As Chen Luo was engrossed in his studies, a streak of light flew over from a distance.
When Chen Luo looked up, the streak of light had stopped at the edge of the Floating Mountain. As the light dissipated, Linglong arrived, stepping on a crystal flying sword.
At this moment, Linglong was no longer wearing palace attire. Instead, she had changed into a form-fitting, plain white combat outfit.
The plain white clothing accentuated the maiden's slender waist, which was impossibly delicate to the touch. Beneath her two crystalline dragon horns, Linglong's pure silver hair fluttered gently in the wind. Her eyes, sparkling with life, were fixed on Chen Luo with undisguised joy.
Silver hair, dragon horns, and vertical pupils – these were the unique non-human features of this young lady.
Chen Luo's studies over the past few days had also given him some understanding of the common knowledge regarding many sects in this world.
The Nine Heavens and Nine Earths were too distant for the sects on the Primordial Continent, and the ancient texts rarely spoke of them.
For the myriad nations and thousands of sects on the Primordial Continent, the peak powers were the Ten Great Sects and the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty, known as the nation of ten thousand kingdoms.
Among these top-tier powers, the Vast Sea Sect was the most peculiar. It was less a sect and more a product of compromise between the human and demon races.
The demon race had once been the protagonists of this world. However, after the rise of humanity, their conflicts with humans had never ceased.
After countless years of struggle, humanity had driven the demon race overseas with absolute superiority.
Indeed, if not for certain reasons that Chen Luo did not yet understand, humanity would likely have annihilated the demon race entirely.
In fact, even now, Chen Luo could not comprehend the existence of the Vast Sea Sect. While it was called a sect, it was essentially the last refuge of the demon race.
Yet, this refuge did not entirely harbor animosity towards humans. It even had a considerable number of human disciples and Ascended Elders.
However, the highest authority within the sect had always been a system of pure bloodline inheritance.
Linglong, before him, was referred to as a princess, much like Qin Su was called the Crown Prince, rather than a true disciple. This was because she was the destined successor of the Vast Sea Sect.
Her mother was the current Sect Master of the Vast Sea Sect, the absolute sovereign of the demon race – Long Ji.
As for Linglong's father? Chen Luo found no mention of him in the introductions to the Vast Sea Sect. It seemed the Vast Sea Sect had intentionally deleted this information.
However, looking at the non-human maiden before him, Chen Luo still felt a sense of familiarity. After all, he himself kept a wolf girl and a dragon girl. Thus, when Chen Luo saw Linglong, he had an urge to pat her head.
"N-no, don't touch anymore..." Chen Luo, lost in thought, was brought back by the maiden's shy voice.
Chen Luo looked down and saw his own large hand skillfully stroking the maiden's silver hair, even instinctively rubbing her crystalline little horns.
Linglong's face had turned completely red. Extremely embarrassed, she quickly raised her hand to shield her dragon horns, appearing pitiful, as if she dared not speak and might cry at any moment.
Chen Luo coughed lightly, calmly withdrew his hand, and turned his head, pretending nothing had happened:
"Ahem, the moon is quite nice today."
Linglong tidied her disheveled hair and said with a hint of resentment, "Yes, it's only morning, and I didn't expect Young Master Chen to see the moon already."
Chen Luo gave a dry chuckle and attempted to change the subject again.
Linglong, however, cast a helpless glance at the young man she had bought as a cauldron. She found it strange that she could never get angry with him.
"He's only at the third stage of the Dao Path. If I didn't suppress my spiritual might, he would probably faint."
"But... why don't I dislike it? In fact, I even like being petted by him?"
"This sense of security... it's like fa...!!"
Realizing what she was thinking, Linglong quickly shook her head, dispelling her wandering thoughts.
If Chen Luo could read minds, he would probably be unable to resist tapping this nominal master of his.
*I treat you as a pet, but you see me as a father!*
After a slightly blushing exchange, Linglong and Chen Luo sat at the edge of the Floating Mountain. They gazed at the rising sun outside the array's heavenly curtain, falling into silence.
A moment later, the maiden's voice broke the tranquility: "Young Master Chen, aren't you worried about your situation at all?"
"I brought you back, yet you've barely visited me these past few days. Even the cultivation resources I promised you before haven't been delivered; I've only given you some basic cultivation materials."
"But every time Linglong visits you, you never show any impatience, nor do you demand cultivation resources. You even, you even have the mood to tease Linglong..."
As she spoke, Linglong's voice carried an emotion she herself didn't understand. Under this emotion, the maiden turned her head and gazed at the young man beside her in the morning sun:
"Young Master Chen, ever since I met you, you've given Linglong a feeling of exceptional relaxation, as if nothing in the world requires urgency in your eyes. Linglong envies you a little."
Chen Luo glanced at her upon hearing this. The radiance of the morning sun made the maiden's beautiful face appear almost transparently white, but her eyes seemed to hold a sorrow that Chen Luo couldn't quite decipher.
*Just... makes me want to pinch!*
He acted on his thoughts. As a True Transformation realm expert, Chen Luo always acted according to his heart!
Feeling a slight pain on her cheek from the attack, Linglong couldn't help but cast a sideways glance at the young man beside her:
"Young Master Chen! I'm being very serious! And if you disrespect me like this and the elders see it, you'll be in danger!"
Chen Luo sheepishly released his hand. However, seeing Linglong, who clearly had something on her mind, Chen Luo tilted his head, as if contemplating something.
A moment later, Chen Luo nodded and said earnestly to Linglong, "The information you provided has indeed helped me."
"I said that if you cultivate diligently, I would help you. Although I don't know the specific method yet, since I promised, I will definitely do it."
"As for disrespect..." Chen Luo seemed to recall something amusing, and a smile naturally appeared on his face:
"Heh heh, it wasn't seen! As long as Linglong doesn't dislike it, it's fine!"
Looking at Chen Luo like this, Linglong felt a wave of powerlessness. Why could you be so optimistic!
This is the demon race's stronghold! You were bought as a cauldron!
Those Ascended Elders are very fierce!
Like Elder Xie, who has a crab's head! He'd pinch you with one claw!
Although, although I don't really dislike it...
——————
Inside the Vast Sea Sect's council hall,
Dozens of Ascended Elders surrounded Long Ji, watching the live broadcast on the spiritual energy screen with great interest:
"Hey! This kid has some skills! Look at Princess Linglong's blushing face! I bet the princess's heart is racing!"
"Alas, it's been seven days, why has their progress been so little? This old subject is getting anxious watching!"
"But this kid is not bad. He didn't panic upon arriving in an unfamiliar environment, nor did he carelessly demand cultivation resources due to Princess Linglong's leniency."
"Hmph, I knew it. This kid has seven-tenths of my youthful handsomeness, so he's definitely not someone with ulterior motives. Why would we need such a test!"
"Look at what you've done. You prohibited Princess Linglong from providing resources, and what's the result? The princess is almost guilt-ridden and worried to death, probably thinking we want to kill this kid!"
"Pah! You were the ones who said we should test this kid in the first place! And, old octopus! When did you ever look this handsome?!"