Feng Wuyu had initially agreed to help take care of Xie Xie at Tang Wulin's request.
Over the years, he gradually formed a new perspective on this youth whose twin martial souls hadn't fully mutated.
Moreover, as part of the academy's leadership, he naturally had an obligation to assist its outstanding students.
Xie Xie used to be considered just an average genius, but now he had completed his transformation. His twin martial souls achieved normal-state fusion, and his Light-Shadow Dagger could already be considered a top-tier martial soul—on par with any of the Shrek Seven Monsters' martial souls.
On the Tang Sect's side, hundred-year immortal herbs were certainly available, though the variety might not be complete.
The real issue was that hundred-year immortal herbs were hard to obtain.
This wasn't because hundred-year immortal herbs were rarer than thousand- or ten-thousand-year ones, but rather because under the Tang Sect's planned cultivation strategy, the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well had effectively become a medicinal garden. Low-age immortal herbs were essentially the seedlings of future high-age immortal herbs and were rarely harvested unless needed for refining various pills by the Tang Sect.
The harvesting of immortal herbs followed a set process, one that had been fixed over thousands of years.
Even if there were external allocations, they were mostly reserved for thousand- or ten-thousand-year immortal herbs intended for nurturing successors.
Of course, it wasn't that hundred-year immortal herbs were harder to obtain; in fact, there should be more of them, but their numbers were still limited. If a hundred-year immortal herb were suddenly taken, it would mean losing a future thousand- or ten-thousand-year herb or missing out on refining a pill using that herb as a key ingredient—both scenarios had far-reaching consequences.
At least someone at the level of vice temple master could make such a decision.
Of course, a hall master had the authority to handle it, but they still needed to report it upward.
Given Xie Xie's status, it would be difficult for him to find a similar avenue within the Tang Sect.
Exchange?
Contribution points in the Tang Sect could already be exchanged for items much richer than what was available outside. Basically, anything ordinary soul masters could think of could be exchanged, but this didn't include the Tang Sect's strategic resources, like things related to the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well.
Xu Yuan didn't continue to interfere with Xie Xie's affairs.
He had given all the advice he could. How far Xie Xie could go depended on himself.
The next day, Xu Yuan left Shrek Academy and headed toward the location of Devil Island given by Ya Li.
Ripping through space, he teleported instantly to the coastline.
After assessing his coordinates, Xu Yuan tore through space again and arrived above a military legion.
Amidst the cacophony of alarms below, Xu Yuan confirmed his location—it was the coastline where the Northern Sea Legion was stationed.
From here, heading straight out to sea would lead to Devil Island.
Ignoring the commotion of the Northern Sea Legion below, Xu Yuan flew toward the ocean.
After flying for a while, he finally spotted several large islands in the distance.
The islands were quite sizable, scattered about, and emanated a very strange energy fluctuation.
Xu Yuan extended his spiritual power and sensed a rather terrifying vibration.
"Is this destruction energy?"
Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan dove down onto the island below.
---
Devil Island.
Xu Yuan landed on Devil Island.
The island wasn't devoid of plants, but none of them carried any trace of life. Even heaven and earth's primal energy was sealed off, making the entire island feel like a desolate void.
Xu Yuan remained calm.
He had long known the situation on Devil Island, and these conditions were expected.
He mobilized his soul power and let out a slight sigh of relief.
Thankfully, although isolated from the outside world due to the destruction energy, preventing origin energy from entering and causing soul masters' soul power to diminish with use, it could still be utilized.
Moreover, Xu Yuan didn't need to worry about restoring his soul power after consumption.
Within him lay a true legendary mecha, storing an immense amount of energy, including sealed abyssal and star energies, which could replenish him at any time.
"No wonder—the residual power of a God King truly created such a place."
This was most likely a special region formed by some of the dispersed power of the Destruction and Goddess of Life Kings before their deaths.
As for whether it was intentionally created by the two God Kings?
Xu Yuan doubted it.
If it were indeed deliberately created, this would likely be a place of divine inheritance. Yet, generations of Shrek Seven Monsters had come here for training without ever experiencing fluctuations in destruction or life energy.
