Chapter 13. The Fifth Ring 2/3
What was originally supposed to be just a joint training session very quickly turned into a full-fledged lesson.
Strange as it may sound, I had to explain to these two why Oscar's spirit was perfect for training. As well as the basic principle of strengthening the body through exertion, followed by recovery thanks to the spirit's ability — and repeating this cycle over and over again.
Of course, this kind of training would not allow them to physically surpass offensive-type masters, who also don't neglect developing their bodies, let alone those who have something specific like whale glue or self‑created techniques. But at the very least, it would keep them from being helpless.
As an example, I told them how I had trained with Elder Mu before I escaped.
Unfortunately, neither Oscar nor Ning Rongrong appreciated this method. Not everyone is willing to torment themselves so cruelly for the sake of strength.
"Can you teach us that cool technique you used against Teacher Zhao?" Oscar asked dreamily. "With that, we definitely won't have to worry about a lack of power."
Ning Rongrong immediately backed him up:
"Exactly, exactly! And my father will gladly accept you into our sect. Under the protection of Grandpa Bone and Grandpa Sword, even the Star Luo Empire won't dare order you around. And Dai Mubai, even if he refuses to give up, will just have to gnash his teeth in frustration."
"Ha-ha-ha, you sure got greedy for the fruits of my labor fast," I couldn't help but laugh. Oscar grew embarrassed, and Ning Rongrong, remembering yesterday's experience, shrank back a little.
"All right, I might not refuse, but I prefer the principle of equivalent exchange. And for me to pass on my offensive technique and on top of that join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, which would first and foremost benefit the sect itself, we need appropriate compensation. And that can only be discussed with the sect master himself."
As I spoke, I was practically bursting with satisfaction. What I needed had appeared so suddenly and so quickly. Ning Rongrong already wanted to say something, but I didn't stop; I decided to try my luck a bit more.
"By the way, I created another skill I can teach," I channeled spirit power and suddenly shifted to the side, about ten meters, at a speed not inferior to agility-type spirit masters using their spirits.
Turning to the pair, expecting delight, I saw only confusion.
"I guess I should've explained first before showing it off," I sighed. "Guys, how fast do you think I just was?"
"Very fast, as befits an agility-type spirit master," Ning Rongrong replied.
"Correct. However, what if I told you that this speed was achieved purely through technique, and even support-type spirit masters can accelerate to this level?"
After those words, it was as if stars lit up in the boy's and girl's eyes.
"However… Sorry, Oscar, but you have nothing to offer me in return," I had to dash his hopes right away. Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, visibly perked up. As the clan head's daughter from one of the most powerful sects on the continent, she looked fairly confident about her options.
"Ning Rongrong, I've heard that your clan has a mental-splitting technique — 'Heart Separation Control'. I'm willing to teach you this movement technique in exchange for the initial stages of your technique," I offered with a hint of anticipation.
If I managed to master at least the basic level that allows perfect control over three viewpoints at once, my clone-based training would become many times more efficient. Then each clone battle would turn into an almost perfect simulation of a real fight, with the only limit on my progress being my own ability to adapt and come up with something new.
"…I'm sorry, but I can't," came a quiet answer I honestly didn't want to believe.
"But why?" I asked, taken aback. I had been sure that passing on the initial stages of such a technique shouldn't be a problem. Especially in exchange for a move that could save the lives of the sect's spirit masters more than once and serve as an extra asset for their offensive masters.
"It's a clan secret I can't pass on at my own discretion," the girl shook her head.
"I see… I understand," I exhaled. "In that case, what do you think — after we return from the ring hunt, will you be able to arrange a meeting between me and your father?"
"Yes, I'll write him a letter," she nodded quickly.
"Why do I feel like I'm extra here," Oscar muttered gloomily. His comment was safely ignored.
"All right then, for now I'll just teach you how to train your control over spirit power."
As a basic exercise, I asked them to draw some spirit power out of their bodies and compress it to the size of a droplet. Until they could manage even something this simple, there was no point in talking about proper techniques.
In the meantime, I trained physically myself, occasionally begging sausages from Oscar to recover, and continued like that almost until evening, when we finally went to rest before the next day.
***
The next morning, after breakfast, we gathered at the meeting spot, where Flender and Zhao Wuji were already waiting for us.
"Good, I see no one's late," Flender nodded approvingly. "Dai Mubai, as the oldest you'll be the leader. We'll only oversee your safety and won't interfere unless necessary."
