Cultivation Stabilized!

In the blink of an eye, a full half-month had passed.

During this half-month, the street outside the Nuoding City Junior Spirit Master Academy had gained a remarkably warm and peculiar sight.

Every morning and evening, Ling Xuqing would hold Gu Yuena's small, fair hand as they strolled through the streets and alleys of Nuoding City.

They would linger before exquisite pastry shops or pause by jewelry stalls.

To outsiders, this was simply a gentle and considerate older brother taking care of his little sister.

But only Ling Xuqing knew that two equally lively young girls were following behind him.

The spiritual bodies of Xiao Wu and A Yin had been continuously nourished by the Golden Dragon King's origin within Ling Xuqing's body over the past half-month, and they had now completely stabilized.

Not only did they possess a near-tangible touch, but under the deliberate concealment of Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena, they could even interact weakly with the outside world.

Of course, to avoid attracting attention, Xiao Wu and A Yin remained in a state visible only to Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena.

"Xuqing, look at that sugar figurine! It's molded so realistically!" Xiao Wu's spiritual body floated lightly up to the stall of an old man selling sugar figurines, examining it with curiosity.

"Brother, the osmanthus scent from this rouge shop is so rich. Sister A Yin, would you like to smell it too?"

Gu Yuena held A Yin's arm, acting like a little adult as she led A Yin to linger at the girls' stalls.

Ling Xuqing watched this harmonious scene before him, a gentle smile always hanging on his lips.

Yet behind the laughter and joy, the strength of both Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena was soaring wildly.

For the past half-month, Ling Xuqing had poured all his energy into cultivation.

His twenty-eighth-level spirit power, which had been slightly unstable due to the forced fusion of three forces, had not only completely solidified under the constant scouring of the Golden Dragon King's blood energy, but it even showed faint signs of breaking through to the twenty-ninth level.

With every breath, he could feel the power within him becoming purer and more condensed.

As for Gu Yuena's progress, it could only be described as terrifying.

After she had taken human form, the Silver Dragon King's origin within her had been in an extremely weak state.

But under the daily nourishment of Ling Xuqing's homologous Golden Dragon King aura and the warm, inclusive aura of the Ascending Dragon Pillar, her injuries had recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In just half a month, her spirit power had soared from the twenty-fourth level when she first transformed to the twenty-sixth level!

Not only that, but deep within her sea of consciousness, two dazzling, white-gold spirit rings radiating a divine aura had quietly condensed and taken shape.

These were the innate spirit rings belonging to the Silver Dragon King; without needing to hunt any spirit beasts, she possessed terrifying power that surpassed ordinary hundred-thousand-year spirit rings.

However, to hide her true identity, Gu Yuena always kept her aura suppressed to the level of a tenth-level spirit scholar in front of Ling Xuqing.

After all, according to the common knowledge of the Douluo Continent, a spirit master who had not obtained their first spirit ring could never break through the tenth level.

Although Xiao Wu and A Yin's affection for Gu Yuena grew with each passing day, they did not know her true identity.

In their eyes, Na'er was just a gifted and lovable little sister.

That evening, the four of them finished their day of shopping and returned to the dormitory near the academy.

As Ling Xuqing pushed open the door, Xiao Wu floated to Gu Yuena's side, unable to wait, and asked with a face full of curiosity:

"Na'er, your spirit power is already at the tenth level. What kind of spirit beast do you plan to hunt for your first spirit ring? Do you want your big sister to help you pick one out?"

Hearing Xiao Wu's question, Gu Yuena's movements paused slightly.

She couldn't exactly say that she didn't need to hunt spirit beasts at all, and that she already possessed two hundred-thousand-year... no, white-gold innate spirit rings that surpassed a hundred thousand years, could she?

"I... I don't know either..." Gu Yuena lowered her head, a trace of awkwardness flashing in her purple eyes, and answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.

Seeing Gu Yuena's pitiful and bewildered appearance, Xiao Wu and A Yin immediately felt their hearts ache.

"Oh, Xiao Wu, stop asking. Look at how you've scared Na'er." A Yin quickly stepped forward, shielding Gu Yuena behind her, and comforted her softly, "Don't be afraid, Na'er. No matter what spirit ring you need, your brother and sisters will help you."

Ling Xuqing watched the slightly reddened ears of Gu Yuena and found it amusing in his heart.

He naturally knew that this girl was feigning helplessness.

