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Ning Tian glanced at Xiao Wu and said, "I'll take you to Soutuo City now and find a place for you to settle in. Stay there and cultivate for a few days. Once the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect folks leave, I'll come get you."
"Okay," Xiao Wu replied with a nod. The two of them darted toward Soutuo City with swift, agile movements.
They hadn't gone far when Xiao Wu stopped, her eyes fixed on him with a quiet intensity. Ning Tian let out a soft sigh and crouched slightly. "Hop on."
Her face lit up with excitement as she leapt onto his back, joy practically radiating from her. With Xiao Wu clinging to him, Ning Tian moved like the wind, vanishing into the night.
As they neared Soutuo City, he pulled out a black robe and a mask he'd never shown anyone before,handing them to Xiao Wu to wear. He swapped his own clothes and wore a bamboo hat. Disguised like this, they slipped into the city.
Ning Tian found a quiet hotel tucked away in a corner and booked a room for Xiao Wu. He also handed her a storage soul tool ring.
After shedding his disguise, Ning Tian headed to a nearby teahouse where Zhu Zhuqing waited. She greeted him with a warm smile. "Let's go. I've already reserved a room."
He nodded and followed.
Zhu Zhuqing led the way to a nearby hotel. Under the receptionist's knowing gaze, they climbed the stairs. Ning Tian asked casually, "Zhuqing, aren't you curious where I've been?"
"If you want to tell me, you'll say it without me asking," she replied, her smile bright and disarming. "If not, you've got your reasons." In the dim hotel corridor, her expression seemed to glow, cutting through the shadows like moonlight on a dark path.
"You're too understanding," Ning Tian said with a faint smile. 'But for this, the fewer who know, the better. Knowing might not do you any good.' He shifted the subject. "Still, are you really fine sharing a room with me? Aren't you worried I might… well, you know?" He shot her a playful, suggestive look.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't flinch. Instead, she stepped closer. Her striking features, graceful figure, and the subtle scent of peaches drifting from her—all framed by her black attire and cool, steady demeanor, drew him in like a magnet.
Just as Ning Tian leaned toward her, she flashed a sly grin, pulled out a key, and opened the door to an adjacent suite before stepping inside.
He followed quickly, shutting and locking the door behind him. By the time he turned around, Zhu Zhuqing was already seated cross-legged on the floor, the Black Widow external soul bone in hand, beginning to absorb it into her back.
'This girl has learned how to tease,' Ning Tian thought with a wry shake of his head. Guarding her seemed dull, so he pulled out packets of "Silver Na Pipa Little Trumpet" and started eating them one by one. If he was going to suffer, Yu Xiaogang wouldn't have it easy either.
The side effects would transfer to Yu Xiaogang, leaving Ning Tian with the benefits. After all, minus the drawbacks, these items and the earlier "I Love a Piece of Firewood"—offered a serious boost in certain areas. He could already picture how he'd overwhelm Zhu Zhuqing when the time came.
Absorbing an external soul bone was trickier than regular soul bones but simpler than a soul ring. The two-thousand-year-old Black Widow soul bone took Zhu Zhuqing just two and a half hours to fuse into her body.
She opened her eyes, her excitement barely contained. "Ning Tian, I did it."
"Good," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Release it and check its effects."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, trusting him completely. She closed her eyes, channeling soul power to her back. With a sharp ripping sound, six sleek, jet-black spider legs, each about two and a half meters long sprouted from her spine.
Before she could react, her upper clothes tore apart, leaving her chest bare. In an instant, Ning Tian saw everything.
Her face flushed crimson, and she let out a startled "Ah!" Too flustered to retract the soul bone, she clutched her chest and spun around, stammering, "Stay back! These spider legs have neurotoxins… and don't look!"
Ning Tian chuckled. "I've already caught what I needed to. Call it payback for teasing me earlier."
"You knew this would happen," she said, her blush deepening.
Though they were together, their age kept things from going too far. Zhu Zhuqing was still shy about such moments.
He gave a noncommittal smile. "Alright, retract the soul bone. Until you fully merge with it, there's a chance of bursting clothes. We should get some custom outfits made for situations like this."
She nodded, focusing her soul power to pull the six spider legs back in. Being her first time, the process was slow. An itch pricked her back, but there was no pain, though the move drained nearly a third of her soul power in one go.
Now, Ning Tian finally got a clear view of her back.
A woman's beauty has two sides: the face and front as the yang, the back as the yin. A back's symmetry stands out more in women, especially with a deep spine groove and pronounced shoulder blades—like a butterfly poised to fly.
Zhu Zhuqing's bare back was flawless: no blemishes or scars. Perfect, like a butterfly ready to soar. He'd thought her front was stunning, but her back matched it effortlessly.
