Tang San Breaks Through to Spirit King
Li Yusong also nodded with a smile:
"A level 56 Spirit King at the age of 31—that talent is top-tier even on the entire continent."
Lu Qibin rarely smiled, and patted Qin Ming on the back:
"They didn't let Shrek down."
Surrounded by several teachers, Qin Ming felt a warm current welling up in his heart as he listened to their undisguised praise.
Looking at these faces that had aged considerably, he recalled his days studying here, and his eyes reddened slightly.
Li Yusong then asked:
"Qin Ming, how many days off did you take this time? How long do you plan to stay here?"
Qin Ming's expression changed slightly. He shook his head and replied in a calm yet firm voice:
"This time... I don't plan to go back. I've already resigned from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Upon hearing this, the teachers were all stunned.
Zhao Wuji's smile froze on his face, his brows furrowed, and he shouted:
"Resign? Are you crazy? The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is a place that countless teachers would kill to get into, and you just quit like that?"
Li Yusong also became anxious:
"Qin Ming, what are you doing? Why did you give up being a good teacher and come back here?"
Shao Xin sighed and said:
"Why are you so impulsive, child?"
Qin Ming listened to the teachers' reprimands, but his expression remained unchanged.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the teachers, and said, word by word:
"With the Shrek Academy facing such a misfortune, how could Qin Ming, as a student of the Shrek Academy, possibly stand idly by?"
His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness:
"At this most critical moment, all I want is to return to the academy and stay by my teachers' side."
The courtyard suddenly fell silent.
Zhao Wuji opened his mouth, as if to say something, but found that his throat felt like it was blocked by something.
Li Yusong sighed and shook his head, saying:
"You child... you're just too sentimental."
Shao Xin stepped forward, patted Qin Ming on the shoulder, and said in a tone that was both helpless and touched:
"We old folks have decided to retire here. What are you doing here causing trouble?"
Lu Qibin nodded and said:
"Exactly. We old folks are doing just fine, drinking tea and basking in the sun. You're so young, you shouldn't be wasting your time here."
Qin Ming shook his head, still firmly stating:
"Teachers, I have officially severed ties with the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. There is no turning back."
He paused, then continued earnestly:
"Even if some of the teachers decide to retire here, I'll stay here with them."
"Shrek Academy is my home, and my teachers are my family. How can I run away when my family is in trouble?"
The teachers exchanged glances, each seeing a mixture of helplessness and emotion in the other's eyes.
Zhao Wuji was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke:
"Alright, alright, stop standing there. Let's go inside and talk."
He turned and walked into the courtyard, but after a few steps, he turned back, looked at Qin Ming, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes:
"Since you insist on coming back, we can't let you retire with us old folks. It would be a waste to waste your talent."
He paused, then said in a deep voice:
"If that doesn't work, go find Mo Xuan."
Li Yusong was taken aback and repeated:
Looking for Mo Xuan?
Zhao Wuji nodded:
"That child is currently at the Beichen Academy, studying under the Baihua Douluo. Qin Ming has good talent; he might even become a teacher at the Beichen Academy. That's much more promising than being at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Li Yusong thought for a moment and nodded:
"That's a good idea. Beichen Academy is currently the most sought-after academy on the entire continent. If you could become a teacher there, it would be much better than being at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Shao Xin echoed:
"Besides, Mo Xuan is there, so he has someone he knows."
As Qin Ming listened to the teachers' conversation, a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something—
Zhao Wuji had already turned to look at him, grinning as he said:
"What? You don't want to? You have no choice but to agree! We old guys don't want to see you waiting to die here with us."
Seeing his unyielding expression, Qin Ming's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded firmly.
"Okay. I'll listen to Teacher Zhao."
The teachers then smiled.
Li Yusong patted him on the shoulder with a smile:
"That's more like it."
Shao Xin chimed in from the side:
"If all else fails, a few of us old folks can go together. I heard Beichen Academy is still recruiting teachers; maybe they'll take a liking to us."
Zhao Wuji glanced at him sideways and laughed as he scolded:
"You? How old are you to only be Soul Emperor? Do you think the Beichen Academy would even look at you?"
Li Yusong also smiled and echoed:
"Exactly. When they recruit teachers, someone your age should at least be Soul Saint, right? What can a Soul Emperor like you do there? Sweep the floor?"
Shao Xin blushed at their words and retorted with a stiff neck:
"What's wrong with Soul Emperor? Does being an older Soul Emperor mean you can't be a teacher? I've taught students for so many years, don't you know my level?"
Zhao Wuji laughed heartily:
"I know, I know. You're amazing, you're amazing, okay?"
The group bickered and laughed, and the courtyard became lively again.
Qin Ming stood to the side, watching the teachers joke with each other as before, and he couldn't stop smiling.
The sunlight cast long shadows of the group.
In the distance, the dilapidated courtyard gate creaked in the wind.
At this moment, the once dilapidated academy seemed to regain a bit of life.
Beichen Academy - Breakthrough
Two years later.
The first rays of morning sunlight crossed the mountains and fell on the eaves of the Beichen Academy, gilding the green tiles with a faint golden hue.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, lingering among the bamboo groves, enveloping the entire Academy in tranquility.
On the rooftop, a figure sat cross-legged.
Tang San closed his eyes, his breathing long and steady.
Her long, deep blue hair swayed gently in the morning breeze, the faint blue sheen of the strands subtly visible.
A faint blue-gold halo surrounded him, blending with the soft light of the rising sun. Without careful observation, it was almost impossible to distinguish whether it was a fluctuation of Soul Power or a reflection of sunlight.
The Mysterious Heaven Skill within his body was slowly circulating, like a warm spring flowing along his meridians, nourishing every inch of his bones and every muscle.
The cultivation of the Purple Demon Eye is complete.
He opened his eyes, and a faint hint of purple flashed in his deep blue eyes, disappearing in an instant.
The clouds and mist on the distant mountains were so clear to him that they seemed almost within reach; he could even see the tiny water droplets moving within the mist.
He stood up and stretched his limbs.
He sensed it; the barrier that had been holding him back for months finally showed signs of loosening this morning.
The circulation of the Mysterious Heaven Skill was smoother than usual, and the warm energy flow swirled and condensed in the dantian, showing signs of a breakthrough.
He felt the surge of Soul Power within his body, a feeling of overflowing, like a container about to be filled with water, just one drop away from overflowing.
Level 50.
He was only one level away from level 50 at level 49. This bottleneck had been troubling him for months.
He practiced diligently every day without fail, never slacking off, yet the barrier remained as solid as a rock, unmoved.
Even today.
He sensed that a crack had appeared in the barrier.
Once he attaches his fifth Spirit Ring, he will be able to officially break through level 50 and become a Spirit King.
The eleven-year-old Spirit King.
Tang San's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile that he couldn't hide.
He leaped lightly from the rooftop, landing almost silently.
He straightened his robes, strode across the front yard, and went straight to Fu Shiyan's room in the back yard.
He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement as he called out:
"Master! I've broken through level 50!"