Meditation Chamber at the Roots of the Golden Tree.
Jing Shaoyu slowly opened his eyes, and blazing flames burst from the corners of his eyes, extending three feet long. After the flames dissipated, his gaze became incredibly bright, radiant like the sun, as if capable of illuminating all shadows and darkness.
"Hu~" He exhaled a turbid breath, stood up, and stretched his body. A series of crackling sounds came from his bones as his entire body felt much lighter.
After half a year in seclusion, his Soul Power had increased by three levels, reaching the 66th rank. However, this was merely a byproduct of his closed-door cultivation. The true achievement lay in the unprecedented depth of self-understanding and control he had attained.
Jing Shaoyu raised his right hand, his eyes calm and unreadable. A pure white vortex appeared in his palm, within which wind and thunder flickered, and the heavens seemed to invert. He closed his hand, and the white vortex instantly vanished without a trace. Then, he lifted his left hand, where a pure black vortex gathered, shrouded in dark mist, with molten lava surging and the earth upheaving.
Creation and destruction, nature and transformation—these were the greatest fruits of Jing Shaoyu's seclusion.
Leaving the meditation chamber and the roots of the Golden Tree, he intended to find Yun Ming and Ya Li, or the group of girls including Gu Yue, to inform them of his emergence from seclusion.
However, to his surprise, Yun Ming was not at the academy, and Ya Li was currently in seclusion. As for Gu Yue and the others, Gu Yue had also returned to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda for closed-door cultivation after he began his own and had yet to emerge. Ye Xinglan was training diligently at the Tang Sect headquarters, Wu Siduo was in seclusion under Long Yeyue's orders, Xu Xiaoyan had followed her mentor, Elder Mei of the Celestial Star Douluo, to collect the Starry Sky Set after becoming her disciple, and Mo Hentian was at the Blacksmiths' Association headquarters in Heaven Dou City, seeking the opportunity to break through to the seventh rank.
Thus, upon emerging from seclusion, Jing Shaoyu only encountered Na'er and Lan Fozi.
"Brother, you're out!" Na'er exclaimed joyfully, rushing forward to hug Jing Shaoyu, her delicate face brimming with happiness and excitement.
"Yes," Jing Shaoyu wrapped an arm around Na'er's waist and smiled gently. "Na'er has also broken through to Soul Emperor. Well done, you deserve praise!"
With that, he leaned down and kissed Na'er's cheek, making her expression grow even more delighted.
"Hehe, of course!" Na'er laughed proudly. "Godfather and Godmother both praised me!"
Since Jing Shaoyu had acknowledged Yun Ming and Ya Li as his godparents, Na'er had also begun addressing them as such, much to their delight and joy.
"By the way, why did Teacher suddenly leave the academy?" Jing Shaoyu asked curiously.
At this, Na'er showed a trace of worry and said, "Actually, it's not just Godfather. All the available Elders of the academy are also absent. According to Godmother, Godfather received a warning from Elder Jin of the Golden Tree, so he specifically went out to investigate."
"I see!" A glint of understanding flashed in Jing Shaoyu's eyes as he nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. He had already given the warning—whether they could prevent it now depended on Yun Ming and the Elders of the Sea God Pavilion. At this point, he truly had no strength left to intervene.
"Brother, do you really think there will be a disaster?" Na'er asked anxiously. Her remaining time was short, and she only wished to spend these limited days quietly by Jing Shaoyu's side. She truly didn't want any unexpected complications to arise.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen," Jing Shaoyu reassured her. "With my godfather and godmother—both Limit Douluo—and so many Elders present, what could possibly go wrong?"
Though he said this, Jing Shaoyu couldn't help but inwardly criticize. After all, in the original story, the Elders of the Sea God Pavilion had been as flimsy as paper, their presence barely noticeable.
The two embraced, enjoying the peaceful moment, when Lan Fozi appeared.
Seeing Jing Shaoyu and Na'er sitting intimately on a chair, Lan Fozi paused, a shadow of gloom and frustration flashing in her eyes. Still, she forced a relaxed demeanor and walked toward them, calling out cheerfully, "Brother Shaoyu, you're out of seclusion!"
As Lan Fozi approached Jing Shaoyu, her spirit inexplicably trembled. Her gaze toward him carried an indescribable emotion. She was inwardly shocked—after just half a year, Jing Shaoyu's aura had grown even more majestic and overwhelming, stirring an involuntary desire within her to submit, to surrender beneath him...
She shook her head repeatedly, dispelling those improper thoughts. No, no—how could she think such things? That would be blasphemous disrespect toward her master!
"Fozi, why are you shaking your head?" Na'er asked, puzzled by her strange behavior.
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing, just feeling a little drowsy, hehe!" Lan Fozi quickly explained, forcing an awkward smile.
Jing Shaoyu cast a calm glance at the little whale, unfazed. He was well aware of the changes in himself after emerging from seclusion—this girl must have sensed it, which was likely why she'd been entertaining inappropriate thoughts just now.
He didn't mind.
