Category: They All Want to Be My Female Lead

61 Rampaging Loli

Wen Canglan slowly withdrew his Mystic Power, looked at Yan Zhen lying on the ground, and said coldly, “You can’t even withstand a casual palm strike from me. You’re not worthy of entering that building. Stay away from her—”

Before he could finish, a ball of pure violet flame descended from the sky and landed before him.

Wen Canglan’s expression turned serious. He quickly leaped back several steps and saw the breathtakingly beautiful Purple-Clad Goddess land gracefully, her gaze icy as she stared at him.

“Senior Wen, you’ve gone too far,” Zi Xunyi—or rather, her spiritual avatar—scolded coldly. “Yan Zhen is only a four-star Mystic Master, while you’re a nine-star Mystic General. Not only did you sneak attack him, but you also forced him to take your attack head-on.”

Wen Canglan’s expression shifted, and he quickly said, “Junior Sister Xunyi, let me explain. I just—”

“I heard and saw everything. There’s nothing to explain.” Zi Xunyi’s expression showed that she had seen through him. “And don’t call me by my name. We’re not that close.”

“Xun… Junior Sister Zi Ji!”

“Aren’t you leaving? If the Grand Elder finds out you came here and injured her newly accepted disciple, even you won’t get away with it.”

Zi Xunyi ignored him, turned to Yan Zhen, gracefully knelt beside him, and checked his injuries.

Yan Zhen’s chest was covered in a layer of crystal, his arms scratched and bleeding from the shattered crystal shards. His handsome face was pale, and blood, shimmering with crystalline fragments, trickled from the corner of his lips.

Clearly, the force from the Crystallization Palm had penetrated his body. If it wasn’t neutralized quickly, his life would be in danger.

This Wen Canglan, attacking so ruthlessly! She had thought he was a decent person!

“Yan Zhen, how are you?”

Yan Zhen forced a weak smile, his lips stained with blood. “It’s just a minor injury. Don’t wor—cough!”

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, filled with crystal fragments. His aura weakened, his eyes closed, and he lost consciousness.

“Yan Zhen!”

Zi Xunyi was startled. She immediately channeled her Mystic Power into Yan Zhen’s body, trying to neutralize the Crystallization Palm’s energy.

“Wen Canglan, if anything happens to him, I won’t forgive you!”

Wen Canglan’s face paled. Except for that one time he got too close and was sent flying by a single palm strike, Zi Xunyi had always been polite to him, never speaking so harshly.

For Yan Zhen, she had actually scolded him like this. He didn’t believe that Yan Zhen could win Zi Xunyi’s heart so quickly. The only explanation was that they already knew each other.

And their relationship was likely more than just romantic; perhaps they were just friends.

—Crap, I acted too impulsively!

Wen Canglan had only come to check on the situation. Seeing Yan Zhen emerge from Zi Xunyi’s building, he had lost his head.

No man had ever entered the cliffside building before. Yan Zhen was probably the first. But if they were already acquainted, it wasn’t so strange.

Wen Canglan was filled with regret. “Wait, Zi Ji, I didn’t intend to injure him severely. I heard he defeated an expert on the Rising Star List, so I treated him like an ordinary Mystic General. I only used fifty percent of my strength. I didn’t expect him to be so weak.”

Zi Xunyi said coldly, “If you suppressed your cultivation to four-star Mystic Master, I could cripple you with ten percent of my strength, let alone fifty!”

“I—”

As Wen Canglan tried to explain, a deafening roar echoed through the night sky, a sound that shook their very souls.

It was a dragon’s roar!

Accompanied by the roar, a bright pink light surged from the Grand Elder’s residence not far away and shot towards them at a speed Wen Canglan could barely register. This was… Mystic King realm!

—Is it an instructor, or…?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the pink light arrived before him, and he saw the figure within.

A cherry-blossom pink-haired loli, with small, fleshy horns on her forehead, her small hand formed into a delicate fist, striking towards him.

She looked harmless, even cute, yet Wen Canglan felt a sense of immense danger. He crossed his arms, forming three layers of crystalline shields.

Bang!

The three layers of crystal shields, strong enough to withstand an attack from a Mystic King, shattered like glass under the little girl’s punch.

The force of the blow struck Wen Canglan’s arms, the sound of cracking bones echoing as he was sent flying, crashing into a tree.

Long Ying landed steadily, her small eyebrows furrowed in anger. “I won’t allow anyone to harm him! No one!”

Her tone was filled with a fierce protectiveness.

Wen Canglan was shocked. He had never seen this little girl before, yet she possessed Mystic King level cultivation.

Seeing the pink-haired loli approaching menacingly, Wen Canglan’s heart pounded, the pain in his arms a constant reminder that he was no match for her.

However, just then, several powerful auras surged into the sky, converging on their location.

Mystic Kings, Mystic Lords… It was the instructors and elders living nearby.

They had sensed the battle and come to investigate.

Long Ying immediately leaped towards Wen Canglan, her small fist raised.

“Instructor!”

Wen Canglan, drenched in cold sweat, cried out. Two Mystic King realm instructors appeared beside him and tried to block Long Ying’s attack, but they were sent flying by her monstrous strength, crashing into the forest.

—So strong?

Wen Canglan’s eyes narrowed. Then he shouted, “Elder!”

An elder at the Mystic Lord realm appeared, using the power of heaven and earth to form a barrier, finally stopping Long Ying.

“Little girl, who are you? I’ve never seen you before.”

Long Ying, enraged, was about to attack again when Zi Xunyi called out, “Little Long Ying, come back.”

—If the fight continued, things would get out of hand.

Long Ying ignored her, her anger intensifying, her aura surging, her Mystic Power forming a massive dragon silhouette around her. Then, Yan Zhen’s weak voice echoed, “Long Ying, stop. Come back…”

Long Ying paused, then slowly dispersed the dragon aura and, without hesitation, turned and rushed to Yan Zhen’s side, who had just regained consciousness. “Zhenzhen, are you alright?”

“I… cough, cough…”

Yan Zhen coughed up blood. This wasn’t an act. He had taken too much of the palm strike’s force and was seriously injured.

This was a loss!

—Damn you, Wen Canglan! Just wait until I finish forging my sword!

“Don’t talk, Yan Zhen. There’s too much of the palm’s energy within you. I can’t dispel it all at once. Come back to my place—Long Ying, let’s go.”

Zi Xunyi, ignoring social conventions, lifted him into her arms, then leaped into the air and flew towards the cliffside building.

Long Ying followed closely.

Watching them leave, Wen Canglan felt a deep emptiness, then he punched the tree behind him in frustration.

60 Sent Flying with a Single Palm Strike

The couple didn’t linger in their embrace for long. Mature Zi Xunyi released Yan Zhen, urging him to return, lest her younger self notice something amiss.

Back in reality, Yan Zhen lifted his head from the table and saw Zi Xunyi staring at him. She quickly averted her gaze when he woke up.

The atmosphere became awkward.

Knowing that Zi Xunyi needed time to think, Yan Zhen decided not to disturb her further. He stood up and said, “Then I’ll go back tonight. I’ll visit you again when I have the chance.”

Zi Xunyi responded with a soft “mm-hmm.”

Yan Zhen waved goodbye and was about to turn and leave when Zi Xunyi called out, “Wait.”

He stopped, and Zi Xunyi walked over to him, blushing as she smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes.

“There.”

Yan Zhen scratched his cheek, feeling a bit shy.

“Thank you.”

Zi Xunyi smiled faintly and said softly, “Get some rest. Let me know if you run into any trouble.”

Yan Zhen nodded, then left the room, walked onto the balcony, leaped into the air, and, using his Starry Sky Dance, transformed into a streak of starlight, soaring through the night sky.

However, just as he was about to descend, he sensed a powerful aura approaching rapidly from the side. He couldn’t react in time and was struck, his balance broken, sending him plummeting towards the ground like a cannonball.

Bang!

Dust and debris flew everywhere, obscuring the bright moonlight.

Yan Zhen crashed to the ground, his body aching all over. Fortunately, his physique was strong, and he had used Mystic Power armor to protect his vital points before impact. Otherwise, he would have been bedridden for days.

“Damn it, a sneak attack! Who was that?”

