The Alchemist Association had undergone a complete transformation.
Only a month had passed since the introduction of the Soul Nurturing Pill and other pills, yet the entire organization felt different.
Every day, long lines stretched outside the Association's gates as noble families, merchants, and cultivators fought over the chance to purchase the miraculous pills.
Prices skyrocketed.
Demand only grew larger.
Even Lord Ye Mo and the City Lord had personally visited the Association to inspect the changes.
Chairman Gu Yan's prediction had become reality.
The Alchemist Association had entered a new golden age.
And the biggest beneficiaries of that golden age were currently making money faster than anyone in Glory City could imagine.
Holy Orchid Institute.
Fighter Apprentice Class.
The classroom was unusually noisy.
Students chatted excitedly while waiting for the year-end examination.
"The test is almost here!"
"I heard this year's competition is going to be brutal!"
"My cousin said several students already reached Bronze Rank!"
The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation.
Near the center of the classroom sat Shen Yue.
Unlike the others, he looked completely relaxed.
A smug smile rested on his face as he casually flipped a small jade bottle between his fingers.
The bottle immediately attracted attention.
A nearby student leaned forward eagerly.
"Boss Shen Yue!"
With a flick of his wrist, Shen Yue tossed the bottle over.
The student nearly fumbled it before catching it with both hands.
His eyes widened.
"T-This..."
"That's a Soul Concentrating Pill!"
The surrounding students instantly erupted.
Shen Yue leaned back proudly.
"Hmph."
"That's right."
"Take it and you'll probably become a Two-Star Bronze Rank before long."
Instantly, countless envious gazes landed on him.
As expected of the Sacred Family.
Only someone like Shen Yue could casually hand out such precious pills.
A moment later another student suddenly asked,
"By the way..."
"Has anyone seen Nie Li's group recently?"
Several students exchanged glances.
Shen Yue's lips curled upward.
"Hmph."
"They're probably hiding in the library."
"Scared of the examination."
The classroom immediately burst into laughter.
"That's definitely it!"
"They've skipped so many classes!"
"They'll probably get expelled!"
"Hahaha!"
Everyone laughed.
Everyone except Shen Yue.
Because unlike the others...
He remembered.
A fist.
A kick.
A body flying through the air.
Chu Ming.
A Three-Star Bronze Rank fighter.
Defeated.
By Nie Li.
The smile on Shen Yue's face slowly faded.
The more he thought about it...
The less sense it made.
Unless Nie Li's soul force had increased by an absurd amount over the past two months...
Defeating Chu Ming should have been impossible.
His fingers tightened slightly.
Something wasn't adding up.
His gaze darkened.
Hmph.
It doesn't matter.
Ever since he exposed the Sacred Family, we've been suppressing the Heavenly Marks Family from every direction.
A cold smile appeared.
The Alchemist Association is selling Soul Nurturing Pills, Soul Concentrating Pills, even Soul Tempering Pills now.
The Heavenly Marks Family can't afford any of them.
Money.
Resources.
Influence.
Without those things, talent meant nothing.
Or at least...
That's what Shen Yue wanted to believe.
Meanwhile—
Inside Holy Orchid Institute's library.
Yang Xin handed a spatial ring to Nie Li.
A warm smile rested on her face.
"Here's your share from this month's profits."
"And these are the latest Soul Tempering Pills and Scarlet Body Enhancing Pills."
Nie Li accepted everything.
"Sorry for the trouble, Director Yang."
Yang Xin laughed softly.
"It's no trouble."
Then suddenly—
Nie Li remembered something.
"Oh right."
Yang Xin tilted her head.
"Hm?"
Nie Li pointed toward the profit records.
"I've always been curious."
"Since Karma is the Vice Chairman..."
"Do these profits belong to him?"
"Or the Uzumaki Family?"
Yang Xin blinked.
Then laughed.
"So that's what you're wondering."
Nie Li nodded.
Yang Xin placed the account book aside.
"Actually, the arrangement is rather unusual."
"When the Uzumaki Patriarch appointed Karma as Vice Chairman, he gave him complete authority over the Association."
Nie Li raised an eyebrow.
Yang Xin continued.
"Any profit generated through the Association belongs entirely to Karma."
"But if the Association ever suffers losses..."
"Those losses are also entirely his responsibility."
Silence.
Nie Li blinked.
"...What?"
Yang Xin nodded.
"Those were his father's exact conditions."
"He even told Karma he wouldn't get any allowances."
Nie Li stared.
Yang Xin smiled.
"His father wanted him to learn financial responsibility."
A sweat drop appeared on Nie Li's forehead.
Financial responsibility?
That sounded suspiciously like giving a wolf ownership of a sheep farm.
His brain immediately started calculating.
The Alchemist Association was currently earning mountains of money every day.
And Karma had been Vice Chairman for years.
Which meant...
How much money does that idiot actually have?
Nie Li suddenly didn't want to know.
The answer felt dangerous.
Even worse—
The Uzumaki Family was already the wealthiest family in Glory City.
If Karma ever combined his personal wealth with the family's assets...
Nie Li shivered.
The amount would probably make the entire glory city pass out.
Yang Xin noticed his expression and laughed.
"Don't think too much."
"Besides..."
She smiled knowingly.
"Karma reinvests most of his profits back into the Association."
Nie Li's eye twitched.
That was somehow even more terrifying.
Because it meant Karma wasn't just rich.
He was multiplying his money.
Like an actual businessman.
And that was far scarier than simple wealth.
A few moments later.
The library door slammed open.
