"Senior Lei, how… how do you know Jiang Jue?"
Long Aotian suppressed the discomfort in his heart and asked cautiously.
"Oh, that? You don't need to worry about that. Just tell me what you know about Jiang Jue."
Lei Ming shook his vine-like body, his tone straightforward.
"I actually don't know much about him," Long Aotian said, shaking his head slightly, his eyes flickering. "All I know is that he only joined our Ontology Sect a few months ago."
"I see… well then."
Lei Ming sounded disappointed. He had wanted to gather more information about Jiang Jue to prepare for future plans, but it seemed that idea had fallen through.
"Right, kid, if I remember correctly, you're the current young sect master of the Ontology Sect, aren't you?"
The lightning crackled around Lei Ming's Thunder Prison Vines as he asked casually.
"Yes, Senior," Long Aotian straightened up and replied proudly. After all, he used to dominate the younger generation of the Ontology Sect.
"Got it," Lei Ming murmured thoughtfully.
When Lei Ming didn't speak again, Long Aotian hesitated before asking softly,
"Senior Lei… between me and Jiang Jue, whose talent do you think is greater?"
"What?"
Lei Ming's vine tilted slightly, as if he hadn't heard clearly.
Thinking the senior had misheard, Long Aotian was about to repeat himself when Lei Ming interrupted directly.
"You and Jiang Jue, huh? Let's say it's seventy-thirty."
Lei Ming pondered for a moment, his usually casual tone turning serious.
"Really? Seventy-thirty? That means I still have a chance to catch up to him…"
A spark of determination lit up in Long Aotian's eyes. He knew that Lei Ming's standing in the sect was above even some elders. If Lei Ming said so, then maybe he still had hope.
"No, no, no—you misunderstood."
Lei Ming shook his massive body lightly and spoke more seriously.
"What I mean is, if you two were to fight, in three minutes Jiang Jue could beat you seven times."
"But, Senior, my martial soul is already close to its second Silver-rank awakening!"
Long Aotian protested, unwilling to accept it. He was a full major rank above Jiang Jue—after his second Silver awakening, he shouldn't be that far behind!
"Silver rank? He's already almost at Gold."
Lei Ming snorted, then said sternly,
"Kid, you have to understand—people are different. Some gaps can never be bridged, not in a lifetime."
Long Aotian's pupils shrank. He muttered in disbelief,
"Gold rank? How… how is that possible?"
But he failed to realize that the very words Lei Ming just told him were the same ones he once told those he had defeated.
"It's fine, it's fine," he mumbled to himself. "My cultivation is still higher than his. I can still surpass him…"
Lei Ming sighed and delivered another blow.
"I don't mean to discourage you, but Jiang Jue's already Level 55—just a bit lower than you."
"What?!"
Long Aotian's entire body trembled, his once-stable Dao heart shaking violently again.
"Tsk… the path of invincibility isn't so easy to walk."
Watching the dazed young man, Lei Ming sighed inwardly.
He had met Long Aotian before—once proud and radiant, eyes full of arrogance. But now, his heart was unstable, his will unsteady.
Better for him to face the truth early, Lei Ming thought. Otherwise, the higher he flies, the harder he'll fall.
"How about it? Follow me, and I guarantee your safety."
Outside Shrek City, a white-robed old man with a wine gourd on his waist spoke proudly.
Behind him stood three Shrek Academy students.
It was none other than Xuanzi, returning with Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao from the Star Dou Forest after obtaining their new spirit rings.
"Elder Xuan, thank you for your help this time," Huo Yuhao said respectfully, bowing deeply.
Wang Dong, standing nearby, rolled his eyes and gave a small huff of annoyance.
Ever since they entered the Star Dou Forest, Xuanzi had completely vanished. If not for Huo Yuhao's efforts, Xiao Xiao might've lost an arm during the trip.
Only after both Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao successfully obtained their spirit rings did Xuanzi finally reappear—none of the dangers they faced had been handled by him.
"Hahaha, don't mention it."
Xuanzi took a swig of wine and waved his hand dismissively.
When Xuanzi handled things, there were only two words to describe it: totally reliable!
"Um… Elder Xuan, how come you're so clean this time?"
Xiao Xiao asked curiously. His white robes were spotless—not even a smudge of grease.
"Ah… that? Isn't it normal for me to be clean?"
A flicker of unease flashed across Xuanzi's face as he dodged the question.
"Anyway, you all should hurry back to the academy. I'll head back first."
With that, his figure blurred and disappeared.
As soon as he was gone, Wang Dong turned to Huo Yuhao, angry and confused.
"Huo Yuhao, Elder Xuan didn't even help us at all during this trip! Why are you still so respectful toward him?"
"Wang Dong…"
Huo Yuhao started to explain, but Wang Dong had already pulled Xiao Xiao toward the city.
In the depths of Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, a lazy voice echoed—Tianmeng Iceworm.
"Heh, Xiao Yuhao, you really got lucky this time. That Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear's claw—what a great find."
Indeed, Xiao Xiao's third spirit ring came from a thousand-year Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear. Even luckier, it dropped an external spirit bone—the rarest kind.
But Xiao Xiao's body couldn't absorb it, so Huo Yuhao ended up fusing it instead, earning both power and fame.
If Xuanzi had been there at the time, he might've claimed it for himself—so in a way, Huo Yuhao's gratitude was genuine.
"Tianmeng, but… Wang Dong seems angry with me."
Huo Yuhao's expression darkened slightly.
"Bah, don't worry about it," Tianmeng replied casually. "You two share a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Training together doubles your cultivation speed. Give it a few days—he'll come around. Nobody can resist fast cultivation."
But at the mention of "training together," Huo Yuhao's face grew gloomier.
Ever since entering the forest, Wang Dong had refused to cultivate with him, always saying, "I'm tired, maybe next time."
But cultivating together only accelerated soul power recovery—it wasn't tiring at all.
"Alright, Xiao Yuhao, don't dwell on useless things. Try to get closer to that Elder Xuan. Since returning from the forest, I can clearly feel he's gotten stronger again!"
"Don't forget our revenge!"
At those words, Huo Yuhao bit his lip and nodded firmly.
"Wang Dong… you'll understand one day."
"Phew, soul beast meat tastes way better than chicken. Why didn't I realize that before?"
High up in the sky, Xuanzi muttered to himself, a dark gleam flashing in his eyes.
"Well, at least I can report back to Elder Mu now."
His figure sped up, heading straight toward Seagod Island in Shrek's Sea God Lake.
"Huh? That's… that's not right?"
When he arrived, Xuanzi rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
His home on Seagod Island—was gone.
The entire island was bare except for the withering Golden Tree and the Sea God Pavilion built atop it.
Everything else—every building—had vanished.
The ground was crisscrossed with deep cracks, as if it had been struck by a massive attack. Burn marks covered the earth.
"My house… was stolen?!"
Xuanzi froze in shock, utterly incredulous.
(End of Chapter)