Deep within Grand Martial Academy.
Elder Ye Cien slowly withdrew his spirit power, stroking his beard gravely as he nodded at the two elders standing nearby.
"That youngster has solid fundamentals. His second awakening happened prematurely, but fortunately, neither his martial soul nor cultivation base were harmed. Another half month of rest, and he should recover completely."
Hearing this, the Second Elder relaxed a little, cupping his hands solemnly, "Elder Ye, thank you for your trouble."
"It is my duty," Ye Cien replied blandly with a wave.
The Second Elder nodded and walked over to the bedside. Jing Ling, lying there, still looked a little pale, his breath faint, but his eyes were clear, his resolve restored. Seeing the elders approach, he made to rise in greeting.
"Stay lying down. Don't move," the Second Elder gently pressed Jing Ling's shoulder, easily laying him back down.
"My health does allow us to skip the formalities," he smiled and pulled a chair beside the bed, gazing at him kindly.
"How do you feel? Is anything bothering you?"
Jing Ling gave a bitter shake of his head, his voice low and hoarse. "This disciple is all right... It's just… I didn't expect..."
Finishing, something dark flickered in his eyes—fear mixed with deep disappointment.
The Second Elder reached out, gently smoothing his tousled hair with a sigh.
"I've already learned of the whole matter from the secretly vigilant Elder Ba and Meng Zi. You truly… suffered unjust treatment."
Since Yu Xiaogang discovered that there were Skeleton Martial Souls at Blue Tyrant Academy, protected by the Bone Sect, he attached himself to Jing Ling like a fly drawn to rotting meat, using every trick to harass him.
At first, he pretended to be an instructor, hoping to approach him and pry for secrets related to the Body Sect's core techniques. But Jing Ling, though young, was not naive. With the sect's old grudge against this Grandmaster, and the tangled history between Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang, he always kept his distance.
But Yu Xiaogang was as persistent as an incurable bandage, shamelessly sticking to him, harassing time and again.
His nerve ran deeper still—offering to "improve" the Body Sect's secret techniques if Jing Ling would just reveal some foundational principles, boasting of his own theoretical mastery. It was this brazen demand that finally drove Jing Ling to anger; youthful and full of spirit, he nearly struck him on the spot.
Luckily, Shrek Academy's dean, Flender, arrived in time. Disaster was prevented.
Later, Liu Erlong rushed over after hearing the commotion. Though well aware of Yu Xiaogang's lecherous intentions, and their past relationship, instead of defending Jing Ling, Liu Erlong punished him.
In that moment, Jing Ling—grateful for past help from Liu Erlong—refrained from seeking aid from the sect's secret guardians, categorizing the matter as an "internal school affair."
But the incident chilled whatever love and hope Jing Ling had left for Liu Erlong.
Afterward, Liu Erlong recovered her composure, realized her bias, but still could not apologize. All she could do was keep Yu Xiaogang away from Jing Ling.
Yet this luck didn't last.
Soon after, dramatic changes rocked the Heaven Dou Empire. Xue Qinghe ascended the throne. Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was destroyed. Yu Xiaogang, stripped of rank for speaking out at court, was ousted.
This seemed to affect Liu Erlong too; with no place to vent her anger over her lover's downfall, she began, perhaps unconsciously, to resent Jing Ling, blaming the Body Sect for their misfortunes.
Once healed from injury, Yu Xiaogang became even more ruthless, casting greedy eyes on Jing Ling—not just seeking words, but visiting frequently and demanding the Body Sect's techniques under the pretext of "academic exchange."
Worse still, he brazenly dropped hints, even overt suggestions, that Jing Ling invite the Body Sect's Undying Douluo to Heaven Dou City to heal the amputated limbs and facial tattoo—implying the use of Body Sect secrets for recovery.
Jing Ling found it hard to believe that Liu Erlong, dean of Shrek Academy, was entirely ignorant of Yu Xiaogang's growing recklessness. The only explanation was implicit approval, or even secret participation.
At this point, whatever hope he'd had in Liu Erlong vanished.
