The walk back to the dilapidated dormitories was cloaked in a thick, contemplative silence. The adrenaline of the confrontation had faded, leaving behind the bitter aftertaste of humiliation for one, and a strange, burgeoning sense of freedom for others. Ning Rongrong, who had been a whirlwind of indignant energy just moments before, now walked with her head slightly lowered, the earlier taunting bravado gone.
She glanced at Zhang Tian, who moved with his usual serene grace, his handsome face unreadable in the twilight. His calm was a stark contrast to the turmoil in her own heart.
"Zhang Tian," she began, her voice unusually soft, tinged with a depression that felt foreign to her. "Was I… was I wrong just now?"
Her question was quiet, almost a whisper to herself. "I just wanted to tease him. To make fun of him. He deserved it, didn't he? After how he failed to even properly pursue Zhuqing... And it's true," she added, her voice gaining a little of its usual fire. "I really do believe Zhuqing deserves someone much, much better than a degenerate like Dai Mubai."
Zhang Tian let out a soft sigh, not of annoyance, but of understanding. He stopped walking and turned to face her, his blue eyes gentle.
"Rongrong," he said, his voice calm and even. "You have lived your entire life in the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. You have been protected. You have been spoiled. That isn't a flaw. It's a natural consequence of your status and their love for you. You are the princess of your sect, a genius with immense talent. It is only natural that your father and your grandfathers would spoil you."
He offered a small, reassuring smile. "What you said to him wasn't untrue. Your assessment of his character and his suitability for Zhuqing was, in my opinion, perfectly accurate. You were not wrong in your judgment."
A wave of relief washed over Ning Rongrong, but the confusion remained. "Then why…?"
"Your only mistake," he continued patiently, "was in your method. You need to be more careful when dealing with men like Dai Mubai. Men who are cowards at heart. They don't dare to provoke or cause trouble for those they perceive as strong, but they are utterly fearless, even cruel, towards those they believe are weaker or cannot retaliate. Their egos are as fragile as spun glass, and when they shatter, they lash out with all the venom they're too afraid to show their true superiors."
He looked her directly in the eyes. "Never change your personality, Rongrong. Your spirit, your pride, even your arrogance… that is what makes you who you are. To suppress it would be a betrayal of yourself. But you must learn to be more thoughtful in your approach. Learn to dismantle a fragile ego with logic and wit, not just with direct taunts. A well-aimed truth can be far more devastating than any insult."
He paused, a flicker of protective warmth in his gaze. "Be careful. And stay with me. As long as you are with me, I will protect you."
The sincerity in his voice, the simple, powerful promise, made her heart flutter. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. In her sect, she was protected because of her status. With Zhang Tian, she felt protected simply for being her.
As he spoke, he reached into his storage spirit tool. "And for the times when I am not there," he said, "you will need to protect yourself."
He handed her three objects. The first two were the sleek, black pistols he had just used. "This one," he explained, tapping the first, "fires bullets that penetrate. Good for armored targets. This one," he tapped the second, "fires the bullets that explode on contact. Good for unarmored targets or for creating chaos."
He then handed her a larger, more brutish-looking shotgun. "This is for close-range encounters. The spread makes it difficult to miss. It's devastating against any opponent who gets too close."
Finally, he placed a few of the familiar ceramic grenades in her other hand. He quickly and clearly explained the basic operation of each weapon, how to load them, how to aim, and most importantly, how to activate their mechanisms.
"Use them only in an emergency," he advised seriously. "When your life is truly in danger and there is no other help coming. Think before you use them. I don't have an infinite supply of ammunition I can provide you right now. Don't be wasteful."
Ning Rongrong nodded, her eyes wide as she carefully held the weapons. They felt heavy, solid, real. They felt like power. They felt like safety. "I understand," she said, her voice filled with a new, sober resolve. "I won't be wasteful. I promise."
In her heart, she felt a sweet, blossoming warmth. These weren't just weapons; they were gifts. A tangible symbol of his trust and his promise to protect her. She had no intention of ever using them wastefully. They were too precious.
"I'm going to send a letter to my father tonight," she told him, her eyes shining with determination. "I will tell him everything. About you, about these weapons. I'm sure my father and Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone will want to meet you. They should arrive in a couple of days."
Zhang Tian smiled and gave a slight nod. Everything was proceeding according to plan.
The news of the one-sided beatdown traveled through the small academy with the speed of wildfire. In Dean Flender's office, the mood was tense. Yu Xiaogang sat stiffly in a chair, his brow furrowed in a deep, disapproving frown.
"Flender," he said, his voice clipped and analytical. "Explain this to me. How could a boy with a mutated trash spirit defeat Dai Mubai, a top-tier beast spirit user with a ten-level advantage in spirit power? It defies all established principles."
