White Tiger Trial

The message from Notting Academy was temporarily pushed to the back of Meow Meow's mind.

Tang San had already obtained his First Soul Ring.

Yu Xiaogang had also begun applying his theories to his disciple.

It was no small matter.

But Heaven Dou was still far away.

At least for now, the trouble in Heaven Dou City was closer.

The Black Eagle Family, Black Water Marsh, the Star Luo White Tiger bloodline, and the Little White Tiger curled up inside the Calming Bell.

Meow Meow was sprawled on a cushion in Clear Radiance Pavilion, just about to catch up on some sleep, when a quiet question came from inside the bell.

"When can I go out and help?"

Meow Meow opened one eye.

"If you go out now, will you be helping, or making me busy saving you?"

Jianbing fell silent for a moment.

"I can learn."

"Now that's something sensible to say."

Meow Meow rolled over and sat up.

It looked at the faint white shadow inside the Calming Bell.

Jianbing was more stable now than when they'd first rescued him.

The nourishment of the Holy Fire, together with White Dew's soothing aura, meant he no longer seemed about to dissipate at any moment.

But that only meant he wouldn't dissipate.

As for fighting, forget a Soul Master—even a Hundred-Year Soul Beast could give him trouble.

"If you want to help, you can."

"But first, you'll have to try something."

Jianbing immediately looked up.

"Try what?"

"See if you can keep your head when you're in danger."

After Meow Meow spoke, it glanced at Qian Renxue beside it.

Qian Renxue was sitting at the table, organizing the Black Eagle Family's records.

Hearing this, she looked up too.

"You're going to arrange a trial for him?"

"Mm."

Meow Meow nodded.

"He's a White Tiger Remnant Spirit, not an ordinary kitten."

"Being nourished by the Holy Fire will only keep him from dissipating."

"If he wants to truly come back to life, he'll have to get moving on his own."

Qian Renxue considered it, then didn't object.

White Dew ran over too and quietly sat beside Meow Meow.

Meow Meow gently shook the Calming Bell.

Ding.

The chime rang out.

The small space inside the Calming Bell slowly lit up.

The place had originally been used only to store spiritual water, seeds, and Holy Fire Aura. Now, Meow Meow had carved out a separate area within it.

The area wasn't large.

The ground was gray-black mud.

Low shrubs surrounded it.

In the distance was a small projection of Black Water Marsh.

This wasn't the outside world.

It was merely a Trial Ground Meow Meow had pieced together for the moment, using the Pollution Aura gathered the night before, traces left behind by Soul Beasts, and the space inside the Calming Bell.

It wasn't real.

But it was scary enough for a Little White Tiger.

Jianbing looked at the place, visibly nervous.

"Is this Black Water Marsh?"

"It's fake,"

Meow Meow said.

"But the aura inside is real."

"You're going in there for a while."

Jianbing swallowed, though he had no saliva.

"Do I have to go?"

"No."

Meow Meow's tone was calm.

"Then you can stay inside the bell obediently from now on. Don't talk about helping, and don't even think about going back to Black Water Marsh to save other remnant spirits."

Jianbing fell silent.

After a few moments, he raised his head.

"I'll go."

Meow Meow nodded.

"Remember three things."

"First, run if you can't win."

"Second, don't tough it out if you get hurt."

"Third, don't let the Pollution Aura lead you around."

Jianbing nodded seriously.

Meow Meow added one more thing.

"And don't be like Numb Tail."

Jianbing froze.

"Who's Numb Tail?"

"A silly cat who stared at dried meat in the middle of a mission."

White Dew gave a soft meow at that.

It sounded as if she was saying that this really was important.

Jianbing looked confused, but still nodded.

Meow Meow lifted a paw and pointed.

The Little White Tiger's figure was sent into the Trial Ground.

The moment he entered, all four of Jianbing's paws sank into the soft, wet mud.

He jumped in fright and instinctively tried to back away.

But behind him was the shallow golden boundary formed by the Calming Bell.

There was no way out.

The black water rippled faintly ahead.

A Mud Armor Beetle no bigger than a palm crawled out from the water's edge.

It wasn't a real Soul Beast.

It was just a shadow Meow Meow had shaped out of the Pollution Aura and Soul Power.

But to Jianbing, it looked real enough.

As soon as the Mud Armor Beetle appeared, it pounced at Jianbing.

Jianbing's eyes narrowed, and he hurriedly dodged to the side.

He was quick.

After all, the White Tiger bloodline was no fake.

Even as a mere remnant spirit, his instincts remained.

The Mud Armor Beetle missed and rolled across the ground, then charged again.

This time, Jianbing didn't dodge.

He raised a paw and swatted it.

As his paw came down, a glimmer of white light shone.

The Mud Armor Beetle was slapped apart.

Jianbing froze.

He seemed surprised that he'd actually managed to smash it.

Watching from outside, Meow Meow nodded.

"Good reflexes."

"You're just a little timid."

