"You never asked."
Ling Yu puffed out his cheek, making her finger slide off, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Besides, that was only an idea. You could call it painting him a grand pie, too. At least he won't keep coming to chase up my progress anymore."
"Can you really make it?" Qian Renxue's slightly raised chin paused, her long lashes trembling lightly as a trace of confusion surfaced in her golden eyes.
"I have a rough concept, but it's only theoretical. I'll have to put it into practice step by step."
"Then leave it alone for now."
"All right." Ling Yu glanced at Qian Renxue. Although he did not know why she had said that, he could more or less guess some of her reasons.
"Aren't you going to ask why?" Qian Renxue's lips curved slightly, her gaze settling lightly on Ling Yu.
"Sister Xue wouldn't harm me, would she?" Ling Yu's lips moved slightly, a faint smile flitting through his eyes.
"Don't say things like that so casually. You must be on guard against everyone, understand?" Qian Renxue raised her hand and gently tapped Ling Yu's head. There was a somewhat unnatural softness to the gesture, and a trace of panic flashed through her eyes.
Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect-
"Fengzhi, you aren't thinking of sending Rongrong to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, are you?" Chen Xin's brows drew together slightly, his plain white sleeves hanging loosely, his voice clear and cold as a ringing sword.
Beside him, Gu Rong frowned slightly, his voice low. "Why go somewhere like that? A place full of good-for-nothing scions enjoying their fathers' protection without any desire to improve, all for that Ling Yu?"
"Uncle Gu, he's no nobody. He really is important to the sect." Ning Fengzhi lowered his gentle eyes slightly, a helpless look spreading across his face.
"That still won't do. Rongrong has to like him." Gu Rong's voice deepened, his tone firm, with no intention of compromising.
"We aren't deciding so soon. Let's see when the time comes." Ning Fengzhi sighed, then a thought stirred in his mind. "Let's keep observing his temperament and learn more about him so we can respond better in the future. Rongrong is willful and undisciplined. If they clash too early, there'll be no room left to maneuver."
The two elders nodded at the same time.
Two months had passed since the start of the school year. Ling Yu had also successfully broken through to rank twenty-five and advanced to become a Heavenly Supreme Level student.
This was different from joining a class midterm. The compulsory courses were all the same; the only difference was that he had moved from Heavenly Subtle Level Support Class One to Heavenly Supreme Level Support Class One.
Ye Lingling was in this class. Although the two had never spoken, they often encountered each other in elective classes and the library. All they lacked was the right opportunity.
"Ling Yu, take that empty seat over there." Their homeroom teacher, Luo Lin, pointed to an empty seat in the back row, a faint smile on her face.
"Yes, Teacher Luo." Ling Yu answered and headed to his seat under his classmates' gazes, which held all manner of emotions.
"Now the top students of both the Heavenly Supreme Level and the Heavenly Subtle Level are in our class. The rest of you must work hard too, and strive to earn a Heaven Dou Badge this year. Even His Majesty acknowledges its worth."
Luo Lin's gentle gaze swept over every student, her voice clear and firm.
After putting down his things, Ling Yu glanced on impulse toward Ye Lingling's seat and happened to meet her gaze as she looked over.
Their gazes brushed lightly in midair, like two fallen leaves meeting by chance, then hurriedly parted after only an instant, each settling elsewhere.
Once the class meeting ended, everyone went to practical combat class.
"Second Soul Skill-Light of Healing." On the arena platform, Ye Lingling wore a pale moon-blue dress made from exceptionally light, thin cloud gauze. When the wind blew, it clung lightly to her body, outlining her slender waist.
A ring of very pale pink begonias was embroidered around the neckline, echoing her Martial Soul; the skirt bore subtly embroidered intertwining branches, almost impossible to notice without looking closely.
Her hair was simply tied loosely behind her head with a purple ribbon, its ends occasionally brushing her shoulders. In both hands, she held a pink begonia flower.
A white, petal-shaped light merged into her teammate's body, restoring their condition in mere moments. The opposing healing-type Soul Master had begun healing at the same time as her, but there was a very obvious difference in their speed. It truly deserved to be counted among the top healing-type Martial Souls.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's amplification lies in enabling a team to fight across cultivation realms, but it's limited to seven rings.
The Nine Heart Begonia's advantage lies in its unobstructed path to the Titled realm. Just its third ring can already heal broken bones. If it keeps stacking up, I wonder whether it could heal meridians or regrow severed limbs. I'm really curious what sort of ability a domain belonging to such a Martial Soul would have. A thought stirred in Ling Yu's mind.
As Ye Lingling stepped off the platform after the battle, she looked at Ling Yu, who stood below in thought, and ripples stirred in her heart. I should have been in pretty good form just now.
After finishing the morning's compulsory classes, the two met again that afternoon in their wilderness survival and first aid course, although they were already accustomed to encountering each other in electives. After all, they also attended a medicinal substance identification class together.
But today was rather different. Perhaps because they were now students in the same class, some of the distance they had grown accustomed to was gradually being broken down.
After class, on the way to the library, Ling Yu walked with steady, unhurried steps, unconsciously slowing his pace. Sunlight fell on his shoulders, tracing a clean, crisp outline, and his shadow stretched long.
Ye Lingling followed a few steps behind, her steps light and slow. At times she silently watched his back; at others she looked at his shadow, neither too far nor too close, keeping a distance that was both gentle and restrained.
Their shadows lay quietly across the path.
The wind swept over the treetops, accompanying them in silence, leaving only their faint footsteps to stretch softly toward the library.
At a window-side spot on the second floor, they each occupied a desk, their backs to one another.
Only a narrow aisle separated them, yet it was as though a layer of quiet understanding lay between them.
Ling Yu sat upright, his head lowered over the pages, sometimes picking up his pen to add notes, sometimes tilting his head in thought.
Ye Lingling read quietly with lowered eyes, her long hair falling over her shoulders, her breathing soft and light, occasionally picking up her pen to take notes.
Neither turned around, and neither drew closer. All that remained was a roomful of quiet and two figures facing away from one another, yet only a hair's breadth apart.
Looking at the several records in his hands that mentioned Soul Masters with a talent for Ring Fusion, Ling Yu fell into thought:
Ring Fusion is equivalent to directing the energy of other Soul Rings into the output channel of a particular Soul Skill. There are losses during the transfer and conversion, but the most crucial part of this skill is its ability to establish connections between Soul Rings.
By extension, Huo Wu can accept Soul Power from other fire-attribute support-type Soul Masters to increase the power of her Soul Skills.
Wait, does that mean people with a talent for Ring Fusion can accept other Soul Masters' Soul Power, or transfer their own Soul Power to other Soul Masters, without a strong rejection reaction?
Just like... right, the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill. So the one leading it back then should have been Ning Rongrong. After all, she also has a talent for Ring Fusion.
That makes sense. How could an ability that fuses multiple people be developed through practice alone, and in such a short time? It must require a certain point of compatibility.
Yu Xiaogang was lucky, too. Once again, he stumbled upon the right result without understanding the principle.
Listening to Ling Yu's continuous writing, rhythmic yet rapid, Ye Lingling felt a slight stirring at her heartstrings.
She had always been cool and quiet, seldom growing curious about other people's affairs. Yet at some point, she had begun occasionally wondering-
What exactly is he thinking about?
And what sort of answer is he searching for?
A trace of tenderness rippled softly through Ye Lingling's heart, unnoticed even by herself.