Intermediate Academy

Red Mountain Academy,

The moment Xu Mengqing entered the classroom, he saw Tang Wulin chatting enthusiastically with the chubby Wan Yunchao.

"You two seem to be having quite the conversation. What are you talking about?"

Wan Yunchao twisted his plump body around and looked toward the door, only to see Xu Mengqing slowly walking into the classroom.

"Oh? Meng Qing, you're here."

Tang Wulin replied with a smile, "We were talking about which classmates have broken through to Rank Ten, and about intermediate academies."

Three years had passed, and they were about to complete their studies at the primary academy. At intermediate academies, Spirit Masters would be specially separated out and attend dedicated schools. A small city like Aolai City did not have an intermediate academy for Spirit Masters, while intermediate academies in medium-sized cities required students to possess a Spirit Soul before they could enroll.

The chubby Wan Yunchao nodded. "Yeah! We're about to graduate. If we don't reach Rank Ten, we'll have to go home and cultivate on our own. Getting into an intermediate academy later will be much more troublesome. But luckily, I've already broken through to Rank Ten. Hehe."

Wan Yunchao was the same person who had provoked Tang Wulin when he had first arrived at school. As for why he was now so polite toward Xu Mengqing and Tang Wulin, it was because during a class competition, he had faced each of them in turn—and both had beaten him up badly.

From then on, he no longer dared to mock Xu Mengqing and Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass Martial Souls.

Wan Yunchao: Who understands this, family? What kind of Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master has that much strength? So who exactly has the useless Martial Soul?!

"There's actually no need to worry so much. Cultivation can't be rushed. Besides, there are only fifteen days left. What's the point of cramming at the last minute?"

Tang Wulin rolled his eyes at him and could not help complaining, "Meng Qing, you're almost Rank Seventeen already, aren't you? We're not the same as you."

They were both Blue Silver Grass Martial Souls, so why did Meng Qing cultivate so quickly?!

Xu Mengqing chuckled softly. "I suppose so. But don't worry either. At your current pace, you'll definitely break through to Rank Ten before graduation."

Tang Wulin nodded. "I really am close to breaking through to Rank Ten. If my senses aren't wrong, I should be able to break through tonight. And I have to thank you for that."

Since both of their Martial Souls were Blue Silver Grass, and Xu Mengqing's cultivation speed was astonishingly faster than his own,

Tang Wulin had asked Xu Mengqing for advice. Xu Mengqing did not hide anything and explained Mimic Cultivation to Tang Wulin in detail. Of course, he did not tell him about the Eight Trigrams Formation.

When Tang Wulin heard that, he suddenly understood why this guy was always going out to look for Blue Silver Grass~

After returning home, Tang Wulin began meditating amid a patch of Blue Silver Grass in a small garden near his house.

He could feel that his cultivation speed really was much faster.

Afterward, Tang Wulin also began imitating Xu Mengqing by digging up Blue Silver Grass and transplanting it at home.

Blue Silver Grass: One wasn't enough, so now there are two of them. Who did I provoke?~

After school,

After saying goodbye to Xu Mengqing, Tang Wulin left. Xu Mengqing, meanwhile, waited for Na'er at the entrance.

Before long, a streak of silver light came running out from the direction of the main teaching building.

"Na'er, over here."

Na'er plunged straight into Xu Mengqing's arms, and the faint fragrance of gardenias from her silver hair washed over him.

"Big brother, I want barbecue today. Will you come with me?" Na'er said coquettishly.

"Alright." Xu Mengqing rubbed Na'er's head.

"Yay~ Big brother, you're the best!"

Students leaving school passed by them, long accustomed to the intimacy between the brother and sister.

Xu Mengqing held Na'er's little hand as the two of them wove through the bustling market.

Na'er wore a light-blue dress, and her long silver hair gleamed beneath the sunlight.

Although he had taken Na'er around the small city of Aolai City many times, she still looked around everywhere with endless interest.

Very soon, Na'er spotted the barbecue stall they often visited. She immediately grabbed Xu Mengqing's hand instead and hurriedly pulled him toward the stall.

