On the Douluo Continent, the golden crow set in the west, and the jade rabbit rose in the east.
Xu Xiaoyun and Xu Fu, both looking tired, simultaneously rose to their feet. They helped the Xu Tianxi brothers lie down to sleep, gave a few instructions to Yue Lao and Chen Wu, and then, with steady steps, ascended to the upper floors of the pavilion.
Night had fallen, and the Xuanming Sect's estate, nestled by the mountains and water, was brightly lit, twinkling like countless stars that mirrored the night sky, making it appear exceptionally magnificent. In the distance, mountains undulated, shrouded in mist, like a celestial realm.
Xu Xiaoyun and Xu Fu, the two most important figures of the Xuanming Sect, watched the tranquil and grand inner view of their sect, recovering their internal energy.
Suddenly, Xu Fu's hesitant voice broke the silence.
"Great-grandfather… Tianxi's talent is beyond imagination. Do we still have to send him to the Sun Moon Empire?"
Xu Xiaoyun shook his head, then nodded, opening his calm eyes. He spoke in a placid tone:
"Of course, we have to send him there. Haven't we already agreed on this? Dispersing our clansmen is how our Xuan Ming Family has persevered to this day."
"But Great-grandfather, Tianxi's Body Martial Soul and Ultimate Martial Soul dual talents are unprecedented.
Given a few decades, he could potentially cultivate to a level not inferior to yours, perhaps even reach the Limit Douluo realm. At that point, the Xuanming Sect would be guaranteed supreme status for three hundred years!"
"We could even, even try to replicate Shrek's path from back then, letting Tianxi turn the tide at a critical moment and lead the Three Kingdoms' allied forces to defeat the Sun Moon Empire! Then our Xuanming Sect would become the foremost sect in the world, transcending the Three Kingdoms!"
Xu Fu's voice trembled slightly, and his eyes burned with fervent ambition.
The Dean of Shrek who turned the tide back then was a powerful individual with an Ultimate Fire Martial Soul. Today, Xu Tianxi's talent surpasses that person's. Why couldn't he become the second person to command the world?
Xu Xiaoyun glanced at him askance, sighed, and said softly:
"There are several major hurdles in cultivating an Ultimate Martial Soul. The cultivation speed from Level 30 to Level 70 will be very slow. Even with our full support, it would take him at least thirty years to become a Titled Douluo."
"This thirty-year growth period is extremely dangerous. Once Tianxi's talent is exposed, and he stands with the Three Kingdoms, the Sun Moon Empire will surely strike with all its might, absolutely not allowing him to grow.
If a Limit Douluo or a large group of top Soul Engineers were to lead an attack, I might not be able to protect him even if I risked my life, and it could also bring catastrophic disaster upon the Xuanming Sect."
"This…"
The fervent expression on Xu Fu's face froze, then he said with some reluctance:
"Didn't you tell me that you and Long Xiaoyao had a deep friendship back then? Besides, he's a respected senior. He shouldn't disregard his status and attack a junior like Tianxi, should he?
We can also cooperate with the Body Sect and Shrek. I believe they won't stand idly by."
"Heh heh…" Xu Xiaoyun chuckled twice, his laughter tinged with helplessness.
"When did I tell you that there's only one Limit Douluo in the Sun Moon Empire? Long Xiaoyao might give me some face, but that other madwoman won't recognize this old face of mine."
"As for external aid… Old Poison of the Body Sect is indeed a formidable individual, but even if I joined forces with him, we could at most perish together with one Limit Douluo. If we both die, who will protect Tianxi?
Mu En of Shrek doesn't have many years left to live. When he dies, are we supposed to rely on that old fool Xuan Zi to fight the enemy? Hmm?"
Xu Xiaoyun cast an inquisitive gaze, and Xu Fu, remembering the tragic sight of his wife's funeral, broke out in a cold sweat.
Yes, that old bastard Xuan Zi had already caused his wife's death. Was he going to let his own child be harmed by him too? That old good-for-nothing's ability to protect juniors was not to be trusted.
Moreover, from what Great-grandfather implied, there was a second Limit Douluo in the Sun Moon Empire?
No, the Sun Moon Empire itself had almost no Super Douluo. Which old antique from the Three Kingdoms had defected this time?
"Great-grandfather, does even defecting require rushing these days? Why are they all Limit Douluo? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Upon hearing that two Limit Douluo powerhouses had already defected, Xu Fu couldn't help but complain, his expression very strange.
