This overall acceleration clearly highlighted the difference in cultivation levels between the inner and outer academy disciples.
The strength of a Soul Master undergoes tremendous leaps across four stages: Soul Sovereign, Soul King, Soul Saint, and Title Douluo. A Soul Master can only integrate a thousand-year soul ring when they reach Soul Sovereign, a ten-thousand-year soul ring upon reaching Soul King, and possesses a true martial soul body when they attain Soul Saint. Title Douluo, on the other hand, has the potential to attempt integrating a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
Although Beibei and Xu Sanshi were only about ten levels lower than the Soul King level inner academy disciples like Chen Zifeng and Ling Luocheng, with one fewer soul ring, the gap between them was not something easy to bridge.
In the previous battle with the inner academy disciples, their ability to rival Soul Kings in a short time was entirely due to Xu Zihuang's first soul skill and the formidable power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul.
After all, not everyone could possess such extraordinary talent as Xu Zihuang.
The difference in soul power cultivation was just one reason; the lack of a ten-thousand-year soul ring, which enhances physical constitution, was also not something to overlook.
For example, if a Soul Master successfully absorbs a ten-year soul ring, the ring improves their physical constitution by ten; if it's a hundred-year soul ring, the improvement is one hundred, and for a thousand-year soul ring, it's a thousand, and so on. This clearly illustrates the huge gap between them.
This is why when Soul Masters hunt soul beasts to obtain soul rings, they always try to get as close as possible to their limit in terms of soul ring years.
Because Beibei and Xu Sanshi were heavier, they were having a harder time keeping up. Jiang Nannan, who was lighter and whose martial soul focused on speed, seemed to fare better, but still struggled a little. On the other hand, He Caitou, the heaviest among them, relied on his soul tool to assist him, so he wasn't as tired as the others. Wang Dong and Ning Tian, led by Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luocheng, didn't face such challenges.
Although Ma Xiaotao needed to spare some effort to lead Wang Dong, she was still at the front. The power of her Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul and her own cultivation were evident. Following her was Dai Yaoheng, whose cultivation was second only to Ma Xiaotao's.
However, trailing behind was not the other five inner academy disciples, but Xu Zihuang.
Even Chen Zifeng, the Soul Master with a soul power level of fifty-seven, couldn't keep up with Xu Zihuang. Although Xixi's explosive speed was terrifying in the short term, long-distance traveling like this relied more on stamina, and she couldn't match up to Chen Zifeng, who had the advantage in soul power.
Chen Zifeng, while moving forward, shifted a little closer to Xu Zihuang and, with a stunned expression, said,
"Junior Xu, your physical constitution is terrifyingly good. You're really making me feel down. We, as weapon soul masters, may not have the physical strength of beast soul masters like Xiaotao and Dai Yaoheng, but the difference in soul power cultivation should still be clear. And your martial soul should not be a beast martial soul, right?"
Chen Zifeng initiated the conversation with Xu Zihuang, genuinely surprised, but more so, he was trying to establish a good relationship with Xu Zihuang.
Anyone who could enter Shrek's inner academy was no fool. How could he not see how much Elder Xuan valued Xu Zihuang? It was likely that the main purpose of the previous battle between the reserve team and inner academy disciples was to let Xu Zihuang gain the recognition of the inner academy disciples.
At just twelve years old, Xu Zihuang had already reached the Soul Sovereign level, with an extremely terrifying soul ring configuration—three purple and one black. Such a genius would inevitably become a leader within the inner academy in the future.
Building a good relationship with him could only bring benefits and no harm.
But the most important thing was that Xu Zihuang's strength had earned his respect. In the world of Soul Masters, strength was the unchanging truth. If you were strong enough, you could earn the respect of others.
Xu Zihuang could naturally see through Chen Zifeng's thoughts, but he smiled and teased,
"It's nothing. Talent is just like that."
He wasn't opposed to Chen Zifeng's somewhat purposeful approach. If he didn't have something that made others pay attention, why would someone like Chen Zifeng, with such outstanding talent, want to take the initiative to talk to him?
