Chapter 307: I Don't Need Friends
"You haven't changed a bit, still so fussy when you talk. Can't you be a little more decisive? " Xu Meijing frowned, urging him with a hint of displeasure.
In the past, Yang Haoran would have certainly used a smile to ease the awkwardness in such a situation, but this time, he didn't.
"You are a Supreme Yin Body. I learned this from Deng Feng. During the battle at the Ghost Building that day, Deng Feng revealed the reason: he initially made you a Night Watcher because he wanted to wait until the time was ripe to take your virginity, absorb the Supreme Yin Qi, and thereby allow him to open his Earth Soul. To preserve your virginity, anyone who came close to you over the years—male or female—if he deemed them a potential threat, he secretly eliminated them."
Xu Meijing had just raised her teacup. Hearing Yang Haoran's words, her hand froze, and though her face showed no significant change in expression, the teacup in her hand was crushed into fragments.
The splashing tea was instantly evaporated by a powerful force, and the shattered teacup disintegrated into a pile of shards that fell onto the tabletop.
"So it really was him pulling strings in the dark," Xu Meijing said, her voice chilling.
From Xu Meijing's words, it seemed that she had suspected Deng Feng regarding the mysterious disappearances of people around her over the years, but she had lacked proof. Now, Yang Haoran's revelation had turned her suspicions into undeniable truth.
Yang Haoran remained silent, instead picking up another teacup from the table and refilling it for Xu Meijing.
"I never had many friends to begin with, because my personality isn't very likable. Nor do I wish to make friends, because not everyone is qualified to be my friend. Besides, I don't need friends."
"Truth be told, whether they lived or died, I genuinely didn't care much; after all, I'm not from the same world as them. However, Deng Feng's actions made me deeply uncomfortable."
Though Xu Meijing spoke thus, Yang Haoran could still sense the suppressed rage within her.
Furthermore, Xu Meijing's words made him extremely awkward. Strictly speaking, he and Xu Meijing were friends, at least in his estimation, yet her words had been utterly unreserved.
Yang Haoran knew that Xu Meijing's words weren't aimed at him, but an unintentional remark can still sting. As her friend, he felt a certain unease.
"That matter is in the past," Yang Haoran said, a habitual smile appearing on his face. "I only told you because I didn't want you kept in the dark."
Xu Meijing merely nodded, not pursuing the topic further. Whether she genuinely didn't care or deliberately avoided it remained unknown.
"Let's talk about something else. I'm not used to this deathly silence."
As his words faded, Yang Haoran waved a hand, and the Spirit Power within him surged forth, manifesting a restrictive barrier array in the area.
With this restrictive barrier array in place, his subsequent conversation with Xu Meijing would be inaudible to anyone else.
Of course, even if he hadn't set up the restrictive barrier array, it would have been difficult for others to eavesdrop on their conversation. After all, there were only the two of them, and this was Xu Meijing's territory; she would likely have her own precautions in place.
Yang Haoran was aware of this, yet he had still cautiously set up the restrictive barrier array. This indicated that the matter he was about to discuss with Xu Meijing was of extreme importance, so crucial that he had to reduce any potential risk to zero.
Xu Meijing's expression shifted. The instant Yang Haoran mobilized the Spirit Power within him, she sensed a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation emanating from his body. Though it was only for a fleeting moment, it shocked her to realize that the Spirit Power within Yang Haoran seemed to surpass her own, leaving her utterly astonished.
Previously, Yang Haoran had always suppressed the Spirit Power within him as much as possible, preventing it from radiating outward. Thus, even Xu Meijing had only been able to sense faint power fluctuations emanating from his body.
However, the moment Yang Haoran activated the Spirit Power within him, she sensed the surging Spirit Power flowing through his body.
At that moment, Xu Meijing no longer concerned herself with what Yang Haoran was about to discuss; instead, her attention was fixed on why the Spirit Power within Yang Haoran was so incredibly potent.
