"How are you feeling? Any happier?"
Seeing Dai Mubai in such a disheveled state, Zhu Zhuqing gently nodded.
He hadn't changed at all.
If he had dared to throw that punch just now, she might have respected him a little.
But now…
Heh.
Just a pathetic wretch driven by lust.
Yet, seeing him like this, Zhu Zhuqing finally felt a sense of relief.
She truly couldn't stand people like that—it made her feel sick.
She was glad she hadn't rushed to find him at the academy.
Now she had clearly seen Dai Mubai's true nature.
It was hard to imagine what her life would have been like if she hadn't met Lin Xian.
From this moment on, Zhu Zhuqing let go of the last burden in her heart.
She turned and threw herself into Lin Xian's arms.
"Don't speak—just kiss me."
The kiss was passionate, almost wild.
Lin Xian, of course, enjoyed it.
Soft. Warm. Perfect.
After a long while, they finally separated.
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks were flushed red from her boldness, making her look even more charming.
Lin Xian gently wiped the moisture from her lips with his thumb.
"I didn't know my little kitty had such a wild side."
"You—!"
Annoyed, Zhu Zhuqing instantly learned a new move.
She reached out with two fingers and pinched the soft flesh at his waist.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop—let go, that really hurts."
Seeing his exaggerated pleading, she couldn't help but laugh.
Lin Xian took the chance to grab her hand and interlock their fingers.
Truthfully, he hadn't needed to come here at all.
But someone had dropped a card, so naturally, he had to pick it up.
That was only normal.
Even though card drops were rare, Dai Mubai's emotional fluctuations just now had been intense—
Sadness, anger, humiliation, fear, resentment…
A perfect storm.
Lin Xian checked the card.
As expected, it matched perfectly.
[Spirit Ring Color Modifier]
Effect: A special Dao card that alters the color of spirit rings while preserving their original age. Uses Stellar Power to create a flawless disguise—undetectable below Divine Rank.
Note: Can only modify from higher to lower. Lower-age spirit rings cannot be converted into higher-age colors.
The moment he read it, Lin Xian burst out laughing.
Finally.
He could actually use his abilities freely.
These past few days had been frustrating.
It wasn't that he didn't want to use spirit abilities—
It was that his first spirit ring was far too outrageous.
If he revealed it openly, he'd probably get captured and dissected for research.
Even Zhu Zhuqing had been holding back, only using her first ability to maintain the illusion.
But now?
Everything changed.
"Zhuqing, I've got something good to show you."
"What is it?"
"Let's go back first. It's better if no one sees."
Zhu Zhuqing: …
If not for his serious tone, she would have misunderstood completely.
Anyone hearing that would think something else entirely.
The two of them walked back slowly, hand in hand, enjoying the peaceful moment.
After some time, they returned to their room.
"Alright, what is it?"
Lin Xian nodded and waved his hand.
A transparent box appeared.
Inside, five colors flickered continuously—
White, yellow, purple, black, red.
The exact colors of spirit rings across different ages.
"What does it do?"
"Watch closely."
Lin Xian released his spirit power.
A pitch-black ten-thousand-year spirit ring appeared beneath his feet.
Normally, such a ring would emit terrifying pressure.
But Zhu Zhuqing felt none of that.
Instead… she felt a strange sense of closeness.
Because this ring was formed through Stellar Power—something she also cultivated.
Then—
The black ring began to change.
Black faded into purple.
Then purple condensed into yellow.
In just moments, the ten-thousand-year ring became a hundred-year ring.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened in shock.
"This…"
Lin Xian grinned.
"It's called the Spirit Ring Color Modifier. It lets us disguise our rings—no more worrying about being targeted."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up.
That meant—
He would be safe.
And they could finally stop hiding their abilities.
"That's amazing."
"No," Lin Xian corrected with a smile, "it means we're safer. It works for you too—as long as we use Stellar Power."
Zhu Zhuqing immediately released her spirit rings—
Three purple rings.
Under the modifier's effect—
They shifted.
Two yellow, one purple.
A perfect, balanced configuration.
"That's perfect!"
"Right? So… shouldn't we celebrate?"
Zhu Zhuqing narrowed her eyes slightly.
"And how exactly do you plan to celebrate?"
Lin Xian smirked.
"Let's go to Yuehai Cottage first. I'll explain… slowly."
…
Meanwhile—
Dai Mubai was rushing back toward Shrek Academy.
The more he thought about it, the more furious he became.
Was he really going to just swallow that humiliation?
No.
He needed revenge.
In his mind, as long as he brought Oscar and Ma Hongjun, everything would be fine.
As long as Zhu Zhuqing was restrained, that brat would be easy to kill.
Yes.
That's right.
He hadn't been running away earlier—
It was strategy.
Avoiding the enemy's strength.
Waiting for the perfect moment.
Only the last one standing is the true winner.
With that self-justification, Dai Mubai quickly regained his confidence.
Arriving at Ma Hongjun's dorm—
"Fatty! Fatty! Are you asleep?"