In Yu Xiaogang's mind, the equation was simple.
Evil Eye White Tiger > Mutated Blue Silver Grass.
The variable of the individual wielder was secondary to the inherent quality of the spirit itself. Zhang Tian, who had not been personally guided by his 'unparalleled' wisdom, should, by all rights, be significantly weaker.
Flender sighed, shaking his head. "Xiaogang, my old friend, you must not look down on this Zhang Tian. He is… an anomaly. For the last eight months, he has been running a wildly successful shop here in Suotuo City, selling all sorts of strange and incredibly useful products. He is the one who commissioned me to acquire those books from you. He is not just a spirit master; he is an inventor, a merchant, a genius of a different sort."
He leaned forward, his expression serious. "And those weapons… they are not to be underestimated. He used some kind of 'exploding balls' during the entrance trial against Zhao Wuji. Wuji," he glanced at the hulking Spirit Saint who was also present, "tell him."
Zhao Wuji shifted uncomfortably, a phantom ache in his bones. "They were powerful," he admitted gruffly. "Very powerful. If I hadn't used my Spirit Avatar, I would have been seriously injured. Even with it, the force was enough to cause me significant pain."
This information clearly shocked Yu Xiaogang. To injure a Spirit Saint in his avatar state with mere tools? It was unheard of.
"But that's not all," Flender pressed on, determined to make his friend understand. "His spirit, this Blood Silver Grass, is far more than just a cosmetic mutation. His first spirit ability allows him to directly devour the spirit power of anyone his vines touch. His second ability lets him spread invisible spores, which then allow him to sprout his vines from any surface, even from an opponent's body. And his control… Xiaogang, it's sublime. He has developed his own set of spirit skills, turning that grass into a versatile arsenal of attacks and defenses. He is a true control-type master."
Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted from disbelief to intense, arrogant analysis. He regained his composure, steepling his fingers. "I see. A devouring ability and a parasitic seeding ability. Based on the power level and the plant-type nature, the first ring must have come from a parasitic vine, something like a Hundred Year Demon-Binding Thistle, perhaps one hundred and fifty, two hundred and fifty years old at most. The second, the spore ability, likely comes from a fungal-type beast, a Five Hundred Year Phantom Spore Mushroom, or something similar."
He stated his conclusions with absolute certainty, as if he had witnessed the hunts himself. Since neither Flender nor Zhao Wuji had any idea where Zhang Tian had acquired his rings, they could only nod in awe.
"As expected of the Grandmaster," Zhao Wuji rumbled, genuinely impressed. "To deduce the spirit beasts just from a description of the abilities… truly number one in theory."
The praise was like a balm to Yu Xiaogang's ego. A smug, self-satisfied look flickered across his face. "Hmph. It is merely elementary deduction."
He continued, his voice regaining its lecturing tone. "However, this also reveals his fundamental weakness. By choosing two plant-type rings, his spirit's physical strength and toughness will be pathetically low. His growth potential from this point on is severely limited. He cannot be compared to my Little San, who, under my guidance, is developing his Blue Silver Grass into a formidable weapon. By absorbing rings from both beast and plant types, and by choosing beasts at the absolute limit of his endurance, like the 423-year-old Datura Snake, 600-year-old Ghost Vine, and the 1600-year-old Purple Veined Viper, Little San is enhancing his spirit's toughness, versatility, and poison attribute. That is the best path for a Blue Silver Grass user."
He looked at Flender. "What is this Zhang Tian's Innate Spirit Power?"
Flender shook his head. "He never said. But judging by his cultivation speed, I would guess it's a seven, perhaps an eight. He seems to advance at a rate similar to Zhu Zhuqing."
"Then it is as I suspected," Yu Xiaogang declared, his theory now complete in his mind. "A 'good' mutation, which elevated the trash spirit's innate potential to a higher level. As for Twin Spirits, it's impossible. If he had them, he would possess Full Innate Spirit Power, and his cultivation speed would be on par with Little San and Xiao Wu, which it clearly is not."
Flender nodded, accepting his friend's analysis completely. The Grandmaster's theories had never failed before.
"So, what should we do about this fight?" Flender asked, getting back to the immediate problem. "Mubai is our senior student, but Zhang Tian took action to protect Ning Rongrong and to punish Mubai for his words to Ning Rongrong."
Yu Xiaogang thought for a moment, his mind a cold chessboard. "In two years, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Grand Tournament will be held. I intend for our students to participate and win. For that team, Dai Mubai is crucial. He is currently the highest-ranked student and his power-attack role is vital. My disciple, Little San, will be the team's core, the main control. Zhang Tian's usefulness, while notable, is not as critical to the team's structure."
