In the depths of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion in Shrek City, a brief covert report was respectfully presented to an elegant elderly woman with sharp eyes.
She was one of the elder hosts of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, Elder Song, who managed the academy's vast economic lifeline.
"Oh? That young man named Gu La sold a three-thousand-year-old head soul bone for one million eight hundred thousand gold soul coins and spent it all on rare metals?"
Elder Song set down the report, lightly tapping her fingertips on the smooth rosewood desk. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, quickly turning into indifference.
"Quite a bold move. So he's interested in soul-guidance devices? Heh, youngsters."
She shook her head slightly, not delving deeper.
In Shrek Academy's deeply ingrained beliefs, the power of a soul master himself was fundamental, while soul-guidance devices were merely supplementary, even considered "tricks and gimmicks."
Gu La's talent lay in his martial soul; buying more metals, in Elder Song's view, was akin to "distracting oneself from serious pursuits," wasting the potential of his Ultimate Fire.
"However..." Elder Song pondered for a moment, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes,
"The metals he bought are among the most strictly controlled and highest quality strategic reserves in the Sun Moon Empire... It seems this young man has quite an eye."
She beckoned the manager standing by, her voice calm yet carrying an unyielding authority: "Order an increase in smuggling high-grade metals from the Sun Moon Empire. Especially these types that Gu La purchased—buy as much as possible. Prices... can be ten percent above market value."
The manager bowed to receive the order, though confusion lingered in his eyes: "Elder Song, our academy's demand for soul-guidance devices..."
"Not much demand doesn't mean no need," Elder Song interrupted, her gaze profound. "The Sun Moon Empire harbors wolfish ambitions; their soul-guidance technology is their claws and fangs."
"For every top-tier metal we buy, on future battlefields, our disciples might avoid another fixed-soul-guidance cannon shell. Besides, should the academy's money just rot in storage? Spending it promotes the continent's economic cycle."
The manager's heart tightened, hurriedly responding: "Yes, I understand!" He then realized Elder Song's far-reaching strategy—using Shrek's immense wealth to preemptively weaken potential enemies.
Three months passed quietly amidst the regulated cultivation and study at Shrek Academy.
In the freshman dormitory area, Gu La sat cross-legged in his room, which he occupied alone. His roommate happened to be one of those eliminated by Zhou Yi, making his luck quite good, possibly due to his favorable fate.
Though he had rented a quieter place off-campus with the money from "robbing the rich to help the poor," he still kept the campus dormitory as a cover.
Within him, the residual vast medicinal power of the Origin Energy Immortal Grass flowed steadily under Gu La's meticulous guidance, continuously integrating into his limbs and bones, tempering his soul core.
His actual soul power level had silently broken through to 63.
To the outside world, he appeared to have merely "digested the herb's medicinal power, building up gradually," advancing from Level 31 to 32, remaining that extraordinarily talented yet "methodical" genius.
In class, he remained low-key.
Aside from necessary courses and sparring with Wang Yan, he rarely interacted much with other classmates. Over three months, the only ones he grew close to were Xiao Xiao from his group and Huo Yuhao, familiar due to Wang Dong.
After one class, Tang Sect's current sect leader, Tang Ya, accompanied by the eldest disciple Bei Bei, found Gu La. Tang Ya, youthful and beautiful, her eyes burning with fervor to revive the Tang Sect, attempted to recruit this dazzling new star.
"Gu La, your talent and strength are astonishing. Join us, the Tang Sect! We have Xuan Tian Technique, Purple Extreme Demon Eye, Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon..." Tang Ya enthusiastically introduced.
Gu La calmly looked at her, his clear eyes asking: "If I join, will I be the sect leader?"
That single sentence doused cold water. Tang Ya's enthusiasm froze on her face, flushing red, her eyes filled with shame and anger.
Bei Bei's expression darkened. Huo Yuhao, who initially admired Gu La, now felt a shadow of arrogance, thinking this classmate disrespected the Tang Sect he cherished.
Gu La watched their expressions change, utterly unmoved.
He spoke the truth. The current Tang Sect, aside from an empty shell name and a few mutilated basic techniques, what else did it have?
The core of Xuan Tian Record was missing, top-tier hidden weapon blueprints and poison formulas long lost.
Joining? Pure charity.
Even without Tang San lurking behind the scenes as the God King, becoming the sect leader of this dilapidated clan would waste his time.
The freshman assessment arrived as scheduled—it was the key battle deciding the core disciple slots.
Wang Yan stood on the podium, holding the grouping list, his brows slightly furrowed.
According to his plan, the strongest combination undoubtedly included Gu La, the Ultimate Fire, paired with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, both possessing twin martial souls.
This lineup practically guaranteed the championship, securing the core disciple slot.
However, when Wang Yan tentatively proposed this combination, Wang Dong immediately shook her head like a drum: "No way, I won't be in the same group as him!"
