Chapter 148: Training, Mingdou Mountain Range, Empire Border
If time could be rewound, Lin Xuan would definitely choose to firmly refuse Ji Juechen's request for battle.
He originally thought that within a week, Ji Juechen would come to challenge him two or three times at most.
But Lin Xuan didn't expect Ji Juechen to have such a lack of boundaries.
Seven times! He challenged him a total of seven times in one week!
Once a day, as regular as clockwork.
[Writing up to here, I hope readers remember our domain name. Taiwan Novel Network has many books and is very convenient.]
Furthermore, Ji Juechen had a strong sense of time; as soon as school was over, he would always show up punctually downstairs at the laboratory building to wait.
Come rain or shine, he was never a second late.
One day during a heavy downpour, Lin Xuan glanced down from the window and saw Ji Juechen standing straight in the rain, his black hair wet and plastered to his face, water dripping from his entire body, yet those eyes of his were startlingly bright.
One could only say that a genius with talent isn't scary; what's scary is someone who has talent and is also incredibly hardworking.
...
In the early morning, the laboratory door opened, and Lin Xuan walked in rubbing his brow, faint dark circles under his eyes.
He hadn't slept well lately, not because he was beaten by Ji Juechen, but because he was sword-fighting people in his dreams every night, waking up feeling more tired than if he hadn't slept at all.
Ju Zi was already in the laboratory, sitting at the lab bench with a thick notebook spread out before her. Hearing the noise, she looked up and nodded at Lin Xuan as a greeting.
After a week of spending time together, the relationship between the two couldn't be called great, but they were at least nodding acquaintances.
Lin Xuan waved his hand at her in return.
Nearby, Wang Shaojie and Zi Mu were chatting. Seeing Lin Xuan enter, Wang Shaojie's movements paused, his expression changed slightly, and without a word, he stood up, grabbed Zi Mu, and headed out, muttering,
"Oh, I forgot something. Zi Mu, come with me to get it..."
Zi Mu was pulled along stumbling, looking back at Lin Xuan with a bewildered expression, dragged out the door before he could react.
Lin Xuan didn't even bother to spare him a glance.
Ever since Jia Bin came looking for trouble that day, Wang Shaojie had been avoiding him.
It wasn't that he was afraid Lin Xuan would attack—Lin Xuan wouldn't stoop to his level—it was purely a guilty conscience, fearing that one day the debt would be settled.
Lin Xuan retracted his gaze and looked around the laboratory, suddenly noticing a strange figure in the corner.
Ke Ke was curled up in a small ball on her chair, her head down, eyes shining as she read a palm-sized booklet with great interest.
She was so engrossed that she didn't even notice someone coming in, a strange smile hanging from the corner of her mouth.
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow and gave Ju Zi a look: What is she reading?
Ju Zi returned the look: Why don't you go see for yourself?
Lin Xuan nodded and silently circled behind Ke Ke, looking down at the book.
As his gaze swept over the first line, Lin Xuan's expression changed slightly; by the second line, his brow furrowed; and by the third line, the corner of his eye began to twitch.
The content of the book was simple, roughly telling the story of two peerless young geniuses who met on the arena through combat, going from rivals to kindred Martial Souls, and then... engaging in some behavior that transcended friendship.
He had seen plenty of this on Blue Star and was long used to it; one could only say that this genre was quite attractive to girls.
But what he didn't expect was that he would one day become the protagonist of such a book.
Lin Xuan closed his eyes wearily, sighed deeply, and thought with gritted teeth,
If I ever get on the arena with Ji Juechen again, I'm a dog!
After a while, he opened his eyes again and coughed softly twice. Ke Ke didn't react, still immersed in her own World, the smile on her face deepening.
Lin Xuan's forehead had veins faintly throbbing as he increased the volume and coughed heavily twice.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Ke Ke snapped out of her dream, shuddering violently, the book in her hand nearly flying out. She scrambled to hide the book behind her back and turned to see Lin Xuan staring at her solemnly, his gaze complex and his expression subtle.
