Chapter 48: Flirting Backfires

Training proceeded steadily.

On the second day, during a break in training, Su Xiaoxiao began secretly taking liberties with Xiao Qiao.

She stealthily placed her hand over Xiao Qiao's while she was playing, whispering, "Let's play together~ Holding hands makes it more harmonious."

Xiao Qiao: "…Don't move! If you move again, I'll… I'll seal your mouth with a rune!"

Su Xiaoxiao: "Then seal it… Or how about you just kiss me, and I'll stop talking~"

…

On the third day, when Xiao Qiao was healing Su Xiaoxiao's injuries, Su Xiaoxiao suddenly hugged her: "Xiao Qiao, you saved me, I'm so touched. How about… I offer myself to you in return?"

Xiao Qiao: "Be, be respectful—you're a girl!"

Su Xiaoxiao smirked: "That's true, but that doesn't stop me from offering myself to you."

…

On the fourth day, while the two were drawing a Formation diagram, Su Xiaoxiao suddenly touched Xiao Qiao's fingertips: "Your hands are so soft, just like Lin Chen's… I like it."

Xiao Qiao's face flushed red, "Don't mention Miss Lin! If you keep doing this, she'll misunderstand and think we're having an affair!"

Su Xiaoxiao feigned surprise: "Ah? Don't we… already have one?"

…

On the fifth day, Su Xiaoxiao stared blankly at Xiao Qiao. Xiao Qiao shyly said: "W-what are you looking at?"

Su Xiaoxiao: "I'm memorizing every inch of your features… so I can kiss you in my dreams."

"Slap!"

Xiao Qiao smacked her head: "If you tease me again, I'll tell Miss Lin!"

On the sixth day: Su Xiaoxiao leaned on Xiao Qiao's shoulder to nap, taking the opportunity to nuzzle her neck.

On the seventh day: Using "unstable Qi Circulation" as an excuse, she secretly wrapped her arms around her slender waist.

On the eighth day: She took the Spirit Medicine and asked Xiao Qiao to feed her, "Mouth-to-mouth is the only way to truly transmit the power~"

On the ninth day: She secretly kissed her cheek, causing Xiao Qiao to die of embarrassment on the spot, "Are you even a girl, you jerk!"

Every time she finished teasing her, Su Xiaoxiao would add: "You're so pretty, I really can't help myself~"

Xiao Qiao hugged her head and crouched down: "It feels like I'm being teased by a girl… but it also doesn't…"

The tenth day.

The clouds and mist dispersed, and the sound of bells rang throughout Moxiang Academy.

With the echo of the third ancient bell, the grand ceremony officially began.

With all phenomena gathering and various clans arriving to pay respects, the viewing hall was already bustling with noise and possessed a magnificent Aura.

The entire Moxiang Academy was lifted by a Spirit Script Formation, resembling a floating immortal island, surrounded by auspicious clouds and circling cranes, with the sound of ceremonial music flowing like a murmuring stream, refreshing the mind.

Lin Chen and Su Xiaoxiao stood side by side, wearing the formal attire of Moxiang Academy students, standing on the eastern side of the viewing platform. Above the hundred jade steps in front of them was the main stage hosted by the Zhuge clan.

"Each sect is taking their seats in order," Su Xiaoxiao whispered, leaning in, her voice carrying a hint of a wicked smile, "Let's wait and see if those 'old friends' will come to cause us trouble."

Lin Chen nodded gently, a flicker in her eyes, though her mind remained as calm as water.

She hadn't dressed up deliberately today, only tying her long, smooth hair into a thin braid hanging over her shoulder, a plain cloud-patterned dress making her appear exceptionally serene.

In contrast, Su Xiaoxiao had changed into a brand-new outfit today—a slim-fitting short robe with pale gold patterns, outlining her slender waist and slightly proud, perky buttocks, with a faint, cool fragrance misting around her.

"Look, isn't that those two guys from the Xiang clan?"

As soon as Su Xiaoxiao finished speaking, Xiang Qingxuan and Zhang Hongfei were seen walking over side by side.

The two were dressed in noble attire, their Aura arrogant. Their gazes swept across the crowd and landed straight on Lin Chen and Su Xiaoxiao, making no effort to hide their provocation.

Zhang Hongfei sneered, standing with his sword in his arms, and sarcastically said: "Miss Lin Chen really has guts. To think you'd dare bring a trash Spiritual Root to watch the ceremony on such an occasion?"

