Chapter 18: A Calculated Encounter and an Unforeseen Test

The following day, Saint Spirit Academy teemed with activity.

The academy grounds were utterly swarming, as thousands upon thousands of people poured through the grand gates of Saint Spirit, all heading towards the sports arena.

Zhang Liang and Heng Naixin walked together.

Lin Na, being a teacher, naturally wouldn’t be present here.

Ying had expressed a desire to witness the entrance exam, so she had splurged a hefty sum to rent a VIP room overlooking the sports arena.

Upon learning the daily rent was 20 gold coins, Zhang Liang nearly popped his eyes out.

He exclaimed that she truly lived up to her reputation as a wealthy woman, spending money without a second thought.

Fortunately, Zhang Liang and Heng Naixin were also able to gain entry, effectively getting in for free.

After registering yesterday, Zhang Liang had managed to extract some crucial information from Xiong Gui.

Feng Aotian, Xi Lan, was also among the new batch of students this year.

Upon receiving this news, Zhang Liang was overjoyed.

After completing his registration, he had sequestered himself in his room, pondering through the entire night for a method to corrupt Feng Aotian.

After much deliberation, Zhang Liang realized he knew virtually nothing about Feng Aotian.

At present, the only viable strategy was to sow discord.

Feng Aotian was surrounded by many friends, and it seemed, quite a few followers as well.

‘Tsk, as expected of the protagonist, her popularity is truly immense.’

Zhang Liang intended to shatter their relationships, have her friends ostracize and denounce her, and plunge her spirits to rock bottom.

This would lay the groundwork for her eventual corruption.

He had learned from his subordinates that one of today’s tests involved duels among new students, designed to assess their combat capabilities against others.

Zhang Liang let out a cold snort, thinking, ‘This is truly a heaven-sent opportunity.’

He planned to make his move during this particular test, inciting Feng Aotian to fight with one of her friends.

If he could find an opportunity to inject Sword Intent into Feng Aotian’s weapon, she would lose control of her strength and severely injure her friend.

Then, by simply mimicking Ji Suyuan’s knack for fanning the flames, the first step of his plan would be a resounding success.

They would be classmates for a long time, so there would be plenty of future chances to torment her.

The crucial moment was now, as Zhang Liang stood in line for the draw.

According to the whispers he’d gathered, the competition mechanism paired adjacent numbers for duels.

Zhang Liang had initially worried about how to secure adjacent numbers, but his subordinates proved surprisingly capable, procuring them with ease.

He infused Sword Intent into two specific slips of paper, ensuring that when Feng Aotian reached into the draw, a subtle twitch of his hand would cause her to inexplicably pick one of them.

‘The protagonist is in the open, while I lurk in the shadows—how could I not make you utterly distraught with my schemes?’

“That… Zhang Liang, it’s your turn to draw,” Heng Naixin whispered, nudging him.

Zhang Liang flashed a sinister smile, his treacherous chuckle causing onlookers to keep their distance.

Within a ten-meter radius, only Zhang Liang, Heng Naixin, and his twenty-five subordinates remained.

“Isn’t that the wealthy magnate who made headlines yesterday for being caught in an affair?”

“Indeed, I heard even Lin Na, the Dragon-Slaying Hero, is working for him.”

“What’s with this year’s new students? First a magnate, then a high-ranking noble—how are ordinary folks like us supposed to compete?”

“That white-haired girl is a high-ranking noble? No wonder she also has a retinue following her.”

Having completed his preparations, and with others having drawn their numbers, Zhang Liang noticed Feng Aotian queuing behind him as he was leaving.

He approached her.

“Hello, I’m Zhang Liang. Your sword is exquisite; may I examine it?”

“No way! You clearly aren’t a good person. Is our young lady someone you can just casually approach!?”

A petite, white-haired girl spread her arms, blocking Zhang Liang’s path.

She regarded him as an enemy, her expression a fierce pout, revealing two small fangs, and even her snow-white tail bristled, standing stiffly.

‘A tail? A demi-human?’ Zhang Liang mused.

His gaze drifted upwards.

He had initially thought her hair was styled into buns, but upon closer inspection, they were fluffy white ears, twitching adorably with her anger.

“Hey! Who told you to touch my head? Only our young lady is allowed to touch my head!”

Zhang Liang found himself utterly defenseless against such beast-eared girls, unable to resist the urge to stroke them whenever he encountered one.

Despite the girl’s desperate attempts to pull away, Zhang Liang’s hand remained firmly in place.

“Are you from the Fox Clan? That’s quite rare.”

The Fox Clan, a demi-human species, was highly favored by humans due to their captivating beauty, placing them at the apex of all demi-human societies.

Their pristine white fur was a distinctive symbol of the Fox Clan.

‘Wait! Could Xi Lan also be from the Fox Clan?’ Zhang Liang wondered.

