Chapter 127: The Preliminaries Begin!
Ning Rongrong, holding Ye Lingling's other hand, complained:
"You should accept what Brother Xuanming gave you! Otherwise, how can he have the nerve to give you anything next time?"
Dugu Yan also came over and sighed.
"Yes, we don't need to make such clear distinctions between us."
Ye Lingling was being talked to from both sides, but she just kept her head down and replied softly.
"As long as Xuanming is happy, we'll all be fine, and that's enough."
These words silenced both Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan.
They exchanged a glance, and from each other's reactions, they could see both helplessness and admiration.
The atmosphere in the room was warm and harmonious.
Ye Xuanming smiled, took the Illusionary Wisdom Skull from Ning Rongrong's hand, and put it back into her palm.
"Alright, stop delaying, Rongrong, let's start absorbing now."
Ning Rongrong stopped refusing. She nodded heavily, took the soul bone, and sat cross-legged on the soft cushion in the center of the room.
Ye Xuanming, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling formed a triangle, protecting her in the middle.
Ning Rongrong closed her eyes, placed the soul bone on her forehead, and began to slowly guide her soul power.
The sapphire blue skull emitted a soft, seven-colored halo, gradually merging into Ning Rongrong's brow.
Her body began to tremble slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, indicating that the absorption process was not easy.
Time passed by minute by minute.
About half an hour later, the seven-colored light that enveloped Ning Rongrong suddenly intensified and then completely receded into her body.
Ning Rongrong opened her eyes.
A powerful surge of soul energy emanated from her.
"I'm level 46!"
Ning Rongrong stood up in surprise, feeling the abundant soul power within her body.
As expected of a ten-thousand-year-old soul bone, it directly boosted her soul power by one level!
"Try the Soul Bone skill," Ye Xuanming suggested.
"Um!"
Ning Rongrong nodded, closed her eyes to sense it for a moment, and then opened them again.
"Soul Bone Technique, Illusory Space!"
An invisible wave instantly emanated from her, enveloping the entire room.
Ye Xuanming, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling all felt a sudden clarity in their mental world, as if they were connected by something.
They could even vaguely sense each other's simple emotional fluctuations.
"How amazing!" Dugu Yan couldn't help but exclaim.
"Rongrong, tell me about the effects quickly."
Ning Rongrong proudly raised her little face, cleared her throat, and began to introduce herself.
"This skill is called 'Phantom Space,' which can increase our overall mental strength by 20% and also establish a mental network, allowing us to communicate with each other!"
Ning Rongrong paused, then added with even greater excitement, "Moreover, it can weaken the enemy's mental strength and create a confusing illusion around them!"
This is simply an amazing team skill!
Especially for teams like theirs, the mental network and the amplification of collective mental power are enough to elevate their teamwork to a whole new level.
Ning Rongrong jumped up and down twice in delight, then opened her arms and gave Ye Xuanming a big hug.
"Thank you, Brother Xuanming! This is the best gift I've ever received!"
After a while of making a fuss, the night grew even deeper.
Dugu Yan yawned, pulled Ning Rongrong, who was still excited, and prepared to go back to her room to rest.
"Let's go, let's go. We're going to watch the competition of those girls from Tianshui College tomorrow."
Ning Rongrong was being dragged along by her, but she didn't forget to turn back and wave to Ye Xuanming and Ye Lingling.
Only Ye Xuanming and Ye Lingling remained in the room.
Ye Xuanming looked at the quiet girl in front of him. She was always like this, standing quietly to the side, never competing or vying for anything, yet giving all her gentleness to those around her.
He took her hand.
"Sister Lingling, come here."
Ye Lingling blushed and obediently followed Ye Xuanming into the room next door that belonged to Ye Xuanming.
The door was gently closed, isolating it from the outside world.
Ye Xuanming turned around and embraced Ye Lingling, gently resting his chin on the top of her head.
He spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of guilt, but even more tenderness.
"Thank you for your hard work, Sister Lingling."
Ye Lingling wrapped her arms around Ye Xuanming's neck gently, but her tone was very firm.
She pulled Ye Xuanming closer to her, their lips touching.
"It's not hard work."
Ye Lingling's voice was very soft and dissipated between the two of them.
She took Ye Xuanming's hand and slowly retreated towards the bedside, step by step.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting long shadows of the two intertwined figures.
The moonlight gradually faded, and the night passed without incident.
...
The next morning.
"Knock knock knock!"
The quiet of the room was broken by urgent knocking.
"Brother Xuanming! Sister Lingling! Wake up!"
Ning Rongrong's energetic voice pierced through the door, carrying a hint of impatient urging.
"If you don't get up soon, the competition at Tianshui Academy will start!"
Inside the room, Ye Xuanming had already opened his eyes. He turned to the side and looked at the girl who was still fast asleep beside him.
Ye Lingling's long eyelashes trembled slightly, as if disturbed by the noise outside the door, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Ye Xuanming reached out and smoothed the wrinkles between her brows with his fingertips.
"Xuanming…"
Ye Lingling murmured as she opened her eyes. Still a little dazed from just waking up, her cheeks flushed a beautiful pink after a moment.
"Did I wake you up?" Ye Xuanming said softly.
"No…" Ye Lingling shook her head, sat up, and the brocade quilt slipped off her smooth shoulders.
Ning Rongrong outside the door continued to make noise relentlessly.
"Alright, alright, coming right up!" Ye Xuanming responded loudly.
Ye Xuanming was actually not interested in today's match.
In the first preliminary match, Tianshui Academy's opponent was Zixing Academy, a team that only had a name in the original work but not much information about them.
If he hadn't promised Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er, Ye Xuanming wouldn't have bothered making this trip at all.
In the current Heavenly Empire region, there are no opponents he can truly take seriously.
Shrek Academy, in particular, has lost its chance to obtain the Immortal Herb, and its strength has been greatly diminished, making it no longer a threat.
A short while later, the door opened.
Ye Xuanming and Ye Lingling walked out side by side.
Ning Rongrong, who was standing guard at the door, put her hands on her hips and pouted. She first looked the two of them up and down, and then sniffed the air with her little nose.
"Hmph, you two definitely didn't do anything good last night!"
Dugu Yan leaned against a pillar not far away and yawned lazily.
"Looks like someone had a tough time last night," Dugu Yan said meaningfully.
Ye Lingling's cheeks flushed instantly, and she subconsciously hid behind Ye Xuanming.
Ye Xuanming calmly took her hand and then put his arm around Ning Rongrong's shoulder.
"Let's go, or we'll really miss it."
The Heavenly Battle Arena, the venue for the preliminary rounds, was now bustling with activity.
Teams from various kingdoms and duchies of the Tiandou Empire gathered here, and the audience seats were packed, with shouts of encouragement rising and falling.
Ignoring the probing gazes from those around them, Ye Xuanming and his companions walked straight to the spectator seats reserved for VIPs.
The location here is excellent, offering a panoramic view of the entire competition venue while remaining secluded from the noisy general audience seating.
They had just sat down when an excited voice came from the players' waiting area below.
"Brother Xuanming! Here! Here!"
Shuiyue'er stood in the Tianshui Academy's line, tiptoeing and waving vigorously in their direction, her face full of a bright smile.
Her shout instantly attracted the attention of everyone around her.
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