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Zhao Xin smiled and handed Ling Qingxue a bottle of water.
"I was originally planning to train with you, but I'd better not. Let's train separately after entering the secret place."
Ling Qingxue took the water, her face showing confusion.
"Why?"
Zhao Xin smiled helplessly. "You're too strong right now. If I go with you, entering the secret place will just be a formality and will lose its effectiveness. I also want to push myself and see if I can get into a good martial arts university."
Ling Qingxue nodded slightly, her expression showing appreciation.
"Martial arts cultivation is all about competition—competing with the heavens for destiny, with the earth for resources, and with others for life and death. To become stronger, you have to compete. Your talent is actually very good, but you lack real experience because of your identity!"
"When you were being chased by the Wolf Fang Squad, you managed to escape for two days on your own, and finally, you were able to find someone to save you. You should understand the meaning of finding a way out."
Zhao Xin took a deep breath, a torrent of emotions brewing in her eyes, finally turning into a silent, bitter smile.
"To be honest, you don't seem like an eighteen-year-old high school student. You're more like a seasoned martial artist."
Ling Qingxue smiled gently.
"You will reach that day too, when you become a seasoned warrior strong enough to stand on your own without your parents' protection."
She could only give Zhao Xin a score of 70 out of 100.
This score wasn't very high, mainly because Zhao Xin lacked a fighting spirit. Perhaps it was related to her background; she's never had to fight for resources.
But her background wasn't enough to support her becoming a powerful martial artist.
Once she entered the Martial Arts University, Zhao Tianlan would no longer be able to give her any assistance.
She needed to learn to be independent, to fight for resources on her own, and to become stronger on her own.
Otherwise, it would be better to live forever under Zhao Tianlan's wing.
In this life, Ling Qingxue changed Zhao Xin's fate, but even she didn't know what Zhao Xin's future held.
"Learn to be tough on yourself. A martial artist's backbone cannot be broken!"
This was the only thing she could teach Zhao Xin, and it was also the most important belief that enabled her to achieve the Imperial Rank in her previous life.
Zhao Xin didn't quite understand, yet she etched the words deep into her mind.
"Thank you. Although I don't fully grasp it now, I believe I will come to understand."
Ling Qingxue stood up and headed towards the entrance of the secret place.
"One hundred words might not be enough to teach someone, but one action is enough to understand. If you don't get it, just do it!"
With a single step, her figure disappeared from Zhao Xin's sight.
Zhao Xin raised her palm; it was smooth and white, without any calluses.
"Am I considered a rich young lady with such a humble background? Once we leave here, I'll be on the same level as her!"
Zhao Xin's gaze gradually hardened, and then she entered the secret place alone.
Zhao Tianlan had originally arranged for two Third Rank guards to protect her, but she wanted to fight all on her own this time.
Her father couldn't protect her forever.
From now on, she had to learn to protect herself!
Zhao Tianlan approved, his eyes filled with relief.
"What a strange girl. So young yet so mature, even spouting things like 'the struggle between heaven, earth, and man.' Once she enters Martial Arts University, she'll be a hidden dragon rising from the abyss!"
Zhang Zhengyuan scratched his head; the memory of Wu Liang evolving at the entrance still lingered in his mind.
"This Miss Ling and her magical beast are quite formidable. I really look forward to seeing them make a name for themselves in this world!"
.......
The scene shifted.
Ling Qingxue and Wu Liang appeared in the City Lord's Mansion's secret place.
This secret place was also a low-level one, but it differed from the one in Linjiang Middle School.
The Linjiang Middle School secret place was only for testing students; the magical beasts in there were at most at the Second Level early-stage, otherwise no student would be a match for them.
The City Lord's Mansion's secret place was used for training the city's soldiers, and many of the beasts within were Third Level beasts specifically captured by Zhao Tianlan.
That's why Ling Qingxue wanted to enter.
"Let's go, Little Xuexue. We'll find those spiritual herbs you mentioned first, then we'll go kill some beasts. I must evolve again before the National Martial Arts Examination!" Wu Liang urged.
Although the next evolution to the Ruin Mountain Beast required 5000 evolution points, there were still nearly four months left, so gathering them shouldn't be difficult.
Wu Liang had a headache thinking of his skills; upgrading skills also cost a considerable amount of evolution points.
"Little Xuexue, quickly get on my back. This time I'll take you flying!"
Wu Liang's size began to increase, and a pair of wings burning with black flames unfurled, exuding a powerful aura.
Ling Qingxue was somewhat tempted, so she sat on his back.
The broad back was quite comfortable.
In the past life, her magical beast, Xiao Hua, possessing the true dragon bloodline, only gained the ability to fly after breaking through to the King Level. Usually, it was Ling Qingxue who performed the flying martial arts. She didn't expect that in this life, she could already fly at the Second Rank.
A warm breeze caressed her hair, ruffling her strands of black silk.
Wu Liang's flying speed was incredibly fast, easily comparable to a Third Level magical beast.
Coupled with the abundant energy in his body, he could fly for a long time, greatly speeding up their process of killing magical beasts and searching for spiritual herbs.
"Land on that mountain peak ahead. There's a good spiritual herb there, and a guardian magical beast as well," Ling Qingxue said.
"Over. Let's go down now."
A black shadow swiftly descended, landing steadily on the ground.
Wu Liang was absolutely in love with his Black Flame Phoenix Wings. It allowed him to fly, and most importantly, it looked incredibly cool—absolutely stunning when soaring through the air.
Even the female beast on the ground was smitten, only to be ultimately slashed down by Wu Liang's wing strike.
[Ding! Second Level mid-stage Earth-Armored Lizard, consumed. Estimated digestion time: 2 hours.]
The Black Flame Phoenix Wings' attack power wasn't outstanding, not even as strong as his full-force strike, but its appearance completely made up for this shortcoming.
"Little Xuexue, you stay here and break through your spiritual power. I'm going to kill some magical beasts."
Ling Qingxue nodded, but before she could speak, Wu Liang had already disappeared.
His impatience was making her a little anxious.
"At this rate, when will I ever catch up with him? We're already only a small level apart, and he improves even faster than me..."
What if Wu Liang had to wait for her to break through in the future? How shameful would that be?
"Is the Gluttonous Beast Bloodline really that monstrous?"
Ling Qingxue plucked a Snow Lotus from the mountain peak and washed it with clean water before putting it in her mouth.
This was the Ethereal Snow Lotus, a low-grade rare spiritual herb. Its main function was to enhance mental power and eliminate distracting thoughts. Consuming it while cultivating martial arts could increase cultivation speed to some extent.
When a martial artist's mind is free of distractions, their cultivation speed will be faster.
However, Ling Qingxue only needed its effect of enhancing spiritual power.
Martial arts?
In her previous life, she was proficient in all types of martial arts. Now, as long as her level met the requirements, she could master them after a little practice.
Martial arts up to the advanced level could be used effortlessly.
Just as the Ethereal Snow Lotus' effects were about to wear off, Ling Qingxue immediately took out the Spirit Nourishing Pill from her storage ring.
This was the best opportunity to break through to the Second Rank Spiritual Master!