The Child's Father Is...?

Jiang Wu walked up to the tall, thin man and plunged his dagger into his throat without hesitation.

He pulled out the dagger and struck again with a backhand slash, severing the tall, thin man's carotid artery.

Lin Yuan was utterly shocked by the sight. He had never expected Jiang Wu to strike so decisively.

Thinking of Jiang Wu's performance at the academy, he felt that Jiang Wu's future held limitless promise.

As for Jiang Wu's Dragon Claw, he naturally did not ask about it.

He guessed that Jiang Wu probably had a Second Martial Soul, and that it was a top-tier dragon-type Martial Soul.

"Let's go." Lin Yuan brushed the dust off his clothes. "Let's get out of the forest first."

The two did not linger in the forest any longer and quickened their pace toward the exit.

When they emerged from the Soul Hunting Forest, the carriage was still waiting outside the relay station.

Lin Yuan exchanged a few words with the driver, paid the fare, and looked back at Jiang Wu.

"Get some proper rest when you get back. You've overtaxed your Soul Power."

"Mm, thank you, Headmaster."

The carriage swayed and rattled on its way back. Jiang Wu leaned against the carriage wall and closed his eyes, replaying the battle in his mind.

The control effect of Illusory Charm Eyes was better than he had expected, but it lasted too briefly against opponents with strong spiritual power.

Golden Dragon Claw was powerful enough, but it consumed too much Soul Power. With his Soul Power at level twenty-one, he could not maintain it for very long.

The carriage headed toward Dongxing City through the gathering dusk, while Jiang Wu silently considered what he needed to do next.

Somewhere beyond his sight, Niu Tian and Tai Tan, who had been following in the shadows, stood on the branches of a large tree and watched the carriage disappear into the distance.

Tai Tan frowned. "This child can undergo Dragon Transformation. It looks like his father is probably a dragon-type Soul Beast."

Niu Tian nodded slightly, wondering who the child's father could be.

As he recalled, there had been no particularly formidable experts with dragon-type Martial Souls in their time.

After Tang San became a god, Yu Xiaogang had indeed become a formidable Titled Douluo, but it was impossible for Yu Xiaogang and Xiao Wu to have had that kind of relationship.

Tang San was no fool. If he discovered that Xiao Wu and Yu Xiaogang were having an affair, Yu Xiaogang would be as good as dead.

More importantly, Xiao Wu was not that kind of person and would not seek out Yu Xiaogang to do such a thing.

Could it be a Soul Beast?

The true dragons in the Star Dou Great Forest could be counted on one hand. He knew of only two, and one of them was female.

Could it be...

At the thought of that one, Niu Tian could not help sucking in a breath of cold air.

It was no wonder his imagination ran wild. There really were very few true dragons on the Douluo Continent, and judging by Jiang Wu's performance, he could very well be that one's child.

Tai Tan looked at Niu Tian in some confusion and asked, "What's wrong?"

Niu Tian came back to his senses and shook his head. "Nothing. I just remembered something."

But then Niu Tian had another thought. No, that was not right.

That one had already been at the Ferocious Beast level back then, holed up in the Core Circle of the Star Dou Great Forest all day without budging. With Xiao Wu's meager cultivation, he could never have entered that one's territory.

Besides, given Xiao Wu's temperament, how could he possibly have with that one...

Niu Tian shook his head, casting the absurd thought out of his mind.

"Come on, let's follow them and see." Niu Tian patted Tai Tan on the shoulder.

The two figures skimmed silently through the treetops, trailing the carriage from a distance.

In the blink of an eye, two years passed.

Jiang Wu had reached level 30, and he only needed to absorb one Soul Ring to become a Soul Elder.

Over those two years, Jiang Wu felt that his luck had been downright bizarre.

When he went shopping, he could stumble upon a bargain and buy medicinal pills.

When he went out of the city with Wang Dong'er for fun, he could unexpectedly pick up heavenly treasures.

