Evil Fire Phoenix, Myriad Bladed Radiance (Part 1)

Zhang Lexuan stood on the opposite shore, gazing into the distance. The night wind swept her ink-black hair back, and beneath the bright moon, her stunning face carried a cool, otherworldly air.

"Whoosh—"

A streak of golden light tore through the air and landed steadily beside her.

She turned her head, an unsurprised look appearing in her eyes as she looked at the figure beside her. Her red lips parted slightly. "The Six-Winged Angel is said to be invincible in aerial combat and is known as the number one martial soul of the skies. Putting everything else aside, its speed truly is remarkable."

The Angel Wings dissolved into specks of golden light. Ling Bai chuckled. "Just a legend. Eldest Senior Sister, there's no need to take it seriously."

"You're just humoring me."

Ling Bai smiled without speaking, as though tacitly admitting Zhang Lexuan was right.

He had set off last, yet he had overtaken the food-type girl's Rank Four Soul Guidance Thruster and Du Gu Lin's Jade Phosphorous Serpent, becoming the first to reach Sea God Island. The Six-Winged Angel's terrifying speed was plain to see.

"Were those people following behind you just now from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?" Zhang Lexuan sounded as though she were asking, but her expression was full of certainty.

"Yes."

There was nothing worth concealing about it, so Ling Bai answered frankly. "One of the companions who enrolled with me is the sect's future heir. The sect master was worried, so he sent the sect's shadow guards to escort us."

Ling Bai had noticed the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's shadow guards long ago. When the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture ambushed Ning Tian, he had thought the guards would act. Yet those people had actually kept their composure, forcing him to throw the Angel Holy Sword from an extreme distance to drive the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture away.

"Don't let it happen again. The academy forbids outsiders from entering and leaving freely."

"They won't appear again."

After a while, the other new inner court students crossed Sea God Lake one after another and arrived beside the two of them. The way they looked at Ling Bai increasingly resembled the way one looked at a monster.

Chu Qingtian bitterly complained to Ling Bai, "Brother Ling, it's one thing that you can fight, but I never expected you to be this fast too."

The Lightning Maniac Panther's greatest specialty was speed, yet it had lost to the Six-Winged Angel. Ling Bai had thoroughly crushed his confidence today.

"Amazing, Brother Ling. You can fight and you can run—I'm convinced!"

Tai Xing was straightforward by nature, and he called Ling Bai "Brother Ling" wholeheartedly. The others all smiled bitterly. Entering the academy in the same year as Ling Bai left them with immense pressure.

Taking in everyone's expressions, Zhang Lexuan said, "Since you've seen the gap between yourselves, make catching up to Ling Bai your goal and work twice as hard after entering the academy. I was originally supposed to show you around the inner court and help you adapt to the environment as quickly as possible, but..."

She looked up at the sky and said regretfully, "It's truly too late today, so let's do it tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll find several inner court senior students to serve as your one-on-one guides. Once your dorms are assigned tonight, everyone can disperse and rest early. How does that sound?"

"Eldest Senior Sister can decide!"

"We'll listen to Eldest Senior Sister!"

"..."

Ling Bai watched the people beside him respond but said nothing more.

Crossing the Star Dou Great Forest and hunting soul beasts was undoubtedly a grueling test of both physical strength and spiritual power.

Moreover, after leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, they had rushed straight to Shrek Academy without resting at all. After arriving, he had even fought Chu Qingtian.

To be honest, Ling Bai was somewhat exhausted. At this moment, he especially wanted to sink into a soft bed and sleep blissfully until morning.

With everyone in agreement, Zhang Lexuan continued, "The inner court differs from the outer court. There are fewer than a hundred students, so no dormitory buildings were constructed. Instead, independent houses were built across Sea God Island. There are plenty of houses. If you have any requests, you can raise them, and I'll do my best to accommodate you."

"Eldest Senior Sister, I want the one closest to the cafeteria!"

