Holy Son II

She had shown quite a bit of talent even before awakening her Martial Spirit.

Ling Yuan looked down at her niece, her gaze softening just slightly."That… is something you'll come to understand in time. For now, you only need to remember one thing—"

She knelt down and gently scooped up both Meimei and Xiao Yu into her arms.Though it was meant to be graceful, the sight ended up looking more like she was carrying two sacks of rice tucked under each arm—making her appear more like a traveling merchant than a dignified elder. It was almost comical, especially considering the serious tone she'd set just moments before.

Later, Ling Yuan soared through the sky, effortlessly holding both girls.

"—All you have to do is say yes," she had said softly. "We're going to meet a boy. Someone your age. He's now the Holy Son of Spirit Hall. And you two… have been chosen to be his followers."

"I knew it!"

Before Meimei could respond, Xiao Yu—the spirited granddaughter of Golden Crocodile Douluo—pointed dramatically at Ling Yuan, one hand on her hip.

"You sly woman! You're sending us to serve some boy?! And he's a Holy Son? We already know there's a Saintess—that fox girl Hu Liena! There can't be another Holy Son. You think we're easy to fool? Gullible because we're young?! Hah! I'll tell my grandpa and watch him spank you until you beg!"

She began thrashing in midair like a furious kitten, but her Spirit Power was nothing against Ling Yuan's control. Ling Yuan's palm glowed faintly, and both girls rose higher into the sky beside her.

"Release me! Let me go!" Xiao Yu barked.

But Ling Yuan remained calm, a faint smirk on her lips as they cut through the clouds.

"Don't worry. Qian Douluo told me himself—your grandfather will be joining soon to help protect him. Once you meet the boy, you'll be able to decide for yourselves whether I lied or not. For now… just follow me quietly. Say yes when I tell you. Alright?"

Meimei watched quietly from the side. She wasn't afraid—only curious.

"Fine," Xiao Yu huffed. "I'll meet him. But if that boy ever tells me to do something like give him a massage or bring his shoes, I swear—I'll beat the snot out of him!"

Meimei giggled softly."We're supposed to be his followers, not his maids. Why would he say something like that?"

"You don't know boys!" Xiao Yu snapped. "I saw a girl once—she got 'chosen' by some powerful guy and then they married her! Isn't this the same thing!?"

Ling Yuan couldn't help but laugh aloud."Heavens, no. You're not brides being sent to a prince. You're his companions. Followers—like how your grandfather and I follow Grand Priest Qian Douluo."

Xiao Yu paused, confused by the seriousness in Ling Yuan's tone.

But inwardly, she still thought, Even if you say that, I know how this goes… adults always say it's not that, and then BAM—wedding bells and babies!

What neither of them knew yet… was what kind of boy this Holy Son truly was.But one thing was certain—they were both curious.

The rest of the journey passed without chaos, as both girls simply followed Ling Yuan's lead.

Meanwhile, at Nuoding Junior Spirit Academy…

"Xiao San."

Yu Xiaogang's voice was low and serious as he looked at Tang San, his expression unusually grave.

"That kid, Li Shen… the move he used wasn't from a spirit ring, and yet the power was immense. And that footwork—it looked like teleportation."

He leaned in slightly.

"Befriend him. Observe him. Learn from him. Steal his techniques if you must."

Tang San frowned."Teacher, is that really necessary? I have my own self-created techniques."

In his heart, Tang San still refused to believe Li Shen was stronger. He believed it was just a spirit power difference. If they were the same rank, he was sure he'd win. Once I finish more hidden weapons, he thought, Li Shen will be nothing but a fish on the chopping board—helpless and hopeless.

Yu Xiaogang shook his head slowly.

"Yes, you have your own. But didn't you see? His self-created move had power equivalent to a thousand-year spirit ring skill. Yours… don't."

In truth, Yu Xiaogang had already begun eyeing the flaming slash Li Shen had used. Just imagining Tang San using it in public, claiming he learned it from him, filled the so-called Grandmaster with glee.

His eyes gleamed with a hidden hunger.

For Yu Xiaogang, once known as the "Piracy King"—a man infamous for stealing techniques from Spirit Hall and claiming them as his own—there were no limits.

No shame.

No hesitation.

Only hunger—for recognition. For glory. To be known by the entire world. And now this shameless guy was targeting Li Shen's Heaven-Piercing Radiant Fang, and not even the full art—but just the derivative move from the first style of it.

That evening, Ling Yuan arrived at the Nuoding City branch of the Spirit Hall.

Without delay, she issued her command.

"Send word to the Academy. Tell them to bring Li Shen here tomorrow morning."

The servant bowed and swiftly carried out her order.

The next morning…

Li Shen was still half-asleep when a Spirit Hall messenger arrived at the Academy to summon him.

He washed up quickly and followed the attendant to the Spirit Hall. There, he was led to a private guest room where Ling Yuan awaited.

But he didn't expect what he saw inside.

Two girls, around his age, both clearly well-groomed and unusually quiet for children, sat waiting. They stared at him curiously. He blinked and tilted his head slightly.

"…Who are you two?" he asked bluntly, before narrowing his eyes playfully."Hey, if you're here to play, this isn't a playground. This is Spirit Hall. If a Title Douluo sees you goofing around, you might get spanked."

He made a dramatic shooing motion with his hands.

Before the girls could react, Ling Yuan appeared from behind him and smacked him lightly on the shoulder with her fan—not hard, just enough to remind him who he was talking to.

****

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