At nightfall, Jiang Siming stayed at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for the time being.
The next day, he planned to take Dugu Bo to find Tang San. After all, there was still a time bomb inside him.
Jiang Siming sat cross-legged and began to meditate, then slowly entered the Mirror World again.
"Back in this miserable world again." He spread his hands helplessly.
"Ding! System notification: The Mirror World's functions have been updated. One: The basic number of opponents has increased by three. Two: Death is now possible."
"Damn it, you never mentioned the second one before! That's a one-sided contract! Is death real or fake?" Jiang Siming hurriedly asked.
"Ding! Each time you enter the space, you have ten lives. If you exceed ten deaths, you will automatically exit. Each death will feel real."
"Holy crap, that's brutal." Jiang Siming said, though he couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief.
"Ding! Mirror training activated."
As soon as the words fell, three figures appeared before Jiang Siming.
Before Jiang Siming could react, a sword sliced off his head.
The next moment, Jiang Siming revived and reappeared in the Mirror World.
"So painful... The feeling of having nothing at all. Is this what death feels like?" In that instant, Jiang Siming had experienced unprecedented pain. It hadn't come from his body, but from the feeling of being abandoned by the entire world. It was as if all his senses had shut down and he couldn't perceive anything around him. Only an endless emptiness remained in his heart. After a few seconds, he reappeared where he'd been. Jiang Siming could imagine that if he really died and remained in that state forever, he would probably even forget what despair felt like.
Over the course of the night, Jiang Siming used up all ten of his lives.
At dawn, the first rays of sunlight fell across Jiang Siming's face. He opened his eyes, but this time he didn't feel the shame and anger he'd felt before. Instead, he stayed where he was and began to think.
"The system said the purpose of the Mirror World was to find my weaknesses. But my opponents outnumber me by far, and now death is part of the deal. It can't just be to torture me. The copies created by the Mirror World have all my abilities, but their combat skills aren't exactly top-tier. The reason they beat me without giving me a chance to fight back is that they act decisively and without hesitation—even trading wounds for wounds. That must be the system's goal. I really haven't been through enough life-or-death battles. I understand combat techniques, but when it comes to fighting to the death, I'm still an amateur." Jiang Siming thought it over. In a life-or-death situation, simply defeating the enemy wasn't enough. He'd always thought killing Soul Beasts was only natural, but he'd never considered what it would feel like to kill a person.
Dugu Bo had already woken up. After all, his and his granddaughter's lives were at stake, so he was anxious.
Jiang Siming looked at Dugu Bo and stood up. "Let's go," he said.
Seeing Jiang Siming suddenly turn serious, Dugu Bo was rather surprised.
"How'd this kid turn into a different person after one night's sleep?"
The two hurried on their way, reaching Shrek Academy in just half a day.
"So, kid, you're a student at this academy? This place looks run-down. Yet it managed to teach a student like you, and there's also an expert here whose mastery of poison is no worse than mine. If your life weren't in my hands, I'd have started to wonder whether you were playing me."
Jiang Siming led Dugu Bo into the academy. As they walked, he said, "Let me make one thing clear first: don't force my friend to help you. If you make him cure your poison against his will, you'll be the one who suffers." Jiang Siming tried to scare him.
"Hmph, I'm a Titled Douluo. Who could bully me?" Dugu Bo said confidently.
"Oh! My friend's surname is Tang. If you really dare to cross the line, I doubt you'll like what happens." Jiang Siming spoke with a hint of provocation.
"So what if his surname is Tang? Wait, could it be..." Dugu Bo furrowed his brow.
"That's right. This Tang is exactly who you think he is. The Clear Sky Sect has been secluded for years, but he's still from that man's family. Guess what'll happen to you if you lay a hand on him?" Jiang Siming continued.
"That man... Fine, I won't hurt him." Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes. In truth, he'd already conceded.
"I'm curious, kid. Who exactly are you? You're incredibly strong, and your mind is sharper than most. I can't even figure out what kind of person you are. And this academy has me getting more curious by the minute," Dugu Bo asked.
Jiang Siming lit a cigarette and offered one to Dugu Bo. He took a puff and said, "Me? I'm just a lucky guy, but I'm destined to become the greatest person on this continent. Nothing can stop me." His tone shifted from reflective to triumphant.
