One week later
Our family arrived at the edge of a dense forest, outside the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's territory, but with enough distance so no one could detect us. Uncle Xin carrying little Dugu Yan in his arms, looked around with a mix of curiosity and wariness before turning to me.
"Do you know where this expert is inside the clan?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "No idea," I admitted with a grin.
His palm hit his face in exasperation. "Of course you don't," he muttered, shaking his head.
Grandpa chuckled softly at the exchange, but I was already preparing to solve the issue. I stepped forward and unleashed my sixth spirit ability for the first time in front of Uncle Xin. With a surge of soul power, a swarm of 200 cat-sized spiders materialized around me, their glistening black and green forms shimmering with a ghostly aura. Uncle Xin's eyes widened in a mix of horror and awe.
"What in the world...?" he muttered, instinctively pulling Dugu Yan closer.
"Relax," I said with a smirk. "They're harmless unless I tell them otherwise." Then I commanded the spiders to move stealthily into the clan's territory. Their agile bodies disappeared into the forest, blending seamlessly with the shadows.
"The expert will come to us," I said confidently before sitting cross-legged on the ground. Closing my eyes, I merged my senses with the spiders', their multiple perspectives flooding my mind. The sensation was overwhelming at first, but thanks to the mental power I gained after absorbing the skull bone, I quickly adjusted and proceeded to use their collective vision to locate my target.
An hour passed. Uncle Xin paced restlessly, while Grandpa leaned against a tree, amused by the entire situation. Finally, we heard a voice echoing through the trees.
"I assumed this was one of your abilities, Crazy Kid. Took you long enough to come looking for me."
Liu Erlong emerged from the shadows, following a neat line of spiders that vanished as I released my spirit ability. She was just as I remembered: fiery and confident. Her gaze swept over our group, pausing momentarily on Dugu Yan. Her expression softened, warmth crossing her face as she looked at the baby.
"You're late," she said, folding her arms. "What took you so long?"
I stood and brushed the dirt off my clothes, flashing her a smile. "Patience is a virtue, and good things take their sweet time."
Grandpa chuckled at my words, but Uncle Xin's reaction was more entertaining. His eyes darted between Liu Erlong and me, his confusion evident. "Wait a second," he said, pointing at her. "This is the expert you were talking about?"
Grandpa burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the moment. "He's been planning this for a while," he said, clapping Uncle Xin on the back. "And yes, this is the famous Liu Erlong."
I looked at Liu Erlong and said. "Allow me to introduce my family. The old man is my Grandpa, Dugu Bo, although I'm sure you have already heard of him. This is my uncle, Dugu Xin, and the little one is his daughter, Dugu Yan. "
Liu Erlong's eyes lingered on Dugu Yan again, her expression softening further. She reached out to gently touch the baby's cheek, a small smile playing on her lips. "She's adorable," she said, her tone surprisingly tender.
"She's our pride and joy," Uncle Xin said, his voice filled with affection.
I cleared my throat, drawing Liu Erlong's attention back to me. "So, do you have an answer for me, Crazy Lady?"
Uncle Xin frowned, clearly unimpressed with my choice of words. "You should be more respectful to ladies," he scolded.
I raised my hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. My apologies." I shot Liu Erlong a mischievous grin for her to realize that I didn't actually mean to apologize.
Liu Erlong laughed, shaking her head. "You've got them all fooled, don't you? Acting like a cute kid while plotting who knows what."
"Nonsense," I said, pretending innocence. "I'm a delight."
She sighed, but the amusement in her eyes betrayed her. "As for your proposal," she began, her tone turning serious. "I've thought about it. You have great plans, but great plans require great power. I'll join your academy on one condition: prove that you're strong enough to deserve my help."
Uncle Xin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You want to fight him?"
"Exactly," Liu Erlong said, her fiery determination blazing in her eyes. "If he can defeat me, I'll follow him."
I stepped forward, my expression unwavering. "Very well, then." I unleashed my spirit rings. 2 purple and 4 black rings appeared around me, their aura radiating power. Liu Erlong's eyes widened slightly, she was impressed, although she tried to hide it. She knew I was rank 60 one year ago, but she never got to see the age of my spirit rings.
"Spirit Emperor, rank 66, Poison Devouring Spider Emperor, Dugu Bei," I announced confidently.
Liu Erlong's lips curved into a determined smile. She took a step back, summoning her own spirit rings. The ground beneath her seemed to tremble as 2 yellow, 2 purple, and 3 black rings manifested around her.
"Spirit Saint, rank 71, Fire Dragon, Liu Erlong," she declared.
Our eyes locked, the air between us charged with anticipation. For a moment, neither of us moved, each waiting to see who would strike first.