Xu Zihuang silently walked along the right passage toward its end, his expression calm, but his mind carefully analyzing the implications of Elder Mu's earlier words.
Since entering Shrek Academy, he was certain he had never revealed the destructive attribute of his second martial soul, the Zihuang Thunder Hell Dragon.
His second martial soul was unique. The destructive power of the Zihuang Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon and the ultimate lightning of the mutated Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon could be used independently.
In other words, when he used the ultimate lightning ability, it wouldn't expose the destructive aura of the Zihuang Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon.
If his martial soul hadn't mutated, granting him the Golden Eyes, a mental attribute body martial soul, he might have simultaneously possessed both the Zihuang Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, two top-tier dragon martial souls.
The conditions for twin martial souls were stringent, the primary one being that both martial souls must be of the same quality level.
When he consumed the Yearning Heartbroken Red at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he directly achieved the golden-level body martial soul second awakening. The Golden Eyes were undoubtedly among the top-tier body martial souls, likely surpassing even the Zihuang Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Dragon in quality. To match the Golden Eyes' quality, the two dragon martial souls underwent a benign mutation, ultimately fusing into a new martial soul.
Of course, these were just Xu Zihuang's speculations. The inheritance and mutation of martial souls were too complex. Even after tens of thousands of years of soul master history, their essence remained elusive, with only patterns identified.
Combining these factors with Elder Mu's earlier attitude toward him, Xu Zihuang believed it was unlikely Elder Mu had uncovered his true identity.
At this moment, he couldn't afford to lose his composure.
Soon, Xu Zihuang reached a wooden door at the passage's end. It appeared to be slightly ajar.
With a gentle push, the door opened.
An invisible force pulled his body inside, and an overwhelming aura of light and life essence washed over him, so dense it seemed almost liquid. Brilliant golden and emerald green light intertwined, casting a strange greenish-gold glow throughout the room.
The wooden door was gently closed by the same invisible force. Xu Zihuang now saw a room of about ten square meters. Countless golden roots hung from the ceiling, filling every corner. The dense light and life essence emanated from these roots.
The life essence here, while not as solid as the Gold of Living Beings, was not far off.
At that moment, Elder Mu's gentle voice echoed in his mind.
"The Sea God Pavilion was originally carved from a rare Golden Tree, imbued with the aura of light and life. The academy's great predecessors crafted it without harming the tree's vitality. You are now in the underground world of the Sea God Pavilion. This place has 108 rooms, encompassing environments suitable for cultivating all types of martial souls. Inner courtyard disciples get one opportunity for deep meditation here. Though you're not yet an inner courtyard disciple, given your outstanding contributions to the academy in this All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, as well as your twin martial souls and ultimate martial soul talent, you're being allowed to meditate here early."
"The room you're in is the deepest part of the underground world, where the Golden Tree's roots reside. Here, I believe you'll find your own path and the answers in your heart. Whether you choose to share those answers with me is up to you."
Elder Mu's guidance ceased, and all sounds faded.
Xu Zihuang pondered briefly, then calmly sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state. Regardless of Elder Mu's intentions, all he could do now was meditate and cultivate here.
Hesitation at this moment would only arouse suspicion.
Moreover, with his Golden Eyes mental attribute martial soul, he faintly sensed that Elder Mu harbored no ill will toward him.
As he entered meditation, the dense light and life essence poured into his body. His bones and meridians seemed to turn translucent greenish-gold.
A cleansing clarity washed over his mind, making his thoughts unprecedentedly clear. Insights and realizations emerged, vivid and precise in his mind.
His soul power circulated rapidly on its own, and Xu Zihuang fully immersed himself in this crystal-clear state. All his memories surfaced, and he felt as if he were in a pure void.
In the first-floor hall of the Sea God Pavilion, Elder Mu still reclined on the chair at the end of the long table, now joined by Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er, standing on either side.
Yan Shaozhe's expression shifted. He had, of course, heard Elder Mu's earlier words. He found it hard to believe that, with his keen perception, he hadn't seen through Yu Tianhuang's facade.
"Teacher, shouldn't we clarify things first?" he couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Elder Mu shook his head. "He's human, and his bloodline isn't from the Sun Moon Empire. With those two facts, nothing else matters. Why press him and risk alienating him?"
Yan Shaozhe frowned slightly. "But if he's not scheming something, why the need for such a facade?"
Xian Lin'er, who often clashed with Yan Shaozhe, spoke thoughtfully. "I don't think Yu Tianhuang's facade necessarily indicates a scheme."
"Oh?" Elder Mu's drooping eyelids lifted slightly.
"Lin'er, share your thoughts."
Xian Lin'er glanced coolly at Yan Shaozhe before continuing. "While Shrek Academy has a ten-thousand-year legacy, the Body Sect and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's foundations are hardly inferior. There are also ancient sects like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. With Yu Tianhuang's talent, any faction he joins would value him immensely. Take the Body Sect—his golden-level body martial soul, second awakening alone makes him the sole heir to the next sect master. They would spare no expense, equipping him with 100,000-year soul rings and soul bones. Power, status, reputation, and strength—Yu Tianhuang will lack for nothing in the future. Compared to that, does Shrek Academy really have anything worth scheming for?"
Yan Shaozhe's eyes flickered, not angered by Xian Lin'er's rebuttal.
"Lin'er, you mean?"
Xian Lin'er's expression was complex. "I think Yu Tianhuang's reluctance to trust those around him might stem from feeling they're not on his level. His performance in this tournament shows he's inherently proud. A dragon soaring in the sky doesn't concern itself with ants in the mud. That may be an exaggeration, but he might view those around him with that mindset."
Yan Shaozhe fell silent.
In his youth, he had been Shrek Academy's top genius of his generation, but he was far less exceptional than Yu Tianhuang, unable to outshine his peers so definitively.
Ultimately, his talent was limited, and he couldn't fully relate.
Elder Mu smiled faintly. "Enough. That child's character isn't so bad; he just needs some guidance. I've already made my decision about him. He's worth the academy's full effort to nurture. You two may leave."
"Yes."
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