Douluo Continent: The Peerless Sun and Moon Traverse the Heavens

"Mom, it's windy up here, let's go downstairs soon. Cheng-ge, Mom and I will be waiting for you down there."

Jiang Nannan's voice came from behind. Although her mother was not a Soul Master, Jiang Nannan still cared deeply for her only blood relative.

"Mom just wanted to see your future school. The environment here is really nice, so Mom is relieved..."

As the sound faded into the distance, Orange looked at Xu Cheng with a smile:

"I will invite Professor Xu Cheng a week later."

"Okay, we'll be going then."

Xu Cheng nodded and beckoned everyone to leave the academy together.

He hadn't expected that Ju Zi would extend an invitation on their first meeting. Now that he was to meet the Crown Prince, it was a perfect opportunity to show his loyalty.

This week is just enough time for him to make some preparations.

Orange remained atop the spire, her upper body weight resting on the railing. With no one around, she finally dropped her pretense, her expression returning to one of ease. She fiddled with her fingernails, murmuring to herself:

"This Xu Cheng is quite a clever man. I didn't have to waste much breath on him. It's no wonder His Highness the Crown Prince put in so much effort."

……

Following the Sun and Moon River southward, the group soon left the city and arrived at the southern suburbs of Mingdu. Here, there were hills of varying sizes, with a few buildings standing on them, creating a pastoral scene.

After walking along the main road for about twenty minutes, Xu Cheng stopped and said to the group, "We've arrived."

A fork in the road appeared beside them, leading to a villa on the hill, with endless blue silver grass stretching down below.

The sun was high in the sky, and when the breeze swept across the grass, it created ripples, bringing a refreshing and natural scent that instantly invigorated the mind and spirit.

Xu Cheng wrapped his arms around Han Ruoruo's waist and pointed forward with his left hand:

"From now on, you will be the mistress of this place."

Han Ruoruo blinked: "There are so many Blue Silver Grasses here, are they all artificially cultivated?"

"When I was fifteen, I discovered that the natural fibers of the blue silver grass could be woven into a special fabric that was easy to dye and would reflect a special luster under the sunlight, shimmering like gold. I named it 'Blue Silver Shimmering Brocade'. These blue silver grasses have been planted for almost ten years and it's almost harvest season."

Xu Cheng emphasized the word "ten years" very heavily, as if reminding someone of something.

"Really? If you really have that kind of fabric, it must be so beautiful. Do you have any here? Take me to see it quickly."

Women always seem to have a deep obsession with clothing.

Helpless, Xu Cheng continued, "I was saying that the Blue Silver Grass here is almost a ten-year-old soul beast."

"Hmm? Ten years would be good, the fabric would be more durable that way."

"Doesn't Shrek Academy have a secret method for refining soul bones? There's so much Blue Silver Grass here..."

Han Ruoruo snapped out of her daze, her beautiful eyes widening, her red lips slightly parted, and she suddenly wrapped her arms around Xu Cheng's neck:

"I remember now! The secret soul bone technique of Shrek Academy's inner courtyard! It takes more than a hundred soul beasts to condense one bone, and it can directly increase the upper limit of soul power! You have so many ten-year Blue Silver Grass here, doesn't that mean...?"

Xu Cheng nodded with a smile.

Mystic Soul Bones are refined from the soul rings of a hundred soul beasts that die simultaneously. Even with the use of mystic techniques, there is only a one in ten chance of condensing them. Their skills are very limited, increasing the total soul power by five to ten percent, or serving as a fusion medium for two soul bones with similar attributes.

Mystic Soul Bones might be useless to Shrek Academy's top geniuses, but they are true treasures to the Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Empire.

Their spirit rings are primarily designed to increase the total amount of spirit power. A single secret technique spirit bone is almost equivalent to the increase of half a spirit ring. If each member of the spirit master team had one, their combat power would immediately rise to the next level.

Seeing Han Ruoruo's joyful expression, Xu Cheng reached out and brushed a stray hair from her forehead, saying softly:

"Let's go inside together; this will be our new home."

The villa's decor differs from that of the Sun and Moon Empire; its exterior is uniformly white, simple yet grand.

Inside, the walnut wood flooring is arranged in a herringbone pattern, and the tables, chairs, and cabinets are all made of walnut wood. The dark wood grain is delicate, warm, and substantial, yet cozy.

Han Ruoruo entered like a mistress of the house, inspecting her territory, touching and looking around, before finally sitting down on the large, orange sofa, sinking into its softness and letting out a long sigh.

"Xu Cheng, you nobles really know how to enjoy life. The accommodations at Shrek Academy are nothing compared to this."

"Nannan, Guyi, and Aunt Jiang, you guys come too, this sofa is so soft."

……

After dinner, in the meditation room on the basement floor of the villa.

Xu Cheng sat cross-legged, his golden light slowly receding. Ye Guyi, her red lips slightly panting, looked at Xu Cheng as if she had something to say.

Xu Cheng noticed her unusual behavior and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ye Guyi's eyes darted away, her brows furrowed slightly, and after a moment's thought, she finally spoke:

"I... I just wanted to remind you that there seems to be something wrong with that orange we encountered during the day."

Xu Cheng raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "This Holy Angel is truly perceptive. Not only can it detect the evil energy in my spiritual sea, but it's also so sensitive to others." Curious, Xu Cheng asked:

"Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"

"I can't really explain it, it's just a strange feeling, like she's not as innocent as she seems on the surface."

Xu Cheng waved his hand, revealing a slight smile:

"I'm glad you reminded me. It seems you didn't immediately draw your sword when you sensed something was wrong, which is good. But Ju Zi is after me, so don't worry. As classmates, you can just treat each other normally."

Hearing Xu Cheng tease her about her previous recklessness, Ye Guyi blushed with embarrassment, clenched her fists, and said angrily, "You know that's good!"

After saying that, he turned and left the room.

……

Late at night, on the balcony of the fourth floor of the villa.

Han Ruoruo and Xu Cheng were both wearing pajamas called "Blue Silver Floating Light Brocade". Han Ruoruo snuggled in Xu Cheng's arms, gazing at the Sun and Moon River in the distance. The river flowed quietly, and the moonlight shone down, still showing shimmering waves.

Xu Cheng gently sniffed the hair of the beauty in his arms and suddenly asked:

"Will Ruoruo regret it?"

Han Ruoruo, puzzled, turned to look at Xu Cheng: "Regret what?"

"I mean, without me, you might have stayed at Shrek Academy, found a scholarly partner, and lived a peaceful life." Xu Cheng paused, "instead of coming to Mingdu, a place where you know no one, with me, having to contribute to the family while facing unknown political risks..."

Han Ruoruo extended her index finger and placed it in front of Xu Cheng's mouth, while cupping his cheek with her other hand. Their eyes met, as if a thousand words were flowing between them.

"No, because it's you, I won't regret it. Don't say anything more."

Love me well tonight, and tomorrow, we'll start a new life.

"I'll do whatever you say!"

Hearing Han Ruoruo's almost confessional words, Xu Cheng lowered his head and kissed Han Ruoruo's red lips, picked up her slender waist, and walked into the bedroom.