NOVEL NEXT Chapter 187: A New High
Chapter 187: A New High
Back at the New Street House, Xu Lian had Lin Bufeng transform into the Green Bamboo Snake Demon and began training him.
Whether it was due to his effective training methods, Lin Bufeng’s innate talent, or the fact that the side effects of his bloodline awakening had passed, after several hours of repeated practice, Lin Bufeng gradually gained control over his killing instincts.
He could now freely switch between his human form and the Green Bamboo Snake Demon form.
Xu Lian said, “Attack me with all your might. I want to test your current strength.”
Lin Bufeng hissed and quickly transformed into the Green Bamboo Snake Demon. Like a streak of green light, he lunged at Xu Lian, using a variety of attacks such as biting, tail whipping, and coiling. Xu Lian easily deflected all of them with one hand, but he was still somewhat surprised.
Lin Bufeng had only awakened his bloodline less than a day ago, yet he already possessed a strength equivalent to the first level of Dark Strength.
Truly worthy of being a descendant of the Heavenly Serpent.
Maintaining his Green Bamboo Snake Demon form, Lin Bufeng stammered in a human voice, “Manager Xu… I feel like there’s another attack I can use. I can release a deadly poison. Would you like to try it?”
Xu Lian hesitated for a moment. As a ninth-level Grandmaster, there was no reason for him to fear a newly awakened Green Bamboo Snake Demon. “Go ahead.”
“Whoosh!” A sharp whistling sound echoed as the Green Bamboo Snake Demon opened its mouth and shot out two streams of venom from its golden fangs.
Xu Lian waved his hand, and a barrier of golden energy formed in front of him, blocking the venom. The poison sizzled and began to corrode the golden energy.
It then spread into a poisonous mist, filling the air and making Xu Lian feel slightly dizzy. He quickly held his breath and enveloped himself in golden energy to isolate himself from the poison.
“Impressive,” Xu Lian praised. “If your strength increases a bit more, you might even be a threat to me. But I don’t know how to help you become stronger.”
Lin Bufeng reverted back to his human form. To avoid tearing his clothes during the transformation, he wore loose, elastic clothing.
“Based on the dream I had when I awakened my bloodline, it seems like I can grow stronger by eating.”
“Eating?” Xu Lian understood. For demonic creatures, eating was the best way to become stronger. He smiled and said, “Then you’ll have to eat more from now on. Don’t worry about saving money. Eat as much meat and fish as you want. If you run out of money, just ask me.”
Lin Bufeng added, “It’s not just meat and fish. I can eat anything with spiritual energy.”
Xu Lian took out some spirit stones. “Can you eat these?”
Lin Bufeng took them, transformed into the Green Bamboo Snake Demon, and swallowed them in one gulp. Then he looked at Xu Lian with a wistful expression.
Xu Lian’s mouth twitched. He only had about six or seven million Spirit Stones left, and the dividends from renting and selling spirit properties on First Street totaled about ten million.
It wasn’t even enough for him to purchase the materials needed to advance to the Great Grandmaster level, and now he had to feed this bottomless pit of an eater?
“Let’s take it slow…” Xu Lian said.
“After we go to Pingyang County, you can hunt in the outskirts and eat some demonic beasts with spiritual energy.”
Lin Bufeng returned to his human form and said eagerly, “Yes. Once I’m strong enough, I’ll follow Manager Xu on your adventures.”
Good boy… Xu Lian was only a few years older than Lin Bufeng, but due to his robust physique and mature demeanor, he seemed much older.
After finishing the training, Xu Lian left the house. He took out some spirit stones and silver from his spatial bag and handed them to Lin Bufeng.
“Keep the Spirit Stones for yourself. Eat them when you’re hungry. Give the silver to your parents. Once we go to Pingyang County in a few days, it might be a while before we return.”
Without hesitation, Lin Bufeng accepted them. Ever since Xu Lian had promoted him to overseer of the mine, he had decided to become Xu Lian’s loyal subordinate. The awakening of his bloodline hadn’t changed that.
