“Chapter 61: Little Brother”

Chapter 61: Younger Brother

Lan Jiaying rushed forward with an explosive force, seemingly moving to Wen Ying's side in the blink of an eye. He raised his right hand, the metal blade in his grasp slashing diagonally towards Wen Ying's shoulder.

Wen Ying coated the vine in his hand with a layer of protective magic, allowing him to better control its trajectory after it was swung out.

He swung the vine, the magic attached to it causing the end of the vine to wrap around Lan Jiaying's metal blade. A "Supple Body" card of a Succubus flew out from his pocket. Wen Ying thought that he needed to find Essence to craft some SSR Supple Bodies soon, as he had already exhausted his SR and R ranks, and had not been able to replicate them for a long time.

Lan Jiaying also imbued his metal blade with magic, flames resembling a fire dragon coiling around it, creating a dazzling display. The fiery blade turned the blade red and searing hot, severing the vine wrapped around it without pause, then lunged towards Wen Ying again, this time aiming to pierce directly.

Wen Ying flapped his bat wings, lightly leaping onto the tip of Lan Jiaying's blade. A layer of ice magic formed beneath his feet, meeting the scorching blade and producing a mist.

Lan Jiaying curved his left hand into a claw, a blue flame forming in his palm. He reached out with his blue-flame-enshrouded hand to grab Wen Ying's foot.

Wen Ying soared up, the vine already replenished with magic, not only returning to its original length but also thickening by a circle. Just as a magic card was about to fly out of his pocket, Lan Jiaying's explosive speed brought him back in an instant, his flaming blade swinging towards Wen Ying's face. The interruption of his spellcasting forced Wen Ying to hastily dodge.

He had always been trying to create distance between himself and Lan Jiaying, but every time he managed to create some space, Lan Jiaying would close in with his incredible burst speed, turning the mage into a melee fighter. Frustration welled up in Wen Ying's heart – this guy must have definitely inquired about his attack habits from other demons.

If he couldn't create distance, he would be at a disadvantage.

Wu Shaluo and Huiguo were relieved, they specifically warned Lan Jiaying not to let Wen Ying get too far away from him for too long. Although that Devil Mirror was deceitful, it was also fragile. As long as it couldn't cast those instantaneous turtle shell spells, they could definitely beat it until it cried for its mother! That guy was very afraid of pain, hahaha!

The two devils were more excited than if they were fighting themselves. Huiguo couldn't help shouting, "Hit him! Smack his face! Cut off his wings!"

Feng Luo had an expressionless face, his brows furrowed in displeasure. Wen Ying was purely relying on wasting magic power to resist Lan Jiaying's attacks. At this moment, Lan Jiaying wasn't consuming much, but Wen Ying had already expended a significant amount of magic.

Just a month of lessons hadn't allowed Wen Ying to develop good combat awareness. Now, when he was in a passive situation, he started to panic.

His shoulder was hit, and the blood made the left side of his clothes stick to his body like water, the burning pain causing Wen Ying to gasp. But there was no time for gasping, Lan Jiaying didn't pause at all, as if he had endless stamina.

This couldn't continue. Wen Ying thought of the completely different Lan Jiaying during the monthly exam, who was more reckless and had more flaws. Now, Lan Jiaying was calm and composed, moving with ease and controlling the rhythm of the fight himself.

After some consideration, Wen Ying took the risk of being slashed again and whipped Lan Jiaying's face with a vine. The vine, imbued with magic power, immediately left a red mark across his face, dividing it evenly into two halves.

Anger flashed in Lan Jiaying's dark eyes. "You really want to die."

His attack speed increased, becoming sharper and fiercer, but also revealing more openings. Wen Ying took out most of the magic cards from his spatial bracelet, using his mental power to control them as they floated around him. The most ordinary, least valuable R cards formed the outermost layer, acting as shields, defending him from all angles.

Many of Lan Jiaying's strikes landed on the R cards. Upon being struck, these cards automatically released their magic power to resist the attacks trying to destroy them, often holding out for a second or two before exploding.

In that brief interval, Wen Ying had enough time to react, not just react, but also counterattack. He didn't aim to injure Lan Jiaying physically; instead, he focused on slapping his face, relishing in the increasing number of red marks on the visage, causing the surrounding demons to lose their composure.

