Chapter 108: Transformation

The water was as serene as a silver mirror, reflecting a young girl standing gracefully within. She seemed like another breathtaking beauty in this mundane world, with treelike shadows growing beneath her feet.
Bai Cai reached out her hand, and the silver mirror seemed to shatter, transforming into fragments that sank into the boundless darkness that surrounded them.
Chaotic and bewildered, not knowing how long, a beam of light pierces through the darkness, and Bai Cai suddenly wakes up.
With a strange yet timeless decor, the fading and dim sunlight, a faint yet fragrant aroma of wine, and, the smooth black hair beside her shoulder.
Detecting a slight difference, Tiffany lazily tilts her head and asks, "Are you awake?"
With lingering dull pain in his body, Baicai turns his head to look outside the window and replies, "Already? How long has it been?"
Even though Bai Cai didn't say it directly, the reference in her words was equally obvious.
"Counting from when your mother brought you back, it's a little over a week."
There was a slight pause from Tionia. "To be precise, it's one day and six hours extra."
Bai Cai turned around and asked in a low voice, "Where is Nozhi?"
"Nozhi has already met his demise, reportedly due to a plot against Béren and being surrounded and killed."
Tiana smiled faintly, "Nozhi has had quite a reputation in the past, using intimidation and bribery, eliminating dissidents. There are quite a few people who oppose him, after all."
Twilight sets in, casting a dim hue over the manor as silence envelops the surroundings.
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me."
Tionia extends her hand, offering three storage rings. "Accept these as my gratitude. Why not stay at the manor a few more days?"
The first ring is a deep blue color throughout, with the setting severely cracked and the surface severely shattered, clearly beyond repair.
The second ring is silver-white throughout, well-preserved, with the setting displaying a metallic hue, and is adorned with a blue gemstone, intricately carved with a famous monster of some kind.
第三枚戒指通体杏粉，宛若杏花。
房间寂静无声，白菜避开目光，“抱歉。”
“不必道歉。”
蒂昂尼娅略显疲惫，似乎已经陪护许久，“毕竟，我也没有问过你的身份。”
"However."
She gently covered her thin blanket and then pressed down on her chest. "I need to confirm one thing: besides your identity, you haven't lied, have you?"
After recalling for a moment, Bai Cai made a promise. "All my answers are based on sincerity." I have translated the provided Chinese sentence into English while keeping all @ matches. Let me know if you need any further assistance!
"Including marriage matters?"
“……”
Bai Cai's expression almost froze, "Of course... but..."
"Since it comes from the heart, let's get engaged first."
Tionia handed over a apricot-colored ring, "Regarding you and me, as well as our future, it requires a lot of time to consider. Rest assured and take your time." Translated:
……
The door closed, and the manor fell silent.
Chirurilian was summoned, with four halos illuminating the room in peach pink, deep purple, jet black, and blood red.
The surroundings were unusually cold, as if immersed in snow.
*sigh*
Bai Cai sighed, "When the path to be taken has been walked to its end, when the duty to be upheld has been fulfilled, why has righteousness forsaken you?"
"Good deeds are not rewarded, evil deeds are not punished; this world persecutes heroes, this world nourishes villains, darkness prevails, and the spark of light is faint." Please note that the translation may not capture the full poetic essence of the original Chinese text.
The night obscures the scenery of the manor, and the sunlight has long disappeared. Bai Cai looks out of the glass window as if seeing herself.
"I am too weak..."
……
The next day, Bai Cai woke up very early.
Slightly replenishing soul energy, quickly using the Healing Wish to restore injuries, while also removing the risk of explosion.
As a secret technique, the explosive ring is even considered taboo, not much different from self-detonation, essentially a last-ditch move with severe aftermath.
There is no need to mention the internal organs, meridians, bones, and injuries that equally endanger lives. Even if one can luckily wake up without timely treatment, most of their cultivation would be completely lost.
Not to mention, even if timely treatment is possible, the cost remains high.
Organ damage, meridian damage, at least require a Soul Sage level or above, including the three major empires, where the number of Healing Soul Sages can be counted on one hand. Translation:
In other words, without the protection of soul bones, without healing soul skills, and without the ability to treat internal injuries, detonating one's soul power would be akin to committing suicide.
