Xu Zihuang was unaware that a special meeting had been convened at the Sea God Pavilion just for him. In fact, since the results of the core disciple selection competition, things had seemed to settle down.
Afterward, the life and studies of the core disciples from the outer courtyard at Shrek Academy returned to a quiet routine.
Before long, nearly a week had passed.
The stars dotted the sky like dazzling jewels, densely scattered across the vast and boundless night sky. The moonlight and starlight intertwined, dispersing much of the darkness of the night.
Shrek City, located in the central part of the continent, had a night sky that was always this magnificent, resembling a starry city standing among the clouds.
Compared to the bustling and noisy inner city of Shrek, the Shrek Academy, located within the eastern city gate of Shrek City, appeared much quieter.
It was deep in the night, and the starlight passed through the window, illuminating Xu Zihuang's exquisite and flawless face. His indifferent golden eyes, with intricate golden patterns, were fully focused on a blue-gold gemstone the size of a walnut in his hand.
This was a rare metal called Crystal Silver, which was most suitable for engraving core magic arrays.
Xu Zihuang's right hand gripped the engraving knife, moving it with slight but powerful motions. As the metallic shavings fell away, a complex and mysterious core magic array slowly took shape. The entire process was smooth and uninterrupted.
About fifteen minutes later, Xu Zihuang stopped his movements, then slowly infused his soul power into the array. A straight, intensely condensed crystal-blue aura shot out from it, unwavering.
This meant that the core magic array had been successfully engraved.
If Fan Yu had been present, it would have likely completely refreshed his perception. At only twelve years old, being able to successfully engrave a level four core magic array would be astonishing.
The complexity of a level four core magic array is at least tens of times that of a level three magic array. Even Fan Yu himself would have found it difficult to do so perfectly.
Engraving a core magic array doesn't strictly prohibit mistakes, but the smaller the error, the more durable it becomes.
Without a doubt, the level four core magic array Xu Zihuang had engraved was a top-tier one. If sold on the market, it would definitely attract a lot of competition from merchants.
The difference between Soul Masters and Soul Engineers has yet to be definitively concluded, but Soul Engineers' ability to earn money far surpasses that of Soul Masters. Especially for a Soul Engineer above level four, even a casually made soul tool, after subtracting the cost of the rare metals used, could still earn thousands of soul coins in profit.
Naturally, Xu Zihuang, who was capable of engraving such a perfect level four core magic array, was truly a level four Soul Engineer.
And on the table, there were four more such level four core magic arrays. However, the types of rare metals used to engrave these arrays were all different.
Engraving different types of core magic arrays requires selecting the most suitable rare metal. Only then can the work be done with twice the result and half the effort.
"Just as I thought." Xu Zihuang murmured softly.
After the transformation of his spiritual power, he could control his soul power and strength with far more precision. This allowed him to engrave core magic arrays with even greater ease.
His soul power was far superior to that of an average Soul Master, and he might even have a high chance of successfully engraving a level five core magic array.
However, he currently had no plans to attempt engraving a level five core magic array. In fact, he was only engraving these level four core magic arrays to upgrade the core magic array inside the short whale tooth blade he had created.
When designing the blade, Xu Zihuang had already prepared to replace the core magic array inside the short whale tooth at any time.
The main body of the short whale tooth was made by Xu Zihuang from the tusk of a ten-thousand-year-old Evil Devil Orca. He even had Wang Xuan, an eighth-level Soul Engineer, assist in optimizing it. The blade was tough enough to withstand the impact of a level six core magic array.
This meant that the short whale tooth could at least be upgraded to a level six soul tool by replacing the core magic array.
With a flash of light, Xu Zihuang took out the long-unused short whale tooth from his soul tool. The dark blade and silver-white edge contrasted sharply, while the red, irregular patterns on the blade, resembling the evil runes on the Orca's body, added a fierce aura to it.
The blade's length was nearly two feet, and under the gentle light of the soul tool lamp, it gleamed with a chilling radiance.
Skilled in disassembling and replacing, the entire process was completed in five minutes.
Xu Zihuang gripped the perfectly fitting hilt. Golden soul power surged from his palm and quickly flowed into the short whale tooth. In an instant, violent purple lightning surrounded the blade, and the once pitch-black back of the blade turned into a translucent deep purple.
The power of the blade had clearly increased significantly compared to before.
Satisfied, Xu Zihuang stored the short whale tooth back into the soul tool and stretched his body slightly. He then sat on his bed, beginning his cultivation for the night.
By the lakeside of Sea God Island, the waves lapped against the shore, producing a crisp sound.
Another wave surged forward, submerging a large area of pebbles on the shore, and the clear water flowed back into the gaps between the smooth stones, creating a continuous sound of splashing.
Standing quietly by the shore in white robes was Yan Shaozhe. Not far behind him, in the direction of the shore, Ma Xiaotao, dressed in a red skirt, walked swiftly toward Yan Shaozhe.
In contrast to her fiery physique, her expression was cold. At first glance, she seemed like a beautiful woman with a huge contrast between her appearance and demeanor. However, her fiery temper matched her physique just as much.
"Teacher, did you call for me?" Ma Xiaotao stopped behind Yan Shaozhe and asked in a soft voice.
Yan Shaozhe turned around and locked eyes with Ma Xiaotao, his tone serious as he spoke.
"Xiaotao, Yu Tianhuang has twin martial souls."
Ma Xiaotao's face showed an expression of shock. The first part of the surprise was due to Yu Tianhuang having twin martial souls, which had always been a symbol of top-level talent in the history of Soul Masters, regardless of the era.
The second part of the shock was why her teacher had specifically shared this information with her.
Was it another attempt to persuade her?
At this thought, Ma Xiaotao suddenly recalled the scene from the night when she had fallen into the lake, which had also been a starry night.
Thinking of this, she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
However, before she could fully feel shy, Yan Shaozhe's melancholic voice sounded again.
"His second martial soul possesses the Ultimate Thunder attribute. Thunder is a manifestation of the world's righteousness, and Yu Tianhuang's Ultimate Thunder is the nemesis of all evil. If you were to combine with him, the evil energy within your martial soul would be completely purified. From then on, you would be truly free of the trouble of the Evil Fire and could become a true Fire Phoenix."
"Teacher—" Ma Xiaotao's face flushed with two patches of red as she pouted, avoiding his gaze, clearly embarrassed and at a loss.
The frankness of Yan Shaozhe's words caught her off guard. Though she appeared bold on the surface, deep down, she was still a young girl who had never experienced these kinds of feelings.
Caught between shyness and stubbornness, she quickly shook her head.
"Teacher, I don't want to marry someone I don't like just because of a martial soul."
What she didn't realize was that the words she had just spoken lacked the same firmness she had previously shown.
Yan Shaozhe sighed.
"The problem is, if the Evil Fire issue is not completely resolved, it will continue to burden and affect your body."
Ma Xiaotao snorted in response.
"Didn't Yu Tianhuang's first soul skill temporarily suppress my Evil Fire? If I ever need help, I can just ask him for assistance."
"Yu Tianhuang's first soul skill can only help you suppress it for seven days at most. Xiaotao, are you planning to bind yourself to him for the rest of your life?" Yan Shaozhe's voice carried a hint of anger.
"What if he decides to leave the academy in the future? Are you going to leave with him?"
When Ma Xiaotao saw that Yan Shaozhe was angry, she immediately quieted down and, feeling wronged, said, "Teacher, I…"
Yan Shaozhe waved his hand, interrupting her, his tone softening considerably.
"Foolish girl, I'm not forcing you. Without the burden of the Evil Fire, with your talent, you should be able to soar to great heights. In fact, surpassing me in the future is not difficult. I'm just thinking of what's best for you. Now go and rest."
"Mm."
Ma Xiaotao obediently responded, her expression complicated, as she turned and left.
Yan Shaozhe turned back to face the vast Sea God Lake, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickering in his eyes.
As he did, he seemed to sense something, and turned his gaze toward a figure standing nearby.
Standing there was a woman in her fifties, her black hair neatly tied up. It was Xian Lin'er, the Dean of the Soul Guidance Department, who had appeared in the Sea God Pavilion meeting earlier.
Xian Lin'er stared coldly at Yan Shaozhe and spoke in a frosty tone.
"Yan Shaozhe, you're still the same as you were in your younger years. To tie down Yu Tianhuang, you're even plotting against your own direct disciple. I truly feel sorry for Xiaotao."
Yan Shaozhe's expression shifted.
Xian Lin'er's words had struck a nerve with him. Moreover, he had once let her down when they were younger.
