Chapter 20: Spiritual Dew and Bitter Regrets

The final examination at Holy Spirit Academy held paramount importance.

Not only enrolled students, but even individuals from outside the school surged into the spectator stands.

At this moment, the sports field was already teeming with people, making even the slightest movement a struggle.

Despite the sweltering heat, they willingly endured the crush of bodies, their faces slick with sweat.

The teachers’ platform was filled with instructors, their sole purpose there to grade the examinees.

Teachers from the special classes, in particular, would assess the candidates’ abilities to recruit them into their respective classes.

However, a prerequisite existed: the total score from all three exams could not fall below 200 points, and for special classes, the minimum was 270.

With two exams already concluded, Zhang Liang’s current score stood at a disheartening zero.

In essence, there was no longer any need for him to participate in the final examination.

He had utterly failed.

At this moment, Zhang Liang’s face was ashen, his back hunched, and his entire demeanor exuded a profound gloom.

‘What kind of revenge could he possibly exact now?’

‘If he couldn’t even enter the school gates, wasn’t everything utterly ruined?’

Just last night, Zhang Liang had been brimming with confidence, meticulously planning his every move upon entering the academy.

Now, however, all his plans had come to naught.

He remained here for two crucial confirmations.

First, he needed to ascertain if he would encounter the peak-level demonic beast that day, the very creature that had almost claimed his life in his previous existence, and whether his current strength still put him in mortal danger.

This was to determine how his fate would diverge from his past.

Second, he intended to personally witness Feng Aotian’s descent into darkness.

“Let me tell you, that wealthy magnate Zhang Liang over there? He completely flunked.”

“I also heard he scored zero points across both subjects. It’s hilarious.”

“Where did he get such confidence? If it were me, I wouldn’t even dare to show up for the entrance test.”

A short distance away from Zhang Liang, a group of people openly discussed him with expressions of blatant mockery.

They unanimously concluded that Zhang Liang was nothing more than a rich, uncultured bumpkin.

He possessed no real strength, lacked refinement, and was overly fond of chasing women.

‘They all secretly wished they could encounter him, imagining how easily they could defeat him for a high score.’

Zhang Liang overheard their hushed whispers.

In the past, he would have retorted fiercely, but now, he found himself unwilling to engage in any debate.

‘As they said, where had his confidence come from? The rules of each world were different; naturally, his old methods wouldn’t work here.’

‘In his eyes, it was already over; further struggle would be futile.’

He gazed heavenward, drawing a deep breath.

Xi Lan, clad in ethereal blue gauze, approached Zhang Liang and greeted him politely.

She had heard about Zhang Liang from others, who painted him as a scoundrel, a perverse man who toyed with women, and whose reputation was utterly dismal.

He had been the male lead of yesterday’s headlines.

Initially, Xi Lan had believed him to be precisely that kind of person, until she encountered the spirited female knight in the VIP restaurant.

The knight was discussing Zhang Liang with a veiled girl, and driven by curiosity, Xi Lan had joined their conversation for a while.

She soon discovered that Zhang Liang was the type of person who was easily misunderstood yet never bothered to explain himself.

Such individuals were prone to suffering disadvantages; his personality and way of handling affairs would inevitably lead to a path fraught with thorns and tribulations, no matter where he went.

From Xi Lan’s perspective, Zhang Liang merely feigned indifference, but privately, he would undoubtedly hide away and weep.

For someone with a kind heart, this would be an absolutely devastating blow.

He could not possibly remain unaffected.

In the long run, such a person was destined to fall into darkness.

Xi Lan yearned to help him, to show him that there were myriad ways to resolve his predicaments.

Furthermore, he was a man who appreciated rare treasures, and Xi Lan felt confident they could connect on that level.

Noticing Zhang Liang’s dispirited appearance, Xi Lan deliberately offered him a treasured vial of Spiritual Dew she had kept.

“Mr. Zhang, no one’s life is entirely smooth sailing. You must gather your spirits.”

The cool sensation in his hand jolted Zhang Liang back to his senses.

