Everyone's mental sea is different—some vast, some small, some beautiful, some ugly. Some hide deep within, while others lie conspicuously at the forefront of the mind. Ye Zhizhou's own mental sea resembled a beautiful starry sky, well-hidden, making it difficult for others to intrude and disrupt. On the other hand, Clay's mental sea was a turbulent desert, easily accessible to anyone who ventured in.
Ye Zhizhou furrowed his brows deeply, slowing down his mental probing as he cautiously entered Clay's mental sea. Unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred. The violent winds within Clay's mental sea, upon touching Ye Zhizhou's mental power, seemed to react like hungry wolves spotting prey. They surged towards Ye Zhizhou's mental power with astonishing speed, leaving no time for reaction.
"Ah!" The sharp and intense pain from the mental impact made him involuntarily tighten his grip on Clay's face. Clay's consciousness, now deep within his mind, regained a hint of rationality upon hearing his muffled groan. He also tightened his hold on Ye Zhizhou's hand.
Soon, the raging winds grew gentler and began to embrace Ye Zhizhou's mental power above the desert. The two gradually merged and transformed into raindrops, falling into the desert and creating small wet craters.
This... The pain had now been replaced by a satisfying relief. Ye Zhizhou cautiously increased the strength of his mental power entering Clay's mental sea, only to find that the raindrops falling into the desert increased in number. The turbulent winds, after merging with him, unexpectedly transformed into a familiar attacking form of mental power. He was very surprised because, after the winds turned into an attacking form of mental power, his own mental power had become significantly stronger and more resilient.
What was happening?
A faint scent of mint suddenly appeared around him. Unconsciously, he released his grip on Clay's face and instead hooked his hand around Clay's neck, feeling an overwhelming desire to get closer.
Chris, who was nervously observing the situation, was once again dumbfounded. The scent of pheromones... Did his big brother really become aroused while being assaulted by a strange mental power? Damn... No, wait, he's the crown prince; he can't use profanity. Oh, Mother, it seems like something strange has possessed big brother.
Ye Zhizhou surrendered to his desires, increasing the intensity of his mental power's intrusion while letting out an involuntary moan of pleasure. This sensation of gradually strengthening mental power was truly addictive.
No longer bothering to ponder why the fusion of the two mental powers had resulted in this outcome, he focused his consciousness entirely within his lover's mental sea and began to entwine with the wild winds. The small raindrops turned into larger ones, then into streams, which transformed into water columns. The water columns gradually converged into a waterfall. As his mental power extensively probed and merged, the sandy ground submerged, eventually disappearing, revealing the transparent and beautiful ice layer beneath. The flowing water continued to erode, melting the ice layer until the water gathered into a sea. Finally, a gentle breeze swept over the water surface, creating tiny ripples. The wind ceased, the rainwater fell, and everything returned to tranquility.
Ye Zhizhou's spiritual power couldn't help but joyfully leap on the surface of this beautiful ocean-like expanse. Suddenly, a small water column emerged from the depths and entwined with his spiritual power, dragging him beneath the water. His body lazily felt enveloped by warm water, and his spiritual power, continuously washed by the water, gradually entered a serene state akin to falling asleep. A water droplet secretly slipped above the water's surface, transformed into a thread of spiritual power, and slowly reached out in his direction, then boldly intruded into the beautiful starry sky hidden deep within his brain.
Ye Zhizhou couldn't help but grip his lover's clothes tightly.
In the first life, when his lover's spiritual power had forcefully merged with his own due to an accidental encounter, his lover hadn't discovered his spiritual sea hidden within his brain. But now... the sensation of having his spiritual power sea probed felt so amazing! It felt like he was intimately connected with his lover in this way!
He sighed inwardly and silently marveled. The existence of spiritual seas in this world was truly amazing! It was unlike the previous worlds where even if his lover triggered his spiritual power, he couldn't cultivate it on his own; he had to rely on him for gradual refinement. But in this world, things were different. The existence of spiritual seas was meant for cultivation! Now, his lover could even discover his own spiritual sea in return, indicating that his lover's spiritual power in this life was healthy, complete, and trainable!
Chris was so excited that his face turned red. He was sure he didn't sense it wrong; just now, there was indeed a fluctuation in his big brother's spiritual power! The fluctuation was incredibly strong! If he had known that triggering his spiritual power would awaken his big brother, he would have definitely sought help earlier... An aggressive threat of his attacking-type spiritual power swirled in front of him, then viciously tore apart the force he had unintentionally released due to excitement.
