The improvement today was quite significant; Ryan could only sense it roughly. He would need to conduct further testing to determine the exact extent of the improvement.
However, just as he stepped out of the cultivation room, intending to go to the grove alone to test how much his strength had increased, he was stopped by someone.
"Derek, what do you want to do?"
Looking at the person blocking his way, a cold look flashed across Ryan's face, and at the same time, a sense of doubt arose in his heart.
Logically speaking, after yesterday's battle with Damian, the other party should not dare to provoke him again.
Judging from the evasive look on Derek's face yesterday, it was clear that the other party was like a different person today, daring to block his way again.
The students from Class Six around them couldn't help but look over with curiosity.
They hadn't forgotten how terrified Derek looked in front of Ryan yesterday, and now he actually dared to block Ryan's way.
They couldn't help but wonder what Derek was relying on.
"Young Master Victor wants to see you!"
Seeing the unfriendly look on Ryan's face, Derek felt a pang of fear and couldn't help but think of the formidable strength Ryan had displayed during his fight with Damian yesterday.
However, the thought that he was now working for Victor calmed him down.
He was now working for Victor and represented Victor's face.
If Ryan dared to lay a hand on him now, it would definitely anger Victor.
He didn't believe that Ryan would dare to offend Victor.
Upon hearing Derek's words, all the students from Class Six who were watching, except for Damian, who already knew, couldn't help but show surprise and envy.
Who was Victor Langford?
As a direct descendant of the Langford family, one of Greyhaven City's old major Blood Warrior families, he was one of the students with the most powerful backgrounds even within the entire Aegis Martial Academy.
These ordinary students of Aegis Martial Academy, although they would receive decent treatment after graduation that would be the envy of most people, were still only considered decent.
However, if one could establish a connection with Victor Langford, things would be different.
After graduation, one could directly enter the Langford family's service and receive treatment one or two levels higher.
If one gained their attention, with the resources and support of the Langford family, obtaining an important position and progressing further in cultivation would not be impossible.
After all, not just anyone could become a Rank 1 Blood Warrior, not even students of Aegis Martial Academy.
Many people cultivated their entire lives and remained Blood Warrior Apprentices.
Of course, this would certainly mean losing a considerable amount of freedom, but in their view, it was entirely worth it.
What was freedom anyway?
As long as they could live a luxurious life, what did it matter if they didn't have much freedom?
Therefore, many students of Aegis Martial Academy tried their best to befriend students from powerful families, especially direct descendants of major Blood Warrior families.
However, there were only a handful of students with backgrounds like Victor's in the entire Aegis Martial Academy.
With their status, they could have any subordinates they wanted, so why would they bother with students of mediocre talent like them?
Therefore, they were extremely envious and jealous of those students who were favored by people like Victor.
Previously, Derek in their class had been favored by Victor and became Victor's follower.
They had envied him for a long time, thinking that he had simply gotten lucky, since his strength was only so-so.
However, they did not expect that such an opportunity would come again so soon, but the object was not them.
It was Ryan, who had been inconspicuous before but suddenly broke out.
"Wow, Ryan's really hit the jackpot this time."
"I wish I could have that kind of good luck."
Almost all the students in Class Six looked at Ryan with envy.
But there was only one person who looked at Ryan with a worried expression.
That person was Elias.
Others might be overjoyed by such an opportunity, but Ryan might not.
Knowing Ryan as he did, he was very likely to refuse.
Sure enough, just as Elias was worrying, he saw Ryan's brows slowly furrow, and then Ryan looked at Derek and said,
"What exactly does he want from me?"
"Of course it's a good thing."
Seeing the expression on Ryan's face, Derek chuckled.
He didn't believe Ryan wouldn't be tempted by Victor's offer.
The only thing that really annoyed him was that he had used every means at his disposal, catering to Victor's preferences and making his family pay a heavy price, before finally getting into Victor's sights and being taken under his command.
But Ryan hadn't done anything, yet he had already been recruited by Victor.
"Good news?"
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
He wasn't stupid; how could he not guess why Victor wanted to see him?
It was nothing more than seeing his potential and wanting to bring him under his control.
If it were someone else, they might be overjoyed at this moment, since this was the norm in this world.
But for Ryan, who came from another world, he had absolutely no liking for this kind of recruitment.
He was especially disgusted by this kind of recruitment when he understood that those recruited were often treated almost like servants who had little dignity in front of the families they followed.
Now that Victor actually wanted to recruit him, things were getting complicated.
Deep down, Ryan didn't want to be a follower or anything like that.
It was something he simply couldn't accept.
But if he refused, he would inevitably offend Victor severely.
