Nuoding Academy Begins, Butterfly Effect

After Su Yuntao and Sisi escorted Qi Lin home, they did not stay long before hurriedly leaving.

The main reason was that without their help, Sister Xiao Wu had still absorbed a hundred-year spirit ring.

But what about Qi Lin?

They had taken him to the Soul Hunting Forest, yet in the end, he had only absorbed a ten-year spirit ring.

How embarrassing!

Especially since the more kindly Qi Lin's parents treated them and the more they consoled them, the guiltier they felt.

So they left not long after sitting down.

After they left, Qi Lin chuckled and took out the gifts he had prepared for the three of them.

On the way back, he had already finished making bracelets and ox-horn combs for Xu Qian and Sister Xiao Wu.

When Xu Qian saw the jade-green bracelet and the exquisite, smooth ox-horn comb before her, she happily hugged Qi Lin and gave him a big kiss.

Sister Xiao Wu, meanwhile, stared at Qi Lin with her sparkling eyes, joy showing on her little face as well.

Although her mother had left her a rosewood comb, she liked the one Qi Lin had given her too.

There was no difference between this fondness and the fondness she had for the comb her mother had left behind.

Finally, it was Qi Tian's turn. He looked at Qi Lin with an eager expression.

"Son, what about your old man?"

"You can't play favorites!"

Qi Lin chuckled, raised a hand to pat Qi Tian's shoulder, and said meaningfully,

"Don't worry, Dad. I prepared a gift for you too."

With that, he took an exquisite wooden box from his bundle and handed it to Qi Tian.

Seeing how mysterious his son was acting, Qi Tian became even more curious about the gift inside the box.

The moment he opened it, a rich fishy smell rushed into his nose.

Looking at the thousand-year Whale Rubber lying quietly inside the box, Qi Tian gave a light cough.

"Son, your dad is vigorous as a tiger and dragon. Do I really need this stuff?"

"Then give it back. I'll give it to Brother Tao next time."

As he spoke, Qi Lin even held out his hand to take it back.

However, Qi Tian easily dodged him and, despite his words, tightly guarded the wooden box against his chest.

"Hey, no matter what, it's a token of my son's affection. I can't let that go to waste!"

After saying that, the corners of Qi Tian's mouth simply would not stay down beneath his solemn expression.

Beside him, Xu Qian shot Qi Tian a reproachful look.

This guy was so improper!

Watching the father and son, Sister Xiao Wu's little face flashed with envy.

This kind of family atmosphere was really wonderful!

Fortunately, she was part of it too!

At that thought, a smile appeared on Sister Xiao Wu's adorable face.

After handing out their gifts, the three of them began asking about the effects of Qi Lin's spirit abilities.

Although Su Yuntao and Sisi had said that Qi Lin's First Spirit Ability possessed four unprecedented effects—

Given their personalities, they could not possibly have lied to deceive them.

They simply did not know what those four effects actually were.

Su Yuntao and Sisi had not explained in detail either, only saying that the effects rivaled those of a thousand-year spirit ability.

Thus, all three of them were extremely curious about what kind of effects could earn such high praise from Su Yuntao and Sisi.

After all, Qi Lin's first spirit ring was only a ten-year spirit ring. No matter how good its spirit ability was, how good could it really be?

Not until Qi Lin fully explained the effects of his spirit ability.

"Hiss..."

"My son Qi Lin has the makings of a Title Douluo!"

Qi Tian sucked in a sharp breath, then clapped his hands in praise, his face filled with excitement.

Xu Qian beside him even nodded in agreement.

"Qi Lin is blessed with great fortune. In the future, he will certainly become an extraordinary figure on Douluo Continent."

Even Sister Xiao Wu said sourly,

"What kind of luck is this, Brother Qi Lin? The spirit ability from a ten-year spirit ring feels far better than the one from my hundred-year spirit ring."

Sister Xiao Wu's First Spirit Ability was Waist Bow. It instantly increased her waist strength by one hundred percent and her flexibility by fifty percent.

