially given his size.


    "Are you also here to pay your respects?" Don asked, squinting at Apollo, noticing the lack of any offerings.


    "More or less," Apollo replied, walking in front of the tomb.


    "I see," Don muttered, taking a couple of steps back to watch as Yoma stood there quietly.


    Apollo stared at the plaque and let out a sigh. "I''ve killed the one who killed you. He''ll definitely go to hell, and if you happen to be there, you should take your revenge. Beat him up¡ªthough he''ll probably beat you into a pulp instead. But it''s the thought that counts, so that should be okay."


    There was no answer, only the wind blowing through the grass and flowers.


    "But if you happen to be in Heaven¡­ well, maybe there was a misjudgment," Apollo chuckled, shaking his head. "Anyway, you can say I''ve done my job by personally taking revenge, though it mainly aligned with my mission. But even if it wasn''t my mission, I still would''ve done it."


    He stood there for a while longer before turning back to the boy behind him.


    "How''s Slumstreet doing?" Apollo asked.


    "It''s the same as always¡ªbarely getting by," Don answered honestly. Then his expression turned cold, and with clenched fists, he continued, "But I heard we''re getting kicked out, and our homes will be destroyed in a week or two."


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow as possible reasons came to mind. "Where did you hear that?"


    "This morning, two average guards and a big one talked with Miss Millie. They said we''ll have to move out¡­ I don''t remember everything, but I think they mentioned something about the walls¡ªmaking them bigger or expanding them? Yeah, that''s the word." Don said, looking up and nodding occasionally.


    Sure enough, Apollo thought. Was this the Mayor''s order? If it was, the decision to expand the walls made sense, but Apollo knew the Mayor wasn''t as good as he appeared to the public. He hadn''t met the Mayor personally, but he''d heard enough to paint a clear picture of Klown''s character.


    While expanding the walls might be a wise decision, Slumstreet would be lost in the process.


    "Are they providing shelter for you guys?" Apollo asked, already knowing the answer.


    "No," Don shook his head. "I don''t remember their full conversation, but I know they''re bad guys. So, I doubt we''ll have anywhere to go after."

 Chapter 164 - 164: Bubba(Part-2)

    Looking at the kid in front of him, Apollo couldn''t help but sigh. The harsh reality of the world forces even young boys to mature, knowing they won''t have a place to go once the walls expand.


    The threat of monsters from the nearby forest could be the reason, or perhaps it has something to do with the Lightning Tribulation. But considering this is the Mayor''s doing, there must be something deeper¡ªsomething more sinister.


    Apollo didn''t have any concrete clues for the time being, but even if he did, it''s unclear whether he would help. As long as his cultivation or peace wasn''t disturbed, he would let it be.


    "This Miss Millie, who is she?" Apollo asked. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Besides Brother Bubba, Miss Millie helps us a lot. She convinced the Mayor to give us a place outside the city," Don explained. "She talked to you back then, right?"


    Apollo glanced at the tomb behind him, then nodded at the kid, recalling the woman he had spoken with in front of Big Chub''s house. "I remember."


    "Why are you asking?" Don tilted his head. "Do you want to talk to her? I can take you there. Oh! And she has really delicious milk!"


    The Beggar looked at Don strangely. Come on, don''t say it like that! My mind is going somewhere else! Shaking his head, Apollo couldn''t help but ask, just to clarify and cleanse his thoughts, "What do you mean, delicious milk?"


    "She got monster milk from the city," Don said.


    "Oh, I see," Apollo smiled. "Anyway, I should get going now."


    "You''re leaving so soon? Why not stay here and play?" Don stared at his new friend, reluctance in his eyes.


    Sorry, I don''t play with kids. That''s what Apollo wanted to say, but instead, he thought of another excuse. "I still have other matters to take care of. Besides, I was only here to deliver a message to Big Chub."


    "Is that so¡­." Don nodded, smiling bitterly. "Then let me take you to the entrance!"


    "Haha, no need," Apollo shook his head. "You should head back."


    "Well, if you insist."


    "See you," Apollo waved.


    "See yo¡ª" Don couldn''t finish his words as his new friend became a blur in front of him. When he blinked, Yoma was gone. "G-ghost?!"


    His whole body shivered, fear engulfing him, and he almost fainted from dizziness. However, after taking a couple of deep breaths¡ªsomething he always did when scared¡ªhe calmed down a bit.


    "N-no, he can''t be a ghost," Don muttered, confusion etched on his face. "The others clearly talked to him¡­ but how did he do that?"


    Suddenly, one possibility crossed his mind, his eyes widening in surprise and shock. "Is he a cultivator?!"


    Staring at the spot where Yoma had disappeared, amazement spread across his face, followed by excitement. "A cultivator is a friend of Brother Bubba, and he came here to pay his respects! He must be a good person! I should go tell Miss Millie!"


    A savior¡ªthat''s what Don believed. That kid¡­ no, that Mr. Cultivator could help them! A glimmer of hope shone in his eyes as he bolted down the small hill toward Miss Millie''s house!


    ...


    It was a simple technique he had come up with casually. Deriving elements from the Hydra Mirage Technique¡ªa movement technique that makes his body as light as a feather¡ªand combining it with the Simple Movement Technique, he managed to turn his body somewhat transparent before running off into the distance, creating the illusion that he could vanish into thin air.


    When he cultivates, and the world turns dark with only him and the Qi, his mind enters a state where he can think freely. This allows him to realize many things¡ªsome fleeting, some within reach. They linger in his mind, waiting to be tested.


    Watching the shocked Don from behind a tree, Apollo couldn''t help but smile with satisfaction. Astonishing and impressing others with his abilities felt somewhat rewarding. However, that trick would only work on regular people. Even a 1st-Step Foundation Building Cultivator with decent perception would easily see through it.


    Shaking his head, Apollo walked back toward the city entrance from Slumstreet, passing through a hole in the wall wide enough for two people to fit through at once.


    Once inside the city, Apollo didn''t return to his Beggar Spot immediately. Instead, he wandered into an alley, specifically searching through the trash, hoping to find some clothes. His current attire was uncomfortable, and he looked more like a beggar than ever before.


    In the first alley, he found nothing but a piece of ripped fabric. In the second, he was lucky enough to find a pair of pants. Though there was a hole in one leg, they were still better than what he was currently wearing.


    He didn''t put them on right away but used the Cleaning Bead first. The Bead emitted a bright light that enveloped the pants, and when the light disappeared, the pants were as clean as if they were brand new. Satisfied, he switched into them after taking off his old pair. He continued rummaging through other alleys and, after about an hour, found a dark brown robe.


    Again, the Bead emitted its light, and the robe was cleaned as if new. Once he put it on, along with his pants, he looked decent enough that one might assume he was just an ordinary kid.


    "This is great," Apollo murmured, still amazed at the Cleaning Bead''s power. Even if someone offered him a hundred thousand gold coins¡­ ten thousand¡­ no, even just a hundred gold coins, he would definitely sell the Bead. Well, it''s not like he couldn''t buy another one anyway.


    With a smile on his face, he headed back toward the street where his Beggar Spot was located. However, from a distance, he noticed a commotion in front of the Filly Restaurant.


    "What''s going on?" Apollo muttered, curiosity lighting up his face as he approached the restaurant. There, he saw a woman wearing expensive clothing and jewelry, speaking loudly to Filly, the owner. She was accompanied by other women and men, all dressed in similarly extravagant attire. Apollo instantly knew they were Nobles¡ªwho wouldn''t? They practically announced their status by how they dressed.

 Chapter 165 - 165: Fillys Conflict

    "How dare you place us on the same floor as these commoners?!" the noblewoman shouted, pointing at the commoners eating inside the Filly Restaurant. "You, the owner, should know better! They are not on the same level as us!"


    "Yeah! I won''t eat with these filthy people around me!"


    "You''re ruining your reputation by letting them eat here!"


    "Why not give us the entire floor? That would be good for your business!"


    The noblewoman''s entourage chimed in, their faces filled with disgust as they glanced at the commoners. They didn''t bother to lower their voices, clearly mocking the regular patrons.


    The commoners, on the other hand, were furious but could only bow their heads in shame. Those inside the restaurant, eating their meals, heard the nobles'' harsh words through the open doors. Their hands trembled, and they lost their appetite.


    Filly, the restaurant owner, stared at the noblewoman and recognized her. It was the same woman who had come in a few days earlier, saying similar things.


    "Commoners or not, anyone who eats in my restaurant is a customer, regardless of their status. Everyone will receive equal treatment," Filly declared firmly, her gaze cold as it fixed on the nobles, especially the one leading them.


    "Oh, really? You''re going to stick to that?" the woman sneered. "What do you think will happen when the other nobles find out about this?"


    "And what will you do?" Filly challenged, raising an eyebrow.


    "We''re nobles. We have power, and more importantly, we have connections," the woman said confidently. "What do you think will happen to your supply of meat if we cut it off?"


    Filly''s eyes widened, her face flushing with anger, and her fists clenched tightly. After a few deep breaths, she managed to calm herself.


    "Do what you want," Filly said, smiling, though it was clear the smile was forced. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh? Hahaha! Don''t blame us when you''re left selling nothing but bread!" the woman laughed, joined by the other nobles. As they left, they shot glares at Filly and the commoners but avoided making eye contact with the woman standing behind Filly.


    "Do you want me to deal with them?" Gail asked, her eyes tracking the nobles as they walked away, her killing intent leaking out intermittently.


    "No need," Filly sighed, shaking her head. "It''s not worth stooping to their level. Besides, this situation made me realize something."


    "What''s that?" Gail asked.


    Filly was about to answer when she noticed someone out of the corner of her eye. A smile spread across her face as she turned to greet the person. "Hello, Mr. Beggar."


    "Oh, hello," Apollo responded. It felt strange talking to Filly after acting as Can Deez. Hmm, not that he had changed much¡ªjust his voice, not his behavior.


    "I''m sorry you had to witness that scene," Filly said with a bitter smile.


    "Hello," Gail greeted as well, bowing her head.


    Apollo nodded at her before turning back to Filly. "Don''t worry about it. That''s pretty normal, if you ask me."


    "Well, I guess you''re right," Filly said. In the world of business, there will always be people trying to drag you down. They''re like hungry wolves, tearing each other apart. Challenges and tribulations¡ªbusiness is a different kind of battlefield.


    "But have you thought of a plan?" Apollo asked.


    Hearing the question, Filly realized Mr. Beggar was asking out of concern. Is he going to help me? This thought made her eyes light up. "Yes, I''ve thought of something, but I don''t know if it''s going to work."


    "Tell me," Apollo said. Having gotten used to food being delivered to his ''doorstep,'' he couldn''t just let the restaurant next to him go bankrupt. If that happened, he''d either be stuck eating bland bread or be forced to use his precious Alm Points just to get decent food.


    "They''ll definitely follow through on their threats," Filly said. "They''re the type to use their family connections to oppress others."


    "You can do the same, but in a different way," Apollo smiled, glancing at Gail, who stood beside the restaurant owner.


    He knows. He''s definitely not just a regular beggar, Gail thought, confirming that Mr. Beggar was indeed a wanderer. His words suggested he knew her profession.


    "Yeah, I could just show them that I''m better than them," Filly nodded, though she clearly didn''t grasp his full meaning. "I''m planning to start my own Monster Meat Distribution, specifically for my restaurant."


    "That''s a good idea. That way, they won''t be able to cut off your supply," Apollo agreed, before glancing at the Skyline Savory branch nearby. "But I don''t think your opponents will let you do that so easily."


    Filly and Gail followed his gaze and noticed the branch manager hurriedly looking away, pretending to be busy.


    Suddenly, Gail had a realization. "Is he the one orchestrating all of this?"


    Being sharp in business, Filly immediately understood what Gail was implying. "Possibly."


    "Do you have any suggestions?" Filly turned to Mr. Beggar with pleading eyes.


    "Well¡­" Apollo scratched his cheek. If it were his business, he''d only need a day or two to shut down the Skyline Savory branch overnight. "Just fight back with everything you''ve got. Use your connections, and don''t hold back on your strategies. That''s all. Bye."


    Apollo was too lazy to offer more advice. If things got worse, he''d just eat plain bread or save up his Alms to eat at other restaurants. Hopefully, they''d accept a beggar.


    "Wa¡ª" Filly couldn''t finish her words as the beggar had already returned to his spot beside the restaurant. Letting out a sigh, she turned to Gail. "What do you think?"


    "Hmm," Gail thought for a moment before nodding. "I think Mr. Beggar is right. We can''t let them bully us. You handle the Meat Distribution, and I''ll handle the bullies."


    "Alright then," Filly agreed after a moment of thought. "But no killing, okay?"


    "Don''t worry," Gail smiled mysteriously.


    Filly stared at her friend for a moment before sighing and heading back into the restaurant. "Let''s go."

 Chapter 166 - 166: New Mission

    "Please elaborate," Axton said.


    "Simple. They are still restrained by the Heavens. Their kind hasn''t reached True Enlightenment to trigger such an event," Theo explained.


    "Hmm, is that so? But how did it manage to reach a ten-tail state? From what I know, their limit was nine tails," Axton asked, looking at the young man with curiosity. Theo, still in his twenties, had already reached the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation stage and possessed vast knowledge regarding Monsters and Beasts.


    Moreover, his restaurant had gained such prestige that even noble families feared to offend him. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "About that, I needed to examine their tails, but unfortunately, they''ve already turned to ash or become part of the lava," Theo said, disappointment evident in his eyes.


    Axton nodded, deep in thought.


    If the monster didn''t trigger the Lightning Tribulation, then what did? The Great Serpent Headmaster didn''t doubt the authenticity of Theo''s words.


    "You must be wondering what triggered the Lightning Tribulation," Theo pointed out, though it was easy to tell.


    "Yes," Axton admitted. "Though there''s one possibility left¡ªa very small one, both figuratively and literally."


    "I understand," Theo smiled slightly. "But it''s highly unlikely he''s still alive."


    "He''s the only one I haven''t investigated," Axton said. "It wouldn''t hurt to find out."


    "Then good luck," Theo nodded. "If the monster wasn''t the reason, he might be, or he might not."


    "It would be very bad if such an event occurred for no known reason. I''d rather someone be the trigger than have a Lightning Tribulation come down without cause," Axton chuckled. "I should get going."


    "Alright," Theo stood up. "Shall I walk you out?"


    "No need," Axton waved his hand, his body turning translucent before melting into a puddle of water on the floor.


    Looking down at his mat, Theo''s expression darkened. "He doesn''t know how to use the door, and he even wet my mat. Rude."


    ¡­


    On the street where Filly''s Restaurant stood, next to the building was the Beggar''s spot.


    Sitting cross-legged beneath his makeshift roof, Apollo had his eyes closed, brows furrowed, and teeth gritted.


    After a while, he opened his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.


    "This is no good," the Beggar muttered. He had been cultivating the Revised Simple Breathing Technique since returning from Slumstreet, but his cultivation hadn''t progressed at all.


    He was following the pattern he had created¡ªthe Qi followed his command, entering through his mouth, nose, and pores. It circulated within him, moving below his navel, then suddenly disappearing as if entering a black hole.


    Frustrated, the Beggar decided to come up with ways to improve the Revised Simple Breathing Technique.


    Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, the world returned to complete darkness, leaving only him and the surrounding Qi fireflies. This time, however, he didn''t use the Qi from his environment. Instead, he focused on the Revised Simple Breathing Technique itself. Improvement¡ªthat was his goal.


    A few minutes later, the Beggar opened his eyes, bewilderment clear on his face. It was perfect. The Revised Simple Breathing Technique was flawless. Any attempt to change even a small part of the pattern would throw the entire technique into disarray, turning it into a harmful practice if he tried to use it.


    If there''s nothing wrong with the technique¡­ Apollo looked down at his stomach, specifically below his navel. Every time he completed one circulation, the Qi would enter below his navel and disappear. Hmm¡­ if that''s the case¡­


    Apollo closed his eyes, entered the dark world, and focused on cultivating his Breathing Technique again. This time, he cultivated slowly, carefully following the movement of the Qi. When it reached below his navel, his dantian, his vision suddenly changed. He found himself ''staring'' directly at the area a few fingers below his navel.


    Inside, he saw the Qi entering a small ball of light. It resembled the Qi but was smaller and brighter. This tiny ball was absorbing the Qi nonstop.


    Oh? Apollo opened his eyes, his gaze glinting with amazement. That must be why I don''t feel any improvement, he realized. He noticed that the ball was slowly growing larger as it absorbed more Qi.


    Now understanding the source of his frustration, a smile returned to his face. He no longer had to worry and could focus solely on cultivating. With this realization, he started cultivating more seriously. However, a passing thought soon crossed his mind¡ªone he would regret.


    Now that the first part of his mission was complete, when was the System going to issue another mission?


    It was just a fleeting thought, but two or three hours later, something happened that made him stop his cultivation with frustration and regret.


    A light blue translucent interface materialized before him, displaying the following words:


    ---


    Mission: Revenge for your family.


    Part 2: Find out the Plan of the Mayor.


    Time Limit: Two Months.


    Reward: 200 Alm Points, Random Reward Box.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation.


    ---


    "Ah, what the f*ck, System? It was just a passing thought! Why take it seriously?!" Apollo couldn''t help but angrily question the System.


    "The System issues new missions when the time is right, and the System deemed this to be the right moment," the System responded.


    "Seriously? I haven''t even reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation yet!" Apollo complained, but the System remained silent. "F*ck you!"


    The interface vanished into particles of light, completely ignoring the outburst of its host.


    Seeing this, Apollo took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself. He brought up the mission interface and reread the new mission. With a clear mind, he realized there was no reason to be angry.


    The System had always been pretentious, never caring about his well-being. He didn''t have a choice but to follow its orders.


    "But System, is this really how we''re set up? You give me missions without any option to decline?" Apollo asked, not expecting much of a response. To his surprise, the annoying entity offered an explanation.


    "The System issues missions on behalf of the original body, the body the host has taken over. The Original Body sought revenge, and it is up to the Host to fulfill the Original Body''s lingering desires," the System explained.


    "What the hell?" Apollo was startled by the revelation.

 Chapter 167 - 167: Noble Plan

    Klown City, the central street where luxurious and expensive buildings stand, was bustling. In one particular building, known as Skyline Savory, the interior was packed to the brim with people, most of them nobles and wealthy merchants. Outside, some stood in line, waiting to enter and indulge in the restaurant''s delicious lunch.


    Even under the blazing sun, they waited patiently with parasols held over their heads by their butlers or maids.


    The restaurant was filled with quiet conversations, their tones never rising, so only those seated at the same table could hear each other. However, with dozens of voices combined, a constant murmur filled the air. Despite the noise, the atmosphere appeared peaceful. But if one listened closely to their conversations...


    "I liked that woman, so I gave her money, and guess what? She immediately crawled into my lap, begging me to take care of her. Hahaha," one man chuckled softly. Even their laughter was refined, not loud but elegant.


    The voices of the women were even softer, but their words carried the same air of superiority.


    "A boy¡ªjust a commoner¡ªbumped into me this morning. I ordered my new butler to teach him a lesson. They''re both the same kind, but I gave the butler a chance to prove himself by giving that boy a good beating. I think the boy was barely breathing by the end of it¡­ Ah, just seeing those begging eyes¡­"


    "Hahaha¡­"


    "I''m planning on buying slaves soon. Any recommendations? I prefer strong men."


    At one of the tables, a group of five to six men and women were eating while talking in hushed tones.


    "What benefits did he give you, Trina?" one of the women asked.


    Trina, the same woman who had caused the scene that morning in front of Filly''s restaurant, smirked as she answered. "It''s none of your business. But even if he didn''t give me benefits, I''d still do it."


    "Oh, right, you had a conflict with that b*tch," the woman said.


    "How dare she remove the VIP area? She''s tarnishing the name of nobles by putting us on the same level as those commoners. Who does she think she is?" Trina''s eyes turned cold as she stabbed the meat on her plate before biting into it.


    "Are we really going to go through with this?" one of the men asked, hesitation clear on his face. "You know¡­ her father is Nathan Kleinford, the Border War Killer."


    "So what?" Trina raised an eyebrow. "Filly''s already been cast aside. Her family focuses on cultivation, but she''s wasting time doing business. She''s bound to fail."


    "So, we''re going to cut off her meat supply? But how?"


    "Like I said, we''ll use our connections!" Trina replied. "We should also convince the other nobles. What if other restaurants start following that b*tch''s behavior? What if every restaurant we go to forces us to dine on the same floor as commoners? Breathing the same air as them is utterly disgusting!"


    Hearing this, the nobles exchanged glances of realization. The man who had hesitated earlier now looked more determined.


    "Yeah, we should do everything we can to make her understand the consequences of defying us nobles! She''s sunk so low she''s acting like a commoner!"


    "That''s the spirit!" Trina smiled.


    "But I''ve heard their food is delicious..." one of them said.


    Trina glared at the person. "I bet you heard that from a commoner?"


    "That''s..." The person scratched his cheek awkwardly.


    While they were plotting the downfall of Filly''s Restaurant, on the very top floor of Skyline Savory, there was a standalone room. A table, bookshelves, a cauldron, and a wide mat occupied the center, with a chandelier hanging overhead, though it emitted no light.


    The only lighting came from sunlight streaming through the window, falling on the person sitting cross-legged on the mat.


    He had dark hair, brown eyes, and delicate lips and nose. One could easily guess his age just from his youthful face and skin.


    As he sat there, the air around him swirled in gentle currents, his hair dancing with the breeze. The young man was cultivating peacefully, as though he had been there for eons. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, the window swung open, causing the curtains to flap noisily before settling back into place.


    Theo opened his eyes, staring at the window for a moment before glancing at the bookshelves. There, a figure stood, already holding one of his books. The newcomer wore a loose black hanfu, with black hair cascading down to his waist like a waterfall. On his back, a thin black sword was strapped, covered in a white strip of cloth with the excess trailing like a tail.


    "You arrived early," Theo remarked, standing up from his mat.


    "It''s better to be early than never," Axton replied, closing the book and returning it to the shelf.


    "It''s better late than never," Theo corrected the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Sect as he walked toward his table.


    "I know," Axton smiled. "So, how did it go?"


    "It''s impossible for that creature to have triggered the Lightning Tribulation," Theo said, nodding toward the cauldron. He wasted no time getting to the point.


    "Oh?" Axton raised an eyebrow, walking over to the cauldron and lifting the lid. Smoke billowed out, and the tantalizing smell of cooked meat filled the air. "This smells delicious."


    The cauldron was two meters wide and one and a half meters long. Inside was a giant head, far larger than the cauldron, yet somehow it fit perfectly. The creature cooking inside was the Ten-Tail Alphadusk Shadowtail, a monster that resembled a small mountain.


    "So, this is where you cooked its wife too?" Axton asked, staring at the monster''s eyes¡ªone of which dangled from its socket while the other floated in the boiling broth. There was no fire under the cauldron, yet the monster was still cooking.


    "Some of her parts, but most of her meat was cooked by my Fire Chefs," Theo explained. "The Ten-Tail was overcooked by the Tribulation, so this was the only way I could prepare it and still retain some of its flavor. Want to taste it?"


    "No," Axton firmly declined. "Anyway, back to the topic. If it wasn''t the monster, how did the Tribulation come about? Did someone trigger it?"


    "It definitely wasn''t that monster. It can''t, and it never will be able to," Theo replied.

 Chapter 168 - 168: Wishes

    "Why didn''t you tell me this from the start?" Apollo asked the System, raising his eyebrows. So, the reason for all these missions is because of the original body''s wishes? But wait, wasn''t that kid only seven years old when I took over his body?


    This realization made Apollo''s face turn serious. If that kid still has unresolved wishes, does that mean he''s occupying a body with the original soul still alive?


    Curious, Apollo asked the System, and its response made the Beggar realize why he sometimes acted impulsively or childishly.


    "The Original Body and the Host from another world have fused into one. But because of the Original Body''s immature state, you have taken most of the control," the System explained.


    "Hmm, that explains why I''ve been making immature choices," Apollo acknowledged. "And the Original Body seems pretty smart for a kid."


    Apollo Leone, the seven-year-old boy, had suddenly been struck by disaster, which led to the loss of his entire family. The pain he experienced was so immense that even though another person took over his body, his wishes remained strong. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why are we following his wishes?" Apollo asked, feeling it was a bit unfair. "Why not mine?"


    "You and the true Apollo Leone are the same person. The System issues missions to fulfill the Original Body''s wishes, and once those wishes are completed, the Host will be free from the constraints of the past," the System explained in its usual emotionless tone.


    "Constraints of the past?" Apollo repeated, tilting his head. "If we fulfill his wishes¡­ will you still give me missions?"


    "No. The System uses missions to resolve the lingering feelings of the Original Body," the System replied, much to the Beggar''s relief.


    "That''s good," Apollo said with a smile, before turning serious again as another question came to mind. "But why?"


    "Taking over someone else''s body, even though they are still alive, is against Heaven''s Will, the Natural Order, the Dao, and the laws of Life and Death. The Creator, Aster, went to great lengths to bring the Host across worlds, and this is the least the System can do to make up for the Original Body," the System explained.


    Hearing these words, Apollo felt as if the System sounded almost human for a second. Shaking his head, he processed the explanation and realized the System had just revealed crucial information.


    Against Heaven''s Will? Natural Order? Dao? Life and Death? Apollo frowned. These weren''t just metaphors¡ªthe way the System described them made them sound real, like actual forces.


    But when he thought about the System, the place where he met Aster, and his own reincarnation, it didn''t seem far-fetched. The things the System mentioned must be true.


    And then, there was that faceless woman. The System said she went to great lengths just to make him reincarnate. This only deepened Apollo''s suspicions.


    From the beginning, he had already been skeptical about everything.


    Why him? What was the reason for choosing him? Of course, Apollo had already asked the System, but it refused to answer. In the end, he chalked it up to the only reason he could accept at the moment¡ªhis handsomeness.


    It''s the only reason that makes sense, at least for now.


    "Anyway, no more missions once the Original Body''s wishes are fulfilled, right?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," the System confirmed.


    "Good, good, I''m going to be free!"


    Just thinking about the Lightning Tribulation made the Beggar shiver in fear. He had experienced it firsthand, and although he didn''t take the hit directly, he was still struck by the residual energy, which left him severely injured. Even now, as he sat under his makeshift roof, he could still feel the pain inside his body and the burns that hadn''t yet healed.


    It would probably take two or three weeks before his body fully recovered.


    Apollo didn''t want to spend his remaining Alm Points, as he might need them for an emergency. Furthermore, he was still saving up to buy an item that would help him hide within his Beggar Spot. He wouldn''t be able to receive Alm Points if he wasn''t near his Beggar Spot, but he didn''t want to be constantly visible while resting.


    Although his Beggar Spot was secluded, if people really looked into it, they would immediately find him. There had already been a few instances where he was discovered, but the people left as soon as they saw him, not wanting to associate with a beggar.


    Now that he knew the reason behind the missions and that they would disappear once he fulfilled the Original Body''s wishes...


    Wait! Would the rewards of Alm Points also disappear? Apollo''s eyes widened as he suddenly realized this.


    "System! If there are no missions, does that mean there will be no Alm Point rewards?" Apollo asked, hoping the System would give him a satisfying answer. But, as ever, the System was harsh.


    "Yes," the System answered coldly, before continuing. "The Host is the embodiment of a True Beggar¡ªno shortcuts, only begging. The System is granting exemptions solely for the sake of the Original Body''s wishes."


    Apollo immediately understood what the System meant. The Alm Points were given to help him grow stronger so he could complete the remaining missions.


    If that''s the case, then he had wasted so many Alm Points!


    "Ah, I feel dizzy," Apollo muttered, massaging his forehead. His judgment must have been influenced by the Original Body''s immaturity.


    If he were his ''real'' self, from his previous life, he wouldn''t have made such a mistake. He would have tread more carefully, with every step calculated. But now, this new version of him was somewhat impulsive.


    But unbeknownst to him, his headache was about to get worse...


    ---


    Inside the Great Serpent Cultivation School, in a room with only a dark brown mat on the wooden floor, Axton, the Headmaster, floated cross-legged above the mat. In front of him hovered an orb made of an unknown material.


    Axton glanced at the orb for a moment before looking at the letter in his hand.


    It was a request to use the item floating in front of him. Additional words were written at the bottom:


    "You have been granted permission to use the Eyeball of the Finder, but it may only be used to locate one individual, and its usage is limited to seeing the position of the target."


    "This is more than good enough," Axton muttered with a satisfied smile. He was doing this out of curiosity, nothing more. But if his hunch turned out to be right, it would just mean he was lucky.

 Chapter 169 - 169: Eyeball Of The Finder

    Putting the letter aside, Axton stared at the orb floating in front of him.


    The Eyeball of the Finder is an item that helps its user locate a target. However, it requires a medium to find the person in question. The orb in front of the Great Serpent Headmaster had special inscriptions and required approval from the Higher Ups for him to use it. They could also limit the orb''s functionality, but Axton thought that his level of approval was more than sufficient.


    He pulled something from his robe¡ªa dark brown tree branch that one could easily find on any road. However, this particular stick had clearly been snapped. It was the same stick the small masked man, Can Deez, had used in the Advancement Examination.


    Axton threw the stick toward the orb. The Eyeball of the Finder emitted a bright light that engulfed the branch, disintegrating it into particles of light before they were absorbed by the orb. Suddenly, an eye appeared inside the orb, darting around as if searching for something.


    When it couldn''t find what it was looking for, the orb''s eye opened wide, releasing a brilliant light that illuminated the dark room.


    At the same time, the surrounding Qi began to be drawn toward the orb. Axton''s eyes twitched at the amount of Qi being pulled in. Curiosity kills the cat, he thought. The Qi inside the Great Serpent Cultivation School was far more potent, concentrated, and pure compared to the Qi in the outside world, free of any impurities. And the Eyeball of the Finder was absorbing it, as if drinking water.


    "I probably won''t be able to use the Qi in this room for about three days," Axton muttered with a bitter smile.


    After a while, the orb stopped absorbing the Qi, and the eye inside it closed. However, Axton wasn''t alarmed¡ªhe knew the process wasn''t over yet. Sure enough, the orb projected an image. It was foggy, but it clearly showed a street with blurry figures constantly moving about.


    "Oh?" Axton raised an eyebrow as the scene changed, revealing the front of a building with people lined up. The image lasted for only a second before fading completely, and the light from the orb dimmed.


    As silence lingered in the room, Axton landed on the floor. He walked toward the door with a relaxed expression, but deep inside, he was quite excited.


    He had gotten what he wanted¡ªand more than he expected.


    He''s alive, Axton thought. The Eyeball of the Finder wouldn''t have worked if the person he was searching for were dead. But the orb had worked, even pinpointing the target''s location.


    A word echoed in the Great Serpent Headmaster''s mind:


    Disciple. Disciple. Talent. Disciple.


    ...


    Meanwhile, inside the kitchen of the Filly Restaurant...


    Filly and Gail were watching their Fire Chef work at the table.


    Temor''s hands moved constantly, and the sound of his fists banging against the table echoed through the room.


    "How''s the rest of the ingredients?" Filly asked, her eyes never leaving the table.


    "They''ve found most of them," Gail replied. "Tomatoes, onions, garlic, dried oregano¡­"


    Gail listed several ingredients before letting out a sigh. "It was hard. They said they searched day and night, barely managing to gather everything. Some were traded, others bought directly."


    Because of the Advancement Examination, Gail and Filly had decided to hire mercenaries to find all the ingredients they needed. Of course, they chose mercenaries they could trust, most of whom were closely related to the Kleinford family.


    "Finding unfamiliar ingredients is like searching for a needle in a haystack," Filly said with a smile. "Luckily, they managed it. How''s our own garden?"


    "It''s doing well. Planting has started, and with Qi nourishing the crops, they''re growing fast," Gail said with a smile. "But it''s no surprise, since they''re not Beast Plants."


    "That''s good to hear," Filly said.


    "But our meat distribution¡­" Gail frowned, recalling the events of that morning. A sudden wave of killing intent emanated from her, only to subside when she felt Filly''s hand on her shoulder.


    "Let''s not talk about that for now," Filly said. "Let''s focus on perfecting the spaghetti. I want Bel to be the first to taste it."


    "A-alright," Gail replied, taking a deep breath to calm herself.


    "This should be good enough," Temor said, laying the product on the table. It was a pale yellow, carefully kneaded dough. Following the instructions from the journal, the Fire Chef had completed the first step in creating the so-called noodles for their new dish¡ªspaghetti.


    "Gail, it''s your turn," Filly said.


    Gail nodded and stepped up to the table, drawing her two short swords.


    The air shimmered as her blades flashed. When she put her weapons away, the kneaded dough on the table had been cleanly sliced into perfect strips, each one even, with no excess or shortage.


    After she was done, she stepped aside.


    "I''ll prepare the ingredients now," Temor said, pulling them from a basket.


    As they watched their chef work, a knock came at the kitchen door. Ned entered, looking flustered. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What''s wrong?" Filly asked, worry evident in her voice.


    "H-he''s h-here!" Ned stammered.


    "Who?" Filly frowned.


    "Axton, the Great Serpent Headmaster!"


    Filly and Gail exchanged incredulous glances.


    "D-don''t joke like that," Filly said, staring coldly at Ned.


    "I''m not! He''s really here!" Ned insisted.


    Hearing the urgency in his voice, Filly turned to Gail, who had already closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she looked at Filly and nodded.


    "Let''s go out and greet him," Gail said with a bitter smile.


    Filly''s body trembled at the confirmation.


    She wasn''t prepared at all. She hadn''t expected someone so important to visit her restaurant!


    "How do I look?" Filly asked, fussing with her hair and clothes.


    "We don''t have time for that. We can''t keep the Headmaster waiting," Gail said.


    "Alright, let''s go meet him!"


    The two went out, leaving the Fire Chef to continue his work. Although Temor is curious and also wanted to go out, he couldn''t just ignore Filly''s words.

 Chapter 170 - 170: Why Are You Here?!

    Apollo was cultivating peacefully, a relaxed smile on his face. After discovering the reasons for all of his missions and cursing the System over the lack of Alm Points he would receive in the future, he had no choice but to accept everything. In the end, no matter how many doubts filled his heart, there was nothing he could do with his limited strength.


    It was more important for him to increase his power than to rely solely on the Alm Points and the System.


    Focusing on his dantian, he ''saw'' that the small ball of Qi had grown to half the width of a normal person''s nail. After several hours, this was the extent of his progress. Still, he was satisfied.


    What would happen when this ball of Qi became as large as his fist? It was worth anticipating, especially when it concerned his cultivation.


    Opening his eyes, Apollo intended to stand, stretch, and relax before continuing his cultivation. But as soon as he moved, he noticed two feet right in front of him. His eyebrow rose at the sight of black hanfu boots.


    Looking up, his soul nearly left his body.


    This person! Why the hell is he here?! Apollo''s mind raced. He had carefully hidden his identity during the Advancement Examination. When they checked his new face back then, no one had bothered to look past his mask. Even if they tried now, he was confident he could react in time and purchase another item to change his appearance for an hour.


    Even as Yoma, Apollo had never encountered the Great Serpent Headmaster. So, there was only one possibility: Did he specifically come to find me? If so, they must not think the Beggar was dead.


    "W-who are you?!" Apollo jumped to his feet, his small head bursting through his makeshift roof. Splinters flew through the air, but he didn''t care. Wearing a nervous, scared expression, he asked again, "What are you doing here?! This is my spot! Go away!"


    The Great Serpent Headmaster smiled, unable to help himself upon hearing the small, trembling voice. "You don''t need to act."


    "Act? What do you mean?! I''m not acting!" Apollo replied, though inside he was anxious. He had no desire to associate with any of the Headmasters, but it seemed inevitable. Please believe my acting!


    "Can Deez," Axton said, staring straight into the Beggar''s eyes.


    Can deez dck fit in your mouth?! Apollo wanted to retort, but he held himself back. Besides, that sounded... quite colorful.


    "Who''s that?" Apollo frowned.


    "Or Yoma," Axton continued, smiling. "I know everything."


    Yomama should have taught you a lesson not to be a busybody! Once again, Apollo restrained himself, knowing he couldn''t afford to offend the Cultivator in front of him. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence. Apollo felt immense pressure building up inside him, even though Axton emitted no aura. He simply stood there, but it was enough for the Beggar to feel as if he were gazing upon a divine being. Apollo hadn''t realized it earlier, as everything that happened on that mountain had occurred too quickly.


    "Okay, you win," Apollo finally said, sighing in defeat. He took a step forward but stopped short, accidentally crushing part of the wood he''d used to build his makeshift roof. D*mnit!


    "So, what''s your real name?" Axton asked, his smile widening. "Are Yoma and Can Deez fake names?"


    "Yoma is the real one," Apollo said, his face serious. He would never tell anyone that his real name was Apollo Leone. That name only spelled trouble.


    "Yoma," Axton repeated, his jet-black eyes locking onto the Beggar''s, as if trying to pierce through any facade.


    "Yeah, yeah, Can Deez and I are the same person. How did you find me?" Apollo asked, genuinely curious.


    "That''s a secret," Axton replied. Inside, however, he couldn''t help but think it was a waste to use the Eyeball of the Finder to locate someone within the city. He could''ve done it himself, though it would have taken a few hours.


    The Eyeball of the Finder had led him to the restaurant beside them. When he asked the owner about Can Deez, they refused to answer. Sensing something off, Axton had spread his senses and found Apollo here.


    "Is that so¡­ then why did you come looking for me?" Apollo asked, before his eyes lit up. "Is it about my reward?!"


    An opportunity to claim his rewards for ranking first in the previous Advancement Examination was right in front of him! He definitely wasn''t going to miss this.


    "Rewards?" Axton nodded. "That wasn''t part of my plan initially, but since you brought it up, I''ll give you your rewards."


    Not part of the plan initially? Apollo thought. So that''s not the main reason for finding me? Still, he was happy to finally claim his hard-earned prizes. "So where is it? I wouldn''t mind having that Advanced Cultivation Bead right now," he said, reaching out his small hand.


    Axton stared at the hand, surprised by Yoma''s straightforwardness. Still, he waved his hand, and a white light materialized, forming into a light green bead that emitted a soft glow.


    The bead landed gently in Apollo''s hand. Feeling the coolness radiating from it, Apollo suddenly felt revitalized. Moreover, the surrounding Qi became more active, dancing around the light green object.


    Apollo''s eyes widened in awe. "This is cool."


    "I''m surprised you can see it," Axton remarked, impressed but for entirely different reasons.


    Ignoring the comment, Apollo looked up at the Great Serpent Headmaster. "How do I take this? Should I swallow it whole?"


    "Swallow? Who told you that? You sh¨C" Axton shook his head. "Let''s discuss that later. You still have other prizes to claim. You can get them now."


    "Really?" Apollo''s eyes sparkled, but then he turned serious. "But you said giving me rewards wasn''t your initial plan. Tell me why you came here first."


    Axton was silent for a moment before nodding. "I came here thinking you were dead. But it turns out I was wrong."


    "I just got lucky," Apollo chuckled, slipping the Advanced Cultivation Bead into his robe.


    "That''s impossible," Axton said, his eyes turning cold. "I want you to come with me to my Martial School."


    "Why would I do that?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, clearly on guard.


    "To be safer," Axton said, glancing back at the streets.


    "Give me reasons to follow you. To me, it''s safer if we talk here," the Beggar replied, smiling confidently.

 Chapter 171 - 171: Own World!

    "Because if you refuse, I''ll tell the other Headmasters that you''re still alive. And let me tell you, they''re far more persistent and can be very annoying," Axton said with a smirk.


    If Elmo and Master Popo saw what Axton was doing right now, they would definitely shout one word at him:


    Hypocrite!


    Headmaster? More like a Headache, Apollo thought, resisting the urge to massage his forehead.


    "I''m starting to hate you," Apollo said honestly.


    "Don''t be," Axton replied. "So, shall we?"


    "I don''t really have a choice," Apollo shrugged. He didn''t know how this Headmaster had figured out that he hated attention and trouble, but it seemed there was no other option but to go along with it.


    "There''s already a carriage waiting outside," Axton said, gesturing for the Beggar to lead the way.


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, heading towards the street where a black and white carriage bearing the insignia of the Great Serpent Cultivation School awaited.


    As Axton watched Yoma''s back, his eyes gleamed. He''s definitely a Wanderer, he thought. He had already spoken with Filly, who suspected Yoma of being a Wandering Cultivator posing as a beggar. Now, seeing the man in person, the Headmaster was certain their suspicions were correct. However, even if Yoma was a Wanderer, Axton was determined to take him in as his disciple.


    And even if Yoma turned out to be much older than he appeared, he wouldn''t mind.


    When it comes to the Master-Disciple relationship, age doesn''t matter. As long as one has something to teach and the disciple is willing to learn, then status, age, power, and money are nothing but worldly possessions¡ªthings that can be discarded. Wisdom, however, is something invaluable.


    Following the Beggar, Axton climbed into the carriage, and soon they set off down the central street of Klown City, heading back to the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    As the carriage turned a corner, Filly and Gail stepped out of their restaurant, their faces filled with curiosity and amazement.


    "I didn''t know Mr. Beggar was such a big shot that even Headmaster Axton would personally visit him," Filly muttered, her eyes sparkling.


    "Hmm," Gail nodded, sharing the same sentiment.


    ¡­


    The journey took at least twenty minutes before the black and white carriage, pulled by two horses, arrived in front of a massive structure.


    Apollo stepped out, jumping down from the carriage. As his feet hit the ground with a thud, his eyes naturally turned toward the grandeur in front of him. Though he had already seen this structure once before, he was still awed by its impressive size.


    It was an ancient-looking building, constructed from polished stone, maple-like wood, bronze metals, and unknown materials he couldn''t identify. While not as tall as the skyscrapers from his previous life, the building''s sheer width was remarkable¡ªit felt like you could fit three or four football fields inside.


    However, what truly captured Apollo''s attention was the enormous white serpent statue coiled around the building. The serpent was so lifelike that he almost felt as though he were standing before a real monster, even though he had never encountered such a creature before. The statue''s scales were intricately crafted, and its eyes seemed to pierce through anyone who dared to look at it.


    "That''s the legendary Great Serpent," Axton introduced, stepping out of the carriage.


    "I could tell. That''s where your school got its name, right?" Apollo asked. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Even a fool could tell," Axton chuckled. "Follow me."


    At first, Apollo was reluctant, but his curiosity got the better of him as he admired the structure of the so-called Cultivation School. He trailed behind the Headmaster.


    In front of the building was a metallic gate guarded by two men in black and white armor, standing still with spears in hand.


    The moment they saw Axton approaching, they hurriedly knelt on one knee.


    "Well, Headmaster!" they shouted.


    "Carry on," Axton waved them off as the gate opened.


    "You''re really highly regarded," the Beggar remarked, observing the treatment.


    If any noble had overheard how casually Apollo spoke to the Headmaster, they would have surely insulted him, lectured him on proper decorum, and then proceeded to fawn over the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    "It''s one of the perks of the title," Axton explained.


    Ahead, a flight of stairs led up to a giant door adorned with the sculpture of the Great Serpent embedded in the center. This time, there were no guards, only the intricate serpent design.


    Axton raised his hand and pushed the massive door open. As the creaking echoed, Apollo tilted his small head to peek around the Headmaster. His eyes widened at what he saw beyond the door.


    "This is?!" Apollo muttered in disbelief.


    "Surprised?" Axton asked. Nice acting skills, he thought. Worthy of a Wanderer.


    Apollo nodded vigorously at the sight before him. Beyond the door was a whole new world¡ªliterally!


    It was a bustling street filled with martial students going about their day. In the distance, a mountain loomed, dotted with ancient buildings.


    As they stepped inside, the door closed with a resounding bang. When Apollo turned around, the entrance had vanished!


    All he could see were streets lined with martial students, buildings, and vendors selling their wares. He squinted up at the sky, noticing the sunlight and clouds. There''s even a sun and clouds here! Did I just teleport? Apollo thought, feeling a rush of excitement.


    "Welcome to the Great Serpent Cultivation School," Axton said, greeting students who bowed their heads as they passed. "So, what do you think?"


    "This is amazing!" Apollo said, genuinely impressed.


    "The main school put in great effort to apply the Teleportation Inscriptions," Axton explained, continuing forward. Apollo followed naturally. "It was a very complex inscription, requiring the expertise of dozens of great Array Masters."


    Apollo''s amazement grew. "So, you''re telling me this is just a branch school, and you''re just a branch Headmaster?"


    "Spot on," Axton confirmed with a smile.


    A branch school with its own world?! Apollo thought, wondering what the main Great Serpent Cultivation School must look like.


    "Anyway, you were curious about why I found you, right?" Axton returned to the topic.


    "Yes," Apollo said, his excitement fading as curiosity took over.


    "Follow me."

 Chapter 172 - 172: Offer

    "Where?" Apollo asked, his eyes darting around the place. Beyond the giant mountain in the distance, filled with ancient houses, he noticed a dozen floating mountains overhead. Some had waterfalls that didn''t fall to the ground but were instead absorbed by the clouds beneath them, acting as their support.


    Squinting, he saw animals flying around some of them. No, they were monsters.


    "To my abode," Axton said, pointing toward the top of the mountain, where a black-and-white ancient building stood. Even from a distance, one could tell the structure was made of high-quality materials.


    "Now that I''ve followed you this far, it wouldn''t hurt to change locations once again," Apollo sighed.


    "Good," Axton nodded with a smile, then whistled.


    Suddenly, a shriek came from above. When Apollo looked up, he instinctively took a step back. A four- to five-meter-tall falcon with blue feathers descended in front of them, spreading its wings and crying into the sky before bowing its head toward the Beggar.


    "Jump on," Axton said, watching the Wanderer''s continued act of surprise. Truly a Wanderer at heart.


    "Oh, alright," Apollo nodded. Although a bit nervous, he jumped onto the bird''s back.


    "It''s a Water-Attributed Falcon, a regular monster cultivated by my students," Axton explained with a confident smile. "Over time, they evolved a normal monster into this form."


    "That sounds amazing," Apollo replied half-heartedly, stroking the bird''s back.


    The Blue Falcon moved its head, clearly enjoying the sensation.


    "Can I keep this?" Apollo asked, staring at the Headmaster with hopeful eyes.


    "Hmm, of course," Axton nodded.


    "Really?!" Apollo was overjoyed. "Then¡ª"


    But before he could finish, the Great Serpent Headmaster continued.


    "But you must understand¡ªonly my students can have that bird as their companion," Axton smirked, his body beginning to float.


    Apollo''s enthusiasm immediately dampened. Of course, he thought. No free lunch, even in this world. In any world, for that matter. He had already somewhat guessed the Headmaster''s true purpose for seeking him out. Back at the Advancement Examination, the three Headmasters had all invited him to join their Martial Schools, but Apollo didn''t want to.


    The only reason he followed the Serpent this time was because of the threat¡ªand the prize.


    The bird cried into the air, then spread its wings wide. With a powerful flap, Apollo suddenly felt a pulling sensation from his back, making him grip the Falcon''s feathers tightly. Looking down, he realized they were already dozens of meters in the air, with the Great Serpent Headmaster flying beside them.


    As the intense winds whipped at his face, Apollo took in his surroundings and realized something. The street below seemed to be the only one; around it was a light blue ocean. Beyond the mountain, a water-like film¡ªsome kind of barrier¡ªenclosed this small world.


    "An island inside a school," Apollo mused, describing what he was seeing.


    After a while of flying, they arrived at the balcony of the highest floor of the black-and-white building at the top of the mountain.


    "This is my humble abode," Axton said as he walked into the dark room, with the artificial sunlight being the only source of illumination.


    Apollo jumped off the giant bird and glanced around the so-called ''humble abode'' of the Headmaster. There were only wooden walls, and the only furniture in the room was a mat in the center.


    Humble? More like you couldn''t afford any furniture, Apollo thought. But he was in no position to say such things, knowing full well that he couldn''t afford furniture either. Seeing that someone else had the same minimalist taste in d¨¦cor as he did, he felt a slight connection to the Headmaster¡ªperhaps a centimeter closer than before.


    "Why don''t you just get straight to the point?" Apollo asked once they were inside.


    Axton didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he went to the mat and ''sat'' cross-legged, though he was actually floating in midair.


    "Become my personal disciple," Axton said seriously, his voice low as he stared straight into the beggar''s eyes.


    "I knew you were going to ask me that," Apollo let out a heavy sigh. "But like I said during the exam, I''m not joining any school."


    "Who said anything about joining a Martial School?" Axton asked, a smile spreading across his face. "I''m asking you to be my personal disciple, with no affiliation to any school."


    "But isn''t that basically the same thing?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. He couldn''t see the difference at all. Whether he became a Martial Student or the Headmaster''s personal disciple, he''d still be under someone''s authority. And he could already tell that it would limit his freedom. "So, I''m going to refuse."


    "You don''t want great benefits?" Axton asked, his smile fading. "Cultivation techniques that even the Martial Students of my school can''t get their hands on, resources like the Advanced Cultivation Bead, and protection as my personal disciple. Are you sure you don''t want that? Plus, there''s an allowance of five thousand gold coins per month."


    "Like I said, I''m going¡ªwait, let me think for a moment," Apollo turned around, placing a hand under his chin as his mind raced. If there were sound effects, it would be the sound of gears shifting into place.


    Cultivation techniques no student can access, an Advanced Cultivation Bead that would exponentially boost my cultivation, and protection as his personal disciple?


    "What about my initial prize? Are you still going to give it to me?" Apollo asked, glancing back at Axton.


    "Yes," Axton nodded.


    Apollo immediately turned around. So, more rewards. He was having a hard time deciding. Everything pointed to it being beneficial if he accepted the Headmaster''s offer¡ªbut why?


    Apollo turned to face Axton, staring at him intently. "What''s the purpose of me being your personal disciple?"


    "Purpose?" Axton chuckled. "Of course, it''s to receive my knowledge, my teachings, and to gain enlightenment with my help."


    "Is that really out of good intentions?" Apollo looked at Axton skeptically. "You''re saying I''m the only one benefiting, but what about you? Honestly, this seems like a loss for you."


    "Loss?" Axton shook his head. "You may be a Wanderer, but I can tell you''re only at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage. Although you have incredible talent, talent alone can still get you killed. And yes, I''ll benefit from this too. It''s not just goodwill; it''s for the future. A master for a day is a master for life.


    What if you become an almighty figure one day? I''m expecting you to pull me up as well."


    Wanderer? What the hell does he mean by that? Although curious, Apollo decided to ask about it later. He fell into deep thought, weighing his options. Being in a Master-Disciple relationship seemed like acknowledging someone as a new parent, and from the "parent''s" perspective, it''s an investment.


    The benefits were certainly enticing¡ªlike a beautiful woman inviting him over. But something held him back¡ªhis "mistress."


    "System, there''s no time limit for being away from my beggar spot, right?" Apollo asked the System.


    "No, but if the System deems the Host no longer has the intention to return to his Beggar Spot, I will have no choice but to initiate another Lightning Tribulation punishment," the System replied in its usual cold, emotionless tone.


    "I see," Apollo nodded.


    "So, what''s your choice?" Axton asked, noticing the Wanderer was deep in thought. He needs another push, the Headmaster thought, a sly glint flashing in his eyes. "Just so you know, if you refuse my offer, the other Headmasters will find out you''re still alive. My offer includes protection, which means I''ll hide your identity from them and protect you with all my abilities."


    Hearing the thinly veiled threat, Apollo clenched his fist before sighing. "Then let them bother me. I wouldn''t mind it. Worst case, I''ll just leave the city."


    The answer left the Great Serpent Headmaster speechless. A Wanderer¡­ yeah, he''s definitely one.


    "Tell me why," Axton said, still puzzled. He couldn''t fathom why someone would reject his offer. Although he had told the other two Headmasters to let the masked man make his own choice, it still irked him that his offer was being refused.


    "Let''s say I accept your offer and become your personal disciple. Does that mean I have to stay here?" Apollo asked instead of answering directly.


    "Only Martial Students of the Great Serpent are required to stay in the school unless it''s their designated day to go out," Axton explained. "But as my personal disciple, you can decide whether to stay here or outside the school."


    "Oh, is that so?" Apollo muttered, his expression unreadable. "And what about the resources? Will you keep giving me Advanced Cultivation Beads?"


    "Of course. I can give you four to five beads every month if you want."


    "Even if I''m outside? You''ll still give them to me?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," Axton nodded. "As long as you''re my personal disciple and accept all my teachings, you''re free to do whatever you want." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright, I accept," Apollo said with a satisfied smile.


    The Great Serpent Headmaster''s eyes widened, surprise at first before he calmed down.

 Chapter 173 - 173: Eli

    The door of the Great Serpent Cultivation School opened, and two figures stepped out from the island behind.


    "I can find my way out from here," Apollo said, turning to the person beside him. The young man looked around 16 or 17 years old, with umber-colored hair, black eyes, and an average face. He wore the black and white uniform, but this particular one had three blue lines on the collar that extended onto the shoulders.


    "Are you sure, Senior Brother Yoma?" Eli asked, staring at the ''kid'' in front of him with mixed emotions. His tone was awkward, but he forced himself to sound natural.


    "Of course," Apollo replied, pointing towards the gate a dozen meters away. "I just need a minute or two of walking straight, and I''ll be out. Don''t worry¡ªI won''t get lost."


    "If that''s the case, then I''ll stay here and watch you walk out," Eli said with a determined voice.


    "If that makes you feel better, go ahead," Apollo shrugged and was about to turn around when he noticed the young man seemed to have something on his mind. "Go on, don''t be afraid to ask."


    "Well¡­" Eli sighed, still staring at the ''kid'' with perplexity, amazement, and curiosity. "I just can''t believe the Headmaster personally appointed a new Senior Martial Student without any announcement or news. It''s so sudden. And looking at you¡­"


    "I look nothing like a Senior Martial Student, right? More like a beggar?" Apollo finished the thought for him. This was his new identity now, besides being a Beggar. But it was a cover, meant to hide his ''true'' identity as the Headmaster''s Personal Disciple.


    "That''s one way to put it," Eli scratched his cheek, eyeing Apollo''s ragged outfit bitterly. "But you''re definitely a kid, right? Headmaster Axton said so, and I wouldn''t dare doubt him. Plus, you''re allowed to stay outside the school, unlike us. We have to submit a request or wait for special circumstances."


    "You could just say I''m one of those special circumstances," Apollo smiled.


    "I see, haha. Sorry if I said something offensive," Eli apologized, bowing his head to the newly appointed Senior Brother of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. At the moment, only Eli knew this news.


    "No offense taken," Apollo waved him off.


    "That''s a relief," Eli sighed. "Fortunately, you''re not like some of the other Senior Brothers and Sisters who flaunt their status and bully those below them."


    "Oh, you shouldn''t let them do that to you," Apollo said, looking at Eli seriously. "Revenge is a dish best served hot."


    It was the exact opposite of the saying, but who cares? Apollo didn''t. He was just trying to help the young man. Even though Eli hadn''t shared all the details, Apollo could easily paint the picture. It was clear Eli had been bullied for a while. What if they banded together and didn''t wait long? S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Heck, they might even choose to get revenge.


    "That''s¡­ wise advice," Eli''s eyes brightened, and the way he looked at Apollo changed. "You truly deserve the title of Senior Brother!"


    "Haha," Apollo chuckled, shaking his head. "Anyway, I should get going now. Heed my advice, and you shall see¡­"


    Only sorrow and defeat, with a very small chance of victory.


    "I hope to see you again soon, Senior Brother Yoma!" Eli bowed his head enthusiastically.


    "Yeah, yeah!" Apollo waved, walking toward the gate as Eli''s eyes followed him. Only when Apollo stepped outside the school did the gaze finally disappear.


    Apollo glanced at the two guards stationed by the gate. Despite the gate opening on its own, the guards remained unfazed. Their discipline impressed him¡ªthey didn''t even spare him a glance.


    Suddenly, the clatter of hooves echoed in the distance. Turning towards the sound, Apollo spotted the same carriage that had brought him to the school, now stopping in front of him.


    The door opened on its own, and the charioteer jumped down from the driver''s seat, bowing his head to the newly appointed ''Senior Brother.''


    "Good day, Senior Brother. From now on, I will be your personal driver," the charioteer announced.


    Personal driver? The Headmaster is really thoughtful, Apollo thought, shaking his head. "No need. After you drop me off today, I can manage on my own," he said.


    "B-but the Headmaster personally tasked me," the driver replied, looking up with a troubled expression.


    "I insist, so don''t worry about it," Apollo smiled before walking toward the carriage and hopping inside.


    The driver sighed but returned to his seat. Soon, the carriage began moving, the rhythmic sound of hooves filling the air.


    Leaning back to sit more comfortably, Apollo fell deep in thought. Taking out the Advance Cultivation Bead, he recalled his earlier conversation with the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    After accepting the position as Axton''s Personal Disciple, they discussed his rewards. He could receive 4 to 5 Advance Cultivation Beads each month, but the Headmaster advised against using more than one at a time. Overuse would be harmful to his cultivation, as his body would need time¡ªtwo to four weeks¡ªto consolidate the effects of each bead.


    The proper method, Axton explained, was to draw Qi from the bead rather than from the surrounding environment.


    On another note, the Headmaster mentioned that meeting with the Mayor was unnecessary, though he didn''t elaborate. Axton also assured Apollo that the Great Serpent School''s techniques were far superior to anything found in Klown''s Library, so there was no need to seek techniques from the city''s collection.


    Though Apollo could have spent some time choosing a Cultivation Technique, he decided to delay that for now. He wanted to see how far he could progress with his Revised Simple Breathing Technique. If he ever felt it wasn''t enough, he could return to the Great Serpent School. For now, his current battle techniques seemed sufficient.


    Reflecting on the benefits of being the Headmaster''s Personal Disciple, Apollo couldn''t quite understand why he was given so much freedom.


    Is it because I''m a Wanderer? he thought, realizing he had forgotten to ask what exactly that meant.


    Shaking his head, he tucked the bead back into his robe. When he looked outside, he noticed the carriage turning right, heading toward the street where his beggar spot was located.


    "You can drop me off here," Apollo said. The carriage halted, and he stepped out, nodding to the charioteer. "Thanks."


    "I could take you all the way to your place," the driver offered.


    "No need," Apollo shook his head. "You can go now."

 Chapter 174 - 174: New Scarecrows

    Apollo watched the carriage disappear around the corner before he began walking. Instead of heading toward the street where his beggar spot was, he turned left, heading in the direction of the training ground.


    "I need a sword," the beggar muttered to himself. Now that he was here, he figured he should take advantage of the opportunity. The training ground was the closest, so he decided to go there.


    Apollo hoped to find a spare wooden sword that he could ''borrow.'' He could have asked the Headmaster for one, but in his excitement over the rewards and benefits, he had forgotten to request a weapon.


    He didn''t need a real weapon anyway. With his Simple Sword Technique, he could make anything as sharp as a real sword¡ªsharper, even, if necessary. There was also something else he wanted to try, but he needed the wooden sword to make it work.


    After walking for a while, he sighed. "It would''ve been better if I could take out that blue falcon," he muttered, glancing at the setting sun casting an orange glow over the streets.


    The Headmaster had forbidden him from using the falcon, even though the creature had been given to him. Apollo could only use the Water-Attributed Falcon within the Great Serpent Cultivation School. It was frustrating, but there was nothing he could do about it.


    --- S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You can just put it there," Sir Guo instructed, as two men in simple clothing placed a scarecrow on the ground. Unlike traditional scarecrows, this one didn''t have a pole through it¡ªit stood upright like a person. Made of wood and grass, it was dressed in an old shirt and pants that concealed its bamboo legs.


    "This is the last one," one of the men said, wiping the sweat from his brow.


    Sir Guo nodded, and the two workers headed for the exit. They were responsible for crafting the specialized scarecrows designed to measure a cultivator''s strength.


    Looking around, Sir Guo smiled in satisfaction. Finally, all the training dummies had been replaced with new ones. They were more durable than before, able to withstand a few strikes from someone at the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    The culprit who had destroyed all the previous dummies a few weeks ago was still unknown, and it was suspected that the same person was responsible for killing one of the Martial Students.


    Just thinking about it frustrated the guardian of the grounds. "If I ever catch him, he''ll wish he wasn''t alive."


    Since the training ground was a joint effort between the martial schools and the mayor, Sir Guo didn''t have to worry about the cost of replacing the scarecrows. However, it still took time to make them, and the grounds required at least ten.


    Looking up, Sir Guo noticed it was almost nightfall. A few martial students were still training with their swords and techniques, most of them Outer Disciples on missions or tasks that allowed them to leave their Martial Schools.


    "I''ll stay here and wait for them to leave before heading back," Sir Guo muttered, walking over to the stage steps and sitting down.


    Just as he took his seat, he noticed someone entering the training ground.


    "Oh, he''s back?" Sir Guo raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar figure of the beggar walking in.


    ---


    "Did they install new training dummies?" Apollo muttered to himself. He remembered slicing all of the scarecrows in two and leaving them like that. "These new ones look strong."


    He walked toward the nearest one and tapped it with the back of his hand. The soft thump and the sensation he felt were strange¡ªit had the same feel as human flesh. Yet, the dummy was clearly made of wood, bamboo, and some grass he couldn''t recognize, though its texture felt oddly lifelike.


    Squinting, he noticed faint letters, similar to the ones used by Array Masters when they activated their abilities. He still couldn''t understand how they did it without drawing on the surrounding Qi, and it amazed him every time.


    Shaking his head, Apollo looked around and saw a few martial students training. His eyes then landed on a man sitting on the stage steps.


    Sir Guo was staring at him. Apollo quickly looked away.


    "The perv is eyeing me again," Apollo muttered to himself. Not wanting to engage in a stare-down with a pervert, he found a spot and sat down. He decided to cultivate and wait for most of the students to leave before grabbing a wooden sword from the weapon rack. Then, he could finally try out the technique he''d been dying to test since coming up with it.


    Closing his eyes, his world turned dark until it was just him and the firefly-like Qi surrounding him.


    Immersed in cultivation, Apollo lost track of time. The small ball of Qi in his dantian gradually grew larger as time passed. He could feel it wouldn''t be long before he''d unlock the door to another realm.


    But his peace was shattered when he sensed someone standing in front of him.


    Opening his eyes, he saw Sir Guo, wearing his bamboo hat, looking down at him.


    "F*ck!" Apollo jumped back. "Don''t do that!"


    "Do what?" Sir Guo tilted his head. "I was just looking at you."


    "Don''t stare at me like that!" Apollo protested. He had felt it¡ªSir Guo''s gaze seemed to pierce right into his soul!


    "I don''t understand what you mean, but you should go now, kid," Sir Guo said. "We''re the only ones left."


    Apollo glanced around and saw that the other martial students had left. He must have been cultivating for several hours.


    But this was good.


    "Nah, I''m going to stay and train," Apollo said casually.


    Sir Guo went silent for a moment before speaking again. "What are you planning?"


    "Planning? Didn''t you just hear what I said? I''m staying to train," Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    Sir Guo narrowed his eyes at the beggar. He felt uneasy. The last time he left Yoma here, the scarecrows had been cut in half, and a dead body had been found on the training grounds. It had only happened once, and it could''ve been a coincidence, but Sir Guo couldn''t shake his suspicions about this beggar.


    "What? Am I not allowed to train at this hour?" Apollo asked when Sir Guo didn''t respond.


    "You can, but the only light you''ll have is from the moon," Sir Guo pointed out.


    "That''s fine," Apollo nodded.


    "Then I''ll be going." Sir Guo stared at the beggar one last time before turning to leave. Despite his suspicions, he wasn''t too worried. The new scarecrows were reinforced and could only be damaged by someone at the Qi Condensation Stage. As far as Sir Guo knew, this beggar was only at the Foundation Building Stage.

 Chapter 175 - 175: Simple Wind Sword Technique(Part-1)

    After Sir Guo left, Apollo let out a sigh of relief.


    "He''s definitely suspecting something," the beggar muttered. But it seemed like he wasn''t going to be forced to spill any information, which was good. That''s something Apollo liked about Sir Guo¡ªa reasonable man. However, as he stood in front of the weapon rack, taking a wooden sword from it, he suddenly felt a gaze on him. A shiver ran down his spine¡ªit was the same gaze he had felt just moments ago.


    That guy is still here, Apollo thought, narrowing his eyes. But thinking about it, he realized he''d probably do the same if he were suspicious of someone. A smile crept onto his face as he jumped to the middle of the stage.


    With the sword in hand, he began practicing the movements from the Simple Sword Technique. He had already mastered it, but right now, he was just putting on a show.


    "Let''s see how long you can hold out," Apollo''s eyes glinted. Glancing at the dark sky, he estimated it was around eight o''clock in the evening. He had plenty of time to convince that pervert that he was just here to train, nothing more.


    An hour or so later, the gaze finally disappeared, though Apollo continued his movements to be sure that Sir Guo had really left.


    Apollo waved the wooden sword hundreds of times before looking around the training ground. Finding nothing strange, he let out another sigh of relief.


    Now that he was alone, he could finally practice without worrying about others. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He also didn''t have to worry about "borrowing" the wooden sword once he was done here. Whether he could return it or not was still up in the air.


    Staring at the wooden sword, Apollo sliced the air, the sound of the blade cutting through it whistling in his ears. But that was all there was to the Simple Sword Technique. Even though he had mastered it, there were no special effects. And that was why he had come here in the first place.


    Apollo had realized this during the previous Advanced Examination. He could cut anything his weapon touched, but its reach was limited, and he had to get in close to strike his enemies.


    Bringing the sword in front of him, an idea formed in his mind.


    "What would happen if I combined Wind Blast with the Simple Sword Technique?" Apollo muttered, the thought making his heart beat faster.


    He had already managed to combine the Fire Blast and Wind Blast techniques. Although the combination wasn''t perfect and had its flaws, it had proven to be destructive.


    Now, what if he applied that method to his Simple Sword Technique? Just like he had revised the Breathing Technique, he could revise the Simple Sword Technique into something new. If he succeeded, he wouldn''t have to rely on the System. Sure, he could ask the Great Serpent Headmaster for a sword technique, and Apollo was sure Axton wouldn''t refuse. But the beggar wanted something of his own.


    He wanted to tailor the technique to his preferences, adjusting it to his body rather than the other way around.


    Apollo closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths, recalling the Wind Blast technique. Its principle was the same as the Fire Blast, which made it easy for him to combine the two. But what he was about to attempt was an entirely different matter.


    Wind Blast allowed him to send a torrent of wind in the direction he desired¡ªa very straightforward technique.


    Apollo used Wind Blast, the surrounding Qi churning in front of him, but instead of sending the torrent forward, he made it stay in place.


    His eyes narrowed at the strange swirling air before him, carefully studying its behavior. If anyone else were around, they would be shocked to see a technique like Wind Blast held in place. It required an extreme understanding of the technique, as well as highly advanced control of mental fortitude and Qi manipulation. One wrong move, and the Wind Blast would either fail or release on its own.


    Apollo didn''t realize that what he was doing was something even the most talented cultivators would struggle with. But here he was, calmly circling the chaotic wind with a hand under his chin.


    How am I going to combine this with my Simple Sword Technique? Apollo frowned. He only needed to grasp the principle, but nothing came to mind.


    Letting out a sigh, Apollo moved the churning wind to the side. Just as he was about to wave the wooden sword to get a feel for the Simple Sword Technique, his eyes suddenly lit up.


    Turning to the chaotic air, he commanded it to take shape¡ªa sphere. Though it was hard to see the form clearly, the Wind Blast definitely took on a spherical shape.


    Square, rectangle, star, hexagon¡­ Apollo tried various shapes, and the Wind Blast transformed without any issues.


    "If that''s the case¡­" Apollo raised the wooden sword, and with a thought, moved the Wind Blast toward the blade. However, before it could reach the sword, the technique suddenly dissipated into nothing.


    Seeing this, Apollo realized that too much time had caused the Wind Blast to disappear.


    Taking a deep breath, he used the technique again, this time making it envelop the wooden sword in his hand.


    The Wind Blast was no longer the same. In Apollo''s hands, it had become an entirely different technique. He could even make himself invisible using principles derived from Hydra Mirage. For Apollo, creating new techniques by adapting others had become second nature.


    Apollo stared at the wind-covered wooden sword, a proud expression on his face.


    He had finally succeeded in fusing Wind Blast with a weapon!


    "Let''s see your might!" With a shout, the beggar slashed with his wooden weapon, the sound of air tearing as the wind around the sword churned.


    However, what happened next made Apollo realize he had made a mistake. With a loud bang, his body was sent flying into the air, while his wooden sword flew in the opposite direction.

 Chapter 176 - 176: Simple Wind Sword Technique(Part-2)

    Twisting in midair, Apollo stabilized himself and landed on his feet on the stage.


    He immediately checked his body, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw that he hadn''t sustained any injuries.


    "That''s dangerous," Apollo muttered, fear in his voice. He was still injured from the Advancement Examination and couldn''t afford to make it worse. Shaking his head, he walked over to the wooden sword and saw that the wind surrounding it had dissipated.


    He slashed the sword, expecting the Wind Blast to release as a wind slash, but the outcome wasn''t what he had hoped for. The Wind Blast exploded as it was meant to, but not in the way he wanted.


    Nothing changed. Different approach, but the same result.


    He hadn''t truly fused the Wind Blast with the Simple Sword Technique; the Wind Blast merely covered the wooden sword. Apollo realized this when he checked his body¡ªhe wasn''t injured because the output was greatly reduced. If the two techniques had actually combined, his body would have been shredded.


    Picking up the wooden sword, Apollo tried again. If he couldn''t do it in one try, he''d try a second time. If the second time failed, he''d keep trying¡ªthird, fourth, fifth¡ªuntil he succeeded.


    The sound of air exploding echoed across the stage. Fortunately, the Training Ground was far from any buildings, or they would have been disturbed by the continuous explosions.


    Thirty to forty minutes later, Apollo finally succeeded.


    "Ha!" the Beggar shouted, slashing with his wind-covered sword. The sword let out a whistling sound as the chaotic wind released as a long wind slash. The attack was fast, and the lower part of the slash cut through the stage floor like it was nothing!


    The wind slash continued off the stage and disappeared after a dozen meters.


    Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise. This¡­ this is too overpowered! Looking down at the stage, he saw the floor was cleanly sliced, without any jagged edges! And that was just the bottom part of the technique. If he had aimed the attack at the stage itself¡­


    He was tempted, but shook his head a moment later. Clearly, this stage must have cost a fortune to build.


    His gaze then landed on the newly installed training dummies.


    They''re meant to withstand techniques¡­ it''s not my fault if I destroy them again, right? Apollo quickly made up his mind and jumped toward the nearest scarecrow.


    Raising the wooden sword and covering it with the Wind Blast, Apollo was about to slash the dummy when he stopped. "I forgot to name this technique."


    Great Sword Wind?


    Wind Sword Technique?


    Simple Wind Sword Technique? Yeah, this is it! Apollo thought.


    After giving his new technique a rather generic name, he raised the wooden sword and slashed the scarecrow.


    A two-meter tall wind slash shot from the sword, slicing the training dummy clean in half! The attack continued, striking the scarecrow behind it and cutting it like it was nothing, all while carving a ravine into the grassy ground.


    Apollo smiled in satisfaction at the success of his experiment. He knew there must be other techniques capable of producing the same effect, but this Simple Wind Sword Technique was something he had created personally. With it, he could cut anything from a distance, no longer needing to get close to his enemies to use the Simple Sword Technique on them.


    A sword that can cut almost anything, even Battle Techniques. Apollo suspected that with the Simple Wind Sword Technique, he could now cut through the barrier from the Ten-Tail Alphadusk Shadowtail, though he couldn''t prove this theory anymore since that guy was already dead.


    Come to think of it, Axton had promised to explain why his True Understanding of the Sword didn''t work on that black barrier, but Apollo had forgotten to ask. He already guessed that the reason he could cut through almost all Battle Techniques was due to his True Understanding of the Sword¡ªsomething he hadn''t known about until the Headmaster of the Great Serpent had mentioned it.


    Apollo didn''t know if it was something amazing or not, but honestly, he didn''t care much.


    Looking around and spotting more scarecrows, Apollo smiled mischievously and ran to the nearest one, slashing it with his wind-covered sword.


    "Hahaha! This is fun!" Apollo laughed loudly as he ran around the training ground, cutting the scarecrows in half. The ground was cleanly sliced as the wind slash tore through everything like it was nothing but paper.


    After a while, Apollo finally calmed down. Surveying the destruction he had caused, he scratched the back of his head with a bitter smile. He couldn''t help but get carried away. The System had explained that he and the Original Body had merged, with him taking most of the control, but bursts of childishness and immaturity still slipped out from time to time.


    Shaking his head, he glanced up at the moon, its brilliance shining down on him. It was nearing midnight, and Apollo decided it was time to stop experimenting. With the Wind Blast and Fire Blast having the same principle, he figured he could probably combine the Fire Blast with the Simple Sword Technique too.


    However, the Beggar decided to save that for another time, as he''d already spent the entire night having fun. Besides, he needed to cultivate and increase his strength as quickly as possible¡ªhis instincts told him the second part of his mission wouldn''t be easy.


    Apollo took one last look at the training ground before turning and heading out. Once he reached the street, he realized he couldn''t just walk around with a wooden sword in hand.


    He wanted to make it at least somewhat presentable, so before heading back to his Beggar Spot, he ducked into an alley. There, among the trash, he found a piece of cloth, which he used to wrap the wooden sword. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is great," Apollo muttered with a smile. He didn''t need a strap for the sword¡ªhe figured it looked cooler to carry it in his hands anyway.

 Chapter 177 - 177: Who Did This?!

    "I knew it! Mr. Beggar is really a Wanderer!" Gail exclaimed, her eyes burning with excitement. "There''s no way Headmaster Axton would personally visit him, and they even left in the same carriage!"


    "Yeah, fortunately, we redeemed ourselves and treated him with respect," Filly said with a sigh of relief, placing her hand over her chest.


    Seeing Yoma and the Great Serpent Headmaster leave together, with Yoma even taking the lead, confirmed their suspicions about the beggar staying beside their restaurant. This also meant Yoma was far from ordinary.


    "We should respect his Way of Cultivation and act like we don''t know his ''real'' identity," Filly said seriously, and Gail nodded in agreement, wearing the same determined expression.


    "This is a good sign for the restaurant," Temor added from the side, stirring something with a spatula.


    They were inside the kitchen, where the Fire Chef continued his work.


    "Hopefully," Filly smiled, watching the wok in front of her chef. Inside was a bubbling red liquid, simmering in the heat. Small condiments occasionally surfaced before being swallowed by the red sauce.


    On the table beside Temor were steaming, white-yellowish noodles, which had gone through a meticulous process to achieve their soft, gleaming texture under the Light Rock hanging from the ceiling.


    These noodles, unlike anything they''d seen or heard of before, awaited their final touch.


    "How much longer until it''s ready?" Filly asked, her eyes darting between the noodles and the red liquid in the wok.


    The aroma made her mouth water, and she gulped, her stomach growling in anticipation of this new dish.


    "Two minutes," Temor replied. Like the two women, he was also eager to taste the new creation. Following the instructions from the journal the beggar had written, he had barely managed to replicate the steps. Some ingredients were still missing, but the journal mentioned it was fine to skip a few as long as the main ones were used.


    "Two minutes..." Filly glanced at Gail, and the two chuckled, seeing the eagerness in each other''s eyes. "We can wait that long."


    Exactly two minutes later, Temor extinguished the fire under the wok with a snap of his fingers.


    He quickly poured the contents over the noodles resting on the plate. As the noodles soaked in the red liquid, the trio gathered around the dish.


    "So, what now?" Filly asked, staring at the plate with curiosity and excitement.


    "The journal said we should stir it until the noodles are fully coated with the sauce," Temor explained, handing her a fork. "Here, please do the honors."


    "Oh, a-alright," Filly nodded, taking the fork and carefully piercing the sauce-covered noodles. Feeling their softness, she began to stir.


    The steam from the dish swirled with her movements, while the aroma intensified, filling their noses.


    The sauce and noodles soon blended together, and the pearly white plate was now coated in red. Releasing the fork in the center of the dish, Filly turned to the Fire Chef.


    "Is this alright?" Filly asked.


    Temor nodded but didn''t say much. However, his eyes were so wide they looked like they might pop out of their sockets.


    "What''s wrong?" Filly asked, noticing his surprised expression. The only response she got was the sound of him gulping.


    Then she realized something, her gaze fixing on Temor''s lips. His lips were red, with sauce smeared at the corners.


    "You... when did you..." Filly was at a loss for words. Shaking her head, she didn''t blame the chef. Being closer to the dish, he must have been holding back his appetite longer than the rest of them.


    Turning to the table, she was even more shocked to see that nearly half of the spaghetti was already gone.


    She then noticed Gail, her mouth stuffed full, red sauce covering her lips, eyes closed in deep satisfaction.


    "You guys didn''t even wait for me," Filly pouted, grabbing the fork, stabbing some noodles, and putting them in her mouth.


    The moment she took a bite and her taste buds touched the dish, her eyes widened like theirs had. The noodles were soft, smooth, and easy to bite. The flavor was sweet, with all the condiments blending perfectly to create something she had never tasted before! Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Swallowing the noodles was effortless; they slid down her throat like water.


    "Ah," Filly sighed in contentment. "This... this is heavenly!"


    "Right!" Gail nodded, wiping her mouth with a cloth.


    "It''s sweet, a little sour... and spicy!" Temor added from the side, taking another bite of the spaghetti. Soon, the only sound in the kitchen was their slurping.


    ...


    As morning came,


    Sir Guo was walking towards the Training Ground with a spring in his step. A small smile played on his lips; he couldn''t wait to see the new scarecrows. Though he had seen them yesterday, his excitement hadn''t faded.


    But as soon as he arrived, he saw a group of Martial Students gathered at the entrance.


    One of them turned around and spotted him. Nudging the person beside him, the news spread quickly, and the students parted to make way.


    A foreboding feeling crept over Sir Guo as the crowd parted, revealing the training area.


    "What?!" Sir Guo vanished from his spot, reappearing in the center of the Training Ground. "WHO DID THIS?!"


    He shouted, staring at the devastation. The place was sliced up, with cuts so deep they seemed to disappear into the void, nothing but darkness visible beyond. The edges were unnervingly clean¡ªno jagged lines at all.


    The training dummies, the newly installed scarecrows, shared the same fate. Some were sliced in half, others completely reduced to bits, now little more than a pile of rubble.


    Sir Guo''s heart sank at the sight. They were brand new! The thought of the old elders blaming him made his blood boil. And the idea of that fat Mayor nitpicking him only added to his frustration.


    When he turned and saw the stage, he almost fainted from fury. The stage had been cut in half?! Who in their right mind would do something like this?!


    "If I EVER FIND YOU, I WILL KILL YOU!" he bellowed.


    ...


    The sound of sneezing echoed from the corner of a restaurant.


    "Is someone badmouthing me behind my back?" The Beggar muttered as he opened his eyes after a night of cultivation.


    Shaking his head, he stood up from the cold floor, glancing around his Beggar Spot.


    It was empty now that he had cleaned up the shattered makeshift roof. Useless, now that he thought about it. Other than being a place to beg for Alm Points, it served no real purpose.


    "Hey System, why even bother having this feature if the Beggar Spot is so simple?" Apollo complained to the System.


    A translucent screen materialized before him, displaying words as an emotionless voice echoed inside his head.


    "You can decorate it with items from the System Store. There is a specialized section for your Beggar Spot, and using Alm Points, you could strengthen it so much that even a nuclear bomb wouldn''t leave a scratch."


    "Yeah, I know, I was just complaining," Apollo said, waving his hand. He knew the System''s words were true¡ªhe had already seen that section. But with his meager amount of Alm Points, dreaming of owning something that could block a nuclear explosion seemed far off.


    Letting out a sigh, he brought up his Status Screen to check for changes while feeling something stirring in his dantian that brought a satisfied smile to his face.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 32


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning


    Sure enough, he had finally reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage. After an entire night of cultivation, he managed to make the ball of Qi below his navel grow bigger until it couldn''t expand anymore. He had tried several times to break past the limit, but no matter what he did, it didn''t budge. Around that time, his body had felt hot all over, then cold, before returning to normal.


    Still focused on cultivation, he decided not to "wake up" and just continued meditating in that Void with only himself and the surrounding Qi.


    But he didn''t let this small success cloud his judgment. He knew his new mission wouldn''t be simple. He had to investigate and uncover the Mayor''s plans, which meant personally getting involved. He would be getting closer to danger, and a mere Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage wouldn''t be enough. He didn''t know how many experts the Mayor had under his command, so it was better to be prepared.


    With this in mind, he left his Beggar Spot and sat cross-legged at the corner of the restaurant, where people could see him.


    Raising his hands above his forehead, his signature begging pose, he began grinding for Alm Points.


    He''s been dragging this matter in a few days as he was focused on getting past the barrier from the Foundation Building Stage. Now that he is at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he decided to focus on getting Alm Points before getting back at increasing his Cultivation.

 Chapter 178 - 178: Spaghetti?

    With his hands held palms-up above his forehead, Apollo resumed cultivation. Although he preferred to cultivate while sitting cross-legged inside his Beggar Spot, once his mind was set on cultivation, he quickly became absorbed in it.


    His surroundings turned black, like a void. The firefly-like Qi entered his body, following the pattern of the Revised Simple Breathing Technique. However, Apollo didn''t expect much¡ªafter a full circulation of the Qi, the ball of energy below his navel didn''t budge.


    Anticipating this, he reversed the flow of the Revised Simple Breathing Technique until the darkness shattered, and the street came back into view.


    Opening his eyes, Apollo began to think.


    I need another revision for this breathing technique, he thought. His previous revision had been solely focused on breaking past the Foundation Building stage. Now that he''d done so, the technique was no longer effective.


    Apollo needed to create a new version. He could buy a Cultivation Technique from the System Store, but a Beggar had to be frugal. Besides, spending his hard-earned Alm Points would be wasteful. If there was a way to avoid using them, he would.


    The Beggar was confident he could revise the Revised Simple Breathing Technique again.


    What if I revise it to reach the final stage of the Simple Breathing Technique? This thought crossed Apollo''s mind, and the more he considered it, the more excited he became.


    Why keep revising the technique after each breakthrough? Instead, he could modify it now to carry him all the way to the highest cultivation stage.


    With that in mind, Apollo closed his eyes again, letting the void return. But this time, he didn''t mobilize the Qi. Instead, he focused on the structure of the Revised Simple Breathing Technique.


    The pattern, the amount of Qi required, the number of circulations¡­ As his mind raced to its limits, shaping a new version of the Simple Breathing Technique, Apollo lost track of time. He wanted to change the technique so it would allow him to reach the Absolute One stage. But this was easier said than done. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as Apollo felt he was on the verge of figuring it out, he was struck by a sharp headache. The pain was so intense that the dark world shattered into particles of light.


    The sound of a carriage rolling by, the footsteps of passersby, and their voices filled his ears. When he opened his eyes, he expected to be writhing in pain, but the headache had vanished.


    "What happened?" Apollo muttered in confusion. He had clearly felt the pain¡ªso intense that, for a split second, he wanted to die. Then, the void had shattered, and when he opened his eyes, the headache disappeared as if it had never been there.


    Shaking his head, he tried again. Once more, as he neared a breakthrough, a violent headache disrupted his progress. The dark world disintegrated, and Apollo opened his eyes, finding the pain had vanished.


    "That was real," the Beggar realized, his expression growing serious. "But why? Something''s interfering with me."


    Determination flashed in his eyes as curiosity brewed within him. He tried again, but this time, when the headache struck, he gritted his teeth and held on. Yet, despite his efforts, the same result occurred.


    "Damn it¡­" Apollo cursed, frustrated that he couldn''t accomplish what he''d set out to do. "Do I really have to revise it one step at a time?"


    He couldn''t understand what was happening at all.


    Then Apollo recalled his conversation with Axton, the Headmaster of the Great Serpent. Axton had said that Apollo could talk to him whenever he was curious about something, troubled, or in need of help.


    But going back to him so soon... Apollo was too lazy to do that.


    "Hey System," Apollo called out. "Why¡ªnever mind."


    He didn''t finish his sentence, knowing the System would only try to sell him something.


    Apollo looked up at the morning sky and let out a sigh.


    Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and began revising the Simple Breathing Technique to push past the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage. The sun was still young, and Ned wouldn''t bring his breakfast for another two hours. He had time to beg and revise.


    "You received 1 Alm Point¡­"


    "You received 1 Alm Point¡­"


    ...


    Gail and Filly stepped out of the carriage.


    Both wore smiles, their steps light as feathers, as they approached the door of Filly''s Restaurant. Just as Gail was about to open it, someone came out holding a basket.


    Ned smiled when he saw his goddess and Gail. "Good morning, Miss Filly and Miss Gail."


    "Good morning," Filly replied, while Gail nodded. She glanced at the basket in Ned''s hand, then looked over to the corner of the restaurant, where she spotted a small head peeking out, with hands raised above his forehead. Two bronze coins rested in his palms as he sat motionless. Noticing this, Filly took the basket from Ned. "I''ll take this. You can get back to work."


    "Oh, alright," Ned said, scratching the back of his head. "I''ve already placed the new dish inside, along with fried chicken, scrambled eggs, and a glass of milk."


    "Good job, thanks," Filly said, peeking inside the basket.


    As Ned turned back into the restaurant, Filly and Gail exchanged glances.


    "I should personally thank him," Filly said.


    "Yes," Gail agreed. "Why don''t we invite him inside?"


    "That¡­" Filly hesitated, glancing at the beggar for a moment before shaking her head. "Like you said, we should respect his Way of the Dao. He wants to sit outside, so we shouldn''t go against his wishes."


    "You''re right," Gail smiled.


    "Then let''s go. Remember, he''s a beggar," Filly whispered, walking toward Apollo.


    Standing in front of him, Filly was about to greet him when Gail placed a hand on her shoulder.


    "We should give alms," Gail said, nodding toward the coins on Apollo''s hands.


    Realizing this, Filly sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you reminded me."


    Gail pulled a gold coin from her outfit and placed it in Apollo''s hand.


    The moment the coin touched his fingers, Apollo stirred, then opened his eyes.


    "Oh, it''s you two," Apollo greeted with a smile.


    "Good morning, Mr. Beggar."


    "Good morning, Sir Yoma."


    The two women greeted him with the utmost respect.


    What''s with these two? Apollo felt strange. His gaze then landed on the basket in the restaurant owner''s hands.


    "Oh my, you don''t have to personally give this to me," Apollo said, feeling embarrassed.


    "No, don''t worry about it," Filly shook her head with a smile, handing the basket to the beggar. "Besides, we''re here to express our gratitude once again."


    Apollo stood up, holding the basket in his small hands. "Gratitude for what?"


    "Open the basket, and you''ll know," Filly said mysteriously.


    Hearing this, Apollo had a guess about what was going on. As he opened the basket, a familiar smell hit his nose. He ignored the scent of fried chicken and eggs, focusing instead on a new aroma. Sure enough, a plate of spaghetti came into view.


    The noodles were covered in a deep red sauce, and he could see some of the condiments sprinkled throughout.


    It looked so tantalizing that the beggar couldn''t help but gulp.


    "Wow, you guys succeeded," Apollo said in surprise.


    "Haha, yes! It was all thanks to your journal," Filly bowed her head. "Once again, I am very grateful. If you ever need help, I''m always here."


    "It''s no big deal," Apollo waved his hand. He still had the token from her, a sign that he was a respected guest of their family, though he hadn''t used it yet. Besides, he thought the token was more than enough.


    "I insist. My restaurant, my manpower¡ªwhatever you need, I will provide," Filly said determinedly.


    "That''s too much," Apollo sighed. "Anyway, thank you for bringing this to me."


    "With this, I think we''re ready to fight back," Filly said, clenching her fist.


    "The food is so good and new that even Skyline Savory can''t compare," Gail commented from the side.


    "That''s good to hear," Apollo nodded. "Don''t hold back. A snake''s venom is still deadly, even if the snake is already dead."


    Hearing this, Filly and Gail were both surprised. Such wisdom! The image of the Wanderer, the Beggar, was elevated in their hearts.


    "Thank you! Thank you!" Filly bowed, followed by Gail.


    Seeing them behave so respectfully, Apollo could only smile bitterly.


    The trio chatted for a while before the two women left.


    Apollo glanced at their retreating figures, then returned to his beggar spot. Sitting on the ground, he opened the basket, took out the plate of spaghetti, and began eating.


    The moment the food touched his tongue, Apollo felt like a child again, reliving his love for spaghetti.


    Some of the condiments used in the sauce were ingredients not found on Earth. The meat came from a monster, though the beggar didn''t know what type they had used.


    Before long, he finished his breakfast. Letting out a satisfied burp after drinking the whole glass of milk, Apollo smacked his lips in contentment.


    "This is delicious," Apollo muttered, a smile spreading across his face.

 Chapter 179 - 179: Fillys Plan(Part-1)

    Apollo placed the plates back inside the basket. He waited a couple of minutes, but no one came to take it.


    "I shouldn''t take their goodwill for granted," the Beggar muttered, picking up the basket and heading to the restaurant beside him.


    He had only eaten for about twenty minutes, but when he opened the door and called for Ned, he immediately sensed a heavy atmosphere in the air.


    Apollo glanced at the patrons, but they all ate with relish, seemingly unaware of the oppressive feeling.


    Then his eyes landed on Gail, Filly, Temor, and Ned whispering amongst themselves in the distance. It was clear that they were the source of the heavy atmosphere, and Apollo could feel it immediately.


    Is this one of the Qi Condensation abilities? Apollo thought. He still hadn''t tested his current strength or fully familiarized himself with his new cultivation. This new sensation was something he hadn''t experienced before¡ªor perhaps he had, in places where emotions ran high, like funerals, clubs, or parties.


    Looking around for a place to set the basket, his eyes fell on a table with only a flower vase, no chairs around it.


    That will do.


    He walked over and placed the basket on the table, but as soon as he did, he felt their gazes on him.


    "Oh, hello," Apollo greeted Filly, Gail, Temor, and Ned with a small smile. "I didn''t want to bother you, so I let myself in."


    "Mr. Beggar!"


    "Mr. Yoma,"


    "Sir Yoma,"


    "Mr. Beggar!"


    The four greeted him in unison.


    Though Filly had spoken to the beggar just twenty minutes ago, she was still excited to see him again.


    "You could have just left the basket in the corner. We would have picked it up," Filly said, stepping in front of him.


    "Haha, I can''t take your goodwill for granted," Apollo said, scratching the back of his head.


    "You''ve done more than enough," Filly replied, shooting Ned a fiery glance.


    Ned shivered and quickly bowed his head. "I''m sorry! I lost track of time! It won''t happen again!"


    "Don''t exaggerate," Apollo waved his hand. "I''m just a beggar, and this is only a small matter."


    "Hello, I''m Temor. This isn''t the first time we''ve met, but it''s the first time I''m introducing myself," Temor said, cupping his fist in greeting.


    "Hello, you did a great job with the fried chicken and spaghetti," Apollo responded, mimicking the gesture.


    "Haha, no need for praise. It was only because of y¡ª" Temor stopped mid-sentence, feeling an intense gaze on him. He saw the restaurant owner staring at him and realized his mistake. It was supposed to be a secret that they were treating the beggar as more than he appeared.


    Apollo tilted his head at the chef, but when Temor said no more, he shook his head and turned to Filly. "Is something wrong?"


    Curiosity got the better of him, so he asked.


    The trio exchanged glances before Filly finally spoke. "N-nothing."


    "Are you sure?" Apollo asked again, squinting at them. "I may just be a beggar, but maybe I can help."


    Filly hesitated before shaking her head. "No¨C You know what¡­ we do have a problem." She decided to be honest, which surprised Gail beside her. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, then tell me," Apollo said, perking up.


    "Let''s go upstairs," Filly suggested.


    "I guess we''ll stay here," Temor said, placing a hand on Ned''s shoulder.


    Apollo thought for a moment before nodding.


    "All right."


    ...


    "We just received news that our meat distributor has cut ties with us," Filly said, massaging her forehead.


    "They also mentioned that even if we try to go with another distributor, it''ll be the same," Gail added.


    "But it was too sudden," Filly said with a bitter smile. "I thought they''d at least give me a week."


    "They must be too eager for revenge," Apollo commented. He was sitting at the restaurant owner''s table, while the two women stood before him.


    It was an odd scene. Apollo had insisted on standing while Filly sat, but they''d forced him to take the chair, leaving him no choice. As he settled into the soft chair, he couldn''t help but compare it to the cold floor of his beggar spot. This felt like heaven.


    Should I buy something like this? Apollo wondered, but quickly dismissed the thought.


    "We don''t know what to do. Well, actually, we do, but it''ll take time¡ªat least two weeks to recover," Filly said.


    "But by then, we''ll have lost some of our customers. We don''t know how many, but it won''t be a small number," Gail added, adjusting her glasses.


    "I see," Apollo nodded, already understanding the full situation. "You said that even if you approached another meat distributor, the result would be the same?"


    "Yes," Filly replied, her eyes filled with hope. Mr. Yoma was clearly interested in their problem, and since he''d given them advice before that helped form their plan, maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe had more guidance to offer.


    "They have a monopoly on monster meat in this city," Apollo said, his eyes glinting with understanding.


    "Monopoly?" Filly and Gail exchanged confused glances.


    Seeing their expressions, Apollo realized they didn''t know the term.


    "When a business grows to the point where it has no competitors, that''s called a monopoly," Apollo explained in simpler terms.


    "Oh, I get it!" Filly clapped her hands with excitement. "So that''s what it means! Monopoly! I thought we were just weak and they were strong. Wait¡­ are you saying?!"


    "Yes," Apollo nodded, watching as the shock spread across her face. "Skyline Savory owns all the meat distributors in Klown City."


    "B-but¡­" Filly''s face cycled through a range of emotions: shame, anger, embarrassment, and finally defeat.


    "All this time, we''ve been buying from our competitor," Gail said with a bitter smile.


    "That''s the scary part of monopolies," Apollo sighed. He couldn''t help but reminisce about his past. In his previous life, he hadn''t just monopolized businesses¡ªhe''d built an empire. Everything he touched, he owned.


    The two women remained silent, with Filly lowering her head.


    "But don''t worry," Apollo said with a smile. "Monopolies don''t last forever. You just have to devour them."


    Filly and Gail looked at him, and seeing the confidence in his smile, their heavy feelings lightened.


    "What should we do?" Filly asked, taking a deep breath.


    "First, tell me your plan."

 Chapter 180 - 180: Fillys Plan(Part-2)

    "So basically, meat distribution relies solely on these Hunters?" Apollo asked. "And you''ve already hired some?"


    "We have a few, and we''re in the process of adding more, but it will take at least two weeks before we can gather enough Hunters," Filly explained. "But this meat distribution is solely for us."


    "You''re not planning to sell the monster meat to others?" Apollo asked.


    "Correct," Filly answered.


    "That''s a good idea," Apollo nodded with satisfaction. "It can create a diversion, but if someone wants to buy from you, don''t hesitate to sell. Just don''t advertise it. Let the buyers spread the word themselves."


    Filly''s eyes widened as she grasped his point. "But this still doesn''t solve the problem that our supply of monster meat will be greatly reduced. We can serve a dozen customers a day, but serving everyone will be hard with the limited supply."


    "That''s why, in the meantime, you''ll have to make the most of the two weeks before you can hire all the Hunters you need."


    Hunters are the backbone of meat distribution for restaurants. They''re responsible for finding, buying at low prices, and sometimes even killing the monsters themselves.


    "Play with pricing and promotions," Apollo continued.


    "Promotions? Like calling for customers?" Filly asked.


    "Yes, but you need to reach a much wider audience," Apollo said. "Have you ever seen wanted posters for criminals?"


    "Of course!" the two women nodded.


    "Do you want me to hunt some of them?" Gail''s killing intent seeped out, her eyes glowing red as she prepared for action.


    Filly nudged her friend with her elbow. "That''s not what he meant."


    "Oh," Gail scratched her cheek in embarrassment, withdrawing her killing intent.


    "Just like those wanted posters, create something that will grab people''s attention." Apollo had noticed, while wandering through the city''s alleyways, that most posters were simple sketches of criminals or written descriptions. He hadn''t seen any advertisements.


    "You want me to draw people?" Filly asked, a confident smile on her face. "I''m pretty good at it. But how will drawing faces attract customers?"


    "Silly, we''re not posting criminals," Apollo chuckled. "If you''re good at drawing, sketch your spaghetti, fried chicken, and every dish in your restaurant. Then, paste those posters on walls with your restaurant''s address."


    Hearing this, Filly stared at Apollo like he was a divine being. Why didn''t I think of this? Word of mouth was effective, but slow. If she implemented Mr. Beggar''s idea, just the thought of it made her heart race.


    "And what about the pricing?" Filly asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "Focus on your fried chicken and spaghetti for now. Create a bundle where customers can either buy a single meal at a higher price or get both dishes at a discounted price," Apollo suggested, leaving the restaurant owner stunned.


    "Then they''ll definitely go for the bundle, and with the promotion, our sales¡­" Filly could almost see money raining down.


    "Haha, but don''t get too excited just yet. That''s not enough," Apollo smirked, raising his hand. "A pen and journal."


    ...


    The beggar walked out of Filly''s Restaurant with a relaxed smile on his face.


    "Ah, it''s been so long since I really dove deep into business," Apollo muttered, walking back to the corner of the restaurant where he usually begged for Alm Points.


    He had talked with Filly and Gail for an hour, discussing and revising their plan. He also wrote another journal to help them create new dishes they hadn''t heard of before. Since their supply of Monster Meat would be limited in the coming weeks, they needed to improvise and use common ingredients that would give them an edge in the business war.


    Helping them made him think about his past life. Really, forgetting about my previous world is hard.


    Apollo wanted to move on, but he just couldn''t. That was probably why he was willing to help Filly. Still, what really mattered was their hard work and luck. They could follow his plan, but it wasn''t a hundred percent guaranteed they''d succeed. There were more factors to consider. What if Klown involved himself in this business war?


    A far-fetched thought, but not impossible.


    Shaking his head, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold coin Gail had given him.


    It was his first gold coin, but with the situation involving Filly and his hunger at the time, he had forgotten about it.


    Suppressing his excitement, though his eyes betrayed him, he brought up his Status Screen.


    However, what he saw next made his soul turn cold.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 34


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning


    "What the hell?! How come I only received two Alm Points?!" Apollo''s nose flared up. "System! You''d better explain this!"


    A translucent screen appeared before him, accompanied by the emotionless voice of the System echoing in his ears. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You have received an Invalid Coin. The giver does not think of you as a real beggar, hence the gold coin cannot be converted into Alm Points."


    "F-fuck you," Apollo cursed through gritted teeth. "You''re being unreasonable, System!"


    "The System is not being unreasonable. A True Beggar receives Alm Points from a Good Samaritan who believes the host is a real beggar."


    "Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you... fuck you," Apollo repeated dozens of times before letting out a defeated sigh.


    Staring at the gold coin in his hand, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly. Such a waste, he thought, putting the coin back in his pocket.


    Actually, he wasn''t surprised that the System made the coin invalid. The System was very firm about making him a beggar¡ªno excuses and no shortcuts. But what surprised him more was that Gail didn''t think of him as a beggar.


    But why? I clearly look like one! Should I undress myself and run around naked? Wait, no, that''ll just make me look like a crazy person.


    "Ah, fuck it," Apollo cursed, placing his hands over his forehead and closing his eyes in frustration. Soon, the world turned dark, and the universe with its Qi acting as stars.

 Chapter 181 - 181: Elders

    "So the rumor is true? That you''ve given the title of Personal Disciple to an outsider?" an old man asked, wearing a white hanfu robe that reached his ankles.


    "I won''t deny it," Master Axton replied, glancing at the School Elders around the table. There were seven of them, five men and two women, all with gray hair and wrinkled faces, a testament to their age and experience.


    "The Senior Apprentices won''t like this," one of the old men said. Elder Yuan, the elder responsible for crafting weapons in the Great Serpent School, was a master blacksmith with numerous disciples eager to acknowledge him as their master.


    Axton glanced at him, his eyes glinting with understanding.


    "I expected that," he said, a relaxed smile on his face.


    "We don''t know what they''ll do," Elder Yuan continued, staring intently at the Headmaster. "Do you think your Personal Disciple can handle them?"


    "I don''t know," Axton shook his head. "But I think he can defeat Heru."


    "Haha," Elder Yuan laughed before turning serious. "My disciple has been eyeing that position. I don''t think he''ll take this lightly."


    "Actually, all of the Senior Disciples will be watching," one of the female elders added, the others nodding in agreement.


    "Don''t underestimate them," Elder Yuan smirked. "Especially the one I''ve nurtured."


    "I''m not. I''m just stating facts," Axton smiled. Only the outer and inner disciples participated in the previous Advancement Examination. Those who had reached the title of Senior were not allowed to join. They hadn''t seen his chosen Personal Disciple in action, but Axton was confident that Yoma could defeat them.


    The Elders also didn''t participate in such affairs, as they were focused on cultivation and school matters.


    "If you say so. But remember, once he''s defeated by any Senior Disciple, the one who defeats him will take his place," Elder Yuan reminded.


    "Rules are rules. I''ll follow through," Axton said. Once he chose a Personal Disciple, the battle for the position would begin.


    Each of the Elders seated around the table had a Senior Disciple under them. The goal of these Senior Disciples was to secure the position of Personal Disciple to the Headmaster, which meant they would be the next candidate to lead the Great Serpent Cultivation School in Klown City. Axton had delayed this decision for years, waiting to find someone truly worthy of the title.


    As Headmaster, Axton was required to personally train his Personal Disciple, whether he liked them or not.


    However, the Headmaster had yet to reveal the real reason for choosing Yoma as his Personal Disciple. He wanted Yoma to take his time and not feel pressured by the future. But looking at the current situation, the Wanderer''s peace would soon be disrupted.


    Still, Axton wasn''t overly concerned; in fact, he was quite confident.


    Yoma only needed to defeat all of the Qi Condensation Senior Disciples without losing. One loss, and he would be out.


    "Enough of that," Axton said, his tone turning serious. "Let my Personal Disciple and the Seniors settle this among themselves. Let''s move on to official matters."


    The atmosphere shifted. What had been a somewhat relaxed meeting just moments ago now grew tense, the air turning heavy.


    The Elders straightened up, the smiles fading from their faces.


    "We''re gathered here to address the thieves who''ve stolen techniques from our library," Axton began, glancing at each of the Elders. They showed little emotion, as expected of those with far more experience than he had. "I assume you''re all aware that someone is behind them."


    "With cultivation and battle techniques being stolen from every martial school in this city, it''s obvious someone''s pulling the strings," one of the Elders remarked. "Even a fool knows who''s responsible."


    "That man knows how to smile, but beneath that fat exterior, he hides his true self," Elder Yuan said, his eyes flashing coldly.


    "Even if we suspect the same person, the prisoners won''t talk. If we try to force information or use special techniques on them, their heads explode," Axton explained. "And we''re not allowed to act unless they show clear signs of hostility."


    The Elders frowned at this, some visibly frustrated.


    "We should send a request to the higher-ups," one of the Elders said through gritted teeth. "Why are they allowed to scheme like this while we have to ask permission just to defend ourselves?" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Others voiced their agreement.


    The Great Serpent Cultivation School in Klown City was only a branch of the main school. They had to answer to the central authority and seek approval for major decisions.


    Axton sighed. He too disliked the restrictive system that prevented them from acting freely. "We have to follow orders¡ªto maintain peace and not instigate conflict with the Empire."


    "Well, we can''t ignore their wishes," Elder Yuan added. "We can''t afford to be the ones responsible for starting another war."


    At the mention of "war," the atmosphere grew even heavier.


    War¡ªthe very word carried a weight that chilled them. It had been so long since the last one, but the truce between the bona fide and the mundane had held for nearly ten thousand years. Back then, the ancestors had lived in the mountains, isolated from the common people.


    But once the mundane discovered the extraordinary powers of the first cultivators, greed had driven them to call upon forbidden power.


    Axton had only read about it in books, but he understood that the desire for peace had been their ultimate goal.


    "True immortality and enlightenment¡ªthat''s our purpose. It always has been and always will be. Strength is just a byproduct," Axton said. "But we face a threat determined to disrupt our path to cultivation. We may not be able to fight openly without approval, but that doesn''t mean we''ll sit back and let them bite at our heels."


    The Elders fixed their gazes on the Headmaster. "What''s your plan?"


    "Personal Disciples¡ªthey don''t belong to the school. They answer only to me until I decide to hand over my position," Axton said, a cunning smile playing on his lips.


    Peace was the goal, but the means to achieve it didn''t matter.


    "You mean¡­" Elder Yuan squinted, catching on to Axton''s implication.

 Chapter 182 - 182: Helping Slumstreet

    A few days later.


    Apollo was cultivating peacefully. A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he cultivated while begging. Despite only receiving two Alm Points, he wasn''t bothered. His full focus was on the ball of Qi in his dantian.


    He had spent a few days revising the Revised Simple Breathing Technique, and finally, he had succeeded.


    The ball of Qi was compressing, and after much trial and error, he realized he had been wrong all along. He had tried to make the ball bigger, but no matter what he did, it wouldn''t budge. Then, after further attempts, he figured out the truth.


    Strangely, instead of expanding the ball of Qi, he needed to compress it, making the Simple Breathing Technique suitable for the next cultivation stage.


    It felt as though he was starting over, but Apollo knew the compressed Qi was becoming more potent. At the same time, he could feel his strength increasing once more.


    This brought a smile to his face, and he couldn''t wait to reach the next stage. Though he still wasn''t familiar with the power of the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he decided to focus on getting to the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage and then familiarize himself with his newfound strength.


    However, his peaceful cultivation was interrupted when he sensed a presence in front of him.


    Usually, when someone gave him Alm Points, they lingered for just a second before walking away. But this person was standing still.


    Confused, Apollo opened his eyes, pocketed the bronze coins, and looked up.


    "Don?" Apollo asked in surprise. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah, h-hello!" The boy with shoulder-length hair bowed, flustered. Sweat dripped down his face, his chest heaving as if he had been running.


    Seeing him in this state made Apollo frown. He stood up and glanced around but saw no one following the boy.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo asked.


    Don looked up, meeting Apollo''s eyes, and couldn''t help but shiver. Then, he dropped to both knees and slammed his forehead into the ground.


    "Please! Mr. Cultivator, help us!" Don pleaded, his voice trembling with pain.


    That must''ve hurt, Apollo thought, surprised by the boy''s self-inflicted brutality. "Stand up and tell me what happened," he said, helping the boy to his feet.


    Apollo was speechless. Don''s forehead was bleeding, and tears threatened to spill from his eyes. The boy sniffled, pulling back his snot. "I¡­ I didn''t have a choice. Please forgive me for disturbing you, sir."


    "Don''t call me sir. I''m just a beggar, and we''re the same age. What do you mean you didn''t have a choice? What really happened?" Apollo asked. Don was clearly in a hurry.


    "We need your help. We''re being forced to leave now. Some of us have already been hurt," Don explained hurriedly, his voice filled with worry. "T-they said¡­ they said they''d kill Miss Millie, so I ran to find you."


    Apollo glanced at Don''s body and, sure enough, saw the bruises. But should he help them? What good would it bring him?


    Seeing Apollo grow quiet, Don became anxious.


    Was I too rude? I spoke to him so suddenly. Is he going to punish me too? This thought made Don grit his teeth.


    "I''m sorry! I should get going now!" Don bowed again, tears splashing on the ground. He couldn''t waste another second¡ªMiss Millie''s life and the others were at stake.


    "Let''s go," Apollo said after a moment of thought, smiling at the boy. "I''ll help you."


    Hearing this, Don looked up with wide eyes. "But Mr. Cultivator¡­ If we''re just going to bother you¡ª"


    "I''m your friendly neighborhood beggar! So don''t worry about it!" Apollo patted the kid''s shoulder before heading in the direction of Slumstreet.


    Don was stunned. A beggar? Why is he acting like a beggar when he''s clearly a cultivator? Cultivators were his dream¡ªthey were highly respected. They had wealth, power, and strength. But all he''d ever heard about them were bad things.


    He was ready to be rejected. When he suggested asking for help from his new friend to Miss Millie a few days ago, she had warned him not to trust cultivators because no one ever knew what they were thinking.


    However, the events earlier left him with no other choice.


    Staring at Apollo''s back with admiration and gratitude, Don clenched his fist. He hurriedly ran after him, and the two headed to Slumstreet.


    ¡­


    The sound of fists hitting flesh echoed outside the city.


    This was a street most people avoided¡ªa place where society''s unwanted were accepted with open arms.


    The houses were built of the simplest materials: wood, trunks, and dirt. They looked as though they were on the verge of collapse but somehow held together.


    Though rundown, this street had once been filled with laughter and joyous voices. But now, silence ruled. Some kept their heads lowered, unable to bear watching the scene unfold. Mothers clutched their children tightly as tears fell from their eyes.


    A middle-aged woman collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood. Her hair was disheveled, dirt and blood smeared across her face. Her body was black and blue from the beating.


    Around her, men lay on the ground, red pools forming beneath them. Their lifeless eyes stared blankly, their bodies riddled with holes and cuts from a sword.


    A man in silver armor knelt down and yanked the woman''s hair, lifting her into the air. As her feet dangled, the man spat on the ground. "Didn''t we give you a few days to leave?! Yet you filthy scum are still here! Are you disregarding the mayor''s order, huh?!"


    Miss Millie stared at the captain with defeated eyes. "Pl¡­ease¡­ a few¡­ more¡­ days¡­" she pleaded, but the pain wracking her body made it difficult to form the words.


    The captain, with his blonde hair and brown eyes¡ªclear signs of noble lineage¡ªgrinned at her pleading. To him, her cries for mercy were music. Ruthlessness gleamed in his eyes.


    He forced Miss Millie to look at the fallen bodies around them.


    "You see this? This is your fault!" he shouted.


    Silver-armored soldiers stood nearby, weapons pointed at the onlookers, ready to strike down anyone who dared interfere.


    Miss Millie''s eyes filled with sorrow as she glanced at the dead individuals who had tried to help her. My fault¡­ it''s all my fault¡­


    "If you had listened! Hahaha! But this is great! I''ve been waiting to clean up you filthy rats with my own hands, and now the time has come!" The captain''s laughter rang out, echoed by his men.


    Miss Millie heard nothing. She stared at the people of Slumstreet in the distance, watching her with worried expressions. Some of the men were preparing to come to her aid, but she shook her head at them.


    It''s my fault¡­ if only I''d listened and not tried to protect our home¡­ no one would''ve gotten hurt¡­


    "But even if you had left, I would still have hunted you all down and killed you!" the captain shouted, his words finally piercing through to her.


    "You!" Miss Millie turned her furious gaze toward him.


    "What?" The silver-armored man smirked, but it faltered when she pulled a short dagger from her pocket.


    "I''ll kill you!" Miss Millie swung the dagger at him!

 Chapter 183 - 183: The Captain(Part-1)

    A short sword flew through the air, landing a few feet away, followed by a person rolling across the ground.


    "Ah, fuck you! You almost killed me!" the noble captain shouted, his face burning with fury as he lowered his fist. If he had been a second later, his neck would have been cut, and blood would have sprayed everywhere.


    Some of the onlookers immediately rushed toward the fallen middle-aged woman. However, the silver-armored guards were faster, kicking, punching, and slicing at those who tried to help with their swords.


    Screams echoed as those who tried to assist had no choice but to retreat. They could only stare helplessly at Miss Millie.


    "You''ll regret that, bitch!" The captain glared at the woman coldly, his killing intent flaring. He walked toward her, releasing his cultivation pressure.


    At the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage, his pressure was enough to terrify ordinary people. They retreated, even from afar, their faces filled with fear as they anticipated what would come next.


    The captain picked up the short sword and stood over the coughing woman.


    Blood splattered onto the ground, turning brown dirt a deep red, and some of her inner organs could be seen mingling with the liquid.


    Miss Millie wiped her mouth and looked up at the man in front of her. Those eyes¡­ they always had the same look when directed at people like us. Ants, insects they could crush at any moment. Miss Millie resigned herself to her fate. Death.


    "Die!" The captain raised the short sword high, preparing to stab her in the head. A wicked smile spread across his face. He was angry but also excited¡ªeager to feel the pleasure of taking another life once again.


    However, just as the sword was about to pierce her, he suddenly felt a threat from his side. Before he could react, his body was sent hurtling through the air as winds swirled violently around the spot where he once stood!


    The world spun, dizziness overtaking him. In this blurry haze, he caught a glimpse of two small figures running toward the middle-aged woman. With a thud, the captain crashed into the ground, raising a cloud of dust!


    Silence.


    A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by a shout.


    "Miss Millie!" Don cried out, his small voice drawing everyone''s attention. He hurried toward the street leader, worry etched on his face.


    Miss Millie opened her eyes in confusion. She had expected to die, never to see the world again. But it hadn''t happened. Instead, Don, one of the street kids, stood in front of her.


    "Are you okay?" Don asked, though he didn''t need an answer as he took in Millie''s battered face.


    "W-what¡­ what''s happening?" Miss Millie stammered.


    "I went and found him!" Don said, stepping aside to reveal the person behind him. "Mr. Cultivator!"


    Miss Millie looked past the boy and saw a seven- or eight-year-old child clapping his hands. The silver-armored guards lay on the ground around him. Their condition was unclear, but the blood pooling beneath them made it obvious.


    "I told you, I''m just your friendly neighborhood beggar," Apollo said, walking toward the middle-aged woman.


    Dealing with these ''scary'' looking guards was a piece of cake. They were at the 1st-Step and 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage, but with his current cultivation and the Simple Sword Technique, they were nothing but moving dummies. His fingers alone were enough to pierce their silver armor and kill them. He had left his new wooden sword back at the beggar spot, deeming it unnecessary.


    It wouldn''t have made a difference if he had brought it.


    Staring at the kid beside Don, Miss Millie recognized him. He was the same boy who had wanted to visit Bubba but instead found him already covered with a cloth. According to Don, this same kid was also a cultivator. Glancing at the silver-armored guards on the ground, it seemed to be true.


    Miss Millie tried to stand, but her injuries caused her to stumble. Don quickly supported her. "W-what¡­ happened¡­ to the¡­ captain?"


    "Mr. Cul¡ª Beggar blew him away!" Don said, a smile on his face. Their savior kept insisting he wasn''t a cultivator but a beggar, so Don went along with it.


    "A simple trick. Fortunately, we arrived just in time," Apollo said, glancing at the middle-aged woman before turning to the dissipating dust cloud.


    "W-we¡­ should¡­ get out¡­ of here," Miss Millie urged, staring at the cultivator. "Th-they will¡­ kill¡­ us."


    "I''m not surprised," Apollo nodded. If these guards had come in peace, they wouldn''t have hurt anyone. But they had already killed some of the Slumstreet people, showing their true intentions.


    Whether they left or not, it was clear the guards intended to kill them.


    "You all should leave. I''ll stay here and buy you some time," Apollo said, glancing at the approaching figures.


    Miss Millie''s eyes widened at their savior. "You¡­ this is more than enough. We couldn''t afford to waste your time, sir."


    "Haha, Big Chub is my friend, and I''m helping as best as I can," Apollo smiled at them. Though he looked like a child, the way people gazed at him was filled with admiration and respect. No one believed his current appearance was his real form. There was no way a child could be a cultivator¡ªthey assumed he was older, using a technique to change his appearance. Miss Millie was sure of it.


    She fell silent, but hearing the cries of the children and seeing the wounded people who had tried to save her, she gritted her teeth and nodded at the cultivator who introduced himself as a beggar.


    She had hesitated before, which had caused the deaths of others. She couldn''t afford to make the same mistake again.


    "I will stay with you!" Don shouted, his face filled with determination as he looked up at the beggar.


    "Go with them. You''ll only be a burden," Apollo said, patting the boy on the shoulder.


    "B-but¡ª!" Don tried to insist, but Miss Millie placed her hand on his shoulder. When he looked at her, she shook her head.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure you come back here, and no one will bully you anymore," Apollo said, glancing at the people around him, his voice full of assurance.


    "Thank¡­ you¡­" Miss Millie bowed her head, and the others followed suit.


    Everyone bowed their heads, faces filled with gratitude. They cried, worried about the future, but for now, staying alive was what mattered most.


    S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 184 - 184: The Captain(Part-2)

    They brought the dead bodies with them, unable to leave the people they cherished behind.


    Watching them go, with Don glancing back in hesitation, Apollo waved his hand at them.


    Letting out a sigh, he looked up at the light blue sky. Clouds drifted slowly, rays of sunlight passing through. The sky remained untouched by the turmoil below.


    "Big Chub, your troubles are endless," Apollo muttered with a smile. "But I''ve already deemed you as my friend, and I''ll help you, even when you''re on the other side."


    Big Chub was one of the reasons Apollo decided to help, but the other was tied to his second mission. He couldn''t just cultivate in his beggar spot; he needed to make progress. Involving himself in the Slumstreet situation was the perfect opportunity to move forward.


    Apollo glanced at the spot where the captain had fallen. The man was already back on his feet, shaking his head to clear the dizziness.


    "Hey!" Apollo called out, catching his attention.


    "You!" The captain looked around, realizing the scum had already fled. "Where are they?!"


    "They''re gone. I don''t know where," Apollo shrugged. "Why don''t we talk?"


    The captain''s eyes zeroed in on the only person left.


    "Talk? You think I have time for that?!" The captain shouted, pulling his sword from its scabbard. "I''ll hunt them down and kill every last one of them! But first, let me taste your blood!"


    Apollo squinted at the man charging toward him. How did this guy become a captain? Did he not notice his men were already dead on the ground? Overconfident, egocentric people like this¡ªespecially nobles¡ªwere exactly the kind of people Apollo loved to beat down.


    He released his senses, scanning the silver-armored noble and instantly identifying the man''s cultivation level. He was at the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage, but his energy was unstable.


    That''s strange, Apollo thought. It was the first time he''d sensed something like this in a person.


    Shaking his head, he lowered his body slightly, preparing for the captain''s approach. He hadn''t fully familiarized himself with his body since his recent cultivation improvements, and this seemed like a good opportunity to test his strength. The guards he''d killed earlier were too weak to give him a real challenge, but the 4th-Step Foundation Building stage captain might be enough to practice on.


    However, what happened next made him smile bitterly. This guy¡­ he doesn''t even know how to fight. A sloppy sword slash aimed at Apollo''s neck was easily dodged with a single step back.


    The captain''s face flashed with surprise before regaining confidence. "That was a fluke! Die!" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah, sure," Apollo replied half-heartedly, dodging the follow-up attacks as if it were a casual stroll.


    After a series of attacks, with the captain using all his Battle Techniques, the noble finally realized he couldn''t land a hit on the boy in front of him.


    "W-who are you?!" the captain stammered, his eyes nervously locked on Apollo. "You¡­ you''re the reason I was sent flying!"


    "Finally, you''re using your brain," Apollo said with a sigh. This guy wasn''t even worth testing his strength on. It was a complete waste of time.


    The captain''s eyes landed on his men, and he immediately realized they were all dead.


    A shiver ran down his spine as a spark of fear flickered in his mind. "A-are you also... a Cultivator?" he asked, his voice trembling.


    "Nah, I''m just a beggar," Apollo smirked, walking toward him with small, deliberate steps.


    But even though his steps were small, to the captain, Apollo appeared as tall as a mountain.


    "W-why are you helping these filthy scums?! You... We are above them!" the captain shouted, taking several steps back. His eyes darted toward the city entrance in the distance.


    Calculating the distance, he estimated that he only needed a few seconds to reach it.


    Clearly, this kid¡ªno, this person¡ªwas someone he couldn''t defeat. But he couldn''t understand it. With this person''s strength, why was he helping these filthy people? The captain wondered.


    "Above?" Apollo''s smirk turned cold. "Why do people like you always think so highly of yourselves? Haven''t you heard the saying: ''Beyond the sky, there is always a higher sky, beyond people, there are always greater people, and beyond them, there are asians who are just good at everything?''"


    Hearing this, the captain''s eyes widened. Those words... He had never heard them before, but they resonated... They resonated like the Heavens!


    "You... you..." the captain stammered, fear engulfing him. He had bumped into someone he should never have crossed! I have to get back to the city and report this to the mayor! With that thought, he turned, used his movement technique, and hurriedly ran toward the city wall.


    Watching the man''s retreating back, Apollo sighed. Kiss up, kick down¡ªthat''s the best way to describe people like him.


    The captain glanced back and, seeing no one following him, smiled in relief. That person must have realized I''m a noble and doesn''t want to offend me. But you''ve already incurred my wrath, and you shall taste my revenge! His eyes glinted coldly as he began to imagine that small person''s face filled with fear.


    ...


    "So, you think you can just escape? We weren''t done talking, and leaving like that is very rude," Apollo said, standing over the man who was now coughing up blood on the ground.


    In the end, the captain couldn''t escape. His silver armor was in pieces, with only a few fragments still attached, revealing his inner clothes.


    "D-don''t... you know... who... I... am?!" the captain stammered, staring at Apollo. But the look he received made him avert his gaze to the ground.


    "A noble who thinks highly of himself but is actually a coward," Apollo replied. They were inside one of the houses in Slumstreet, which now served as their interrogation room.


    The captain''s face flushed with a mix of anger and shame. His emotions triggered another coughing fit, causing him to spit more blood onto the ground.


    "Tell me your name," Apollo commanded, pulling a nearby chair and sitting down.


    "Why... did you... bring me... here? What do you want?" the captain asked.


    "Tell me your name," Apollo repeated, his voice growing cold.


    As the atmosphere became suffocating, the captain gritted his teeth before sighing in defeat.


    "Armen, North Klown City Captain."

 Chapter 185 - 185: The Captain(Part-3)

    "You''re a noble, right?" Apollo asked, sitting cross-legged on the chair.


    "Of course!" Armen answered, leaning against the wooden wall with difficulty. His chest was covered in blood, the result of a previous wind slash from the kid''s hand. Recalling what had happened, his body couldn''t help but shiver.


    It was so fast. The kid, who was likely a cultivator pretending not to be one, had suddenly appeared in front of him. Before he knew it, the wind became as sharp as a blade, cutting through his armor and slicing his chest.


    The pain was immense, but Armen had thought that would be the end of it. He couldn''t have been more wrong. The kid beat him black and blue, shattering most of his armor before dragging him to one of the filthy houses. Looking at his current situation, it was clear the kid¡ªwho was pretending to be one¡ªwanted something from him.


