Word Count: 2,796 Words
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The fireworks scattered into the night as the small boat drifted slowly toward the riverbank. Ning Tian clutched the Ocean's Heart bouquet, her heart and eyes filled with nothing but Ling Bai, who held her close at his side.
Life is lived for certain perfect moments. No matter where their paths might lead in the future, she would always remember the brilliant, star-filled sky of this Holy Bright Festival.
On the shore of the Ming River, Ning Fengyu clapped her hands and playfully chanted, "Kiss! Kiss!"
"Auntie!"
A lovely blush instantly bloomed across Ning Tian's delicate face, and she shot her aunt a playful glare. "I was supposed to be the one confessing under the festival fireworks! I specifically went to Linglong Pavilion for your help, and you didn't help me at all!"
A flash of sly satisfaction gleamed in Ning Fengyu's eyes. "Though my Xiao Tian can certainly hold her own against any man, when it comes to confessions, it's still best for the boy to take the initiative!"
Ning Tian lowered her head shyly. She had been nervous before. After all, Ling Bai excelled in every aspect, and at Shrek Academy, he had attracted more than his share of women, all outstanding in looks, figure, temperament, and background.
She had come to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy as an exchange student while Ling Bai remained at Shrek. During this separation, she constantly worried that once the exchange program ended and she returned, Ling Bai would have been bewitched by the endless parade of beautiful women throwing themselves at him, gradually forgetting her existence.
Thankfully, Ling Bai came to the Sun Moon Empire to visit her, openly declaring his feelings and giving her a pill to put her heart at ease. Now, pure happiness radiated from her face.
"So, where are you two planning to go?"
Ning Fengyu asked, her tone full of salacious suggestion.
"I'll... I'll listen to Bai-ge."
Ning Tian buried her head even lower, trying to hide the crimson blush burning on her cheeks.
As of today, she and Ling Bai were officially a couple. On the Douluo Continent, spirit power accelerated a Spirit Master's physical development; by age twelve, they were nearly as developed as ordinary eighteen-year-olds. At fifteen, they had reached an age where naughty things were entirely possible.
If Ling Bai wanted to taste her sweetness, Ning Tian would not refuse. She would be a little shy at first, but in the end, she would happily yield.
Noticing Ning Tian's receptive attitude, Wu Feng suddenly felt her eyes sting. Seeing Ning Tian and Ling Bai together created a hard lump in her chest that made it difficult to breathe.
Behind her back, her fingernails dug deep into the flesh of her palms. Crimson droplets trickled along the creases and fell one by one, bending the small blades of grass on the riverbank. She tried to use physical pain to suppress the ache in her heart, but it was like drinking poison to quench a thirst.
Her heart seemed to have cracked open, leaking bitter sorrow. With the corners of her eyes red, she watched Ling Bai from a distance. Her gaze was a tangled web of countless emotions.
Ling Bai gave the gossiping Ning Fengyu a helpless glance and spoke. "I'll take them back to the academy. I'll probably be staying at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy for a while myself."
Perhaps it was because Tool Martial Spirits affect physical development less than Beast Martial Spirits, or perhaps it was the very curvy Wu Feng standing right there, but Ling Bai felt Ning Tian was still a bit too tender. There was no need to rush. Better to wait until she had fully blossomed in a year or two before swooping in.
Besides, his sword intent was still budding, and the Sun Moon Imperial Academy was the perfect whetstone. The likes of Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan would provide an endless supply of sparring partners.
Illustrious Virtue Hall Master Jing Hongchen, mindful of his grandchildren and harboring a faint hope of recruiting him, would certainly treat him with courtesy. The academy was far safer than the outside world, and it remained an excellent place to continue 'fishing.'
To cultivate and date at the same time—what could be more perfect?
"Alright then..."
Ning Fengyu sighed in disappointment. She had hoped to eavesdrop tonight, but that plan was clearly sunk. She waved Ling Bai over with a mysterious air.
"Come here for a second. I have something to tell you."
This was obviously not for the girls' ears. Ning Tian nodded with understanding. Ling Bai patted her hand reassuringly before following Ning Fengyu.
The two walked to a secluded corner, where Ning Fengyu spoke in the conspiratorial tone of someone sharing a juicy secret, "Xiao Bai, would you like a Dragonwoman?"
"A Dragonwoman??"
Ning Fengyu's bluish-green eyes blinked rapidly, her long eyelashes fluttering like brushes as she fought to suppress her excitement:
"The experts from the Common Alliance are basically all dead at the Minghuang Grand Hotel. I secretly sent people to infiltrate their headquarters and gather the spoils.
As expected of a long-established underground power, they'd stockpiled more treasure than you could count. And guess what? They had Dragonwomen—more than one!"
Dragonwomen were special half-human, half-beast creatures with dragon blood flowing through their veins. When in heat, the scales on their bodies would retract beneath their skin, revealing exotic beauty and transforming them into ultimate cultivation cauldrons.