Lan Jiaying couldn't hold back anymore. The effortless elegance he maintained was torn apart by himself. His attacking style transformed from graceful to ferocious, like a wild beast.

Huguo's expression darkened as he stabbed Wu Shaluo with a grim look. "Cousin, I remember those cards didn't have this function before, right?"

Wu Shaluo's face remained stoic. "This damn thing is up to its tricks again."

Feng Luo was also surprised by Wen Ying's move. After some thought, it seemed that whenever Wen Ying was engaged in one-on-one, no-retreat battles, he would often develop combat techniques tailored to himself. He truly had remarkable talent and was an outstanding prospect.

So, he needed to adjust his training methods for Wen Ying as well.

Once again, Lan Jiaying lost his composure under the watchful eyes of the crowd, fueled by both new and old grudges. His eyes turned into vertical dragon pupils, icy and terrifying, as he unleashed all-out attacks.

The scorching demonic aura heated up the arena, and frost coated the tips of Wen Ying's feet. Each time he made contact with the platform, a plume of hot mist rose, making him feel as if he were floating amidst clouds.

The thick mist obscured the audience's view, preventing them from discerning the fine details of the two demons' movements. They could only catch glimpses of the swiftly moving silhouettes through the haze.

The whistling of the whip and the swishing of the blade intertwined continuously.

Wen Ying noticed that Lan Jiaying was still fighting with intelligence. Amidst the thick fog, he couldn't replicate puppets.

It's time to use poison then, Wen Ying thought, recalling several types of venom from Aluda's repertoire. He swiftly settled on an appropriate one. Among the magical incantations Aluda had given him, there were a few poison-related spells that Wen Ying could manage to cast.

He retreated, and from among the hundreds of cards floating around him, over a dozen vine cards burst forth, abruptly pushing Lan Jiaying away from him and entwining him tightly. The vines rapidly enveloped him from head to toe, while other thick vines sprawled across the entire arena, wrapping it up like a dumpling.

"I can't see anything anymore. So annoying."

"What is he trying to do?"

The vines wriggled, and judging from the sound of blades swishing and striking something within, they seemed to be self-repairing. Perplexed, Belos carefully observed and realized that Wen Ying was actually casting low-level healing magic on these vines!

Who would have thought of such a usage? Wen Ying truly surprised him.

Satisfactory enough, Belos thought as his lips curved slightly. Scanning the expressions of the demons around him and hearing their astonished exclamations, he felt a sense of pride.

Felius was amazed. "Wen Ying's move is brilliant. These vines were originally just simple consumables, but with healing magic, they become deadly weapons to exhaust the enemy. Yet, only Wen Ying could pull off such a tactic."

"Not bad," Belos commented casually.

Phileus's ice-blue eyes shimmered with regret. "I was wrong. Lord Perseus had the right judgment; it's me who isn't good enough." He had been too confined by his own species when he tried to stop Wen Ying before.

"Maybe I could learn more combat techniques from him," or perhaps some unconventional moves.

Perseus shifted his gaze from the arena to Phileus and said, "There's no need. His style doesn't suit you."

Phileus was taken aback for a moment before he nodded slightly. "If that's what you say, then I won't learn from him."

As Perseus turned his attention back to the arena, the memory of Wen Ying saying that Phileus treated him better than Perseus did flashed across his mind. Now, whenever he looked at Phileus, those words involuntarily resurfaced, leading him to subconsciously try to stop Phileus just now.

This feeling of being out of control was annoying. Perseus knitted his brows.

The enormous bun formed by the intertwined vines on the arena was sliced open by the blades inside, which extended into red flame swords. The flames burned where the vines were cut, preventing ordinary healing magic from restoring them.

With a demonic ferocity, Lan Jiaying destroyed the surrounding vines obstructing his view. Seeing Wen Ying behind a tangle of vines, he retracted the several-meter-long magical flames from his metal blade and swiftly slashed over, sending a fiery magical aura like a blade strike.

The surrounding demons immediately focused, witnessing the fiery magical aura blade directly hitting the figure behind the vine. Strangely, when the smoke cleared, there was nothing there.

