Inside Jing Hongchen's spacious, metallic office, the air seemed to carry a faint mixture of cold fragrance and lingering evil energy.
Tang Ya was wrapped tightly in her black robe, her fingers twisting together nervously. When she heard Liu Yuan speak so directly—requesting help from the head of the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineers in a tone that bordered on taking it for granted—her heart nearly leapt into her throat.
He… how can he dare speak like this?
Having traveled across the Douluo Continent for years, Tang Ya knew all too well what a Titled Douluo represented.
At Shrek Academy, even an Outer Court teacher would lower their head respectfully when encountering an existence like Yan Shaozhe. Yet here was Liu Yuan—standing before a Rank 93 Jing Hongchen—his tone polite, yes, but casual, even carrying an unspoken authority, as if the matter must be handled for him.
She had already prepared herself mentally.
At best, she expected a cold refusal. At worst, she thought she might be seized on the spot.
After all, the words Evil Soul Master were taboo to every orthodox force on the continent.
Yet what happened next completely shattered her expectations.
After hearing Liu Yuan's request, Jing Hongchen did not get angry. Instead, he frowned slightly and took another careful look at Tang Ya. A flash of blue light flickered through his aged yet keen eyes as he activated a form of spiritual detection.
Moments later, his expression eased.
"I thought this was some major problem," Jing Hongchen said with a hearty laugh, waving his hand. "Since Xiao Yuan has spoken, and this young lady is your close friend, I will certainly help!"
His tone then turned professional and precise.
"I've done a preliminary scan. Her condition is exactly as you described—a malignant mutation caused by external interference. The good news is that it hasn't been long. Although the evil energy has seeped deep, it hasn't completely eroded her mind yet."
He stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"To cure it at the root will take some effort. Here's what we'll do: I'll gather two Titled Douluo Elders who specialize in life and purification techniques. We'll also activate the academy's ninth-rank spirit tool designed specifically for stabilizing and cleansing spirit power—Hongchen's Protection: Light of Purification."
Jing Hongchen's voice carried absolute confidence.
"Within one month, I guarantee I'll return a clean, refreshed Tang Sect Master to you."
"Then I'll trouble you, Dean," Liu Yuan replied with a slight smile, inclining his head.
"You brat, why are you being so polite with me?" Jing Hongchen laughed, patting Liu Yuan on the shoulder before striding toward the door. "Sit tight. I'll go make the arrangements. Those old fellows have been burying themselves in formation research lately—if I don't personally drag them out, they won't move."
The door closed, leaving the office in momentary silence.
Tang Ya stood there in a daze, her body still trembling faintly beneath the robe. Suddenly, she turned her head and stared at Liu Yuan through the shadow of her hood, looking at him as if he were some incomprehensible monster.
"Liu Yuan… he just agreed like that?" Her voice shook. "That was a Titled Douluo! And he's using a ninth-rank spirit tool—a ninth-rank one—just because you asked?"
Her breathing grew uneven.
"Has your status here really reached such a level?"
She truly couldn't understand it.
How had Liu Yuan risen this high?
Was this even real?
Liu Yuan pulled over a chair and sat down calmly, his movements composed and unhurried. Hearing her disbelief, he smiled faintly, a hint of teasing in his voice.
"Relax, Tang Ya. In this world, there's no hatred without cause, and no favor without reason. The Sun Moon Empire values my potential—and what I've shown is worth these resources."
He paused slightly, the corner of his lips lifting.
"As for status… yes. I was officially granted the title of Duke by the Imperial Family. My standing is indeed quite high."
"D-Duke?!" Tang Ya blurted out, completely stunned.
A Duke.
That was a top-tier noble, second only to the Imperial Family itself.
Even a sect master in the Heaven Dou Empire would have to be courteous before such a title.
And Liu Yuan had become one at sixteen?
"Alright, alright, no need to look like that," Liu Yuan said, waving his hand lightly.
Before long, steady footsteps echoed from the corridor.
Jing Hongchen pushed the door open and entered, followed by three elderly men.
The auras of the three were deep and unfathomable, each subtle movement resonating faintly with the surrounding heaven-and-earth spirit power.
Tang Ya's breath caught.
All three were Titled Douluo.
Yet what happened next left her utterly shaken.
Upon seeing Liu Yuan, the three elders halted, placed their right hands over their chests, and bowed slightly.
"Greetings, Lord Duke."
There was no reluctance in their voices—only genuine respect.
After all, Liu Yuan had led the Sun Moon Royal Academy to victory in the Soul Master Tournament, bringing immeasurable honor to the empire. More importantly, his talent and strength were undeniable.
Everyone knew that although he had not fully matured yet, his future was beyond doubt.
Winning his favor early was the wisest choice.
Liu Yuan stood up and returned the gesture politely. "Elders, there's no need for such formality. I'll be troubling you regarding today's matter. This young lady is extremely important to me—I leave her in your care."
"Lord Duke, you are too kind," the white-haired elder at the front replied solemnly. "Your friend is a friend of the academy. We will do everything in our power."
Without wasting time, the group moved. At Jing Hongchen's signal, the three Titled Douluo escorted Tang Ya toward the academy's deepest, most tightly guarded medical laboratory.
Before disappearing down the corridor, Tang Ya turned back and looked deeply at Liu Yuan.
At that moment, the last trace of red in her eyes faded completely, replaced by a calm she had never felt before.
She knew it with certainty now.
As long as this youth stood beside her, her nightmare was truly over.
---
After seeing Tang Ya off, Liu Yuan returned to his Duke's mansion in the Bright Capital.
Entering a quiet chamber, he dismissed the servants and sat cross-legged, beginning another round of cultivation.
At the same time—
Sea God Island, inside Yan Shaozhe's office.
Outside the window, Sea God Lake shimmered gently as a breeze stirred the willow branches, ripples spreading across the water.
Inside sat Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun.
Du Weilun placed a sealed file onto the desk and said quietly, "Dean, this is the preliminary exchange student list for both sides."
Yan Shaozhe picked it up, glanced at it once, then tossed it back onto the desk. His gaze remained fixed on the lake outside.
"Weilun," he said slowly, "what do you think the real purpose of this exchange is?"
Du Weilun paused before replying solemnly, "On the surface, it's for mutual learning and progress. In reality, it's to probe the Sun Moon Empire's latest spirit tool developments—and to see whether they've produced any geniuses who might threaten us."
"Geniuses who threaten us…" Yan Shaozhe sneered.
A familiar figure surfaced in his mind—the youth who had crushed them in the Soul Master Tournament.
"If we're talking about threats," Yan Shaozhe said coldly, turning back, "who else could it be but him?"
A calculating light flickered in his eyes.
"To ensure 'safety,' there's an old rule—exchange hostages under the guise of exchange students. Each side designates key figures from the other to keep under watch."
Du Weilun nodded. "That's why I planned to send Huo Yuhao and the others—"
"On our side," Yan Shaozhe interrupted, tapping the desk heavily, his voice dark and resolute, "I only want one person."
"Liu Yuan."
"Elder Xuan expelling him back then was the greatest mistake we ever made."
"We'll use this opportunity to bring him back to Shrek."
His eyes narrowed.
"That's the best-case scenario."
"And if it fails…" a cold glint flashed through his gaze.
"Then we'll find a way to eliminate him."
"As long as he exists, Shrek Academy will never rise again. We will always be suppressed by the Sun Moon Royal Academy."
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