10: Can it be higher than Xiao Yan?

You practiced Swift Wind Strike, experience +5.

You practiced Whip Kick, experience +5.

...

Current "Swift Wind Strike" and "Whip Kick" can be Fused. Do you wish to proceed with the Fusion?

After reading the information, Lin Xiu made his choice: "Yes."

This was the seventh day after Huo Lan taught him Whip Kick.

During this period, Lin Xiu, through extensive practice and numerous battles, saw the Ranks of both Fighting Skills increase rapidly.

Each practice session brought a great deal of fatigue to his body, but Lin Xiu had Attribute Points. As long as he improved his Physique, he could quickly eliminate the body's fatigue.

"As long as I can secure a decent Cultivation Technique in the entrance exam, then all the current hardships and exhaustion are completely worth it."

The journey was already quite monotonous, and Cultivating Fighting Skills made Lin Xiu feel like time was flying by.

Tonight, the Academy's team will arrive at the border fortress of the Gama Empire, and then they will take flying Demonic Beasts directly to the Academy.

Therefore, there weren't many opportunities left for him to quickly gain experience and improve his Fighting Skills.

"Originally, I had 6 Attribute Points left. Yesterday, I gained 1 when my Dou Qi Advanced to the tenth stage, and the two Fighting Skills provided a total of 10. After adding the portion to Physique, I have 10 left. No, I just used 1 more, so only 9 are left."

After his Aptitude could no longer be increased, Lin Xiu did not use Attribute Points to improve his Basic Qi Refining.

He could accumulate 5 Realm experience points daily, a speed that Lin Xiu found very satisfactory.

Without a Cultivation Technique, even if he Advanced to Fighter, it wouldn't significantly increase his combat power. So, Lin Xiu saved all his Attribute Points, planning to consider them after obtaining a Cultivation Technique.

During this time, he encountered many first-Rank Demonic Beasts, but unfortunately, he didn't get their heart's blood; otherwise, his Aptitude could have had another Breakthrough.

In fact, his current improvement speed was already sufficient; he only took 18 days to Breakthrough to the ninth stage.

You consumed 1 Attribute Point and obtained the Yellow Rank Advanced Fighting Skill "Mountain Shatterer."

Mountain Shatterer, Yellow Rank Advanced: Your hands, shoulders, and thighs are strengthened. When Dou Qi is abundant, hard rocks will become as fragile as tofu.

Related information and practice snippets appeared in his mind. When Lin Xiu opened his eyes, he had already mastered this Fighting Skill. Now, he only needed extensive practice to use it proficiently.

His hands, shoulders, and legs subtly emitted a warm sensation; his skin, muscles, and even bones seemed to have been somewhat strengthened.

Lin Xiu loosely clenched his fingers, clearly feeling his strength increase.

"Lin Xiu." The light was blocked, and a shadow enveloped Lin Xiu. A somewhat robust young man stood beside him.

"Is something wrong?" Seeing it was Xiao Ning, Lin Xiu was a bit surprised. He wasn't really familiar with the Xiao Family, except for Xiao Mei.

The girl he unintentionally saved before, Lin Xiu's primary thought at the time was to test the newly acquired Fighting Skill.

He didn't expect Xiao Mei to be so persistent about his life-saving grace. To show her gratitude, she brought him food several times.

"I'll warn you one last time: stay away from my cousin! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!" Xiao Ning looked down at him, his gaze making Lin Xiu frown.

"She's the one who keeps bothering me. What do you want me to do? Slap her the next time she comes?"

He didn't take Xiao Ning seriously. If it came to a fight, Lin Xiu was confident.

However, fighting Xiao Ning over Xiao Mei felt somewhat pointless to him.

Xiao Xun'er was out of the question; there were many girls at Canaan Academy more outstanding than Xiao Mei.

Furthermore, Lin Xiu felt he truly wasn't in the mood for romance right now; getting stronger was his goal.

