Douluo: Jianmu Martial Soul, Am I an Abomination of Abundance? Part 26

"If it weren't for the things I still had to do these next two days, I'd really like to talk with you all night and sleep foot-to-foot."

Mu Ci pursed his lips imperceptibly at those words.

If I really went, you wouldn't be happy about it.

"We shouldn't chat too much. Looking at the two captains' current state, we should first head to the dormitories the academy prepared for everyone and settle in."

With that, Xue Qinghe smiled and patted Mu Ci on the shoulder before leaving with his attendants.

The academy heads also returned to their assigned quarters with thoughts weighing on their minds. What they had seen today was rather astonishing, and they needed time to process it.

As for Feng Xiaotian, his grandfather Feng Nu grabbed him by the neck and dragged him away. Before leaving, Feng Nu repeatedly thanked Mu Ci, saying he had knocked some sense into that unfilial grandson of his.

A New Understanding

Knock, knock, knock.

"Captain, someone's looking for you."

Mu Ci had just finished meditating to restore his Soul Power when he heard knocking at the door.

When he opened the dormitory door, he saw a Plant Academy team member staring at him with a look of admiration.

"What is it?"

By the time the team arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it was already rather late. After fighting Feng Xiaotian as well, the sun had long since set, and the sky had grown dim.

Under Heaven Dou Academy's arrangements, many teams had already returned to their respective lodging areas to rest.

The team member looked at Mu Ci excitedly. All afternoon, they had been the focus of every team present, allowing the Plant Team, which had always hovered around the middle ranks, to enjoy some proper glory for once.

"Oh, Captain, it's like this. Captain Huo Wu of Blazing Fire Academy is downstairs and wants to see you."

Hearing that Huo Wu wanted to see him, Mu Ci was somewhat curious. Smiling at the team member, he said, "All right, I understand. Go back and rest first."

He tidied up his clothes, changed into his usual casual outfit, and went downstairs.

As soon as he reached the garden below, he spotted that dazzling splash of red beneath a large tree.

Bathed in the evening sunlight, Huo Wu looked like an elf leaping from the flames. Her exposed skin was so fair it seemed to reflect the light.

Seeing such a beautiful scene, Mu Ci unconsciously softened his steps, afraid of ruining the atmosphere.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Hearing Mu Ci's voice, Huo Wu turned around. Her jade-like face blossomed with a smile as she replied, "No, I only arrived not long ago myself."

Mu Ci nodded, still curious about why Huo Wu had sought him out.

"Then shall we talk while we walk?"

Huo Wu nodded and walked side by side with Mu Ci along the quiet forest path of Heaven Dou Academy.

As they strolled over the bluestone path, the cool evening breeze through the hills stirred Huo Wu's waist-length red hair, carrying a pleasant fragrance.

Only then did Mu Ci voice the question in his heart.

"Huo Wu, what did you want to see me about?"

Hearing Mu Ci's question, Huo Wu did not answer immediately. She walked in silence for some distance before replying, "What would you think if I said I came to admit defeat to you?"

Huo Wu's answer was beyond Mu Ci's expectations, and he stared at her in surprise.

In Mu Ci's impression, Huo Wu was an extremely competitive girl. Whether it was the descriptions in the book, their childhood encounter, or this reunion, she had always given him that impression.

Unable to help himself, he asked curiously, "Why would you do that? Haven't we not competed yet? Are you admitting defeat just because I displayed Four-Ring cultivation today?"

Huo Wu nodded. Though she seemed somewhat downcast, she also looked as if she had let something go. Smiling at Mu Ci, she said, "Yes. The gap is simply too great."

"When we first met by chance outside Star Dou Forest, we were both One-Ring.

"There might have been some difference in our Innate Soul Power, but I had worked hard at cultivation these past years, while you had traveled all across Heaven Dou healing people. I thought the gap between us shouldn't have been too great."

"But after seeing today's spirit battle, I finally realized just how far apart we are."

Hearing Huo Wu say this, Mu Ci felt somewhat troubled. He did not know how to answer.

"Well... would you feel better if I told you I have Innate Full Soul Power?"

Hearing that, Huo Wu suddenly laughed. A different kind of radiance bloomed over her somewhat disappointed jade-like face.

"You don't think I'm heartbroken, do you? I really am a little disappointed about admitting defeat."

"After all, you've been the goal I've compared myself against all these years. I wanted to prove to everyone that even if my Innate Soul Power was a little lower, I could still catch up to you."

"But isn't the fact that you're so strong proof that I have good judgment?"

"Still, the fact that you have Innate Full Soul Power doesn't surprise me that much. It actually makes me feel a little more relieved."