Dai Mubai nodded, then looked at us with a serious expression:
"The Great Star Dou Forest is no place for fooling around. There are many spirit beasts there, and very aggressive ones at that. They don't harbor warm feelings toward us humans. Everyone must be careful. Tang San, you go first. Oscar, Ning Rongrong — you two behind Tang San. Fatty and Xiao Wu — left and right flanks. Zhu Zhuqing and I will bring up the rear. Once we enter the forest, we maintain this formation and stay alert at all times. All right, let's go."
I did have some suspicions about why he decided I should go in the rear with him, but I didn't bring it up, much less argue — I had no good reason.
We set off.
Being spirit masters, we ran much faster than we could have traveled by carriage. And since we had Oscar with us, who was making sausages for us on the run, we didn't have to stop to rest, didn't tire, and were able to maintain the pace of the slowest member of the group.
In the end, we ran the entire day, only stopping in the evening after covering about four hundred kilometers. Our lodging for the night was a small trade outpost, roughly three times bigger than the village leased by Shrek Academy. In fact, for its size, the place could be considered prosperous. It lived off catering clearly aimed at spirit masters, whose purchasing power is much higher than that of ordinary people. In essence, it was an ideal relay point for those heading out on a hunt.
"We'll stay here. We'll spend the night and set out again early in the morning. Everyone pays for their own room and food," Zhao Wuji's booming voice sounded as we stopped in front of an ordinary-looking inn.
Considering that Shrek's teachers were essentially paupers with almost no money, and even the academy itself would've closed long ago if not for Dai Mubai's sponsorship, it was no surprise that no one intended to pay for the students, who themselves could still receive subsidies from Spirit Hall.
"Let's go already," Ma Hongjun drawled lazily. "After a whole day living off sausages, I'm sick just looking at them."
And although the sausages were tasty, everyone really would've preferred something else right now, preferably hot. So we quickly found a free table and sat there as a group of six, while the teachers went to find a place separately.
"Should we invite the teachers to have dinner with us?" Tang San suggested.
"No need," Dai Mubai replied. "The teachers won't accept students paying for them. Besides, they're both proud spirit masters; they definitely won't tolerate handouts."
"Well, isn't that cool? Everything's simple and clear. What I like most about our academy is that it has no useless posturing," Fatty grinned.
"Damn you, Fatty, stop spouting nonsense and order already. You eat more than anyone," Dai Mubai snapped.
"So you're treating us today? You're the richest of us."
Dai Mubai smiled faintly:
"Treating my friends is no problem. Everyone at Shrek Academy is one family. I'm the oldest, so tonight's dinner will be my welcome for the newcomers."
"Nice. Very nice. Relax, Boss Dai, I won't miss a thing on your account," Fatty laughed, waved over a waiter and, eyes shining, started ordering dish after dish. With each new order he looked more and more delighted.
Dai Mubai could only shake his head and mutter:
"This fatty spends all his money every month on food and women."
Soon the food was brought, and we began to eat. I had to admit, the innkeepers knew well how to satisfy a spirit master's stomach. Each portion was quite large, clearly meant to actually fill you up.
The atmosphere at our table was a little odd. I'm not much of a talker, so I mostly just listened. Ning Rongrong, of everyone present, had only grown even slightly close to me and Oscar. As a result, our group of seven was split right down the middle: into quiet types and hyperactive teenagers.
Still, no one felt particularly uncomfortable — we just ate, when a group of eight people entered the inn. A man of middle age and six young men with one young woman. They all looked a bit over twenty, although, knowing how spirit masters develop, they were probably younger. They were all dressed in similar clothing, clearly a uniform style, indicating they belonged to the same academy.
"Ah, that chick's height is pretty good," Fatty drawled, openly staring at the girl from that group of eight. "Boss Dai, those guys must be from Skyblue Academy."
You couldn't deny that the girl looked decent — above average. In terms of beauty, she couldn't really compare to any of the girls at our table, but she did have the advantage of a more mature appearance.
Dai Mubai's face twisted:
"Just a bunch of half‑grown brats from Skyblue Academy dragging their butts in here."
Neither Fatty nor Dai Mubai considered even lowering their voices a little. A spirit master's hearing is much keener than that of ordinary people, so despite the general noise in the hall, the middle‑aged man from the eight immediately threw a dark look our way. Seeing a table full of nothing but teenagers, his expression grew even gloomier.
