When she first learned she had to go to school, Nahida also had illusions about her classmates.
Because classmates often mean they can become friends, you can go to and from class together, discuss study notes, and so on.
But after actually starting school, Nahida's illusions were shattered.
Because her study intensity was too high, simply no one could keep up, making it seem impossible for her to have any real classmates.
But now, it seemed there was hope?
Nahida opened her big eyes, her gaze very clear. Standing on tiptoe on V's shoulder, she looked at the little red bird and asked, ["Is it her?"]
"Of course!"
Lu Heng smiled and nodded. "Little Zhuque is still young, just the right age for school!"
The Great Dendro Archon smiled endlessly.
Poor little Zhuque was destined to taste the bitterness of schooling.
But the Great Dendro Archon fully supported Lu Heng's decision.
The Zhuque bloodline was too powerful, so powerful that she only needed to grow up peacefully to possess terrifying strength at the peak of the fifth tier.
This brings up the issue of 'heart' again.
Only with a strong heart can one better control powerful strength.
A negative example: a certain Scara*mouche.
If the heart is not right, even with great power, one cannot properly wield it.
And Nahida after the 'node' was similar.
Right now, Little Zhuque was still young, and the Great Dendro Archon didn't have many demands of her.
But she definitely needed to learn to distinguish right from wrong.
"What is school?" Little Zhuque was a bit confused.
Recalling the scenes she just saw, she shuddered, saying with some horror, "I don't have hands, I can't write!"
"It's fine, you still have a mouth, right? Holding a pen to write is the same. It's a form of training..."
Little Zhuque's pupils contracted.
In her eyes, Lu Heng's grin widened, revealing a mouth full of fine, sharp teeth. A huge black shadow loomed behind him, and the wails of countless souls seemed to echo in her ears, as if she stood beside a hellish demon, about to be devoured!
The little plump bird's eyes rolled back, and she fell straight down.
The Great Dendro Archon swiftly reached out and caught her. Looking at the motionless Little Zhuque in her palm, she said with a wry smile, "You really enjoy bullying children, don't you?"
"Hey, Honey, be reasonable."
Lu Heng shrugged, looking utterly innocent.
Clearly, it was Little Zhuque's own imagination; what did it have to do with him?
Checking on Little Zhuque, Lu Heng laughed, "She scared herself. She's fine. Sigh, these days, even teasing a bird requires caution. Life is truly difficult."
Nahida relaxed after hearing Little Zhuque was okay.
This was her future classmate!
She mustn't have anything happen to her!
"You hold her."
The Great Dendro Archon placed Little Zhuque into Nahida's hands.
Nahida held her carefully, cradling her.
Lu Heng glanced at them, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Now it really looked like protecting a little bird, though the one being protected was different, giving a different feeling.
Lu Heng shook his head, dismissing the thoughts in his mind.
Since Nahida could never become that version, he shouldn't hold prejudice against her.
Besides, thinking too much about these things annoyed him a bit; he almost wished he could jump through the timeline and strangle a certain someone before they were even born.
"Let's go, heading home."
Lu Heng had just taken two steps when he suddenly said, "Nahida's studies are heavy; she probably doesn't have time to visit Dunyarzad usually, right?"
"Ah, mm!"
Nahida, holding the little bird, nodded seriously.
Under the Great Dendro Archon's amused gaze, Lu Heng coughed lightly. "Well then, why don't you go play at Dunyarzad's house directly? Stay at her place tonight. You're friends anyway, staying over occasionally helps maintain your bond."
"Really? Can I?" Nahida seemed tempted.
"Of course." The Great Dendro Archon stroked her head, smiling. "You know the way, right? It's still early; going now means more time to play. Just remember to rest early."
"Okay!"
The innocent Nahida didn't suspect this was a ploy to send her away.
She happily agreed, and carrying her backpack and the little plump bird, she trotted off towards Dunyarzad's house.
Watching the little third wheel leave, Lu Heng, in a pleasant mood, turned to the Great Dendro Archon and held out his hand. "Shall we go home too?"
"Okay~"
The Great Dendro Archon linked arms with Lu Heng, a soft smile on her face.
Back in the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Dinner was a bit early that night.
The time after dinner shall not be described in detail.
"Ugh, forget talking about the Rating Tower!"
"Hey, seriously, low-level viewers actually dare to mock a streamer of high-tier strength? You guys are really getting ahead of yourselves!" Lumine pointed at the camera. "If this were a cultivation world, be careful or Ancestor Lumine will capture your souls in her Ten Thousand Souls Banner!"
"Yeah!"
Paimon chimed in vigorously. "You guys, just wait until your big sister Paimon finds you through the internet! You'll be sorry then! Hehehe!"
'Staying in the live stream is more enjoyable. Even though my rating is only 12, I can scold rank 55 experts!'
'LOL, if this were really a cultivation world, every single one of you would be refined by the evil Ancestor Lumine!'
'Just came out of the Rating Tower. Floor 21, 18 seconds. What's my level?'
'A big lump!'
"Alright, alright." Lumine waved her hand. "Brothers, let's clear some Story Quests."
"Let me see which one to do..." Lumine thought for a moment. "Got it! Perfect, let's do Nahida's Story Quest! Any grinders who've already done it, tell me, that certain someone shouldn't be in this quest, right?"
'Ancestor Lumine, rest assured. Although it's a bit... hard to evaluate, it's still acceptable!'
'Recommend checking out Nahida's second Story Quest. It's somewhat tear-jerking.'
'Can't say I felt nothing, but the impact wasn't particularly deep either.'
'Grinder Lumine, initiate speedrun!'
"Alright, starting the grind!"
Lumine immediately accepted Nahida's Story Quest.
Dunyarzad's House.
Because of their fathers' relationship, Dehya and Dunyarzad were also close friends, so Dehya lived there too.
Currently, Nahida, Dunyarzad, Dehya, plus the little plump Zhuque were in the room.
The three were in pajamas, the little Zhuque perched on Nahida's shoulder. They were watching Lumine's stream on a tablet.
It started simply. While casually browsing videos on her phone, Little Zhuque came across Lumine's stream, saw 'Little Twig' in the video, and started chirping and asking questions.
For convenience, Dunyarzad brought out a tablet for everyone to watch together.
"I find this so strange..." Nahida sometimes felt a bit confused.
Her changes seemed so significant!
Nahida had some suspicions.
The same person, after experiencing different things, will walk down different paths.
Comparatively, Nahida preferred her current life.
Although school was a bit tough, she only needed to focus on studying. Everything else required no effort from her.
The feeling of having a mighty tree to rely on was incredibly reassuring!
"How can Little Twig be so单纯ly smart yet also silly at the same time?" Little Zhuque didn't understand.
I don't get it!
Why is the same person so different?
"Because I can transform," Nahida said shyly. "I can become the smart Little Twig, and also the silly Little Twig~"
"Wow, you're that powerful?!" Little Zhuque was astonished.
Dehya and Dunyarzad looked at each other, speechless.
To be honest, if you ignored the fact that the Lesser Lord Kusanali was five hundred years old, she really was just like a child.
They chatted while watching the stream.
Little Zhuque developed a liking for potato chips.
These thin, crispy things, pecking at them to eat, tasted pretty good.
Time passed.
In the quest, the Traveler duo and Nahida had arrived in the desert.
Amidst the violent sandstorm, a highly oppressive shadow loomed.
It was the outline of an ancient dragon.
After its appearance, the sandstorm intensified.
A majestic, ethereal voice echoed between heaven and earth.
"Tiny deity, tiny humans, leave my domain."
From within the swirling yellow sand, the ancient dragon issued a warning!
"Whoa! So huge!" Lumine measured roughly on the screen. "So this is an ancient dragon? Feels more imposing than Zhongli's Exuvia!"
"Zhongli's one..." Paimon scratched her head. "I'll be honest, don't get mad, brothers from Liyue, but when that Exuvia fell from the sky and hit the ground, it was this... yellowish, coiling thing, kind of... I shouldn't say!"
'Dammit!'
'I need a new brain that hasn't heard Paimon's description!'
'Paimon, you're done for! The Millelith will be at your door any minute!'
'Oh really? Talking about our Emperor like that? Just you wait!'
'This is no ordinary disrespect. We must come down hard! We'll make you behave soon!'
"Paimon, you must have eaten too many red beans, lovesick or something," Lumine said gleefully, then her expression turned serious. "But an honest person speaks honestly. In terms of dragon form, this dragon has more style!"
'True that.'
'Is it possible the dragon form is just one of Rex Lapis's manifestations? Not his original form?'
'It's fine, as long as it's cooler than the Anemo Archon next door.'
'Come to the Stone Gate if you dare, let's have a proper chat!'
'This Dendro Dragon is so cocky. But understandable, the stronger the life form, the more prideful... Wait! If I remember correctly, the Great Dendro Archon is also Mr. Lu's partner, right? What attitude would the Dendro Dragon have facing the Great Dendro Archon?'
'Dendro Dragon: Me, being arrogant with the Great Dendro Archon? I haven't lived long enough!'
While doing the quest, Lumine said without thinking, "Brother Lu just needs to flex his might, and Apep will immediately submit!"
"It's not that exaggerated, is it?" Paimon was shocked.
"You know me, I follow Brother Lu unconditionally."
Lumine checked the time. "Another hour's up. Quick, send my brother a payment reminder message."
"Okay!"
Paimon took Lumine's phone and sent a copied message to Aether.
'After getting beaten up by the rank 54 Uncrowned King, Lumine has become like a debt collector. (LOL)'
'Aether must be having a headache. Why have a little sister anyway? (Dog head)'
'Key point is, this little sister's loyalty lies elsewhere!'
"Yeah, so what?" Lumine admitted freely. "Alright, watch and learn carefully. Watch how I operate this... Wait, aren't we fighting the Dendro Dragon? How did it become fighting something inside the Dendro Dragon's stomach?... This thing looks a bit like... pickled cabbage?"
"Hey, now that you mention it, I'm getting a bit hungry." Paimon looked at it. "Want a cup of instant noodles? The 'Old Altar Pickled Vegetable' kind?"
"I won't eat any pickled cabbage that wasn't stomped on by a beautiful girl."
Lumine declared loudly.
"You damn... truly a born abstract saint."
Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Late at night. The defeated Great Dendro Archon lay in Lu Heng's arms, watching the stream together.
She asked, "How should we deal with Apep?"
Leaving it alone was not an option.
If they intervened, Apep probably wouldn't be cooperative either.
The Great Dendro Archon wasn't a saint who had to intervene.
The key issue was that Apep was hidden underground in the desert. If it suddenly had an episode one day, given Apep's ancient dragon strength, it could easily cause a major earthquake in the desert.
If they waited until then to act, it would be troublesome!
"Worried she won't cooperate?" Lu Heng asked.
The Great Dendro Archon nodded.
"It's simple."
Lu Heng smiled. "Just drag her out and beat her up."
As an ancient dragon, Apep held great disdain for the Heavenly Principles and the Archon system.
Whether she viewed the Seven as enemies or not, Lu Heng didn't care. What he cared about was whether Apep would cause trouble in the desert.
Analyzing the current situation, Apep wouldn't be that irrational, but the illness she carried urgently needed resolution.
Once the matter was resolved, as long as she didn't cause trouble, she could squat wherever she liked.
"Don't you intervene in this." The Great Dendro Archon shook her head. "Don't scare her too much."
Lu Heng thought about it.
The Great Dendro Archon's current upper limit was the sixth tier, though her strength hadn't fully recovered to its peak.
But even not at full power, the current Great Dendro Archon could handle Apep without much difficulty.
"Then I'll really leave it to you. If you face any difficulty, just tell me anytime."
"Mhm."
The Great Dendro Archon pulled the quilt up and closed her eyes to sleep.
Later that night.
The full moon hung high, its light clear and bright.
The sea rose and fell, the night wind chilly.
Several figures lurked furtively near the passage to the Rating Tower at the Dueling Platform.
Navia peeked out from behind a wall, looked towards the Rating Tower, and said to those behind her, "Sister Fu, don't be afraid, there's really no one here!"
"Really?"
Furina peeked out from behind Navia to look.
"Really, no one. Now's the perfect time!"
Finding it indeed empty, Furina cautiously walked towards the passage.
"Sigh."
Furina, wearing a white dress, rubbed her temples and complained helplessly, "Why does it have to be the middle of the night? Is she really that afraid of being beaten to tears by the Rating Tower and losing face?"
"Heh heh!"
Haven't you already guessed it?
After watching Lumine's experience during the day, Furina was actually very unwilling to face this place.
But as everyone knows, there's always a 'but' next.
Furina knew she was strong now, but to what level?
She didn't know!
It was like an ordinary person suddenly gaining the power to destroy the world, but to what extent could they destroy? How to destroy efficiently? All were questions.
Furina really didn't want to come, but there was an urge deep inside her heart that was hard to suppress.
Simply put, Furina, repressed for hundreds of years, wanted to show off a bit.
Since it was about showing off, she absolutely couldn't fail, right?
If she failed, it would be hugely embarrassing!
Therefore, this Rating Tower was a must!
She needed to clearly understand her own strength, to facilitate her grand performance later!
"Everyone here is 'one of us'. If I really do get beaten to tears later, you are not allowed to laugh at me!" Furina stared at them.
"I prepared tissues." Shenhe held out a pack of tissues.
"Thank you, you're very emotionally intelligent." Furina's expression was pained.
Shenhe immediately looked hesitant.
Am I emotionally intelligent?
Really?
"Don't worry about the details now!" Focalors quickly encouraged Furina. "While there's no one around, Furina, go for it! The All-Devouring Narwhal, aside from some special abilities, has combat power at best around rank 54-55! You're now comparable to Morax! Go, go!"
"Okay!"
"Then... I'm going?"
Furina's feet seemed rooted to the spot.
Because once she entered, it meant real combat was coming.
Before gaining power, she couldn't even tie a chicken down.
Even after gaining power, she hadn't used it much; it felt too unfamiliar!
Furina felt a bit scared inside.
"Go, we believe in you!" Navia nodded emphatically.
"Okay!"
"I'm going!"
Furina took a deep breath, her legs trembling slightly. She moved step by step, a pained expression on her little face, slowly approaching the Rating Tower.
"Furina, you can do it!"
After giving herself a pep talk, Furina, carrying an air of a warrior setting off on a mission from which she might not return, stepped into the Rating Tower.
"How long do you think before she comes out crying?" Focalors' smile was playful.
Being alive was indeed great! Fresh amusement every day
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T/N:
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