Douluo Continent, Star Luo Empire, Sea Abyss City.
The sunlight gently spilled onto the lawn of the City Lord's Mansion, draping the verdant grass in a thin golden veil.
A girl, who appeared to be fourteen or fifteen years old, knelt gracefully on the lawn.
Her long, jet-black hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders like a waterfall, shimmering with an enchanting luster in the sunlight.
She wore a simple yet exquisite light purple dress that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure.
At this moment, her slender, beautiful legs were perfectly encased in thin black stockings, exuding an indescribable allure.
On these striking, beautiful legs lay a six-year-old boy with white hair and red eyes—Lu Jingming.
He was blissfully enjoying the exclusive lap pillow treatment, his face looking content and satisfied.
The black-haired girl's fair, jade-like fingers were gently and rhythmically massaging Lu Jingming's forehead and temples, her technique skilled and natural.
From her smooth, elegant, and fluid movements. It was obvious that she had spent a lot of time and effort diligently practicing this massage technique, and that all this effort was solely to serve the person before her.
Lu Jingming comfortably rolled over, his nose catching a pleasant fragrance. He knew the girl didn't use perfume; this was her natural scent, one that made people feel intoxicated.
Resting his head on her soft thigh, Lu Jingming couldn't help but be amazed at how girls grew up so quickly.
He recalled the first time he saw the girl; she was a little girl who had just lost her Family, panicked and crying her eyes out. In the blink of an eye, six years had passed, and the little girl had completely transformed, both in appearance and personality.
Feeling the boy's intimate action, the girl's cheeks instantly flushed a delicate pink, like peach blossoms blooming in spring.
She subconsciously pressed her legs together, yet there was no hint of repulsion in her eyes. Her gaze towards Lu Jingming was filled with doting affection, as if he were the most precious treasure in the World.
"Xiao Ming, today is the day of your Spirit Awakening. If you're late, Teacher Jingliu will punish you again." The black-haired girl gently stroked Lu Jingming's snow-white hair, then, as if suddenly remembering something extremely important, she quickly reminded him in a soft voice.
The black-haired girl's voice was soft and melodious, like an oriole singing in the forest, carrying a hint of concern.
Hearing this, Lu Jingming stiffened abruptly, as if struck by Medusa's petrifying gaze.
The miserable scenes of being punished by Jingliu in the past instantly flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but shiver subconsciously.
Jingliu was indeed a rare good teacher, strict and diligent in her teaching, imparting everything she knew to her students.
But sometimes, she was almost harshly strict, especially with Lu Jingming. From the age of three, Lu Jingming was required by Jingliu to start practicing swordsmanship.
In those days, the young boy complained endlessly about the tedious and arduous training, even throwing tantrums and rolling around to try to move this ice-cold female swordswoman, but Jingliu remained unmoved.
Even the girl, Jingliu's proud disciple, whom she had meticulously trained, dared not plead for Lu Jingming so easily when faced with Jingliu's strictness.
All she could do was use the massage techniques she had specially learned to help him relieve his physical fatigue after his strenuous training, which was precisely why she diligently practiced her massage skills.
"Sister Lexuan, why didn't you say so earlier! It's over, it's over, I've stood up, Teacher, I won't have a good day for the next month!"
Lu Jingming exclaimed, scrambling up from Zhang Lexuan's lap in a panic.
Before he finished speaking, he sprang up and shot off like a gust of wind, rushing towards the Awakening Hall of the City Lord's Mansion.
Today was a day of extraordinary significance for Lu Jingming. At six years old, he was about to usher in the crucial moment of his Spirit Awakening.
Jingliu had already meticulously prepared the highest-standard Awakening ceremony for him, but he'd become so engrossed in Zhang Lexuan's irresistible and superb massage skills that he had momentarily forgotten such an important matter.
If Zhang Lexuan hadn't reminded him in time, he probably would have unknowingly stood up Jingliu.
Watching Lu Jingming's hurried departure, Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly.
Then, as if remembering something, her expression became somewhat melancholic, and she softly murmured, "It's already been six years!"
Recalling what happened six years ago, a hint of sadness flashed in Zhang Lexuan's eyes. She originally had a happy and complete Family, but due to a Sea Spirit Beast invasion, the pillar of her Family, her father, died on the battlefield fighting against the Sea Spirit Beasts.
And because the only Spirit Saint powerhouse died, the Family's enemies took advantage of the vulnerability and massacred the entire Zhang Family. She, too, only escaped by playing hide-and-seek with her mother and hiding.
Originally, she wanted to secretly escape, then find a way to become stronger and return for revenge. But unexpectedly, those who had just massacred the Zhang Family were one by one slain by a beautiful sword immortal wielding a sword of ice.
At that time, the sword immortal was holding a newborn baby in her arms. Thinking of that baby, Zhang Lexuan showed a gentle smile.
Because that baby was none other than the boy, Lu Jingming, her father's sworn brother's biological son, and her fiancé.
So she had only deliberately frightened Lu Jingming just now. Who told this little fellow to be so mischievous and disobedient at such a young age?
But then again, how could she truly bear to let Lu Jingming be punished for being late?
In her heart, Lu Jingming was an incredibly precious existence; how could she bear to let him suffer?
Lu Jingming dashed frantically, the wind whistling in his ears.
Along the way, the guards and maids of the City Lord's Mansion bowed to him, respectfully calling him City Lord.
Why would Lu Jingming, a mere six-year-old boy, be a City Lord? This was due to an unforeseen event that occurred six years ago.
Six years ago, Lu Jingming had just undergone Transmigration. His father, in this life, died defending against a Sea Spirit Beast invasion, and his mother, who had not yet had a chance to experience the joy of new motherhood fully, received the devastating news of her husband's death.
This sudden and immense blow was too much for her already weak body and mind to bear.
In extreme grief and weakness, she only managed to glance at her newborn son before passing away with endless regret.
This series of events left Lu Jingming, who had just reincarnated on the Douluo Continent, completely stunned.
He'd only just arrived in this World and hadn't had a chance to properly familiarize himself with everything around him before successively losing both his parents in this life, making him wonder if he was destined to be a lone star.