Chapter 433: Just Taking a Bath Together

Just as Chen Shu had expected—

In the days that followed, all online information platforms were flooded with news of Jiang Lai winning the championship. Short video feeds were filled with one clip after another; many official media outlets jumped on the trend, and after the big media outlets were done, the smaller ones followed suit.

Everyone was discussing it heatedly.

This was not only because a Martial Artist from Yiguo had finally reclaimed the title of Martial King after several decades, but also because of the way Jiang Lai won the championship and his post-match speech.

Anyone could see that Jiang Lai's strength had far exceeded the limits of a normal Martial Artist. If it weren't for the fact that he truly had not opened a Spirit Sea, and if it weren't for the fact that he had found a path to the High-stage Martial Artist realm for all Martial Artists in the world—a path that would allow all future Martial Artists to enter the High-stage using a method similar to his—I fear that Martial Artists from every country would now be full of doubts about whether he could even be considered a Martial Artist at all.

A High-stage Martial Artist, after all...

It was the dream of countless Martial Artists who had reached their limits, a dream that had been dreamt for thousands of years.

Subsequently, several of the country's most important news outlets and several online media outlets with official backing successively broadcast the research results of the National Martial Arts Research Center, as well as the registration methods and requirements provided by the Martial Arts Research Center, proving what Jiang Lai had said.

The top Martial Artists of the entire world were going crazy.

Unfortunately, the Martial Arts Research Center was only accepting registrations from top domestic Martial Artists for the time being, and they would be conducting background checks.

This had already set off a wave among top domestic Martial Artists. Just in the short videos that had popped up in the last few days, several well-known Martial Artists who had retired from the Arena had already stated that they had registered, hoping to contribute their own strength to the cause of breaking the Martial Artist limit.

Based on the content of these news reports, Chen Shu guessed that the National Martial Arts Research Center had likely already mastered the technology to allow normal Martial Artists to break their limits, and that they currently just needed a large number of volunteers to test the stability of this technology or to make improvements to it. But regardless, the limit of Martial Artists had already been broken.

Brother Jiang is currently the first person to break the limit, but he will not be the last.

Brother Jiang is a pioneer, but aren't all the top Martial Artists who register afterward also pioneers? They are all paving the way for those who come after.

"Qingqing, do you think High-stage Martial Artists will suffer from Spirit Decay?"

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Oh, come on, let's just chat."

"Ordinary Martial Artists will also feel uncomfortable in their later years, but the degree is very mild, not even comparable to Low-level Practitioners, so it isn't called Spirit Decay," Ning Qing said. "If the Spirit Power within a High-stage Martial Artist increases, these symptoms will also intensify."

"Still not as bad as Practitioners, though."

"Mm."

"Xiaoxiao has finished her exams; when are we going back to Yuanzhou for the New Year?"

"Aren't you going to the Spirit Sect?"

"I am."

"You decide."

"Uh..."

Chen Shu continued scrolling on his Mobile Phone.

As soon as the music started, with its impassioned and vigorous tone, he knew immediately that it was more news about Brother Jiang. This was already affecting his normal browsing of short videos.

Long press, not interested.

Just that ruthless.

At this moment, Qingqing stood up and walked upstairs.

Chen Shu glanced at her and continued scrolling on his Mobile Phone.

Soon, he scrolled to news about the restart of the Imperial Sect System.

"Tsk tsk..."

Chen Shu shook his head repeatedly.

It was foreseeable that this would set off another monstrous wave in the global ancient cultivation academic circle.

The former Imperial Sect was also a top sect, and its peak period was not long ago; it had taken the status of the world's number one sect from the Ming Sect. All the major systems currently in existence had been firmly suppressed by the Imperial Sect back in the day. Now that it had disappeared for over a thousand years, its restart by the Yiguo Government was undoubtedly another big piece of news.

"Buzz buzz."

Hu Ran Bi Kou Li: The internet is full of news about Brother Jiang right now.