Disheartened, Jing Ling formally submitted his graduation application to Dean Flender. Having reached the fourth ring as a soul master, he fulfilled the graduation criteria. He'd stayed not only for his studies, but also out of gratitude to Liu Erlong.
Flender, ever shrewd, had long noticed Jing Ling's predicament, as well as the mounting pressure from Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong. Not wanting trouble for his academy, he granted the graduation almost without hesitation.
Everyone thought it was finally over, that Jing Ling could finally escape, but just as he was about to finish the process, Yu Xiaogang appeared again at the last moment!
Using "Shrek Academy's giants should be tested accordingly" as a reason, he insisted Jing Ling must cross Sunset Forest alone to pass the graduation exam.
Bang!
Even the normally amiable Ye Cien slammed the table next to him at this, anger blazing for the first time.
Sunset Forest—one of the three great soul beast forests of the Douluo Continent, crawling with ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. Even seasoned beast masters would struggle to survive alone, let alone a teenager who'd only just made soul master level.
Forcing such a trial wasn't evaluation, it was murder.
The Second Elder's face darkened, but gestured for Ye Cien to let Jing Ling continue.
When Jing Ling heard about this "graduation test," his heart sank. That Yu Xiaogang could propose this, and the academy approve, meant he had backing. He needn't guess who.
Yet, he did not strenuously object, for a simple reason. Upon returning from Martial City, he knew the sect's elders were stationed deep within Sunset Forest year-round; what seemed a deadly mission might in fact be his chance to escape safely.
But he soon realized how deeply he'd underestimated Yu Xiaogang's malice.
"That Yu Xiaogang... never intended for me to survive the forest. His real goal was to spy on me as I fought desperately, recording every technique—hoping to steal our sect's secret soul power control method using special soul tools he'd prepared!"
His voice trembled with barely suppressed terror.
"The so-called Grandmaster... daring to steal my sect's true arts? courting death!" snarled the Second Elder, his cold laughter biting.
"And then?"
Jing Ling closed his eyes briefly, calming himself. "He'd already scattered a special powder on the route I'd travel, attracting powerful spirit beasts well beyond my abilities. I had no choice but to reveal my sect's combat skills to survive..."
"My guardian, Uncle Meng, noticed something amiss and tried to help me—only to be stopped by Dean Liu Erlong herself, who intercepted him outside!"
"By the time Elder Ba arrived..."
His voice faded, but both elders could imagine the danger of that moment: a young spirit master beset and besieged by powerful, frenzied beasts, no hope of aid; had Jing Ling not miraculously undergone his second awakening, unleashing latent potential to the extreme, he would never have survived to wait for Elder Ba.
Bang!
This time, the Second Elder struck the bedside, the heavy wood creaking under his fist.
After a long pause, he steadied his anger, patted Jing Ling's shoulder, and spoke in a complicated tone. "What can we even say?"
"To show mercy to one's enemies... is sometimes to be cruel to oneself. Luckily... our clan has Heaven's blessing, and you are most fortunate."
Ye Cien finally exhaled. "At least you turned disaster into fortune—you reached soul gate realm. This second awakening marks a new era for our sect."
"However, the process was too abrupt, and it happened while you were gravely injured, so you couldn't receive the best guidance and energy. Full recovery will take some time."
With the elders' words finished, relief slowly returned to their faces. Jing Ling's early awakening was a tremendous boon to their sect.
Jing Ling forced a small smile, but felt little joy—only the relief of surviving.
"Understood," the Second Elder rose and covered him gently with a blanket, resuming his usual calm.
"Now, your only task is to recover as much and as quickly as possible. Worry about nothing else."
"Yes, Elder," Jing Ling replied softly. After a moment's hesitation, he lifted his head to look at Ye Cien and the Second Elder.
"Elders... what plans does the sect have regarding Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong?"
At this, the Second Elder turned slowly. The last trace of kindness on his face faded, replaced by cold killing intent. He glanced at Ye Cien, who nodded imperceptibly, also utterly devoid of warmth.
"They coveted our sect's core heritage, and plotted to harm our direct descendants."
"For such a crime... only extermination of their entire bloodline will suffice."