Sworn brotherhood

Ye Fan noticed a faint smile in his eyes when Qiao Mingtian agreed. In his previous life, he had a confidante, a woman who was respected by others as the Ice Fairy. The Ice Fairy dominated the universe with her mastery of the power of ice, and when it came to knowledge about ice, no one could surpass her.

The method Ye Fan used to absorb and utilize the essence of ice marrow was taught to him by the Ice Fairy. While this method wasn't considered extremely rare, it was certainly an exceptional one. Now, Ye Fan shared it with Qiao Mingtian, intending to foster a friendship with him.

In his previous life, Ye Fan was unmatched in his dominance, with enemies all over the world, but true friends were few and far between. This was largely due to his solitary nature, something he didn't realize until he was betrayed and ambushed by the Golden Secret Society. Only then did he begin to recognize the flaws in his personality.

As the saying goes, "A hero is nothing without a team!" No matter how strong an individual may be, without a few friends to rely on, it is difficult to endure in the long run. Ye Fan's previous life was the perfect testament to this.

Though he was invincible across the universe, he still met his demise, with his confidante forced to freeze herself on a distant planet. Had he not been so overbearing and solitary, had he made more genuine friends, perhaps the Golden Secret Society would have hesitated before plotting against him.

Since his rebirth, Ye Fan had been reflecting on his past. He gradually realized that personal strength alone was not enough; building a strong, united group around oneself was the key to lasting power.

Qiao Mingtian, despite his exceptional looks, had a rare chivalrous and loyal heart. After their battle, Ye Fan decided to form a bond with him. Moreover, since Qiao Mingtian was a student at Tianlan Academy, befriending him could only be beneficial for Ye Fan's future at the academy.

"Come closer..." Ye Fan waved Qiao Mingtian over and said in a deep voice.

Qiao Mingtian's eyes showed a hint of skepticism. He knew a bit about Ye Fan's background and, though he had no prejudice against orphans, he couldn't imagine an orphan possessing any valuable secret methods.

Ye Fan, unfazed by Qiao Mingtian's expression, quietly explained a secret technique. As Ye Fan spoke, Qiao Mingtian's initially indifferent demeanor gradually grew serious. By the time Ye Fan finished, Qiao Mingtian's breath was ragged. Ignoring the curious looks from his followers, he immediately began to practice.

Seeing this, Ye Fan smiled, leaning against the steel cage with a profound expression. Qiao Mingtian's followers, their curiosity piqued, felt like cats on a hot tin roof but dared not ask any questions due to Ye Fan's formidable strength.

About half an hour later, Qiao Mingtian suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of excitement evident in his gaze. He stared at Ye Fan and said solemnly, "Brother Ye, you've earned my friendship today!"

Ye Fan grinned at his words and replied, "Brother Qiao, I greatly admire your chivalrous spirit. Though we met in battle, it seems we've found camaraderie. Since you've said this today, why don't we become sworn brothers?"

"Haha... Good! Most people avoid me because of my looks, but you, Brother Ye, are willing to swear brotherhood with me—how wonderful!" Qiao Mingtian laughed heartily, tears welling up in his mismatched eyes.

"Appearance is only skin deep. A pure heart knows no bounds," Ye Fan said, a bit emotional. In his previous life, he was revered as the Thunder God, but he lived a lonely existence, surrounded by beauties yet never tasting the bond of brotherhood. Seeing Qiao Mingtian so moved, Ye Fan felt a tug on his heart.

"Well said! I'm a few years older, so I'll shamelessly take the role of elder brother!" Qiao Mingtian laughed exuberantly, then pointed to his followers and shouted, "Come on, greet your big brother! From now on, treat Ye Fan as you would me."

After a brief introduction, the group quickly became more familiar. Through their simple conversations, Ye Fan learned that although these students were from Tianlan Academy, their family circumstances were not great.

Qiao Mingtian's family was relatively well-off, and he often helped the others, earning their heartfelt gratitude and loyalty.

"Brother, that secret technique of yours is quite something! After practicing it just now, I not only expelled a lot of the cold energy from my body but also noticed some other changes!" Qiao Mingtian spoke warmly, having shed any reservations after their brotherhood bond was established. He openly voiced his curiosity.

"Haha, Brother Qiao, your perception is truly exceptional!" Ye Fan praised him, then whispered, "Actually, there's a small amount of ice marrow essence in this cell's water. My method maximizes its absorption!"

"Hiss..."

Qiao Mingtian and his group gasped in shock, their expressions as if they had seen a ghost, as they stared at Ye Fan. After a long moment, Qiao Mingtian broke into a hearty laugh and gave Ye Fan a few solid pats on the shoulder.

As students of Tianlan Academy, they naturally knew the value of the ice marrow essence. Now that Ye Fan had revealed this information to them and even shared the accompanying secret technique, his generosity was undeniable.

"Listen up, not a word of this should leak, or don't blame me, Qiao Mingtian, for turning against you," Qiao Mingtian warned, casting a stern glance at his followers.

They all responded in unison, affirming their understanding. Ye Fan observed this exchange and couldn't help but gain even more respect for Qiao Mingtian. Though outwardly rugged, this guy clearly had a thoughtful side.

Once everyone had absorbed Ye Fan's revelation, they looked at him with anticipation. Qiao Mingtian's lips moved as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. Ye Fan, noticing this, immediately understood what they were hoping for.

"Haha, since I've mentioned it, everyone here should benefit. Big brother, go ahead and share the secret technique with them. It would be a shame to waste the opportunity in such an environment, given the hard work of our predecessors at Tianlan Academy."

Qiao Mingtian gave Ye Fan a look of admiration. Ye Fan's generosity reassured him that this was a friendship worth having. The group behind Qiao Mingtian also felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Ye Fan.

Ye Fan discreetly observed the expressions of the group, feeling a sense of relief. This was the first time in his two lives that he had extended such a gesture, and it seemed to be paying off. With these brothers at Tianlan Academy, he finally felt he had some roots.

In truth, Ye Fan had a larger plan in mind. He intended to build his own influence at Tianlan Academy through this group, and winning them over was just the first step.

The Golden Secret Society was a vast and formidable power, and Ye Fan had only glimpsed a fraction of it. Even so, the sheer scale of their influence had left him feeling a sense of despair. To confront such a powerful force in this life, relying solely on his own strength was out of the question.

While Ye Fan was lost in thought, Qiao Mingtian quietly passed on the secret technique to the others. Naturally, they were ecstatic to receive it, and their respect for Ye Fan deepened even further.

"Alright, we must seize this opportunity. If we have to stir up trouble a few more times and get locked up here again, so be it!" Qiao Mingtian chuckled proudly.

The group burst into laughter, but then quickly set to work, unwilling to waste any more time. One by one, they began silently practicing the secret technique Ye Fan had taught them. Seeing this, Ye Fan leaned back against the steel cage and started his own cultivation.

The secret technique passed down by the Ice Fairy was indeed miraculous. As soon as Ye Fan began to practice it, he felt an icy cold energy, as sharp as needles, penetrate his body through his pores. At first, it was intensely cold, but soon the cold energy was absorbed by his cells, and the chill became more bearable.

Moreover, as time passed, the more cold energy his cells absorbed, the less intense the cold felt. It was as if his cells, while consuming the cold energy, were also gradually building a resistance to it.

Time passed unnoticed as they practiced. These young men all came from humble backgrounds, and their journey to Tianlan Academy had been through fierce competition. Unlike the sons of wealthy families, they were used to hardship and could endure loneliness.