Chapter 9 The Utility of Mana

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Zhang Yong was an athlete, towering and imposing.

Standing in front of the thin and small Chen Hai, he looked like a guardian deity.

With just a fierce glare, he had already put considerable pressure on Chen Hai.

"Zhang Yong, with which eye did you see me making a move on Lin Lan?"

"She kept coming up to me, and you don't warn her but confront me instead. Do you think I, Chen Hai, am easy to bully?"

After gaining some benefits from Tao Cultivation, Chen Hai, now with newfound confidence, rolled his eyes and responded.

Of course, his response was not strong-willed.

Because in his view, in a one-on-one duel, his current self probably was no match for Zhang Yong.

As for using soul departure to scare him by transforming into an Avatar leech, in broad daylight, attempting that would be tantamount to seeking death.

"Wow, Chen Hai, after a few days off sick at home, you've grown bold enough to talk back to me?"

"In the cafeteria this morning, you and Lin Lan were almost head to head!"

"And at noon, you were laughing and chatting, even having lunch together. I saw it with my own eyes. Do you dare say you have no designs on Lin Lan?"

With a cold snicker, Zhang Yong stared at Chen Hai.

With a threat in his tone, his snapping knuckles 'crackled' ominously.

"The sky rains as it wishes, a woman marries as she pleases; what Lin Lan wants to do is none of my business!"

"Besides, what does Qian Bing's interest in Lin Lan have to do with you? Why bother harassing me on his behalf?"

Fed up with dealing with Zhang Yong, Chen Hai turned his head, ready to leave.

"Dare to disrespect me, Chen Hai? Are you asking for a beating?"

Previously, Zhang Yong had just verbally threatened, but seeing Chen Hai preparing to leave, Zhang Yong was completely infuriated.

He took a step forward, closing in on Chen Hai, then reached out his large hand towards Chen Hai's hair.

This guy, used to fighting and brawling, had done so much more than just once or twice.

According to his experience, once he grabbed Chen Hai's hair, he would push downwards, and then knee upwards.

In just two or three moves, he would leave Chen Hai's face blooming like a peach tree.

Zhang Yong's sudden action did not go unnoticed by Chen Hai.

But at that moment, he seemed a bit dazed.

Just as he thought about dodging Zhang Yong's grabbing hand, he suddenly felt a cool stream of air flowing into his eyes.

Following that, the movements of Zhang Yong he saw seemed to slow down several times.

"Mind moves at will, with intent comes the force!"

"Is this mana? Or the power of the soul? Just because I had a thought, this power was infused into my eyes, creating this effect so effortlessly?"

A sudden epiphany washed over him, and Chen Hai, who had been somewhat timid in front of Zhang Yong, was now brimming with confidence, fearlessly confronting him.

He shifted his body slightly, easily dodging the large hand Zhang Yong had swiped at him.

Immediately after, he stretched out his right foot.

With a "thud,"

Zhang Yong was tripped and fell flat on his face.

"You dare to fight back? Chen Hai, if I don't beat you into going back to the hospital for a few more days today, then I'm not Zhang Yong!"

With his head and face blackened, Zhang Yong, who had just flipped himself up from the ground, was completely freaking out.

Amidst the 'ao ao' howls, he once again pounced toward Chen Hai.

In terms of strength, he was far superior to Chen Hai.

As for the physical baseline conditions, he could leave Chen Hai several streets behind.

But now, in front of Chen Hai, he felt powerless and unable to land a hit; all his attacks missed, not even grazing a hair on Chen Hai.

By contrast, he himself was already bruised with a swollen face, and a large bump had formed on his forehead, oozing a bit of fresh blood.

These injuries were not the work of Chen Hai.

They were simply because after being tripped up by Chen Hai, he fell and ended up like this.

Once or twice, such incidents could be called coincidence or accident.

But after being tripped over and over by Chen Hai, nearly five or six times, Zhang Yong finally understood that Chen Hai was too agile and quick to react; it seemed he was no match for him at all.

"Weren't you the one declaring that you'd send me to the hospital for a few days?"

"What's the matter, Zhang Yong? Just a few tumbles and you've wilted?"

"If you're a real man, stand up and keep practicing with me—don't let me think less of you!"

As if he had found a new toy, Chen Hai was full of energy and in high spirits; even the slight gloom in his heart seemed to have vanished at this moment.

Standing a few paces away from Zhang Yong, he looked disdainful as he spoke, even giving Zhang Yong a contemptuous thumb-up gesture.

"A real man, a vigorous hero, show me—get up if you can!"

"Chen Hai, if you have the guts, keep hitting me—I won't fight back."

"But let me lay it out for you, if you don't beat me to death, I will definitely reclaim my ground with interest!"

Zhang Yong sure talked tough.

Even at this time, he hadn't forgotten to throw out a few fierce words.

Seeing Chen Hai actually coming over, ready to continue the beating, Zhang Yong quickly shielded his head, curling his body into a ball.

After kicking him a few times and seeing that he really didn't fight back, Chen Hai decided to leave well enough alone and stopped.

After all, beating up Zhang Yong to vent his anger was one thing, but he certainly couldn't go too far!

In Wuyang Town, unless it was a market day, you would hardly see many people on the streets.

Chen Hai and Zhang Yong had been tussling for nearly fifteen minutes in the alley without anyone passing by.

But that was just as well, it spared Chen Hai some unnecessary trouble.

"Remember, behave yourself in front of me from now on—if you can't do it, then learn how to grovel properly!"

Having warned Zhang Yong with a few words and leaving that final statement, Chen Hai turned and strode away.

Noon was break time—usually, day students would go home, while boarding students would rest in their dormitories.

Returning to Wuyang Town Middle School and into his class, he saw that nearly ten students were already seated at their desks.

Some were flipping through textbooks, others were grinding through stacks of practice questions.

With just over two months left until the national college entrance exam in June,

The college entrance exam rate of Wuyang Town Middle School was pitifully low, but these 12th graders still felt a sense of urgency.

The saying goes, 'fine-tuning your weapon on the battlefield comes too late to shine.'

Perhaps cramming now, just in case—a blind cat might encounter a dead rat—might lead to an exceptional performance on the exam and success in getting into university?

Lin Lan greeted Chen Hai upon his return.

But that was it, she certainly wasn't going to approach him for idle chit-chat in the classroom.

Sitting up straight at his own desk, book in hand, Chen Hai's mind wandered off once more, pondering over the bizarre and wonderful knowledge in his head.