"Brother Feng, why are you bringing this guy along?"
While supporting Yang Fan, Gao Hai complained unhappily.
Gao Hai is famous for his good temper. He doesn't stand out much in class, but gets along well with everyone and rarely argues. But now, he made no attempt to hide the displeasure on his face.
In his opinion, if Yang Fan hadn't spread rumors, Ji Yu wouldn't have come to them out of jealousy to cause trouble, and they wouldn't have gotten on Mo Xun's bad side.
And now, they've offended the Elite Martial Arts Club. Getting the dean of students embarrassed in front of so many people—even with Ya Ge helping out—Lin Feng probably can't stay in Jiangxin First Middle School anymore, maybe even lose the right to take the college entrance exam.
"I'm sorry."
Hearing this, Yang Fan, his face twisted in pain, apologized.
Not only did he get hurt, but he also dragged his classmate Lin Feng into this mess.
Lin Feng failed to refine a Demon Spirit on Awakening Day, while Ya Ge managed to refine an Eighth Grade Enchanting Butterfly and signed with Ju Xing Club, soaring to great heights.
About today's breakup—though he knew Lin Feng spoke up first—after understanding, he realized it was Lin Feng's inferiority complex making him feel unworthy of Ya Ge, so he broke it off first, just to keep a shred of self-esteem.
After getting hit with a double blow, Lin Feng was already in a miserable state. Now, because of Yang Fan, he had offended Mo Xun and Teacher Zhang Han—"miserable" didn't even begin to describe it.
"It's fine, just a small thing."
Lin Feng smiled, looking relaxed, clearly not seeing it as a big deal, which only made Yang Fan feel more guilty.
"I can walk on my own now," Yang Fan said quietly.
"Okay."
Lin Feng let go. Yang Fan took a couple of steps; though he moved a little funny and his body was shaking, at least he was still walking normally.
Even though his whole face was bruised and swollen, when he was being beaten up, Yang Fan curled himself into a ball to avoid breaking his ribs. So he didn't actually suffer any serious injuries—definitely got it better than the few guys who got handled by Lin Feng.
From Lin Feng's perspective, that showed some experience. Otherwise, he wouldn't have known how to protect himself so well—it probably wasn't his first time getting a beating.
Facing Lin Feng's gaze, Yang Fan looked a bit awkward: "I'm really sorry, I apologize for dragging you into this."
"If apologizing worked, what would we need the cops for?" Gao Hai replied.
"Sorry." Yang Fan apologized again, looking embarrassed. He knew it wasn't going to help anything.
"How about this—this whole mess started because of me. Lin Feng, I'll give you twenty thousand yuan."
Yang Fan hesitated for a moment, then finally made up his mind and spoke, as if worried Lin Feng would misunderstand, he kept going: "Don't get it twisted, it's not because I pity you. Since you pissed off Mo Xun, you won't be able to stay at Jiangxin First Middle School. This money is for you to transfer schools."
After saying that, Yang Fan looked quietly at Lin Feng. Twenty thousand yuan was a lot, but he could afford it.
"Brother Feng, maybe... just transfer?"
Gao Hai hesitated for a while, then spoke up.
Like Yang Fan said, other than transferring, there didn't seem to be any other way out.
Looking at the guilty expression on Yang Fan's face, Lin Feng was actually a bit surprised. He didn't expect that the class "big mouth," who everyone said wasn't a good guy, actually had a conscience.
Tuition at Jiangxin First Middle School is just over five grand a year. Yang Fan offering twenty thousand isn't a small amount— even with living expenses, it'd be enough for a transfer.
Although he didn't know much about this guy's background, it was obvious he wasn't hurting for money.
"Transferring won't help. Even if it's troublesome, you think Mo Xun can't still mess with me if I transfer?" Lin Feng directly shot it down. "If he really wants to cause trouble, just wait for me at my house after school, that'll do it."
With rich kids like Mo Xun, there are always plenty of cronies around; transferring schools won't guarantee anything.
The only way is to make them wary of you—then it's really over.
"Then what do we do?" Gao Hai asked anxiously. He'd rather offend a teacher than Mo Xun—that would mean endless trouble.
That Teacher Zhang was clearly scared by Lin Feng. Adults with families are more cautious; they wouldn't go all the way overboard.
