Change

The water and sky blend into one, like a silver mirror. The young girl stands gracefully in the mirror, seemingly another peerless beauty in the mortal world, with tree-like shadows growing beneath her feet.

When the Bai Cai reached out, the silver mirror seemed to shatter, then turned into fragments and sank into the boundless darkness around it.

Chaos and confusion filled the air. After an unknown period of time, a beam of light pierced the darkness, Bai Cai instantly regained its senses.

The unfamiliar yet classic decor, the dim and yellowish sunlight, the faint yet rich aroma of wine, and the soft, black hair beside her shoulder.

Seemingly Frisk something amiss, Dianya lazily tilted her head back. "You're awake?"

A dull ache still lingered in her body. Bai Cai turned her head to look out the window. "How long has it been?"

Although the Bai Cai wasn't explicitly mentioned, the implication was quite obvious.

"It's been a little over a week since your mother brought you back."

Dianya paused briefly, "To be precise, one day and six hours more."

Bai Cai turned around and asked in a low voice, "Where's Nuozhi?"

"He was killed, reportedly because he plotted against Belun and was ambushed and killed."

Dianya smiled faintly, "Nuozhi has a long history of infamy, using coercion and bribery to eliminate dissidents; in fact, he has quite a few opponents."

As dusk settled, the manor fell silent, with only a faint whisper of wind wafting through the air.

"Thanks."

"No need."

Dianya extended her hand and handed over three storage rings. "Thank you. Why don't you stay at the manor for a few more days?"

The first ring is entirely deep blue, but the band is severely broken and the face of the ring is badly damaged, making it clearly beyond repair.

The second ring is entirely silver-white, in excellent condition, with a metallic band and a turquoise gemstone set on the front, engraved with some famous monster.

The third ring is entirely apricot pink, resembling an apricot blossom.

The room was silent. Bai Cai avoided eye contact and said, "Sorry."

"No need to apologize."

Dianya looked slightly tired, as if she had been taking care of him for quite some time. "After all, I haven't even asked about your identity."

But then...

Her slender hand covered the thin blanket, then pressed it against her chest. "I need to confirm one thing: aside from your identity, you haven't been lying, have you?"

After a moment's thought, Bai Cai assured, "All my answers came from the bottom of my heart."

"Including the wedding?"

"..."

The Bai Cai almost crashed, "Of course... but..."

"Since it's what you truly want, let's get engaged first."

Dianya handed over the apricot-pink ring. "We need a lot of time to think about you and me, and about the future. Rest assured."

The door closed, and the manor was silent.

Summon Kirlia, and four halos of light—pink, deep purple, jet black, and blood red—illuminate the room.

The surroundings were exceptionally cold and quiet, as if they were immersed in snow.

"Call..."

The Bai Cai sighed, "You have come to the end of the road you were meant to walk, and you have Protect the principles you were meant to uphold, so why has justice abandoned you?"

"Good deeds go unrewarded, evil deeds go Punishment; this world persecutes heroes, this world breeds the wicked; darkness pervades, and the spark of hope is faint."

Night had shrouded the manor's scenery, and the sunlight had long since disappeared. Bai Cai gazed out the stained-glass window, it seemed as if it were seeing itself.

"Too weak..."

The next day, Bai Cai woke up very early.

After slightly recovering some of his Soul Power, he quickly used the Healing Wish to heal his injuries and remove the potential danger of the Ring Detonation.

As a secret technique, Ring Detonation is even considered taboo. It is not much different from Self-Destruct, and is basically the same as a desperate attack, with severe aftereffects.

Needless to say, damage to the internal organs and viscera, as well as the meridians and bones, is equally life-threatening. If not treated in time, even if one is lucky enough to wake up, one will most likely have lost all of one's cultivation.

Moreover, even if timely treatment is possible, the cost will still be considerable.

Organ damage and meridian damage require at least Soul Saint, and even in the three great empires, healing Soul Saint are few and far between.

In other words, without the protection of Soul Bone, without healing Soul Skill, and without the ability to heal internal injuries, Ring Detonation is essentially suicide.

