Chapter 62 - 37: Naming Genius. Leaving the Academy for Training. A Big Shot?

"Hmm! I understand, after practicing for a while, although not enough to completely avoid spiritual power detection, the concealment can still improve by two to three points."

Xu Ran was satisfied and gave a bright smile.

Ye Ping: "Wait, you already had an insight?"

The principal also showed surprise on his face: "In just a few minutes, you really found a way to improve it?"

Xu Ran smiled confidently: "After all, it’s the Comprehension Root Bone."

The principal leaned back strategically: "I remember at first you could communicate with birds, but this ability was never seen again. Instead, you went on to feed animals all the time..."

"Then you started teaching the children Mysterious Footwork..."

"And now you’ve developed doppelgangers and Invisibility Skill, so—your Comprehension Root Bone can actually develop all kinds of bizarre abilities?"

"I also remember you practice darts every day, for over four years! Your darts must have extremely terrifying lethality, right?"

Xu Ran spread his hands: "No, no, it’s just child’s play, mainly for practicing focus."

Principal: "Really? I don’t believe it! I think you must have developed many wonderful abilities with your comprehension, so let’s call your root bone—Wonderful Ability Root Bone from now on!"

The principal confidently came up with a name.

Xu Ran: "..."

Please stop naming things, just stop, Principal!

Jade Flute Celestial Sound Ye Ping, how elegant.

In contrast... Time Strategist Zhu Yuheng, Shield of Invincibility Feng Yan, Sword Saint Bian Yue, Kingly Support Zhuge Huangjin, Valkyrie Jiang Liuli, and Wonderful Root Bone Xu Ran.

Each one of them is just on point.

Is the plan to rely on laughter to defeat the opponent during battles?

Xu Ran didn’t even know where to start complaining and could only remain silent.

Ye Ping, being straightforward: "Principal, I suggest waiting until they reach Tier Two to name them. The names you give are too awful."

The principal, oblivious to his own ineptitude, wore a solemn expression: "...My suggestion is for you not to suggest anything."

"Are my names really that bad?"

Xu Ran: "..."

Ye Ping: "..."

The deadly silence of the two made the principal’s expression suddenly lonely and desolate: "Forget it, forget it, sigh..."

Xu Ran quickly changed the topic: "Uncle Ye, how about scheduling the time when you help me practice Invisibility Skill to every day after 10:30 in the morning?"

Ye Ping: "Okay."

"Thanks, Uncle Ye."

"I’m going to teach Tiger Girl’s class now, bye-bye."

Xu Ran put away the paperman and was about to leave.

The principal called out to Xu Ran once more: "Wait!"

Xu Ran turned back: "What’s up, Principal? Is there something else?"

The principal had a sharp look in his eyes: "I suddenly thought, you just mentioned to go on an expedition. You aren’t planning to find some clues and then go look for the Nightmare Vengeful Mother, are you?"

Xu Ran was speechless: "...Principal, your imagination is wild, I really have no clues!"

"The only clue is Feng Yan’s painting. Those missing babies were surely sacrificed to the Nightmare Vengeful Mother by Guhuo birds using unique methods, and you all guessed as much."

"As for where it’s hiding... Even top-level spiritual element experts like Uncle Ye can’t find it. Can you really rely on me?"

Dodging!

Keep dodging!

The more Xu Ran dodged, the less the principal believed him.

He always felt that with Xu Ran’s wonderful Comprehension Root Bone, if he went out searching, he would surely find some clues.

So he chuckled: "I understand, I am now officially approving you to go on an expedition!"

Xu Ran: "Principal, I don’t want to go on an expedition right now. I want to see Tiger Girl."

Principal: "No, no, no, you want to go on an expedition."

Xu Ran: "I really don’t particularly want to go..."

The principal heavily pressed on Xu Ran’s shoulder: "Stop dodging, you do want to go on an expedition!"

"I’ll go apply to your mother, and have Uncle Ye protect you secretly. Don’t say five or six days, even a month is fine."

Xu Ran was powerless to argue: "..."

Just as he was about to say more, the principal had already dragged him back to the residence.

"Is Lin Qian’s mom here?"

Mom came to the yard to take a look: "It’s the principal... What’s the matter?"

Mom invited the two inside, and made hot tea.

Principal: "Lin Qian’s mom, Ye Ping wants to take Xiao Ran out for some training for a while, specifically to apply to you."

Mom looked at the principal, then at Ye Ping, then at Xu Ran: "But the cultural classes..."