She still resented losing to Gu La and didn't want to win under his "protection."
Gu La nonchalantly shrugged: "Whatever."
Xiao Xiao felt a bit disappointed but, looking at Wang Dong and Gu La, dared not speak.
Wang Yan's gaze fell on Huo Yuhao. This seemingly weak boy with only a ten-year soul ring possessed indescribable resilience and that miraculous "spiritual detection sharing." He didn't want to bury this perhaps underestimated seed.
Ultimately, Wang Yan made adjustments: "Since that's the case... Huo Yuhao, you'll be with Wang Dong. Gu La, you'll be with Xiao Xiao and Zhou Sichen from the agility attack system. For Wang Dong's group, I'll add a control system soul master."
Wang Dong was satisfied with this arrangement, at least not facing Gu La's "disgusting" face. She confidently believed she could make it to the top three with Huo Yuhao, automatically ignoring the possibility of winning the championship.
Huo Yuhao felt immense pressure, but his eyes burned with fighting spirit.
Gu La's group cruised effortlessly. The matches seemed like child's play to him.
Facing ordinary teams, he simply folded his arms, watching Xiao Xiao excitedly manipulate the Three Lives Soul-Sealing Cauldron to smash opponents, while Zhou Sichen exploited his speed advantage to harass around.
Against slightly tougher opponents? Gu La just stepped forward, the Sun Angel phantom appearing, casually swinging the Sun Sword!
Swish—!
A condensed beam of golden-white sword qi pierced the air.
The intense heat of the Ultimate Fire instantly softened and reddened the arena floor.
Opponents' defensive soul skills crumbled upon contact with the sword qi, instantly incinerated and penetrated.
Had the referee teacher not intervened promptly, any student grazed by the sword qi would have been killed or crippled. Even so, the terrifying heat and sharpness sufficed to terrify all opponents, causing them to surrender voluntarily.
Gu La's team swept through effortlessly, unstoppable.
In contrast, Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao's team stumbled along.
Although Wang Dong had a soul power Level of 28, her lack of combat experience and some spoiled behavior held her back.
Huo Yuhao's innate martial soul lacked offensive capability, and his weak physique was a significant drawback. Without his almost miraculous spiritual detection sharing and their unexpected full fusion rate soul skill—Dying in the Bright, Golden Road—they likely wouldn't have made it past the top sixteen.
The Golden Road that instantaneously froze and decomposed everything astonished the entire field, reigniting Gu La's interest.
"Soul fusion skills... Four completely unrelated martial souls, Spirit Eyes, Radiant Butterfly Goddess, Hao Tian Hammer, and Ice Emperor Scorpion, yet they fuse in pairs..."
Gu La stroked his chin, his divine appraisal eye quietly operating, trying to unravel its secrets. However, the feedback carried a layer of hazy golden mist, with only a vague hint:
[Deep divine force interference detected; fusion logic forcibly twisted.]
"Divine force interference... forcibly twisted..." Gu La narrowed his eyes, watching Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, exhausted after using the fusion skill, supporting each other, their fates seemingly tightly intertwined.
"Tang San, your handiwork... truly brutal and direct." He became even more curious about the principle behind this "artificial" soul fusion skill.
He also contemplated whether his avatars could simulate similar effects—it might become a powerful combined trump card.
Two weeks of fierce battles concluded the freshman tournament.
The champion was naturally Gu La's team. Gu La carried the entire tournament, with Xiao Xiao and Zhou Sichen responsible for auxiliary output, barely needing to worry about injuries.
The runner-up was Huo Yuhao's team, with four versatile martial soul fusion skills capable of countering almost any type of opponent, especially their perfect fusion rate, exceeding standard intensity.
Another pair of twins, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, couldn't match their fusion skill's intensity, intriguing Gu La about Tang San's methods.
Third place went to Dai Huabin's team, whose average soul power level was the highest. But what did it matter? With Gu La and Huo Yuhao having such advantages, his White Tiger martial soul was no different from a kitten. Their fusion skill's synergy was inferior to Huo Yuhao's, making it normal to lose to the chosen one.
On the award stage, Dai Huabin stared fiercely at Gu La's calm face in the champion position, then glared at Huo Yuhao beside him, his eyes brimming with malice.
Born noble with remarkable talent, he had always been the center of attention. How could he endure such humiliation?
Especially losing to someone like Huo Yuhao, whom he viewed as a "commoner." Though he didn't dare provoke Gu La, remembering that scorching gaze that terrified his martial soul, he vowed to retaliate against Huo Yuhao!
Huo Yuhao keenly caught Dai Huabin's malice. Far from being afraid, he privately mocked to Wang Dong: "Heh, too scared to challenge Gu La, so he's venting on me? White Tiger Duke's Manor? Might as well rename it to Soft-Footed Cat Duke's Manor!"
