Zhu Shen looked at the nine students before him, all filthy and ragged, but with stubbornness burning in their eyes. His gaze lingered especially on Tang San's eyes, weary yet strikingly clear. For once, he didn't feel the urge to throw them into another pitfall—mainly because the system hadn't chimed in. Putting on a stern face, he did his best to maintain the bearing of a strict teacher. "All right. None of you died, so I'll call that a pass."
Wang Sheng dropped onto the ground and panted heavily. "Teacher... that was... way too brutal..." The three-day "survival training" in Soul Hunting Forest had been more terrifying than running a hundred laps. They'd had to face attacks from Soul Beasts and watch out for other Soul Master teams. At night, they hadn't even dared build a bright campfire. They'd survived thanks to Tang San's perception and the few pieces of dry rations Zhu Shen had tossed their way whenever he happened to "pass by."
Tang San wiped the dirt from his face and looked at Zhu Shen, answering earnestly, "Teacher, I understand now. Teamwork is important. Without Wang Sheng and the others sharing the watch, Li Erniu carrying supplies, and Xiao Lian scouting, we would've had a hard time making it through." The purple diamond-shaped mark on the back of his head flickered faintly. His Mandala Eye External Soul Bone had made his perception a crucial asset to the team.
"Good. As long as you understand!" Zhu Shen waved a hand, at last wearing the relieved, approving look of a teacher whose students had proved teachable. "That'll stop you from thinking you're all grown up and ready to fly on your own. The tournament isn't child's play! Pack up and get back to the academy! The tournament's about to start. Don't go embarrassing me!" His gaze swept over the System Panel. The words [Evolution Points: 440/1000] made his heart sing, and his new passive skill, [Dragon God Body Protection], gave him a good deal more confidence. Losing the letter had stung, but he still had Bibi Dong's summons. He'd better figure out how to raise her favorability quickly.
The trip back to Notting Academy was much more relaxed. Wang Sheng had recovered some of his energy and started chattering again. "Teacher, is Spirit City really huge? I heard it's a hundred times bigger than Nuoding City!" The other work-study students perked up their ears, their eyes full of longing.
"What good is being big?" Zhu Shen rolled his eyes, calculating how to spend his Evolution Points. "Without strength, you'll just be cannon fodder the moment you get there! Look at you lot—you're a sorry sight. When we get back, you're each running ten extra laps! No dinner until you finish!" He sounded fierce, but inwardly he was muttering: Bibi Dong's letter was gone. What was he supposed to give her as a welcome gift? A system lottery? Last time he'd drawn a love letter, it had been pure dumb luck. If he drew something like "the Pope's panties" this time, wouldn't he get slapped to death on the spot...? He instinctively touched his chest, where he'd kept the letter. It was empty now, and he felt a little melancholy.
[ Ding! The host has been detected feeling intense nostalgia for the item "Bibi Dong's Love Letter." Hidden reward triggered: Thick Skin +5%. Current thickness: 15%. ]
Zhu Shen: "...System, are you mocking me or comforting me?" This lousy system was getting more and more shameless!
Back at the familiar Notting Academy, the children were like weary birds returning to their nests. They headed straight for the dorms to wash up and rest. Zhu Shen, meanwhile, was buried under a pile of chores—sorting out the supplies after training, fielding curious questions from students, and keeping an eye out for any remnants of the Evil God Temple now that Su Nuo was dead. Xiao Lian hurried over to him and lowered her voice. "Teacher, yesterday I saw Teacher Wang sneaking off toward the south of the city again. It looked like he was talking to someone dressed in black..." Zhu Shen frowned. The south of the city again? He patted Xiao Lian's head. "Got it. Good work. But don't go off alone. It's dangerous." In his mind, he added Wang's surname to his little list. I'll deal with you after I get back from Spirit City.
He had just sent Xiao Lian away when the fat old master of the Notting City Spirit Hall branch arrived with two solemn-faced officials. This time, they were even more respectful than when they'd invited him before, and seemed a little nervous, too.
"Master Yu!" The fat old man wiped the sweat from his forehead. "His Holiness the Pope has sent word again. He asks that you set out for Spirit City as soon as you've recovered! This is an order directly from the Pope Palace!" He handed over a document stamped with an ornate purple-gold seal. Its sweeping calligraphy carried an unmistakable air of authority.
Zhu Shen took the document and glanced over it. Sure enough, it was an official order telling him to head to Spirit City as soon as he'd recovered. He remembered the icy words—"I'm watching you"—that had appeared when Bibi Dong's Love Letter exploded in the cave, along with the scene of the Cardinal delivering the oral message. A chill crept over him. Bibi Dong... What exactly was she watching? The baby "Holy Child" that the Evil God Temple had brought into the world? Or... Zhu Shen himself? He'd really stirred up a hornet's nest this time!
