Word Count: 2,694 Words
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"Faith..."
Ling Bai had already broken through to Spirit Saint, and his combat strength had reached the level of a Titled Douluo. Indeed, it was time to consider his path toward Godhood.
In truth, he had long shared Electrolux's vision of winning faith from the living beings of Douluo Continent.
The most valuable faith came from the powerful and from fanatic believers. The first Sea God had conquered the vast ocean, harvesting the faith of countless sea spirit beasts and Spirit Masters to forge a 1st Class God Position and elevate the Sea God Trident to a Divine Weapon.
The first Angel God had saved humanity, established Spirit Hall to purge evil, and ultimately ascended to become the Angel God. The Seraphim thus became a God-level Martial Spirit.
Ling Bai's path forward was clear: repair the Angel God Position and elevate both the Angel and Rakshasa God Positions to God King level. Such ambition demanded immense faith, and his first piece on this grand chessboard was the Snow Empress.
The spirit beasts of the Extreme North were undoubtedly her fanatical followers. Love me, love my dog—with Ling Bai and the Snow Empress sharing one heart and mind, he could at least count on inheriting the basic faith of the Extreme North's denizens.
But the Extreme North alone was far from enough. He would need to conquer and inspire faith in far more humans and spirit beasts.
In the courtyard of the former Holy Spirit Cult branch, Na Na noticed Ling Bai deep in thought and dared not disturb him. Only when his gaze returned to her did she speak softly:
"Master, our families were all slaughtered by the Holy Spirit Cult's Evil Spirit Saint, and we were enslaved for years. Now that our inner demons are gone and we have nothing holding us back, we wish only to serve at your side for life.
Among the eight of them, four are Spirit Ancestors and four are Spirit Kings, with four also trained as Spirit Guidance Masters. News of the Mingdu branch's destruction will soon reach the Holy Spirit Cult headquarters. We'll certainly face their pursuit. Please, Master, show us a clear path forward."
Ling Bai nodded slightly. "I'll write you a letter. Leave Mingdu immediately for Nine Treasure City. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will make arrangements for you."
The Holy Spirit Cult had also recruited based on talent. These former Holy Servants were all under thirty and had the potential to become Spirit Saints. More importantly, they were now fanatical believers, completely loyal to him. Ling Bai therefore accepted them without hesitation.
"Thank you, Master!"
The nine knelt in unison. For those who had walked through such darkness, their gratitude upon finding the light was beyond words. The title of 'Master' came from the depths of their hearts, and tears glistened in many eyes. They could finally live as people again!
Ever attentive to detail, Na Na remembered something before departing. She pointed to the Holy Spirit Cult's base, now suffused with holy aura after the Angelic Domain's cleansing.
"Master, should we remove the traces of battle?"
"No need."
Ling Bai still wanted to fish.
Others feared the Holy Spirit Cult for the evil and cunning of its members, but their sinister tricks were nothing before the Seraphim, easily swept aside with a wave of his hand.
Normal Super Douluo might give Ling Bai some trouble, but a Super Evil Douluo? He could thrash them soundly. Not to mention the Death Abyss Bone Dragon still hiding in his Spectral Demiplane.
A 7-ringed Seraphim with three ultimate attributes plus a Rank 96 Death Abyss Bone Dragon—even Zhongli Wu would lose a few teeth if he showed up.
After bidding Ling Bai farewell, Na Na and the others rushed overnight toward the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Ling Bai returned to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy and resumed his orderly routine of cultivation.
...
One month later, at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy's testing ground.
Sword light flickered and shadows danced as two dark figures entangled in combat. Waves of sword energy surged upward, splitting the clouds and drawing gasps of awe from the spectating students.
Clang—
The two swords met and then abruptly separated. The light dissipated to reveal Ling Bai and Ji Juechen standing opposite each other.
Ji Juechen gripped the Judgement Sword, a peak Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device that Ling Bai had gifted him shortly after acquiring it.
As the saying goes, a hero deserves a fine sword. With a proper weapon in hand, Ji Juechen's strength had soared. Daily battles with Ling Bai had honed him until his sword intent no longer spilled out in torrents but was compressed a thousandfold, finally condensing into a single strand as powerful as a soaring dragon.
Yet when this sword intent crashed against Ling Bai's, it could not gain even the slightest advantage. Another, sharper sword intent within Ling Bai simply split the dragon apart.
Ling Bai advanced with the Angel Sword in hand. Each step layered his form in brilliant gold, the light in his eyes particularly intense. Even the ground bore golden footprints in his wake.
Excitement gleamed in Ji Juechen's eyes. He switched to a two-handed grip on the Judgement Sword, and the tip of the peak Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device, which integrated both light and darkness, collided violently with the Angel Sword's point.
BOOM—
The swords locked for barely half a second before a thunderous rumble echoed across the field.
Cracks and collapses radiated from beneath their feet, spreading a hundred meters before the destruction gradually subsided.
The spectators pressed back against their seats, faces filled with fear and awe. For an instant when the swords met, the air itself seemed to distort, everything becoming unreal. Though the vision lasted only a moment, none doubted what they had witnessed.
These battles between Ling Bai and Ji Juechen, two masters of the sword dao, had become a fixture at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Many teachers regularly attended, and though they could never fully grasp the essence of the techniques on display, they understood one truth deeply: this was far more than a contest between the Angel Sword and Judgement Sword. It was a clash between wielders, between rising sword intents, between spirits colliding.
After the exchange, both fighters retreated. Ji Juechen gripped his hilt with such force that blood seeped from his tiger's mouth.
[TL/N: In Tai Chi and Kung Fu, "tiger's mouth" refers to the space between the thumb and index finger on a person's hand.]
By contrast, Ling Bai remained calm, golden light still radiant in his eyes as he gazed at the Angel Sword, silently listening to its heartbeat.
"Tomorrow we fight again!"
Ji Juechen fixed Ling Bai with a deep look before turning and striding away.
"Jing Ziyan, you're up!"
Ling Bai called out, his voice amplified by spirit power.
"Coming, coming! What's the rush!"
Jing Ziyan gritted her teeth and dragged her aching body onto the field, inwardly cursing Ling Bai ten thousand times.
The students all said she and Ji Juechen were battle maniacs, but Ling Bai proved even more combat-hungry than both combined. With fights morning, noon, and night, school had become like punching a time clock.
Taking a deep breath, Jing Ziyan—who couldn't take a beating nearly as well as Ji Juechen—resolved to hide in her dormitory for a week after today's match. She refused to believe Ling Bai would dare force his way into the girls' dormitory!
"Wait, what is that..."
Jing Ziyan's expression suddenly stiffened. Across from her, Ling Bai's gaze had become fiery and predatory, as if he might devour her in a single bite. His fierce look made her skin crawl.
Ling Bai's lips curved into a slow smile as his six angelic wings erupted from his back. Jing Ziyan immediately panicked:
"No, wait! You promised not to use your Martial Spirit..."
She waved her arms frantically. She was merely a little 6-ringed Spirit Emperor, while Ling Bai was a Seraphim Spirit Saint!
One swing of his sword would shatter her into eight pieces!
Jing Ziyan immediately ducked and covered her head, but Ling Bai's target wasn't her. He shot past her like a gust of wind.
"Eh?"
Jing Ziyan dazedly turned to see two figures, a man and a woman, standing at the edge of the testing ground. The man was Fan Yu, the supervising teacher from Shrek, while the woman looked unfamiliar.
She possessed bright, jet-black eyes set in a refined, beautiful face. Her skin was so fair and delicate it seemed the slightest touch might mar it. A gentle smile graced her lips, evoking the softness of a spring breeze. It was a smile that seemed capable of instantly erasing all anxiety, full of a gentle, graceful charm.
Ling Bai wrapped one arm around the captivating curve where her waist met her hip, the other encircling her to pull her close. Holding her tight, he met her gaze and spoke softly:
"Elder Sister has grown thinner."
Han Ruoruo patted his back, her voice gentle with a hint of sweetness. "Come now, so many people are watching."
"Mm."
Ling Bai released her and gazed at her pretty face from up close, feeling a pleasant surprise. He called out to Jing Ziyan in the distance:
"That's all for today. Same time tomorrow morning!"
Hearing the first half, Jing Ziyan nearly burst into joyous laughter, but the second half instantly crushed her hopes. With repeated sighs, she trudged back to her dormitory to rest and prepare for tomorrow's 'torment.'
"Teacher Fan Yu, since the exchange students are doing well, the academy can rest assured."
Han Ruoruo said politely. "If there's nothing else, Little Junior Brother and I will take our leave."
"Of course, please go ahead."
Fan Yu nodded. Han Ruoruo was representing Shrek Academy, delivering cultivation resources and inquiring about the exchange students' well-being—specifically, whether they had been bullied by the Sun Moon Imperial Academy.
Had the answer been yes, the Hongchen siblings would have suffered ten times worse back at Shrek. This was precisely why Jing Hongchen treated the Shrek disciples, including Ling Bai, with such courtesy.
After taking their leave of Teacher Fan Yu and the bustling testing ground, the two walked side by side down a secluded path through the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Ling Bai asked:
"Why did the academy send Elder Sister this time?"
Han Ruoruo gave him a reproachful look. "Because I requested it myself! A certain heartless little fellow came to the Sun Moon Empire and didn't send a single letter for over a month!"
"Sorry, that was my oversight," Ling Bai said apologetically.
"Oversight..."
Han Ruoruo raised her hand, her knuckles slightly bent. In the days following the incident in Jialing City, she had been heartbroken, wishing she could rush there to either avenge him or be buried with him. She had planned to assert her authority as Elder Sister the moment they met, giving him a solid knock on the head!
