Amazing! Did they give me the wrong newbie gift pack?

Chapter 168 Lingling Becomes an Apprentice

Inside the Azure Sky Hunting Grounds

Upon hearing Lingling's question, He Xi's expression froze instantly, and she stood there stunned, as if caught off guard by Lingling's question. She opened her mouth slightly, wanting to answer but was momentarily speechless, a hint of embarrassment flashing in her eyes.

"Pfft! Hahahaha!" Upon hearing Lingling's question, Mo Xie couldn't help but burst into laughter. His laughter echoed throughout the hunting lodge, breaking the tense atmosphere. He clutched his stomach, leaned forward slightly, and grinned broadly. "Haha, Lingling, your question has stumped He Xi!"

Seeing this, He Xi glared at the laughing Mo Xie, then coughed lightly, trying to regain her composure, and said, "My strength is not as good as his, but, well, my strength should not be weaker than your... what... what emperor?"

In the end, He Xi was so angry that she forgot what Mo Xie had said earlier and could only look at Mo Xie speechlessly, with a hint of pleading in her eyes.

"The Emperor of the Rooftop." Mo Xie could only chuckle as he looked at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of helplessness and doting, as if he were looking at a child throwing a tantrum.

He Xi nodded after hearing Mo Xie's words, as if grasping at a lifeline, and said, "That's right! It's the Roof Emperor! Although I may not be as powerful as Mo Xie, I am confident that I can contend with an existence of the Roof Emperor's level." She slightly raised her chin, trying to show her confidence.

"Really? You?! The Roof Emperor?! Do you know how powerful someone of that level is?" Lingling's eyes widened like saucers upon hearing He Xi's words, staring at her in utter disbelief. In her mind, the Roof Emperor was a powerful being standing at the very top of this world, and this seemingly elegant and beautiful woman was actually claiming to possess such strength—how could she possibly believe it?

Instead of explaining, He Xi asked in return, "Mo Xie told me you're a super genius. You've been asking me for so long, shouldn't I test you? I'll show you whether I have the right to boast." A slight smile played on her lips, and a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.

"A test it is! Who's afraid of who?!" Having already mastered various subjects at top universities by elementary school, Lingling wasn't intimidated by He Xi's challenge at all. She proudly raised her chin, her eyes brimming with confidence, signaling to He Xi to pose the question. In her view, her knowledge and intelligence were more than enough to handle any challenge.

But He Xi didn't immediately pose a question. Instead, she asked curiously, "Tell me first what you're best at? That way, I can test you based on your strengths. That's fair." Her tone was gentle, as if she were guiding Lingling.

"All kinds of computer data! Intelligence analysis! Including knowledge of the weaknesses of various demons!" Lingling said proudly upon hearing He Xi's question, her tone full of pride.

As the youngest Hunter Master, it's safe to say that aside from lacking in strength, any questions regarding intelligence and data analysis are a piece of cake for Lingling. She stood with her hands on her hips, a confident smile on her face.

Upon hearing this, He Xi then moved a laptop from Lingling's bedroom to her. Her movements were elegant and fluid, as if the laptop had been drawn there by an invisible force.

She casually typed in a piece of code and tossed it to Lingling, then rested her chin on her hand and chuckled, "If you can crack this code within an hour, I can't guarantee anything else, but at the very least, it'll be enough for you to defeat a high-level emperor in the future. This is a rare opportunity, so make the most of it."

"A High-Rank Emperor? Really? You're not kidding me!" Lingling looked at Hexi with suspicion, her eyes filled with uncertainty. In her mind, a High-Rank Emperor was an extremely powerful being, and she found it hard to believe that deciphering a piece of code could give her such a power boost.

Mo Xie chuckled upon hearing this, "You solve it first. Once you do, you'll start as the Emperor of the Rooftop. I won't lie to you; if you can do it, you'll have the chance to become even stronger." His voice carried a hint of encouragement, and his eyes were filled with anticipation.

Hearing Mo Xie's words, Lingling no longer hesitated. She focused her gaze on the laptop and began to seriously decipher the virus implanted by He Xi. Her eyes were focused and determined, as if the entire world had shrunk to the code before her.

Full of confidence, Lingling didn't think any virus could leave her helpless. After all, no matter how strong Hexi's computer skills were, the technological level of a laptop was still what it was.

High-end viruses and code are confined to existing technologies and codes. Lingling doesn't believe that Hexi can create and re-implant a code and virus that is superior to the entire world in less than a minute.

