While Xu Jiujin was still absorbing the Celestial Vine's torso bone, Jiang Nan Nan had already finished absorbing her sixth spirit ring.
The young girl stood up, a radiant smile lighting her face. Clearly, she was very satisfied with the ability this sixth ring had granted her.
"Nan Nan, how is it?" Zhu Ziyang walked to her side and asked.
"Heehee, it's great!" Jiang Nan Nan replied cheerfully. "My soul power jumped straight to rank 62, and this sixth soul skill—I really like it!"
"Tell us about it," Zhu Ziyang urged.
Her sixth soul skill was called Silver Moon Aurora Shift. Once activated, Jiang Nan Nan would temporarily enter a state of complete immunity to all control effects, becoming untargetable for one second. Afterward, all of her attributes would gain a significant boost, with her speed increasing threefold.
For an agility-attack type soul master, this was undoubtedly an outstanding ability.
"Is Jiujin still not finished?" Nan Nan asked in surprise as she glanced at Xu Jiujin.
"She has already absorbed the ring. What remains is the fusion of the soul bone," Zhu Ziyang explained.
"A soul bone?" Nan Nan blinked, then sighed enviously. "Such incredible luck!"
"Indeed," Zhu Ziyang nodded in agreement.
Soon enough, Xu Jiujin also completed the absorption of the torso bone. Her soul power reached rank 63, and because it was a torso bone, her entire physique changed slightly—her height increased, her figure grew fuller, and she became even more striking in appearance.
With both Nan Nan and Jiujin obtaining their spirit rings, the team pressed forward, this time seeking a beast suitable for Xu Sanshi.
They didn't need to search long. During a short rest, a thirteen-thousand-year Armored Rhinoceros barged into their campsite. Naturally, it became Sanshi's fifth spirit ring.
Thus, after four days in the forest, their hunting expedition ended smoothly. Without lingering in the Star Dou Great Forest, they left and returned directly to the Academy.
After a brief three-day rest, the "Empress Descends" Plan officially began.
At the Tianyuan Square of the inner court, the execution team gathered. Zhang Yuexuan led the group, flanked by Elder Song and Elder Zhu, while the core disciples included Jiang Nan Nan, Wu Ming, and five others.
"Everyone is here," Zhang Yuexuan said seriously, looking at the seven young men and women before her. Behind her stood Elder Song and an older woman, somewhat younger than Song. She was Elder Zhu, one of the Tianyuan Pavilion's veteran elders—a rank 95 Super Douluo, an assault-type master with the Moon-Devouring Wolf Martial Soul, whose power doubled under moonlight. With Zhang Yuexuan, she could form a formidable synergy.
"Senior Sister Yuexuan, my brother asked us to wait for him," Jiang Nan Nan suddenly said. "He wants to go with us."
As the only disciple who knew the full details of the plan, Nan Nan had personally requested to join. Her reasoning was simple—she and Zhang Yuexuan possessed a martial soul fusion skill together, greatly amplifying Yuexuan's strength. No one could object to that.
"He wants to come along?" Zhang Yuexuan and the two elders exchanged surprised looks. "What for?"
"To evaluate the feasibility of the plan firsthand, of course!" Zhu Ziyang appeared just then, smiling. "Don't worry, I'll only observe. Once we reach the Moon South Archipelago, I'll return."
"…Fine then," Zhang Yuexuan and Elder Song agreed. "Let's depart."
The group left Shrek Academy and traveled south. Their route first took them to Nanya City, a coastal metropolis in the southern Star Luo Empire. From there, they boarded a ship bound for the Moon South Archipelago, a territory of the Sun Moon Empire.
After seven days, they reached Seventh-Moon Island, the easternmost isle of the archipelago.
The Moon South Archipelago consisted of seven islands of varying sizes at the far eastern edge of the Sun Moon Empire. It was one of only two semi-autonomous regions within the empire, belonging to the Silvermoon Yin Clan, hereditary Moon Priests.
This Yin Clan was none other than the family of the Silvermoon Empress, one of the oldest lineages in the Sun Moon Continent. Centuries ago, when the Silvermoon Yin Clan and the Golden Sun Yang Clan supported the Purple Radiance Emperor in uniting the continent, both clans intermarried with the imperial house—the Yang Clan with the Sun Vein, and the Yin Clan with the Moon Vein. Yet not all members joined the royal line. Each clan left behind a branch: the Yang remnants vanished into obscurity, but the Yin remnants endured on the Moon South Archipelago.
