Chapter 70: Black Swan's Challenge Letter, Teacher Tun Tun's Little Class, Alone

Shi Shi Laike Academy, the playground.

The scorching sun hung high as first-year students moved slowly along the track, their faces pale and drenched in sweat, the faint metallic clinking of chains echoing from their bodies.

Physical training, which at Shi Shi Laike Academy meant running, a tradition passed down for twenty thousand years.

As the times evolved, simple running became burdened progress; every student wore a chain-woven iron vest, actually a gravity-amplifying soul tool, constantly releasing immense gravitational force.

Two homeroom teachers stood at the edge of the playground, watching the first-year freshmen running miserably.

Wu Wu Changkong kept his gaze locked on the figure at the very front; compared to the other students' gasping, wretched appearance, he seemed unusually relaxed and cheerful, not a single bead of sweat on his face, his skin as dry as ever, as if he had never felt the oppression of the gravity-amplifying soul tool from start to finish.

"The physical constitution of a human-shaped ferocious beast, truly a gift from heaven..." Wu Wu Changkong sighed softly.

Shen Yi remarked with emotion, "Senior brother, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen possesses a Golden-tier secondary awakening of the Body Soul; the toughness of his flesh, meridians, and bones exceeds that of ninety percent of Soul Emperors. His physique is on a completely different level from the freshmen."

Wu Wu Changkong nodded silently; having witnessed Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen sweep through East Sea Academy back then, he had been certain he would inevitably become the next leader of the Spirit Tower.

Now fortunate enough to return to Shi Shi Laike Academy, Wu Wu Changkong began to understand Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, increasingly feeling he was a true monster, and for a moment saw the image of a beast roaring across the world.

"Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, Nal, Gu Yu, the next generation of the Spirit Tower is far superior to the Academy; the high council of the Sea God Pavilion can no longer sit idly by..."

Shen Yi's tone revealed a hint of distress: "Two years ago, Old Dragon personally sought me out on the Master's behalf, sternly demanding that I cultivate Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen and Nal into our own people at Shi Shi Laike.

The problem is their situation is special; while the Academy holds classes in the morning, they mostly return to the Spirit Tower headquarters by noon.

I also wish for the glory of the Academy to endure forever, but snatching disciples from the Spirit Tower is truly excessive, and frankly, impossible..."

"We fulfill our duties as homeroom teachers; there is no need to worry about anything else. Old Dragon has the Master to handle it."

Wu Wu Changkong comforted his junior sister a few words, then suddenly noticed the students beginning to slow their pace; his aura instantly turned cold and sharp, and an inhumane low shout rang out across the entire field:

"Pull yourselves together! No stopping!

Last lap, accelerate to your maximum speed toward me!"

Over a hundred freshmen gritted their teeth, lifting their stiff legs and struggling to run, their iron vests soaked through with sweat, making every step unbearably heavy.

The moment Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen passed Wu Wu Changkong, the dismissal bell rang; then the iron vests collided with the ground in a series of clatters, and the freshmen collapsed in a heap, kicking up clouds of dust.

"Xie Xie Xie Xie, Xiao Yan, I'm going to study forging; you two must work hard on your secondary professions."

Bearing the Golden Dragon bloodline, Tang Tang Wulin found the physical training session only slightly more taxing than Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen; casually wiping away his sweat, he hurried toward the Forgers Association.

A few days ago, when helping first-year forgers register at the Forgers Association, Tang Tang Wulin had met the fiery Dragon Limit Douluo, Feng Feng Wuyu, an old man who dragged him into forging practice every day.

Tang Tang Wulin enjoyed it immensely, as he too planned to create a Spirit Alloy One-Word Dou Kui.

Unlike the team of Zhao Xuan, Na, Yue, Xing Ye, plus the unofficial member Jiu Tian, the gap within Tang Tang Wulin's squad was enormous. Tang Tang Wulin was a fifth-level forger, Xu Li Zhi a fourth-level mecha repairer; both met the standard for crafting One-Word Dou Kui, but Xu Xu Xiaoyan and Xie Xie Xie Xie were dragging them down.

