The carriage ride home was a little bumpy.
The passengers inside were listless and drowsy.
Bai Mu, however, was full of energy as he called out in his mind, "Xiao Ruan, help me organize the information."
A few seconds later, a familiar panel appeared before him—
[Bai Mu (Level 29)] [Spirit Skills: Jungle Healing, Substitute] [Martial Soul: Zygarde (10% Form)] [Z-Cell Quantity: "48" (41 currently possessed, 1 from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, 6 split from the yet-to-be-converted medicinal power of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red)] [Attributes: Dragon, Ground] [Ability: Aura Break] [Abilities: Invisibility, Photosynthesis, Telepathy, Power Construct, Presence Concealment] [Moves: Crunch, Dragon Pulse, Stomp, Glare, Safeguard, Double Team, Extreme Speed, Dragon Dance, Land's Wrath] [Special Moves: Jungle Healing, Substitute]
"Level 29? No wonder I feel ridiculously strong right now."
Bai Mu had not expected that absorbing a five-thousand-year Spirit Ring, combined with his previous accumulation and the medicinal power of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, would let him jump nine levels in a single breakthrough!
He suddenly had a feeling—if not for gaining too many levels at once, leaving his foundation somewhat unstable and creating a slight bottleneck, he could have shot straight from Level 20 to Level 30!
"That actually seems pretty reasonable."
Bai Mu recalled the original story. Tang San had merely absorbed a somewhat special Thousand-Year Man Faced Demon Spider, yet he had reached Level 32 after breaking through.
Meanwhile, Bai Mu had absorbed a five-thousand-year Spirit Ring when others could at most absorb rings six or seven hundred years old. It was perfectly reasonable for the Spirit Ring's Soul Power alone to raise him seven, eight, or even nine levels.
Still—
"This is way too outrageous for ordinary people. I'll just tell everyone I'm Level 26 for now."
Compared to excitement over his soaring level, Bai Mu felt more puzzled.
"I just became a Soul Grandmaster, and now I already have to start preparing to hunt my third Spirit Ring and become a Soul Elder?"
The thought made his expression rather colorful.
Of course, what truly excited him was that once Zygarde absorbed the remaining medicinal power of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and he gained one more level—
He would gather forty-nine Z-Cells and reach the fifty-percent fusion Z-Snake form!
By then, fighting opponents above his level would surely become even easier.
"Steady, steady. I just need to keep steady a little longer—"
Bai Mu tried to reassure himself, but the restless heart stirred by his surging strength refused to calm down.
"Tap~!"
Suddenly, he felt a weight settle on his shoulder.
Lowering his head slightly, he found that Shui Bing'er, seated beside him, had already fallen fast asleep, her little head tilted against his shoulder.
Her lips moved faintly, as though she were dreaming of eating something delicious again.
A lovely flush colored her tender, flawless skin.
Bai Mu stared blankly at her for quite a while.
It was not until the carriage jolted that he came back to his senses.
Somehow, his restless heart had gradually calmed as well.
"This is nice too."
A trace of gentleness flashed through his eyes. He took out a cloak and covered Shui Bing'er's body with it.
As for his other gains, Zygarde had learned two new moves—Dragon Dance and Land's Wrath.
The former had awakened after he absorbed his Second Spirit Ring.
The latter, much like in the games, was probably learned successfully upon reaching Level 26!
Dragon Dance: It performed a mysterious yet powerful dance with intense movements, raising Attack and Speed by one stage.
Each stage increased its stats by fifty percent, with a maximum of six stages, or a three-hundred-percent boost.
Such a terrifying increase would make even Spirit Masters with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, whose boosts capped at one hundred percent, weep!
"Later, I should have Zygarde learn from Old Rayquaza."
Bai Mu's lips curled up as he thought of that Rayquaza that twisted and turned during battle.
Rayquaza: Here's the question—why do you think I twist around when I fight? What do you think lets me crush the Hoenn Duo?
Just learn the hidden fine control of Dragon Dance!
As for Land's Wrath?
It could gather the power of the earth and focus it into an attack against an opponent, dealing damage.
Its name sounded invincible, its power was barely passable, and its additional effect was practically nonexistent.
"The most useless Signature Move—well, better than nothing."
Bai Mu only glanced at it twice before losing interest.
For Zygarde, which did not lack Signature Moves, it was only fit for temporary use.
