Chapter 74: Crossing Hands (Thanks to the reward support from


    Trantor: 549690339


    “I concede.” Pei Jinye saw Fang Tianjian retreat and not press the attack, and though he felt a tinge of regret, he still bowed in respect.


    Fang Tianjian’s expression remained stern, and it took a while for him to force a reluctant smile, “You’re very impressive. If you continue to cultivate, ordinary people will not be your match.”


    Pei Jinye then asked, “May I ask how to address you, sir?”


    “Fang Tianjian.”


    “Pei Jinye, pleased to meet you.”


    “Pei Jinye? That’s a good name. I’ll remember it.” Fang Tianjian stared at Pei Jinye with a meaningful look, making sure that the other was not pretending to not recognize him before nodding in acknowledgment and turning to leave.


    However, as he passed by the staircase, his gaze suddenly paused on a blue-and-white lunchbox. He involuntarily halted for about two seconds before casually moving on.


    The trainees guarding the back mountain entrance saw hime out and dispersed.


    Not long after leaving the back mountain, Fang Tianjian bumped into Tang Huoyang, who was rushing over.


    Tang Huoyang’s face was anxious, apparently blending new grudges with old ones, and without much care, he stepped forward to block Fang Tianjian’s path, lowering his voice to warn, “Don’t go too far, Fang Tianjian.”


    Fang Tianjian looked at Tang Huoyang with a sneer of contempt, “If it were Li Xiaoyin threatening me right now, I might actually have concerns, but as for you… what makes you think you can warn me?”


    He shook his head.


    Dismissing the matter, “Come talk to me when you can beat me.”


    As he walked past Tang Huoyang, his next words were piercing, “Even Pei Jinye is stronger than you. In terms of being an opponent, he’s more qualified than you.”


    Tang Huoyang watched Fang Tianjian’s retreating figure with furrowed brows and said nothing.


    The surrounding trainees had already scattered.


    Tang Huoyang huffed and quickly entered the back mountain, only to see Pei Jinye casually hitting the ironwood stakes as if nothing had happened, which took him aback.


    “Old Pei, you… you’re alright?”


    “I’m fine, what’s up?” Pei Jinye delivered a ‘Sticking to the mountain’ heavy hammer on the ironwood stake, the recent sparring having made him more perceptive.


    Tang Huoyang saw no wounds on him, nor did he seem to be feigning happiness, which made him even more confused.


    Knowing Fang Tianjian as he did, Old Pei had emerged unscathed.


    It couldn’t possibly mean that Fang Tianjian hadn’t been able to defeat Old Pei, could it?


    Impossible!


    When Old Pei and I spar, we are evenly matched!


    Tang Huoyang immediately dismissed the thought.


    But seeing Pei Jinye eager to test and refine his moves, he swallowed the words that had reached his lips.


    He thought to himself, “I have no clue what that guy is really up to!”


    In a teahouse not far from the Bronze Association.


    Fang Tianjian downed a cup of Spiritual Tea in one gulp to suppress the surging blood energy within his body.


    The crew-cut youth across him asked with interest, “Old Fang, today’s event doesn’t really seem like your style.”


    Fang Tianjian nced at him and said indifferently, “What ‘style’ do you think I have?”


    The crew-cut youth chuckled lightly, “You’re known for repaying debts and avenging grudges. Everyone knows about the great young master Fang’s reputation. To tell the truth, I thought you’d have given that kid a thrashing in the back mountain.”


    Fang Tianjian remained silent, his face cold.


    Give a thrashing?


    At first, he indeed intended to teach Pei Jinye a lesson.


    However, he preferred to keep things subtle, as being too obvious would make him seem petty and vindictive.


    But never had he expected that the one named Pei Jinye would be stronger than he had imagined.


    And what threw him off more was that, no matter how much he increased his attack speed, his opponent’s physical body was like a b of iron… When did the ‘Exfoliate’ defense be so strong?


    “I nced a couple of times, and it seems that the kid must have practiced some Body Refinement Technique… He’s a tough one, a member of the Psychic ss daring to dangerously cultivate Body Techniques. I’ve heard that those who forcefully refine their bodies have short lifespans,” said the crew-cut youth, squinting his eyes.


