Chapter 27: Beyonder should not appear on the surface.
One year passed so quickly. Adam, in the training room, panted as he looked at Zhou Xuan, who was watching him with a strange gaze.
He held the dagger the manager had given him in his hand, blood flowing from it, dripping onto the ground.
"Impressive. In one year, you managed to injure me as a soul master." Zhou Xuan, initially shocked, quickly regained his composure.
"It's just one cut. The strength gap between soul masters and soul ancestors is huge, especially with an attack-type like you."
"Good. You're progressing faster than I imagined." Zhou Xuan wiped blood from his arm, eyeing the dagger wound.
"This is a good sign. In close combat, you've at least mastered all the basics. But I don't recommend continuing this. You're truly unskilled in frontal combat."
"I know. But at least I can survive if another soul master attacks me."
Adam put the dagger back in his hand. He immediately meditated to restore his physical condition and began another sparring session with the manager.
This was his routine for the entire year. He used all his strength to train and cultivate. Adam even applied for early graduation after that day and completely distanced himself from Na'er.
At least he knew that Na'er would be attending Hongshan Academy this year. And if he didn't keep his distance from Na'er, things would get weird.
At least, until he could face Na'er not as a follower, but as someone equal to her, Adam didn't plan to approach the Silver Dragon Princess.
After the training session ended, the last of his soul power broke through to level 20. Adam sighed softly, feeling the surge of soul power in his body.
There was no strange feeling or great accomplishment. In fact, it felt quite slow and a little unsatisfying.
He simply lay on the floor of the training room, feeling his body drenched in sweat.
"Finally, I've successfully advanced to level 20." Adam sighed softly and slowly stood up. He could feel the fluctuations in his spiritual power, which seemed to be increasing at a truly rapid rate.
"A monster is still a monster, huh… You truly amaze me. It only took you one year to reach the Great Soul Master realm. That's two levels per two months; a cultivator freak like you truly makes me envious," Manager Zhou Xuan said with a satisfied laugh.
"Thanks, tower master. But I believe I can still improve. If I had time, I could have reached level 20 two months ago."
"Don't say anything else, kid. You really hurt my heart." Manager Zhou Xuan rolled his eyes.
What nonsense is this protégé of his saying?
Too slow? This isn't an era tens of thousands of years ago where soul masters still benefited from absorbing soul rings. In just one year, you managed to achieve what others couldn't.
This cultivation is so fast it's unbelievable. Even more terrifying, Adam didn't use any natural treasures or the best cultivation methods.
He simply used the scraps provided by the Spirit Pagoda and successfully reached the Great Soul Master realm in just one year.
And that was while Adam continued studying at the Spirit Pagoda, practicing, and even helping out with tasks to earn contribution points.
"Tower Master, regarding the spirit soul I want…" Before Adam could finish his sentence, a reply came.
"There's no need to worry about that. I've already provided it for you." Manager Zhou Xuan took out a soul ball and handed it to Adam.
"This is a mirror dragon?" With one glance, Adam could easily identify the soul beast inside. Because the very first thing he asked when he joined the Spirit Pagoda was this.
"Manager, you didn't steal this spirit soul, did you?"
"Of course not, you brats. Don't underestimate how many contribution points I've saved up during my time as manager of this branch. I've been in this city for over 20 years, so I should at least be able to obtain this 8,000-year-old mirror dragon."
"20 years, manager, you're really quite old, aren't you? Haven't you thought about finding a partner at your age?"
Zhou Xuan rolled his eyes and ignored those words. He was a lonely man, for sure, but at least he still had some dignity. "You know that's the question I hate the most, right?"
"But isn't that true?" Adam said with a smile.
Zhou Xuan didn't answer Adam's question and changed the subject. "Never tell me where your spirit soul comes from. That will bring trouble not only to me, but also to you."
"Rather than that, what about the Elder Tree in your mind?"
Adam closed his eyes and revealed his first soul ring. Its purple color was slowly becoming darker compared to a year ago.
This soul ring was clearly not a 3,000-year-old soul ring.
"From what I've experienced, my spirit soul has already reached the 4,000-year-old stage."
"Really?" Zhou Xuan frowned upon hearing this.
The progress was so rapid that it even frightened Zhou Xuan a little.
"Just one year, and the Elder Tree's cultivation has increased by a thousand years? Can you still withstand it?"
Adam nodded.
Since his spirituality soared after digesting two Sequence 9s a year ago, Adam hadn't felt the slightest burden on his head. He could still accommodate another purple spirit soul in his body.
"Then I believe you. We don't need to conduct a spiritual power test because if there's a mismatch in the data, the entire Aolai branch will be in big trouble. But until you're strong enough, don't do anything conspicuous, do you understand?"
"I know... I know... Manager, you've said this a thousand times." Adam waved his hand as he tried to stand up and brush his clothes.
Manager Zhou Xuan left Adam alone in the room, allowing him to merge his spirit soul without the slightest disturbance.
"It's time to settle the unresolved issues with that little devil."
Adam opened his soul guide communicator and saw the news about the serial murders in Aolai City.
After his separation from that little devil a year ago, there had been almost no news about this man, but suddenly, all of this exploded a few months ago with a brutal murder in Aolai City.
"At this point, the spirit pagoda will definitely take investigative action against that bastard. Even Manager Zhou Xuan has been a little busy lately."
Beyonders aren't supposed to be on the surface. Their very existence should be hidden from the public.
Not because he doesn't want this kind of thing to spread, but because of the very essence of a beyonder characteristic.
Beyonder characteristics are limited. This kind of thing can't be produced in large quantities with potions. And even if it could, the consequences would be too terrifying.
There will be chaos in this world, with countless uncontrollable monsters rampaging throughout the city, and what's more, it would be a major problem if forbidden knowledge spread throughout this world.
And in high-sequence battles, it could cause catastrophic events that could destroy a city on a large scale. Because at that point, beyonder abilities have become too bizarre and unpredictable.
Soul masters can no longer compete at this point. Only another beyonder can defeat another beyonder.