Yin Zhang stepped out of the Spirit Hall and glanced at the surrounding buildings, feeling a faint sense of disorientation.
He had lived in Nuoding City for over two years. Being told so abruptly that he had to leave made him feel momentarily out of place.
Shaking his head, Yin Zhang pulled himself together and slowly walked back toward the academy, thinking as he went.
Given his aptitude, the talent he had displayed, and his spirit ring configuration, it was only natural that Bibi Dong would consider taking him as a disciple.
However, Yu Xiaogang was still at Nuoding Academy. If Bibi Dong happened to meet him—and Yu Xiaogang mentioned their past conflict—
Yin Zhang felt that, judging by Bibi Dong's love-brained behavior in the original story…
Even if she didn't expel him from Spirit Hall outright, she would almost certainly give him the cold shoulder.
With those thoughts in mind, he returned to Dormitory One and forced himself to calm down.
Yin Zhang began packing his belongings. His bedding and daily necessities were still neatly arranged where they had always been.
After a simple cleanup, he sat down to cultivate while waiting for Xiao Chenyu and the others to return.
Life at Nuoding Academy wasn't particularly demanding. There were only three classes in the morning, and by around ten-thirty, students were already heading back to their dorms.
When Xiao Chenyu and the others returned noisily, they immediately noticed that many items were missing from Yin Zhang's bed. A bad feeling rose in their hearts.
"Brother Zhang… what's going on?"
Xiao Chenyu asked hesitantly.
By then, Yin Zhang had already exited his cultivation state and was lying on the bed.
Seeing them crowd in, he sat up with a grin.
"Chenyu, I'm leaving."
"Ah?! Brother Zhang, why?"
Xiao Chenyu's face immediately showed distress, and he became anxious on the spot.
Without thinking, he blurted out,
"Did you offend someone in Nuoding City, Brother Zhang? I can help! I'll go find my father—he's the City Lord of Nuoding City, he can—"
Yin Zhang laughed and waved his hand.
"What are you thinking? I've been 'promoted'."
"Some big shots from Spirit Hall came and invited me to join. I agreed. We're leaving after noon, so I came back to pack up and say goodbye."
While Yin Zhang was bidding farewell at the academy, over at the Nuoding City Spirit Hall branch…
Curious about Yin Zhang's experiences over the past two years, Bibi Dong asked Ma Xiunuo to recount everything in detail.
When she heard that there was also a Grandmaster at Nuoding Academy, her expression froze for a brief instant.
She abruptly interrupted Ma Xiunuo, her voice losing its usual composure.
"Did you just say… a Grandmaster at Nuoding Academy?"
Ma Xiunuo was startled. He recalled Yu Xiaogang's past self-aggrandizing claims—about how he had once studied extensively in the Spirit Hall library.
Could it be that the Supreme Pontiff actually knew him?
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Ma Xiunuo's back.
He cursed inwardly: If you knew the Supreme Pontiff, why didn't you say so earlier?! What were you doing freeloading in a backwater like Nuoding City?!
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ma Xiunuo replied nervously.
"What is his name?"
"Yu Xiaogang. It's said he came to Nuoding City more than ten years ago to serve as a guest instructor at Nuoding Academy."
Bibi Dong suddenly stood up, gripping her scepter so tightly that the veins on her hand stood out.
"The two Elders will remain here. I'll be back shortly."
As soon as she finished speaking, her figure vanished from the room.
"This…"
Ghost Douluo looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo, who rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"To think that after more than ten years, we'd actually run into that man again in this kind of backwater."
He waved a hand. "You may leave."
Ma Xiunuo couldn't have been happier to comply. He hurried out, gently closed the door behind him, and let out a long breath.
I'll leave it to fate, he thought.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had once been the right and left hands of Qian Xunji before following Bibi Dong, so they naturally knew about the relationship between Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang.
They had assumed they would never cross paths with Yu Xiaogang again in this lifetime—yet here he was, in Nuoding City.
After explaining things on his end, Yin Zhang left Nuoding Academy. On the way out, he passed right by Bibi Dong, who was heading off to find Yu Xiaogang.
It wasn't until close to noon that Bibi Dong reappeared before Yin Zhang.
Her eyes were slightly red, and her expression clearly showed that her mood was terrible.
There was no need to guess—things had clearly gone badly between her and Yu Xiaogang.
When Yin Zhang met her gaze, her expression grew even colder and gloomier.
As expected… Yu Xiaogang must've spoken ill of me, Yin Zhang thought.
Sensing Bibi Dong's unstable emotions, Chrysanthemum Douluo quickly asked,
"Your Majesty, is something troubling you?"
"It's nothing," Bibi Dong said curtly. "We'll leave after we eat."
With a wave of her hand, she turned and walked away.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged glances, both silently feeling pity for Yin Zhang.
Yin Zhang shook his head helplessly. What did I even do?
"You've got some rotten luck, kid," Chrysanthemum Douluo said softly as he walked over, resting his smooth hand on Yin Zhang's shoulder.
"But it shouldn't be a big deal. Her Majesty is just in a bad mood. Once she calms down, she might even take you as a disciple."
Take me as a disciple? It'd be a miracle if she doesn't deal with me instead. Love brains are terrifying…
After noon, Bibi Dong set off with the two Elders and Yin Zhang.
At first, their speed was relatively slow, and Yin Zhang could barely keep up by flying with his wings. As they went on, however, the pace grew faster and faster. In the end, he only managed not to fall behind thanks to Chrysanthemum Douluo lending a hand.
When they reached a city along the way, Yin Zhang was finally placed into a carriage with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
Yin Zhang was speechless. Was it really necessary to put me through all this?
She just had to make him suffer a little before letting it go.
After finally arriving at Spirit City, Yin Zhang was immediately arranged to attend the Spirit Hall Academy.
Of course, he wasn't sent there right away. Instead, he was temporarily settled in a courtyard to await further arrangements.
While Yin Zhang was feeling depressed, a debate over his placement was unfolding between the Supreme Pontiff Palace and the Hall of Worship.
Although Bibi Dong did not want to take Yin Zhang as a disciple, she was unwilling to let go of such a genius either. This led to a dispute with the Hall of Worship.
However, Bibi Dong neither possessed strength comparable to theirs, nor did she have the stronger argument.
Golden Crocodile put it bluntly:
"Even though you brought him back, by your own account, the previous Supreme Pontiff was already aware of this Yin Zhang before his death. It was only because he was… interfered with by someone… hmph!"
"Since that's the case, and since you're not taking him as a disciple, don't delay the boy's future. Hand him over to the Hall of Worship. That is what you should do."
Golden Crocodile's tone was domineering, showing no regard for Bibi Dong at all.
Though unwilling, Bibi Dong had only just ascended to her position and had barely begun to explore the potential of her twin spirits. She simply didn't have the strength to oppose the Hall of Worship.
Left with no choice, she handed Yin Zhang over.
After further discussion within the Hall of Worship, High Priest Qian Daoliu expressed no interest in taking on a disciple.
In the end, Yin Zhang fell into the hands of the Second Consecrator—
Golden Crocodile.
[Detected that the host is facing…]