A Mother’s Resemblance and a Clingy Roommate

Lin Mo and Liu Ruyan stepped into the magnificent main hall, and the scene that came into view confirmed the classification of the external stone tablet.

There are four gates inside the huge hall, which is clearly divided into four independent areas: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding (A, B, C, and D). Huge corresponding signs are suspended above the entrances of each area.

At this moment, the hall teemed with people, all moving in an orderly fashion toward the entrances of their designated zones.

In the most conspicuous spot at the very center, an old woman, clad in a plain white robe adorned with flowing cloud patterns, sat gracefully upon an ancient, simple long chair, a massive writing desk positioned before her.

Her gaze, as serene as an ancient pool, precisely captured Lin Mo the moment he stepped through the hall’s entrance.

A cold and precise thought, like an invisible, icy needle, suddenly pierced into his mind:

“Enter the Class B area according to your ranking. Afterward, meet the host of that area to collect your accommodation token. If you have any further questions, return to me after meeting the host and receiving your token.”

‘Holy crap! How awesome is that?’

Here, Lin Mo parted ways with Liu Ruyan, agreeing to reconvene at the old woman’s desk after collecting their respective tokens, before heading to the dormitory area together.

She was quite clingy, but Lin Mo didn’t find it off-putting—as long as she didn’t forcibly drag him to bathe.

‘Ruyan, it’s not that this big sister isn’t willing, it’s just that this big sister has the will but lacks the power.’

The moment Lin Mo stepped into the Class B area entrance, his vision abruptly broadened!

He had expected the main hall to be divided into four distinct areas, yet its internal space was not the cramped segmentation he had anticipated—

Four colossal statues stood majestically, serving as pillars to support the high, expansive dome. The ground, paved with jade-like flagstones, offered a sense of spaciousness that was no less grand than the main hall’s very center!

The dome was not a solid structure, but rather a layer of flowing, translucent light membrane, resembling an inverted, colossal glazed bowl.

Golden light, spilling from above the dome, illuminated the entire area, serving as a massive light source. The glow was warm yet not scorching; reaching out, he felt an extraordinary comfort, a sensation surely achieved through some specialized technique.

The statues’ arrangement also held profound meaning. Two majestic dragon-shaped statues coiled in the background, with the circular, transparent light-membrane dome serving as a luminous pearl, together forming a vivid depiction of “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl.”

The craftsmanship was exquisite beyond compare, rendering the twin dragons utterly lifelike! Every scale was clearly visible, tightly fitted, yet without sacrificing the fullness of their musculature. Even more astonishingly, the dragons’ bodies appeared tightly bound and indented by some chains, the deep indentations so realistic they seemed to depict living dragons truly constrained!

The statues on the two colossal pillars in front were equally extraordinary. The other end of the chains was clutched in the hand of a “person”—a human figure statue, holding a long sword and clad in a uniform identical to the one Mu Qingli wore during the disciple-acceptance ceremony.

Its other hand firmly gripped the chains. The carving, exquisite and magnificent, was equally lifelike! Particularly striking was the long hair, scattered as if by the wind, each strand seemingly captured by the artisan along the wind’s very trajectory!

‘Truly magnificent beyond compare! This was indeed a world of cultivation!’

As Lin Mo’s gaze shifted to the figure’s face, his heart was further shaken. That face was utterly beautiful, though its eyes had not been painted in, but—

In that instant, Lin Mo’s appreciative gaze froze, and his body abruptly halted.

‘Like…’

‘It seemed…’

Ten years had passed since he transmigrated to this world, and memories of his homeland should have gradually blurred with time. Yet, at this moment, they suddenly became vividly clear, spurred by the contours of this statue!

Lin Mo’s breathing instantly quickened, astonishment filling his eyes, and even his body began to tremble slightly. He was on the verge of blurting it out, but his remaining rationality firmly restrained him.

‘How could it be… this was an otherworldly realm… perhaps… it was merely a similar appearance…’

‘It was merely… a resemblance.’

‘Like his… mother.’

‘Perhaps his longing was too great, leading to such a delusion? To mistake this statue for his mother.’

‘It was just a slight resemblance.’

‘This was normal.’

‘The world was vast, full of wonders.’

‘His mother was living well in another world, and without him, this burden, she could finally live the life she wanted.’

‘He had seen the ticket stubs that had accidentally slipped from her wallet the day before her disappearance; they were two train tickets.’

‘As well as the luggage she had secretly packed late at night.’

