9: Chapter 9 Eight Desolate Dragon Fist

Profound Feather Manual, Yellow-grade Intermediate Technique!

"Trash!"

Five Tigers Fist, Yellow-grade Intermediate!

"Trash!"

Divine Camel Snow Mountain Palm, Yellow-grade High!

"Slightly better trash!"

Shen Xingchen felt that looking for good cultivation manuals and martial arts techniques in the reading room was like looking for gold in manure.

He had been flipping through them for over an hour and still hadn't found what he wanted. It wasn't that his standards were too high.

As far as Shen Xingchen knew,

top prodigies from prominent families like Jiang Qingyao practiced top-tier cultivation techniques and martial arts.

Only by doing so could one become invincible among peers of the same rank, or even fight those above their level!

"I'm still too poor!"

Shen Xingchen sighed. If only someone could give him a high-grade cultivation manual.

He didn't ask for much—just two random Heaven-grade ones would do!

This wasn't pure daydreaming on Shen Xingchen's part.

Right after awakening, he had thought that such a commotion would surely attract a lot of attention.

Although he was the only one on the sports field at the time, it would be easy for the school administration to check the surveillance footage.

And for an S-rank genius like him, wouldn't asking the principal for a couple of techniques be a piece of cake?

Just then,

he noticed a very strange scroll.

Mainly because the scroll was so ancient that it didn't look like an object from this era at all!

Shen Xingchen reached out to grab it.

However, he accidentally brushed against a cool, delicate hand.

"Hmm?" Shen Xingchen frowned.

Which gold-digger is taking advantage of me?!

Forcefully pulling the ancient scroll out from the shelf gap, Shen Xingchen looked through the opening to the other side.

"Ah!" Shen Xingchen was stunned by the sight.

On the other side of the shelf, the girl only showed half her face, yet it still couldn't conceal her striking beauty.

It was a face capable of ruining cities; the light hitting her profile draped her in a hazy, ethereal glow.

Jiang Qingyao!

Why was she here?

At this moment, Jiang Qingyao's brows were slightly furrowed, clearly displeased about having the technique scroll snatched away.

However, she also noticed Shen Xingchen across from her.

A hint of surprise flashed across her porcelain-doll-like face, and then she turned around and left.

Shen Xingchen was greatly surprised.

"Jiang Qingyao actually took the initiative to yield the manual to me?"

In fact, Jiang Qingyao's hand had touched the scroll first, so his act of snatching it was unjustified to begin with.

This drastically changed Shen Xingchen's impression of Jiang Qingyao.

Previously, he had thought she was just an arrogant little swan... who should be more willful.

Turns out she was actually quite gentle!

Shen Xingchen picked a seat and began reading the scroll.

Looking closely...

"The painstaking effort of my entire life, fighting battles across a lifetime, encountering countless enemies, never relying on cleverness first."

"This fist technique emphasizes raw power. Wherever the wind of the fist reaches, metal and stone turn to dust, and ghosts and gods retreat..."

This was actually a fist manual of unknown rank.

However, seeing how mysteriously and grandly the author praised it, it seemed rather formidable.

Unfortunately, it was an incomplete volume!

Just as Shen Xingchen felt regretful,

[Detected Earth-grade Low-rank Incomplete Fist Manual 'Eight Desolations Dragon-Nurturing Fist', learnable!]

"Hmm?" Shen Xingchen was astonished.

An incomplete volume can be learned too?

Shen Xingchen didn't hesitate.

[Congratulations Host, spent 500 Enlightenment Points]

[You open the incomplete fist manual 'Eight Desolations Dragon-Nurturing Fist', completely fail to understand it, throw it to the roadside, and shout 'Even a dog wouldn't practice this']

[Half an hour later, you pick the fist manual back up]

[You begin studying the fist technique, but still can't understand it]

[Afterward, with a tiny bit of help from the system, you gradually come to understand everything]

[Ding!]

