Regarding the joint challenge of the third grade by the two lower grades, Jing Shaoyu had a brief discussion with Yuanen Yehui, the class monitor of the second grade. Both parties reached a consensus to determine the leadership through a competition.
The result was, unsurprisingly, a complete victory for the first grade. This challenge match would see the first grade as the absolute main force, while the second grade could only play a supporting role.
Although the second-grade students were unwilling, they were powerless. Who could blame them for being less skilled? Who could deny the overwhelming strength of the first grade? They had no choice but to accept their fate.
With the preliminary work completed, the first grade, led by the class committee, began to prepare wholeheartedly for the challenge match against the third grade. Everyone was determined to reach new heights and achieve the feat of overcoming the odds.
Compared to the tense atmosphere among his classmates, Jing Shaoyu seemed much more relaxed. He had assessed the overall strength of this year's third-grade students and, to be honest, it was quite average. There were only three students with Soul King cultivation, over thirty with Soul Grandmaster cultivation, and the rest were Advanced Soul Grandmasters above level 35.
In theory, the number of Soul Kings in the third grade should not be less than ten. However, apart from the overall mediocre talent of this year's third-grade students, the true geniuses had already been admitted to the Inner Academy. Indeed, four students from this year's third grade had been admitted to the Inner Academy, a number not significantly different from previous years.
Therefore, Jing Shaoyu was not particularly concerned about this challenge match.
That day, in the class committee's office.
"Xinglan, let's go," Jing Shaoyu called out to Ye Xinglan.
"Okay," Ye Xinglan stood up, first waving to Wu Siduo, then quickly walked towards Jing Shaoyu outside the door.
Ye Xinglan, with her long legs, walked over to Jing Shaoyu and stood shyly beside him, her restless hands particularly noticeable.
Seeing the shy Ye Xinglan, Jing Shaoyu smiled lightly, reached out, and took one of her delicate hands, comforting her, "Don't be nervous, it's just a regular date. It should be much more relaxing than a battle."
Being held by Jing Shaoyu, Ye Xinglan's heart raced, and her nervousness suddenly disappeared, replaced by shyness. She said, "If I had a choice, I'd rather go into battle!"
"Hahaha!" Jing Shaoyu laughed at her words, which were very much in line with Ye Xinglan's character. As a sword prodigy, she was indeed a novice in such situations.
"I say, if you two are leaving, hurry up and go. Don't stand at the door dawdling, it's annoying!" Wu Siduo, watching the two linger at the door, rolled her eyes in displeasure.
"Haha, we're going," Jing Shaoyu responded immediately to Wu Siduo's complaint, then quickly led the somewhat awkward Ye Xinglan out of the office.
After watching them leave, Wu Siduo couldn't help but sigh in relief, but her pretty face soon showed irritation. She gritted her teeth and said, "So fickle! What a scoundrel!"
Inside Shrek City, Jing Shaoyu held Ye Xinglan's hand as they walked along the bustling street. The atmosphere between them was somewhat peculiar—Jing Shaoyu was speaking, while Ye Xinglan listened. He could sense that Ye Xinglan was genuinely nervous; her hand in his felt slightly damp.
"Why are you so nervous? This isn't like the Ye Xinglan I know," Jing Shaoyu teased, looking at her as she struggled to maintain her composure.
"Shut up!" Ye Xinglan, overwhelmed by her nerves, shouted in embarrassment.
"Alright, alright, I'll shut up," Jing Shaoyu said with a chuckle, indulging her.
They stopped in front of a hotel with a pink facade.
"How about this one?" Jing Shaoyu asked, glancing at Ye Xinglan.
"Up to you," she replied.
"Alright, let's go with this one," Jing Shaoyu said with a smile, then led Ye Xinglan into the hotel.
Their actions were noticed by a large man across the street. The food in his hand fell to the ground, startling his companion.
"Lizhi, what's wrong?" Tang Wulin asked, concerned, as he looked at the skewers on the ground.
"I... I think I just saw Sister Xinglan," Xu Lizhi muttered, dazed.
"Ye Xinglan? Where?" Tang Wulin asked, curious.
"Over there," Xu Lizhi pointed across the street.
"Over there?" Tang Wulin followed his finger and immediately looked speechless. "A couple's hotel? You must be mistaken. Why would Ye Xinglan be there?"
