"Boss, isn’t that Lucian and Evelyn?"
One of Erin’s followers noticed Lucian and Evelyn sitting together and quietly pointed them out.
Erin glanced over.
His expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
If Lucian had remained a Common person and failed to Awaken, Erin couldn’t have dealt with him personally. As an Awakened or future Martial Artist, he would have had to find someone else to do it for him.
But now, Lucian had Awakened as well.
That meant Erin could deal with him himself.
A cold smile appeared in Erin’s eyes.
The college entrance examination’s beast-hunting grounds will be your grave.
Lucian wouldn’t be smug for much longer.
Erin calmly looked at him, his gaze carrying the coldness of someone looking at a dead man.
Then he turned away and continued devouring the mutated beast meat in front of him, no longer paying Lucian any attention....
After returning to his dorm, Lucian didn’t go to sleep right away.
Instead, he opened his personal Martial Artist Terminal and checked the first-stage versions of the Shadow Kill Secret Canon and the Floating Pagoda Mysterious Skill. After confirming the exchange requirements, he exchanged for both Cultivation Techniques without hesitation.
Lucian’s guess had been correct.
His Divine-Rank Talent truly allowed him to Cultivate multiple Cultivation Techniques simultaneously without causing any conflict.
He then checked on his Shadow Soldiers.
Sure enough, they had already begun Cultivating both the Shadow Kill Secret Canon and the Floating Pagoda Mysterious Skill.
Seeing this, Lucian finally felt at ease.
He lay down and went to sleep, completely satisfied.
But while Lucian slept, his Shadow Soldiers continued Cultivating without rest.
They had already completed 72 cycles, reaching the stage of Large Circulation. As their cultivation progressed, the Energy within their Meridians became increasingly vast and powerful.
And as their strength continued to grow, Lucian’s physical body grew stronger along with them.
The next morning, Lucian stretched lazily after waking up.
"Another bright and sunny day. What a wonderful morning!"
He got out of bed, glanced at himself, and couldn’t help but feel that he looked even more handsome than yesterday.
It was Saturday, a day off from school.
Since there were no classes, Lucian had slept all the way past eight in the morning.
Lucian glanced at the message Evelyn had sent him shortly after seven.
"I’m going to buy some medicines for Grandma. Once you’re up, let’s go grab something to eat together. I’ll pick you up at the school gate."
Evelyn really was kind.
Lucian looked at the tireless Shadow Soldiers cultivating within his Martial Soul Space and couldn’t help but think,
You guys are pretty great too.
After washing up and tidying his things, Lucian sent Evelyn a message telling her that he was waiting at the school gate.
Not long after, a red Ferrari came speeding toward him like a streak of lightning before coming to a smooth stop in front of him.
Lucian casually opened the passenger door, climbed in, and greeted her.
"Good morning, Evelyn!"
"Good morning!"
Evelyn was dressed casually today, but even so, her stunning beauty was impossible to hide. Her sunglasses covered part of her face, yet they did little to conceal her breathtaking appearance.
Lucian was momentarily stunned again.
He quickly looked away and glanced toward the back seat.
It was filled with bags and gift boxes.
Curious, Lucian took a closer look and immediately realized what they were.
They were all extremely precious tonics specially meant for the elderly.
Seeing the sheer amount of them, Lucian couldn’t help but be moved.
Evelyn had clearly put a lot of thought into this.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Cheeseburger!"
"Okay!"
At the school gate, several boys watched as Evelyn drove away in her red Ferrari with Lucian sitting in the passenger seat.
They stood there for a long time, their eyes filled with undisguised envy.
"That Lucian really got lucky. He actually caught Evelyn’s attention!"
"Who can blame her? Look at how handsome he is. If I were that good-looking, I’d find ten rich women to support me!"
"Can you even handle ten?"
"That’s none of your business."
The boys burst into laughter, their voices fading as the Ferrari disappeared into the distance....
Evelyn’s expression became increasingly strange as she watched Lucian finish his tenth burger.
Is this guy a bottomless pit?
Lucian didn’t want to eat this much either.
But the Shadow Soldiers were Cultivating tirelessly within his Martial Soul Space, constantly strengthening his body and greatly increasing his physical potential. As a result, his energy consumption had risen dramatically, making him hungry far more quickly, and far more intensely, than before.
"Lucian, have you successfully begun absorbing Energy? Is that why your appetite has increased so much?"
"Yeah. I tried again last night and found that the Shadow Kill Secret Canon is actually quite suitable for me. I’ve already successfully sensed and absorbed Energy."
