Spirit Hall's Golden Generation?

With every bit of recovery, the riverbed widened by a fraction.

The process was slow, yet remarkably steady.

Deep into the night, Ji Ye opened his eyes.

A ripple of soul power emanated from his body.

He had broken through!

Level forty-three.

He looked down at his hands and clenched his fists.

Even with his twin ultimate martial souls, his cultivation speed had not slowed in the slightest; if anything, it had accelerated.

Grumble...

His stomach suddenly let out a cry.

Ji Ye rubbed his belly, only then remembering that he had eaten nothing all day but two mung bean cakes.

Just as he prepared to get out of bed to find something to eat, a cautious voice came from the doorway.

"Young Master Ji? Are you awake?"

Ji Ye paused for a moment.

"I am."

The door was pushed open, and a maidservant entered carrying a tray.

On the tray were two dishes, a soup, and a bowl of rice. The food was still steaming, clearly fresh from the kitchen.

"You haven't eaten since this morning. We've been waiting outside, reheating the food every half hour."

Ji Ye looked at the bowl of rice, then up at the maid.

The girl had an oval face, large eyes, and two dimples when she smiled.

In his past life, she would have been at a celebrity level.

Right now, she was looking at him with an expectant expression.

Ji Ye did the math. Every half hour?

From the time he returned until now, at least seven or eight hours had passed.

These maids had been waiting at the door just so he could have a hot meal the moment he woke up?

"Thank you," Ji Ye said with genuine sincerity.

The maid's face flushed instantly.

"Y-you're welcome. It's what we should do."

Ji Ye picked up the bowl and began to eat.

The rice was steamed perfectly, each grain distinct, with a faint sweetness when chewed.

The dishes were braised pork ribs and stir-fried seasonal vegetables, accompanied by a mushroom soup; the flavors were excellent.

He ate quickly, yet his manners remained refined.

The maid stood to the side, shifting from stealing glances to staring openly.

Under the candlelight, Ji Ye's profile was sharply defined, his eyelashes casting small shadows beneath his eyes. His cheeks puffed slightly as he chewed, and a hint of oil glistened on his lips.

The maid's mouth parted slightly, her gaze fixed on Ji Ye's lips, her eyes growing increasingly vacant.

Drool trickled from the corner of her mouth, though she didn't even notice.

Halfway through the meal, Ji Ye sensed that burning gaze and looked up at her.

"Do you want some too?"

The maid snapped back to reality, shaking her head frantically.

"N-no, I don't."

"It's fine, come eat with me. There's too much here for me to finish anyway."

The maid shook her head again, her face turning even redder than before, the color spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.

She truly didn't want to eat the food.

What she wanted to eat was certainly not the meal.

Ji Ye met her gaze, his mind whirring for a second before he understood.

Holy crap!

This woman wanted to eat... him?

The air grew silent for two seconds.

Ji Ye set down his chopsticks, picked up the soup bowl to take a sip, and used it to shield his face.

"Um... if there's nothing else, you should head out first."

The maid's eyes dimmed in an instant.

"Yes."

She bowed, turned, and walked toward the door, glancing back once more as she reached the threshold.

Ji Ye was still holding the soup bowl up to shield his face.

The maid sighed, stepped out, and pulled the door shut behind her.

Ji Ye set the bowl down and let out a long breath.

Too dangerous.

Being this handsome is too dangerous.

He looked down at his attire—a deep blue student uniform, the waist cinched tight.

I'll wear something loose tomorrow.

No, I should just start wearing a mask again tomorrow.

Even if it still looks handsome, at least it covers half my face; that should save me some trouble.

Ji Ye finished the rest of his meal and sat back down on the bed.

Ji Ye closed the door and sat back down on the bed.

The next day.

When Ji Ye woke up, the sky was already bright.

He had exhausted himself too much yesterday and had overslept.

He sat up, stretched, and circulated his spirit power through his body; he felt in excellent condition.

He got out of bed, put on his shoes, walked to the door, and pulled it open.

"You're awake."

Ji Ye was speechless.

Why is there someone waiting for him to wake up every single day?

He rubbed his eyes, ready to say, "Just leave the breakfast on the table."

But the words died on his lips.

The person standing at the door was not the maid.

There were three people.

Two men and one woman, all a bit older than him, looking to be about fifteen or sixteen.

One had red hair, one had gray hair, and one had brown hair.

The red-haired one was the tallest, with a sturdy build, arms crossed over his chest, and his chin held high, his eyes filled with an innate arrogance.

The gray-haired one had his hair draped over his shoulders, his expression more composed, and he was toying with a short blade in his hand.

The brown-haired one was a girl with long brown hair, delicate features, and an astonishing figure; she wore a tight-fitting combat suit that accentuated every curve.

Ji Ye didn't need to guess who they were.

The Golden Generation of Spirit Hall.

The red-haired one was Yan, the gray-haired one was Xie Yue, and the brown-haired one was Hu Liena.

The three stood in a row, staring at him in unison.

Before Ji Ye could speak, Yan spoke first.

"You're Ji Ye?"

His voice was loud, his tone condescending and deeply irritating.

Ji Ye glanced at him but said nothing.

Then, he shifted his gaze to Hu Liena, looking her up and down.

He had to admit, this woman certainly had the assets.

Her figure was not like that of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old; she had everything in the right places, and her proportions were excellent.

Her face, too, was exquisite, with slightly full lips that carried a natural allure.

Pah, he meant charm.

It didn't look forced at all; it seemed to be in her very bones.

Ji Ye lingered on her for a moment.

Yan's face turned black instantly.

Not only did this guy ignore him, but he dared to look at Nana with that kind of gaze?

Nana was his woman!

"I'm talking to you!" Yan took a step forward.

"You're that guy who crossed hands with Consecration Hall's Xiangmo in the plaza?"

Ji Ye finally withdrew his gaze from Hu Liena and glanced at Yan.

"Who are you?"

The corner of Yan's mouth twitched.

"My name is Yan, of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation..."

"Never heard of you."

Yan's face turned completely black.

He clenched his fists, soul power fluctuations exploding across his skin, and the stone tiles beneath his feet let out a muffled thud.

Xie Yue reached out to stop him.

"Yan, calm down." Xie Yue's voice wasn't loud, but it was steady.

He turned to look at Ji Ye, his tone much more polite.

"Brother Ji Ye, my name is Xie Yue, this is my sister Hu Liena, and this is Yan."

"The three of us have been instructed by His Holiness the Pope to come and spar with you."

Ji Ye's head began to ache.

As expected.

News of yesterday's battle had reached Bibi Dong's ears, and that woman truly couldn't sit still.

Spar?

That was a nice way of putting it.

Wasn't it just to probe his bottom line?

Ji Ye waved his hand.

"I don't have time, talk about it next time."

Yan was immediately displeased.

"Kid, you won't even listen to His Holiness the Pope's words?"

"You need to get this straight: this is Spirit Hall, and His Holiness's words are law!"

Ji Ye cast a disdainful glance at him.

"What hall is this?"

Yan was stunned for a moment.

"...Consecration Hall."

"And who is in charge of Consecration Hall?"