Although Lin Xiao was temporarily "detained" here while waiting for news from Illustrious Virtue Hall, his treatment was quite good. Meals were delivered at noon and in the evening, and they were quite sumptuous.
Lin Xiao didn't idle either. After studying soul tools with Feng Shen, he entered meditation.
After fusing with the undead plane, his soul core still retained some of its previous effects. With each inhalation and exhalation, countless heaven and earth elemental energies entered Lin Xiao's body, instantly transforming into soul power.
Although he was sitting on the bed, his entire person seemed completely integrated with the heavens and earth. If not seen with one's own eyes, it would feel as if the spot were empty.
On the rooftop, the Snow Empress's soul was sitting there, gazing at the lights of the city's illumination soul tools, her eyes reflecting specks of light, unsure what she was pondering.
Suddenly, her figure moved and drifted into the room. In the next moment, Lin Xiao also awoke from meditation, as a voice sounded from outside.
"Regiment Commander."
"Open the door. I've come to see him."
"Yes, Regiment Commander."
The voice reaching his ears sounded somewhat familiar. Soon, the door opened. Lin Xiao turned his head and saw Ju Zi, dressed in full military attire, walking into the room.
Their eyes met. After a moment of silence, Ju Zi raised her hand toward the people behind her. "You can wait outside."
"Regiment Commander?" The soldier beside her seemed somewhat uneasy as he glanced at her.
"I know him. He really is from Illustrious Virtue Hall."
"Yes, Regiment Commander." Only then did the soldier nod and retreat outside.
"It's been a long time." Lin Xiao sighed lightly. The Ju Zi before him was completely different from the one at the academy. Although her appearance hadn't changed much, he could still sense that she had gained a bit more heroic spirit.
Ju Zi didn't speak. She simply walked forward a couple of steps and sat down at the table amid the "clinking" sounds of her armor.
"After leaving the academy, I entered the military on His Highness's orders. First, I led troops to quell the northern rebellion, then several times to resolve border frictions. Now, I am the regiment commander of the Sun Moon Empire's Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion."
Ju Zi spoke softly, her tone carrying a hint of weariness.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Legions and the four Beast King-level soul engineer legions were known as the Sun Moon Empire's guardians. For someone with her cultivation to become the commander of one of them, it probably wasn't solely due to Xu Tianran's support.
"I've also heard about your matters. After you became a researcher at Illustrious Virtue Hall, many people said you were the second Xuan Ziwen. Many nobles, even His Highness, wanted to personally recruit you."
"It's just that not long after, your news completely disappeared. Illustrious Virtue Hall only said you were sent out on orders, without specifying what exactly."
"Hall Master Jing Hongchen, he..." Lin Xiao hadn't expected Jing Hongchen to give such an explanation.
He had been away for so long; it was inevitable that people would speculate wildly. By saying this, Jing Hongchen was taking all the responsibility onto Illustrious Virtue Hall.
"Did your departure have to do with..." Ju Zi said as she glanced toward the door, then slightly lowered her voice, "With your matters?"
"No." Lin Xiao shook his head and stood up. "I was just seeking a breakthrough opportunity. Fortunately, my luck wasn't bad."
Ju Zi's eyes widened slightly upon hearing this.
She knew Lin Xiao's cultivation level. Another breakthrough would mean a realm that needed no explanation.
How old was Lin Xiao this year? Probably around twenty-seven. Perhaps there had been such a young Titled Douluo in the history of the Douluo Continent.
But in the Sun Moon Empire, where soul master cultivation was generally inferior to the three major empires, Lin Xiao was indeed the youngest Titled Douluo.
As for Lin Xiao himself, he didn't think much of it. After all, some people had already ascended to the God Realm at his age.
"Then... congratulations." Ju Zi slightly lowered her head and fell silent for a long while.
"With your cultivation, you should leave that place as soon as possible."
Lin Xiao frowned slightly. "Why?"
"I understand His Highness." Ju Zi also stood up and looked toward the door. "He is a man with great ambitions. His Majesty has been in a coma for so long; he probably won't last much longer."
"You just returned, so you might not know yet. The Soul Dueling Competition held in Mingdu this time has been renamed the All-Continent Youth Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition. Besides the various academies, all sects are also invited."
"At that time..." Ju Zi paused. "His Highness will keep all the participating personnel in Mingdu and initiate the continental war."
Lin Xiao's expression was somewhat stunned. Although he had long known of Xu Tianran's plans, he hadn't expected Ju Zi to tell him so directly.
"Using the Holy Spirit Cult is just one part of His Highness's plan." Ju Zi turned her head to look at Lin Xiao. "He told me that in the future, on the Douluo Continent, he rules, there should be no stains like the Holy Spirit Cult."
"After you and Shrek Academy have both suffered heavy losses, that will be his opportunity to eliminate both the Holy Spirit Cult and Shrek Academy at the same time."
"Although you are in Illustrious Virtue Hall, what you've seen isn't everything. The Sun Moon Empire has even more terrifying foundations. Although I don't know what they are, from His Highness's tone, I can feel that he has absolute confidence in victory."
"So, leave that place."
Lin Xiao didn't interrupt Ju Zi. He simply listened quietly to her words. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly looked up at Ju Zi. "What Xu Tianran wants to eliminate is the Holy Spirit Cult, or the Holy Spirit Cult that poses a threat to him?"
How could Ju Zi not understand the meaning in Lin Xiao's words? Her tone became slightly agitated. "You want to cooperate with a dangerous person like Xu Tianran?"
"No." Lin Xiao shook his head. "I just want to confirm how far he intends to go. If I can verify my guess, I actually hope that day comes sooner."
Ju Zi opened her mouth, paused for a moment, then slowly spoke. "As expected, you are different from those other evil soul masters."
"You should rest first. When the time is right, I'll ask His Highness clearly what he thinks."
"There's also tomorrow, the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion needs to organize its armaments. As an Illustrious Virtue Hall researcher, would you like to come and guide the soldiers in the legion?"
"It's not exactly guidance, but if they have any questions about Illustrious Virtue Hall's soul tools, they can ask me."
"Good." Ju Zi nodded. "Then tomorrow morning, I'll send someone to fetch you."
With that, she didn't linger and pushed the door open to leave.
Lin Xiao stood in place, looking thoughtfully at the door.
"You want to use Xu Tianran to eliminate the high-level members of the Holy Spirit Cult?" Electrolux's voice rang from the depths of his heart.
"I just have a vague idea. Even if I can't eliminate those high-level members, as long as I can lure them away, I can try to retrieve Teacher's divine sense fragments."
"No need to rush. Protecting yourself is the most important."
"I'll be careful, Teacher." Lin Xiao smiled faintly, sat back on the bed, but countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreon
[email protected]/facficmax10--------(@→a)