Squad Mission

"Success!"

Li Zishuo stood up abruptly, staring at the yellow spirit ring circling his body, brimming with excitement.

Indeed, after letting the five-man squad go, Li Zishuo had killed the Giant Strength Elephant with Li Changsheng's help.

It was a stroke of luck, as the Giant Strength Elephant was a perfect match for Li Zishuo in both its attributes and its age.

Li Changsheng nodded, watching the yellow spirit ring rise slowly before settling, feeling quite satisfied himself.

"Let's head back then."

Li Changsheng estimated the time; if they started back now, they would likely reach the Pre-Education Academy by the afternoon.

Li Zishuo retracted his martial soul, still nodding excitedly. "Alright."

"Keep up with me. We'll use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to travel. Maintain control over your spirit power."

As an aside, Li Zishuo's current spirit power had broken through to the eleventh level.

It seemed that because he had improved too rapidly before, the surplus spirit power had gone toward filling the gaps.

Li Zishuo nodded without a word, beginning to circulate Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track while familiarizing himself with his own spirit power.

Li Changsheng took the lead, his feet moving with ghostly trails, his figure nearly impossible to track.

The two of them sped along the path they had cleared earlier.

Whenever Li Zishuo's stamina flagged, Li Changsheng would stop, taking the opportunity to guide him while he recovered his spirit power.

Along the way, they encountered a few other teams still searching for spirit beasts.

They paid them no mind, quickly moving past.

By around noon, they arrived at the outskirts of the Pre-Education Academy.

Upon exiting, Li Changsheng felt a wave of relief, noticing a tent set up on the perimeter, standing wide open.

Inside, Gu Feibai, Centrifugal Killing Mirror, and a few others were sitting cross-legged.

Were they meditating?

Li Changsheng and Li Zishuo were actually the first team to return.

Seven Absolute Zither Master was the first to open her eyes; beneath her mask, her sky-blue eyes landed on Li Changsheng, and she nodded slightly.

Li Changsheng did the same, acknowledging her with a nod.

Soon, Gu Feibai opened his eyes as well. His deep gaze flickered over Li Zishuo, and he nodded, but when his eyes landed on Li Changsheng, he frowned, a look of confusion flashing across his face.

Li Changsheng and Li Zishuo approached the tent.

Without needing to be asked, Li Changsheng released his martial soul.

A simple, ancient book materialized in his hand.

A single yellow spirit ring circled around him.

Holding it in his palm, Li Changsheng radiated an elegant, scholarly aura; from a distance, it even seemed as if a sacred golden light enveloped him entirely.

Beside him, Li Zishuo also released his martial soul.

A verdant chessboard appeared in his hand, his spirit ring floating around him, his momentum no less impressive.

Gu Feibai nodded, his expression unreadable as he said, "Not bad. You completed the assessment in two days. You may choose a team freely."

Nearby, Centrifugal Killing Mirror handed over a list.

It detailed the teams of the senior students.

Li Changsheng saw Exquisite Dice's team, "No One in the Tomb," whose members included Tearing Terror Claw and a fellow called Sky-Stepping Swallow. All of them were above level twenty and nearing graduation.

There was also a team named "Mirror Sword," composed of Centrifugal Killing Mirror, Iron Armor Linked Shield, and a spirit master called Star Universe Flying Sword; all of them were nearly at the level thirty Spirit Venerable stage!

Li Changsheng's gaze settled on this "Mirror Sword" team.

His name was already attached to the end of their roster.

At the same time, the name Seven Absolute Zither Master was also conspicuously listed next to his.

Seeming to notice Li Changsheng's puzzled look, Centrifugal Killing Mirror walked over and said with a smile:

"You were reserved by me early on. Haha, we must spar when we're on the road."

He did not explain why Seven Absolute Zither Master's name was also written there.

After all, Seven Absolute Zither Master was considered a student of the Pre-Education Academy's dean.

The dean was a Title Douluo-level powerhouse, rumored to be at the ninety-seventh level, with a formidable title: Sun-Extinguishing. That's right, Sun-Extinguishing Douluo, with the Sun martial soul.

Li Changsheng nodded, not bothered by the prior arrangement.

On the contrary, he was looking forward to sparring with Centrifugal Killing Mirror.

Because a three-person team could only take on one new student, Li Zishuo had to choose another team.

Soon, Exquisite Dice pulled Li Zishuo into her team and led him away.

Li Changsheng gave Li Zishuo a few instructions, and in a discreet manner, used his Genesis Book to activate a soul skill called "Blessing."

Unlike a "Curse," "Blessing" was considered a form of benediction.

The Genesis Book martial soul was truly wondrous; whatever Li Changsheng spoke would come to pass. Although it wasn't always a complete manifestation, it still had some effect.

As it stood, one ring allowed for one word, and the simultaneous release of nine rings could create a world.

Li Changsheng even automatically ignored his Immortal Execution Painting martial soul.

Indeed, the more he used the Genesis Book, the more satisfying it became.

At the same time, he looked forward to the future when he would obtain more soul rings, allowing him to manifest the techniques that existed only in the myths of his past life through soul skills.

He also wanted to stand under the clear, azure sky, look down upon the earth, and shout, "Sword, come!"

Just thinking about it felt incredibly imposing.

