Don't want to join any faction

Suddenly bumped, then abruptly pulled back into an embrace—if Tang Yue didn't understand that Tang Miao was deliberately taking advantage of her, she'd be truly foolish.

She turned back and glared at Tang Miao. He chuckled and let go. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"You still haven't told me about the magic!?"

Sure, people could awaken magic at sixteen, but that required an Awakening Stone. Their village wasn't short on those, but no one had given Tang Miao one. And now he could already cast spells—how could Tang Yue not be shocked?

"Six months ago, I self-awakened."

He had no reason to hide anything from Tang Yue. After all, aside from the Dark Serpent on his shoulder, she was the only one in this world he could trust.

Of course, the world itself hadn't really changed. It was just that studying had become magic. If there were no demons, everything would be pretty much the same as his past life.

"Self-awakened...!?" Tang Yue stared at Tang Miao in astonishment. Sure, some people did self-awaken, but they were incredibly rare... She never expected Tang Miao to be one in ten thousand?

Tang Miao's lips curled up slightly. "Don't get so worked up. I wasn't done talking. Hold your horses first, and once I'm finished, then you can freak out."

"What do you mean?" Tang Yue paused, looking at him in confusion.

Just as Tang Yue was puzzled, the temperature around her plummeted. She specialized in fire magic, so this sudden drop made her turn toward Tang Miao.

There, thick ice had formed all around him!

"Zero Degree! Ice Vine, Frozen Slow!"

With that, Tang Miao's first Ice Magic was unleashed.

A flash of cold light shot out, and in an instant, over a dozen trees in front of them froze solid into ice sculptures.

Tang Yue covered her mouth with both hands, her enchanting eyes full of shock! She'd always felt Tang Miao was special since they were kids, but she never imagined he could be this outstanding!?

And his control over Ice Magic seemed even more refined than his Lightning Magic... meaning he'd practiced Ice Magic first?

Tang Yue stammered for a moment before finally asking, "This... how is this possible?"

"Six months ago, when I woke up, I found I'd awakened. First Lightning, then Ice... So I went to the village to dig up some magic manuals, and in half a year, I mastered casting both elements."

Tang Miao paused, then added, "And it seems I came with a Soul Seed Domain from the moment I awakened!"

Tang Yue pressed a hand to her heaving chest, her emotions clearly running wild. It was as if she were more excited about this than if she'd gotten it herself!

After a moment of silence, Tang Yue stepped closer to Tang Miao, reached out both hands to cup his face, and looked up at him. "Are you even human..."

Tang Miao had already puckered his lips, waiting for a kiss of love, but he never expected Tang Yue to say... that??

"I thought you were gonna give me smooches!!"

He leaned in, but Tang Yue defended well, not giving him any chance to get close...

Tang Yue sighed in exasperation. "Can't you be serious for once?"

"This is serious business to me."

Hearing that, Tang Yue dodged aside, nearly sending Tang Miao face-first into the dirt!

But when he looked back at Tang Yue's stunning figure, that little setback didn't seem to matter much.

"Fine, no smooches. Let's go home and eat. I haven't had your cooking in ages~" Tang Miao looked at her with hopeful eyes.

It wasn't that Tang Yue's cooking was amazing—he just wanted a candlelit dinner with some wine to set the mood. A perfect moonlit night, right?

Seeing Tang Miao's lecherous grin, Tang Yue knew exactly what he was up to!

But she didn't really mind. Letting him steal a little touch now and then was fine, but getting her? Not happening!

It wasn't that Tang Yue had no feelings for Tang Miao—it was just that his personality gave her no sense of security...

"Alright, stop grinning like an idiot. Let's head back."

With that, Tang Yue swayed her perky little rear and turned to walk away.

Tang Miao trotted along behind her.

He had to admit, the view from behind was just as good as the one in front.

Watching her, his left hand disobediently reached out. The Dark Serpent on his shoulder looked on with utter contempt.

But before his hand could reach its target, his foot slipped, and he tumbled flat onto the ground.

Tang Yue turned back with a sweet laugh. "If you keep being such a pervert, I'll really get mad!"

Tang Miao got up, dusted himself off, and instantly caved. "Couldn't help it... couldn't help it..."

Tang Yue walked over and reached out a hand to help him up. But once her jade-like hand was grabbed, instead of pulling him up, she was yanked down onto him.

"Ah~..."

The sudden force caught her completely off guard.

"Hehe... smooch~"

"..."

In the end, Tang Miao got his kiss from Tang Yue. Old man Tang Zhong might've told her to hold back, but with Tang Miao, she just couldn't...

Some defenses she built were ironclad, but against Tang Miao, they were practically useless...

Still, as shameless as Tang Miao was, he never crossed the final line before she was fully ready to give herself to him.

Evening.

After returning home, eating dinner, and washing up, Tang Miao coaxed Tang Yue into another round of kissing. Perhaps she knew he was deliberately taking advantage of her, but after refusing once or twice, she mostly just went along with it.

Staring at the star-filled sky outside the window, Tang Yue spoke to Tang Miao, who was holding her tightly from behind: "Do you want to join the Judgment Society? With your talent, you're sure to get the best resource support. Surpassing me is just a matter of time."

Joining the Judgment Society was no easy feat—it was only because she had connections up top, combined with Tang Miao's talent, that Tang Yue had the authority to extend the invitation. She believed that even Tang Zhong would agree if he found out.

"No, I don't want to join any faction. I've already got the Spirit Seed I need, my grasp of magic theory is about passable, and with my current magical power, I can apply to any high school," Tang Miao shook his head.

The knowledge from the nine-year compulsory education was available in this village—after all, with connections up top, going to school wasn't an option.

But from high school onward, it was a proper path of cultivation. As long as your grades were good at the academy you attended, you could get the cultivation resources the school provided.

The school's resources might not be any worse than those of the big clans—the difference was that schools were like sifting gold from sand.

Besides, whether your theory was good or not really didn't matter—what mattered was strength!

Most qualified people in the village had already joined some clan, military, or other faction, but very few could get into the Judgment Society.

After all, the Judgment Society's recruitment standards were extremely strict! However, he didn't want to join any faction. Because once you accepted help, you had to give up your freedom in return.

The reason he gave up this rare opportunity was that Tang Miao understood—only this way could he avoid any restrictions!

Of course, the main reason was that with his two innate Spirit Seeds, Tang Miao didn't have to worry about consumption costs. Spirit Seeds were a high-expense item, and since that wasn't a concern, all he needed now were some magic tools!

Besides, ever since his magic awakened, Tang Miao couldn't keep living off her—after all, Tang Yue needed to cultivate too! Once she became a mage, the allowance she gave him wouldn't amount to anything.

And with talent like this, could he still coast on her? Was Tang Miao that kind of person?

PS: There are still some things that are vague, so the writing can't be fast. Also, this book is definitely not single female lead... Finally, don't just open your mouth and tell me to take this one or that one—I write, you read.

Or get practical—I'm not beyond accommodating~

Lastly, for this book's release, if you want to give feedback or anything, choose Qidian. If you don't like harem, then goodbye here~