Castle in the Sky

Mu Feng nudged Di Qiuli with his elbow and whispered, "I didn't expect you to be so popular."

Di Qiuli shot Mu Feng a glare, pointed at the spot on his arm where she had once bitten him, then opened and closed her mouth, her two rows of neat pearly teeth gently coming together in an obvious threat.

Yet Di Qiuli had a different sort of charm when she did not speak. Watching her tender red tongue move slightly inside her mouth, Mu Feng could not help but stare blankly.

Di Qiuli quickly came to her senses. A rosy flush swept across her cheeks, and she hurriedly closed her mouth before fiercely glaring at Mu Feng.

Realizing that he had just lost his composure, Mu Feng rubbed his nose and turned away, though his mind was still replaying that alluring scene.

He had always treated eleven-year-old Di Qiuli as a child. He had never expected that moment of charm from her to nearly make even him, an experienced old hand in his previous life, lose control. Mu Feng hurriedly patted his cheeks, banishing those sinful thoughts from his mind.

Mu Jin pressed both hands down, and the classroom finally quieted somewhat. Only then did he continue, "I know everyone still has many questions. Mu Feng, could you come up to the front?"

Mu Feng, who had been performing an exorcism ritual on himself, snapped awake upon hearing Mu Jin's words and walked to the front.

Mu Jin whispered a few words into Mu Feng's ear. Mu Feng nodded, and as he released his Soul Power, the six-winged Kayle, clad in aristocratic battle armor, appeared behind him. Three Soul Rings encircled her body.

Once everyone saw the colors of those Soul Rings clearly, their eyes widened involuntarily. Someone soon cried out in shock, "Three purple Soul Rings!"

Mu Jin had been asking Mu Feng whether he was willing to release his martial soul. Given the special nature of his martial soul, everyone would remember it sooner or later anyway, so Mu Feng readily agreed to Mu Jin's request.

Meanwhile, Class One, which was miserably running laps outside on the plaza, suddenly heard earth-shaking cries of alarm coming from Class Nine.

Mu Jin introduced him, "Mu Feng, a rank thirty-nine Soul Elder. Does anyone have any objections to him serving as our class monitor?"

With Mu Feng as class monitor holding things down, no one in the class dared to oppose Mu Jin anymore. The remaining matters were quickly arranged.

When class ended, intimidated by Mu Feng's terrifying Soul Ring configuration, very few people even left their seats. Only after several bolder students came over to strike up a conversation with their monstrous class monitor did the classroom become lively again.

Those who spoke with him soon discovered that Mu Feng was far easier to get along with than they had imagined. He wore a smiling expression no matter who he spoke to, quickly earning unanimous praise from the class.

When no one was nearby, Di Qiuli leaned close and whispered into Mu Feng's ear, "What a hypocrite."

Mu Feng, whose face had grown stiff from smiling, twitched at the corner of his mouth. "Same to you."

Aside from theory classes, which greatly helped Mu Feng deepen his understanding of martial souls and soul beasts, he was already on a different cultivation track from most of his classmates. Thus, Mu Jin specially permitted Mu Feng, who was about to break through, to move freely during cultivation classes.

This was excellent news for Mu Feng, who was about to advance to Soul Ancestor. While legends of Mu Feng had already begun spreading outside, he himself quietly hid away in a corner to cultivate. Other than attending theory classes on time, he was often nowhere to be seen in the classroom.

However, he still bore the responsibilities of class monitor. Therefore, Mu Feng handed most of those duties over to Di Qiuli and Ning Tian, remaining only an honorary class monitor in name. There was nothing to say about Di Qiuli, while Ning Tian was the third-strongest cultivator in the class and came from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Naturally, no one else had any objections.

Mu Feng sat by Sea God Lake, enjoying the cool lake breeze brushing against his face. Few people came here during class hours, and since Mu Feng had chosen a remote spot, it was even harder to find anyone. No normal person would come this way.

Mu Feng opened his eyes and gazed out across the vast Sea God Lake with a sigh. He always felt that he was just one step away from a breakthrough, yet that final trace of insight was as elusive as an antelope's horn, impossible to grasp.

Feeling somewhat bored, Mu Feng picked up a pebble beside him and idly skipped it across the lake.

"Are you feeling a little lost, little one?" A voice suddenly sounded in Mu Feng's mind. It was Electrolux, who resided within his consciousness.

"Senior, you're awake?" Mu Feng asked in surprise.

"My name is Electrolux. Just call me Elder Yi," Electrolux continued. "Thanks to this mass of Holy Light, my spiritual sense is no longer as frail as it was at the beginning. It has also allowed these old bones of mine to come out and get some fresh air."

"Looking at you, have you encountered a bottleneck in your cultivation?"

"Yes, Elder Yi." Mu Feng nodded. "I'm stuck at the critical threshold of advancement, but I can never grasp that sliver of insight. Everything feels hazy and unclear."

Electrolux pondered for a moment. "At times like this, you must not cling too tightly. Although this world's cultivation laws differ from mine, the essence of cultivation ultimately leads to the same destination. Cultivation is like a spring; it should be neither too tense nor too loose. Rather than exhaust yourself here, why not go out and seek some inspiration?"

Mu Feng accepted Electrolux's experienced advice and looked over the boundless blue Sea God Lake. Life at Shrek Academy had been relaxed and enjoyable these past few days, but such a comfortable life was like a castle in the sky to him.

Mu Feng murmured, "It's time to return to my original identity."

Without delay, Mu Feng used his imminent breakthrough and need to enter the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a Soul Ring as an excuse to request a seven-day leave of absence from Mu Jin. Mu Jin cared deeply about the foremost genius in both the class and the freshman cohort, asking Mu Feng several times whether he needed help.

Even after Mu Feng repeatedly refused, Mu Jin remained somewhat uneasy. However, seeing how determined he was, Mu Jin could only approve his leave.

After arriving in Shrek City, Mu Feng slowly strolled along the outer ring of the southern district. Shrek Academy lay at the intersection of the three great empires, and countless merchants and mercenary guilds gathered here, forming Shrek City's vast commercial ecosystem.

Inns and restaurants were especially mixed and chaotic places. After wandering around for a long time, Mu Feng entered a tea-house inn. Passing through the noisy crowd, he headed straight for the proprietor.

"Boss, bring me a cup of ale. Make it hot—boiling, preferably."

The burly man seated beside Mu Feng looked at him strangely. "Hot ale? Kid, you aren't here to cause trouble, are you?"

The proprietor, who had just been chatting cheerfully with another customer, gave Mu Feng a meaningful look. "We only serve chilled ale here. If you want it hot, go upstairs, walk forward, and turn right. There are kettles and firewood inside. Heat it yourself."

Mu Feng nodded and followed the directions to a narrow woodshed. An old man sat inside in a lifeless daze. Mu Feng said softly, "Shadows drape across the universe."

The gaunt old man, who had been moving lazily and listlessly, looked around upon hearing those words. His gaze settled on Mu Feng as he replied, "The Holy Spirit saves all beings."

Mu Feng then slapped a token down before him. The old man carefully held it in his palms. After examining it, his expression changed drastically, and he immediately prostrated himself before Mu Feng. "Welcome, Holy Son."

Mu Feng took back the token and instructed, "Have Xiao Hei and Little White come see me."

"Yes." Having received his orders, the old man no longer looked numb or sluggish. He swiftly hurried out of the room.

Electrolux's grave voice sounded in his mind. "It seems your identity is far from ordinary, little one. No wonder you immediately offered to help me find materials back then."