    "If you don''t know... besides being the North Guard Captain of Klown City... I hail from the Callum family. We may not be as strong as Kleinford or Helflick, but our influence matches or even surpasses theirs," Armen introduced, a confident smirk crossing his face. Despite his injuries and difficulty speaking, when it came to his family''s pride, he managed to ignore the pain.


    "I don''t care about anything you just said," Apollo replied. "I only want to know: does your family have a deep connection with the mayor?"


    Armen was offended by the kidnapper''s words, but when the mayor was mentioned, his expression grew serious.


    "Are you planning... something against him?" Armen asked, struggling to breathe between words.


    "Answer my question," Apollo said, waving his hand. A wind slash followed his movement.


    Suddenly, an arm flew into the air, blood spurting, followed by a shriek. It was like a pig being butchered, making the beggar''s ears ache.


    "Why?!" Armen shouted, clutching his severed arm. Blood splattered his face as he stared at the kidnapper sitting calmly on the chair. "Why?!"


    "Why?" Apollo smiled ''innocently.'' "I just felt like it."


    "Argh! I will kill¡ª" Armen tried to stand, but Apollo''s next words made him sit back down, gritting his teeth in pain as he tried to stop the blood loss.


    "Don''t answer my question, and I''ll cut off another limb," Apollo said, a wicked smile playing on his lips. Seeing the captain behaving now, he repeated his earlier question. "Does your family have a deep connection with the mayor?"


    Armen stared at his kidnapper, anger burning in his heart, but he couldn''t hide his fear. His eyes shook violently. "Y-yes."


    "Good," Apollo nodded, satisfied with the answer. If by the end of the day this person had no real connection with the mayor beyond his position, Apollo would have been disappointed. He had plenty of experience and had seen all types of people.


    Although he had only heard rumors¡ªlikely true¡ªabout the mayor and had seen him from afar, he knew that Klown was not the type of person to value those under him unless they were of real use.


    Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if the mayor despised the bootlickers.


    He wanted to integrate himself into the hidden workings of the city, and he knew he''d have better chances if he offended someone with connections to the mayor.


    "My next question," Apollo said. "Tell me what you know about the mayor."


    Is that even a question? You''re basically ordering me with no chance to refuse! Armen thought, but his severed arm was a reminder that he should answer honestly.


    "W-what do¡­ you want to know?" Armen asked. He decided to choose his life¡ªand his remaining limbs. He could always run away and live in another city once the news got out that he had betrayed Klown. That was the worst-case scenario, but hopefully, the kidnapper wouldn''t tell anyone that he had sold out the city.


    "Hmm." Apollo put a hand under his chin in deep thought. The second part of his mission required him to figure out the mayor''s plan within two months.


    But he was just starting out, so he wasn''t expecting to solve it immediately. He just wanted to find a direction¡ªa clue that would help him move forward.


    "Tell me anything bad about him, something that normal people wouldn''t even dare to think he would do," Apollo said, staring straight into his hostage''s eyes.


    Thinking about their current situation, Apollo couldn''t help but find it amusing. He was, literally, a kidnapper.


    Armen frowned, both from the pain of his injuries and from the weight of the information this ''pretend-kid'' wanted to know.


    "Why are you silent?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, his hand pointing at Armen''s remaining arm.


    Armen shivered in fear and hurriedly opened his mouth. "I-I know something¡­ but it''s just a rumor."


    "A rumor''s fine, but do you believe it?" Apollo smiled.


    Armen thought for a moment, then nodded. "It''s very likely to be true."


    "Oh? Then tell me," Apollo leaned in, his curiosity piqued.


    "He¡­ eats people," Armen said hesitantly.


    Apollo went silent. That was a rumor he hadn''t expected. The mayor is a cannibal? "Why do you think it''s true?"


    "Haven''t you noticed there aren''t any beggars left in the city? Rumor has it that the mayor abducted them and ate them," Armen said, his voice trembling along with his eyes. Just thinking about it made him feel sick.


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. So they didn''t clean up the beggars for visiting dignitaries, but because the mayor wanted to eat them?


    "We abducted some of them, but what''s strange is that we had to send them to the mayor''s castle instead of just killing them and burning their bodies to ashes," Armen continued. The bleeding from his arm had stopped, and the pain had lessened enough for him to speak without gasping between words.


    "So you think it''s true," Apollo said.


    "It''s a gut feeling¡­ but I know others who think the same," Armen said, glancing at Apollo''s hand before looking him directly in the eye. "I''ve told you all I know. These rumors¡ªfilth¡ªnormal people haven''t heard them. Only those of us in high positions."


    "Everything you''ve told me so far isn''t enough to support a rumor that the mayor''s eating people." Apollo squinted at his hostage. "Where did the rumor start?"


    I''m telling the truth! Armen thought before answering. "I think¡­ it started with the chefs."


    "Chefs?" Apollo repeated, his eyes glinting with understanding. "Do you have anything else to add?"


    "Hmm," Armen thought for a moment. "This is the only thing that meets your criteria."


    "I see." Apollo jumped off the chair, turned around, and walked toward the door. "Then we''re done here."


    Hearing this, Armen felt a surge of relief. He''s letting me go? This is good! Once I get out of here, I''ll make sure to take my revenge! He glanced at the kid''s back with hatred. The pain coursing through his body only fueled his desire to make his kidnapper suffer even greater agony¡ªso much that he''d wish for death!


    Apollo suddenly turned back. "Oh, I almost forgot."


    Armen tilted his head in confusion, but in the next second, he saw a sharp gust of wind coming straight at him!


    "What the¡ª!!"


    A head dropped to the ground, rolling a few times before stopping. Armen''s face, frozen in shock, remained on the severed head while the body fell limply, blood spurting from the neck.


    "This should be enough," Apollo smiled, clapping his hands. Glancing at the head, he hoped the butterfly effect would kick in.


    Once people realized the North Guard Captain of Klown City hadn''t returned, suspicion would rise. Apollo expected them to send men to investigate, but they would only find the bodies of their comrades¡ªand their captain.


    "Should I leave a clue?" Apollo muttered, then shook his head. "I need more time."


    He didn''t want them to figure out too easily that a beggar was behind this. There was still plenty of time to complete his mission, and enough time for them to uncover the real culprit behind the murders.


    Hopefully, they''d fall for his plan. Apollo would then deal with those who came after him, all while digging for clues about the mayor''s true intentions. When things escalated enough for the mayor to intervene, that''s when he''d complete his mission.


    Apollo began imagining his plan. He could already see some flaws, but he''d adjust as needed when the time came.


    Shaking his head, he walked out of the house, making himself invisible using a technique derived from Hydra Mirage. Apollo hurried back to his beggar spot, keeping the technique active.


    He couldn''t afford to be seen in this area, as trouble would find him sooner than he was ready for.


    ¡­


    As night fell, five figures in silver armor emerged from the city wall''s gate that led to the Slumstreet.


    Each of them boasted cultivation levels ranging from the 1st-Step to the 2nd-Step Foundation Building stage.


    They carried lamps that illuminated their path.


    "What''s taking them so long?" one of the guards asked.


    "Who knows? Maybe they had some fun without telling us!" another replied.


    They chatted as they walked.


    "What''s that smell?"


    The others sniffed the air, and sure enough, they detected the same scent.


    "It''s blood." They exchanged uneasy glances as a sense of foreboding settled over them. Quickly, they rushed to their destination and found silver-armored guards lying lifeless on the ground.


    "Shit! They''re dead!" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Where''s the captain?!"


    "Captain!"


    They spread out, and soon enough, they found the captain inside one of the houses.

 Chapter 186 - 186: Line

    In the end, the beggar decided not to leave a clue. He would let the butterfly effect play out and come back to him. Of course, he would find opportunities to speed it up. All he had done was make a small move, but to the affected parties, it was anything but small.


    Back at Klown''s mansion, the news spread quickly.


    The death of a Guard Captain was a serious matter, casting a heavy atmosphere over the place.


    Holst, with his usual squinting eyes, spoke to a silver-armored guard in front of a giant door. After the guard bowed and left, the butler pushed the door open, the creaking sound reverberating as he entered the room.


    Inside, there was a rectangular table with twelve seats, but only one was occupied¡ªthe head chair, where a figure sat, eating. In front of him were plates filled with reddish-black meat, steam rising into the air.


    Holst glanced at the plates before bowing to the mayor.


    "I have bad news and good news. Which would you like to hear first?" the butler asked.


    "I don''t care which," Klown replied, slicing the meat on his plate and placing it in his mouth with a fork.


    He chewed, his triple chin moving as his jaw worked.


    "Then I''ll start with the bad news," Holst nodded. "One of the Guard Captains was found dead in a house in Slumstreet. His head was decapitated. The other guards were also found dead, while the dwellers managed to escape."


    Klown swallowed, wiping his red-stained mouth with a white towel. "Appoint a new captain, preferably someone from his family. What about the body? They have good meat; we shouldn''t waste it." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We''ve already retrieved it. He''s in the storage room, waiting for your palate," Holst said. The bad news only required one command from the mayor to resolve. However, the main issue remained unsolved. "Do you want me to personally investigate the matter?"


    "Let his family handle it," Klown said. "There''s no way those slum dwellers have someone capable of killing a 4th-step Foundation Building stage guard. If they do, it must have been a passing cultivator."


    "What if the Callum family can''t find the culprit?" Holst asked.


    "Then we''ll have no choice but to step in. That person clearly disrespected the city¡ªmy city¡ªby killing one of my Guard Captains. It''s a crime punishable by death." Klown''s eyes grew cold. "In the meantime, let''s focus on our plan."


    "Then I''ll give you the good news," Holst smiled. "With the slum dwellers gone, we can start expanding the walls and completing the Line. That should be enough to finish ''it.'' Once we''re done, it will be time for us."


    "Hmm," Klown nodded, eating another bite before asking, "The Line¡­ they''re not going to notice it, right?"


    "Yes," Holst confirmed. "They''re a secluded people who wouldn''t dare provoke conflict with the Empire. They may have students outside, but those kids are focused on their missions in other places. They''re not smart enough to notice anything unusual in the city."


    "That''s good to hear," Klown smiled. "But they''re definitely suspicious. They''ll eventually find time to investigate, and I wouldn''t be surprised if they''re doing it right now."


    "Sir, I think you''re forgetting something," Holst''s eyes, which were always squinting, turned upward at both sides, confidence radiating from him. "The Line is invisible to them. We''re the only ones who can see it."


    "Oh right," Klown laughed aloud, his body wobbling with the movement. Bits of ''food'' spilled from his mouth, landing on his plates and the table.


    Holst glanced at the scene. Although disgusted inside, he didn''t show it. Instead, he laughed along with the mayor.


    "Why don''t you join me?" Klown asked, pointing at the chair beside him with his knife. "There''s plenty of food, and I must say, it''s top quality."


    "My apologies, but I''ve already eaten," Holst bowed his head.


    "It''s your loss," Klown said, putting another piece of meat in his mouth, then pointing toward it and smiling at his butler. "It''s really delicious, especially this one¡ªArke."


    "I''m glad you enjoy it," Holst replied, glancing at the plate before the mayor. Arke, the Poison Body¡­ he met his end just as we planned.


    "Tomorrow morning, I want Armen," Klown ordered, finishing his meal.


    "I''ll make sure the chefs prepare him with extra care," the butler nodded.


    "And we will start the Line."


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, back at the Helflick Mansion¡­


    Gail and Filly entered the room, guided by a maid.


    "This is her room," the maid said, bowing her head before leaving.


    Filly glanced at the basket she was holding and took a deep breath. "Let''s go."


    Gail pushed the door open, and the scent of medicine hit them. Their eyes naturally fell on the bed. They had been here a couple of times before, but back then, their friend was full of laughter.


    The two walked towards the bed, with Filly sitting beside the peacefully sleeping Bel.


    "I brought something for you," Filly muttered, raising the basket in front of Bel before placing it on the table beside the bed. "I''m sure you''ll like it."


    They fell silent, though their heavy breathing broke the quiet.


    "Shall we go now? I think Bel will wake up tomorrow," Gail asked. They had heard the news that, thanks to medicine from the Alchemy House, Bel had managed to wake up.


    But she was extremely weak, and even staying awake for a few minutes was a great challenge.


    "Hmm," Filly nodded, letting out a heavy sigh. Seeing their friend in this state, they couldn''t bear to stay much longer. Their hearts ached for her.


    She stood up and was about to turn around when she suddenly felt a hand grab her.


    Surprised, she looked back, and sure enough, Bel''s hand was holding hers. A small smile played on her friend''s lips.


    "W-what¡­ did¡­ you¡­ bring me?" Bel weakly asked.


    "You''re awake!" Filly exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth.


    Gail rushed back to their side, staring at Bel happily. "Good evening, Bel."


    "Haha¡­ good evening¡­" Bel chuckled.


    "I brought you something delicious!" Filly said, taking the basket and opening it to reveal the contents.


    The smell overpowered the scent of medicine, and Bel sniffed with her nose.


    "Smells¡­ delicious," Bel commented, her eyes marveling at the food on the plate.


    "It smells delicious, looks delicious, and it also tastes delicious!" Filly said, bringing out a fork.


    Bel tried to sit up, but her body wouldn''t respond. "I¡­ want¡­ to taste¡­ it."


    "Sure," Filly took a small bite and fed it to her. Fortunately, Bel could open her mouth to eat, and there were no orders against feeding her. It was good that she could eat¡ªshe needed the nutrients to prolong her life.


    Bel''s eyes widened as the otherworldly food entered her mouth.


    Delicious!

 Chapter 187 - 187: Gambling Is Bad

    Filly fed her friend with a smile on her face. Seeing Bel eat with ''relish,'' she became more satisfied with her decision to bring the new dish from their restaurant.


    Bel looked like a child as red sauce painted her lips.


    After taking a sip of water, Bel stared at Filly and Gail. "I''m going¡­ to¡­ pass¡­ out¡­ thank you."


    As soon as she said those words, her eyes closed, and she fell asleep once more.


    Filly and Gail exchanged a bitter glance. "Seems like we''ll have to come back another time," Filly chuckled.


    "Yes," Gail nodded.


    After a moment, they left the room, and the maid guided them toward the mansion''s exit.


    "By the way, where are the Family Head and June?" Filly asked the maid.


    Knowing the visitors'' close relationship with Bel and the family, the maid answered honestly. "We don''t know where they went, but they''re searching for a cure for Madam Bel."


    "A cure?" Filly tilted her head. "But she can move now, right? I think that''s a good sign that the medicine is working."


    The maid sighed. "That''s what we thought as well. But the Family Head thinks otherwise. I believe in him."


    "The poison that Arke used¡­ It must be something even the Alchemy House doesn''t have a cure for," Gail commented, a frown forming on her face.


    "I don''t understand why the Headmasters didn''t disqualify that shitty guy," Filly muttered, gritting her teeth.


    "The Mayor intervened, and the examination is a joint event held by the city and the martial schools. The Great Serpent, Fire Shrine, and Sword and Shield Martial School aren''t the only cultivation schools in the city," Gail explained.


    Soon, they arrived outside the mansion and entered the carriage that would take them home. It was nearing midnight, and the restaurant had already closed.


    Looking out the window, Filly let out a heavy sigh, her thoughts weighed down by sadness over Bel.


    "Why don''t we¡­" Gail hesitated.


    "What?" Filly asked, turning toward her.


    "Why don''t we ask for his help?" Gail suggested.


    "Ask for whose help?" Filly asked.


    "Mr. Beggar. Yoma," Gail said.


    Hearing this, Filly''s eyes widened. Right! Mr. Beggar is a Wanderer, someone even the Headmaster of the Great Serpent personally visits. And as a Wanderer, he must be knowledgeable about many things! The recipes he provided for the restaurant were proof of that!


    "We can try," Filly nodded. "The worst that can happen is he rejects us."


    ¡­


    "This is good," Apollo muttered in the dark universe, with the Qi around him acting as stars.


    He was focusing inside himself, specifically his Dantian, where a small ball of Qi resided. It had become smaller compared to when he had just reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Although he had made great progress, Apollo felt like he needed one more week before he could achieve a breakthrough.


    Opening his eyes after a night of deep cultivation, he saw that the sun was already casting its brilliance on the streets.


    It was calm. There weren''t many people walking around, and there was no noise or footsteps to irritate the beggar''s ears.


    Apollo felt it was strange but not strange enough to dwell on, as he preferred it this way.


    Status Screen, the beggar thought, and a translucent screen materialized before him.


    STATUS SCREEN


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 43


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning."


    Forty-three Alm Points... Better than I expected, Apollo smiled. A few days of grinding the people with Alms had earned him at least ten Alm Points.


    If I keep this momentum, I''ll be able to buy that item in just two weeks, or maybe a month, Apollo thought.


    Passerby Shadow¡ªthat''s what he wanted. It was an item that would make his beggar spot invisible, or at least appear invisible, as people would need deep concentration to see through it unless the beggar allowed it. It only hid his spot and himself when inside, and while it couldn''t completely protect him from an attack, it was better than people discovering his hideaway.


    Out of boredom, he brought up the System Store and began browsing the items.


    Then, an item caught his eye.


    It was the Wish Me Luck that he had used previously. He had decided not to use it again, as it felt like gambling.


    Shaking his head to dismiss the thought, he scrolled down through the items, but quickly scrolled back up and immediately bought it.


    The moment his Alm Points were deducted by five, regret overwhelmed him.


    "Ah, why did I do that?!" Apollo scratched his head in frustration.


    Gambling is bad! Gambling is bad!


    But deep down, he hoped he would get lucky.


    "You used Wish Me Luck!"


    "Luck Increase Randomizing..."


    "Luck Increase! 10%!" S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing this, Apollo''s eyes widened. Ten percent?! This is good!


    He stood up and moved in front of his beggar spot, where people could see him. He noticed the basket of his breakfast sitting to the side, but he didn''t want to waste the luck item, as it only lasted an hour before expiring.


    Raising both hands above his forehead and sitting cross-legged, Apollo waited in anticipation. The only reason he bought the item was to increase his Alm Points.


    Apollo wasn''t good at saving. In his previous life, he hadn''t needed to¡ªhis business talent kept money flowing in, so he never had to worry about what he wanted to buy or whether his funds would run out.


    Expecting a great return, the beggar waited. However, a few minutes passed, and nothing happened. His Alm Points didn''t move at all.


    Confused, he opened his eyes and looked around, but no good Samaritan had come forward to give him money. Is it because the morning is still young? The street was quiet, with only a few people walking by.


    I don''t believe I won''t at least get a return on my Alm Points! Gritting his teeth, he resumed begging.


    Twenty minutes later.


    Apollo finally sensed someone approaching. He opened his eyes excitedly and saw black-brown shoes.


    "Thank you! You are good! I greatly appre¡ª" Apollo couldn''t finish his words as he recognized the person in front of him.


    He realized something. Why is the street so quiet? It was the silence before the storm, and the storm had arrived right in front of his face.


    "I finally found you! You training ground wrecker!" Sir Guo shouted angrily, pointing a finger at the beggar.

 Chapter 188 - 188: Im Not Paying!(Part-1)

    Apollo stared at the bamboo hat guardian, confused. Tilting his head, he asked, "What do you mean by that?"


    "Don''t pretend to be innocent!" Sir Guo shouted angrily. "I know you''re the one who cut the dummies in half! You even broke the stage!"


    Apollo stood up, pointing his finger at the ground guardian. "Don''t accuse me without proof! I''m just a beggar! How could I even cut those scarecrows, huh?!"


    "Huh? Do you think I''ll believe your nonsense?" Sir Guo sneered, crossing his arms. "You''re a Wanderer, so stop acting childish and behave your age! Come with me¡ªyou have to pay for all the damage!"


    Fck! What the hell is even a Wanderer?! But I''m definitely not one!* "No way!" Apollo shouted. There was no way he''d admit to destroying the dummies and the stage.


    If they make something meant to take a hit, why get so angry when it breaks?


    "You!" Sir Guo''s face turned red with fury. "If you keep lying and being stubborn, don''t blame me if I resort to force!"


    "Use force on a kid?" Apollo smirked, raising an eyebrow. He glanced behind him and saw that they had already attracted a crowd of onlookers.


    People love drama, and a morning spectacle was something they wouldn''t dare miss.


    "Pretend to be a kid all you want," Sir Guo said, narrowing his eyes at the beggar. "Are you coming or not? Or do you want to fight? Let me tell you this¡ªI''m not someone you can defeat. Ha! Even the Headmasters wouldn''t dare start a fight with me!"


    "But I''m not a Headmaster!" Apollo retorted, though he was actually nervous. What the fuck, System? I bought the right item, right? So why the hell is this happening? Wish Me Bad Luck with a ten percent negative luck?!


    A screen materialized before him, and the System''s emotionless voice echoed in his head. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Host bought the Wish Me Luck item, and it is functioning as intended. The System''s products are flawless, with no defects. Should the Host find a defect, the System will reward the Host, the System Store, and all of its products," the System replied.


    "Nah, fuck you," Apollo muttered. He believed the System. If it said there were no defects, then it was probably true.


    His luck had increased by ten percent, but that didn''t mean he''d actually get lucky.


    "I see, so you really want force," Sir Guo said, nodding, his expression turning serious as the brim of his bamboo hat hid his eyes. "Then come with me!"


    He spread his hands, attempting to grab the beggar, but his hands passed through the air, wrapping around his own body instead.


    "Eh?" Sir Guo looked around in confusion. The wrecker was gone. "Where is he?"


    He closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, a sharp glint flashed in his gaze. Sir Guo turned to his right, where a vague figure¡ªnearly imperceptible to normal people due to how perfectly it blended with the surroundings¡ªwas sprinting away.


    The figure was fast, and it would only take a few seconds for him to disappear!


    "Not this time!" Sir Guo coldly smirked, the air around him crackling with electricity.


    Suddenly, his body vanished, the world around him turning into a blur!


    Apollo, running with all his might, gritted his teeth. Using this invisible technique, derived from the Hydra Mirage combined with the Simple Movement Technique, was making his breathing heavy. It was too energy-consuming!


    Just a little farther, and he would be able to escape that pervert!


    However, in the next moment, a flash of electricity zoomed past him. His eyes widened as a figure materialized, blocking his path!


    "Ah, fuck!" Apollo cursed, but he couldn''t stop in time or change direction.


    "Got you!" Sir Guo smirked, grabbing the beggar''s collar and lifting him up. "Do you think you can outrun me? Your actions only prove you''re guilty!"


    "No, I''m not!" Apollo protested, trying to push the hand away while his feet flailed in the air. But the grip lifting him felt like a wall.


    The beggar realized there was no way out of this.


    "Come with me!" Sir Guo commanded, smiling in victory as he started dragging the beggar back to the training ground.


    But suddenly, his face twitched.


    "Help! Help! This guy is kidnapping me!" Apollo shouted at the top of his lungs, staring at the onlookers watching the scene unfold. "I''m not into men! I''m not into men! But this guy is forcing me!"


    "You!" Sir Guo''s eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"


    He looked around and saw the looks people were giving him. His face flushed red with embarrassment. I''m also not into men!


    "Shut up!" Sir Guo hurriedly walked faster.


    "Help! Help!" Apollo kept shouting, but no one intervened. When he caught the eyes of a few people, they just turned away, pretending not to have seen anything. Cowards! This is why the poor stay poor while the rich get richer!


    There was a carriage nearby, just a few buildings away from his beggar spot. As they approached and still no one was stepping up, Apollo''s face turned conflicted.


    He knew that once he entered the carriage, he''d have to pay for all the damages! But how the hell was he going to come up with the money?


    "Wait! Wait!" Apollo called out to Sir Guo.


    "What?! Don''t embarrass me anymore, kid! You know full well you''re in the wrong!" Sir Guo said with great determination. He''d been scouring the city to find the beggar. But because of other work, he hadn''t caught him until now.


    "How are you so sure it''s me?" Apollo asked. "Just because I was there the night before it happened doesn''t mean I''m the culprit!"


    Sir Guo stopped in his tracks, the carriage right in front of them. Turning to the beggar, he smiled confidently. "I don''t need proof. You just admitted it yourself."


    "I admitted it? I don''t think so," Apollo said, staring at the training ground guardian innocently. But inside, he cursed himself. Why the hell did I say that?!


    Sure enough, Sir Guo''s next words caused Apollo''s shoulders to slump.


    "How did you know it happened the night before, unless you were there?"


    "Well..." Apollo scratched his cheek. "Rumors travel fast... so..."


    "No more excuses."


    The carriage door opened, and Sir Guo tossed the beggar inside like a sack of garbage.

 Chapter 189 - 189: Im Not Paying!(Part-2)

    "This is what you did," Sir Guo said, pointing towards the pile of destroyed dummies.


    "Come on, it''s not that bad," Apollo sighed, shaking his head.


    "Not that bad?!" Sir Guo was livid. "You cut them in half! Some of them are unrecognizable! And look at the ground! And the stage!"


    The training ground guardian pointed to the damage before glaring at the beggar.


    Apollo whistled nonchalantly, though his eyes glanced over the destruction. The ground had a clean cut, several meters deep, and the stage was in a similar state.


    "How much?" he asked casually, crossing his arms and staring at Sir Guo.


    "Each training dummy costs a thousand gold coins, and the stage..." Sir Guo trailed off, glancing at Apollo with a sneer. "I had someone check the repairs¡ªtwo thousand five hundred gold coins for the stage, and a thousand gold coins for the damaged ground."


    Apollo nodded, counting the dummies. "So, eighteen thousand five hundred gold coins?"


    "Yes," Sir Guo smiled, relieved that Apollo wasn''t protesting. Maybe being annoying is part of his act as a Wanderer. "It''s a small amount for a Wanderer, actually. Back when I was a Wanderer, I had so much money that I c¡ª"


    Sir Guo couldn''t finish. The moment he blinked, the beggar in front of him was gone!


    He turned towards the entrance, spotting a vague figure almost reaching it.


    "Stop escaping!" Sir Guo shouted in frustration, his body sparking with electricity as he instantly appeared in front of the fleeing beggar. "The same trick won''t work!"


    Just like before, he grabbed the collar of his target, but the moment he applied force, the figure dissolved into a humanoid shape of water!


    "A decoy!" Sir Guo realized. He quickly spread his senses, immediately locating Apollo.


    In the distance, Apollo was already running vertically up a wall, trying to escape.


    "I told you, it''s no use!" Sir Guo shouted confidently. Lightning flashed around him, forming into a spear of electricity. With a wave of his hand, the spear blurred and struck Apollo in an instant.


    A loud zapping sound echoed, followed by a thud and a small dust cloud.


    Sir Guo transformed into lightning, reappearing beside the unconscious beggar.


    "Haha, you''re really annoying!" Sir Guo laughed angrily at the sleeping kid. "You just got hit by my lightning spear. You won''t be able to move for thirty minutes or so."


    Although Apollo couldn''t hear him, Sir Guo still felt the need to brag.


    He began dragging the beggar like a sack of garbage back to their previous spot, deciding to wake him there.


    However, as Sir Guo was about to slap him awake, Apollo''s eyes fluttered open, full of confusion.


    "What happened?" Apollo muttered, his vision blurry, but he could still make out the light blue sky and the silhouette of a person.


    As his memories returned, he suddenly stood up, fully alert.


    Without acknowledging Sir Guo, Apollo took off running again. Eighteen thousand five hundred gold coins?! Where the hell am I supposed to get that kind of money?! And even if I had it, there''s no way I''m paying for those damages!


    But after taking a couple of steps, something struck Apollo''s back. It was hot, and his body started shaking before he blacked out.


    Sir Guo stared at the unconscious beggar with a heavy expression. This guy¡­ the way he behaves¡­ he really doesn''t want to pay for the damages. Has he just started being a Wanderer? But what caught Sir Guo''s attention more was something else. The issue of the destroyed training ground and dummies was put aside for now, as there was something else he needed to confirm first.


    Apollo woke up after a while, confusion on his face, but his memories quickly returned.


    Shit! I have to get out of here! I don''t want to pay!


    But this time, he didn''t even get the chance to take a step before another lightning spear hit him in the back.


    Sir Guo started counting. Each time the beggar woke up, he fired another lightning spear, knocking Apollo out again. He repeated the process several times, and each time¡­ "It became less."


    Apollo would pass out from the lightning spear but only needed a few seconds to wake up compared to the initial two to three minutes.


    "He''s adapting," Sir Guo muttered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He sent another lightning spear, causing the beggar to collapse, but this time, Apollo immediately sprang back to life.


    "Hey! You sadistic bastard! Fuck you!" Apollo shouted angrily at Sir Guo. "Is this fun for you?! Can''t you stop already?! I said I''ll pay! S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I just need some time!"


    In the end, the ''torture'' forced Apollo to give in. He realized that no matter what he did, the difference in strength between them was like heaven and earth¡ªsomething he couldn''t bridge at the moment.


    Sir Guo clearly had a higher Cultivation and techniques Apollo couldn''t counter.


    But what the hell just happened? Apollo frowned, not because of Sir Guo''s silence, but because his back still ached. He couldn''t help but recall the strange sensation. His body would shake, then he''d black out.


    It''s like¡­ his eyes suddenly widened. Lightning?! Come to think of it, that pervert had used something like appearing in front of him in a blue blur with a zapping sound.


    Yeah, that''s definitely lightning!


    He hurriedly checked his body and realized there were remnants of lightning inside him. They bounced around his organs before settling in his heart.


    What the hell did I just witness? Apollo raised an eyebrow, then smiled.


    He could feel the lightning inside his heart. Is this because of the Lightning Attribute? Apollo wondered. He wanted to figure out how to use his attribute, but decided to focus on other matters first. However, it seemed he had just confirmed what he needed to do from now on with his attribute.


    "Hey!" Apollo called out to the still-silent Sir Guo. "I''m going to escape! Try hitting me with that again!"


    But he was met with silence.


    "Yoo-hoo! I said I''m going to escape! Hit me with your lightning!" Apollo repeated, but the training ground guardian didn''t move. "What''s wrong with you, dude? Did you suddenly turn into a coward?"


    This time, Sir Guo moved. He slowly walked toward the beggar, a smile forming on his lips. "Don''t run away. I have a proposal for you."


    Apollo took a few steps back, but when he heard the word ''proposal,'' he stopped in his tracks and tilted his head.

 Chapter 190 - 190: Another Master

    "Proposal?" Apollo muttered, glancing at the piled-up dummies and then at the training ground pervert. Seeing that smile, his body shivered. "I''ve already told you, I''m not into men!"


    Hearing this, Sir Guo''s face twitched. "Hey! Listen, my proposal will greatly benefit you."


    Apollo stared at Sir Guo suspiciously. "Is it about me doing something for you in exchange for the damage I did to the dummies and the training ground?"


    "You''re a smart fellow, Wanderer," Sir Guo smiled. "I want you¨C"


    "What''s a Wanderer?" Apollo interrupted before the ground guardian could finish.


    "A Wanderer is a¡­" Sir Guo trailed off, squinting at the beggar. Seeing the genuine confusion on Yoma''s face, he sighed. Okay, he''s still pretending... or maybe, there''s a possibility the beggar really doesn''t know what it means. But that seemed impossible.


    The reason Sir Guo was certain the kid in front of him was a Wanderer was that no child of seven or eight could reach the Half-Step Qi Condensation stage. Wait! Half-Step Qi Condensation? He was just at the 3rd-Step Foundation Building stage before... Hmm, maybe his artifact or technique that hides his Cultivation is malfunctioning.


    Sir Guo suspected that the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage wasn''t the beggar''s real cultivation. Nevertheless, it wouldn''t hurt to explain.


    "Well, Wanderers are cultivators who decide to explore the world rather than stay in one place to cultivate. They don''t have any affiliation, and even if they do, they don''t care about it," Sir Guo explained, with Apollo nodding occasionally. "And they like to pretend to be someone else, to protect their peace, their Way of Cultivation."


    "Oh, I see. But you said you''re also a Wanderer, right? Why did you take this position?" Apollo asked. He finally understood what a Wanderer was¡ªbasically, they were nomads. Does he think I''m a Wanderer? Hmm, let''s pretend I am.


    I might be able to use this to my advantage, Apollo thought. Though he still couldn''t grasp what the Way of Cultivation meant.


    "It''s because... Anyway, hear my proposal. Maybe we can work something out," Sir Guo said, smiling as he looked Apollo up and down.


    Seeing those eyes gazing at him like a snake, Apollo''s body couldn''t help but shiver. "If you propose something I don''t like, you''ll taste my wrath!" he threatened, though he would probably just run. It''s a strategic retreat, not a shameful thing to do.


    "Remember, you''re the one at fault here. I''m already being generous by making an offer so you can pay off your debt," Sir Guo smirked.


    Apollo was silent for a moment before narrowing his eyes. "Tell me."


    "Become my disciple," Sir Guo said, bringing his hands behind his back and puffing out his chest. He looked down at the beggar with confident eyes.


    Eh? Apollo couldn''t help but be surprised. Disciple? He wants me to be his disciple? This pervert?!


    "I think I''ll have to pass on that," Apollo said after a moment of thought. He didn''t trust this bamboo hat-wearing man. What if Sir Guo tried something funny while he had his eyes closed and was cultivating? Just thinking about it terrified the beggar.


    "If you agree, you won''t have to pay all the damages. Besides, when it comes to the relationship between master and disciple, there''s no age requirement," Sir Guo said, squinting at Yoma.


    "I agree!" Apollo shouted with determination. Fuck! That''s 18,500 gold coins! There''s no way I''ll ever have that kind of money to pay off my debt!


    "That''s great," Sir Guo said.


    "But why?" Apollo asked, intrigued. Sir Guo had sought him out to make him pay for the damages, but now, after that torturous ordeal, he was offering Apollo the chance to be his disciple.


    "Lightning attribute¡ªyou have it too, right?" Sir Guo asked.


    At this, Apollo had a realization. Sir Guo also had the Lightning Attribute. He hadn''t immediately made the connection, thinking the bamboo hat guy had just used some special technique. But now, with Sir Guo''s question, it all clicked.


    "Yes," Apollo nodded, his eyes lighting up. "Are you going to teach me how to use it?"


    "Of course. Now that you''re my disciple, I''ll teach you everything you need to know about wielding the attribute," Sir Guo smiled.


    Apollo grew excited but turned serious. "But why? You still haven''t really answered my question. There''s no such thing as a free meal in this world. What''s your angle?"


    "Hahaha!" Sir Guo burst out laughing. After taking a moment to collect himself, he looked at Apollo with a mysterious gleam in his eyes. "You accepted this offer because you wanted to pay off your debt¡ªjust leave it at that. When the time is right, I''ll tell you the reason."


    "And when is the right time? I think now would be a good time," Apollo said. "I may have accepted becoming your disciple, but that doesn''t mean I''ll be your pushover."


    "Then give me 18,500 gold coins," Sir Guo said, extending his hand.


    Apollo stared at the hand before glaring at his new master. "You''re an asshole."


    "Proud of it," Sir Guo grinned.


    Oh? Apollo raised an eyebrow. He hated that smile, but he decided to let it slide for now.


    "Alright, let''s not waste time. Teach me everything you know so we can get this over with," Apollo said, excitement clear in his voice.


    To his surprise, he was more eager about learning from Sir Guo than he had been when he accepted Headmaster Axton as a master. Both men had forced him into becoming their disciple, something Apollo despised. It felt like swallowing something so bad that it made him want to vomit.


    Headmaster Axton of the Great Serpent Cultivation School had promised to teach him whatever he wanted, from battle techniques to cultivation practices and more. Yet, none of that had truly interested Apollo. He could have asked Axton about the Lightning Attribute, but it was more likely that the headmaster had the Water Attribute.


    Sir Guo, on the other hand, shared the same Lightning Attribute as Apollo, making him more relatable¡ªthough still a pervert in Apollo''s eyes.


    "I have two masters. This is going to be a headache," Apollo thought, though he knew that if people found out, they''d go mad.


    Having two masters in the world of cultivation was a grave sin.


    "Don''t be hasty," Sir Guo shook his head. "I''ll find you again when the time is right. For now, go back to pretending to be a beggar." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I''m really a beggar, Apollo thought, though he had no intention of telling Sir Guo that. Let him believe whatever he wants¡ªit could only work in Apollo''s favor.


    With a sigh, Apollo turned to leave. He was excited to learn more about his attribute, but the company of Sir Guo made him uncomfortable.

 Chapter 191 - 191: Heru

    Staring at the beggar''s back, the smile on Sir Guo''s face widened. Ah, finally, I found someone.


    Sir Guo had once been a Wanderer. He came from a powerful sect, a martial school in another region that specialized in Lightning¡ªwhether in cultivation techniques, battle techniques, or attributes. They only accepted disciples with the talent to cultivate their unique Way of Cultivation, and he had been one of them.


    An outer disciple, Sir Guo was eventually kicked out due to his lack of talent and inability to advance further in his cultivation. His peers had long since surpassed him, while he struggled for years to make even the slightest progress.


    After his expulsion, he drifted from place to place, eventually adopting the Way of the Wanderer. He found peace in observing ordinary cultivators striving to advance their cultivation. That''s why he chose to become the guardian of Klown City''s Training Ground.


    It had been three years since then, and during that time, he had made a decision¡ªto find his own disciple, regardless of status or age, and turn them into the greatest Lightning Cultivator.


    But before that could happen¡­ Sir Guo had another task for his new disciple. His eyes glinted with mischief as a chuckle escaped his lips. "Fatso, my friend¡­ you''ve been getting on my nerves."


    ---


    Meanwhile, back at the Great Serpent Cultivation School¡­


    The island was bustling with martial students. Some were cultivating by the beach as the ocean waves crashed nearby; others were inside their homes or walking the streets, buying from vendors who were also students trying to earn a living.


    Atop the tallest mountain, where the most expensive buildings stood, an old man with hair as white as clouds was meditating peacefully on a brown mat.


    Around him, blades made of water floated in the air, catching the sunlight and glinting like real swords. These water blades were sharper than any steel, deadly, and capable of cutting through almost anything.


    This was Elder Yuan, one of the seven elders of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. He wore a white hanfu robe with the school''s insignia on the back, concealing his thin frame within its folds.


    With his eyes closed, concentrated Qi flowed into his body, following a practiced pattern before settling into the dark blue orb within his dantian.


    At the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he was close to forming his core, the next step required to reach the Core Creation Stage.


    Elder Yuan cultivated in peace, time seeming to fade away as the water blades continued to circle around him.


    He had been meditating for a few hours, which in cultivation terms was not long at all, but rather, very short. However, his peace was interrupted by a knock on the door. Without opening his eyes, he said, "Come in." His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it resonated through the room and beyond the door.


    The door creaked open, and a man entered before kneeling on the wooden floor.


    "Master," the man said. He was middle-aged, with black hair that reached his shoulders, sharp eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. His mustache and beard further emphasized his age. He wore the black-and-white uniform of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, but unlike the regular students, his hanfu robe had gold linings.


    "Heru," Elder Yuan said, opening his eyes slowly. He stared at one of his disciples, the Senior Brother of the Great Serpent School, one of the seven. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is it true?" Heru got straight to the point. He wasn''t one for small talk.


    "Yes," Elder Yuan smiled. "But don''t worry. I believe in you. You''ve been eyeing that position and have proven yourself more than once to be worthy of becoming the Personal Disciple."


    "Thank you, Master," Heru smiled confidently, though his face soon darkened. "But he chose an outsider for the first candidate. That''s a clear disrespect to the school, don''t you think, Master?"


    "You''re right," Elder Yuan nodded, his expression growing serious. "He may be the youngest Headmaster of one of the school''s branches, but he lacks experience. We all want what''s best for the Great Serpent, but disrespecting it is a different matter.


    Heru, you need to prove that only those born and raised within the heart of the Great Serpent Cultivation School have the right to become the Personal Disciple¡ªthe future Headmaster."


    "Yes, Master!" Heru bowed, his eyes glinting dangerously. And I will make sure to kill that brat, he thought. He was furious. It felt like someone had trampled on his status, and that someone was just a mere commoner with no strength to back it up. He looked up determinedly and asked, "When can I issue a challenge?"


    "You can issue a challenge at any time," Elder Yuan said. Neither of them considered the possibility of losing. They were confident the appointed Personal Disciple was a pushover, someone Heru could easily defeat. "Once you defeat him, the real challenge will begin. You''ll need to defend your position from the other six Seniors."


    "I will."


    Elder Yuan and Heru weren''t the only ones having this conversation. The other Seniors sought out their masters, and after confirming the rumor, they too decided to issue challenges as soon as possible.


    In the highest building on the tallest mountain, the Headmaster was floating atop a mat. In front of him stood a figure dressed in a black-and-white robe that concealed their identity.


    They spoke for a while before the hooded figure vanished into a puddle of water.


    Axton was silent for a moment, then a frown creased his face. "What is that guy planning?"


    The Wanderer had met with another Wanderer. Sir Guo and his disciple had talked at the training ground for a while before Yoma left the scene.


    The person Axton had assigned to monitor Yoma reported that an agreement had been made, but due to the distance, they couldn''t overhear the conversation.


    Axton had tasked one of his men with keeping an eye on Yoma to understand him better and gather information. So far, Yoma hadn''t done anything strange aside from staying at the Filly Restaurant, and this was the only time something unusual had happened.


    "Hmm, I should request his presence," Master Axton muttered.

 Chapter 192 - 192: Breakthrough

    "A little bit more," Apollo muttered, eyes closed, his face serious. Inside the dark universe, he sat cross-legged while the Qi, like stars, entered his body in a torrent.


    They followed the pattern of the Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique. Yes, that''s the name the beggar came up with for the second revision of the breathing technique.


    With this revision, he could now reach the 4th-Step of the Qi Condensation Stage without needing to buy from the System. But currently, he was on his way to breaking past the Half-Step.


    His focus shifted inward, landing below his navel at his dantian, where a small ball of Qi resided. The surrounding Qi settled in the ball, but instead of getting bigger, it grew smaller¡ªshrinking back to the size it was when he first reached the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Apollo concentrated on the ball. He noticed its color and texture had changed. Previously, it had been made of light, but now, upon closer inspection, it appeared denser, almost like it was solidifying.


    He also figured out what was happening at this stage.


    At Half-Step, the ball of Qi grew over time, expanding until it reached its limit¡ªa sign he was ready to break through. Then, he had to compress it all the way back to its original size. And now, Apollo was close to achieving that.


    "A few more!" Apollo muttered, just as the sound of thunder rang in his ears¡ªso loud it echoed within him.


    Tribulation?! The memory of the time he abandoned his beggar spot resurfaced in his mind. A shiver ran down his spine. If it''s really a tribulation, then I''m dead!


    But as he waited for the lightning to strike, nothing happened. Instead, a refreshing sensation washed over him, accompanied by a cracking sound from his body. It felt like a thousand hands were massaging him, bringing comfort and making him smile.


    Still in the Void, Apollo watched as the ball of Qi inside his dantian stabilized. The surrounding Qi dispersed, and the ball spun slowly, calm and peaceful. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ve broken through," Apollo muttered, opening his eyes. The sounds of footsteps, voices, and birds filled his ears as the universe of Qi faded, replaced by the everyday scene of people going about their lives.


    He sat with his hands resting on his forehead in front of his beggar spot, enough for good Samaritans to notice him.


    Without looking at the alms in his hands, he pocketed them and brought up his Status Screen.


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 45


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning


    "Finally!" Apollo clenched his fist in excitement. After a few days, he had finally reached the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage from the Half-Step. "It took some time, but this is good."


    If cultivators or even the Headmasters heard this, they would be shocked and humiliated by his words. Breaking from Half-Step to 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage took even the talented a few months, while the average needed a year or more.


    Just like all his previous breakthroughs, Apollo''s body felt light all over, his strength threatening to burst forth, and his senses tingled from the noises and smells around him. However, this time, he sensed something different. There was another power he could use besides the Qi in the surroundings.


    Apollo took a deep breath, and the overwhelming sensation faded. "Hmm, I should test my strength."


    He wanted to assess his new strength and familiarize himself with it. But as he looked back at his beggar spot, he shook his head. Should I go to the Training Ground? he thought, but decided against it. He wanted privacy, and the training ground would be crowded.


    And speaking of the training ground, it had been two days since he talked to Sir Guo. The bamboo-hat man had said he would call for him, but it seemed Sir Guo was still busy.


    "Then there''s only one place I can test my strength," Apollo thought, recalling the forest outside Klown City, where the wolves with cold eyes resided. "Revenge!"


    But just as he stood up, a carriage stopped in front of him. His eyes naturally fell on the insignia painted in black and white on its side¡ªthe great serpent. The insignia was originally blue, but the Great Serpent Cultivation School favored the yin and yang colors.


    Apollo turned to the driver and recognized him. His personal charioteer jumped off and opened the door.


    "Headmaster Axton is requesting your presence," the driver said, bowing his head.


    "Why?" Apollo asked.


    "I don''t know," the charioteer replied, shaking his head.


    Apollo stared at the driver before letting out a sigh. I guess this isn''t bad. I can test my strength there, he thought before nodding. "Alright, by the way, what''s your name?"


    "I''m Luban," the driver introduced himself. He was average-looking, easy to forget.


    "I see," Apollo said, extending his senses. Luban was just a normal person without cultivation. So they''re also accepting people without cultivation, he thought.


    The beggar entered the carriage, and soon, the view outside started moving.


    Inside, he brought up his Status Screen once more and stared at his Alm Points.


    Using five Alm Points to buy the Wish Me Luck item was such a waste. I didn''t even get my money back! Though he managed to get some points from begging, he had only earned two Alm Points. He had gained a ten percent luck increase, but for nothing. The thought annoyed him.


    If I had known, I wouldn''t have bought that cursed item! Gambling only lets you win a few times, but when it decides to fucks you up, it will really fucks you up bad! It''s a money succubus!


    Shaking his head to dispel the regret, he shifted his thoughts to his new cultivation.


    Surely, the Great Serpent Cultivation School has a place for me to cultivate. And as the Personal Disciple of the Headmaster, that should be one of my benefits, right?


    Soon, the carriage arrived at the martial school, and the gates opened as he stepped onto the ground.


    "Thank you," Apollo said to his driver.


    "I''m always at your command, sir," Luban bowed his head.


    Beside the guards standing on either side of the gate, another person walked toward the beggar.


    "Welcome back, Personal Disciple Yoma!" Eli, the umber-haired Inner Circle disciple of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, greeted him.

 Chapter 193 - 193: Back At The Martial School

    "What''s up, Eli," Apollo greeted as the carriage behind him rolled away.


    "Let''s go, Personal Disciple. The Headmaster is waiting for you," Eli said, motioning for Apollo to take the lead. He still couldn''t believe that a kid had been chosen by the Headmaster. There was little he knew about the Personal Disciple, but he trusted the Headmaster. All Eli had to do was fulfill his duty wholeheartedly.


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, walking towards the entrance of the serpent-constricted building.


    It was a giant, ancient structure, comparable to¡ªor even better than¡ªanything from his previous life. But Apollo knew its true size and beauty couldn''t be fully appreciated from the outside, only from within.


    As he was about to push open the door, he heard his companion cough.


    "Ehem, Personal Disciple Yoma," Eli called awkwardly.


    Apollo turned, tilting his head in confusion. "What is it?"


    "Well¡­ you see," Eli scratched his cheek. "Once we enter, if you feel the atmosphere suddenly shift, please don''t be offended."


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Why do you say that?"


    "I think it''s better if you see for yourself," Eli replied.


    "In that case," Apollo nodded, pushing the door wide open. An intense white light enveloped the two of them, and Apollo could feel the ground disappear beneath his feet as his body was pulled in a certain direction. A few seconds later, the sensation of solid ground returned.


    Apollo opened his eyes to find himself in a bustling street filled with students, all absorbed in their own world. The air was thick with youthful energy, prompting him to take a deep breath. He also noticed the Qi in this place was of much higher quality than in the outside world, and it flowed into his body effortlessly. Even without actively cultivating, the Qi entered his body, energizing him.


    But then, the atmosphere shifted. Gazes locked onto him, and murmurs spread through the crowd.


    Seeing this, Apollo turned to Eli, who looked back at him with a bitter smile.


    "I guess this is what you meant," Apollo said, his ears perking up.


    "So, he''s the Personal Disciple?"


    "He''s just a kid. Why did Headmaster Axton pick someone like him?"


    "I know, right? There are better candidates. Why him?"


    They clearly knew who he was, and that made Apollo frown. I thought the Headmaster would keep it a secret. Why do the martial students already know about me?


    "How did they find out?" Apollo asked his guide.


    "That¡­ I don''t know," Eli shook his head. "But rumors travel fast, especially when it concerns the position of the Personal Disciple."


    "Oh? Is it really that valuable?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes, but I''m not clear on all the details. All I know is your position is the end goal for some of the students," Eli explained, taking the lead this time. "Personal Disciple Yoma, follow me."


    "Okay," Apollo nodded, walking behind Eli. Hmm, seems like this Personal Disciple thing is a bigger deal than I thought.


    The two walked for a while before Eli turned to Apollo.


    "From here on, we''ll fly," Eli said.


    "Fly?" Apollo recalled the flying mount he had received as a gift from the Headmaster for being named the Personal Disciple.


    "Yes," Eli nodded, bringing his fingers to his mouth and letting out a sharp whistle. The sound echoed loudly.


    A few seconds later, two shrieks echoed from the sky.


    Apollo looked up and saw two falcons circling in the air before diving toward them. Just as they were about to hit the ground, they spread their wings, slowing their descent.


    The gust of wind kicked up dust, their hair blowing, and their clothes fluttering in the breeze.


    The two falcons landed gracefully, one lowering its head toward Eli, the other toward Apollo.


    "Haha, what''s up," Apollo chuckled, rubbing the Water-Attributed Falcon. It let out a small shriek, enjoying the touch. Then he glanced at Eli''s falcon, noticing the difference in its feathers. "Why does yours only have streaks of blue?"


    "This one is still undergoing training. She hasn''t yet reached her full potential," Eli explained. "Let''s hop on, and I''ll lead you to Headmaster Axton''s residence."


    "I can find my way there," Apollo said, hopping onto the back of his mount. He''d been there before and wasn''t worried about getting lost.


    "My duty isn''t finished until I get you there," Eli replied, mounting his blue-streaked brown falcon. "Let''s go!"


    With a powerful flap of their wings, they ascended, the streets below shrinking as they flew higher.


    They soared side by side, and Apollo admired the island beneath them.


    "Personal Disciple Yoma, I think you should give your mount a name!" Eli shouted above the wind.


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes lit up. "You''re right!" He looked down at his blue falcon, who glanced back at him, as if understanding what was happening.


    The beggar began to think, but then realized he didn''t know the falcon''s gender. "What''s my mount''s gender?" he asked Eli.


    "Male!" Eli replied.


    Hmm, what should I name him? Apollo put a hand under his chin. After a few seconds, his eyes gleamed. "I got it! I shall name you Bluetooth!"


    Bluetooth shrieked happily, clearly satisfied with his new name.


    Apollo felt proud of himself. When it came to naming, he considered himself the best in the world. Well, maybe not. The real reason he chose the name ''Bluetooth'' was because of his mount''s blue feathers. Blue feathers, Bluetooth¡ªvery similar, very classic, very thoughtful, very demure¡­ Apollo nodded to himself, a smile forming on his face.


    "Bluetooth?" Eli glanced at the blue falcon, puzzled, especially at the bird''s teeth. They were clearly white, so why ''Bluetooth''? But it was impossible to guess the Personal Disciple''s thoughts.


    "We''re getting close," Eli reminded him, and soon they arrived at the highest building on the only mountain on the island.


    The two falcons landed on the balcony, where the open residence of the Headmaster came into view. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo jumped off Bluetooth, gave him a rub on the head, and walked inside.


    There, he saw Headmaster Axton floating in mid-air, a thin black sword resting on his lap as dense Qi flowed into his body.


    The beggar didn''t interrupt, choosing to wait while Eli stood a few steps behind him.


    After a while, when Apollo was already yawning out of boredom, the Headmaster''s eyes opened.


    "Oh, I see you''ve arrived," Axton said.

 Chapter 194 - 194: Private Area For Training

    "We''ve arrived, and even though you noticed us, you chose not to greet us and made us wait," Apollo said, clearly annoyed.


    Eli''s eyes widened in shock. He never would have expected the Personal Disciple to be so daring as to speak such words to the Headmaster! It was rude and disrespectful!


    However, what surprised him even more was the Headmaster chuckling and not minding the rude comment.


    "I couldn''t just step out of the Void," Axton said as his feet touched the floor.


    "Void?" Apollo tilted his head. "What''s that?"


    "You don''t know?" Axton asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Eli also looked at the Personal Disciple in confusion. Seeing the Headmaster''s expression, he felt incredulous. Did Headmaster Axton recruit someone clueless about cultivation?! His trust wavered momentarily, but he shook his head, keeping his eyes focused and determined.


    "Should I?" Apollo asked.


    "Of course!" Axton replied. "You''re a Wanderer. How come you don''t know about that?"


    Eli was stunned when he heard this. So all this time, the person he had been tasked to guide and accompany was actually a Wanderer? He had thought of Yoma as nothing but a clueless kid a moment ago, but now that image had shifted. Is this why the Headmaster chose Yoma? Eli wondered. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A Wand¨C" Apollo coughed, realizing that even Axton believed he was a Wanderer. He couldn''t understand why, but it seemed Sir Guo wasn''t the only one who thought so. "Me? A Wanderer? Nope."


    "You can keep pretending, but I''m certain you are," Axton said, nodding his head as if completely sure.


    "Well, if you say so," Apollo shrugged. He decided to let them believe whatever they wanted. It worked in his favor, allowing his real identity to remain buried if people kept mistaking him for someone else. "So why did you call for me?"


    "Ah, my apologies. I will leave now," Eli hurriedly said from the side, bowing to the Headmaster.


    Axton shook his head. "No, you will stay and wait for my orders."


    "Oh, okay," Eli nodded, though confused. Deep inside, he was excited. Working directly for the Headmaster was an honor that many Inner Circle Disciples would never have the chance to experience. He stood up straight, eager to serve.


    Axton turned to Apollo, his eyes narrowing. "What did you talk about with that man?"


    "That man?" Apollo tilted his head. "What man?"


    "Master Guo," Axton said, the smile fading from his face.


    "I don''t know him," Apollo shook his head, though deep inside, he knew exactly who Axton was referring to. There was only one person named Guo that he knew.


    "Master Guo, though most refer to him as Sir Guo," Axton clarified.


    "Oh, that guy. Yeah, we talked at the training ground. But how did you find out?" Apollo squinted at the Headmaster, though he already had an idea.


    "I sent someone to keep an eye on you," Axton said casually, a smile returning to his face.


    "I figured," Apollo sighed in frustration. "But I don''t think you should do that."


    "You are my disciple, so of course I can," Axton replied, his face growing serious. "Now, what did you and Master Guo discuss?"


    "Nothing serious. I just wrecked the training ground a few nights ago, and now he''s asking for compensation," Apollo said truthfully, leaving out the most important details.


    "Is that all?" Axton raised an eyebrow. Wrecking the training ground¡­ that''s a first. The person he sent to watch over the beggar had also reported that the training ground was in such bad shape, with scarecrows piled up on one side, slashed apart. So the culprit was now standing right in front of him.


    "Yes. What else do you think we''d talk about?" Apollo asked with a shrug.


    Axton was silent for a moment before he nodded. "I see¡­ but let me remind you: stay away from him."


    "Then where am I supposed to train from now on?" Apollo asked. He didn''t dwell on the topic about the Bamboo hat man, afraid that his tongue would slipped out about Sir Guo as another Master. "That place doesn''t have a lot of people at night, and it''s perfect for training."


    "That training of yours caused the destruction of the training ground, didn''t it?" Axton smiled. "You can train here from now on. I''ll give you a private area where you can train to your heart''s content. You won''t have to worry about causing any destruction."


    "Okay, I won''t refuse that," Apollo said. With this arrangement, he didn''t have to sneak around to the forest or other places to train and get familiar with his body. As he thought about this, something came to mind, and his expression turned serious. "But I''m curious about something. Didn''t you say you were going to keep this master-disciple thing a secret? Your students already know about it."


    It was frustrating to think about. He wanted peace and to avoid too much attention, but things were turning out the opposite.


    "I did keep it a secret, but that doesn''t mean people couldn''t figure it out themselves," Axton replied, casting a glance at Eli, who stood quietly to the side.


    Eli looked away, his face reddening, but he remained silent.


    Apollo shook his head. He couldn''t just back out now, and the benefits he''d gained so far were almost too good to be true. He suspected that Axton wasn''t telling him everything, perhaps waiting for the right moment. Still, Apollo decided to stick around for the benefits. If he ever sensed anything shady that he didn''t like, he''d just leave.


    "Anyway, I''ve answered your questions. Was that the only reason you called me here?" If Axton said yes, Apollo would be sorely disappointed. This could''ve been handled with a letter or by sending Luban, the carriage driver. No need for a face-to-face conversation.


    "That was the initial reason, but something else came up, and I think you''ll like it," Axton said with a mysterious smile.


    "What is it? Can''t you just tell me?" Apollo asked, growing frustrated.


    "You''ll see," Axton said, then turned to Eli. "You''ll be the referee."


    Eli''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Apollo glanced at the umber-haired student. Referee? Am I about to fight someone?


    Just then, shrieks came from Bluetooth.


    Apollo turned and saw his falcon staring into the distance.


    Following Bluetooth''s gaze, Apollo spotted two falcons flying towards them, each carrying a rider on its back.


    Their speed was fast, and soon they landed on the balcony with a thud.

 Chapter 195 - 195: What Challenge?!

    Elder Yuan and his disciple jumped off their mounts, the two blue-streaked falcons flying into the distance the moment they landed.


    They walked into the Headmaster''s room, their eyes focusing on Axton, clearly ignoring the two ''kids'' on the side.


    "We heard that the Personal Disciple has arrived, and we came as soon as possible," Elder Yuan said amiably, though his deep eyes betrayed his tone. "We issued a challenge two days ago, and you said we''d have to wait for the Personal Disciple. Now that he''s here, you''re not going to go back on your word, right?"


    "Of course not," Headmaster Axton shook his head. "Feel free to challenge him."


    "Good," Elder Yuan smiled, turning to his disciple. "You heard the Headmaster. Express your gratitude."


    Heru nodded before bowing deeply to Headmaster Axton. "My sincerest gratitude, Headmaster!"


    "Now, where is he?" Elder Yuan asked, looking around and frowning at the others in the room. Who are they? His gaze fell on the seven- to eight-year-old beggar-looking kid, then landed on the umber-haired student wearing an Inner Circle outfit. He looked between the two, his face growing incredulous as he realized something.


    One of them wears the Inner Circle outfit, and the other¡­ looks like he came from the outside, a slum-looking kid. Wait! Don''t tell me¡­


    Elder Yuan stared wide-eyed at the beggar-looking kid. "Is this kid¡­"


    "You are right, Elder Yuan. He is my Personal Disciple," Headmaster Axton confirmed.


    Meanwhile, Apollo stared at Elder Yuan before turning to the Headmaster inquisitively. What the fuck is going on?! Challenge? What challenge?!


    Suddenly, a burning gaze landed on him, making him turn to the middle-aged man with a mustache and beard.


    "What the fuck are you looking at?!" Apollo snapped angrily, his small voice echoing in the room. He was frustrated, greatly so. He had already guessed what was happening. This middle-aged man was here to challenge him, and although he didn''t know the nature or reason for the challenge, the thought of it made him furious.


    Apollo hated the feeling of dancing in the hands of a mastermind.


    "You!" Heru''s face twitched, turning red. He hadn''t expected this kid¡ªthe Personal Disciple that the Headmaster had chosen¡ªto have such a foul mouth. He had barely looked at the kid, and before he could even say a word, the kid had insulted him first. "Watch your mouth, kid!


    I don''t know how you managed to convince the great Headmaster to make you his Personal Disciple, but I''ll make sure to take your place!"


    Heru was confused about how this kid became a Personal Disciple, but the more he thought about it, the more confident he became. This is going to be easy! I''ll make sure you regret ever stepping foot in this place! S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Take my place?" Apollo sneered. So this is what''s going on¡ªa challenge for the position of Personal Disciple. Headmaster Axton hadn''t told him anything about this rule, and Apollo had only just pieced it together in this brief exchange. "You think it''ll be that easy?!"


    Apollo decided to teach this person a lesson before lashing out at the Headmaster. Heru hadn''t done anything yet, but the beggar had already sensed that the middle-aged man had the ''Young Master Syndrome,'' where they think highly of themselves and bully those below them.


    Furthermore, he couldn''t just give up the benefits of being the Personal Disciple: a private area to train, money, cultivation techniques, battle techniques, and more¡ªmost of which he hadn''t even used yet, besides his mount.


    Eli, on the side, had already taken a few steps back, unable to look directly at one of the Senior Brothers. He knew their true colors, and although he hadn''t suffered personally, he had seen and heard enough.


    He knew that the moment the Personal Disciple said those words, Heru was dead set on making Yoma suffer.


    As Heru was about to open his mouth to put the kid in his place, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy, making him turn to his master.


    Heru hurriedly lowered his head.


    "I didn''t know you''d choose such a filthy Personal Disciple," Elder Yuan said coldly, staring at the Headmaster. Though Axton''s position was higher than his, that didn''t mean he would bow his head.


    "Elder Yuan, we both know that cultivation is just one of an individual''s strengths," Axton replied, narrowing his eyes at the elder. "My Personal Disciple shouldn''t be underestimated."


    At the same time, he sent a Thought Transfer to Yoma.


    ''I know you''re angry, but don''t worry, you can defeat him. I didn''t tell you because it wasn''t necessary.''


    Apollo glanced at the Headmaster in annoyance. The pressure in the air was suffocating, but he could handle it. He could sense that he could communicate with Axton, so he did¡ªbut not through his mouth.


    ''You sent someone to spy on me, right? I guess you know what happened in Slumstreet,'' Apollo said.


    ''I know, but I''ll reserve that matter for another time.''


    ''What if I killed this guy?'' Apollo stared at Heru.


    ''You''ll win, but you won''t be able to kill him,'' Axton said.


    ''Is that so? Then what should I gain from this? I know you''re hiding something else, but I need something in return if you want to use me.''


    Apollo was no fool. He had long suspected that the entire ordeal¡ªfrom the moment he was recruited (or rather, threatened by the Headmaster) until now¡ªhad another purpose. A plan that he wasn''t fully a part of yet. However, Apollo wanted to complete all his missions and had decided that having a strong connection would be beneficial for his goals.


    ''You''re as smart as I expected from someone who embarks on the Way of Cultivation as a Wanderer. If you manage to hold your position as the Personal Disciple, then I''ll tell you everything you need to know,'' Axton said.


    Hearing this, Apollo''s expression relaxed. ''Then it''s a deal.''


    Elder Yuan was silent for a moment before he turned to his disciple. "Teach the Personal Disciple a lesson."


    "I will!" Heru glanced at the beggar with determination, his eyes red with anger. From the moment they first met, it had already felt like a fight was brewing between them. Though the exchange was brief, Heru preferred it that way and wanted nothing more than to battle the kid as soon as possible.

 Chapter 196 - 196: Against Heru(Part-1)

    An outright challenge¡ªthey had said it aloud, completely disregarding the presence of the Headmaster. But Apollo wouldn''t just let all the benefits, which he hadn''t even used yet, slip through his fingers.


    "Let''s change location," Headmaster Axton said, ignoring the challengers'' threats against his Personal Disciple.


    After a while, they arrived at an open area surrounded by buildings, with a tree in one corner. It was spacious, though not as large as the two-football-field platform from the previous Advancement Examination. Still, the Headmaster deemed it more than enough.


    There was a balcony on one of the buildings, where the Headmaster and Elder Yuan could watch the battle unfold. Their disciples were already on the ground, staring at each other with determination.


    "Usually, Heru shows his arrogance first with his words, but your disciple seems like he wouldn''t let anyone speak before him," Elder Yuan commented, his eyes fixed on the soon-to-be battlefield.


    "I still don''t know him well. There''s a lot I have yet to learn, but it''s interesting," Headmaster Axton said, causing Elder Yuan to frown.


    "You don''t know much about your own disciple? What, don''t tell me you just picked him up off the street?" Elder Yuan raised an eyebrow.


    "More or less," Axton said with a mysterious smile. Elder Yuan hadn''t witnessed the previous Advancement Examination, but he knew that the person who won first place had supposedly perished from the Lightning Tribulation outside the city. What he didn''t know was that the once-in-a-thousand¡ªno, ten-thousand¡ªyears talent was standing right in front of him.


    Only Elmo, Master Popo, and the Great Serpent Headmaster knew the truth. They had seen it up close. Anything can be cut, whether with real weapons or not. The Beggar''s True Understanding of the Sword had already reached a level that even Axton admired. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And Yoma was cloaked in mystery, one of the reasons Axton had decided to make him his disciple, even using threats to get what he wanted. He admitted he was being hypocritical¡ªsomething that would surely draw the wrath of the other Headmasters who had their eyes on Yoma.


    "More or less?" Elder Yuan repeated, clearly dissatisfied. He studied the ''kid'' closely while continuing, "You''re disrespecting the position. But knowing you, that kid must be hiding something. I can''t see through his cultivation. Did you give him an artifact?"


    "It''s always like that. Even I can''t gauge his cultivation unless he purposely shows his Qi," Axton said. From what he remembered, Yoma was at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage during the Advancement Examination. Yoma was a Wanderer, a beggar. Although his cultivation was low, it simply meant that Yoma had only just begun.


    "It doesn''t matter," Elder Yuan said with a confident smile. "Heru is at the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, and he''s the strongest among the Senior Status."


    Headmaster Axton didn''t disagree with the elder''s statement. In fact, he agreed. Heru was indeed strong.


    But Yoma was his Personal Disciple¡ªnot just another Senior.


    ...


    A fight... I haven''t even properly assessed my body, Apollo thought bitterly. He still didn''t know how much his strength had increased or what changes had occurred inside him. But determined to remain the Personal Disciple for the benefits, he decided to test himself right here and now. Spreading his senses, he gauged his opponent''s cultivation.


    He''s one stage higher than me... this should be easy, Apollo thought, though he shook his head immediately. He was being overconfident.


    "Let me tell you this¡ªI''m not going to hold back," Heru said, pointing a black sword at his opponent.


    "I''m just a kid, please have mercy!" Apollo raised his hands, his tone dripping with sarcasm.


    "A kid? You think I''ll believe that nonsense?" Heru smirked. He''d already received a thought transfer from his master, warning him not to trust his opponent''s appearance. There was no way the Headmaster would entrust the heavy burden of being the Personal Disciple to a mere child.


    Apollo sighed. This guy thinks I''m not a kid? I am! Even though he was over a hundred years old, he still had the body¡ªand emotions¡ªof a child.


    "Believe whatever you want," Apollo shrugged.


    "Hmph!" Heru scoffed. "You''ve offended me, and I''ll make sure you regret being born!"


    "Cringe ass words!" Apollo shot back. He never tired of verbally sparring with someone suffering from Young Master Syndrome. And he definitely never got tired of shattering their overinflated egos!


    "You!" Heru''s face twitched, veins bulging. "Just because you''ve received the title of Personal Disciple doesn''t mean we''re equals! You''re just an ant I can easily crush!"


    "Blah blah blah! Why don''t we just fight it out?" Apollo finally snapped, itching to crush the middle-aged man''s face and show him who was boss.


    At the same time, Eli received a signal from the Headmaster. Nodding to Axton, he turned to the challenger and the Personal Disciple. "We will begin in five seconds!"


    This was the first time he''d acted as a referee for a fight between Qi Condensation stage cultivators. Eli was nervous, but he gritted his teeth and began the countdown.


    "Five!"


    Apollo glanced at his opponent''s sword and sighed. Damn it! I forgot my wooden sword!


    The battle had come so suddenly that Apollo had left his weapon behind.


    "Four!"


    "Haha, are you getting cold feet?" Heru asked, smirking as he noticed Apollo looking back.


    "Of course not," Apollo smiled. "Why would I be afraid of someone I can easily defeat?"


    Arrogance against arrogance, and the one with the higher ego would lose.


    Heru''s eyes narrowed angrily. "I''ll skin you alive!"


    "Do it, then!" Apollo said, gesturing for him to come forward.


    "Three!"


    Heru was even more furious. This was the first time someone had dared to talk back. Everyone he insulted usually kept their heads down, not even daring to meet his gaze. Heru enjoyed that¡ªhumiliating people and watching them silently endure it. But this time, his target was fighting back, enraging him to the point where his veins threatened to burst.


    "Two!"


    Heru and Apollo fell silent. One held a sword, the other clenched his fists in front of him.


    Apollo narrowed his eyes at his opponent.


    "One! Fight!"

 Chapter 197 - 197: Against Heru(Part-2)

    "Take this!" Heru shouted, his body appearing in front of the beggar as he swung his black sword!


    Apollo remained calm, dodging the attack with a step back.


    Heru was fast. Apollo hadn''t even seen the man take a step; it was as if he had appeared in front of him from the start. There was no sound of footsteps, only the sharp swish of the sword cutting through the air.


    The attack missed. Apollo''s eyes stayed locked on his opponent''s movements.


    He raised his hand, summoning wind and fire, but before he could launch the attack, it was cut in half!


    "You got lucky!" Heru shouted, his sword swinging horizontally toward Apollo''s neck.


    Apollo kept his cool, stepping back again. However, what happened next shocked him.


    "F*ck!" Apollo cursed as Heru''s black sword transformed into a black snake lunging for his head!


    "Got you!" Heru smiled confidently. When it came to fights between cultivators, they were either over in an instant or dragged out for ages. It seemed like this would be over quickly!


    But as the snake sword bit down on what should have been Apollo''s head, the ''kid'' suddenly turned into water!


    With a splash, Heru looked behind him. Sure enough, there Apollo stood.


    "That''s the Hydra Mirage!" Heru frowned. "Upper intermediate... How did you master it so easily when you''re just an outsider and only recently became the Personal Disciple?!"


    "Of course, it''s because I''m very talented," Apollo smirked, pointing the stick he was holding at Heru. It was a tree branch he''d grabbed nearby. It wasn''t straight, but it was better than nothing. "I''m so talented I could even defeat you with just a stick!"


    "Damn you!" Heru shouted, his snake sword growing larger as it slithered toward the beggar. A stick?! This kid is clearly disrespecting me! Fueled by rage, Heru unleashed his full strength.


    The ground shattered as the snake sword surged forward, and Apollo felt the weight of the pressure, his expression turning serious.


    So this is the power of a 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage! Apollo frowned. He was at the 1st-Step, but the gap in their strength felt vast. It wasn''t as exaggerated as the ten-tail Alphadusk Shadowtail, but Apollo knew this fight wouldn''t be as easy as he first thought.


    As the wind swirled chaotically around him, Apollo gathered the surrounding Qi, coating the tree branch in his hand.


    As he did, his dantian began to feel strange, the ball of Qi inside him trembling. But as soon as he successfully executed the Simple Wind Sword Technique, the shaking stopped.


    Apollo noted the sensation and swung the branch down with all his might.


    He poured every bit of force and Qi he could into the strike.


    A deafening explosion erupted, shaking the entire area. The ground was torn up, rocks flew everywhere, and a thick cloud of dust filled the air. The ''air'' above rippled every time a rock touched it before the debris fell back to the ground.


    Eli had to use Qi to stabilize himself, avoiding being swept up in the shockwave.


    He glanced up and saw the barrier holding strong, sighing in relief. Then he turned his gaze to the dust cloud where the Personal Disciple had been.


    Eli never would have expected that Yoma could withstand a few hits from the strongest Senior Brother. But it seemed the final struggle of the Personal Disciple hadn''t paid off. It wasn''t surprising that the fight ended quickly¡ªsuch is usually the case when there''s a large gap in strength.


    He raised his hand, ready to announce the winner, when the dust cloud suddenly churned!


    Before he could react, Eli saw wind and fire intertwining, surging toward Senior Brother Heru!


    Heru, on the other hand, casually swung his weapon, the snake devouring the attack with ease. He smirked at the dispersing dust cloud. "I''m surprised you managed to block that."


    "It''s easy," came the voice of the small kid. When the dust cleared, Yoma stood there, covered in dirt.


    "Easy?" Heru chuckled. "Yeah, just keep pretending."


    "I''m not," Apollo said, though he was pretending. His whole body ached with pain! If he were still at the Half-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he would have been lying on the ground, unconscious from the intensity of the attack!


    But with his newfound strength, he had managed to block the giant snake weapon, which could have leveled an entire street. He was lucky. Fortunately, he had decided to tap into all the power available at the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    His attack had also landed on Heru''s snake weapon.


    Apollo glanced at the weapon in Heru''s hand, his eyes widening when he saw not a single crack.


    But my Simple Wind Sword Technique can cut anything! Even with just the Simple Sword Technique, he could slash through anything like paper! Except¡­ that time when he tried to make a hole in the Alphadusk barrier¡­ Apollo narrowed his eyes, realizing he had misunderstood his Simple Sword Technique. It wasn''t all-powerful. There was something at play here that prevented him from destroying Heru''s weapon.


    "This is fun," Heru said, licking his lips. After their earlier exchanges, he had gauged his opponent''s cultivation, boosting his confidence. His opponent was only a 1st-Step Qi Condensation cultivator; worrying about defeat was pointless. Smirking, Heru added, "I''ll make sure you''re humiliated in front of the Headmaster!"


    Apollo remained silent, raising his tree branch once more. Suddenly, his senses flared, tensing his body, but his opponent didn''t move¡ªhe merely turned his weapon back into a snake. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I have to control my senses, Apollo thought. This was why he didn''t want to fight someone before fully familiarizing himself with his body. It was like driving a sports car after only being used to a toy car.


    But this is good, Apollo smiled. A real challenge. His opponent wasn''t showing everything he had, clearly hiding some techniques, though Apollo didn''t mind. If things went badly, he would just admit defeat and relinquish his title as the Personal Disciple. He valued his life more than anything, after all.


    "Let''s continue!" Heru shouted, the surrounding Qi being absorbed into his snake weapon.


    Seeing this, Apollo infused his tree branch with the Simple Wind Sword Technique¡ªthe very technique that had destroyed the training ground.

 Chapter 198 - 198: Against Heru(Part-3)

    "1st-Step Qi Condensation..." The Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School muttered, narrowing his eyes at the beggar fighting against the strongest senior brother.


    He broke through in such a short time? Axton thought, a smile forming on his lips. It could be that Yoma was hiding his true cultivation, or perhaps he really had broken through quickly. Either way, this was good. Everyone had their secrets, and Axton respected that. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Your Personal Disciple is not bad," Elder Yuan commented. "But he''s only at the 1st-Step Qi Condensation stage, and he''ll need more than that if he wants to defeat my disciple."


    "As a Soul Creation cultivator, you should know better that cultivation isn''t always the deciding factor in a battle," Axton said, glancing at the elder before turning back to the fight.


    "Haha, but Heru has the skill, the experience, and the technique to back up his cultivation," Elder Yuan said proudly, his eyes radiating confidence. "Your disciple knows how to fight and has a decent grasp of the Way of the Sword, but his abilities don''t match Heru''s."


    "We''ll see about that," Headmaster Axton replied.


    As the two fought, Axton couldn''t help but feel confused as he watched his Personal Disciple.


    Yoma was only blocking or dodging Heru''s attacks, and when he did try to retaliate, Heru easily blocked it.


    His Personal Disciple had a unique technique, merging Fire Blast and Wind Blast to create his own attack¡ªa feat most cultivators couldn''t achieve, a testament to Yoma''s great talent. However, the attack lacked power. It was pure Unrefined Qi, making it impossible for Yoma to cause any real damage.


    A Qi Condensation cultivator not using Refined Qi¡­ what''s his plan? Axton narrowed his eyes, trying to understand Yoma''s mind.


    ...


    A black snake swept past Apollo''s head, tearing up the ground behind him. It raced toward the building, but the air solidified, blocking the snake sword.


    Apollo slashed with his tree branch, a wind slash materializing and speeding toward his opponent!


    But Heru''s body flickered before reappearing beside him!


    Anticipating this, Apollo activated True Hardening and his Simple Movement Technique, aiming a punch at his opponent''s head. However, Heru''s reaction speed was faster¡ªhis sword returned to its original form, blocking the incoming fist!


    With a loud bang, Heru''s body flew backward, crashing into the barrier with a heavy thud.


    Apollo seized the moment, raising his free hand to unleash the Fire Wind Blast. The attack caught Heru off guard!


    Dust clouds billowed into the sky.


    The Beggar narrowed his eyes, feeling a sudden sense of unease. Sure enough, the dust cloud dispersed, revealing a blue serpent surging toward him. Apollo''s eyes widened in shock.


    He hurriedly slashed at it with his tree branch, coated in the Simple Wind Sword Technique, but the snake remained undamaged.


    Apollo''s body was thrown across the ground, carving a long ravine. He nearly crashed into the barrier but managed to stop himself with a stomp of his foot.


    Straightening up, he stared ahead. Heru''s weapon had turned blue, the black snake now a great serpent, its shimmering blue scales reflecting the sunlight.


    "You really pissed me off!" Heru snarled, his eyes red with anger. The snake weapon coiled around him, hissing menacingly. "Enough playing! I''m going to use my full strength!"


    Apollo tensed. He realized he couldn''t win. He couldn''t even cut through Heru''s technique like he had with previous opponents. This was frustrating. He didn''t want to surrender, didn''t want to give up his position as Personal Disciple. But it was becoming clear that he was outmatched.


    As he saw his opponent already swinging his weapon, Apollo let out a sigh. In terms of cultivation, experience, strength, and techniques, Heru had the advantage, and there was no way he could surpass them in this fight. His only hope was to make his Simple Sword Technique work, just like before.


    He started gathering the Qi from the surroundings, the Simple Wind Sword Technique covering his "weapon." Then, that familiar feeling returned¡ªhis dantian was shaking.


    Out of curiosity, in the span of a moment, he looked inside his dantian. There, the small ball of Qi he had carefully compressed was shaking intensely. It behaved as if it wanted to release something, beckoning to him.


    Feeling an instinctive pull, Apollo decided to use it.


    As the snake sword was about to reach him, he followed his instinct, drawing on the ball of Qi inside him instead of the surrounding Qi.


    Apollo slashed with his tree branch, and what happened next caused both his and his opponent''s eyes to widen.


    The tree branch, which he had snapped from a nearby tree, cut the great serpent in half. He felt only a slight resistance before his "weapon" sliced the technique cleanly in two.


    Silence.


    Heru pulled back his weapon, the sword turning black as the snake disappeared into particles of light.


    The sword was undamaged, but the technique, materialized using Heru''s Refined Qi, had been completely dispersed.


    Heru stared at Apollo, his face flushing red with anger. "That was luck! I''ll kill you!"


    Yup, here we go, his Young Master Syndrome is acting up, Apollo thought, a smile playing on his lips. He glanced at the tree branch for a moment before focusing on Heru, who was transforming his weapon into a great serpent once more. Apollo had finally realized the new strength he possessed after reaching the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    The ball of Qi inside his dantian was compressed energy that he had absorbed from the outside, growing stronger and more powerful once stored.


    Realizing this and the potential of the ball of Qi, Apollo gained confidence.


    Using his Simple Movement Technique and pairing it with another technique he had learned from the Advancement Examination, he appeared in front of the great serpent attached to Heru''s sword.


    The serpent opened its mouth wide, threatening to bite his head off. However, Apollo casually slashed with his tree branch, a strong wind cutting his opponent''s technique in half!


    "No!" Heru shouted, seeing his technique unravel. He hurriedly tried to recreate it, but the beggar was already in front of him. Gritting his teeth, Heru dodged to the side, his body turning into liquid.


    But Yoma suddenly moved faster than before!


    "Got you," Apollo said, using the Qi inside him to speed up his movements. He swung his stick, and Heru instinctively raised his black sword to block the attack. A loud grating sound echoed, followed by Heru''s body being sent flying into the air, crashing against the barrier!


    Silence hung in the air, and Apollo could hear nothing but the sound of his own breathing.


    Raising his tree branch and staring directly at it, Apollo couldn''t help but smile. It hadn''t broken¡ªnot even a scratch on it since he first picked it up. Even though it had taken several hits, its appearance hadn''t changed. The leaf hanging from the end swayed gently in the wind.


    At the same time, the beggar finally assessed his body, his limits, and the potential of that ball of Qi.


    His ears perked up at the sound of grunting. Turning to the source, he saw Heru standing, shaking his head.


    The two locked eyes, but this time, Heru''s gaze was filled with fear.


    "Hahaha, what now? Have you finally realized the difference between our strength?" Apollo asked, gently placing the tree branch on his shoulder. He immediately regretted it¡ªthe stick, without any sharp edges, cut into his flesh. He felt the blood seeping out, but he had to maintain his act. Enduring the pain from his foolish mistake, he stared mockingly at his opponent.


    "You know, I''ve been messing around with you, but you were blinded by your ego, so I decided to shatter it. How does that taste?"


    Heru gritted his teeth. "You¡­ you cheated!" he shouted, growing more convinced the more he thought about it. There was no way a nobody could defeat him¡ªthe strongest Senior Brother! He still had plenty of tricks up his sleeve!


    "Cheated?" Apollo chuckled. "Now that you''re down, you''re accusing me of cheating? Where''s your shame? Stuck up your butt?!"


    Heru was left speechless before exploding in anger. "Watch your f*cking mouth!" Despite his chest bleeding and pain coursing through him, his fury drowned out his injuries.


    "You cheated!" Heru turned to the shocked referee, who hadn''t said a word. "Hey! Disqualify him!"


    Eli was jolted out of his stupor. He was experiencing a mix of emotions, but there was only one word that could describe it¡ªphenomenal!


    The fight had been so amazing it left his body frozen. One moment, Heru had the advantage, overwhelming the Personal Disciple. And just when Eli thought Yoma was definitely going to lose, the Personal Disciple had turned the tide in an instant¡ªexploding with strength and speed!


    The tree branch in his hand had acted like the sharpest object in the world, breaking through Senior Brother Heru''s technique and even slicing his sword in half!


    The fight had lasted only a few minutes, but the emotions it stirred in the referee could last for centuries!


    Shaking his head to calm himself, Eli looked toward the balcony in the distance, where the Headmaster and Elder Yuan were watching.


    He didn''t immediately declare the winner, waiting for confirmation. But it seemed he didn''t need to say a word, as the elder vanished from his spot and reappeared on the ground, where Heru''s broken sword lay.


    Elder Yuan made the sword float around him before walking toward his disciple.


    "Master!" Heru shouted, dropping to one knee. "Please bring justice to your disciple! I was cheated!"


    Apollo raised an eyebrow when he heard this but didn''t say a word, simply observing what the old man would do.


    Elder Yuan glanced at the Personal Disciple for a moment, then turned to Heru. "You are defeated. We should go." There was no emotion in his voice or on his face. But when Heru heard his tone, his body shivered.


    "A-alright," Heru nodded, picking up his broken sword from the ground in front of him.


    Elder Yuan turned to the Headmaster, who had materialized beside the Personal Disciple. "This is not the end. Heru was defeated, but that doesn''t mean the others will be."


    "I know," Headmaster Axton nodded.


    Meanwhile, Apollo stared at Heru with a mocking smile. Raising a hand, he closed his fist, leaving only his middle finger up at the middle-aged man.


    Heru, who was already staring at Yoma with anger and humiliation, couldn''t help but tilt his head in confusion.


    "Let''s go," Elder Yuan said, and the master and disciple left the scene, their mounts arriving to fetch them.


    "Bye-bye!" Apollo waved.


    "Your shoulder is bleeding," Headmaster Axton pointed out.


    "Oh, f*ck!"

 Chapter 199 - 199: Find Out His Evil Plans

    "Why did you only use your Refined Qi at the final moment?" Axton asked curiously. He wanted to learn more about his disciple, as he needed Yoma for his plans.


    "Refined Qi? What is th¡ª" Apollo cut himself off as he realized what the Headmaster meant. So the ball of Qi inside his dantian is called Refined Qi. "Seeing the ultra-ego turn as weak as a chick¡ªit''s a pleasure I''ll always want to see. People like him, it''s an achievement to break them down."


    "Oh?" The Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School raised an eyebrow before a smile formed on his lips. "Your words will fuel their anger towards the lowlife they think you are."


    "Let them be," Apollo chuckled, swinging his right arm to test his newly healed shoulder. It had been foolish to rest the tree branch on his shoulder, trying to act cool and mighty.


    They were now back inside the Headmaster''s room, with Eli out on the balcony feeding the two Water-Attributed Falcons.


    "You won, but more will come," Axton said. "Even though you defeated the strongest of the Seniors, the others are not to be taken lightly."


    "I didn''t sign up for this," Apollo narrowed his eyes at the Headmaster. "I wanted peace, not to attract too much attention. You didn''t even protect my identity, and now you''re just going to let them issue challenges?"


    "I know you agreed for the benefits your position could bring," Axton said, floating toward the mat and crossing his legs. "But I don''t offer free meals."


    "I know," Apollo nodded. "That''s why you should tell me the real reason you chose me. The real reason. Or should I just give up this position? I won''t care about the benefits if trouble keeps finding me."


    Axton fell silent. He glanced at the balcony, then waved his hand. A translucent dome enclosed the two of them. "It''s trouble that will fuel your growth. I chose you because I wanted to teach you. From what I''ve observed, you''ve just embarked on the Way of the Wanderer.


    I don''t know where you got your Cultivation Technique to reach this stage, but great talent is both a curse and a blessing. Even though you''re a Wanderer, it doesn''t mean you should completely abandon the advantage of connections."


    Wanderer. They always think I am that, Apollo thought. He''d heard this term plenty of times, but his understanding of it remained shallow.


    "You haven''t told me the real reason," Apollo said, narrowing his gaze at the Headmaster. "But let me guess¡­" He locked eyes with Axton. "You need someone to do your dirty work."


    Axton''s eyes widened, and he didn''t bother hiding his expression, confirming Apollo''s suspicions.


    Apollo had danced on the palms of others many times in his past life, always cutting off the hands in the end. This had honed his ability to sense hidden agendas behind convincing words.


    He even suspected that Sir Guo, the training ground guardian, had similar motives. But at the time, Apollo had chosen to pursue the benefits he could gain. He could have paid off his debt by going to the Great Serpent Headmaster, but that would''ve meant another form of debt¡ªa favor he didn''t want weighing on his shoulders.


    "You''re smart," Axton said, nodding in satisfaction. "This will be easy. You''re right."


    "I had a strong gut feeling," Apollo smirked. Deep inside, he began weighing what he could gain from this conversation.


    Axton had threatened to expose Apollo''s presence, ensuring trouble would find him if he declined the offer to become the Personal Disciple. Left with no choice, Apollo accepted. But it seemed the Headmaster was the type who liked to play with words, as Apollo''s presence was still exposed.


    If he was going to be taken advantage of, Apollo decided he would do the same. He recalled his second mission¡ªto find out the Mayor''s plan. With Axton''s influence, the Headmaster must know valuable information that could paint a clearer picture of Klown''s evil mind.


    "This school is only a branch of the main one," Axton began, his tone serious and low. "The threshold is lower here. A Qi Condensation Stage cultivator can become one of the Seniors, and Core Creation cultivators earn the title of Elder."


    Oh, a melancholy storytime before getting to the main point, Apollo thought, but he still listened carefully, curious about the School.


    "The outside world believes Klown City only has one Core Creation cultivator¡­ Anyway, as just a branch school, we have no authority to make big decisions. We have to send requests and wait for approval¡ªa long process with a high chance of being declined."


    "A complete waste of time if you''re trying to achieve something urgent," Apollo commented, and Axton nodded.


    If that''s the case, Apollo realized the Great Serpent''s main school must be a behemoth that didn''t care much about its branches.


    "Yes, but what''s happening is more urgent¡ªa threat that could destroy the people and the city where the School stands," Axton said, his expression turning cold.


    Hearing this, Apollo couldn''t help but think about the Mayor. Could he be the reason for the Great Serpent''s concern? The more Apollo thought about it, the more certain he became.


    "This threat is the reason you chose me?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," Axton confirmed with a nod. "The Great Serpent School can''t move against the Empire without approval from the Main School, per a treaty made tens of thousands of years ago." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Empire? The Cultivation Schools aren''t part of it? Apollo''s eyes flickered. He quickly figured out that this world had two major powers at odds with each other.


    "So you want me to fight your enemies?" Apollo smirked at the Headmaster. "Don''t you think I''m too young and weak for that?"


    "Hahaha," Axton laughed, shaking his head. "If you can, great¡ªbut I expect only one thing from you in exchange for the benefits and the position."


    "And what''s that?" Apollo asked, though deep down he couldn''t help but think of Axton as a hypocrite. He''s the one pulling me into their drama, and I still have to repay them?


    "Investigate the Mayor. Find out his evil plans," Axton replied.


    The moment Apollo heard this, he was struck silent¡ªbefore bursting into laughter.


    This just f*cking aligns with my mission, doesn''t it?!

 Chapter 200 - 200: Yo Momma

    The Great Serpent Cultivation School cannot make an obvious move against the Mayor, who is part of the Empire. They have no choice but to use someone else to achieve their goals.


    And that person is the beggar, Apollo Leone.


    However, to his surprise, what''s happening now aligns perfectly with his goal¡ªto uncover Klown''s plans.


    "So, I''m going to be your puppet then?" Apollo asked, feigning reluctance.


    "No," Axton shook his head. "You''re doing this as part of being my Personal Disciple. Your status is completely different from the other Martial Students, who are fully tied to the school."


    Apollo ''thought'' for a moment before nodding. "I can investigate. The information I gather will help with the request to the Main School?"


    "Indeed," Axton nodded with a smile, impressed by how quickly his disciple caught on. He hadn''t even gone into detail, yet Yoma had figured it out on his own.


    "Alright, I''ll do it," Apollo agreed.


    "I knew you wouldn''t decline," Axton said. "You''ve already offended one of his men. Their family will come looking for you, and it won''t be long before they discover the killer of their kin."


    "When did you start spying on me?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. He hadn''t sensed anyone watching him.


    "The moment you stepped out of my school," Axton replied with a smile.


    Suddenly, they heard a screech from the balcony. Looking back, they saw the brown falcon with blue streaks growing restless.


    Eli turned towards them with apologetic eyes. "My apologies! My mount wants to go home."


    "You should go," Axton said. "I won''t be able to provide much more information about the Mayor, but I believe you can handle it. The North Guard Captain''s family is the key."


    I know, Apollo thought, sharing the same sentiment. Great minds think alike.


    "Do you have a library? I think I''ll stay here for now," Apollo said.


    "We do. Eli will guide you there," Axton waved his hand, and the translucent barrier around them disappeared.


    "Okay," Apollo nodded, walking toward the balcony.


    ¡­


    "This is the Great Serpent Library," Eli introduced as the two falcons landed in front of a large building. "You can just enter. No one will dare obstruct you."


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, jumping off Bluetooth.


    "Do you need my company?" Eli asked, stroking his falcon''s head.


    "No need, you should go back," Apollo said, waving his hand. "I know you still need to cultivate, and I can find my way out once I''m done."


    Eli hesitated before sighing. "Okay. But if you need my help, you can just ask around, and they''ll show you my residence."


    As Eli left with his mount, Apollo turned toward the building. It was four to five stories tall, ancient, and stacked in layers. Statues of the Great Serpent adorned its roofs, coiling up to the top, watching over those who entered.


    There were several people coming and going, but no one seemed to pay him much attention. A few cast curious glances, but no one approached to question the kid.


    Apollo smiled. This is good. These students didn''t seem to know that he was the Personal Disciple, and the news of his battle with one of their Seniors hadn''t reached them yet. Hopefully, it wouldn''t.


    After taking in his surroundings, he walked toward the door, where an old man sat cross-legged beside it.


    The reason he wanted to enter this place was to gain knowledge about this world, cultivation, and the state of affairs in the country. He realized he couldn''t just stay in his beggar spot and cultivate while remaining ignorant of Planet Luan, especially when it came to cultivation. There were terms and probably basic knowledge he should already know.


    Furthermore, there might be information he could use to grow stronger.


    Just as he was about to enter the door, someone shouted from the side. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Stop right there!"


    Apollo turned toward the voice and saw the old man pointing at him before beckoning with his hand.


    The beggar was confused, but he still walked toward the old man.


    "Why?" Apollo asked.


    "Who are you?!" the old man shouted. He had sparse white hair, almost bald, big round eyes, a goatee, and a mouth with only three or four teeth left. He wore a black-and-white hanfu robe, though upon closer inspection, it was clearly old and hadn''t been washed in a long time.


    Apollo sniffed, a frown appearing on his face as the foul smell from the old man hit him.


    Still, he didn''t dare judge. Although the old man looked like a beggar, just like him, there was a possibility he was a powerful expert.


    "I''m Yoma," Apollo introduced himself, cupping his fist and bowing his head. It took all of his effort not to add anything else. However, what happened next shocked him into silence.


    "Yoma¡­ yomama is fat!" The old man said before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! Yomama is fat!"


    The words struck Apollo''s heart, sending a shiver down his spine as he realized what had just happened.


    Did this old man just dupe me with my own trick?!


    Apollo''s eyes burned with fighting spirit. He stared at the old man coldly.


    "Don''t bring my mama into this," Apollo said.


    "Hahaha! I already did!" The old man laughed mockingly.


    "I see, I see," Apollo nodded before cracking his neck side to side. "Then don''t blame me."


    "What are you gonna do?" The old man raised an eyebrow, clearly challenging him.


    Apollo smiled, but this time, it wasn''t the same as before. It was cold¡ªso cold that the Antarctic wouldn''t stand a chance.


    "I agree, my mama is fat," Apollo said. "But yo momma is fatter¡ªso fat, she needs three chairs just to sit down."


    Apollo didn''t drop the big one yet. He was taking it slow.


    Hearing this, the old man''s smile vanished. "I see how it is. In that case... yo momma is so fat, when she sleeps inside your home, her pig feet are still out on the street."


    "Yo momma''s so fat, when I told her to touch her toes, she said, ''What are those?''" Apollo fired back without missing a beat.


    The old man went silent, narrowing his eyes before responding, "Yo momma is so fat, when she went for a swim at the beach, the ocean level rose tenfold."


    That''s a big one, Apollo thought. Taking a deep breath, his brain worked at lightning speed. "Yo momma''s so fat, when she fell, no one was laughing, but the ground was cracking up."


    At that moment, a group of students walked by. When they heard Apollo''s words, they looked at each other before bursting into laughter. They turned to see the commotion¡ªa child bickering with an old man.


    "Crazy Zhang is at it again, and who''s that kid? He''s hilarious and even dares to talk back to Crazy Zhang! Hahaha!"

 Chapter 201 - 201: Zhang The Great(Part-1)

    Crazy Zhang felt like vomiting blood when he heard the comeback. His face turned red as he quickly tried to recover. "Yo momma is so fat, when she went to the beach, a whale swam up and sang, ''We are family, even though you''re fatter than me!''"


    "Yo momma is so fat, her bellybutton gets home an hour before she does," Apollo fired back instantly, almost like he didn''t need to think at all. He smirked as more students gathered around to watch.


    Their laughter echoed as they observed the commotion with great interest.


    It was a new form of entertainment, and they perked up, eagerly waiting for the next insult. Who knew that trading insults could be so hilarious?


    Hearing the laughter, Crazy Zhang''s mind went blank for a moment. He couldn''t think of another fat joke, so he switched tactics. "Yo momma''s so ugly that she¡ª" But Apollo was faster.


    "Yo momma''s so ugly, when she joined an ugly contest, they said, ''Sorry, no professionals,''" Apollo cut him off.


    "Hey! I wasn''t done yet!" Crazy Zhang shouted, pointing a finger at Apollo. "Yo momma''s so ugly that¡ª"


    "Yo momma''s so ugly, when she took a bath, the water ran out¡ªliterally," Apollo interrupted again, causing the old man to burst into fury.


    "You''re cheating! You should let me finish before you¡ª" Crazy Zhang tried to protest.


    "Yo momma''s so old, I slapped her on the back and her boobs fell off!" Apollo''s voice rose, causing even louder laughter to fill the air. Yup, this is what real victory feels like! Apollo thought. He could see it¡ªthe old man''s face had scrunched up so much, he looked uglier than his momma.


    But Apollo wasn''t done yet. He kept firing insults, one after another, generating even more laughter. However, as time passed, the audience started to grow numb. Their eyes shifted toward Crazy Zhang with pity.


    "Crazy Zhang has met his match," one of the martial students whispered as they watched the old man grow more and more furious.


    "Yeah, he likes to pull pranks and jokes that aren''t funny at all," another agreed.


    After a while, when only Apollo''s voice echoed through the air, Crazy Zhang finally had enough.


    "Okay, stop! Stop!" The old man raised his hand in surrender, his face a deep shade of red as he gritted his teeth angrily. "You win, kid!"


    "I know I won," Apollo said, puffing his chest out. "I warned you not to bring my momma into this."


    "Hmph!" Crazy Zhang scoffed. "It was your fault for giving me a fake *ss name. But I''ll make sure you taste my revenge! Zhang the Great is not someone you can offend!"


    "Revenge? Haha, I''ll be waiting for you. Better come up with a better comeback next time, Zhang the *ss," Apollo challenged.


    Crazy Zhang''s face twitched, but seeing the students staring at him with disappointment and pity, he knew it was time to leave.


    "The next time, my words will eat you alive, until you won''t even dare to step outside!" Crazy Zhang shouted, gathering a mouthful of saliva and spitting. However, instead of landing on the ground, it splattered on his own feet.


    Silence.


    The beggar almost imagined seeing a negative thousand aura points appear above the old man''s head.


    Crazy Zhang definitely noticed his embarrassment, his face twitching, but he still tried to act cool. "Hmph! Just wait for me!" With that, he flew off.


    Flew? Apollo''s eyes widened at the sight of the old man flying into the distance. So that guy really is an expert! But why is he acting so childish?!


    As he stared after the old man, the students who had gathered also began to disperse. They were curious about the identity of the kid, but they had better things to do.


    However, one person remained. She hesitated for a moment before walking toward Apollo.


    "Mr. Beggar?"


    Apollo heard a familiar voice, and when he turned, he was surprised. "Oh, Miss Gail!"


    "Gail is fine, Mr. Beggar," Gail said, pushing her glasses up.


    "Okay, Gail," Apollo nodded. "It''s nice seeing you here. Where''s Filly?"


    "Filly is back at her restaurant," Gail replied. "She made a special request and was allowed to stay outside as long as she wanted. But I have to return occasionally to further my knowledge and cultivation."


    "Filly''s not taking her cultivation seriously," Apollo muttered, before asking an important question. "Who was that old man?"


    "That''s Crazy Zhang," Gail said with a smile. "I must say, what just happened was hilarious. Seeing Crazy Zhang get a taste of his own medicine was satisfying."


    "Crazy Zhang?" Apollo repeated, nodding. "He does look like a crazy person. But he can fly, so his cultivation must be at least at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, right? Why does everyone call him crazy instead of giving him respect?"


    His curiosity was piqued.


    "He is crazy," Gail explained. "He''s been here for countless years¡ªno one knows how long, but rumors say he''s been here since the Great Serpent branch was established. Some say he''s a Wanderer, others say he''s an Elder or a student who refuses to leave, despite his cultivation being high enough to join the main branch.


    He likes pulling pranks and making jokes, but none of them are funny, and many students hate him for it." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So, basically, he''s just a crazy person with high cultivation?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," Gail nodded.


    "I see. But do I need to worry about him?" Apollo scratched the back of his head. The old man had said he would get his revenge, and that worried Apollo. What if Crazy Zhang decides to assassinate me instead of bickering with ''yo momma'' insults?


    Gail smiled and shook her head. "You don''t have to worry about him. In all the years I''ve been here, he''s never involved himself in a physical fight."


    "I see, that''s good to hear," Apollo said, letting out a sigh of relief.


    "Mr. Beggar, if I may ask, why are you here?" Gail asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.


    "I have business with the Headmaster," Apollo answered honestly, though he didn''t share the details. At the same time, he realized that people only recognized him as a Personal Disciple when he was with Eli.


    "Is that so¡­" Gail nodded before glancing at the library. "Shall we enter together? I can be your guide."


    "I wouldn''t mind your company," Apollo smiled. He''d much rather spend time with a woman than a man.

 Chapter 202 - 202: Zhang The Great(Part-2)

    "There are five floors in this building," Gail explained, as the beggar beside her looked around with interest.


    Apollo gazed upward, spotting the stairs leading to the upper floors. His eyes then drifted around the room, noticing the shelves filled with scrolls and books, which almost reached the ceiling.


    Chairs and tables were scattered throughout, where martial students studied their materials. Some sat on the floor, books on their laps as they meditated, their eyes closed in concentration.


    There was also a reception area nearby, where students lined up to get approval to take books and scrolls outside. Martial students were in charge of granting permission.


    The structure reminded Apollo of his time as a college student in his previous life.


    "Do you want to see the Battle Techniques and Cultivation Techniques?" Gail asked.


    "I will, but I want to start with books on the world, politics, history, and common knowledge," Apollo answered.


    Gail appeared confused. "Pardon me for asking, but why are you interested in those?"


    "Just curiosity," Apollo said.


    "I see. Then follow me," Gail replied, dropping the subject. She didn''t understand Mr. Beggar at all but decided to guide him without further questions.


    Soon, they reached the far end of the first floor, where fewer people were gathered. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is where you''ll find common knowledge," Gail said. "Some of these books and scrolls date back thousands of years. Feel free to explore."


    "Thanks," Apollo smiled. "Where can I find the battle techniques and cultivation techniques? So I don''t have to ask later."


    "They''re on the upper floors. Outer Disciples can access the second floor, Inner Disciples can go up to the third, and seniors can reach the fourth. Only Elders and the Headmaster can enter the fifth floor, unless someone is granted special permission."


    "Got it," Apollo nodded. "Thank you."


    "You''re welcome," Gail smiled before waving. "I should head to the third floor. I need a technique to help boost my strength."


    "Good luck," Apollo said, watching her disappear around the corner.


    With a sigh, Apollo shook his head, turning back to the rows of bookshelves stretching for dozens of meters.


    He observed the variety of books. They came in different colors and sizes, some as thick as a person''s thigh, others as thin as a cicada''s wing.


    He looked behind him, greeted by the same scene¡ªendless shelves forming a hallway of knowledge.


    "Where do I start?" Apollo muttered with a bitter smile. He regretted not asking Gail for recommendations but decided to make the best of it. Walking to the nearest shelf, he randomly picked a book, intentionally avoiding the scrolls.


    "What''s this?"


    As he opened the book, he was greeted by an image of two people¡ªone man and one woman¡ªon top of each other. The title above them caught his eye.


    "The Secret Of Being One: The Proper Way To Penet¡ª Hold the f*ck up!" Apollo hurriedly slammed the book shut, his face turning red. After taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, he decided to try another book. Strangely, it didn''t seem that odd to him that such a book was hidden among the thousands of others in this corner of the library.


    With so many books and scrolls, these might even be considered common knowledge.


    Apollo grabbed another book, opened it, and sighed with relief when he saw the first page without the perverted imahes though regretted afterwards when he read the title.


    The Secret Of Being One Prequel: The Body Is Blank, One Must Know How To Heat It Up.


    His hands shook as he placed the book back. "What the f*ck? A prequel? Seriously?! I refuse to believe this will happen again!"


    In frustration, he grabbed another random book and opened it to the first page.


    "The Secret Of Being One Series Three: Ecstasy Through Physical Touch and¡ª F*ck!" Apollo cursed. "I just want a normal book!"


    Fuming, he was about to shove it back onto the shelf but paused. Who the hell was this insane author? He reopened the book and scanned the bottom right corner for the author''s name.


    The moment his eyes landed on it, his body tensed, and his hands clenched the book tightly.


    "Zhang the Great..." Apollo muttered, his eyes narrowing coldly. Gail''s words about the old man echoed in his mind, and he realized he had just been the victim of one of Crazy Zhang''s pranks. "I''ll wait for your revenge, huh? We''ll see."


    ¡­


    Apollo sat on the floor, staring hopelessly at the bookshelf, overwhelmed by the thousands of books before him.


    If he wanted to find what he was looking for, it could take forever. In the end, only one solution came to mind. Even though he didn''t want to do it, he had no choice.


    With a resigned sigh, he brought up his Status Screen.


    ---


    STATUS SCREEN


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 45


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning


    ---


    "Forty-five Alm Points," Apollo stared at the number. He had barely managed to earn back what he''d wasted on his last use of the Wish Me Luck item.


    Next, he summoned the System Store, and a new interface appeared beside the Status Screen.


    "Show me items that will help me find the books I''m looking for in this place," Apollo ordered the System. Within seconds, the store sorted itself, displaying the items he had requested.


    His eyes quickly settled on the first item, which was also the cheapest.


    ---


    Basic Locator: Find anything the user desires. Input the type of item, and if the user comes close, the Basic Locator will emit a beeping sound.


    Alm Points Cost: 5


    ---


    Apollo didn''t bother checking the other options; he immediately decided on the first one.


    As soon as he bought it, his Alm Points dropped by five.


    The interface vanished, and a white light materialized in front of him, turning into a black circular object.


    Apollo caught it¡ªit resembled a compass, but instead of a magnetic needle, there was just a button and a directional display.


    Pressing the button, a message flashed in his mind, asking for the item he was searching for.

 Chapter 203 - 203: History

    In ancient times, cultivators lived in peace, far from ordinary people, in secluded abodes and mountains where they silently sought enlightenment.


    Their presence was known only to a few. Some witnessed them flying through the skies, altering the terrain, turning barren land into fields of flowers, and summoning wind and rain. These accounts remained stories that few dared to believe¡ªexcept for the witnesses. Some regarded them as deities, protectors of the land, blessing it with their power.


    To the cultivators, this was ideal. They could focus on their quest for immortality without the interference of the outside world. Their sole reason for embarking on the path of cultivation was to gain eternal life¡ªa limitless span of time in which they could achieve nirvana. They called this the True Way of Cultivation.


    It was a peaceful existence. War and poverty had no impact on their lives.


    However, everything changed when one ordinary person, having heard the stories, decided to seek them out.


    This individual had no cultivation, no powers. The journey was long and perilous, nearly costing the seeker their life, with helpless nights and nightmares haunting them.


    But persistence paid off, and the adventurous soul eventually found what they sought.


    After countless days and nights, dodging death at every turn, the person finally stood before the legendary cultivators, kneeling before them, pleading for strength. The reasons for their request were unknown, but the desire to fly, to alter landscapes, and summon rain was strong.


    Yet, their plea was denied. For hours, days, and weeks, the person begged.


    But the mountain closed itself, and suddenly, they found themselves at the base once more, barred from re-entry. No matter the path, they would always return to where they began.


    It was a crushing blow¡ªto their spirit, to their dreams, and to the reason they sought the cultivators in the first place.


    As sorrow settled in, it was soon replaced by anger. Revenge fueled the person''s heart.


    The Ancestor Cultivators believed that peace would return once the person left.


    But, alas, greed and the desire for power led to the cultivators'' discovery.


    More ordinary people, led by the rejected pioneer, sought them out, amassing strength and influence over the years. This growing force soon rivaled that of the cultivators, as ordinary people gained powers comparable to their once-mythical deities.


    With no other choice, the ascetics left their mountains, engaging in battle with those who sought to take their power.


    Years of war followed, spreading far and wide, transforming the land, the animals, and the flora. Creatures became dangerous, turning into flesh-eating monsters. The natural world itself became terrifying.


    Neither side could gain the upper hand. A stalemate ensued, leading to a treaty¡ªan agreement for peace and order.


    But the aftermath of the war lingered. Monsters continued to roam, and the cultivators'' techniques spread throughout the world. Over time, variations and new techniques emerged. Ordinary people learned to stand toe-to-toe with their once-divine counterparts, while the cultivators formed sects and martial schools to preserve the True Way of Cultivation.


    Enlightenment and immortality.


    Strength and power.


    ...


    "Two powers that tried to best one another¡­" Apollo muttered as he read the book in his hands. He sat cross-legged, leaning against the bookshelves, with great interest in his eyes. "A war that lasted at least ten thousand years? This sounds like bullsh*t."


    Apollo placed a hand under his chin. Though it seemed like something straight out of a fictional novel, the beggar didn''t doubt its authenticity. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was the first book he had read after using the Basic Locator. A very convenient item, the locator allowed him to input the objects he was looking for, and it would alert him when he was near the target. However, he still had to move around to maximize its usefulness.


    Apollo glanced at the book on his lap. It was a very basic history book. The content was sparse, leaving him with more questions than answers.


    Why did the person seek out the cultivators?


    What was the influence that allowed ordinary people to stand toe-to-toe with their deities?


    And who was that person? Who were the Ancestors?


    As these questions lingered in his mind, he continued flipping through the book. After the initial story, nothing else captured his attention.


    Setting it aside, he stood up and picked up the Basic Locator, which had just finished charging. Like his Cleaning Bead, the item needed to store Qi to function.


    Apollo continued browsing the area, using the Basic Locator to find topics that piqued his interest before diving into the books.


    In no time, he felt satisfied with the additional knowledge he''d gained. He mainly focused on useful information, like politics and cultivation.


    Glancing at the scattered books on the floor, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to leave the mess behind. Cleaning wasn''t his concern.


    He walked toward the stairs leading to the second floor. Now that he was here, he intended to make the most of it. After all, it was one of the perks of being a Personal Disciple.


    Just as he was about to place his foot on the first step, someone called out to him.


    "You there!"


    Apollo turned toward the voice and saw a person approaching. One glance told him all he needed to know¡ªa young master had locked onto him as a target.


    It had been a while since someone with the "Young Master Syndrome" offered themselves up for humiliation. He didn''t consider his previous opponent, Heru, to be one of them¡ªHeru had been somewhat restrained, probably because of the presence of his master and the Headmaster.


    However, Apollo''s gut told him that the noble now standing in front of him was one of the untamed.


    "What?" Apollo asked, deliberately using a rude tone.


    The noble raised an eyebrow. "Watch your tone, kid. Don''t you know who I am?!"


    Ah, Don''t you know who I am?! Classic. Apollo smirked inwardly. He could already taste the satisfaction of humiliating the young noble. What was the word for it? Faceslapping?


    "Should I?" Apollo asked, smiling coldly. "Why don''t you enlighten me?"


    "Hahaha, I expected nothing less from someone who looks like a beggar." The noble smiled mockingly. "I''m from the Callum Family, so pay your respects!"

 Chapter 204 - 204: Aaron & Mahika

    The Callum Family estate is situated northwest of Klown City. A multi-storied building, its stones are carefully polished, and the exterior is adorned with a lush garden, bathed in an ethereal glow from the sunlight. The mansion is expansive, with maids bustling about, tending to their duties.


    Great luxury exuded from the structure, showcasing the history and might of the Callum Family.


    At the very top was the Family Head''s room.


    A forty-five-year-old man sat behind a bronze-colored table, a deep frown on his face. The chair he occupied matched the table''s style, and behind him hung a portrait of himself on the wall. He wore expensive clothing, adorned in gold and silver.


    Aaron Callum, Head of the Callum Family, narrowed his eyes at the individuals in the room.


    "Still no one can find the culprit behind my son''s death?" he asked, his tone icy cold.


    The people before him lowered their heads, one of them shaking his head.


    "The culprit disappeared," one of them responded. "We''ve already searched the entire city. Even with the city''s help, we couldn''t find the killer."


    "Useless!" Aaron stood up and hurled the vase on the table to the floor. It shattered into shards, spilling its contents. Some of the liquid splashed onto the people, but they didn''t dare utter a sound. "Use your goddamn pig brains! Don''t just rely on the city! They''re useless as sh*t!"


    His face flushed with fury. Although people often mistook him for amiable, in truth, he had the foulest mouth in the city and cursed frequently.


    "Fcking useless!" Aaron shouted, pointing his finger at his people. "Did any of you fckers even think to follow those slums?!"


    Hearing this, the individuals in the room exchanged glances before mustering the courage to shake their heads.


    "See! Your pig brains are stopping you from thinking, motherf*ckers!" The Callum Head pounded his fist on the table. Though he lacked the talent for cultivation, his fist remained unscathed against the bronze table.


    Seeing no one respond, Aaron took a deep breath, calming himself slightly. "F*ck! Why do I bother hiring fools?"


    He sat back down, leaning on his chair. Aaron closed his eyes for a moment before glaring coldly at them.


    "Why are you not saying anything?" he demanded. "Come on! Say something!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He wasn''t angry because he had lost his son, but because of the humiliation his family was enduring. He would rather lose a kin than allow their reputation to be tarnished.


    One brave individual stepped forward. After taking a deep breath, he spoke. "My apologies for our incompetence! We will do our best to find the killer as soon as possible! We will start by following the slums and gathering information!"


    As one of them kowtowed on the ground, the rest followed suit, their heads thudding against the floor.


    "Finally, someone with a brain!" Aaron said, though there wasn''t a hint of praise in his tone. "Now get out of here, pig heads! And don''t show your faces again without progress, or I will personally kill each one of you!"


    A shiver ran down everyone''s spine. They knew their family head well¡ªhe wasn''t the type to joke around. When he said he would do something, he meant it.


    Each of them understood that if they didn''t find the killer of the Family Head''s son, their lives would be forfeit.


    "Our apologies once again! Please await our good news!"


    As the door closed slowly, Aaron Callum''s eyes burned with rage.


    He couldn''t stand what had happened. This humiliation¡ªhe would return it to the culprit a hundredfold!


    ...


    Callum Family? Apollo raised an eyebrow when he heard this. To think he would hear that name so soon.


    The north guard captain he killed back in the slum streets also said he was from the Callum Family. Is it fate''s work for the beggar to clash with another one of their kin so soon?


    A smile formed on his lips. This was good¡ªit should help make the butterfly effect work faster.


    "Oh, Callum Family, I''ve heard that name before," Apollo said. "Aren''t you guys the ones who collect sh*t in the city to consume? I must say, your family has quite the taste."


    Behind the noble stood three martial students, one of the requirements for the Young Master Syndrome. When they heard what the ''kid'' said, their faces shifted from shock to anger.


    "Watch your mouth! You don''t know who you''re talking to!"


    "He''s from one of the great families in Klown City!"


    "By saying those words, he can cut your tongue out!"


    The flies buzzed around, but the beggar focused only on the noble.


    "Am I right?" Apollo asked again, the noble''s face already red with anger.


    "You! You will pay! I, Mahika, am not someone a lowlife like you can insult!" Mahika shouted, pointing a finger at the kid.


    "Then what are you gonna do?" Apollo smiled mockingly. "I just wanted to go to the upper floor to check out some techniques, and you''re obstructing me."


    "Techniques?!" Mahika scoffed, looking Apollo up and down. "Who are you? Just by judging your appearance, you don''t belong here. I''m a student at this academy, and I''m just worried an insect managed to sneak in! So I''m going to clean this place up!"


    Apollo glanced at the noble and then at the goons. He instantly understood why they had stopped him, even without them saying it. They clearly just wanted to bully him.


    However, the beggar is not someone easily stepped on.


    "If you''re just going to run your mouth, then stay here. I''m going upstairs," Apollo said, turning toward the stairs and starting to walk.


    Mahika was left speechless. Did he just ignore my words?! I''m a noble, for fck''s sake!* He felt deeply humiliated. He turned to his men and nodded.


    They immediately understood what he meant and ran up the stairs, blocking the kid''s path.


    Got ya, Apollo thought, his eyes glinting. He wanted them to be aggressive, and they had just fallen for it.


    "Get out of my way," Apollo said, staring coldly at the goons.


    "They won''t move unless I tell them to," Mahika said, crossing his arms. "Answer my question. Who are you, and why are you here?!"


    Apollo glanced at the noble, a cunning smile spreading across his face. If they wanted to use their status to oppress someone, then he would do the same. "Me? Once you hear it, don''t piss your pants."


    "Try me," Mahika challenged, raising an eyebrow.


    Apollo ran his fingers through his hair, introducing himself in a cool manner. "I''m Yoma, the Personal Disciple!"


    Silence.


    Silence lingered for a moment before laughter echoed.

 Chapter 205 - 205: Im Just A Kid!

    Hearing the laughter around him, Apollo couldn''t help but let out a sigh. You asked for my identity, and when I tell the truth, you laugh at me? Typical young master. However, the more they underestimated him, the more humiliation they would face once they learned the truth, and the beggar couldn''t wait for that moment.


    "Hahaha! Personal disciple?! Really?" Mahika clutched his stomach as if he had never laughed before. "Did you hit your head somewhere? You''re dreaming big, kid."


    "If you''re not going to believe me, then tell your dogs to get out of my f*cking way," Apollo said coldly.


    Hearing this, Mahika narrowed his eyes at the kid. This kid clearly doesn''t respect me, he thought, irritated by the repeated slights. Although he was curious how someone so filthy had managed to enter the Great Serpent Cultivation School, at least he''d found someone to bully and satisfy his desire to boost his ego.


    "Kneel before me, beg for your life, and I might consider sparing you," Mahika Callum said, ignoring the kid''s words.


    "Tell your dogs to move out of my way," Apollo repeated, his tone even colder.


    The goons behind Mahika shouted in anger, hearing themselves called dogs for the second time.


    "F*ck you, kid!"


    "Kneel before the great Mahika Callum, or do you want us to force you? Let me remind you, we''ll break your bones if you resist!"


    "Then do it," Apollo challenged, glancing back at the goons.


    "Young Master Mahika!" They turned to their master, awaiting orders like loyal hounds.


    "Do it. Let him taste what real pain feels like¡ªjust don''t kill him," Mahika commanded with a nod, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. They were inside the Great Serpent Library, but he wasn''t afraid to cause trouble. At worst, he would be punished by staying in his courtyard. With the backing of a great family, there was no way the school would punish him severely.


    "Hahaha! I''ve been craving to break some bones lately!" one of the goons said, cracking his neck from side to side.


    "You''re in for some bad luck, kid!" another said, while the last one only smiled coldly.


    Apollo glanced at the noble before turning to the braindead goons behind him.


    As they closed in, a cunning smile appeared on his face. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs, and with a shout, his voice reverberated through the library!


    "Ahhh! Help! I''m just a kid!"


    The small voice was so loud that it echoed through every corner, reaching everyone''s ears in no time.


    Those peacefully cultivating and minding their own business had no choice but to open their eyes and stare in the direction of the sound.


    Each of them saw yet another commotion happening on the stairs.


    Meanwhile, Apollo dropped to the floor, scrambling backward on his hands and feet. He looked back and forth between the goons and the noble with fear in his eyes.


    "Help! Help!" Apollo shouted again, causing the four individuals to look at each other in shock.


    Mahika appeared surprised for a moment before chuckling mockingly. Seeing the kid shaking in fear as he tried to scramble away, a wave of pleasure washed over him. Stepping on insects and watching them beg for their lives... that was the best feeling in the world. "Too late, kid! I already gave you a chance, but you didn''t take it!


    This is on you. You should be grateful that I''m letting you live!"


    With that, he motioned for his goons to make a move.


    Apollo''s body was ''shaking with fear,'' and as they neared him, he turned to the approaching students. "Help! These guys are trying to take advantage of me! I already told them I''m not into guys!"


    Deep inside, he chuckled. I should be an actor. This wasn''t the first time he''d pulled a stunt like this, but he couldn''t get enough of it.


    Because of the commotion, a group of martial students had gathered. Some of them recognized Apollo, and when they heard his shout, they turned to the four bullies with strange looks¡ªsome showing utter disgust. Those who recognized the noble kept their mouths shut, but their eyes couldn''t hide what they were feeling.


    "W-what?! We''re not doing anything to him!" one of the goons blurted out defensively.


    "Not yet! But you clearly have the intention!" Apollo shot back, glaring at the goons before locking eyes with Mahika, whose mouth was slightly open. "And this guy even said... even said he wouldn''t stop, even if I begged for mercy! He admitted that he would like it if I begged for mercy!"


    The beggar''s words snapped the noble out of his shock. The sudden turn of events had caught him off guard.


    Feeling the gazes of the martial students now on him, Mahika''s face turned red with rage and embarrassment. He glared at the kid, teeth gritted. "You! You''re lying! I would never think of doing anything with the same gender, let alone a kid!"


    "You''re the one who''s lying!" Apollo shot back, standing up from the floor and pointing at the young master. "Who would admit such evil, huh?! You even ordered your men to gang up on me so I couldn''t resist!"


    "We''re not those kind of people!"


    "Yeah! We were just going to punish you for being rude to Young Master Mahika!"


    "My men are right!" Mahika turned to the students around him, desperate to clear up the misunderstanding. If word of this commotion reached the family head... just thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine. "I, Mahika from the great Callum Family, would never do such vile things!"


    The martial students'' expressions changed, seemingly believing his words. Seeing their reaction, Mahika let out a sigh of relief. Then he turned to stare coldly at the kid¡ªwait, was he smiling?


    "Defend yourself all you want!" Apollo shouted, looking at the martial students pleadingly. "There are four of them, and I''m just one! How could I resist them? What power do I have if they try to frame me and claim I''m the guilty one? I was just looking around, and suddenly they wanted a piece of my handsome face and body!"


    The crowd shifted uneasily at Apollo''s words. Those who knew Mahika and his bad deeds at school started to believe that the four really were capable of such vile acts.


    It was unclear who voiced agreement with the kid first, but soon, others followed. The four bullies could feel the weight of the martial students'' disapproving stares as fingers were pointed and whispers filled the air. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But they still managed to catch bits of the conversation.


    "Really?... To a kid?"


    "Disgusting¡­"


    "Vile¡­"

 Chapter 206 - 206: Second Floor

    As the whispers echoed through the library, Aaron and his men''s faces turned red with shame and humiliation.


    Just by looking at the situation, it was clear they were ganging up on a defenseless kid, and what the kid said had rallied the martial students against them.


    Mahika noticed other nobles looking in his direction with mockery and disgust. They didn''t even bother lowering their voices.


    "I didn''t know Mahika was that kind of guy."


    "Yeah."


    "But I''m not surprised. You can tell he''s into the same gender. Just look at those eyes¡ªdisgusting."


    "He even stooped so low as to try something with a kid." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nobles loved to step on one another, and they weren''t about to miss this chance to humiliate Aaron.


    None of them questioned why a kid was even in the library. They were more focused on the commotion than the kid''s status.


    Mahika finally had enough. He stared at the kid with killing intent. "You! I''ll make sure you won''t leave this place alive!"


    "Are you threatening me?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Hell yeah, I am!" Mahika snapped, not caring if others heard him. Then he turned to his men and waved his hand. "Let''s get out of here!"


    Apollo didn''t say another word and just watched them leave as the crowd parted.


