"This really isn't my fault."
Bai Jue looked at Sikong Xi with an innocent expression.
Sikong Xi rubbed her temples helplessly. Then, with a flick of her wrist, a bolt of lightning shot forward and struck Qian Chen square in the abdomen.
The sharp pain jolted him awake instantly.
"W–What was that just now?"
Qian Chen staggered back, eyes unfocused.
"Why… why did I see so many evil spirits?"
"Disgraceful."
Sikong Xi frowned coldly.
"Your mind couldn't even withstand Bai Jue's baleful aura, yet you still wanted revenge? With what—your Second Rank mid-stage cultivation? He's already at Second Rank high-stage, just one step away from Third Rank."
Hearing this, Qian Chen stared at Bai Jue in disbelief.
"That's impossible…"
He could accept the terrifying baleful aura.
But this rate of cultivation?
It was absurd.
"So,"
Bai Jue shrugged lightly and smiled,
"Do you still want to challenge me?"
Honestly, he wouldn't have minded.
After all, sparring meant rewards.
Qian Chen's face darkened. He clenched his teeth, wanting to retort—but the memory of his last defeat surfaced, making him hesitate.
"Get out."
Sikong Xi barked sharply.
Her aura erupted, crushing down like a mountain. Qian Chen's face turned pale. Taking the excuse, he snorted coldly and stormed out of the training room.
"Heh,"
the little loli sprawled lazily on the sofa chuckled,
"Came in all fierce, left with his tail between his legs."
Bai Jue joined her on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other as he pulled out his phone.
There had been no signal in the Spirit Domain, so the moment he turned it on, notifications flooded in.
Messages. Missed alerts.
And a new friend request.
After a moment of thought, he recognized the name—it was Teacher Xiao from Sky City's Sky University.
He accepted.
Almost immediately, a message arrived.
Teacher Xiao: "Is this Bai Jue?"
Bai Jue: "Yes, Teacher Xiao."
Teacher Xiao: "Haha, looks like you've already returned from the Spirit Domain. About the matter I promised you earlier—I reported it to the university, and it's been approved."
Teacher Xiao: "As for timing, I imagine you won't be able to come immediately. The college entrance exams are coming up, after all. How about visiting after the exams?"
Bai Jue: "That works. No problem."
Originally, Bai Jue had planned to head to Sky City after resting a couple of days—he was genuinely interested in the Sky Fruit.
But only after seeing the message did he realize something crucial.
The college entrance exam was right around the corner.
After replying, he chatted briefly with a few others—mainly Ji Yingying and Cheng Taihe.
Ji Yingying's messages were from several days ago, unanswered. She was probably cultivating somewhere.
As for Cheng Taihe… he seemed to be lazing around at school.
Not long after, Sikong Xi returned, tossing a manual toward Bai Jue.
"This is what you wanted. One hundred points. Don't forget to earn them back."
"Don't worry."
Bai Jue flashed an OK gesture, stood up with the manual, and said:
"Now that I've got it, I'll head out. Teacher, want to grab a meal together?"
"Get lost,"
Di Yao replied without hesitation.
"I just want a soft bed and a long, comfortable sleep."
Bai Jue pouted but didn't argue. He turned and left.
Back home.
Dust still coated parts of the apartment.
As a festival bearer, having to clean his own place made Bai Jue sigh at how hardworking he was.
After tidying up, he lit several sticks of incense and placed them before the spirit tablets in the living room.
There were tablets for his parents in this life, as well as several ancestors.
According to his parents—before they passed—the Bai family had once been a powerful clan.
But after the arrival of the Festival Era, everything collapsed.
Some fled.
Some died.
The rest scattered across different cities, barely surviving.
The ancestral tablets had been carried here by his grandfather and worshipped ever since.
Shaking his head, Bai Jue returned to his room.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he took out the bottle of Faith Essence, opened it, and drank a mouthful before beginning his cultivation.
Tonight—
He wanted to see if he could complete that final five percent of recognition.
As the Faith Essence entered his body, a multicolored vortex formed within him, spinning rapidly and devouring the surrounding prayer power at an astonishing speed.
[Notification: You have begun cultivating. Prayer power slightly increased.]
[Notification: You have begun cultivating. Prayer power slightly increased.]
[Notification: You have begun cultivating. Prayer power slightly increased.]
[Notification: Your cultivation speed has drawn Zhongyuan's attention. Zhongyuan recognition +5%.]
The system's voice echoed.
In the next instant—
Bai Jue felt himself enter an indescribable state.
Instinctively opening his eyes, he found himself standing within a dark, boundless space.
Dense yin energy filled the air.
It felt like the Underworld—
yet it wasn't.
Suddenly, images began to appear.
Ghost gates opening. Ten thousand spirits surging forth.
At the Ghost Pass, evil spirits escaping—only to be dragged back by underworld envoys.
Midnight streets filled with burning paper money as wandering souls fought over offerings.
Scene after scene unfolded—
All of them unmistakably tied to the Ghost Festival.
When the visions faded, a figure appeared before him.
It had no face.
No discernible features.
Only a vague, ethereal outline.
Yet Bai Jue could clearly feel—
It was looking at him.
Then, a voice echoed.
"You… are very good."
The moment the words fell—
Bai Jue felt as if he had been shoved backward. His body began falling rapidly, expelled from the dark space.
But just before he left—
Faint voices reached his ears.
"I want him…"
"No. He suits me better."
"Zhongyuan, you should let go. He has already obtained your full recognition."
"ROAR!!"
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