Ke Ke felt extremely embarrassed, the blush on her face burning from her neck to the tips of her ears. "Lin, Lin Xuan, why are you here so early today..."
Her voice got quieter as she spoke, the last few words almost mumbled in her mouth.
Lin Xuan showed a 'kindly' smile. "That book of yours, who wrote it?"
Ke Ke shrank back cautiously. "Why, why are you asking that?"
Lin Xuan replied in a relaxed tone, "Nothing, I just want to have a heart-to-heart talk with the author of this book."
Ke Ke laughed sheepishly, panicking inside.
Heart-to-heart talk? Clearly he wants to silence them!
She swallowed hard, stuffing the booklet deeper into her arms, wishing it would disappear on the spot.
Ju Zi watched this scene from the side and couldn't help but laugh softly.
Just then, the laboratory door opened again.
The three looked over simultaneously; it was Xuan Ziwen who entered, wearing a lab robe stained with a bit of metal powder, his hair also somewhat messy, clearly having been busy elsewhere for a while.
He didn't even ask about the missing Wang Shaojie and Zi Mu, evidently long used to it.
"Good morning, Teacher."
"Good morning, Teacher Xuan."
The three responded one after another.
Xuan Ziwen nodded and walked in, his gaze then falling on Lin Xuan.
"I've made some improvements to your Loitering Munition over the past few days, lowering the entry threshold. I estimate it can be used at the Great Soul Master realm. Come, Lin Xuan, try it and see if there are any problems."
Saying that, he took out a Loitering Munition from his storage soul tool.
Different from the one Lin Xuan made a week ago, this one was clearly more refined, the barrel surface polished to a matte dark green.
The seams between the parts were tight, with almost no trace of assembly. Most noticeably, there was a palm-sized screen in the middle of the barrel, its edge embedded with a ring of fine mental conduction wires.
Looking at this very familiar Loitering Munition, a smile couldn't help but appear on Lin Xuan's face.
Ke Ke and Ju Zi also leaned in curiously, and the four then went to the testing area together.
Lin Xuan shouldered the Loitering Munition, and with a faint injection of Soul Power, the screen in front of him lit up.
The image was a bit blurry, but one could vaguely see the scene directly opposite the testing area, from the perspective of the top of the munition.
Xuan Ziwen explained from the side, "I added a few more Core Formations and mental stones to the barrel part to transmit the shell's image to this screen as much as possible. This way, even ordinary Soul Masters without strong Spiritual Power can perform precision guidance on the Loitering Munition."
He paused, eyes flashing with light. "If there are better quality mental-transmission rare metals and given enough time, I think I could even develop Loitering Munitions that ordinary people can use at will."
Lowering the usage threshold of spirit tools until ordinary people can use them—this was the ultimate pursuit for him and a large portion of Soul Engineers.
After all, only when ordinary people can easily use various high-level spirit tools can spirit tools truly replace the position of Martial Souls.
Lin Xuan smiled and offered some praise, then pulled the trigger.
Electromagnetism surged, the shell soared into the sky, and the image on the screen changed drastically accordingly.
He skillfully controlled the shell to flip several times in the air, circling left and right, and finally hit the target precisely. Amidst the roar of the explosion, a charred mark was left on the metal wall.
Lin Xuan put down the barrel, thought for a moment, and said, "The required Spiritual Power has indeed decreased a lot, but I'm not sure if changes in terrain will affect the mental transmission, and the maximum range of the Loitering Munition is still unclear."
Xuan Ziwen nodded and then fell into thought. Ke Ke leaned over at this time, her eyes sparkling.
"Lin Xuan, let me see too!"
Lin Xuan smiled and handed her the barrel. At the same time, Xuan Ziwen snapped back to his senses and said,
"In that case, let's do this. We happen to have a newly developed spirit tool that needs testing. Today, you, Ju Zi, and Ke Ke will take the new spirit tool out for testing, and also conduct field tests on the mental transmission effects and maximum range of the Loitering Munition in different terrains. The experiment time will be about a month."
