Under the influence of the Domain of All Things Growth, Jing Shaoyu had completely transformed the environment of the crater lake and its surrounding areas.
A dense forest had sprouted within the fifty-meter-wide buffer zone along the lake's shore. Teachers and students from the Outer Academy noticed this miraculous phenomenon and gathered at the forest's edge, marveling at the lush, verdant trees and discussing animatedly.
Anyone witnessing a green forest spring up overnight would be stunned and bewildered.
Led by Long Yeyue, the Elders immediately crossed the forest and flew into what was once the Inner Academy region—only to freeze in place, utterly awestruck by the sight before them, their mouths agape.
The Inner Academy, which had been nothing but ruins that morning, was now completely renewed. The massive crater left by the explosion had transformed into a crystal-clear emerald lake, its waters brimming with Primordial Qi even more concentrated than that of the former Sea God Lake. At the center of the lake stood an island—larger than Sea God Island, richer in vegetation, and pulsating with vibrant life—radiating an aura of tranquility and harmony.
"This…" Cai Yue'er stood dumbfounded, her eyes darting urgently until she spotted Yun Ming and Ya Li at the island's center—and the figure hovering above them. "That's Jing Shaoyu?!" she exclaimed.
The Elders could see clearly: Jing Shaoyu now appeared sacred and majestic, holding a scepter in his hand as vast waves of life energy emanated from him. Behind him shimmered six orange-gold Soul Rings and one dazzling golden Soul Ring. Though they didn't fully understand, they knew without a doubt that the transformation of the Inner Academy was his doing.
"Yun Ming, what in the world is going on?" Long Yeyue demanded as the Elders landed on the island.
"Hahaha, Sister Yue, we've lost much—but gained even more!" Yun Ming laughed heartily, his earlier gloom completely dispelled. "We can build an even greater Inner Academy. Let's mark the boundary at the lakeside forest. As for the Outer Academy, it's necessary to expand outward as well."
"But how did all this happen?" Long Yeyue pressed, her heart brimming with joy yet burning with curiosity.
"Oh, Sister Yue, isn't it obvious?" Ya Li giggled, her voice laced with pride. "This is all A-Yu's doing!"
Receiving confirmation, Long Yeyue gazed up at Jing Shaoyu hovering in the sky and murmured, "This child… truly extraordinary!"
"We should handle the academy's expansion preparations now," Cai Yue'er said excitedly. The Inner Academy's current environment stirred a faint impulse within her—a sign of her bottleneck loosening. She couldn't wait to settle administrative matters and begin secluded cultivation.
The difference was palpable. While the previous Inner Academy's Heaven and Earth Essence had been dense, it was limited to wood and light attributes. Now, the five elements were perfectly balanced, the seven energies complete—even infused with the exceedingly rare power of the stars. For a Soul Master like her, whose Martial Soul was tied to the moon, this was exceptionally favorable.
This was undoubtedly Jing Shaoyu's doing. Even if Ya Li hadn't mentioned it, Cai Yue'er could be certain. Among the Elders present, apart from Yun Ming and Ya Li, she was the one who understood Jing Shaoyu best. To this day, she couldn't forget the Continent Projection that had crushed Star Luo City three years ago. Someone capable of such feats was surely no ordinary person!
After Cai Yue'er left, the other Elders exchanged glances before departing one after another. Long Yeyue chuckled and patted Yun Ming on the shoulder before following suit.
The Inner Academy area returned to tranquility, and Jing Shaoyu in the sky prepared to withdraw his power.
"Teacher, Godmother," Jing Shaoyu landed beside Yun Ming and Ya Li and greeted them.
"Shaoyu, you scared me half to death!" Ya Li immediately hugged Jing Shaoyu, her eyes filled with relief and lingering fear.
"I'm sorry for worrying you," Jing Shaoyu said warmly, a look of apology on his face.
"It's alright, as long as you're safe," Yun Ming said. "But tell us, what exactly happened? And how did your cultivation suddenly reach the peak of Soul Saint?"
"Yes, yes," Ya Li released Jing Shaoyu and nodded repeatedly. "You've changed so much—you can even create forests and islands out of thin air now. It's incredible."
"Mm," Jing Shaoyu nodded. "It's like this: I was captured by Leng Yulai and taken into the Sea God Pavilion. Then Teacher Tian Feng appeared and rescued me from her. Before we could escape, the Soul Missile detonated. In the end, it was thanks to Elder Jin of the Golden Tree that we survived."
"Elder Jin?" Yun Ming recalled the golden light during the explosion and pressed urgently, "What exactly happened?"
"To protect us, Elder Jin chose to sacrifice himself. His energy was divided into three parts: one to withstand the explosion, one to create a spatial rift, and the last part—everything else—was given to me," Jing Shaoyu's voice grew somber as he looked up at the golden light above the inner lake. "That's how my Soul Power reached level 79."
