Chapter 128: The Iceberg Smiles

The next morning, Luo Ling affectionately linked her arm with Ke Bei’s as they arrived before the Qingstone Battle Platform. Today, Luo Ling was a striking contrast to her usual cold demeanor; a faint smile lingered at the corners of her lips, and now and then she lifted her delicate head to gaze at Ke Bei’s profile with eyes filled with boundless warmth.

Such a remarkable change naturally drew the attention of many.

“Look, Luo Ling is here.”

“Huh, she’s smiling? So the ice queen can smile after all.”

“Who’s that guy beside her? Damn, has my goddess already fallen?”

As Luo Ling approached the Qingstone Battle Platform, thousands nearby simultaneously shifted their gaze toward her. Upon seeing the subtle smile on her cheek, they all exclaimed in surprise. In their minds, Luo Ling had always been an icy presence; they never imagined this glacier would thaw. At the same time, they noticed Ke Bei, whose arm was tightly entwined with Luo Ling’s. Envy flickered in their hearts, quickly followed by a spark of jealousy.

If the person Luo Ling held onto was a top three super-strong contender on the Azure Dragon Ranking, these people could perhaps accept it—they could tolerate their admired woman being with a hero. But now, that person was the unknown Ke Bei, and their feelings were entirely different.

“Damn! Who the hell is that guy? How dare he be with my Ling’er!”

“Never seen him before; probably a newcomer. Hell, a newbie who doesn’t even dare to participate in the Azure Dragon Ranking battles—what right does he have to win Ling’er’s favor?”

“Ling’er belongs to all of us! How can we let that bastard spoil her?”

The once quiet Qingstone battlefield suddenly erupted with uproar. Each young talent glared fiercely at Ke Bei.

“Tsk tsk, Ling’er, you sure have many admirers.”

Ke Bei calmly swept his gaze over the riled crowd, then looked at Luo Ling’s beautiful face and smiled softly.

“Jealous?”

A sly gleam flashed in Luo Ling’s eyes as she playfully stuck out her rosy tongue at Ke Bei, her cheeks radiant with happiness.

“No, it’s not jealousy. If so many people admire you, how could I be jealous? I just feel a bit uncomfortable being watched by so many,” Ke Bei said, rubbing his nose sheepishly.

“Giggling…”

Luo Ling’s sparkling black eyes fixed on Ke Bei’s slightly guilty expression, and she burst into a gentle laugh. At that moment, she felt an unprecedented happiness, as if her heart had been drizzled with honey, sweet and softening her entire being.

“Ahem, Brother Luo Bei, when did you get back?”

As Ke Bei and Luo Ling neared the Qingstone Battle Platform, Luo Han caught sight of them. Seeing Luo Ling cling intimately to Ke Bei, he felt awkward and hesitated to approach.

Luo Ling was his beloved younger sister, and he was well aware of her feelings for Ke Bei. He was unsure whether to disturb them. But seeing Luo Ling about to nestle completely into Ke Bei’s embrace, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

They weren’t even officially a couple yet, and public displays like hugging and holding hands seemed inappropriate.

Every older brother’s heart is the same: they hope their sister finds happiness, but when they see her clinging to another man, a strange melancholy creeps in.

“Brother Luo,”

Ke Bei felt a bit embarrassed upon seeing Luo Han approach. He tried to withdraw his arm from Luo Ling’s hold, but she clung stubbornly, making it impossible. So he could only smile awkwardly at Luo Han, allowing Luo Ling to keep her grip.

“Ling’er, your opponent is strong; you should just forfeit this match,” Luo Han said after shaking his head with a wry smile. After a brief pause, his voice dropped low.

“Who?” Luo Ling’s gently arched brows lifted as she looked at Luo Han and asked.

“Jia Wen! Former fourth on the Azure Dragon Ranking!” Luo Han’s thick eyebrows furrowed deeply as he spoke gravely. Anyone ranked fourth on the Azure Dragon Board was undoubtedly powerful. Even Luo Han himself had little chance of victory against Jia Wen, let alone Luo Ling, who was only at the lower stage of the Dao-Transcending realm.

No one in the top ten of the Azure Dragon Ranking was weak! Everyone had their trump cards.

With Luo Ling’s current strength, she could handle ordinary upper-level Dao-Transcenders, but defeating a top ten Azure Dragon expert was unlikely. From his previous fight with He Xuan, Luo Han knew He Xuan hadn’t shown his full power.

“Heh, it’s fine. I’m here,” Ke Bei said softly, patting Luo Ling’s small hand to comfort her.

Once someone reaches the top ten on the Azure Dragon Ranking, they can form their own team. With Ke Bei’s current strength, making the top ten would be effortless. He planned to establish a team and earn points alongside Luo Ling.

With Ke Bei’s power, dismantling zombie and beast strongholds within the human domain was easy.

“Mm,” Luo Ling, always strong-willed, obediently nodded upon hearing Ke Bei’s words.

“Uh?”

