Night had already settled over the Holy Orchid Institute.
Inside the instructors' office, a warm lamplight cuts through the darkness.
"What?"
Shen Xiu's voice snapped like a whip.
"You were thrown out of the library by Nie Li?!"
Shen Yue sat rigidly, one arm still trembling faintly. "Aunt," he said through clenched teeth, "the moment he grabbed my wrist, my soul force collapsed. I couldn't even resist."
Shen Xiu's eyes narrowed. "Impossible. Your soul force is already near eighty."
"My soul force was stronger than his," Shen Yue said bitterly.
"But his control—"
He stopped, jaw tightening. "It wasn't normal."
Then he hesitated, before adding, "And… Karma Uzumaki was there."
Shen Xiu's fingers paused mid-tap.
"He didn't intervene at first," Shen Yue continued, clearly irritated.
"But when my people tried to stop Du Zhe and the others—"
His voice lowered. "Karma crushed them. Easily."
Shen Xiu looked up sharply. "…Crushed?"
"They couldn't move properly," Shen Yue said.
"Like their bodies were heavy one moment, weightless the next. He didn't use any obvious technique—just punches. Still, none of them could fight back."
The room went quiet.
Shen Xiu's expression slowly turned serious. "…Interesting."
She leaned back, eyes glinting. "Karma Uzumaki rarely acts publicly. For him to step in means this wasn't a coincidence."
She tapped the table once. "Has he already broken through Bronze Rank?" she murmured.
"…Or is he even further?"
Shen Yue clenched his fists. "He humiliated me. Both of them did."
Shen Xiu's lips curved into a cold smile. "Calm yourself."
She stood, her gaze icy. "Nie Li's ambition is too high. Two months to reach One-Star Bronze? He'll fail."
"As for Karma…"
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"If he truly has advanced quietly," she said,
"then the Uzumaki family is hiding more than they let on."
Shen Yue sneered. "Either way," he said coldly,
"they won't last long."
Shen Xiu turned back toward the window, the lamplight casting sharp shadows across her face.
"Don't be so sure," she replied softly.
Outside the window, the moon hung high.
An owl hooted softly as clouds drifted past the pale light.
Elsewhere—deep within the forested training grounds.
Soft moonlight filtered through the leaves, bathing the clearing in silver.
Nie Li smiled faintly and waved his hand.
"Did you take your medicine properly these past few days?"
"Mm," Ning'er nodded quickly. "And I practiced the technique you taught me. I can feel my soul force getting stronger."
Nie Li's brows lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
Ning'er looked at him, her expression softening.
"I think the real genius here is you. Even if no one has noticed yet… when the day comes that you reveal your talent—"
She smiled.
"You'll shine brightly."
Nie Li blinked, genuinely caught off guard.
"…Ah. Thank you."
From the side, Karma stared at them for a moment.
"…Hey," he said slowly. "Why does this feel like I'm not part of the conversation anymore?"
Ning'er turned. "Huh?"
Karma crossed his arms.
"You just praised him like a future legend," he muttered. "What about me?"
Nie Li couldn't help snorting.
Ning'er flustered instantly.
"T-That's not what I meant! It's just that Nie Li's knowledge is—"
She stopped, then added hurriedly,
"And you're already strong. And reliable. And—"
She froze.
Karma leaned in slightly.
"…And?"
Her face turned red.
"I-I mean, you're obviously impressive already! Everyone knows that!"
Karma paused.
Then he nodded seriously, lips curling into a satisfied grin.
"Good," he said. "As expected. I am pretty amazing."
Nie Li burst out laughing.
Ning'er covered her mouth, trying—and failing—not to laugh with him.
The forest fell silent again, the tension of the academy far away—or now
Sacred Family Conference Hall
The Sacred Family's conference hall was wrapped in oppressive silence.
At the head of the hall sat Deacon Elder Shen Ming, his silver brows drawn low, fingers tapping slowly against the armrest of his chair. Each tap carried restrained fury.
"Ridiculous," he said coldly.
"A mere brat from the Fighter's Apprentice class dares humiliate the Sacred Family."
A kneeling attendant kept his head bowed.
"When Nie Li exposed the origins of the Scarlet Flame Explosion Inscription," Shen Ming continued,
"we already had to suppress the fallout."
His eyes darkened.
"And now, he's beaten one of our descendants in public."
Shen Ming snorted.
"Young Master Shen Yue is nearly Bronze One-Star. How could he lose?"
The attendant swallowed.
"According to Young Master Shen Yue… Nie Li's soul force was weaker. But the moment they clashed, Young Master Shen Yue's soul force collapsed."
"Excuses," Shen Ming said dismissively.
"Students of that class know no real methods."
He waved a hand.
"Have we investigated Nie Li's background?"
"Yes," the servant replied quickly.
"He comes from the Heavenly Marks Family—an ordinary noble household. No notable backing."
Shen Ming relaxed slightly.
"Hmph. An ordinary noble. A reckless child who happened upon forbidden knowledge."
Then the servant hesitated.
"…There is one more matter."
Shen Ming's eyes sharpened.
"Speak."
The servant lowered his voice.