"As for the experiment location..." Xuan Ziwen offered two options, "Jingyang Mountain Range and Mingdou Forest, you pick one."
Lin Xuan didn't speak, calmly looking at Ke Ke and Ju Zi.
Ke Ke looked excited, the word 'Jingyang' almost out of her mouth, but she suddenly thought of something and immediately stopped speaking, turning instead to look at the silent Ju Zi.
Ju Zi lowered her head, unknown what she was thinking.
Facing their gazes, Ju Zi was silent for a moment before saying softly, "Let's go to the Mingdou Mountain Range."
Xuan Ziwen nodded, "Then Mingdou Mountain Range it is."
He then cautioned, "The Mingdou Mountain Range has many Soul Beasts. You must be careful, careful, and careful again during the test. Everything should prioritize your own safety."
He looked at Lin Xuan again, his tone becoming a bit more solemn, "Lin Xuan, if you encounter any problems along the way, follow your own judgment."
In Xuan Ziwen's mind, with Lin Xuan's strength, as long as Ju Zi and Ke Ke didn't stir up a nest of Soul Beasts over seventy thousand years old, there shouldn't be any danger.
Lin Xuan nodded, "No problem."
Xuan Ziwen left satisfied. As soon as he left, Ke Ke immediately jumped up excitedly, "We can go out for testing again! Yay! Let's go! Ju Zi, let's go change our clothes!"
She pulled Ju Zi and ran out, turning back at the door to shout at Lin Xuan, "You hurry up too!"
Lin Xuan smiled and responded. Once the two were far away, he turned to find Fan Yu to explain the situation.
Fan Yu was in the laboratory researching a Class 7 spirit tool with He Caitou. After hearing Lin Xuan's words, he was somewhat hesitant, but thinking of Lin Xuan's strength, he didn't say more, only repeatedly urging him to be careful.
Lin Xuan agreed and turned to leave.
Half an hour later, the three met at the academy gate.
Ju Zi had changed into a white combat suit that perfectly outlined her slender figure. Her fair skin and white clothes complemented each other, making her appear even more crystal-clear.
The petite and lovely Ke Ke was dressed in a green combat suit, looking sharp and agile. Although her figure wasn't as good as Ju Zi's, it was very well-proportioned, giving her a lively and active appearance.
Lin Xuan glanced at them. "Are you both ready?"
"Ready!" Ke Ke raised her hand.
Ju Zi nodded.
"Then let's set off."
After saying that, a pair of Folding Wings unfolded behind the three of them simultaneously. With a light tap of their toes, two blue exhaust flames erupted from behind the wings, carrying their bodies rapidly into the sky as they flew straight toward the southeast.
The journey was quite long, almost traversing the southern part of the Sun Moon Empire. The distance exceeded two thousand kilometers, and they also had to account for time to rest and recover Soul Power.
The three flew with ease in the air. A faint light emanated from the Folding Wings, forming a protective layer over their bodies so that not even their hair was disturbed by the wind during the flight.
Ke Ke flew at the very front, letting out occasional exclamations of surprise. Clearly, she had been cooped up in the laboratory for too long and was finally letting herself go now that she was out.
She dived and climbed like a bird released from a cage, wishing she could make up for the dullness of the past few days all at once.
Lin Xuan flew behind, casually observing the scenery below.
The southern part of the Sun Moon Empire was dominated by plains, with large patches of farmland and towns spreading out beneath them like neat squares on a chessboard.
Occasionally, rivers meandered through, shimmering with a silver-white light under the sun.
After flying for several hours, Ke Ke gradually calmed down. After chatting with Ju Zi for a bit, she suddenly slowed down to fly side-by-side with Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan looked at her and asked with a smile, "Had enough fun?"
Ke Ke hummed but didn't give a direct answer.
