Fighter Apprentice Class.
Nie Li watched with mixed emotions as Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning'er sized each other up.
He didn't need to know the history between the two to see that there was obvious tension between them.
Nie Li's eyes shifted from the girls to the well-dressed young man standing not far away.
Suppressing his annoyance, Nie Li made sure not to draw Xue Hui's attention like before.
The last time he had seen how close Xue Hui and Ye Ziyun were, Nie Li had grown careless and instinctively leaked a faint trace of killing intent.
It had been subtle, yet Xue Hui had noticed it.
That was a frightening level of soul perception for someone his age.
'Xue Hui.'
Nie Li silently uttered his name.
Xue Hui's existence had been a constant source of headaches for Nie Li ever since he returned.
Leaning back in his chair, Nie Li watched as Xue Hui approached the two girls and greeted them, finally breaking their intense standoff.
Seeing Ye Ziyun greet Xue Hui with a gentle smile, jealousy crept into Nie Li's heart.
Ye Ziyun had been his lover in his previous life.
After the fall of Glory City, the two of them had braved the outside world together, desperately trying to escape the onslaught of demon beasts.
During their journey, Ye Ziyun had unfortunately died at the hands of a Desert Horn Crawler, separating them forever.
As per Ye Ziyun's final request, Nie Li had persisted and continued his journey, barely surviving along the way.
In the end, Nie Li found the Temporal Demon Book, a treasure that allowed him to alter his fate and became the key to his rise as a supreme expert in his previous life.
It was also responsible for sending him back to his younger self after he died fighting the Sage Emperor.
No one could imagine how happy Nie Li had been when he returned.
He had been reunited with the love of his life and finally given a chance to change the fate of Ye Ziyun and everyone dear to him.
Then Nie Li realized something was amiss.
The past he had returned to was different.
There was an anomaly, and that anomaly had caused enormous changes to the Glory City he remembered.
To his shock, the City Lord's wife, Ye Ziyun's mother, was still alive.
Glory City now had two Legend Rank experts: Lord Ye Mo and a mysterious expert from the Divine Family.
Speaking of that clan, Nie Li discovered that the Divine Family had risen to a position equal to the Snow Wind Family, both in strength and influence.
Besides having their own Legend Rank expert, the Divine Family had managed to unearth enormous wealth, multiplying their fortune many times over.
Their Divine Medicine Pavilion had become a leading alchemy business, second only to the Alchemy Association itself.
With such rapid growth in status within such a short period, Nie Li couldn't help but grow suspicious.
Another thing that baffled Nie Li was the presence of the Withered Princess among his classmates.
In his previous life, the existence of the Withered Princess had been nothing more than a tragic tale passed around in casual conversation.
Many people, including Nie Li, hadn't even believed that the Withered Princess truly existed, since she had never shown herself to the public.
Nie Li's eyes darted toward Chen Linlin.
She possessed a healthy physique, full of vigor, with none of the signs of soul force withering he remembered.
More importantly, Nie Li could sense a faint trace of the purest kind of soul force aura within her.
Something a Nine Crystal Yin Physique, which she was rumored to possess, shouldn't have.
Intrigued, Nie Li narrowed his eyes, his attention settling on the immortal treasure attached to her arm.
The Mask Realm Bracelet.
It was a powerful treasure capable of concealing one's strength and presence. It could even deceive the spiritual senses of experts above Legend Rank.
With such an item attached to Chen Linlin, Nie Li could surmise that her true strength had at least surpassed Bronze Rank, and perhaps even reached Silver Rank.
And somehow, all of these anomalies were connected to that person.
Xue Hui.
Mysterious, powerful, possessing an incredibly keen sense of perception, and, most annoyingly, far too handsome.
Usually, Xue Hui's appearance was something one could only see in places with dense spiritual energy or in higher planes filled with pure heavenly energy, not in a tiny world like this one.
Unlike tiny worlds, higher planes were almost devoid of impurities in the air, meaning people there generally had fewer physical flaws.
Nie Li wouldn't feel insecure because of Xue Hui.
After all, Nie Li had his own pride.
So what if Xue Hui was strikingly handsome?
He had been a supreme expert in his previous life. Nie Li had reached a mysterious realm that someone like Xue Hui couldn't even imagine existed.
How could he possibly feel inferior to someone like him?
But there was one problem.
Xue Hui had a relationship with Ye Ziyun that was far too close for Nie Li's comfort.
It didn't help that Nie Li had no idea what kind of person Xue Hui truly was.
Aside from yesterday's encounter, all the rumors circulating about Xue Hui's character were superficial.
Nie Li's lips curved upward, his expression becoming challenging.
'It seems I need to investigate you myself if I want to know more about you, Xue Hui of the Divine Family.'
A dangerous glint flashed through Nie Li's eyes.
'And if I ever find out that your only intention is to harm my Ziyun, then don't blame me for being impolite. You'll need to die.'
Since he had returned, Nie Li would protect everyone, especially Ye Ziyun.
