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--- Chapter 325 ---
A few days later, Han Yuan's biological clock worked as usual, but when he woke up feeling somewhat heavy in the chest.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and saw Qing Lin serenely sleeping on him, curled up like a kitten—or perhaps a snake. A blissful smile adorned her adorable face.
He smiled in amusement. "Qing Lin, wake up. It's going to be sunrise soon."
"Mmm..." Qing Lin slowly opened her eyes, revealing a pair of dim green orbs. Once she saw Han Yuan, her eyes lit up, and she smiled at him beamingly. "Good morning, Big Brother Yuan~!"
Snuggling closer, she rubbed her face against his warm body. "Hmm, Big Brother, you're warm..."
"Outside... Cold..."
"Qing Lin doesn't feel like training this morning..."
Han Yuan chuckled and flicked her forehead playfully. "Nope, get up and be ready in five minutes. The others should be waiting for us."
"Fine..." Qing Lin pouted, unhappy because she wanted to cuddle a little longer. However, she knew time wouldn't wait for them as the sunrise was approaching.
After getting out of bed, Han Yuan and Qing Lin washed up and changed into training attire. As usual, Qing Lin had slept in his bed the night before because she was afraid of sleeping alone, though they had only cuddled without doing anything further.
Yes, nothing more.
Once they cleaned up, Han Yuan and Qing Lin walked up to the best and tallest point of their dormitory—Qing Lin's dorm—which faced the sunrise directly. There, they noticed Xiao Yixian, Gu Xun'er, and even a sleepy Zi Yan standing on the roof.
"Morning!" Han Yuan and Qing Lin greeted the girls.
Xiao Yixian glanced at Qing Lin, feeling she had underestimated this girl, before calmly returning her gaze to Han Yuan. "Morning."
Gu Xun'er smiled gently, as usual. "Morning."
"Ah, you're here, Han Yuan," said Zi Yan, yawning and rubbing her eyes. "Damn, why does it have to be morning?"
Han Yuan playfully pinched Zi Yan's cheeks. "You're just getting started with the Heavenly Demon Eyes."
"The early violet qi brought by the dawn will nourish your Spiritual Power and enhance your eyesight. Once you absorb enough violet qi, you can move on to advanced types, like the silver qi of the moonlight and even the starry qi of the stars."
"As you accumulate these energies and strengthen your Spiritual Power, it will become harder for others to sense your Spatial Movement."
"Grrr, fine!" Zi Yan reluctantly sat down, adjusting her posture and gazing at the incoming sunrise as if it were her nemesis.
Zi Yan's antics amused Han Yuan and the others, especially Qing Lin, who had once displayed similar childish behavior.
'Hehe, back then, I really disliked waking up early, but being with Big Brother made it easier, and it gradually became more enjoyable,' Qing Lin thought to herself.
As the sunrise arrived and the early sunlight bathed their dorms, Han Yuan and the others began to meditate on the roof, ready to absorb the nourishing, warm purple qi.
Han Yuan's eyes glimmered with a bright purple-gold hue, while Xiao Yixian and Gu Xun'er had dimmer shades.
Qing Lin and Zi Yan only have purple hues, indicating they were just getting started on the Heavenly Demon Eyes.
Surprisingly, Han Yuan noticed a flash of golden hue in Qing Lin's green eyes, displaying her strong compatibility with pupil-based techniques due to her innate talent.
Technically, Gu Xun'er was also starting not too long ago, but her royal heritage from the Ancient Clan and her pure Dou Qi bloodline highlighted her impressive potential.
As the purple qi in the atmosphere thinned, they stopped absorbing it and began to refine it into their own system.
Although the others didn't show significant changes in their eyes, Zi Yan triggered something in her bloodline, causing her eyes to become bright violet with a dragon's slit—though it was only a short transformation.
"This is too little," Zi Yan huffed, frustrated. "There's not enough violet qi for me to absorb."
