Chapter 61 – News from the Outside World, Possessing Zhu Zhuqing
Qi Tian was extremely satisfied with the Sea Calming Pearl.
Unfortunately, his current cultivation was still too low to draw out its true might. For now, he could only continue refining it diligently and slowly unlock its hidden power.
After putting the pearl away, Qi Tian returned to the secluded forest where he trained, restored his soul power, and then set off toward the nearest city.
He needed to purchase another batch of whale glue—a rare material used to temper the True Dragon Physique and nourish his Body Martial Soul.
Although his Body Martial Soul didn't yet possess any soul rings, its growth was closely tied to his physical body. Even without soul rings, he could still strengthen it through specialized resources and training.
---
"Huh? Why is there such a crowd here?"
As he approached Silvis City, Qi Tian was surprised to see a large group of people gathered at the city gates.
After a brief look, he realized that two advanced soul master academies were holding recruitment events at the same time.
One was Silvis Academy, and the other was Botanic Academy. Both sides had long lines of students waiting to register.
Two banners hung proudly in front of the gates.
One read:
"Silvis Academy — Ranked Top 33 in the Continental Soul Master Tournament!"
The other proclaimed:
"Botanic Academy — Ranked Top 18 in the Continental Soul Master Tournament!"
Qi Tian couldn't help but chuckle.
A nearby girl standing in line noticed and tilted her head curiously.
"Friend, are you here to apply too? Why are you laughing?"
Qi Tian shook his head lightly.
"It's nothing."
He was simply amused that Silvis Academy, which had been eliminated in the very first round of the Continental Tournament in Spirit City, actually treated that as a badge of honor.
If not for the academy's connection to the kingdom, they probably wouldn't have even made it into the top thirty-three.
"Miss, between these two academies, which one do you think is stronger? Which one should I join?"
The girl, noticing Qi Tian's good looks, answered enthusiastically, happy to talk with him.
"Of course, Silvis Academy is better!" she declared.
"Oh? Why's that? Didn't the Botanic Academy rank higher?" Qi Tian asked with a faint smile.
The girl shook her head firmly.
"That's just luck! Silvis Academy is the stronger one."
"During the preliminaries, Silvis Academy actually beat Botanic Academy!"
Qi Tian's curiosity deepened.
"So it was just luck? What do you mean?"
The girl lifted her chin proudly, explaining as if she were an expert on the subject.
"You see, Silvis Academy was unlucky—they ran into Sky Dragon Academy in the very first round."
"But the Botanic Academy didn't meet them until the second round. That's why they ranked higher—it's pure luck!"
She added with a smug smile,
"Besides, Botanic Academy mostly recruits soul masters with plant-type martial souls. You'd be better off joining Silvis Academy instead."
"...Sky Dragon Academy?" Qi Tian froze.
Was that name just a coincidence? Or was it Liu Erlong's Sky Dragon Academy—the very one she had founded in the original timeline?
A sudden thought struck him.
Could it be that he hadn't transmigrated into a parallel Douluo world…but had actually traveled back in time?
"Friend," he quickly asked, "Which kingdom does this Sky Dragon Academy belong to?"
The girl blinked, surprised by his question.
"It's not under any of the four kingdoms," she said. "It's a high-level soul master academy based in Heaven Dou City! Their Thunder–Fire duo is amazing—they nearly made it into the top six!"
Qi Tian's expression turned complicated.
So it was true. The System had deceived him. He hadn't crossed into a parallel world—he had actually returned to the past!
"...Fine," he muttered with a wry smile. "So I've been tricked. But maybe that's not such a bad thing."
If things ever went south, he could still rely on those familiar names from the past… People like Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang, or even the Blue Silver Emperor herself.
"If only I'd known sooner…"
He sighed softly.
When he had possessed Qian Renxue, it had been during the period before his own past self had regained his previous life's memories.
And his parents—they had gone missing when he was only four years old.
If Qi Tian had known earlier, he could have asked Qian Renxue to capture his parents—at the very least, to ensure their safety.
But now, that opportunity has long slipped away.
Although Qi Tian didn't have much emotional attachment to them, they were still his parents in this life. He couldn't just ignore them entirely.
He shook his head, sighing softly. What's done is done. No point dwelling on it.
Turning back toward the city, Qi Tian made his way to the auction house. There, he purchased several pieces of whale rubber, spending the last of the ill-gotten wealth he had seized from a group of bandits more than a year ago.
After restocking on essential supplies, he returned to his secluded territory and resumed his cultivation.
---
Meanwhile, in the Star Luo Empire, within the Zhu Clan's residence in Star Luo City—
A young woman was packing her belongings. She was dressed in a tight black combat outfit that accentuated her fiery, flawless figure.
Her delicate face carried a cold, detached expression—yet that very coolness only enhanced her beauty, stirring a deep, primal desire to conquer.
"Yo, my dear little sister~ Where are you planning to go?"
Another woman appeared behind her, wearing a similar form-fitting outfit. The two looked strikingly alike—about seventy percent similar in features—but their temperaments couldn't be more different.
One was cold and elegant; the other, passionate and seductive.
The cold-faced girl ignored her sister completely. She finished packing her things and turned to leave.
"Zhu Zhuqing, your wings have grown hard, huh? You can't even greet your elder sister anymore?"
"You're heading out to hunt a soul beast to break through rank twenty, aren't you? Call me 'sister,' and maybe I'll help you hunt one."
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent, continuing her way toward the door.
"Hmph! How ungrateful. Still clinging to that useless fiancé of yours, thinking you have a chance to win?"
At that, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly turned around, her beautiful eyes flashing with defiance.
"What's with that look? Am I wrong? That fiancé of yours ran away over a year ago! Do you still think you can win this struggle?"
Her sister smirked proudly. "Soon, I'll be entering the Star Luo Royal Academy. I'll even be training with the Crown Prince himself on our Martial Soul Fusion Technique!"
"And you? Do you still think you can compete with me? Be smart, little sister—give up your claim to the throne. If you do, I, Zhu Zhuyun, might just consider sparing your life."
Zhu Zhuqing replied coldly, her tone unwavering: "The daughters of the Zhu Clan… do not give up so easily."
"If that man truly turns out to be a useless coward, I'll kill him myself—and then take my own life to atone."
With that, Zhu Zhuqing turned and left the Zhu residence, heading toward the nearby Soul Beast Forest.
Zhu Zhuyun stood frozen for a moment, then stomped her foot in anger as her sister's silhouette disappeared into the night.
"Fine! Go die on your own, then!"
---
That night, after cultivating until exhaustion, Qi Tian finally lay down and drifted into deep sleep.
Within his forest sanctuary, any disturbance—no matter how small—would instantly alert him, so he rested without worry.
But suddenly, in the middle of his sleep, a beastly roar echoed in the distance.
"Huh? Why would there be a soul beast nearby?" Qi Tian bolted upright, startled.
Yet the moment he moved, something felt off—his body was sluggish, movements restricted, and his chest felt unusually heavy, as if something was pressing down on it.
He rubbed his chest in confusion… only to realize his firm pectoral muscles had turned into two soft, rounded mounds.
"What the—!? Who did I possess this time!?"
Quickly calming himself, Qi Tian focused his senses and examined his martial soul.
A sleek, pitch-black cat martial soul emerged in his mind's eye.
"This… this is the Hell Spirit Cat?!"
Realization struck him like lightning.
"The Zhu Clan…? Don't tell me—I've possessed Zhu Zhuqing!"
—
End of Chapter