Chapter 143: Who Am I? The Dragon-Slaying Blade?
So now, it was time to arrange Class One's next mission.
Ao Rui, sitting comfortably in command, thought for a moment before saying, "Let's just move on with their second test."
"They finished the first one, didn't they? We can't exactly call it a failure, can we?"
"Otherwise they'll hold a grudge. Better to keep the exams going."
With that, Ao Rui sent the order through the channels. Sima Jinchi received it and nodded knowingly.
He turned to his students. "Let's go. Deeper into Phoenix Mountain."
"Phoenix…" Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes.
On the Douluo Continent, ancient creation myths spoke of two supreme divine beings—the Dragon God and the Phoenix God.
Long before humans attained godhood, these two ruled all creation. But for reasons unknown, war broke out between the dragons and the phoenixes. The Dragon God slew the Phoenix God, and from that day forward, the phoenix race vanished.
Even Di Tian probably didn't know the full truth of that war.
And as for Jiang Chen—he'd read the "original story." Even there, it had never explained what really happened.
Still, through the Soul Network, he'd uncovered intriguing hints.
The Soul Network was supposedly under Federation control. But the Evil Eye Tyrants, who could traverse the system freely, made that oversight mostly ceremonial. No matter how advanced Federation tech became, the Evil Eye Clan could always infiltrate its data systems.
Eventually, the Federation had forged an alliance with the Spirit Transmission Tower—granting political legitimacy to the Evil Eye Clan under Federation authority.
Of course, allegiance was a matter of name only.
As soul beasts and spiritual entities, how could they possibly disobey the Soul Beast Ruler, Di Tian?
They were, in truth, still his subordinates.
And given that Jiang Chen personally commanded No.002 Evil Eye Tyrant, he effectively outranked even the Spirit Transmission Tower in authority.
He was, in practice, the current master of the Evil Eye Clan.
"Phoenix Mountain… could an actual phoenix be here?" Jiang Chen mused with interest.
Following the group, he continued deeper into the mountain range.
Meanwhile, Mo Zihong frowned over the new plan.
Legends claimed that a true phoenix once slept beneath Phoenix Mountain. Yet the Federation had held this place for a century and found nothing.
Sending a group of students to hunt legends seemed absurd.
But Ao Rui's expression remained placid. "I believe they'll find something."
"Based on what?"
"Instinct."
Mo Zihong: …
Phoenix Mountain's soul beasts were mostly gone—migrated to the Star Dou Forest. Only the disobedient and discarded ones remained. Beasts too wild for Di Tian to bother saving.
Thus, the area had become a Federation wilderness training ground.
Ao Rui's piercing gaze could observe the team from afar. Most of the students chattered around Tang Wulin—the new center of attention.
"The Little Godsmith, huh?" Ao Rui smirked.
A future Divine Blacksmith, blessed with monstrous power—the boy's potential was immeasurable.
Better to befriend him now; one day, even Titled Douluos would line up begging him for four-word battle armor.
In Class One, all were blessed prodigies—future Titled Douluos, every one.
But the greatest weapon a Soul Master could ever possess—a four-word armor—required a forger's hands.
A friend like Tang Wulin was worth worshipping.
"Hmm?"
Jiang Chen's brow furrowed. Someone was watching him.
No—more than that, monitoring the entire class.
His gaze shifted to Gu Yue and the Snow Empress. Neither looked concerned.
No malice. Protective energy.
Ah, of course—security surveillance from the university.
They were just ensuring the students' safety.
The group set camp and cooked lunch while Sima Jinchi quietly approached Tang Wulin.
"Instructor? Is something wrong?" Tang Wulin asked curiously. He thought Sima wanted to ask how he'd slain the Poison Jiao.
Not that he could've explained it—he didn't know himself.
All he knew was that his Golden Night Dragon had suddenly gone berserk and obliterated the beast.
He'd tried asking it afterward, but the creature had simply fallen asleep, completely spent.
"Instructor?"
Before he could speak again, Sima Jinchi's hand clamped down on his shoulder—and the two vanished from sight.
"Tang Wulin!"
Xie Xie reached out instinctively—grabbing air.
"Xie Xie, you're obsessed, huh?" Xu Xiaoyan teased. "Can't take your eyes off him for one second? Heehee~"
A wicked grin spread on her face.
"Eh? Heehee~"
"Xu. Xiao. Yan!"
Xie Xie's face turned crimson.
"I told you not to talk nonsense! Want me to bash your head in?!"
"Hehehe~ You're mad! You're mad, so it is true!"
She bolted laughing into the woods.
"That's it! You're dead!"
"Relax, Xie Xie," she shouted between giggles, "it's okay if you're gay! We'll still accept you!"
"Xu Xiaoyan! I swear—!"
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Sima Jinchi released Tang Wulin once he confirmed no monitoring eyes followed them.
"Sima-sensei," Tang Wulin said cautiously, "you wanted to ask how I defeated the dragon, right? Honestly, I don't even know myself. Would you believe me if I said that?"
He expected a few questions—maybe praise.
Instead, Sima Jinchi drew the Dragon-Slaying Blade.
And swung it at him.
The strike wasn't a feint—it was meant to kill.
"Wha—?!"
Tang Wulin froze.
They had no enmity—why did his instructor suddenly want him dead?!
Before he could even breathe, a tremendous killing aura crashed down.
An eight-ring Soul Douluo's strike—he didn't stand a chance.
His body reacted on instinct. Golden dragon scales rippled across his arm. His heart pounded wildly.
"Why…?"
Under the Blade's pressure, golden light ignited behind him—a faint, colossal shadow materializing.
The Golden Dragon King's phantom.
"ROAR—!"
The Dragon-Slaying Blade was forged from the Dragon God's horn, meant as divine judgment upon all dragons. Its purpose: to punish, suppress, and annihilate draconic power.
But the Golden Dragon King, inheritor of the Dragon God's body—was, in essence, the Dragon God's own shell.
The Dragon God's creation… now turned to destroy its maker?
Ridiculous.
"ROAR!!"
A thunderous, enraged roar—filled with destruction and fury—didn't echo outward. It detonated inside Sima Jinchi's mind.
Visions overwhelmed him.
Countless dragons soaring—then countless dragons falling.
Tears welled at the corners of his eyes.
"Wh… Who am I?"
"I… am the Dragon-Slaying Blade? Or Sima Jinchi?"
"Am I… dragonkind?"
Tang Wulin could only stare, dumbfounded, at his instructor clutching his head and shouting at the sky.
"What in the world is happening right now?"
(END CHAPTER)
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