He had long since grown accustomed to this because of his background.
"Alright, you really are bold." Chen Zifeng couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Well, we're all Soul Masters, so how can we lack a bit of arrogance? With your talent, Junior Xu, you definitely have the right to say such things."
Despite the rapid pace they were maintaining, neither of their voices wavered in the slightest. Their conversation clearly reached the ears of the others.
At the very back, Xu Sanshi's steps were noticeably heavier, and he looked ahead at Xu Zihuang, who seemed so at ease. Panting heavily, he sourly muttered,
"We're all Soul Sovereigns, how can there be such a big gap? I'm a defense-type Soul Master, and I'm constantly getting beaten up during battle. Even when traveling, I'm at a disadvantage."
Beibei had originally wanted to tease Xu Sanshi, but then realized that his own situation wasn't much better, so he held back and saved his breath.
Chen Zifeng's martial soul, the Pursuing Soul Sword, didn't seem as solitary, cold, or filled with killing intent as it appeared. On the contrary, he was very talkative.
As he and Xu Zihuang chatted, they became more familiar with each other.
It's worth mentioning that Chen Zifeng took the initiative to ask Xu Zihuang which country he was from. When he learned that Xu Zihuang, like him, was from the Heavenly Soul Empire, his attitude towards him became even more friendly.
In the three major empires of the Douluo Continent, national identity held significant importance. This had been the case since ancient times, even back when the Spirit Hall existed over ten thousand years ago.
"By the way, Senior Chen, have you ever encountered an Evil Soul Master during your inspection missions?" Xu Zihuang casually asked.
When Chen Zifeng heard the mention of Evil Soul Masters, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes.
"I've already completed more than twenty inspection missions, but I only encountered an Evil Soul Master once. It was shortly after I entered the inner academy, and a few senior disciples led the team. The Evil Soul Master's cultivation had reached the Soul Emperor level and had been lurking in the northern border of the Heavenly Soul Empire. In the end, it took several senior disciples working together to barely kill him."
Chen Zifeng spoke lightly, but his tone was heavy. The situation at the time had been far more dangerous than he let on. One wrong move, and they could have been wiped out.
"I was there at the time," Dai Yaoheng, who had been ahead, suddenly slowed down and fell to Xu Zihuang's side, his face serious.
"The methods and power of Evil Soul Masters cannot be understood by ordinary means. For our Shrek inspection team, these Evil Soul Masters are our biggest and most difficult opponents. However, Junior Xu, you don't need to worry too much. According to confirmed intelligence from the Star Luo Empire's military, the leader of the Death God Messenger we need to exterminate this time should not have reached the level of Soul Emperor. Evil Soul Masters are mysterious, but their power is still limited by their cultivation."
After saying this, Dai Yaoheng changed the topic to something less grim.
"Junior Xu, actually, I've heard about you for a year now. During the new student exam, my younger brother Dai Huabin must have been defeated by you."
"Is that so?" Chen Zifeng immediately became interested and suspiciously looked at Dai Yaoheng.
"Dai Yaoheng, you aren't trying to help your little brother get revenge on Xu Zihuang, are you?"
"How could that be?" Dai Yaoheng shook his head with a light laugh.
"Junior Xu won fair and square against Huabin. I'm not so petty as to hold a grudge over it. But Huabin has always had an exceptional talent, which led to his arrogant personality. If Huabin offended you in any way, I apologize on his behalf."
It wasn't just Chen Zifeng who wanted to establish a good relationship with Xu Zihuang. Dai Yaoheng also clearly saw Xu Zihuang's extraordinary potential. If such a genius could be brought into their family, the benefits would be immense.
Xu Zihuang met Dai Yaoheng's gaze calmly.
"Senior Dai, I actually have a good impression of your younger brother, Dai Huabin."
"Really? That's good," Dai Yaoheng chuckled, taking the opportunity to continue chatting with Xu Zihuang. Yao Haoxuan and Gong Yang Mo also occasionally joined the conversation, especially Gong Yang Mo, who was particularly curious about Xu Zihuang's second martial soul.