He had thought that after Mu En's death, Great-grandfather's strength would be unrivaled, and even that old monster Poison Undying couldn't surpass him. He never expected that it wasn't that the Three Kingdoms had no other Limit Douluo, but that the Limit Douluo had all defected to the Sun Moon Empire!
So, their Xuanming Sect wouldn't even get the first taste of defecting?
"Don't worry about who the other person is. I haven't met that madwoman, and I don't want to. But Long Xiaoyao told me this when he stopped me from investigating the Evil Soul Master's whereabouts, so it won't be false."
"Besides those two, there's also an aura in the Sun Moon Empire's Hall of Worship that makes me extremely wary. And their stock of Level 9 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, whose power can rival a full-strength attack from a Limit Douluo, are terrifying."
Xu Xiaoyun waved his hand, a grave look of apprehension and a hint of helplessness surfacing in his eyes as he gazed down at the estate, which was like a brilliant pearl.
After realizing Xu Tianxi's talent, how could he not want the Xuanming Sect to replicate Shrek's supreme glory from back then?
But thinking of those two Limit Douluo in the Sun Moon Empire, and the Fixed Soul Cannon Shells he discovered in the Sun Moon Empire that could blow the Xuanming Sect to smithereens ten times over, he had to suppress that thought.
Long Xiaoyao still had a conscience and could be reasoned with, but a Level 9 Fixed Soul Cannon Shell couldn't be reasoned with for anything!
Just one or two could level the Xuanming Sect. No one below the Super Douluo level would survive. He couldn't risk the lives of all his descendants for one gamble.
Not to mention, there was also Ye Xishui, the leader of the Evil Soul Masters, in the Sun Moon Empire. Thinking of that woman sent shivers down Xu Xiaoyun's spine, even his.
Not because of her strength, but because of her cunning.
As a living fossil of that era, he knew very well what kind of young prodigies the Black and White Twin Sacred Dragons were back then. Before becoming an Evil Soul Master, Ye Xishui was the only female Soul Master who could barely contend with them.
In the Continental Soul Fighting Grand Competition of over two hundred years ago, three prodigies emerged simultaneously, achieving legendary status.
The Shrek Battle Team led by Mu En was naturally the champion, but the runner-up was not the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, known as the "thousand-year second place," but the team led by Long Xiaoyao. The team led by Ye Xishui also defeated the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
It proved that the caliber of geniuses in that era was extraordinarily high. The captains of those three teams are now all Level 99 Limit Douluo, standing at the pinnacle of this world.
Unfortunately, one was crippled, and two defected to the Sun Moon Empire. Ironically, the Sun Moon Empire, which lost the competition back then, became the biggest winner.
He wasn't afraid of Ye Xishui in his youth, and he dared to fight even Mu En and Long Xiaoyao. In terms of Martial Souls, his Second Awakening Black Tortoise Shield was even superior to the Light and Darkness Twin Sacred Dragon.
In the Defense Type Domain, he was deservedly the top prodigy of that era.
But that was then, and this is now. Those three are now Limit Douluo, while he himself has been stuck at this level for years without an inch of progress. It's likely he won't advance any further in this life.
He had a friendship with Long Xiaoyao, but only a nodding acquaintance with Ye Xishui; there was no real relationship there. Besides, he wasn't so foolish as to think he could reason with an Evil Soul Master.
There were too many changes over two hundred years ago. Ever since Mu En and Long Xiaoyao simultaneously fell for Ye Xishui, the various loves and hates have never ceased.
Shrek Academy was attacked by Evil Soul Masters. Mu En's teacher, the former Sea God Pavilion Master, died not long after that battle. The Black and White Twin Sacred Dragons, once close friends and brothers, became estranged until their deaths. Even Long Xiaoyao, who used to hate evil as much as he loved justice, became a member of an Evil Soul Master organization…
The only person who could make Long Xiaoyao choose such a path was Ye Xishui, the woman he had loved his entire life. There could be no other.
And after these events, Ye Xishui herself became an Evil Soul Master with a Limit Douluo cultivation!
Connecting these incidents, Xu Xiaoyun felt a chill run down his spine. He was even somewhat relieved that, due to his Second Awakening, he had found his beloved wife early on.
If he had also gotten involved in those people's messes back then, he was afraid that woman would have dragged him down with them.
Xu Xiaoyun had never feared anyone in his life, but that certainly didn't mean he enjoyed seeking trouble. Fighting such a madwoman on the battlefield, he wasn't confident he could protect Xu Tianxi in front of her.