Over the following days, the others gradually returned as well. The last to rejoin was Xu Xiaoyan, whom Mei Lao had taken to retrieve three Star Soul Bones. Now, with four Soul Bones and one External Soul Bone, she became the team member with the highest number of Soul Bones.
Inner Academy Training Grounds.
Many Inner Academy disciples had gathered, excitement written on their faces. Among the crowd were several Elders from the Sea God Pavilion—even the Holy Spirit Douluo, Ya Li, was present—all watching with keen interest as the two sides prepared to spar.
"Junior Brother Jing is so handsome! I can't take it—I want to go for a younger man, what should I do?"
"That's easy. Just confess to him during the upcoming Sea God's Fate event! Though I doubt you'll succeed—aside from Junior Brother Jing, all the Shrek Seven Monsters are girls!"
"Hmph! Just a bunch of little girls. How could they compare to my mature charm?"
"..."
"Hey, hey, who do you think will win—Senior Brother or Junior Brother Jing?"
"Isn't it obvious? Definitely Senior Brother. He's a Soul Douluo, while Junior Brother Jing, though talented, is only a Soul Emperor!"
"I beg to differ! I think Junior Brother Jing has the upper hand. Even though he's just a Soul Emperor, he's the Pavilion Master's personal disciple, and I heard he has Twin Martial Souls."
"Have you ever seen Junior Brother Jing fight?"
"No, why?"
"Then why are you so confident he'll win? That's Senior Brother we're talking about—the strongest among us Inner Academy disciples!"
"So what? This spar forbids Battle Armor and Soul Spirits—it's purely a contest of Soul Master strength. Twin Martial Souls users naturally have an advantage over single Martial Souls users!"
"..."
While the crowd outside buzzed with heated discussions, Jing Shaoyu and Lan Muzi inside the arena calmly observed each other.
"Junior Brother Jing, shall we keep this friendly?" Lan Muzi suggested with a gentle smile, his voice warm and sincere.
"Of course," Jing Shaoyu nodded, flashing a bright grin. "Go easy on me, Senior Brother!"
This sparring session had been arranged spontaneously. While heading to find Ya Li, Jing Shaoyu happened to run into Lan Muzi, who was on his way to report to her. At Ya Li's suggestion, the two decided to engage in a friendly exchange.
Lan Muzi, the current top disciple of the Inner Academy, a Soul Douluo and Three-Word Battle Armor Master, was also the nominal disciple of Light-Dark Douluo Long Yeyue. Before Jing Shaoyu and Na'er appeared, he had been Yun Ming's most favored junior. Known for his honest and gentle nature, he commanded great respect among Inner Academy disciples.
"Enough dawdling—begin!" Cai Yue'er, acting as the temporary referee, announced.
"Yes!" Lan Muzi nodded before leisurely summoning his Martial Soul—a three-foot-long wooden blade so ordinary it seemed unremarkable. The weapon lacked any visible edge or sharpness.
Yet, the moment this plain wooden sword appeared in Lan Muzi's hand, his entire demeanor transformed. His eyes gleamed brilliantly, and a golden-red aura radiated from his body, exuding warmth and vigor.
The Yang Wood Blade—Lan Muzi's Martial Soul—was a Unique Soul with distinctive attributes, an exceedingly rare phenomenon.
A Unique Soul referred to a Martial Soul with no historical precedent, existing solely in its wielder. Examples included Jing Shaoyu's Origin Elf Soul and Doomsday Godslaying Spear, as well as Lan Muzi's Yang Wood Blade. Without prior records to reference, these Souls possessed profound mystery and unpredictable effects.
Jing Shaoyu's expression flickered slightly as he observed the Yang Wood Blade, sensing a familiar energy.
Solar power combined with wood attributes—an intriguing Martial Soul.
On the training field, both Jing Shaoyu and Lan Muzi simultaneously unleashed their Martial Souls.
Jing Shaoyu naturally began with his Origin Elf Soul. Since this was a friendly bout between fellow disciples, there was no need to deploy the Doomsday Godslaying Spear—a weapon of devastating power. Moreover, this exchange served primarily to test the results of his recent secluded training, making the Origin Elf Soul the smoother choice.
Lan Muzi watched Jing Shaoyu with surprise, noting the absence of Soul Rings behind him. This further elevated his opinion of his junior brother—mastery over one's Martial Soul to such an extent was no small feat. As he mused, eight black Soul Rings materialized behind him in tandem with his summoned blade.
Jing Shaoyu struck first. Darting forward, he closed the distance in a flash before raising his right hand, fingers clenched into a fist. A swirling sphere of cyan and violet energy enveloped his knuckles, accompanied by the roar of wind and thunder.
On the opposite side, Lan Muzi's expression turned grave as he sensed a massive surge of air being pushed aside by Jing Shaoyu. A terrifying pressure bore down on him from all directions. Without hesitation, he raised his blade, and the first Soul Ring behind him lit up. Three golden suns suddenly erupted around him, their scorching radiance dazzling the senses. The surrounding currents of air melted away like ice and snow under the golden-red sunlight.
