“Ling Jiu, you’re finally back!”

  Yang Ling’er and Ai Yuhe breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Ling Jiu’s safe return.

  “I’ve just pulled a fast one on that beast. I can’t help laughing from just thinking about it!”

  Ling Jiu had a smile on his face. “The Three-headed Frostfire Scaled Dragon is so hapless before Dimensional Arcana. I would have killed it just now if it weren’t for its thick skin.”

  “You’re talking about a Class 8 Direbeast here. Killing it won’t be easy.” Ai Yuhe shook her head. “How did it go? Did you manage to get it?”

  “There’s nothing I can’t handle.” Ling Jiu smiled.

  “Let’s go. We’ll find a place and divide the loot among us.”

  They hunted leisurely during the day and drank the Divine Spring of Life’s water at night. Their strengths increased tremendously with the spring water’s nourishment.

  Ling Jiu’s Gene Arcana Core had expanded tremendously from the size of an apple to the size of a pomelo.

  Meanwhile, the two girls were only one step away from Level 6. They were expected to make the breakthrough soon.

  The three returned to the training camp on Saturday. To their amazement, dozens of giant airships were parked up in the open space in front of the camp when they arrived.

  There were about a few thousand people surrounding those airships.

  “Where did these people come from?”

  Ling Jiu, as well as the two girls, exchanged glances and saw the puzzlement in each other’s eyes.

  They were on the Australian mainland, and few people went there except for the material airships sent by the company every week. Why were there so many people there today?

  “Look at the signage on the airships!”

  Ai Yuhe pointed at an airship and whispered, “Colorful flame…… Isn’t that the logo of Vulcan Arcana Combine?”

  “It really is Vulcan’s logo!”

  “What are Vulcan’s airships doing here? Hey, there are also airships of other Arcana combines and major military forces here,” Yang Ling’er said in surprise.

  “What is she doing here?”

  Ling Jiu suddenly saw a girl in the crowd in front of a Vulcan airship.

  “Who?”

  Ai Yuhe followed Ling Jiu’s gaze and spotted a pretty, tall girl who was a 9.

  “Han Chujun.”

  Ling Jiu broke into a smile. “She’s my former classmate. She used to be a very popular student in school. Not only did she have a good academic performance but she was also beautiful. She was the prom queen and goddess back then. I used to have a crush on her.”

  He had a secret crush on the girl, but it was the “dead Ling Jiu”, not him. He did not have special feelings for Han Chujun any longer.

  \r \r \r

  “A crush?”

  As Ai Yuhe looked at Han Chujun, a hint of hostility flashed in her eyes.

  Ling Jiu did not notice Ai Yuhe’s expression and still had a smile on his face. “Wait here. I’m going over to say hello.”

  It was not like he could bump into acquaintances every day in a place like the Australian continent.

  Besides, it was also a matter of courtesy.

  He’s saying hello to her?

  Ai Yuhe’s face collapsed.

  “Brother!”

  Yang Ling’er pulled Ling Jiu back and pointed her mouth at Ai Yuhe. He looked at Ai Yuhe and noticed her displeased expression. “What’s the matter with you, Yuhe?”

  Yang Ling’er was momentarily at a loss for words. “People like you deserve to be single, Ling Jiu!”

  “What’s wrong with me again?”

  Ling Jiu was baffled.

  “Weren’t you going to say hello to your former classmate? Go!” Ai Yuhe snorted. “It just so happens that I’ve spotted my old classmates too!”

  “Um……”

  Ling Jiu was dumbfounded. He then saw Ai Yuhe walk toward an airship.

  “Can’t you catch on quicker, Ling Jiu?”

  Yang Ling’er hated to see him so slow-witted. “You know she likes you. How can you say those words to her?”

  “What did I say to her?” Ling Jiu wondered, looking innocent.

  “I just mentioned that I used to have a crush on Han Chujun. What’s wrong with that?

  “Han Chujun was really extraordinary and a top student. Not to mention, she was good-looking. All the boys in school had a crush on her!”

  “You’re really hopeless!” Yang Ling’er rolled her eyes. “Are you really dumb or just faking it, Ling Jiu?”

  “You’re the dumb one.”

  Ling Jiu snorted and suddenly broke out in a triumphant smile. “It’s called the rules of dating, understand?”

  “The rules of dating?”

  Yang Ling’er was none the wiser.

  “Attraction is all about tension!”

  Ling Jiu whispered, “A girl who is outstanding, proud, and lacks no admirers like Ai Yuhe just won’t be attracted to wussies. I have to find another way.”

  “Err……”

  Yang Ling’er was still clueless. Were such words supposed to come out of her potato-headed brother?

  He sounded like a douche.

  “No. You don’t get girls by pleasing them but attracting them. External attractions generally include height, appearance, education, income, cars, assets, and so on,” Ling Jiu elaborated his points.

  “Internal attractions include conversation, values, personality, cultural literacy, hobbies, character, and so on.

  “I, your brother, am 1.8 meters tall with 10 out of 10 looks. I am highly educated, and I have a high income on top of the number of assets I possess!

  “In terms of internal attractions, I am humorous and funny with a proper outlook on life. I am also gentle with high cultural literacy, proper hobbies, and character.

  “Of course, strength is indispensable in this day and age too!

  “I have been naturally talented since I was little. I’m already a Level 6 Arcanist at 17. My future is limitless!”

  Ling Jiu was so proud of himself. “It’s no exaggeration to say that there are only a handful of people as handsome, wealthy, noble, powerful, and talented as me. I am a fatal attraction to any girl!

  “The fact that the girls in the training camp frequently ogle me is the best proof.”

  Yang Ling’er looked at Ling Jiu in disbelief. Is this really my brother?

  “Ai Yuhe is no exception.” Ling Jiu still appeared proud. “I can instantly win her heart the second I make my move, but I won’t do that.”

  “Why?” Yang Ling’er asked.

  “I want her to make the first move! I have never experienced being pursued by a girl in my entire life. I just want to experience it.”

  “Have the girl make the first move?” A voice suddenly chimed in.

  “Yup, have the girl make the first move.”

  Ling Jiu continued, “Only when the girl makes the first move will it show the charm of a man. It would be even better if she tries to impress me by pleasing me.

  “I’ve told her that Han Chujun was my crush. She’ll definitely feel nervous and pressured, which will deepen her sense of crisis. So she’ll eventually make the first move.”

  “Ahh, so that’s your plan, eh?”

  The voice was gentle at first before it suddenly turned bitter. “You jerk!”

  Ling Jiu trembled. As he turned his head with difficulty, he saw Ai Yuhe standing behind him. With the way she was glaring at him, it was as though the fire of anger was about to burst out of her eyes.

  “D-Didn’t you say you were going to say hello to your old classmates?”

  Ling Jiu shivered and forced a smile. “How come you’re still here?”

  “I did say hello to my classmates, but halfway through, I noticed the sky suddenly turn dark. When I looked up, I saw a big black cow flying in the sky!”

  Ai Yuhe sneered, “I instantly knew someone had to be bragging here, so I came back and here you are, showboating like no other.”

  “Y-You’ve misunderstood me.” Ling Jiu shook his head.

  “Didn’t you want to deepen my sense of crisis so that I would make the first move and show how charming you are?” Ai Yuhe scoffed.

  Not good. He had screwed up majorly.

  “I also think that you’ve gone too far, Ling Jiu!” Yang Ling’er agreed with Ai Yuhe.

  “I was just kidding. Don’t take it seriously!”