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*****
Xiao Tian's attention was primarily focused on the second reward.
Inch-Shortening Earth!
Was this system for real? Once he truly mastered this art, was there any place on the entire Douluo Continent that he couldn't go? As long as he had sufficient spirit power, not even a Titled Douluo expert would be able to catch him, right?
System! You're really my dad!
That's right. For the first time, Xiao Tian willingly acknowledged the system as his father. Compared to the system's rewards, calling it 'dad' once wouldn't cost him a piece of flesh. Besides, it's not like he hadn't done it in his university dormitory in his past life. Hehe.
Thanks to his enhanced comprehension, Xiao Tian managed to learn the Inch-Shortening Earth technique directly on the road from Saint Soul Village back to Nuoding City. In terms of spirit power consumption, it was still a bit of a burden for him at his current level, but for short distances, the consumption was much lower.
By the time he returned to Nuoding Academy, it was already night again.
Xiao Tian glanced at the feigning-sleep Xiao Wu and smiled faintly. He wondered if the words he had spoken a few days ago had been too much of a shock for her.
Early the next morning, the very instant Tang San went out to cultivate his Purple Demon Eyes, Xiao Wu shot up from her bed. Without a word, she pulled Xiao Tian to a relatively secluded spot.
"Xiao Tian, when did you find out that I was a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast in human form?"
Xiao Wu's eyes were completely bloodshot; it was obvious she hadn't slept for a long time. In truth, over the past few years, the thought of telling him her identity had crossed her mind more than once. Because if she wanted to explain to him why she hated Spirit Hall, it was a hurdle she couldn't avoid.
Seeing her being so direct, Xiao Tian smiled faintly. "If I said that I discovered your true identity the very first time I saw you, would you believe me? Also, I gave you time. Why didn't you choose to run away?"
"I believe you! As long as you're the one saying it, I'll believe it. I thought about it for a long time, and it's precisely because I trust you that I didn't leave Nuoding Academy. I want an answer. Even if I have to die, I'll have nothing more to say..."
Xiao Wu closed her eyes and lifted her head slightly, presenting a look of complete surrender, as if she were ready to be slaughtered at his will.
Xiao Tian: "..."
Holy crap! Is this Xiao Wu, one of the Douluo Continent's most famously lovesick characters?
To be honest, her action had truly exceeded his expectations. Did she really trust him that much? 'I really am the worst.'
Looking at her current weak and pitiful appearance, Xiao Tian felt a pang of sympathy. Could it be that, without him even realizing it, Xiao Wu had already fallen for him? This couldn't be one of life's three great delusions, could it?
Subconsciously, Xiao Tian reached out and stroked her cheek, smiling as he said, "You really are a fool. If I truly wanted to obtain your spirit ring, why would I have given you time to escape? But... it's a good thing you didn't run."
Xiao Wu opened her eyes, looking a bit puzzled. Weren't his words a little contradictory?
Xiao Tian saw her confusion but didn't elaborate. If he were to tell her now that her identity had long been discovered by Tang Hao, and that the moment she had any thought of leaving Nuoding City, she would have been noticed by him, it would only complicate things. It was a good thing Tang Hao wasn't monitoring Nuoding Academy at every single moment; otherwise, Xiao Tian wouldn't have even let her say her first sentence just now. The moment Tang Hao realized that he also knew Xiao Wu's true identity, he would have had no choice but to flee.
Xiao Tian wiped away the tears streaming down Xiao Wu's face and let out a laugh that was a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"What have I been telling you all these years? To focus all your attention on cultivation! But I feel like you're still letting your imagination run wild. What, if you had guessed wrong and I wasn't worthy of your trust, you would have already had your spirit power crippled and been imprisoned by me by now, do you know that!"
After hearing these words, not only did Xiao Wu show no signs of remorse, but she even let out a little giggle.
"But I chose correctly, didn't I?"
Xiao Tian: "..."
'Yes, yes, you're right about everything.'
Being lovesick was a wonderful thing, especially when the person was lovesick for you, because they would trust you unconditionally and devote their entire being to you.
At that moment, it finally dawned on Xiao Wu. "Xiao Tian, so you knew from the very beginning that I was a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast in human form, which is why you also guessed why I hated Spirit Hall, right?"
'No wonder he had said those things back then. So he had already figured it out...'
Xiao Tian was a little surprised. Had Xiao Wu suddenly had an epiphany and started to use her brain? Although she had guessed wrong, hahaha.
But he still went along with her line of thought. "Yes. I guessed that the spirit ring of one of your relatives or friends was absorbed by someone from Spirit Hall, wasn't it?"
Afterward, Xiao Wu told him the whole story from beginning to end, and Xiao Tian listened with great 'seriousness.'
He remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Actually, it's not a situation without a chance for reversal. Your mother was a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast, after all. As long as her soul still exists, I don't think it's impossible for her to be revived."
"What! Are you telling the truth!" Hearing that her mother could potentially be revived, Xiao Wu excitedly grabbed his hands.
"Actually, there's one thing I find very strange. You said you saw Bibi Dong absorb your mother's spirit ring and spirit bone, but you had only been in human form for a few years at that time, right? As a Titled Douluo, would Bibi Dong not have been able to sense you hiding nearby? And another point, Bibi Dong was kind enough to bury your mother's remains afterward. Do you think that's reasonable? I feel there's something fishy about this whole situation, and we'll need to meet with Bibi Dong in person to solve it."
Boom!
Xiao Wu suddenly felt as if her mind had cleared up considerably. It seemed what Xiao Tian said was right. Bibi Dong should have discovered her back then, so why didn't she capture her? As a possessor of twin Spirits, she should have had an empty slot for a spirit ring at the time...
"Alright, let's not talk about this for now. In short, in order to meet Bibi Dong and see your mother in the future, the best thing you can do right now is cultivate diligently. Look at you. You have the foundation of a hundred-thousand-year cultivation base. Even if a lot of it was consumed when you took human form, your cultivation speed should still be fast. Yet you can't even keep up with me."
Xiao Wu: "..."
Her sorrowful mood was completely shattered by his single sentence.
"Xiao Tian! You jerk! You're so dense! Can't you just comfort me for once!"
In a fit of anger, Xiao Wu launched a right roundhouse kick at his waist.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you can't kick there! That concerns my lifelong happiness, you know."
Xiao Tian leaped backward, easily dodging her kick.
Inside Xiao Tian's storage ring, Ah Yin had heard the entire conversation between the two clearly. 'How could it be...'
'Could it be, just as Xiao Tian said, that Hao has been staying in Nuoding City not only to secretly protect Tang San but also to monitor Xiao Wu? Then, was my forced sacrifice to Tang Hao back then also, just as Xiao Tian suggested, a part of his scheme...?'
(End of chapter)