Zhao Wuji: I Will Live, Won't I?

"Teacher, have we passed the test?"

Zhu Zhuqing pointed at the burnt-out incense stick and asked Zhao Wuji. Thanks to Ning Rongrong's intervention, she was the least injured of the four.

"Passed, you've passed."

Zhao Wuji replied offhandedly; he had no desire to linger. He turned to face Dai Mubai, "Mubai, arrange for these four newcomers to settle in. School starts tomorrow. Don't touch the weapons on the ground; let Tang San clean them up himself when he wakes up."

With that, Zhao Wuji turned and walked away.

Dai Mubai looked at the chaotic scene and shook his head, heading toward Zhu Zhuqing. However, she was currently busy fussing over Ning Rongrong, and as soon as he approached, he was met with a glare from Zhu Zhuqing that could kill.

Theoretically, Ning Rongrong was the injured party, while Zhu Zhuqing was practically unscathed, so he didn't know what to say. Fortunately, there were two others on the ground.

"Oscar, you carry Xiao Wu back. I'll carry Tang San."

"Huh? Oh, right!"

Deep in the night, at Zhao Wuji's residence.

Zhao Wuji had just changed his clothes and was still contemplating how to train Tang San in the future.

"Zhao Wuji."

A sudden voice rang out right beside his ear. As a level 76 Spirit Saint, his perception was extraordinary, yet he hadn't sensed anyone within his range.

"Who is it?"

Zhao Wuji stood up abruptly, his voice filled with shock and suspicion.

"Come out."

Killing intent locked onto him. Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Wuji's forehead as he prepared for battle and stepped outside.

"Whoosh!"

The moment he stepped out, before his spirit rings could even manifest, a flying sword had already embedded itself into the wall beside him.

Opposite him, a figure with white hair and beard, dressed in snow-white robes with a sheathed-less sword on his back, approached.

This person was quite famous on the continent. Just by looking at the silhouette, Zhao Wuji already had his answer—

Sword Douluo, Chen Xin.

Chen Xin had actually been monitoring Ning Rongrong's aura all along. Not long ago, he discovered that she had been seriously injured, so he immediately rushed over from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, locked onto Zhao Wuji, and chose this quiet, late hour to offer some "guidance."

"Do you know your mistake?"

Zhao Wuji's body trembled uncontrollably.

"I know, I know! I will definitely..."

He bowed and apologized, but Chen Xin's killing intent did not subside.

Rewinding to a few days ago, the three of them had watched Ning Rongrong leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but Ning Fengzhi had stopped him and Gu Rong.

"Rongrong will likely only become sensible after experiencing the outside world."

That was what Ning Fengzhi had said. For her own good, he and Gu Rong had not interfered.

But! They could not let it slide just because something had happened to Ning Rongrong.

"Haha, Your Excellency, look, it's all a misunderstanding—"

Flender could no longer sit still. Fearing that if he arrived a moment later, Zhao Wuji would be sent to the heavens, he stepped out in advance.

"Zhao Wuji lost control; it was just an accident. Besides, isn't your precious princess safe and sound? Your Excellency might want to go check on her."

"I have already checked."

Chen Xin had long since confirmed that Ning Rongrong was fine, though he found it strange. But were there ever few strange things happening to Ning Rongrong? He was already accustomed to it.

"Then, Your Excellency, could you give me a little face?"

Chen Xin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"But I have one condition."

Chen Xin looked at Zhao Wuji, "I will not use my spirit. Zhao Wuji, if you can last for the time it takes for one incense stick to burn against me, I will naturally let you go."

Ten breaths later, a screaming Zhao Wuji collapsed onto the ground.

Chen Xin brushed the dust off his hands and turned to face Flender.

Flender pointed at himself, looking somewhat surprised:

"You have business with me too?"

"The Sect Master asked me to bring a message: tell you all to strictly discipline Rongrong... don't pretend you don't understand."

Flender nodded.

The implication is that strict discipline is required, but being too strict won't do either!

"It is good that you know."

Chen Xin stepped aside, satisfied.

Flender felt a bit strange, but then he felt relieved.

The appearance of Chen Xin was, after all, an unexpected event.

His true purpose today was—

"Zhao Wuji, get up. I won't use my martial soul. Last for the time it takes for one incense stick to burn in my hands."

Yes, it was this man in black, the Clear Sky Douluo. It was obvious who he had come for: Tang San.

Zhao Wuji lay on the ground, watching yet another Titled Douluo in black arrive, and his heart was filled with regret.

If he had known, he would have just let Dai Mubai deal with them.

Another round of miserable screams followed.

After Tang Hao had vented his anger, Flender dragged Zhao Wuji away.

Zhao Wuji had no strength left in his body at this moment, let alone the energy to ask, "Flender, why did you just leave me aside?"

Tang Hao walked toward the depths of the forest, but Chen Xin stopped him.

"Hold on."

"So that is what you meant by staying nearby and not leaving, Brother Sword. Do you have business with me?"

"Since the Holy God incident, the Clear Sky Sect and Martial Soul Hall have formed an alliance once again. Everyone can accept your return..."

"Are you here to persuade me?" Tang Hao stopped in his tracks and turned to face Chen Xin. "The Holy God incident... it was nothing more than Martial Soul Hall worrying that their rule would be disturbed. Heh, calling the act of killing a genius a 'Holy God incident' to purge a calamity—that is truly their style. But what does that have to do with me? My relationship with them has long been one of life and death."

"Very well."

Chen Xin nodded, turned, and left. Tang Hao departed as well.

In the quiet of the night, no one would have expected such events to occur, except...

Ning Rongrong.

Although Ning Rongrong was very sleepy, Lu Ma was not.

Not in a hurry to log off, he controlled Ning Rongrong to sneak out, run into Suotuo City, open many treasure chests, and unlock many teleportation points.

His inventory had accumulated 14 experience potions, and the Holy Soul Coins had even reached 5.

Returning just in time to see this scene was, in a sense, expected.

Of course, he only saw the figures of the two men; he knew nothing about the Holy God incident or anything of the sort.

Going to bed, after a cutscene, the next morning arrived.

-

Ning Rongrong woke up very early, but Zhu Zhuqing had woken up even earlier.

Or rather, she hadn't slept the entire night, spending the whole time wondering why her roommate had snuck out and why she had returned with such an excited expression. What on earth had she experienced out there?

Zhu Zhuqing couldn't figure it out. Having fled here from the Star Luo Empire, she knew absolutely nothing other than cultivation.

So, she simply stopped thinking about it and began to cultivate.

After a while, Ning Rongrong woke up as well. She climbed out of bed with practiced ease, stared at Xiao Wu for a moment, and then left quietly.

Zhu Zhuqing's train of thought was disrupted just like that.

Why stare at her and not me?

She couldn't understand it, and her cultivation speed accelerated further; only in this way could she find peace amidst the busyness.

-

As soon as he stepped out the door, Lu Ma noticed a middle-aged man wearing square-rimmed glasses.

The man was practically blocking the doorway; it was hard not to see him.

"Ning Rongrong, let me introduce myself. I am Flender, the dean of this academy, a level 78 Soul Saint."

Ning Rongrong looked the man in front of her up and down, then nodded. He was about the same as the Flender in her memories; he should be the genuine article.

"Dean, is there something you need from me?"

"It is like this: you have already reached level 30, and you are lacking a soul beast, correct?"

Ning Rongrong nodded hesitantly.

"Logically speaking, our academy students should train together for a period of time before going to hunt soul beasts together to improve their rapport. However, that takes too long. Since you have already enrolled, I intend to let you go and hunt a soul beast on your own first."