As Lingling focused her attention on the code on the computer, her nimble hands kept typing on the keyboard, making crisp sounds.

Her fingers danced across the keyboard like nimble dancers, rapidly inputting various commands. Grandpa Bao, standing nearby, watched his granddaughter's performance with a confident smile, his face beaming with pride.

After all, he knew very well that his granddaughter's intelligence and knowledge were top-notch, and that an hour was more than enough for her to code.

However, as time passed, Lingling's once confident face grew increasingly serious, and beads of cold sweat began to drip from her fair forehead. Her brows furrowed, a hint of anxiety flashed in her eyes, and her hands, which had been rapidly typing on the keyboard, slowed down.

As the hour and fifteen minutes passed, Lingling's once rosy face turned deathly pale. Her body trembled slightly, her disbelieving eyes fixed on the various codes on the laptop in front of her, the incredulity in her eyes becoming increasingly difficult to conceal. She had never imagined that she would be so helpless in the face of this code; this was undoubtedly a huge blow to her confidence.

However, Lingling's pride made her unwilling to give up so easily. She bit her lip tightly, her cheeks flushed slightly from the effort, and her eyes were red as she stared intently at the screen in front of her, her gaze revealing a stubborn refusal to admit defeat.

Her hands, like tireless machines, struck the keyboard incessantly, producing rapid and dense sounds. Each keystroke seemed to be a challenge she was taking on, and each line of code she typed was imbued with her perseverance and effort.

Time ticked by, and the only sounds in the room were the clatter of the keyboard and Lingling's soft breathing. Fine beads of sweat covered Lingling's forehead, and her hair was soaked and clung to her cheeks. But she was oblivious, completely absorbed in cracking the code, as if the whole world had shrunk to just the computer and the complex code before her.

Two hours later, Lingling's hands finally slowed down. Exhausted, she put down her laptop, leaned back in her chair, and looked at Hexi with a trembling voice, saying, "I failed." At that moment, she resembled a defeated little beast, filled with frustration and helplessness.

"Hehe, little guy, you didn't fail! To some extent, even the top experts from the most advanced pre-nuclear civilizations would need an hour to crack this code."

"I originally thought it would take you three or four hours to crack it." He Xi looked at the dejected Lingling, a gentle smile on her face, and gently pinched Lingling's cheek, her tone full of praise and encouragement, "It seems Mo Xie was right, you really are a genius girl!"

"What do you mean?" Lingling stared blankly at Hexi, her eyes full of confusion. She didn't understand why Hexi said she hadn't failed when she clearly hadn't cracked the code within the allotted time.

He Xi chuckled and extended her right hand, her posture elegant and her expression solemn as she said, "Let me formally introduce myself. I am He Xi, the former Heavenly King of the Angel Civilization and the current Heavenly Elder of the Boundless Heavenly Palace. Leng Lingling, would you be willing to become my second disciple?" Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying an irresistible charm.

Upon hearing He Xi's words, Lingling's eyes flashed with surprise, and her previous disappointed expression was instantly replaced by joy. She stared blankly at He Xi's outstretched hand, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

On one hand, she was shocked by He Xi's powerful strength and mysterious identity. Those titles she had never heard of before shone like bright stars in her heart. On the other hand, being recognized and invited to become a disciple by such a powerful person made her feel extremely honored, as if she had suddenly become the luckiest person in the world.

"The former Heavenly King of the Angelic Civilization? The Heavenly Elder of the Boundless Heavenly Palace?" Lingling murmured to herself. These titles were too unfamiliar to her, yet they were full of attraction. She recalled the amazing abilities that He Xi had shown before, his ability to manipulate space as if it were his own arm, and the code that she had racked her brains to decipher. A feeling of admiration for He Xi welled up in her heart.

"I... Can I really do it?" Lingling asked cautiously, her voice trembling slightly. She couldn't believe such an opportunity had come her way. After all, in her mind, countless people would be vying to become disciples of a powerful figure like He Xi, while she was just a novice.

“Of course you can. You possess extraordinary talent and wisdom, and I believe that under my guidance, you will definitely achieve great things,” He Xi said with a smile, her eyes filled with encouragement and expectation. Looking at Lingling, she seemed to see herself from years ago, full of dreams and aspirations, a girl brimming with boundless hope, striving to explore the ocean of knowledge.

Watching this scene, Mo Xie smiled with satisfaction. He crossed his arms, nodded slightly, and his eyes revealed his approval of Lingling and his trust in He Xi.