Instead, on those severed vines, there were some blossoming flowers, their colors similar to the vines themselves. One might easily overlook them if not paying close attention.

Lan Jiaying's eyes darted around, focusing on locating Wen Ying. His terrifying dragon-like vertical pupils grew even more profound and indifferent. Suddenly, he noticed something amiss with the flowers that resembled the vines in color.

Blossoming flowers?

Lan Jiaying's pupils constricted as he covered his mouth and nose. The air in his nasal cavity and throat burned, as if flames were scorching him from within. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his lips. Gazing at the blood on his palm, Lan Jiaying was filled with uncertainty.

Wen Ying emerged stealthily from the shadows of another cluster of vines on the opposite side. Lan Jiaying sensed Wen Ying's presence in his mind, but when he turned to swing his blade, he found his body unresponsive, lagging behind his thoughts.

As Wen Ying manipulated a barrage of vines to overwhelm him, Lan Jiaying's grip on his sword wavered. Though it was the same vine as before, his hand trembled slightly as he struck.

Lan Jiaying was already aware that he had fallen victim to something, and based on his investigation, it was likely a poison. However, it was impossible for Wen Ying to use forbidden toxic potions during the ranking matches. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Wen Ying wasn't shameless enough to break the rules so blatantly.

The vines proved unyielding to the blade, so Lan Jiaying resorted to fire. His lips moved in silent incantation, summoning the azure flames of his Dragonwing Burner. These flames coalesced into a fiery dragon, which opened its jaws to voraciously gnaw at the tendrils. The moment the vines were seized, flames erupted from the point of contact and spread along their length, consuming them in a trail of conflagration.

Wen Ying soared through the air, three cards at his side transforming into beams of white light that converged, forming a biting cold ice current surging towards the azure flame dragon. The conflicting powers of ice and fire magic clashed fiercely, once again shrouding the arena in a billowing mist of steam.

A common venomous spell might not significantly affect a Black Dragon, but what about several combined? Wen Ying wasn't sure what Aluda's purpose was when he compiled the spell notebook, the one he had handed to Wen Ying during the first round of the entrance exam. It took her a whole month to commit its contents to memory.

Within a small tome of arcane incantations lies a substantial portion devoted to venomous spells, with many entries bearing annotations such as: "Optimal results when employed in conjunction with Potion XX" or "Enhanced efficacy when layered with Herb XX."

Wen Ying committed it to memory, integrating the knowledge. He merged three different poison spells within, and if not for the pressing time and Lan Jiaying's swift slashes, he would have added more. With no time to chant, Wen Ying utilized a magic card to incorporate a fourth poison spell, concealing them all within the flowers blooming on the vines. This was a simple wood-elemental minor spell that caused the vines to blossom.

As the flames from Lan Jiaying's strikes dissipated into a scorching mist, parts of the mixed toxins were eradicated by the flames while the rest blended into the vapor, being inhaled by Lan Jiaying who stood at the center of the haze.

Wen Ying revealed a cunning expression. Since he was inferior to Lan Jiaying in close combat, he intended to level the playing field. Delighting in this strategy, he swiftly leaped on a vine, stepping onto another as he condensed magic into a handy vine whip in his palm, aiming to lash at the vine-entangled Lan Jiaying.

The demons only heard a crisp "snap," followed by a series of whistling sounds. They could also hear Lan Jiaying's furious curses at Wen Ying's shamelessness.

Wen Ying swiftly drew a tic-tac-toe pattern across Lan Jiaying's face, taking hits himself but relishing the experience.

The vines only entangled Lan Jiaying for a short while. After realizing that the knife was useless, he abandoned it and covered his hands with green flames, tearing the vines apart barehanded in a wildly ferocious manner.

"It's the second time!" Lan Jiaying pounced in front of Wen Ying, "If I don't beat you up so badly that you can't get out of bed for three days, I'll take your surname!"

In the great hall, the majority of the demons had the same thought the moment they heard Lan Jiaying's voice that seemed to pierce through the clouds: "It's over!"

Especially for someone like Scarlet, who felt a strong sense of déjà vu. Wasn't this exactly how he and Wen Ying had wagered at the academy gates, betting that the loser would become the other's slave?

Wen Ying raised an eyebrow. "But I don't need a younger brother."

