Chapter 42: Cohabitation Life Is Sweet — What Do I Gain by Taking You as My Master?
"I… I had a nightmare!"
Xiao Wu obviously didn't dare tell the truth—that she had spent the entire night eating melons in that chat group.
Watching Pope she could normally only hear about in legends, as well as young ladies from major clans, tearing into each other in the group—arguing, exposing secrets, and throwing money around—
That feeling was just way too addictive!
"A nightmare?"
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
Back when Tang Hao had learned of her identity as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, Xiao Wu hadn't even lost sleep like this.
Could it be that she had gotten something good from the system again yesterday and was so excited she couldn't fall asleep?
Still, Lin Yuan didn't really care about it.
…
Time flew by like a white horse passing through a crack.
In the blink of an eye, three months quietly slipped away.
The morning air of Nuoding City still carried a hint of damp chill.
Inside a two-person apartment building near the academy, Lin Yuan stood before the mirror, adjusting his collar.
Over the past three months, since Tang Hao had been scared off by three Titled Douluo, the entire Nuoding City seemed to have returned to its former peace.
For the sake of convenient cultivation, Lin Yuan decisively moved out of the crowded and noisy Dorm Seven with Xiao Wu, renting this small apartment with excellent privacy.
After all, neither of them was short on money now.
"Lin Yuan, where's my comb?"
Xiao Wu came out of the bedroom wearing pink pajamas, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
Her long scorpion braid had come loose, cascading down her back like a waterfall, looking especially soft and smooth.
After three months of being "well-fed," the girl seemed to have grown a little taller. Her once somewhat flat figure had begun to show faint curves of a young maiden.
"It's on the table. You left it there yourself yesterday."
Lin Yuan shook his head helplessly, picked up the comb, and skillfully began combing her long hair.
Over these three months, his soul power had smoothly broken through to Rank Twelve.
Two levels in three months—this speed wasn't slow at all.
He didn't know if the system was doing it on purpose, but it hadn't given him any direct soul power rewards. Instead, it provided insights and experience related to spear techniques and eye techniques.
As a result, his progress with the spear had been extremely fast.
Thanks to the medicinal liquid Xiao Wu provided, his mental power had also increased significantly.
When activating his Dual Pupils, his perception became much sharper.
Honestly, if Xiao Wu hadn't been there to accompany him during cultivation—someone to talk to—
If it had just been him alone, grinding through such monotonous training, he really wouldn't have been able to take it.
Every day was just practicing the spear technique, studying, and meditating—three points, one line.
Even with an adult mindset, that kind of life was unbearable.
Now he finally understood why people said cultivation required moderation—haste makes waste. Being too aggressive could easily lead to inner demons.
"Hehe, you really did your best, Lin Yuan."
Xiao Wu squinted her eyes in enjoyment, looking at the focused boy behind her through the mirror, her heart sweet as honey.
Waking up every day to see him, eating together, cultivating together, strolling the streets together…
It felt just like a dream.
Back when she lived in the Star Dou Great Forest, she wouldn't have dared imagine that the human world could be this wonderful.
"All right, stop admiring yourself."
Lin Yuan put down the comb and gently patted her little head.
…
Half an hour later.
The two tidied themselves up and walked out of the apartment side by side, heading toward the Nuoding Academy cafeteria.
However, Yu Xiaogang was there again—and this time, Tang San was with him.
Seeing Lin Yuan and Xiao Wu walking hand in hand, Tang San's eye twitched slightly, a trace of darkness flashing through his gaze.
"Lin Yuan, Xiao Wu, you're up early."
Yu Xiaogang spoke first, assuming the posture of a teacher.
"Grandmaster? Do you need something?"
Lin Yuan stopped, his expression calm.
Over the past three months, this master-and-disciple pair had bothered him quite a bit.
Especially Yu Xiaogang—he seemed convinced that Lin Yuan was a rare talent and insisted on taking him as a disciple to prove his theories.
"Hehe, Lin Yuan, it's only been a few days, but your aura seems even more condensed."
Yu Xiaogang nodded, a hint of admiration flashing through his eyes.
"Have you thought about my previous proposal?"
"As long as you take me as your master, I'll teach you everything I know—the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls—without reservation!"
"I can guarantee that on this continent, no one understands martial souls better than I do!"
Hearing this familiar opening, Lin Yuan couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Here he goes again. Does this old man not understand human language?
"Master, I'll just be direct."
Lin Yuan sighed, looking helpless.
"Can you stop bothering me?"
"What benefit do I get from taking you as my master?"
"Benefit?" Yu Xiaogang frowned. "Knowledge is the greatest wealth! I can guide you so you won't take unnecessary detours!"
"Give me a break."
Lin Yuan interrupted him bluntly.
"First of all, your martial soul is Luo Sanpao. Mine is the Soul-Devouring Spear."
"You don't even know how to use a spear—what can you teach me?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened. "Martial soul cultivation follows different paths that lead to the same destination—"
"Secondly."
Lin Yuan continued mercilessly.
"Your strength isn't impressive either. I'm at Rank Twelve now, and you're Rank Twenty-Nine Soul Grandmaster."
"In another two years, I'll probably surpass you."
"When that time comes, and I want to hunt a thousand-year soul beast, can you take me?"
"Or would I have to protect you instead?"
That sentence stabbed straight into Yu Xiaogang's weak point.
His face instantly turned ugly.
"But I have a lifetime of theoretical knowledge! I can teach you how to identify soul beasts and obtain the most suitable soul rings!"
"This ability—let me tell you—even among the Titled Douluo on the continent, very few truly possess it!"
Yu Xiaogang said proudly.
Lin Yuan knew that Yu Xiaogang wasn't wrong about that.
After all, those with true talent naturally focus on cultivating their martial souls. As long as their theoretical knowledge was sufficient, they wouldn't deliberately study theory in depth.
Besides, on this continent, most talented soul masters had backing. When they went to hunt soul beasts, someone would always accompany them.
But Lin Yuan had a system.
He already possessed this ability.
After three months of studying the Encyclopedia of Soul Beasts in his mind, his understanding of soul beasts had long since surpassed Yu Xiaogang's. There was no need for him to teach anything.
Lin Yuan shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I can study that knowledge myself. And with my talent, once I reach Rank Twenty, the academy headmaster will naturally take me to hunt a suitable soul beast."
"So I won't trouble you, Grandmaster. You should focus on teaching Tang San properly instead."
To make Yu Xiaogang stop pestering him, Lin Yuan added, "Master, how about this—if, under your guidance, Tang San can defeat me, then it proves you really have some skill. At that point, I wouldn't mind acknowledging you as my master."
"All right, Xiao Wu. Let's go eat breakfast and then cultivate."
Lin Yuan naturally took Xiao Wu's soft little hand and was about to leave.
"Stop!"
At that moment, Tang San—who had been silent all this time—finally couldn't take it anymore. He flashed forward, blocking Lin Yuan's path.
—
End of Chapter