The rumored protagonist, Bai Ran, calmly went to another branch to attend classes, the Spiritual Energy Branch.
"What a beautiful woman."
"Indeed, I've never seen her before. Is she new?"
"She's even more beautiful than Goddess Shangguan!"
The Alchemist Branch had few students and only one class. The Spiritual Energy Branch, however, had five classes: A, B, C, D, and E. Bai Ran was assigned to the most outstanding class, Class A.
Most students in the Spiritual Energy Branch were simple-minded and straightforward, unlike those in the Alchemist Branch who, relying on their alchemical talents, were often arrogant.
"Hey, beauty, what's your name?"
A girl approached Bai Ran, her eyes filled with astonishment and excitement.
"You must be a new transfer, right? My name is Fang Tianhui," she said with a grin.
Bai Ran looked at her.
"Bai Ran."
Fang Tianhui's eyes widened instantly. She pointed at Bai Ran incredulously, "You! You're the rumored Bai Ran?"
Her voice was loud, immediately drawing the attention of everyone around.
"What? Bai Ran?"
"Bai Ran! Is that Bai Ran?"
Bai Ran pinched her brow. This girl was truly straightforward.
Realizing she had made a mistake, Fang Tianhui quickly covered her mouth and stood by Bai Ran, excessively quiet.
Bai Ran? In Class A?
Shangguan Xi, also in Class A, looked at Bai Ran from not too far away.
For the past two days, the name Bai Ran had been ringing in everyone's ears, her popularity so high that it even overshadowed that of Shangguan Xi, their "first goddess."
Extremely talented in alchemy? Exceptionally strong in cultivation?
Her gaze turned venomous as she looked at Bai Ran in front. "Isn't she just blessed with a seductive face? What's so great about that!"
There wasn't even a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation. She looked utterly unremarkable. The rumors must have been exaggerated.
Just then, the instructor walked in.
"Everyone, quiet down. Class is starting!"
"Today's lesson is a practical combat session. Partners will spar against each other, but only to a certain extent."
After the explanation, the instructor dismissed the class.
Fang Tianhui had wanted to team up with Bai Ran, but Shangguan Xi snatched the opportunity first.
"Instructor, I want to be paired with her!" Shangguan Xi said, looking at Bai Ran with disdain.
Bai Ran, I'll be the one to expose you!
"Alright, then you two are a pair."
Shangguan Xi stood opposite Bai Ran. "Bai Ran, you spread those rumors, didn't you?"
Bai Ran found Shangguan Xi's question baffling. What was with this branch? Were they all single-minded or multi-minded?
Shi Tian, within the spatial artifact, had felt an immediate aversion to this woman the moment he saw her.
"Master, her aura feels strange."
Bai Ran carefully observed Shangguan Xi. It turned out she wasn't the only one who felt this way. Shangguan Xi gave off a very unpleasant, inexplicable feeling.
Shangguan Xi drew her whip and swung it towards Bai Ran.
The force was so great that it produced a whistling sound as it cut through the air.
Bai Ran caught it with one hand, pulled hard, and Shangguan Xi stumbled to the ground clumsily. The whip was also snatched away by Bai Ran.
"Bai Ran!"
Shangguan Xi glared at Bai Ran, gritting her teeth. She clenched her fist, and a few wisps of black energy emerged from her palm.
Bai Ran, with her sharp eyes, noticed this immediately.
Black energy? No trace of a ghost. Definitely not from the demon race.
She had never seen black energy emanate from a living person before.
Afterward, Shangguan Xi was repeatedly pinned down and dominated by Bai Ran, and the black energy was never seen again.
"Look, Shangguan Xi is being beaten like that by Bai Ran."
"What kind of monster is Bai Ran? Senior Sister Shangguan is at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, right?"
"Bai Ran just enrolled, didn't she?"
Shangguan Xi, covered in dirt and lying on the ground, shot a fierce glare at the onlookers. Instantly, they fell silent.
She clenched her fists and watched Bai Ran's retreating back.
Bai Ran! I will not rest until we are enemies!
Back in her courtyard, Bai Ran hesitated for a moment before opening the channel on her ear ornament.
A deep, magnetic voice emerged: "It's rare, girl, for you to contact me proactively."
"Stop the nonsense. Under what circumstances would black energy appear on a living person?"
Black energy, demonic qi?
On the other end, Long Jinhan's brows furrowed. The appearance of demonic qi indicated the presence of a demonized individual.
Even in the Nine Heavens, the barrier was becoming precarious due to the growing power of the demonized, let alone the lower realms.
Had the border defenses in the lower realms been breached?
"Girl, what you saw was likely a demonized person who hasn't fully succumbed to the transformation yet."
"Demonized person?" Bai Ran asked, confused.
"Yes, that's right. When cultivating, inner demons arise, and coupled with weak willpower, the body is invaded by external demonic entities, transforming them into demonized individuals."
If the girl had truly encountered a demonized person, they wouldn't be particularly powerful.
Because even demonic entities had to conform to the power limitations of the lower realms and the laws of heaven.
The only entity in this world not bound by heavenly laws was probably that little girl on the other end.
Thinking of this, Long Jinhan chuckled softly.
Meanwhile, Bai Ran fell into deep thought, her brows knitted.
External demonic entities invading the body and turning living people into demonized individuals was horrifying enough. What's more, there were demonized individuals within Star-Plucking Academy, and no one had noticed.
"For several years, Star-Plucking Academy hasn't detected anything. Could it be that only I can see it?"
The little girl's thoughts were indeed delicate. Long Jinhan caressed the ear ornament with his slender fingers.
"Indeed, only you can see the black energy on those not yet fully demonized. I cannot tell you the reason for now."
"Understood."
"Girl, when your strength grows, you might consider visiting the border cities. But be careful, don't get hurt. I'll be w-"
Before Long Jinhan could finish, Bai Ran terminated the contact. She simply couldn't stand such mushy words of concern.
If getting hurt could increase her strength, she would mercilessly push herself to the brink of death. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
On the other end, Long Jinhan irritably stroked the ear ornament. "Little girl, used and discarded?"
After contacting Long Jinhan, Bai Ran felt like she had forgotten something all along.
Right, Jing Feng!
For the past few days, Jing Feng had shown no sign of life, and Bai Ran had forgotten his existence.
Who knew that a few days later, Jing Feng would return in a severely battered state. Bai Ran then realized that he had been punished by Long Jinhan for failing to protect her. But that was a story for later.
Just then, her second brother, Bai Qingyu, found her courtyard.
The moment he entered, he froze.
"You are? Ran Ran?"
Bai Qingyu looked at the drastically changed Bai Ran, his face full of shock.
"Second brother doesn't recognize me?" Bai Ran looked at Bai Qingyu.
"Ran Ran has grown up and become more beautiful. But Ran Ran is still my sister, that will never change."
Bai Ran's mood became somewhat heavy. Looking at Bai Qingyu's smiling face, she didn't know how to respond.
"What if she's not related by blood?"
Bai Qingyu froze.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Could Ran Ran change her blood?"
Bai Qingyu burst into hearty laughter.
If, one day, he discovered my true origins, would he retract all his kindness and become like that person from my past life?
Bai Ran shook her head, suppressing the urge to dwell on things that hadn't happened yet.
"Oh right, Ran Ran, a few major events have happened recently. Are you aware of them?"
Bai Qingyu's expression suddenly turned serious.