Watching the scene inside the bell, Qian Renxue said,

"He's been through a lot. It's normal for him to be timid."

"That's why he needs practice,"

Meow Meow said.

"If he runs into someone from the Black Eagle Family, they won't let him off just because he's scared."

Qian Renxue didn't argue.

Inside the Trial Ground, a second Mud Armor Beetle crawled out.

Then a third, and a fourth.

Jianbing was still somewhat panicked at first.

But after smashing two or three of them, his movements gradually steadied.

He began to learn to dodge first.

Then strike.

He kept himself from getting surrounded.

And he didn't run around wildly in the mud.

Meow Meow felt a little better watching him.

"Not bad."

"His head's still working."

If Jianbing had heard that, he probably would've been angry.

But he was too busy now.

Suddenly, a mass of black aura rose from the marsh.

This time, it wasn't a Mud Armor Beetle.

It was a small Swamp Wolf Shadow.

Its aura was much stronger than those of the insect shadows.

Jianbing immediately backed away.

The Swamp Wolf Shadow growled and charged straight at him.

It was much faster than the insect shadows.

Jianbing dodged, but not completely.

The wolf's claw grazed his shoulder.

Though it was only a trial shadow, the pain was real.

Jianbing grunted, and his figure immediately grew fainter.

Outside, White Dew stood up anxiously.

Meow Meow didn't move.

"Let him handle it."

Qian Renxue watched the Little White Tiger too.

The Swamp Wolf Shadow pounced again.

This time, Jianbing didn't turn and run. Instead, he lowered his body and abruptly darted to the side.

The wolf shadow missed.

Jianbing seized the opening and struck its nape with a paw.

White light burst out.

Half the wolf shadow dispersed.

But it didn't disappear completely.

It turned and bit at him again.

At last, a hint of ferocity appeared in Jianbing's eyes.

It wasn't the red glow brought on by the Pollution Aura.

It was the White Tiger's own ferocity.

He opened his mouth and let out a faint roar.

"Roar!"

The sound wasn't loud.

It even had a slightly babyish quality.

But in that instant, the Swamp Wolf Shadow's movements faltered.

Jianbing seized the opening, lunged forward, and bit down on its neck.

White light seeped between its teeth.

The Swamp Wolf Shadow finally dispersed completely.

Meow Meow's eyes lit up.

"White Tiger Roar?"

"It doesn't count as a Soul Skill."

"It's more like an instinct."

Qian Renxue said.

"The White Tiger Martial Soul has a similar intimidating effect, but this is purer."

Meow Meow nodded.

That was a promising sign.

Jianbing stood in the mud, panting.

His form was a little unsteady, but his eyes were much brighter than when he'd first entered.

"I won."

He said softly.

Meow Meow sent him a telepathic message.

"Don't celebrate too soon."

"There's more ahead."

Jianbing: "..."

The next moment, several more presences appeared in the Trial Ground.

Two Mud Armor Beetles.

A Swamp Wolf.

And a half-transparent Black Snake.

Jianbing visibly trembled when he saw the Black Snake.

Its scent was very similar to the Black Liquid in the bottle.

He wanted to retreat.

But halfway through, he stopped.

Meow Meow watched him.

He didn't urge him on.

Qian Renxue didn't say anything either.

Jianbing lowered his head, as if struggling against something.

At last, he raised his head.

"I'm not going back in the bottle."

After saying that, he charged forward on his own.

This time, things went much more smoothly.

He dodged the Black Snake first and smashed one of the Mud Armor Beetles.

Then he circled to the Swamp Wolf's flank and used the White Tiger Roar to stall its movements.

The Black Snake seized the chance to bite.

Jianbing didn't dodge completely; it bit his hind leg.

A wisp of Polluted aura seeped in through the wound.

His eyes reddened slightly.

Meow Meow narrowed his eyes at once.

This was the most dangerous part of the trial.

Not the injury.

The Pollution.

If Jianbing couldn't suppress this aura, he'd be in trouble if he ever encountered those things in the Black Water Marsh for real.

Jianbing was clearly in pain.

The white light around him flickered.

The Black Snake coiled around him as well.

Jianbing began to struggle.

But the more he struggled, the more easily the Polluted aura burrowed deeper.

Meow Meow raised a paw, ready to end the trial at any moment.

Just then, Jianbing suddenly closed his eyes.

The White Tiger Roar no longer surged outward.

Instead, it turned inward.

A low tiger's roar sounded within his remnant spirit.

White light pressed down along the wound on his hind leg.

The wisp of black energy was forced out little by little.

It was slow.

But it was working.

Meow Meow's expression changed.

"Can he cleanse himself?"

Qian Renxue was surprised, too.

"The White Tiger has always carried the intent to suppress evil."

"Perhaps some of that instinct remains in his bloodline."

Once the black energy had been expelled, Jianbing's eyes flew open.

He didn't dodge the Black Snake again.

Instead, he pinned its head beneath one paw.

