Chapter 37: A Gift for Naming. Setting Out for Experience. A Big Shot?

Yes.

Xu Ran firmly believed he would crush everything in his path. It was not out of arrogance, but because from the very first day of his life, he had disciplined himself without a single day of rest. He would exhaust every ounce of his strength to shatter all obstacles; that was the pursuit of his life.

Therefore, no matter how real that dream felt, or even if it had truly occurred, it remained nothing more than a dream. There was no need to be startled or overly concerned. By frantically increasing his firepower, he could overcome any fear!

Thinking this, Xu Ran ceased his internal struggle and turned to leave.

The Principal, however, called him back, pacing around him with his hands behind his back. "Why the hurry? Let me see this new toy you've cooked up."

"Hmm? How on earth did you create this decoy? It has the scent of flesh and blood and is quite realistic! To be honest, even I had to look several times to realize it was a fake."

Xu Ran shrugged, remaining silent.

Uncle Ye Ping stroked his chin. "It resembles a 'Decoy Root Bone,' yet it's not quite the same. It’s not a pure energy construct, nor is it a mechanical creation. It feels like something very strange."

The Principal added, "Indeed, it is strange. How did you come up with it? Could this be Xu Ran’s Heaven-Sent Divine Ability?!"

Ye Ping replied, "It counts as a form of innate divine ability. Does it have combat capability? If it does, it could certainly enter the ranks of first-class Root Bones. If he can develop other abilities, it could even be classified as a Golden Root Bone."

The Principal agreed, "Exactly. If he could achieve displacement and swap places between the original and the decoy at will—perhaps even across thousands of miles—that would be a superior Golden Root Bone."

The two went back and forth, speculating on the cultivation path of Xu Ran’s Root Bone. Their brief exchange displayed such high professional insight that they actually guessed the nature of Xu Ran's methods. However, Xu Ran could not yet achieve the long-distance displacement they described, though he could easily and silently swap with his decoy to hide away in an instant.

After discussing for a while, the Principal nodded with satisfaction. "Well, let’s name your Root Bone [Decoy User]."

Xu Ran: "..."

The Principal was perfect in every way, except for his talent for naming things, which was uniquely bizarre.

*Time-Calculator* Zhu Yuheng.
*Invincible Shield* Feng Yan.
*Sword Heart* Bian Yue.
*King Support* Zhuge Huangjin.
*Valkyrie* Jiang Liuli.

Each one of these names was so bad that even a dog would shake its head in disapproval.

Beside him, Ye Ping shook his head. "Principal, it definitely shouldn't be called Decoy User. He was able to turn invisible while hiding behind the tree earlier."

As he spoke, the uncle looked at Xu Ran with eyes full of confusion. "By the way, what is the principle behind your invisibility?"

Even the techniques of cultivators could not achieve true invisibility, which meant Xu Ran was relying on the power of his Root Bone or extreme skill to achieve it. In this light, Xu Ran's Root Bone was likely far more than a simple decoy! Ye Ping was utterly bewildered; Xu Ran seemed to be shrouded in a mist that made him impossible to fathom.

Xu Ran shrugged. "High comprehension. I analyzed the effects of light and shadow, and by hiding within them, I can become invisible."

Comprehension was a magical brick—it could be placed anywhere it was needed. Anything he didn't want to explain could be perfectly masked by the "Comprehension Root Bone."

Ye Ping asked, "That works? Can I learn it?"

Xu Ran paused for a moment. "I'll demonstrate. If you can understand it, perhaps you can learn it."

Once he finished speaking, Xu Ran’s figure shimmered. In an instant, he "lost" his physical form, transforming into an ultra-thin, transparent layer that merged into the light. The process was so clever that it left Ye Ping and the Principal stunned.

The Principal reached out and swiped through the air, touching Xu Ran’s chest. "Visually gone! That’s impressive! So this is the power of a Root Bone!"

Ye Ping stroked his beard, frowning in thought. "This technique is far more useful than shadow-assassination type Root Bones. Shadow-assassination requires blending into shadows, but your method works even in direct sunlight—it’s much more advanced."

"However, there are shortcomings. With my mental power, I can scan and detect your presence instantly. It seems you haven't accounted for mental perception. Next time I train you, include mental energy in your analysis. If you can evade detection by mental power, your invisibility will be perfect." He patted Xu Ran on the shoulder, feeling proud of the training method he had devised.

Xu Ran looked pleasantly surprised. "Uncle Ye, you're quite brilliant. I should try your method."

This was an excellent suggestion. Xu Ran felt light, shadow, sunlight, and darkness every day, making invisibility in light and shadow second nature. But he had never experienced invisibility against mental detection. If he could practice this, it might truly be an improvement. If he could bypass mental scanning, that would be a huge leap forward!

"Let's try it right now!"

"I'll explain the key points and techniques of the invisibility art, and you use your mental power to assist my training."

