After leaving the Spirit Pagoda, the group returned to the academy.
As soon as they got back, Wang Zhi immediately asked Zhang Zhenpeng for a private Meditation Room.
Zhang Zhenpeng instantly realized what was happening. His eyes lit up, and without another word, he personally led Wang Zhi to the private Meditation Room in the deepest part of the academy.
"Take as long as you need. Don't worry," Zhang Zhenpeng said warmly, patting Wang Zhi on the shoulder.
Wang Zhi nodded and went inside.
The Meditation Room was small, but furnished with great comfort.
There was a soft cushion, gentle light from a Soul Guiding Lamp, and an array engraved on the walls to aid meditation.
Wang Zhi sat cross-legged on the cushion, closed his eyes, and focused inward.
In his Sea of Consciousness, the Glow Grass floated quietly.
Its whole body gave off a faint Ghost Green glow. The light pulsed with Wang Zhi's breathing, resonating with him in a wondrous way.
A third leaf was slowly growing from the edges of its original two.
Three leaves.
Wang Zhi watched in silence, feeling the change.
At last, the third leaf unfurled completely.
The three leaves swayed gently. The plant looked more solid and vibrant than before, as if it were no longer a phantom Spirit, but a real plant.
At the same time, a warm current rose inside Wang Zhi.
With a thought, a Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet.
It was no longer yellow.
It was a Purple Thousand Year Soul Ring, glowing with a faint purple light!
A thousand years.
The Glow Grass had officially advanced into a Thousand Year Spirit.
At the same time, information about his First Soul Skill appeared in his mind.
Spirit Nourishment, Passive Soul Skill.
Effect: Spiritual Power recovery speed remains unchanged.
Additional effect: When using a Soul Skill, maximum Spiritual Power increases by an additional Ten Percent.
Wang Zhi froze.
Ten Percent?
He checked again and again. There was no mistake—it was an additional Ten Percent.
What did that mean?
It meant that after activating his Martial Soul, his Spiritual Power capacity would reach 110% of its original amount.
With his current Spiritual Power, he could summon fifteen Ghost Shadow Ninjas.
With this Ten Percent boost, he could summon one and a half more Ghost Shadow Ninjas.
Of course, he could summon half of a Ghost Shadow Ninja, but it would be too weak to be worthwhile.
Still, he only needed to recover a little Spiritual Power to summon another full Ghost Shadow Ninja.
It didn't seem like much of an improvement.
But as the number of Ghost Shadow Ninjas he could summon grew, that Ten Percent increase would become more and more incredible.
A hundred meant ten more.
A thousand meant a hundred more.
Wang Zhi could almost see the future: a whole army of Ghost Shadow Ninjas behind him.
He opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
His Passive Soul Skill had become a divine skill.
Time passed like flowing water.
Half a year later.
The Tianhai Competition was about to begin.
Over the past six months, Wang Zhi's Soul Power had risen from level fifteen to level nineteen.
A gain of just four levels wasn't particularly fast.
But his Spiritual Power had undergone a qualitative leap.
It had risen from 200 points at the middle stage of the Spirit Connection Realm to 450 points, reaching the late stage of the Spirit Connection Realm.
He had Dean Zhang Zhenpeng to thank for that improvement.
In the Original Work, although Zhang Zhenpeng had opposed Tang Wulin and the others, he had only ever acted for the sake of his own disciples.
It was clear how much he cared for them.
Though Wang Zhi hadn't become Zhang Zhenpeng's disciple, he was the most talented young man at Sea and Land Academy and still received the academy's full support.
Rare Treasures that could boost Spiritual Power were sent to Wang Zhi's table in a steady stream.
Thousand Year Lingzhi Dew, Purple Rhyme Dragon Ginseng, Spirit Condensing Flower... Each was worth a fortune.
It was thanks to the nourishment of these Rare Treasures that his Spiritual Power had increased by 250 points in just half a year.
Of course, in return, Wang Zhi had to win both the Individual Match and the Three-Person Team Match at the Tianhai Competition.
Only then could the academy recoup its investment and secure a greater share of Hailu City's resources.
Wang Zhi readily agreed.
These Rare Treasures weren't shoddy products that forcibly boosted Spiritual Power at the cost of one's potential. They truly nourished it.
They were incredibly expensive. Even if his family spent every last coin, they might not be able to buy more than a few.
The academy invested its resources, and he would repay it with championships.
A win-win.
Early one morning, a Soul Tool Bus was already waiting outside Sea and Land Academy.
Wang Zhi and the other three, along with Zhang Zhenpeng and a group of academy teachers and staff, boarded one after another.
The Soul Tool Bus started up, entered the highway, and began to accelerate.
The Soul Tool Highway used magnetic levitation and Soul Tool Technology to greatly increase the bus's speed. Its top speed could reach half that of a Soul Tool Train.
If the distance wasn't too great, it was more convenient than a Soul Tool Train.
Wang Zhi sat by the window, watching the scenery rush past.
The sea lay to the east.
The highway itself had been built along the coast. The blue ocean stretched endlessly, shimmering in the sunlight and lifting his spirits.
As he watched the scenery, it suddenly dawned on him that he had spent all these years immersed in cultivation and seemed to have forgotten to take a break.
Meditating day and night, endless Combat Training, tempering his Spiritual Power...
He was like a tireless machine, running without pause.
How long had it been since he had simply sat and watched the scenery?
Wang Zhi closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat.
His mind gradually relaxed.
Before long, he fell asleep.
In his dream, he saw the Black Shadow Kingdom once again.
That world, made up of endless shadows.
But this time, he felt closer to the Black Shadow Kingdom.
It was hard to describe. It was as if only a thin veil separated them, and he could reach out and touch it.
Just then, a tall figure emerged from that world.
It wore the same dark Japanese General Armor, though its design differed slightly from Shendu's.
Its armor was heavier, with exaggerated shoulder guards, and a Shadow Warrior Blade hung at its waist.
It looked like an armored warrior, radiating a murderous aura.
It walked up to Wang Zhi and dropped to one knee.
"Yika greets my king."
Wang Zhi was about to ask a question.
But before he could speak, Yika transformed into a mask.
The mask was deep blue, with a fierce expression. Its helmet was heavier than Shendu's, and a dim purple glow shone from its eyes.
It turned into a streak of light and merged into Wang Zhi's body.
Wang Zhi's consciousness sank into chaos once more.
"Xiao Zhi!"
"Xiao Zhi! Wake up!"
A familiar voice sounded in his ears.
Wang Zhi opened his eyes to see Zhou Tian'er's pretty face.
"Are we there?"
He sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"We're here!"
"You were sleeping so soundly."
Zhou Tian'er grinned.
"Come on, let's get off. We've arrived in Skysea City!"
Wang Zhi nodded and got up, following the others off the bus.
Skysea City.
As the largest city on the east coast, Skysea City was far more prosperous than Hailu City.
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