The market fell into an eerie silence as everyone processed what had just occurred. Dai Mubai stood frozen in place, his expression a mixture of bewilderment and barely contained rage. The white-haired stranger had just demonstrated an ability that defied conventional understanding of soul skills—instantaneous position switching.
Ma Hongjun, still recovering from being teleported into Dai Mubai's attack trajectory, rubbed his sore ribs with a grimace. "Boss, what just happened? One moment I was standing over there, and the next..." His voice trailed off as realization dawned on him.
The confusion in Dai Mubai's eyes quickly transformed into something far more dangerous. His pride, already wounded by the stranger's casual deflection of his initial assault, now burned with the additional humiliation of having struck his own teammate. The White Tiger's golden eyes blazed with fury as he prepared to launch another attack.
"You think you're clever, don't you?" Dai Mubai snarled, his soul power beginning to surge around him like a tangible aura. "Playing tricks like some common street magician!"
But before he could complete his charge, the white-haired young man simply raised his hand and clapped once more. The sound echoed through the courtyard with an almost musical quality, and in the blink of an eye, positions shifted again. This time, Dai Mubai found himself face-to-face with a very confused and increasingly irritated Ma Hongjun.
"Boss, please stop attacking me!" Ma Hongjun pleaded, his arms raised defensively. "I swear I haven't done anything to deserve this beating!"
Dai Mubai's face contorted with frustration as he realized what had happened. "You fool! Can't you see this is that pretty boy's cowardly soul skill? He's making us look like idiots! He isn't even fighting in fair ground." His voice carried a note of desperation now, the composed arrogance he typically displayed beginning to crack under the pressure of being so thoroughly outmaneuvered.
From my vantage point, I observed the scene with growing interest and a creeping sense of unease. The stranger's ability was unlike anything I had encountered before. Soul skills typically followed certain patterns and limitations, but this skill is non other than the cursed technique of Todo in JJK, 'Boogie Woogie'.
A soul skill defined as cowardly? I mused internally, shaking my head at the typical Shrek Academy mentality. How predictably self-righteous of them.
It was a pattern I had noticed repeatedly among the so-called heroes of this institution, The Shreks. When they employed underhanded tactics or surprising strategies, it was celebrated as intelligence and resourcefulness. But when their opponents used similar approaches, suddenly it became cowardly, cunning, or dishonorable. The hypocrisy was so blatant it was almost amusing.
Perhaps I should start calling this the Hypocrite Continent instead of the Love Continent, I thought with bitter amusement.
The white-haired stranger seemed to read Dai Mubai's thoughts perfectly, his lips curving into a knowing smirk. "Oh, so now we're talking about fairness?" he asked, his voice carrying a tone of mock innocence. "Aren't you an attack-type soul master, you should use your advantages? Well, I'm specialized in agility and spatial manipulation. Shouldn't I be allowed to use my advantages as well?"
The logic was flawless, and it left Dai Mubai sputtering with indignation. Before he could formulate a response, Ma Hongjun stepped forward, his round face flushed with embarrassment and anger.
"That's enough talking!" Ma Hongjun declared, his soul power beginning to fluctuate wildly. "Boss Dai, let me handle this pretty boy. I'll show him what real power looks like! Phoenix Martial Soul, possess!"
The air around Ma Hongjun began to shimmer with heat as his soul power activated. Everyone present, including myself, watched with anticipation as his martial soul manifested. The Phoenix was one of the legendary top-tier martial souls, after all.
But what appeared was... disappointing, to say the least.
Instead of the majestic, fire-wreathed phoenix of legend, what materialized was a rather rotund figure with distinctly chicken-like features. Stubby wings sprouted from his back, and his overall appearance was more reminiscent of an overfed farmyard fowl than a mythical firebird.
The white-haired stranger's reaction was immediate and completely unrestrained.
"Puhahahahaha!" His laughter rang out across the courtyard, clear and mocking. "You call that a phoenix? It looks more like Fried Chicken! Puhahahahahah!"
The laughter was infectious despite its cruelty, and I found myself fighting to suppress my own amusement. Ma Hongjun's face turned an even deeper shade of red, though whether from embarrassment or the heat of his soul power was difficult to determine.
But as I listened to the stranger's mocking laughter, something nagged at the back of my mind. There was something oddly familiar about his speech patterns, his mannerisms, even the way he carried himself. It was as if I had encountered someone very similar before, though I was certain I had never met this particular individual.
Where have I heard this kind of talk before? I wondered, studying his features more carefully. And why does he give me such a familiar feeling?