These words, transmitted through spiritual power to Dai Huabin, only added fuel to the fire. The tension between them escalated, with conflicts erupting continuously within the academy. If not for school rules, they probably would have fought to the death already.
Standing on the champion's platform, Gu La's gaze swept over the confrontational Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin, then glanced at a seemingly dozing, yet profoundly breathing scruffy figure in the shadows of the high platform. A faint, playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Creating some fun for Tang San... seems like an amusing pastime? Otherwise, staying here would be too boring."
Gu La's thoughts churned, and a vague plan began to form.
During the long wait to contact the Imperial Auspicious Beast, preparing a carefully crafted son-in-law script for this "father-in-law" and letting this plane's chosen one experience some "different growth pains" seemed rather interesting.
Behind Shrek Academy, in the serene depths of the forest, moonlight draped like gauze.
Xiao Xiao lay peacefully on a soft cushion, her breathing steady and deep, sound asleep under Gu La's precise hypnosis.
Before her, the entirely emerald, exquisitely transparent Nine Phoenix Dancing Flute floated silently in the air, radiating a gentle luster.
Gu La sat cross-legged, his expression solemn as if conducting a sacred ritual.
His hands hovered gently, fingertips swirling with two peculiar forces: one originating from the Celebi martial soul—a vast, pure natural essence force, seemingly containing the mysteries of life's origin.
The other extracted from the Ancient Golden Tree spirit soul—a mighty vitality imbued with earth's weight and the sense of time's sedimentation. Both forces approached godly levels.
He meticulously guided these two forces like the finest threads, slowly infusing them into the jade-like flute body.
Hum—!!!
The Nine Phoenix Dancing Flute suddenly emitted an unprecedentedly clear and resonant hum—no longer mere musical notes but resembling a phoenix cry from ancient times.
The flute's emerald glow intensified, and the nine phoenix engravings circling it came alive, transforming from static carvings into nine vibrant green light figures fluttering and dancing, emitting joyous cries before merging into one!
An ancient, noble, overwhelming presence of rebirth and celestial auspiciousness erupted from within the flute like a slumbering volcano awakening.
This pressure wasn't destructive but filled with sanctity and vitality, carrying an inviolable dignity.
The dormant Azure Phoenix remnant soul, almost fused with the martial soul's essence, was thoroughly awakened by the near-godly natural and life forces' nourishment and call.
Emerald light flowed; the flute's form blurred, melted, eventually transforming into a pure and noble emerald light stream, like a homing bird, rushing into Xiao Xiao's forehead.
"Mmm..." Sleeping Xiao Xiao let out an unconscious murmur, her body trembling slightly.
Her skin began to show faint emerald light patterns, vaguely outlining phoenix feather motifs. A powerful life energy and auspicious force emanated from her, resonating mysteriously with the surrounding flora.
After an unknown period, Xiao Xiao's long eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her already lively big eyes seemed cleansed, clearer and brighter, with a lingering trace of emerald glow deep within.
"Gu La... I..." She started to say something but abruptly paused.
An unprecedented, crystal-clear sense of "completeness" flooded her soul, as if a part of her that had always been dusty since birth was finally polished clean.
Instinctively raising her hand, she focused her mind slightly.
No familiar jade flute appeared. Instead, a clear and piercing phoenix cry soared to the skies.
Chirp—!
Emerald light enveloped Xiao Xiao's entire body. Within the light, her figure seemed to grow taller, and behind her, a magnificent pair of enormous phoenix wings composed entirely of emerald light unfolded.
Every feather was clearly visible, shimmering with life's glow.
A simple yet sacred phoenix feather pattern emerged on her forehead, her body exuding a powerful, noble, and auspicious life force.
Azure Phoenix Possession!
"This... this is..."
Xiao Xiao looked unbelievingly at her arms covered with fine emerald feathers, feeling the surging, overwhelming power coursing through her body, vastly surpassing her previous capabilities.
This sensation of power, brimming with wildness and vitality, was entirely different from the predominantly supportive control she experienced before. This was... the power of a beast martial soul, the pure physical strength!
She sharply turned to look at Gu La, her wide eyes filled with shock, ecstatic joy, and an almost worshipful gleam: "Gu La! My martial soul... my Nine Phoenix Dancing Flute... it... it changed! This power... is it because of you?!"
Even naive, she understood that this earth-shattering transformation was absolutely related to Gu La's earlier "help."
It was he who awakened the ancient power slumbering within her martial soul!
"Try it out." Gu La smiled faintly, his eyes carrying a trace of successful satisfaction and research fulfillment. "Feel it, this power that belongs to you."
He roughly understood the relationship between beast souls and weapon forms. They were interdependent, but the strength of the weapon form was closely related to the beast soul's power, requiring each other to carry the soul, making both indispensable.
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