In a spacious room on the top floor of the City Lord's Mansion at the center of Moon Pivot City.
Yao Yang and Wang Xiao sat facing each other, with various documents placed on the purple sandalwood table in front of them.
More than a month ago, the Demon Crocodile Pirate Group, which had occupied the two southernmost islands of the Moon South Archipelago, suddenly vanished without a trace. The balance was broken, and after another month of fermentation, the entire Moon South Archipelago had become turbulent.
On the surface, aside from the Demon Crocodile Pirate Group, the strongest force was Yao Yang and the five hundred Moon Pivot City guards under his command. Moon Pivot Island, located at the northernmost part of the Moon South Archipelago, remained calm, but the four pirate groups occupying the other islands, driven by interests, had already engaged in several conflicts.
Yao Yang put down the document in his hand and said solemnly, "Uncle Wang, it seems the Demon Crocodile Pirate Group has most likely met with an accident. Otherwise, that old fellow Crocodile Luo wouldn't stay silent for so long and watch his territory be gradually devoured."
"That's the most likely possibility. But regardless, it has nothing to do with us. Let them fight among themselves." Wang Xiao shared the same view as Yao Yang.
Eight years had passed, and Yao Yang had long broken through to the eight-ring Soul Douluo realm. At only thirty-six years old, his soul power had reached level eighty-four. Although he was considerably inferior to the eldest senior sister of the Shrek Academy inner court, Zhang Lexuan, his cultivation speed still ranked among the top of all Shrek inner court disciples.
Moreover, he had not enjoyed the excellent resources available to Shrek's inner court disciples, so achieving this could truly be called the mark of a genius.
It should be said that soul masters who awakened with an innate full soul power level ten, as long as they did not perish midway, would have a bright future and at least become Title Douluo-level powerhouses.
This was the cruel reality of this world. From the moment of birth, a person's entire life could already be foreseen. How the future would unfold depended almost entirely on the innate soul power at martial soul awakening. The possibility of defying fate and changing one's destiny was extremely slim.
With Yao Yang, a Soul Douluo, plus Wang Xiao, who had broken through to the Title Douluo realm five years ago and currently possessed soul power at level ninety-three, they could easily wipe out those pirate groups. The reason they had not taken action to alter the structure of the Moon South Archipelago was entirely that they were following Xu Zihuang's instructions from back then.
At that moment, a rapid knock on the door suddenly sounded.
Yao Yang and Wang Xiao exchanged a glance, both revealing surprise in their eyes. With their spiritual force realm, they could naturally perceive the appearance of the visitor in detail. The visitor was a young woman they had never seen before.
The two soldiers leading this young woman over had anxious and fearful expressions on their faces. The one knocking on the door was one of the soldiers.
Wang Xiao understood and flashed away, his figure disappearing from the spot. His identity was too sensitive; he absolutely could not reveal himself casually, especially to strangers of unknown origin. Over these years, even the other pirate groups in the Moon South Archipelago remained completely unaware of his existence.
Yao Yang tacitly paused for a moment before raising his head to look toward the door and saying indifferently,
"Enter."
The door opened, and a woman dressed in tight-fitting white attire walked in. It was Ju Zi, who had just parted with Xu Zihuang and left the hotel.
Her smooth black long hair was neatly tied into a ponytail. Unlike the gentleness she showed when facing Xu Zihuang, she now had a frosty expression, like a valiant and majestic female general full of authority.
But upon closer inspection, one would notice that her lips were exceptionally red and moist.
Ju Zi took out a token from her bosom. It was a token entirely dark gold in color, engraved with a ferocious fire dragon bearing its fangs and brandishing its claws.
Yao Yang's gaze focused, and he stood up. He naturally knew what this fire dragon token represented, and a chill rose in his heart.
Xu Tianran's person?
Ju Zi said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Viscount Moon South, greetings. Please arrange a sea vessel for me to return to the continent immediately."
From Ju Zi's perspective, although the situation in the Moon South Archipelago was chaotic, it was still territory of the Sun Moon Empire. The hereditary title of Viscount Moon South had been conferred by the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family back then, so the current Viscount Moon South would surely give some face to the current crown prince, Xu Tianran.
However, she had also considered other possibilities, so she did not adopt an overly superior attitude.
Yao Yang was silent for a moment. In the next instant, a barely perceptible trace of joy flashed deep in his eyes. Then, the way he looked at Ju Zi gradually changed, and he readily agreed.
"I'll have someone arrange the departure matters right away. If you're in a hurry, I can first have someone escort you to the port."
"Then I'll trouble you. If possible, I'd like to set off as soon as possible."