"Take it slow. Haste makes waste," Han Yuan replied with a sigh. "Let's have breakfast first."
"I'll be the one cooking this time."
As soon as Han Yuan finished speaking, the girls looked at him like hungry wolves. His mouth twitched slightly, resigning himself to the fate of working like a machine for them this early in the day.
---
After breakfast.
"Alright, then, we're heading to class, Big Brother," Xiao Yixian flashed a smile at Han Yuan, who slumped on the couch after cooking for them, especially that gluttonous dragon. "See you at lunch."
"See you soon, Han Yuan," Gu Xun'er added with a wave as she followed Xiao Yixian, since they were in the same class.
Qing Lin finished her glass of milk, eager to grow taller to make Han Yuan happy, and left with a milk mustache, causing Han Yuan to chuckle.
"Come here for a moment," he said, reaching for her to wipe away the milk mustache. "All clean. Be a good girl in class, okay?"
"Mm!" Qing Lin nodded obediently. Then, she chased after Xiao Yixian and Gu Xun'er.
Burp!
Meanwhile, Zi Yan was still on her chair, patting her slightly bulging belly in satisfaction. "Damn, I know you're a cook in alchemy, but your cooking is not bad, too, Han Yuan."
"..." Han Yuan stared at her blankly. He wished this gluttonous little dragon girl would go away, but then he remembered that the Inner Court doesn't have a class and students could cultivate at their own pace.
"Whatever." He sighed and stood up, washing the dirty utensils.
Zi Yan saw this and jumped out of her seat, helping Han Yuan gather the dirty plates and utensils and bring them to the sink. She watched him cleaning the dishes and her instinct suddenly jumped.
"Hmm, is it just me, or is something off going to happen?"
Han Yuan gave her a speechless look, "Can you please not jinx my day?"
"What? Are you saying that I am bringing you bad luck?" Zi Yan put on a fierce look in exchange.
'Something like that,' Han Yuan answered inwardly.
Zi Yan saw Han Yuan's scrutinizing look and glared, "Bad! Bad Han Yuan! You must have thought badly about me right now!"
Before Zi Yan could bite this disrespectful human and teach him a lesson he couldn't forget, the sound of a ringing bell echoed from the front door, which made her and Han Yuan freeze.
"Fuck, you really jinxed it!" Han Yuan swore in disbelief.
"Hey, language!" Zi Yan snorted back.
Han Yuan pushed Zi Yan's face away and grumbled, "That doesn't work on me, you brat."
"You!" Zi Yan felt wetness and the smell of soap on her face.
Han Yuan went to the front door with a confused look. He has no morning class, nor does he need to attend one, and people rarely visit his dorm this early.
Once Han Yuan opened the door, however, a silver-haired beauty in white Inner Court attire came into his vision and left him stunned.
'What is she doing here? In the Outer Court?'
He faked a cough, "Ehem, Senior, what could I help you with?"
"I don't think we know each other."
The silver-haired beauty smiled in return, "No, we do know each other, not very well, but at least I couldn't forget you ever since that day..."
"Am I right, Junior Han Yuan?"
"This..." Han Yuan felt helpless.
Yes, the silver-haired beauty in the Inner Court Uniform is none other than the female senior Han Yuan saved from the Snow Demon Sky Ape a few days ago.
Han Xiayue!
Han Xiayue still has a playful smile on her face. "Well, my charming savior, can I come in?"
"There are many things I want to say to you, including my gratitude..."
"Uh," Han Yuan brushed her off. "I don't think that's appropriate."
"Then…" Han Yuan hurriedly wanted to close the door, but Han Xiayue's boot stuck between the gap to stop him.
Thud!
"Can I come in?" asked Han Xiayue again, still wearing the same playful smile.
"..." Han Yuan.
He sighed, "Come in, Senior..."
"Hehehe, that's so kind of you~!" Han Xiayue giggled as she strode inside while giving him a wink.