The battle had ended, yet the residual shockwaves of two near-limit powerhouses still lingered across the sea for hundreds of li. The ocean was calm, the waves at rest.
Xu Xiaoyun brought Xu Tianxi back to their soul-powered vessel, then silently stared in the direction where the Tongtian Baxia Ancestor had vanished. His expression was blank—neither joy nor sorrow. After a long pause, he murmured,
"No matter what happens, do not disturb me."
Then he sat cross-legged on the spot and activated the Xuanming Meditation Technique, entering silent cultivation.
He could feel it—if he cultivated now, he would surely gain insight. This moment might be the only chance in his life.
After exchanging three moves with the Tongtian Baxia Ancestor, Xu Xiaoyun had glimpsed, dimly, the half-open heavenly gate—the gateway to the Limit Douluo realm he had sought for a lifetime.
Had this opportunity arisen a century ago, he might have had a 70% chance to break it open. But now, in old age, his vitality diminished... still, how could a soul master suppress the fire of enlightenment when confronted with the truths of supreme cultivation?
If he didn't attempt a breakthrough, he would die with eternal regret.
"According to the source material, Elder Xuan once said: a second soul core for Limit Douluo is almost always spatial in nature.
Didn't the Tongtian Baxia Ancestor's three moves each exhibit space manipulation?
Could it be... that Master Ancestor has entered a state of deep meditation?"
Xu Tianxi watched Xu Xiaoyun seated motionlessly—like an ancient tree rooted in the sea, soul power billowing from his body like a bottomless abyss—and silently speculated.
In the world of soul masters, there are two primary meditative states: normal meditation and deep meditation.
Normal meditation is the standard state—often called shallow cultivation.
Deep meditation is rare and invaluable, occurring when a soul master gains enlightenment during regular training and sinks wholly into the process—unaware of time, space, or surroundings, awakening only naturally.
During this state, soul power circulates automatically, at much faster rates. Comprehension and insight multiply exponentially. The benefits of a single deep meditation session could equal tenfold the results of ordinary training.
More importantly, at critical bottlenecks in cultivation, deep meditation greatly increases the chance of breaking through.
The soul master's own soul power will autonomously shield the body, concealing all fluctuations—making it impossible to detect unless disturbed.
Such an opportunity is so rare that many soul masters may never encounter it in their entire lives.
So for Xu Xiaoyun to enter this state after the battle—justified every risk he took fighting the Ancestor.
Truly, the Tongtian Baxia Ancestor was a model soul beast—upright, honest, and when he taught something, he gave it all.
Elder Yue, at the helm of the soul-powered boat, couldn't suppress his curiosity. He leaned over and asked in a hushed tone:
"Young Master, what kind of opponent did Grandmaster Xu face just now—one that not only defeated him but triggered a state of deep meditation?"
Xu Tianxi, still fiddling with the deep-blue turtle scale, solemnly replied:
"A soul beast… one of the most powerful marine soul beasts alive today.
My master was utterly suppressed—but it was also a gift. Whether he seizes it is up to him."
The Tongtian Baxia Ancestor had over 800,000 years of cultivation. On land, only Di Tian surpassed him. At sea, the Ancestor held overwhelming dominance. Even if Di Tian came himself, it was uncertain whether he could win.
While Di Tian wielded the Dragon God Claw, capable of suppressing nearly all soul beasts, the Baxia bloodline came from the Nine Sons of the Dragon, and was incredibly unique.
Di Tian called Taotie "Uncle"—and if Baxia was also one of the Dragon's sons, then bloodline-wise, he might even suppress Di Tian.
Though it was unclear how pure the Tongtian Baxia Ancestor's bloodline was, it was safe to say:
He would not fear Di Tian.
Such strength far surpassed any human Limit Douluo. Xu Xiaoyun had clearly been crushed, but the benefits he could glean from that exchange were surely profound.
For Xu Tianxi, this was nothing short of a miraculous windfall.
The turtle shell given by the Ancestor was undoubtedly a top-grade natural treasure. It emitted a deep, sapphire glow—almost gemlike. Holding it filled him with vigor, his mental fatigue instantly washed away.
He could already sense it—this shell would slowly nourish and stabilize his spiritual sea, boosting his resistance to mental shocks and improving his cultivation efficiency. At this rate, he could likely reach his next level within three years.
And as for what the Ancestor said—that it could save him in a life-or-death crisis?
Xu Tianxi took that as: he now had an invincibility token.
As long as he didn't do anything insane—like poking around in the Valley of Life and Death, Star Dou Forest, or the Heavenly Calamity Forbidden Zones—he should be safe.
Of course, until he became a Seven-Ring Soul Sage or could handcraft eighth-grade Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, it was best not to mess with Title Douluo. He wasn't afraid of trouble—but he wasn't eager to die for thrills either.
And as for Tang San, that walking catastrophe? He would remain on maximum alert.
"Even with this 'get out of death free' card, I can't afford to slack off."
"I possess twin martial souls, a body martial soul, and an ultimate attribute—too conspicuous.
If the Tang God King notices me, it could be chains and torture, nonstop slaughter."
"To bait Huo Guā, he tore Rong Nianbing's daughter's soul into three pieces.