"All right, got it." Zhu Shen casually tucked the document into his robe, doing his best to sound nonchalant. "Tell the Pope I need to take care of a few things at the academy. I'll set out in a couple of days." He had to spend his Evolution Points quickly. A bloodline purity of 32% wasn't enough, and he needed to get familiar with [Dragon God Body Protection], too. If he went to Spirit City and faced those Titled Douluo, the little golden glow he had probably wouldn't be enough to shine.
The fat old man nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes. The carriage and guards are ready for you, and you can leave at any time! His Holiness the Pope seems... to attach great importance to this matter." He added the last part cautiously, his eyes full of reverence for the Pope's will.
After seeing the Spirit Hall people off, Zhu Shen returned to his room and shut the door. He immediately opened the System Panel and looked at his 440 Evolution Points. Without hesitation, he said, "System, increase my bloodline purity!"
[400 Evolution Points consumed. Dragon God Bloodline purity increasing... 32% → 36%!]
A wave of warmth far stronger than before swept through him. His bones cracked in quick succession, and his muscle fibers seemed to be remade. The phantom of a dragon scale flickered across his skin, becoming denser and more substantial. Surging power filled every limb, while the phantom of the Dragon God in his Martial Soul space seemed even more majestic and clear. Zhu Shen clenched his fist. If he faced that Evil Soul Master again, he might not win, but with [Dragon God Body Protection], he'd have a much better chance of withstanding a few blows and getting away.
[Remaining Evolution Points: 40/1000]
[New skill unlocked: Dragon Might Intimidation (increased range)]
"Not bad!" Zhu Shen happily worked out the kinks in his body, feeling completely refreshed. His gaze fell on the drop of [Dragon God Essence Blood] in his system space, which gave off a faint golden glow. It had been a reward for his escape alive last time. Taking it would permanently raise his purity by 5%, but it only worked once. "I'll save it for an emergency." He carefully put it away. It was far too precious.
Night fell. Zhu Shen opened the window and looked at the bright moonlight outside, but his thoughts drifted to the magnificent Spirit City. Bibi Dong... that breathtaking, cold-hearted woman. Would meeting her this time bring him fortune or disaster? The letter was gone, and so was the favorability bonus. Would this handsome face (with the system-certified Thick Skin rating of +15%) and a 36% Dragon God Bloodline be enough?
In the room next door, Tang San sat cross-legged on his bed instead of resting. A few sharpening stones and a small pile of steel needles, fine as ox hair, lay before him. His expression was focused, and his hands moved with steady, nimble precision as he carefully sharpened each needle tip. Moonlight spilled through the window and fell across his intent profile. The purple diamond-shaped mark on the back of his head flickered in the dark, while his mental power spread across the entire dormitory. Wang Sheng's snores, Xiao Lian's sleep-talk, Li Erniu's teeth grinding... The familiar sounds eased the tension in his mind a little. He gently stroked the cold handle of the Clear Sky Hammer, his gaze unwavering.
The tournament was about to begin, and he also needed to face the trouble his teacher had stirred up. He had to get stronger, protect his companions, and protect... that teacher who was always pushing him into pits, yet sincerely paving the way for him. Spirit City, he was coming. Father, would you be watching from there?
Leaning by the window, Zhu Shen heard the faint, steady sound of sharpening from the room next door and knew Tang San was preparing his Hidden Weapons again. "That kid..." His lips twitched, but for once, he didn't make fun of him. A pitfall was a pitfall, but Tang San's sense of responsibility and hard work really did make him, as the boy's teacher... feel a little guilty, and oddly proud.
"Forget it. No point thinking about it." Zhu Shen shut the window and lay back down. "When you reach the mountain, you'll find a pit. If there's a path through it, we'll climb out! Bibi Dong, Spirit City, here I come! Watch me pull off this move!" He closed his eyes and began planning how to "reasonably" squeeze a little more potential out of Tang San on the way there—and whether he could trigger another system mission while he was at it. The business of throwing his students into pits would never end! The golden light of [Dragon God Body Protection] flowed faintly beneath his skin, illuminating the familiar curve at the corner of his mouth as he prepared to stir up trouble.
Moonlight flowed quietly over the backs of the teacher and student, each lost in his own thoughts. The night in Nuoding City was drawing to a close, but the road to Spirit City—and the storm of the unknown—was only just beginning.