Seven-colored light spilled from the cracks, bathing the entire dormitory in a dreamlike glow.
The cocoon shattered completely and dissolved into specks of starlight.
A figure even slimmer and longer than before, its whole body seemingly carved from white jade, floated lightly out of the radiance.
Yes, floated.
The Little White Snake.
No, perhaps it was time to call her something else.
Though she had shrunk a little, she looked more exquisite than ever.
Her body was a luminous white, its gentle sheen shifting in the light.
Most striking was her belly. Across several unusual scales, seven-colored light flickered in and out, as though a tiny rainbow lay hidden within.
And now she hovered in midair, defying all reason, graceful and composed.
"Ha~"
The little creature seemed unused to her new state. She twisted curiously, then immediately fixed her gaze on Li Yuan and gave an affectionate little call.
She flew up to Li Yuan and rubbed her cool, smooth head against his cheek.
Ah Bai looked even younger than before—cute, even.
But only Li Yuan, whose heart was linked to hers, could clearly sense the vast, ancient power now contained in that tiny body.
After all, she was a juvenile Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python!
Her bloodline had only just awakened, yet its might had already begun to show its edge.
Li Yuan held out a finger and let her coil around it.
To his surprise, a pair of nearly transparent little wings had appeared behind her ears.
He might have missed them if he had not looked closely.
Li Yuan could not help laughing. He gently tapped her little head with a finger.
"Heh, Ah Bai, this evolution of yours... why does it feel like you're turning into a young Queen Medusa?"
"Think you'll really be able to take human form someday? Wait, wouldn't that make me Xu Xian?"
At the thought of that scene, Li Yuan hurriedly shook his head.
Yet he could not stop picturing Queen Medusa as he remembered her: breathtakingly beautiful, peerless in her splendor, with black-stockinged legs longer than a man's lifespan.
"Ha?"
Ah Bai tilted her head, her pale-gold slit pupils full of innocent confusion.
She did not understand who "Medusa and Xu Xian" were, but she could hear the happiness and affection in her master's voice. She rubbed against him again.
While Li Yuan was still basking in the joy of his Martial Soul Evolution, the door suddenly opened and someone crept in.
Li Yuan turned and found Xiao Wu. "What brings you here?"
He and Xiao Wu got along well, but they were only friends.
After all, in both his past life and this one, he had always... ahem, disliked small ones!
Xiao Wu strolled in with her hands behind her back. Instead of answering, she flashed a sly smile. "Heehee, Xiao Yuan~ You wouldn't want anyone else finding out your secret, would you?"
"What secret would I have?"
Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat, though he forced himself to look calm.
Had she discovered he was the Chat Group's Group Leader?
That should not be possible. He had always sent his messages in secret.
Wearing an I've seen through everything expression, Xiao Wu leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Oh, stop pretending. I know all about it~"
Li Yuan frowned slightly. "Know what?"
Xiao Wu's eyes shone brighter. She was completely caught up in the excitement of finding someone from home in a strange place.
"You're a Soul Beast! I saw it. You're a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who underwent Soul Beast Transformation too, right? Heehee, who knew your true form had such a powerful aura, Xiao Yuan? I was so far away, but that Ferocious Beast pressure nearly made my legs give out."
Xiao Wu patted her barely budding chest. "Don't worry, though. I won't tell anyone. We're in the same boat now!"
Li Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.
The Ferocious Beast aura that had escaped during Ah Bai's evolution had given her the wrong idea.
That worked out nicely. If he played along, this "transformed Soul Beast" identity would help conceal his identity as the Chat Group's Group Leader.
The corners of his mouth lifted. Playing along, he gave her a helpless you caught me look and said with a hint of gratitude, "Then... thanks for keeping it secret."
"Heehee, no need to thank me!"
Xiao Wu waved a hand. Then she remembered something and said, a little sheepishly,
"Come to think of it, I should thank you! When I first came to the academy a few years ago, you told me I could apply for a dorm room reserved for talented students. Otherwise, I nearly ended up in that huge shared room in Dorm Seven!"
"I heard dozens of people squeeze into one room. The smell in summer..."
She wrinkled her little nose in disgust.
"Oh?"
Li Yuan lowered his head slightly and took a small step forward, closing the distance between them. His voice held a teasing note. "So how do you plan to thank me?"
"Ah!"
Xiao Wu jumped at his sudden approach.
They were so close that she could feel his warm breath brush her cheek.
And from where she stood...
At six foot two, Li Yuan towered over her, forcing her to tilt her head up to meet his eyes.
His white hair drifted around his handsome face, and there was a rakish edge to his expression. At this distance, the effect was overwhelming!
Xiao Wu's face went red in an instant. Her heart inexplicably sped up, and she took half a step back. "W-what are you doing? Why are you suddenly so close...?"
But Li Yuan merely reached out with an expressionless face and gently pushed her little head aside. "Why are you blushing? Move. You're blocking what I need."
