CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS

"Lai Zhijun, are you okay?"

Ling Feng looked apologetic; he was sure he had already awakened the first layer of Skillful Strength, pop!

"I’m fine."

Lai Zhijun struggled to stand up after a long while.

"That’s good; you all continue to train, I’ll go back to sleep."

Ling Feng waved with a smile, quickly disappearing from the rooftop.

"Even if he sleeps every day, he’s still better than you."

Lai Dadao said in exasperation.

"Impossible, he must be hiding to cultivate. One day, I’ll catch him slipping."

Lai Zhijun didn’t believe it; he couldn’t accept that Ling Feng could beat him easily without cultivating.

The next day.

Zhang Lei and his wife left early.

Zhang Qingqing was also getting up and ready to head to school for cultivation, while Ling Feng was still lying in bed sleeping.

"I heard that becoming a member of the Elite Class comes with a 100,000 yuan prize. If he’s willing to give us that money, we can pool some funds together to buy Qingqing another bottle of Nutrient Liquid."

On the way to the district entrance, Liu Feng said.

"That money from the Seven Great Star Systems Alliance is meant to enhance his strength, not to buy Nutrient Liquid for Qingqing. I’ll handle Qingqing’s issue; you don’t need to worry about it."

Zhang Lei reminded.

"Are you going to take out another high-interest loan? Why not use the funds we have?"

Liu Feng was frustrated.

"Dragging him down, what good does it do for our family?"

Zhang Lei countered.

"This..."

Liu Feng was speechless.

"That kid Xiaofeng, he’s grateful and will remember us when he achieves success. If you want to move into Inner Ring City, stop the nonsense; it’ll only cause resentment, and you’ll have no chance to regret it."

Zhang Lei warned.

"I... I was just speaking off the cuff with you."

Liu Feng hurriedly said, breaking into a cold sweat from Zhang Lei’s words.

In this resource-scarce, harsh survival world, who doesn’t look out for themselves? Offending Ling Feng would mean getting no benefits in the future.

...

Ling Feng arrived at school for cultivation at his usual time.

Since he slept through the entire day in the Elite Class training yesterday, Ling Feng’s reputation at the school had become almost legendary.

Some were righteously indignant, believing Ling Feng was wasting cultivation resources and should be expelled from the Elite Class.

Others marveled at Ling Feng’s genius, thinking he was someone who could lead the pack even without much cultivation.

Some even speculated that Ling Feng was a second-generation resource inheritor who had taken advanced potions and had his genes modified, making him extraordinary.

At the moment, his body hadn’t adapted yet, hence the sleeping spells.

After breakfast in the cafeteria, Ling Feng returned to the Elite Class.

Hong Lixin led everyone in breathing exercises as usual. The high-intensity pace left two new students feeling dizzy.

But they struggled to keep up, afraid of dozing off, knowing that breaking through this hurdle would elevate their mastery of the Tidal Breathing Method to another level.

"Bang!"

Unsurprisingly, Ling Feng passed out again.

Driven by the All-weather Breathing and Exhaling Ability, Ling Feng managed nearly two moments before drowsiness overcame him.

And he only woke up by noon to receive the Cultivation Resource Subsidy.

"Have you found the person?"

Hong Lixin was eager to give Ling Feng a lesson.

"I just got in touch with her; she’s in Inner Ring City, named Chen Duling. Their parents were comrades-in-arms, previously living in West Warehouse District. Later, Ling Feng’s parents died in the Alien Race invasion, while Chen Duling’s parents rose quickly in that battle and got the chance to live in Inner Ring City. Since then, they have lost contact. But based on my information, Ling Feng tried contacting Chen Duling multiple times after they moved, only to be stopped by her parents."

Yang Liru said.

In this hostile survival environment, threatened by Alien Race invasions, finding Ling Feng’s crush wasn’t easy.

"This is great."

"The girl he likes now lives in Inner Ring City, but he’s being stopped by her parents. Give him a chance to impress her, and I bet he’ll cherish it."

Hong Lixin said.

"I’ve already coordinated with Chen Duling; she’s agreed to watch Ling Feng’s ranking match in a livestream. Ling Feng hasn’t joined this week’s matches yet, so let him know a martial arts student named Chen Duling is waiting to watch his match. I bet he can’t remain indifferent."

Yang Liru smiled.

To change Ling Feng’s cultivation attitude, they had thought of many ways. Ultimately, they believed making Ling Feng compete before his crush would most likely spark his competitive spirit and change his cultivation mindset.

"Alright, leave it to me!"

Hong Lixin said confidently.

At the afternoon skills cultivation class.

Teng Qingshan watched Ling Feng practicing the Basic Spear Skill Thirteen Forms on the side.

Ling Feng had nearly perfected this basic spear technique and could start learning intermediate spear techniques at any time, but practicing in the Cultivation Room wasn’t like performing them in a ranking match or a life-and-death duel where every move had to be at its ultimate.

So while Ling Feng demonstrated his spear skills well, he didn’t truly unleash his full power and speed.

Teng Qingshan couldn’t discern that Ling Feng had already mastered Skillful Strength.

Moreover, after completing a routine, Ling Feng would always rest and take a drink, this lazy training style making Teng Qingshan and many students feel that Ling Feng might have used connections to enter the Elite Class.

"Ling Feng, when do you plan to participate in this week’s three ranking matches?"

Hong Lixin asked.

"On Friday, I guess."

Ling Feng replied offhandedly.

Last time, to help Zhang Lei pay off high-interest loans, he entered a ranking match the same night he became a martial artist to earn prize money.

Now the loans were paid off.

Yesterday, he also earned a 100,000 yuan prize. Ling Feng wanted to rest for a few days, gathering strength to break his previous win streak record at the ranking match and earn another substantial prize for Zhang Qingqing’s Nutrient Liquid.

Certainly, postponing the ranking match also matched his Life Chart attributes.

After all, for someone who liked to coast along, delaying was a natural habit. Last time he was forced to compete, but this time, regardless, he needed a few days’ rest.

"Let me bring you some good news, a martial arts student named Chen Duling from Inner Ring City reached out, hearing that your combat power has soared recently. She wants to watch your ranking match stream, cheering for you."

Hong Lixin smiled.

Ling Feng was taken aback.

Chen Duling?

That name felt like a forbidden term sealed by the original host, conjuring strange emotions like excitement, sadness, confusion, and heartbreak all at once.