Xuanming City.
Inside a quiet little courtyard.
Lu Cheng stood within a hexagram array formed by six awakening stones. His eyes were tightly shut, and his heart couldn't help but race with excitement. Today was the day of his awakening...
"Don't move."
A gentle female voice sounded in his ear.
"Place your hand on it."
Opening his eyes, he saw a stunningly beautiful young girl standing opposite him. She wore dark green clothing, had a tall and slender figure, and had golden wavy hair draped over her shoulders. She held out a transparent crystal ball and gestured with her chin.
Jiang Nannan, the number one beauty of Shrek Academy.
Not far away, a gentle and beautiful middle-aged woman sat on a bench. Her fair cheeks held a hint of sickly paleness, but she looked over with a smile and an encouraging gaze.
"Whew..."
Lu Cheng took a deep breath.
He placed his hand on it.
Hum...
The crystal ball flickered, but it was exceptionally dim.
The scene slowly fell into silence.
"Rank two... that's not too bad. At least you have Soul Power. There's still hope of becoming a Spirit Grandmaster in the future."
Seeing the young man's dazed expression, Jiang Nannan couldn't help but feel a pang of pity, sighing inwardly.
She naturally knew the boy had high aspirations, but reality was always this cruel. If geniuses were everywhere, they wouldn't be called geniuses...
However, Lu Cheng remained in a daze.
"Xiao Cheng..."
Jiang Nannan wanted to continue comforting him, but she was stopped by a look from Mother Jiang. She looked back at Lu Cheng with some worry but still obediently pushed her mother back into the house.
Contrary to the mother and daughter's worries, Lu Cheng was attempting to decipher a series of complex "martial soul descriptions."
"White Moonlight Simulator?
Goal: Become heroines' 'White Moonlight.' The higher the evaluation rank for each simulation, the greater the rewards. Requirements to start a simulation..."
After looking for a long while, Lu Cheng summarized four points.
[1. The simulator is not a martial soul; his martial soul slot is currently vacant.]
[2. Conditions for starting each simulation—requires various forms of energy: one milligram of Life Gold, or 0.1 grams of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. Essentially, any equivalent energy will do, though the price made Lu Cheng click his tongue in shock. ]
[3. After each simulation, a portion of the simulated abilities can be brought back to reality. One can choose from Martial Soul, Soul Power, or treasures. Furthermore, the higher the simulation score, the more extra rewards there will be. ]
By the way... will the events that happen in the simulator affect reality?
Probably not.
Lu Cheng pondered.
From the looks of it, this simulator was a system rather than a martial soul. However, he could obtain a Martial Soul from the simulator at any time; he just needed his first simulation...
"Eh? Remaining attempts: 1?!!"
Lu Cheng scrolled to the bottom of the panel, his expression trembling violently.
"I knew it! There had to be a newbie benefit!"
Otherwise, relying on himself, who knew how long it would take to accumulate the requirements for the first simulation?
Coming back to his senses, he realized the setting sun was casting its afterglow, coating the courtyard in a layer of gold.
It had been over eight years since he transmigrated to this world.
As for why he was only now awakening his martial soul, it was because martial soul awakening for commoners in this era was quite restrictive. There were no longer the benefits of the Spirit Hall, where awakening was automatic upon reaching the required age. Thus, he could only take advantage of the opportunity to awaken after Jiang Nannan had enrolled in school.
While still in swaddling clothes, he had been adopted by Mother Jiang, barely escaping death from cold or hunger and avoiding becoming a meal for stray dogs on the street. Since learning where he was, Lu Cheng had also been quite troubled by his current predicament.
The story of Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi in the original work had always been rather suspicious.
Mother Jiang, a regular person, was critically ill. In such a massive city, not a single medical clinic could cure her. It had to be the "Xuanwu Divine Pill" from the "Xuanming Sect." And it just so happened that the Xuanming Sect was "selecting a consort" for their most talented Second Young Master...
It was too coincidental.
Who was it that "accidentally" informed Jiang Nannan that the "Xuanwu Divine Pill" was the only way to cure Mother Jiang?
How hard it is to guess.
There was no helping it. This was Xuanming City, the headquarters of the Xuanming Sect. Not a single rustle of grass could escape the eyes of the Xuanming Sect. Especially when Jiang Nannan's Awakening had caused quite a stir, and she had entered Shrek Academy to study using a recommendation letter from the Xuanming Sect's City Lord...
A commoner by birth, with excellent talent and looks, and the same age as Xu Sanshi.
She was practically a heaven-sent cauldron—bah, awakened one.
Given Jiang Nannan's pride, she certainly wouldn't give up a bright future at Shrek to sacrifice herself to some second young master of the Xuanming Sect and become a so-called concubine.
Therefore, they could only resort to some despicable means.
And now, Lu Cheng had definitely entered the Xuanming Sect's field of vision. While everything seems calm and fine now, just try to leave with the mother and daughter and see what happens.
Believe it or not, they would either set fires to block the roads or have local thugs and hooligans bar the way.
In short, Jiang Nannan being able to leave and return to Shrek Academy was like letting out a long line to catch a big fish. Mother Jiang was the hostage left behind, like a rope binding Jiang Nannan. No matter how outstanding she was outside, she could never completely break free from the Xuanming Sect's control. If they wanted her back, she had to come back.
And now, Mother Jiang was already showing faint signs of illness.
It was likely the Xuanming Sect making their move.
It was a way to lower the threshold and prepare for what was to come so that Mother Jiang's serious illness wouldn't seem abrupt when the time came.
Since he had received the kindness of Mother Jiang's adoption, he naturally had to repay that debt. But with his current rank-two strength...
Forget it. Lu Cheng's eyes turned cold.
I'll head back first. After conducting the first simulation tonight, I'll make further plans.
He returned to the inner hall in a few steps.
He saw steaming hot dishes and rice on the table. Jiang Nannan and Mother Jiang hadn't touched their chopsticks yet; they were waiting for him.
"Mom, Sis, I'm fine." Lu Cheng felt a bit moved and spoke softly.
"Hehe, come and eat..." Mother Jiang placed the bowl and chopsticks at Lu Cheng's seat and spoke with a beaming smile.
The three of them enjoyed a harmonious meal, not mentioning the Martial Soul Awakening again.
After the meal, in the courtyard.
"Xiao Cheng."
Jiang Nannan sat on a stone bench and gave a faint smile. She gently rubbed Lu Cheng's head, her other jade-like hand supporting her cheek. A flash of relaxation and a smile appeared on her fair, pretty face.
Having spent every day together for so many years, the two were already no different from actual siblings.
"I have to return to Shrek Academy tomorrow, but I'll find a way for you. Shrek Academy is full of powerful experts; there's bound to be a treasure that can improve your talent. For now, just slowly cultivate according to the meditation technique I taught you today..."
"Mhm."
Jiang Nannan was like this—aloof and cold to outsiders, but actually very gentle at heart, especially toward those she considered "her own."
Studying as a student from a humble background all these years, she not only had to deal with harassment from a group of second-generation elites but also bear the gossip of noble girls. Gentleness wasn't enough to cope, so she could only put on a mask of indifference.
Moonlight cascaded over Jiang Nannan.
It illuminated the girl's stunning profile, making her look exceptionally moving, gentle, and serene...
Notes:
Jiang Nannan's look is based on the manhua version instead of the donghua.