The stone path leading down from the hilltop training ground was carved directly into the hard rock, a series of greenstone steps. Only a single arm-thick cold iron chain served as a railing on the outer edge.
The mountainside was covered with lush green vegetation. Mist rose in coils from Sea God Lake, and though the greenstone steps were slippery, neither Xu Zihuang nor Zhang Lexuan, both powerful soul masters, were affected in the least.
The cold light of the soul tool lamps along the steps scattered across Zhang Lexuan's long black hair, creating a hazy and dreamlike beauty.
Xu Zihuang silently followed behind her, eyes clear, his gaze purely appreciative.
Zhang Lexuan's figure was not as voluptuous as Ma Xiaotao's, but her gentle, graceful temperament could just as easily draw one in.
If Xu Zihuang's current demeanor was that of the perfect lover in women's eyes—appearance and temperament flawlessly fitting their aesthetic—then Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan was the untouchable goddess of dreams.
She seemed close at hand, yet when one truly wished to draw near and touch her, a sense of unworthiness would arise.
Of course, Xu Zihuang was an exception. Because of his background and childhood experiences, he never harbored feelings of inferiority.
Walking in front, Zhang Lexuan suddenly stopped, turned, and met Xu Zihuang's clear gaze. She smiled softly.
"Tianhuang, what is it?"
"Without realizing, I was just drawn in by you, Senior Sister." Xu Zihuang smiled warmly. Though the words sounded slightly oily, from his lips they were honest and natural.
Zhang Lexuan smiled faintly but gave no reply.
Since becoming the Senior Sister of the inner court, Xu Zihuang was the first to say such direct words to her. She found it somewhat novel, but not enough to stir her heart, which had long been closed off.
From the start, she had regarded Xu Zihuang as a younger junior she was closer to than others.
She beckoned him over, and when he reached her side, continued down toward the mountain's base.
"Tianhuang, what do you think of our Shrek Academy?"
Xu Zihuang's heart stirred. Though he guessed her true meaning, he still gave an ambiguous answer.
"The number one academy on the continent deserves its reputation."
Zhang Lexuan's smile did not fade as she pursued further.
"With your talent, within a year or two you will surely enter the inner court. If the Academy were willing to cultivate you with all its strength, would you be willing to remain here in the future?"
Xu Zihuang glanced sideways at her, paused as if pondering, then deliberately put on a bitter expression.
"Senior Sister, in truth, I've had nowhere else to go for a long time. This past year at Shrek Academy has been the happiest and most relaxing of my twelve years of life. Through my time with you, Senior Wu, Senior Chu, Senior Ye, I've seen how good the atmosphere in the inner court is. If one day I pass the exam and enter, I think I would come to love this place as well."
His words were spoken with utmost sincerity, his expression firm, enough to move others. What he truly thought, however, only he knew.
Zhang Lexuan's gaze toward him grew warmer and more approving. She nodded firmly.
"I believe you will truly come to love this place."
…
The two conversed as they walked, until they reached the lakeside of Sea God Lake.
"Senior Sister, you needn't see me off further. I can return on my own."
"Mm." Zhang Lexuan replied softly with a smile, watching as Xu Zihuang rose into the air.
She stood for a long while, until his figure disappeared into the distant night sky, then turned gracefully toward the Sea God Pavilion.
A clear hum rang out as a thin dark-red crystalline mirror condensed in midair. Xu Zihuang, above Sea God Lake, stepped on it with his right foot to gain momentum and soared upward once more.
From afar, it looked as though he were walking on air, carefree and elegant.
The cold wind in his face lifted strands of his purple hair at his forehead and temples. His face still wore a gentle smile, yet deep within his purple eyes was calm.
The chill in his gaze was utterly different from the fiery youth who had been stirred earlier. Stepping again on a crystalline mirror, his figure was shrouded in dense mist.
Sea God Lake was vast. Even at this speed, crossing to the Martial Soul Department's side would take at least a quarter of an hour.
Taking advantage of this rare free time, he recalled the battle that afternoon against the ten-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider.
Though only at rank forty-two, his soul power's quality was excellent, and its total amount had already reached the level of a Soul King. Combined with his four powerful soul skills, his combat power was outstanding even among Soul Kings.
If the soul skills stored through his fourth skill, Copy, were strong enough, he could even threaten Soul Emperors.
