When Yan Shaozhe came out again, he was with Yi.
"You promised him to teach him cultivation methods, but you disappeared for almost a year, so I taught him some things on your behalf."
Wang Nan had only taught Yi some simple meditation methods back then, originally planning to explain more about cultivation when he returned. However, it seemed unnecessary now. After all, Yan Shaozhe was a Super Douluo, and his understanding was more than enough to benefit Yi for a lifetime.
"Thank you, Dean Yan."
"No, I should be the one thanking you." Yan Shaozhe shook his head. "I finally understand why Teacher asked me to put aside academy matters and meditate for a while. Different positions and different states of mind lead to different thoughts."
With that, Yan Shaozhe looked at Yi and waved to him. "Go back, we're leaving."
Yi's eyes held some reluctance, but in the end, he didn't say anything more, only waved to Wang Nan and the others.
Yan Shaozhe enveloped Wang Nan with his spirit power, carrying him into the air. Spirit power fluctuations emanated from Yan Shaozhe, and Wang Nan noticed that his cultivation seemed to have improved.
"Dean Yan, have you broken through?"
"Yes, and I have you to thank for bringing me to this place. After entering the illusion that day, I truly gained a lot. Later, I stayed in that village for a while, and from a different perspective, I saw some things clearly."
After a pause, Yan Shaozhe slowly continued, "Speaking of which, I owe you an apology. Teacher always said my character had flaws, and now that I think about it, I was indeed a bit petty back then, dragging you into Xiao Tao's matter."
"Dean Yan, there's no need to be polite. I agreed to it back then, and besides, didn't you also give me compensation? For all these years, I've never worried about cultivation resources, and I've received a share of some rare Heaven and Earth treasures from outside."
Wang Nan hadn't expected Yan Shaozhe to remember something from a few years ago until now. To be honest, Wang Nan himself hadn't dwelled on the matter too much; in his opinion, it was merely a mutual arrangement. Yan Shaozhe wasn't worth him thinking about for so long.
Yan Shaozhe shook his head. "No, actually I had some other selfish motives, but now I realize Teacher's criticism was indeed correct."
Yan Shaozhe didn't elaborate, but Wang Nan knew in his heart that he had been aware of Yan Shaozhe's little schemes from the very beginning.
"Later, you helped Xiao Tao successfully purify her Spirit. At the time, I thought you would ask for some compensation, but I didn't expect you to say nothing from the beginning to the end."
"Perhaps it's due to my own personality, always having negative suspicions about others. It wasn't until this trip with you that I realized you are far more outstanding than I imagined."
Flying in the air, Wang Nan couldn't see Yan Shaozhe's expression. He didn't know what Yan Shaozhe had experienced in the illusion, nor had he ever imagined that Yan Shaozhe could say such words.
"Oh, and I didn't help you much on this trip, but what I promised you before still stands. Anything you need, I can help you with."
"Good, thank you, Dean Yan."
Yan Shaozhe smiled, said no more, and focused on controlling his spirit power, flying toward Douluo Continent.
---
There were few reference points over the vast ocean, but for Wang Nan and Yan Shaozhe, with their mental force, it was easy to discern direction.
After several days of flying, although they didn't return exactly to where they started, they successfully landed on Douluo Continent, which brought a sigh of relief to both of them.
By then, it was already dark. Wang Nan and Yan Shaozhe didn't linger, only briefly recovered some spirit power before continuing to fly toward Shrek Academy.
However, just as the two passed through the Douling Empire, Wang Nan's Sea of Consciousness suddenly vibrated. He quickly turned his head and looked in one direction.
"What's wrong?" Yan Shaozhe noticed Wang Nan's movement and asked.
"There seems to be an Evil Soul Master nearby."
"Then let's go take a look." Yan Shaozhe said nothing more, turned, and flew in the direction Wang Nan was looking.
Near the majestic Jialing Pass in the Douling Empire, it was night, and more than twenty Spirit Masters were locked in battle.
Most of them were Spirit Ancestors and Spirit Kings. One side, with every Spirit Ability they used, conjured gusts of eerie wind, and for a time, ghost wails and wolf howls filled the air. These were the Evil Soul Masters Wang Nan had sensed.
On the other side, the most conspicuous was a Spirit Master standing at the forefront, wielding a long sword. Although he was only a Spirit King, each swing of his sword brought forth a dazzling golden light. However, despite their strength not being bad, their numbers were fewer, and for a time, neither side could gain the upper hand.
Before Wang Nan even got close, he saw the flickering lights from afar. Auras of death and malevolence emanated, and the Evil Breaking Dragon in his Sea of Consciousness began to stir, confirming the identity of these individuals as Evil Soul Masters to Wang Nan.
He had no intention of being polite with this group of Evil Soul Masters. The Coiling Dragon Staff was gripped in his hand, and seven spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, gold, black, black, gold—rose around him.
His first spirit ring lit up, golden light flashed beneath his feet, and faintly, a phantom Dragon shadow seemed to appear beneath him.
On the other side, the two groups, locked in fierce combat, saw a golden light flash in the sky. A person, stepping on a giant Dragon, flew through the air. Before he even got close, a golden ray of light traversed a hundred meters and landed among several Evil Soul Masters.
The next instant, a gully was smashed into the ground, and a huge impact spread outwards. Several Evil Soul Masters were struck as if by a hammer, their bodies immediately flying backward, spitting blood continuously.
The golden light gradually revealed its original appearance, which was a golden long rod, with a golden giant Dragon coiling around its body, slowly moving.
For a moment, the remaining few were somewhat stunned, but Wang Nan, who had delivered that strike, would not stop. Golden light flashed across his right arm, and the Coiling Dragon Staff flew back into his hand. His figure had already reached the ground, and the Coiling Dragon Staff swept left and thrust right. Without even using Spirit Abilities, the remaining Evil Soul Masters had already fallen in a heap.
"This…" Soon, one of the Spirit Masters who had been fighting the Evil Soul Masters stepped forward. "Thank you for your help, Senior."
Wang Nan opened his mouth, then slowly accepted the title of "Senior."
Indeed, although he had just turned eighteen, in the eyes of these Spirit Ancestors and Spirit Kings, he was indeed a Senior.
Wang Nan's gaze swept over these Spirit Masters, finally lingering for a moment on a young girl.
The girl's cultivation was not particularly high, with only two yellow and two purple spirit rings, but behind her, a pair of pure white wings were particularly eye-catching.
Holy Angel.
With such a Spirit and at this age, her identity was not difficult for Wang Nan to guess.
"Who are you people, and how did you encounter Evil Soul Masters?"
"I dare not conceal it from Senior." The Spirit Master who had just spoken said. "We are members of the Purge Evil Alliance."