    Looks like I''ll have to fight them soon, Apollo thought, though he wasn''t the least bit worried. He had already gauged their cultivations, which were far below his. In fact, he was currently the strongest person in the room. Unless another Qi Condensation stage cultivator showed up, he was confident he could defeat all the martial students there.


    Seeing that no more drama was unfolding, the crowd dispersed, returning to their own business.


    Apollo shook his head and proceeded to the second floor. To think that just trying to go up a floor would cause such a scene. It was as if fate was pulling strings to make him bump into these people. Not that he minded¡ªit was satisfying to see those ego-filled young masters humiliated. It was a sense of fulfillment he would never tire of.


    ¡­


    The beggar arrived on the second floor, and the moment he stepped in, his eyes were drawn to the sight of scrolls and books floating on circular platforms. There were also doors along the walls, with some students lining up to enter. This piqued Apollo''s curiosity.


    Glancing up, he saw stones embedded in the ceiling that illuminated the floor with a dim light. Turning to the corners, he noticed white-robed men standing still, their eyes constantly scanning the area, as if afraid to miss a single detail.


    The first floor didn''t have these white-robed men, likely because the content there wasn''t as valuable.


    Apollo wanted to find some flashy techniques to add to his arsenal of special effects and increase his strength. As he gazed at the various scrolls and books, his eyes burned with excitement.


    What if I learn all of them? Will I become overpowered? The thought sent his excitement soaring.


    The second floor housed battle techniques and cultivation techniques, but Apollo wanted to learn everything. He walked over to the nearest scroll and began reading, but soon realized it would be pointless to learn them all.


    The first technique he read wasn''t flashy, and the book said it would take a year to fully master. Apollo was confident he could learn it in just a few weeks, but it still wasn''t worth the effort. He moved on to the next one. Like the first, it wasn''t flashy and wasn''t very good.


    He turned to a scroll that described a cultivation technique. After reading it, he shook his head and placed it back. It was a technique that capped out at the 4th Step of the Foundation Building stage, which he had already surpassed.


    Shaking his head, Apollo continued to flip through the techniques, his actions causing the martial students around him to raise their eyebrows. Some approached the white-robed men, asking why they weren''t taking action against the unruly kid who was only glancing at a few pages before moving on to the next one. It seemed like he was just playing around¡ªwell, he was a kid, after all.


    However, the white-robed men remained still, not making any move. The martial students had no choice but to back off. Although some were unsatisfied, they knew better than to mess with the white-robed men. Furthermore, they realized that things weren''t that simple. A kid suddenly causing a scene, and the white-robed men ignoring it? Clearly, the kid had some status backing his mischievousness.


    In no time, Apollo had flipped through at least a hundred techniques. He let out a sigh as he placed the last scroll back on the shelf.


    "Have I become picky with techniques?" he muttered with a bitter smile.


    Of all the books and scrolls he''d read, none had impressed him enough to bother learning them. Most of them were good, but Apollo felt like it would be a waste of time to try. The reason? Time. He would lose valuable time if he tried to master all the techniques on this floor. Sure, he could revise some of them to make them stronger, but Apollo realized it wasn''t worth the effort.


    Then an idea popped into his mind. Should I just go straight to the top floor and learn the strongest technique? The more he thought about it, the more determined he became.


    Why waste time and effort on weaker techniques when he could focus on the strongest ones? And it would definitely be worth it if he could revise some of those.


    With this thought in mind, he left the area and headed straight for the third floor¡ªthe floor where Gail said she would be.


    After a minute of walking, he arrived at his destination. The number of books here was much smaller, probably around three dozen, and they were glowing, unlike those on the second floor.


    Apollo didn''t immediately begin his usual flipping spree. Instead, he set out to find Gail.


    ...


    At the same time, Mahika and his men landed in a courtyard from their Water-Attributed Falcons.


    "Argh!" The moment Mahika landed, he immediately lashed out at his surroundings, punching and kicking the air. "I hate this! I hate this! I swear I''ll kill that kid! How dare he frame and humiliate me¡ªme, from the great Callum Family!"


    His goons didn''t dare utter a word. They could only lower their heads, not out of fear of Mahika, but because of someone else.


    "Did someone frustrate you?" a voice echoed.


    Mahika turned toward the sound. In the middle of the courtyard, where flowers bloomed, sat a woman at a table, holding a cup of tea with wisps of steam rising from it.


    "Senior Sister! I need your help!"

 Chapter 207 - 207: Senior Sister Lily

    Long, streaked black hair, thin eyebrows, long eyelashes, and deep blue eyes. She sat there, wearing a green hanfu dress adorned with silver lining. A flower emblem was embedded on her chest as she gazed at her cousin, who was kneeling on the ground before her. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What? Did you offend someone you shouldn''t have?" the woman asked, taking a sip of her tea.


    "No," Mahika shook his head. "Senior Sister Lily, it''s the opposite."


    "Oh? Tell me," Lily said, raising an eyebrow.


    "Okay, so we were in the library, minding our own business, when this kid came in and offended me! He''s rude and even framed me to make it look like I like men!" Mahika explained, omitting the details and changing the story to make it seem like the kid was at fault. Recalling what happened, his eyes turned cold. "I want to kill him as soon as possible!"


    Senior Sister Lily stared at her cousin for a moment before taking another sip of tea. She knew her cousin very well, and knowing him, he had probably bullied someone again. Still, she wasn''t the type to care about his actions. What intrigued her was that Mahika had met someone who managed to humiliate him.


    Mahika only sought her help when he was truly desperate.


    "So what do you want?" Lily asked, her eyes drifting to a note beside her cup.


    "Help me reduce my punishment," Mahika said through gritted teeth. "I know they''ll punish me for what I''m about to do, but I really want to kill that kid!"


    Lily went silent, her fingers tapping on the table.


    Killing another student was strictly forbidden, punishable by imprisonment, death, or the destruction of one''s cultivation core¡ªevery cultivator''s nightmare. But with her master''s help, she could minimize her cousin''s punishment. They could even stage the incident to make the killing appear justified and reasonable.


    The Elders wouldn''t care, and even if they suspected something, they wouldn''t take action unless the very existence of the school was threatened. That''s why nobles and those with influence could bully and treat those of lower status like dirt.


    Lily''s eyes lingered on the note before turning to Mahika. "You said the person you want to kill is just a kid? How did he get in here?"


    "I don''t know," Mahika shook his head. "But it doesn''t matter! I''ll make sure he suffers more than death before I kill him!"


    The goons behind him kept their heads bowed, listening intently to the conversation.


    A kid, huh? Lily thought. It must be true. She stared into her cousin''s eyes and nodded. "Alright, I''ll help you."


    Hearing this, Mahika''s face lit up. "Thank you, Senior Sister! You''re the best!"


    "Thank you, Senior Sister!" the goons echoed from behind.


    This was the first time Mahika had made such a request, and he had expected rejection, but reality proved otherwise.


    "Go away," Senior Sister Lily waved her hand. "Don''t interrupt my tea time anymore."


    "Okay!" With clenched fists and renewed determination, Mahika and his men left the courtyard.


    As their figures disappeared into the distance, the wind blew, causing the flowers to sway and their fragrance to fill the air.


    "Heru is strong, but he''s not that smart," Lily muttered, taking a sip of her tea before standing up. "I should rally them and let Aaron test the kid''s strength."


    A kid? Lily didn''t believe that someone capable of defeating Heru was just a child. The note on the table stated that Heru had suffered a crushing defeat that morning, something that had never happened to him before.


    She stood and walked inside her residence. Soon, five birds flew from her place, each holding a small scroll in their claws.


    ¡­


    Apollo saw Gail in the distance, standing at the counter, holding a book and talking to the person behind the desk.


    He approached and overheard their conversation.


    "Sorry, you don''t have enough mission points to learn this technique," the martial student administering the techniques said without much emotion.


    "Is that so," Gail sighed, disappointed. She had spent some of her mission points on the Advancement Examination, and it seemed she needed to go on another mission to learn the technique in her hands.


    "You can check out the other techniques. You can learn those," the receptionist suggested.


    "No need," Gail said, shaking her head. She turned around, surprised to see Yoma standing in front of her. "Mr. Beggar!"


    "Hello," Apollo greeted her with a chuckle. He glanced at the book in her hands. "Having some trouble?"


    "No," Gail replied, though she seemed hesitant.


    "It seems like it," Apollo smiled. It wouldn''t be a problem for him to use his Personal Disciple card so she could learn the technique, right?


    "I c-can just do another mission to earn more mission points," Gail hurriedly added.


    "Hahaha, don''t worry, I''ve got this!" Apollo smiled confidently. He walked past her and stood in front of the receptionist. But because of his small frame, he had to tiptoe to see the martial student behind the desk. "Hey, do me a favor, will you? Let her have the book."


    Gail''s eyes widened. Is he really going to help me? Such generosity! And does he have enough influence to bypass the mission points requirements? The image of the beggar wanderer in her heart rose to another height.


    The martial student looked at the kid in confusion, frowning at his words. "Who are you? We can''t do that. She must follow the rules if she wants to learn the techniques."


    "I am¡­" Apollo started to introduce himself but then stopped. Well, this is awkward. They didn''t know him, and he had no way to prove he was the Personal Disciple aside from his words.


    I shouldn''t have talked so big.


    "Don''t worry about it," Gail said from the side, still smiling. Just the thought of him wanting to help her was good enough. "I''m strong, and I can easily complete the missions. Earning the points will be easy."


    Apollo sighed in embarrassment, scratching the back of his head. "I''m sorry I couldn''t help."


    "Haha, I''m grateful you wanted to help, Mr. Beggar," Gail said, bowing her head.


    The receptionist watched this interaction in confusion. They knew who Gail was¡ªshe was one of the popular martial students at the Great Serpent Martial School. But the person she was speaking to with such respect was just a kid.

 Chapter 208 - 208: Fourth Floor(Part-1)

    The martial student in charge of the techniques turned to one of the white-robed men guarding the floor. Suddenly, their eyes widened briefly before they looked at the kid in surprise.


    "Do you need my assistance?" Gail asked, shifting the conversation to why the beggar was on this floor.


    "Yes," Apollo nodded. "It''s about the techniques."


    "Oh? Please tell me, I''ll do my best to help!" Gail said.


    "It''s nothing serious. I just want to learn strong and flashy techniques, but I couldn''t find any good ones on the second floor, so I came here," Apollo explained. "Do you have any suggestions?"


    "You want something strong and flashy?" Gail repeated. She turned around and glanced at the techniques floating on the circular platform. "I think all the techniques on this floor are flashy and strong."


    "Hmm," Apollo put a hand under his chin. He had become picky with techniques and didn''t want to waste time constantly improving one just to match his strength. "What about something unique? A technique that no one, or only a few people, have learned?"


    Apollo decided to look for something really strong, unique, and well-suited to him. This way, he wouldn''t have to worry about whether the technique could keep up with his strength or if he would have to constantly improve it.


    "Unique techniques? Then the fourth floor will meet your criteria," Gail said. "The techniques upstairs are much stronger and more unique, but they''re very hard to cultivate. All the Senior Martial Students have learned at least one technique from the fourth floor, and they''re the only ones who''ve managed it. Excluding the Elders and previous Seniors, of course."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes lit up. "Then let''s check it out."


    "Alright," Gail nodded, but as they were about to leave, the martial student behind the reception desk stopped them.


    "Wait!"


    "Hm?" Apollo and Gail turned to look.


    "We made a mistake," the receptionist said, handing the book to Gail. "Your mission points are enough for you to learn this."


    "Really?!" Gail brightened up.


    "Yes," the martial student nodded, smiling at her while glancing at the kid beside her. "But you already know the rules¡ªyou can only learn the technique inside the training room and must return the book when you''re done."


    "I know, thank you!" Gail took the book, her eyes shining with excitement.


    "That''s great," Apollo smiled. "Let''s go."


    The two of them left, with the martial student watching their backs.


    That was close. I mustn''t offend the Personal Disciple, the martial student thought, letting out a sigh of relief. If he hadn''t received a mental message from one of the white-robed men, he would surely have been punished for being rude to the Headmaster''s Personal Disciple.


    Apollo and Gail walked side by side toward their destination and soon arrived at the fourth floor.


    The fourth floor had a door guarded by two figures wearing black-and-white armor, standing on either side.


    The floor''s d¨¦cor was simple. Staring at the guards, Apollo couldn''t help but mutter, "Using Qi Condensation guards¡­ the techniques inside must be really valuable."


    Gail nodded. "But before, the guards were only at the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage. The school had no choice but to replace them with stronger ones; they couldn''t afford to lose more techniques."


    "Some of the techniques were stolen?" Apollo asked, surprised. This was the first time he''d heard about it.


    "Yes," Gail confirmed. "A lot of martial students managed to get hold of these stolen techniques. During the last advancement, the Headmasters tricked them into using the stolen techniques. From what I know, they were suspended."


    Apollo recalled the suspicious events that happened during the examination and realized this explained a lot.


    So that''s why, during the first test, some individuals were actively causing trouble. Apollo had already suspected something was off, but now it was clear what had transpired. Some of the battles back then were strange, with students suddenly gaining power or strength at the last moment. White-robed men had appeared to capture certain cultivators.


    "Is this school the only victim?" Apollo asked, his expression turning serious. He suddenly felt suspicious about this new information, and his gut told him he might have stumbled upon something that could help with his mission.


    "No," Gail shook her head. "Other martial schools were also infiltrated. The Fire Shrine, the Sword and Shield, and even smaller schools had their techniques stolen."


    Apollo frowned. A mass theft? Why? But given the scale of the operation, whoever was behind this had to be organized. And with an organized effort came an organizer.


    He didn''t need to think too hard to suspect the mastermind. The fatso mayor must be involved, Apollo thought. Even if Klown wasn''t the mastermind, Apollo was ready to blame him. He was already set on stepping on someone¡ªwhy not step harder?


    This news was a key piece of the puzzle Apollo needed to complete his mission.


    "Have they caught the thieves?" Apollo asked.


    "I don''t know," Gail replied with a bitter smile. She noticed Mr. Beggar''s growing interest in the topic. "But I can investigate for you."


    "No need. You''re already busy with cultivation and the restaurant," Apollo said, shaking his head. "You''ve done more than enough just by accompanying me. Should we head inside?"


    "I''ll stay here and wait for you," Gail said, glancing at the guards in the distance. "I don''t have the authority to enter."


    "I see," Apollo nodded. "Then I''ll go in. You don''t have to wait for me if you get bored."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t," Gail said as the beggar walked toward the door. She was curious if he could enter, and if he could, his status must be equal to that of the Seniors.


    As Apollo approached the giant door, he could feel a condensed energy leaking out from it. It wasn''t Qi but something different¡ªa soothing sensation that calmed his mind and helped him think clearly.


    He stopped a few feet from the guards. "Can I enter?" he asked, and as soon as the words left his mouth, one of the guards raised his hand and pushed the giant door open.


    Seeing this, Apollo let out a sigh. The guards know my identity, but the martial student behind the counter didn''t. If he''d known in advance, he wouldn''t have talked big and embarrassed himself. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 209 - 209: Fourth Floor(Part-2)

    As the door closed with a quiet thud behind him, Apollo looked around the floor with curiosity.


    There were twelve techniques floating atop circular platforms, emitting subtle glows. The surrounding Qi circulated around them, so dense that Apollo could perceive it even without focusing his senses.


    He realized that the soothing sensation came from the twelve techniques, like flowers releasing pollen into the air.


    The beggar glanced around and noticed a single door and a staircase leading to another floor. There was no reception desk, no white-robed men on standby¡ªhe was the only person in the room.


    Looking back at the floating scrolls and techniques, Apollo couldn''t help but smile. "This is paradise."


    He could feel the power in each technique, even though he hadn''t opened them yet.


    He considered the stairs for a moment before walking toward the nearest floating book.


    As his hand touched the cool, rough cover, a thought crossed his mind. What if I tried to steal all of this?


    Apollo chuckled. If only I could. Being a good and law-abiding citizen, he wouldn''t dare steal them.


    He opened the book, and the title caught his eye.


    "Sword Serpent Transformation?" the beggar muttered, flipping through the pages. He saw an illustration of a man wielding a sword, then the sword turning into a giant serpent, swallowing a whole mountain, taking a huge bite out of the ground, and freezing the ocean.


    He continued flipping until he reached the end. Closing the book, Apollo smacked his lips. "So, this is that guy''s battle technique."


    He recalled his previous fight with Heru¡ªthe guy who challenged him had used the same technique, turning his sword into a great serpent. Apollo had struggled to deal with it, and even with his Simple Sword Technique, he couldn''t break the sword serpent.


    According to the book, Heru was only at the beginning stage of the technique. Apollo could only imagine the destruction the sword serpent could cause once fully mastered.


    Staring at the book in his hand, he was about to put it back when he paused. "This is great, but it''s not unique anymore. Still, it wouldn''t hurt to memorize it."


    With that thought, he began flipping through the book again, this time carefully memorizing all the text and images. It took him almost ten minutes to fully commit the technique to memory. Once he was done, he placed the book back, the technique resuming its place on the circular platform.


    However, as soon as he stepped back and reached for another technique, his mind suddenly went blank. A confused look crossed his face. "What happened?"


    He felt like something was missing¡ªsomething significant, but he couldn''t quite pinpoint what.


    Suddenly, it clicked. He glanced back and realized he had forgotten everything about the Sword Serpent Transformation. He had clearly memorized it, but the moment he put the book back, it vanished from his memory like smoke.


    Thinking about it further, Apollo realized this was their way of preventing people like him from memorizing the techniques. If someone managed to memorize all these valuable techniques, the security of this floor would be pointless. They could simply replicate the books and sell them¡ªsomething Apollo might do if he were an *sshole.


    Should I just let it go? the beggar thought, before shaking his head. His eyes burned with determination as he stepped toward the Sword Serpent Transformation.


    He couldn''t give up on this challenge.


    Grasping the book, he began reading and memorizing its contents. Once finished, he didn''t put it back right away. Instead, he observed the circular platform and the technique in his hands.


    Apollo started walking backward, watching to see if he would forget the contents as he moved farther from the platform with the book in his arms. But even when he was about to hit the wall, the technique remained clear in his mind.


    So it must be the book, Apollo thought. He dropped the technique, and as soon as it hit the floor, the familiar feeling of something missing returned.


    The book, meanwhile, became a blur, and in the next second, it reappeared, floating on the circular platform.


    "If they can''t even put the books down, how are they able to learn it?" Apollo muttered in confusion. He looked around the room, his eyes landing on the door. Then it clicked.


    This must be the training room they mentioned on the previous floor¡­ what if? Apollo walked back to the book and memorized it again for the third time. Once done, he approached the door with the technique in hand.


    He pushed it open, greeted by an expanse of whiteness.


    "Woah!" Apollo exclaimed. He slowly stepped inside, glancing around. There was a weapon rack in the distance filled with wooden weapons, and besides that, nothing but white stretched before him. Even so, he was impressed. Looking down, he saw his shadow, even though there was no sun overhead. "This is amazing."


    The door behind him closed on its own, but he focused back on the book. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo dropped it, the technique landing with a thud on the ground.


    "I knew it," the beggar smiled. The Sword Serpent Transformation in his mind remained intact. He realized that you couldn''t memorize the scrolls or books outside; you had to enter the training room to retain them.


    As he figured out the mechanism behind these techniques, he became even more amazed at how those thieves had managed to steal the school''s cultivation and battle techniques.


    "Seems like I don''t have a choice but to learn this one," Apollo muttered, sighing. He didn''t want to waste time learning this technique¡ªeven though it was powerful, it no longer felt unique to him. Besides Heru, there were likely more individuals who had mastered the Sword Serpent Transformation. Still, now that he was here, he figured he might as well learn it to at least the beginner stage.


    He didn''t know if there was a time limit for being on the fourth floor¡ªnot that he cared. He would wait for them to call him out if needed.


    Apollo walked to the weapon rack and picked up a wooden sword. After swinging it a few times to get a feel for it, he nodded in approval. It was the same type of wooden sword he had "borrowed" from the training ground.


    "I should start."

 Chapter 210 - 210: Fourth Floor(Part-3)

    Apollo raised the wooden sword in front of him. With his eyes closed, he began following the process from the Sword Serpent Transformation technique.


    To reach the beginner stage, he had to feel the sword and become familiar with it. He had to make it an extension of himself, not just a simple weapon.


    However, for the beggar, this was an easy task. With his mastery of the Simple Sword Technique, which allowed him to turn any weapon into a sharp sword, he immediately made the wooden sword a part of him.


    Then came the second part: visualization. He had to visualize the mythological Great Serpent within the wooden sword. Apollo needed to engrave this image using Qi.


    There were two types of Qi, which he had learned about on the first floor of the library: Unrefined Qi and Refined Qi.


    Unrefined Qi referred to the Qi in the outside world. This Qi mingled with the air and was filled with impurities.


    Refined Qi, on the other hand, was exclusive to cultivators who had reached Qi Condensation and above. This type of Qi was Unrefined Qi absorbed by cultivators, circulated through their bodies, and stored in the ball of Qi located in their dantian. It became stronger, and its quality was much higher than that of the unrefined variety.


    Cultivators could use Refined Qi by drawing it from the ball of Qi in their dantian, rather than from the outside world. This much stronger energy was one of the requirements to learn the Sword Serpent Transformation.


    Following the instructions from the book, the beggar began drawing power from the ball of Qi in his dantian. The Refined Qi flowed out of his body, covering the wooden sword through his fingers.


    Apollo''s eyes focused on the sword. He saw it change, transforming into something else. As the head of the serpent started forming, the beggar couldn''t help but feel excited. Don''t tell me I''ll succeed on my first try?


    However, his excitement quickly vanished when the wooden sword returned to normal, the Refined Qi disintegrating.


    "Sh*t," Apollo cursed with a bitter smile. It was a wild dream to think he could learn a technique, reserved for a select few, in just one try. "Again." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, he became more focused. His only goal for now was to reach the beginner stage of the Sword Serpent Transformation, not to master it just yet.


    He recalled his previous attempts, especially his mistakes.


    Apollo corrected them, and soon, the wooden sword fully transformed into the great serpent. But alas, it only lasted for a few seconds before the weapon returned to normal.


    "I didn''t use enough Refined Qi," Apollo realized. He took a deep breath of the outside Qi and refined it in his dantian, filling the ball of Qi.


    Besides visualization, he had to ensure the right amount of Qi was used, or the technique would break.


    On his third attempt, Apollo finally managed to transform the wooden sword into a living blue Great Serpent, though the handle of the weapon remained unchanged. It behaved like a real snake, but Apollo knew it wasn''t. It felt more like he was holding an automatic toy.


    "Now what next..." the beggar muttered. Even though he had managed to transform the sword into a smaller version of the great serpent, he still hadn''t reached the beginner stage. "Infusing more Refined Qi? This snake is such a glutton."


    Apollo followed the process carefully. One wrong move, and he would have to restart while the Refined Qi from his condensed ball of Qi slowly diminished. To reach the beginner stage of the Sword Serpent Transformation, the great serpent should be detailed, at least two or three meters long, and able to change size depending on his will.


    But so far, he could only change the sword into a mediocre snake.


    ¡­


    It took around thirty minutes for the beggar to finally reach the beginner stage of the Sword Serpent Transformation technique.


    Apollo waved the weapon in his hand, and the great serpent roared, its mouth wide open as it bit at the air, its razor-sharp teeth creating a loud snapping sound that reverberated through the training room.


    With another wave, the great serpent''s body elongated, thrashing around the room, its tail slamming into the floor with a resounding thud.


    "This is great!" Apollo exclaimed, as the serpent''s size shrank back down until it returned to being the wooden sword. Glancing at it, he smiled in satisfaction. At first, he had been somewhat against learning it, but once he did, he realized it wasn''t so bad after all.


    "Now that I''m done with this one... I should learn all of them!" Apollo muttered with excitement. The technique in his mind shouldn''t disappear like before, right? The beggar had only learned the beginner stage, but fully memorized the technique. He would be greatly upset if he could only remember what he''d learned so far.


    Picking up the book from the floor, he walked out the door. The moment his foot stepped back onto the dark floor, he braced himself for the worst.


    "It''s still there," Apollo sighed in relief, letting the book drop to the ground. His eyes landed on the floating techniques with renewed excitement. Now that he had figured out how to retain the techniques in his mind, he wouldn''t be stingy with himself.


    He walked to the nearest scroll, picked it up, unfurled it, and memorized it before walking back inside the training ground.


    The second technique was a Cultivation Technique. As Apollo stared at the scroll in his hand, he felt conflicted.


    This cultivation technique was called the Great Serpent Assimilation Cultivation Technique, and unlike battle techniques, this one focused on raising the cultivation of an individual¡ªjust like his Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique.


    In the beggar''s opinion, the Great Serpent Assimilation Cultivation Technique was actually a great technique, much better than what he was currently using. Once learned, he would be able to use water-related battle techniques more easily. He could even control natural water without using Qi. Furthermore, the technique would allow him to reach the Core Creation Stage.


    However, the downside was that he would have to give up his current cultivation and start over, though the scroll mentioned it wouldn''t take long to catch up to his previous cultivation.


    "Hmm, should I?" Apollo muttered, feeling conflicted. But all my efforts revising the Simple Breathing Technique will go to waste. If I cultivate this Great Serpent Assimilation, I''ll have to start from scratch, the beggar thought.


    He stared at the scroll for a moment before shaking his head. With a yawn, he walked back outside. Apollo was too lazy to start over. Besides, he wanted to see how much further he could revise his Simple Breathing Technique.

 Chapter 211 - 211: Fifth Floor(Part-1)

    Apollo walked out of the training room with a yawn. The book in his hand fell to the ground, disappearing in a blur before reappearing in its original position, floating atop the circular platform.


    He looked around and nodded with a smile. "They''re great," the beggar muttered, referring to the floating techniques. He hadn''t learned the Cultivation Techniques since they required him to restart his cultivation. Instead, he focused on the Battle Techniques.


    Although he only reached the beginner stage in each, his main goal was to memorize the techniques, not master them in one sitting, as that would take too long.


    From the Sword Serpent Transformation to more bizarre techniques, the beggar was satisfied.


    Suddenly, he remembered Gail waiting for him outside. He had probably spent about three hours learning seven or eight battle techniques¡ªlonger than he expected.


    "Hopefully, she already went home," the beggar muttered, shaking his head.


    Now that he was done on this floor... Apollo''s eyes landed on the nearby stairs.


    He could only see a few steps before they disappeared into darkness, like the mouth of a beast waiting for its prey.


    The techniques on this floor were already powerful and amazing, so what about the floor above? Apollo''s curiosity was piqued.


    The Headmaster had said he had free access to all the techniques as a Personal Disciple. The fifth floor shouldn''t be off-limits to him.


    With this in mind, Apollo didn''t hesitate and began walking toward the stairs. However, as he was about to pass through the doorway, he suddenly stopped.


    A liquid barrier appeared in front of him.


    "Oh, a barrier?" Apollo raised his hand and touched it, ripples forming as his fingers glided over the surface. "Seems like I can''t ente¡ª"


    The water barrier suddenly let out a bright light, cutting off his words. The brilliance enveloped him for a moment, and when it faded, the barrier was gone.


    Apollo shrugged. "Pardon the intrusion!" With that, he started climbing the stairs. At first, he could still see the steps, but as he continued, they gradually disappeared, and soon, the beggar found himself surrounded by darkness.


    He didn''t know how long he had been walking or how many steps he had taken, but thankfully, it wasn''t an endless staircase that would drive anyone mad.


    The sound of water splashing echoed as his foot hit the floor. At the same time, the entire area was subtly lit, allowing him to see the water reaching his ankles.


    Apollo glanced behind him, noticing the stairs had disappeared, replaced by an endless expanse of water stretching far and wide.


    The place resembled the training ground, though splashing sounds echoed with each step he took.


    "Now what?" Apollo muttered in confusion. All he could see was endless water¡ªno books, no scrolls. "Don''t tell me this place is still under construction?!"


    If that were the case, he''d be seriously upset.


    But his words seemed to trigger something. Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from the distance. When his eyes focused on the source, he saw water rising dozens of meters high.


    Apollo''s eyes widened. "What the f¡ª" He couldn''t finish his words as, in the next second, the giant mass of water exploded!


    The powerful blast sent shockwaves through the air, and the force of the water flung the beggar high into the sky!


    "Ahhh!" Apollo screamed, his body flipping dozens of times.


    As his vision blurred, he heard a roar so loud that his ears began ringing, and his body shivered from the intensity of it.


    A cold, piercing gaze locked onto him, but before he could process what was happening, the beggar slammed into the water-covered floor, creating a splash that shot dozens of feet into the air.


    "F*ck!" Apollo cursed. The fall didn''t hurt him, but being caught off guard by the sudden shift in the situation left him no time to react.


    He stared into the endless darkness for a moment before another roar echoed, the intimidating sound reverberating through the area.


    The beggar''s hair stood on end.


    What the hell is happening?! Apollo stood up, water dripping from him, but he couldn''t care less. His eyes were locked on the area where the explosion had occurred.


    What he saw nearly made him wet himself.


    I shouldn''t have entered this place! Apollo felt immense regret as those piercing cold eyes never left him.


    He now understood the feeling of being an ant. No matter how talented he was or how many techniques he had learned, he realized he was insignificant in front of true power. The creature before him was something even the Ten Tail Alphadusk Shadowtail couldn''t compare to!


    ---


    Meanwhile, outside, at the entrance to the fourth floor.


    Gail sat cross-legged beside the wall, a technique scroll resting on her lap. The third floor and below didn''t have memory-erasing mechanisms on their books and scrolls, allowing students to take the techniques anywhere on the island. However, they had to return them within a set time, finished or not, or else they would face severe punishment.


    She had been cultivating in this spot for three hours, and when she opened her eyes, she still couldn''t see any sign of Mr. Beggar.


    Gail let out a sigh. "Sorry, but I have to leave. I still need to help Filly." She spoke to the air, hoping her words would somehow reach the beggar inside. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I''ll just repay the favor another time, she thought. She glanced at the book in her hands for a moment before standing up and turning toward the stairs. However, the moment she took a step, the whole floor suddenly shook!


    A powerful earthquake almost caused Gail to fall, but she managed to grab the railing, steadying herself.


    At the same time, a roar echoed from behind her. It wasn''t loud, but as soon as it reached her ears, her whole body began trembling, as if she were standing face to face with death itself.


    Wide-eyed, she turned to the fourth floor''s entrance. The door was still shaking.


    She noticed the guards on standby exchanging glances before one of them pulled out a talisman.


    The guard held the engraved rectangle of paper in front of his mouth, whispered a few words, and it began to glow. Then, it disintegrated into particles of light, flowing in one direction, passing through the walls and into the outside world.


    Seeing this, Gail knew they had used the Long-Distance Voice Talisman. The fact that they''d resorted to this item made her realize how serious the situation had become.


    "You should leave," one of the guards said to the stunned woman.


    "B-but Mr. Yoma is still in there!" Gail stammered, her heart racing. Knowing that the beggar was behind the door where the roar had come from filled her with dread.


    "You should leave," the guard repeated, this time with a commanding and cold tone.


    Gail looked at the two guards with gritted teeth before letting out a resigned sigh. In the end, there was nothing more she could do but leave the floor.


    ...


    "I f*cked up," Apollo muttered, gulping as his eyes stayed fixed on the creature in the distance.


    He had gotten greedy with the techniques. The old sayings¡ªtoo much of anything is bad and curiosity killed the cat¡ªwere ringing true. Apollo could think of several proverbs to describe his disastrous situation, but he didn''t have time to dwell on them as the creature roared once more.


    The Great Serpent floated in front of him, a glowing light-blue brilliance radiating from its massive form, illuminating the entire watery expanse.


    It was as big as a mountain and wide enough to cover two or three streets. The creature''s body was covered in shimmering blue scales, tiny sapphires scattered across its skin, each one radiating an otherworldly glow. Its eyes, cold and bottomless like the deepest ocean trench, were locked on the beggar unblinkingly, while its long, sinuous body coiled through the air.


    Water floated around the beast as if alive, twisting and swirling in sync with the creature''s subtle movements.


    With a mere flick of its tail, water surged, forming towering waves that nearly reached its full height. Winds whipped up as well, causing the beggar''s clothes and hair to flap violently in the gusts.


    Apollo gulped for what felt like the hundredth time. Compared to this monster, the Alphadusk that almost killed him during the Advancement Examination was nothing! The difference between them was like heaven and earth.


    I''m just here for some techniques, not to meet a monster of this magnitude! Apollo regretted ever stepping into this godforsaken place.


    He began weighing his options, though it quickly became clear there was only one: escape.


    He pulled up his Status Screen to check his remaining Alm Points.


    Alm Points: 40


    The basic locator had cost him five Alm Points. It was functional and useful, but in his current situation, he needed every Alm Point he could get!


    "Hey System!" Apollo called out, still not breaking eye contact with the Great Serpent. The statue outside the Great Serpent Cultivation School almost resembled the creature in front of him¡ªalmost, because the stone couldn''t capture the overwhelming pressure radiating from the serpent!


    "Yes, Host?"


    "Is 40 Alm Points enough to get me out of here if things go south?" Apollo asked, crossing his fingers.


    "Try using the feature and we will find out if it''s enough," the System responded in its usual emotionless voice.


    Apollo''s face turned bright red with anger at the answer.


    "You scum! F*ck you, System! If you had a physical body, I''d beat your *ss!" Apollo shouted, his nose flaring in frustration.


    The only response he got was the translucent screen in front of him disappearing into particles of light.


    Taking a deep breath to calm his rage, Apollo started scanning the area for an exit. That''s when he heard a voice.


    "Human¡­ you will¡­ take¡­ my challenge."


    Apollo turned toward the giant creature, his face showing momentary shock before he snapped out of it with a shake of his head. He shouldn''t be surprised that the Great Serpent could talk.

 Chapter 212 - 212: Fifth Floor(Part-2)

    Apollo stared at the humongous figure, his eyes wide.


    "Challenge?" the beggar muttered. He only wanted the strongest technique in the Great Serpent Library, but this monster wanted him to take a challenge? There could only be one explanation: the technique on this floor must be incredibly powerful.


    Although Apollo felt his current situation was dangerous, he knew there was no way this Great Serpent was here without reason. Clearly, a valuable object lay hidden on the fifth floor, guarded by this powerful presence.


    The beggar took a deep breath to calm his nerves. If he couldn''t escape, then he would face what lay ahead¡ªnot by fighting it, as there was a thousand percent chance he''d die. Besides, he came here for the technique, and his initial goal wasn''t going to change.


    "What challenge?!" Apollo called out, his voice echoing in the vast space.


    "Don''t¡­ shout¡­" the Great Serpent rumbled, its tone cold and low, making the temperature plummet. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The beggar shivered as a mist of breath escaped his mouth, his heavy breathing adding to the eerie atmosphere.


    "What challenge?" Apollo repeated, this time his voice barely above a whisper. He didn''t want to die¡ªno way he''d waste his second life.


    "Come¡­ here," the Great Serpent commanded, its voice rumbling deeply. The slow, thunderous speech made the beggar''s hair stand on end.


    "Alrig¡ª" Apollo started to answer when his vision blurred. Before he knew it, he was standing directly in front of the serpent. He blinked a few times, trying to process what had just happened.


    What the hell? That''s cool! Apollo thought, impressed. He hadn''t felt a thing¡ªno Qi, no warning¡ªjust a blur before he was teleported.


    "State¡­ your¡­ name," the Great Serpent said.


    "I''m Ap¡ª" Apollo coughed. "I''m Yoma."


    The beggar kept his voice low, not daring to raise it in fear it might cost him his life.


    The Great Serpent was silent for a moment. The water around it began swirling faster as its voice boomed.


    "Yoma¡­ is not¡­ your¡­ real name!"


    Apollo felt the serpent''s piercing gaze go straight through him, making his whole body shiver. The air grew thick with killing intent. Swallowing hard, the beggar smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, my bad. I was just trying to protect my real identity. My name is Apollo.


    Apollo Leone."


    For the first time since arriving in this world, he revealed his real name.


    "Apollo¡­ Leone," the Great Serpent repeated. "Hundreds¡­ of individuals¡­ have tried¡­ to enter¡­ this place¡­ however¡­ you are¡­ the first¡­ to have¡­ qualified."


    Hearing this, Apollo smirked confidently. It''s because I''m so talented! he thought, though he kept silent, waiting for the creature to reveal the details of the challenge.


    "A¡­ vessel¡­ capable of embodying¡­ the real¡­ me¡­ to transform¡­ into something¡­ greater¡­" The Great Serpent''s voice turned melancholic as it spoke.


    As Apollo listened and stared at the Great Serpent, he was suddenly reminded of a scene from a television show he''d seen in his previous life.


    A person with spiky hair collecting seven shiny balls, summoning a creature from them that''s huge and wide, just like the one in front of him. Then they were granted three wishes¡ªmoney, power, strength¡ªanything could be granted. But reality and fiction are very different. Apollo had to face a challenge to get what he wanted.


    "Hundreds¡­ of fragments¡­ scattered across¡­ Continent Drakaris¡­ hoping¡­ to find¡­ the one¡­ who can¡­ inherit¡­" The Great Serpent''s slow voice reverberated.


    Apollo, listening closely, crossed his arms with a raised eyebrow. Continent Drakaris¡ªhe knew that''s where Klown City was located. Luckily, he had learned the basics back on the first floor, or he''d still be clueless.


    Fragments? What''s this monster talking about? Apollo didn''t need much time to figure it out. Fragments¡ªit was referring to itself. These fragments were likely located at the top of each Great Serpent Cultivation School''s library, scattered across Drakaris.


    "Inherit¡­ the true¡­ identity¡­ of the true¡­ Great Serpent¡­ Apollo Leone¡­" The Great Serpent''s gaze softened.


    Okay, here comes the main part! Finally, the serpent was going to explain the challenge. Apollo''s ears perked up, afraid to miss a single detail. Just from the creature''s story, the technique on this floor had to be something unique and incredibly powerful!


    "The Great Serpent¡­ embodied¡­ water¡­" the snake continued. "Water¡­ embraces the land¡­ water¡­ extinguishes fire¡­ thousands¡­ of years ago¡­"


    Oh, god! Can''t you just get straight to the point! Apollo''s face twitched in irritation. He began tapping his finger on his arm. The Great Serpent''s voice was slow enough to test his patience, and now it was going off into some ancient story!


    Come on! I''m here for the technique, not to listen to a fairy tale! But the creature pressed on with its tale.


    "My kind¡­ ran rampant¡­ we were the kings¡­ and queens¡­ of water¡­ but our existence¡­ became known¡­ to man¡­" The Great Serpent looked toward the ''ceiling,'' the endless void of darkness, its eyes seeming to pierce through time. "War¡­ we couldn''t¡­ escape¡­ some¡­ were imprisoned¡­ some died¡­ some chose¡­ to fight¡­"


    Apollo didn''t need to hear the rest. The history books on the first floor had already provided enough information for him to piece together the War.


    The War of Greed had brought the unknown to light. Dragons, serpents, great turtles, and more legendary creatures appeared, and once peace was broken, their presence became entangled in the battle between Cultivators and normal humans who had gained power from other influences.


    Theories and doubts were also written in those books, some of which Apollo agreed with. The Ancient Cultivators and normal humans had made a treaty, in part to face the threat of the Legendary Creatures.


    Apollo waited, tuning out the rest of the Great Serpent''s words. It was just bragging about how great its species was and how powerful they had been. The serpent even claimed the dragons couldn''t compare to them.


    Though the serpent''s speech was slow, its pride was unmistakable.


    Apollo lost track of time, and just as he was about to reach the end of his patience, the Great Serpent finally stopped.


    "Apollo¡­ the one¡­ who is¡­ qualified¡­" The Great Serpent stared coldly at him, its body shifting subtly, the scales glinting.


    "Yes?" Apollo asked unenthusiastically. For god''s sake, if this snake dares to tell another story, I''ll throw my life away and pick a fight with it! Luckily, the worst-case scenario¡ªone he definitely wasn''t ready to try¡ªdidn''t happen.


    "Take my¡­ challenge¡­ to inherit¡­ the Great¡­ Serpent Ascendant¡­ Transformation¡­" The Great Serpent spoke in a mysterious tone.


    Hearing this, Apollo clenched his fists in excitement. Finally!

 Chapter 213 - 213: Fifth Floor(Part-3)

    The Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School was cultivating peacefully inside his quarters. His body floated cross-legged above a mat, while a thin black sword lay across his lap.


    With eyes closed, the surrounding Qi flowed into his body, circulating before settling below his navel, where his Ball of Qi rotated slowly.


    This clone of his had reached the 3rd-Step of the Qi Condensation stage, and it wouldn''t be long before ''he'' reached the 4th-Step.


    As the surroundings remained dark and the fireflies of Qi entered his body, Headmaster Axton couldn''t help but smile as he thought of his Personal Disciple.


    The scene from Yoma''s first challenge against Heru replayed in his mind. He''s truly a great find, the Headmaster thought with satisfaction.


    He couldn''t think of anyone more deserving of the position of Personal Disciple than Yoma. Someone who had mastered the True Understanding of the Sword, Yoma was more than qualified. Furthermore, he was smart and brave, venturing into the path of the Wanderer.


    As Axton cultivated, thinking about the kid¡ªwhich might come off as suspicious to others if they found out¡ªa brown bird suddenly entered the balcony, chirping loudly as it circled in the air.


    Hearing this, Axton opened his eyes and stared at the bird. "Come here."


    The bird chirped one last time before flying in front of the Headmaster, holding a small scroll in its claws. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The moment Axton took it, the bird flew away.


    There was a seal stamped on the scroll: a crossed sword atop a shield. Axton instantly recognized where it came from.


    Unfurling it, the paper burned to ashes. However, the smoke didn''t scatter. Instead, it gathered into a three-foot cloud, and an image slowly formed.


    Seeing the person on the cloud, Axton smiled. "Why did you send such an expensive long-distance live message?"


    "I had to," Elmo said, his tone serious. His eyes scanned the space behind the Great Serpent Headmaster but found no one. "Where is he? Is he still alive?"


    "Oh? Straight to the point, I see. But I don''t know what you''re talking about," Axton shrugged, his smile unfading.


    "I think you do," Elmo stated firmly. "You may be smarter than me, but that doesn''t mean I''m slow or dumb."


    "Haha," Axton laughed, shaking his head. With a sigh, he asked, "How did you find out?"


    "Just like you, I spoke with the Skyline Savory," Elmo smirked through the cloud of smoke. "I realized it too late, though. The sudden tribulation was strange, so I asked that monster expert for his thoughts. So, back to my first question: where is he, and is he still alive?"


    "You won''t stop until I tell you, will you?" Axton sighed.


    "No," Elmo nodded firmly.


    "He''s dead, clear as day," Axton lied. There was no way he''d reveal that he already had the talented Yoma under his wing.


    "I don''t believe it," Elmo shook his head. "Besides, there''s something else I''ve heard."


    "What?" Axton raised an eyebrow, though he already had an inkling of what the other headmaster had discovered.


    "You took in a Personal Disciple?" Elmo asked, smirking and narrowing his eyes at Axton. The more cunning a person was, the less their words could be trusted. "That was sudden, wasn''t it? Rumors travel fast, so I know all about it."


    Who would believe that? Axton thought. It was true that rumors traveled fast, but he was certain these particular rumors were only circulating inside his school. Clearly, Elmo must have used underhanded methods. However, the Great Serpent Headmaster wouldn''t call out his friend, since he was guilty of the same behavior.


    The only clueless one was Fire Shrine Master Popo, who was more focused on showing off his jewels.


    "I can neither deny nor confirm that rumor," Axton said, smiling mysteriously.


    "I see," Elmo went silent for a moment, then nodded. "I''ve got what I wanted, so I''ll cut off the connection."


    "Sure. Hopefully, you''re satisfied," Axton said.


    "I am, but a bit frustrated, to be honest," Elmo replied before the smoke cloud dispersed with the wind.


    As it faded, the Great Serpent Headmaster shook his head. Hiding the truth from the other Headmasters wasn''t going to be easy, but at least he was keeping his promise to the beggar.


    Gazing at the clear blue sky beyond the balcony for a moment, he prepared to return to his cultivation. But just before he could enter the Void, the building shook. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but with Axton''s heightened senses, he felt it clearly.


    His attention shifted toward the direction of the Library. "What''s happening?" Axton muttered, a sense of foreboding welling up inside him.


    In the next instant, particles of light passed through the walls, stopping in front of him.


    Axton''s eyes widened. Long-distance voice communication? There were various items, methods, and techniques for communication, but this was typically used only in emergencies¡ªjust like the Long Distance Live Message Elmo had used earlier out of curiosity.


    The particles of light shaped themselves into a mouth, and a voice emerged from it.


    "The entire fourth floor of the Great Serpent Cultivation Library shook violently, followed by the roar of the Great Serpent, calling for the Headmaster''s presence. The Personal Disciple is currently inside."


    Axton recognized the voice of the guard stationed at the fourth-floor entrance. His eyes widened momentarily before he hurriedly moved toward the balcony.


    His heart pounded in his chest, his breathing heavy.


    "Don''t tell me he managed to enter that place?!" Axton muttered, launching himself into the air. In an instant, his body blurred as he sped toward the school''s library.


    ...


    Great Serpent Ascendent Transformation? That''s a great fcking name!* Apollo thought, excitement coursing through him. His eyes burned with anticipation. "So, what''s the challenge?" he finally asked, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer.


    "Fight¡­ me," the Great Serpent said, its booming voice echoing.


    Silence lingered.


    "Hell nah!" Apollo blurted, quickly snapping out of his shock. Who in their right mind would fight a battle with such a high chance of defeat? Only madmen or people with a death wish! Not me! He valued his life above all else. He might be called a coward or a p*ssy, but at least he wasn''t six feet under!


    Shaking his head, he turned to leave, searching for the exit. But suddenly, the surroundings blurred again, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of the Great Serpent once more.


    "Fight¡­ me¡­ one¡­ of my¡­ clones¡­" the Great Serpent said. "If you¡­ win¡­ you shall¡­ inherit¡­ the Great Serpent¡­ Ascendent¡­ Transformation¡­"

 Chapter 214 - 214: Clone Of The Great Serpent(Part-1)

    "Clearly, you''re strong, so this clone of yours should be a downgraded version of yourself, right?" Apollo asked, pointing at the serpent''s sinuous body. He wasn''t sure whether the Great Serpent in front of him was the real deal or just a projection, but he could feel that this serpent was something he couldn''t defeat with his current cultivation.


    "I am¡­ but a mere¡­ fragment¡­ however, my clones¡­ are enough for¡­ you," the Great Serpent explained in its slow, low voice.


    "Enough for me? To defeat it or for it to defeat me?" Apollo asked, but the serpent didn''t respond. Its glowing body brightened before shrinking into a two-meter-tall ball of light.


    The light slowly descended in front of the beggar.


    "I guess we''re starting then," Apollo muttered, his demeanor turning serious. His small frame stood face-to-face with the ball of light as his body tensed. If this ball of light made any sudden moves that threatened him, he was ready to act.


    Lowering his stance, the beggar waited.


    A few seconds later, the ball of light began to shift. Its form changed into various shapes until it settled into the figure of a two-meter-tall man.


    Then the details emerged¡ªlong white hair with a hint of blue, reaching down to the waist. The man''s face had no eyebrows, but was covered in pale blue, almost white scales. His eyes were a deep ocean blue, reminiscent of the unreachable depths of Point Nemo.


    His body was covered in white and blue scales, which seemed to function as armor.


    Apollo''s eyes widened as he took in the sight. A sudden flicking sound echoed behind the man, and when Apollo looked, he saw a long white tail swishing over the water-covered floor.


    Though the winds summoned weren''t as powerful as those from the larger Great Serpent, they were strong enough to blow the beggar''s hair and clothes.


    "You¡­ are you the Great Serpent?" Apollo asked, raising his fists in front of him.


    "I am but a mere clone, a fragment scattered across the entire Drakarin continent," the Great Serpent answered. His voice was much clearer now than when he was in his snake form.


    Apollo nodded. The serpent had already explained the fragment earlier. So these fragments were clones of the real Great Serpent? Then where was the real one? The question lingered in his mind, and he decided to search for the answer later.


    He had only learned the basic knowledge on the first floor, and if he wanted to understand more, he would need to spend more time reading, which he wasn''t keen on doing right now.


    "If I defeat you, I''ll gain the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation?" Apollo asked. He didn''t know much about the technique yet, but it sounded cool, and he hoped it lived up to its name.


    "Yes," the clone nodded, flicking its tail once more. "We shall begin."


    Upon hearing this, Apollo jumped back to maintain distance, covering both his hands with the Simple Wind Sword Technique.


    Apollo narrowed his eyes, every nerve on high alert. He hadn''t expected that acquiring this technique would lead him into a battle¡ªand against one of the Legendary beings, the Great Serpent, no less.


    Even though it was only a clone, Apollo would still consider it the real deal¡ªjust for the sake of the story he''d tell later, if he decided to brag about the battle.


    Apollo took a deep breath as his opponent remained still, seemingly waiting for him to make the first move.


    "Hey! Why aren''t you moving?" Apollo shouted, but the humanoid Great Serpent stayed silent, its tail swaying behind it. "Fine! I''ll take the first move!"


    If his opponent wouldn''t act first, he''d gladly take the initiative! However, the moment Apollo stepped forward, the scaled man became a blur, and before the beggar knew it, a white and blue fist was inches from his face!


    "F*ck!" Apollo cursed, realizing he couldn''t dodge in time.


    With a loud crack, the fist slammed into his face, sending him flying through the air and crashing into the water, parting it in half!


    Apollo quickly flipped himself up, somersaulting in the air before landing squarely on his feet.


    "That hurt," he muttered, rubbing his now-red cheek. He tasted blood on his lips. Wiping it with his hand, he glared angrily at the distant Great Serpent. "I''m just a kid! Can''t you hold back?!"


    The humanoid Great Serpent didn''t respond.


    "Damnit," Apollo spat into the water, watching the blood fall slowly towards the floor. "You''ve pissed me off."


    Fire Blast and Wind Blast. The two techniques appeared before him as he raised his hands, aiming at his opponent.


    As the blasts formed, Apollo noticed that the Great Serpent still wasn''t moving. He narrowed his eyes. The moment he''d moved earlier, the serpent had appeared in front of him, but now, as he combined Fire Blast and Wind Blast, the snake remained stationary.


    "Fine! Stay still then!" Apollo shouted, releasing his attack.


    Like a meteor, the fire and wind blasts shot through the water, surging toward the Great Serpent!


    But just as the blast left his hands, Apollo felt an overwhelming sense of danger. And sure enough, the serpent blurred again, reappearing right in front of him as the fire and wind combination exploded at its previous location! S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the incoming fist, Apollo raised his own, throwing a punch with all his strength!


    A shockwave erupted between them, sending water splashing high into the air, revealing the black floor beneath.


    Apollo could feel the immense power behind the white and blue fist, pushing his hand back. He gritted his teeth, staring into the creature''s deep blue eyes.


    Simple Wind Sword Technique!


    Suddenly, Apollo''s fist turned razor-sharp, slicing through the serpent''s hand, sending blood spraying onto the floor!


    "Gotcha!" Apollo smirked as he forced the Great Serpent''s hand back.


    Seizing the opening, he launched a punch with his other fist! But the serpent''s kick came faster, sending his body flying to the side!


    Apollo tumbled across the water-covered floor, his entire body drenched.


    He quickly stood up and wiped his face.


    "Argh," Apollo groaned in pain. Glancing down, he saw blood trickling from his waist. "I can''t react in time!"


    The Great Serpent was incredibly fast. He had thought his punch would land, but the monster was always one step ahead.

 Chapter 215 - 215: Clone Of The Great Serpent(Part-2)

    "He''s not going to move again," Apollo muttered, noticing that the Great Serpent was only watching him, its tail swaying despite clearly being at a disadvantage.


    Is this his way of looking down on me? Apollo thought, shaking his head. He had to defeat the serpent; he realized there was no leaving this place otherwise.


    Taking a couple of deep breaths, he activated his True Hardening Technique, one of the abilities he''d learned during the second round of the previous Advancement Examination.


    At the same time, he focused intently on every detail of his opponent.


    "I just have to react in time," Apollo thought. He had seen it¡ªhe could injure the Great Serpent with his Simple Wind Sword Technique. Although he hadn''t managed to cut through the fist entirely, it was a good sign. He had something that could threaten the creature, but he had to worry about the serpent''s swift, almost unavoidable attacks. Fortunately, the attacks weren''t fatal in one blow.


    With determination, he raised his hand, and fire gathered in front of him, raising the temperature around him and illuminating the space. He didn''t call for the Wind Blast yet¡ªhe had other plans for it.


    "Take this!" Apollo shouted, firing the Fire Blast toward the serpent! But as expected, the Great Serpent blurred, instantly appearing in front of the beggar. "Not this time!"


    Wind Blast!


    But instead of coming from in front of Apollo, it descended from above!


    Apollo smiled as the Wind Blast struck the serpent directly! But he wasn''t done yet. Using his hand like a sword, he slashed horizontally at the creature!


    Blue blood spurted as his fingers sliced through the scales as if they were nothing!


    "You''re nothing after a¡ª" Apollo couldn''t finish his words as the serpent''s tail whipped toward his chest. "Damn!"


    The tail moved so fast that Apollo barely managed to react by crossing his arms in front of him. With a loud bang, his body skidded across the water-covered floor. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His hands were trembling, a testament to the serpent''s power.


    Glancing at the Great Serpent, he saw its chest still spurting blood. A smile crept onto his lips but quickly vanished as pain shot through his chest.


    Looking down, he saw a long wound, shaped like the Great Serpent''s tail.


    "Ugh, that''s gross," Apollo muttered through gritted teeth. He stopped the bleeding using the surrounding Qi, letting out a sigh of relief. But when he looked back at his opponent, he was shocked. "This is cheating!"


    The serpent''s chest had already healed, new scales forming rapidly.


    Regeneration, faster, and stronger than me. This is tough! Apollo thought with a frown. He didn''t have the Headmaster to rely on this time, unlike his previous boss fight with Alphadusk. Now, he had to figure this out on his own.


    "But distractions work," Apollo muttered. Fortunately, the Great Serpent was only standing still. Revising his Wind Blast technique to summon it from any direction instead of just in front of his hands had allowed him to land a hit. With this discovery, the beggar had found one of the serpent''s weaknesses.


    Apollo squinted at his opponent, scanning it from head to tail before his gaze settled on the Great Serpent''s neck.


    "That''s the spot!"


    Severing the head could kill almost any creature. With his Simple Wind Sword Technique, Apollo bent his knees and sprinted toward his opponent!


    ...


    "Where is he?" Headmaster Axton asked as he arrived on the fourth floor of the school''s library.


    "He''s still inside, Headmaster," one of the guards tasked with protecting the fourth floor bowed his head and replied.


    "How long has he been in there?" Axton stared at the closed doors with a frown on his face.


    "A few hours," the guard answered.


    "A few hours?" Axton repeated, surprised. He hadn''t expected his Personal Disciple to enter this floor so soon, even though Yoma already possessed techniques that could defeat the other Seniors. Did he enter out of curiosity, or was he determined to learn more techniques?


    Nevertheless, those who attempted to learn the techniques here typically had to stay inside for weeks or even months just to memorize and master their chosen technique.


    But the beggar had only been inside for a few hours, and something had already happened.


    "Is there anyone else inside besides the Personal Disciple?" Axton asked, his eyes locking on the guard.


    They didn''t dare meet his gaze, so they lowered their heads. One of them responded, "Personal Disciple Yoma is the only one inside, Headmaster."


    "Is that so..." Axton nodded, his expression serious. There was only one explanation for what was happening. His Personal Disciple Yoma had likely managed to enter the fifth floor!


    If that was the case¡­ Axton''s eyes burned with anticipation and excitement. "You can do it," he whispered, cheering inwardly for his disciple.


    ...


    Twenty minutes later.


    Mist rose into the air before being scattered by a strong wind.


    "Ah! Take this, you piece of snake!" Apollo''s small voice reverberated inside the chamber as five or six wind blasts surrounded the Great Serpent!


    The moment the blasts landed and enveloped the serpent, Apollo dashed toward his opponent, his hands covered with the Simple Wind Sword Technique. Even from a distance, he was already slicing through the air, wind slashes materializing and bombarding the Great Serpent.


    "Die!" Apollo shouted, his hands turning into a blur as he continued to slash at the creature. His body was covered in his own blood as the Great Serpent repeatedly landed attacks on him. Though he could injure the snake, he remained at a disadvantage.


    This forced him to exploit the Great Serpent''s one weakness: its tendency to get distracted. Apollo had also revised the Wind Blast Technique and the Fire Blast Technique on the spot, enabling him to use them from any position with five to six blasts at once. Although the combined attack power was lower than before, it was still enough to catch the serpent off guard!


    Blue blood sprayed across the beggar''s body, but he didn''t stop. On the contrary, his hands moved even faster!


    "Ah!" Apollo shouted, but before he realized it, the Simple Wind Sword Technique vanished from his hands. At the same time, exhaustion overtook him as his energy to control both Unrefined and Refined Qi ran out.


    He jumped back and stared at the fire- and wind-covered spot where his opponent had been.


    "Hehe, I won," the beggar muttered, panting. "No way that snake could have survived that, right?"

 Chapter 216 - 216: Clone Of The Great Serpent(Part-3)

    Apollo stared at the swirling fire and wind, his breathing labored and parts of his body bleeding.


    Fighting the Great Serpent for at least twenty minutes was exhausting. Every time he took a step, the serpent would appear in front of him, forcing them into close combat. The creature''s fists and kicks inflicted damage but never enough to kill him outright. It felt as if the serpent was programmed not to deal a fatal blow in one hit.


    But Apollo knew that if he didn''t retreat, the accumulated damage would eventually kill him.


    If he didn''t take a step, his opponent wouldn''t either. Apollo used those brief moments of stillness to gather his thoughts and heal his injuries, prolonging the fight.


    Gathering the surrounding Qi, he slowly patched up his wounds. As he did so, an idea sparked in his mind.


    "What if I use Refined Qi?" he muttered, his eyes gleaming. Refined Qi was far superior to the unrefined version¡ªstronger and more efficient. If he used it to heal his injuries... Excited by the idea, he quickly put it into practice.


    Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the Refined Qi stored below his navel. The ball of energy churned to life, releasing Qi into his body. Apollo guided it to his wounds, and sure enough, they healed much faster than when he used Unrefined Qi.


    A satisfied smile crept across his face at the discovery.


    But when he opened his eyes, shock replaced his smile.


    The Great Serpent was still alive, its deep blue eyes locked onto his. Its injuries were healing at an alarming rate!


    "Shit!" Apollo cursed. Without waiting for his own wounds to fully heal, he activated his Simple Movement Technique, combining it with all the other movement techniques he had learned from the Advancement Examination, as well as the one he''d recently mastered on the fourth floor.


    Water swirled around his body, mingling with gusts of wind as he dashed toward the serpent!


    The Great Serpent moved too, and they collided halfway! A loud bang echoed as their fists met, shockwaves rippling from the impact!


    A tail lashed out, but Apollo dodged by snapping his head back. Twisting his body, he delivered a kick enhanced by the Simple Wind Sword Technique, sending a wind slash that cut into the serpent''s side!


    Not enough! Apollo gritted his teeth. The monster''s regeneration was too fast, and he had to deal as much damage as possible.


    In a blur, his small frame appeared behind the Great Serpent, though the creature''s tail was already aiming for his chest.


    Fire Blast! Though it was a smaller variation, it was enough to deflect the tail.


    Apollo''s eyes narrowed at the rapidly healing wound on the serpent''s back. Filled with killing intent, he plunged his hand inside!


    The sound of flesh tearing echoed through the air, followed by the spurt of blue blood.


    Apollo''s face was drenched in it, but he remained expressionless, though the burning rage in his eyes betrayed his emotions.


    "I did it..." he muttered, realizing what had just happened. It was a short burst of speed¡ªprobably fueled by adrenaline¡ªbut it had paid off. "I di¡ª"


    But before he could finish, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Looking down, he saw the serpent''s tail had pierced through his chest. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo managed to change the direction of the tail using the small variation of Fire Blast. If he had used the original version, he would have blown himself up along with the serpent, which would have only put him at a greater disadvantage. The smaller Fire Blast gave him just enough time to pierce the back of the Great Serpent.


    He slowly looked up and saw the Great Serpent glancing at him.


    Silence lingered, but it was shattered as the beggar coughed up another mouthful of blood.


    "You won," the Great Serpent said.


    "Eh?" Apollo looked surprised at first before a smile crept onto his face. "That''s good to hear... I won, but at what cost?"


    The Great Serpent said nothing more. Its body, starting from the left, began disintegrating into particles of light.


    Seeing this, Apollo let out a sigh. Soon, the entire snake disappeared.


    The beggar collapsed onto the water-covered floor, his blood staining it red.


    Because of his small frame, his face was nearly submerged in the water, but it hardly mattered. The pain in his chest was unbearable, but right now, all he wanted was to sleep.


    To sleep in eternal peace.


    That thought crossed his mind for a moment, causing him to abruptly open his eyes.


    "Hell nah! I''m not going to die!" the beggar shouted, hurriedly sitting cross-legged as he began healing his injuries with the Refined Qi in his dantian.


    Fck, it hurts,* the beggar thought, gritting his teeth as his wounds slowly started to mend.


    Looking down at his chest, he could see his insides, even catching a glimpse of his back through the gaping wound.


    Apollo focused the Refined Qi on his chest, his organs slowly regenerating, though not as fast as when he healed lighter wounds.


    "I will not die here!" he declared, his gaze fixed on the spot where the Great Serpent had vanished.


    Suddenly, the entire area began shaking violently. The beggar continued healing his wounds while watching his surroundings.


    "That snake said he''d give me a technique if I defeated him, so why''s the place falling apart?!" Apollo muttered, worrying whether the Great Serpent had tricked him.


    The space around him started to crack and collapse. Each piece that hit the ground disappeared as if it had never been there. They fell, one by one.


    Apollo glanced upward and saw the black space crumbling above him. But he couldn''t move¡ªif he did, he might worsen his injuries.


    He closed his eyes and let the black space fall onto him. Apollo felt only a soft breeze brushing his hair. When he opened his eyes, his surroundings had completely changed.


    Dark wooden walls and ceiling, just like on the fourth floor, but the only object in the room was a circular platform in the center.


    On top of the platform floated a glowing scroll, emitting a whitish-blue light.


    Seeing it, Apollo''s face lit up. "This must be the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation!"


    He was about to stand but remembered his injuries weren''t fully healed yet. Reining in his excitement, he focused on healing his body first.


    The new technique sounded amazing, but his health was the most important thing right now.

 Chapter 217 - 217: Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation

    Headmaster Axton stood in front of the fourth-floor entrance alongside the other guards. He remained perfectly still, his eyes closed in deep concentration.


    It had been twenty minutes since the fourth floor had shaken from within, and nothing had happened since then. But the Headmaster knew it wasn''t over yet.


    Did he really manage to enter that place? If he did¡­ I''ll have to report this to the Main School. This is great news, Axton thought, a small smile forming on his face.


    No one had ever entered the fifth floor since the founding of this branch in Klown City. Even Axton himself had been refused entry, no matter how hard he tried. The thought that his personal disciple could do it filled him with satisfaction.


    Even if his disciple wasn''t the chosen one, Axton still felt proud.


    He could only imagine the envy he would receive once the Elders and other members from the Main School learned that his personal disciple had been chosen by the Great Serpent.


    As he waited patiently, the entire building suddenly shook once more. Feeling the intense vibrations, Axton opened his eyes and stared at the entrance with anticipation. Please, let it be real!


    ¡­


    Apollo stood up after healing the wounds on his chest. He hadn''t fully healed¡ªhis muscles were still exposed, and his skin was parted¡ªbut he had managed to heal his organs, which was the most important part. His muscles and skin would heal on their own, though it would take time.


    He walked towards the circular platform and stood in front of the floating scroll.


    Immediately, Apollo''s body felt revitalized as he neared the object.


    Swallowing nervously, he raised his hand and touched the scroll. A cooling sensation traveled from his hand, spreading throughout his entire body. Slowly, he unfurled it, and intense light bathed his face. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At first, all he could see was white, but soon, the figure of the Great Serpent emerged, rising from the scroll and circling above him. The snake roared into the air.


    The beggar watched in fascination as the Great Serpent dove toward him, mouth wide open.


    Instinctively, Apollo raised his hands above his head, but it was useless¡ªthe serpent entered his body!


    After a moment, Apollo examined himself. He felt light, as though his body had been rejuvenated. Although his injuries weren''t fully healed, he felt as if he could go another round against the humanoid Great Serpent. Shaking his head, he looked around for the scroll and tilted his head in confusion when he couldn''t find it.


    "Where is¡ª?" Apollo stopped mid-sentence as realization struck. The technique¡­ it''s inside my brain?


    Excited, he brought up the technique. It felt as though he were looking at another interface, yet it wasn''t quite the same.


    Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation:


    Description: This high-level technique allows the Chosen One to channel the power of the Great Serpent, gradually transforming into a colossal serpent. With each stage of mastery, the user gains serpent-like traits, enhanced senses, regenerative scales, and more, until full transformation is achieved.


    Reading the description, Apollo''s eyes widened in disbelief, and soon a laugh escaped his lips. "Hahaha! This is amazing!"


    Apollo laughed for a while before he continued reading the full technique. There were five stages he needed to complete in order to fully master it. And when he read the final stage, he became even more satisfied.


    Final Stage: Great Serpent Embodiment ¨C Full transformation into the Great Serpent, gaining control over massive torrents of water and devastating tail strikes.


    "So basically, I can transform!" Apollo clenched his fist. Although he didn''t know the full strength of the Great Serpent, they were known as Legendary Creatures of immense power, so formidable that even Ancestor cultivators didn''t dare provoke them. Their strength was such that a single attack could raze an entire continent to the ground. Just imagining it made the beggar''s blood boil.


    Should I learn it now? Apollo considered, glancing around his surroundings.


    Then he looked down at his chest. "Hmm, I should do it back at my beggar spot."


    He could use the place the Headmaster gave him, but he felt drawn to return to his beggar spot instead. It was a matter of preference, and Apollo realized he had grown attached to that little corner.


    He also missed the food from his previous life that the Filly restaurant provided for him.


    Taking one last look around, he started walking toward the exit, whistling a tune. This was a great day for him. He was satisfied with what he had gained, and although he had almost died in his fight with the clone of the Great Serpent, it was all worth it. Just thinking about transforming into a serpent, flying through the air, and causing massive waves with a flick of his tail made him walk faster.


    ¡­


    Axton waited, tapping his foot rhythmically against the floor. He was starting to worry as his personal disciple had not yet returned. Although he didn''t know exactly what lay within the fifth floor, he was aware there was a trial¡ªand the possibility of death.


    Just as his worry reached its peak, the entrance creaked open, and Axton''s eyes widened with anticipation.


    A small head peeked out from behind the door, scanning the area before revealing its full body.


    "Personal Disciple Yoma," Axton greeted, regaining his composure.


    "Oh, Headmaster! What brings you here? We just met, and now you''re here again. Did you miss me?" Apollo asked, adjusting his robe.


    He shifted the torn part to his side and created another tear on the opposite side to balance it out. It looked like a rough design, but it would do to hide the fact that he was injured. His robe was already full of rips and wear, so one more hole wouldn''t make a difference. He still used his Cleaning Bead to make himself look more presentable, wiping away the remaining blood.


    Headmaster Axton was momentarily speechless. Shaking his head, he replied, "We heard explosions, and the entire building started vibrating, so I came to investigate what was happening."


    "Right, I felt that too," Apollo said casually. Of course, he did¡ªhe was the one who caused it.


    Axton studied his disciple for a moment before raising his hand. A transparent dome enveloped the two of them. They had just met a few hours ago, but it seemed another serious conversation was needed.


    "Tell me the truth. You entered that place, didn''t you?" Axton asked, his voice filled with expectation.


    "Place? What place?" Apollo tilted his head, a look of ''confusion'' on his face. "Oh, do you mean that white area? The training room?"


    Apollo had already decided he wouldn''t admit to possessing that overpowered technique. It was up to the Headmaster to draw his own conclusions.

 Chapter 218 - 218: South Beach

    "Training room? No, not that," Headmaster Axton said. "I meant the fifth floor. Did you enter it?"


    "Fifth floor? Is there even a fifth floor?" Apollo asked ''innocently.''


    "Yes, there is!" Axton said, his eyes narrowing at the beggar. "Answer me truthfully! This is an important matter."


    "Like I said, I don''t know what you''re talking about," Apollo''s tone turned cold.


    Seeing the beggar''s stubbornness, Axton''s face turned red. This person is very frustrating! Why is he not telling the truth?! "Personal Disciple Yoma, the fifth floor is something only the chosen one can enter. If you did, tell me¡ªit''s a very important matter for the school."


    I figured, Apollo thought, but the more important it was, the less he wanted to reveal the truth. He could sense the consequences if they found out. Although he didn''t know the specifics, he knew enough to realize it would only bring trouble. He didn''t want to take on too much.


    "I really don''t know what you''re talking about," Apollo said. "Why don''t you just check inside and see for yourself?"


    Axton fell silent. Seeing the determination on the beggar''s face, he let out a heavy sigh. "Alright then. I''ll know the truth once I go inside."


    "Good, then I''ll be going." Apollo smiled and began walking toward the stairs.


    Watching his Personal Disciple''s back for a moment, Axton''s eyes wavered. Shaking his head, he stepped into the fourth floor with determination to uncover the truth.


    As soon as he entered, his eyes immediately focused on the entrance to the fifth floor, ignoring the dozen techniques around him.


    He walked toward it and raised his hand. His hand passed through the entrance without encountering the water barrier that had always been there. His suspicions were confirmed¡ªYoma had indeed entered the upper floor.


    "But why doesn''t he want to admit it?" Axton muttered. Since the beggar had returned, it meant he had successfully passed the test.


    Curious, Axton ascended the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the empty space. A few moments later, he arrived on the fifth floor.


    In the center of the room was a circular platform, just like the ones on the fourth and third floors. However, there was no technique floating here.


    "Why?" Axton suddenly felt conflicted. Should he report this or not? Clearly, his Personal Disciple didn''t want anyone to know the truth. "Personal Disciple? I got lucky."


    Axton felt incredibly fortunate that Yoma, the Chosen One to become the next Headmaster of the entire Great Serpent Cultivation School¡ªnot just in this city, but of the main school itself¡ªwas his Personal Disciple.


    According to his orders, if someone managed to enter the fifth floor and return alive, they were to be reported immediately. It was no secret that the chosen one would become the next owner of the Great Serpent''s legacy.


    Axton hadn''t even taught Yoma a single thing, and now the beggar would become the next master. The irony made the headmaster smile bitterly.


    "I''m useless," he muttered, shaking his head. Then, with determination glinting in his eyes, he made up his mind. "I should respect his decision."


    ¡­


    Apollo walked out of the school''s library. He noticed that the Martial Students were still buzzing about what had happened.


    "Mr. Yoma!" someone shouted.


    The beggar turned toward the voice and saw Gail running toward him.


    "You''re still here?" Apollo asked. "Why didn''t you go back yet?"


    "I was waiting for you," Gail said. "Are you okay? The fourth floor suddenly started shaking, and I was worried something bad might have happened to you."


    "I''m alright, thanks for asking," Apollo replied. "I actually don''t know what happened, but something must have gone wrong. Someone''s already investigating it."


    "I see," Gail sighed with relief. "As long as you''re okay."


    "I''m heading back. Do you want to come with me?" Apollo asked.


    "Well, sure," Gail nodded, though she glanced at the library first. She was curious about what had happened, but Filly needed her.


    Apollo whistled, imbuing it with Qi, necessary to call his mount, Bluetooth.


    Soon, his Water-Attributed Falcon landed in front of them.


    "That''s a full Water-Attributed Falcon," Gail said, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "What? Is that good?" Apollo asked, rubbing his bird.


    "Of course," Gail nodded, raising her hand. "Can I pet him?"


    "Sure, be careful though, he''s quite sensitive," Apollo said. He stepped back to give Gail space to stroke his bird.


    "This is amazing," Gail praised, her hand moving back and forth over the falcon''s head. "He''s also really big."


    "Hahaha, don''t praise him too much, or he''ll blush," Apollo joked, making Gail laugh.


    Bluetooth enjoyed the attention for a few more moments before Gail stopped. "I should call my mount too."


    "Why don''t you ride with me?" Apollo offered, jumping onto his mount''s back.


    "I wouldn''t dare. Besides, my falcon would get jealous," Gail replied before she whistled.


    Soon, the two of them took off, and as they flew into the sky, a young man pulled out a talisman.


    "Something happened in the library, but they didn''t stick around and left. Their destination is the south beach, the exit." The man''s eyes glinted coldly, a cunning smile appearing on his face as the talisman burned into particles of light.


    ¡­


    As Apollo felt the wind hit his face, he couldn''t help but think about what had just transpired on the fifth floor. If that fight had taken place on the street where his beggar spot was, they would have leveled the whole area.


    That Great Serpent said I was the chosen one, and even Headmaster Axton mentioned it. Chosen? Chosen for what, though? Apollo tried to figure out what it all meant but gave up after a moment. He also knew Axton wouldn''t believe everything he said, but it was up to the Headmaster to decide what to do.


    Apollo already got what he wanted by visiting the library, and if Axton did something he didn''t like, he could just drop the role of Personal Disciple. Having that overpowered technique was more than enough. He wouldn''t care about the other benefits anymore.


    But hopefully, no trouble would come his way now that he had the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. Yet, in the next moment, Apollo began to wonder if he was destined to attract trouble wherever he went.


    The two falcons landed on the south beach of the island.


    "See you next time," Apollo said, bidding farewell to Bluetooth. "It''d be great if I could bring you outside."


    Bluetooth let out a small shriek, seemingly agreeing with his words.


    Gail also said goodbye to her mount, and then the two Water-Attributed Falcons flew into the distance.


    "Why does this school use falcons instead of serpents? What''s the point of naming it the Great Serpent, then?" Apollo mused.


    "Falcons are easier to tame and train," Gail explained. "Besides, serpents are proud creatures, and finding one would be difficult."


    "I was just musing," Apollo said. "Let''s head back."


    Gail nodded, and the two turned to the exit, where a light blue portal whirred slowly.


    When people entered the Great Serpent Cultivation School, they''d appear on the island''s street. If they wanted to return to the outside world, they''d head to one of the four beaches¡ªnorth, west, south, or east¡ªwhere they''d find a portal. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo wanted to return immediately to heal his injuries. It was uncomfortable moving with wounds all over his body.


    But before they could enter the portal, the beggar sensed danger¡ªso did Gail. They quickly jumped away from their position just as it exploded from the strike of a water serpent.


    Seeing this, Apollo frowned. Now what? He had just dealt with the Great Serpent, and now someone else was picking a fight with him?!


    "Tsk, you shouldn''t have dodged that," someone said, annoyance evident in their voice.


    Turning to the source, Apollo saw familiar faces.


    It was Mahika, a young master from the Callum Family¡ªone of those families with sickness in their heads.


    He''d brought his usual goons, though this time there were more of them.


    "Let me guess, you''re here for revenge from the last humiliation," Apollo said. It wasn''t really a guess, more of a fact. He already knew how people with ''Young Master Syndrome'' thought. You offend me, I''ll bully you. I get defeated, I seek revenge. I get defeated again, I bring backup.


    Rinse and repeat. Their thinking revolved around this tedious cycle, which was pretty annoying, to be honest.


    "Hell yeah!" Mahika shouted, his eyes burning with anger. "You think you can just leave this place so easily, huh?! You offended me, the great Mahika from the great Callum Family! I''ll never let someone humiliate me!"


    "Mahika! What do you think you''re doing?!" Gail demanded, her voice cold and low. At the same time, a strong killing intent radiated from her.


    Only now did Mahika recognize the person beside Apollo. "You¡­ Gail?!"


    "Answer me," Gail said, her red eyes piercing into Mahika''s heart.


    Mahika began to shiver, but recalling that he had his Senior Sister''s backup, his confidence returned.


    "I''m punishing this kid for offending me! Don''t get in my way, b*tch!"

 Chapter 219 - 219: Teaching Mahika A Lesson

    "What did you just say to me?!" Gail asked, her red eyes widening. At the same time, a black and red aura erupted from her, and the temperature dropped instantly.


    Seeing this, Mahika took a half step back but shook his head the next moment. "I said don''t you dare interfere, b*tch!" he repeated, though after saying those words, he couldn''t help but swallow hard.


    He knew Gail¡ªmost of them did. They were both inner-circle martial students, but their strength was worlds apart. Furthermore, he knew things that only nobles were privy to.


    Gail was a killer, personally trained by Nathan Kleinford. It was unknown how many people she had killed¡ªshe was ruthless, like a dog ready to attack on command.


    She was also one of the candidates to become a Senior Sister, which made everyone fear and respect her.


    This made Mahika curious about the relationship between the kid and the killer. Nevertheless, he trusted his cousin, Senior Sister Lily.


    "You''re dead!" With killing intent radiating from her, Gail took a step forward, ready to dash forward and teach the foul-mouthed noble a lesson. But just as she moved, a hand landed on her shoulder.


    It was small, and she immediately recognized the owner. Glancing to her side, she saw the beggar tiptoeing, his hand on her shoulder.


    "Let me handle this. This guy only wants me," Apollo said, his eyes cold as he stared at the young master and his goons. "He has the guts to say those words to you, but I''m his target."


    Hearing this, Gail hesitated. The killing intent around her began to fade. She glanced at the beggar, and seeing his determination, she sighed before glaring at Mahika.


    Mahika, on the other hand, smiled when he saw Gail stepping back. His main goal was to kill the kid, and no matter the relationship between her and the beggar-looking kid, it wouldn''t matter once he achieved his objective.


    "You really like to talk big," Mahika sneered. "Where do you even get your confidence from?"


    "From your mother¡ªshe taught me how to be confident in bed," Apollo replied with a shrug, his eyes mocking the young master.


    Gail and the others were silent for a moment before their eyes widened in realization.


    "You!" Mahika pointed a finger at the beggar. "How dare you bring my mother into this!"


    "It''s her fault for raising a fool like you. Don''t blame me," Apollo smirked.


    Mahika''s face turned crimson with rage. With a wave of his hand, his goons surrounded the beggar.


    "Kill him!" he ordered, his voice dripping with killing intent. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gail took a few more steps back, curious about the beggar''s strength. She was certain he was a Wanderer. Moreover, his status, having entered the Fourth Floor of the library, was equal to or higher than the Seniors''.


    The beggar watched as the goons closed in on him. He just wanted to get back to his beggar spot and cultivate in peace, but Mahika and his men were giving him a headache. Couldn''t Mahika just swallow his pride?


    Shaking his head, Apollo decided to end this nonsense quickly.


    Wind Blasts appeared in front of each of the goons, their eyes widening as the air suddenly churned. Before they could react, the air exploded!


    "Ahhh!" they screamed as they were sent flying. Some landed on the sandy beach, while others made a splash in the ocean.


    Mahika''s smile remained, but his eyes twitched. What just happened?! It was so sudden that he was left speechless.


    He glanced at his men. They were groaning in pain, their bodies battered, with flesh exposed and blood painting the sand red. Those who had fallen into the ocean were struggling to swim ashore.


    "It''s your turn next," the kid said, drawing Mahika''s attention back to him.


    "You¡­ What is your cultivation stage?!" Mahika asked, narrowing his eyes at the kid.


    "Does it even matter?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, walking toward the noble.


    "You''re right," Mahika nodded, lowering his body into a fighting stance. He didn''t lose confidence¡ªin fact, he was actually excited. Fighting against Gail, he wouldn''t be able to win, but this kid only had a simple trick. "It seems you have the strength to back up your words, but I can defeat them just like you did. I''ll have to take you seriously then."


    "Yeah, yeah," Apollo said. Young Master Syndrome¡ªthey had confidence that could reach the sky. Even with the truth right in front of them, if their ego and pride were being trampled on, they would never see themselves as losing. They''d always find excuses. Such people made the beggar want to beat them up. "Why don''t you just shut your mouth and come at me!"


    "Then die!" With killing intent radiating from Mahika, he used his movement technique, instantly appearing in front of the beggar!


    But what met his eyes was a fist covered in fire!


    Death.


    Mahika felt time slow down. Memories from his childhood all the way to this moment played in his mind. He relived his life over and over. Countless emotions overwhelmed him, though they were shattered as intense fire consumed him.


    "Argh!!" Mahika crashed into the sand, creating a long ravine. He screamed in pain, clutching his burning face as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.


    Apollo blew on his right fist, the fire disappearing in the wind. "That''s what you get for being arrogant."


    It was a variation he''d created from the Fire Blast Technique. By covering his fist with the technique instead of making the fire appear in the air, its explosive properties activated upon contact. Though it wasn''t as strong as the original, it still dealt significant damage.


    Mahika continued to writhe in pain, his screams echoing across the south beach.


    "That was awesome," Gail praised, standing beside Yoma, watching Mahika''s suffering with amazement.


    "Haha, I know," Apollo said sheepishly, rubbing his nose.


    "The technique you used was simple but very effective," Gail smiled. "As expected from Mr. Yoma¡ªyou''re really strong."


    "Nah, I just got lucky," Apollo said, turning to the portal. "Should we go back?"


    "Sure," Gail nodded, her eyes lingering on Mahika as they walked toward the exit. "He should use the Water Healing Technique. It will help him fight the pain and prevent further damage from the fire."


    "Does everyone know that technique?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes, it''s mandatory to learn all the basic techniques," Gail answered.


    "I see," Apollo chuckled, standing in front of the portal. "People like him, when they''re in pain, can''t think straight. I bet he''ll jump into the ocean."


    "That''s going to sting like hell," Gail smiled.


    "Definitely," Apollo laughed. As their bodies entered the portal, the sound of splashing water echoed, followed by a pig-like scream.

 Chapter 220 - 220: Lilys Request

    "You like this, b*tch?!"


    "Yes! I like it, Master Aaron!"


    The sound of flesh slapping together echoed in the room, accompanied by the creaking of the bed.


    Screams of pleasure filled the air, and the scent of their act permeated the place.


    "Take this, b*tch!" Aaron shouted, slamming his hips forward. The woman in front of him, on all fours, began to tremble. Her eyes rolled back, and her tongue lolled out. It lasted for a few seconds before she collapsed onto the bed.


    Aaron stepped back, admiring his handiwork. Three women lay naked on his bed, all breathing heavily, clearly having been "satisfied."


    He noticed one of them looking at him with pleading eyes. Licking his lips, he walked over to the bedside table and picked up a pink marble. He admired it for a moment. "One more round won''t hurt."


    The pink marble enhanced his stamina and also served as a contraceptive. It was a new invention from the Alchemy House and quite expensive, but with his wealth, he could afford thousands of them.


    "Just wait, b*tch, I''m gonna f*ck your brains out," Aaron Callum said with a smirk. The women on his bed were his maids, hired specifically for this purpose.


    As he was about to take another pink marble, a knock came at the door, interrupting their next round.


    "F*ck! What?!" Aaron shouted, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist. He stormed toward the door.


    Meanwhile, the women on the bed exchanged relieved glances. It was exhausting pretending to enjoy his small tool, but it was their job. They had to act like they felt immense pleasure, even though all they really felt was the slamming of his hips.


    They had even mastered the art of making their bodies tremble and their eyes roll back just to boost his ego.


    Aaron opened the door to find a man in a simple hanfu robe, head lowered.


    "My apologies for interrupting, Master Aaron," the man said. "But Miss Yer has requested your presence on an urgent matter."


    "Yer? That damn sister of mine," Aaron scowled. "She''s probably just bringing more trouble. Tell her to scram and stop bothering me, or do you want me to make you disappear?"


    "Spare me, Master Aaron!" The man hurriedly dropped to his knees, banging his head against the floor. "But Miss Yer knew you''d say that and insisted she won''t leave without seeing you. She also said it concerns the family."


    Aaron glared at the man, then glanced at the women behind him before letting out a sigh.


    "Wait a minute," he muttered. After quickly changing his clothes, he returned to the door. "Let''s go! This better be worth my time, or I''ll kill you!"


    The man shivered, but he was only doing his job. Under Aaron''s rule, his fate would be sealed if he angered the head of the Callum family.


    They arrived at the main hall, where three individuals were waiting.


    "What is it?" Aaron asked coldly, addressing his sister.


    Miss Yer had blonde hair and blue eyes. Her face was caked in makeup, making her already round face appear even more bloated.


    She had once been a beauty, but after years of heavy cosmetic use, her looks had deteriorated. Aaron couldn''t stand the sight of what used to be his pretty sister, now looking so ugly he just wanted to punch her in the face.


    "Brother! You''re finally here!" Miss Yer shouted, her face made even uglier by the snot and tears.


    "Just tell me why you''re here and don''t waste my time," Aaron said, showing no concern for their blood relation. Beside Miss Yer stood a young man, his face wrapped entirely in bandages, and a middle-aged man supporting him.


    "Look at your nephew!" Miss Yer pointed at her son, who was being propped up by her husband. "Someone did this to him inside the Great Serpent School! Help us bring justice for my baby Mahika!"


    Aaron finally looked at the young man covered in bandages. He knew his nephew¡ªan annoying, dumb, untalented fool. Seeing Mahika in this state didn''t stir any emotions in him, except frustration. "Is this all the reason you came here? It''s none of my business if this pig-brain couldn''t even defend himself."


    "Brother! He''s still your nephew!" Miss Yer shouted, her face turning red with anger.


    "I don''t care about the untalented," Aaron Callum said coldly. "If that''s all, you should leave."


    "Wait, no!" Miss Yer quickly pulled out a scroll from under her blouse. "Lily sent this for you. Please, help us avenge Mahika." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing his daughter''s name, Aaron snatched the scroll, ignoring Yer''s pleas.


    He immediately recognized Lily''s handwriting and realized this wasn''t just a trick to get his attention.


    Aaron began reading and quickly understood the situation.


    It had occurred three hours ago. Lily admitted to using her cousin to test the strength of the Personal Disciple, though Mahika had been the one insisting. Nevertheless, she had promised to help him avoid punishment, but things had backfired.


    Lily was requesting her father''s help in investigating the Personal Disciple who had put Mahika in this state¡ªnot for Mahika''s sake, but because she needed help for her own reasons.


    After finishing the letter, Aaron handed it to the man who had accompanied him. "Burn it."


    The man nodded, and with a flick of his hand, the scroll turned to ashes.


    Personal Disciple¡­ Aaron thought. He knew it was a significant position, one that Lily had been eyeing for years. And now someone had claimed it before her. Aaron understood his daughter well¡ªshe wouldn''t back down without a fight, whether through force or underhanded methods.


    Without another word, he turned and began walking away.


    "Brother, aren''t you going to help us?!" Miss Yer asked, panicking.


    "No," Aaron Callum answered firmly. His daughter was far more important to him than they were.


    "B-but my son! His face is unrecognizable! It''s a stain on our family!" Miss Yer pleaded. "What will people think if they find out we''re a family they can bully so easily?!"


    Aaron stopped in his tracks. He glanced at his sister, then at his nephew. "Then I''ll just remove the stain."


    Miss Yer''s eyes widened as she realized what he meant. She knew her brother too well. He was ruthless, both inside and outside the family. Before she could say anything, the sound of flesh tearing filled the room.


    Miss Yer turned toward the sound and saw her son''s limp head hanging to the side, a gaping wound in his chest. Blood sprayed onto the floor.


    The man beside Aaron lowered his hand.


    "There, no more stain," Aaron smirked as Miss Yer''s painful scream echoed through the hall.

 Chapter 221 - 221: We Have To Train

    "Burning that *sshole''s face was a good idea," Apollo muttered with a smile. He was currently sitting under a makeshift roof back at his beggar spot. This was the second time he''d built a roof, which he had brought with him from the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    True to his job, his driver had waited for him outside the school, and, along with Gail, they returned to this street. Gail had offered to help by providing materials, but he had politely refused. He liked the sense of fulfillment that came from doing things himself.


    Apollo recalled his recent fight. Besides teaching Mahika a lesson, he had also intended to make him suffer by burning his face. With that, his Young Master Syndrome would likely drive him to run to his parents, prompting them to seek revenge. This would hopefully lead them to find Apollo sooner, a key part of his plan to complete his mission. It might seem dumb and unnecessary since he only needed to investigate the mayor''s plans, but the dumber the plan, the more exciting it became.


    Shaking his head, he pulled up his Status Screen.


    STATUS SCREEN: Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 40


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning, Water


    Apollo glanced at his Alm Points, which had dropped from 45 to 40 after purchasing the Basic Locator. He didn''t regret it, though, as the item''s function was extremely useful. As long as it was a physical object, it would emit a sound if he was near what he wanted to find. He could even input specific types of books or titles. It was like a search bar from his previous life, though he had to be close to an object to discover exactly what he was looking for.


    His eyes then moved to his Spirit Cultivation. Back on the first floor of the Great Serpent Library, he had read about all the subjects that intrigued him, including Spirit Cultivation.


    Spirit Cultivation focuses on the mind. Instead of strengthening the body, it enhances the mind. Cultivators who follow this path can become Array Masters, Blacksmith Masters, Soul Masters, and more. There''s also another type of cultivation¡ªBody Cultivation. Unlike traditional cultivation, Body Cultivators don''t need Qi to cultivate. They put their bodies under constant stress, training each part until they gain strength comparable to most Qi cultivators. Of course, there are methods to speed up the process using herbs and medicines.


    Body Cultivators can''t use cultivation or battle techniques, but their bodies become so strong that they are sometimes referred to as Human Monsters. They are rare, and even Klown City doesn''t have one.


    Apollo''s gaze moved down further until it landed on his Attributes.


    In addition to Lightning, a Water Attribute had been added.


    His eyes widened in realization. "Was it because of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation?"


    He hadn''t even mastered his Lightning Attribute yet, and now another one had appeared. But a smile spread across his face.


    Apollo wasn''t sure why his other master hadn''t called him for another lesson, but he didn''t mind. This would give him more time to learn his new technique. With that thought, he closed his eyes and began studying the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation.


    ...


    Three days later, Apollo opened his eyes, a mysterious glint flickering in them, though a bitter smile formed on his lips. "This is exhausting."


    Suddenly, water droplets appeared around him. With a thought, they moved, swirling in the air. He formed the droplets into a ball of water, then shaped it into various forms.


    He played with the water for a while before letting it fall to the ground with a splashing sound.


    "Three days, and I''ve barely managed to reach this stage," he muttered, letting out a sigh. What he had achieved in these three days wasn''t even worth calling a stage. It was merely a prerequisite to enter the Beginner Stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. Although he could conjure water and shape it into weapons and forms, its strength was only comparable to a weak variation of Fire Blast or Wind Blast.


    At the Beginner Stage, he would be able to control water and shape it into anything he desired, from armor to weapons. According to the technique imprinted in his mind, the strength he could wield at this stage¡ªwithout any augmentation like Refined or Unrefined Qi¡ªwas enough to harm a Core Creation Cultivator.


    Just the thought excited him, but it was easier said than done. This was the first time he had struggled to comprehend a technique. In the past, it had taken him thirty minutes to an hour to learn a technique to the Beginner Stage. Now, three days had passed, and he hadn''t made much progress.


    Apollo felt frustrated, but as he thought more about it, it made sense. The technique had been stored on the highest floor of the Great Serpent Library, and he was the only one who had ever reached the fifth floor. He should have known from the start that it wouldn''t be easy.


    Complacency is never a good practice.


    Shaking his head, he noticed Ned in the corner, placing his breakfast on the floor. His stomach growled, prompting him to stand up and pick up the basket.


    "Thanks," Apollo smiled at the Filly worker.


    "You''re welcome," Ned smiled back. "Thanks to you, we''ve managed to become popular again."


    Apollo glanced inside the restaurant and saw that all the seats were filled with diners. "That''s good news. By the way, how did it go with the other nobles?"


    Ned''s smile widened. "They did cut off our meat supply, but we implemented your suggestions. Filly made bundles of fried chicken and spaghetti, and they''ve been selling fast. From what I know, starting tomorrow, the restaurant will have its own meat distribution."


    "That''s good to hear. The nobles'' efforts were in vain. They must be pissed seeing that the restaurant, which was supposed to fail, is still standing and gaining more customers by the day," Apollo replied.


    "Haha, yes," Ned chuckled, nodding toward the restaurant across the street. "And look at that guy¡ªwe''ve figured out he''s the culprit behind the meat distribution problem."


    Apollo turned to the Skyline Savory branch and saw the branch manager watching the Filly Restaurant from behind the door, his face filled with worry. Apollo couldn''t help but laugh. "Hahaha, he deserves all the stress and anxiety."


    Ned laughed too. The two chatted for a while before Ned returned inside.


    As Apollo was about to head back to his beggar spot, a shadow fell over him.


    Looking up, he saw a bamboo hat and the middle-aged face beneath it.


    "We have to train," Sir Guo said, smirking at his disciple.

 Chapter 222 - 222: Lightning and Electricity

    "Master Sir Guo, what are you doing here?" Apollo asked.


    "Let''s train, kid," Sir Guo smiled. "You want to master your Lightning Attribute, right? I''m free, and it looks like you are too, so let''s go now!"


    "Actually, I''m not free yet," Apollo said, raising his basket. "I still need to eat my breakfast."


    "You can eat it on the way," Sir Guo said, glancing at the basket. He couldn''t help but sniff as the delicious aroma wafted out. "Let''s go!"


    He turned and began walking toward the carriage in the distance.


    Apollo stood there, looking at his back for a moment, before letting out a sigh. "I guess I''ll eat my breakfast in the carriage then," he decided, immediately regretting it.


    The carriage started moving toward the training ground the moment he entered, the sound of the wheels rolling across the ground echoing around him.


    ¡­


    Apollo and Sir Guo arrived at the training ground, with the beggar staring angrily at the man in the bamboo hat.


    "Why did you eat my breakfast?!" Apollo asked, his nose threatening to let out smoke.


    "It smelled delicious. I didn''t know food like that existed. You know, in all my years, that''s the first time I''ve tasted something that good," Sir Guo said, letting out a burp. Seeing his disciple glaring at him, he scoffed. "I''m your master¡ªyou shouldn''t be stingy with me!"


    "Don''t power trip me, you f*cker!" Apollo began cracking his knuckles.


    "What, you want to fight?" Sir Guo raised an eyebrow.


    "Ye¡ª" Apollo didn''t get the chance to finish as a bolt of lightning struck him. He couldn''t react in time, and before he knew it, he was on the ground, shaking from the electricity coursing through his veins.


    A few seconds later, he stood up. "You! Don''t you dare do that again!"


    "Or what?" Sir Guo raised a finger, lightning zapping on top of it.


    "Nothing," Apollo said hurriedly. He knew he couldn''t beat this guy with his current strength, so he could only grit his teeth and swallow the humiliation. He became even more eager to reach the Beginner Stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation, just so he could teach this annoying fellow a lesson!


    "Good," Sir Guo said, his smile turning mischievous. "Today''s training is for you to handle as much lightning as you can."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s face went blank. He had just been electrocuted, and now Sir Guo was saying the training for today was to get hit by even more lightning?!


    Without wasting any more time, his body turned invisible as he began running away from this lightning hell!


    A zapping sound echoed, followed by the beggar''s body collapsing to the ground. His body shook for a few seconds before he managed to fight it off¡ªonly for another lightning bolt to hit him, this time stronger than before.


    "Take as much as you can! Don''t worry, it''ll be over before you know it!" Sir Guo said, laughing merrily.


    While shaking, Apollo Leone regretted everything. He shouldn''t have trashed the training ground, he shouldn''t have accepted the offer to become this madman''s disciple. The beggar began missing his other master. Although Headmaster Axton had threatened him into becoming his Personal Disciple, at least he didn''t force him to train and gave him some freedom instead.


    Such disparity made Apollo prefer the latter more.


    The training ground had been personally closed by Sir Guo, so it was just him and the trembling beggar.


    Apollo didn''t know how long or how many times he had been hit by lightning, but as time passed, the shaking lessened until he only felt a tingling sensation every time the lightning struck.


    "I told you it would be fast," Sir Guo said, walking toward him.


    Apollo slowly got to his feet, shaking his head to clear the dizziness. The moment Sir Guo was a few feet away, Apollo turned and attacked with a punch!


    The sound of zapping echoed, but this time, the lightning didn''t come from the man in the bamboo hat¡ªinstead, it surrounded Apollo''s fist!


    Sir Guo raised his hand, easily blocking the attack. "You really are talented. You can already use it just moments after your body got used to the electricity."


    Apollo was surprised at first that Sir Guo blocked his attack, but his eyes widened when he noticed the lightning around his hand.


    "Wow!" Apollo exclaimed, bringing his fist in front of him. "I can do this?"


    "Yes," Sir Guo nodded. "Though it can only hurt normal people for now, it''s still excellent progress."


    Apollo stared at his hand in amazement for a moment before turning to his lightning master. "I''m curious¡ªwhy did you decide to teach me only now?"


    He hadn''t forgotten his previous suffering, but the question had just come to mind.


    "We''re here to train, but if you''re really curious¡­" Sir Guo trailed off. "I''ve been investigating something. I''ll tell you when the time comes. In the meantime, we should train your Lightning Attribute as much as we can." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo narrowed his eyes at the man in the bamboo hat. Investigating what? His gut told him that by accepting Sir Guo''s offer, he''d landed himself in yet another problem. He shouldn''t have associated with these powerful individuals unless it was absolutely necessary.


    "Let me tell you this¡ªI only became your disciple to pay off my debt, not to become your slave. Once I''m done learning all I need to know about the Lightning Attribute, we''ll call off the deal. Got it?" Apollo said, silently promising himself that he would beat up this annoying man before cutting ties.


    "Sure, sure," Sir Guo nodded. "I''m only doing this because I want to pass on my legacy."


    It was half a lie and half the truth. Sir Guo did want to find a worthy disciple to pass on his knowledge, but he also wanted to show his former sect what his student was capable of.


    Apollo stared at Sir Guo for a moment before nodding. Now that the training had begun, he got serious. Strength was what mattered most in the end. If he became the strongest, if he stood at the top of the world, he wouldn''t have to worry about dying. "What''s next?"


    "I''m going to teach you the true essence of the Lightning Attribute," Sir Guo smiled.


    "True essence?" Apollo repeated.


    "Now that you can conjure lightning, this is going to be easy," Sir Guo said. "Cultivators with attributes can use them to boost their cultivation and strength without relying on Qi¡­"

 Chapter 223 - 223: Dons Situation

    Filly watched the customers eating in her restaurant with a smile on her face. Just like her, the diners were smiling as they enjoyed their meals.


    Most of them had ordered the same thing: the bundle of Fried Chicken and Spaghetti. The idea of offering this meal at a lower price as a bundle instead of individually was a brilliant strategy to encourage customers to choose it.


    The Filly Restaurant had experienced sales growth in the past few days, and it always excited Filly to come to her restaurant.


    "We owe Mr. Beggar a lot," Gail said from beside her.


    "Yes," Filly nodded. Yoma was the one who suggested this strategy while they waited for their own meat distribution to be completed. It ensured that they wouldn''t lose customers, and on the contrary, they gained more.


    Glancing outside, she noticed customers waiting in line to enter. They were waiting patiently, but eagerness was evident on their faces.


    Seeing this, a problem came to the owner''s mind. "Our workers aren''t enough. There are more and more people waiting outside."


    Gail also turned to look at the line outside. "Yeah, that''s a problem."


    "We need to increase the number of workers and expand the restaurant to accommodate all of them," Filly said, glancing behind her. They were standing on the second floor, which wasn''t yet open to customers. "This was meant to be a kitchen and storage space if possible¡­ Should I open this for customers?"


    Gail was silent for a moment. She wasn''t an expert in business, but that didn''t mean she didn''t understand some things.


    "More workers, more products," Gail said. "I think we should add more staff?"


    "I know, but the main issue is the customers. We can''t just fit them all here. Even if we open the second floor, if more people still come, we''ll face the same problem," Filly said. She wanted to minimize problems while maximizing profits. Expanding the restaurant wasn''t easy either, as the other building owners wouldn''t agree¡ªunless she had an enormous sum of money on hand.


    "Hmm..." Gail placed a hand under her chin, thinking. Then she noticed one of the workers, Ned, walking inside while scratching his head. Usually, at this time, he''d have a basket in his hands after Mr. Beggar had eaten his breakfast. Suddenly, an idea came to her. "What if we sell the food as take-out for those who can''t find a seat?"


    Hearing this, Filly''s eyes widened. "That''s a great id¡ª" Then she realized something. Shaking her head, she sighed, "Our competition could use that to bring us down. What if they copy our food once they get ahold of it?"


    "It''s possible, but..." Gail smiled. "We''re the only ones who know the recipes, right? Most of the ingredients we use are unknown to them, and the methods to process them are something I''m sure they wouldn''t know or even think of."


    "That makes sense," Filly said. "We can use baskets. That way, customers can take the food with them wherever they go. They won''t have to wait for others to finish before they can enter."


    With this in mind, they went into her office and began planning.


    Their own meat distribution was almost complete. They also had their own garden for spice production. Furthermore, they had hunters gathering more coconuts for oil. Their plan was on the right track, and Filly could almost see Skyline Savory across the street crumbling because of her efforts.


    ...


    A few kilometers away from Klown City lay a vast desert. Mountains of dunes and valleys stretched as far as the eye could see.


    On a hill, a small boy stood, gazing over the dusty brown terrain, his eyes filled with worry. Clenching his fists, he turned to look back at the camp behind him.


    Don and all the slum dwellers had been walking for days, trying to get as far away from Klown City as possible.


    He didn''t understand why Millie insisted they keep traveling so far. Surely, they were safe now, and there was no need to keep going.


    The slum people had set up simple tents. Some were talking amongst themselves, while others trained with broken wooden swords.


    Millie had said they should learn to fight, which Don understood. It was necessary to protect themselves from the city folk, especially the guards.


    Thinking about what had happened to their home just outside Klown City, Don gritted his teeth.


    "I swear, I''ll get my revenge! I''ll become a cultivator!" Don muttered, his voice filled with determination. His thoughts turned to their savior, who had introduced himself as Yoma¡ªa beggar. Suddenly, an idea came to him. "What if I became his disciple?"


    He glanced toward the direction of Klown City, tempted to return and find their savior to ask Yoma to take him in as a disciple.


    "Why are you out here? It''s time to eat," a voice called from behind him.


    "I''m thinking about our savior," Don answered honestly. "What if I go back and find him and¡ª" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And ask him to take you in as a disciple?" Millie finished his sentence.


    Don stared into Millie''s eyes. "Yes."


    "No," Millie shook her head, sighing softly as she patted the boy''s head. "That''s a dangerous path to take. Besides, you need talent to walk the same road as our savior. I know you, Don. I know your dreams, but escaping that place is better for now."


    "But what if I do have talent? I can save us! I can protect everyone!" Don said with determination.


    "Don, you''re already strong and very brave," Millie sighed again. She knew that if Don truly had the talent to cultivate, it would be good for him, but in order to use that talent, he''d have to train hard for years. By the time he was strong enough to protect them, it might already be too late.


    Millie knew the city well, having worked for years as a maid in the mayor''s mansion. She feared the possibility that the city guards were still hunting them. They needed to find a safe place to hide as soon as possible.


    "We need as much manpower as we can to protect our people, Don," Millie continued. "For now, you need to hold onto your dreams. If the time is right and it''s truly meant for you, fate will work in your favor. Besides, you''ll have to lead our people."


    Don''s eyes widened at her words. Lead them? He glanced at the people he cared about, then turned back to Millie. "Are you leaving?"


    Millie was about to answer when she spotted a cloud of dust in the distance. Narrowing her eyes, she recognized the Klown Guards approaching on horseback.


    "Everyone! Pack everything quickly, and let''s go!"

 Chapter 224 - 224: Balls Of Lightning

    Don''s face filled with shock as he turned to look where Miss Millie was gazing. He, too, noticed the cloud of sand moving in their direction. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They moved quickly, packing their belongings in no time.


    Don carried a bag stuffed to the brim, a wooden sword in his hand. The bag was nearly twice his size, but he didn''t utter a word of complaint. The other kids, like him, carried whatever they could manage. The past few days of running had matured them, and they now understood the gravity of their situation. Moving slowly could put them all in danger.


    Soon, they began descending the hill.


    Millie took the lead. Her blouse was torn from all the walking, and her hair was dry and frizzy, but her steps remained steady.


    In the distance, she spotted a valley with a crevice that could serve as cover.


    "There!" Millie shouted, pointing toward the spot. They hurriedly followed her, but before entering the dark, deep hole, she warned, "Raise your swords and prepare for combat!"


    They had already encountered several monsters, costing the lives of some of the slum people. However, Millie had to take this gamble, hoping they wouldn''t be attacked the moment they entered.


    Millie led the way into the crevice, with the others following closely behind. Don took up the rear.


    He glanced back toward where they had come from and saw no one, but it felt as if those ruthless bastards were already closing in.


    ¡­


    "So basically, it''s another form of power I can use instead of Qi? Then how do I make it stronger?" Apollo asked while juggling three balls of lightning. The size of tennis balls, they crackled with energy every time they landed in his hands and left them.


    Sir Guo''s face remained impassive, his eyes following the three lightning balls. He didn''t seem impressed outwardly, but inside, his heart was shaking intensely.


    This motherfucker can already multicast?! He had just finished lecturing on how to release the Lightning Attribute properly and how to shape it. Giving lightning a form was no easy task. It had taken Sir Guo weeks to master this feat. It was only the beginner stage, but its difficulty was something most cultivators couldn''t comprehend.


    Weaving each lightning strand, sensing their minute movements, and commanding them to form a shape required unwavering focus.


    Sir Guo had assumed that Yoma would take weeks, just like him. But that assumption was clearly a mistake.


    As soon as his lecture ended, and Sir Guo expected Yoma to struggle, a shocking sight punched him in the gut. The beggar already had a ball of lightning in his hand. Then, as if that wasn''t enough, Yoma created a second ball, followed by a third.


    In contrast, Sir Guo had taken months to achieve what his disciple was demonstrating with ease.


    Sir Guo took a deep breath. I have to calm down! At the same time, he realized the immense talent his disciple had. He stared at Yoma like a priceless treasure he would protect for life. His determination to keep him grew stronger.


    "You only have a small amount of Lightning Attribute. If you want it to grow stronger, you''ll need to face more powerful lightning. But remember, taking on lightning that''s too strong won''t automatically increase your attribute. That''s not how it works. Your body needs to handle and assimilate the lightning," Sir Guo explained, raising his hand. A lightning bolt, stronger than any he had shown Yoma before, appeared. Despite his shock at Yoma''s multicasting, he pretended to remain unfazed. "You have some talent. I think you''ll become a successful lightning user."


    "Some talent?" Apollo glanced at Sir Guo suspiciously before a confident smile spread across his face. "I''m not just some talented. I''m very talented!"


    He threw the three balls of lightning into the air. Just before they hit the ground, they morphed into lightning spears. They floated in front of him and on either side, all pointed at his master. "What do you think?" Apollo smirked.


    "Don''t get complacent," Sir Guo said, shocked once again that Yoma could shape lightning into more advanced forms, though he made sure not to show it. With a flick of his fingers, the lightning spears exploded. "You''re still weak compared to me."


    "Just admit I''m very talented!" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "You''re not," Sir Guo said, his face turning serious. "So, do you want to strengthen your attribute or not?"


    "Of course I do!" Apollo replied.


    "Alright, then take this." Sir Guo didn''t wait for his disciple to respond and sent a stronger lightning bolt toward him.


    The crackling sound filled the air, followed by Apollo''s body shaking violently. Foam formed at Yoma''s mouth, his eyes rolling back. This scene continued for an hour in the training ground.


    ¡­


    Apollo returned to his beggar spot, massaging his left shoulder with his right hand.


    "F*ck that guy! I''m going to teach him a lesson once I''m done learning from him!" he muttered angrily, gritting his teeth at the memory of his grueling training.


    That guy is definitely a sadist!


    Shaking his head, Apollo walked past the Filly Restaurant, ignoring the commotion inside. Clearly, Skyline Savory had pulled another scheme to bring down their rival.


    Not in the mood for gossip, he headed back to his beggar spot and sat beneath his makeshift roof.


    "Ah," Apollo sighed, feeling at home in his small corner. His beggar spot was about the size of a small room, though he only occupied one corner of it. It felt empty and¡­ dark. Raising his hand, he activated his Lightning Attribute, filling the space with crackling light.


    Staring at his lightning, he noticed it was stronger than when he first used it. Being electrocuted repeatedly had paid off.


    With a twist of his hand, he shaped the lightning into a glowing orb, then made it float under his roof.


    "This is nice," Apollo smiled, but then his expression turned serious. "I should cultivate before they find me. Hopefully, they''ll find me soon."


    He was referring to the Callum Family, the key to elevating his presence to the higher-ups.

 Chapter 225 - 225: Taken Away

    A few days later, Apollo''s body was covered in lightning as he moved around the training ground while also using his Simple Movement Technique. His body became a blur, and crackling sounds echoed with every step.


    Sir Guo clenched his fist, his eyes alight with amazement and excitement. In just a few days, his disciple had mastered full control over his Lightning Attribute¡ªand, in fact, had surpassed him in terms of proficiency.


    If his Lightning Attribute''s power equals mine, he could match my strength, Sir Guo thought. Yoma is truly a rare talent, one who would easily outshine even the most gifted students at the martial school he came from.


    The training ground was cleared of students, leaving only the man in the bamboo hat and Yoma.


    After a moment, a burst of lightning materialized in front of Sir Guo, and the beggar emerged.


    "What do you think? I''m really talented, right?" Apollo asked with a smug expression.


    "Average," Sir Guo replied with a smirk.


    "Average?" The beggar scoffed. "I think you''re just afraid to admit it."


    "Trust me, I''ve seen people more talented than you," Sir Guo remained firm. "Anyway, I''ll be gone for a few days. I have something to take care of."


    "Maybe you don''t have anything more to teach me," Apollo said, eyeing the bamboo-hatted man suspiciously.


    "Ha! You think that''s all there is to learn about the Lightning Attribute? You still have a lot to learn," Sir Guo replied.


    "Alright, then I''ll head out if we''re done for today," Apollo waved his hand. Although he didn''t particularly like Sir Guo, he admitted the guy was a skilled instructor. Apollo had learned a lot, especially about Attributes, which he could also apply to his Water Attribute.


    "Hey," Sir Guo called before the beggar could take a step.


    "What?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "Why did you become a Wanderer?" Sir Guo asked, his face serious.


    "Wanderer¡­" Apollo frowned. A Wanderer¡ªmoving from place to place, learning the ways of the world, blending in with common people. That was how most cultivators operated back in the day, according to a book he''d read in the Great Serpent Library. It was after the war between the Ancestor Cultivators and the common people. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nowadays, most cultivators had chosen a faction: the Martial Schools, often called Sects, the Empire, or other unknown factions. Only a few remained Wanderers, but it was risky; without connections, Wanderers often attracted trouble.


    "Why are you asking?" Apollo replied.


    "I''m a Wanderer myself," Sir Guo said. "I don''t have anyone to rely on but myself since I left¡­ that place. But after years of wandering, I decided to guard this training ground." He didn''t go into details, as it would take days to explain. "My reason for wandering? To find my disciple. So, what about you? What''s your reason?"


    Basically none. You guys just assumed I''m a Wanderer, Apollo thought, though he wasn''t about to reveal his true identity.


    "I just like it," Apollo said. "No particular reason¡ªjust for my own pleasure."


    Sir Guo was silent for a moment before he sighed. "If you''re not willing to tell me, so be it. You can go now."


    "Alright, see you never!" Apollo began walking toward the entrance. He still didn''t have enough strength to teach the man in the bamboo hat a lesson, which was frustrating.


    As he watched the beggar''s back, Sir Guo couldn''t help but feel eager for what the future would bring.


    ...


    Apollo''s daily routine was straightforward: once he finished his attribute training, he would return to his beggar spot to cultivate his Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation Technique, where he was making slow progress. Afterward, he''d beg for Alm Points. When night fell, he would cultivate his Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique and in two or three more days, he would likely reach the next Step.


    With this in mind, he couldn''t resist summoning the status screen.


    STATUS SCREEN


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 50


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning, Water."


    His Alm Points had reached fifty, bringing him closer to purchasing the item he wanted: Passerby Shadow. It would make him unnoticeable in his beggar spot unless someone specifically looked for him, and he''d even be able to choose who could see him. Although it wouldn''t fully hide him from those using techniques to find him, it was convenient and cheap.


    He had been saving his Alm Points for it, though it was easier said than done. There was always something tempting to buy, or a necessity he couldn''t avoid.


    As he thought about his Alms, Apollo grew curious about the people who gave him money. It always seemed to happen when his eyes were closed, and even when he was awake, it usually felt like an accident.


    It was strange, but Apollo didn''t mind as long as he benefited from it.


    As he walked back, the sun was near the horizon, seemingly eager to kiss it goodbye.


    Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves and rolling wheels filled the air. A carriage stopped in front of him, and he instinctively took a few steps back.


    Apollo frowned, inspecting the silver carriage. It bore an insignia painted in gold¡ªan eagle with three pointed horns that he was certain belonged to a monster he couldn''t quite recognize.


    He glanced at the driver, who stared back coldly. That look alone told him they were far from friendly.


    The carriage door opened, and a woman stepped out, dressed in luxurious attire. She wore a white dress with intricate trimmings that reached her ankles and held a closed fan in her hand.


    She had blonde hair and blue eyes, her round face heavily coated in makeup, making it appear even rounder.


    The beauty and beast in one person, Apollo thought, as the woman glared at him with fury.


    "Is this the kid you were talking about?" she asked someone.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow, waiting as a familiar voice echoed from inside the carriage.


    "Yes, Mother, he''s the one who did this to me." Turning to the sound, Apollo saw a man wrapped in bandages, his deep blue eyes staring daggers at him. Apollo instantly recognized him and couldn''t help but smile.


    "I see, so you''re the one who burned my son''s face!" the woman said coldly.


    "Is that Mahika?!" Apollo feigned surprise, though he wasn''t truly shocked. "He looks more handsome now that we can''t see his face."


    "F*ck you!" Mahika shouted from inside the carriage. He wanted to storm out and beat the kid, but he couldn''t face the shame if people saw him. Besides, he knew he couldn''t defeat the kid.


    "How dare you say that!" Yer pointed an accusing finger at the beggar, her voice brimming with anger. "You''re coming with me to face your punishment! We won''t kill you, but you''ll wish we had!"


    "Hey! Don''t point at me!" Apollo narrowed his eyes at her. "You should be thanking me! If I hadn''t held back, I would have killed him!"


    "Kill? The nephew of the great Aaron Callum?!" Yer sneered. "You''ve just given us even more reason to punish you with that words."


    Perfect, Apollo thought. They had finally tracked him down and wanted to take him with them¡ªhis plan was officially in motion. But before that, he figured he''d have some fun. He noticed several cultivators beginning to surround him.


    Spreading his senses, he noted that the strongest among them was only at the 4th-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    "You''ll come with us, whether you like it or not," Yer declared. Just looking at her son wrapped in bandages made her anger toward his assailant skyrocket; she couldn''t wait to exact her revenge.


    She hadn''t expected her brother to help after initially declining her request. Although she didn''t know why he''d changed his mind, she was grateful for the chance to settle the score for her son¡ªMahika, who was waiting just as eagerly for it.


    "You''ll get your revenge soon, son. Don''t worry," Yer said, glancing at Mahika in the carriage with a warm look.


    "Thank you, Mom," Mahika replied, his eyes glued to the beggar, glaring as if he could devour him with a stare.


    "Take him! We''ll bring him to my brother!" Yer ordered, and the Callum cultivators responded with a shout.


    "Yes, Madam!"


    As they closed in, Apollo glanced at the growing crowd that had taken notice of the commotion.


    Taking a deep breath, he shouted, "Help! Someone help! These people are trying to kidnap me so Mahika can get back at me!" Apollo''s small, innocent voice echoed down the street, drawing even more attention. The men surrounding him paused, unsure.


    Meanwhile, Mahika''s entire body tensed as he remembered the incident in the Great Serpent Library''s first-floor hall.


    "Shut him up! Let''s hurry up!" Mahika yelled, panicked. He couldn''t allow the kid to frame him a second time.


    As Apollo was dragged toward a separate carriage, he seized another opportunity to shout, "Help! Mahika Callum is a pervert! He has a thing for kids lik¡ª" But his words were cut off as a hand clamped over his mouth.


    Still, he was satisfied to see passersby whispering and casting curious glances in Mahika''s direction, the gossip already starting to spread.

 Chapter 226 - 226: Inside Callum Mansion

    "I wonder what they''re talking about," Apollo said casually to the young man whose head was wrapped in bandages.


    "Damn you! If I find out that you''ve tainted my name, I''ll make sure that even after your death, I''ll trample on your corpse!" Mahika growled, glaring at the kid behind him.


    They were walking toward the entrance of the Callum Mansion, escorted by cultivators wearing robes emblazoned with the family insignia, as they followed Yer and her son.


    "Let him talk; this is the last day he''ll ever speak again," Miss Yer said, casting a cold glance at the beggar.


    "Are you guys going to kill me?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow, though not a hint of fear showed in his eyes.


    "What do you think?" Mahika smirked, his killing intent radiating off him. "The Family Head ordered us to find you after he heard what you did to me! You''re really done for!"


    Mahika didn''t mention that they''d practically begged his uncle, Aaron Callum, the Family Head, for help. Though initially rejected, Aaron had agreed to get involved a few days later.


    The Callum Family Head was known for his ruthlessness. If someone displeased or offended him, their head would soon be rolling. Even Yer dared not act too arrogantly in her brother-in-law''s presence. The memory of it was enough to make her afraid to speak loudly in front of Aaron.


    "Oh, really?" Apollo asked, his casual tone showing complete disregard for Mahika''s threat. But deep inside, he was a bit nervous. This would be the first time he''d make a big move, and against a prominent family, no less. If word got out, his identity would undoubtedly be exposed.


    Actually, he had planned to take things slowly, one step at a time, until the head of the Callum family finally noticed him. But now, he was about to meet the Family Head after only encountering two of their members. Apparently, they didn''t know that the beggar before them was responsible for killing one of their valuable assets¡ªthe former North Guard Captain.


    Now that he was here, Apollo decided he''d use this opportunity to investigate the mayor through the Callum Family Head. From what he understood, rumors about the mayor''s darker side circulated only among the upper echelons, nobles, and officials. They had done a good job of keeping those rumors under wraps. Apollo only knew that Klown had a plan and was the hidden villain in the city. To learn more, he''d need to approach these powerful figures.


    Mahika couldn''t help but scoff, annoyed that the kid remained unfazed. He felt his mother tugging at his arm, signaling him to calm down with a cold look.


    Taking a deep breath, he nodded at Yer.


    Soon, they entered the massive mansion, passing through several hallways. After taking multiple left and right turns, they finally arrived at a grand door inscribed with an image of a monstrous eagle.


    "I think you should put a carriage here," Apollo commented, yawning as he spoke.


    "You''re poor, so you don''t understand the significance of longer walks just to get to a room!" Mahika said mockingly.


    "I understand just fine, but you don''t seem to get that cleanliness is important. Why not use your bandages to clean the floor we just walked across?" Apollo raised an eyebrow at the bandaged man. "Come on, don''t be shy¡ªshow your handsome face to the world!"


    "You! I''ll kill you!" Mahika tried to lunge at the kid but was held back by the robed men.


    "Calm down, son. What do you think my brother would do if he found out you tried to beat the kid before he could?" Yer said, though not without glaring at the beggar first. She was referring to the night her son had barely escaped death.


    Hearing this, Mahika could only shove the cultivators away angrily.


    "Hehe, that''s a good boy who knows how to listen to his owner," Apollo chuckled.


    Mahika gritted his teeth, veins threatening to burst from his fury.


    Yer stepped forward and knocked on the door a few times.


    Then they waited.


    And waited.


    "Don''t tell me he''s still... busy masturbating?" Apollo muttered, not bothering to lower his voice for the others.


    A few stifled laughs came from the robed men.


    "Who was that?!" Yer whipped around, glaring at the family cultivators, but none of them dared to admit it. She then fixed a murderous gaze on the kid. "Shut up!"


    "All right, I will!" Apollo mimed zipping his lips with his fingers.


    A few moments later, a deep voice echoed from the other side of the door.


    "Come in."


    "Let''s go." One of the robed men pushed the door open, and the group entered.


    Apollo looked around, nodding in mild appreciation. The place was extravagant, decorated in gold and silver. A suit of golden armor stood in one corner, with a two-meter-tall gold sword beside it. The curtains were made of expensive material, and the bookshelves at the far end held books bound in golden covers.


    The beggar was impressed by the display, though not to the point where he will throw his hands into the air and offer his *ss. His gaze landed on the man seated on a gold-and-silver chair behind a desk.


    He must be the Callum Family Head, Apollo thought.


    "We''re here, brother," Miss Yer said, her voice not loud but enough to reach the man behind the table.


    But the Family Head continued reading the document in his hands. Apollo couldn''t help but frown. They were standing right in front of him, yet he chose to keep them waiting? The beggar felt a surge of irritation.


    "Hey, if you''re just going to keep reading those pointless papers, I''m heading back. My time is limited, you know!" Apollo shouted, his voice echoing through the room.


    Everyone turned to him in shock.


    Mahika wore the same stunned expression before a satisfied smile crossed his face. You''re clearly asking for death. He straightened proudly, recalling the wound that had nearly killed him on his uncle''s orders. If his mother hadn''t stayed up all night pleading for his recovery, he''d be six feet under by now. Thinking about it, why they didn''t also heal his face?


    Aaron Callum slowly raised his head, his burning eyes fixed on the kid. "How dare you interrupt my reading!" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re the one who interrupted me when I was about to go home!" Apollo shouted back. He wasn''t afraid of the man before him, especially after discovering that the Callum Family Head was just a normal person! When he spread his senses, he sensed that the strongest person hiding in the shadows with cheap tricks was only at the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Apollo''s confidence was through the roof. He had already defeated someone at the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation stage and even taken down a clone of the Great Serpent, which was definitely stronger.


    Facing these people? The beggar''s nervousness vanished, replaced by a relaxed smile.


    A loud bang echoed as Aaron Callum slammed his hands on the table. He stood and pointed a finger at the kid.


