The Hundred-Year Ice Spirit Fruit finally sold for 1.23 million. That was not much above the starting price, so it seemed the other bidder did not need it all that badly.
Then there was nothing to worry about. Jiang Mingyuan had been wondering whether he would run into the sort of plot a novel's protagonist faced, with the other party coming to kill him and steal his treasure. Apparently, that would not happen.
Next, with Jiang Mingyuan's help, Class Five's trio easily defeated the students from Class Two. Nothing unexpected happened.
"Attention, teachers and students. An emergency announcement will now be broadcast. According to the meteorological department, a severe tropical storm will arrive tonight. This powerful typhoon is expected to last over a week. Classes will be temporarily suspended. Students who live nearby should return home. Other students may remain in the dormitories, and the academy will ensure supplies are provided."
"Attention, teachers..."
Jiang Mingyuan had just been about to return to the dormitory for a lovely nap when he suddenly heard the announcement. He felt little fear; instead, he was somewhat curious.
In neither his previous life nor this one had he ever experienced a typhoon firsthand.
"Wulin, come on. Let's go to the mall and stock up on supplies. Didn't they say classes would be suspended for a week? We can stay in the dormitory, and you can undo that seal of yours."
Tang Wulin had originally planned to ask Teacher Wu for a few days off after the class promotion tournament to undo the seal. Now there was no need. He would seize this opportunity and break through in one go.
If what the Golden Figure had said was true, it would also greatly improve their chances of winning their future class promotion match against Class One.
Nearly a third of Eastsea Academy's students lived near Eastsea City and could make it home before the storm arrived. They rushed to their dormitories to pack their luggage, taking out their Soul Guidance Communicators to contact their parents.
Beep, beep, beep, beep!
Jiang Mingyuan's and Tang Wulin's Soul Guidance Communicators rang too, and they opened them to take a look.
[Tang's parents: Wulin, I saw on the news that a typhoon seems to be coming. You and Mingyuan stay safe over there. Don't go running around.] [Na'er: Big brother, I heard there's a typhoon where you are. Stay safe!] [Leng Yaozhu: Stay safe.] [Leng Yaozhu: File uploaded.] [Leng Yaozhu: Take a look and see whether there are any soul spirits you like. Your teacher will give you one when the time comes.]
At least there were people in this world who cared about him too.
When Jiang Mingyuan and Tang Wulin returned to the dormitory with their supplies, Zhou Changxi and Yun Xiao had long since packed their luggage, rolled up their bedding, and headed home.
Both their homes were near Eastsea City, less than three hours away by Soul Guidance Train.
Xie Xie was a local and could get home simply by hailing a taxi.
After returning to the dormitory and closing the doors and windows, the two exchanged a glance. Tang Wulin took three spiritual treasures out of his Storage Soul Tool and placed them on the table.
"Mingyuan, how do you think I should use these? Eat them directly?"
Jiang Mingyuan propped his chin on his hand and thought for a while. He really could not remember how they had been used to undo the seal in the original story-whether they were for soaking in a bath or eating raw.
"Didn't you say there was that Golden Figure? Ask him again. Just focus on undoing the seal. I'll stand guard for you. Nothing will go wrong."
Tang Wulin nodded, but then he suddenly realized something awkward.
How was he supposed to find the Golden Figure? He did not even know what to call him.
Tang Wulin sat on the bed, closed his eyes, and called out in his heart.
Golden Figure, are you there? I've collected those three things. Can you tell me how to undo the seal?
Only after a long while did the Golden Figure's voice quietly sound in the depths of Tang Wulin's heart.
"Oh? So soon?" The Golden Figure sounded distinctly puzzled. He had thought Tang Wulin would need at least several months, perhaps even more than half a year, to gather everything.
As the voice rang out, Tang Wulin felt his consciousness reel, and he was once again drawn into that strange space. The enormous golden dragon was still flying above the Divine Temple.
The Golden Figure said gravely, "I must warn you beforehand: these three items only serve as aids. When you undo the seal, you will suffer tremendous pain."
Tang Wulin did not hesitate in the slightest. He answered firmly, "I'm not afraid of pain. No matter how painful or difficult it is, I have to become strong."
Tang Wulin was no longer the innocent child he had once been. Three years of experience had helped him understand many things.
On this continent, those without strength could only sink to the very bottom.
The disparity between their martial souls had gradually begun to show, and he feared that the gap between him and Mingyuan would only grow wider. When the day came that Mingyuan stood on a peak beyond his reach, Tang Wulin would probably feel he no longer deserved to stand beside him.
"Good!" The Golden Figure could sense the resolute will emanating from Tang Wulin.
"First, you must find a quiet place where no one will disturb you for at least a few days. Then you need a sealable container. Put the two spiritual fruits inside, then quickly pour in the blood of the hundred-year Dragon-Bloodline Soul Beast. Seal the container and wait until everything inside settles down. Drink it, and you can begin removing the first seal."
Tang Wulin silently committed all the Golden Figure's instructions to memory.
"By the way, I still don't know what to call you."
The Golden Figure paused, then slowly said, "You can call me Old Tang."
"Once you have everything ready, I will guide you through gradually undoing the first seal and try to lessen your pain. But whether you succeed will still depend on the firmness of your own will."
After returning from that strange space, Tang Wulin immediately rummaged through the dormitory for his drinking cup. Yet as he looked at the transparent cup in his hand, he could not help feeling that it was not very sturdy.
Jiang Mingyuan handed him his thermos. He used it to brew tea to perk himself up.
"Use mine."
Tang Wulin rinsed the thermos with water and shook out the remaining moisture. Then he put both the Hundred-Year Ice Crystal Fruit and the Hundred-Year Scarlet Flame Fruit inside. Finally, with a pop, he pulled the stopper from the glass bottle and poured in the small bottle of dragon soul beast blood.
The three spiritual treasures immediately produced a wondrous reaction upon coming together.
With quick eyes and quicker hands, Tang Wulin immediately put the lid on and screwed it tight, afraid the contents would spray out and go to waste.
Jiang Mingyuan and Tang Wulin could feel a strange fluctuation of soul power coming from the thermos. Faintly, they could hear something like a soul beast's roar. A layer of frost gradually formed on the outside of the cup as well. Clearly, the Ice Spirit Fruit was exerting its power inside.
Once the reaction inside subsided a little, Tang Wulin dared not delay. He immediately unscrewed the lid, and an indescribable smell wafted out of the thermos.
Jiang Mingyuan felt that this cup was a lost cause.
The two leaned closer out of curiosity and saw a dark purple liquid bubbling with tiny bubbles inside the cup.
Something involuntarily sprang to Jiang Mingyuan's mind.
Effervescent tablets.
Tang Wulin took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and suppressed his nausea as he raised the thermos to his lips and gulped it down.
Huh!
It doesn't taste bad!
That was Tang Wulin's first reaction. It was slightly sweet, with a faint bloody tang, but the liquid was rather slippery, giving it a very odd texture.