Lu Piao's head immediately appeared.
A huge grin covered his face.
"Auntie, you're really pretty!"
The room froze.
Yang Xin's smile froze too.
A dangerous vein appeared on Du Ze's forehead.
"Be respectful when speaking!"
Lu Piao looked confused.
"What?"
"Don't you know who this auntie is?"
Yang Xin's eye twitched.
Then she smiled sweetly.
"Call me Sister."
"Or I'll kill you."
Lu Piao immediately straightened.
"Yes, Sister Yang!"
"Excellent choice."
The days passed quickly.
Students trained desperately.
Some practiced martial arts.
Some cultivated soul force.
Some prayed.
Some panicked.
The year-end examination approached rapidly.
Everyone knew its importance.
Classes would change.
Rankings would change.
Futures would change.
And finally—
The day arrived.
The examination grounds were packed.
Students filled every pathway leading toward the arena.
Some looked confident.
Some looked terrified.
Some looked as though they hadn't slept in days.
Among the crowd—
A familiar group walked together.
Nie Li.
Du Ze.
Lu Piao.
Wei Nan.
Zhang Ming.
Zhu Xiangjun.
And Karma Uzumaki.
The red-haired boy walked beside Nie Li looking completely relaxed.
As though they were heading to lunch instead of one of the most important examinations of the year.
Meanwhile—
Lu Piao looked ready to collapse.
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
Massive drums echoed throughout the academy.
Lu Piao jumped.
"Do they really need drums this early in the morning?!"
"It's just an exam!"
Nie Li glanced sideways.
"It's just a test."
Karma immediately smirked.
"I think you're the most nervous person here."
Lu Piao laughed awkwardly.
"Haha..."
"No idea what you're talking about."
Nobody believed him.
Not even Lu Piao.
A moment later—
Nie Li suddenly turned toward Karma.
His expression became serious.
"Karma."
"Hm?"
Nie Li stared directly into his eyes.
"For the love of Glory City..."
"Please don't show off during the exam."
The entire group immediately nodded.
Even Du Ze.
Especially Lu Piao.
Karma looked genuinely offended.
"What kind of person do you think I am?"
Nobody answered.
Because everyone already knew the answer.
Karma coughed.
"...Fair enough."
Nie Li continued.
"I'm serious."
"No causing trouble."
"No weird stunts."
"No ridiculous bets."
"No shocking everyone."
"No revealing some absurd technique."
"No—"
"Okay, okay!"
Karma raised both hands.
"Chill, dude."
"I know what I'm doing."
Nie Li narrowed his eyes.
"That's exactly what worries me."
Karma dramatically placed a hand over his chest.
"You wound me."
"I'm the very picture of self-control."
Du Ze nearly stumbled.
Wei Nan looked away.
Lu Piao openly snorted.
Not a single person believed him.
Karma simply grinned.
"Relax."
"This time I'll behave."
For some reason...
That sentence made Nie Li even more nervous.
Soon—
The massive examination arena came into view.
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
The giant drums continued sounding.
Thousands of students filled the surrounding stands.
The atmosphere was electric.
Excitement echoed everywhere.
"I wonder who'll enter the Genius Class!"
"I heard this year's competition is crazy!"
"I heard somebody made a bet with Teacher Shen Xiu!"
"Seriously?!"
"Now that's worth watching!"
High above the arena—
Several institute elders observed the crowd.
One elderly vice-principal stroked his beard thoughtfully.
A faint smile appeared.
"The bet between Shen Xiu and that student..."
"That should be quite entertaining."
Below—
Students continued pouring into the arena.
Excited.
Nervous.
Determined.
Among them walked a red-haired boy.
Whistling.
Smiling.
Looking completely unconcerned.
And somehow...
That worried Nie Li more than the examination itself.
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
The enormous drums surrounding Holy Orchid Institute thundered across the academy grounds.
The entire examination arena trembled with excitement.
Hundreds upon hundreds of students filled the stands.
Teachers stood around the perimeter.
Even students from the higher grades had gathered to watch.
After all—
The Year-End Examination only happened once a year.
And every year...
New geniuses would emerge.
"Wow."
Lu Piao looked around with wide eyes.
"There are so many people!"
Beside him, Nie Li nodded.
"Students from the higher grades are here too."
The Genius Class selection was one of the biggest events within Holy Orchid Institute.
Naturally, everyone wanted to witness it.
Suddenly—
"Hello!"
A familiar voice called out.
The group turned.
Walking through the crowd were two beautiful girls.
One possessed elegant purple hair and a gentle temperament.
The other had bright orange hair tied into a ponytail and carried herself with natural confidence.
Ye Ziyun.
And Xiao Ning'er.
The moment they appeared—
Several nearby boys visibly froze.
Some stared.
Some sighed.
Some looked ready to cry.
One student muttered bitterly,
"Life is unfair."
His friend nodded solemnly.
"Very unfair."
"Look at them."
"Two goddesses."
"And both know those guys."
The first student pointed toward Karma.
"Well, he is the Prince of Glory City..."
The second student looked even more depressed.
"That somehow makes me feel worse."
Ye Ziyun's beautiful eyes briefly landed on Nie Li.
A small pout immediately appeared on her face.
However—
Noticing the countless students staring at them—
She quickly looked away.
Then hurried toward a nearby group of female students.
Trying to avoid attracting attention.
This left Xiao Ning'er standing before Karma and the others.
Karma immediately smiled.
"Yo, Ning'er."
Xiao Ning'er nodded politely.
"Good morning."