    "I''m not someone you can easily mess with! I''ll give you a choice¡ªkill yourself, or I''ll kill you!" Aaron shouted, his face red with fury. No one had ever dared to speak to him like that. Even other family heads, despite their pretenses, spoke to him with respect and never outright insulted him.


    When Mahika and his mother heard this, they let out small smiles before quickly hiding them. Deep down, they couldn''t contain their excitement.


    "Uncle, let me do it!" Mahika raised his hand eagerly. But his mother tried to stop him, though she was already too late.


    "Shut your mouth!" Aaron snapped at his nephew before focusing back on Apollo. "I''ll give you three seconds!"


    The Callum Family Head didn''t care anymore, even if the kid in front of him was a Personal Disciple of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. From what he understood, a Personal Disciple wasn''t technically part of the Martial School, so he wasn''t breaking any treaty by acting. He felt no hesitation about killing the kid.


    His daughter, Lily, had sent a letter a day earlier instructing him to bring the personal disciple to the mansion once located. Aaron couldn''t understand why the kid had let himself be taken so easily¡ªhe had expected more resistance, at which point he''d send in his strongest fighter. Furthermore, he wanted to confirm the truth of his daughter''s letter; he found it hard to believe that a kid could be a personal disciple.


    But watching this so-called Personal Disciple act rudely in front of him, his fiery, easily-irritated nature couldn''t let it slide.


    "Hmm, should I kill myself?" Apollo muttered, placing a hand on his chin as if in thought, though he decided in an instant. "No f*cking way, dude."


    "Then you leave me no choice." Aaron waved his hand, and a figure clad in a robe with the family insignia stepped from the shadows, releasing an intense pressure. "Whether you''re the Personal Disciple or not, you''ll die here and now."

 Chapter 227 - 227: Dancing Blade

    "You''re done, kid. You''ve pissed off someone you shouldn''t have," the newcomer said, pulling out two scimitars. He spun them in his hands a few times before pointing one at the beggar. "They call me Dancing Blade. I''ve killed hundreds, including women and children, so don''t expect me to hold back just because you''re a kid."


    Mahika and his mother exchanged a fearful look. This was the same man who had severely injured Mahika. They hadn''t even understood how it had happened¡ªone moment, he was standing, and the next, he was on the ground with a gaping wound in his chest.


    Mahika glanced hesitantly at his mother.


    "Don''t even think about it," Yer whispered. "We should be content just to watch him get what he deserves."


    Mahika could only sigh heavily. He wanted to personally finish off the kid, but the family head wanted the best man on the job.


    "Do we really have to do this?" Apollo asked, cracking his knuckles. "What if I end up killing you? Would I be wrong for defending myself?"


    Dancing Blade was about to answer when Aaron Callum shouted.


    "Who do you think you are?! Here, I am the law! And you broke the number one rule by offending me! You''ll die here! It''s better if you don''t resist and just accept your fate!" Aaron''s eyes were wide with fury, his anger through the roof; killing the kid seemed to be the only way to satisfy him.


    Apollo thought the family head was overacting. Couldn''t he control his emotions? But seeing the way Aaron glared at him with bloodshot eyes, Apollo could only sigh. Now he understood why young masters with high egos behaved as they did.


    An apple doesn''t fall far from its tree, but some apples fall on people''s heads¡ªand besides Isaac Newton, Apollo seemed to have been struck too, gaining insight into the "young master syndrome."


    "Well, I wonder what will happen if Axton finds out that his Personal Disciple was kidnapped and nearly killed," Apollo threatened, mostly curious about Aaron Callum''s reaction.


    "Ha! Do you think I''d believe that? A kid being a Personal Disciple? Dream on! Kill him, Dancing Blade!" Aaron Callum commanded.


    "My pleasure!" Dancing Blade grinned, swinging his scimitar.


    When Mahika heard the kid claim he was the Personal Disciple and even refer to the Headmaster of the Great Serpent by his first name, his anger flared. "Personal Disciple?! Just because he''s strong doesn''t mean he holds that title! Such arrogance!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing he would actually have to fight, Apollo shrugged and raised a hand in an inviting gesture. "Come at me."


    "Oh? Not afraid, are we? Then die!" Dancing Blade shouted, using his movement technique to appear instantly in front of the kid.


    Aaron Callum smiled with confidence. Dancing Blade was the strongest fighter he kept by his side, his go-to man for the dirtiest jobs. Loyal and silent, he never complained and always followed orders. That''s why the Callum Family Head valued this scimitar-wielding fighter so highly.


    Apollo remained calm, as relaxed as ever. The scimitar in front of him glowed bright red, heating the air around it until it was boiling.


    His opponent wore a crazed smile as the weapon drew nearer to the beggar.


    Should I end this quickly? Or have some fun? Apollo thought. It was probably best to finish the fight fast, then kill everyone in the room¡ªincluding the family head¡ªbefore making his escape. But when he saw their confident, expectant faces waiting for his death, he decided to deal them a psychological blow instead.


    With this in mind, he activated his True Hardening Technique along with another skill he''d picked up on the second floor of the Great Serpent Library.


    A translucent, light-blue dome materialized in front of him, blocking Dancing Blade''s attack.


    A sharp, metallic clang echoed through the room, and the onlookers stared at the kid with wide eyes.


    He blocked that? Mahika was just as shocked, though he breathed a sigh of relief when the barrier shattered and the kid was thrown back by the impact.


    "You''ve got some skills, kid!" Dancing Blade said, appearing in front of Apollo once more.


    "And you''ve got some seriously bad breath!" Apollo retorted, covering his nose as his opponent swung at him again. Using the same technique, he formed another barrier, though it broke after a few seconds of contact. The scimitar grazed his arm, but with True Hardening activated, the wound was shallow.


    Apollo was hurled backward once again. Glancing at his arm as he landed, he couldn''t help but smile. Using Refined Qi for True Hardening made the technique far stronger compared to using Unrefined Qi from his surroundings. Though he could easily dodge the attack, he chose to let it land instead.


    "Ah, I wish I could personally kill him," Mahika muttered in disappointment.


    Aaron, meanwhile, had settled back into his chair, watching the one-sided fight with satisfaction. He didn''t want the battle to end too soon¡ªhe wanted to savor the kid''s suffering.


    Yes, he admitted he was surprised the boy was actually a cultivator, but a Personal Disciple? He''d never believe that. Perhaps his daughter had made a mistake.


    Dancing Blade raised his scimitar, now smeared with Apollo''s blood, and licked it slowly.


    "That''s disgusting," Apollo said, frowning as he healed his wounds.


    "No, you should be honored that I taste your blood before I kill you," Dancing Blade sneered.


    "Why not taste my fist instead!" Apollo shouted, dashing toward his opponent with the Simple Movement Technique.


    Holding back his full strength to give them a false sense of hope, he knew that if he went all out, his opponent''s head would already be rolling on the ground.


    "Take this!" Dancing Blade slashed through the air, sending countless fiery arcs toward Apollo. They moved so quickly that they surrounded him in an instant.


    But just as the blazing slashes were about to slice him into pieces, Apollo suddenly vanished from his spot.


    Dancing Blade''s eyes widened in disbelief. Where did he go?! A chill ran down his spine as he realized something crucial.


    Turning around, Dancing Blade saw a fist coming straight for his head! Crap! He braced himself for impact, but to his surprise, the punch slowed down at the last moment. Taking advantage of the unexpected pause, Dancing Blade launched a counterattack with a cross slash. His scimitars glowed red-hot, unleashing a burning strike!


    "Argh!" Apollo cried out in "pain," his body sent flying through the air, spinning a few times before landing face-first on the ground.


    "That''s a solid strike!" Aaron shouted from his seat, excitement evident in his voice. It had been weeks since the Advancement Examination ended, and he hadn''t had time to watch a battle in the city''s Arena. This fight was satisfying his craving for action.


    "Yes! Good!" Mahika cheered, clenching his fists. He had been shocked by the kid''s sudden speed when he appeared behind Dancing Blade, but was relieved when Dancing Blade managed to counter in time.


    Mahika''s mother and the other cultivators in the room joined in with their own cheers.


    However, Dancing Blade wore a frown. The kid''s speed had increased so suddenly that he could barely keep up, but at the last second, the boy slowed down. Did he use some kind of technique? he wondered.


    Apollo stood up and noticed parts of his robe smoldering. He hurriedly patted them out. "You almost burned my clothes!" he shouted indignantly at his opponent.


    "You''re lucky you''re still alive," Dancing Blade replied, ignoring the remark and gripping his scimitars tighter.


    "It''s because I chose to be," Apollo smirked. He had used a movement technique he''d learned from the fourth floor of the Great Serpent Library called Water Phase Technique. Though he''d only mastered the beginner stage, combining it with his Simple Movement Technique had boosted his speed beyond what the scimitar wielder could perceive. Even Apollo was surprised by his own speed.


    Water Phase Technique allowed him to pass through most objects, but at the beginner stage, he could only phase through thin objects. That''s why he''d maneuvered around his opponent rather than phasing directly in front to arrive behind Dancing Blade.


    He still had plenty of other techniques up his sleeve, but Apollo felt he''d shown them just enough to give them a sliver of hope.


    "Bullsh*t! This time, I won''t hold back anymore!" Dancing Blade growled, releasing his full killing intent. Since the start, he had aimed to kill the kid, but his repeated failures gnawed at him.


    "Me too!" Apollo replied, raising his right hand and pointing it at his opponent. The Simple Wind Sword Technique activated, and a visible, calm wind formed around his hand, appearing deceptively harmless.


    Dancing Blade glanced at the wind surrounding Apollo''s hand, then locked eyes with him. "Die, kid!"


    In an instant, he vanished from his spot!


    But Apollo wasn''t about to let his opponent make the first move. His body blurred and disappeared just as quickly!


    Aaron Callum, his sister, Mahika, and the other onlookers watched with wide eyes, though they all assumed they knew the outcome.


    Who could it be other than the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage cultivator, Dancing Blade?

 Chapter 228 - 228: Spare Me!

    "The fight''s over," Aaron Callum muttered with satisfaction, noting the classic pose signaling the end of a duel¡ªfighters standing back-to-back, weapons or hands at their sides. It was a pose he''d seen countless times in tournaments and battles, a display he admired.


    He stood up and clapped his hands. "Well done, Dancing Blade. That was a feast for the eyes! I''ll reward you grea¨C"


    However, his words halted abruptly as Dancing Blade collapsed, eyes rolled back, blood pooling around him.


    The kid turned to Aaron, a cold smile on his face. "Why not give me the reward instead?"


    "This can''t be!" Aaron''s eyes widened. "You! You defeated my best fighter? A 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage? But you''re just a kid!"


    "A kid? Who told you I was just a kid?" Apollo smirked, glancing at Mahika, whose body was still covered in bandages. "I told you¡ªI''m the Personal Disciple."


    Meeting Apollo''s gaze, a shiver ran down Mahika''s spine as he recalled their encounter on the first floor of the Great Serpent Library. The kid had admitted he was the Personal Disciple, but Mahika hadn''t believed him. Even when the kid defeated him on the south beach, the idea hadn''t crossed his mind.


    He realized, too late, that he''d seriously messed up by offending someone powerful.


    "So it''s true!" Aaron''s voice shook.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow. What does he mean by that? In seconds, he pieced it together¡ªthe Callum family head had suspected his status before Apollo even arrived. But Mahika hadn''t believed it, so Aaron had used them as pawns for his own agenda.


    Regardless, it was pointless to dwell on the twisted logic of these egotistical people. He had his own plans now.


    "Sure, it''s true¡­whatever that means to you," Apollo chuckled, locking his gaze on Aaron. "So, tell me, who holds more status here¡ªyou or me?"


    Aaron took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His usual fiery temper cooled. He had essentially kidnapped the Personal Disciple, if the kid was telling the truth. But had he truly offended the Great Serpent Cultivation School? Technically, the Personal Disciple doesn''t belong to the school¡­


    Yet, what about Axton, the kid''s master?


    I should''ve listened to my daughter and let her handle it herself, Aaron thought, filled with regret. His daughter, Lily, had told him to bring the Personal Disciple to the mansion if he found him. She hadn''t suggested using force, but Aaron hadn''t believed a kid could hold that title. So, he''d let his emotions take over.


    "Why don''t we talk this through?" Aaron suggested, stepping forward and rubbing his hands together nervously. "My daughter wanted to meet you¡ªwhy don''t we sit down and wait for her?"


    Seeing the sudden change in her brother''s demeanor, Miss Yer took a step forward. "But, brother! He harmed my child!"


    "Shut the f*ck up!" Aaron snapped, glaring at her. "Why don''t you scram!"


    Yer gritted her teeth, throwing a glare at Apollo before turning away. "Mahika, let''s go!"


    With his head lowered, Mahika followed his mother, with the other cultivators trailing behind.


    "All of you, stay here," Apollo said, staring them down.


    "Who are you to order us, huh?!" Yer shouted back.


    "Yer! Listen to the Personal Disciple!" Aaron barked.


    "B¨C" Yer wanted to protest, but seeing her brother''s stern expression, she could only grit her teeth and comply. She returned to her previous spot, seething, and waited.


    Apollo chuckled, eyeing the Callum family head. "Why the sudden change in attitude? Do you finally believe I''m the Personal Disciple?"


    "I believed it from the start. I just needed to confirm it. You know, identity theft is common these days," Aaron Callum replied with a nervous chuckle. "Let''s sit down and talk."


    "No." Apollo shook his head. "Is your daughter one of the Senior Sisters?"


    "Yes, why?" Aaron asked.


    So she wants to meet me because she plans to challenge my position, Apollo concluded. It seemed Aaron was unaware of this. The rules about being the Personal Disciple are only known to the Great Serpent''s Seniors and Elders.


    With this thought, Apollo began cracking his neck, then his knuckles.


    Seeing this, Aaron felt a sinking feeling. "W-what are you doing?!"


    He was nervous. With his strongest fighter dead, no one in the mansion could defeat the kid before him.


    "Cleaning up witnesses," Apollo said, and as the words left his mouth, lightning erupted around him. The intense light blinded those nearby, and in an instant, he vanished.


    Mahika shielded his eyes from the light, but when he looked again, he saw the kid has disappeared while lightning moved around him.


    "Mother!" he shouted, glancing over, only to witness his mother''s head fly into the air. "Mother!!!"


    Heads rolled as the scent of burnt flesh filled the air.


    The other cultivators met the same fate, witnessing only flashes of blinding light before succumbing to the after life.


    Mahika''s face dripped with sweat as he realized his fate. Gritting his teeth, he activated his movement technique, racing toward the door. But just as he neared it, lightning flashed in front of him, and Apollo materialized.


    "I''ve been wanting to kill you," Apollo said in a chillingly innocent tone.


    "P-please, spare me!" Mahika pleaded, snot and tears streaming down his face.


    "Sorry, no can do," Apollo replied, raising his hand, surrounded by a razor-sharp wind, and slicing it horizontally across Mahika''s neck.


    Mahika attempted to defend with a water barrier, but it was useless; Apollo''s strike was unstoppable.


    Death is unstoppable, Mahika thought as his head spun through the air.


    "Another egotistical young master down. Cravings satisfied," Apollo smiled, sending a small Fire Blast, tinged with lightning, toward Mahika''s corpse. The moment it landed, the flame ignited, engulfing the entire body and head.


    Apollo moved to the other corpses, doing the same.


    All the while, Aaron Callum watched in horror, his body trembling. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead and down his back.


    In his eyes, the kid was no longer a kid but a bloodthirsty monster.


    "Now, it''s your turn," Apollo said with a smirk, appearing before the Callum family head, the flames casting an ominous glow behind him.


    Aaron Callum gulped, paralyzed with fear.


    S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 229 - 229: Aaron Spilling The Truth

    "D-Don''t kill me!" Aaron Callum shouted as the kid advanced toward him. "I''m still one of the great family heads in this city! My influence is beyond anything you could fathom!"


    "Influence?" Apollo smirked. "If I burned you to death, what could your influence possibly do? And even if it could, you''d be long dead by then."


    Aaron gritted his teeth. The kid was right; in the face of death, his influence wouldn''t bring him back to life.


    "Still! You shouldn''t offend me! If I shout, my warriors will come and apprehend you! I have hundreds of them!" Aaron threatened, trying to regain his composure.


    "Haven''t you noticed how fast I am?" Apollo stared at the Callum family head as if he were a fool. "Did you hit your head or something? I could kill you before they even arrive."


    "F*ck! Tell me what you want¡ªis it money? Cultivation techniques? We have plenty! I''ll give you as much as you want!" Aaron quickly said, pride evaporating in the face of his life being threatened. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "None of that interests me," Apollo replied, shaking his head.


    "Then name it! Whatever it is, I''ll fulfill it for you!" Nothing mattered more to Aaron than saving his own life. "I could even give you my daughter!"


    "Hmm." Apollo placed a hand under his chin, pretending to be in deep thought, though it was merely an act to heighten Aaron''s nerves. "Forget about your daughter. I want information."


    "Information? About¡­ what?" Aaron asked, taking a shaky breath. The fact that the kid was asking for information instead of money or techniques made him even more uneasy. And when he heard Apollo''s next words, a chill ran down his spine.


    "About Mayor Klown. His hideous plan¡ªyou surely know something, right?" Apollo said coldly.


    "I¡­" Aaron gulped, his eyes darting. "I¡­ don''t know what you''re talking about. What plan?"


    "Do you want to live or not?" Apollo raised his hand, lightning crackling from it.


    "I¡­ I really don''t know anything about this ''hideous plan'' you''re talking about!" Aaron stammered through gritted teeth.


    "If that''s the case, then I''ll torture you slowly before I kill you," Apollo said, waving his hand. Before Aaron could react, his hand fell to the ground!


    "Ahhhh!" Aaron screamed in agony, clutching his severed arm and writhing on the floor.


    Apollo watched him with cold eyes. He wasn''t a good person in his previous life either; he did only what he felt like doing, and that was probably why he had so many haters back then.


    "Every time you refuse to answer my question, I''ll take another limb. Then your eyes, nose, and teeth. And if you still refuse, I''ll skin you alive. Got it?" Apollo''s voice was like a death sentence.


    "Y-yes¡­" Aaron panted heavily. He reached inside his clothing with his remaining hand and pulled out a small bottle filled with blue liquid, swallowing it in one gulp. The bleeding from his severed arm stopped, and miraculously, it began healing, albeit slowly.


    Seeing this, Apollo felt a flicker of curiosity about the bottle but decided to stay focused on the matter at hand.


    "Tell me about his plan," he ordered, moving to sit in the chair behind the desk, watching Aaron intently.


    Aaron Callum stood up with a frown. Though the bleeding had stopped, his arm was still throbbing in pain. "If I tell you¡­ don''t kill me."


    "Of course, as long as I''m satisfied with the answer," Apollo lied with a smile. The kind of person in front of him? He didn''t deserve to live. Giving Aaron false hope would just make the situation more interesting.


    "I don''t know all the details, but¡­ he wants to get rid of all the Cultivation Schools in the city," Aaron said.


    "Oh, so that''s why he organized large-scale thefts targeting each of the Cultivation Schools?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow as he conjured a serpent made of lightning.


    Aaron glanced nervously at the lightning serpent. Realizing his life was on the line, he decided to tell everything. Betraying the mayor felt like his only option now.


    "That''s the gist of it," Aaron explained. "I think he believes that if the Techniques from the Martial Schools are accessible to the public, people won''t need the schools anymore."


    "You think?" Apollo stared coldly at the Callum family head.


    "Yes¡­ Klown didn''t go into detail. Maybe he has other plans, but he didn''t tell us everything," Aaron quickly replied, grimacing as the pain from his severed arm made him breathe deeply.


    "Us¡­ So you and the other families sided with him?" Apollo pressed. "Did all of you side with him?"


    "Not everyone," Aaron shook his head. "The Kleinford, Helflick, and Leone families opposed it."


    Hearing his family''s name, Apollo''s heart skipped a beat, confirming one of his suspicions about the mayor.


    Apollo fell silent, deep in thought, before continuing. "Tell me everything you know about Klown''s plan besides what you just mentioned."


    Taking a deep breath, Aaron began to speak.


    Apparently, Klown had gathered the family heads to discuss his vision of removing the Cultivation Schools from the city. Legally, Klown didn''t have the authority to shut them down, as the empire and the Cultivation Schools had an agreement: each major city must have a martial school to strengthen and protect it. But Klown felt his authority was being challenged, his actions limited. He wanted full control of the city with no oversight. He promised to grant more power to any families that helped him if his plan succeeded.


    "But if ordinary people gain access to Cultivation Techniques, wouldn''t that create chaos? And what if they decide to challenge the mayor himself?" Apollo pointed out.


    By now, Aaron''s injury had healed, though he would be one arm short forever. "Klown said he''d handle anyone who opposed him."


    "If he was thinking clearly, he''d keep the Techniques hidden in a vault, only using them as rewards to recruit loyal followers after he successfully removed the Martial Schools. Broadcasting the Techniques to the public is a strange move," Apollo mused, feeling that there was more to Klown''s plan than just removing the Martial Schools.


    "That¡­ we didn''t question much," Aaron replied with a bitter smile.


    "Then why is he expanding the wall?" Apollo asked, voicing a crucial question.


    "He never told us the reason for that. Even we were shocked when we heard he was planning to expand the wall."

 Chapter 230 - 230: Death Of Aaron

    Apollo was silent for a moment before he asked another question. "What do you think of Klown?"


    One of the rumors he''d heard was that the Mayor ate people¡ªaccording to the former north guard captain he''d killed.


    "What do I think of him¡­" By now, the Callum family head had completely forgotten his allegiance to the mayor. "A big piece of sh*t."


    Look who''s talking, Apollo thought, finding Aaron''s answer more than enough.


    "Then what about the rumor of him eating people? Is it true?" Apollo asked, the lightning serpent circling around him.


    "You''ve heard about that?" Aaron Callum looked surprised. "It''s only known to the highest-ranking individuals in the city. The truth circulates only among those who follow him."


    "So, you''re saying the rumor isn''t just talk but a fact?" Apollo said, narrowing his eyes.


    "Yes," Aaron nodded. "Have my answers satisfied you? Do you need more information?" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you for answering; I''m greatly satisfied," Apollo smiled, hopping off the chair as his small frame walked past the Callum family head.


    Hearing this, Aaron let out a sigh of relief, thinking the kid was keeping his word. But soon after, a dark expression returned to his face as feelings of humiliation, shame, and anger washed over him. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fist tight.


    I''ll have my revenge, Aaron thought, suddenly sensing someone behind him. He turned to find the Personal Disciple at the entrance, watching him with a cold gaze and a powerful killing intent.


    A bad feeling welled up within Aaron.


    "By the way, I don''t keep promises with people I intend to kill," Apollo said as the lightning serpent crackled around him.


    "But you made a promise!" Aaron shouted, stumbling back in fear.


    "Yes, but I''m a motherf*cker!" The moment Apollo spoke, the lightning serpent roared, transforming into a bolt of energy that appeared instantly in front of Aaron!


    Aaron Callum''s eyes widened, and before he knew it, his world turned bright as electricity surged through him, burning his entire body inside and out.


    Seeing this, the beggar smirked. Once the Callum family head fell to the floor, he cast a Fire Blast, igniting the room in flames. With fire raging behind him, Apollo walked out.


    "I should get out as fast as possible," he muttered, his body turning invisible with a technique he''d derived from the Hydra Mirage. Then, in a flash of lightning, he vanished.


    ¡­


    News of the tragedy spread quickly in Klown City and soon reached the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    In one of the Senior courtyards, Lily sat in her garden when she received a letter from a messenger bird.


    Before she even opened it, a bad feeling rose within her. As she read the letter, her face paled.


    "My father¡­ he''s dead?" Lily Callum muttered in disbelief. According to the letter, Aaron Callum had died in an intense fire that consumed the mansion, while her aunt Yer and cousin Mahika had been found with severed heads, along with other cultivators on the scene, before they, too, were engulfed in flames.


    The tragedy had struck suddenly and in broad daylight. The culprit was still unknown.


    However, disbelief soon faded from her face, replaced by acceptance. In truth, she wasn''t surprised. Her father had a fiery temper and had made numerous enemies; it wasn''t unthinkable that one of them would finally come for him.


    Lily didn''t feel any pity or sympathy for her family; instead, she felt disappointed. She had planned to return to her family and meet that perso¡ªwait, did he kill them? The thought crossed her mind, and she couldn''t shake it.


    "If he really did kill them, I''ll have a reason to do the same," Lily muttered, her voice laced with killing intent. She wasn''t doing this for her family''s sake but rather for the position of Personal Disciple. She had been eyeing that role ever since she became a Senior, and she would achieve her dream no matter what it took.


    With a snap of her fingers, the letter in her hand shredded to pieces as small, sharp water blades sliced through it.


    "I''m stronger than Heru now," Lily smiled, watching the paper fragments fall to the ground. Just a few days ago, she had finally achieved a breakthrough with her battle technique, Water Blade Disintegration. She had reached the intermediate stage, which boosted her strength significantly. Unless the other Seniors managed similar breakthroughs, she would remain at the top. Her chances of defeating that kid, the Personal Disciple, had become more certain.


    Standing up, she decided to head back into her training room to stabilize her technique. When she''d sent the letter to her father, asking him to bring the Personal Disciple to their mansion, she''d planned to take an underhanded approach, hoping to challenge the kid in front of her master and away from the Headmaster''s watchful eye. Now, it seemed all she could do was wait for him to return.


    ¡­


    When night arrived, Apollo sat at his usual spot with his hands on his forehead, begging for money. A few hours later, he opened his eyes and looked at what he had collected.


    "One bronze coin?" Apollo muttered, disappointed. His Alm Points had only increased by one. Sighing as he pocketed the coin, he looked up at the night sky. "Hey, System, is there any way to increase my Alm Points faster? Do I really have to beg¡­literally? Can''t you give me some leeway?"


    A light blue translucent screen materialized before him, and the system''s strict, emotionless voice echoed in his mind.


    "No. You embody the essence of a True Beggar. You must live by the laws of begging to survive. There are no shortcuts."


    "Useless piece of sh*t," Apollo cursed.


    The System didn''t respond as the screen vanished.


    "Staying here to beg is pointless¡­ If I really want to increase my Alm Points, I''ll need to go somewhere more crowded," Apollo muttered. He had been avoiding crowded areas to keep a low profile, but it seemed this street wouldn''t be enough.


    Fortunately, he could beg in different places, and the money would still convert to Alm Points; he wasn''t confined to just this spot.


    "Hmm, I should find a new place to beg, but I need to complete my second mission first," Apollo thought, feeling he was close. All he needed was to find out why the wall was being expanded and why the stolen cultivation and battle techniques were made public. Currently, people hadn''t made any moves, likely because they were still in the learning phase.

 Chapter 231 - 231: Bel Last Day?

    As night passed and morning arrived, news of the deaths of the Callum family head and other members spread across the city, raising concerns among the other great families. Meanwhile, the perpetrator was cultivating peacefully.


    From the beggar''s perspective, the world had turned into a pitch-black void, with the surrounding Qi shining like bright stars.


    The Qi entered his body, following the pattern of his Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique before settling into the Qi ball a few inches below his navel, strengthening it further. As it grew larger, Apollo suddenly sensed that if he continued, something might explode.


    Realizing this, he didn''t hesitate to break through the barrier! With anticipation and excitement, Apollo advanced to the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage!


    The Qi ball expanded, and the Refined Qi within grew stronger.


    Opening his eyes, a glint appeared within them. He raised his hand and clenched his fist, noting that while his physical strength didn''t feel significantly enhanced, his power had definitely doubled.


    As he savored the feeling of surpassing his previous stage, a problem came to mind. "I need to familiarize myself with my newfound strength again," he muttered with a bitter smile. Every time he broke through a step, he needed to understand his new strength to use it to its full potential. But thinking he''d have to repeat this process every time he advanced, Apollo felt it was just a waste of time.


    "If I keep getting stronger, so be it. There''s no need for me to keep familiarizing myself with new strength," he decided, nodding to himself.


    Then, his stomach growled. Breaking through must have consumed a lot of energy. Though he''d recently discovered he could stave off hunger by cultivating, he still craved real food.


    Glancing to the corner, he saw a familiar basket, with smoke drifting from the opening. Licking his lips, he picked it up and opened it. Inside, alongside the spaghetti, was a piece of meat glistening in coconut oil.


    Seeing this, a smile appeared on his face, realizing they finally had their own meat distributor. "That''s good," he muttered, beginning his breakfast.


    After he finished, he let out a small burp and approached the entrance of the restaurant beside him. Just as he was about to knock to alert Ned, the door opened from inside, and Filly and Gail stepped out.


    The trio exchanged surprised glances before Apollo let out a chuckle.


    "Good morning! I see you finally have your own meat distributor¡ªcongratulations!" Apollo said.


    "Thanks," Filly replied, but her smile was forced.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo asked, noticing her expression.


    "It''s about Bel," Filly said, her tone dropping. "This¡­ this is probably her last day."


    "Last day?" Apollo repeated, quickly realizing what she meant. He had nearly forgotten about Bel and her lingering injuries.


    "Yes, she can''t fight the poison in her body any longer," Filly explained, trying to hold back tears.


    Gail, on the other hand, kept her head lowered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Although a trained assassin, she was sensitive when it came to her friends.


    "I''m sorry, but we have to go see her," Filly said, bowing slightly before she and Gail walked past Apollo toward the waiting carriage.


    "Hmm." Apollo glanced at the basket in his hand, then at Ned, who had appeared in the doorway. "Here, take this."


    He handed the basket to the worker and then followed after the two.


    "Can I come?" he asked.


    Filly and Gail exchanged glances before nodding.


    "Sure."


    "Thanks," Apollo said. Once they were in the carriage, they began their journey northwest of Klown City.


    ¡­


    June, Bel Helflick''s personal bodyguard, arrived in front of the family mansion in his carriage. Without greeting the guards on either side of the gate, he sprinted inside, breaking the rule against running or flying within the mansion to maintain decorum. But his mind was set solely on reaching Bel''s room as quickly as possible.


    It took him only fifteen seconds, but each second felt like an eternity.


    June finally stopped in front of a pair of double doors. Taking a deep breath to calm his pounding heart, he pushed them open.


    The door creaked quietly, and as he entered, the intense smell of medicine assaulted his nose. He frowned, but soon grew accustomed to it.


    Looking around, he noticed two figures standing by the bed.


    One was the Helflick family head, Bel''s father, Mathias¡ªblack-haired, with a mustache reaching the sides of his lips and cold, silver eyes.


    The other was Nathan Kleinford, Filly''s father. He had black hair and dark eyes, and he wore a black hanfu robe, radiating an air of battle-hardened resilience.


    They turned toward June, and Nathan nodded in greeting.


    "I''ve arrived, Family Head Mathias," June said, bowing his head.


    "Did you find a cure?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I did, but I don''t know if it will work," June replied hesitantly.


    "Try it," Mathias commanded, his eyes burning with hope. Like June, he''d been working tirelessly to find a cure for his daughter. He''d spent days and nights in the Alchemy House with the branch manager''s help, concocting dozens of pills and potions. But none of them had worked. Clenching his fists, Mathias watched as June approached his daughter''s bedside.


    Mathias glanced at Bel, lying frail on the bed. Her body was thin as a twig, as if a single gust of wind might break her. Her cheeks were sunken, her lips cracked.


    Her chest rose and fell laboriously, each breath a struggle. Seeing her in this state, June gritted his teeth. Please work, he thought as he took a small bottle from inside his robe. It contained a black liquid, and as he opened it, the smell of poison filled the air.


    "Poison against poison?" Nathan muttered, glancing at Mathias. Seeing only fierce determination in his friend''s eyes, he remained silent, waiting.


    June administered the liquid, helping Bel drink it in a single gulp. As the black liquid disappeared down her throat, he stepped back and waited.


    A few seconds later, Bel''s eyes slowly opened.


    "It worked," Nathan and June said in unison, relief evident in their voices.


    "No," Mathias said, his voice dashing their hopes. "It won''t last long."

 Chapter 232 - 232: Saving Bel

    "F¡­father¡­" Bel''s weak voice echoed, her eyes lingering on her father before drifting to the Kleinford family head and then to June. "Un¡­cle¡­ Ju¡­ne¡­"


    Her voice was quiet and slow, but they heard it clearly. Bel''s eyes had dimmed, holding no brightness or cheerfulness¡ªonly acceptance.


    "How¡­ do you feel?" Mathias asked, his voice choked, though he tried his best to remain calm. His clenched fists betrayed his true feelings. He walked over to her bed and sat beside her.


    "I''m¡­ good¡­" Bel answered, each breath labored and forceful.


    "That''s good, that''s good," Mathias repeated, raising her hand and gently touching her faintly warm cheek.


    "I¡­ won''t¡­ be able¡­ to survive¡­ right?" Bel gave a weak smile.


    Nathan Kleinford looked away, as did June, unable to bring themselves to tell her the truth. Their hearts were heavy, seeing Bel¡ªthe once lively, bright young girl¡ªlying frail on her bed.


    "It''s my fault," June muttered, his teeth clenched. "If I had traveled further, if I had been faster¡­ I could''ve found the right cure¡­"


    Bel glanced at June, then smiled softly at her father. "How¡­ much¡­ longer?"


    "Ten minutes or so," Mathias sighed, forcing a smile. He could sense the poison she had just consumed battling the poison that was killing her. June must have acquired the potion from one of the Poison Masters in the region¡ªno small feat, as they rarely grant requests.


    "Ten¡­ minutes¡­ I''m¡­ happy¡­" Bel murmured, though regret flickered in her expression. "But¡­ I haven''t¡­ found them¡­"


    "Who is it, daughter? Do you want to see someone? I''ll do my best to find them!" Mathias held her hands tightly.


    "Leone''s¡­ heir¡­ and¡­ my savior¡­" Her mind flashed with the image of the young man who had helped her when she was searching for the lost Leone heir. Even now, on the brink of darkness, she still longed to see him.


    "Leone," Nathan muttered, exchanging a glance with the Helflick family head. "Klown must be behind it."


    "There''s no one else it could be," Mathias replied. "But the chances of the heir being alive are slim. Don''t worry, Bel¡ªI''ll do everything I can to find him!"


    With that, he rose to go, ready to search the city for the Leone heir, but Bel stopped him, grasping his hand.


    "Stay¡­ here¡­ Father," Bel smiled, her face glowing like a flower, bringing warmth to the sadness that filled the room. "Stay¡­ with¡­ me."


    Bel knew she would never see the heir or her savior again. It was a shame, but she accepted it.


    "Don''t worry, kid. I''ll always look out for your family," Nathan promised. Seeing Bel lying so frail made him realize the importance of family. He regretted not showing more love to his own children, especially the one who had chosen business over cultivation.


    As he thought of her, a knock at the door drew everyone''s attention.


    "Your friends are here," Mathias said. "Come in!"


    The door opened, and three individuals stepped into the room. As they entered, the strong smell of medicine hit their noses, making them frown, though they quickly adjusted.


    Filly took the lead, followed by Gail and the beggar.


    "Father," Filly greeted Nathan, then nodded to the Helflick family head. "Uncle Mathias."


    "You came," Mathias said, standing up from the bed.


    "Yes," Filly replied, her gaze settling on her friend lying on the bed. "Bel."


    "Filly¡­" Bel smiled, trying to sit up.


    June stepped in to help her.


    "Than¡­ks¡­" Bel nodded at her bodyguard, who had been by her side since she was little.


    "I brought¡­your favorite," Filly choked out, lifting the basket in her hand. Her eyes moistened, tears threatening to fall.


    "Spaghetti?" Bel asked weakly, and when Filly nodded, her face brightened.


    "Here you go." Filly moved to her bedside, opened the basket, and took out a plate of noodles topped with red sauce. "You can eat, right?"


    "Yes¡­" Bel nodded, a bit of strength returning as she smelled her favorite food. She had eaten this only a few times before, as Filly would often visit her with it and feed her.


    "Good," Filly said, stirring the food so the sauce coated the noodles. Using a fork, she began feeding Bel.


    With each bite, Bel''s face grew a little brighter, and she seemed more lively.


    The beggar stood silently to the side, observing Bel''s fragile state. He knew it wouldn''t be long before she took her last breath. It reminded him of scenes he''d witnessed in his previous life, in the hospitals he owned¡ªterminal lucidity, where people close to death would suddenly gain a burst of strength.


    As Filly fed Bel, the room grew quiet. Watching closely, the beggar picked up an anomaly in the air. The surrounding Qi was pulsing with a distinct wavelength, emanating from Mathias and Nathan.


    Apollo hadn''t come here just to see Bel. He also wanted to understand her father, and Filly''s father being here was an added advantage. Knowing these two families opposed the Mayor, Apollo sensed an opportunity to learn something valuable.


    What are they talking about? Apollo wondered, spreading his senses and aligning with the frequency of the Unrefined Qi.


    "¡­they will pay for it," Mathias ''said,'' his voice as cold as ice.


    "I suspect they hired whoever did this to her," Nathan replied in the silent connection.


    "They''re the only ones capable of something like this," Mathias said. "I have to take action. Are you in?"


    "Of course," Nathan replied. "They can''t be the only ones with a plan. What about Axton and the others?"


    "They''re still neutral, likely awaiting approval from their main branch. But I believe they''ll side with us," Mathias explained.


    "That''s good to hear. Also, Aaron''s death will unsettle the Mayor. I think he''ll make an obvious move soon," Nathan said, glancing at Mathias.


    "We have to be prepared. I will make them suffer for hurting my daughter," Mathias murmured, a hint of killing intent in his voice. The temperature in the room dropped momentarily, reflecting his rage.


    Bel looked at her father with concern. "Are¡­ you¡­ okay?"


    "I''m alright, Bel," Mathias replied.


    "I see¡­" Bel said softly. She had just finished eating and noticed a person she didn''t recognize. Turning to the young man, she tilted her head. "You¡­ are?"


    "This is Mr. Yoma," Gail introduced. "He stayed near Filly''s restaurant. He''s¡­ a beggar and a friend."


    "Oh¡­ I¡­ remember," Bel managed a small smile. "Hello."


    "Hello." Apollo stepped forward, glancing at the two influential figures before meeting Bel''s eyes directly. "Do you want to live?"


    The unexpected question left everyone stunned.


    Nathan frowned. "Hey, kid, this isn''t the place to say things like that."


    "I''m asking her," Apollo said, looking directly at Nathan.


    "You!" Nathan''s face flushed with anger as he looked at his daughter. "Filly! Why did you bring a beggar here?!"


    "Father, he''s not just a beggar," Filly replied, then turned to Apollo with hopeful eyes. She had a fleeting thought that maybe the man who helped save her restaurant could also save her friend, but quickly dismissed it, not wanting to impose on him.


    "He''s not just a beggar?" Nathan repeated, still frowning.


    "Are you a Wanderer?" Mathias asked, his gaze cold, as if one wrong answer would make him lash out. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You could say that," Apollo nodded.


    "I see. Then are you saying you can save my daughter?" Mathias asked. June, standing behind him, looked at the beggar with a glimmer of hope, willing to cling to any chance of saving Bel.


    "Yes, but it''s not free," Apollo replied, placing one hand behind his back, where he quietly materialized a bottle of green liquid¡ªthe same potion he used after being poisoned by Arke, the poison that now threatened Bel''s life.


    "Name your price. As long as you save my daughter, I''ll pay whatever you want," Mathias said.


    "All I need is cooperation," Apollo replied, looking pointedly at both Nathan and Mathias. "From the two of you."


    "Us?" Nathan muttered, intrigued by the beggar''s proposal.


    "Yes, but let''s discuss that later. Right now, let''s focus on saving Bel," Apollo said.


    The reminder shifted their attention back to Bel Helflick. She was struggling to breathe, her eyes fixed on the beggar.


    "So, do you want to live?" Apollo asked again. He respected her choice¡ªif she wished to pass peacefully, he would let her.


    Bel took several deep breaths and, using the last of her strength, nodded slowly.


    "Give her this," Apollo said, tossing the bottle to June, who caught it instinctively. "Be careful¡ªthat''s very valuable."


    June didn''t open it right away but looked to the family head.


    "Do it," Mathias nodded.


    With Mathias''s approval, June uncorked the bottle and approached the bed.


    Filly and Gail clasped their hands tightly, a storm of emotions swirling within them.


    Please, let this work!


    June raised Bel with his free hand. Her eyes are on the verge of closing as her chest moved up and down strongly. A great responsibility is currently on his hands.


    Bringing the potion closed to Bel''s lips, the smell made her nose to twitch.


    Bel instinctively opened her mouth and taking this chance, June made her drink the liquid inside the bottle.

 Chapter 233 - 233: Shes Safe?

    As the green liquid entered Bel''s throat, everyone held their breath¡ªexcept the beggar, who was confident in its effectiveness. Apollo had been poisoned by Arke before and believed he''d endured a stronger dose than what Bel currently suffered. Yet, one drink of this basic antidote, which cost him three Alm Points, had been enough to counter it.


    "Don''t give us false hope, kid," Nathan warned, his gaze fixed on the beggar with a sharp glint in his eyes. "You don''t want to taste our wrath."


    "I''m not," Apollo replied with a smile.


    "I trust Mr. Yoma, Father, so don''t scare him," Filly said from the side.


    "He''s not scaring me at all," Apollo shrugged. "Unless I''m facing death itself."


    "Big words for someone without cultivation," Nathan smirked. "I don''t see any concealing artifact on you. Why call yourself a Wanderer?"


    "Father!" Filly snapped, glaring at him. She knew her father well¡ªif he disliked someone, he''d pick them apart, looking for faults. And currently, he seemed to be showing that attitude toward Mr. Yoma. "He''s an esteemed guest! I gave him the token."


    "What?! Are you serious?" Nathan looked at his daughter in surprise. The tokens he''d given his children were valuable, representing his willingness to grant them a favor, though it still depended on whether he found the request reasonable.


    "I''m serious," Filly replied, letting out a sigh. "I''ll explain later. For now, please show some respect."


    Meanwhile, as Nathan and Apollo sized each other up, Mathias''s gaze remained fixed on his daughter.


    "It''s done," June muttered, placing Bel''s head gently back on the pillow as he stepped away, holding the empty bottle.


    "So, what now?" Nathan asked.


    "We wait," Apollo replied.


    The tension in the room rose as they waited, with Filly and Gail clenching their fists as Bel''s time drew near. They didn''t know if the potion would work and could only watch.


    But Mathias, who had worn a solemn expression moments ago, now wore a small smile. He could feel it¡ªhis daughter''s condition was rapidly improving. The poison that had plagued her for weeks was succumbing to the green liquid she''d just taken.


    It was like a polluted stream being cleansed by holy water. The aura of death that had surrounded her vanished, her pale complexion turned rosy, and her labored breaths grew calm.


    In just a minute, the poison was completely gone.


    Mathias approached the beggar, his towering figure looming above Apollo. With a broad smile, he extended his hand. "I''m Mathias Kleinford. I owe you my daughter''s life."


    "Nah, I''m just helping because I want something," Apollo replied, shaking Mathias''s hand. "Name''s Yoma."


    Apollo had grown so accustomed to introducing himself as Yoma that it felt natural, almost as if it were truly his name. For a moment, he found himself missing his other persona¡ªCan Deez.


    Ah, I wonder when I''ll get to use that name again.


    "Yoma, I''ll fulfill your request, as long as it''s reasonable and within our means," Mathias said, locking eyes with him.


    "Oh, trust me, you''ll like it," Apollo nodded. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the others in the room realized Bel''s condition was improving, their faces lit up with relief. Nathan was the second to notice, after Mathias, and could only scoff at this supposedly "Wanderer" kid. "It better be something we can do."


    Filly and Gail exchanged excited, relieved glances. When they turned back to the bed, they saw Bel looking at them.


    "Bel! You''re awake!" Filly rushed to her friend''s side, with Gail close behind, while June let out a smile.


    "What¡­ happened?" Bel asked, still a bit disoriented. Though free from the poison that had been killing her, her body was weak, drained of energy.


    "You''re safe!" Filly exclaimed, holding Bel''s hands. "Mr. Yoma saved you!"


    "He gave you medicine," Gail added.


    "Mr¡­ Yoma?" Bel murmured. She didn''t remember her last struggle but gathered that the kid was the person they were talking about. She looked over at him¡ªhe was picking his nose, casually looking back at them¡ªand managed a smile. "Thank¡­ you¡­"


    "Don''t worry about it. I''m just your friendly neighborhood beggar, helping people in need in exchange for something I want," Apollo puffed up his chest, adding, "Not a philanthropist, just doing a trade." Unlike a certain spider-themed superhero from his previous life, he helped people based on his own reasons¡ªeither for pleasure or because he wanted something out of it.


    "Haha," Bel let out her first laugh in ages, tears welling in her eyes.


    Seeing her like this, Filly and Gail burst into tears while also laughing.


    "What did I do?" Apollo muttered, confused by their reaction.


    "They''re just happy," Mathias said. "Bel will need at least three days to fully recover. Let''s leave them be and talk elsewhere."


    "Alright," Apollo shrugged. "But aren''t you going to celebrate your daughter''s recovery?"


    "I will¡ªafter I kill someone," Mathias replied, his eyes flashing coldly.


    Apollo had a good guess who Mathias was referring to. He then turned to Nathan, who had suddenly grown quiet, and was surprised to see him fighting back tears. "You can cry, old man. Don''t hold it back¡ªit''s bad for your health."


    "I''m not crying!" Nathan shot back angrily, though he wiped his eyes first.


    "If you say so," Apollo smirked, then turned to Mathias. "Shall we?"


    Mathias nodded, and the two left Bel''s room, leaving June, Filly, and Gail behind.


    "Do¡­ you¡­ still have¡­ my favorite?" Bel asked softly after she''d regained some composure.


    Hearing this, Filly and Gail exchanged smiles before chuckling. "We brought plenty."


    Filly waved her hand, and three or four baskets appeared. She handed one to June, who stayed by Bel''s side, then opened another basket for her friend.


    "By the way, this basket is our newest product," Filly explained. "People can now buy food from my restaurant and take it with them to eat wherever they like."


    "That''s¡­ a good¡­ idea," Bel said, opening her mouth as Filly began to feed her.


    "And do you know how we were able to make your favorite?" Filly smiled. "It''s all thanks to him, Mr. Yoma. He provided us with the ingredients and helped save my restaurant."


    When Bel heard this, her admiration for the beggar grew. She had been saved yet again by a kid¡­ wait?! Her eyes sparkled as realization dawned on her.


    Just then, a slurping sound came from behind them. When they turned, they saw June eating happily, lost in his food.

 Chapter 234 - 234: Kleinford, Helflick, Leone

    "So, tell us what you need," Mathias got straight to the point, holding a cup of tea in his hand, as did Nathan, who was sipping his drink with relish.


    "I never thought you''d bring out your most valuable tea," Nathan said, clearly pleased.


    Meanwhile, Apollo looked down at his cup, which contained only milk. "Why do you two have tea while I get milk?"


    "You''re a Wanderer pretending to be a kid, right?" Mathias smiled. "Wouldn''t drinking tea disrupt your Way of Cultivation?"


    "I suppose you''re right," Apollo replied, finishing his milk in one gulp. He knew only the basics of the Way of Cultivation that the Helflick family head spoke of. Essentially, it''s about cultivating by following one''s beliefs and fate. If someone aims to become a sword master, they have to immerse themselves completely in the way of the sword¡ª It''s not about f*cking a sword and using it as a d*ldo, but by deeply understanding and focusing their cultivation toward mastery of the sword. The concept is abstract, relying heavily on spirituality and fate.


    Apollo couldn''t exactly reveal that he didn''t fully understand this Way of Cultivation.


    "So, let''s hear it," Mathias prompted.


    "But first, I need to reveal something else," Apollo set his cup down on the table. They were seated in Mathias''s study around a rectangular table. "I''m actually the Personal Disciple of Headmaster Axton."


    Nathan, in mid-sip of his tea, nearly choked, some of his drink spilling onto the floor and table. Embarrassed, he quickly used the surrounding Qi to make the spilled liquid disappear.


    "Oh?" Mathias raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, the battle for Headmaster has begun."


    "Anyway, about what I want¡ªwait, what did you just say?" Apollo asked, wide-eyed.


    "The battle to become the next Headmaster¡­ don''t tell me he didn''t mention it to you?" Mathias looked at the beggar in surprise.


    "He didn''t," Apollo said, shaking his head in frustration. That damn guy! He''s trying to pile more responsibility onto me! Once I''m done with this mission, I''ll give up my position as Personal Disciple!


    "I''m not surprised," Nathan remarked. "He''s the type to say ''don''t do this or that'' but secretly do it himself."


    "Anyway! This concerns him as well, and also that fat mayor of ours!" Apollo said, raising his tone to steer the conversation back on track.


    Mathias''s face darkened at the mention of the mayor. He waved his hand, and a transparent dome formed around the room, while Nathan sat up straight, now eyeing the beggar with great seriousness.


    "If it''s about the mayor, I think I have an idea. Has he finally decided to make a move?" Mathias asked.


    "Yes, and I was sent to investigate," Apollo nodded. "Axton will need to send an official request to act against the mayor, but I don''t know how long it will take to get a response from the main branch. That''s why I''m asking you two to assist me with my investigation."


    Mathias didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he exchanged a glance with Nathan, and as he did so, the atmosphere grew tense, the Qi vibrating in subtle, synchronized frequencies.


    This time, the beggar didn''t eavesdrop on their conversation.


    "So, you''re saying Axton is ready to make a move, but he''s being held back by the treaty?" Nathan asked.


    "Yes," Apollo replied. "Klown has a plan¡ªa hideous one he''s hiding. And that''s what I''m trying to uncover."


    Apollo was determined to finish the mission as quickly as possible, and if they could provide him with information, he hoped to complete it in no time.


    "What have you found so far?" Mathias asked, taking a sip of his tea. "We''re also preparing to act. Maybe we can join forces."


    "Certainly," Apollo nodded, before revealing a piece of shocking information. "I went to the Callum family, interrogated the family head, and found out that all the great noble families have already sided with the mayor¡ªexcluding you two, of course, and the deceased Leones."


    Nathan, who had been reaching for his cup, froze, his hand shaking. They had suspected that some families were aligning with the mayor, but they hadn''t expected that all of them were already on Klown''s side! What shocked him more was that the beggar had actually met with Aaron Callum and extracted information from him.


    "Are you responsible for his death?" Mathias looked directly into Yoma''s eyes.


    "Maybe, maybe not," Apollo shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. "Anyway, Klown is also behind the theft of Techniques from each Martial School. He''s made these stolen techniques public, which is a strange move, to be honest."


    "Yeah, that''s very strange," Mathias murmured, rubbing his chin as he regarded the beggar with intrigue. "You keep surprising me, Yoma. I think we''ll make a great team in bringing Klown down."


    "I''ve been craving pig lately," Apollo chuckled.


    "Hmph, anyone could have killed Aaron," Nathan remarked, finally lifting his cup and feigning indifference. "Did you find anything else?"


    "Yes, it''s disturbing¡ªhe''s eating people," Apollo frowned. "He''s also expanding the wall, though Aaron didn''t know why."


    "So it''s true," Nathan and Mathias exchanged a look, realizing the rumors they''d heard were indeed real.


    "We''ve noticed his work on the wall," Mathias said, leaning back more comfortably. "What''s his reason?"


    "He wants to be the sole ruler in this city. He thinks the cultivation schools limit his authority," Apollo explained, a mocking smile on his face. "Quite ambitious, isn''t he? He''ll probably crave more power once he succeeds with his plans."


    "You know a lot," Mathias commented. "Do you need more information from us?"


    "Yes," Apollo answered. "Any information that might help with my investigation."


    "But what if Axton isn''t able to act?" Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Will you join us in taking down that clown?"


    "Of course," Apollo smiled. He already had an idea of what his third mission might be, so he was preparing for it in advance.


    "I see. That''s good to hear," Mathias said as he stood up. He walked over to the bookshelves, took out a book, then returned to his seat and slid it across the table toward the beggar.


    "What''s this?" Apollo picked up the book and read the title: Demons'' Historic Rise.


    Nathan looked at the Helflick family head. "You still think this is the reason?"


    "Yes, and after this new friend of ours confirmed my suspicions, I''m even more certain," Mathias replied, his eyes glinting.


    sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 235 - 235: Ghost?!

    The historic rise of demons. According to the records, the power that enabled ordinary people to stand against the Ancient Cultivators was granted by the Demons.


    No one knows exactly how people back then discovered the existence of Demons or how they encountered them. But as time passed, ancient ruins were uncovered, and ritual symbols began to appear, leading scholars to speculate that these rituals may have called forth an outside influence.


    Yet, they couldn''t rule out the possibility that these rituals weren''t the actual reason Demons began influencing people. Perhaps a true Demon broke through on its own, without any ritual or intervention.


    As for where these Demons came from? No one knows.


    "But hardly anyone believes in this part of history," Mathias said, taking a sip of his tea while the beggar read through the book he had been given.


    "It''s a fairy tale," Nathan commented. "No one has ever seen these beings. I think one of our ancestors simply went rogue and decided to wreak havoc."


    "Well, it''s the best explanation I could come up with," Mathias replied, his gaze resting on Apollo. "So, Yoma, what do you think?"


    Apollo closed the book with a bang, tossing it back onto the table. He hadn''t bothered finishing it¡ªthe writing felt like a fairy tale, with no illustrations of the so-called Demons. The text claimed these Demons disrupted the world''s peace, causing the planet''s flora and fauna to mutate, animals to transform, and legendary creatures to awaken from their slumber.


    The beggar rested his chin on his hand, a contemplative look crossing his face.


    So monsters, otherworldly cultivation powers, and legendary creatures are normal to them¡ªbut they don''t believe in Demons?


    "Do you believe in ghosts?" Apollo asked the two family heads.


    "It''s a fairy tale!" Nathan said, finishing his tea in one gulp. "If ghosts were real, I''d be haunted by thousands!"


    "Some places believe in them, others don''t," Mathias said. "But I think such things might be explained if we broadened our Way of Cultivation. Our path is about strength and enlightenment¡ªnot gazing at the supernatural."


    "Battle and war! That''s what a man should seek!" Nathan said, eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Ghosts are for cowards! They''re not real!"


    "Are you sure?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow with a slight smirk.


    "One hundred percent!" Nathan nodded, smirking back. "Don''t tell me you believe in that nonsense?"


    "I do. Then explain the thing behind you," Apollo said, gesturing behind Nathan. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Behind me?" Nathan repeated, turning slowly. "There''s nothing beh¡ª"


    Suddenly, Nathan froze, spotting a white shadowy figure standing behind him. "Get lost!" he shouted, hurling a punch at the apparition!


    With a loud clap, the white shadow disintegrated, sending a strong gust through the room, causing all the furniture to shake.


    "Hahaha!" Apollo''s laughter echoed as he clutched his stomach at the scene.


    Even Mathias couldn''t help but smile, amused by his friend''s reaction to the prank.


    "You!" Nathan turned to the beggar angrily. "You dare pull a trick on me?!"


    "That was hilarious," Apollo said, wiping the corner of his eye with a finger.


    Using what he''d learned from Sir Guo about Attributes, he applied his Water Attribute to create the white apparition. With his understanding of Hydra Mirage and other Water Techniques, his mastery over the Water Attribute nearly matched his control over Lightning, even without dedicated training.


    The white shadow was crafted from evaporated water that he molded into a human shape. Apollo had simply imagined it, and his skill had brought it to life effortlessly.


    "No, it''s not funny!" Nathan gritted his teeth.


    "Oh, yes, it is! You looked terrified!" Apollo chuckled.


    "I did not!" Nathan stood, pointing a finger at the beggar. "Let''s fight!"


    "Later. We still have something important to discuss," Apollo waved his hand dismissively, refocusing on the Helflick family head. "Let me share my thoughts."


    Nathan sat back down, discreetly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.


    "If we''re going to consider the possibility of an actual Demon, then I think the wall expansion may be connected to some ritual," Apollo explained. "I can''t think of any other reason for it. As for the stolen Techniques being spread among commoners, I haven''t figured out the motive behind that yet."


    "Our information is still incomplete," Mathias nodded. "And we''re far from certain. Why not discuss it with Headmaster Axton while we investigate further?"


    "I was just about to," Apollo said, hopping off his chair. "I should get going."


    "I''ll walk you out," Mathias offered, standing up.


    "No need," Apollo waved him off. "I can find my way, and I insist, so don''t say anything more."


    "Well," Mathias chuckled, "if you say so."


    As the door closed behind Apollo, Mathias turned to Nathan, who was staring at it, still sulking. "What''s wrong?"


    "What''s wrong? You know what''s wrong! That kid just disrespected me!" Nathan scoffed. "It''s infuriating."


    "Let him be. Besides, it was pretty funny," Mathias chuckled.


    "You too?" Nathan Kleinford was left speechless, realizing his friend had also enjoyed the prank.


    ¡­


    Apollo exited the Helflick mansion, grumbling to himself about the nobles'' preference for winding hallways and long corridors¡ªgetting to his destination always felt like a chore.


    Looking up, he saw it was already noon. The sun blazed high, casting an intense light over everything.


    As he made his way down the steps toward the gate, a voice called out to him.


    Turning, he saw Bel''s bodyguard standing by the carriage.


    "Mr. Yoma, over here!" June greeted him with a smile. He usually kept his face hidden under his robe, but today, he didn''t feel like it.


    Apollo approached the carriage. "Hello."


    "I''ll take you back," June offered.


    "Alright, sorry for the trouble," Apollo said, hopping inside the carriage without hesitation.


    "It''s no trouble at all," June replied, taking the driver''s seat.


    The carriage began its journey back to Filly Restaurant, pulled steadily by the horses.


    "Filly and Gail are already at the restaurant," June said. The small window allowed the beggar to hear him clearly.


    "I see. How''s Bel?" Apollo asked.


    "She''s resting peacefully, thanks to you, sir," June replied.


    "That''s good to hear," Apollo said, gazing out the window.


    After a pause, June spoke up. "If I may say, you look familiar."


    "Familiar?" Apollo repeated, studying the driver''s back.


    "Apollo Leone, Mr. Froi and Madam Gina''s only son."

 Chapter 236 - 236: The Calling

    It was like a dying flower suddenly blooming in Apollo''s heart.


    "You think I look like their son?" Apollo asked, his gaze turning cold.


    "You do resemble him, haha," June chuckled. "Mr. Froi and Madam Gina are good people. I''ve spoken to them a few times. The Leones are all good people¡ªeven their family head has no enemies among the other families. They''re one of the leading forces in the city, the Leone family head alongside Master Mathias, the two Core Creations."


    Apollo remained silent. His heart pounded, urging him to ask more questions, but he said nothing, simply looking out the window.


    The carriage continued its way back to the street where Apollo''s beggar spot was. Once it stopped, Apollo opened the door and jumped down.


    "Thank you," Apollo said.


    "You saved Miss Bel; it''s the least I could do," June replied.


    "Alright," Apollo nodded, starting toward his spot but pausing. "Do you think he''s still alive? The lost Leone heir?"


    "I don''t know, but it''s very likely he''s already dead. Though, Miss Bel still believes he''s alive," June answered.


    "Why?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "To bring justice and restore the Leones," June replied, glancing up at the sky. "I should get back, Mr. Yoma."


    "Sure," Apollo said, and as the carriage moved away, he sighed. It was comforting that they believed the heir was dead, but a bit unsettling that Bel might still be seeking his true identity. Even if she uncovered something, it would only lead to one of his other personas.


    Shaking his head, he noticed a basket with smoke drifting from its small openings near the corner of the restaurant.


    Smiling, he went over and picked it up, noticing people leaving the restaurant with similar baskets in hand.


    "Takeout?" Apollo muttered, surprised, before a grin spread across his face. "So they''ve figured out this method."


    It was a clever strategy, though it would mean needing more workers to keep up with demand.


    Apollo felt like he was witnessing the birth of fast food. "Time to fill my stomach!"


    He returned to his spot, settled under his makeshift shelter, and snapped his fingers. His lightning bulb flickered to life.


    As he ate, he considered heading to the Great Serpent Cultivation School to speak with the Headmaster about their next steps. He was nearing the end of his second mission, and the thought made him eager to finish it soon.


    ¡­


    At the Mayor''s mansion, Butler Holst stood before a door, his eyes as squinted as ever.


    He knocked a few times, waiting.


    After a moment, a voice came from the other side. "Come in."


    Holst pushed the door open, its creak echoing as he entered.


    His gaze quickly settled on the mayor, who stood before a giant board. "You called for me?" Holst asked, walking up behind him.


    They were in Klown''s study¡ªlined with bookshelves, a table and chairs, a lamp illuminating the room, and another table holding wine and a glass.


    It was a simple, standard room.


    "How''s the Line?" Klown asked, eyes still on the board.


    "A week more, and the expansion will be complete," Holst replied, glancing at the board.


    It was a detailed map of Klown City, with a thick red line surrounding the city, overlapping the wall. The city was marked with various red symbols, intersecting and overlapping, all converging at the city''s center.


    "Three days. Can you do it?" Klown asked.


    "It''s impossible," Holst shook his head, then added, "But if we rush, we could do it in four and a half days."


    "That''s good enough," Klown said, moving behind his desk and sinking into his chair. The weight of his massive body caused it to creak loudly, as if ready to snap at any second. "Is there anything else we should worry about? I don''t want anyone ruining my plan."


    "They know we''re planning something," Holst replied. "I believe they''re ready to make a move once we show any cause for concern."


    "Have they discovered anything?" Klown''s tone was low and icy.


    "I''m not sure, but Aaron Callum, his sister, and his nephew are dead. They were killed and burned to erase all evidence," Holst explained. "Although the culprit escaped, it seems part of their plan."


    "Kleinford? Helflick?" Klown raised an eyebrow.


    "Perhaps, and we can''t rule out the Martial Schools either. They may have joined forces," Holst replied. "They''re waiting, and once they act, a civil war is inevitable." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s expected. I''ve made obvious moves, and I wouldn''t be surprised if they''ve joined forces, just like we did with the other families," Klown smiled. "But by the time they take a step, we''ll already be several steps ahead."


    Holst allowed himself a brief smile, though it vanished quickly. "What if the Elders get involved?"


    "It won''t matter," Klown''s smile turned cold. "We''re summoning something no Core Creation can handle. Something even their ancestors feared."


    The Mayor raised his thick hand and clenched it into a fist. "Do you want to achieve greatness with me?" he asked, casting a significant look at his butler.


    "Yes, Master," Holst bowed.


    "If I die, will you carry on with my plan?" Klown stood and moved closer to Holst.


    "I will follow your plan until I die!" Holst answered, dropping to his knees.


    "Good, that''s the spirit," Klown said, producing a knife and slicing open his palm. "Drink my blood."


    Holst looked up in confusion, then set his face in determination. "I will."


    "This won''t boost your cultivation or strength, but it will allow us to continue even if things go awry," Klown explained, and Holst nodded. "So, drink my blood until you feel it¡ªthe Calling."


    Holst took a deep breath, leaned toward the Mayor''s hand, and without hesitation, began drinking the blood flowing from Klown''s sliced palm.


    Blood dripped to the floor until there was none left. Holst pulled back and noticed that Klown''s hand, previously wounded, was now fully healed as if untouched. Glancing up with his mouth full of the Mayor''s blood, he saw Klown looking at him with strange eyes.


    "When was the last time you did the Deed?" Klown asked, reaching for his coat.


    "A few years ago..." Holst stood, his heartbeat thundering as strange images and sensations filled his mind¡ªRed Lines, Symbols, dark voices¡­


    "You''ll need this while you''re being Called," Klown murmured, licking his lips as his coat slipped to the floor. "Just enjoy Holst."


    Holst who''s now shaking from the number of images attacking his mind, stared at the Mayor reaching for his clothes and a small smile appeared on his face.

 Chapter 237 - 237: Red Energy Burner

    Axton opened his eyes as he noticed a figure flying toward him in the distance. With a squint, he focused his vision on a Water-Attributed Falcon and, upon recognizing the rider, hurriedly landed on his mat and walked to the balcony.


    As the falcon touched down, Axton smiled. "You came back so soon. Did you find anything useful?"


    Apollo jumped down from his mount. Seeing the Great Serpent Headmaster standing in front of him rather than floating on his mat as usual, he couldn''t help but look at Axton curiously. "What did you eat?"


    "Huh?" Axton was confused. "What do you mean?"


    "You usually stay cultivating, even when I''m right in front of you. It''s strange to see you here personally welcoming me," Apollo said, his eyes glinting with curiosity.


    "I finished my session and happened to see you coming from a distance," Axton replied. "Shall we go inside?"


    Axton knew that Yoma had accessed the Technique from the fifth-floor library¡ªa technique long sought after for centuries. The one who held this power would likely become the next Great Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Yoma was clearly hiding his mastery of it, and Axton respected his choice.


    "Nah, here''s good. The ambiance here is nice¡ªunlike your place," Apollo said, nodding toward the dim room behind Axton. "It''s dark and heavy in there."


    "If you say so."


    There was a table and chairs on the balcony, so they took their seats while Bluetooth lay down nearby and began dozing off.


    "So, what did you find out?" Axton asked.


    Apollo recounted the recent events¡ªhis abduction by the Callum family, killing them, extracting information, and his subsequent conversation with the Kleinford and Helflick families.


    Axton was shocked upon hearing that Yoma had killed the Callum family head.


    "You really killed him?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.


    "Yes, don''t worry. I erased all evidence that could lead back to me," Apollo replied. "So, what''s your take on the ghosts and demons?"


    The headmaster regarded the young man for a moment, then sighed. "Ghosts are real."


    "I knew it," Apollo muttered. Cultivation? Powers? Legendary beasts? But no ghosts? That''s absurd!


    "But not many believe in them, especially in this region," Axton explained. "As for demons, we''ve also suspected that might be the case."


    "Demons are real?" Apollo asked, noticing Axton hadn''t answered directly.


    "I''m not certain," Axton admitted, shaking his head. "But I believe they are. I''ve only read about them, though; their last recorded appearance was five thousand years ago. Only those ''old fogies'' may have seen them."


    "I suggest making another request. I''m convinced demons are real. They''ll have to take this matter seriously," Apollo suggested.


    "It won''t be easy," Axton replied, turning serious. "We''ll need proof¡ªonly then will they take action."


    "Proof? How?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "If there''s really a demon involved¡­" Axton trailed off, and with a snap of his fingers, an object materialized on the table. "Take this. Bringing it out would usually break the Treaty, but for you, it''s different."


    Apollo stared at the small, dark, and rusty lamp on the table. It was a simple oil lamp with a wick in the center¡ªno fire, no glass, no burner.


    "A lamp?" Apollo muttered. "How am I supposed to use this?"


    "It''s no ordinary lamp," Axton replied, smiling. "This is called the Red Energy Burner. Its purpose is to detect demonic energy. If a red flame lights up, there''s demon energy in the area. That alone would serve as evidence."


    "I see," Apollo nodded, then voiced a doubt. "Then why didn''t you use this before?"


    "It''s an artifact that requires approval from all the Elders," the headmaster sighed. "We had suspicions, but none of us truly believed. Besides, it''s been five thousand years, and the method for summoning demons was thought to be lost."


    "So because the method was lost, you all assumed demons wouldn''t return?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. It sounded like the typical setup for ancient threats in the anime and shows he watched in his previous life.


    "Yes," Axton replied honestly.


    "If there''s really demonic energy back in the city, you''ll regret not acting sooner," Apollo chuckled.


    "Haha, likely so." Axton laughed.


    "I should get going," Apollo said, standing with the Red Energy Burner in hand.


    "Alright." Axton stood as well and, noticing that Apollo was merely holding the lamp, asked, "You don''t have a Space Ring?"


    "No," Apollo shook his head, understanding what the headmaster meant, as he''d read about such items on the first floor of the library.


    "Take this." A ring materialized in front of Axton, which he tossed to Apollo. "It has enough space to store a whole carriage."


    "I''ve heard these are quite expensive artifacts. Are you sure you want to just give it to me?" Apollo asked, catching the ring. The Space Ring was crafted from silver with intricate, small inscriptions carved all over. Looking closely, he noticed the lines were so fine and complex that it resembled an advanced microchip, yet otherworldly, like some strange doodle.


    "You''ve received more valuable things than that," Axton replied. "Like your Water-Attributed Falcon¡ªhe''s worth two Space Rings."


    Hearing this, Apollo''s eyes sparkled as they landed on his mount, who shivered under his gaze. Shaking his head to dismiss the thought, he waved and said goodbye. "I should get going."


    He slipped on the ring, and the lamp vanished.


    But as he was about to leap onto Bluetooth, a loud shriek sounded from afar.


    Turning to the noise, Axton frowned as he recognized the newcomers.


    "It seems you won''t be leaving so soon," Axton noted.


    "What? But I still need to eat my dinner!" Apollo complained, staring at the two falcons approaching. Inside the Great Serpent Cultivation School, it was eternally daytime, yet outside, the sky was dark.


    ...


    Lily and her master landed on the balcony with their mount.


    The moment her feet touched the ground, her eyes naturally fell on the ''kid'' standing beside Headmaster Axton.


    "You must be the Personal Disciple," she said, her tone indicating she wasn''t here for a friendly visit.


    "And you must be one of the Seniors here to challenge me?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, a small smile on his face.


    "So you already know what''s about to happen? Let''s get to it, then¡ªyou can scram afterward," Lily replied, smiling coldly.


    "Elder Yunan, this isn''t a good idea," Axton said to the old woman beside Lily. Her hair was as white as snow, wrinkles and crow''s feet visible on her face, while her thin body was cloaked in a gray robe.


    "That is not for you to decide, Headmaster Axton," Elder Yunan replied, dismissing his title as head of the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    "I''m not trying to persuade you to stop the challenge. It''s a warning," Axton explained. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A warning?" Elder Yunan chuckled, smiling proudly. "My Lily here has already reached the intermediate stage of her Battle Technique, the Water Blade Disintegration. Her strength has long since surpassed Heru''s."


    Hearing this, Axton looked at Lily with amazement, though he shook his head a moment later. It wouldn''t matter, he thought, as he took a step back. He decided to let Yoma handle things as he saw fit.


    "Wow, you must be so proud of yourself," Apollo said, unimpressed.


    "Of course!" Lily responded confidently. "So, do you accept my challenge?"


    "You''re a Callum, right?" Apollo didn''t answer directly but asked her a question.


    At this, the smile faded from Lily''s face, replaced by a cold look. "Yes. What? Are you going to mock my father''s death?"


    "No," Apollo shook his head. "I''m not heartless."


    "It doesn''t matter. I don''t care if he''s dead or not," Lily said.


    "If that''s the case¡­ your father''s dead because you''re such a disappointment! Just because you surpassed that coward Heru doesn''t mean you can defeat me!" Apollo snapped. He was already hungry and just wanted to return to his beggar spot, but this Senior Sister was wasting his time.


    Stunned by the sudden outburst, Elder Yunan and Lily glared at him.


    "You! How dare you say such things!" Lily pointed at the beggar. "Come! Defeat me and back up those words!"


    Apollo just wanted to end this nonsense once and for all. He wasn''t in the mood to humor this egotistical noble, as he had more important things to do. Not only was he starving, but he also wanted to see if the lamp in his Space Ring would light up.


    "If you want to be humiliated so badly, then I accept your challenge!" Apollo said, turning to Axton. "Let''s go to the open area where I defeated Heru."


    "Sure," Axton replied, unbothered by Yoma''s tone. He was used to how the beggar talked and how he could be an *sshole most of the time.


    "I will kill you," Lily hissed, not hiding her killing intent. Her dream was at stake¡ªthe dream she had yearned for all these years was finally within reach!


    "Hmph!" Apollo scoffed at the delulu. He began to consider how is he going to make her regret her actions.

 Chapter 238 - 238: Water Blade Disintegration

    Standing across from each other, Lily smirked coldly at the kid in front of her. Finally, the day had come! She had originally planned to use an underhanded method to force the fight within her family mansion, which would have prevented the Personal Disciple from refusing her. Without the Headmaster of the Great Serpent present, they could have even used dirty tricks to ensure her victory.


    However, that plan fell apart when her father was killed, with the culprit escaping. She suspected that the Personal Disciple before her might be the culprit but quickly dismissed the thought as a mere coincidence. There was no way this kid could have killed the Dancing Blade, someone even she couldn''t defeat, despite her more advanced Battle Technique.


    It was simply impossible.


    "What if I accidentally kill him?" Lily asked aloud, glancing at Headmaster Axton.


    "Then we''ll count it as an accident," Axton replied, not the least bit interested in the battle. His confidence in Yoma had grown, especially knowing that the Wanderer possessed the one and only Technique on the fifth-floor library. He didn''t even consider Yoma as merely his Personal Disciple, as that title underestimated the beggar''s future potential.


    A future that would also elevate Axton''s own status¡ªthat''s why he respected Yoma''s decisions, even if it meant pretending to play along.


    "That''s good, that''s good," Lily repeated as she turned to the beggar. "You heard that, right? I can''t control my strength."


    "You know, you''re not the first person to try this trick," Apollo said, pulling a stick from under his robe.


    "A stick?" Lily was taken aback before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha, you''re joking, right?"


    "No," Apollo replied, glancing at the referee. "Eli, let''s start this nonsense and shut this b*tch up."


    Eli had been assigned as the referee, and he didn''t dare refuse. Glancing at Lily, who was glaring at him, he took a deep breath and announced, "Let the fight begin!"


    "B*tch? You have a foul mouth," Lily sneered, raising her hand toward the beggar. "I''ll end this fight in one move."


    "You won''t. I''m telling you that," Apollo said, raising his hand just like her.


    Neither moved, merely staring and assessing each other.


    "You should teach your Personal Disciple some respect," Elder Yunan remarked, standing on one of the balconies with a view of the battle. "But it doesn''t matter; Lily will replace him soon enough."


    "We can''t be so sure about that," Axton replied.


    Hearing the confidence in the Headmaster''s voice, the Elder narrowed her eyes at Axton suspiciously. "You seem very confident."


    "Just watch, and you''ll understand," Axton suggested.


    "Take this!" Lily shouted as the surrounding Qi began to churn. Water droplets materialized in the air, forming a thin, curved shape¡ªalmost as delicate as a cicada''s wing and resembling transparent glass, but made of water.


    The phenomenon surrounded the beggar, who remained calm.


    Lily clenched her fist, her smile widening until she looked almost deranged.


    Time seemed to slow as the sharp and deadly water blades in the air appeared around the beggar!


    I won, she thought, as her attack continuously struck her opponent. The ground exploded, dust clouds and water mist erupting at the point of impact. The barrage lasted a few seconds, each one like music to her ears.


    "Hahaha! I told you! I''d win in one move!" Lily shouted, her voice crazed. However, as the dust cloud and water mist dispersed, the figure she''d expected to see dismembered was gone. She glanced down at the shattered ground, but there were no signs of blood or body parts.


    "Hey, why don''t you look back?" someone said from behind her.


    Recognizing the voice, it felt as if cold water had been poured over her. She turned slowly and saw her opponent, alive and well. There were no signs of injuries on his body, nor any water from her attack. He stood there as if he''d been in that exact spot since they''d arrived.


    "You! How?!" Lily shouted, taking a step forward. She couldn''t believe it. She hadn''t even felt the air move as he dodged. Lily was certain her Water Blade Disintegration Technique had landed! She''d seen it with her own eyes!


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t take another step forward," Apollo warned, raising his left hand toward her.


    Lily took a deep breath to calm herself. Failing on her first attack felt humiliating, especially after declaring she''d end the fight in one move. But her confidence remained intact. "So what? Don''t be so proud of your cheap trick. I was just careless."


    "I''m giving you a warning," Apollo said, his tone cold and low.


    "Then try me." Lily narrowed her eyes, taking another step forward. But the moment her foot touched the ground, the surrounding Unrefined Qi began to churn, gathering until it turned into droplets of water and then taking a shape she was all too familiar with.


    Watching the Qi transform into water blades surrounding her disciple, Elder Yunan''s eyes widened with disbelief. She turned to the Headmaster. "Does he also practice the same Battle Technique?"


    But Axton looked equally astonished. Yoma also knew Water Blade Disintegration?! He wouldn''t have been surprised if Yoma had learned the technique on the fourth floor of the library, but what the Personal Disciple was displaying was the Intermediate Stage! Reaching that stage typically took two years!


    Had Yoma learned it beforehand? But that seemed impossible. It wasn''t one of the stolen techniques, and if he had learned it before, there would be records in the library. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Regardless of the explanation, this was a good outcome for Yoma.


    "I don''t know," Axton replied with a smile.


    As the water droplets transformed into water blades, Lily''s mouth dropped open in shock.


    "Water Blade Disintegration?" she muttered, her eyes fixed on the beggar. "But¡­ you only just became the Personal Disciple! How did you reach the same stage as me?"


    "It''s called talent, b*tch," Apollo smirked. He''d only learned this technique at the beginner stage, just to memorize it, but it seemed that with his new Attribute and some progress with the technique he''d gotten from the fifth floor, his progress with other water-related Battle Techniques had also leapt forward.


    "Talent?" Lily murmured, her gaze shifting to the ground.


    "I advise you to surrender," Apollo said, his hands moving slightly as the water blades began to emit a sharp sound.


    Surrender¡ªthe word echoed in Lily''s mind, jolting her awake. "No!" she shouted, raising her hand. Her dream of becoming the Personal Disciple¡ªshe couldn''t just give it up!


    "Then I''ll end this fight in one move," Apollo replied, smiling coldly as he clenched his fist!

 Chapter 239 - 239: Red Liquid

    Apollo lowered his hand as the rain of water blades fell on his opponent. Lily hastily created a water barrier and tried to move out of the way, but the sheer number of water blades far exceeded her expectations.


    "What the hell?!" Lily shouted as the relentless attack continued. The Personal Disciple was displaying an Intermediate Stage Water Blade Disintegration technique¡ªthe same stage as hers, but the power and volume of his water blades were beyond anything she could produce!


    In the end, Lily couldn''t keep up with the onslaught, and her defense shattered. "Ahh!" Her scream echoed as water mist and dust swirled around her. With a thud, she fell to the ground, unconscious.


    Just as the beggar had promised, he finished the fight in a single move. The ground was upturned, shattered, and covered with countless cuts. They''d only exchanged one attack each, but the devastation they caused would have been enough to destroy any street.


    The battle ended so quickly that Eli could only stare, wide-eyed.


    After a moment, he shook his head, raised his hand, and announced the winner.


    "Personal Disciple Yoma wins!"


    "I warned you," Axton said, turning to the Elder beside him.


    "That can''t be¡­" Elder Yunan stared at her fallen disciple before her gaze shifted to Yoma. "He changed it."


    "Changed what?" Axton asked, confused by her surprise.


    "The technique!" Elder Yunan said, turning to the Headmaster. "At the Intermediate Stage of that technique, once it''s used, the practitioner has to wait for the attack to end before they can use it again¡­ but he¡­ the water blades kept pouring down. If one landed, another would appear."


    Axton turned to the Personal Disciple, surprised. "That would require an enormous reserve of Refined Qi."


    "Yes, but even with his 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, he shouldn''t be able to achieve that¡ªunless he has some special physique," Elder Yunan said, finally looking back at Axton. "We lost. I accept it."


    Axton watched as the Elder jumped off the balcony to retrieve her disciple.


    "He''s already at the 2nd-Step?" Axton murmured, shaking his head as Yoma casually stepped onto the railing of the balcony where he stood.


    "Hey, I should head back," Apollo said. "And let the other Seniors know not to challenge me if they can''t even handle one of my attacks."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll tell them not to bother you anymore," Axton replied, nodding. The difference in strength between the Seniors and this Personal Disciple was clear. Yoma might even be able to defeat all of them if they attacked him at once. "By the way, when did you reach the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage?" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Recently," Apollo replied with a grin before he whistled. Moments later, his mount arrived. Jumping onto it, he turned to the Headmaster. "Bye."


    ¡­


    When the beggar arrived back at his usual spot, he immediately noticed his dinner waiting in the corner. It was around eight at night, and he''d been craving his food.


    "Ah, finally," he muttered, opening his basket. The smell of meat cooked in coconut oil wafted up, filling his nose. Without wasting another second, he dug in.


    The sound of his knife and fork clinking against the plate echoed as he quickly finished his meal.


    "This is delicious," Apollo said with a smile. The meat came from Monsters¡ªa kind he''d never tasted before. It was so high-quality it surpassed all the food he''d eaten in his past life, leaving him craving more. Coupled with coconut oil and other seasonings the Filly Restaurant had begun experimenting with, the flavor was even richer.


    Downing his milk in one go, he let out a satisfied burp, then stood up and handed the basket to Ned, who happened to step outside.


    "Here you go, thanks," Apollo said.


    "You''re always welcome," Ned replied, smiling. "But do you want more? Mr. Yoma, don''t hesitate to ask. We''ll always fulfill your requests."


    "Hm." Apollo considered having a snack, but this world didn''t seem to offer the types he had in mind. Unless¡­ he shared another recipe with them. Maybe another time. "I''m full. Maybe next time; I need to be somewhere else."


    "Is that so."


    "Yup. Okay, see you," Apollo said, waving as he began walking away.


    His destination: the newly expanded wall, still under construction.


    If there really is a ritual going on¡­ I should be able to find something here, he thought. Already familiar with the city, it didn''t take him long to reach the edge.


    "So, this is how they''re expanding it," Apollo murmured, finding a place to hide and observe the ongoing construction. Even though it was night, there were still many people working on the wall. Watching their movements, he noted, "They''re in a rush. Why?"


    Doubt crept in, though he quickly formulated an answer: they couldn''t wait any longer.


    But as he watched the workers, nothing seemed amiss. They were working around the clock but behaving normally.


    "Is there really a ritual?" If his investigation was correct, and if the rumors of demons were true, the wall expansion might be linked to a ritual meant to summon them. It seemed obvious, especially after his conversations with the family heads and Headmaster Axton.


    Apollo decided to wait.


    Thirty minutes later, still nothing unusual. "Is Klown really just expanding the wall for safety?"


    But he doesn''t need to do that at all.


    Just as he was about to give up, he noticed a figure holding a glass filled with red liquid. The person walked alongside the wall, pouring the liquid onto the ground.


    Apollo narrowed his eyes as the liquid transformed into red particles upon touching the ground.


    "Got you," he muttered, smiling but staying hidden. He continued watching the stranger until he was certain no other workers were paying attention, then made his move.


    Activating his invisibility, he quietly approached, sneaking up on the man with the red liquid before grabbing him.


    The man struggled to free himself, but Apollo held him firmly, keeping a hand over his mouth and dragging him to a secluded spot out of sight.


    He threw the man to the ground, the glass shattering on impact, and the remaining red liquid dissolved into particles of light.


    "W-who are you?" the man stammered, fear evident in his voice.


    "Answer all my questions honestly if you want to live," Apollo said, his eyes coldly fixed on the stranger.

 Chapter 240 - 240: Interrogation

    Hearing the threatening words, the man was terrified, but when he realized his kidnapper was just a kid, he sighed in relief¡ªuntil he noticed his glass jar, now shattered on the ground, with its red liquid spilled.


    "You! Do you know what you just did?!" the man shouted, pointing a finger at Apollo.


    Is this man a fool or what? Apollo thought. Didn''t he just get dragged here by a kid, and he couldn''t even escape my grip? He shook his head at the man''s foolishness.


    "I swear, kid, you won''t like what happens when I report you to my superior!" the man threatened. But before he could continue, a lightning bolt shocked him to his core, cutting off his scream abruptly. He fell to the ground, convulsing, while blood from his severed hand pooled around him.


    "All you have to do to stay alive is answer my questions honestly," Apollo said, staring deeply into the man''s eyes. "One limb for every lie or refusal. Understood?"


    Shaking, the man managed a slow nod, fully aware of his predicament.


    Apollo waited until the man''s trembling subsided, then asked his first question. "What''s the liquid you''re pouring beside the wall?"


    "T-that''s¡­" The man hesitated but then gritted his teeth. "I don''t know. I was just told to pour the red liquid; they didn''t say anything else."


    "You''re lying," Apollo replied, raising his hand as if to sever another limb.


    "I''m telling the truth!" the man blurted, panicked. "I really don''t know! None of us do! I''m just one of the workers assigned to pour it!"


    "Oh?" Apollo lowered his hand. "How many of you are doing this?"


    "There are at least seven of us, I think," the man replied.


    "And where are they pouring the red liquid?"


    "Three of us are doing it along the wall around the city¡­ the others are spread evenly within it," the man answered, attempting to sit up, his face slick with sweat from the pain of his severed arm.


    "Are you following a specific line?" Apollo asked, rubbing his chin.


    "We are."


    "I see," Apollo nodded, piecing together more of the truth. He was now almost certain the wall expansion was more than just a protective measure for the city. Smirking, he raised his hand again. "That''s all I needed to know."


    "W-wait! What are you doing?!" the man''s eyes widened in terror. "I thought you said I''d live if I answered honestly!"


    "You assumed I''d let you live," Apollo replied coldly, his smile vanishing. Before the man could utter another word, Apollo slashed across his neck, and blood splattered on the ground. The man tried to stop it, but there was nothing he could do but resign himself to his fate. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo stared at him with a blank expression. Killing was nothing new; he''d done it in his previous life. To him, this was just routine.


    Apollo returned to his hiding spot to continue observing the wall. Once he was sure no workers were nearby, he approached it. Kneeling down, he inspected the ground but found nothing unusual. He even pressed his hand against the stone, but it felt like ordinary rock.


    "It must be something that can''t be seen," Apollo muttered as he looked around once more before taking out the artifact he got from the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    A lamp appeared out of thin air, taken from his space ring. The moment he held the Red Energy Burner, the wick ignited with a red flame.


    Seeing this, Apollo nodded, unsurprised. "There''s definitely Demon energy here." With this evidence, all he had to do was report back to Axton. But as he took a step away from the wall, the flame went out. "Oh?"


    Raising an eyebrow, he stepped closer to the wall, and the lamp lit up again. Taking a few steps back, the fire disappeared. He repeated this a few times to confirm his suspicion. "The liquid he poured¡­ that must be the source of the Demon energy," he muttered, realizing the truth.


    He looked down at the ground, an idea forming. Kneeling, he used the Simple Wind Sword technique on his right hand and cut out a piece of the stone. Then, with the piece of ground and the lamp in hand, he took several steps back.


    This time, the red flame didn''t go out, and he smiled in relief. Satisfied, he placed both items back inside his space ring.


    "I''m closer to finally completing the mission," Apollo muttered as he made his way back to the Great Serpent Cultivation School. He had met with Axton earlier, but the faster he wrapped up the investigation, the faster he could complete the second mission.


    All he had to do now was uncover why Klown was stealing techniques from each Cultivation School and spreading them throughout the city.


    ---


    The next day.


    In front of the Filly Restaurant was the Skyline Savory Branch.


    Manager Fu stepped out of his office and scanned the dining area. Counting the customers, his frown deepened.


    "It''s fewer than yesterday," he muttered in annoyance. Walking to the entrance, he stared at the competitor across the way. Filly Restaurant''s customer count had soared so high that Skyline couldn''t even compare. It was like heaven and earth.


    Filly Restaurant had introduced something new. Besides offering new dishes, they now allowed customers to order food to take away, attracting even more patrons. People didn''t have to wait for someone to finish eating to place an order; they could take their food in a basket and eat wherever they pleased.


    This innovation made Manager Fu hit his head, cursing himself for not thinking of it first.


    He watched as a customer exited Filly Restaurant, carrying a basket. "Just you wait. Once we''ve finished copying your food, we''ll reclaim what''s ours!" he muttered, clenching his fist.


    Then, he walked toward the kitchen, where the chefs were gathered.


    "How''s it going?" he asked.


    One of the chefs reluctantly replied, "We can''t copy it. We don''t know the ingredients they''re using or how they''re preparing it."


    "What?!"

 Chapter 241 - 241: The Techniques

    "What do you mean you can''t copy it?!" Manager Fu shouted, his eyes red with frustration.


    One of the chefs took a piece of fried chicken from the basket on the table.


    "This¡­ it''s something we''ve never seen before," the chef said, staring at the food as if it were gold. "The ingredients, the method¡­ it''s otherworldly! Just look at how shiny it is! And the smell alone tells you it''s incredibly delicious."


    "So what if you haven''t seen it before?! Just do your job and copy it!" Manager Fu roared, his voice booming through the kitchen. "Or do you not want your jobs anymore?!"


    Hearing this, the chefs finally sprang into action. They couldn''t afford to lose their jobs, as they had mouths to feed.


    Watching them work, Manager Fu scoffed. "Worthless," he muttered angrily as he walked toward the door. As he opened it, he found his assistant Alek waiting outside.


    "Manager Fu," Alek greeted him with a bow.


    "What is it? If it''s not important, get out of my sight," Manager Fu snapped.


    "It''s very important," Alek replied, smiling mysteriously.


    Intrigued by his assistant''s expression, Manager Fu said, "Let''s go upstairs."


    They soon entered the manager''s office, where Manager Fu took his seat while Alek stood before him.


    "Speak," Manager Fu commanded.


    "Here." Alek retrieved a scroll from his suit and spread it out on the desk. "This might help us."


    "What''s this?" Manager Fu muttered, but as he read the scroll''s contents, his eyes widened in disbelief. "A Cultivation Technique? Where did you get this?"


    "I can''t say, but it''s our ticket to bringing that restaurant down!" Alek said excitedly. "Someone gave it to me two weeks ago, telling me I could share it."


    "This is illegal," Manager Fu said sternly. "If the authorities find out we have this, it''ll ruin the restaurant, and not only will you lose your life, but I''ll also lose my job!"


    "Don''t worry," Alek chuckled. "Haven''t you heard?"


    "Heard what?" Manager Fu asked.


    "There are tons of people learning these techniques! Cultivation and Battle Techniques just appeared out of nowhere, and people are secretly practicing them."


    "Really?" Manager Fu was stunned. "They didn''t get caught?"


    "No, and here''s the best part: the authorities don''t seem to care," Alek replied. "This means we can learn this technique and finally stand up to that restaurant!"


    Hearing this, Manager Fu''s eyes brightened. They''d tried everything to take down the Filly Restaurant, but it kept bouncing back, and now it had far surpassed them.


    "That''s a good idea. But even with this, we won''t be able to beat them," Manager Fu said. "She has that woman who nearly won the last Advancement Examination."


    "Then we''ll hire more people and teach them this technique ourselves! Once we hit the Half-Step Foundation Building stage, we''ll attack when Filly and the others aren''t there!" Alek suggested. At this point, they didn''t care what methods they used to stop Filly Restaurant''s rise.


    "Have you learned this?" Manager Fu asked, gesturing to the scroll.


    "Hehe, of course," Alek grinned, punching the air. The force of his blow caused a gust that ruffled the manager''s hair. "I thought I lacked the talent for Cultivation, but after practicing this every night, I reached the Half-Step Foundation Building Stage."


    "In that case, you''ll teach me now!" Manager Fu said, excitement lighting up his face as he stood up.


    "Alright!"


    ...


    "What do you feel?" Mathias Helflick asked his daughter, who sat cross-legged on her bed.


    "I feel great, Father," Bel answered, slowly opening her eyes after cultivating. Her body was still thin, but the aura she radiated was strong, as if she hadn''t been on the brink of death three days prior.


    "That''s good to hear," Mathias smiled. "How''s your cultivation progressing? You almost dropped a stage."


    "Haha, I''ll need three more days to reach my peak, and I think I can go beyond it," Bel said.


    "You mean¡­ you''re ready to enter the Qi Condensation Stage?" Mathias asked, surprised.


    "Yes, Father," Bel nodded.


    "Then you''ll be the youngest person to achieve that in this region," Mathias said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    "Haha," Bel laughed. "Is that really something to be proud of?"


    "Of course, daughter," Mathias replied. "But remember, we must remain humble. No matter how strong you become, there are always those stronger than you."


    "I won''t forget your teachings, Father," Bel said, smiling warmly. "By the way, there''s something I want to tell you." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What is it?"


    "I think I''ve found my savior," Bel said, recalling the day she was saved from the poison.


    "Really? Who? Tell me¡ªI''ll reward him handsomely," Mathias said, aware of how much she wished to meet her rescuer. Despite their search, they hadn''t been able to find him.


    "Yoma. He''s my savior," Bel replied with a sigh. At first, she was skeptical, but the more she recalled that day in the forest, the more certain she became. She''d almost forgotten what her savior looked like, but when Yoma appeared, she noticed the similarities, realizing it only upon deeper reflection.


    "Are you sure?" Mathias asked, surprised.


    "I''m a hundred percent sure," Bel nodded. "Can I meet him?"


    Mathias paused, then answered. "Yes, you can, but not right now. He and I are in the middle of something very important."


    "Oh? Tell me, Father, I''m curious," Bel said, her eyes alight with curiosity.


    "I can''t. Just focus on yo¡ª" Mathias stopped mid-sentence, a frown crossing his face.


    "What''s wrong?" Bel asked, concern evident in her voice.


    "I need to go somewhere. Stay here," Mathias said as he left her room. As the door slammed shut, he blurred into motion, arriving swiftly in front of a small house outside their mansion meant for their maids and butlers.


    But this house was on fire.


    A man dressed in a tattered butler''s suit was outside, desperately trying to put out the flames.


    Mathias waved his hand, summoning a strong wind that immediately extinguished the fire.


    The man turned, startled, and quickly knelt. "My apologies, Master!"


    Mathias said nothing, instead scanning the area until he spotted a book lying nearby with visible burns on its cover. Then he turned to the butler. "You attempted to learn a fire battle technique without any cultivation?"


    "Y-yes," the man stammered, bowing his head in shame. "But something went wrong."

 Chapter 242 - 242: Mission Completed(Part-1)

    "Of course something is going to go wrong," said Mathias, the head of the Helflick family, coldly. "A talentless, ordinary person attempting to learn something beyond them¡ªit''s suicide."


    "Forgive me!" The butler bowed, his head slamming against the ground. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    By now, the fire had already attracted other maids and butlers, their whispers filling the air.


    "You are aware that under my house, on my property, no one is allowed to learn Cultivation or Battle Techniques unless proven to have the talent and capability to walk the Way of Cultivation, correct?" Mathias asked, towering over the man, his eyes like daggers.


    "Y-yes, Master Mathias!" the butler answered, pressing his head harder to the ground. "I will take full responsibility and face the consequences!"


    Mathias nodded, glancing at the book near the burned house before turning to the gathered maids and butlers. "Those who have learned Techniques behind my back, step forward, and don''t even think of hiding it."


    After his words fell, silence lingered until three people stepped forward¡ªtwo butlers and a maid.


    "Who succeeded?" Mathias asked. One of the butlers raised his hand. "I see¡­ each of you will face punishment. Any objections?"


    "No, Master!" they answered in unison, kneeling and pressing their heads to the ground.


    Mathias nodded before addressing the one who started the fire. "Tell me, where did you get the technique?"


    The butler didn''t dare lie. "When I was outside, someone gave it to me. He said it was a gift and that many people were already learning it, so I shouldn''t be afraid if I did the same."


    "Oh?" Mathias raised an eyebrow. He asked the same question of the others and received the same answer, though the two butlers shared the same technique. "This is concerning."


    He waved his hand, and the ash-covered book floated toward him before disappearing inside his space ring. "Someone will come for you to carry out your punishments." With that, his body blurred, and he disappeared from sight.


    But the matter was far from over. The moment Mathias arrived at his study, he summoned an assistant and issued an order. Sitting in his chair behind the desk, he gazed at his assistant. "I want you to investigate all our maids, butlers, guards, chefs¡ªeveryone working here¡ªto find out if any of them are cultivating in secret. Confiscate their techniques and issue punishment."


    "Understood, Master Mathias," his assistant replied, then left the room.


    Mathias placed a hand under his chin, his eyes glinting in thought, though he felt as if the reason was just at the tip of his tongue. "What is your plan, Klown?" he muttered before shaking his head. Taking out papers, he began writing. Soon, two birds flew from the Helflick mansion¡ªone headed for the Great Serpent Headmaster and the other for the Kleinford family head.


    ¡­


    Apollo had just finished begging at his usual spot. Opening his eyes, he saw the three bronze coins in his hands. His Alm points returned to forty-five. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is really slow," the beggar muttered with a sigh. Shaking his head, he stood up and noticed his lunch in the corner. Taking it with him, he returned to his beggar spot, his gaze landing on the pile of books. Pushing them aside, he started eating spaghetti, fried chicken, and some meat from monsters he didn''t recognize.


    The pile of books beside him came from the first-floor library of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. After he activated the Red Energy Burner, causing it and the ground where the man he killed had poured red liquid to ignite in crimson flames, he returned to the Great Serpent¡ªthough not without first reducing the man to ashes to erase the evidence.


    He handed the lamp to Headmaster Axton, who was visibly shaken upon seeing it. They remained silent for a while as the Headmaster prepared to contact the main branch with the lamp as proof. This matter required immediate action. Afterward, Apollo decided to read as many books on Demons as possible from the library''s first floor, taking some with him to continue reading at his beggar spot as it grew late.


    After finishing his meal, he picked up the last book and opened it to the page where he had left off. The books covered the history of demons, stories of their evil deeds, and interesting details he often debunked. The last book he held focused on the ritual.


    Unlike what Array Masters or Inscription Masters do, performing a ritual doesn''t require Qi. There are all kinds of rituals and methods, but what they have in common is that they all summon Demons and require a sacrifice. A heart in exchange for the Demon''s emergence.


    Different rituals demand different sacrifices: some need only one person, others a child, some an unborn life, and some a mass sacrifice of hundreds, if not thousands, of people to make the summoning work. To Apollo, this was the true essence of Demon Summoning.


    The book in his hand offered no detailed descriptions, only speculation and theory. There wasn''t even an example of what these rituals looked like. Yet Apollo believed every word. From what he had witnessed so far, he was certain there was a ritual in the city that would cost human lives.


    "So why is Klown making the techniques public?" Apollo muttered, resting his chin on his hand. He glanced at the open book, and it only took a moment for realization to strike. With all he had learned from reading about Demons¡ªand combining that with his knowledge from his previous life¡ªa thought crystallized in his mind. "This whole city is a farm¡­ a farm waiting to be harvested."


    Suddenly, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. The more he followed this line of thought, the more convinced he became. Klown wanted to fatten up all his cattle with nutrients before his client arrived!


    In the next moment, his eyes widened as the System interface materialized before him.


    "Second Mission Completed!"


    "Mission completed..." Apollo muttered as if he couldn''t believe what he was seeing.

 Chapter 243 - 243: Mission Completed(Part-2)

    "Mission Completed!


    "Mission: Revenge for your family.


    Part 2: Find out the Plan of the Mayor


    Time Limit: Two Months.


    Reward: 200 Alm Points, Random Reward Box.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation."


    Apollo''s eyes widened seeing the interface in front of him. Then great excitement overtook him. He punched the air as he couldn''t hold his feelings but because of his strength, winds erupted from his fist that caused the passersby on the street to be startled, their clothes and hair making a flapping sound.


    "Finally!" Apollo muttered, his eyes shining seeing the interface in front of him. "200 Alm Points? That''s a lot!"


    The rewards caused him to be in euphoria, Alm Points and the Random Rewards Box though just the Alm Points alone is more than enough!


    "Do you want to open your Random Rewards Box?" Another interface appeared in front of him along with the emotionless voice of the system.


    Apollo was about to answer and say Yes but stopped himself in the next second. "I should do it another time, just to keep the suspense. Yep, that''s right."


    The beggar doesn''t want to open his reward yet as he doesn''t want his excitement and expectations to die so soon. Then he brought up his Status Screen to see the number of his Alm Points.


    STATUS SCREEN


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 245


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning, Water"


    "245¡­ I''m rich! I''m rich!" Apollo couldn''t stop staring at his Alm Points. This is the first time he felt like he was not poor since he arrived in this world. "With this, I could finally buy the Passersby Shadow!"


    And without wasting any more time, he brought up the System Store and searched for the item.


    Passerby Shadow(Beggar Spot Item): An item that will cover the Beggar Spot of the user where passerby won''t be able to notice the user unless they have the intent to find the user or if the user is willing to. Has the function to select specific person to be able to only see the the user or not.


    Alm Points Costs: 80 sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Buy it!" Apollo bought it as soon as he finished reading the description.


    Then in the next second, as if a remote appeared in his mind, he felt the extent of the beggar spot and it''s existence. It covered this small corner of his beside the restaurant, this small world where he really belong.


    Apollo thinks about turning the Passerby Shadow on and the moment he did, he saw the surface, the wall and the air letting out magnetic like waves. But nothing change in the surroundings though the beggar could feel that he is being covered by something.


    Although he haven''t seen the results yet, he is already satisfied.


    "Now now¡­ should I do a shopping spree?" Apollo licked his lips. There''s a lot of interesting items he saw on the System Store that will benefit him greatly.


    Although he said that he will never use the System Store because the System is an *sshole, now that he has this many Alm Points, he just wanted to buy the things that he wanted, you know, to reward himself.


    Apollo began browsing the System Store as if he had thousands of Alm Points. But halfway through, his ''window shopping'' was interrupted when a carriage arrived in front of his beggar spot.


    He stared at the driver who jumped down from the driver seat. The charioteer is staring at his beggar spot, seemingly looking for him. He squinted hard before he could finally see the beggar sitting under the makeshift roof.


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    Apollo stood up and went outside. To the driver, a blurry and dark figure is moving towards him but when the beggar stepped out the beggar spot, the driver heaved a sigh of relief.


    "Hey, what brought you here?" Apollo asked.


    "A message came from Mathias Helflick, asking for your presence,"


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. Have they found something? He thought but already knowing everything, what they''re going to say won''t surprise him. "Alright, let''s go."


    Apollo decided to go and meet the family heads. It will be very beneficial if he tells them everything he figured out. With this, they can move faster.


    The System is still not issuing the third mission, probably waiting for the right time.


    The beggar entered the carriage and soon, the chariot began moving towards the direction of the Helflick mansion.


    ¡­


    At the same time, in one of the main Cultivation Schools in Klown City, at the Sword and Shield Martial School.


    The Headmaster Elmo is staring at the paper in his hand.


    The letter came from Axton, asking them for a meeting.


    "Demon energy in Klown City?" Elmo muttered before he let out a chuckle. "Klown is really good. I want to beat him up."


    He stood up from his seat. Elmo is currently inside his study room, in his right hand is a brush while in front of him is a giant piece of paper with his calligraphy in black ink.


    Glancing at his unfinished product for a moment, he walked towards his balcony where he oversaw a whole mountain.


    This building he was on is on top of the highest mountain in this whole space. Glancing towards the ground, he saw his Martial Students doing their training. Some sparring with each other, some practising the same technique while some doing paintings and calligraphy.


    Even though his Martial School focus on sword and shield, Elmo wanted his students to learn how to do art. Because art teaches them to be peaceful, calming their raging Way of Cultivation. And making them more smarter.


    But when it comes to waking up the lions in their hearts, brush and ink will stop working.


    Elmo took a deep breath while his body started floating a few meters up in the air. His dark blue hanfu robe was blown from the wind, creating a flapping sound.


    "Everyone!" Elmo shouted, his voice booming across the Secondary Space. Birds was startled and trees sway. The martial students on the ground looked up at their Headmaster while halting their activities.


    "Be prepared! War will come soon!" Elmo continued, his eyes turning cold. He could smell it, just from that letter alone, he knew that an unavoidable battle will happen in the city. Something that will cause storms in the world.


    Compared to Axton and the Exhibitionist, his battle sense is higher than them and he could smell a fight from a mile away.


    The Martial Students raised their hands and shouted.


    Seeing them all riled up with only a few words, Elmo smiled in satisfaction. Then after encouraging them to train more and wait for his news, he went out of the Secondary Space and headed to meet up with the Great Serpent Headmaster.

 Chapter 244 - 244: Preparing(Part-1)

    Apollo walked down the hallway of the Helflick mansion with a light step. Having completed his mission and finally acquired the item Passerby Shadow, he was in a good mood. He still had enough Alm Points to buy more items, plus a random reward box he hadn''t opened yet.


    Apollo wondered what the third part of his mission would be, though he already had an idea of what was coming next. He was also eager to share what he knew about the meeting he was about to attend. It seemed the Helflick family head had something to discuss as well.


    With his light step, Apollo made his way to Mathias''s study. He didn''t bother knocking and just pushed both doors wide open, the creaking sound reverberating through the room. Two gazes immediately landed on him¡ªone filled with irritation.


    "What''s with that look?" Apollo asked Nathan as he moved to his seat.


    "Can''t you knock?" Nathan asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly annoyed. He was still baffled that the Great Serpent Headmaster had chosen someone with Apollo''s attitude as a Personal Disciple.


    "My bad," Apollo shrugged, then turned to Mathias. "So, why''d you want to meet me?"


    "I didn''t know how to contact or find you, so I requested through your Headmaster. Let''s wait for them a bit," Mathias replied.


    "I see. But who exactly are we waiting for?" Apollo asked as a maid entered with a cup of milk. "Thanks."


    "Your master and the others," Mathias said.


    "Whose master?" Apollo asked, taking a sip of milk.


    "Headmaster Axton! How many masters do you have to forget him?" Nathan scoffed.


    Apollo put down his cup and glared. "Keep my master''s name out of your mouth! I''m still a kid; I forget things¡ªlike you grown-ups who forget to shave your facial hair."


    "You!" Nathan''s forehead started throbbing.


    "Haha, let''s calm down, alright?" Mathias chuckled. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "I am calm," Apollo smiled before turning serious. "So the other Headmasters are coming here? Won''t that alert the fat mayor?"


    "They''ll use a long-distance live message," Mathias explained. "They''re currently at the Great Serpent discussing something."


    "Oh, got it," Apollo muttered, taking another sip of milk.


    ''Hey, do you know his Cultivation level?'' Nathan asked Mathias via Thought Transfer.


    ''I''m not sure, but he''s strong enough to have killed Aaron Callum, who had a 2nd-Step Qi Condensation guardian at his side. We can assume Yoma''s at least that level,'' Mathias replied with a side glance.


    ''Then I could take him,'' Nathan thought, sitting up a bit straighter.


    ''I''d advise not riling him up,'' Mathias cautioned.


    "Hey, want to fight?" Apollo''s voice suddenly cut through, causing both family heads to startle.


    Nathan saw Yoma staring at him. Did he hear us talking about him? "Did you hear anything?"


    "Hear what?" Apollo asked, tilting his head in feigned confusion.


    "Nothing," Nathan shook his head. "Let''s fight some other time. As much as I''d like to put you in your place, I want our cooperation to last."


    "Well, if you say so." Apollo replied.


    "Let''s wait for them without breaking into a fight," Mathias sighed, massaging his forehead. Every time he''s with Nathan and other people are present, a fight seems on the verge of breaking out.


    "Blame him," Apollo pointed at the Kleinford family head.


    "You!" Nathan gritted his teeth, trying his best not to lash out.


    As Nathan and Apollo glared at each other, like a divine intervention, a bird flew into the room through the window, holding a rolled-up talisman.


    "It''s here," Mathias said, taking the talisman and unrolling it on the table.


    There were three empty seats surrounding the table, and as Mathias opened the talisman, it emitted a glow that landed on the empty chairs. Misty figures began to materialize, forming lifelike humans whose bodies were made of smoke-like mist.


    "Welcome," Mathias smiled, seeing Headmaster Axton of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, Elmo of the Sword and Shield, and Master Popo of the Fire Shrine taking their seats.


    "Long time no see, Mathias," Axton greeted, then turned to Nathan. "You too, Mr. Kleinford."


    "Yeah, nice seeing you too," Nathan greeted, though his tone suggested he didn''t entirely mean it.


    Headmaster Axton nodded, then turned to Yoma, who was just finishing his milk.


    "Oh, who do we have here?" Elmo asked, staring at the young man among them.


    "Whose son is that?" Fire Shrine Headmaster, Master Popo, looked around at the others.


    "Before we begin, I want you two to meet my Personal Disciple," Axton smiled at Master Popo and Elmo. "His name is Yoma, a Wanderer."


    "So this is him," Elmo murmured, narrowing his eyes at the beggar. He''d been doubtful ever since learning Axton had suddenly taken a Personal Disciple¡ªespecially just days after the Advancement Examination ended with a lightning tribulation outside the city. To him, the coincidence was suspicious. Though he''d questioned Axton before and hadn''t received a clear answer, he remained doubtful.


    "What? I didn''t know you''d chosen a Personal Disciple already!" Master Popo exclaimed, genuinely surprised and curious, unlike Elmo.


    "Hahaha, well, I couldn''t just stay in this position forever," Axton chuckled, but then noticed Elmo''s quiet scrutiny of his disciple. "What''s wrong?"


    "Can Deez?" Elmo asked. As his words fell, a silence lingered in the air.


    Axton''s eye twitched, but fortunately, no one noticed.


    "Can Deez nuts fit in your mouth?!" Apollo burst into laughter, triumphant. Finally, someone had asked, and he had unleashed his mischief!


    His laughter echoed through the room, leaving the family heads and Headmasters glancing at each other in confusion. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can Deez? Can Deez nuts¡­" Master Popo repeated, still confused, until his face reddened, and he also burst out laughing. "Hahaha! That''s a good one!"


    Master Popo even stood up, causing another awkward moment as his bird started showing through his hanfu robe. Though his body was made of smoke-like mist, the definition was still noticeable.


    Mathias, Nathan, Axton, and Elmo didn''t laugh; instead, they averted their eyes. They looked at each other, then turned back to Elmo.


    "Can Deez? The person who won the Advancement Examination?" Mathias asked.


    "Yes¡­ but it seems that name has another meaning," Elmo replied with a bitter smile, eyeing the still-laughing disciple. "You''re not him?"

 Chapter 245 - 245: Preparing(Part-2)

    "No, of course I''m not!" Apollo denied, shaking his head. After calming down from finally getting to use his "Can Deez" joke, he continued, "Whoever that is, he must''ve used a fake name as a joke."


    Elmo turned to the Great Serpent Headmaster. "You know anything about that?"


    "No," Axton shook his head.


    "I see." Elmo eyed Axton suspiciously, then looked back at the beggar. "He''s not really a kid, right?"


    "Do you think a kid could reach the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage?" Axton asked, looking around the room, excluding Master Popo, who was still laughing his *ss off.


    "If he''s really a kid at that cultivation stage, I''ll bow down and kiss his feet," Nathan commented.


    Apollo considered telling them the truth¡ªthat he really was just a kid¡ªbut leaving out his mental age. Considering it was one thing; actually doing it was another.


    "Anyway, why don''t we focus on why we''re gathered here?" Axton suggested. They had chosen to meet through long-distance messaging rather than in person to avoid alerting the mayor and spoiling their plan.


    "Sure, let''s talk about it," Mathias agreed as Master Popo finally calmed down.


    "That was a great laugh," Master Popo grinned at the beggar. "I like your humor."


    "Only a person with a great mind can understand me," Apollo smirked.


    "Let''s start with this¡­ there''s demon energy in the city," Axton announced, turning the mood serious. "I''ve already sent a request along with the evidence."


    "How long until we get a response?" Mathias asked.


    "Four days at the earliest, a week at the latest," Axton replied. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now that we know Klown''s up to no good, what''s our next step?" Nathan sat up straight.


    "For now, we need to uncover his full plan. Only then can we take action," Axton explained.


    "I suggest we go straight to his mansion and kill him," Elmo said, smirking coldly, momentarily putting the matter of "Can Deez" on hold.


    "I second that," Master Popo raised his hand.


    "That would break the treaty. We''ll need strong support to avoid sparking another war, which is why we''re waiting for permission from the main branch," Axton clarified.


    "If this region were under the main branch of Sword and Shield, we''d act as soon as demon energy was detected, without needing any request," Elmo muttered.


    "I don''t make the rules," Axton sighed, then looked to Mathias and Nathan. "Once we know Klown''s real plan, the ritual he''s using, and its extent, we''ll need to rely on you if the approval hasn''t come back yet and Klown starts making a move."


    "We don''t have to wait," Apollo interjected, drawing everyone''s attention.


    "What do you mean?" Mathias asked.


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    "I know their plan," Apollo said casually, though his words left the others staring at him in surprise.


    "How did you find out?" Nathan raised an eyebrow. "We sent people to investigate, but they didn''t come back with anything useful."


    "I used this, of course," Apollo pointed at his head with a confident grin. "So, do you want to hear my brilliant mind''s findings or not?"


    "Just tell us; don''t keep us in suspense," Nathan said, sounding impatient.


    "Haha, well, here''s the deal..." Apollo began explaining everything he knew about the demons, their rituals, the sacrifices, why Klown publicly shared stolen techniques, and why he expanded the wall.


    "So you''re saying the entire city is under a ritual?" Master Popo asked, a frown forming on his face.


    "Yes," Apollo nodded.


    "And Klown wants people to learn cultivation and battle techniques to make the ritual stronger?" Nathan asked.


    "Exactly. The stronger the ritual, the better the effects. But if Klown succeeds, well¡­ we''re probably dead," Apollo chuckled. "Demons don''t like humans¡ªthey crave destruction, according to the books I''ve read."


    "Demons only bring catastrophe¡­ Klown must be gaining something from this," Headmaster Axton said.


    "Power, strength, longevity¡­ He''ll probably even betray the other families eventually. I suggest we try to get them on our side," Apollo advised.


    "They''re not going to agree. They''re scum who only bow to the strong and bully the weak," Nathan scoffed.


    "Wow, you sounded almost like a good person there," Apollo quipped, earning a glare in response.


    "We can''t wait any longer," Mathias said, glancing around the room. At the same time, he thought of his daughter Bel, who had suffered because of Klown''s hatred toward his family. His resolve for revenge grew stronger. "We need to start planning our next move."


    "Now that we know his plan¡­ we could either disrupt the ritual or go straight to the mansion and kill him," Nathan suggested.


    "Removing the ritual is the top priority, but that''s going to be difficult," Apollo replied. "The ritual is hidden¡ªeven someone at the Core Creation stage wouldn''t be able to see it."


    "Why?" Mathias asked with a frown. If they couldn''t see the ritual, how would they dismantle it?


    "Because it''s not made of Qi; it''s a different kind of energy," Apollo explained. Cultivators relied on Qi, and techniques not requiring it were extremely rare. "I encountered someone spreading a kind of red liquid that soaked into the ground, and even with my senses, I couldn''t trace the ritual."


    "Maybe it''s tied to some kind of artifact," Nathan speculated.


    They continued discussing their plans to confront Klown, the mayor of Klown City. Since they faced something beyond their usual experience, they had to create and revise multiple strategies. The meeting lasted for a few hours before finally wrapping up.


    "It''s getting late," Axton said, turning to his personal disciple. "The people spreading this red liquid¡­ they''re still at it, right?"


    "That''s what I think," Apollo nodded. "The wall expansion isn''t finished yet, and they won''t risk doing it around people. They only come out at night to spread the red liquid."


    "I see. We''ll track them down," Axton replied, then turned to Mathias and Nathan. "We''ll head out now. Let''s regroup once we''ve finalized our plan."


    "Goodbye," Mathias and Nathan stood up.


    Before they left, Elmo stared at the beggar first and nod his head. And soon, they disappeared in a puff of smoke.

 Chapter 246 - 246: Sparring(Part-1)

    After the three Headmasters left in a puff of smoke, Apollo looked at Nathan and Mathias. "I should also get going."


    He was eager to return and open his random reward box, which he had been holding off on for hours. Moreover, the System had finally issued the third mission:


    ---


    Mission: Revenge for your family.


    Part-3 (Finale): Now that you''ve uncovered the Mayor''s hidden plan, it''s time to disrupt him and stop the summoning of the Demon. Kill the Mayor and avenge your family by defeating the person responsible for their destruction.


    Time Limit: Eight Days


    Reward: 300 Alm Points, Random Reward Box


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation


    ---


    The time limit was shorter than previous missions, but the rewards were even greater, which excited him¡ªthough he felt a pang of fear at the punishment if he failed. He was keen to get back, open his reward box, cultivate the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation, earn more Alm Points, and raise his cultivation as much as possible within the allotted time.


    "I''ll see you out," Mathias offered as he stood up with Apollo.


    "No need," Apollo waved him off and pushed the door open. But as he was about to leave, a voice called out from behind.


    "Wait!"


    Mathias looked at Nathan in surprise, then realized what his friend was thinking. "Stop it, Nathan. It''s not worth it."


    The Kleinford family leader ignored Mathias'' words and walked over to the beggar. "Let''s fight," he said, his gaze fixed intently on Apollo.


    "Oh? You''re that eager to go?" Apollo asked, a smile spreading across his face.


    "I realized something," Nathan replied. "We''re going to fight Klown and, without a doubt, his cultivators. But I can''t just team up with someone whose strength I haven''t seen."


    "So, you''re suggesting a spar?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes," Nathan nodded.


    "Both of you, stop it," Mathias said from the side. "You can gauge each other''s strength when the time comes."


    "I think it''s a great idea," Apollo said, ignoring Mathias'' objection. "Let''s do it."


    With Nathan''s invitation to spar, Apollo saw this as the perfect opportunity to gauge his skills against a seasoned cultivator. Up to this point, he had mostly faced students with limited combat experience. While some battles had been challenging, none left him feeling entirely outmatched.


    Against Nathan Kleinford, a cultivator with countless battles under his belt, Apollo hoped he''d gain valuable insight.


    "Can we use your training ground?" Nathan asked, glancing at Mathias, who could only sigh in resignation.


    "Sure, follow me," Mathias said with a heavy sigh, leading the two fiery combatants out of his study.


    They turned down a hallway, passing through a garden. Just as they rounded a corner, someone bumped into them.


    "Ah!" A woman gasped, stepping back in surprise before sighing in relief. "You startled me, Father."


    "Bel," Mathias frowned. "What are you doing out of your room? Didn''t I tell you to rest as much as possible?"


    "Yes," Bel scratched her cheek, "but I heard he was here, so I wanted to go to your study and talk to him."


    "It''s not a great time," Mathias replied.


    "But why?" Bel pouted.


    "You want to talk to this kid, right?" Nathan chimed in with a smirk. "We''re about to have a spar. You should come watch."


    Bel glanced behind him, and sure enough, Yoma stood there with a bored expression. Her eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "Sure, I''ll watch."


    "Alright," Mathias sighed, leading the way toward his personal training ground with Bel in tow. The area was a grassy field, large enough to fit two basketball courts, with sparse trees surrounding it.


    "I guess Uncle Nathan is the one who suggested the spar," Bel muttered as Apollo and the Helflick family head took their positions, dozens of meters apart.


    "Who else?" Mathias glanced at his daughter before clearing his throat. He looked over at Nathan and Yoma. "Are you both sure about this?"


    "Yes," Nathan replied, smirking at Apollo. Besides genuinely wanting to gauge the strength of this annoying beggar, he was also itching for some petty revenge. Not because Apollo had tricked him a few times, but¡­ well, actually, yes. That was the reason. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is going to be a great opportunity to learn from the experienced and the¡­ well, old," Apollo said, his eyes fixed on the Helflick family head.


    "If you''re both ready, the spar will begin in ten seconds," Mathias announced with a sigh, beginning the countdown.


    "Father, who do you think will win?" Bel asked, eyeing the kid and the middle-aged man facing each other.


    "If it''s based on what I know, your Uncle Nathan," Mathias replied. "But I don''t know much about your savior, so he might be stronger."


    Bel didn''t respond, though a worried expression crossed her face. She recalled their first meeting; her savior had seemed to struggle against those Duskfangs. Or¡­ was he just hiding his true strength? From what she''d heard, Yoma was titled the Personal Disciple of Great Serpent Headmaster Axton, which meant he had the skills to back it up. Furthermore, he was a Wanderer, and though not every Wanderer was powerful, most weren''t at the Foundation Building stage¡ªthey were usually at least 1st-Step Qi Condensation.


    "Hey, before we start, just know I''m doing this because I care about our fight against Klown, alright?" Nathan said, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "This is just a friendly spar."


    "Five," Mathias'' voice echoed.


    "Sure, sure, just a friendly spar," Apollo replied with a chuckle. "But if I beat you, don''t come knocking, asking for another beating, alright?" Clearly, he didn''t see the Kleinford family head as much of a threat.


    "Beat me?" Nathan repeated, as if it was the most absurd thing he''d ever heard. "Haha, alright, alright, I won''t let your words irritate me this time."


    "But they already did," Apollo pointed out, smirking. "You''re just hiding it behind that smug face."


    Nathan''s face twitched. Apollo''s taunts had poked him one too many times. The countdown felt like an eternity as he barely held back his desire to wipe the smirk off Apollo''s face.


    "One!" The moment Mathias'' voice dropped, the temperature and surrounding Qi in the air began to churn.

 Chapter 247 - 247: Sparring(Part-2)

    The world slowed down, almost as if time itself were stopping.


    Apollo''s eyes narrowed, his body tensing to the maximum. He stared at his opponent without blinking, ready to react with his next move at a moment''s notice.


    He didn''t know Nathan''s fighting style, only that the Kleinford family head was a veteran of some border war where he''d decimated thousands and faced formidable opponents. His senses also told him that Nathan was at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation stage.


    With no prior knowledge of this powerful opponent who clearly had real combat techniques, Apollo had to tread carefully.


    He didn''t count his fight with the clone of the Great Serpent on the fifth floor of the library as a true test. That battle had been a life-or-death struggle where the creature relied only on brute force. Though Apollo had improved his Fire Blast, Wind Blast, and other techniques in that fight, what he wanted here was a true learning experience. He sought an eye-opening battle, not just a showcase of power.


    Hopefully, this would be worth it, Apollo thought as time ''resumed.''


    Nathan hadn''t moved yet, but his black hanfu robe began shifting oddly, as if animated by an unseen force. The fabric turned darker than night, swirling as if made of both smoke and liquid. Even his hair took on an inky texture, rising into the air and stretching up a few feet.


    Apollo was fascinated by the transformation. Though he didn''t know what this black aura surrounding Kleinford was, he could tell it was a form of power-up. "Already? Aren''t you even going to test my strength before you pull out the big moves?" he asked, amused.


    "Remember, in a fight, always assume the worst," Nathan replied, stepping forward. "One mistake can cost a life."


    "Even though it''s just a spar? Why so serious?" Apollo said, somewhat speechless.


    "A spar or not, this is a battle, and we must respect the art of the fist!" Nathan took another step, and in an instant, he flashed forward, appearing directly in front of Apollo in a burst of black.


    Apollo''s eyes widened as he saw the incoming fist. That speed!


    It felt like he was back on the fifth floor, facing the serpent''s clone.


    But being caught off guard didn''t mean he was defenseless.


    Just before Nathan''s fist connected, Apollo''s body flared brightly, erupting in a flash of lightning.


