Chapter 80: Ten Thousand Years!

"Wang Luo, third-level mage!"
"Xi Lili, second-level mage!"
"Femi, second-level warrior!"
"Begin!"

On the battle platform, after a brief introduction from the three, the unknown referee spoke again, and the fight resumed. Below the stage, a chorus of jeers and cheers rang out. If one listened carefully, it was evident that in this short time, Wang Luo had already gained quite a bit of support.

It was inevitable; Wang Luo had done things many boys wouldn't dare, and now he had advanced to the third level. In the Tianxuan Continent, where strength reigns supreme, power is the best proof of one's worth.

"Earth Mist!"

As always, the battle opened with the Earth Mist spell, shrouding the platform in a hazy dust. Many sighed with regret but still craned their necks to see what was happening inside.

"Scorching Spell!"

Flames erupted, driving away the dust. Femi, wielding a crimson sword, leapt into the air and lunged at Wang Luo. Just then, an earth pellet shot up and struck the red blade.

"Ah!"

As she landed, Femi suddenly heard Xi Lili's cry of pain from behind her. She couldn't help but turn, her eyes narrowing in shock.

"Third-level magic, Earthquake Spell!"

The ground where Xi Lili stood rippled like waves. Within moments, she stumbled and fell, and a sharp earth spike flashed out.

Rip—

The sound of tearing fabric rang out; Femi was stunned for a moment. In the next instant, dust billowed, and another earth pellet shot toward Femi.

"Slow!"

A mocking voice sounded in Femi's ear. She was about to swing her sword to block the pellet, but suddenly felt her body turn heavy, and the sword in her hand became sluggish and unwieldy.

Bang—

The earth pellet knocked the red sword aside. Breathing heavily, Femi stood on the ground as an earth spike drilled up from below, burrowing into her pant leg, its coarse surface rubbing against her smooth, pale calf.

"I concede!"
"I concede!"

Two voices, full of frustration, rang out almost simultaneously. The crowd below the stage, unable to see what had happened, erupted in confusion—how could the fight end so quickly?

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the monthly rest, marking that Wang Luo had been in the southern district for about half a month.

During these weeks, Wang Luo's life was little different from the northern district. Aside from teasing Xi Lili and Femi at first to lighten the mood, he did nothing out of line.

Of course, it wasn't that no one challenged him. But after Wang Luo nearly turned a challenger into a eunuch with an earth spike, no one dared approach him again, despite Xi Lili and Femi scheming daily to find someone willing.

The two little witches, Femi and Xi Lili, stood together thanks to Wang Luo's arrival. It was good for the whole class, and for Wang Luo, neither good nor bad. At least it kept his days from being too dull; there was always someone to amuse him.

In the small courtyard, Wang Luo lay on a reclining chair, seemingly engrossed in a book, though his soul was actually wandering in a small, private world.

Three suns—red, white, and black—hung in the sky, streaming their rays below. On the ground, flowers and grasses bloomed, radiating waves of elemental energy.

Beneath the blood-red sun, Wang Luo's soul, transformed into a ball of light, floated beside a small tree, entirely crimson. The tree stood about as tall as a person, with simple branches bearing blood-red leaves and encasing several flower buds.

"Is it about to bloom? The Blood Soul Tree only flowers once every thousand years, and then bears Blood Soul Fruit, which is immensely beneficial for tempering body and spirit. Pity it's not something I can use."

The ball of light rolled, Wang Luo's voice expressing regret. This Blood Soul Tree had grown from the Blood Soul Wood Wang Luo sold. After expending five ninth-level magic crystals and ten eighth-level magic crystals from his ring, the tree's age finally increased by a thousand years.

"A ten-thousand-year Blood Soul Wood—when will it be fully grown? How many magic crystals will it take?"

With a few helpless growls, Wang Luo's soul drifted beneath the white sun. There, a lush tree radiated vibrant life, forming a stark contrast to the bloody aura of the Blood Soul Wood.

"Ah, another magic crystal devourer. Where am I supposed to find so many magic crystals to raise you all? When will my Blood Soul Banner ever be completed?"

The soul orb circled the tree and noticed it had indeed grown much larger. Wang Luo continued his powerless lament. This tree was another main ingredient for forging the Blood Soul Banner, called the Undying Tree, sacred to the elves of Tianxuan—the Tree of Life.

Originally, this tree was just a dried branch buried under countless things in the Jin Ge family's spatial ring. By chance, while reading, Wang Luo learned there was a branch of the Tree of Life in the ring. He turned the ring inside out, searching until he finally found it.

The Blood Soul Banner must be crafted from a ten-thousand-year Undying Tree branch as the pole, ten-thousand-year Blood Soul Wood fibers as the flag, the forger's own blood as the catalyst, plus various auxiliary materials.

"Ten thousand years... Who knows how long that will take!"

Still wailing, Wang Luo transferred the magic crystals from his spatial ring into this private world. With a thought, he returned to his body, pain flashing across his face.

"By the end of this year, I must enter the inner academy!"

After much reflection, Wang Luo realized his only choice was to enter the inner academy, for he had no way to leave now.

Once inside, he could use elixirs—those in his possession could be sold for a great deal of magic crystals. Moreover, only there could he use Earthfire to forge pills.

With the Heartfire sealed, Wang Luo was unable to craft elixirs. The ones he had were either too low in grade or too high—none suited his current needs, leaving him frustrated.

"I wonder how Xiao Bai and the others are doing?"

Feeling restless, Wang Luo thought again of Xiao Bai the blood wolf and Black Panther, uncertain of their fate. Unbidden, the lingering image of Qier appeared in his mind, quietly soothing him...

"What do you want, exactly? Get lost!"

In his mind, Wang Luo furiously shouted at that figure. Whenever he paused, Qier's shadow appeared, previously only making seductive gestures, but now her expressions were richer, even showing sympathy for poor Wang Luo.

As if she understood his words, the naked silhouette turned sorrowful, tears welling in her eyes as she gazed pitifully at Wang Luo.

Plip—

A phantom tear slid down a phantom cheek, but it felt so real. Wang Luo's heart trembled with its fall, his gaze involuntarily dropping lower.

The delicate jade dish, so tempting to touch and play with, the curling hair, the ferocious dinosaur—all left Wang Luo parched and dizzy, as scene after scene flashed before his eyes...

Bang—

He punched out, dispelling the illusion. Wang Luo awoke suddenly, gasping for breath, wiping cold sweat from his brow, exhausted as he lay back in the chair. He glanced down and noticed the bulge at his waist, only then realizing a figure in white had been standing before him, uncertain for how long.

Otherworld Azure Dragon 80—Chapter Eighty: Ten Thousand Years! Update complete!