Word Count: 2,659 Words
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Ji Juechen's eyes were clear, and his attitude was equally sincere. The Seven Kill Sword Technique possessed formidable power, and the Seven Kill Sword Intent it contained was considered the strongest Sword Intent on the Douluo Continent. However, the Seven Kill Sword Intent was created by the Seven Kill Sword lineage. He could detect a clear disconnect between the Seven Kill Sword Intent and the Angel Sword, hence his reminder.
They were all forging ahead on the path of the sword. He genuinely hoped Ling Bai would grow stronger, and in doing so, also give himself another target to challenge and pursue.
Ling Bai nodded slightly. His situation was actually somewhat similar to Huo Yuhao's. 'Sovereign's Descent' originated from Mu En, and while the 'Haodong Three Moves' were admittedly awkward, they were combat techniques that belonged completely to Huo Yuhao.
What he needed to do was draw inferences from the Seven Kill Sword Intent to comprehend his own.
The two simultaneously cupped their fists in salute and, amid thunderous cheers, walked down from the open-air arena side by side.
The duel between the two sword path Spirit Masters had concluded, yet the audience continued excitedly discussing the collision of the two Sword Intents. Several black-robed figures, however, moved against the flow of people heading outward.
Ji Juechen had been secretly observing Ling Bai and noticed the meaningful expression on his handsome face. Puzzled, he asked:
"What's wrong?"
"I've been craving fish lately. Small fish will help me attract big fish."
"Oh."
He didn't understand.
Ji Juechen only wanted to return to closed-door meditation to further perfect his Sword Intent. As he walked while pondering, he suddenly noticed Ling Bai following beside him. He froze momentarily, his eyes instantly growing fervent:
"Could it be... you also wish to constantly spar with me using Sword Intent!"
As expected of a fellow sword path Spirit Master! My path is not a lonely one!
The next second, Ling Bai's words doused the flames that had just risen in his heart like a bucket of cold water.
"It's just on the way. I'm going to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy to visit friends."
"Oh..."
One proactive move exchanged for a lifetime of passivity. The introverted Ji Juechen was clearly deflated by this blow. He pursed his lips, his pace growing faster and faster.
About an hour later, a magnificent and grand hexagonal architectural area appeared before them. Its area rivaled that of a medium-sized city, with many tall buildings dotting the landscape, though open spaces were even more abundant.
This entire hexagonal region was the territory of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy.
At the main gate, two guards stopped them.
One guard said sternly, "Ji Juechen, this person beside you doesn't seem to be a student of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy."
As gatekeepers serving as the academy's first checkpoint, having a photographic memory was a basic requirement. Ji Juechen was a very famous figure at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Nicknames like Sword Fanatic, Battle Maniac, and Illustrious Virtue Hall Oddity flew everywhere. Combined with his constant participation in various Mingdu arena battles, it would be hard for the guards not to recognize him.
"He's my friend," Ji Juechen said indifferently.
Oh, quite considerate.
Ling Bai had thought this guy might just wash his hands of the matter, but he unexpectedly gave him face.
After all, Ji Juechen was the de facto chief disciple of the Spirit Guidance Department, and the Sun Moon Imperial Academy wasn't so strict as to prohibit outsiders from entering. The guard's expression softened slightly as he pointed to a small building ten meters away:
"You still need to follow academy rules. Go to the registration office and complete the procedure."
"Alright."
Ji Juechen responded and led Ling Bai toward the small building. The guards were acting according to regulations, so Ling Bai saw no need to force his way into the Sun Moon Imperial Academy over such a minor matter.
A soft beep sounded as the metal door silently slid open to both sides. The small building wasn't very large, about twenty square meters, with most of the area occupied by Spirit Guidance Devices. A female teacher in her late twenties sat at a metal desk.
"Teacher Xu, registration."
Ji Juechen knew this female teacher. She was responsible for conducting annual physical examinations for Sun Moon Imperial Academy students.
"Little Ji, is this your friend?" Teacher Xu asked curiously.
Anyone who met Ji Juechen would be left with an impression of his uniqueness. The person registering naturally couldn't be a Sun Moon student, so it had to be Ling Bai beside him.
"Mm."
"Only Ziyan has accompanied you all these years. You've finally made a new friend?"
Teacher Xu's eyes were full of smiles. "Indeed, birds of a feather flock together. The friend of the academy's most handsome man is also a super handsome guy.
Come, stand on the Spirit Power Tester. Academy regulations require recording the spirit power of outsiders."
The Spirit Power Tester stood a full two and a half meters tall. Its exterior was a vertical cylinder with a crystal column running from top to bottom on its front. A circular platform was placed on the ground before it.
"No need to be nervous. Relax your whole body. The Spirit Power Tester is harmless."
As Teacher Xu spoke, her arm released a dense wave of spirit power. A white light flickered, and a white glow lit up at the top of the Spirit Power Tester. The light formed a fan shape, slowly scanning from top to bottom. Teacher Xu began recording rapidly while announcing her findings.
