Level Forty

In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed since the new students enrolled.

Over the past two months, Ji Lin's days had been fulfilling. During class, he either studied theoretical knowledge or was dragged by Zhou Yi into physical training alongside the whole class.

It was worth mentioning that under Zhou Yi's strict, almost perverse guidance, First-Year Class One had completely transformed. Yet what shocked even the academy's upper ranks was that, after more than two months of training under Zhou Yi as their homeroom teacher, sixty-nine students still remained in First-Year Class One. This was vastly different from the academy's estimate that only one-third of the students would remain.

After class, he either cultivated with Wang Qiuer or went for walks and dates with Zhang Lexuan, who came looking for him. Everyone in First-Year Class One knew that an Inner Court senior often came to see their class monitor. They could not help but marvel at how great their class monitor's charm was. Not only was he close to Wang Qiuer and Wang Dong'er in their class, but many other girls secretly admired him as well. Now, he had even won over an Inner Court senior.

The other male students in the class were so envious that their eyes turned red.

During this time, Ma Xiaotao personally came to find Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer and formally apologized to them.

She had also realized that Ji Lin was the sweet-talking little brother she had met once in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Although she had already suspected as much when Yan Shaozhe told her that one of the two people who had defeated her during her rampage was a soul master with the Ultimate Fire attribute.

It was only upon meeting him in person that she confirmed it.

Neither of them had taken the previous incident to heart, so they accepted Ma Xiaotao's apology.

Ji Lin even kept calling her Sister Xiaotao, making Ma Xiaotao recall the time when Ji Lin had been only six years old.

Six years had passed, and that little brat had grown into a handsome young man. His strength, moreover, left Ma Xiaotao astonished.

Her talent was already outstanding. If not for the burden of her evil fire, she would have long since become a Soul Saint, perhaps even stronger.

Yet compared with Ji Lin and Wang Qiuer, she still seemed to fall a little short. Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill had even defeated her head-on while she was rampaging.

At the same time, because of Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan, Wang Qiuer had been in a poor mood for some time and repeatedly refused to cultivate with Ji Lin, giving him quite a headache.

After more than two months, along with his dual cultivation with Wang Qiuer, Ji Lin finally broke through the level-forty bottleneck and became a Soul Ancestor.

Today was the day he asked Zhou Yi for leave to obtain his fourth soul ring.

Looking at Ji Lin standing before her, Zhou Yi frowned deeply. "You said you want to obtain your fourth soul ring. Do you know that the New Student Assessment is in half a month? Only by passing the assessment can you officially become a first-year student and truly become a member of Shrek Academy. If you miss the assessment, you will be expelled from Shrek Academy."

Ji Lin's expression did not change as he replied, "I know, Teacher Zhou. I'll return before the New Student Assessment. My teacher is already waiting for me outside Shrek City. She is a Titled Douluo, and I'll be back soon to participate in the New Student Assessment as a Soul Ancestor."

Only after hearing Ji Lin's explanation did Zhou Yi's expression ease slightly.

"If that's the case, come with me. New students need the Outer Court dean of studies' approval to take leave and go out."

Zhou Yi brought Ji Lin to the teachers' office building, stopping outside the dean of studies' office.

"Knock, knock." Zhou Yi knocked on the door.

A voice soon sounded from inside. "Come in."

When they pushed open the door, they saw a middle-aged man around forty sitting in the dean of studies' office. He was tall, fair-skinned, and beardless, with the words "cold and stern" practically written across his face. The badge on his chest bore his name and position.

Outer Court Dean of Studies, Du Weilun.

"Teacher Zhou, what brings you here?" Du Weilun asked with a smile as he looked at Zhou Yi.

"Director Du, I have a student who wishes to take leave to obtain his fourth soul ring. Please approve it."

Zhou Yi spoke expressionlessly.

Du Weilun did not mind Zhou Yi's attitude. He knew she treated everyone this way, except Fan Yu.

He turned his gaze toward Ji Lin. He knew this student, one of the academy's key students under observation, someone even Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul Department, regarded highly. He simply had not expected him to break through to level forty less than three months after enrollment. He truly was a little monster.

"Hello, Director Du."

Ji Lin gave a slight bow, the most basic courtesy toward teachers and elders.

"Mm. I approve your request, but I hope you can return as soon as possible before the New Student Assessment."

Du Weilun nodded and quickly approved Ji Lin's request.

With the matter settled, Ji Lin bowed slightly to Du Weilun once more in thanks before leaving the teachers' office with Zhou Yi.

After returning to the classroom, Ji Lin greeted Wang Qiuer and the others, telling them that he would return soon, then left First-Year Class One.

After leaving Shrek Academy, Ji Lin met Chi Yuan, who had been waiting for some time at the east gate. More than two months had passed since they last met, yet Chi Yuan had not changed at all. She still wore that serious, earnest look.

The two did not immediately head to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a soul ring. Instead, they sped toward Star Luo City.

A few days earlier, Chi Yuan had received a message from Xu Jiujiu, who hoped Ji Lin could return to Star Luo City. She had something she wanted to personally give him.

After receiving Chi Yuan's message, Ji Lin had already formed a guess, but he still decided to make the trip himself.

With a Limit Douluo traveling at full speed, they quickly returned to Star Luo City and met Xu Jiujiu, who had been waiting for him.

The moment she saw Ji Lin, Xu Jiujiu rushed forward and threw her arms around him.

Holding Xu Jiujiu's delicate body and breathing in the fragrance from her hair, Ji Lin was happy as well. They had not seen each other for more than two months, and he had missed her greatly.

But business came first. He did not have much time on this trip for romance.

"Sister Jiujiu, why did you call me back so urgently this time? Teacher said you had something to give me?"

Holding Xu Jiujiu, Ji Lin asked casually.

Having calmed down, Xu Jiujiu pulled free from Ji Lin's embrace and said excitedly, "Some time ago, someone sold us a Level 9 Soul Tool, the Platform of Gods. Inside it is sealed a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo."

"At first, my elder brother wanted to use this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo as bait. During this Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament, he planned to find a chance to sell it to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and obtain some high-level soul tools from them. Then he would put out a bounty and incite other forces to fight over the soul beast embryo."

"To see if we could cause some trouble for the Sun Moon Empire and weaken it."

"However, my elder brother later abandoned that idea. Rather than sell the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, extort some soul tools from them, and then hope to weaken the Sun Moon Empire by provoking others to fight over it, it would be better to use this soul beast embryo to strengthen our own side. So my elder brother gave this soul beast embryo to me and asked me to hand it over to you. If you fuse with it, you may very well obtain a second martial soul. Even if you fail to obtain a second martial soul, you are guaranteed to gain a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and soul bone."

"My elder brother hopes that you will fuse with it only when you are completely certain. Do not disappoint his expectations of you."

Xu Jiujiu held out the Level 9 Soul Tool, the Platform of Gods, and handed it to Ji Lin.