...It seemed that his big brother was still the ruthless one. He calmed down, no longer daring to have random thoughts, and silently picked up the broken teacup from the floor.
"[Detecting host's soul fluctuation... Soul fluctuation complete. Congratulations, host, on upgrading your spiritual power.]"
Both of them opened their eyes simultaneously. Clay hesitated for a moment, couldn't resist, lowered his head, and kissed his eyes before gradually moving downward. Ye Zhizhou closed his eyes in response, ready to get closer to his lover.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Clay's movements abruptly halted, and Ye Zhizhou stiffened before quickly pushing him away.
"Chris!" Clay, whose amorous moment was interrupted, was quite angry. His newly awakened spiritual power, triggered by his low growl, involuntarily surged toward Chris.
"Bro! Big bro! Calm down!" Chris, who had witnessed the fierce side of his big brother's spiritual power before, quickly retreated, using a shard of a teacup to shield his eyes. "I didn't see anything! Friendly reminder: students can't date! You don't want your wife to be expelled right after enrolling, do you?"
Ye Zhizhou blushed when he heard Chris call him "wife." He suddenly felt that, despite his thickened skin from enduring multiple lifetimes, it still wasn't thick enough. He approached Clay and tugged at his sleeve, whispering, "Rein in your spiritual power; you might hurt someone." But it also made it easier to seduce someone, for some reason. He seemed increasingly defenseless against his lover's spiritual power and aura.
Clay quickly reined in his dispersed spiritual power, turned to face Ye Zhizhou, and raised his hand as if to touch him. However, halfway through, he remembered Chris's words, lowered his hand with a stern expression, and asked coldly, "How many more months until you turn twenty?"
"Five months. Why do you ask?" He replied while moving closer, catching a whiff of the increasingly strong minty fragrance on Clay's body. He couldn't help but ask, "Why do I feel like you smell really good? It was much lighter before... Ah, it's getting even better... and more enticing. I can't control myself."
"Pfft." Chris let out a mocking laugh, attracting attention. Then, when both of them turned to look, he quickly composed himself, avoiding Clay's icy gaze. He smiled at Ye Zhizhou with an innocent expression and said straightforwardly, "That's the scent of Big Brother's pheromones. He's attracted to you."
Ye Zhizhou: "..." Right, this world is AB-oriented, and pheromones and mating periods exist. So, the mutual enhancement effect that occurred after their spiritual powers merged earlier is also a unique feature of this world? In that case, would his lover's spiritual power sea in this life also...
His thoughts gradually wandered, and his expression became somewhat blank and dazed. Clay, seeing this, thought he didn't like it and tried to control the pheromones that he involuntarily emitted. But it was in vain. His already stern expression grew even colder, and he said stiffly, "We'll get married when you turn twenty."
Ye Zhizhou snapped back to reality, "But students aren't allowed to date, right?"
"But they can get married." Clay gestured with his hand, once again suppressing his urge to get closer. He said icily, "It's getting late. You have training tomorrow. Let me take you back."
Why did he have to say goodbye with such a grim expression... Ye Zhizhou found it a bit amusing. He raised the folder in his hand and asked, "Actually, there was no need to re-register, was there?"
Clay stared at him deeply, not speaking or moving. His spiritual power once again rushed out of control, affectionately brushing against him.
Ye Zhizhou also extended his spiritual power, entangling it with Clay's for a while. Then, taking advantage of the slight distraction in his mind's focus as he breathed, he quickly withdrew his spiritual power, turned, and hurriedly ran to the door. After a hasty farewell, he ran off.
Tongtian swept his body with ease and then displayed the results: "[Scan complete. Gender: male. In this world, gender is beta. Spiritual power level: beta, Physical constitution level: A, healthy, no hidden illnesses. Applicable elixirs: none.]"
Only then did he belatedly realize that his spiritual power had upgraded. He was somewhat excited and extended his spiritual power outside his body, attempting to materialize it. Carefully, he condensed it into the shape of a small butterfly. Half a minute later, a white, semi-transparent butterfly took flight from his hand and circled in the air before flying away.
It really worked! His spiritual power could materialize outside his body! He had hit the jackpot this time!
