3 Chapter 3

___Ming Clan___

Upon return, Long Chen's family welcomed him back by greeting him outside.

"Welcome home, Xiao Long."

"How did your training go?"

"I have returned. The duke's family treated me well and I've learned a lot." Long Chen notices a small figure hiding behind his mother. The mother follows his line of sight to the little boy behind her.

"Xiao Yi, it's your older brother."

Long Chen, then, remembers that as he was away his mother gave birth to a younger brother. Long Chen knelt down to the small child's height and said, "Nice to meet you, will you not come and greet me."

The boy hesitated for a while before gathering his courage to step out. He had the same dark brown hair as his mother paired with golden eyes. "B-brother..."

"Yes?"

"Brother!" As if going through a personality switch, he ran out from the safety of his mother and threw himself as his brother. Long Chen caught him with ease and carried the boy in his arms.

"Xiao Long, it might be sudden but get changed. We will have a match immediately."

"Yes, father. I understand."

Long Chen did as told and got changed into a more suited attire for combat. They both prepared themselves in Ming clan's training grounds and got into position.

"Let's begin. Show me your training throughout the years."

"Then, I will not hold back." Not a second later, he charged at his father at a great speed. In an instant, he was already in front of the man and launched a side kick to the head. Naturally, the father dodged by turning his head to the side. Using the momentum, Long Chen used his other leg and thrust it at the neck.

His father was left with no choice but to back away. Long Chen regained his balance after landing on the ground. The air grew tense. Long Chen knew that his father was going easy on him and maintain a defensive position. He activates his spirit essence.

[Boundary Mirror : The realm of demons] - The mirror turns crimson red like blood, emitting a sinister atmosphere. This skill greatly enhances his combat capabilities and overall body strength, agility and endurance. It does cause strain if not used to it and drains stamina.

Thanks to this skill, Long Chen can afford to be straight forward and charged again with one step. He reached his father's chest and punched the stomach. The father wanted to dodge but couldn't. He didn't realize that his son had used another skill.

'He used two skills simultaneously!'

[Boundary Mirror : The realm of hungry ghosts] - The mirror becomes grey like smoke, chains come gushing from the mirror itself and attaching themselves with the father. This skill binds the opponent down and restricts movement. Just like a ghost haunting you, not wanting to let go.

Unable to break through the restrains in time, the attack was a success. The man was pushed back by a step.

"That was great. You caught me off guard. But now, it's my turn."

Realizing that his father is going to be on the offensive position this time, Long Chen wasted no time on jumping back to gain more distance. His father possesses a tool spirit called 12 Midnight daggers. He can move those daggers anyway he wants in air. It was dangerous and irritating spirit that is hard to defend against.

The man sent the blades at Long Chen. For the next few minutes, Long Chen had to be on the look out for incoming dagger that are prepared to pierce him from all sides. Up, down, left, left, right, down, overhead.....Naturally, he didn't manage to avoid all of them and suffered some cuts.

[12 midnight daggers 1st spirit ring : Light Web]

All daggers shot out a string of light and blocked all of Long Chen's escape root. like a insect caught in the spider web.

[12 midnight daggers 2nd spirit ring : Thunder shock]

Lightning traveled through the strings and were quickly approaching Long Chen. Not even showing the slightest panic, Long Chen smirks. The unexpected expression surprises his father.

[Boundary Mirror 1st spirit ring : Moonlit Mirror]

The mirror immediately absorbs the lightning that went through his body and shoot it out in the direction of the man like a Thunder cannon. It took a direct hit but the effect was minimal considering his cultivation rank.

On the other hand, Long Chen still had some lightning crackling around him, half of his body is paralyzed. The skill was not completely perfect yet as he's still to weak. With his current rank and control, It takes 70% of the damage and reflects it at the intended opponent but the user still has to face 30%.

"Hahaha! Our Xiao long has progressed far to think you can used two abilities simultaneously now. Your skill has definitely increased by a huge margin but don't make such reckless sacrifices in the future making sure to attain complete control and not slack off your physical training. We'll end the fight here."

"Yes, Thank father for the advice."

"Brother!" Yi Chen came running from the side. "That was so cool!" He stares at his older brother in admiration as he hug Long Chen's leg.

"Someday in the future, when you get through your awakening. You can also be cool."

"Really!"

"Mhn, as long as you train and study hard."

"Yay!"

The two of them had a long bonding time for the rest of the evening. The family ate dinner together before sleeping in their own quarters.

For the next few days, Long Chen continued to trained with his father to further improve his technique and polish his skills. Once he reached Rank 20, the father brought Long Chen to the forest to help him get his second spirit ring.

Two weeks past and it was time to depart for Shrek city. Yi Chen used the exact same tactic as Huabin to make his beloved older brother stay. At the time, Long Chen couldn't help but think, 'Deja Vu.'

The mother and father both had an especially hard time prying the small guy off of his brother without hurting him.

Yi Chen had a surprisingly strong grip and left scratches and red marks on Long Chen's arm. Yi Chen was more stubborn than Dai Huabin so some bribery and more coaxing was required.

After the whole ordeal, Long Chen is finally free to go. The Ming clan made sure that Long Chen had everything he needed before they sent him off.

____Shrek City____

Long Chen had arrived at the academy and registered for enrolment. After getting assigned into a class, he went to the board to check his new teacher.

'Class 1...Class 1....Oh!' The scan through the list and found the class to be under a teacher called Zhou Yi. 'Hm? Zhou Yi...isn't that the super strict teacher that was Yuhao's homeroom teacher? Had she been working here since that long? There was no background mentioned so I wouldn't know much. Well, no matter.'

He went to the dormitory to check into his new room. The first person he took notice of was the elderly sitting down on a bench under the trees. 'That's....' Long Chen walks over and bows, "Good morning, elder. This is my ID card, do you happen to know where my dorm room is?"

"It's room 77, on the first floor."

"Thank you." he walks away. 'That was no doubt the strongest person in Shrek. The head of Poseidon court. Didn't think he'd be doing this since this long. First Zhou Yi and now him. Is the world in pause until Yuhao arrives?'

'That child....'

Long Chen opens the door to his room. It is plain and simple with all living necessities enough for two people. He is just about approach one side of the room when he realizes that there is someone other than him inside. A person pops out from the corner of the wall.

"Hi, you must be my new.....Long Chen?"

The person he made eye contact with just happen to be Dai Yaoheng. "Yaoheng, you're my roommate. That's....quite the coincidence."

"You don't suppose that our families had a hand in this, do you?"

"....perhaps. This is too suspicious."

"I agree." they both sweat-drop at their families desperation to make them close, "Well, anyway, not like we can do anything about it now. Or rather we would benefit from this. I feel more at ease to be sharing a room with you and not anyone else."

"Likewise."

They bump fists together as a sign of their friendship.