"Lin Jie told me this is called a 'Spirit Power Grenade.' Right now it's empty. When you want to use it, just inject Spirit Power into it and pull the pin—after a short delay, it'll cause a powerful explosion. If unused, the Spirit Power inside remains for a while before dissipating. Once it's empty, just recharge it with Spirit Power and you can use it again," Hu Liena explained softly.
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong became very interested. If something like this were deployed on the battlefield, it could serve as a terrifying weapon.
But then Bibi Dong recalled that Lin Jie had close ties to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Heaven Dou Empire. Getting the blueprint for this device wouldn't be easy. Of course, Bibi Dong wasn't someone who gave up easily.
"Nana, what exactly is your relationship with this Lin Jie?" she asked casually.
The question made Hu Liena blush ever so slightly. "We… know each other, I guess."
Bibi Dong chuckled teasingly. "I think it's more than that. If you were just acquaintances, why would he give you something so precious?"
Even Hu Liena couldn't fully explain it. They had known each other for barely two days, and yet Lin Jie had saved her life—and gifted her such a valuable item.
Seeing her silence, Bibi Dong's voice turned gentle again. "Nana, I have a task for you. Can you do it?"
Hu Liena hesitated, but still nodded. "Yes, Teacher. I'll try my best."
The Spirit Master delegation from the Heaven Dou Empire continued their journey. In the following days, there were no further attacks or accidents. For safety, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe ordered 3,000 Imperial Guards to escort the team, and also sent a message back to the Empire asking for powerful Spirit Masters to be dispatched as reinforcements.
The day after the ambush, Lin Jie visited Dragon Duke, Serpent Granny, and Meng Yiran in their carriage and had a brief conversation. After the couple agreed, Lin Jie returned to the Shrek Academy group. Meng Yiran, watching him leave, had a faint blush on her cheeks—utterly adorable.
The mood within the Shrek group remained heavy in the days following the attack.
But then came a surprise. On the fifth day after the incident, Tang San broke through to Rank 40. When Lin Jie learned the news, he was just as shocked as the others. Tang San had only reached Rank 39 when they left for Spirit City—and it had taken him just ten days to advance a whole rank. Even Lin Jie found that pace… abnormal.
To help Tang San obtain his fourth Spirit Ring, Flender took him to a nearby Spirit Beast forest. Once they found a suitable Spirit Beast, they would reunite with the others in Spirit City.
A few days later, the group finally arrived at Spirit City.
Due to Spirit City's strict regulations, military forces were not permitted to enter. Xue Qinghe had no choice but to station his guards outside the city, leading the fifteen academy teams in himself.
Compared to the Heaven Dou Empire's capital, Heaven Dou City, Spirit City was only one-tenth the size—but the sense of awe it inspired was no less.
Its city walls were built to the standard of a national capital—80 meters tall, over 30 meters thick, and tremendously imposing.
What made Spirit City unique was its hexagonal design, unlike the standard square or rectangular layouts of most cities. Each of its six walls featured a massive stone relief identical to the emblem of Spirit Hall.
Each of the six massive walls bore a giant stone relief—identical to the emblem seen on Spirit Hall's medallions. These carvings alone emanated a sense of solemnity and awe.
As Lin Jie stepped into Spirit City, his first impression was one of spaciousness. The towering buildings and wide streets created an overwhelming sense of grandeur. However, the number of pedestrians on the streets was sparse, and shops were few. Most establishments catered specifically to Spirit Masters—selling items like basic spirit tools and low-grade storage-type soul devices. Lin Jie also noticed that ordinary people were nearly nonexistent in the city. Nearly everyone he saw was a Spirit Master.
When the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, led the Spirit Master teams into the city, they were welcomed by a red-robed bishop from Spirit Hall. Under his guidance, the roughly two hundred participants were brought to a hotel on the western side of Spirit City.
What shocked Lin Jie most was that every single staff member working in this hotel had Spirit Power above Rank 30, all Spirit Elders or higher.