That ten-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider had fallen to him because of this, perishing as a result.
Of course, in the forest he would never normally reveal all his strength without reservation.
The limitations of the arena applied to both sides. The Man-Faced Demon Spider was restricted as well. In such a confined area, his third soul skill, Temporal Disorder, had too great an advantage.
In the vast forest, if that spider had dragged the fight out at range, relying on its higher cultivation, the outcome would have been uncertain.
A quarter hour later, Xu Zihuang landed steadily on the smooth boards of the lakeside path and returned directly to the dormitory.
Entering, he saw Tuoba Yu, Cao Jinxuan, and Zhou Sichen laughing together in the lounge.
The moment Xu Zihuang stepped inside, the conversation ceased abruptly.
All three looked at him with strange eyes.
Under their stares, Xu Zihuang calmly found an empty seat, leaned back with his hands behind his head, and joked:
"Go on, keep talking. Why go mute just because I came in?"
Before, Yu Tianhuang had been strong, but within their expectations. This afternoon, however, he had single-handedly slain a ten-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider. With their backgrounds, they knew exactly what that meant.
It meant Yu Tianhuang was simply not of the same world as them.
Yet seeing him treat them no differently than before, Tuoba Yu, Zhou Sichen, and Cao Jinxuan finally relaxed.
The hearts of youths were simple, yet sensitive.
"Can't blame us. That scene of you slaying the Man-Faced Demon Spider was too shocking. I almost pissed myself," Zhou Sichen shouted loudly.
At this, his partner-in-crime Cao Jinxuan slapped his chest and chuckled.
"True, class monitor, I can vouch for him—Sichen really pissed himself."
Tuoba Yu played along: "Really? I don't believe it. Why don't you prove it now, Sichen?"
"Get lost!" Zhou Sichen cursed, pretending he was about to wrestle with them.
With Zhou Sichen's interruption, the atmosphere lightened considerably. Still, returning fully to their previous ease would take time.
Through further chatting, Xu Zihuang learned that nearly half the students of Class One and Class Two of the second grade had passed the advancement exam, including Tuoba Yu, Zhou Sichen, and Cao Jinxuan.
Notably, the three of them had also passed the Academy's assessment for core disciples, becoming official core disciples of the Martial Soul Department.
The next morning, the remaining students would continue their advancement exams. With over a hundred students across both classes, the process couldn't be completed in one afternoon. Those who had already passed would have free time.
The following morning, Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu, at leisure, cultivated together in the dormitory.
The new second-grade dormitory was far more spacious, each with a private room, so Xu Zihuang cultivated without concern.
Still, with his current cultivation, a morning's effort was but a drop in the ocean. This only deepened his eagerness to break his spiritual power through to the tangible-yet-intangible realm, to wrap his soul power with it in cultivation, thereby isolating the interference of the Extreme Lightning.
At noon, he and Tuoba Yu shared a top-tier meal reserved for core disciples of the Martial Soul Department, then went to Class One before the afternoon bell.
By then, the class was full.
After the advancement exams, the original sixty-plus students had dwindled to fewer than fifty.
When Xu Zihuang entered, all eyes turned toward him—especially those of Dai Huabin and Wang Dong. Dai Huabin's gaze was complicated, while Wang Dong's hostility remained unchanged.
As a twin Martial Soul owner, Wang Dong carried a deep sense of superiority. Even though Yu Tianhuang had displayed shocking power yesterday, he still stubbornly believed his own future achievements would surpass Yu Tianhuang's.
That afternoon's lesson was on identifying soul beast types and years, still taught by Wang Yan.
Standing behind the podium, he looked sternly at the class.
"I truly wish every one of you in Class One could remain. But the Academy's rules are as they are. Each successive advancement exam will only grow stricter. Do not slack off—encourage each other. I promise that if you endure these years, when you graduate from Shrek Academy's outer court, you will stand out among your peers."
"Do not lose heart because some students are too outstanding. Rather than complain, do your utmost to catch up."
After finishing, he scanned the class, then smiled gently again.
"All right, let's begin."
Many students were distracted, their thoughts wandering, but Wang Yan tactfully did not call them out.
Soon, the class ended.