Based on his understanding of Gu Yuena, she was likely calculating how to hoodwink him in her mind.

Ling Xuqing stepped forward, reached out to gently ruffle Gu Yuena's soft silver hair, and said with a smile to the two girls in his sea of consciousness:

"Xiao Wu, A Yin, don't ask anymore. Na'er has her own plans; we should just let things take their course."

Hearing Ling Xuqing's words, Gu Yuena suddenly looked up, a flash of surprise crossing her purple eyes.

She looked into Ling Xuqing's deep, pool-like eyes, and ripples couldn't help but stir in her heart.

Did he... did he already see through my disguise?

Gu Yuena keenly sensed that Ling Xuqing's words just now seemed to have a hidden meaning.

Not only did he not expose her, but he was actually helping her out of a tight spot.

A warm current surged from the bottom of Gu Yuena's heart once again.

She looked at Ling Xuqing, her purple eyes filled with gratitude and attachment.

Ling Xuqing withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Wu, A Yin, and Gu Yuena, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Alright, shopping time is over."

Ling Xuqing walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, saying in a deep voice, "Now that my cultivation has completely stabilized, it is time for us to plan our next step."

Xiao Wu immediately perked up, floated in front of Ling Xuqing, and asked curiously, "Xuqing, where are we going?"

Ling Xuqing smiled slightly and uttered three words:

"I plan to go to the pharmacy."

"The pharmacy?" A Yin paused, her gentle brows knitting slightly. "Why go to the pharmacy? Are you injured?"

"No." Ling Xuqing shook his head, his tone calm. "I'm going to buy Whale Glue."

"Whale Glue?"

Gu Yuena blinked her purple eyes and asked with an innocent face, "Brother, why buy Whale Glue? What is Whale Glue?"

Upon hearing the words "Whale Glue," the air in the dormitory seemed to freeze instantly.

Xiao Wu and A Yin's faces turned bright red in a "whoosh," just like ripe apples.

"Xu... Xu... Xuqing!"

Xiao Wu stammered, covering her burning cheeks with her hands, glaring at Ling Xuqing with shame and indignation.

"Why... why are you buying Whale Glue?! You wouldn't... you wouldn't be planning to do something strange to me, would you?!"

A Yin was also blushing furiously. Although she had a gentle personality, she was, after all, a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast in human form; where would she have heard such crude words?

She was so embarrassed she didn't even dare to lift her head, her voice trembling as she said, "Xuqing... how, how could you suddenly say that..."

Watching the two girls' expressions of shame and indignation, Ling Xuqing was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and couldn't help but laugh or cry.

"What are you thinking?!"

Ling Xuqing tapped Xiao Wu on the head, annoyed, and explained, "I'm buying Whale Glue for body tempering! Do you understand?!"

"Body tempering?"

Xiao Wu and A Yin were both stunned. The blush on their faces had yet to fade, but their eyes were filled with confusion.

"Can Whale Glue... really temper the body?" Xiao Wu blinked, muttering in a low voice, "Isn't Whale Glue just for..."

She couldn't bring herself to say the last word.

Ling Xuqing sighed helplessly and patiently began to educate these two "pure" girls:

"What kind of messy things are you thinking about? Whale Glue is the essence found within deep-sea giant whales. While it has certain nourishing effects, more importantly, it contains extremely violent ocean blood energy."

Ling Xuqing pointed to his right leg and continued, "Although my Golden Dragon King bloodline is domineering, if I want to further develop my physical potential, I need this kind of violent external force to stimulate it. Using Whale Glue to brew a medicinal bath can temper my tendons, bones, and skin, making my body even more powerful. This has absolutely nothing to do with what you're thinking!"

After hearing Ling Xuqing's explanation, Xiao Wu and A Yin finally realized the truth.

"S-so that's how it is..."

Xiao Wu's face turned even redder; she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

She had actually thought Xuqing was a pervert just now; how embarrassing!

A Yin was also filled with shame. She lowered her head, twisting her hands together, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, "I'm sorry, Xuqing... we misunderstood you."

Watching the two girls' reserved and shy appearance, a trace of tenderness surged in Ling Xuqing's heart.

He stood up and walked to the window to check the sky. The last rays of the setting sun were fading, and night was about to fall.

"Let's go, it's getting late."

Ling Xuqing turned around and said to the three of them:

"If we're any later, the pharmacy will be closed."