Wu Ming froze. As she looked at the blood blade pressed against her neck, a flicker of complicated emotion crossed her eyes.
She had never imagined she would lose so completely. Even after using her sixth Soul Skill, she had still failed to withstand Tian Chen's assault.
"I lost." Wu Ming lowered her head slightly. There was a trace of reluctance in her voice, but more than anything, she acknowledged Tian Chen's strength.
Hearing this, Tian Chen withdrew the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade and held out a hand to Wu Ming.
Wu Ming raised her head and looked at his outstretched hand. After a moment's hesitation, she finally took it gently.
Tian Chen smiled faintly and pulled her to her feet.
Standing before Tian Chen, Wu Ming spoke with a note of earnestness. "You really are strong. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."
"You're strong too, senior." Tian Chen smiled faintly. "Your Golden Crow Soul Skills are formidable. You probably have few rivals at your level. I only won by a stroke of luck today. Besides, if you hadn't let your guard down, it wouldn't have been nearly so easy for me."
Wu Ming fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I really was careless today. I thought my higher Soul Power level would let me beat you easily. It seems I need to work even harder."
"Working hard is a given." Tian Chen smiled. "But don't take this win or loss too much to heart, senior. We'll have plenty of chances to fight again."
Wu Ming smiled faintly, determination flashing in her eyes. "All right. Next time we fight, I won't lose to you again."
The spectators around them were astonished by this scene. They had expected the battle to end in Wu Ming's victory, but Tian Chen's performance had made them see him in a new light. His humility at the end and his respect for Wu Ming, in particular, won everyone's admiration.
Just then, Ma Xiaotao came over from the spectator stands. She walked up beside Tian Chen, patted his head, and smiled. "Not bad, Xiao Chen! Even Wu Ming couldn't beat you! Looks like you've made quite a bit of progress lately!"
Tian Chen smiled faintly and replied modestly, "Not really! Just a teeny-billion bit of progress!"
His answer sent Ma Xiaotao into peals of laughter. She patted his shoulder and teased, "You little rascal, you're getting better and better with words. Still, that 'teeny-billion bit of progress' really does make people see you in a new light!"
With that, Ma Xiaotao gently patted Tian Chen's shoulder. "Come on, Xiao Chen. Let's head back first. It's been so long since we last met, and your big sister still has plenty to tell you!"
The two left the grounds and strolled along a path through the Academy. The lingering glow of sunset fell over them, stretching their shadows long.
Watching how close Ma Xiaotao and Tian Chen were, Wu Ming felt a flicker of jealousy.
What do they mean, sister and brother? Since when does Xiaotao get this intimate with a little brother? And has she forgotten that I'm her friend?
Wu Ming frowned slightly, feeling rather sour.
She and Ma Xiaotao had been good friends for years, always staying close and supporting each other at the Academy. Yet Ma Xiaotao's attitude toward Tian Chen today left Wu Ming feeling neglected, and she was increasingly convinced that their relationship was not so simple.
"Still, that junior really is pretty handsome-a picture-perfect cute young boy. When will I finally get a sweet romance of my own?" She was already twenty-six, after all (thirty-three when she appeared in the original work, twenty-six now). In another four years, she would be thirty, yet she still hadn't found a man she liked. At this rate, she feared she would remain single for the rest of her life.
She lowered her head slightly, a trace of loneliness flashing in her eyes.
As one of the inner court's top disciples, she had always devoted most of her energy to cultivating and improving her strength, leaving almost no time to consider her love life.
Besides, even without that, few men could handle her explosive temper.
With a soft sigh, she too left the Soul Fighting Arena.
Meanwhile,
In Ma Xiaotao's room, Tian Chen and Ma Xiaotao sat at a table.
Ma Xiaotao poured tea beside him. The room was simply yet cozily furnished, and soft light fell over them, creating a warm atmosphere. Some delicate pastries and fruit were also laid out on the table.
Ma Xiaotao smiled at Tian Chen, her eyes full of affection. "Xiao Chen, you've been improving so quickly lately. Do you have some secret?"
Tian Chen scratched his head and smiled a little sheepishly. "There's no real secret. I just work hard at cultivating every day, with a few lucky opportunities thrown in."
"You're really getting more and more impressive. But don't focus only on cultivating. Take care of your health too."
Tian Chen smiled faintly. "I know, Sister Xiaotao. Don't worry, I won't think only about cultivating. By the way, how have you been lately? Now that you've completely mastered your Evil Fire, your cultivation should be much faster than before, right?"
"That's right. After I brought the Evil Fire under control, it gradually went from an obstacle to my greatest source of support. I'm already at the peak of level sixty-eight."
Ma Xiaotao brushed back her fiery-red hair, a trace of tenderness flashing in her eyes.