    The ground around him charred black as Nathan leapt back just in time.


    But as soon as he landed, a lightning-covered fist appeared before him¡ªApollo had mirrored his move!


    Nathan smirked, leaping back even faster, showing off an impressive speed boost.


    "You''re fast," Apollo said, his body crackling with lightning.


    "You too," Nathan replied, eyeing him curiously. "I thought you were Headmaster Axton''s Personal Disciple. Why are you displaying a Lightning attribute?"


    "Why? Is that illegal?" Apollo replied with a smirk.


    "No, just unusual. But as a Wanderer, I suppose you had it before becoming his Personal Disciple," Nathan said.


    "Maybe," Apollo shrugged, lowering his stance. "Come at me again."


    "I''m only going to hold back if I think my attack will kill you, so expect to get hurt!" Nathan shouted, taking a step forward as his body transformed into a black shadow, instantly appearing in front of the beggar!


    Apollo launched a lightning-covered punch, and their fists clashed with a deafening sound. Sparks of blue and black burst from the impact. As he looked at the man before him, he noticed his arm being pushed back. Realizing the gap in their strength, Apollo quickly surrounded them with Fire Blasts and Wind Blasts.


    "Oh?" Nathan raised an eyebrow at the array of techniques materializing around them. But the smile on his face only grew¡ªit was a crazed smile, eager for battle!


    In the next second, the techniques lunged toward them!


    Bel''s eyes widened as the intense wind whipped through her hair and dress. "They''re¡­ incredibly strong!"


    "Yoma doesn''t care if he gets hit by his own attacks," Mathias murmured. "He''s a reckless fighter¡­ they are both the same."


    The Fire Blasts and Wind Blasts sent up clouds of dust as the sounds of clashing continued, hurling dirt and rocks into the air. Then, silence fell for a brief moment before another blast erupted, summoning a gust that blew the dust clouds away!


    A figure was sent hurtling through the air. Flipping a couple of times, he skidded across the ground, leaving a deep ravine before finally stopping himself.


    "Yoma!" Bel shouted, her voice laced with worry. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Shh," Mathias signaled for silence with a finger over his lips.


    Apollo stood up and wiped his mouth with his hand, glancing at the blood on his fingers. "Hmm, that''s strange," he muttered in confusion.


    Looking up, he saw Nathan approaching him steadily. They''d exchanged dozens of blows inside the dust cloud while Apollo''s Fire Blasts and Wind Blasts assaulted them both.


    He hadn''t bothered dodging his own attacks, allowing them to hit both himself and the Kleinford family head. He''d done so because, from the moment their fists met, he knew that if he didn''t quickly gain the upper hand, he''d lose the fight.


    But Nathan Kleinford''s body was tougher than he''d anticipated. His transformation must be the reason¡ªenhanced speed, strength, and durability. And even though his cultivation was only at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation stage, his punches and kicks held far greater power.


    "You''re probably wondering why I''m so strong," Nathan said, a confident smile on his face. "That''s because cultivation isn''t the only factor in winning a fight. There are also¡ª"


    But before he could finish, Apollo cut him off.


    "Techniques, skills, experience, and so on, yeah, I get it," Apollo smirked as he stretched. "I''ve read that even someone without any cultivation can achieve what cultivators can. A normal person can slice a mountain in half if they devote themselves to the Way of the Sword and, of course, train relentlessly."


    "Mind letting me finish before you interrupt?" Nathan frowned.


    "Sorry, I don''t care," Apollo chuckled, though internally, he was reviewing their previous exchange. It felt like facing another clone of the Great Serpent¡ªonly this time, his opponent was using technique. He suspected Nathan still had more to reveal, just as he did.


    "I see. Then let''s continue our spar!" Nathan shouted, dashing forward in a flash.


    Apollo activated his lightning attribute along with his Simple Movement Technique, his body blurring as he met the Kleinford family head halfway!

 Chapter 248 - 248: Sparring(Part-3)

    Lightning flashed as Apollo dodged a fist. Before his opponent could back away, he activated his Fire Blast and Wind Blast in quick succession¡ªa technique he had developed during the Advancement Examination. Now, with his 2nd-Step Qi Condensation stage cultivation, the combined strength of these techniques was even greater than before!


    However, what happened next shocked him. His eyes widened as, before the two blasts could merge, their forms wavered and dispersed in a puff of Qi, scattering like fireflies.


    "What?!" Apollo exclaimed in surprise, but a kick, cloaked in shadowy, ink-like Qi, was already aimed at the side of his face!


    The beggar barely managed to raise his hand in time to block the attack, but the force sent him flying. Twisting mid-air, he used the momentum to execute a series of controlled cartwheels before finally pushing off and landing squarely on his feet.


    Mathias, watching the scene unfold, shook his head. "It seems Yoma is missing something."


    "Father, what just happened?!" Bel asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement and shock at what she''d just witnessed.


    "This is the first time you''ve seen your Uncle Nathan fight, right?" Mathias replied, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.


    "Yes," Bel nodded eagerly.


    "Then watch closely. Fights at his level are rare," Mathias advised, casting a thoughtful glance at the two fighters, his gaze lingering on the Wanderer.


    Nathan held back from attacking as Apollo landed. Smiling with a mix of confidence and arrogance, he raised his chest. "Haha, Yoma, I''m going to show you the true gap between us."


    Apollo frowned, unable to come up with a retort, his mind racing over what had just happened. He''d summoned his Fire Blast and Wind Blast perfectly, intending to merge them with a single thought. Yet they hadn''t even formed before fizzling out entirely.


    Did Nathan somehow disrupt his techniques?


    Noting his opponent''s serious expression, Nathan grinned smugly. "Surprised? Shocked? That''s only a taste!"


    "Let''s go again," Apollo replied, raising his right hand and pointing it toward Nathan. The Unrefined Qi in the surroundings began to churn, transforming into tiny water droplets that coalesced into razor-thin water blades, almost transparent, like glass.


    "Finally showing some Great Serpent technique?" Nathan observed with a smirk. "Water Blade Disintegration?"


    Apollo didn''t respond. Instead, he clenched his fist, sending the water blades flying toward Nathan at high speed!


    Explosions rang out as water mist burst up from every impact with the ground. But Nathan activated his own Movement Technique, dodging and blocking each projectile. His black hanfu robe acted as a shield while he advanced, weaving through the barrage with the water blades slicing through the air around him.


    Apollo was taken aback. None of his previous opponents had dodged his attacks so effortlessly. They either couldn''t keep up, resorted to blocking without moving, or, if they moved, focused solely on defense.


    The clone of the Great Serpent had behaved like a mindless beast, ignoring injuries and relying on regeneration.


    But Nathan was different. He blocked and dodged simultaneously, pressing forward with relentless steps. When any of the water blades threatened to land a direct hit, he disrupted them with quick counter-attacks¡ªwithout slowing his advance.


    Apollo frowned as a challenge presented itself in front of him. He doesn''t want to get close; he could feel it¡ªhe wouldn''t stand a chance unless he used his Simple Wind Sword Technique, which is deadly to use in this spar.


    He had to attack from long range. With this in mind, Fire Blast and Wind Blast stacked on top of each other appeared in front of him while the Water Blade Disintegration Technique continued its descent.


    Three techniques at the same time¡ªsuch a feat caused Nathan to narrow his eyes and the onlookers to watch in surprise.


    "Three different elements at the same time¡­" Bel muttered, her voice tinted with amazement. This is the first time she''d seen something like this.


    "Even I wouldn''t be able to do that," Mathias commented.


    "Using the same trick for the second time?" Nathan smirked as his body let out an inky shadow, allowing him to dodge the water blades easily. Then he raised his hand and waved it toward the two combinations of techniques. "Rookie move!"


    And the moment the Fire Blast and Wind Blast were about to combine, they disintegrated into particles of Qi! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Apollo already expected this, his eyes minutely focused on the techniques he created. And with his concentration, he found something strange.


    The Qi that formed the Fire Blast and Wind Blast didn''t follow their usual path; the moment Nathan waved his hand, the pattern was disrupted before they could even form.


    "I see," Apollo muttered, a smile coming back to his face.


    "So you figured it out?" Nathan asked, appearing in front of the beggar, his fist raised and ready to launch.


    "Yes," Apollo nodded, then smirked. "Using Unrefined Qi became my habit. And thanks to you, I found one of my weaknesses."


    "Yeah, you should learn to be humble," Nathan said, his face turning serious. "But let me teach you a lesson first!"


    His fist, coated in an ink-like shadow, was sent to Yoma''s stomach! The speed and strength behind the attack caused shockwaves to materialize and great winds to be summoned!


    "I won this spa¡ª" Nathan couldn''t finish his words. He''d expected his sparring partner to be sent hurling into the air, but the person in front of him exploded in a splash of water the moment his fist connected.


    Nathan''s body was drenched.


    "Not yet," Apollo''s voice echoed, coming from everywhere.


    The Kleinford family head looked around him and saw dozens of Yomas with their hands raised, pointing at him.


    "Hydra Mirage?" he muttered in surprise¡ªa famous technique that every Great Serpent martial student tried to learn but failed.


    There''s a rumor that Headmaster Axton can only create about ten or eleven clones, but what he''s seeing right now is beyond that!


    Dozens of clones, all lifelike and having the same presence as the original. No, right now, all of them were genuine Yoma.


    But when Mathias and Bel saw the scene, they both wore the same expression. They felt a deep familiarity with it, as if they''d seen the scene before.


    "Father¡­ this technique, there''s only one person I know who can do this," Bel whispered.


    "I know," Mathias nodded. "Seems like we have been fooled."

 Chapter 249 - 249: Sparring(Part-4)

    "It''s time to get serious," Apollo muttered, a mocking smile forming on his face.


    Nathan, who had been wearing a smug expression moments ago, suddenly felt a sense of dread. The dozens of Yoma surrounding him made his hair stand on end, especially as each clone raised their hands, releasing lightning, and conjuring different techniques¡ªFire Blast, Wind Blast, Water Blade Disintegration, Great Serpent Sword Transformation, and more.


    Bel recognized familiar Great Serpent techniques, the ones only taught to Seniors in her martial school, who gained access to them only upon reaching the fourth floor of the library. Seeing all these techniques used at once, by a single person, left her indescribably shocked. Furthermore, each of the fourth-floor techniques Yoma displayed was at the beginner stage, which even talented seniors took months to master!


    How long had Yoma been the Personal Disciple? And how did he manage to learn all this?


    "Father, you should stop them," Bel advised.


    "Let''s see first," Mathias replied, his body tense, ready to intervene if things took a turn.


    "Hey, why don''t we end this spar with your loss?" Apollo asked.


    "Not until I lose consciousness!" Nathan shouted, his black hanfu robe expanding to cover his whole body and stretching a few meters into the air.


    "Well, if you insist," Apollo smiled, raising his hand and clenching his fist.


    ¡­


    "You should have taken the chance he gave you," Mathias said with a sigh. "Your fiery head finally met someone you shouldn''t have messed with."


    "I was just careless, okay?" Nathan said. He was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, gathering Unrefined Qi before refining it to heal his injuries. His body was in a lot of pain, with some burnt skin exposing muscle and bone. His face bore cuts and was red from the previous attacks.


    "Reckless¡ªthat''s the word you should use," Mathias chuckled, glancing around his personal training ground.


    What had once been a grassy field now resembled a battlefield. The ground was shattered, ruptured, full of slashes and cuts.


    "I am not reckless, alright?" Nathan glared at his friend. "I was just testing out our new friend. You know, we can''t head into battle with one of us dragging our feet." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know, but you learned he won''t drag our feet the hard way, right?" Mathias replied. Nathan didn''t answer, unwilling to admit the truth, as it would bruise his ego. The Helflick family head shook his head before looking to the side, where Bel was following after Yoma, who was already heading out of the mansion.


    "Why are you following me?" Apollo asked, glancing over his shoulder.


    "You¡­" Bel hesitated before taking a deep breath. "You are the same person."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," Apollo said, quickening his pace.


    "Yes, you do!" Bel kept up with him, grateful that her strength had improved enough that walking faster¡ªand even running¡ªwas no longer an issue.


    "No, I don''t," Apollo shook his head as they walked down the hallway, their voices and footsteps echoing.


    "Don''t lie. My savior, Yoma, and Can Deez! You''re the same person!" Bel insisted as they turned a corner.


    Apollo halted, sighed, and turned to Bel. "Yeah, that''s me."


    The beggar didn''t lie this time, not that it mattered if she knew the truth. He no longer cared if people discovered his identity, even if they learned he was the heir of the destroyed Leone family.


    Now that he''d completed his mission to kill the mayor and the person responsible for his family''s downfall, hiding his true identity felt pointless. Initially, he kept it hidden out of fear that it would attract more trouble. But this time, he was ready to be one of the troubles that came for them.


    Bel''s eyes widened at his confirmation, then her face lit up with a radiant smile. "I see¡­ thank you. Thank you for saving me back then and saving my life again."


    "No worries," Apollo said, waving her off as he turned and continued walking.


    Bel kept pace with him. "Just tell me what you want, anything you need¡ªI''ll make it happen!"


    "Haha, the thought alone is enough. No need to do anything," Apollo replied with a chuckle. "I just did it because I wanted to."


    "But it means so much to me, just like it did for Filly. It means so much to us," Bel said earnestly. "I know you''re a good person. If you ever need anything, the Helflick family will always be by your side."


    "Really, don''t make a big deal out of this," Apollo sighed.


    "I can''t," Bel said, shaking her head. Though she looked down at the beggar in stature, in her heart, his status rose to equal her father''s¡ªa respect she wouldn''t dare break.


    This is getting annoying, Apollo thought. "Let''s talk another time, alright? And it''d be best if you kept my identity a secret."


    "Okay, don''t worry about it! Your secret''s safe with me!" Bel smiled. Soon, they reached the mansion''s gate.


    "Alright, goodbye," Apollo waved as he approached the waiting carriage with the Great Serpent insignia on its side.


    "Bye," Bel said, her eyes following him. Deep down, she wondered how to properly thank her savior. She realized that Yoma¡ªor Can Deez¡ªdidn''t want too much attention; why else would he hide his identity? His humility only made her respect him more.


    The moment Apollo sat inside the carriage, he let out a sigh, his mind drifting back to his sparring match with Nathan Kleinford.


    Conjuring all of the techniques he knew at once had not been a good idea. Cloning his body dozens of times using the Hydra Mirage and channeling techniques through each clone had nearly caused him to pass out.


    Using both Unrefined and Refined Qi simultaneously had instantly drained his refined Qi reserves and exhausted the surrounding Qi. While each technique was weaker in strength compared to when he used them individually, he had compensated with sheer quantity, allowing him to overpower Nathan. Yet, as soon as the spar ended, his vision blurred, and a splitting headache took hold. Now, he wanted nothing more than to return to his beggar spot, restore his refined Qi, and rest his mind.

 Chapter 250 - 250: Monkey

    When Apollo arrived at his beggar spot, the sun was already kissing the horizon.


    He jumped off the carriage and turned to the driver.


    "Hey," Apollo called out, and the driver looked over. "Tell Headmaster Axton I''m going to give up the position of Personal Disciple."


    The driver''s eyes widened in shock at Apollo''s words.


    "But, sir, it''s not going to be easy," the driver replied, worry lacing his voice. "From what I know, you''ll have to find a replacement, or you''ll need to be defeated by another Senior."


    "Is that so?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, thinking for a moment until a name came to mind. "Then give the position to Lily Callum. Tell him that. And by the way, you don''t have to wait for me every time."


    The driver watched in silence as Yoma disappeared into the dark corner by the restaurant.


    "Ah, this is going to be a headache," he muttered, shaking his head before directing the carriage back toward the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    ---


    Apollo entered his beggar spot and sat down inside his makeshift shelter. Letting out a sigh, he crossed his legs and began gathering the surrounding Qi. He guided it along the path of the Revised Simple Breathing Technique until it collected at the Qi center below his navel, where it transformed into refined Qi.


    The beggar focused on cultivating to restore his strength and heal his tired body. Once finished, he shifted his attention to the technique he had retrieved from the fifth floor of the Great Serpent Library, the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. He realized that progressing with this would strengthen his other water techniques, though not as much as cultivating them individually, but it was an improvement over other techniques.


    As his surroundings faded into a dark, starry expanse, with firefly-like Qi particles flowing into his body, time slipped by unnoticed. By the time he opened his eyes, it was already midnight.


    Staring up at the brilliant moon, Apollo called out in his mind, "System, I want to open the Random Reward Box."


    An interface appeared before him, displaying a brown box icon with a keyhole in the center.


    The chest materialized, shaking intensely before opening in a flash of light. Apollo didn''t blink, his heart pounding with anticipation. Clenching his fist, he watched as the light changed shape.


    "You obtained a companion!


    Animal: Monkey!"


    The System''s emotionless voice echoed in his mind, and with a thud, something dropped in front of him.


    Apollo looked down to see a small monkey staring up at him in curiosity.


    "What the fck¡­" the beggar muttered, exasperated. "What the f*ck, what the actual f*ck?! System, what''s the meaning of this?!"


    As usual, the System remained silent, fueling Apollo''s frustration.


    "I spent weeks just trying to complete this dmn mission, and you give me a fcking monkey?!" Apollo''s face was red with anger. But the System stayed silent. "F*ck! F*ck! F*ck! I swear, if you had a physical body, I''d beat your *ss!"


    The monkey let out a cry, catching Apollo''s red-faced glare.


    "Shut up!" Apollo shouted, his chest heaving in frustration. Even though he knew the Random Reward Box would grant a random item, he still felt cheated¡ªhe got a normal monkey! It would''ve been better if it had been a beast, not just some ordinary animal.


    The monkey looked surprised, its eyes wide as it stared at him. Then, in the next moment, it bared its fangs and lunged at the beggar!


    Apollo was caught off guard by the sudden attack, scratches appearing on his face as the monkey latched onto him.


    "Ah!" he shouted in pain as the monkey bit his cheek. "Stop!"


    He yanked the monkey away by the scruff of its neck. The monkey kept flailing, trying to attack him, but its tiny arms couldn''t reach his face anymore.


    "Fck!" Apollo cursed at the stinging sensation on his cheek. "Dmn you, System! I thought this was my companion¡ªwhy is it attacking me?!"


    An interface appeared before him, and the System''s emotionless voice echoed in his mind.


    "Your current companion is a normal animal, not a Beast or Monster capable of forming a pact. Gain its trust if the user does not wish to be attacked."


    Apollo burst out laughing, a laugh filled with anger and frustration.


    "Hahaha!" His laughter lasted for a while, silencing the crazed monkey in his grasp.


    The monkey stared at him, wide-eyed and fearful.


    Once Apollo''s laughter died down, his cold gaze fell on his companion¡ªa small monkey, nearly two feet tall, with brown fur and a thin body, the kind he''d often seen in his previous life.


    Apollo took a deep breath to steady himself. "D*mn, this is really frustrating," he muttered, letting out a sigh.


    He noticed the monkey whimpering and realized he''d been holding it too tightly.


    Apollo let go, and the moment the monkey hit the ground, it tried to bolt¡ªbut Apollo was faster, grabbing it by the tail.


    The monkey shrieked and attempted to lash out again, but Apollo, prepared this time, held its hands firmly.


    "Behave," he said, his gaze cold and tone threatening. He unleashed his 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage aura, making the monkey freeze and clamp its mouth shut. "Good. You''re my reward after all my painstaking effort. I won''t just let you run away."


    The monkey couldn''t understand his words, but fear gripped it.


    Lifting the monkey, Apollo noted it was male. "Hmm, I should give you a name." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Accepting that he was now stuck with this companion, Apollo decided to make the best of it. Besides, having a companion while he cultivated didn''t sound so bad. He was all alone in his beggar spot, after all. What if he trained this monkey to his liking? This thought nearly erased his earlier frustration.


    After a moment''s contemplation, a name came to him. "Bubba¡­ yeah, I''ll call you that."


    Suddenly, his Status Screen appeared before him without him even calling for it.


    STATUS SCREEN


    "Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 165


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning, Water


    Companions: Bubba(Monkey)"

 Chapter 251 - 251: Chili of Intelligence

    Apollo''s Alm Points was reduced to 165 after buying the Passerby Shadow that cost him 80 Alm Points though his eyes focused on the newly added information at the bottom of the screen.


    "Hmm," Apollo thought for a moment before he turned off his Status Screen. He stared at his companion who''s also looking at him with his big eyes. "Bubba, that''s your name from now on, got it?"


    The monkey tilted his head in confusion as he couldn''t understand the human words.


    "You are dumb," Apollo said while bringing up his System Store.


    An interface appeared in front of him with a list of items displayed. Each item has otherworldly effects but with his number of Alm Points, he couldn''t afford them.


    "Sort the items, show me cheap and effective items that can boost a monkey''s intelligence," Apollo ordered the System and the moment his words fell, the store began sorting itself out.


    Apollo browsed the items in the store for a while before something caught his eyes. The other items are too expensive for his budget or he just doesn''t like the effect, but this one, it''s calling for him.


    "Chili of Intelligence?" Apollo muttered. He began reading the item description and once he was finished, he stared at his companion who shivered from under his gaze. "Buddy, don''t worry you can handle this."


    The beggar bought the fifteen worth of Alm Points which slightly sting his heart and a white light appeared in front of him before materializing into a finger length chili. Holding it with his free hand while the other holding the nape of his companion, he brought the item to the monkey''s mouth.


    "Eat this Bubba," Apollo smiled though to his companion, it was the smile of the devil.


    The monkey shrieked in fear. It tried to free itself from the hand of the human but the meager strength couldn''t even budge the fingers.


    "Don''t worry, after you eat this, you will no longer be a normal monkey," Apollo pushed the chilli to his companion''s mouth who happened to sniff it. The monkey wanted to puke and the beggar took that chance to push the chilli inside!


    The beggar then made Bubba swallow it by closing his mouth. The monkey doesn''t have a choice but to eat the chili, his small mouth moving out of its will.


    Apollo watched in fascination as the monkey ate the item. And in the next moment, with the sound of Bubba gulping, he shrieked in pain. The monkey''s small and thin voice echoing in this small corner of the restaurant.


    Bubba''s face is red as he tried to get out of the beggar''s hand with all his strength. The monkey doesn''t even care anymore if his bones are cracking from his own thrashing.


    "Hey calm down," Apollo said with a frown on his face. Bubba has become crazy from the intensity of the chilli he just ate, eyes red and saliva dripping. The beggar felt like he was not holding a monkey but a ticking time bomb that would attack him the moment he let go.


    Chilli of Intelligence: A fruit filled with nourishing elements meant for the mind. Once eaten, it can raise any sentient being''s intellectual quotient by five percent.


    This is one of the items he saw. There are others with almost the same effect though they take different forms. But this Chilli of Intelligence has the most straightforward effect, it''s instant and also cheaper.


    Although there''s only an increase of five percent in intelligence, this five percent is something that one shouldn''t underestimate. Furthermore, the effects are stackable which means, the more the monkey ate the chilli, the smarter he will get.


    But fifteen Alm Points? Apollo knew it''s going to be hard to be consistent in giving Bubba the Chilli of Intelligence. Heck, increasing his Alm Points by five everyday is already a good gain.


    Apollo will have to save some of his Alm points just to make the monkey smarter. "Bubba, I won''t let you remain ''normal''! Let''s show the d*mn System that we are not pushovers!"


    The only reply he got was the monkey laying limp in his hands, breathing heavily and tongue out.


    "Hey, are you still alive?" Apollo shook the monkey but he didn''t receive any response. He focused his senses and found Bubba already deeply asleep. "Sleepwell, we still have a long way to go."


    ¡­


    A day later, the expansion of the wall is progressing as planned. Workers worked non stop while carriages carrying materials filled the side of the wall.


    They don''t have enough time to rest, blood and sweat pouring out of them as they race against time.


    Three and a half days, they have to finish the expansion before that time ends or they will face the wrath of the Mayor. No pay, no money, no bread. They still have families to feed so every worker didn''t dare slack off.


    One of the carriage in the area is different compared to the one with materials inside them, this particular carriage is silver in color with the insignia of Klown City.


    Inside, Holst is looking at the workers through the window, his always squinting eyes glancing at each person.


    "Hmm?" Then he noticed something strange. Tilting his head, he didn''t find someone that should be doing the most important job. "Where''s he?"


    He looked around once more, especially those who walked near the wall but his search for the person failed. Suddenly, he realized something so he went out of the carriage.


    The moment that he showed himself, the workers immediately dropped what they were doing and bowed towards the butler''s direction. Although he is only a butler, every person in Klown knows he is the mayor''s right hand man.


    Klown pointed at one of them who run towards him. "Where is he? The one I tasked to monitor the wall?"


    Monitor is just a position he used to hide the person''s real job which is to pour the Red Essence beside the wall.


    "We haven''t seen him since two days ago," The worker answered, not daring to make eye contact.


    "Two days ago?" Holst repeated, his face turning serious. He spread his senses but didn''t find anything strange. "Go back to your work."


    The worker bowed and soon they returned to their job.


    Holst glanced at them for a moment and began walking to a certain direction while spreading his senses. He walked for a few minutes before something made him turn to a place, a small passageway between two buildings.


    The ground is letting out a few glare from the sun which Holst found strange as the passageway doesn''t have any trash besides rocks and dirt.


    Holst walked towards the objects that were reflecting the sun. He lowered his body and picked a piece of the object. His face appeared on the glass as he twirled it in his hands.


    There''s dozens of these glasses on the ground, a piece of equipment that has been shattered.


    The temperature around the butler lowered, emotions disappearing from his face.


    He stared at the ground and his forehead started turning strange before a vertical eye appeared. And when it opened, red iris appeared.


    Holst saw red paint on the floor beside the glass shards, letting out the same color of particles that flowed with the wind.


    "I see," The butler muttered, realizing what had just happened. He turned around, the vertical eye on his forehead already gone as he made his way back into his silver carriage.


    ¡­


    Apollo opened his eyes with the sound of his companion letting out a cry. He just spent the night cultivating the Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique and the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The technique that he got from the fifth floor of the Great Serpent Library is hard to cultivate. It doesn''t need him to move at all as it''s not a battle technique but a transformation one. But this one is something that frustrated the beggar.


    It''s been a week or more since he got it, but his progress is not moving much. He''s on the verge of entering the beginner stage but he feels like he is walking on mud, every step is heavy and in one wrong move, he will fall.


    "This is hard," Apollo muttered for the nth time before he let out a sigh. Usually, all of the techniques he learned before just needed him thirty minutes or a few hours just to enter the beginner stage. "I''m stuck."


    Then as the word echoed, he slapped his head. "How could I forget about it?" He recalled his lessons with his other master, Sir Guo. He said that if one has an attribute, they will experience more growth in an environment where their Attribute is abundant. That''s why Sir Guo halted their lesson for a while as Klown City doesn''t have a place where there is Lightning Attribute.


    But water? Klown has plenty of sources of water. What if he cultivates the Great Serpent Ascendent Transformation while his body is submerged in water? The thought caused Apollo to become excited as he wanted to test it out.


    By now, the cry of Bubba was drowned by his thought and only when the monkey started moving and jumping around did he notice his companion.


    "What?" Apollo asked in annoyance. The monkey has a strap made out of clothes, tied around the support of his makeshift roof. This prevented Bubba from running off to somewhere else while the beggar was cultivating.


    When Bubba heard the sound of the human, his body visibly shivered from fear.


    It immediately stopped jumping around and remained seated on the floor.


    Seeing the monkey behaving, Apollo smiled. The chilli is effective, he thought, though the monkey is just really scared of him.


    "Hungry?" Apollo asked while exaggerating and rubbing his belly.


    Bubba tilted his head in confusion. Then he noticed the human moving his hand across his stomach. As if the monkey understood, it began jumping once more.


    "Oh, he could understand that? That''s interesting," Apollo smiled and stood up. He walked outside his beggar and the moment that he did, an explosion sounded in front of him.

 Chapter 252 - 252: Its Done

    Apollo glanced to his side and saw two people confronting each other, their faces filled with arrogance. Judging by their attire, he concluded they were just normal commoners.


    However, something was different about them.


    "Oh? These two are cultivators?" Apollo muttered, raising an eyebrow. Spreading his senses, he found that the two individuals were emitting Half-Step Foundation Building stage energy. But with his heightened senses, especially over Qi, he could tell they lacked talent in cultivation and would remain stuck at this stage.


    They''re using stolen techniques, Apollo realized, as there''s no way they would be able to cultivate in this city without the backing of an organization or family¡ªat least, not before Klown made the techniques public.


    It seems like people like this are starting to emerge, Apollo thought. He had suspected this might happen and had informed the family heads and headmasters about it. But they hadn''t come up with a plan against it; what''s done was done, and they couldn''t just force these people to abandon their cultivation.


    Ned came around the corner, startled to see the beggar standing in front of him. "Mr. Beggar, you surprised me. Here''s your breakfast," he said, handing over a basket.


    "Thanks," Apollo nodded, his eyes never leaving the commotion in front of him.


    Ned looked in the same direction and sighed. "A lot of people have been learning cultivation techniques lately."


    "Yeah," Apollo said, glancing at him. "If someone offers you a technique, refuse it, alright?"


    "I will," Ned chuckled. He''d reached the Half-Step Foundation Building stage a long time ago as a reward from Filly for his outstanding work. But he wasn''t fond of cultivation; all he wanted to do was serve her.


    Apollo thanked him before returning to his spot, letting the commotion play out in the background.


    He settled under his makeshift roof, and as he opened the basket, Bubba immediately appeared by his side, sticking his head inside.


    Apollo yanked his companion away, who shrieked from the floor. "Can''t you wait? I''ll divide the food between us, so sit your *ss down."


    Shaking his head, he handed the monkey a piece of chicken and began eating the rest. Once they were done, Apollo immediately resumed working to increase his strength.


    He decided not to beg for a few days, focusing on getting stronger as quickly as possible. The fight against the Mayor was about to begin, with Nathan, Mathias, and the headmasters already working in the background.


    ---


    Three days later, inside the Mayor''s mansion, Holst entered the study and saw Klown sitting in his wide chair behind the table.


    "I can feel it¡­ he can''t wait any longer¡­ he can''t wait¡­." Klown''s whispers echoed through the room, cold and low, almost as if they spoke directly to the soul.


    The butler let the mayor be and waited patiently. It lasted for a few minutes before Klown returned to normal.


    As if the previous strangeness hadn''t occurred, the mayor straightened and looked at Holst.


    "How is it?" he asked.


    "It''s almost done," Holst answered.


    "Good, but they''re already aware, right?" Klown leaned back in his chair.


    "Yes," Holst nodded. Seeing the carefree expression on the mayor''s face, he couldn''t help but feel curious. "They''ve removed the Monitors in the city, and the Line can''t be completed anymore unless we do it now and hire people to finish it. But you said before that it''s unnecessary. May I ask why?"


    A confident smile appeared on the mayor''s face at the question. "Do you think your mayor is a fool?"


    "No, I wouldn''t dare," Holst replied.


    "Good, because I''m a genius," Klown said, leaning forward, his double chin moving along with him. "You see, I know they aren''t d*mb¡ªthey''re smart and will definitely figure it out. One way or another, they''ll know. That''s why I took the steps before I ran."


    Holst didn''t have to think hard to understand the mayor''s meaning. "You mean¡­ the Line is already complete?"


    "The base is done, and we''re just waiting for the wall to finish," Klown said. "Besides, that''s not the only thing on the plate. I''ll make them dance."


    "You really are a genius," Holst praised.


    "Of course," Klown smirked. "I''m not going to let this grand plan of ours fail. He couldn''t wait anymore."


    The "he" the mayor spoke of was someone Holst was dying to meet. But it wouldn''t be long; as soon as the wall was finished, they would begin their plan.


    "Let''s go out and wait," Klown said, standing up from his seat. The chair creaked, and soon, followed by his butler, they arrived at a balcony.


    The mansion was five stories tall, and from the balcony, they could see the wall in the distance, peeking over the rooftops.


    "Once we succeed, this city will be fully mine," Klown muttered, his eyes glinting dangerously. "Then, the other cities¡ªuntil I become the sole ruler of this region."


    Holst remained silent, staring ahead. They waited a while longer before someone appeared before them, cloaked in a black robe that hid their face. The person knelt on the ground.


    "It''s done," the figure said in a mysterious voice.


    "It''s done¡­" the mayor repeated. "It''s done. We will now proceed with the ritual."


    "Yes, sir," the robed man replied before disappearing.


    "Holst," Klown turned to his butler. "Can you kill them?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Holst raised his hand, clenching it into a fist as the same red shadows enveloped him, and the temperature dropped instantly.


    "I don''t know if I can, but¡­" Holst looked at the mayor, a small smile forming on his lips. "I might not be able to kill Axton and Mathias instantly, but the others¡ªleave them to me."


    "That''s good enough," Klown nodded. "After receiving his blessings, you didn''t get stronger, but you gained enlightenment, which is almost as good. And I believe this enlightenment will allow you more growth in the future."


    "That''s all because of you, Mayor Klown," Holst bowed. After receiving the blessing, his mind had been flooded with visions, leading him to an enlightenment that enhanced his mastery of all his techniques.


    Furthermore, when he attempted to cultivate, his progress sped up. If this continued, it wouldn''t be long before he reached a stage where he''d be renowned everywhere. The more he thought about it, the higher the mayor''s status rose in his heart¡ªor rather, the status of the person behind Klown.


    "That''s good to hear," Klown said, placing his heavy hand on his butler''s shoulder. "Let''s start the ritual. The night is going to be chaotic¡­ and fun."

 Chapter 253 - 253: Black Mass

    With the work of thousands of laborers who toiled day and night, the wall expansion project finally came to an end. As soon as it was completed, those assigned to guard the wall returned to their posts.


    Silver-armored men patrolled the top of the wall, spears and swords in hand as they conducted their rounds. Lookout posts were positioned every dozen meters or so, with guards holding binoculars and staying vigilant, carefully observing the city''s surroundings. One unusual movement, and they would alert someone to investigate.


    In one of the outposts facing north, two silver-armored men were smoking inside their station.


    "You know, I''ve been thinking about quitting this job," one of them said, blowing out smoke from his tobacco.


    "Dude, don''t tell me you''re scared too?" his companion replied, taking a deep puff and exhaling through his nose.


    "I''m not. I just don''t want to end up leaving my wife and daughter with nothing but my bones on a plate. You know what I mean."


    "Shh." One of the guards put a finger to his lips. He looked around, sighing in relief when he saw nothing unusual in their surroundings. Lowering his voice, he said, "I know, I''ve heard about it. A few others left for the same reason. But it''s just a rumor¡ªmaybe it''s not even true."


    "You don''t believe it?"


    "Of course not."


    "Then why are you whispering? Your eyes are even shaking!" The guard hit his companion on the head, almost making him drop his tobacco.


    "Ouch, you didn''t have to do that."


    The guard whose back faced the north side of the city let out a sigh. He looked up at the night sky, then at the moon. Clouds were slowly rolling over it, and in a few moments, it would be fully hidden.


    "But lately, the city''s been strange. Commoners suddenly gaining cultivation skills, and one of us even achieved unprecedented strength," the guard muttered, narrowing his eyes at the moon. "And I''ve seen black-robed men entering the mayor''s mansion. They''re dangerous, I could feel it."


    He waited for a response, but none came. Confused, he turned to his companion, who was staring over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed.


    "What are you looking at?" the guard asked.


    "Do you¡­ know what that thing is?"


    "What thing?" the guard murmured, turning around to see a black mass moving toward them. His eyes widened, and he quickly grabbed his binoculars. The moment his vision zoomed in, his heart skipped a beat. "Sound the alarm!"


    His companion obeyed without hesitation.


    The strong chime of the bell echoed along the wall, even reaching the nearby streets. One by one, every outpost sounded the alarm as they also spotted the strange phenomenon approaching. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What is it?" his companion asked.


    "See for yourself," the guard said, handing him the binoculars before grabbing his weapon and running to find the captain.


    The man put the binoculars to his eyes. The instant he saw the black mass, his body shuddered.


    "Duskfangs? There''s hundreds of them!"


    ¡­


    Apollo had just finished eating his dinner. He stood beside the door of Filly''s Restaurant, waiting for Ned to come out.


    A few seconds later, Ned stepped outside.


    "How was the food?" Ned asked, taking the basket.


    "Good as always. I''m surprised they finally know how to make a proper sauce," Apollo said with a hint of praise. Usually, the meat they served him didn''t come with sauce, just condiments on top. But tonight''s meal had two sauces¡ªspicy and garlic.


    "It''s all because of you," Ned smiled, knowing well that all the new dishes in their restaurant were thanks to the beggar in front of him.


    "Nope, it''s not," Apollo shook his head. "Anyway, thanks for the meal."


    "No worries," Ned said before heading back into the restaurant, where many patrons were still waiting to be served.


    Apollo returned to his spot, where he found his monkey, Bubba, sleeping beneath the makeshift roof.


    He picked up the monkey and placed him on his lap. By now, Bubba had accepted that he couldn''t escape from this despicable human. Fortunately, the small human hadn''t tried to feed him another one of those red things that nearly caused his death.


    "Ah," Apollo sighed. "I''ll feed you another chili after I complete my mission, alright? Just wait for it."


    Bubba tilted his head in confusion, but upon seeing the sadistic grin on Apollo''s face, he shivered as fear engulfed him.


    The monkey whimpered, lowering his head as he dared not look at the beggar.


    "Hahaha," Apollo laughed, amused by how tamed his companion had become. "Time to get back to cultivation," he muttered, setting the monkey aside.


    However, just as he was about to close his eyes, his ears perked up. At first, the sound was faint, but with each passing second, the strong toll of a bell grew louder.


    "What''s this¡­ a warning?" Apollo frowned as a heavy feeling settled over him. He stepped out of his spot and walked onto the street.


    Curious passersby halted, and some people emerged from nearby restaurants and buildings to look up at the wall.


    "What''s happening?"


    "It''s an emergency! When there''s a threat to the city, the bells chime!"


    The moment someone uttered the word "Emergency," fear and nervousness washed over the crowd.


    "I see¡­ it has begun," Apollo whispered, a smile creeping onto his face.


    At that moment, a powerful whistling sound echoed above. Looking up, the crowd saw two figures flying toward the wall.


    Apollo recognized them as Nathan Kleinford and Mathias Helflick.


    "Wait for me!" Apollo''s body vanished, and with a loud bang, he launched himself into the sky, the air exploding beneath his feet as he positioned his hands by his sides.


    This was a variation he''d developed from the Wind Blast, allowing him to propel his body in any direction he desired¡ªessentially flying when he felt like it. It was his first time using it, inspired by the need to look as cool as the family heads. He could achieve the same effect with the Fire Blast technique, but that would cause destruction every time he took off¡ªa testament to the powerful winds that nearly threw those around him off balance.

 Chapter 254 - 254: Plan Start

    Nathan and Mathias flew together toward the north side of Klown City. Their speed was swift, and they would reach the newly expanded wall in moments.


    Suddenly, they heard continuous explosions behind them. Alarmed, they turned, ready for battle.


    But when they saw who it was, they heaved a sigh of relief.


    Nathan observed the way the beggar was flying and couldn''t help but chuckle. You''re wasting your Refined Qi doing that! Don''t you have a proper flying technique? he asked through Thought Transfer, as the intense wind would make it hard to hear each other.


    Sorry, I don''t have one! You''ll just have to deal with the noise! Apollo replied, tuning into the Qi frequency Nathan was projecting. He wasn''t sure if his method was exactly right, but it worked, and it was simple enough.


    The beggar purposely caused explosions in the air behind him as if to say, This is how our journey''s going to be.


    Nathan''s face twitched. You should learn a flying technique and stop being so annoying!


    The techniques Apollo had studied on the fourth floor of the Great Serpent Library only included a water-based movement technique. They didn''t have any principles to support flight as he was doing now. He could potentially revise and derive something new, but it would be a hassle, and he''d rather spend that time cultivating or begging.


    Don''t blame me; I can''t help it, Apollo shrugged, then turned to Mathias, who was looking ahead with a heavy expression. Do you know what happened?


    We''ll see, but it''s starting. They''re making their move, Mathias answered, his tone serious in their Thought Transfer.


    It''s obvious¡ªthe wall is probably complete by now, Apollo replied.


    We''re here, Nathan announced as the top of the wall came into view. They landed where a man in heavy silver and gold armor was standing, holding binoculars.


    At Apollo''s explosive arrival, the guards turned toward the noise, weapons ready.


    "Put your weapons down!" the North Guard Captain ordered his men.


    The guards complied, though they likely would have done so regardless, recognizing the two newcomers.


    "Are you the newly appointed captain?" Mathias asked the armored man as he landed.


    "Yes, Sir Mathias," the North Guard Captain replied.


    "From Callum?" Nathan asked, stepping up beside Mathias.


    "Yes," the Captain responded.


    "Hey, did Klown tell you anything?" Apollo asked, stepping out from behind the two family heads, his small frame instantly drawing everyone''s attention.


    The Captain frowned at the "kid" who dared to address the mayor by his first name. "Who are you?" he asked in a cold, low voice.


    "Answer his question," Mathias said.


    The Captain looked at Mathias, noting his serious tone, and answered, "There''s been no order from the mayor. In fact, we haven''t heard anything from the mansion in the past few hours."


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. "What about the other captains? Where are they?"


    "Same¡ªno response. I''ve already sent men to look for them, but they couldn''t be found." The Captain answered, now guessing that the "kid" wasn''t ordinary. The fact that Mathias and Nathan, two powerful figures, allowed him to speak hinted at the situation.


    By now, Nathan had taken a pair of binoculars. "Duskfangs¡ªthere are at least hundreds of them."


    "What are they doing?" Apollo asked, glancing at the black mass in the distance.


    "They''re just on standby," Nathan replied. He handed the binoculars back and turned to Mathias. "What do you think? These men have clearly been abandoned."


    "He''s from the Callum family, and their family head is dead," Apollo said, glancing at the captain, who turned to him with a frown. "There must be no use for them anymore."


    "What do you mean? There''s no way the Mayor would abandon us," the North Guard Captain replied.


    "These guys don''t know about it," Mathias said, walking toward the stone railing and squinting at the monsters in the distance. "They''re waiting for something."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," the Captain said, his expression grim, "but we have to stop these monsters. Sooner or later, they''ll attack the city, and I''m not sure these walls can hold. What about the other Great Families? Are they going to help?"


    With the other Guard Captains missing, the North Guard Captain felt the full weight of responsibility. He didn''t know where they were, but he didn''t like how things were unfolding.


    "Help?" Nathan Kleinford chuckled. "Hah, those greedy, power-hungry fools will do anything to take advantage of the situation."


    "And this situation is no exception," Mathias continued, turning to the Captain. "Hold out as best you can¡ªhelp will come."


    "That''s good to hear," the Captain said, exhaling in relief.


    They observed the distant threat for a while before Nathan, Mathias, and Apollo gathered together.


    "I''ll go," Apollo said. "It''s time."


    "Are you sure you can handle it?" Nathan asked, eyeing Apollo skeptically. "I held back in our last spar. You''ll face strong opponents in there. If I went up against the Seven alone, my chances would be slim."


    The Seven¡ªApollo had learned about them from the others. Apparently, Klown had seven elite fighters in his service, hidden in the shadows and only called upon when the Mayor required. Each was at least at the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage, making them a mysterious and formidable group even Mathias didn''t underestimate. Only the Headmaster and Family Heads knew of their existence.


    "Hey, don''t underestimate me," Apollo smirked. "I can be pretty annoying. All I have to do is hold them off, right?"


    Nathan hesitated, then looked to Mathias. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "One of us has to stay and help hold these monsters back. Klown''s smart¡ªhe wants to divide our forces. I suspect there are more monsters out there than we''re currently seeing," Mathias said, looking at Nathan. "You''ll stay here with the other Martial Schools."


    "Fine by me," Nathan nodded.


    They already had a plan, and although the monsters outside were unexpected, it was still within their capabilities.


    "As for me, I''ll handle the Formations," Mathias said, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I''m the only one able to absorb the energy."


    Apollo looked at the Helflick family head with admiration. He''d never dare do what Mathias was about to attempt. He valued his life too much to risk it a second time.


    It was a plan that relied on luck, with no guarantees it would work. They''d hesitated to proceed, knowing the Formations¡ªrequiring dozens of Array and Inscription Masters¡ªwere incredibly dangerous. But with confirmed demonic energy in the city and the dire consequences if Klown succeeded in his ritual, Mathias was resolute in going forward with the risky plan.

 Chapter 255 - 255: Infiltrating

    Apollo ran toward Klown''s mansion, his body invisible as he used the Simple Movement Technique. His companion, perched on his shoulder, clung tightly, tongue flapping in the intense wind.


    They passed curious onlookers who were still unaware of the situation''s urgency, but Apollo didn''t stop to warn them. Time was of the essence, and he needed to infiltrate the mansion as soon as possible.


    It didn''t take long for him to reach the towering five-story mansion. Apollo halted to find a vantage point where he could observe the structure.


    "You''d better behave," he warned, giving the monkey on his shoulder a serious look.


    Bubba shivered under the intense gaze. Although he couldn''t understand the human''s words, he clung tightly and stayed silent.


    "Good," Apollo said with a smile before turning his attention back to the mansion.


    The mansion was fronted by two massive gates leading to the building''s entrance. A garden stretched along the pathway, serving as an attraction for passersby. Typically, guards would stand on either side of the gate, but now black-robed figures filled the area.


    Some of them stood by the gates, while others patrolled, watching the people on the streets.


    "They look like cult members," Apollo muttered, eliciting a small cry from his companion. "Quiet. Didn''t I tell you to stay silent?"


    Bubba quickly lowered his head.


    Apollo sighed, extending his senses toward the black-robed figures by the mansion. "Hmm, they''re at least at the 2-Step Foundation Building Stage."


    As he pushed his senses further, he felt as though he''d hit a wall. A frown crossed his face. "What''s that?" he muttered, pushing his senses to the limit.


    A barrier surrounded the mansion, but he observed one of the black-robed men enter without any resistance. It didn''t take him long to deduce that the barrier was only meant to block out prying eyes, likely targeting senses and spying techniques.


    Nearby, some passersby appeared curious about the black-robed figures, but with the commotion from the north side of the city, their attention soon shifted away.


    "Now, how am I going to get into the mansion without alerting them?" he mused. Flying over wasn''t an option; his technique was too loud, making it a dead giveaway. "Maybe not from here."


    Apollo circled around the mansion, searching for a potential entry point. Black-robed men seemed to be everywhere, with a lookout tower giving them a full view of the grounds.


    Their security was tight, but Apollo didn''t give up. He continued exploring until he reached the mansion''s backside, where fewer black-robed men stood guard.


    He eyed the wall, particularly at the bottom, where vines covered it. He noticed a cat pushing its way through the vines, slipping outside the wall.


    "I''m in luck," Apollo smiled. Glancing at the black-robed men, he noticed they weren''t looking his way. Activating one of his revised techniques from Hydra Mirage, his body faded into invisibility.


    Carefully, as if walking on eggshells, Apollo crept toward the wall. Once there, he quickly lifted the vines to reveal a small opening, just large enough for a child to squeeze through. He was about to slip inside when a shout echoed.


    "Who''s there?"


    Apollo froze, letting the vine fall back into place.


    One of the black-robed men started approaching his position.


    Apollo could have easily taken him out, but with the lookout tower nearby, he couldn''t afford to risk detection and spoil the fun. He held his breath, watching as the man came to a stop right in front of him.


    The guard examined the vines with a serious expression. After a moment, he shook his head and muttered, "Must have been my imagination," before resuming his rounds.


    Apollo sighed in relief, then slipped through the hole in the wall, curious about its existence but too pressed for time to ponder it further.


    He didn''t have to crawl far before emerging on the other side, where he tumbled onto the grass, his monkey clinging tightly to him.


    Bubba nearly let out a cry as he was nearly squished in the roll, but Apollo quickly stood up and covered his companion''s mouth.


    "Shh." Apollo raised a finger to his lips, scanning the area. After confirming no black-robed men were around, he fixed his gaze on the mansion''s back entrance.


    With Bubba perched quietly on his shoulder, Apollo moved toward the door. It was large, and as he slipped inside, the aroma of cooking and the clatter of utensils hit him.


    "Oh? A kitchen?" he murmured, realizing which part of the mansion he''d entered.


    Apollo found a shadowed corner to observe the scene.


    At least eleven chefs were working in unison, their hands raised to summon fire as they cooked meat. Glancing at the long table, Apollo saw dozens of plates filled with food. Even from a distance, he could tell the dishes were crafted from high-quality monster ingredients.


    "Why so much food?" Apollo muttered, puzzled by the massive quantity. After a few more moments of observation, and seeing nothing else of interest, he turned invisible and carefully slipped out of the kitchen.


    As he approached a door, intending to find where Klown might be conducting the ritual, he heard voices and the sound of soft piano music from the other side. "Now what?" Apollo muttered, peeking through a crack to see people dressed in luxurious clothing and adorned with expensive jewelry.


    They were seated around a grand table, waiting for their meal. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The city was under attack by hundreds¡ªno, thousands¡ªof Duskfang, yet here these people were, indulging in luxury.


    Apollo scanned the group and, based on their mannerisms, easily recognized them as members of noble families. "These must be the Great Families," he whispered to himself, disgusted by their indifference.


    While his body is in the invisible state, he slowly pushed the kitchen door open before slipping out of it.


    Apollo glanced at them for a moment before he spread his senses. He found a few black robe men in this floor which are on standby, merely observing the surroundings. Where are they? He thought as he carefully made his way to the staircase in the distance.

 Chapter 256 - 256: Human Zoo

    Apollo made his way to the second floor, observing the mansion as he went. From his entry point, he could see a wide corridor where nobles were dining, connected by three or four hallways. Apollo avoided entering any of them, as the area was crawling with cultivators, including a 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage expert who would certainly detect him.


    Instead, he opted for the nearby staircase.


    As he ascended to the second floor, he noticed giant picture frames lining the walls. Most were portraits of Mayor Klown, depicting his triple chin and massive frame nearly filling each canvas. Apollo couldn''t help but smirk at the oversized paintings. The artist must have needed giant canvases, given the sheer bulk of the mayor.


    He continued glancing at the paintings until one, in particular, caught his eye. This frame held a landscape of a city in ruins, engulfed in flames and littered with blood. In the center stood an untouched mansion, glowing with a solemn white light.


    "Salvation," Apollo thought, amused by the painting''s apparent message. What''s this? Foreshadowing? he wondered.


    As he climbed higher, each painting along the way displayed scenes of destruction, with either the mayor himself or his mansion emerging unscathed.


    "Who does he think he is, Jesus?" Apollo muttered, shaking his head.


    Upon reaching the second floor, he found himself in a wide, dark hallway. A familiar scent hit him, causing him to sniff a few times and frown. He recognized it instantly, as he''d encountered it countless times in his previous life.


    To his left, beside the paintings, stood statues, suits of armor, plants, and weapons, but his attention was drawn to a room on his right.


    Approaching the nearest door, he peeked inside, confirming his suspicions.


    Within, a scene inappropriate for young eyes was unfolding. There were at least five people inside, three of whom were women engaged in a struggle against the "swords" piercing them. Their intense "battle" elicited grunts and moans. The scent of "blood" was so strong that even from outside, anyone nearby could smell it as if it were happening right beside them.


    Klown really is something, Apollo thought with disdain. And these nobles... their standards are so low that even the commoners they despise seem more dignified.


    He let out a disappointed sigh and continued invisibly down the hallway. Two or three meters from the first room, he stopped outside another. Peeking inside, he saw a similar scene¡ªthis time, involving four men and one woman.


    The woman was middle-aged, almost a female version of the mayor himself, though slightly thinner by maybe five centimeters.


    She had her tongue out, moving her body on top of an unconscious man beneath her. Whether he was dead or on the verge of it was unclear.


    The other men placed their swords beside her face or beneath her, piercing areas clearly not meant for such a purpose.


    Apollo began to wonder how they managed to keep up with her; every move seemed like they were moments away from being crushed.


    The beggar looked at the men with both pity and admiration. For them to go "against" someone of this size was something that earned them Apollo''s respect.


    After watching the intense battle for a while, he continued his journey. Then he noticed his monkey staring back at the previous room with his head turned.


    Apollo knocked on his companion''s head and glared at him. "You''re still too young for that kind of thing! Don''t worry, once you''re old enough, I''ll find you a gorilla!"


    Imagining a macaque and a gorilla together, Apollo couldn''t help but chuckle. He could picture Bubba running away from his ''soulmate'' while begging for mercy.


    Letting out a sigh, Apollo continued down the hall, glancing into each room he passed, only to find similar scenes with varying ratios of men and women. In some rooms, only men were present, and in others, only women.


    It felt to Apollo like he was in a zoo, a zoo filled with hypocrites and power-hungry individuals. Well, it wasn''t like he hadn''t seen this before, especially at that one party where everyone wore white attire only.


    The beggar ventured further until he arrived at a wide hall. Along the way, he kept extending his senses but still couldn''t detect the Mayor¡ªnot a trace.


    Across from him was a staircase leading to the third floor, but he stopped as his eyes landed on someone standing in the middle of the hall.


    "Oh, a mini-boss," Apollo muttered, staring at the man. Although he was in his invisible state, the mysterious person seemed to be looking directly at him. Apollo patted his monkey on the head. "You go hide."


    Bubba tilted his head in confusion. He''d only eaten one Chili of Intelligence, so he couldn''t quite understand the order.


    Apollo picked up the monkey, placed him on the floor, pointed at the man, and mimed a fighting gesture by punching his own fist.


    The monkey let out a cry before running back toward the hallway.


    The beggar became visible. "If you dare run, I swear I''ll cook you!" he shouted at his companion, who disappeared around the corner.


    "That d*mn monkey... I bet he''s going back to watch that woman," Apollo muttered, shaking his head.


    "A kid?" The man''s voice was emotionless. He stood six feet tall, with shoulder-length black hair and entirely black eyes¡ªno white sclera, no reflection of light. Just pure darkness.


    The mysterious man wore a black hanfu robe with red lining on the edges and collar. Red smoke seeped out from him intermittently.


    "Kid? Where?" Apollo looked around in mock confusion before glancing down at his feet. "Oh, you''re talking about me."


    "Are you lost?" the man asked.


    "Nope," Apollo replied, shaking his head. "I''m here to find the Mayor. Do you know where he is?"


    "Mayor?" The man repeated. In the next moment, red smoke billowed from his body. "You are not one of them."


    "One of who?" Apollo asked.


    "Them¡ªthe ones chosen to be saved by the Savior, our Savior," the man said, slowly approaching Apollo. The temperature dropped, making the air cold and stifling.


    sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 257 - 257: Seven

    "Hey, why so aggressive?" Apollo raised both hands, as if to show he didn''t come to fight. "Can you tell me your name?"


    "I have long since forgotten my real name," the six-foot-tall man replied. "But Our Savior has given me a new name, one I''m not worthy of. He calls me Seven. You can call me Seven."


    "Seven?" The beggar recognized immediately that this person was one of The Seven, a mysterious group known to only a few. "So, you''re part of them. Is there someone in your group named Six?"


    Seven stopped in his tracks, and the red smoke around him faltered as he asked in surprise, "You know my brother Six?"


    "Of course! I even know your other siblings¡ªFive, Four, Three, Two, and even One!" Apollo said, puffing out his chest with a confident smile. But deep down, he was thinking how clueless this guy was.


    Was he inside when common sense was raining?


    "But that''s impossible," Seven replied, frowning. "We never revealed our names to anyone."


    You just did, motherf*cker! Apollo thought as his face twitched. Coughing to regain composure, he looked seriously at Seven. "I''m your friend. So tell me where the Mayor is. Don''t worry, we''ll have a drink later¡ªit''s on me!"


    Seven went silent, his confusion shifting to extreme coldness as killing intent filled his gaze and thick red smoke poured from his body.


    Apollo realized that calling Klown "Mayor" had blown his bluff. "Actually, I meant Our Savior. Yep, that''s right."


    "You''re an outsider¡ªyou''re one of them," Seven said, his black eyes churning. "I have been waiting for you."


    "Thanks?" Apollo replied, lowering his stance. Seeing Seven advancing, he knew he couldn''t fool the clueless anymore.


    "You will die here, and we alone will be saved!" Seven shouted, his voice echoing through the hall. Raising his hand, the red smoke formed into a deep red spear. With a swift step, he appeared instantly before the beggar.


    Seven slashed with his weapon, creating a long, red blade that seemed to slice the outsider in half. The strike continued until it hit a barrier that materialized beside the wall.


    But instead of blood, the beggar turned into a puddle of water that splashed to the ground. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without hesitation, Seven turned and started chasing him.


    "Why don''t you calm down, and let''s talk this out?!" Apollo shouted as a white light flashed, summoning a wooden training sword in his right hand. He covered the weapon with the Simple Wind Sword Technique and blocked the attack. Their blades clashed, unleashing a burst of wind and red energy. "If my Talk No Jutsu won''t work on you, then prepare for the consequences!"


    The beggar shouted, pressing forward with more strength, but the spear before him didn''t budge.


    "Alright, you''re strong," Apollo admitted, lowering his body as the spear swept past his head. He then blasted his opponent''s lower body with a Fire Blast. The explosion threw Apollo back, sending him rolling across the floor a few times before he managed to stop.


    He hurriedly stood up, staring at his opponent.


    Seven stood still, his black and gold hanfu robe flapping from the force of the explosion, yet he remained unscathed¡ªeven his outfit was untouched.


    The beggar narrowed his eyes at the red smoke surrounding his opponent as it reformed into a spear.


    Seven pointed his weapon at the beggar and began to whisper; though quiet, Apollo heard it clearly.


    "I will not let you!" Apollo declared, raising his hand as countless water droplets appeared around them. In the next second, the droplets churned and transformed into thin, glass-like water blades. Before his opponent could finish, the beggar clenched his fist, and the water blades shot toward Seven!


    Only a fool would let their enemy prepare for an attack.


    But as if expecting this, Seven completed his incantation, and the spear vibrated, releasing a fast-moving red ball of energy!


    Apollo''s eyes widened as the red ball was only a few feet from him! He sensed that taking it head-on would end badly.


    He had to dodge. With that thought, his feet glowed with a light blue aura, and, like a snake, he evaded the attack with a swift, strange movement.


    This was the Serpent Feet Technique, a move he learned on the fourth floor of the Great Serpent Cultivation Library. Usually, he paired it with the Simple Movement Technique, but needing quick, flexible dodging, he relied solely on this technique¡ªwhich proved effective as the red energy missed him.


    Apollo didn''t waste a second, seeing that Seven had to defend himself from the water blades after firing his energy.


    The spear transformed into red smoke, covering Seven''s body. Seeing the beggar closing in, Seven released more smoke, erupting around him until the area was blanketed in red.


    Apollo hurriedly leaped back, unable to see his opponent; the spot he had just occupied exploded, scattering some of the red smoke.


    "D*mn, this''ll be tough," he muttered, realizing his situation. The smoke hindered him from sensing Seven''s position.


    "I am one of the Seven! Blessed with strength beyond your understanding," Seven''s voice echoed from all directions. "I rely not on Qi, but on Our Savior! My faith empowers me!"


    I knew it, Apollo thought, having noticed in their previous exchanges that he was the only one drawing on Unrefined Qi.


    "Why not show yourself? Afraid? Don''t tell me your Savior picked a coward as his subordinate?" Apollo taunted. In response, a spear shot toward his neck.


    Apollo leaned back, feeling the blade graze his skin. Using his movement technique, he leapt back.


    "You''re the one who should be afraid!" Seven shouted. "I will watch as dread consumes you. I will savor your hopelessness and watch you slowly die!"


    "Hey, enough talk¡ªshow me!" Apollo shouted back, raising an eyebrow.


    "You may be confident, but it won''t last," Seven sneered as his body emerged from the churning red smoke.


    "I think it will last," Apollo said as he began to gather the surrounding Qi. He knew that Unrefined Qi is weaker compared to the Refined Qi below his navel, but the beggar doesn''t want to use his Refined Qi, unless it was necessary.


    "You will regret what you''re doing," Seven said as smirk formed on his lips.


    Seeing how confident his opponent was, Apollo couldn''t help but think that Seven has prepared something.

 Chapter 258 - 258: You got me

    Apollo raised his wooden sword that he stole from the training ground. The surrounding Qi revolves around him before he releases a cloud of mist. The mist scattered around the area and turned into a human shape. Then in the next second, they became a clone of the beggar.


    They all held the same weapon. The clones are so lifelike that the energy they emit hides the original.


    Seven''s eyes remained staring at the person in front of him who still had a cloud of mist surrounding him. With the red spear in his hand, he twirled it, causing great winds to be summoned.


    No one opened their mouth, as their gaze never left their opponent. And when the mist around the beggar had finally dwindled, Seven''s body became a blur, instantly appearing in front of Apollo!


    However, before the Seven could get close, one of the clones appeared, blocking him with a slash of the wooden sword!


    A two-meter-long water blade came out, but Seven dodged it easily, and with a swing of his spear, the beggar in front of him was cut in half before splashing into the ground.


    And before Seven could proceed to lunge at the original, more clones attacked him from all his sides.


    Most of them are using different kinds of techniques: water blade disintegration, great serpent sword transformation, serpent foot techniques, piercing tails, and all the techniques Apollo has learnt.


    The beggar, the original, has long since retreated to the back, and seeing his clones, he couldn''t help but smile in satisfaction. He always used his Hydra Mirage every time he fought and from time to time tried to raise his understanding of the technique, and by now he could create at least twenty clones that could use half of the potential of all the cultivation techniques he learnt.


    But because his understanding of the other techniques is still low, their abilities can only be compared to the 3rd to 4th-step foundation building stage.


    They tried to overwhelm their opponent, but Seven is like a killing machine; with every swing of his spear, one or two of the clones will perish.


    Apollo raised both hands and pointed at Seven. Wind and fire appeared. Fire Blast in front and Wind Blast at the back, but he didn''t fire it yet; instead, he gathered more Unrefined Qi, fuelling their strength to their limit.


    This is the first time that the Beggar is going to send this combination at full strength. He had to immediately end the fight to find the mayor, as the more time he''s dragging, the higher the percentage of their plan failing.


    Seven continued to elimate the remaining clones that attacked him with all kinds of techniques.


    With a thrust, a clone who had used True Hardening took a step back before exploding in a splash of water.


    Then he pointed his weapon to the side, and a red ball of energy obliterated two clones at the same time.


    Seven smiled seeing the destruction he caused. There are still ten of these clones, and the excitement in his heart has started to reach its peak. "Come! "He shouted, his black eyes churning.


    He started running after a clone, and with a stomp of his feet, the clone exploded as the red energy he produced caused destruction.


    A massacre, the clone of Apollo Leone couldn''t handle Seven, and all they could do was hold him back before they got destroyed. And when there''s only three left, Seven suddenly feels great energy from the side.


    The spear in his hand turned into a cloud of red smoke that covered his body. Techniques landed on him but his feet didn''t budge.


    Seeing the combination of fire and wind and the surrounding Qi pulling towards the techniques, a smile appeared on the follower of the mayor.


    "Give it to me! "Seven shouted; his smile is so wide it almost reached his ears while the red smoke around them covered his body, the room immediately coming back to view while the smoke has turned into a full-body red armour.


    "Don''t get cocky," Apollo smirked. His opponent takes all of the damage from the remaining clone, and although some parts of the armour are shattering into red mist, the broken parts instantly eal. Even so, the beggar trusted his techniques. The combination of fire blast and wind blast has already reached a meter and a half in height, his body hiding behind while intense wind blows his hair and clothes.


    "Give it to me! "Seven shouted once more; craze filled his voice as he couldn''t wait anymore to receive the attack. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then take this! "Apollo didn''t let his opponent wait anymore and, with a shout, sent his technique! The combination of fire blast and wind blast made the room shake and summon great winds. The attack instantly arrived in front of Seven, who still has a smile on his face.


    With a strong explosion, three kinds of energy erupted.


    Apollo has to take a couple of steps back to reduce the heat coming from the eruption. Then he noticed the barrier around the room started to vibrate like water. The attack he sent is so strong that he wouldn''t be surprised if that thing can make a whole building burst into flames and great hale.


    The beggar continued to watch as he recalled how confident his opponent is. He faced this kind of people a lot and even defeated them because of their confidence. Usually he wouldn''t think much of their confidence, as it''s more of an arrogance.


    But the man covered in fire and wind is different. Seven''s laugh has stopped the moment the fire blast and wind blast landed. It caused a great explosion that shook the beggar''s ears, but his eyes remained on his opponent. And the moment the mist disappeared, Apollo''s face turned dark.


    Seven has taken a couple of steps back; the armour around him has shattered, showing his black and gold robe. Seven''s neck and cheeks have a burnt sign. Nevertheless, his eyes remained determined and filled with excitement.


    "Do it again! "Seven shouted; the red armour around him exploded in red smoke, then they turned back into his deep red spear. Pointing it to his opponent, the smile on his face disappeared, replaced by coldness. "Do it again and show me your miserable face."


    A few moments ago, he was laughing like a crazy person, and suddenly, coldness and seriousness covered him.


    The sudden change in attitude caused Apollo to frown. He couldn''t understand what his opponent meant. Shaking his head, he raised both hands once more. Clearly, one attack of his is not enough to defeat Seven.


    Meanwhile, the remaining clone surrounded Seven and began attacking him.


    Seemingly not in the mood, Seven immediately defeated them.


    "If you really want to taste another of this, then take it," Apollo said as he began to gather the surrounding Qi. And that''s when he realised something. "There''s no Qi anymore."


    "Finally! You finally realize! "Seven pointed his spear to the beggar. "Just suffer silently; who knows, maybe I will offer your dead body to Our Savior! You should be grateful! "


    Apollo ignored his opponent''s words as he let out his senses, and sure enough, there''s only a few Qi in the air, not even enough to use a very low-quality technique.


    Seven began walking towards the beggar, while at the tip of his spear, a red energy ball began to materialise.


    "I see, I get it," Apollo muttered as he looked around the room. The barrier that protected this hallway has the ability to block Unrefined Qi from entering. And the beggar''s previous full-strength attack almost depleted the reserve Qi in this place.


    "Now now, how am I going to kill you?"Seven said as he stopped in front of Apollo. He raised his spear and pointed the red ball of energy a few inches away from the beggar''s forehead.


    Feeling the destruction coming from the red ball of energy, Apollo stared straight into his opponent''s eyes. "You got me," he admitted.


    Actually, if he were not in a hurry to meet the mayor, Apollo would have noticed the anomaly just from how confident Seven was.


    "I am one of the Seven; each of us is smart and strong. You should be grateful that you will die in the hands of one of the chosen for salvation!"Seven said in a fanatical voice. "Our Saviour! Our Saviour that will bring us to Nirvana! I will take your hands and kill this filthy being!"


    As Apollo''s opponent has started to pray to the cannibalistic saviour of theirs, his eyes have already turned cold. "That''s enough."


    The moment his words fell, Seven''s eyes filled with killing intent landed on him.


    "Yeah, this is enough; die! "Seven said the red ball of energy on the tip of his spear let out a loud spinning sound. And with a small trust, the ball of Qi dashed towards the beggar!


    Splashes of red made of fire and bones¡ªthat''s what Seven expected. But reality and expectation are different as the ball of Qi went past the beggar''s head!


    Apollo has tilted his head to the side, leaving behind a flash of blue lightning. Using the Simple Movement Technique and his Lightning Attribute, his body has reached a speed that allows him to dodge this close range attack!


    And with another flash, the beggar punched the stomach of the shocked seven!


    Seven flew across the room, rolling on the floor and crashing into the barrier.


    "Ah, that felt good," Apollo said as he stared at Seven, a smirk coming back on his face. "I still have my refined Qi d*mb*ss."


    To think that this person is part of a mysterious group only known to certain individuals is quite a disappointment.

 Chapter 259 - 259: Their Weakness

    Just like the beggar, Seven is not revealing his cultivation stage; he appears to be ordinary, but his strength and abilities are comparable to the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation stage.


    Seven hurriedly stood up, eyes wide, as the huge amount of red energy covering him exploded from the impact of the punch.


    "You¡­ have a lightning attribute?!" Seven shouted in shock.


    "Yes, so what?" Apollo replied as his body appeared in front of his opponent. He held his wooden sword up high, wind and lightning erupting from it, and with a slash, time seemed to stop.


    Seven''s body was covered in red smoke, but instead of defense, he focused on his movements. He took a step back and tried to escape, but the wooden sword sped up as if anticipating his move.


    "Argh!" Seven grunted in pain, the red smoke dispersing from the attack, with wisps of lightning remaining and consuming his red energy. Gritting his teeth, he turned the smoke into a spear and thrust back.


    With a flash of lightning, Apollo returned to his previous position. "Hmm," he observed, staring at the lightning he left behind. The lightning approached Seven, specifically targeting the spear, and began attacking the red weapon. "Your plan failed," he said.


    "No!" Seven shouted, his black eyes churning intensely. "Come!"


    With a step, he appeared above the beggar, spear raised, and slammed it toward the kid''s head.


    Apollo knew he wouldn''t be able to defend against the attack normally, but using his Refined Qi to activate the Simple Movement Technique and another movement technique that complemented it, and along with the Lightning attribute, he dodged the attack easily.


    Clenching his fist, fire and lightning covered it. A variation of Fire Blast with the added lightning attribute, the destruction it caused was unimaginable!


    Apollo punched his opponent, air tearing, sound splitting, and with a powerful explosion, sent his opponent crashing into the barrier once more!


    The sound of cracking echoed, one from Seven''s body, the other from the barrier he crashed into.


    Small amounts of Qi seeped into the room through the crack.


    "I get it now," Apollo muttered, noticing some of his lightning jumping from his opponent''s body and eating away at the cracked part of the barrier.


    "No!" Seven slammed his fist into the ground, the entire floor vibrating from the impact. The red smoke that always clung to him had started to fade away, lightning jumping from him from time to time.


    "So that''s your weakness," Apollo said, a smirk forming on his lips.


    "No!" Seven repeated, standing up. He gathered the dispersing red energy, molding it back into a spear. "It''s because I got careless."


    "Is that so?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, pointing his hands at Seven. Fire Blast and Wind Blast appeared. He attempted to combine them again, as he did previously, but failed, as Seven had taken the hit like a breeze, without even a scratch. However, lightning flashed as the two techniques formed, and compared to before, the lightning was more intense.


    "Hahaha! Puny trick!" Seven said, smiling confidently. "You think it will work a second time! Think about it; you already tried that before, and it couldn''t even damage my body. Why not try another method? Maybe you''ll have a chance against me!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo couldn''t help but be speechless. This guy is clearly afraid and obvious. Seven is persuading him to use another method. Only a fool would fall for that!


    "Why aren''t you answering? Yeah, you must be thinking of another method. Yup, I''ll give you time to think about it," Seven nodded while slowly backing up toward the cracked part of the wall.


    "Sorry, nah," Apollo shook his head. His opponent is strong; he admits it, as the red energy Seven is using is almost indestructible. Unless he used a very strong attack, he would only dissipate a small amount of the red smoke. But the beggar has realized that his opponent''s weakness is lightning¡ªeven a small amount can cause great damage to the red smoke Seven is using.


    When Seven heard his opponent''s words, he instantly turned around, used all his strength, and jumped outside, breaking through the cracked part of the barrier and exploding the wall!


    As the city came into view, Seven''s body flew out of the wall.


    However, intense heat and wind appeared from his back, and before Seven knew it, he was engulfed in fire, wind, and lightning at the same time!


    Like a rocket, he was sent flying toward the ground. A cloud of dust and smoke rose into the air.


    The wall Seven shattered expanded due to the explosion the beggar produced. Apollo appeared beside the giant hall in a flash of lightning, his eyes falling toward the man shrouded in dust while the floor beneath him shook from the previous explosion.


    Spreading his senses, he found Seven still breathing. Klown''s follower was coughing up blood while slowly standing up.


    "He''s like a cockroach," Apollo muttered, extending his left arm and pulling the air with his right. Then sparks of blue materialized in front of his left finger before they turned into a bow and arrow made of lightning. Furthermore, on the tip of the arrow, there was a red dot covered in wind. "But I''ll end this now."


    Seven''s body gathered the last of the remaining red energy around him. However, his body shivered, hair standing as he turned to look up.


    What he saw made his eyes widen, the sclera turning from black to white as fear finally appeared.


    In a last-ditch effort, he formed a wall of red smoke in front of him. But alas, the lightning arrow shattered it easily until it pierced his chest.


    Blood spurted from his mouth, and the smell of burnt meat permeated his nose. Looking down, he saw the lightning arrow cooking his chest.


    Still, he let out a smile as he noticed the other Chosen members clad in black robes coming to his rescue. The previous explosion was so loud that it probably covered the entire state.


    "Hahaha! You still can''t kill me!" Seven shouted. Although he''d been pierced by the lightning arrow, and was coughing up blood, he could feel that he still had enough strength to survive. "This is the power of Our Saviour! He will never let us di¡ª"


    But before he could finish his words, Seven exploded into a pile of meat, bones, and blood. The explosion caused the other members on their way to save him to be blown away.

 Chapter 260 - 260: Duskfangs Attack

    Apollo stared at the "fireworks" on the ground for a moment before he took a step back.


    Having found Seven''s weakness, Apollo gained confidence. As long as he could use his Lightning Attribute, he could defeat them, as they were almost indestructible as long as they had the red smoke around them.


    The previous explosion caused a loud noise; the people inside the mansion must have felt it and were alerted. Apollo turned to the stairs that would lead him to the third floor.


    He was about to walk up when he stopped and turned to the direction where his companion had disappeared. He thought for a while before he proceeded to walk up the stairs. He couldn''t waste any more time.


    And as he walked up the stairs, he concluded that there must be another mini-boss on the third floor, very likely one of the Sevens, maybe Six. Which meant he would have to fight again.


    A waste of time, which he couldn''t afford at the moment.


    ---


    Meanwhile, back on the north side of Klown City.


    On top of the wall, the Callum North Guard Captain turned to his subordinate. "Still no news?" he asked with a frown.


    "No, sir," the silver-armored guard answered.


    Hearing this, the Captain let out a sigh of disappointment.


    "Like we told you, you guys have been abandoned," Nathan said as he stopped beside the captain, binoculars in hand as he began using them to see the situation in the far distance.


    "Why would they do that?" the Captain asked with a heavy expression.


    "It''s to keep us at bay, of course," Nathan answered while putting away the binoculars. "Maybe if your Family Head didn''t die, you wouldn''t be here and would probably be enjoying yourself with some expensive alcohol and beast meat."


    "Why not tell me what''s really happening?" the Captain asked, ignoring the Kleinford family head''s other remarks.


    "You still don''t get it? Or do you refuse to acknowledge it?" Nathan raised an eyebrow at the North Guard Captain.


    The Captain avoided eye contact, glancing at the Duskfang in the distance. "The Mayor is going to wreak havoc; we are here to stop it," Nathan finally said, and as the Captain didn''t respond, he didn''t elaborate further. But the Captain was smart enough to understand those words.


    The Callum Captain nodded. He was about to say something when a loud howl echoed.


    Nathan and the Captain turned toward the sound, then successive howls reverberated from the distance.


    The tension in the air suddenly increased. Nathan raised the binoculars to his eyes and saw people clad in black robes standing in front of the Duskfang Shadowtails.


    At the same time, a whistling sound echoed from behind them before intense heat landed beside them.


    Nathan didn''t have to turn around to know the newcomer.


    "D*mn, he''s really determined," Master Popo''s voice came from behind before he stopped beside the Kleinford family head. "I wonder how long he''s been preparing for this."


    "Since the moment he came into power," Nathan said. The sound of howling grew louder as seconds passed, and when it reached its peak, silence replaced it¡ªbut only for a moment, as the black mass began moving once more, their four feet crushing the ground with great force. "They''re attacking."


    "You guys should step back, I can handle this," Master Popo jumped onto the railing, the wind blowing his hanfu robe to the side, revealing his two eggs.


    The Captain, Nathan, and the other guards could only turn away. "Don''t listen to him," Nathan said, his body floating a few meters up in the air. "We are going to kill all these monsters!"


    The guards hurriedly picked up their weapons, some jumping off the wall and landing on the ground.


    "Hey, don''t steal the limelight from me," Master Popo said, his body also floating up in the air.


    "Just shut up, old man, and do your thing," Nathan said irritably.


    "Old man?!" Master Popo glared at Kleinford. "You better watch your mouth!"


    "Or what?" Nathan challenged.


    "I''ll kick your *ss!"


    "Then do it! Don''t just talk!"


    At the same time, cultivators from other martial schools appeared on the scene. They ignored the bickering pair and focused on the approaching monsters.


    They were shocked at the number of Duskfangs coming their way; nevertheless, they didn''t lose confidence.


    These martial schools, although not as strong and influential as the three main cultivation schools in the city, have strength that one shouldn''t ignore, especially when they are working together.


    But not all of them came to help, as some smaller martial schools had already been bribed by the Mayor.


    When Nathan and Master Popo were about to get into a fight, the sound of metal and claws clashing came from below. The two turned toward the sound at the same time.


    "Let''s stop this childishness and join the fight!" Nathan said, his black hanfu robe turning darker than the night sky, while his hair elongated as if made of pure ink.


    "Tsk," Master Popo clicked his tongue. Although he wanted to beat up Nathan for calling him an old man, he still knew his priorities. He flew above the monsters, and suddenly, the surrounding Qi started to be drawn toward him. Yellow-red light materialized around him, and then a giant shrine made of intense fire formed.


    The Headmaster of the Fire Shrine Cultivation School sat cross-legged inside the pavilion.


    The heat from his technique instantly killed dozens of Duskfangs below him.


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    Meanwhile, the other cultivators began using their techniques at the same time. Soon enough, the north side of Klown City was covered in various kinds of special effects.


    However, people soon realized that the number of monsters was far greater than expected.


    Nathan Kleinford appeared right in front of a surprised black-robed man, one of the people responsible for controlling the Duskfangs.


    He thrust his ink-covered hand deep into the man''s chest.


    "Answer my question honestly: how many monsters are there?" Nathan asked, his hand clutching the man''s heart.


    "Our Saviour will rule this city! This region! And this world!" the man said, and as he was about to proclaim their Saviour''s power, his heart shattered in Nathan''s grip.


    "Useless," Nathan said. Four Duskfangs jumped at him, and with a slice of his hand, the monsters were cut in half as if they were pieces of tofu. But more wolves arrived and attacked him. "This is going to take longer."


    Nathan realized that they wouldn''t be able to clear all these monsters immediately. This would prevent him from going to Klown''s mansion as soon as possible.


    As he decimated all the monsters he could see, he began to think about the beggar. Hold out as long as you can, Yoma; people''s lives are still important, Nathan thought.


    He couldn''t just abandon this place, as once their defense broke down, the innocent people inside the city would die. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 261 - 261: Red And Blue

    Apollo''s venture only lasted a few seconds before he arrived on the third floor.


    This time, the floor was quiet. The hall was wide, with paintings and statues on either side. Walking to the nearest door, he looked inside and saw a simple room. It was a standard room with nothing going on, unlike the second floor, where each door had someone moaning and grunting.


    He continued to look around while also extending his senses. There was another corridor that led to a bathroom, and now that he was here, he decided to take a leak. Apollo was in a hurry, but he couldn''t just hold it and ignore the safety of his kidneys.


    Once he was done, he went back to searching for traces of the mayor. Already knowing the structure of this place and the current situation, he deduced that Klown was probably on the fifth floor conducting the ritual. And he would likely have to fight the other Sevens if he wanted to get near him.


    The third floor seemed normal. He also found a study room with a giant board displaying the map of the whole city. There were traces of something being removed from the board, probably important information.


    Then came the main hall of this floor. It resembled the structure of the second floor: a wide area large enough to fit a basketball court. This alone showed how massive the mayor''s mansion was.


    Apollo didn''t understand the purpose of this floor. Why not use all the remaining space? What was with the obsession with long corridors and wide halls? It would be understandable if there were a lot of people needing the space, but so far, only the first and second floors had people, and their numbers didn''t even fill the area, let alone this entire floor.


    He stopped after walking out of the corridor, his eyes landing on two individuals standing in the middle of the hall. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Six and Five?" Apollo asked. He had expected to meet only one of them, but it seemed he was wrong.


    "How did you know our names?" the two females said at the same time, their voices overlapping, their gestures minutely the same as if they were the same person.


    "I have the power to know everything," Apollo said while observing the twins.


    Red hair and blue hair. Red eyes and blue eyes. That was the only thing different about them. The rest was identical. They wore revealing outfits, as if one movement would showcase everything. They could be considered beautiful, and with their exceptional bodies, men would undoubtedly drool over them.


    Apollo felt something stir within him. He hurriedly shook his head and straightened his thoughts. This can''t be right; I''m still too young for this kind of thing, he thought with a frown on his face.


    "You''re lying," the twins said. "You must be the one behind the explosion on the second floor. Did he die?"


    "Yup, I killed him," Apollo said casually, his eyes never leaving their faces.


    "Good, he was annoying. He thought he could impose his way on us. With his tiny d*ck, no one would spread their legs for him," the twins'' overlapping voices echoed in the room.


    And when the beggar heard it, he couldn''t help but become speechless.


    "Anyway, the Mayor is on the fifth floor, right? Why don''t you ladies give way for me?" Apollo asked. He glanced to the side at the glass window and saw the same barrier from the second floor. This would prevent the Unrefined Qi from entering, and the Qi inside would immediately get depleted, leaving him to use his Refined Qi.


    They had clearly anticipated that people would try to stop the Mayor.


    "No, you will be our toy from now on," the twins said. "We are Six and Five, and no one has ever made Four take the fight. You will stay here, and we will have some fun."


    "Are you sure you can handle me?" Apollo asked, a smirk on his face.


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    "We can handle anything," Six and Five said. They took a step, red smoke emanating from their bodies.


    "Is that so," Apollo nodded. "But I don''t have time for that."


    "That''s not our pro¨C" Before the twins could finish their words, a flash of lightning erupted from the beggar, and with the sound of cracking, the windows burst into a thousand pieces.


    Their eyes followed the trail of lightning forming an ''L'' shape outside the mansion.


    The two went silent before staring at each other. "Crap." Then the two became a red blur as they chased after the lightning user.


    ---


    "Hahaha!" Apollo laughed aloud as his body passed the fourth floor and arrived right before the top of the mansion. His vision spanned the whole estate, and he saw black-robed men gazing at him. Lightning flashed around him while he used the Flying Wind Blast Technique, allowing himself to float in the air. "They never would have expected me to skip their nonsense."


    They were fools for thinking he would follow their plan.


    They wanted to drag out the time to prevent people from disturbing what was happening on the fifth floor, so they set up the Seven to guard each story of the mansion.


    But such nonsense wouldn''t fool the beggar.


    He glanced below and saw the twins chasing after him. Without waiting for them, he covered his body in lightning and dived toward the roof of the mansion!


    Breaking through this concrete should be easy. Before the beggar could reach the roof, he raised his hand and created a combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast. He had fallen in love with these techniques, especially the number of things he could do with them. And the more he used them, the stronger they became.


    He could even create a miniaturized version of it, which he had used to kill Seven.


    Apollo didn''t gather all his power, deeming it unnecessary, and added a small amount of his Lightning Attribute to make the techniques stronger.


    He attacked the roof with it the moment he was about to collide with the concrete. Strong explosions echoed, dust clouds emerged, and fire and lightning filled the air.


    The beggar''s attack shot into the night sky, reverberating through several streets around the mansion.


    However, instead of broken pieces of the roof, a body flew out from the dust cloud.


    "What the hell?" Apollo muttered in confusion. His body was covered in dust, parts of his clothes were burning, and his robe had dozens of rips. As his body descended, he activated his Flying Wind Blast to stop himself from falling.

 Chapter 262 - 262: Four

    Apollo squinted his eyes at the mansion. The entire five-story, hundreds-of-meters-wide building was covered in red symbols. They circulated around the mansion, protecting every corner as the dust clouds on the roof faded.


    A frown appeared on the beggar''s face as he realized the roof of the mansion was still intact, even after enduring his attack.


    It''s because of that thing, Apollo thought, studying the red symbols surrounding the building, though he couldn''t understand them.


    But he knew it was a barrier¡ªa different kind from what they used inside the floors.


    He raised his hand and sent a bolt of lightning towards the mansion, but like a drop of water in the ocean, the red symbols only rippled slightly.


    "Hahaha, you wouldn''t be able to stop the ritual!" the twins'' voices rang out as they floated in front of the beggar.


    "You two did it?" Apollo asked, his expression heavy.


    "It was me," a foreign voice called from behind. When Apollo turned, he saw a man clad in a red robe that covered his entire body and face. Symbols painted his clothes, and staring at them for too long made one feel lightheaded.


    Apollo shook his head, feeling like he was staring into a spiraling world. "You must be Four?" he asked.


    "Yes," the man replied, pointing a hand at Apollo. "You don''t follow the path of Our Saviour. You don''t have the right to live."


    At the same time, the twins pulled something out of the air¡ªa whip made of red smoke.


    Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Apollo began gathering the surrounding Qi. He didn''t know the twins'' abilities, but he concluded the man clad in red armor had the power to block his attacks.


    However, in a life-and-death battle, one has to act even without fully knowing their opponent.


    "This is frustrating," Apollo muttered, glancing at his three opponents.


    "Let''s kill him! We don''t want to play with him anymore!" the twins shouted, their voices echoing in the air.


    "F*ck it!" Apollo cursed as he sent a bolt of lightning at Four before dashing towards the twins!


    He used the Flying Wind Blast technique at its maximum power. Apollo arrived in front of Six and Five instantly, and before they could react, he pulled out his wooden sword and slashed at their necks! However, the same red symbols appeared just before he could hit them.


    His hands bounced back, but he didn''t lose his composure. He created spears of lightning around him and fired them at the man clad in the red robe.


    Glancing back, he saw Four creating a red symbol barrier that held firm against the lightning. He noticed the lightning had some effect on the barrier, but it was minimal.


    He then refocused on attacking the twins. They separated, dodging his attack, and one of them hurled her whip at the beggar while the other charged directly at him.


    Seeing their synchronized movements, Apollo was amazed, but he didn''t let himself get caught by the whip. He slashed it with his wooden sword, now covered in the Lightning Attribute.


    The sword cut through the whip, but as if time had reversed, the scattered red mist reformed, and the attack continued its way toward the beggar.


    "Tsk," Apollo muttered, dodging it easily, his face annoyed. Using his Refined Qi, he maneuvered behind the red-haired twin, who was on her way to punch him. He slashed with his wooden sword, but another symbol appeared, blocking his attack.


    The red-haired twin then turned around and used her whip to trap him.


    "Gotcha," the twins'' voices echoed as they encircled him, the other also using her whip. "Now that you are in our hands, you won''t be able to resist." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The twins turned to Four, who floated in front of the beggar.


    "Are you an array master?" Apollo asked. He could feel his strength leaving his body from the whip that held him. Although annoyed, he remained calm.


    "I am, but I use power greater than theirs, and it''s all because of Our Saviour," Four said, raising his hand in front of the beggar''s forehead as red symbols covered it. The symbols started spinning until they became a blur.


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    "You guys really like to glorify that fatso," Apollo said with a sigh.


    "It''s Our Saviour!" the twins angrily replied as the whips tightened.


    Apollo gritted his teeth, feeling as though he was going to be crushed by the whips.


    "You should watch your mouth," Four said icily.


    "I''m just being vocal. Don''t mind me."


    "Any last words?" Four asked.


    "You know, I noticed something about you," Apollo said, glancing at the twins before locking eyes with the man in front of him. "This power you''re using¡ªit must be so great that you wouldn''t be able to multi-cast it."


    "That''s your last words? A pity. You figured out one of our weaknesses, but you still can''t change your fate," Four said while pulling back his right hand.


    "That''s too bad¡­ because I can," Apollo smirked, and the trio immediately realized what he meant.


    Dozens of Fire Blasts and Wind Blasts materialized in the air. Some pointed in their direction, while others aimed at the mansion''s roof.


    Seeing this, Four''s eyes widened. He hurriedly thrust his red, spinning-symbol-covered hand toward the beggar''s head, but he was a step too late. Apollo''s body glowed white and exploded in a burst of lightning!


    Six, Five, and Four were thrown back, their bodies sizzling as the lightning burned their flesh.


    "Argh! My body!" the twins screamed in pain as their milky skin turned red from the lightning. Instinctively, they tried to use their Red Energy, but it disappeared the moment it came into contact with the lightning surrounding them.


    Four, on the other hand, experienced the same pain but acted immediately as the Fire Blasts and Wind Blasts were already on their way to obliterate him.


    Red symbols materialized in front of him, absorbing the attacks and creating successive explosions, but his body remained intact. He didn''t even budge from his position. When the smoke dissipated, he realized that the beggar was already on the rooftop!


    "NO!" Four shouted, but he didn''t react in time as the beggar had already sent the combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast directly to the fifth floor of the mansion.


    "No! We can''t let them be disturbed!" the twins screamed despite the pain wracking their bodies.


    Stones flew into the air along with dust clouds and smoke.


    Shrouded in the cover of the smoke, Apollo smiled as he finally saw the person he had been looking for.

 Chapter 263 - 263: One

    Once the rooftop was blown away, the scene inside the fifth floor made the beggar smile.


    He saw the mayor in the middle of a wide room, sitting with crossed legs while his body was covered in deep red smoke. The floor is covered in intricate red symbols, letting out blood-coloured light.


    Besides these symbols are hundreds of black-robed men, their hands raised and pointed towards the fatso in the center. Red energy came out of them, fuelling the symbols on the floor.


    Apollo smirked. "I''ve found you! "


    At the same time, gazes landed upon him. He saw the butler of the mayor walking out from the hundreds of robed men and staring at him with eyes squinted, hiding his pupils.


    Furthermore, a woman and two men flew out from the fifth floor and surrounded him on all sides, and adding the twins and the strange array master Four, there are six individuals covering his escape route.


    "Your move is unexpected," one of them said, who floated a few feet away from the beggar.


    Seeing how the others are not saying a word and letting the man talk, Apollo concluded that the person in front of him is their leader. "You must be one," the beggar said.


    One has a bald head and a face so average that people will easily forget him if they only saw him once. He wore a dark monk outfit with beads adorning his neck. Hands clasped in front of him, but compared to the monk the beggar saw in his previous life that let out a solemn and heavenly aura, this baldy in front of him is letting out a foul smell and heavy atmosphere. But the most prominent feature of One is the vertical eye on his forehead.


    "And you must be..." One''s third eye opened, his voice filled with confidence but shattered as he couldn''t finish his sentence. "You must be... You must be..."


    "Do you have Tourette syndrome?" Why are you stuttering so much? "Apollo couldn''t help but ask. "Can''t you say what''s on your mind? "


    The seven members looked at each other as they couldn''t understand what the beggar just said.


    "You, what are you? "Suddenly, the monk''s confused voice echoed.


    "Me? I''m just your friendly neighbourhood beggar! I''m here to stop this evilness! "Apollo placed his hands beside his hips and puffed up his chest.


    But the Seven weren''t amused by his words, but they stared at One in shock.


    "One can''t see through this invader?! "The twin''s shock voice echoed.


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    "This can''t be! This is the first time that this has happened! "Two is a woman who wears very conservative clothes, only revealing her delicate hands and face.


    Four stared at the beggar while secretly raising his hand.


    "Oh? It seems like you have the ability to see through a person and know something from them; that''s interesting," Apollo nodded before he shook his head. "But unfortunately, I don''t have time to be amazed by your ability. Okay bye! "


    With that said, he exploded his back with Wind Blast, his body becoming a blur and appearing on top of the black-robed men.


    However, before he could wreak havoc, the red line symbol appeared in front of him. Then two red energy whips tried to hold his body. Fortunately, his instincts told him in advance, and with another explosion of the wind blast, he dodged the attack while trying to find an opening from the barrier.


    "Gotcha," Apollo smiled as he saw that the symbol barrier didn''t fully enclose the top of the black robe men, as on the far edge of the barrier, there''s a small crevice.


    He didn''t use the lightning attribute, not because he didn''t want to increase his speed but because he couldn''t. The previous explosion of lightning that he did almost drained him of the energy to utilise this attribute.


    Apollo will need a day just for the usable lightning in his body to come back.


    "Stop." A woman''s voice rang out. It didn''t come from behind but in front of the beggar.


    Apollo''s eyes widened as a red smoke appeared in front of him before the woman clad in a conservative black dress materialised.


    "Ah f*ck." He couldn''t help but curse before he exploded the air below him, his body propelling vertically and away from the woman. "That''s cheating! "


    "In life and death, there''s no such thing as cheating. Every move is a fair play," the monk said, his voice reaching the beggar even though there''s a distance between them and One is talking softly.


    "Blah blah," Apollo scoffed and raised his middle finger towards the baldy. But deep inside, he is actually quite anxious. He couldn''t do another multi-cast technique as it''s going to deplete his refined qi. He could use the surrounding Qi, but their power will be reduced by almost half. That amount is negligent to the Seven, especially when lightning is their only weakness besides brute strength.


    Damnit, why the hell he''s taking too long? Apollo couldn''t help but get annoyed that backup is not here yet.


    He could hold out against the Seven. Apollo is confident he could kill them even if these six fought him together. But he had to disrupt the ongoing ritual on the fifth floor of Klown''s mansion. With these two responsibilities, it''s going to be hard.


    "I guess I don''t have a choice." Apollo''s body let out watery smoke that spread far in the sky. This time, he is going to multi-cast all of the techniques he knows using the Hydra Mirage along with his remaining refined QI.


    When the mist turned into dozens of Apollo, the Seven became serious as they could feel a threat coming their way.


    One''s third eye let out a red glow that covered the whole state. The atmosphere dropped, and pressure descended as the intense lightning transformed into a ten-handed red Buddha.


    Seeing the twenty- to thirty-foot-tall projection behind the monk, the beggar couldn''t help but gulp. Did I mess up? Should I have followed their plan? Went up a floor one by one instead of taking a shortcut?


    At the same time, the spinning symbol covered four hands; the twin making whips burnt brighter while the others used their unique abilities.


    "Sh*t," Apollo cursed before he took a deep breath. Now that he''s here and already used the Hydra Mirage to the fullest, he couldn''t just back down. "Here goes nothing."


    With that said, he began letting out his refined qi, and when he''s about to use all of his techniques through his clones, someone says from behind him.


    "Save it. Use it on Klown instead." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Turning around, the beggar saw the Headmaster of the Great Serpent along with Elmo, the headmaster of the Sword and Shield Martial School.


    "What took you guys so long? "Apollo asked, clearly annoyed by them.


    "We have to wait for the approval, and it seems like we arrived just in time," Axton explained with a smile on his face.


    "You have been busy, Can Deez," Elmo said, eyes glinting at the beggar.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," Apollo shrugged.


    "You know," Elmo smiled before he focused on the six individuals around them. "So these are the seven; why are there only six?" "


    "I''ve killed him," Apollo proudly said. "A piece of cake."


    "We will handle them," Axton nodded towards the Seven while his gaze never left the beggar. "How confident are you to disrupt their ritual?"


    "I don''t know," Apollo answered truthfully. "It depends, but as long as you keep the Seven in check, I can do it."


    "That wouldn''t be a problem," Axton said as he stared at the giant red Buddha. "This guy is going to be problematic, but it''s fine."


    "Alright, good luck," Apollo said while he took cover behind them. He will just have to find an opportunity to disrupt the ritual while he regains some of his strength.


    Although the previous fights didn''t last long, he still used a considerable amount of his Qi and energy.


    "I will take this giant; you will take the others," Axton said to Elmo.


    "Just don''t cry if you can''t defeat it," Elmo smirked as his body became a blur and instantly appeared in front of the Twins. With a punch, the wind immediately tore apart, and the blast tossed the Twins in the air, though they immediately stabilised their bodies.


    "As if," Axton said as he floated in front of the monk while the fight continued in the background.


    "This is the first time that we met," Axton smiled at his opponent.


    "Yes, but I know something from you," the monk said.


    "Tell me," Axton said with a raised eyebrow.


    "This is not your real body," the badly stated.


    Hearing this, a frown appeared on the Great Serpent Headmaster. "How did you know that information? Who told you that? "


    "I have the power to know something." One then turned to the beggar who''s shooting some wind blast and other techniques on the fifth floor. "But this person, I couldn''t get past him."

 Chapter 264 - 264: Now!

    "Is that so? "Axton glanced at the beggar, who''s crazily doing all he could to disrupt the ritual. However, one of the Seven has the ability to create a barrier made out of symbols. The beggar can only create a small crack as his firepower is not enough.


    He is somewhat dissatisfied that the Personal Disciple gave up his position out of nowhere, but Axton couldn''t bring himself to persuade Yoma to take the position back as he has to respect the beggar''s decision.


    "He is strange," the monk said, his eyes coming back at the Headmaster of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. "I assume the main school has approved of this."


    "Yes, this is a very important matter," Axton nodded while pointing his hand towards the monk.


    "I will protect Our Saviour at all osts! "The monk shouted and slapped the air in front of him. The giant red Buddha projection also did the same, one of his hands slapping down at Headmaster Axton.


    Axton didn''t hold back, his body letting out deep blue light before the giant serpent materialised. The scales are clearly depicted, and they''re no different from the real one.


    With a roar, the hundreds of meters-long serpent dashed towards the red hand!


    The moment that the attack landed against each other, a strong impact caused shockwaves that halted Elmo and his fight with the other seven.


    Elmo glanced at the Headmaster of the Great Serpent with shining eyes. "Time to take this seriously! "


    Suddenly, his body let out the projection of a giant, wearing a dark blue armour that encloses its whole body, a sword and shield in hand, radiating extreme dominance.


    When the Seven saw this, they turned to the woman wearing the conservative outfit. Besides One, Two is the only person in their group who has the ability to do the same thing.


    Two floated a few meters in front of them, her eyes glinting dangerously at the sword and shield headmaster. A smile formed on her lips while deep red energy came out of her body, turning into a giant red Venus flytrap projection with her in the centre of its body.


    Elmo whistled, seeing the peculiar astral technique. "That''s new and disgusting, but don''t hold back! "With a shout, he swung his giant sword, the projection behind him doing the same movement!


    The flytrap let out a roar before sending a black smoke, the grass on the ground and the surrounding trees dying instantly just from the residue of the smoke.


    The giant blue armoured projection didn''t stop from the sword slash, the deep blue sword slicing the smoke in half before continuing its way to the flytrap.


    However, Two and the astral behind her disappeared from their spot, arriving on the side of Headmaster Elmo.


    Seeing this, Elmo remained calm, merely glancing at one of the Seven in the distance, Three, the one responsible for the teleportation.


    Each of the Seven has a very unique ability; the Four have the barrier, and the Twins have the whips that suck out the strength if they get hold of people, preventing them from fighting back. Three has the ability to teleport someone, and the woman on Elmo''s left¡ªshe''s very poisonous.


    The black smoke came out from the mouth of the giant flytrap, the projectile instantly appearing a few meters away from Elmo, leaving no time for the Sword and Shield Headmaster to dodge.


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    The black smoke landed on the shield, but the poison couldn''t break it, let alone move it even an inch.


    Meanwhile, Apollo has already stopped his frantic attack on the fifth floor; some of his attack managed to pass through it when the barrier disappeared before coming. But his effort was futile as the butler of the mayor crushed them easily.


    The beggar stared at the ongoing battle in the air, his eyes shining in excitement and envy. D*mn, they have some flashy techniques. Apollo began to wish that he could join, but with his lightning attribute and refined Qi almost drained, he has to focus on his mission. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shaking his head to get rid of the distraction in his mind, he began bombarding the fifth floor once more. And this time, he started gathering the surrounding qi and refining them at the same time.


    He had to immediately regain some of his lightning and refined Qi, as he could feel that the current battle around him was just the beginning.


    ''Hey, send your strongest attack on my cue! '' Suddenly, Elmo''s voice echoed inside the beggar.


    Hearing this, Apollo didn''t need to turn around to figure out what was going to happen. He narrowed his eyes and began mobilising the surrounding Qi, and some of his refined, fire blast, and wind blast appeared, the wind covering the inferno and increasing their attack power.


    But Apollo felt like this was not enough.


    He thinks about the techniques he learnt and carefully picks one that is compatible with the combination in front of him.


    Then he realised that with careful revision, most of the techniques with attack power he knows are compatible with the Fire Blast and Wind Blast.


    If the people on the scene heard his thoughts, they would definitely think the beggar is crazy, but when they saw that he could do it with just a thought, they would probably sh*t their pants.


    With this in mind, Apollo chose the Water Blade Disintegration Technique. Small water droplets appeared around the Fire Blast and Wind Blast, but they hadn''t formed into glass-like water blades yet.


    Apollo didn''t have to wait more, as from the corner of his eyes, he saw the symbol of the barrier wielder flying and hitting the ground.


    "Now! "Elmo shouted, his voice reverberating in the state.


    With all the strength he could muster, Apollo sent the three techniques toward the fifth floor!


    The culmination of three techniques, the Three Elements¡ªthe name the beggar came up with¡ªinstantly appeared above the black-robed men and the mayor in the center. As if the sun descended, the temperature in the mansion increased.


    Even with the sudden change in the temperature and with death looming, the black-robed men continued fuelling the symbols on the floor; their whispers didn''t slow down for one bit.


    And amidst what was happening, a footstep rang out before a flash of black flew through the air.


    The figure appeared in front of the Three Element, and with a punch, the combination of three techniques shattered into particles of light!


    "F*ck! "Apollo cursed aloud, seeing that his attack disappeared instantly. He stared at the butler, who''s now on his way to him.


    A white light appeared, and his wooden sword materialized. He held it with his right and dove towards the annoying butler!


    A fist and wooden sword clashed. There''s no sparks flying, but the strong impact caused a small shockwave.


    "You are one hell of a kid," Holst mused.


    "And you are one hell of a butler," Apollo said while pushing his sword forward.


    "Oh? "Holst raised an eyebrow as the wooden sword pierced his hand, blood flowing down. "Perfect True Understanding of the Sword? "


    "What the hell are you talking about? "Apollo asked while adding strength in his hands and pushing the butler away.


    Holst was tossed a few meters away. "You are interesting," he said while raising his bloodied hand. Deep red energy covered his wounded, and in no time, it began healing at a fast speed.


    "Yeah, you too," Apollo said before his body became a blur and appeared right on top of a black robe man.


    Holst couldn''t believe what he just witnessed. Is the kid not going to talk to talk to him? Have a small talk before exchanging fists? But if he knew how badly the beggar wanted to disrupt the ritual, he would probably understand that Apollo couldn''t waste time anymore.


    Apprearing above the blackrobe man, Apollo sliced with his wooden sword, the head fell to the ground, followed by the body. Then he targeted the nearest, but before he could raise his weapon, a hand yanked him towards the sky.


    And before he knew it, a punch landed on his stomach. Apollo cought a mouthfull of blood; his ascending body turned direction as he crashed towards the ground! His body creating a long ravine!


    "Sh*t," the beggar cursed while standing up. The moment he was on his feet, he vomited another mouthful of blood.


    Then he felt someone landing in front of him.


    "Don''t tell me you can''t fight already? "Holst asked in a mocking tone.


    "We are just getting started," Apollo wiped the side of his mouth with his sleeve. He began gathering the surrounding Qi before storing them inside the ball of Qi below his navel.


    "Good, because I can finally join the f-" But something unexpected happened. The butler couldn''t finish his words, as in the next moment, a bluetail hit the side of his chest!


    Holst was sent hurling to the side, crashing against a number of trees. Dust clouds emerged as they shattered and fell to the ground.


    The beggar glanced in the direction where the butler went in surprise before he saw the Great Serpent flying back and helping Headmaster Axton.


    ''This is your chance! '' Axton''s voice echoed inside Apollo''s head.


    The beggar hurriedly blew his back with the wind blast, his body appearing on top of the mansion in an instant!

 Chapter 265 - 265: Third Revision

    Apollo landed a few meters away from the Mayor, striking a superhero pose as he raised a small dust cloud with his hands on his hips.


    "I, your friendly neighborhood beggar, have arrived to stop this madness!" Apollo shouted, his voice reverberating across the floor. But his declaration only drowned out the whispers coming from the black-robed men before their voices overtook the scene.


    Meanwhile, the red lines and symbols on the floor, with the Mayor at their center, began to shine brightly. It seemed they knew he was here to stop them, as they fueled the symbols to their full strength.


    "If you''re not going to stop," Apollo said, raising his hand and pointing it to his side. A Fire Blast materialized, the intense heat instantly increasing the room''s temperature.


    After killing one of them earlier, he already knew they were as defenseless as chickens. Although he was curious about what would happen if they succeeded, it would mean failing the mission. As he''d seen in countless movies, if a ritual succeeded and the antagonist was at its center, they''d either receive a power-up or die, allowing a demon to take over.


    What Apollo was witnessing now was a very clich¨¦ scene, but this was reality, and he had to stop them before something went wrong.


    With that thought, he fired his technique. The Fire Blast landed and incinerated dozens of black-robed men into charcoal. Having mastered this technique, his attack power was nothing to laugh at. Compared to when he first learned it, it was like a matchstick facing a burning house.


    The fire spread, killing even more of the black-robed men. But even as their bodies burned and unimaginable pain overwhelmed them, they didn''t dare lower their hands. They continued channeling red energy into the center.


    Furthermore, when they truly died, a mass of red smoke rose from their corpses and was immediately absorbed by the Mayor.


    "So if I kill them, they become a source of energy," Apollo muttered as he conjured another Fire Blast but refrained from firing it. Glancing around, he spread his senses. While he couldn''t see the red energy, he could feel the cold, threatening aura emanating from the black-robed men.


    Apollo realized it was more efficient for the Mayor if the black-robed men fueled the symbols and him while alive, rather than dying. The red mass they produced after death was only half as potent as the energy they provided while living.


    A smart move, but it ends here, Apollo thought. With a demonic smile, he gathered the surrounding Qi to enhance the Fire Blast''s power.


    Without wasting another second, he fired the technique. The Fire Blast exploded, killing another dozen and shattering the wall.


    Chunks of stone collapsed, exposing the outside. Fighting echoed from the sky, with continuous impacts sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Yet, despite all this, the fifth floor remained unaffected.


    "Ha," Apollo sighed, glancing at the Mayor, whose eyes remained closed. "I wish you could see this."


    Masses of red smoke rose from the bodies of the fallen black-robed men, even those who had died outside weren''t spared.


    Apollo could feel the cold, threatening aura lessening, though hundreds of black-robed men still remained.


    The beggar conjured another Fire Blast, but this time, he aimed it at Klown.


    "What will happen if this thing lands on you?" Apollo muttered as the Fire Blast materialized, accompanied by a Wind Blast.


    He fired the techniques, wind tearing and flames scorching as they hurtled toward the Mayor.


    Klown, who still had his eyes closed, finally opened them. A red light glinted within.


    "Holst, come here," he said. As his words fell, red smoke materialized before him, forming into a person who, sensing the two elements, blocked them with a single punch.


    The Fire Blast and Wind Blast scattered everywhere, throwing the wind in the area into disarray.


    As flames obscured the butler''s vision, he glanced at the Mayor and sent his Thought Transfer.


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    A little more. Just keep him away from me and don''t let him kill more.


    Holst nodded, spreading his senses to locate the beggar. But his eyes widened as he took out a sword from his space ring. A white light materialized, forming into a black sword. Holding it in his right hand, he slashed in front of him!


    The powerful impact created a shockwave in the air, the force sending some of the black-robed men off their feet, though they hurriedly returned to their positions. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    The beggar had appeared in front of the butler, a wooden training sword in hand, clashing against the black sword.


    They pushed against each other, but neither gained the upper hand.


    "Oh? You''ve gotten stronger," Holst said, his surprise evident. His eyes locked onto the sword covered in chaotic wind. This alone shouldn''t have added strength, just sharpness. He tried to push forward but to no avail. "What did you do?"


    "It''s a trade secret. You can trade your life if you want." Apollo smiled coldly. In truth, it was simple. He had used True Hardening on the sword instead of his body. Essentially, he combined the Simple Wind Sword Technique with True Hardening, a new revision of the Simple Sword Technique.


    He realized he didn''t have the strength to match the butler, so he compensated with techniques.


    "If that''s the case¡­" Holst opened his squinted eyes, revealing dark pupils. But that wasn''t all. After being sent flying by a tail earlier, his anger had reached its peak, and he decided to let loose. A vertical eye appeared on his forehead, and at the same time, his sclera turned black.


    Red smoke emerged from his body, followed by a sudden burst of strength!


    Apollo was immediately overpowered, his hands thrown to the side. Taking advantage of the momentum, he spun and jumped. A Fire Blast materialized as he seized the opportunity to kill more of the black-robed men.


    However, the butler appeared in front of the flames, slicing them in half with his black sword. The fire diminished, though some flames managed to land on the black-robed men, who immediately burst into flames. They didn''t attempt to extinguish the fire; they couldn''t, as they had to focus on the ritual. With grim determination, they perished, red masses rising from their bodies.


    Holst, having sliced through the technique, became a blur, instantly appearing in front of the beggar just as he landed on his feet.


    The wooden sword and the black sword clashed. Normally, this wooden training sword would have broken easily, but in the beggar''s hands, it remained unscathed. Still, Apollo was pushed back, and of course, another Fire Blast appeared, killing more black-robed men.


    Like a cat and mouse, the two kept changing places, fire and wind scattering. Explosions reverberated through the room, and the smell of charred flesh filled the air.


    Holst did his best to block the attacks, but a few slipped past his speed as the beggar adapted to his powered-up form.


    He''s good, the butler couldn''t help but think.

 Chapter 266 - 266: Monkereaper

    A giant flame descended on the ground, killing dozens of Duskfang Shadowtails. Some even managed to jump out of the fire and began dismembering the silver-armored guards.


    Sitting inside the pavilion made of flame, Master Popo couldn''t help but click his tongue in annoyance. "These wolves really have thick fur," he muttered while continuing to send flames toward the ground.


    He was not using his full strength as it would be dangerous to his teammates if he did. His flames didn''t know how to distinguish friend from foe, so he had to use them carefully to avoid harming his allies.


    As explosions echoed from below, he couldn''t help but watch the others fight.


    With the help of the other Cultivation Schools, they were killing the Duskfang Shadowtails easily, and the monsters'' numbers visibly dwindled.


    A flash of darkness passed through the battlefield, killing at least fifty Duskfangs in one fell swoop.


    "He''s also holding back," Master Popo muttered as he saw Nathan Kleinford running to begin another killing spree. Although Nathan had higher attack power, the Kleinford Family Head''s method was more effective since he didn''t have to worry about hurting their allies.


    Furthermore, while Master Popo''s flame was strong, the black wolves could run through it without stopping and escape with only minor burns.


    He could only sigh as the battle continued.


    Soon enough, only a few dozen of the Duskfangs remained, which the others quickly killed. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When there were no monsters left, cheers erupted from the crowd. They had successfully defended the city, and the Duskfangs hadn''t even managed to breach their defenses.


    Although they had lost some comrades, they still won, bringing tears to some of the survivors.


    Master Popo stood up from his flame pavilion, which began to flicker as though a candle was about to be extinguished by the wind.


    Hey, I will go help the others at the mansion. Do you want to come? Master Popo sent through Thought Transfer to the Kleinford Family Head.


    No, the real battle is just about to start, Nathan''s voice echoed.


    How do you know? Master Popo asked.


    The battle was too easy, Nathan replied. There''s no way Klown only prepared this much.


    Maybe this is all he could afford, Master Popo said.


    Nathan didn''t answer, merely waiting for something.


    I''ll go now, Master Popo said after waiting a while. However, as he was about to turn around and fly toward the Mayor''s mansion to join the fun, a loud roar echoed in the distance.


    The Fire Shrine Headmaster turned toward the sound, his eyes widening.


    A monster, at least twenty meters tall, appeared with two arms and two legs. Its tail swept behind it as it walked hunched over. Moreover, smaller versions of it followed close behind, and with another roar, they started running toward the city.


    Instantly, the pavilion made of flame came back to life, and Master Popo sat inside, cross-legged.


    You were right, Master Popo said to the Kleinford Family Head.


    Let them handle the small ones. We will kill their mother, Nathan said.


    I know. Don''t order me, Master Popo replied.


    Nathan and the Fire Shrine Headmaster then began flying toward the giant monkey.


    Originally known as Monkereaper, after surviving and growing in intelligence for at least five hundred years, it had reached this stage, almost resembling a small mountain.


    It possessed the strength of a 1st-Step Core Creation Cultivator, something no ordinary cultivator in the city could handle. And currently, the only ones available who could were Nathan and Master Popo.


    ...


    Water Blade Disintegration Technique!


    Finally, after gathering the surrounding Qi and turning it into Refined Qi while fighting the butler at the same time, he had enough Refined Qi to use this technique.


    This was the only technique he had that could execute a wide-range attack. He could multi-cast the Fire Blast and the Wind Blast, but they weren''t as effective as directly using the Water Blade Disintegration Technique.


    Water droplets materialized in the air before turning into glass-like water blades.


    When the butler saw what was happening, he jumped back from the beggar and positioned himself in front of the Mayor.


    ''Our Saviour, I will have to sacrifice some of our men. Is that alright with you, sir?''


    ''Don''t worry about it. I''m close,'' Klown answered as a small smile appeared on his face.


    With that said, Holst returned to fighting the beggar.


    Apollo did the same, and soon, the clash of swords echoed through the air.


    But as seconds passed, the butler couldn''t help but feel confused.


    "Why aren''t you sending those water blades? Afraid?" Holst taunted, his eyes fixed on his opponent.


    "I''m waiting for something," Apollo answered, smiling confidently.


    Hearing this, a frown appeared on the butler''s face. Did I miss something? He began replaying all of his opponent''s movements in his mind, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then he considered whether he had done something wrong himself. But again, nothing came to mind.


    "I get it. These blades are just a bluff," Holst chuckled as he sent the beggar flying back.


    "No," Apollo said, glancing at the Mayor.


    Suddenly, the temperature dropped, and the air grew heavy.


    When the butler felt the atmosphere changing, he forgot about the beggar as a laugh escaped his lips. "Our Saviour is going to succeed!"


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    "And that''s what I''m waiting for!" Apollo exclaimed before clenching his fist, sending the water blades descending.


    As the ground shattered and holes appeared, the smile on Holst''s face didn''t fade. He stared at the beggar mockingly. "It''s a futile effort. If you kill them, you''ll only hasten the process. You should give up and surrender your life. Maybe he will take a liking to you and eat your flesh. That''s the greatest form of glory your kind will experience."


    "Glory? Who would believe that bullsh*t?" Apollo chuckled, a cunning smile spreading across his face. "But who said I''m going to kill them?"


    "Kill them or not, it''s all the same," Holst replied.


    "Nope, it''s not," Apollo said. "You know, I''ve been wondering about something."


    "What?" Holst asked, curiosity creeping into his tone.


    "This," Apollo said, pointing to the floor. The moment he did, it started cracking until the entire floor caved in.


    Shouts rang out as the entire fifth floor shattered under the water blades. Stones, the black-robed men, and even the Mayor all plunged into the depths of the mansion.


    "I''ve been wondering," Apollo smirked, "will the ritual work if there are no symbols anymore?"

 Chapter 267 - 267: Red Light Eruption(Part-1)

    After sending away the one who used a barrier made out of symbols, Elmo began attacking the woman who wore conservative clothing.


    The titan projection behind him raised its shield as a black poison attacked them.


    Elmo then turned to the side as two whips were sent toward him. In a flash, he left his Astral behind to maneuver between the red glowing whips.


    Appearing in front of the twins, he slashed with his giant sword, and without time for them to dodge, their bodies were sent toward the ground, blood spilling from the cuts on their chests.


    Elmo glanced at the last man. The man was like an assassin who had the ability to teleport himself and others seemingly anywhere.


    They locked eyes, and Three became a blur, appearing behind the Sword and Shield Headmaster.


    But expecting this, Elmo hurriedly turned around, clutched the man''s collar, and slammed his head into the enemy''s. Shockwaves materialized upon impact, and the teleporter crashed to the ground in a cloud of smoke.


    Suddenly, Elmo felt a threat coming in his direction. Without even looking at what it was, he used his movement technique and appeared inside his Astral, which was on the verge of destruction as his body was no longer fueling it with Qi.


    He glanced at his previous spot and saw a black mass of poison. Realizing this, he noticed Two had also left her Astral, though she immediately returned to the flytrap.


    Elmo swung his shield, and the titan projection mirrored him. The poison attacking it was deflected to the ground, killing some black-robed men and even ending the teleporter.


    ''End it now,'' Axton''s voice echoed in Headmaster Elmo''s mind.


    ''Yeah, I was about to,'' Elmo replied. With a nod, he flew in front of his opponent.


    However, as he was about to get near her, two whips held his feet. Narrowing his eyes toward the ground, he saw a new person, with red and blue on each side of her hair. It didn''t take him long to figure out that the twins had merged.


    He tried to overpower the whips with his strength, but they remained strong. Then the flytrap in front of him sent another poison attack. This time, he didn''t manage to block or dodge, and along with his Astral, they took the attack head-on.


    Elmo gritted his teeth as his body was hurled to the ground along with his projection. A dust cloud emerged, and after enduring the poison, he coughed a mouthful of black blood.


    ''This is frustrating,'' he said through Thought Transfer.


    ''I know. This monk I''m fighting has a tough defense,'' Axton replied.


    Elmo stood up and glanced at the Great Serpent Headmaster''s battle. He saw the Great Serpent continuously attacking the ten-hand Buddha, but each time it tried to get near, the hands would slap the snake away.


    If it were any other time, he would have laughed, but knowing their grave situation, he couldn''t bring himself to do so.


    He took a deep breath, and all the poison in his body disappeared as the flytrap flew toward him.


    His titan Astral returned, and with a roar, they started fighting once more.


    Meanwhile, the Great Serpent Headmaster narrowed his eyes, calculating the speed and movements of the red Buddha''s hands.


    Using his Great Serpent projection, he carefully assessed his opponent.


    After being swatted away like a fly for a while, a confident smile appeared on his face.


    Along with his Astral, they retreated. Time to end this fight! With that thought, hazy mist emerged from his body, covering the whole sky.


    The red Buddha tried to disperse the mist, but it immediately returned.


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    Then they congregated into ten strange forms, and in the next moment, they became a lifelike Great Serpent with Headmaster Axton inside them.


    Eleven Great Serpents flew through the air, their long bodies covering the sky above the mansion, and the whole city could see everything.


    The monk frowned when he saw this. Finally, he could feel the threat of Axton. But there was no giving up in his vocabulary!


    "For Our Saviour!" One shouted, the red Buddha glowing brilliantly before going on a rampage against the eleven Great Serpents!


    The ten blue snakes found openings in each hand, their sleek bodies coiling around them as they made their way to the red Buddha''s head!


    The eleven Great Serpents opened their mouths, taking bites out of their enemy. They coiled around the red Buddha''s body, tightening their muscles like real snakes.


    The monk, One, gritted his teeth, seeing that he was being surrounded by these snakes.


    You leave me with no choice! One''s eyes flashed with great determination. He knew that the Great Serpent Headmaster had mastered the Hydra Mirage, the technique he was currently displaying, and could summon ten clones of himself.


    And with them coiling around him and his Astral Projection, the real body of Axton must be one of them.


    With this in mind, his body started letting out a bright red light. Veins popped up all over his body, and his red energy started churning, boiling to the point of explosion!


    With a shout, the Buddha exploded! Fire, wind, and shockwaves spread everywhere, destroying the Great Serpents around the monk!


    No one was left¡ªnot even the particles of Qi that made up the eleven Great Serpents remained. As the flames in the sky lessened, the silhouette of the monk appeared.


    Blood covered his entire form, and his previously well-packed body had now turned into a skinny figure. The already loose robe on him had become even larger.


    However, a smile was on his face.


    "Our Saviour, I succeeded."


    "Don''t celebrate yet," suddenly, a voice reached One''s ear. His body shivered, his eyes widening as he recognized the owner of the voice.


    "That can''t be!"


    In the distance, a person was floating with his arms crossed in front of him.


    One''s gaze landed on the person, and sure enough, Axton was well and alive!


    "You should never trust information that you haven''t personally witnessed," Axton said, his body turning into a blur before arriving in front of the malnourished monk.


    "You¡­ you can summon eleven clones?! But Hydra Mirage only has the limit of ten!" One shouted, unable to believe it.


    Being one of the most popular techniques in the Great Serpent Cultivation School, many people knew about it¡ªespecially those with ill intent toward the Great Serpent.


    "You are right, but it doesn''t mean that I couldn''t make a breakthrough with the technique," Axton mockingly said as water droplets appeared around the monk. The droplets then turned into water blades.


    One stared at the blades pointed at him. Then he closed his eyes, a calm smile appearing on his face.


    Headmaster Axton didn''t hesitate anymore, and with a clench of his fist, the Water Blade Disintegration Technique sliced One into pieces.


    At the same time, Elmo finally ended the fight with the poisonous woman. His skin had black spots, poison attacking his insides. Even so, his body remained standing.


    He flew beside Axton and nodded his head.


    Then they heard a commotion coming from the mansion and saw the entire fifth floor falling inwards.


    Wooden sword and black sword clashed, producing shockwaves in the air.


    "Unexpected, right?" Apollo asked, and although he was getting overpowered, a smile was on his face.


    "I''m going to kill you!" Holst shouted, the red smoke covering his body growing stronger. His strength and speed reached another height.


    Seeing this, Apollo turned serious. He activated his Simple Movement Technique, amplifying it by using other techniques he had learned to get away from the butler.


    The air from his previous spot got sliced, the space itself distorting from the attack.


    "That''s dangerous," Apollo muttered while stabilizing himself with his Flying Wind Blast. With no fifth floor anymore, he had to fly again.


    "Come here!" Holst shouted, his body instantly appearing in front of the beggar.


    The beggar used the third revision of his Simple Wind Sword Technique with True Hardening on it to block the black sword. However, the new strength of the butler sent Apollo crashing into the still-intact wall, shattering it into a thousand pieces. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "F*ck, that''s not fair! How many power-ups do you have?!" Apollo shouted with a frown.


    Then, as the butler was about to dash toward him, he stared at the sky. "Hey! Are you just going to watch?!"


    He saw Axton and Elmo look at each other for a moment before they both disappeared, arriving right in front of him at the same time.


    Elmo floated forward, just in time for Holst to materialize in front of them.


    He raised his shield to block the attack while activating a technique that would bounce the force coming at him.


    With a banging sound, Elmo and Axton flew off in opposite directions the moment the shield and sword collided.


