Zhang Lexuan's Lap Pillow

Night fell.

Inside a cave, the firewood crackled and popped.

Su Ling and the other six sat around the campfire, the orange-red firelight illuminating every face.

Xiao Ying sat with the other two female students, the three of them excitedly discussing the fifth soul skills they had just obtained.

A ring of beast-repelling powder had been scattered outside the cave, while Chen Yangyu and Yi Zonghui kept watch at the entrance.

The Star Dou Great Forest was extremely dangerous at night. The Soul Beasts lurking in the darkness all chose this time to move about.

"Xiao Ling, can you tell your sister about your Martial Soul?"

In a corner, Zhang Lexuan rested her cheek on one hand and looked curiously at Su Ling, who was adding firewood beside her.

Though she was the Inner Court's senior sister, aside from missions, she usually stayed in the Sea God Pavilion to cultivate.

She was skilled in combat, but she did not know much about Martial Souls. Su Ling's Martial Soul was dragon-like yet not a dragon, and it possessed an incredibly strong lightning attribute.

Combined with Xuan Zi's special attention toward him and the token hanging from his waist when they had first met, Zhang Lexuan guessed that Su Ling might be one of Mu En's descendants.

After all, when she thought of dragon-like lightning Martial Souls, the first thing that came to mind was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

"Sister Lexuan, my Martial Soul is a Qilin."

After adding the last piece of firewood, Su Ling dusted off his hands.

"A Qilin?"

Zhang Lexuan's gaze drifted to the left as though she were recalling something. A moment later, her eyes brightened slightly. "A divine beast Qilin?"

Su Ling nodded lightly and continued, "But my Martial Soul's full name is the Thunder Prison Qilin Emperor. Unlike the records describe, it does not possess the ultimate attributes of the five elements or an innate aura of auspiciousness."

As he spoke, he released a small portion of his Martial Soul's aura. A miniature Thunder Prison Qilin Emperor appeared in his palm.

Zhang Lexuan widened her beautiful eyes and studied it curiously. She unconsciously extended a finger and poked it. Instantly, an aura of solemn slaughter and majesty surged from her fingertip through her entire body.

"What fierce killing intent! Xiao Ling, if a Qilin is a wise sovereign or sacred emperor, then your Thunder Prison Qilin Emperor is more like a ruthless tyrant!"

She used her Soul Power to dispel the chill within her, then smiled as she made the comparison.

"That is actually quite accurate. Although I can use the five elemental attributes, none of them are ultimate. The Thunder Prison Qilin Emperor specializes in slaughter and possesses Ultimate Thunder and the Destruction attribute."

Su Ling chuckled and nodded, withdrawing his Martial Soul.

"No wonder I have never seen lightning might as domineering as yours. So it is Ultimate Thunder."

Zhang Lexuan wore an expression of realization. Then the curiosity in her eyes deepened as she asked again, "The methods you used during the battle earlier were not all soul skills, were they?"

"That's right. Two of them were Soul Bone skills..."

Su Ling did not intend to hide anything. Zhang Lexuan was not an outsider, so there was no harm in telling her. Besides, his Soul Bones had legitimate origins, so he had nothing to worry about.

At the same time.

Xuan Zi, hidden in the darkness, heard Su Ling introducing his soul skills and immediately pricked up his ears to listen closely.

Aside from Su Ling's first soul skill, Prison Breaker, and Soul Bone skill, Firmament, which he already knew about, the second soul skill and Startling Thunder were gradually revealed as he listened.

The second soul skill—Truth-Breaking Eye: Summoned an illusory Qilin Eye to share vision without blind spots. It could fire lightning strikes carrying mental attacks, and when not manually controlled, it could automatically lock onto enemies and attack!

Soul Bone skill—Startling Thunder: Centered on himself, it brought down three layers of lightning across an enormous area—Ultimate Thunder. The lightning tribulation scoured the earth, annihilating body and soul...

After hearing it all, Xuan Zi stroked his beard in satisfaction.

The view returned to the cave.