Xu Lian rode back to New Pei Manor and had dinner with everyone.
“Zhaoxi, I’ll give you a surprise in a few days,” Xu Lian said that night as they rested in the main house that was exclusively for him and Pei Zhaoxi.
Pei Zhaoxi nestled in his arms. “What surprise?”
“You’ll find out in a few days,” Xu Lian teased.
The night passed in conversation…
Over the next few days, Xu Lian took his companions on a tour of Green Bamboo Town, visiting scenic spots and “checking in” at beautiful locations.
Now that they were all practicing martial arts, their physical fitness had improved and they could go out during the day.
A few days later, Xu Lian brought his companions, the Lin family and the Pei family to the dock of Green Bamboo Town, preparing to return to Pingyang County.
He had already sent word for Lin Bufeng and Fang Shaoze to meet them there.
Lin Bufeng, who lived in the town and was close by, arrived quickly. Simply dressed with a bundle slung over his shoulder, he was a genuine, unpretentious young man. Unlike Zhang Yuan and the others, he hadn’t started wearing flashy clothes after becoming an overseer.
Following the principle of not giving advantages to outsiders, Xu Lian reminded everyone with a smile, “The Lin and Pei families still have unmarried daughters. You should act quickly. This young man’s future is limitless.”
Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Lin and Pei family members lit up. This was the first time they had heard Xu Lian praise someone so highly.
Could this young man be another rising star like Xu Lian? Was this small town, Green Bamboo Town, really producing another genius?
When Lin Bufeng approached, the unmarried daughters of the Lin and Pei families immediately surrounded him, asking after his well-being and trying to strike up a conversation.
Lin Bufeng, who had never experienced such attention, blushed and bowed his head in embarrassment.
The daughters found his awkwardness amusing and giggled.
“Brother Xu,” Fang Shaoze greeted from afar with a sunny smile. It seemed that he had truly matured and understood the ways of the world.
Pei Zhaoxi was stunned, thinking that she had misheard.
As Fang Shaoze approached, he looked at her and called out with a smile, “Sister-in-law Zhaoxi”.
Xu Lian explained to Pei Zhaoxi, “I know you two have known each other since childhood, but you two fell out because of me. A few days ago, Shaoze said he wanted to go to Pingyang County, so I decided to bring him along.”
Pei Zhaoxi’s eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Xu Lian with gratitude. He truly had gone out of his way to mend fences.
Xu Lian held Pei Zhaoxi’s hand and waved with his other hand. “Everyone, let’s board the ship.”
And so, everyone boarded the ship and entered their respective cabins.
Of course, Xu Lian shared a cabin with Pei Zhaoxi, knowing that this was the perfect time to deepen their bond.
Sure enough, before the ship had even traveled halfway, Xu Lian received a message about the progress of their relationship.
[Name: Xu Lian]
[Rank: Grandmaster Rank, 9th Stage]
[Skills: Great Desolate Dragon Grasping Technique, Sacred Spirit Record (Immortal Arts Supplement), Breaking Wind Sword Technique (Volumes 1-3), Seven Styles of Primordial Gang (Complete), Short Strikes – Shadow Chase…]
[Items: Sword of Destruction (Not equipped)]
[Note 1: Pei Zhaoxi’s affection for you has increased from 92/100 to 93/100. You have gained 1 progression point, which can be used to enhance your rank, skills, or items].
[Note 2: You currently have 5 unused progression points].
Since they were only halfway through the journey, Xu Lian continued to deepen his bond with Pei Zhaoxi. For her sake, he had even reconciled with Fang Shaoze. With the only obstacle removed, he felt that 93/100 wasn’t her limit.
Indeed, after more effort during the second half of the journey, as the ship approached the dock in Pingyang County, Pei Zhaoxi’s affection level rose again, from 93/100 to 94/100, earning Xu Lian another progression point.
“This is the first time someone has reached 94 affection. Even Sister Xiya is only at 93,” Xu Lian thought happily.
Of course, he also understood that he had been separated from Sister Xiya for too long. If she hadn’t left, it was likely that she would have reached 94 affection long ago.