They only possessed first-level secondary professions; forget about crafting One-Word Dou Kui, even making a first-level soul tool required their full effort.

Dou Kui remained a distant dream; Tang Tang Wulin couldn't help but sigh helplessly. Strong alliances indeed made sense, yet he refused to abandon his old teammates, preferring to sacrifice part of his own interests.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen walked toward Gu Yu and Ye Ye Xinglan; the two girls had just removed their iron vests, their clothes soaked through and wrinkled, their fair, smooth foreheads covered in tiny beads of sweat, their cherry lips panting softly.

"Stop."

Gu Yu placed her left hand over her right, making a gesture to halt toward Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, and said seriously:

"Wait here; I'll be back very soon."

Immediately, the black-haired girl summoned space elements; several flashes of silver light appeared as she left the playground, heading toward what looked like the first-year girls' dormitory. Gu Yu placed extreme importance on her image; she would never accompany Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen in a state drenched in sweat, so she must return to the dormitory to shower and change into clean, tidy clothes.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen looked at Ye Ye Xinglan and said, "Are you free tonight? We can discuss your Dou Kui design draft."

"I..."

Ye Ye Xinglan opened her mouth, those azure eyes seeming to hold unspoken words; after hesitating for two and a half seconds, all her emotions finally solidified into determination, and she said, "Sorry, I have something to attend to. How about next week?"

"Mm."

Today was Friday of the first week of school, followed by two days of rest; the Dou Kui designs for Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen himself and Nal were already completed, and Gu Yu, being a mecha designer, needed no help.

Over the weekend, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen planned to sketch the initial drafts for Ye Ye Xinglan and Yuanen Yehui's One-Word Dou Kui, aiming to design the complete right gauntlet first; once the alloy arrived, manufacturing could begin immediately.

Since Ye Ye Xinglan was unavailable this week, delaying the design draft by two days was acceptable. Having been classmates for three years, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen knew Ye Ye Xinglan quite well; even without her request, relying on past impressions and Dou Kui knowledge, drafting a sketch of a Dou Kui was no problem, with details to be filled in later.

Ye Ye Xinglan clearly carried something on her mind; after speaking, she hurried away. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen waited for Gu Yu, who was returning to the dormitory to shower, and for Nal on Sea God Island, preparing to return to the Spirit Tower together.

"Beep beep beep—"

The soul tool communicator suddenly rang; Yuanen Yehui sent a message stating she had broken through to level forty last night and wished to fuse a soul spirit with her Titan Giant Ape martial soul.

Replying "I'll wait for you at the Spirit Tower," Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen put away the soul tool communicator and sat casually in the center of the stands, propping up his legs.

The torrent of sunlight poured onto the emerald grass of the playground; Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's snow-white shirt beneath billowed in the wind, revealing the outline of his body; beneath the open collar, his collarbones were faintly visible; suddenly, black and white halos bloomed, and the Auspicious Capybara appeared.

In just seven short years, the Auspicious Capybara had leaped from a hundred years to a thousand, then to ten thousand, undergoing a transformation akin to being reborn, becoming a mature auspicious beast.

The yin-yang totem at the center of its brow was exceptionally deep, seemingly rotating slowly and continuously; with every breath, faint black and white patterns appeared on the Auspicious Capybara's body.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen leaned against the Auspicious Capybara; Teacher Tun Tun showed no annoyance, or rather, had grown accustomed to being a cushion or pillow; human and soul spirit enjoyed a peaceful moment, savoring this rare time of tranquility.

"Junior brother Zhao Xuanzhen."

A melodious voice broke the silence as a graceful figure approached slowly; waist-length black hair cascaded like satin, adorned with feather hairpins at the tips, and a smile of great warmth curved her lips.

Third-year vice-class monitor, Black Swan Mo Jue!

"Senior sister Mo, here to challenge me to the Dou Hun Arena again?" Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen asked with a faint smile.

Mo Jue and Li Li Qiankun frequently appeared to issue challenges, a classic case of losing repeatedly yet fighting on; Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen instinctively assumed it was no different from usual.