Su Ling had already finished explaining his soul skills and Soul Bone skills, holding nothing back.

Zhang Lexuan took out two bottles of water from her storage Soul Tool and smilingly handed one to Su Ling.

"Xiao Ling, these are all your trump cards. You cannot tell everyone all about them in the future, understand?"

"Don't worry. I only told you, Sister Lexuan."

At that, Zhang Lexuan's smile deepened, and the corners of her lips lifted in an imperceptible curve.

[Zhang Lexuan's Favorability +10, obtained 100 Strategy Points]

[S-rank Goddess—Zhang Lexuan's current Favorability has reached 20. Would the host like to bond with her?]

[A goddess who meets the bonding requirements has been detected but is not yet bonded. The system can activate automatic bonding. Would the host like to enable it?]

"Enable it."

[Ding! Automatic bonding successful. Host, please raise S-rank Goddess—Zhang Lexuan's Favorability to 30 as soon as possible to unlock the first-stage reward.]

Su Ling took the water she offered, easily twisted open the cap, and tipped his head back to take several drinks.

Hmm, why did this water taste sweet?

But he did not pay it much mind. Sweet was sweet. He then continued chatting with Zhang Lexuan, opening up to her, nurturing their relationship, and raising her favorability a little.

The two talked about many things. Zhang Lexuan had rich combat experience and explained the combat techniques and bits of obscure knowledge she had compiled.

Su Ling gained great insight after listening, calling her Sister Lexuan again and again. Zhang Lexuan, meanwhile, subconsciously began to regard Su Ling as her own younger brother.

Time passed second by second.

Aside from Yi Zonghui, who was still vigilantly watching outside the cave, the other four Inner Court disciples were already fast asleep.

"Xiao Ling, it's getting late. You used too much Soul Power today, so you need to rest properly." Zhang Lexuan gently rubbed Su Ling's head, her tone soft.

Su Ling glanced around at the grimy floor and walls, all uneven and bumpy, and a trace of discomfort flashed through his eyes.

Zhang Lexuan happened to catch it. After thinking for a moment, she stretched out her legs.

"Xiao Ling, if you think it's dirty nearby, then rest with your head on my lap."

Looking at those long legs clad in black thigh-high socks, Su Ling unconsciously glanced upward. The dark black trim at the tops of the stockings pressed into her thighs, forming a patch of snow-white absolute territory between them and her skirt.

He swallowed, his gaze darting away as he asked uncertainly, "Sister Lexuan, is that really okay?"

Seeing how he wanted to but did not dare, Zhang Lexuan's lips curved slightly, and a burst of secret delight rose in her heart.

She reached out and pulled Su Ling closer to her, then supported the back of his head and slowly laid it upon her thighs.

Su Ling did not resist throughout the entire process. He simply stared blankly up at Zhang Lexuan's exquisite face until the back of his head lightly touched something soft and faintly warm.

He inhaled the faint, delicate fragrance drifting from Zhang Lexuan.

Only then did Su Ling come back to his senses.

"Xiao Ling, get some good rest."

Zhang Lexuan lowered her head and looked at him gently. Her gaze lingered for a moment on Su Ling's slightly flushed cheeks before moving away.

[Zhang Lexuan's Favorability +5, obtained 50 Strategy Points]

"Mm..."

Su Ling responded softly and closed his eyes, but his senses became exceptionally keen.

He could clearly feel Zhang Lexuan's legs trembling lightly, while the warmth coming from behind his ears gradually increased.

Was Zhang Lexuan nervous too?

Time passed second by second.

Feeling Su Ling's steady breathing against her legs, she lowered her head for a quiet glance and stared at his handsome face, momentarily lost in thought.

Handsome, so handsome...

If only you had been born ten years earlier...

Just then, Su Ling's eyelashes fluttered. Zhang Lexuan instantly came back to herself and hurriedly looked away.

When she raised her head again, a broad flush had already spread across her cheeks beneath the campfire's glow.

Zhang Lexuan, Zhang Lexuan!

How could you have such thoughts!

You are a whole twelve years older than Xiao Ling!