Watch out! Something's wrong with this guard.

Winter snow blanketed the land, and in the blink of an eye, the world was completely draped in a white veil. Fine snowflakes drifted down from the sky, creating an unforgettable, bone-chilling cold.

"Winter came a little late this year, but it seems colder than before, and it just so happens to be assessment day now."

"What's there to be afraid of? Buying a stone will prevent freezing. It's just a matter of spending some money. At least I need to keep myself in good condition for the assessment."

"Sigh, I don't know if I can pass the assessment this time. I really hope I can become an average student. I heard from my senior that life is only possible in the mountains."

"You? With only mid-stage Body Tempering strength, you're just here to be a runner-up for others. Forget about passing the assessment, who do you think you can beat?"

"So what if you're in the middle stage of Body Tempering? You're qualified to participate too, aren't you? We're testing your strength, not your cultivation level."

"You probably don't even know the rules. The rule this time is that all beginners who are at the mid-stage of Body Tempering or above will have a certified crystal. The crystal will recognize its owner and then follow its owner to challenge other beginners."

Half a month later, only those who obtain one hundred crystals will be qualified to go up the mountain and become intermediate students. Moreover, there's a requirement for these one hundred crystals: at least thirty of them must be those possessed by late-stage Body Tempering students. Judging from what you just said, you're quite strong? You're confident you can obtain one hundred crystals, and even get thirty from late-stage Body Tempering cultivators?

"Ah, it's just so-so."

"Then you are talking nonsense."

"Look over there, someone else has been challenged."

At this very moment, it was the day of the novice students' assessment. The novice students gathered together, while the cultivators in the early stages of body tempering naturally felt no psychological pressure and were simply watching the show.

Not all mid-stage Body Tempering cultivators who qualified for the competition were aiming to go up the mountain. At least most of the mid-stage Body Tempering beginners knew they had no hope of going up the mountain, since the rule of obtaining thirty crystals belonging to late-stage Body Tempering students had already blocked their path.

They decided to think about how to exchange their crystals for profit. Instead of waiting for others to come and challenge them, they might as well sell their crystals.

"Two packets of Blood-Drawing Powder and a crystal? Are you dreaming?" A shrewd and mature-looking young man exclaimed in surprise, clenching his fist right in front of the boy in front of him.

"I spent a lot of money to buy this. If I don't make some money... Brother, you think I have no reason to do this." The young man looked at the fist in front of him with apprehension, but he was still very stubborn. His late-stage Body Tempering strength was enough to deal with the person in front of him who was only in the mid-stage Body Tempering.

The shrewd young man nodded and smiled upon hearing this, seemingly agreeing with the other person's words.

"Well said, well said! If I remember correctly, it's Li Lei, right?"

"Huh? No, how did you know my name is Li Lei?" Li Lei was stunned for a moment, and a bad feeling arose in his heart.

The shrewd young man did not answer the question, but simply placed his hand on his shoulder.

"I heard you were an honest person, that's why I came to buy from you, but it seems that's not the case. Li Lei... you're quite good, but I remember you have a girlfriend named Han Meimei, right? You must love her very much, even staying at the foot of the mountain to wait for her to go up together. Was selling the crystals at a high price this time also for her? Wanting to give her more resources?"

Li Lei swallowed hard, his back drenched in sweat.

"Han Meimei seems to be quite good-looking, but her talent and strength are not very good. She relies entirely on your late-stage Body Tempering strength to protect her down the mountain. To ensure this, you almost never fight anyone unless absolutely necessary. You must be very afraid that she will be left unprotected. You must have also thought about what the consequences would be if you were injured."

Upon hearing this, Li Lei flew into a rage and was about to say something when the person threatening him raised his hand to interrupt him.

“I know you’re angry, but don’t be angry yet. I also know you really want to hit me, but don’t do it yet. You need to think carefully about whether you really should throw this punch. You’ve been a lone wolf almost all the time to protect her and prevent her from being seduced by someone else. You have no one to help you, and life has been very hard. I’m different… I have brothers.”

As he spoke, the shrewd-eyed boy narrowed his eyes and smiled, extending a finger towards Li Lei.

"I won't let you suffer a loss either. You have a total of thirty crystals. How about half a packet of Blood-Drawing Powder and one pill?"

Li Lei calmed down at this point. After a long while, he took a deep breath and finally nodded. Even if he only took half a package, he could still make a profit.

"Alright, bring me the crystal and the Blood-Drawing Powder." The shrewd young man smiled slightly, stretched out his hand, and his eyes were cunning.

"Wait? What do you mean?" As if he didn't understand what the other person was thinking, Li Lei froze.

“I should have made myself very clear. Half a packet of Blood-Guiding Powder costs one crystal. You have a total of thirty crystals, which is a round number. So what you need to give me is fifteen packets of Blood-Guiding Powder and thirty crystals.” The exquisite young man squinted, his tone solemn.

"I sell you something, and I still have to pay you?" Li Lei's chest heaved, so angry he could barely breathe.

"I was supposed to give it to you, but you didn't know what was good for you, so now you have to give it to me." The shrewd young man sighed and gently patted Li Lei's shoulder.

"I'm here to do business with you in good faith, just now and now. But if you're not willing to reason with me, I don't mind having the people behind me talk to you about physics."

"Who's behind you?" Li Lei didn't let his anger cloud his judgment and charge forward. Instead, he forced back his anger and asked.

"Li Hongying." The shrewd young man smiled crookedly, lifted the corner of his clothes to reveal a rough wooden plaque with a mark on it.

Upon hearing these three words, Li Lei trembled, clearly showing great fear.

"That crazy woman."

“Crazy woman, I can’t pretend I didn’t hear that. Do you need me to remember it?” the shrewd young man said.

"No..." Li Lei's lips twitched, and he reluctantly handed over the crystal. He didn't doubt that what the other party said was false. The wooden token was indeed something that only Li Hongying's people could possess, and no one among the beginners would dare to counterfeit this jade token. Otherwise, even someone in the late stage of Body Tempering would definitely be chased and killed by that crazy woman.

If it were just one person, it would be fine. Although the woman was strong, they were both at the late stage of Body Tempering, and Li Lei could at least protect himself. But that crazy woman had no martial ethics; she would call for help.

"I've really bitten off more than I can chew this time. As for the Blood-Drawing Powder... I don't have that much right now. I'll give it to you in a month." Li Lei gritted his teeth. He had no choice but to accept his fate. If he had known that the person in front of him was on Li Hongying's side, he would never have made this deal.

"Half a month." The shrewd young man shook his head, cutting the time in half. Upon hearing this, Li Lei, who had already taken a step forward, immediately stopped, but in the end, he left without saying anything.