Several more days passed.
Xuanzi returned.
Accompanying him were three royal consecrates from the Star Luo Empire and a squad of elite Star Luo Imperial Guards.
Among them was none other than the Healing Immortal Douluo—Wang Xian'er!
Mu En personally came out to welcome them, bringing along the top brass of the academy—naturally including Huo Yuhao, the exemplary disciple.
It seemed that Mu En treated Wang Xian'er with the utmost respect and regard. But let's not forget—Wang Xian'er was invited at Mu En's request and personally "asked" for by Xuanzi.
Wang Xian'er herself didn't have much lifespan left. She was not fit for travel, yet still had to leave Star Luo City.
Fortunately, Shrek Academy wasn't too far from Star Luo City, and she was accompanied by two Titled Douluo throughout the journey. No accidents occurred.
Even though she was treated this way, Wang Xian'er still maintained a smile. The other two Titled Douluo didn't dare voice any objections.
After all, the problem lay with a soul bone sold by their Starlight Auction House—one that had crippled Ling Luochen's arm. Regardless of what truly happened, Shrek Academy had come to settle the matter, and all they could do was take responsibility—and demonstrate enough apology and sincerity.
In a way, it was fortunate that it was Ling Luochen's arm that was crippled.
Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujium were both somewhat shaken—had something happened to Huo Yuhao during his absorption of the soul bone, the consequences would have been much graver.
In fact, they both felt a bit of regret. If only Huo Yuhao had been the one ruined... wouldn't that have been better?
A fully grown Huo Yuhao might someday pose a much greater threat to the Star Luo Empire than the current cost of crippling him.
Pushing Mu En's wheelchair and standing behind his master, Huo Yuhao saw the Healing Immortal Douluo who belonged to the same generation as Mu En.
Wang Xian'er appeared as an elderly crone—white-haired, wrinkled, her actual age impossible to discern.
And yet, despite her aged appearance, a strong vitality emanated from her body, radiating a warm and gentle aura.
She was quite different from Mu En—Mu En's shortened lifespan stemmed from injuries, while Wang Xian'er was simply at the natural end of her life.
Though her body still brimmed with life force, her soul could no longer hold on for much longer.
The two Titled Douluo accompanying her were Starshatter Douluo and Giant Hammer Douluo.
Huo Yuhao had met Starshatter Douluo before, but it was his first time seeing Giant Hammer Douluo.
The Giant Hammer Douluo was relatively younger—burly in build, already at Rank 93, and seemingly close to another breakthrough.
Besides all this, Huo Yuhao noticed that no royal family members had shown up. Even Xu Jiujiu, their public face, was absent.
"Is it that they think Wang Xian'er is enough to represent the royal family? Or are they afraid of another incident—worried that Shrek Academy might detain another royal representative?" Huo Yuhao thought darkly.
On the surface, however, he was still the same well-mannered and courteous child. He just seemed quieter and more withdrawn lately, likely due to the incident with Ling Luochen.
Mu En showed friendliness toward Wang Xian'er.
At Mu En's signal, Huo Yuhao also politely greeted Wang Xian'er and the others.
"Greetings, esteemed seniors!"
"So you're the new disciple under His Excellency the Dragon God, Huo Yuhao? I've heard Jiawei mention you many times—he never stops singing your praises," Wang Xian'er said with a smile.
She was the only one who dared to address Xu Jiawei by name, and he wouldn't mind—in fact, he might even appreciate the closeness.
While it was true Xu Jiawei had spoken of Huo Yuhao to her, whether those words were praise was another matter entirely.
Huo Yuhao quickly adopted a humble demeanor.
This left Wang Xian'er with the impression that Mu En had chosen an excellent disciple.
Their interaction was brief before getting straight to the point.
"We deeply regret and are saddened by the injuries suffered by your academy's student," Wang Xian'er said sincerely. "I've come here to offer whatever little help I can to make amends for the mistake made by the Starlight Auction House. Jiawei has also instructed me to do everything in my power. Without delay, let me examine the injured child first."
"Very well. This way, please, Lady Immortal," Mu En nodded and then turned to Huo Yuhao and the others. "Yuhao, come with me and escort the Lady Immortal to Luochen. The rest of you, return to your duties. If I need anything, I'll contact you directly."
Everyone from Shrek Academy responded in agreement.
Wang Xian'er had Giant Hammer Douluo stay outside with the elite guards, while she followed Mu En inside with only Starshatter Douluo helping her along.
Neither of the two Titled Douluo raised any objections.
They knew—if Mu En truly wanted to act, they wouldn't stand a chance. Better to be forthright and perhaps win his favor.
Arriving at Sea God Island.
On the way to the Sea God Pavilion, Wang Xian'er looked curiously at Mu En in his wheelchair and couldn't help but ask, "Your Excellency the Dragon God, this old one senses from your aura that you suffered a severe injury to your lower back. Is that so?"
