Mingdu, Sun Moon Empire. The morning sun was just beginning to rise.
Xu Xiaoyun, dressed in a long, double-breasted robe, walked alone down the wide stone-paved street. On either side stretched endless buildings, most of them over five stories tall, some even reaching over ten.
As he walked through this, the foremost grand city on the continent, a ripple gradually spread through Xu Xiaoyun's usually calm eyes, his expression complex.
In terms of sheer area, the combined capitals of the three original Douluo Continent empires wouldn't even total half the size of Mingdu. Even adding Shrek City barely brought them close, and in terms of prosperity, it was even harder to compare.
Along the way in Mingdu, he had already seen the presence of civilian Soul Guided Devices. No matter how much he wanted to hold firm to his beliefs, he couldn't in good conscience say that a heating Soul Guided Device wasn't more convenient and warmer than burning firewood.
Four thousand years have passed. Have the traditional Soul Masters finally been unable to withstand the impact of these Soul Guided Devices? One can't simply refuse to accept new things.
Xu Xiaoyun surveyed his surroundings, a heavy feeling in his heart, worried about the future of traditional Soul Masters.
Among the top Soul Engineers, Limit Douluo-level powerhouses had already appeared. This meant that Soul Masters no longer held an absolute advantage at the highest combat power level. Given time, it was possible the status of Soul Masters might truly be abolished.
Perhaps, even the Xu Family has reached a point where they have no choice but to change...
"Come one, come all! Roasted meat, fragrant roasted meat! A century-old establishment..."
"Freshly steamed buns, three copper Soul Coins each! Everyone come and try them..."
The shouts of Mingdu citizens selling breakfast drifted into his ears, and a few wafts of beef aroma entered his nostrils. Xu Xiaoyun swallowed, then turned and walked directly into a roasted meat shop.
Since I'm already here, I'll eat first.
"Waiter, bring out all your specialty roasted meats for me to try. Bring roasted lamb, roasted beef, whatever tastes best. Don't worry about the cost!"
Sitting down at an empty table and chair, Xu Xiaoyun pulled out a gold Soul Coin card. With a sweep of his sleeve, he grandly instructed the staff.
The Xuanming Sect was a major producer of medicinal pills. Xu Xiaoyun could proudly say that he had no concept of money.
"Alright! Would you like some ale with that? We have a regular customer here, an old gentleman about your age, who loves to eat meat with a drink."
The waiter jotted down Xu Xiaoyun's order and then thoughtfully suggested.
Xu Xiaoyun thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Drinking this early in the morning isn't good. These old bones can't handle it. Forget the ale, just some juice will do."
"Alright, noted. And what should I call you, sir?"
"Just call me Old Man Xu, haha. I'm getting old, and it's rare for me to visit."
Xu Xiaoyun said with a smile, looking like a wealthy old man from the common folk, showing no hint of a powerhouse's aura.
Suddenly, his smile froze, then returned to normal. He turned his head to glance at a tall, silver-haired old man who had just walked in from outside. A grave expression immediately appeared in his narrowed eyes.
The silver-haired old man's hair was meticulously combed, his face as rosy as a baby's, and his long eyebrows hung down on either side of his face, giving him an air of majesty. A faint smile was on his face.
Even a Super Douluo would feel a prickling sensation on their back under the gaze of a top-tier powerhouse like Xu Xiaoyun, yet this old man seemed completely oblivious. Instead, he walked over to Xu Xiaoyun's table with a smile and said,
"I'm late today, and there are no good seats. Do you mind if I share your table?"
With that, he didn't wait for Xu Xiaoyun to answer and unceremoniously sat down.
Xu Xiaoyun glanced at the empty tables nearby but wasn't annoyed. He turned to the waiter and said,
"Bring double portions of everything I just ordered. And no juice; bring several jugs of ale instead. Bring plenty; don't try to save money on an old man like me."
The waiter clearly knew the silver-haired old man and didn't answer Xu Xiaoyun directly. Instead, he cast a questioning look at the silver-haired old man. "Old Man Long, what do you think about this..."
The silver-haired old man, called "Old Man Long," waved his hand with a smile. "Someone's offering to treat, so just do as he says. This Old Man Xu is a wealthy man; it's rare for him to grace your establishment, so be extra attentive."
The waiter hadn't expected the two to know each other, but he was perceptive enough not to ask further questions. He turned and left, preparing to instruct the grill master to put all their skill into the meal.
Watching the waiter leave, the silver-haired old man said with a beaming smile, "The roasted meat here is first-class even in Mingdu. The aroma is rich, and the meat is tender and juicy. You certainly know how to pick a place."
Xu Xiaoyun hummed, a hint of pride appearing on his face. He nudged his chin and said,
"Of course. This old man has eaten countless good things in his life. I've even visited the kitchens of the imperial palaces and royal residences of the three great empires. Just by smelling the aroma, I know the meat here won't be bad."
"It's not me bragging, but when it comes to food, even you, Long Xiaoyao, can't compare to this old man."
