9 Ch.9 : Hollow Beast Academy
4 years later…
In a dimly lit room, Dugu Xin stood with his eyes closed, the air around him filled with a rainbow-colored miasma. This fog was filled with toXins, each particle carrying an acute corrosive acid that could reduce the physical body to decay. Those unfortunate enough to come into contact with it would suffer not only from its devastating effects but also endure excruciating pain. Yet, as Dugu Xin stood in its midst, there was no hint of suffering or distress on his face. The young man's eyes, now marked by four pupils with a striking blue and red outline, opened slowly. Over the years his hair transformed into a vibrant jade-green.
'Sigh… this past 4 years have been busier than I expected.' During the last 4 years Dugu Xin, with the help of his father finally found the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. In these years, after returning from hunting his 3rd Spirit Ring, he tried to also create his 3rd Soul Core using the Ice and Fire Poisons of the Well. Thus, he ate both the Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass while submerging himself in the Well.
This caused his cultivation to increase rapidly from level 34 all the way to 38, also causing him to gain immunity to Ice and Fire, and his blood also gained Extreme Ice Fire poison as well. However, his 3rd Soul Core was different than what he imagined, instead of granting him Fire or Ice abilities, the mental strain during the absorption of the two Immortal Herbs while submerged in the Well optioned him a soul core that passively refines his mental power/spirit energy. Shortly after the event which caused his old maid to almost die, he revealed the Dream Weaver Scripture to Dugu Bo, as the Nine Glazed Heavenly Core Technique held no use for him due to its nature. Dugu Bo's cultivation speed skyrocketed, propelling him to reach level 89 Spirit Douluo.
Today Dugu Xin emerges from his own cultivation room from behind the statue of the Dragon God and Asura God. Last year Dugu Xin finally managed to learn how to create the space array that would take them to the sub-realm. This caused Dugu Bo to make the decision of moving to live there permanently. Dugu Xin agreed without any problems and he set up the array in the cave next to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Dugu Xin also made the hidden room behind the statue his cultivation room, and he also stored the venom gland of the 500.000-years Jade Phosphor Serpent Dragon and the Reverse Scale of the Abyss Demon Dragon inside the room. Dugu Bo chose another room, on the middle floor to create his new cultivation room and also store all of his poisons, spirit beasts' blood and other medicines.
Dugu Xin emerged from his cultivation room, the heavy wooden door clashing shut behind him. Waiting for him was his father, Dugu Bo, who greeted him in a lighthearted tone, "Xin'er, today is your birthday. Let's go and have dinner."
Dugu Xin was puzzled; he had always chosen not to celebrate his birthday ever since his mother's death. Nevertheless, he followed his father to the dining room, where they enjoyed a feast of Dugu Xin's favorite dishes. Dugu Bo eventually reached for the wine gourd and poured Xin a glass. The young man was surprised, but Dugu Bo spoke warmly, "Xin'er, you have matured and grown into a fine man. Today is the day you have your first drink with your old man."
Dugu Bo raised his cup, and Xin hesitantly sipped it. Memories of his previous life flooded his mind; he had tasted much stronger wines back then. However, as the brewing technology on Douluo Continent was not as advanced, this wine had a slight sweetness that he wasn't used to. It still made him choke a bit. Dugu Bo chuckled, gently patting his son's back.
He reminisced, "Your grandfather and I had our first taste of wine just like this. I choked too, and my father couldn't stop laughing."
After a moment of silence, Dugu Bo spoke again, "Xin'er, now that you're growing up, it's time for you to venture out on your own. I'm thinking of sending you to an advanced spirit academy for some experience. What do you say?"
Dugu Xin pondered for a moment before replying seriously, "Father, I want to go." Dugu Bo smiled warmly, saying, "You'll make many friends and maybe even find the love of your life..." He paused, his eyes clouding with a hint of sorrow, and the room fell silent.
Taking another sip of wine, Dugu Bo continued, "Xin'er, I've selected a few academies for you. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy and the Hollow Beast Academy are the best choices for you. The Five Elemental Academies and the Instrument Soul Academy do not suit you."
Dugu Xin thought carefully, 'The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is prestigious, but it's filled with nobles who often slack off. True talent is rare to find there. Moreover, it's heavily influenced by the Heaven Dou royal family, and most students already are part of a clan or sect. It doesn't align with my vision.' He wanted to create a sect, one that belonged to the Dugu family, he will call it the "Hall of Soul."
'As for the Hollow Beast Academy,' Dug Xin continued, 'it's populated mostly by civilians with weaker abilities, but many of them lack a sect or family and they tend to work harder than nobles. It fits perfectly with my plans.'
