Lin Xiao had a fair guess about Shangguan Qing's true identity. He wanted to use her to learn more about the Common Alliance—but strangely, she had vanished from sight these past days.
If he were to suddenly start searching for her now, it would only raise suspicion. So he simply stopped thinking about her and instead began to experience, for the first time, the life of a student at the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
"Boom—!"
"Boom—!"
Thunderous detonations echoed throughout the testing grounds, waves of soul power rippling outward, only to be absorbed by the shimmering soul tool barriers surrounding the arena.
On the wide dueling platform, Lin Xiao's arms lifted; more than a dozen beams of light fanned out, sealing off his opponent's retreat. In the next instant, the soul cannons on his arm condensed into a single muzzle, flaring with brilliant radiance.
"Wait—I surrender!"
The other student shouted quickly before the blast struck. Lin Xiao's gaze flickered, and the beam veered slightly off course, striking harmlessly beside the platform instead.
His opponent exhaled in relief, gave a polite nod, and stepped down from the ring.
With a metallic clatter, the soul tool on Lin Xiao's arm retracted smoothly, returning to its compact form.
After these weeks of training, he finally looked like a true Soul Engineer. His control over different types of ranged soul tools had become precise and fluid, switching effortlessly between energy rays and cannons.
Thinking back to the fight with the Gold-Devouring Beast, he couldn't help but find his previous "method" laughably crude—pouring soul power into the weapon with brute force and nothing else.
Stepping off the stage, Lin Xiao drew a slow breath, calming the energy within his body. Yet even as his breathing steadied, his brows furrowed slightly.
Lin Jiayi had often said his spiritual power was unusually strong—stronger than most spirit masters at his level—and indeed, Lin Xiao found controlling and engraving soul arrays surprisingly easy. With his first spirit skill's experience in fine control, learning the mechanics of soul tools came naturally.
But as for the "connection" between spiritual power and the soul tool that Lin Jiayi often spoke of—the mysterious state of synchronization—he simply couldn't grasp it.
It wasn't for lack of trying. He'd tested countless cultivation methods since arriving in this world—using nourishing elixirs, meditative focus, even refining his meridians with soul power—but every time he tried to merge spirit and mind, something was missing.
He wasn't stupid. In fact, given his current cultivation, he had already surpassed the vast majority of spirit masters on the continent. With a martial spirit tied to the essence of souls themselves, he should have had a natural affinity for spiritual power. Yet that crucial spark still eluded him.
Do I really have to witness it firsthand before I can comprehend it?
"Lin Xiao."
Lin Jiayi's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Teacher."
"Your first-level Soul Engineer badge has been approved. Try it on."
Lin Xiao accepted the gleaming emblem and studied the single star etched at its center. He shook his head lightly. "I'll pass."
He had long since learned to create level-one core formations and could independently build a functioning level-one soul cannon. Technically, that qualified him as a first-level Soul Engineer.
But with his fifty-fourth level of soul power, earning such a basic title felt meaningless.
Lin Jiayi seemed to understand his thoughts. "Don't be discouraged. With your talent, you'll rise quickly."
Lin Xiao smiled faintly. "Thank you, Teacher. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Very well."
He returned to his dormitory, checking the time before securing the door. After confirming his gear, he waited silently until the moon reached its zenith. Then, without a sound, the door opened.
Under the pale moonlight, a cloaked figure leapt silently across the rooftops—Lin Xiao, his face hidden beneath a black hood. Nearby, the soft pink glow of decorative soul lamps illuminated the walls of an opulent building. Through a half-closed window came muffled, indulgent sounds.
Glancing once toward the distant shadows, he finally exhaled.
He hadn't expected the Holy Spirit Church to act so quickly. It had barely been days since Nightmare Douluo mentioned seizing control of the underground market, and already he'd been ordered to move.
During his conversation with Lin Jiayi earlier, he had suddenly heard Nightmare Douluo's voice in his mind. It seemed his teacher had been watching him from within the academy itself.
The Holy Spirit Church always favored direct action. Assassination, coercion, abduction—so long as the goal was achieved, any method was fair game. And now that Emperor Xu Jing supported them, they acted without restraint.
Just as he was thinking this, a chill prickled down his spine.
Something's wrong.
Years of experience made him react instantly. He couldn't see what it was, but every instinct screamed danger. He spun around, raising his left arm as silver-gray light flared along its surface—the power of the Gold-Devouring Beast's arm bone. In his right hand, the crimson petals of the Other Shore Flower bloomed.
There was no time to hide his spirit bone's existence.
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out. From the darkness, a crimson dagger struck his arm—but stopped cold against the silver sheen, unable to pierce even a fraction.
Even without seeing the attacker, Lin Xiao's first spirit ring flared. Scarlet seeds burst forth, scattering into the shadows like a swarm of blood-red sparks.
"Hrgh—!"
A muffled grunt came from the darkness, followed by the sound of retreating footsteps. The dagger withdrew—only to lash out again an instant later.
Without looking back, Lin Xiao shifted his stance, raising his left arm behind him. The silver light surged once more, hardening into a metallic barrier that caught the blade mid-thrust.
With a twist of his wrist, the silver light rippled—morphing into serrated edges that bit down on the dagger like the jaws of a beast.
Lin Xiao pivoted sharply, his figure illuminated by the nearby soul lamp—and finally saw the assailant.
Or rather, the outline of one. A pitch-black silhouette stood before him, legs merging into the rooftop itself, as though emerging directly from the shadows.
A shadow-type martial spirit.
Glancing around, Lin Xiao pressed a foot against the tiles. His propulsion device flared to life, sending him darting toward the glow of the soul lamp. Under the mingled shine of moonlight and artificial light, the shadows thinned—and the black figure began to take shape.
"Who's there?"
A sudden voice interrupted from the side. The window beside them swung open, and Lin Xiao turned his head—just in time to meet two startled pairs of eyes staring back at him from inside the room.
(End of Chapter)