Only Ma Xiaotao, along with the introverted and cool Xixi and Ling Luocheng, didn't participate in the conversation.
Beibei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan were too exhausted to engage in much talk.
Ning Tian, who was being led by Ling Luocheng, kept his gaze fixed on Xu Zihuang, who had clearly become the center of attention. His eyes shone with pride, feeling honored by Xu Zihuang's presence.
Wang Dong, on the other hand, remained unusually silent. Dai Yaoheng's words had touched something deep inside him.
Putting aside his previous biases, Wang Dong now clearly recognized Xu Zihuang's excellence. He realized, upon reflection, that for the entire first semester of the first year, it was he who had been hostile towards Xu Zihuang. Yet Xu Zihuang had merely won the competition fair and square and had never targeted him.
This moment of realization brought a deep sense of guilt and shame to his heart.
Of course, what spurred this reflection was the repeated crushing of his confidence by Xu Zihuang. If it weren't for that, his arrogant and overbearing personality would never have led him to introspect about his own flaws.
In summary, his personality lacked the kind of harsh correction needed to mature.
It wasn't until noon that the group stopped to rest. By this time, they had long since left the vast plains near Shrek City and entered the territory of the Star Luo Empire.
Gone were the endless flatlands, replaced by a variety of mountains and forests.
The inner academy disciples and Xu Zihuang were all in good condition, but Xu Sanshi and Beibei were drenched in sweat and looked utterly exhausted. He Caitou, aided by his soul tool, didn't look as tired as the others, though his soul power consumption was significant.
Xu Sanshi, who was completely disregarding his image, lay on the ground with his body sprawled out, sticking out his tongue and greedily inhaling the air. Compared to Xu Sanshi and Beibei, Jiang Nannan wasn't much better off. Though her clothes weren't soaked, she was still dripping with sweat.
A certain someone immediately froze in place when seeing this.
Jiang Nannan shot Xu Sanshi a fierce glare. Xu Sanshi hurriedly looked away, not forgetting to say,
"Nannan, I didn't see anything."
"Go away!" Jiang Nannan glared at him, disgust clearly visible in her eyes.
"Okay, I'll go, I'll go." Xu Sanshi laughed awkwardly, his thick skin allowing him to roll on the ground in response to her words.
Beibei, sitting nearby, burst into laughter,
"You really look like a flipped turtle. No wonder you're a Black Turtle Soul Master."
Xu Sanshi initially wanted to get upset, but his attention was unintentionally drawn to Ma Xiaotao's actions.
Ma Xiaotao gracefully approached Xu Zihuang, her face slightly flushed, trying to maintain a natural tone as she spoke.
"Xu Zihuang, come with me for a moment."
"Okay."
Xu Zihuang noticed the fiery red glow in Ma Xiaotao's pink eyes, realizing that her Evil Fire had flared up again. He responded, then stood up and followed her into the depths of the forest.
Though he didn't particularly like the somewhat commanding tone in Ma Xiaotao's words, he didn't want to act out, considering his current position in Shrek Academy.
The others, except for Ma Xiaotao and Xu Zihuang, exchanged puzzled glances.
Especially Ning Tian, who, until Xu Zihuang and Ma Xiaotao disappeared into the forest, couldn't pull his gaze away.
"What's going on? Are Xiaotao and Zihuang very close?" Chen Zifeng asked, confused. The others also couldn't make sense of it.
Only Gong Yang Mo, who was aware of some inside information, didn't seem too surprised. A peculiar light flickered in his peach blossom eyes.
Xu Sanshi seemed to have completely forgotten the earlier unpleasantness. He leaned closer to Beibei, tapping his shoulder and lowering his voice,
"Beibei, do you think Zihuang and Xiaotao are... together?"
Beibei rolled his eyes at Xu Sanshi, replying coldly,
"Shut your mouth."
Having grown up in Shrek Academy, Beibei knew Ma Xiaotao's temper well. If she heard that, they would be in trouble.
Xu Sanshi realized what was going on, quickly covered his mouth, and nervously glanced toward the direction where Xu Zihuang and Ma Xiaotao had left.
