章 21: Chapter 21: Evil Fire Phoenix, Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory (I)

// Extra chapter thanks to the awesome folks who left reviews on the story. Big shout-out to FroztDouluo and swordzero!

Word Count: 2,776 Words

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Zhang Lexuan stood on the opposite shore, gazing into the distance. The night wind blew her ink-black hair behind her, and under the bright moonlight, her exquisite face exuded a cool and ethereal beauty.

Whoosh—

A streak of golden light pierced the sky and landed steadily beside her.

She turned her head, a look of unsurprised expectation in her eyes as she gazed toward the figure next to her. Her red lips parted slightly: "Legend has it that the Seraphim is invincible in aerial combat, hailed as the number one Martial Spirit of the skies. Putting other aspects aside, its speed is indeed remarkable."

The angelic wings behind Ling Bai dissipated into specks of golden light as he chuckled softly, "It's just a legend. Big Senior Sister doesn't need to take it seriously."

"You won't fool me."

Ling Bai smiled without replying, tacitly acknowledging her words.

He had been the last to set off, yet he overtook the food-type girl with her Class 4 Spirit Guidance Thruster and Dugu Lin with her Jade Phosphor Serpent to reach Sea God Island first. The incredible speed of the Seraphim was evident.

"Those people who were following behind you earlier, they were from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, weren't they?" Zhang Lexuan asked, though her tone was full of certainty.

"Mm."

This wasn't a secret worth hiding. Ling Bai spoke frankly, "Among my companions who came to register is the future heir of the clan. The Clan Head was worried and sent the clan's secret guards to escort us."

Ling Bai had noticed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's secret guards long ago. When the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture ambushed Ning Tian, he had expected the guards to intervene, but they had surprisingly held back, forcing him to throw the Angel Sword from a great distance to repel the attack.

"This won't be allowed again. The Academy prohibits outsiders from entering at will."

"They won't appear again."

After a while, the other Inner Courtyard freshmen crossed Sea God Lake one after another and joined them. Their gazes toward Ling Bai increasingly resembled how one would look at a monster.

Chu Qingtian complained bitterly to Ling Bai, "Brother Ling, it's one thing that you can fight, but I didn't expect you to be so fast as well."

The Berserk Lightning Leopard was best known for its speed, yet it lost to the Seraphim. Today, Chu Qingtian felt utterly defeated by Ling Bai.

"That was impressive, Ling-ge! You can fight and you can run. I'm convinced!"

Tai Xing was straightforward as always and called him 'Ling-ge' wholeheartedly. The others smiled wryly; entering the academy in the same year as Ling Bai made them all feel enormous pressure.

Zhang Lexuan looked at the expressions on everyone's faces and said, "Since you've noticed the gap, make it your goal to catch up with Ling Bai and work twice as hard after entering the Inner Courtyard. Originally, I was supposed to show you around the Inner Courtyard to help you adapt quickly, but..."

She looked up at the sky and said regretfully, "It's really too late today, so let's do it tomorrow. I'll find some Inner Courtyard senior students to guide you one-on-one. For now, let's assign the dormitories and everyone can rest early. How does that sound?"

"Whatever Big Senior Sister decides!"

"We'll all listen to Big Senior Sister!"

"Absolutely!"

"..."

Ling Bai listened to the others' responses without saying much.

Traversing the Star Dou Forest to hunt spirit beasts had undoubtedly been a rigorous test of both physical and mental strength.

Moreover, after leaving the Star Dou Forest, they headed straight to Shrek Academy without any rest, and after arriving, he even sparred with Chu Qingtian.

To be honest, he felt a bit tired and most of all, he wanted to sink into a soft bed and sleep soundly until dawn.

Everyone agreed with her suggestion, so Zhang Lexuan continued, "The Inner Courtyard is different from the Outer Courtyard. With fewer than a hundred students, we don't have dormitory buildings. Instead, independent houses have been built on Sea God Island. There are plenty of houses available, so if you have any special requests, let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate you."

