In the hall of the Sea God Pavilion's underground world, Elder Mu was reclining on a chair, resting with his eyes closed.
Suddenly, his aged eyes opened slightly. As if responding to his gaze, a series of steady footsteps echoed from the passage in the center of the hall's right wall.
A tall, upright figure gradually emerged. The first thing noticeable was a pair of noble, deep purple eyes. But unlike the gentle warmth they once held, his gaze now carried an endless indifference, as if looking down upon all living beings.
It was Xu Zihuang, who had just completed over a month of deep meditation.
This month-long deep meditation had naturally allowed his soul power to break through to level 44, and he was not far from level 45. This was the immense benefit brought by deep meditation.
The effects of this month's deep meditation were equivalent to four months of normal cultivation. This was even considering his possession of an ultimate martial soul, which made his soul power exceptionally high in quality. For an ordinary soul master, a single month of deep meditation would have been enough to break through two or three levels of soul power.
The reason Shrek Academy's Inner Court disciples could surpass their peers of the same age was closely tied to such opportunities for deep meditation.
Noticing the indifference in Xu Zihuang's eyes, Elder Mu's gaze remained exceptionally gentle.
"I believe you've found your own path."
"You're not going to ask me about it?" Xu Zihuang met Elder Mu's gaze directly.
"My surname is Mu, so you can call me Elder Mu. My stance remains the same as before: if one day you're willing to share, I'll be here to listen before I pass on. But I won't force you. You have talent, opportunity, and a maturity far beyond your peers. As your elder, I'm only pleased for you."
"I have only one piece of advice. You're a smart child, and I believe you understand what I mean without me saying it."
Xu Zihuang respectfully bowed to Elder Mu.
"Elder Mu, thank you for your trust."
Through the month of deep meditation and reflection, combined with Elder Mu's earlier words and tone, he was certain that Elder Mu did not know his true identity.
If Elder Mu knew he carried the bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family, his attitude toward him would not be like this.
From beginning to end, Elder Mu had only emphasized that he lacked sincerity in his interactions with those around him.
By now showing his truest self, he was also making a statement to Elder Mu.
Elder Mu smiled at Xu Zihuang, his gaze softening even further.
With a flash of golden light, the two returned to the first-floor hall of the Sea God Pavilion.
Elder Mu, reclining at one end of a long wooden table, waved a hand at Xu Zihuang.
"Go on."
Xu Zihuang bowed respectfully to Elder Mu once more before turning to leave the Sea God Pavilion.
As soon as Xu Zihuang left, Elder Xuan's figure appeared in the first-floor hall of the Sea God Pavilion. Unlike his usual disheveled appearance, he was much more restrained in Elder Mu's presence, no longer casually eating meat or drinking wine with greasy hands.
Elder Mu, still lying on the recliner, seemed to sense Elder Xuan's thoughts and spoke softly.
"Pride is never a flaw, and having ambitions is perfectly acceptable. From this child's perspective, his peers, even Inner Court disciples like Xiao Tao, cannot stand on the same level as him. When we were young, we never reached his heights, so we can't fully empathize. But this child is inherently good; he just needs proper guidance."
Elder Xuan's furrowed brow relaxed, though he hesitated. "But he probably doesn't feel much loyalty to the academy. That old monster from the Body Sect is domineering. Knowing that he possesses the ability of a golden-level Body Martial Soul's second awakening, they won't let him go easily. If Old Poison comes knocking, things won't be so simple to resolve."
Elder Mu smiled gently. "Xuanzi, at our level, you should know that the concept of fate is real. This child's talent surpasses even Ancestor Tang San from ten thousand years ago. If my intuition is correct, he is the chosen one of this era, a person blessed with a great destiny. Ancestor Tang San shattered the ambitions of the Martial Soul Hall back then, and this child may well be the hope for our original Douluo Continent to resist the Sun Moon Empire's invasion."
"Not long ago, I personally visited the Sun Moon Empire. I saw many shocking things. The development of their soul tools has exceeded our imagination. I even saw a super-large soul tool that requires multiple people to operate, and that thing could threaten my life. Once perfected and deployed in war, it could easily shift the tide of battle. Once the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family and internal chaos are resolved, war may not be far off. We don't have much time left."
At this, Elder Mu's eyes carried a hint of gravity.
Elder Xuan's expression shifted as well; this was the first time he had heard Elder Mu mention such matters.
Then Elder Mu's tone changed. "As for whether he joins the Body Sect, that depends on his own choice. We must admit that the Body Sect is the most knowledgeable about Body Martial Souls. If he decides to leave, we have no reason to stop him. But if he chooses to stay, with me here, the Body Sect won't stir up any trouble."
