The indoor hot spring was steaming.
Ma Xiaotao leaned lazily against the edge of the hot spring; her arms relaxed on either side. Her proud peaks were hidden beneath the water, appearing and disappearing, fair and alluring.
The beauty's captivating phoenix eyes glanced at Lu Cheng, who was sitting not far away, focusing his energy. Suddenly feeling playful, she slowly stood up in the water. Her peaks emerged from the surface, creating ripples, and she moved with snow-white steps toward Lu Cheng on the other side.
The latter was in the middle of Cultivating when he suddenly felt an intense pressure sweep over him. When he looked up, his face was completely covered.
"Mmph—" Lu Cheng bubbled, feeling somewhat helpless.
How many times has this been? Can I not just cultivate in peace?
"Ahem—" Ma Xiaotao hummed a little tune, looking left and right with a guilty conscience. But she really couldn't help it; such a cute guy, wouldn't it be a waste not to tease him?
"Why did you buy this quality of whale rubber?" Ma Xiaotao pulled Lu Cheng into her embrace. Her peaks, aided by the ripples she had just created, kept bumping against his head. The beauty's red lips curled up slightly as she idly played with the whale rubber in her hand.
Or rather, she seemed to be admiring her own slender, fair nails, painted with red polish.
It was charred black, clearly inferior whale rubber; it might not even reach a thousand years of quality.
"This is ten thousand years of whale rubber," Lu Cheng said calmly.
"Ten thousand years?!" Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened in shock.
"Try melting it—" Lu Cheng didn't waste words, simply instructing her.
"Oh." Ma Xiaotao looked at him strangely but followed his instructions. Using her Phoenix fire to melt a piece of whale rubber was naturally not difficult, though this pure black one was indeed harder than other ten thousand-year-old whale glues. As time passed, a fragrance began to spread, and the once coal-black whale rubber melted into a pale golden gelatinous substance.
"Eh? It really is—" The beauty's crimson eyes were filled with astonishment, and her tone was stunnned.
"Senior Brother, do you want me to feed you?"
Ma Xiaotao pinched the whale rubber between two jade-like fingers, looking at Lu Cheng with a smile.
"Mmh." Lu Cheng remained expressionless.
Why does it feel like there's more than just whale rubber? Did something strange get mixed in—
"Xiaotao, you—"
"While Senior Brother hasn't fully grown up yet, I'd better take advantage of you; otherwise, in the future, Senior Brother won't give me the chance to mess around anymore." Ma Xiaotao leaned down, her stunning face wearing a pitiful expression.
Lu Cheng: "…"
His throat rolled.
He helplessly swallowed the whale rubber; it was soft and sweet.
The next day.
"Where did you go?" Wang Dong'er looked at Lu Cheng with suspicion.
She leaned in and sniffed, but her pink-blue eyes suddenly flashed with shock: "Such a rich fragrance—it's the scent of that senior sister Xiaotao from the inner court who took you away last night. You two—"
Smack~
Lu Cheng gently patted the girl on the back of her head.
He remained expressionless.
"Stop guessing blindly; we have a pure friendship."
"Pure friendship, hmph—" Wang Dong'er wore an expression that said, "Do you really think I'd believe that?" She grumbled, feeling an increasing sense of danger.
There was no doubt that Lu Cheng would have many women in the future.
This guy was a total playboy, flirting everywhere—with Jiang Nannan; Tang Ya; even the inner court's Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan; and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's young Sect Master, Ning Tian—
But all those girls could openly approach Lu Cheng as girls. But what about her?
When would she be able to reveal her true female form and stand by Lu Cheng's side as a woman? And not just those insignificant moments of ambiguity in the dormitory.
However, when she recalled the ample assets of that senior sister Ma Xiaotao she saw last night and then looked down at her own—it wasn't even in the same league. If it were any other man, they would probably also—
"I need to hurry up." Wang Dong'er's small face tightened, filled with a sense of crisis.
The martial soul fighting district.
This usually bustling place had been cleared out. After Lu Cheng and Wang Dong'er arrived, a few disciples trickled in, but they were all core disciples. Xu Sanshi shrank behind Bei Bei, not daring to meet Lu Cheng's eyes.
Lu Cheng didn't pay him any mind. He looked around. He Caitou, that simple-looking guy, caught his gaze and hurriedly nodded in acknowledgment. The two had met a few times at the spirit tool building and were familiar with each other.
Besides them, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Xiao Xiao, and others were all gathered.
"Senior Lu Cheng, over here."
Today, Xiao Xiao was wearing a light green dress, revealing her snow-white calves. Standing only about 1.5 meters tall, she stood out in the crowd. Her face was cute and naive. Seeing Lu Cheng walk over, she hurriedly waved her little hand to greet him.
"Ah, Xiao Xiao…" Lu Cheng revealed a warm smile.
He gently rubbed the girl's head.
Wang Dong'er stood to the side with a normal expression, but watching Xiao Xiao, whose face was so happy she looked like she was about to faint, she snorted, crossed her arms, and muttered something.
Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yaoheng, and the others were already standing to the side, all dressed in the neat red and white inner court uniforms. With their arms crossed and an air of proud seniors, they looked down at this group of rookies. It wasn't until Lu Cheng's leisurely figure appeared that everyone felt a strong sense of danger.
"Xiaotao, do you know that young man?" Dai Yaoheng asked hesitantly.
"I suppose so, my little lover," Ma Xiaotao yawned lazily and said calmly.
The scene suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked stunned.
"Hahaha, just kidding." Ma Xiaotao glanced guiltily into the distance, where Lu Cheng was. If he heard that, would she get beaten up?
In a quiet corner, Ling Luochen frowned slightly, her beautiful eyes glancing at Ma Xiaotao. As a possessor of the Ultimate Ice martial soul, she was also somewhat tempted.
After all, throughout history, she had pored over countless ancient texts, seeking a method to evolve her ordinary ice-attribute martial soul into Ultimate Ice, and there were only three ways—
First, obtain an Ultimate Ice spirit bone.
Two, absorb an Ultimate Ice Immortal Herb.
The first two were nearly impossible, and the third was to find a partner with the Ultimate Ice attribute. Through union, there was a chance to evolve her own ice attribute.
She didn't dislike the young man; after all, he was practically perfect for her. There was nothing to criticize. Therefore, she didn't mind trying the last method to evolve her own attribute to Ultimate Ice.
There was no other way; she craved Ultimate Ice too much, she dreamed about it—
Yao Haoxuan looked suspicious.
"Judging by the commotion last night, this young man has at least the combat power of a Soul Ancestor, or even a Soul King, comparable to us Inner Academy Disciples. Why does he still need to participate in the assessment?"
"The academy has its own plans."
An old voice sounded from behind them.
Everyone was stunned, then immediately looked respectful and bowed, saying.
"Elder Xuan."
Xuan Zi held a gourd in his left hand and a chicken leg in his right. He slowly tore off a piece of meat, chewed it with a smacking sound, and looked down at the group.
"Little Wang, is everyone here?"
Notes:
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