After reaching rank ten spirit power, every additional rank increased Waist Bow's enhancement by one percent when used.

As for whether this spirit ability was strong or not—

Qi Lin did not know, because his thoughts had immediately gone in the wrong direction.

After Qi Lin returned home, his days became plain and unadorned.

Every day, he cultivated from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, rested for two hours at noon, and even had weekends off every week.

His life was quite comfortable.

Besides that, he found time to take Sister Xiao Wu to the Nuoding City branch of Spirit Hall to register. They could also receive a subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin each month.

Although...

One Gold Soul Coin seemed hardly worth mentioning to Qi Lin.

Still, participation was what mattered. Qi Lin quite liked getting things for free.

Furthermore, while staying at home, Qi Lin used his First Spirit Ability on his parents and Sister Xiao Wu every day.

Although Qi Tian and Xu Qian had not awakened Innate Soul Power back then, Qi Lin felt that with his help, they might not be unable to spring back to life from withered wood and awaken spirit power anew.

As for Sister Xiao Wu, she was not someone who liked cultivating.

Especially after learning that Qi Lin's spirit ability possessed a permanent enhancement effect, she wanted to cultivate even less.

Yet whenever she saw Qi Lin cultivating, she would become bored and end up cultivating alongside him.

Time passed quietly like this, and soon, it was the day Nuoding Academy began classes.

Qi Lin's family had money, so they gave the work-study student quota to Qi Yue, whose family circumstances were difficult.

Early that morning, Qi Tian hired a carriage and planned to take the three children from the village to Nuoding Academy together.

Inside the carriage, Qi Yue looked rather uneasy because of its luxurious furnishings.

Qi Lin noticed his restraint, raised a hand to pat his shoulder, and smiled gently.

"Don't be nervous. We're all from the same village. It's only right that we look after each other when we're away from home."

Seeing Qi Lin comfort Qi Yue, Sister Xiao Wu raised her little fist and added, "Qi Yue, don't worry. Once we get to Nuoding Academy, Sister Xiao Wu will protect you."

"If anyone dares bully you, just tell me. I'll beat them until they're crawling around looking for their teeth."

After living in Radish Village for two months, Sister Xiao Wu had already become the children's leader, second only to Qi Lin.

"Thank you, Brother Qi Lin. Thank you, Sister Xiao Wu!"

Qi Yue nodded vigorously. A touched smile appeared on his face, and he was no longer quite so nervous.

"Hehe!"

Seeing this, Sister Xiao Wu felt a sense of accomplishment, and her fair little face looked especially pleased.

Qi Lin had long grown used to this and began thinking about something else.

Come to think of it, as a Title Douluo, Tang Hao should be able to see through Sister Xiao Wu's identity, right?

A hundred-thousand-year Shapeshifting Soul Beast—Tang Hao could not possibly be unmoved.

Whether he raised her for his son or killed her outright to take her Spirit Bone, either choice would be a good one.

But Qi Lin was curious. What would happen if Sister Xiao Wu remained by his side?

From his experience in his previous life, anyone who tried to deal with him would inexplicably suffer misfortune.

But Tang Hao was among the small handful of strongest people on Douluo Continent.

If he were the one trying to deal with Qi Lin or those around him, what would the outcome be?

As Qi Lin pondered this, he did not know that—

A mature woman in a brilliant golden ceremonial gown, wearing a Nine-Curve Purple-Gold Crown atop her head, with fair skin and nearly flawless features, had silently arrived above Holy Spirit Village outside Nuoding City.

The mature woman radiated an aura of nobility, sanctity, and authority. If any high-ranking member of Spirit Hall had been present, they would have immediately recognized her as Bibi Dong, the current master of Spirit Hall.

Bibi Dong's eyes were like a pool of autumn water as she calmly looked down at the impoverished village below. Her red lips parted slightly.

"Tang Hao, Tang Hao, I should have thanked you."

"But who told you to become enemies with Spirit Hall?"

"If I don't kill you, my heart will never be at peace!"