Chapter 21: Jiang Nannan

At this scene, Zhang Lexuan’s pupils involuntarily contracted.

During yesterday’s battle, the Shadow Demon Spider had used a similar ability, but the cutting power of its dark attribute silk was clearly inferior to the Night Dusk Mysterious Spider before him.

Cutting through trees and slicing through the heavy scales of a Scale Armored Beast were two entirely different matters. It must be known that the defense of a thousand-year-old Scale Armored Beast was so formidable that even ordinary Soul Sect-level experts might not breach it.

Of course, Night Dusk Mysterious Spider could easily achieve this only because the Scale Armored Beast had lost its vitality and could no longer mobilize its soul power to protect itself.

Night Dusk Mysterious Spider explained to Zhang Lexuan in a deep voice, “Lexuan, my pair of Heavenly Spider Claws can switch between spatial and dark attribute properties. The spatial spider silk can hide within the void, is more resilient, and excels at binding and controlling opponents. The dark attribute spider silk is sharper and better suited for harming enemies, and it perfectly complements my primary soul condensation, Shadow of Condensation. The hardness of the dark attribute spider silk fused with the Shadow of Condensation, combined with my full strength strangling, is what caused such effects on that Scale Armored Beast.”

“This trip was definitely worth it,” Zhang Lexuan nodded slightly, sincerely happy for Night Dusk Mysterious Spider.

“Looks like we can return to the academy early. Let’s leave the Mingdou Great Forest first.”

“Senior Sister, I want to experiment more with the spatial attribute spider silk of the Heavenly Spider Claws,” Night Dusk Mysterious Spider wished to further understand his newly acquired ability, but recalling his previous offense against Zhang Lexuan made him feel a bit uneasy.

Although Zhang Lexuan appeared calm just now, as a woman, being bound by transparent spider silk naturally gave her unusual sensations. A slight unnatural blush rose on her cheeks as she gently reminded Night Dusk Mysterious Spider in a tender tone that had an almost coquettish feel.

“You’re not allowed to treat me as your experimental subject anymore.”

“Ah?” Staring at Zhang Lexuan’s alluring demeanor, Night Dusk Mysterious Spider was momentarily stunned, then awkwardly averted his gaze.

“Don’t worry, Lexuan. I won’t do that to you again.”

“Not just me, you mustn’t do that to any other girls either,” Zhang Lexuan added, looking straight into Night Dusk Mysterious Spider’s eyes.

“Xichen, you’re still young now; you’ll understand as you grow older.”

“Mm…”

The scorching sunlight poured down like celestial light, turning the dense Mingdou Great Forest into a golden ocean.

Two figures rose from within the forest, ascending into the sky—Night Dusk Mysterious Spider and Zhang Lexuan.

Thanks to her Soul Saint-level cultivation, Zhang Lexuan could fly unaided, without a flying soul device. Night Dusk Mysterious Spider, however, used the power of his external soul bone, the Heavenly Spider Claws, to hover in midair and sped astonishingly towards the edge of the Mingdou Great Forest.

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The spider silk at his fingertips connected countless spatial nodes; each movement caused the invisible silk in the void to contract, propelling him forward in bursts, repeating the cycle.

Night Dusk Mysterious Spider gazed ahead with great enthusiasm; the freedom of soaring through the sky greatly broadened his mind. Yet, more than anything, he was eager to show off before Bei Bei.

Years of peaceful life at Shrek Academy had eased his inner burdens and even restored a bit of his childhood spirit.

“Lexuan, do you think Senior Brother Bei’s soul beast hunt in the Xingdou Great Forest is going smoothly?”

“With Elder Xuan there, it should be fine,” Zhang Lexuan replied patiently, keeping close behind him.

‘That’s hard to say.’

Recalling the troublesome deeds of Elder Xuan in his past life, Night Dusk Mysterious Spider secretly scoffed in his heart. The nickname ‘Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Sect’ was well deserved. Two batches of elite inner academy students had been sacrificed.

One such time was when Senior Sister led the team, and by the timeline, it wasn’t long ago.

Although nearly all the inner academy students were wiped out that time, Senior Sister personally obtained an eighth soul ring and soul bone of the ten-thousand-year level.

His dilemma was whether to intentionally interfere in this matter.

Shaking his head, Night Dusk Mysterious Spider cast aside distractions, looked forward again, and his gaze grew resolute.

“I hope Senior Brother Bei returns safely soon. If we meet again, I will never lose again.”

…

It was the annual enrollment season at Shrek Academy.

Considering the freshmen came from various parts of the original Douluo Continent, the recruitment process would last a full half-month.

On the first day of enrollment, Tang Ya left Shrek City early and arrived outside the east gate of Shrek Academy via the main road outside the city.

Girls developed early, and after two years, Tang Ya’s changes were even more pronounced than Night Dusk Mysterious Spider’s. Her delicate features had fully matured; her beautiful, lively face radiated vitality, and her shapely figure brimmed with youthful energy.

“Hehe, today I’ll give Xichen a surprise inside the academy,” she smiled. Thanks to a special enrollment quota for the Tang Sect, Tang Ya smoothly completed her registration. Moreover, she met the academy’s assessment requirements for freshmen.

An eleven-year-old twenty-first level two-ring Great Soul Master—among Blue Silver Grass soul masters, she was undoubtedly extraordinarily gifted.

Tang Ya was full of anticipation for her studies and life at Shrek Academy.

After receiving her freshman badge, two sets of white freshman uniforms, and dormitory key, she quickly found her room in the female freshman dormitory.

“If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll probably spend the next six years here.” Tang Ya eagerly pushed open the dorm door, only to find someone already inside.

On the left wooden bed lay simple bedding, even patched, but extremely clean and tidy. A girl about her age sat on the bed; hearing the door open, she instinctively looked toward the doorway.

The girl had long, wavy purple hair cascading loosely behind her. Her skin was fairer than snow, her eyes like autumn waters, exuding an elegant and refined aura with every glance.

The two girls locked eyes for a moment before the outgoing Tang Ya broke the silence with a cheerful greeting.

“Hello, I’m Tang Ya. I thought I’d be the first to arrive. How come you’re even earlier? You’re not a local of Shrek City, are you?”

“No, I’m from the Douling Empire,” the girl replied, her personality seeming reserved, or perhaps awkward faced with Tang Ya’s familiarity.

“I’m Jiang Nannan.”

“The Douling Empire isn’t exactly close to Shrek City,” Tang Ya said to herself as she began tidying her bed.

“How did you get here? Considering the journey, you must have left days earlier. Didn’t any family come to see you off?”

Jiang Nannan hesitated several times in response to Tang Ya’s lack of personal boundaries, but her high cultivation of manners ultimately restrained her.

What’s up with this person?