Chu Yuan frantically pulled away his soul force, but Nie Li sealed his Soul Realm so swiftly that Chu Yuan only managed to withdraw about half.
Chu Yuan felt as if his soul force had been violently torn in half, leaving part of it permanently in Nie Li's Soul Realm.
His face turned ashen, and he staggered, almost collapsing from the severe soul force injury, feeling utterly drained as a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth.
Witnessing this scene, the surrounding crowd exchanged bewildered glances.
The contest of soul forces was invisible to ordinary eyes, so they couldn't see that half of Chu Yuan's soul force was trapped within Nie Li's Soul Realm.
They could only see Chu Yuan's agonized and fearful expression, while Nie Li seemed lively and vibrant.
Clearly, in this exchange, Chu Yuan was at a disadvantage.
What puzzled them was why, despite Nie Li's soul force not even reaching Bronze one-star, he could make Chu Yuan, a Bronze three-star demon spirit master, suffer?
In Nie Li's Soul Realm, his soul force surged brilliantly.
Although it hadn't fully integrated with him yet, Nie Li had already begun to merge part of it, causing his Soul Realm to glow with an increasingly dazzling azure light.
Nie Li felt he was getting closer to reaching Bronze one-star.
If he were to test his soul force now, it would likely be over 95.
The barrier to advancing to Bronze one-star within his Soul Realm was already showing small cracks, ready to break at any moment.
His soul force continued to rise and merge.
Boom!
Nie Li heard a roaring sound in his mind, and waves radiated in his Soul Realm.
Faint dragon-like roars echoed, indicating that something hidden within his Soul Realm had become even more powerful.
He had reached Bronze one-star!
A glimmer of light flashed through Nie Li’s eyes.
He wondered what was hiding in his Soul Realm.
In his past life, he hadn’t noticed anything in his Soul Realm, but this time, it seemed different.
Could it be related to the Temporal Demon Spirit Book?
With this breakthrough in cultivation, Nie Li felt a great sense of excitement.
Despite having been reborn with past-life experiences, the progress signified a significant step on a path distinctly different from his previous life!
Nie Li had only refined a part of Chu Yuan's soul force, but given some time, he could make it entirely his own.
Once fully refined, Nie Li might even break through to Bronze two-star!
If Instructor Shen Xiu knew how fast Nie Li was improving, how would she react?
"Did Chu Yuan actually lose?"
"I didn’t expect this result!"
"If he didn’t have a countermeasure, Nie Li probably wouldn’t dare to challenge Chu Yuan at all! I thought Nie Li was just arrogant, but he actually has this kind of strength!"
The crowd exclaimed in shock.
Everyone, including Ye Ziyun, Chen Linjian, Hu Yanruolan, and Shen Yue, was moved by the unexpected outcome.
"I underestimated him after all!" Chen Linjian muttered, realizing that challenging someone three levels higher was a feat only a super genius could achieve.
He found it hard to believe that with such talents, Nie Li could genuinely have a red soul realm, suspecting it was closer to the rare blue soul realm.
Ye Ziyun's eyes shone with surprise.
Although she hadn’t developed feelings for Nie Li, secretly hoping he would stop making jokes around her, she couldn’t help but feel concerned for him.
Watching Nie Li win against Chu Yuan was truly beyond her expectation.
Shen Yue gritted his teeth, glaring at Nie Li’s departing figure.
He had long assumed Nie Li's victories were mere flukes, only now realizing he had been played for a fool! No wonder his three Bronze two-star subordinates couldn’t harm Nie Li—Nie Li's power was far beyond just his Bronze Armor.
Realizing that Nie Li had been pretending to be weaker back then filled Shen Yue with explosive indignation.
Nie Li, this crafty scoundrel!
Hu Yanruolan's chest heaved with emotion.
The mere thought of someone below Bronze one-star surpassing a Bronze three-star in battle gave her a thrill.
Just how many secrets was Nie Li hiding?
“I must find a way to uncover what else you're keeping hidden,” Hu Yanruolan mused with a flush of excitement, her eyes sparkling with enticing intent.
Meanwhile, facing Nie Li, Chu Yuan was drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
The severe damage to his soul force would considerably hamper his strength, requiring at least six months for a complete recovery.
"This isn’t over!" Chu Yuan glared at Nie Li with hate.
"Anytime," Nie Li replied, raising an eyebrow, showing he couldn’t care less about Chu Yuan.
Having returned with past-life knowledge, Nie Li had far greater aspirations and saw these conflicts as trivial.
By the time Chu Yuan recovered, he would find Nie Li already standing at a much higher peak.
Would an eagle soaring high regard the dust rising below it?
Chu Yuan turned away, stumbling awkwardly.
Nie Li and Chu Yuan's confrontation became the talk of the group, and no one dared underestimate Nie Li anymore despite his Soul Realm not having reached Bronze one-star yet.
Unbeknownst to them, Nie Li had indeed broken through to Bronze one-star!
With this advancement, Nie Li's strength had increased considerably.
If a fight were to break out, he would be a match for any of them.
With this incident behind them, the group continued along the narrow and rugged mountain path.
"Little brother, you truly surprise me. I saw you setting up your tent alone last night. How about tonight you set it up next to me, and we can discuss cultivation?" Hu Yanruolan leaned in close to Nie Li, her proximity palpable.
Looking down, Hu Yanruolan was practically leaning over Nie Li, offering a glimpse of her voluptuousness and captivating allure, tinged with the scent of orchids.
In his past life, Nie Li was an ordinary boy unnoticed by girls, meeting Ye Ziyun only after Glory City’s fall when he finally met his ideal match.
This life, he had already met Xiao Ning'er, and now Hu Yanruolan was showing obvious interest in him as well.
His fate with women seemed abundant this time.
However, Nie Li was no longer the same ordinary boy from his previous life.
He would not be easily swayed by beauty; in his heart, there was only Ye Ziyun.
It was Ye Ziyun who had loved him, transforming his once mundane life.
In his past life, they had been torn apart, and his rebirth's key purpose was to protect her!
Should Hu Yanruolan think she could sway Nie Li with charm, she would be underestimating him.
Seeing Hu Yanruolan's attempt to seduce Nie Li, Ye Ziyun pouted.
She disliked Hu Yanruolan for her seductive nature, and, assuming Nie Li would surely fall prey, turned away thinking it had nothing to do with her.
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Lanruo, but since you're already Silver-ranked, I'm afraid there’s not much I can offer you in terms of discussion. Let's leave it at that," Nie Li replied, his tone calm and measured.
Ye Ziyun paused, glancing at Nie Li in surprise, having not expected his refusal.
Hu Yanruolan was equally astonished.
Although she hadn't been intimate with any man, she knew well her ability to bewitch men, leaving many ensnared, unable to possess her fully.
In her mind, seducing a young man like Nie Li should have been easy, yet he resisted her charm without hesitation.
Driven by both shame and anger, Hu Yanruolan's eyes narrowed, emitting an alluring glow.
Her voice softened as she shyly coaxed, “Doesn’t little brother Nie Li wish to get a little closer to me?”
Nie Li's pupils slightly contracted, as exotic aromas wafted over, and Hu Yanruolan's body seemed to radiate an enchanting glow.
Her exquisite curves and allure were overwhelmingly tempting, enough to drive any man to rashness.
Though distanced by a single step, illusionary images played through Nie Li’s mind, and Hu Yanruolan seemed to press intimately against him with enticing softness.
Hu Yanruolan watched on, self-assured that Nie Li would succumb to her charm techniques.
Thinking Nie Li refused her just to impress Ye Ziyun, she believed a little enchantment would easily bring him to her side.
Nie Li, focused and resolute, flashed an inner brilliance through his eyes, dispelling the illusions.
To think she could sway him with simple allure was to belittle him.
Enchantment could only seduce those without firm resolve.
In his reincarnated life, Nie Li's spirit had already become as steadfast as rock, not to be easily tempted.
“Snow Cherry Demon Spirit, I didn’t expect you to have such a rare spirit, Miss Lanruo!” Nie Li remarked with interest at Hu Yanruolan.
Hu Yanruolan stared at him in shock, as if struck by lightning.
(End of Chapter)