The Martial Exam, organized by the martial arts families of Huaguo, is only open to students from martial arts high schools. For students like them, who are left to fend for themselves in society after Qi Induction, it's akin to a vocational school for slackers in a past life.
Hearing this, Yang Dong's face broke into a wide grin. Their response clearly indicated their stance, as the basic requirement for Martial Exam students is to be a Martial Artist with awakened talent!
"Alright, since you've made up your minds, I won't beat around the bush. A Talent Awakening Stone costs five million each, so for the two of you, that's ten million. After all, the principal isn't running a charity. You just need to join our Yang Family, and then..."
Yang Dong began to fantasize about the glory of recruiting two geniuses, but then Lin Xi slowly spoke.
"Principal, we just want to apply for a transfer. Just issue a certificate for us. Why are you bringing up Awakening Stones?"
Yang Dong's expression stiffened, and he felt a bit displeased. "Do you two not know that without a Talent Awakening Stone, you can't awaken your talent? And the standard for the Martial Exam is that candidates need to have awakened talent!"
"But we've already awakened our talent; it's unnecessary."
"How is that possible! Did you join another family?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Dong's expression changed, as if something had slipped out of his control, and he asked this question.
But there was no other possibility, and Lin Ye continued.
"We saved up money for a long time and bought two Awakening Stones from the black market. By chance, we both survived. It's as simple as that."
Then, Lin Ye's face broke into a strange smile. Seeing this smile, even Yang Dong, a 4th-Rank Martial Artist, couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine.
"You two are crazy. If you fail, you could be blown to pieces!"
Damn it, these two lunatics actually went to the black market to awaken, and they both survived. What kind of luck is this! Out of a hundred, you wouldn't find one, yet here there are two. It's absurd!
At this moment, Lin Xi spoke slowly, "If we died, we died. After all, we were dirt poor. If we survived, we gained; if we died, we didn't lose."
Hearing Lin Xi's thunderous words, Yang Dong was stunned. Did these words really come from the mouth of an eighteen-year-old high school girl?
Wait a minute, two geniuses with Mystic Body talent, who successfully and luckily escaped the life-and-death ordeal of the black market Awakening Stones, and they're siblings...
Honestly, even if Yang Dong didn't believe in superstition, so many low-probability events happening together was no small matter. These two were so incredibly lucky they could chop down trees! Their fortune was so high, it bordered on the mystical.
Simultaneously, he changed his previously superior attitude and asked in a gentle voice.
"But students, cultivation requires a lot of resources. Why not join a family, and then..."
"And then let the family nurture us, provide us with cultivation resources. The offer is tempting, but... we like freedom."
Lin Ye's tone suddenly intensified, and this sentence stuck in Yang Dong's throat, preventing him from speaking further. Lin Ye continued.
"Principal, we have only one purpose for coming here, to transfer."
Being repeatedly questioned by these two juniors, Yang Dong felt a bit embarrassed, but he held it in.
"Have you discussed this with your parents..."
"Our parents are dead."
Lin Xi's thunderous language system left Yang Dong speechless. He truly couldn't bear to let these two future 6th-Rank Martial Artist geniuses go! Then, he suddenly thought of something and said with a grin.
"In that case, I've decided to let you transfer. I'll arrange for you to transfer to Yuncheng East District No. 1 Martial Arts High School. There's still a month until the Martial Exam, and you can report there tomorrow."
After speaking, Yang Dong immediately wrote a recommendation letter and handed it to Lin Ye, who accepted it with a smile and said.
"Thank you, Principal."
After the two left the office, Yang Dong angrily slammed the table and then made a phone call.
"Third Brother, our school has two martial arts geniuses who transferred to your school for the Martial Exam. You must recruit them into the family!"
...
After leaving the office, the two went straight home.
Now that they had initially set foot on the martial arts path, they had become 1st-Rank Initial-Stage Martial Artists. The first thing they needed to solve was eating!
Martial artists consume a lot of energy during cultivation, so their food intake is terrifying, especially the consumption of blood food. The blood and flesh of Aberrant Beasts are particularly nourishing for cultivation, but they're ridiculously expensive, with the cheapest costing a hundred or two per pound, and the more expensive ones going for thousands or tens of thousands.
Lin Xi thought for a moment, then looked at Lin Ye's waist, her lips curling into a smile.
"My dear Oni-chan! I want some meat."
Lin Xi said in a sweet Lolita voice, acting coyly.
"Speak normally, don't use that annoying voice."
"I need a certain part of your body to exchange for some necessities."
Lin Ye:...
So you're fixated on my kidney, aren't you?
"Is there no other way for us to make money?"
Lin Xi tilted her head, "Haven't we been surviving like this for the past two years? Anyway, it grows back in a few breaths, it's no big deal."
"...We've solved the money issue, but what about techniques! What about martial skills? The school teaches the most basic breathing exercises, and our cultivation speed is several levels behind those big families. I'm not Tang Buddha, born with the eternal divine technique Xuantiangong."
Lin Xi continued, "At worst, we'll go to the black market to try our luck again! Anyway, it won't kill us!"
Looking at Lin Xi, Lin Ye's mouth twitched slightly, "Forget it, I never expected your brain to accomplish anything."
"Are you asking for a beating?"
"Aren't you? Is your brain broken? Always hanging around the black market, can you really practice with the stuff there? Just look at how unreliable the Awakening Stones were. Even if there are things, they're all discarded items, can they compare to complete ones? Huh! Can they?"
"Hmph, then tonight we'll split up. I'll go to the black market, and I want to see what good things my smart Oni-chan can come up with!"
With that, Lin Xi didn't say another word, took out a knife, and walked directly to Lin Ye. Lin Ye slowly lifted his shirt.
The knife fell, blood sprayed, preserved in low-temperature ice. Lin Xi cut and left, adding one last line before leaving.
"Thanks for the gift, Oni-chan!"
Just as Lin Xi was about to leave, a burning pain shot through her waist, and she turned back sharply.
"Lin Ye, you're such a dog! We agreed to take turns getting cut each day, and you activated Pain Sharing, how is this different from torturing me every day? I'll fight you!"
Lin Ye chuckled, immediately stopping the Pain Sharing, and said.
"Don't get excited, don't get excited. How about we compete to see who finds the better stuff, and the winner gets to cut the loser for a week."
"Alright, it's a deal!"
With determination, Lin Xi headed towards the black market, while Lin Ye shook his head.
"Silly sister, besides the black market, there's another place with plenty of social resources!"
Then, Lin Ye headed in another direction, which was his target for today, the casino in Yuncheng East District.