Lucian didn’t reveal that he had successfully Cultivated three different Cultivation Techniques simultaneously. He simply told Evelyn that he had successfully absorbed Energy through the Shadow Kill Secret Canon.
Evelyn nodded thoughtfully.
"It seems that although your Talent is only D-Rank, your Comprehension Ability is quite impressive."
She analyzed the situation calmly.
"Normally, a D-Rank Talent needs about two days to successfully sense Energy and roughly a week to begin absorbing it. Your cultivation speed is already faster than that of most D-Rank Talents."
Lucian smiled without saying anything.
If you knew the truth, you’d probably be shocked.
"Of course! Don’t you know who I am? I’m consistently ranked among the top ten students in the entire school when it comes to academics. My Talent may not be able to compare with yours, but you can’t say anything bad about my Comprehension Ability."
Lucian couldn’t resist praising himself again.
Still, he wasn’t exaggerating. His academic performance had always been excellent, and he had consistently ranked among the top ten in the school.
After wiping his mouth, Lucian looked at Evelyn, who had been patiently waiting for him to finish.
"I’m full. Let’s go, Driver Evelyn."
Evelyn rolled her eyes at him but didn’t say anything.
The red Ferrari soon left the bustling city behind and headed toward the remote Slums.
Far behind them, a figure stood silently watching the Ferrari disappear into the distance....
Sterling Family
"Clan Chief, Young Miss has taken Lucian to the Slums."
A tall figure listened silently as Dark One reported the news over the phone.
A young man stood beside him.
"Big Brother, I really don’t understand. As the Young Miss of the Sterling Family, Evelyn is practically the princess of our family.
"Now that she has even awakened an S-Rank Talent, why do you still allow her to stay with Lucian, that poor boy? How can someone from the Slums even dream of touching the pearl of our Sterling Family?
"More importantly, Big Brother, you never stopped them. You’ve allowed this to continue for so many years.
"With Evelyn’s S-Rank Talent, she could easily marry into a first-rate Family. That would greatly strengthen our Sterling Family and perhaps even give us a chance to return to the Creston.
"I really don’t understand what you’re thinking, Big Brother."
The handsome Adrian Sterling looked at the tall figure beside him, his face filled with agitation and confusion.
"Children and grandchildren have their own lives to live. Evelyn has her own happiness, and as long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.
"Besides, my daughter is not a tool to be used for marriage alliances, nor is she a stepping stone for the Sterling Family to increase its strength."
Magnus Sterling spoke, he calmly glanced at Adrian.
"I know you have connections with several first-rate Families in the Capital and the Demon Capital. If you want to do business, then do it properly.
"But if I ever find out that you have any intention of treating my daughter as a business deal, then even if you’re my cousin, I’ll make sure you understand exactly what the word ’regret’ means."
Adrian’s body trembled, and he instinctively took a step back.
For the first time in years, he felt a familiar chill run down his spine.
The Sterling Family had moved to Silverwood City eighteen years ago. Over the years, their comfortable life had gradually made Adrian forget just how terrifying his elder cousin could be.
The man who had once stood alone on the battlefield, cutting through entire beast armies and striking fear into the hearts of countless beasts, now stood before him.
His cousin, Magnus Sterling.
Although Magnus’s voice remained calm, there was an overwhelming sense of power and dominance beneath that calmness.
Adrian’s agitated expression instantly turned pale.
"Big Brother, I didn’t mean that. Evelyn is my niece. How could I possibly have such thoughts?"
"It’s best that you don’t."
Magnus’s voice remained indifferent.
"Our Sterling Family hasn’t fallen so low that we need to sell our daughters for glory.
"And even if such a day ever comes, I believe our Sterling Family would have no reason to exist anymore.
"Relying on a woman from the family to secure its prosperity is nothing but shameful."
Magnus’s eyes sharpened.
"Strength is something you fight for. It isn’t something you beg for or depend on others to give you."
He withdrew his gaze and turned his back to Adrian.
"Too much comfort has dulled your fighting spirit. Arrange your affairs and head to the beast battlefield. It’s time for you to temper yourself."
"Yes, Big Brother. I understand."
Adrian lowered his head respectfully, no longer daring to argue.
Adrian’s already pale face turned even whiter.
The beast battlefield was nothing short of a meat grinder.
"Don’t look at it so negatively. Going to the beast battlefield isn’t necessarily a bad thing for you. You’ve been stuck at the Martial General realm for far too long. It’s time to make a Breakthrough."
"A Martial Artist can only advance faster by tempering themselves through blood and fire."
"Understood, Big Brother."
Adrian’s expression gradually became serious as he seemed to understand the meaning behind Magnus’s words.
"This time, I will definitely Breakthrough to the Martial King realm."