Another Kind of Genius

As the group approached the front gates, elation light up on the other three children's faces. Meanwhile, Ru Shenqi turned towards Flender.

"Dean Flender, do you still want me to meet with Grandmaster?"

He nodded. "Yes, I'm sure Xiaogang will want to see your abilities. I will let him decide what the best course of action is for training you since you're so ahead of the others your age."

"Yes, Dean Flender."

"Then follow me. Wuji, you take the others back. Xiao Shen and I are going to find Xiaogang."

"Alright. Kids, follow me."

The group split up. Ru Shenqi and Flender veered off to the left while Zhao Wuji and the others continued on straight into the Academy. Confused, Ru Shenqi hurried to catch up with the already walking away Four Eyed Owl.

"Dean Flender?"

"Hmm?"

"Where are we going?"

"Xiaogang and Erlong usually take a stroll around this time of day. They should be around back by the little stream right now."

"Who's Erlong?"

Flender chuckled. "Xiao Shen, don't tell me you've never heard of the Golden Iron Triangle."

She shook her head. "What is it?"

He sighed exaggeratedly and explained, "Xiaogang, Erlong, and myself once wandered the spirit master world. We made a name for ourselves, thus becoming the Golden Iron Triangle. I was the Flying Corner, Xiaogang was the Controlling Corner, and Erlong was the Slaughtering Corner. We were the best of friends back then; and still are today, but Xiaogang and Erlong are beloveds."

"Oh..." Ru Shenqi fell silent, noticing Flender's sad expression.

They continued walking and rounded the main academy building. Near the stream out back, two people stood talking. Flender politely cleared his throat drawing the attention of the two other adults. The man and woman turned to face them.

"Ahh, Flender you're back," Liu Erlong called. Then, she noticed Ru Shenqi. "Flender, who is this?"

"Erlong, Xiaogang, this child has surpassed even Xiao San in brilliance. She's really something."

Yu Xiaogang eyed her. "You should only be about eight years old, right?"

She nodded. "Grandmaster is correct."

"For Flender to praise you so easily, you must truly be a monster."

Ru Shenqi looked at Flender, a question in her eyes. He nodded. Turning towards Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, she bowed slightly.

"Ru Shenqi, spirit Clear Crystal Eyes, forty eighth ranked Control System Battle Spirit Master."

Liu Erlong's eyes widened. "Eight and already a Spirit Ancestor? This child really is capable!"

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward. "There must be something else though. To only have your spirit awakened for two years and already have four spirit rings, there has to be another factor."

Ru Shenqi nodded. "I had full innate spirit power, just like Tang San."

Seeming to believe it, Yu Xiaogang nodded. But Flender's giddiness made him pause. He looked at her again, this time a little more seriously.

"Ru Shenqi, you said, right?"

"That's right. But you can call me Xiao Shen."

"You have a Body Spirit, am I correct?"

"Yes, that's right."

"What are your spirit abilities?"

"My first spirit skill is called Clear Crystal Scatter. It can make opponents dizzy and disoriented."

"What was the spirit beast?"

Ru Shenqi glanced at Flender. He shook his head. Yu Xiaogang caught it. "Hey, Flender, what are you hiding from me?"

"All in good time, Xiaogang."

"My first spirit beast was a Mammoth Snowy Owl from Icebound Forest. The first spirit ring also enhanced my night vision capabilities."

"Good, good. And your second ability?"

"My second spirit skill is called Clear Crystal Crypsis. It grants an imitation camouflage ability. I can change the appearance of anyone or anything up to ten meters for five minutes."

"Its spirit beast?"

"A Scaled Peacock Butterfly from Icebound Forest. The second ring also enhances my color vision capabilities."

"Hmm, good skills, good enhancements. Your Primary Academy did well."

Ru Shenqi nodded in agreement. "I'm indebted to them for helping me."

"Your third ring?"

"I got my third ring just after I graduated from Vast Sea City Primary Academy. Spirit Empire's Hold Maiden, Hu Liena, helped me get my third ring from a Pearl Armored Shark. Not only did it enhance my peripheral vision, it also boosted my two previous sight attributes. My third spirit skill, Clear Crystal Armor creates an invisible shield one chi around. It can protect up to ten spirit masters for, again, five minutes."

"A very good defensive skill. Five minutes and ten spirit masters can truly change the course of a battle. I must admit, Hu Liena knew what she was doing."

