Dead Spirit Lake (2-in-1)

After recording the information about the Spirit Realm, the office door was pushed open, and Li Shuyi's biological mother came in and handed the two Eaglet to Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi.

The two Eaglet were initially somewhat resistant, but they quickly remembered their master's presence and readily surrendered to the mutated beast meat strips offered by Li Shuyi, chirping incessantly. Li Beihai and Bai Xiaowen watched the two women teasing the Eaglet, finding it quite amusing.

The Old Demon took his leave quite consciously.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing," Li Beihai said to Bai Xiaowen, "Teacher Yan from your school has contacted the guild and wants you to go to the school as soon as you get back; it's important."

"Um, how about I give her a call?" Bai Xiaowen took out her phone and started charging it in Li Beihai's office. "The CUAA league qualifiers are over, and the National Championship isn't until next semester... I wonder what she needs me for now."

Li Beihai shook his head and said, "It's probably not clear over the phone. You should go back to school and talk to Teacher Yan in person."

Bai Xiaowen thought about it and realized she was right. Yan Xiaoxin wouldn't leave him a message through the guild channels unless it was something important.

Li Shuyi hadn't been home for a while and decided to stay for a few days to spend time with her parents, while Bai Xiaowen drove back to school by himself.

"President, there's one more thing, concerning the Boutu Guild in the Taiwan Base City..."

Bai Xiaowen thought for a moment. Of course, the fewer people who knew about this, the better, but Li Beihai and his wife were not outsiders. If it were just Bai Xiaowen's matter, it would be fine, but if the Boutu Guild retaliated, it would definitely drag Li Shuyi into it as well.

Both morally and logically, Bai Xiaowen had to let Li Beihai and his wife know about this.

After Bai Xiaowen finished speaking, Li Beihai's expression became serious and earnest.

"Zhao Zhixiong died, and then his partner Tai Shuisheng left..." Li Beihai frowned, beginning to consider the possibility that the higher-ups of the Boutu Guild knew the truth about this matter.

"Sigh, if only we could kill that Tai Shuisheng too," Li Ma sighed.

Bai Xiaowen's lips twitched. It should be said that she truly lived up to her reputation as the legitimate wife of the Super God Guild's leader; her words were indeed filled with murderous intent, unlike those of an ordinary housewife.

Li Beihai said, "Little Bai has already done his best. The other side has the return item and is on guard, so it's not easy to make a move. Under these circumstances, signing the Defeated Party Clause and getting them to promise not to talk is already the best option."

"Did the Boutu Guild really not send anyone over to put pressure on the authorities or file a complaint?" Bai Xiaowen asked.

Li Beihai nodded and said with certainty, "No. If there were any, I would have heard a thing."

"Perhaps the people from the Boutu Guild were fooled," Li Ma said.

"That's possible. But we still can't let our guard down," Li Beihai thought for a moment, then instructed Bai Xiaowen, "Keep this to yourself. Apart from Tai Shuisheng, only the four of us should know about it. Don't mention it again."

Bai Xiaowen nodded. "I understand."

"By the way, did Zhao Zhixiong drop any good equipment? Be careful not to reveal yourself, lest you arouse suspicion," Li Beihai.

Speaking of this, Bai Xiaowen sighed, "When I killed him, it was well past the time limit for self-defense, so it was an active attack. My original combat rating was only C-Tier, and if I had gone down another level, it would have been D-Tier. I was also unlucky enough to get a one-third bye, so I didn't get anything."

Zhao Zhixiong and Bai Xiaowen are both level 5 Hero Class, so it's normal for their kill rating to be C at the same level.

Therefore, the Spirit Realm Rules do not encourage awakened individuals to kill each other, but instead impose various restrictions, such as lowering the combat evaluation of proactive attackers and raising the combat evaluation of those acting in self-defense, in order to limit infighting among awakened individuals.

Of course, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Awakened individuals can still exploit loopholes in the rules to deliberately suffer attacks and fraudulently claim the right to self-defense, which is unavoidable and needs no further explanation.

Li Beihai was relieved. "That's good. Without any of Zhao Zhixiong's belongings, it won't arouse suspicion."

After a pause, Li Beihai continued, "Even if this matter is eventually exposed, it's not a big deal. Our Super God Guild isn't someone anyone can bully in Jinghai Base City. If the Boutu Guild really comes, I'll back you up."

Bai Xiaowen gave Li Beihai a thumbs-up in his heart and thanked the wise and powerful president.

After finishing his story, Bai Xiaowen drove back to school. Before leaving the garage, he sent Yan Xiaoxin a message.

Yan Xiaoxin replied instantly, saying she was also at school and that Bai Xiaowen could meet her there.