Holding the spot where he had pushed her head, Xiao Wu watched him pick up a key from the table behind her. Only then did she realize what had happened.
He had not been trying to do anything. She had simply been in the way!
Xiao Wu pouted, her lovely pink eyes fixed on Li Yuan in wounded reproach. "Hey~ What was that for? Couldn't you be gentler?"
She thrust out her admittedly unimpressive chest, trying to recover some dignity. "I'm the acknowledged prettiest girl at Notting Academy! Am I really less important to you than a key?"
Li Yuan stopped and gave her a genuine once-over.
Her waist was slim, her legs were long and eye-catching in pink stockings, and her skin was fair and soft...
Unfortunately, when his gaze reached a certain spot, he shook his head almost imperceptibly.
An A-cup? I'll pass!
Xiao Wu caught that fleeting trace of "disdain" in his eyes. Like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on, she covered her chest with both hands and puffed out her cheeks. "Hey! What's that look supposed to mean?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
Li Yuan said nothing, but that pointed clicking of his tongue and the way his gaze drifted over again said it all.
Xiao Wu followed his gaze and looked down at herself. She understood at once, and her cheeks grew even redder.
This time, it was from anger.
She gritted her teeth and muttered under her breath, unwilling to concede defeat. "Darn it... Sister Xiao Wu is still growing, okay!"
By the time she finished consoling herself, Li Yuan had already reached the door with the key.
"Li Yuan, wait for me."
Xiao Wu hurried after him and fell into step beside him.
Li Yuan glanced at her. "Why are you following me? You're not thanking me."
Xiao Wu's face fell. She answered honestly, "Fine. How do you want me to thank you?"
Clearly, she still wanted to get along with the fellow Soul Beast she had finally met in the human world.
Li Yuan thought for a moment, then pointed at the curious Little White Snake peering around from his shoulder. "Treat me to a good meal at the Notting Restaurant. Ah Bai's hungry too."
After all, Martial Soul Evolution took a great deal of energy.
After a whole morning, he felt so hungry he might shrivel up.
"Huh? The Notting Grand Restaurant?"
"That place is expensive! Even one dish costs several Silver Soul Coins!"
Xiao Wu's voice rose in shock. She instinctively covered the little purse of Gold Soul Coins at her waist.
Li Yuan curled his lip. "Are you treating me or not?"
Xiao Wu looked at the Little White Snake on his shoulder, who seemed to be gazing at her expectantly, then at Li Yuan's take it or leave it expression. Heaven and man waged war inside her.
At last, she gritted her teeth and stamped her foot, as though making a tremendous sacrifice. "Fine! I'll treat you! Even if Sister Xiao Wu has to spend her entire allowance this month."
"All right. Let's go."
Li Yuan had not expected her to agree. A smile tugged at his mouth.
Given how much he and Ah Bai ate, a meal at the Notting Restaurant would cost at least a dozen Gold Soul Coins, perhaps even twenty. Xiao Wu was in for a serious loss this time.
The two of them headed for the academy gates.
As they walked, Xiao Wu stroked Ah Bai's little head and grumbled, "Ah Bai, Ah Bai, it's all your master's fault. He just had to eat somewhere so expensive. Now I'm going to lose a fortune today."
Just then, urgent shouts came from nearby. "Xiao Wu! Xiao Wu!"
They turned to see Tang San running toward them, panting, with something held high in his hand.
Tang San reached Xiao Wu and immediately held an elegantly made card out before her.
It read: [Qixi Special Offer—100 Gold Soul Coin Meal Voucher for the Notting Restaurant. Valid today only.]
Tang San looked thrilled as he presented it to her like a treasure. "Xiao Wu, look what I brought you!"
"I remember you saying you really wanted to eat at Notting's biggest restaurant. I saved up Gold Soul Coins for six whole months and asked my teacher for help before I could finally buy this Meal Voucher."
"And today's the day to use it!"
With that, Tang San looked at Xiao Wu expectantly.
He had prepared for this day for a long time.
Thanks to Li Yuan's advice, Xiao Wu had never moved into Dorm Seven, but Tang San had still fallen for her at first sight.
Tang San really was a freak!
Love at first sight with a six-year-old child.
Xiao Wu, who had been dejected at the prospect of going broke, brightened the instant she saw the Meal Voucher. "Wow, Tang San, you're so nice."
"Hehe, of course! Xiao Wu, everyone at Notting Academy knows no one treats you better than I do!"
Praised by Xiao Wu, God King Tang—who had spent decades single in his previous life—grew bashful. He scratched his head with a silly grin, delighted.
She would not have to pay for it herself.
At that thought, Xiao Wu instantly beamed, full of energy again.
She happily took the Meal Voucher and waved at Tang San. "Great, Tang San, thanks! You can head back now. I'm going to the Notting Restaurant with Xiao Yuan."
Then she casually linked her arm through Li Yuan's, looking eager to get to the food.
Tang San stared, dumbfounded. "Huh?"
Before you continue