Mimi

Outside the Lost Maze.

Ye Qiong arrived beneath a peach tree,

the very tree he and Cyrene had once leaned against to rest before entering the Lost Secret Realm.

Now it was laden with pink fruit...

Wait, what was that?

Ye Qiong's sharp eyes picked out something pink and square among the peaches.

Could peaches grow square?

Of course not.

Remembering the past, Ye Qiong's lips curled into a smile.

"Found you."

He leaped up and plucked the square "peach."

It seemed excited in his hand and bounced merrily a few times.

Ye Qiong couldn't help twitching his lips.

"Even after turning into this, you still love playing tricks on people."

It was the seed Cyrene had transformed into—the Pure Child of Anāsrava. She had disguised herself as a peach to play hide-and-seek with him.

That was so like her.

The seed bounced twice in Ye Qiong's hand, then tried to wriggle free.

Ye Qiong frowned and immediately squeezed it tight.

"Cyrene, this time, I won't let you leave my side again."

He would never let go. Never...

The seed seemed to understand what Ye Qiong had said.

It trembled a few times, then fell quiet.

As if saying:

"You're impossible, 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 about the size of a small ball of fluff, entirely pink, with a pair of long ears and a bushy tail swaying gently behind it.

As soon as it appeared, it flew two circles around Ye Qiong, letting out excited, clear cries.

"Mimi!"

Ye Qiong froze.

Good heavens, don't you lie to me, mysterious man. It really is Mimi! All right!

The next second, the little creature flew straight into his face and rubbed its fluffy cheek against him.

"Mimi~"

Ye Qiong couldn't help smiling.

She really was exactly like 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 use the system to check the information about Mimi,

he felt a violent tremor beneath his feet.

The clear, sunny weather vanished, and the sky suddenly darkened.

Ye Qiong instinctively looked up.

The next moment, his pupils contracted.

The once-clear sky split open, bizarre red-and-black patterns spreading across it from the horizon.

He could feel that something was stirring deep within those patterns.

At the sight, Mimi's ears shot upright before she plunged into Ye Qiong's chest.

She buried her whole face, her tiny claws clutching his lapel as her entire body trembled. She looked terrified.

Ye Qiong's gaze sharpened. He lowered his head and glanced at Mimi.

"Mimi, come back inside me for now."

Mimi gave a little cry, then turned into a wisp 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 kept calling the system in his mind.

"System, open a passage back to reality for me."

[Connecting you now. Please wait.]

The next second, a white rift opened.

Ye Qiong's face brightened at the sight, and he immediately walked toward it.

Before leaving, he glanced back.

The red-and-black patterns were spreading faster and faster, almost swallowing the entire sky.

Ye Qiong's expression grew grave.

The Iron Curtain had awakened.

He had taken Cyrene away, so the Iron Curtain would awaken and follow their trail.

Fortunately, once he got out, it wouldn't be able to quickly break through the Tidal Zone 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 stood in two rows in the plaza.

Wang Sheng yawned. "Where did the dean go last night?"

Bai Chenxiang shook her head.

"I don't know. He didn't show up for Soul Fighting last night."

Phainon turned to the others and said,

"Teacher Tribbie told us to gather here and wait. She said..."

"The dean entered the Simulation Realm yesterday too, and still hasn't come out."

Everyone was astonished.

"No way. What kind of stage is the dean stuck on that it's taking him this long?"

(Who knows? It's not like he's stuck trying to clear A8-40, right?)

After a while, the door to the teaching building slowly opened.

Everyone turned toward the sound,

and saw Tribbie coming out.

As soon as she stepped outside, she looked toward the entrance to the Simulation Realm.

"The dean still isn't out?"

Everyone glanced at the entrance too and nodded.

"Then you can all go train for now—"

But before Tribbie could finish,

a ripple came from the entrance to the Simulation Realm.

The sound drew everyone's attention, and they all turned to look.

"What's that..."

"Teacher, the dean's coming out!"

Anticipation showed on everyone's faces.

Sure enough, the next second, Ye Qiong walked out.

Everyone was delighted to see him back.

But the perceptive Anaxa noticed that something about Ye Qiong's aura had changed.

It wasn't a change in Soul Power, but something deeper.

He couldn't put it into words.

Ye Qiong glanced over the group.

"Why are you all still here?"

Wang Sheng hurried over.

"Teacher, what took you so long? We waited for you half the night!"

Ye Qiong was surprised.

It was already the next day?

So he waved a hand.

"I had some things to take care of inside. 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 plaza again tonight."

Tribbie nodded.

Ye Qiong turned and headed toward his office building.

Anaxa came over to her.

"Teacher Tribbie, I feel like something about the dean has changed."

Tribbie watched Ye Qiong's retreating figure and frowned too.

"That's true. I feel it as well. His eyes seem deeper, more mysterious."

In the office.

Ye Qiong sat down and called softly,

"Mimi, come out."

The next second, Mimi flew out.

She gently landed on the desk, tilted her head, and gazed at Ye Qiong with watery eyes.

"Mimi?"

Ye Qiong couldn't help reaching out to tap her forehead.

Mimi immediately wrapped both little paws around his finger, a happy smile appearing on her face.

"Mimi~"

Ye Qiong smiled and opened the system to check Mimi's information.

[Host's Second Martial Soul: Mimi.]

[Status: Infant Stage.]

[Abilities: Unlocked.]

[Soul Ring: Empty; cannot be added yet.]

Ye Qiong frowned at the last line.

"I can't add a Soul Ring yet?"