‘Lin Mo didn’t blame her; he only blamed himself.’

‘Why was he paralyzed from head to toe, only able to imprison others’ lives like a cripple?’

‘He was very content; his mother had accompanied him for a very long time, making him happy for so, so long.’

‘That was enough.’

‘And he was able to come to this world because of that, to experience true living, wasn’t he?’

‘Though it was quite tragic—but, hey! At least he could run and jump! He could overcome difficulties on his own!’

‘This was a game!’

‘He had already cleared the first level: the Qiu Family Estate! He would definitely clear the second level: the Xuan Nv Sect!’

As his thoughts raced, a soft call pierced the emptiness, directly addressing Lin Mo: “Disciple Lin, do not miss the appointed time.”

The woman in the plain white robe with flowing cloud patterns was standing in the very center of the main hall.

At this moment, a steady stream of people approached her, bowed respectfully, and then collected their dormitory tokens.

A flash of insight illuminated Lin Mo’s mind; the person indicated was none other than her.

Hundreds of meters away, on a jade platform wreathed in frost patterns.

Before her, the writing desk had a black jade base, and a token carved from ice crystal floated in mid-air, emitting a cool, pulsating light.

‘The aura of prestige was immense; it seemed she was undoubtedly the presiding elder!’

‘By the way, isn’t this like a homeroom teacher?’

Lin Mo quickly reined in his emotions, jogging to the Host. He had intended to join the queue with the others, but the Host merely waved a hand and said: “Disciple Lin, you need not queue; this is your token.”

The ice-crystal carved token, suspended in mid-air, now slowly flew into Lin Mo’s hand, his own name appearing the moment it settled into his grip.

Lin Mo’s heart stirred slightly—

‘This was the privilege of a personal disciple!’

He immediately stepped out of the queue, bowing to the Host. “Disciple Lin Wan’er, thanks Host!” he uttered respectfully. After the bow, he raised his head, his voice deferential: “May I ask for Host’s esteemed name?”

“You may simply call me Host Yun,” the woman replied, her gaze sweeping over Lin Mo’s blood-stained collar. Her palm gently lifted beneath the sleeve of her dark bamboo-patterned robe; a streak of light flashed, and the bloodstains on his clothes were instantly erased. “The ascension ceremony was Xian Chengyue’s recklessness. Consider this small convenience a compensation.”

Her voice paused slightly, then delivered a warning: “Your perseverance is commendable, but what is overly rigid is easily broken. The path of cultivation is long; you must know when to advance and when to retreat.”

“This disciple will bear Host Yun’s teachings in mind,” Lin Mo responded, bowing his head.

“Go on,” Host Yun said, waving her hand. “Now that you have your token, go to the dormitory and rest.”

“Yes!”

Having been spared the queue, Lin Mo happily departed.

He looked at the token in his hand, noticing his name subtly fading, replaced instead by countless lines of small text appearing on its surface.

The font was tiny, yet incredibly clear, as if being directly projected into his mind.

They were instructions.

First were the time for tomorrow’s intensive training and other important notes. However, the content was extensive, much like the user terms and conditions on Blue Star, densely packed and irritating to behold.

Deciding against reading these for now, Lin Mo resolved to meet up with Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan had been waiting for him there for a long time.

Together, they made their way to the dormitory area.

The dormitory area’s layout was also categorized by ranking. Liu Ruyan’s Class A dormitory was situated in the highest region, and even from a distance, its decor appeared exceptionally luxurious!

That wasn’t a dormitory; from its exterior, Lin Mo felt it was nothing short of a luxurious small villa.

The entire courtyard was carved from thousand-year-old purple sandalwood, its deep, almost inky, wood shimmering with a silken luster under the sunlight.

Upon approaching, a rich, profound woody fragrance, almost tangible, entwined around them—not the superficial scent of ordinary incense, but the natural diffusion of the wood’s essence, accumulated over years, invigorating the mind and seemingly purifying the spirit.

Once inside, it was even more astonishing. Liu Ruyan’s Class A dormitory was perched atop all others, occupying the very peak of a suspended cliff amidst surging clouds.

Though only a single story, it not only included a courtyard but also offered a panoramic view from its spacious balcony, visible through the expansive rooms.

The Xuan Nv Sect had removed all mundane window frames, resembling the full-length panoramic windows of a Blue Star mansion, offering an unobstructed view of thousands of meters of cloud waves and distant snow lines. A nearly transparent membrane of light enveloped the entire balcony, and were it not for the flowing runes flickering at its edges, Lin Mo might have mistaken it for having no balcony at all.