"Elder Jin!" Yun Ming and Ya Li's expressions turned mournful. "We failed Elder Jin!"
"Teacher, Godmother, don't grieve. Elder Jin isn't dead—he's just become a seed. As long as we nurture it back, there's hope for his rebirth!" Jing Shaoyu pointed to the Golden Tree sapling at the bottom of the lake, comforting them in turn.
"So the Golden Tree sapling at the bottom of the lake grew from Elder Jin's seed?" Yun Ming and Ya Li asked. "Did you plant it, Shaoyu?"
"That's right," Jing Shaoyu nodded. "Elder Jin sacrificed himself for me—of course I couldn't abandon him."
"As it should be," Yun Ming nodded, a glint flashing in his eyes. "Shaoyu, Elder Jin chose to sacrifice himself for you not just because of the external threat from the God-Slaying Soul Missile, but also because of something more intrinsic, wasn't it?"
Hearing this, Jing Shaoyu smiled. As expected of Yun Ming—his insight was truly sharp!
He nodded and replied, "Yes, Teacher. Do you know the true identity and origins of the Golden Tree?"
"According to the academy's records, the Golden Tree was transplanted here by Poseidon Tang San 20,000 years ago. Since you're asking, I take it that account is incorrect—or at least incomplete—isn't it?" Yun Ming answered thoughtfully.
"The Golden Tree was indeed transplanted to Shrek Academy by Poseidon Tang San, that much is correct," Jing Shaoyu said with a smile. "But this isn't its true origin. It was actually bestowed by the Planet Spirit of Douluo Star as the Child of Nature—the spokesperson for Douluo Star's natural world and the Core of Life."
"Child of Nature! Spokesperson for the Core of Life!" Yun Ming and Ya Li exchanged astonished glances. These were terms they had never heard before, but at their level of cultivation, they could grasp profound implications just from the names alone, sensing the significance of these titles.
"Poseidon Tang San specifically chose to transplant the Golden Tree to Shrek Academy because of this identity," Jing Shaoyu explained.
"But now that the Golden Tree has reverted to a sapling, could this have adverse effects on Douluo Star?" Yun Ming couldn't help but worry about the entire planet. If the disappearance of the Golden Tree were to bring calamity to Douluo Star, no punishment would suffice for such a crime.
"No," Jing Shaoyu shook his head, a hint of mockery flashing across his face. "Douluo Star's World Authority has already been stolen, and the Core of Life has been usurped. One of the reasons Jin Lao chose to sacrifice himself was to avoid losing his own will."
"What?!" Yun Ming and Ya Li were stunned by his words. "How is that possible?"
"Nothing is impossible." Knowing such news would be hard to accept immediately, Jing Shaoyu didn't press further, simply watching as their expressions shifted between shock and contemplation.
After a moment, Yun Ming spoke gravely, "Shaoyu, did Jin Lao tell you all this? Or... is it your own speculation? Or perhaps, did those two deities inform you?"
"What deities?" Ya Li looked at Yun Ming in confusion.
"Neither," Jing Shaoyu sighed, pointing at the ground beneath their feet. "It was Him who told me."
"Him?" Yun Ming was puzzled, staring at the spot Jing Shaoyu indicated—nothing but fresh soil. "The earth?"
"To be precise, this very planet!" Jing Shaoyu's voice was filled with sorrow and pity.
"Then do you know who stole the World Authority and usurped the Core of Life?" Unable to fully grasp Jing Shaoyu's meaning, Yun Ming cut straight to the question that concerned him most. Stealing World Authority and seizing the Core of Life—such acts could only be the work of evil.
If the world truly had fallen under the control of malevolent forces, it would spell disaster for the entire planet.
"I do," Jing Shaoyu nodded.
"Who?"
"Tang Hao, the father of Poseidon, and the Blue Silver Emperor, his mother." The names left Yun Ming and Ya Li speechless.
"So... all of this was Poseidon's will?" Yun Ming finally broke the silence. "Why would He do such a thing?"
"I suppose it's for faith," Jing Shaoyu mused, stroking his chin. "After all, for Poseidon, faith translates directly into God Power."
"Faith, hah!" Yun Ming's lips curled into a disdainful smile. "In that case, was the severance of Douluo Continent's connection to the God Realm also Poseidon's doing?"
"Perhaps," Jing Shaoyu replied ambiguously. "At the very least, the descent of the Abyss is inextricably linked to Poseidon."
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Yun Ming and Ya Li's eyes flashed with anger. Both had been to the Blood God Mountains and knew full well how brutal the battlefield deep within was. The Federation had mobilized massive resources to contain the Abyss entrance, yet it turned out Poseidon was involved behind the scenes.
The irony was too much.
"Who told you all this?" Yun Ming asked again, his expression grave and eyes solemn.
Jing Shaoyu wasn't surprised by the question. Given the horrifying nature of his revelations, skepticism was natural. He smiled faintly and replied, "Teacher, remember what I said earlier—it was this planet that revealed everything to me."
