[The Real World, Site 13]
'Honestly, why does it feel like the so-called Children of the Stars have become more and more abnormal since the end of the first season?'
'The guy before me, I have to say, you're absolutely right!'
'I'll be direct: these cheaters don't look human at all anymore! A shadow clone with learning capabilities? They're openly cheating and not even pretending to hide it.'
Although Ye Shen Lin had only just demonstrated the effect of her Star Core: Past Shadows.
This one Star Core alone was enough to raise her strength and potential to an inhuman level.
Because the dimensional viewers didn't even need the Stars production team to elaborate; they could immediately think of countless extraordinary uses for the 'Shadow Clone'.
For example, the main body is sleeping while the shadow trains non-stop.
Or, when the main body encounters a cultivation difficulty, the fearless shadow clone uses its body to attempt the cultivation problem countless times, eventually finding the optimal solution.
It could be said that she didn't even need a Star Core; the Past Shadows Star Core alone was enough to make Ye Shen Lin surpass over ninety-nine percent of the people in this world.
Yet, in front of this monstrously talented Ye Shen Lin, there were still four existences even more monstrous than her.
Can Chen Kong truly compete with these monsters?
Similar thoughts were not only running through the minds of the dimensional viewers, but Chen Kong himself was also lost in such contemplation.
Although, according to the contract between him and Yu Qianxia, he only needed to achieve a rank within the top twenty in the future Starry Sky Ladder Ranking Tournament.
He didn't necessarily have to fight prodigies like Ye Shen Lin or Jing Liuli.
But even the top twenty won't be easy...
Just as Chen Kong was deep in thought, the camera of the series once again focused on Ye Shen Lin, who had left the Shattered Rock Tower.
[Shattered Rock Tower, Exit]
"Lin, congratulations on earning another martial arts badge."
Ye Shen Lin looked up. At the exit not far away, a girl with pink hair leaned against the wall, smiling at her.
The girl's curly pink hair rested on her shoulders, the ends curled into small spirals, and she wore a light purple butterfly hairpin—the same limited edition design endorsed by Jing Liuli.
However, although the other party was smiling and had a gentle demeanor, Ye Shen Lin instantly saw through her intentions.
Ye Shen Lin did not immediately respond. She only glanced at the other person, as if she were just a familiar stranger passing by.
After a moment, Ye Shen Lin finally spoke.
"Qianying, I've told you many times, you don't need to compete with me."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the uncontainable fanaticism hidden deep in Huan Qianying's eyes, and she couldn't help but say, "Because the person you need to defeat and surpass has never been me, from start to finish... it is yourself."
Huan Qianying tilted her head, neither confirming nor denying Ye Shen Lin's words.
Then, she straightened up, kicked the empty can at her feet, and walked up to Ye Shen Lin.
Gazing at her own reflection in those black pupils, Huan Qianying smiled and said, "But only by defeating you will I achieve what I desire most and what gives me the greatest sense of accomplishment."
At this point, Huan Qianying, in a rare display, dropped her pretense, and her expression became somewhat frantic.
It was as if, in her eyes, Ye Shen Lin's existence was the greatest meaning of her life and the goal of her lifelong pursuit.
If one were only to look at Huan Qianying's expression and eyes, ignoring the preceding conversation, the current scene would be full of yuri potential.
However, facing Huan Qianying, who had once again entangled herself with her, the trouble-averse Ye Shen Lin subtly took half a step back and said directly, "Tell me, Qianying, why did you look for me?"
"You know I never like beating around the bush."
"Don't tell me you just wanted to watch my martial arts challenge. I know very well that if there wasn't another matter, your sole purpose in finding me would be to try and 'kill' me."
"Tsk."
Huan Qianying rolled her eyes at Ye Shen Lin, seemingly indicating how could she think that of her.
But looking at Ye Shen Lin's calm expression, Huan Qianying ultimately chose not to be polite and frankly stated her intention.
"Tendo asked me to invite you over. He said he has something to instruct you."
"Is that so..."
Hearing the name Tendo, Ye Shen Lin's brow instantly furrowed.
The attitudes of the Children of the Stars towards Tendo are generally categorized into three types.
One type is worship—a worship that stems from an immense difference in power and dares not express any opposition.
One type is intimacy—like close friends or family, such as Jing Liuli and Caroline.
One type is awe, which is the attitude most Children of the Stars have towards Tendo.
Because the more talented Children of the Stars are, the clearer they are about the insurmountable gap between them and Tendo.
Ye Shen Lin belonged to the latter.
She had understood one thing very early on.
That being near Tendo was destined to be filled with 'trouble' and 'danger'.
Many things are nothing to Tendo, but for 'mortals' like them, they are crises capable of changing their entire lives.
Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, she had rarely taken the initiative to contact Tendo, this reincarnation of trouble.
However, many things do not necessarily unfold according to her wishes.
After weighing the pros and cons, Ye Shen Lin still gave her response.
"Let's go."
"Mhm."
Huan Qianying nodded first, then, as if thinking of something, she walked to a small stall outside the exit and bought two steaming Shaobing (Flat bread Recipe) from the boss.
"Here."
Ye Shen Lin calmly took the flatbread Huan Qianying handed her.
Looking at Ye Shen Lin, who would always accept a feeding, Huan Qianying couldn't help but tease, "Lin, aren't you afraid I've poisoned the flatbread? You know that poisoning is not a shameful thing for us."
To this, Ye Shen Lin said indifferently, "Wasting food is shameful."
"So poisoning is fine too?"
"You won't do that."
"Why?"
Huan Qianying looked at Ye Shen Lin in confusion, seemingly wondering why she was so certain.
Hearing this, Ye Shen Lin looked up, her pink hair reflected in her black eyes, and her tone was flat yet certain.
"Because you are far lonelier than I am."
The moment Ye Shen Lin said this, the surrounding air suddenly fell silent. Only the 'sizzling' sound from the nearby flatbread stall and the 'clanking' sound of the wind blowing an empty can quietly marked the silence.
A moment later, Huan Qianying clenched the hand holding the flatbread, crinkling the oiled paper. She suddenly let out a cold snort, turned, and walked forward.
"That's just what you think."
After saying that, Huan Qianying, with her back to Ye Shen Lin, immediately added without looking back, "I just think that before killing you, I should let you eat something good, or else winning won't feel like an accomplishment!"
In response, Ye Shen Lin just ate her flatbread, calmly watching her retreating figure.
She looked as if she had seen through everything.
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