Xu Yuan didn't believe the standard for inheriting the God of Destruction's power would be so exaggerated that even Yun Ming couldn't meet it.
As for compatibility, could a spear-wielding soul master really be unsuitable for destruction energy?
And then there was Ya Li, whose martial soul was undoubtedly compatible with the Goddess of Life.
The God of Destruction might be arrogant, but what about the Goddess of Life?
Thus, before coming here, Xu Yuan hadn't harbored any hope of finding the inheritances of the two God Kings. He came only to attempt cultivating using the residual energy left behind by them.
After determining the direction, Xu Yuan headed toward the center of the island.
He soared into the air, transforming into a streak of crimson light.
Moments later, Xu Yuan surveyed everything below from mid-air.
In normal vision, the area below appeared like a paradise, separated by a protective barrier that starkly contrasted with the desolate exterior.
However, through Xu Yuan's perception, the area below was a world filled with purplish-black and emerald-green energy.
The purplish-black energy intertwined with the emerald-green energy, forming a balance.
The purplish-black energy seemed capable of annihilating everything. Simply sensing it evoked the feeling of being torn apart.
The emerald-green energy, on the other hand, stirred one's emotions upon observation, as if it awakened one's life essence.
Even Xu Yuan felt such intense changes.
It wasn't that his resistance was low—it was that his perception went deeper.
"It's basically confirmed that these two energies belong to the Destruction and Life God Kings."
Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan plunged into the purplish-black energy.
Beyond the purplish-black energy lay a valley teeming with vitality, lush with many plants.
After passing through the destruction energy barrier, Xu Yuan didn't feel any sense of relief. Instead, he moved to the edge of the valley and returned to the purplish-black energy zone.
"This energy doesn't have great compatibility with lightning."
Xu Yuan frowned.
The destruction energy of the God of Destruction wasn't about destroying everything outright. Rather, it was about tearing apart, shattering, and extinguishing everything—a profound intent.
"Hmph, these powers belong to different deities of the divine realm, so destruction can be seen as a fusion of these deities."
Of course, this aligned with the concept of destruction, though it wasn't exactly what Xu Yuan had envisioned.
"Though it differs from my expectations, it's still destruction energy. The cause may differ, but since it has condensed into this form of destruction energy, it naturally possesses the destructive qualities I need."
Take thunderforce, for example—not all soul masters could grasp all the mysteries of thunder, yet they only needed a trigger to unleash its power. This force encompassed everything thunder ought to have.
"Hmm?"
Within the purplish-black energy, Xu Yuan entered a deep state of cultivation and insight. Around his body, strands of thunderforce began to coalesce, crackling currents swirling around him, making him appear godlike.
The seven devil elders were drawn by the commotion Xu Yuan caused and stealthily observed him from the edge of the valley.
"This little guy seems a bit different."
"He's not like the last batch the academy sent."
"Of course he's different! You don't need to tell me that. Before, there were always seven together, but this time it's just this kid alone. And we wouldn't have even known he made it here if not for the disturbance in the destruction energy."
"Speaking of which, this kid's soul power fluctuations are incredibly strong."
"I roughly sensed it—it's higher than when I was alive."
"Higher than all of us when we were alive!"
"Bullshit! I'm stronger than him. He's just abnormally exaggerated at ninety-eight levels. I was at ninety-nine when I died!"
Ninety-eight levels?
The other six devil elders looked at their leader in silence.
You're really pulling a "humble brag."
"His life force is very strong. He must be young—perhaps even stronger than Lan Muzi, who came here before."
"How does the academy manage to cultivate such a monster?"
"How do you know it's the academy that cultivated him?"
"What else could it be?"
The seven devil elders carefully observed Xu Yuan's changes.
The strands of lightning swirled around Xu Yuan like a barrier or tentacles, colliding with the destruction energy.
Purplish-black light continuously erupted.
At first, it was the destruction energy bursting forth, but as time passed, the thunderforce surrounding Xu Yuan's body also began to emit strange light.
Deep purple thunder transformed into purplish-black.
"This kid's lightning is strange—it occasionally flashes with five-colored light."
"It must be the Five Elements Divine Thunder."
The devil elders critiqued Xu Yuan's power, finding him almost too perfect.
