Destiny Branch

During the system's seventy-two-hour upgrade, Lin Kun spent his time in a state of anxious anticipation. While familiarizing himself with the use of his Level 11 Soul Power and coordinating it with the Information Overload soul skill, he also cautiously dealt with the overt and covert attention from all sides.

Grandmaster came to "chat" with him almost every day, discussing insights into the platinum Spirit Ring and always trying to steer him toward cooperating with a few "small tests." Ning Rongrong maintained her warm "investor" demeanor, occasionally sending snacks or books—their contents growing increasingly profound—while subtly probing his plans for the future. Even Deacon Sol from Spirit Hall had "run into" him once, meaningfully reminding him not to "waste Spirit Hall's goodwill."

Lin Kun felt like a prized pastry being tugged at from every direction, liable to be torn apart at any moment.

Finally, late on the third night, the system notification in his mind rang out right on schedule:

Ding! System upgrade complete! New module, Destiny Branch, has been activated! New module, Exchange Optimization, has been enabled! All basic functions have resumed operation!

Lin Kun perked up and immediately sank his consciousness into the system space.

Sure enough, the system interface had been completely refreshed, becoming cleaner and... more high-tech? Two new glowing options had appeared in the center.

He opened Exchange Optimization first.

Exchange Optimization: Store items have been reclassified and repriced based on the host's current world and strength. New "installment payment" function added (interest required). New "barter" function added (specific items from this world may be exchanged for points). New "limited-time discount" section added (refreshes randomly each day).

"Installment payments? Barter? Limited-time discounts?" Lin Kun's eyes lit up! This was exactly what he needed! He hurriedly checked the store.

Sure enough, the prices seemed to have been adjusted. They were still expensive, but no longer quite so despair-inducing. For example, a Low-Grade Spirit Power Enhancement Potion now cost only 40 points, while Basic Movement Technique Mastery had dropped to 120 points. More importantly, he saw that the Random Weapon Exchange Voucher was on limited-time discount for just 80 points!

Without hesitation, he used the few points he had left—points he would have to repay through work after overdrawing—along with the 5 points he had just earned from completing a daily mission. He scraped together 10 points as a 10% down payment, took out a 70-point installment loan with 10% interest, and bought a Random Weapon Exchange Voucher!

Purchase successful! Use immediately?

"Use it!" Lin Kun said silently in his heart.

The illusory wheel appeared again, its pointer spinning wildly. This time, perhaps his bad luck had finally run out—the pointer actually stopped in the blue section!

Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained: Blue Fine Weapon—"Silent Sleeve Arrow (Improved Version)"!

A stream of information flooded into his mind. This was no ordinary sleeve arrow, but a version magically modified by the system. It fired without a sound, its arrows could be retrieved, and it came equipped with a small mechanism capable of firing three shots in succession. It also had ports for adding other attachments, such as poison sacs or grappling lines. It would work perfectly with his Mental Thread for more precise control and retrieval!

"Good stuff!" Lin Kun was delighted. This was practically the perfect weapon for sneak attacks... no, for self-defense! He would have to repay 77 points on the loan—70 plus 7 in interest—but it was worth it!

Next, he opened the most important module: Destiny Branch.

The interface unfolded, displaying several differently colored "branch bubbles," each labeled with a name and a brief description:

Branch One: Grandmaster's Persistence (Gray) Description: Cooperate deeply with Grandmaster's research and explore the mysteries of martial spirits and Spirit Rings. Risk: Exposing core secrets and possibly losing freedom. Reward: Gain Grandmaster's full support and theoretical knowledge; moderate point reward. Current status: Can be triggered (but caution is advised).

Branch Two: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Olive Branch (Light Blue) Description: Accept Ning Rongrong's invitation and go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Risk: Becoming embroiled in the disputes of the Upper Three Sects and possibly becoming a pawn. Reward: Gain massive resource support; high point reward. Current status: Can be triggered.

Branch Three: Spirit Hall's "Goodwill" (Light Gold) Description: Respond to Spirit Hall's recruitment and join its talent cultivation program. Risk: Being branded by Spirit Hall; possibly becoming an enemy of the protagonist's group in the future, with no control over one's own fate. Reward: Gain the resources of a massive organization; extremely high point reward. Current status: Can be triggered.

Branch Four: Distant Call (Green—Highlighted)!!! Description: Leave Nuoding City and head for a broader world (recommended destination: Suotuo City). Risk: An unknown journey and the loss of current protection. Reward: Escape the current predicament, encounter new opportunities, and receive point rewards based on the choice made. Current status: Strongly recommended!!!

Branch Five: Steadfast Defense of the Coward King (White) Description: Remain at Nuoding Academy, continue lying low and developing, and withstand pressure from all sides. Risk: Pressure will continue to increase, and the risk of secrets being exposed will rise accordingly. Reward: Stable (?), low point reward. Current status: Can be triggered (but not recommended).

Lin Kun's gaze was instantly drawn to the highlighted green branch, Distant Call! The system was actually strongly recommending that he leave?!

Looking closely, he found a line of fine print beneath the Distant Call branch: "It has been detected that the host's fate has begun to intertwine with multiple important characters from the original work. The risks and rewards of staying where you are are disproportionate. Traveling to Suotuo City is recommended. There is a high probability of triggering Shrek Academy-related plotlines, which aligns with the 'Breakdown' theme, and there may be an opportunity to gain an advantage using foreknowledge."

