"Traveling? At most, you'll only be around a Spirit King in five years, right? Don't forget, just because you're cultivating fast now doesn't mean your cultivation will keep increasing quickly in the future," Hu Liena said.
"So what? I'm just going out for a walk to see this World, not to look for trouble, and certainly not to fight. Having the cultivation of a Spirit Ancestor or Spirit King is enough to travel the World," Lin Xishan said dismissively.
"Then will you remember me?" Hu Liena asked.
"Of course I will. Besides, it's not like I'm not coming back. I'm not an ungrateful person; I know who's been providing for me," Lin Xishan said calmly.
"That's true. Alright then, I hope your future travels go smoothly," Hu Liena sighed and said.
"I also hope you can achieve your goals, although personally, I don't want you to get too deeply involved," Lin Xishan added.
"Why?" Hu Liena asked.
"...Because the relationship between the Supreme Pontiff Palace and the Elder Hall is not as simple as you think," Lin Xishan said.
Bibi Dong, that madwoman, had the ultimate goal of destroying the continent. Since she was unhappy, she intended to destroy everyone else. Naturally, Lin Xishan did not want to get involved in such a situation.
However, this was as far as he could go with his hints to Hu Liena. If he said any more and it somehow reached Bibi Dong's ears, he didn't have enough backing to block her pursuit.
Hu Liena heard Lin Xishan's words and was a bit confused, but she just nodded, indicating she understood Lin Xishan's plans, and then went back to her class to cultivate.
A few months later, upon reaching level 30, Lin Xishan successfully caught up with his class to hunt for a spirit. Although everyone else was there to hunt for their second or even first spirit ring, and his hunting for a third spirit ring was a bit absurd, Spirit Hall Academy used brute force to solve problems. With a Spirit Emperor-level teacher leading the team, there was no difference in the hunting process.
There wasn't much to say about this trip, except that he was a bit conservative with the age; he obtained a Shadow Beast of over 5,000 years, which was only 2,000 years higher than his second spirit ring, barely satisfactory.
However, the Spirit Ability he obtained was decent; it was one of God of Earth Cassius's divine skills, Merge into Darkness.
In the game, it makes the opponent's next skill ineffective when used first, but its effect on the Douluo Continent was 100% immunity to all damage.
At this time, there were about four years left until the "final assessment" Hu Liena mentioned.
Lin Xishan communicated with Lion Douluo once. Lion Douluo's opinion was that since Lin Xishan didn't intend to follow the internal promotion route of Spirit Hall and had learned almost everything at Spirit Hall Academy, he might as well apply for a leave of absence once he became a Spirit King.
Lion Douluo was very satisfied with this disciple: under eight years old and already level 30, with three extremely powerful Spirit Abilities.
Lion Douluo estimated that as long as the next two Spirit Abilities didn't have any issues, Lin Xishan would be able to protect himself by the time he became a Spirit King.
Three years later, in the Spirit Beast forest, Lin Xishan looked at the Dark Rock Demon Ape in front of him, narrowed his eyes, and four spirit rings—yellow, purple, purple, and black—flickered beneath his feet.
"Fourth Spirit Ability, Mountain Gods Protection!" Lin Xishan released his Spirit Ability first, then dashed out, charging toward the Dark Rock Demon Ape.
His fourth spirit ring was obtained with the help of Lion Douluo, from a 17,000-year-old earth-attribute Spirit Beast, and this 38,000-year-old Dark Rock Demon Ape in front of him was the final hurdle before Lin Xishan left for his travels.
After releasing Mountain Gods Protection, the attack power of the next strike would double, stacking with Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute Shadow.
Instantly triple damage!
"Universe Reversal!"
Black spirit power covered his hands, and with one punch, he pierced through the Dark Rock Demon Ape's chest.
The ink-black ten-thousand-year spirit ring rose. Lin Xishan reached out, guiding the spirit ring to settle onto his body.
Having had the experience of absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring for the first time, the soul impact was not difficult for Lin Xishan, and he completed the absorption with great ease.
Cassius's ultimate move, Quantum Annihilation Wave, was now mastered.
Feeling the newly mastered Spirit Ability, Lin Xishan felt a surge of excitement. This way, he wouldn't have to rely solely on Universe Reversal for damage output.
He could truly achieve Cassius's complete combination: Universe Reversal to absorb strength, Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute Shadow to strengthen, Mountain Gods Protection to further increase damage, and finally, the tracking effect of Quantum Annihilation Wave to finish off the target.
If this combo still didn't kill them, well, sorry, time to use Merge into Darkness and run, brother.
Truly capable of both fighting and running!
At the same time, based on Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute Shadow, Lin Xishan reverse-engineered the TV version's "Continuous Mountain Absolute Ravine," further improving his offensive capabilities.
Lion Douluo, watching from the shadows, nodded repeatedly. He then appeared from the shadows and said to Lin Xishan, "Not bad. You have proven that you possess the capital to venture out on your own. Then, go ahead."
"Teacher, thank you for your care during this time." Lin Xishan bowed his head and saluted Lion Douluo once more.
"When you are out and about, do not forget your cultivation. Don't waste such good talent." As Lion Douluo said this, he handed a card from the Douluo Continent General Bank to Lin Xishan and said, "There are 30,000 gold coins inside; it's enough for you to spend until you come of age."
"Thank you, Teacher!" Lin Xishan said again.
After saying goodbye to Lion Douluo, Lin Xishan returned to Spirit City. He had originally planned to leave without saying goodbye, but as soon as he arrived at Spirit Hall Academy, he saw Hu Liena waiting at the academy gate.
"Why aren't you going in?" Lin Xishan asked Hu Liena, playing dumb.
"I was waiting for you. Don't think I don't know; you're leaving tomorrow, right?" Hu Liena said, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, I'm applying for a leave of absence today." Seeing that he couldn't keep up the act, Lin Xishan had to tell the truth.
"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?" Hu Liena said with dissatisfaction. "That's so mean!"
"I just didn't want you to be distracted by this," Lin Xishan said, feigning indifference. "Our paths are not the same."
"You underestimate me too much. I won't be distracted by something like this," Hu Liena said confidently.
"I hope so." Lin Xishan shrugged and said.
"Aren't you going to treat me to a meal?" Hu Liena asked with a smirk.
"We'll see after I finish my business." Lin Xishan said as he went back to the dormitory to pack his things.
In a restaurant in the center of Spirit City, Hu Liena looked at Lin Xishan, then cleared her throat uncomfortably, and stuffed a small fox-shaped bracelet into his hand.
"What is this?" Lin Xishan asked, looking at the little fox head on the bracelet.
"A gift for you, so you don't forget me!" Hu Liena turned her head to look out the window, saying uncomfortably.
"How could I forget you, you silly fox." Lin Xishan smiled gently and then put the bracelet away.
"You're the silly one! You're just a self-righteous idiot!" Hu Liena's face turned even redder, and she stomped her feet.
Lin Xishan was noncommittal, just watching Hu Liena with a smile.
The next morning, in a private room of a small town outside Spirit City, Lin Xishan opened the map...