Xu Ran was highly proactive and wanted to perfect it on the spot.

Ye Ping asked, "Do you think you can perfect it all at once?"

Xu Ran replied, "I'll get a feel for it first, then go back and think through the techniques tonight."

Ye Ping nodded. "I understand. You can deduce the best way to achieve invisibility through repeated reflection... Is this the power of high-level comprehension? I think I am beginning to understand your Root Bone."

Xu Ran didn't explain, just smiled mysteriously.

He then began to demonstrate his invisibility while explaining the logic behind it. The explanation was so dense and complex that Ye Ping’s head felt like it was going to explode. He waved his hands in defeat. "Stop, the information density is too high. I can't find a single point to grasp. I can't learn it."

"Alright. I'll stop teaching."

Xu Ran ceased his explanation and focused entirely on sensing through his mental perception. After a long while, he looked thoughtful...

"Hmm! I understand. With more practice, even if I can't completely bypass mental detection, I can certainly increase my concealment by a significant margin." Xu Ran was satisfied and gave a brilliant smile.

Ye Ping remarked, "Wait, you’ve already gained insight?"

The Principal looked equally astonished. "In just a few minutes, you really found an improvement plan?"

Xu Ran smiled confidently. "It is the Comprehension Root Bone, after all."

The Principal leaned back tactically. "I remember when you first started, you could communicate with birds, but I haven't seen that ability since; instead, you’ve been feeding animals... Then you started teaching the children the 'Lost Steps'..."

"Now you've come up with a decoy and an invisibility art. So—your Comprehension Root Bone can actually develop all sorts of strange, miscellaneous abilities?"

"I also recall you practicing throwing darts every day for over four years! Surely your dart-throwing must have terrifying lethality?"

Xu Ran shrugged. "No, no, that’s just a child’s game. It’s mainly for practicing focus."

The Principal said, "Really? I don't believe it! I think you must have used your comprehension to develop many miraculous abilities. How about this: from now on, let’s call your Root Bone—the *Miraculous Ability Root Bone*!"

The Principal was very proud of the name he had chosen.

Xu Ran: "..."

*Please, stop naming things! Just stop, Principal!*

"Jade Flute Immortal Sound" for Ye Ping sounded so dignified. But looking at the others... *Time-Calculator* Zhu Yuheng, *Invincible Shield* Feng Yan, *Sword Saint* Bian Yue, *King Support* Zhuge Huangjin, *Valkyrie* Jiang Liuli, and now *Miraculous Ability* Xu Ran.

Every single one of them was a disaster. Was he supposed to laugh his opponents to death during a battle? Xu Ran didn't even know where to begin complaining, so he could only remain silent.

Ye Ping was more straightforward. "Principal, I suggest we wait until they reach the second stage of development before naming them. The names you choose are just too terrible."

The Principal, oblivious to his own lack of taste, wore a serious expression. "...My suggestion is that you don't offer suggestions."

"Is the name I picked not good?"

Xu Ran: "..."
Ye Ping: "..."

The deadly silence between the two suddenly made the Principal look forlorn and lonely. "Fine, fine, sigh..."

Xu Ran quickly changed the subject. "Uncle Ye, how about we set the time for my daily invisibility training to after 10:30 in the morning?"

Ye Ping replied, "That works."

"Thank you, Uncle Ye."

"I have to go teach Tiger Girl and the others now. Bye."

Xu Ran put away his paper figure and started to walk away.

The Principal called him back one more time. "Wait!"

Xu Ran turned around. "What is it, Principal? Is there something else?"

The Principal’s eyes were sharp. "I just realized, you mentioned wanting to go out for training. You don't happen to have some sort of lead, which is why you're going to hunt for the Nightmare Grudge Mother, do you?"

Xu Ran was speechless. "...Principal, your imagination is too wild. I don't have a single clue!"

"The only lead is Feng Yan’s painting. Those missing infants must have been sacrificed to the Nightmare Grudge Mother by the Aunt-Bird through unique means—that is something you have all speculated about."

"As for where it’s hiding... even a top-tier mental specialist like Uncle Ye can't find it. What makes you think I can?"

*Deflecting! Still deflecting!* The more Xu Ran argued, the less the Principal believed him. He always felt that with Xu Ran’s miraculous comprehension, if he went out searching, he would surely find a trail.

Thus, the Principal chuckled. "I understand. I am now officially approving your request to go out for training!"

Xu Ran countered, "Principal, I don't want to go for training anymore. I want to go see Tiger Girl."

The Principal insisted, "No, no, you want to go for training."

Xu Ran said, "I really don't particularly want to go..."

The Principal pressed down heavily on Xu Ran’s shoulder. "Stop arguing, you *do* want to go for training!"

"I’ll go apply to your mother and have Uncle Ye protect you from the shadows. Don't worry about five or six days; a month will be fine."

