Two days later, Sun Moon Imperial Academy, Testing Ground Zero.
Ji Juechen stared at the shattered remains of his Class 7 Spirit Sword scattered across the ground like fallen petals. He then looked up at Ling Bai, who stood opposite him wearing an innocent expression, and fell into deep contemplation.
Extraterrestrial Meteoric Sword, Class 6 Spirit Sword, Class 7 Spirit Sword...
This was the third sword of his that Ling Bai had shattered. Nearly all the extra money he had earned from fighting in open-air arenas was gone.
In his twenty-plus years of life, Ji Juechen was, for the first time, beginning to think one should exercise caution when challenging certain people. If he kept fighting endlessly like this, bankruptcy loomed ahead.
"I've learned a lot."
Savoring the sword intent he had just grasped, Ji Juechen cupped his fists in salute. In the stands, the Sun Moon students wrung their hands and sighed, their gazes complex as they watched Ling Bai withdraw his Angel Sword below.
"Is this guy truly invincible under heaven?"
Someone expressed this sentiment with a sigh, and it was also the heartfelt thought of the vast majority of Sun Moon students.
For three whole days, a nonstop gauntlet of battles raged from morning till night. Ling Bai's strength had completely disrupted Jing Hongchen's original plan. Every Spirit Guidance Master from the Sun Moon Imperial Academy who met the challenge requirements, from Class 5 at the lowest to Class 7 at the highest, was defeated by the Angel Sword. Some, still unconvinced, fought again and again despite repeated defeats and received a sound beating for three consecutive days.
Na Na heard the comment and replied softly, "Don't forget he's a Seraphim. He's even more invincible in the sky."
"There's no justice in this world..."
The friendly competition came to a perfect close. A single Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device was not enough to make Jing Hongchen go back on his word. He gifted the Judgement Sword to Ling Bai and sincerely invited him to stay at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy for a few more days to, while he was at it, guide the students' practical combat abilities.
Ling Bai politely declined, citing his need to hunt for his seventh spirit ring, and stated he would leave the next morning. Jing Hongchen could only express his deep regret.
…
That night, along a quiet path in the Sun Moon Imperial Academy, Ning Tian gently held Ling Bai's hand and asked, "Bai-ge, where are you planning to hunt for spirit beasts?"
"The Evildemon Forest."
His seventh spirit ring had been decided long ago, but he still had to go through the motions. He mentioned the Evildemon Forest purely because it was close to Mingdu and home to 100,000-year spirit beasts, which wouldn't arouse Ning Tian's suspicion.
"What if you go into the spirit beast forest alone and get killed? You should ask Aunt Yu to go with you," Wu Feng said, arms crossed, giving him a look that said: Just lean on a big tree for some shade already.
"Xiao Feng..."
Ning Tian shot Wu Feng a glare, but though her words were blunt, the reasoning was sound. The Evildemon Forest was the territory of the continent's second Great Beast, the Evil Emperor. She, too, was worried about Ling Bai's safety and urged, "Auntie's spirit power has already reached Rank 88. As a top-level plant-type Martial Spirit, the Sky Azure Vine Emperor is skilled at commanding other plants in the forest to scout the area. Having her with you would be an extra layer of security."
"Forget it, Xiao Tian. You know what Aunt Yu is like."
Ling Bai's expression twisted. "I'm just afraid she'll do something strange again. Such childhood nightmares..."
At the mention of childhood nightmares, Ning Tian couldn't help but let out a stifled laugh, and Wu Feng bared her teeth in a loud, cackling laugh. The disadvantage of being childhood friends was that they knew every bit of Ling Bai's embarrassing history.
"I survived for a year and a half in Star Dou Forest. The Evildemon Forest can't possibly be more dangerous than that."
Ling Bai said. "You two focus on your studies. I'll be fine."
"Okay."
Ning Tian's sapphire-blue eyes flickered. Seemingly absent-minded yet with a pointed meaning in her words, she said:
"I heard that five days from now is the Sun Moon Empire's traditional Holy Bright Festival. There'll be a grand fireworks show at night, and many young men and women from the Empire will row boats on the Ming River that flows through Mingdu and make lifelong vows..."