"Spirit power Rank 69? Am I seeing this correctly?"
Teacher Xu gasped. Ling Bai was definitely under twenty years old. She had thought he would be a Spirit King at most. Who could have imagined he was actually a high-rank Spirit Emperor, with spirit power even exceeding that of the twenty-something Ji Juechen?
"Name," Teacher Xu composed herself and continued asking.
Ji Juechen secretly perked up his ears. He still didn't know Ling Bai's name. It was like some internet friends who might know each other for many years but never ask each other's real names, instead calling each other 'NoobMaster69' or something similar.
"Ling Bai. Ling as in Lingxiao (soaring sky), Bai as in Baise (white color)."
"Ling Bai... wait, what did you say?"
Teacher Xu abruptly raised her head and carefully examined Ling Bai's appearance. She asked tentatively, "You couldn't be the one from Shrek Academy in the last Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament..."
Ling Bai stepped down from the Spirit Power Tester. "You know me?"
Teacher Xu tossed her pen aside and rushed forward in three quick steps. She gripped Ling Bai's hands and said excitedly, "When the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament ended, Xiao Hongchen announced he was going into seclusion as soon as he returned to the academy! He actively signed up as an exchange student, cultivating bitterly day and night just to defeat you and wash away his previous shame.
Meng Hongchen rejected all the students pursuing her, clamoring about love at first sight with you and her determination to bring you back to the Sun Moon Empire.
Student Ling Bai, though you're not at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy, legends about you are everywhere here!"
"Err..."
Ling Bai's face was covered in black lines. The Hongchen siblings really knew how to stir things up!
Registration completed, Ling Bai successfully entered the Sun Moon Imperial Academy and even received an academy map.
The Sun Moon Imperial Academy's grounds were considerably larger than Shrek Academy's. It was divided into three areas, with Illustrious Virtue Hall, the Spirit Guidance holy land, located at the center of the entire experimental zone.
Unlike Shrek Academy with its lush vegetation and pervasive life force, Spirit Guidance Devices could be seen everywhere at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Their exquisite craftsmanship far exceeded that of the three great empires. The functions of some devices could barely be discerned, while many more were high-quality Spirit Guidance Devices never seen before.
"Brother Ling, are all Shrek disciples as formidable in combat as you?" Ji Juechen had been mulling this over for a long time and finally couldn't help but ask.
"I'm the strongest."
Ling Bai replied with only three words, his tone even yet filled with absolute confidence.
Ji Juechen felt secretly disappointed, which then turned into eager anticipation. Didn't that mean if he defeated Ling Bai one day, his Sword Intent would be considered fully mastered?!
"By the way, do you know where the Shrek exchange students are?"
"Today is their Illustrious Virtue Hall entrance examination day. They should be in Experimental Zone One," Ji Juechen said.
"Can we watch?"
"Yes."
The Sun Moon Imperial Academy granted Shrek exchange students the treatment of sixth-year students, allowing them to enter Illustrious Virtue Hall—equivalent to Shrek's Inner Courtyard—to study advanced Spirit Guidance Device knowledge, provided they passed the entrance examination.
Ling Bai wanted to see Ning Tian's growth. Having made up his mind, he walked toward Experimental Zone One. Ji Juechen hesitated for a few seconds, feeling it would be impolite to leave Ling Bai alone, so he silently followed.
Experimental Zone One was actually just an enclosed open field, but at this moment, over a hundred Sun Moon Imperial Academy students had gathered there, their attention fixed on the center of the field.
"Ji Juechen! Over here!"
A delicate-featured young woman saw Ji Juechen and waved her hands high toward them.
The two walked over. The woman's gaze shifted to Ling Bai, and an expression of 'wow' surprise appeared on her face. She smiled and said:
"This young brother looks unfamiliar. You shouldn't be one of our Sun Moon students, right?"
"Ling Bai, Shrek student."
"Hello, I'm Jing Ziyan! I've long admired your reputation. Interested in a spar?"
No wonder she could be friends with Ji Juechen. Upon hearing Ling Bai's identity, Jing Ziyan's eyes immediately lit up, and she proactively requested a battle.
"Sure."
"Straightforward!"
Jing Ziyan laughed heartily, then her gaze focused on Ji Juechen's empty hands. She asked in surprise:
"Ji Juechen, where's your sword? Don't you usually hold it in your arms, unwilling to put it down even when eating or sleeping?"
Ji Juechen touched his nose awkwardly. "The sword broke."
Jing Ziyan glanced at Ling Bai and guessed the truth. "Looks like someone beat you until you were looking for your teeth on the ground..."
Ji Juechen turned his head away in silence. It actually wasn't that bad, but he didn't want to waste breath explaining.
After greeting Jing Ziyan, Ling Bai looked toward the assessment about to begin in Experimental Zone One.
