Infinite Awakening: My Exp Doubles Everyday novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31: I Won’t Ever Accept Another Master

Fengqi’s proposal hung in the air as Xiang Yu carefully gathered the shattered glass fragments from the floor. His movements were deliberate, buying precious seconds to collect his thoughts before responding.

"Aunt Master surely jests," he finally replied, his tone light but measured.

Huang Fengqi rose from her seat, her posture straightening as she infused her words with unmistakable sincerity. "No, I’m serious. If you join the Phoenix Ascension Pavilion, I’ll make you a genius on the same level as your junior sister."

The declaration sent ripples of shock through the room. Li Yao’s eyes widened with astonishment. Could it truly be possible? Could her seemingly talentless senior brother actually become a genius of her caliber? The possibility both thrilled and unsettled her.

Xiang Yu himself felt the weight of the offer pressing against his chest. His gaze flickered toward Elder Guo, searching for guidance, but his master’s expression remained carefully neutral. The lack of surprise confirmed his suspicion—the two elders had already discussed this arrangement privately.

As the implications of Huang Fengqi’s offer unfurled in his mind, Xiang Yu carefully weighed the possibilities. Becoming a genius of Li Yao’s caliber would undoubtedly accelerate his progress. His cultivation would advance by leaps rather than the steady increments he currently managed.

Yet something deeper gave him pause. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as clarity emerged from his internal debate. His goal wasn’t merely faster improvement—he already possessed the system for that purpose. What would accepting this offer truly mean?

He would become like Li Yao—thrust into the spotlight, burdened with the sect’s expectations, obligated to defend its honor at every turn. Such prominence would inevitably attract jealousy, resentment, and challenges. He’d become a target rather than an observer, forever entangled in protagonist-centered plots he desperately wished to avoid.

The mathematics of the situation revealed an unfavorable exchange—temporary acceleration at the cost of permanent freedom. Even with talent matching Li Yao’s, immediate invincibility remained a fantasy. In the long term, his system would compensate for any initial disadvantage, rendering the offered shortcut ultimately meaningless when weighed against the sacrifices required.

"I’m sorry, but I cannot accept this," he stated with unexpected directness, accompanying his words with a respectful bow.

Huang Fengqi’s composure faltered momentarily, genuine surprise flashing across her features. How could anyone reject such an extraordinary opportunity? Elder Guo appeared equally baffled. He had always attributed Xiang Yu’s earlier reluctance to cultivate to his lack of talent—never imagining the boy would actively decline the chance to acquire it. Perhaps he didn’t understand his disciple as thoroughly as he had believed.

Li Yao stared at her senior brother, momentarily stunned before her expression softened with understanding. This response, while seemingly incomprehensible to others, aligned perfectly with the Xiang Yu she knew.

"Is there a reason?" Huang Fengqi inquired, her tone suggesting she suspected Xiang Yu might be misinterpreting her offer as some form of test, perhaps playing hard-to-get to demonstrate loyalty.

"I already have a master, so it would be inappropriate if I took in another," Xiang Yu responded, his sentiments genuine—a direct reflection of the original Xiang Yu’s unwavering loyalty. "Plus, I’m not that interested in cultivation, so it would be better if you gave this chance to someone who really wanted it."

This latter justification was entirely fabricated. In truth, no one desired cultivation progress more desperately than he did. Yet he wanted advancement on his own terms, without sacrificing the precious anonymity that protected him from this world’s dangerous narratives. Denying the opportunity represented a genuine loss, but one he would overcome through redoubled effort rather than compromise his fundamental survival strategy.

...

This represented the worst possible outcome—severing his connection to Mountain Heart Pavilion while simultaneously thrusting him into the spotlight he desperately wished to avoid. His survival strategy would be thoroughly demolished from both directions simultaneously. _{fre.eweb novel\.c om}

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