Chapter 711

"This hairpin is called the 'Nine Kites Hairpin,' Jingming, help me put it on."

After discussing the video, Ling Shuang took a long while to return to normal, then spoke softly.

"Alright."

Xu Jingming picked up the Nine Kites Hairpin and walked behind Ling Shuang.

I have to say, Ling Shuang's hair is extremely healthy—not only thick and abundant, but also as smooth as silk.

"Wait a moment."

After Ling Shuang slightly pinned up her black tresses, Xu Jingming inserted the Nine Kites Hairpin to secure it.

Thus, even more wife-like aura radiated from Ling Shuang, who was already enchanting, now enhanced by the Nine Kites Hairpin.

Gentle and elegant.

Yet neither of them noticed.

A faint gray glow flickered across the Nine Kites Hairpin, then vanished instantly.

"Let me help you put on the ring."

Ling Shuang slipped the Black Dragon Ring onto Xu Jingming's index finger.

Xu Jingming swept his spiritual force over the Black Dragon Ring, imprinting his spiritual signature upon it.

Instantly, a space measuring one hundred meters in length, width, and height appeared within his spiritual perception.

"Now I can fit an entire fighter jet inside my space ring."

Xu Jingming smiled.

Previously in Great Xia, he had accompanied Teacher Su Qingli to the frontlines of the Senbai Gorge.

He was so poor he couldn't afford a single Chi Xiao-class fighter jet worth thirty billion Great Xia coins.

Yet now, he carried nearly thirty billion Starlight coins on him.

Not only could he afford a Chi Xiao-class fighter jet—he dared to consider even a Black Obsidian-class one.

"Knock knock knock~~"

At that moment, a knock came at the door; after Xu Jingming called out "Come in,"

a waiter in restaurant uniform entered and bowed respectfully:

"Respected guests, all your dishes have been prepared. May we serve them now?"

As a five-star hotel, Himan Hotel employed specialized adepts.

Through their abilities, they preserved dish freshness—even if served an hour after cooking, the flavor remained perfect.

"Serve them now," Xu Jingming nodded.

"Understood."

The waiter bowed and withdrew; soon after, steaming dishes arrived one after another.

The once-empty large round table was now piled high, the air thick with the aroma of food.

"Please enjoy your meal, esteemed guests," the waiter bowed and left.

Ling Shuang raised her wine cup, turned to face Xu Jingming, her face serious as never before:

"Jingming, I owe this to you.

Without you, I wouldn't have survived leaving the Wildlands. I'll drink this first, as thanks."

She downed the wine in one gulp.

She spoke the truth—this Mandate Cult operation against her had been deadly.

Had Xu Jingming not been nearby, even her Limit-Breaking Teleport would have failed.

Had Xu Jingming not been so powerful, even if she escaped via Limit-Breaking Teleport, she still couldn't have broken through the Mandate Cult's blockade.

In short, Xu Jingming had pulled her back from a certain death.

Watching Ling Shuang drain her cup, Xu Jingming had been about to say it was nothing.

But his eyes flickered—he felt mischievous, and asked like a villain:

"I helped you out in such a big way. How will you repay me?"

"I feel like you're a big bad wolf bullying a little girl."

Ling Shuang gave him a strange look, yet solemnly promised:

"Speak. Whatever you want, if I can do it, I'll give it to you."

"Uh..."

That caught Xu Jingming off guard—he'd only meant to tease her, never intended to ask for anything.

But when his gaze fell upon her bare, jade-like feet, an idea struck him. He leaned close to her ear and whispered.

The moment he finished, Ling Shuang's face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance. She snapped:

"I've noticed that besides being a prodigy in cultivation, you're also a bit of a pervert."

"You're the one who told me to ask for anything," Xu Jingming said seriously. "Now you call me a pervert?"

"You're awfully confident."

Ling Shuang shot him a look, bit her red lip, then finally agreed:

"Fine. Since I'm already yours, this isn't much. I accept your request."

"Thank you, Teacher Ling. Tonight I'll treat you to a movie—no ticket fee."

"Thanks a lot—that movie's already starring me."

"..."

After their relationship achieved a substantive breakthrough, Xu Jingming became far more casual with Ling Shuang.

Their dynamic was now nearly identical to how he interacted with Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu.

He'd still occasionally call her "Teacher Ling," just to enjoy her flustered expression.

As Xu Jingming and Ling Shuang laughed and ate dinner,

at Thunder Martial Arts Hall, Xia Lan and Elena had just finished their day's training.

"Xiao Lan, where are you going next?" Elena asked.

"My villa's gone. I'll stay here at the hall tonight," Xia Lan replied.

Though the hall had no bedroom, she could train all night.

For a fifth-rank adept like her, this was nothing.

"Training every day is so boring."

Elena muttered, then brightened:

"Let's go to Rhine Commercial Street in the central district. I've been in Dayangzhou this long and never visited.

Have you been?"

"No, I haven't either," Xia Lan shook her head.

She'd thought she worked hard enough—until she met Xu Jingming, the ultimate grindmaster, and realized how naive she'd been.

So during her time in Dayangzhou, she rarely went out for fun; most of her time was spent training.

"Perfect. Let's go together—Rhine Commercial Street is famous worldwide."

Elena urged.

Xia Lan thought for a moment, then nodded: "Alright."

A little relaxation helps cultivation. She'd been too tense lately—time to unwind a bit.

Xu Jingming and Ling Shuang met at seven p. ., and by the time they left Himan Hotel, it was already nine p. .

Though both had drunk plenty, their physical conditioning rendered it harmless.

Nine p. . was the peak hour of Rhine Commercial Street.

Xu Jingming first took Ling Shuang to Treasure Pavilion to browse, then strolled with her through the commercial street.

Since they'd return to Great Xia in two days, he bought many Dayangzhou specialties.

He also bought Ling Shuang some beautiful clothes and jewelry.

Throughout the entire process, Ling Shuang behaved no differently than Song Qiuyun or Jiang Chuxuan.

This made Xu Jingming silently marvel: though Ling Shuang was already thirty-six,

in matters of love, she still acted like an eighteen-year-old girl.

But that was natural—she'd never had such an experience before.

Time passed quickly; by eleven-thirty p. ., they'd finished shopping.

Most citizens should have been asleep by now, yet Rhine Commercial Street remained bustling.

"Huh? Teacher Ling, Jingming, you're here too?"

As Xu Jingming and Ling Shuang continued walking, a voice filled with surprise and confusion rang out from across the street.

Xu Jingming and Ling Shuang turned instinctively—and saw Xia Lan and Elena amid the crowd on the opposite side.