"Were you really not planning to visit Shrek Academy and see whether Na'er, the one who retained her emotions, was there?"
With only one day left before Eastsea Academy opened, Lan Kai was packing his things, getting ready to report to Eastsea Academy.
Juggler was packing his own luggage, too, preparing to travel the world once more in search of the Dark Ring's possible whereabouts and the traces of the Holy Spirit Cult's Evil Soul Masters.
Over the past three years, Juggler had more or less figured out some of Qiangu Dongfeng's hidden cards. He had also vaguely discovered a base where the Spirit Pagoda and the Holy Spirit Cult worked together, but the Dark Ring had remained nowhere to be found.
Juggler had plenty of experience searching for the Dark Ring. After confirming that it wasn't in the Spirit Pagoda branch that cooperated with the Holy Spirit Cult, he shifted his focus to the Evil Soul Masters.
After all, they didn't deny the title. They even took pride in it. And according to the premise that "the Dark Ring will appear beside the most evil person in the world," it was naturally more likely to be in their hands.
As for guiding Lan Kai, Juggler felt that his work was more or less done.
Thanks to his previous efforts, Lan Kai had become increasingly proficient at controlling the power of the Specium Zeperion Form. Unless he unlocked the Burn Form or Hurricane Form, in which case he would need Juggler's guidance to keep him from taking a few wrong turns.
Over the past few years, Juggler had also become very familiar with the higher-ups at the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda. If Lan Kai encountered any enemies, he could get help from the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda.
So once Lan Kai enrolled in the intermediate division at Eastsea Academy, Juggler planned to set off on an entirely new journey.
"Teacher Juggler, let's leave it be. If we're meant to meet again, we will.
"Besides, Douluo Continent may be vast, but powerful, gifted Soul Masters are bound to draw one another together."
Lan Kai shook his head. He wanted to see Na'er, who had retained the feelings she once had, but now wasn't the time.
Besides, he still needed to find out what kind of mischief Gu Yue was planning, and how her Light-Dark Elemental Wielder differed from the Elemental Master she had disguised herself as in the original story.
Had she taken inspiration from that Light-Dark Dog-Donkey, Long Yeyue, at Shrek Academy?
Would that mean Gu Yue would be even more practiced when she eventually took her own life, and do it at an even more critical moment?
That sort of thing... Whatever. Gu Yue's peerless wisdom was already peerless enough. A little more wouldn't make much difference.
When Lan Kai walked into his dormitory, he was surprised to see a boy sitting on the bed that had been assigned to him. The boy had a middle part and wore overalls. His face bore a striking resemblance to an old acquaintance, but his manner made Lan Kai sick.
When the boy saw Lan Kai, he merely gave him a contemptuous glance and pointed at the slightly damaged bed nearby, speaking in a mocking tone.
"New here? Your bed's over there. This one's mine now."
"I'd thought the peerless wisdom of Douluo Continent belonged only to the famous figures who had made a name for themselves.
"I never expected to find such a brave soul in Grade 1 Class 1 of the intermediate division at tiny Eastsea Academy.
"Whose lieutenant is this?"
Lan Kai's expression turned somewhere between amused and exasperated. He glanced at the damaged bed, then at the other two boys in the dormitory, and immediately understood what had happened.
So this guy had a decent background and a bit of talent. Seeing Lan Kai in plain clothes, without the arrogant air of a clan scion, he had taken him for an easy target and decided to give him a show of force?
And the other two hadn't stood up for Lan Kai, but they hadn't helped the guy either. They were just trying to distance themselves from him?
Lan Kai immediately got the picture.
A kind, friendly smile spread across his face. In a single step, he was in front of the boy who looked so much like Kunkun, and he grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.
"Sorry, but I'd rather follow the academy's rules and use the bed they assigned me."
"Let go of me! You've already walked the Path to Death!"
The Kunkun lookalike's expression changed. He immediately used Martial Soul Possession, and two yellow Soul Rings appeared behind him. A streak of green light flashed across his body, and a small green snake appeared on his shoulder.
His body seemed to grow supple, and a faint green layer spread across his skin.
In almost an instant, the Kunkun lookalike's body coiled around Lan Kai, apparently binding him instead.
Then his Second Soul Ring lit up. Six enormous green serpents appeared, lunging at Lan Kai from six different angles to bite him.
"So even someone who isn't a Tang Sect disciple can say 'Path to Death'?
"But meeting me today is your greatest misfortune.
"Prepare to face the judgment of light!"
The next moment, an Ultra Slash appeared in Lan Kai's hand. Guided by his will, it swept across the seven green snakes' vital points in the blink of an eye. Their heads dropped one after another, and then both their heads and bodies vanished.
That's right, there were seven of them, not six. Even the boy's Soul Spirit hadn't escaped.
The grievous injury to his Soul Spirit made the Kunkun lookalike's chest tighten. He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, which landed right on the Ultra Slash and evaporated in an instant under its dense power of light.
With a slight exertion of strength, Lan Kai sent the boy staggering backward. He fell and rolled several times before finally crashing into the corridor wall outside the door, his mouth agape and eyes shut.
"My teacher told me that an injury this serious won't destroy your Soul Spirit or affect the speed of your cultivation.
"But for the next three months, you won't be able to use your Soul Spirit in battle. The Soul Skill granted by your Soul Spirit will also be reduced to just ten percent of its normal power.
"Oh, and I'll contact the maintenance staff to fix your damaged bed. You'll be paying for it yourself. Any objections?"
As he spoke, Lan Kai tossed the Kunkun lookalike's belongings from his bed onto the slightly damaged one, then made his own bed.
Then he looked at the two roommates who had watched the whole thing and smiled as he held out his hand.
"Let's get acquainted. Lan Kai. My Martial Soul is Light, and my Soul Power is Level 28."
"Nice to meet you, Big Brother Lan. I'm Zhang Yangzi. My Martial Soul is the Dark Phantom Eagle, and my Soul Power is Level 21."
"Wang Jinxi. My Martial Soul is the Bone Dragon King, and my Soul Power is Level 21."
The two hurriedly shook Lan Kai's hand in turn and introduced themselves, giving their names and Soul Power Levels.
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