Her words struck directly at Mu En's condition, making Starshatter Douluo internally panic—Dammit, Ancestor!
Anyone seeing Mu En in a wheelchair could guess he had some injury.
But could this really be said out loud?
A leader's physical condition—especially one of Mu En's stature—was the highest level of secrecy. It was never to be discussed casually.
They were indeed tasked with secretly investigating Mu En's condition—but this was too blunt!
Yet Wang Xian'er looked calm and indifferent. At her age, there weren't many things left for her to fear or avoid.
Besides, she could tell—Mu En hadn't tried to hide his injury. By appearing in a wheelchair and not propping himself up with soul power, he had made his intentions clear.
He might even want her to help treat him.
"That's right," Mu En said with a gentle smile, not angered at all. "Due to certain events in my youth, I sustained an injury to my lower back. I've never been able to stand straight since."
Starshatter Douluo quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Mu En knew well that no matter how well he hid it, he couldn't deceive someone like Wang Xian'er—the greatest healer alive.
But that didn't mean his condition affected his combat strength.
As for seeking treatment from Wang Xian'er? Mu En had no such plan.
He understood his own body. If healing were possible, the years he had spent under the nourishment of the Golden Ancient Tree would've already cured him. But there had been no improvement.
As they neared the Sea God Pavilion, Wang Xian'er's gaze shifted when she saw the Golden Ancient Tree. She stared at it for a long time, then sighed inwardly.
"Shrek Academy truly is a place of deep heritage... This must be the legendary Golden Ancient Tree. Just standing here, I can already feel my vitality regenerating. If I lived here long-term, perhaps I could even extend my lifespan. If I had cultivated here in my youth, I might have had a chance to become a Limit Douluo!"
"Still, this Golden Ancient Tree doesn't belong to the Star Luo Empire. Right now, saving that injured student is what matters most. When the time comes, I can use the power of the tree to reduce the toll on my own lifespan."
A pleasant surprise, indeed.
For soul masters who cultivate life or light attributes, the area around the Golden Ancient Tree was the best possible simulation training environment.
Even Starshatter Douluo, though not as sensitive to it, could sense that the world's energy here was far denser than elsewhere—an ideal place to cultivate.
"No wonder Shrek Academy produces so many geniuses!"
He had only heard rumors about the Golden Ancient Tree before, but now he saw for himself just how powerful it truly was.
And he couldn't help but feel a bit envious.
Wang Xian'er and the Starshatter Douluo had never studied at Shrek Academy. They were both alumni of the Xingluo Royal Academy and loyal to the Star Luo Empire, and this was their first time setting foot on Sea God's Island.
A slight sense of awe stirred within Wang Xian'er and the Starshatter Douluo.
Huo Yuhao pushed Mu En's wheelchair and brought them to the room where Ling Luochén was staying.
The room was simply furnished, with only a bed, a table, and a few chairs, yet it was filled with a rich aura of life and light.
Ma Xiaotao, who was responsible for taking care of Ling Luochén, was already waiting inside.
Seeing Mu En and the others arrive, she knew that the people who might be able to save Ling Luochén had finally come. She was visibly delighted and hurried to greet them.
Wang Xian'er and the Starshatter Douluo took a careful look at Ma Xiaotao.
Although she hadn't participated in the Soul Master Tournament, they both knew that Ma Xiaotao was a top-tier talent, second only to Huo Yuhao and Jin Qiu'er.
In the tournament, a Soul Emperor was already considered formidable, yet Ma Xiaotao had broken through to Soul Sage. She was even rumored to be a descendant of Ma Hongjun, who became a god ten thousand years ago.
Compared to that, her identity as Yan Shaozhe's disciple seemed far more ordinary.
Regardless, she was someone to be taken seriously.
And so, both Wang Xian'er and the Starshatter Douluo showed goodwill toward Ma Xiaotao.
Wasting no time, Wang Xian'er began to examine Ling Luochén's condition. Her brows gradually furrowed, as if she had encountered a particularly difficult problem.
Ma Xiaotao grew a little anxious.
Huo Yuhao also looked worried.
Mu En tried to reassure the two. "Don't worry. If even the Medical Immortal herself cannot save Luochén, then there's no one left in this world who can."
Only then did Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao seem a bit more at ease.
Seeing their reactions, Mu En cast a deep glance at Huo Yuhao.
"This kind of harmony… is truly rare."
He had seen plenty of situations where close friends, even siblings, turned against each other—fighting tooth and nail over one person.
But Huo Yuhao? He had somehow successfully formed a harmonious "harem."
"What tricks is this kid using? But he doesn't seem like the type to rely on manipulation... Could it really just be sincerity?"
Mu En fancied himself a romantic back in the day, a man of many affairs. But his relationships were always shallow—physical without emotional depth. It was always a mutual arrangement; neither side sought anything lasting.
