"I'm sorry," Lan Jue said apologetically. "I shouldn't have brought him up."
The Pharmacist chuckled and waved a hand. "Let's go. Go change your clothes and mask, I'm going to pick up Jun 'er.
I'll see you at the door.
She wasn't happy when she woke up last night and didn't see you. "
Lan Jue chuckled. "I wish I had a daughter like that!"
"If you wanted to find a wife," the Pharmacist said, "it wouldn't be hard.
You and Zhou Qianlin seem to be getting along quite well. "
Lan Jue shook her head. A hint of loneliness crept into her eyes. "Some people can't be forgotten so easily.
I think we're the same in that regard. "
The Pharmacist sighed. "We're all in the same boat.
You should go! "
The rest of the tournament was as exciting as ever, and as dangerous as ever.
Advance, and you'll be in the round robin. Lose, and you'll be eliminated.
Under such pressure, every Arcanist was able to display their prowess.
Skyfire Avenue's overall performance wasn't bad. After the Pharmacist, the Driver, the Seamstress, and the Bartender advanced.
Four of them made it to the top twenty-four.
The Pontiff's Citadel fared worse, with only Constantine in the top twenty-four.
The Dark Citadel had two. Aside from the Dark Magus, there was another tall Adept who could shapeshift into a werewolf.
Chu Cheng had been eliminated from the Major League. Four of the remaining five had advanced to a draw with Skyfire Avenue.
The rest of them were all rogue cultivators.
Tomorrow would be the start of the double-elimination tournament. The winner would advance directly to the round robin.
The loser would have to fight again.
Moreover, it would all be done tomorrow.
In other words.
Tomorrow was the last day before the round robin tournament.
Chu Cheng's fight with the Pharmacist was the subject of much discussion. Then there was the relationship between Lan Jue and the Pharmacist.
Zeus and the Pharmacist were a couple?
After the Pharmacist's display of power, the criticism directed at Lan Jue had lessened.
Even the media deliberately avoided this point.
After all …
The Pharmacist's display of power in the tournament made many believe she was close to Paragon level.
Some people with a discerning eye even said in interviews that the Alchemist would definitely become a Ruler in the future. Moreover, she would be an existence that surpassed ordinary Rulers!
Who would want to offend the husband of a Paragon?
What's more, Zeus himself was a powerful Arcanist.
Lan Jue accompanied Jun'er for the whole afternoon.
He and the Pharmacist took her on a tour of many places.
With the two of them present, unless they were facing a Sovereign, they wouldn't be in any danger.
The Terminator was just as Jun 'er had said, a very kind man.
At least for now.
The fact that Jun'er had a prophecy ability was not spread out.
Jun 'er's body wasn't particularly strong. She spent the afternoon playing around, then ate a simple dinner. Lan Jue's bioelectricity stimulated her, and she fell asleep.
"Let's go back. Don't keep them waiting." The Pharmacist picked up Jun'er and smiled at Lan Jue.
Lan Jue nodded. The two of them had left the Major League Arena together, and it was clear they were closer than ever.
There was less of a barrier between them than before.
Of course, this kind of intimacy was between friends, not lovers.
"Sister.
I'll be on my way. "Lan Jue said goodbye with a smile.
The Pharmacist placed Jun'er on the bed and tucked her in. Then she walked Lan Jue to the door.
"If your little girlfriend gets the wrong idea, just tell me. I'll help you explain." The Pharmacist looked at him with a teasing expression.
Lan Jue laughed. "Alright!
You're so pretty, I'm sure Qian Lin will be jealous. "
"Looks like you're quite popular," the Pharmacist said.
"But.
I remember you have a lot of girls there. You'll have to take care of them.
Relationships between men and women can't be messy. You'll hurt yourself. "
Lan Jue looked embarrassed. "It's not like that," she said.
"I'm friends with Mika and the others. I think of them like little sisters.
There's something wrong with their identities. Otherwise I'd have sent them away long ago. "
The Pharmacist looked him in the eye. "You think of them as little sisters, but they don't necessarily think of you as big brothers.
You'll have to deal with these relationships sooner or later. If you don't, it'll only bring more trouble. "
Lan Jue nodded. "I'll go back and think about it. It'll give me a headache.
But since I saved them, I can't just sit back and do nothing. "
The Pharmacist smirked. "That's your problem. Deal with it yourself.
It won't be for a day or two. I'm just reminding you to think ahead. "
"Alright."
After bidding the Pharmacist farewell, Lan Jue returned to his room.
