Chapter 5: Law of Heaven, Mirror of Earth

During lunch break, it wasn’t just the students who came to eat at the restaurant.

There were teachers too.

“A legendary spirit beast, the Qilin… What a naturally gifted child. Such a shame, though it seems there’s no experience in nurturing it.”

The red-haired woman knelt beside the Qilin, carefully inspecting the manifestation of its spirit.

“The fur is dry and split, the scales dull and unpolished, it looks completely malnourished… What a waste!”

She clenched her teeth in frustration.

“To have such a magnificent companion spirit, and yet fail to cherish it properly.”

Cherish?

Who even feeds their spirit manifestation…?

Then again— wait, my spirit manifestation has a physical form now?

That’s definitely different from the other world.

“You two… never attended school, have you?”

She frowned at me and Cluru.

Cluru’s little octopus spirit also looked half-paralyzed—

Clearly suffering from severe malnutrition.

Even the bare minimum of care would’ve prevented it from becoming this weak.

“Miss Xiao Yuan, I know this child’s situation.”

The restaurant manager stepped forward, placing one hand on Cluru’s head, and one on mine.

She smiled as she explained,

“You remember those first few years after the awakenings, right? Some self-righteous religious fanatics were handing out vigilante punishments to spirits they didn’t like…”

“Oh, right. That was years ago,” said Miss Xiao Yuan, her expression softening. 

“Total chaos back then. I remember quite a few unlucky souls who awakened ocean-type or goat-type spirits were beaten like they were possessed by demons.”

“Mhm.” The manager gently ruffled Cluru’s hair. 

“This child was very young then and developed serious psychological trauma. She’s barely left home since.”

Barely?

That’s an understatement.

If Cluru had just stepped outside a few more times, maybe our fridge wouldn’t be overflowing with eggs…

“And what about this one?” Miss Xiao Yuan looked at me.

“Probably lives with Cluru. I hear Cluru mention her a lot, but this is my first time seeing her in person.”

She never talked, so I honestly thought she was just a blow-up doll.

“A Qilin spirit…” Miss Xiao Yuan sighed and frowned. 

“Such a promising case, yet she’s never spent a day in school. What a waste.”

“Do you two have any family?”

I shook my head: none.

Cluru timidly pointed at me with her finger.

“Quite the difference in attitude… Come with me to the school for now. I’ve got space for two more in my dorm.”

“Eh—?! Living with Miss Xiao Yuan?!”

She was the academy’s renowned beauty— not only stunningly attractive but also incredibly strong.

Everyone at school dreamed of getting close to such a powerful, experienced, and eye-catching teacher.

Jealousy was inevitable.

“What’s with the noise?” Miss Xiao Yuan shot a glare at the students nearby. 

“If any of you could awaken or form a contract with a legendary spirit, no one would stop you from moving into the principal’s office.”

“…”

Fair enough.

“Miss Xiao Yuan, aren’t you overreacting?”

A cold-voiced middle-aged man walked in from the entrance.

He wore the same teacher’s uniform as Miss Xiao Yuan.

“Sure, the rarity of a spirit is important, but as teachers, you should know— the degree of cultivation matters more.”

He stopped in front of the Qilin, looked it over, and shook his head.

“Whether you like it or not, this Qilin has clearly been ruined.”

Miss Xiao Yuan gritted her teeth.

“Hey, Mr. Ishida. Don’t you think that’s way too harsh?”

“It’s precisely because I’m a teacher that I won’t let a student indulge in the illusion of ‘I’m naturally gifted’ and become lazy and arrogant.”

Ishida crossed his arms.

“There are far too many prodigies who burned out early.

Either they missed the best period to cultivate their spirit, or they trained them incorrectly— turning what could have been a talented companion into a cripple.

This Qilin here has essentially received zero cultivation.

Its body is full of hidden injuries.”

Hidden injuries?

Oh… those might’ve come from my fights in the other world.

I once went toe-to-toe with the Celestial Emperor himself—  clashed using Fǎ Tiān Xiàng Dì.

My spirit took some minor damage.

But back in the other world, that barely counted as a scratch.

One Soul-Nurturing Pill would’ve fixed it.

If I had the materials, I could make one right now.

“I absolutely refuse to let someone like this who neglects their own spirit so thoroughly enter the academy!” Ishida’s face was like stone.

“Not even the most basic care letting your spirit starve like this?

That’s a matter of attitude!”

Alright, alright, can you two stop bickering?

I wasn’t that interested in this so-called academy to begin with…

But being slandered like this?

This sovereign can’t just let that go.

“So you’re saying… I’ve squandered my talent?”

I stood up.

My long hair swept into the air.

“Then why don’t we… put it to the test?”

“Woooah——”

Now the restaurant erupted into a commotion.

“So this is the pride of a legendary spirit wielder? Challenging a teacher before even enrolling…”

“And a seasoned veteran like Mr. Ishida, no less!”

“This is gonna be good.”

“Oh?”

Ishida let out a cold laugh, brimming with fury.

“Very well! I’ll be doing Miss Xiao Yuan a favor and cutting you down to size! Let’s go—to the academy battle arena!”

Clatter clatter clatter—

The students practically abandoned their meals, swarming after Ishida toward the academy.

I cast one last, reluctant look at the peanuts on the table.

“If you like them that much, take them.”

The manager kindly packed them up for me.

That boosted my opinion of her tremendously!

Hmph, woman—your kindness, this sovereign shall remember…

W-Wait, stop rubbing my head!!!

……

The academy’s battle arena was set up on the field.

White lines marked out the combat area.

Each participant stood on opposite ends.

