Chapter 113: Chapter 69: The First to Break Through to Level 8 (Part 2)

After speaking, Li Xinran let out a soft sigh and added, “You’ll have no problem breaking through. I’m not so sure about my chances.”

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister. I believe in you!”

Zhao Rui reached out and gave her a heavy pat on the shoulder.

“Ow!”

Li Xinran recoiled and glared at Zhao Rui, fuming, “Do you really see me as one of the guys?!”

“In my eyes, you’re a guy one minute and a girl the next.”

“You’re so dead! I’m not letting this go!”

Enraged, Li Xinran unleashed a flurry of kicks at Zhao Rui.

Zhao Rui just chuckled, weaving and dodging until every one of her kicks missed.

“Senior Sister, you’d better hurry and break through to Level 8. Otherwise, you won’t even be able to land a hit on me when you try to beat me up!”

Zhao Rui said with a cheeky grin.

“Hmph! Just you wait. I *will* break through to Level 8, and when I do, I’m going to make you grovel!”

Li Xinran chased him for a few steps, but seeing she couldn’t catch him, she stopped and shot him a reproachful glare.

Though she looked angry, she was actually grateful. ’She knew Zhao Rui was just trying to break her out of the funk she’d fallen into.’

A Martial Artist trains not only their body but also their mind.

If one’s mental state was in turmoil, a breakthrough would become an unattainable illusion.

As they were messing around, the door to the Quiet Chamber suddenly opened from within. Qin Rui, dressed in a training uniform, stepped out with a smile on her pretty face.

“Have you stabilized it?”

Cao Guannan asked hurriedly.

After reaching Level 8, one’s Inner Strength becomes considerable. It’s easy for it to surge uncontrollably after a breakthrough, causing the flow to become chaotic.

If not stabilized in time, one would have to spend much more time later to regulate and unblock it.

Therefore, any Martial Artist with time to spare would immediately perform a Minor Circulation after a breakthrough to stabilize their Inner Power Cultivation.

“Yes, it’s done!”

Qin Rui said cheerfully.

By now, Li Xinran and Zhao Rui had walked over as well.

A delighted Li Xinran took two steps forward and threw her arms around Qin Rui in a joyful hug.

“That’s wonderful!”

“Thanks. Xinran, you can do it too!”

The sight of the two women hugging made Zhao Rui incredibly envious. He couldn’t help but open his arms, feigning a hug, and say, “Senior Sisters, it’s my turn!”

“Get lost! In your dreams!”

Li Xinran turned to glare at him and shot a kick in his direction.

Seeing this, Qin Rui covered her mouth and giggled.

“Congratulations, Senior Sister Qin, on reaching Level 8! May your journey on the Martial Dao be smooth and triumphant from here on out!”

Zhao Rui said with a smile.

“Thank you, Junior Brother Zhao!”

Qin Rui replied sweetly.

“He’s just laying on the sweet talk. You can tell he’s up to no good. Just ignore him,”

Li Xinran huffed, feigning displeasure.

“Oh, you’re asking for it! Senior Sister, did you know? Back then, Senior Sister Xinran sold you out—”

“Zhao Rui, shut your mouth.”

“Feeling guilty, are we, Senior Sister?”

“You’re the one with a guilty conscience.”

The two of them bickered for a while longer before finally quieting down.

Qin Rui’s breakthrough to Level 8 was a joyous occasion for their small group. As the saying goes, the first step is always the hardest.

Qin Rui had gotten them off to a great start.

The four of them found a place for a celebratory lunch. Afterward, Li Xinran and Cao Guannan eagerly returned to the Martial Arts Institute.

They wanted to continue their diligent training, hoping to break through soon themselves.

As for Qin Rui, when she heard Zhao Rui was heading back to a study hall, she figured she had nothing better to do. She decided to tag along, wander the campus, and check out the School of Accounting building.

“Senior Sister, don’t you guys at the Martial Arts Academy have to study for your academic classes?”

Zhao Rui asked curiously as they walked.

“We do, but they’re much simpler, relatively speaking. They don’t require much effort.”

“Oh.”

Zhao Rui nodded.

“Actually, the environment in the Outer Courtyard is better than the Martial Arts Institute. It’s more liberating, and there’s more life to it.”

Watching the endless stream of students coming and going across campus, Qin Rui’s eyes were filled with a sense of novelty.

“There are two sides to everything. To the Outer Courtyard students, the Martial Arts Academy is the most mysterious place with the best scenery.”

Zhao Rui finished with a smile, then walked over to a small convenience store under the stairs of Cafeteria Five. He bought three hot, roasted sweet potatoes and handed one to Qin Rui.

“How did you know I like roasted sweet potatoes?”

Qin Rui asked with a small, pretty smile.

“Er, can I say I didn’t?”

Zhao Rui said with a laugh.

“You’re so clueless. You’ll never find a girlfriend like that!”

Qin Rui teased with a smile.

