On this day...
Jin Mian was staying in his room, researching how to complete the remaining 20% of the plane.
Suddenly, he heard the butler come to report.
He said there was a young lady outside looking for him by name.
This made him very confused.
For the past few days, he had been staying in his room and hadn't gone out.
He hadn't provoked anyone, let alone a woman.
That being the case...
Then who would come looking for him?
Unable to figure it out, Jin Mian decided to go out and take a look.
He arrived at the entrance of Spirit Hall.
Before he could even scan the area twice...
Jin Mian quickly captured his target.
He saw a woman wearing black tights with a particularly prominent figure.
She had her arms crossed over her chest, leaning against the wall as if waiting for someone.
And Jin Mian recognized this woman.
She was Dai Mubai's nominal fiancée, the typical representative of 'big chest, no brains'—Zhu Zhuqing.
After seeing Jin Mian, Zhu Zhuqing also stepped forward immediately.
"Are you Jin Mian?" Zhu Zhuqing asked doubtfully.
In five years' time...
Jin Mian had already grown into an adult.
Naturally, his looks had also improved, evolving from youthful to handsome.
This forced her to confirm the other party's identity.
Jin Mian glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, then directly got straight to the point and asked, "If I remember correctly, you're a student of Shrek Academy, right? Besides, there's no intersection between us. What do you want with me?"
"I want to join Spirit Hall!" Zhu Zhuqing didn't waste words and directly stated the purpose of her trip.
"Join Spirit Hall?"
"Why?"
Jin Mian was extremely surprised.
He had thought of various possibilities for why Zhu Zhuqing would come looking for him.
But he never expected...
The other party was here to join Spirit Hall.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was firm, her fists clenched: "Because I want to become stronger!"
After the Elite Soul Master Competition ended five years ago...
Having witnessed Jin Mian's powerful strength that surpassed his peers...
And in order to one day possess such strength herself...
Zhu Zhuqing immediately chose to go out and gain experience.
She didn't choose to return to Heaven Dou City with the other Shrek teachers and students.
Instead, halfway through the journey, she left a letter...
And departed alone.
During the four years of travel and training...
Zhu Zhuqing practiced hard every day, and occasionally fought in the Soul Dueling Arenas of some small cities.
In these four years of experience...
Relying on her Martial Soul of diligent cultivation...
She had forcibly raised her level from the original Rank 37 Spirit Elder to a Rank 51 Spirit King.
Unfortunately, she had never consumed an Immortal Herb.
The quality of her Martial Soul, the Hell Civet, was truly average.
This resulted in her upper limit being only so high.
Later on...
Her cultivation speed clearly slowed down.
To resolve the current situation...
Zhu Zhuqing returned to Shrek Academy, planning to pursue further studies.
But the teaching quality of Shrek Academy was truly average.
After studying for a year...
She found that the improvement brought by the academy was almost negligible.
At this time...
Zhu Zhuqing thought of Spirit Hall.
As the holy land for all Soul Masters on the entire continent...
The resources that could be provided there were simply incomparable to Shrek Academy.
She could use Spirit Hall's resources to become stronger, then leave and return to the Star Luo Empire.
To prove her worth to that cold father...
And thereby gain status in the Zhu Family.
Without thinking much...
Zhu Zhuqing immediately left the academy and came to Spirit Hall.
As for the others at Shrek Academy...
Because the Shrek Team had made it into the top four in the last competition...
The academy had gained considerable prestige.
Flender took the opportunity to advertise heavily.
He tricked many students into enrolling at Shrek.
Zhao Wuji cooperated with his old partner to teach the new students, occasionally showing off.
As for Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, their relationship also warmed up rapidly.
After an accident...
The two also became a real husband and wife.
However, considering that he had actually married his cousin...
Yu Xiaogang chose not to hold a wedding for the sake of his reputation.
Liu Erlong didn't say anything about this either.
Because all she wanted was Yu Xiaogang himself.
Soon, the two had a child.
But as everyone knows...
Consanguineous marriage...
Most of the children born are defective.
Not long after their child was born, it died prematurely.
Liu Erlong was heartbroken for a long time, taking all the blame upon herself.
Yu Xiaogang, on the other hand, was indifferent.
To him, it was just a child; if it was gone, they could just have another one.
As for Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun...
In the year after the competition ended...
They graduated successfully.
However, the three did not choose to go out and gain experience.
Instead, they stayed at the academy to teach.
Moreover, since Dai Mubai became Eunuch Dai...
The relationship between the three became extremely unusual.
During those five years...
They lived a life that could be described as shameless.
After understanding Zhu Zhuqing's request...
Jin Mian naturally did not agree directly.
A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he asked back, "Joining Spirit Hall is naturally no problem, but not just anyone can join. What do you have to offer?"
Don't be ridiculous.
Although for ordinary Soul Masters...
The threshold for joining is relatively loose...
There are still conditions.
First, one must remain loyal to Spirit Hall and have no ulterior motives.
Second, one must have a clean background and have committed no heinous crimes.
The latter was not a problem for Zhu Zhuqing.
Born into the Star Luo noble Zhu Family...
She hadn't killed indiscriminately or done anything outrageous in her life.
But the former was uncertain.
After all, this woman's purpose for joining Spirit Hall was too obvious.
She just wanted to use Spirit Hall's resources as a springboard...
To make herself stronger.
But what after becoming stronger? Who knows if she would stay in Spirit Hall.
"I..." Zhu Zhuqing was speechless for a moment.
Jin Mian continued to ask, "Let's put it this way: after Spirit Hall nurtures you, can you remain loyal to Spirit Hall for life? Or what contribution can you make to Spirit Hall?"
"..."
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent.
Before coming, she hadn't thought about this much at all.
She only thought about joining Spirit Hall and relying on the resources here to become stronger.
Then return to the Star Luo Empire...
And prove herself to her father.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing silent, Jin Mian couldn't help but sneer.
Just this? Still wanting to get something for nothing?
Where in the World is there such a good thing?
After a long time...
Zhu Zhuqing spoke up: "I can guarantee that after I become stronger, I won't take action against Spirit Hall."
(⊙_⊙)!
These words directly left Jin Mian speechless.
Is this woman sick?
Listen to what she's saying!
Besides her physical development, does her brain not grow at all?
"You are not suitable for Spirit Hall. I suggest you look elsewhere."
After Jin Mian rejected her mercilessly...
He turned and left.
Seeing that she failed to join Spirit Hall...
A look of disappointment flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
Then she left.
Returning to the Hall of Worship, Jin Mian thought for a moment.
It was also time to go to Slaughter City to complete the check-in task released by the system.
So after saying his goodbyes...
He set off alone for Slaughter City...
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