"Big Senior Sister, I want the one closest to the cafeteria!"

The food-type girl raised her hands high. Everyone broke into a cold sweat upon hearing this. Goodness, she turned out to be a total foodie!

"Sure," Zhang Lexuan agreed.

The food-type girl hugged Zhang Lexuan's arm and acted spoiled, "Hehe, I knew Big Senior Sister was the best!"

Zhang Lexuan patted her little head and smiled, "But Pan Tao, don't overeat, okay? Or you'll turn into a chubby peach."

"Aiya, no way! I'm a slim peach!!"

"Big Senior Sister, I'd like a house close to Sea God Lake."

Dugu Lin was the second to speak. The rippling turquoise waters of Sea God Lake made her feel refreshed; she liked it instantly.

"I'd like a room surrounded by abundant vegetation," the Ghost Vine boy Zhou Sen requested, considering the cultivation needs of his Martial Spirit.

"Big Senior Sister, I..."

Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing exchanged a glance and said simultaneously, "We'd like to live together."

"Huh?"

Everyone was taken aback and stepped back in unison, casting somewhat strange glances at the two of them. Only the food-type girl Pan Tao had stars in her eyes. It was as if she had encountered a rare spirit beast.

"Ah, young people..."

Zhang Lexuan sighed, feeling that she was indeed getting old and couldn't keep up with the times.

"No, no, it's not like that!"

Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing panicked and gestured wildly as they explained, "We were roommates in the Outer Courtyard, so it's perfectly normal for us to room together in the Inner Courtyard!"

"Yeah, exactly!"

"Totally normal!"

"Absolutely normal!"

"Anyone who says otherwise, I'll blast them with my Spirit Guidance Cannon!"

Everyone laughed and tacitly moved on from the topic, leaving Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing muttering under their breath, "It really is normal. What are they laughing at..."

"Ling Bai, what about you?" Zhang Lexuan asked.

"I..."

"Live next to me!"

Ling Bai was about to answer when a charming voice interrupted him.

Dugu Lin!

"My name is Dugu Lin, Martial Spirit: Jade Phosphor Serpent, seventeen years old, rank 49 Control System Spirit Master. Ling Bai, I think we'll have a lot in common in the future. You won't refuse me, will you?"

Her mesmerizing emerald-green eyes sparkled with a mixture of playfulness, charm, and allure, rippling like mist-shrouded water. Her delicate red lips slightly parted beckoned tantalizingly, tempting one to taste their fullness. This woman exuded seduction from her very bones, constantly tugging at the nerves of men.

And now, this enchanting serpent-like woman Dugu Lin, was extending a pink-tinted, ambiguous invitation to Ling Bai.

Tai Xing nudged Chu Qingtian's side. "Holy shit, Brother Chu, is Dugu Lin confessing?"

"Be gentle!"

Chu Qingtian glared at Tai Xing. Didn't this pure strength-type orangutan know his own strength?!

"Do you even need to ask?"

Chu Qingtian lowered his voice, "Dugu Lin is the second most beautiful girl in the Outer Courtyard, just behind Jiang Nannan. She usually holds her head high and looks down on men, but today she seems to have fallen for Brother Ling at first sight. For us Spirit Masters, strength is the most important factor when choosing a partner. Brother Ling is young, powerful, and has a face that appeals to both men and women. It's reasonable for Dugu Lin to be smitten. But..."

He paused, looked at the stupefied Ghost Vine boy, and silently mourned for three seconds.

This poor guy named Zhou Sen had been pursuing Dugu Lin for six whole years, and in the end, the simp got nothing?!

Faced with the sudden confession and the eager onlookers, Ling Bai's expression remained calm as water. He continued with the answer he had prepared:

"Big Senior Sister, could you please help me find a quiet place to live?"

"Wh—"

Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing were petrified, and Dugu Lin's face instantly darkened.