[You cultivate the Earth-grade fist manual 'Eight Desolations Dragon-Nurturing Fist' for five years, barely reaching the 'Subtle' mastery level]

A surging force began to circulate within Shen Xingchen's fists.

Feeling that explosive power carefully,

Shen Xingchen felt that even though his 'Eight Desolations Dragon-Nurturing Fist' was only at the 'Subtle' level, its explosive power was far stronger than the Great Accomplishment 'Six Harmonies Golden Spear'!

Earth-grade martial techniques were terrifying indeed!

Shen Xingchen nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he coolly tossed the fist manual to Jiang Qingyao, who was sitting not far away, leaving her with only his dashing back.

He turned around and left the reading room.

Jiang Qingyao was originally studying another technique when she was suddenly interrupted by Shen Xingchen.

Then, she saw that ancient scroll appear in front of her desk.

"Could it be that you couldn't understand it either?"

Jiang Qingyao sighed.

She had noticed that fist manual a long time ago. Just looking at the incomplete part, she knew it was an exceptionally fierce fist technique.

She had studied it painstakingly for several months to figure out a few clues.

Shen Xingchen had only looked at it for a quarter of an hour; it was uncertain if he could even finish reading the manual.

"Looks like he gave up!"

Jiang Qingyao shook her head.

She thought that as fellow geniuses with outstanding comprehension, Shen Xingchen would surely share her pride.

People like them, upon seeing a fist technique of such power, would definitely study it carefully even if it was incomplete!

However, Shen Xingchen disappointed her.

"In the end, we aren't walking the same path!"

...

Inside an empty self-study room.

A few delinquent students sat together in a circle.

"Is what you said true? Did that Shen Xingchen really touch Jiang Qingyao's hand?" Sitting in the center, the leader named Tang Chen frowned.

He was the school's number two figure. Aside from Jiang Qingyao, Tang Chen was the only one in the school to reach Tier 2.

He could be said to be enjoying immense prestige.

Someone affirmed, "Brother Chen, I saw it with my own eyes. There's no mistake!"

He not only saw their hands touch, but also saw that Jiang Qingyao didn't seem to mind.

This was bloody absurd!

Tang Chen's frown deepened: "Fine! That guy named Shen wasn't satisfied with having Yang Xi, and now he dares to lay a hand on my woman?"

Who in the school didn't know?

Jiang Qingyao was Tang Chen's white moonlight. Although the goddess didn't pay much attention to him,

Still!

Whoever dared to touch her was seeking death!

At this moment, a lackey spoke up: "Brother Chen, that guy named Shen is extremely weird. Although he's at the peak of Tier 1, he has mastered a Profound-grade martial technique to Great Accomplishment. He might even be able to put up a fight against a Tier 2!"

Another chimed in: "Right, Brother Chen. You just advanced to Tier 2 and your realm isn't stable yet. It's not advisable to make a move right now!"

Tang Chen's face darkened: "Are we just supposed to let that guy named Shen bully my woman?"

Jiang Qingyao was his reverse scale—a dragon has reverse scales, touch them and die!

Lackey: "Brother Chen, I have a plan!"

Tang Chen's eyes lit up: "Speak, quickly!"

Lackey: "There's still over a month before the college entrance exam. If we make our move the day before the exam, it will ensure Brother Chen's realm is stable while making that guy named Shen's exam results a complete disaster. That's real satisfaction!"

Tang Chen squinted and smiled: "Sun Zhe, your mind is truly vicious!"

Tang Chen then affirmed: "But I like it!"

Ruining someone's college entrance exam results was ruining their future, ruining their entire life!

Tang Chen had heard about Shen Xingchen's deeds.

Surely for a top student with such exceptional comprehension, failing the exam would cause him lifelong pain!

"Jie jie jie, hahaha..."

Inside the self-study room, the crowd's sinister laughter traveled far and wide.

Among the surrounding lackeys,

Lin Hu on the outermost edge heard their idea and showed a thoughtful expression.

This kind of scene... he felt like he had seen it somewhere a few days ago...