At this moment, Li Changsheng was following the Centrifugal Killing Mirror, the Iron Armor Linked Shield, and the Seven Absolute Zither Master toward a small courtyard to find the last member of their squad: the soul master known as Star Universe Flying Sword, who was also an eleven-year-old level twenty-five Great Soul Master.

"Do we get assigned a mission as soon as someone comes out?" Li Changsheng asked curiously, walking behind and glancing at the Seven Absolute Zither Master beside him.

The Centrifugal Killing Mirror and the Iron Armor Linked Shield seemed to be discussing the details of the mission, which appeared to be an investigation into a village near the Mingdou Mountain Range where people had been disappearing, along with travelers who frequently went missing in the vicinity. That was roughly the nature of the task.

The Seven Absolute Zither Master nodded. Her hair was worn loose today, silver-white like snow, and her bewitching mask made it impossible to discern her personality or depth. "From the first day, every squad has been assigned tasks uniformly. Depending on the overall strength of the squad, the difficulty of the mission increases."

"Does that mean... our mission will be very difficult? If we were in a squad with lower-level soul masters, the mission would be very simple?" Li Changsheng said.

"Yes. Some squads are assigned tasks like finding a cat."

Li Changsheng nodded; this was likely what the Exquisite Dice had mentioned earlier.

The strong have their methods of growth, and the weak have their ways of survival.

When there are many geniuses, they are further divided into those above the geniuses and those below them.

Undoubtedly, Li Changsheng was among those above the geniuses.

He took the soul tool dagger he had been keeping in his breast pocket and returned it to the Seven Absolute Zither Master. "Thank you, that was a huge help."

The Seven Absolute Zither Master merely nodded, then reached out to take the dagger. Feeling the lingering warmth on the cold scabbard, she paused slightly. "You... you kept the sword in your breast pocket?"

"Of course. If I kept it in a storage soul tool, it would be a waste of time to use it, wouldn't it?"

Li Changsheng felt it was a strange question, but he answered anyway.

Of course, he hadn't actually used it at all, but it was a white lie.

Upon hearing this, the Seven Absolute Zither Master didn't make any further movements. Under Li Changsheng's gaze, she seemed indifferent as she tucked the dagger into her own breast pocket.

Soon, their group arrived at a small courtyard.

From a distance, Li Changsheng heard the sound of air being torn apart coming from within.

The sound was similar to when Li Changsheng practiced with his spear, but it was more ethereal and crisp—it sounded like the whistling of a sword.

Soon, Li Changsheng saw the source.

It was the soul master called Star Universe Flying Sword. Was she...?

Yes, it was her.

The proof was the slight protrusion of her chest.

She had short, capable hair, and beneath her mask, she seemed to have a sharp, well-defined face. Dressed in white, her sword intent was sharp and imposing. As she moved, she struck with a whistling, flamboyant sword.

Li Changsheng watched in amazement.

She was holding an ordinary longsword.

This was rare.

After all, in this world, the martial soul was fundamental. Soul masters of this age usually focused all their attention on meditation and cultivation of their martial soul; almost no one would swing an ordinary longsword, let alone do so with such a refined, elegant, and heroic air.

Even when Li Changsheng and the others arrived, Star Universe Flying Sword did not stop. It wasn't until she thrust her sword into the empty air, producing a sharp whistle, that she ceased her movements. Her black-and-white eyes turned toward them.

The Centrifugal Killing Mirror didn't mince words. "Let's go."

Star Universe Flying Sword first glanced at Li Changsheng, then at the Seven Absolute Zither Master, before nodding. As if she didn't care at all, she unfastened her white outer robe, revealing the soft armor she wore underneath. Her figure was tall with exaggerated, perfect proportions... though it was impossible to tell what her face looked like.

Li Changsheng watched and couldn't help but sigh. My, my, the girls in this world are truly heroic and bold.

Li Changsheng was certainly not looking at her mature chest—absolutely not!

"Ouch."

Li Changsheng suddenly felt a pain in his waist.

He discovered that the Seven Absolute Zither Master beside him was pinching his abdomen with her small hand. Her head was tilted up, and beneath her mask, those blue eyes were glaring at him fiercely.

How terrifying.

Li Changsheng's abdomen was quite firm; he practiced various skills and used blood energy to nourish his body, so his physique was rock-solid, but he still felt a sting from that pinch.

No, was that the point?

The point was those eyes!

Li Changsheng had a strange feeling that he had seen that look somewhere before.

Yes, where had he seen her before?

Before he could ponder it further, the Seven Absolute Zither Master spoke up, "Next time, it won't be here that I pinch."

Where will you pinch next time? Li Changsheng immediately wanted to retort, but he held his tongue.

Hey, hey, hey!

What kind of development was this?

Li Changsheng looked at the Seven Absolute Zither Master. How could this six-year-old girl be so strange? She was far too mature. Could she be a hundred-thousand-year soul beast?

Well, no, she wasn't; at the very least, the God of Wisdom had told him she was human.

Fine, with innate soul power at level twenty, perhaps she would be precocious?

He chuckled dryly, saying nothing, and not feeling angry, he finally withdrew his gaze.

Oh my, my charm is just that potent; even genius children can't help but admire me.

Beneath his mask, Li Changsheng wore an expression that screamed of his own greatness.