"If you have time to look for me, you'd be better off convincing her. I've said many times that saving her was just a matter of convenience; there's no need to keep it in mind. I'm very busy."

Lin Xiu finished speaking and no longer paid attention to Xiao Ning.

Clenching his fist, Xiao Ning hadn't lost his mind enough to directly conflict with Lin Xiu. His expression was a bit annoyed.

Seeing Xiao Mei walking towards Lin Xiu, Xiao Ning grabbed her and pulled her back to the Xiao Family's area.

"Cousin Xiao Ning, let go of me." Xiao Mei tried to free her wrist.

"Cousin, why do you keep going to that Lin Xiu? He's just a servant from another Family. You've sought him out repeatedly; haven't you noticed the looks from others?"

Xiao Ning's voice was a bit low, his gaze carrying a hint of anger.

Along the way, he had made some friends. Those people were either from prominent Families or had exceptional Aptitude.

Ever since Xiao Mei started actively seeking Lin Xiu, those people always liked to joke about it with him.

"He saved me; I just want to thank him, nothing else." Xiao Mei glanced towards Lin Xiu.

"He already said there's no need for thanks." Xiao Ning felt that his young and innocent cousin might have been deceived. He reminded her several times, and even his sister tried to persuade her, but it was no use.

"Xiao Mei, your cousin is right. You're still young; don't be emotional. There are many people in the Academy much more outstanding than Lin Xiu. He's not worth your time."

Unbeknownst to her, Xiao Yu sat down beside Xiao Mei, naturally took the roasted meat from her hand, and began to chew it.

"Cousin, even you don't believe me?" Seeing the roasted meat she had prepared for Lin Xiu being eaten, Xiao Mei felt a pang of heartache. She had carefully roasted it herself.

"I've been through your age. How could I not understand your every move?" Xiao Yu had an expression that said, 'I've seen right through you.'

Xiao Mei fell silent, unsure how to retort.

In reality, her repeated visits to Lin Xiu were partly because he saved her, and partly because she felt she saw a shadow of Cousin Xiao Yan in Lin Xiu.

In the past three years, her words and actions towards Xiao Yan had completely ruined her relationship with her cousin.

This guilt seemed to find a place to rest after Lin Xiu saved her.

"Forget him. Once we get to the Academy, if you really want to date, I'll introduce you, Cousin. I know many excellent boys, and not a single one is worse than Lin Xiu."

Embraced by Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei nervously clutched the corner of her clothes, caught in a dilemma, pondering how to refute.

"Students shouldn't secretly slander each other behind their backs, Xiao Yu. Have you forgotten everything I taught you?"

Ruo Lin stood behind them at some point, accompanied by several of Xiao Yu's classmates.

They had just finished eating and were walking around with their mentor, looking at the new students, when they happened to overhear Xiao Yu's words.

"Teacher, I... I just wanted to enlighten my cousin."

Xiao Yu was a bit nervous and glanced towards Lin Xiu again. "Besides, I didn't say anything wrong, Teacher. Being only at the eighth stage of Dou Qi at almost eighteen years old truly isn't considered outstanding in the Academy."

"Dou Qi is Dou Qi, and Fighter is Fighter; these are two different starting lines."

As a mentor, Ruo Lin had seen many students whose Cultivation had caught up through Cultivation Techniques and opportunities, so she didn't view Dou Qi as critically as those from the Families.

She paused, then added, "Actually, you truly underestimated him. That Lin Xiu has Aptitude, and it's very high."

"How high? Can it be higher than Xiao Yan's?" Xiao Yu subconsciously wanted to retort.

In terms of strength improvement speed alone, Xiao Yan could receive two S-Rank evaluations.

"You're comparing Lin Xiu to that little pervert; how could that be possible?" Ruo Lin raised her hand, wanting to hit someone.

Those two are simply not on the same level. Xiao Yan's Aptitude is already among the top three even in the Academy.