Pushing the door open, he walked into the room with light steps.
"You're back!"
Zhou Qianlin was sitting on the sofa in a white nightgown, reading a newspaper. She smiled at him as he returned.
"Yeah." Lan Jue nodded.
Zhou Qianlin took Lan Jue's jacket and handed him a cup of warm water. She looked like a gentle wife waiting for her husband to return.
"Qian Lin, today …" Lan Jue tried to explain, but Zhou Qianlin covered his mouth with a hand. She smiled. "You don't need to say anything."
Lan Jue's heart warmed. "Do you trust me that much?"
Zhou Qianlin smiled back. "It's not just you. I have faith in myself.
If someone can make you fall in love with them, it's either because I'm not attractive enough, or because you don't like girls like me.
What's the point of forcing it?
On the other hand, even if you had a hundred beautiful women in front of you, you wouldn't leave me. "
Lan Jue stared at her in surprise. He'd always known Zhou Qianlin was soft on the outside but hard on the inside, but he hadn't expected her to say something like this.
He couldn't help but give her a thumbs up. Then he sighed. "The Pharmacist has had a hard life. She did what she did today to help me."
Zhou Qianlin nodded. "I guessed.
Unfortunately I couldn't help you. I really envy her strength. She's so strong. "
Lan Jue chuckled. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get stronger." He wrapped his arms around her as he spoke, and kissed her soft, pink lips.
As their lips met, Zhou Qianlin could feel the heat of Lan Jue's lips. Shyly, she dissolved into a white light that melted into his body.
As he felt his cultivation skyrocket, Lan Jue sighed inwardly. His resistance to her was growing weaker and weaker. She was like water that seeped into every pore, seeping into his heart.
It would be great if she were her.
Everything would be perfect.
He sat down cross-legged and focused on his body.
After several days of cultivation, his Core had grown stronger and stronger. Impurities were expelled from it. At the same time, as he and Zhou Qianlin cultivated together, they became more attuned to each other. It was easier for them to merge and transform their energies.
Even when they weren't cultivating together, they felt as if they were a part of each other.
His opponents had grown stronger over the past few days, and Lan Jue was able to understand the changes in his own strength. He was also able to adapt to his lowered cultivation.
Ninth level second rank was a formidable power in itself. Although there was still a gap, it was more stable than before.
After listening to the Pharmacist's explanation, Lan Jue's confidence soared.
What he needed now was more time to cultivate. Moreover, it was not just simple cultivation. Instead, he needed to constantly comprehend the changes and differences in his energy, body, and comprehension of the laws during the process of re-cultivating.
His cultivation had weakened, but the door to the Realm of Protogenia had become clearer. Sometimes it felt as if the conditions were right, success would follow.
He was confident that once he reached that level, he would be able to break through the bottleneck and enter that realm.
Time flew by as he cultivated, and soon it was the next day.
The Great Adept Tournament had ignited the passion of the entire human world. The broadcasts were all over the map.
This was especially true for some exciting matches that were broadcasted and commented on.
Everyone was eagerly anticipating the start of the round-robin tournament. Everyone knew the Paragons would be there to provide commentary, and what a spectacle it would be!
Moreover, the Double Elimination Round that was about to be held would be even more brutal and intense.
The reward for entering the round-robin tournament was a qualitative leap. What's more, everyone was competitive. Under such circumstances, the top 24 paranormals were all amazingly powerful and talented.
No one wanted to be eliminated so easily, and everyone wanted to stand out.
They wanted to show off their strength, and defeat one strong opponent after another.
Lan Jue wasn't the only one who felt the changes in his body. The others felt the same.
Being able to spar with so many powerhouses was an opportunity that was hard to come by.
Especially the participants from Skyfire Avenue, the Major League, and the Two Citadels.
Every day after the tournament, their Adepts would gather together and discuss their gains and losses. At the same time, the leaders of their respective teams would give a detailed explanation and analysis of their opponents and themselves.
So, in less than ten days, these Adepts all had different degrees of improvement.
Even those who had been eliminated from the tournament did not leave. They waited to see what would happen next, hoping to learn more from it.
This year's tournament was a rare opportunity for the entire world of Adepts.
The lot-drawing ceremony for the Double Elimination Tournament was about to begin, and all twenty-four remaining participants stared up at the sky!
-----
Sorry, this chapter came a little late. I went to see the Big Boss tonight.
Just got back.
The tournament is coming.
I hope you enjoy it.
(To be continued)