Chapter 15：Du Jia Became Suspicious

Pow! Pow!

Ji Mo slapped Ji Shan across the face two more times until the latter felt his head swimming and his vision turn into a blur. Blood was trickling down the corner of his lips because all of his teeth had been knocked out.

At last, more blood spurted from Ji Shan's mouth and he fell motionless to the ground.

"Passed out? Hah, it's your lucky day!" Ji Mo rose to his feet and glanced around. He was smug when everyone showed their surprise and amazement at his display of power. 

However, Du Jia's expression soon caught his eyes. She was staring at him without batting an eyelid; her eyes filled with shock, confusion, and an inexplicable mixture of feelings.

'Shit, I was so caught in with myself that I forgot Du Jia's presence,' Ji Mo thought nervously. He had behaved too hastily. Du Jia, the scheming woman, would be quick to connect the dots. The fact that he had reacquired the Heavenly Cauldron must not be made known to her. Otherwise, it would give rise to huge trouble. 

At the thought of this, Ji Mo glared coldly at Nangong Ye before strutting away.

Numerous people at the scene made way for him submissively. In Tianyuan Academy, or more accurately, in the whole cultivation world, strength was highly honored. Everyone both respected and envied experts. The thunderous trick that Ji Mo performed earlier had deeply provoked everyone present.

When Ji Mo's receding silhouette finally vanished from sight, several Tianyuan Academy disciples surrounding the square began discussing the incident at great length. 

"What happened? Since when did that nerd become so powerful?"

"He defeated Ji Shan who possesses the capability of a sixth-tier tempered body with such ease. Is it possible that this nerd has already attained seventh-tier tempering abilities? That's absurd! How could his strength have advanced so tremendously?"

"I heard that this dude has been acting as Senior Sister Huo Lin'er's sparring partner. I bet he must have been getting loads of benefits from her!"

"It's highly possible because not only is Senior Sister Huo Lin'er an expert in the Qi Plundering Boundary, but she's also an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect. Even the tiniest bit of her teachings can sustain us, the outer disciples, for a long time. Ji Mo, the lucky b*stard, must have benefited greatly from Senior Sister Huo Lin'er!"

Du Jia, who was standing in the same place, listened closely to the conversation, her shapely brows knitted together. Then, without looking back, she rushed towards the direction that Ji Mo was headed in.

...

Of course, Ji Mo did not hear any of these discussions. He had quickened his pace to disappear from Du Jia's line of vision. He did not intend to reveal his strength at this early stage, but that ignorant Ji Shan did not know when to back off, hence it came to blows before the situation turned into chaos. 

'Du Jia, Nan Hao, just wait and see. I'll undoubtedly surpass your capability as long as I have enough time to search for sufficient spiritual medicine. By then, it doesn't matter even if you know my secret.' Ji Mo clenched both his fists as he cursed in his heart. 

"Ji Mo, stop right there!" A tender cry appeared from behind him as Du Jia had caught up with him. She appeared in front of him.

"I don't want to see you right now," he said coldly.

"There's something I want to tell you," announced Du Jia. She examined Ji Mo's expression carefully when she spoke next. "I believe you've heard that Nan Hao and I are now paired cultivation partners. It's my bad to have kept this from you. I seek your understanding now that I've made it clear to you. After all, both of us being together isn't going to work out."

"My understanding?" Ji Mo snorted. "That's enough, Du Jia. You can stop with the unctuous behavior because I don't care about what's going on between you and Nan Hao. I told you about the Nine Suns True Qi because I trusted you, but you went around my back and betrayed me to Hao Nan. Do you have any idea what that man has done to me? I almost lost my life! Is that my compensation for breaking up with you, Du Jia?"

A spark of light flashed across Du Jia's eyes. "I didn't know about that. It must've been a misunderstanding."

"Alright, I don't want to be long-winded either. Step aside. I'll find a time to settle what has happened between the two, no, the three of us," he replied before taking his leave without turning back.

"Ji Mo, here's my advice: do not be hostile with Hao Nan. The two of you belong in different worlds. You'll never surpass his strength even if you start practicing diligently now!" Du Jia cried in a satirical tone.

"Nothing is impossible," he replied softly.

"Hmph, I'm saying this for your own good. You need to have a clear view of things happening. Nan Hao's now in closed-door cultivation practicing to break through to the ninth-tier tempered body. Besides, people from the Tianshan Sword Sect will soon arrive with an invitation. By then, when Hao Nan's an inner disciple of the Tianshan Sword Sect, dealing with you will be as simple as crushing an ant."

"Really? Are you saying that Nan Hao has refined the Nine Suns True Qi?" Ji Mo enquired intentionally.

Du Jia's eyes twinkled ever so slightly, but Ji Mo had noticed her minor change in expression. He had lied deliberately so that she would assume that he was still kept in the dark and that the Heavenly Cauldron was not in his hands. At times like this, the Heavenly Cauldron was his greatest secret weapon. He would never reveal this to anyone, especially not Du Jia.

"Sooner or later, I'll also be a part of the Tianshan Sword Sect!" Ji Mo exclaimed. Having said what he had to, he strode off.

Du Jia was rooted to the ground as she replayed Ji Mo's words in her mind. 'It seems like his strength was elevated not because of the tiny cauldron. If it isn't in his hands, where has that spiritual item gone? The acquisition of the Nine Suns True Qi won't just benefit Hao Nan but also myself. Our cultivation path will surely be smooth with the assistance of the Nine Suns True Qi. What a pity! I wonder who's been blessed with this chance!'

However…

Once again, Du Jia glanced in the direction that Ji Mo went off to and sneered. 'The tremendous progression of his strength has gone way beyond my expectations. Could it be an act of revenge? Hmph, but no matter how hard this useless piece of trash tries, he'll never step up to Hao Nan's level because Hao Nan is indeed a genius. As long as I stay alongside Hao Nan, my cultivation path towards the Tianshan Sword Sect will also be one without many obstacles. Poor Ji Mo, you can only do your best. Sooner or later, you'll learn that the gap between some people can never be improved by mere effort.'

With that, Du Jia shifted slightly and vanished from plain sight.