The author said that the first lesson for a Sword Cultivator was to tie a high ponytail. To make himself even cooler, Jiang Mingyuan had tied his ponytail very, very high.
The Soul Guidance Train sped steadily onward, the world outside its windows turning into a rapidly scrolling reel of film. Jiang Mingyuan tilted his head slightly, his gaze following the scenery that passed too quickly to examine. His high ponytail bounced lightly against his shoulders with the carriage's gentle swaying, and a few loose strands brushed his fair cheeks.
His hair was rather miraculous.
Even though he had cut it short early in the morning, it would return to its original length when he woke up the next day. During the last few days of the first semester, he had gotten up early every morning and slipped into Tang Wulin's room before anyone else went out, asking him to help cut it short.
But now, Tang Wulin wasn't beside him, and he couldn't cut it properly himself. In any case, hardly anyone in Shrek City knew him, so there was no need to keep his gender under wraps. He couldn't hide it from Na'er and Leng Yaozhu anyway.
When the train entered Shrek City, it slowed noticeably, and an announcement sounded through the carriage.
"Dear passengers, we have now entered Shrek City, the foremost city on the Douluo Continent. Shrek City boasts a long history and a rich cultural heritage, and is home to the continent's foremost academy, Shrek Academy. The Spirit Pagoda Headquarters is also located here, making this city the Federation's economic and cultural center."
The moment Jiang Mingyuan stepped off the train, his eyes lit up. This was unlike the stations in other modern cities, with their thoroughly high-tech feel.
An enormous dome soared overhead, its center fitted with a skylight made of countless panes of colorful, transparent material. Morning sunlight poured down without restraint, dazzling shafts of colored light illuminating every corner of the hall.
Thick, towering stone pillars stood there, supporting that breathtaking canopy. Each pillar bore meticulously carved stone reliefs.
The floor was paved with marble in geometric patterns, its surface glowing with a soft luster beneath the shafts of light.
The number of people passing through Shrek City's station every day was astonishing. The train he had taken alone carried more than two thousand passengers. Swept along by the crowd of visitors who had also come to see Shrek, Jiang Mingyuan instinctively reached down to protect his lower abdomen.
If he exposed his belly, a distinct bulge would already be visible. Although he couldn't see it with his own eyes, judging by the sensation alone, Jiang Mingyuan suspected it was already about the size of his fist.
At last, the crowd that had carried Jiang Mingyuan out of the station split to either side. Finally able to catch his breath, he took a deep lungful of fresh air.
Classical beauty and the splendor of modern technology coexisted in Shrek City.
To the left stood an iron tower that pierced the clouds. Its imposing structure rose high into the sky, silver light flowing across its surface.
To the right, the farther one went toward the center of Shrek City, the stronger its classical charm became. The buildings were made of wood and stone, and the exteriors of the homes and shops were decorated with extravagant luxury.
Today happened to be a day off, and Jiang Mingyuan could see tour guides holding little flags along the streets, each followed by a long string of people. They were all tourists who had come from across the continent to visit Shrek City.
Jiang Mingyuan was wearing gender-neutral casual clothes and hadn't put much effort into his appearance, but there was no helping how good-looking he naturally was. Passersby couldn't resist glancing at him.
As he walked, Jiang Mingyuan was drawn by the charred aroma of meat roasted over intense heat, mingled with the rich fragrance of spices.
The boxed meal on the train had been rather hard to stomach. Jiang Mingyuan rubbed his little belly; he happened to be hungry now. Following the aroma, he arrived in front of a shop.
The small shop had only ten tables with chairs, and every seat was already occupied. More than a dozen people were waiting in a line that stretched outside the entrance.
Jiang Mingyuan looked up and saw a sign hanging from the beam above the doorway, bearing the words "Little Huo Grilled Fish."
Well, well, wasn't this the legendary delicacy of Douluo?
Then I simply had to try it.
Jiang Mingyuan joined the end of the line, thinking, It was only a dozen or so people. For a bite of something delicious, it was worth it.
But Jiang Mingyuan soon regretted his decision. The man and woman ahead of him were a couple, and they were feeding him dog food with their lovey-dovey display right in front of his face!
The couple stood shoulder to shoulder. The man casually reached out and slipped an arm around the woman's waist. His arm rested snugly against her side, the gesture natural yet intimate.
The woman leaned slightly toward him. Neither did anything more; they simply nestled quietly against each other, their expressions filled with the warmth and unspoken understanding of young lovers.
"Brother Ming, don't be impatient. It'll be our turn soon."
Standing behind them, Jiang Mingyuan did his best to turn his head away from the sickeningly sweet scene. He wanted to back away, but several people were already lined up behind him, making that inconvenient. He wanted to leave, but he had already waited here for a little while. Wouldn't that make it all a waste?
Just then, the woman in the green dress seemed to sense something. She turned slightly and glanced back, and once her gaze landed on Jiang Mingyuan, she couldn't look away. Noticing his beloved's movement, the man turned to look as well.
Jiang Mingyuan finally got a clear look at the two of them.
The man was exceedingly handsome and looked no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He had a refined air and a gentle gaze, and wore simple everyday clothes.
The woman's long, dark green hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. She had delicate features and a gentle smile at the corners of her lips, and wore a pale green dress.
To Yun Ming, the faint Soul Power fluctuations emanating from Jiang Mingyuan were pure and dense. The quality of his Soul Power was exceptionally high. Children who could reach such a level at this age were truly rare.
Moreover, at Yun Ming's level, he could indeed sense certain unusual things. He could detect a peculiar, indescribable fluctuation emanating from Jiang Mingyuan, as though some mysterious power enveloped him, marking him as extraordinary from birth.
What Ya Li saw, however, was entirely different.
She was the Holy Spirit Douluo spoken of by the world, an angel who saved countless people. Her Martial Soul, the Wish Angel, stood at the pinnacle of all healing-type Martial Souls. Yet in the child before her, she saw incomparably pure life force.
"Little sister, where are your parents? Why are you here all alone?" Ya Li bent down until her eyes were level with Jiang Mingyuan's, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze on her face.
Ah!
No, how was he supposed to answer that? He couldn't just say both his parents were dead, could he? That might give her the wrong idea.
In Jiang Mingyuan's eyes, she was simply a kindhearted older sister who had grown concerned upon seeing a child all alone.
A trace of helplessness crossed Jiang Mingyuan's face before he put on a sweet smile again. He raised a hand and pointed at the Spirit Pagoda towering into the clouds behind him.
"Big sister, my family is over there. Besides, I'm not that little anymore. I'll be ten at New Year."
Yun Ming raised his head to look toward the Spirit Pagoda, unable to keep himself from pondering. Was this child a junior from one of those families? I hadn't heard of any family producing such an outstanding youngster recently.
Qiangu? The Leng Family? The Zhang Family? Or perhaps an ordinary employee's daughter?
Ya Li reached out and rubbed Jiang Mingyuan's soft, rosy cheeks. Right now, she was practically like a child who had gotten her favorite toy and couldn't bear to put it down.
Jiang Mingyuan's Phoenix Martial Soul already possessed powerful life force, and on top of that, he had obtained the [Goddess of Life's Blessing] trait from Wulin. Combined, the two made him as irresistible to these Healing Soul Masters as catnip was to cats.