Douluo Dalu: Beginning with Signing in with Yan Lingji

Chapter 161: The Endless Pursuit of Power

At the entrance of Shrek Academy, Zhao Ming watched as Xiao Wu and the others slowly walked away.

The daily tasks at the Great Spirit Arena in Soto City were part of their routine, an essential part of their training. Zhao Ming approved of Flender's teaching methods. For spirit masters, nothing accelerated growth more than real battles.

These experiences didn't just sharpen combat skills; they also refined spirit power, allowing one to solidify their cultivation gains through combat.

Although Zhao Ming felt a bit worried, he didn't want to stop them. What he wanted for them wasn't necessarily what they desired. Moreover, they were only participating in sparring matches, so there wasn't much danger involved.

"Zhao Ming, what are you looking at?" A soft, sweet voice interrupted his thoughts as a pleasant fragrance filled the air.

Huo Wu appeared, wearing a golden-red dress that accentuated her graceful figure. As she walked, a small part of her fair leg was exposed, radiating a unique charm typical of a young girl.

"Nothing much," Zhao Ming replied with a bright smile as he looked at the beautiful Huo Wu.

"By the way, I didn't get the chance to properly introduce myself yesterday. I'm Huo Wu, a student from Blazing Academy," she said, extending her hand, clearly wanting to become friends.

"My name is Zhao Ming, but I'm sure you've already heard about me," Zhao Ming responded with a grin, taking her hand in his.

Huo Wu's hand was soft, and perhaps due to her being a fire-attribute spirit master, her hand felt warmer than usual, giving a comforting sensation.

"Of course, we came here specifically for you. It's a pity you didn't join our Blazing Academy," Huo Wu smiled. As she saw Zhao Ming's gentle demeanor, her initial reserve faded.

"Blazing Academy is a great school, but it's not suitable for me," Zhao Ming said, shaking his head. "And with my current strength, I don't really need to join any other academy."

"Yes, our Blazing Academy's graduation standard is to reach the Spirit Elder level before graduation. But you've already far surpassed that standard," Huo Wu nodded, looking at Zhao Ming with a sense of admiration. Given his strength, he didn't need to attend any academy anymore.

"An academy is merely the starting point for a spirit master, the beginning of a strong one's journey," Zhao Ming said, looking into the distance. "An academy can only nurture geniuses, but it can never create true strong ones. That's the real reason I refused to join Blazing Academy."

"You have such lofty ambitions," Huo Wu's eyes sparkled with admiration. Zhao Ming was different from the men she had met before.

He was a man with grand aspirations.

And with his talent, it wouldn't be difficult for him to become a powerful figure in the future.

Zhao Ming smiled, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "In times of hardship, one should focus on self-cultivation; in times of prosperity, one should strive to help the world. As a spirit master, everyone should have something they seek to pursue."

As the wind gently blew, Zhao Ming's robe swayed, giving him an otherworldly aura.

Huo Wu stared at him in a daze, deeply moved by his words.

Zhao Ming's words echoed in her ears like the voice of the Great Dao itself.

Looking at his upright figure, Huo Wu felt a sense of admiration. She finally understood why Zhao Ming was so powerful. In terms of mindset alone, she was already far behind him.

His ambitions were far grander than hers.

This realization made Huo Wu feel inadequate. Even though she was older than Zhao Ming, she still wasn't as mature. Up until now, her motivation for cultivating was only to become stronger and earn the admiration of others. But Zhao Ming was different.

"Is your goal to become a Titled Douluo? With your talent, if you work hard, you might reach that level one day," Huo Wu said, her eyes shining.

"Titled Douluo? Is that really a strong one? True power knows no limits," Zhao Ming shook his head, his gaze distant.

Huo Wu's eyes stayed fixed on him. In her mind, a Titled Douluo was already the pinnacle of strength on the continent. But to Zhao Ming, it was nothing special.

"I might never get the chance to witness such greatness in my lifetime," Huo Wu murmured with a sigh.

"I believe you have the potential to become a powerful figure too. You have great talent," Zhao Ming encouraged.

"My talent may be good, but compared to yours, it's far inferior," Huo Wu shook her head with a smile. "You've already surpassed me in strength at such a young age. I really don't know how you train; you're like a monster."

"By the way, my grandfather asked me to find you earlier, but I got so caught up talking with you that I lost track of time. He must have been waiting for a while now," Huo Wu suddenly realized, looking at Zhao Ming apologetically.

"Sorry to trouble you again."

"It's no trouble. Senior Huo Shuang is very knowledgeable about fire-attribute spirits. If he can give me some guidance, I'd be more than grateful," Zhao Ming replied with a smile as they walked together toward the training grounds.

"Of course, my grandfather is a powerful Contra-level expert," Huo Wu said with a hint of pride. Her grandfather was always known as the strongest and most authoritative figure among fire-attribute spirit masters.

On the training grounds, Huo Shuang and the other Shrek teachers stood waiting for Zhao Ming's arrival.

"I say, old man Huo Shuang, are you still thinking about poaching my students from Shrek Academy today?" Flender grumbled.

"Ah, Brother Flender, I admit I was in the wrong last time. Zhao Ming's heart is clearly set on your academy, and I can't force him to join ours. I'm just curious about Zhao Ming's spirit. After all, his spirit hasn't been documented anywhere on the continent, and I must understand it better," Huo Shuang said with a chuckle, his eyes squinting as he smiled.

He looked ahead as Huo Wu and Zhao Ming approached. The two of them walking side by side made him entertain a new idea.

Why not match Huo Wu and Zhao Ming together? Although Huo Wu was a few years older than Zhao Ming, age didn't matter much in the world of spirit masters.

Spirit masters often lived for hundreds of years; a five- or six-year age difference was negligible. Zhao Ming might not join Blazing Academy as a student, but if he could become his grandson-in-law, wouldn't that be even better? In Heaven Dou City, Feng Xiaotian from the Godwind Academy was also pursuing his beloved granddaughter. He initially thought Feng Xiaotian was talented and could be a good match for Huo Wu. But compared to Zhao Ming, Feng Xiaotian was no longer as impressive.