Time flew like an arrow, always slipping by like a white colt flashing past a crack in the wall, much to the lament of poets and men of letters.
And yet, not everyone wished for time to slow down.
For instance...
"Uncle Ning, you've gone too far!"
"Do you really think I'm your free labor?"
Ning Huan glanced at the academy stewards, all lined up and bowing at a ninety-degree angle. His head throbbed, and he let out a furious roar.
No wonder Ning Hao had smiled so maliciously before he left.
So this was where he'd been waiting for him!
Fine! Fine!
You old geezer, just you wait!
The more Ning Huan thought about it, the angrier he got. He vented all his pent-up Evil Fire on the unlucky stewards.
"What are you all standing around for? Don't you care about the family business? Get back and keep an eye on things!"
At his words, the stewards looked at one another.
Then they all took a step back and turned in unison to the oldest-looking man among them.
Every face wore the same message: "You're the most senior. You do it."
The elderly steward: "..."
You little brats!
Always picking on the elderly!
He could complain all he liked, but he couldn't afford to hesitate when dealing with his superior.
"C-Chief, those account books..."
"Leave them!"
"Yes!"
Seeing the old man break into a sweat and snap to attention, Ning Huan's anger at being set up ebbed by half.
He shook a hand, expressionless, signaling for them to leave.
"Your subordinates will take their leave!"
In an instant, the dozen or so stewards bowed repeatedly as though they'd been granted a new lease on life.
Then they hurried out of the room.
In the blink of an eye, Ning Huan was alone in the room with a stack of account books that looked like a headache waiting to happen.
"Life isn't easy~"
He shook his head helplessly, pulled out a book at random, and began to read.
"..."
"Hmm~ That's strange..."
The atmosphere fell silent.
He could feel that something was wrong, but he couldn't catch the fleeting spark of inspiration.
A moment later...
"Wait a damn minute! Before I was reborn, I learned how to cook the books. Why am I still reading account books now?!"
Smack!
As though recalling the nights he'd spent poring over books by lamplight, Ning Huan's mind suddenly cleared.
He snapped the book shut, as if that could shut out the memories of the torment he'd endured.
"Sigh. I'd better get ready to pick up Tian'er, or that girl will start acting cute agai—"
Bang! (The door was flung open.)
"Xiao Huan, I'm here!"
"My door!! Zhang! Lexuan!"
"Hehe~"
And so, a new nightmare began.
Meanwhile, at the outskirts of Star Dou Forest...
"It's a thousand-year-old Datura Snake! Bei Bei! I want it!"
"Okay! Xiao Ya, protect Yuhao!"
At Bei Bei's sharp command, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon possessed him, and his first and second Soul Rings lit up at once.
First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!
Second Soul Skill, Thunderous Might!
The next moment, a web of lightning spread across the area as a dragon claw charged in.
Bei Bei himself rushed forward with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, clashing with the Datura Snake.
The two traded blows at comparable speeds, and for the moment, the battle was locked in a stalemate.
Watching this, Tang Ya couldn't help worrying. She completely missed the fleeting purple glint in the young man's eyes beside her.
Huo: Fox Bro! Fox Bro! Phantom Nether Fox!
Fox: What are you yelling for? I just finished sacrificing myself. I'm exhausted!
Huo: I want to help Senior Brother Bei Bei!
Fox: Heh. You? It's not that I look down on you, but you've got neither levels nor fighting strength. I just healed your lame leg with a Spirit Bone! What can you possibly do to help?
Huo: ...
Huo: Fox Bro, the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill you gave me!
Fox: You wait—!
After speaking that last line in his mind, Huo Yuhao, who had already undergone a complete transformation, paid no heed to the purple-haired fox's furious howling in the Sea of Consciousness.
He climbed the tree beside him and released his Yellow Soul Ring, which was wrapped in layer upon layer of seals.
Spirit Eye's first Soul Skill, Mental Link!
The Soul Ring flashed. In an instant, Bei Bei, locked in battle up ahead, suddenly found a view appearing in his mind, looking down from above.
It covered the entire battlefield.
Is this Yuhao's Soul Skill...?
It's a little hard to focus on two fields of vision at once, but now I can easily track the Datura Snake's movements. That's enough!
Bei Bei thought to himself, and sped up once more.
In just a few minutes, he had beaten the Datura Snake until it was on the verge of death.
"Xiao Ya, come absorb the Soul Ring."
"Coming! Bei Bei, you're amazing!"
"We have Yuhao to thank, too. Otherwise, it would've been hard to tell who'd win."
"Yeah! Yeah? Where's little Yuhao? Where did my big little Yuhao go?"
Only then did Tang Ya realize that Huo Yuhao, who had been hiding behind her the whole time, had disappeared.
She went pale with alarm and hurriedly searched for him.
She'd finally taken on a disciple. She couldn't just lose him!
"I'm right here."
Suddenly, a voice called down from above. The two instinctively looked up and saw Huo Yuhao laboriously climbing down from a giant tree.
"Little Yuhao, why did you climb up the tree?"
"Teacher Xiao Ya, I..."
"He was probably trying to use his Soul Skill to support me better."
Seeing that Tang Ya was getting angry, Bei Bei quickly explained on Huo Yuhao's behalf.
"Yuhao, that third-person perspective just now was the effect of your Soul Skill, wasn't it?"
"Yes!"
Huo Yuhao nodded repeatedly. A pleased smile appeared on his pale face at just the right moment.
"My first Soul Skill is Mental Link. It connects my spiritual power with my teammates! The number of people I can connect with depends on my strength. We can share our senses, distribute damage, and even talk directly in our minds."
"What a powerful first Soul Skill! Bei Bei, did you hear that? We've struck gold!"
"Indeed. But Xiao Ya, you should absorb the Soul Ring now."
"Ah! I forgot. I'll do it now!"
Watching Tang Ya's adorable, excitable manner, Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei exchanged a look, feeling the weight on their shoulders grow a little heavier.
The Tang Sect's master would be better off as a mascot!
Yet while everyone was enjoying the cheerful moment, the Phantom Nether Fox was no longer as agitated as before.
It curled up in the depths of the Sea of Consciousness, the corner of its slightly sinister mouth lifting into an intensely mocking smile.
As I thought, this kid isn't honest! He calls redirecting damage "distributing" it... Heh!
But he didn't reveal the other Soul Skill...? At least he listened to me.
Train harder! When you break through to Soul Saint, that'll be the day I reap my reward!
The next day...
Ning Huan walked alongside Ning Tian and Wu Feng, who had just arrived, heading slowly toward the registration area at Shrek Academy.
No attendants, no guards.
Even Wind Douluo, who had planned to protect them in secret, had been left in Shrek City and hadn't come along.
"I really don't know what our Chief Ning is thinking. He's got a perfectly good academy of his own, yet he insists on coming here to suffer!"
"Come on, Feng Mei. When have you ever seen Brother Ning Huan come out worse for wear? He must have his reasons."
Hearing Ning Tian's reassurance, Wu Feng instinctively pursed her lips. Her increasingly valiant face was full of defiance.
"He's absurdly strong, yet so cautious it's ridiculous..."
"Wu Feng~ Are you itching for trouble again?~"
"Stingy! Fine, I'll shut up!"
Ning Tian: "..."
The toughest words, spoken in the most timid tone...
That's so you!
Before you continue