"Thank you, Dean Yan." Lin Shuo reached out and took the Soul Bone along with its hide pouch. He couldn't use it himself, but sooner or later, someone else might.
A flicker of approval and surprise crossed Yan Shaozhe's eyes. This Soul Bone was worth no less than a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone to the right person. Yet Lin Shuo remained so calm about it. That was certainly intriguing.
"The energy in this Soul Bone is extremely domineering. Whoever absorbs it must be very careful," Yan Shaozhe cautioned warmly. "If you need the Academy to provide a guard or a dedicated place to absorb it, you can come to me anytime."
"Understood," the three replied.
Yan Shaozhe offered a few more words of advice about cultivation, then rose to see them off. The three left his office and walked back along the corridor. They had gone only a few dozen steps when Wang Dong'er couldn't hold back any longer.
"Lin Shuo, hurry up and absorb it once we get back. I don't know what the story is with your Seven-Colored Dragon King Martial Soul, but this Soul Bone couldn't be more suited to you!" Wang Dong'er said excitedly, as if she were the one who would be absorbing it.
"Exactly, Big Brother Lin. Dong'er and I don't have dragon Martial Souls. We'll guard you later, so you can absorb it right away," Huo Yu'er added.
Warmth filled Lin Shuo's heart. "All right, I'll take it. But I don't need anyone to guard me. I'll absorb it when I get home. The next suitable Soul Bone we get can go to one of you."
"Home?" Wang Dong'er stopped in her tracks, curiosity flashing in her powder-blue eyes. She had known Lin Shuo for so long, yet this was the first time she'd heard him mention his family. She'd never heard of a Seven-Colored Dragon King Martial Soul, not even in the Clear Sky Sect. A family capable of raising such a powerful Soul Master—and casually giving them Soul Ascension Pills—was clearly no ordinary household. Huo Yu'er was curious, too. Sister Tian Meng had only told her that Lin Shuo's Martial Soul was powerful, and hadn't said any more.
But Wang Dong'er and Huo Yu'er didn't ask. If Lin Shuo didn't want to bring it up, they wouldn't press him.
When the three returned to class, everyone's eyes turned toward Lin Shuo. His three black Soul Rings and the fact that he'd instantly defeated two other Soul Elders had already become well-known throughout the outer courtyard.
Wu Feng sat by the window, her red hair especially conspicuous in the light beneath the balcony. The moment her gaze touched Lin Shuo, she flinched as if burned and quickly lowered her head. A trace of undisguised fear flashed in those red eyes that were usually so proud. On the Soul Fighting Platform that day, her Red Dragon Martial Soul hadn't lasted even one move against Lin Shuo before collapsing on its own. The fear that had risen from deep within her blood still clung to her bones.
Dai Huabin glared at Lin Shuo with hatred, but didn't provoke him again. With his current strength, challenging Lin Shuo would only get him knocked out with a single punch. Since Lin Shuo didn't want to be class monitor, Wang Dong'er became the Power Attack System class monitor on his recommendation, while Huo Yu'er became the Control System class monitor.
Five months slipped by quietly, filled with peaceful and diligent cultivation in the outer courtyard.
"Teacher Wang, I'm almost at level forty. I need to go home to obtain my fourth Soul Ring." Lin Shuo pushed open the door to Wang Yan's office and spoke calmly.
Wang Yan slowly raised his head and studied Lin Shuo's face for a full three seconds.
"Did you just say... what level are you?"
"I'm at the level-forty bottleneck. I'll break through in the next few days."
The office fell utterly silent. Wang Yan opened his mouth, then closed it again. He had never encountered a twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor before.
Wang Yan stared at him for a few seconds, then gave a wry smile.
"Fine. But the Academy promised to help you obtain your Soul Rings. Why do you still need to go home?"
"My Martial Soul is special. I've always obtained my Soul Rings with help from my family." Lin Shuo's answer was so brief it was almost dismissive.
"All right. I'll handle the leave of absence." Wang Yan took a blank leave form from his desk drawer and picked up a pen. "Will a month be enough?"
Lin Shuo nodded. Wang Yan filled out the form and handed it to him. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning." Wang Yan nodded and didn't ask anything else.
Lin Shuo left the teaching building in the afternoon. In the distance, he spotted Wang Dong'er and Huo Yu'er.
"Lin Shuo!" Wang Dong'er waved to him from afar, her powder-blue hair lifting lightly in the evening breeze. It had grown quite a bit over the six months since she'd enrolled. Her once ear-length hair now fell to her shoulder blades, tied in a neat little ponytail at the back of her head. A few loose strands had blown free and clung to her fair neck. She jogged toward him, her ponytail swaying behind her. "Where have you been? Yu'er and I have been looking everywhere for you. We were going to get dinner."
"I went to ask Teacher Wang for leave." Lin Shuo waited for them to come closer, then said softly, "I'm going home tomorrow morning to obtain my fourth Soul Ring."
Wang Dong'er stopped short, her eyes widening slightly. "You've reached level forty?"
"I'm at the bottleneck. It'll happen in the next couple of days." Lin Shuo saw the undisguised surprise on her face, and the faintest hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. "So I have to hurry. Yu'er already works hard enough. Don't slack off just because I'm gone. With your talent, you'd have been a Soul Elder long ago if you didn't."
"Who's slacking off!" Wang Dong'er shot back instinctively, but then realized Lin Shuo really was leaving, and her voice softened. "Then... when will you be back?"
"If all goes well, half a month. If not, a month. Teacher Wang gave me a month's leave." Lin Shuo took out the leave form and showed it to them.
A trace of reluctance passed through Huo Yu'er's deep blue eyes, but a faint smile quickly covered it. "Big Brother Lin, be careful on the way."
"Don't worry." Lin Shuo put away the leave form. "Come on, let's eat. The cafeteria will close if we wait any longer."
The three walked side by side toward the cafeteria, their shadows stretching long in the sunset. Wang Dong'er walked to Lin Shuo's left, unusually quiet, only glancing at him now and then before quickly looking away. Huo Yu'er walked on his right, her pace slower than usual, as if she wanted to draw out the journey a little longer.
The next morning, before the morning mist had lifted, Lin Shuo left Shrek City alone. His spiritual power spread soundlessly. Once he confirmed there was no one nearby, he raised his right hand and pressed his fingertips against the silver Reverse Scale on his chest.
Spatial power surged from the Reverse Scale, and silver ripples silently spread before him as a spatial rift slowly opened. Lin Shuo stepped straight inside.
The moment the spatial rift closed behind him, the familiar scent of grass and trees swept over him.
Lin Shuo opened his eyes. Beneath his feet lay the soft leaf mold of the Star Dou Great Forest's core region, and overhead rose a canopy of ancient trees that blotted out the sky. Lake of Life lay not far ahead, its emerald waters shimmering in the faint morning light.
Before he could take a step, space silently split open in front of him. A tall figure emerged, dressed in black with black hair and a stern face. It was Di Tian.
The instant Di Tian saw Lin Shuo, an uncontrollable tremor of emotion flashed through his usually steady eyes. He dropped to one knee, his voice lower than usual but unable to conceal his excitement.
"My lord, you're back!"