"Really?" Xu Lizhi shook his head. "Maybe I was wrong. Sister Xinglan hasn't spoken to me in over two months. Wulin, do you think I've upset her?"
Tang Wulin didn't know how to express his feelings or comfort Xu Lizhi, so he simply handed over his skewers and said, "Why overthink it? Just go ask Ye Xinglan directly. Here, eat!"
"Yeah, you're right," Xu Lizhi said, immediately brightening up. He took the skewers from Tang Wulin and began eating heartily.
Meanwhile, inside the luxurious suite of the couple's hotel across the street, Jing Shaoyu and Ye Xinglan were settling in.
As soon as they entered, Ye Xinglan began taking off her clothes. She removed her school uniform jacket, revealing the tight-fitting undergarments beneath, her flat stomach, and her slender, fair arms. When she started to remove her pants, Jing Shaoyu quickly stopped her.
"Why are you taking off your clothes?" he asked.
"Isn't that what we're supposed to do for Dual Cultivation?" Ye Xinglan replied, her expression somewhat naive.
"...Who told you that Dual Cultivation requires taking off clothes?" Jing Shaoyu asked, feeling both excited and exasperated.
"Xiaoyan did," Ye Xinglan answered.
"That little rascal..." Jing Shaoyu sighed, rubbing his forehead. After a moment of thought, he said, "Put your clothes back on. We're not at that stage yet."
Though he wouldn't mind being intimate with a beautiful girl, their purpose today was clearly not physical entanglement. Jing Shaoyu cleared his mind of such thoughts and made a mental note to deal with Xu Xiaoyan later.
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Xu Xiaoyan, who was cultivating in the simulation training room, suddenly felt an inexplicable chill.
"Alright!" Ye Xinglan also realized she had made a blunder, her face flushed red as she quickly dressed and looked at Jing Shaoyu in confusion.
Jing Shaoyu sat on the bed and said to Ye Xinglan, "First, calm your mind and let your heart reach a state of tranquility."
"Mm!" Ye Xinglan nodded, then closed her eyes and began to regulate her breathing. As a genius who had comprehended Sword Intent, she quickly entered a state of serene calmness.
"Very good," Jing Shaoyu praised. "Now, come onto the bed and sit opposite me."
Ye Xinglan immediately complied, floating onto the bed and sitting cross-legged opposite Jing Shaoyu. As she settled into position, Jing Shaoyu reached out, grasped her hands, and pressed their palms tightly together.
"Follow my rhythm and circulate your Soul Power," Jing Shaoyu instructed.
"Yes," Ye Xinglan replied.
Indeed, the purpose of Jing Shaoyu and Ye Xinglan today was to achieve resonance and fusion of their Soul Power, embarking on their first session of Harmonic Cultivation. It had been over half a year since their first Martial Soul Fusion, and during this time, their relationship had progressed rapidly under Jing Shaoyu's deliberate efforts, reaching a new level where Ye Xinglan could undress and reveal her body in front of him without hesitation.
With the experiences of Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan to guide them, the Harmonic Cultivation between Jing Shaoyu and Ye Xinglan proceeded smoothly. Their Soul Power flowed through each other's bodies, gradually forming a new type of Soul Power that combined the characteristics of both. This new Soul Power was crystalline yellow, resembling a galaxy shimmering with starlight, deep and radiant. According to convention, this power should be called the Yu Lan Power.
They continued their cultivation until the next morning.
"How do you feel?" Jing Shaoyu opened his eyes just as Ye Xinglan did, their gazes meeting. From her eyes, Jing Shaoyu could read joy and happiness, so he asked.
"I feel great!" Ye Xinglan said excitedly. "Last night's cultivation efficiency was equivalent to a whole week of my previous efforts. I really regret not listening to you sooner!"
"Haha, it's not too late now," Jing Shaoyu laughed.
"Yes, you're right," Ye Xinglan said, her eyes sparkling. "Can you often cultivate with me in the future?"
"Of course," Jing Shaoyu replied with a bright smile. "But you'll need to discuss it with Gu Yue and Xiaoyan first."
"No problem!" Ye Xinglan immediately said with delight.
After a night of Dual Cultivation, Ye Xinglan's attitude toward Jing Shaoyu became even more intimate. When they left the hotel, she had already learned to take the initiative to hold Jing Shaoyu's hand, a touching progress considering that, before this, she was seen by others as a wooden-headed girl who only loved practicing swordsmanship.
(End of Chapter)