Dugu Xin made his decision, "Father, I've thought it over. I want to go to the Hollow Beast Academy." Dugu Bo was taken aback by this choice. He asked again, "Xin'er, are you sure about the Hollow Beast Academy instead of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
Dugu Xin nodded with determination, "I'm sure, Father." Dugu Bo smiled fondly, "Alright, you're growing up, and you can make your own decisions." After finishing their meal, Dugu Xin left, not wanting to burden his father with memories of his late mother.
As night fell, Dugu Bo, now slightly tipsy, arrived at Yue'er' tomb. He muttered to himself, "Xin'er has grown up. It's time to let him spread his wings. I don't know if this is the right choice, but I can't keep him caged. He needs to experience the world's hardships if he is to carry on the Dugu family legacy."
He smiled as another thought crossed his mind, "With Xin'er's personality, he'll need some help finding a wife." He chuckled, "I thought he'd choose the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but the Hollow Beast Academy... I wonder what's going on in that head of his. But that's fine; Yue'er, you also attended the Hollow Beast Academy. You two mother and son are quite alike. Sigh… Xin'er, you're just like your mother."
The next day, Dugu Bo prepared a carriage and luggage for Dugu Xin. He also handed him a purple gold card with 2,000 gold soul coins. Dugu Bo also gave him the [Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse]. It was a leather purse, small enough to comfortably fit in one hand, inscribed with the image of a Nine-Knot Ichthyosaur. This serpentine dragon was plated in black and silver scales, with mesmerizing blue eyes, jagged spines, and needle-sharp fangs. Its bladed tail coiled around the purse, adorned with intricate blue veins. This purse, despite its small size, possessed a vast storage space of 1,000 cubic meters. It can even store living beings within it. As the carriage rolled toward the Hollow Beast Academy, Dugu Xin gazed at the academy's gate adorned with murals of exotic beasts and the imposing engraving of a fierce beast - the Mountain Dragon King.
With determination in his eyes, Dugu Xin muttered softly, "My sect will rise from here."
Despite being from the relatively small family, Dugu Xin's admission to the Hollow Beast Academy was a straightforward process. This was due to his exceptional talent, having reached the 38th level as a Spirit Elder at the age of 12, a feat unheard of in the academy's history. The Hollow Beast Academy wasted no time in processing his admission, and Dugu Bo, his father, briefly explained the situation before leaving the academy grounds. Once settled in the college dormitory, Dugu Xin's two roommates couldn't help but be curious about his background.
They asked, "Brother, what family are you from?" Dugu Xin, not particularly fond of people prying into his personal affairs, simply replied, "Dugu Family." The two roommates, after some thought, couldn't recall any notable Dugu Family and gradually lost their enthusiasm for further inquiries. Undisturbed by their behavior, Dugu Xin meticulously arranged his belongings.
One of his roommates, Ma Jun, finally sat down and introduced himself, "I'm Ma Jun from the War Horse Family, Martial Soul Flame War Horse, a level 21 Power Attack System Spirit Grandmaster. If you ever need anything, feel free to come to me." The other, Yao Chen, added, "I'm from the Ghost Leopard family, a level 27 War Soul Master with the martial soul Black Lined Ghost Leopard."
Dugu Xin offered a simple smile in response but didn't engage in extended conversation, focusing instead on organizing his things.
"What happened to your eyes?" asked Ma Jun curious why Dugu Xin had 4 pupils. He quickly responded without any fluctuation in his voice. "Mutation caused by my martial soul."
As the group headed to the academy cafeteria for dinner, Ma Jun and Yao Chen took the opportunity to flaunt their superiority over civilian soul masters, belittling them along the way. Dugu Xin, on the other hand, quietly enjoyed his meal. Suddenly, a commotion arose as a young man appeared, surrounded by admiring students. Ma Jun and Yao Chen eagerly explained to Dugu Xin, "That's a legendary figure in our academy, Meng Shu. He's only 16 years old but already a level 29 Spirit Grandmaster with the martial soul Dragon Staff. Though not from a prestigious family, he's a rare talent among civilians. Rumor has it that the dean is considering to take him as his personal disciple."
Dugu Xin, absorbed in his thoughts, had only taken a few bites of his meal when he suddenly stood up and challenged Meng Shu, "Meng Shu, I want to challenge you."
His roommates were quick to warn him against it, fearing for his safety, but Dugu Xin was resolute. Meng Shu, seemingly unperturbed, responded, "You want to challenge me? Are you even qualified?" In response, Dugu Xin's soul power surged, and the three soul rings under his feet gleamed: one yellow and two purple.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor materialized behind him, emitting a commanding roar that suppressed the onlookers. The chill of death further suppressed Meng Shu. Meng Shu, now locked in a contest of power, summoned two yellow soul rings beneath his feet and wielded his dragon staff to resist Dugu Xin's influence.