Oscar, sitting beside me, snickered quietly:
"Here comes the show."
"What show?" Tang San asked, puzzled.
Oscar lowered his voice:
"This is part of our academy's rules too. Dean Flender says: a spirit master who's afraid to get into trouble is a bad spirit master."
"Idiocy," I said coldly, feeling irritation rising inside at what was happening. I knew perfectly well what would come next.
And indeed — a little later, when the waiter headed our way, one of the Skyblue Academy students stood up and, pretending to bump into him accidentally, tried to make the plates spill right onto Dai Mubai. But the plan failed: Tang San caught the waiter with one hand just in time and deftly grabbed the plate and its contents with the other.
"No need to waste food," his gaze turned dangerous.
"I'm so sorry, really," the guy replied, though judging by his smirk, he wasn't sorry at all. The next moment he kicked at the leg of Dai Mubai's chair — for Mubai this was the perfect situation. He'd been very angry these last few days, and now a great chance to vent his rage had presented itself.
Instead of the chair leg, his opponent's shin met Dai Mubai's own leg. A dull thud rang out. The Skyblue Academy student looked as if he'd kicked a steel pillar: his lower leg went numb and trembled slightly. Then Dai Mubai suddenly struck him with his palm.
The guy, though fairly large, flew back like a weightless rag doll, knocking over both tables belonging to his group. Only the middle‑aged man managed to stand up in time, raise his hands and catch him by the shoulders, stopping his flight. The student's face turned pale; making retching sounds, he spat out blood, and his whole body went limp like a squeezed lemon.
Dai Mubai straightened and stretched as if he had only raised his hand for that.
"I really am terribly sorry. It was an accident," yet in his eyes burned a predatory aggression. He looked more like a tiger ready to tear apart his prey than ever.
Seeing a fight about to break out, the other patrons hastily fled the hall.
"Children, which academy are you from?" The middle‑aged man sat the injured student down and gave us a heavy stare.
"You're too pathetic for us to bother answering," Dai Mubai replied lazily and sat back down, fully aware of just how much that would infuriate him.
Fatty, meanwhile, hurriedly stuffed himself with food as if nothing had happened, deliberately making loud noises to show how much he was enjoying it.
The Skyblue Academy teacher's face turned pale with rage:
"You arrogant little bastards! Teach them a lesson for me!"
All the Skyblue Academy students, except the wounded one and the girl — clearly having waited for those words — jumped up and rushed toward our table.
"A fight? I love this," Xiao Wu exclaimed, excited, and leaped to her feet without the slightest hesitation, rushing straight at them.
"Xiao Wu," I called out to her immediately.
"What is it?" The rabbit girl turned to me, clearly surprised.
"…Be careful with them. They're too weak," realizing it was pointless to try stopping this battle‑crazed girl, I settled for a bit of advice.
"Mm‑hmm," she nodded happily.
Then that little devil used her cute appearance to throw the boys off for a moment, and in the next second two of them were already flying in opposite directions.
"Idiots! Use your spirits!" the man yelled at his students, clearly not intending to intervene personally.
"Xiao Wu, get back here," Dai Mubai cut in. "We've got more than enough men to fight. No need for a girl to step in."
Xiao Wu looked at Tang San, and after seeing his nod, reluctantly returned, although her face showed clearly how little she liked being deprived of her fun.
"Pff, whatever," she grumbled, sitting down.
Tang San stepped forward to take her place, and a couple of moments later Oscar and Ma Hongjun stood up as well.
The Skyblue Academy students summoned their spirits simultaneously.
For a moment, the room filled with all sorts of colored light. All five young men had the same ring colors: one white and one yellow each. Ten‑year and hundred‑year rings — nothing more.
All five were combat spirit masters: two tool spirits and three beast spirits. The tools were a fork and a spear, while the beast spirits were Deer, Sheep, and Horse. Judging by the quality of their spirits, they could hardly be called outstanding.
Seeing their spirits and ring configuration, Dai Mubai's gaze filled with even deeper contempt.
"So that's what the students of an Advanced Spirit Master Academy look like… Ten‑year rings? Seriously? Guys, let's show them what real spirit rings look like," he was the first to call out his spirit. The pressure radiating from him immediately scared their side, who had two rings each, but unlike them, Dai Mubai had three rings in the configuration considered ideal.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun followed, releasing their spirits. Only Tang San, frowning slightly, didn't summon his and didn't reveal his rings — it looked like he'd decided this wasn't the situation to stand out too much.
