"Mom, this is my classmate, Ding Xiaoxue!" Shu Feng introduced.
Ding Xiaoxue smiled sweetly. "Hello, Auntie."
Wang Juan warmly replied, "Good, good! Come in and have a seat! Quickly, come in and sit down!"
Ding Xiaoxue walked over and sat down on the simple sofa in the Shu family's home, and Shu Feng poured her a glass of water.
Shu Nanye was intimidated by the beautiful, charming, extraordinary, and imposing Ding Xiaoxue, feeling a bit awkward.
"Uncle, Auntie, I'm here today to express my gratitude. Not long ago, Shu Feng bravely saved my life from a group of thugs. I came specifically to thank you.
"Here is an apartment in Xingyuan District, and five hundred thousand. Please accept it." Ding Xiaoxue handed Wang Juan the keys to the Xingyuan District apartment and a bank card prepared by Shu Feng.
Wang Juan took the keys and bank card. Her expression shifted slightly, a hint of struggle flashing through her eyes.
Shu Nanye firmly refused, "Xiaoding! We cannot accept this apartment and the bank card. You two are classmates; it is only natural for Shu Feng to help you. We simply cannot take this money!"
Shu Nanye was a good-natured man with a strong sense of justice, albeit a bit old-fashioned. In his private company, he was the type to bury his head in his work, which was why he had remained quite average in his career.
"Uncle Shu, this is just a small token of my appreciation! A gentleman desires wealth, but acquires it through proper means. I believe my life is worth far more than an apartment and five hundred thousand. Shu Feng saved me, and I am here to repay him. This is rightfully earned wealth.
"Furthermore, Uncle Shu, please forgive my bluntness! Shu Feng will need a lot of money to attend a good high school and a top university in the future. If you refuse me now, what will you do when he needs money for his education later on? Are you going to ignore his future prospects?" Ding Xiaoxue smiled sweetly, speaking with eloquence and confidence.
Shu Nanye's expression changed slightly. He pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "Xiaoding, our family will shamelessly accept this."
If it were anything else, he might have persisted, but this concerned Shu Feng's future. The usually old-fashioned, upright, and almost pedantic Shu Nanye had no choice but to bow to reality.
The Shu family's financial situation was below average, with only a few tens of thousands in savings. If Shu Feng were to attend a good high school and university, the required tuition would be a massive burden on the family. With this five hundred thousand, their financial situation suddenly became much more comfortable.
"Alright, Uncle, Auntie, I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first!" Ding Xiaoxue smiled politely and stood up.
Wang Juan warmly offered, "Why don't you stay for dinner? I can go out right now to buy some good food."
Ding Xiaoxue's words were as sweet as honey. "No thank you, Auntie! I really have some business today, so I must go. I'll come back to taste your cooking next time."
Wang Juan replied, "Then come visit often when you're free! Ah Feng, hurry up and see Xiaoding out!"
Shu Feng agreed and escorted Ding Xiaoxue all the way outside the residential area.
Shu Feng thanked her, "Thank you, Ding Xiaoxue!"
Without Ding Xiaoxue's help, Shu Feng wouldn't have been able to use his own money to legitimately improve his family's financial situation. After all, matters concerning Spiritualists could not be leaked.
"Remember, you owe me a favor! I'm leaving!" Ding Xiaoxue gave a carefree smile, waved at Shu Feng, and turned to leave.
Shu Feng stood quietly for a moment, watching Ding Xiaoxue's retreating figure before turning to head back.
"Ah Feng, that Ding Xiaoxue is truly a good girl. Ask her to come visit often when she has time," Wang Juan instructed Shu Feng as soon as he returned home.
Shu Feng smiled slightly. "Okay!"
A few days later, after Wang Juan went to see the apartment in Xingyuan District, she came back and was happy for several days. Ultimately, she still chose to live in Xinyuan District because the cost of living around Xingyuan District was too high, and all her friends were here in Xinyuan District. She was a bit reluctant to leave.
Shu Feng consumed one Basic Spirit Cultivation Pill every day. Twenty days later, his supply of Basic Spirit Cultivation Pills was completely exhausted. At the same time, his Spiritual Power smoothly increased to 28 points, making him a Level 3 Spirit Warrior, just one step away from becoming a Level 4 Spirit Warrior.
During these twenty days, Shu Feng also trained bitterly in Spear Technique, Basic Fighting Techniques, Arresting Technique, and the Thirteen Forms Body Forging Technique, tremendously improving his combat prowess.
However, ever since Shu Feng's physical attributes surpassed 10 points, the enhancement to his physical fitness from practicing the Thirteen Forms Body Forging Technique had become increasingly minuscule.
In the classroom.
"My Basic Spirit Cultivation Pills are almost used up! Do I have to go to the black market to buy Contribution Points?" Shu Feng wondered silently, idly flipping through a high school biology textbook.
Contribution Points were a currency obtained only after making contributions to the Guardian Flame organization. Without Contribution Points, no matter how much money one had, it was impossible to buy anything from the official Extraordinary Mall.
However, in modern society, money was everything. Many members of the Guardian Flame would sell their Contribution Points on the black market when they were short on cash.
The Guardian Flame was aware of this but tacitly approved of the behavior. After all, there were many wealthy people within the Guardian Flame who lacked Contribution Points.
Suddenly, Big Black, who was sitting curled up next to Shu Feng, stood straight up. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at the doorway.
"Something is wrong!"
Shu Feng's expression shifted slightly. He immediately grabbed his phone, ready to call for backup. His current strength already far surpassed that of an ordinary person, but whenever he thought of the Void Demons that even Ma Jin deeply feared, he felt it would be better to call for reinforcements.
"Zhong Jietong... What is that black aura on her body? Could it be Void Demonic Qi?" Shu Feng wondered. He narrowed his eyes and saw traces of black aura swirling around Zhong Jietong's body.
Zhong Jietong looked rather lethargic, with large, dark bags under her eyes, yawning as she walked.
Wang Lu asked, "What's wrong, Jietong? You seem to be lacking Spirit!"
Zhong Jietong replied, "I didn't sleep well last night! I kept having nightmares!"
Shu Feng stood up and walked out of the classroom, heading to Class 57 where Ding Xiaoxue was.
"Ding Xiaoxue, I have something urgent to discuss with you!" Shu Feng walked straight into Class 57 and approached Ding Xiaoxue.
"Alright! Let's go!" Ding Xiaoxue immediately stood up and followed Shu Feng outside.
"My goddess is leaving with another man!"
"I'm so jealous!"
"Who is that guy? How did he call Ding Xiaoxue away so easily?"
"..."
Gazes of surprise and envy converged on Shu Feng. Who knew how many boys had tried to ask Ding Xiaoxue out, yet none had ever succeeded. Shu Feng was the only one who could call her out with such ease.
"Ding Xiaoxue, take a look. Is the aura swirling around Zhong Jietong Void Demonic Qi?" Shu Feng brought Ding Xiaoxue nearby, avoiding the crowd, and asked quietly while pointing at Zhong Jietong.
A sharp light flashed in Ding Xiaoxue's eyes. "That is indeed Void Demonic Qi! She has come into contact with a Void Demon!"