"You're actually his disciple. Why should I believe you?" Flender asked again.
"You like my teacher's wife." Jiang Siming gave Flender a teasing look.
"Ahem, all right, all right! I believe you." Flender hurriedly replied.
Dai Mubai, standing beside you, watched with a gossiping expression. He glanced at Flender, then at Jiang Siming.
"Mubai, if today's events get out, you know what'll happen." Flender warned him.
"Oh, I just remembered—I need to go take a shower. See you later, Dean. See you later, Siming." Dai Mubai hurriedly slipped away.
Only Jiang Siming and Flender remained in the office. After a moment of silence, Flender finally spoke first.
"Tell me, how is Grandmaster?" Flender sighed and asked gravely. It was clear he truly cared about Grandmaster.
"Teacher is in good health. Before I left, he successfully broke through to level 30," Jiang Siming said.
"What? Xiaogang broke through to level 30?" Flender sat still.
"Was it he who sent you to join Shrek Academy?" Flender asked.
"Teacher wanted me to train at the Soto Grand Arena and come here five years later. But I didn't expect my opponent in the first match to be a student of Shrek Academy, so I came early. He probably doesn't want you to find out about him too soon. I guess he'll come by then, too!" Jiang Siming said.
"He's still as stubborn as ever. He was like that back then, and he's still like that now. How long is he going to keep running away?" Flender said, heartbroken.
Silence fell again.
"Siming, since you're Grandmaster's disciple, I'll call you that. Mubai will take you to the dormitory in a moment. You can go for now. I need some time to think." Flender rubbed his forehead.
"Dean, I'd like to spar with Teacher Zhao Wuji. Before I came, Teacher told me that Teacher Zhao Wuji had extremely strong defenses, and that fighting him would help temper my Zhuxian Sword Martial Soul. My Zhuxian Sword Martial Soul has tremendous attack power, but if it goes too long without being tested, it'll grow dull," Jiang Siming explained. Of course, all of that was nonsense. He just needed an excuse to complete the sign-in task. He wondered what the reward would be this time.
"Oh? Are you sure? You're only level 17, and you want to challenge a Soul Saint?" Flender looked at Jiang Siming with interest.
"Dean, if you agree, I'll give you a great way to make money. How about it?" Jiang Siming tempted him.
"Really?" Flender's eyes lit up.
"If you can really help me make money, I'll pin him to the ground and let you hit him as much as you like," Flender said excitedly. He'd just been worrying about how to recalculate the expenses now that there was another person. After all, Jiang Siming was practically a junior to him, so he couldn't treat him too harshly.
"There used to be a writer in my village. He wrote a book called Wu Dong Qian Kun. I hold the exclusive sales rights to it now. I can hand it over to you, Dean," Jiang Siming said with a straight face, making things up as he went.
"Selling books? Are you sure?" Flender looked unconvinced.
"Dean, if you don't believe me, I'll give you the draft of Wu Dong Qian Kun first. You can read it and decide afterward," Jiang Siming said again.
As he spoke, Jiang Siming handed Flender the draft of Wu Dong Qian Kun, which he had already written out from memory. He had clearly come prepared.
"Dean, I'll be going now. Take your time reading it," Jiang Siming said.
"Go on. I'll let Zhao know about your request. But I'll warn you, kid: don't bite off more than you can chew," Flender cautioned him.
Jiang Siming nodded and left.
"Ah, young people are always reaching too high. Oh well, having drive is what makes them young. Let Zhao deal with him!" Flender shook his head and began reading Wu Dong Qian Kun.
Three months later.
"How's it going, Siming? Did you manage to last a full incense stick against Teacher Zhao today?" Dai Mubai asked teasingly.
"Boss Dai, look at Siming's bruised-up face. He obviously failed again. Hahaha!" Oscar couldn't help laughing toward the sky.
"Siming, you work so hard every day. Why not go relax a little?" Ma Hongjun said, leering at Jiang Siming.
So the system didn't set a time limit this time because this is where the catch was, Jiang Siming thought helplessly.
By now, Jiang Siming had become quite powerful. He had successfully broken through to level 20, and before long, he'd have to hunt for a Soul Ring to unlock the next sword. But Jiang Siming wasn't a control-type Soul Master like Tang San. In the original story, Tang San had toyed with Zhao Wuji because his Hidden Weapons were impossible to guard against, and because he had exceptional control over Blue Silver Grass. On top of that, Zhao Wuji hadn't even been fighting seriously.
Aside from giving Zhao Wuji a little trouble on the first day, Jiang Siming had been utterly defeated for the next three months. The Immortal Extinction Sword was powerful, but what good was that if he couldn't hit his opponent? Jiang Siming had actually set his expectations too high. It hadn't even been half a year since he awakened his Martial Soul, and now he could trade blows with a Soul Saint. Every gain came at a cost. Jiang Siming's strength had grown, but his thinking and combat instincts were still lacking.
"Damn, my combat skills really are terrible," Jiang Siming muttered to himself.
For the next month, Jiang Siming didn't go to obtain a Soul Ring. His strength had risen too quickly, and his Soul Power was still unstable; he had clearly realized that. He would temper his Soul Power through battle and improve his combat skills.
"Mubai, that won't do! A man can't be useless!" Jiang Siming said teasingly as he punched Dai Mubai and sent him flying.
"Damn it, Jiang Siming, go to hell! You're calling me useless, but you're still a virgin!" Dai Mubai got up from the ground and shot back.
"Boss Dai, when it comes to that, your Brother Ming is pure as ice and clean as jade. I'm proud of it," Jiang Siming said shamelessly, crossing his arms.
The two of them ended their spar with laughter and banter.
"Siming, you're already level 20. Aren't you going to get a Soul Ring?" Dai Mubai asked, puzzled.
"No rush. My strength has grown too quickly, and it's easy to lose yourself. I can keep you firmly in check only because my physical fitness is better than yours." Jiang Siming patted Dai Mubai on the shoulder.
There was another reason: the sign-in system. It still hadn't issued a new sign-in task. Jiang Siming thought it might be because he hadn't completed the previous task, preventing the next one from appearing. After all, sign-in tasks were meant to be completed in sequence.
"Teacher Zhao, I'm here again. Let's get started!" Jiang Siming called out.
"Honestly, Little Ming, you don't let me sleep in at all. Come on, let's get this over with quickly. I want to go back to bed," Zhao Wuji said listlessly.
"Watch out, Teacher Zhao!" Jiang Siming said. He suddenly sprang into action, releasing the Rusty Sword. Then he sent a sword aura straight toward Zhao Wuji.