When humans mated with Dragonwomen, they could absorb their dragon blood essence, introducing a trace of dragon lineage into their bloodline and triggering a beneficial evolution of their Martial Spirit.
"I only regret that I don't have the right equipment!"
Ning Fengyu lamented, as if she had missed out on an incomparable treasure.
Ling Bai performed a tactical lean-back, giving her a look that clearly said, 'You've got issues.'
"Sorry, I lost my composure."
Ning Fengyu cleared her throat. "They've been transported to Linglong Pavilion. If you'd like to try one, just drop by any day. I'll make all the arrangements."
"Arrange my ass!"
Ling Bai nearly choked. "Are you really Xiao Tian's aunt?!"
"There's no shame when it's for the sake of power. Don't worry, pull up your pants and leave afterward. I'll keep it a secret for you!" Ning Fengyu tempted.
"Where does a lifelong single woman like you get all this filth in your head!"
Ling Bai wished he could lift open her skull to see what kind of tofu brain was inside!
Martial Spirit evolution was type-specific. True Dragons were incredibly rare on the Douluo Continent, and most Dragonwomen carried only Earth Dragon bloodlines. Such blood might boost weaker Martial Spirits, but for top-level Martial Spirits, the effect was practically negligible, let alone for a super God-level Three Ultimate Seraphim.
Aside from a bit of fun, there was no real benefit.
Ling Bai sighed and urged, "No Dragonwomen for me. Aunt Yu, you need to be careful. The Common Alliance may be gone, but Linglong Pavilion shouldn't get too cocky. Leave the Alto Chamber of Commerce alone for now. As for the Duskwater Alliance… stay away if you can."
"I know."
Ning Fengyu's smile faded, her expression growing serious.
She had survived Mingdu's underworld for over a decade and knew exactly whom she could cross and whom she could not. The Duskwater Alliance was an underground faction run by Evil Spirit Masters, and not only were they powerful, but they also had the backing of the Sun Moon Imperial Family.
Even though Ling Bai was the natural nemesis of Evil Spirit Masters, it would be foolish for Linglong Pavilion to provoke them.
Now that the Common Alliance had fallen, the Duskwater Alliance was the prime suspect in the eyes of outsiders. Linglong Pavilion could simply play dead, quietly raking in profits as they seized the Common Alliance's underground assets and focused on their smuggling trade.
"Keep a close eye on the Holy Angel and the Valley of Life."
Ling Bai emphasized, then added after a thought, "And don't forget your own cultivation!"
"Mm-hmm."
Whether the advice truly registered was another matter, but Ning Fengyu agreed readily.
"I've got a mountain of work at Linglong Pavilion. I'm leaving now!"
She greased her heels and slipped away, but not before tossing a Storage Spirit Guidance Device through the air in a graceful arc that landed precisely in Ling Bai's palm.
His spiritual power probed inside, revealing gold cards of various denominations that totaled exactly 100 million spirit gold coins.
'A hundred million bonus for eliminating the Common Alliance. Smuggling truly delivers outrageous profits...'
After Ning Fengyu's departure, the three returned to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Ning Tian bid a reluctant farewell to Ling Bai. Her studies at Illustrious Virtue Hall were demanding, and she had only dressed up today because of the Holy Bright Festival. On ordinary days, she would find it difficult to accompany him.
Wu Feng maintained her silence throughout the journey. Her emotions were at their lowest ebb as she secretly observed Ling Bai and Ning Tian, feeling like a failure stealing glimpses of another's happiness.
Lost in her emotional turmoil, she did not notice when Ling Bai passed by her until she found a box of healing salve in her hand.
"The smell of blood is impossible to hide now."
Ling Bai's voice was lowered to where only they could hear. "Scenes like today will occur countless times in the future. You need to learn to accept it."
"Mm."
Wu Feng turned her head away awkwardly, her fingers tightening around the medicine.
…
During the friendship competition, Jing Hongchen had arranged a private dormitory for Ling Bai and later confirmed it would remain reserved for him, welcoming him to the academy at any time. So, after saying goodbye to the two girls, Ling Bai returned to that familiar room.
Reaching the rank of Spirit Saint was a complete transformation for a Spirit Master. Ling Bai sat cross-legged on the bed and sank into meditation. The Angel Spirit Core at his brow spun gently as the spirit power within him grew, thread by slow thread.
While his body cultivated, his mind descended into his Spiritual Sea.
Ling Bai immediately spotted the Snow Empress, who wore a strange, not-quite-a-smile.
"You look a little off. Did something happen?"
"What's off about me? I've always been like this, alright?"
The Snow Empress's pure white dress was immaculate, setting off a beauty that seemed untouched by the mortal world. Her flawless features were slightly upturned as she drawled:
"Custom fireworks to fill the sky, and you spent a fortune on a bouquet of Ocean's Heart that matches that little girl's eyes. It was just so~ romantic~!"
"Is the great Snow Empress feeling jealous?"
Ling Bai laughed, looking into her sky-blue eyes. Those pupils, usually as clear and transparent as the heavens, were now filled with playful mischief.
