Su Chen saw the reward but didn't choose to absorb it. Instead, he stowed it inside his body, planning to make use of it himself for the time being.
He would find a chance to give it to Leng Yaozhu later.
Under the system's suppression, the Heavenly Phoenix blood essence was almost completely concealed inside Su Chen's body, yet it still brought him considerable benefits.
First was fire immunity. Even against Ultimate Fire, Su Chen could achieve complete immunity by drawing on a trace of the Heavenly Phoenix Origin's power.
The second was bloodline suppression. It had a powerful suppressive effect on Phoenix-type Martial Souls, provided the difference in cultivation wasn't too great. For example, against Leng Yaozhu...
Unless Su Chen detonated the Heavenly Phoenix blood essence, it couldn't possibly affect her.
Of course, that applied in battle. Under normal circumstances, the Heavenly Phoenix blood essence would instead attract others of its kind...
This wasn't just Su Chen's guess; he had evidence to back it up.
Su Chen instinctively glanced again at the Goddess Illustrated Handbook interface in his mind.
[Character: Leng Yaozhu]
[Rating: SS Rank]
[Favorability: 35]
When the system had first added Leng Yaozhu, her favorability had only been 24 points.
But when Su Chen took the Heavenly Phoenix Origin into his body, her favorability instantly shot up by 11 points, reaching its current 35.
"Are you done?"
Leng Yaozhu's voice suddenly interrupted Su Chen's inner turmoil.
"Ah, y-yes... I'm done..."
Su Chen hurriedly came back to his senses.
Just then, Leng Yaozhu's red lips curved into a smile, and she suddenly said, "If you're done taking pictures, come over here and take one with your teacher."
Before Su Chen could react, Leng Yaozhu reached out and pulled him through the air to stand in front of her.
That was the terrifying power of a Limit Douluo. Su Chen couldn't resist at all as Leng Yaozhu caught him by the shoulders.
Leng Yaozhu stood on the steps.
Su Chen stood with his back to her, pressed close against her.
Su Chen felt two soft clouds settle atop his head, squishy and heavy with pressure. They were clearly two formidable peaks.
Between the steps and her high heels, Leng Yaozhu stood considerably taller than Su Chen.
At the same time, the distinctive, mature fragrance of a woman drifted in wisps into his nostrils.
Leng Yaozhu didn't seem to mind at all.
And just a moment ago, she seemed to have sensed something new about Su Chen, something familiar and comforting.
It was strange, but she didn't ask about it. They'd have plenty of time together in the future; she would find out sooner or later.
"Uh, Teacher... what are you doing...?"
Su Chen turned his head slightly, finding a more comfortable position.
"Don't move."
Leng Yaozhu's languid voice came from above. One hand rested naturally on Su Chen's shoulder, stopping his tiny movement.
With her other hand, she reached for the camera in Su Chen's hand and turned it around to point at them.
"Come on, smile."
"Click—"
The crisp shutter sound rang out, freezing that moment in time.
In the picture, the tall woman in a red dress stood elegantly on the raised platform, her head tilted slightly and a smile playing on her lips.
The handsome young man half-embraced before her had flushed cheeks, and his gaze toward the camera held a hint of nervousness and awkwardness.
Behind them stood an enormous floor-to-ceiling window, with the bustling scenery of Eastsea City beyond it.
The picture printed itself instantly.
Leng Yaozhu released Su Chen's shoulder, then elegantly pinched the still-warm photograph between two slender fingers and examined it with interest.
"Hmm, this camera of yours is pretty good. The picture is incredibly clear."
Leng Yaozhu seemed quite pleased with the result.
After all, it was the first picture she and Su Chen had taken together.
Another reason was that the photo was exceptionally clear. Even the figures on the street behind them had come out perfectly, unlike anything else on the market.
Still, she didn't ask much about it. She was curious at most; she wasn't particularly interested in things like this.
"All right, this is a good picture. I'll keep it."
Leng Yaozhu reached out with her other hand and gently ruffled Su Chen's hair, mussing up his naturally smooth black locks.
"As long as you like it, Teacher~"
Su Chen escaped the overwhelming pressure above his head and gave an embarrassed smile.
"That's enough for today. Starting tomorrow, you'll need to set aside an hour each day to come here. I'll teach you personally."
Leng Yaozhu's tone returned to its earlier formality, with a hint of sternness.
She wasn't a real teacher and wasn't good at instructing students. All she could do was pass on some of her own experience.
Still, in her view, every genius had their own path to follow. All she needed to do was guide Su Chen along the way and give him a little help, speeding up his growth.
There was no need to interfere too much.
"Okay, Teacher. I'll head back now."
Su Chen beamed, looking delighted.
After all, he'd added another SS-rank goddess to the Goddess Illustrated Handbook, and he could check in every day. His rate of growth had sped up again, so of course he was happy.
Besides that, Leng Yaozhu was also an enormous backer for him.
With Mu Chen backing him, Su Chen could practically run wild throughout Eastsea.
With Leng Yaozhu backing him, Su Chen could practically run wild across the entire continent.
President Mu, let's stop keeping in touch from now on. I'm afraid Yaozhu might get the wrong idea...
"Ahem..."
Su Chen cast aside the strange thoughts in his head and headed home.
When Su Chen got back, he found that Na'er wasn't home.
But he wasn't too worried. If Na'er wasn't home, that meant she'd gone to play by the sea.
Na'er was something of a homebody. Most days, she hid in the study reading books, enjoying learning all sorts of things about the Soul Master world, and rarely talking to outsiders.
Su Chen had taken her to the seaside once before, and Na'er seemed to like it. It had become a place she visited often.
Su Chen focused his thoughts, and space seemed to fold and unfold before his eyes.
He took one step, and his figure appeared a hundred meters away.
As Su Chen's cultivation improved, the distance he could cover with a single teleportation was no longer limited to a hundred meters. It had reached two hundred meters, and might grow even greater in the future.
Su Chen flashed forward several times, easily covering several thousand meters.
The damp sea breeze, tinged with salt and fish, washed over him, and the sound of waves slapping against the seawall reached his ears.
The setting sun had sunk lower, dyeing the sea a molten gold.
On the distant seawall sat a small, quiet figure.
Her short silver hair fluttered in the golden sea breeze, gleaming like moonlight in motion.
"Na'er, what's wrong? You look like something's on your mind."
Su Chen softened his voice and sat down beside Na'er without waiting for an invitation. Concern colored his words.
Na'er usually came here to feel the sea breeze and read, and she always looked happy. But today, Su Chen could tell that something was troubling her.
"Brother... you're back. It's nothing... I think I remembered some of the memories I'd lost, so I came here to clear my head..."
Na'er gently leaned her head against Su Chen's shoulder, the movement quite familiar.
"Is it something about your past? If you've remembered any clues, I can help you look into them," Su Chen said at once, his voice full of concern.
Su Chen hadn't expected Na'er to awaken so soon, but it didn't matter to him.
Her favorability was already there.
As for whether Na'er would eventually split apart like she did in the original story, Su Chen wasn't sure, but he wouldn't interfere.
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