...…

One and a month after Shin started his special training.

"Are you that in a hurry to leave here?" asked Professor Plum as he watched his disciple packed his things.

Meanwhile, Shin slightly nodded his head as he was too busy packing up his back. And when he was done, he immediately picked up his back and looked at the old man. "I must admit that I improved a lot training here, but I am not sure whether I want to come back here or not."

Hearing that, Old Plum couldn't help but shake his head a little before saying. "So, are you going straight to the Magical Ace University? But you still have 2 days before the special exam takes place."

"I still need to check how strong are my rivals, right?" asked Shin with raised brows.

'This ungrateful rascal,' Professor Plum smiled a little bitterly and further shook his head helplessly when he heard the tone of Shin's voice. But he could at least understand him given all of the sufferings that Shin had gone through during the entire training.

After a brief moment of pause, Old Plum opened his mouth once again and said. "You still remember what I told you, right?"

Shin rolled his eyes at the old man and immediately replied. "You do you take me for? An Idiot? Of course, I am not going to use those two unless I break through to the 'Ethereal Opening Stage' and set foot in the 'Ascension Realm'."

Hearing that, Professor Plum nodded his head repeatedly before saying. "It is good that you understand. You still can't handle the powers of the 'Sacred God Physique' and 'Great Demonic Body'. So, you better be not use them unless you are capable enough."

He then took another pause before continuing. "And don't overuse the 'Black Origin Threshold' and 'White Dawn Boundary' while using your 'Sacred Internal Qi' and Demonic Qi' – your body still can't stand the side effects of using them together."

Old Plum trailed his words a little when he reached this point before saying with a grave tone. "And do you ever dare combine the two styles together with those states – if you don't want to suffer a miserable death, then you better listen to my words. Do you understand?"

Hearing all of those, Shin suddenly clicked his tongue before complaining. "Tsk! How many times do I have to tell you, Old Geezer? I understand your concerns, so you don't have to worry too much about it. You already asked the same thing since yesterday, don't you find it tiring?"

"Tsk! I'm just reminding you, alright? Hsh! This ungrateful rascal! If you are done, then let's go – the others are already waiting outside," said Professor Plum before turning around and walking out of the room.

Shin suddenly threw a glare at Professor Plum right after the old man turned his back around. But the moment he did that, he suddenly felt a strong force smack his head and smashed his face in the ground.

Bang!

At the same time, Old Plum suddenly smirked as he said. Remember, don't ever f*cking lose to anyone when you are in there. Because you are not only going to embarrass yourself the moment you do, but you are also going to ruin our reputations."

Meanwhile, Shin was currently in the middle of standing up by pushing himself off the ground. The moment he stood up and raised his head to look at his master. And while he was raising his head, the surface of his skin was showing some traits of a dragon's scale before slowly fading away.

After getting back on his feet, Shin shook his head a little to shake off the dizziness that he was feeling due to being smashed on the ground out of nowhere before saying. "Hsh! That is a strong one, Old Geezer. Are you not afraid of killing me in the process?"

Hearing that, Professor Plum suddenly halted his steps before saying. "Heh! Do you think that you can still die easily after mastering those 'Qi Reinforcement Skills' on top of possessing 'Demonic Qi' inside your body?"

After that, the old man immediately resumed his steps without turning back at Shin.

Shin pursed his lips a little when he saw that before muttering to himself. "Tsk! You are saying that but you forbid me from using my 'Demonic Qi' for as much as possible."

...

When Shin arrived outside the cottage, he immediately saw the others waiting for him. David was currently fixing the strap of his bag while Laura was humming happily as she jumped in circles around the former.

Meanwhile, Professor Plum and Grandmaster Benn were currently talking to each other. And from what he could see from the serious look on their faces, Shin could tell that it was not something so simple.

When Shin arrived, the two old men simultaneously turned their heads at Shin before Old Plum suddenly opened his mouth. "Kiddo, come here for a second."

Hearing the serious tone from Old Plum's words, Shin couldn't help but frown his eyebrows a little before walking towards the two old men, curious what they wanted to say.

**********

At the same time, Arthur just got out after getting 'detained' from a special prison.

"At last! Freedom!" shouted Arthur right after he walked out. And immediately after that, he suddenly turned his head back to the room where he came from while wearing a smug expression on his face.

A moment later, he turned his head back in front before starting to walk away. But he just took a couple of steps forward when his peripheral vision suddenly saw something flying towards him.

Given that, he immediately halted his head and leaned his body towards his back to dodge that thing coming his way.

Swoosh!

Arthur saw that it was a metal spear as it was passing through right in front of his face. And when he saw that, he immediately swung his hand and tapped the flying spear to change its trajectory towards the sky.

But before that spear could even fly upwards, Arthur suddenly caught the spear with his other hand as he spun his body with a quick motion before throwing the spear back to where it came from.

Swoosh!

Bang!

The spear became impaled on the wall right after it was thrown by Arthur.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

A moment later, Arthur heard someone clapping a few distance away from him. And when he turned his head towards that direction, he immediately saw Nathan walking towards him with a smiling face.

Seeing him, Arthur immediately clicked his tongue while wearing a dejected expression on his face.

Meanwhile, Nathan just ignored the look on his face and said. "Go fix yourself up. We are heading back as soon as possible, so you better start moving now before I decide to leave you behind."

After that, he immediately turned his body around before starting to walk away. And when Arthur saw that, he couldn't help but shake his head bitterly before muttering some complaints to himself.

Regardless, he still chased after Nathan afraid that his uncle might really leave him behind.

*********

Eastern Sea Region.

Leonard just got back to his master's house after completing all of the tasks given to him. "Master, I am back."

Right after he opened the door, Leonard's eyes suddenly turned sharp as he sensed a powerful force flying towards him.

Given that, he immediately threw his fist forward to send a powerful punch that instantly destroyed the incoming force. And when all of the residual forces finally dissipated, Leonard immediately raised his head and glared at the direction where that force came from.

"Heh! Not bad. Looks like your little lion cub is starting to mature now," said Galileo while nodding his head repeatedly.

On the other hand, Leonard glared at his master for a moment before taking another step forward to enter the house. But right after he set his foot inside the house, a crashing force suddenly fell from above and smashed him on the ground.

And that was when Galileo suddenly added. "But you are still too young to let your guard down."

Meanwhile, Leonard full himself from the ground before throwing a vicious glare at his master. But Galileo just ignored his threatening glare before asking. "So, how is your job? Finished everything on the list already? That was quite fast."

"The special exam is already around the corner, so I don't have any time to waste," replied Leonard without removing his glare.

Hearing that, Galileo clicked his tongue a little before commenting. "I already told you that there is no need for the rush since I can let you enter that program without problem once you eliminate everyone on the list that I gave you. You don't have to take that pointless special exam."

Leonard shook his head a little before saying. "Pointless or not, I still need to see it for myself."

"What's more, I am sure that those two are also going to take part in it. So, this is going to be a good time to finally decide the proper hierarchy between the three of us."

He then took a brief pause before adding with a determined tone. "And I also want to see who will be going to become the 'big brother'."

...…