The off-road vehicle sped across the wasteland.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Bai Jue raised a hand and waved it casually in front of Di Yao.
The little girl pursed her lips instinctively, then pulled out a lollipop and handed it to him.
"You're almost eating all my lollipops."
"Heh, Teacher, with our relationship, what's a few lollipops?"
Bai Jue grinned as he unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth.
"At worst, I'll buy you a whole box when we get back."
During the twenty days in the Spirit Domain, their relationship had grown noticeably closer.
And—somehow—Bai Jue had also developed a habit of eating lollipops.
There was no helping it. He was often starving with nothing to eat, so the only thing he could do was borrow Di Yao's lollipops and keep something in his mouth.
Squinting his eyes as sunlight poured in through the windshield, Bai Jue suddenly asked:
"Teacher, how does one awaken a second festival?"
"The second festival awakening requires—"
"What did you just say?!"
At first, the little loli hadn't fully processed it.
Then realization hit.
She whipped her head around in shock, eyes wide, and slammed on the brakes. The off-road vehicle skidded sideways before coming to a stop in the middle of the wasteland.
Di Yao stared at Bai Jue as if he were a monster.
Second festival.
Why were you asking so casually?
Shouldn't you be shocked? Excited? Losing your mind?!
And you're only Second Rank—why are you already thinking about a second festival?!
Bai Jue smiled calmly.
"The second festival ability. How do you awaken it?"
In school, they were taught that a person could awaken more than one festival—but the method was never explained.
Because for most festival bearers, a second awakening usually happened around Fourth Rank, and many didn't succeed even after reaching Fifth Rank.
"You've already gained Zhongyuan's recognition?"
Di Yao asked in disbelief.
"Not yet,"
Bai Jue replied.
"But it's close."
He raised his right hand. Black mist swirled faintly around it.
"Probably just a few more days."
That last five percent—
in his estimation—wouldn't take long.
"If that's the case, then you should start preparing in advance,"
Di Yao said seriously.
"To awaken a second festival, you first need an Awakening Crystal. Then, after your first festival reaches one hundred percent recognition, you must enter cultivation and use the resonance of the first festival's recognition to guide its consciousness wave—attracting another festival."
"In short, when the time comes, you'll instinctively know how to guide it. It's a very… strange feeling."
She paused, then added:
"But don't think it's easy. Luck plays a huge role. If it were simple, so many Fifth Rank festival bearers wouldn't still fail to awaken a second one."
Bai Jue nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.
"Teacher, I have a very serious question."
"What?"
"Can men awaken the Loli Festival?"
Di Yao rolled her eyes.
"No. Don't worry."
"Whew, that's good."
Bai Jue visibly relaxed, then asked again:
"What about Women's Day?"
"Also no. Those kinds of festivals can only be awakened by women."
"Perfect."
Bai Jue grinned.
"That really scared me."
After all—
if he awakened the Loli Festival…
Yeah.
Let's not imagine that.
The off-road vehicle continued forward and soon entered the city, heading straight for the Night Watchers Headquarters.
When Bai Jue and Di Yao found Sikong Xi, she was training in the combat hall.
She wore loose training clothes, her black hair tied into a single ponytail. Facing a training dummy, she launched a flurry of punches and kicks.
Flames burst with each strike.
The temperature surged.
Faint arcs of lightning flickered across her body.
Every attack carried terrifying power.
"Teacher,"
Bai Jue whispered,
"What are Captain Sikong's abilities?"
"Summer Solstice and Awakening of Insects."
"Damn. Both are top-tier."
Summer Solstice—fire.
Awakening of Insects—lightning.
Both were extremely powerful festivals with tremendous potential.
No wonder she could serve as the captain of Tiankui City's Night Watchers.
Hearing footsteps, Sikong Xi turned around and smiled.
But when her gaze landed on Bai Jue, her expression sharpened in surprise.
"You came back in only half a month,"
she said.
"But judging by your aura… your growth is enormous."
"Of course it is,"
Di Yao said lazily from the sofa.
"With that murderous aura, anyone would be scared just standing near him."
Bai Jue spread his hands helplessly.
"Can't help it. I killed too many ghosts in there, so the baleful aura stuck to me. I was actually hoping to ask you if there's a way to restrain it."
At this moment—
If an ordinary person stood in front of Bai Jue, they'd feel as if countless evil spirits were roaring and slaughtering behind him.
One glance would be enough to trigger hallucinations.
That was how dense the baleful aura around him had become.
A faint gray-black haze even lingered around his body—
baleful energy on the verge of solidifying.
Baleful aura wasn't inherently bad. Sometimes it could even intimidate enemies, much like killing intent.
The real problem was learning how to suppress it.
Sikong Xi stroked her chin.
"The team has manuals for that,"
she said.
"But this time, you'll need to exchange points for it. Don't worry—it's not expensive. A few missions will cover it."
"Or," she added,
"I can lend it to you first, and you pay it back later."
"I'll take it in advance,"
Bai Jue said immediately.
"At this rate, I'll cause a panic just by walking outside."
"Fair enough."
Sikong Xi nodded.
Just then—
Tap, tap, tap.
Rapid footsteps echoed.
The training hall door was kicked open, and a figure stormed inside, eyes blazing.
"Bai Jue! I heard you're back—come fight me again! This time I—"
The newcomer was Qian Chen.
But before he could finish—
The moment his eyes landed on Bai Jue, his expression froze.
His gaze turned blank.
Then fear slowly surfaced.
Seeing this, Bai Jue spread his hands helplessly.
"Welp,"
he sighed.
"Looks like the first victim has appeared."
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