"Actually, I have to thank you for your help before. If you hadn't helped me realize the Evil Fire's potential, I might still be struggling with it."
Tian Chen smiled faintly. "Sister Xiaotao, you were strong to begin with. I just happened to remind you and help you bring it under control."
"I came to the inner court this time hoping to spar with you again, but I ended up running into Senior Wu Ming!"
"Looks like Senior Wu Ming took the arrow for me this time. Still, your strength is improving far too quickly. I can barely keep up with you anymore." Ma Xiaotao smiled.
Looking at Ma Xiaotao, Tian Chen said leisurely, "Sister Xiaotao, don't say that, or I'll start getting conceited."
"Hmph, Xiao Chen, don't get too smug. In another six months at most, I'll break through to Soul Saint. Then we'll spar again and see who's stronger!"
Tian Chen smiled faintly, excitement flashing in his eyes as well. "Sister Xiaotao, if you break through to Soul Saint, I'll really feel the pressure. But I won't let you beat me easily either. In six months, we'll definitely have another exciting match!"
Ma Xiaotao nodded, her gaze turning earnest. "Of course. I won't let you underestimate me. Still, you've reached level fifty, but you don't have your Soul Ring yet. Would you like me to ask my teacher to send a few inner court instructors to help you with Soul Hunting?"
"Sister Xiaotao, thank you for your concern. I've actually been thinking about that already. But I'd like to find a suitable Soul Beast myself. It would help me grow more." Tian Chen politely declined.
Setting aside the fact that Tian Chen no longer needed to kill Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings, even if he still did, the Soul Ring he needed was not something a few inner court instructors could help him hunt down.
"You're right. Finding Soul Beasts yourself really would sharpen your strength and judgment. But Soul Hunting is dangerous too, so you must be careful. If the Soul Beast you need to hunt is too powerful, remember to tell me. I'll ask my teacher to help!"
Ma Xiaotao spoke earnestly.
"All right!" Tian Chen smiled faintly, gratitude showing in his eyes. "Sister Xiaotao, don't worry. I'll be careful. If I encounter a Soul Beast that's too powerful, I won't try to act tough. I'll ask you for help right away."
They chatted for a while longer before Tian Chen left Ma Xiaotao's room.
Before leaving, Tian Chen said to her, "Sister Xiaotao, thank you for having me. I'll come visit you again!"
"It's nothing, as long as you enjoyed yourself. Remember to come by often."
Ma Xiaotao gave him a gentle smile.
But just then, Tian Chen suddenly asked with a sly look, "Sister Xiaotao, before I go, could you grant me one request?"
Ma Xiaotao paused, a flicker of confusion crossing her eyes. "What is it?"
"Sister Xiaotao, could you let me give you a kiss? Just one. Please?"
Ma Xiaotao's face instantly reddened, shyness and surprise flashing in her eyes.
"Th-that..." Ma Xiaotao was torn. Her teacher's wife had told her that kissing would make babies.
"Sister Xiaotao, don't worry. I'll only kiss your cheek. Nothing else will happen. I won't put you in a difficult position."
Ma Xiaotao's face grew even redder. She bit her lip lightly, then finally nodded.
"Then it's settled. Only my cheek!"
Immediately afterward, he made a swift retreat, calling as he ran, "Sister Xiaotao, goodbye! I'll come visit you again!"
Only then did Ma Xiaotao react. She stared at Tian Chen in disbelief, never having expected him to break his promise. Touching the damp spot on her lips, she was suddenly swept by a feeling she had never experienced before, both shy and warm.
"Little rascal!" In the end, she smiled faintly and returned to her room.
At that moment, outside a classroom in the outer court,
Bei Bei stood outside, finally seeing the end of class after a long wait.
He quickly looked inside and saw Tang Ya slowly walking out.
The moment he saw Tang Ya, Bei Bei stepped forward.
But when Tang Ya saw him, she merely asked flatly, "Why are you here?"
Bei Bei smiled faintly, affection shining in his eyes. "I happened to be passing by, so I thought I'd come see you. By the way, a new restaurant opened at the Academy today. How about we..."
Before Bei Bei could finish, Tang Ya replied, "No, I have things to do. Also, we're teacher and disciple. Please remember your boundaries."
Bei Bei's smile stiffened slightly, and embarrassment flashed in his eyes, though he soon regained his composure.
He lowered his head slightly, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Oh, I understand. I'm sorry. I'll be more careful from now on."
But Tang Ya paid him no attention. She simply turned and left.
What's going on with Xiaoya? She never used to treat me like this! Bei Bei knitted his brows, unable to make sense of it no matter how hard he thought.
For the past two months, Tang Ya's attitude toward him had grown colder by the day. Now, she practically treated him like a stranger.
No, I need to look into this.
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