"Go and inform your Master that there are visitors."
Sweeping his gaze around the hall, Mu Yang spoke to the leading young woman before taking a seat on a nearby wide chair with Shui Bing'er.
The leading young woman was momentarily stunned but quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"Greetings, honored guests. May I ask for your names?"
"Blazing Fire Academy, Mu Yang."
"Tianshui Academy, Shui Bing'er."
The two reported their names.
Upon hearing them, the young woman couldn't help but exclaim, "You're Mu Yang?"
Although Mu Yang was young and usually reclusive, rarely leaving his academy, he was by no means an unknown figure.
It had only been about a year since the Soul Master Tournament, and as the captain of the championship team, the young and handsome Mu Yang was undoubtedly the dream idol of countless young girls in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Perhaps they wouldn't necessarily recognize Mu Yang in person, but his name was far too familiar.
Of course, due to limitations in information spread, the ones who saw Mu Yang as their dream idol were mainly young girls in Heaven Dou City and within the Soul Master community.
"You recognize me?"
Mu Yang raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, yes! Of course! Young Master Mu, you led the Blazing Fire Team to win the last Soul Master Tournament! You've brought great honor to the empire!"
The young woman nodded enthusiastically, her face filled with admiration. Then, she turned to the other young women beside her.
"Hurry! Someone go inform the Master that we have distinguished guests visiting Yue Xuan!"
As the captains of Blazing Fire Academy and Tianshui Academy, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er's talent in cultivation was beyond doubt.
Even if they weren't considered powerhouses yet, they were undoubtedly destined to be in the future.
Moreover, after the Soul Master Tournament, anyone who had followed them knew that both were the direct blood relatives of Tyrant Dragon Douluo, Blazing Fire Douluo, and Ice Douluo.
With their talent and the backing of three titled Douluo, their status and influence were no less than that of imperial princes and princesses.
Before long, a noble and elegant woman gracefully descended the staircase.
At first glance, she appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, but her gaze held a depth that seemed to have seen through the world itself—something far beyond what a mere twenty-five or twenty-six-year-old could possess.
Dressed in a silver palace gown, the fabric fit her form perfectly, exuding an air of refinement.
Even by Mu Yang's discerning standards, her aura was unparalleled, and among all the people he had encountered, only Bibi Dong, the Supreme Pontiff, could compare to her in terms of presence.
However, there was a difference.
While Bibi Dong's presence was commanding and oppressive, this woman's aura was elegant and effortless, making others feel at ease.
Each had their own unique charm.
As soon as Tang Yuehua reached the ground floor, she immediately sensed the chilling murderous aura emanating from Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er.
Her delicate brows knitted slightly.
Seeing their slightly pale complexions, Tang Yuehua seemed to connect the dots, and a look of intense shock flickered in her eyes.
"Greetings, Master of Yue Xuan."
Now that the host had arrived, Mu Yang pulled Shui Bing'er forward and offered a polite greeting.
"Welcome, young friends. Shall we continue our conversation upstairs?"
Suppressing her inner shock, Tang Yuehua smiled warmly.
"We'll follow your lead."
Mu Yang nodded.
Fourth Floor of Yue Xuan.
In the tranquil and elegant hall, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er sat across from Tang Yuehua. Once the tea was served, Tang Yuehua dismissed the attendants in the hall.
"Young friends, may I ask what has caused you both to be in such a state?"
Although she had already guessed the possibility, Tang Yuehua was still somewhat uncertain—because the two were simply too young.
"Master of Yue Xuan, just call us by our names."
Seeing her expression, Mu Yang smiled faintly.
"From your reaction, I assume you've already guessed. That's right, Bing'er and I just came out of the City of Slaughter.
We've heard that the domain ability you possess can purify the soul. We hope to use your domain power to master the Killing God Domain.
Oh, and this is our tuition."
As he spoke, Mu Yang retrieved a black box from his soul storage wristband, opened it, and pushed it toward Tang Yuehua.
Inside the black box lay a left leg soul bone radiating golden light. Judging by the soul power fluctuations it emitted, this soul bone was at least ten thousand years old.
Using Tang Yuehua's Noble Circle Domain to master the Killing God Domain would undoubtedly incur a favor if no compensation was given.
Not wanting to owe anyone a favor, Mu Yang had prepared a ten-thousand-year soul bone as tuition for both himself and Shui Bing'er.
---
As the Imperial Etiquette Academy of Heaven Dou Empire, Yue Xuan's tuition was not exactly low, but it wasn't exorbitant either—certainly not to the level of a priceless ten-thousand-year soul bone.
However, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er were not ordinary students.
Since they would require Tang Yuehua's personal guidance, their tuition naturally could not be calculated like that of regular students.
Besides, back in the City of Slaughter, Mu Yang had deliberately plundered a good amount of common thousand-year and ten-thousand-year soul bones.
---
In Mu Yang's past life, bad people weren't necessarily rich.
But in Douluo Continent, the net worth of villains was often far greater than that of ordinary people—because in this strength-based world, those who committed evil were rarely weak. Otherwise, they would sooner or later meet a stronger enemy and be eliminated.
Most soul masters who entered the City of Slaughter were criminals of the outside world, meaning their chances of possessing soul bones were far higher than regular soul masters.
As a result, after just one training trip to the City of Slaughter, Mu Yang's pockets were considerably fuller.
---
As for Tang Yuehua realizing that they had just left the City of Slaughter, Mu Yang was not surprised at all.
In the original story, when Tang San left the City of Slaughter, Tang Hao immediately brought him to Yue Xuan to find Tang Yuehua.
This meant that Tang Hao knew his younger sister could "cure" Tang San.
In fact, it was very likely that when Tang Hao obtained the Killing God Domain in the past, he also sought out Tang Yuehua to remove its negative effects.
With such prior experience, it was not surprising that Tang Yuehua could recognize their condition.
---
"So it really is the Killing God Domain… No wonder you are the most outstanding soul masters among the younger generation of the Empire!"
Upon confirmation, Tang Yuehua couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Then, she glanced at the soul bone on the table, shook her head, and pushed it back toward Mu Yang.
"You should take this back. Being able to assist such remarkable geniuses is my honor."
Although soul bones were incredibly valuable, as a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Clan, Tang Yuehua did not place too much importance on material wealth.
In her view, forming a good relationship with Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er—two soul masters destined to become future powerhouses—was far more beneficial than obtaining a soul bone.
Furthermore, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er were not lone soul masters.
They had Titled Douluo backing them in Blazing Fire Academy and Tianshui Academy.
For the Clear Sky Clan, establishing a good relationship with them was all benefit and no harm.
---
"That won't do. Master, please accept it."
Mu Yang's tone was firm as he pushed the soul bone back to her.
If Tang Yuehua refused the soul bone, then she would certainly reject any lesser form of payment like gold soul coins.
And as the saying goes, "What comes for free is often the most expensive."
Mu Yang had no intention of owing Tang Yuehua a favor.
Otherwise, if he ever clashed with Tang Hao and Tang San in the future, how would he repay this favor?
It would be difficult to return and would be a huge loss for him.
If he didn't repay it, he would be seen as ungrateful.
Thus, he could not owe Tang Yuehua a favor.
A ten-thousand-year soul bone was the perfect way to settle the debt.
---
"That works too."
Seeing Mu Yang's unwavering attitude, the intelligent Tang Yuehua understood his reasoning and nodded in agreement.
After all, ordinary soul masters might not mind owing favors.
But genius soul masters and true powerhouses were different.
They understood that favors were difficult to repay and were careful never to owe them lightly.
Clearly, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er belonged to the latter group.