That was the only way to enjoy variety without complications.
But once emotions came into play, Mu En knew he could never manage a real "harem."
Especially since… the woman he truly loved—he had never been able to reach her heart.
Mu En: The old man shakes his head. The old man envies him. The old man sighs.
Huo Yuhao waited patiently for Wang Xian'er's assessment.
Her healing method involved infusing life force to awaken latent potential—a treatment that addressed both symptoms and root causes, considered among the highest-tier healing arts.
But when bones were completely shattered or even missing, such a method had its limits.
Huo Yuhao also noticed that during their journey, Mu En and Wang Xian'er never discussed compensation—only trivial matters.
This wasn't because there would be no compensation, but because the specifics would depend on the treatment's outcome.
If she recovers, the skies will clear.
If she doesn't… then the Star Luo Empire will have to pay dearly.
Still, Shrek Academy would not go to war with the empire over Ling Luochén.
Soon, Wang Xian'er retracted her soul power—still radiating vitality—and completed her checkup.
Everyone anxiously awaited the results.
Wang Xian'er first nodded, then shook her head.
This confused everyone.
Thankfully, she didn't keep them guessing for long. "She can be healed—but it won't be easy."
Starshatter Douluo: Ancestor, you're teasing again!
Wang Xian'er glanced at Huo Yuhao and then explained, "Her arm injury affected the bone. Fortunately, the extreme ice and light attributes preserved the limb's vitality. Without them, it would've necrotized long ago—and even I wouldn't be able to save it."
Ma Xiaotao looked at Huo Yuhao with gratitude in her eyes.
Mu En nodded, then asked, "Medical Immortal, how exactly can we heal her arm?"
Wang Xian'er replied, "The flesh can be healed. The problem lies with the bones. During the examination, I discovered that the bones in her left arm are completely shattered—and some parts are missing. Regeneration is impossible. We'll need a replacement."
"A replacement?" Mu En pondered.
Wang Xian'er provided the answer: "We need a left arm soul bone that matches this girl's elemental attributes."
Mu En asked, "You mean an ice-attributed left arm soul bone? Is there a required age for it?"
"There's no minimum, but the more intact, the better. Preferably over ten thousand years old. If it doesn't match her element, she may suffer lasting consequences," Wang Xian'er said slowly.
All in all, the treatment plan Wang Xian'er offered was similar to what Huo Yuhao had already considered.
However…
Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes slightly—he had a more interesting idea. If he could pull it off, he might even be able to mass-produce quality vessels, cultivation furnaces, or even puppets!
It was well known that breeding and cultivation were crucial in both agriculture and animal husbandry.
The others, though, were simply relieved that Wang Xian'er had offered a viable solution.
While soul bones were precious, they weren't impossible to acquire for Shrek Academy—especially with the recent beast tide in the Extreme North.
"There's one more thing," Wang Xian'er said again. "Although I can temporarily preserve her arm's vitality, I cannot prevent further decline. The sooner we complete the treatment, the lower the chance of lasting damage."
"Senior, how much time does Luochén have left?" Huo Yuhao asked urgently.
"At most three months, definitely not more than four. And she should remain within the Sea God Pavilion's range," Wang Xian'er gave an answer that made everyone frown.
Too short.
If they couldn't find a suitable soul bone in time, Ling Luochén would suffer permanent consequences—affecting her potential and future accomplishments.
Mu En pondered whether he should tap into Shrek Academy's hidden reserves to save her.
He had already given Huo Yuhao the Fear Demon Dragon's skull soul bone—an unprecedented gesture—but that was because Huo Yuhao had earned it.
Ling Luochén… made him hesitate.
But Huo Yuhao, without a second thought, declared with determination, "Alright. I'll give it three months. I'll head north to the Extreme North and find a soul bone for Luochén myself!"
Everyone was stunned by Huo Yuhao's decisiveness.
The Starshatter Douluo hesitated, wanting to speak but choosing not to.
"Such youthful arrogance… Thinking a soul bone is as easy to find as cabbage? Even getting one is a miracle—let alone an ice-attributed left arm bone!"
But what came out of his mouth was: "Truly a hero in the making. Such loyalty is moving."
"This is what they mean by 'a man drawing his sword for a beauty,'" Wang Xian'er began to appreciate Huo Yuhao more.
What woman wouldn't want a man willing to risk everything for her?
"I'll go with Yuhao!" Ma Xiaotao stepped forward resolutely.
Mu En thought it over and chose not to stop them—after all, Huo Yuhao needed a new soul ring anyway.
"Since you've made up your minds, then go. I'll also mobilize Shrek Academy's resources to search for a suitable soul bone for Luochén."
"Thank you, Teacher!"
"Thank you, Grandmaster!"
Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao expressed their gratitude.
