Chapter 125: Upholding the Federation's Orthodoxy!
Tang Wulin's pursuit of his senior wasn't going well, but he hadn't given up.
Jiang Chen could only wish him luck—he'd need it.
At the ruins of Shrek Academy, the group stopped to visit what remained of the once-glorious institution.
It was both a memorial and a warning—reminding everyone never to forget the danger of the Holy Spirit Cult and to eliminate every last remnant of it.
Even now, the impact of the Level-12 Fixed Installation Soul Guidance Cannons lingered. The waters of Sea God Lake still carried traces of that devastating blast.
To restore the ecosystem, the Federation had hired the Ten-Thousand-Beast King from the Spirit Transmission Tower, whose efforts had turned the area into a blooming paradise of color and life.
The rebuilt Douluo City, now the Federation's new capital, had expanded magnificently over the past year, fully living up to its title as the Continent's First City.
"Alright, let's go. Time to visit Douluo University."
The hotel wasn't far from campus, and the streets were buzzing with activity. Along the way, they spotted plenty of familiar faces.
"Hey, isn't that Wu Yuhan, Lei Jun, and Bi Ran?"
They were former opponents—the second team from Tianhai Academy during the previous competition.
Bi Ran's expression tightened upon seeing them, but realizing where they were, he quickly relaxed and smiled.
"That's right!"
They chatted briefly, discovering that nearly all of them had been selected for admission by Douluo University.
Soon, the colossal city walls of the university came into view, pristine as if newly built.
At the front gates, a massive crowd gathered beneath towering pillars carved with four bold characters:
Douluo University!
"Teacher Wu!"
Spotting Wu Zhangkong again filled the group with emotion.
After a year of arduous training, he had broken through his bottleneck, now standing at rank 79—Soul Saint. The once-tormented prodigy had faced his inner demons and emerged stronger than before.
Jiang Chen, watching him, couldn't help but think:
If he saw Long Bing alive right now, would his renewed willpower crumble again?
He quickly shook off the thought. No, no, don't tempt fate. I'm not a devil.
It wasn't his fault Long Bing chose to remain hidden, after all.
Still unaware that she lived, Wu Zhangkong had thrown himself wholeheartedly into teaching these children, slowly regaining his purpose.
"Over the past year, the Federation relocated the entire Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy here," Wu Zhangkong explained. "In terms of soul tools and mechas, they now surpass even Shrek Academy's former capabilities."
"For forging and battle armor creation, they've hired Duan Xuan—the six-star master who once taught Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua and Eight-Star Saint Craftsman Mu Chen. Both of those masters will also make time to lecture occasionally."
"As for soul master training, the War God Temple will oversee your physical conditioning for the first three months. Afterward, instructors from the Temple, the Federation, and the Spirit Transmission Tower—many of them Titled Douluo—will teach directly."
"Even high-level Tower figures such as Di Tian and the Bear King will conduct special courses."
"Wait—military training?" Jiang Chen muttered, startled for the first time.
Normally, nothing fazed him—he'd faced gods, beasts, and worse. But hearing the words military training stirred something deep and unpleasant.
Though he could easily handle any training thrown his way, the memories hit hardest.
Thousands of years had passed, but the flashbacks of his own past drills resurfaced like ghosts in his mind.
As an instructor himself now, Wu Zhangkong had full authority to lead them directly into the university grounds.
Their first steps took them across a sprawling cobblestone plaza surrounded by massive stone statues.
At its center stood one likeness in particular—Ice Rebirth Douluo, Huo Yuhao.
The descendant of the original Shrek Seven Devils' Dai Mubai.
Leader of the Sea God Pavilion, Tang Sect Master, Founder of the Spirit Transmission Tower.
Ancestral figure of the Huo family who had transformed the old Sun and Moon Empire into the current Douluo Federation.
A man whose influence still shaped every corner of the continent.
Even now, the powers he fostered continued to vie for dominance—Shrek, Tang Sect, the Tower.
Tang San: "All according to my ten-thousand-year plan!"
Indeed, Huo Yuhao symbolized the Douluo Continent's orthodoxy. The Federation embraced him as its spiritual ancestor.
How could they not?
To deny him would mean admitting that the Sun and Moon Federation's conquest was nothing more than an invasion.
But no—the narrative they upheld was that of unification.
Even the Shrek Academy of old, under Xuan Zi's leadership—the darkest generation in its history—had begrudgingly praised that outcome.
Huo Yuhao remained one of the few ancients who had truly ascended to godhood.
"This plaza," Wu Zhangkong said solemnly, "is called Spirit Ice Square. It was built by the Federation to honor our ancestor's legacy. Douluo University naturally follows that tradition. I trust you all know his story well."
He continued leading them toward the main academic hall.
The grand hall's first floor opened into a vast atrium, and above it dominated a colossal mural—
A black dragon, wings spread wide, golden eyes blazing, bathing the room in shimmering violet-black light.
It felt alive. Its power pressed down on the soul.
The Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King—Di Tian.
They had met him once before, when he'd appeared in his human guise as the Tower's Vice Master. Then, his aura had been calm and approachable, careful not to frighten the young.
Now, even through mere art, they felt the weight of true supremacy.
Gu Yue, Jiang Chen, and the Snow Empress exchanged glances, silently debating whether they should pretend to be impressed.
After all, everyone else was practically trembling. If they looked too relaxed, it would seem… suspiciously unnatural.
Under the mural's gaze, Tang Wulin was the first to react. The dragon pressure resonated with his Golden Dragon King bloodline, igniting warmth through his entire body.
The others didn't fare as well.
Xu Xiaoyan was shaking uncontrollably, face pale, barely staying upright until she grabbed onto Xie Xie for support.
"What are you—doing—grabbing me for!?" he managed through gritted teeth, eyes wide with panic as the suffocating aura crashed over him.
Above Huo Yun'er's head, a small white tiger spirit manifested to shield her.
Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi clutched each other, activating their Martial Soul Fusion skill.
Dark Eagle Dragon.
Only by calling upon their own draconic heritage could they endure the oppression.
As for Wei Xiaofeng—the weakest of the bunch—he didn't even try. He simply collapsed flat on the ground.
"Senior Sister!"
Seeing Ouyang Zixin struggling under the overwhelming might, Tang Wulin's eyes flashed scarlet.
Golden scales rippled across his right arm, spreading upward until half his body gleamed like molten sunlight.
"Roaaar!"
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10