He knew that once He Xi decided to take on a disciple, she would devote all her efforts to nurturing her. And Lingling, under He Xi's guidance, would embark on a brand new path full of challenges and opportunities, and in the future, she would surely shine with her own unique brilliance.

"Grandpa, what do you think?" Lingling turned to look at Old Man Bao, a hint of expectation in her eyes. In her heart, Grandpa was the closest and most trusted person to her, and his opinion was of utmost importance. She hoped to get his support, as if it were the source of her courage.

Old Bao looked at Lingling, nodded slightly, and smiled kindly. His eyes were full of love and encouragement, as if telling Lingling that no matter when or where, he would always be there to support her.

"Lingling, this is a rare opportunity, and Grandpa believes you can seize it. Since Ms. Hexi has approved of you, it means you have the potential. Grandpa supports you in pursuing your dreams." His voice was gentle yet firm, like warm sunshine illuminating every corner of Lingling's heart.

After receiving her grandfather's approval, Lingling finally made up her mind. She raised her head, looked at He Xi, and her eyes shone with a determined light, like two bright stars. "I'm willing! Teacher He Xi, I'm willing to become your apprentice!"

She reached out and grasped He Xi's hand tightly, as if she were grasping her own hope for the future. In that instant, she felt an unprecedented power, a longing and yearning for the future.

"Alright, from now on, you're my apprentice." He Xi said happily, gently patting Lingling's hand, her eyes full of affection. "However, becoming my apprentice won't be easy. I'll be strict with you. You need to be prepared to endure hardship." Her tone carried a hint of seriousness, as if telling Lingling that the road ahead wouldn't be smooth sailing and would require effort and sweat.

"I'm not afraid!" Lingling said firmly. "I will definitely study hard and live up to your expectations!" Her voice was clear and loud, full of confidence and determination, as if she was declaring to the world that she was ready to meet the challenges of the future.

"Haha, good, it's good that you have this determination." He Xi said with a smile, "Then let's start by learning the basics. I will teach you some basic knowledge about various genes and advanced knowledge of computer technology. These will be completely new fields for you."

You will encounter many difficulties in this process, but as long as you persevere, you will definitely reap the rewards.” Her voice was gentle and patient, like a spring breeze, making Ling Ling feel incredibly warm.

“Okay, teacher!” Lingling said excitedly, her eyes filled with a thirst for new knowledge. She couldn’t wait to start learning, to explore those unknown territories, and to become as powerful as Teacher Hexi.

Just then, Enzor suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, we have been here for some time now. Should we consider our next steps?" His voice was deep and steady.

Mo Xie nodded slightly, his gaze deep, as if deep in thought. "Yes, we really can't linger here too long. Lingling has already become He Xi's disciple, so we can go and take care of some other matters." His voice was calm and firm, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Teachers, do you have anything else to do?" Lingling asked with some reluctance. She had just become He Xi's disciple and didn't want to part with them so soon. Her eyes were full of longing, like a little bird unwilling to leave its mother.

"Don't worry, Lingling, we'll be back," He Xi comforted her, gently stroking Lingling's head, her eyes full of tenderness. "While we're gone, you should review what I taught you. If you have any questions, you can ask your grandfather. When we come back, we'll continue to teach you more." Her voice was like a mother's murmur, making Lingling feel incredibly at ease.

"Okay, teacher, I will be good." Lingling nodded sensibly, tears glistening in her eyes. She knew that separation was for a better reunion, and she would study hard so that Teacher Hexi would see her progress when she returned.

Afterwards, Mo Xie, He Xi, and Enzo'er prepared to leave the Azure Sky Hunting Grounds. Lingling and Old Man Bao accompanied them to the door, watching their figures gradually disappear at the end of the street. Lingling stood at the door, reluctant to leave for a long time, her gaze following their retreating backs, her heart filled with longing and anticipation.

"Grandpa, I will definitely study hard and become as strong as Teacher Hexi," Lingling said firmly, her eyes filled with fighting spirit. She clenched her fists, as if cheering herself on.

“I believe in you, Lingling,” Old Man Bao said with a smile. “However, in the pursuit of power, remember to maintain a kind and upright heart. No matter how powerful you become, never forget your original intentions.” His voice was earnest and resonant, like a morning bell, echoing in Lingling’s heart.

“I know, Grandpa,” Lingling said, then turned and went back to the Qingtian Hunting Grounds, looking forward to the next time Teacher Hexi came back, when she could teach her more amazing knowledge and skills… She sat at the table, opened the book, her eyes firm and focused, as if she could already see her future glory.