He spoke with a tremor in his voice, "Let's see what you've got. Bring it on." Dugu Xin introduced himself, "Dugu Xin, level 38 Control System Spirit Elder, martial soul Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor."
Meng Shu also presented himself seriously, still feeling the cold grip of Dugu Xin's soul power, "Meng Shu, level 29 Power Attack System, martial soul Dragon Staff."
Suddenly, a rotund Soul Emperor with white, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black soul rings appeared. His martial soul resembled a jellybean. He bellowed, "You two troublemakers, take your fight to the academy ring. Don't create a ruckus here."
Internally, he was intrigued by Dugu Xin's resilience in the face of his power. Then, his black soul ring gleamed, and he consumed a red jellybean from his martial soul, causing his soul power to surge. The once-portly man transformed into a more muscular figure and appeared beside Dugu Xin and Meng Shu. With ease, he picked them up and tossed them out of the cafeteria. Dugu Xin landed gracefully on his feet, while Meng Shu, who had landed unceremoniously on his rear end, quickly got up, dusted himself off, and shot an indignant glare at Dugu Xin.
In a sneering tone, Meng Shu challenged, "I'll be waiting for you at the academy ring tomorrow. Let's see how strong you really are." Dugu Xin smiled calmly and replied, "I'll be there."
Internally, he pondered on Meng Shu's pride and the desire for recognition. This challenge would serve to demonstrate his abilities and hopefully recruit more followers for his future sect. Meng Shu would later become a level 89 Contra, just one step away from achieving the esteemed title of Douluo. This step was notorious for claiming countless lives, but with some assistance, Meng Shu had the potential to attain the title. Additionally, he and Chao Tianxiang possessed a martial soul fusion technique, the Serpent Dragon Joint Assault, which made them comparable to a level 94 titled Douluo when combined.
Dugu Xin returned to his dormitory, garnering surprised gazes from his roommates. With unwavering confidence, Dugu Xin replied, "Don't worry. He might be strong, but he's not my match."
The dormitory gradually fell silent. The next morning, Dugu Xin arrived at the Academy Soul Arena to find Meng Shu already waiting. The area was filled with students from the Hollow Beast Academy, eager to witness the confrontation. Meng Shu glanced at Dugu Xin's arrival and nonchalantly remarked, "You've kept me waiting."
Dugu Xin smiled and responded, "Let's see if your strength matches your words." Meng Shu snorted and summoned his Dragon Staff, radiating confidence as he prepared to face Dugu Xin. Dugu Xin, however, wiped away his earlier smirk, his eyes turning cold and calculating. Three spirit rings appeared beneath his feet: one yellow and two purple. The Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor materialized behind him; its gaze fixed on Meng Shu. A middle-aged Spirit Ancestor with four soul rings descended onto the ring, serving as the referee and announcing the rules. "As long as the match doesn't result in death or permanent disability or if one side surrenders, it would be considered a victory."
Meng Shu's soul power steadily increased, while Dugu Xin's cold, serpentine eyes remained locked on his opponent. Meng Shu then initiated the fight by using his Dragon Staff, a silver, intricately designed staff with a lifelike dragon head. He had two yellow soul rings under his feet, and his 1st Spirit Ring, Dragon Strike, enhanced his staff's destructive power by 50% for 10 minutes by producing a disrupting dragon roar. Dugu Xin, on the other hand, chose not to use his spirit abilities and met Meng Shu head-on. Their soul power clashed violently, but in this initial exchange, Meng Shu was forced back two steps, while Dugu Xin remained unmoved. It became clear that Dugu Xin had superior raw power. However, Meng Shu was more cautious of the venom-coated attacks and aimed to finish the fight quickly. In Dugu Xin's thoughts, he noted that Meng Shu's Dragon Staff seemed to be a high-level weapon martial soul with formidable attack power, albeit slower in speed. He continued to taunt Meng Shu, "Your attack is impressive, but still weaker than mine."
Dugu Xin launched a series of calculated attacks, and each time Meng Shu defended, Dugu Xin managed to land several blows. The fight seemed to be falling into a rhythm favorable to Dugu Xin, who inflicted two scratches on Meng Shu's chest. The wounds began to corrode, emitting a faint green hue. As Meng Shu realized he was trapped in Dugu Xin's pace, he muttered to himself, "This damn guy hasn't used any spirit ring abilities yet."
He decided to change the situation, unleashing his soul power and activating his 2nd Spirit Ring ability, Thorn Dragon Rush. This skill increased his movement speed by 100%, and with a sudden burst of speed, he thrust his Dragon Staff towards Dugu Xin. Dugu Xin, slightly caught off guard, managed to block the attack, but he observed Meng Shu's new ability with interest. He thought, "So, that's his 2nd spirit skill. I've seen enough. It's time to finish this before the poison I've infected him with mutates and kills him."
