"Have you heard? Lin Feng and Ya Ge broke up."
"No way, aren't they always showing off their love? How could they break up?"
"Showing off love leads to a fast death!"
"Are you stupid? Now look at Ya Ge's status, a future Eighth Grade Demon Spirit Master. She's even signed with the Juxing Club, her future is bright. Lin Feng, although decent, can't become a Demon Spirit Master and can't keep up with Ya Ge's pace."
"Ya Ge is too realistic, dumping Lin Feng so quickly."
"I heard Ji Yu announced he's going to pursue Ya Ge. Is it because of him?"
"Keep it down, being targeted by Ji Yu is trouble."
"But didn't I hear that Lin Feng was the one who brought up the breakup?"
As Lin Feng crossed the playground, heading back to the cafeteria, he realized the rumors about him and Ya Ge were flying everywhere, spreading wildly.
Standing in a corner, Lin Feng listened carefully for a while, and even he had to admire the speed of the news spreading.
How long has it been? Just over ten minutes!
How come it feels like everyone knows?
Lin Feng wasn't concerned about the trivial gossip or his classmates' chatter; he was more curious about how the news of his and Ya Ge's breakup got out.
Ya Ge couldn't have said anything!
Even if she confided in her girlfriends, she wouldn't mention "I dumped him," it's not something worth announcing.
"No one was present at the time!"
Lin Feng was puzzled because Ya Ge had especially chosen the back mountain to avoid any interference. There was hardly anyone in the back mountain, let alone they chose a secluded spot.
As a Martial Artist, vigilance and observation are basic abilities. Without these two basic skills, you wouldn't know how you died.
Although there's no danger in school, as a Martial Artist who hovers between life and death, quickly assessing the surrounds is instinctual for Lin Feng.
Lin Feng was certain that when he and Ya Ge were having the breakup conversation, there was no one around, at least not within a hundred-meter radius, not even an animal.
So this situation was a bit strange.
After puzzling for a while, until Lin Feng heard the name Yang Fan, he suddenly realized.
"So it was that guy."
About his former classmates, so much time had passed that Lin Feng nearly forgot them, barely remembering any names.
But this Yang Fan, Lin Feng remembered distinctly.
This kid named Yang Fan had average martial arts talent, his strength probably only at the Body Cultivator Fifth Rank, average academic performance, with the only advantage being his knack for inside information.
He called himself Jianghu All-known, a gossip king, the leader of the Entertainment Alliance, but classmates called him Big Mouth.
If there was any rumor or gossip in Jiangxin First Middle School, about nine out of ten times, it was spread by this Big Mouth. Even if it wasn't, you could ask him, and he could tell you one or two things.
It's said that to gather gossip, this person, who had no issues with hearing or sight, especially learned lip-reading and sign language. Although many people disliked him, if there was any scandal or gossip on campus, the first person they sought was him.
Any rumor spread by him, no one really doubted its authenticity.
This conclusion was drawn from over a hundred cases.
Lin Feng found himself somewhat interested in that Yang Fan.
This Yang Fan, although having average martial arts talent, possessed the competence of a Body Cultivator Fifth Rank, qualifying him to participate in the Awakening Day.
Yesterday on the Awakening Day, he had good luck and refined a Sound-seeking Beast. The Sound-seeking Beast, a Second Grade Demon Spirit, almost had no offensive power, with the only talent of having far superior hearing and sight than ordinary people.
Logically, it's just a Second Grade Demon Spirit, this kind of supportive demon spirit is not uncommon.
Knowing lip-reading and sign language is not strange. Jiangxin First Middle School should have some with these skills, but those who know lip-reading and sign language, have refined a Sound-seeking Beast, claim to be Jianghu All-known, and are passionate about the gossip business, this guy is definitely a talent.
A talent with a very clear plan for his future career.
In some sense, calling him a genius would not be an exaggeration.
Lin Feng decided, he must get to know him well.
He needed such a role in his plan.
When Lin Feng arrived at Canteen No. 5, Gao Hai, waiting at the entrance, quickly walked up and couldn't help but ask.