    "He became strong," Axton muttered, his gaze following the butler, who shattered a wall and disappeared into the distance.


    "I would have been dead if you guys weren''t here," Apollo said, taking a deep breath. He noticed that his Refined Qi had lessened, so he had to refill it immediately. Fortunately, he could feel that he finally had enough lightning attribute reserves in his body.


    "This is a smart move," Axton praised while glancing at the shattered floors.


    "I know. They are relying too much on the symbols to do their ritual," Apollo said.


    "We succeeded," Axton smiled, letting out a sigh. Although the enemies were still alive, with them no longer able to perform the ritual, the Mayor''s hideous plan had essentially failed. All they had to do now was either kill them or capture them.


    "If I were them, I''d have a backup plan¡­" Apollo trailed off as realization dawned on him.


    Elmo''s body flashed beside them, heading to fight the butler, whose figure was now flying toward them. However, before they could meet, a strong red light erupted from the rubble below, pushing the butler and Elmo away.


    The beggar and Axton looked at each other, with the Great Serpent Headmaster activating his Great Serpent projection to prepare for battle.

 Chapter 268 - 268: Red Light Eruption(Part-2)

    The entire mansion of the mayor was enveloped in a red light, the glow covering the entire state.


    It was so intense that the night sky reflected the same color.


    Holst stopped midair, his eyes wide as he stared at the trembling rubble below. He saw several people lying dead among the debris, but he didn''t care about them. In his eyes, there was only Our Saviour!


    "He succeeded! Our Saviour succeeded!" Holst shouted in excitement, and as his words fell, the rubble exploded, and a figure floated before them.


    When Apollo, Elmo, and Axton saw the mayor, they spread out, with the Great Serpent Headmaster taking the lead.


    ''This is bad,'' the beggar said through thought transfer.


    ''I don''t know what he succeeded in doing, but the ritual isn''t over yet. The one in this city hasn''t been activated,'' Axton replied.


    ''Then we''ll just have to stop this fatso from doing that,'' Elmo said, cracking his knuckles.


    ''This is another power-up. Klown has definitely gained some strength,'' Apollo reasoned. Using his common sense after watching countless movies and shows in his previous life, he already knew what was happening.


    "Our Saviour!" Holst said as he floated beside the mayor. "It''s time; we can begin!"


    Klown opened his eyes, red light glinting in them. He raised his hand and clenched it. Feeling the strength coursing through his veins, he couldn''t help but let out a laugh. "Hahaha!" His laughter echoed, and everyone in the state heard it clearly. "This is it! This is the power I''ve been talking about!"


    "Our Saviour! You did it! Congratulations, you now have strength equal to Core Creation Cultivators!" Holst praised.


    "Core Creation! I can finally stand with them! This is it! This is th¡ª" However, before the mayor could finish his words, a combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast struck his body, sending him flying outside the mansion.


    The scene went silent, and all gazes turned to the ''kid.''


    "What?" Apollo looked at the Headmasters innocently as he lowered his hand. "He was just going to yap about being strong after achieving strength equivalent to Core Creation. I didn''t want to hear his annoying voice, so I sent him away."


    Axton could only sigh, while Elmo chuckled and gave a thumbs up.


    "How dare you interrupt Our Saviour!" Holst shouted angrily before dashing toward the beggar at a high speed.


    But before he could get close, a tail struck him, sending his body crashing into the rubble on the ground.


    "Thanks," Apollo nodded to the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    "You''re welcome¡­ and he''s back," Axton replied, nodding toward the front.


    Apollo saw the mayor returning with red smoke swirling in the air. Apparently, he could teleport himself.


    "Hey, welcome back. I have a question," Apollo shouted to the mayor. "How did you do it? I already destroyed the symbols of your ritual. How did you succeed?"


    "A smart person must always have a backup plan," Klown answered while cracking his neck. "Ah, that felt great."


    Hearing the obvious answer, Apollo didn''t show any emotion and asked another question. "I bet, even though we disrupted your Monitor to spread that red liquid in the city, you had a backup plan?"


    "Of course," Klown said, his gaze shifting from Elmo to Axton before finally focusing on the beggar. "You''re the one who blasted me away. Tell me your name."


    "Can Deez," Apollo said, trying to remain cool. Say it. Say it.


    "Can Deez?" Klown repeated, finding the name strange.


    "Can Deez nuts fit in your mouth!" Apollo shouted, bursting into laughter.


    Elmo laughed along while Axton held his composure.


    "You!" The mayor''s face turned red with anger. He took a deep breath to calm his raging heart. "I see. So this is how it''s going. Can Deez, or whatever your real name is, I won''t kill you now. I''ll eat your flesh later and feast on your bones! But before that, this city shall witness the birth of the great Demon! I, Our Saviour, call upon the Great One, the Primordial Being, to descend into this realm!"


    The mayor raised his arms to the sky as a raging red smoke poured out of his body. The red energy dispersed everywhere, with some rising a hundred meters into the air, forming a thick cloud of smoke.


    Holst emerged from the rubble and floated beside the mayor. Even though he had been flung aside multiple times, he put that matter behind him and stared at the cloud of red smoke in awe. He could feel it¡ªit was coming.


    ''We have to stop this,'' Apollo thought as he stared at the intense red energy in the sky.


    ''I will let you handle that matter,'' Axton replied. ''Elmo and I will stay here. These two have the strength of Core Creations, and we''re the only ones who can hold them off.''


    ''Alright,'' Apollo nodded to the Headmasters before flying toward the sky. He passed the cloud of red energy and observed it from above.


    He noticed the cloud sending its energy across the entire city. Symbols upon symbols began appearing in Klown City. The newly expanded walls emitted a light that prevented the demonic symbols from escaping.


    Even though they had already eliminated everyone who tried to spread the red liquid¡ªapparently the medium for drawing the symbols¡ªthe ritual was still continuing. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was only one explanation Apollo could think of: Klown had preplanned everything. This realization made him understand just how terrifying the mayor was, despite his appearance as a dumb fatso.


    Apollo also noticed the giant monkey outside the city and the pavilion made of flame and black streaks that ran across the monster from time to time. His eyes then shifted back to the city, where many people had already realized something dangerous was about to happen.


    The beggar raised his hand and aimed at the red cloud. A Fire Blast appeared, and after gathering enough strength, he sent the technique toward the cloud of smoke. However, his attack disappeared upon contact¡ªit didn''t even pass through the cloud. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    A frown appeared on Apollo''s face. This was the inherent ability of the red energy: common techniques couldn''t destroy it unless a very strong technique was used, or one with lightning¡ªor outright lightning attribute¡ªwas applied.


    Thinking this through, Apollo began to consider a plan. A plan that was almost suicidal. No, it definitely was.

 Chapter 269 - 269: Axton Versus Klown

    The entire city of Klown was glowing with red symbols, the light making the whole city shine like a star.


    Using the Flying Wind Blast technique to keep himself steady in the sky, Apollo stared down at the streets before his eyes landed on the red cloud of smoke.


    He raised his hand, lightning crackling in his fingers, before sending a bolt of electricity toward the red cloud.


    His Lightning Attribute pierced through the smoke, creating a hole large enough to reveal the ground below.


    Seeing this, Apollo sighed in relief. This further solidified his theory that pure red energy was like paper in the face of lightning¡ªthough that wasn''t the case when used strategically, like how Four did it.


    The beggar then raised both hands, this time using a combination of Fire Blast and Wind Blast along with his Lightning Attribute.


    The techniques flew toward the red cloud, causing an explosion that eradicated a huge chunk of it. But the cloud quickly healed itself.


    Apollo wasn''t alarmed; he had expected this. Without wasting time, he created another combination using the Lightning Attribute and began firing at the red smoke cloud.


    ---


    The sound of explosions rang out from the sky, drawing the attention of those flying inside the destroyed mansion.


    "Since when did he learn to use Lightning Techniques?" Elmo muttered in surprise.


    Axton didn''t answer, though a frown had already formed on his face. There was only one person he knew who could use lightning in this city, and as far as he knew, that man had disappeared a week ago.


    As they observed the flashes of fire and lightning lighting up the sky, a shout interrupted their thoughts, drawing their attention.


    "Holst! Stop him! We can''t let him continue!" the Mayor shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "I''m sure there''s only one lightning user in this city¡ªwhy is there another one?!"


    "As you wish, Our Saviour!" the butler answered. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the same time, Axton glanced at Elmo.


    "Don''t let him distract Yoma."


    "Alright," Elmo replied, his eyes glinting coldly.


    The moment the butler turned into a blur, so did the Sword and Shield Headmaster. Another explosion echoed as Elmo''s Astral Projection materialized.


    The titan projection''s sword clashed with Holst''s, sending the butler crashing to the ground. However, another projection appeared¡ªa shadowy figure wielding a black sword.


    With a deep shout, the shadowy figure engaged the blue-armored titan projection of the Sword and Shield Headmaster in battle!


    Axton observed their fight briefly before turning his attention to the red cloud, which continued to explode with bursts of lightning.


    It didn''t take him long to figure out what was happening.


    "So that''s your weakness," Axton muttered, turning to the Mayor, who glared at him with burning red eyes.


    "Even if you know about it, there''s nothing you can do to change the outcome!" Klown declared. "That kid''s lightning will wear out sooner or later, and by then, my Master will finally arrive in this world!"


    Hearing this, Axton didn''t argue. The Mayor was right. If Lightning Attribute techniques were used carelessly or as a way to augment incompatible techniques, Apollo would burn through his lightning reserves faster.


    If someone possesses an Attribute tied to a specific element, they must use techniques designed for that element to unlock the full potential of their Attribute.


    "So, you''re admitting it yourself," Axton said as he pulled a token from under his robe. It bore the symbol of the Great Serpent with a sword piercing its body. "With the Symbol of Approval, I have been given permission to end your life and stop the summoning of your so-called Master."


    Klown remained unfazed. Against the backdrop of continuous explosions from the sky, he lowered his body slightly, releasing a suffocating aura. "Come at me, and you shall witness the power of the chosen savior!"


    The Great Serpent Headmaster placed the token back inside his robe. With a subtle nod, mist emerged around him, coalescing into lifelike clones of himself.


    Axton knew he had to kill the Mayor as quickly as possible to assist his ally. He could also sense that the city was undergoing changes¡ªlikely because the ritual, which was supposed to have been stopped, was somehow still progressing.


    As the beggar had theorized, the Mayor must have anticipated their interference. He had likely prepared in advance, using a fake ritual as a distraction while the real one had already been completed.


    This only highlighted how cunning Klown was.


    Axton''s expression grew more serious than ever. Without prior knowledge of the Mayor''s fighting style, he had to tread carefully. One mistake could cost him the battle.


    With this in mind, Axton and his clones spread out before launching themselves at the Mayor simultaneously.


    When Klown saw this, a smirk crept across his face.


    He snapped his thick fingers, and two red whips materialized. His body was engulfed in red smoke, reappearing behind one of Axton''s clones. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    A loud crack echoed as the whip in his hand shattered the clone''s head.


    However, even without a head, the clone remained functional, delivering a punch enveloped in deep blue light.


    Klown, unfazed, summoned a barrier made of glowing red symbols. The punch landed on the barrier, unleashing shockwaves, but left the Mayor unharmed.


    "Hahaha!" Klown laughed. "This is the power I''ve been talking about!"


    His body was once again swallowed by red smoke. He reappeared beside another clone, which instantly created a water sword and slashed at him, the air distorting from the speed of the stroke.


    Klown raised his symbol barrier again, the water sword dissolving into a harmless splash upon contact. "You''ll never defeat me, Axton! I''ve been waiting for this moment! I am the sole ruler of this city! Why should I care about the treaty, huh? With this strength, I no longer need to pretend to tolerate pests in my mountain!"


    With another swift attack, Klown destroyed another of Axton''s clones.


    "So you''ve resorted to summoning a demon to gain strength? Just to claim sole rulership of this city?" Axton''s voice echoed from behind the Mayor.


    "Not just this city!" Klown roared, spinning around¡ªjust in time to take a water beam to the face.


    The force sent him flying back, but he quickly stabilized himself, only to find Axton already in front of him, a punch hurtling toward him.


    Klown hastily summoned another symbol barrier, their eyes locking as the punch connected with the shield.


    "I will also rule the other regions!" Klown bellowed. "Along with my Master, we''ll rule everywhere! And our grand plan starts by destroying you!"

 Chapter 270 - 270: Instigating The Clouds

    Apollo fought a battle entirely different from the two Headmasters.


    He continued firing techniques at the red cloud of smoke, each attack infused with his Lightning Attribute. The cloud shattered as the lightning ate away at it, but every time a chunk dissipated, it instantly reformed, sending its energy into the red line stretching across the city.


    Apollo didn''t know what would happen if the ritual succeeded, but he refused to dwell on it. His utmost priority was destroying the red cloud.


    However, seeing his lack of progress, he realized he would only waste his Lightning Attribute if he kept going. He had to think of another way.


    Apollo lowered his hands and looked toward the sky.


    The clouds concealed the moon, preventing its brilliance from passing through.


    A thought crossed his mind¡ªone he didn''t want to entertain but knew he had to act on.


    With this in mind, he prepared to fly toward the clouds above when his senses suddenly heightened.


    He glanced down and saw a black shadowy figure flying toward him, followed closely by a blue-armored Astral Projection.


    Reacting instantly, Apollo used a Wind Blast, propelling himself backward to dodge the attack.


    "Hey, just keep him on the ground!" Apollo shouted to Elmo, who was already engaged in another fight with the butler.


    "This guy''s too fast for me to keep up!" Elmo shouted back as his giant projection raised its shield, blocking the black shadow''s sword.


    Holst''s body emerged from his Astral Projection and flew at the beggar with alarming speed.


    "Sh*t! Watch out!" Elmo warned, but the butler had already reached the beggar.


    Holst slashed with his sword, cutting "Apollo" in half¡ªonly for the figure to dissolve into a puddle of water that splashed to the ground.


    Suddenly, a blast of fire cloaked in wind crashed into the butler''s side, sending him tumbling through the air.


    At the same time, Elmo became a blur, appearing behind Holst with his Astral Projection''s sword raised high. With a resounding clang, the blade clashed against another sword as Holst barely summoned his shadow projection in time to protect himself. Despite this, his body was sent plummeting to the ground, raising a massive dust cloud.


    "Nice one!" Elmo praised as the beggar emerged from his invisible state.


    "That was close," Apollo muttered. Fortunately, the moment he sensed danger, he acted immediately, using his Hydra Mirage technique while the real him hid with the invisibility technique he had refined from the Hydra Mirage itself.


    He glanced at the Headmasters battling their opponents before turning his gaze toward the clouds above. Determination glinted in his eyes. Using the Flying Wind Blast Technique, he flew toward the clouds.


    Apollo hoped for it to work¡ªand not work at the same time. He was afraid, likely a lingering trauma from being struck by the residue of a Lightning Tribulation after abandoning his Beggar Spot. He had done it to kill the Alphadusk, and now he was ready to take the risk again. Though this time, it wasn''t the Lightning Tribulation. That would be overkill.


    All he wanted was to summon ordinary lightning to destroy the red clouds fueling the ritual across the city.


    Taking a deep breath, he plunged deep into the night nebulas.


    The moment he entered, the sounds of explosions and fighting from the city below disappeared, replaced by an eerie tranquility.


    Apollo looked around, feeling as if he were in a dream. For the first time, he felt so close to the heavens'' creation. Reaching out, he touched the clouds, finding them moist and soft.


    His eyes wandered to the moon, its ethereal glow bathing him. He couldn''t help but smile¡ªonly for his expression to falter as the harsh reality below came crashing back into focus.


    The smile vanished, replaced by an expression of intense focus.


    "I just need normal lightning," Apollo muttered, raising his hands toward the clouds.


    He released a small amount of his Lightning Attribute, but as soon as it emerged, like a child reuniting with its parents, it left his hands and leaped into the clouds.


    Apollo waited, but nothing happened. Not enough, he thought, before releasing more Lightning Attribute. Once again, the energy jumped out from his hands and entered the nebulas, flashing briefly before going silent.


    Confused, he continued this process until every hair on his body stood on end.


    Suddenly, without him doing anything further, lightning began to flash. At first, there were only a few strikes, but as seconds passed, they erupted from the clouds, dancing wildly and shattering the stillness of the night.


    Apollo was struck several times. Although it hurt, the pain was tolerable.


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    "This is great. Just keep this momentum!" The beggar clenched his fists in excitement. Slowly, he let himself fall, the lightning following closely behind him. "Come! Follow me! Stronger if you can!"


    He shouted but immediately regretted it when a deafening thunderclap echoed. Before he realized what was happening, his vision went white, and his body convulsed violently.


    "Argh¡­ not this strong¡­" he muttered through his shaking. Fortunately, he managed to somewhat control his descent. After a few seconds, the convulsions stopped, replaced by a sharp burnt smell. Glaring at the clouds, he shouted, "I said not that strong!"


    A powerful lightning bolt flashed, narrowly missing him. It was even stronger than the previous strike, and when he looked at where it landed, he saw the roof of a building collapse.


    "F*ck! Something is wrong!" Apollo exclaimed as another bolt, mightier than the last, came down.


    Then he felt it¡ªa suffocating, familiar threat.


    His mind flashed back to the moment he first endured a Lightning Tribulation, and a shiver ran down his spine.


    Without even glancing at the sky, he launched himself backward, propelled by a Wind Blast toward the red cloud.


    Sht, did I mess up?!* he thought, fear gripping him.


    He plunged into the red cloud and emerged below it in just a second or two.


    Apollo''s chest heaved as he breathed heavily, worry etched on his face. Gazing beyond the red smoke, he saw lightning brewing furiously in the night clouds, the booming thunder reverberating across the city.


    "All I wanted was normal lightning! Not another punishment!" Apollo''s voice echoed, tinged with frustration and fear. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, as the world turned white, a lightning bolt shot down straight at him.


    The beggar gritted his teeth, preparing to use his Alm Points to survive. But the "punishment" he expected didn''t strike him. Instead, the lightning crashed into the red cloud above, creating a massive hole in its center and exposing Apollo beneath it.


    "It''s working," he muttered as another bolt prepared to descend.


    He braced himself, thinking it would be another Lightning Tribulation. However, when it struck, he realized it was merely a miniature version of the terrifying ordeal.


    Letting out a sigh of relief, Apollo smiled confidently.

 Chapter 271 - 271: It Cant Be?

    Klown''s sclera turned as black as the void. His strength increased, each punch and kick causing the air to explode.


    His fist slammed into a water barrier, shattering it upon impact. Appearing in front of the Great Serpent Headmaster, his face twisted into a confident, mocking smile. "Two lions can''t live on the same mountain, Axton! You know that!"


    Axton conjured a translucent sword, blocking the fatso''s kick. Shockwaves erupted with them at the center.


    "We coexist peacefully, following the will of the treaty. We don''t want power, nor do we want this city. All we seek is Enlightenment. You''re thinking too far ahead, Klown," Axton said coldly.


    "Enlightenment?" Hearing the word, the Mayor''s face flushed red with anger. "That''s bullsh*t! Power! Strength! That''s all that matters in this world! You think I''ll believe your lies?! No one dares to take me seriously because of you and your cultivation schools that exist only to take what''s mine!"


    "And what exactly is yours?" Axton raised an eyebrow as their bodies blurred, reappearing several meters away after exchanging dozens of moves in just a second.


    He began to understand where the Mayor was coming from. Klown likely felt his position diminishing into nothing when compared to the Cultivation Schools.


    "People! To rule everyone and everything!" Klown''s body became enveloped in red smoke. He materialized behind the Great Serpent Headmaster, red whips forming in his hands. With a swing, the whips coiled tightly around Axton, but it was only a clone that exploded into a cloud of mist.


    "That''s your sole reason for doing all this?" Ten versions of Axton surrounded the Mayor, their voices echoing. Axton could feel the insatiable desire radiating from Klown, and he knew that kind of hunger was one of the hardest things to destroy¡ªespecially when a body had been corrupted to its limits. "Or do you crave power simply because you want to consume everything?"


    "Why do I have to tell you everything?" Klown smirked, his gaze sweeping over them. "I''m not that cold-hearted. I''ll only eat those I find delicious and discard the useless ones. Why not join me, Axton? With my Master, we can rule everything and indulge in all our desires without restraint!"


    A chuckle echoed as the real Axton flew forward.


    "Siding with someone who''s summoning a Demon? Only your kind would do that," Axton said, his body releasing a deep blue haze. With a surge of Qi, the Great Serpent projection emerged from his body, followed by his clones.


    Seeing this, the Mayor retaliated, a massive flytrap forming around him, oozing poisonous smoke.


    Klown wielded the power of the Seven, and when combined with his strength equivalent to a 1st-Step Core Creation cultivator, he stood toe-to-toe with the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    "That''s the only mercy I''ll give you," Klown growled, as his forehead split open to reveal a third eye with a blood-red pupil.


    The atmosphere grew heavier than before, as if time itself had stopped.


    But just as they were about to clash again and settle their battle, a deafening thunderclap echoed through the sky, forcing them to look upward simultaneously.


    That''s when they saw the beggar being struck by a lightning bolt.


    Axton''s eyes narrowed, realization and horror dawning on him. "Don''t tell me¡­ he angered the Heavens?"


    Meanwhile, the Mayor burst into laughter. "Hahaha! It seems even the Heavens are on my side!"


    But his laughter abruptly stopped when the beggar plunged through the red smoke and remained beneath it.


    "I don''t think so," Axton said with a chuckle.


    "No! Holst, stop him!" Klown shouted at his butler, who was still busy fighting the Sword and Shield Headmaster.


    He saw Holst flying past Elmo, even destroying his shadowy projection. But as the butler neared the beggar, another lightning bolt struck, evaporating a large portion of the red cloud and sending Holst flying from the aftermath.


    They had lost count of how many times the butler had been flung around, though it was quite satisfying to watch¡ªnot to the Mayor, however.


    "Useless!" Klown roared. Ignoring his opponent, he flew toward the red cloud, pouring his own red energy into it to hasten its recovery. Meanwhile, the brewing lightning intensified, growing stronger with each moment.


    The red cloud was integral to the summoning ritual, supplying energy to the symbols surrounding the city. If it was destroyed, the ritual would fail, and Klown would never be able to meet his master!


    But would Axton let him proceed?


    Water blades streaked after the Mayor, their speed immense, quickly catching up to Klown.


    They tore through his Astral Projection, punching holes in it and cutting into the Mayor''s body.


    Klown gritted his teeth, enduring the assault as blood coated his body. Before he knew it, he reached the beggar. He didn''t waste time attacking Apollo; instead, with a wave of his hand, he shrouded the beggar in red smoke, making him vanish from the spot.


    The Mayor then conjured a massive symbol barrier, covering the hundreds-of-meters-wide red cloud.


    At that moment, lightning came crashing down, striking the barrier with a deafening roar!


    The barrier cracked instantly, the lightning forcing its way to the red cloud, which had barely recovered.


    A huge hole exploded in the cloud, larger than the previous one, almost obliterating it entirely. The attack didn''t stop there¡ªit surged toward the Mayor, who hastily erected another barrier to shield himself.


    But his power wasn''t enough to withstand the Lightning Tribulation.


    "Ah, f*ck," Klown cursed as his body was consumed by the intense light.


    ---


    When the beggar came to his senses, he realized he was already standing on the ground.


    He looked up just in time to see the Mayor engulfed in lightning. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo''s face twisted as he imagined the pain Klown must be enduring.


    He compared the current lightning to a Lightning Tribulation and concluded its strength was nearly half as powerful.


    "That must be painful," the beggar muttered.


    The Mayor vanished from the sky, and a mushroom cloud rose from the ground a few meters away from Apollo. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Our savior!" Holst''s shout echoed as he flew toward where Klown had fallen.


    The beggar spread his senses and discovered Holst was still alive¡ªbarely.


    The Headmasters landed beside him, with Elmo patting his shoulder. "You did a great job."


    "A dangerously great job," Axton remarked, glancing at the spot where the Mayor had fallen before turning his gaze to the still-angry sky. "But the tribulation isn''t over yet."


    "My bad. I thought I''d only summon normal lightning," Apollo said with a shrug.


    "It''s borderline Tribulation. As long as we leave it alone and it doesn''t find a target, we should be fine," Axton explained.

 Chapter 272 - 272: Last Ditch Effort

    Intense lightning flashed, crashing into another roof and instantly disintegrating it.


    "Seems like we don''t need Mathias anymore," Elmo muttered with a chuckle. "It would''ve been better if he were here fighting with us."


    "His role is still important," Axton replied. The two of them weren''t seriously injured. In fact, they could fight for a few more hours, but the unexpected lightning had disrupted their battle¡ªor rather, ended it in an instant.


    Then they noticed the beggar walking toward the fallen Mayor.


    "Hey, what are you doing?" Elmo asked with a frown.


    "Finishing what we started," Apollo replied, glancing back at them. Determination and excitement glinted in his eyes. Klown was greatly weakened, and Holst was far from his peak form. This was the perfect time to complete his mission by killing them both.


    He already knew Holst was the one who had eradicated the entire Leone family, leaving only the original body Apollo now occupied.


    The beggar could feel it. The real owner of the body was calling for him to kill them¡ªto exact revenge and bring justice to his family.


    Following this desire, which wasn''t entirely his own, he approached the Mayor and the butler. Standing just a few feet away, Apollo stared coldly at Holst before shifting his gaze to the Mayor, who struggled to open his eyes.


    They locked eyes, and for a brief moment, the beggar felt as though he might cry.


    What the hell? Apollo was confused. He knew himself well¡ªhe wasn''t the type to cry, especially when his actions were justifiable. It didn''t take him long to realize the real owner of the body must be feeling emotional.


    It made sense. The original Apollo Leone was still a kid, and knowing his family had been killed would undoubtedly result in trauma¡ªunless he were coldhearted enough not to care about being the last surviving member of his family.


    A chuckle escaped the struggling Mayor. "Ha¡­ ha, you¡­ will die¡­ all of you¡­"


    "Just because you''re laughing now doesn''t mean you''ll have the last laugh," Apollo said, his voice cold, while the butler stood up from his kneeling position.


    "Our Savior, the fight is not yet finished," Holst said, glancing at Klown lying on the ground.


    "I¡­ know¡­" the Mayor rasped. Using all his remaining strength, he forced himself to his feet. Although his body was charred black, Klown still had power left.


    His skin began flaking, a sign his recovery had already started.


    "We should kill them soon and summon the Red Energy Cloud," Holst said, his eyes darting to the Headmasters, who were already walking toward them.


    "Why did you kill the Leones?" the beggar suddenly asked¡ªa question he immediately regretted. Dammit! He felt annoyed at himself for being unable to suppress the original owner''s overwhelming desire to know the truth about that day.


    "Leones?¡­ Why¡­ do you¡­ care¡­ about a dead¡­ family?" Klown asked, a burnt smile spreading across his face. Then he answered, "For this¡­ plan! We couldn''t¡­ let another¡­ Core Creation¡­ stop¡­ our grand plan!"


    The Core Creation the Mayor referred to must have been the original body''s grandfather, who had fought someone that day. And that someone was now standing in front of him.


    "Ah, the old man¡­ He was a strong fellow. Fortunately, I poisoned him that day," Holst muttered, reminiscing about the day he annihilated the entire Leone mansion.


    The beggar unknowingly clenched his fists upon hearing this. To ensure their plan succeeded, they had eradicated the Leone family, who had refused to side with the Mayor.


    As if this plan is worth more than lives, Apollo thought. Yet, when it came to the Mayor, that was undoubtedly true.


    "I see," Apollo muttered. He lowered his head briefly, and when he looked up, a strong killing intent radiated from his body as his wooden sword reappeared.


    Holst frowned but reacted quickly, his black sword appearing in his hands.


    Two slashes materialized in the air as Apollo and the butler clashed.


    A strong wind erupted from the impact, causing the Headmasters to stop in their tracks and the Mayor to jump back.


    Klown stared at the beggar before looking toward the sky.


    Under the flashing lightning, he noticed a small amount of the Red Energy Cloud still lingering. It was trying to recover its previous form, but due to the residue left by the lightning, the red cloud struggled to reconstitute itself.


    Then his eyes, glinting dangerously, landed on his butler. An idea formed in his mind.


    Meanwhile, Elmo and Axton exchanged glances.


    "Let''s help him," Elmo suggested.


    They could sense something strange about the beggar. There was no need for him to fight the butler, as their enemy was clearly on the losing side. They could simply band together and end it once and for all.


    "Alright," Axton nodded.


    But before they could take another step, Yoma''s voice rang out.


    "No, stop! Let me handle these two!"


    Apollo dodged, leaving behind his Hydra Mirage clone.


    The clone shattered into a splash of water as the black sword pierced its head.


    Holst glanced toward where his opponent had reappeared. He tried to activate his Astral Technique but realized he couldn''t. After the previous battles against the Headmasters, his body was far too weakened, a shadow of its peak form.


    Still, his speed was not to be underestimated. In an instant, he appeared in front of the beggar!


    Fire Blast! Wind Blast!


    Apollo combined the two techniques before the butler could get near him. He sent the attack forward, creating a great explosion that propelled his own body backward. He stabilized himself in midair and saw the butler carving a long ravine into the ground with his feet.


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    "Hey, are you sure about this?" Elmo shouted. "We could end this quickly, you know!"


    Apollo didn''t answer as his body became a blur, reappearing in front of the butler. With his sword raised, time seemed to slow down.


    You killed the Leones just for the sake of this plan of yours¡ªa plan that requires even more killing¡­ That''s madness¡­ I lost my family, I lost my parents! Apollo''s voice resonated through Thought Transfer. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was surprised by his own words, but he realized they weren''t entirely his own. These were the feelings of the original Apollo Leone, translated into words by him.


    It was crazy to think that this was what a seven-year-old felt like.


    The butler looked down at the beggar. It''s not madness but an act of Our Savior! They should be honored to have died in His presence! And what do you mean you lost a fam¡ª


    Suddenly, as if struck by lightning¡ªwhich, coincidentally, had just happened¡ªrealization dawned on the butler.


    "Don''t tell me, you are the Lo¡ª"


    But he couldn''t finish his sentence. The wooden sword had already pierced his chest.


    Blood splashed onto the ground as a deep wound tore through Holst''s chest, exposing his organs.


    He was caught off guard by the news, giving the beggar an opening.


    "You are right," Apollo confirmed. Using the Simple Movement Technique and other related techniques, his body appeared behind the butler.


    A cold, murderous intent erupted.


    Holst''s movements visibly slowed from the injury he had sustained. Glancing behind with great effort, all he could see was the deep, chilling stare of the kid.


    Yes, a kid.


    "This is for them," Apollo muttered. His wooden sword was now imbued with the Simple Wind Sword Technique, bursts of Fire Blast, and the Water Blade Disintegration Technique.


    With a single thrust, the weapon pierced through the butler''s chest, straight into his heart.


    The butler coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining his lips bright red.


    Apollo pulled his wooden sword free, red splattering as Holst collapsed to the ground.


    Letting out a sigh, he could feel satisfaction radiating from the original. Such a scary kid to feel that way, the beggar thought.


    "Now where''s the Mayor?" Apollo muttered, though the answer came immediately as a red whip pulled the butler''s body toward the sky.


    A frown crossed his face as he saw Klown holding Holst in his hands. He turned angrily to the two Headmasters.


    "Why did you let him do that?!"


    "Hey, don''t be so hotheaded," Elmo replied, shaking his head in annoyance.


    "He''s sacrificing his energy to return to his peak, but it''ll only last a few moments," Axton explained. "It seems he still has something up his sleeve."


    Apollo''s gaze shifted back to Klown. The Mayor''s burnt skin was gone, replaced with fresh, unblemished flesh.


    "I will succeed!" Klown shouted, his voice brimming with determination. "Even if it costs me my life!"


    With that declaration, his body became shrouded in red smoke, along with the butler he held. In a sudden burst of energy, an explosion occurred, and red clouds formed in the sky once more, pulling in the remnants of red energy from the air.


    "Damn, he''s really crazy," Elmo muttered with a sigh.


    "He sacrificed his own power to achieve his goal. That''s¡­ admirable," Axton commented.


    By now, the beggar was already standing beside them.


    "So we''re just going to let him be?" Apollo asked.


    "It''s a last-ditch effort. Why don''t we watch? Besides, we still have that guy who hasn''t done anything yet," Elmo said.


    "Do you want me to go up there and anger the heavens?" Apollo asked with a smirk.


    "No!" Elmo and Axton shouted in unison.

 Chapter 273 - 273: Red Ball

    The red cloud in the sky poured red energy into the dying symbols across the city, reigniting them and making their brilliance burn brighter than ever.


    Shrouded in deep red smoke, Klown gazed down at the city below him. His body continuously emitted red energy, fueling the clouds that swirled around him.


    Seeing his method working, he let out a sigh of relief. Just a little more, and he would finally see his master.


    A grunt caught his attention. Staring at the person in his hands, a thought crossed his mind. He could feel the red energy inside his body draining rapidly. If this continued, his body would fail before the ritual could extract the required amount of red energy.


    "Our¡­ savior," Holst whispered, coughing up a mouthful of blood between words. He couldn''t regenerate the wound in his chest; his strength had already left him. Even speaking was a struggle.


    "Holst, you are going to fulfill your purpose," Klown said, his eyes glinting coldly. "I, your savior, will free you now."


    Hearing this, the butler looked up at the mayor with all his remaining strength. "I''m¡­ glad¡­"


    "You should be," Klown replied. As Holst closed his eyes, Klown opened his mouth wide and bit into the butler''s neck!


    Blood spurted as the mayor began chewing. The sound of flesh being shredded by his teeth echoed through the air.


    Klown swallowed, a large chunk of the butler''s neck disappearing into his maw. Suddenly, red energy poured out of Holst''s body and was absorbed by the mayor.


    "This is delicious," Klown muttered with a satisfied smile. However, his expression quickly turned serious as he focused on strengthening the red cloud above.


    When he felt his own red energy nearing depletion, he resumed chewing on the butler in his hands. He savored the taste, knowing this was likely his final meal. He hoped his master would intervene once the plan succeeded. He didn''t want to die, but failure would lead him to the same fate anyway.


    The sound of chewing mixed with the sight of the red cloud burning brightly in the sky. When the energy seemed to reach its peak, the cloud erupted into red smoke that shot toward the symbols in Klown City, enveloping them in an instant.


    Klown paused mid-motion, his teeth mere inches from the butler''s eye.


    He turned his gaze to the streets below as Holst''s body¡ªfrom the neck, to the shoulders, down to the feet¡ªfell toward the ground, leaving only his head in the mayor''s hand.


    "Finally," Klown muttered with relief. His blood-covered face twisted into a sinister smile, making him look like a demon.


    The symbols throughout the city emitted a red light before transforming into smoke. The smoke converged in the city''s center, forming a sphere of swirling red energy.


    At the same time, the red cloud around the mayor dissipated. The moment it vanished, Klown felt all his strength leave him. He reverted to the form of a normal human.


    Letting out a weary sigh, he allowed his body to fall toward the ground.


    As the fierce wind buffeted his back and sent his hair flailing wildly, he raised the severed head in front of him.


    "We did it," Klown said with a relaxed smile.


    A dull thud echoed as the mayor''s body hit the ground, and the butler''s head rolled away to the side.


    ...


    Time passed¡ªonly a minute or two¡ªbefore Klown felt a stinging slap across his face. A voice soon followed, cutting through the haze of his pain.


    "Hey, wake up!"


    Another slap reverberated.


    "Wake up!"


    A third impact echoed, harder this time.


    "Still asleep, huh?"


    Silence fell before a deafening thud, as if something had been struck by a missile.


    "Ah!" Klown''s eyes shot open as searing pain assaulted him. His entire body felt like it was on fire, every nerve screaming in agony. He wanted to move, to roll and extinguish the flames, but no matter how desperately he tried, he couldn''t so much as twitch.


    From the corner of his vision, he noticed someone approaching.


    "H-help¡­ argh¡­" Klown groaned, his voice barely audible. But when his eyes finally focused on the figure, they widened in rage. "You¡­ I will¡­ kill you¡­"


    "Are you sure about that?" Apollo smirked, conjuring a ball of water that hovered ominously above the mayor. With a flick of his hand, the water ball burst.


    Klown screamed like a wounded animal as steam rose from his burning body. The water had extinguished the flames, but the pain intensified tenfold. Every fiber of his being felt as though it was being pierced by thousands of needles.


    "Oh? Did I accidentally make salt water instead of plain water? My bad," Apollo said, his tone devoid of remorse.


    "Argh¡­ f*ck¡­ you," Klown snarled through clenched teeth, his eyes bloodshot with pain and fury.


    "Thank you," Apollo chuckled, glancing at the severed head lying a few feet away. "It''s a shame. I should''ve been the one to kill him, but you stole the last hit. I really hate people who KS my kills."


    Klown couldn''t understand the strange words Apollo used, so he focused all his will on enduring the torment. Without the red energy that had once elevated him to the strength of a Core Creation Cultivator, there was no relief. The pain only grew, and with each passing second, unconsciousness threatened to overtake him.


    "Hey, can you stop grunting?" Apollo asked, a frown crossing his face.


    "I will¡­ kill you¡­ my Master¡­ will come¡­ for you¡­" Klown ground out through gritted teeth. The thought of his master gave him a flicker of confidence amid the agony. "I succeeded¡­ my Master¡­ will conquer¡­ everything!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah, yeah, you succeeded," Apollo said dismissively, scratching the inside of his ear.


    Despite his suffering, Klown managed a weak smile. He stared up at the crimson sky, his gaze fixed on the glowing symbols above. In his mind''s eye, he saw the future his master had promised: endless strength, endless power, and endless¡­ food.


    "Save¡­ me¡­ Master¡­" Klown whispered, momentarily forgetting the unbearable pain coursing through him.


    "You still have faith," Apollo muttered. "But that faith won''t save you."


    "My faith¡­ will¡­ destroy you¡­" Klown shot back, his brief smile fading into a grimace.


    "Nah, I don''t think so," Apollo replied with a chuckle. He waved his hand, commanding the surrounding Qi and wind to envelop the mayor.


    Klown''s mangled body rose into the air, suspended by an unseen force.


    "You should see what''s happening to your precious city," Apollo said, his tone cold.


    "What¡­ are you¡­ doi¡ª" Klown''s words died in his throat as his eyes widened in horror.


    The red ball of energy hovering above the city¡ªthe one meant to summon his master¡ªwas being torn apart by an unknown force. With every strike, the red energy dissipated, vanishing into nothingness.


    "No¡­ no¡­ no!" Klown shook his head, disbelief etched across his face. Forgetting his pain, he screamed, "This can''t be! How?! How?! My plan! Our grand plan!"


    "Stop shouting!" Apollo barked, leaping lightly into the air and slapping the back of Klown''s head. The sharp sound echoed, but the mayor barely reacted, his gaze vacant and lifeless.


    "This can''t¡­ be happening¡­ my Master¡­" Klown whispered, his voice barely audible, as despair consumed him.

 Chapter 274 - 274: The Original

    Instead of red, the symbols covering the entire city were white, emanating a solemn light that replaced the oppressive heaviness with calmness and serenity.


    But the Mayor thought these symbols were the work of his so-called Master. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He believed in his hope and fate, convinced they had succeeded, that he would finally meet his Master, become the sole ruler, and conquer everything in sight.


    However, this was a false hope he should never have clung to. His dream shattered as Klown stared at the beggar in disbelief.


    "It hurts, right?" Apollo asked with a smirk. "You should see your face."


    With a snap of his fingers, water materialized and formed a mirror-like surface in front of the Mayor.


    Klown''s gaze was drawn to the mirror, where he saw his mangled and burned body. His once-massive stomach had burst from the fall, muscles had ruptured, and bones lay crushed. It was a wonder he was still alive.


    "No¡­ no!" Klown screamed toward the sky. It was then that he saw the cause of the white symbols emitting their strange forces, relentlessly attacking the cocoon of red smoke.


    High above, at the center of the symbols, floated a man in midair. His body radiated an intense, bright light, with the symbols interconnected around him.


    Klown realized this man was the reason his Master couldn''t emerge. As time passed, the red cocoon grew smaller and smaller. If this continued, the ball of red energy would vanish entirely.


    "Everyone was skeptical about this method," Apollo said, his tone almost casual. "Hundreds of Array Masters working together to pull this off, using Mathias'' stored Refined Qi as their power source¡­ Anyway, it works."


    "The Ancient¡­ Demon Sealing¡­ Technique¡­" Klown whispered, his voice weak.


    "Oh, so that''s the name of this technique," Apollo said, catching the Mayor''s words. He nodded as if gaining newfound understanding. "Being part of a family with thousands of years of recorded knowledge definitely has its perks. So, what do you think? Like the view?"


    Klown didn''t respond. Instead, his head lowered.


    From Apollo''s height, he noticed the Mayor''s vacant, dead-fish eyes. He had given up. It was understandable, after all. Years of preparation and hope, painstakingly cultivated in the hearts and minds of many, crushed in an instant. The psychological toll was immense.


    But Apollo wouldn''t let this hideous Mayor rest in peace.


    "Hey, I have something to tell you," Apollo said, stepping closer to Klown. "Do you know who I am?"


    Klown slowly lifted his gaze, likely out of curiosity.


    "Let me enlighten you." Apollo reached up with a finger, removing the contact lenses from his eyes. Suddenly, his jet-black irises turned into the most mesmerizing blue.


    At first, the Mayor looked confused. But as he stared more closely, realization dawned.


    "Froi¡­ Gina?" Klown stammered.


    Those were the names of Apollo''s parents¡ªthe original ones. The moment the words left the Mayor''s lips, a storm of powerful emotions swirled within the beggar.


    For some reason, Apollo wanted to cry. No, it wasn''t for some reason. The emotions of the original body were surfacing, and unlike the cold detachment he''d felt when facing the butler, the beggar now wanted to burst into tears.


    Why?


    Why me? What have I done to deserve this? My family¡­ why them?


    These thoughts surged through Apollo''s mind, attacking him like a dam breaking under pressure. He''d been holding it all deep inside, and now, it burst.


    "I won''t be able to see their smiles anymore," whispered ''Apollo.'' The voice was soft, small, and¡­ different. It wasn''t him¡ªit was the original.


    The child was speaking. Apollo allowed the original to take over.


    "It''s because of your fault. You are a bad guy," the original said, staring at the Mayor with tearful eyes.


    Klown, noticing the sudden change in the beggar''s demeanor, tilted his head in confusion. "You¡­ How did you manage to do it? How did you become so strong? You''re just a ki¡ªwait, did you also find a Demon as your Master? Tell me! I''ll join you!"


    "Demon¡­ so this is what it''s all about," the original replied, the tears in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a cold, steely gaze.


    Apollo felt his body moving on its own. Without fighting for control, he allowed the original to take the lead. The boy stepped closer to the Mayor, and suddenly, his body began to float just like Klown''s.


    "I will kill you, on behalf of my parents."


    These words came from a seven-year-old boy, a statement so chilling that even Apollo, observing from within, found it hard to believe.


    The original raised his hand and pulled it back. Lightning flashed from the beggar''s palm; fire erupted alongside it. Wind enveloped his fingers, while water blades covered his arm. Techniques upon techniques stacked atop one another, and in an instant, variations of each technique materialized.


    A small Great Serpent materialized, coiling around his hand. The snake roared, and its head split into two, then three. The Great Serpent transformed into a legendary three-headed beast.


    Apollo, watching this unfold within his mental space, was stunned¡ªcompletely and utterly stunned. The intricate variations of cultivation techniques he had only casually thought of before were now fully realized. And the person wielding them was the original Apollo Leone.


    But if his memory was correct, the original Apollo Leone had no knowledge of cultivation. He was just a kid through and through.


    How is this happening? Apollo thought. Is it because of me? Or is the original truly talented? He was baffled.


    Hey, do you think my arm can handle this? Apollo asked the original. But the real owner didn''t respond.


    "Kill me," Klown said, his plea having failed.


    "I will," the original said coldly. With an icy gaze, he drew his hand back and unleashed a punch.


    Apollo braced himself for the excruciating pain that would undoubtedly follow. But seconds passed, and it didn''t come. Opening his eyes, he realized he was back in control of the body.


    At the same time, the dozens of techniques and their variations covering the beggar''s right hand dissipated into particles of Qi.


    I''m not a killer.


    The real owner''s voice echoed in Apollo''s mind, and he let out a sigh of relief. He couldn''t afford to lose an arm.


    The kid is maturing fast, Apollo thought, shaking his head. Then he smirked. "But I am."


    With a swift slash of his hand, a head flew through the air before landing and rolling across the grassy ground.

 Chapter 275 - 275: 450

    Dawn arrived, and the red ball of energy in the center of the city was now nothing more than dissipating red smoke.


    All this time, Apollo had stood near the Mayor''s state, with Klown''s headless body lying on the ground.


    Letting out a sigh, he looked up at the sky and saw that Mathias had already returned to normal and was heading toward the north side of the city. Headmaster Axton and Elmo were already there, fighting against the remaining monsters that wouldn''t stop, even though the perpetrator of all this was dead.


    Should I join the fun? Apollo thought, but he shook his head. Letting out another sigh, he began walking toward the street where his beggar spot was located. After everything, all he wanted was to rest.


    But after taking a few steps, he stopped. His eyes widened as realization struck him.


    "Bubba!" Apollo shouted. In a flash of lightning, he disappeared from his spot and reappeared inside the destroyed mansion.


    He looked around, but all he saw were piles of rubble stacked atop each other and fragments of human bodies crushed in the destruction.


    "Sh*t," Apollo muttered, frowning. "Bubba! Bubba! Come out!"


    He shouted his monkey''s name, but there was no response.


    Spreading his senses, Apollo detected people beneath the rubble¡ªsome alive, others dead. He tried to extend his senses further, but the sheer weight of the stones obstructed him.


    Apollo began to think. Then an idea popped into his head. "If you don''t respond, I''ll feed you another chili!"


    The moment his words fell, a high-pitched cry echoed from deep within the rubble. The beggar''s eyes lit up.


    Apollo hurried over to the rubble and began lifting stones one by one. But there were too many, so he activated his Hydra Mirage technique. Dozens of him materialized, working together to hurl stones aside, creating loud bangs in the process.


    Soon enough, he found his companion buried in the rubble.


    "There you are. I thought you wanted to taste anoth¡ª" Apollo stopped mid-sentence, his words cut off by the sight before him. His face twitched.


    Bubba was crying¡ªnot because of the chili threat, but because of the person lying on the ground.


    It was a fat, naked woman. White fabric covered her face and body, particularly the areas inappropriate for children.


    Bubba sat beside her, tears streaming down his face. His small monkey hands tapped her, as though trying to wake a dead person.


    "This person¡­" Apollo recognized her. She was the same woman who had wrestled with countless men, bouncing with them as though they were the only people left on earth.


    Staring at his monkey, who had fallen in love with the woman, Apollo felt his speechlessness give way to anger.


    He grabbed Bubba by the nape and stared deep into his eyes. "You know what you''re doing, huh? You''re too young to fall in love!"


    Bubba whimpered, glancing longingly at his love-at-first-sight lying on the ground.


    "Look at me!" Apollo shouted. The monkey seemed to understand and reluctantly turned his gaze back to him.


    "You should focus on your studies! What if you impregnate her? Do you know how hard it is to feed another mouth? Think with your brain¡ªnot your d*ck¡ªuntil you have something to prove! Women will flock to you once they realize you''re rich!"


    Bubba let out a cry to the sky, daggers upon daggers piercing his heart. Although he couldn''t understand the small human''s words, he felt as though his heart were breaking.


    After a while, the monkey stopped crying, though he continued to stare at the woman with reluctance in his eyes.


    "Listen to the elders," Apollo said, stroking his companion''s head as a small smile appeared on his face. "I know, after seeing her performance, you fell in love at first sight. But you have to understand¡ªcan you handle her weight?"


    The monkey didn''t answer, merely resting his head on the beggar''s shoulder.


    "Alright, we should head home and eat another of your Ch¡­"


    ---


    North of Klown City, monkey-like monsters had already broken through a wall and entered the streets. But before they could wreak havoc, the Headmasters appeared, pushing them back and wiping out a huge number of the monsters.


    Before long, the city''s only known Core Creation wielder joined the fray. The battle ended in just a minute or two. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not a single monster survived. It was a devastating victory for the humans.


    Shouts echoed as the silver-armored guards cheered. They had lost hundreds of comrades and loved ones, but as the morning sun peeked over the horizon, smiles and tears lit up their faces.


    Five men landed atop the wall.


    "It''s done," Nathan said, letting out a sigh of relief. "Killing that Stone Monkey was a pain in the *ss."


    "If it weren''t for my absolute power, we never would have won," Master Popo said, puffing out his chest as he stared at the morning light.


    Everyone rolled their eyes at his shamelessness.


    "Where is Yoma?" Mathias asked, glancing at Axton and Elmo.


    "We left him at the Mayor''s mansion," Elmo replied.


    "We wouldn''t have succeeded without him," Axton added with a smile. "Apparently, he''s also a lightning user."


    "Lightning attribute?" Mathias raised an eyebrow. "Just like Guo?"


    "Yeah, just like Guo¡ª" Axton suddenly frowned as something dawned on him.


    He remembered that the beggar had been using the Training Ground to train, and that area was under the authority of Wanderer Sir Guo. They had given Sir Guo control over that place so he would remain in the city, knowing his desire to find a suitable disciple.


    As this realization crossed his mind, Axton slapped his forehead.


    "What''s wrong?" Elmo asked, while the others looked at the Headmaster of the Great Serpent with confusion.


    "Nothing," Axton replied, shaking his head.


    "I see," Mathias said. "So, when are they going to arrive?"


    Hearing the question, Axton glanced toward the city center, where the ball of red energy had once been, before answering.


    "In a month. They still have to take care of other matters in another area before heading here."


    "A month¡­ That should be enough time to appoint a new mayor and set the city on the right path," Mathias said, glancing at the people around him. "Do you guys have anyone in mind? I''ll send a message to the Empire soon and inform them of what transpired here."


    Axton chuckled. "I think you should take that position."


    "Axton is right, be the mayor," Nathan said.


    "I don''t care, as long as the city doesn''t bother my school," Master Popo shrugged.


    "I''m with Popo," Elmo nodded.


    "Hahaha, I''ll think about it," Mathias laughed.


    ---


    When the beggar arrived at Filly Restaurant, he saw them walking out of the store.


    "Oh, where did you go, Mr. Yoma? The city is dangerous!" Filly said, worry evident in her voice.


    "Morning exercise," Apollo answered.


    "I heard Demon Summoning was happening. My father specifically asked us to stay inside¡­ Do you perhaps know what happened?" Filly asked.


    "Don''t worry, it''s safe now," Apollo said with a smile. Then he noticed a transparent barrier covering the restaurant. "You should take down the barrier; there''s no need for it."


    "Oh, right," Filly said, taking an object from her clothes. The barrier disappeared.


    "Did you fight the Mayor?" Gail asked.


    "Yeah, he was pretty weak, to be honest. Using a Demon to gain strength? Only a coward would do that, right?" Apollo replied, shaking his head.


    "I''m not surprised the Mayor was behind all this," Gail said.


    "Is he dead?" Ned chimed in from the side.


    "Yes. If they had succeeded, the whole city would have been sacrificed," Apollo said.


    He talked with them for a while before bidding his farewell and heading back to his beggar spot. As he sat under his makeshift roof, he couldn''t help but let out a sigh. If the Mayor had succeeded, people would have ended up as food for the Demon. Fortunately, it didn''t happen.


    Suddenly, Bubba, who was still in his arms, jumped down and landed in a corner, burying his head into his body.


    "Don''t think about her anymore. She''s not worth it," Apollo said, though the monkey didn''t respond. Shaking his head, he leaned back against the wall comfortably and brought up his mission status.


    An interface materialized in front of him, the same screen that had appeared when he killed the Mayor.


    ---


    Mission: Revenge for Your Family (Completed)


    Part-3 (Finale): After discovering the Mayor''s hidden plan, you are tasked with disrupting him and stopping the Demon Summoning. Kill the Mayor and the person responsible for killing your family members.


    Time Limit: Eight Days.


    Reward: 300 Alm Points, Random Reward Box.


    Punishment: Lightning Tribulation.


    ---


    Seeing the word "Completed" and his rewards, a smile spread across Apollo''s face. Then, a small laugh escaped his mouth, which soon grew into a crazed one.


    "Hahaha, I''m rich!" Apollo exclaimed, clenching his fist. "I''m rich!"


    Excitement coursed through his body as he closed the mission status and opened his Status Screen to check his Alm Points.


    ---


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 450.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning, Water.


    Companions: Bubba (Monkey).


    ---


    Looking at his Alm Points, Apollo felt like he might die from joy.


    "Ah, I can finally sleep without worrying about tomorrow," the beggar muttered with a satisfied smile on his face.

 Chapter 276 - 276: Automatic Alm Points Producer(Part-1)

    The sound of footsteps echoed, producing a crunching noise on the blazing desert.


    As the glaring sun burned the land, a kid reached out his hand to wipe his sweaty forehead. Letting out a deep sigh, he stared at the terrain in the distance. Valleys adorned it, signaling he was finally nearing the area where Klown City was situated.


    Beyond that lay the dense forest.


    "I have to walk faster," Don muttered, determination glinting in his eyes. With cracked lips and red eyes, he pressed forward. His robe shielded him from the sun, but the intense heat made it difficult to breathe.


    He had to endure. For the sake of the people he left behind¡ªto save them. Thinking about their current situation ignited a strong desire to kill those d*mn guards.


    Don couldn''t afford to rest.


    However, as he walked past the hills, his body gave out, and he collapsed to his knees. His vision spun, and his head throbbed as if it were being hammered.


    Don vomited what little remained in his stomach.


    "I¡­ have to¡­ hold on¡­" Don gritted his teeth, attempting to stand. But he could only stay upright for a moment before falling again, retching acid and water.


    "Where are you going?" A sudden voice from behind made the kid shiver in fear.


    "D-don''t¡­ kill me¡­" Don pleaded as he slowly turned around. He saw a man clad in a simple hanfu robe, a bamboo hat on his head, and a blade of grass in his mouth.


    "I''m not a cold person. Why would I kill a kid?" Sir Guo said, shaking his head. "Here, let me help you up."


    He raised his hand, and the surrounding Qi enveloped the boy. Instantly, Don''s extreme fatigue and dizziness vanished as if they had never existed.


    Furthermore, he felt as though he had just eaten a feast; his hunger was completely gone.


    Don stood with newfound vigor. Bowing deeply, he said, "Thank you, Mister! I will forever remember this kindness!"


    "Don''t fret over it," Sir Guo waved his hand. "So, where are you going?"


    "To the city, Sir. I need to meet up with someone," Don answered.


    "Oh? Then best of luck," Sir Guo said before his body flashed into lightning, disappearing into the distant sky¡ªthe same direction the kid was heading.


    Don clenched his fists, his eyes burning with excitement. "A cultivator¡­ I will become like them! But first, I have to find him." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    "I want you to eat this!" Apollo forcefully pried open his companion''s mouth, despite the monkey struggling against him.


    Bubba tried to resist, but his meager strength was no match. In the end, the Chili of Intelligence went into his mouth. With no other choice, he began chewing it before swallowing it whole.


    A high-pitched cry escaped the monkey, echoing through the beggar''s spot. It attracted the attention of passersby, though none could find the source, even after peering into the restaurant''s corner.


    As the curious onlookers left, Apollo glared at the monkey, who had already passed out from the intense heat.


    "You should be grateful¡ªthat was worth 15 Alm Points!" Apollo said, though the monkey didn''t respond.


    Shaking his head, Apollo brought up his Status Screen.


    Name: Apollo Leone.


    Race: Human.


    Alm Points: 420.


    Spirit Cultivation: None.


    Physique Cultivation: 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Attributes: Lightning, Water.


    Companions: Bubba (Monkey).


    It had been a week since the incident with the Mayor ended, and Apollo had only spent thirty of his Alm Points.


    He hadn''t gone on a shopping spree yet, limiting himself to buying two Chilies of Intelligence for Bubba, his monkey. Instead, he focused on advancing his cultivation. Feeling close to breaking through, he concentrated all his efforts, and after three days, he finally reached the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    Apollo hadn''t ventured out to test his newfound strength. Instead, he began cultivating a technique he had obtained from the fifth floor of the Great Serpent Library¡ªthe Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation.


    This only confirmed his theory: to achieve significant results, he needed to be near a body of water. However, that didn''t mean he hadn''t made any progress. In fact, Apollo was on the verge of reaching the beginner stage of the technique, needing only one final push.


    Staring at his Alm Points, Apollo frowned. Now that he had accumulated so much, he wasn''t sure how to spend them. With no new missions after resolving the lingering problem of the original owner of his body, there were no additional Alm Point rewards coming his way. He also hadn''t opened the random reward box yet.


    He couldn''t help but wonder: had the kid who once owned this body vanished with the completed mission? For now, Apollo felt as though he were driving a car with no passengers¡ªfinally in control, but entirely on his own.


    "Hmm," he muttered, rubbing his chin. Without missions, gaining Alm Points would become significantly harder. He had to spend his current balance carefully, especially since begging wasn''t exactly a lucrative career.


    Looking around his sparse beggar spot, an idea came to mind. Should I decorate it? The thought brightened his mood.


    Summoning his System Store, a translucent screen materialized before him.


    "Show me items that can be used for my beggar spot," Apollo said. As his words fell, the interface flashed, and the list of items shifted.


    Apollo wasn''t interested in ordinary furniture. He wanted something akin to his Cleaning Bead or Basic Compass¡ªitems with unique and practical uses.


    What if there''s a sofa that can heal injuries instantly? The thought excited him.


    He began browsing through the items, carefully reading each description.


    "Bowl of Emptiness? It can hold an infinite amount of food¡­ but it costs 1,000 Alm Points? Too expensive," Apollo mused. The concept appealed to him, but his tight budget demanded prudence.


    "Chair of Cultivation... Increases cultivation when you sit, depending on your understanding. Interesting," he muttered. But seeing the cost, he sighed and moved on.


    "Table of Enlightenment... Gain enlightenment by dozing off at the table."


    "Attack Power Sofa... Can fly and increase the user''s attack power by a hundred times. A hundred thousand Alm Points? Ridiculous."


    Apollo scrolled through the items for a while longer but couldn''t find anything both useful and affordable within his 420 Alm Points.


    Everything he liked was either far too expensive or didn''t suit the needs of his beggar spot.


    Just as he was about to give up, one item caught his eye.


    "Automatic Alm Point Producer (Upgradable)?" Apollo read aloud, curiosity lighting up his face. He eagerly dove into the item description.


    As he finished reading, his expression brightened.


    "Such an item exists? How come I only found out about this now?" he exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face.

 Chapter 277 - 277: Automatic Alm Points Producer(Part-2)

    Automatic Alm Points Producer (Upgradable):


    An item exclusively designed for the Beggar Spot. Once purchased and added to the User''s Beggar Spot, it generates Alm Points without requiring any alms. At Level 1, the User will receive 0.4 Alm Points every hour.


    Alm Points Cost: 300


    Alm Points Needed to Upgrade to Level 2: Unavailable (Must purchase the item first).


    After reading the item''s description, Apollo''s face lit up with excitement. But in the next moment, his expression darkened as a realization struck him.


    "System, why did this item only appear now? I swear, I browse your System Store every day, but this is the first time I''ve seen this! Did you hide it?" Apollo demanded, raising an eyebrow.


    The System, as usual, remained silent.


    "F*ck you, System. I''m cursing you in advance just in case you''re pulling some tricks behind my back," Apollo muttered. Without any hesitation, he purchased the item.


    Instantly, his Alm Points dropped to 120. The loss stung, but he knew the Automatic Alm Points Producer was essential for his Beggar Spot.


    The interface disappeared, and the Beggar Spot emitted a dim glow for a few seconds before returning to normal.


    A notification appeared in the corner of his vision:


    "You received 0.4 Alm Points."


    Seeing this, Apollo opened his Status Screen, and sure enough, his Alm Points had increased from 120 to 120.4.


    "0.4 every hour... that''s 9.6 Alm Points every 24 hours," Apollo muttered, excitement bubbling in his chest.


    If he''d had this item earlier, wouldn''t his journey have been so much easier? The thought frustrated him. Shaking his head, he reopened the item description to check the cost of upgrading it to Level 2. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Automatic Alm Points Producer (Upgradable):


    An item exclusively designed for the Beggar Spot. Once purchased and added to the User''s Beggar Spot, it generates Alm Points without requiring any alms.


    Alm Points Needed to Upgrade to Level 2: 600 (Increases production to 0.8 Alm Points every hour).


    As Apollo read further, he discovered more details:


    Alm Points Needed to Upgrade to Level 3: 900 (Increases production to 1.2 Alm Points every hour).


    Alm Points Needed to Upgrade to Level 4: 1200 (Increases production to 1.6 Alm Points every hour).


    The item''s final upgrade, Level 10, cost a whopping 10,000 Alm Points, but it would produce 4 Alm Points every hour.


    Apollo frowned as he realized the pricing system was far from fair. From Level 1 to Level 5, the upgrade cost increased by only 300 Alm Points per level. However, starting at Level 6, the cost jumped to 3600 Alm Points, with an increment of 600 Alm Points per level up to Level 9.


    But Level 10? That required an outrageous 10,000 Alm Points!


    "Is there even a scientific explanation for why the price skyrockets like this? None!" Apollo scoffed. "Clearly, the System is just being a greedy b*stard!"


    Apollo cursed the System a few more times in his head before letting out a sigh. At least this solved his problem with Alm Points. Now, he could focus on his cultivation without worrying about his Alm Points stagnating. Without the missions, he needed to find other ways to earn more, and this item was the perfect solution.


    As he mulled over this, another idea struck him.


    The beggar brought up his System Store once more.


    "Show me Beggar Spot," he muttered. This time, his request was specific.


    The store flashed, and soon, only one item remained on the list.


    "I''m such a genius," Apollo grinned. The System was really selling additional Beggar Spots, and there was no limit to how many he could buy.


    He had assumed he could only have one Beggar Spot for his entire life, which was why he never searched for it specifically. Now, he realized that a new Beggar Spot would cost only three thousand Alm Points.


    "System, let''s say I buy another Beggar Spot¡ªcan I also get a second Automatic Alm Points Producer and use it on the new spot?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes, you can," the System''s voice echoed emotionlessly in his mind.


    "That''s good to hear," Apollo muttered, sighing in relief.


    He finally had a new goal: to buy as many Beggar Spots and Automatic Alm Points Producers as he could!


    If this worked, Apollo would essentially be printing money.


    Alm Points were essential to his survival and progress in this world. They would help him reach the top and avoid the fate of dying from old age. No matter how much he disliked the System, he would still buy from it if it meant securing his future.


    As Apollo imagined his prosperous future, a movement caught his attention. His companion, Bubba, was stirring, trying to stand on his feet.


    "How do you feel?" Apollo asked, gently scooping the monkey into his hands. In a good mood, he began caressing Bubba''s head.


    At first, Bubba appeared confused, but when he felt the comforting touch and saw who was holding him, a shiver ran down his spine as he remembered what had happened earlier. Yet, the soothing sensation from Apollo''s hands calmed him, and he let his body relax, sprawling comfortably on the beggar''s lap.


    "I think you should eat more," Apollo said casually.


    Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Bubba''s eyes snapped open. He let out a high-pitched cry and scrambled away, bolting toward the street.


    Caught off guard, Apollo didn''t have a firm grip on the monkey, so Bubba escaped with ease.


    "I was referring to normal food! Does he really think I can splurge Alm Points like that?" Apollo muttered, watching the monkey run off. "He''ll come back anyway."


    With that, Apollo decided to return to his cultivation.


    But just as he was about to close his eyes, a figure landed in front of his Beggar Spot in a flash of lightning.


    Apollo immediately recognized the newcomer. He had made the Passerby Shadow exempt the training ground guardian, so Sir Guo could find him if necessary.


    The beggar stood and approached the bamboo-hat-wearing man.


    "What brought you here?" Apollo asked.

 Chapter 278 - 278: Sir Guos Mission

    "You seem to be in a good mood," Sir Guo said, eyeing Apollo from head to toe.


    "I''m always in a good mood," Apollo replied with a wide smile. "So, why are you here? You know, I don''t think I need any more training from you."


    "I''m here beca¡ªwait, what? Why?" Sir Guo frowned, clearly caught off guard. He never expected the beggar to say such a thing. After all, most people would fight tooth and nail for the opportunity to learn the Way of Lightning from him.


    "The only issue is the lack of Lightning Qi in the surroundings, right? Without Lightning Attribute energy nearby, my training will stagnate. But I''ve already mastered control over my attribute¡ªI''d say it''s perfect. Plus, I''ve figured out a way to increase the volume of my Lightning!" Apollo declared smugly, puffing out his chest with pride.


    Hearing this, Sir Guo looked puzzled. "How do you plan to do that? From what I know, only certain places have Lightning Qi, and this city doesn''t have any. You can''t just turn any location into sacred land. That would require you to be an Absolute One."


    Apollo smirked. In truth, he could accomplish what Sir Guo described if he used enough Alm Points; he''d already seen items in the System Store that could boost his Lightning Attribute. However, he had an even better idea¡ªone that wouldn''t cost him a single point. It was risky, but worth it.


    "Don''t underestimate me¡ªI''m actually a genius," Apollo said, grinning as he pointed toward the sky. "Up there. That place has a ton of Lightning Qi."


    "The sky?" Sir Guo muttered, glancing upward.


    "The clouds, to be exact. If we send lightning into the clouds, we can trigger thunderstorms! And where there''s thunder, there''s lightning!" Apollo explained.


    He recalled the time he flew into the clouds to create a lightning storm that barreled toward the ground, helping him eliminate the red cloud. It had been incredibly dangerous, but during that moment, he''d sensed a massive amount of Lightning Qi. All he had to do was absorb it.


    However, his current body wasn''t accustomed to it yet. To absorb the Lightning Qi, he needed to endure being struck directly by lightning. Just like the training he''d done with Sir Guo, he had to take as much as possible to temper his body. This would make it easier to harness the Lightning Qi in the sky.


    Of course, there was a risk of provoking a Lightning Tribulation. The Headmasters had said his previous storm was borderline Tribulation. But as long as he left after taking a few strikes, he''d be fine.


    When Sir Guo heard the plan, he was silent for a moment before erupting in anger.


    "Where did you get that d*mb idea?!" Sir Guo bellowed, raising his hand to slap the beggar''s head.


    But Apollo took a quick step back, dodging the strike with ease.


    "Hey! It''s not d*mb¡ªit''s actually a brilliant idea!" Apollo shot back, glaring at the training ground guardian.


    "You''re going to anger the Heavens if you do that!" Sir Guo barked.


    "Anger the Heavens? They threw a little tantrum last time, but they weren''t actually mad!" Apollo retorted.


    "And how do you know that¡­ oh," Sir Guo paused as realization dawned. "You already did that?"


    "Yep," Apollo smirked. "And look, I''m still alive, and the Heavens aren''t angry."


    Sir Guo went silent for a moment before shaking his head. "If you do that again, you''re basically presenting yourself for judgment by a Tribulation. A Lightning Tribulation is a sacred ceremony, and only certain Cultivators breaking through Core Creation and above dare face it."


    "I said we''re going to leave before the real Tribulation happens," Apollo replied confidently. "As long as no one gets too close to the clouds, the Tribulation will stop."


    "They''ll know," Sir Guo said, his tone turning serious as he stared at Apollo. "You''re not the first person to come up with such a foolish idea. Heaven isn''t something a mere mortal can trick. I''ve heard stories of people who tried to manipulate the Heavens. They were cursed with constant Lightning Tribulations and perished almost immediately."


    "The Heavens are so petty," Apollo pouted.


    "Shh!" Sir Guo raised a finger to his lips. "Don''t badmouth the Heavens. They are the Dao, the light that creates everything. People pray to them, but Cultivators like us¡ªwe go against them. They''re highly sensitive to us, so you''d better watch your words."


    "Yeah, yeah," Apollo muttered, though he understood what Sir Guo meant. He recalled reading about the Heavens¡ªor the Heavenly Dao¡ªon the first floor of the Great Serpent Library.


    From what he''d gathered, it was a force capable of influencing anything and anyone, both literally and not metaphorically. This applied especially to Cultivators, who were said to go against the Heaven''s Will¡ªa concept Apollo didn''t fully understand yet, likely because he hadn''t read enough about it. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If he had to put it in his own words, the Heaven''s Will was like the Ten Commandments: a set of rules people were expected to follow and not break.


    "I think I should teach you more about the Heavens," Sir Guo said, smiling. "Yes, I''ll add that to your training. Only those from Cultivation Sects have a deeper understanding of this, and as your Master, I can''t let my disciple remain ignorant."


    "Didn''t you hear me earlier? I''m resigning as your disciple!" Apollo frowned.


    "We had a deal," Sir Guo said coldly, fixing him with a hard stare. "Or would you rather pay for the damages you caused at the training ground?"


    "No," Apollo said firmly, standing his ground.


    "You¡ª!" Sir Guo''s face turned red with anger, but when he saw the determination on the beggar''s face, he knew Apollo wouldn''t back down. "Fine. How about this: complete a mission for me, and I''ll let you go."


    "Oh? What mission?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.


    Sir Guo waved his hand, and a transparent dome appeared around them, preventing anyone from eavesdropping. "Kill the Mayor for me."


    "Kill the Mayor?" Apollo repeated, tilting his head. Don''t tell me¡­ this guy still doesn''t know?


    "Yes," Sir Guo said, a cunning smile spreading across his face. "It''s simple. Don''t worry, I''ve spent a year crafting the perfect assassination plan. Don''t bother asking why¡ªI just really hate that guy. So, what do you say?"


    Apollo raised a hand to his chin, pretending to ponder Sir Guo''s words. After a few seconds, he nodded. "Alright, I''ll do it!"


    "Good," Sir Guo nodded, pleased. "Don''t worry, no one else will know about this. Oh, by the way, do you happen to know why there''s a Stone Monkey corpse outside the city?"


    D*mbss, Apollo thought to himself.

 Chapter 279 - 279: Dons Arrival

    As Apollo watched the training ground guardian walk away, he couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Sir Guo had told him they would meet tomorrow morning to discuss the detailed plan for their assassination.


    Of course, the beggar would show up and follow Sir Guo''s lead. But Apollo was also looking forward to seeing the man''s face when he found out that Klown was already dead.


    The thought alone made him laugh.


    As he shook his head in amusement, Ned appeared around the corner, carrying a basket in his hands.


    "Good morning, Mr. Yoma," Ned greeted him with a smile as he handed over the basket.


    "Good morning, and thanks," Apollo replied, taking it. "How''s the restaurant?"


    "It''s going well, sir, but since Filly''s helping her father, we''re struggling to keep up with the customers. More and more people are coming in every day, and we just can''t match their momentum," Ned said with a sigh.


    "That''s to be expected," Apollo said, unsurprised. "Hire more workers, then."


    "We already did, but they''re still in training," Ned replied with a bitter smile. "Hopefully, things will improve soon."


    "They will. Don''t worry about it," Apollo reassured him with a smile.


    The two chatted for a while before Ned returned to the restaurant. Apparently, Filly was busy assisting her father, as their family was taking over several businesses left behind by the other Great Families. She was the most suitable person to handle this responsibility.


    Many of the noble families that had sided with the Mayor had perished when the mansion was destroyed, as most of them were inside at the time. And the one responsible for their deaths? Technically, it was the beggar. Not that he cared much about them.


    "Filly and Bel should thank me later," Apollo mused before heading inside his beggar''s spot.


    Opening the basket, Apollo was about to start his meal when a low cry came from the corner. Glancing toward the sound, he wasn''t surprised to see the monkey peeking its head out.


    "Do you think you can just come back here that easily?" Apollo smirked, taking a big bite of the fried chicken. The loud crunching sound echoed, causing the monkey to gulp.


    Apollo continued eating while his companion watched.


    But Bubba couldn''t bear the growling of his stomach any longer. Despite his trauma from the chili, he approached the small human with slow, deliberate steps.


    A foot away, Bubba dropped to his knees and kowtowed, his small frame trembling. He started crying¡ªor perhaps saying something in his monkey voice¡ªwhile tears welled in his eyes.


    Apollo paused mid-bite, watching the scene.


    This guy¡­ he already knows how to beg for forgiveness? Apollo thought. The Chili of Intelligence is really a good item.


    Bubba seemed to be trying to say something, but his vocal cords, unlike a human''s, could only produce high-pitched cries.


    "Do you regret your actions?" Apollo asked, placing a piece of fried chicken directly in front of Bubba.


    Bubba nodded vigorously, sniffing the delicious food in front of him.


    "Are you going to do it again?"


    The monkey shook his head.


    "Will you eat the Chili of Intelligence willingly?"


    Bubba was about to nod but hesitated. However, seeing the fried chicken pulling away from him, he quickly nodded.


    "Good," Apollo said with a smile, handing the food to the monkey. Bubba jumped happily upon receiving it. So, Bubba can now understand human words¡­ or maybe just the intent. Nevertheless, it''s good news.


    Apollo considered buying another chili but decided against it. Although he was extremely curious about what would happen if Bubba ate another one, he needed to save his Alm Points for other essential purchases.


    He knew the best way to use his Alm Points was by buying items that would help him grow stronger. With this in mind, he quickly finished his meal to bring up his System Store.


    But before he could browse the items, another visitor arrived unexpectedly.


    "Mr. Yoma? Are you¡­ here?" Don whispered softly as he looked around, unable to see the person he was searching for.


    "Don, right?" A voice suddenly rang out in front of him. Startled, Don lost his balance and fell on his bottom, his wide eyes staring into empty space.


    "Oh, I forgot," Apollo muttered before materializing out of thin air.


    "Ah, Mr. Yoma!" Don''s face lit up as he got on his knees. "Yes, I''m Don!" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Stand up, Don," Apollo said, helping the boy to his feet. He noticed sand clinging to Don''s clothes and asked, "Where did you come from?"


    "From the desert," Don replied, staring at the ground.


    Apollo recalled their last meeting and remembered Don and the slum people leaving to find a new place after being forced out of their previous home. "How are they?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. "You know, a lot has changed. I think you guys can come back here and build your own homes. You don''t have to worry about being kicked out anymore. There''s a new mayor now, and he''s very friendly."


    With Mathias as the new mayor, the city was bound to prosper. The Core Creation Cultivator was a good, reasonable, and strong leader. Apollo was confident that Mathias wouldn''t discriminate against Don and the others.


    Hearing this, Don looked up at Apollo with wide eyes as tears began to stream down his face. "Thank you¡­ thank you, but¡­" He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and bit his lip.


    "But?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "We found a temporary place to settle, but the city guards tracked us down. We tried to escape and even fought back, but we couldn''t defeat them. We''re just normal people; there was nothing we could do. They''ve been torturing us, and the women¡­ they''ve been using them as their playthings." As Don spoke, his voice cracked, and tears flowed freely.


    Apollo fell silent for a moment. "What about Miss Millie?"


    "Miss Millie¡­" Don sobbed harder at the mention of her name. "She''s dead¡­ A lot of them have died. We couldn''t do anything but watch. I managed to escape, but they died¡­ they died because of me. I came to find you, sir. I want to learn to be a cultivator¡­ to help them."


    Bubba peeked out from behind Apollo, tears also falling from his eyes.

 Chapter 280 - 280: Teaching Don

    "You want to learn to cultivate?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "Yes." Don wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. He nodded, then dropped to his knees again, this time hitting his head against the cold ground.


    His forehead immediately turned red, and the pain made him grit his teeth. But he didn''t make a sound¡ªnot even a grunt. Then, in a loud voice, he said, "Please take me as your disciple!"


    The shout drew the attention of passersby, but when they saw it was just two kids, they went on their way. It wasn''t unusual to see children playing in the city.


    "Disciple¡­" Apollo muttered, resting a hand under his chin. What were the benefits of accepting one? He wasn''t like the Headmasters or Sir Guo, who drooled over talented individuals. In fact, he couldn''t understand why they were so eager to teach him. Even Elmo and Master Popo had fought over him before, though the cunningness of the Great Serpent Headmaster ultimately won.


    He stared at Don and spread his senses. A quick assessment of the kid''s body revealed he had the talent for cultivation. It was like looking at an unpolished jade stone.


    Apollo could only see a rough piece of rock, but he knew that once the stone cracked, its true beauty would emerge. And he was the only one who could see this potential.


    A weight he hadn''t realized existed settled on his shoulders. Should he let the stone disappear into the ocean of time, or should he pick it up and polish it himself?


    As silence hung between them, Bubba jumped out from behind Apollo and landed beside Don. The monkey reached out, touched the kid''s head, and turned to Apollo with pleading eyes.


    "All right, all right, you can stand up," Apollo said with a sigh.


    Hearing this, Don''s eyes lit up. "You mean¡­?"


    "Yes, I will accept you as my disciple," Apollo nodded. He hadn''t accepted Don out of pity for the kid''s situation or a desire to help him save the people he''d left behind. His reasons were more self-serving.


    He was tired of others constantly interrupting his cultivation and the endless problems that always found him. Apollo wanted nothing more than to cultivate in peace, grow stronger, and reach the top of the world. Furthermore, the higher his cultivation stage, the longer his lifespan would be. From what he''d learned in the first floor of the Great Serpent Library, only those who reached the Core Creation Stage and above experienced increased lifespans.


    Apollo had no intention of dying from old age and would do whatever it took to stay alive.


    With a disciple under him, he could task Don with handling all the distractions and annoyances. The thought made him excited.


    But his excitement was only the beginning. The moment he accepted Don as his disciple, an interface materialized in front of him.


    **"You have accepted your first disciple.


    The host has established a Master-Disciple relationship. You now have access to your disciple''s Status Screen.


    The host is now eligible to build their own Sect."**


    Reading the contents, Apollo''s eyes widened.


    Building my own Sect? And Disciple''s Status Screen? Is this a new feature? Questions filled his mind as he addressed the System.


    "System, is this a new feature you added after removing the missions?"


    "No. This is one of the Hidden Features of the System. The host will learn more about it in time or through discovery." The System''s emotionless voice echoed in Apollo''s mind.


    "Why are you only telling me this now?" Apollo asked, ignoring Don, who stood in front of him with a straight back.


    Don was confused as his master seemed to stare blankly into the air. Is he looking at something I can''t see?


    "Because the Host has only just come across one of the Hidden Features," the System replied.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Apollo muttered. If that was the case, it made sense that the System had only revealed it now.


    "M-Master?" Don finally couldn''t help but ask.


    Apollo snapped back to reality and turned his attention to Don. "I forgot about you for a moment. You''re now my disciple. I don''t know if there''s a ceremony for this kind of thing, but I don''t care even if there is. As my disciple, you''ll follow my commands, my wishes, and always do your best to learn from me. Got it?"


    "I will follow you even to the ends of the world, Master!" Don exclaimed, dropping to his knees and kowtowing vigorously for the third time.


    "Don''t be so dramatic," Apollo said with a sigh. "From now on, just answer without all that, okay?"


    Don stood up awkwardly. "Got it, Master."


    "Good." Apollo smiled. "Now, head inside."


    "Alright." Don entered the beggar''s spot, with Apollo glancing at the surroundings before following him in.


    He found Don awkwardly examining the place. It resembled a small alley, just large enough to fit a carriage. Given their smaller frames, it was plenty spacious.


    "Just sit anywhere," Apollo said with a dismissive wave as he sat beneath his makeshift roof.


    At the same time, he brought up the Disciple Status Screen.


    A translucent screen appeared before him, designed similarly to his own status screen. At the top was a picture of Don, followed by his information below:


    Name: Don Blanc


    Race: Human


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: None


    Attributes: None


    Talent: High (Talents are ranked Low, Mid, High, and Top Tier.)


    After reading the screen, Apollo couldn''t help but stare at his disciple in amazement. High-Tier Talent? That''s a good thing, right?


    Although his knowledge about cultivation talent rankings was limited, the fact that Don was rated High was enough for Apollo to conclude that his first disciple was promising.


    "But System, is this the only thing I get from this? Just a Status Screen? Are there other benefits?" Apollo voiced his doubts. If this was all, it felt somewhat underwhelming.


    "As a Disciple of the True Beggar, he/she will also become a Beggar. The Disciple can receive Alms that will be converted into Alm Points for the Host. However, they must comply with the rules of the True Beggar Ways. There are no shortcuts¡ªonly real begging," the System explained.


    Hearing this, Apollo clenched his fists in excitement. Passive income!


    "Master, what''s our first lesson?" Don asked eagerly as he sat in front of Apollo, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. He still believed Mr. Yoma was a hidden expert, likely an ancient individual pretending to be a beggar.


    Apollo stared at his disciple, and in his eyes, Don seemed to glow with a golden light.


    "I will impart to you a Breathing Technique¡ªa technique that, in the entire world, I am the only one who knows," Apollo said with a mysterious smile.


    "Really?!" Don was shocked. A unique technique that only his master knew?! Heavens!


    "It''s called the Simple Breathing Technique," Apollo said seriously, his eyes locking onto his disciple. "But once you receive it, you must never tell another soul. If you do, I will personally kill you."


    Don''s body visibly shivered with fear, and he hurriedly nodded. "I will keep this a secret for the rest of my life!"


    Apollo nodded. He was about to explain the process for cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique when he stopped.


    Am I really just going to teach him my precious technique through words? What if he forgets and asks me to repeat it? That would be annoying and not cool. These thoughts caused a frown to appear on the beggar''s face.


    Apollo wanted to appear strong and mysterious. Teaching someone in such a mediocre way didn''t sit well with him.


    He began to consider what to do, and it didn''t take long before an idea struck him. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The beggar recalled the time he defeated the humanoid Great Serpent in the Great Serpent Library. After killing the creature, he had received the technique instantly, imprinted in his mind without even reading it.


    I should do it like that¡ªit''s more flashy and cool. With this in mind, Apollo raised his hand and pointed a finger at his disciple.


    When Don saw this, he tensed his body, ready for whatever might come.


    The beggar closed his eyes, summoning the Simple Breathing Technique into his thoughts. This wasn''t the third revision of the technique but the original version.


    Now, all I have to do is turn this into another kind of information energy¡­ Apollo''s mind raced to create a method that would allow him to transfer his own techniques to another person. The surroundings dimmed into pitch blackness, leaving only him and the surrounding Qi.


    A few moments later, he opened his glinting eyes.


    "Here you go," Apollo smirked as unrefined Qi gathered at his fingertip, forming into a glowing scroll. "Just touch this, and you wil¡ª"


    Before he could finish, he noticed his disciple had already fallen asleep.


    Seeing this, Apollo could only smile bitterly. He lowered his hand, the glowing scroll still floating before him.


    I must have worked on this Technique Transfer Method for at least an hour or so, he thought. Every time he focused too deeply on cultivation or learning, he lost track of time and forgot about the outside world.

 Chapter 281 - 281: Hes Dead?

    As the burning sun illuminated the world, a figure appeared above the ruined mansion of Klown in a blur. Lightning coursed through his body for a brief moment before vanishing. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He stared at the shattered remains of the mansion, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white.


    "What the f*ck?" Sir Guo couldn''t help but curse, his eyes widening in disbelief. "It''s true? The Mayor is dead?"


    He spread his senses and detected the chaotic Qi lingering around the estate, a clear sign that a great battle had taken place. The realization made his heart burn with fury¡­ and disappointment.


    "They went to war without me? That''s unfair!" Sir Guo''s face twitched in frustration.


    If he hadn''t overheard the students talking when he returned to his training ground, he wouldn''t have known that Klown was already dead!


    Remembering his conversation with the beggar¡ªhis disciple¡ªshame and embarrassment consumed him. "He definitely knew about this, and that''s why he agreed to my request. F*ck!"


    Sir Guo had left the city to find a place rich in Lightning Qi, intending to train his disciple there. He had planned to bring Yoma back after they killed the Mayor! But by the time he returned, Klown was already gone.


    The injustice of it made him want to scream. A whole fcking year* of preparation! An entire year devising a plan to end the life of the hideous Klown.


    In truth, Sir Guo was the first person to uncover the Mayor''s schemes¡ªtwo years ago. But at the time, he hadn''t had enough evidence to act. He had spent an entire year investigating to uncover Klown''s true intentions before crafting his own plan.


    Thinking of all the effort he had put in, tears welled up in his eyes.


    "I hate this," he muttered, but as his voice echoed, a presence flashed beside him.


    "What do you hate?"


    "Go away, Axton," Sir Guo said, glancing at the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    Axton ignored the dismissal and chuckled as he surveyed the destroyed mansion. "Did you come here to admire this masterpiece too?"


    "I should''ve been the one to paint it," Sir Guo growled through gritted teeth.


    "Why are you so agitated?" Axton asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Nothing. You should''ve waited for me to return¡ªor at least told me you were planning to kill that fatso," Sir Guo scoffed.


    "It was a matter for the Cultivation Schools and the Great Families to handle. Including you wasn''t necessary," Axton replied.


    "I have the power of lightning, and that''s their weakness," Sir Guo shot back. "I bet you lost a lot of people, right? Their energy is tough to deal with¡ªit''s almost impenetrable."


    "You''re not wrong, but we didn''t lose that many," Axton said with a smile. "You know, your disciple was one of the reasons we won. If it weren''t for him, the people would have been sacrificed to a Demon. But it seems like you already know this."


    "Yoma played a major role in this?" Sir Guo repeated, his voice tinged with jealousy¡ªor perhaps envy. He felt as though something important had been stolen from him. "Wait, how did you know he''s my disciple? Did he tell you?"


    "Of course not," Axton shook his head. "You see, he was also my personal disciple¡ªbut he already quit."


    "You?" Sir Guo raised an eyebrow. When he saw the smile on the Great Serpent Headmaster''s face, he felt like he was being mocked.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" Axton asked.


    "That beggar! I will teach him a lesson. He doesn''t respect this sacred relationship!" Sir Guo said, his frustration boiling over.


    "Don''t blame him. But are you sure he''s still your disciple?" Axton smirked.


    Hearing this, Sir Guo fell silent. After a moment, he glared at the Great Serpent Headmaster. "Why are you even here? Just to humiliate me? If that''s your reason, I''ll fight you!"


    Lightning flashed around Sir Guo as he prepared himself.


    "Stop it." Axton''s expression turned serious. "I came here to confirm that you also became his master. Besides, I have a request."


    The word request made the lightning around Sir Guo vanish as curiosity and confusion bloomed on his face. "What request?"


    Axton waved his hand, and a transparent barrier surrounded them. At the same time, he initiated a Thought Transfer.


    Protect Yoma as much as you can. That''s my request.


    Oh? Sir Guo raised an eyebrow. May I ask why?


    You''re his master, aren''t you? That should already be your obligation. Why are you asking?


    Master today, not tomorrow, Sir Guo replied bitterly. Letting out a sigh, he glanced back at the ruins. I made a deal with him¡ªafter we killed the Mayor, I would let him go. But Klown is already dead.


    So you were also planning to kill him? It seems he''s made a lot of enemies. If you''d told us sooner, we could''ve worked together, Axton chuckled.


    There was a chance you''d side with him. That''s why I kept it to myself, Sir Guo said.


    How did you find out? Axton asked, unable to contain his curiosity.


    Sir Guo glanced at the Great Serpent Headmaster for a moment before answering. You know I''m a Wanderer. I travel to places I didn''t even know existed. I''ve taken on more identities than I can count. I''ve heard stories and rumors. Eventually, I found them¡ªin some ruins¡ªperforming a ritual. Demons. They''re real, not just fairy tales to scare children. Klown was part of them, and he was the only survivor. So, I tracked him down. It led me to this city. At first, I wasn''t sure, so I gathered evidence. That''s the gist of it.


    They''re already out there, then? Axton asked.


    Yes, Sir Guo muttered. It''s one of my goals¡ªto eradicate all of them.


    In a few days, the main Great Serpent School will send men to investigate what happened here. You can share what you know. They might even provide information in return, Axton suggested.


    Not a chance. Who knows? Maybe your sect has already been compromised, Sir Guo said with a shrug before returning to his earlier doubt. So, do you still want me to protect him even though he''s not my disciple anymore?


    Don''t bother with it, Axton said, waving his hand. I''ll handle it.


    By the way, that bone monkey outside¡ªwhat are you going to do with it? Sir Guo asked.


    I''m not the one handling it. Why? Do you need something from it?


    Well...

 Chapter 282 - 282: Bubba Cultivates

    Apollo took the basket Ned handed him. It was already noon, and the blazing sun scorched the air.


    "Can you give me another one of these?" Apollo asked. "Don''t worry, I''ll pay for it."


    "That''s a small matter," Ned smiled. "No need to pay. Miss Filly said to give you whatever you wanted, sir."


    "Alright then, just pass along my thanks to her," Apollo said.


    Ned went back inside the restaurant and returned with another basket. By now, the restaurant was bustling with customers, and people were constantly lining up outside.


    With the addition of takeout, it had become much easier for patrons to enjoy their meals. They could choose to eat inside or wherever they pleased.


    "How''s it going? Have you resolved the issue with the lack of workers?" Apollo asked. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes," Ned nodded. "Miss Filly came up with a brilliant idea. She hired more workers and divided the workload by stations. It''s very systematic now¡ªeach of us stays in one area. Because of this, the speed of preparing food has increased."


    Hearing this, Apollo clicked his tongue in amazement. Filly was truly impressive to have figured this out on her own. She was practically a genius for coming up with this method.


    This was almost exactly how fast-food chains operated in his previous life¡ªmore workers, each with their specific station and task, all contributing to the same end product.


    The Filly Restaurant was becoming more and more like a fast-food joint. Apollo wasn''t sure if this was ultimately a good or bad thing, but in terms of profitability, it was undoubtedly a huge gain.


    As they were talking, Apollo noticed something out of the corner of his eye: a group of people walking toward the restaurant.


    The way they moved made it clear they weren''t coming in peace.


    Apollo glanced at the six men and immediately recognized two familiar faces: the manager and assistant from the rival restaurant. He could also sense that each of them was at the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage¡ªthey must have learned the stolen techniques.


    Not wanting the peace of this place to be disturbed, Apollo waved his hand. Miniature Wind Blasts appeared beside the men and exploded instantly.


    Their bodies were sent flying, rolling across the ground a few times before passing out.


    The commotion drew everyone''s attention, including Ned''s. His eyes widened as he recognized two of the fallen men.


    "Wow, why are they sleeping on the streets?" Ned muttered in confusion.


    "They''re probably too exhausted from fighting against your restaurant," Apollo said with a smile.


    "Hahaha, I understand. It must be exhausting," Ned chuckled. "I know I''ve said this before, but I''ll say it again¡ªit''s all thanks to you, Mr. Yoma."


    "It''s thanks to Filly," Apollo replied with a chuckle. He waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, you should get back to work."


    "Okay."


    Shaking his head, Apollo stepped inside his beggar spot and noticed that the glowing scroll was already gone.


    Seeing this, he turned to his disciple, who still had his eyes closed and head lowered. "So he already touched it."


    He didn''t bother the kid and decided to wait while eating his food under the makeshift roof.


    Soon, the sound of crunching echoed as Apollo ate barbecue monster meat, fried chicken, spaghetti, and scrambled eggs.


    As he ate, he couldn''t help but realize he was getting tired of eating the same meal every day. He wanted more variety.


    "I should give them some new recipes," Apollo decided, finishing his meal.


    Once he was done, he began cleaning up. That''s when the kid opened his eyes and looked at him.


    "How is it? Good technique, right? I created it personally, and it''s the most amazing Breathing Technique you''ll ever find," Apollo said, lying. The technique came from the System and wasn''t the greatest Breathing Technique at all.


    Don tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean, Master? What technique?"


    Hearing this, Apollo raised an eyebrow. "The technique you just touched. Wait, don''t tell me it didn''t work? That can''t be¡ªI spent an hour creating the Instant Technique Transfer!"


    "I don''t understand, Master," Don said, scratching the back of his head. "I was actually waiting for you to give me the technique, but I fell asleep¡­ sorry."


    "You fell asleep?" Apollo frowned. "Then where is the technique?"


    Don shrugged, clearly clueless.


    Something clicked in Apollo''s mind. He hurriedly looked for his monkey and saw Bubba in the corner, ''sleeping.'' The monkey''s chest rose and fell in slow, deliberate motions. He looked both alive and dead, his breathing barely visible.


    Apollo approached his companion, spreading his senses, and discovered something unbelievable.


    The monkey was cultivating! Bubba was cultivating the Simple Breathing Technique!


    Although something was off in the way Bubba gathered the surrounding Qi and the pattern it followed into his body, the monkey was indeed showing a very slight improvement.


    Apollo didn''t know whether to get angry or not. "What''s done is done," he sighed, kneeling to touch his companion''s chest.


    He released a subtle stream of Qi to correct the monkey''s flawed pattern. The moment it was fixed, the previously negligible amount of Unrefined Qi turned into a small stream flowing into Bubba''s body through his nose and mouth.


    Apollo decided to wait and see. Hopefully, it would turn out well. If not, Bubba was in for a beating.


    "Is he cultivating?" Don asked, staring at the monkey with wide eyes.


    "Yes," Apollo nodded.


    "Wow! Even your pet knows how to cultivate!" Don said in amazement. This must really be an expert¡ªhe could even teach a monkey to cultivate! "Please teach me, Master!"


    "Alright, alright," Apollo said, pointing a finger. The surrounding Qi began to pull together, coalescing into a glowing scroll. "You just need to touch it, and all the knowledge about the Simple Breathing Technique will enter your mind. But before that, you should eat first."


    Hearing the word eat, Don''s stomach growled loudly, echoing inside the beggar spot.


    "Here," Apollo said, taking the other basket and handing it to his disciple. "This is the first and last time I''ll fetch your breakfast. Next time, you''ll handle all these basic matters. Understood?"


    "Understood, Master!" Don replied enthusiastically.

 Chapter 283 - 283: Qidifier

    After Don had his fill, he placed the basket near the corner of the beggar spot where Ned would later fetch it. Then, he returned inside and sat in front of the glowing scroll.


    Don glanced at his Master, who nodded at him. Taking a deep breath, he touched the scroll. The moment his finger grazed the light, the scroll immediately dissolved into particles of Qi that entered his head!


    Like a waterfall drowning him in the depths of a lake, Don was plunged deep into his mind. Instantly, the world around him turned pitch black, leaving only him and the stars of Qi. Beyond this darkness, the beggar disciple could see patterns floating in the ''air.''


    They were difficult to discern, but Don could understand them. As time passed, it felt as though he could reach out and touch the patterns. In the midst of all this, his mind suddenly grew heavy as the patterns and movements in this pitch-black world overwhelmed him.


    However, despite the overwhelming sensation, Don felt an unexplainable peace.


    ---


    Seeing his disciple close his eyes and immerse himself in the knowledge entering his mind, Apollo couldn''t help but smile in satisfaction.


    "It''s working," the beggar muttered. He already knew Don''s potential, and learning the Simple Breathing Technique¡ªthe first technique he himself had learned¡ªshould be easy.


    As silence filled this corner of the restaurant, Apollo grew bored. His gaze fell back on his monkey companion.


    Bubba was still ''sleeping,'' following the correct pattern Apollo had adjusted for him.


    "I should punish him," Apollo smirked. He stood up and grabbed Bubba by the nape, shaking the monkey awake. "Wakey, wakey."


    Bubba was shaken so vigorously that his whole body almost blurred. He woke up feeling dizzy, and the moment his eyes met Apollo''s, a shiver ran down his spine.


    The monkey began crying in his high-pitched voice, as if trying to explain that he hadn''t done anything wrong.


    "Hey, hey, what are you yapping about?" Apollo asked, staring straight into the monkey''s eyes. "Have you done anything wrong to be this talkative?"


    Bubba hurriedly shook his head.


    "Oh, I see¡­ if you deny it¡­" Apollo trailed off, his voice suddenly cold, his face darkening. "How dare you lie to me?!"


    The shout caused all of the hair on Bubba''s body to stand on end, as if he were being electrocuted. Actually, he was being electrocuted, as flashes of lightning danced from Apollo''s fingers.


    "Why did you touch something you weren''t supposed to touch, huh?!" Apollo glared at his companion.


    Bubba let out a cry of pain and fear. When the lightning disappeared, he lowered his head, letting himself be reprimanded.


    "So, are you going to admit you did something wrong?" Apollo asked, feeling satisfied at seeing his companion so obedient.


    Bubba nodded slowly.


    "Just think about it. What if you touched something dangerous that could kill you in an instant? Do you think I would be happy?!" Apollo raised his voice, a hint of worry and fear creeping into his tone. "If you die, what can I do?! You''d just leave me behind because of your foolish choices?!"


    As his words fell, the monkey looked up at him with wide eyes. Tears began to form in those giant eyes.


    Dmn, this monkey is too emotional,* Apollo thought, now certain his companion could understand him. He had only fed Bubba three Chilis of Intelligence, and now the monkey could comprehend human speech. The only thing missing was the ability to talk.


    "Do you understand me? I will never live the same life if you die!" Apollo said, putting all the seriousness he could muster into his face.


    Bubba nodded his head vigorously, and by now, tears had already fallen from his eyes.


    "Good. You''re very important to me, so don''t make another mistake, alright?" Apollo hugged the monkey, and Bubba held him tightly in return. A few moments later, they pulled away. "And now, time for your punishment."


    The moment Bubba heard the word punishment, the tears reversed, and the sadness was replaced by fear.


    He started crying again, desperately trying to free himself from the hands of the demon human!


    "Hey, what''s with the sudden change of emotion?" Apollo chuckled as a white light appeared, transforming into the Chili of Intelligence. "Eat this."


    Soon, the monkey fell to the ground, unconscious.


    "Don''t worry, this is good for you," Apollo said, observing the monkey. He let his senses cover his companion and found that Bubba''s cultivation had started.


    If Bubba continued what he was doing for a few more days, he would reach the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage.


    Apollo couldn''t help but smile at the thought. It would definitely look cool to have a pet that cultivates and can beat people up. What if Bubba became so strong that Apollo could stay in his beggar spot while the monkey handled all his problems? S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The thought caused Apollo''s eyes to radiate with excitement.


    Another goal was added to his list: a disciple to handle basic matters like begging for alms to convert into Alm Points, a monkey to fight on his behalf, and, with the restaurant beside him, personal chefs to prepare his meals.


    The setup reminded Apollo of his previous life, where he could laze around while his workers made him money.


    "Hmm, this is going to be great," Apollo muttered. As he looked at his disciple and the monkey, he began to think about how to achieve his goal quickly.


    He went back inside his makeshift roof to brainstorm. It didn''t take him more than ten seconds to come up with a plan.


    Apollo brought up his Status Screen to check his remaining Alm Points.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 135


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning, Water


    Companions: Bubba (Monkey)


    Beggar Disciples: Don Blanc


    Apollo had only bought two items after completing his last mission, and his Alm Points had dropped from 450 to 135 in no time.


    He couldn''t help but sigh at how quickly ''money'' slipped through his hands. Still, it was all for his goals, so he shouldn''t complain.


    But if he were to complain, it would be about the d*mn System and its ridiculous item prices.


    Shaking his head, he opened the System Store. A translucent screen materialized in front of him.


    Apollo already knew what he was going to buy¡ªhe had seen the item a few times while browsing the store out of boredom.


    "Show me the Qidifier," Apollo ordered, and the moment his words fell, the screen flashed, displaying several items.


    His eyes naturally went to the first item, the cheapest on the list.


    "Basic Qidifier: A small and simple Qidifier. It will change the surrounding Qi within three meters, purifying it by up to ten percent and enhancing its properties."


    It''s basically a humidifier, but this one focuses on purifying Qi instead of air.


    Apollo then glanced at the last item on the list, which cost a staggering million Alm Points.


    "Planetary Qidifier: Increases the quality of Qi across the entire planet by at least a thousand percent. Indestructible and controllable only by the buyer."


    The description was simple, but its effect was terrifying.


    A million Alm Points for this item? Why would he even consider buying it? Apollo didn''t care about the whole planet; he only cared about the things that mattered to him.


    Apollo purchased the first item, which cost 50 Alm Points. When the item appeared in front of him, he felt a sting in his heart as his Alm Points dropped to 85.


    But this was for his benefit.


    Back at the Great Serpent Cultivation School, the Qi quality had been significantly higher compared to the outside world. Hopefully, the Qidifier he bought would replicate that level of purity.


    Apollo studied the white object in his hands. It was small, just enough to fit in an adult''s palm. The Qidifier was rectangular in shape with a small hole on top and two buttons in the center.


    Its simple design reminded Apollo of gadgets he had often seen in his previous life.


    Curious about its performance, he placed the Qidifier in front of him and turned it on. The first button was for power, while the second allowed adjustments to the percentage of Qi purification, up to a maximum of ten percent. He pressed the second button ten times to reach the highest setting.


    The device began to emit a quiet humming sound, which quickly faded as misty smoke started streaming from the hole.


    Apollo immediately noticed a change in the surrounding Unrefined Qi.


    It felt like muddy water being transformed into crystal-clear liquid.


    Taking in a mouthful of purified Qi through his mouth and nose, he couldn''t help but smile in contentment.


    "This is great," Apollo said as he opened his eyes. "Compared to the quality of Qi inside the Great Serpent Cultivation School, this is at least twice as good."


    For the first time, Apollo felt like he wasn''t being cheated by the System.


    He wondered how long the device would last before needing maintenance. Bringing up the item description, he discovered additional details in the instructions.


    Apparently, the Qidifier would only operate for three hours at maximum output before it required recharging.


    Like the Cleaning Bead, it would recharge itself automatically by absorbing the surrounding Qi.

 Chapter 284 - 284: Manida Land

    Manida Land, the nearest city to Klown City¡ªor now called Belthias City¡ªis a prosperous place, attracting thousands of people daily.


    Merchants travel from different parts of the Orion Region under the Empire of the West.


    Unlike Belthias, which is bustling with all kinds of businesses, Manida focuses on one: cultivation resources. This specialization brings more cultivators to its gates than any other city in Orion.


    Surrounding the city are five mountains that shield it from the sandy expanse beyond. Atop these mountains stand the five cultivation schools of the region. Their architecture reflects their unique philosophies: some favor simplicity, while others opt for grandeur, showcasing their capabilities.


    The city hums with its usual activity. For the people, it''s just another day¡ªno monster attacks, no conflicts, no fights.


    At the very heart of Manida lies a grand mansion, enclosed by pointed metal fences. The garden surrounding the building adds an air of tranquility and peace.


    Butterflies flutter across the marble path leading to the entrance.


    However, as serene as the exterior appears, one of the rooms inside the mansion is shrouded in a heavy atmosphere.


    Sunlight streams through opaque glass, but even its brilliance cannot dispel the oppressive aura in the room.


    "Klown is dead?" one of the old men asked, his brows furrowed.


    "That''s what the message says," another replied.


    A rectangular table occupied the center of the room, with twelve men seated around it.


    "He and his followers have been killed. They called him ''Our Savior,'' but Klown led them to their deaths. He was such a fool," another voice sneered mockingly.


    They all wore white hanfu robes that concealed their hands. Most of them had white hair and goatees that reached their chests. Though their appearance exuded age, each man radiated strength and experience.


    "We warned him, but he didn''t listen," one of them said, shaking his head with a sigh. "He was so full of himself, thinking he could handle those meddlesome Orthodox Cultivators. He didn''t even bother to cover his tracks."


    "He was new and inexperienced... but we should have eliminated him before it came to this. Who decided to let him act unchecked?"


    "Wasn''t it Master Luo?"


    "Are you blaming me?!"


    As the conversation grew heated and voices thundered, the man seated at the head of the table remained calm, silently observing.


    He allowed the argument to continue for a few moments before speaking.


    "Everyone, quiet down."


    Though his voice was low and quiet, it commanded immediate silence.


    The old men turned their attention to him. Those who had been on their feet, fingers pointed accusingly, sat back down.


    "Now that I have your attention, we need to focus on the main reason we''re here," Haoran said, his gaze sweeping across the table.


    He looked much like the others, with long white hair, blue eyes, and a straight nose. Yet, despite being over a hundred years old, his face bore no wrinkles.


    "Klown''s actions will undoubtedly attract attention. By now, an investigation team from the Great Serpent Cultivation School will be on its way to Belthias. They will discover that demons are beginning to make their moves. It''s too soon, but it was within our expectations. Klown was a fool¡ªhe truly was¡ªand including him was a mistake on our part. This is not good for our Master."


    "So what are you suggesting, Mayor Haoran?" one of the old men asked, his voice tinged with worry.


    "Belthias¡­ they already know about the existence of demons," Haoran said, his eyes glinting dangerously. "We must finish what Klown could not."


    "But will the Master agree?"


    Haoran smirked coldly. "Master wouldn''t mind. In fact, he''s the one who ordered us."


    Suddenly, the heavy atmosphere became even more oppressive. Red smoke emerged from the ground, spreading across the entire floor.


    The old men glanced downward, feeling the intense Red Energy. Without hesitation, they stood up and knelt on the ground.


    "Welcome, Master!" Their voices echoed in unison as the red smoke converged, taking on a humanoid form. Though its figure was recognizable, its body remained shrouded in crimson mystery. The entity floated above them, exuding an aura of cold authority.


    "Welcome, Master," Haoran said, lowering himself onto one knee and placing his hand on his chest. The Mayor of Manida Land City spoke with evident reverence in his tone.


    ...


    Don opened his eyes to see his Master sitting cross-legged under the small roof. Raising his hand into a fist, Don couldn''t help but smile as he recalled the technique now imprinted in his mind.


    "This is amazing," Don muttered. A complete technique had been stored inside him, and he remembered every detail. Even more astonishing was how he instinctively knew how to perform it, as though he''d been cultivating the technique his entire life.


    But he hadn''t cultivated before!


    "Should I test it out?" Don whispered, anticipation coursing through him. Taking a deep breath, his expression grew serious. Closing his eyes, he spread his senses outward.


    The hustle and bustle of the streets outside the restaurant corner faded away. Don could hear his steady breathing, but even that soon disappeared. Despite his closed eyes, he could "see" his surroundings, though they appeared dim. He understood this was because he was spreading his senses, just as described in the technique within his mind.


    Following the second step, he began searching for them. In no time, they appeared, one by one, as if awakened by his efforts.


    Don could "see" faint particles of Qi around him. They were tiny, like fireflies. He wanted to reach out and touch them, but he knew moving his body would break his intense concentration. Instead of approaching the particles, he drew them toward himself using his senses.


    It''s working, Don thought with excitement. Now, all he needed to do was inhale the Qi through his nose and mouth, which he promptly did as the first batch of Qi reached him.


    The Qi entered his body, guided by the steps of the Simple Breathing Technique. Don directed the energy to follow a specific circulation pattern through his body. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It started at his chest, moved to his shoulders, then traveled down to his hands and feet. The Qi flowed through every part of him, leaving no cell untouched by its purifying presence.


    After completing the first circulation, Don eagerly gathered more Qi to absorb. However, as he prepared for another round, he felt a sudden wave of extreme fatigue. The vision of his surroundings shattered, and darkness consumed him.


    When Don opened his eyes again, the familiar beggar spot greeted him. The sun peeked through the surrounding buildings, illuminating his corner of the restaurant.


    "What happened? Why did it stop?" Don muttered incredulously, unable to hide his confusion.

 Chapter 285 - 285: Meeting the Crazy again

    Don tried to cultivate once more. Closing his eyes, the surroundings dimmed. Qi, like fireflies, appeared and was drawn toward him. Yet, the moment he attempted to inhale them, a wave of fatigue washed over his body.


    Confused, he opened his eyes, scratching his head.


    "What''s the matter?" a voice startled him. Turning toward the sound, he saw his Master staring at him.


    "M-Master," Don hesitated. "It''s just that¡­ I tried the Simple Breathing Technique in my mind and succeeded after the first circulation. But when I tried another circulation, I felt extreme fatigue that prevented me from inhaling the Qi."


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. That can''t be. This is only a basic technique; why is he having a hard time? he thought. "Do it again."


    "Okay," Don nodded. Following the order, he attempted to cultivate again. But, as expected, the Qi refused to enter his mouth or nose, as though he were out of air.


    "What do you feel?" Apollo asked, noticing his disciple''s struggle.


    "Out of breath," Don admitted.


    "Hmm," Apollo placed a hand under his chin, deep in thought. Why is Don struggling? He couldn''t figure it out, so he instructed Don to try again while spreading his senses to observe his disciple. "I see. I get it."


    "Please enlighten me, Master," Don bowed his head.


    "No need to bow," Apollo waved a hand dismissively before explaining. "It''s your mind. It can''t handle too much Qi at once. Try inhaling slowly and in moderate amounts. Don''t gather too much, or it will tire your mind. I''m not sure why this is happening to you, though. I never had an issue with this technique."


    "All right, I''ll try," Don nodded and, following the suggestion, closed his eyes once more.


    After a while, he opened them, letting out a sigh of relief. "It works. But won''t my cultivation speed become slower?"


    "It will, but probably not by much. Don''t worry about it; you can stay here and focus on your cultivation," Apollo assured him.


    "Thank you, Mas¡ª Wait, I can''t," Don stood up abruptly, his face filled with worry. "I still need to go back and save them!"


    "How?" Apollo''s calm question hit Don like a cold bucket of water. He shut his mouth and lowered his head.


    Apollo sighed. "If you go back now, you''ll only get yourself killed. Cultivate for two weeks, and then I''ll let you go back."


    "B-but¡­ their lives are at stake," Don whispered.


    "If you go now, you''ll die¡ªand so will they. Wait two weeks. There''s a chance they''ll still be alive, and you''ll have the strength to exact your revenge. It''s your choice, not mine. I''m not losing anything," Apollo said nonchalantly with a shrug.


    Hearing this, Don gritted his teeth before letting out a heavy sigh. "You''re right, Master. I should focus on my cultivation. Only when I achieve something will I be able to take revenge."


    "Good to hear," Apollo smiled.


    Don was about to sit down and continue his cultivation, but his Master had other plans.


    "From now on, every time you cultivate, you''ll sit there," Apollo pointed to a spot in plain view of the passersby. "You are my disciple and part of the Beggar Sect. From now on, do your daily job¡ªbeg there while you cultivate. Just place your palms above your forehead; that should do it."


    "Beg?" Don repeated, glancing at Apollo''s attire and the state of the place, which was even worse than the previous slum. Realization dawned on him¡ªhis Master was pretending to be a beggar while secretly being an expert cultivator. Out of respect, he should do the same.


    "I''ll do it every day from now on, Master!" Don declared.


    "Good. Then beg now," Apollo smiled, watching his disciple sit in full view of the public.


    Suddenly, a notification appeared in the corner of Apollo''s vision:


    "You received 0.4 Alm Points!"


    This is the work of the Automatic Alm Points Producer Apollo bought from the System. His Alm Points had already increased from 85.8 to 86.2. Every hour, he would receive 0.4 Alm Points.


    With passive income flowing in and his disciple begging for him, he expected his Alm Points to rise even more by the end of the day.


    He stared at Don for a moment before standing up and heading toward the street. "Guard this place while I''m gone," Apollo said to Don as he walked off in a certain direction.


    ... S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were only a few fountains in Belthias City, and Apollo was heading toward one of them. As he ventured through the streets, he couldn''t help but shake his head after reading the new name of the city on a newsboard.


    Belthias? Whoever thought of that name was something else. Combining the names of Bel and Mathias, the father-daughter duo, had resulted in a unique combination. Apollo was amazed and, at the same time, wondered how they had managed to change the city''s name so easily.


    From what he knew, Mathias had to report everything to the empire, especially the hideous plan of Klown and his death. But it seemed the empire had acted quickly, approving both the new mayor''s position and the city''s name change.


    Not even a month had passed, and the new position had already been officiated.


    Apollo''s thoughts wandered as he walked, eventually arriving at a fountain¡ªthe same fountain he had drunk from after transmigrating to this world.


    The area was bustling with people. Some couples were being lovey-dovey, while others, clearly single, mourned their solitary status.


    Without paying attention to the looks he was receiving, Apollo walked straight toward the fountain and jumped in! His body splashed into the water, sending it flying everywhere.


    An unfortunate young couple nearby was drenched, the woman even slipping to the ground. Fortunately, her partner caught her, and the two locked eyes, gazing deeply into each other.


    The man leaned closer, lowering his head to deliver a kiss.


    However, just as their lips were about to touch, a shout from the fountain shattered the romantic moment.


    "Ah! What the f*ck are you doing here?!" Apollo burst out of the water, causing another splash. He stared in disbelief at someone emerging from the water with wide eyes.


    "We meet again, haha," the person laughed. He had sparse white hair, almost bald, big round eyes, a goatee, and only three or four teeth left in his mouth. The old man was wearing a black-and-white hanfu robe¡ªthe signature colors of the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    "Zhang the Great," Apollo muttered through gritted teeth. He would never forget this old man; this was the same person who had written those d*mn books in the library. And although Apollo had defeated Crazy Zhang in the Yomama fliptop battle, he couldn''t shake the feeling that they were now equals.


    "Hey, why do you look like that?" Crazy Zhang nudged Apollo with a smirk. "Are you here to bathe too? This fountain is public, you know. Everyone can enter. Don''t worry¡ªno one else seems to like cleaning themselves here. I haven''t seen anyone join me in years."

 Chapter 286 - 286: Yomama the Second Round

    What the f*ck? What the actual f*ck?! Apollo''s mind felt like it had been struck by lightning.


    He recalled the time the first few days after he transmigrated to this world. This is the same fountain he drank after eating some bread!


    And now this Crazy Zhang is telling him that he''s been bathing in this fountain for a few years now?


    Apollo suddenly wanted to puke. No, he really is!


    "Blergh! "The beggar threw up on the floor. He could do it on the water they were on, but he''s not as disgusting as the person in front of him!


    "Hey, are you okay, little man? "Zhang the Great asked with concern in his voice. "Did you know if one is sick, they can just take a fresh shower to lighten up their mood and body? Come join me! "


    Hearing this, Apollo''s body shivered, and he threw up for the second time.


    After he was done, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before glaring at the crazy person.


    "F*ck you! "Apollo cursed, his face red from anger.


    "What did I do to you? "Zhang asked with a frown on his face. "I am just asking you to bathe with me; what''s wrong with that? "


    "First of all, the way you said it is gross. And the second thing, why the hell are you using this fountain to bathe?!"Apollo shouted, his voice reverberating everywhere.


    By now, there''s already a number of people watching the drama.


    The two ignored the stares and kept glaring at each other.


    "Why? Because it''s good water! "Zhang the Great answered. "Look, the Qi here is also concentrated! Making the water purer! "


    Apollo stared at the water, and sure enough, the crazy person was right. Shaking his head, he stared coldly at the old man in front of him. "This is a public fountain; how dare you taint it with your dirty body?! "


    Those who heard his voice nodded their heads in approval.


    Seeing the people around agreeing with the kid, Zhang felt like this was unfair.


    He glared at the beggar. "Look who''s talking. Why did you jump in here? "


    The question caused Apollo to shut his mouth. He noticed the passerby now staring at him with scrutinising eyes.


    He cleared his throat before he managed to come up with an answer. "That''s because I already know that you are here! So I jump to get you out!"


    "You! You are lying! "Crazy Zhang pointed his fingers. "You clearly wanted to bathe in here! Oh, I see it. So this is your spot? But I''ve been bathing in this fountain for years! "


    The watchers turned back to the beggar.


    "No! I don''t bathe in fountains! "Apollo said. He didn''t come here to bathe; he came here to cultivate by plunging himself inside the water. The same? Hell nah! The beggar will never admit it! "You are so disgusting, old man! "


    "You are! "


    "No, it''s you who are disgusting! Just like your momma! "


    Suddenly, as the word''momma'' echoed, Crazy Zhang and Apollo stared into each other''s eyes, sparks materialising between them.


    "So this is the way you want it," Crazy Zhang started walking sideways, the water creating ripples as he moved.


    The beggar did the same, and soon enough, they are on the opposite side of the fountain, glaring and walking clockwise in the water.


    With the fountain water in their middle, Apollo opened his mouth. "I won the last time; do you think you can defeat me? Dream on! "


    "Don''t talk so big yet," Crazy Zhang smirked. "I, Zhang the Great, have studied and practiced for weeks just for this battle."


    "Oh, so you are expecting me? "Apollo raised an eyebrow before he shook his head as he smiled confidently. "Even if you studied everything, you will never be able to beat me."


    "Is that so? "Zhang the Great chuckled. "Then let''s put it to the test!"


    The onlookers are confused about what was happening, but they are intrigued, so they continue to watch with excitement. This is not something that they see every day¡ªtwo lunatics fighting against each other.


    Before Crazy Zhang could say a word, Apollo bested him by opening his mouth faster: "Yomama is so fat that when she sat on a waggon, it turned into a flat bed! "


    When the passersby heard it, at first they were confused, but when they repeated it in their minds, they burst out laughing.


    As the laughter echoed, Zhang the Great scoffed. "You cheated."


    "I didn''t. I''m just faster," Apollo said.


    "I see... then Yomama is so fat; when she walked to the city fair, she became the main attraction! "Zhang the Great''s voice echoed, and the laughter became louder.


    "Quiet! "Apollo raised his hand into the air, and the people''s noise died down. "Yomama is so stupid; she thought a knight''s armour was a fancy cooking pot."


    The onlookers couldn''t hold their mouth shut, so they burst out laughing once more.


    "Yomama is so stupid; she put lipstick on her forehead to make up her mind," Crazy Zhang fired back.


    "Yomama is so old; her first pet is a legendary beast! "Apollo said as they were circling around the fountain.


    More and more people are walking in their direction as the laughter attracts more watchers.


    And because of the commotion, silver-armoured knights arrive on the scene.


    The laughter is so loud it almost felt like they were in the middle of thunder.


    "What''s happening here? "One of the guards asked a passerby.


    "Hahaha, they are just saying funny things."


    "Who?"


    "Those in the fountain! "


    The guards looked at each other in bewilderment, so they walked closer to see what really was happening.


    "Yomama is so old; her diary is written on stone tablets." A small voice echoed.


    The guards just arrived in front when they heard this. They were silent at first before a laugh escaped their lips.


    Fortunately, one of them managed to get back on track and nudged the others.


    "Let''s stop this."


    "Alright, we will."


    Then they began walking, but the crazy person''s voice echoed this time.


    "Yomama is so fat; her shadow has its own map! "


    The silver-armoured guards laughed, but they held on with all their might. Slowly but surely, they continued their way near the fountain.


    "Hey... hahaha, stop this! "One of them shouted; his shout, imbued with Qi, is so loud that it overwhelms the people''s laughter.


    Apollo, who''s about to say his comeback, shuts his mouth.


    "Seems like I won," Zhang the Great said, a smile of victory painting his face.


    "No, they are interrupting us; there''s no way you won! "Apollo said with a frown.


    "I won! "Zhang the Great insisted.


    "You two stop! "The guards finally had enough. "Come with us! What you are doing is against the law! You have already caused enough disturbance! "


    "Hahaha, alright, alright, but I won," Zhang the Great said, raising his hand in surrender while glancing at the kid.


    However, the beggar has already disappeared from his spot, as if he''s never there in the first place.


    "Wait, where is the other one? "The guards were confused but shook their heads in the next second.


    "Wait! Why am I the only one getting taken? The kid is there! "Crazy Zhang pointed to a rooftop as the silver armoured guards took him away.


    The guards looked at where he was pointing but found no one. This caused them to get angry at Crazy Zhang.


    ¡­


    Seeing Crazy Zhang being held by the guards, Apollo couldn''t help but let out a sigh. He''s standing on the rooftop where Zhang the Great pointed, but his body is invisible.


    "D*mn it, why was I so foolish drinking that fountain?"Apollo muttered in frustration. "And he said I lost? No f*cking way."


    If they hadn''t been interrupted, he would have said a better comeback. But the guards being guards killed the scene.


    Shaking his head, he was about to find another source of water to cultivate the technique he got from the fifth floor of the Great Serpent library when he felt the wind behind him turning strange. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He turned around and saw the Great Serpent Headmaster looking at him.


    "What happened here? "Axton asked, glancing at the dispersing crowd below.


    "Some lunatics wanted to swim in the fountain, but one of them got taken away by the guards, so don''t worry about it," Apollo explained. "Why are you here? "


    "To talk to you, of course," Axton smiled.


    "Why? Do you want me to become your personal disciple again? Like I said, I already quit," Apollo said, though he knew there must be another reason.


    "Haha, of course not. I respect your decision," Axton chuckled.


    "Good, but it doesn''t matter," Apollo smirked. "I think I can take you on."


    "Oh? "Axton raised an eyebrow before he stared at the beggar from head to toe." As usual, he couldn''t feel a thing. So he spread his senses and covered Apollo with it.


    The beggar let the Headmaster.


    "You already reached the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage?!"Axton was shocked.


    Apollo felt satisfied seeing that face. "Hehe, no biggie."

 Chapter 287 - 287: Significance

    Seeing the smirk on the beggar''s face, Axton couldn''t help but feel speechless. In no time, Yoma had reached the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    This cultivation speed is too fast! Or could it be that Yoma is just hiding his true strength and slowly revealing it over time?


    Axton was certain the beggar was a Wanderer¡ªan expert in disguise. But what''s the point of slowly showing one''s strength if they can just hide it entirely or reveal it from the start?


    "Hehe, are you shocked?" Apollo asked with a chuckle.


    Taking a deep breath to calm his heart, Axton smiled. "No, I''m not surprised."


    The beggar stared suspiciously at the Great Serpent Headmaster for a moment before shaking his head. "Anyway, why are you looking for me?"


    "I have something important to discuss," Axton said as he waved his hand, forming a transparent film around them to block any eavesdroppers.


    "What''s with the precautions?" Apollo muttered, staring at the headmaster. "Go on, tell me."


    "The investigation team from the school''s main branch will arrive in two days," Axton said. "I want you to come with me to personally welcome them."


    "Hey, didn''t I tell you I''m done with all this personal disciple shenanigans?" The beggar raised an eyebrow.


    "Don''t worry, it''s not about that," Axton replied with a smile. "The others will also be there to welcome them, including the new mayor."


    "Oh?" Apollo pondered for a moment but then shook his head. "Sorry, I just want to cultivate in peace. If you''re going to bother me next time, bother my disciple instead."


    "Haha, I''m not bot¡ªwait, you have a disciple now?" Axton asked, genuinely surprised.


    "Of course! I''m handsome, smart, strong¡ªwho wouldn''t want to be my disciple?" the beggar said, puffing out his chest.


