[After this battle, your name spread across half the continent. Many academy disciples view you as an idol. Having achieved such fame before even entering an academy, your parents are exceptionally happy and held a grand banquet to celebrate. Yet, you locked yourself in your room, your expression bitter, because until now, Shrek Academy has not appeared. ]
[Knowing Zhang Lexuan's past, you naturally understand that Shrek Academy wants to cultivate a disciple with a 'clean' family background. Neither Zhang Lexuan nor you fall into this category, as your family influence is in an awkward position—not quite reaching the level of the Xuanming Sect but far higher than ordinary minor nobles.]
[Therefore, if Shrek Academy wants to obtain a successor for the Sea Gods Pavilion, the best choice would be to manufacture an 'accident' to make the backgrounds of you two 'clean.']
[After much thought, you attempted to approach the Body Sect for protection. However, due to your Martial Soul, although Lang Ya was interested in making an acquaintance, he had no intention of recruiting you. Furthermore, because your family is located in the Heavenly Soul Empire, you did not dare to rashly defect to the Star Luo Empire, let alone the distant Sun Moon Empire. The Dou Ling Empire was too weak to serve as a protective umbrella. With no way to break the deadlock and having met with rejection, you could only continue your painstaking cultivation. ]
[Two years passed. At eleven years old, you break through to Level 37 Spirit Elder. Zhang Lexuan often came to disturb your cultivation, clinging to you. Yet, every time you looked at the girl's gradually maturing face, a sense of inexplicable guilt lingered.]
[Zhang Lexuan also breakthrough to become a Spirit Elder and often sparred with you. After every match, you would only smile gently and lightly tap the young girl's head. At first, she was dissatisfied, but she gradually grew accustomed to it.]
[Chapter Two]
"Hah!"
The backyard.
Deep within the bamboo forest, a crisp female voice suddenly rang out, causing countless green bamboos to tremble and the birds and beasts upon them to scatter.
"Brother, you'd better be careful!" Zhang Lexuan stood proudly in mid-air, her pretty face full of smugness as she waved a hand. "First Soul Skill, Silver Moon Augmentation!"
The next instant.
A silver crescent moon appeared in the sky.
Even though it was daytime, it shed an eerie silver light.
For Lu Cheng, it brought a flickering sense of weakness, while for Zhang Lexuan, it was an augmentation...
"Second Soul Skill, Moon Blade!"
As the girl's bell-like shout rang out, several silver-white moon blades separated from the silver moon and shot toward Lu Cheng.
"Not bad."
A look of satisfaction appeared in Lu Cheng's eyes.
He waved his hand casually, and a Golden Crow surged out from behind him, circling his side with a high-pitched cry. The scorching flames dissolved the silver-white moon blades into white mist, which vanished with a hiss.
"Darn it..." Seeing her move easily neutralized, Zhang Lexuan huffed, but a flicker of excitement soon welled up in her eyes. "Take another hit from me! Third Soul Skill, Silver Moon Wheel!"
With the enhancement of her first Soul Skill, the girl's movement speed, defense, and attack power were all significantly increased.
In the next instant, a deep purple soul ring rose from beneath her feet.
The silver moon in the sky became even more dazzling.
"Hah!"
Moonlight poured down.
A bright full moon, like a spinning disk, instantaneously expanded several times and crashed down toward Lu Cheng.
Pshhh...
Water vapor rose.
It was like a clash between the moon and the sun, but the silver light mist was quickly dispersed. A surge of blazing fire rose from below, completely overwhelming it with terrifying power...
"Tch, lost again..."
Zhang Lexuan was a bit depressed and pouted.
This chasm-like gap was the reason for the faint unease in the girl's heart. In the future... would she really be left far behind by her brother?
If that happened, would he look down on her?
Would she be unable to continue standing by his side to assert her dominance?
"Ouch~"
As the mist diffused, a figure walked out and lightly tapped the center of the girl's brow with two fingers, revealing a smile. "Haha, not bad. After advancing to a spirit elder, you are indeed different."
Lu Cheng looked the girl over.
At eleven, she already had a graceful appearance. Between her brows, one could vaguely see the beginnings of a beauty. Though youthful, she had gained a touch of gentle composure.
But soon, this temperament was ruined by the girl...
"Tapping my forehead again, it hurts..." Zhang Lexuan grumbled, hanging her head, though a blush colored her fair cheeks.
She was clearly saying one thing but meaning another.
"Did you eat today's whale rubber?"
Lu Cheng asked with a smile, his hands behind his back.
"I didn't... it's so bitter." Zhang Lexuan stuck out her tongue while peeking at Lu Cheng. Usually, only when she did this would he feed it to her himself.
"Sigh."
Lu Cheng shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless.
"Let's go."
The girl curled her lips into a smile and followed closely behind.
Inside the bamboo hut.
The mist was hazy.
The girl was soaking in a medicinal bath inside. Outside a layer of gauze, Lu Cheng sat cross-legged, gazing at the bamboo forest outside with a complex expression. Level 37, Sun-Shooting Bow: His third Soul Ring was also from a nine-thousand-year fire-attribute Spirit Beast. His strength a few days ago was enough to defeat a Level 52 Courtyard Guard Spirit King.
Throughout history, this talent would definitely rank in the top three across the entire Douluo Planet, but...
Before the colossus that was Shrek Academy, it was still just a drop in the ocean.
Show his cards to Shrek Academy?
If they wanted to frame him, they would find a way.
For him and Zhang Lexuan, having such talent without a sufficiently strong backing was their original sin.
The current situation was becoming increasingly treacherous. From beginning to end, Shrek had never sent anyone to contact them, as if they were preparing a scheme...
In the distance, billowing black clouds slowly pressed in.
"Brother!"
A coy voice came from behind the curtain.
From far to near, the light blue curtain was pulled aside. The girl held her dripping hair with one hand as she leaned over. "Towel! Help me dry it..."
Lu Cheng snapped out of it. "Alright."
He gently wiped the girl's long, black hair. As the mist drifted, she leaned into his embrace, greedily sniffing the scent on Lu Cheng, her beautiful eyes flashing with shyness.
Actually, she felt that the medicinal baths and whale rubber were already enough. The former was troublesome, and the latter was bitter and astringent. But since he would help her dry her hair every time she took a medicinal bath, she never resisted this monthly moment of warmth, even though she felt it was unnecessary...
Lu Cheng picked up a piece of thousand-year whale rubber. A trace of crimson heat rose from his palm, carefully melting it before dripping it into the girl's mouth.
"Hold your breath and focus; circulate your cultivation technique..."
Lu Cheng heartlessly straightened the girl, who still wanted to linger in his arms. The two sat cross-legged, facing each other, his gaze soft. "I will help you refine it. Don't think about slacking off."
"Oh..." Zhang Lexuan was somewhat reluctant.
But under the pressure of Lu Cheng's gaze, she still began to circulate her cultivation technique. A sizzling sound rang out, and a cloud of mist drifted from around the girl.
A wave of heat scurried through the girl's body like a headless fly.
Zhang Lexuan looked up, her beautiful eyes full of innocence.
"Brother, I can't handle it..."
"Sigh."
Lu Cheng sighed and shook his head.
A surge of fiery Qi rose around him. He placed his hand on the girl's shoulder, and a rich, pure, and refined aura poured in, devouring the energy emitted by the whale rubber everywhere, finally attaching to the girl's meridians and bones, nourishing her physical body...
Notes:
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Read advance chapters at p@atreon/holyangelicdemon