"What's going on? It seems quite urgent..." Bai Xiaowen glanced at the time displayed on the car's computer; it was already 9 PM. Considering that he would be getting back to school even later, Bai Xiaowen slightly pressed the accelerator.

However, as it turns out, sometimes you can't rush things; haste makes waste...

At the school gate, Bai Xiaowen's SUV grazed a bicycle coming out of it, and a female college student on the bicycle fell to the side like a rag doll.

Bai Xiaowen immediately stopped the car, turned off the engine, and got out to check.

To his surprise, the person he hit was someone he knew.

"You are... Senior Bai Yanni?" Bai Xiaowen recognized her. Wasn't this Bai Yanni, a cheerleader for the Jinghai University Team?

Bai Yanni rubbed her ankle, a hint of anger initially on her pretty face, but upon looking up and seeing Bai Xiaowen, her anger vanished instantly, replaced by a smile, "It's you, what a coincidence."

Bai Xiaowen said helplessly, "I'd rather it wasn't such a coincidence. How badly did you fall?"

"It's alright, you didn't actually bump into me. I was just startled and tripped."

Bai Yanni said with a smile, "I didn't expect to see you after falling down, what great luck..."

"...Let me help you up." Bai Xiaowen extended a hand.

Bai Yanni's arms were fair and tender, like plump, fresh radishes.

Upon helping her up, Bai Xiaowen noticed that Bai Yanni had twisted her ankle. It seemed she had fallen in fright and sprained her ankle.

At this moment, at the gate of Jinghai University, some students who were coming and going had already stopped to watch. After all, Bai Xiaowen was the captain of the University Team and the school's most popular figure, while Bai Yanni had a hot figure and pretty face. Even in Jinghai University, where beauties were everywhere, she was enough to leave a deep impression.

Feeling the gazes of those around him, Bai Xiaowen frowned slightly, sensing something was amiss. Although he hadn't hit the person, the scene, as seen by others, was enough to lead to misunderstandings.

"I'm fine, Xiao Wen, you go ahead with your work..." Bai Yanni said.

"I'll take you to the infirmary." Bai Xiaowen opened the back door of the SUV.

"Really, it's not necessary..." Bai Yanni declined a couple of times, but Bai Xiaowen still helped her into the car. As for the bicycle, it was parked in the bicycle shed on the right inside the school gate.

"What a coincidence, Xiao Wen brother," Bai Yanni said happily, seemingly oblivious to her injury.

Bai Xiaowen was speechless. Fate? This was more like a tragic fate.

"I called you last time, but you didn't contact me. Are you too busy?" Bai Yanni made conversation.

"Hmm... sort of. I just got back from the Spirit Realm today," Bai Xiaowen said. "I'm sorry, senior, I'll treat you to a meal another day to make up for it."

"Why wait until another day? Let's go get some late-night snacks today." Bai Yanni's eyes sparkled.

"It's too late today... Teacher Yan needs to talk to me. And I also want to catch up on some sleep..." Bai Xiaowen said while driving. Actually, inviting her to dinner to apologize was just a polite gesture. Logically, the other party should have declined with something like "No need," but he didn't expect Bai Yanni to agree so readily.

"Then tomorrow, tomorrow night! How about it?" Bai Yanni pouted.

"Okay," Bai Xiaowen said.

Although Bai Xiaowen didn't hit Bai Yanni, his actions were related to her fall, so it was only right that he treat her to a meal as an apology.

The car drove all the way to the school clinic, which is what Jinghai University students secretly call the "veterinary station".

The doctors and nurses at the school clinic are not exactly top-notch, but they're fine for minor things like sprained ankles.

Bai Xiaowen received a text message from Yan Xiaoxin: "Have you arrived yet?"

"We've arrived. We're in the infirmary."

"What's wrong?"

"A senior student fell and got injured, and it's related to me," Bai Xiaowen said succinctly.

"I'm here to find you. Which infirmary are you in?"

"The one near the north gate."

Yan Xiaoxin was truly in a hurry, riding her electric scooter quickly to the school clinic at the North Gate, where she met Bai Xiaowen, and of course, Bai Yanni as well.

"So it was her who was injured." Yan Xiaoxin recognized Bai Yanni, the cheerleading captain, and laughed, "What a coincidence! The University Team captain bumped into the cheerleading captain; this could be the headline on the Jinghai University forum."

Bai Yanni was applying ice to her face, hissing as she sucked in the cold air, but she didn't forget to defend Bai Xiaowen: "Teacher Yan, it wasn't my junior who bumped into me, I fell on my own..."

Yan Xiaoxin looked at her ankle, offered a few words of comfort, and then walked with Bai Xiaowen to the door of the infirmary.

"Teacher Yan, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry to see me?" Bai Xiaowen asked.