"Enough!" The Skyblue Academy teacher couldn't hold back anymore and stepped forward in front of his students. "Stand down."
Obeying him, the students retreated behind his back.
"I am Ye Zhiqiu, Chairman of the External Relations Committee of Skyblue Academy. May I ask which clan you are from?" As he spoke, the aura of a Spirit King spread through the hall. A white, two yellow and two purple rings rose at his feet, and as he merged with his spirit, he grew a little taller and broader, a sturdy shell appearing on his back.
"We're from Shrek Academy," Fatty announced proudly.
Ye Zhiqiu gave him a blank look; a thoughtful expression flashed in his eyes. Judging by it, he had never heard that name before.
"Shrek Academy? Never heard of it."
Dai Mubai snorted coldly:
"You really are a stuffed idiot."
The pressure coming from the man increased; the air seemed to grow heavier.
"You little brats still lack sense. Call your teacher; I will speak to him," he said loftily, still unwilling to attack youngsters first, but clearly intent on defending the honor of his academy.
"He just poked his turtle head out and already wants our teacher," Fatty retorted. "To deal with you, we're more than enough."
"Honored, highly honored spirit masters," the innkeeper practically jumped into the middle of the conflict. "I beg you, please don't fight in my small establishment. It's just a tiny family business, very tiny…"
Ever since his spirit became the Black Tortoise, the biggest taboo in Ye Zhiqiu's life had been turtle jokes.
At first, he had only intended to frighten these teenagers a little and then let them go. After all, as an adult, he didn't want to later be accused of taking advantage of kids. Besides, the power behind their academy was unknown.
But Fatty violated his taboo, and rage boiled up in Ye Zhiqiu's heart. To counter the storm inside, he forced a strained smile.
"Wonderful. Then I'll teach you all a lesson in your teacher's place. Let's go outside."
"I don't think that will be necessary," I decided to intervene. Rising from the table, I stepped forward, placing myself between him and Dai Mubai.
"Too late, girl. Until I teach you brats a lesson, I won't calm down," he said stubbornly.
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice," I summoned my spirit. The light of my rings flooded the room: white, purple, black, black. The total age of my rings surpassed his by several times. Despite his higher rank, he felt a terrifying pressure, as if he'd run into a spirit master of a much greater level.
"My classmates were rude, and for that I apologize," I said calmly.
"Zhuqing!" Dai Mubai growled.
"Stop embarrassing yourself," I shot him an angry glare, then turned back to the man. He couldn't help but relax a little as he heard the apology.
"However…" I deliberately increased the pressure of my aura, and he tensed up again. "If you're still dissatisfied, I'm more than willing to put you down for a few days. I assure you, I have more than enough strength."
He turned pale. It seemed to him that what was happening had to be some kind of cruel joke.
"Teacher, she must be an illusion master!" one of the students spoke up. "It's impossible to have that kind of ring configuration!"
"Right," Ye Zhiqiu grabbed at that like a drowning man at a straw. "Girl, you think you can trick me that easily? I'm not Ye Zhiqiu if I don't teach you a lesson today!"
"I take my words back. You really are an incurable idiot," I said with open contempt and activated my first and third rings. My claws turned dark gold, lengthened, and in the next instant, to everyone except Tang San, I seemed to simply vanish.
I reappeared behind the man. As a defense‑type spirit master, he was slower than others of the same rank and simply didn't have time to react. My claws slashed across the backs of his shins. Blood spurted, and I immediately darted back.
"Argh!" Ye Zhiqiu yelled and collapsed to his knees, unable to stay on his feet with his tendons cut.
"Teacher!" his students rushed to him in panic.
"I warned you," I said coldly and, with not the slightest desire to stay there any longer, turned and headed for my rented room.
"What's gotten into her?" Oscar asked in confusion.
"I think she didn't like that Fatty and Dai Mubai deliberately provoked the fight," Tang San replied.
"So what if she didn't like it. What right did she have to interfere?" Dai Mubai growled. He was incredibly angry, remembering how she had looked at him when she'd said, "Stop embarrassing yourself."
"Yeah, you really are hopeless," Xiao Wu shook her head.