Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

When history's wheel reaches a turning point, the vast majority of passengers are unaware.

On August 27, the "Directive Opinions on the Era of Spiritual Energy Resurgence by Wenyuan Pavilion" was officially issued to the six departments of the External Court for implementation. This meant that Lu Country had finally ended the secrecy control phase and formally acknowledged the fact of the Spiritual Energy Resurgence to all sectors of society. Read latest stories on empire

The good times have arrived, spicy!

This news briefly surged to the top of the hot search lists on all major platforms, only to quickly slide down, replaced by another more explosive hot search:

What to do with only four days left of summer vacation.

"Brother!" Yan Yu had just picked up the phone call from his sister when Yan Jing's wailing voice came through, "Summer vacation is ending! I don't want to go to school, what should I do..."

"What you do at school is none of my business." Yan Yu comforted his sister, "Have you finished your summer homework?"

A sharp intake of breath came from the other side:

"Big bro, I had just managed to forget about that, can you not remind me?"

"My bad." Yan Yu said gently, "I should have reminded you on the last day of summer vacation."

"Big bro, don't be inhumane!" Yan Jing wailed again, "I don't care, I've come to Jinling, you have to take me out to have fun for these last few days."

"What are you doing in Jinling?" Yan Yu was immediately startled.

"Here to have fun." Yan Jing declared boldly, her tone exactly the same as when he said "Let's do extra training" to the girls.

"Did Mom and Dad agree?" Yan Yu quickly asked her.

"Big bro, I'm sixteen years old, do I still need my parents' permission to go out?" Yan Jing asked him incredulously, "It's not like we're in a feudal society where women can't leave their boudoirs. You're still clinging to these antiquated ideas; you're not going to find a girlfriend that way."

"Huh." Yan Yu laughed in exasperation, "You're in Jinling to have fun, so where are you staying?"

"Don't know, you arrange it."

"I'm not on summer vacation, how do I have time to arrange things for you?"

"If you don't have time, just give me money," Yan Jing proposed sensibly, "I can arrange it myself."

"Get lost." Yan Yu hung up the phone vehemently, then turned around to find that all the girls were watching him.

"What are you looking at me for?" He waved his hand impatiently, "Watch the video. Ling Yun, continue with the analysis."

"Sure." Chen Lingyun began to adjust the projection again.

This morning's analysis was still of Miti's Superhero Alliance match videos.

On Lu Country's side, the training and sparring content of cultivators was treated as military secrets; Miti, on the other hand, was the exact opposite—after all, their situation was special, mainly focused on recruiting and incorporating European Transcendents.

Their entire system couldn't be secretive, so they made everything public, commercial, and entertaining, even having commentators explain the matches, keen on breaking down the superheroes' tactical systems so that audiences could appreciate the intricacies.

"...In any case, although Miranda won this match, I believe Bruce is actually the better one," Chen Lingyun concluded, "The defeat was due to the mid-game rhythm becoming chaotic."

"Yes." Yan Yu affirmed her statement, "Fresh troops like these, hesitant in advantage situations, and in disarray when at a disadvantage certainly lack the mental toughness. In a real fight to the death, such people are the first choice for cannon fodder. Everyone must take this as a warning."

"By the way, Miranda is a Latina from Rio, while Bruce hails from Bristol in England," Chen Lingyun added, "According to big data, Latinos, regardless of their occupation, usually have a more aggressive fighting style, preferring to take the initiative and excel in winning games; the Europeans, on the other hand, tend to be more deceitful, especially the English wizards, who are more accustomed to cunning tactics and striking later."

"Analyze specific individuals specifically," Yan Yu cut her off, "Big data is meaningless. Our future opponents will inevitably be the renowned great Transcendents. Don't engage in regional discrimination and stereotypes."

"Got it." Chen Lingyun said cheerfully, "Let's then analyze these two superheroes specifically..."

Before she could finish, her phone rang.

"Tactical analysis session and the phone isn't on silent! Unprofessional!" Yan Yu scolded her sternly, "Get out!"

"Wasn't there someone who also answered his sister's call just now?" Lin Ning whispered to Su Yunjin.

"Shut up, that's my privilege as the captain!" Yan Yu turned his head and reprimanded her.

"Just wait for me a moment." Chen Lingyun walked out while cheerfully answering the phone, deliberately pressing the speakerphone, "Hello, Jing Jing?"

