Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Strange Phenomenon of the Soul-Forming Realm

Mister Duke, you are too kind. If you have any questions, just say them plainly.

He offered Duke a chair with a faint smile.

Duke’s gaze drifted over Han Shuo once before settling naturally on Fanny, as though Han Shuo were not worth his notice at all. He did not take the chair Fanny had offered, and instead said courteously, “No need for me to sit. I only came to ask you one small question. Once I have my answer, I’ll leave. Teacher Fanny, you have long studied necromancy. Have you ever heard of the Eye of Darkness?”

Han Shuo stood by silently, watching Duke. After those words, he noticed that Duke kept his eyes fixed on Fanny, as though trying to discern something from her expression.

Fanny shook her head, her face full of puzzlement, and asked, “What exactly is the Eye of Darkness? Is it connected to necromancy somehow?”

“Heh, it’s just a little trinket. I’m not very clear on the details myself, which is why I couldn’t help asking you. Since you don’t know, then never mind. I have troubled you both.” With that, Duke smiled, nodded to Fanny, and turned back toward the door. At the threshold he seemed to remember something and asked casually, “By the way, Teacher Fanny, I heard that your necromancy library is combined with the dark magic library. Many years ago, necromancy was even stronger than dark magic. Does your necromancy department not have a separate library?”

“Heh, Mister Duke, you yourself just said that necromancy’s heyday was many years ago. The number of necromantic spells now mastered by necromancers is limited, so there aren’t that many books to shelve,” Fanny replied with a light smile. Then, after a brief pause, she added carelessly, “Oh, yes. I’ve heard our academy also has a private library. Its books include the secrets of the major disciplines, and the academy has preserved them in secrecy under imperial authorization. I’ve only heard another teacher mention it once, though, and I have no idea where within the academy this private library is hidden.”

“So that’s how it is. Then I’ll take my leave first. Anyway, for the next while, I’ll be staying at your Babylon Academy of Magic and Martial Arts. If I have any more questions, I’ll come bother you again.”

“Gladly of service.”

It seemed Duke truly had not recognized him. From beginning to end, aside from that first glance when he entered, Duke never looked at Han Shuo again. After Duke left, Han Shuo silently breathed a sigh of relief.

“All right, what questions do you have?” Fanny said with a displeased glance at Han Shuo once Duke was gone.

With a faint flash from his spatial ring, Han Shuo took out the questions he had prepared in advance one by one and naturally sat in the chair Duke had refused. From the very first question onward, he began to inquire of Fanny.

As an advanced necromancer, Fanny’s theoretical knowledge was indeed extremely comprehensive. The doubts that had long troubled Han Shuo were resolved one after another under her explanations.

“Summoning zombies is a bit more troublesome than summoning skeletons, because zombies are larger and heavier. The mental power required during summoning is greater, and controlling them is also more complicated. Their bodies are much tougher than skeletons’, so if you want to control them with flexibility, you must practice repeatedly…” Fanny’s voice was gentle and beautiful as she carefully explained the precautions for summoning zombies.

After Fanny finished, Han Shuo fell into deep thought, his brows tightly knit. Seeing that he was thinking, Fanny did not disturb him.

After a while, Han Shuo exhaled softly and said with a smile, “So the problem was that my sending and receiving of mental power were not coordinated enough during the summoning. I’ve always been used to skeleton warriors, and I kept unconsciously using the same intensity of mental power to communicate with the other space. That seems to be the key. I think I understand now.”

After saying this, under Fanny’s watchful gaze, Han Shuo began chanting the incantation for zombie summoning. When the spell first fell, a zombie’s shape merely flickered in the void before vanishing instantly. Han Shuo was not anxious; he tried adjusting the strength of his mental power, but the next four or five attempts all failed.

Fanny watched him with a pleased smile. She knew Han Shuo had understood what she meant. He was now practicing to find the proper force of mental power. Once he sensed the correct strength, he would be able to summon a zombie fully and properly.

“Enough. No need to keep practicing for now. Your direction is definitely right. What you lack is repeated training. Once your control of mental power improves, I think you’ll be able to master this zombie-summoning spell. Brian, it’s only been two or three months, and you’ve already reached the level of a junior mage. I’ve taught in the necromancy department for so long, and I’ve never even heard of such a cultivation speed.”

“Then how do I compare with Faech?” Under Fanny’s persuasion, Han Shuo temporarily gave up further practice. With a foolish grin, he looked at Fanny and asked.

“That stupid smile of yours, I find it more and more awkward no matter how I look at it. Stop pretending to be silly in front of me all the time. Oh, if you hadn’t mentioned Faech, I would have forgotten. He seems very wrong lately. I’m worried he may bear a grudge and deliberately cause you trouble. Be careful these next few days.” Fanny first shot Han Shuo a reproachful look, then said with some concern.

“Don’t worry. If Faech truly doesn’t know what’s good for him, then I think the one who’ll suffer in the end will be him.” Han Shuo shrugged, not the least bit concerned about Faech’s retaliation. To be honest, with Faech at the level of an intermediate mage, he truly was not worth Han Shuo’s attention.

“Brian, I knew you were here. Come with me. Teacher Fanny, I need to find him for something, hehe.” At that moment, Lisa’s voice came from outside. As soon as she entered, she went straight up to Han Shuo, seized his wrist, and pulled him outside.

Watching Han Shuo being forcibly dragged away by Lisa, Fanny inexplicably felt a trace of resentment in her heart, as though someone had snatched away something precious to her by force, leaving her quite uncomfortable.

