The great battle had ceased, but the residual energy from the clash of the two powerhouses still lingered across the hundreds of miles of ocean, leaving the waters calm and undisturbed.
Xu Xiaoyun returned to the Soul Engineer vessel with Xu Tianxi, then gazed intently in the direction where the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor had departed. His expression was neither sorrowful nor joyful. After a long silence, he simply said, "Do not disturb me for any reason," and immediately sat down cross-legged, activating the Xuanming Meditation Method to cultivate his Soul Power in quiet contemplation.
He had a premonition that cultivating at this moment would lead to a profound breakthrough—this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.
After exchanging three blows with the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor, Xu Xiaoyun had vaguely stumbled upon a half-open gate in a misty haze. That gate was the Limit Douluo gate he had yearned for and pursued his entire life!
If he had encountered this opportunity a hundred years ago, he would have been seventy percent confident in forcing that gate open. Now, he was old, and his vitality wasn't what it was in his prime, but as a Soul Master who had touched upon such exquisite cultivation principles, how could he suppress the excitement in his heart?
If he didn't strive for a breakthrough, he would surely die with regrets!
"Old Xuan in the original story mentioned that a human Limit Douluo's Second Soul Core must be of the Space Attribute. The three moves Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor used earlier seemed to contain spatial power. Could Grandmaster have gained some insight and entered Deep Meditation?"
Xu Tianxi couldn't help but speculate as he watched Xu Xiaoyun, who sat like an ancient monk in deep meditation, his aura like an ancient tree, and Soul Power spontaneously emanating from him like a deep, vast ocean.
Soul Masters generally cultivate in two ways: Meditation and Deep Meditation. Regular Meditation is the usual cultivation state, also known as shallow cultivation. Deep Meditation, however, is a rare and highly sought-after state. It occurs when a Soul Master gains insight during regular Meditation, causing their mind to spontaneously sink into cultivation. The individual enters a state of complete absorption, becoming completely oblivious to external changes and only awakening on their own.
In Deep Meditation, a Soul Master's Soul Power circulates automatically at a faster rate than usual, and their comprehension doubles, making it more effective than ten regular Meditations.
When a Soul Master encounters a bottleneck, entering Deep Meditation significantly increases their chances of breaking through. Additionally, out of an instinctive need for self-protection, a portion of their Soul Power will automatically overflow from their body to shield them and conceal all their auras.
However, such opportunities are incredibly precious; a Soul Master might not encounter them more than a few times in their entire life.
For Xu Xiaoyun to enter Deep Meditation after the battle, his exchange of three blows with the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor was certainly not in vain.
Not bad, not bad. Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor is truly a good Baxia; its beastly character is so honest. It truly teaches what it knows.
Yue Lao couldn't suppress his curiosity and quietly whispered to Xu Tianxi, "Young Master, what level of powerhouse did Grandmaster encounter just now? Not only did he fail to win, but he also entered Deep Meditation?"
Xu Tianxi put down the Deep Blue Tortoise Shell he was studying, waved his hand, and said solemnly,
"That was the most powerful Sea Soul Beast in the world. Grandmaster was severely suppressed and took a heavy blow, but it's also an opportunity. It just depends on how he seizes it."
The Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor's cultivation exceeded 800,000 years. Among continental soul beasts, only Di Tian had deeper cultivation than him, and on the sea, he had a home-field advantage. Even if Di Tian came personally, he might not gain an advantage.
Di Tian's Dragon God Claw can suppress all soul beasts, but the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor's bloodline originates from Baxia, one of the Nine Sons of the Dragon, making it extremely unique.
Di Tian calls Taotie "Uncle," and Baxia, also one of the Nine Sons of the Dragon, would certainly be able to suppress Di Tian in terms of bloodline. Although it's unknown how much of Baxia's bloodline the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor possesses, it's safe to assume he wouldn't fear Di Tian.
The strength of such a powerhouse is far beyond what human Limit Douluo can compare to. Xu Xiaoyun was dimensionally suppressed quite severely, but from the current perspective, his gains must also be considerable.
