Time Sanctuary

After seeing Liu Erlong off, Yu Tiancheng shut the door and hurried up to the second-floor cultivation room.

He eagerly took out the Time Dragon Spear.

As soon as the spear was in his hand, he felt a surge of blood-deep connection.

The shaft was as smooth and warm as jade, yet held astonishing sharpness. Yu Tiancheng gave it a light swing, and a faint silver streak lingered in the air, refusing to fade.

He tried channeling Soul Power into it.

Hum—

The spear trembled slightly, and a silver-gray glow flared brightly. Space began to warp faintly around its tip, as though it could pierce the void at any moment.

"What a spear!" Yu Tiancheng couldn't help exclaiming.

He tried using his Second Soul Skill, "Void Flash," while swinging the spear.

Whoosh!

His figure appeared on the other side of the room in an instant, while the spear's path left a clear silver afterimage in the air.

Even more amazing, the afterimage lasted a full three seconds before slowly fading—that was the effect of his First Soul Skill, Time Slow.

"If I can use this in battle..." Yu Tiancheng's eyes flashed.

He continued practicing, familiarizing himself with his new weapon.

The Time Dragon Spear felt like a part of his body; every movement came as naturally as moving his own arm.

As he channeled more Soul Power into it, the temporal ripples on the spear grew more pronounced, and the space throughout the cultivation room began to warp subtly.

Two hours later, Yu Tiancheng finally stopped practicing and drew the spear back into his body. As his bonded weapon, the Time Dragon Spear could merge with his Martial Soul and be summoned at any time.

He walked to the window and gazed at the sunset outside.

With the Time Dragon Spear, his combat strength had increased by at least thirty percent.

More importantly, the spear had enormous potential for growth. As his strength increased, its power would continue to grow as well.

"Next, I need to get stronger as quickly as possible," Yu Tiancheng murmured.

At Blue Tyrant Academy, he had a relatively safe environment where he could focus on cultivation.

Soul Power Level, obtaining Spirit Rings, developing Soul Skills... These were all problems he needed to solve as soon as possible.

"One step at a time." Yu Tiancheng took a deep breath, his gaze firm.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Tiancheng, have you rested enough?" It was Liu Erlong's voice. "It's time for dinner. I'll show you the academy cafeteria while we're at it."

Yu Tiancheng answered, straightened his clothes, and hurried downstairs.

His new life had begun.

Meanwhile, in the Star Dou Great Forest,

the group from Shrek Academy stood in a circle, anxiously watching the dark blue cocoon of Blue Silver Grass at the center.

Xiao Wu knelt beside the cocoon, her pink eyes filled with worry and guilt.

She stared fixedly at the writhing cocoon of Blue Silver Grass, as though she could see Tang San's pained expression through its layers of leaves.

As the person mentioned most often in yesterday's diary, she had received a system notification that morning and obtained the [Time Sanctuary Mark].

This ability could transport her to a designated safe location in times of crisis, giving her an extra measure of security in the human world.

She had set the destination to the Core Zone of the Star Dou Great Forest. With Da Ming and Er Ming there, it was the safest place.

But now, watching Tang San risk everything to absorb the two-thousand-year-old Man Faced Demon Spider, Xiao Wu would rather she had received no reward at all.

If Er Ming hadn't suddenly appeared and taken her away, Tang San wouldn't have risked absorbing a Spirit Beast that exceeded the limit for a third Spirit Ring just to regain his strength quickly and find her.

"Third Brother, you have to make it..." Xiao Wu's voice choked with emotion, and her hands twisted together unconsciously.

Oscar was making restorative Big Sausages nearby, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai warily surveyed their surroundings, and Zhao Wuji stood guard right in front of the Blue Silver Grass cocoon, his expression grave.

Everyone knew this was Tang San's most dangerous moment.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance, both of them harboring complicated feelings that only the other could understand.

Yesterday, when the Diary Copy updated and revealed that Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, they had been too shocked to speak.

But once the shock passed, pity welled up in their hearts. The diary's account of Xiao Wu's mother being hunted down by Spirit Hall had struck a chord with them.

Ning Rongrong thought of her status as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's young lady. If something happened to her father... She couldn't bear to think about it.

Zhu Zhuqing thought of her fate with Dai Mubai. She understood all too well what it meant to be forced to flee, with no control over one's own life.

So when they saw Xiao Wu break down today after her identity was exposed, they had both chosen to draw close to her without a word.

"Xiao Wu, don't worry too much." Ning Rongrong gently patted her shoulder, her voice soft. "Tang San is strong-willed. He'll pull through."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded as well, a rare trace of concern on her usually cool face. "If he dared to try, he must have been confident he could do it."

Xiao Wu looked up at her two companions, warmth rising in her heart.

As for Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar, they had noticed Xiao Wu acting strangely these past few days, but didn't know why.

Zhao Wuji only vaguely sensed that the three girls seemed to have developed a tacit understanding, but as their teacher, he chose not to pry.

Time passed slowly amid the tense atmosphere.

The Blue Silver Grass cocoon kept writhing, swelling and contracting. A faint purple-black glow rippled across its surface—the energy of the Man Faced Demon Spider's Spirit Ring merging with Tang San's Soul Power.

Suddenly, a crack appeared on the cocoon's surface!

"He's coming out!" Dai Mubai said quietly.

Everyone's heart leaped into their throats.

The crack spread rapidly, webbing across the entire Blue Silver Grass cocoon.

Then an arm reached through the crack—it was Tang San's, covered in faint purple-black markings.

"Third Brother!" Xiao Wu couldn't help crying out.

Hearing Xiao Wu's voice, the arm reaching out of the cocoon strained harder, and the entire Blue Silver Grass cocoon burst apart!

Tang San appeared before them. He was drenched in sweat and pale, but his eyes were unusually bright, gleaming with deep purple intent.

Most striking of all, a third Spirit Ring slowly appeared behind him. Its deep purple color confirmed that it was indeed a thousand-year Spirit Ring that had surpassed the limit!

"He did it!" Ma Hongjun jumped up excitedly.

Oscar let out a long breath and wiped his forehead. "That scared me to death..."

The tension on Zhao Wuji's face gave way to a smile. "You really did it, kid!"

Tang San's gaze went straight to Xiao Wu.

Seeing her reddened eyes and haggard face, his heart ached, and he hurried over to her.

"Xiao Wu, I did it," he said softly, reaching out to wipe the tears from her face.

Xiao Wu nodded hard, but her tears wouldn't stop. "Third Brother, you scared me to death..."

"I'm sorry I made you worry," Tang San said gently. Then he turned to the others. "Sorry to keep everyone waiting."