The comments said I was deeply affectionate, I just added points by using an alternate account.

Long Ao's expression froze on his face, his jaw almost dislocated.

He racked his brains but still couldn't figure it out.

Instead of priceless elixirs and treasures, he picked out an ordinary, broken stone from a pile of junk.

What kind of approach is this? This isn't how one displays noble character and integrity!

Long Ye's gaze flickered between the coffin and the jade stone for a moment.

He has a good character, but unfortunately, his judgment is a bit poor.

He had studied the contents of the box more than once. Apart from being a bit harder, the stone was just an ordinary rock.

This kid is still young, arrogant but inexperienced. He deliberately stuffed some good stuff into the box, but the kid still didn't notice.

"If you like it, take it."

Long waved his hand, which was considered the final decision.

"Chen Guan, you..." Long Ao wanted to say something, but was stopped by the stern look from Long Ye.

"The matter is settled, let him get some rest."

After finishing speaking, Long turned and walked out without any hesitation.

After giving brief instructions, the doctor quickly left the room.

Long Ao looked at the stone in Chen Guan's hand, opened his mouth, and finally could only sigh.

He could only attribute this to Chen Guan's extraordinary abilities, which made him indifferent to external things.

The room returned to silence.

Chen Guan held the dark, spiritually nourishing ancient jade in his hand, a cool and warm sensation coming from his palm, soothing his agitated mind.

He let out a long sigh, his eyelids so heavy they seemed about to close at any moment.

Just then, the screen of his phone, which had survived the battle, lit up on the bedside table and vibrated slightly.

He picked up his phone and unlocked the screen.

An urgent notification from the Academic Affairs Office of Huaqing College popped up.

"Attention all students, no one is allowed to approach the central library area, which has been cordoned off."

……

The journey back to Huaqing College was unusually quiet.

Long Ao sat in the back seat of the car, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing. Due to the lockdown of Jiangcheng, he had no choice but to hitch a ride back to the academy.

The dragon blood essence within him was slowly merging with him, and the power sealed by the White Tiger was gradually seeping out.

With each heartbeat, his muscles and bones emitted a subtle popping sound, proof that his strength was increasing.

The Jiangcheng incident brought him the breakthrough he had longed for.

A true fourth rank, given some more time to digest, the fifth rank, or even the sixth rank, is not something unattainable.

He could already imagine the surprise that would appear on An Changqing's gentle face when he saw him.

This time, he will win back his title fair and square.

Chen Guan leaned against the other side, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the dark jade stone.

The warm, smooth feel of the jade was gradually seeping into his palm.

[When Ao Ge goes back this time, won't he shock An Changqing to death?]

Looking forward to Dragon Pride 2.0 vs. An Changqing 2.0; this time it should be a back-and-forth battle!

[That's incorrect. It's no longer Long Ao's home turf. Your brother An is still your brother An.]

[Little Coffin Bro is still fiddling with his broken rock, hilarious! The whole world is concerned about Brother Ao getting stronger, but only Coffin Bro is concerned about his souvenirs.]

The discussion in the bullet comments had no effect on Chen Guan.

He was calculating how much this ancient jade containing spiritual essence could help awaken his true form.

The scenery outside the car rushed past, and soon returned to its familiar appearance.

We've arrived at Huaqing College.

Long Ao was the first to jump off the car.

His muscles and bones throbbed with energy, his fighting spirit soaring; he couldn't wait to find An Changqing.

"I need to go back to my dorm, you..."

Long Ao turned to look at Chen Guan, but before he could finish speaking, his attention was drawn to the heated argument among several students not far away.

"It's simply a miracle! Didn't you see? Chairman An's last sword strike turned the sky gold!"

"Such a powerful enemy, how could Chairman An hold it off single-handedly?"

"What does it mean to hold on? It means to counterattack! A breakthrough in the heat of battle, directly advancing to the fifth rank! A single sword strike and you're done!"

The students stopped talking when they saw Long Ao.

Someone recognized him immediately; Chen Guan also knew him—it was Zhou Tong, a classmate.

"Long Ao, Chen Guan, it's been a long time."

Long Ao's brows were furrowed deeply, and he interrupted, "You're talking about Chairman An..."

He had a bad feeling.

Zhou Tong nodded: "You probably don't know yet, but An Changqing was elected president of the student council a while ago, and the former vice president is now doing an internship."

"An Changqing...has advanced to the fifth rank?"

"Yes." He pushed up his glasses. "A senior who couldn't graduate went mad, was tricked by a demon, and mutated into a monster. Fortunately, he discovered it early. He single-handedly held off the fifth-tier monster, buying time for the instructors. Most importantly, he advanced to the fifth tier on the spot and then killed it with a single sword strike."

Fifth order.

Upon hearing these two words, Long Ao felt a tightness in his chest, and even his breathing became heavy.

The breakthrough he achieved seemed so insignificant compared to the term "fifth rank".

"Not just Chairwoman An," another unfamiliar girl added, "Su Yuehe is amazing too; she successfully advanced to level four in this incident!"

Fourth order.

Another mountain.

Long Ao's straight back visibly slumped down.

He's only at the fourth rank.

Meanwhile, others, in the comfort of the academy, easily crossed the finish line he had been looking up at.

[…Holy crap, I only skipped two episodes to follow Brother Ao, and An Changqing is already at level five? He's cheating!]

I take back what I said earlier. It seems like Brother Ao's efforts were all for nothing.

My heart aches for Ao Ge. Seriously, the progress he made at the risk of his life is nothing compared to the true genius.

The sentiment in the comments section shifted from anticipation to sympathy.

Chen Guan got out of the car and saw everything.

He glanced at the distraught Long Ao, his face expressionless.

"Baal," he cried out in his heart, "are the demons of the academy the same kind as those in Jiang Cheng?"

"No, it's just a nobody. Even if you give it another hundred years, it still won't be as powerful as the one you're carrying on your back," Baal's lazy voice rang out.

"However," Baal said casually, "that kid forced his mythological ability, overdrawing his future potential, just to barely unleash that sword strike. The foundation of his swordsmanship has already cracked. We won't see it in the short term, but we'll know how powerful it is when he tries to break through to the sixth rank. Tsk tsk, a fine sword, what a pity."

Even though Chen Guan was not in Huaqing, it did not prevent Baer from being fully aware of what was happening in Huaqing.

He is everywhere.

Chen Guan walked to Long Ao's side.

Long Ao lowered his head, his fists clenched so tightly that the knuckles bulged, and the veins on the back of his hands stood out.

He didn't even notice the coffin approaching.

Chen Guan did not offer any words of comfort.

He simply walked calmly over Long Ao's shoulder, looked at the sealed-off Central Library in the distance, and spoke softly.

"His sword is too fast; it will break."

Those words clearly reached Long Ao's ears.

Long Ao suddenly looked up, staring blankly at the coffin.

He didn't understand.

Chen Guan didn't explain. He patted Long Ao on the shoulder and turned to walk towards the dormitory.

Long Ao stood there, pondering those words over and over.

His sword is too fast; it will break...