Seeing this, Chen Shu thought for a moment—

Qingcai Keke: This is a scene Brother Meng dreamed of for years, yet it was realized by Brother Jiang.

Hu Ran Bi Kou Li: /expression complex

Qingcai Keke: I also just scrolled past news that the country is restarting the Imperial Sect System.

Zhong Miao Zhi Men: Since when?

Qingcai Keke: Just now.

Qing Deng Gu Fo: Amitabha, this poor monk has also heard of it.

Qingcai Keke: A matter like this must have been discussed with the major sects.

Ba Kuai Fu Ji De Mei Nv: It's just a restart of the Imperial Sect System; there won't be another Imperial Sect like the one from back then. We are good citizens of the new era, listening to the arrangements of the Imperial Family and the national Government, abiding by the law, and serving our motherland /struggle/struggle/struggle

Qingcai Keke: Not bad, not bad.

Qingcai Keke: I have a question.

Ba Kuai Fu Ji De Mei Nv: /little bear scratching head

Qingcai Keke: Why was the Imperial Sect suddenly unable to summon projections of their Secret Contract targets back then?

Ba Kuai Fu Ji De Mei Nv: I can only guess.

Ba Kuai Fu Ji De Mei Nv: The Spirit Contract Secret Technique connected allies from the other side of the Xing Kong Bi An. The Imperial Sect was the bridge between the two, and also an experiment between the two. The Imperial Sect was responsible for both passing cultivation techniques between the two worlds and cooperating in technical experiments, seeking a way to combine the power of the two worlds.

Ba Kuai Fu Ji De Mei Nv: The reason they were unable to summon them later might be that they felt it no longer had any meaning.

Qingcai Keke: They unilaterally cut off contact?

Ba Kuai Fu Ji De Mei Nv: More or less.

"Emmm..."

Chen Shu couldn't help but start to ponder.

The Xing Kong Bi An, the planet where Lord Lin Sword resides, seems to be on the same Plane as them. In other words, this Plane has two life-bearing planets, each having developed different civilizations. Facing the threat of an external Plane, the two planets naturally stood together.

There had been at least two substantive exchanges between the two sides.

The first is that the other side descended with Divine Power, brought exotic beasts to Earth, and was responsible for helping the people of Earth guard Nanzhou and fight against the eroded humans.

The second is the later Imperial Sect System.

It was about 1,300 years ago that the Imperial Sect weakened, and 1,200 years ago that the Spirit Contract Secret Technique completely failed. If you calculate it carefully, during that period, that exotic plane threatening this Plane should have been unable to hold on any longer.

Why has it been restored again now? Could it be that those big shots were bored and wanted to play a holographic simulation game again?

Qingcai Keke: Why has it been restored again now?

Haoran: Exchange.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: That's right, that's right.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: Technical exchange.

Qingcai Keke: What did you exchange about?

Haoran: Many aspects.

Haoran: For example, the limit breakthrough of a Martial Artist is related to the abilities of the Imperial Sect.

"Hmm..."

This is actually reasonable.

Jiang Lai's breakthrough of the limit is also related to Lord Linjian.

Grandma Always Says: What kind of messy things are you all talking about again? Can you talk about something serious? Like posting some lewd pictures, this group won't get banned for that.

Haoran: You are very smart.

Grandma Always Says: /???

Haoran: I'm not talking about you.

Haoran: I'm talking about Qingcai.

Haoran: You can guess a lot of things.

Grandma Always Says: /Fatherly Strike

Qingcai Keke: Shut up, Zhang Suannai. Look at the others; although they don't understand either, they don't make a sound, so they won't expose the flaws in their intelligence. But as soon as you make a sound, it seems like you're the only silly dog in the group, though actually, you aren't.

Gate of All Wonders: /Complex expression

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: /Complex expression

Suddenly Closed Mouth Standing: /Complex expression

Just Call Me Luo Huaian: /Complex expression

Qingcai Keke: Look, they are all lurking.

Just at this moment, footsteps came from behind.

Ning Qing walked down step by step again, glancing at him indifferently: "What are you looking at, so happy?"

"Chatting in the group... where did you go?"

"Upstairs."

"?"

"Bedroom."

"What did you go to do?"

"Running hot water."

Ning Qing sat down beside him: "Want to take a bath."

Chen Shu blinked upon hearing this, then suddenly chuckled: "I want to take a hot bath too, it's too cold..."

"You can go after I'm done."

"Oh!! I'll use your bathwater to soak?"

"What about it?"

"I don't mind... but you definitely wouldn't have the heart to do that, right?"

"I would."

"No way!"

"I can also run a new tub of water for you."

"No way!"

Chen Shu's tone was firm, then he softened, shifting on the sofa until he was next to Qingqing, pressing tightly against her: "Let's bathe together~"

"Don't even think about it."

Ning Qing's tone was cold and firm.

Twenty minutes later.

The downstairs was empty, with only an open book left on the coffee table and a Mobile Phone discarded on the sofa, still vibrating and flashing with group messages.

In the bedroom bathtub, the two lay side by side, rich and delicate foam covering their bodies.

The bathtub was neither big nor small, enough for two people to lie in, but a bit crowded. Chen Shu deliberately stretched his legs toward Qingqing, tangling them with hers, enjoying the sensation of her slippery skin in the water, warm and soft, exceptionally wonderful.

"Don't move around!"

"I'm not moving around..."

"Move around again and I'll throw you out."

"How am I moving around... I'm just moving normally! Who takes a bath without moving at all? Do you take a bath without moving at all?"

"..."

Ning Qing simply closed her eyes.

"Splash..."

"If you move around again, it won't be possible in the future; I mean what I say." Ning Qing opened her eyes again.

"Hehe..."

Chen Shu also learned from her, shrinking his body down to lie in the water, resting his head on her shoulder, breathing in the air at her neck, and staying still.

In truth, even if they were to move around more, it would still be possible in the future. Between two people who love each other deeply, who could really do anything to the other? It was just that Chen Shu knew her personality and did not want to overstimulate her; finding a suitable line between respect and disrespect was the long-term strategy for a relationship.

That night.

Chen Shu sat cross-legged on the bed, performing his Daily Cultivation.

The Spirit Saint mark was still exerting its effect, providing him with a steady stream of Divine Power, making his cultivation progress by leaps and bounds.

Chen Shu had only advanced to the Seventh Stage in the first half of the year, and now, with the year almost over, in about half a year's time, he had actually already cultivated to around the late Seventh Stage, a step that the Tribulation-Transcending Bodhisattva might have taken over a decade to reach. At the same time, the accumulation of Divine Power made his Spirit Power Quality extremely high, which would make his future advancement very easy.

I wonder how Zhang Suannai's cultivation is doing now.

She has probably reached the peak, right?

Chen Shu thought to himself as his mind gradually grew weary.

The Daily Cultivation ended.

Almost simultaneously, the person beside him also opened her eyes, her gaze indifferent and devoid of emotion.

Chen Shu cast his gaze downward, glancing at her body, the curves beneath her pajamas rising and falling gracefully: "Qingqing, shall we buy some couple pajamas to wear? I saw others wearing couple pajamas with cartoon patterns, and they were all very cute."

"As you wish."

"You're so cold."

"You're only just realizing?"

"Don't copy me."

"I will."

"This is my patent; five yuan per time."

"Not paying."

"If you don't pay, you're not allowed to copy."

"I'm going to anyway."

As Qingqing said this, she had already laid down, preparing to sleep, while still staring at him with an indifferent gaze, as if provoking him.

Chen Shu, however, felt she was truly cute—everything she did was cute—and he couldn't help but pounce on her, hugging her tightly and biting her cheek, pulling the flesh up; she was so cute that he had an urge to destroy her, until he received a hit and finally calmed down.