"Aren't you afraid of others laughing at you? Or perhaps… you've already prepared to be buried with her?"

Su Xiaoxiao's face darkened, and she was about to lash out, but Lin Chen said softly: "Ignore him, he's not worth it."

Although her words were soft, they were like a clear spring piercing through stone, causing Zhang Hongfei's expression to change.

Xiang Qingxuan also snorted coldly and said: "Little girl, you should be more restrained in your speech. The Soul of Literature Ceremony is not some flower-viewing outing."

Just as he finished speaking, a clear, moist voice suddenly came from the side, carrying a tone that was half-smile, half-mockery.

"Oh? Who are you warning?"

The crowd parted, and a figure in white was seen walking over slowly, with a dashing posture, a gentle yet indifferent smile hanging on his lips.

Su Xiaoxiao's heart jolted.

— — Crown Prince Li Chongjun!

Today, he had changed out of his usual gray-white cloth robe and into a plain white ceremonial robe with gold patterns. He carried a long literary sword on his back, and the jade pendant at his waist was engraved with the words "Dao Yi". His literary Qi was like clouds, and his posture was like snow-bamboo on a jade mountain.

"Crown… Crown Prince Li Chongjun? What are you here for?"

Su Xiaoxiao was already a bit bristled, and upon being met with that gaze, she immediately became alert.

"Are you here to mock me?"

"No," Crown Prince Li Chongjun said, stepping closer, approaching her step by step, his eyes revealing a rare flash of determination and dominance.

Under the gaze of everyone, he suddenly turned his head to look in all directions.

"I came here today for only one thing."

"To announce—"

"Su Xiaoxiao is mine."

When this sentence fell, a deathly silence descended before the viewing platform.

Countless people were stunned, shocked, and in an uproar!

Zhang Hongfei's mouth twitched: "Are you crazy? Why, why do you want a trash Spiritual Root?"

"She has nothing, except for a pretty face—"

"I don't care," Crown Prince Li Chongjun interrupted him indifferently. "If I like someone, she doesn't need to have any talent, she doesn't need to have any Spiritual Root. As long as it is her, that is enough."

Xiang Qingxuan's face turned black: "She's a lesbian!! Did you get water in your brain?!"

Su Xiaoxiao: "…"

Lin Chen: "…"

Crown Prince Li Chongjun's gaze shifted lightly to look at Su Xiaoxiao, his tone softening: "No matter who you are, no matter what you were in the past, I am telling you now—whoever you are is fine, I just like you."

Su Xiaoxiao's lips trembled slightly, her expression stiff: "…Did you injure your head?"

Crown Prince Li Chongjun retorted: "Are you touched?"

Su Xiaoxiao: "No!!!"

Zhang Ling'er slapped her thigh from the side: "That's the vibe! This is what you call dramatic, hahaha—"

Xiang Mingyuan: "The Soul of Literature Ceremony hasn't even started, and someone is already confessing in public, with a bit of a fantasy twist. This year's nobles are really interesting."

Zhuge Yuanjing stood on the main viewing stage, gently unfolding a scroll embroidered with golden runes, and said calmly: "Since everyone has arrived, stop the commotion—"

"The Soul of Literature Ceremony, officially unsealed. All literary cultivators, before entering the Formation, must not fight. Violators will be expelled from the ceremony."

The voice echoed through the Nine Heavens.

Everyone's expressions became serious, and they returned to their positions one after another.

Only Su Xiaoxiao stood still, dazed, her ears flushed red, her mouth opening, but in the end, she didn't say a word.

Crown Prince Li Chongjun walked past her and left a low sentence:

"If you are afraid of others misunderstanding… then just pretend I am aggressively pursuing you."

Su Xiaoxiao opened her mouth slightly, and finally snorted softly.

"Narcissist."

She turned around, but quietly tucked her hair behind her ears, hiding her flushed cheeks.

"The Soul of Literature Ceremony, officially unsealed!"

The scroll in Zhuge Yuanjing's hand turned into light and soared into the sky, transforming into an ancient golden-patterned literary seal, slowly rising to the firmament.

In an instant, a magnificent giant Formation appeared above the entire Moxiang Academy. Golden brush and ink danced, and paper pages fell from the sky, like a heavenly book flipping open, with every character dancing like a Dragon or snake, containing infinite power of will.