Choice

Chen Yuan caught up with Ning Rongrong without taking much time. After all, his Sword Flight was very fast, but he did not show himself immediately.

Instead, he contacted the guards from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who were secretly protecting Ning Rongrong. Their leader was named Zhang Youfu, over fifty years old and a powerful Spirit Emperor.

In truth, Ning Rongrong had never once left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's watchful eye. If anyone dared to lose track of her, it would be no small matter.

Chen Yuan held the token Ning Fengzhi had given him, and even Zhang Youfu, a Spirit Emperor, treated him with great respect.

Yet he did not use it to seize authority. The guards continued protecting Ning Rongrong in secret just as they had before, while he spent more of his time honing his Sword Flight.

Over two months, Ning Rongrong traveled south, passed through Jialing Pass, crossed the Silves Kingdom, and arrived in the Balak Kingdom.

She had a wonderful time along the way. Pedestrians gave her directions, merchant caravans were willing to give her rides, and kindhearted people even shared their food with her. As for danger, there was none at all, because every threat had been snuffed out before it could reach her.

A delicate little girl who spent money so freely had not encountered a single strange uncle like Bu Le on the road, entirely because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's guards were so capable.

The Balak Kingdom had two large cities: Barak City and Suotuo City. Barak City was the royal capital, while Suotuo City had flourished because it lay on the fertile Lima Plain.

Ning Rongrong had no interest in visiting the royal capital. She was far more interested in prosperous Suotuo City, so she headed there. While going on a shopping spree in the city, she heard an interesting piece of news.

A monster academy south of Suotuo City that accepted only monster students had recently begun admissions. According to Spirit Hall, graduates of this academy could directly receive the title of Imperial Viscount, completely changing their fate and becoming Nobles.

Ning Rongrong was very interested. She thought to herself:

Brother Chen Yuan is a monster genius, and Dad is always telling me to learn from him. But it's not like just anyone can break through to Soul Elder before turning twelve, okay? Advancing in cultivation is difficult. I've worked hard all these years. Since there's a monster academy that only accepts monster students, let me see whether I count as a monster!

After making her decision, Ning Rongrong asked around about the academy's name, location, and registration time. Once she had the information she wanted, she went right back to shopping. Clothes, jewelry, gemstones, crystals... with a wave of her little hand, she bought everything she liked, radiating the air of a wealthy lady.

Not long afterward, news of Ning Rongrong asking about an academy reached Zhang Youfu and Chen Yuan.

Zhang Youfu frowned.

"An academy that accepts only monster students, where graduates can become Imperial Viscounts... it shouldn't be so obscure. Shrek Academy—why have I never heard this name before? Is it a legitimate academy registered with the Empire? It had better not be some fly-by-night school trying to deceive the young miss."

Holding a teacup, Chen Yuan gave a soft laugh.

"Uncle Fu, whether this academy is legitimate or not, Rongrong is clearly interested in it now. Send people to investigate its background immediately, as well as the character of its teachers. Write everything in a letter to the Sect Leader. If Rongrong is deceived, I'll go over there and tear down their sign myself. But for the aftermath, the Sect Leader will have to approve it and have the sect step in."

Zhang Youfu nodded. No matter what background this academy had, could it possibly surpass the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? He immediately said:

"Young Master is right. I'll investigate at once. An obscure academy dares to advertise itself so arrogantly. I'd like to see just what kind of people they are."

With that, Zhang Youfu left with his men. Once he was gone, Chen Yuan was the only one left in the private room of the teahouse. Sitting by the window with a teacup in hand, he watched the street, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

Chen Yuan was caught in a difficult choice. Of course, it had nothing to do with whether he should join Shrek Academy. He had no desire to become some Shrek Eighth Freak.

The choice troubling him was whether he should take the Hundred Thousand Year Blue Silver Emperor's Spirit Bone while he had the chance.

The Hundred Thousand Year Blue Silver Emperor had taken human form as Ah Yin. She was Tang Hao's wife and Tang San's mother. Just as she was about to enter maturity, she had somehow been exposed to Spirit Hall.

The previous Pope of Spirit Hall had personally led the pursuit. Ah Yin willingly sacrificed herself, allowing Tang Hao to earn the renowned title of Clear Sky Douluo, leaving behind a grass seed and a Spirit Bone.

That Spirit Bone was a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone, an absolute treasure in the Spirit Master world. Of its two abilities, one was "Flight," which was merely the icing on the cake for him. The other was "Wildfires cannot burn it all; spring winds bring it back to life," which was a lifeline in the snow.

To a certain extent, this skill could be called divine. It could rapidly heal one's injuries, and when pushed to the limit, it could even regenerate severed limbs. As a Combat Spirit Master, Chen Yuan would inevitably suffer injuries in the future. With this skill, his ability to survive would greatly increase.

This hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone had been hidden by Tang Hao in Waterfall Valley near Holy Soul Village, Nuoding City, Fasinuo Province. Tang Hao normally remained in the valley.

But this time, Shrek Academy was recruiting students. Tang San and Xiao Wu would be coming to register, and Tang Hao would follow them there. This was one of the rare times he would be absent.

If he did not take it now, he would have no chance later. A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone, an absolute treasure of the Spirit Master world, with two top-tier Spirit Skills: flight and healing.

There was some conflict in Chen Yuan's eyes, but it quickly became firm. He would take it. Even if there were some risks involved, it was still a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone.

Once it was absorbed, no one would know he possessed a Spirit Bone unless he actively used its abilities.

Having made up his mind, Chen Yuan drained the tea in his cup, went downstairs, and left. Before long, he vanished from the city.

Night!

A streak of sword light cut through the sky. From closer up, one would see Chen Yuan standing atop the Seven Kill Sword, arms folded over his chest and expression calm. His Third Soul Skill had a passive effect: flying in a straight line allowed him to continuously gain speed. Using that passive effect, he traveled from Suotuo City in the Balak Kingdom to Nuoding City in Fasinuo Province in a single night.

With that passive effect, even a Titled Douluo might not be able to fly faster than him. For example, a strength-type Titled Douluo like Tang Hao. However, in terms of total Soul Power, he certainly could not outlast a Titled Douluo.

After arriving in Nuoding City, Chen Yuan made a few inquiries and learned that the two great geniuses of Nuoding Academy, Tang San and Xiao Wu, had graduated not long ago. They had also rejected invitations from several intermediate Soul Master Academies and gone on their own to register at an unknown academy.

After confirming his guess, Chen Yuan bought a local map. It cost quite a bit, but it was very detailed, recording mountains, rivers, and the distribution of villages.

"Holy Soul Village, Waterfall Valley..."

Chen Yuan quickly pinpointed the location.