"Karma Uzumaki publicly declared that he would personally ensure Nie Li's safety."
The hall went deathly still.
Shen Ming's fingers stopped mid-tap.
"…Karma Uzumaki?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes. He said it openly. Before many students."
A long silence followed.
"The Uzumaki Family…" Shen Ming muttered.
His expression darkened, calculation replacing anger.
"That family is not one we can provoke lightly."
"And Karma Uzumaki is Arthur's only heir."
The pressure in the room shifted—no longer rage, but restraint.
"Troublesome," Shen Ming said quietly.
The kneeling servant hesitated.
"Deacon Elder… should we report this matter to the House Head?"
Shen Ming shook his head.
"That won't be necessary," he replied calmly.
"The House Head is currently attempting to break through to the Legend Demon Spiritualist rank. Trifling matters like this should not disturb him."
He leaned back.
"If the Uzumaki brat has chosen to stand behind Nie Li, then brute measures are off the table—for now."
After a pause, his eyes gleamed coldly.
"Let young master Shen Fei handle it," he said.
"School disputes. Clashes between juniors."
His lips curved faintly.
"Entirely normal."
The servant bowed deeply.
"This servant understands."
Shen Ming turned toward the window, staring into the night beyond.
"If Karma Uzumaki wishes to shield him," he said calmly,
"then we'll see how long that protection lasts."
The lamp flickered.
City Lord's Mansion — Ye Ziyun's Room.
Soft lantern light filled the room.
Pink curtains swayed gently in the night breeze.
Ye Ziyun sat at her desk, brows knit lightly as she flipped through the ancient inscription manual in front of her.
Where exactly did Nie Li find this inscription…?
A soft knock sounded.
"Miss Ziyun."
Ye Ziyun turned her head.
"Aunt Xue."
Xue Yin stepped inside, her movements graceful and unhurried, a gentle smile resting on her lips.
"Were you looking for me?"
Ye Ziyun nodded and carefully turned the book toward her.
"Aunt Xue, you're an inscription master, right? Do you know the origin of this inscription?"
Xue Yin leaned closer, eyes narrowing slightly as she studied the markings.
"This…" she murmured.
"It's similar to Icewind Blizzard, but the stonework is denser. I've never seen this version before."
Her fingers traced the page lightly.
"The ratio is balanced extremely well," she continued thoughtfully.
"The layout is reasonable… whoever designed this has a very deep understanding of inscription structure."
Xue Yin lifted her gaze from the page, a trace of admiration in her eyes.
"Whoever designed this," she said slowly,
"has an extremely profound understanding of inscription theory. This isn't something that can be replicated through imitation or luck."
Ye Ziyun fell silent.
Her thoughts drifted involuntarily to a calm voice in the library, to steady hands sketching lines without hesitation.
…Nie Li.
She lowered her gaze, staring at the inscription once more.
How does he know things like this?
And how many secrets is he still hiding…?
The lantern flame flickered gently, casting shifting shadows across the page—
as Ye Ziyun's curiosity quietly deepened.
Training Grounds — Later That Night.
Moonlight washed over the forest, shadows stretching softly across the grass.
"Since you offended the Sacred Family," Xiao Ning'er said quietly,
"you must be careful."
Nie Li smiled easily.
"I've already considered it. Families like the Sacred Family care too much about appearances—they won't act openly."
Karma, walking a few steps ahead, chuckled.
"And if they do," he said lazily,
"I'll handle it."
Nie Li glanced at him and smiled faintly.
"Heh. Of course."
Xiao Ning'er's expression darkened.
"The Sacred Family is shameless," she said.
"The Dark Winged Dragon Family declined because of them. They seized more than eighty percent of its property."
Her fingers tightened.
"Now the remaining families have no choice but to cling to them."
Karma stopped. The usual laziness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a deep, silent focus.
So this is how they do it, he thought.
His fist clenched once—then relaxed.
Some things wouldn't be allowed to continue.
Nie Li broke the silence.
"After you return home, bring an unused soul crystal. I'll test your attributes."
Xiao Ning'er hesitated, then reached into her pouch.
"I already have one."
She poured her soul force into it.
The crystal flared brightly.
"Eighty-three soul force," Nie Li said in surprise.
"Attribute: Wind Lightning. Soul form…"
He smiled.
"…Winged Dragon."
Xiao Ning'er blinked.
"That's… good?"
Nie Li nodded seriously.
"Extremely. Your cultivation speed will far exceed ordinary practitioners—as long as the technique matches."
He quickly explained a circulation formula.
As Xiao Ning'er followed it, her aura surged. Wind gathered, lightning flickering faintly around her.
"So strong…" she whispered.
Nie Li smiled.
"This is the Wind Lightning Winged Dragon technique. It suits you perfectly."
Xiao Ning'er looked at him, eyes bright.
"Thank you… I don't know how to repay you."
"We're friends," Nie Li replied lightly.
"That's enough."
Nearby, Karma watched silently, arms crossed.
Good, he thought. She deserves this.
Xiao Ning'er closed her eyes beneath the ancient tree.
"I'm going to break through."
The forest stilled.
When she opened her eyes again, the night had already faded.
And Nie Li and Karma were gone.