Though Elder Mu's tone was calm, it carried an indescribable dominance, a reflection of absolute confidence in his own strength.
While Elder Mu and Elder Xuan conversed, Xu Zihuang walked along the cobblestone path to the halfway point of the mountain where the Sea God Pavilion was located.
Towering trees blocked out the sky, and through their gaps, the distant Sea God Lake, reflecting the sunset, could faintly be seen.
This conversation with Elder Mu had caused a subtle shift in his mindset.
As Elder Mu had implied, without a trace of sincerity, even the most perfect disguise would eventually reveal flaws.
Fortunately, Elder Mu did not know his true identity or intentions. This was a blind spot in perspective. With his Golden Pupil and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul as a cover, who would suspect he carried the bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family?
After all, powerful martial soul inheritances were rare in the Sun Moon Empire, and there had never been a case of a martial soul mutating into a Body Martial Soul. Even twin martial souls had only appeared once, in Kong Deming, the current master of the Sun Moon Empire's Imperial Consecration Hall.
With so many indirect corroborations, no one would associate him with the Sun Moon Empire.
During his earlier meditation, he had put himself in Elder Mu's shoes to consider how he appeared.
The answer was a peerlessly talented, extremely proud individual who had never shown his truest self. It was an arrogance akin to standing atop a mountain peak, looking down on all beings. This arrogance was indeed part of his true nature, though it differed from what Elder Mu perceived.
Through Elder Mu's earlier words, he understood his intentions.
As a Limit Douluo-level powerhouse, Elder Mu treated him with sincerity, advising him to be more genuine with others. That was one aspect.
The other was to awaken him, urging him to temper his arrogance. His disguise had not fooled everyone, and this arrogance could potentially lead him into danger in the future.
Unknowingly, Xu Zihuang had reached the edge of Sea God Island. Before him lay the clear, blue Sea God Lake, now tinged gold and red under the sunset's glow.
After over a month of deep meditation, it was now early summer. Countless exotic flowers bloomed across Sea God Island, their refreshing fragrance lingering in the air, uplifting the spirit.
With the low number of Inner Court disciples at Shrek Academy, many of whom were away on Monitor missions, his walk felt as though he were in a secluded valley.
A thin, mirror-like dark red crystal formed in midair. Stepping lightly on it, Xu Zihuang leaped into the air from the lakeside.
It was evening, and much of the mist over Sea God Lake had dissipated. His figure could be seen soaring through the air, heading toward the Outer Court's Martial Soul Department.
In the classroom of Shrek Academy's Outer Court, Second-Year Class One.
Wang Yan stood at the podium, holding a thick stack of teaching materials, lecturing on his martial soul theory course.
As a teacher, he was undoubtedly highly qualified. Upon returning to the academy, he immediately resumed his duties. Even though Dean Yan Shaozhe had rewarded him with access to the Sea God Pavilion's library for a year in recognition of leading the Shrek team to victory in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, he only visited the library in his spare time, never neglecting his teaching.
Most students in Second-Year Class One listened attentively. Nearly half the semester had passed, and in another six months, they would face the rigorous advancement exam to move from second to third year. Anyone hoping to stay at Shrek Academy would not dare slack off.
Especially Dai Huabin, who had recently broken through to level 39, just one step away from the Soul Ancestor realm.
With Yu Tianhuang leading the way and Dai Huabin close behind, the competitive atmosphere in Second-Year Class One was palpable. Though Second-Year Class Two consisted of defense and agility-attack soul masters, their overall level was far behind Class One.
Wang Yan turned to adjust his gold-rimmed glasses, preparing to move to the next topic, when he noticed many students looking out the window.
Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, and Tuoba Yu, sitting together, immediately started making a fuss.
"Teacher Wang, the class monitor is back!"
Following their gazes, Wang Yan saw a familiar, handsome face—it was Xu Zihuang, who had just left Sea God Island.
With a gentle smile, he stepped forward and opened the classroom door.
"Tianhuang, come in."
After nodding slightly to the class, Xu Zihuang took a seat next to Zhou Sichen and the others.
Dai Huabin's eyes flickered. He didn't know what kind of transformation Yu Tianhuang had undergone, but he had a strong intuition that the gap between them, far from narrowing, had grown even wider.
Some of the female students looked at Xu Zihuang with a special gleam in their eyes. His already striking appearance and aura were captivating enough, but after the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament and a month of deep meditation, he seemed to exude an indescribable allure.
Even Xiao Xiao, sitting beside Wang Dong, was no exception. Though shy by nature, she blushed and stole glances at Xu Zihuang in the back of the classroom.
Wang Dong's expression was complex, and even long after Xu Zihuang passed by, he hadn't recovered.
