C8 Prepare to Spar!

"What's the matter?"

Ye Tian flashed a grin at Murong Xue, a smile that somehow left her momentarily dazed.

Previously, Murong Xue's perception of Ye Tian was that of a goofy young man, a scion of the Ye family whose every move seemed out of sync with his illustrious background.

But the Ye Tian standing before her now seemed transformed. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different, but he was undeniably changed.

Realizing her expression had betrayed her thoughts, the young girl's cheeks flushed with shyness, her gaze darting away.

"What's on your mind?" Ye Tian, seeing Murong Xue's demeanor, had long since read her like an open book. How could he not, with a soul that had weathered tens of thousands of years?

"Hmph, you dare to ask me? I'm asking you—final exams are just around the corner. How ready are you?"

Murong Xue asked earnestly, her tone laced with concern.

With the semester's end fast approaching, she couldn't bear the thought of Ye Tian stagnating, or worse, facing the threat of being held back!

They were classmates, after all, and Murong Xue was determined to help Ye Tian to the best of her ability. She couldn't stand by and watch him become the butt of jokes.

Above all, she refused to let him hold their class back.

"That's what you're worried about? I honestly haven't given it much thought. I'd rather catch some extra sleep with the time I have!"

Ye Tian shrugged nonchalantly, his words breezy and unconcerned, mirroring his inner indifference.

Given his current prowess, acing the exam would be a breeze.

His thoughts, however, were preoccupied with the Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array. If he could just harness the spiritual energy within the array, his power would soar to new heights.

The real challenge was figuring out how to sidestep Daoist Qianhe and covertly draw from the array's energy—a conundrum indeed.

Murong Xue watched Ye Tian's lax demeanor and sighed inwardly.

Maybe he had resigned himself to his fate?

The thought of Ye Tian so casually discarding his prospects filled her with regret.

Engrossed in their conversation, neither of them noticed the menacing face lurking in the background, silently observing their every move.

Du Chun was the class monitor of Class Three, and his prowess had already soared to the eighth level of the Qi Profound Stage!

His infatuation with Murong Xue was common knowledge; a good seventy percent of their class, if not more, were aware of his feelings.

Yet Murong Xue saw Du Chun as just another classmate, treating him with the same polite distance she afforded everyone else.

But when Du Chun witnessed Murong Xue's concern for Ye Tian, rage ignited within him, his gaze darkening with venom.

"This worthless kid, just you wait. When I get the chance, I'll make sure you regret it!"

Du Chun vowed bitterly to himself that given the opportunity, Ye Tian would feel the wrath of his fists.

It was at that moment that Zi Hanyue entered, her striking figure a captivating sight. Despite this, her fiery temperament sent a chill down the spines of everyone in Class Three.

"The final assessments are upon us, and your current lackadaisical attitude won't cut it for what's ahead. That's why I've called on all of Class Two to join us for some rigorous training!"

Zi Hanyue leaned provocatively over the lectern, her form creating an alluring silhouette as she rested her chin in her hands, surveying the students below.

Her words, however, sent a wave of tension through the room.

Training?

A euphemism if there ever was one—it was nothing short of a brawl.

Let's be clear: Class Two's strength was formidable, and Class Three was hardly a match.

Sparring with Class Two was tantamount to asking for a thrashing.

"Du Chun, as class monitor, it's your duty to set the example. Now, get moving and lead your classmates to the martial arts field without delay. We wouldn't want to keep Class Two waiting," Zi Hanyue commanded, her authoritative tone brooking no argument.

Determined to push Class Three to new heights, she saw no alternative but to thrust her students into the crucible of hardship.

Despite his reluctance, Du Chun couldn't defy his teacher's wishes. He rose to his feet, gathering the students of Class Three, and headed for the martial arts field.

"Listen up, everyone. This is a gesture of goodwill from our teacher, so let's all put in the effort. Soon, we'll be up against Class 2, and I want us to give it our all and perform beyond expectations. Got it?"

Upon reaching the martial arts field, Du Chun led his classmates to their seats and began to offer some advice. With Zi Hanyue absent from the scene, all responsibilities fell on Du Chun, who assumed a senior's authority.

"And some of you, in particular, need to take a good look at yourselves. Don't be the ones to hold our class back at this crucial time, understand?"

Du Chun's voice boomed across the field, loud enough for the students of Class 2, who were gearing up for the match, to overhear.

His gaze fixed on Ye Tian.

It was clear to everyone that Du Chun's words were aimed at Ye Tian, casting a shadow over his reputation in such a public setting.

Ye Tian's classmates snickered among themselves, convinced that he was the weak link in the class.

Du Chun, seeing the reaction from many of his peers, couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. He glanced around and noticed Ye Tian sitting silently on the sidelines, seemingly oblivious to the chatter.

For Ye Tian, such trivialities were of no concern. His focus was on the critical task at hand—the Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array.

Even in moments of downtime, Ye Tian wouldn't let such pettiness affect him in the slightest.

Du Chun, frustrated by Ye Tian's nonchalant demeanor, was about to give him a piece of his mind when a playful voice called out from behind.

"Ye Tian, you're here too!"

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice to see a young woman approaching from Class 2. Her bare shoulders peeked out from her outfit, her brown hair swept up in a stylish bun, her eyes as alluring as willow leaves, her gaze as captivating as still water.

She was Lin Zhilan, the belle of Class 2, and, as fate would have it, Ye Tian's betrothed.

However, due to Ye Tian's diagnosed meridian blockage at birth, the Lin family was reluctant to proceed with the marriage, fearing it would compromise their daughter's future. As the children grew older, the engagement was discreetly annulled.

At the time, Lin Chengfeng had already sustained injuries. Despite his willingness, he found himself unable to intervene in the situation.

When Ye Tian heard Lin Zhilan calling his name, he snapped out of his reverie. Turning towards the source of the voice, he sifted through the memories within him and recognized Lin Zhilan's identity.

"Ye Tian, what are you up to?"

Lin Zhilan gazed at Ye Tian with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Her voice was soft and melodious, like the caress of jade, and her breath was tinged with a subtle, sweet fragrance.