“This is a standard arena,” Ishida said. 

“There’s no water terrain, but your Qilin doesn’t need a pond to fight effectively. This shouldn’t be an unfair match.”

“How do we determine the winner?” I asked.

“This isn’t a life-or-death duel.

The match ends when one side loses the ability to fight or when their life is at risk.”

“Fine.”

Even speaking felt exhausting, so I kept it brief.

“Come forth—”

Ishida raised his chin proudly.

“Hellfire Crocodile!”

Ishida summoned a crocodile—its body looked like it was carved from magma, glowing with a golden radiance all over.

As it appeared, it affectionately rubbed against Ishida’s leg and spun around in circles like a spoiled kitten.

Even with zero knowledge of spirit training, I could tell this crocodile was well-fed, well-trained, and had a strong bond with its master.

Unlike other spirit masters I had seen, this Ishida guy… was actually impressive.

“Go,”

he said gently, patting the crocodile.

The Hellfire Crocodile stepped onto the field, standing proudly in front of him.

I summoned my Qilin as well.

Gasps once again rippled through the crowd.

“So it wasn’t just some arrogant student provoking Mr. Ishida… it’s that legendary spirit!”

“This might be real trouble for him… Go, Mr. Ishida!”

“Yeah, crush that divine beast!”

Surprisingly, despite Ishida’s strictness, he was pretty popular among the students.

Meanwhile, my little Qilin nuzzled against my face with a pitiful expression— it really didn’t have much energy left to fight.

“Sorry… Before, you were just a manifested avatar. Now that you have a real body, I’ll take good care of you from now on.”

It seemed to understand my promise. The Qilin nodded, its fighting spirit rekindled.

The Hellfire Crocodile across the field looked startled when it saw its opponent.

It hadn’t expected to face the sovereign of all beasts…

But it didn’t kneel.

It glanced back at Ishida, then turned back to the Qilin, resolving flashing in its eyes.

It bowed slightly in respect— then raised its head.

It was ready to take this fight seriously.

“Don’t you dare let a legendary spirit look down on us… Soul Merge!”

The crocodile transformed into starlike light and merged with Ishida’s massive frame.

“He’s starting off with a soul merge? Mr. Ishida must be really pissed today!”

……

Since he used a soul merge, I couldn’t fall behind.

Even if I didn’t know how to merge.

But I had my own technique.

“The waters of the Canglang are clear; they can cleanse my tassel.

The waters of the Canglang are muddy; they can cleanse my feet.

In the morning, I drink the falling dew of magnolia; in the evening, I feast on the fallen petals of chrysanthemums…”

I formed a single-handed Clarity Seal.

White robes fluttered.

Soft immortal sigils glowed along the vintage scholar’s robe.

Lightning sparked from the Qilin’s body—then coiled around mine.

The lightning compressed—

“Immortal Art: Unity of Heaven and Man!”

When I opened my eyes again, it was as if heavenly tribulation clouds swirled within them.

The robe I wore shimmered with Qilin scale patterns, glowing with radiant hues.

My feet floated slightly above the ground, toes pointed elegantly downward, one leg lifted in a poised stance and beneath my fluttering robe, a glimpse of snow-white skin peeked through.

“…What kind of soul merge is that?”

“Why does her transformation look like it came from a different show?!”

The crowd of students stared, dumbfounded.

Usually, after a soul merge, a person’s features would take on beastly traits— half-human, half-monster.

But my transformation clearly…

“Someone get me tissues! I’m nosebleeding here!”

“Tissues, quick!”

“Tissues! Tissues!” Cluru blended into the crowd, one hand clutching her nose, the other giving me a thumbs-up.

“…”

I ignored the chaos in the stands for now.

“Bang—!”

A punch thundered toward me.

“You’re fighting—what are you spacing out for?!”

Ishida’s fist crashed forward.

He held back—

I could tell.

“No need to hold back.”

I tilted my body and brushed past him, whispering as we passed shoulder to shoulder.

“That’s your call.”

The next punch he threw was vicious—

Magma covered his fist like armor, and the force was overwhelming!

I was a little shocked.

That strength… was already on par with a high-level Qi Condensation cultivator.

I even felt some threat.

I couldn’t take that head-on!

With a deft redirection, I neutralized the blow with just enough force—four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds.

Before he could recover, I conjured a lightning blade in my hand and stabbed him.

“Stone Form—!”

Sensing danger, Ishida hardened his body into rock.

“Burst!”

At the very moment his skin petrified, it shattered explosively!

Countless shards became razor-edged fragments—I had to leap back, fast.

Even so, my sleeve was slashed, and a thin cut appeared on my arm.

“Damn, he actually used Stone Burst—that’s his trump card skill! He’s serious now!”

“Mr. Ishida, please stop! Don’t hurt her—she’s still a student!”

Miss Xiao Yuan’s voice rang out in worry from the stands.

This can’t go on.

I could see his skin starting to petrify again.

At this rate, both sides would just keep racking up damage.

“Hmph. Sitting on a divine beast, yet relying only on your own brute force.

You don’t use spirit techniques, don’t trust your spirit’s power…

If students like you aren’t taught a proper lesson, they’ll keep wasting their talents!”

Ishida scolded while attacking.

He wasn’t wrong.

I wasn’t used to this world’s spirit power system.

I relied on immortal arts.

If this were a real life-or-death battle, the fight would’ve been over by now.

In that case…

I twisted into a back horse-stance, then, using my flexibility, flipped backward to gain distance.

Hands clasped into the Five Peaks, Three Mounds seal—

“Immortal Art: Fǎ Tiān Xiàng Dì!”