If Chen Linjian were to be tempted by treasures and continued to explore the depths of the labyrinth, their situation would be extremely perilous.
Fortunately, Chen Linjian is a decisive person.
The group returned to the Stone Fortress, and upon seeing Nie Li's return, Hu Yanlanruo was overjoyed, her tears falling rapidly.
"Nie Li, you're back, that's great!" Hu Yanlanruo suddenly lunged forward and hugged Nie Li tightly, her ample chest pressing firmly against his.
"Thank you for risking your life to save me, otherwise I might have ended up in the belly of the Azure Arm Giant Ape!" Hu Yanlanruo's cheeks flushed as she gazed at Nie Li with deep affection.
"I'm about to be strangled by you, let go of me!"
Nie Li slapped his forehead, thinking Hu Yanlanruo was too full of herself.
He risked himself to buy time for Ye Ziyun's safe escape, not for her!
Seeing Nie Li's distressed expression, Ye Ziyun couldn't help but smile.
Even when a beauty like Hu Yanlanruo threw herself at him, Nie Li wasn't interested.
What was wrong with him? But seeing Hu Yanlanruo hugging Nie Li tightly, she felt a twinge of jealousy and huffed softly.
"Members of the Dark Guild!" one of Chen Linjian's men gasped, eyes wide with fear.
Chen Linjian looked toward the dense forest outside the Stone Fortress.
Several figures in black robes appeared in their line of sight.
His expression changed slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Follow me, this way!"
Leading the group, Chen Linjian moved swiftly into the dense forest behind the Stone Fortress.
"Be careful, don't leave any traces!"
Under the threat of the Dark Guild, everyone ran as fast as they could.
They were well aware that being caught by the Dark Guild would be a disastrous fate.
Nie Li glanced back, deep in thought.
Though it was just a brief encounter, he remembered the aura of the leader, and the leader had definitely seen his face.
Even back in Glory City, he had to be extra careful to avoid being recognized and targeted.
Besides the Divine Sacred Family, there was the constant threat of the Dark Guild looming over Glory City.
Nie Li felt a strong sense of urgency.
He had to quickly increase his strength; otherwise, when danger approached, he wouldn't even have the power to protect himself.
With the Shadow Demon Spirit Lamp in his possession, he needed to quickly cultivate to the Silver rank.
Merging with the Shadow Demon Spirit Lamp would provide him short-term means to preserve his life!
Silver rank may be difficult for ordinary people to reach, but for Nie Li, it wasn't particularly challenging.
Until Nie Li and the others returned to Glory City, the people from the Dark Guild hadn't managed to catch them, and only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
News of Chen Linjian and his group's return spread swiftly throughout Glory City, and what astonished people more was the treasures they had brought back, many of which were exceedingly valuable.
A grand auction was held, and many of Chen Linjian's finds sold for astronomical prices.
The entire Glory City was abuzz.
Many began forming groups to venture to the Ancient Orchid City Ruins, hoping for similar gains.
These disturbances had little to do with Nie Li now.
He had acquired the highly sought-after Shadow Demon Spirit Lamp and unexpectedly gained a Fragmented Page of the Temporal Demon Spirit Book.
The harvest from this expedition far exceeded his expectations.
There was also a piece of news that caused Nie Li to be deep in thought.
It was said that Shen Yue had returned to Glory City even before Chen Linjian and the others, and no one had accompanied Shen Yue!
This was rather odd!
With Shen Yue's strength alone, it seemed impossible for him to have traversed so many dangerous areas to return to Glory City!
Thinking of the Dark Guild members encountered in the Ancient Orchid City Ruins, Nie Li felt a chill in his heart.
He suddenly realized a possibility: perhaps there were unspeakable secrets between the Divine Sacred Family and the Dark Guild.
He should have thought of this earlier!
The signs of betrayal by the Divine Sacred Family against Glory City in his previous life hinted that their role as defenders of the city had long been abandoned, and they might have colluded with the Dark Guild.
In his past life, Nie Li didn't have much understanding of the Dark Guild.
It was rumored that the Dark Guild had established a base in the Saint Ancestor Mountain Range, a very secret and safe place.
Perhaps in his past life, the Divine Sacred Family had betrayed Glory City to join the Dark Guild; otherwise, where else could they have gone?
Damn it! Why did he only think of this now!
Nie Li clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on his arms.
From that day, he had watched his kin perish beneath the claws of demon beasts, followed the refugees of Glory City into the Endless Desert, and witnessed Ye Ziyun die before his eyes, wandering the Saint Spirit Continent like a rootless duckweed.
A flicker of determination shone in Nie Li's eyes.
Both the Divine Sacred Family and the Dark Guild must be destroyed!
In the library of the Saint Spirit Academy, Nie Li, upon returning, joined Du Ze, Lu Piao, and others to focus on cultivating.