First Soul Skill: Three Yangs Bring Good Fortune!
Yet, how could Jing Shaoyu's attack be so easily neutralized? Just as the cyan-and-purple energy sphere approached the three golden suns, it exploded violently. In an instant, thunder roared and fierce winds howled, engulfing Lan Muzi completely.
The entire training arena was affected—the skies darkened, and the winds shifted unpredictably.
Wind and Thunder Without Expectations—this was Jing Shaoyu's newly mastered fusion technique of wind and thunder. It wasn't merely a combination of wind and lightning elements but a synchronization of natural laws, capable of influencing the very atmosphere of the world.
As the first to experience this fusion technique, Lan Muzi could already feel the changes in the surrounding area—chaotic elements and tangled spiritual energy, leaving his mind somewhat disoriented.
Gripping his Yang Wood Blade with both hands, Lan Muzi activated his second Soul Ring. A golden-red glow ignited along the blade before he swung it forward, unleashing a slash of golden-red energy. Wherever the slash passed, everything was dyed in its hue, and the turbulent wind and thunder in the area were forcibly dispersed.
Second Soul Skill: White Snow in the Sunny Spring!
Jing Shaoyu watched the incoming blade energy and sidestepped it effortlessly. Then, clenching his left fist, he struck out toward Lan Muzi once more. A blue-and-white energy sphere condensed in his fist, instantly painting a scene of freezing skies and swirling snow.
The blue-white sphere shattered before reaching Lan Muzi, releasing a dense white mist that blanketed the entire training arena in the blink of an eye. The temperature plummeted, and tiny ice crystals formed in the air, falling to the ground like glittering stars.
Water and Ice Without Falsehood—a fusion technique of water and ice.
Witnessing how the arena's climate had become so erratic under Jing Shaoyu's manipulation, Lan Muzi grew even more intrigued by his opponent's abilities. Deciding to hold back no longer, he took the initiative to attack. His Yang Wood Blade gleamed as his figure darted forward with ghostly speed, charging straight at Jing Shaoyu. Wherever he passed, the cold dissipated, and the mist dissolved, revealing a clear path in the air.
Faced with Lan Muzi's aggressive advance, Jing Shaoyu showed no fear—instead, he met it head-on. His fists were enveloped in a faint white light, so soft it could easily be overlooked.
Behind Lan Muzi, his third Soul Ring flashed. Raising his Yang Wood Blade high, the golden-red glow transformed into a deep crimson in an instant. A massive orb of sunlight condensed at the blade's edge—gentle yet infused with loneliness and reluctance. The melancholic emotions merged into the dark-red blade energy, making the sunlight resemble the setting sun in a poet's verses, casting its final, lingering glow.
Third Soul Skill: Setting Sun!
Truly a genius who has comprehended the path of blades! Jing Shaoyu marveled inwardly, yet his movements remained swift. He met Lan Muzi's assault with punches—his right fist surged like rising flames, his left swept forth like raging waves. His feet carried him with wind-like speed, his figure darting like lightning, every motion seemingly aided by the heavens themselves.
Fist winds clashed against blade radiance, forcing both combatants back momentarily. They raised their heads, exchanged knowing smiles, and charged again. Lan Muzi's swordsmanship flowed with practiced ease, each strike deliberate, golden-red blade arcs weaving intricate patterns. Jing Shaoyu's punches and kicks were equally composed, his movements fluid—with every extension and retraction, elements cycled: wood, wind, fire, water, earth, lightning, light, ice, and darkness taking turns to manifest.
"What are Senior Brother and Junior Brother Jing doing? I can't make sense of it."
"Honestly, I'm just as lost. This doesn't look like a real fight—at least, neither seems to be aiming for decisive blows."
"Can you still tell who has the upper hand?"
"Not at all. I don't think they ever intended to determine a winner. Senior Brother started seriously but then shifted to inexplicable movements, and Junior Brother Jing is even more baffling—he never seemed serious from the start!"
"Weird. This is just too weird!"
The disciples murmured among themselves, unanimously perplexed by the spectacle on the training grounds. Meanwhile, the Elders watched with keen interest.
"Muzi truly has a pure heart," Ya Li remarked with admiration. "He's proactively guiding A'Yu through combat techniques."
"Indeed," Cai Yue'er agreed, though her focus lingered more on Jing Shaoyu. "Shaoyu has grown even more remarkable. He can casually influence weather patterns now. Tsk tsk—imagine what he could do to Shrek City's climate once he becomes a Titled Douluo."
"His Martial Soul is truly extraordinary," one Elder mused.
"Nonsense—since when could an ordinary Martial Soul control nine elements?" another retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Elements are just the beginning," a third Elder interjected. "Haven't you noticed? There's a higher-tier energy woven into Jing Shaoyu's attacks—something akin to the power of life itself!"
Listening to the Elders' discussion, Ya Li's eyes sparkled with pride, her expression radiant. See? This was her treasured son.
Excellence needed no explanation.
(End of Chapter)