"Sort of, but this time it's a formal challenge letter."

Mo Jue smiled mysteriously as a red-background, black-character challenge letter fell into Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's hand.

"Next month, third-year challenges first-year, a seven-on-seven team battle?" Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen raised an eyebrow. "I recall you've been training desperately these past few years, breaking through to the five-ring Soul King realm, and your One-Word Dou Kui is nearly complete.

You're about to become inner court disciples; are you two coming to bully first-year freshmen?"

"Yes, exactly to bully fresh, tender freshmen like you," Mo Jue declared with righteous indignation. "Li Li Qiankun and I have decided to wipe out our past humiliation before entering the inner court, bringing along our classmates whom you've beaten!

Resistance is futile; the Outer Court Dean, Red Dragon Limit Douluo, has approved this team battle. Hurry back and pick your team. Friendly reminder: you will face two fifth-ring One-Word Dou Kui masters and five high-level Hun Sect members with four or more Dou Kui pieces!"

"You really are..."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen shook his head; the third-year class was the unluckiest generation. At the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition, Yu Yu Yuanheng and others were the main force; during the freshman entrance assessment, they faced a ten-on-one challenge, and class monitor Li Li Qiankun was defeated before the eyes of all... No wonder the class monitor and vice-class monitor, disregarding their dignity, insisted on leading their classmates to seek revenge.

"When the time comes, I won't hold back."

"Do you think we two One-Word Character Character Doukai Masters fear you?"

Mo Jue snorted lightly, then reached out to pat the little head of the Auspicious Spirit Capybara, smiling brightly as she said:

"Teacher Tun Tun, long time no see!"

"Hello."

The Auspicious Spirit Capybara established a spiritual connection with Mo Jue and replied politely and courteously.

"I wish to consult you." Mo Jue's beautiful eyes sparkled with brilliance. "The Two-Word Character Character Doukai design must be based on the One-Word Character Character Doukai, but I don't quite understand that wing..."

"That is very simple."

The Auspicious Spirit Capybara calmly resolved Mo Jue's doubts, making Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen cover his face in embarrassment; the Auspicious Spirit Capybara had been studying mecha design and mecha manufacturing alongside him, with a proficiency level roughly equivalent to early Stage Five.

On one occasion, while Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, Li Li Qiankun, and Mo Jue were exchanging knowledge about Character Character Doukai, the Auspicious Spirit Capybara, who was supposed to be keeping watch outside, was caught red-handed by the two of them while holding an advanced mecha design theory book.

Consequently, the entire third grade learned about the miraculous Teacher Tun Tun, and would even invite the Auspicious Spirit Capybara to the class to impart Character Character Doukai knowledge and answer questions, precisely because Teacher Tun Tun was free and required no expenditure of contribution points...

Mo Jue and the Auspicious Spirit Capybara were chatting quite happily when two figures approached from the east and west respectively; the girl coming from the east had hair as black as ink, her black dress accentuating her graceful curves, with a waistline cinched so tightly it was breathtaking, while beneath the hem of her skirt, her legs were clad in black silk stockings with dark patterned jacquard.

The girl from the west had silver hair flowing with a halo like moonlight, a platinum hair chain coiled within her tresses sparkling like stardust with every step, her pearl-white dress cut into a diagonally slashed wavy hem that seemed like surging clouds as she walked, her calves fairer than snow.

As the two girls met and walked together, even the sunlight seemed to dim in their presence, their gazes burning intensely as they looked at Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen... or rather, at the smiling and charming Mo Jue beside him.

Starting with the soul spirit to gradually win over the host—we are all thousand-year-old foxes; do you really think changing the track means we won't see through your little schemes?

Gu Yue casually twirled the ends of her hair with her fingertips, a extremely cold smile playing on her red lips, her dark pupils sweeping over Mo Jue like a cold wind brushing across an icy pool.

Xiang Xiang Naer lifted her swan-like neck, her coral-colored lips glistening with moisture, while the silver diamonds on her skirt shredded the sunlight into specks of light dust that scattered across the fabric.

