DD2: Glory of the Unrivaled Angel

Word Count: 2,979 Words

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On the way to the Outer Courtyard's Spirit Dueling Arena, Ling Bai handed a white jade porcelain bottle to Han Ruoruo and said:

"Elder Sister, Mysterious Water Pill."

Han Ruoruo smiled brightly, but firmly pushed his hand back. "No need, Little Junior Brother. The Mysterious Water Pill is indeed precious, but it's only effective for young Spirit Masters with shallow cultivation and undeveloped abilities. I've already broken through to Spirit Saint. You should give it to someone who needs it more."

"Well..."

Ling Bai naturally understood the principle of sharing, but from his current understanding of Han Ruoruo, he knew that when she said no, she really meant it. In the end, he had to put away the Mysterious Water Pill and said:

"I have to treat Elder Sister next time we visit Shrek City for fun."

Han Ruoruo crossed her slender hands behind her back, feeling the moist evening breeze caress her cheeks. She said warmly, "Alright, Elder Sister will listen to you."

Not far away, overhearing their unguarded conversation, Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and asked Tang Ya:

"Teacher Xiao Ya, what is the Mysterious Water Pill? Is it very rare?"

"The Mysterious Water Pill is worth 10,000 spirit gold coins."

Tang Ya's first sentence gave Huo Yuhao a fright. His mind raced wildly. He sold twenty grilled fish a day, with a cost of 3 spirit copper coins and a selling price of 5 spirit copper coins, netting 40 spirit copper coins a day. Based on the exchange rate of 1 spirit gold coin = 100 spirit copper coins on the Douluo Continent, 10,000 spirit gold coins...

He would need to not eat or drink for sixty-eight years!

At this thought, he felt an inexplicable urge to burst into tears.

Tang Ya didn't notice her little disciple's rich inner thoughts and continued:

"Xu Sanshi hails from the Xuanwu Sect of the Dou Spirit Empire. Only they know how to refine Mysterious Water Pills on the entire continent. It's said that refining it requires the essence blood of more than a dozen water-attribute spirit beasts and dozens of water-attribute plants, undergoing a special blending and refining process.

The medicinal properties of the Mysterious Water Pill are very mild.Spirit Masters of any attribute can absorb its medicinal power well. For those below Rank 20, taking it can increase their spirit power by at least one rank. But its most precious aspect isn't in increasing spirit power, but in its miraculous effect of cleansing impurities from the body and tempering the muscles and bones.

For Spirit Masters with outstanding talent, taking the Mysterious Water Pill is just icing on the cake. The effect is even more negligible for monsters like Ling Bai with innate rank 20 spirit power. But for ordinary Spirit Masters like you and me, it's a godsend.

The Mysterious Water Pill's tempering effect is equivalent to increasing a Spirit Master's innate spirit power by one rank. If your innate spirit power was only Rank 1 when your Martial Spirit awakened, then after taking the Mysterious Water Pill, your innate spirit power will become Rank 2. This is a transformation of talent and the Spirit Master's foundation!"

"What!"

Huo Yuhao's eyes instantly burned with passion. His innate spirit power was exactly Rank 1!

Over the years, his cultivation path had been exceptionally difficult. His meridians were thinner than ordinary people's and somewhat blocked, resulting in an extremely slow cultivation speed. It took him a full five years to increase from Rank 1 spirit power to Rank 10, which was merely the starting point for Spirit Masters with innate full spirit power!

An increase in innate spirit power was a transformation of one's foundation. If he could luckily use the Mysterious Water Pill's power to cleanse his meridians and temper his body, his cultivation speed would increase at least threefold!

"Teacher Xiao Ya, I..." Huo Yuhao stammered as he opened his mouth.

"Say no more." Tang Ya placed her slender finger to her lips as she whispered, "Knowing Bei Bei, he's surely already found a way to trick Xu Sanshi. Xiao Yuhao, just wait patiently for the Mysterious Water Pill!"

"Senior Brother..."

Tears welled up in Huo Yuhao's eyes. He blinked rapidly to prevent them from spilling over.

Due to the immense fame of the Outer Courtyard's Twin Stars, and with Shrek Academy broadcasting the duel through sound-amplifying spirit guidance devices in the dormitory area, the spirit battle between Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi attracted the attention of many students. Regardless of their cultivation level, they all flocked to watch. Along the way, they encountered Outer Courtyard students from all grades, wearing white, yellow, purple, and black uniforms.

The Outer Courtyard students immediately showed a respectful expression when they saw the red uniforms of Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo. They automatically opened up a wide path for them, their eyes filled with admiration and starry eyes.

"Bai-ge!"

A crisp, melodious voice reached Ling Bai's ears. He responded and looked over, only to see two girls in white uniforms sprinting toward him from several hundred meters away.

"Xiao Tian, Wu Feng?"

Ling Bai stopped in his tracks. Beside him, Han Ruoruo seemed thoughtful. As clever as she was, she immediately realized that these two were disciples of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan who had enrolled alongside Ling Bai.

Ning Tian ran up to Ling Bai. Being an auxiliary-type Spirit Master with relatively weak physical strength, running at full speed left her slightly breathless. Her slightly curved chest heaved up and down, and her exquisite face was tinged with a rosy hue. Wu Feng who was following closely beside her felt a pang of concern and glared at Ling Bai fiercely.

Ling Bai ignored Wu Feng's fiery gaze and lightly patted Ning Tian's back to help her catch her breath. He chuckled, "Why are you running so fast? I've been here all along."

Ning Tian's breathing gradually steadied as she gazed into Ling Bai's smiling golden eyes. She said, "One day apart feels like three autumns. We haven't seen you for two days, and I was afraid you'd forgotten us."

At the same time, she seemed to casually glance at the gentle and elegant Han Ruoruo, her gaze seemingly indifferent yet hinting at something.

Aside from the Clan Head of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, no one knew Ning Tian better than Ling Bai. He immediately took Ning Tian's jade-like hand and pulled Wu Feng by the sleeve, introducing them respectively:

"Inner Courtyard, Senior Sister Han Ruoruo.

Outer Courtyard freshmen, Ning Tian and Wu Feng."

"Greetings, Senior Sister!"

Ning Tian quietly interlocked her five fingers with Ling Bai's and obediently greeted Han Ruoruo. Wu Feng, with no choice, reluctantly echoed, "Greetings, Senior Sister."

"Greetings to both of you."

Han Ruoruo looked at Ning Tian and Wu Feng, her gaze lingering on the clasped hands. The corners of her lips curved into a shallow arc.

Ning Tian was only eleven years old after all. Her act of declaring her territory was too obvious and straightforward. Han Ruoruo easily saw through her possessiveness and nervousness toward Ling Bai, as if afraid that she would snatch him away.

"Little Junior Brother, Elder Sister is very happy today. I won't disturb you all any longer. I'll head back to Sea God Island to rest."

Han Ruoruo didn't want to cause any misunderstanding for Ning Tian and took the initiative to leave. She understood how much an auxiliary clan like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan valued external talents. It seemed that Ning Tian had already chosen Ling Bai as her protector, that was, her future husband to rely on.

Once Han Ruoruo's figure disappeared from sight, Ning Tian slowly unclenched the fist she had been gripping behind her back. It wasn't her fault for lacking a sense of security. She and Ling Bai were both young and hadn't established a marriage contract to confirm their relationship. Now, with Ling Bai in the Inner Courtyard and her in the Outer Courtyard, they couldn't spend every day together to further cultivate their feelings.

The Inner Courtyard was full of outstanding women with excellent looks, talent, and backgrounds. Moreover, they were all in the prime of youth, well-developed and graceful. Ning Tian had heard that men were very likely to fall in love with the first mature woman who taught them what it meant to be a man. If Ling Bai were seduced by a bad woman, she would have no place to cry.

"Bai-ge, how are things in the Inner Courtyard? Have the Senior Students given you a hard time?" Ning Tian asked with concern.

"Everything is going smoothly. How about you two?"

"Wu Feng and I happened to be assigned to the same class and dormitory. Although our homeroom teacher, Teacher Mu Jin, appears strict in her teaching, she's very caring toward us in private. She's the typical tough-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside type."

Ling Bai nodded slightly. Compared to Zhou Yi, who would expel students at the slightest disagreement, Mu Jin could be considered a competent teacher.

"And Ning Tian is the class monitor!"

Wu Feng looked proud, then cleared her throat and added, "I'm the vice class monitor!"

"What? You're the vice class monitor?"

Ling Bai gasped, "Then your class is doomed."

"... Ling Bai, I'm going to kill you!!!"

…

Spirit Dueling Arena, Rest Area.

As soon as they entered, Xu Sanshi couldn't wait to say, "On the way here, I saw Tang Ya chatting and laughing with that Inner Courtyard Big Brother. Do you know him?"

Contrary to their outward appearance of being at odds, the Outer Courtyard's Twin Stars were actually very good friends.

Bei Bei glared at Xu Sanshi upon hearing this. "What 'Big Brother'? Ling Bai is three years younger than you."

"What?!"

Xu Sanshi was stunned. "Then isn't he the same age as this year's freshmen?!"

Bei Bei nodded. "Exactly. Before the school term began, Xiao Ya broke through to Rank 30. While hunting for her spirit ring in the Star Dou Forest, we happened to meet the group from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. The leader was Ling Bai, so we traveled together.

Sanshi, Ling Bai's talent is far above you and me. Don't hold a grudge against him because of today's matter, or you'll definitely suffer."

After briefly explaining how they met, Bei Bei didn't forget to warn Xu Sanshi.

"How dare I hold a grudge against him!"

Xu Sanshi shrank his neck, looking very much like a frightened turtle retreating into its shell. "Do you remember Ma Xiaotao, the Phoenix Spirit Emperor, who often comes to me to neutralize her evil fire?"

"The Evil Fire Phoenix Spirit Emperor. You always complain that she's too heavy-handed."

Xu Sanshi pointed at his eyes, his expression exaggerated. "Two nights ago, I personally witnessed Ling Bai pinning down Ma Xiaotao and beating her up! A Spirit Ancestor thrashing a Spirit Emperor, the world is upside down!

However..."

Xu Sanshi's tone changed as he chuckled, "I can also be considered to have a fateful connection with him now. If I can exchange two Mysterious Water Pills for Big Brother's goodwill, I've made a great deal!"

Bei Bei covered his face. He knew Xu Sanshi was shameless but didn't expect him to unabashedly call Ling Bai 'Big Brother' repeatedly.

"You still haven't settled your score with the Tang Sect. Hurry up and hand over a Mysterious Water Pill!"

Bei Bei stretched out his hand. Just as Tang Ya had predicted, the moment he saw Xu Sanshi give Ling Bai the Mysterious Water Pills, he began plotting for his junior brother Huo Yuhao.

"Do you think Mysterious Water Pills grow on trees?!"

Xu Sanshi was dumbfounded. Did he have the word 'sucker' engraved on his forehead? Why was everyone extorting him today?!

Bei Bei raised an eyebrow, "Separate matters should be dealt with separately. You bullied my Junior Brother; shouldn't you compensate him?"

"I'll compensate 200 spirit gold coins, enough to eat his grilled fish for a year."

Bei Bei felt a headache coming on. Xu Sanshi was very shrewd and wouldn't fall for his tricks. But Huo Yuhao's talent desperately needed the Mysterious Water Pill to improve. After pondering for a moment, a thought struck him, and he said:

"I won't take advantage of you. Let's settle this with a spirit duel. If you win, I won't pursue the matter. If you lose, give me the Mysterious Water Pill."

Xu Sanshi smacked his lips, then extended a finger. "Add one more condition. Your Tang Ya has a good relationship with Nannan. If I win, have her arrange for Nannan to meet me at the city gate. I want to give her a surprise."

"...You really like Jiang Nannan," Bei Bei said.

Although Jiang Nannan was known as the number one beauty in the Outer Courtyard, Xu Sanshi had top-notch background, looks, and talent. He was quite puzzled why Xu Sanshi was so fixated on her alone.

Xu Sanshi's face turned red and pretended to be angry. "Hurry up, do you agree or not!"

"Deal."

Bei Bei still hoped that his good brother would eventually win the beauty's heart and decided to help him along with Tang Ya.

…

Outer Courtyard Spirit Dueling Arena, Spectator Stands.

After paying the viewing fees, the group of five found seats. The two boys, Ling Bai and Huo Yuhao, sat in the middle, flanked by Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Tang Ya on either side.

As soon as they sat down, Wu Feng immediately complained, "Has Shrek gone mad for money? Charging a whole spirit silver coin just to watch a spirit duel!"

Huo Yuhao wholeheartedly agreed. He would have to sell five grilled fish to earn one spirit silver coin. If not for the little rich girl Ning Tian generously treating them, he would never have spent money to watch the battle.

Ning Tian leaned her head lightly against Ling Bai, her fingers tracing circles around his wrist, and smiled. "The academy is extensive, and various facilities require funds for maintenance. The Beast Battle Arena houses many spirit beasts, and the daily expenses are enormous. Charging some fees is understandable."

Ling Bai didn't speak, silently tucking a few strands of Ning Tian's platinum-blonde hair behind her ear. The girl's delicate fragrance lingered at his nose as he surveyed the Outer Courtyard's Spirit Dueling Arena.

The overall layout was not much different from the Inner Courtyard one. The most noticeable difference was the spectator seats. Considering that the number of students in the Outer Courtyard far exceeded that of the Inner Courtyard, the Outer Courtyard's Spirit Dueling Arena had seating for two thousand people.

As the two most prominent figures in the Outer Courtyard, every battle between Bei Bei, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and Xu Sanshi, the Mystic Deep Turtle, was thrilling. At this moment, more and more students were gathering in the arena. Looking around, the place was crowded with at least a thousand students coming to watch.

This scene made Huo Yuhao a bit nervous. He whispered, "Teacher Xiao Ya, can Senior Brother win?"

"Not necessarily," Tang Ya shook her head. "Xu Sanshi possesses the top-level defense-type Beast Martial Spirit, the Mystic Deep Turtle. He's known as the number one Defense System in the Outer Courtyard. Paired with Bei Bei, the number one Attack Power System, they're called the Twin Stars of the Outer Courtyard. Their past encounters have always been evenly matched, roughly fifty-fifty."

"This..."

There was a fleeting gloominess in Huo Yuhao's eyes. From time to time, he would look back and forth between the entrance of the arena, Ling Bai, and Tang Ya, as if he were considering something.

"Both contestants, please enter the arena!"

With a loud announcement from the referee, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi strode out from opposite sides. The noisy Spirit Dueling Arena instantly quieted down. Everyone stared intently at the two in the arena, afraid of missing any exciting moments.

"Fourth-year Bei Bei versus fifth-year Xu Sanshi. The match begins!"

The referee quickly retreated, leaving the entire arena to them. The two released their respective Martial Spirits simultaneously.

Blue light converged as Bei Bei's right arm swelled rapidly. Countless electric arcs erupted and swirled around it as his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Spirit manifested. Two yellow and one purple spirit rings of optimal configuration rose and fell as they encircled his dragon-formed right arm.

Xu Sanshi was not to be outdone. His expanding body stretched his school uniform taut. The jet-black Mystic Deep Turtle Shield appeared, also boasting the optimal configuration of two yellow and one purple spirit rings.

The two began to move slowly, their sharp gazes locked on each other as their surging spirit power continued to rise. Blue and black, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon versus Mystic Deep Turtle, distinctly opposing forces.

"Mm?"

Ling Bai suddenly frowned. He had detected a faint fluctuation of spiritual power, the special ripple that was unavoidable when releasing a spiritual-type spirit skill.

He turned his head and, sure enough, saw a faint golden light flickering in Huo Yuhao's originally deep blue eyes!

Spirit Eyes' First Spirit Skill, Spiritual Detection Sharing!

Huo Yuhao intended to use the concealment of spiritual attributes to help Bei Bei win against Xu Sanshi. He might be able to hide it from the distant referee, but how could he hide it from Ling Bai, who was right beside him!

Boom—

"Ahh!!!"

Huo Yuhao cried out in pain, feeling as if his Spiritual Sea was being torn apart by a beam of golden light. Startled, the Skydream Iceworm awoke from its death-like slumber and hastily repaired the damage with a puzzled expression on its face.

The next second, Huo Yuhao met a pair of piercing golden eyes as sharp as swords. A deep and cold voice followed:

"Huo Yuhao, are you... cheating?"