Yan Zhen swung his arm, and a gust of Mystic Power dispersed the dust, revealing the attacker. He was stunned.

“Wen Canglan?”

The bespectacled Wen Canglan, ranked second on the Rising Star List, a nine-star Mystic General, was also the only one who dared to openly pursue Zi Xunyi.

Yan Zhen frowned. Why was he here?

Then he remembered. He and Long Ying had gone to the dining hall with Zi Xunyi, attracting the attention of many students. This must have reached Wen Canglan’s ears, so he came to investigate and, seeing him emerge from the cliffside building, attacked.

—As expected, deviating from the script causes all sorts of problems.

Wen Canglan landed slowly, his face expressionless, his eyes, like crystals with countless facets, gleaming behind his glasses.

These were the “Crystal Eyes,” a bloodline ability of the Wen family, somewhat similar to an insect’s compound eyes. They granted exceptional dynamic vision and the ability to perceive weaknesses in an opponent’s Mystic Power flow, allowing him to easily intercept Yan Zhen mid-flight.

He wore glasses to protect his sensitive Crystal Eyes.

“Student Yan Zhen,” Wen Canglan asked, his voice cold and indifferent, “why did you come out of that building? That’s not a place you should be.”

“Where I go is none of your business.” Yan Zhen said coldly. “You, Wen Canglan, ranked second on the Rising Star List, an elite student of the Inner Academy, you dare to sneak attack a freshman? Have you no shame?”

“I held back. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even be able to speak now.” Wen Canglan, unfazed, adjusted his glasses. “If this were outside the academy, you would be dead… The biggest difference between the Inner and Outer Academies is teaching students the true meaning of ‘survival of the fittest’.”

“That’s no excuse for a sneak attack.” Yan Zhen retorted, reciting the academy rules flawlessly, “The academy clearly states that battles between students must take place openly in the dueling arena. Unauthorized private duels are strictly prohibited. Violators will be punished with confinement for three days, or even expulsion in severe cases. Someone like you, sneak-attacking and injuring another student, should not only compensate for medical expenses but also apologize and be confined for at least three days.”

“Freshmen are so naive.” Wen Canglan said indifferently, “Rules are meant to be broken. Those rules don’t apply to me. I’m ranked second on the Rising Star List, and my grandfather is the Vice Dean of the Inner Academy.”

Within the Sacred Ground Academy, the Yu family was the most powerful, followed by the Wen family in the Inner Academy and the Han family in the Outer Academy, all with connections within the Jiā Lán Sacred Ground.

The Han family of the Outer Academy wasn’t a threat, but the Wen family of the Inner Academy was the only force that could rival the Yu family.

Because behind the Wen family was another of the “Seven Sons of Jiā Lán,” Supreme Elder Jing.

“So you’re relying on connections.” Yan Zhen scoffed. “Do you even know where you are? This is Grand Elder Yu Yan’s territory, and I’m her disciple. Your background means nothing to me.”

Wen Canglan narrowed his eyes, his crystalline eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

“I don’t need connections to deal with you—I’ll only use one move. If you can withstand it, I’ll acknowledge you as my opponent. If you can’t, then stay away from the cliffside building.”

Without waiting for Yan Zhen’s response, Wen Canglan began channeling his Mystic Power.

—Damn it! This guy is so annoying!

Yan Zhen frowned.

In the script, Wen Canglan, seeing Yan Zhen’s close relationship with Zi Xunyi, became jealous and challenged him.

At that time, Yan Zhen was a nine-star Mystic Master, so Zi Xunyi tried to dissuade him from accepting the challenge. But Yan Zhen accepted anyway, agreeing to a duel during the “Star Picking Ceremony” ten days later.

The Star Picking Ceremony was the Inner Academy’s annual grand event, where the Rising Star List was refreshed and rankings were rearranged based on the results.

Ten days later, Yan Zhen advanced to one-star Mystic General and then dueled Wen Canglan during the ceremony.

As for the outcome, it went without saying. Yan Zhen won.

But now, Yan Zhen was only a four-star Mystic Master, still some distance from five-star. Facing a nine-star Mystic General like Wen Canglan, even if he could withstand a single attack, he would be severely injured, unless he used an Emperor-level Mystic Skill, which would level the surrounding area.

He had nuclear weapons, but he couldn’t just use them casually.

However, as the protagonist, being defeated was unacceptable. Otherwise, the system would deduct his character points.

He closed his eyes, mentally searching through his inventory of special trump cards.

First, use “He Wants to Fight Ten,” then use “I Can Fight Ten.” That should work, right?

—No, not safe enough.

Then use the power-up combo?

—Not necessary. Against a mere Mystic General, there’s no need for that.

That’s it! The “Parry, Redirect, Counter” card he received last time, and the “Five Lightning Whips” from before, a perfect combination for a double counterattack!

As he was thinking, Wen Canglan finished charging his attack and unleashed a massive crystalline palm print, the Wen family’s ultimate technique, the Crystallization Palm. Anyone struck by it would be crystallized and shattered.

Yan Zhen was about to activate “Parry, Redirect, Counter” when he sensed a familiar aura rapidly approaching from the cliffside building. A thought struck him, and he immediately switched tactics, withdrawing the card, drawing the Gold and Silver Fire Sword Embryo, and blocking the attack.

Boom!

The palm print struck, and Yan Zhen, unable to withstand the force, was sent flying, coughing up blood.

59 The Solution Is to Get You Pregnant

Zi Xunyi was taken aback. Her daughter was also reborn? Reborn into this time? But her daughter shouldn’t even be born yet, right?

A series of questions flooded her mind, disrupting her thoughts. However, Yan Zhen’s serious expression told her he wasn’t joking.

“How… how is this possible?”

Yan Zhen shook his head. “I don’t know the specifics, but Ling’er was indeed reborn with me. However, she hasn’t been born in this time, so she doesn’t have a physical body. She can only exist as a consciousness, adrift in the dreamscape.”

Yan Zhen’s expression darkened.

Zi Xunyi had a bad feeling, but she still couldn’t quite believe it. “Can I see her?”

Yan Zhen nodded. “You can, but… be prepared.”

Seeing his serious expression, Zi Xunyi became even more worried, her hands clenching tightly.

“Take me to her.”

“Okay.”

They both circulated their soul cultivation techniques and entered the dreamscape almost simultaneously.

It was the same purple flower field that Zi Xunyi had mixed feelings about, but now, she couldn’t care less. She just wanted to see her “future daughter.”

Arriving under the large tree, Yan Zhen formed a hand seal, and a multicolored crack appeared in the space before them, revealing a translucent cocoon floating within.

Inside the cocoon was Yan Lingji’s consciousness. She lay quietly, breathing evenly, as if asleep.

Seeing her frail form, Zi Xunyi’s heart ached with a sharp pang of sympathy, an urge to protect this little girl rising within her.

Was this Ling’er… her and Yan Zhen’s daughter?

She did bear some resemblance to her, even having the same hair color. She could also see traces of Yan Zhen in her features. Overall, she was incredibly cute.

Just looking at her face gave Zi Xunyi a sense of warmth and comfort.

The only problem was that she looked so weak, as if she might disappear at any moment.

Zi Xunyi asked, her face tense, “Yan Zhen, what happened to Ling’er?”

Yan Zhen sighed sadly. “Because she hasn’t had a physical body for so long, her consciousness is fading. So, I could only seal her in the depths of the dreamscape and use a secret soul technique to slow down the dissipation. But this is just a temporary solution. As time passes, she will still—”

“How could this happen?!” Zi Xunyi felt like she couldn’t breathe. “Is there no other way?”

Yan Zhen shook his head. “I asked Master, but she couldn’t find a solution either. After all, cases of rebirth from the future are incredibly rare.”

Zi Xunyi had no time to think about who Yan Zhen’s master was. She closed her eyes, desperately searching through her memories of countless ancient texts, looking for methods to “strengthen the soul” and “nurture the spirit,” but none were suitable for the current situation.

She bit her lip and said resolutely, “I’ll inform my father. He might be able to save her.”

“Although Father-in-law is a nine-star Mystic Saint, he’s not as skilled in this area as my master.” Yan Zhen’s eyes were dull. “Master said that unless a Celestial Sovereign intervenes, or…”

He paused, his expression conflicted. Zi Xunyi became anxious.

“Or what?”

“Or… when you get pregnant, we can transfer Ling’er’s consciousness into the fetus and then… have her be born.”

“Eh?” Zi Xunyi froze. “You mean… pregnant?”

“Yes, as long as she returns to a physical body, Ling’er’s consciousness can gradually awaken. But her physical body doesn’t exist yet. We need to… create it. In other words, you… need to get pregnant.”

Zi Xunyi blushed deeply, lowering her head and whispering, “Will that… really work?”

“Master said the success rate is over ninety percent.” Yan Zhen looked at her intently. “If this doesn’t work, then there’s no other way.”

“…”

Zi Xunyi was conflicted.

Based on her understanding of soul cultivation, this method made sense, but getting pregnant right away was… difficult to accept.

And to get pregnant, they would have to… consummate their marriage. And the partner would be this future husband of hers.

Zi Xunyi did have a favorable impression of Yan Zhen, but it was far from “love.” She couldn’t see him as her husband yet.

More importantly, if she got pregnant here in the Sacred Ground Academy, the Celestial God Clan would likely raze the entire place to the ground.

Yan Zhen said softly, “Actually, I was planning to tell you about Ling’er after I made you fall for me again. That way, it would be easier for you to accept. But… I got impatient. Because I realized that the process of falling in love can’t be replicated. Even if we do the same things as in our past life, it won’t evoke the same feelings… I might not be able to make you fall in love with me again.”

Yan Zhen exhaled slowly and then said, “I’m sorry. I failed to protect our daughter, and I failed to protect you. Even after being reborn, I’ve caused you and our daughter so much suffering. I’m an incompetent husband.”

Zi Xunyi lowered her head.

“How much longer can Ling’er hold on?”

“About six months,” Yan Zhen said. “During these six months, I’ll continue to look for a solution with Master. If all else fails, I’ll awaken her and fulfill one of her wishes.”

Zi Xunyi trembled, feeling her strength draining away. She suddenly looked up and said loudly, “I won’t let her disappear. No matter what, I’ll save her!”

“Zi Ji…”

Zi Xunyi bit her lip. “But… I’m not mentally prepared yet. Give me some time to… accept you, okay?”

“Okay.”

They fell silent, their gazes fixed on the sleeping Yan Lingji, until the crack in the dreamscape closed.

“That’s all for today. You can come here to see her anytime. I’ll teach you the technique.”

“Okay.”

Yan Zhen taught Zi Xunyi the technique. She tried it once and succeeded, then withdrew from the dreamscape.

Yan Zhen sighed deeply, about to leave, when someone called out, “Husband~”

It was the mature Zi Xunyi, reborn from the future. She emerged from a rift in the dreamscape, floated towards Yan Zhen, and then, unable to contain herself, embraced him.

Yan Zhen felt the soft pressure of her breasts against his chest, his chin resting on her smooth shoulder. He blinked, puzzled. “What’s wrong, Zi Ji?”

“It’s not your fault, husband!” Zi Xunyi hugged him tightly, her voice slightly choked with emotion. “It’s my fault. I failed to protect myself, and I failed to protect Ling’er. And now, I’ve even burdened you with this… I’m sorry.”

She started to sob softly.

Yan Zhen hugged her back, gently patting her back. “Don’t say that. It’s my fault for arriving late, leaving you to bear this burden alone for so long. You’ve done your best, Zi Ji. I’m lucky to have a wife like you.”

58 She’s Our Daughter

Since Long Ying hadn’t appeared at this point in the script, Yan Zhen had momentarily forgotten about her.

“Sorry, sorry. I was too absorbed in my cultivation. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging.”

Long Ying wasn’t a spoiled child anymore and naturally understood, but she was still a bit unhappy, pouting slightly.

Yan Zhen set the little Dragon Girl down and, holding her hand, returned to the building.

“Are you hungry? I’ll take you to the dining hall.”

Long Ying puffed out her chest and declared proudly, “I already ate at Sister Xunyi’s!”

Ah, this…

Yan Zhen suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

Feeding Long Ying was the best way to raise her affection level. If Zi Xunyi stole that opportunity, his relationship with Long Ying would weaken, making it difficult to obtain the third drop of divine blood he needed for body tempering.

—No, I have to make up for this.

“Ahem, how much did you eat? I’ll reimburse her.”

“Reimburse what? Sister Xunyi’s money is your money!”

—That’s true.

“Then I’ll go over tonight and show her a movie as compensation.”

“Movie?” Long Ying blinked, remembering what that was. “I want to watch too!”

“Tsk, don’t be a third wheel.”

“Oh?” A teasing look appeared on Long Ying’s face. “Are you trying to… woo Sister Xunyi, Zhenzhen?”

They arrived at the entrance to the building. Seeing no one around, Yan Zhen whispered, “You might not believe this, but she’s my future wife.”

Long Ying’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know?”

Yan Zhen smirked, a smug look on his face. “I dreamt it.”

His future wife did appear in his dreams, so he wasn’t lying to a child.

Long Ying, however, pondered his words.

Back in his room, Yan Zhen told Long Ying to wait while he took a quick bath and changed into clean clothes.

“I’m going to see Zi Ji now. Don’t follow me.”

“Okay, then I’ll go to sleep. Come back early.”

Long Ying was unusually obedient, even waving goodbye, making Yan Zhen wonder if she was a fake.

With a sense of unease, he jumped out the window, used his Starry Sky Dance, and flew towards the cliffside building, landing on the balcony, then knocked on the window.

Creak.

The window opened, revealing Zi Xunyi’s graceful figure. She was wearing a dark purple nightgown, her lavender hair loose, her appearance relaxed and casual.

The overlapping lapels of her nightgown formed a slight V-neck, subtly revealing her cleavage, while her delicate collarbone and slender neck added a touch of allure.

Seeing Yan Zhen, Zi Xunyi smiled. “You’re back. Little Long Ying has been asking about you these past few days.”

Yan Zhen scratched his head awkwardly. “I was too focused on cultivating and forgot about her for a moment. Thank you for taking care of her.”

“It’s no trouble. I quite like that child. And Little Long Ying is very well-behaved, not causing any trouble, just eats a lot, as dragons do.”

“She’s indeed much more obedient than usual. I wonder why.”

Zi Xunyi turned and walked back inside. Yan Zhen followed, and they sat at the table. Zi Xunyi poured him a cup of tea.

“I almost forgot you’re reborn. No wonder you didn’t even flinch after Little Long Ying spent so many of your points… Was she very mischievous before?”

“Not exactly mischievous, just stubborn and disobedient. Whenever she’s hungry, she’ll start yelling ‘Hungry!’ and stare at you until you feed her. And if she meets someone she dislikes, she’ll punch them without a second thought, causing me quite a bit of trouble.”

Zi Xunyi giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “Really? I can’t imagine Little Long Ying being like that.”

Yan Zhen shrugged. “Every word is true. I don’t know why she’s become so obedient. It can’t be that she’s also reborn—”

He abruptly stopped, a faint sense of loss washing over him as blurry images flashed through his mind.

—System, restart. This victory is meaningless.

“Yan Zhen” said this, his voice devoid of emotion, like a machine.

[Host, are you sure you want to restart everything from scratch?]

—Yes.

[Friendly reminder: It hasn’t been easy for the host to reach this point. If you restart, there’s no guarantee you’ll reach the same level of power again.]

—This Emperor believes he can surpass his current self… I… I’ve seen a new path.

[Friendly reminder: XXX]

The rest was blurry and incomprehensible.

—What the hell was that? Is that… my memory?

Yan Zhen felt a jolt in his soul, a sharp pain in his forehead, his face turning pale.

“What’s wrong, Yan Zhen?” Zi Xunyi asked, concerned. “Your soul fluctuations are too intense. Calm down.”

“My… my head hurts.” Yan Zhen’s mind was filled with blurry images, giving him a strong sense of déjà vu. “Am I… Yan Zhen, or the Yan Emperor?”

“Yan Zhen!”

Zi Xunyi immediately summoned the Jade Firmament Violet Fire, which transformed into a beautiful purple butterfly, its wings scattering a gentle, violet light, helping to calm Yan Zhen’s soul.

After a while, Yan Zhen calmed down, the color returning to his face.

“Thank you, Zi Ji. I… I almost lost myself.”

Zi Xunyi withdrew the Jade Firmament Violet Fire, breathed a sigh of relief, and looked at Yan Zhen curiously. “What happened just now? You looked like you were about to succumb to your inner demons. Are you cultivating some dangerous soul technique?”

“I’m cultivating the Ancestral Talisman Scripture. You’ve heard of it, right?”

Hearing these words, Zi Xunyi’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean the Ancestral Talisman Scripture created by the Ancestral God?”

The Ancestral God was the first deity, the ancestor of all God Clans, a supreme being on par with the Emperor.

“Yes, gathering the Nine Talismans of the Five Elements and Four Seasons to form the Ancestral Talisman, recreating chaos within the sea of consciousness and creating a divine kingdom. It’s the original god-creation technique… If you want to learn it, I can teach you.”

Zi Xunyi gasped, her heart pounding, unable to speak for a moment.

After a while, she smiled wryly and shook her head. “No, I can’t take your opportunity. And I’ve already cultivated my natal technique. Changing it now would be too troublesome.”

“Then just let me know when you want to learn it. I can teach you anytime,” Yan Zhen said gently. “After all, you’re my future wife.”

Zi Xunyi blushed and turned her face away, avoiding his gaze.

“Not this again…”

“Alright, I won’t mention it again. Let’s talk about Long Ying.” Yan Zhen blinked. “Seeing her so obedient reminds me of Ling’er.”

“Ling’er?” Zi Xunyi found the name familiar. “Who is that?”

Yan Zhen looked at her and said seriously, “Our daughter, Yan Lingji.”

Eh? Zi Xunyi froze. Daughter? His and hers?

Before she could process this information, Yan Zhen continued, “Actually, Ling’er was also reborn with me.”

57 He Accidentally Forgot the Gluttonous Loli at Home

Yan Zhen brought Long Ying back to the Grand Elder’s residence and instructed, “I’m going to cultivate in the Nine-Layered Celestial Dome Pagoda. You can’t enter without an academy card, so stay here. If you’re bored, you can go to the cliffside building and visit Sister Xunyi. Don’t wander off too far.”

Long Ying, although reluctant, had no choice but to agree.

“…”

Seeing her so obedient, Yan Zhen felt a strange sense of unease. The Long Ying in the script would have been clinging to him, refusing to let go.

After settling Long Ying in, Yan Zhen used his movement technique, transforming into a streak of starlight and heading towards the Celestial Dome Pagoda. He quickly arrived at the plaza below the pagoda.

Before even landing, Yan Zhen saw several boys surrounding Huangfu Wenqing, her delicate face showing a hint of impatience. She was clearly being bothered.

They were members of the third-rate society “Big Bear.” The one talking to Huangfu Wenqing was their leader, Xiong Gang, a two-star Mystic General, quite powerful. The other members were also Mystic Scholars above seven stars.

“…As long as you agree to be my girlfriend, I’ll let you join our Big Bear society for free, and I’ll give you a Tier 2 academy card, plus two hundred points every month.” Xiong Gang spoke with the arrogance of a nouveau riche. “A freshman like you should only have a Tier 1 card, right? That only allows you to cultivate on the first level of the Celestial Dome Pagoda. With a Tier 2 card, you can access the second level, which is much more effective for cultivation.”

Huangfu Wenqing said impassively, “I already told you, I have a fiancé. Please stop bothering me, Senior.”

“In the Inner Academy, a fiancé isn’t as important as an academy card.” Xiong Gang chuckled. “Can your fiancé give you a Tier 2 academy card? Can he let you cultivate on the second level of the pagoda?”

Huangfu Wenqing’s eyes turned cold. She took out the Tier 3 academy card Yan Zhen had given her and showed it to Xiong Gang, the meaning clear.

“This is what he gave me. It has nine hundred points…”

“You have a Tier 3 card?” Xiong Gang frowned, but the thought of having such a beauty by his side, boosting his prestige, made him say magnanimously, “Fine, a Tier 3 card it is. But I can only give you one hundred and fifty points a month.”

Huangfu Wenqing finally snapped. “I. Said. Get. Lost!”

“Such a fiery temper.” Xiong Gang’s expression darkened. A six-star Mystic Master, daring to speak to him like this in public. “But the fiercer they are, the more satisfying it is to conquer them. I quite…”

Before he could finish, Xiong Gang felt a searing pain on his neck. A burning sword had silently appeared behind him. The intense heat made him raise his hands in surrender.

“W-who is it?”

The other Big Bear members finally noticed Yan Zhen’s arrival and drew their weapons, pointing them at him, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Because the sword in his hand was incredibly intimidating.

“Yan Zhen!” Huangfu Wenqing’s eyes lit up, and she stepped out from the encirclement of the Big Bear members. “You’re finally here.”

“Sorry for making you wait.” Yan Zhen smiled faintly. “How should we deal with this guy?”

Huangfu Wenqing shrugged. “It’s up to you.”

“Yan Zhen?!” Xiong Gang was startled. “Y-you’re that freshman who defeated Fu Cheng?”

Battles between Rising Star List experts were usually recorded by onlookers and sold as intelligence. Therefore, the duel between Yan Zhen and Fu Cheng had already spread.

A crude, gold and silver flame sword, cleaving Fu Cheng’s Tier 4 spear in two from the tip… it was a terrifying sight.

Anyone who witnessed that battle would never forget Yan Zhen and his flame sword.

The Big Bear members gulped, their hands trembling as they held their weapons.

A Tier 4 spear was sliced open with a single strike. Their Tier 2 and Tier 3 Mystic Tools would be like tofu against that sword.

Xiong Gang, a bully by nature, was terrified.

“Brother, let’s talk this over. I didn’t mean to offend your fiancée…”

Yan Zhen snorted coldly, withdrew his sword, and then kicked Xiong Gang in the back with such force that he was embedded into the wall behind him.

“Next time, I’ll take your life in the dueling arena.”

Yan Zhen took Huangfu Wenqing’s hand and turned to leave. The crowd parted, creating a path for them.

When the pagoda doors opened, they didn’t use their movement techniques to cut in line, as no one dared to stand in their way.

Entering the Celestial Dome Pagoda, they went straight to the third level, then Yan Zhen and Huangfu Wenqing parted ways, him heading to the fourth level alone.

As soon as he entered, Yan Zhen felt the powerful force of wind and thunder, paralyzing him.

He immediately circulated his Extreme Flames, neutralizing the electrocution effect, and quickly recovered, continuing deeper into the fourth level. Soon, he encountered some experts from the Rising Star List and was stopped.

“You’re a Mystic Master, right? How did you get up here?”

“The fourth level is for Mystic Generals. Get back down to the third level and stop taking up space!”

“Hand over your Tier 4 academy card. You’re not worthy of using it.”

Their tone was arrogant and condescending.

They were all low-ranking members of the Rising Star List, one or two-star Mystic Generals, their Mystic Power unstable, basically stuck at their current realm.

Hearing the system’s mission prompt, Yan Zhen chose the most arrogant “senior” and made an example of him. He used the Mystic Power Dispersal of Tai Chi Quake to withstand the senior’s attack, then unleashed the Ninth Burst of the Eight Extremities Burst, sending him flying, finally earning their respect.

Mission complete. Yan Zhen entered a cultivation room and claimed his reward.

[Special Trump Card – Parry, Redirect, Counter: After activation, the host can flawlessly block any attack from an opponent of a higher realm and then reflect it back at them. Effective against those below Saint realm.]
[Note: If the host also possesses the “Special Trump Card – Five Lightning Whips,” it can be used as a follow-up attack after the reflection.]

“…”

The cultivation rooms on levels one to three of the Celestial Dome Pagoda were for five or ten people, while levels four to six had single and triple rooms. Levels seven to nine only had single rooms.

Single rooms cost more points but provided a better environment, so Yan Zhen didn’t hesitate to spend the points.

Three days later, Yan Zhen’s cultivation reached the peak of four-star Mystic Master, on the verge of advancing.

Satisfied, he stopped cultivating, went down to the third level to find Huangfu Wenqing, and they returned together.

At the intersection, they said goodbye. As Yan Zhen walked towards the Grand Elder’s residence, a dark figure suddenly fell from the sky, landing in his arms.

He looked down and saw a cute little loli with cherry blossom pink hair and fleshy horns on her forehead.

“Zhenzhen!”

Long Ying puffed out her cheeks, glaring at him, as if asking, “Where have you been?”

—Oh dear!

Yan Zhen suddenly remembered the gluttonous loli at home, waiting to be fed.

56 Long Ying and Huangfu Wenqing

Long Ying had eaten so much that she needed to rest and refine the food’s energy. She was incredibly sleepy. She climbed onto the bed, pulled the covers over herself, and said to Yan Zhen, “You can go cultivate now. Remember to come back early.”

Yan Zhen patted her head. “I’m not going to the Celestial Dome Pagoda today. I’ll cultivate in the room. Go to sleep.”

Long Ying blinked, wondering if he was planning to stay with her. Zhenzhen was always so kind~

As drowsiness overtook her, Long Ying quickly fell asleep, a faint glow emanating from her body.

Yan Zhen sat on the soft couch and began to meditate.

However, having experienced the accelerated cultivation in the Celestial Dome Pagoda, cultivating on his own felt sluggish, like switching back to single-speed after playing a game on double or triple speed.

Fortunately, Yan Zhen quickly adjusted his mindset and entered a meditative state.

He continued cultivating until dawn, then withdrew from his meditation as the system notification sounded in his mind.

Mission complete. Claim reward.

Yan Zhen clicked the option, and a new special trump card appeared.

[Special Trump Card – Ghost Father Mode: Upon activation, the host enters Ghost Father Mode. Cultivation level remains unchanged, but the three fundamental attributes of essence, Qi, and spirit are greatly enhanced. Deals bonus damage against lolis. Duration: one minute.]

[Note: Ghost Father is a divine messenger, worshipped by all ghosts.]

“…”

—Although it seems like a useful card, couldn’t you have chosen a more… appropriate name?

Yan Zhen put away the special trump card with a strange expression. Hearing a soft moan, he knew Long Ying was awake.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and mumbled, “Zhenzhen, where are you?”

“Here.” Yan Zhen replied. “Did you sleep well?”

Long Ying threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, and padded barefoot over to Yan Zhen, throwing herself onto his lap and hugging him tightly.

Yan Zhen was startled. “What’s wrong?”

“I had a nightmare,” Long Ying said dejectedly. “You left me alone to fight. You promised we would face it together.”

Ah, this…

“It was just a dream. Don’t worry about it.” Yan Zhen stroked her soft, pink hair. “We have more important things to do.”

“What?”

“The most important thing after waking up is brushing your teeth and washing your face. Let’s go.”

Yan Zhen led Long Ying to the bathroom and they brushed their teeth and washed their faces together.

Actually, from the Mystic Master realm onwards, daily habits could gradually deviate from ordinary people’s. With abundant Mystic Qi in their bodies, they wouldn’t get dirty, and bathing, using the toilet, eating, and sleeping became less necessary.

However, Yan Zhen still maintained his usual habits, living an ordinary life.

As his cultivation increased, his bodily functions would change, and experiencing such mundane activities would become difficult.

A swirl of Mystic Qi, and his body would be clean, rendering bathing unnecessary.

Circulating his cultivation technique refined impurities, expelling them as waste gas, eliminating the need for toilets.

Without hunger, eating wouldn’t be as satisfying.

Without sleepiness, sleeping was merely switching from the real world to the dream world. Hidden Realm soul cultivators could even project their spirits and travel freely.

After washing up with Long Ying, Yan Zhen asked if she was hungry. She quickly shook her head, but her stomach growled.

Having eaten so much, she had already digested everything in one night. Excellent, truly deserving of the title “gluttonous loli.”

Having run out of energy-replenishing pills and ingredients for refining more, Yan Zhen had to take Long Ying to the dining hall again. However, just as they left the room, Huangfu Wenqing approached, carrying a small package.

“Yan Zhen, who is this?”

—Isn’t that the dragon? When did she appear?

Yan Zhen briefly explained, then said to Long Ying, “This is Huangfu Wenqing. You can call her ‘Sister Wenqing’.”

Long Ying narrowed her eyes, looking at Huangfu Wenqing with clear hostility.

She remembered clearly. In her previous life, it was because of this green-haired woman that she and Yan Zhen were chased by Cloud Heaven Palace, almost losing their lives. If it weren’t for Sister Ji Ya’s protection, it would have been all over.

Later, Cloud Heaven Palace, in their pursuit, even killed Yan Zhen’s grandfather, almost driving him to become a demon. Fortunately, Master Chen Xi pulled him back.

And later, when Yan Zhen led his people to Cloud Heaven Peak for revenge, this green-haired woman even dared to stand before them and try to dissuade them. How infuriating!

“I don’t like her. She looks mean. She’s not a good person.”

“Little girl, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t just say whatever you want.” An angry vein throbbed on Huangfu Wenqing’s forehead. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Huangfu Wenqing, and I’m Yan Zhen’s fiancée. We’ll be married soon.”

“Fiancée?” Long Ying was stunned. Hadn’t she broken off the engagement? She quickly turned to Yan Zhen. “Is that true?”

Yan Zhen nodded slightly.

Long Ying was indignant. The green-haired woman hadn’t broken off the engagement? That wasn’t right!

“I don’t like her! I’m not calling her sister! Hmph!”

“Fine, suit yourself.” Huangfu Wenqing shrugged. She also disliked Long Ying. This little loli was the one who caused the most damage to Cloud Heaven Palace. “Yan Zhen, I made some pastries. Let’s eat as we walk to the Celestial Dome Pagoda.”

Before Yan Zhen could answer, Long Ying shouted, “I-I want to go too!”

Huangfu Wenqing said coldly, “Do you have an academy card? You can’t enter the pagoda without one. Just stay here and wait for us.”

Long Ying’s little eyebrows furrowed, even more indignant, as if wanting to fight.

Yan Zhen didn’t understand why they were acting like they had a feud and quickly intervened. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. Wenqing, you go ahead. I’ll take Long Ying to the dining hall. We’ll meet up with you later.”

“Okay, but hurry up. I’ll be waiting for you at the entrance.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Huangfu Wenqing left without even looking at Long Ying. She knew this little loli wasn’t someone to be trifled with, and she, as an adult, wouldn’t lower herself to argue with a child.

Long Ying glared at her until she was out of sight, then turned to Yan Zhen and said, “Zhenzhen, she’s a bad woman. Don’t marry her. Marry Sister Xunyi and the others!”

“Little children shouldn’t worry about adult matters.” Yan Zhen sighed. “Let’s go to the dining hall. It’s probably crowded at this hour. We have to hurry if we want a table.”

After breakfast, which cost another fifty points on Yan Zhen’s Tier 4 card—equivalent to two hundred points on a Tier 2 card!

Compared to the other students’ breakfast expenses, ten or twenty points on a Tier 1 card, it was an exorbitant amount.

It seemed he needed to start refining pills and selling them.

55 Giving Long Ying a Bath

“I’ll be waiting!”

Bai Ao left this curt threat and then led his men out of the private room.

—Finally, they’re gone.

Yan Zhen breathed a sigh of relief.

If a fight had broken out here, interrupting Long Ying’s meal, Bai Ao would likely have been pummeled by the little Dragon Girl, leaving Yan Zhen with nothing to do.

His fight with Bai Ao was a key event for establishing his dominance in the Inner Academy. If Bai Ao was beaten by Long Ying and then refused to fight him, it would ruin the plot.

—Villains love to hand themselves over on a silver platter. Good thing I’m so resourceful!

Yan Zhen had already entered the Inner Academy early to save Ling’er, and now Long Ying’s premature appearance further disrupted his plans. Otherwise, he would be on the fourth level of the Celestial Dome Pagoda, engaging with the top students on the Rising Star List.

“How did you offend the White Fang?” Zi Xunyi asked with concern. “Those guys are narrow-minded bullies. Your cultivation isn’t high enough yet. It’s best to avoid conflict with them for now.”

“It’s too late. Even if I don’t go looking for them, they’ll come looking for me.” Yan Zhen smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I can at least protect myself.”

“Then be careful.”

“I will.”

Long Ying coughed, interjecting, “I’ll protect Zhenzhen. Whoever bullies him, I’ll beat them up.”

Zi Xunyi chuckled softly. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Little Long Ying~”

Yan Zhen smiled faintly but said nothing.

In her current loli form, Long Ying could probably hold her own against a high-star Mystic King. In her true form, she could even challenge a low-star Mystic Ancestor. She was indeed capable of protecting him.

However, in the script, Yan Zhen didn’t rely on Long Ying for protection. He only kept her around because he coveted her divine blood.

About an hour later, Long Ying finally finished eating. The table was piled high with empty plates and bones, almost hiding the three of them.

Yan Zhen called for the waiter and paid the bill under his strange gaze. He swiped his Tier 2 academy card, and over 600 points were deducted, almost maxing it out.

Yan Zhen feigned shock.

Long Ying, seeing this, felt a pang of guilt. She had promised not to eat so much, but she seemed to have eaten even more than in her previous life.

“Sorry, Zhenzhen, for making you spend so much.”

“…”

—Don’t be so sensible! Remember your character. You’re just a gluttonous little loli!

Yan Zhen waved his hand dismissively.

“I’ll ask the Grand Elder to reimburse me later.”

After all, the Grand Elder was the one who asked him to take care of Long Ying. What was a little food allowance?

“Alright, let’s go back. We’re attracting too much attention here.”

The three of them left the dining hall and returned to their respective residences.

Back in his room with Long Ying, Yan Zhen, having completed the first mission requirement, now had to complete the second.

“Bathe Long Ying and change her into clean clothes.”

After the feast, Long Ying’s only piece of clothing, the long-sleeved shirt, was stained with grease and unwearable. Her long, cherry-blossom pink hair was also a mess and needed to be combed.

“Yawn~” Long Ying suddenly yawned widely, then said sleepily, “Zhenzhen, I’m a little tired. I want to sleep.”

“Go ahead, but you’re covered in grease. Take a bath first.”

“Okay~”

Long Ying, unusually obedient, went to the bathroom. She was very familiar with this place.

Yan Zhen followed, activated the water talisman on the faucet, filled the bathtub, and then heated the water to boiling point with his Fire Mystic Power.

This temperature, to Long Ying, was just lukewarm.

“Thank you, Zhenzhen.”

“You’re welcome. Come, take off your clothes and sit on this little stool. I’ll wash your hair first.”

“Okay—eh?”

Long Ying froze, finally realizing that Yan Zhen was going to bathe her, and she would have to undress in front of him.

How… how could she do that?

She remembered Yan Zhen bathing her a few times in her previous life, but back then, she didn’t understand such things. Now, she was a young woman. How could she undress in front of a boy and let him bathe her?

Unacceptable!

/（/ /o/ω/o/ /）/

Long Ying fidgeted with her fingers and said shyly, “I-I can wash myself.”

Seeing Long Ying blush, Yan Zhen felt a strange sensation, but he still said, “Your hair is too long. You can’t wash it properly by yourself. Let me help—raise your arms. I’ll help you take off your clothes.”

Yan Zhen lifted the hem of her shirt, and Long Ying obediently raised her arms.

After removing the grease-stained shirt, Long Ying immediately used her long hair to cover herself, her face crimson.

—Why are you blushing?!

Yan Zhen felt even more awkward.

Long Ying was actually about the same age as Yan Zhen, so she was originally a graceful young woman. But at this age, for a dragon, she was still a child. And at this time, Long Ying didn’t understand such things, nor did Yan Zhen have any inappropriate thoughts towards a child. The atmosphere was wholesome, like a father bathing his daughter.

Her blushing, however, changed the atmosphere entirely. The father figure suddenly became… creepy.

—Damn it, for the sake of the mission…

“Sit down.”

Yan Zhen made Long Ying sit on the small stool, then scooped water from the tub and poured it over her head, wetting her hair. He squeezed some shampoo into his hand, lathered it, and then applied it to her hair.

Long Ying’s hair was indeed too long for her small body and a tangled mess, like a wild child’s.

Yan Zhen sat behind her and gently washed her hair.

After washing and rinsing her hair thoroughly, he told Long Ying to close her eyes and rinsed the shampoo off.

Then, Yan Zhen scrubbed her back and the rest of her body, then placed her in the bathtub to play with the water.

Throughout the entire process, Long Ying was as obedient as a golden retriever, completely different from the “husky” described in the script.

“…”

However, Long Ying was so embarrassed she almost fainted, sinking into the water and covering her red face with her hands, blowing bubbles.

—He saw everything~~~ I’m no longer pure~~~ I’ll never get married~~~

“Alright, don’t soak for too long if you’re sleepy. Come out. I’ve prepared some new clothes for you.”

Yan Zhen lifted Long Ying out of the water, startling her, and she flailed her limbs, crying out.

“Be quiet.”

Yan Zhen wrapped her in a towel, dried her, and then put a clean, long-sleeved shirt on her.

Long Ying glared at him, her face still flushed.

Yan Zhen scratched his cheek awkwardly. “Alright, time for bed. After you fall asleep, I’ll go cultivate.”

54 I Was Originally a Graceful Young Woman

Knowing it was impossible, the onlookers still felt a pang of jealousy, like they had bitten into a lemon.

How could a newly admitted freshman know the Purple-Clad Goddess?

Unacceptable!

“That guy from earlier was acting suspiciously. He didn’t seem like a good person,” Long Ying said while eating, a small mountain of bones already piling up beside her. Although she was trying to be polite, she still ate very quickly.

“Don’t mind him. He was just a paparazzi, interested in Zi Ji.”

“What’s paparazzi?”

“A stalker.”

“Oh~”

Zi Xunyi glanced at Yan Zhen, then placed a piece of braised pork in Long Ying’s bowl and asked, “Little Long Ying, how did you get here?”

Long Ying answered truthfully, “I was being chased by the Phoenix God Clan and accidentally teleported here.”

“Why were they chasing you?”

“Because I ate one of their Nirvana Fruits.”

Zi Xunyi was speechless.

The Nirvana Fruit was a treasure of the Phoenix God Clan. The “Phoenix Perch Blood-Winged Plane Tree” only bore fruit once every thousand years, a maximum of three fruits at a time, each incredibly precious, capable of awakening the ancestral blood of the Phoenix or granting rebirth through nirvana.

This child was truly audacious.

“You shouldn’t do that again. If you cause conflict between the Dragon God Clan and the Phoenix God Clan, it will be a disaster.”

“Let them come. Those stupid birds, always acting so arrogant, are actually weaklings.”

“Does your clan know about this?”

“They probably do by now, but they won’t be able to find me here anytime soon. I don’t want to go back yet.”

So she’s a runaway… Zi Xunyi shook her head inwardly.

Long Ying swallowed her food, took a sip of tea, and then asked, “More importantly, I’m curious, Sister Xunyi, are you and Zhenzhen together already?”

“Huh?” Zi Xunyi blushed. “What are you talking about? I haven’t… done that with him.”

She stole a glance at Yan Zhen.

Yan Zhen scratched his cheek awkwardly, not knowing how to respond.

Long Ying looked at Zi Xunyi, then at Yan Zhen. “You’re not together yet? Then… then if Zhenzhen and I live together, you won’t be jealous, Sister Xunyi?”

Zi Xunyi chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t be jealous of a child.”

Long Ying shook her head. “I’m not a child. I became like this because I ate the Nirvana Fruit. I was originally a graceful young woman!”

She was speaking to Zi Xunyi, but her gaze was on Yan Zhen.

Hinting frantically. JPG Zi Xunyi, however, didn’t mind. She saw Long Ying as just a child. “You’re still a child now.”

Yan Zhen also scoffed inwardly. Long Ying was originally a beautiful young woman, but it would take a long time for her to transform back, and even then, it would only last for less than five minutes, like Ultraman.

“Enough about being a beautiful young woman. Eat. We have to cultivate after this.”

Seeing their lack of reaction, Long Ying pouted and continued eating.

She desperately needed nourishment. And as long as she accumulated enough energy, she could briefly transform back into her original form.

They weren’t very familiar yet. If Yan Zhen saw her true form, he definitely wouldn’t be as indifferent as he was in her previous life.

Thinking of this, Long Ying ate even more enthusiastically, gradually forgetting her attempt at elegance.

Yan Zhen, seeing this, nodded with satisfaction.

—Good, the gluttonous loli is still a gluttonous loli. She kept saying she wasn’t hungry, almost fooling him.

Seeing that Long Ying had almost finished the food on the table, Yan Zhen called for the waiter to bring another round of dishes.

However, just then, a commotion arose outside, and a large group of people poured into the private room, surrounding Yan Zhen, Long Ying, and Zi Xunyi.

There were about thirty of them, all dressed in the pure white uniform of the White Fang society, a white base with white accents, and a white canine tooth badge on their chests.

The first-rate society, White Fang!

There were three leaders: Fu Cheng, whom Yan Zhen had defeated a few days ago; another Mystic General from the White Fang; and finally, the leader of the White Fang, Bai Ao, ranked thirty-third on the Rising Star List, a four-star Mystic General!

He had platinum blonde hair, sharp eyes, prominent canines, and a small scar on his face, giving him a fierce appearance, living up to his name, which meant “white mastiff.”

—How did the White Fang find us here?

Yan Zhen frowned. In the script, no one disturbed him and Long Ying during their meal. Was the plot going off track?

Zi Xunyi sat calmly, not even glancing at the White Fang members.

Long Ying, however, continued eating while looking at the uninvited guests curiously. She hadn’t met them in her previous life.

“You’re that Yan Zhen?” Bai Ao walked over to the opposite side of the table and looked down at him. “You don’t look like much, yet you managed to defeat one of our society’s pillars.”

Yan Zhen said indifferently, “Has no one ever taught you that it’s rude to interrupt someone’s meal?”

“Sharp tongue.” Bai Ao sneered. “But I’m not here for a verbal spar… Hand over that Tier 4 academy card, and I’ll let you leave safely. Otherwise, you’ll be spitting out everything you’ve eaten today. And you can’t leave until you do.”

Yan Zhen frowned. “You want to eat my vomit? That’s… a bit much.”

“Brat, what did you say?!”

The White Fang’s second-in-command shouted angrily. Bai Ao raised his hand, silencing him.

“In the Inner Academy, strength is everything. A sharp tongue is useless. The more you talk, the worse your fate will be.”

“Then why are you barking here?” Yan Zhen looked at Bai Ao calmly. “Proving that you live up to your name?”

Bai Ao hated it when people mentioned “dogs” in front of him.

“You’re asking for it!”

He was about to flip the table.

However, the table remained motionless, as sturdy as a rock.

Bai Ao was stunned and was about to use more force when Zi Xunyi spoke.

“That’s enough. Don’t go too far, Mr. Bai.”

Bai Ao had to stop. He didn’t dare to offend Zi Xunyi, as she was the person Wen Canglan, ranked second on the Rising Star List, had his eye on.

He had intended to ignore Zi Xunyi and directly target Yan Zhen, but it seemed she had some connection to him and was helping him.

That lucky brat!

“So it’s Lady Zi Ji. Since you’ve spoken, Lady Zi Ji, I’ll give him a pass, for your sake.”

Bai Ao turned to Yan Zhen and whispered, “You’re lucky today. Let me give you some advice. Something that doesn’t belong to you… it’s best to let it go. Otherwise, hehe.”

“Sore loser. Just admit you can’t afford to lose.” Yan Zhen wasn’t polite at all. “You’re ranked thirty-third on the Rising Star List, right? I defeated Fu Cheng from your society. When the rankings are updated next month, I’ll be on the list. Then, I’ll challenge you. Prepare your academy card. Hopefully, it’s at least Tier 5, with no less than three thousand points. Thank you.”

53 A Family of Three

—Wow, the system finally decided to show up and fix the plot. Did the sky fall or something?

[Ding! The system heard that. Please refrain from speaking ill of this system behind its back.]

—You’re the one who shouldn’t be eavesdropping on my thoughts… Besides, I’m just stating the truth. You’re the most useless system I’ve ever seen. All you do is issue missions.

[This system’s full name is ‘Protagonist Acting System.’ It is the incarnation of destiny, one of the greatest existences of all time. The host can consult the user manual for detailed information.]

“…”

—You’re telling me now that there’s a user manual?!

[Host is a genius~]

Yan Zhen ignored the system and focused on the mission, relieved after reading the requirements.

All three were part of the original script and not difficult. The second one, “Bathe Long Ying,” was a bit troublesome, as he had no experience taking care of children. Moreover, Long Ying, like him, had a fire attribute and disliked water, becoming restless whenever she touched it.

She preferred magma baths.

Later, when Yan Zhen entered the volcanic secret realm to search for ores, Long Ying would dive into the magma and find a large fire crystal vein, saving him a lot of effort.

For now, he had to feed this little ancestor.

“Are you still hungry? If you are, I’ll take you to the dining hall. You can eat as much as you want.”

Long Ying quickly shook her head.

She remembered eating a massive amount of food at the dining hall in her previous life, making Yan Zhen max out his Tier 2 academy card. He was mortified, not expecting her to still be so hungry after three bottles of pills, solidifying her image as a “glutton” in his mind.

She couldn’t eat like that this time. It wasn’t ladylike. Yan Zhen preferred elegant women, whether it was Sister Cai Lian, Sister Xunyi, Holy Master Yun Xiu, or even the demonic woman from the Demon Realm.

However, Long Ying’s stomach betrayed her again with a loud growl.

“Grumble~”

/(//o/ω/o//)/

“You said you weren’t hungry. Let’s go, I’ll take you to the dining hall.”

“…Okay.”

The little Dragon Girl hopped off the chair, took Yan Zhen’s hand, and went to the dining hall with him.

Just as they went downstairs, Yan Zhen sensed something and looked up, seeing Zi Xunyi flying over from the cliffside building.

Not a spiritual avatar, but her physical body.

Zi Xunyi landed gracefully before Yan Zhen and Long Ying, her lavender hair and purple dress swirling around her like a goddess.

“Zi Ji? Why did you come out?”

“I sensed a unique aura…” Zi Xunyi glanced at Yan Zhen, then looked down at the little girl holding his hand. “Is this her?”

“You could sense her from so far away? Impressive.” Yan Zhen complimented her, then continued, “Yes, Senior Sister Yu Die found her in the Great Forest outside the academy. She was originally an egg and hatched after absorbing the power of the Great Crimson Skyfire.”

“Is she… a dragon?”

“According to her, yes. From the Dragon God Clan of the Eighth Continent.”

Zi Xunyi frowned slightly, then leaned down and asked gently, “Little girl, what’s your name?”

The little Dragon Girl giggled. “I’m Long Ying. ‘Long’ like dragon, ‘Ying’ like cherry blossom. Hello, Sister Xunyi.”

“Hello, Little Long Ying. I, eh—how do you know my name?”

“I not only know your name, but I also know you’re from the Celestial God Clan.”

“Did Yan Zhen tell you?”

Yan Zhen quickly denied it. “No, I didn’t.”

Long Ying puffed out her chest proudly. “No one told me. I already knew, because I am the one and only Dragon-Phoenix Divine Beast!”

“Have we met before?”

The territories of the Celestial God Clan and the Dragon God Clan were far apart, each with its own independent space. Their relationship was neutral, with little interaction. And they were both still young, so logically, they shouldn’t have met.

“We’ve met, but not before.” Seeing Zi Xunyi’s confused expression, Long Ying felt a sense of accomplishment, finally getting to be the enigmatic one. “Well, don’t worry about the details. Zhenzhen and I are going to the dining hall. Sister Xunyi, would you like to join us?”

Zi Xunyi hesitated, then looked at Yan Zhen, who smiled gently.

“Let’s go together.”

“Okay.”

Zi Xunyi naturally didn’t walk beside Yan Zhen but beside Long Ying, looking at her curiously.

She didn’t realize that the three of them, two adults and one child, walking together, looked like a family of three.

They attracted a lot of attention along the way.

Zi Xunyi’s beauty and elegance were unparalleled in the Inner Academy. Although she had only appeared a few times in the past two years, she left a lasting impression on everyone who saw her, some even falling in love at first sight.