Mo Jue seemed to sense something and suddenly turned her head to look, only to see the black-and-white girls standing with arms crossed, wearing cold sneers like the Black and White Impermanence.

It was rare for Gu Yue and Xiang Xiang Naer to form a united front; it was as if a pair of dairy cats, usually fighting amongst themselves, had suddenly discovered a calico cat attempting to steal their home without honor, causing them to immediately turn swords into plowshares and unite against the external threat.

Their cast shadows intertwined with each other, a gentle breeze carrying the dark fragrance of pitch-black and the cold scent of silver-white, turning the playground into a battlefield thick with the smoke of gunpowder.

"Junior Brother Zhao Xuanzhen, Tun Tun, let's chat again next time..."

The black-and-white girls made Mo Jue involuntarily feel fear; she dared not stay with Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen any longer, her retreating figure frantic, carrying the flavor of a hasty retreat.

Having driven away the dishonest Mo Jue, Xiang Xiang Naer and Gu Yue flanked Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen on the left and right, their stunning faces wearing ambiguous smiles.

"Zhao Xuanzhen, I only left for a short while, and you were already getting so cozy with this beautiful senior sister..."

"Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, we really need to control you; come on, let's go home and talk..."

The black-and-white beauties gave Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen no chance to argue, pulling him back to the Spirit Pagoda without further explanation, while the Auspicious Spirit Capybara dared not make a sound and obediently returned into Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's body.

The three returned to the Spirit Pagoda; all along the way, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen only felt cold air whooshing from both sides, possessing none of the pleasure of walking hand-in-hand with two beauties, until they saw Leng Yaoju, at which point the two beautiful girls finally revealed smiles of delight.

Looking at the trident before her, Leng Yaoju smiled with satisfaction and said: "Zhao Xuanzhen, Xiang Xiang Naer, Gu Yue, this afternoon I will arrange for you to enter the Ascension Spirit Platform for training."

The three nodded, and Leng Yaoju continued: "By the way, today I was reviewing the personnel approved to challenge the Spirit Tower and saw a familiar name."

"Who?" the three asked curiously.

The Spirit Tower consisted of one hundred and eight levels, each guarded by different formations; breaking through a level allowed one to select a soul spirit for purchase from within and obtain a fifty percent discount.

Two types of people were qualified to challenge the tower: one type being core disciples of the Spirit Pagoda, such as the trio of Zhao Xuan, Gu, and Na; of course, with their background under the Heaven Phoenix Limit Douluo Leng Yaoju, they did not need to trouble themselves challenging the tower to absorb soul spirits and could simply select directly from the soul spirit list.

The other type consisted of geniuses with special talents who, after review and approval by the Spirit Pagoda, were permitted to challenge the tower, serving as an investment method for the Spirit Pagoda to win over geniuses from all factions.

"Ye Ye Xinglan," Leng Yaoju said. "Her situation is quite special."

She wishes to absorb a mutated Starry Sky Unicorn whose spiral horn atop its head has grown into a sword, capable of condensing starlight power into sword qi; among the many soul spirits in the Spirit Pagoda, this mutated Starry Sky Unicorn is the most suitable for the Star God Sword martial soul.

As you know, the price for special soul spirits is extremely high; the Starry Sky Unicorn cannot be exchanged for Federal Coins, so the Spirit Pagoda requires resources from the Ye family in exchange.

Unfortunately, the Ye family was only willing to provide half, and the resources offered did not meet our requirements, so this girl can only be granted one opportunity to challenge the tower; we have arranged the Starry Sky Unicorn on one of the levels, and whether she can obtain it depends on her own abilities."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen had heard of this rule before; ever since the defeat in the Heaven-Sea Alliance Grand Competition, Ye Ye Xinglan had transformed into a cultivation maniac, reaching the peak of soul power level thirty-nine before school started, nearly a year faster than her counterpart from another spacetime, so breaking through to level forty was quite normal.

"Teacher, is she challenging the tower alone?"

"Yes, according to the approval report, Ye Ye Xinglan is challenging the tower alone."

(End of Chapter)