Zhu Shen happily looked at the evolution point balance on the System Panel, calculating that after a few more shakedowns, he'd be able to improve his bloodline purity.
Tang San silently picked up the needle that had been bent underfoot, his expression complicated. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed his words.
"Teacher, I still need to forge this needle again."
"Forge what? I'll get you some good materials later." Zhu Shen waved a hand grandly. "What good stuff could you make with the scrap iron from the blacksmith's shop?"
Tang San's eyes lit up. "Teacher, you have better materials?"
"Of course." Zhu Shen lowered his voice mysteriously. "There's a place in Nuoding City that specializes in selling good things that aren't exactly aboveboard."
Tang San understood immediately. "The black market?"
"Clever." Zhu Shen patted his shoulder. "But don't rush. I'll take you there to broaden your horizons in a couple of days."
Tang San nodded and put away the bent needle.
After lunch, Zhu Shen sent the work-study students to take a nap, then brought Tang San back to the dormitory.
Once the door was shut, Zhu Shen pulled the Dragon God External Spirit Bone from his robes. The Soul Bone was gold all over, covered in fine scale patterns, and radiated a faint pressure.
"Teacher, this is..."
"My External Soul Bone." Zhu Shen weighed it in his hand. "I never got around to absorbing it. Today's as good a time as any."
Tang San looked a little worried. "Absorbing an External Soul Bone is dangerous. Should you get someone to guard you?"
"Who? Your dad?" Zhu Shen rolled his eyes. "Your dad ran off ages ago. Don't worry. Your teacher's a cheat now. Absorbing a Soul Bone is no big deal."
Tang San didn't quite understand what "cheat" meant, but seeing Zhu Shen's confidence, he didn't try to talk him out of it.
Zhu Shen sat cross-legged and pressed the External Soul Bone against his back.
Golden light blazed in an instant. Zhu Shen felt as if a branding iron had seared his back, then a violent surge of energy flooded into his body.
"Holy—"
Before he could finish, his vision went black, and his consciousness was pulled into a golden space.
A Golden Dragon coiled through the void, several times larger than before. Its eyes opened, golden pupils fixed on Zhu Shen, and it let out a low dragon's roar.
[Host detected absorbing Dragon God External Spirit Bone. Activating set effect...] [Dragon God Set progress: 2/7. Current active effects: Dragon might increased by 100%, Dragon-type Soul Skill power increased by 50%.]
Before Zhu Shen could celebrate, a sudden, searing pain shot through his back.
The energy seemed intent on tearing him apart, pushing outward from his shoulder blades. Zhu Shen broke into a cold sweat from the pain and gritted his teeth, forcing himself to endure it.
Outside, Tang San watched two bulges rise on Zhu Shen's back, and his expression shifted.
The golden light grew brighter and brighter. The bulges swelled larger and larger, until at last, with a soft "pfft," a pair of golden wings unfurled from Zhu Shen's back.
The wings weren't large, spanning just over a meter, but they were covered in golden scales, their edges sharp as blades. They fluttered lightly, stirring up a gust that sent Tang San's clothes flapping.
The golden light slowly faded. Zhu Shen opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
"That nearly killed me." He rubbed his back, then shuddered when his hand brushed the wings. "Can this thing... fold away?"
At a thought, the wings folded away, and his back returned to normal.
With another thought, the wings snapped open.
"Not bad." Zhu Shen stood up and tried flapping them. His body felt light as a feather; he rose half a foot off the ground, then dropped back down.
[Notice: The External Soul Bone's flight ability requires Soul Power. At the current Soul Power Level, low-altitude flight can be maintained for fifteen minutes.]
"Fifteen minutes is enough." Zhu Shen nodded with satisfaction and folded away his wings.
Tang San stared at him, eyes wide. "Teacher, those wings..."
"Cool, right?" Zhu Shen tossed his hair smugly. "From now on, your teacher can fly too."
Tang San's mouth twitched. "But, teacher, didn't you say we should keep a low profile?"
"How is this not low-profile?" Zhu Shen said righteously. "I didn't fly outside. I just flew around in the room."
Tang San decided not to discuss the meaning of "low-profile" with his teacher anymore.
The afternoon training went on as usual.
Zhu Shen led the work-study students through more physical training: running laps, carrying rocks, and horse stance. The children were exhausted and howled in misery, but no one quit.
