Su Hao ultimately couldn't find out in advance.
In recent days, he stayed on campus, drawing up training plans for his几只精灵 over the coming period.
"The little one can go to the 'Illusion Ability Application' class on its own every Wednesday morning. It learns moves quickly, but for ultimate moves... there are too few related to illusions, and none suitable."
"Firecrest Crow... I'll try to get another B-tier exchange voucher before it evolves to redeem the Blazing Sun Heart."
"Other than that, I just need it to master the high-level move Flame Storm... but unfortunately, Firecrest Crow's speed in learning moves is clearly lacking."
He meant compared to the Dream Moth.
"Water Kirin Beast..."
Su Hao held a large transparent glass bottle, inside which blue gas could be seen swirling continuously.
That was the Water Source Qi.
He led the Water Kirin Beast to a watery area on campus.
Not going to the pressure room.
"The previous generation of the Water Kirin Beast was an elite level, so breaking through to elite will be easier for it than for other spirits. Choosing a watery environment is more conducive to absorbing the Water Source Qi."
The Water Kirin Beast ran circles around him, neighing "hee-loo-loo."
Occasionally, it dashed onto the lake surface, stamping out ripples, then ran back.
"Alright, stop spinning."
Su Hao felt dizzy from the motion and finally finished setting up the area.
Breaking through wasn't complicated.
He just placed ten water-type spirit jades around to ensure sufficient spiritual energy supply.
Then he walked to the large glass bottle, "click-click-clicked" open the lock, and looked at the Water Kirin Beast. "Get ready."
"Hee-loo~"
It raised its hooves high, shaking its front legs at Su Hao to signal it was fine.
"Clack!"
Su Hao twisted off the bottle cap.
Instantly,
The water-blue gas inside drifted out, rising like wisps of blue smoke.
The Water Kirin Beast was already prepared and took a deep breath!
The water-blue smoke was sucked into its mouth.
At the same time,
It began to gather power.
Its internal spiritual energy boiled, and an invisible aura surged.
Seeing this, Su Hao immediately retreated dozens of meters, not forgetting to take the large glass bottle with him—a specially made container for Water Source Qi, not to be wasted.
"Hee-loo——"
Whoosh!!!
Water columns burst from the lake surface, mist filled the air, and spiritual energy rushed in.
The Water Kirin Beast's aura grew stronger.
After a few minutes, it peaked.
Its hooves stomped the ground, cracking it with many fissures, and water columns erupted from the lake again...
"Hee-loo——"
An elite-level pressure spread, and it leaped into the sky, galloping freely.
It ran back and forth dozens of times until it burned off some of its abundant energy, then descended from the air.
"Hee-loo~"
Su Hao looked over. The Water Kirin Beast's size was similar to before, but its scales had increased significantly, with a water-blue glow flowing over them. Mist surrounded it, adding a touch of mystique.
Checking its stats, the Water Kirin bloodline concentration had risen from 10% to 18%.
"As its strength increases, the concentration can go higher, but..."
Su Hao estimated.
By the time it reached elite peak, the bloodline concentration would struggle to hit 30%.
It might need to reach the transcendent level before evolution could begin.
He collected the ten spirit jades placed on the ground.
Their glow had dimmed considerably, but they still held plenty of spiritual energy.
So he put them away.
Then he snapped his fingers.
"Hee-loo~"
The Water Kirin Beast obediently ran to him and stopped.
Lowering its body slightly.
Su Hao grabbed its scales, flipped onto its back, and said, "Let's go."
"Hee-loo~"
The Water Kirin Beast stamped its hooves and shot into the sky.
Its speed was now several times faster than before.
Su Hao's body leaned back uncontrollably, nearly losing his grip and causing a disaster.
Looks like the Water Kirin Beast was getting cocky again!
Hmph!
...
The half-month agreed upon with Senior Brother Wu passed in a flash.
Su Hao packed up.
He hung his luggage on the Water Kirin Beast's back. Die Xiaodie brought a phone, a laptop, and ten power banks, all stuffed into the suitcase.
