Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
[Permafrost Domain: Covers a 200-meter diameter, inflicting Ultimate Ice attribute damage. The caster can select the targets.]
That's more like it…
A smile curved Su Wen's lips.
That's right. The biggest drawback of the Ice Domain had been its indiscriminate nature—it hurt friend and foe alike, like injuring the enemy by a thousand at the cost of eight hundred of your own. That was why Hurricane rarely had a chance to enter the battlefield.
But now things were different. He could control the upgraded skill, Permafrost Domain, to damage specific targets!
In other words, he could point and strike!
He looked forward to returning and giving those seniors in the Inner Court a little surprise.
Su Wen patted the arm of his Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear.
Though only a thousand-year-old beast, the bear already stood over four meters tall. Even Yan Shaozhe had to tilt his head back to look at it. Its body was as thick and solid as a small mountain, and its fur was coarse and prickly like steel needles. Paired with its exceptionally large and sharp claws, it looked utterly terrifying.
In the original story, the Bear Lord had relied on this very pair of claws to display his divine might.
Just having it stand next to you was like having a god of war by your side.
Its posture alone screamed of absurd power.
"Since that's the case, I'll call you…" Su Wen stroked his chin, pondering for a moment.
Both Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao cast curious glances his way.
"Let's go with Xiao Jin!" Su Wen announced, his expression excited.
Yan Shaozhe: "…"
Ma Xiaotao: "…"
"It's catchy!" Su Wen said, pleased with himself.
Night fell on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
A bonfire was lit, banishing the surrounding darkness. The flames crackled as they consumed the firewood.
The group sat around the fire, discussing something with great excitement.
Having just retreated from the perilous core of the Star Dou Great Forest, everyone was relaxed and delighted with their gains. Each had acquired a new spirit ring and advanced a rank.
From time to time, glances drifted toward Su Wen, who sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, quietly cultivating.
Though not yet enrolled in the Outer Court, his name was already famous. Many people knew of him, and some even suspected that this sudden "Hunting Plan" had been created just for him. After all, in previous years, the academy had never organized a plan for an elder to lead students into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt spirit beasts at this time…
Furthermore, it was Dean Yan personally leading the team.
Some of the girls from the Outer Court were secretly sending flirtatious glances his way.
Su Wen was already 1.7 meters tall, with a handsome face and talent so monstrous it was perverse. He had almost certainly caught the attention of Shrek's higher-ups. His future was limitless; at the very least, he was destined to be a pillar of Shrek.
So what if they were a few years older?
Didn't they see that shameless Ma Xiaotao sticking to his side despite being six years his senior?
However, the hopes of these young girls were destined to be fruitless.
Because Su Wen's spiritual power was still too weak, he hadn't reached the realm where he could perceive his surroundings with his eyes closed.
It was like winking at a blind man.
"Buzz…"
He felt the golden core in his body thrumming like a second heart, pumping soul power to his limbs. With the capture of Xiao Jin, a portion of the Dark Golden Terrorclaw Bear's terrifying stats had been fed back to him. His strong, lean body was now bursting with a potent life force and limitless vitality.
"Hah…"
He let out a long, turbid breath.
Feeling refreshed and clear-headed, he opened his eyes. At this rate, he could probably reach rank thirty-seven or thirty-eight by the time the summer term began next year. He nodded, satisfied.
Just then, he saw a girl in the distance staring at him. When she met his gaze, she looked away with a clear hint of shyness.
Su Wen: ???
Who in the world are you? And what are you blushing for, a cup of bubble tea?
"Someone's here!"
Suddenly, an Inner Court disciple with a spiritual-type martial soul shot to his feet. He stared at a patch of jungle nearby. Everyone was startled and looked in the same direction.
Su Wen glanced at Yan Shaozhe.
Seeing the latter still smiling calmly where he sat, Su Wen didn't bother with it. It seemed they were acquaintances…
Sure enough, Yan Shaozhe waved his hand. "Everyone, sit down. They're friends from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
The jungle rustled and swayed, and after a moment, several figures emerged. The one in the lead was Elder Zhu, whom they had met two years ago in the Extreme North. Yan Shaozhe had later explained that the current Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was much weaker than it had been ten thousand years ago. The only one who could truly hold up its reputation was this Zhu Douluo, a rank 92 Power-type Soul Master.
Although Yan Shaozhe hadn't mentioned the reason for the sect's decline, Su Wen knew it was due to some damn rotten affairs. It was a pity that for all his cunning, Ning Fengzhi hadn't predicted his own daughter would be an ungrateful traitor…
Following Zhu Douluo were two young women and several attendants.
Ning Tian still had her short hair, but her features had softened, giving the androgynously dressed girl a touch of feminine gentleness. Compared to two years ago, she seemed more composed, possessing the reserved and calculating air of a great clan's scion.
"Not dressed as a boy this time," Su Wen muttered.
Trailing behind her was Wu Feng. The change in her over the past two years was just as obvious. Her fiery red hair was dazzling, her face was beautiful, and she had shot up in height to around 1.7 meters, similar to Su Wen. Her figure had also filled out, granting her a bit more "capital."
The moment Ning Tian heard "Shrek Academy," her beautiful eyes began scanning the crowd. As soon as she spotted a particular figure, her eyes lit up, the corners of her mouth turned up unconsciously, and she walked toward Su Wen with joyful, nimble steps.
"Tch, how did we run into him again…"
Wu Feng pouted from behind but followed along anyway.
"What a coincidence! Are you here to hunt for spirit beasts too?" Ning Tian asked, clasping her hands behind her back as she looked Su Wen over, her face full of joy.
"I am," Su Wen replied with a smile.
He then looked at Wu Feng, who was hiding behind Ning Tian, and said playfully, "Feel like another challenge?"
"What are you being so arrogant for!"
Like an enraged lioness, Wu Feng shot forward with her claws out, her red eyes glaring at Su Wen.
"D-don't think I wouldn't dare to beat you up!"
"Ahem!" Ning Tian shot Wu Feng an angry glare with her pink eyes—Don't steal my spotlight!
She then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, sat down beside Su Wen with her legs neatly together, and began, "These past few years…"
Watching this scene, Wu Feng ground her teeth in frustration and started practicing her punches on a nearby ancient tree.
Not far away, Elder Zhu watched this with a satisfied look on his face.
Su Wen's status meant he would never marry into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. They had long discussed this with the Sect Master; any truly talented disciple from a great clan would consider marrying into another family a disgrace, let alone the now-declining Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Therefore, to revive the sect, a marriage alliance was the only path.
And Su Wen was simply the most suitable candidate.
As someone being heavily cultivated by Shrek Academy, he was highly likely to take over its leadership in the future. This was equivalent to finding the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect an excellent ally.
Besides… his Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect only needed one child of their bloodline to inherit the sect. That would be enough.
As for Wu Feng…
A strange look appeared on Elder Zhu's face.
Just consider it a "buy one, get one free" deal and give her to Su Wen. After all, the girl is quite attached to the Young Sect Master.
"What a lovely blue sky…"
The two old foxes made eye contact, and Yan Shaozhe spoke first.
"Yes, so blue…"
Elder Zhu pulled his thoughts back to the present and let out a long breath.
(End of Chapter)