"Can you release all the power within you and let me see? " Xu Meijing asked, looking at Yang Haoran with a serious expression.
Yang Haoran paused, startled. He hadn't expected Xu Meijing to suddenly make such a request of him.
With just a moment's thought, Yang Haoran understood the reason. Xu Meijing must have sensed something when he had just mobilized his Spirit Power.
Yang Haoran did not refuse Xu Meijing's request. He smiled and nodded, then ceased consciously suppressing the Spirit Power within him, allowing it to burst forth completely.
A muffled "boom" echoed from within Yang Haoran's body. Visibly thick Yin Qi coiled around his entire form, like a mass of black flames burning on his skin.
The surging Spirit Power radiated outward from his body as its center, and every object it touched trembled.
Simultaneously, a cold wind swept through the entire conference room, and the indoor temperature plummeted instantly, turning it into an ice cellar.
"Alright, that's enough. If you keep this up, you'll ruin my place," Xu Meijing said, her brows tightly furrowed, stopping Yang Haoran.
Hearing this, Yang Haoran retracted his Spirit Power and suppressed it as much as possible. When she sensed him again, she could only perceive the faint power fluctuations emanating from him.
These faint power fluctuations were not strong in her eyes, yet they were beyond the reach of ordinary Night Watchers. However, compared to his full power display moments ago, the subtle power fluctuations currently emanating from Yang Haoran were remarkably subdued.
Xu Meijing was deeply shocked. She hadn't imagined that Yang Haoran's Spirit Power had grown so immensely powerful, and this was *without* opening his Heaven Soul. If he were to open his Heaven Soul and summon his Soul Armament, the Spirit Power released from within him would surge even further!
Though she hadn't fought Yang Haoran, and thus didn't know whose combat ability was superior, judging by the strength of their Spirit Power, she was indeed a few steps behind Yang Haoran now.
"How did you do that? " Xu Meijing struggled to maintain her composure, but the shock in her eyes clearly betrayed her inner turmoil.
"Didn't I tell you before? After I opened my Heaven Soul, I still had several Death God Seals remaining within me. After refining all of them, the Spirit Power in my body significantly increased. Furthermore, my physical body also received substantial nourishment from vital blood, enhancing both its strength and defense considerably," Yang Haoran said with a smile.
Xu Meijing was speechless. After a long moment, she let out a sigh, her gaze at Yang Haoran becoming complex.
"Your luck is beyond ordinary; it truly makes one both envious and jealous. In just a few short months, you've managed to surpass me again. Nevertheless, congratulations."
Yang Haoran gave an embarrassed smile. Xu Meijing's complex expression indeed left him at a loss for words.
Since meeting Xu Meijing, he hadn't seen her many times, though they often kept in touch via phone calls and messages. Yet, at some point, he found that whenever he faced Xu Meijing, he couldn't even utter a single retort, and even normal conversation became painstakingly cautious.
He knew where the problem lay, but he had no intention of resolving it.
"What are you smiling at? Can you put away that hypocritical smile? It makes my stomach churn just looking at it. Be careful, or I'll tear your mouth apart," Xu Meijing said, looking displeased.
Of course, Yang Haoran didn't take such threats to heart, as it wasn't the first time Xu Meijing had threatened him in this manner, and she had never followed through.
"Heh, you set up a restrictive barrier array here. What do you intend to do? Do you think you're getting a bit capable, trying to plot something against me? " Xu Meijing asked with a cool expression, casting a disdainful glance at Yang Haoran.
These words made Yang Haoran a little awkward. He replied with a laugh, "How could I possibly do such a thing? Everyone says I'm a good person. The reason I set up this restrictive barrier array is to ask you: have you found the Sunken Yin Stone?"
Xu Meijing, whose expression wasn't particularly pleasant to begin with, looked even more disgruntled upon hearing this.
Seeing Xu Meijing's expression, a hint of satisfaction crept into Yang Haoran's smile.
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