"What else can we do? Just go head-to-head with them," Lin Feng said.
Gao Hai was speechless: "Brother Feng, even if you're strong, you can fight one—can you fight ten?"
Yang Fan agreed: "Lin Feng, don't be reckless. Everyone in the Elite Martial Arts Club is a rich kid. They've got all kinds of dirty tricks."
The two kept trying to talk him out of it, but Lin Feng just smiled faintly: "Don't worry, we'll just make our own Martial Arts Club."
"Our own Martial Arts Club?"
Yang Fan looked completely baffled.
There were only three months left till the college entrance exams. Everyone was working their butts off. Who had time to join a Martial Arts Club and waste time—unless there were huge benefits.
Besides, no matter how strong you are, with no connections, you can't take on the Elite Martial Arts Club crowd.
At Jiangxin First Middle School, background matters more than strength.
Unless you're a top-level genius destined for the Three Heroic Joint School, then you'll get attention and protection from the school.
"I originally didn't want to say anything, but since I broke up with Ya Ge, there's nothing left to hide!"
"Hide what?" Gao Hai asked, face full of confusion.
"Actually, on Awakening Day, I didn't fail. I could have refined a Ninth Grade Demon Spirit."
"What?"
Yang Fan and Gao Hai both jumped, as if a bolt of lightning exploded above their heads.
They couldn't believe their ears, exchanging a look filled with shock. They wanted to say something, but for a moment nothing came out.
After a while, Gao Hai finally stammered in disbelief: "Brother Feng, don't scare me, my nerves can't handle it."
"I know it's hard to believe. I was about to refine a Ninth Grade Purple Qilin, but gave up at the last minute." To give the two of them confidence in making their own Martial Arts Club, Lin Feng told a white lie.
"Why did you give up?" Gao Hai pressed, looking a bit manic.
A Ninth Grade Purple Qilin!
Out of over five thousand students taking part in Awakening Day at Jiangxin First Middle School, only two managed to refine an Eighth Grade Demon Spirit. The school treated them like treasures—special care, tons of attention, and a pile of extra resources.
No one at Jiangxin First Middle School had ever refined a Ninth Grade Demon Spirit—the only exception was the president of the Elite Martial Arts Club, who only managed it because his family provided the Demon Spirit and backing.
You can imagine how rare a Ninth Grade Demon Spirit is. And a Ninth Grade Purple Qilin—that's a Thunder Attribute Demon Spirit. In combat, it's top-tier even among Ninth Grades.
If Lin Feng had refined the Purple Qilin, with his Seventh Rank Body Cultivator strength, if he put in a bit more work and boosted his physical grades, getting into the Three Heroic Academies would be a done deal—maybe even get a direct special admission without sitting the tests.
But why give up?
Gao Hai clenched his fists, his chubby face turning red, looking both happy and pissed off.
"Lin Feng, why did you give up?"
Yang Fan echoed the question in Gao Hai's heart. After the shock faded, suspicion crept in.
It's hard not to doubt.
No one would ever give up a Ninth Grade Purple Qilin.
There's only one possibility...
Unless, he could refine something even more Advanced.
But is that even possible?
"Did you fail the refinement?" Yang Fan asked, puzzled.
On Awakening Day, most students don't have a clear sense of their Soul Power numbers.
Like, say, some people only have enough Soul Power to refine a Seventh Grade Demon Spirit, but overestimate themselves and try for an Eighth Grade Demon Spirit. They fail, their Soul Power gets depleted, so they can't try again, and end up with an "awakening failure."
It could happen—not often, but not unheard of either. Most people judge their limits pretty well.
Plus, Awakening Day only happens once a year. Apart from the rich kids, most average students play it safe, picking a Demon Spirit they have an eighty or ninety percent chance at.
Some could have gone for a Seventh Grade but, to be sure, pick a Sixth Grade instead.
Still, even going by what Lin Feng said, even if he failed to refine, it proves his Soul Power talent is high—maybe not Ninth Grade, but definitely at least Eighth Grade.
"Brother Feng, just tell us already!" Gao Hai was desperate to know.
"It's just a Ninth Grade Demon Spirit," Lin Feng said flatly. Hearing that, Gao Hai didn't react much, but Yang Fan shuddered all over.
Could it be...