Wu Feng, sitting in a corner of the classroom, appeared utterly subdued. Recalling her conversation with Ning Tian that night, she didn't even dare meet Xu Zihuang's eyes.
"Class monitor, it's been over two months, and somehow you've gotten even more handsome. Not leaving us any chance, huh?" Zhou Sichen said sourly, noticing the female classmates' unusual gazes.
Cao Jinxuan chimed in, feigning agreement. "Exactly, you're eating all the meat, leave some scraps for your brothers!"
Though their words were mostly teasing, there was genuine envy.
Especially with Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, the adorable twin sisters who were well-liked in class for their approachable personalities. Many male students had feelings for them, including Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan. But it was clear to everyone that the twins were only interested in Yu Tianhuang.
The only one who remained calm was Tuoba Yu. Having been in the same class as Xu Zihuang since their freshman days, he was used to this.
With a gaze that seemed to say, "I've seen through the ways of the world," he looked at Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan as if to say, "Hmph, so young."
Xu Zihuang, exasperated, ignored the two.
His arrival noticeably shifted the classroom's atmosphere. Knowing the students wouldn't absorb much more of the lesson, Wang Yan decided to end class early.
"That's all for today's lesson. Tianhuang, Wang Dong, stay behind."
Wang Yan's words disappointed the students who had hoped to talk to Xu Zihuang after class.
Soon, the classroom emptied, leaving only Xu Zihuang and Wang Dong.
"Tianhuang, Wang Dong, come with me to my office. Tianhuang, bring Ning Tian as well."
"Yes, Teacher Wang," both responded in unison.
Wang Yan led Wang Dong toward the faculty office building behind the senior teaching building, while Xu Zihuang went alone to the classroom of Second-Year Class Three, on the same floor.
As he arrived at the door of Second-Year Class Three, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
The female teacher finished her lesson and stepped out, pausing briefly upon seeing Xu Zihuang before nodding with a smile.
She had a deep impression of this genius, renowned throughout the Outer Court.
Following the teacher were some students from Second-Year Class Three. As the class consisted entirely of support-type soul masters, it had the fewest students among the four classes.
Surrounded by a group of more than a dozen female students, Ning Tian walked out, a sight pleasing to the eye. Female students made up the majority of Class Three. With her cultivation, talent, and background unmatched in the class, Ning Tian, as class monitor, was also approachable and held high prestige.
Seeing Xu Zihuang waiting there, her delicate face lit up with surprise.
"Tianhuang, you're back?"
No matter how mature she was, she was still just a twelve-year-old girl. Having just confirmed their relationship and not seeing each other for over a month, she couldn't help feeling a sense of longing and insecurity.
"Mm."
Xu Zihuang gently took Ning Tian's hand, responding softly.
His action elicited gasps from the girls around Ning Tian, their eyes burning with gossip.
"Sister Tian'er, what's this?!"
Ning Tian's aqua blue eyes were full of shyness, but there was a bit of sweetness in addition to the shyness. Then he took the initiative to hold Xu Zihuang's arm. With practical actions, we answered their questions.
Xu Zihuang nodded politely to the girls before leading Ning Tian away.
As their figures disappeared into the distance, the girls' excited chatter erupted.
"Oh my gosh, I've never seen Tian'er-jie with that expression before. Is that really the Sister Tian'er we know?"
"What's so surprising? That's Yu Tianhuang, the Outer Court's top genius, surpassing even Senior Bei and Senior Xu."
"But Sister Tian'er and Yu Tianhuang do look good together."
"…"
In the faculty office building, Wang Yan's office.
The office was simply decorated.
Aside from rows of bookshelves, there was only a desk and chair set and a guest sofa.
Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian sat closely together on the right end of the sofa. To his left were Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi, and Wang Dong. The wide sofa could easily seat ten people, so it didn't feel crowded at all.
Xu Sanshi, as usual, was trying every trick to win Jiang Nannan's favor, but she was completely unreceptive, her face full of disdain. If not for Teacher Wang Yan's presence, she might have lashed out on the spot.
At that moment, a steady knock sounded at the door.
Wang Yan looked up, his expression gentle, toward the door. "Come in."
"Teacher Wang, we're here." As expected, Beibei and He Caitou entered the office.
Beibei locked the door behind him and, noticing Xu Zihuang and the others on the sofa, smiled. "Looks like everyone's here."
He had a faint guess about why Wang Yan had gathered them so suddenly.
Without beating around the bush, Wang Yan waved his hand, and with a flash of light, three distinct soul bones appeared.
The three soul bones floated in midair, radiating vibrant soul power glows. Their dense, almost tangible soul power fluctuations merged, making the air in the office feel heavy.
"These three soul bones are the championship rewards from the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament. After the academy's discussion, they will be distributed to you based on your abilities and characteristics, as a form of encouragement."
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