Mu En nodded slightly, having already made his decision:
If they could bring back a ten-thousand-year ice soul bone, he would unlock some of Shrek Academy's reserves to treat Ling Luochén—not only ensuring Huo Yuhao felt no regret, but also deepening his bond with the Academy.
With a treatment plan in place, things naturally began to move forward.
Wang Xian'er and Mu En then discussed the matter of compensation from the Star Luo Empire.
Mu En generously stated that the Starlight Auction House hadn't acted maliciously, so simply returning the paid golden soul coins and offering a token gesture would suffice.
Wang Xian'er initially declined politely, then agreed.
Both parties were satisfied with this outcome.
Afterward, Wang Xian'er made her move and managed to wake up Ling Luochén.
The reason Ling Luochén hadn't awakened earlier was simple: the weakness brought on by her injuries. Her body had chosen to protect itself through deep slumber.
After replenishing her life force and using a special technique, Wang Xian'er was finally able to rouse her.
Had they waited for Ling Luochén to wake up on her own, it would've taken at least several more days.
Although Wang Xian'er's healing mainly relied on her martial soul's innate abilities, her title of "Medical Immortal" was no mere decoration—she was a true master of medicine, with extraordinary skills.
Once awake, Ling Luochén quickly grasped the entire situation from Ma Xiaotao's account.
The loss of her left arm brought her deep sorrow, but Huo Yuhao's actions filled her heart with love.
Staring intently and unblinkingly at Huo Yuhao, Ling Luochén made her feelings clear—causing the others to tactfully take their leave.
Mu En took Wang Xian'er along to check on Jin Qiuer, hoping they could awaken her as well.
In the end, only three people remained in the room: Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao, and Ling Luochén.
At last, Ling Luochén spoke, "Yuhao, Xiaotao… you should set out tomorrow."
"But… isn't it better to look for a soul bone as soon as possible?" Ma Xiaotao asked in confusion.
Ling Luochén didn't answer. Instead, she pulled Huo Yuhao in with her good right hand—and kissed him.
"Kiss me~"
Ma Xiaotao was stunned.
And then… she decided to join in.
That night, Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao came to understand—when ice melts, it floods—and though it may bring disaster, it also nourishes the soil.
The night passed without further words.
By the time the sun was well up in the sky, Huo Yuhao emerged from the Sea God Pavilion, supporting a shaky-legged Ma Xiaotao.
And both of them froze.
Outside the pavilion stood Mu En, Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, Elder Song… and even Xian Lin'er. All of them had come, apparently to see Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao off.
Clearly, they had all heard about Huo Yuhao's deeds the day before. Impressed by his character and responsibility, they now viewed him with newfound respect.
Though Huo Yuhao was only just now emerging from the pavilion, no one showed the slightest displeasure or impatience. On the contrary, their faces bore knowing smiles—believing that something had finally blossomed between Huo Yuhao and Ling Luochén.
As for Ma Xiaotao… her heart clenched. Had their relationship been exposed?
"Teacher…" Ma Xiaotao rasped, addressing Yan Shaozhe with her head slightly lowered, bracing for a scolding.
But Yan Shaozhe, seeing her red eyes, only sighed. "Xiaotao, I know you're very sad. But you must believe in yourself! You'll definitely find that soul bone! We'll help you however we can. Remember—Shrek will always be your strongest support! Luochén will be fine!"
Ma Xiaotao: "Huh???"
That's… not what I expected at all.
Huo Yuhao was surprised too. He'd thought they were caught—but when he looked around, none of the others seemed to suspect anything.
Everyone still acted as if there was nothing special between him and Ma Xiaotao.
Like Yan Shaozhe, they assumed Ma Xiaotao's hoarse voice was from talking all night with Ling Luochén, her red eyes from crying, and her unsteady steps from lack of sleep…
Something's off.
Something is very, very off!
Finally, Huo Yuhao looked toward Mu En—who gave him a subtle nod and a cryptic expression.
Huo Yuhao understood.
"So it was this old man! But… why is he covering for us? Is he approving of me and Ma Xiaotao? Or not?"
"He must have known all along. If he hasn't said anything, then he probably approves… right? But now what is he planning? Is he setting me up?"
Suspicion rose in Huo Yuhao's heart—but he still returned Mu En's look with a grateful and slightly embarrassed gaze.
Mu En could only sigh.
What else could he do? Could he tell everyone that Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao, and Ling Luochén had a silver-themed party inside the Sea God Pavilion?
Of course not. Mu En had his reputation to think of.
But what about the pavilion's dignity?
All Mu En could do was cover for them—after all, this wasn't even the first time. Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao's first time had also been inside the Sea God Pavilion.
So Mu En told the others that Huo Yuhao and Ling Luochén had a romantic breakthrough, and that the three of them had talked through the night in an emotional outpouring.
That was why everyone now had such an understanding attitude.