"In short, Tianxi's talent is too great. Our Xuanming Sect, even with the Body Sect, can't protect him. We can only send him to the Sun Moon Empire.
Long Xiaoyao once said that there's a very formidable individual in the Sun Moon Empire's Hall of Worship, someone even he isn't confident he could defeat.
I investigated the identity of that Soul Engineer worshipper. He is the guardian god of the Sun Moon Imperial Family and the chief Level 9 Soul Engineer of the Sun Moon Empire, named Kong Deming. He was the Mingde Hall Master two generations ago, renowned as the Father of Ninth-Level Soul Engineers, and has numerous disciples."
Xu Xiaoyun concluded, a hint of frustration in his tone.
The people of the Douluo Three Kingdoms always believed that Soul Engineers couldn't achieve much and that a Titled Douluo could easily kill a Level 9 Soul Engineer. They also thought the Sun Moon Empire only had three Level 9 Soul Engineers. Now, looking back, how absurd that notion was!
The Douluo Three Kingdoms couldn't find a strong enough expert to contend with Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui. The only strong expert with that power was actually in the Sun Moon Empire! And he was a Soul Engineer, something traditional Soul Masters in the Three Kingdoms scoffed at!
"Surname Kong? Could he be related to Yue Er…?" Xu Fu keenly caught the crucial information, his gaze burning as he looked at Xu Xiaoyun.
Xu Xiaoyun nodded, answering Xu Fu's question:
"That's right. He's Yue Er's elder, by about three or four generations. Among the current generation of powerhouses, he's probably the only one who can protect Tianxi… Sigh…"
After speaking, Xu Xiaoyun couldn't help but let out a sigh of lament, deep reluctance welling in his eyes. If it weren't absolutely necessary, who would willingly send their own Qilin Child away? But he had no choice!
If Mu En wasn't a cripple nearing his end, if Xuan Zi could be more reliable, he might have been willing to try.
But Shrek was too weak. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if he, Poison Undying, and Xuan Zi teamed up to fight the three Limit Douluo powerhouses of the Sun Moon Empire.
He and Poison Undying desperately holding off two, Xuan Zi quickly taken down, and then the opponents three-on-two?
That would be a disaster!
"Sigh…"
Xu Fu also let out a long sigh, then, after a long silence, quietly asked:
"Then, Great Ancestor, if we don't inform the Body Sect, how will Tianxi's Body Martial Soul cultivate? We don't know how to achieve a Second Awakening for a Body Martial Soul."
They could teach the Profound Tortoise Martial Soul themselves. Although Shrek had students with Ultimate Martial Souls in its history, none were Ultimate Water, so they weren't needed for that.
But for the Illusory Moon Mystic Eyes, a Body Martial Soul, they were truly at a loss. They had no experience.
Xu Xiaoyun closed his eyes in thought, then slowly said:
"There's no rush. I've had some dealings with the Body Sect brothers. Although I don't know how to achieve a Second Awakening, I do have some understanding of Body Martial Souls. If all else fails, we'll just research it ourselves…"
"I'm going to the Sun Moon Empire now. You carefully watch over Tianxi and San Shi. Also, send a message to your senior disciple to get more nourishing ingredients from the seaside. Tianxi is at a critical stage of growth, and our sect will spare no expense to cultivate the future number one person on the continent!"
Xu Fu nodded in agreement, then curiously asked, "What are you going to the Sun Moon Empire for?"
"To catch an Evil Eye to be the First Soul Ring for my Xu Family's Qilin Child."
Xu Xiaoyun stepped out of the pavilion into the air, then suddenly remembered something. He flicked his long sleeve, turned his head, and sternly said:
"Tianxi's Martial Soul situation must be kept absolutely secret. Announce to the outside that his Martial Soul mutated and failed to awaken a normal Profound Tortoise, and say his Innate Soul Power is level seven. Any lower and no one will believe it."
"That way, his departure from the sect won't attract attention."
"Effective immediately, not a single piece of information about Tianxi can be leaked. You can't even tell the truth when bragging to your wife in bed! Otherwise, I'll personally lock you up for decades!"
"Yes, yes, please don't worry, honored elder."
Xu Fu respectfully assented, watching Xu Xiaoyun depart on the wind.
Above the dome, the bright moon hung in the sky, casting down its pure moonlight, illuminating the old man's solitary figure as he vanished into the horizon, heading west.