Shrek Academy! Just as expected!

The system was practically spelling out that he should make a run for it! And going to Suotuo City, joining—or at least making contact with—Shrek Academy was undoubtedly the best choice at the moment! He could escape the quagmire of Nuoding City, continue riding the protagonist group's "opportunities," and use his foreknowledge to benefit himself!

At the request of our many readers, we now offer an ad-free VIP membership feature.

Click to view

"System, I choose to trigger the Distant Call branch!" Lin Kun no longer hesitated.

Ding! Destiny Branch, Distant Call, accepted! Branch mission issued: Travel to Suotuo City. Mission requirement: Successfully arrive in Suotuo City within one month. Mission reward: 200 Breakdown Points and one "Simple Map of Suotuo City." Mission tip: It is recommended that you travel alone to avoid drawing too much attention.

The goal was clear! Lin Kun felt as though a great weight had lifted from his heart. His confusion and pressure finally had an outlet.

Leave! He had to leave!

With his objective set, Lin Kun immediately began secretly planning his departure.

First came travel expenses and identification. He took out all his savings—including Xiao Chenyu's compensation and the money he had earned selling information—then quietly used the barter function to exchange the few Spirit Nurturing Pills Ning Rongrong had given him that he did not need for system points. They had actually exchanged for 300 points! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really was lavish! He then converted them into Golden Spirit Coins, gathering enough for travel expenses and living costs for some time. As for identification, he could still use his Nuoding Academy student status for the moment and figure something out once he reached Suotuo City.

Next came farewells. He could not make a big show of it and could only proceed quietly.

He found Wang Sheng and the other work-study students he got along with fairly well. Using "there are family matters at home, and I need to take leave and return for a while" as his excuse, he gave them a simple farewell and left behind some notes he had organized about common spirit beasts and medicinal herbs, repaying their usual care for him.

For Xiao Wu, he gave her a large bag of carefully selected, sweetest Carrot Fruits. "Sister Xiao Wu, I'm going home for a while. It may be a long time before I come back. Keep these fruits and eat them slowly."

Xiao Wu was a little reluctant to see off the guy who could always get tasty carrots, but she did not think much of it and waved her hand. "Come back soon! Remember to bring some local specialties from your hometown!"

Tang San was the most important. Lin Kun knew this fellow countryman was meticulous and thoughtful, so he had to handle things properly.

He found Tang San and used the same excuse about family matters. Then he took out the bottle of antidote powder Tang San had given him and solemnly returned it. "Tang San, thank you for the medicine. I won't need it on this trip home, so you should keep it. You often train outside, so you need it more."

Then, as if mentioning it casually, he added, "Oh, right. Last time in the Spirit Hunting Forest, I think I heard a few mercenaries chatting about some... Shrek Academy in Suotuo City? They said its admission standards were especially strange, that it only accepted monsters or something. I don't know whether it's true."

He stopped there and said no more, merely planting a seed. With Tang San's personality and Grandmaster's intelligence network, they would naturally investigate.

Tang San accepted the medicine bottle and gave Lin Kun a long look, as if he had sensed something. But in the end, he only nodded. "Take care. Have a safe journey." He vaguely felt that after this parting, they might not see each other again for a very long time.

Finally, there were Grandmaster and Ning Rongrong. As for those two, he decided to leave without saying goodbye. Leaving letters would only cause trouble, so he might as well simply disappear. By the time they discovered it, he would already be thousands of miles away.

After finishing all that, on the final day before leaving, Lin Kun did something that left everyone stunned—he actually posted another advertisement for the Kun Kun Information Bureau on the notice board, titled:

A Farewell Giveaway! The European Emperor's Ultimate Secret—How to Effectively Increase the Success Rate of Spirit Hunting!

The contents were practical tips he had painstakingly compiled—and slightly optimized using his Book Spirit—regarding spirit beast habits, environmental observation, and team coordination. They were not especially profound, but they were absolutely packed with useful information. And they were completely free!

This move once again made him the center of attention at the academy. Students flocked over to copy it down, treating it like a treasure. Even some teachers secretly nodded in approval after reading it.

"Lin Kun may be leaving, but at least he did a good thing." "What an European Emperor! He's even giving out benefits before leaving!" "Waaah, Brother Kun, don't go!"

Lin Kun watched the lively scene and smiled faintly. This way, his image as an "European Emperor" and a "helpful person" would be firmly established, while also somewhat easing any negative speculation his unannounced departure might cause.

Late at night, all was silent.

Lin Kun changed into ordinary clothes, carefully hid Little White in a specially made loose chest pouch—the little fellow seemed to know they were going on a long journey and was unusually quiet—slung his pack over his back, and slipped out of the Seventh Dormitory and out of Nuoding Academy as silently as a ghost.

He looked back at the academy's tranquil outline beneath the moonlight, his heart filled with mixed emotions. This place had been the starting point of his life after transmigrating. There had been danger here, but there had also been warmth. But for the sake of a more distant future, he had to leave.

"Goodbye, Nuoding Academy. Goodbye, Tang San, Xiao Wu... I hope that when we meet again, we won't be enemies."

He turned around and resolutely set foot on the road to Suotuo City. The moonlight stretched his shadow long behind him, while ahead lay an unknown journey and the monster academy called Shrek that awaited him.

A new chapter had officially begun! And Lin Kun's journey of "Breakdown" was about to enter an entirely new stage!