"Brother Feng, did you really break up with Ya Ge?"
"Mm, it had to happen sooner or later, nothing unexpected." Lin Feng nodded.
Gao Hai was silent for a moment, his fist clenched tightly, appearing somewhat angry. Finally, as if making up his mind, he said, "Fine if they broke up, a realistic woman like that is best left alone. From today, she is no longer our friend."
Between Lin Feng and Ya Ge, Gao Hai made the choice in an instant.
"No need, she has the right to choose."
Lin Feng patted Gao Hai's shoulder, comforting him.
Although this was a matter between him and Ya Ge, Lin Feng understood Gao Hai's feelings.
They had been neighbors since they were seven, the three of them grew up together, from primary school through middle school to high school, always in the same class, going to school and coming home together every day. Lin Feng and Ya Ge even mentioned having Gao Hai as the best man at their wedding someday.
Ya Ge's decision to leave also destroyed their trio's friendship. It was impossible again to be the ones who could tell each other everything.
In memory, just as Gao Hai mentioned, even if Ya Ge joined the Nine Elite Joint Schools and soared high, he did not speak a word to Ya Ge.
He valued the friendship even more than Lin Feng did.
"Don't blame her, I was the one who suggested the breakup!"
"You brought it up?"
Gao Hai wore a face full of doubt, clearly not believing it. Lin Feng had no plans to explain either; his stomach was growling with hunger, and after getting his meal, he launched into binge-eating mode.
Under Gao Hai's surprised gaze, Lin Feng went back three times, ate a total of seven bowls of rice, six side dishes, and two pounds of roasted meat, costing him 120 New Coins in total.
"Brother Feng, are you okay eating like this?"
Gao Hai was a bit worried, suspecting Lin Feng might have been emotionally affected by the breakup with Ya Ge.
"What could be wrong?"
Lin Feng put down his chopsticks. With so much food entering his body, his stomach was uncomfortably bloated, needing a pause.
But even so, Lin Feng still didn't feel full, his body remained in a state of hunger.
Lin Feng understood it was the aftereffect of a significant depletion of Qi and Blood.
Ordinary food could only satiate hunger but couldn't fulfill his demand for Qi and Blood.
The mightier the Martial Artist, the more they eat; for a Martial Artist, being able to eat means a stronger body, being able to eat is a blessing, not without reason.
"Running out of money, must earn fast," Lin Feng thought to himself.
Even the most common food wasn't exactly cheap; spending 120 New Coins was his meal money for a week. Now, only 300 New Coins remained.
It's the food money for his remaining half-month; if not for his family sending him a month's worth of meal money all at once, he'd starve tomorrow.
Thankfully, this was a school, and the meals were relatively cheap. If eating like this outside, without two to three hundred New Coins, it simply wasn't possible.
While resting, Lin Feng saw a male student not far away, apparently full, with an empty tray in front of him. However, after taking a Pill, he began binge eating again not long after.
Lin Feng knew that was a Digestive Pill, which cost 2000 New Coins each.
Taking one would accelerate the digestion of food. During the third year of high school, with only three months left before the college entrance exam, many wealthy families prepared a pill for their children every day.
"If there's a chance, I must refine Big Stomach King," Lin Feng thought to himself, feeling the food slowly being digested in his body.
Big Stomach King ranked 17th on the Exotic Beast Chart, just like the Dream Demon within Lin Feng's body, had no offensive capability, belonging to supportive demon spirits.
Refining Big Stomach King would enhance digestion capacity tens of times over that of ordinary people, allowing near-unlimited eating, assuming the body could withstand it.
"In two months, if I refine that Dream Demon, while gaining extraordinary talent, I would also suffer from having life force and soul devoured. If I refine Big Stomach King, having money means the abundant Qi and Blood could completely counterbalance the devoured life force."
Lin Feng had an idea, if he could refine Big Stomach King, it could at least alleviate the aftereffects of refining the Dream Demon.
Many mythic creatures on the Exotic Beast Chart are rare to find and opting to find one is like searching for a needle in a haystack.