The silver-haired old man, who was Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao, didn't refute him. Instead, he gave a thumbs-up and responded with a look of agreement:
"That's true. I still remember when we were in the academy back then, your seafood cooking skills truly made many people drool.
Young Master Xu of the Xuanming Sect isn't just the number one genius in defense-type Martial Souls; his cooking skills are also second to none. Plus, he's handsome and wealthy, so popular with the ladies."
Xu Xiaoyun squinted at Long Xiaoyao, a little surprised. "You still remember old stories from over two hundred years ago? That's rare."
"What are you talking about? This old man's favorite food is meat, and your roasting technique is something I've never seen before in my life. Of course, I can't forget it," Long Xiaoyao said, feigning anger.
Xu Xiaoyun stared at Long Xiaoyao, silent for a moment.
Soon, the two, whose eyes met, burst into hearty laughter simultaneously. Though old, their voices were full of vigor and passion, no less than that of youths.
The waiter silently brought over a pile of ale, then quietly left. It was best not to interrupt when old people were reminiscing.
Thud—
The two men each opened a bottle of ale, then, without using cups, simply clinked their bottles together and began to drink.
After a bottle of ale, the atmosphere became much more harmonious.
It was Long Xiaoyao who spoke first again, smiling and asking, "Last night, I sensed a trace of your aura outside the Evil Forest. What were you doing there?"
Xu Xiaoyun grumbled, "What else could I be doing there besides catching Soul Beasts? Am I going to seek excitement and fight the Evil Emperor? Or pick a fight with your old flame? This old man isn't a fan of courting death."
"Of course not."
Long Xiaoyao chuckled, seemingly realizing he'd asked a foolish question, and quickly changed the subject.
"The Evil Forest is mostly home to mental-type Soul Beasts. When did your Xuanming Sect produce a genius who needs that kind of Soul Ring? And why did it require you, an old ancestor, to come in person?"
The headquarters of the Evil Soul Master Holy Spirit Church is located in the Evil Forest. Last night, while strolling through the forest, he unexpectedly sensed his old friend's faint presence, immediately putting him on high alert.
At the Limit Douluo level, one can truly merge with heaven and earth and identify beings that might pose a threat. In this era, there are very few who could threaten him; Xu Xiaoyun is one.
Long Xiaoyao wasn't afraid that Xu Xiaoyun would expose the matter, but rather that Xu Xiaoyun might impulsively try to act on behalf of heaven and get himself into trouble.
Xu Xiaoyun didn't answer Long Xiaoyao directly. Instead, he opened another bottle of wine for himself, took two gulps, then sighed, his expression turning sorrowful. He said,
"It's my unfortunate great-grandson. His mother passed away recently, and his Martial Soul awakening resulted in an unexpected mutation. His fate is truly fraught with hardship.
His mother was my young disciple and met with an accident in the Star Dou Great Forest. I am responsible. Fortunately, a mutated mental-type Martial Soul isn't bad, so of course, I must prepare the best Soul Ring for him."
Long Xiaoyao had no descendants, but he nodded in understanding. Then, he asked curiously,
"With your cultivation, how could a junior meet with an accident? Did they encounter a Ferocious Beast? The Red King isn't your match. Was it the Bear King, the Ten Thousand Demon King, or Di Tian?"
Xu Xiaoyun looked up and glanced at Long Xiaoyao, smiling faintly. "What? Is Dragon Emperor Douluo going to avenge me?"
Long Xiaoyao laughed freely, saying, "You're being too formal. We were good friends who fought side by side back then, fought with Shrek Academy, and hunted for souls together in the Star Dou Great Forest.
I have few old acquaintances left in this world. Mu En is one, but I'm ashamed to see him, so only you are left for me to talk freely with. If it wasn't Di Tian who harmed your disciple, what's wrong with me accompanying you on a trip?"
He then added,
"It's not that Di Tian doesn't want to help; he truly can't. You know my Martial Soul is completely suppressed by his. If you and I went together, it would just be suicide. But I don't think it would have been him."
Xu Xiaoyun nodded, a mocking expression on his face. "Of course, it wasn't Di Tian. It was just an old fool who caused trouble due to gluttony. But that fellow is protected by Mu En. I can't kill him, nor should I. After all, if Mu En dies, he'll be the new Sea God Pavilion Master, won't he?"
Long Xiaoyao's expression changed to one of surprise. "Are you talking about Xuan Zi?"
"Yes, my young disciple and a group of Inner Courtyard disciples went to Star Dou to hunt souls and unexpectedly encountered a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast. But at that time, their team leader was late due to his appetite, which resulted in eight out of twelve people dying in battle...
Heh heh, every time I think of this, I'm filled with rage, wishing I could kill that old beast with a single palm!"
Xu Xiaoyun's muffled voice conveyed surging anger. Then he fixed his gaze on Long Xiaoyao and said earnestly,
"It's a good thing I ran into you today. I have two things I want to discuss with you. Are you interested?"
"Speak freely."
"The first thing is, I want to ask: Is that old beast Xuan Zi an undercover agent from your Holy Spirit Church embedded in Shrek?"
Long Xiaoyao: "... (⊙_⊙)?"