Back to School

The days that followed were spent with Jiang Bai and Huo Yuhao traveling back to the academy.

Nothing else happened on the way back to school, and the two returned safely to the academy.

After entering through the school gates, Xue Ying appeared in Jiang Bai's arms as well.

"Ying, ying, ying!"

Xue Ying was protesting now. Every time they went out, she had to return to that blank white space!

Too unfair! She had no rights at all!

"Alright, I'll take you out for ice cream later."

Seeing Xue Ying's angry expression, Jiang Bai comforted her.

He remembered there was an ice cream shop in the school. Xue Ying seemed to like it quite a bit last time.

"Ying, ying, ying?!"

"Ying, ying."

After pacifying Xue Ying, Jiang Bai and the others planned to return to their dorms to freshen up first. Still, Jiang Bai felt it would be better to report in beforehand.

Mu En had one advantage: he was powerful, wouldn't live much longer, and cared deeply about Shrek's future. He was especially worried about there being no successors.

After Mu En learned that Huo Yuhao possessed Twin Martial Souls and Ultimate Ice, there was a high chance he would become Huo Yuhao's supporter.

With that talent, there was no way Mu En would let him slip away.

Most likely, before he died, he would make arrangements for Huo Yuhao. After that, even if Mu En died, as long as Huo Yuhao didn't threaten Shrek's safety, Sea God Pavilion wouldn't interfere.

"Back already? You're late."

Though school had only just begun, Mu En was still sunning himself at the entrance to the dormitory building. He sensed Jiang Bai's aura the moment he approached.

"I took leave. I also ran into Yuhao on the road. Old man, you definitely have no idea what happened when he awakened. I guarantee it'll blow your mind."

"Hm?"

Seeing Jiang Bai so confident, Mu En grew curious. What could possibly surprise him?

He had seen Body Martial Soul awakenings before. There were already very few things left that could surprise Mu En.

"I don't know whether I'll be surprised, but someone's been looking for you for a long time."

Mu En seemed to recall something and smiled. Someone had been searching for Jiang Bai for quite a while.

"What?"

Hearing Mu En's words, Jiang Bai tilted his head. Someone had been looking for him for a long time?

"Jiang Bai!"

Xiao Xiao's anger-filled voice came from nearby.

"This little girl has been looking for you for ages."

"Looking for me? What for?" Jiang Bai looked doubtfully at the furious Xiao Xiao in front of him.

He still couldn't figure out what was going on.

"Who told you to leave without saying goodbye?"

Xiao Xiao was furious. Back then, it seemed she had been the only one who hadn't known Jiang Bai was leaving. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had both known!

"I didn't, did I? Didn't I ask Huo Yuhao to notify everyone when I left that day?"

Jiang Bai spoke strangely. He remembered telling Huo Yuhao before leaving, and Wang Dong had known too.

"He forgot!"

Xiao Xiao glared viciously at Jiang Bai. She remembered clearly that Huo Yuhao had only told her after she asked him.

Jiang Bai: "..."

Fine. It was all Huo Yuhao's fault.

At that time, Huo Yuhao had thrown all his energy into Soul Tools, so it was normal for him to forget Jiang Bai's instructions.

"Uh... you can't blame me for that, can you?"

At the time, Jiang Bai had wanted to hurry home to condense his third Soul Ring, and he also had to deal with matters at Ice God Hall. He truly had been pressed for time.

"Who else am I supposed to blame?"

I really want to beat this bastard up! Xiao Xiao thought viciously.

"Almost at three rings? You're cultivating pretty quickly."

Xiao Xiao was now level twenty-nine, and her aura was already close to breaking through to level thirty. Reaching three rings was only a matter of days.

Jiang Bai remembered that in the original work, Xiao Xiao had only been level twenty-nine during the reserve team's free-for-all, and she hadn't broken through level thirty until after the Soul Master Tournament ended.

Oh, no.

In the original work, that also included the Soul Power boost from her second Martial Soul's hundred-year Soul Ring.

"Of course. This young lady is a genius."

Xiao Xiao proudly flicked her ponytail. She was a genius, and after receiving her teacher's guidance, her cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds.

That's right, Xiao Xiao and Mu En now had a teacher-student relationship.

Mu En had said that if Xiao Xiao passed the assessment, she could officially become his disciple.

In truth, Mu En also wanted to take Xiao Xiao in.

Unfortunately, if he were younger, taking on another disciple would have been fine. What a pity...

Twin Martial Souls truly were the mark of a genius.

However, Jiang Bai noticed a strange trace of energy within Xiao Xiao's right leg.

If nothing unexpected had happened, it should have been a Soul Bone. But the Soul Bone's power seemed to have been compressed. Otherwise, Jiang Bai felt Xiao Xiao might have already broken through level thirty.

What Jiang Bai didn't know was that this had been Xiao Xiao's own choice.

Xiao Xiao wanted to absorb a Soul Ring beyond her limits for her third Soul Ring, so she had Mu En suppress the Soul Bone's Soul Power. She would absorb the Soul Ring only after her physical condition improved enough.

She was nearly ready now. Xiao Xiao planned to absorb the Soul Ring after Jiang Bai returned.

"I'll go back and tidy up my things. Yuhao is back too, so let's get together tonight."

Jiang Bai spoke. He had been stopped the moment he returned, and now he needed to go clean up. After being away for so long, there might even be spiderwebs on his bed.

"Yuhao's back too? Alright, I'll wait for you tonight."

