Going Home

"Many thanks, Dean Yan." Lin Shuo reached out and took the spirit bone along with its leather pouch. Although he had no immediate use for it, others might eventually need it.

A flash of approval and surprise crossed Yan Shaozhe's eyes. One had to understand that for the right person, this spirit bone was worth no less than a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone. Yet, Lin Shuo remained so composed, which was quite intriguing.

"The energy within this spirit bone is extremely domineering; whoever absorbs it must be very careful," Yan Shaozhe advised in a gentle tone. "If you need the academy to provide protection or a specialized chamber for the absorption, you can come to me at any time."

"Understood," the three of them replied.

Yan Shaozhe offered a few more words of advice regarding their cultivation before rising to see them out. The trio walked out of the office and headed back along the long corridor. They had barely walked a few dozen paces before Wang Dong'er could no longer hold back.

"Lin Shuo, you should hurry up and absorb it when you get back. Although I don't know the origin of your Seven-Colored Dragon King martial soul, this spirit bone couldn't be more perfect for you," Wang Dong'er said excitedly, as if she were the one about to absorb it.

"That's right, Brother Lin. Neither Dong'er nor I have dragon-type martial souls. We'll guard you later, so just go ahead and absorb it," Huo Yu'er added immediately.

A warmth spread through Lin Shuo's heart. "Alright, I'll accept it. But there's no need for protection; I'll absorb it after I return home. When I obtain another suitable spirit bone next time, you two can have it."

"Home?" Wang Dong'er paused, a flicker of curiosity crossing her pink-blue eyes. Having known Lin Shuo for so long, this was the first time she had heard him mention his family. The Seven-Colored Dragon King martial soul—even in the Clear Sky Sect, she had never heard of it. To be able to cultivate such a powerful spirit master and casually hand out Soul Ascension Pills, it was clear his family was no ordinary one. Huo Yu'er was also a bit curious; she had only heard from Sister Tian Meng that Lin Shuo's martial soul was very powerful, but Tian Meng would not discuss the specifics further.

However, neither Wang Dong'er nor Huo Yu'er pressed for more. If Lin Shuo didn't want to volunteer the information, they wouldn't ask.

When the three returned to class, everyone's eyes turned toward Lin Shuo. Three black spirit rings and the instant defeat of two other three-ring spirit masters—these feats had already spread throughout the outer courtyard.

Wu Feng sat by the window, her red hair particularly striking under the sunlight. The moment her gaze touched Lin Shuo, she lowered her head as if scalded, a trace of unconcealable fear flashing through her typically arrogant red eyes. That day on the soul fighting platform, her Red Dragon martial soul had collapsed on its own before she could even withstand a single move from Lin Shuo; the fear stemming from the depths of her bloodline was still etched into her bones.

Dai Huabin looked at Lin Shuo with undisguised hatred, but he did not provoke him again. With his current strength, challenging Lin Shuo would only result in being defeated by a single punch. Because Lin Shuo did not want to be the class monitor, he recommended Wang Dong'er to serve as the power-attack class monitor and Huo Yu'er as the control-system class monitor.

Five months passed quietly and fruitfully amidst the cultivation in the outer courtyard.

"Teacher Wang, I'm about to reach level 40. I need to go home to obtain my fourth spirit ring," Lin Shuo said calmly as he pushed open the door to Wang Yan's office.

Wang Yan slowly raised his head, his gaze lingering on Lin Shuo's face for a full three seconds.

"What did you just say... what level are you at?"

"The level 40 bottleneck; I should break through in the next few days."

The office fell into a dead silence. Wang Yan opened his mouth, then closed it again. A twelve-year-old spirit ancestor—this was the first time he had ever encountered such a thing.

Wang Yan stared at him for a few seconds before finally letting out a wry laugh.

"Very well. But the school promised to help you obtain your spirit rings, so why go home?"

"My martial soul is special; obtaining spirit rings has always been done with the help of my family." Lin Shuo's reply was concise to the point of being perfunctory.

"Fine, I will handle the leave of absence." Wang Yan took a blank leave slip from his drawer and picked up a pen. "Is one month enough?"

Lin Shuo nodded. Wang Yan filled out the slip and handed it to him. "When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning." Wang Yan nodded and did not ask further.

It was afternoon when Lin Shuo walked out of the teaching building. He saw the figures of Wang Dong'er and Huo Yu'er in the distance.

"Lin Shuo!" Wang Dong'er waved at him from afar, her pink-blue hair lifting gently in the evening breeze. After more than half a year at the academy, her hair had grown much longer than when she first arrived; the short, ear-length hair now reached her shoulder blades, tied into a neat little ponytail at the back of her head. A few loose strands were blown by the wind, clinging to her fair neck. She jogged over, her ponytail swaying behind her. "Where did you go? Yu'er and I were looking everywhere for you to go eat."

"I went to ask Teacher Wang for leave," Lin Shuo said softly once they were close. "I'm going home tomorrow morning to obtain my fourth spirit ring."

Wang Dong'er paused, her eyes widening slightly. "You've reached level 40?"

"The bottleneck is within these next two days." Lin Shuo looked at the undisguised surprise on her face, a faint smile rising in his eyes. "So I have to hurry. Yu'er is already very diligent, so don't slack off just because I'm gone. If you didn't slack off, your talent would have already made you a spirit master."

"Who's slacking off!" Wang Dong'er instinctively retorted, but then realized Lin Shuo was truly leaving, and her tone softened. "Then... when will you be back?"

"If it's fast, half a month; if it's slow, a month. Teacher Wang gave me a month's leave." Lin Shuo showed them the leave slip.

A trace of reluctance flashed in Huo Yu'er's deep blue eyes, but it was quickly masked by a faint smile. "Brother Lin, be careful on the road."

"Don't worry." Lin Shuo put away the leave slip. "Let's go, let's eat. If we don't go now, the cafeteria will close."

The three walked toward the cafeteria side by side, the setting sun stretching their shadows long. Wang Dong'er walked on Lin Shuo's left, uncharacteristically quiet, only occasionally glancing at him before quickly looking away. Huo Yu'er walked on his right, her pace slower than usual, as if she wanted to drag this walk out a little longer.

The next morning, before the mist had cleared, Lin Shuo left Shrek City alone. His spiritual power spread out silently, and after discovering no one was around, he raised his right hand and pressed his fingertips against the silver Reverse Scale on his chest.

Spatial power surged from the scale, and silver ripples spread silently before him as a spatial rift slowly opened. Lin Shuo stepped directly into it.

The moment the spatial rift closed behind him, the familiar scent of grass and trees rushed toward him.

Lin Shuo opened his eyes to find the soft, humus-rich soil of the Star Dou Great Forest's core area beneath his feet and the canopy of ancient trees blocking the sky above. The Lake of Life was not far ahead, its emerald waters shimmering in the faint morning light.

Before he could even take a step, the space in front of him silently split open. A slender figure stepped out—black clothes, black hair, and a cold, stern expression. It was Di Tian.

The moment Di Tian saw Lin Shuo, a flicker of uncontrollable emotion crossed his typically steady eyes. He knelt on one knee, his voice lower than usual, yet unable to hide the excitement within.

"My Lord, you have returned!"