In the past, Tang Hao had suppressed his injuries by cutting off his own limbs, which demonstrated the severity of his condition.
Super Douluo is already a source of trouble, let alone the Third Ring.
However, no matter how much cost is paid, nothing has changed.
The morning sunlight is slightly warm, reminiscent of the past tranquility and harmony. Translated content:
Cabbage estimates his spiritual power, comparing him to when he just arrived in Belen. He has almost surpassed one level and has already reached level forty-two.
If it weren't for his extreme attributes, he may have already been level forty-four or even level forty-five. Translation:
Progress did not make Bai Cai happy, but instead brought a gloomy atmosphere.
He was very certain that it wouldn't take long before he could reach the summit, and this slight progress now comes at a too high price. Translation:
As if permeating through a thousand years of desolation, as if traversing through eons of time, even memories that were never engraved, not even a farewell spoken, yet it all met destruction overnight.
Bird flocks descending on the fountain, cabbages turning around, a young girl sitting in the center of a bench, sprinkling some grains.
At that moment, at this moment, it seems that much has changed, and it seems that much remains unchanged.
Since the task is already over, one should promptly return to the academy.
As for the true intention, of course, a decision has already been made.
……
Investigation Report on Abnormal Situations in the Berein Region
The Berein region is currently in a festive period and has not encountered any vicious incidents. Through the investigation of historical records...
The former dean of the School of Life, who coveted the hidden beast king, kidnapped the city lord to extract information and consequently triggered a collective siege... Translated:
"The current president of Tianshui College, while returning home to visit family, encountered a melee, during which Nuo Zhi was killed..."
"The hidden beast king was critically injured and on the verge of death, therefore sacrificing itself to prevent further conflict..."
"Due to intense fighting, the fake ring was damaged, and the configuration of the soul ring was compromised... Managed to luckily obtain the fourth soul ring..."
The investigation report fell to the ground, and Yan Shaozhe's expression changed dramatically in an instant.
"Hidden Beast King?"
Yan Shaozhe repeated the key point, "The Fourth Soul Ring?"
Before Bai Cai's attendance, she was only at level 34 due to her attributes, which means she needs at least one year to reach the Soul Master level.
As everyone knows, the only way to quickly increase a massive amount of soul power is through sacrifice and immortal treasures.
After the era of Tang San ends, immortal treasures have vanished for ten thousand years.
Without making any explanation, Bai Cai has tacitly accepted this.
Even accounting for round-trip travel time, it's almost one rank per month, which is quite astonishing.
Normal soul masters are not idiots, they can't hide this kind of thing.
"The younger generation is formidable."
Passing a cup of hot fragrant tea, Yan Shao Zhe kept pacing. "For the third soul ring, it takes ten thousand years; for the fourth soul ring, it takes one hundred thousand years; for the fifth soul ring, the maximum number of years is estimated to be at least half of that."
In Yan Shaozhe's calculation, "Soulbone amplification can even..."
"Dean."
Bai Cai immediately whispered, "Be cautious with your words."
Yan Shaozhe immediately realized, "This matter ends here. You have passed the test and officially promoted to an inner court disciple. The academy will reward you shortly." I have translated the provided Chinese text into English while keeping all @ matches intact. Is there anything else I can assist you with?
"The secrecy of the Fourth Soul Ring is essential, therefore, the rewards have already been determined."
Yan Shaozhe added, "If the Fourth Soul Ring is leaked before reaching the Soul Sage level, one must not set foot outside the academy."
"In addition, the competition team has already returned."
Yan Shaozhe smiled bitterly, "Soul guidance equipment is constantly evolving, and there is a continuous emergence of outstanding talents in the Sun Moon Empire. Our defense of the title has failed, Ma Xiaotao is seriously injured, Ling Luochen is seriously injured, and Jiang Nannan is unconscious."
Cabbage is shocked, "Normally speaking..."
Normally speaking, unless history repeats itself, you should defend your title successfully.
"Sigh."
Yan Shaozhe sighed, as if aging a few years in an instant, "Go back, there's no need to mention it again."