After returning, Nie Li's cultivation improved every day, the Fragmented Page of the Temporal Demon Spirit Book constantly drawing on his soul realm, causing his soul force to gradually strengthen.
After three days, using a good amount of Violet Orchid Grass and pills, Nie Li's cultivation finally broke through to the Bronze Two-Star level.
If he could reach Bronze Three-Star level during the test two months later and show his talents, then he and his companions would gain recognition from the academy's upper echelon and be nurtured as geniuses.
Both the Saint Spirit Academy's headmaster and Glory City's leaders highly valued martial arts talents.
Once Nie Li was recognized as a martial genius, not even the Divine Sacred Family could easily touch him!
There was enough time until the test in two months, plenty for Nie Li!
Besides Nie Li, the cultivations of Du Ze, Lu Piao, and the others also advanced rapidly.
Now, their classmate Shen Yue was no longer considered a threat by Nie Li.
As time went on, Shen Yue would find the gap between him and Nie Li widening, until it became insurmountable.
At the same time, a rumor spread like wildfire across the campus.
"Did you hear? Miss Hu Yanlanruo goes to the Martial Artist Trainee Beginner Class every day to find Nie Li!"
"Did you know? Miss Hu Yanlanruo publicly announced her desire to pursue Nie Li, which led to a spat with Xiao Ning'er, and they almost fought!"
"Did you know? Miss Hu Yanlanruo and Miss Xiao Ning'er got into a fight over a man! That man is said to be a trainee in the Martial Artist Beginner Class!"
The rumors became increasingly exaggerated, making it hard to tell which bits were true.
The entire Saint Spirit Academy buzzed with gossip.
After all, two girls fighting over one boy was rare.
Besides, Hu Yanlanruo and Xiao Ning'er were well-known beauties at the academy.
If they fancied a particularly talented student, it would be predictable, but for them both to be interested in a Martial Artist Trainee was quite astonishing.
Recently, Nie Li indeed garnered attention.
First, he embarrassed the Divine Sacred Family, then challenged an instructor, followed by rumors of the Divine Sacred Family wanting to eliminate him, and now he's linked to two prominent beauties.
Easily becoming the academy's hot topic.
Hu Yanlanruo sought Nie Li several times at the Saint Spirit Academy library, but he managed to avoid her each time.
It was reported that after school, she waited by the gates daily, determined to see Nie Li.
"Nie Li, if you keep climbing over the academy wall, you'll get caught by the school's enforcement team and be in trouble!" Lu Piao teased Nie Li with a chuckle.
Nie Li frowned, saying, "If I walk out the front, I'll run into that crazy woman, it's such a hassle!"
"Nie Li, come clean. How did you attract Miss Hu Yanlanruo's attention?" Lu Piao was insanely jealous.
Having a beauty like Hu Yanlanruo chase after you would be any guy's dream.
Yet Nie Li showed no interest.
He couldn't understand it – if it were Lu Piao, he'd gladly oblige, just for the chance to...
Well, you get the idea.
"I did nothing to provoke her; she's just being unreasonable!" Nie Li replied with a bitter smile.
"No choice, looks like we have to help you sneak out every day!" Du Ze shrugged, smiling faintly.
He wasn't much for gossip; he focused on cultivating, bettering his family's future.
Nie Li offered him such an opportunity, he pledged his loyalty to him!
Just then, some students with badges shouted from a distance, "Hey, which class are you from? What are you up to? Stop right there!"
Nie Li and his friends exchanged glances.
Without hesitating, their figures leaped over the academy wall, sprinting away.
In the Saint Spirit Academy's elite class, several students gathered.
"Haha, Shen Fei, I heard your fiancée almost got into a fight with Hu Yanlanruo over a guy! Is that true?" A tall, imposing boy around sixteen or seventeen sauntered over, jesting playfully.
Within the elite class at the Saint Spirit Academy, students divided into factions, often at odds with one another.
The boy speaking was Ye Hong, Ye Ziyun's cousin, and he held considerable influence here, with a group backing him up.
He was often at odds with Shen Fei.
Hearing Ye Hong's words, Shen Fei clenched his fists so tightly that they nearly drew blood.
He was uncertain about the truth of these rumors but knew that regardless of the truth, such talk made him lose face.
"My sister mentioned the girl isn't fond of you. Why force the issue and risk a green... cuckold's hat?" Ye Hong teased.
Being Ye Ziyun's cousin, he was somewhat informed about Xiao Ning'er's situation and opposed Shen Fei at every turn.
Though Shen Fei found Ye Hong's meddling bothersome, he couldn't confront him directly due to Ye Hong's superior standing.
Even if infuriated, Shen Fei avoided direct conflict.
In his current frustration, Shen Fei couldn't bear it any longer and stubbornly declared, "No one can take what's mine. If I can't have it, no one can!"
(Chapter End)