It offered both security and aesthetic appeal…

After marveling at the cultivation-world-style panoramic windows, the courtyard proved even more exaggerated.

Within the courtyard, a spring bubbled, steaming with ethereal mist; touching it, he found it warm!

This was a hot spring, for crying out loud!

As for the trees and flowers, they were brilliantly vibrant; a magnificent peach tree stood tall and robust, its lush foliage providing natural shade.

A stone table carved from cold jade gleamed, reflecting images, and upon it, tea sets of pristine white jade were arranged. Wisps of steam curled gracefully from the spout of a purple clay pot.

In short, it exuded but one word: lavish.

Not to mention the interior decor, which was even more resplendent!

In essence, every detail screamed… luxury!

And it was a single-bed room! A private indulgence!

This made Lin Mo incredibly envious.

Next, they went to see Lin Mo’s room.

How to put it…

It wasn’t bad.

It came with a small courtyard, a tall, lush green tree, and a small pond teeming with fish.

The room inside was also quite large, though not as spacious as Liu Ruyan’s. However, it featured not only a dressing table and a writing desk but also two beds placed on the same side.

Indeed, this was a double room.

While it was still very good, after seeing Liu Ruyan’s, he couldn’t help but feel… it lacked a certain something.

Perhaps sensing Lin Mo’s disappointment, Liu Ruyan generously offered that if he didn’t want to stay there, he could come and live with her.

Lin Mo… desperately wanted to agree on the spot.

But given Liu Ruyan’s nature, he suspected she would want to cuddle at night. He feared accidentally exposing himself, which would surely cost him his life.

While Liu Ruyan’s place was a haven of tenderness, this place was his safe zone for survival.

He figured living with a stranger wouldn’t be as intimate.

However, as the dormitory was currently empty, Liu Ruyan and Lin Mo chatted for a while longer. They only reluctantly parted ways when prompted by the token.

He hadn’t expected this token to be more than just a symbol of identity; it possessed numerous functions.

Its functions were entirely akin to a mobile phone on Blue Star.

As long as one recorded the other’s spiritual energy, they could send messages to each other within a certain range.

Heh, how convenient.

After Liu Ruyan left, Lin Mo briefly enjoyed his free personal time. Although he was so idle that he could only sit in the courtyard, play with a teapot, drink tea, and observe the small fish in the pond, he relished the tranquility.

But most importantly, he wanted to distract himself…

After all… he was about to live with a beautiful girl!

The fantasies he had harbored during the day resurfaced, various imaginations crowding his mind.

He wondered who his roommate would be, and what kind of girl she would be?

A mature woman? Lively and cute? A hot girl? An ice queen? Ah, no, not that one. With Mu Qingli around, he was somewhat desensitized to that type. Or perhaps a legal loli?

The more he thought, the more Lin Mo anticipated.

Mu Qingli was beautiful, but she was primarily dangerous; even if he saw her completely, he wouldn’t dare to think too much.

Living with her meant being extremely cautious, fearing he might anger her and suffer the consequences.

But a roommate was different!

Same age! Similar cultivation level! He could openly admire her! And then he could fabricate an excuse about practicing “physiognomy”!

Nor would he fear being instantly killed.

What a windfall!

After living for so long, he was finally getting a welfare episode.

How did that old saying go? In anime, “the seventh or eighth episode is always the swimsuit festival welfare episode!” After all this time, it was high time he got some benefits!

Just then!

Footsteps approached from outside the door, growing closer and closer, finally stopping before his courtyard gate!

It was… it was his roommate!

Lin Mo instinctively rose, quickly straightening himself.

Having secretly changed clothes earlier, he should not leave a bad impression.

He was incredibly nervous, his heart pounding as the gate was slowly pushed open!

Just… what kind of beauty would it be?!

A loli?!

A mature woman?!

Tall?

Or short?!

Flat-chested, or the highest peak?!

Lin Mo was filled with anticipation!

Bang!

The door!

It was pushed open forcefully!

A woman with a sharp, pointed face, heavily made up, her face resembling one coated in white paint, lifted her pointed chin and walked straight in.

Lin Mo’s pupils constricted slightly, while the other party’s haughtiness momentarily froze at the sight of Lin Mo. Then, both erupted simultaneously—

“Why are you, that snake-faced woman?!”

“Why are you, that tomboy!?”

Lin Mo and Ji Xue exclaimed in unison.