"You have twin martial spirits too?"
Lan Mengqin stared at Gu Xun in utter shock. He nodded in response. He possessed twin martial spirits, plus a bloodline martial spirit.
Strictly speaking, Gu Xun should be considered a triple martial spirit user. Lan Mengqin instantly understood.
"No wonder your spirit power level surpassed mine—you attached spirit rings to your second martial spirit early on."
Lan Mengqin's eyes widened. That explained why Gu Xun's spirit power was so much higher than hers. He had attached spirit rings to his second martial spirit.
"What about you, Qianqiu? Do you have twin martial spirits too?"
Lan Mengqin turned her curious gaze toward Dong Qianqiu, who was half a year younger but only one rank below her. Dong Qianqiu shook her head.
"I don't have twin martial skills. I only have one."
"...That's still impressive. You're half a year younger and your spirit power level has almost caught up to mine."
Lan Mengqin sat back down beside Dong Qianqiu, looking perfectly composed as she spoke.
"When you mentioned Gu Xun earlier, you used 'also.' Sister Mengqin, could it be that you..."
Dong Qianqiu recalled Lan Mengqin using the word "also" when describing Gu Xun's twin martial spirits. A thought formed in her mind, prompting her to seek confirmation from Lan Mengqin.
"Hmph, you're right. This lady here is a highly gifted twin martial spirit user. How about that? Calling me 'sister' wasn't a waste, was it? I'll look out for you from now on."
Lan Mengqin beamed with pride at her own words, showing off to her friend like a proud child.
Dong Qianqiu froze, suddenly feeling that twin martial spirits weren't so special anymore. Gu Xun had twin martial spirits, Di Qiu'er had twin martial spirits, and now Lan Mengqin had twin martial spirits too.
Then there was Yuanen Huihui. Though she lacked twin martial spirits, she possessed the Elf Queen's Second Awakening and double cultivation efficiency.
Indeed, Gu Xun had helped Yuanen Huihui achieve the Elf Queen bloodline's Second Awakening early. At the time, she'd been so moved she nearly pledged herself to him.
"What about you? I'm older than you. How about calling me 'sister'? I'll look out for you from now on."
Lan Mengqin looked at Gu Xun inquiringly. Gu Xun shook his head. Are you kidding? Lan Mengqin was only nine months older than him, and he was just three months younger than Dong Qianqiu.
His mental age was eighteen. Calling her "sister" was out of the question—impossible for this entire lifetime.
"Why not? Is my talent not worthy of catching the eye of your family's young master?"
Lan Mengqin frowned at his refusal. Gu Xun looked at her and replied.
"Whether I'll call you 'sister' in the future, I don't know. But shouldn't you be begging me to be your 'brother'."
"What do you mean? Why should I beg you to be my brother?"
Lan Mengqin frowned, utterly baffled by his words. Gu Xun continued, picking up another piece of sweet and sour pork.
"Things have come to this... Let's eat first. If you want to eat, then eat. If it's not enough, I can make more."
With that, Gu Xun began eating. Lan Mengqin instantly flared up, glaring at him through gritted teeth.
"Why do you always speak in riddles, you jerk?!"
Seeing Gu Xun's enigmatic demeanor, Lan Mengqin felt like she could beat him senseless.
"You'll find out once you eat it."
Gu Xun replied indifferently. Lan Mengqin remained unconvinced, while Dong Qianqiu had already adopted an expression of eager anticipation.
"Hmph! I'll see what kind of thing could make me beg you to be my brother!"
Lan Mengqin said, picking up a piece of stir-fried pork and eating it. She chewed a few times.
It was indeed delicious, no complaints there. But she wasn't some greedy little glutton. How could she possibly beg Gu Xun to be her brother just because of some food?
Lan Mengqin remained utterly perplexed as to why Gu Xun was so confident she'd beg him to be her brother.
That was until her throat moved, swallowing the meat slice. Under Gu Xun and Dong Qianqiu's gaze, Lan Mengqin froze.
A look of bewilderment flashed across her face, followed by disbelief. She felt she must have tasted wrong, unsure, and looked again.
Only when she confirmed her cultivation efficiency had indeed increased by twenty percent did a look of utter shock wash over her face.
Her eyes blazing with fervor, Lan Mengqin rose and sat beside Gu Xun, taking his hand in hers as she said with fawning flattery.
"Brother, I was blind earlier. I had no idea your food-type spirit skill possessed such effects."
Gu Xun stared silently at Lan Mengqin, while Dong Qianqiu nearly burst out laughing at her textbook-perfect transformation.
"I liked your earlier defiant attitude. Please revert to that."
Gu Xun chuckled inwardly at witnessing the entire transformation of Shu Region's Heroine, Lan Mengqin. He'd rarely seen such a textbook-perfect change of expression.
"You liked..."
Lan Mengqin's cheeks instantly flushed crimson at his words. She swiftly pulled away from Gu Xun.
Gu Xun watched as Lan Mengqin crossed her arms over her chest, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, clearly wary of him. His expression darkened.
"I know I'm quite charming, but we're still too young. This is our time for cultivation—we shouldn't be wasting our thoughts on romance."
Lan Mengqin hadn't expected Gu Xun to suddenly confess his feelings. Caught off guard, she nearly overheated before finally managing to reason with him.