NOVEL NEXT Chapter 266: 24 Years of Change
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The two of them ran into a dark alley.
Lu Yuan instantly activated Different Space to hide, whistling cheerfully.
Who doesn't like a young and vibrant society? Being around the young all the time makes you feel eternally youthful.
In the training ground opposite the alley, someone was frantically lifting weights, while others played basketball.
The physical fitness of the young people nowadays is impressive, with an average level around Level Two. The barbells for bench presses start at 300 kilograms and are made of tungsten.
They were sweating profusely, working very hard, occasionally accompanied by heavy panting sounds.
"Are you planning to enlist in the military?" Two male students, having finished their training, walked shoulder to shoulder past the alley, discussing life's major decisions.
"Sigh, I'm really not cut out for studying; it's better to start working early and contribute to society!"
"I heard that these days, being a soldier isn't so simple; you have to learn at least one skill."
"I've already learned a skill! Heh heh, I've been training in machining and mechanical assembly for two years at Green Grass Paradise, and I even got a certificate last month."
"You rascal, keeping it a secret from your buddies!"
"...You're cut out for studying, so you might as well stay in school for a few more years."
Because the wealth gap is well controlled and there's a strong demand for industry, the status of workers in human society is quite high.
Students are not opposed to learning a dirty or tiring job...
Of course, the availability of Level Two Extraordinary Sparks, which significantly enhance physical fitness, means that the intensity of most jobs can be bearable, unlike the exhausting work of the past.
Once the two guys walked away, without having noticed him, Lu Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Every time I come to campus, it's like going to war! Sneaking around."
"Enjoy it while you can, 'Dad'."
As for the present Miss Conch, he'd doted on her well. After so many years, Conch still had the appearance of a young girl, and her personality was still quite girlish, quite playful.
Her outfit today was a rose-red evening gown, with a green leaf headband in her hair, dignified yet elegantly casual. On her feet, she wore a pair of flat red shoes. Due to the recent run her hair and dress were a bit disheveled, which added a touch of playfulness.
A full 24 years had passed, and naturally, the relationship between the two had progressed by leaps and bounds.
What should have been done was long done.
And what shouldn't have been done, they just had to continue bearing with it.
Speaking of this, Miss Conch couldn't help but become mischievous, "This 'Dad' of yours, why did you run away? I didn't plan to run! Just wanted to ask a bit of gossip."
"Even I'm not afraid, what are you scared of..."
Lu Yuan hummed twice, cradled her cheeks, and treated her to one of those.
The girl's face immediately blushed even more, her words faltering.
"High offense, low defense, thin-skinned and big-hearted."
Lu Yuan hummed, always feeling like he'd been bewitched.
Human beings, as creatures loving novelty and tiring of the old, should theoretically switch from love to a quiet affection after 24 years.
But right now, he was still enthusiastic. Could it be some unknown Divine Skill at work?
"Show me your 'Mind Control'; if it has gotten weaker, then you'll have to endure a strict abstinence from it. If not..."
"Oh, it's gotten a bit stronger." Conch's eyes emitted a faint blue light, and she uttered a single syllable, "洎!"
This was the "Mind Control" ability mimicking [Spirit Word].
Mystical power appeared around her.
A cluster of vapor condensed in the air, forming a small water sphere.
Lu Yuan judged whether she had gotten weaker or stronger by the speed of the water droplet's condensation.
"It's 1.4% faster than last month, and the quality of the distilled water is also up to standard."
"Ah, when will you reach 35 Points of God Attribute?" Lu Yuan sighed.
She had finally regained that lost 0.5 point of Divine Attribute ten years ago.
But approaching the 35-point mark seemed like an eternal endeavor, given that this was an exponential growth challenge.
If she could increase by 0.05 in a year, Lu Yuan would thank the heavens for their grace.
Conch was aware that her ability to mimic [Spirit Word] was crucial for Spirit Language Technology. There were many [Spirit Words] and [Painted Skin] that would not cooperate, requiring her active substitution.
So she had put in a lot of hard work...
Conscientiously studying the pronunciation of [Painted Skin]...
Grasping the nuances of [Spirit Word] usage.
She even had to mimic other Divine Skills to speed up her cultivation progress...
Once, she even had a moment of Sudden Enlightenment about "craftsmanship." Instead of making equipment, she applied this inspiration to learning about Engraving and [Spirit Word].
"Mind Control," as an All-Powerful ability, may not quite match the original when mimicked, but it is comprehensive and versatile.
Of course, it's also exceptionally exhausting—mimicking other Divine Skills really does take a lot of energy.
Thinking back on her years of diligent overtime work, she couldn't help but give a proud snort, "Hmph!"
...
Lu Yuan had no idea what she was snorting about, but indeed, Conch had become an embodiment of civilization.
He deactivated Different Space, and the couple, hand in hand, roamed the vast campus just like a typical couple, bought a cup of milk tea, and also got some street-side oden that was commonplace.
Such couples were too common in school to arouse interest.
Pretending to be students was quite enjoyable.
"A lot of kids are in early relationships... probably one-third of them have been in a relationship." Conch whispered quietly.
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Lu Yuan was pretty open-minded about this, "Well, there's no helping it, everyone has to fall in love. It's something hard to prohibit, and besides, we don't have a college entrance examination here. It's a lifelong learning system; let them love early if they will..."
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