Chapter 63: Faces

Her illness, after being treated by that person,

not only returned to normal, but her mind became clear, sharp, and insightful.

That person said this was her true self.

But sometimes, she displayed an unusual degree of obsession.

Jiang Jian clearly remembered.

At age ten, when they first moved to the public care district.

He was moving furniture and accidentally injured his arm.

Jiang Zhao ran downstairs and bought gauze and antiseptic.

But he was busy working and refused her.

In just a few seconds,

Jiang Zhao fell silent, stood frozen in place, and became as dull and foolish as before.

It took fully six months before she slowly returned to normal.

Since then, for seven years,

Jiang Jian had never again refused any trivial gesture of concern from Jiang Zhao.

Likewise, Jiang Zhao had never again suffered a relapse.

But her concern for Jiang Jian still exceeded the ordinary.

Jiang Jian had his suspicions about the reason.

After all,

back at the public care center, that person had cured Jiang Zhao’s illness.

The medicinal ingredients used were taken from him.

“Level 3 Talent Cluster, Heart: Clear Mind and Pure Intent, Price: 1.1 million Alliance Credits.”

“Level 3 Talent Cluster, Heart: Spiritual Wisdom and Insight, Price: 1.3 million Alliance Credits.”

Jiang Jian browsed his identity device, searching the Linjiang network for a suitable Talent Cluster for his sister.

These talents could both clear the mind and sharpen spiritual perception.

They could completely eliminate the symptoms of dullness and mental stagnation.

“Spiritual Wisdom and Insight is more suitable.”

Jiang Jian temporarily saved it, then closed his identity device.

In his backpack, he still had nineteen pieces of refined iron.

If he sold them all through Shi Xuan, he could get 7.6 million Alliance Credits.

A 1.3 million Alliance Credit Talent Cluster could be bought outright, with plenty left over.

A Level 3 Talent Cluster, though expensive,

had a very high chance of curing Jiang Zhao’s illness entirely.

For Jiang Jian, his current state of mind had not yet reached the point of viewing all things as grass and wood.

Under these circumstances,

the fewer distractions around him, the more he could focus on cultivation.

The aerial shuttle came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived.”

Shi Xuan, carrying Yueyue Dao on his back, leapt out of the cabin first.

Jiang Jian stepped down the gangway, greeted Liu Tiezhu and Shan Ye, then headed straight for the tiered classroom.

The administrative tower.

“Jiang Jian, you’ve finally arrived.”

Wu Hai strode forward, staring eagerly at Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian placed the black cloth bundle on the desk and untied it: “Teacher Wu, the ten pieces of refined iron you requested.”

Wu Hai beamed, running his fingers over the iron: “I’ve already applied for 2,000 academic credits for you—they’re ready to be transferred anytime.”

He tore his gaze from the iron and looked at Jiang Jian’s backpack: “Jiang Jian, do you have more refined iron?”

Jiang Jian replied calmly: “I have a little left, but I gave it all to Shi Xuan to sell for me.”

Wu Hai’s eyes showed regret: “If you sold it to me, I’d pay you 250,000 Alliance Credits per piece!”

Jiang Jian smiled but said nothing.

On the Linjiang network, the official price for each piece of refined iron was 200,000 Alliance Credits, but it was always out of stock.

Sell it anywhere, and you’d get no less than 300,000 Alliance Credits.

“This Wu Hai is truly greedy.”

Jiang Jian recalled what Shan Ye had said.

After Wu Hai had put away the iron,

Jiang Jian pulled out his identity device: “Teacher Wu, transfer 1,250 credits to me, and split the rest into three parts for Shi Xuan, Shan Ye, and Liu Tiezhu.”

Wu Hai nodded: “Of course.”

Academic credits, once transferred, belonged solely to the recipient.

They could not be traded or transferred.

Wu Hai had his own information channels and knew Jiang Jian had formed a study team for learning missions.

“You have received 1,250 academic credits.”

“Your remaining credits: 1,650.”

At the same time,

the sound of Alliance Credits arriving echoed.

“Payment received: 300,000 Alliance Credits.”

“Your balance: 1,137,609 Alliance Credits.”

Wu Hai smiled, pointing upward: “Your refined iron solved my urgent problem—thank you.”

Jiang Jian packed his backpack: “If you hadn’t assigned it, this mission wouldn’t have come to me.”

Both smiled.

Leaving the office,

Jiang Jian took the aerial shuttle directly back to the dormitory complex.

“What would you like to eat?”

Jiang Jian opened the door; the robotic butler stepped forward.

“Not yet.”

Jiang Jian sat back on the sofa and opened the Sky Ladder system.

“You have a new challenge!”

A notification chimed.

A challenge message glowed faintly.

Jiang Jian opened the message.

Shi Luohua’s voice came through: “Jiang Jian, I’ve prepared twenty crates of cultivation herbs—fight me.”

Twenty crates of cultivation herbs meant 200,000 Alliance Credits.

He paused to think.

Jiang Jian immediately dialed real-time communication.

A few seconds later,

the call connected.

Shi Luohua’s voice, though calm, held surprise: “Jiang Jian, why are you calling me?”

Jiang Jian countered: “Didn’t you send me the challenge first? I’m calling to discuss the details.”

Shi Luohua fell silent for a moment, then said: “Fine.”

Jiang Jian didn’t hide his intent: “Change the fighting format.”

“What do you want to change?”

Shi Luohua asked.

Jiang Jian said softly: “300,000 Alliance Credits—no win or loss, I’ll fight you ten times.”

Shi Luohua froze, then bit out: “What do you mean? I pay you no matter who wins?”

Jiang Jian nodded: “We’re not betting. I’m your sparring partner—you pay me. How’s that?”

Shi Luohua wasn’t foolish: “But fighting me, you’ll improve too—you get paid and train your combat awareness. You get all the benefits!”

Jiang Jian smiled: “You’re Level 4 Talent. In the campus, few can match you. Right now, I’m the only suitable sparring partner you have.”

Shi Luohua fell silent again.

A few seconds later, she spoke: “I can enter the Sky Ladder rankings or take on learning missions.”

Jiang Jian said: “Then go ahead.”

With that, Jiang Jian ended the call.

On the other end, Shi Luohua frowned, hesitating whether to ask Jiang Jian to spar.

300,000 Alliance Credits for ten fights.

300,000 Alliance Coins per match—too expensive.

No matter how rich she is, she can’t spend like this.

But Shi Luohua was precisely at a critical stage in cultivating her innate talent.

Whether it was the Ladder Ranking Tournament or learning assignments.

None had pressured her as much as Jiang Jian’s last theory class.

Shi Luohua had a feeling.

If she fought Jiang Jian again, just like last time.

Her innate talent cultivation would surely break through.

“Forget it.”

Shi Luohua exhaled. “I’ll wait until next week’s cultivation class and ask Teacher Zhang.”

After thinking it over.

She chose to save the 300,000 Alliance Coins.

Dormitory complex.

Jiang Jian opened the virtual pod and stepped inside; the glass lid slowly closed.

“I now have 1.1 million Alliance Coins.”

“If I can earn Shi Luohua’s 300,000 Alliance Coins.”

“That would be just enough to buy the Level 3 innate talent orb.”

Lights flickered around him; Jiang Jian tapped the holographic screen, paying little heed to what had just happened.

If Shi Luohua insisted on giving him money, it was certainly a good thing.

Others weren’t fools; he couldn’t force them.

“With enough time, I can still enter the Ladder Ranking Tournament.”

On her identity device, light flashed.

“Verification successful!”

(End of Chapter)