Shrek City is located on the vast Lima Plain, right in the heartland of the original Douluo Continent, making it the undisputed economic and trade center of the continent.
On the official roads surrounding Shrek City, people came and went, exceptionally lively.
To avoid attracting too much attention and causing accidental injuries, Beibei chose a spacious open area thirty kilometers south of Shrek City as the training and coordination ground for the Tang Sect representative team.
Continuing further south from here would lead to the territory of the Star Luo Empire. Back when Elder Xuan led everyone to the Mingdou Mountain Range to exterminate the Death God Emissary bandit group, they had passed through this very route.
Looking into the distance, one could faintly see the continuous undulating mountains in the northwest of the Star Luo Empire.
Beibei had precisely remembered this area that few people passed through.
After all, the northwest of the Star Luo Empire had relatively rugged terrain overall, far less prosperous than the area around Star Luo City or the southeastern coastal cities. Even merchant caravans heading to Shrek City for trade would generally take a detour and enter the Lima Plain from other directions.
According to Beibei's arrangements, the Tang Sect representative team members were preparing to spar with each other.
Beibei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and He Caitou had represented Shrek Academy in the previous All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition five years ago. They had known each other for many years and had long cultivated a deep rapport.
The same was true for Tang Ya with everyone else. Relatively speaking, these five integrated much more smoothly than the Shrek Academy representative team.
Beibei was well aware that what needed to be done next was to help Dai Luoli and Huo Yuhao blend in.
He still greatly approved of Dai Luoli's strength. Dai Luoli's Blood Tiger martial soul was essentially a White Tiger with added spiritual attribute capabilities. In terms of martial soul quality, it was in no way inferior to his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. His four soul skills were likewise outstanding among soul masters of the same level.
If Dai Luoli could perfectly integrate into the team, the Tang Sect representative team would gain more assistance when facing those top-tier strong teams.
As for Huo Yuhao, he didn't hold much expectation. Earlier, when Huo Yuhao fought Dai Huabin and used the Mother-Child Soul-Chasing Life-Seizing Shells, and later when Beibei reprimanded him, a cold light had flashed deep in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
Such an extreme personality and mindset had already left Beibei thoroughly disappointed.
Beibei increasingly felt that his original judgment back then was correct—Huo Yuhao was very likely to go down a crooked path in the future. He had even begun to consider expelling Huo Yuhao from the Tang Sect.
It was only out of consideration for the kind-hearted Tang Ya that he had temporarily refrained from saying anything.
His only requirement for Huo Yuhao participating in this All-Continent Youth Soul Master Competition was to try not to drag them down.
While exchanging words with Xu Sanshi and He Caitou beside him, Beibei's peripheral vision fell on Dai Luoli and Huo Yuhao not far away. The two were following his arrangement and sparring.
He was truly afraid that Huo Yuhao would act extremely again and use the Tang Sect's hidden weapons against Dai Luoli.
Huo Yuhao held two silver daggers; these were two level-3 close-combat soul tools he had crafted himself. Relying on the soul tools and his three spiritual-attribute soul skills, he actually managed to fight Dai Luoli back and forth.
Of course, this was because Dai Luoli had not used his full strength.
Although his impression of Huo Yuhao wasn't great, he wouldn't deliberately target Huo Yuhao because of it.
After Dai Luoli's martial soul origin was fully stimulated by Xu Zihuang, his spiritual power realm had surpassed that of Huo Yuhao, who was a spiritual-attribute soul master. Combined with the characteristics of the Blood Tiger martial soul, Huo Yuhao's first two attack-type spiritual-attribute soul skills basically had very little effect on him.
The blood-colored halo formed by the fusion of spiritual power and soul power in his body inherently possessed a certain resistance to spiritual-attribute soul skills.
With a flash, he dodged the two silver cold glints slashed out by Huo Yuhao. Dai Luoli's fists, transformed into blood-colored tiger head phantoms, smashed into the six-element barrier on Huo Yuhao's body.
Huo Yuhao's third soul skill, Six-Element Barrier, essentially used spiritual power to mobilize the elements in the air for his own use.
But what Dai Luoli used was the combat technique Thought of Winter Fist, which fused spiritual power and soul power—a clearly higher level. Struck by the two tiger head phantoms, the various elemental energies within the Six-Element Barrier immediately became chaotic and then shattered with a boom.
Huo Yuhao was sent flying in a very sorry state, landing on the ground. It wasn't an injury from Dai Luoli's Thought of Winter Fist, but rather he was blasted away by the exploding elemental energies.
"Are you okay?"
Today was the first time Dai Luoli sparred with Huo Yuhao. Seeing him in such a miserable state, he hurried forward with a concerned expression.
At the same time, he was somewhat puzzled. He had clearly held back his strength. Why had this happened?
As the user of the Six-Element Barrier soul skill, Huo Yuhao knew the reason very well. It was because Dai Luoli's blood-colored energy had invaded, causing his own spiritual power to lose control over those elemental energies.
Huo Yuhao struggled to his feet and looked at Dai Luoli with a complicated expression. Being defeated by Dai Luoli was much easier for him to accept. Moreover, he could tell that Dai Luoli's concern was genuine.
He never expected that in this world, aside from his mother, there would be someone who truly cared about him. And this person was his blood-related younger brother.
"I'm fine."
With comfort in his heart, Huo Yuhao felt deeply moved. He shook his head, his gaze toward Dai Luoli exceptionally gentle.
"Can you tell me what ability you used just now? That shouldn't be a soul skill, right? Is it something you created yourself?"
"This is a combat technique. I call it Thought of Winter Fist," Dai Luoli said, somewhat embarrassedly, while scratching his head.
"It's not something I created myself. It was taught to me by someone else."
"Thought of Winter Fist?" Huo Yuhao recalled the scene of Dai Luoli fighting Dai Huabin and subconsciously clenched his fists.
The power of this combat technique was undeniable. If he could learn it too, his strength would greatly increase. That would add a bit more hope to his revenge against the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
He could sense that this Thought of Winter Fist seemed related to spiritual power. And he happened to be a spiritual-attribute soul master.
With this thought, a trace of hope appeared in Huo Yuhao's gaze toward Dai Luoli.
"Luoli, then… could you teach me this Thought of Winter Fist too?"
"Luoli?" Dai Luoli frowned slightly.
Their relationship didn't seem close enough for that yet, right? Huo Yuhao addressing him this way, combined with the subsequent request, made him feel somewhat repelled.
However, well-mannered Dai Luoli did not show this openly.
"As I said earlier, this Thought of Winter Fist was taught to me by someone else. Without permission, I cannot pass it on privately."
"Then who taught it to you?" Huo Yuhao asked instinctively.
"It was Brother Yu. The captain of the Shrek representative team."
Dai Luoli's eyes revealed thick admiration and reverence. He continued speaking on his own about Xu Zihuang's past glorious achievements and his respect for him.
"As early as five years ago, at just twelve years old, Brother Yu represented Shrek Academy and won the championship of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition…"
Lost in his own world, Dai Luoli snapped back to reality and found that Huo Yuhao had somehow lowered his head at some point. His fingers dug deeply into the soil, and his entire aura instantly turned cold and dark.
"Why do you call him Brother Yu?"
Blood threads entwined in Huo Yuhao's eyes, hidden behind his disheveled hair. Various emotions surged in his heart.
Ever since entering Shrek Academy, he had constantly lived in the shadow of Yu Tianhuang. Even in a place full of geniuses like Shrek Academy, Yu Tianhuang's brilliance was dazzling enough.
Most importantly, Yu Tianhuang was also of noble birth.
Why were these nobles superior from birth? Yet no matter how hard he cultivated, it all seemed like a joke. Was a person's fate truly decided from the moment they were born?
Huo Yuhao had asked himself this question more than once in his heart.
He felt so powerless against such a massive class disparity. Gradually, that powerlessness and unwillingness began to transform into jealousy and resentment, or rather, misanthropy.
But now, the only blood relative who acknowledged him actually admired Yu Tianhuang so much. It was simply heart-wrenching for him.
"Why what? Brother Yu has always been the person I respect the most," Dai Luoli replied in confusion. Hearing Huo Yuhao's tone, he sensed an inexplicable hostility toward Yu Tianhuang.
After saying this, he stood up and left directly, too lazy to bother with Huo Yuhao anymore.
"Heh." Staring at Dai Luoli's departing back, Huo Yuhao gave a self-mocking smile.
At this moment, Xu Sanshi was sparring one-on-one with He Caitou, and Jiang Nannan with Tang Ya. But Beibei was still paying attention to Huo Yuhao and Dai Luoli's side. With his cultivation, he had naturally heard their entire conversation clearly. A moment later, he sighed somewhat disappointedly.
"As expected, huh?"
He had to admit that some people's nature was simply like this. Even after all his efforts to guide him, it was still completely meaningless.
...
This was merely an interlude during this period. As time passed afterward, both the Shrek representative team and the Tang Sect representative team gradually got on track.
Huo Yuhao no longer showed any abnormalities; only his attitude toward Dai Luoli underwent a subtle change.
Things seemed to be developing in a positive direction.
In the blink of an eye, another half a month passed.
Xu Zihuang, who had been in secluded cultivation in the underground world of the Golden Tree, had his consciousness immersed in a boundless, vast starry sky. Around him surged a gentle yet strange spatial power. In addition, a brilliant golden River of Time stretched across the entire starry expanse.
The golden River of Time flowed with light. Though only half a month had passed outside, he felt as though he had trained bitterly here for over half a year.
Suddenly, he abruptly opened his eyes. His gaze was profound, just like the vast starry sky his consciousness had occupied moments ago.
Xu Zihuang silently stared at his right hand, his eyes slightly narrowed. Then, as if relieved, he let out a light laugh.
Dragon Emperor Shock Domain Realm and Dragon Emperor Evil-Breaking Rend Imprint, completed!
And just as he had expected, his second martial soul, Purple Inferno Thunder Prison Dragon's second soul skill, Dragon Emperor Shock Domain Realm, and third soul skill Dragon Emperor Evil-Breaking Rend both possessed multiple forms.
Extreme Thunder form, Destruction attribute form, and the fused Annihilation attribute form.
Although the three 100,000-year soul rings of his second martial soul, Purple Inferno Thunder Prison Dragon, only granted him three soul skills, in reality, they were equivalent to giving him nine soul skills combined.
Xu Zihuang slowly stood up and walked out of the room. Not long after proceeding along the corridor, the wooden door of the room on the right opened at the same moment.
A tall woman stepped out. Her smooth, golden, long hair draped over her fragrant shoulders. Her fair skin resembled transparent golden crystal, filled with a warm and refreshing aura. Only after she exited the room did the phenomenon around her body disappear. Her cool gaze fell on Xu Zihuang and instantly turned gentle and doting.
It was none other than Ye Guyi, who had just finished deep meditation.
This deep meditation of hers had lasted a full two months and more, but the results far exceeded expectations.
The two were momentarily stunned, then smiled at each other and drew closer together.
Elder Xuan's figure quietly appeared in the main hall of the Golden Tree underground world, watching this "siblings" pair with a smile.
If Yu Tianhuang were to inherit the position of Sea God's Pavilion Master in the future, it would essentially bind Ye Guyi to Shrek Academy as well. The fact that he had so readily handed over the 100,000-year Heavenly Dragon Horse dragon crystal was also partly for this reason.
Lost in thought, he stepped forward toward them.
...
The setting sun dyed the vast, boundless surface of the Sea God Lake a golden red. On Sea God Island, the shadows of tall trees stretched long.
Sea God Island always seemed peaceful and serene, no matter the time.
At that moment, a resounding dragon roar shattered the tranquility.
"Aooo—"
A thousand meters above Sea God Island, a giant dragon entwined with black-purple lightning rose into the sky. The black-purple dragon head exuded an air of dominating the heavens, overlooking this world. Xu Zihuang stood proudly atop the dragon head, his long black hair fluttering in the wind as he gazed at Ye Guyi a hundred meters away.
This giant dragon, over a hundred meters long, alarmed all the inner court disciples and teachers on Sea God Island. They all instinctively looked up.
Centered on that giant dragon, a black-purple light ring over a hundred meters in diameter appeared in the sky.
Immediately afterward, smaller versions of black-purple Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragons emerged within the ring.
"Aooo—"
The central dragon head roared once more. They instantly transformed into streaks of black-purple lightning crisscrossing within the ring. Filled with terrifying thunder power, space itself seemed to tear and shatter, rippling with waves.
Then, a massive black-purple light pillar, like a natural disaster, shot straight into the sky. The pillar's diameter exceeded a hundred meters and even showed signs of expanding outward after erupting.
Purple Inferno Thunder Prison Dragon's second soul skill, Dragon Emperor Shock Domain Realm!
Ye Guyi raised both hands high, holding the radiance of the Seven-Star Lightflame Sword. The red seventh soul ring around her shone brightly.
Seventh soul skill—Angel True Body!
Her body suddenly turned into dazzling gold. The intensity of the golden light made her look as though she had been carved from pure gold.
A holy angel descended as if from the divine realm. A powerful sacred aura burst outward, and the angel wings behind her had clearly become six.
This was the greatest gain from Ye Guyi's deep meditation this time, evolving her martial soul into a Six-Winged Angel at the Soul Saint rank.
A huge golden six-winged angel phantom manifested behind her. It mirrored her movements, raising an angel's holy sword high.
The angel holy sword overlapped with the radiance of the Seven-Star Lightflame Sword. The sky seemed split in two, one side brilliant gold, the other crimson red.
With a light shout from Ye Guyi, she swung a heaven-shaking sword beam. Matching the sky's colors, one side was brilliant gold, the other crimson red. It collided with the massive black-purple light pillar.
"Boom, boom, boom, boom—"
Continuous explosions thundered in the air. In the end, the sword beam was extinguished within the light pillar, scattering into countless fragments of light.
However, the black-purple light pillar only lasted a few seconds before reaching its peak and slowly dissipating.
In the sky, the afterimages of Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragons faintly lingered, as though those dozen or so black-purple giant dragons had ascended to the heavens.
Ye Guyi gave Xu Zihuang a slightly reproachful glare before descending downward. Though their clash had only been once, Ye Guyi deeply realized the gap between herself and Xu Zihuang.
With a helpless expression, Xu Zihuang could only follow.
On the open ground in front of Sea God Pavilion, Elder Xuan watched the gradually fading giant dragon phantoms, his eyes growing slightly moist. He sighed softly.
"Mu En, you have a worthy successor. Tianhuang will surely surpass his master in the future and lead the academy to even greater prosperity."
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