Yun Ming and Ya Li exchanged puzzled glances.
"I am the newly born Planet Spirit of Douluo Star, the Core of Life," Jing Shaoyu stated plainly, no longer keeping them in suspense.
The moment the words left his mouth, the two locked eyes, their expressions a mix of shock, astonishment, excitement, and exhilaration. They didn't doubt his claim—nothing else could explain what they had witnessed.
"Shaoyu, you must never reveal this to anyone else besides us and yourself!" Yun Ming grasped his shoulders urgently, fully aware of the gravity of his identity. "If that man or his parents find out, they will come for you. The fewer who know, the better!"
"Absolutely!" Ya Li immediately agreed. "No one else can know!"
"Hahaha, Teacher, Godmother, don't worry," Jing Shaoyu laughed confidently. "With my current strength, unless they're a Limit Douluo, I can handle them. As for Tang Hao and the Blue Silver Emperor you're worried about—Jin Lao told me before his passing that they're in seclusion and won't emerge for at least five years."
"Five years?!" Yun Ming's eyes flickered with urgency. "Five years isn't short, but they're divine-level opponents. It seems I must enter seclusion immediately!"
He knew he needed to forge at least half a Divine Throne to prepare for Tang Hao's potential attack. Five years was indeed pressing.
"Teacher, five years is enough for me to reach Titled Douluo, maybe even Super Douluo. By then, I'll wield far greater authority. A Tang Hao without a Divine Throne won't be able to kill me," Jing Shaoyu assured.
"That's still not enough!" Ya Li fretted. "Ming, I think we should postpone upgrading my Battle Armor. Let Zhen Hua first upgrade Shaoyu's to Three-Word Battle Armor, then prepare the Heavenly Forged Metal for his Four-Word Battle Armor. We must maximize his strength—what do you think?"
Yun Ming pondered briefly before nodding. "Agreed."
Hearing this, Jing Shaoyu quickly interjected, "Wait, Teacher, Godmother—there's no need to trouble Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua. My Battle Armor is already Three-Word."
With a thought, his Battle Armor materialized, swiftly encasing his entire body.
Jing Shaoyu's Battle Armor was primarily golden, accented with white and black patterns. The chest plate resembled a dragon's head, embedded with a sapphire gem. The left shoulder guard took the form of a tiger, while the right resembled a fox. The belt's core was shaped like a taiji symbol, with starry patterns embroidered on the strips flanking either side. The cloak draped behind him was golden on the outside and crimson inside, embroidered with a spreading-winged phoenix. His full-coverage helmet resembled the character for "heaven" (天), evoking the image of the sun.
His Battle Armor stood out as a breath of fresh air in the entire Soul Master world. While other Soul Masters designed their Battle Armor based on the characteristics of their Martial Souls, Shaoyu's design—aside from the taiji symbol on the belt—incorporated elements representing other people, making it a veritable hodgepodge.
Logically, such a design should have been unattractive at best, if not outright ugly. But who could argue when the designers were three geniuses: Jing Shaoyu, Gu Yue, and Leng Yaozhu?
The concept of blending multiple personas was, of course, proposed by Jing Shaoyu—his way of showing impartiality, no matter how convoluted. The main design was executed by Gu Yue, with Shaoyu merely offering auxiliary suggestions.
As for Leng Yaozhu, the cloak replacing the Battle Armor's wings was her masterpiece. Originally, Shaoyu hadn't wanted any embroidery on the cloak, but Leng Yaozhu insisted and personally stitched a phoenix onto it, claiming it was the "symbol of their sect."
While the other elements of Shaoyu's Battle Armor were tributes to his close female companions, Leng Yaozhu's forced inclusion as his teacher made the whole thing seem incongruous.
Well, look where that got her—she'd ended up entangled in the mess herself!
Shaoyu had no energy to dwell on Leng Yaozhu's antics. His Battle Armor had originally been Two-Word Battle Armor, but during the awakening of his Divine Blood and the resurgence of his origin power, it had evolved on its own into Three-Word Battle Armor. Now, he wouldn't even need to worry about upgrading it to Four-Word Battle Armor in the future.
"Love Eternal," Yun Ming muttered the Battle Armor's three-word name with a strange tone, his expression somewhat exasperated.
"Uh—" Shaoyu's grin faltered. He waved a hand dismissively. "Teacher, that's not important. Look, my Battle Armor is already Three-Word Battle Armor!"
"Really?!" Ya Li gasped in surprise. "How did that happen?"
"Heh heh!" Shaoyu smirked proudly. "This is the authority of the Planet Spirit. Godmother, you won't even need to trouble Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua for your Four-Word Battle Armor—I can upgrade it for you myself."
"Really?" Ya Li looked at him in disbelief. "What kind of authority is this? It's that useful?"
"Metal and Leather Art!"