Nie Li walked slowly along the shelves, his gaze sweeping across the rows of ancient tomes.
"learning a language just to read one book is unnecessary," he said plainly.
Ye Ziyun looked up, slightly startled.
Nie Li turned back toward her, expression calm but confident.
"Also, with your attribute, the lightning-fire category isn't suitable for you."
Ye Ziyun blinked.
"…Oh?" she asked softly. "Then which technique is suitable for me?"
Nie Li answered without hesitation.
"Snow Wind category."
Karma, standing beside her, raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds about right," he said casually. "Cold, quiet, and sharp."
Ye Ziyun shot him a look.
"…You're saying that on purpose, aren't you?"
Karma grinned. "Maybe."
But Ye Ziyun's attention quickly returned to Nie Li. Inside her mind, shock rippled outward.
How did he know?
My attribute was tested personally by my grandfather using a hereditary technique…
This is definitely not leaked to outsiders, she thought.
And each usage of that technique requires an enormous amount of soul power…
Nie Li clasped his hands together and continued calmly, as if explaining something obvious.
"With your family background, your elders definitely tested your attribute," he said.
"But they never tested the form of your soul realm."
Ye Ziyun tilted her head.
"The form of the soul realm…?" she murmured. 'I've never even heard of that.'
Nie li hesitated, then looked up at her seriously.
"Then… why don't we spend some time so you can test the form of my soul realm?"
She turned slightly away, cheeks faintly warm.
If the test is the same as the one my grandfather used,' she thought quietly,
'then there would need to be… skin contact.
Ye Ziyun shook her head abruptly.
"No need!" she said quickly.
Nie Li blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"Eh?"
From behind the shelves, Lu Piao's horrified whisper exploded in disbelief.
"Shit! Nie Li's been mercilessly rejected! He's in a pinch!"
Du Zhe and the others peeked out as well, faces twisted with exaggerated concern.
Nie Li stared at Ye Ziyun for a second longer—then suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha," he said, waving a hand casually.
"You're overthinking it."
Ye Ziyun blinked, confused.
"The test is simple," Nie Li continued easily.
"All you need is a new piece of soul crystal."
He extended his hand slightly as he explained, tone calm and unhurried.
"Just concentrate your soul power into it. All I have to do is observe."
Ye Ziyun's eyes widened.
"Eh?"
"That… simple?" she asked hesitantly.
'…Looks like I misunderstood Nie Li'
Nie Li nodded.
"And I'll be able to determine the form of your soul realm."
"If you want to test the form of your soul realm," he said over his shoulder,
"you can find me here tomorrow. Same time."
He paused and added lightly,
"I'll be here as well."
Ye Ziyun watched as he walked away, her fingers tightening subtly around the book in her hands.
From the shadows between the shelves, Lu Piao clicked his tongue.
"Normally, when guys get the chance to talk to a goddess," he muttered,
"they try to drag the conversation out as long as possible."
He glanced at Nie Li's retreating back.
"But Nie Li just cut it short."
"Wait, Nie li, Your knowledge of inscriptions is very profound," she said.
"I was wondering… could I consult you?"
Nie Li blinked, then broke into an easy smile.
"Sure," he replied without hesitation.
"Knowledge is meant to be shared."
Karma clicked his tongue softly.
"Tch. Told you," he said lightly, glancing at Ye Ziyun. "He's a walking book repository. Annoying, but useful."
Nie Li shot him a sideways look.
Thanks for praising me in front of Ziyun but, Did you really have to call me annoying?
Ye Ziyun crouched down, placing two scrolls carefully on the floor between them. With a faint glow, the seals loosened.
"These two bronze scrolls," she said, "are both Snow Wind inscription scrolls."
Nie Li knelt as well, his expression turning serious as he examined them.
"These two inscriptions won't activate," Ye Ziyun continued.
"No matter what I do. It seems like there's a problem with the inscription, but I can't figure out where."
Nie Li studied the markings closely, eyes tracing the ancient lines.
Karma leaned in from the side, glancing over his shoulder.
"Hm. Snow Wind style… but the flow feels wrong," he remarked casually. "Like something's choking it."
Nie Li paused for half a second—then nodded.
"Yeah," he said.
"There's a flaw."
Nie Li stared at the scroll for a long moment, brows knitting slightly.
"Hm… this scroll does have some problems with the drawing," he said slowly.
"But I guess even the professors wouldn't be able to find it."
Nie li blinked, then spoke softly, almost reflexively.
"Actually… you can ask your father. He definitely knows what's wrong with this."
She smiled faintly as she looked a little sad.
Nie Li quickly recovered, rubbing the back of his head with an awkward smile.
Ah… right. Ye Ziyun lost her mother at a tender age. Her father is the City Lord and has countless matters to attend to. And her grandfather is a Legend Rank expert who often leads expeditions deep into the mountains.
So of course… there's no one to ask.
For once, Karma didn't joke.
"Tch… troublesome family background," he muttered lightly, trying to break the heaviness.
"It must be hard being born amazing."
Ye Ziyun shot him a look.
"You're one to talk."
Nie Li clenched his fist lightly, his expression earnest again.
"if you have any questions in the future, you can find me here after school."
Ye Ziyun nodded.
"Yes."
Nie Li stepped back slightly, gesturing toward the scroll.
"This is a Snow Wind category bronze inscription—Blizzard Slash."
Ye Ziyun knelt, holding the scroll carefully as he continued.
"There's no problem with the structure of the inscription," Nie Li explained.
"But the scroll itself is of poor quality."
Ye Ziyun's eyes widened.
"Poor quality scroll…?"
Nie Li nodded.
"Whoever made this is highly skilled in creating counterfeits," he continued calmly.
"It's understandable—if the buyer is inexperienced and carelessly buys this scroll."
He turned slightly, pointing toward the faded coloration in the inscription.
"This inscription is written using the blood of the Snow Wind Spiritual Worm. Normally, the blood of an adult is silvery-gray in color…"
His finger traced the marking.
"But this one is silvery red."
Karma whistled low.
"Larva blood," he said lazily.
Nie Li glanced at him, then continued without missing a beat.
"My guess is that this was written using the blood of a larva. The larva isn't strong enough, which results in the failure to activate the scroll."
Ye Ziyun sucked in a quiet breath.
"So that's where the problem lies…"
"No wonder no professor—or even the vice principal—could solve this. The bronze scroll is already complete."
She looked at Nie Li again, her gaze different now.
He can tell with just one look…
His knowledge is even more profound than the vice principal's…
Ye Ziyun flustered slightly and quickly held the scroll out again.
"Then… take a look at this one."
Nie Li smiled faintly, reaching out.
From the side, Karma folded his arms, watching the two of them with obvious amusement.
"Honestly," he muttered, shaking his head,
"One explaining, one listening seriously… you two really belong in a library."
Ye Ziyun shot him an annoyed glance.
Nie Li inwardly groaned.
Did he really have to say that now?
Nie Li carefully lifted the scroll, his gaze steady as he examined the faded inscription.
"This is the Snow Wind category Icewind Blizzard," he explained calmly.
"It was once a silver-grade inscription."
He turned the scroll slightly, letting the light catch the worn lines.
"But what remains after the Dark Ages is an incomplete version. When descendants tried to mend it, the inscription dropped from silver grade to bronze."
Ye Ziyun blinked, surprised.
"Icewind Blizzard was once silver-grade?" she asked softly.
"How come I've never heard of that before?"
Nie Li rolled the scroll back up.
"After being mended, the structure is still unstable," he said.
"So it won't be unusable. Let's head over to the table and talk more."
As they moved, Karma followed casually, hands behind his head.
"Silver-grade to bronze," he muttered. "That's one painful downgrade."
At the table, Nie li hesitated, then spoke.
"I want to change the structure of the inscription a bit."
Ye ziyun paused.
"…Change?"
Ye Ziyun asked earnestly. "How?"
She shook her head slightly thinking
My grandfather is a Legend Rank expert who can create inscriptions, but even he never said it was possible to change a completed inscription.
Nie Li sat down.
"Eh, do you have a pen?"
He rummaged briefly through his pocket.
Ye Ziyun reached forward and handed him one.
"Here."
Nie Li took it, eyes lighting up.
"Silver horn pen?" he said approvingly. "Good stuff."
Their fingers brushed.
Ye Ziyun stiffened instantly.
Hand contact—!
Her face flushed, and she quickly pulled her hand back.
Was that on purpose…?
She quickly dismissed the thought.
Erm… I'm overthinking it.
He leaned over the table and began to draw.
The pen moved swiftly across the parchment.
"This," Nie Li said, focused,
"is the complete version of the silver-grade Icewind Blizzard inscription."
His hand never slowed.
"It's derived from the basic inscription methods," he continued.
"This structure is the stable version."
Lines overlapped lines, complex yet precise.
Ye Ziyun stared in shock.
"It's twice as complex as the original…" she whispered.
"And he finished it so quickly…"
"After it's repaired," he said,
"I actually can't understand it anymore."
Nie Li rolled the parchment carefully.
"Keep it first. I'll find someone to make it into a scroll when I'm home."
Ye Ziyun clutched the paper tightly.
The sun dipped lower outside the window.
Ye Ziyun stood and bowed slightly.
"Nie Li, thank you for your explanations. Don't forget our promise."
She turned to leave.
"Same place tomorrow," she said over her shoulder.
"I won't leave until you come."
She waved, smiling brightly.
Nie Li stood there, stunned, waving back without realizing it.
"…."
As Ye Ziyun turned toward the library entrance, adjusting the book under her arm, Karma naturally fell into step beside her, matching her pace without thinking.
"I'll walk you out," he said casually, stretching his arms.
She glanced at him sideways. "You don't need to."
"I know," Karma replied easily. "But if something happens to the City Lord's daughter, your old man might hunt me down."
Ye Ziyun stopped walking and stared at him. "…That's your reason?"
"Absolutely," he nodded seriously. "Self-preservation."
She let out a soft scoff. "You're ridiculous."
Karma shrugged. "Hey, I've known you since you were shorter than my shoulder. Walking you to the door is the bare minimum."
She crossed her arms. "I can walk on my own."
"I'm sure you can," he said calmly. "You've been doing that since you were a kid."
After a moment, Ye Ziyun spoke again. "You disappeared for days," she said. "…Just don't vanish like that again."
He glanced at her, surprised—but didn't tease her this time. "Alright," he said simply. "I'll let you know next time."
They disappeared past the shelves together.
Nie Li watched their backs for a moment.
"Hehe… first encounter and already chatted with her," he muttered.
"Doesn't seem bad."
He stretched.
"Hm… time to leave."
Just as he turned—
A hand grabbed his collar violently and slammed him back.
Nie Li's eyes widened.
"!"
He looked up.
"Shen Yue?!"
Shen Yue glared down at him, veins bulging.
"What did Ye Ziyun talk to you about just now?!" he roared.
Nie Li's gaze hardened instantly.
"Let go of me," he said coldly.
"Or I won't show you mercy later."
The air between them turned heavy.