Xu Ran was powerless to object. "..."

Just as he wanted to say more, the Principal had already carried him back to his residence.

"Is Mother Lin Qian home?"

His mother came out into the courtyard and took a look. "Oh, Principal... is there something the matter?"

His mother invited them inside and poured hot tea.

The Principal said, "Mother Lin Qian, Ye Ping wants to take little Ran out for some training for a while, and he specifically came to ask for your permission."

His mother looked at the Principal, then at Ye Ping, and finally at Xu Ran. "What about his cultural classes..."

The Principal replied, "With little Ran's IQ, are cultural classes even important?"

His mother said, "It seems... they aren't."

The Principal made the final decision. "Then it is settled. Xu Ran is unique and needs to go out for training."

Xu Ran: "..."

*Can anyone relate? I just wanted to go out and see if Li Songlin was actually a real person, and now I’ve inexplicably ended up with the heavy responsibility of finding the Nightmare Grudge Mother...*

"Principal, you're really overthinking this. I'm just a six-year-old child; there is absolutely no way I can find the hiding place of the Nightmare Grudge Mother!" Xu Ran stated righteously.

But the Principal ignored Xu Ran’s protests entirely.

He carried Xu Ran to the foot of the mountain, handed him the Demigod Kindergarten student badge, and waved at him. "Child, go to Jing City for your training. I will await your triumphant return."

After saying this, the Principal leaped lightly and vanished from the foot of the mountain.

Xu Ran remained silent for a long time, but soon, he felt relieved.

"Well, that’s fine. I was planning to leave the kindergarten for some training anyway. Now, not only can I go out, but I also have a top-tier bodyguard."

"The first stop will be to see Li Songlin. I’ve never seen or heard of this person, but he appeared in my dream... Meeting him might just spark a realization and help me figure something out!"

"The second stop will be to hunt Crystal Beasts in the wild. I'll use some for Spirit Detention and one or two for testing [Divine Pet Cultivation]..."

"The third stop will be to search the urban area of Jing City late at night. What if I happen to run into the Nightmare Grudge Mother? With Uncle Ye following, I can slay it immediately, avenge the missing children, and eliminate the threat forever."

Xu Ran had planned the entire itinerary for this training trip in an instant.

"Hmm... I remember Li Songlin is a member of the Clearance Corps. According to the timeline in my dream, he joined the Jing City Clearance Corps at twenty and sacrificed himself at twenty-nine. I’m looking for him eight years early; I will definitely be able to find him."

"Good. Let’s go see if this person truly exists in the real world!"

Thinking this, Xu Ran boarded the bus.

He headed straight for the General Administration Office of Jing City. It was the highest authority in the province, overseeing cultivators, the Clearance Corps, and investigation teams... acting as the pillar of stability for Jing City.

It took only twenty minutes.

He arrived at the General Administration Office. Dozens of four-story modern buildings were arranged like a manor, forming an imposing complex. The lawns and squares in front of the buildings were exceptionally spacious and grand.

"Excuse me, which building is the Clearance Corps in? I’m looking for Li Songlin."

A patrolling guard saw the child asking for directions. "Who are you? And why are you looking for the Clearance Corps?"

Xu Ran took out his Demigod Kindergarten badge. "My name is Xu Ran. Please take me to see him."

Seeing the badge with its unique, shimmering glow, the two guards were shocked. Their tone immediately became respectful. "The Demigod Kindergarten badge? A super-genius? G-Greetings! Please, come in."

Revealing his prestigious identity yielded an immediate change in treatment. Xu Ran was led into a private reception hall, seated on a soft sofa, and served a bowl of fragrant hot tea.

"Please wait a moment!"

The guard trotted away, running directly into the office of He Sifang, a leader of the Clearance Corps.

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

He Sifang was puzzled, then suddenly stunned. "Xu Ran... that sounds familiar... Oh! Isn't that the super-genius that Sister Lu Ya mentioned last time?!"

"Quick! Notify Li Songlin immediately!"

"I’m going to invite Sister Lu Ya..."

Receiving the order, the guard trotted away again. This time, he arrived at the training ground of the Clearance Corps—the members were working out with high intensity, dripping with sweat, their low roars echoing one after another.

"Li Songlin! Li Songlin! A VIP is here to see you. Hurry up and wash up and put on some clean clothes!"

Li Songlin was confused. *I come from an ordinary background and am the first cultivator in my family; what VIP could I possibly know?*

"Are you mistaken? Perhaps the VIP is looking for someone else with the same name?"

The guard replied, "Li Songlin of the Clearance Corps, twenty-one years old, right? That’s the one. A super-genius from the Demigod Kindergarten specifically requested to see you! Hurry up! The third-in-command is waiting for you too."

The guard's words plunged the entire training ground into silence. Dozens of surprised, stunned, and envious gazes fell upon Li Songlin.