Outside the Labyrinth of Lost Ways.
Ye Qiong came to a peach tree.
It was the tree he had once leaned against to rest with Cyrene, before they entered the Labyrinth of Lost Ways.
Now, the tree was covered in pink fruit...
Wait, what was that?
Ye Qiong keenly noticed a pink, square-shaped thing among the peaches.
Could peaches grow square?
Of course not.
Thinking of the memories from the past, Ye Qiong's lips curved upward.
"Found you."
Ye Qiong immediately leaped up and reached out to pluck the square "peach."
The "peach" seemed excited in Ye Qiong's hand and bounced happily a few times.
Ye Qiong couldn't help twitching his lips.
"Even after turning into this, you still love playing tricks on people."
This was the seed Pure Child of Anāsrava had transformed into. It had actually disguised itself as a peach to play hide-and-seek with him.
That was so like you.
The seed bounced twice in Ye Qiong's hand, then tried to break free and escape.
Seeing this, Ye Qiong frowned and immediately gripped it tightly.
"Cyrene, this time, I won't let you leave my side again."
He would never let go. Never...
The seed seemed to understand Ye Qiong's words.
After trembling a few times, it quieted down.
It was as if it were saying:
"You're hopeless, partner..."
Soon, the seed obediently merged into Ye Qiong's body.
A moment later, a fluffy little creature flew out from behind him.
It was a palm-sized ball of fluff, entirely pink, with a pair of long ears and a fluffy tail swishing gently behind it.
As soon as it emerged, it circled Ye Qiong twice, letting out excited, clear cries.
"Mimi~!"
Ye Qiong froze.
Good Lord, the mysterious person hadn't lied to me. It really was Mimi! All right!
The next second, the little creature flew straight into his face and rubbed its fluffy cheek against him.
"Mimi~"
Seeing this, Ye Qiong couldn't help laughing.
She really was exactly the same as the one in his memories.
Ye Qiong stroked Mimi's little head, feeling the connection between them.
That was right. Mimi had indeed become his Martial Soul.
But before he could check the information about Mimi through the system,
he felt a violent tremor beneath his feet.
The clear, sunny weather vanished, and the sky suddenly darkened.
Ye Qiong instinctively raised his head.
The next moment, his pupils contracted.
The once-clear sky split open in an instant, and eerie red-and-black patterns spread from the horizon.
He could feel that something was faintly stirring awake deep within those patterns.
At the sight, Mimi's ears shot up, and she plunged into Ye Qiong's chest.
She buried her whole face, her tiny claws clutching his clothes tightly as her entire body trembled. She looked terrified.
Ye Qiong's eyes narrowed, and he glanced down at Mimi.
"Mimi, come back inside me for now."
Mimi cried out, then immediately turned into a streak of pink light and darted into his body.
Once Mimi was back, Ye Qiong pulled out his baseball bat and warily watched the sky.
At the same time, he repeatedly called for the system in his mind.
"System, open a passage back to reality for me."
[Connecting you now. Please wait.]
The next moment, a white rift opened.
Ye Qiong's expression brightened when he saw it, and he walked over.
Before leaving, Ye Qiong glanced back.
The red-and-black patterns were spreading faster and faster, almost swallowing the entire sky.
His expression grew grave as he watched.
The Iron Curtain had awakened.
He had taken Cyrene away, so the Iron Curtain would awaken and follow the trail to pursue them.
Fortunately, once he got out, the Iron Curtain wouldn't be able to quickly break through the Tidal Belt that separated the two worlds.
He still had plenty of time to prepare and respond.
Back in reality.
It was already the next day. Everyone was standing in two rows in the square.
Wang Sheng yawned and asked, "Where on earth did the dean go last night?"
Bai Chenxiang shook her head.
"I don't know. We didn't see him at Soul Fighting last night, either."
Phainon turned to the others and said,
"Teacher Tribbie told us to gather here and wait. She said..."
"The dean entered the Simulated Reality yesterday, too, and still hasn't come out."
Everyone was astonished to hear this.
"No way. What kind of stage is the dean stuck on that it's taking him so long?"
(I dunno. Surely he's not struggling through A8-40?)
After a while, the door of the teaching building slowly opened.
Everyone looked toward the sound,
and saw Tribbie walking out.
As soon as she emerged, she looked toward the entrance to the Simulated Reality.
"The dean still hasn't come out?"
Everyone glanced at the door as well and nodded.
"Then you can all go train first..."
However, before Tribbie could finish,
a ripple came from the entrance to the Simulated Reality.
Everyone's attention was drawn by the disturbance, and they all looked over.
"This is..."
"Teacher, the dean's coming out!"
Everyone's faces lit up with anticipation.
Sure enough, the next moment, Ye Qiong walked out.
Seeing him return, everyone looked delighted.
But the perceptive Anaxa noticed that Ye Qiong's presence had changed.
It wasn't a change in Soul Power. It was something deeper.
He couldn't put his finger on it.
Ye Qiong glanced at everyone.
"Why are you all still here?"
Wang Sheng hurried over.
"Teacher, what took you so long? We waited for you for ages last night!"
Ye Qiong was surprised to hear this.
It was already the next day?
He waved a hand.
"I took care of a few things in there. Today's training will go ahead as usual."
As he spoke, Ye Qiong turned to Tribbie.
"Teacher Tribbie, thanks for your hard work today, too. Have them gather in the square again tonight."
Tribbie nodded.
Ye Qiong then turned and headed toward his office building.
Anaxa came over just then.
"Teacher Tribbie, I feel like something about the dean has changed."
Tribbie watched him walk away and frowned as well.
"Indeed. I feel it too. His eyes seem deeper, more mysterious."
In the office.
Ye Qiong sat in his chair and softly called out,
"Mimi, come out."
The next moment, Mimi flew out.
As soon as she emerged, she landed lightly on the desk, tilted her head, and gazed at Ye Qiong with big, watery eyes.
"Mimi?"
Ye Qiong couldn't resist reaching out to poke her forehead.
Mimi immediately wrapped both little paws around his finger, a happy smile appearing on her face.
"Mimi~"
Ye Qiong smiled, then opened the system to check Mimi's information.
[Host's Second Martial Soul: Mimi.]
[Status: Infant Stage.]
[Abilities: Locked.]
[Soul Rings: None; cannot be added yet.]
Seeing the last line of information, Ye Qiong frowned.
"I can't add a Soul Ring for now?"