If he learns of my existence, he wouldn't hesitate to do the same or worse."
"The path to godhood lies with Huo Guā's opportunities. If I seize the Skydream Iceworm and Electrolux, I'll surely attract Tang San's wrath."
"But if I don't take them, my odds of ascending to godhood become zero.
Revenge on Shrek Academy becomes impossible."
Without realizing, Xu Tianxi had already sat down cross-legged. He closed his eyes and began pondering his future.
The Xuanming Meditation Technique began circulating silently. Streams of soul power coursed through his meridians, and his body tightened with growing resolve.
"...No matter how I calculate, in the end—I must risk it all. At worst, it just means more preparation."
"Even if Tang San repeats what he did to Huo Yuhao, using Kong Xiyue's soul as a hostage, I won't be moved."
"I, Xu Tianxi, am not some tragic orphan like Huo Yuhao.
If he wants me as his dog, a single leash won't do it."
"If the gods won't bestow a divine seat on me,
Then I'll do what the Sea God and Angel God did—unify the continent, the Extreme North, and the ocean itself!
Gather the faith of all beings and forge my own godhood!"
"If the heavens will not give it—I shall take it myself!
From this day forward, whether it's Shrek, Clear Sky Sect, or even the Four Great Empires—whoever blocks my path to godhood... shall be destroyed."
As his thoughts crystallized, a bold plan began forming in Xu Tianxi's mind.
His deep-blue eyes snapped open—moonlight blazed behind him like divine radiance. He sat like a god beneath the moon, unapproachable in majesty.
"For now, I must lay low. Wait. Hide. Grow."
"But when the time comes—when my claws and fangs are sharp—I shall march with my army across the continent.
I shall crush all who oppose me and engrave my legend into the annals of history!"
"Huo Yuhao... Jing Hongchen... Kong Deming... Xu Tianran... Holy Spirit Cult... Skydream Iceworm... Electrolux... the Ice and Snow Emperors... the Baxia Ancestor... the Demonic Whale Empress..."
"So many names—worth watching. Worth using.
I'll need to plot carefully."
Each name, each force, passed through Xu Tianxi's mind like pieces on a grand chessboard. Calm and calculating, he assessed them all—seeing, faintly, the outline of a great road.
A road to stand atop all others.
A road to divine authority.
"I must buy myself time—to grow, to train.
On the Douluo Continent, cultivation is the foundation of everything.
That battle between Master Ancestor and the Baxia Ancestor taught me a lot... especially how they used spirit power fused with soul power to project the Black Tortoise—amplifying combat strength.
I might be able to develop my own battle technique from this…"
"The moon waxes and wanes, as do all things.
My martial soul carries the power of the stars—perhaps I can expand on that. Borrow from nature. Forge my own battle techniques."
Having formed a long-term plan, Xu Tianxi's mind fell into deep calm.
His heart was like a clear mirror, his inner sea undisturbed.
Above, the sky had darkened, and now a moon had risen. Its light reflected the glow of the moon suspended behind Xu Tianxi's back, falling softly on his brow—like a divine artist sketching an immortal portrait with moonlight.
"The young master... has also entered deep meditation?! What a blessing!"
Elder Yue, steering the vessel, noticed the soft moonlight now radiating from Xu Tianxi's form. He turned and saw the youth seated in white robes, encircled by faint moonlike soul power. His still-young features already radiated supreme clarity and genius.
"A born prodigy... truly unmatched…"
Elder Yue inhaled deeply, stunned.
He had served in the military of the Sun Moon Empire for years, had seen many elite prodigies, and heard tales of Shrek's monster geniuses.
But none of them—none—compared to what he saw now.
"The arrogant Shrek killed my young mistress.
Their Dean is still so domineering... Just wait.
When my young master grows into his full strength... he'll bring down your so-called number one academy!"
Mingdu, capital of the Sun Moon Empire.
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Director Lin Jiayi, having completed his semester review, briskly knocked on the dean's office door, eager to report to Dean Jing Hongchen.
"Dean, good news! Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen both aced the new semester's soul engineer assessments—they've already created multiple Tier-3 Core Magic Arrays!"
"I believe they're ready to certify as Tier-3 Soul Engineers. This breaks all previous records in the empire—true once-in-a-millennium prodigies!"
Jing Hongchen chuckled as he set down his teacup.
"Haha! Director Lin, you didn't tutor them over break, did you? They're still children—don't push them too hard."
"Hahaha, not at all. They pushed themselves! I only gave a bit of guidance—they wouldn't stop asking questions!"
"You're too modest. Plenty of 9th-tier engineers have kids in the academy—but no one's ever had heirs like yours, Dean.
They both came in with three soul rings, and they're only ten!
At this rate, they might become Soul Kings before age fifteen!"
"That would put them at the level of our top elite students."
"In the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament hosted by the Star Luo Empire,
These two reserve members might even outshine some core team members!"
"Hahahaha! Of course! My grandkids, the Hongchen Twins, are first-class geniuses!
They'll surpass me one day and carry the family to glory!"
Jing Hongchen laughed heartily—until a thought crossed his mind. He narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked:
"By the way… you didn't come here because someone was extorting academy property again, did you?
What approvals do I need to sign this time?"