A man and a beast conversed for a long time above the Sea of Spirit.
This was the first time since the Million-Year Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm had actively fused with Xu Zihuang that Xu Zihuang had patiently listened to everything about the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm's past.
What the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm recounted was mostly the same as what Xu Zihuang knew from his previous life's memories, only with much more detailed nuances.
"So, according to you, that Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion should face her fourth heavenly tribulation within the next hundred years. And she most likely won't be able to survive it. Tian Meng, what do you plan to do?" Xu Zihuang, sitting cross-legged, extended his right hand and placed it on the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm's glistening white skin.
Tian Meng hesitated for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Zihuang, the reason I chose to actively fuse with you, aside from the fact that my lifespan was nearing its limit after reaching a million years of cultivation, was mainly because I wanted to follow you and obtain the chance at eternal life."
"Although among us spirit beasts, there are existences with noble bloodlines like Bing Bing, who are born with powerful physiques and innate abilities, compared to the potential of humans, we spirit beasts fall far short. Humans are the race with the greatest potential on the continent. Human bodies are fragile and their lifespans short, yet the heavens have blessed your potential. In just a few short decades, a human soul master who cultivates to the Titled Douluo realm can rival a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, or even a ferocious beast that has broken through two hundred thousand years of cultivation. That elder in Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, I dare say that even Bing Bing at her peak was far from being his opponent. This is the advantage of you humans, and also what we lack."
"And Zihuang, your talent is truly one of a kind in the entire history of human soul masters. I believe you have a greater chance than any human to touch that realm, breaking through the limit of human soul masters and achieving godhood. Only a god's life is truly infinite. My original plan was to find a spirit-attribute soul master to fuse with, then find an opportunity to convince Bing Bing so that together we could grant that human an Ultimate Ice second martial soul. I never expected to later encounter you by chance in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest. Your second martial soul is already an extremely domineering beast martial soul, so you clearly no longer need Bing Bing to become your martial soul. After all, you already possess sufficient potential; adding an Ultimate Ice third martial soul would instead cause conflict. However, I still retain the ice-attribute origin power within my origin. This ice-attribute martial soul can still be granted to someone else."
The Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm continued sincerely.
"I have only one request. In the future, when you have chosen a partner or have descendants, I hope you will consider granting them this ice-attribute second martial soul. With your cultivation speed, within ten years at most, you should possess strength enough to contend with Bing Bing. With me assisting from the side, fusing that ice-attribute martial soul will basically have no chance of failure."
"Tian Meng, it seems the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion holds a very important place in your heart. She wanted to devour you, yet you still think of her this way." Xu Zihuang gave a light laugh, but there was little teasing in his tone.
The experiences of his childhood had destined him to be unable to possess such sincere and selfless feelings. Melting the ice in his heart was simply too difficult.
Even toward Ning Tian, who had accompanied him day and night these past few years, he felt at most a slight stirring.
How could the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm not understand the meaning behind Xu Zihuang's words?
If the Ice Emperor became the martial soul of Xu Zihuang's partner or descendants, wouldn't that be the same as indirectly clinging tightly to Xu Zihuang's thigh?
"There's no helping it—I'm just that fond of Bing Bing." The Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm's eyes were filled with deep affection as it proudly replied.
A portion of its original power had already fused with Xu Zihuang, allowing their minds to connect. Naturally, it could sense Xu Zihuang's sincerity.
Of course, the premise of the mind connection was that Xu Zihuang actively opened his mind to it.
"Tian Meng, I promise you. This is my promise to you. Not only that, Di Tian, the Beast God who persecuted you in the Star Dou Great Forest back then, I will also take action against him in the future. The Golden Eyed Black Dragon King, a pure-blooded true dragon—quite suitable to become a spirit ring for my second martial soul, the Purple Brilliance Thunder Prison Dragon." The smile on Xu Zihuang's face vanished; his deep purple eyes were filled with killing intent.
As always, what he never lacked was talent. What he lacked was only the time to grow.
If he currently possessed sufficient strength, why would he need to walk on thin ice like now?
But that day would not be far off.
The Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm was deeply moved and grumbled, "That's exactly how it should be with that bastard Di Tian. Wasn't he the one who led the others to absorb this bro's spirit power? In the future, kill him and turn him into your spirit ring and spirit bone, Zihuang, let's see if those bastards still dare to bully this bro!"
The Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm truly hated those hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest and was even more touched.
"Although Di Tian's attributes aren't a perfect match for you, Zihuang, he is still of the dragon clan. He will definitely grant you several especially powerful spirit abilities. Still, Zihuang, your own safety must come first."
"…"
When Xu Zihuang finished his conversation with the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm, the golden morning sun was already spilling onto the edge of the room's balcony. From Tian Meng, he learned that this closed-door cultivation session had lasted a full half month.
