Wu Feng stood frozen in place, her face pale and bloodless, her eyes vacant.
"Daughter…"
All the memories of growing up together with Ning Tian involuntarily surfaced in her mind. But upon hearing Ning Tian's words, those touching scenes from the past instantly shattered.
The faith and hope that had supported Wu Feng collapsed completely, and she felt a despair she had never experienced before.
Seeing Wu Feng's lost and dejected appearance, Ning Tian felt a twinge of reluctance, but she knew she had to make Wu Feng face reality and completely sever those thoughts. At the same time, she also had to consider Yu Tianhuang's feelings.
Ning Tian walked past Wu Feng and smiled helplessly toward Xu Zihuang and Ye Guyi.
"Tianhuang, Sister Guyi, let's go back."
Xu Zihuang nodded calmly. Although he knew about Wu Feng's thoughts, Wu Feng and Ning Tian were both female after all, so he wasn't particularly repelled by it. Therefore, he usually chose to ignore Wu Feng.
As for Ye Guyi, she rarely got involved in such matters. As she passed by Wu Feng, a playful smile still hung at the corner of her mouth.
Outside the gates of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, only Wu Feng remained, who had yet to recover and was silently grieving, along with the guards of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
A cold wind blew, stirring up the withered and desolate yellow leaves on the ground, just like Wu Feng's current state of mind.
Upon returning to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, after Xu Zihuang and the other two greeted Ning Xingxu and Gu Lao, they returned to the room at the top of the central castle.
Ning Tian was holding Ning Qing and gently placed her on the soft, large bed. Xu Zihuang and Ye Guyi sat on the sofa in the room, conversing softly.
Taking this opportunity, Xu Zihuang told Ye Guyi about his confirmed decision to cultivate the Yin-Yang Complementary Second Soul Core.
Ye Guyi frowned slightly. Only after personally attempting to condense the second soul core did one know how difficult it was to complete this step. However, she had known for a long time that Xu Zihuang had such an idea, so she didn't show too much excitement.
Moreover, there was the hundred-thousand-year Lovesick Heartbroken Red that Wang Qiu'er had picked. Even if Xu Zihuang failed to condense the second soul core, he could fully preserve himself and recover his vitality in an extremely short time.
After pondering for a moment, Ye Guyi said in an unquestionable tone, "This time, I will go into closed-door cultivation with you to attack the Title Douluo bottleneck."
Facing Ye Guyi's solemn and determined gaze, Xu Zihuang shook his head.
"Rest assured, with my physical strength and spiritual power realm, I have at least a ninety percent chance of successfully condensing the Yin-Yang Complementary Second Soul Core. Once I complete this, I can also use the insights gained to help you construct the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores as well."
Although Ye Guyi's foundation was deep enough, successfully constructing the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores would still be fraught with difficulties. In terms of talent, she was ultimately inferior to Xu Zihuang by more than one level.
What Xu Zihuang said was the most secure method.
Ye Guyi naturally understood this. She stared straight at Xu Zihuang in silence for a moment, and finally nodded in compromise.
"Then where do you plan to go into closed-door cultivation?"
"I will leave the continent in the next few days to begin closed-door cultivation. Before I come out, you should take my place and guard Ning Tian and Ning Qing by their side." Xu Zihuang responded with deep eyes.
"If nothing unexpected happens, I will break through to the Title Douluo realm within half a year."
Ye Guyi gave Xu Zihuang a meaningful look; this was a tacit understanding unique to the two of them.
At this moment, Ning Tian, who had settled Ning Qing, walked over. Although the room was spacious, as a Soul Saint, she had heard almost the entire conversation between Xu Zihuang and Ye Guyi from beginning to end.
Ning Tian opened her red lips, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Alright, you two should rest early." Ye Guyi smiled as she stood up, knowingly leaving the space to Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian.
Xu Zihuang took Ning Tian's hand and let her sit on his lap, asking softly.
"What's wrong?"
Ning Tian quietly nestled in Xu Zihuang's embrace, feeling that familiar warmth and scent, her tone filled with melancholy.
"Tianhuang, I know I shouldn't become an obstacle for you. But out of selfishness, I hope you can always stay by Ning Qing's side, and we can watch her grow up together."
Xu Zihuang lowered his head apologetically, drawing closer to Ning Tian's face.
"It's me who hasn't been competent enough; actually, there are still many things I've been hiding from you."
"I know. But you've already done very well." Ning Tian proactively touched his lips gently and smiled tenderly.
"You are my man and Ning Qing's father. This is something that will never change. No matter what you do, Ning Qing and I will wait for you to come back to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Also, don't forget to honestly confess those things you've been hiding from me when the time comes."
At this point, Ning Tian deliberately let out a coquettish hum.
However, what Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian were thinking about were completely different.
"Of course." Xu Zihuang closed his eyes and took a deep breath, calming the surging emotions in his heart. When he opened his eyes again, Ning Tian's charming face became even more alluring.
With just one glance, Xu Zihuang understood Ning Tian's thoughts.
The night gradually deepened. The sleeping Ning Qing was inadvertently disturbed in her dreams.
…
Three days later, in the early morning, Xu Zihuang left the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Tian held Ning Qing and stood on the balcony of the top-floor room in the central castle of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, her eyes dim. Although she had appeared carefree about Yu Tianhuang's departure, how could there be no reluctance in her heart?
Ye Guyi pulled Ning Tian into her embrace and comforted her softly.
Ning Qing was still sleeping soundly, completely unaware of Xu Zihuang's departure.
On the other side, Xu Zihuang did not head to Shrek Academy as planned; instead, he first went to the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace.
The Ming Capital, where the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace was located, was on the western side of the entire continent and had a time difference of more than an hour with Heaven Dou City.
When Xu Zihuang used the innate ability of his Golden Eyed martial soul to arrive at the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace, it was still the early hours of the morning here.
Deep within the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace, Ju Zi was meditating and cultivating in her sleeping chamber.
Although her cultivation was limited by her talent, she had never been lazy in her training. A small male infant, still in swaddling clothes, lay quietly sleeping in the luxurious and comfortable cradle beside her bed.
Xu Zihuang's figure rippled like water waves, materializing from the air. Even in the dark environment, he could clearly see the infant's black hair and fair, tender skin.
The infant, only a few months old, had features that had not yet fully developed, so it was hard to tell much.
Ju Zi suddenly opened her eyes as if sensing something. The moment she saw Xu Zihuang's face, the vigilance in her eyes dissipated, replaced by tender affection.
"Zihuang…"
Xu Zihuang walked to the bedside and said in a deep voice, "Ju Zi, I came this time to bid you farewell. My soul power cultivation has reached the peak of level eighty-nine. Next, I will go into closed-door cultivation to attack the Title Douluo bottleneck. Once I break through to Title Douluo, I will begin my revenge against Xu Tianran and take back everything that should belong to me."
Ju Zi, wearing close-fitting sleepwear, stood up and leaned into Xu Zihuang's embrace, saying softly.
"Zihuang, how long will this closed-door cultivation of yours take? With his personality, he should stir up another war within the next year or two."
"It's enough. In at most half a year, and I will come out of seclusion." Xu Zihuang smiled coldly.
"How has he been treating Xiyan during this time?"
Xiyan was the son of Xu Zihuang and Ju Zi, full name Xu Xiyan.
Zi Xi referred to purple morning light, representing rising and gently diffusing radiance, symbolizing the gradual revelation of heavenly bestowed talent and superior conditions. Huang Yan referred to brilliant and dazzling splendor.
Zi Xi Huang Yan, this was the origin of Xu Xiyan's name.
A trace of mockery appeared in Ju Zi's beautiful eyes.
"He is still the same as before, brooding over his loss of that ability. I understand him; he definitely feels from the bottom of his heart that Xiyan's existence is the greatest mockery of him, so he never comes over here. To him, we are all just tools to achieve his goals. Once Xiyan grows a bit older, he should send me to the front lines to continue commanding the Sun Moon Empire's army to invade the original Douluo Continent."
Hearing Ju Zi say this, Xu Zihuang's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. He reminded Ju Zi, "If before I come out of seclusion, he sends you to the front lines to fight, you must be on guard against the Star Luo Empire side. Shrek Academy once handed them a ninth-level fixed soul ammunition cannon. Although the original Douluo Continent side cannot produce a barrel capable of firing a ninth-level fixed soul ammunition cannon, if they detonate it at close range without regard for anything, it could still pose a threat to you."
At this point, Xu Zihuang's expression became somewhat helpless.
"The blueprint for the ninth-level fixed soul ammunition cannon on Shrek Academy's side was something I brought back from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. I just didn't expect they would actually develop it. However, in such a short time, they should at most be able to produce a second ninth-level fixed soul ammunition cannon."
"Two ninth-level fixed soul ammunition cannons." Ju Zi murmured thoughtfully, then nodded seriously, "Mm, I will be extra careful."
With the Sun Moon Empire's advanced detection soul tools, they would not give the Star Luo Empire any chance to approach with a ninth-level fixed soul ammunition cannon. Without a barrel to fire it, the threat of the ninth-level fixed soul ammunition cannon was actually extremely limited.
After discussing official matters, the two fell silent for a long time, both turning their gaze toward Xu Xiyan lying in the cradle.
Ju Zi's delicate body trembled slightly as she softly pleaded with Xu Zihuang, "Zihuang, stay a little longer with Xiyan."
"Alright." Xu Zihuang sighed lightly. He and Ju Zi squatted down, each holding one of Xu Xiyan's chubby little hands.
This warm scene seemed to freeze in time. Xu Zihuang's expression was gentle, while a happy smile bloomed on Ju Zi's pretty face.
Before long, they would be able to stay together forever like this.
This was what Ju Zi longed for the most.
It was not until the first ray of morning sunlight broke through the eastern horizon that Xu Zihuang had to leave the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace under Ju Zi's reluctant gaze.
Upon arriving at Shrek Academy, he returned to his usual appearance, his eyes deep and unfathomable, revealing nothing of his inner thoughts.
Xu Zihuang's figure drifted down gracefully onto the open space in front of Sea God Pavilion, just in time to see an exquisitely beautiful woman with a gentle temperament walking out from inside Sea God Pavilion.
The woman appeared to be only twenty-five or twenty-six years old. A light blue long dress accentuated her even more slender figure, but a faint trace of melancholy lingered between her brows.
"Senior Sister." Xu Zihuang restrained his emotions and greeted the person with a gentle smile.
The woman was none other than the inner court's senior sister, Zhang Lexuan. The passage of time had left no trace on her face; she looked just as she did when they first met.
Xu Zihuang felt a slight sigh in his heart. He and this inner court senior sister had already known each other for nearly ten years.
Seeing Xu Zihuang, Zhang Lexuan was first stunned, then revealed a touching, heart-stirring smile.
"Tianhuang, long time no see."
Although Xu Zihuang had not returned to Shrek Academy for some time, he often heard about Zhang Lexuan's matters from Ye Guyi and Ning Tian.
This inner court senior sister had broken through to Title Douluo a year ago, and her status within the academy was growing higher and higher. Once Yan Shaozhe stepped down, she would be the next dean of Shrek Academy's outer court martial soul department.
However, one matter was also troubling Zhang Lexuan, and that was the issue of her background.
During the assassination attempt on Xu Tianran at the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace, anyone with discerning eyes could see the connection between Zhang Lexuan and Kong Deming's martial soul. At that time, Zhang Lexuan had even felt the resonance and connection between her own martial soul and Kong Deming's martial soul.
In the past few years, Zhang Lexuan had visited the city in the Heavenly Soul Empire where she was born more than once to investigate information. Combined with the secret records in Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion library, she could basically confirm that her mother had inextricable ties with the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family.
Her father's family was merely a minor noble in the Heavenly Soul Empire, while her powerful Silver Moon martial soul was clearly inherited from her mother.
Zhang Lexuan had always considered herself a person of the Heavenly Soul Empire since childhood and, thanks to Elder Mu's kindness, regarded Shrek Academy as her home. But now discovering that she most likely carried the bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family, this long-held perception and cognition was completely overturned, causing her to begin doubting herself.
"I remember Elder Mu once told me: When feeling lost, there is no need to overthink it; just follow your own heart." Xu Zihuang smiled slightly and walked past Zhang Lexuan.
"Senior Sister, I'll go see Elder Xuan first."
Zhang Lexuan's expression froze slightly upon hearing this, and she turned to look at Xu Zihuang's tall and straight figure.
In the conference hall on the first floor of Sea God Pavilion, Elder Xuan sat in the main seat. There was no soul power fluctuation or spiritual fluctuation from him; he looked like an ordinary old man.
But when he saw Xu Zihuang, his eyes suddenly widened, filled with astonishment.
"Tianhuang, you have already touched the level ninety bottleneck?!"
"Yes, Elder Xuan." Xu Zihuang nodded frankly.
"I returned to the academy this time to bid you farewell. I plan to attack the Title Douluo realm and condense the second soul core in the near future."
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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