His decision was made. "Zhang Tian must apologize to Dai Mubai. It is necessary for team cohesion."
Flender, trusting his friend's judgment implicitly, agreed.
The next morning, the eight students gathered on the field once more. Yu Xiaogang stood before them, Flender and Zhao Wuji flanking him like stoic guards. His gaze was cold, his expression indifferent.
He didn't waste time with pleasantries. He looked directly at Zhang Tian.
"Zhang Tian," he ordered, his voice flat. "Apologize to Dai Mubai for injuring him. And you are not to fight amongst yourselves again."
Dai Mubai, standing with the group, smirked. A smug, triumphant look spread across his face as he stared at Zhang Tian, eagerly awaiting the apology that would restore his lost face.
Zhu Zhuqing, who had been filled in on the details by Ning Rongrong the night before, was stunned. She stared at Yu Xiaogang in disbelief. How could this "Grandmaster" be so blind to the truth and tell Zhang Tian to apologize?
Zhang Tian's expression remained placid, but his eyes narrowed slightly. He bowed his head in a gesture of respect that was purely for show. "Grandmaster," he said, the title tasting like ash in his mouth. "May I ask if you are aware of the reason why the fight occurred?"
"I know enough," Yu Xiaogang replied dismissively. "Ning Rongrong provoked Dai Mubai. You, out of a misguided sense of friendship, became indulgent of her actions and escalated the situation by attacking a fellow student. While Dai Mubai's response was also improper, your actions were a greater detriment to the unity of this team."
His words were a masterpiece of sophistry, twisting the events to fit his predetermined narrative.
Zhang Tian stared at the Grandmaster for a long, silent moment. He then glanced at Flender, as if to gauge the Dean's attitude, but Flender merely looked away, deferring to his friend.
"And what will happen," Zhang Tian asked, his voice still perfectly calm, "if I refuse to apologize? I do not believe I was in the wrong. Dai Mubai's words were… unsavory."
Yu Xiaogang's face, already stiff, seemed to harden into granite. An ugly frown formed on his lips. "If you do not apologize, you will not be permitted to join the Special Training I have planned for this team."
In Zhang Tian's mind, Ah Yin's voice was a furious hiss. 'Do not apologize, Zhang Tian! I do not like this new teacher! He is arrogant and blind! Do not bend to him!'
He let out a quiet mental sigh. 'I had no intention of doing so, Ah Yin.'
"Zhang Tian, you should apologize!" Tang San urged, stepping forward. "My teacher is the number one theory master in the world! Only under his guidance can you grow stronger and reach your true potential! Don't be stubborn!"
Zhang Tian ignored him. He looked at Yu Xiaogang, and for the first time, a faint, mocking smile touched his lips. He gave a formal bow.
"In that case, Grandmaster," he said, his voice clear and unwavering, "I thank you for your consideration. But from now on, I will not be joining your Special Training. I will train by myself."
He straightened up and began to walk away from the group, his posture relaxed, as if he were simply heading off for a casual stroll.
Everyone was stunned into silence. They had expected arguments, perhaps defiance, but not this. Not a calm, absolute rejection of the Grandmaster's authority. To willingly miss out on the personal guidance of the continent's wisest mind just to avoid a simple apology? It was unthinkable.
Yu Xiaogang's face turned an ugly shade of red, a crack in his emotionless facade. His authority had been publicly challenged and rejected. "Fine!" he snapped, his voice tight with anger. "You are banned from all special training under my supervision! Go! Train by yourself! And you will watch as the gap between you and those I teach widens until you are left in the dust!"
Flender looked on, a feeling of regret in his heart. He admired the boy's conviction. "Zhang Tian," he called out, stepping forward. "While you may not join the Grandmaster's training, you may still seek assistance from the other teachers of this academy if you need it."
Zhang Tian paused and nodded his thanks to the Dean. He was about to leave for good when another voice rang out.
"Wait!"
Ning Rongrong stepped out from the group, her chin held high. She shot a furious glare at Yu Xiaogang. "If he's not training, then I won't either! I came to this shabby academy to have some fun anyway! I don't care about your stupid 'Special Training'!"
She ran over and stood defiantly by Zhang Tian's side.
Yu Xiaogang was now seething. First the boy, now the heiress of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect? His carefully laid plans were unraveling. But his pride, his immense, fragile ego, would not allow him to back down. He would not beg them to stay.
"As you wish," he said through gritted teeth.
Zhu Zhuqing watched them go, a war raging in her heart. She wanted to follow them, to stand with the boy who had saved her and the girl who had become her friend. But the desire to grow stronger, to survive, was a powerful chain. For now, she stayed, her moral compass warring with her desperate need for power.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon