After only taking two steps, Shi Yu felt the sudden energy disturbance and immediately turned his gaze toward Zhang Lexuan.
The silver moonlight radiance surrounding her, which had been calm and still like a placid lake, suddenly became violent, as if swept up by a raging storm. Chaotic fluctuations spread out in all directions.
"Is she having a cultivation deviation… or is she about to break through?" Shi Yu's heart clenched, and for a moment he felt completely at a loss.
The oppressive aura released from Zhang Lexuan's chaotic energy grew heavier and heavier, forcing Shi Yu to stop in his tracks. He dared not approach.
Zhang Lexuan was a Soul Saint—someone already standing at the threshold of the Soul Douluo realm—her strength far surpassed his own. The intensity of her energy was not something Shi Yu could endure without harm.
He anxiously scanned the area, hoping to find someone who could help.
Before he could move a step, an old figure appeared nearby—the sloppy and unkempt elder, Xuan Lao, whom Shi Yu had only encountered once before.
Xuan Lao raised a finger to his lips, gesturing for Shi Yu to remain quiet and not disturb Zhang Lexuan.
Shi Yu hadn't shouted in the first place, but upon seeing the gesture, he became even more careful and silent, holding his breath.
The old man didn't spare Shi Yu another glance. His eyes, though weathered by time, carried a faint gleam of relief as he fixed them on Zhang Lexuan.
"She's about to break through…" he murmured. "Barely a month past her twenty-third birthday, and already reaching level 80. Her talent ranks among the greatest in Shrek Academy's history."
He gave a faint chuckle. "Her talent even surpasses mine."
Yet there was no envy in his tone—only relief. For someone who had devoted his life to Shrek Academy, nothing mattered more than seeing the Academy flourish with geniuses. And Zhang Lexuan was no ordinary genius—she was the kind of prodigy whose brilliance surpassed even his own youth.
Xuan Lao had reached the Soul Douluo realm at twenty-four. Zhang Lexuan was about to achieve it almost a year earlier. Her speed rivaled that of Mu Lao himself, who had broken through to Soul Douluo before the age of twenty-three.
Mu Lao had been not only one of the youngest Soul Douluo in Shrek's history but also the youngest Title Douluo in the past thousand years, and the third youngest across the Academy's entire ten-thousand-year legacy.
Silently, Xuan Lao stood guard. Though there was almost no chance of danger within the safety of Shrek's Inner Courtyard, he wanted to ensure no interference would jeopardize her breakthrough.
Breaking through was never a guaranteed success. Failure could damage one's vitality, requiring years of recovery. In worse cases, one could be permanently trapped in the current realm, never again able to advance.
For a genius like Zhang Lexuan, the chance of failure was less than one percent—but even that sliver of risk was not something Xuan Lao was willing to take lightly.
Shi Yu, seeing the elder's presence, felt a wave of reassurance wash over him. He steadied himself and watched silently.
Even so, his heart trembled. To think Zhang Lexuan was barely twenty-three and already on the verge of stepping into the Soul Douluo realm…
"The talent of Soul Masters in this era really is overwhelming compared to Ten Thousand Years Ago," Shi Yu sighed inwardly.
Was cultivation itself easier now, thanks to the progress of time and knowledge? Or was talent itself evolving? Perhaps both.
Over generations, Soul Masters had refined cultivation techniques, allowing later generations to grow faster and more efficiently. Even without universal skills like the legendary Mysterious Heaven Technique, countless insights and experiences now guided cultivation, smoothing the path.
At the same time, humanity itself might be evolving. Just as primitive humans had once been mere apes before gradually refining into the modern form, perhaps Soul Master talent too had been continuously evolving, becoming stronger with each generation.
It explained why youths now could break through to Soul Douluo at twenty-three or twenty-four—whereas Ten Thousand Years Ago, Qin Ming reaching Soul Emperor around thirty had been considered extraordinary.
Now, such "talent" was merely above average. Shrek Academy alone held dozens, perhaps even a hundred, of students who could match or surpass that pace.
Zhang Lexuan's breakthrough stirred heaven and earth, triggering a lunar anomaly. The moonlight above brightened unnaturally, spilling down like a vast silver lamp that illuminated half the courtyard.
The Inner Courtyard grew restless. Students stepped out of their dorms, staring in awe toward the silver glow.
"Senior Sister Lexuan… is she breaking through?" Reverence filled their voices. The fact that she was reaching Soul Douluo at such an age left them in stunned admiration.
Even teachers were alerted. Yan Shaozhe and several elders hurried over.
From the Sea God Pavilion, Mu En appeared. He did not approach, merely stood watching from afar, his old eyes softened with relief.
Unknowingly, that pitiful little girl who had once begged him to avenge her family… had now grown into a Soul Douluo.
"Is she… awakening her Domain?" Xuan Lao's voice held rare astonishment as he felt the change.
"Domain?" Shi Yu, standing nearby, caught the words. His eyes widened.
Domains had been legendary in the ancient era, but in this time, few even remembered the concept. Awakening one was usually only possible at the Title Douluo realm. Yet Zhang Lexuan seemed to be awakening hers ten levels early.
Her talent was shocking beyond belief.
The gathered teachers watched with anticipation and pride.
Shi Yu stood rooted, unable to tear himself away. Curiosity burned in him—he wanted to witness every detail of a Soul Saint's ascension into the Soul Douluo realm.
The breakthrough lasted for more than two hours. Gradually, Zhang Lexuan's aura stabilized, her control smoothing out the once chaotic surges.
At last, she opened her eyes. Silver moonlight gleamed within her pupils, like a reflection of the heavens themselves.
She glanced around and realized the teachers had gathered. Though her soul power was still slightly unstable, she stepped down from the rooftop gracefully, bowed, and greeted them with humility.
Smiles spread across their faces. Words of praise poured forth—her future, they said, was limitless.
Zhang Lexuan, however, remained humble. "I am still far from that realm. I must continue working hard."
Her eyes held no arrogance, only quiet determination. Her dream was to become someone like Mu Lao—and she knew her journey was only just beginning.