Tom Cat's miserable screams continued until late into the night, shrill and drawn out as they echoed endlessly over the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Guidance Academy, startling flock after flock of roosting birds into flight.
The passing students all shrank their necks at the sound and hurried away from the scene, afraid of being caught up in it.
Xiao Hongchen lay sprawled over the sofa, his backside swollen high as though two large steamed buns had been stuffed there.
He was completely wilted, like an eggplant struck by frost, with none of his usual arrogance left.
He lay there whimpering, mumbling some indistinct words under his breath, probably cursing Zhi An for hitting too hard.
Of course, Zhi An had not truly cut him. Still, using his sword as a ruler to give him a good spanking was no problem.
And he had controlled the force perfectly, making Xiao Hongchen howl in pain without injuring his muscles or bones.
Ignoring Xiao Hongchen's wails, he sat cross-legged in his room, closed his eyes, and sank his consciousness into his Sea of Spirit, establishing contact with Xuan Xiao, who was far away in the Star Luo Empire.
Their consciousnesses met in an empty space surrounded by chaotic grayness, where only each other's awareness could be seen clearly.
Zhi An spoke first, his tone carrying caution and doubt.
"So you want to buy the Hurricane Giant Tower? Have you really thought this through? That is no ordinary structure. It is something capable of changing the entire continent's balance of power."
Xuan Xiao's voice was relaxed and casual. "That's right. Do you have any objections?"
He had his reasons for consulting Zhi An. This fellow's temperament was more mature than his current self, and he considered matters more thoroughly.
If his youthful recklessness accounted