This was a two-on-two match. On the left were two tall, rough-looking male students. On the right were two exceedingly beautiful young women. The Sun Moon uniform couldn't conceal their charm. The moment they entered the experimental zone, the surrounding Sun Moon students immediately stirred, some even loudly shouting their names.
Ning Tian, Wu Feng.
Ling Bai raised an eyebrow. "Are they that popular?"
Jing Ziyan sighed. "The two young ladies are beautiful and possess high Martial Spirit talents. One has the continent's number one auxiliary Tool Martial Spirit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. The other has a top-level power-attack type Martial Spirit, the Red Dragon.
The Sun Moon Imperial Academy, and even the entire Sun Moon Empire, severely lacks powerful Martial Spirits. They're like two plump lambs attracting a large pack of hungry wolves. Eighty percent of the male spectators here have some designs on them."
In Experimental Zone One, Ning Tian's platinum-blonde hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall. Her sapphire-blue eyes seemed all-encompassing, her temperament even more composed than it had been months before.
Wu Feng's crimson hair was tied in a high ponytail. Her exquisite, explosive figure was as eye-catching as a bursting flame. Looking at the two Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters opposite them, she contemptuously raised the corner of her mouth and said quietly:
"Ning Tian, I'll handle them. You don't need to make a move."
"A lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit."
Ning Tian said softly. "The Illustrious Virtue Hall Master promised that as long as we defeat two Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters of a higher rank, he'll make an exception and allow you to transfer from an accompanying student to an exchange student, entering Illustrious Virtue Hall with me. Therefore, we must prevent any accidents from happening."
"Okay, okay~ I'll listen to whatever you say!"
"Examination begin!"
Following the referee's command, shimmering colored light converged in Ning Tian's palm, transforming into a splendid seven-story pagoda. Four spirit rings—two yellow and two purple—rose, successively blooming with brilliant light.
"The Nine Treasures revolve to produce a Glazed Pagoda.
The Seven Treasures have names. The first is: Strength! The second is: Speed! The third is: Attack! The fourth is: Defense!"
Strength, Speed, Attack, Defense!
Colored light infused Wu Feng's body. Dense spirit power filled every cell, providing a fifty percent amplification to these four major attributes!
Raging flames surged as crimson light filled half the experimental zone with a scorching aura. A resounding dragon roar erupted as fine crimson dragon scales materialized on her skin.
Wu Feng also possessed the optimal spirit ring configuration of two yellow and two purple. Her third spirit ring, originating from the true dragon spirit beast, the Scarlet Armored Dragon, emitted a noble purple luster.
The rising flames formed a dragon shape behind her. The scales on her body surface spread and thickened, becoming like sturdy shields.
She stomped hard on the ground, instantly creating a depression, then shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, her speed so great that the afterimage left in the air was faintly distorted.
The two Class 5 Spirit Guidance Masters were both experienced students. The stockier youth threw out an ice-blue light screen, protecting them both within it, while the taller youth directly deployed over fifty Spirit Cannons.
This wasn't the Spirit Fortress Formation, but the speed of his movements and the sheer quantity of Spirit Cannons were no less than a typical Spirit Fortress.
Cannon fire rained from the sky. Wu Feng remained unmoved. With her torso as the center, a prairie fire instantly spread to every corner of her body, and Wu Feng herself donned a layer of flame armor.
Third Spirit Skill, Dragonarmor!
Dragon Transformation Skill, Blazing Dragon Armor!
70,000-year Scorching Sun Fire Dragon torso spirit bone skill, Scorching Sun Dragon Body!
Three major skills stacked with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's buffs!
Wu Feng charged through the hail of bullets like an unstoppable raging bull. Explosions echoed wherever she passed, yet the Red Dragon's flames began to spread across the experimental field!
"We can't stop her!"
The tall youth was drenched in sweat, his hands controlling the Spirit Cannons trembling constantly.
"I'll handle it!"
The stocky youth had entered a charging state after releasing the defensive light screen. A large net flickering with lightning shot toward Wu Feng—a Class 5 Lightning Net!
Boom—
A sharp, needle-like cannonball pierced through the Lightning Net!
A Class 5 Piercing Cannon!
Ning Tian!
She was no longer just an auxiliary-type Spirit Master who could only hide behind teammates, but a genius Spirit Guidance Master capable of independently creating Class 5 Spirit Guidance Devices!
Wu Feng shattered the light screen with a single claw strike. Amid the harsh sound of breaking, the Class 5 defensive Spirit Guidance Device couldn't even last for a single breath before exploding under her right dragon claw.
The battle ended. Ning Tian and Wu Feng won easily.
The experimental zone erupted in cheers. The two young women looked around and suddenly froze simultaneously. That familiar figure was smiling and applauding them. Ripples appeared in their sapphire and crimson eyes as they blurted out:
"Bai-ge!"
"Bastard!"