"Hello, Sister Lingyun, I have to tell you..." Yan Jing's complaining voice came through the phone.

Yan Yu stood up without a change in his expression and said to the girls:

"I'll step out for a bit too."

He followed Chen Lingyun outside of the training ground and heard the woman say:

"Mm, okay, that's settled then."

Then she hung up the phone.

"What did my sister tell you?" Yan Yu asked directly, "Or rather, when did you two get in touch?"

"Jing Jing said she wants to come to Jinling Prefecture to play for a few days." Chen Lingyun said smilingly, "As for when we met... It should be shortly after the end of the Wuyi Mountain Secret Realm venture."

"That was quite a while ago!" Yan Yu complained helplessly, "Since you two already know each other, convince her not to come to Jinling."

"Why's that?" Chen Lingyun feigned ignorance.

"I don't have time to look after her," Yan Yu said, "Our team's daily training schedule is packed full."

"Then let her play on her own." Chen Lingyun dismissed the concern, laughing, "She can stay at our team's base at night. We do have plenty of rooms, don't we?"

"If it's just that, it wouldn't be a problem." Yan Yu narrowed his eyes with suspicion, "But I always feel like there's some sort of plotting going on... Speaking of which, Miss Chen, why would my sister suddenly come to Jinling for no reason? And what role do you play in this?"

"Ah, you caught me." Chen Lingyun smiled calmly, "Actually, I asked your sister to steal your household registration book. Once she brings it to Jinling, we'll go to the civil affairs office to get married."

"Keep dreaming." Yan Yu was dismissive, seeing right through Princess Jiang Hai's bluster.

After all, if there were such a thing as the Chen Lingyun route, the biggest obstacle to conquering this romantic line wasn't Yan Yu's own feelings for Chen Lingyun, but her family circumstances.

Unless her father gave the nod, even if the two went to the civil affairs office to officially register, it could be nullified due to various unspeakable reasons.

"Hmm." Chen Lingyun didn't deny it, saying, "Our interests are aligned now. What could you possibly have that's worth me scheming over?"

"There is something." Yan Yu smirked, "Like arguing with me, talking back, just to find some amusement from me."

Chen Lingyun gave a noncommittal answer, changing the subject:

"The second edition of 'Tactics and Strategy Studies for Cultivators' is out, and it talks about the new Three Arts, namely the Soul Refining Technique, Sound Transmission Technique, and Invisibility Technique. What's your take on them?"

"Soul Refining Technique is of utmost importance." Speaking of serious cultivation matters, Yan Yu also adopted a solemn demeanor, answering, "Divine Sense is the eyes and ears of a cultivator, as well as the extension of their will, hence mastering the Soul Refining Technique is essential, just like daily Qi Refinement practice.

As for Sound Transmission Technique and Invisibility Technique, it's enough to know how to use them."

"Is Sound Transmission used as a communicative tool, and Invisibility because it can be detected by Divine Sense?" Chen Lingyun asked with a smile, "Or because it consumes too much True Yuan when activated?"

"It's not just that." Yan Yu replied, "Once you're in a state of invisibility, you can't activate True Yuan at all, neither for casting spells nor controlling swords, unless you willingly cancel the invisibility... You get it, right?"

"That means," Chen Lingyun quickly surmised, "only when one absolutely needs to avoid combat should they choose the Invisibility Technique."

"And Divine Sense of any cultivator can easily detect it," Yan Yu explained calmly, "Even overall, Invisibility Technique is quite limiting. It doesn't have superior branches, and there are better alternatives, like the Wood Escape, Water Escape, and Earth Escape of the Five Elements Escape Technique.

These not only conceal one's presence but also allow quick movement to places others can't reach, essentially outclassing Invisibility Technique."

"I see." Chen Lingyun said with a bright smile, her eyes filled with longing, "Cultivation sure is interesting. With the Spiritual Energy Resurgence, all sorts of spells are emerging, always something new to discover."

"Just don't repeat the mistakes of your past life." Yan Yu warned her coldly, "In the end, every technique comes down to who is stronger."

"Even if you learn a myriad of techniques, if you can't withstand a punch from your opponent, what's the point of all your cultivation?"

"Uh." Chen Lingyun feigned thoughtfulness, venturing a guess, "For fun?"

Yan Yu froze for a moment, then flew into a rage:

"I'll blast that 'fun' freak of yours with a punch!"