And for Xu Tianxi, this experience was truly a godsend. The tortoise shell the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor gave him was itself a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, emitting a lustrous, deep blue light, like a rare gem. Holding it in his hand made him feel mentally invigorated, with all fatigue vanishing.
He was certain that with the subtle nourishment of this tortoise shell, his Sea of Spirit would unknowingly become more stable, capable of withstanding stronger spiritual impacts, and his cultivation efficiency would also increase to some extent. It wouldn't take more than three years to advance to the next level.
As for the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor's promise to protect him through one life-or-death crisis, Xu Tianxi directly interpreted it as having an Invincible Golden Body. As long as he didn't actively seek death by venturing into the Qiankun Dog Training Valley or the dangerous areas of the Star Dou Great Forest, his personal safety would largely be assured.
Of course, before he became a seven-ring Soul Sage or could hand-craft Level 8 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, it was best not to confront dangerous creatures like Titled Douluo. Although he wasn't afraid of trouble, there was no need to deliberately seek excitement.
And for figures of the highest danger level like Tang God King, he needed to be twelve thousand times more vigilant!
"Even with a death-exempting golden token, I can't afford to be complacent. My Twin Martial Souls, Body Martial Soul, and Ultimate Martial Soul talents are too eye-catching. If Tang God King discovers them, it might just be a dog-leash massacre from start to finish."
"To lure Yuhao, that Child of Destiny, and scheme against Rong Nianbing, he didn't hesitate to tear his daughter's soul into three pieces. Once he discovers my existence, I imagine he won't be stingy with the effort to deal with me..."
"Yuhao's opportunities are right there. If I take the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm and Electrolux, I'll eventually catch Tang God King's eye and suffer his endless schemes and attacks, countless overt and covert strikes. The current Tang God King's control over the Douluo Continent is absolute; various pawns have already been laid."
"But if I don't seize them, my hope of becoming a god will infinitely approach zero, and seeking revenge on Shrek will be absolutely impossible..."
Xu Tianxi also unconsciously sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes to ponder his future path. He calculated various possibilities in his mind, and the Xuanming Meditation Method quietly began to operate. Streams of ethereal Soul Power flowed through his Meridians and acupoints, his body gradually tensing as he made a firm resolution.
"...After much thought, I still have to go all out. At worst, I'll make more preparations..."
"Even if Tang San is like in Huo Yuhao's story and captures Kong Xiyue's soul as a hostage, he can't threaten me. I, Xu Tianxi, am not Huo Yuhao, who was orphaned from a young age and incomplete in spirit. If he wants to make me his dog, one dog leash won't be enough."
"If no one from the God Realm bestows godhood upon me, then at worst, I'll follow the path of the Sea God and Angel of old: unify the continent, the Far North Land, and even the oceans, gathering the faith of all living beings to condense a godhood. I refuse to believe that my Twin Martial Souls talent is inferior to the Six-Winged Angel and the Sea God Trident!"
"If Heaven does not grant it, I shall take it myself! From this day forward, be it Shrek, the Clear Sky Sect, or anyone from the Four Great Empires, whoever obstructs my path to godhood shall be slain!"
As his thoughts raced, a rough plan slowly materialized in Xu Tianxi's mind. His bright, clear eyes suddenly opened, and the full Moonlight behind him radiated brilliantly, making him appear like a moonlit deity, awe-inspiring and inviolable.
"At this moment, my wings are not yet fully grown; I still need to hide and bide my time. When my claws are sharp, I shall personally lead a grand army to unify the continent, suppressing all opposition with the force of a Thunderbolt, and forge an eternal legacy! Only then can this great endeavor be accomplished!"
"Huo Yuhao… Jing Hongchen… Kong Deming… Xu Tianran… Holy Spirit Church… Tianmeng Ice Silkworm Electrolux… Ice and Snow Two Emperors… Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor Demon Empress… There are indeed many notable and exploitable figures. I still need to plan carefully..."
One by one, the most important figures and forces of the current era flashed through Xu Tianxi's mind. He was like a calm chess player, evaluating the relationships between these individuals and forces, and soon, he vaguely discerned a clear path forward.
A path to ascend to the peak of the continent, control supreme authority, and condense a faith-based godhood!
