Changes (Part One)

Jiang Lin then checked his status panel.

[Host: Jiang Lin]

[Age: 11]

[Martial Souls: King's Power Sword (Divine) (Soul Skills: Void-Splitting Slash, Azure-Feather Sword Wings, King's Power Sword Shield, Thousand-Shadow Sword Formation), Pure Yang Flame (Divine), Northern Mysterious Spiritual Veins—Incomplete (Top-tier Martial Soul)]

[Technique: Northern Mysterious Technique—Upper Section (Additional Soul Skills: Essence Devouring, Purification)]

[Cultivation: Level 49 Soul Ancestor]

[Summons: Little Dragon Girl, Tian Yan, Shadowkhan Ten]

[Collapse Points: 4,630]

[Inventory: Yin-Yang Bliss Powder, Ancient God Art—Incomplete]

The panel had changed little in five years. King's Power Sword had gained two Soul Skills, and his cultivation had risen, but his Collapse Points had neither increased nor decreased.

Jiang Lin had spent most of those five years in the wooden house and faced few dangers, so he had felt no urge to draw cards. Instead, he had poured all his energy into cultivation. He only wanted to reach Soul King as soon as possible so he could receive the inheritance of the Ancient God Art.

"Soul King... Just one more level, and I can hunt for a Soul Ring to break through. I wonder what the Ancient God Art's inheritance will do for my strength."

Anticipation filled Jiang Lin's eyes. He resumed cultivating.

But as his cultivation rose, the boost from the Northern Dark Spiritual Meridian gradually weakened. At first, he could gain a level of Soul Power in a few days. Now it took half a month or longer.

Jiang Lin was not surprised. This was only an incomplete version, after all, and could help him reach Soul King at most. Once he broke through, he would likely need the middle section of the Northern Mysterious Technique to make substantial progress.

Half an hour later, footsteps sounded outside his door again.

"Jiang Lin, time to eat."

"Mm, all right. I'm coming."

Jiang Lin immediately stopped circulating the Northern Dark Spiritual Meridian and opened the door.

Before him stood a tall woman in white, with long hair draped over her shoulders, breathtaking features, and a smile in her eyes.

It was Little Dragon Girl, whose appearance had changed dramatically.

Five years ago, she had been a young girl with a slightly immature face and a cold expression. She was still reserved now, but around Jiang Lin, she had grown much gentler and smiled far more often.

Under Jiang Lin's influence, Little Dragon Girl was no longer the naive girl who had first emerged from the Ancient Tomb. She had become an excellent cook and learned how the world worked. Even without Jiang Lin beside her, she could manage on her own.

"Come on, Sister Long. Let's go downstairs and eat."

Jiang Lin took Little Dragon Girl's hand as naturally as could be, and they headed down the stairs together.

Suddenly, Little Dragon Girl paused. Jiang Lin looked at her in confusion.

"What's wrong, Sister Long?"

"Jiang Lin, I sense a familiar presence rushing toward us from the distance. And farther behind it, I can sense two terrifyingly powerful presences."

"What?"

Jiang Lin frowned slightly. Could it be Tian Yan?

Is she being chased again? Why would she lead them here? What is she thinking?

As Jiang Lin's expression darkened, Little Dragon Girl gently patted his hand.

"Jiang Lin, those two presences are frightening, but I don't sense any hostility from them. I don't think they've come to cause us trouble."

"No hostility? All right. Let's see what's going on first."

Jiang Lin's expression eased a little, though the wariness in his eyes remained.

He and Little Dragon Girl leaped onto the roof. The view was clearer there, and they could get a better look at whoever was coming.

Jiang Lin extended his senses farther and farther. At last, a familiar figure appeared in his field of vision.

It was a charming young girl with a pink bunny-ear headband, a short pink dress, a little rabbit bag at her waist, and white stockings that reached above her knees. She was tall, with a round, delicate face.

"X-Xiao Wu?"

Jiang Lin's brow relaxed at once, surprise and delight filling his eyes.

Five years had passed. This was the first time Xiao Wu had appeared before him since leaving. If he had not known her true identity, he would have suspected long ago that something had happened to her or that she had gone missing.

"It's Xiao Wu! Her background really isn't simple. To think two such terrifying experts are following her in secret."

Da Ming and Er Ming were immensely powerful and were hiding, so Little Dragon Girl could only faintly sense their presences. She could not tell who they were.

"Mm. Come on, Sister Long. Let's go meet Xiao Wu."

Smiling, Jiang Lin started to lead Little Dragon Girl down by the hand. After a couple of steps, though, he realized she was still standing in place.

"What's wrong, Sister Long?"

"Jiang Lin, perhaps you should let go of my hand. It wouldn't be good if Xiao Wu saw us."

Under Jiang Lin's gaze, Little Dragon Girl blushed and slowly slipped her hand from his.

"Haha, are you shy, Sister Long?"

"Don't worry. Xiao Wu won't mind."

Jiang Lin took Little Dragon Girl's hand again. He had no need to hide their relationship from anyone.

Even if he had many women close to him in the future, Little Dragon Girl would always come first in his heart. No one could shake him on that.

Seeing how serious Jiang Lin was and feeling the warmth of his hand, Little Dragon Girl hesitated briefly before accepting it.

Jiang Lin smiled, then led Little Dragon Girl toward Xiao Wu.

The three met before long.

"Xiao Wu, it's been ages. You went home for five years without coming back to see us even once."

"Ahem, it has been a while. I meant to come back last year, but there was too much going on at home, and I got held up. Still, I'm here now, right? Haha."

Xiao Wu looked embarrassed as she spoke, but she soon noticed Little Dragon Girl beside him.

"Huh? Is... is that you, Sister Long?"

Xiao Wu stared at Little Dragon Girl in surprise. She truly had changed a great deal in five years.

"Xiao Wu, it's me. It really has been a long time."

Looking at Xiao Wu, who had changed just as much, Little Dragon Girl felt both nostalgic and amazed. Time had flown. The little girl who had once reached only her waist now stood almost as tall as her shoulder!

Even Jiang Lin found it a little absurd. He and Xiao Wu were both eleven. He had thought his own growth spurt to 1.7 meters was remarkable enough, yet Xiao Wu, who had once been shorter than him, now stood around 1.73 meters tall.

And with that bunny-ear headband, she looked almost a full head taller than Jiang Lin from a distance.