Such a genius must surely be nurtured by our Shrek Academy.
At this moment, Xu Yuan opened his eyes and looked toward the location of the seven devil elders.
Though they had come to observe Xu Yuan, they were spying from a secluded corner, not along any main paths.
When Xu Yuan glanced over, it immediately caused the seven devil elders to panic.
"He noticed us!"
How was this possible?
The seven of us have roamed Devil Island for so many years, honing our skills to an impressive level. How could a young guy detect us so easily?
And how could he sense us hiding our presence so thoroughly, even through the valley's protective barrier?
Xu Yuan rose and once again crossed the gap between destruction and life energy, entering the valley.
He had sensed the seven devil elders early on but ignored them while in deep contemplation.
Now, having gained preliminary insights, he had the energy to communicate with the seven devil elders.
"Seven predecessors, no need to hide—I know you're over there," Xu Yuan called out.
In the direction he looked, everything remained quiet, without a sound.
Xu Yuan chuckled bitterly and introduced himself. "I hail from Shrek Academy and am currently the leader of the Shrek Seven Monsters. My teacher is Yun Ming."
"How can you prove it?" a voice asked.
Xu Yuan's essence, energy, and spirit surged, locking down the surrounding space.
"All right, all right, stop messing with space!" a startled cry came, prompting Xu Yuan to withdraw his technique.
"This is Yun Ming's ultimate skill, just much more refined than when he was at level sixty."
From its basic characteristics, the seven devil elders recognized Xu Yuan's Seven Forbidden Techniques, knowing it was a supreme art Yun Ming had been developing early on.
"Is there something special about the space here?" Xu Yuan's mind stirred.
Being new to the island, his understanding was far less developed than the seven devil elders, who had explored Devil Island for thousands of years.
Withdrawing his essence, energy, and spirit, and ceasing the Seven Forbidden Techniques, Xu Yuan flashed to stand before the seven devil elders.
"Are you really Yun Ming's disciple?"
The Old Demon Loathe looked Xu Yuan up and down, his expression exaggerated.
A young woman circled Xu Yuan, examining him closely and repeatedly praising him.
"Just now, I couldn't sense clearly through the destruction energy. I didn't expect your blood essence to be so vigorous—it's like a blazing furnace."
Xu Yuan's blood essence surged. Just standing before him, the Old Demon Lust felt as if she were being scorched by flames.
"Of course, the current situation at Shrek Academy is vastly different from before, and the situation on Douluo Star has changed significantly. The seven predecessors haven't been informed yet."
"Sigh, the seven of us are trapped here. We only learn bits about the outside world when people come for training," said the obese elder, the Old Demon Devour, with a sigh.
"Seven predecessors, you won't have to endure this hardship anymore. One of my missions this time is to bring you back to Shrek Academy."
"It's impossible. Our souls have fused with this environment. We exist solely due to the life energy here," the Old Demon Devour shook his head.
He pulled out a large chicken leg from somewhere, sat down on the open ground, and took a huge bite.
"The quality of life and destruction energy here is extremely high. You sensed it earlier when you meditated. You must've come here to study these two forces. The interweaving of life and destruction allowed us to be reborn as souls after death."
"Seven predecessors, since I'm here, I naturally have a plan. You just need to cooperate with me."
The seven devil elders fell silent.
To be honest, they still hadn't fully believed Xu Yuan's identity.
After all, a powerful young soul master suddenly arriving made them wary.
In the past, even during training sessions, the seven devil elders would receive prior information, but this time they hadn't heard anything from Shrek Academy.
"Hmm, let me first study your condition," Xu Yuan said, seeing their silence and assuming they acknowledged him.
He stepped forward.
"What are you doing?"
The devil elders collectively took a step back, except for the Old Demon Devour, who had just sat down and didn't retreat in time.
"Predecessor, forgive me."
Xu Yuan waved his right hand, and soul power surged, enveloping the Old Demon Devour.
A Dream Space descended.
Instantly, the Old Demon Devour's face changed drastically.
He felt as though he had vanished from the valley's space, unable to sense the life energy sustaining him.
Looking at Xu Yuan, he grew furious and wanted to curse.
But before he could, he froze.
I'm fine?
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