Xiao Lian stood out today. Though she ran the slowest, she completed all fifteen laps without missing a step and could still stand afterward, unlike Li Erniu, who had flopped straight onto the ground and pretended to be dead.
"Not bad." Zhu Shen nodded. "Keep it up tomorrow."
Xiao Lian wiped away her sweat and asked softly, "Teacher, when can I learn a Soul Skill?"
"First, we need to build a solid foundation." Zhu Shen crouched down and looked at her seriously. "Your Martial Soul is rather special, so you need more preparation. When the time is right, I'll take you to hunt a suitable Soul Ring."
Xiao Lian's eyes shone. "Really?"
"Of course. When has your teacher ever lied?"
Tang San silently lowered his head beside them.
Just as afternoon training ended, Wang Sheng came running over, panting. "Teacher, this is bad! Xiao Wanshan's brought people. They're blocking the academy entrance!"
Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow. "How many?"
"A lot! At least twenty or thirty. A few of them are wearing armor. They look like guards from the City Lord's Mansion!"
"Come on. Let's take a look."
Zhu Shen led the children toward the academy entrance. Tang San followed behind, quietly slipping a few newly forged needles into his hand.
A large crowd had gathered outside the academy. Xiao Wanshan stood at the front, with more than twenty guards behind him and three middle-aged men in Soul Master robes. Each of the three wore a badge on his chest: two had three rings, and one had four.
Su Nuo stood to the side, looking troubled. "Councilor Xiao, why don't we discuss this calmly? There's no need for such a show of force."
"Discuss it calmly?" Xiao Wanshan snorted. "Dean Su, I've shown you plenty of respect. This Yu Xiaogang injured my son and even dared to threaten me. If I don't teach him a lesson today, how am I supposed to hold my head up in Nuoding City?"
Zhu Shen walked out of the academy gates, glanced at the people opposite him, and smiled. "Councilor Xiao, did you come here to pick a fight?"
"Know what's good for you. Get on your knees, kowtow, pay up, and get lost." Xiao Wanshan pointed at Zhu Shen. "Otherwise, you'll be carried out of here today."
Zhu Shen looked at the three Soul Masters, his gaze pausing on the one with four rings. "You're counting on them?"
The four-ring Soul Master was a tall, thin man with a gloomy expression. He sneered at that. "Yu Xiaogang? I've heard of you. A theory grandmaster, a twenty-ninth-level good-for-nothing. What, a little stroke of luck, and now you've forgotten your own name?"
Zhu Shen sighed. How come every Tom, Dick, and nobody these days dared to challenge him?
"Xiao San, step back."
Tang San obeyed and retreated, but he kept the needles in his hand.
Zhu Shen took a step forward and released the Dragon God Martial Soul.
Golden light exploded. The phantom of a Golden Dragon coiled behind him, surrounded by two purple and two black Soul Rings. His dragon might crushed down like a tangible force. The more than twenty guards opposite him paled; several of them buckled at the knees and dropped straight to the ground.
The three Soul Masters released their Martial Souls automatically, but they trembled before the dragon might. The four-ring Soul Master's Martial Soul was a Black Wolf. It was now pressed to the ground, whimpering and refusing to get up no matter what.
"You..." The four-ring Soul Master's face turned deathly pale. "What kind of Martial Soul is that?!"
Zhu Shen didn't answer. He flashed forward and appeared right in front of him.
A dragon claw shot out and clamped around the man's throat, lifting him off the ground.
"I'll give you a chance. Leave now, and I'll pretend you were never here."
The four-ring Soul Master choked and struggled for breath, nodding frantically.
Zhu Shen let go and tossed him to the ground. The four-ring Soul Master scrambled up and fled, stumbling over himself. Seeing that, the other two three-ring Soul Masters ran after him.
Xiao Wanshan's face turned livid. "You... Get back here!"
No one paid him any attention.
Zhu Shen turned to Xiao Wanshan and smiled. "Councilor Xiao, got any other tricks?"
Xiao Wanshan clenched his teeth, his expression shifting back and forth. Finally, he stamped his foot. "Yu Xiaogang, just you wait! This isn't over!"
With that, he led the guards away in disgrace.
Su Nuo watched from the side, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. Then he smiled and stepped forward. "Grandmaster truly is formidable. My respects, my respects."
Zhu Shen glanced at him. "Dean Su, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Who was that person in dark red clothes you spoke to this morning?"