Iron-forged wheels bumped over the stone-strewn ground, the trunk axle of a thousand-year plant soul beast creaking in protest. Wind chimes hanging outside the carriage swung with pleasant, crisp tinkles, as if gently dispersing the thick fog along the way.
Watching the scenery flashing by outside, Chen Yi, sitting cross-legged in the carriage, withdrew his gaze and looked at Mu Xi, who was resting with closed eyes. He broke the silence in the carriage.
"Mom, what are we going to Skywater City for?" Chen Yi's voice was clear, laced with curiosity.
Skywater City, the largest city in the northern part of the Heaven Dou Empire, is also a gathering place for countless ice and water soul masters. One of the five elemental academies, Skywater Academy, is located there.
After Chen Yi finished his hard training, he returned home for just two days before Mu Xi dragged him along, saying she wanted to take her son back to Skywater City to visit her maternal home.
Mu Xi's parents were once leaders of a sizable mercenary group in the northern border of the Heaven Dou Empire. That team fought in ice plains and dangerous areas. Though not a top mercenary force, they had built a considerable reputation in the north through their bravery.
Later, they clashed fiercely with another mercenary group. Chen Yi's grandfather and the others were defeated, blood dyeing the snowfield red, and the entire mercenary group was annihilated in the slaughter.
In the chaos, Chen Yi's grandmother protected the young Mu Xi tightly in her arms, using her bloodied arms to carve a path of survival, stepping over the corpses of comrades and enemies, desperately escaping the sea of blood.
Fleeing all the way, the grandmother carried Mu Xi, evading pursuers, and finally arrived in Skywater City. Seeing her daughter growing weaker in her arms and with no family refuge left, she gritted her teeth and found Skywater Academy, using some connections to send her daughter there. She herself passed away not long after.
Mu Xi, with her extraordinary talent, rose to prominence in Skywater Academy, becoming a disciple of the previous dean and making a name for herself in the north.
Later, through Skywater Academy's matchmaking, she met and fell in love with Chen Zhen, marrying into the Body Sect nine years ago.
Actually, with Chen Yi's talent, the Body Sect wouldn't let him leave unless necessary. But somehow, Mu Xi convinced the Great Elder, and the old man actually agreed.
This made Chen Yi curious about what exactly Mu Xi had said to get the elders to release him.
Hearing Chen Yi's words, Mu Xi slowly opened her eyes, a trace of nostalgia in them. Her fingers subconsciously rubbed her sleeve—this was the clothing the old dean had personally embroidered for her when she married.
"Your mother hasn't returned to Skywater Academy in nearly ten years since marrying into the Body Sect. This time, it's perfect to take you to meet your aunts."
Toward the end, Mu Xi's face suddenly showed her usual liveliness: "Besides, I gave birth to such an amazing son. If I don't go back to show off to my master and junior sisters, wouldn't it be a waste?"
Hearing Mu Xi, Chen Yi's mouth twitched. Earlier, I was thinking how to comfort you, but you're really an optimist.
How could Chen Yi's speechless expression escape the family head's eyes? Soon, a fair hand ruffled his hair.
"Oh, don't be so serious. You've been grinding outside for a year; come back to Skywater City with Mom to relax!"
Feeling his mom constantly patting his head, Chen Yi felt a bit weary and helplessly said: "Is that how you convinced the Great Elder?"
"Of course. Your mom has been in the Yuntian Mountain Range for nine years; now she just wants to go home, and the old man can't stop her." Mu Xi proudly lifted her head.
It's not strange for you to go back, but taking me along is very strange. Do you believe your own words?
"How much longer until we reach Skywater City?"
Since Mu Xi didn't want to say, Chen Yi didn't press, then looked at the increasingly appearing greenery and said.
Skywater City isn't close to the Yuntian Mountain Range, but not too far either. They had set out last night, so they must be close by now.
"Soon, soon. Hmm~, Skywater City is only about a thousand km from the Yuntian Mountain Range. At most, another half hour."
Toward the end, Mu Xi's eyes showed anticipation.
Homesickness grows stronger near home—no matter the world. Though Mu Xi lived well in the Body Sect, compared to Skywater City, it always felt less free.
"By the way, Mom, you said you and Dad were introduced by Grandma Master?"
At these words, Mu Xi's face showed a happy smile: "That's right. Back then, your mom was the pride of the north, with countless young talents proposing. But who is your mom? Would I look at those ugly dates? After a few years, your Grandma Master couldn't stand it and introduced your dad."
When Mu Xi married Chen Zhen, she was only thirty-seven, with cultivation at level sixty-four—a first-rate genius on the continent. Breaking through to Soul Douluo was almost guaranteed. Plus, she was a beauty, naturally pursued by countless talents.
Of course, Chen Zhen was even more impressive back then—at just forty-one, he had broken through to level seventy-nine, with Titled Douluo in sight.
What really curious Chen Yi was how Mu Xi met Chen Zhen—or rather, how the old dean knew about Chen Zhen, and why Chen Zhen was willing to marry someone introduced by her.
There was only one possibility: the old dean, or rather Skywater Academy, had always been in contact with the Body Sect.
At these words, Mu Xi smiled and extended a finger, saying casually: "Because Skywater Academy and the Body Sect have been connected for over two hundred years."
"What!?"
Chen Yi was shocked. Skywater Academy and the Body Sect had been connected for two hundred years? How is that possible! From what Chen Yi knew, though Skywater Academy was one of the five elemental academies, unlike the other four backed by extraordinary forces, it had the shallowest foundation, established only over two hundred years ago.
According to Mu Xi, wouldn't that mean Skywater Academy had connections with the Body Sect from its founding? No, it was probably more than just connections—it must be deeply involved.
Thinking of this, Chen Yi couldn't help but recall Skywater Academy's enrollment requirements—among the five elemental academies, Skywater Academy is the only one that enrolls commoners.
In the original story, the advanced soul master academies that explicitly enroll commoners are only three: Spirit Hall Advanced Soul Master Academy, Skywater Academy, and Blue Tyrant Advanced Soul Master Academy.
Spirit Hall's academy goes without saying; Spirit Hall's foundation is commoner soul masters, so enrolling commoners is natural.
As for Blue Tyrant Academy, though Liu Erlong said boldly: Only enroll commoner soul masters, reject all nobles. But the academy's name clearly borrows the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's prestige. Without that banner, it would have been devoured by Heaven Dou City's nobles long ago.
Finally, Skywater Academy, also a top academy in the first tier below Spirit Hall's, enrolls commoners, though with strict requirements: only ice/water-attribute soul masters, and only beautiful women.
In Chen Yi's view, these two requirements are essentially one: only female students.
Skywater City is in the northern border of the Heaven Dou Empire, where ice/water soul masters are common, and their children often inherit that. As for only beautiful women—
You can mock Douluo Continent's combat power, but you can't mock its beauty standards.
On Douluo Continent, as long as it's a female soul master, they're basically at least a six out of ten; there are no particularly ugly ones. And in the end, beauty is decided by the academy anyway.
So, most female soul masters from the north, regardless of background, come from Skywater Academy.
This is very illogical. No matter how strong Skywater Academy is, it can't compare to the entire nobility. Blue Tyrant Academy at least has the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as a shield; without a backer, Skywater Academy couldn't possibly break through the encirclement of major forces.
Perhaps, Skywater Academy's backer includes the Body Sect.
But why would the Body Sect help them?