Dugu Lin was the second most beautiful girl among hundreds of female students in the Outer Courtyard, had an outstanding appearance and figure, coupled with extraordinary talent. The number of male students pursuing her could line up from Sea God Lake to the East City Gate, yet Ling Bai had rejected her outright without hesitation!

'Ling-ge is a tough one!'

Tai Xing discreetly gave a thumbs-up. He admitted to himself that if Dugu Lin had confessed to him, he might have turned into her devoted little puppy on the spot.

In stark contrast to Dugu Lin's gloomy expression, Zhou Sen, the Ghost Vine boy, was so excited he almost jumped three feet high!

It was great that Ling Bai had rejected her; now he could continue simping!

Dugu Lin brushed aside the emerald hair in front of her eyes and gritted her teeth, "Man, you've successfully piqued my interest!"

Please stop with the domineering CEO act!

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul; Ling Bai didn't see a hint of affection in Dugu Lin's emerald eyes. Moreover, he faintly smelled that strange, slightly sweet metallic scent again.

Jade Phosphor Serpent...

Poison Douluo...

Ling Bai fell into deep thought, gradually forming a suspicion in his mind.

"Let's go. I'll take you to your respective houses."

Zhang Lexuan broke the awkward atmosphere and led the group away from the lakeside.

Ling Bai and the others followed behind Zhang Lexuan. After the confession, their positions were quite deliberate. Dugu Lin walked on the far left, with Pan Tao beside her. Next to them was Zhou Sen, who kept trying to get closer to comfort his goddess; then the gossip duo Tai Xing and Chu Qingtian; and on the far right was Ling Bai, admiring the scenery of Sea God Island.

"Ling-ge, that was impressive!"

Chu Qingtian, now following Tai Xing's example in calling him 'Ling-ge', thought it was no wonder he couldn't beat Ling Bai. Just look at that iron will!

"Don't mess around."

Ling Bai pushed Chu Qingtian away. If his guess was correct, this so-called love at first sight from Dugu Lin wasn't for him as a person but entirely for the Seraphim's innate abilities!

The rest of the walk was silent.

Zhang Lexuan was evidently very tactful. She first helped Dugu Lin find her room, thus eliminating the source of awkwardness in the group.

Before entering her room, Dugu Lin didn't forget to throw a flirtatious glance at Ling Bai and mouthed silently:

Man, you can't escape!

Ling Bai pretended not to see it. To hell with domineering CEO novels!

Next, Pan Tao, Zhou Sen, Chu Qingtian, and Tai Xing were settled, leaving only Ling Bai and Zhang Lexuan.

Since Ling Bai requested a secluded spot, it would undoubtedly be in the most remote, uninhabited area of Sea God Island, so Zhang Lexuan naturally left him for last.

"Dugu Lin is quite exceptional. Why not try getting to know each other and perhaps have a sweet romance?" Zhang Lexuan teased.

"I'm only eleven, Big Senior Sister."

Ling Bai covered his face. In his previous life, eleven-year-olds hadn't even finished elementary school. He had no interest in romance now.

"It turns out being too handsome and too strong has its downsides..."

Ling Bai reflected deeply.

"Cough!"

Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but chuckle, disguising it with a light cough. Her beautiful eyes curved into a lovely crescent shape.

Ling Bai glanced sideways. Under the moonlight, her skin looked as smooth as creamy jade, her profile exquisitely flawless.

"Big Senior Sister is in a relationship?"

"Me?"

Zhang Lexuan pointed at herself, then shook her head. "No."

After a moment's thought, she added, "But I do have someone I like."

Mentioning the person she liked brought a faint blush to Zhang Lexuan's fair face.

"Oh?"

Ling Bai feigned surprise. "Being liked by Big Senior Sister, that guy must have saved the continent in his past life."

"So young and already such a smooth talker."

Zhang Lexuan lightly scolded, then said, "We've arrived at your residence."

Ling Bai took a good look. The house was the same style as the others. It was a simple small bungalow. It was very close to Sea God Lake and surrounded by lush vegetation, filling each breath with a rich sense of vitality.

He was very satisfied with it, until...

He noticed that directly across from it was another house, with its lights on.

A lit house meant someone was inside.

Ling Bai squinted his eyes and said meaningfully, "Big Senior Sister?"

The two houses were less than twenty meters apart. You call this secluded?

Zhang Lexuan understood Ling Bai's doubt and explained, "There are only these two houses within a radius of three kilometers. That should meet your requirements, right?"

"Three kilometers, huh..."

Ling Bai thought for a moment before agreeing, "I'll take it. Thank you, Big Senior Sister."

Zhang Lexuan took a key from her Storage Spirit Guidance Device and handed it to him as she said, "No problem. Tomorrow morning, a senior student will help you get acquainted with the Inner Courtyard. Necessary items like uniforms and badges will be brought as well. Have a good rest tonight."

"Okay, see you, Big Senior Sister."

"Goodbye."

After watching Zhang Lexuan leave, Ling Bai closed the door, turned on the spirit guidance lamp, and surveyed the room's layout.

It wasn't much different from a bachelor apartment in his previous life—one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom.

After washing up, he went straight to the bedroom, slipped under the covers, and prepared to sleep. While Spirit Masters could use meditation instead of sleep, actual sleep was far better for relieving fatigue when one was exhausted, so he chose to have a good night's sleep.

Goodnight, Makka Pakka, goodnight, Upsy Daisy, goodnight, Igglepiggle, goodnight, Pontipines...

"Hey-ya!!!"

"Ouch! It hurts! It hurts so much!"

"Sis, please have mercy on me!"

Just as Ling Bai was about to drift off into dreamland, the wailing cries of a man yanked him back to reality.

"Who's screaming like a ghost in the middle of the night?!"

Ling Bai sprang up from his bed. He liked peace and quiet when alone; otherwise, he wouldn't have asked Zhang Lexuan for a secluded house. But who would've thought that in the dead of night...

The continent's number one academy?

So depraved!

Everyone had emotions and desires; Spirit Masters were no exception. Engaging in such activities was perfectly normal, and outsiders had no right to criticize. On his first day at Shrek Academy, Ling Bai didn't want to cause trouble.

Endure!

Ling Bai sat cross-legged on the bed, preparing to enter meditation, but the noise refused to let him be.

"Ouch! It hurts so much!"

"Sis, let's stop for today!"

"What will it take for you to let me go?"

"I'm begging you; should I perform a forward roll for you?"

"A backflip then?"

"..."

Forget about sleeping!

Even though he hadn't seen the guy, Ling Bai's mind instinctively conjured up an extremely sleazy face for him!

"I think I get it now."

Ling Bai suddenly realized. So this place was secluded not because of anything else, but because of that rabbit-like couple!

Who could meditate amidst such ghostly howling in the middle of the night?!

It was one thing to do it, but couldn't they at least keep it down?

Ling Bai jumped out of bed and got dressed. As a good modern youth, he wouldn't look for trouble, but he wasn't afraid of it either!

He planned to have a reasonable talk with the couple. If reasoning didn't work, he wouldn't mind resorting to physical persuasion.

The screams almost turned into waves of sound assaulting him as soon as he approached the door. While marveling at the man's astonishing lung capacity, Ling Bai took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Creak—

The door usually made that sound when it was open.

Hmm? They don't even lock their door?

Ling Bai was astonished!

"Hello, fellow student, could you please—"

He gently pushed the door open, and the scene that met his eyes was...

A burly young man was sprawled on the floor, tightly hugging a black shield!

A stunning red-haired beauty stood atop the shield, her skin fair and smooth, her figure voluptuous!

Ling Bai's words died in his throat. The polite yet awkward smile on his face instantly vanished. He stood there, frozen, and finally managed to utter a single word in a flat tone.

"Shit."