Chapter 504: The Taste of First Love~

at you, sweating so much. Go freshen up and change your clothes," Zhao Hongyu said with concern for Zhao Ranzi.“Alright,” Zhao Ranzi stood up.“I’ll go with you,” Hao Ren also got to his feet.Zhao Ranz...Chapter 504: The Taste of First Love~~ (Hope everyone who still has votes will support)

Zhao Kuo returned to the palace and needed some rest to recover his body.

Hugh, who helped Zhao Kuo stabilize the crystal, also had to take a bit of time to digest the power from absorbing part of the black crystal's energy.

"Third Brother, congratulations!"

Zhao Guang greeted Zhao Kuo at the palace gate with an expression of joy. With the black crystal, Zhao Kuo exuded a unique aura and seemed full of strength. Generally speaking, the simpler the attribute, the easier it was to refine the black crystal.

Take Su Han as an example; her dual Gold-Water attributes made finding suitable crystals difficult and refining them more complicated.

If Zhao Kuo hadn't had previous experience in refining black crystals before, he might not have succeeded with the seven-petaled rainbow lotus that combined five different attributes.

Actually, during this refining process that lasted nearly a day and night, Zhao Kuo faced several dangerous moments while refining the crystal. However, each time, Elder Moon-Star would promptly step in to help resolve any crises.

The more attributes a black crystal has, it isn't necessarily considered superior to one with simpler attributes.

Zhao Kuo's significant increase in strength after refining the seven-petaled rainbow lotus was mainly due to this being the finest of the five-element crystals and not merely because it combined five different attributes.

"Third Uncle, I told you there'd be no problem!" Zhao Yanzi rushed over from outside the palace with a happy expression.

"Hehe, Third Uncle is blessed with good fortune; how could anything happen" Zhao Kuo said in an easygoing manner.

Then he looked at Hugh who had come along with Zhao Yanzi. "The seven-petaled rainbow lotus truly lives up to its reputation as a holy crystal. If I ever find another one, I'll definitely give it to you."

Hugh's performance during the practice session and his ability to handle spiritual energy pressure were surprising enough times for Zhao Kuo to start thinking that this young man might have potential to become an expert.

Especially when Hugh managed to absorb every bit of excess spiritual energy, something Zhao Kuo had been concerned about due to its challenging nature for a Geng level cultivator like him.

Zhao Kuo didn't know that Hugh's body contained a pure essence of heaven and earth power injected by his wife in the spirit realm phase, which could even preserve Zhao Haoran's thousand years worth of cultivation. Transforming this leftover black crystal energy was nothing compared to it.

Having obtained the seven-petaled rainbow lotus that Hugh could use, Zhao Kuo felt he owed him a favor. However, refining the black crystals also paved the way for Hugh, and Zhao Kuo wasn't sure if there were any other seven-petaled rainbow lotuses in this world.

"With Third Uncle's words, it's enough," Hugh answered cheerfully.

"Third brother, you're also tired. Go rest properly," Zhao Guang patted Zhao Kuo's shoulder and said with concern.

"Alright." Zhao Kuo turned around and entered the palace. This temporary palace built on an island was quite spacious and had dedicated training areas and bedrooms for Zhao Kuo.

The Star Moon Elder, standing next to Zhao Hongyu, watched as Zhao Kuo walked away with some helplessness in his eyes.

"Ah Ren, you should also go rest. You've helped a lot this time," Zhao Guang said to Hao Ren after looking at him.

“Mm.” Hao Ren nodded. Just as he was waiting for Chancellor Xia to lead the way, Zhao Hongyu continued and said, "You can stay in the same room with Ah Zi."

"Eh" Zhao Yazhi was taken aback first before protesting loudly, “Mom!”

During this period of time, she had become increasingly dependent on Hao Ren. Especially during those days when Hao Ren stayed in America to accompany Xie Yujia, her heart felt extremely painful. But now that Zhao Hongyu personally ordered them to stay together, Zhao Yazhi could not accept it.

"Did I say something wrong" Zhao Hongyu helplessly glanced at her and then looked at Hao Ren. "Junior Third's studies are quite difficult; you can tutor her."

“Yes, Aunt.” Hao Ren gladly agreed.

During this period of time, while Zhao Yazhi was in the palace, he was outside, leaving them with little time to interact. The only moment they spent together each day was when they attacked Zhao Kuo hand-in-hand; it was during these sword technique practices that their rapport gradually grew.

Zhao Yazhi pouted but did not dare say anything else.

The two entered the bedroom in Zhao Yazhi's palace, and Hao Ren casually shut the door.

"You… what are you doing" Zhao Yazhi looked at Hao Ren with some wariness.

“Don’t you close the door when entering a room” Hao Ren asked her and then opened the window facing the back mountain and sea.

The view from this palace was indeed magnificent.

A cool sea breeze blew in, bringing a sense of comfort. Just moments ago, it had been stormy with monstrous beasts rampant everywhere.

"Hey," Zhao Yazhi suddenly turned around and elbowed Hao Ren's belly. "Senior Uncle Lu said those monsters came from the Sea of Ten Thousand Demons. Why don’t we go challenge the Sea of Ten Thousand Demons"

“The Sea of Ten Thousand Demons” Hao Ren looked at her with a strange expression, “Just relying on yourself”

"Humph! What's wrong with that" Zhao Yazhi pouted in dissatisfaction.