She stole a glance at Ju Zi ahead, and seeing that she hadn't looked back, she suddenly lowered her voice and asked, "Hey, Lin Xuan, do you know why Ju Zi chose the Mingdou Mountain Range as the testing site?"
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. He knew the answer to this question all too well.
If he remembered correctly, Ju Zi's home was in a small border town in the southeast of the Sun Moon Empire, right near the junction of the Mingdou Mountain Range and the Mingdou Great Forest.
But even though he knew, he had to pretend he didn't.
"Why?"
Ke Ke's voice dropped even lower. "I'll tell you, but you're not allowed to tell Ju Zi I said so, okay? The Mingdou Mountain Range is very close to Ju Zi's home."
"Having said that, Lin Xuan, you should understand by now, right? Do you know what this means? It means Sister Ju Zi is willing to take a guy like you home to meet her folks!"
"What is it that you can't tell me?"
Ju Zi's voice suddenly drifted back from the front, calm and light, revealing no emotion.
Caught red-handed, Ke Ke's whole body stiffened. She turned her head, a forced smile plastered on her face.
"That... I was telling Lin Xuan some of my little secrets, so naturally, I can't let you hear them. Isn't that right, Lin Xuan?"
She winked desperately at Lin Xuan, her eyeballs nearly flying out of their sockets.
Lin Xuan nodded with a smile. "That's right."
Ju Zi glanced at them skeptically before looking away.
Ke Ke breathed a deep sigh of relief and gave Lin Xuan a thumbs-up, saying silently,
"Good brother! You're a real pal!"
Just as she was about to speed up and flee the scene, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.
Ke Ke turned back in confusion. Lin Xuan had a gentle smile on his face as he said calmly, "Didn't you want to tell me your little secret? Go on, continue."
Ke Ke's smile froze on her face.
...
Half an hour later, Lin Xuan nodded with satisfaction. Ke Ke's face was flushed red, and she wished she could curl into a ball and stuff herself into her Folding Wings.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. After holding it in for a long time, she finally couldn't help but wave her small fist toward the front and shout,
"I'm hungry, Sister Ju Zi! I want to eat your cooking!"
She then turned to bare her teeth at Lin Xuan. "I'm telling you, Sister Ju Zi's cooking is top-notch! I rarely get to eat it myself. You're really getting a bargain today, kid!"
Ju Zi shook her head helplessly, slowed down, and looked at Lin Xuan with an inquiring gaze.
In the academy, one could look at knowledge or background, but in the lawless Soul Beast forest where the strong prey on the weak, whoever has the bigger fist has the final say.
Lin Xuan smiled. "Then let's take a break. I'm actually quite curious to see just how good the food is to earn such high praise from Ke Ke."
The corners of Ju Zi's mouth curled up slightly as she nodded.
The three of them found a flat area near a stream and landed.
Lin Xuan originally thought Ju Zi would just make some grilled fish or something similar.
After all, when traveling, being full is enough; who would carry unnecessary items? But as it turned out, he had completely underestimated Ju Zi's preparation.
Under Ke Ke's excited gaze, Ju Zi quickly pulled a large amount of items from her storage soul tool.
Fresh, dripping green vegetables; various fruits in red, yellow, and purple arranged neatly; frozen meats that were clearly prime cuts; and a row of seasoning bottles containing everything from oil and salt to soy sauce and vinegar.
There was even a full set of kitchenware and tableware, from spatulas to bowls and plates.
Lin Xuan looked at this fully equipped outdoor kitchen with a subtle expression.
Ju Zi noticed his gaze, her lips curving into a slightly proud expression.
"I'm going to show off my skills and let you taste my outdoor barbecue. The flavor is guaranteed; be careful not to eat your own tongue."
As she spoke, she skillfully set up the barbecue grill, started a fire, and began prepping the ingredients.
Her movements were swift. With each stroke of her knife, meat was sliced into even thin pieces and vegetables were arranged into neat piles. She sprinkled seasonings with a precision that made it look like she was conducting an experiment.