After much deliberation, he finally decided to refuse and said,
"Excuse me, I have something to attend to. Please tell Young Master Victor that I will visit again another time!"
"What? How is that possible?"
"He actually refused Victor's invitation?!"
"This guy even turned down Victor's invitation!!!"
Upon hearing Ryan's words, the students of Class Six all showed surprise and disbelief.
Although Ryan had phrased it tactfully, declining Victor's summons by saying he had something to do, it was clear to everyone that he was indirectly refusing Victor's invitation.
A group of Class Six students stared at Ryan as if he were an idiot, wishing they could take Ryan's place and accept Victor's offer.
Meanwhile, some students who had wanted to get closer to Ryan after seeing his strength increase were secretly relieved that they hadn't taken any action yet.
They could already imagine Victor's fury upon hearing the news, and that Ryan would inevitably face Victor's retaliation.
"You, you actually... refused?"
Even Derek, the one who invited him, looked at Ryan with surprise.
Deep down, he certainly didn't want Ryan to accept the invitation.
After all, his relationship with Ryan was already extremely hostile, and he certainly wouldn't want to see Ryan climb over him.
But what normal person wouldn't accept such an opportunity?
So Derek had already prepared himself for the possibility of working under Victor alongside Ryan.
But unexpectedly, Ryan refused.
Are you sure you want to refuse?
At this moment, Derek almost wanted to burst into laughter.
If Victor wasn't very interested in dealing with Ryan before, he would definitely become furious after this.
In Derek's view, no ordinary student could refuse someone of Victor's status and still come out unscathed.
"I'm sorry, but I really have something to do."
Ryan said calmly, knowing full well what kind of retaliation he might face after making this decision.
However, he simply couldn't bring himself to become someone's lackey or servant.
Moreover, he was not entirely in dire straits.
Although Victor came from the Langford family, he could not rule the entire Aegis Martial Academy.
After all, Aegis Martial Academy was backed by the Windsor family, the number-one family in Greyhaven City.
Therefore, during his time at the academy, Victor could at most suppress him, but it was impossible for him to simply have Ryan assassinated.
Aegis Martial Academy's attitude toward such matters had always been to investigate thoroughly and never tolerate them.
"Good, very good. I will pass on your words to Young Master Victor."
Derek laughed heartily, turned, and left, the gloom that had been lingering since yesterday completely gone.
Even he hadn't expected Ryan to refuse Victor's invitation.
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have worried for so long.
After all, if Ryan also became Victor's subordinate, Derek's position would be in jeopardy.
Derek left, and the students from Class Six around Ryan glanced at him in surprise before leaving as if avoiding a plague.
At this time, who would dare to associate with Ryan, lest they be implicated?
In their eyes, Ryan was now nothing more than a source of plague.
Everyone left, and in the end, only one person remained.
Elias.
"Hey, you shouldn't have refused."
Elias sighed.
No one knew better than him the power of a family like the Langfords.
Even at Aegis Martial Academy, where outside family influence was restricted, the other party still possessed considerable influence.
"You should know that I would never go and become someone's lackey."
Ryan was both surprised and touched by Elias's decision to stay.
At a time like this, getting involved with him could very well mean being implicated and targeted by Victor.
But Elias still stayed without hesitation.
This "friendship" was truly a bit heavy.
"Be careful. Victor is definitely a vengeful person. I checked, and it's very likely that Damian's sudden provocation of you was at Victor's behest. Now that you've rejected him to his face, you're probably in for a lot of trouble in the future."
"Mm."
Ryan nodded solemnly.
He had already understood this when he refused.
After parting ways with Elias, Ryan headed toward the usual grove of trees, ready to continue his previous plan—to test his strength.
Although he felt slightly heavy-hearted about offending Victor, he was not yet in despair.
If it were an ordinary student, they would definitely be crushed when facing a behemoth like the Langford family.
But Ryan was different.
He had his own trump card.
Putting everything else aside, his Advanced Cultivation Talent alone, if used well, would be enough to break the deadlock.
Victor's revenge would mainly become truly dangerous after Ryan graduated from Aegis Martial Academy.
At that time, Ryan, having lost the protection of Aegis Martial Academy, would certainly find it much harder to withstand the Langford family.
But with Advanced Cultivation Talent, things were different.
He was fully confident that he could reach Rank 1 Blood Warrior or even higher before graduation.
After all, Aurelia had graduated early after reaching Rank 1 Blood Warrior.
Logically speaking, with the same Advanced Cultivation Talent, Ryan should be able to do the same.
At that point, his status would be completely different from that of an ordinary Blood Warrior Apprentice.
Even the Langford family, if they wanted to deal with him, would no longer be able to act as casually as they could now.