At this moment, when a secret sufficient to move any power was revealed to Zhang Lexuan without reservation, her first reaction was not joy at what kind of peerless Genius the academy would gain, but heartfelt worry.
"Caelus."
Finally, she stopped walking and turned around.
The white mist of her breath condensed at her delicate lips. Her bright eyes, which were usually filled with gentleness and composure, were now brimming with an unprecedented seriousness.
Caelus also stopped and looked up.
His silver hair flowed with a cold, moon-like luster under the dim sky. His heterochromatic eyes—gold on the left and green on the right—added a touch of inhuman mystery to his handsome face.
He looked at Zhang Lexuan quietly, waiting for her to continue.
"About you obtaining a second Spirit, and this matter regarding the Ice Empress."
Zhang Lexuan's voice was very low, as if she were worried that there would be a third pair of ears listening on this desolate snowy plain.
"Keep it as secret as possible after returning to the academy."
She took a step forward, closing the distance between her and Caelus slightly, her expression becoming increasingly grave.
"I'm not joking. The importance of this matter might far exceed your imagination."
"I know."
Caelus nodded gently. His voice was calm, matching the icy World around them perfectly.
"A four-hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, an Ultimate attribute second Spirit, plus a torso Spirit Bone of the same level—this can no longer be described by the word 'precious'."
"As long as you understand."
Seeing that he wasn't taking it lightly, Zhang Lexuan felt slightly more at ease, but she couldn't help but continue to emphasize.
"An ordinary man is innocent, but harboring a treasure makes him guilty. You must understand this principle. Even if you are a Core Disciple of Shrek Academy's Outer Court, even if you have deep ties with the Star Luo Imperial Family, these identities cannot provide absolute protection in the face of such temptation."
"Do you know what a four-hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone means? It means a Titled Douluo—even a Super Douluo above rank ninety-five—might do whatever it takes, abandoning all reputation and principles, just to get it."
Her tone quickened slightly, carrying a concern she hadn't even noticed herself.
"The World of Titled Douluo is far more cruel than you imagine. Once they target you, you will face endless pursuit and conspiracies that are impossible to guard against."
Caelus listened quietly; he could feel the concern in Zhang Lexuan's words.
A trace of warmth flowed through his heart, and he asked softly,
"Then, in Sister Lexuan's opinion, what should I do?"
This address, 'Sister Lexuan', came naturally.
Zhang Lexuan took a deep breath and spoke the thoughts she had carefully considered:
"It's impossible to never use your second Spirit. So to the outside World, you are a born possessor of twin spirits. As for the Spirit Bone and spirit ring, hide them if you can. If you can't, then they are ordinary hundred-thousand-year items, not four-hundred-thousand-year ones."
She paused and added,
"Of course, I know this explanation won't fool some people, like the Star Luo Imperial Family. I know you are close to them, and they knew from the beginning that you didn't have twin spirits."
"For them, there's no need to hide it, nor is there any point. But besides the Star Luo Imperial Family, you must not reveal to anyone that you 'Houtian' a second Spirit. Especially the existence of the Ice Empress—that must be buried in your heart."
Caelus looked at her. He didn't answer immediately but quickly weighed the options in his mind.
Zhang Lexuan's idea was undoubtedly the safest.
Disguising an Houtian miracle as an Innate talent could minimize the covetousness of the outside World to the greatest extent.
People would respect and try to win over a natural twin spirits Genius.
But for someone who could Houtian a second Spirit by Fusion with a Soul Beast's Origin, people would only think about how to cut him open, study him, and replicate his miracle.
Just then, Zhang Lexuan seemed to see his hesitation. She bit her lower lip as if she had made an extremely difficult decision. Her voice was even lighter than before, carrying a trace of hesitation that was foreign even to herself.
"Caelus... Regarding this matter, after returning to the academy, according to the rules, I must report everything exactly as it happened to the Sea Gods Pavilion."
She looked into Caelus's eyes and spoke word by word.
"I... I believe in the Elders of the Sea Gods Pavilion. As long as they know your talent and this Opportunity, and understand your future potential, the academy will definitely cultivate you as its most important treasure, pouring in all resources."
"Shrek can block all those dangers you might face. In the future... you might even become the Master of the Sea Gods Pavilion, leading Shrek to new glory."
Her eyes shone with trust and longing for the academy. It was where she grew up, the Holy Land she regarded as her faith, and her home.
Suddenly, her tone shifted abruptly.
"But..."
Her eyes struggled for a moment, and that firm light became soft and complex.
"If you are unwilling... if you don't want to expose this secret to anyone, even the Sea Gods Pavilion... I can... I can help you temporarily hide it."
After saying this, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength. She slightly averted her gaze, not daring to look into Caelus's eyes again.
Her heart was beating violently.
She knew what she had just said.
That was a betrayal of the principles she had always upheld.
As the team leader, she had a responsibility to report everything. As a member of Shrek, she had an obligation to discover and protect geniuses for the academy.
But just now, she was actually willing to deceive the Sea Gods Pavilion she respected most for the sake of Caelus's personal wishes.
Why?
She asked herself as well.
Was it because of the respect he showed by choosing to get injured for her, or because of that clumsy healing, or because of that amazing talent, or something else?
She didn't know.
She only knew that at this moment, she subconsciously placed Caelus's personal safety and wishes above the academy's rules.
Caelus took in all the changes in her expression, and a slight smile couldn't help but surface in his heart.
Very good.
He knew very well what kind of girl Zhang Lexuan was.
She grew up under Shrek's halo; she was upright, kind, and had an extremely strong sense of responsibility, with a deep affection for the academy that was almost blind loyalty.
Yet now, such an Inner Court Senior Sister, who valued the academy's honor more than her life, was actually willing to violate her principles and deceive her Masters for him.
This was enough to prove that, unknowingly, he had already occupied an extremely special position in her heart.
It wasn't just gratitude, it wasn't just admiration; it was the sprouting of a more complex and profound emotion.
This favoritism was another unexpected harvest from his Trip to the Extreme North, besides his explosive increase in strength.
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