When Dai Mubai first saw Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes lit up with a glint of lechery. Then, he frowned slightly, feeling that she looked very familiar. At the same time, he sensed a connection from her on the level of their Spirits. Instinctively, he cast aside the twin sisters at his side and walked up to Zhu Zhuqing, completely ignoring the ugly expressions on the sisters' faces.
With a frivolous smile on his lips, Dai Mubai said, "Beauty, care to get to know me? My name is Dai Mubai, my Spirit is the White Tiger, and I am a level 37 Battle Spirit Elder!"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Mubai’s introduction with indifference. She spat out two words coldly: "Shameless!" She then pulled Long Jian by the hand and turned to leave.
Dai Mubai’s initially bright smile stiffened instantly. Xiao Wu couldn't hold it in and let out a snicker. Seeing this, Tang San hurriedly covered Xiao Wu’s mouth and shook his head at her.
Outside.
"Dai Mubai—that's a name I've heard of," Long Jian said with a light chuckle, seeing the cold look on Zhu Zhuqing’s face.
Zhu Zhuqing stopped, glanced at Long Jian, and after a brief silence, said while continuing to walk with him, "I have no relationship with him whatsoever!"
"By the way, don't you think it's time to let go of my hand?" Long Jian prompted.
Feeling the coolness in her palm, Zhu Zhuqing finally realized she had been holding Long Jian’s hand the entire time. "Apologies!" she said, pulling her hand away as if she had been electrocuted.
"It’s fine," Long Jian shook his head. "There is no barrier that cannot be crossed, and no enemy that cannot be defeated. Keep your chin up!"
Listening to Long Jian’s words, Zhu Zhuqing realized that he had clearly linked her to Dai Mubai and had already guessed most of the truth about their identities and relationship. *He really is a smart one,* she thought.
In front of a hotel, as Zhu Zhuqing was about to follow Long Jian inside, he raised a hand to stop her.
"What's wrong?" she asked, confused.
"I’ll go in first; you follow later," Long Jian said helplessly.
"Why?" Zhu Zhuqing looked quite surprised.
Long Jian shook his head, offering no further explanation. "Could you lend me some money?" he asked, looking a bit embarrassed.
Zhu Zhuqing chuckled at his request, the frost on her face seemingly melting away with the smile. "Here you go." She immediately took a coin purse from her storage Soul Tool and handed it to him.
"Many thanks. I will pay you back!" Long Jian said as he took it.
"No need to repay me," Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "Compared to you saving my life, this is nothing." Although she said this, she genuinely appreciated Long Jian’s attitude. He didn't use the favor to hold anything over her, which was refreshing.
This time, the two checked in smoothly, without any more strange incidents.
The next day, on the way to Shrek Academy, Long Jian was dressed in sky-blue athletic gear. Beside him walked Zhu Zhuqing, wearing tight-fitting leather clothing that accentuated her graceful figure. As they walked through golden wheat fields, they periodically saw other youths around twelve years of age and their parents on the path.
Nearing Shrek Academy, Long Jian suddenly remembered that he possessed neither Spirit Power nor a Spirit Ring.
"Zhuqing, could you manifest your Spirit and Spirit Rings for me to see?"
"Of course." Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate, summoning her Nether Civet Spirit. The characteristics of the Spirit appeared on her body: a faint purple glow radiated from her, a pair of fluffy cat ears appeared on her head, sharp claws emerged from her slender fingers, and a swaying cat tail appeared from behind her shapely hips. Her figure became even taller, and an air of wild beauty radiated from her. Two yellow Spirit Rings pulsed rhythmically around her.
Long Jian’s eyes brightened as he looked her over. *A cat-girl?* He didn't forget his objective, however. He opened his Genisys Lock and pressed the buttons on it. Zhu Zhuqing was curious about his actions, but seeing the serious look on his face, she didn't interrupt.
Looking at the data displayed on the Genisys Lock, Long Jian’s eyes showed deep thought.
【Cosmic information scanning complete.】
【Target scanning complete.】
【Data logged.】
【Special energy body detected! Would you like to name it?】
"Name it Spirit Power," he thought.
【Naming successful.】
【Name: Zhu Zhuqing; Spirit Power: Level 26; Spirit Rings: Two Yellow.】
"Can you convert the Genisys energy into Spirit Power?"
【Please wait.】
【Please confirm the Spirit Power level.】
"What is the upper limit?"
【Affected by the rules of this world, the maximum is level 100. It can be further increased once you transcend this world.】
"Let's set it to level 30 for now."
【Conversion complete.】
【Would you like to convert the Spirit Rings? (Note: The Spirit Rings will contain no Soul Skills.)】
"Yes!"
Seeing Long Jian close the Genisys Lock on his wrist, Zhu Zhuqing finally spoke, curious. "Long Jian, is that thing a Soul Tool?"
Long Jian shook his head. "This is my Spirit, it’s called a Genisys Lock!" Since he didn't have a Spirit anyway, he simply decided to call the Genisys Lock his Spirit.
"Won't you run out of Spirit Power if you keep your Spirit manifested like that?" she asked in surprise.
"My Spirit doesn't consume Spirit Power," Long Jian laughed.
Zhu Zhuqing was shocked to hear this. "There is such a thing?"
"The world is vast, and there are many strange things in it," Long Jian said lightly.
"I suppose that's true," Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "I’ve never heard of a Spirit like yours."
Soon, they arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy, where an argument was taking place. Long Jian and Zhu Zhuqing saw the dilapidated gate. A crooked plaque made of broken wood hung above it, bearing the words "Shrek Academy," with a small green monster painted on the side. The reason for the commotion was the registration fee. Even more baffling was that a prestigious Advanced Spirit Master Academy was arguing incessantly with ordinary people over ten Gold Soul Coins and even preparing to use force. It was truly disgraceful.
Seeing Dai Mubai jump down from the tree, Zhu Zhuqing’s face turned icy.
"This Shrek Academy..." Long Jian trailed off, frowning slightly. He stepped out of line and walked forward. Zhu Zhuqing’s eyes flickered, and she followed him in silence.
"Is it not shameful for a Spirit Master to bully ordinary people like this?" Long Jian asked coldly and bluntly.
"It’s you?!" Dai Mubai recognized Long Jian at a glance. Before the registration teacher, Li Yusong, could speak, Dai Mubai said coldly, "This is the rule of our Shrek Academy!"
He had spent the night with the twins, feeling angrier and angrier the more he thought about it. Eventually, he had remembered Zhu Zhuqing’s identity. And once he remembered, he became even more furious. His own fiancée had brought a man to a hotel to get a room, and then had the audacity to call him shameless! How could Dai Mubai stomach this?
As Dai Mubai saw Zhu Zhuqing following behind Long Jian, he cursed under his breath, "Bitch!"