Xian Lin'er, however, had taken a disliking to Ma Xiaotao—believing she was being inconsiderate by playing third wheel.
She wasn't just displeased because Ma Xiaotao was Yan Shaozhe's disciple. Xian Lin'er also feared her own tragic past might repeat itself with Huo Yuhao and Ling Luochén.
Who knew what dirty tricks Cai Mei'er might have taught Ma Xiaotao under the guise of a mentor?
Among those present, only Wang Xian'er had picked up on the truth.
As a top-tier physician, she could easily see what was going on with Ma Xiaotao's body—and had long noticed that neither Ling Luochén nor Ma Xiaotao were virgins anymore.
"These young folks sure know how to have fun. Huo Yuhao really is exceptional—most Soul Emperors wouldn't be able to handle both a Soul Saint and a Soul King, yet he made their legs go weak."
Still, Wang Xian'er didn't say a word—just quietly watched the drama unfold.
Until Ling Luochén was fully healed, she had to live in the Sea God Pavilion and didn't want to get on Mu En's bad side without reason.
At that moment, Xuan Zi stepped forward. "Yuhao, Xiaotao, let this old man protect you on your journey…"
Huo Yuhao: Please don't!
"Ahem," Mu En coughed twice before Huo Yuhao could object. "Xuan Zi, I've already made arrangements for Yuhao and Xiaotao. You'll stay here at Shrek Academy and ensure the safety of the Medical Immortal."
"…Alright then." Xuan Zi had no objections.
Ever since he lost Bei Bei, Xuan Zi had been on his best behavior.
So, under the gaze of many, Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao left Sea God Island.
On their way past the Outer Court, Huo Yuhao picked up Wei Na as well—claiming their martial soul fusion ability might be helpful.
Naturally, Du Weilun had no reason to refuse.
Wei Na's soul power had just reached level 48, and she wasn't far from a breakthrough to level 50.
Before leaving, Huo Yuhao also said his goodbyes to the girls under his control, as well as to Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and others—taking the chance to harvest another crop of "leeks" and encourage them to cultivate harder.
In fact, recently, many students like Wang Dong, Xie Huan Yue, and Ning Tian—who once held an advantage in talent and soul power—had begun training more diligently.
They were surprised to find that many Outer Court girls were progressing at lightning speed, some even catching up to Xie Huan Yue.
Initially, teachers suspected they were taking pills and quickly investigated—but the girls were healthy, with no signs of medicinal side effects.
In the end, they could only attribute it to the blessing of the Sea God—believing Shrek had recruited many geniuses this year.
Only Wang Dong noticed the pattern: the fast-progressing girls were always around Huo Yuhao, or closely connected to those who were.
Huo Yuhao: Mhm, the lambs in the pen have learned how to recruit others.
Even the newly enrolled genius girls that Huo Yuhao had long set his sights on couldn't escape.
Their rapid cultivation was due to the abundant materials Huo Yuhao provided.
He had tens of millions in gold soul coins he couldn't use himself, so he gave them to these girls—encouraging them to buy jade and other resources to boost their cultivation.
This not only strengthened their foundations but also laid the groundwork for future "harvesting."
Of course, he also tweaked their cultivation methods—upgrading their Jade Nourishing Technique to a more effective version. Though still not as potent as the Jade Maiden Sutra, it boosted their speed by at least 30%.
The results were astounding.
After saying his goodbyes, Huo Yuhao set out with Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochén toward the Extreme North.
But just as they left the academy gates, a completely unexpected figure appeared in their path.
Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened in shock.
"Senior Sister?!"
Standing in their path was none other than the senior sister of the inner court—Zhang Lexuan!
She wasn't wearing the uniform of Shrek Academy's inner court students. Instead, she wore a simple moon-white outfit, the type suited for field expeditions, with her limbs fully covered for protection.
Yet, the modest clothing couldn't hide Zhang Lexuan's cool, ethereal aura.
However, there was a faint melancholy in her brows, which only made her all the more pitiful and endearing.
Both Huo Yuhao and Wei Na were momentarily stunned by her beauty.
Wei Na was captivated by Zhang Lexuan's appearance and grace.
But Huo Yuhao was astonished by her potential—
Zhang Lexuan carried both phoenix energy and dragon energy within her!
This meant that, so long as she wasn't cut down in her youth, she had the potential to become a future empress!
And that wasn't all—Zhang Lexuan had three fate destinies, each extraordinary:
[Triple Heaven's Chosen]: Blessed with supreme talent, immense fortune, and the highest potential. If she lives, she will surely reach the peak and ascend to supremacy.
[Four Pillars of Pure Yang]: Though female, she bears the aura of a true hero! She will naturally gain the reverence of others.
[Moon Authority—The Fatal Blessing]: Protected by the moon's dominion, she possesses traits symbolizing spirituality, beauty, life, fertility, and darkness. If those close to her—family, children, husband—cannot withstand the effect of this destiny, they will be affected by its fatal aspects, leading to death. Otherwise, they will receive blessings of vitality and spiritual strength.
Huo Yuhao: "…"
Each of these destinies was exceptional.
And all the more reason for Huo Yuhao to desire her!
Because her fate could bring him great benefits.
"Senior Sister, why are you here? It's like you were waiting for us," Ma Xiaotao stepped forward first and asked in surprise.
"I was indeed waiting for you," Zhang Lexuan replied softly, with a faint smile that seemed to melt ice and snow. Her voice was clear and pleasant.
"I'll be accompanying you on this trip north. While I protect you, I'll also help you search for a spirit bone that can save Luo Chen. This was Elder Mu's arrangement."
"Really?!" Ma Xiaotao exclaimed in delight.
Clearly, Ma Xiaotao was close to Zhang Lexuan and held deep trust in her.
Zhang Lexuan had once been the captain of the academy's previous official team, having fought side by side with Ma Xiaotao and others, making their bond even stronger.
She had the strength, and her calm temperament made her trustworthy in all respects.
It's fair to say that Zhang Lexuan was someone all inner court students admired and respected, earning her the title of Senior Sister of the Inner Court.
Even many members of the Sea God Pavilion acknowledged her—those who didn't, usually hesitated only because she was a woman.
Ma Xiaotao then introduced Zhang Lexuan to Huo Yuhao and Wei Na, who were meeting her for the first time.
Zhang Lexuan had been away on missions until recently and had just returned to the academy, finally getting a chance to meet them.
Upon learning that Zhang Lexuan was the top student of the inner court and already a Soul Douluo in her early twenties, Wei Na was visibly shaken—but she kept her composure.
Because compared to Zhang Lexuan, Huo Yuhao was even more remarkable.
Wei Na even felt a small sense of pride.
Conversely, when Zhang Lexuan learned that Wei Na was a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire, her attitude became noticeably more distant.
But no one seemed to mind—Zhang Lexuan's aloof demeanor was simply part of her character.
"Hello, Senior Sister," Huo Yuhao greeted politely, having returned to his calm demeanor and showing no signs of internal unrest.
"No need for that. Just call me by my name—after all, you're Xiaotao's martial uncle," Zhang Lexuan quickly replied.
Ma Xiaotao could call her Senior Sister, but Huo Yuhao definitely could not.
That would throw the entire generational order into chaos!
Unlike the rebellious Ma Xiaotao, Zhang Lexuan clearly respected seniority and rules.
And compared to Wei Na, she was clearly more cordial with Huo Yuhao.
"Then let's refer to each other by name. Nice to meet you, Senior Lexuan," Huo Yuhao said with a smile.
"This…" Zhang Lexuan hesitated slightly.
Referring to each other by name was fine—but why had he dropped the surname and gone straight to her given name?
Still, she couldn't protest and replied in kind, mimicking his style, "Yu… Yuhao junior."
"Let's not waste time—let's move out," Huo Yuhao followed up.
No one objected, and the group set off once more.
[Ding! SSR Character Zhang Lexuan has joined the party!]
Zhang Lexuan, age 24, Soul Douluo.
Her martial spirit: Moon.
Born with full innate spirit power and noble blood from the Heavenly Soul Empire, but her family was annihilated by rival aristocrats. She alone escaped.
Had she not joined Shrek Academy, she would have walked the path of vengeance and ascended through strength.
But crossing noble lines in the empire would have forced her into confrontation with the Heavenly Soul Empire.
The endgame would be either the empire eliminating her as a rebel—or Zhang Lexuan overthrowing the royal family and claiming the throne.
After all, if you kill the emperor, there's no going back—you have to take the crown.
Her three fate destinies were destined to guide her ascent.
This is the origin of her dragon and phoenix aura!
Unfortunately, she joined Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy was under the gaze of a certain "someone." Normal destinies struggled to take root in such a place.
Unless Zhang Lexuan could one day leave Shrek Academy.
But alas, Elder Mu En had already trapped her.
Zhang Lexuan had been taken in by a Shrek teacher when she was already a rank-20 spirit master with a hundred-year soul ring.
Later, Mu En helped her take revenge. In return, she agreed to become Beibei's betrothed.
From then on, she couldn't leave Shrek Academy.
Even so, she achieved everything she had today—and she might even one day become head of the Sea God Pavilion, making her Huo Yuhao's greatest rival for that role.
Though her revenge was fulfilled, she still held little goodwill toward the Heavenly Soul Empire, which is why she acted distant around Wei Na.
Zhang Lexuan was someone who repaid kindness with kindness. She had always looked after Beibei and cared for him like family.
Tragically, Beibei only ever saw her as an older sister and was ultimately snatched away by the "skyfall" girl, Tang Ya.
Yet after Beibei's disappearance, Zhang Lexuan remained heartbroken, unable to forget him, and was often cloaked in sorrow.
Her decision to accompany the party northward this time also came from a faint hope of searching for clues about Beibei's whereabouts in the north.
Though the hope was slim.
Shrek's higher-ups already suspected that the Death God Envoy who took Beibei most likely fled to the Sun Moon Empire—which was why, despite long investigations, they had found nothing.
Only in the Sun Moon Empire was Shrek Academy's intelligence network weak.
The real danger wasn't just Beibei being harmed, but the possibility that the Death God Envoy might use Beibei to defect to the Sun Moon Empire.
If they discovered Beibei's identity, they could use him to blackmail Shrek Academy, putting it in an impossible dilemma.
Beibei was the only descendant left by Mu En, the academy's lifelong guardian, and also a descendant of the academy founders Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong. How could they possibly abandon him?
That would be a betrayal too cruel to bear!
Besides helping to find the spirit bone and investigate the Death God Envoy, Zhang Lexuan had one more task—help Huo Yuhao hunt for his sixth spirit ring.
Spirit beasts with ice and poison attributes were more common in the Extreme North, making the search easier.
While they traveled, Zhang Lexuan brought up this matter with Huo Yuhao, asking if he had any preferred spirit beasts and what age range he was looking for.
Huo Yuhao was well-prepared and answered immediately:
"Senior Lexuan, for my sixth ring, I'm looking at Ice River Needlefish, Ice Thorn Serpent, or Snow Thorn Centipede. Ideally around sixty thousand years, but preferably no more than sixty-five thousand."
He still remembered the Snow Thorn Centipede recommended long ago by the Skydream Iceworm—though he didn't know if any suitable ones could be found.
"Sixty thousand years?" Ma Xiaotao exclaimed. "That's the same as my seventh spirit ring!"
Even Zhang Lexuan was shocked at Huo Yuhao's selection, silently musing:
So this is the genius Elder Mu was talking about—one not inferior to me? More like he's surpassed me entirely…
Wei Na was equally surprised, but her heart was filled with pride and joy.
The Extreme North!
After a period of travel, Huo Yuhao and his three companions safely arrived at the Extreme North. Along the way, nothing eventful occurred—not even a single encounter with mountain bandits.
They had stayed within the borders of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
On the way, they passed by Heaven Dou City. Wei Na returned to the royal palace and asked the Heavenly Soul Emperor for assistance.
The emperor gave her face and issued a public notice seeking to purchase an ice-attributed left arm bone.
A beast tide had just passed in the Extreme North, so it was possible that someone had recently obtained an ice-attributed left arm bone and hadn't yet absorbed it.
The truth was, the Heavenly Soul Empire originally had such a bone—but it had already been absorbed by Wei Na. They obviously couldn't ask her to cut off her left arm to give the bone to Ling Luochen.
Apart from the Heavenly Soul Empire, only Huo Yuhao knew Wei Na possessed a left arm bone.
Because of this, Zhang Lexuan's impression of Wei Na had greatly improved, and she'd grown a bit more friendly toward her.
After all, Wei Na's personality wasn't the type to make people dislike her.
Wei Na and the Heavenly Soul Empire had achieved their objective: gaining Zhang Lexuan's goodwill. That alone was worth it—especially since the empire didn't pay any real price.
During this journey, Huo Yuhao also took the opportunity to get closer to Zhang Lexuan, earning more of her trust.
And when vigilance starts to lower… the venomous snake bares its fangs.
The territory near the Extreme North had already been taken over by the Heavenly Soul Empire. No one had yet rebuilt their homes here; instead, the empire was busy constructing more fortified defenses.
They didn't want to be caught off guard again by a sudden large-scale beast tide.
In fact, there were beast tides every year in the Extreme North, and their scale could usually be anticipated. But the most recent outburst had exceeded all expectations—and completely overwhelmed the empire's original defenses.
Now, they had no choice but to build even stronger fortifications.
Just in case.
Huo Yuhao's team first posted notices in the major cities and fortresses along the outer regions of the Extreme North, offering to purchase an ice-attributed left arm bone. Only then did they officially enter the region.
Upon entering the Extreme North, all four donned insulated soul tool gear.
They were far more prepared this time than ever before.
The Soul Engineering Department had provided them with a number of high-grade insulating soul tools—enough for them to begin exploring the core region.
But soul tools had their limits. Relying on just a few top-tier heating devices to roam freely in the Extreme North's core area was a death wish.
The four of them trudged through the ice and snow. Only Ma Xiaotao seemed slightly uncomfortable, as the environment around them suppressed her fire-type powers.
Huo Yuhao and Wei Na, on the other hand, looked fairly comfortable.