And Long Ying, despite wearing Yan Zhen’s oversized shirt, which looked rather comical on her, was still an adorable pink-haired doll, her bright, emerald eyes incredibly captivating.

As for Yan Zhen, he was also a handsome young man, and with his performance in the special examination and his recent conflicts with the White Fang, many students recognized him.

So, the question was, why was the legendary “Purple-Clad Goddess” walking with the “number one freshman”? And with an adorable pink-haired loli between them!

Although they didn’t want to think too much about it, the scene inevitably led to speculation.

So, a group of students discreetly followed them, wanting to see what was going on.

The three of them naturally noticed but ignored them.

Arriving at the dining hall, Yan Zhen requested a private room and ordered every dish on the menu.

The chefs were efficient, and the table was quickly filled with food.

The meat was from Mystic Beasts, and the vegetables were Mystic Vegetables, but their grades weren’t high, ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 3.

“Eat. Order more if it’s not enough.”

Long Ying gulped. “Wouldn’t this be too expensive?”

—Why is this little Dragon Girl so sensible now?

Yan Zhen felt awkward.

“Just eat. Don’t worry about the money. I have two academy cards, a Tier 2 and a Tier 4. More than enough.”

“Then I’ll eat. Don’t be angry if I eat too much, okay?”

“Eat as much as you want. I won’t be angry.”

Hearing this, Long Ying finally started eating heartily, though much more elegantly than in her previous life, even nibbling on the chicken leg delicately.

“You eat too, Zi Ji.”

“Mm-hmm.”

At Yan Zhen’s urging, Zi Xunyi also picked up her chopsticks and ate a few bites.

Outside the private room, the students who had followed them were restless. One of them even bribed a waiter with pills to take his place, serving the food. Then, he saw the heartwarming scene inside:

The pink-haired loli eating with gusto, Yan Zhen wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, and Zi Xunyi watching them with a smile.

—This… this is a perfect picture of a family of three!

52 The Ladylike Long Ying

“Ahem, Cousin-in-law, if you find it troublesome, I can take over.”

Seeing Yu Die’s persistence, Yan Zhen chuckled and gave her an OK gesture.

“I’ll ask for your help later, Cousin. I’ll take her back to my room now—let’s go, Long Ying.”

Yan Zhen took the little Dragon Girl’s hand and left the Grand Elder’s office, returning to his room.

Long Ying looked up at Yan Zhen’s profile, the familiar angle stirring a feeling of nostalgia within her.

—I miss this~

After she returned to her clan and regained her original body, he had never held her hand like this again.

And because she became the Dragon God Clan’s leader, Yan Zhen rarely allowed her to transform back into her original form and be his mount.

Although his attitude towards her remained the same, Long Ying always felt like something was missing, until she finally understood. She didn’t just see him as her “follower,” nor simply as her “master.” She liked him and wanted to be closer to him.

However, Long Ying knew that in Yan Zhen’s heart, she was still that little girl who would never grow up, only saying “Hungry, food.” He only saw her as a little sister, or even a “bro,” not even reacting when he accidentally saw her naked.

He only held romantic feelings for Sister Cai Lian, Sister Xunyi, his first love, Holy Master Yun Xiu, and that deceased demonic woman, Jiu Youyue.

Therefore, Long Ying could only bury her feelings, continuing to be a loyal “bro” by his side.

She hadn’t expected to be reborn over a decade into the past, back into that egg, encountering Yan Zhen again.

Judging from his behavior, he clearly wasn’t reborn like her.

So, Long Ying had an idea: since she couldn’t change his perception of her, she would rebuild their relationship from scratch.

This time, she wouldn’t ask him to be her follower, nor would she be his mount. She would make him realize her charm as a woman and make him fall for her.

Long Ying was confident in her original, mature form. Even Yan Zhen had complimented her beauty.

First, she couldn’t be a glutton who only thought about eating. Although her growing body needed a lot of energy, she had to be more refined about it. For example, she would only eat high-quality pills, less ordinary food, so she could eat less. And she would eat more elegantly, not swallowing everything in one bite…

“Grumble.”

Her stomach growled loudly, and Long Ying’s face flushed a lovely pink. She quickly covered her stomach with her hand.

“Still hungry after eating a whole bottle of pills?” Yan Zhen was speechless, but he still took out another bottle and offered it to her. “Here, have another one.”

Long Ying said stubbornly, “I-I don’t want it. I’m not hungry. I’m not a glutton!”

Yan Zhen almost doubted his ears.

—Did I just hallucinate? The gluttonous loli saying she’s not hungry?

In the script, when Long Ying first hatched, she was the ultimate glutton, devouring all his pills and still demanding more food. He even had to take her to the dining hall.

The food in the dining hall was relatively cheap. 100 points on a Tier 1 academy card could buy a table full of delicious food and wine.

Then, Long Ying had practically devoured all 500 points remaining on his Tier 2 card, eating so much that the chef came out, thinking some student was wasting food. What he saw, however, was a pink-haired loli practically buried in a mountain of bones and a mortified Yan Zhen.

“Are you sure you don’t want it?”

Long Ying puffed out her chest, acting all proud. “I said I don’t want it, so I don’t want it!”

She wasn’t a child anymore. She was a graceful and beautiful Dragon-Phoenix!

—Grumble.

Her body betrayed her the moment she finished speaking.

For over a year, she had only been able to absorb ambient Mystic Qi and the residual energy from the Nirvana Fruit to sustain herself. After hatching, she desperately needed nourishment. How could she not be hungry?

“Just eat it. The Grand Elder asked me to take good care of you.”

Yan Zhen placed the pill bottle in Long Ying’s small hand. She pouted, then poured the pills into her hand one by one, chewing slowly and swallowing elegantly.

She had learned this from Sister Xunyi. If anyone was the epitome of “elegance,” it was her.

Yan Zhen, glancing at her occasionally, felt that this Dragon Girl was very different from the one described in the script—she was eating too little, like a counterfeit.

Without her gluttonous nature, was she even Long Ying?

Thinking this, Yan Zhen led Long Ying back to his room and opened the door for her.

Long Ying looked around the room with her bright eyes, a wave of nostalgia washing over her.

She and Yan Zhen had lived here for over six months in her previous life. Besides cultivating in the Celestial Dome Pagoda, they mostly spent their time here, sleeping together.

Back then, she only saw him as her “human follower,” without any romantic feelings, even drooling on him in her sleep, which he complained about several times. Now, looking back, she regretted not sneaking a kiss while he was asleep.

—I won’t make the same mistake this time. I’ll show him my ladylike side and make him fall head over heels for me!

Yan Zhen led Long Ying to a chair, sat beside her, poured two cups of water, and handed her one.

“Have some water. Are you still hungry?”

Long Ying held the cup with both hands, drank it all in one gulp, and then replied, “Not hungry.”

—Good heavens, not hungry again. She must be a fake Long Ying, right?

“I have one last bottle of pills. Here, take it. Eat them if you get hungry.”

“Giving them all to me? What about you?”

“I can refine more.”

“Oh.”

One of the reasons Long Ying had clung to Yan Zhen in her previous life was because he possessed an Extreme Flame, leading her to believe he was a skilled alchemist, and she would have access to pills if she stayed with him.

Of course, the main reason was that he had helped her complete her Nirvana with the Great Crimson Skyfire, creating a special bond between them.

Long Ying opened the bottle, poured a pill into her hand, and then popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly and elegantly.

The more Yan Zhen watched, the more he felt something was off. It was like seeing a hardcore alcoholic, usually chugging from the bottle shirtless, suddenly dressed impeccably, sipping wine from a glass at a fancy restaurant.

—Should he still take her to the dining hall for an all-you-can-eat feast?

Just then, the system’s voice echoed in his mind:

[Ding! Detected early encounter with key character “Long Ying.” To prevent significant deviations from the script, an emergency mission is now issued.]

[Acting requirements: ① Feed Long Ying until she is satisfied; ② Bathe Long Ying and change her into clean clothes; ③ Sleep with her.]

[Note: “Long Ying” is the source of the third drop of divine blood for body tempering and a key figure in helping the host escape from Cloud Heaven Palace after the two-year duel. Please ensure a good relationship with her.]