Chapter 165: I'm Out — I'm Done Here!
Jiang Chen didn't bother refusing. One look, and he knew resistance was pointless.
The headmaster himself had come in person—there was absolutely no way out of it.
He doubted a dignified Titled Douluo like that had enough free time to come all the way just to "announce" their next mission.
No, this was definitely the Federation's plan—to use them as bait, lure out the Evil Soul Masters, and stage something big.
And of course, the "training process" would only serve as an excuse to make the students suffer.
"Now then, allow me to announce Class One's third assessment task: capture the phoenix! Completing this mission will mark the end of your freshman training, and grant you full admission to Douluo University!"
Everyone: ???
When Sima Jinchi officially delivered the assignment, the entire class froze.
They could hardly believe what they were hearing.
Was this a joke?!
Catching a phoenix—that was their task?
What was the academy thinking?!
Sure, none of them had ever seen a real phoenix before. They were curious, of course—but this?
Were they serious?!
"Wait… us?" Xie Xie stammered incredulously. "They're sending us to catch a phoenix?"
Me? Seriously, me?!
Sima Jinchi simply nodded grimly.
He'd already tried negotiating with the Federation to change the mission into something safer. It wasn't that the Federation wanted the students dead—but the chance of locating the Holy Spirit Cult's stronghold through this mission was just too tempting.
The Federation dreamed of eradicating the Cult completely. They'd risk anything for it.
"I'm done!"
Jiang Chen used his privilege token on the spot—and left Phoenix Mountain.
What? What did any of this have to do with him?!
He wasn't about to become bait for anyone.
Damn it, he'd been one of the key figures behind the founding of both the Douluo Empire and the Federation. Now here he was, playing babysitter to a bunch of brats—already far too beneath his stature.
And now they wanted this?
What about all that "ancestral honor"? Was it useless now?
Besides, Tang Wulin was still in the group. Even if the sky collapsed, Tang God King himself would hold it up. Jiang Chen could just hide in the background and be fine.
He had far more important business to take care of.
"Eh? Wait for me!"
Gu Yue realized what was happening as soon as Jiang Chen started leaving.
Though she was actually intrigued by the prospect of catching a phoenix, once Jiang Chen was gone, she instinctively followed.
On her way out, she shot a quick voice transmission to Di Tian.
Then she left just as swiftly.
Di Tian: ???
As for Snow Empress, her eyes narrowed in fury.
Good one, Jiang Chen—leaving without even asking her to come along?
She clenched her fists tightly.
Fine! She, too, would quit this ridiculous "assessment."
Sending her Spirit Transferring Tower contact a message, she stated her withdrawal clearly.
Leng Yulei's reply came quickly: "Ancestor, you're overestimating me! How could I possibly handle this kind of matter?"
She was only a Level 97 Super Douluo—not weak by any means, ranking high in the Federation.
But against university protocol and the Federation's will? She had no power to change things.
Especially as someone from the Spirit Transferring Tower—privilege abuse was the very thing being cracked down on.
Leng Yulei could only smile bitterly.
"Snow Empress, I can't stop this."
Snow Empress didn't care.
If they dismissed her, so be it—she could always return under a new identity.
And if that didn't work, she'd just apply as a professor next time.
Her eyes sparkled at the thought.
Hmm… would Jiang Chen have to call her "teacher" then?
She couldn't help picturing it—him reluctantly muttering teacher while she looked down at him with a smirk.
Her delicate lips curved.
Jiang Chen, time to turn in your homework!
Meanwhile, not long after Talon left campus, the news hit him like a thunderbolt.
What?! They were gone already?!
Did they think Douluo University was a revolving door—come and go whenever they pleased?!
Sure, Jiang Chen was the descendant of the Huo family's million-year beast, and the personal disciple of the Deputy Master of the Spirit Transferring Tower.
Sure, he was even rumored to be the representative of the soul beast race.
But still!
Talon nearly exploded.
"Get them back here!"
…
Yeah, right.
By then, Jiang Chen and Gu Yue had already left Douluo City.
As for why the Snow Empress wasn't with them—well, she'd been intercepted the moment she took flight.
Without official approval, she was told to either reveal her true identity or stay put.
Leng Yulei's influence wasn't enough to override the academy or Federation authority, especially during such a critical period.
"Won't Snow Empress be mad?" Gu Yue asked slyly, glancing sideways at Jiang Chen.
The look in her eyes was teasing.
They'd been practically inseparable for weeks, and now he'd ditched her like nothing.
She almost wanted to see how he'd handle the fallout later.
Jiang Chen paused, then simply smiled.
"It's fine. I'm handling something serious. She'll understand."
"Serious?" Gu Yue raised a brow. "You mean, not just skipping class?"
He chuckled. "I'm going to the Dragon Tomb."
"...The Dragon Tomb?"
Gu Yue froze. "Why would you go to the Dragon Tomb? And how do you even know where it is?"
Her eyes instantly sharpened with suspicion.
She herself had been searching for it—for the Dragon God's Heart—to restore her divine status. Yet the tomb wandered endlessly through the void, never fixed in one place.
Even she, the Silver Dragon King, hadn't located it. Di Tian had been tasked with the search precisely because his blood connection gave him a better chance.
And now Jiang Chen, an outsider, claimed to know its location?
"You sure about that?" she asked coldly.
"I am," Jiang Chen said without hesitation.
Originally, he had planned to go with the Snow Empress, raid the tomb, and dig up a few divine relics to craft a proper god-tier suit.
But on second thought, both of them weren't dragons.
And while the Dragon God might be brain-dead, its residual soul still existed somewhere, silently watching.
If they stumbled in and got smitten, that'd be game over.
What if the Dragon Tomb's influence had spread across the Dragon Horse Galaxy, birthing new dragon races there? Why hadn't the Dragon God intervened?
Well, that wasn't his concern.
He wasn't a dragon.
Getting vaporized by divine backlash wasn't on his to-do list.
Better to drag Gu Yue along.
If he needed to, he could always trick her. She didn't even possess the Dragon God's full memories or its emotional attachment to the dragon race.
Otherwise, why would Tang Wulin have had to travel to Thousand-Armed Dragon Burial to awaken that heritage?
"You know where it is, huh? And what exactly are you planning?" Gu Yue narrowed her eyes. She could sense something off.
Jiang Chen shrugged lightly.
"Nothing much. Trying to become a god, that's all."
"You know I can't pass my million-year tribulation. I need another way—and the Dragon Tomb holds the only chance."
"For a soul beast to reach godhood…" he continued coolly, "the only possible path lies there."
"Otherwise, why do you think I brought you along?"
(END CHAPTER)
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