Chapter 26: Grabbing Air . . .
Now that Liu Ruoshui and Wan Yuan had made a joint appearance, their intentions became unmistakably clear. Prior to this, the academy's Earth rank goddess walking intimately with Wan Yuan was a revelation to many, unbeknownst to the public eye.
By escorting Liu Ruoshui, Wan Yuan aimed to subject Ye Yuan to humiliation, forcing him to witness the woman of his dreams walking alongside his rival. Wan Yuan eagerly anticipated witnessing Ye Yuan's expressions of resentment, shame, and regret. To his disappointment, none of these emotions manifested on Ye Yuan's face.
From start to finish, Ye Yuan did not spare a glance for Liu Ruoshui, treating her as if she were invisible. This blatant disregard infuriated Liu Ruoshui, adding a venomous edge to her words.
Confident in her own allure, Liu Ruoshui expected Ye Yuan to be groveling, pleading with tears in his eyes for her not to leave. However, Ye Yuan's response shattered her expectations. He glanced at her emotionlessly and remarked, "A swan? Aren't you overthinking things? At best, you are a defeathered chicken. How can you be compared with a noble animal such as a swan? How can a true proud daughter of heaven spare any thoughts to seduce men?"
Liu Ruoshui, proud and popular in the Dan Wu Academy, found herself unable to refute Ye Yuan's comparison. The mention of Senior Apprentice Sister Feng further heightened the contrast, as Feng Zhiruo was an unparalleled beauty and martial talent, surpassing Liu Ruoshui in every aspect.
Despite Liu Ruoshui's anger, she couldn't deny the truth. She was left fuming, realizing that her pursuit of Ye Yuan had backfired. In her frustration, she threatened to have Fei Qingping take care of Ye Yuan in their upcoming deathmatch.
Ye Yuan, unfazed, dismissed them with a wave, leaving the two disgruntled and contemplating their failed attempt to provoke him.
Wan Yuan, not willing to accept defeat, attempted to restrain Ye Yuan physically, but the latter effortlessly evaded his grasp using a swift technique called Instant Flash. Even Liu Ruoshui was momentarily stunned by Ye Yuan's unexpected move.
As they speculated about Ye Yuan's capabilities, the conversation shifted to the possible involvement of an assassin and whether Ye Yuan was pretending to be weaker than he truly was.
Undeterred, Ye Yuan proceeded to the Scripture Library, seemingly unfazed by the commotion he left behind. Instant Flash, a technique he had displayed, was just one facet of his skills, and he had no qualms about revealing it at this stage. His true strength remained his key advantage, and he was determined to continue his pursuit of knowledge in the library.
Ye Yuan relied heavily on the Absolute Yang Finger as his primary martial technique. However, the nature of this technique dictated that it couldn't be openly displayed in front of outsiders, as it could lead to significant trouble. Consequently, Ye Yuan decided to visit the Scripture Library with the specific purpose of selecting a suitable martial technique.
The martial techniques available in the Scripture Library were not excessively profound, given that the Tranquil Cloud Sect was cautious about releasing highly advanced techniques to the outside world. Nevertheless, for Ye Yuan, the array of martial techniques in the library proved more than adequate for his needs.
Approaching the duty-bound Senior Apprentice Brother guarding the entrance, Ye Yuan respectfully made his request, handing over his identity token to facilitate his entry.
Zhao Chunyang, the Earth Rank Senior Apprentice Brother on duty, cast a disdainful glance at the token displaying the Yellow Rank symbol. This symbolized Ye Yuan's lower status within the academy. The identity token, a creation of the Dan Wu Academy, allowed one to verify a person's status with a touch of essence energy.
"Ye Yuan?" Zhao Chunyang mused, recognizing the name. After a moment of contemplation, he recalled, "You're the academy's last-place holder, Ye Yuan?"
Ye Yuan responded with a confident smile, "If there isn't a second Ye Yuan, then yes, that's me." He seemed unperturbed by the title of being the last-place holder, considering it a part of his past.
Intrigued, Zhao Chunyang handed the token back to Ye Yuan, keeping a firm grip on him as he inquired, "You're quite a sensation within the academy now. The last-place holder daring to engage in a life-and-death contract with others—what were you thinking?"
Ye Yuan, not one to shy away from the topic, smiled and replied, "Others have already trampled on my pride. I can't afford to act like a coward, don't you think?"
Laughing, Zhao Chunyang, known for his outspoken nature, remarked, "That's true. But your strength..."
Ye Yuan, undeterred, acknowledged the reality, "That's precisely why I'm here to choose martial techniques."
Zhao Chunyang, assessing Ye Yuan once again, broke into a sudden smile and commented, "Interesting. You seem different from the rumors. Go ahead then. You have two hours."
"Thank you, Senior Apprentice Brother."
Zhao Chunyang gave Ye Yuan a friendly pat on the shoulder and offered encouraging words, "Choose wisely. I'll be rooting for you when the time comes."