The food-type girl raised both hands. Everyone was instantly speechless. Good grief, she was actually a foodie!

"Sure." Zhang Lexuan agreed.

The food-type girl hugged Zhang Lexuan's arm and coquettishly said, "Hehe, I knew Eldest Senior Sister was the best!"

Zhang Lexuan rubbed her little head and smiled. "But Pan Tao, don't be too greedy. Be careful not to turn into a fat peach."

"How could that happen? I'm a skinny peach!!"

"Eldest Senior Sister, I'd like a house close to Sea God Lake."

Du Gu Lin was the second to speak. The rippling waters of Sea God Lake made her feel refreshed, and she had fallen in love with the place at first sight.

"I want a room surrounded by abundant vegetation." The Ghost Vine boy made his request with his martial soul's cultivation in mind.

"Eldest Senior Sister, I..."

Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing looked at each other, then said at the same time, "The two of us will live together."

"Hm?"

Everyone was shocked and took a step back in unison. Their gazes toward the two became somewhat strange. Only Pan Tao, the food-type girl, had eyes shining as though she had discovered some rare soul beast.

"Young people these days..."

Zhang Lexuan sighed inwardly. She truly was old—she could no longer keep up with the times.

"No, no!"

Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing panicked, waving their arms as they explained, "We were roommates in the outer court. It's perfectly normal for us to live together in the inner court too!"

"Ah, right, right, right!"

"Normal, totally normal!"

"Perfectly normal!"

"Whoever says it isn't normal, I'll blast him with a soul cannon!"

Everyone chuckled and tacitly moved on, leaving only Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing muttering under their breaths. It was normal to begin with, so what were they laughing about...

"Ling Bai, what about you?" Zhang Lexuan asked Ling Bai.

"I..."

"You should live next to me!"

Just as Ling Bai was about to speak, an alluring voice interrupted him.

Du Gu Lin!

"My name is Du Gu Lin. My martial soul is the Jade Phosphorous Serpent. I'm seventeen years old, a Rank Forty-Nine control-type soul master. Ling Bai, I believe we'll have much in common in the future. You won't reject me, will you?"

Her emerald eyes held smiles, charm, and seduction, hazy as mist over water. Her small red lips were slightly parted, inviting one to taste their lush softness. She was a woman who radiated seduction from her bones, tugging at men's nerves every moment.

And Du Gu Lin, like a beautiful serpent, was extending a pink-hued invitation of intimacy to Ling Bai.

Tai Xing poked Chu Qingtian in the waist. "Damn, Brother Chu, is Du Gu Lin confessing to him?"

"Lighter!"

Chu Qingtian rolled his eyes at Tai Xing irritably. Did this pure strength-type Great Strength Gorilla have no idea how much strength was in his hands?

"Do you even need to ask?"

Chu Qingtian lowered his voice. "Du Gu Lin is the second most beautiful girl in the outer court, second only to Jiang Nannan. She's usually so proud that she looks down on men, yet today she fell in love with Brother Ling at first sight. When soul masters seek partners, strength is what matters most. Brother Ling is young, ridiculously strong, and has a face that kills both men and women. It makes sense that Du Gu Lin would fall for him at first sight, but..."

He paused and looked toward the Ghost Vine boy standing there dumbfounded, silently mourning for him for three seconds.

This guy was named Zhou Sen. He had simped for Du Gu Lin for six whole years, only for all that simping to leave him with nothing!?

Faced with the sudden confession and everyone's eager spectating, Ling Bai remained calm as still water and continued with the answer he had already considered.

"Eldest Senior Sister, please help me find a quiet place to live."

"Boom—"

At those words, Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing froze into stone, while Du Gu Lin's face instantly darkened.

Du Gu Lin was the second most beautiful among the hundreds of female students in the outer court. Her looks and figure were unquestionably top-tier, and her talent was exceptional. The male students pursuing her could line up from Sea God Lake to East City Gate, yet Ling Bai had rejected her cleanly and decisively!