Principal: "With Xiao Ran’s intelligence, are cultural classes important?"

Mom: "Maybe not that important..."

The principal decided: "Then it’s settled. Xu Ran is different and needs to go out for an expedition."

Xu Ran: "..."

Does anyone in the family understand? Originally, he just wanted to go see if Li Songlin really existed, and now he’s somehow burdened with the duty of finding the Nightmare Vengeful Mother...

"Principal, you’re overthinking it. I’m just a six-year-old child, there’s no way I could find the hiding place of the Nightmare Vengeful Mother!"

Xu Ran spoke righteously.

Yet the principal paid no attention to Xu Ran’s dodging.

He dragged Xu Ran to the foot of the mountain.

Handed the Demigod Kindergarten’s familiar emblem to Xu Ran, then waved at Xu Ran: "Child, go to Jing City for your expedition, and I’ll wait for your triumphant return."

After saying that, the principal lightly leaped and disappeared at the foot of the mountain.

Xu Ran remained silent for a long time, but he quickly became reconciled to it.

"Not bad. I originally planned to leave the kindergarten for some training, and now I can not only go out for training but also have a top-tier bodyguard with me."

"The first stop, let’s go meet Li Songlin. I’ve never seen, nor heard of this person, but he appeared in my dream... meeting him might just spark an idea!"

"The second stop, let’s go hunt Crystal Beasts outside, partly for Spiritual Capture. One or two to experiment with Divine Pet Cultivation..."

"The third stop, we’ll search Jing City’s urban areas at midnight, maybe we’ll come across the Nightmare Vengeful Mother? With Uncle Ye following, we can immediately slay it, avenge the missing children, and eradicate future troubles once and for all."

Xu Ran instantly planned out the entire itinerary for this expedition.

"Hmm... I remember Li Songlin was a member of the Purging Corps. According to the dream’s timeline, he joined Jing City’s Purging Corps at twenty and died at twenty-nine. I’m looking for him eight years earlier, definitely can find him."

"Alright. Let’s see in the real world if such a person exists!"

Thinking this, Xu Ran boarded the bus.

Headed straight for the General Affairs Bureau at Jing City. The General Affairs Bureau is the highest institution in the province, overseeing cultivators, the Purging Corps, the Investigation Corps... playing a pivotal role in Jing City’s stability.

It only took twenty minutes.

The General Affairs Bureau arrived.

Dozens of modern four-story buildings, arranged like a manor, forming an imposing architectural complex; the lawn and plaza in front of the buildings were especially spacious and elegant.

"Hello, which building is the Purging Corps in? I’m looking for Li Songlin."

The patrolling guard saw a child asking for directions: "Who are you? What are you doing with the Purging Corps?"

Xu Ran pulled out the Demigod Kindergarten’s emblem: "My name is Xu Ran, please take me to see him."

Seeing the emblem shining with a unique glow, the two patrol guards were shocked, and their tone instantly became respectful: "The Demigod Kindergarten’s emblem? A super genius? You... Hello! Please come in."

Showing a noble identity, the treatment immediately changed. Xu Ran was led to a separate reception room where he sat on a soft sofa, with a bowl of fragrant hot tea in front of him.

"Please wait a moment!"

The patrol guard ran off, straight into the office of He Sifang, the leader of the Purging Corps.

"Leader, a super genius named Xu Ran from the Demigod Kindergarten, is here to see Li Songlin."

He Sifang was puzzled but suddenly realized: "Xu Ran, sounds familiar... Oh! Isn’t that the super genius that Sister Lu Ya mentioned last time?!"

"Hurry! Quickly notify Li Songlin!"

"I’ll go invite Sister Lu Ya..."

Receiving the order, the patrol guard sprinted again, this time arriving at the training center of the Purging Corps — the members were in intense training inside the center, each drenched in sweat, and low growls were heard one after another.

"Li Songlin! Li Songlin! There’s an important person looking for you, quickly clean up and change into clean clothes!"

Li Songlin was confused, I come from an ordinary family; I’m the first cultivator in the whole family, how could I know any important person?

"You must be mistaken; the important person must be looking for someone else with the same name as me, right?"

Patrol guard: "Li Songlin of the Purging Corps, right? Twenty-one years old, right?"

"If that’s right, a super genius from the Demigod Kindergarten specifically asked to see you! Come on now! Leader He is also waiting for you."

The patrol guard’s words plunged the entire center into silence. A series of surprised, confused, and envious gazes fell on Li Songlin.