Su Ze had long sensed that there was something fishy about this matter.

First, there was Yuan Jin’s inexplicable challenge. Then, after he refused, Mr. Ji stepped in to push for it.

After Su Ze proposed a high stake, the head of Lin Hua Noble Academy, Deng Donghua, actually appeared and agreed to it.

Although saving face was certainly a factor, it was still highly suspicious.

Su Ze didn’t know what Lin Hua Noble Academy’s objective was or why they were targeting him. But as he thought it over and over, the only previous interaction he’d had with them was beneath the Thousand Heroes Tomb, where he and Mr. Ya had killed four of the academy’s teachers and students.

’Could that incident have been exposed?’

’Probably not. If Lin Hua Noble Academy really had concrete evidence, they would’ve likely made a move directly instead of beating around the bush.’

’Perhaps they suspect me but have no proof... So why are they having this Yuan Jin challenge me? To kill me under the guise of a duel? Or are they trying to find some evidence on me?’

Su Ze remained outwardly calm, but his mind was racing with analysis. In the end, he couldn’t determine Lin Hua Noble Academy’s true purpose, but that was fine...

He just needed to defeat Yuan Jin in the shortest amount of time, using the quickest method possible.

That was why he had suggested they fight right here and now. He just wanted a swift battle to get it over with as soon as possible.

"This... is also acceptable," Deng Donghua agreed.

Everyone immediately backed away, clearing a space for Su Ze and Yuan Jin to fight.

Although Liou Wenxin and Zhou Wenshan were a bit puzzled by Lin Hua Noble Academy’s actions, they had confidence in Su Ze.

The delegations from the other five countries stayed behind, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Yuan Jin and Su Ze created some distance between them. After Mr. Ji shouted, "Begin," both moved at the same time.

Su Ze moved forward; Yuan Jin retreated.

As he backed away, Yuan Jin flicked his hand, sending a bolt of lightning striking toward Su Ze.

’A ranged attack?’

Su Ze instinctively prepared to cast "Gravity Dust Sand" and then use his Gravity Chain to pull Yuan Jin over.

This was his most effective combo against long-range Evolvers.

But then, it suddenly occurred to him: ’Did Lin Hua Noble Academy arrange for a long-range Evolver to challenge me specifically to bait me into using "Gravity Dust Sand"?’

’If I use "Gravity Dust Sand," can they prove I killed Tao Qian and the other three...?’ Su Ze was certain he hadn’t left any evidence behind.

However, he also knew that sometimes, suspicion was enough; evidence wasn’t necessary.

He could roughly guess what had happened. Someone from Lin Hua Noble Academy must have discovered the Gravity Demon’s corpse deep beneath the Thousand Heroes Tomb, leading them to associate the one Hunting Gravity Demon with the murderer of Tao Qian and his group.

’So if I use the Gravity Dust Sand skill, I’ll become their prime suspect?’

Having figured this out, Su Ze also knew he couldn’t avoid using the Gravity Dust Sand skill for the rest of his life. What was the point of obtaining a skill through so much hardship if not to use it? Hiding it away, too afraid to use it, would be worse than never having learned it at all.

Even if he didn’t use it now, what about later?

He was planning to participate in the Six-Nation Top Academies Exchange Tournament later. Was he supposed to not use it then, either?

’To hell with it!’

Su Ze raised his hand, and a Gravity Chain shot toward Yuan Jin.

He had thought everything through and decided not to hide anything.

He already had plenty of enemies; he didn’t care about making a few more.

Besides, Lin Hua Noble Academy had no direct evidence that he had killed anyone. The most they had was suspicion, which might at worst invite some covert revenge from the families behind Tao Qian and the others.

Meanwhile, Yuan Jin was shocked to see his lightning bolt hit Su Ze without even harming a single hair on his head.

He didn’t know Su Ze had Thunder Immunity. The attack was just giving him a free charge.

Seeing that the lightning was ineffective, Yuan Jin was about to switch to another skill.

In the next instant, however, an invisible chain dotted with golden light shot toward him, and blue arcs of electricity were crackling along it!

This wasn’t an ordinary Gravity Chain—it was electrified!

Su Ze had activated his "Thunder God Body," using the Gravity Chain as a conductor to deliver a remote electric shock.

This was a new trick he had been researching and practicing for the past few days.

Yuan Jin felt an irresistible force dragging him violently forward. At the same time, his entire body convulsed as if something was flowing through him, and he instantly lost the ability to think.

By the time the Gravity Chain pulled Yuan Jin in front of Su Ze, there was no need for another attack. He was already smoking, foaming at the mouth, and completely unconscious.

"You let me win," Su Ze said with utmost modesty.

The surrounding members of the six-nation delegations were utterly shocked. They never expected Su Ze to one-shot a genius from Lin Hua Noble Academy’s master class.

It was a known fact that, in terms of the overall strength of top students, the other nations’ academies had always been a notch below those of Lin Hua Country. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

But now, Su Ze had demonstrated the power to crush a genius from an academy in the Sovereign Country.

Yuan Jin might not have been the strongest student at Lin Hua Noble Academy, but he was by no means weak. He even ranked in the upper tier of the master class; otherwise, Mr. Ji wouldn’t have called on him to challenge Su Ze.