Unfazed by the last time he fell, Wen Ying liked to see Lan Jiaying raise the stakes.

Wen Ying had just jestingly made his remark when he received a punch to the face, causing stars to dance before his eyes. Ignoring the pain, he quickly took advantage of the lingering "Flexibility" spell and wrapped his arms around Lan Jiaying's arm. Twisting his waist and using his legs, he hooked Lan Jiaying's neck and threw him to the ground with a powerful magic-infused toss.

Then, Wen Ying sat on Lan Jiaying's hips and seized the opportunity to land several punches with all his might – all directly to the face.

As the fog began to dissipate, their aggressive moves could be clearly seen. Feng Luo observed Wen Ying's actions with satisfaction. He had used this same move to throw Wen Ying many times, and it seemed that Wen Ying had finally learned from him.

Lan Jiaying, after taking a few hits, blindly grabbed onto Wen Ying's hand and threw it away before swiftly rolling over and getting back up to pursue.

The two demons tangled together, both aiming for each other's faces. Soon, the two handsome demons were transformed into swollen-faced pandas. The spectators, unused to seeing a match where only the face was targeted and not the vulnerable spots, fell silent.

After a while, they were both panting heavily. Wen Ying was exhausted, lacking energy as he gasped for air. Lan Jiaying, who had been affected by Wen Ying's poisonous blend earlier, was also losing strength.

In the end, it was Wen Ying who, in Lan Jiaying's astonished gaze, instantly cast a healing spell on himself and then kicked Lan Jiaying off the arena.

Many demons around them gasped in surprise, while others inwardly acknowledged what they had expected. Wu Shaluo's expression remained numb; he wasn't overly surprised.

Unaware of the unusual reactions and sounds from the audience, Lan Jiaying instinctively tried to fly back up to continue fighting. However, the elderly demon referee stopped him, saying, "Your Highness, you've lost. Falling off means defeat."

Lan Jiaying's eyes widened, though with his swollen face, the difference was barely noticeable. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth as he stared up in a daze.

Wen Ying sat on the edge of the arena, his feet dangling below. With an equally swollen face, he wore a smug and cunning smile. "Sorry about this, but the rule of the ranking match is that once you're down, you lose."

He had gotten quite skilled at tossing demons off. Lan Jiaying, a first-timer in the ranking matches, had forgotten the rules in the heat of battle.

This black dragon was proud to his core; it probably never crossed his mind to exploit loopholes in the ranking system. Wen Ying's lips curled further upward, gazing at the stunned dragon below with an even brighter smile.

Despite the pain in his face and all over his body, the ache in his muscles after the "Flexibility" spell wore off made his body stiffen to endure the discomfort. But Wen Ying was ecstatic; he had knocked the arrogant prince down.

Recalling Lan Jiaying's words, he raised his voice. "Even though you, the First Prince, have lost, my great-grandmother doesn't need a second grandson-in-law, so there's no need for you to take my surname."

Lan Jiaying's rage boiled over, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood. His eyes bulged with the urge to rush forward. He hadn't lost at all! If it were a real fight, he could've continued and ultimately emerged victorious!

Wen Ying kindly summoned a Mirror Clone, propping it against his leg. Holding it with both hands, he faced Lan Jiaying, swinging his legs innocently. "I think you wouldn't want to stay here any longer. This isn't North Mist Mountain's monthly exam; everyone has their phones."

Upon seeing his own miserable reflection in the mirror, Lan Jiaying stumbled back in shock. Touching his face for a few seconds, he left in a huff without another word.

"Have a good trip," Wen Ying chuckled.

Lan Jiaying seemed enraged, spitting out more blood. Clutching his mouth, he limped forward, increasing his pace.

Without his target for teasing, the burning pain from Wen Ying's various injuries surged straight to his head. He lay down peacefully, with only his legs hanging outside the arena and bending downward.

The old demon referee who had presented Wen Ying with the silver-white staff soared upwards, to whom Wen Ying addressed faintly, "Kindly have the school custodian carry me to the treatment room near the arena. Thank you." With those words spoken, he closed his eyes.

Old Demon: "..." This child was just now full of vigor when voicing his anger at Lan Jiaying, so why the turnaround is so quick?

