《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 eximed 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 couldpare to him. His money became much more when he focused on creating apany that focused on prolonging the lifespan of a human being.


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


    But there was nothing thepany could do. In the end, he ended up in a private hospital subsidiary to hispany, 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 in of grass. He could see a creek nearby with small fish swimming gleefully. Looking up, he noticed the birds ying 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 intoughter. Although he didn''t know what was really happening, he felt intense happiness.@@novelbin@@


    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 andughed 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 melodying 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 ck 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."


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    "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.