Dugu Bo took a deep drag too, then said, "You're talking big enough to reach the heavens, kid, but somehow I believe you. Why do I feel like you suddenly got handsome?"
Dugu Bo had realized that whenever Jiang Siming smoked, he found him much easier on the eyes.
"What exactly is that thing you're smoking, and how do you make it? I've smelled it closely. It's just rolled-up tobacco leaves. Nothing special, yet it has this effect. Incredible. How many secrets are you keeping, kid?" Dugu Bo said.
Jiang Siming didn't answer. He only smiled faintly.
Jiang Siming spotted Ning Rongrong in the distance and went over to ask, "Rongrong, have you seen Tang San?"
He'd given her a Body Strengthening Pill earlier, and its effects had been nothing short of miraculous. She'd gradually stopped being hostile toward him. Of course, Jiang Siming wasn't going to hold a grudge against a little girl like her.
"Third Brother and the others went to the Soto Grand Arena for Spirit Fighting. Because of the pill you gave me, I went back to my sect. My father said he wanted to meet you." As Ning Rongrong spoke, her face reddened a little. She clutched the hem of her clothes with both hands.
Jiang Siming's thoughts churned. "What's going on here? Why does he want to meet me? Well, I've got nothing to lose. Is he going to beat you up?" (There was a reason he was single.) Jiang Siming thought to himself.
"Hey, kid, hurry up and take me there. Is an old man's time worthless to you? You there, little girl, move along. I'll let you off this time." Dugu Bo was getting impatient.
"What a big mouth." Ning Rongrong put her hands on her hips and pouted.
"Senior Dugu Bo, you really know who to pick on. She's the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the precious darling of Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo. I truly admire you." Jiang Siming teased him.
Dugu Bo froze for a moment, thinking, "Damn it, I shouldn't have shown off. I was just about to, and now I've stepped on a landmine."
But as a Titled Douluo, how could he be so easily intimidated? Jiang Siming had scared him earlier by invoking the name of the Clear Sky Douluo, whose fearsome record spoke for itself. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, though, might not necessarily be able to do anything to him. After all, its inner sect disciples had no combat ability, and someone like Dugu Bo, an expert in poison, could cause the sect considerable losses if he really wanted to do something.
Dugu Bo's Past
"All right, Rongrong. Since your father wants to meet me, I'll pay him a personal visit once I've taken care of my business." Jiang Siming stepped in to smooth things over.
Ning Rongrong glanced at Dugu Bo and folded her arms across her chest. "Hmph," she said, then tossed her hair and walked away with an air of nonchalance.
"Kid, I'm getting more and more suspicious about what kind of academy this is. Is it a place where the Upper Three Sects have joined forces to train people for a fight against Spirit Hall?" Dugu Bo asked. With two people from the Upper Three Sects here, he suspected the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan might be involved too. He grew more wary by the moment. If it was only one sect, he would be cautious, but wouldn't worry too much. After all, the Clear Sky Sect had gone into seclusion, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had always advocated peaceful business dealings, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, though powerful, was a little weaker than the other two sects. As a Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo didn't necessarily have to give them face. But if all three sects had secretly joined forces, even Spirit Hall wouldn't dare ignore them.
"You're reading too much into it. They're here mostly by coincidence, and there's no one from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan here." Jiang Siming said helplessly. After all, with two younger members of top sects showing up one after another—both of them with status far beyond that of ordinary sect disciples—if Jiang Siming didn't know the truth, even he wouldn't believe there was nothing going on. Jiang Siming also wasn't worried about Dugu Bo spreading the word. Dugu Bo was an honored guest of the Tiantou Imperial Family, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect leaned toward the imperial family. Its sect master, Ning Fengzhi, was the Crown Prince's tutor. Dugu Bo wouldn't lightly offend them.
"Looks like we'll have to wait. Tang San and the others went to Spirit Fight. Why don't we spar while we wait?" Jiang Siming had only recently unsealed the Immortal Trapping Sword and wanted to test its power.
"Kid, don't think that because you managed to get the better of me once, you're so impressive. I may not specialize in martial combat, but I'm still a Titled Douluo. My Soul Power alone is enough to crush you." Dugu Bo stood with his hands on his hips and spoke disdainfully.