“How do you know my cousin?” Lisa dragged Han Shuo toward the small square behind the academy library.

Han Shuo freed his shoulder from Lisa’s grasp and looked at her in confusion. “Your cousin? Who is that?”

“Laurence, of course. He’s currently training in our martial arts academy. Last time he even came specifically to look for you, but you weren’t in the department. I never expected that just after you came back this time, he would come looking for you again. How do you know him?”

So it was him. This Laurence was rather odd; he clearly shared the same powerful master as Phoebe, yet he still came to Babylon Academy of Magic and Martial Arts to study. And even now he was only an intermediate knight. Han Shuo quietly mulled this over in his heart.

Lowering his head, Han Shuo inadvertently caught sight of Lisa’s chest. He saw that her once-flat front had now swelled quite distinctly, the bulging shape making it obvious there was real substance beneath.

“Uh… Lisa, are you wearing more layers of clothes today? Why do I suddenly feel as though you’ve developed quite a lot?” Han Shuo glanced at her chest before blurting out the thought before he realized it.

“What, what do you mean?” Lisa, walking beside him, was so startled by this remark that she nearly stumbled. Her pretty face flushed red as she shot a fierce glare at Han Shuo.

“Before, your chest was completely flat, with nothing there. But now it looks full and rounded. You didn’t stuff anything inside, did you?” As the thought crossed his mind, Han Shuo directly voiced it. With utmost sincerity, he gave the truest answer from his heart.

Lisa was furious beyond measure. She glared hatefully at Han Shuo, reached out a small hand, and pinched hard at his arm, grinding out, “How can you say something like that? And you even suspect I stuffed something inside. Are you looking to die?”

Han Shuo was startled. Only then did he suddenly realize what he had just said. Those words had merely been in his mind a moment ago. Normally, he would have kept them buried inside and absolutely would never have said something so sure to anger the other party. It would only have brought trouble upon himself.

Yet somehow, the reality this time was bizarre beyond belief. What should have remained a reflection of his inner thoughts had actually burst out of his mouth without any consideration of the consequences. Han Shuo found this extremely strange.

At the same time, a threadlike cool sensation suddenly filled his mind. His body trembled slightly, and then he abruptly understood that the reason he had blurted out such words was likely because, after his demonic skill reached the Soul Shaping stage, certain peculiar phenomena had begun to appear.

With a wry smile at the furious Lisa, Han Shuo steadied himself internally and silently warned himself to be careful and never speak nonsense again. Only then did he force a grin and say to her, “I’m sorry, Lisa. I was only teasing you. I didn’t expect you really had begun to develop. I’m truly happy for you.”

“You’re so讨厌, saying things like that to me!” After Han Shuo’s explanation, Lisa immediately blushed scarlet. Then, in a very soft voice, she said, “Actually, I should be thanking you. I’ve been following the methods you told me about, and um… it’s so embarrassing… anyway, just like that!”

Shaking his head with a helpless laugh, Han Shuo had actually forgotten the chest-enhancement methods he had casually mentioned to Lisa before. He never expected they would genuinely produce results, and this made him feel both amused and exasperated.

“Hi, Brian, are you all right?” At this moment, Laurence, standing in the square ahead, saw Han Shuo and Lisa approaching and waved from afar.

Lisa, who had just been blushing with embarrassment, quickly took a few deep breaths. After stealthily glancing at Han Shuo, she said in a low voice, “Laurence’s father is the Empire’s Minister of Finance, and his relationship with His Majesty is very close. Getting to know him more will be good for you, so I won’t disturb you two.”

After saying this, perhaps fearing that Laurence might see her flushed cheeks, she fled almost as though running for her life, jogging away in the direction of the training field.

The son of the Minister of Finance of the Empire. Han Shuo was slightly startled. He thought to himself that Babylon Academy of Magic and Martial Arts was indeed a place hidden dragons and crouching tigers. It seemed that many future nobles were now cultivating in the various departments of this academy.

“I’m very well. I heard you came looking for me twice on purpose. Heh, you’re not planning to spend another five gold coins just so I can let you beat me for an entire day, are you?” On the square, it was not only Han Shuo and Laurence. In the distance, there were also some students from the various departments, scattered in twos and threes, either reading or basking leisurely in the sun.

“If you’re willing, I don’t mind spending another five gold coins, heh, though I think you definitely won’t agree now!” Laurence leaned against a stone railing, speaking to Han Shuo in an easy, carefree manner.

“Who said I’m unwilling? But I don’t need five gold coins. As long as you’re willing to let me fight back, I’ll agree to spar with you. Last time you beat me badly, and I’ve been wanting to recover some face!” Han Shuo walked over with a smile and leaned lazily against the railing as well, looking at Laurence with obvious interest.

“Oh? That’s fine too. After we finish talking about the real matter, I can spar with you and see whether you’re really as impressive as Phoebe says.” Laurence also seemed very interested. Straightening his body, he smiled and said, “All right then. I’d like to hear what this real matter is. It seems the two of us have no real connection, so I wonder what important business you could possibly have with me?”

Looking around, Laurence saw that no one was paying attention to them. Only then did he lower his voice, his eyes shining as he fixed them on Han Shuo and said, “My junior sister told me you seem able to get hold of black iron ore. If that’s really true, I’d like to buy some from you. I don’t need much, just a piece about the size of a fist will do. At first I wanted to have my junior sister buy it from you for me, but since we met once before, and I’m also rather curious about you and want to make friends, I came to find you personally.”

Looking at the sincere Laurence, Han Shuo thought that since he was the son of the Empire’s Minister of Finance, he should be very wealthy.