The starlit liquid, contained within a bamboo vessel, emitted a fresh, sweet fragrance, causing Zhang Liang to involuntarily swallow.

‘This was Spiritual Dew!’

‘Holy crap! Feng Aotian! You possess every kind of treasure imaginable!’

‘This item was far from ordinary; it was frost dew, condensed from the spiritual essence of heaven and earth.’

‘Even this small vial in Zhang Liang’s hand would have required a full decade of refinement.’

‘Drinking it could invigorate the mind, harmonize the body and spirit, and even accelerate cultivation.’

‘It was a highly coveted treasure, dreamed of by many cultivators.’

‘And she just gave it away?’

‘This was clearly a provocation! Knowing he had no chance, she deliberately came here to mock him.’

‘And to flaunt such a treasure!’

‘Pah!’

‘What a malicious woman, striking at his heart! And doing it twice!’

Xi Lan’s smile, coupled with her slightly furrowed brows, was clearly an act of mockery in his eyes.

To Zhang Liang, that expression screamed, ‘Oh, you poor thing, let me help you, ah ha ha ha~!’ Instantly, a surge of fury welled within him.

‘Damn it!’

Zhang Liang would not accept Xi Lan’s charity; what he didn’t want, he wouldn’t allow her to have either.

With a sudden exertion of his right hand, the Spiritual Dew crashed to the ground with a ‘snap,’ scattering its contents everywhere.

“You watch yourself!”

Zhang Liang spat out the warning and immediately turned to leave.

“Spiritual Dew! Oh, the Spiritual Dew! What a waste! Young lady! Why would you give Spiritual Dew to *that* kind of person?”

Yun Yun crouched on the ground, wailing heartbrokenly, her eyes filled with anguish as she watched the Spiritual Dew being absorbed by the earth.

“Yun Yun, don’t touch it!” Xi Lan pulled Yun Yun away, who had been about to dig at the ground, and stared incredulously at the earth. “How is this possible? There’s poison in the Spiritual Dew.”

A moment later, thick smoke began to rise from the spot where the Spiritual Dew had been spilled, accompanied by gurgling sounds and bubbling purple foam.

“Eek—!” Yun Yun’s ears shot up in fright as she hid behind Xi Lan.

Then, as if remembering something, her ears drooped softly, her legs pressed together like a tucked tail, and she looked up timidly at Xi Lan, tugging at her sleeve. “Young lady… if I ever accidentally displease you, please don’t poison me…”

“This…” Xi Lan’s expression turned serious as she began to ponder what could have gone wrong.

‘She had personally refined the Spiritual Dew and had even consumed it herself; it was impossible for it to be poisonous.’

‘Had someone tampered with it?’

‘That couldn’t be; everyone around her was a close friend, and they had no reason to harm her.’

Suddenly, Xi Lan recalled Zhang Liang’s parting words. Could he have been trying to warn her?

‘Was there truly someone near her who intended her harm?’

‘According to normal reasoning, no one would angrily smash a gift to the ground upon receiving it. He must have detected the poison within!’

‘Moreover, he hadn’t, like Yun Yun, assumed she was the one who poisoned it; instead, he had warned her to be careful.’

‘With just a single glance, had he seen through the entire affair?’

‘Could someone with such profound insight truly exist?’

At this thought, Xi Lan suddenly understood what Heng Naixin and Ying had told her; this man was indeed far from ordinary.

Clenching her sword hilt, her eyes filled with resolve, she vowed to repay this life-saving kindness in the future.

“Tsk.” A pair of bloodthirsty eyes watched the retreating Zhang Liang as she gnawed on her fingernails, making a ‘gada-gada’ sound.

****

Zhang Liang sat hunched on a stone block at the edge of the sports field, his brow deeply furrowed.

‘He deeply regretted his recent words. Telling Feng Aotian to be careful? What an idiot.’

‘As a villainous BOSS, to be so consumed by anger was truly pathetic.’

‘Now he was truly finished. Feng Aotian must be highly wary of him; it would be difficult to scheme against her now.’

“Hey! You’re Zhang Liang, right? Lord Fan has something to discuss with you.”

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