But seeing him standing before her safe and sound, she suddenly couldn't bring herself to do it. Her raised hand softened, gently caressing his cheek instead.
A soft breeze stirred the treetops, and warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the path around them in a picture-perfect moment.
Ling Bai covered her cool, jade-like hand with his own and smiled. "Has Elder Sister forgiven me?"
Han Ruoruo felt the warmth from his hand and said with some conflict:
"If I forgive you just like that, wouldn't I be spoiling you too much?"
Ling Bai smiled and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her lovely ear and elegant neck.
With each subtle movement, Han Ruoruo's heart fluttered as if struck by lightning. Her fair earlobes turned visibly red against her raven-black hair.
"To err is human, to forgive divine. Elder Sister being good to me isn't spoiling me at all."
"Such dishonesty."
Han Ruoruo chided him with a blush. "No wonder you've attracted so many excellent girls from the Inner Courtyard in such a short time. Too bad for you—you've been exposed, you little scoundrel!"
One could hide something for a time but not forever. Besides, Ling Bai often hadn't intended to hide anything. Caught red-handed by Han Ruoruo, he remained perfectly composed:
"Elder Sister, being a scoundrel is hard work. You must know a little of everything and be prepared for any situation. Only then can you properly...
Cater to individual tastes."
As the words left his mouth, he produced a gleaming golden spirit bone as if by magic.
An 80,000-year Golden Thread Heavenly Snake Left Arm Bone.
As a Spirit Douluo, Han Ruoruo easily sensed the rich spirit power within. She knew it perfectly matched her Dazzling Golden Rope Martial Spirit, yet she couldn't help feeling Ling Bai was blatantly flirting with her.
She opened her mouth, words of refusal on her lips, but Ling Bai spoke first:
"That 10,000-year secret method spirit bone helped me tremendously back then. Elder Sister said being good to me was only right and wouldn't let me refuse. Now I want to say the same to you."
Han Ruoruo bit her red lips slightly before accepting the Golden Thread Heavenly Snake Left Arm Bone. "Since you put it that way, I can only shamelessly accept."
Wu Ming's warning echoed in her mind: if she continued letting Ling Bai have his way without limits, indulging him endlessly, he would sooner or later eat her clean, leaving not even the bones. Yet she simply couldn't bring herself to be stern with him.
Ling Bai gazed at her downcast eyes. She radiated a subtle blend of embarrassment and reserved elegance that he couldn't quite describe but thoroughly enjoyed.
"When are you returning to the academy? Everyone misses you," Han Ruoruo said, changing the subject.
"I'm not certain. Definitely not within the next two months. When I do return, it will be to accept the graduation examination assignment."
In two months, Ning Fengyu, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng would all break through their bottlenecks and hunt spirit beasts. He also needed to complete the Myriad Demon King's bounty by slaying the evil beast Demon Eye Evil Tree.
Ling Bai had already decided to leave Shrek. The Soul Reaper of Jialing City was his final surveillance assignment. He was now qualified to officially graduate from Shrek Academy.
"I knew you wouldn't come back..."
Disappointment flashed across Han Ruoruo's delicate features, but she forced a smile:
"Before I left, I specifically asked Dean Yan if I could collect your graduation examination assignment for you.
He agreed. You can complete it out here and return to Shrek Academy to submit it."
"Thank you, Elder Sister."
Indeed, mature older sisters were the best—always thinking of everything for you!
Han Ruoruo's star-like eyes held a faint smile. "Don't celebrate too soon. Your task isn't simple. Given your Seraphim Martial Spirit, Dean Yan's graduation assignment for you is...
To kill a Super Evil Douluo and bring the corpse back to Shrek."
"What?!"
Ling Bai's eyes bulged like copper bells as he desperately tried to remember…
Crap, is Ancient Demon Douluo's corpse still around…?
Tsk, probably not!
"Alright, I've got it."
No big deal. The Holy Spirit Cult would just have to suffer a bit more!
"It's getting late. I need to start back to the academy. Take care of yourself in the Sun Moon Empire." Han Ruoruo poked his forehead gently.
"I'll see Elder Sister off. I need to pick up some pastries at Mingfang House anyway."
"Mingfang House?"
Han Ruoruo frowned. "I've studied Mingdu's map. That shop is near the west gate, while I'm leaving through the east gate. We're headed in opposite directions."
Ling Bai took Han Ruoruo's hand and smiled warmly. "When I want to see you off, north, south, east, and west are all on the way."
"...Hmph, smooth-talker!"
After seeing Han Ruoruo off from Mingdu, Ling Bai returned to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy, where he ran into a sweat-drenched Wu Feng. She gasped breathlessly:
"Aunt Yu is looking for you! There's news about the Holy Angel!"