The Worship Hall That Felt Like Home

At that moment, a deep voice came from behind the crowd at the edge of the plaza.

"You don't need to go."

The crowd parted on its own, and Mighty Lion Douluo strode out.

Feather Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo followed behind him. All three wore grim expressions.

Mighty Lion Douluo walked up to Ji Ye and looked down at him.

"Kid, that Flender you mentioned—is he the dean of Shrek Academy?"

"Yes."

"Where's Shrek Academy?"

"South of Suotuo City."

Mighty Lion Douluo nodded, then turned to leave.

"Senior Mighty Lion." Ji Ye called after him.

Mighty Lion Douluo looked back.

"What are you going to do?"

"Have a little chat with that Flender."

As Mighty Lion Douluo said "a little chat," the corner of his mouth twitched. The smile sent a chill down Ji Ye's spine.

"Senior Mighty Lion, he may be the dean, but please don't beat him to death."

"Don't worry. I won't kill him."

Mighty Lion Douluo paused.

"Just cripple him at most."

With that, he pushed off the ground and shot into the sky. His golden mane burst out in the sunlight, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished over the horizon.

Feather Douluo watched the direction Mighty Lion Douluo had disappeared in and clicked his tongue twice.

"Old Lion's in quite a temper today."

Azure Luan Douluo said coldly, "Who wouldn't be, after hearing something like that?"

Feather Douluo thought it over, then nodded. "True. If it were me, I'd go too."

Then he looked at Ji Ye, his expression unusually serious.

"Kid, you're pretty lucky. You were locked up for six years, yet you still managed to cultivate to the fourth ring and escape—and then you ended up at our Spirit Hall."

Ji Ye didn't know whether to call himself lucky or unlucky.

He'd escaped from Flender, only to be caught by Spirit Hall.

Though Spirit Hall treated him ten thousand times better than Flender had.

Azure Luan Douluo looked puzzled.

"Ji Ye, with your third Soul Skill, when you activate your domain, can you resist every kind of attack?"

"Anything that isn't physical."

Feather Douluo nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, "How far can you teleport with your second Soul Skill?"

"About fifty zhang right now. I can go farther if I have enough Soul Power."

"Fifty zhang..." Feather Douluo clicked his tongue.

"When I was your age, I couldn't even shoot that far."

Ji Ye didn't know how to respond, so he said nothing.

Demon Subduing Douluo walked over and slung an arm around his shoulders again, this time much more gently.

"Kid, since you've chosen to join Spirit Hall, the Worship Hall is your home from now on."

Ji Ye looked up at him.

Demon Subduing Douluo didn't look like he was joking.

"We old fellows are practically your elders now. If anyone dares bully you, just call for me."

As he spoke, he thumped his chest.

"I'll help you beat them up."

Ji Ye froze.

He'd been in this world for twelve years, and he'd met plenty of people.

But this was the first time anyone had ever protected him.

"Senior Demon Subduing..."

"Stop, stop. I can't stand mushy talk." Demon Subduing Douluo let go of his shoulders and took a step back.

"Just remember, nobody in Spirit Hall can lay a hand on you."

Ji Ye nodded and said nothing more.

Behind a second-floor window, Qian Daoliu watched it all.

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood beside him, his expression shifting from grave to satisfied.

"Big brother, Mighty Lion has already set out."

Qian Daoliu nodded.

"Tell Mighty Lion not to kill the man."

"Then he can cripple him," Golden Crocodile Douluo said calmly.

Qian Daoliu glanced at him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Crippling him is fine."

Golden Crocodile Douluo smiled too.

The two exchanged a look, their smiles carrying the same meaning.

Anyone who dared touch someone Spirit Hall had set its sights on was asking for death.

On the plaza,

Ji Ye wiped the sweat from his forehead and wobbled unsteadily.

The battle had taken too much out of him. He needed a good rest.

"Seniors, if there's nothing else, I'll head back."

Azure Luan Douluo and Feather Douluo nodded.

"Go on, go on." Demon Subduing Douluo waved him off.

"Get some rest. I'll have someone bring you food tonight. You need to build yourself back up."

"Okay."

Ji Ye turned and started walking back.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Demon Subduing Douluo.

"Senior."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Demon Subduing Douluo froze, then grinned.

"I told you, no mushy talk. Now get lost."

Ji Ye smiled and turned to leave.

As he headed for the edge of the plaza, the watching guards and maids automatically made way for him.

Everyone looked at him differently now.

The guards' eyes held admiration and envy.

The maids' eyes...

Ji Ye quickened his pace.

A few of the maids looked ready to devour him whole.

Just as he left the plaza, a maid squeezed through the crowd, holding out a towel.

"Master Ji, wipe your sweat."

Ji Ye took it. "Thanks."

Another maid offered him a cup of water. "You must be thirsty. It's honey water."

Ji Ye took that too. "Thanks."

A third maid pulled out a fan and began fanning him. "Are you hot? Let me fan you."

Ji Ye glanced around and spotted four or five more maids pushing their way over, carrying all sorts of things.

Pastries, handkerchiefs, fruit, and even a bouquet of flowers.

This was getting...

Ji Ye decided he'd better run.

"Thank you all for your kindness."

"I just remembered I have something to do. I'll be going."

Ji Ye shoved the towel and water back into the maids' hands, then turned and ran.

Disappointed voices followed him.

"Eh? Why'd he leave?"

"I haven't even asked his name yet..."

"I know! His name's Ji Ye! I heard the Worshipper Demon Subduing call him that!"

"Ji Ye... What a lovely name..."

"Don't you think he looks handsome even when he runs?"

"Even the back of his head is good-looking."

Ji Ye ran as fast as he could, but he heard every word.

He regretted not wearing his mask today.

Ji Ye returned to his room but didn't lie down right away.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

He'd spent too much energy today, and his Soul Power was nearly drained.

But the more exhausted he was, the less he could afford to relax.

The recovery period after depleting his Soul Power was the best time to increase it.

He'd known that even before he'd transmigrated.

That madman Flender had never taught him any of this.

Time passed, bit by bit.

The sky gradually darkened.

During that time, a maid came to bring him food and gently knocked on the door three times.

There was no answer.

She knocked three more times.

Still no answer.

The maid pressed her ear to the door and listened. There wasn't a sound inside.

She looked down at the tray in her hands, disappointment on her face, then turned and left.

A little while later, another maid came.

The same knocks, the same wait, the same disappointment.

Several maids had already met the same fate during this time.

Ji Ye, meanwhile, had no idea any of it was happening.

His consciousness was immersed in the flow of Soul Power, and he couldn't sense anything around him.

The Soul Power in his body was like a dried-up river, slowly filling back up, little by little.