He glanced at Xi Lan, and upon seeing no ears on her head nor a tail behind her, he breathed a sudden sigh of relief.

‘Thankfully, she isn’t.’

The Fox Clan possessed a unique physiology; their tails would increase with their cultivation, each tail serving as a wellspring of power.

Should one achieve the rank of a Nine-Tailed Fox, their strength would be nine times that of a cultivator at an equivalent level.

Xi Lan was destined to become a Saint Domain expert seven years from now; if she were also a Fox Clan member, her power would equate to nine Saint Domain experts, rendering any fight utterly pointless.

“Mind your own business! Take your filthy hands—off me!” the fox-eared girl snapped, trying to pry Zhang Liang’s hand away with evident fury.

She furiously swung her fists at Zhang Liang, her flailing, clawing movements appearing rather endearing, though her arms were too short to reach him.

“Greetings, Mr. Zhang. I am Xi Lan, and it is a pleasure to meet you. This is my maid, Yun Yun. I kindly ask that you refrain from teasing her.”

Xi Lan’s tone carried the refined grace of a noble young lady, her voice possessing a mature, intellectual beauty, distinct from Ying’s youthful innocence.

Yun Yun was pulled closer to Xi Lan’s side, her furious glare combined with her bristling tail making her appear utterly indignant, as if she wished to bite several chunks out of Zhang Liang’s arm.

“Are you interested in swords?”

Xi Lan eyed Zhang Liang cautiously, her delicate hand resting on the hilt of her Blue Rose Sword, clearly valuing the weapon immensely.

‘Tsk, just hand it over! How else am I supposed to harm you?’ Zhang Liang thought.

On second thought, it made sense; who in their right mind would show their weapon to a stranger?

Moreover, it was a demonic sword.

If an expert were to examine it, any attached demonic essence would be instantly revealed.

Regardless, Zhang Liang decided to feign expertise in swordsmanship, showering the blade with lavish praise.

Zhang Liang spoke with such conviction that those listening nearby began to view the sword as an extraordinary treasure, their gazes filled with anticipation.

Unable to withstand so many eyes, and pressured by Zhang Liang’s persistent coaxing, Xi Lan reluctantly handed him the sword.

After all, with so many witnesses, it wasn’t as if he could simply abscond with it.

Zhang Liang pointed the sword skyward, its transparent blade emanating a chilling aura that, when intersecting with the bright sun, cast a faint rainbow.

“To think the sword’s body is forged from Sky Saliva Ice,” he murmured.

Sky Saliva Ice was an unmelting, exceptionally resilient ice.

Unlike other metals, it was not only incredibly hard but also possessed remarkable toughness.

Most terrifyingly, wounds inflicted by it felt like a thousand ice shards piercing one’s marrow, causing unbearable pain.

‘Tsk, as expected of Feng Aotian, to possess such a treasure sword right from the start. This is undoubtedly an Emperor-grade artifact, its rarity on par with an Emperor Domain expert.’ Zhang Liang thought.

‘However, heh heh… the stronger your weapon, the more advantageous it is for my plan.’

This sword was imbued with [Sharp Blade] and [Strong Blade], both high-level enchantments that significantly increased damage.

Such an Emperor-grade artifact, combined with his own Sword Intent, could cleave even an Emperor Domain expert in two.

With the Sword Intent successfully injected, his scheme was complete.

“A true feast for the eyes. My thanks.”

His trick having succeeded, Zhang Liang felt immensely satisfied.

He returned the sword to Xi Lan and departed the scene with his subordinates.

“Young lady, why did you show your sword to a person like that?”

Xi Lan watched Zhang Liang’s retreating figure, a faint smile gracing her lips.

“A true connoisseur is hard to find, Yun Yun. Someone who appreciates worldly treasures without coveting them is certainly not a bad person.”

“But he looks like a bad person!”

Xi Lan chuckled softly, patting Yun Yun’s head and playfully remarking, “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”

****

Zhang Liang concealed himself in a corner, observing Xi Lan.

There was a formidable-looking individual by Xi Lan’s side, exuding a strange aura.

‘If I make her my opponent, it probably won’t lead to a fatality,’ he thought.

‘While it would be better for her to become a murderer, I don’t yet know the extent of Xi Lan’s connections.’

‘She is the protagonist, after all. If her influence is overwhelming and she ends up transferring or fleeing, then my plan will be ruined.’

‘There’s still plenty of time, so it’s better to proceed cautiously.’

“Boss, the content for the first test has been announced. It’s combat theory.”

“Theory?”

“Yes, I’ve prepared paper and a pen for you.”

“Paper and pen?”

‘What the hell?! In a world that reveres martial arts, they’re actually having a written exam?’ Zhang Liang cursed inwardly.

The last time Zhang Liang had written anything was in his previous, previous life.

He barely recognized the characters of this world, let alone knew how to write them.

‘Damn it, I’ve messed up.’

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