"Half a year..." he murmured. "Once I reach level twenty, I'll be able to contract a second Contract Beast."
The "Soul Beast with spatial abilities" Yan Shaozhe had mentioned kept turning over in his mind.
Spatial abilities.
On Douluo Continent, spatial Soul Beasts were exceedingly rare. Each one was an encounter that could come only by chance.
If he could contract a spatial Soul Beast and then help it evolve a few times...
Just thinking about it made Bai Lan's heart race.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.
That was what drove him to break through to level twenty within half a year.
"But it's too early to think about that now."
"I should focus on breaking through the nine levels in front of me first."
"If I can't raise my level, all of this is just empty talk."
He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.
Back in the dormitory, Bai Lan didn't rush to rest.
He sat cross-legged on his bed, opened the wooden box, took out a Soul Gathering Pill, and swallowed it.
The pill's medicinal power dissolved inside him, and a warm current flowed along his meridians.
He closed his eyes and began to meditate.
Meanwhile, in the Contract Space, Iron Core Bamboo stood quietly rooted in the void.
There was no sunlight in the Contract Space, but there was Soul Power.
Iron Core Bamboo spread its roots and slowly absorbed the surrounding Soul Power, its stalk glowing faintly.
They cultivated in sync.
Time passed in a flash.
Three months later.
Simulated Soul Beast Forest.
Bai Lan stood in an open area, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.
Seven or eight Ten-Year Soul Beast corpses lay scattered around him.
Wind Wolves, Hedgehog Pigs, Gale Rabbits—he had hunted them all by himself over the past half hour.
Iron Core Bamboo stood behind him, its nine bamboo leaves suspended in midair, gleaming with a cold silver light.
After three months of practice, he had mastered the Bamboo Leaf Flying Knife.
The nine leaves could lock onto nine separate targets at once, or join together to focus their attack on a single point.
"Not bad."
A voice came from the side.
Bai Lan turned to look and saw a middle-aged man in fitted clothes emerge from behind a tree.
He was the senior teacher assigned to guide Bai Lan. His surname was Zhou, and he was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor who specialized in combat techniques.
Teacher Zhou walked over to the Soul Beast corpses and crouched down to examine their wounds.
"The bamboo leaves pierced straight through. One hit, one kill." He stood and looked at Bai Lan. "Three months ago, you struggled to kill even one Wind Wolf. Now you've killed seven or eight without even breaking a sweat."
Bai Lan wiped away his sweat. "That's because you taught me well, Teacher."
Teacher Zhou waved a hand. "Don't butter me up. Your rapid progress is down to your own ability."
He paused, his gaze falling on Bai Lan with a hint of emotion. "From level eleven to level fifteen in three months. You completed the first stage a month ahead of schedule."
Bai Lan smiled but said nothing.
Teacher Zhou looked at him and suddenly asked, "How long do you plan to take to break through to level eighteen?"
Bai Lan thought for a moment. "Two months."
Teacher Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Two months to go from fifteen to eighteen? Three levels?"
Bai Lan nodded.
Teacher Zhou fell silent for a few seconds, then smiled.
"All right," he said. "I'll be watching."
Four months later.
Shrek Academy, Martial Soul Department Training Ground.
Bai Lan stood in the middle of the training ground, facing a boy of twelve or thirteen who was a Three-Ring Soul Elder.
This was the practical combat assessment Teacher Zhou had arranged.
His opponents were no longer limited to the Junior Class. The difficulty was gradually increasing.
Today's opponent was a student from the advanced class. His Martial Soul was a Blazing Flame Wolf, and he was level thirty-one.
"Begin!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the boy charged!
Bai Lan's gaze sharpened. He moved his feet and willed his Martial Soul into action.
Behind him, all nine bamboo leaves shot forward at once!
Nine silver streaks wove into a net, blocking every path the boy could take.
The boy snorted. His first Soul Ring lit up, and a burst of flame shot from his palm, swallowing the bamboo leaves whole.
But as soon as he broke through their encirclement, Bai Lan was already gone.
Behind him!
The boy reacted swiftly, turning and striking with his palm!
Bai Lan took the blow head-on and staggered back several steps. But there was no pain on his face—only a faint smile.
"Got you."
The boy froze and glanced down.
At his feet, a length of bamboo root had appeared at some point, tightly wrapped around his ankle.
Iron Core Bamboo's roots had quietly spread beneath his feet before the fight even began.
"You lose," Bai Lan said.
The boy was silent for a few seconds, then relaxed his stance and gave a bitter smile as he raised his hands.
"I surrender."
At the side of the training ground, Teacher Zhou watched, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Combat awareness, tactical planning, quick thinking..." he murmured. "This kid's really starting to get the hang of it."
Five months later.
Sea God Pavilion.
Mu En sat by the window, holding a report in his hands.
The report had been delivered by Yan Shaozhe. It detailed Bai Lan's progress over the past five months:
[Five-Month Training Record Since Enrollment]
First month: Level 11 → Level 12
Second month: Level 12 → Level 13
Third month: Level 13 → Level 15 (first stage completed ahead of schedule)
Fourth month: Level 15 → Level 17
Fifth month: Level 17 → Level 19
Current Soul Power Level: Level 19
Only one level remained before level twenty.
One month remained until the half-year deadline.
Mu En set down the report and looked out the window.
Moonlight spilled over the lake, turning its surface into a mirror.
"Five months, from level eleven to nineteen..." he murmured. "The kid really wasn't bragging."
He stood and walked over to the window.
In the distance, he could just make out someone sitting cross-legged by the lake, cultivating.
It was Bai Lan.
Even late into the night, he hadn't stopped to rest.
Mu En watched him for a while, then suddenly smiled.
"Looks like he's sure to make the half-year deadline."
One month later.
The end of the half-year deadline.
The Dean's office.
Bai Lan stood before Yan Shaozhe, his breathing steady.
Yan Shaozhe rested a hand on his shoulder and closed his eyes, carefully sensing the fluctuations of Soul Power within him.
A moment later, he opened his eyes.
"Level twenty," he said, his tone tinged with complicated emotion. "Exactly half a year. Not a day more."
Bai Lan smiled.
Yan Shaozhe looked at him in silence for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "Was it hard these past six months?"
Bai Lan thought for a moment and nodded. "It was."
Yan Shaozhe asked, "Do you regret it?"
Bai Lan shook his head.
"I don't regret it."
"Getting stronger made me feel that it was all worth it."
"Without all that pressure, I couldn't have gained nine levels in just half a year."
Yan Shaozhe stared at him for a long while, then suddenly smiled.
"Good," he said. "Then it's time to honor my promise."
He stood and walked to the window, opening it.
Sunlight streamed in, brightening the entire room.
"Get ready. We leave tomorrow." He turned and looked at Bai Lan. "I'll take you to contract that spatial Soul Beast."
Bai Lan's heart skipped a beat.
This was the day he had been waiting for after half a year of hard cultivation.
"Yes, sir." He bowed solemnly. "Thank you, Dean."
Yan Shaozhe waved a hand and gazed out the window.
"No need to thank me," he said. "You earned this through your own actions."
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