For now, however, he had to swallow the bitterness in his heart as he watched Ye Ziyun become flustered around another man.
'And to think I really believed that, aside from the Sage Emperor, I wouldn't encounter anyone who could make me feel threatened.'
Nie Li sighed inwardly.
'And I still need to find a way to get close to Ziyun.'
The current Ye Ziyun didn't have a good impression of him yet.
After a while, Xue Hui broke the awkward atmosphere between Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning'er by striking up a conversation with them.
Xue Hui had to juggle his attention between the two girls, but in the end, he managed to have a pleasant conversation with both.
Of course, doing so earned him the ire-filled stares of the boys.
They truly loathed Xue Hui in their hearts.
Minutes passed before Shen Xiu finally arrived in class.
Trailing behind her was her nephew, Shen Yue, who didn't waste a second glaring at Xue Hui, his angry scowl plainly visible.
Many of the students bit their tongues upon seeing him, desperately holding back their laughter.
The last thing they wanted was to incur Shen Yue's wrath.
Xue Hui didn't pay him any attention.
To Xue Hui, a brat like Shen Yue wasn't worth his time. He was nothing more than an annoying, spoiled child.
Nie Li and his group were about to move to the back of the classroom when Shen Xiu stopped them, telling them to remain where they were.
Shen Xiu's unusually perky attitude threw everyone off.
Unlike yesterday, when she hadn't bothered to hide her disdain for the majority of her students, she was now far more accommodating, asking everyone to settle into their seats before beginning her lecture.
'Bullshit.'
Xue Hui and Nie Li both thought the same thing, immediately seeing through Shen Xiu's change in demeanor.
Curious about what had caused Shen Xiu to suddenly act like a proper teacher, Xue Hui circulated his soul force, heightening his senses as he searched for the reason behind her change in attitude.
'No wonder. It seems Senior Ye Shuo is currently on the hunt for recruitable talents.'
Xue Hui reached his conclusion.
Outside the Fighter Apprentice Class stood a group of people.
Among them was Ye Shuo, an elder of the Snow Wind Family whom Xue Hui had met before.
He had previously heard from Chen Zhenlong that Ye Shuo was in charge of a faction of hidden experts within the Snow Wind Family, much like how the Divine Family had its own hidden experts.
Many members of this hidden faction were unknown experts, most of them of commoner descent since they were the easiest to blend into the shadows.
Shen Xiu enthusiastically began her lesson, talking about various inscription patterns while focusing on the Sacred Family's Scarlet Sunburst Pattern.
From the very beginning, Xue Hui judged that Shen Xiu's knowledge of inscription patterns was severely lacking, though it wasn't bad for someone of her standing.
Not everyone could enter a mysterious space after death, study inscription patterns there, and achieve supreme mastery like he had.
So Xue Hui would at least give Shen Xiu some credit for the limited knowledge she possessed.
But that didn't mean he wouldn't fault her for making a fool of herself for entirely different reasons.
'The Sacred Family is truly a shameless bunch, aren't they?'
Xue Hui thought to himself, genuinely taken aback by just how shameless they could be.
A faint smile crossed his face as his eyes settled on the Sacred Family's self-proclaimed Scarlet Sunburst Pattern.
Just like him, another person had noticed the glaring violation the Sacred Family had committed.
Unlike Xue Hui, however, this person couldn't wait to expose their hypocrisy.
What happened next severely tarnished the reputation of the Sacred Family's revered ancestors in the eyes of everyone present.
It began when Shen Xiu angrily called out Nie Li, who happened to be dozing off in the middle of her lecture.
Shen Xiu demanded to know whether Nie Li already understood the Scarlet Sunburst Pattern well enough to dare sleep during her class.
Nie Li said that he did.
He then began explaining the Scarlet Sunburst Pattern in meticulous detail, revealing information even Shen Xiu didn't know.
"Ridiculous! Such a book does not exist in this world!" Shen Xiu yelled angrily.
Nie Li had essentially revealed to the entire class that the Sacred Family's supposedly self-created Scarlet Sunburst Pattern was nothing more than an inferior version of an existing enchanted pattern known as the Divine Lightning Fire Pattern.
By cutting away a large portion of its inscription pattern and retaining only the fire aspect, they had transformed a powerful enchanted pattern capable of massive destruction into a much weaker version that could only be used to boil water.
Yet the Sacred Family's First House Master had claimed it as his own creation.
In doing so, he had violated a major rule in the Demon Spiritualist Code of Conduct, which required inscriptionists to acknowledge their sources when copying or drawing inspiration from existing inscription patterns in order to avoid plagiarism.
This was something the Sacred Family's First House Master had clearly failed to do when creating the Scarlet Sunburst Pattern.
While Nie Li, Shen Xiu, and, by extension, Shen Yue argued over the severity of the issue, Xue Hui listened attentively to Nie Li.
The more Nie Li spoke, the more clues Xue Hui gathered about his sudden change in behavior.
'Temporal Demon Book.'
The thought surfaced in Xue Hui's mind like a puzzle piece finally clicking into place.
