Martial arts have become extinct worldwide, yet I am forced to have a large family.

The small poisonous insect, which should have been torn in two, was still twitching slightly despite its broken body.

It got up.

The two severed pieces of the body writhed on the ground, inching forward, and then eerily reconnected.

"Your body... has recovered?"

Nan Shunian was dumbfounded.

Was this also part of Yang Xian's calculations?

Then, dragging its newly healed body, it slowly crawled toward the large, poisonous Gu corpse.

Clearly, although it didn't die, it was seriously injured.

"Get up! Get up now!"

Nan Shunian couldn't help but shout at the motionless giant poisonous Gu.

Unfortunately, the miracle did not happen.

The giant poisonous Gu remained motionless, its massive body lying there silently, its life force extinguished.

It's completely cold.

The little poisonous gu that had "resurrected" then unceremoniously lay down on the corpse of the big poisonous gu and began to gnaw on it.

"You lost?"

"I actually...lost?"

Nan Shunian stared blankly at all of this, still somewhat bewildered.

Large tears, without warning, spilled from her lifeless eyes and slid down her cheeks.

She didn't cry even after Yang Xian flicked her forehead so many times.

She didn't cry, even though she was tormented to the point of near death by the power of space in order to learn the "Void Shadow Step".

But this time, in the field she was most proud of, she lost to someone she considered an "outsider," and she cried.

She cried silently, feeling wronged.

The tears weren't just because a month-long, imagined happy vacation had been ruined.

More importantly, that pride that belonged to a genius was shattered by Yang Xian with a casual gesture.

Although the girl looks like a salted fish, she is ultimately a genius from a martial arts family.

She still possessed the arrogance that geniuses are supposed to have.

Yang Xian sighed as he looked at the girl's pitiful expression.

Honestly, she's just like Ye Huairou, crying as soon as she loses a bet.

"Don't cry, don't cry."

He reached out and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

The warm fingertips touched the girl's skin, causing Nan Shunian to pause slightly in her sobbing.

"Although you lost the bet, you gained a Gu King, look." Yang Xian's voice softened a bit.

As he spoke, Nan Shunian's gaze returned to the wooden box.

In that short moment, the small poisonous gu had completely devoured the corpse of the large poisonous gu.

Its body underwent an amazing transformation.

The originally damaged body was not only completely restored, but its size also increased, and the color of its shell became deeper and darker, exuding a chilling aura.

It is no longer the ordinary-looking little insect it once was.

"This aura... it's only at the Gu King level!"

Nan Shunian's sobs stopped abruptly.

Before it matures, the Gu King looks similar to an ordinary Gu worm. Only after it has fully matured can its true identity be seen at a glance.

"You..." The girl suddenly raised her head, her reddened eyes staring intently at Yang Xian.

"From the very beginning, you knew that the smaller one was the Gu King, which is why you deliberately made this bet with me..."

"Is that right?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

It wasn't because I was sad, but because I was angry at being played for a fool.

"I just guessed because I was lucky, it just so happened that I bet on the right thing." Yang Xian waved his hand, looking innocent.

Nan Shunian, of course, did not believe a single word of this.

Judging from Yang Xian's confident and sure-fire demeanor just now, it hardly seemed like he was just lucky.

It's clear that he had already seen through the difference in strength between the two Gu worms, which is why he deliberately set up this bet.

The reality was indeed as the girl had imagined.

After Yang Xian fully grasped the essence of the "Ten Thousand Poisons Manual," these two Gu worms held no secrets for him.

It's obvious who's stronger and who's weaker.

"You're lying!"

Nan Shunian's voice suddenly rose, "You must have studied Gu breeding, otherwise you wouldn't be able to recognize the Oath Gu, let alone tell which one is the Gu King at a glance!"

"I only know a little bit!" Yang Xian coughed lightly. "Alright, the bet is over, let's continue with the lesson!"

Do you know a little bit about it?

I'll give you a piece of the know!

Nan Shunian puffed out her cheeks, looking furious.

Even my father wouldn't dare say he could pick out the Gu King at a glance.

You're an outsider, yet you tell me you know a little bit about this?

I think you're doing this on purpose, deliberately trying to make a fool of yourself!

The girl clenched her fists, and an unprecedented competitive spirit began to grow wildly in her heart.

Starting today, I'm going back to my dorm to practice my Gu techniques and cram for more knowledge!

One day, I too will be in the realm of Gu worms...

I'll beat you fair and square this time!

------

the other side.

In a secluded corner of the Chengwu University campus, there sits a small shop that looks completely unremarkable.

Xia Ming pushed open the door and went inside.

"Excuse me, is anyone here?"

The store was empty, with no shelves, no merchandise, only a lonely desk and a black swivel chair with its back to the door.

The next moment, the swivel chair turned around.

Xia Ming was slightly taken aback by the person sitting on it.

She was a girl who looked a few years younger than herself, with dazzling red hair tied into playful pigtails, wearing a magician's hat and a full magician's suit.

She had a sweet smile on her face, revealing two cute little tiger teeth, and her slender fingers were idly twirling a pink fox mask.

It was none other than Xu Huanhuan, the "fun person".

"Hello, Xia Ming!" The girl with pigtails spoke first, her voice clear and pleasant.

She crossed her legs and looked at Xia Ming at the door with great interest.

Hearing this, Xia Ming was somewhat bewildered.

She never expected that the owner of this shop would be such a young girl.

Judging by his age, he seems to still be a student?

"Hello... Hello, Mr. Xu."

Xia Ming walked in somewhat reservedly and bowed slightly.

Because her schedule was very full in the first semester, she was unable to go out and take on tasks to earn points and money.

To repay her father's huge gambling debts, she had no choice but to find part-time jobs near the school.

After looking for several jobs, I ended up here by sheer coincidence.

"Boss Xu?"

Xu Huanhuan tilted her head and repeated the address softly.

Xia Ming's heart jumped.

Oh no, doesn't this title sound a bit too old-fashioned?

Will it upset the other person?

The wages here are much higher than other part-time jobs, and it's paid daily, making it the best option for her when she urgently needed money.

She didn't want to lose her job because of a single sentence.

Just as Xia Ming's palms were sweating with nervousness, Xu Huanhuan suddenly burst out laughing.

"Haha, not bad, not bad, I like this nickname!"

Xu Huanhuan laughed so hard she almost fell over, her pigtails swaying back and forth. "That's what I'll call you from now on!"

Seeing this, Xia Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes, Mr. Xu."

She quickly agreed, then mustered her courage and asked, "Excuse me, what are the job duties here?"

"What are the job duties?" Xu Huanhuan tossed the mask in her hand into the air and caught it steadily.

His smile grew even brighter, tinged with mystery and amusement.

"Of course..."

"Looking for fun!"