On the other side, in the depths of the forest, Ma Xiaotao and Xu Zihuang came to a halt.
Without Ma Xiaotao reminding him, Xu Zihuang understood and immediately used his first soul skill, Whale Song, to help suppress the Evil Fire in her body.
Ma Xiaotao groaned slightly, then didn't waste time, sitting down cross-legged to enter a meditative state.
Xu Zihuang continued using his first soul skill, all the while pondering Ma Xiaotao's intentions. The inner academy disciples knew that Ma Xiaotao struggled with Evil Fire, and it wasn't a secret that he had the ability to help her suppress it, so there was no need to hide it from everyone.
But why did Ma Xiaotao insist on keeping this act between them? Was it due to caution, or was there something else going on?
"Mm—"
A quarter of an hour passed quickly. Ma Xiaotao opened her unique pink eyes, stood up, stretched, and her figure, with exaggerated curves, became clearly visible to Xu Zihuang.
The image reminded him of the time when Ma Xiaotao had fallen into the lake, her clothes drenched. Though he had long suppressed his emotions and desires, he was still a normal male, and such an image was impossible to erase from his mind.
Noticing Xu Zihuang's gaze, Ma Xiaotao paused, a slight sense of shyness and satisfaction rising in her heart.
She normally maintained a composed demeanor, but seeing Xu Zihuang's reaction made her feel quite pleased with her allure.
Xu Zihuang quickly regained his composure, offering her a gentle smile.
"Senior Ma, could you do me a favor?"
"Just say it. You've already helped me suppress the Evil Fire several times. I owe you. Anything I can do, I'll help," Ma Xiaotao responded readily, with a playful glint in her eyes.
Xu Zihuang smiled and took a piece of black, gooey whale gel from his soul tool.
"Senior Ma, this is a piece of ten-thousand-year whale gel. Could you help me soften it?"
Ma Xiaotao took the whale gel, a puzzled expression on her face.
"This really is ten-thousand-year whale gel?"
However, she didn't hesitate and, with the heat of her Phoenix Fire, began to melt the gel. The dark whale gel gradually changed in color, a faint golden light radiating from it. As the temperature rose, the originally hard gel began to soften, eventually turning into a translucent, dark golden substance.
Ma Xiaotao wrinkled her nose as the fragrance of the whale gel filled the air.
"This whale gel seems to be of high quality."
"Alright, here you go. Do you need me to stand guard while you absorb it?"
She handed the now soft whale gel back to Xu Zihuang.
The gel still retained some of the heat from her Phoenix Fire, but given Xu Zihuang's Soul Sovereign cultivation, he wouldn't be hurt.
Xu Zihuang smiled and shook his head.
"No need, Senior Ma. Let's head back now. With my physical constitution, I don't need to specifically cultivate to absorb the effects of the whale gel."
Since Xu Zihuang said so, Ma Xiaotao didn't press further. However, as she followed behind Xu Zihuang, a subtle smile appeared in her pink eyes.
"Such a pretentious brat."
When the whale gel entered his mouth, a strong fishy odor filled Xu Zihuang's senses, but it was soon replaced by a warm current spreading through his body, filling his limbs and bones with a faint fragrance. Xu Zihuang, already experienced with consuming whale gel, skillfully manipulated his soul power to guide the warm current.
By the time they returned to the group, Xu Zihuang had fully absorbed the effects of the whale gel.
Yet, when they appeared before the others, the expressions on their faces became even more peculiar.
Ma Xiaotao looked refreshed after relieving the Evil Fire inside her body, but Xu Zihuang, having refined the ten-thousand-year whale gel, had a flushed complexion. If one were to describe his condition in a single phrase, it would be "still unsatisfied."
The change in Xu Zihuang's appearance was of course due to the whale gel.
The ten-thousand-year whale gel had another unique effect. When Xu Zihuang had consumed it at the age of eight, his body was underdeveloped, and there were no problems. But now, at the physical maturity of a fifteen-year-old, the excess yang energy quickly manifested.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreo
[email protected]/facficmax10