The Master Is About to Make a Move

"This is..." Yue Shen felt the surging, torrential power within her, as if a brand-new gateway had been opened. In particular, her spiritual power, which felt as though it were about to overflow, was several times stronger and purer than it had been at the peak of her Yin-Yang arts!

Her left hand instinctively covered her heart, her voice trembling with irrepressible emotion. "This power... is it truly not a dream?"

"Whether it is real or not, time will give you the answer," Zhao Linchuan's voice came calmly. "Now, it is Yan Fei's turn."

Upon hearing this, Yue Shen's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

She slowly stepped out from the golden light, the jade-white disk and the phantom image above her head fading away.

As she stepped down from the Awakening Stone, she could not help but glance at Yan Fei once more, specifically at the book in her hand, her teeth clenching involuntarily.

Why... how can she receive the same opportunity without having done anything at all?!

Yan Fei naturally noticed the complex and inscrutable look in Yue Shen's eyes. A faint, barely perceptible curve touched the corners of her mouth, as if ice and snow were beginning to melt.

She carefully placed the book in her hand onto a nearby chair, then stepped into the Awakening Stone array with elegant poise.

The golden light surged once more.

Yan Fei raised her right hand. A clear, resonant cry, as if echoing from the primordial past, sounded faintly. A divine bird of extraordinary spirit, its entire body flowing with golden flames and possessing three legs, emerged from her palm, flapping its wings as if to take flight.

A noble and scorching aura permeated the air; the temperature in the main hall seemed to rise by several degrees!

At the same time, she instinctively raised her left hand. A golden wheel phantom, its edges burning with golden-white flames and its center seemingly containing a brilliant sun, slowly condensed, reflecting the image of the Three-Legged Golden Crow.

"Not bad," a look of appreciation appeared in Zhao Linchuan's eyes. "The Three-Legged Golden Crow, the Great Sun Golden Wheel; the Yue Shenr Jade Disk, the spiritual essence... all are divine-level martial soul foundations with infinite potential."

"Given time and diligent cultivation, it is not impossible for you to reach the pinnacle of this world and glimpse the path to immortality."

He waved his hand, dispelling the light of the Awakening Stone. "That is all for today. There are many rooms in this residence; you may choose one to your liking and take the time to adapt to the powers and rules of this new world."

Yan Fei felt the two powerful, distinct, and echoing martial soul energies within her. Beyond the shock, a sense of unprecedented anticipation welled up in her heart.

She gave a slight nod to Zhao Linchuan as a gesture of respect, then turned and walked out of the hall with steady steps, beginning to explore the mansion that would serve as their new starting point.

Yue Shen, however, remained where she was.

She watched Yan Fei's back disappear outside the door, a struggle flashing in her eyes. Finally, she took a deep breath, walked slowly to the seat before Zhao Linchuan, and bowed slightly.

She performed a gesture more standard and respectful than any she had shown before, her voice softening considerably. "Young Master."

Zhao Linchuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

This Right Protector of the Yin-Yang School, who in their original world had been arrogant and inscrutable, had actually taken the initiative to lower her posture and address him in such a manner.

He remained composed on the surface. "Hmm? What is it?"

Yue Shen maintained her bow, her voice growing even softer. "Young Master, this subordinate... this subordinate also wishes to familiarize herself with the rules of this world as soon as possible, so that I may better serve you."

"I wonder... if you could lend that General Knowledge of Spirit Masters to this subordinate for a look?"

"I guarantee that I will return it immediately after reading, and I would never dare to delay 'Sister Yan Fei's' studies."

Watching her lowered eyelashes and respectful posture, Zhao Linchuan understood her petty, competitive nature all too well.

He stood up, his tone indifferent. "That is no secret manual; it is merely a basic primer."

"Very well. Follow me; there happens to be a matter I need you to attend to."

"If you handle it properly, I will give you an extra copy so that you two need not squabble over it."

Upon hearing this, a flash of joyful brilliance erupted in Yue Shen's eyes, though she quickly suppressed it.

She hurriedly replied, "Yes! Thank you, Young Master!" Her voice was filled with undisguised excitement.

About a quarter of an hour later, outside the dean's office at Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy.

Yue Shen held a brand-new copy of General Knowledge of Spirit Masters, identical to the one Yan Fei possessed. Her fingertips gently traced the smooth cover, her heart filled with an indescribable sense of satisfaction and motivation.

Yan Fei... this time, I will absolutely not fall behind you again.

At this moment, she could not wait to begin exploring this brand-new world.

The evening sun of the setting sun spilled over the eaves as Zhao Linchuan strolled toward the corridor outside Dorm Seven.

The floor of the corridor had been cleaned, and the broken door panel had been replaced with a new one.

He looked into Dorm Seven and saw Yu Xiaogang and Tang San sitting side by side on a bed. Both of them were pale, their expressions solemn, their eyes fixed on the doorway as if waiting for someone to arrive.

Zhao Linchuan understood the situation, but he immediately put on a look of surprise and concern as he stepped inside.

"Oh? Is that the Master? And Little San is back too?"

His voice was bright, and his gaze fell on Tang San, looking him up and down. "Are you alright? I heard you fell off your bed and knocked yourself unconscious; you gave me quite a scare!"

Tang San's chest was wrapped in bandages, his breathing slightly heavy. Upon hearing this, his face darkened further, and he pressed his lips together, saying nothing, though his eyes sliced toward Zhao Linchuan like blades.

Yu Xiaogang was much more direct. He stood up with a "whoosh," his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, his voice raspy with anger.

"To be so young and yet so vicious! To strike with such cruelty! If you are not strictly disciplined, you will surely become a scourge in time!"

"What vicious strike?" Zhao Linchuan blinked, his face showing a perfectly timed look of confusion and grievance. "Master, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

"You still dare to play the fool?!" Yu Xiaogang's fingers trembled with rage. "I am asking you, are the cracked ribs and internal organ injuries on Little San's chest caused by your hand?!"

"That's not true! Master, how can you randomly frame an innocent person?"

Zhao Linchuan's face immediately filled with the indignation of one misunderstood, his voice rising a notch, "Tang San's injury was clearly caused by him accidentally bumping into the door himself!"

"Wang Sheng and the others in Dorm Seven all saw it! What does that have to do with me?"

"You—!!!"

Tang San was so infuriated he was panting like an ox. The heaving of his chest aggravated his injuries, causing him to hiss in pain as he gritted his teeth, "Why... why would I go and bump into a door myself?! Am I... am I insane?!"

"Are you asking me?" Zhao Linchuan spread his hands, his expression innocent yet tinged with helplessness, "Whether you have... um, that thing, how would I know? Maybe it was just an accident."

"You scoundrel!" Yu Xiaogang slammed his hand against the bed frame. His face turned livid as he roared, "It seems today, I must discipline you properly on behalf of your parents!"

"Discipline me?" Zhao Linchuan immediately stepped back, an exaggerated look of terror appearing on his face before he opened his throat and shouted at a volume capable of piercing through half the dormitory area.

"Help!!! Someone help!!!"

"The Theory Master who freeloads in the academy and spends all day bragging is going to beat a student!!! He's bullying a work-study student!!!"