Even Liou Wenxin and Zhou Wenshan were a little surprised, not expecting Su Ze to have grown so strong so quickly.

For a moment, the delegations from the five nations, excluding Dongli Kingdom, grew tense. They all had the same thought: if Su Ze were to participate in the Six-Nation Top Academies Exchange Tournament, how many people could possibly contend with him?

Could their own country’s most talented Cocoon Stage prodigy defeat Su Ze?

They weren’t confident.

Only Luo Sai, from the Ancient An Country delegation, shook his head and said to his companion behind him, "He’s strong, but he’s still a far cry from Yarlin."

His companion paused, thinking for a moment before remembering who Yarlin was. A look of fear appeared on his face as he asked, "You mean ’His’ disciple? The madman who crossed Beheading Valley?"

Luo Sai nodded, his expression grave.

Mr. Ji and Deng Donghua were equally astonished by Su Ze’s power. But as they exchanged a look, they also confirmed that he had indeed used the "Gravity Dust Sand" skill.

At this moment, Zhou Wenshan stepped forward, walked to Su Ze’s side, and said with a smile, "Here are the stakes we agreed upon. Take it."

As he spoke, he handed the Rootless Dodder Seed in his hand to Su Ze.

His action was a clear reminder to Deng Donghua to hand over the Wen Si Fruit quickly.

Deng Donghua’s mouth twitched. It pained him to give away a Wen Si Fruit, but with so many people watching, he couldn’t possibly go back on his word.

He walked over to Su Ze, first pulling the prone Yuan Jin up from the ground. After a quick check to confirm there were no serious injuries, he finally handed the Wen Si Fruit to Su Ze.

The moment Deng Donghua extended his hand, Su Ze immediately reached out, took the Wen Si Fruit, and thanked him at once, "Thank you, Mr. Deng!"

Su Ze didn’t forget to thank Mr. Ji, who was standing to the side. He had been about to leave, but Mr. Ji had orchestrated this whole affair, essentially forcing a gift upon him.

Deng Donghua waved his hand, feeling a bit weary. He never thought that testing Su Ze would end up costing him a Wen Si Fruit.

However, the thought of diverting the fire from the families behind Tao Qian and the other three onto Su Ze made him feel slightly better.

...

Su Ze’s group left Lin Hua Noble Academy and boarded a plane back to the Dongli Kingdom.

On the plane, Zhou Wenshan was laughing heartily. "It’s been years since I saw that fellow Deng Donghua get the short end of the stick, hahaha.

"To see that son of a bitch suffer a loss for once, I’d willingly part with a Rootless Dodder Seed!"

Su Ze could tell that Zhou Wenshan definitely had some old grievances with Deng Donghua. He chuckled and said,

"Mr. Zhou, since this Rootless Dodder Seed ended up in my hands, how can you call it ’parting with’ it? It’s all staying in the family, isn’t it?"

Zhou Wenshan was in a good mood and didn’t argue. Instead, he smilingly explained to Su Ze how to consume the Rootless Dodder Seed.

"When you get back, boil a pot of water. Once it’s boiling, throw this Rootless Dodder Seed in. Keep boiling it until the seed turns white and the water turns black. Then, take the white seed out and throw it away. After that, just drink all the water in one go, and you’ll be set."

Su Ze committed this to memory and then asked, "To what extent can this Rootless Dodder Seed enhance my sense of smell?"

"In short, it’ll be better than a dog’s nose," Zhou Wenshan said. "You’ll be able to track by scent and also smell poisonous gases or fumes in advance to avoid danger."

"Doesn’t sound all that useful," Su Ze muttered under his breath.

Liou Wenxin, sitting nearby, smiled and explained, "Natural evolutionary medicines like the Rootless Dodder Seed and the Wen Si Fruit are precious because they can provide you with enhancements without any side effects and without taking up a skill slot.

"Normally, if you wanted a superhuman sense of smell or an enhancement to your Spiritual Power, you’d have to acquire a skill by absorbing an extract, right? But someone like you, a melee-damage type Evolver, can’t afford to waste skill slots on abilities like that.

"In that case, these natural evolutionary medicines are your best option. All in all, no one would complain about having too many abilities. Even if you don’t use them often, it never hurts to have more skills."

Su Ze nodded. It was true that no one would turn down the enhancements from these natural evolutionary medicines, especially since they had no side effects.

...

By the time Su Ze returned to Dongli University, it was already dark.

He had arranged with Liou Wenxin to go to the lab the next day for a "heart slice" examination.

That night, Su Ze followed the method Zhou Wenshan had taught him. He boiled the Rootless Dodder Seed in a pot of water, producing a brew as black as ink, which he then pinched his nose and chugged in one go.

Half an hour later, Su Ze’s nose twitched. He could smell the fragrance of the flowers in the courtyard.

Another half hour passed, and he caught the stench of a trash can over a hundred meters from his villa.

Two hours later, he even smelled the body fragrance of the young woman in the villa next door.

...

Three hours later, Su Ze’s olfactory range stopped expanding. The enhancement from the Rootless Dodder Seed was complete.

He tested it out and found he could freely control the sensitivity of his sense of smell, keeping it within a dozen or so meters or extending it out several hundred meters.

Su Ze then took out the pinecone-like Wen Si Fruit, preparing to consume this as well.