He wanted to linger on the sight, but she'd already slipped into the bathroom. When she emerged, she wore fresh clothes and avoided his gaze, clearly embarrassed. "I've fused it," she mumbled. "Now it's my turn to guard you."
Ning Tian smiled. "No hurry. First, tell me about the soul bone's abilities."
He'd told her his own external soul bone came from a Man-Faced Demon Spider, scavenged while disposing of an Earth Hole Demon Spider's corpse.
She answered without hesitation. "When I activate it, all my attributes rise by thirty-five percent. It can also be a weapon–neurotoxins included. It devours energy, absorbs toxins, and counters spider web skills."
Ning Tian nodded. Compared to the Eight Spider Lances, the Black Widow soul bone had two fewer legs and fifteen percent less enhancement—expected, given the Black Widow's inferiority to the Man-Faced Demon Spider beyond web-spinning.
Less than two hours remained until dawn. Without wasting time, Ning Tian took out his Eight Spider Lances and began absorbing them.
...…..
The next morning, Shrek Academy's bell rang, summoning everyone to the main field. Today buzzed with energy—it was the opening ceremony.
Everyone was there except Flender, who'd gone to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; Dai Mubai, confined to bed; and Xiao Wu. Even Yu Xiaogang showed up, though he looked rough—his sallow face stiff and pale, eyes bloodshot, body swaying like he'd been drained dry.
With Flender absent, Vice Dean Zhao Wuji took charge. He scanned the group. "Where's Xiao Wu? Why isn't she here?"
Tang San turned to Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu's dormmate. "Rongrong, is she still cultivating?"
He figured Xiao Wu might be deep in meditation, like Oscar after his heartbreak.
Ning Rongrong shook her head. "I don't know where she went. She wasn't there when I woke up, and it looks like she didn't come back last night."
She glanced at Ning Tian with a hint of suspicion. "Do you think she might've left Shrek Academy?"
Tang San's composure shattered. His eyes reddened, breath heaving. "No, that's impossible! Xiao Wu wouldn't leave me. I have to find her—"
He started to move, but Yu Xiaogang called out, "Little San, come back."
"Teacher!" Tang San's voice cracked, tears brimming. Since his father left, Xiao Wu had been his world—more vital to him than even Yu Xiaogang.
"She likely left last night," Yu Xiaogang said sternly. "Where would you look? Maybe she will return when she's ready. It's class time now, search after."
His real priority was prying Ning Tian's secrets: how he'd gained two thousand-year soul rings and broken through level thirty.
Tang San backed off reluctantly, his heart seething with hatred for Ning Tian. 'It's all that bastard's fault..'
Zhao Wuji cleared his throat. "Mubai's unwell and won't attend for a couple of days. The dean's away, so I'm hosting this year's opening ceremony. I've got a few things to announce."
He stepped before the six lined-up students, his gaze firm. "First, meet the academy's teachers. This is Li Yusong, in charge of finances—martial soul Dragon Pattern Staff, level sixty-three power attack system Battle Spirit Emperor. Next, Lu Qibin—martial soul Star Luo Chess, level sixty-six control system Battle Spirit Emperor. And Shao Xin—martial soul Sugar Bean, level seventy-one food system Spirit Saint."
He rattled off the introductions, then reached Yu Xiaogang. Following Flender's script, he said, "Finally, this is Yu Xiaogang, who through his own research derived the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls. Known as the unmatched mind in martial soul theory, the dean's decades-long brother, and Tang San's teacher. Call him Master from now on."
Zhao Wuji hated the pompous introduction, but orders were orders. Unlike the original tale, Tang San's weak showing had soured opinions of him and by extension, Yu Xiaogang.
Noting the lukewarm response to Yu Xiaogang, Zhao Wuji moved on. "We returned yesterday, so today's a rest day. Starting tomorrow, the Master will oversee your training. Master, say a few words."
Yu Xiaogang nodded, putting on a lofty air. After a lengthy ramble, he ranked the students by age: Dai Mubai first, Oscar second, Tang San third, Ma Hongjun fourth, Xiao Wu fifth, Ning Tian sixth, Ning Rongrong seventh, Zhu Zhuqing eighth.
"I'll tailor your training to your needs," he concluded. "Now, speak freely. Any questions? Ning Tian, you had some for me yesterday, ask away."
He looked at Ning Tian with confidence.
Ning Tian smiled lightly. "Master, as you know, my second soul ring is already a thousand-year one. For my fourth, I'll likely go for a ten-thousand-year ring. Anything I should watch out for?"
"Summon your martial soul for me to see," Yu Xiaogang replied.
Ning Tian called forth his Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword, its three soul rings—yellow, purple, purple, shimmering into view.
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