Word Count: 2,792 Words
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That night.
In the second-year girls' dormitory of Shrek Academy's Outer Courtyard.
After finishing her shower, Wu Feng pushed open the bathroom door and saw a graceful figure tinkering with a Spirit Guidance Device at the dormitory desk. She immediately trotted over to Ning Tian's side, her eyes sparkling like a puppy's.
"Why are you back so late today? Did Dean Xian give you special training?"
Ning Tian and Huo Yuhao were dual students of both the Martial Spirit and Spirit Guidance Departments. They completed their Martial Spirit Department classes during the day and, after dinner, rushed to the Spirit Guidance Department to study Spirit Guidance Device knowledge. Their days were exceedingly busy.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Heart Separation Control greatly honed spiritual power and enabled one to multitask, learning new knowledge while carving core arrays. Combined with her exceptional intelligence, Ning Tian had already become one of the top three rising stars in Shrek Academy's Spirit Guidance Department and was highly cherished by her teacher, Xian Lin'er.
Ning Tian gently shook her head and explained, "In two years, Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Imperial Academy will hold an exchange student program. Tonight, the Spirit Guidance Department gathered all its core disciples to gauge our interest.
There are roughly ten exchange spots available. The department will select the most suitable candidates from among those willing to attend the Sun Moon Imperial Academy."
At these words, Wu Feng immediately became anxious and asked, "Did you sign up?"
"Mm-hmm."
"What?! The Sun Moon Empire is so dangerous! Why on earth would you want to go?!"
Wu Feng was so worried that she paced around in circles. For millennia, the two great academies had regarded each other as their greatest rivals. In her eyes, the Sun Moon Imperial Academy was nothing short of a dragon's den. Especially since Ning Tian was a main force for the next Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament, she would inevitably receive extra 'attention.'
"In this last tournament, I witnessed the high-level Spirit Guidance Devices hidden by the Illustrious Virtue Hall—items that have never appeared at auction and are on a completely different level from what Shrek Academy's Spirit Guidance Department produces," Ning Tian said, her voice soft but filled with determination. "I must broaden my horizons, learn the most advanced Spirit Guidance Device techniques, and bring them back to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!"
"Why are you putting so much pressure on yourself..." Wu Feng was puzzled.
"Pressure is also motivation."
A trace of vigor flashed in Ning Tian's sapphire-blue eyes. "During that month beneath the Ancient Golden Tree, I entered deep meditation to find my future path.
It was a rare chance to quiet my mind and ponder deeply. After much contemplation, five words jumped into my mind: Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Revitalizing the clan is my path!"
"Isn't our clan doing quite well?"
Wu Feng pouted. "You told me last night that Senior Jianmu would break through to Limit Douluo within three to five years. With him protecting the clan, we'll be safe for a hundred years. And with Ling Bai overseeing it in the future, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will flourish for another three to five hundred years without a hitch."
"It's not the same."
Ning Tian lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting soft shadows. "The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is a clan, unlike an academy like Shrek where the strongest becomes the leader. Our clan's head must be an inheritor of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Senior Jianmu and Bai-ge are undeniably powerful, but their highest status in the clan is fixed as Protectors. Even if Bai-ge and I were to marry, should our children not inherit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Spirit, their eventual status would remain that of Protector rather than Clan Head.
If time could rewind ten thousand years, when support-type clans thrived by attracting assault-type Spirit Masters, then I wouldn't need to bear this pressure. I could have simply left everything to Bai-ge and contentedly remained the woman behind him.
However, Spirit Guidance Devices have changed the landscape of the Douluo Continent. Support-type Spirit Masters can now forge their own futures. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is no longer just an appendage to assault-type Spirit Masters. We can wield Spirit Guidance Devices in combat.
Ten thousand years ago, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was the guardian clan of the Heaven Dou Empire, one of the sacred places countless Spirit Masters yearned for. I am the next Clan Head, and I bear the mission to revitalize our lineage. Spirit Guidance Devices are the path I seek for the clan's direct line, and the technology of the Illustrious Virtue Hall is the foundation for our resurgence. I must be the pioneer."
"Ning Tian..."
Wu Feng was deeply moved. She was always impulsive, and her walnut-sized brain rarely held thoughts beyond Ning Tian. She never imagined Ning Tian's ambitions were so vast, far beyond anything she could help decide.
"I'm sorry, Ning Tian. It seems I can't be of much help."
She lowered her head forlornly, her voice as heavy as stagnant water.
In terms of Martial Spirit and combat strength, she couldn't compare to the Seraphim. As for Spirit Guidance Devices, she was clueless. It was only because of Ling Bai's generosity, given their shared childhood, that he allowed her to act out. Anyone else would have kicked her away long ago.
"It's okay, Xiao Feng."
Ning Tian smiled and gently stroked Wu Feng's hair. "That was just my vision. The implementation faces numerous difficulties. For instance, the limit of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is Rank 79. As my mother once said, a group of quasi-Class 8 Spirit Guidance Masters won't transform our clan. It is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda that holds the key to our revival.
When the time comes, I'll definitely need to trouble you to search the entire continent for the Beautiful Silk Tulip that our ancestor Ning Rongrong once absorbed."
"Mm-hmm! I'll do it without hesitation!"
Emotions came and went quickly for Wu Feng. Her resolve ignited as she silently vowed to help Ning Tian locate the Beautiful Silk Tulip.
…
Meanwhile, as Sea God Lake shimmered with delicate ripples and Sea God Island flourished with abundant herbs, a figure softly tapped on Ma Xiaotao's door.
Creak—
The wooden door rasped open, revealing Ma Xiaotao. Her fiery red hair cascaded to her waist, with a few wisps dancing across her smooth forehead. Her stunning beauty was accentuated by a pair of pink, captivating eyes, adding an extra layer of enticing charm.
Perhaps because she lived alone and was preparing to rest, she wore only a thin jacket over a camisole and shorts that revealed her mature and striking figure in full detail. The gentle curves of her breasts pressed against the fabric, and the alluring shape of her hips and thighs was on full display.
Ma Xiaotao leaned against the door with a smile, crossing her long legs with the languid grace of a dove. Her slender, jade-like arms were folded over her chest, accentuating the fullness of her bosom. The proud curves of her body seemed ready to burst forth from the confines of her thin clothing.
"Oh my, isn't this Shrek's super genius, student Ling Bai? Staying up past midnight without meditating or sleeping—what brings you to my little wooden house?"
Ling Bai heard her seemingly oblivious inquiry and his lips curved into a knowing smile. All her earlier talk of unstable cultivation, impending eruptions of evil fire, and an all-night training session had been nothing more than coded speech.
In other words: "I just broke through to Spirit Saint; let's have a wild celebration tonight!"
Faced with such a passionate invitation from a beauty, Ling Bai, ever the gentleman, naturally couldn't refuse. The moment he saw her scant attire, he knew he hadn't misunderstood. Her question was clearly just playful teasing.
With a matching glint in his eye, Ling Bai adopted a sincere expression. "An eruption of the evil fire is a serious matter. I've come specifically to help you suppress it."
At his words, Ma Xiaotao's full red lips curved upward, her mood clearly bright.
"Come in."
The door closed, and a look of shared triumph flashed in both their eyes.
Following behind Ma Xiaotao, Ling Bai's gaze was drawn to her swaying, perky rear, and his smile grew even brighter.
The two sat on the bed, Ma Xiaotao in front and Ling Bai behind. His hands rested on her back, feeling the fervent warmth of her delicate body through the thin clothing. The heat of her skin seemed to seep into his palms, igniting a fire within him.
For safety's sake, Ling Bai concentrated a surge of holy power and channeled it into her body. The tournament had ended only a little over a month ago, and the evil fire was obediently replenishing its energy, nevertheless, still far from erupting.
Moreover, he noted an extraordinarily majestic fire phoenix had taken residence in her Spiritual Sea, a sign she had absorbed a 100,000-year skull spirit bone. With that as a safeguard, the evil fire would not erupt again for at least five years.
With the situation assessed, Ling Bai set aside all concerns. His hands began to wander mischievously, gliding like two swimming fish over the smooth expanse of her back, tracing the delicate curves of her spine and shoulders. The fragrant aroma of a woman filled his nostrils, a heady scent that only heightened his desire.
With a sly smile, he leaned in close, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear as he whispered:
"You smell so good. Are you wearing perfume?"
"N-No, why would I use perfume when I live alone..."
Ma Xiaotao's voice trembled as a soft moan escaped her lips. The sensation of his touch sent shivers through her body.
"Hey, what are you doing!"
She gasped in surprise as Ling Bai's chin had, at some point, come to rest upon her round, fragrant shoulder, and he had begun fondling one of her hands incessantly. His fingers traced the delicate bones and soft skin.
"Your hand is rather small. How about we compare sizes?"
The soft whisper in her ear was like a devilish murmur. Their hands pressed closely together. Ma Xiaotao's eyes gradually glistened with desire, her breath coming in shallow pants.
"I can read palms. Let me take a look at yours."
Their faces were less than an inch apart, with golden and red hair entwined. Ling Bai examined the lines on her palm and, with all seriousness, declared:
"Your father is male, your mother is female. You are of the same gender as your mother and bear your father's surname."
"Do you even know how to read palms..."
Ma Xiaotao tilted her head in complaint, yet her voice was breathless, her body responding to his proximity. She caught a glimpse of his dazzling golden eyes so near they were almost touching. They were remarkably beautiful—radiant and deep, like a sun rising in a cold, endless night, irresistibly captivating.
In the next moment, she felt his fingers nimbly slip between hers, their digits interlocking in a playful chase. Her fair earlobes flushed red, and her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. She finally understood why so many people pursued love. Such a dopamine-fueled thrill was extraordinary indeed.