After saying this, Huo Wu clasped her hands behind her back, jogged ahead of Mu Ci, and walked backward while facing him with a bright smile.

Seeing that Huo Wu was not dwelling on it, Mu Ci smiled as well. Watching her lively appearance, he said with concern, "Be careful. Don't fall."

"Well, isn't the great Medicine King right here? Is there any injury you can't treat?"

Huo Wu's flame-red eyes curved into crescents as she gazed straight at the young man before her, her mood growing happier and happier.

Mu Ci was also in a good mood. Strolling along a forest path with a beautiful woman and happily talking about each other's lives was something he had never experienced in either of his two lives.

"Mu Ci, I've decided!"

Huo Wu, who had been hopping about all this time, suddenly said to Mu Ci.

"What have you decided?"

Looking at the girl, Mu Ci asked with a smile.

"I heard Grandpa talk about you. He praised you as a peerless genius. You must still have some good things you haven't revealed yet."

"I've decided that I'll stay by your side from now on, secretly learn your secret methods, and defeat you in the future."

Hearing Huo Wu's decision, Mu Ci had thought it was something serious. Looking at the girl's smiling face, he readily agreed.

"Sure. That Whale Rubber formula was never anything particularly precious. What's valuable is the Whale Rubber that comes from the Sea Region."

"As for other good things, of course I have them. If you want to learn, I can teach you, but the learning process won't be short."

The good thing Mu Ci spoke of was naturally the Small Heavenly Cycle Medicine King Secret Method he had developed through years of exploration.

As for the issue of passing it on, it was not an issue at all.

After perfecting the Small Heavenly Cycle, he had written it into a booklet and taught his family to use it.

It was not some particularly precious cultivation method to begin with. In terms of cultivation speed alone, it only absorbed Soul Power around fifty percent faster than Douluo Continent's meditation methods.

Or rather, what was truly valuable was never the cultivation method itself, but the ideas and logic behind creating it.

As long as Mu Ci never stopped researching cultivation methods, better methods would always appear tomorrow.

In that case, what problem was there with teaching out these things that had already been phased out?

Besides, Mu Ci would only teach a few people he approved of. It was not as if he were announcing it to the entire world.

Even if that day truly came, it would be after he became the strongest and no longer faced any other threats.

"Great. Then it's settled. After this exchange event, I'll stay by your side, learn all your knowledge, and then defeat you."

"Then you might have to study for the rest of your life."

Hearing that answer, a faint blush spread across Huo Wu's jade-like face.

However, in the dim surroundings, it was not very noticeable. Only the curve of her lips grew deeper.

Suddenly, Huo Wu abruptly stopped in front of Mu Ci.

The sudden movement gave Mu Ci no time to react. They had already been standing close together, and although Mu Ci tried his best to control himself, he still brushed against her body.

Mu Ci quickly retreated two steps, opening some distance between them, and asked, "Why did you stop?"

That brief physical contact had made Huo Wu's heart race. Hearing Mu Ci's question, she adjusted her slightly hurried breathing and said, "Since I've made this decision, we should properly and formally get to know each other again."

With that, Huo Wu extended her long, fair hand before Mu Ci.

Mu Ci naturally smiled and reached out to shake it.

"Blazing Fire Academy, Huo Wu."

"Plant Academy, Mu Ci."

Reactions from All Sides

Although the spirit battle had ended, the uproar caused by the thousand-year second ring and ten-thousand-year fourth ring had only just begun.

As the face of the Imperial Family, Heaven Dou Royal Academy's students were mostly children of noble families within Heaven Dou City.

After the spirit battle ended, they brought news of what had happened back to their respective families, and the shocking information instantly swept through Spirit Master clans large and small throughout Heaven Dou City.

The more distant Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also received the news the next day.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi had only just awakened in the morning when he received a report from the steward in Heaven Dou City.

He immediately had the sect's two great pillars summoned to the meeting room.

"Fengzhi, what's so urgent? I was still playing with Rongrong."

A tall old man clad entirely in black robes entered while holding the hand of a young girl.

The old man was powerfully built and stood a full two meters tall, but the most terrifying thing about him was his face. It was so gaunt that he looked like a skeleton.

The girl holding the old man's hand appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old. Her skin was fair and smooth like porcelain, her azure eyes lively and spirited, and the curved corners of her brows seemed capable of speaking.

"Old Bone, why are you shouting so loudly? I could hear you from the doorway. Rongrong's ears must suffer terribly when she's by your side."

At that moment, an old man with the face of a child and hair like a crane walked in, speaking to Bone Douluo in the center with dissatisfaction.