Time flowed like water, fleeting like a dream.
The blazing sunlight streamed through the window of Spirit Academy's Class Seven for new students.
Su Linfeng sat cross-legged at his desk, cultivating. On either side of him were his two little shadows—Hu Liena and Zhang Ping.
It had been half a month since Bibi Dong succeeded to the Pope's throne. The entire Spirit Hall was renewed with fresh vigor, and in Class Seven, none worked harder than Su Linfeng. Even in class, he never stopped cultivating.
He had no choice.
At night, he had to help Bibi Dong refine the Rakshasa God's will. That left him only the daytime school hours for cultivation.
The Rakshasa God's will was deeply rooted. Refining it could never be accomplished overnight.
Su Linfeng was prepared for a long battle.
If one year wasn't enough, then two. If two weren't enough, then ten. Anyway, within ten years, the maternal will wouldn't fully emerge, as it was still only in the growth stage. It couldn't stir up real trouble yet.
Su Linfeng had thought about ending it early.
But what worried him most was that bloody aura that had struck him during his tribulation. The Shura God's will might not have come from Tang San's entry into the Slaughter City—Tang Hao might have brought it out and passed it on through the bloodline to Tang San.
Without absolute certainty, Su Linfeng didn't dare gamble.
Besides, his top priority now was helping Bibi Dong refine the Rakshasa God's will.
"Phew, finally rank thirteen."
Hu Liena was the first to exit her cultivation state. She exclaimed with delight, "In just over three months, I've advanced by a level and a half! Her Majesty the Pope's training method really is the best."
"Nana, you're amazing."
Yan, sitting behind her, smiled. "At this rate, you'll reach Soul Sect in less than ten years, and truly become one of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation."
"Mm."
Hu Liena answered casually.
She didn't even glance at Yan. Instead, she rested her chin in her hands on the desk, sunflower-like, staring in fascination at Su Linfeng. She couldn't help but murmur, "Strange… Su-ge works just as hard as the rest of us. But after nearly two months, why hasn't his spirit power shown any progress?"
Snap!
Yan silently broke the steel pen in his hand.
Jealousy flared in his chest. If it weren't for fear of upsetting Hu Liena, he would've challenged Su Linfeng countless times a day.
The more tragic truth was—he couldn't even beat him.
"Nana, just you wait."
Yan shot a cold glance at Su Linfeng, muttering confidently, "One day, I'll defeat him myself."
"You've got a screw loose!"
Hu Liena, oblivious to his intent, frowned impatiently. "Why do you keep picking on Su-ge for no reason?"
"Exactly."
Zhang Ping immediately chimed in, "Yan, you really are going too far!"
Yan: "I—"
He felt like his heart had been pierced.
Steam hissed as he vaporized the broken pen in his hand. Rage choked his breath, as though invisible fingers squeezed his throat.
But he still had faith in himself.
Su Linfeng might be rank twenty-four, but it was as if his spirit power had been locked. In the past two months, not only had there been no improvement, but it even seemed to regress. It was baffling.
Yet that gave Yan hope.
During this time, the Golden Generation had been undergoing brutal training under Bibi Dong's guidance.
Her philosophy was: cultivation was thirty percent training, seventy percent fighting. Only by fighting often could spirit masters find opportunities and insights, allowing them to cultivate twice the result for half the effort.
That was why the Golden Generation's progress had been so obvious.
Except for Su Linfeng.
But it wasn't entirely his fault. Back when Bibi Dong was ranked eighty-five, the nightly consumption was one thing. But now that she was a Title Douluo, the drain couldn't even be compared.
What used to be a pony pulling a cart… had now become a chick pecking at an eagle.
How could his spirit power possibly rise?
"Hu~"
At that moment, Su Linfeng exhaled a long breath of turbid air, opening his eyes.
Too hard!
It felt like his body had been hollowed out, like he was losing more than he could replenish. For the first time, Su Linfeng felt an urgent, burning desire to advance his spirit power.
He had to devour all the immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Bibi Dong was practically a vampire—her needs were growing harder to satisfy by the day.
So much time had passed, yet Spirit Hall still hadn't found the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. It was disheartening.
Then again, if it were so easy to find, it wouldn't have remained hidden all these years. If all else failed, perhaps the Dugu clan could be the starting point.
"Lin Feng-ge."
Zhang Ping giggled. "You finished cultivating?"
"I was the first to see Su-ge wake up!" Hu Liena quickly added.
Uh…
Looking at the two sunflower-like girls beside him, Su Linfeng felt a little helpless.
Did they really need to compete over this, too?
It felt like babysitting kindergarten kids.
"Are you ready?"
Just then, Lordiala entered from outside. "Her Majesty the Pope is waiting at Death Canyon. You will follow me there."
Su Linfeng and the Golden Generation rose at once, leaving the classroom with Lordiala.
The long-delayed Death Canyon trial.
Bibi Dong had planned to throw the Golden Generation into Death Canyon for tempering, but the incident with Qian Xunji had postponed it. Then came her ascension to the Pope, and so the trial had been delayed nearly two months.
"Did you hear?"
On the way, Li Kai whispered nervously to Sun Chuantao. "This time, Her Majesty is sending us straight into the hundred-year spirit beast zone. And without any teacher protection."
"What? The hundred-year spirit beast zone?"
Sun Chuantao shivered. "We're only ranked eleven! How are we supposed to fight hundred-year spirit beasts?"
Across the Golden Generation—
Except for Hu Liena and Zhang Ping, everyone's expression was grim. Those two, however, seemed to ignore the danger completely, trailing behind Su Linfeng and whispering nonstop.
In truth, Hu Liena was nervous too. She muttered softly, "Zhang Ping, aren't you scared?"
"Of course I am."
Zhang Ping glanced at Su Linfeng's back, then drew a deep breath. "But with Lin Feng-ge here, I'm not afraid."
Hu Liena: "Me too. That way, we can stay with Su-ge all the time."
"Let's agree on something first."
Zhang Ping suddenly lowered her voice. "Tonight, when we camp, I'm sleeping with Lin Feng-ge."
At those words—
Su Linfeng nearly tripped and fell flat on his face.
What the hell do you mean by " sleep together?
You're still a little kid yourself!
"Why should you?"
Hu Liena's eyes flashed. Instantly, their sisterly bond shattered. "Why can't I sleep with Su-ge?"
Zhang Ping retorted righteously, "Because I want to give Lin Feng-ge a baby!"
Su Linfeng staggered again, almost falling headfirst.
Give me a baby?
You're still a baby yourself!
Who's been teaching you this nonsense!?
Sure enough, children's worlds really were innocent… in the most terrifying ways.
"Give him a baby?"
Hu Liena frowned. "Sleeping with Su-ge makes babies?"
Zhang Ping: "Of course!"
"Oh, so it's that simple."
Hu Liena nodded like she understood, then declared without hesitation, "Then I'll give Su-ge a baby too!"