    Fang Tianjian nced at him: “You seem to know him quite well?”


    The crew-cut youth smiled: “I happened to have nothing else to do, and since Li Xiaoyin, that crazy woman, took such good care of him, I simply looked into it a bit. This kid could really have some good fortune if he had our kind of background, but unfortunately…”


    Fang Tianjian retracted his gaze, ying with a jade porcin teacup in his hands: “So you think he’s destined to have a short life?”


    “Who can say for sure about these things.” The crew-cut youth suddenly smiled and looked over: “What, has the illustrious Young Master Fang developed an interest in recruiting talent?”


    Fang Tianjian didn’t speak.


    The crew-cut youth didn’t hold anything back: “I’ve always thought that Body Refinement harms the Physical Body greatly, and right now it looks like he can recover by taking nourishing herbs that replenish blood energy, but in theter stages of Body Refinement… Not to mention few people ever reach that level, whether he’ll even be alive to do so is another matter. I don’t want our family’s resources to be wasted on someone who turns out to have a short life.”


    That said, he looked at Fang Tianjian.


    “If you want to try, go ahead. Now he’s caught Li Xiaoyin’s attention, who knows, maybe next he’ll even catch the eye of Sun Ruofan’s father… If you ce your bet early, you won’t lose out.”


    “Then why don’t you do the same?” Fang Tianjian asked, his gaze steady.


    The crew-cut youth shook his head: “My family’s not like the Fang Family, we’re just a minor household. There’s not enough resources to go around for our own blood rtives, let alone outsiders. And I’m not sure if Li Xiaoyin has told him about the matters between the Li family and mine, I don’t want to embarrass myself.”


    Fang Tianjian nodded in understanding.


    He was aware of the matters between their families and the Li family.


    After a moment of silence, he said: “Do you think he’de if I tried to recruit him?”


    The crew-cut youth casually took a sip of his tea: “Old Fang, I’m not some God Immortal who can predict everything with a wave of my hand. I don’t know if he’ll ept your offer, but I can tell you one thing for sure, if you get too close to him, Li Xiaoyin will take notice… Do you still remember Jiang Lingsu?”


    Fang Tianjian raised an eyebrow.


    The other said teasingly: “That youngdy wanted to hook up with another freeborer like before, but ended up being warned by Li Xiaoyin. I heard Miss Li specifically taught Miss Jiang a lesson right before she left. Otherwise, why do you think she hasn’t dared toe to the associationtely?”


    Fang Tianjian frowned: “Li Xiaoyin dares to be so public about it?”


    “Her father’s about to advance upwards.” The crew-cut youth gestured upwards.


    Fang Tianjian finally realized and hesitated for a moment.


    He lifted his head and asked, “So what do you think Li Xiaoyin sees in him?”


    “Who knows? Isn’t it just that thing between men and women…” The crew-cut youth shrugged.


    Fang Tianjian firmly shook his head: “I don’t believe it. Li Xiaoyin is not that kind of person.”


    “Then what is she after?”


    The crew-cut youth’s rhetorical question left Fang Tianjian speechless.


    Indeed, what was she after?


    Behind the mountains of the Bronze Association.


    Pei Jinye improved several Exfoliate movements, and his striking technique became increasingly skilled.


    A ringtone interrupted his cultivation.


    “Ice Sister?” Pei Jinye was somewhat surprised by the call.


    “The date for the Psychic ss elite examination has been set, November 3rd.”


    Ice Sister’s voice came through from the other end of the phone.


    “The 3rd?” Pei Jinye calcted in his mind and blurted out: “That gives us only five days.”


    “Right, that’s why I’m telling you in advance. Remember toe to the school on the 1st. Call me before youe, I’ll personally issue your admission ticket… Also, I’ve heard that besides you, there are two others from Da Peng City who have signed up this year.”


    Pei Jinye slightly raised an eyebrow.


    It seemed Ice Sister knew what he was thinking, and she said calmly: “Details about thepetitors in the elite examination are highly confidential, very few people know, so don’t worry. By the way, how’s your cultivation going? I haven’t seen you for a while.”


    “I’ve started Exfoliating.”


    “That quick?”


    Ice Sister was stunned.


    This kid had surprised her once again.