After leaving the Blue Silver Grass forest, Chu Chen returned to the nearby town. The moment he entered, he heard the familiar shouts of mercenaries, most of them calling for people to join them in entering the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Spirit Beasts.
"..."
Chu Chen watched the scene and fell into thought.
This method—hiring mercenaries to help hunt Spirit Beasts—was extremely common.
However, the results were often mediocre, and the strength of these mercenaries usually ranged from Spirit Master to Spirit Grandmaster.
Hunting hundred-year Spirit Beasts was manageable, but as for thousand-year ones… even if there were stronger mercenaries available, the cost was far beyond what ordinary people could afford.
Chu Chen sighed.
For now, he didn't have the ability to change such realities.
After finding a carriage in town, he boarded it and set off for Nuoding City.
"After all this traveling, the harvest has been quite good. When I reach Rank 20, I'll probably have to come here again."
As he pondered, his thoughts shifted toward his second spirit ring. There were quite a few Spirit Beasts with life attributes, but they were far from easy to find.
…
Nuoding City.
By the time Chu Chen returned, three days had passed since he left the academy.
Instead of heading straight back to the dormitory, he decided to visit the dean first. After all, the dean had made things convenient for him before—reporting back was only proper.
Outside the dean's office—
"Dean, are you in?"
He knocked on the door.
When it opened, it wasn't the dean who appeared—but Yu Xiaogang.
Seeing Chu Chen, Yu Xiaogang spoke:
"So it's you. I heard from the dean that you went to obtain your first spirit ring. What spirit ring did you get? What's its age?"
"You're really nosy, idiot."
Chu Chen brushed past him and walked straight inside.
"Dean, I'm back. I came to inform you."
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened instantly. He had asked out of curiosity—and to take the opportunity to belittle Chu Chen.
In his eyes, even if Chu Chen had obtained a spirit ring, it was surely nothing impressive.
"It's good that you're back. Did you succeed in obtaining your first spirit ring?"
The dean smiled warmly.
Chu Chen nodded.
"I did. Thank you, Dean, for making things convenient earlier."
The dean nodded with satisfaction.
"Good child. Although you missed the opening ceremony and the first class, I've already informed the others."
He then gestured toward Yu Xiaogang.
"This is Grandmaster. His disciple also possesses a Blue Silver Grass Spirit, just like you."
"He has conducted extensive research on Spirits. If you're willing, you could exchange ideas with him."
Following the dean's gaze, Chu Chen saw Yu Xiaogang sitting upright, a smug smile on his face.
"My disciple, Tang San, absorbed a Datura Snake of over four hundred years as his first spirit ring."
Yu Xiaogang spoke with pride, clearly expecting Chu Chen to be impressed.
Instead—
Chu Chen laughed.
"As expected of the Grandmaster. Using Blue Silver Grass to absorb a Datura Snake… that's like a blind chicken running onto a dam for no reason."
Yu Xiaogang frowned.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like—blind nonsense."
After greeting the dean once more, Chu Chen ignored Yu Xiaogang's darkened face and walked out.
"This brat… how dare he be so arrogant!"
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists.
"I'd like to see what kind of spirit ring you obtained. Refusing to take me, Yu Xiaogang, as your teacher will be the greatest regret of your life!"
…
Three days later—
Chu Chen returned to the work-study student dormitory.
Previously, he had only placed his luggage on the bed without organizing it. Now, it seemed he wouldn't even get the chance to rest.
"Brother Chu, you're back?"
Wang Sheng greeted him, his expression somewhat awkward.
"What's wrong?"
Chu Chen asked casually as he walked toward his bed.
"Well… Brother Chu…"
Before Wang Sheng could finish, Chu Chen saw it.
His bed had been occupied.
His belongings had been casually tossed aside.
"Brother Chu, it's not that we didn't want to help… it's just that we can't beat that big sister."
Wang Sheng scratched his head nervously.
"It's fine."
Chu Chen stepped forward, kicked one of the beds aside, then lifted the bedding from his original bed and replaced it with his own.
Several rabbit dolls that had been placed there were thrown onto the ground, instantly covered in dust.
"Damn… he's ruthless."
Wang Sheng and the others couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
A fight was definitely coming.
…
Just as Chu Chen was tidying up, two figures appeared at the dormitory entrance.
The girl saw her dolls and belongings scattered on the ground—and instantly exploded in anger.
Without hesitation, she rushed forward and kicked toward Chu Chen's head.
Bang!
Chu Chen blocked the attack with one hand, turned sharply, and sent her flying with a single palm strike.
At the same time, he kicked one of the rabbit dolls, sending it flying into her.
"Do you have any manners? Why did you throw Xiao Wu's things on the ground?"
Tang San frowned, clearly displeased.
"And when you moved someone else's bed and threw their belongings away, where were your manners?"
Chu Chen replied coldly.
Xiao Wu's eyes burned with anger.
"Who said that was your bed? There was just a bag of rags on it—I thought it was trash! The fact that I didn't throw it away is already generous!"
Chu Chen's expression turned cold.
He didn't indulge her at all.
In an instant, he appeared in front of Xiao Wu.
Slap!
Before Tang San could react, Chu Chen's hand had already struck.
Under everyone's stunned gaze, Xiao Wu was sent flying, crashing into the wall.
Her delicate cheek immediately swelled up.
Enraged, Xiao Wu rushed forward again without hesitation.
Activating her spirit power, she entered her Spirit-possessed state. Her speed surged as she leaped into the air.
"First Spirit Ability: Waist Bow!"
Her attacks targeted Chu Chen's vital points.
But Chu Chen remained calm.
He sidestepped her attack, skillfully neutralized her technique, and countered with a punch to her head.
Bang!
The impact made Xiao Wu see stars.
She fainted instantly, collapsing in front of Tang San.