Young Men and Women Coming of Age

The breeze stirred the leaves, their rustling like beautiful notes echoing through the human world.

Pairs of magpies chirped merrily among the branches.

Spring afternoons always had a way of lifting one's spirits.

Beneath a large tree, a young man about 1.79 meters tall lay leisurely on the grass.

His violet-white hair swayed in the wind, and his sharply defined features were so exquisite they hardly seemed mortal.

Yet amid those delicate features was a distinctly masculine air.

With both hands behind his head, he hummed an unfamiliar tune.

His crossed leg swayed rhythmically from side to side.

Judging from the white-and-gold academy uniform he wore, he attended Spirit Hall Academy.

"I knew you'd run off here! Today is the school's intermediate student tournament. You should at least take part."

Just as the young man was enjoying the afternoon alone in leisure.

A sweet yet commanding girl's voice came from behind the tree.

Hearing her voice, the young man lying on the grass curled his lips into a smile.

He opened his eyes and sat up.

"Xue'er, you know perfectly well that if I joined the student tournament, who would dare get on stage and compete?"

A girl named Xue'er stepped out from behind the tree.

She wore a tailored white-and-gold JK-style academy uniform with embroidered trim.

Atop her head was a hollow crown-like hair accessory.

Her smooth golden hair cascaded down her back, while two center-parted locks hung on either side of her cheeks.

Giving her originally innocent face an added touch of mature charm.

Turning to look at the girl behind him, the white-haired young man's eyes were filled with affection.

With a faintly teasing smile, he walked over, pulled her into his arms, and continued gently.

"Wasn't I worried you wouldn't be able to find me? That's why I couldn't bear to change spots. Xue'er, you're getting prettier and prettier."

Looking up at his exquisite, handsome features, a blush appeared on Qian Renxue's fair face.

Her love-filled eyes also carried admiration, as though the person before her.

Was both her lover and her hero, dazzling beyond compare.

Raising her hand to straighten Zijun's slightly wrinkled collar, Qian Renxue replied with a face full of happiness.

"Alright, even if you aren't competing, you should at least watch. Don't you want to see my match?"

He gently rested his cheek against Qian Renxue's head, greedily breathing in the faint fragrance emanating from her body.

He scooped Qian Renxue into his arms and joked with a smile.

"Looking at the time, we're probably about to be late. How about I fly Xue'er over there?"

Wrapping her arms around Zijun's neck, she rested sideways against his sturdy chest and smiled as she nodded.

With his legs slightly bent, he released his spatial divine power and shot into the sky.

Among the white clouds, the two figures flew freely like birds.

Looking at the clouds within reach, Qian Renxue stretched out her hand and touched one.

She felt nothing at all, as though cool water vapor had brushed past her fingertips.

"Does the God Realm have clouds too? When will we be able to go to the God Realm?"

Leaning against Zijun's arm, Qian Renxue raised her head and looked at his profile as she asked.

"Soon. If Xue'er really wants to visit the God Realm, I can take you there right now."

Hearing Zijun's answer, Qian Renxue asked again.

"Xiao Jun, why do people from the lower realm have to become gods before they can enter the God Realm?"

After giving it some thought, Zijun answered honestly.

"Because there is no Soul Power in the God Realm, only divine power, which is a level higher than Soul Power. If someone enters the Upper Realm without becoming a god, even a Title Douluo would have their body burst apart from that energy."

As his words fell.

The two arrived above the entrance to the tournament arena.

Zijun slowly descended while holding Qian Renxue, looking at the bustling entrance below.

Qian Renxue became somewhat shy and leaned close to Zijun's ear as she whispered.

"Xiao Jun, put me down. I didn't expect so many students to come watch. It's kind of embarrassing."

He bent down and carefully loosened his arms around Qian Renxue.

Her long, fair legs touched the ground, and Qian Renxue reached out to take his hand as they entered through the arena entrance.

Along the way, the men looked at Zijun with admiration, while the women gazed at him with affection. Not a single pair of eyes left him for even a moment.

Ever since Zijun's information had leaked from his class when he was six.

His fanboys and fangirls had grown from barely over a dozen to the entire academy!

Even throughout all of Spirit Hall, from the Pope and elders to ordinary soldiers.

There was no one who did not admire him!

The reason was even simpler!

It was all because of his monstrous talent!

On Spirit Hall's combat power rankings, Zijun single-handedly crushed both his peers and even older-generation Title Douluo!

He had become the youngest and strongest Title Douluo in Spirit Hall's history!

Of course!

Bibi Dong had naturally issued a gag order concerning information about Zijun.

Now, across the Douluo Continent, only members of Spirit Hall's faction knew of someone like Zijun!

After all, someone as powerful as Zijun was perfectly suited to being hidden as a trump card.

And Spirit Hall's second strongest combatant was naturally none other than Little Gray, the God of Pride!

Speaking of Little Gray, ever since he had arrived at Spirit Hall, aside from eating, drinking, relieving himself, and sleeping every day.

He spent all day doing nothing, and Zijun could not stand seeing Little Gray live such a blissful retirement.

So he immediately and decisively arranged for him to take the position of Spirit Hall's chief consecrated elder.

At first, the other Consecrated Elders were naturally unconvinced.

But after Little Gray defeated several Title Douluo by himself.

There were no longer any voices of dissatisfaction within Spirit Hall.

Even Qian Renxue's grandfather, Qian Daoliu, had been subdued by Little Gray's fists!

From then on, there was no second voice throughout Spirit Hall.

And Bibi Dong, the Pope, truly became the one in charge of Spirit Hall because of it.

Half the reason Zijun helped Bibi Dong was Qian Renxue.

The other half was because Spirit Hall itself was a positive and righteous force!

Looking across the entire Douluo Continent, what other faction would help commoner Spirit Masters awaken their martial souls without charge?

And what other faction would treat commoner Spirit Masters equally?

Other than Spirit Hall, every other faction either looked at status, bloodline, or talent!

And one could only enter and study after permanently joining a sect!

Even Tang Hao had received favors from Spirit Hall!

As the old saying went, when the upper beam was crooked, the lower beam would be crooked too.

The phrase "repaying kindness with enmity" could not have described it more perfectly!

He truly did not know how Tang Hao had had the nerve.

To use the Pope Order given by Spirit Hall to help Yu Xiaogang train Tang San.

He enjoyed the privileges granted to him by Spirit Hall while opposing Spirit Hall at every turn.

No wonder ordinary Spirit Masters were unwilling to stand on their side.

They entered through the arena entrance.

The instant the students in the stands saw Zijun and Qian Renxue enter!

Excited cries like a tidal wave swept through every corner of the arena!

"It's Lord Zijun! Look, everyone!"

"Wow! My idol really came! I thought he wouldn't be participating!"

"Zijun! Zijun...!"

Listening to everyone's cheers, Zijun held his forehead and smiled bitterly.

Being admired once or twice did feel pretty good.

But after being crazily worshipped like this for six years straight, anyone would grow tired.

And what gave him the biggest headache were the girls at the academy.

Several times, they had nearly angered Qian Renxue enough to make her want to resort to domestic violence!