One hundred and fifty years ago, after the Moon-Devouring Palace Incident, the Yin Clan's close ties to the Moon Vein drew suspicion. They suffered suppression, but because the islands were remote and their numbers already diminished, they avoided extermination. The usurper Emperor Xu Yitian died suddenly before acting against them, and later rulers were too preoccupied with power struggles to bother with this distant branch.
Thus, the Yin Clan of the Moon South Archipelago both suffered and survived. Over the next century, they repeatedly sheltered fugitives of the Moon Vein. Even now, the islands were the only open sanctuary for Moon Vein descendants, having harbored more than ten over the years.
Zhu Ziyang's goal in coming here was clear: to establish contact with the Yin Clan, and to let Zhang Yuexuan inherit the legacy of the Moon Vein.
Their destination was Fourth-Moon Island, the largest and most powerful isle of the archipelago. It was the Yin Clan's base, ruled by the Marquis of Moon South, Yin Zhengqi.
"Senior Sister Yuexuan, Elder Song, we should head straight to the Marquis' Mansion," Zhu Ziyang suggested. "Elder Zhu, you can take Nan Nan and the others to scout for news of the Moon Vein descendants. We'll meet back at the inn."
After arriving on Fourth-Moon Island, they checked into its grandest inn. Then the party split as planned.
"All right," Elder Zhu agreed, departing with the seven disciples.
"Ziyang, must we really go directly to the Marquis?" Zhang Yuexuan asked doubtfully. "Shouldn't we discuss first?"
"Senior Sister, you must have confidence in your identity," Zhu Ziyang said with a wry smile. "Your martial soul is the purest Moon spirit. If we were facing the Sun Moon imperial court, perhaps they would doubt. But our audience is the Silvermoon Yin Clan. They will never question it."
"…All right then," Zhang Yuexuan nodded, her doubts dispelled.
The three—Zhu Ziyang, Zhang Yuexuan, and Elder Song—set out for the Marquis' Mansion.
Finding it was no trouble. It was the grandest, most splendid structure on the island.
"Seems the Yin Clan isn't living in such misery after all," Elder Song remarked, gazing at the gilded gates.
"Just because they live well doesn't mean their days are free of hardship," Zhu Ziyang replied calmly. Stepping forward, he rapped lightly on the crimson gate.
"Who is it?" A servant peeked out through a crack. Spotting the trio, he frowned. "Do you have an appointment? The Island Lord's time is very precious."
"An appointment?" Zhu Ziyang chuckled disdainfully. "Do Titled Douluo need appointments to see your Island Lord?"
"T-Titled Douluo?" The servant froze, then looked them over in shock, his gaze lingering on Elder Song. Uneasy, he forced a smile. "If that is so, of course no appointment is needed. But… may I trouble the elder to demonstrate? Otherwise, if I let you in and it proves false, the Marquis will have my head."
"Not difficult," Elder Song said coolly. She released a sliver of her overwhelming aura.
The servant collapsed under the pressure, but the true target was not him. Within the mansion, Marquis Yin Zhengqi—a Soul Douluo—immediately felt it.
Within seconds, a smooth, cultured voice called out, "I did not realize such an esteemed senior had arrived! I, Yin Zhengqi, have failed in courtesy—please forgive me!"
A refined, slightly delicate-looking man emerged, bowing respectfully before them. He was indeed the Marquis of Moon South, patriarch of the Yin Clan.
His eyes immediately sought Elder Song, filled with a mix of uncertainty and reverence. Though he did not know her name, he knew enough to respect a Titled Douluo.
"May I ask how I should address Senior, and what instructions you bring? If it lies within my power, I will do my utmost."
"Haha! Marquis, do you mean to speak to me here at the gate, without even offering tea?" Elder Song laughed lightly.
"Of course, of course! My apologies for the rudeness. Please, honored elder, and you two young friends, come inside!" Yin Zhengqi quickly ushered them in.
With Elder Song striding ahead without hesitation, Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Yuexuan followed. To Yin Zhengqi, such arrogance was not offensive—after all, it was only natural behavior for a Titled Douluo before ordinary soul masters.
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