The Circus Is Calling You Back to Perform

Beneath a sky as azure as a mirror, a faint mist drifted through heaven and earth.

The strange fog formed from spiritual energy churned, casting a filter over this world and making it look like an immortal realm.

Beneath a massive waterfall deep within that immortal realm, a stretch of green rock jutted out, and a slender figure could vaguely be seen sitting atop it.

He wore green robes, his long hair hanging loose, his handsome face sharply defined.

Simply sitting there, he seemed to have merged with heaven and earth.

"Phew."

As though sensing something, he opened his eyes and gently exhaled a puff of white air ahead of him.

Boom.

The white air suddenly turned violent, becoming a slash of light that cleaved the waterfall before him in two.

A streak of flowing light shot over from afar. It quickly slipped through the gap in the severed waterfall and landed upon the green rock.

"Any news on Shen Cangsheng?"

The green-robed youth stretched lazily and asked.

"He accepted a Heaven-grade Mission and headed out again. From what I know, he should have gone to track down the Nine Yin Sect."

The newcomer was a black-robed youth. He shrugged as he spoke.

"The Nine Yin Sect?"

The green-robed youth smiled. "Though it's a broken-down faction, its sect master is still in the Huatian Realm.

This is a group mission. Looks like he's still as bold as ever, relying on his superior skills."

"Back at the Freshman Tournament, didn't you only lose to him by one move?"

"Sometimes, even the slightest gap is an insurmountable chasm."

Hearing the black-robed youth's words, the green-robed youth smiled faintly. "Still, it's been nearly a year since I last fought him. My hands are getting itchy. I wonder how far he's cultivated his Judgment Divine Arts by now."

"Looks like your Heavenly Profound Divine Arts have improved too?"

The black-robed youth asked in surprise.

"Just a little."

The green-robed youth smiled. "Has anything interesting happened at the Northern Cang Spirit Academy lately? I seem to have been in seclusion for three months now..."

"Those guys are all preparing for the Hunting War half a year from now."

The black-robed youth curled his lips. "Oh, right. This year's freshmen have arrived at the Northern Cang Spirit Academy, and the Freshman Tournament will be held soon.

I heard there are quite a few impressive people among this batch. One freshman even reached the Thunder Domain Tenth Layer, breaking both your and Shen Cangsheng's records."

"Who?"

The green-robed youth was slightly stunned.

He had set the Thunder Domain record long ago. He had not expected a freshman to surpass both him and Shen Cangsheng directly.

"His name is Lin Suchou. Besides him, there are Yang Hong, Mu Kui, and Mu Chen.

The other two are girls. One is Bing Qing from the Ice Spirit Clan, while the other is a girl named Luo Li."

The moment the black-robed youth finished speaking, he sensed that something was wrong.

The formidable man before him, renowned throughout the Spirit Academy and ranked second on the Heaven Ranking, had slightly parted his lips.

It was the first time he had ever seen such an expression on Li Xuantong's face.

"Luo Li?"

Li Xuantong smiled and shook his head. "Heh... it shouldn't be her, right? Why would she come to the Northern Cang Spirit Academy?

By the way, what does she look like?"

The black-robed youth gave him a strange look, then described her appearance. "Silver hair, an oval face..."

"So it really is her..."

Li Xuantong smiled, the lazy look on his face replaced by excitement.

"You know her?"

The black-robed youth asked in surprise.

"Mm."

Li Xuantong nodded without trying to hide it.

The black-robed youth spread his hands helplessly. "If you're interested in her, then I have some bad news for you. She seems to have someone she likes, and it appears to be that freshman named Lin Suchou.

If I remember correctly, the two of them even live together."

Li Xuantong's brows slowly furrowed as he murmured, "How could this be... It seems the things I heard before were true after all."

"Do you need me to make that freshman behave himself?"

After thinking for a moment, the black-robed youth said this.

"If you did that, she'd probably get angry."

Li Xuantong shook his head and slowly rose to his feet. "She's very stubborn. I don't want to fall out with her."

"Then..."

The black-robed youth hesitated.

"Don't worry about it."

Li Xuantong smiled. After a long silence, he looked toward the distant sky. "Forget it. I should go see her. It's been years since we last met. I'll see what exactly is going on.

This news really isn't pleasant."

"A love rival? With how outstanding you are, that girl still doesn't fancy you?"

The black-robed youth could not help adding.

"Heh... I've always treated her like a younger sister."

Li Xuantong smiled, but when he saw the faintly raised corners of the black-robed youth's mouth, he could only say helplessly, "Though I do like her somewhat, she doesn't really like me. Sigh, but that Lin Suchou really shouldn't be by her side."

As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step and appeared a thousand miles away, then vanished without a trace.

Inside the stone pavilion on the lake in the Freshman District.

"Haha, Little Brother Lin, I told you that you could do it!"

Song Hao, dressed in luxurious black robes, patted Lin Suchou on the shoulder, his face brimming with delight.

"You beat Mo Lun until he was scrambling in defeat. If you ask me, even Huo Feng, the leader of their Green Red Society, is no match for you."

Song Hao filled a cup with Spirit Wine for Lin Suchou and laughed.

"Huo Feng? What cultivation is he at?"

Lin Suchou drained the Spirit Wine in his cup in one gulp and asked.

"Him? He's ninety-first on the Heaven Ranking, with late-stage Heaven Fusion Realm cultivation.

As far as I know, he entered seclusion not long ago. Little Brother Lin can challenge him once he comes out.

We'll use Huo Feng as our starting point to make a name for ourselves, and expand the betting pool while we're at it. That way, we'll earn even more Spirit Value.

By then, forget about Little Brother Lin's goal of buying a drop of Northern Darkness Dragon Kun essence blood. Even if its blood were drained dry, you'd still be able to buy it!"

Song Hao patted his chest, looking completely confident.

"Hehe, Brother Song, it looks like the plan has changed."

Lin Suchou sensed a streak of flowing light from the horizon rapidly approaching him.

Looking up, he saw it flash several times before arriving above the clear lake.

On the swing before the pavilion by the lakeshore, Luo Li and Wen Qingxuan were chatting and laughing.

But when Luo Li saw that figure, the smile on her face slowly disappeared.

"Li Xuantong?!"

Song Hao stared at the man, so shocked that his jaw nearly hit the ground.

"Why would he come to the Freshman District? Could he be here to recruit you into his Xuan Gang?"

"Hehe, I'm afraid he didn't come with good intentions. I should go over."

Seeing Luo Li and Wen Qingxuan speaking with him, Lin Suchou flew over as well.

"Wait for me, Junior."

Fearing that something might happen to Lin Suchou, Song Hao hurried after him.

"Luo Li, long time no see."

Above the lake, Li Xuantong looked at the silver-haired girl he had not seen in a long time, a smile on his face.

Luo Li's glasslike eyes fixed on the youth. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she nodded. "Li Xuantong, long time no see."

"Luo Li, who is this?"

Lin Suchou arrived between Luo Li and Wen Qingxuan and asked Luo Li.

"Someone irrelevant."

Luo Li hooked her arm around one of Lin Suchou's arms and shrugged.

Hearing that, Lin Suchou looked at Li Xuantong and found the latter's expression darkening.

Senior Li Xuantong, don't linger here. The circus is calling you back to perform.