Chapter 5: An Appointment with a Beauty

After a long while, Chen Xian gazed at his reflection in the mirror, a confident smile blooming on his face as he silently vowed, “From now on, I will carve out a world that belongs to me, and no one will dare look down on me again!”

He closed his eyes once more, contemplating the golden tome and then the fruits hanging from the transparent, strange tree. His mind drifted in speculation.

“The first fruit of the strange tree contains the supreme technique, ‘Chaos Sovereign Art’. What treasures might the other fruits hold?”

“Are they celestial pills, divine artifacts, or perhaps mythical beasts...?”

For a moment, Chen Xian was filled with anticipation for the other fruits.

To ripen and solidify these mysterious fruits, it seemed there was but one way: absorbing external attack energy and channeling it into the tree.

Thinking of this, Chen Xian clenched his fist and struck his thigh. Instantly, a red vortex materialized, his fist landing squarely upon it. He felt no pain.

Yet, curiously, no red energy entered the vortex; thus, none was infused into the strange, transparent tree in his mind.

“So, attacking myself is useless. I wonder if being attacked by others would work?”

His thoughts flickered, and he quickly opened the door and walked out of the restroom.

“Xian, I called you and you didn’t answer. What were you doing in there for so long?” Zhang Xiaoshuai grabbed Chen Xian’s shoulder with his large, pudgy hand, his face contorted in a lewd grin. “Were you... indulging yourself in there?!”

“You’re the one indulging, not me!” Chen Xian shot the chubby guy a glare.

Zhang Xiaoshuai chuckled, “Forget it, let’s talk business. Tonight, you’re having dinner with Zhang Xin, the campus belle. Take me along!”

“She only invited me; if I bring you, wouldn’t that be awkward?” Chen Xian shook his head, refusing decisively.

Xiaoshuai had a thick skin and no shame, but Chen Xian still cared about his reputation.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaoshuai’s face drooped, his small eyes darting as he changed his tactic, “Then, bro, at least get me Zhang Xin’s autograph!”

“Alright, I promise!” Chen Xian replied, then added, “Xiaoshuai, hit me a few times, with all your strength.”

Zhang Xiaoshuai’s eyes widened, and he reached out to feel Chen Xian’s forehead, his face full of disbelief, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

“What are you doing? Come on, hit me!” Chen Xian urged.

Zhang Xiaoshuai smacked his lips, “Xian, did you fry your brain? Asking me to beat you? Are you a masochist?”

“Just hit me, no nonsense. If you don’t, forget about Zhang Xin’s autograph tonight.” Chen Xian said.

At this, Zhang Xiaoshuai grinned wickedly, “For the beauty’s autograph, I’ll go all out. And remember, you asked for it—if anything happens, don’t blame me!”

“I won’t blame you!”

“Here I come!”

...

As the bell rang for class, students poured into the classroom like birds returning to their nest.

Chen Xian and Zhang Xiaoshuai sat in a corner at the back. Xiaoshuai immediately sprawled across the desk, snoring.

Chen Xian closed his eyes, contemplating the strange tree in his mind.

Back in the dorm, when he had Xiaoshuai hit him, he felt no pain, but no red energy entered the tree.

“Last night, when I saved someone and was struck by an SUV, red energy entered the tree; today, when Lan Chao and his crowd beat me, a large amount of red energy flowed in.”

“Yet, hitting myself or being hit by Xiaoshuai produced nothing.”

“Does this mean only when I do good deeds and am attacked by external forces, or when I’m attacked by villains, does red energy appear and infuse the tree?”

“That must be it. Looks like I’ll need to do more good deeds and fight evil. Only then can I condense more mysterious fruits and claim the treasures within.”

Quickly, Chen Xian deduced the possibility.

He set aside thoughts of red energy, focusing his mind on the ‘Chaos Sovereign Art’ and pondering the cultivation method for transcending the Mortal Realm.

He scrutinized the mysterious characters, resembling tadpoles and musical notes, seeking their profound secrets.

Though the ‘Chaos Sovereign Art’ was obscure and cryptic, Chen Xian grasped the chapter on transcending the Mortal Realm in less than half an hour.

He credited his powerful comprehension entirely to the strange tree in his mind.

Once enlightened, he immediately began cultivating, condensing his first Spirit Wheel.

According to the ‘Chaos Sovereign Art’, the initial cultivation would directly condense the first Spirit Wheel.

Just as prescribed, after one class period, Chen Xian found he had successfully formed the first Spirit Wheel.

In his abdomen, at the site Daoists call the dantian, a hazy space appeared, and in its center manifested a golden, six-pointed star-shaped disk—the Spirit Wheel.

Inside the Spirit Wheel was a space specifically for storing spiritual energy; once filled, he could condense the second Spirit Wheel.

The ‘Chaos Sovereign Art’ stated that spiritual energy permeates the world, and cultivators can absorb it directly to store within the Spirit Wheel.

Chen Xian did not rest, closing his eyes to carefully sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth...

The afternoon passed swiftly. He cultivated for most of the day, yet only absorbed a sliver’s worth of spiritual energy, stored within his Spirit Wheel.

This was because the spiritual energy in the world was exceedingly thin.

While cultivating, Chen Xian found the energy in the air to be nearly undetectable.

Fortunately, the ‘Chaos Sovereign Art’ was powerful and ingenious enough to perceive and absorb such meager spiritual energy.

Moreover, after absorbing it, Chen Xian found his mind strengthened.

“As expected, the ‘Chaos Sovereign Art’ cultivates both form and spirit; while raising my cultivation, it also enhances my mind, spiritual sense, and soul.”

Glancing at the time—16:10—he recalled his evening appointment with Zhang Xin and hurried toward the entrance of the residential area.

“Xian, don’t forget my autograph!” Zhang Xiaoshuai’s voice called from behind.

Chen Xian responded without turning his head.

Arriving at the edge of the residential area at 16:20, he saw a red Lamborghini parked there, attracting a crowd of students. Many took photos with the car, posting them online to show off.

Just then, the driver’s door opened, and out stepped a beautiful girl with a ponytail, exquisite features as if sculpted, and fair skin—a natural beauty. She was Zhang Xin.

“It’s the campus belle, Zhang Xin!”

“She’s so beautiful, and her family is rich—a true goddess!”

“If I could have a girlfriend like her, I’d gladly trade ten years of my life.”

“Keep dreaming!”

The boys nearby watched Zhang Xin, their eyes gleaming as they whispered among themselves.

Today, Zhang Xin wore light blue jeans, accentuating her straight, shapely legs, her elegance surpassing many models. One hand rested on the car door, the other waved toward the crowd.

“Chen Xian! Over here!” Zhang Xin’s refined face broke into a charming smile as she called out to him.

Though Chen Xian had seen Zhang Xin several times, he was still stunned by her beauty each time.

He smiled and walked toward her.

Today, after discovering the strange tree’s power and mystery, Chen Xian’s once humble heart grew bolder.

“If only I could have Zhang Xin as my girlfriend, life would be perfect!”

At that moment, the thought flashed through his mind, though it quickly vanished.

Under the envious gaze of the boys, Chen Xian strode to the Lamborghini, opened the door, and took the passenger seat.

The Lamborghini started, leaving the residential area and heading toward the luxury hotel, trailing behind a chorus of wailing.

“My god, my campus belle—how could she leave with that loser? My heart is shattered!”

“Heavens, are you blind? Am I not better looking than that skinny monkey? Why does the goddess ignore me?”

...

Lan Chao, who had troubled Chen Xian at noon, was also among the crowd. Watching the Lamborghini disappear, his fists clenched, and he gritted his teeth.