After the farewell banquet, everyone returned to their respective places.
Zhu Ziyang walked back to his room. Nothing had changed inside; even after more than a month without anyone occupying it, the place remained spotless. Even the cocoon that Xingcai had transformed into had been well tended.
Back when Mu En fell, Xingcai also received his blessing. The baptism of light caused her to fall into deep slumber, initiating a profound transformation. This was a good sign. According to Zhu Ziyang's guess, once Xingcai completed this metamorphosis, she might advance straight into the realm of ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
As night faded and dawn broke, a new day began.
At Shrek Academy's north gate, a group had arrived early.
Zhu Ziyang, Tang Ya, Beibei, Xu Sanshi, and Xiao Xiao came to see off Huo Yuhao and He Caitou. Present at the scene was Xian Lin'er, dean of the Soul Tool Department. She would escort the Shrek delegation to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and bring back their exchange students in return.
"Yuhao, I won't say much," Zhu Ziyang said, patting Huo Yuhao's shoulder. "Just remember, you represent Shrek Academy. Don't let anyone push you around."
"Senior brother, don't worry. I definitely won't tarnish the academy's name!" Huo Yuhao replied with utmost confidence.
"I believe in you," Zhu Ziyang smiled. "Oh, here — take this book. Browse through it when you have time. You might find something unexpectedly useful."
"Got it! I'll read it!" Huo Yuhao took the book and, though a bit puzzled, glanced at the title. Complete Guide to the Top Martial Souls of the Douluo Continent. Seemed like a reference manual. He stowed it in his storage soul tool.
"We're off!" Xian Lin'er called, and the exchange team departed.
Watching them leave, Zhu Ziyang and the others turned and headed back into the academy.
"Zhu Ziyang, what was that book you gave Yuhao at the end?" Tang Ya asked curiously.
"Just a book about martial souls, though it's quite rare," Zhu Ziyang replied calmly.
"Strange… Why'd you give him something like that out of the blue?" Tang Ya still didn't get it.
"He'll thank me for it one day," Zhu Ziyang smiled, offering no further explanation.
—
After sending off the exchange group, Zhu Ziyang began preparing to leave the academy once more for another journey.
"Zhu Ziyang! Where have you been this past month? Why didn't I see you around campus at all?" A voice rang out — it was Qian Lingyi, who had recently joined the inner court about a month ago. She approached Zhu Ziyang directly and fired off questions like a rapid-fire cannon.
"I was out completing missions," Zhu Ziyang smiled at the angelic descendant who had fully adjusted to Shrek Academy. "So, how's life in the academy treating you?"
"Meh, just so-so," Qian Lingyi waved a hand dismissively, looking bored. "Among my peers? Not a single one worth fighting!"
"Seriously…?" Zhu Ziyang blinked, then asked, "Who exactly did you fight to make you think the inner court is so weak?"
"No idea what their names were. One had the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul, and the other had some shield martial soul. I sparred with them a few times and beat them all. Easy!" she said smugly.
"Beibei and Xu Sanshi? You've met them?" Zhu Ziyang was surprised. Neither of them had mentioned it, and even loudmouth Tang Ya hadn't spilled a word. Had she suddenly learned to keep secrets?
"Who? Never heard of them. So those are their names?" Qian Lingyi asked nonchalantly, then added, "Oh, right! Zhu Ziyang, come help me hunt my sixth soul ring!"
"You've hit the sixtieth rank already?" Zhu Ziyang looked at her in surprise.
"Mhm!" Qian Lingyi raised her chin proudly. "The meditation chamber beneath the Golden Ancient Tree works wonders! After just one month down there, I not only stabilized my cultivation but also broke through to level 60. Impressive, right?"
"Very impressive," Zhu Ziyang nodded, then smiled. "Alright. I just accepted a mission and was about to leave the academy. You can come with me."
"Awesome! I'll go pack a few things and be right back!" Qian Lingyi beamed with joy.
"Go on, then," Zhu Ziyang said with a nod.
About half an hour later, Qian Lingyi finally arrived, grinning sheepishly. Zhu Ziyang sighed but didn't say anything, and the two headed out of the academy.
"So, are we doing your mission first, or hunting for my soul ring?" Qian Lingyi asked as she trotted beside him.
"That depends on you," Zhu Ziyang replied. "Where do you plan to find your sixth ring? If it's in Star Dou Forest, we'll need to head back and ask one of the elders to escort us. If not, we can plan accordingly."
"Oh, oh! Let's go to the Tianhui Grand Canyon!" Qian Lingyi replied quickly.
"The Tianhui Grand Canyon? Are you sure there's a suitable soul beast for you there?" Zhu Ziyang asked with curiosity.
"Bet you didn't know this — deep in the Tianhui Canyon lives a tribe of Radiant Tigers!" she grinned. "Among them is a Six-Winged Radiant Tiger with a cultivation of ten thousand years. Perfect for me!"
"Really? I've never heard of that," Zhu Ziyang raised an eyebrow.
"The Radiant Tiger tribe lives in a very well-hidden place. I only know about it because of intel from my family," Qian Lingyi explained.
"Alright then, let's go to the Tianhui Grand Canyon. My mission target isn't far from there anyway. We can take care of that first, then look for your Radiant Tiger," Zhu Ziyang said.
"Hehe! No problem!" Qian Lingyi laughed brightly.
After traveling for three days, they arrived at their destination — Douluo City in the Heavenly Soul Empire — where Zhu Ziyang's fifth target for the Death God's Fourth Trial awaited.
"According to intel, the city lord of Douluo City is a power-type Soul Sage. He also has three Soul Emperor-level guards under his command," Zhu Ziyang explained to Qian Lingyi as they stood on a small hill outside the city.
"You're not seriously going after him, are you?" Qian Lingyi's eyes widened. "He's a noble of the Heavenly Soul Empire! Does Shrek plan to start a war?"
"What nonsense," Zhu Ziyang rolled his eyes. "What I mean is, the city lord and his guards have already been killed — by my target."
"Oh! I thought you were planning to assassinate a city lord!" Qian Lingyi sighed in relief — only to tense up again moments later. "Wait, hold on. If someone can kill a Soul Sage and three Soul Emperors, they must be at least a high-level Soul Sage, maybe even a Soul Douluo! Are you sure the two of us can handle them?"
"Relax. I never take on something I'm not sure I can handle," Zhu Ziyang said confidently. "After killing the city lord, the evil soul master took over the city lord's mansion. So we'll head there directly."
"Mhm!" Qian Lingyi nodded and followed him toward the city gate.
But as they neared the gate, the bustling, peaceful scene before them felt… off. People came and went as usual, carts and merchants filled the streets, and everyone wore the expressions of ordinary life. There was no hint of panic, no signs of fear. Even the guards at the gate looked calm — nothing like a city recently invaded by a powerful soul master.
The whole place radiated peace and prosperity, which immediately put Zhu Ziyang and Qian Lingyi on alert.
"Are you sure this city is under the control of an evil soul master?" Qian Lingyi asked.
"I'm certain," Zhu Ziyang said, his expression darkening. "Something's not right here. Either this so-called evil soul master isn't what he seems… or he has a terrifying ability to control people's minds. If it's the latter, we'd better be very cautious."
"So… are we still going in?" Qian Lingyi asked nervously.
"Of course. Since we're here, we need to find out the truth," Zhu Ziyang replied.
"But what if—"
"There are no what-ifs," Zhu Ziyang turned to her and took her hand. "I've got this."
(End of Chapter)
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