White light fell, and the Black Snake shattered on the spot.

The remaining Swamp Wolf soon dispersed as well.

The Trial Ground fell quiet again.

Jianbing stood in the mud, all four paws trembling.

His form had also grown much fainter.

But he didn't fall.

At last, Meow Meow raised a paw and waved.

The trial was over.

Jianbing was returned to the warm light beside the Calming Bell.

As soon as he returned, he collapsed.

"I'm so tired."

Meow Meow watched him.

"Not bad."

Jianbing raised his head.

"Really?"

"Really."

Meow Meow nodded.

"At least you won't be scared senseless the moment you encounter low-level Polluted aura anymore."

Jianbing: "..."

He'd been quite happy at first.

The second half of Meow Meow's comment left him feeling a little aggrieved.

White Dew walked over and gently rubbed against the Calming Bell.

Jianbing quieted down a little.

A system prompt rang out just then.

[Ping! Jianbing has completed his first trial.]

[Stability increased.]

[White Tiger instinct awakened: Evil-Suppressing Roar.]

[Prompt: Jianbing remains in a remnant-spirit state and cannot leave the Calming Bell for long periods.]

After reading it, Meow Meow understood.

Evil-Suppressing Roar.

The name was simple, but the ability was practical.

It was just right for dealing with Polluted aura like that in the Black Water Marsh.

But for now, it was only an instinct, not a complete skill.

He'd have to train it slowly.

Qian Renxue looked at Meow Meow and asked:

"Can he be involved in the Black Eagle Family's affairs now?"

"He can help sense things."

Meow Meow said.

"But he can't go out and fight."

"At most, he can help me identify White Tiger Blood and Nether aura while he's by my side."

Jianbing nodded at once.

"I can smell them."

"Good."

Meow Meow said.

"But tell me before you start sniffing."

"Don't charge off on your own."

Jianbing answered softly.

Qian Renxue looked at the documents on the table.

"The Black Eagle Family hasn't made any major moves today."

"The Western Suburb Hunting Ground has been much quieter, too."

"They were probably frightened by you yesterday."

Meow Meow shook his head.

"Not necessarily."

"If they're really planning something big, they won't stop just because they lost a box of things."

"If they're quiet now, they may be waiting for someone."

"Who?"

"Someone from the Star Luo Empire."

Meow Meow said.

"They can't keep conjuring up White Tiger and Nether materials out of thin air in Heaven Dou."

Qian Renxue nodded in agreement.

"I'll keep an eye on the merchant caravans entering the city."

"Perhaps Ning Fengzhi can find out more."

Meow Meow was about to reply when he suddenly heard a light sound outside the window.

Gray Ear leaped in.

A small corner of paper was clamped in his mouth.

Meow Meow took it and had a look.

There was only half a seal on the scrap.

But part of the design was visible.

It looked like the tiny paw print of a White Tiger Cub.

The scent Gray Ear had brought back carried traces of a carriage, medicinal herbs, and the White Tiger Cub from the previous night.

Meow Meow's gaze sharpened.

"They've made a move."

Qian Renxue asked:

"Where did they go?"

Gray Ear gave a low cry.

Meow Meow closed his eyes and sensed the trail.

Soon, he opened them.

"They're not going to the Black Water Marsh."

"They're heading toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Qian Renxue froze.

"The Royal Academy?"

Meow Meow's tail stopped swishing.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was no ordinary place.

It was where the Heaven Dou Empire trained Soul Masters. It was also home to noble offspring, and many powerful figures were stationed there.

The Black Eagle Family was sending something carrying the White Tiger Sample's aura there.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Qian Renxue's expression turned cold, too.

"Someone inside the Royal Academy is waiting for them."

Meow Meow nodded.

"And their status is probably quite high."

He looked at Jianbing.

"Can you hold up?"

Jianbing had just finished its trial, and its figure was still faint.

But when it heard that the White Tiger's aura had gone to the Royal Academy, it still lifted its head.

"I can."

Meow Meow didn't take it there right away.

Instead, he shook his head first.

"Get some rest."

"I'll go check it out first."

"If I really need you to identify it, I'll call you."

Jianbing opened his mouth, but finally nodded.

It had just learned an important lesson.

Helping didn't mean overexerting yourself.

White Dew came up beside Meow Meow, as if wanting to go with him.

Meow Meow glanced at her.

"You stay, too."

"Qinghe can't be left without a cat by his side."

White Dew was a little reluctant, but she still sat back down.

Qian Renxue looked at Meow Meow.

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy is nothing like the Western Suburb Hunting Ground."

"There are a lot of Soul Masters there."

"Be careful."

"Don't worry."

Meow Meow leaped onto the windowsill.

"I'm just going to take a look."

"If things come to blows, I'll wait until I know who's behind it."

With that, he left through the window with Gray Ear.

Night had just fallen.

In the direction of the mountains where Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood, beyond Heaven Dou City, lights glimmered faintly.