"I went a year without getting another ring; but finally a few days ago, I got my fourth spirit ring. I was attacked by a Swift Demon Cougar. After getting the fourth ring, all of my vision attributes were enhanced again. My fourth spirit skill, Clear Crystal Time, can speed up or slow down the perception of time while also allowing me to see a highly detailed environment. It lasts for five minutes as well. From the Swift Demon Cougar, I also got a skull spirit bone, which grants Swift Demon Attack."

"Xiao Shen, I forgot all about it in the forest! What does Swift Demon Attack do?" Flender asked.

She shook her head. "I won't use it unless absolutely necessary. But I will explain. Swift Demon Attack is a mental attack that makes victims lose their minds and go crazy. The permanency of it will change with my spirit power. Right now, it'll last for eight days if used on spirit masters of equal rank or below, five days for spirit masters between one and ten levels above me, three days for spirit masters eleven to fifteen ranks above me, and one day for any spirit master sixteen ranks or higher. As I grow stronger and level up, the effect will last longer and longer until it becomes permanent. Also, with this skull bone, my eyes can lock on any opponent, making the attack unable be dodged."

Shocked silence ensued.

Finally, Yu Xiaogang said, "Impressive. It pairs very well with your Clear Crystal Eyes. Wait... what levels are your spirit rings?"

At this point, Flender was grinning like a banshee. "Xiaogang, you're never going to believe this."

Ru Shenqi smirked and said, "Grandmaster, since you've asked, I'll release my spirit and show you."

Her eyes suddenly flashed bright white light, causing Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong to shade their eyes. Then, they glowed lucent and clear. Her four rings came down. Four black decade millennium spirit rings danced around her ankles. Her imposing pitch black ring gave Yu Xiaogang pause.

"T- that fourth spirit ring is nearly a century millennium spirit ring!" Liu Erlong cried.

Ru Shenqi nodded proudly. "I'm the only spirit master in history to have only decade millennium spirit rings from the beginning."

"Flender," Yu Xiaogang began. "Where did you find this child?"

"Star Dou Great Forest. We came upon her as she was absorbing that pitch black soul ring. Honestly, I didn't think she'd make it."

"Your strength is unparalleled. Your spirit abilities, even though they're extremely powerful and precise, they don't use a lot of spirit power," Yu Xiaogang said to Ru Shenqi. "To have such rings and at such a young age, indeed the Continent has never seen anything like this before. Not even Bibi Dong or Tang San can compare from when they were eight. Xiao San and Rongrong's rings upgraded while they were on Haishen Island, but to start out with a configuration such as this... it's unheard of."

"Dean Flender, should Grandmaster know the rest?"

"Ay- there's more?!" Liu Erlong gasped. "Are you sure you're human?!"

Ru Shenqi nodded. "I'm not a century millennium spirit beast, if that's what you're implying."

"It's okay, Xiao Shen. You can tell Xiaogang everything."

She released her innate Fire Dragon Domain. Bright red-orange flames burst and flickered around her body, shocking the other two corners of the Golden Iron Triangle.

"Innate fire domain?!" they demanded at the same time.

"That's right, but that's still not all," Flender commented, mischief glinting in his eyes.

"What else is there, Flender? Spit it out!" Yu Xiaogang snapped.

Ru Shenqi's eyes suddenly turned fiery red. Brimming with slaughter intent, her Domination skill activated. The atmospheric pressure changed, and a blood red aura surrounded her. The Golden Iron Triangle shivered. Then, she recalled her Domination, and her eyes slowly returned to the greenish-yellow hue gained from the Swift Demon Cougar.

Yu Xiaogang stared at her in shock. "You already have the Death God Domain?"

She nodded. "Now, there are four Death Gods on Douluo Continent once more."

For now, none of them need to learn about my last ability.

"Hu Liena took you to Slaughter City, didn't she?"

Ru Shenqi nodded again. "She didn't tell me at first, but yes. I fought at Slaughter City Arena for a year before I was able to challenge the Hell Road. While I was there, I gained the epithet Hell's Little Empress."

"Is that why you took a year between your third and fourth spirit rings?"

"Yes. Since one can't use their spirit skills in Slaughter City, I had to make do with my innate Fire Dragon Domain, which was unaffected by their rules. I also have this silver bracelet."

With shaking hands, she removed the jewellery from her wrist. Handing it over to Yu Xiaogang, she added, "It was left to me by my mother. Inside the bracelet is a golden wire which I can control at will. My innate Fire Dragon Domain comes from my father."

"Ru... Ru Shenqi... child, who's your parents?" he asked, staring at the silver bracelet with etched stars.

Sadness filled her eyes as she thought back to the happy memories of her mother and father. Mom, Dad, I miss you.