"Na'er, slow down." Xu Mengqing stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

Na'er swiftly picked out the ingredients by herself, then sat in her seat and waited expectantly.

Before long, several servers brought over the grilled food.

The table was covered with a mouthwatering barbecue feast. The most eye-catching items were five enormous lobsters, their vivid red shells gleaming with oil as they lay neatly arranged in the center of a long platter.

Each lobster had been precisely split in half, revealing plump, snow-white flesh covered in golden garlic sauce. Steam still sizzled from them, carrying a rich aroma that made one's mouth water.

All kinds of grilled dishes surrounded the lobsters. Dozens of assorted meat skewers were piled like a small mountain on an iron tray, the chunks of meat coated in cumin and chili powder as grease slowly dripped from them; Pacific saury lay on another plate, its skin crisp and charred, its flesh snowy white, and its surface brushed with a layer of secret sauce that glistened enticingly under the lights.

Na'er eagerly picked up a skewer and began eating, while Xu Mengqing only took a few bites.

"Delish..." Na'er spoke while stuffing another skewer into her mouth, her cheeks puffed up as she swallowed it all at once.

"All of this was prepared for you. Eat slowly," Xu Mengqing said with a smile.

Hearing Xu Mengqing's answer, Na'er nodded and replied, "Hehe, you eat too. It's really delish!"

Xu Mengqing silently watched Na'er's "eating broadcast" from the side.

It would be wonderful if life could always stay this peaceful.

After they finished their barbecue, the two wandered around the market for quite a while longer.

It was not until the afternoon that they happily returned home.

Late that night, after Xu Mengqing coaxed Na'er to sleep, he carefully opened the door and quietly slipped outside.

He opened and closed the door without making a sound.

What Xu Mengqing did not know was that after he left,

Bright moonlight spilled through the window into the room and fell upon Na'er. The moon was exceptionally bright that night, illuminating her silver hair until it sparkled.

Under the moonlight, a faint halo suddenly emerged soundlessly from Na'er's body.

Yellow, green, red, blue, purple, gold, and silver—seven colors flashed in turn.

Na'er's body began to tremble slightly. After the multicolored halo flickered for a while, it began to merge into her from between her brows. Only after a long time did she become calm again.

The moonlight remained bright, while the gentle halo around Na'er's body receded. Her petite figure seemed to have grown just a tiny bit larger, as though the height that had barely changed over the past three years was about to break through overnight.

The trembling vanished, and Na'er's breathing became even once more. Yet at some point, her brows had furrowed, as though she were having an unpleasant dream.

Walking into the backyard and breathing in the fresh air scented with plants, Xu Mengqing steadied his mind.

Amid the faint chirping of insects and the slightly chilly air, he began that day's cultivation.

The Blue Silver Grass within the Eight Trigrams Formation gently swayed its leaves, emitting a faint blue glow in the cool breeze.

Countless strands of heaven and earth essence continuously gathered under the Traction of that faint light, pouring into Xu Mengqing's body.

Cultivation made one lose track of time. By the time he slowly opened his eyes, a faint glow of dawn had already appeared on the horizon. Morning mist shrouded the backyard, and the air had become even fresher. The Soul Power within his body felt a little more abundant. He stood up and stretched, his joints giving off faint cracks. Rather than feeling exhausted after cultivating all night, he felt refreshed and invigorated.

As soon as Xu Mengqing rose, he smelled the faint fragrance of rice drifting from the kitchen.

The moment he entered, he saw his mother, Meng Ling'er, wearing a plain apron as she brought the last bowl of hot porridge to the table.

Morning light shone through the window lattice onto her gentle profile. In the pot, little pastries that Na'er loved were still steaming, their rising heat dispelling the morning chill.

Xu Zhan and Na'er were already seated at the dining table.

"Xiao Qing, finished cultivating? Come have breakfast." Meng Ling'er turned around when she saw him, her eyes curving warmly. Her voice was full of tenderness. "Don't wear yourself out too much with cultivation. Your health comes first."

Warmth filled Xu Mengqing's heart. He stepped forward to help set out the bowls and chopsticks. "I know, Mom. I know my limits."