After settling in, Lin Jie chatted for a while with Zhu Zhuqing and the others, then stepped outside alone to explore Spirit City.
After walking for some time, he realized that the entire city had been constructed around a central hill. Two magnificent buildings stood out prominently—one located halfway up the hill, and the other at the summit.
Even from afar, Lin Jie could see the semi-hilltop structure clearly: a vast dome supported by gleaming golden pillars, glittering beneath the sunlight. According to a passing local he asked, this was none other than the Supreme Hall of Spirit Hall— the Papal Palace, the heart of Spirit Hall's power.
Above it, at the very summit of the hill, sat a smaller but equally distinct building—entirely white and resembling jade. Its architecture mirrored the Papal Palace, but without its dazzling golden adornments. Though less eye-catching, it exuded a sacred, tranquil aura. This was the Douluo Hall—the final resting place of Spirit Hall's fallen Titled Douluo.
According to Ning Fengzhi, only those Titled Douluo who had served Spirit Hall with distinction were qualified to be enshrined there. In a way, it was both a tomb and a temple of reverence.
As Lin Jie gazed up at the Douluo Hall from a distance, he could faintly sense a unique spiritual energy radiating from it—an aura that stirred involuntary reverence within him.
It was no wonder Spirit City was regarded as the holy land for Spirit Masters across the continent. These two structures alone gave it unmatched prestige.
Lin Jie wandered for a while longer before turning back toward the hotel. Just as he did, a familiar figure made him stop in his tracks.
A soft voice rang out, full of pleasant surprise. "It's you."
Standing before him was a young woman clad in a form-fitting outfit of yellow and white, the tight clothing outlining her exquisite curves. Her amber-gold bob cut framed a graceful, swan-like neck. Her face—perfectly proportioned, with radiant almond eyes and delicate features—was strikingly beautiful. Her every movement radiated elegance and charm.
Lin Jie was stunned for a moment before recognizing her—Hu Liena.
But then he thought: of course. This was Spirit Hall territory. The moment their group entered Spirit City, Spirit Hall likely began monitoring all participating Spirit Masters. Tracking him wouldn't have been difficult.
Hu Liena smiled sweetly and gestured to a nearby teahouse. "Lin Jie, want to come in and sit for a while?"
Glancing at the teahouse, Lin Jie nodded after a brief pause. "Sure."
Inside, the two found a quiet corner. After ordering two cups of tea, Hu Liena looked at Lin Jie with a gentle smile. She already knew who he was—her teacher, Bibi Dong, had shown her his file.
When she saw Lin Jie's dossier, she was completely shaken.
Fifteen years old. Rank 46. A Spirit Ancestor with a ten-thousand-year fourth ring, and possibly even possessing a Spirit Bone. His talent and strength were both terrifying—surpassing even her own.
Lin Jie glanced around the room. The atmosphere was peaceful and refined. A perfect spot for an afternoon tea.
Then he turned back to Hu Liena and asked, "How did you know I was here?"
She didn't hide anything. "You already know I'm part of Spirit Hall. This is Spirit City—our turf. Keeping track of who's here is easy."
Just as he expected.
"So then… why did you come looking for me?" Lin Jie asked directly.
Hu Liena rested her cheek on one hand and replied softly, "You saved me once. I had to leave in a hurry and didn't get the chance to thank you properly. I just wanted to say thank you."
She seemed like she wanted to say more but hesitated.
She gazed at him thoughtfully, and Lin Jie couldn't help but feel a bit awkward under her stare.
In truth, when he first saw her again, he had many questions he wanted to ask. But considering their limited connection, he held back.
Lin Jie smiled faintly. "The way you're looking at me… reminds me of how you looked that night in the cave."
Hu Liena giggled, recalling their time in the cave. "You're not going to ask me if I've fallen for you, are you?"
Lin Jie replied with mock arrogance, "Well, you're staring at me like that. Can you blame me? I mean, I am pretty good-looking, after all."