He began to realize where Nie Li came from, or more precisely, when he came from.
'Interesting. Emperor Shen Jiao Dao once mentioned the Temporal Demon Book and its importance in defeating the Sage Emperor.'
Xue Hui had only limited knowledge of it, since even Emperor Shen Jiao Dao had merely heard of it and had never managed to find it.
'If Nie Li is someone from the future who was sent back by the Temporal Demon Book, that means, just like me, he experienced the destruction of Glory City.'
Xue Hui's eyes lingered on Nie Li, who wore a confident expression.
His attitude remained unyielding, even while confronting a powerful family like the Sacred Family.
On the other hand, Shen Xiu and Shen Yue's faces had turned ugly, their usual haughty expressions twisting into hateful scowls.
Nie Li had just discredited their ancestors in front of everyone.
And the worst part was that there was evidence backing his claims.
'No wonder you're so willing to clash with Shen Xiu. That explains everything.'
Xue Hui pondered.
With this new information, Nie Li had become someone who could be both a help and a problem.
'Well, this is troublesome.'
Xue Hui let out a faint chuckle, a subtle glow flickering in his eyes.
In the end, after being exposed, Shen Xiu stormed out of the classroom in anger, not before threatening Nie Li.
She left everyone dumbfounded.
At the same time, Ye Shuo and the others who had witnessed everything also left quietly.
What they had discovered was a huge scandal for the Sacred Family.
While everyone was still in shock, Nie Li steadied his breathing and turned his attention toward Xue Hui.
His sharp glare was enough to catch Xue Hui's attention.
Noticing it, Xue Hui returned his gaze and activated a communication soul technique, establishing a connection with Nie Li.
Sensing the technique attempting to form a connection, Nie Li hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should allow it.
In the end, he accepted.
'I've been observing you during the lecture. You also noticed the obvious flaws in the Sunburst Pattern, but you didn't say anything. Why?' Nie Li asked, his heart pounding.
He had no idea who Xue Hui truly was, but the telltale aura of a formidable expert emanating from him made Nie Li wary.
'In my defense, you didn't give me a chance to intervene at all.'
Xue Hui's laughter resonated in Nie Li's mind.
A bead of sweat trickled down Nie Li's forehead.
He hated how confident Xue Hui sounded.
'Who exactly are you?' Nie Li asked.
This question had been bothering him ever since he returned.
Nie Li's fist clenched unconsciously as he waited for Xue Hui's answer.
Instead, he heard Xue Hui making a series of "tsk, tsk" sounds in his mind, which only annoyed him further.
'Now, now, where's the fun in that? Isn't it far more entertaining for both of us if we figure each other out on our own?'
Xue Hui replied in a playful tone.
Nie Li cursed inwardly.
He hadn't expected Xue Hui to reveal everything. He only wanted to glean a little information from their exchange.
But the more Xue Hui spoke, the more Nie Li was reminded of the Sage Emperor.
'I can at least assure you that I'm not an enemy of Glory City. I'm actually doing my best to find a way to protect everyone.'
Nie Li narrowed his eyes, his gaze boring into Xue Hui as he searched for any sign of deception.
He found none.
'Anyway, you did well exposing that shameless bunch. I hope I don't hear news of you being found dead in some alleyway or something.'
Nie Li snorted.
Him dying at the hands of the Sacred Family?
He wasn't that easy to deal with.
'If you're afraid of them, you could just stay in the Divine Family Mansion and not come out. Let me handle everything. I alone am enough to deal with them.'
Nie Li huffed, which made Xue Hui laugh.
'Don't mind me if I do.'
Nie Li choked at Xue Hui's reply.
He hadn't actually expected him to agree.
Unbeknownst to Nie Li, Xue Hui's unique cultivation technique required him to venture into the outside world frequently in search of opportunities to break through.
Simple elixirs and pills, no matter how abundant, would have little effect on Xue Hui's soul realm.
So if Nie Li was willing to handle the Sacred Family, Xue Hui was more than happy to let him do so.
That was one less problem for him to worry about.
'I'm really curious who you truly are,' Nie Li added, his tone serious.
'Like I said, telling you would ruin the fun. But unlike you, I at least have an idea of who you are.'
Nie Li's eyebrows lifted.
He was genuinely curious whether Xue Hui truly knew about him.
Nie Li was about to ask, perhaps even provoke Xue Hui a little, but the words caught in his throat when Xue Hui stood from his seat and turned toward him.
The lilac glow in Xue Hui's eyes intensified.
His usual elegant demeanor shifted into something sharp and dangerous.
The grin on his face unnerved not only Nie Li but everyone who happened to see it.
Xue Hui clasped his hands toward Nie Li as if greeting him.
'Welcome back, Emperor Nie Li.'
The words were like a sun exploding within Nie Li's mind.
His entire body shook.
Blood rushed to his head, leaving him lightheaded as he stammered in his seat.
Only one thought echoed through his mind:
This person is dangerous.
End of Chapter 44