Soon, the aroma of grilled meat filled the air.
Ke Ke squatted by the grill, watching eagerly with saliva almost dripping from her mouth.
Ju Zi handed the first grilled skewer to Lin Xuan. "Try it."
Lin Xuan took it and took a bite. The meat's aroma exploded in his mouth; it was charred on the outside and tender on the inside, with perfect seasoning. The flavor of the spices blended perfectly with the natural sweetness of the meat. It was indeed far better than the mass-produced food in the academy cafeteria.
He nodded and said sincerely, "It really is delicious."
Ju Zi's eyes curved into crescents. Ke Ke, unable to wait any longer, started grabbing food herself, shouting indistinctly while eating,
"Mine, mine! It's all mine!"
The meal lasted for nearly an hour.
Ke Ke leaned back with one hand on the ground and the other rubbing her bulging belly, letting out a satisfied burp. "Sister Ju Zi, you've made my belly so big."
Lin Xuan's face stiffened. Ju Zi, who was cleaning the dishes, nearly stumbled upon hearing this, and the plates in her hands wobbled.
She took a deep breath and said helplessly, "Ke Ke, can you please stop talking?"
Ke Ke giggled, showing no sign of remorse.
Ju Zi packed everything away and sat down next to Lin Xuan.
She looked at the distant mountain shadows, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly spoke,
"We aren't far from the Mingdou Mountain Range now. We should arrive around dusk, so there's something I think I can tell you now."
Lin Xuan looked at her and replied, "Go ahead."
Ju Zi paused. "You probably heard from Ke Ke that my hometown is near the Mingdou Mountain Range."
Lin Xuan didn't deny it. Ju Zi continued, "So I was thinking... before the test, could we go home and visit first?"
"No problem."
Ju Zi was slightly stunned, seemingly not expecting Lin Xuan to agree so quickly. She looked up, met Lin Xuan's calm eyes, and suddenly smiled.
That smile was different from her usual ones; it was less polite and contained something more genuine.
"Thank you."
Lin Xuan waved his hand and said with a smile, "If you really want to thank me, just make another meal."
Ju Zi's smile deepened, her eyes curving into beautiful arcs. "Alright, once we get to my home, I'll make you something even better."
After their rest, the three set off again.
At dusk, the setting sun dyed the horizon a golden red. By the bright moonlight and brilliant starlight, they could clearly see the continuous, steep mountain range nearby, as well as the boundless ancient forest connected to the southern side of the mountains.
Ju Zi looked around and identified the direction. "We're almost there, about thirty more li to go."
Lin Xuan nodded. Just then, Ke Ke suddenly pointed below, her voice full of confusion,
"Look down there!"
Lin Xuan and Ju Zi looked down. Below, they could vaguely see a sprawling town.
It was called a town, but its area was already equivalent to a small city. Judging by its location, it should be a Soul Master town outside the Mingdou Forest.
But strangely, even though night had fallen, there wasn't a single light in the town.
Lin Xuan frowned slightly. "Is this town abandoned?"
Ju Zi also frowned, her tone puzzled. "If I remember correctly, it was quite prosperous when I last came back."
Silence spread among the three. No words were needed; anyone could see that this situation was very wrong.
After a moment, Ke Ke suggested in a low voice, "Should we... go down and take a look?"
Lin Xuan didn't answer immediately but looked at Ju Zi. Ju Zi hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
"Alright, let's go take a look."
The three landed in the forest about three hundred meters away from the town. Here, the eerie atmosphere grew even stronger.
Besides the lack of light, there wasn't even a single sound—no insects chirping, no birds calling, not even the sound of the wind.
The entire town was like a ghost realm.
Lin Xuan remained silent for a moment, then turned to Ju Zi and asked, "What is the name of this town?"
Ju Zi thought for a bit and replied with some uncertainty, "I think it's called... Sendai?"
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