"Brother Ling is ruthless!"

Tai Xing secretly gave him a thumbs-up. If he were honest with himself, if Du Gu Lin confessed to him, he would probably transform into Du Gu Lin's exclusive puppy on the spot.

In stark contrast to Du Gu Lin's gloomy face, Zhou Sen of the Ghost Vine was so excited that he nearly jumped three feet into the air!

It was great that Ling Bai had rejected her—he could keep simping!

Du Gu Lin brushed aside the emerald hair before her eyes and gritted her teeth. "Man, you've successfully piqued my interest!"

Please stop with the domineering CEO romance tropes!

Some said the eyes were the windows to the soul. Ling Bai could not see even the slightest trace of affection in Du Gu Lin's emerald eyes, and he vaguely caught that strange fishy sweetness again.

Jade Phosphorous Serpent...

Poison Douluo...

Ling Bai fell into thought, and a suspicion gradually formed in his mind.

"Come on. I'll take you to your respective houses."

Zhang Lexuan broke the awkward atmosphere and led everyone away from the lakeside.

Ling Bai and the others followed behind Zhang Lexuan. After the confession, their positions were rather telling. Du Gu Lin walked on the far left, with Pan Tao, another girl, beside her. To their right was Zhou Sen, who kept trying to move closer and comfort his goddess. Then came the gossip-loving duo of Tai Xing and Chu Qingtian, while Ling Bai walked at the far right, admiring the scenery of Sea God Island.

"Brother Ling, impressive!"

Chu Qingtian followed Tai Xing's lead and began calling him Brother Ling as well. No wonder he could not defeat Ling Bai—look at that will of steel!

"Don't come near me."

Ling Bai shoved Chu Qingtian away. If his guess was correct, this so-called love at first sight had nothing to do with him at all. Du Gu Lin was entirely after the Six-Winged Angel's innate abilities!

No one spoke for the rest of the way.

Zhang Lexuan was clearly considerate. She helped Du Gu Lin find her room first, completely removing the source of the group's awkwardness.

Before entering, Du Gu Lin did not forget to toss Ling Bai a flirtatious glance, silently mouthing:

Man, you can't escape me!

Ling Bai pretended not to see it. To hell with all those domineering CEO romance tropes!

Next came Pan Tao, Zhou Sen, then Chu Qingtian and Tai Xing. In the end, only Ling Bai and Zhang Lexuan remained.

Ling Bai had requested somewhere quiet, so it naturally had to be the most remote and unpopulated place on Sea God Island. Zhang Lexuan had therefore left him until last.

"Du Gu Lin is very outstanding. Why not try getting to know each other and have a sweet romance?" Zhang Lexuan teased.

"I'm only eleven, Eldest Senior Sister."

Ling Bai covered his face. In his previous life, he would not even have finished elementary school at eleven. He had no interest in dating right now.

"This proves that being too handsome and too strong isn't good either..."

Ling Bai deeply reflected on himself.

"Ahem!"

Zhang Lexuan could not hold back her laughter and replaced it with a light cough, her beautiful eyes curving into lovely crescents.

Ling Bai glanced sideways at her. Under the moonlight, her skin resembled creamy jade, and the contours of her profile were exquisitely flawless.

"Eldest Senior Sister, have you ever been in a relationship?"

"Me?"

Zhang Lexuan pointed at herself, then shook her head. "No."

After saying that, she seemed to recall something and added, "But there is someone I like."

At the mention of the person she liked, a faint blush appeared on Zhang Lexuan's fair face.

"Oh?"

Ling Bai feigned surprise. "That boy must have saved the continent in his previous life to be liked by Eldest Senior Sister."

"You're quite the smooth talker for someone so young."

Zhang Lexuan lightly scolded him, then said, "Your residence is here."