“I want to focus on my goals for another couple of years. When I get tired of the struggle, Senior Sister, you’ll have to take me in!”

“In your dreams!”

Qin Rui’s lips curled into a smile. She looked down at the steaming sweet potato and took a small, delicate bite.

“It’s so sweet!”

The two walked and ate, making their way halfway across campus before arriving near the School of Accounting building.

“Well, this is pretty much it. The one in front is the administration building, and the two behind it are for classes. Everything else is shared by the whole university.”

Zhao Rui gave a simple introduction to his School of Accounting.

“I think it’s nice. The campus is huge, and it’s not all sectioned off. Not like the Martial Arts Academy, which is kept separate.

I heard it all used to be integrated.”

“Really?”

“I think it was because of some policy reform, but I’m not really sure.”

After wandering for a bit, Zhao Rui said, “Senior Sister, feel free to look around some more. I’m going to go study.”

“Go study? Can I come? I can supervise you while I’m at it.”

Qin Rui thought for a moment before asking tentatively.

“Would that be a problem?”

“No, not at all. Let’s go.”

Hearing that she could come, Qin Rui’s face lit up. “Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t disturb you.”

“Let’s go, then!”

“Alright, then.”

Zhao Rui smiled helplessly and led a visibly excited Qin Rui into the classroom building.

“Wow, there are so many people studying here.”

Once inside, Qin Rui looked around with great interest.

“Senior Sister, please don’t act like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, okay?”

Zhao Rui said, exasperated.

“But this really is my first time inside an Outer Courtyard classroom building.”

“Oh…”

Only then did it dawn on Zhao Rui. ’He’d jumped to conclusions.’

Martial Arts Students might wander around campus, but they had no real reason to stroll through an Outer Courtyard classroom building.

Unless they were a couple coming for a study date.

The two followed the hallway and soon arrived at the classroom for Zhao Rui’s accounting program.

“Senior Sister, if you get bored, feel free to go walk around.”

“Okay, I know. I promise I won’t disturb you.”

After this brief exchange, Zhao Rui led Qin Rui inside.

Hearing the door open, a few of the students still studying in the classroom glanced over.

’What a beautiful girl!’

The moment they saw Qin Rui, the eyes of the male students lit up with astonishment.

The unparalleled aura unique to a female Martial Arts Student, combined with Qin Rui’s delicate features, was truly a stunning sight.

However, when they saw she was with Zhao Rui, the light in their eyes instantly died.

’No matter how beautiful she was, she wasn’t someone they could hope to pursue.’

Once in the classroom, Zhao Rui led Qin Rui to his usual seat.

Just then, He Wanqing, who had been engrossed in a book at her desk, heard the commotion. She lifted her head slightly, and her eyes fell upon Zhao Rui walking in with a beautiful girl.

The expression on her pretty face immediately grew complicated.

For a moment, she was completely flustered.

“Wanqing, let me introduce you. This is Qin Rui, a senior from the Martial Arts Team. And this is my classmate, He Wanqing.”

Zhao Rui introduced them matter-of-factly.

Qin Rui’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she took the initiative. “Hi there!”

“Hello, Senior.”

Seeing how at ease the other girl was, He Wanqing’s own thoughts cleared, and her awkwardness faded.

She then smiled and returned the greeting, “Hello, Senior.”

“You can sit here.”

Once they’d been introduced, Zhao Rui pointed to an empty seat beside him, motioning for Qin Rui to sit.

He also pulled a book for leisure reading from his desk drawer and passed it to her.

“Senior Sister, you can read this for a bit. I have to get back to studying.”

“You go ahead.”

Qin Rui smiled, took the book, and casually began to flip through it.

’She had come here purely on a whim, just to see what it was like and to calm the residual excitement from her breakthrough.’

After getting Qin Rui settled, Zhao Rui pushed one of the roasted sweet potatoes he had bought across the desk to He Wanqing.

He said, “Eat it while it’s hot.”

Seeing the roasted sweet potato—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and steaming with a sweet aroma—a happy smile blossomed on He Wanqing’s face.

She nodded eagerly and began to gently peel the skin.

Qin Rui, who was pretending to read off to the side, saw this and rolled her eyes. ’No wonder the little rascal bought three of them.’

The male students in the back of the classroom watched Zhao Rui sitting with two girls—both of them stunning.

They were filled with envy.

They sighed to themselves, ’Why don’t I have any talent for the Martial Dao?’

’If I did, I’d be the one with a beauty on each arm right now.’

None of these thoughts had anything to do with Zhao Rui. He was completely focused on how to study, raise his grades, and pass his final exams.

As soon as He Wanqing finished her sweet potato, he immediately started asking her about the topics he didn’t understand.

He looked every bit the diligent student, eager for instruction.

Watching him study with such single-minded focus, Qin Rui couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration.

’It probably takes this level of focus and dedication for someone from the Outer Courtyard to earn a spot on the Martial Arts Team.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep