Back at Shrek Academy, there was still a month and a half before they were to head to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Yu Xiaogang's teaching plan remained focused on diligent cultivation to improve spirit power levels.
Ye Yin knocked on Zhu Zhuqing's dorm room door. "Zhuqing."
Zhu Zhuqing was currently sitting cross-legged in her dorm, cultivating, dressed in loose clothing. Only three people at Shrek Academy had yet to break through to Spirit Elder, and she also hoped to reach Spirit Elder quickly. Ever since taking several marrow cleansing fruits with Ye Yin's help, reaching the limit of their consumption, her talent had greatly improved. Her spirit power had already reached level twenty-nine, very close to Spirit Elder.
"Brother Yin, you're here!" Zhu Zhuqing smiled slightly at Ye Yin.
Ye Yin, very familiar with the routine, locked the door and sat behind Zhu Zhuqing. His arms skillfully went under Zhu Zhuqing's armpits, precisely grasping the places that were difficult to hold with one hand. His chin rested on Zhu Zhuqing's left shoulder as he gently massaged her. With a light press of his two index fingers, "Oh!" Zhu Zhuqing let out a soft cry of annoyance.
"What are you doing~"
Ye Yin didn't speak. He released his grip, then pressed again. This time, it wasn't as stimulating as the first.
"You're like this as soon as we meet."
"Don't you like it?"
Zhu Zhuqing immediately fell silent, her face turning crimson. A few minutes later, Ye Yin took out a pink fruit.
"Take this."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at the pink fruit and instinctively tilted her head. "Is it a marrow cleansing fruit? Brother Yin, I've already reached my limit and can't eat any more. Now, even smelling them makes them seem foul; I can't eat them at all. That's a physiological rejection."
Ye Yin shook his head. "This isn't a marrow cleansing fruit. This is a soul cleansing fruit."
"A soul cleansing fruit?" The marrow cleansing fruit and the soul cleansing fruit looked exactly alike; even Ye Yin himself couldn't tell them apart.
Zhu Zhuqing took the soul cleansing fruit. It still had that extremely alluring fragrance. She swallowed her saliva and devoured the soul cleansing fruit in a few bites. A familiar sensation enveloped her. She sat cross-legged and quickly began to cultivate. Layers of black mist emerged from her body. Unlike the marrow cleansing fruit, which expels impurities as black mud, this expelled what seemed like turbid spirit power.
"See what changes there are to your spirit?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. The phantom of the Nether Cat slowly emerged from behind her. "It seems the Nether Cat is a bit bigger. The aura is stronger, but also more restrained. I feel that all my attributes have received a huge increase."
Ye Yin nodded. "Keep eating. Also, stop when you can't eat anymore."
Ye Yin took out a second marrow cleansing fruit. Zhu Zhuqing nodded and obediently ate the second marrow cleansing fruit. Soon, it was the third, then the fourth.
"Brother Yin, I feel like I've gained a special ability." A layer of black light suddenly shot out from beneath Zhu Zhuqing's feet. "Within this range, all agility and attack power will increase by ten percent. It can also designate other people's agility and attack power to decrease by five percent."
Ye Yin laughed. He playfully slapped Zhu Zhuqing's backside. "This isn't a special ability. This is called a Domain. A Talent Domain! It's just that your Talent Domain hasn't reached its limit yet; it can still be improved. Try eating a few more fruits."
It wasn't until she had consumed seven marrow cleansing fruits in a row that Zhu Zhuqing could no longer eat. At this point, the Domain power's enhancement percentage had increased to forty percent, while the weakening percentage had risen to twenty percent.
"Is this Domain power? A range-based enhancement? This auxiliary ability is too strong, isn't it?" Zhu Zhuqing covered her mouth in surprise, somewhat disbelieving. "And it doesn't matter the number; even if there are many people, it's the same. The amount of spirit power consumed is still exactly the same."
Ye Yin nodded. "Naturally, this is Domain power."
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly thought of a question. "Brother Yin, what is the ability of your Domain? Since I have a Domain, then you must already have one too." Zhu Zhuqing wasn't foolish.
Ye Yin nodded. "My Domain is called the Good and Evil Domain. Within the Domain's range, designated buffs increase by thirty percent, and debuffs decrease by thirty percent. Or, designated buffs decrease by thirty percent, and debuffs increase by thirty percent. My luck is additionally doubled."
When Ye Yin consumed the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth fruits, the Domain effect showed no changes. It wasn't until he reached the tenth fruit, when the consumption of marrow cleansing fruit reached its limit, that the Domain effect finally gained an additional clause: his own luck doubled.
"Luck doubled? Is there such a thing as luck?" Zhu Zhuqing was a little curious. "Such an elusive thing."
Ye Yin nodded. "Naturally so. Elusive doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, half-understanding. "So that's how it is." She didn't know herself, but since Brother Yin said so, it must be true.
"It's already dark. Let's go eat." Zhu Zhuqing glanced outside. The time spent consuming the marrow cleansing fruit felt very fast, but in reality, an entire afternoon had passed.
"Let's go." With Ye Yin's help, Zhu Zhuqing quickly changed into her usual leather outfit. When the two arrived at the cafeteria, the others were also there. One of them was Dai Mubai. Dai Mubai glanced at the entrance, casually greeted the two, and continued eating.
Just as he shoveled rice into his mouth, he suddenly felt something was off. He abruptly looked up at Zhu Zhuqing. What was going on?! How was this possible?!
"What's wrong, Mubai?" Ye Yin looked at Dai Mubai, his tone cold. "Why are you staring at Zhuqing?"
Why are you staring at my woman? Is it just because Zhu Zhuqing is your fiancée?
[Resentment from Dai Mubai +30!]
"Nothing, nothing," Dai Mubai said, lowering his head, but his eyes still occasionally darted towards Zhu Zhuqing. At this moment, he no longer had any appetite for food. What was going on? What on earth was going on?! He kept trying to sense it. Finally, he even closed his eyes and emptied his mind to sense it, but still felt nothing. Empty.
Zhu Zhuqing's feelings towards him now were just like those towards Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and the others. That familiar feeling from between their spirits was gone. This was the foundation for performing a Martial Soul Fusion Skill; even if two people had no emotional basis, they could still feel it. But now, it was completely gone. Empty.
How was this possible?! It just disappeared all of a sudden!
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion