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--- Chapter 287 ---
A week later.
Jia Ma Empire, Wu Tan City.
Han Yuan, Qing Lin, and a few disciples returned from the Misty Mountain Range. They returned to Wu Tan City, waiting for the Jia Nan Academy's caravan to arrive and recruit new students.
In a big courtyard, two figures stood in front of each other.
"Come on, Qing Lin, just thirty more swings!" Han Yuan clapped his hands, watching Qing Lin's swordsmanship training. "Let's finish this before breakfast."
Qing Lin was sweating on the training field. After being nurtured by Life Gold and other nourishing pills, this green-haired girl was no longer small and malnourished. She had grown taller to over 159 centimeters, with a lithe and toned physique, primarily due to her constant training over the past month and the magical vitality of Life Gold. Her green hair was tied in a ponytail, bobbing up and down as she swung a beautiful white-silver sword sheath with a serious expression.
After following Han Yuan's words, Qing Lin swung her sword sheath for the thirtieth time and then stopped to regulate her breathing. She smiled at him and said, "Brother, I did it!"
Han Yuan placed a towel over Qing Lin's head and started rubbing her wet hair. He modestly praised her, "You certainly did, Qing Lin. Not only has your breath control improved, but you are also able to maintain the flow of your Dou Qi well."
"At this rate, you can introduce spirit energy into your Dou Qi cyclone!" he added with a smile.
Qing Lin's eyes lit up. "Really, Brother Yuan? You didn't lie to Qing Lin, right?"
Han Yuan chuckled softly. "Of course, I've never lied to you. Both you and Medusa cultivated the Eye of the Hellish Serpent, a Dou Cultivation Technique that is very suitable for those with serpent's blood."
"However, this Dou Technique is more suitable for you because of your innate ability—your eyes."
"Hmm, no wonder I felt like the Eye of the Hellish Serpent seemed easier for me than for Sister Medusa. Her snake-attributed Dou Qi seems heavier and more destructive than mine."
"That's because her bloodline is that of the Heaven Swallowing Python," Han Yuan said, shaking his head helplessly. "Her snake-attributed Dou Qi is 'naturally' influenced by her lineage."
"Yours, on the other hand, is naturally lighter and more spiritually active than Medusa's."
'I don't know which one is stronger at their peaks, though.' Han Yuan commented inwardly.
Qing Lin nodded. "Mm, I felt like my Dou Qi is easier to control. I can also manage this energy in my head."
"That, my cute sister, is a Spiritual Power. It's the most versatile energy a human can master, other than Life Force, at least in this world. Once you master it, you could defeat someone above your cultivation realm simply by cursing them."
"Hmm, that sounds scary," Qing Lin mumbled, rubbing her chin.
Han Yuan laughed out loud. "Hahaha, of course! That's why Spiritual Masters are 'very' feared in many places (worlds)."
In both the Douluo Plane and Dou Qi Plane, the role of a Spiritual Master, who can harm both mind and soul, is terrifying. You wouldn't even know who hit you before you perished under their invisible power.
The only drawback of a typical Spiritual Master is that they tend to be fragile—like a glass cannon, you could say.
Thankfully, Han Yuan was already addressing this issue by allowing Qing Lin to train in all aspects. Overall, she was becoming an all-rounder and would grow even stronger once her Triple-Jade Green Snake Flower Pupils awakened completely.
"Before the Jia Nan Academy's people arrive, you should be able to condense your Dou Qi cyclone," Han Yuan commented confidently.
Qing Lin nodded in understanding, then asked, "What about my martial souls?"
"When can I cultivate them?" Her green eyes gleamed in anticipation.
"Uh," Han Yuan was speechless, wearing a helpless expression. "You little girl is too ambitious. Didn't I tell you that you need to at least reach the 1-Star Dou Grandmaster Realm before contracting a Spirit Soul?"
"You're really that jealous after Xun'er contracted those dogs, huh?"
Qing Lin pouted in disappointment, "Qing Lin is not jealous. It's just that I wanted to cultivate martial souls earlier. 1-Star Dou Grandmaster is too long..."
"Too long? Hahaha! You can reach the Dou Disciple Realm in less than two months of training. If others knew about your current cultivation speed, they would cry from the unfairness!" Han Yuan laughed as he flicked Qing Lin's forehead gently.
"Anyway, go take a bath. You're a little stinky."
Qing Lin puffed her cheeks. "Brother Yuan is stinky! Stinky Brother Yuan, hmph!"
With that, Qing Lin ran toward her room, occasionally smelling her arms and shoulders but finding no smell at all. She looked back and saw Han Yuan's teasing smile.
"Aah, Brother Yuan, you're a stinky bully!"
---
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At noon, Xiao Yixian and Gu Xun'er also returned from the Misty Mountain Range. They have gained a lot from their recent seclusion, especially Gu Xun'er.
"Sister Yixian, Sister Xun'er! Big Brother Yuan is bullying me! He's a stinky devil!" Qing Lin immediately complained as she threw herself toward the two girls.
Han Yuan stood helplessly, raising his arms in defeat. "Alright, I am a big stinky devil. I admitted my mistakes, please forgive me!"
Xiao Yixian rolled her eyes, "You're really our dependent big brother, teasing your sister like this."
"Hehe, don't be sad, Qing Lin. It's just a prank," Gu Xun'er comforted the little girl while also giving Han Yuan a playful smile. "I am sure Han Yuan just wants to tease you."
"Here, have candy." She handed a candy to Qing Lin.
"Mhm, thank you, Sister Xun'er." Qing Lin accepted the candy and ate it with a happy smile.
Han Yuan gave Gu Xun'er a thumbs-up for the assist and sent a very ambiguous telepathic message, 'Good job, Xun'er, anyone who would marry you in the future would be lucky to have such a virtuous wife!'
Of course, hearing this message, Gu Xun'er couldn't help but blush and started imagining things, 'Hehe, he called me a virtuous wife~!'
"Well, now that you two are here, let's wait for the Jia Nan Academy's recruiters." Han Yuan suddenly said, making both Xiao Yixian and Gu Xun'er nod.
"You too, Qing Lin."
"You're coming with us to the Jia Nan Academy."
Qing Lin chewed on her candy and replied, "Ogey!"
So, for the next few days, Han Yuan spent his time with the girls, mainly Qing Lin, because she was going to mix spirit energy into her Dou Qi cyclone, and the possibility of failure could happen.
Thankfully, Qing Lin succeeded in the end.
She has transformed her Dou Qi into enhanced Dou Qi, but to make sure everything is alright, she's not going to cultivate her martial souls. She hated it, of course, so Han Yuan had to appease her with another Dou Technique.
Han Yuan decided to teach Qing Lin Heavenly Demon Eyes, which could complement her innate ability and increase her spiritual power.
At last, the recruitment day has come.
A caravan of people in white-silver uniforms and robes arrived at Wu Tan City. Their identity is clear as a special banner with "Jia Nan" characters waving gently in the air.
Yes, the people from Jia Nan Academy finally arrived at Wu Tan City!