When entering deep meditation, a soul master's bodily functions drop to their lowest consumption state. Coupled with the rich life force within his body, he didn't need to rush to eat to replenish nutrients.
Previously, he had been extending his spiritual force and sensed that He Caitou was not in the neighbouring room, so he decided to head to the laboratory first.
After ending his closed-door cultivation, he naturally had to inform Xuan Ziwen. Moreover, next, he needed Xuan Ziwen to bring him into the Illustrious Virtue Hall to study.
The moment he arrived at the laboratory, Xu Zihuang happened to run into a worried-looking Ke Ke.
As he had expected, Ke Ke informed him that Ju Zi had withdrawn from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
"Tianhuang, where do you think Sister Ju Zi went?" Ke Ke asked gloomily.
"She even had someone else deliver her withdrawal report to Teacher Xuan. Even if she wanted to leave the academy, she should at least say goodbye to us, right? How could she just leave without a word?"
Xu Zihuang patted Ke Ke's shoulder comfortingly.
"Senior Sister Ju Zi must have had her own reasons for doing this. Don't overthink it, Senior Sister Ke Ke."
Ke Ke frowned as she examined Xu Zihuang's calm expression.
"You're not worried at all that Sister Ju Zi left the academy?"
"Whether I'm worried or not won't change anything." Xu Zihuang shook his head and walked to the metal table beside Ke Ke.
Not long after, Zimu and Xuan Ziwen entered the laboratory one after the other.
Now, the only students under Xuan Ziwen were Xu Zihuang, Ke Ke, and Zimu—far quieter than before.
This time, Xuan Ziwen also brought news about He Caitou. A week ago, He Caitou had successfully passed the examination to enter Illustrious Virtue Hall. Moreover, the astonishing talent He Caitou displayed in soul tool creation had even attracted the attention of the upper echelons of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Even Xuan Ziwen had heard about it.
Xuan Ziwen studied the genius youth that Shrek Academy had sent. Although his cultivation had been raised with the help of medicine, he was still a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse. Xuan Ziwen could vaguely sense that Yu Tianhuang seemed to have gained considerable improvement from this closed-door cultivation.
As for Zimu, he was finding it increasingly difficult to see through Yu Tianhuang.
Because of Ju Zi's departure, he too had suffered a heavy blow. In front of Yu Tianhuang, he still felt a sense of defeat, but it was no longer as unnatural as before.
Compared to Wang Shaojie, Zimu's mentality was indeed much more mature.
"It looks like you're ready to enter Illustrious Virtue Hall to study. Follow me." Xuan Ziwen had always been swift and decisive in his actions, and he kindly reminded, "Illustrious Virtue Hall is not as casual as here. Your every word and action is very likely being monitored. Listen more, learn more, do more, think more, speak less."
"Yes." Xu Zihuang answered and followed behind Xuan Ziwen.
Watching Xu Zihuang and Xuan Ziwen leave, Zimu appeared much more at ease. He had actually long been qualified to take the Illustrious Virtue Hall examination, but he had delayed it because of Ju Zi. Now that Ju Zi had withdrawn and her whereabouts were unknown, he certainly would not continue to hold back his own future.
Ke Ke, gradually coming back to her senses, saw the melancholy in her eyes gradually turn into determination.
"Sister Ju Zi withdrew, and this stinking brat has also entered Illustrious Virtue Hall to study. No can do—this lady also has to work hard and prepare to take the Illustrious Virtue Hall exam!"
Xu Zihuang's entry into the Illustrious Virtue Hall went very smoothly.
Xuan Ziwen led him through several checkpoints in succession until they finally reached a vast underground hall. The space stretched as far as the eye could see, with countless experiment tables neatly lined up extending into the distance.
"Keep this card safe. You will need it every time you enter here from now on." Xuan Ziwen handed Xu Zihuang the metal card containing his identity information.
"This experiment table is yours. I've already explained the basic rules here on the way. If there's nothing else, I'll leave first—I have my own experiments to do. If you have questions and want to find me, you can use your identity card to go to Secret Experiment Area No. 1 and have the guards call me."
Seeing Xu Zihuang nod in understanding, Xuan Ziwen turned and left directly. Soon his figure disappeared into the darkness.
Xu Zihuang silently sat down at his experiment table. The table had more than fifty buttons. Pressing each button would dispense the corresponding rare metal. Of course, the allocation of these rare metals was limited once the monthly quota was used up; one had to wait until the next month for replenishment.
Compared to the experiment tables in the sixth-year teaching building's laboratory, the ones in Illustrious Virtue Hall were undoubtedly far more complete in function. As long as there were enough materials, it was entirely possible to create even level-eight soul tools here.
And starting from this day, Xu Zihuang officially began his studies inside Illustrious Virtue Hall.
Although Jing Hongchen had previously said he could enter Illustrious Virtue Hall at any time, deliberately arranging Xuan Ziwen as his mentor still had a deeper meaning.