Hearing Huo Yuhao's name, Xiao Xiao remembered that he had been late too. But why had Yuhao returned when Jiang Bai did? Had they gone home together?

No, had they met each other's parents? Pah! What was she even thinking?!

Xiao Xiao shook her head, shaking away those strange thoughts.

Click—

Holding Xue Ying, Jiang Bai passed Huo Yuhao's dorm room and found that the door hadn't been closed. Standing at the entrance, he immediately saw Wang Dong pinning Huo Yuhao against the wall.

The three stared at one another...

Jiang Bai: "..."

One hand silently covered Xue Ying's little head as it poked out. Don't look at indecency, don't look at indecency.

Wall ← Huo Yuhao ← Wang Dong

The two of them: "..."

In the end, Jiang Bai thoughtfully helped the two youngsters close the door.

"It's all your fault!!!"

Wang Dong grabbed Huo Yuhao by the collar and shook him wildly.

Gritting her teeth, Wang Dong glared at Huo Yuhao viciously. It was all this guy's fault! Jiang Bai must have misunderstood something! Damn Huo Yuhao!

One hand pinched the soft flesh at Huo Yuhao's waist.

"Why didn't you tell me about your Martial Soul Mutation?!"

"I was afraid you'd worry. Don't pinch me, it hurts~"

Huo Yuhao struggled a little and shifted into a more comfortable position. He didn't want to reveal Brother Sky Dream and Ice Empress's matters, but he had truly been afraid Wang Dong would worry.

"Who would worry about you?"

At those words, Wang Dong's earlobes reddened slightly. Then she forcefully tossed Huo Yuhao aside.

What was this guy saying? How could she possibly worry about him? He was only a tiny two-ring Soul Master.

Huo Yuhao rubbed the head he'd bumped. Fortunately, Wang Dong hadn't used much force, so it didn't hurt much.

"Alright, I'm going to tell Teacher Wang Yan."

"I'll go with you. I have questions for the teacher too."

Hearing that, Wang Dong decided to accompany him. Would the Martial Soul Mutation affect their Martial Soul Fusion Skill?

After returning to his dorm, Ice God's Split Soul finally spoke.

"That gatekeeper is quite powerful. He should be level ninety-nine, but there seems to be something strange inside him that is wearing away at his life force."

Hearing this, Jiang Bai couldn't help praising him. As expected of the Ice God—he had seen through Mu En's condition at a glance.

"Can he still be saved?"

Jiang Bai asked. If he could be saved, then he would simply help him.

"Basically no. His body is failing, and his life source has been depleted. Even if his life source were replenished, it would continue to drain away. Unless a god intervenes, there's almost no way to save him in the mortal world."

The Ice God answered. Unless a god took action, with Douluo Continent's current state, there was no way to resolve Mu En's chronic condition.

"Mm."

Jiang Bai still wanted Mu En to live a little longer. After all, among humans, Mu En was the only one who could contend with Long Xiaoyao.

Not counting Clear Sky Sect and Sea God Island, there were probably only three true Human Limits.

The sun set in the west.

"Where did Yuhao and the others go?"

Xiao Xiao held Xue Ying and looked around. There was no sign of Wang Dong or Huo Yuhao, so she turned to Jiang Bai.

"I don't know either."

Rubbing his chin, Jiang Bai also had no idea where the two had gone. Had they gone to find Wang Yan and not returned yet? Did they really have that much to ask?

"Then let's go out and stroll around first."

Jiang Bai thought about it. They didn't know when Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong would return, so they might as well go out first.

"Sure."

Xiao Xiao nodded, then continued rubbing Xue Ying in her arms. Hehe, so soft~

Jiang Bai prepared a letter and slipped it through the gap beneath Huo Yuhao's dorm door. Huo Yuhao should notice it when he returned.

Not having a phone was inconvenient. Once I get the chance, I'll definitely make Huo Yuhao whip one up for me.

Afterward, the two left the dormitory building and headed toward the market outside Shrek.

"You know how to make medicine too?"

Xiao Xiao looked at the medicinal ingredients Jiang Bai had bought and asked curiously.

"Mm. Otherwise, where did your Pearl Milk Tea come from?"

As he spoke, Jiang Bai took out a cup of milk tea and handed it to Xue Ying in Xiao Xiao's arms.

"Ying, ying, ying~"

"What about mine?"

Xiao Xiao asked. Why did only Xue Ying get one? Where was hers?!

"You can't drink this one. I'll make you one later."

This cup was filled with top-tier ice-element medicinal ingredients. Even a Soul Ancestor might not be able to withstand it after drinking it.

It was merely Xue Ying's snack.

After strolling around for a while, the two sat down in front of a restaurant. Not long afterward, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong finally arrived.

"Why are you so late?"

Xiao Xiao reproached them. It was already so late. Why had they only arrived now?

"It's all Huo Yuhao's fault. He was late, and Teacher Wang Yan lectured him for ages."

Wang Dong immediately sold Huo Yuhao out. Half of that was true.

After the two found Wang Yan, he had kept them behind.

He definitely hadn't scolded them. When Wang Yan saw Huo Yuhao's Ice Jade Scorpion Martial Soul, his eyes had nearly lit up.

As for Huo Yuhao being late? Was that even a problem?

Wang Yan felt it wasn't a problem at all. Wasn't it perfectly normal for hunting a Soul Ring to take that long?

Besides, hadn't he returned before the assessment? Just say whether he came back or not.

Wang Yan himself was the homeroom teacher. Couldn't he say whatever he wanted?