His luck was so bizarre that Jiang Wu suspected he was the true child of destiny.

Reaching level 30 at eleven years old was something he had never even dared to imagine.

With Jiang Wu pushing her and the resources of the Clear Sky Sect at her disposal, Wang Dong'er had also reached level 30.

One morning, Jiang Wu was woken as usual by Wang Dong'er lying on top of him.

For two years, this girl had been the same every day, sprawled atop him each morning and sleeping so soundly that even thunder could not wake her. Her head was buried in the crook of his neck, and her pink hair tickled his chin.

"Wang Dong'er, wake up."

"Mm... Let me sleep a little longer..."

"The graduation ceremony is today."

Wang Dong'er's eyes flew open, and she sprang out of bed, her long pink hair a bird's nest. "The graduation ceremony! Where's my dress?!"

Expressionless, Jiang Wu handed her the dress from the head of the bed.

Wang Dong'er snatched it and hurriedly pulled it on, muttering as she dressed, "Why didn't you wake me earlier? What if we're late? The headmaster is giving a speech, and I heard there's going to be an outstanding graduate speaking this year too..."

"You weren't chosen."

"But what if I was?!"

"You were late seven times last semester, skipped class three times, and made your classmates cry twice in practical lessons."

Wang Dong'er paused and glared at him. "Xiao Wu, you talk too much."

Jiang Wu ignored her and went on getting dressed.

Today he wore a long blue cotton robe that Su Yuehua had made in a rush especially for him a few days earlier. Though the fabric was ordinary, it was cut to fit, and he looked neat and fresh in it.

After washing up, the two left the dormitory and headed for the academy auditorium.

On the way, Wang Dong'er complained nonstop that the waist of her dress was a little tight, her hair looked bad, and there seemed to be dust on her shoes. Jiang Wu fended her off with a steady succession of "Mm," "It's fine," and "It's not dirty."

The auditorium was already packed.

Dongxing City Academy was a junior Soul Master Academy with a six-year course of study, and a dozen or so students were graduating that year.

The requirements for graduating from a junior academy were, first, to cultivate Soul Power to level 10 as a Soul Scholar; second, to hunt a Soul Beast under the guidance of an academy teacher, obtain a First Soul Ring, and advance to Soul Master.

Third, to complete the basic academic courses (continental history, general knowledge of Martial Souls, and basic knowledge of Soul Beasts).

Those who met all three requirements could apply to graduate early; they did not necessarily have to wait the full six years.

Not many people in the whole school graduated each year. The vast majority merely completed their studies.

Since Jiang Wu and Wang Dong'er wanted to enroll at Shrek Academy, they naturally had to apply for early graduation.

The graduation ceremony was dull and lasted an hour before it ended.

After the ceremony, Jiang Wu and Wang Dong'er returned to the dormitory to pack.

Neither of them had much luggage, and Jiang Wu had the Storage Soul Tool Wang Dong'er had given him, making it easy to carry their belongings.

"Take this too." Wang Dong'er stuffed a lopsided clay rabbit into the Soul Tool. Jiang Wu had bought it for her on a whim at the market last year.

Jiang Wu glanced at it. "The color's faded."

"It's still something you gave me, even if it has faded."

Jiang Wu said nothing more. He picked up his cloth bag and headed out.

The two walked out of the academy gates and looked back.

"Time to go," Jiang Wu said.

Wang Dong'er stood beside him, quiet for once. After a moment, she reached out and took hold of his sleeve.

"Let's go."

They had hired the carriage in advance. The driver was a taciturn old man, and with a crack of his whip, the carriage swayed out of Dongxing City and followed the main road toward Jiang Family Village.

On the way, Wang Dong'er dozed against the carriage wall, her head nodding until she finally tilted over and rested it on Jiang Wu's shoulder.

Jiang Wu did not move away. After five years, he was used to her leaning on him.

The carriage arrived at Jiang Family Village before noon.