But, he wasn't as despicable as Xian Lin'er made him out to be. His initial intentions had been for Ma Xiaotao's future, and binding Yu Tianhuang to Shrek Academy was secondary.
Looking at Xian Lin'er, Yan Shaozhe furrowed his brow.
"Lin'er…"
However, Xian Lin'er paid him no mind. She suddenly took off and, in the next instant, disappeared from sight.
Yan Shaozhe glanced in the direction of the Soul Guidance Department, letting out a light sigh.
....
The soft sunlight poured into the classroom of the second-year class. It was early spring, and the sunlight touching the skin didn't have the scorching heat of summer, but instead gave off a pleasant, indescribable feeling.
Xu Zihuang leaned against the window, his mind already in a state of emptiness.
It had been five days since the core disciple selection competition in the outer courtyard, and logically, the names of those chosen for the reserve team should have been announced by now.
Of course, he wasn't worried about not making it into the reserve team, but it still felt a bit strange to him.
Wang Yan, who was teaching at the podium, noticed Xu Zihuang's absent-mindedness, but did not call him out for it.
Any academy would favor outstanding students, and Xu Zihuang had answered every question Wang Yan had asked with ease.
Wang Yan wasn't the type of strict teacher who would chastise a student for daydreaming, especially since Xu Zihuang was already well-versed with the course material. Wang Yan had chosen to turn a blind eye to it.
Meanwhile, many of the female students in the class, who were bathing in the sunlight, were drawn to Xu Zihuang's remarkable appearance.
Soon, the afternoon lessons came to an end.
"Class dismissed."
The bell rang, and Wang Yan made the announcement. Then, he waved at Xu Zihuang and Wang Dong.
"Yu Tianhuang, Wang Dong, stay for a moment."
The students in the second-year class looked at the two with suspicion, especially those who had vaguely guessed what was happening, like Dai Huabin, Zhou Sicheng, and Cao Jinxuan, the core disciples.
It wasn't just them—Wang Dong himself was also surprised.
Soon after, the students left, and Wang Yan walked over to the two of them, smiling.
"Come with me."
As they exited the classroom, Ning Tian from the third-year class, led by her class teacher, also walked toward them.
"Teacher Wang, it's all yours."
The teacher from the third-year class gestured for Ning Tian to follow Wang Yan.
"Thank you, Teacher Chen." Wang Yan smiled and nodded, then led the group toward the assessment area.
Ning Tian flashed Xu Zihuang a subtle smile, positioning herself beside him.
Wang Dong snorted, turning his head away with a disdainful look on his face.
Just as the four of them entered the assessment area, Xu Zihuang was surprised to see some unfamiliar faces.
Elder Xuan had already arrived. On his left and right, there were two groups of people.
On the left stood Beibei, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan. On the other side, there were seven people, only one of whom Xu Zihuang recognized—Ma Xiaotao.
Today, Ma Xiaotao had her fiery red hair neatly tied into a ponytail, giving her a neat and clean appearance. When she saw Xu Zihuang, she couldn't help but recall the events that happened when she fell into the lake and the words Yan Shaozhe had said the night before. A hint of shyness rose in her heart, but she still confidently locked eyes with Xu Zihuang.
Like Ma Xiaotao, the other six people beside her wore the blood-red uniforms of inner courtyard disciples.
Aside from Ma Xiaotao, the other six inner courtyard disciples included four men and two women. Beibei and Xu Sanshi looked at these red-robed inner courtyard disciples with admiration and respect in their eyes.
Xu Zihuang appeared calm, walking over to Beibei's group along with Ning Tian and Wang Dong.
Wang Yan, on the other hand, respectfully stood behind Elder Xuan.
"Elder Xuan, everyone is here," Wang Yan reported.
Elder Xuan nodded and then addressed the group of seven.
"I'm sure you've all guessed the reason I've called you here today. Have you heard of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Battle Tournament?"
Xu Sanshi couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Elder Xuan, you mean for us to represent Shrek Academy in this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Battle Tournament?"
"Just because I sent you doesn't mean you all have the qualifications to go," Elder Xuan snorted. "The age limit for the tournament is under twenty years old. You will be joining as the reserve team, accompanying the official team to participate and watch."
"You've been selected for two reasons: one, as a reserve team, and two, as a substitute for the official team. Participating alongside the official team will be invaluable experience for you."
"Although you are currently part of the reserve team, this doesn't mean you'll all make it as official team members in the next tournament in five years. Over the next five years, you will be under assessment. Only those strong enough will be able to represent the academy in the tournament."
"The new Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Battle Tournament will be held in Xingluo City in ten days. Today, I'm having you meet so you can familiarize yourselves with each other and understand each other's abilities. If nothing unusual happens, you should all have a chance to participate. When we face weak opponents, we will need you to step in and mask the abilities of the official team members. Keep a proper mindset and follow orders. Do you all understand?"
"Understood," everyone responded in unison.
At the same time, Xu Zihuang glanced at Wang Dong from the corner of his eye. As a dual martial soul holder and a Soul Zun, it made sense that Wang Dong had been selected for the reserve team.
Elder Xuan didn't say anything else.
"Alright, now introduce yourselves. Let's start with the reserve team. Beibei, you go first."
"Yes, Elder Xuan." Beibei responded respectfully, stepping forward.
"My name is Beibei, a fifth-year student from the outer courtyard. I am a 42nd-level Assault System Battle Soul Master."
The second to step forward was Xu Sanshi.
"My name is Xu Sanshi, a sixth-year student from the outer courtyard, a 43rd-level Defense System Battle Soul Master."
In terms of soul power, he was slightly stronger than Beibei.
The third was He Caitou, who scratched his bald head awkwardly.
"My name is He Caitou, a fourth-year student from the Soul Guidance Department, a level four Soul Engineer."
As a Soul Engineer, he usually wouldn't mention his soul power level but would instead refer to his rank as a Soul Engineer.
Next was Jiang Nannan.
"My name is Jiang Nannan. I'm a 41st-level Speed-type Assault System Battle Soul Master, a sixth-year student from the outer courtyard."
Seeing Jiang Nannan's stunning beauty, the inner courtyard boys couldn't help but be captivated.
Among the female students, Ma Xiaotao had the best figure, and while Ning Tian was tall, she was still young and hadn't fully developed into an adult woman. But Jiang Nannan, at just fifteen years old, was at the perfect age, giving her a mature yet youthful charm that was irresistibly attractive.
Xu Sanshi nervously glanced at the inner courtyard seniors across from him. Facing Cao Jinxuan, Zhou Sicheng, and Tuoba Yu, he could still rely on his 'virtue' to impress them, but in front of these inner courtyard seniors, his strength felt insufficient.
The fifth to introduce himself was Wang Dong, who puffed out his chest proudly.
"My name is Wang Dong, a second-year student from the outer courtyard, a 31st-level Assault System Battle Soul Master."
Though he was initially surprised by his selection for the reserve team, he soon felt reassured, remembering that he was a dual martial soul holder, a genius.
He even thought to himself, "At least Shrek Academy has some vision."
This indirect acknowledgment made him feel smug.
Next was Ning Tian. She moved gracefully, her long, fair legs taking elegant strides as she stepped forward with a smile.
"My name is Ning Tian, a second-year student from the outer courtyard, a 35th-level Support System Soul Master."
The inner courtyard disciples all exchanged strange glances when they heard that Ning Tian was only a second-year student from the outer courtyard, yet had reached the 35th level of soul power.
Although Ning Tian was young, her soul power was exceptional for someone her age. At just twelve years old, she had already achieved such impressive progress, making her a standout among her peers. It was clear she was destined for the inner courtyard.
Under the watchful eyes of the group, Xu Zihuang stepped forward. His gaze was calm and composed.
"My name is Yu Tianhuang. I'm a second-year student from the outer courtyard, and I am a 42nd-level Control System Battle Soul Master."
"Second-year? Forty-two level?!"
Except for Ma Xiaotao, all the inner courtyard disciples were struck with confusion. If Elder Xuan wasn't present, they would have already demanded an explanation.
To be in the second year and already possess 42 levels of soul power was completely astonishing. Xu Zihuang's progress rate was almost unbelievable.
As they pondered, Ma Xiaotao stepped forward as well.
"I'm from the inner courtyard, Ma Xiaotao. I'm a 68th-level Assault System Battle Soul Emperor."
Yes, 68th level. When Xu Zihuang had helped her resolve her Evil Fire issue, she had broken through the 68th level barrier.
The students who were more familiar with Ma Xiaotao—Xu Zihuang, Xu Sanshi, and Beibei—were calm, but Jiang Nannan, He Caitou, Ning Tian, and Wang Dong were all stunned.
Even Wang Dong, who had pride in his dual martial souls, couldn't help but retract his smugness.
To participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Battle Tournament, one had to be under twenty years old. Reaching the 68th level before twenty was almost unheard of.
Even Wang Dong, as a dual martial soul holder, doubted he could achieve this before turning twenty. Unless, of course, he hastily added a soul ring to his Haotian Hammer martial soul.
This was no longer just terrifying; it was incomprehensible.
Behind Ma Xiaotao stood a tall youth with golden medium-length hair flowing over broad shoulders. His aura was calm, and his gaze was sharp as a blade.
"I'm from the inner courtyard, Dai Youheng. I'm a 64th-level Assault System Battle Soul Emperor."
After Dai Youheng came another male student. Though he wasn't as muscular as Dai Youheng, his figure was tall and slender. Just standing there, he exuded a sharp aura, like a blade poised for battle. Despite his fierce appearance, his face was kind, and he smiled gently.
"I'm from the inner courtyard, Chen Zifeng. I'm a 57th-level Assault System Battle Soul King."
Though his appearance wasn't as stunning as Ma Xiaotao's or Dai Youheng's, his presence was still impressive. At the age of nineteen, reaching the 57th level of soul power was remarkable in any advanced academy, even though Shrek Academy's inner courtyard was filled with genius students.
The fourth person to introduce themselves was a short-haired female student. Her appearance was ordinary, and her voice was so unremarkable it was almost surprising.
"I'm from the inner courtyard, Xixi. I'm a 56th-level Speed-type Assault System Battle Soul King."
Her brief introduction seemed unremarkable, but Xu Zihuang knew that Xixi's understated nature was key to the essence of a Speed-type Assault System Soul Master. Speed-type soul masters specialized in reconnaissance and assassination, and being ordinary allowed them to function more effectively.
The fifth person to step forward was another female student, but her beauty was far more striking than Xixi's.
Unlike Ma Xiaotao's fiery beauty or Jiang Nannan's soft elegance, this girl had an icy beauty. Her skin was snow-white, and her medium-length icy-blue hair and cool expression left a strong impression. She moved with a delicate grace, like a snowflake drifting through the air.
"I'm from the inner courtyard, Ling Luocheng. I'm a 55th-level Control System Battle Soul King."
The sixth person was a rather scrawny male student who looked especially sleazy. He was around 1.6 meters tall, with a slender frame, and his bright, sharp eyes made him resemble a squirrel.
"I'm from the inner courtyard, Yao Haoxuan. I'm a 55th-level Auxiliary Control System Battle Soul King."
Finally, the last inner courtyard disciple was another male student, though his appearance was unusually beautiful. His face was refined, with a kind of "I'm precious" charm.
He spoke in a soft voice, "I'm from the inner courtyard, Gong Yang Mo. I'm a 59th-level Auxiliary System Battle Soul King."
As an Auxiliary System Soul Master, his cultivation was only below Ma Xiaotao and Dai Youheng's among the inner courtyard disciples.
Yet his eyes always lingered on Xu Zihuang, burning with intense interest, a look that made Xu Zihuang shiver. As a Spirit-type Soul Master, Xu Zihuang was highly sensitive to spiritual energy and could feel Gong Yang Mo's intense 'interest' toward him.
Elder Xuan nodded slightly.
"Alright, you've all introduced yourselves. To deepen your understanding of each other, we'll have a friendly competition."
After a brief pause, Elder Xuan pointed at Ma Xiaotao and Gong Yang Mo.
"Let's do this. Xiaotao, Gong Yang Mo, you two won't participate. The remaining five official team members will compete against the reserve team in a team battle."
Before Ma Xiaotao and Gong Yang Mo could respond, Chen Zifeng couldn't help but ask, "Elder Xuan, are you sure?"
In his opinion, the difference in strength between the official team and the reserve team couldn't possibly be made up by numbers alone.
Even five against seven, the reserve team had no chance and would undoubtedly be crushed.
"Can't you understand what I'm saying?" Elder Xuan muttered irritably, pulling out a chicken leg from nowhere as he walked to the edge of the assessment area.
"Alright, I'll give you all fifteen minutes to prepare. When I say 'start,' you can begin. Don't hold back, I'll be watching."
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
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