Chapter 106 - 103: The Five States’ Number One...
Chapter 106: Chapter 103: The Five States’ Number One...
Returning to the Central Square, he was no longer as amazed as before. Weaving through the bustling crowd, he felt perfectly in place.
After being cooped up for half a month, all Feng Hao wanted was a place to vent, and the Origin Secret Realm was undoubtedly the best destination.
After this period of adjustment, most of the new students had settled into the unique rhythm of academy life. Feng Hao was no exception. He made his way to the square’s North District and stood at the foot of the Origin Node for the first time. Paradoxically, the feeling of his own smallness made his blood boil with excitement!
Countless young figures streamed in and out of the node. Some were excited, some were exhausted, and others looked utterly wretched.
Shouts of people looking to form teams occasionally reached his ears, most of them coming from older students. After all, the academy had only been in session for half a month, and most freshmen had not yet completed the evolution of their Secret Realm Power.
"Level 40 Martial Arts Mage, fully geared! LFG for the Triple Secret Realm. I pull my weight, guaranteed!"
"Second Secret Realm squad, heavy-hitting comp, need one skilled gatherer/miner. Priority to anyone with a mining machine."
"Level 35 elite squad, challenging the Fourth Secret Realm! 4/6, need 2 more strong DPS. Don’t bother applying if you’re not on your department’s Crystal Stele. Priority for those in full Taichu gear. Beauties get priority!"
"Tai Shi Secret Realm run, targeting the Fire Cloud Beast! Looking for a Defense Mage, fire resistance gear preferred."
"New student-run squad! Recruiting fellow freshmen to hunt for Essences. Don’t apply if you don’t have your Power unlocked yet."
"Two freshly crafted jars of Triple Secret Realm Essence Elixir for sale! Price is negotiable. Accepting school credits or Magic Crystals."
"Professional Essence farmer for hire. School credits only. First Secret Realm: 500. Second Secret Realm: 5,000. No scams, or may my entire family die."
"Level 38 Scout Mage LFG! Mid-tier modified Crystal Eye, Divine Sense at 218. Highly experienced vet!"
...
As this area was near the Origin Node, most of the people around were students training in the Origin Secret Realm.
Feng Hao thought it was pretty cool; it felt like he was back in a game. Filled with a sense of novelty, he walked to the foot of the Origin Node without attracting much attention. Everyone was busy with their own tense preparations to enter the Secret Realm.
However, Feng Hao did spot a familiar figure in the crowd: Yun Jiansong, the very person who had recently battled his way onto the Power Department’s Crystal Stele.
Dressed all in white, Yun Jiansong stood in the crowd, cradling his sword. He gazed up at the Origin Node with a furrowed brow, looking as if he were lost in thought, or perhaps waiting for someone.
A large crowd had already gathered behind him, composed mostly of freshmen, but with a good number of older students as well. After all, he was the man of the hour, so it was only natural for him to draw this kind of attention.
"Heavens, is Yun Jiansong finally going into the Secret Realm? I can’t wait to see how strong he’ll be after he completes his Essence Refinement!"
"He made it onto the Crystal Stele with just basic gear. After his Essence Refinement, he should be able to climb at least another ten ranks. It really is something to look forward to."
"The Power Department really is the strongest. They produce one or two monstrous talents like him every year."
"I heard this kid was the champion of the last championship tournament. Why would he give up the chance to enter one of the Five Great Sects?"
"Exactly! You struggle through five years at the Advanced Academy, and don’t you just end up trying to get into the Five Great Sects anyway? I really don’t get what he’s thinking."
Unfazed by the surrounding chatter, Yun Jiansong remained as calm as ever. He stood quietly for a long while before suddenly turning his head toward Feng Hao, who was not far off. He raised a sharp eyebrow and gave him a meaningful nod.
Feng Hao chuckled and nodded in response. ’I didn’t expect Yun Jiansong to remember me,’ he thought. ’It’s probably because I was with Xiyue Frost that day.’
’Still, I have to admit, Yun Jiansong is incredibly strong,’ Feng Hao thought. ’At least, that’s the feeling I get. That sharp, aloof, yet restrained aura of his... he’s a natural-born Swordsman!’