The Phoenix Evil Fire's desires were naturally intense, and with Ling Bai being the man she wanted, the continuous stimulation soon became overwhelming. Unable to resist any longer, she pulled his handsome face toward her, lowered her head, and pressed her rosy, succulent lips firmly against his.
Their tongues danced and explored each other in a sensual battle that only served to increase their desire. Ma Xiaotao moaned softly into his mouth, the sound sending shivers down Ling Bai's spine. His hands roamed her body, tracing the curves of her hips and the swell of her breasts, reveling in the feel of her soft, warm flesh beneath his fingertips.
Familiarity bred ease. Within the Spiritual Sea, Electrolux calmly sealed off his senses of hearing and vision.
Snow Empress, on the other hand, was furious beyond words. The veins on her forehead bulged as her ample bosom heaved several times. She shouted:
"Ling Bai, you didn't block the Spiritual Sea again!"
No one paid her any heed. Snow Empress was so angry her teeth itched. She stomped her foot and returned to her ice house.
…
Two and a half hours of sweat-soaked, passionate lovemaking later, the two figures eventually parted. Ma Xiaotao lay half-covered by the blanket, unconcerned by her exposed skin, her bright eyes squinting as she leaned against Ling Bai.
"Actually, we're quite compatible," she emphasized softly, her voice husky with satisfaction. "In every way."
Ling Bai's fingertips trailed a lock of her scarlet hair. A gentle smile touched his lips. "We are both favored by this world, endowed with exceptional qualities. Our being together is destiny."
Ma Xiaotao let out a soft snort. "Was that really your first time that day? Those tricks you used to charm me just now seemed surprisingly practiced!"
"You're my first woman. As for the tricks..."
Ling Bai hesitated for a split second before replying. "Perhaps it's innate talent?"
"Bah, scumbag nature!"
Ma Xiaotao laughed as she scolded him, though inwardly she felt a warm joy. The first time was completely different from all the times that might follow, and they had been each other's first. This made it even more special.
"By the way."
Ling Bai said, turning to a more serious matter, "Elder Song informed me tonight that he's taking me and several Outer Courtyard students into the Star Dou Forest tomorrow to hunt for spirit rings. Then, I am to survive there for a year and a half and kill ten 50,000-year spirit beasts. That's Elder Mu's trial for me."
Ma Xiaotao was stunned at first, then spoke up angrily, "I'm really fed up! I endured that evil fire for so many years, and just when I finally found a man with talent, looks, and a fine personality, I'm told straight to my face that he'll stay at Shrek Academy for five years at most.
Fine, fine, fine! I chose him myself, so I'll accept it. I'll enjoy these five years first. But why did my Grand-teacher have to backstab me too?!"
Ma Xiaotao was almost brought to tears. She would remain at Shrek, and once Ling Bai graduated and returned to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, they would live apart. Seeing each other would become much more difficult.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She suddenly flipped over and straddled Ling Bai, her gaze burning as she enunciated each word:
"I want to become the Sea God Pavilion Master!"
Ling Bai gazed up at that fiery, enchanting body, and felt a surge of heat rising in his lower abdomen. While his hands started to misbehave again, he asked, "Although the occasion for this aspiration is a bit... unconventional, I'm curious. What made you suddenly decide to become the Sea God Pavilion Master?"
Ma Xiaotao's eyes blazed. "With my Teacher, Elder Xuan, and the others above me, I can't be free and unrestrained. Once I surpass them and become the Sea God Pavilion Master, we'll see who can restrain me!
A love between equals, with matched abilities and the courage to meet at the pinnacle—when we've grown strong enough, we won't need to worry about anyone's opinion or be constrained by any faction. It will just be about you and me!"
"Such grand ambitions. Don't forget that Huo Yuhao is already Elder Mu's disciple," Ling Bai kindly reminded her.
"So what?"
Ma Xiaotao's breathing grew increasingly heated. "He has Ultimate Ice, and I have Ultimate Fire. Ultimate Martial Spirit cultivation is slow; give him ten years and he'll scarcely break through to Spirit Saint. I'll outstrip him by leagues. And you'll definitely help me, right?"
"That depends on your performance."
Ling Bai teased. He mentally calculated her chances of becoming the Sea God Pavilion Master. As a descendant of the first-generation Shrek Seven Monster Ma Hongjun, a disciple of the Martial Spirit Department's Dean, and possessor of the rare Ultimate Fire, she was a suitable candidate. Yet, to surpass Huo Yuhao and his Twin Martial Spirits, she would still need support.
Suddenly, a wave of pleasure interrupted his thoughts as Ma Xiaotao shifted her hips against him. She blushed and huffed, "You're leaving tomorrow. Better make the most of our time!"
"Don't worry... I'll give it my all tonight to ensure you're filled with positive energy."