Back to the Town

Xiao Chen's face darkened. "System, if you don't know how to talk, just say less!"

The System ignored Xiao Chen and casually waved a hand, projecting the scene outside.

"Host, you've got quite the luck with women. This young lady is awfully curious about you right now! If she hadn't sent you her spiritual power, you might not have woken up anytime soon!" the System Spirit said.

"She's Hu Liena, and the other one is Xie Yue?" Xiao Chen identified them at a glance.

Although he'd never met Hu Liena or Xie Yue, Xiao Chen knew that the only ones who would have Chrysanthemum Douluo accompanying them were the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall.

"Host, shouldn't you be paying attention to that young lady?" The System Spirit's eyes sparkled with heart-shaped pupils.

Xiao Chen: "..."

"System, are you sure you're not Peach Boy in disguise?" Xiao Chen asked.

Even so, he had to admit that the System had excellent taste.

System: "Host, you're making wild guesses again. I am what I am—not something else in disguise!"

"Fine, fine... So where's Chrysanthemum Douluo?" Xiao Chen asked.

"He probably sensed Chu Ruolan and the others earlier and went to check on you!" the System replied.

"So Chrysanthemum Douluo and the others already know I have Twin Martial Souls and that I've got four Ten-Year Spirit Rings?" Xiao Chen asked.

The System nodded. "That's right. They started following you when you were running from the Thunder Pattern Leopard!"

"???"

Xiao Chen: "So you sensed Chrysanthemum Douluo a long time ago but didn't tell me?"

The System Spirit smiled. "Host, didn't you want to join Spirit Hall? I was just helping things along!"

Xiao Chen was speechless. He couldn't argue with that.

"System, from now on, tell me whenever someone is secretly watching me!" Xiao Chen said sternly.

"Don't worry, Host. I'd never screw you over!" the System Spirit promised, patting its chest.

Xiao Chen wanted to say, How many times have you already screwed me over?

"Since you're awake, Host, I'll stop blocking your sea of consciousness. That Titled Douluo will be back soon." As soon as the System finished speaking, it removed the mental barrier.

In an instant, Xiao Chen sensed a gentle, soothing strand of spiritual power carefully guiding his consciousness.

Xiao Chen went along with it and immediately left the System Space. His eyelids fluttered a few times before he slowly opened his eyes.

His vision gradually cleared, and the first thing he saw was an exquisitely beautiful face. It was Hu Liena.

"You're awake!" Hu Liena said happily, immediately helping Xiao Chen sit up.

Though Xiao Chen knew who Hu Liena and Xie Yue were, he still had to play his part.

He pretended to be weak as he slowly got up, then thanked them. "Did you save me? Thank you!"

Hu Liena smiled. "We did. So, how are you going to thank us?"

Xiao Chen almost blurted out, By offering myself to you?

Fortunately, he caught himself in time and swallowed the words. Damn it, I must have been influenced by that stupid System!

The System immediately retorted, "Host, don't try to pin this on me. That's just your true nature!"

Xiao Chen couldn't be bothered with the System. As he wondered how to answer Hu Liena, Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly walked in from outside the cave.

"Xiao Chen, you're awake already?" Chrysanthemum Douluo said, sounding surprised.

Before Xiao Chen could answer, Hu Liena eagerly took credit. "Grandpa Ju, I used my spiritual power to wake him!"

Then she turned to Xiao Chen and held out her hand. "Hello, Xiao Chen. I'm Hu Liena, a level forty-one Control System Soul Ancestor!"

Xiao Chen shook her hand politely. She immediately pulled Xie Yue over and introduced him. "This is my brother, Xie Yue, a level forty-three Agility Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor!"

"Good to meet you, Brother Xie Yue!" Xiao Chen nodded to him, then turned his gaze to Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Seeing this, Hu Liena hurried over to Chrysanthemum Douluo. "This is Elder of Spirit Hall and Titled Douluo, His Excellency Yue Guan!"

At once, Xiao Chen put on a shocked expression and started to rise to pay his respects, but Chrysanthemum Douluo pressed him back down.

"No need for formalities!"

As soon as Chrysanthemum Douluo touched Xiao Chen, he used his spiritual power to examine Xiao Chen's condition.

After confirming that Xiao Chen was unharmed, Chrysanthemum Douluo asked, "Xiao Chen, how old are you? Which sect are you from?"

"I'm fourteen, Your Excellency, and I don't belong to any sect!" Xiao Chen answered immediately.

"Where is your home, then?" Chrysanthemum Douluo continued.

"In a village near Suotuo City," Xiao Chen replied. The System had arranged this identity for him, and even if anyone looked into it, they wouldn't find anything amiss.

"How could your family feel safe letting you come to Star Dou Forest alone?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked.

"I'm an orphan. I lost my family a long time ago," Xiao Chen answered honestly, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.

Seeing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately said, "Sorry for bringing up something painful."

Xiao Chen smiled. "It's all right. I've been used to being alone for a long time."

"What a good kid," Chrysanthemum Douluo thought to himself. Then he continued, "You haven't joined an academy?"

Xiao Chen shook his head. "No. I wanted to go to Shrek Academy, but they turned me away!"

Xiao Chen held a grudge, and it was time to put Shrek Academy in a bad light.

"Shrek Academy?" Chrysanthemum Douluo had never heard of it. He looked to Hu Liena and Xie Yue, who both shook their heads as well.

"Must be some obscure little academy," Chrysanthemum Douluo thought. He was glad the academy hadn't accepted Xiao Chen, but also felt its people must have been blind not to take in a genius like him.

At the same time, he felt a growing distaste for the academy. If they had accepted Xiao Chen, he thought, Xiao Chen wouldn't have ended up with so many White Spirit Rings.

"Xiao Chen, would you be willing to come with us to Spirit City?" Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately invited him.

He knew that only Pope Bibi Dong truly understood the secrets of Twin Martial Souls. Taking Xiao Chen back and having her personally guide him would be the best choice.

"Of course!" Xiao Chen replied happily. This time, his excitement was genuine.

Seeing Xiao Chen agree, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue all looked delighted.

Hu Liena in particular had a lively gleam in her eyes. She could hardly wait to discuss Martial Souls and the mysteries of Soul Skills with Xiao Chen.

"Come on. We're heading back to Spirit Hall now!" Chrysanthemum Douluo said, lifting Xiao Chen onto his back.

"Your Excellency, there's something I need to take care of before we go back," Xiao Chen said. He still remembered his promise to Chu Ruolan.

"What is it? I'll take care of it for you," Chrysanthemum Douluo said.

Xiao Chen told him that he had promised to help Chu Ruolan and compete against Canghui Academy.

Chrysanthemum Douluo considered it briefly, then said, "All right, we can go. But you can't use your Second Martial Soul."

"Okay!" Xiao Chen hadn't planned to use his Second Martial Soul anyway.

After that, Chrysanthemum Douluo took Xiao Chen, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue to the small town, where they checked into a hotel.

Hu Liena immediately wanted to talk things over with Xiao Chen, but Chrysanthemum Douluo stopped her, saying Xiao Chen was still weak.

Knowing that Xiao Chen needed to recover, Hu Liena let him rest alone in his room.

Not long after Xiao Chen and the others checked in, Chu Ruolan and her group also returned to the town. The people from Canghui Academy still hadn't come back, so Chu Ruolan and Ma Yan found rooms for their group as well.

Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately sent Chu Ruolan a message through spiritual transmission, telling her that Xiao Chen would help Fabia Academy.

Chu Ruolan was surprised. She had thought Xiao Chen had already returned to his clan with his elders, never imagining he had stayed behind specifically to wait for them.