Just as he was curiously studying Yun Jiansong, a fragrant scent wafted past him at an unhurried pace.
Immediately after, a mix of gasps and disdainful snorts rippled through the crowd. A bewitching woman in revealing clothes was walking toward Yun Jiansong. Her tall, curvaceous hips swayed gently, and her slender waist was tantalizingly visible beneath a sheer, peach-colored gauze robe. The sight of her back alone was enough to make one’s blood race.
Feng Hao only caught a blurry glimpse of her side profile, yet he felt himself grow momentarily dazed, as if he had been enchanted.
The bewitching woman stopped in front of Yun Jiansong. As her dark tresses shifted, they revealed a perfect face, one that was in absolute harmony with her seductive aura. Even Feng Hao found himself drawing a sharp breath at her beauty; it was the kind of beauty that should only exist in an artist’s painting.
Of course, beautiful though she was, Feng Hao was merely impressed for a moment. He had no deeper intentions.
’This kind of almost-perfect beauty doesn’t hold much attraction for me,’ he thought. ’The authentic beauty of Xi Yueyao and Xiyue Frost is what truly stirs my heart.’
It was probably because he was used to seeing all kinds of impossibly beautiful NPCs in the game *Mage*, which had given Feng Hao a kind of aesthetic fatigue when it came to this sort of flawless beauty.
The rest of the crowd, however, was a different story. At the sight of such a beauty, nearly all the men began to breathe heavily, while the women seemed to pale in comparison.
The freshmen in the crowd were especially affected; they started squealing with excitement and eagerly began questioning the older students around them.
"Senior, who is that beauty? My heart’s about to pound out of my chest!"
"That’s Yao Ying, a second-year from the Literature and Arts Department. She’s ranked second on the campus beauties list."
"Whoa, she’s that beautiful and only number two? Then what the hell must number one look like?"
The older student curled his lip in a sneer. "Based on looks alone, Yao Ying could definitely compete for the top spot. It’s a pity her reputation isn’t so great. She’s a total social butterfly."
"What do you mean?" a few of the freshmen asked, confused.
The older student lowered his voice. "Rumor has it, Yao Ying’s been involved with the top male talents from every major department. Guys are always fighting over her and getting into bloody brawls. Oh, right, she also has a nickname: the Number One Slut of the Five States."
"Hiss..." A few of the freshmen looked utterly crushed. "I’m suddenly so heartbroken. Why would my goddess be that kind of person?"
"You get used to it," the older student sneered. "A woman like Yao Ying isn’t someone an ordinary person can handle. If you’re not ranked on a Combat Department’s Crystal Stele, she won’t even give you a second glance. Like right now, for instance. She’s obviously trying to make a move on Yun Jiansong."
Upon hearing this, the sound of hearts shattering could be heard all around...
Feng Hao had naturally overheard their conversation as well. He glanced toward Yao Ying with great interest, a playful smirk touching his lips. ’Even though I don’t really know Yun Jiansong,’ he thought, ’judging by my impression of him, Yao Ying’s little plan is probably going to fall flat.’
As it turned out, Feng Hao’s guess was completely correct. Yun Jiansong paid Yao Ying no mind whatsoever.
"Well now, what a handsome junior," Yao Ying said, her gaze as soft as silk. "Interested in fighting through the Secret Realm with your big sis? I can even dance for you in our downtime." Her voice was bewitching and melodious, as if it held an infinite Magic Power.
"Not interested," Yun Jiansong replied flatly, without even sparing her a glance. Instead, he walked straight over to Feng Hao, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Didn’t Xiyue Frost come with you?"
"Nope." Feng Hao chuckled and shook his head. "Your first time entering the Secret Realm, too?" he asked.
"Yeah." Yun Jiansong gave a curt nod.
"Interested in a friendly match when we get back?" Feng Hao asked, looking up at him.
Yun Jiansong’s brow furrowed slightly. He seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding in agreement. Then, under the stunned and bewildered gazes of the crowd, he leaped into the Origin Node.