As for Zhang Lexuan, the snow and ice didn't affect her either. Her Martial Soul, though not clearly elemental, leaned toward the yin attribute and wasn't suppressed by the Extreme North's environment.
"Let's first get a spirit ring for Junior Brother Yuhao," Zhang Lexuan suggested. "Once he becomes stronger, we'll all feel more secure."
No one had any objections.
Huo Yuhao pulled out a map—one showing the areas just outside the core zone of the Extreme North. Most of the terrain was clearly mapped out, and there were even notes on parts of the core zone.
This map was a gift from the Heavenly Soul Emperor. It had been compiled by the empire's top experts, who had spent years collecting intel and even ventured personally into the Extreme North to verify it.
After all, the Heavenly Soul Empire had many soul masters with ice attributes.
However, the emperor had warned Huo Yuhao that due to the recent beast tide, even this detailed map might no longer be accurate.
Still, it would be very helpful for the team.
The map wasn't fully complete—it mainly detailed the terrain. Information on the distribution of soul beasts and other resources was sparse, listing only a dozen species with their typical habitats. Some were common; others rare.
Fortunately, the map included the distribution of the three types of soul beasts Huo Yuhao needed.
He had selected three types of soul beasts: the Ice River Spiked Dolphin, the Ice Spine Snake, and the Thorned Snow Centipede—all of them hybrids of poison and ice attributes.
The closest habitat was that of the Ice River Spiked Dolphin.
These dolphins were group-dwelling soul beasts, mainly found in an icy river that flowed from the border of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Before long, the group arrived at the river.
The Ice River hadn't fully frozen over. It still had a considerable amount of water, and chunks of ice floated downstream. Many aquatic soul beasts lurked beneath the surface, and occasionally, sea-type soul beasts would appear.
Because this river was connected to the ocean!
Aside from Huo Yuhao's group, there wasn't another soul in sight. Occasionally, a soul beast would come to drink from the river, but they'd keep their distance, warily eyeing the four humans.
The group had no intention of hunting just any soul beast.
Staring at the rushing river, Wei Na turned to Huo Yuhao. "Yuhao, how do we hunt Ice River Spiked Dolphins?"
"According to the books, our only option is to fish for them," Huo Yuhao replied helplessly. "Going into the river to fight them is too risky."
Unless they had a specialized Martial Soul for underwater combat or were sea-type soul masters, fighting in water would weaken any soul master.
Not to mention this was a freezing river, with massive blocks of ice drifting through.
Huo Yuhao could fight underwater, but he didn't want to expose his secrets here.
Besides, he didn't have a strong preference among the three soul beasts—he was only selecting the soul ring for He Caitou anyway.
He pulled out a fishing rod and bait from his storage-type soul tool—equipment designed specifically for catching soul beasts. The bait was top-tier, said to contain blood from a high-grade soul beast. It would scare off anything below the ten-thousand-year level and attract stronger prey.
Each piece of bait cost one gold soul coin.
Huo Yuhao had only bought 100.
Any more would've been a waste.
Simply put, ordinary Ice River Spiked Dolphins weren't worth his time.
Thus began the fishing saga of "Fisherman Yuhao."
The other three girls showed little interest in fishing. They sat nearby, chatting quietly while helping Huo Yuhao keep watch on their surroundings.
Though accompanied by three beauties—
A true fisherman sees no women!
By logic, Ice River Spiked Dolphins should've been among the least affected by the beast tide—they couldn't leave the river to fight on land.
And since they lived in groups, they should be abundant and easy to catch.
The trick was simple: catch a few, drain their blood into the river, and it would attract more—possibly even ones over 50,000 years old!
It was a cruel but effective method from the books.
However, despite fishing for a long time, Huo Yuhao didn't catch a single Ice River Spiked Dolphin.
Instead, he caught plenty of other aquatic soul beasts, including a semi-draconic one.
It was a sea-type soul beast—a ten-thousand-year Shallow Sea Dragon Fish, which in the ocean would be equivalent to a thirty-thousand-year beast.
It got reeled in, only to be slain under Zhang Lexuan's moonlight.
Not all bait would attract ten-thousand-year soul beasts, and not all would get a bite before dissolving.
But with 100 pieces of bait, Huo Yuhao still managed to catch over 50 soul beasts. By the looks of it, the haul was significant.
Too bad none were Ice River Spiked Dolphins.
A pile of soul beast corpses, drained of essence and dismembered, lay casually stacked on the riverbank—instilling fear into any nearby beast.
Since there were others around, Huo Yuhao didn't dare feast openly. Besides, that little bit of meat wouldn't be enough to satisfy him.
"Why can't I catch any?!" Huo Yuhao grumbled, his eyes reddening.
This was no longer the fun kind of fishing!
Finally, he released the Skydream Iceworm.
"Brother Tianmeng, do me a favor—go down there and hook an Ice River Spiked Dolphin for me!"
Skydream Iceworm: "..."