    "I see¡­ well, congratulations," Axton said with a bitter smile. The one who holds the Ascendant Technique of the Great Serpent Cultivation School is creating another sect? The elders won''t be pleased if they find out about this.


    "But what''s with the reception? Are they really that important?" Apollo asked.


    "Of course," Axton nodded. "They''ve traveled across continents to get here. That''s a two-week journey through the air, and their status is something even the Emperor respects."


    "The Emperor? That high?" Apollo whispered, realizing the gravity of the situation. If even the Emperor wouldn''t dare disrespect them, and the other Headmasters from different schools were meeting them, it showed just how significant the investigation team was.


    "But do I really have to go? I''m just a nobody," Apollo said.


    Nobody? With the Ascendant Technique in your hands, you''re far from a nobody. You''re someone the current Headmaster of the main branch would bow to! Axton thought.


    "You must come," Axton said, his face turning serious. "You''ve been there, right?"


    "What place?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "The fifth floor of the Great Serpent Cultivation School," Axton replied, staring intently at the beggar. "You defeated the Great Serpent."


    "Yep¡­ so?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    "You''re not hiding the fact that you have the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation?" Axton asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.


    "I''m not hiding it¡ªI''m just not talking about it," Apollo shrugged. "You''re the Headmaster, aren''t you? You knew I entered that place. The whole building vibrated, and I was the only one on the fourth floor. Anyone with common sense could put the clues together."


    The beggar rolled his eyes, as if silently asking if Headmaster Axton was d*mb.


    "But I asked you about it, and you denied it!" Axton said in frustration.


    "Why would I admit to something so clearly important?" Apollo shot back, his face turning serious. "That technique is obviously very precious. It''s been hundreds of years, and not a single soul has managed to defeat the Great Serpent¡ªexcept me, of course."


    "So, you understand its significance?" Axton asked with a sigh.


    "Nope. All I know is that it''s very valuable to your sect, and I''m the only one who has it," Apollo replied with a shrug.


    "That''s because there''s only one of its kind," Axton said.


    "Anyway, I don''t want any trouble. I don''t want to be disturbed, and I definitely won''t like it if trouble comes my way because of this technique," Apollo warned. "I got it because of my capabilities¡ªand, of course, my handsomeness. Don''t even think about stealing it from me. I can take you on now."


    "But that technique holds great significance for my sect," Axton frowned.


    "Why? Is it some kind of inheritance? If someone manages to acquire it, do they automatically become the new owner of the Great Serpent Cultivation School?" Apollo shook his head in disbelief. "I don''t believe your school would place its entire faith in a lousy snake. Heck, if I could defeat it with my 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage, then anyone at the 2nd-Step and above could do it too!"


    When Axton heard this, his body visibly shivered as though struck by lightning. He couldn''t count how many times he''d been shocked today. 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage?! He defeated the shadow of the Great Serpent with such a low cultivation?!


    Many had tried, including him. He had fought the humanoid Great Serpent not once, not twice, but five times¡ªand still, he failed every time!


    Axton felt as though he was on the verge of a heart attack.


    "You okay?" Apollo asked.


    "I-I''m fine," Axton replied, taking a deep breath to steady himself.


    "If that''s all, I''ll take my leave," Apollo said, waving a hand as he floated into the air. Although he didn''t yet possess a Flying Technique, as a 3rd-Step Qi Condensation cultivator, his Qi was thick enough to carry him, allowing for simple flight.


    However, just as he was about to take off in search of another water source for cultivation, he stopped in his tracks and slowly turned back to the Great Serpent Headmaster, who was still rooted to the spot.


    "Hey, there''s no hard feelings between us, right?" Apollo asked, rubbing his hands together. He had thought about this earlier but didn''t want any further connection with Axton, which is why he hadn''t brought it up. However, with the headmaster standing right there, he decided to ask.


    "Yeah¡­ no hard feelings," Axton said after regaining his composure.


    "Good. Can I still enter your school, even though I''m no longer part of it? I just want to cultivate in the water to test something out."


    Hearing this, Axton instantly understood. "Of course. It must be because of the Ascendant Technique, right?"


    "Yup," Apollo nodded. Another thought came to mind. "Who else knows about it?"


    "Just you and me," Axton answered.


    "Can you do me a favor? Don''t tell anyone about it," Apollo requested.


    Axton stared at the beggar with a serious expression for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Alright, I won''t tell anyone."


    "Haha, thanks. I owe you one. Now, let''s go!"


    Apollo arrived at the Great Serpent Cultivation School through the portal, landing on the island''s bustling streets.


    Looking around, he found the place as busy as usual.


    The air churned behind him, and the Headmaster appeared.


    "Follow me," Axton said and began flying in a specific direction.


    Apollo whistled, and a few seconds later, a shriek echoed from the sky. Bluetooth landed in front of him. "Hehe, you still remember me."


    He rubbed the bird for a while before jumping onto its back, then followed after the Headmaster.


    Soon, they landed on the other side of the island, behind the thousand-meter-high mountain.


    Apollo''s small frame stepped onto the sandy beach. Looking around, he saw no one else¡ªjust them.


    "This place is off-limits to others. Not even the Elders come here to train. You can stay as long as you want," Axton said with a smile.


    "Thanks," Apollo replied, noticing his mount lying on its side. He turned to the Great Serpent Headmaster. "Can I bring him home?"


    Axton glanced at the water-attributed falcon and thought for a moment before nodding. "Sure, everything here is¡ª"


    He stopped mid-sentence as he remembered the beggar didn''t want any trouble. But should he really respect Yoma''s decision?


    Technically, with the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation in the beggar''s possession, Yoma was now the rightful owner of the entire Great Serpent Cultivation School. That''s what the manual, passed down through generations of Headmasters, dictated.


    So Yoma was Axton''s boss¡ªthe real one. But it seemed like the beggar either didn''t know this or was deliberately denying it for the sake of his peace.


    Axton felt a massive headache brewing. He wanted what was best for the Sect, but he also knew he had to respect the "boss."


    "What did you say?" Apollo asked, noticing the Headmaster''s hesitation.


    "Nothing," Axton replied, shaking his head and deciding to let nature take its course.


    "Suspicious," Apollo muttered. "Anyway, you can go back now."


    "Alright," Axton nodded and was about to fly back to his building when he remembered something. "Oh, right, there''s an invitation." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not again," Apollo sighed.


    "Don''t worry, it''s not about ''troubles,''" Axton chuckled, pulling something out of his space ring. He handed the object to the beggar. "Here. It''s about¡ª"


    Apollo didn''t let the Headmaster finish. He grabbed the scroll and stuffed it into his clothes. "I''ll check it later," he said before diving into the water.


    Fortunately, the scroll was waterproof.

 Chapter 288 - 288: Breaking Through The Beginner Stage

    Apollo''s body slowly descended into the ocean, scattering small fish the moment they saw him.


    Looking around, he couldn''t help but be amazed by the beauty of the undersea world. It was teeming with life, filled with fish he recognized and many he didn''t.


    The ocean floor emitted a soft glow, creating a magical effect.


    It felt like the beggar was gazing at a vibrant underwater city. The sight was utterly mesmerizing.


    Apollo looked around further and saw that the entire ocean was filled with these enchanting scenes. If he could, he would stay here for eternity¡ªno trouble, just peace and quiet.


    But if he wanted to reach the pinnacle of this world and escape the clutches of old age, he needed to get stronger. Stronger than anyone else.


    With this goal in mind, determination flickered in his eyes as he recalled the Great Serpent Ascendant Technique.


    This technique would allow him to transform into the Great Serpent in its final form, though he was currently still working on breaking through the beginner stage.


    The magnificent view of the ocean faded as Apollo floated in the water''s depths. Pitch-black darkness surrounded him, leaving him suspended and alone.


    But it lasted only a moment. In the next instant, firefly-like Qi materialized. At first, there were only a few, but soon they grew to thousands.


    They floated in the void, circling around the beggar. Some even landed gently on his shoulders.


    "So, this is the Water Attribute," Apollo muttered. He raised his hand, and the water Qi swam across his palm. "Interesting."


    Compared to the usual white Qi, which was neutral, the Water Attribute Qi shimmered in a light blue hue.


    Even more surprising, they seemed to respond to Apollo''s needs, unlike the white Qi, which merely wandered aimlessly.


    The beggar grinned. "Since you guys are so obedient, be even better when I''m about to break through the beginner stage, got it?"


    The light blue Qi vibrated as though understanding his words.


    "Good," Apollo said with a smile before closing his eyes.


    As the world fell silent, so did the Water Attribute Qi. But the stillness lasted only a few moments before the Qi began to move.


    At first, they drifted lazily around the beggar, but as time passed, their movements quickened. They swirled into a tornado that engulfed Apollo completely.


    The faint image of the Great Serpent appeared within the vortex. It was dim, but unmistakable. It let out a silent roar that reverberated through the void.


    Apollo furrowed his brows. Cultivating the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation was unlike practicing other techniques. Instead of performing a set of movements, this technique required him to gradually alter his body''s structure minute by minute using the Water Attribute Qi.


    While the usual white, unrefined Qi he used on the surface could contribute, its effects were negligible. Apollo realized cultivating this transformation underwater had been the right choice.


    Here, his progress felt rapid. If cultivating on land was like walking, being submerged was like sprinting. He was racing toward breaking the barrier that kept him from the beginner stage.


    Apollo lost track of time. He didn''t know how long he had been cultivating, but he knew one thing: he was close. And with one final push, the Water Attribute Qi swirling around him surged into his body, exploding outward in waves!


    The force was so immense that the void shattered, revealing the ocean once more.


    A shockwave radiated from the beggar''s body, creating powerful waves that rippled through the water as if a storm were brewing. Yet, the artificial sky above the Great Serpent remained bright as ever.


    The massive waves raged for some time before finally subsiding.


    But beneath the ocean''s surface, calmness had yet to return. In one particular spot, an oppressive aura lingered, causing the water to quiver constantly.


    Nearby fish and sea monsters displayed similar reactions, darting around erratically. None dared approach the source of the disturbance, yet none ventured too far either.


    Their bodies urged them toward the presence, but their instincts whispered to retreat.


    The chaotic scene continued as the fish collided with each other in a frenzy.


    Apollo opened his eyes, and a strong light blue glow flashed within them. He blinked, and the intense light faded. For a moment, confusion clouded his face before understanding dawned.


    Noticing the trembling water around him, he raised his hand instinctively and touched it. Immediately, the water stilled, and the oppressive aura began to dissipate.


    "I succeeded," Apollo muttered, his words forming bubbles in the water. He extended his hand in front of him and clenched it. Though he didn''t feel any immediate surge of power¡ªlikely because the technique wasn''t yet active¡ªhe could sense a profound change.


    The water around him felt like an extension of himself, as though, with a single command, it would obey his will.


    Curious, he flipped his hand and imagined a shape. The ocean churned, and a ball of water materialized above his palm. Apollo''s eyes widened in surprise. To an outsider, it might seem like a simple act, but he knew otherwise¡ªhe hadn''t used any Qi to create it!


    Like his Lightning Attribute, his Water Attribute allowed him to shape his surroundings.


    But unlike Lightning, which existed solely to unleash destruction, his Water Attribute carried a calm, nurturing presence. It felt more like a companion than a tool.


    Suddenly, Apollo noticed the fish in the distance. A thought struck him, and he raised his hand, beckoning them toward him. Immediately, they swam to him as if reuniting with a long-lost parent. In moments, they surrounded the beggar, brushing against him gently.


    Apollo reached out and picked up a peculiar fish that looked like a blend between a seahorse and a goldfish. The little creature was adorable.


    He stroked it softly, and an unfamiliar emotion surged through him.


    Satisfaction. Peace. A profound sense of security. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Apollo blinked, startled, before realizing these feelings were emanating from the fish he held. "Interesting," he murmured.


    Curious, he picked up another fish and experienced the same emotions. He repeated this with several more and couldn''t help but chuckle. "These little guys are cute."


    After playing with the fish for a while, he let them swim freely around him. Meanwhile, his mind wandered to a new thought.


    "This must be one of the side effects of reaching the Beginner Stage," Apollo whispered. He also noted that his control over water far surpassed his mastery of lightning. "Should I find a lightning technique? Maybe later. For now, I''ll test this one!"


    A smile spread across his face as the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation filled his mind.


    And with a single thought, the technique activated!

 Chapter 289 - 289: Lilys Revenge?

    Bluetooth was sleeping peacefully on the sandy beach, his head tucked beneath his blue wings, his chest rising and falling slowly and deliberately.


    As he drifted deeper into the dream world, a sudden and unfamiliar pressure jolted him awake. He opened his eyes abruptly and immediately stood to face the ocean.


    With his feathers standing on end, he shrieked at the waves, which tumbled furiously before him.


    However, the chaos didn''t last long. The waves calmed, and the place fell silent. Bluetooth tilted his head to the side in confusion. He stayed alert for a few moments before flopping back onto the sand to resume his rest.


    But peace eluded him. Another surge of pressure emanated from the ocean, this time twice as strong as before.


    The Water-Attributed Falcon shrieked into the sky, his unease growing with the oppressive aura pressing down on him. Bluetooth wanted to flee, yet something deep within urged him to dive into the ocean instead.


    Despite this internal pull, Bluetooth couldn''t move a step. All he could do was let out a high-pitched cry, which carried through the still air.


    The pressure eventually subsided.


    This time, Bluetooth didn''t dare sleep. He stood, staring intently at the sea.


    Suddenly, a splash broke the surface, and a blur shot out of the water, landing right in front of him.


    Bluetooth spread his wings, preparing for battle.


    "Hey, Bluetooth, calm down."


    The voice was like a soothing melody, instantly quelling the falcon''s agitation. When Bluetooth recognized the figure before him, his demeanor softened further.


    "It''s me," Apollo said with a smile.


    The Falcon chirped happily and rushed toward the beggar, lowering his head to rub affectionately against Apollo''s cheek.


    "Haha, okay, okay," Apollo said with a laugh, scratching his mount''s head before pushing him away gently. He tossed something into the air. "Here, eat this. I can''t let my mount starve, can I?"


    Bluetooth shrieked joyfully before leaping and swallowing five fish in one gulp.


    "D*mn, take it slow," Apollo scolded lightly, shaking his head. He waited for the Water-Attributed Falcon to finish eating before climbing onto its back. "Let''s go back. And from now on, you''re coming with me."


    The Falcon cried out happily, and Apollo could feel the bird''s excitement as he gripped its feathers.


    With a powerful flap of its wings, they took to the sky, heading for the southern exit of the island. Apollo didn''t bother saying goodbye to the Headmaster¡ªhe had no desire to linger any longer.


    The longer he stayed, the more trouble seemed to find him, and trouble was the last thing he wanted. Besides, he was eager to return and check on his disciple''s cultivation progress. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he thought about this, a smile crept across his face. His gaze flicked to the corner of his vision, where a notification screen floated.


    "You received 0.4 Alm Points!"


    "You received 1 Alm Point!"


    "You received 2 Alm Points!"


    "You received 1 Alm Point!"


    There were only four notifications, with the 0.4 marking the passage of another hour. Apollo realized that having a disciple was proving to be quite rewarding.


    "This is a great feature," he thought, frowning slightly. "The System really should have told me about it sooner. Why am I only finding out about this now?"


    Apollo suspected the System of deliberately withholding the information. Was it to force him to focus on the mission? If so, that was utterly unfair!


    Shaking his head, he resolved to return to his usual beggar spot and plan his next move.


    But it seemed fate had other ideas.


    As they neared the southern exit of the island, Apollo spotted a group of people standing by the portal. They weren''t moving, just standing there, clearly waiting¡ªand looking in his direction.


    "Ah, f*ck this," Apollo muttered, sighing as Bluetooth landed on the beach. He dismounted from the falcon and walked purposefully toward the portal.


    At the same time, the people began walking toward him.


    "We meet again," Lily said, a smirk playing on her lips.


    "Yeah. And I bet you''re not here for something friendly," Apollo replied, narrowing his eyes.


    "Of course," Lily answered, her smirk vanishing as a cold expression took over. Killing intent radiated from her body.


    "Oh," Apollo raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed. "Looks like someone''s on her period."


    "You and your filthy mouth!" Lily shouted, the air around her churning with rage. "You are truly unfit to be the Personal Disciple!"


    "Yeah, I''m not," Apollo said, waving his hand dismissively. "So why don''t you get the f*ck out? We''re trying to leave."


    Hearing this, Lily smiled dangerously. "Unfortunately, you can''t."


    "What''s with you, you crazy b*tch?" Apollo finally snapped.


    "You humiliated me!" Lily shouted, her voice echoing.


    "How?!" Apollo asked, genuinely confused. He couldn''t recall doing anything to humiliate her. If it was about defeating her fair and square in her own challenge, then that was on her!


    "By giving me the position!" Lily spat, her eyes glaring daggers at him.


    "Eh?" Apollo was stunned. That''s it? That''s the reason? "Shouldn''t you be thankful instead?"


    "Thankful?" This time, the person standing beside Lily¡ªa white-haired old woman, her master¡ªspoke up. "You disrespected the position of the Personal Disciple, especially by giving it to someone you defeated! Your actions are unacceptable, and the Great Serpent would not condone this!"


    Apollo felt the urge to smack their faces. Not only were they ungrateful, but they were also making a huge deal out of this. If he had known, he would''ve given the position to someone else instead of these lunatics.


    "So we prepared for this," Lily said, her voice heavy. "I trained day and night until I passed out. Because of this humiliation, I''ve reached the 2nd-Step Qi Condensation Stage and perfected my Water Blade Disintegration Technique!"


    "And on behalf of the Great Serpent, we challenge you to another duel," Lily''s master added, her tone resolute. "This will prove that my disciple is superior and rightfully deserves the title of Personal Disciple!"


    "This is annoying," Apollo muttered, shaking his head. "So, you want to fight?"


    "Yes," Lily said with a firm nod. "Follow us, and we''ll end this once and for all. But don''t expect to see another day after this."


    Her master chuckled, radiating confidence as if Lily stood a real chance against Apollo.


    "Follow where?" Apollo asked, shaking his head. "This place is more than enough."


    With that, he jumped back, lowering his body into a fighting stance.


    Lily and her master exchanged a glance before her master nodded in agreement. "Fine. Just defeat him quickly to minimize the damage to the surroundings."


    "I will, Master," Lily replied, taking a deep breath. Although her entire family was gone, leaving only a few relatives behind, she seemed unaffected. She stepped forward and raised her hand toward Apollo. "I''ll show you the true might of a real Personal Disciple."


    "Sure, sure. Just get it over with. Don''t waste my time," Apollo said casually.


    "Tsk! You talk big for someone with such a small mouth. If you want to die so badly, then die!" With a shout, Lily unleashed her Water Blade Disintegration Technique!

 Chapter 290 - 290: Cancelling her Technique

    Lily narrowed her eyes as a confident smile crossed her face. The killing intent radiating from her grew stronger.


    She recalled the moment she received the news of becoming the Personal Disciple. Her feelings had been complicated.


    She felt happy that she had finally achieved her dream. But when she learned the position was given to her only because the previous Personal Disciple relinquished it, she felt deeply humiliated.


    It was as if someone had thrown her scraps, and she had no choice but to eat them because she was starving¡ªstarving for her dream.


    Now, as the Personal Disciple, she was determined to find the person who "fed" her those scraps and prove she was no longer someone surviving on the leftovers of others.


    The surrounding Qi churned violently as she unleashed her signature technique, the Water Blade Disintegration Technique.


    Water droplets materialized around them, their numbers reaching into the thousands. Yet Lily wasn''t finished. She infused her Refined Qi into the technique, amplifying its strength.


    The droplets vibrated and transformed into razor-sharp water blades, each resembling a gleaming mirror.


    Compared to their previous battle, the power of this technique was far greater. The air around the blades rippled, almost as if it feared this overwhelming phenomenon.


    "Since refining this technique, its strength has nearly tripled. You won''t be able to break or stop it so easily," Lily said, pride flickering in her gaze as she admired her creation.


    "Blah, blah, blah," Apollo scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Why don''t you stop running your mouth and just start? You''re wasting my precious time."


    The beggar''s dismissive words left Lily momentarily stunned. Then, anger flared in her eyes.


    "Kill him," her master said coldly from the sidelines, her expression betraying her own sense of insult.


    "I will, Master," Lily replied. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and pointed at Apollo. "Die!"


    With a clench of her fist, the Water Blade Disintegration Technique let out a high-pitched screech.


    You''re fcking dead,* Lily thought, her eyes glinting coldly. She could already envision Apollo''s blood spurting, his body sliced into a thousand pieces.


    This fight wasn''t even serious for her¡ªit was simply a means to silence the "demon" in her heart that had haunted her ever since her defeat by the previous Personal Disciple.


    However, what happened next left her utterly stunned.


    The water blades became a blur as they shot toward Apollo. But with a casual wave of his hand, the blades froze mid-air.


    A heavy silence fell over the battlefield.


    "What?!" Lily shouted, her voice a mix of disbelief and rage.


    Apollo smirked in her direction before turning his attention to the nearest water blade.


    He approached it, observing the suspended blade up close.


    So I can do this too, Apollo thought.


    At first, he had intended to replicate what Nathan Kleinford had done to him during their sparring match.


    Nathan had managed to cancel Apollo''s technique before it fully formed by disrupting the Qi pattern used to create it. Nathan achieved this by interfering with the surrounding Qi¡ªa feat that even Apollo could perform. However, applying it to neutralize a fully formed technique had seemed impossible.


    Using that sparring session as inspiration, Apollo extended his senses to envelop the water droplets, preventing them from forming properly. But the moment his senses touched the Water Blade Disintegration Technique, he felt an entirely new sensation.


    It was as if he were holding a slippery fish, reminiscent of the feeling he''d had when playing with sea creatures in the ocean.


    Although the "fish" seemed gentle, there was a lurking violence within it, as though it could lash out at any moment.


    Apollo waited. He waited to scare away these ''fishes.'' Using the principles Nathan had used to stop techniques from forming, he added his own twist: commanding water. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By altering a small pattern in the technique hurtling toward him and spreading his senses to command the water blades to stop, he created this mind-blowing scene.


    The benefits of achieving the beginner stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Technique were truly remarkable. He hadn''t even activated the technique fully, relying solely on its ''passive'' abilities.


    With another wave of his hand, the water blades suspended in the air splashed harmlessly to the ground.


    "No¡­ no¡­ this can''t be!" Lily shouted, her eyes wide with disbelief. She raised her hands again to launch the same attack, but this time, Apollo didn''t let her continue her nonsense. The water droplets couldn''t even form.


    "Now, now," Apollo said, walking slowly toward them, his face serious as an oppressive aura radiated from his body. "Scram. You don''t want to mess with me, kid."


    "Kid?!" Lily laughed¡ªa laugh that quickly twisted into a cry of despair. She couldn''t believe it. Desperate, she attempted her signature technique for the third time, but once again, the beggar casually waved his hand, and the technique dissolved into nothing.


    "No! I can''t believe this! How?! NO!" she screamed, her voice tinged with hysteria.


    Apollo sighed at her outburst. This btch has gone crazy. It was really a bad idea to give her the position.*


    "Don''t blame me for what I''m about to do," he said, shaking his head.


    Raising his hand, Apollo conjured his own Water Blade Disintegration Technique. Compared to Lily''s, each of his water blades stood at least three meters tall, their numbers covering the entire south beach.


    The spectacle left Lily staring blankly at the air. Her face was devoid of emotion, but tears began to well up in her eyes.


    Pointing his hand in their direction, Apollo''s killing intent surged forth. He wasn''t going to hold back. He despised scenarios where people with ''young master syndrome'' sought him out just to stroke their egos.


    And Apollo believed in gender equality. Lily could expect the same treatment he gave to any man.


    As he was about to clench his hand and obliterate their faces, Lily''s master raised her hand.


    "We surrender. You win, and we will never bother you again," she said, her voice devoid of emotion but tinged with a hint of surprise.


    Still pointing his hand at them, Apollo asked, "Are you sure? Because there''s no third time. I might even pay her a visit, just like I did to her family, if she pisses me off again."


    "You¡­ you''re the culprit?" Lily''s master asked, shock flickering across her face.


    Hearing Apollo''s words, Lily visibly stiffened. She slowly looked up, her eyes shaking with fear. "You killed th¡ª"


    Her words were cut off as her master shot her a glare.


    "Yes, I am the culprit. What about it?" Apollo shrugged before his tone turned cold. "Don''t break your word."


    "We won''t," Lily''s master replied firmly.


    Soon after, the two left with their mounts, their defeat etched into their expressions.


    Apollo shook his head before turning to Bluetooth, who had fallen asleep, completely unaffected by the recent events. "This guy is really carefree."


    "Bluetooth, let''s go!" Apollo shouted. The water-attributed falcon woke up with a yawn, then stretched lazily as the two of them headed toward the portal.


    Bluetooth shrieked at the sky, unable to contain his excitement as he jumped around.


    "Haha, you''re really excited," Apollo said, scratching the bird''s neck. "Alright, you go first."


    Bluetooth playfully bumped his head against the beggar''s face before leaping into the portal. Apollo followed closely behind him.


    Silence fell over the south exit of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, but it only lasted for a moment. Soon, heads popped out from the trees in the distance.


    They belonged to the Martial Students, who were on their way to complete missions outside the school but had stumbled upon the scene of Lily Callum fighting the previous Personal Disciple.


    Recognizing Apollo''s distinct height and figure, the Martial Students immediately identified him as the former Personal Disciple.


    They exchanged shocked glances.


    "The previous Personal Disciple is so strong!"


    "Lily couldn''t even form her technique against him!"


    ¡­


    When Apollo and his mount emerged outside the Great Serpent Cultivation School, Bluetooth immediately spread his wings and soared into the air.


    "Is this his first time outside?" Apollo muttered, speechless. He let the water-attributed falcon enjoy himself for a while before calling him back with a whistle.


    Bluetooth landed gracefully in front of him, the gust of wind from his wings causing Apollo''s hair and clothes to flap wildly.


    "Let''s head back to my place. I''ll introduce you to your new friends," Apollo said with a smile, jumping onto the falcon''s back.


    The water-attributed falcon let out a shriek of excitement. With a powerful flap of his wings, they soared into the sky.


    The bright sun bathed them in its light. Apollo gripped the bird''s feathers to guide their direction. As they flew, his gaze wandered to the city below.


    The streets appeared the same as always, as though the terrifying event that had shaken everyone not long ago was nothing more than a bad dream.


    Hundreds had died, especially those who fought on the frontlines. Reflecting on this, Apollo''s eyes turned toward the horizon¡ªbeyond the walls and over the distant mountains.


    He knew this was only the beginning. There was no way Klown was the only person with such a twisted mind. Drawing on the countless movies and novels he''d seen in his previous life, Apollo understood there was always more beneath the surface.


    The beggar wouldn''t be surprised if another villain emerged to disrupt his peaceful cultivation and challenge his journey to become the strongest in this world.

 Chapter 291 - 291: Basic Shrunk Technique

    Apollo and Bluetooth were shrouded in water, their bodies completely invisible as they flew above the street near the beggar''s spot.


    They didn''t immediately land. Instead, Apollo observed the scene below, scanning for anything unusual.


    As expected, there was a long line of people in front of the Filly Restaurant. However, his attention wasn''t on the queue. His focus shifted to a group of individuals approaching the restaurant. Narrowing his eyes, his vision zoomed in. He recognized Manager Fu and his assistant, accompanied by their usual goons. The way they walked clearly signaled trouble.


    Letting out a sigh, Apollo patted the bird''s head, signaling a descent toward the ground.


    Although their bodies were still invisible, the sudden gust of wind from their landing caught everyone off guard.


    Ignoring the startled reactions, Apollo jumped off Bluetooth''s back and fixed his gaze on Manager Fu and his entourage. Their angry expressions, directed at the Filly Restaurant beside his beggar spot, didn''t go unnoticed. Raising a finger, Apollo pointed directly at them.


    A small but swift flash of lightning shot from his fingertip. Within moments, Manager Fu, his assistant, and their lackeys began shaking violently. Seconds later, they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.


    This was the second time they had tried to disrupt the peace of the Filly Restaurant¡ªand the second time Apollo had stopped them.


    Letting out another sigh, Apollo muttered to himself. When the hell are they going to learn? Just because they''ve learned some weak-ass technique doesn''t mean they''re strong.


    Shaking his head, Apollo turned and walked toward his disciple, who was sitting in front of the beggar''s spot. The boy was cultivating and begging simultaneously, his palms held above his forehead in the traditional posture.


    Revealing himself from his invisibility, Apollo stood directly in front of Don. Despite his master''s presence, Don remained still.


    Smiling in satisfaction, Apollo tapped the boy''s head. "Hey, I need to tell you something."


    Don slowly lifted his face, squinting. "W-who are you?" he asked with a yawn, his vision still blurry from sleep.


    "You''re not cultivating¡ªyou''re sleeping?" Apollo''s voice dropped, low and cold.


    Hearing the familiar tone, Don froze in confusion before realization struck. His eyes widened, and he hurriedly bowed to the ground. "Forgive me, Master! My body was too tired, so I couldn''t help it! I will never do it again! Please don''t disown me as your disciple!"


    Apollo was momentarily speechless. Then, as he considered the boy''s situation, his harshness softened. Don had walked for hours just to get here, and with his small feet, the journey must have been exhausting. Furthermore, even while sleeping, Don was still earning him Alm Points.


    Letting out a sigh, Apollo said, "Just cultivate as much as you can¡­ and beg. Remember, you''re a beggar now¡ªa true beggar¡ªso you must beg with all your heart."


    "Thank you, Master!" Don exclaimed, looking up with shining eyes. "I''ll make sure to give my all to begging!"


    "Alright, alright," Apollo said, waving a hand dismissively. "And like I told you before, stop bowing so much. People are staring at us."


    "I''m sorry," Don said, stopping himself just before bowing.


    "How''s your cultivation?" Apollo asked.


    "It''s going great. I can feel strength surging through my body," Don replied, raising his hand and clenching it into a fist.


    "That''s good. But remember, your strength is nothing compared to others. There will always be people stronger than you," Apollo reminded him. He didn''t want his disciple to become arrogant just because he had reached the 1st-Stage Foundation Stage, like so many others he had encountered. Glancing at the still-unconscious troublemakers, Apollo turned back to Don. "Raise your strength as soon as possible and help your friends."


    "I will!" Don said, tears welling in his eyes.


    Apollo nodded before glancing over his shoulder. His falcon, still invisible, was looking around curiously, occasionally bumping into people and startling them as they couldn''t see what had hit them.


    Slapping his forehead, Apollo let out a soft whistle. Bluetooth immediately flew over and landed in front of him.


    Can''t you change size or something? Apollo asked through Thought Transfer. Bluetooth tilted his head, paused for a moment, and then shook it.


    Apollo frowned. At two meters tall, the Water-Attributed Falcon was simply too big for the beggar spot¡ªit would be far too cramped.


    Maybe the rooftop? Apollo glanced at the roof of the Filly Restaurant but quickly dismissed the idea. Bluetooth''s excitement would surely lead to chaos as he explored the area.


    Realizing he had no other option, Apollo turned to the System Store. As much as he hated spending Alm Points, he couldn''t let the falcon remain this size¡ªit would attract far too much attention.


    He opened the System Store and searched for a solution. After a while, he purchased the cheapest item he could find: the Simple Shrunk Technique. It cost 10 Alm Points¡ªa steep price for such a basic technique. Seeing his Alm Points reduced to 127.4 stung, but he reminded himself it was necessary to avoid future problems.


    What if some young master decides to fancy my mount? Apollo thought. It''ll just lead to more trouble, and I don''t have time for that nonsense.


    The moment he bought the technique, the knowledge entered his mind. Apollo quickly reviewed it and found the process quite simple¡ªit didn''t even require much Qi. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once he understood it, Apollo raised his hand toward the Water-Attributed Falcon. The surrounding Qi began to swirl, gathering around Bluetooth and enveloping his body. With a single thought, the falcon shrank to the size of a small bluebird.


    Seeing the transformation, Apollo smiled in satisfaction. Thankfully, the technique could be used on others as long as the target didn''t resist.


    With a wave of his hand, the now-miniature Bluetooth hovered briefly in the air before landing on Apollo''s shoulder.


    The tiny bird nuzzled Apollo''s cheek, and the beggar smiled at the gentle sensation.


    "You have a bird, Master?" Don asked, surprised to see the creature appear out of nowhere.


    "I found him on the way back," Apollo replied. "From now on, he''ll be another member of our Beggar Sect."


    "Beggar Sect?" Don repeated, his eyes lighting up with excitement. So this is the name of my school? Very cool!


    Don didn''t mind becoming a beggar. As long as it made him stronger, he didn''t care what others thought of him. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and placed his hands above his forehead, ready to cultivate again.

 Chapter 292 - 292: Talking to Sir Guo

    Apollo sat beneath his makeshift roof while Bluetooth and his monkey played together nearby.


    He watched them for a moment before reaching into his robe and pulling out a scroll. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was the scroll the Great Serpent Headmaster had given him.


    "What could this be¡­" Apollo muttered as he unrolled it and began to read.


    "You have been invited to join the Manida Land Exchange Knowledge, where experts can come together to share what they know, learn from each other, and make progress collectively¡­"


    After reading for a while, Apollo flipped the scroll over and found another message written by the Great Serpent Headmaster:


    "Hopefully, by joining this event, you will enjoy yourself. There''s an after-party auction, and I will send you some funds if you decide to participate in it."


    "What''s with him?" Apollo muttered, frowning. "Is he doing me a favor or something?"


    The scroll was an invitation to a gathering in another city, Manida Land City. It was described as an exchange of knowledge between experts¡ªa glorified party, essentially. The event also featured a sparring arena for experts to test their skills and an auction afterward, which, according to the scroll, would include a rare item.


    Axton had even promised to send him funds for the auction.


    Apollo couldn''t understand the Headmaster''s intentions in giving him the invitation.


    He stared at the scroll for a few moments before tucking it back inside his robe. The event was still eight days away, and he decided to think about it later.


    For now, Apollo wanted peace. He aimed to focus on cultivation, increasing his strength to reach the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage. Although he didn''t yet know the limits of his 3rd-Step body, it didn''t bother him; he could figure it out later.


    His gaze shifted to his disciple, Don, and a thought crossed his mind. Having a disciple was proving beneficial, as they helped him earn Alm Points.


    Apollo resolved that once he reached the 4th-Step, he would recruit more disciples.


    Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and began cultivating the Revised Revised Simple Breathing Technique. The world around him faded to black as firefly-like Qi began to flow into his body.


    The Qi circulated within him, following a pattern he had created himself. Before long, Apollo was completely immersed in his cultivation.


    ---


    Hours passed, and night fell.


    When Apollo opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was his Alm Points increasing.


    He glanced to the side and saw that he had gained another 4.6 Alm Points, including those generated by the Automatic Alm Points Producer.


    Smiling in satisfaction, he stood and walked to a corner where two baskets sat.


    The Filly Restaurant, having noticed the arrival of a new beggar under Yoma''s protection, had thoughtfully added another basket without Apollo even asking.


    "They''re really considerate," Apollo muttered, feeling an unexpected wave of appreciation. This made him want to do them a favor someday.


    Apollo walked up to Don and handed him a basket. "Eat first."


    "Thank you, Master."


    Don and Apollo entered the beggar spot and began eating.


    Nearby, the small falcon and the monkey had already become best friends. Bluetooth rested on top of Bubba''s head, the two now inseparable.


    The animals quickly perked up upon smelling the food.


    Apollo fed them, and Don followed suit. Once finished, Apollo grabbed Bluetooth and leaped onto the rooftop.


    With a wave of his hand, they were enveloped in a transparent film¡ªa technique derived from Hydra Mirage. Apollo deactivated the Basic Shrunk Technique, allowing Bluetooth to return to his full size.


    "Let''s go," Apollo ordered as he climbed onto the Water-Attributed Falcon''s back.


    With a powerful flap of its wings, they shot into the sky.


    Apollo guided Bluetooth toward the Training Ground. The journey was so swift it lasted less than thirty seconds before they arrived.


    Their landing sent a gust of wind rippling through the surrounding grass and leaves.


    Apollo dismounted as the transparent film dissipated into particles of Qi, revealing both him and Bluetooth.


    "Oh? So they let you take a Water Falcon out of their school? You must be very important to them," a voice echoed.


    Apollo turned to see Sir Guo, the Training Ground Guardian, sitting casually on one of the steps at the foot of the platform.


    "It''s because I''m handsome," Apollo replied shamelessly, striding over to Sir Guo. As he approached, a strong scent of alcohol hit him. "D*mn, you''re drunk. What kind of alcohol can even affect a 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage cultivator?"


    "Core Creation, kid," Sir Guo corrected, releasing a sudden wave of his true cultivation.


    The shift in atmosphere was suffocating, and Apollo, though already at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, felt overwhelmed by the pressure.


    Seeing Apollo''s pale face, Sir Guo smirked and withdrew the oppressive aura. "It''s just fake cultivation to throw people off. Impressive, huh?"


    "You stink. You did that on purpose," Apollo said, taking a deep breath to recover.


    "Yeah, a little payback for your lie," Sir Guo replied, his eyes glinting coldly.


    "When did I lie?" Apollo asked, his expression deadpan. "I just agreed to your request. Anyway, let''s go kill the Mayor!"


    "Kill¡ª" Sir Guo nearly choked on his words, feeling as though he might vomit blood. "You''re still acting and treating me like a fool!"


    "Drop the act! I already know everything! I even know you''ve got another master despite accepting me as your teacher!"


    Hearing this, Apollo chuckled. "What''s the big deal? I have two masters, so what?"


    "You! That''s a taboo!" Sir Guo shouted, his face red with anger. Though he had been drunk moments ago, one circulation of Qi erased all traces of alcohol from his system. "If you belonged to a sect or school and did that, you''d face the death penalty!"


    "That serious?" Apollo asked, his eyes widening in surprise.


    "Yes!" Sir Guo nodded firmly.


    "I see. But I don''t belong to any sect, so does that even apply to you? And besides, we have an agreement. I''m free from you now!"


    "No!" Sir Guo''s voice was sharp, his eyes cold. "You tricked me."


    "How did I trick you?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow.

 Chapter 293 - 293: Stop?

    "You already knew he was dead, but you still agreed to my request!" Sir Guo said, rising from his seat. "And do you think I''m d*mb? I already know everything!"


    Apollo felt like he''d just been caught cheating by a girlfriend. Yet, looking at the man before him, all he felt was disgust. He spat on the ground and raised an eyebrow at the bamboo hat-wearing man. "Anyway, the deal is off. There''s nothing you can do about it!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You!" Sir Guo pointed at Apollo, his face red with frustration and anger. In the end, he sighed heavily and slumped back onto the platform''s stairs. "Fine. You win. The deal is off."


    "Haha, good," Apollo said, nodding. "So, bye! See you never again!"


    "Wait!" Sir Guo shouted just as Apollo turned to leave.


    "What? Don''t beg me to be your disciple again!" Apollo snapped, glaring coldly at the man. "Let me tell you this! Even though you''re stronger than me, I''ll never back down from a fight!"


    It was a lie. If Sir Guo actually tried to kill him, Apollo would run as fast as possible. Though he was at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage, the gap between their strengths was like heaven and earth.


    "If you don''t back down, you''ll die," Sir Guo said with a chuckle. "But I''m not asking you to be my disciple anymore. We''re friends, right? So do your good friend a favor¡ª"


    "No," Apollo said firmly. He turned and walked toward Bluetooth, who was clawing at the scarecrows. Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the area, and Sir Guo materialized in front of him.


    "Don''t leave so soon! Hear me out first!" Sir Guo pleaded.


    Apollo frowned. In a burst of lightning, he disappeared and reappeared next to Bluetooth, but before he could catch his breath, Sir Guo was already in front of him again.


    "F*ck! Can''t you just stay away?" Apollo cursed.


    This time, Sir Guo dropped to his knees, placing his forehead on the ground. "Do me a favor! Come with me to my home sect and pretend to be my disciple!"


    "Didn''t I already tell you? I don''t want to be a disciple!" Apollo shouted.


    "You''re only pretending to be a disciple!" Sir Guo begged. "Please! I''ll compensate you handsomely¡ªsomething you won''t regret!"


    The frown on Apollo''s face faded, replaced with a thoughtful expression.


    "Lightning Cultivation Techniques¡ªthe flashiest and strongest techniques in your sect. If you promise to give them to me, I''ll agree," Apollo said after a moment of thought.


    "Yes, I promise!" Sir Guo looked up, his eyes shining with hope.


    "Swear it to Heaven," Apollo said, pointing toward the sky with a smirk.


    "I¡­" Sir Guo hesitated, but seeing the cold glint in Apollo''s eyes, he gritted his teeth. "I swear to Heaven that I will give you the strongest and flashiest techniques from my home sect!"


    "Good," Apollo chuckled. "You do realize you just lowered yourself by bowing to a beggar, right?"


    "If I have to prove that I''m better than them, then it doesn''t matter," Sir Guo replied, standing up from the ground.


    "I don''t care what your beef is with your sect, but as long as you deliver what you promised, we''re good," Apollo said. "So, when are we going?"


    "In three weeks. I still need to take care of a lot of things," Sir Guo replied.


    "Is the destination along Manida Land?" Apollo asked.


    "Yes."


    "I see," Apollo said with a nod.


    "Good. Don''t worry, we''re not going to stay there long," Sir Guo added.


    "Alright. You''ll find me on Manida Land when it''s time to go to your sect," Apollo said.


    "Oh? Are you going to join the Exchange?" Sir Guo asked, raising an eyebrow, intrigued.


    "I need a vacation," Apollo said casually. When he accepted the training ground guardian''s offer, he also decided to join the knowledge exchange. Since he was leaving the city, why not make the most of it?


    The beggar was curious about life in other cities. At the same time, he wanted to better understand this world. He had only read about things in books and had yet to experience most of them firsthand, especially the terrain outside the city.


    "Vacation? That''s a word I haven''t thought about using since I became a Cultivator," Sir Guo said, reminiscing. Shaking his head, he looked Apollo over from head to toe. "You''ll only draw attention to yourself in that outfit. Most of the people attending an event like the Knowledge Exchange are those¡ª"


    "Braindead types who make a big deal out of nothing, meddle in things that don''t concern them, and belittle others just to boost their own ego. Yeah, I get it," Apollo interrupted.


    Sir Guo was left speechless.


    "There are people programmed to act together, and I really hate them," Apollo continued with a cold smirk. "But once in a while, it''s fun to see their faces black and blue."


    "Hahaha," Sir Guo laughed heartily before letting out a sigh. "Don''t get too overconfident, kid. They''re good with words, and things might turn out worse for you if you try something funny."


    "Well, let''s see about that," Apollo said, stepping past the training ground guardian. "I have to go."


    Sir Guo nodded. "We''ll meet on Manida Land."


    ---


    "Sh*t!" A loud curse echoed inside a room, filled with anger and frustration.


    Footsteps resounded as a man paced back and forth, a deep frown etched on his face.


    "Manager Fu," someone called out.


    "What?!" Manager Fu snapped, turning toward the speaker, his assistant Alek.


    Alek gulped, seeing the Skyline Savory branch manager''s furious expression. "I¡­ I think we should stop."


    "Stop?" Manager Fu repeated, a cold chuckle escaping his lips. He took a step forward and delivered a slap. The wind churned, and the sharp sound of his palm striking Alek reverberated.


    Others in the room immediately lowered their heads when they heard the slap.


    "This is the second time they''ve done this to us!" Manager Fu shouted, his face red with rage. "And you''re saying we should just let it go?! They''ve beaten us in the streets! We''ll bring shame to Skyline if we don''t take revenge!"


    "B-but¡­ they clearly have an expert among them," Alek stammered, gritting his teeth as he tried to reason. "Gail can defeat all of us in an instant, but she didn''t even show herself. That means it wasn''t her. If we keep attacking them and always end up defeated¡­ I''m afraid this will be the end of this branch."

 Chapter 294 - 294: Bubbas Breakthrough

    "Do you hear what you''re saying?" Manager Fu asked coldly. "If this branch ends, so do we! You''ll go back to being a lowly commoner, and me? I''ll become a server!"


    Like a bolt of lightning striking him down, Alek froze, shaken. His eyes widened in realization.


    He hadn''t spoken out of reason, but out of fear¡ªfear of offending someone they shouldn''t.


    Hearing his manager''s words, Alek realized his mistake.


    Return to being an ant? No way! Determination glinted in the assistant''s eyes. Clenching his fists, he bowed his head. "My apologies for saying all that! I got carried away by fear!"


    Manager Fu''s face visibly relaxed.


    The two of them were now Cultivators at the 1st-Step Qi Condensation Stage, their power derived from stolen techniques.


    Many ordinary people had learned such stolen techniques, but most went rogue and were quickly apprehended by the authorities.


    Manager Fu glanced at the goons he had recruited. "You lot. We can''t confront them outright anymore. Rest for a few days, then pretend to be customers at the Filly Restaurant. Once inside, wreck everything. Got it?"


    "Got it, boss!" the five men answered in unison.


    Alek opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but decided against it. He couldn''t afford to anger the manager any further¡ªit would risk his position.


    "And Alek, you''re coming with me," Manager Fu said, casting a glance at his assistant.


    "Where are we going?" Alek asked.


    "To meet our boss," Manager Fu answered. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing this, Alek was initially surprised, but his eyes soon lit up with excitement. This was his first chance to meet the owner of Skyline Savory!


    ---


    A few days later, Elmo and Master Popo arrived at the Great Serpent Cultivation School, seated on the balcony of the Headmaster''s building.


    Taking a sip from his cup, Elmo glanced at Headmaster Axton.


    "So, he quit?" Elmo asked with a small smile.


    "Yes," Axton replied, letting out a sigh.


    "Hehe," Elmo chuckled, his eyes glinting.


    "I know what you''re thinking," Axton said, eyeing the Sword and Shield Headmaster. "You can try, but I''m sure he''ll never agree."


    "Oh? How can you be so sure?" Elmo raised an eyebrow.


    "Simple. He''s not simple," Axton replied with a mysterious smile.


    "How is that simple?" Elmo leaned back, his massive frame making the chair creak.


    "He''s not ordinary," Axton clarified.


    "None of us are ordinary. If you place someone not ordinary among others who aren''t ordinary, is he still not ordinary?" Elmo asked, taking another sip from his cup.


    "Then I''ll say he''s special," Axton said, locking eyes with the Sword and Shield Headmaster. "Someone you shouldn''t touch or even bother."


    The temperature suddenly dropped. Feeling the shift in atmosphere, Elmo frowned. "What''s with you? Alright, I won''t try to recruit him. I''ll leave him alone. Are we good?"


    The heavy sensation in the air dissipated, bringing a smile to Headmaster Axton''s face.


    "What are you guys talking about?" Master Popo asked after downing his entire cup in one go.


    "Nothing," Axton and Elmo said in unison.


    "Oh, come on, don''t leave this old man out of the gossip!" Master Popo frowned at them.


    "You should just drink as much tea as you can," Elmo chuckled.


    Axton also smiled, but his mind was elsewhere. He had resolved to protect the beggar and help fulfill his desires.


    As the possessor of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation technique, Apollo was technically the rightful owner of the Great Serpent Cultivation School. However, it seemed the beggar was unaware of this.


    Or perhaps he knew... but simply didn''t care about the position. If that was the case, Axton was determined to protect Apollo and not disturb his cultivation.


    "You guys are ganging up on me," Master Popo said, flames briefly flickering around him before settling back into his body. "Anyway, when are they arriving?"


    "In five minutes, they''ll be outside the city," Axton replied, standing up from his seat.


    Hearing this, Elmo did the same, followed by the Fire Shrine Headmaster.


    "Then let''s go. We shouldn''t keep them waiting," Elmo said. Although he was from a different sect, the Great Serpent Cultivation School in this city had always been a good ally. It wouldn''t hurt to welcome someone from the main branch.


    Master Popo shared the sentiment, though he was mostly joining for appearances.


    The trio then flew towards the city''s exit. Along the way, people emerged from the buildings surrounding the Headmaster''s estate to follow them.


    ---


    Meanwhile, Apollo was cultivating back in his beggar spot, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed as the surrounding Qi flowed into his body.


    With the Qidifier by his side, he noticed his cultivation speed had increased by at least 10%. It was a significant improvement, which greatly satisfied the beggar.


    However, as he meditated, a high-pitched cry interrupted him.


    Apollo opened his eyes, frowning. Turning towards the sound, he saw his monkey shrieking loudly in the corner of the beggar spot.


    Bubba was rolling on the ground, flapping his arms around, his eyes tightly shut. He seemed to be in pain, though his expression occasionally shifted to one of pleasure.


    "Is he having an org*sm?" Apollo muttered, shaking his head. "No, something''s wrong."


    Concerned, he spread his senses to check on his companion and was immediately shocked.


    "He''s already at the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage?!" Apollo exclaimed, his eyes wide.


    The monkey''s apparent distress was due to his body undergoing rapid changes after achieving a breakthrough. Bones cracked, muscles tore, and both reconstructed into something stronger. The sounds of transformation were faint but unmistakable.


    In just a few days, Bubba had achieved something even a High Talent like Don couldn''t.


    Don was still cultivating and likely needed a day or two to reach the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    But the monkey had surpassed him effortlessly. Apollo had never seen Bubba cultivate seriously¡ªthe monkey only seemed to cultivate casually, likely enjoying the sensation of Qi entering his body, which was akin to a refreshing shower.


    "D*mn monkey. You must be really talented," Apollo said, though a smile crept onto his face.

 Chapter 295 - 295: Apollos Amazement

    The beggar continued to observe the aftereffects of the monkey''s breakthrough.


    Unlike him, Bubba was displaying something unusual¡ªlikely, the monkey couldn''t handle the new sensation coursing through his body.


    Apollo watched for a minute or two before the monkey finally calmed down. By this time, Bluetooth, in its small bird form, landed on the beggar''s shoulder after returning from who knows where.


    The small falcon let out a shriek as it stared at its friend with worry in its eyes.


    "Don''t worry about him," Apollo said, glancing at the bird on his shoulder. "You should worry about yourself instead. You should show great progress, just like Bubba here."


    Bluetooth lowered its head, clearly feeling guilty.


    A few days ago, Apollo had decided to give the water-attributed falcon the Simple Breathing Technique and ordered it to cultivate the technique within its mind.


    So far, however, Apollo had only seen the bird flying everywhere, not cultivating at all.


    Suddenly, the monkey opened his eyes. He blinked a couple of times before slowly turning to his master.


    "You''ve done a good job, Bubba," Apollo said with a smile as he knelt on the ground and held his companion. "You''re even faster than my disciple."


    Hearing the compliment, Bubba let out a confident smile. Puffing out his chest, he began making monkey sounds while gesturing in the air.


    Although the beggar couldn''t understand Bubba''s words, he could tell that the monkey was very proud and probably describing how wonderful it felt to become stronger.


    The monkey jumped out of Apollo''s hands. Upon landing on the ground, Bubba leapt, his body reaching the height of a two-story building.


    Apollo looked up, surprised by how high the monkey could jump. But that wasn''t the end of it. The moment Bubba landed, he bent his knees and, with a powerful push, propelled himself dozens of meters into the sky!


    Seeing this, the beggar was even more astonished. When Bubba landed again, he began bouncing around the beggar spot, ricocheting off the walls with his small feet.


    He''s fast! Apollo thought in amazement. In no time, the monkey had reached a speed equal to that of a 3rd-Step Foundation Building Stage cultivator!


    The surprise in the beggar''s heart intensified as he watched the scene, though he quickly deduced the reason for Bubba''s sudden speed.


    "The breakthrough enhanced his inherent abilities¡­" Apollo muttered in understanding. As a monkey, Bubba naturally had stronger and more flexible legs than a human, making his speed faster than a typical 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage cultivator.


    This was also why monsters or beasts were generally far stronger than humans.


    Apollo let his companion adapt to the changes for a moment before reaching out and catching the monkey mid-air.


    "You''re really fast!" Apollo praised with a smile.


    Bubba grinned confidently.


    "I knew you were smart and talented," Apollo said shamelessly. "And you didn''t let me down, Bubba! That''s why you deserve a reward!"


    By now, the monkey could understand some words after being fed Chili of Intelligence several times. However, he was still immature.


    When Bubba heard the word reward, his eyes lit up, and he shrieked in excitement.


    "Wait a minute," Apollo said as he brought up his status screen to check his Alm Points.


    ---


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 151.4 S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning, Water


    Companions: Bubba (1st-Step Foundation Building Stage - Monkey)


    Beggar Disciples: Don Blanc


    ---


    Over the past few days, with the help of his disciple and the Automatic Alm Points Producer, Apollo''s Alm Points had steadily increased. Furthermore, he hadn''t purchased anything recently, allowing him to save up instead of depleting his resources.


    A white light appeared in front of them as the beggar bought an item.


    "This is your reward," Apollo whispered, and the monkey stared at the white light with intense excitement and anticipation.


    Bluetooth could only watch with jealousy in its beady eyes.


    Apollo held the item in his hands before they could see it.


    "Here you go, Bubba," the beggar said, holding the item in front of his companion. "Just open your mouth."


    Instinctively, the monkey opened his mouth. But in the next moment, his body shook as the smell emanating from Apollo''s hand permeated his nose.


    It was very familiar¡ªa scent he would never forget. Eyes widening, Bubba began using his newfound strength to escape from the hand of the devil.


    "Just stay put!" Apollo said with a frown, but the monkey started shouting as if he had seen a ghost. "Don''t worry! This is a reward that will benefit you!"


    The monkey let out an even louder cry, tears threatening to fall from his eyes as he tried to free himself with all his might. But alas, his strength was not enough.


    In the end, another Chili of Intelligence entered Bubba''s mouth. His whole body turned red, and steam seemed to rise from him.


    A few seconds later, the monkey passed out cold.


    "Hey, wake up," Apollo said, shaking Bubba in his hands, but the monkey remained limp, foam forming at his mouth. The beggar let out a sigh of disappointment as he placed his companion on the ground. "I thought with your new strength, you''d be able to handle the spiciness. I was wrong."


    He then turned to his mount, and the moment his eyes landed on the bird, Bluetooth''s body froze solid, its eyes turning white. In the next moment, the small water-attributed falcon fell to the floor.


    "D*mn, do I look like a monster to you?" Apollo muttered, speechless.


    Shaking his head, he stepped out of the beggar spot to observe his disciple. He found Don cultivating peacefully with a few coins resting on his palms.


    Apollo contemplated for a while before taking the coins. A thought crossed his mind: he hadn''t seen anyone approaching his disciple to give him money, yet Don continued to receive coins from someone.


    The beggar concluded it must be because people approached Don while he was also cultivating.


    "They''re generous," Apollo muttered with a smirk. He was actually in a good mood. Knowing that Bubba had better talent than his disciple brought a smile to his face.


    At first, he thought his companion was nothing more than a normal monkey. However, it turned out Bubba was pretty talented. Apollo didn''t know if it was mainly because of the Chili of Intelligence or the monkey''s own talent. Nevertheless, it was good news.


    "Should I also give Bluetooth the Chili of Intelligence?" Apollo considered. But that would mean feeding two mouths.


    As he was mulling over this matter, the sound of whistling came from the sky.


    The whistling reverberated a few times, and when he looked up, he caught a glimpse of the Cultivation School''s Headmasters and the new Mayor flying in the air.


    "Oh? Seems like those main Great Serpent people have arrived," Apollo realized.

 Chapter 296 - 296: Water Falcon

    Headmaster Axton and the Elders¡ªHeadmaster Elmo, Headmaster Popo, and the other Martial School Headmasters¡ªflew alongside each other, following the Mayor, who was taking the lead.


    After the defeat of the previous Mayor Klown, Mathias assumed the position, as everyone wanted him to take the role.


    With no one else willing to step forward, he had no choice but to agree.


    They all landed on the north side of Belthias City, where silver-armored guards were already on standby.


    The giant metallic gate stood wide open as they awaited the investigative team from the main branch of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, arriving from the Middle Continent.


    "Middle Continent... what''s it like?" Mathias asked, as Headmaster Axton stood beside him.


    "A place where strength can be found everywhere," Axton replied, glancing at the mayor with a calm smile.


    "That''s what everybody says," Mathias sighed. "But I''m not surprised. This backward region, where people only focus on superficial things, will only produce superficial talent."


    "You are right," Axton nodded. "There... we are just mere ants."


    Hearing this, Mathias fell silent, while Elmo and Headmaster Popo, listening behind them, could only sympathize with Axton''s words.


    They knew their place well, and that was why, even though the people from the Middle Continent had not yet arrived, they didn''t dare to show any disrespect.


    In the World of Luan, there are five continents: the North, East, South, West, and the Middle Continent.


    The South Continent is where Belthias City resides, under the rule of the Empire of Rekka.


    To travel from the Middle Continent to this city, the investigative team would need at least two weeks, even using their fastest mounts.


    However, they didn''t have to wait that long to see the newcomers.


    A moving ''cloud'' was approaching them. As the phenomenon came closer, what they saw caused the atmosphere to grow heavy. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s..." Mathias narrowed his eyes at the creature drawing near.


    "A purebred Water Falcon," Axton answered.


    "Purebred?" Mathias repeated, glancing at the branch Headmaster.


    "Yes. The water-attributed falcon at my school was created as a student project. They ended up succeeding, hence the term ''attributed,''" Axton explained, and the thought brought a smile to his face.


    "I see. It seems you''ve nurtured your students very well," Mathias praised.


    As they spoke, the giant Water Falcon arrived overhead. The creature was so massive that, with its wings spread, it covered the entire north side of the city.


    Each feather was as tall as two adults stacked on top of each other, and its deep blue eyes stared intensely at those who looked upon it. The falcon''s entire body radiated a blue light, with mist particles shrouding it. With every flap of its wings, intense winds swept through the city, startling and scaring the people at the sudden appearance of the Purebred Water Falcon.


    Yet, despite its intimidating size, the particles it emitted created a calming atmosphere over the city, like still and serene water.


    However, the moment didn''t last long. The Water Falcon suddenly emitted a bright white light before transforming¡ªnot disappearing, but shrinking into a small bird.


    Two individuals descended from the sky, with the small Water Falcon landing on one man''s shoulder.


    The newcomers landed in front of the Mayor and Headmaster Axton.


    "Welcome, Uncle Li," Axton said immediately, bowing his head with evident respect in his voice.


    The Elders and the other Headmasters followed suit, bowing deeply. However, Mathias did not bow all the way, maintaining his image as the Mayor of the city.


    "Oh, haha." One of the individuals was an old man. He had light blue hair, bordering on white, that reached his waist, and a wrinkled face that still radiated vitality. His black eyes, straight nose, and thin lips curled into a smile. He wore a black-and-white hanfu robe that concealed his somewhat average physique. The robe was simple, but its high-quality material and Array inscriptions hinted at its significance.


    Standing at least six feet tall, the old man looked down at Axton, who was a few inches shorter, with an amused smile. "Long time no see, Nephew Axton."


    "You too, Uncle," Axton replied, smiling back. He lifted his head, and the others followed suit. His gaze shifted to the child standing beside his uncle. "Uncle, who is this?"


    "My newest disciple, Kuo-Pal. But you can just call him Kuo. He just turned nine years old," Master Li introduced.


    Kuo-Pal stood at 127 centimeters, a normal height for his age. He had black hair that reached his shoulders and deep blue eyes that radiated confidence¡ªor perhaps arrogance. His small nose and lips complemented his round face and stout body, making the black-and-white robe he wore seem ready to burst at the seams. As he surveyed the crowd with pride and disdain, his double chin followed the movement of his head.


    "I''m Kuo!" Kuo announced, his small, high-pitched voice echoing through the area. "I''m nine, and I''m already at the 1st-Step Core Creation Stage!"


    The moment his words fell, silence blanketed the air as everyone exchanged astonished glances.


    Nine years old and already at the 1st-Step Core Creation Stage? That''s absurd!


    Even the Mayor frowned upon hearing the claim. However, when he noticed the seriousness on Axton''s face, he realized something was amiss.


    "Haha, why don''t you show them?" Master Li suggested, stroking his goatee as he addressed his disciple.


    "I will, so these country bumpkins can know their place!" Kuo declared, his eyes filled with disdain as he looked down on the crowd.


    In the next moment, his body floated a few feet above the ground, and a powerful aura erupted from him.


    The air grew heavy, as if unseen hands were gripping everyone''s necks. The aura was so intense that the space around him began to constrict on its own.


    The Mayor''s frown was replaced with shock. Though he was unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere due to being at the same stage, the sheer intensity left him stunned.


    Master Li and Kuo-Pal, satisfied with the reactions, exchanged smiles, especially Kuo, who gazed at the crowd with condescension as he hovered in the air.


    "Haha," Axton chuckled bitterly. "Don''t scare them too much."


    "Of course," Master Li said, motioning for his disciple to descend. "That''s enough. Stop now."


    "Okay," Kuo replied, withdrawing his aura. The atmosphere returned to normal, and the people finally breathed freely again.


    Master Li glanced at his disciple with satisfaction, and Kuo returned the look with a proud smile.


    Show-offs, Axton thought, shaking his head internally. He knew his uncle too well. Master Li might not show it outright, but he relished moments like this¡ªmoments where he could flaunt their power, their abilities, and their superiority over others.


    And Axton knew this was only the beginning. The real headache was just about to start.

 Chapter 297 - 297: Encouraging the Bird

    "Why don''t we go rest at our school first? You must be tired from your journey," Headmaster Axton suggested, attempting to change the topic and lighten the mood.


    "Tired? No," Uncle Li chuckled. "The Empire welcomed us a few days ago. The others decided to stay there while we, unfortunately, are here to handle the investigation."


    "Others?" Axton repeated. Observing the faces of the two visitors, who seemed uninterested in being there, he realized they were taking the matter lightly. He felt offended, but there was nothing he could do except suppress his feelings.


    "They''re still enjoying themselves there. Unfair, very unfair," Kuo muttered from the side, his expression annoyed. Then, glancing at the curious onlookers, he sighed. "Might as well enjoy myself in this backward place."


    "We won''t be staying here long, but we wouldn''t mind a little sightseeing first," Master Li said.


    "Alright, I''ll be your personal guide," Axton said with a polite smile, though he hoped they would find something to satisfy them. Then, he glanced at the Mayor. "Uncle, this is Mathias Helflick, the new Mayor."


    "You''re on the verge of breaking through to the 2nd-Step Core Creation Stage. Not bad for this place," Uncle Li remarked, scrutinizing the Mayor from head to toe. However, there was no hint of praise or amazement in his voice.


    "Thank you, but compared to the Middle Continent, I am nothing but a child," Mathias said humbly, cupping his fist and bowing slightly.


    "Good thing you know," Kuo whispered, glancing at the Mayor with disdain.


    Master Li made no comment on his disciple''s remark, simply smiling at the Mayor.


    "Let''s go now, Uncle and Disciple Kuo," Headmaster Axton interjected before the situation became more pretentious.


    "Haha, let''s see what this city has to offer us," Master Li said, stroking his goatee in amusement.


    "Can I look around on my own?" Disciple Kuo asked his master as they began walking.


    "Sure, just find me before sunset," Master Li replied with a nod, prompting Axton and Mathias to exchange worried glances.


    They knew that letting this arrogant disciple wander the city alone would likely lead to trouble. With his attitude, it was almost guaranteed.


    They wouldn''t be surprised if something went wrong. However, there was nothing they could do but let them act as they pleased. Offending them was out of the question¡ªunless absolutely necessary.


    "They won''t mind me challenging their cultivators, right?" Kuo-Pal asked, floating in the air as he glanced at the Headmasters and the Mayor.


    "Don''t worry about such trivial things," Uncle Li replied.


    "Hahaha, thank you, Master!" Disciple Kuo laughed, and with a burst of wind, he disappeared.


    "He''s just a kid; let him have his fun," Master Li said as he noticed the frown on Headmaster Axton''s face.


    "Haha, of course, Uncle," Axton replied with a bitter laugh, while the Mayor remained silent, worry brewing in his heart.


    Apollo stood in front of his disciple, Don, when he noticed a whistling sound coming from the sky. Following its direction, he saw something landing on the north side of the city.


    "They''re here," the beggar muttered. He leapt and landed on the rooftop of the Filly Restaurant.


    Staring intently at the north side, he soon spotted a massive shape approaching the city.


    "What the hell is that?" Apollo whispered in surprise. It didn''t take him long to realize the giant mass was actually a falcon. Its blue feathers shimmered, and its wingspan covered the entire north side of the city.


    Its beak and sharp claws glinted under the sun. Its body was cloaked in light blue particles that radiated a calmness akin to still water, enveloping the entire city of Belthias.


    "A Water-Attributed Falcon?" Apollo stared at the giant creature in awe. "To think such a creature exists."


    The largest beast he had seen before was the Alphadusk Shadowtail, but compared to this falcon, it was like comparing heaven and earth.


    Despite the calm aura it exuded, Apollo could sense a dangerous intensity lurking within. His instincts screamed that this peace was deceptive, and he shouldn''t cross it.


    "Water Qi¡­" Apollo observed the light blue Qi emanating from distant fountains and flowing toward the giant falcon. Strangely, the creature wasn''t actively absorbing the Qi; instead, it seemed the Qi was willingly gravitating toward it.


    This extraordinary sight left Apollo even more astonished, though his wonder was short-lived. In mere moments, the humongous falcon was enveloped in a bright light and vanished.


    No¡­ Apollo squinted and realized the falcon had transformed into a small blue bird. The bird flew after two individuals who had descended from the sky.


    He remained on the rooftop for a while longer before leaping back to the ground.


    By then, Don was awake and startled to see his master descending from the sky.


    "Master," Don greeted, standing up quickly. "I''ve gathered a few coins."


    "Good," Apollo nodded, taking the coins from the boy. "How''s your cultivation?"


    "After reaching the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage, I feel a strength I''ve never felt before. I think I can shatter a tree with just one punch!"


    "You probably can, though it might take you a few hits to snap one in half," Apollo replied. As he spoke, a thought crossed his mind¡ªDon hadn''t yet experienced the extent of his new strength. "We''ll test your strength after we''ve had lunch."


    "Really?!" Don''s eyes widened with excitement.


    "Yes. Familiarizing yourself with your current strength is essential before breaking through to another stage. You must understand each cultivation stage. Got it?" Apollo said with a serious expression.


    "I got it, Master!" Don nodded vigorously.


    "Good," Apollo said, smiling as he patted his disciple''s shoulder. "Give me my food once Ned brings it out."


    "I will, Master!"


    With that, Apollo walked past his disciple and entered their usual beggar spot.


    Once inside, Apollo looked for his bird, which he found playing with the monkey. The small falcon was trying to dodge the monkey''s nimble hands, but despite its agility in midair, the monkey''s speed allowed it to catch the falcon easily.


    "Bluetooth, come here," Apollo commanded. The falcon let out a shriek before flying to perch on his shoulder.


    The beggar held the bird in his hands and frowned. "Hmm, why aren''t you cultivating?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He could sense that the Water-Attributed Falcon''s cultivation hadn''t advanced, still on the verge of breaking through to the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    The small falcon chirped, seemingly offering an explanation in its bird language while flapping its wings dramatically.


    "Your excuses are lame," Apollo said coldly, despite not understanding the falcon''s chirps. "I think you''re just being a lazy bird. Look at your friend Bubba! He''s already at the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage, and it won''t be long before he reaches the 2nd-Step. You should be ashamed of yourself!"


    Bluetooth lowered his head in apparent shame.


    Bubba approached with a proud expression, his chest puffed out. He began gesturing with his hands, as if saying he was talented and smart, which was why he was ahead in cultivation.


    Seeing how proud the monkey was, Apollo couldn''t help but feel annoyed. "Why be so proud when you can''t even handle a not-so-spicy chili?"


    At the mention of "chili," Bubba visibly shuddered. He tactfully shut his mouth and took a few steps back.


    Apollo shook his head at the scene and turned his attention back to the small bird in his hands, which had its head lowered and was cowering under its blue wings. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You know, I just saw another one of your kind," Apollo said, recalling the giant Water-Attributed Falcon he had seen earlier on the north side of Belthias. "It was so big it covered the entire north side of the city! Each feather was as tall as two humans, and its presence was so powerful it blanketed the whole city. I want you to reach that stage and show them that you are the mightiest!" Apollo encouraged with shining eyes.


    He wasn''t saying this out of envy for the owner of that giant falcon¡ªwell, maybe a little. He genuinely wanted Bluetooth to reach such a stage and, perhaps, surpass the investigative team that had just arrived.


    The small falcon let out a weak shriek, still hiding beneath its wings.


    "Don''t worry. I know you can reach that height someday, but you have to train hard every day. I''ll give you rewards¡ªsomething you''ll never forget," Apollo said with a smile as he gently caressed the bird''s head.


    Bluetooth looked up, his beady eyes shimmering with excitement and anticipation.


    Seeing this, Apollo knew he had successfully motivated the bird. "Go and cultivate now. You must surpass that d*mn monkey, alright?"


    The bird nodded vigorously, his resolve ignited. With determination, Bluetooth flew to a corner and closed his eyes to focus on cultivation.


    "Good," Apollo said, satisfied.


    Bubba, feeling threatened, found his own corner to cultivate. He lay on the floor and promptly began snoring.


    Apollo didn''t bother the monkey, knowing this was his companion''s unique way of cultivating.


    "Your lunch is here, Master," Don said as he entered the beggar spot with two baskets in hand.


    "Thanks. Eat up; we''re heading to the training ground after this," Apollo said, taking one of the baskets.


    "I will, Master," Don replied.


    Soon, the two began eating their lunch.

 Chapter 298 - 298: Big... Bird?

    "Do you know what happened there?" Ned asked as he took the two baskets.


    "Some big shots are here," Apollo replied. He peered through the glass door and noticed the staff decorating the restaurant while simultaneously serving customers. "You guys are preparing for it."


    "Oh? That must be why Boss Filly is so strict right now," Ned said, his expression lighting up with realization.


    When they arrived to start work earlier, Filly had emphasized the need for extra diligence. Some of the staff had even been tasked with decorating the place to her exact specifications. The second floor, usually reserved for the workers, had been extravagantly adorned as well.


    Cleanliness was now a top priority, with everyone ensuring the restaurant was spotless.


    As Apollo observed the activity, his eyes met those of the restaurant owner. The moment Filly saw him, she hurried over in their direction.


    The door opened, and Filly stepped out, smiling warmly.


    "Hello, Mr. Beggar," she greeted.


    "Hello," Apollo nodded. Noticing the sweat on Filly''s forehead, he chuckled lightly. "You seem busy."


    "Haha," Filly let out a bitter laugh. "My father said important figures are coming to the city, so we need to leave a good impression. I think he''s planning to bring them here."


    "That sounds like a good idea. If they like the food here¡ªand I''m sure they will¡ªyour restaurant and reputation will soar. It''ll be great for business," Apollo said.


    "We think so too," Filly agreed. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Where''s Gail?" Apollo asked, noticing the absence of her usual companion.


    "She''s back at school, waiting for the visitors with the other students," Filly replied.


    "Oh, I see." Apollo nodded, then gestured with his hand. Don stepped forward from behind him. "By the way, this is my disciple, Don."


    "Hello," Don said, bowing with a cupped fist in front of him.


    "Disciple?" Filly''s eyes widened in surprise. Mr. Beggar has a disciple? She stared at the boy with amazement and newfound respect. "Hello, Disciple Don. I''m Filly Kleinford. If you ever need anything, just come to me or anyone under my employ. They''ll assist you with all their heart."


    "R-really?" Don''s eyes widened in shock. Of course, he knew about the Kleinford Family, one of the Great Families of the city and a renowned name.


    The woman in front of him was none other than the daughter of Nathan Kleinford, the family head. Hearing such words directly from her was beyond anything he could have imagined.


    Filly Kleinford just said that to me?!


    Tears welled up in Don''s eyes as he grew emotional. In that moment, he realized that becoming a cultivator was truly worth it. Even the daughter of the Kleinford Family was showing him such respect!


    Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, Don wiped away his tears. With a smile, he nodded and began to reply. "I wil¡ª"


    Before he could finish, a hand slapped the back of his head, nearly sending him crashing to the ground.


    Pain shot through his skull as he struggled to regain his balance. Looking up, he saw his master glaring at him.


    Like a scolded puppy, Don took a step back, tears streaming down his face anew.


    "Haha, don''t mind him," Apollo said to Filly with a chuckle. He knew exactly what his disciple was thinking but had no intention of letting Don grow arrogant over a mere scrap of cultivation.


    If Don got used to people constantly pleasing him, Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if his disciple ended up with a Young Master Syndrome.


    "Haha, his status is higher than mine, to be honest," Filly said, flashing an amiable smile. She wasn''t saying this to flatter the beggar in front of her but because she genuinely thought it appropriate.


    Filly already knew what had happened at the Mayor''s manor. According to her father, Mr. Beggar was the primary contributor to the Demon''s defeat. Though her father didn''t openly admit it, he could never deny that Mr. Yoma was an exceptionally strong individual, perhaps even his equal¡ªor stronger.


    "No, no," Apollo shook his head, casting a glance at his disciple, whose eyes sparkled with excitement after hearing Filly''s words. Apollo''s glare, however, made Don immediately lower his head. "His status is lower than a commoner''s¡ªhe''s a beggar. Just like me, he''s a beggar."


    "Oh, I see," Filly nodded as understanding dawned on her face. A beggar¡­ so he''s training his disciple to follow in his footsteps. It wasn''t surprising, considering that Mr. Yoma was a ''Wanderer'' pretending to be a beggar.


    "Anyway, hopefully the visitors will like your food," Apollo said.


    "If it comes from you, they will," Filly replied with a warm smile.


    "Hahaha," Apollo laughed, shaking his head as he waved his hand. "We''ll be on our way, then."


    "Goodbye," Filly waved back. In an instant, Mr. Yoma and his disciple, Don, disappeared, leaving no trace of their presence.


    "Wow," Ned exclaimed in excitement, unable to contain himself.


    ---


    Holding the kid in his arm, Apollo flew to the rooftop of Filly''s restaurant, their bodies concealed by a watery film derived from the Hydra Mirage.


    As soon as they landed, Apollo whistled, and his Water-Attributed Falcon appeared from the beggar spot.


    The bird quickly returned to its original size, growing to two meters in an instant.


    Bluetooth rubbed its head affectionately against its master.


    Apollo chuckled before leaping onto its back. "Hop on," he said, turning to his disciple, who was staring wide-eyed at the falcon.


    "Th-this¡­ Master¡­ your bird is actually¡­ big?" Don stammered, his face filled with disbelief. He would never have guessed that the little blue bird fluttering around the restaurant corner was actually a giant falcon!


    "Do you even hear yourself?" Apollo asked, his face a mix of exasperation and amusement. He didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. If anyone overheard Don''s words without context, they''d definitely get the wrong idea!


    "What did I say?" Don pondered aloud, his eyes still glued to the enormous bird. "Your bird is actually b¨C"


    "Stop! Stop! Just get on, or I swear to whoever''s above us, you''ll walk from here!" Apollo shouted in frustration.


    "Sorry, Master," Don quickly apologized before scrambling onto the falcon''s back.


    "Hold on," Apollo reminded him. He then tapped Bluetooth''s head a few times, signaling the bird to take flight.


    Bluetooth let out a sharp shriek and, with a powerful flap of its wings, launched them into the sky.


    "Ahh!" Don screamed in terror, clutching desperately at the falcon''s feathers as his small figure dangled wildly in the intense wind.

 Chapter 299 - 299: Bubba is Out

    Bubba opened one eye, and upon realizing he was the only one left, a smirk appeared on his monkey face.


    He stood up after cultivating for almost an hour.


    The monkey then slowly made his way outside the beggar spot, and as soon as he did, the bustling scene of people walking about greeted his eyes. But Bubba stayed in the corner where people wouldn''t easily notice him.


    He observed the humans passing by, his eyes burning with curiosity. This was what he always did whenever he had free time¡ªsometimes from the rooftop, where he could see even more.


    There was one rule he must never break: to never leave this corner of the restaurant or jump away from the rooftop of Filly Restaurant.


    He had tried it once... and the memory of the consequence made him shiver.


    Bubba didn''t want to eat another one of that red food! It burned his throat and tongue like crazy! Even when he tried to use Qi, the pain didn''t stop, as though the spiciness was endless.


    Just thinking about it made the monkey''s face turn red.


    Bubba shook his head to rid himself of the nightmare.


    Suddenly, the sound of a door opening echoed, making him turn to its source.


    He saw the Filly Restaurant''s door open from the inside, and a woman walked out, followed by several workers.


    The workers were carrying a ladder, a cloth, and a bucket filled with water. They set up the ladder and began cleaning the restaurant''s signage.


    Bubba recognized the woman. He knew she was the ''master'' of these people and a friend of his despicable owner.


    The monkey watched with curiosity as they worked, but a few moments later, he lost interest.


    What Bubba wanted to see was something more exciting. Sometimes, he saw fights on the street¡ªsome between the old, others between the young¡ªand those fights always entertained him.


    However, it seemed there was no drama for him to watch today.


    What bad luck.


    The monkey continued observing the street for a while, then shook his head in disappointment. He decided to go back inside and cultivate.


    But just as he was about to do so, the woman commanding the workers noticed him. She walked in his direction and stopped in front of him.


    The sight of the woman caused Bubba to become alert¡ªhis hair standing on end, pupils dilating. At the same time, his muscles began to tense, especially in his legs.


    "Don''t be tense, little one," Filly said with a smile, lowering herself to touch the monkey''s head. "I''m friendly."


    Feeling her soft touch, Bubba relaxed, enjoying the sensation. The monkey even let out a small cry of satisfaction.


    "Haha," Filly giggled as she saw the monkey enjoying her touch. "You''re cute. But what are you doing here? This place isn''t for you."


    She picked up the monkey in her arms and stood up.


    Bubba pointed toward the beggar spot and began explaining in his monkey voice, gesturing with exaggerated hand movements.


    At first, Filly was confused, but when she saw him pointing repeatedly to the corner where Mr. Beggar resided, she realized the monkey in her arms belonged to her benefactor¡ªthe benefactor of the entire city.


    "Oh, I see. Your owner must be Mr. Yoma," Filly said, her eyes lighting up with understanding. This was her first time seeing Mr. Beggar''s pet. Though it was unusual for an animal to possess this level of intelligence and communicate through gestures, when it came to Mr. Yoma, nothing seemed surprising.


    Bubba nodded in agreement.


    "My apologies for picking you up," Filly said with a bitter smile as she attempted to put the monkey down. However, Bubba wrapped his limbs tightly around her arm, refusing to let go.


    Seeing this, Filly''s eyes widened in surprise before softening. She stood up and stared directly into the monkey''s eyes. "So, what do you want?"


    "Oh oh ah ah!" Bubba pointed toward the restaurant beside them, then gestured as if eating, alternately pointing at his mouth with his hands.


    "You want to eat?" Filly asked.


    Bubba hurriedly nodded.


    "Alright!" Filly smiled. Finally, she had a chance to do something for her benefactor.


    She felt that just giving them food every day wasn''t enough. The journal the beggar had given her was essentially a treasure book she needed to protect with her life. Thanks to it, her restaurant was booming.


    Even the Skyline Savory branch across the street didn''t stand a chance anymore.


    To her, if there was anything she could do for Mr. Beggar, she would gladly do it!


    Filly walked over to the workers still cleaning the restaurant''s sign while holding the monkey in her arms. "That''s enough. Let''s head inside."


    Followed by her workers, Filly entered the restaurant.


    When the door opened, Bubba''s eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation. This was his first time entering a restaurant! He knew sneaking in was wrong, but¡­


    A delicious aroma wafted into the monkey''s nose, and his eyes locked onto its source.


    He saw fried chicken¡ªplump and mouthwatering. A human holding the food took a big bite, and the loud crunch echoed in Bubba''s ears, sending him into a euphoric state.


    Saliva threatened to drip from his mouth as he took in the sight. Around him were various types of delicious food.


    Bubba couldn''t help but recall his previous meals. He only ever got to eat scraps of skin and meat, and if he tried to eat more, his owner¡ªthe small and annoying human¡ªwould punish him by feeding him that dreaded red food. There was nothing he could do but obey.


    But now, an opportunity lay before him. An opportunity that would undoubtedly lead to punishment if his owner found out.


    Yet Bubba''s senses were overwhelmed by the enticing smells and sounds of eating all around him.


    Filly walked to an empty table and placed the monkey on it. A worker approached, handing the monkey a menu.


    "Please choose what you want, Sir¡­ monkey?" Filly said with a chuckle.


    Bubba scratched his head, unable to understand the words on the oversized menu.


    "Oh, I''m sorry. I thought you could read," Filly said, apologizing. She paused to think before whispering something to the server beside her.


    The server nodded and walked toward the kitchen to place the order.


    "I ordered what I usually give your master. I hope this will satisfy you, Sir," Filly said with a smile. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although the creature before her was just an animal with no apparent cultivation¡­ wait! A sudden thought struck her.


    She spread her senses toward the monkey, and what she discovered shocked her: the monkey was at the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage!


    "Mr. Yoma is truly amazing¡­ having a normal animal at a cultivation stage is unheard of."

 Chapter 300 - 300: Don in Training Ground

    Bubba didn''t have to wait long before the server returned with food in hand. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Two plates were placed in front of the monkey, and the moment his eyes landed on the meal, he let out a cry of excitement.


    "Haha, eat as much as you can," Filly said before glancing at her workers, still busy with their tasks. Seeing the monkey happily eating, she decided to quietly return to her work.


    Bubba picked up the fried chicken in his hands. The glistening food made him swallow a mouthful of saliva.


    For the first time, he had a whole fried chicken in his hands! Not just a piece of meat or skin, and definitely not a leftover bone¡ªthis was an entire fried chicken without a single bite from his owner!


    Without wasting another second, he opened his mouth wide and bit into the food. A crunching sound echoed as his eyes widened.


    Something exploded in his mouth¡ªthe flavor of fried chicken attacked every corner of his taste buds.


    The monkey chewed, and with every movement of his sharp teeth piercing the chicken, the flavor kept intensifying.


    Delicious!


    Fueled by euphoria, Bubba devoured the fried chicken in seconds. Despite his small size, his lightning-fast movements made up for it.


    In no time, the fried chicken was gone, leaving only glistening clean bones on the plate.


    Bubba burped and licked his lips, but he wasn''t full yet. His eyes shifted to the other plate, where another dish awaited.


    This wasn''t the first time he had seen this particular food¡ªhis owner often ate it. However, it was the first time he could see it up close, and more importantly, eat it!


    With excitement and anticipation gleaming in his eyes, he reached out, grabbing a handful of spaghetti with his fingers.


    Bubba didn''t know how to use a fork, so he opted to use his hands. He stared at the long, red noodles for a moment before slowly opening his mouth and placing the food inside.


    The moment his tongue touched the tip of the noodles, his eyes widened as an intense flavor greeted him. It felt like swimming in hot lava, but instead of pain, he was submerged in satisfaction.


    Bubba let out another cry as he continued eating the spaghetti with relish. By now, the other diners had long since noticed the animal eating on one side of the room.


    Some of them, having seen the monkey brought in by the owner, informed the other patrons. No one dared to make a scene.


    Who would, after all? No one wanted to risk being kicked out after lining up for hours just to eat here. Even with a beast dining among them, they pretended it was nothing and continued enjoying their meals.


    That was how delicious the food in this restaurant was.


    Once Bubba finished eating, he grabbed the two plates and ran to the kitchen. A short while later, he returned with even more plates.


    The servers tried to help him, but he brushed them off with his tail.


    He balanced the plates skillfully, using three of his limbs to carry them, leaving his right foot on the ground to hop back toward his seat. He even balanced a plate on his head, causing diners and workers alike to watch in amazement.


    Filly, observing the scene from the second floor, couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    ...


    A strong flapping sound reverberated through the training ground as a two-meter-tall falcon landed with a heavy thud.


    Apollo jumped off its back, landing on the grassy field.


    "Bluetooth, become small," the beggar ordered. The falcon let out a heavy chirp before shrinking into a palm-sized blue bird.


    A crashing sound followed as the beggar''s disciple fell to the ground.


    As the bird landed on his shoulder, Apollo let out a sigh. He walked over to his disciple and lifted the kid up.


    Don''s face was pale as a sheet, with traces of vomit still tainting the side of his mouth. His eyes had rolled back, revealing only the whites.


    Seeing this, the beggar frowned.


    "Hey, wake up," Apollo said, shaking the boy. "Wake up!"


    But even after a minute, Don remained unconscious.


    "You leave me no choice," Apollo muttered. With a flash of lightning, electricity coursed through Don''s small frame, causing him to shake violently.


    "Argh!" Don shouted, his eyes snapping back to normal¡ªonly for him to pass out again, this time from the shock.


    The beggar frowned at the ''torture.'' Still not awake, huh? He smiled coldly, raising his hand. With a resounding slap, his palm landed on Don''s face, leaving a red handprint.


    Apollo slapped the kid a few more times before Don finally woke up.


    "If you fall unconscious again, I''ll disown you," Apollo warned coldly.


    "I¡­" Don stammered in confusion, but seeing the stern look on his master''s face, his mind raced to recall what had happened. "My apologies, Master! That will never happen again!"


    "Good." Apollo let go, and Don stumbled to his feet.


    Don took a deep breath, trying to ease the pain in his body and calm his mind.


    The fast travel and height had overwhelmed him, leaving him dizzy and vomiting multiple times midair. If not for his instinct to cling tightly to the blue falcon''s feathers, he might have fallen to his death. Even while unconscious, his grip on the feathers hadn''t loosened.


    Don mumbled apologies to the unfortunate people his vomit had landed on.


    "Where are we?" Don asked, glancing around at their surroundings.


    "The training ground," Apollo replied, his gaze sweeping the area. The place was eerily empty. Usually, students from various martial schools in the city trained here, especially those not enrolled in the Three Main Cultivation Schools.


    "Training ground¡­" Don repeated. Noticing the scarecrows, wooden weapons, and the stage in the center, his eyes lit up. The embarrassment of his earlier behavior was instantly replaced by excitement. "Are we here to train?"


    "No, we''re here to wash dishes," Apollo said flatly, giving his disciple a deadpan stare. "Of course we''re here to train. Go stand in front of the scarecrow and punch it as hard as you can."


    Though embarrassed by his foolish question, Don nodded and quickly followed the instructions.

 Chapter 301 - 301: Essence of Fighting

    "So, I just have to punch this as hard as I can?" Don repeated as he stood before the scarecrow.


    "Yes, as hard as you can. Don''t hold back," the beggar reminded, his arms crossed.


    "Alright then," Don said. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them, a glint of seriousness appeared. He pulled his arm back as far as he could and, with a shout, launched a punch at the scarecrow!


    However, because of his small frame and the scarecrow''s size, his fist only hit the lower abdomen of the training dummy, slipping awkwardly.


    The mishap almost caused Don to lose his balance.


    Seeing this, Apollo slapped his forehead. This kid¡­ he doesn''t even know how to punch. Don''s failure wasn''t due to his height but to his poor execution.


    Don had tiptoed instead of taking a short leap, diminishing his strength and throwing him slightly off course.


    "Hey, have you ever been in a fight?" Apollo asked as the boy steadied himself.


    "Of course!" Don answered, puffing out his chest with pride. "When I tried to escape, I fought some of those bastard knights!"


    "Did you manage to hurt them?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, skeptical.


    "Well¡­" Don scratched his cheek in embarrassment. "They had armor on, and I was only using a wooden sword."


    "Oh, I see. You didn''t ''fight''; you just swung your wooden weapon around, hoping to swat them away. It probably worked, but only because people sacrificed themselves for you," Apollo said, his tone cold and cutting.


    Hearing this, Don gritted his teeth. The memory of that time brought guilt crashing down on him. His master was right¡ªit wasn''t a fight. It was a cowardly escape that resulted in others losing their lives.


    And even now, there were still people suffering because of those knights.


    Don stared at Apollo with pleading eyes. "Please¡­ teach me."


    "That''s the spirit," Apollo said, a smile breaking through. He knew his words had scratched an old wound in Don''s heart, but it was necessary to forge determination and strength in the boy. "Hmm, let me think for a moment."


    Apollo considered the situation. He needed to teach his disciple basic fighting skills¡ªsomething practical that would enable Don to hold his own, even without cultivation.


    Suddenly, inspiration struck. Why not just teach the kid every fighting technique I know?


    Despite his time in this world, Apollo had never relied on its Fighting Techniques, even though he''d encountered several of them, particularly in the library of the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    Instead, Apollo preferred techniques that were flashy and had some sort of special effect. As for hand-to-hand combat? He had no need to learn the local techniques¡ªhe already possessed a wealth of knowledge from his previous life.


    In his mind, these techniques were perfect, especially when mastered. Even without cultivation, Apollo could take on someone at the Half-Step Foundation Building stage¡ªor even 1st-Step¡ªusing nothing but his normal, uncultivated body.


    The Fighting Techniques from his past life were honed to perfection: kung fu, karate, taekwondo, and others typically seen in movies. Most of them were simple but highly effective¡ªlike boxing, a style Apollo particularly favored and often relied on.


    With this in mind, Apollo smiled at his disciple. "I''m going to teach you a fighting technique. You must not only memorize it but also engrave it into your heart."


    Don''s eyes widened in shock before excitement took over. "Thank you, Master!"


    Apollo nodded, then closed his eyes and stretched out his right hand. He didn''t want to burden the boy by teaching him every Fighting Technique from his previous life¡ªthat would only confuse Don. Instead, Apollo decided to compile all of them into one comprehensive technique that encompassed their essence.


    White light began to gather in front of Apollo''s outstretched hand. The particles danced as if moving to a rhythm, calm at first, then suddenly aggressive. They alternated between different states, shifting like moods, until they coalesced into a scroll of glowing white light.


    Apollo opened his eyes and saw the scroll hovering before him, shimmering under the sun.


    "This Fighting Technique is called The Essence of Fighting. Don''t underestimate it just because the name doesn''t sound grand," Apollo explained.


    "The Essence of Fighting¡­" Don repeated, his eyes glued to the glowing scroll. "I wouldn''t underestimate anything you create, Master. I know it must be amazing."


    "Don''t be such a fanboy," Apollo said, frowning slightly before shaking his head. "Go on, learn it. I''ll wait."


    "Okay," Don said, stepping forward with excitement. He reached out and touched the radiant scroll.


    As Don closed his eyes to absorb the knowledge, Apollo walked over to the stage and sat on its stairs, watching his disciple.


    This new technique, born from merging the fighting arts of his previous life, was something unique¡ªa culmination of all the essences and forms of Earth''s Martial Arts. Apollo hadn''t been sure it was possible, but somehow, he managed to do it. Though he wouldn''t admit it aloud, he thought it hadn''t been that hard.


    Ten minutes passed, and Don finally opened his eyes.


    Apollo stood and approached him. "How is it?" he asked, curiosity in his voice.


    "It''s¡­ amazing!" Don exclaimed, his excitement ringing in his tone. "I feel like I can defeat anyone!" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s just a feeling. Don''t let it go to your head," Apollo warned, gesturing toward the scarecrow. "Now, punch it again."


    "Alright!" Don hopped over to the training dummy. He took a few light breaths and assumed a proper fighting stance¡ªthis time, his form was flawless.


    Apollo smiled. The boy''s stance was perfect, like watching an experienced boxing athlete¡ªan energy primed to strike like a loaded gun.


    "Ha!" Don shouted, jumping slightly before delivering a punch. This time, his height allowed him to hit the scarecrow''s abdomen squarely.


    A resounding thud echoed as the boy''s fist struck the training dummy.


    The vertical stone beside the scarecrow emitted a weak glow, and water inside rose to a level matching that of the 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    "Second-step and a half," Apollo muttered as he observed the water''s final position. He glanced at Don, who was staring at his own fist in awe. "Not bad. If you hadn''t learned The Essence of Fighting, your punch would have barely reached the 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage."


    "R-really?" Don looked at Apollo with amazement. "But I''m only at the 1st-Step! Master, you''re incredible!"


    "I know, that''s a given," Apollo said with a chuckle before his expression grew serious. "Now, we fight."

 Chapter 302 - 302: Training Don

    Fighting against his own Master¡ªit was a thought that had crossed Don''s mind a few times. He knew it would happen eventually, but he never expected it to be this soon.


    "You look troubled," Apollo said with a small smile as he noticed the frown on his disciple''s face.


    "It''s just that¡­ I''m going to lose, right?" Don asked, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.


    "We''re fighting to train, not to kill each other," Apollo chuckled. "Are you expecting me to beat you up until you can''t stand anymore?"


    "Well¡­" Don nodded slowly.


    "You''re silly," Apollo said. "But you''re right."


    "Wait, what?!" Don''s eyes widened in disbelief. He had assumed they were going to fight seriously because of things he''d overheard.


    When a Disciple reaches a certain stage, they''re supposed to fight their Master to prove themselves and officially graduate.


    "Yes," Apollo nodded. Then, as if realizing something, he added, "You think this is some kind of graduation ceremony? You''re still far too young for that."


    Apollo had read about this tradition in a book at the Great Serpent Library. It explained that defeating one''s Master was considered the highest form of respect a Disciple could offer. Apollo thought the concept was cool, though not every sect followed this tradition. Some sects had vastly different customs, with some even involving twisted practices Apollo found abhorrent.


    "Hehe," Don could only laugh bitterly.


    "I''ll rephrase that: you and I will have a spar," Apollo said, his body becoming a blur as he reappeared at one end of the stage. "We''ll fight here. Don''t worry¡ªI''ll lower my strength to the 1st-Step Foundation Building stage and only use my right hand."


    Hearing this, Don''s eyes widened. Won''t this give him an advantage? His Master had already confirmed that Don''s strength had reached the 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage, even though he was technically at the 1st-Step. And now his Master was restricting himself to one hand? Confidence surged through Don as he walked to the stage and leapt onto the other end.


    "Master, are you really sure you''re only going to use one hand?" Don asked, settling into his stance.


    "I see you''re underestimating me," Apollo said, placing his left hand behind his back and raising his right. He motioned mockingly for Don to come at him. "Come at me with everything you''ve got."


    "Keep your word, Master," Don said, taking a deep breath as his mind replayed all the movements from The Essence of Fighting. The technique he had learned mere moments ago felt so ingrained in him it was as if he''d mastered it years ago.


    His body knew how to move, and his mind followed.


    Don couldn''t help but feel even more amazed by his Master, who could casually bestow such a technique upon him.


    With The Essence of Fighting coursing through him, Don felt a newfound confidence. When he opened his eyes, they radiated determination.


    "Here I come!" Don shouted before sprinting toward his Master at full speed!


    Oh, I forgot he doesn''t have a Movement Technique, Apollo thought, watching how "slow" his disciple appeared. To him, Don looked like he was jogging, even though the kid''s determined expression suggested otherwise. Apollo could easily perceive and adjust the boy''s pace to seem even slower, but since he had lowered his cultivation to the 1st-Step¡ªan ability he''d only recently realized he possessed¡ªhis own speed was similarly restricted.


    However, to a normal person, Don''s speed would be shocking. The boy had covered a dozen meters in just a few seconds.


    As Don reached his Master, he was equally amazed at his own speed. Never in his life had he imagined moving this fast!


    Feeling strength coursing through him, Don''s confidence soared. He raised one hand for balance while pulling his right fist back. Then, like a tightly wound catapult unleashed, his small fist shot forward, aiming for the beggar''s face!


    Don''s smile widened in anticipation. At this speed, he was certain the punch would land.


    But what happened next felt like a bucket of cold water being dumped over him.


    His eyes widened in shock as he saw Apollo casually tilt his head to the side, avoiding the strike. And then Don saw it¡ªthe smile on his Master''s face, one so ominous it would haunt him forever.


    A resounding thud echoed through the stage as Don''s small frame was sent tumbling backward.


    The boy rolled several meters before coming to a stop, lying flat on his back. He blinked up at the blue sky, his chest heaving. As a cloud passed over the sun, he felt a sharp, searing pain radiating from his stomach.


    "Ah!" Don cried out, clutching his aching midsection.


    "Don''t shout if you''re in pain," Apollo said, his footsteps echoing as he approached, his figure looming over the boy.


    Hearing this, Don quickly clamped his mouth shut, though his face remained scrunched in agony.


    "Stand up. The sparring isn''t over yet," Apollo said with a smile, his expression calm. However, to Don, his Master looked like a devil with eyes that seemed to glow red¡ªa trick of the boy''s imagination, fueled by his pain and frustration.


    Apollo stepped back, giving his disciple space as Don struggled to his feet.


    The boy took several deep breaths, trying to stabilize the pain and calm his mind.


    "We''re in the same stage. In fact, your cultivation is technically higher than mine," Apollo said, gesturing with his right hand for Don to come at him again. "So why am I faster? We''re not stopping until you figure this out."


    "Isn''t it because¡­ you have better skills?" Don asked hesitantly.


    "I''m using the same technique as you," Apollo replied evenly.


    "R-really?" Don couldn''t believe it. His Master had dodged his fist with ease and counterattacked so fast that Don hadn''t even seen the blow.


    "Don''t doubt your Master," Apollo said with a frown.


    "Sorry!" Don quickly bowed, realizing his words might have been offensive.


    "Come at me again, and you''ll find out," Apollo said, his tone firm.


    Don gritted his teeth, knowing this was for his own good. He shouldn''t have allowed himself to become overconfident. And now, recognizing the vast disparity between himself and his Master, even when they were supposedly at the same cultivation stage, his respect and admiration for Apollo reached new heights. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Here I come!" Don shouted before dashing forward with everything he had!

 Chapter 303 - 303: Avoid the Dragons

    "Boring¡­ this place is so boring!" A kid''s voice echoed through the air, carried by the strong whistling wind.


    Kuo flew high above the skies of Belthias City, having explored everything the city called "entertainment," but none of it left an impression on him.


    Most of the activities bored him, and the adult pastimes held no appeal. There wasn''t even a red district! From what he''d learned, the new mayor had completely "destroyed" that business, making anything related to it illegal.


    "The mayor doesn''t know how to create fun places," Kuo-Pal muttered with a sigh as he ascended to a height that offered a panoramic view of Belthias.


    Scanning the city below, he spotted his Master entering a restaurant. It appeared to be an ordinary establishment, but the long line of people waiting outside suggested otherwise.


    "Oh? I thought Master wasn''t hungry after that banquet in the Empire. Why is he entering a restaurant?" Kuo whispered, puzzled. He observed for a moment longer before shaking his head. He''d already eaten his fill back in the Empire, where even the Emperor had personally greeted them. What he craved now was entertainment, but Belthias had nothing to offer.


    *Seems like I really need to challenge some of these weak-ss cultivators to pass the time, Kuo thought, a frown forming on his face. He expanded his senses as he resumed flying.


    He wanted to find a worthy opponent, someone who was at least "somewhat" worth his time.


    Flying for a few more moments, he came to a halt above a bustling street. Below, a ragged man leaped into a fountain. The old man wore a simple black-and-white robe, but his disheveled appearance made him look insane.


    No, he wasn''t just disheveled¡ªhe was insane. The old man began washing himself with the fountain water, oblivious to the stares around him.


    But what caught Kuo''s attention wasn''t the man''s bizarre behavior¡ªit was the aura emanating from him.


    "This lunatic is strong," Kuo muttered, a hint of amazement in his voice. "To think this small place has someone of this caliber¡­ but he''s definitely deranged."


    As Kuo observed the man, their eyes met. Kuo immediately averted his gaze, pretending he hadn''t noticed.


    I can''t defeat him¡­ I can''t even sense his cultivation level, Kuo thought, a cold realization washing over him. While impressed to find such a person in this backward continent, he wasn''t entirely shocked. He knew that sometimes dragons lived among chickens for reasons beyond his understanding.


    There were certain things Kuo had no desire to meddle with, and dragons were one of them. His Master had emphasized that while the Middle Continent was the strongest of Luan''s five continents, there were still experts stronger than them scattered across the lands.


    Avoiding such figures was paramount if Kuo wanted to reach the top.


    He was still young and far from reaching the true peak of his cultivation. He couldn''t afford to gamble his future¡ªor his life¡ªby provoking the wrong person.


    Fortunately, dragons among chickens were rare, meaning Kuo could still do as he pleased as long as he avoided them.


    Resuming his flight, he soon spotted a place that piqued his interest.


    "Oh?" Kuo raised an eyebrow as he landed near a training ground with a central platform. On the stage, two kids were sparring, one clearly toying with the other.


    "Interesting. This will do, but I should observe first," Kuo murmured, his lips curling into a faint smile.


    ...


    "Use everything, think about what is appropriate, and do what is needed," Apollo said while deflecting his disciple''s fist to the side with the back of his palm. At the same time, he stepped to the left and delivered a slap to Don''s back. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A resounding slap echoed as the kid slammed against the floor.


    Apollo took a couple of steps back, allowing his disciple to stand on his feet.


    "Focus. You have the Essence of Fighting. The answer is within your hands; you just have to reach it," Apollo said, adopting the most mysterious tone he could muster. Apparently, spouting cryptic nonsense¡ªeven if it was complete bullsh*t¡ªwas oddly satisfying.


    All he wanted was for Don to understand that not everything in battle relied on cultivation.


    Don had grown too confident after gaining sudden strength, even believing he could defeat Apollo because of the handicap his master had imposed.


    With this mindset, Don would surely die if he returned to save the people he had left behind.


    Now that Apollo had a disciple, he wanted the best for him¡ªnot only so Don could handle the challenges that would inevitably come for Apollo but also because¡­ well, that was part of it.


    Furthermore, Apollo knew it wouldn''t be long before he recruited more disciples. The more disciples he had, the more passive Alm Points he could earn. He needed someone to teach them how to become the ultimate Beggar, just like their master.


    As the first disciple, Don would carry that responsibility.


    Don stood, his back aching in pain. His face was bruised, and blood seeped from his split lip. Yet he didn''t utter a sound, his eyes burning with determination.


    He didn''t know how many times he had been hit or how many times he had fallen. Don had learned to endure the pain, refusing to grunt even when it felt like daggers were piercing his body with every small movement.


    His master wasn''t "holding back" at all. Even with their cultivation matched, Don couldn''t land a blow on Apollo, let alone defeat him.


    Apollo''s words echoed in Don''s mind. It''s within reach¡­ it''s in my hands¡­ How can Master dodge my attack even though I''m faster? How come I can''t land a hit even though my fist is quicker? Why? How does Master do it?


    Don replayed their exchanges in his head. He would appear before his master, throw a punch, but before it could connect, Apollo had already dodged, and the next thing he knew, he was on the ground.


    Essence of Fighting¡­ Master said he''s using the same technique, but why is he better? Focus¡­ use everything? Think about what is appropriate? Do what is needed?


    "Don''t think too hard; just do what is appropriate," Apollo''s voice echoed again, this time offering an actual hint.


    Hearing this, Don''s eyes widened. Yeah, I don''t have to overthink. I just have to do what is appropriate!


    Don had been stuck in a single-minded goal: hitting his master. He hadn''t considered what to do next.


    If his target disappeared, was it really appropriate to just stand there and let his opponent land a counterattack?


    All this time, Don had been allowing himself to get hit because he was stuck in the wrong mindset.


    With this realization, Don finally smiled. Then he dashed toward his master with renewed vigor!


    Apollo smiled as well as a fist came flying toward him. Like always, he dodged it easily and sent a punch toward Don''s side.


    However, Don reacted as if he had been expecting this, quickly rolling to the side.


    Apollo''s punch hit nothing but air, missing his disciple by a hair''s breadth.


    "Good," the beggar praised. "It took you some time to realize, but this is better than nothing."

 Chapter 304 - 304: Kid?

    Hearing the praise, Don finally let out a sigh of relief. "So, what''s next?"


    "What''s next?" Apollo chuckled, glancing toward the sky with narrowed eyes. "We will deal with this person."


    The beggar had made his disciple realize something that would greatly benefit the kid in future battles.


    If Apollo sparred with Don now, his disciple would be able to act appropriately¡ªexactly what Apollo wanted him to learn.


    Don''s mind was very straightforward, focusing on just one thing¡ªlike punching his master''s face in their previous spar. But the kid also needed to consider other factors, such as counterattacks, dodging, and coming up with strategies under pressure. Fortunately, Apollo had managed to instill this idea in Don''s mind, and it was now up to him to develop it further. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cultivation talent and fighting talent were two entirely different things. Someone with high cultivation but no fighting skill could still be defeated by a 1st-Step Foundation Building cultivator with proper preparation and killing intent.


    Don also looked toward the sky, where he noticed a figure floating in the air. The figure was small, and Don could only see how its robe moved with the wind. "Who is that person, Master?" he asked, glancing at Apollo.


    "Who knows," Apollo shrugged, sniffing the air. "But I smell annoyance."


    "Annoyance?" Don tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    "And frustration that will come from me," Apollo continued. "Or maybe helplessness¡ªthough, hopefully, this person will interest me."


    Hearing more cryptic words, Don became even more confused.


    The person in the sky slowly descended, seemingly aware that they were being observed.


    As the figure appeared in front of them, Don''s eyes widened. "A kid?... But he''s already flying¡­"


    "A kid? You are the kid here, country bumpkin," Kuo sneered, flashing a smug smile. "You should kneel before me, as this is the only time you''ll see someone as handsome and strong as me on this backward continent."


    "You!" Don pointed at the newcomer, gritting his teeth. "Just because you can fly doesn''t mean you can act so arrogant! You''re just a kid like me!"


    "I told you not to call me a kid!" Kuo-Pal floated closer to Don, releasing a terrifying aura that made the atmosphere heavy and caused the space around him to churn.


    Don clutched his neck, unable to breathe, his eyes wide with shock and fear as he stared at the boy floating in front of him. He¡­ he''s strong! Don realized that this boy, with a height and build similar to his own, was actually an expert.


    "Hahaha, now you know you shouldn''t mess with me!" Kuo laughed coldly, the fear on Don''s face fueling his excitement. This was what he loved most¡ªbesides people marveling at his strength, he enjoyed watching their faces consumed by fear.


    Don struggled for breath, each inhale requiring all his strength. Realizing his vulnerability, he stepped behind his master for protection from the overwhelming pressure.


    "Haha, you can''t hide from my strength," Kuo said, his eyes locking onto another figure¡ªthe boy in ragged robes. Though the clothes were clean, the figure resembled a beggar. "You''re the one playing with him. You''re disgusting."


    "Who are you? And¡­ how old are you?" Apollo asked calmly, his composed expression unfazed by the suffocating atmosphere now focused on him.


    "Great question!" Kuo puffed up his chest, placing his hands behind his back. With a solemn air, he finally introduced himself. "I come from the land of greatness, where mere weaklings and country bumpkins like you will never set foot. I am Kuo-Pal from the Middle Continent, and I''m already at the 1st-Step Core Creation Stage¡ªeven though I''m only nine years old!"


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. He stared at the kid from head to toe, recognizing that the outfit looked very familiar. It wasn''t surprising that this kid with a young master complex was at the Core Creation Stage¡ªApollo had felt it as soon as Kuo-Pal released his Cultivation. But coupled with the information that Kuo-Pal came from the Middle Continent, anyone with common sense could deduce his identity. "You''re part of the Investigation Team from the main school of the Great Serpent Cultivation School."


    Kuo whistled. "Seems like you have some knowledge up there. You''re right¡­ but that doesn''t mean I won''t join your fun!"


    Suddenly, the pressure around them increased.


    The stage cracked, and the air distorted.


    He''s only using pressure, but it''s already equivalent to a Battle Technique, Apollo thought, his face remaining calm. Despite the increased pressure, he didn''t display any discomfort. His disciple, however, wasn''t as fortunate. Don had already collapsed to the ground, passed out cold, unable to handle the suffocating atmosphere.


    "Haha! I bet you''re about to sh*t yourself ri¡ª Wait, how come you''re still standing?" Kuo raised an eyebrow, surprised that the kid before him wasn''t showing any signs of strain. Normally, when he unleashed his Cultivation and focused it on someone weaker, they would immediately fall to their knees. But this beggar stood there as if the pressure was nothing more than a gentle breeze.


    "Kid¡­" Apollo''s voice trailed off as a smirk spread across his face. "You still need to drink from your mother for a few more years before you can scare me with your little trick."


    "Kid? T-trick?" Kuo''s eyes widened briefly before anger consumed him. "F*ck you! Don''t you know who I am? I''m someone you shouldn''t mess with! I can kill you right now, and no one would dare say anything!"


    "Oh? Then try it." Apollo chuckled, raising his right hand and motioning for the arrogant Kuo to come at him, mimicking the way he taunted his disciple earlier.


    "I''ll kill you!" Kuo shouted, unable to comprehend how a country bumpkin could dare provoke him. It felt like a bug crawling under his skin¡ªdisgusting and infuriating! Without holding back, he instantly appeared in front of Apollo. Clenching his fist, he delivered a punch. "Take this!"


    Apollo smirked as the world seemed to slow down. He activated his Simple Movement Technique, blending it with other Movement Techniques he''d mastered¡ªa culmination of everything he had learned so far, though he hadn''t named it yet. At the same time, he used True Hardening, a technique he always enjoyed employing whenever delivering a blow.


    This version of True Hardening was far more advanced than when he first learned it. Apollo had revised and improved it countless times, often when he was bored or had free time. In fact, most of the techniques he''d learned had undergone similar refinement.


    When the world resumed its normal speed, Apollo had already sidestepped to the side, his hand outstretched.


    A booming sound echoed as Kuo became a blur, crashing into the platform and leaving a massive hole in his wake.

 Chapter 305 - 305: Chains

    Apollo stared at the hole in the stage, unable to stop himself from picturing the face of the training ground guardian when he saw the damage. He''s definitely going to be furious, Apollo thought, shaking his head. Nudging his disciple with his foot, he said, "Hey, wake up."


    "You don''t have to tell me!" came a response, but it wasn''t Don who answered.


    "Not you, dmbss!" Apollo snapped, raising his hand to fire a combination of Wind Blast and Fire Blast at Kuo, who was slowly standing up. The resulting explosion reverberated through the area, sending the winds into disarray and causing a sudden rise in temperature.


    As fire and smoke shrouded Kuo''s position, Apollo turned to his disciple, who was staring at him with blinking, bewildered eyes.


    "Wake up," Apollo ordered again.


    Don was momentarily confused but soon remembered what had happened. He scrambled to his feet, looking around nervously. A sigh of relief escaped him when he didn''t see the kid who had knocked him out. That ki¨Cno, that person is terrifying! Don thought, his face pale. He didn''t dare call Kuo a "kid" anymore; their power difference was like heaven and earth¡ªno, with Don''s current cultivation, he was even lower than Earth!


    "Thank the heavens, he''s gone," Don muttered, relief washing over him. He turned to Apollo with a smile. "Master, you defeated him, right? That person is so arrogant! He deserved a beating!"


    "Gone?" Apollo chuckled, pointing at the dissipating fire and smoke. "He''s over there, fuming at your words."


    "Hahaha, you''re kidding," Don said, laughing as if he''d heard the funniest joke ever. But then he noticed the smirk on Apollo''s face, and a sense of dread crept over him. Slowly turning toward the smoke, Don''s heart sank as he saw a small figure glaring at them. "I''m still dreaming, right?"


    "Nope," Apollo said, stepping a few paces in front of his disciple. "Stand back and watch carefully. One day, you''ll have to deal with people like this too¡ªpeople with Young Master Syndrome."


    "Young Master Syndrome?" Don repeated, confused.


    "People who think no one is above them except their own dmbss minds," Apollo explained.


    "How dare you call me dmbss?!" Kuo roared, his shout so powerful it dispersed the lingering fire and smoke. With his sharp hearing, he had caught every word Apollo said. "You''re just a country bumpkin! I''m from the Middle Continent! How dare you insult me! I''ll kill you!" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you a dog? Barking instead of acting? Why don''t you shut your mouth and come at me?" Apollo taunted, raising his right hand and gesturing for Kuo to approach. A mocking smirk played on his face as he slightly lowered his stance.


    With his disciple watching, Apollo couldn''t afford to embarrass himself. As a Master, he needed to show strength from time to time. He didn''t want Don to think he was a coward. Besides, he despised people with Young Master Syndrome, and now that one stood before him, he wasn''t about to let the opportunity to teach a lesson slip away.


    "Dog?!" Kuo''s eyes widened, his rage hitting a new peak. "That''s it! You''re done!"


    He unleashed his pressure once more, this time covering the entire training ground and extending far beyond.


    Apollo frowned, knowing this would undoubtedly alert others. At the Core Creation Stage, Kuo''s aura could easily cover several streets, meaning the Mayor and Headmasters would likely sense the disturbance.


    Still, the beggar didn''t waver from his plan.


    As Kuo ascended into the air, gathering the surrounding Unrefined Qi, Apollo''s expression turned serious. This time, the boy wasn''t bluffing. A powerful killing intent locked onto him as chains formed from water materialized around Kuo.


    The chains were light blue and eerily lifelike. Each one was as tall as an adult human and thick enough that Apollo would need to wrap his arms around it to fully encircle its girth.


    "Taste my chains, you weaklings!" Kuo shouted, pointing his hands at the two kids on the stage before clenching them into fists. His face was cold as ice, killing intent erupting alongside his declaration. He didn''t care if he killed someone here. Even the Empire of this continent paid him great respect, so he wouldn''t tolerate country bumpkins disrespecting him.


    Kuo knew the kid who had just slammed him against the stage had some skill, but that was only because he had been holding back and hadn''t expected such strength from a mere bumpkin.


    But this humiliation would end now.


    As the five giant chains were about to crash onto the stage, Kuo suddenly felt something was off. Narrowing his eyes, he saw the beggar-like kid smirking at him.


    This guy¡­ does he think he can escape my attack? How foolish! Kuo smirked as well, anticipating the sight of blood and body parts flying everywhere.


    However, what happened next made his entire body shiver. The smirk on his face disappeared, replaced by wide-eyed disbelief. "W-what?!"


    Like a bolt of lightning, shock struck him as his body froze. He couldn''t believe what he was seeing. The Chain of Water Eternity, a technique he had always been proud of, had suddenly stopped in midair¡ªjust a meter or two away from smashing down on the two annoying country bumpkins!


    "Haha, surprised?" Apollo asked loudly, a smug smile plastered on his face as he floated casually in front of Kuo.


    "No way!" Kuo-Pal shouted through gritted teeth.


    "Yes, way!" Apollo shot back, his expression turning serious.


    "What did you do?! There''s no way someone like you could do this!"


    "Someone like us?" Apollo questioned, flying closer to the boy with the young master syndrome. "What kind of people do you mean? Weak and poor?"


    "Yes!" Kuo snapped, glaring at Apollo as the beggar floated right in front of him.


    "Maybe you''re right," Apollo admitted with a nod before locking eyes with Kuo, his expression icy. "But I''m not like them."


    "You''re not like them?" Kuo echoed, his confusion evident. Then, as if realizing something, his eyes widened further. "You''re a Wanderer?"


    "I''m a beggar!" Apollo declared, raising his hand as countless water droplets materialized in the air. They shimmered briefly before transforming into mirror-like water blades.


    "This is¡­ the Water Blade Disintegration Technique?" Kuo immediately recognized the technique, but the realization only deepened his confusion. "Who the hell are you?!"


    "The one and only, true beggar!" Apollo declared, clenching his fist as the water blades launched toward Kuo with deadly precision.


    "Don''t underestimate me!" Kuo roared, seeing the incoming attack. He channeled more strength, breaking the water chains free from their frozen state. They changed direction midair, surging toward Apollo.


    "I''m not," Apollo replied calmly. He knew that what he had done was just a small trick, something he had picked up from Nathan Kleinford and refined through his mastery of the beginner stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. He also understood that Kuo wasn''t using his full strength yet.

 Chapter 306 - 306: Electrocution

    Water blades and water chains¡ªwho will strike first? That was the question running through Don''s mind as he watched the battle in the sky with wide eyes.


    Suddenly, a powerful explosion rang out as the two figures became blurs, vanishing from their positions and causing the two techniques to clash mid-air.


    Rain began to fall on the training ground, drenching the entire area.


    "Wow," Don muttered in amazement. They''re so fast!


    Moments later, the two blurs reappeared on the stage.


    Apollo and Kuo stood face-to-face, staring at each other as the rain they had created poured over their bodies. Neither moved, merely observing one another.


    He''s fast, Kuo thought, his mind racing. He had barely managed to follow Apollo''s movements. Although the beggar didn''t use a movement technique, the fact that he dodged at the same time as Kuo amazed him. Only cultivators at the 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage could achieve such a feat.


    Wait¡­ I can''t detect his cultivation, Kuo realized, a wave of unease washing over him. The beggar before him wasn''t revealing any trace of his cultivation. An artifact? he wondered. No, that''s impossible.


    As a Core Creation Cultivator, Kuo was confident in his ability to sense the cultivation of anyone below his level, even if they used an artifact to conceal their strength. Yet the beggar showed nothing.


    This realization confirmed his suspicion. This ''kid'' must be a Wanderer. A hidden dragon, just like Master warned me about.


    "What''s your cultivation stage?" Kuo asked, narrowing his eyes.


    "Why should I tell you?" Apollo smirked, motioning for Kuo to attack. "Where''s the fun in that? Why don''t we start the fight?"


    Kuo remained silent, weighing the situation. The beggar was clearly hiding something. The fact that he could dodge Kuo''s attack proved he had significant strength.


    But is it really possible to find two hidden dragons in the same city?


    Kuo squinted, dismissing the thought. This city is nothing but a backward place, far beneath the glory of the Middle Continent. There''s no way another individual with an unreadable cultivation stage could appear in this region filled with country bumpkins.


    Regaining his confidence, Kuo released an intense killing intent.


    "Whatever trick you''re playing won''t work on me! I will kill you!" Kuo shouted, preparing another attack.


    What''s wrong with him? Has the kid''s egocentric mind gone haywire? Apollo thought, shaking his head in bemusement. Smiling, he taunted, "Then kill me¡­ if you can!"


    Suddenly, Kuo''s figure blurred, and in an instant, he appeared right in front of Apollo.


    Water chains surrounded Kuo, glowing with a calming light blue hue that belied the destructive intent behind his clenched fist. He aimed a punch directly at Apollo''s face, the force of the strike tearing through the air and disturbing the winds. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Apollo''s body exploded into a splash of water.


    Behind me! Kuo whirled around, sensing a threat at his back. His eyes widened as he saw five combinations of Wind Blast and Fire Blast hurtling toward him.


    "What the¡­" Kuo muttered in shock. But as a Core Creation Cultivator, his reflexes were sharp. Activating his movement technique, his body turned translucent like water, and he weaved through the projectiles with snake-like agility.


    Hehe, this is easy, Kuo thought smugly as he dodged the attacks. "Now, show me where you''re hiding!"


    As he realized the attacks weren''t as powerful as he''d expected, his confidence soared. This beggar kid is just playing tricks. There must be an artifact masking his cultivation stage.


    As his voice echoed across the stage, Kuo felt another threat coming toward him. This time, he looked toward the sky.


    There were no heavy or dark clouds; it was as bright as day¡ªa perfect day, if he said so himself. However, a thunderclap reverberated, followed by lightning streaking down at him!


    His eyes widened as he tried to dodge, but suddenly, his body wouldn''t respond, just like when the beggar kid had stopped his chains.


    "Sh*t!" Kuo cursed as his vision was engulfed in bright light, and his body convulsed from the lightning strike. "Argh! I will¡­ kill¡­ you!"


    "Yeah, yeah, sure," Apollo materialized in front of the Middle Continent kid with a smirk. "You keep saying that, but here you are, shaking from fear."


    "F-fear?" Kuo repeated incredulously. He wasn''t trembling from fear¡ªhe was trembling because he was being electrocuted! Lightning coursed through his body, causing excruciating pain. On top of that, he couldn''t escape his movement technique, which had turned his body into water!


    "Yeah, then why are you shaking while I''m standing right in front of you?" Apollo raised an eyebrow as if stating the obvious.


    "F¡­f*ck¡­ you¡­" Kuo muttered before his eyes rolled back. His movement technique deactivated, and he fell to the ground unconscious, smoke rising from his body along with the acrid smell of burning flesh.


    Apollo spread his senses and confirmed that Kuo was still alive. That''s good.


    Footsteps approached as Don stepped up beside him. "Master, you defeated him. Seems like he''s all talk and couldn''t even scratch you, Master."


    "This is why you call me Master," Apollo smirked.


    "You''re so cool," Don said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "And you defeated him so fast!"


    "In battle, the faster it ends, the better. Remember that," Apollo said, glancing at his disciple before turning his gaze back to the Middle Continent kid.


    Kuo was strong and fast, as expected of a Core Creation Cultivator, but he had picked the wrong opponent.


    Apollo hadn''t allowed Kuo to unleash his full strength, opting to end the fight with a simple lightning bolt. Considering the gap between their cultivation levels, Apollo knew he would be defeated if the fight dragged on.


    Apollo still didn''t fully understand how Core Creation Cultivators fought at their peak. Mathias was the only other Core Creation Cultivator in the city, and observing him wasn''t enough to grasp their full capabilities. Ending the fight quickly was the safest approach. Fortunately, Kuo was inexperienced and fought sloppily, like the child he was. Apollo hadn''t even needed to use all the tricks up his¡ªsleeves to defeat him.


    After a moment of staring at Kuo, Apollo waved his hand and began walking toward Bluetooth in the distance. "Let''s go. Your training is done for now. We''ll have another session after you reach the 2nd-Step."


    "Can you teach me how you conjured wind and fire at the same time?" Don asked eagerly, still exhilarated from the previous fight. Although it had ended quickly, the thrill lingered in his veins.


    "I''ll teach you more as you get stronger," Apollo replied. "For now, focus on increasing your cultivation stage. Don''t you still have people to save?"


    Hearing this, Don''s expression turned serious. He nodded slowly. "I will, Master."


    The two leapt off the stage toward Bluetooth, who was already waiting for them. Once they climbed onto the bird''s back, Don clutched tightly at its feathers while Apollo patted its head, signaling it to fly.


    With a powerful flap of its wings, they soared into the sky.


    Apollo glanced back at the training ground, his vision zooming in to see Kuo still unconscious. Despite that, his body was already beginning to heal at an impressive rate. Core Creation really is amazing.

 Chapter 307 - 307: Smelling Trouble

    "Argh¡­ f*ck¡­" Kuo cursed as he opened his eyes. Memories immediately assaulted his mind, prompting him to sit up. He looked around angrily but found himself alone.


    The stage he was on bore scorch marks, puddles, and signs of destruction.


    Kuo-Pal glanced down at his body and saw that he was completely healed. "Damn it," he muttered, his voice thick with anger and frustration as he recalled the humiliation he had faced.