"How could I dare be jealous? I've already offered up all my spirit rings and spirit bones. I don't even have a body anymore. I still have to rely on the great Lord Angel for protection."
The Snow Empress sounded the picture of sour jealousy, her tone so acidic she might as well have turned into a walking lemon.
Ling Bai stepped behind her and began to gently massage her shoulders. His voice softened. "Come on. You, of all people, know every secret I have. In front of you, I'm an open book. We're of one heart and one mind. There's no need to talk about 'protection' as if we're strangers."
The Snow Empress gave a little snort. "Scum man. Stay away from this Empress."
Yet for all her words, she did not resist in the slightest. In fact, she settled in, luxuriating in the massage.
Newton once said that every action had an equal and opposite reaction. By the same principle, as the Snow Empress enjoyed the massage, Ling Bai relished the feel of her cool, silky skin—like touching the world's finest satin, utterly irresistible.
"Snow Empress, do you want to have a flesh-and-blood body again?"
Ling Bai rested his chin on her fragrant shoulder, having caught the subtle yearning in her thoughts.
At that, the Snow Empress spun around. Molten gold met sky blue, their noses nearly touching. She did not seem to mind the closeness as her voice rose involuntarily.
"You can do that?"
"Of course."
Ling Bai nuzzled into her swan-like neck, drawing in the unique, icy fragrance that lingered there.
That warm breath made the Snow Empress's delicate form shiver. This contact was almost too intimate, beyond her usual limits. But she was once the continent's third-ranked Great Beast. Now, without her spirit rings and bones, she felt profoundly insecure. She had spent only a few days lying flat in the Spiritual Sea before growing restless.
More than being a spirit-grandpa in a ring, she much preferred being Ling Bai's ace in the hole, just as she had been in Jialing City. That sense of accomplishment from being relied upon was what she truly craved.
"Don't keep me in suspense. Hurry up and say it!" she urged.
"Didn't I tell you about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the place where the Water and Fire Dragon Kings fell?"
Ling Bai said. "The essence of Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire is simply the change in temperature. By pushing extremes to their limits, you've mastered both elements. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well has enough dual-ultimate spring water for you to shape a body of pure elemental force."
"But I wanted to save the Ice Spring for Bing Er, Xiao Bai, and Ah Tai to help them through their tribulations…"
The Snow Empress bit her red lip, mostly because Ling Bai's hands were beginning to roam.
"I know the location of a Manifold Mysterious Ice Cavern. There's enough Manifold Mysterious Ice Essence there for those three fellows to break through to five hundred thousand years of cultivation without a problem."
"Manifold Mysterious Ice Essence? You even have that?"
The Snow Empress was stunned. That Manifold Mysterious Ice Essence was the number one ice-attribute Heaven and Earth Treasure. She had ruled the Extreme North for seven hundred thousand years and never found a single such cavern, yet Ling Bai claimed to know where one was!
"There's no justice..." she gritted her teeth. "Stop your wandering hands! What's so fascinating about touching a spiritual body anyway? Where is the Manifold Mysterious Ice Cavern?!"
"Patience. Think of it like clearing stages in a game. First, you must pass the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well level before setting your sights on the Manifold Mysterious Ice Cavern.
Wait, something's happening outside. I need to check."
Ling Bai's figure faded from behind her, leaving the Snow Empress to stew in frustration. The Manifold Mysterious Ice Cavern was a tantalizing bait, and now she was firmly on the hook. She could already tell she would be suffering plenty more losses at his hands in the future.
…
Outside in the physical world, Na Na had transformed into a spectral form and slipped into Ling Bai's room. Ever since discovering his Martial Spirit was the Seraphim and experiencing its holy aura firsthand during the competition, she had been consumed by a single thought.
But on the night after the competition ended, Ling Bai had left the Sun Moon Imperial Academy with the excuse of searching for his seventh spirit ring. Only today had the light in his private dormitory finally returned.
Staring at Ling Bai meditating on the bed, Na Na drew a deep breath, as if making a monumental decision. With the determined air of someone marching to their doom, she began unbuttoning her top, working her way down from the collar.
She had just reached her prominent chest when Ling Bai suddenly opened his eyes. Na Na froze awkwardly, uncertain whether to continue or stop. She looked ready to shatter from embarrassment.
After a moment of silence, Ling Bai asked hesitantly, "Should I... close my eyes again for a while?"
"Th-that would work."
Na Na stammered. Her pretty face was red enough to drip blood, but inwardly, she thought Ling Bai was quite considerate, recognizing that an innocent maiden like herself would be shy and offering to close his eyes.
And so, she resumed unbuttoning her top. For her parents' freedom from torment, she had resolved to offer her pure body to Ling Bai in exchange for his help.
"Could you please not get undressed just yet?"
Ling Bai hastily interrupted when he realized she was serious.
"I know you're eager to undress, but there's really no need. I'm not that desperate for a taste. If you have something to say, just say it."