Ling Bai focused his gaze on it. This house was identical in style to the others he had seen before—a simple little bungalow—but its surroundings combined the advantages of Du Gu Lin's and Zhou Sen's locations. It was close to Sea God Lake and rich in vegetation, and even each breath carried dense life energy.

Ling Bai was extremely satisfied with it, until...

He noticed there was another house directly opposite it, and that house had its lights on.

Lights on meant someone was inside.

Ling Bai narrowed his eyes and meaningfully said, "Eldest Senior Sister?"

The two houses were less than twenty meters apart. And she called this quiet?

Zhang Lexuan understood Ling Bai's doubt and explained, "Within three kilometers, these are the only two houses. That should meet your requirements, right?"

"Three kilometers..."

Ling Bai considered it briefly, then agreed. "I'll take it. Thank you, Eldest Senior Sister."

Zhang Lexuan took out a key from her Storage Soul Tool and handed it to Ling Bai. "It's nothing. Tomorrow morning, a senior student guide will take you around the inner court. Necessary items such as your uniform and academy badge will be brought along as well. Have a good rest tonight."

"Alright. Goodbye, Eldest Senior Sister."

"Goodbye."

After watching Zhang Lexuan leave, Ling Bai shut the door, turned on the soul tool lamp, and examined the room's layout.

It was not much different from a single-person apartment from his previous life: one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom.

After washing up, Ling Bai headed straight for the bedroom and burrowed beneath the covers. Soul masters could use meditation in place of sleep, but when exhausted, sleep relieved fatigue far better than meditation. Thus, Ling Bai chose to get a good night's rest.

Goodnight, Makka Pakka. Goodnight, Upsy Daisy. Goodnight, Igglepiggle. Goodnight, Little Dot...

"Heya!!!"

"Pain! It hurts so much!"

"Big Sis, please have mercy on me!"

Just as Ling Bai was about to enter dreamland and play with the Duke of Zhou's daughter, a man's ghostly wails forcibly dragged him back out.

"Who the hell is screaming in the middle of the night!?"

Ling Bai sprang up from the bed. He liked peace and quiet when alone, otherwise he would not have asked Zhang Lexuan for a remote house. Yet who would have thought that in the middle of the night...

The continent's number one academy?

How depraved!

People had seven emotions and six desires, and soul masters were no exception. Doing that sort of thing was perfectly normal, and outsiders had no place judging. On his first day at Shrek Academy, Ling Bai did not want to cause trouble.

Endure it!

Ling Bai sat cross-legged on the bed, preparing to meditate, but that voice showed no intention of letting him go.

"Pain! It hurts so much!"

"Big Sis, let's stop for today!"

"What will it take for you to let me go?"

"Please, I'll perform a forward roll for you?"

"What about a backflip?"

"..."

Forget sleeping!

Even though he had never seen that man, the brush in Ling Bai's mind instinctively painted an extraordinarily lecherous face!

"I think I get it now."

Ling Bai suddenly realized. So this place was quiet not for any other reason—it was absolutely because of that shameless couple!

Who could meditate amid those screams in the middle of the night!?

The problem was, couldn't you keep it down while you were at it?

Ling Bai jumped out of bed and got dressed. A model youth of the modern era, he neither caused trouble nor feared it!

He planned to reason with them.

And if reason failed, he didn't mind teaching them a little physics.

When he reached their door, the screams were almost rolling over him like sound waves. While marveling at his brother's incredible lung capacity, Ling Bai took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Creak—"

That was generally how doors announced that they had been opened.

Huh? You people didn't lock your doors?

Ling Bai was deeply shocked!

"Hello, classmate, could you please..."

He gently pushed the door open, and this was what greeted his eyes.

A burly young man was sprawled on the floor, tightly hugging a black shield!

A stunning red-haired beauty stood on the shield, her skin pale and smooth, her figure smoking hot!

Ling Bai's words came to an abrupt stop. The awkward yet polite smile on his face vanished instantly. He stood frozen in place, then finally let out a single word.

"Nice."