"Xiao Mu, Bing'er, stop sleeping. We're at the academy."
After an unknown amount of time, Shui Yunxin's voice suddenly rang out.
"Mmm~"
Shui Bing'er's eyelashes trembled slightly as she opened her hazy eyes and stared blankly ahead.
Bai Mu smiled. "Did you sleep comfortably?"
"Pretty comfortably—mm?!"
Shui Bing'er answered instinctively, then suddenly sensed that something was wrong. She slowly raised her head and met Bai Mu's lowered gaze.
A blush spread across her cheeks and ears. The confusion in her eyes vanished instantly, and she said awkwardly, "S-sorry, I accidentally fell asleep."
"It's fine. Riding in a carriage makes people sleepy anyway, and you've worked hard these past few days."
Bai Mu smiled and reached out to pull Shui Bing'er up. "Let's get out. Be careful, your legs might be numb."
"Mhm—"
Shui Bing'er nodded and followed him out of the carriage.
"I wonder how Yue'er's training has been going these past few days."
Expectation gleamed in Shui Yunxin's eyes.
"So many days have passed. She should have made quite a bit of progress, right?"
Shui Bing'er subconsciously glanced at Bai Mu, feeling for the first time that leveling up too quickly had been a mistake.
If she had obtained her Second Spirit Ring after using Whale Rubber to temper her body, would she have had a chance to obtain a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring?
"Xiao Mu, thank you so much for being willing to tell us the secret of Whale Rubber."
Shui Yunxin smiled at Bai Mu, then could not help asking, "But would you be willing to let me teach this method to the students?"
"I'm willing, but I don't recommend it."
To Bai Mu, Whale Rubber below the hundred-thousand-year level was already useless. Even if the secret were made public, he would not care.
"You don't recommend it? I understand."
Shui Yunxin froze for a moment, then understood what Bai Mu meant.
There were too many people at the academy, and words traveled easily. If the students learned it, the secret of Whale Rubber would sooner or later spread across the entire continent.
When that happened, demand would far exceed supply, and the price of Whale Rubber would definitely soar by dozens of times!
She could not be bothered to dwell on it. She decided to first ensure that Bing'er and Yue'er had enough.
"Come to think of it, Xiao Mu, you've never been to our home. Come in and sit for a while."
Shui Yunxin smiled as she opened the door, only to find the place completely empty.
"Where's Yue'er?"
Shui Bing'er found it rather strange.
"That little rascal is probably sleeping in again!"
Shui Yunxin hurried inside and yanked open Shui Yue'er's bedroom door.
"Yue'er! You're sneaking around again—"
Before she could finish, she saw Shui Yue'er curled into a ball on the bed, her face flushed bright red. Her legs clamped around the blanket as she rubbed against it repeatedly, strange "Mmm~ mmm~ mmm~" sounds escaping her mouth.
"M-mom?!"
Hearing the voice, Shui Yue'er raised her head. The dazed look in her eyes instantly regained a trace of clarity, and she immediately buried her entire body beneath the blanket.
Bang!
Shui Yunxin hurriedly shut the bedroom door, her expression shifting uncertainly.
"Yue'er's voice sounded strange. What's wrong with her, mom?"
Shui Bing'er looked up in confusion.
"Nothing—"
An awkward yet polite smile appeared on Shui Yunxin's face.
"Um, Xiao Mu—I just remembered that Yue'er, Bing'er, and I have something to deal with. We'll host you another time when we're free."
"Alright, Auntie. You go ahead and get busy. I'll go familiarize myself with my Spirit Skills. Bye!"
Bai Mu pulled back the foot he had just stepped through the doorway with and waved goodbye.
On the way, he recalled the faint sounds coming from Shui Yue'er's bedroom.
"What's wrong with that girl? Don't tell me she was doing that and got caught?"
"She's just a little girl. That can't be possible—wait, no!"
He suddenly remembered that Shui Yue'er had eaten so much Whale Rubber, and her Martial Soul was not the Ice Phoenix. It was perfectly normal that she could not suppress that Evil Fire!
"Oh~ poor Yue'er. May heaven have no Whale Rubber or Evil Fire. Amen!"
At some point, an auntie-like smile had appeared on Bai Mu's lips.
Some people were alive, but in truth, she was already dead!
She had died of social embarrassment!
Before you continue