Hearing the destination was the New World, it brought everything it thought necessary.
Su Hao figured he didn't need to bring his own power banks.
"Speaking of which, where did Die Xiaodie get so many power banks?"
Just then,
Senior Brother Wu arrived, dressed in formal wear with neatly combed, shiny hair.
Behind him followed the Puppet Golem that Su Hao had gotten familiar with.
Its eyes swiveled around as it looked over.
"Ready? Then let's go."
As soon as Senior Brother Wu spoke, Su Hao found himself floating.
It was the Puppet Golem's telekinesis.
Enveloping him, Die Xiaodie, Dull Crow, Erha Lin, and the luggage, they vanished from the spot in a flash.
...
Blue sky, white clouds.
The sun overhead, clouds beneath their feet.
Falling away behind them.
Standing in the air felt like standing on solid ground, and they could even walk around.
Not a hint of wind could be felt.
The telekinesis of a monarch-level spirit was that powerful and comfortable.
Su Hao wondered if he should have the Dream Moth focus more on telekinesis moves.
He looked at Senior Brother Wu.
Seeing him take out his phone for navigation, he fiddled with it for a bit, then placed it in front of the Puppet Golem.
The phone hovered.
Su Hao felt he'd learned another trick.
He glanced at the Water Kirin Beast, signaling with his eyes.
The Water Kirin Beast slowly formed a question mark above its head.
"Senior Brother, where exactly are we going?"
He leaned in to peek.
The navigation showed a location within Dongyun Province, 666 kilometers away—much farther than their previous trip to Linping City.
"We're heading to Ningshan City. There's a New World entrance there, and on the other side is the place I mentioned, perfect for you."
"Ningshan City?"
Su Hao thought back. "It doesn't seem to be one of the twenty-eight publicly known entrances in our country."
"Correct," Senior Brother Wu said. "You can probably guess that there are far more New World entrances than what's shown on the surface.
"Many aren't publicized. Why? Because what's on the other side involves secrets, or it's too dangerous!
"Of course, the New World across from Ningshan City isn't dangerous—it's just not suitable for too many people to disturb, so it's kept quiet. Only those at a certain level know about it."
Senior Brother Wu seemed to be organizing his thoughts, pausing before continuing. "Across the Ningshan City entrance, it borders a bear tribe settlement.
"The kind... the kind... where bear-type spirits dominate.
"There are spirits there that have lived for centuries, highly intelligent, and more importantly, very powerful—including monarch-level, and even higher, more ancient beings.
"But because of their intelligence, they're not as hostile as ordinary wild spirits. They can communicate.
"In the end, our country established friendly relations with the bear tribe, mutually beneficial.
"We provide them with modern supplies, and they allow us to contract their descendant spirits... of course, it requires trials and mutual consent.
"The timing is set for this day every year."
Su Hao roughly understood.
Both sides had shown their strength, found it comparable, and then engaged in friendly exchanges.
The Puppet Golem's telekinesis carried them at high speed through the air.
Before long,
Whoosh~
They descended rapidly, piercing through the clouds, the tiny buildings below growing larger in their view.
The Puppet Golem gradually slowed down, finally landing on a dirt road.
Not far ahead was a base similar to the Qinglan Base, surrounded by high walls.
With Senior Brother Wu leading, the paperwork went quickly. In just over ten minutes, Su Hao set foot on New World soil.
Looking around...
Hmm, no cities, no towns.
At best, it was a small fortress enclosed by walls.
Few people came and went, few shops were open, and there were no御灵使 shouting to form teams for exploration.
The most striking feature was the tall, silver signal tower inside the fortress.
Similar towers could be seen outside the fortress as well.
"Gu-nuo?"
Su Hao asked for it, "Is there a signal here? Internet?"
"Just a local network."
As he spoke, someone from the fortress led them into a hall.
There, they met the 'competitors' Senior Brother Wu mentioned—those also seeking to contract spirits.