Chapter 14: The Harem and the Soul Bone
“This attack has a wider range than Dragon Roar’s. Stay focused; I’ll help you absorb most of the damage.”
“Spirit switch: Wind Spirit.”
The right hand, holding Dream’s Resolve, gradually faded as the left hand slowly gathered wind elements.
Though still somewhat puzzled, the two moved closer according to Nian Yun’s instructions.
“I’m not sure if she’ll use her fifth spirit skill. If she does, we won’t stand a chance. We only get one shot.”
“Understood.”
The three prepared themselves, with Shan Li already aiming her right hand.
“Whoosh—”
The dragon’s roar echoed through the Spirit Arena, sending shockwaves of metallic clangs toward the trio.
“A breeze is coming~”
Nian Yun spread out her left hand, feeling the wind elements around her. A gentle breeze stirred, and under her command, a wind wall spontaneously formed, blocking most of the sound waves.
Seeing her Dragon Roar largely neutralized by the wind wall, Shan Li’s surprise turned to increased spirit power transmission.
After several seconds, the wind wall began to waver and break apart.
Without giving them a moment’s respite, Shan Li withdrew much of her spirit energy and began charging up.
“Whoosh!”
Two arrows wrapped in foxfire pierced through the broken wind wall, aiming for Shan Li.
“Fourth spirit skill, Silver Dragon Slash.”
“Step—Bang—”
Ignoring the attacks, Shan Li used the silver dragon’s defense to deflect the foxfire arrows, then transformed into a silver streak rushing toward the wind wall.
“Second spirit skill, Gust Force.”
Sensing Shan Li’s approach, Nian Yun forcefully unleashed the whirlwind she had condensed, breaking through the lingering sound waves while obstructing Shan Li’s path.
Wind eroded silver objects.
“Second spirit skill, Full Moon Guard.”
Evil Moon gathered a crimson moon blade before her.
“Bang!”
Worn down by wind erosion, Evil Moon’s defense barely held the attack, preventing her from being instantly knocked out of the arena.
As Evil Moon was pushed back, Shan Li noticed Nian Yun and Hu Liena spreading out on either side.
“Third spirit skill, Heavenly Fox Transformation.”
Fox-shaped Hu Liena leapt forward, shooting several tail spikes from her tail.
“Spirit switch: Dream’s Resolve.”
“First spirit skill, Thoughtless Slash.”
Two attacks moved with equal speed; before Shan Li could react, they were already before her eyes.
“Bang—Crash—”
Shan Li’s silver fist slammed down, shattering the ground beneath her into fragments. Shockwaves rippled outward, fracturing the earth around her.
The tail spikes were blocked by the flying debris, and Nian Yun was stopped by the shockwave.
“Evil Moon!”
“Third spirit skill, Moonshadow Exorcism.”
As the shockwaves surged, Evil Moon concentrated all her spirit energy into one point, her body enveloped in a crimson hue as she pierced forward, aiming at Shan Li.
Having already used much of her energy, Shan Li felt weary and did not unleash another spirit skill. Instead, she simply swung her silver fist.
When they collided, there was no explosive impact—only a crisp ‘clang.’
Nian Yun drove Dream’s Resolve into the ground to absorb the shock, then steadied herself and glanced at the battlefield.
---
Hu Liena, barely standing, had already left the arena at the other side.
Evil Moon was pushed to the edge.
Shan Li brushed the dust off her shoulders and adjusted her glasses at the center of the field.
“You passed.”
Hearing this, the three retracted their spirit skills. Nian Yun, relieved, gripped the hilt of Dream’s Resolve firmly.
“Ding.”
System notification: “Side quest: Survive five rounds against Shan Li alongside Evil Moon and Hu Liena without falling. Reward being delivered...”
Spirit energy surged into the body, easing the emptiness within. Two century-old spirit rings appeared, circling around the spirit ‘Bell Rock.’
[Spirit Hall Side Quest Supplement: Endure ten rounds against the Golden Generation under the Chrysanthemum Douluo’s control. Reward: Spirit Power Level 3, one 30,000-year-old spirit beast, Spirit Hall reputation +10.]
[Escape from the Ghost Douluo’s grasp. Reward: Spirit Power Level 3, one 20,000-year-old spirit beast, Spirit Hall reputation +5.]
“That really is the ‘Forest Book’—coming up with a pile of SS+ level tasks is impressive.”