"When you reach the Dan Formation stage, I can accompany you to take a look," Hao Ren said.

"Oh... You just said so..." Zhao Yanzi clung onto Hao Ren's words tightly.

"I did say that, I did say that..." Hao Ren was particularly helpless and pulled out an ancient-style armchair to sit in front of her.

The elaborately crafted wooden table held the textbooks for Grade 9.

"Have you gone through them all" Hao Ren turned around and asked her.

"Most of them, it's not hard," Zhao Yanzi said.

Hao Ren nodded. Zhao Yanzi’s words weren't necessarily a show of stubbornness. Ling Zhao Middle School was one of the key model schools in Donghai City; every subject was taught very closely. Some knowledge points from Grade 9 were already being taught in Grade 8, such as chemistry classes that most schools only started to offer in Grade 9.

For a student like Zhao Yanzi who didn't put much effort into studying, this intense and tight curriculum would be quite challenging.

However, precisely because of this, the third year of junior high was relatively simpler. For an entire year, besides a few new knowledge points, the main focus was on reviewing and consolidating what had been learned in preparation for the entrance examination to senior high school (middle school graduation exam).

Grade 9 math, Grade 9 physics, Grade 9 chemistry, Grade 9 English...

Seeing Hao Ren flipping through these textbooks, Zhao Yanzi sat beside him patiently waiting until he finished each one.

This time getting third place in her class was largely due to Hao Ren's efforts. Therefore, she no longer had any doubts about his ability to tutor her studies.

Zhao Hongyu gave Zhao Yanzi the Grade 9 textbooks hoping that she could study them during the summer break and keep up with her grades for the third year of junior high. As far as academic performance was concerned, Zhao Yanzi relied solely on Hao Ren.

Seeing Zhao Yanzi so obedient and not causing any trouble for him made Hao Ren feel a bit uncomfortable.

Hao Ren couldn't quite describe how he felt about Zhao Yanzi; in his heart, he actually liked her very much, but she was still just an eighth-grade girl, which seemed strange to him.

At this moment, Zhao Yanzi quietly sat beside Hao Ren. The unique soft fragrance of a young girl enveloped Hao Ren's skin.

The palace was built in the style of ancient architecture; if they were living in ancient times, Zhao Yanzi could indeed get married at her current age.

Zhao Yanzi quietly watched Hao Ren without rushing him. She actually thought that Hao Ren wasn't so bad, but sometimes she couldn't help but tease him, especially when she saw him with Xie Yujia...

Right now, having Hao Ren sit beside her and carefully reading books gave her a wonderful feeling.

Except for the initial period when Zhao Yanzi first met Hao Ren and saw him as a college student, after getting to know him better later on, she no longer viewed him solely as such.

In every aspect, Hao Ren was like a high school student only one or two years older than her. His innocent thoughts, cautious approach towards emotions, youthful appearance, the expression of his joys and sorrows, a slight shyness, an attempt to hide small pretenses that still showed through, as well as that particular faint scent of soap on the clothes of the boy he liked...

Unconsciously, Zhao Yanzi leaned into Hao Ren's embrace. He didn't push her away but wrapped his arm around her waist in a light hug while continuing to flip through pages of the book.

Zhao Yanzi’s middle school textbooks were slightly different from those from Hao Ren’s time; some concepts required him to study carefully before he could grasp them.

She tilted her head up and looked at Hao Ren's face from under his chin, feeling a little disoriented. Her cheeks flushed red with happiness.

This age of teenage girls was full of fantasies; Zhao Yanzi always called him uncle but never truly saw him that way. On the contrary, the youthful Hao Ren was a typical handsome guy who could easily become an object of fantasy.

Time ticked by as Zhao Yanzi lazily leaned on Hao Ren's chest, feeling particularly warm and comfortable, just like how a kitten would cuddle in its owner’s arms without wanting to move.

However, Hao Ren shifted his body and let out a long sigh. "Finally finished."

"Oh..." Zhao Yanzi lifted her head and looked at Hao Ren.

The warmth of his chest against her back was very pleasant.

Hao Ren supported her delicate shoulders, lifting her up to look outside the window at the sky. "It's probably time for bed."

"I need to change into my pajamas and take a shower; the bathroom is outside," Zhao Yanzi said, blushing.

Hao Ren stood up, puzzled, and walked out of the room. Outside the palace in the courtyard was an ancient well.

He scooped up a bucket of water to rinse himself and then used fire element spirit energy to quickly dry his body and clothes.

When he returned to Zhao Yanzi’s room, she was already tucked into bed wearing her strawberry pajamas.

Even bringing pajamas... What more does this girl need Hao Ren looked around but didn’t see any place for him to sleep. He walked over to the side of the bed and asked, "Where should I sleep"

Zhao Yanzi was instantly infuriated by his question. She had just thought he was innocent; now she saw that he was simply foolish. saw Xie Yujia's blushing face."Mom..." Seeing that her mother was still staring at Hao Ren, Xie Yujia called out again."At your age, you should go out and explore. Traveling on your own, booking hote...