Muershi swooped in, crouching beside Wen Ying, and poked his cheek. "You had quite the loss this time. Do you want me to share some of my profits with you? Many demons, defying the odds, bet on Lan Jiaying to win. As the bookie, I've made a fortune."

Wen Ying's eyes slowly opened at the mention of money, only to see Feng Luo standing behind Muershi, who was crouched down. He promptly closed them again, pretending to have fainted.

Muershi tilted his head in confusion and prodded Wen Ying's face. "What's wrong?"

Feeling a hand tug at the back of his collar, Muershi turned his head with displeasure. He saw a pair of straight legs, the style and color of the pants somewhat familiar. As he gradually lifted his gaze, his eyelids twitched as Feng Luo's cold and detached face came into view.

"..."

Before being dragged away by Feng Luo for a scolding, Muershi secretly kicked Wen Ying.

Wen Ying was carried on a stretcher by two janitors to the treatment room in the arena, which could be considered an annex of the school infirmary. After so many ranking matches, it was his first time visiting. The last time he visited Phaeros, the latter had already been transferred to the infirmary he usually went to.

There wasn't much difference between this place and that infirmary. It was also a long corridor with numerous individual rooms, each containing a bed and a white screen.

For the first time in his life, Wen Ying experienced being carried to treatment by others, no, by two demons on a stretcher. Despite the excruciating pain throughout his body, his mind was highly active due to the recent battle. The excitement of his cells lingered, making his entire body tremble as he eagerly anticipated venting the fake energy that kept surging.

His body said he had no strength left, but his mind refused, insisting that there was still more to give.

Having lived as a human for twenty years, Wen Ying finally tasted the thrill of a demon's fighting instinct. This intense pleasure that threatened to overwhelm reason continuously washed over his brain, leaving almost no other command but to continue fighting despite his exhaustion and severe pain. It turned his shivers of excitement into a massive puppet master, controlling his battered body to keep battling.

It was madness. No wonder Perseus had no interest in that aspect. This sensation was comparable to sexual desire, addictive and even healthier.

The exhilarating rush of adrenaline, stimulating his soul, explained why humans in the mortal realm would constantly push their limits through extreme sports, with their bodies running ahead while their souls chased behind.

Surprisingly, wielding Lan Jiaying felt rather enjoyable too, more comfortable than holding a staff or short blade. As he received treatment from the school medic, Wen Ying relished the intense experience and contemplated the idea of actively engaging in high-intensity training.

Residing in Aruda's castle, located within the Eternal Forest, it was convenient for him to frequently venture into the woods to train with magical creatures. Once he sorted out the blind draw magic cards, he would seek out these creatures.

Being an outsider among demons, the pain served as a reminder for Wen Ying to force himself to sleep. Before drifting off, he sent a message to Aruda.

Alruda gazed at his phone with a sigh. The longer a child spent away from home, the more restless they became, always reluctant to return.

Wen Ying's injuries were too severe for him to rise the following day. He remained in the lounge, taking a day off from work.

Muershi came to visit, informing him that Lan Jiaying had already gotten up early to attend classes. Wen Ying thought to himself that the Black Dragon demons were more resilient than his own Mirror Demon kind, with quicker recuperation. That venom hadn't kept Lan Jiaying bedridden until noon.

Muershi also mentioned that his factory had finished the outer boxes, now awaiting Wen Ying's cards. Hearing this, Wen Ying felt a bit pitiful, having to work through his injuries.

After lying in bed for a day, Wen Ying got up to create cards with Phileas. The design depicted an enchanting mermaid leaping out of the water, with moonlight filtering through Phileas' translucent butterfly wings, creating a dreamlike scene.

The next day, Wen Ying sought out Levimo and Lilith, completing their cards over two days. Levimo's card portrayed a butler style, with a background of a study, complete with a tuxedo and white gloves. His fluffy, furry tail hung naturally behind him, and he wore gold-rimmed glasses, exuding elegance and abstinence.

Lilith requested an afternoon tea-themed career woman style, which Wen Ying diligently executed.

With six ordinary cards and one hidden card completed, Wen Ying spent the weekend at Muershi's factory. He took all the cards out of his spatial bracelet, filling it to the brim – a tangible sense of accomplishment.