A sudden, uncomfortable thought crossed my mind. Could he possess some kind of charm ability? Some soul skill that unconsciously influenced those around him, particularly women? The possibility sent a chill down my spine. I had worked too hard to maintain my independence and strength to fall victim to such manipulation.
I need to keep my distance from him, I decided firmly. At least until I can figure out what his true capabilities are.
With that resolution, I quietly withdrew from the area, making my way toward the lodge where I had been assigned accommodation. The confrontation behind me continued, but I had seen enough to draw my own conclusions.
As I walked through the academy grounds, my mind raced with analysis. This "Gojo"—if that was indeed his real name—was clearly not what he appeared to be. The technique he had demonstrated bore a striking resemblance to the "Boogie Woogie" ability from my knowledge of Jujutsu Kaisen, but applied in a way that suggested either incredible coincidence or something far more concerning.
He's not the real Gojo, I concluded as I reached my room. But if he can use techniques from his own universe...
The implications were staggering. If this person possessed some kind of system that could grant him abilities from Jujutsu Kaisen, then he was potentially far more dangerous than anyone realized. The casual way he had handled both Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun suggested he was barely trying, which meant his true capabilities remained completely unknown.
And if he can access those abilities, I thought with growing unease, what's to stop him from summoning something like Daddy raga?
The thought of facing the Adaptation made my blood run cold. Without at least one Herrscher ability at full potential, I doubted I could match such overwhelming power.
The ornate box sat before me on my desk, its polished surface reflecting the soft light filtering through the windows of my chambers in Spirit Hall. Even after two months of being back in this place I had once called home, I still felt like a stranger within these familiar walls.
Two months, I reflected, since I returned to a life I thought I had left behind forever.
The reunion with my mother had been... complicated. Bibi Dong's attempts at reconciliation felt stilted and awkward, as if she were following a script rather than speaking from the heart. Both she and Grandpa Qian Daoliu had been eager to announce my return publicly, to restore me to my rightful place as the heir of Spirit Hall. But I had declined their offers, requesting more time to make my identity as Xue Qinghe unrelated to me before stepping back into my true identity.
The compromise we had reached was to make the announcement during the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, still four years away. It would provide the perfect stage for such a revelation, and by then, I would have had sufficient time to prepare for the political ramifications of my return.
But this gift... this was something else entirely.
Who gives a knife as a gift? I wondered, staring at the weapon with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation. Even a simple dress would have been more appropriate. At least it would have shown some attempt at understanding what might please me. But I was still satisfied by her first gift.
Despite my initial reaction, I couldn't deny that there was something special about the blade. The moment I had opened the box, I had felt it—a pulse of vitality that seemed to resonate with something deep within my soul. The knife itself was a work of art, its emerald-hued blade seeming to glow with an inner light that shifted and danced like captured starfire.
Perhaps there's more to this gift than meets the eye, I admitted to myself as I reached for the weapon.
The instant my fingers made contact with the hilt, the world around me seemed to shift. The emerald glow intensified, and suddenly, I was no longer alone in my chambers.
A voice, distinctly feminine and carrying an ancient weight of wisdom and power, spoke directly into my mind: "How extraordinary. It has been eons since I've encountered such pure holy light energy. So this is what they mean when they speak of the descendants of the Angel clan."
I immediately sprang to my feet, my hand instinctively moving to summon my martial soul. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
The voice carried a note of gentle amusement. "Peace, child. I mean you no harm whatsoever. I made a deal with your mother that she will locate a soul master with light attributes for my inheritance. I never imagined she would find such a perfect candidate so quickly."
Despite the reassuring tone, I remained on guard. "Senior, I ask again—who are you? Why won't you reveal yourself to me?" I kept my voice respectful, partly because I trusted my mother's judgment in bringing this entity to me, and partly because the sheer presence I could feel emanating from the blade suggested power far beyond my current understanding.
"Ah, such proper manners. You have lived a very well, despite the... complexities of your relationship." There was a pause, as if the voice were gathering itself. "Very well. Allow me to introduce myself properly. My hand has grasped both sun and moon, and I have plucked stars from the very heavens themselves. In all the realms and across all time, there exists no other like me. I am Electrolux."
The name carried weight, though I couldn't immediately place why. There was something about the way she spoke, the casual mention of cosmic accomplishments, that suggested this was no ordinary soul.