    Never in his wildest thoughts had he imagined that someone would dare hurt and disrespect him, especially knowing he hailed from the Middle Continent.


    Shouldn''t they show him respect? Stand in awe, grateful for the honor of being in the presence of someone like him? That''s what people always did whenever he traveled to other continents!


    This was a humiliation! Not just to him, but to his Sect and the Middle Continent itself!


    As Kuo replayed the scenes of his fight with the beggar-looking kid, his frustration and anger climbed to new heights. "If I''d been able to use my full strength, I would have killed him!" he muttered bitterly.


    As the events played over in his mind, he began to realize that the beggar kid was an experienced fighter. If he truly is a hidden dragon, an expert... then I''ll never be able to defeat him. Kuo knew his own weaknesses well¡ªhe lacked experience. It was one of the reasons he had lost battles since he started cultivating. His Master had always warned him to only fight opponents he was confident he could defeat.


    Kuo had struck someone he never should have, but the humiliation burned too deeply. Revenge was now etched into his heart. If even the Emperor wouldn''t dare disrespect him, why should he allow these lowlifes to humiliate him? His eyes gleamed with dark resolve.


    "I''ll let my Master deal with you," Kuo growled as killing intent erupted from him. His body became a blur, leaving only the remnants of their battle behind.


    ---


    The sound of flapping wings echoed as Bluetooth landed on the rooftop of Filly Restaurant, its body covered in a water film that rendered the bird¡ªand its passengers¡ªinvisible.


    Apollo jumped off his mount, deactivating the invisibility technique.


    The water-attributed falcon then shrank into the form of a small bird before flying down to the beggar spot below.


    A thudding sound echoed as Apollo glanced over, spotting his disciple collapsed on the floor, vomiting whatever was left in his stomach.


    "This kid," Apollo sighed heavily. Shaking his head, he approached Don and raised a hand. Refined Qi flowed out, enveloping the boy and easing his discomfort.


    Within seconds, Don''s pale face regained its color, and the dizziness faded. Soon, he was back to his peak condition, as if he had just taken a long, refreshing rest.


    "This¡­" Don stood up, clearly embarrassed. "Thank you, Master¡­ and sorry."


    "You''ll get used to it," Apollo replied. He couldn''t force his disciple to stop puking during air travel; this was something Don needed to overcome on his own. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Don had to adapt quickly if he wanted to survive in the world of cultivation. He couldn''t stand idly by when danger arose, could he?


    "I will," Don nodded, his expression serious.


    Apollo waved a hand dismissively. "Go beg and cultivate in front of the beggar spot."


    "Beggar spot?" Don repeated in confusion.


    "Our secret little space beside this restaurant¡ªit''s called the Beggar Spot," Apollo explained, lightly tapping the rooftop with his foot. "In the future, more beggar spots will appear throughout this city."


    "Really? C-cool," Don said, though his enthusiasm sounded a bit forced. "I''ll go, Master."


    "Go," Apollo said with a nod.


    As his disciple jumped off the building, Apollo walked to the edge, covering himself with the Invisible Technique he had derived from the Hydra Mirage. He looked down at the street and noticed a crowd gathered at the entrance of the Filly Restaurant. Typically, people would line up to enter, but this time, no one attempted to open the door. They simply stood there, watching whatever was happening inside.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow, finding the scene puzzling. Perking up his ears, he tuned in to the murmurs of the onlookers.


    "Wow¡­ so many people are here. What''s going on?"


    "Well, I heard that an important figure has arrived in the city, and that person is inside right now."


    "Really? Is it the Emperor? The Headmasters, the Family Heads, and even the Mayor are here to accompany him!"


    "Emperor? Don''t you even know the face of your own Emperor? That old man is definitely not him!"


    It didn''t take long for Apollo to piece together what was happening.


    So that old man is inside the Filly Restaurant? That''s good for her business, Apollo thought, a small smile appearing on his face.


    If this old man from the main branch of the Great Serpent Cultivation School could draw such a crowd¡ªeven though no one seemed to know his true identity¡ªit would undoubtedly benefit the restaurant, especially if the man enjoyed the food. Apollo had no doubt that he would.


    Still smiling, Apollo turned and walked to the other side of the roof before jumping down to his Beggar Spot.


    His body slowed as he approached the ground, and when his feet landed, he glanced around but couldn''t find what he was looking for.


    A frown formed on the beggar''s face. "Where''s Bubba?" Apollo asked, turning his attention to his mount, who was cultivating in the corner.


    Bluetooth opened his eyes briefly before responding with a chirp.


    "You don''t know?" Apollo muttered, dissatisfaction clear in his tone. He then approached his disciple, who was already cultivating while begging. With a light kick to Don''s back, he "woke" him. "Did you notice the monkey?"


    "No, Master," Don answered. "He wasn''t here when I landed."


    "I see." Apollo''s frown deepened.


    Peeking around the corner, he saw that the crowd was still lingering in the street. He probably snuck out again¡­ that dmn monkey! I''ll make sure to punish him when he gets back!* A cold aura radiated from Apollo, causing Don to shiver involuntarily.


    The beggar returned to his makeshift shelter and sat down, deciding to cultivate the Great Serpent Ascendant Technique while waiting for Bubba''s return.


    As the world turned black and the void began consuming him along with the firefly-like Qi, Apollo suddenly felt a bad premonition rising in his heart.


    He tried to gather the Qi and follow the path of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation Technique but couldn''t bring himself to focus. The sense of unease gnawed at him, disrupting his concentration.


    Left with no other choice, Apollo opened his eyes. He sniffed the air a few times, letting his senses spread to discern what was happening inside the restaurant. However, he found himself blocked by a mysterious force, preventing him from gaining any insight.


    "I smell trouble," Apollo muttered, annoyance creeping into his voice.

 Chapter 308 - 308: Investigation

    "This little fella is interesting," Master Li chuckled as his fingers ran over the body of the monkey in his hands. "I didn''t know this city had a normal animal capable of cultivating."


    "We also didn''t know such monkeys existed," Axton replied, glancing at the monkey in confusion.


    "You didn''t know?" Master Li raised an eyebrow, staring at Headmaster Axton as though doubting his words. "You successfully managed to turn a normal falcon into a Water-Attributed Beast. I think you know something about this."


    "I¡­" Axton opened his mouth, then closed it again. He could only glance helplessly at the Mayor beside him before defending himself. "I''m telling the truth, Uncle Li. There''s no way I would let this Secret Technique out."


    In this city, only the Great Serpent Cultivation School possessed the ability to transform a normal animal into a half-beast state, like the Water-Attributed Falcon. However, the Secret Technique was exclusively used on falcons.


    Using it on a monkey? Axton couldn''t recall that ever happening.


    Master Li studied Axton''s face seriously for a moment before nodding. "Then I''ll believe you."


    Axton let out a sigh of relief.


    "I was just testing you," Master Li muttered, raising the monkey in front of him against the backdrop of a dilapidated mansion. "This monkey has reached the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage with no signs of a Secret Technique being used on him. While this is uncommon, it''s not unheard of. But encountering something like this in such a backward place? It''s a first for me. So, I''ll be taking him into my custody."


    Bubba couldn''t look directly at the human holding him as a pressure unlike anything he''d ever felt overwhelmed his entire body. His animal instincts screamed at him to run, but the sheer force made him want to pass out. Helpless, he remained defenseless in the hands of someone other than his owner.


    "Well¡­" Axton glanced at the monkey, then at the others beside him, his gaze settling on the Kleinford Family Head.


    The group had found the monkey inside Nathan''s daughter''s restaurant, happily gorging himself on food.


    Nathan had hoped to leave a good impression by impressing Master Li with the meal. Fortunately, Master Li truly enjoyed the food and even expressed interest in learning the ingredients and preparation methods. However, Filly firmly refused, which caused a tense atmosphere in the restaurant.


    Fortunately, Master Li didn''t press the issue, though he snatched the monkey mid-meal and left before Nathan''s daughter could protest.


    Nathan glanced at his daughter, standing behind him with wide eyes. She had decided to follow the group to the Klown''s Mansion, the site where the previous Mayor had perished.


    Sorry, Filly¡­ but we can''t risk upsetting the visitor, Nathan conveyed to his daughter through Thought Transfer.


    When Filly heard his voice in her mind, her eyes widened even further, as though they might pop out. She was the only one who knew the monkey belonged to Mr. Yoma. However, just as she was about to protest and reveal the truth, her father turned and nodded at the Great Serpent Headmaster.


    Filly had followed the group not because she wanted to join their "tour" but to ensure the monkey wouldn''t be taken away. However, it seemed she was already too late.


    She understood the importance of Master Li, a figure so revered that even the Emperor would personally greet him. Her father and Uncle Mathias would never dare to offend such a visitor from the Middle Continent. They could, but with no knowledge of the monkey''s owner being Mr. Beggar, they saw no reason to risk it.


    "Hahaha, good," Master Li laughed as he placed the monkey on his shoulder. "Stay. Don''t do anything stupid. You won''t like it if you piss me off."


    Bubba visibly shivered, lowering his head as he clung to the old man''s shoulder. Deep inside, he felt intense regret. He should have listened to his owner and stayed put.


    Now, the consequences of his actions were painfully clear. The old human terrified him, and in comparison to the small human, he realized how much he preferred the latter. With the small human, he didn''t feel this overwhelming pressure, even though he disliked being fed that strange red thing.


    "So, this is the place, huh?" Master Li asked, gazing at the destroyed mansion in front of him.


    "Yes, Uncle Li," Headmaster Axton replied with a nod. "This is where the main ritual occurred and also where Klown died."


    "I see¡­" Master Li floated upward while the others remained on the ground. He ascended above the mansion, gaining a clear view of the entire area.


    The site was still scarred by the remnants of battle: upturned earth, giant rocks, and craters scattered across the landscape. In the distance, what remained of a small forest was reduced to shattered trunks and debris.


    Master Li''s eyes focused on the dilapidated mansion, its bloodstained stones a grim reminder of what once stood there.


    The Red Energy here is strong, Master Li thought. This alone confirmed the reports¡ªthere had indeed been a summoning of a Demon at this site.


    He spread his senses across the entire area. Instantly, he "saw" the ritual markings, identical to those he had studied in ancient texts.


    Demons¡­ they''ve made their move. A frown appeared on Master Li''s face, though it vanished as quickly as it had come.


    He continued his observation, rising higher into the sky. Master Li closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, his senses expanded far and wide, covering the entire city of Belthias in seconds.


    All the while, Bubba clung to the old man''s shoulder, tears threatening to fall. This was his first time being at such a height, and the cold wind only made him shiver more.


    "I see¡­" Master Li murmured as his gaze shifted to the city''s center¡ªthe place where the Demon had attempted to manifest before being stopped by the Mayor. Even now, the lingering Energy of the Demon was strong, gnawing at his senses despite its absence. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was one of the terrifying aspects of Demons: even their lingering presence could cause someone like Master Li to feel unease.


    He knew this feeling was an innate trait of all Demons, regardless of their strength, and would only fade with time. Pretentious beings, they left their presence as a claim of dominance over any place they touched.


    After observing the city further, Master Li descended back to the ground.


    "How is it, Uncle Li?" Axton asked, his voice tinged with concern.

 Chapter 309 - 309: Bad Feeling

    "You all did a good job stopping the disaster," Master Li said, his gaze shifting from Axton to the Mayor, Mathias. "I didn''t know that the family of the great Dragon Hunter had a method to stop a Demon Summoning."


    Hearing the praise, Axton was surprised. His uncle wasn''t the type to give casual compliments, which only underscored the significance of this event.


    "It was pure luck that we managed to find a way," Mathias replied, keeping his explanation brief.


    "What did you find, Uncle Li?" Axton asked.


    Master Li narrowed his eyes at Mathias before waving his hand, creating a transparent dome that enveloped himself, Axton, and Mathias.


    Seeing this, Nathan and the others couldn''t help but feel bitter.


    "How I wish I were included," Master Popo muttered with a sigh.


    "You''re too weak to be included," Nathan scoffed at the exhibitionist.


    "Do you mean we?" Master Popo sneered at the Kleinford Family head.


    "Stop it," Elmo interjected before the two could escalate the situation. He knew Nathan Kleinford was the kind of person who provoked others to start a fight. And with Master Popo, the fiery Headmaster of the Fire Shrine, he had found the perfect target.


    Inside the transparent dome, Master Li spoke.


    "The lingering presence of the Demon in this city indicates that they''ve begun to make moves," he said, his serious gaze fixed on the two men in front of him. "The previous Mayor, Klown, made a pact with this Demon. It doesn''t matter where or how he obtained it. What''s important now is finding more Demons."


    "It''s not going to be like finding a needle in a haystack, is it?" Mathias asked with a frown. "This thing¡­ it remained hidden for years. If it weren''t for Klown''s increasingly obvious actions, we''d never have uncovered his evil plans."


    "He became a bridge, but he was too foolish to carry out this responsibility," Master Li said, glancing at the destroyed mansion. "There are others like him, and from the looks of it, they''ve been here for quite some time. They will reveal themselves sooner or later¡ªit''s in their nature. They don''t like to remain hidden. That''s why they''re making moves."


    Axton and Mathias exchanged uneasy glances.


    "We''ll return to the Middle Continent, and I will personally speak with the Sect Master. In the meantime, you must report anything suspicious¡­"


    As Master Li instructed Mathias and Axton on the next steps, Bubba, perched on the old man''s shoulder, stared at Filly with pleading eyes.


    He just wanted to go back to his quiet corner in the restaurant. These humans were talking about Demons! Although he didn''t understand what that meant, the mere word sent shivers down his spine. His instincts screamed that whatever they were discussing was dangerous and that he shouldn''t involve himself in any of it!


    Filly noticed the monkey''s gaze and felt a strong urge to snatch him away. But she knew better than to act rashly.


    She poked her father''s back with her elbow.


    "What?" Nathan turned around, slightly irritated.


    "It''s about that monkey," Filly said hesitantly.


    Nathan frowned and initiated a thought transfer.


    Filly, if you want the monkey, I''m afraid even this old man wouldn''t be able to help you, Nathan said.


    But that monkey¡­ it belongs to someone you know, Filly replied, her worry evident.


    Oh? Nathan raised an eyebrow. Who does the monkey belong to? Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mr. Yoma, Filly answered.


    Nathan was silent for a moment, then his eyes widened in shock. That beggar? He owns this monkey?! Why didn''t you tell me sooner?!


    ''I tried! But you didn''t want to offend that old person from the Middle Continent, so I shut my mouth!'' Filly glared angrily at her father.


    Nathan coughed, avoiding his daughter''s gaze. Thinking about it, why else would she let a monkey eat in her restaurant? Although she didn''t discriminate between poor and rich customers, she was smart enough not to let ordinary animals dine with humans.


    But this monkey wasn''t ordinary¡ªnor was its owner.


    That Wanderer Yoma was one of the reasons they succeeded in stopping the Demon Summoning. Without him, the city would have descended into chaos.


    Although he hated to admit it, that beggar Wanderer was a strong and respectable man.


    Nathan''s frown deepened as he thought about this. Seeing the sad monkey clutching Master Li''s shoulder made his heart ache.


    Damn, I need to tell Axton, Nathan thought. He considered using Thought Transfer to contact the Great Serpent Headmaster but didn''t dare¡ªit would be disrespectful to Master Li.


    Using Thought Transfer in this situation felt like talking behind Master Li''s back, and the old man from the Middle Continent would undoubtedly notice.


    In the end, Nathan could only sigh and wait for the right moment to share the news.


    ...


    Apollo opened his eyes. He could feel his cultivation had improved, nearing the peak of the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage.


    His progress with the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation Technique had also advanced, not as quickly as when he was submerged in water, but certainly faster than before he reached the Beginner stage of the technique.


    Upon reaching the Beginner stage, Apollo realized he could alter the properties of the Unrefined Qi around him. With just a thought, the soulless Qi transformed into Water-Attributed Qi.


    There might be techniques out there that could achieve the same effect and possibly accelerate his progress with the Transformation Technique, but Apollo felt his current speed was sufficient.


    He didn''t want to rush his cultivation. Strength required time to master, especially since his cultivation speed was already faster compared to others.


    Apollo knew his speed was impressive¡ªat least by this continent''s standards.


    From his fight with Kuo, it became clear there were others more talented than him elsewhere.


    Kuo was from the Middle Continent and, at a young age, had already reached the Core Creation Stage. This alone showed the standard of cultivation in the Middle Continent was far higher than that of his current location.


    Shaking his head, Apollo decided to practice all his techniques. He wanted to derive new techniques from them and revise his existing ones to make them even stronger.


    However, just as he was about to begin, the chirping of a bird echoed above. Looking up, he saw his mount descending gracefully in front of him.

 Chapter 310 - 310: Communication Technique

    The sun was already on its way to the horizon, as if in just a few inches, the giant fireball would touch the very edge of the earth.


    People began adjusting their routines, preparing for nightfall. Stall owners on the streets started packing up their equipment as night vendors prepared to take over their spots. However, some remained, selling goods suitable for any time of day.


    A blue bird flew into the corner of a restaurant, landing in front of a beggar.


    "Did you find him?" Apollo asked, his expression serious. Normally, he would never let his mount fly beyond the reach of his senses, but this time he made an exception, allowing the shrunken water-attributed falcon to scout the city. Of course, he had repeatedly warned Bluetooth not to draw attention, or the bird would face punishment.


    Fortunately, Bluetooth was smart enough to avoid angering his owner.


    The blue bird began chirping while circling in front of Apollo.


    Apollo listened carefully, and the more he listened, the deeper his frown grew. "I see¡­" he muttered, staring seriously at his mount.


    Bluetooth then landed on Apollo''s shoulder, rubbing his face against his owner affectionately. But as the bird enjoyed himself, Apollo raised a hand and flicked him away.


    The water-attributed falcon was sent spinning toward the wall, making a thudding sound upon impact. Bluetooth fell to the ground, feeling dizzy and in pain.


    Shaking his head to clear the dizziness, Bluetooth stared at Apollo with fear in his eyes.


    "You do know you''re a bird, and I''m a human, right?" Apollo asked, irritation evident in his tone. "How the hell am I supposed to understand what you''re chirping about?"


    Hearing the outburst, Bluetooth lowered his head, tears threatening to fall from his beady eyes.


    Seeing this, Apollo''s anger subsided. He was annoyed that his monkey still hadn''t returned, even after a few hours. However, it wasn''t right to take out his frustration on the innocent Bluetooth. Letting out a sigh, he decided to spend some of his Alm Points.


    A light blue translucent screen materialized in front of him:


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 163.4


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning, Water


    Companions: Bubba (Monkey)


    Beggar Disciples: Don Blanc


    The number of Alm Points calmed him. Unlike before¡ªwhen every purchase drained his Alm Points, which he could only replenish by begging for hours or completing missions¡ªhis Alm Points now increased on their own.


    This led him to suspect the System had hidden features to enable this, as he still had missions back then.


    Apollo glanced at his "worker" sitting in the beggar spot with a satisfied smile. With Don earning Alm Points for him and the Automatic Alm Points Producer supplementing it, his balance steadily increased. Even though the growth was slow, progress was progress, and he wasn''t about to complain.


    He then opened the System Store.


    "Sort the items to help me understand animals," Apollo instructed. The store interface immediately began organizing itself.


    This was what he liked most about the store¡ªit had everything he needed, and with a simple command, he could find anything.


    When the sorting was complete, numerous related items appeared on the interface.


    "Start from the cheapest."


    The positions of the items shifted, and the cheapest one appeared at the very top.


    "Basic Animal Communication Technique," the beggar muttered the name of the first item with curiosity, then began reading its description and uses.


    Basic Animal Communication Technique: A basic communication technique designed to understand the language of the animal kingdom. Once learned, the user can talk with any animal...


    Alm Points Cost: 50 S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After reading the description, Apollo couldn''t help but be amazed. Although the technique had the word "basic" in it, the beggar knew it was far from ordinary, especially since it came from the System.


    It would cost him 50 Alm Points, which definitely stung, but he felt the technique was worth it. This communication technique would allow him to talk to any animal, from insects to bears, though the animal''s ability to communicate would still depend on its intelligence.


    After mulling it over for a while, he finally bought the item.


    The interface in front of him disappeared, and a white light materialized, forming into a scroll.


    Apollo touched it, and the moment he did, the scroll dispersed into particles of light that entered his forehead.


    Suddenly, new information appeared in his mind. He instantly learned the Basic Animal Communication Technique as if it had always been part of his knowledge.


    Unlike other techniques, where he needed to familiarize himself with movements and progressively learn, this kind of technique was instantaneous.


    When he opened his eyes, the understanding in his mind surged before settling into calm clarity.


    Apollo glanced at his mount, still leaning against the wall and tucking its body beneath its wings.


    "Bluetooth," Apollo called out.


    The water-attributed falcon looked up slowly.


    "Come here," the beggar said, patting his shoulder with a smile.


    The falcon hesitantly flew up and perched on Apollo''s shoulder.


    "I''m sorry," Apollo apologized. This was rare for him, but it didn''t mean he abandoned the principle of admitting one''s mistakes. "That''s your fault, so you can only blame yourself."


    At first, when Bluetooth heard the small human apologizing, his eyes lit up, and he couldn''t help but feel happy¡ªthough it didn''t last long.


    The falcon looked away, frustration simmering inside.


    "Anyway, why don''t you¡ª" Apollo couldn''t finish his words as, in the next second, a high-pitched voice interrupted him.


    "Dmn kid, fck you. I hope you die worse than death. If not for the fact I felt a special bond with you, I would have escaped. I f*cking hate you. Once this bond disappears, I will eat your eyes out. I will eat your tongue, I will eat your¡­"


    Apollo''s wide eyes slowly landed on the bird perched on his shoulder. The falcon didn''t stop ranting, as if afraid to miss a single second of expressing his hatred for the beggar.


    Apollo continued to stare at his mount for a few moments before he''d had enough. He imbued a small amount of refined Qi around his fingers and flicked the blue bird away. This time, the impact against the wall was much stronger.


    "It seems I haven''t taught you enough of a lesson to fear me," Apollo said, his voice cold as killing intent erupted from him. "You want me to die worse than death? Haha, I''ll let you taste it first!"


    "W-what? He can understand me?" Bluetooth muttered in shock, raising his body.


    "Hell yeah, I can understand you!"


    "Crap, I f*cked up," Bluetooth groaned, letting himself fall to the ground, closing his eyes peacefully as if pretending to sleep.


    This is just a dream. A very peaceful dream.


    Hopefully...

 Chapter 311 - 311: Hop on

    "So, tell me, did you find him?" Apollo asked, his cold gaze fixed on Bluetooth lying on the ground.


    The Water-Attributed Falcon''s entire body had turned red, with smoke rising from him. The once blue feathers now resembled blood¡ªan effect caused by eating two Chilies of Intelligence at the same time.


    Bluetooth slowly looked up at the small human, his eyes pleading for mercy, silently begging the boy to end his suffering.


    Seeing this, Apollo sighed. With a wave of his hand, water surrounded the bird, cooling its body until Bluetooth''s temperature returned to normal.


    The falcon''s chest heaved as he panted heavily, his tongue hanging out as though he were breathing oxygen for the first time. Suddenly, another sensation coursed through his body, and the residual heat from the chilies dissipated. At the same time, strength surged back into him, restoring him to peak condition.


    "You can stand up now and tell me," Apollo ordered.


    Bluetooth blinked a few times before rising to his feet. Glancing at his owner, a shiver ran down his spine. He recalled his suffering¡ªthe same punishment the monkey had endured¡ªand felt a pang of fear. Finally, he took a deep breath and answered.


    "I¡­ I couldn''t find him," Bluetooth said in his high-pitched voice.


    "Not even a single sign?" Apollo raised an eyebrow.


    Bluetooth shook his head. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I see¡­" Apollo nodded, placing a hand under his chin. Where the hell did that monkey run off to? It seemed like he would have to search personally. Glancing at the falcon, who didn''t dare meet his eyes, a grin crossed Apollo''s face. "So, have you learned your lesson?"


    Bluetooth nodded quickly.


    "Do you still want me to die a horrible death?" Apollo asked.


    Bluetooth shook his head fervently. "No! I''m sorry!"


    "Good," Apollo said with a smile. "Remember, I''m the one in charge, and you shouldn''t anger me. I''m a petty person."


    "I won''t do it again, Ma¡ªuh¡­" Bluetooth hesitated, tilting his head. "I don''t know your name."


    The punishment earlier had made him realize he''d been messing with the wrong person. In fact, he''d been cursing Apollo behind his back¡ªand even to his face¡ªbecause he''d thought the small human couldn''t understand him.


    But how had Apollo understood his chirping? Bluetooth''s bird brain couldn''t wrap itself around the mystery, even though the Communication Technique had been learned right in front of him.


    "I go by many names," Apollo said, looking solemnly at the orange sky. "Some call me Yoma, some call me Can Deez, some call me the Mighty One, and others call me an Expert¡­"


    Bluetooth fought the urge to roll his eyes at the ridiculousness of this small human. But he knew better than to provoke the beggar further. "Can I call you Yoma?"


    "Some call me Obi-Wan K¡ªsure," Apollo said, nodding after cutting himself off mid-boast.


    "I circled the whole city¡ªevery corner and alley¡ªbut I still couldn''t find him," Bluetooth said, hoping to redeem himself.


    "Is that so? You''ve done a good job. I''ll take care of this," Apollo replied. Then he narrowed his eyes at the falcon. "Oh, and your cultivation isn''t making much progress. By the end of the week, I want you to reach the 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage. Got it? Or do you want to experience another one of those?"


    The image of the Chilies of Intelligence flashed in Bluetooth''s mind, and he shivered in fear. He nodded vigorously. "I''ll make sure I reach that stage!"


    "Good," Apollo said with a satisfied smile. Having consumed two Chilies of Intelligence, Bluetooth should progress faster than before. Apollo didn''t know whether the falcon was simply lazy or limited by his Cultivation Talent, but with two chilies in his system, there was no excuse for slow cultivation anymore.


    Apollo suspected that the reason Bubba could reach the 1st-Step of the Foundation Building Stage so easily was because he had consumed multiple Chilies of Intelligence. There was no other explanation Apollo could think of.


    Leaving his beggar spot, Apollo decided to check on the progress of his disciple.


    Don sat cross-legged, his hands raised in a begging posture above his forehead. A few bronze coins rested on his palms as Unrefined Qi continuously entered his body, following a specific path.


    Nodding in approval, Apollo turned to search for his companion. However, after taking just a few steps, he noticed someone running toward him in the distance.


    "Filly?" Apollo raised an eyebrow as the restaurant owner stopped in front of him, panting heavily.


    Filly placed her hands on her knees, taking several deep breaths.


    "What''s wrong?" Apollo asked.


    "Thank the heavens you''re here," Filly said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "I have something to tell you."


    "What is it?"


    "That monkey¡ªit''s yours, right?" Filly asked.


    "It''s mine. You saw him?" Apollo frowned, the bad feeling in his heart intensifying as he watched Filly''s worried expression.


    "Not only did I see him, but he also ate at my restaurant," Filly said.


    "I guess something bad must have happened."


    "Yes, he got taken away," Filly said, her voice tinged with worry. "I don''t know if you''re aware, but someone from the Middle Continent arrived in the city. He''s called Master Li, and he has your monkey."


    "This is trouble," Apollo muttered in frustration. "That d*mn monkey. I told him not to wander around."


    "I''m sorry," Filly said, lowering her head. "It''s my fault. I saw him peeking in, so I invited him over. But don''t worry, I''ve already told my father about it. Hopefully, he''ll be able to persuade Master Li."


    "No, he won''t be able to," Apollo said firmly. Based on what was happening and the logic of people with Young Master Syndrome, he was certain Master Li would never return the monkey.


    That Kuo kid came with him. Apollo was sure this so-called Master Li suffered from the same syndrome as Kuo¡ªsomething very annoying and something Apollo despised.


    "Then we have to go there," Filly said anxiously. "They''re still inside the Great Serpent School. We still have time before they leave!"


    Apollo whistled, and Bluetooth flew over from the beggar spot, landing in front of them. The small bird quickly revealed its true form, transforming into the Water-Attributed Falcon.


    "Hop on," Apollo said, jumping onto Bluetooth''s back.


    Filly, startled to see a Water-Attributed Falcon outside the school, didn''t have time to question it. Without hesitation, she climbed onto the falcon''s back.


    With a powerful flap of its wings, Bluetooth soared into the sky.

 Chapter 312 - 312: Surrender?

    "They are putting up a good fight," Master Li said to Axton and the others standing by his side, an arrogant smirk gracing his face.


    Axton and Mathias exchanged bitter smiles before turning their attention back to the scene in front of them. They were currently on the balcony of one of the buildings surrounding a wide clearing.


    The sounds of ground and air exploding echoed across the area as Unrefined and Refined Qi clashed, creating winds strong enough to shift the clouds in the sky.


    In the middle of what used to be a beautiful grassy expanse, Kuo-Pal stood with his hands raised, pointing at the five people opposing him. Chains made of water swirled around him, protecting him from the relentless attacks of the Senior Disciples.


    The Water Chains were massive and moved as if alive, crashing into the five individuals who were forced to cast shields and other defensive techniques to avoid being crushed.


    The Senior Disciples had no choice but to multi-cast their techniques, simultaneously attacking and defending against Kuo''s relentless assaults.


    Water droplets began forming around Kuo before transforming into mirror-like blades that shot toward him at high speed.


    Kuo noticed the attack but showed no fear. On the contrary, he grew more riled up as he recognized the technique¡ªnot because it impressed him, but because it reminded him of the humiliation he suffered on the training ground at the hands of that beggar-looking kid who had used the same move.


    These blades, however, were nothing compared to what that beggar kid could produce.


    Kuo''s gaze fell on the woman who cast the water blades: Lily, the Personal Disciple of the Headmaster of this school''s branch.


    With a casual wave of his hand, Kuo expanded the Water Chains around him, using them to block the oncoming blades. The blades shattered into mist upon impact, as did the other techniques cast by the Senior Disciples.


    Inside the protective shield of Water Chains, Kuo scoffed. "They''re so f*cking weak. These are supposed to be the Senior Disciples? What a joke. And the Personal Disciple? She''s miles away from being on par with that beggar country bumpkin."


    After waking up on the training ground, Kuo had immediately tried to find the kid who had defeated him. Unfortunately, he was left alone in that desolate place.


    Fueled by anger and the desire for revenge, Kuo initially considered telling his Master about what had happened. But upon reflection, he decided against it.


    This backward continent considered even a Core Creation Cultivator as strong and an expert. If his Master learned that he had lost to some Wanderer, Kuo was certain he''d face harsh scolding.


    Although he wasn''t sure if the beggar kid was a hidden dragon, he was confident the beggar had ended the fight quickly to prevent Kuo from utilizing his full strength.


    That tactic told Kuo one thing: the beggar kid wasn''t truly strong.


    Why else would he end the fight so fast?


    Kuo''s resolve hardened as a cold light glinted in his eyes. I''ll stay here and find him, he thought.


    The moment they met again, Kuo vowed to unleash his full power immediately. He wouldn''t even bother issuing a challenge¡ªhe would beat that beggar kid into a pulp before killing him.


    Even if his actions were deemed a crime in this backward place, Kuo didn''t care. Here, he was the king.


    Filled with confidence, Kuo''s lips curled into a smirk as his mind wandered. With a casual wave of his hand, his Water Chains surged forward, crashing toward the Senior Disciples and the Personal Disciple with renewed ferocity.


    As if the techniques landing on the chains were nothing but paper, Kuo-Pal''s Water Chains reached his five opponents with ease.


    They tried to resist, but their defensive techniques couldn''t hold for even a few seconds before shattering into particles of Qi.


    "Argh!" the Senior Disciples cried out in pain as they were sent hurtling toward the buildings. Before they could crash into them, a transparent barrier appeared, halting their momentum with a thudding sound that echoed through the area, staining the barrier with blood.


    Still, one of them managed to stabilize her body midair, slowing her descent by controlling the surrounding Qi.


    Landing on the ground, Lily fell to her knees, coughing up a mouthful of blood from the impact.


    "He... he''s strong," Lily muttered, wiping the blood from her mouth with her sleeve. Looking up, she saw the Middle Continent kid staring at her with an amused smile. "Tsk¡­ I''m not going to be able to defeat him."


    ''Surrender. You are no match for him,'' her Master''s voice echoed in her mind.


    Lily glanced at her Master, who stood on one of the balconies and shook her head. She gritted her teeth, unwilling to surrender, but she knew she wasn''t strong enough to handle someone like the kid in front of her¡ªsomeone with strength on par with the Mayor.


    With a heavy sigh, she stood up. "I surrender," Lily said, raising her hands in defeat.


    "Surrender?" Kuo-Pal repeated, a frown darkening his face. Clearly displeased, he spat on the ground. "I haven''t even used my full strength yet. You can still stand! Fight more and show me what this backward city can do!"


    Kuo-Pal''s voice reverberated across the area.


    Hearing this, Lily''s face flushed red with anger. This kid is humiliating not just me, but everyone in this city! How dare he!


    She clenched her fists in frustration and was about to step forward when her Master''s voice echoed in her mind again.


    ''Stop it. It''s not worth it.''


    ''B-but Master! He''s humiliating us!''


    ''I know. I''m angry too. But his status is something even the Emperor respects, and his Master is here with us.''


    Lily glanced at her Master with gritted teeth before reluctantly relaxing her hands.


    "I surrender. I don''t want to repeat myself," Lily said coldly, glaring at her opponent.


    "You will only surrender if I tell you to!" Kuo shouted furiously, his body rising into the air as his Water Chains pointed threateningly at the Personal Disciple.


    Everyone around was shocked that Kuo continued to unleash his power.


    Axton glanced at his Uncle Li, frowning. But the old man from the Middle Continent showed no intention of stopping the fight, watching instead with a satisfied smile on his face.


    ''We have to stop this,'' Mathias sent through Thought Transfer. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Yes, we do,'' Axton replied, his eyes fixed on the floating Kuo as he prepared to intervene if the boy attempted to kill Lily.


    Although Lily wasn''t as talented as Yoma, Axton couldn''t deny her potential to eventually replace him as Headmaster.


    However, something unexpected occurred. Before Kuo could unleash his Water Chains, the barrier surrounding the battlefield¡ªmeant to protect the onlookers¡ªshattered from the top.


    Mathias and the others instinctively looked up, their eyes widening in surprise.


    "What''s he doing here?" Mathias asked, stunned.


    "I think I might know," Nathan said from the side, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

 Chapter 313 - 313: Getting The Monkey Back

    After breaking through the barrier that prevented entry, Apollo leaped from his mount, his body floating in front of the balcony where Master Li and the others stood.


    Mathias and Axton exchanged confused glances.


    ''Did you invite him?'' Axton asked.


    ''No. I was about to ask you the same thing,'' Mathias replied through their Thought Transfer.


    ''Well, actually, I did invite him before, but he already refused. And now he''s here,'' Axton said, glancing at the beggar.


    ''Judging by his demeanor, he''s not here for a friendly visit,'' Mathias observed, noting how Apollo disregarded them entirely, his cold eyes fixed on the old man from the Middle Continent.


    ''I know what''s happening,'' Nathan''s voice broke into their minds.


    Axton connected Nathan to their Thought Transfer. ''Tell us.''


    ''That monkey¡ªit belongs to Yoma,'' Nathan revealed bluntly, his face serious.


    Hearing this, realization struck the pair like lightning. They turned their eyes, filled with daggers, toward the Kleinford family head.


    ''What the hell? Why didn''t you tell us this sooner?!'' Mathias demanded, frustration evident in his tone.


    ''I planned to tell you when they were about to leave,'' Nathan explained with a sigh. ''Anyway, there''s nothing we can do, right? Yoma is here to reclaim his pet.''


    ''Nothing we can do?'' Axton retorted. ''We''ll stop them from fighting if it comes to that.''


    He could feel the tension thickening with every passing second. Breaking the barrier and entering like this¡ªthen flying so threateningly in front of Master Li¡ªwas far from friendly.


    Mathias silently agreed. Breaking the Thought Transfer, he turned to Master Li. "Master Li, this is Yoma, one of the Cultivators who helped us stop Klown from summoning the Demon."


    "Hmm," Master Li responded with a noncommittal hum, narrowing his eyes at the floating youth. His gaze shifted to the monkey in his hands, brushing over it as though he were inspecting a fine treasure.


    Mathias could only watch Yoma with pleading eyes, silently begging him not to escalate the situation.


    ''Yoma, we will take care of this. I''ll ensure the monkey is returned to you,'' Mathias promised through Thought Transfer.


    Apollo ignored Mathias''s attempts to mediate, his cold gaze unwavering as it pierced through Master Li.


    "That monkey is mine," Apollo said firmly.


    "Oh?" Master Li arched an eyebrow. "This monkey? Are you sure about that?"


    "I am," Apollo affirmed, his eyes softening as they rested on his companion. "I suggest you hand him over. I have no desire to stay here any longer than necessary."


    The moment Bubba saw Apollo, the monkey let out an excited shout. He squirmed in Master Li''s hands, but his meager strength was no match for the old man''s grip. All Bubba could do was cry out for his owner to save him.


    "Hahaha!" Master Li''s laughter echoed through the air, as if he''d just heard the most ridiculous joke. But his mirth vanished in an instant, replaced by a deadly seriousness. "I hail from the Middle Continent. I am someone even the Emperor dares not offend. I am an Elder of the main branch of the Great Serpent Cultivation Sect. My status commands respect, even from nations. The monkey is in my hands¡ªcare to show me the respect I deserve?"


    As his words fell, the atmosphere grew suffocating. It was as though Death itself had descended, its gaze locked on everyone present.


    Mathias and Axton stiffened. They knew Apollo had struck a nerve. One wrong word, and Apollo would face a force neither of them had the power to stop.


    Axton didn''t know the strength of Uncle Li. The reason he referred to the old man as Uncle was due to the seniority status within the sect. There were others like him who also called Master Li Uncle. However, Axton had little knowledge about the old man, especially when it came to his power.


    But there was one thing he did know¡ªMaster Li was like most Elders: he despised disrespect. And Master Li? He reveled in having his greatness recognized. If anyone dared to trample on his pride, they would undoubtedly face a lesson they''d never forget¡ªa lesson that often meant Death.


    "Oh, so you''re the great guy, the one with power and authority," Apollo said, putting a hand under his chin as if he''d finally understood. After nodding a few times, he smirked at Master Li. "So, with a status like yours, one even the Emperor dares not disrespect, why did you steal my monkey? What? Your status isn''t enough for you to get your own monkey with your own power?"


    Nathan Kleinford glanced between Master Li, Mathias, and Axton, then quietly took a couple of steps back, hiding himself from the escalating drama.


    "Yoma, I think that''s enough," Mathias said, a frown creasing his face.


    "This is my monkey we''re talking about," Apollo replied, glancing at the mayor.


    "Let him keep it. They''ll leave in a few hours, and by then, I think he''ll return the monkey," Axton said from the side. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Return?" Master Li sneered. "Why would I return something that already belongs to me?"


    Mathias and Axton exchanged helpless glances.


    Bubba''s cries grew louder upon hearing those words.


    "Silence!" Master Li shouted, releasing a transparent Qi that enveloped the monkey, muffling its voice entirely.


    Apollo frowned. He had anticipated this outcome and decided against pleasantries, opting to cut straight to the point. He had been right¡ªthis old man was the embodiment of a Young Master Syndrome, albeit aged into an old-age superiority complex.


    And what irritated Apollo even more was this I''m-old-so-I''m-right syndrome paired with power to enforce it.


    The atmosphere thickened following Master Li''s shout. With a wave of his hand, the pressure in the air bore down on Apollo.


    Apollo felt as though countless hands were pressing against his body, restricting his movements. He could even feel himself being forced to descend under the weight of the pressure. He knew Master Li was strong, but he hadn''t expected such strength¡ªenough to make simple movement arduous. Yet, Apollo maintained his composure.


    "Bullying the weak. What a classic," Apollo said with a smirk. "Is that what the Great Serpent Sect is all about? Using strength to get what you want, even when it''s wrong?"


    Master Li''s face twitched¡ªa reaction Apollo didn''t miss. "Don''t bring my Sect into this."


    "Why not?" Apollo chuckled. "That monkey is mine, and you stole it from me. I wonder what the other sects would think about that?"


    Apollo''s gaze shifted to Master Popo and Elmo, who remained silent observers.


    Master Li followed Apollo''s gaze. Realizing the precarious position he was in, he shot a cold glare at the beggar. Both the Sword and Shield Cultivation School and the Fire Shrine were branch sects in this city, tied to their main branches in the Middle Continent. If this situation were reported¡­


    "Yoma, is it?" Master Li said, regaining his composure. "You see, this monkey has grown fond of me."


    Encased in a transparent dome, Bubba shouted and shook his head vigorously.


    ''No! I don''t like him one bit!''


    Apollo read the monkey''s lips and gave a reassuring nod.


    "Bullsh*t," Apollo said. "Now give him back to me before I lose my temper."


    "Not so fast," Master Li said, motioning for his disciple. In an instant, Kuo appeared beside him. "This is my disciple. If you manage to defeat him, I will return your monkey¡ªthe one who has supposedly grown fond of me and doesn''t want to leave my side. But that is¡­ only if you defeat him."

 Chapter 314 - 314: Flux

    This old man is outrageous, Apollo thought, a frown forming on his face. The monkey belongs to him¡ªwhat right does Master Li have to issue a challenge?


    Apollo knew he could refuse, but this annoying old man was definitely not going to return the monkey willingly.


    He turned to the people behind Master Li. "You heard him, right?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Axton and the others nodded.


    "Don''t worry. I will honor my words," Master Li smirked, glancing at his disciple. "This is Kuo-Pal. He''s eight years old and already at the Core Creation Stage. He is my disciple and your opponent."


    "I know him," Apollo said with a small smile, glancing condescendingly at the kid beside Master Li. "I already de¡ª"


    "I will defeat him, Master!" Kuo interrupted, glaring at Apollo as killing intent erupted from him.


    This was the opportunity he''d been waiting for. Ever since he woke up from the training ground, Kuo had been consumed by thoughts of revenge. He wanted to find this beggar kid and kill him. Frustration had built up as he failed to locate him, so he''d turned his focus to challenging Senior Disciples and Personal Disciples in previous fights.


    Fortunately, the kid who plagued his thoughts had delivered himself right to his doorstep. This time, Kuo was determined not to hold back. He wouldn''t let the beggar kid humiliate him again.


    Kuo was confident in his abilities. The only reason he''d been defeated previously was because he had let his guard down. If he had been cautious from the start, he would have won. Yes, he was sure of it. As he dwelled on this, a burning desire to pounce on the beggar kid and tear him to pieces overwhelmed him.


    Soon, the two of them took their positions in the center of the courtyard.


    Surrounded by ancient-looking buildings, with important figures watching from the balconies, Apollo and Kuo locked cold stares.


    Apollo glanced to the side and spotted Filly and his mount already standing on one of the balconies. Then, his gaze shifted to the balcony where Master Li and the others stood, his eyes landing particularly on the old man from the Middle Continent.


    Although Master Li had a smile on his face, Apollo could see the old man was extremely displeased.


    "Hey, old man, don''t cry later after I defeat your beloved disciple, okay?" Apollo shouted, his tone dripping with mockery.


    "Hahaha, you won''t," Master Li smirked, snapping his fingers. A ripple spread out as he declared, "Then let the battle begin!"


    "You''re too full of yourself," Kuo said, beginning to channel his Refined Qi.


    "Let me guess. Your small brain came up with the idea that you can actually defeat me?" Apollo asked.


    "I think? No, I''m confident," Kuo replied, raising his hand and pointing it at the beggar.


    "Yeah, that''s exactly what someone with Young Master Syndrome would say," Apollo sighed, letting Kuo prepare whatever Technique he was planning to use. "People like you have no common sense. Even with Mount Tai standing right in front of you, you still can''t see it."


    Apollo couldn''t believe he''d just said words that were more suited for someone with the same Young Master Syndrome he despised. It felt like pouring salt on his own wounds.


    "What''s a Mount Tai?" Kuo couldn''t help but ask, confused by Apollo''s words.


    "I''m talking about a proverb¡ª" Apollo shook his head. "Just come at me. You''re wasting my time."


    "Wasting your time?! You''re the one wasting mine!" Kuo shouted, unable to tolerate the beggar''s dismissive tone. Water Chains materialized around him, moving like a giant snake. They lashed out chaotically, destroying the ground and shattering the shield.


    "Oh, you''re not holding back?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, a calm smile forming on his face. "That''s better."


    Meanwhile, Axton glanced at the Mayor. "Can you reinforce the shield?"


    "Don''t worry," Mathias nodded, releasing his Qi to strengthen the protective barrier around the area. As long as he stood, the shield would remain intact¡ªunless one of them unleashed a devastating attack capable of breaking through even his defenses.


    Although Kuo was at the Core Creation Stage like himself, Mathias was confident in his own refined body, Qi control, and extensive experience. He believed he could withstand even the boy''s full-force assault. This confidence reassured him that the shield would hold.


    "You don''t need to bother with all of that," Master Li said, his gaze fixed on the battlefield. "This fight will end in a minute. Or less."


    Axton frowned, clearly hearing the condescension in Uncle Li''s voice. The old man was underestimating the beggar¡ªjust as he himself had done before. But after getting to know Yoma and witnessing his strength, Axton wasn''t worried. He was confident Yoma could hold his own against Kuo.


    In fact, if Axton had to fight Yoma himself, he wasn''t even sure he''d win. Furthermore, Yoma had mastered the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation Technique, a skill only two people in history had ever learned. The first was the inventor of the technique, who founded the Great Serpent Sect tens of thousands of years ago. That made Apollo the second person to achieve this mastery.


    ¡­


    Seeing the anchor-like chains thrashing chaotically, Apollo remained calm and focused.


    He raised his hands, summoning Fire Blast and Wind Blast. Initially, the two elements clashed against each other, but with a single thought, they fused, forming a ball-like substance made of both Wind and Fire.


    Apollo had lost track of how many times he''d revised these two techniques to merge them into one. They had grown significantly stronger and more refined. Back on the training ground, he hadn''t used their full power, but now, pushing them to their limits, they transformed into something entirely new.


    Unlike before, where Wind and Fire were still distinguishable, the current form created a seamless, unified image.


    It was hot and windy simultaneously¡ªa ball of flux that churned the surrounding space. Its brilliance dimmed the power of the Water Chains in comparison.


    Should I tone it down a bit? Apollo wondered, realizing this technique might be overkill. He still didn''t fully understand the strength of a Core Creation Cultivator at full power.


    This won''t kill him, right? Apollo frowned. While he truly wanted to eliminate Kuo, he knew doing so would only bring more trouble.

 Chapter 315 - 315: Round Two

    It''s a domino effect: if he kills this ''young master,'' someone older behind him will come forward to take his head. Then, after killing that old person, an even older one will come for him. The cycle will continue, with Apollo killing the next old person every time one of them falls.


    Apollo wouldn''t be surprised if he eventually had to face the first-ever human in this world. It''s because of his audacity that people afflicted with the Young Master and I''m-old-so-I''m-right Syndromes exist in the first place.


    Meanwhile, when Kuo-Pal saw the bright ball of light materializing in front of the beggar kid, he felt a force unlike anything he had ever experienced. He clearly witnessed it: Fire Blast and Wind Blast materializing separately before merging into one.


    It was the same technique he had faced back on the training ground, but this time, it exuded an entirely different and unusual vibe.


    "What do you call that technique?" Kuo couldn''t help but ask, a frown already forming on his face. Although the fight had begun, neither had made the first move, giving them time to observe each other. Kuo used this opportunity to secretly channel more of his Refined Qi into the Water Chains.


    If it''s unknown, it''s a threat.


    He needed to ensure nothing would stand in the way of killing this infuriating beggar kid, especially when he didn''t know the true strength of the glowing ball of light. Refusing to underestimate his opponent again, the Water Chains, now swirling wildly, emitted a bright blue glow.


    "I''m still thinking of a name," Apollo replied as the ball of light churned before him. "How about Fire and Wind: The Great Combination of a Once-in-a-Millennium Technique? Or maybe Wind and Fire: The Combination of a Once-in-a-Millennium Great Technique? Or just Ball of Light?"


    Hearing this, Kuo was left speechless. He''s horrible at naming things! Shaking his head in disbelief, the killing intent around him intensified. "Enough wasting time! Let''s fight!"


    With a roar, Kuo floated into the air and unleashed all his Water Chains!


    Seeing this, Apollo''s expression turned serious. His sharp eyes moved at lightning speed, instantly calculating the number of projectiles coming his way.


    He could also sense the immense strength behind each chain¡ªa force capable of obliterating an Alphadusk Shadowtail in a single strike.


    Even so, Apollo remained calm. With a flick of his finger, the glowing ball of light blurred and instantly appeared amidst the incoming Water Chains.


    As if time had slowed, a massive explosion erupted from the center, followed by an intense, blinding light.


    The onlookers were momentarily blinded, unable to see anything beyond the searing white radiance.


    On the balcony where Axton and Mathias stood, the Great Serpent Headmaster turned to Master Li. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Right from the start, they unleashed their full strength," Master Li muttered, his expression unreadable. His face betrayed no emotion as he glanced at Axton. "This Yoma¡­ he just unleashed a strength comparable to that of a Core Creation Cultivator. And he''s merely at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage. His talent would be considered extraordinary even in the Middle Continent. Where did you find him?"


    "He''s a Wanderer. Being a beggar is his role. I don''t know exactly when, but he just popped out of nowhere," Mathias explained. "As for his cultivation, we believe he''s hiding his true level."


    "True cultivation?" Master Li repeated, narrowing his eyes at the bright light. His gaze penetrated the white barrier, focusing on the beggar''s figure. Yet he saw no artifact on Yoma capable of concealing one''s cultivation.


    That''s strange¡­ it must be a secret technique, he mused.


    There is a ''weak'' force preventing him from seeing the beggar''s cultivation, but with his strength, it feels like nothing more than a piece of paper fluttering around him. Others wouldn''t be able to discern Yoma''s cultivation unless the beggar purposely revealed it. But what kind of Secret Technique exists in this backward continent that even someone like him, a Soul Manifestation Cultivator, cannot pierce through to see a person''s true cultivation?


    Strange¡­ and interesting, Master Li thought, stroking his long white goatee. But it''s impossible for weaklings to possess such techniques. And even if he does have one, real strength is what truly matters.


    So what if this Wanderer Beggar has a Secret Technique that even I can''t see through? It''s a useless technique in front of the strong.


    Master Li remained confident that his disciple wouldn''t lose, as long as he used his full strength. And although the bright ball of light was unusual, it didn''t alarm him. To Master Li, it didn''t feel particularly ''threatening.''


    ---


    As the white light enveloping the area finally dispersed, everyone could see the battlefield again.


    Kuo stood with a water barrier surrounding him, riddled with cracks. The Water Chains he had summoned were reduced to a few, and some of those were on the verge of shattering entirely.


    The barrier protecting the buildings had suffered similar damage, though it healed almost instantly.


    The beggar, on the other hand, stood unmoving, as if everything that had just transpired was nothing more than a passing breeze.


    It seems like I overdid it, Apollo thought, surveying the destruction he had caused. The ground was completely obliterated, and the aftermath of the explosion was beyond words.


    Even though he had toned it down at the last minute, the destruction was still excessive. While he could have ended the fight with his previous move, at least now he had a better understanding of the true capabilities of a Core Creation Cultivator¡ªat the 1st-Step, of course. Unless Kuo was still hiding something that could boost his strength, which Apollo believed was very possible.


    He noticed Kuo coughing, blood spilling from his mouth. The force of the attack must have been so immense that, despite the shields protecting him, Kuo still sustained injuries.


    Apollo realized he really needed to name the technique he had created, as he''d been using it since the Advancement Examination. Over time, he had developed more and more techniques, mainly derived from those he had learned initially. This provided him with an almost unlimited source of inspiration, constrained only by his imagination. With this approach, he no longer felt the need to buy techniques from the System, unless he truly needed one he couldn''t derive from his existing collection.


    The beggar wasn''t sure if this was good or bad, but as long as it raised his overall strength, he wouldn''t complain.


    Shaking his head, he waved his hand, and a tree branch floated toward him. The tree, once standing at the corner of the battlefield, had been destroyed in the explosion. It was the same tree he had used before when one of the Senior Disciples had challenged him. Clearly, this battlefield was routinely repaired after each fight.


    Smirking, Apollo slashed the tree branch, sending a long water blade crashing into the barrier.


    It was now time to begin the real battle.

 Chapter 316 - 316: Doesnt Want Humiliation

    A river that never stops¡ªthat''s how the beggar would describe the state of all his Techniques. They are always moving in the same direction, growing stronger each day as he never misses an opportunity to revise, derive, and improve them.


    One of these Techniques is the Simple Sword Technique, a technique he has revised so many times that he''s lost count.


    He doesn''t even know its limits at the moment. Apollo simply continues improving it, following whatever ideas come to mind. Of course, he makes sure it''s flashier than ever, especially with the numerous Techniques he can derive from to enhance it further.


    Apollo smirked at his opponent, who had just noticed he was holding a small tree branch. As expected, the Kuo kid erupted in anger.


    "You think you can defeat me with a stick?!" Kuo shouted, his eyes wide and red with rage.


    "What if I say yes?" Apollo replied, pointing the stick at Kuo mockingly. With such a tough opponent in front of him, who wasn''t holding back, this was the perfect opportunity to test his Simple Sword Technique. Moreover, there were other techniques in his arsenal that he wanted to gauge the strength of.


    It wasn''t every day that someone willingly became his ''training'' partner. Initially, he was wary of Kuo''s strength, having no idea of the true capabilities of Core Creation Cultivators. But after the last explosion, he had finally grasped Kuo''s real strength.


    "Then you are underestimating me!" Kuo-Pal roared, summoning all his Water Chains once more. They emitted a blinding light as they pointed at the beggar. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Deep inside, though, Kuo was growing more cautious. He had used all his strength in his last attack without holding back, yet his opponent remained standing and had even managed to injure him despite his shields.


    But with his Master watching the fight, he couldn''t back down. Furthermore, he had only used his Water Chains so far. Even though he had exerted all his strength, it didn''t mean he had revealed his full capabilities. He still had tricks up his sleeve.


    Kuo floated into the air, and a threatening aura erupted from him. The space around him churned, and in the next moment, a loud roar reverberated.


    The entire place shook from the roar, summoning fierce winds that raised dust clouds.


    Apollo narrowed his eyes at the churning space, and then a head emerged from the distorted area.


    The Great Serpent¡­ the beggar thought as the entity materialized. It was a lifelike projection, almost indistinguishable from the real Legendary Beast. However, only the Great Serpent''s head emerged, not its full body.


    "This is the Great Serpent Astral Projection Technique. Although I''m only at the beginner stage, my power as a Core Creati¡ª"


    "Yeah, yeah, sure," Apollo interrupted. "Too much talking. Why don''t you just come at me?"


    "You asked for it!" Kuo-Pal shouted angrily. He truly despised this beggar kid, as if every word the beggar said struck a nerve.


    With a wave of his hand, the Great Serpent''s head opened its mouth, unleashing a torrent of powerful water that instantly shot toward Apollo.


    A deafening explosion rang out as the water torrent struck the ground, but the beggar kid was nowhere to be seen.


    ...


    Seeing the deadly water unleashed from the Great Serpent''s mouth, Headmaster Axton was momentarily stunned.


    It was the same technique used in the battle at the previous Mayor''s mansion. In fact, it was one of the signature techniques of the Great Serpent Cultivation Sect. However, while the technique might be the same, its strength depended entirely on the user.


    Kuo was only at the beginner stage of the technique, but the power emanating from the Serpent''s mouth was already comparable to what Axton could achieve when using the technique at full strength¡ªthough this only applied to his current body. Nevertheless, what was happening now surprised him.


    "Kuo is a very talented child," Master Li said from the side, his eyes burning with pride. "I admit, his opponent is strong. But Kuo is not someone who can be easily defeated."


    "Indeed," Axton replied casually. He neither denied nor fully agreed.


    Master Li glanced at Headmaster Axton. "You don''t seem convinced. This Yoma¡ªbesides helping to stop the Demon summoning¡ªwhat else did he do? You seem confident in his abilities."


    "Well, you see¡ª" Axton began, but Master Li waved his hand, cutting him off.


    "It doesn''t matter. Because Kuo is going to win," Master Li declared, though deep inside, a sliver of doubt crept into his heart.


    From the previous explosion, it was clear that his disciple''s opponent was no ordinary foe. Kuo was clearly injured, while Yoma remained standing without a single scratch on his body. That alone was enough for Master Li to gauge the likely outcome of this fight. However, his confidence in his disciple didn''t waver entirely. There was still a chance that Kuo could win, but...


    Master Li''s narrowed eyes fixated on Yoma, who reappeared in the air, easily dodging the torrent of water. Something told him that this Beggar Wanderer had yet to reveal his full strength.


    If his intuition was correct, he couldn''t afford to let Yoma win.


    It would be a great humiliation if his disciple¡ªsomeone from the Middle Continent, the land of the talented and powerful cultivators¡ªwere defeated in such a weak and insignificant place.


    Master Li refused to let their reputation be tarnished because his disciple lost in this countryside city. If word of this reached the Middle Continent, they would undoubtedly be mocked, something he could not allow.


    So, unbeknownst to Axton and the others, Master Li discreetly sent out a small amount of his own Qi. Like a faint breeze, it drifted toward his disciple before entering the boy''s body.


    ...


    This feeling¡­ Kuo''s eyes widened momentarily, though the sensation vanished as quickly as it had come. He glanced at his master and noticed a knowing smile on his face.


    Realizing what had just happened, a confident grin returned to Kuo''s lips. With his master secretly providing him Qi, he no longer had to worry about depleting the reserves in his Dantian.


    With renewed determination, he spread his senses and located his opponent, who had reappeared a few meters ahead. Meanwhile, the Great Serpent''s head continued to spew torrents of water toward the ground.


    "You''re dead!" Kuo roared. Using his Movement Technique, his body became a blur. This time, he wasn''t covered in water¡ªhe had already learned his lesson.


    His opponent was also a Lightning user, a rarity that demanded caution. But with his master''s assistance, Kuo felt unstoppable. Victory was only a matter of time!


    "Where did your confidence come from?" Apollo murmured as Kuo materialized in front of him.


    "From my own strength, you idi*t!" Kuo retorted, throwing a punch. His hands were enveloped in water chains, amplifying the power behind his attack.


    But Apollo''s form exploded into a burst of water upon impact.


    Kuo suddenly felt a threatening presence at his back. Without turning to look, his body vanished, reappearing a short distance away.


    The air where he had just stood was shredded by a flurry of water blades.


    "He''s gotten faster," Apollo muttered as he lowered his tree branch.

 Chapter 317 - 317: Showing the Transformation Technique

    The water torrent crashed into a barrier, creating a mist that spread through the air, while chaotic winds surged in its wake.


    Apollo waved his tree branch, sending fire and wind blades flying toward his opponent.


    The blades moved with incredible speed, appearing almost instantly before Kuo.


    But the space in front of Kuo suddenly warped. In the next moment, the Great Serpent''s head materialized, its mouth wide open. Acting like a vacuum, it absorbed all the oncoming blades.


    Kuo reacted quickly, waving his hands to command the water chains around him. The chains lashed out at Apollo with destructive force, each one strong enough to demolish an entire street.


    True Hardening!


    Apollo activated a technique that enhanced his defense and durability at the cost of speed. However, he had already revised the technique. By incorporating aspects of his Simple Movement Technique and wind-related techniques, he eliminated its former weakness.


    Though he could use lightning, he avoided it for now. Fully relying on the Attribute would mean sacrificing the carefully crafted effectiveness of his other techniques.


    Apollo braced himself as a few of the water chains struck him, some managing to push him back. But he quickly stabilized his body and began dodging the rest. Lightning flashed across his body, boosting his speed as he closed the distance to his opponent.


    At the same time, Apollo spread his senses, scanning the entire battlefield.


    Kuo, seeing Apollo approaching, wasn''t alarmed. In fact, he smiled confidently as he flew toward his opponent. Using a Strengthening Technique, a mist erupted around him.


    Water Body Serpent Fluidity Technique¡ªa technique that required mastery of the Water Attribute. Kuo, as one of the talented juniors of his sect, possessed both the Water Attribute and the skills to fully utilize it.


    Kuo''s body became stronger, and as long as he had Qi to sustain it, he could maintain the technique indefinitely. With his master''s Qi aiding him, he could push it to its limits.


    With water chains, the Great Serpent head, and his enhanced body, Kuo charged at Apollo.


    "Let me teach you a lesson! We from the Middle Continent are not to be messed with!" Kuo shouted, laughing as he drew back his fist, clenching it tightly.


    Water torrents and chains swirled around his attack, amplifying its power.


    As Kuo''s assault neared, time seemed to slow. Apollo, calm amidst the chaos, focused on something else entirely. He had finally noticed something unusual about his opponent¡ªan inexplicable surge of power.


    Apollo''s sharp eyes caught a faint stream of Qi, almost imperceptible, but his sensitivity to Qi allowed him to detect it.


    Following the trail, he traced it to the balcony where Axton and the others were watching. His gaze landed on the old man from the Middle Continent¡ªMaster Li.


    He saw it clearly: a thread of Qi emanating from Master Li''s fingertip, unnoticed by anyone else.


    Apollo sighed at the sight. He couldn''t help but feel a twinge of pity for the old man.


    It was evident that Master Li lacked confidence in Kuo''s abilities. Resorting to such an underhanded tactic, he likely believed no one would notice.


    The old man''s pride wouldn''t allow him to accept the idea of losing to those he deemed beneath him. His ego couldn''t tolerate the humiliation of being defeated by "weaklings."


    Even so, Apollo wasn''t particularly surprised. Such actions were, sadly, part of their nature.


    Unless he one day reached the pinnacle of cultivation¡ªwhere he could reshape everything, including this flawed "nature"¡ªhe would continue to encounter people like Master Li.


    Although this was just speculation about the personalities of the so-called "Young Master Syndrome" and "Master Li''s Syndrome," Apollo felt like he was right.


    As the world returned to its ''normal speed,'' Apollo focused on the oncoming attacks. There were different ways he could escape this situation: he could make it seem as though he ''barely'' dodged the attacks, or he could respond in a flashy manner, using all the defensive techniques in his arsenal.


    But Apollo wanted more. He wanted Master Li to understand that even with his interference, Kuo would still be defeated¡ªa crushing defeat that would shatter their egos.


    With this in mind, Apollo closed his eyes.


    Kuo smiled coldly, his killing intent rising to new heights as he saw his opponent seemingly accept his ''fate.''


    Why else would the beggar kid close his eyes in the midst of an attack?


    To Kuo, it was obvious. His opponent must have been scared sh*tless by his overwhelming power. Realizing his imminent doom, the beggar kid had no choice but to accept his fate¡ªdeath at Kuo''s hands. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Kuo had already promised himself he wouldn''t grant his opponent an easy death. No, this beggar kid would experience nothing but pain¡ªunimaginable, unending pain.


    Kuo would ensure his opponent stayed alive just long enough to beg for death instead of mercy. And, of course, Kuo would refuse. Pain¡­ only pain.


    These thoughts fueled the grin that spread across Kuo''s face as his fist drew closer to its target, mere inches away from sending Apollo crashing into the ground.


    However, something strange happened.


    The moment Kuo''s fist was about to land, Apollo opened his eyes, and a bright blue light glinted within them.


    At the same time, Kuo felt an inexplicable fear and pressure. It was as though his body itself was rejecting his will. No¡ªit wasn''t just a feeling. His body literally refused to move.


    Even the water chains and the water torrent halted mid-attack!


    Realizing this, Kuo tried to retreat. But no matter how hard he tried, his body wouldn''t budge an inch. He was beyond shocked.


    As he observed the beggar kid in front of him, Kuo''s body began to tremble with fear.


    Apollo''s form had changed. Where he once appeared to be a mere beggar, he now radiated an aura of divinity. Even in ragged, filthy clothes, his presence overwhelmed everything around him, making the quality of his attire irrelevant.


    Parts of Apollo''s body were now covered in blue scales¡ªhis cheeks, the sides of his eyes, his forehead, and his arms. Mist emanated from him, shrouding his figure in an aura of mystery.


    Kuo gulped involuntarily, unable to tear his gaze away. Strangely, he could hear the sound of the Great Serpent emanating from Apollo, making him feel both apprehensive and compelled to lower his head, unable to meet the beggar kid''s eyes.


    Beads of sweat formed on Kuo''s forehead, but even his sweat refused to roll down his face, as if paralyzed by the sheer presence of Apollo.


    What the f*ck is happening?!

 Chapter 318 - 318: Dozens Techniques

    "W-what¡­ are you?" Kuo asked with a gulp.


    "I am the one who''s going to beat you up and sleep with your mom!" Apollo smirked, raising his hand before slapping Kuo across the face.


    Kuo''s face twisted upon impact, saliva and blood flying through the air as his body crashed into the ground, kicking up dirt and dust clouds.


    The Water Chains and the Great Serpent head, with its mouth wide open and water torrents flowing out, dispersed into light blue particles of light.


    Surrounded by these firefly-like particles, Apollo raised his hands and examined his body. Seeing the scales covering his forearm, he couldn''t help but smile in amazement.


    This is flashy¡­ and cool, the beggar thought.


    He conjured a simple water mirror to see his reflection and was even more amazed.


    Deep blue, slitted eyes resembling those of a snake or dragon, blue scales covering parts of his body, and the haze surrounding him that added to his mysteriousness¡ªApollo had never felt cooler in his life.


    Transforming to power up oneself¡ªit was something every man dreamed of. In his previous life, there were countless movies and TV shows where the main character faced a tough opponent, only to transform into a stronger form, like the one with the spiky black hair that turned gold. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, Apollo had achieved the same thing, though it was all thanks to the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation Technique and not some life-or-death struggle that unlocked hidden potential. Although his current progress was only at the beginner stage, the effects were beyond what he had imagined.


    Apollo had been holding off on using this transformation, saving it for the right moment. Fortunately, Kuo had given him the perfect opportunity.


    After checking himself out in the water mirror a few more times, he waved his hand, turning the water into a puddle that fell to the ground. He then turned his gaze toward the dissipating dust cloud, where Kuo was already back on his feet.


    Apollo didn''t want the fight to end too soon, so he suppressed the pressure that had immobilized Kuo and prevented him from using his water techniques.


    Kuo must have realized this, as he glared at Apollo with a mixture of frustration and fear.


    Now, what Techniques should I try? Apollo thought. He decided to test some of the techniques he had revised and derived over time. Hmm¡­ why not try them all?


    With that in mind, Apollo used a Movement Technique called Vanishing Dri¨C Mirage, a combination of his Simple Movement Technique, Hydra Mirage, and other techniques he had studied in the Great Serpent Library.


    His body vanished and reappeared in front of Kuo. Unlike before, his speed had increased so much that Kuo didn''t even realize Apollo was standing in front of him.


    "F*ck!" Kuo cursed in surprise, jumping back hurriedly.


    "Haha, you''re afraid," Apollo chuckled. Narrowing his eyes at Kuo, he smirked. "Where''s your confidence now?"


    Hearing the mockery, Kuo could only grit his teeth. He admitted it now¡ªhis opponent was strong. A worthy foe.


    But he couldn''t allow himself to be defeated by this country bumpkin! Not in front of everyone watching, especially his Master!


    Fck! Fck! Why am I even afraid of this beggar? That must have been a trick! I can move now! Yeah, a trick to scare me off!


    Kuo calmed himself as this thought surfaced in his mind.


    After taking a deep breath, he summoned his Water Chains and the Great Serpent head once more, activating a technique to enhance his strength.


    "A trick. This is all just a trick to scare me off. An illusion!" Kuo shouted, clenching his fists in anger. "You got me! But that''s all you can do!"


    This kid needs his head checked, Apollo sighed. "You are right, it''s just a trick."


    Hearing this, Kuo''s eyes lit up. I knew it! There''s no need for me to be scared!


    "Haha! I''m right!" Kuo laughed, his face turning red with fury. I will kill him¡­ or else this will become a demon to my cultivation!


    Kuo couldn''t afford to lose again. He had already been defeated by this beggar kid back on the training ground, and he wouldn''t let it happen a second time.


    Thinking this, his killing intent erupted as he prepared himself. To ensure victory, he activated another technique, one that temporarily enhanced his strength by at least twofold. Combined with the techniques he was already using, his power surged to an entirely new level.


    Normally, he wouldn''t risk this, but with his Master''s assistance, there was nothing to fear. Although he didn''t understand how the beggar kid had stopped his body and attacks earlier, Kuo wasn''t going to take any chances. He had finally learned his lesson.


    As he activated the technique, an array formation appeared, enclosing his body. Covered in bright, glowing patterns, a newfound strength coursed through him.


    "You shall regret offending me! I will kill you!" Kuo declared coldly.


    "Then come!" Apollo taunted, raising his hand and pointing at his opponent.


    "Die!" Kuo roared, his body becoming a blur as he reappeared in front of Apollo.


    However, Apollo had turned into mist.


    Seeing this, Kuo wasn''t alarmed¡ªhe had expected it. With a smirk, he turned around, his fist ready, flanked by the Water Chains and the Great Serpent head.


    But what he saw next froze him in place. Not because of that strange force¡ªit was gone now. This time, he stopped for an entirely different reason.


    A cold shiver ran down his spine, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably with fear.


    Dozens of Battle Techniques were aimed at him. Dozens! Fire techniques, wind techniques, even water techniques, all pointed directly at him.


    They took various forms¡ªsome resembling the Water Blade Disintegration Technique but with fire and wind swirling around the water blades. There was also a massive, glowing ball of light, much larger than the one the beggar kid had used earlier. Spears, swords, and other shapes floated menacingly.


    Chaotic winds, roaring flames, blizzards of lightning and ice. There was even a three-headed Great Serpent with a body made of all four elements!


    "Think of this as another trick," Apollo said with a cold smile, floating in the middle of the overwhelming array of techniques.

 Chapter 319 - 319: Presence

    Apollo had gotten this idea after the original Apollo Leone had taken over his body¡ªa combination of all the Techniques he had learned and created, forming an ultimate power concentrated in his right hand.


    At the time, he was terrified that he might lose an arm, unable to withstand such immense force. Fortunately, the original owner of the body hadn''t used the Technique.


    Using that idea, Apollo tried to replicate it. But alas, he didn''t know how the original body had executed it. Whenever he attempted it, the Techniques would collide with each other, forcing him to summon them in disarray around him.


    Of course, he could combine some of these Techniques, but not to the crazy extent the original body had achieved. The original owner could even remember and perfectly execute ideas he had casually thought of.


    That kid was basically a cheat code, Apollo thought, recalling the original owner of his body.


    Floating in the midst of the chaotic array of Techniques, Apollo smirked at his opponent.


    "Afraid? You should be," Apollo said.


    "M-me? A-afraid?" Kuo stammered, clenching his fists. Yes! I am afraid! These Techniques in front of me are not a trick! Should I surrender? But can I? His internal conflict left him frozen and unsure of what to do.


    "It seems like you are," Apollo chuckled. "Anyway, if you survive this, it''s your luck¡ªbut I highly doubt it. With the external Qi flowing into you, it might be enough to protect you."


    Hearing this, Kuo''s eyes widened. He knows about it¡­ This realization struck him like a hammer. He had been a fool to think he could kill his opponent.


    If this beggar kid already knew he was receiving assistance from his Master and still believed he could win, then Kuo, who had been in denial, had no choice but to accept the truth. His opponent was someone far beyond his ability to defeat.


    With this realization, he gritted his teeth. "So what if I can''t defeat you?! I will throw my life away just to prove I''m superior to people like you!" Kuo roared, his body erupting with newfound strength.


    Even though he understood the disparity between them, Kuo refused to back down.


    "Then don''t blame me," Apollo sighed, waving the tree branch he held at Kuo.


    As if on cue, the dozens of Techniques surrounding Apollo shot toward Kuo at breakneck speed!


    Kuo charged forward as well, his fist pulled back. Water Chains trailed behind him, and the Great Serpent''s head followed with its mouth wide open.


    The collision triggered a powerful explosion, causing the entire mountain to tremble violently. The battlefield was engulfed in a kaleidoscope of colors, blinding onlookers.


    The protective barrier shielding the surrounding buildings began to crack. If the battle continued, it wouldn''t be long before the shield shattered entirely.


    On the balcony where Filly was watching, the water-attributed falcon returned to its normal size, wrapping Filly in its wings to shield her.


    Meanwhile, on the other side, where Axton and the others stood, the Great Serpent Headmaster glanced at the Mayor with a frown.


    "You''re not going to be able to maintain the barrier," Axton said.


    "Yes," Mayor Mathias replied, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Care to help?"


    Axton nodded, glancing at Elmo and Master Popo. The three of them raised their hands, channeling their Qi to stabilize the shield.


    Even with their combined efforts, they could feel the overwhelming resistance crashing against the barrier.


    "He''s been hiding this kind of strength," Mathias said. "This strength is almost equivalent to a 3rd-Step Core Creation Stage."


    "Then why didn''t he use this against Klown?" Elmo asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.


    "He was probably just playing at that time," Master Popo commented.


    Axton remained silent. There were too many mysteries surrounding the Wanderer Yoma¡ªhis true cultivation, his real strength. Axton wouldn''t be surprised if Yoma was holding back even now. It wasn''t worth trying to gauge the beggar''s real abilities.


    "He didn''t die, right?" Nathan asked from the side as he joined in stabilizing the shield.


    "Who? That beggar? From the looks of it, he''s not," Master Popo said, his robes flapping wildly in the intense wind, inadvertently exposing something that shouldn''t be seen by the public.


    Already accustomed to it, the people on the balcony didn''t say a word.


    "I''m talking about Kuo-Pal," Nathan clarified, a hint of worry in his voice. He wasn''t concerned out of care for the kid but because he didn''t want that old man to direct his wrath at them.


    Hearing this, they only now realized they had been ignoring the one truly in danger.


    "Uncle Li, Kuo is in d¡ª" Axton began, turning hurriedly to Master Li, but he couldn''t finish his words as the old man was already gone.


    ---


    The massive explosion continued for a while longer before the blinding light began to dissipate.


    What greeted their eyes was utter devastation. The entire area was in shambles, with a giant crater at least a hundred meters deep. The battlefield itself looked like a shattered mirror, broken into thousands of pieces.


    At the center of it all stood Apollo and two other people.


    The shield is still intact. They must''ve spent most of their Refined Qi, Apollo thought as he glanced at one of the balconies. But that wasn''t what mattered most.


    His gaze shifted to where Kuo was, now surrounded by a water barrier. It appeared to be a simple barrier, one that seemed fragile enough to shatter with a single punch. However, when Apollo tried to extend his senses through it, he felt as though he was facing an immovable rock wall. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Water Barrier¡ªan elementary Battle Technique anyone in the Great Serpent could learn. But when someone at my caliber uses it, not even a 3rd-Step Core Creation Stage can break it," the man standing in front of Kuo said coldly.


    "Yeah, I figured," Apollo replied, his eyes fixed on the old man from the Middle Continent.


    "Do you know my name?" Master Li asked.


    "Something Master? Master Lu? Master La? Master Le? Or Master¡ª"


    "Master Li," the old man corrected.


    "That''s what I was about to say," Apollo said with a nod, his body still in the beginner stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation. "Anyway, I clearly won this fight. You remember our deal, right?"


    Apollo glanced at his monkey, still in Master Li''s hands. Bubba was long unconscious, foam bubbling from his mouth. The shock of being in constant peril had likely caused severe damage to the poor creature, especially after that last explosion.


    "You have the presence of the Great Serpent," Master Li said, his eyes narrowing at the beggar boy threateningly. "Who are you?"

 Chapter 320 - 320: Deal is Done

    "That''s not the answer I was hoping for, Master¡­ baiter?" Apollo deliberately dragged out his words, a clear mockery.


    "You''ve already hit my nerves. That won''t work," Master Li replied coldly. "Tell me, who are you really?"


    "Does it matter? What about our deal?" Apollo asked, narrowing his eyes. "You seem smart to me. Don''t tell me you''ve already forgotten our deal? Was it because you''re old?"


    "I see, you don''t want to tell me who you really are, Yoma," Master Li said. "The deal is done. You can have your stupid, weak monkey back."


    "Sweet. I thought you were becoming seni¨C"


    "But I will never leave this place until you tell me who and what you really are!" Master Li interrupted with a shout. He flicked his unconscious disciple to the corner of the battlefield as if discarding him.


    Then, the overwhelming pressure from earlier erupted from his body again.


    The whole ''world'' turned dark, with black clouds rolling across the sky.


    A frown appeared on the beggar''s face as the suffocating atmosphere seemed to grip his neck. ''Death'' returned, its presence behind him, staring directly into his soul.


    Apollo didn''t understand how the old man could produce such an effect, especially since Master Li wasn''t using any visible Technique. It was cool, honestly¡ªthough not his style, as it felt far too depressing.


    "Why be so¡­ aggressive, old man?" Apollo asked, taking a deep breath.


    "You have the presence of the Great Serpent," Master Li said, his body starting to float higher. "That should be impossible. The shadow of a Legendary Beast in a human body¡ªthat''s impossible."


    "You know¡­ your skepticism will only bring negativity into your life. Why don''t we sit down¡­ and do some yoga?" Apollo offered between deep breaths. Despite the suffocating feeling constricting his neck, he wasn''t completely afraid. Well, maybe a little¡ªhe valued his life above all else. But not enough to beg for mercy.


    That''s why he decided to talk it out with the old man.


    "Yoga? Is that it?" Master Li asked coldly, his eyes fixed on the beggar. "You will tell me everything, Yoma, or else you will suffer a fate worse than death."


    Master Li raised his hand, and the pressure intensified. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡­" Apollo couldn''t form words as his neck tightened on its own. At the same time, thunder and lightning reverberated through the air, and the dark clouds above swallowed the entire sky of the mini-dimension they were in.


    Sht! This annoying Masterbait¨C Li! Why does he think I''ll tell him my secret?!* Apollo thought with a frown. He tried to channel the power of the beginner stage of the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation to break free from the suffocation, but the heavy atmosphere suppressed his full power.


    Realizing this, Apollo glanced toward the dark sky. Seeing the flashing lightning, a crazy thought resurfaced. Do I really have to call forth another Lightning Tribulation?


    The beggar began to weigh his options. It was something he wanted to avoid, and the mere thought of it sent shivers down his spine.


    Fortunately, what happened next made him sigh in relief.


    "Uncle Li, stop!"


    The shout was like a ray of light piercing through the dark world.


    Master Li turned to see Headmaster Axton flying toward them with a worried expression.


    "What is the meaning of this, Axton? If you don''t satisfy me with your answer, you will share the same fate as him," Master Li warned.


    "You made a deal with him, and it''s done. He won, so he gets the monkey back," Axton said, taking a deep breath. Being more experienced, he used his Qi to endure the intense pressure without difficulty. "This is just bullying, Uncle Li."


    "Oh? You''re arguing with me now?" Master Li raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting this. He glanced at the Wanderer behind Axton before refocusing on the branch Headmaster. "It seems there''s something going on that I don''t know about."


    "The deal is done," Axton repeated firmly.


    Master Li was silent at first, though it didn''t last long. Moments later, he burst out laughing¡ªa laugh filled with anger. However, the laugh abruptly stopped, as if someone had pressed pause.


    "You''ve become too full of yourself, Axton," Master Li said coldly, the intense pressure now focused on Headmaster Axton. "You''re only a branch Headmaster in a backward place. Your position amounts to nothing, especially in front of me."


    "I know," Axton replied without breaking eye contact. Normally, he would never do this, as respect must be shown to an Elder, even an Outer Elder. But the current situation was different¡ªit involved the beggar.


    "If you know, then where did you get the courage to stand in my way?!" Master Li shouted, his booming voice causing the barrier to crack.


    "I''m not standing in your way. I''m only protecting your reputation and the Sect''s reputation," Axton said, glancing to the side.


    Master Li followed his gaze and saw the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield and the Headmaster of the Fire Shrine flying toward them.


    Master Popo and Headmaster Elmo positioned themselves on either side of the beggar, who watched the unfolding drama with interest.


    Apollo studied the flow of their Qi, using it to counteract the oppressive pressure, successfully doing so on his first try. Still in his transformation, he couldn''t help but look at Headmaster Axton with admiration.


    He''s smart. With this method, he''s basically removing himself from the center while using Elmo and the exhibitionist as cover, Apollo thought.


    However, Master Li wasn''t a fool. He understood exactly what Axton was doing.


    "I must say, you impress me, Axton," Master Li said.


    "I don''t know what you mean," Axton replied with an ''innocent'' look. "I just want to protect our reputation."


    "Is this how an Elder of the Great Serpent Sect behaves?" Elmo smirked. "Bullying someone just because they''re weak? I expected more from you, Outer Elder Master Li."


    "What can we say? He''s only an Outer Elder, and for them, leaving the sect is like picking an apple from a peach tree," Master Popo added, his robe once again being blown to the side by the wind. "I wonder what the other sects from the Middle Continent will do when they find out that an Outer Elder from the Great Serpent Sect is bullying someone weaker than him."


    Master Li''s face twitched at these words. The weakling Headmasters had struck a nerve by mentioning something he didn''t want to hear.


    The beggar, however, couldn''t help but look at Elmo and Master Popo strangely. Are you guys protecting me or insulting me? You''re calling me weak? I could beat the two of you even if you joined forces!

 Chapter 321 - 321: Humiliation

    Staring at the three Headmasters, Master Li recalled the intense pressure engulfing the entire pocket dimension of the Great Serpent Cultivation School.


    "I''m not doing this because I''m afraid of your words," Master Li said coldly. "You three have offended me, and I''ll make sure this doesn''t end well. It''s your lives I''ll take. But there are other matters I need to attend to."


    "We''re not going to see you out, Uncle Li," Axton said, bowing his head emotionlessly.


    "You got me, Axton," Master Li smirked. "I wonder how long you''ll be able to stay in your position."


    "That''s up to the Sect Master¡ªit''s hard to tell," Axton replied.


    "It won''t be long," Master Li remarked, his gaze shifting to the Wanderer ''hiding'' behind the Headmasters. "And you. You''re hiding something¡ªsomething that doesn''t belong to you."


    "Really?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Do you know what Yoga is?"


    Hearing this, Master Li''s eyes lit up.


    Is that what he''s hiding? Yoga? Is he going to tell me now? Master Li thought, anticipation flickering in his expression.


    The presence of the Legendary Beast they worshipped made him uneasy, and he was determined to get to the bottom of this.


    "I see you''re finally afraid," Master Li smirked coldly. "Now, tell me¡ªwhat is this Yoga you''re talking about?"


    Meanwhile, Axton glanced at the beggar, confusion etched across his face. He was the only one who knew that Yoma possessed the Great Ascendant Transformation Technique, and it puzzled him that the beggar seemed to be saying something entirely unrelated.


    It didn''t surprise him that Master Li didn''t realize the presence he referred to came from the Ascendant Technique¡ªvery few had ever encountered it.


    "What''s Yoga?" Master Popo, standing nearby, couldn''t help but ask.


    Apollo smirked at the Fire Shrine Headmaster before widening his grin at the old man from the Middle Continent.


    "Yoga''t¡­ small d*ck!" he shouted, then burst into laughter, clutching his stomach and pointing at Master Li with his other hand. "Not only that! Yoga''t small brain, and Yoga''t baited! Hahaha!"


    Headmaster Axton, Elmo, and Master Popo exchanged confused glances.


    "Yoga? You got?" Elmo asked, his large frame unable to conceal the look of confusion that shifted to surprise.


    Axton caught on quickly, while Master Popo had to repeat it a couple of times before he finally understood.


    "Hahaha!" Master Popo joined the beggar''s laughter, their voices echoing throughout the area.


    Some of the onlookers on the balcony stifled their laughter, aware of the danger, though their eyes betrayed their amusement.


    Master Li''s face turned red with anger. "You dare play me?! You''ve got some nerve!"


    The moment those words left his mouth, he instantly regretted it.


    Sure enough, Apollo and Master Popo burst into even louder laughter.


    "I do have some balls! Hahaha!"


    "You!" Master Li shouted, pointing angrily at the beggar, prompting Axton and Elmo to step forward immediately.


    Seeing this, Master Li frowned. Although he could defeat all of them even if they joined forces, doing so would be like admitting he was bullying someone weaker than himself. And if the people from the Middle Continent discovered that an Outer Elder from the Great Serpent Sect was bullying the weak, the school''s reputation would be tainted, and so would his position.


    Around this time, Kuo-Pal opened his eyes. After blinking at the sky a few times, his memories surged back, and he instantly stood up to find the beggar kid.


    Fear engulfed him as he recalled their battle. In the final moments, dozens of techniques had been hurled at him, and he realized that he would never be able to defeat the beggar kid, even if he gave it his all. He had hoped that fate would somehow intervene, allowing him to win with the help of his anger and vigor.


    However, expectations and reality are often very different.


    Before he knew it, he had been engulfed in a bright light, then passed out from intense pain.


    All he wanted now was to go to his Master and ask for revenge. But when his eyes landed on the confrontation happening in the middle of the battlefield, the fear in his heart vanished, replaced by a sneer.


    He vaguely remembered someone appearing before him amidst the intense light¡ªit seemed like it was his Master.


    "You are dead," Kuo muttered, staring at the beggar kid hiding behind the three Headmasters, his gaze filled with killing intent.


    Now that his Master had stepped in, his opponent was as good as finished.


    "Kill that beggar, Master!" Kuo shouted, his eyes shining with excitement. "There''s no way someone from a backward place could defeat me! He definitely cheated!"


    "Shut up!" Master Li barked with a glare.


    Kuo instantly closed his mouth but couldn''t help feeling confused. Then he heard laughter coming from his opponent and noticed the headmaster making a crude gesture, which only deepened his confusion.


    Only now did he sense the strange atmosphere in the air. What''s happening?


    He stood there, watching as his Master talked with the ''backward people.'' After a while, he saw his Master flying toward him.


    "M-Master?" Kuo tilted his head.


    "We''re going back to the Capital City," Master Li said, his expression extremely cold. Even a fool could tell he was not in a good mood.


    "But Master! They offended us! They even humiliated me! We can''t just let this go!" Kuo argued, pointing a finger at Apollo and the others.


    "You are the reason for this humiliation!" Master Li scoffed angrily. Besides teaching his disciple, he also enjoyed venting his anger and frustration on him.


    "Me?" Kuo repeated, his eyes wide. It wasn''t the first time his Master had been mean to him, but he had done his best out there. It was just that... his opponent was stronger. Deep down, Kuo knew the beggar kid hadn''t cheated¡ªthey had been the ones to employ underhanded methods, which had ultimately failed.


    And in this humiliation, his Master should share the blame! Why is he only blaming me? Kuo thought but didn''t dare voice it aloud, knowing better than to dig his own grave.


    "No more questions. We are leaving," Master Li said before flying into the distance.


    Seeing this, Kuo could only grit his teeth and follow after his Master. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 322 - 322: C*ndom?

    Staring at the flying duo, Apollo let out a small smile. Then he turned to the three Headmasters. "Thanks. If you guys hadn''t come, I would have been killed."


    "With your Yoga remark, it was worth the trouble! Hahaha!" Master Popo said, bursting into laughter.


    "You liked it that mu¡ª" Apollo stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the bird dangling from the Fire Shrine Headmaster''s robe.


    "He will follow through with his words," Axton warned with a frown.


    "I know," Apollo nodded. "People like him¡ªrevenge flows through their blood. Being humiliated like that will trigger their Ego-System. They don''t want it to be trampled."


    "I don''t get what you mean, but just a reminder: Uncle Li is not someone to mess with," Axton said. "I wouldn''t be surprised if, by tomorrow, he comes back with the Investigation Team just to kill us."


    "But would they, though?" Elmo smirked from the side. "That old man knows the consequences. Even though he''s far stronger than us, he still cares about reputation, just like you said, Axton."


    "It''s better to think two steps ahead. We don''t know if he''ll stay that way forever," Axton said with a smile. Although they weren''t blood-related and he didn''t know much about Master Li, it wasn''t hard to distinguish someone''s personality.


    Master Li was one of those elders who liked to flaunt their strength and bully the weak, but he bowed down to people stronger than himself.


    And in the Middle Continent, where sects constantly found fault with each other, they would surely take any chance to trample on one of them if they found something they could use to their advantage.


    "People change, but people with ''I''m-old-so-I''m-right'' disorder won''t change. And neither will people with ''Young Master Syndrome'' who think they own the streets just because they have the backing of someone strong," Apollo said, shaking his head.


    As they spoke, someone landed beside them.


    "Just keeping that barrier intact is harder than I thought," Mathias remarked with a sigh before turning his gaze to the beggar kid. "You¡­ are you already at the Core Creation stage?"


    "Nope, still at the 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage," Apollo answered as he released his cultivation. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Feeling the atmosphere shift, Mathias frowned. The sensation felt real, and it seemed like this friend of theirs wasn''t faking it. But who would be dumb enough to believe it? That last attack alone, where dozens of techniques were conjured instantly, could have seriously injured him even if he used all his defensive techniques.


    If Master Li hadn''t somehow stopped the attack, the whole place would have crumbled, with Kuo-Pal dying.


    "Can you teach me this technique?" Master Popo asked, his eyes shining with anticipation.


    "What technique?" Apollo tilted his head.


    "This! Hiding your tr¡ª" Master Popo couldn''t finish his words as someone interrupted him.


    "We should get going," Axton said. "What just happened was unexpected and something we definitely didn''t want. We need to take precautions in case Master Li decides to come back for revenge."


    "I''ll send a message to the main branch," Elmo said.


    "Same here," Master Popo nodded.


    "Wait, you guys aren''t joking?" Apollo asked, surprised. It wasn''t just a threat¡ªthey really planned to notify their main branch.


    "Why would we joke?" Elmo smirked. "I hate that old man. And this is the kind of thing people in the Middle Continent deserve to know about."


    "Are you okay with this?" Apollo asked Axton, confused.


    "Haha, they''re from the Middle Continent. We''re in the South," Axton said with a smile. "Besides, Uncle Li is only an Outer Elder, an insignificant being compared to the whole sect. Even if the other sects hear about his bad antics here in the South, it won''t affect the Great Serpent Sect much."


    "To the Main Sects, it''s nothing much, but to these Elders, it''s like rubbing salt on wounds. They are very dramatic and sensitive," Master Popo commented. "You know, most problems arise because of them? They behave like they''ve never been fed in their lives, always trying to devour each other."


    A thudding sound echoed just as his words fell, and when they noticed the people who had landed, Apollo and the others carefully stepped away from the exhibitionist.


    "Why are you guys ste¡ª" Master Popo didn''t need to finish his question to know the answer. "They''re right behind me, aren''t they?"


    Axton glanced at his Elders, who were staring at the Fire Shrine Headmaster dangerously, before nodding.


    Soon, arguments broke out, with Master Popo still adamant that the Elders were the main reason conflicts happened.


    Seeing this scene, the onlookers could only shake their heads.


    "I should get going," Apollo said, his eyes falling on his mount, who had landed a few meters away.


    Bluetooth had Filly on his back, and in the restaurant owner''s arms was the monkey, sleeping soundly.


    "About the Cultivation Exchange¡­" Axton brought up.


    "Yeah, I''ve read the invitation," Apollo said, glancing at Headmaster Axton. "Why are you doing all this?"


    This question silenced the scene as Apollo didn''t bother lowering his voice.


    Mathias glanced at the Great Serpent Headmaster curiously. Had Axton given the invitation to Yoma? This Cultivation Exchange in the region happened once every three years, and the host this time was from Manida Land. He had also received the invitation but, as he wasn''t the Mayor, he didn''t have the time to join, so he gave the spot to his daughter.


    Headmaster Axton glanced at the people around him before locking eyes with the beggar.


    Do you really want to know? Axton asked through Thought Transfer.


    If this is going to bring trouble and break my peace, then don''t tell me. I don''t want to associate myself with something that will put great responsibility on my shoulders. Although I am your friendly neighborhood beggar, I don''t believe that with great power comes great responsibility. You know what I believe in? C*ndom¡ªbecause with great c*ndom comes great protection, Apollo replied, puffing his chest proudly.


    Axton was left speechless and confused. What the beggar had just said struck him deeply, like words from the heavens, but halfway through, he was utterly lost. And what the hell even was a c*ndom?


    "I''ll take your silence as a mysterious approach¡ªyou must have something on your mind that you don''t want to tell me because it''s very important," Apollo said while walking toward the Water-Attributed Falcon.

 Chapter 323 - 323: He cant hear you

    North of Belthias City, two individuals landed in front of the gate.


    "M-Master," Kuo called out with a worried expression. "I''m very sorry. It''s my fault."


    "I''m glad you know," Master Li glared at his disciple. "Didn''t I tell you that hidden dragons hide everywhere?"


    "You did, Master¡­ b-but weren''t you also¡ª"


    "But what, ha?!" Master Li raised an eyebrow.


    You were also underestimating them and overconfident in my abilities. We even cheated, but we still got defeated! You shouldn''t only blame me; you should also blame yourself! Kuo-Pal thought but didn''t dare voice it.


    "Maybe, maybe if you just knew how to back off, we wouldn''t have been humiliated!" Master Li said angrily.


    But you also liked the idea of defeating that kid! In fact, you''re the one who proposed the fight! It''s just aligning with what I wanted! Kuo thought as he lowered his head in dismay.


    In the end, no matter what he said or did, as long as something went wrong and he was involved, it was always his fault.


    Seeing this, Master Li spat on the ground. "But this humiliation, I''ll make sure I get back at them, especially that Yoga guy. I''ll kill him and tear him to pieces!"


    If the people from the Middle Continent found out that he had been humiliated in this backward place, he would surely become a laughingstock. However, if they discovered that he bullied these weaker people, it would seem like a petty move, and he would be despised. He wouldn''t even be surprised if rumors spread that he only came to this backward city to flaunt his Cultivation.


    Master Li found himself in a stalemate, caught between his reputation and his position as an Outer Elder.


    They''re like wolves, waiting for one of us to become prey just to fill their stomachs, he thought grimly.


    The only option left was a "strategic" retreat. Master Li could have killed them all right there to cover up the humiliation, but it would have to be done instantly before anyone could send a message to the Middle Continent. Even then, the main Great Serpent Sect was smart enough to notice something was wrong with one of their branches, putting him at even greater risk.


    "My apologies," Kuo gritted his teeth, unable to meet his master''s eyes.


    "Save your apology for later. I''m deciding what punishment to give you," Master Li said angrily. Shaking his head, he whistled, and seconds later, the miniature Water Falcon flew in front of them. "We''ll return to the Capital."


    The Water Falcon let out a small shriek as its body returned to its original size, nearly covering the entire north side of Belthias City.


    Watching his master ascend onto the Water Falcon, Kuo-Pal let out a heavy sigh. As he followed, his gaze lingered on the city, his hatred for the beggar kid intensifying.


    It''s all that guy''s fault. If it weren''t for him, I wouldn''t have disappointed my master, Kuo thought bitterly.


    As he landed atop the giant Water Falcon, the beast immediately took flight. It didn''t flap its wings, but in no time, they had reached the distant mountains.


    Meanwhile, just as they flew away, from the place where the Great Serpent Cultivation School building stood, something emerged¡ªblue and fast.


    ...


    Bluetooth soared through the skies above Belthias City, the wind ruffling his feathers and causing them to brush against one another.


    Straddling his back was his owner, Apollo, and the monkey, Bubba, who was currently in deep trouble. The Water-Attributed Falcon glanced back at them, clear amusement glinting in his eyes.


    Hehe, let''s see if you still dare disobey Master! Bluetooth thought. After the punishment he''d received for cursing the "small human," he had finally learned his lesson: never anger Apollo, whom he now called Master. If he wanted to curse the beggar, he''d have to do it silently in his mind¡ªnot aloud¡ªbecause apparently, the "small human" could understand animals!


    Fortunately for him, unlike the fearless monkey who sought trouble everywhere, Bluetooth prided himself on being the type who preferred lounging around and doing absolutely nothing all day.


    The journey was peaceful, marked only by the sound of flapping wings and the strong wind echoing through the air.


    However, like the calm before a storm, the moment they arrived back at Apollo''s spot, the beggar reached out and grabbed Bubba by the nape of his neck.


    Seeing this, Bluetooth immediately shrank his body using the Body Shrinking Technique and flew to his corner, eager to watch the drama unfold with excitement. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bubba, who had been unusually quiet the entire journey, didn''t know what to say.


    The monkey felt as though he had just escaped the hands of one devil, only to fall into the grasp of another. He didn''t like Master Li one bit. Even though the old human hadn''t harmed him physically, Bubba''s primal instincts told him to stay far away. Fear gnawed at him, warning him that Master Li was dangerous.


    Being held in the old man''s grip felt like standing before a sleeping tiger. Bubba was constantly on edge, especially when he realized there was no escape from Master Li''s fingers. Just as he was about to resign himself to being someone else''s pet, his owner, Apollo, came back for him.


    That moment nearly brought him to tears. But his relief didn''t last long¡ªhe knew he was in deep trouble now. Resigned to his fate, Bubba decided to be quiet and well-behaved.


    But looking at the current situation, he realized he had to speak up, or he''d be forced to remain silent for the rest of his life.


    "I''m sorry, Apollo! I just wanted to eat at that girl''s restaurant! You know her food is so good! But that ugly old human came in and picked me up without my consent! That''s against my monkey rights! I''m an innocent and law-abiding monkey¡ªyour law, by the way!" Bubba blurted out, trying his best to sound pitiful.


    "Hey, he can''t understand you, so say whatever you want," Bluetooth commented from the side, barely containing his laughter.


    "Oh, right. I forgot about that," Bubba chuckled, his expression still pitiful and fearful. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he opened his mouth to say what was really on his mind.


    "Alright, I''m sorry¡­ not! No! No! Why should I apologize, ha?! Do you think just because you''re the one feeding us, I should follow every word you say? F*ck you! I hope you die a horrible death!"


    As Bubba ranted, his face painted a completely different story. He looked as though he were the one being wronged. Tears formed around his eyes, and his monkey voice cracked pitifully from time to time.


    To normal people, his screeches would sound like typical monkey noises, and they might even believe his pitiful act. But to Apollo, who understood every word, it was an entirely different story.

 Chapter 324 - 324: Lets Save Them

    "F*ck you, you small piece of a human being who only knows how to bully us! I swear, once I become strong, the first thing I''ll do is beat you into a pulp until you look more like a monkey than me!"


    The pitiful cries of a monkey echoed through the Beggar Spot, his voice choking and faltering from time to time.


    Bubba''s face was covered in tears and snot as he tried his best to appear scared and helpless.


    However, his words completely contradicted his appearance.


    "I''ll be the greatest monkey! And you''ll be my slave!" Bubba declared, his eyes shaking in "fear" as he glanced at the small human.


    Seeing the human staring at him with an emotionless gaze, Bubba couldn''t help but let out a smirk, though it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Confident that his Companion couldn''t understand him, he continued his rant and curses. Yet, deep down, despite his hatred for his Companion, some inexplicable force compelled him to stay by Apollo''s side no matter how he was treated.


    Bubba couldn''t make sense of this feeling, unaware that it was the natural bond between Companions created by the System. Unless the Host willingly relinquished possession of their Companion, Bubba would never be able to escape Apollo.


    Knowing this, Apollo wasn''t concerned about his monkey''s loyalty. But that didn''t stop Bubba from running his mouth and saying whatever he wanted.


    As the monkey''s voice reverberated through the area, Bluetooth, who had been silent the whole time, struggled to hold back his laughter. In the end, the Water-Attributed Falcon could only cover his beak with his wings as his shoulders shook uncontrollably.


    Hahaha, fool! Bluetooth thought, his eyes glinting mischievously.


    "I may be weak now, but the day will come when you''ll bow before me!" Bubba declared in a high-pitched voice. It was a declaration of war¡ªthough, in this war, only Bubba was aware it existed.


    Or so he thought.


    "Oh, really?" Apollo asked, raising an eyebrow and speaking in an emotionless tone.


    "Oh, really? Hell yeah! I''ll stomp on your head one day, and you''ll fetch me food from that girl''s re¡ª" Bubba abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his pitiful expression freezing in place. Slowly, he turned to look at his Companion, his heart skipping a beat.


    Though Apollo''s face remained emotionless, his cold eyes pierced the monkey''s heart.


    "Why did you stop?" Apollo asked, grabbing the monkey by the nape and staring directly at him.


    "You¡­ you can¡­ understand me?" Bubba asked hesitantly.


    "Nope," Apollo replied. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s a relief," Bubba sighed, a smile spreading across his face. "I thought you could understand me."


    Suddenly, Bluetooth, who had been silent all this time, couldn''t hold back his laughter any longer. "Hahaha! Dmbss!" The Water-Attributed Falcon clutched his stomach, mocking the monkey.


    "Who are you talking to?!" Bubba glared at the blue falcon.


    "You''re a fool!" Bluetooth pointed at the monkey with his wings.


    "I''m not!" Bubba shouted angrily.


    "Hahaha!" Bluetooth laughed even harder.


    "You!" Bubba gritted his teeth, letting out a low growl.


    "Enough," Apollo''s emotionless voice cut through the commotion, silencing the blue bird and making the monkey stare back at the small human with a pitiful expression. "Bubba, I can understand you."


    "I know you can''t understand me, why else would I¡ª Wait, you can understand me?!" Bubba''s eyes widened, his body stiffening as though struck by lightning.


    "Of course, I can understand you!" Apollo glared at his Companion. "I understood everything you just said! Every bit of it!"


    "Oh, I f*cked up," Bubba muttered, his voice trembling. For a moment, it seemed as though his soul had left his body.


    "You did, Bubba, you did," Apollo said. "And this time, I''ll punish you so thoroughly you won''t even dare to leave this place!"


    "Please, no! I¡­ I''ll do anything for you!" Bubba begged, tears forming around his eyes. This time, they were real.


    "You''ll do anything for me?" Apollo smirked dangerously. "Then you''ll take the punishment without complaining."


    "No, not that!" Bubba shouted, but his struggles were futile. In the next moment, his mouth was stuffed with at least three Chilis of Intelligence!


    "It seems like one chili isn''t enough for you. Let this be a lesson," Apollo muttered as the monkey fell to the ground, his mouth stuffed with chili. His body turned as bright as a red sun, with smoke rising from him.


    No matter how many times Bubba ate this cursed thing, he would never get used to it. The spiciness of the Chili of Intelligence always hit just as hard.


    Apollo stared coldly at the monkey before glancing at Bluetooth, who was watching the entire scene with fear.


    "You," Apollo said, his tone sharp and commanding.


    The blue falcon immediately stood up straight. "Yes, Master!" Bluetooth responded.


    "Cultivate," Apollo ordered.


    "I will!" Bluetooth nodded vigorously, not daring to hesitate.


    As the small human walked out of the Beggar Spot, Bluetooth let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡­


    After spending 45 Alm Points just to punish that monkey, Apollo felt a sting in his heart. It prompted him to call out his Status Screen.


    Name: Apollo Leone


    Race: Human


    Alm Points: 146.6


    Spirit Cultivation: None


    Physique Cultivation: 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage


    Attributes: Lightning, Water


    Companions: Bubba (Monkey)


    Beggar Disciples: Don Blanc


    Seeing his Alm Points reduced by 45 because of a casual punishment, Apollo couldn''t help but sigh.


    The production of Alm Points was painfully slow, and even a small whim of buying something from the System Store could drain them significantly. As these thoughts weighed on his mind, he stood behind his disciple Don, who was diligently begging for alms.


    There were already a few coins in Don''s palms. It wasn''t much, but it brought in Alm Points every day. Still, Apollo realized this wasn''t enough.


    "Seems like I need to start hiri¡ªrecruiting more disciples," Apollo decided.


    But he couldn''t just recruit anyone casually. He needed to evaluate their personalities to ensure they were fit to become True Beggars, just like him. Don had the will and determination, so he met the criteria, but what about others? Apollo needed to select his disciples carefully.


    Now, the only problem was: where could he find such disciples?


    As his eyes lingered on Don, a thought suddenly struck him. Apollo didn''t need to pretend to find beggars¡ªhe could recruit actual beggars. And there was a place where he could find them.


    Technically, they weren''t beggars, but they were poor, just like Don.


    Apollo tapped his disciple on the shoulder, waking him from his cultivation.


    "Oh, Master!" Don exclaimed, surprised. He quickly stood up and bowed.


    "How''s your cultivation going?" Apollo asked.


    "I can feel the barrier breaking for the 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage!" Don answered, his eyes burning with excitement.


    Hearing this, a smile appeared on Apollo''s face. "Good," he said. "That''s convenient because we''re going somewhere."


    "Where?" Don tilted his head in curiosity.


    "To save the people you want to save," Apollo said.

 Chapter 325 - 325: Rachel

    A few kilometers away from Belthias City lies a vast desert, composed of dunes, mesas, and hamadas. It''s a world of its own¡ªsome parts are fertile, while others resemble hell, a testament to the scorching heat of the sun.


    In a particular part of this desert, gorges provide shade from the intense heat and concealment from the eyes of beasts and monsters.


    One such gorge features a wide area with a creek running through the middle. Only a small amount of water flows, but it is consistent and clean.


    However, it didn''t remain that way for long. Blood splashed into the water, tainting the only freshwater source red.


    "How dare you disobey me?!" A deep voice reverberated, filled with anger as he raised his right hand once more for another slap.


    The man was clad in silver armor from head to toe, protecting his vital spots. However, his attire couldn''t mask the lust and fury burning in his eyes as he gazed at the young woman before him.


    "P-please¡­ I don''t¡­ want to," the young woman sobbed between her words. The left side of her face bore a visible bruise, and her lower lip had split from the previous slap, sending waves of stinging pain through her.


    She had brown hair and dark green eyes, and even though she wore a dress that looked like it hadn''t been washed in years, her natural beauty remained undeniable.


    "You don''t want to?" The silver-armored guard smirked coldly. "You slum rats have no right to refuse what we want! You are nothing but dirt in society! Nothing but tools for us to step on!"


    His gaze shifted to the people beside the creek, dressed in nothing but ragged, filthy clothes. Their faces, covered in dirt and hopelessness, only added to their wretched state. They sat huddled together on the ground, like a flock of sheep herded into submission.


    However, the guard''s ridicule ignited a fire in their hearts¡ªespecially among the women, who had been reduced to playthings for these Callum Guards. At first, they had only targeted those of the right age, but now they had set their sights on someone younger: Rachel.


    Some wanted to stand up and protect her, just as they had when the guard first ordered Rachel to follow him to the tent where the leader of the Callum Guards resided.


    But just like before, silver-armored guards standing on the sidelines struck down anyone who tried to rise.


    The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed, startling Rachel. She turned and saw the people she cared about collapsed, coughing up blood.


    Her heart ached at the sight.


    "Did you see that, b*tch?" The silver-armored guard sneered.


    "W-why? W-we already¡­ left that place. We just wanted peace¡­ to live without trouble," Rachel said, her voice cracking as tears fell.


    "Why?" The guard laughed before his face turned serious. "Because the poor and weak, like you, have no place in this world."


    "You¡­!" Rachel glared at the guard, but her beautiful, defiant eyes only fueled his lust.


    "You''re beautiful even when you''re angry," the guard chuckled. "Unfortunately, I won''t be the one to taste the blood of your flower. The captain awaits you inside¡ªunless, of course, you''d prefer we kill another one of your kind." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Rachel''s body visibly shivered. Her eyes darted past the tents behind the guard before settling on a gruesome sight¡ªbodies piled on top of one another, blood covering them completely.


    It was the result of refusal. The death of one of their own.


    They had tried to defy these silver-armored guards, but in the end, their lives were taken. She could even see children less than ten years old among the dead, bringing even more pain to her heart.


    "Follow me," the silver-armored guard in front of her ordered before he started walking toward the largest tent.


    Rachel glanced back at the former Slumstreet dwellers behind her, her eyes trembling with fear.


    She saw them looking at her, their gazes filled with the same terror. As she scanned their faces, her eyes fell on the children hugging each other while sobbing. Their bodies were covered in bruises¡ªa clear mark left by the cruelty of the silver-armored guards.


    Rachel wanted to protect them, to be their big sister. She couldn''t bear to see another bloodbath.


    What if she did her best and made the Captain fall in love with her? Would he stop?


    Gritting her teeth, she followed the guard with slow, hesitant steps.


    "Hurry up!" the guard shouted, yanking her hair and dragging her into the tent.


    "Argh!" Rachel grunted in pain, but the guard was a 1st-Step Foundation Building Stage cultivator¡ªa strength no normal human could hope to resist.


    "Do your best, b*tch," the guard chuckled as he tossed her inside the massive tent.


    The tent flap opened, and Rachel tumbled inside.


    She groaned in pain before realizing that the place was dark. The once bright day now felt cold and suffocating.


    Slowly, she sat up, and her eyes instinctively fell on the far end of the tent.


    What she saw made her even more nervous and fearful.


    A man sat on a chair, padded comfortably with the soft skin of a beast.


    He had blonde hair and eyebrows, and his deep blue eyes studied her with amusement.


    He wore nothing, displaying his well-defined body.


    But that wasn''t what made Rachel''s breath hitch¡ªit was the women surrounding the chair. Some lay on the ground, barely breathing, while others were already dead.


    "You must be the one," the Captain said.


    "Y-you killed them," Rachel stuttered.


    "I am a Qi Condensation Stage cultivator specializing in Body Tempering Techniques. Their mortal bodies couldn''t handle me. They were nothing but disposables," Captain Tor Callum said coldly.


    "You¡­ all of you are evil!" Rachel shouted, her eyes wide with horror.


    "No, we''re just stronger than you," Tor said as he stood up. "You see, to you slum rats¡ªthe powerless¡ªwe are your gods. Cultivators, nobles, those in power¡­ you should obey us like good little dogs."


    Tor Callum served under the North Guard Captain of Klown City¡ªhis cousin, as they belonged to the same family. He had been tasked with leading dozens of men to hunt down the Slumstreet people who had escaped the city. He didn''t ask any questions; he simply carried out the order.


    To him, it was just a vacation.


    But this so-called vacation turned out to be even better than expected. There was no time limit on the hunt, so Tor decided to make the most of it.


    And what could be better than playing god? Here, he was the strongest¡ªtheir god. There was nothing they could do except obey him.


    Although he was curious as to why no news had come from the city despite sending word of his success, he saw it as an advantage. The longer they didn''t respond, the longer he could enjoy his reign.


    If he tried this in the city, he would surely anger people stronger than him. But out here, he could do whatever he wanted without worrying about consequences.

 Chapter 326 - 326: The Desert

    "Are you tired?" Apollo asked, glancing at his mount as he rode on its back. The intense wind caused his long hair and robes to flap wildly. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bluetooth nodded helplessly, his eyes begging for a moment of rest.


    "Alright, you can rest," Apollo said.


    Like the words of heaven, Bluetooth''s eyes sparkled. Without wasting any time, he tucked his wings and plunged from a thousand meters in the sky straight toward the ground.


    Their speed tore through the air, creating a loud whistling sound.


    But before they could crash into the sandy ground, the water-attributed falcon spread his wings, slowing their rapid descent. With calculated flaps, Bluetooth, along with the two small riders on his back, landed safely.


    The sound of Bluetooth''s feet touching the desert sand echoed, followed by Apollo jumping down.


    "Here, you can eat this," Apollo said, taking out a chicken leg from his space ring¡ªanother one he had bought, this time with a much larger storage area.


    Bluetooth happily shrieked. He shook his body, causing a person to fall off his back, before opening his mouth to catch the food.


    After just a few bites, he swallowed it whole.


    Meanwhile, the moment Don hit the sand, he immediately started vomiting everything in his stomach.


    "I¡­ will¡­ never¡­ get used¡­ to this¡­" Don Blanc muttered between bouts of sickness.


    They had traveled for hours from Belthias City to reach this desert, and during the entire journey, Don hadn''t dared to move or make a sound. Even the slightest shift could have caused him to vomit¡ªor worse, fall from the ride.


    A fall from that height would have meant certain death.


    After a few more rounds of retching, Don forced himself to stand, though the sudden movement almost made him puke again. Fortunately, a stream of Qi entered his body, instantly soothing his discomfort. Feeling the purity of the energy, he turned to his master, who was standing beside the resting blue falcon.


    "Master¡­ I''m sorry," Don bowed his head in apology.


    "You don''t have to," Apollo shook his head. "So this is the desert?"


    "Yes," Don Blanc looked around. Seeing the dunes, the towering mesas, and the vast sandy landscape, he nodded at the beggar. "This is it."


    "You remember your settlement, right?" Apollo asked.


    "I remember it," Don Blanc confirmed.


    "Good. After an hour of rest, we''ll continue the journey," the beggar said.


    "O-okay," Don glanced nervously at the water-attributed falcon. But there was nothing he could do except follow his master''s orders.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll walk from here on out," Apollo said as he tossed a basket to his disciple. "Eat up."


    "Oh, thank you! Thank you, Master!" Don wanted to bow, but knowing that Apollo disliked such gestures, he awkwardly found a spot to eat his food.


    Shaking his head, Apollo spread his senses. As a 3rd-Step Qi Condensation Stage cultivator¡ªone who could step into the 4th-Step at any given moment¡ªhis ability to detect danger was incredibly sharp. Furthermore, with his unparalleled Qi control, unmatched by any other cultivator, his senses were already on par with those of a Core Creation Stage expert.


    This made it easy for Apollo to perceive the dangers lurking around them.


    He could ''see'' the monsters and beasts hiding beneath the sand. The smallest was about his own size, while the largest could cover an entire street. These creatures resembled the sand-dwelling animals of his previous life, but with terrifying features¡ªmost of them were centipede-like, with hundreds of razor-sharp claws.


    Some of these beasts were already eyeing them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.


    Of course, Apollo wasn''t d*mb enough to let them get their way.


    After all, he could easily kill them.


    After surveying the surroundings, Apollo sat on the sand and began eating his food.


    Fortunately, with just a word, the Filly Restaurant had prepared them a few days'' worth of meals.


    Although the current Apollo was strong enough to go without food for weeks, eating had already become a part of his life¡ªlike a cigarette he refused to put down.


    Once Apollo had his fill, he sat beside the water-attributed falcon, using its body as a cushion to relax.


    However, deep inside, he couldn''t help but think about the monkey he had left behind.


    Apollo didn''t bring Bubba as a punishment for misbehaving¡ªhis antics had led to an altercation with that old man from the Middle Continent.


    Having the monkey eat a few Chili of Intelligence in one go wasn''t enough, so Apollo wanted Bubba to stay in that corner of the restaurant to reflect on his actions.


    Apollo wasn''t worried that Bubba would leave the Beggar Spot again¡ªthe monkey had already learned his lesson. But he was worried that Bubba wouldn''t cultivate.


    That monkey was lazy, but Bubba had a cultivation talent almost as fast as Apollo''s. So the beggar wanted him to cultivate now rather than waste a few years.


    If Bubba could grow stronger quickly, Apollo wouldn''t have to worry if another old man from the Middle Continent dared to steal his monkey.


    Thinking about that old man, Apollo knew this wasn''t the end.


    They would meet again for sure.


    "Master," suddenly, his disciple''s voice broke his thoughts.


    "What?" Apollo asked.


    "I can feel my body breaking through to the 2nd-Step," Don said.


    "Oh?" Apollo raised an eyebrow. Sure enough, he could feel that the Simple Breathing Technique he had taught Don was acting on its own.


    The journey of stress and fear must have triggered this breakthrough in the boy''s body.


    "W-what should I do?" Don asked nervously. He could feel Qi entering his body, tempering his muscles and bones.


    It was both pleasant and painful¡ªmore so when his bones began cracking.


    "Sit down and cultivate the Simple Breathing Technique," Apollo said.


    Following the instruction, Don did as his master said. The moment he began cultivating, the surrounding area dimmed, and he saw faint lights¡ªlike fireflies on the verge of collapse.


    On the side, Apollo observed his disciple. He wasn''t surprised that Don didn''t know what to do, as the Simple Breathing Technique he had given him was only enough for the kid to reach the 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage. If Don were a bit more of a genius¡ªlike Apollo¡ªhe might have a chance to reach the 3rd-Step, though it would definitely take a long time.


    Apollo hadn''t taught the revised version of the Simple Breathing Technique to Don yet¡ªhe wanted the kid to build a solid foundation first.


    He had already revised the Simple Breathing Technique to the point where it could take him to the 4th-Step Core Creation Stage, but if Don learned everything all at once, it wouldn''t just hinder him¡ªit might even kill him.


    Apollo specifically revised all of his techniques for himself, not for others. That meant he had to make slight adjustments every time he taught a technique to Don¡ªor to his soon-to-be disciples.


    After a while, Don''s tensed expression relaxed, and he successfully entered the 2nd-Step Foundation Building Stage.


    There were no special effects on the outside, but inside his body, Don felt a new strength he had never experienced before.

 Chapter 327 - 327: In Charge

    At the same time that Apollo and his crew arrived in the desert region where Belthias City belongs¡ªlocated in the Central Region of the Southern Continent¡ªthe Capital City stood as mighty as ever.


    The one and only famous Capital City, a place every person on this continent dreamed of setting foot in.


    This was where the wealthiest and most powerful lived¡ªnobles and businessmen with influence reaching every corner of the Southern Continent.


    But above all those who believed they were at the top stood the Empire.


    And in the Capital City, at its very center, the Empire''s castle towered high and wide, visible from anywhere in the city. It was built entirely from precious materials and protected by countless talismans and inscriptions crafted by Array Masters. Even the full force of a 4th-Step Core Creation cultivator wouldn''t be able to destroy it.


    Like a beast in slumber, guards clad in armor from head to toe stood at every corner of the building, their piercing eyes scrutinizing each person who dared to enter¡ªlike predators watching their prey.


    This castle symbolized the strength of the Southern Empire, and every person born on this continent admired it.


    However, one particular person residing inside the castle thought otherwise.


    ...


    In one of the castle''s vast rooms, a long table stood at the center, surrounded by dozens of chairs. Paintings and expensive sculptures adorned the walls and corners, but none of it could change the sour mood of the man sitting at the head of the table.


    "Master," Kuo called out softly, standing behind his master, who was staring at a piece of paper on the table.


    "What?" Master Li asked.


    "It''s time to go back," Kuo reminded him.


    "Go back?" Master Li repeated, slowly glancing behind him with cold eyes. "Everyone already knows what happened back in that sh*tty place. The humiliation has already spread. What do you think is going to happen?!"


    "That¡­" Kuo-Pal hesitated, unsure of what to say.


    Ever since their return from Belthias City, Master Li had been in a terrible mood. The only thing keeping him from destroying the castle was the investigation he was currently working on.


    Since they had been assigned to investigate Demon activity in this continent, Master Li and the others had no choice but to take the matter seriously¡ªeven though part of their visit was meant to be a vacation.


    But the deeper they dug into their investigation, the more serious the situation became.


    Demon-related activity was always a top priority, especially for ancient Cultivation Sects, making their investigation extremely important.


    However, they had only been given a few days before they were required to return and report their findings.


    But after reading the document in front of Master Li, everything had changed.


    Seeing his disciple stuttering, Master Li shoved the paper into Kuo''s chest.


    "Here, read this!"


    Kuo took the paper and began reading.


    The moment he finished, his eyes widened in shock.


    "Th-this can''t be!" Kuo-Pal exclaimed, his voice trembling.


    "Yeah, this can''t be!" Master Li snapped as he stood up, glaring at his disciple. "And it''s all your fault! If you had just known how to assess your opponent, we wouldn''t be stuck here solving the Demon plague in that f*cking region!"


    Like a dagger piercing his heart, Kuo''s body shivered.


    What was written on the paper was another order from the main branch of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, instructing them to remain in this backward place until they resolved the Demon issue in the Desrest Region, the region where Belthias resided.


    The original plan was for them to return and submit their report before the Sect sent another group¡ªthe ''real'' group¡ªtasked with eradicating the Demons. They were supposed to conduct their investigation discreetly and secretly, as their enemies were both cunning and powerful.


    The reason Master Li and the others weren''t afraid of the Demons finding out about their investigation was that it was expected.


    If no investigation team arrived, the Demons would immediately suspect that something was amiss. So, besides conducting an open investigation, they also served as a simple decoy to avoid raising suspicion. Of course, the Demons likely already had their doubts, but not to the extent that they would feel the need to rush their plans.


    "No¡­ no¡­ This can''t be¡­ I¡­" Kuo stammered, his eyes trembling. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is all your fault. All. Your. Fault," Master Li said coldly. He had no intention of admitting that he was also responsible for this mess. "We are stuck here until we solve this problem on our own. This is a punishment. You know what that means, right?"


    Kuo-Pal glanced at his master before nodding slowly.


    Low-quality Qi. Low-quality structures.


    Everything in this place was of low quality, barely meeting their cultivation needs.


    Back in the Middle Continent, Qi was so abundant and pure that one didn''t need to put much effort into reaching the Foundation Building Stage. Furthermore, the Middle Continent had precious herbs, treasures, and advanced structures¡ªa true paradise for cultivators, with everything tailored to their needs.


    Unlike in this backward place, where cultivation took a backseat to empire affairs.


    Master Li let out a heavy sigh as he sank back into his chair.


    With a wave of his hand, stacks of papers materialized before him¡ªdetailed reports of their investigation. As he began reading, the room fell into silence.


    Meanwhile, Kuo''s mind was in disarray, his master''s words echoing in his head.


    It''s all his fault. Everything is on him.


    They never intended to stay here. Their mission was simply to investigate, not to face the Demons. They could handle one or two, but based on their findings, there were signs of at least five Demons in the Southern Continent.


    They needed the real group from the Great Serpent Sect¡ªthe ones who were supposed to be here¡ªto eradicate their enemies.


    But because of his mistakes, they had now been ordered to handle everything themselves.


    "They''re being unfair," Kuo muttered from the side. "They know we won''t be able to handle everything. So why are they doing this? Just for punishment? It doesn''t make sense."


    "Finally, you''ve said something smart." Master Li cast a brief glance at his disciple before turning his focus back to the documents. "The Great Headmaster is the Great Headmaster. He has plans."


    "I see¡­ but this isn''t necessarily bad, right?" Kuo muttered, seemingly trying to change the subject. He simply couldn''t handle the blame anymore. "It means we can let loose. We''re in charge, and no one in this poor place will dare to disobey us."


    Hearing this, Master Li''s eyes brightened, then glinted dangerously.


    "You are right."