Tang Hao once suppressed his injuries by severing his own limbs, which shows how severe his condition was.

Even Super Douluo is troubled, let alone a Three-Ring.

However, no matter how much the cost, nothing changed.

The morning sunlight was slightly warm, and the atmosphere was as peaceful and harmonious as ever.

Bai Cai's estimated Soul Power, compared to when he first arrived in Belun, it has increased by more than one level, reaching level forty-two.

If it weren't for the Ultimate Attribute, he might already be level 44, or even level 45.

Progress did not bring joy to the Bai Cai; instead, it cast a shadow over the situation.

He was quite certain that he would be able to reach the top soon, and any progress he made now would come at too high a price.

It seemed to permeate a thousand years of loneliness, to traverse ten thousand years of time, without even being etched in memory, without even a farewell, and was destroyed in a single night.

A flock of birds landed on the fountain, the Bai Cai turned its head, and the girl sat in the middle of the bench, scattering some grains.

At that time and now, much seems to have changed, yet much remains the same.

Now that the mission is complete, you should return to the academy promptly.

As for one's true feelings, of course, a choice has already been made.

"Investigation Report on Anomalies in the Belun Region"

"The Belun region is currently in the midst of a festival, and no serious incidents have been reported. A review of historical records confirms this..."

"The former dean of the Life Spirit Academy, coveting the hidden Beast King, kidnapped the city lord to interrogate him for information, which subsequently provoked a collective attack..."

"The current dean of the Skywater Academy, returning home to visit relatives, encountered a chaotic battle and killed Nuozhi in the process..."

"The hidden Beast King, critically wounded and on the verge of death, sacrificed himself to stop the fighting..."

"Due to the intense battle, the Disguise Ring was damaged, and the Soul Ring Configuration was leaked... I was fortunate enough to obtain my fourth Soul Ring..."

The investigation report fell to the ground, Yan Shaozhe's expression was incredibly varied, changing three times in an instant.

"A hidden Beast King?"

Yan Shaozhe repeated the key question, "The fourth Soul Ring?"

Before Bai Cai started working, she was only level 34. Due to her attributes, it would take her at least a year to reach the Soul Ancestor.

As everyone knows, the only way to rapidly increase a massive amount of Soul Power is through sacrifice and obtaining celestial items.

After the era of Tang San ended, immortal items have been extinct for ten thousand years.

The Bai Cai was not explained, yet it was already presupposed.

Even considering the round trip time, it takes almost a month to complete one level, which is still quite alarming.

A normal Soul Master isn't mentally challenged; this kind of thing can't be hidden.

"The younger generation is truly formidable."

Handing over a cup of piping hot tea, Yan Shaozhe, "The third Soul Ring ten thousand years, the fourth one hundred thousand years, and the fifth Soul Ring's maximum lifespan is conservatively estimated to be at least half."

Yan Shaozhe calculated, "The amplification from the Soul Bone can even..."

"Dean."

Bai Cai immediately whispered a reminder, "Be careful what you say."

Yan Shaozhe immediately realized what was happening. "This matter is now over. You have passed the test and have officially been promoted to an inner court disciple. The academy will reward you soon."

"The fourth Soul Ring needs to be kept secret, so the reward details have been finalized."

Yan Shaozhe added briefly, "If the fourth Soul Ring is revealed, one who has not reached the Soul Saint is not allowed to step out of the academy."

"In addition, the competition team has returned."

Yan Shaozhe smiled bitterly, "Soul-guided equipment is advancing rapidly, and the Sun Moon Empire is producing outstanding talents. We failed to defend our title. Ma Xiaotao is seriously injured, Ling Luochen is seriously injured, and Jiang Nannan is in a coma."

Bai Cai was shocked. "Normally speaking..."

Normally, unless you repeat the same mistakes, you should be able to successfully defend your title.

"Well."

Yan Shaozhe sighed, as if he had aged several years in an instant. "Let's go back. There's no need to mention it again."