Anyone with a shred of emotional intelligence could understand Ning Tian's underlying meaning. Wu Feng seemed to turn to stone on the spot; if a strange wind blew by, she would probably crack into pieces.
No amount of silent prayer could change it. The day Wu Feng least wanted to face had finally arrived.
"I'll be back for the Holy Bright Festival."
Ling Bai offered Ning Tian a promise to set her heart at ease.
"Mhm!"
The simple promise made Ning Tian nod eagerly again and again, her face flushing with excitement.
"Rest early. I won't bother you two tomorrow."
"Got it! Good night, Bai-ge!"
Ning Tian's cheeks grew rosy with excitement. She clenched her little fists and hurried away, already secretly planning her festival decorations—completely missing Wu Feng beside her, who had become like a walking corpse, her entire being seemingly drained of color.
After saying his early goodbyes, Ling Bai returned to the private dormitory Jing Hongchen had arranged for him.
Jing Hongchen was not a petty man. There were no surveillance Spirit Guidance Devices in the dorm, and with no neighbors nearby, the environment was peaceful and quiet.
A pitch-black Spectral Gate silently rose, and Ling Bai stepped into his Spectral Demiplane.
The first thing he saw upon entering was the Humanoid Spirit Guidance Device, followed by the Death Abyss Bone Dragon. The dragon seemed extremely interested in the huge metal lump, continuously using its claws to poke it here and touch it there.
Time was short and the task urgent. Ling Bai ignored the dragon and sank his consciousness into his Spiritual Sea. There, the Snow Empress's breathtaking figure appeared before him. She had waited a long time, the smile on her lips as fleeting and radiant as sunlight on snow.
"At last, the wait is over…"
He reached out and summoned the blood-red spirit ring hanging in the sky of his Spiritual Sea, upon which were inscribed seven brilliant golden lines.
The Snow Empress understood perfectly what Ling Bai's breakthrough to Rank 70 meant. Her spirit ring finally had a use. It would soon create an unprecedented 700,000-year Avatar in the history of the Douluo Continent.
"Impatient, are we?" Ling Bai teased.
"Once you receive my spirit ring, I'll be free to study longevity techniques like Elder Yi."
The Snow Empress replied with a gentle smile. "As long as you succeed on your path to Godhood, both I and the Extreme North will have a pillar of support."
"I am willing to receive from you, and just as willing to give back to you in the future."
"Mmm, I didn't misjudge you."
The Snow Empress smiled softly at Ling Bai, like a glacier veiled in sunlight. Her skin seemed crystalline against her long white dress, and a cool, pure scent drifted from her. She stepped forward and took his hand in hers.
Threads of chill energy, guided by her gentle yet profound spirit power, began to fuse with Ling Bai. His Seraphim Martial Spirit manifested on its own, and six spirit rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, red, red—rose up, coating the inside of his Spiritual Sea with a dazzling luster.
"Elder Yi, it's time!"
"Wasn't I just giving you young'uns a bit of time alone?"
A vigorous laugh rang out as Electrolux appeared, golden staff in hand. He began chanting a deep, multi-syllabic incantation, then tapped his staff first on Ling Bai's Spirit Core, then on the Snow Empress's.
"Snow Empress."
Electrolux's voice was solemn. "You are the Douluo Continent's mightiest ice-attribute spirit beast, born with the mutated form of Ultimate Ice known as Ultimate Snow. Yet one of the Seraphim's attributes is Ultimate Fire, the polar opposite of Ultimate Snow.
On the surface, you and the Seraphim could not be less compatible. But as the old saying goes, good fortune follows adversity.
When cold reaches its utmost extreme, a qualitative transformation can occur. Ultimate Snow becomes Ultimate Fire, the coldest power turns into the hottest energy. That is precisely where your compatibility with the Seraphim lies.
Open your spirit power, and let me guide it..."