"All of this is to buy myself enough time to cultivate and develop. On the Douluo Continent, cultivation is the fundamental principle. The combat methods Grandmaster and Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor used during their battle earlier are very worth studying: combining Spiritual Power with Soul Power to condense a Black Tortoise phantom, enhancing combat power. I can also try to deduce my own combat opportunities..."
"The moon waxes and wanes, taking on countless forms. My Martial Soul has the power of the Star Martial Soul; perhaps I can extend from this, learning from heaven and earth to form combat techniques..."
With his future plan settled in his mind, Xu Tianxi's spirit instantly cleared. His state of mind was as pure as a clear mirror and a clear lake, and he turned to contemplate cultivation methods.
The black curtain of the sky had released the moon at some unknown time. It shone in conjunction with the suspended moon behind the young man, casting residual light upon his brow, as if a mystical maiden had taken up a brush to paint an unparalleled masterpiece.
"Young Master has also entered Deep Meditation? This is truly a joyous occasion!"
Yue Lao, who was engrossed in steering the ship, noticed a cool moonlight spilling from the side. He turned his gaze and saw Xu Tianxi sitting cross-legged in white robes, with the clear moon suspended behind him. Wisps of moonlight-like Soul Power swirled around his body, and a spirited, soaring aura was already evident in his still-youthful features, startling him.
"Such extraordinary genius, it must be so..."
Yue Lao took a deep breath, his eyes glazed over as he sighed. He had served in the Sun Moon Empire's military and had witnessed some of their top talents, and he had heard rumors of Shrek's monsters, often marveling at them.
But now, a truly peerless genius had emerged. Looking across the Four Great Empires, how many possess such unparalleled talent and exceptional comprehension that can compare to the Young Master's?
None! Not a single one!
"Shrek, so arrogantly confident, caused my young lady's death, and the dean was still so overbearing. Just you wait. Once my young master matures, he will surely overturn your esteemed academy, the number one on the continent!"
Mingdu, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Lin Jiayi, the director of education, having completed his summary report for the new semester, knocked on the dean's office door, stepping briskly as he went to deliver the good news to Dean Jing Hongchen.
"Dean, what wonderful news! Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen have both demonstrated extraordinary talent in the new academic year's Soul Engineer technical assessment, creating multiple Level 3 Core Magic Arrays!
From what I can see, they are already capable of passing the Level 3 Soul Engineer examination. This has set an unprecedented record for the empire! They can truly be called the empire's greatest geniuses in a thousand years!"
"Haha, surely you, a top master of the empire, didn't give them special tutoring during the break, did you? They're still just children; that would be too demanding for them."
"Hahahaha, Director Lin, you flatter me. The children themselves are simply ambitious."
Jing Hongchen chuckled, setting down his teacup, and waved his hand with a beaming smile:
"Mainly, Xiao and Meng are ambitious and eager to learn. Even at home, they kept pestering me to teach them this and explain that. My role as a Level 9 Soul Engineer was merely a small contribution."
"My, my, you're far too modest! It's not as if no descendants of Level 9 Soul Engineer masters have enrolled before, but never in history has there been such outstanding talent as those from your Hongchen Family!"
Lin Jiayi's face was flushed with excitement, speaking from the heart while also flattering, as he gave a thumbs-up:
"I saw that they already had three rings when they enrolled. They're only ten years old, aren't they? If that's the case, won't they have a chance to cultivate into Soul Kings before they turn fifteen? That would meet the standards of our academy's top students.
By the time the Star Luo Empire hosts the next Pan-continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, the strength of these two reserve team members will likely be no weaker than some of the main team members. They are sure to shine brightly!"
"Hahahahaha... Well said, well said. My grandchildren from the Hongchen Family are, of course, unparalleled geniuses, the best in the world. They will surely surpass me, their grandfather, in the future and lead the family to new glory..."
Jing Hongchen laughed heartily, then suddenly remembered something. His eyes fixed on Lin Jiayi as he asked:
"Oh, by the way, you're not here because something in the academy was forcibly bought and sold again, are you? Or to approve some new proposal?"