Chapter 81 | The Otherworld Journey That Starts From a Slime

After finishing the meal, Nan stood up and prepared to leave, but Zhang Ye caught his arm.

Looking at the hand gripping his arm, Nan’s brow furrowed, and he said coldly, “Let go.”

Zhang Ye released his grip and said, “Don’t be in such a rush to leave. First, tell me what you’re planning to do?”

Nan was silent for a moment before answering, “Gather points.”

Zhang Ye said, “The Soul Essence Lamps I gave you are each worth at least ten million points. Fifty million points should be more than enough, right?”

Nan was stunned. He checked the lamps and found that the points they would convert into were indeed more than enough, not to mention the few lamps he already had himself.

“You have plenty of points. No one else has your efficiency, and no matter how much you farm, you won’t be able to surpass me. Instead of grinding for points, why don’t you join us and discuss our upcoming campus life?” Zhang Ye chuckled.

Nan replied, “I’m not interested. I only want to take first place among the freshmen.”

“That’s impossible. I have hundreds of millions of points. You couldn't catch up even if you farmed with your life on the line,” Zhang Ye said.

Nan fell silent because he knew Zhang Ye was telling the truth. The pile of glittering Soul Essence Lamps was sitting right there nearby.

Nan didn't say anything more and continued to walk away.

Seeing this, Zhang Ye’s eyes darted around, and he said, “How about this? I’ll give the first-place spot to you.”

Nan’s figure stiffened, and he couldn't help but turn back to look at Zhang Ye, his eyes filled with astonishment. Lina and Renomon were equally shocked.

Giving away the first-place rank?

Was this something a normal person would do?

“Why? What benefit is there for you?” Nan asked.

Zhang Ye smiled. “You don’t need to worry about that. The benefits I get are more than you think.”

Of course they were. Firstly, because of Bolabo and Labella, when Rand investigated later, the people at the top of the rankings would naturally be the most suspected. Zhang Ye planned to retreat to a lower rank so that a few people could serve as cover. Once he deactivated the Earth Tiger Armor, who would recognize him as the armored warrior who had been robbing everyone?

By giving the points to Nan, he could minimize the possibility of being suspected. At least during a confrontation, he’d have some confidence—the one who committed the robberies was Earth Tiger Hero; what does that have to do with me, Zhang Ye?

Secondly, he could gain Nan’s goodwill, or at the very least, make Nan owe him a favor.

In Zhang Ye’s view, Nan was a top-tier prospect. To be able to solo a Tier Ten mid stage Flame Rock Beast while in poor condition at Tier Nine mid stage meant he would definitely be a powerhouse in the future. Trading some points and a hollow rank for a future friend who would at least be Saint-tier... Zhang Ye felt this deal was a massive win.

Furthermore, he hadn't forgotten the sense of helplessness that had radiated from Nan earlier.

It made him want to help the boy.

Once that thought took root, it wouldn't go away.

Then, Zhang Ye dropped another bombshell: “Besides, I robbed you so many times before. Don’t you want to rob me back or give me a beating?”

“I am no match for you,” Nan said bluntly.

Zhang Ye laughed. “How do you know if we haven't fought?”

“Fight me. If you can win, I’ll give you the points and guarantee you first place.”

“Of course, to be fair, I won’t use Tier Ten magic, and you won’t use your pseudo-Saint artifacts. How about it?”

Nan looked at Zhang Ye, his heart filled with surprise.

He truly couldn't understand why Zhang Ye would do something so thankless.

He couldn't figure it out at all.

Suddenly, he saw the smile on Zhang Ye’s face. It was the same as before—gentle and as warm as a spring breeze.

Thinking about how this guy had robbed him three times, a surge of anger rose in Nan’s heart.

Stop acting like a good person. If you were really this kind, would you have robbed me three times in a row?

Damn it, why are you making that face? That gentle expression just like my mother’s... an expression like that shouldn't be on the face of a bastard like you!

“Fine!” Nan nodded forcefully.

Regardless of anything else, he wanted to fight Zhang Ye. Ideally, he’d land a blow on that face to see if he could still keep smiling!

Leaving Gujiu in Lina’s care, the two moved to an open clearing.

Lina and Renomon watched nervously. Without using Tier Ten magic, could Zhang Ye, at the peak of Tier Seven, defeat Nan, who was at the mid stage of Tier Nine?

They would wait and see!

Nan drew his purple long blade and looked at Zhang Ye, only to find that Zhang Ye hadn't taken out any weapon.

“Show your weapon,” Nan said, his voice cold.

Zhang Ye gave a light laugh. With a shake of his hands, a pair of blue flame gauntlets made of mana appeared over his fists.

“My entire body is a weapon!”

Seeing this, Nan’s pupils shrank.

Isn't he light-attribute? Why is he showing fire-attribute magic now?

However, Nan didn't say much. He gripped his hilt, placed one foot in front of the other, and lowered his body.

Seeing this stance, Zhang Ye’s eyes lit up.

Breath of Thunder · Thunderclap and Flash?

Sure enough, in the next instant, with almost no warning, Nan transformed into a streak of purple lightning. He appeared before Zhang Ye and slashed down toward the top of his head without hesitation!

Zhang Ye nodded inwardly.

Nan also possessed a Tier Nine mid stage physique, but it was different from Renomon’s.

Though both practiced body tempering, Renomon leaned toward strength while Nan leaned toward agility. Therefore, his speed was definitely top-tier among Warriors of the same rank, and his instantaneous burst was terrifying.

However, Zhang Ye’s magic was at Perfect Mastery, and his physique was also at Perfect Body Tempering!

He wasn't just strong and durable; his agility was also the fastest!

Combined with his Full Attribute Compatibility, Perfect Mastery of magic, and powerful mental strength, Zhang Ye was a man without a single shortcoming.

In short—the “Not-Short Man!”

And he was very, very “long” indeed!

Almost the moment Nan’s blade slashed down, Zhang Ye threw a punch. The front of his flame gauntlet met Nan’s blade.

To increase the power of the punch, a Bursting Flame magic circle appeared at his elbow, ejecting intense blue flames to propel his arm and fist forward.

“Hydrogen-Oxygen Enhanced · Rocket Punch!”

Clang! Sparks flew everywhere as the two collided, actually producing the sound of clashing metal.

Nan recoiled, his heart slightly shaken.

He had originally thought it was ridiculous enough that this guy could release Tier Ten magic at the peak of Tier Seven, but who knew his strength was also this great? It was significantly stronger than his own Tier Nine mid stage strength.

Is he also practicing Magic-Martial Dual Cultivation...?

A cold light flashed in Nan’s eyes, and his figure became blurred. At this moment, his speed reached its absolute limit.

Accompanied by flickering lightning, he gave off the impression of a continuous chain of lightning bolts.

Seeing this, Zhang Ye laughed heartily and immediately deployed his maximum speed to compete with him.

His speed was not inferior to Nan’s at all—it was even a fraction faster. Furthermore, he specifically used Bursting Flame propulsion to boost his speed, exceeding the limits of what a Tier Nine mid stage could achieve!

However, Nan was no pushover. After the initial flash of surprise at seeing Zhang Ye’s speed match his own, he immediately adjusted his posture and performed a movement technique.

His movement technique was miraculous—a coordination of footwork and magic. While being extremely fast and fierce, he could actually leave lightning clones in his wake and even control them to attack for a short time.

With a flash of his silhouette, Nan moved from Zhang Ye’s left to his right. Meanwhile, a version of Nan composed of lightning-attribute mana appeared on Zhang Ye’s left, radiating the intent of thunder and even manifesting a phantom of the long blade.