Still a Youth Upon Return

Bai Mo walked with Ning Tian and Gu Yue Na to Tingyun's side, inquiring whether there were any promising talents.

As for Nan Qiuchiu, she had been pulled away by Wu Feng to the backstage of the Trial Tower to observe the real-time progress of the trials.

"Yes, there are! I've found nine who are enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Nannan!"

Following Tingyun's gesture, they looked toward a small girl with green hair in twin tails.

"Is it just me, or am I seeing a bit too much green hair lately?"

Bai Mo couldn't help but complain. There was Ice Empress, Bi Ji, and now Xiao Xiao had appeared as well.

"This child is quite young, but her temperament is excellent. If she studies in the Purple Branch for a while, she has the potential to enter the Black Branch."

Tingyun said softly.

(A brief aside: In the original work, Xiao Xiao was at level 22 when she enrolled, and a year later she reached level 29. That's 7 levels in one year—damn, what was she doing before that! I can only say this Soul Power Level setting is too ridiculous. The author will be rewriting the soul power progression later.)

Afterward, Tingyun pointed out a few more students to Bai Mo.

"Is that the friend Jiang Nannan was looking for?"

Bai Mo suddenly spotted Tang Ya entering the Yellow Trial Tower.

If one were to ask how Bai Mo recognized Tang Ya?

Heh, Tang Ya had actually walked in wearing light blue Tang Sect robes to participate in the trial, as if she were afraid others wouldn't notice she was from the Tang Sect.

"It doesn't matter. Whether it's the Tang Sect or Shrek, as long as she doesn't cause trouble and stays a student, let her be."

"Boy Bai, three sources of identical soul power fluctuations just appeared on the outskirts of Shrek City. They are likely the Evil Soul Masters you mentioned."

Bai Mo, who was hanging out with Tingyun to watch the spectacle, suddenly received a message from the Little Black Tower.

"Oh? What's going on? Are the Evil Soul Masters here to cause trouble?"

"No, those three people just unleashed their soul power for a moment, then grabbed a little girl from Shrek and ran off."

"That doesn't matter. At this stage, as long as they don't jump out in front of us, let them do whatever they want. Honestly, is Shrek just unlucky? They were just beaten up by me, and now a student gets snatched by Evil Soul Masters?"

"As you wish!"

Bai Mo whispered to the Little Black Tower in his mind, not noticing that Gu Yue Na had moved closer to his side.

"Student Bai, if it were you, could you clear the Black Trial Tower?"

The academy hadn't built a Red Trial Tower inside; there was no point in having something that couldn't be cleared. Once he had more resources later, he could put one out to suppress the students.

"Hmm? What?"

Seeing Gu Yue Na approach, Bai Mo's eyes lit up. He suddenly had a great idea.

"I asked if Student Bai could clear the Black Trial Tower. I tried it yesterday, and it took a lot of effort to get through."

Gu Yue Na repeated her question, taking the opportunity to proudly lift her delicate chin.

"No, no, I'm too weak. By the way, Old Gu, do you have time lately? I'll take you to a great place!"

Bai Mo asked Gu Yue Na with a grin. He planned to go get some good loot and, incidentally, let Gu Yue Na take the blame.

Bai Mo estimated that while he was smashing up Shrek, the Minghuo Chamber of Commerce and the Fairy Boat must have already been targeted by a certain Divine King.

But it didn't matter. As long as Gu Yue Na and Bai Mo were both seen at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Divine King Tang would never believe the Fairy Boat was the mastermind behind this.

"A great place?"

Gu Yue Na looked at Bai Mo in confusion. With her peerless wisdom, she truly couldn't fathom why Bai Mo had suddenly changed his attitude toward her.

"Wait! Don't call me Old Gu!"

"Hehe, there are plenty of treasures there. It should bring us quite a few benefits, though it might require your uncle's help. After all, the Fairy Boat needs time to approve the deployment of a Titled Douluo."

"No problem!"

Gu Yue Na didn't care about any treasures; she only felt that Bai Mo was becoming more reliant on her, which would be a significant help in her future plans to subdue him.

Bai Mo smiled happily. Even though Di Tian hadn't given him any face in the previous chapters, Bai Mo was the most magnanimous person. Look, he was even planning to take him to show his face in front of a Divine King!

"Then go tell your uncle first. We'll leave in a bit, so make it quick!"

"Alright!"

Gu Yue Na left, satisfied. She even planned to instruct Di Tian to hold back appropriately if they encountered danger, as that was the only way to foster their relationship!

"Heh~ are you saying this dragon has lived for hundreds of thousands of years?" the Black Tower teased in Bai Mo's mind.

"He's still a youth at heart!"

Bai Mo joked, then looked toward Tingyun and Ning Tian.

"I'm planning to go dig up a hot spring. And pick a few flowers and herbs while I'm at it."

Ning Tian looked at Bai Mo in shock.

"Is it the flower and herb I'm thinking of?"

Bai Mo shrugged, feigning mystery.

Ning Tian bit her lip, staring with complex emotions at the carefree Bai Mo.

"Sigh~ Young Master is truly a busy person, though this humble one has a matter to remind you of."

Tingyun waved her fan to call Bai Mo to a halt.

"Please, enlighten me, Tingyun!"

"Classmate Gu Yue Na's martial soul is the Silver Spear, and she possesses Innate Full Soul Power. Do not forget that~"

Bai Mo's expression stiffened. He had completely failed to realize that he had never once asked about Gu Yue Na's martial soul since recruiting her. Had he been dealing with anyone with a functioning brain, Bai Mo would have been exposed on the spot.

Bai Mo cast a complicated look at the smiling Tingyun; in her eyes, his battle of wits with Gu Yue Na was likely nothing more than children playing house.

"Young Master need not be overly worried. In this humble one's view, even if this classmate truly discovers the truth, she might find herself unable to bring herself to act~"

Bai Mo offered a polite smile.

Just then, a joyful Gu Yue Na returned to the spot, followed by the stern and domineering Di Tian.

"Senior Di Long, I trust Classmate Gu Yue Na has already spoken with you? I leave this journey in your hands!"

"Mm, I will naturally protect you all."

"Rest assured, Classmate Bai! If you truly encounter danger, that danger must first cross over my corpse!"

Gu Yue Na recited the line with a solemn expression, a faint blush appearing on her earlobes.

Bai Mo's pupils constricted as he stared at Gu Yue Na. Where on earth did you find that line this time?

"Th... thanks! There is no need to go that far. I still have a trump card left behind by the Celestial Lord; I won't be in any danger."

Di Tian's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not interrupt the Lord's attempt to win over Bai Mo.

"Hehehe, who would have thought that we three brothers would go to see what this Minghuo is all about, only to find they could actually suppress Shrek Academy. Unexpected, truly unexpected, and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be!"

Zhong Litian said with a sinister laugh.

"Hehehe, Eldest Brother is right. Who would have thought Shrek Academy was hiding such a fine seedling for an evil soul master? Once we hand her over to the Cult Master, she might even become a future Saintess!"

Zhong Didi dragged the unconscious Ma Xiaotao with one hand while echoing his brother.

"Hehehe, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, should we still keep monitoring Minghuo Academy?"

"Hehehe, monitor my foot! Is a force capable of contending with Shrek Academy something we can monitor? With this unexpected harvest in our hands, it's the perfect time to withdraw from this affair!"

"Eldest Brother is wise!" ×2!