Clay, who was in the middle of discussing matters with Daley, suddenly stopped talking and looked out the window.
"What's wrong?" Daley pushed his glasses up his nose, tapped on the folder, and asked, "Is there an issue with the deployment this time?"
Clay ignored him, abruptly reached out toward the window, and extended his hand.
Daley called him again, but received no response. He looked at Chris, who was busy with communication, in puzzlement and asked, "What's going on with His Highness? Hasn't he adapted after awakening his spiritual power?"
"Huh? Oh, you mean my brother," Chris finally tore his gaze away from the communicator and replied casually, "He's frustrated. Just ignore him. It's his fault for trying to go after fresh grass."
Daley was momentarily speechless, took off his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, and sighed. The empire had these two princes; the future seemed worrisome.
The curtain swayed in the breeze, and after it fell back into place, a semi-transparent butterfly struggled to fly out from inside. Chris and Daley keenly sensed the entry of an unfamiliar spiritual power and both looked over nervously. Clay, on the other hand, had a slight smile as he extended his hand and gently touched the butterfly.
"Is it Big Sis-in-law?" Chris tossed away the communicator and approached excitedly, wanting to touch it as well. "Is it a materialization of level B spiritual power? Butterfly form, it's so beautiful! Big Sis-in-law is amazing!"
Daley's tense body slightly relaxed, and he asked in confusion, "Big Sis-in-law? Who's that?"
"Panxi, the person my big brother fell in love with at first sight, and she's a new student this year," Chris explained, as his hand was ruthlessly pushed away by Clay. He felt a moment of frustration, then regained his happiness. He looked at Daley and said, "Big brother's spiritual power was awakened by Panxi!"
Daley raised an eyebrow, "Today's discussion ends here. Deployment plan A is fine. What we need to pay attention to is personnel selection." Clay covered the butterfly with his palm, thought for a moment, and added, "After the mid-term exams, the inter-grade training will no longer be random; it will be one-on-one matches with assigned partners. I will communicate this with the military academy's high-ranking officials." After speaking, he got up and left, looking like he believed that his wife, the butterfly, was important, and others weren't worth his time.
Daley was somewhat bewildered, "...Your Highness, there's been quite a change."
Chris, with starry eyes, sighed, "This is the power of love, the power of Big Sis-in-law!"
Daley's heart twitched when he heard this. He carefully observed Chris's expression, and his inner suspicion began to grow. While casually tidying up documents, he casually asked, "Do you really like this Big Sis-in-law?"
"No!" Chris picked up the communicator, his face solemn, and said, "I admire her!" Even someone as ruthless as his brother could be won over. And don't forget, there are very few level B spiritual powers in the entire empire, and Big Sis-in-law isn't even twenty yet! My big brother is incredibly lucky to be chosen by Big Sis-in-law!
"What's Big Sis-in-law's name?"
"Panxi! Panxi Chezeldan!" Chris had already memorized Ye Zhizhou's enrollment information backward. "Even her name is so adorable, amazing!"
...It seemed like he had reached the realm of being a devoted fanboy. The smile on Daley's face deepened, and a glint of cunning appeared in his eyes. It seemed he had found a way to persuade the Second Prince to take over the Student Council.
Chris suddenly felt a chill down his spine, his congested mind clearing slightly, and he became a bit puzzled. "But why did Big Brother cancel the random rule for inter-grade training? Does it have any special significance for strategic deployment?"
"No, it has a special meaning for your Big Sis-in-law. The training lasts for three days, and the two sides spend eight hours together each day. Do you think His Highness would allow the person he's interested in to be alone with someone else like that?" Daley collected his documents, stood up, and waved at Chris. "Go back and get some sleep. Rest your brain a bit."
Chris nodded in sudden realization and then eagerly opened the Empress's communication number, typing away.
[Chris's probability of falling in love with the protagonist has decreased to 50%. Please continue to work hard, Host.]
[Daley's probability of falling in love with the protagonist has decreased to 30%. Please continue to work hard, Host.]
Ye Zhizhou was awakened by the light screen. He glanced at it drowsily, then pulled the blanket over his head. He must be dreaming; why would the probability of falling in love suddenly decrease for no reason...
In the temporary dormitory at the military academy, Clay looked at the little butterfly lazily turning over on the pillow, extending a finger to gently touch its wing. Panxi, Ye Zhizhou... Which one is your real name?