Earlier, Ning Tian had asked a classmate to tell him that Teacher Fan Yu wanted him at the Soul Tool Department that afternoon.
So Xu Zihuang left the classroom alone, walking quietly toward Sea God Lake.
Since Class One ended earlier than others, most students had already left.
Xiao Xiao remained seated, staring at his back. As if summoning courage, she rose to follow him. But before she had taken a few steps, a tall blonde girl passed by her, heading straight toward Xu Zihuang.
Xiao Xiao halted like air leaking from a balloon. To hide her feelings, she deliberately changed direction, leaving through Shrek Square.
The blonde girl was Ning Tian of Class Three. Her delicate face carried a gentle smile, but the corner of her eye had glanced at Xiao Xiao.
A twin Martial Soul genius like Xiao Xiao had naturally caught her attention.
Talented youths never lacked admirers—something she had long prepared herself for.
Even so, a sense of urgency welled in her heart. Yu Tianhuang was too outstanding, so much so that even as the heir of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she lacked absolute confidence.
Suppressing her emotions, she approached Xu Zihuang with a bright smile.
"Tianhuang."
"Let's go." Xu Zihuang nodded without extra words, walking alongside her toward the Soul Tool Department.
They had often gone together like this last semester to study there—it felt completely natural.
As they walked the lakeside path, Ning Tian glanced at him suddenly and asked:
"That girl Xiao Xiao, the twin Martial Soul genius, she's in your class, right?"
She studied his face as she spoke.
"There is such a person." Xu Zihuang's expression didn't change. He met her gaze calmly.
"What of it?"
Whether from shyness or guilt, Ning Tian's eyes flickered for an instant, though she quickly recovered her composed demeanor and shook her head casually.
"Nothing. I just happened to see her earlier."
The two, each with their own thoughts, chatted as they walked. After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at the Soul Tool Department's testing area.
Unlike usual, the lab was crowded with over twenty students, most fourteen or older, a few eighteen or nineteen.
In the combat zone, two students were fighting, while several teachers observed and took notes—likely conducting advancement exams.
The duel had reached its climax, beams of light crossing dazzlingly in the air.
Instinctively, Xu Zihuang used the innate vision of his Golden Eyes Martial Soul to trace the beams' trajectories. His heart stirred as he glanced at the student on the left.
As if in response, the fight ended.
"Bang—!" The left student's soul tool shield shattered into light. At once, a level-four mobile soul tool shield, controlled by the proctor, blocked the opponent's remaining strikes.
"Tang Suifeng defeats Ling Xue. One point added." A teacher recorded the result.
Nearby stood Fan Yu, the Soul Tool Department's special-grade teacher, and He Caitou, tall and dark-skinned.
Both had noticed Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian entering, though their attention was mainly on Xu Zihuang.
Ning Tian was used to it. With a polite bow, she went off to test soul tools in another area, where teachers supervised for safety.
Xu Zihuang quickly stepped forward.
"Teacher Fan Yu."
He smiled at He Caitou as well.
"Senior He."
He Caitou grinned broadly.
"Junior Yu, I heard you shone brilliantly in the Martial Soul Department's advancement exam this time. Amazing, truly amazing." He even gave him a thumbs-up.
Fan Yu also looked at him.
"Tianhuang, I called you here today to ask if you're free during this week's day off. I've just developed a batch of special fixed soul cannons. I'd like you and Caitou to leave the Academy to test their effects in the field."
"Teacher Fan Yu, just Senior He and me?" Xu Zihuang was startled, meeting Fan Yu's gaze.
Fan Yu nodded.
"Yes, just the two of you. You'll operate them, and Caitou will record the data."
Xu Zihuang pretended to consider, then said seriously: "This week should be fine."
"Good. Then Caitou will notify you when the time comes." Fan Yu agreed readily, his eyes carrying a trace of peculiarity.
To slay a ten-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider head-on as a Soul Ancestor showed extraordinary talent in Martial Soul cultivation. Yet such a genius was also the ideal candidate for his plan.
Sea God Pavilion had long since discussed Yu Tianhuang's future cultivation path. Their conclusion: everything should be left to Yu Tianhuang's own choice.
Thus, Fan Yu seized this chance to have him join Caitou in testing the soul tools—hoping he might gain an interest in them.
The actual testing of the fixed soul cannons was secondary.
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