"It's urgent," Yan Xiaoxin whispered, "Another Treasure Ground Space is about to open. Are you interested?"

"Treasure Ground Space?" Bai Xiaowen thought of the Spinebreak Mountain Grand Rift Treasure Grounds and laughed, "Not very interested... You can't discover side quests in Treasure Ground Space, and the leveling efficiency is not as good as a real Spirit Realm Plane."

"You're really strange. Most Awakened Ones think that the Treasure Ground Space is better than the Spirit Realm Plane, whether it's for safety or benefits," Yan Xiaoxin said helplessly.

"Haha... Let's not talk about that. Teacher Yan wouldn't bring up the Treasure Ground Space to me for no reason, would she?" Bai Xiaowen caught Yan Xiaoxin's true intention. "What kind of Treasure Land? Do I really have to go there?"

Yan Xiaoxin felt like she'd been seen through, and said helplessly again, "Yes, the school wants you to lead the team in..."

"What are the benefits?" Bai Xiaowen asked reflexively.

"..."

Yan Xiaoxin shook her head helplessly. "You really won't do anything without a reason. Free access isn't enough?"

Bai Xiaowen stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I've been quite busy lately. Besides several interviews, there's a fan meeting arranged by my agent, and my shop in the Virtual Hall... Also, I need to produce a batch of potions..."

Seeing Yan Xiaoxin's face growing increasingly dark, Bai Xiaowen laughed and changed the subject, "However, since my alma mater needs me, it's my duty. I'm definitely going to this Treasure Ground Space!"

Yan Xiaoxin: "..."

"Teacher Yan, I'm getting shy looking at me like that," Bai Xiaowen coughed.

Yan Xiaoxin quickly averted her gaze, flicking her red-streaked hair to hide the blush on her face. The feeling of being flirted with by a student was a little strange, but Yan Xiaoxin didn't dislike it.

However, Yan Xiaoxin was still a little suspicious. "Why did you suddenly agree so readily?"

Yan Xiaoxin recalled that when they went door-to-door recruiting during the summer vacation, Bai Xiaowen had all the recruitment teachers write down the enrollment reward conditions and held a slick, secret auction...

Although Bai Xiaowen was only seventeen years old at the time, Yan Xiaoxin stopped regarding Bai Xiaowen as an inexperienced teenager after that unannounced bidding.

Bai Xiaowen said with a smile, "Isn't it good that I agreed readily? Does Teacher Yan have to agree to ten or eight conditions before she's satisfied?"

"Of course not! Never mind, I won't ask any more questions," Yan Xiaoxin made a wise choice. "The Treasure Ground Space that experienced these fluctuations is called ' Dead Spirit Lake,' a large space whose entrance is at the bottom of a lake..."

After listening to Yan Xiaoxin's brief introduction of the Dead Spirit Lake, Bai Xiaowen nodded, then asked another crucial question:

Which treasure from the Dead Spirit Lake does the school want?

It's obvious that, just like when Yan Xiaoxin acquired the Dragonblood Tea Tree Treasure Leaf in the Broken-Spine Mountain Grand Rift last time, she must also need some spiritual treasures for this Dead Spirit Lake. Otherwise, Yan Xiaoxin wouldn't have been in such a hurry to find Bai Xiaowen and persuade him to participate in this exploration of the Dead Spirit Lake.

Last time at the Great Rift Valley Treasure Land, before setting off, Bai Xiaowen hadn't yet displayed the strength to rival powerful figures like Qi Ruifeng, so Yan Xiaoxin didn't have high hopes. Later, Bai Xiaowen gave her an unexpected surprise, acquiring a considerable amount of Dragonblood Tea Tree Treasure Leaf.

Now, Bai Xiaowen has proven his dominance in the Jianghai Division with a perfect 1v5 victory.

Bai Xiaowen is already a trump card for Jinghai University. It can be said that as long as Bai Xiaowen enters the Dead Spirit Lake, there is a high chance that he will be able to retrieve the designated spiritual treasure.

Yan Xiaoxin was no longer surprised by Bai Xiaowen's deductive reasoning. She nodded. "Yes, in the Dead Spirit Lake, there is a monster called the Ghost Hydra. Principal... the school needs the eyeballs of the Ghost Hydra, at least those of the Leader Tier."

"Is this all?" Bai Xiaowen asked.

Yan Xiaoxin thought for a moment and said, "There are still many useful items in the Dead Spirit Lake for Advanced Awakened, such as Netherworld Grass and Necrotic Essence. You can collect them. I can buy them at a high price when you come back. Of course, these items are after the Eyeball of the Ghost Hydra."

"Okay," Bai Xiaowen agreed with a smile, "I promise I'll do my best."