That Pair of Siblings

"Does this count as a success?"

Looking at the Book of Curses floating in midair, black light occasionally flickering across it, Xu Tianming muttered to himself uncertainly.

"It should have succeeded."

After observing for a moment, Electrolux nodded.

"I can sense a stream of curse power being continuously transmitted from this divine artifact to an unknown plane."

"That's good, then."

Xu Tianming let out a slight sigh of relief.

He did not expect the Book of Curses to kill Tang San, but as long as it could divert some of Tang San's attention, that would be enough.

After all, having a God King above his head who could strike at any moment and threaten him was hardly a good thing.

"No matter what, I have to thank you for this, Elder Yi."

Xu Tianming bowed slightly to Electrolux, gratitude appearing on his face.

If not for Electrolux's help, his sanity would have long since been devoured by the negative emotions within the Book of Curses.

Now that he had used the Book of Curses to open up his own Sea of Consciousness, once Mu Ye returned, he could begin making plans for the Ice and Snow Empresses of the Far North.

"No need to be so polite."

Electrolux shook his head slightly, then waved a hand.

Xu Tianming only felt his vision blur once more. By the time he recovered, he had already returned to the Meditation Room in his dormitory.

"If that divine artifact of yours leaves the Undead Half-Plane, it may be discovered by the gods of this world."

Electrolux's voice rang in Xu Tianming's ears.

"So let that divine artifact remain in the Undead Half-Plane."

"My power has only partially recovered, and I still need to sleep for a while. If anything comes up, you can wake me at any time."

"Yes, Elder Yi!"

Xu Tianming answered, then slowly opened his eyes.

He stood up and clenched his fists. Looking around at his surroundings, Xu Tianming felt as though everything that had just happened had been an illusion.

Only his greatly increased spiritual power reminded him that it had all been real.

After hesitating briefly, Xu Tianming took a bath and changed into a fresh set of clothes before leaving his dormitory.

There were still several days before the start of term. After all, the enormous number of new students seeking admission to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy had to be assessed one by one.

Rubbing his stomach, Xu Tianming decided to take a stroll around the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy and stop by the cafeteria while he was at it.

"Hmm, is someone actually living in Dormitory Twelve?"

Just as he stepped out of the dormitory entrance, a somewhat arrogant voice rang out from nearby.

Xu Tianming subconsciously looked up, and his expression froze slightly.

Not far ahead of him, a teenage boy and girl stood outside the door of another dormitory. They looked a little older than Xu Tianming.

The one who had spoken was a handsome young man with bright eyes and a tall, straight figure.

His slightly raised brows faintly revealed his proud and unruly disposition.

Beside him stood a girl with wine-red hair.

Her sapphire-like eyes held a trace of curiosity as she looked at Xu Tianming.

Hm?

Wait!

Could it really be such a coincidence?

Xu Tianming studied the pair in the distance, and his expression turned somewhat strange.

Come to think of it, Lin Jiayi had once said that the students living in these single dormitories were all the most outstanding students in the entire Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.

In that case, it was only natural that he would run into those two here.

"I haven't seen you before."

The young man furrowed his brows and asked in confusion,

"Who are you, and why are you allowed to live here?"

"When asking someone else's name, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"

Facing the person who regarded Huo Yuhao as his lifelong rival, Xu Tianming smiled.

"Hm, kid, this is the first time I've met someone in the academy who's even more arrogant than me."

The young man showed a hint of surprise. After sizing Xu Tianming up for a moment, he finally said,

"You can live here, yet you've never heard of my title as Xiao Hongchen, undefeated among my peers?"

"Pfft!"

Hearing that extremely cringeworthy title, together with Xiao Hongchen's smug expression, Xu Tianming could not hold back and burst out laughing.

"Brother, look, he's laughing at you."

Meng Hongchen could not help covering her mouth and letting out a quiet laugh as well.

Yet her beautiful eyes still could not help drifting toward Xu Tianming.

Xu Tianming had always been quite handsome. On top of that, after cultivating the Body Sect Secret Technique and the Yin Yang Profound Pole Body Refining Art for so many years, who knew how many precious heavenly treasures he had consumed?

He was even slightly taller than Xiao Hongchen, who was three or four years older than him.

Because his Martial Soul was the Sun Moon Twin Pupils with its spiritual attribute, his temperament also carried a hint of mystery.

All these factors combined instantly drew the attention of Meng Hongchen, who had always been drawn to good-looking faces.

"What are you laughing at?"

Xiao Hongchen shot his younger sister a fierce glare before asking Xu Tianming in an extremely unfriendly tone.

"Nothing. I just thought of something funny."

Xu Tianming coughed twice and suppressed his laughter.

Although these siblings had a few flaws, they were not particularly unpleasant.

Still, their ending could not help but leave one sighing.

"I'm a new student this year. Dean Jing Hongchen arranged for me to stay here."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Hongchen's already raised brows lifted even higher.

A new student?

His grandfather had arranged for him to live here?

"Only the most outstanding students in our academy are qualified to live here."

Xiao Hongchen's gaze was filled with scrutiny.

"So you're very strong, then?"

"I am indeed very strong."

Xu Tianming nodded seriously.

"I've never met anyone my age who was stronger than me."

At that, Xu Tianming narrowed his eyes and glanced at Xiao Hongchen.

"And that includes you."

A provocation, a blatant provocation!

Xu Tianming's matter-of-fact tone and that final remark instantly enraged Xiao Hongchen.

In all his life, he had never met anyone who could put on airs better than him.

"Brother, he says he's stronger than you."

Meng Hongchen continued fanning the flames from the side.

"New students these days are far too arrogant. It seems they haven't received enough instruction from their seniors."

Xiao Hongchen stepped forward. Two yellow and two purple Soul Rings immediately appeared beneath his feet.

"Kid, you say I'm inferior to you. Do you dare to have a match with me?"

Xiao Hongchen did have the qualifications to be so arrogant.

Hailed as the number one genius of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy, he was only fourteen years old and already a four-ring Soul Ancestor.

Under Xu Tianming's spiritual senses, he could even tell that Xiao Hongchen's Soul Power Level was not far from level fifty.

Moreover, he was a Level Four Soul Engineer. Even in Shrek Academy's Inner Court, such talent would have been considered exceptional.

"A match isn't impossible."

Xu Tianming rubbed his chin, a smile appearing on his face.

"But I can't compete for nothing. You have to put up some stakes, don't you?"