Chapter 25 — "THE SPIRIT POOL &... WAIT—WHAT IS SHE WEARING?!"
The Spirit Pool path twisted upward through the mountains like a silver dragon vein, glowing with spiritual energy. The five prodigies followed behind Vice-Dean Rui Jin, whose hands were folded casually behind his back, as if leading a school picnic and not five monsters who might one day shake the world.
"Walk faster," Rui Jin said lazily. "The Spirit Pool is ancient. It hates waiting."
Chen Wulian whispered,"Does... does a pool actually hate waiting?"
Long Hao shrugged."Who knows."
Ling Yifan replied calmly,"Spirit artifacts have temperaments. It’s possible."
Chen blinked."Great. Even the water is arrogant."
Bai Qianlan ignored them.Ouyang Xue’er stayed close to Long Hao like a guard dog ready to bite.
As they walked, Long Hao narrowed his eyes at Rui Jin’s back.
Ling Yifan noticed instantly.
"You want to measure his strength too?"
Long Hao nodded lightly."He feels strong."
Ling Yifan smirked."Strong? He feels like an abyss."
Chen Wulian barged in."Vice-Dean Rui Jin once fought a Grand Elder for nine hours straight!"
Long Hao raised one eyebrow."Interesting."
Then...
Both Long Hao and Ling Yifan released a strand of their aura—Trying to "touch" the vice-dean’s presence.
Vice-Dean Rui Jin didn’t even turn around.
"Oh? Children testing an old man?"
Then—
He released 1% of his aura.
Just 1%.
The air imploded.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
Long Hao and Ling Yifan flew backward two steps.
Blood dripped from their lips.
Ouyang Xue’er panicked."Long Hao!! Stop doing dangerous things!"
Bai Qianlan blinked at Long Hao’s resilience.
Chen Wulian fell to the ground laughing.
"HAAAHAHAHA!! The DEAN’S deputy slapped you both with his aura!"
Rui Jin smirked.
"You two are still seedlings. Wait a few years before challenging me."
Long Hao wiped the blood from his lip.
Ling Yifan did the same.
Then the two prodigies...
laughed.
Long Hao:"Haha... strong."
Ling Yifan:"Hmph... this makes things interesting."
Vice-Dean Rui Jin shook his head."Monsters, the lot of you."
Finally, they reached a massive cavern glowing blue.
Inside lay a circular pool of luminous water—spiraling with ancient runes,steaming gently like the breath of a sleeping god.
Rui Jin pointed.
"Remove your outer garments.The Spirit Pool amplifies purity of skin-to-spirit contact."
Chen Wulian already began unbuttoning enthusiastically.
Ling Yifan removed his cloak with stoic calm.
Long Hao casually pulled off his shirt—
Ouyang Xue’er immediately turned red.
"W-why are you undressing so calmly?!"
Long Hao blinked."You said remove outer garments."
"No—! I mean—! YES BUT—!"
She covered her face dramatically.
Bai Qianlan exhaled softly.
Then—
She reached for her top.
And pulled it off.
Then she slid off her outer pants.
Underneath she wore—
Sexy.Elegant.Spirit-cultivation lingerie.
A tight-fitting black, silver, and moonlit set.
Not explicit.Not fully revealing.
But enough.
Her half revealed Chest was shining like moon in the starry sky.
Enough to make Long Hao freeze.
Enough to make his eyes go wide.
Enough to make Chen Wulian choke on his own saliva.
Enough to make Ling Yifan raise an eyebrow for the first time ever.
Enough to make Ouyang Xue’er—
EXPLODE.
"HEY—HEY—HEY—!!WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE LOOKING AT?!"
She rushed behind Long Hao and slapped her hands over his eyes.
Long Hao:"...I can still see through your fingers."
"NO YOU CAN’T!" she screamed.
"I can."
"No you CAN’T—!!"
Bai Qianlan looked mildly amused.
Chen Wulian whispered,"She’s bold..."
Ling Yifan muttered,"This is going to be a long year."
Vice-Dean Rui Jin rubbed his temples.
"Children... children everywhere..."
Rui Jin raised his hand.
"The Spirit Pool will activate the moment you five enter.You will experience pain, transformation, or enlightenment.Or all three."
He walked toward the exit.
"Do not die.It is inconvenient to clean."
Long Hao:"...Good advice."
Ouyang Xue’er glared."Don’t even THINK about opening your eyes again."
"My eyes were never closed."
"ARGHHH—!!!"
Bai Qianlan stepped toward the water elegantly, ignoring everyone.
Ling Yifan followed quietly.
Chen Wulian roared and cannonballed in.
Long Hao walked calmly.
Ouyang grabbed his shirt.
"DON’T LOOK AT ANYONE!"
He raised an eyebrow."I’m not."
"You BETTER NOT!"
They stepped inside the shimmering pool—
And everything exploded into light.
[Chapter ENDS]