Luo Han was momentarily stunned by Luo Ling’s obedient demeanor. He sighed inwardly. A grown woman is hard to restrain. He had worn himself out trying to convince her to fight and reach the top ten, but it was Ke Bei’s casual words that persuaded the stubborn Luo Ling. Luo Han glanced at Ke Bei with a complex mixture of emotions.

“Let’s go. Just forfeit the upcoming match. With your current points, there’s no problem entering the Azure Dragon Ranking. I’ll help you catch up on any lost points once the second phase begins.”

“I’ll guarantee your final score will rank within the top ten!”

Ke Bei straightened his chest slightly, gazing steadily at Luo Ling’s faintly smiling cheeks. His tone was calm but filled with absolute confidence.

“Mm, I’ll listen to you.”

Luo Ling gently rested her head against Ke Bei’s chest, completely ignoring Luo Han’s astonished expression nearby. As for the thousands of eyes watching, she paid them no mind.

Time passed slowly. On the Qingstone Battle Platform, challengers came and went. After seven rounds, it was finally Luo Ling’s turn.

“Next match: Luo Ling versus Jia Wen!”

Above the platform, a War God-level warrior clad in silver armor hovered silently in the air, his deep voice carrying clearly across the crowd of thousands below.

“Go.”

Hearing the middle-aged man’s resonant voice, Ke Bei looked at Luo Ling’s radiant, happy face and whispered.

“Mm.”

Luo Ling nodded slowly, gently releasing Ke Bei’s arm and walking leisurely toward the Qingstone Battle Platform. With Ke Bei’s return, all pressure vanished from her heart. No matter how strong her opponent was, it didn’t matter—Ke Bei had already told her to forfeit.

Her pale cheeks carried a faint smile as she stepped lightly onto the platform.

“You must be Luo Ling?”

Jia Wen appeared young, with a youthful face not yet fully matured. A faint patch of light stubble adorned his chin—so subtle it was easy to miss. He wore a silver standardized battle suit and held a three-foot-long, antique-looking cyan sword in his left hand. His black hair, shoulder-length, fluttered in the breeze, exuding a carefree, refined aura reminiscent of ancient sages.

Jia Wen had heard much about Luo Ling, who had reached such heights at the lower Dao-Transcending stage. But seeing her today, she seemed quite different from the cold, iceberg-like figure in the rumors.

This girl, with a joyful smile on her face, bore no resemblance to the aloof, indifferent woman whispered about in legends.

“Mm,” Luo Ling nodded faintly, cheeks still bearing that gentle smile.

“What a beautiful woman. Probably only the senior sister in the Talent Training Camp could rival her,” Jia Wen said, momentarily distracted by Luo Ling’s charming smile. Then, a faint image of another woman flickered through his mind, and after a brief sigh, his youthful face blossomed with an elegant smile.

“Heh… If your cultivation reaches the upper Dao-Transcending stage, maybe you could contend with me. But as of now…”

Jia Wen looked at Luo Ling apologetically, his young face tinged with regret.

“It’s alright. I understand. I’m not your match yet. Haha… I concede. Maybe you’ll get a chance to face him,” Luo Ling smiled, pointing toward Ke Bei in the audience, then gracefully stepped down from the platform.

Jia Wen was taken aback, then followed Luo Ling’s gaze toward Ke Bei.

“That him? That idiot?”

Seeing Ke Bei, Jia Wen was momentarily stunned. They had met once before at the foot of the path leading to the War God Palace, where he remembered Ke Bei talking to himself foolishly.

“Hahaha, I look forward to it.”

Jia Wen laughed heartily as he watched Luo Ling’s retreating figure.

Luo Ling approached Ke Bei again, obediently linking her arm with his and casting a glance at Jia Wen on the platform, chuckling softly.

“Ke Bei, if you get the chance, help me defeat him, okay? This is the first time I’ve admitted defeat.”

Luo Ling’s nature was naturally strong-willed. Although she didn’t say much, her heart deeply cared about this. Now, because of Ke Bei’s words, she had willingly conceded.

“No problem!”

Ke Bei, knowing Luo Ling well, gently brushed a few strands of violet hair behind her ear, his voice resolute.

Since Luo Ling had conceded, Jia Wen naturally stepped down from the platform.

The elder hovering above, the War God-level judge, glanced at Jia Wen, then at Ke Bei, a barely perceptible smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Last night, Bloodwind War God had specially instructed this judge to arrange Jia Wen as Ke Bei’s first opponent.

The aged master of the War God Palace had praised Ke Bei highly—so highly that even Bloodwind War God found it hard to believe. Thus, with a subtle thought, he decided to assign Jia Wen—whose strength nearly reached the invincible upper Dao-Transcending level—as Ke Bei’s initial test.

Using Jia Wen as a touchstone to see if the youth named Ke Bei was truly as formidable as the elder master claimed.

“Next match: Ke Bei versus Jia Wen!”

The War God-level judge’s deep voice echoed once more, clearly resonating through the crowd.

(To be continued)