[Host Panel Display:
Spirit Power: 32
Three Spirit Configurations: Yellow, Yellow
Spirit Hall Reputation: 3
Hu Liena Favorability: 10
Zhang Ping Favorability: 0
Host Controlled by Bibi Dong Index: -5%
Storage Box: One 6,000-year-old spirit beast, half bottle of hair conditioner, eight oil blotting papers...]
Once the dust fully settled, Nian Yun slowly approached Evil Moon and Hu Liena.
“Your discharge requests have been approved. Report to the academy within a week.”
With that, Shan Li turned and walked away.
The three exchanged breathless smiles.
“Nian Yun, thanks to your intel just now, we probably couldn’t have survived even two moves from the teacher on defense alone,” Evil Moon sincerely acknowledged.
“Thank you,” Hu Liena gave a shy smile.
“Although Silver Dragon is an aggressive spirit, her defense is formidable. Luckily, we had you all.”
“All right, we’ll be teammates sooner or later. This cooperation has truly helped us a lot. Time is tight; let’s set off now.”
Evil Moon’s suggestion aligned perfectly with Nian Yun’s thoughts.
“Fine, let’s rest on the carriage then.”
“Mm.”
Agreed, the three rented a carriage from the academy.
The sunset bathed the scene as the carriage slowly departed Spirit City.
...
After continuous shifts and rest, it took the three two days to reach the entrance of the Starry Forest.
Dusk was falling.
“Clang!”
Weapons struck the ground with a sound. “Please present identification.”
Nian Yun stepped off to show her student ID from the Advanced Spirit Master Academy, then was allowed to pass.
“Step, step, step.”
Another carriage approached behind them.
---
The vehicle’s splendor matched theirs in no way.
Nian Yun glanced at the coachman, whose patterned face revealed strong spirit power.
“Clip-clop.”
The carriage passed by Nian Yun, and through the window, a strikingly beautiful woman cast her gaze, her dark red hair capturing Nian Yun’s attention.
“Ding.”
Momentarily distracted, Nian Yun hurriedly masked her embarrassment and boarded the carriage, heading toward the open gate.
System notification: “Host triggered another quest: Befriend Fire Dance. Upon completion, the chance to encounter Elemental Dragons in Starry Forest will unlock.”
“Elemental Dragons, spirit bones! Are they finally here?”
“Was that Fire Dance just now? Damn, Hu Liena’s beauty completely overshadows most people. I was totally fixated on her hair. Hope I didn’t leave a bad impression.”
“Nian Yun, let’s change course,” Evil Moon peeked out after the carriage entered the forest.
“What’s wrong? What’s the situation?” Nian Yun inquired calmly.
“If I’m not mistaken, the carriage that came in with the charming woman belongs to the Blazing Fire Academy of the Five Elements Academy,” Evil Moon said tensely.
“Conflict already?”
Nian Yun thought to herself.
“Brother, what’s going on?” Hu Liena also peeked out and asked.
“This was something my old teacher told me: among the Five Elements Academies, apart from the Elephant Armor Academy, the other four have tense relations with our academy and the Spirit Hall.”
“So, to avoid unnecessary trouble, I think we should keep our distance from them.”
“Mm, I think I heard the teacher say something similar,” Hu Liena agreed after recalling.
Since they were riding behind, neither noticed Nian Yun’s expression of delight, as if she had just tasted something delicious.
“Damn, who knows how long it’ll be before we meet again.”
Soon, a large tree appeared ahead—also a fork in the road.
“Shall we wait a bit, then take the other path?” Nian Yun turned to the others.
“Okay.”
“Giddy-up~~”
The carriage’s hooves stopped, parked to the side.
Shortly after, Fire Dance’s carriage slowly approached. After a brief glance exchanged between the elder and Nian Yun, it turned left and departed.
Not long after, Nian Yun and the others headed right into Starry Forest.
Night fell.
The three finally pitched three tents.
“You did the traveling this afternoon, so I’ll keep watch tonight. You go rest,” Evil Moon said, inviting Nian Yun to rest.
“I’ll take the second half of the night.”
“I’ll do it instead.”
Before Nian Yun finished speaking, Hu Liena stepped forward.
“I already said I don’t want to hold you back.”
“All right, Nian Yun, you rest well. Nana and I will take turns.”
“Fine, I’ll rest well for the night then.” After thanking them, she headed to her tent.
“Whoosh.”
Just inside the tent, Nian Yun extended her left hand, eyes bright.
“Elemental detection.”