Three Sides Vie for Him

Time was like a wild donkey: once it started running, it never stopped.

Two and a half months flew by. Chu Chen's body was finally a hair's breadth from full recovery.

The steward of the City Lord's Manor had forbidden Chu Chen from getting out of bed during those two and a half months, but he had hardly been idle.

Thanks to the attention of the leaders of the City Lord's Manor, Spirit Hall, and the Soul Master Academy, nearly every request Chu Chen made had been granted.

Cultivation was out of the question for now, but he had learned a great deal of Soul Master Theory, especially about Soul Beast.

Both the library of Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy and Spirit Hall's archives had been opened to him.

Without leaving his room, Chu Chen could easily obtain every book on Soul Masters in Notting City.

With his exceptional Soul Force, calling Chu Chen someone who never forgot what he read would have been an understatement.

All told, his grasp of Soul Master Theory had become virtually unrivaled in Notting City over those two and a half months.

Forget the students of Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy—even its teachers might not have surpassed him in fundamental knowledge.

As for Yu Xiaogang, who was also in Notting City...

He was another matter. Chu Chen had no interest in assessing the true theoretical knowledge of a man who did not even know that absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring would subject the soul to a shock.

On a bright, sunny day, the time finally came for Chu Chen to get out of bed.

He rose slowly and set his feet on the cool, solid floor.

For the first time in two and a half months, he stood entirely under his own power.

There was no dizziness, no stabbing pain. The Dou Qi that had long lain dormant deep in his dantian began to circulate naturally again, flowing through every meridian as smoothly and gently as a stream thawing in spring.

I could've gotten up ages ago. The steward of the City Lord's Manor just wouldn't let me. I was going stir-crazy.

Complaining to himself, Chu Chen looked down at his hands.

The charred, curled skin had long since fallen away. The new skin was tender and pale, but he could feel that the muscles and bones beneath it had grown considerably denser and stronger than before his injuries.

His meridians were even more remarkable.

Looking inward with his Soul Force, Chu Chen clearly "saw" that the once relatively narrow channels inside him had become broad and resilient, like steel pipes tempered over and over.

This was the result of the extreme heat of the Fire Thunder Seed colliding inside him with the remnants of Tang Hao's violent Soul Power from his Ring Detonation, followed by Madam Ye's gentle healing Soul Power guiding it through his body and his own Soul Force bringing it into balance.

A blessing in disguise.

The calamity that had nearly shattered his body had instead given Chu Chen a foundation for cultivation far beyond that of his peers.

"Young Master Chu, why are you up?"

The door opened softly. The maid carrying his medicinal meal startled at the sight of him standing beside the bed. She hurriedly put down the tray and moved to support him.

"I'm fine now."

Chu Chen waved her off, his voice calm.

He took two steps forward. His footing was unsteady at first, but it soon grew firm.

After about the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, he could walk, sit, and lie down like anyone else.

"Please tell City Lord Xiao that I can leave the City Lord's Manor and return to the academy today."

Xiao Cui acknowledged him and hurried away.

Chu Chen went to the window and pushed open its carved wooden shutters.

The early autumn breeze swept in with the cool scent of grass and trees, stirring the wisps of black hair over his forehead.

The inner courtyard of the City Lord's Manor was beautiful.

Artificial hills, running water, and flourishing flowers and trees filled it, but Chu Chen looked past the high courtyard wall toward Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy.

Two and a half months had passed. Much might have changed outside.

Tang San's injuries had probably healed, and Yu Xiaogang was likely seizing every chance to fill Clear Sky Douluo's son's head with his theory full of holes.

As for Xiao Wu...

At the thought of that little Rabbit transformed from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, a calculating look entered Chu Chen's eyes.

He had no intention of letting a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone go to waste.

But now was not the time to make a move against her.

The eyes of Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family might already be on Notting City—and on the child who had "miraculously survived."

Keeping a low profile, biding his time, recovering his strength as soon as possible, and obtaining his first Soul Ring were what mattered most right now.

As for those seven Spirit Bones and the Blue Silver Emperor...

Chu Chen touched the Flame Ji Ring on the middle finger of his right hand.

It was not time to absorb them yet. Besides, he truly did not want to use the six Spirit Bones taken from Tang Hao.

Not one of them was even at the hundred-thousand-year level. For Chu Chen, who aspired to become a god, they were simply too worthless.

I'll have to find a way to get something better...

"How is your recovery coming along, young friend Chu Chen?"

A hearty laugh came from outside the door, interrupting Chu Chen's thoughts.

He turned toward the sound. City Lord Xiao, Dean Wei, and Ma Xiunuo, the Spirit Hall branch master, had arrived together.

Seeing the barely concealed urgency in their faces, Chu Chen understood.

His "recovery period" was over, and certain people could no longer sit still.

"Thank you for your concern, City Lord Xiao, Dean Wei, and Branch Master Ma Xiunuo. I've recovered from my injuries."

Chu Chen turned and greeted them with clasped hands. His manners were impeccable.

City Lord Xiao looked him up and down, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

As a Soul Elder, his senses were far sharper than those of an ordinary person.

The child before him showed no sign of intense Soul Power fluctuations, yet his steady bearing carried an invisible pressure that faintly unsettled even City Lord Xiao...

This was not how an ordinary six-year-old should be!

"Good, good! I'm glad you've recovered!"

City Lord Xiao suppressed his misgivings and smiled broadly.

"Chu Chen, you survived a terrible ordeal. Good fortune is sure to follow!"

"Dean Wei has already made arrangements at the academy. When you return, you'll have the best teaching resources!"

"Thank you, Dean."

Chu Chen looked at Dean Wei.

The old Soul Ancestor wore a smile, but worry and scrutiny lurked deep in his eyes.

"Of course, of course!"

Dean Wei spoke at once.

"You're a talent our academy sees only once in a century. Naturally, we'll make your training a priority!"

"Oh, and as for your first Soul Ring, the academy has already sent people to make a preliminary survey of Soul Hunting Forest. Once you've rested a few more days, you can..."

"Branch Master Ma Xiunuo, did you have something to say?"

Chu Chen suddenly turned toward the Spirit Hall Branch Hall master, who had remained silent.

Caught out, Ma Xiunuo paused, then gave an awkward chuckle and took a gilt letter from his robes.

"Chu Chen, this is a special recruitment letter from Spirit Hall Headquarters."

He tried to keep his tone even, but his eyes grew eager.

"His Holiness the Pope personally asked about you and thinks highly of a talent like you. Spirit Hall is willing to provide you with the best cultivation resources, the finest mentors, and even... the chance to enter the Spirit Hall Elite Training Camp one day!"

"Just say the word, and you can leave for Spirit City immediately!"