"Dean, our academy hasn't had many students since it was founded, has it?" Jiang Siming asked, pretending to be straightforward.
"Cut the crap. You're the only one who talks too much. Listen up, all of you are geniuses among geniuses. Shrek only cultivates monsters, so you need to watch out for your safety on this trip. I have to go pick someone up, so Old Zhao—your Teacher Zhao—will be the only one accompanying you to get your Soul Rings. I don't want a single one of you to be missing when I get back, for any reason. You're a team. Understood?" Flender was strict with them during training, but deep down, he was soft-hearted.
"Understood! Don't worry, Dean. Just wait for the news of our triumphant return!" everyone replied in unison.
Then Zhao Wuji led the group toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Star Dou Great Forest lay southeast of the Balak Kingdom. A small part of it bordered the kingdom, and Suotuo City itself was in the kingdom's southeastern region, only five hundred kilometers from the forest.
"All right, we'll stop at the town ahead and rest for a while today. Get a good night's sleep and recharge. Starting tomorrow, you'll have your work cut out for you," Zhao Wuji announced.
"Teacher Zhao, there's a town right next to a Spirit Beast gathering place? Those people must be crazy about money, right?" Oscar couldn't help asking.
"There's no such thing as absolute safety in this world. If you want to make a fortune, you have to take risks. Most things are a matter of equal exchange: powerful strength comes from painstaking cultivation," Jiang Siming said calmly.
Everyone fell silent. Compared to Jiang Siming, they really did have it easy. Jiang Siming had the system's help, sure, but he was also incredibly hard on himself. His terrifying Soul Ring Configuration—two purple rings and one black—was enough to make anyone gasp. He was the only Soul Master in the Soto Grand Arena to reach the Gold rank before level thirty. He trained with Zhao Wuji every day and had even fought a Titled Douluo. Tang San and the others had gradually forgotten that Jiang Siming was only in his thirties. Powerful people weren't frightening; what was truly frightening was someone who, despite having great strength, never grew complacent and continued to fight forward.
"Enough. Let's find an inn and get something to eat. I'm starving," Zhao Wuji said, breaking the silence. Of course, he wasn't criticizing Jiang Siming. A little pressure would help Tang San and the others grow. He had brought them to the Star Dou Great Forest this time to let them experience real combat, not the make-believe fights in the Soul Fighting Arena, where everything was restricted.
"Come on, keep up with Teacher Zhao. Aren't you hungry? I've been eating Sausages all day. I'm about to throw up." Jiang Siming pretended to retch, then hurried after him.
The others exchanged smiles and followed.
They entered the inn.
"Miss Rongrong, you're the richest one among us. So this time... heh heh." Oscar ingratiated himself with her, making conversation.
"Hey, Oscar, since when did you start living off women?" Ma Hongjun teased.
"Shut up, fatty. I'm just joking around. You know, being funny?" Oscar blushed.
"Oh, so you're joking. In that case, you're paying for dinner tonight." Ma Hongjun kept teasing him. Before Oscar could react, he shouted, "Brothers and sisters, Oscar's treating us to dinner tonight!" Everyone immediately cheered.
"Damn it, fatty. You've got me this time. From now on, you won't get so much as a bite of my Big Sausage!" Oscar gritted his teeth.
Everyone burst into laughter at that. The experienced ones knew exactly what he meant.
Perhaps because of Jiang Siming's influence, Canghui Academy never showed up.
Dinner passed amid playful banter.
After dinner, Jiang Siming went outside the inn. With a running leap, he landed on a boulder in the distance and looked down over the town. Its lights shone brightly.
It had been a long time since Jiang Siming had felt this relaxed. Before, he'd either been in the Soul Fighting Arena or the Spirit Beast Forest. Even at the academy, he spent most of his time sparring with Zhao Wuji. He ate only to meet his basic needs. Deep down, Jiang Siming knew that the moment he appeared in this world, it had already ceased to be the Douluo Continent he knew. Sometimes he wondered why he had suddenly appeared here. He even wondered why, with such great power, he didn't find some place to rule as king, marry several women, and fulfill his past-life dream of a harem.
As Jiang Siming stood lost in thought, a dark figure leaped up beside him. It was Zhu Zhuqing.
"I'm sorry. I really can't remember," Jiang Siming said with a rueful smile.
"It's okay. It wasn't anything important. That person might just have been connected to you. He helped me a lot," Zhu Zhuqing said softly, her head lowered.
In all the time Jiang Siming had known her, this was the first time he'd heard Zhu Zhuqing say such a long sentence.
Jiang Siming didn't know how to answer. Suddenly, things felt a little awkward between them.
"That cruel place, Star Luo, huh?" Jiang Siming couldn't think of anything else to say, so he came up with a random question to break the silence.
"Mm," Zhu Zhuqing replied.
Mm? What do you mean, 'mm'? Say something. This is so awkward.
"What's your relationship with Mubai?" Jiang Siming didn't know why he'd suddenly asked.
"Mubai and I have been engaged since we were children. It's an agreement our two families have always had. The younger generation of the two families are expected to marry each other. If we want to escape that fate, we have to pass the trial. I might be the luckiest person ever, because if I failed, I'd either die or be forced into an even crueler arrangement. Then perhaps my fate would be left to chance," Zhu Zhuqing said, her voice tinged with sadness.
Seeing the strong girl, Jiang Siming couldn't help reaching out to stroke her hair.
Zhu Zhuqing, who had been looking down, suddenly stiffened. Then she stood up and quickly left. Jiang Siming didn't know why he'd done that either. His face flushed, and he sat frozen in place, embarrassed for a long while. He didn't notice the breeze lift her hair as she left, revealing the faintly reddened tips of her ears.
Sign in: Lake of Life?
After a night's rest,
everyone was ready to set out first thing in the morning.
Their targets this time were four thousand-year-old Spirit Beasts. They only needed to hunt in the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest.
As soon as they entered the Star Dou Great Forest, the long-silent system issued a new sign-in task.
"Ding! Sign-in task issued. Location: Lake of Life. No requirements. No penalty."
"Lake of Life?" Jiang Siming was stunned.
"Wait, System, you mean the Lake of Life where Beast God Di Tian lives? Are you kidding me? Am I supposed to go there and get myself killed?" Jiang Siming asked, unable to believe it. Beast God Di Tian hadn't appeared in the first installment, and Jiang Siming guessed he'd been guarding the sleeping Silver Dragon King. But that didn't mean Jiang Siming could afford to provoke him. Beast God Di Tian could take Jiang Siming out with one bite, and there were other terrifying Ferocious Beasts besides him.
Jiang Siming set the sign-in task aside for the time being. After all, there was no penalty. He shook his head and caught up with his companions.
After searching for three hours, everyone decided to take a break.
Xiao Wu leaned against Tang San's shoulder, looking troubled. Jiang Siming knew it was because Erming was about to arrive.
After resting for about ten minutes, Jiang Siming's gaze suddenly darted toward the front. Zhao Wuji and Tang San also turned to watch the same direction, alert.
"Get up, everyone! Something's coming!" Zhao Wuji shouted.
Jiang Siming and Tang San moved in perfect unison, stepping in front of Oscar and Ning Rongrong. After all, the two of them had little combat ability and were the most vulnerable.
Suddenly, a huge snake with a bright red fleshy crest burst out from the woods.