Xuan Ziwen was usually extremely busy with his own research inside Illustrious Virtue Hall and rarely had time to teach him. In most cases, Xu Zihuang could only rely on self-study. Fortunately, he could observe the soul tools others were making, especially close-combat soul tools.
Anyone who could enter Illustrious Virtue Hall and create soul tools independently was at least a class-six soul engineer.
He did not lack real examples of soul tools to study, and with the occasional advanced concepts Xuan Ziwen provided, his abilities as a soul engineer steadily rose.
Later, he also ran into He Caitou inside Illustrious Virtue Hall. He Caitou was studying under another class-seven soul engineer from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Unlike Xu Zihuang's situation, although He Caitou's mentor explained many examples, he did not allow He Caitou to touch the experiment table and try things personally.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy was clearly much more wary of He Caitou.
But no matter how wary they were, they could not completely stop Xu Zihuang and He Caitou from gradually learning and absorbing the advanced soul tool knowledge inside Illustrious Virtue Hall.
Half a year passed quietly. Of the ten members of Shrek Academy's team, including Xu Zihuang and He Caitou, six could now enter Illustrious Virtue Hall to study. The other four had also obtained the privilege of studying in Illustrious Virtue Hall for three days every seven days.
Fan Yu's situation was similar to Xu Zihuang's, but because he possessed class-eight soul engineer ability, the restrictions placed on him by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy were even greater.
Xu Zihuang also celebrated his fifteenth birthday at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
In this half year, not only had his soul power increased by another level, breaking through to level fifty-six, but his soul engineer abilities had also improved tremendously. According to his own estimation, at his current level, he already had a certain chance of successfully creating ordinary class-seven soul tools.
However, he could not reveal any of this. He only tried making the most difficult and risky class-five soul tool, the Invincible Barrier defensive soul tool.
The activation of the Invincible Barrier did not require injecting soul power; instead, it used the Sun Moon Empire's speciality golden crystal as a medium. Under the infusion of the core array, the Invincible Barrier could instantly erupt the energy within the golden crystal to produce extremely strong defensive power.
It was an extravagant one-time-use defensive soul tool. Yet during the three seconds a class-five Invincible Barrier was active, it could grant the user defensive power comparable to a Soul Douluo.
What surprised even Xuan Ziwen was that Xu Zihuang succeeded in creating a class-five Invincible Barrier on his very first attempt.
"Ka-ka-ka—" After meticulous assembly, all the tiny components on the metal table were put together by Xu Zihuang into a golden crystal bracelet.
This was the second class-five Invincible Barrier he had successfully made—it was the one Ke Ke had pestered him to make for her.
Although Ke Ke had also passed the exam to enter Illustrious Virtue Hall during this half year, she still did not possess the ability to create a class-five Invincible Barrier.
All the materials had been provided by Ke Ke; if the creation failed, she would bear the loss herself.
Ke Ke stood quietly behind Xu Zihuang. Her petite figure remained as before. When Xu Zihuang succeeded, she finally excitedly grabbed his arm and cheered.
"Thank goodness it worked! All the savings I've scraped together these years weren't wasted!"
Fortunately, they were in the sixth-year teaching building's laboratory and not inside Illustrious Virtue Hall; otherwise, shouting like that would have gotten them kicked out long ago.
"Senior Sister Ke Ke, stop shaking, it's poking me a bit." Xu Zihuang casually handed the golden crystal bracelet to Ke Ke, his expression somewhat helpless.
This was how the two of them normally interacted after becoming very close over the past six months.
Ke Ke either completely didn't treat Xu Zihuang as a man, or she simply didn't mind at all. She was never reserved about such intimate contact. Every time, Xu Zihuang had to complain a few times before she restrained herself.
Ke Ke took the crystal bracelet. Hearing Xu Zihuang's words, her pretty face instantly flushed red. Her chest rose and fell dramatically. When her breathing finally calmed, she forced a gnashing smile.
"Hmph! Fine for the sake of you making this class-five Invincible Barrier for me, this lady will let it slide this time!"
Ke Ke immediately put the gorgeous golden crystal bracelet on her wrist, playing with it fondly while asking Xu Zihuang, "By the way, starting tomorrow, the academy will be on break. This one-month holiday, are you going back to your Shrek Academy?"
Xu Zihuang stood up and replied.
"Probably not. During this period, I plan to stroll around Mingdu and buy some things along the way."
Ke Ke's eyes lit up. Very straightforwardly, she said, "You want to tour Mingdu? Let's go together then. To save on the materials for this class-five Invincible Barrier, I've emptied all my savings. I just happen to need to go to Mingdu to sell some soul tools I've made recently and earn some extra money."
Xu Zihuang naturally would not refuse, or rather, he had been waiting for Ke Ke to say exactly this.
His trip to Mingdu this time was not as simple as he made it sound. Having Ke Ke accompany him would make him much less conspicuous.
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