Yan Shaozhe was knocked unconscious and sent away, and Zhang Lexuan also had to bid farewell.
The three of them walked to an open space outside the courtyard. Zhang Lexuan took out a red token from the Storage Jade Bracelet on her pale white wrist and placed it in Xu Tianxi's hand, her expression solemn.
"Tianxi, this is a token that represents my identity as an Inner Courtyard disciple of Shrek. Keep it safe; it might be useful someday."
She had come today not only to see Xi Yue-jie off for the last time but also to take Xu Tianxi back to the Shrek Inner Courtyard. Now that she was a Soul Douluo, she had enough energy to look after Xu Tianxi, and perhaps even let him grow up alongside Bei Bei.
But plans couldn't keep up with changes. Dean Yan's attitude was too excessive, provoking the Xuanming Old Ancestor's wrath, and she couldn't bring herself to say those words anymore.
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She hoped Tianxi wouldn't harbor resentment towards Shrek in the future. While the character of the academy's high-ranking officials wasn't exactly admirable, their strength was undeniable...
Xu Tianxi nodded and said, "Okay." Zhang Lexuan's eyes curved into a smile, and she lovingly stroked Xu Tianxi's tender forehead. After bidding farewell to Xu Xiaoyun, she turned and flew out of Xuanming Sect.
Not long after flying, she found Yan Shaozhe, unconscious like a dead dog on the ground. A very strange expression appeared on her fair, translucent face.
Dean Yan had always had a smooth life. Enduring such a great humiliation today, she wondered if he would fall ill from anger.
His Martial Soul was Light Phoenix, but he always lacked a certain magnanimity. He might seek revenge. She needed to explain the whole situation to Mu Lao. She imagined Mu Lao would keep Dean Yan in check.
Luckily… Shrek still had Mu Lao, who was sensible…
On the other side, Xu Tianxi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and slowly exhaled, his chest rising and falling unevenly.
His blood had been boiling when he slapped him, but thinking about it calmly now, the experience was a bit too stimulating.
Slapping a Super Douluo before awakening his Martial Soul—his achievement must be unprecedented, right?
Oh, no, he'd forgotten about that Death God Envoy. With a Soul King cultivation, he'd decimated a group of Shrek Inner Courtyard disciples and escaped from a Level 98 Super Douluo. That guy's achievement was even more impressive.
Just as Xu Tianxi was sighing with emotion, a strong, powerful hand landed on his shoulder. Xu Tianxi turned to look and saw that Xu Xiaoyun had reverted to his initial old and frail appearance. His kind smile showed no hint of ferocity.
"How about it, little Tianxi? Did you feel much better after slapping that bastard a few times?"
Xu Tianxi nodded. Slapping him was truly the simplest way to achieve the most extreme satisfaction, and all the pent-up frustration in his heart had been unleashed on Yan Shaozhe's old face.
Xu Xiaoyun's smile grew wider, then his tone shifted, and he said with some regret:
"But this way, you won't be able to go to Shrek to cultivate like your second brother. For the next few years, you'll have to stay in the sect. Although I don't like that place either, it does have excellent cultivation conditions and the best classmates."
Xu Tianxi knew that this "second brother" was Xu Sanshi, who was three years older than him. The latter had entered Shrek last year, enrolling very early.
However, this had little to do with him. Currently, he felt almost nothing for Xu Sanshi, but he did feel something for Shrek—a strong sense of malice.
So, Xu Tianxi shook his head, meeting Xu Xiaoyun's peaceful gaze, and fiercely swore:
"The Dean of Shrek Academy is nothing special. Grandmaster, if you're willing to teach me to cultivate, you'd definitely be better than him! And the people at Shrek… Aunt Xuan is decent, but Yan Shaozhe is too shameless, and the person who killed my mother is an even bigger jerk!"
In short: both of them deserved to die.
"Haha… you're right. Your Grandmaster's abilities are far greater than that bastard's! While they may be the number one academy on the continent, our Xuanming Sect is also a top-tier Hidden Sect. That dreadful place is enough for your second brother to go to!"
Xu Xiaoyun laughed heartily, raising his hand to pat Xu Tianxi's shoulder. His deep voice carried warm concern as he said:
"In half a month, you'll be able to awaken your Martial Soul. Get some good rest during this time, and don't dwell too much on your mother's matter. We'll get an explanation from Shrek sooner or later."
With that, he waved his right hand, summoning Chen Wu and Yue Lao, who had been sent away earlier. After giving them a few instructions, he stepped on the wind and departed.
Xu Tianxi watched him stride away, his eyes subtly shifting. Suddenly, he shouted, "Grandmaster, what if Shrek comes looking for trouble?"
"Don't worry, little fellow. Shrek has received many benefits from us over the years. There are still clear-headed people in the Sea God Pavilion. As long as I'm alive, they won't dare!"
Xu Xiaoyun responded with a strong voice and quickly disappeared from their sight.
"Third Young Master, what should we do now?" Chen Wu asked somewhat dazedly.
Xu Tianxi turned to look at Chen Wu and answered without hesitation, "Sleep. I'm a bit tired."
Transmigration was still too mystical; it was a bit hard to accept all at once.
But since he was already here, he might as well get some sleep first.
In the Xuanming Sect's spirit hall at night, Xu Xiaoyun entered silently. With a sorrowful expression, he gazed at the woman lying peacefully among the wreaths. His right fist involuntarily clenched. Then he stepped forward, pulled up a middle-aged man who was sitting cross-legged, keeping vigil in front of the wreaths, and gave him a look.
Black Tortoise Displacement activated silently. The two traversed space in a black light, arriving in a secret chamber.
The middle-aged man looked to be just over thirty, with thick eyebrows, tiger-like eyes, a straight nose, and a square mouth. He wore black mourning clothes, and a hint of bewilderment still lingered on his face. After a few seconds of stunned silence, he finally asked:
"Great-Grandfather, what's wrong with you? Is there something you need to discuss with me at this hour?"
Xu Xiaoyun frowned and widened his eyes, saying with a piercing gaze:
"Seeking you at this time is naturally no small matter, but a major one. I must tell you, the current head of the Xu Family."
Xu Fu, the father of Xu Tianxi and Xu Sanshi, and the current head of the Xu Family, had an even more bewildered expression on his face. He quickly waved his hand and said:
"Look at what you're saying, Great-Grandfather. Everyone in the family knows that I, as head, am just a gopher and a figurehead. The Elder Council, led by you, is the true decision-maker."
Xu Xiaoyun shook his head and said slowly:
"There's no need to belittle yourself. Although your talent isn't as good as your senior brother's, it's still extraordinary. There's hope for you to cultivate to my level in the future. My time is running out. The Xuanming Sect will truly have to rely on you and your senior brother sooner or later."
"Moreover, this matter is greatly related to you. You must listen."
Xu Fu composed himself, cupped his hands, and responded, "Your grandson respectfully obeys Great-Grandfather's teachings!"
His cultivation came directly from his Great-Grandfather. He was like a senior brother to his Great-Grandfather's two disciples, and compared to other Xuanming Sect disciples, he held a deeper respect for Xu Xiaoyun.
Xu Xiaoyun nodded, his expression calm as he spoke:
"It's simple. In a few years, I plan to send your and your junior sister's child, Tianxi, to the Sun Moon Empire for cultivation. What do you think?"
"Huh?" Xu Fu's jaw dropped in surprise.
"And you, for the next few years, you'll be in seclusion, not involving yourself in external affairs. I will announce that I'm also in seclusion with you, creating the impression that Tianxi has lost his mother and has no one, so that outsiders know Tianxi is not on good terms with my Xuanming Sect. This way, investing in him won't be like feeding a thankless wolf."
"Huh!???"
Xu Fu was dumbfounded, his mind a whirlwind of indescribable emotions.
Xu Xiaoyun raised a hand, signaling Xu Fu to wait until he finished speaking before offering his opinion. Then he said somberly:
"This is a decision I've made after much deliberation, with two objectives:
"The first is for the legacy of my Xuanming Sect. You know your junior sister's background—she's from a branch of the Imperial Family that was exiled by the former Sun Moon Empire emperor.
Tianxi's identity is special, and he even beat Shrek's Dean. The former emperor's entire family is dead, so if he goes to the Sun Moon Empire, he can gain the trust and support of their high-ranking officials."
"And the second point is that I want to settle accounts with Shrek Academy. Back then, I personally brought your junior sister to Shrek City, and Mu En promised he would take good care of her. Over the years, my Xuanming Sect has provided no small amount of support to Shrek City's development, yet this is what happened. I simply cannot swallow this indignity.
And that Yan Shaozhe, he bullied Tianxi right in front of me today, and even defended that old beast Xuan Zi, pushing the blame for the incident onto your junior sister. This is simply too much, truly too much!"
With a "thud," Xu Xiaoyun slammed his palm down, shattering a potted plant.
Xu Fu, with keen insight, nodded in agreement, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He then asked, as if suddenly enlightened:
"So, just like how you sent my senior brother to Star Luo Royal Soul Master Academy to get revenge on Tian Hun, and sent junior sister to Shrek Academy to get revenge on the Sun Moon Empire, you're sending Tianxi to Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy to get revenge on Shrek?"
"Precisely! If Shrek has no benevolence, then they shouldn't blame me for being unjust!"
A dark light flickered in Xu Xiaoyun's eyes, brewing with immense fury.
That afternoon, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became, feeling that Shrek had gotten off too lightly.
Just as Xu Tianxi said, Mu En's disciple only lost face, but his own disciple truly died!
The culprit, Xuan Zi, was still alive and well, enjoying himself at Shrek, eating and drinking, and would even inherit the position of Sea God Pavilion Master in the future. The blood debt owed to him seemed impossible to collect.
He was constrained by his family and couldn't act as he pleased, but Xu Tianxi could. If he went to the Sun Moon Empire, he would have the chance.
Thinking of Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe's faces, Xu Xiaoyun lowered his gaze, his long white beard stirring a cold breeze as he declared fiercely:
"Hmph! Even Long Xiaoyao has sided with the Sun Moon Empire, so what reservations does my Xuanming Sect have?"
"Anyway, I think these Douluo Three Kingdoms are bound to fall sooner or later! Rather than being forced to bow down and surrender to the Sun Moon Empire then, it's better to proactively bet on the Sun Moon Empire!"
"What did you say? Long Xiaoyao!? The Dark Sacred Dragon, Long Xiaoyao, who was from your era, has sided with the Sun Moon Empire! This, this, how is this possible?"
Xu Fu's head buzzed from Xu Xiaoyun's words. He almost stammered his astonishment, his expression incredibly vivid.
The name Long Xiaoyao was ancient, a relic from over two hundred years ago. In his youth, he was as famous as the current Sea God Pavilion Master, Mu En, but he had vanished more than a hundred years ago. Xu Fu had only heard of him through his Great-Grandfather's recollections of the past.
Now, from his Great-Grandfather's words, not only was this old man not dead, but he had quietly joined the Sun Moon Empire?!
A peerless powerhouse, whose strength was likely comparable to the Sea God Pavilion Master, had already defected to the Sun Moon Empire? Was it too late for their Xuanming Sect to make their move now?
"Yes, that's the fellow. Last time, I heard about a palace coup in the Sun Moon Empire, and the former Imperial Family was completely wiped out. Out of curiosity, I went to watch the commotion and found some peculiar traces. Just as I was about to investigate further, Long Xiaoyao suddenly appeared and blocked me, and we even exchanged a couple of moves."
Xu Xiaoyun nodded, reminiscing about the past, a deeply hidden trace of apprehension and disgust flashing in his eyes. He continued:
"After not seeing him for over a hundred years, he is now a Limit Douluo. Unless we fight at sea, I have no chance of winning against him; I can only protect myself.
Shrek's Mu En is already a cripple, with not many years left to live. Once Mu En passes away, no one in the Douluo Three Kingdoms will be able to stop Long Xiaoyao."
"If I were the Sun Moon Empire's emperor, I would definitely launch a war after Mu En's death and before Long Xiaoyao's death, seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to annex the three kingdoms and unify the world!"
"The previous Sun Moon emperor, whose entire family was killed, was a weakling. He was pressured by the Star Luo Empire and didn't even dare to fight back, insisting on peace talks and even exiling the hawkish officers, causing him to lose public support. But this current emperor is different from the last.
In recent years, I've clearly noticed the Sun Moon Empire's military strength rapidly increasing. They've even produced terrifying Soul Guided Devices that can threaten my life. Given time, the long-beleaguered Douluo Three Kingdoms will definitely not be their match, and neither will Shrek."
"Since the outcome is already fated, to ensure our legacy continues, my Xuanming Sect must make a choice."
"But Great-Grandfather, we..."