"I must confess," Electrolux continued, "that my memories of my past existence remain fragmented. However, the knowledge I retain spans countless ages and encompasses wisdom that could benefit you greatly. As for why I cannot appear before you directly—my soul exists only as fragments now, slowly recovering within this dagger that serves as my vessel and anchor to this world."
My mind raced as I processed this information. A soul fragment of an ancient being, possibly from the divine realm itself, offering to share knowledge with me. The implications were staggering.
"Does this mean, Senior, that you wish to accept me as your disciple?" I asked, hardly daring to hope.
"Your perceptiveness serves you well, child. Indeed, that is precisely what I am offering. But I must ask—are you truly willing to accept me as your master? The path I would set you upon is not an easy one."
The question hung in the air between us, heavy with potential. This was clearly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the kind of chance that could reshape not only my own destiny but potentially the fate of the entire continent. My instincts, honed by years of political maneuvering and survival, screamed that this was exactly the kind of advantage I needed.
Without hesitation, I dropped to one knee, my voice carrying all the formality and respect such a moment demanded. "I, Qian Renxue, your humble disciple, greet you, Master."
"Good." I could sense approval in Electrolux's mental voice. "From this moment forward, you are my disciple, and I shall guide your development. But before we begin, there are several important matters we must address."
I remained kneeling, waiting for her guidance.
"First, I must acknowledge that you possess a remarkably sharp and determined character. Your willpower and natural leadership qualities are impressive, especially considering your youth. However..." Her tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious. "These very strengths have also become limitations. Your confidence, while admirable, has begun to calcify into arrogance. You have become so focused on your own path that you have closed yourself off to other possibilities and perspectives."
The words stung, partly because they carried the ring of truth. "What do you mean, Master?"
"What I am telling you, my dear disciple, is that you need to find yourself a rival. Someone who can truly challenge you, push you beyond your current limitations." Electrolux's voice took on a thoughtful quality. "Understand this crucial distinction: all enemies may serve as rivals, but not all rivals need be enemies. What you require is someone who can match your abilities, or perhaps even surpass them temporarily. This will ignite within you a burning desire to grow stronger, to push beyond the boundaries you have unconsciously set for yourself."
I considered her words carefully. In my years operating as Xue Qinghe, I had grown accustomed to being the smartest person in most rooms, the one pulling strings from behind the scenes while others danced to my tune. Perhaps that success had indeed bred a certain complacency.
"And if you are considering relying solely upon your identity and inherited advantages," Electrolux continued, her tone carrying a note of warning, "I will be quite disappointed. What I intend to help you become is not merely someone who possesses the Seraphim martial soul, but rather someone for whom the Seraphim martial soul serves merely as a medium for expressing their true potential."
The distinction she drew was profound. She wasn't interested in training me to be a powerful angel soul master—she wanted to help me become someone so extraordinary that even the legendary Seraphim would be just one tool among many in my arsenal.
"I understand, Master," I said, and meant it. "But may I ask how I should go about finding such a rival? In my current position, there are few who would dare to challenge me openly."
"Ah, but that is part of the problem, is it not?" Electrolux's voice carried a hint of amusement. "You have surrounded yourself with those who defer to your authority, either through fear, respect, or political necessity. True growth rarely comes from such comfortable circumstances."
She was right, of course. My life as Xue Qinghe had been carefully constructed to minimize risk and maximize control. But control, I was beginning to realize, might also mean stagnation.
"The tournament you mentioned—the one where you plan to reveal your true identity—that could provide the perfect opportunity. Young soul masters from across the continent will gather, many of them possessing exceptional talents and burning with their own ambitions. Among them, you may find what you seek."
The idea had merit. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament attracted the most promising young talents from every corner of the continent. If I were to find a true rival, someone capable of pushing me to new heights, such an event would indeed be the ideal hunting ground.
"But Master," I said, a new concern arising, "what if I encounter someone whose abilities exceed my own? What if this rival proves too formidable?"
Electrolux's laughter was like silver bells chiming in a gentle breeze. "Then you will lose, learn, and grow stronger. Defeat, my dear disciple, is not your enemy—complacency is. A single devastating loss can teach you more about your limitations than a hundred easy victories can teach you about your strengths."
(A/n- Little bad news, I have to send 1 chapter every week from now on. I am now in 3rd year B.Tech, and most critical time of engineering. I have to participate in many events and take my time in studying. I even mentioned 1 chapter a week in synopsis but still continued to send 2 because of my more leisure time. If I got some holiday, I will try to find sometime to write bonus chapter. Anyway, for a positive way, I am not atleast dropping it, so be happy. And another thing if you understand or not 'Justice was served'.)