"It's my duty."
Yao Yang waved his hand, then instructed the two soldiers standing outside the door, "You two escort this esteemed guest to the port first."
"Yes."
The two soldiers led Ju Zi away. Before leaving, one of the soldiers respectfully closed the door.
Not long after, the figures of Xu Zihuang and Wang Xiao appeared in the room one after another.
Wang Xiao had previously received a sound transmission from Xu Zihuang, so he was not too surprised by Xu Zihuang's presence here. However, both he and Yao Yang's gazes were fixed on Xu Zihuang. After five or six years apart, they had too much to say, yet didn't know where to begin.
"Old Wang, Brother Yang, long time no see." Xu Zihuang took a deep breath and smiled faintly.
"I know you probably have many questions. But let me first transmit my experiences over these years to you through spiritual force."
Purple-gold light shone in his deep purple eyes. Two masses of light released from Xu Zihuang's eyes respectively merged into the space between Wang Xiao's and Yao Yang's brows.
"Spiritual force materialization?! Tangible and qualitative?!" Shock filled both of their eyes, but they trustingly accepted the memory images Xu Zihuang transmitted through spiritual force.
From the time Xu Zihuang entered Shrek Academy to study at age eleven, up to everything he had experienced today.
Xu Zihuang only concealed some private and difficult-to-confess information. For example, his intimate interactions with Ning Tian, Ye Guyi, and Ju Zi in private, as well as the matter of awakening memories from his previous life.
Finally, there were Electrolux and the Million-Year Ice Silkworm, Tianmeng. He and Ye Guyi had once agreed that without permission from Tianmeng and Electrolux, they would not easily reveal their existence.
It took a full quarter of an hour before Yao Yang and Wang Xiao fully digested Xu Zihuang's memories from the past five-plus years.
The shock in Wang Xiao's and Yao Yang's eyes gradually faded, replaced by gratification and pride.
Yao Yang emotionally patted Xu Zihuang on the shoulder.
"Zihuang, you've truly brought Uncle Wang and me an enormous surprise."
Wang Xiao felt a wave of relief.
"Who would have thought the Demon Crocodile Pirate Group was actually colluding with soul beasts? Their intentions are punishable! Fortunately, Young Master and the young miss both arrived here safely."
The young miss Wang Xiao referred to was naturally Ye Guyi. Xu Zihuang's parents had always treated Ye Guyi as their own daughter; her status in the Zihuang Prince's Mansion was extraordinary.
Xu Zihuang said solemnly, "That Deep Sea Demon Whale shouldn't approach the Moon South Archipelago or the continent again in the coming years. But afterward, it's hard to say. If the Deep Sea Demon Whale returns, it might first target this Moon South Archipelago, far from the continent."
Yao Yang frowned, feeling somewhat oppressed. The power of that Deep Sea Demon Whale cast a shadow over his heart. If there was truly no other way, they could only leave the Moon South Archipelago.
There was no choice. On the Moon South Archipelago side, there simply wasn't anyone capable of contending with that Deep Sea Demon Whale. Unless the continent's top powerhouses gathered here, preserving the Moon South Archipelago would be impossible.
Setting aside the thoughts in his mind, Yao Yang looked at Xu Zihuang again.
"Zihuang, let's not think about these for now. That young lady named Ju Zi, what are your plans for her?"
"Send her back." Xu Zihuang sighed with a sense of loss.
"Old Wang, I'll trouble you to accompany her on the trip. Please ensure her safety without fail."
"Yes, Young Master. Rest assured." Wang Xiao respectfully acknowledged.
Yao Yang nodded slightly and said, "This is for the best. No time to delay, I'll head to the port with Uncle Wang right away. Zihuang, wait here for me; I'll be back soon afterward."
Yao Yang and Wang Xiao also left. But their identities dictated that one could only act in the open while the other remained in the shadows.
Xu Zihuang climbed to the very top of the central building's spire in the City Lord's Mansion, gazing remotely toward Moon Pivot Port outside the northern city walls. He watched the golden sun rise from the eastern coastline.
Yao Yang was very efficient. In merely two quarters of an hour, a warship over a hundred meters long, flying the flag symbolizing the Viscount Moon South, sailed away from the port.
Ju Zi stood on the deck of the warship and suddenly, as if guided by some impulse, turned back to glance toward the center of Moon Pivot City. But unlike Xu Zihuang, who possessed the Golden Eyes martial soul, she could only see the rough outline of the towering Moon Pivot City.
"Tianhuang, take care."
Watching the shape of Ju Zi's lips, Xu Zihuang also murmured.
"Take care."
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