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The students of Shrek Academy and Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy were in a standoff, and the noisy train cars suddenly fell silent. Many people showed excitement, but also a hint of regret:
Why didn't they fight?
With the sudden incident, Feng Zaixing and the other two lost their interest in chatting. Long Chen pulled out the information on Yu Minglong and Ning Yue, and whispered:
"Yu Minglong, sophomore class president of Shrek Academy, from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, ranked fifteenth on the Young Talent Ranking, nicknamed Blue Lightning."
"The girl in the yellow skirt is Ning Yue, ranked twenty-eighth on the Young Talent Ranking, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile. It is said that the two are a couple, both strong contenders to enter the inner court."
"Judging by the time, they are likely completing Shrek Academy's final exams."
"It's not surprising that Shrek Academy people are arrogant. Are they the Young Lord of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Feng Zaixing asked.
He remembered that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit's setting changed every ten thousand years, while the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda remained unchanged.
Long Chen said, "They are the most hopeful candidates. Graduating from Shrek Academy's inner court will be no problem for them. Ning Yue can even directly inherit the position of Sect Master."
"After all, due to Spirit limitations, battle armor isn't very effective for Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Spirit Masters, and there has been no Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda since the Nine Treasure Douluo."
"I'm aware of that, it's not what it used to be." Feng Zaixing nodded lightly.
Since Ning Rongrong, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has only had the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda for generations, and could not advance beyond rank seventy-nine.
Even more critically, it seemed as if Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Spirit Masters had been abandoned by the heavens in this era. Battle armor, which could greatly enhance the combat power of other Spirit Masters, could not improve their amplification effects, only increase their own spirit power and defense.
For these reasons, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect began allowing direct Disciples to marry outsiders several millennia ago, forming alliances with established Spirit Master Families for self-preservation. There is even a Bloodline on the Star Luo Continent.
"I heard that the Tang Sect's Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is a top-tier blessed land, containing Immortal Herbs that can evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. The Tang Sect has been revived for ten thousand years, and no one else from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has obtained one?"
Recalling the awkward situation of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Feng Zaixing couldn't help but develop a different kind of interest.
"No, the Tang Sect isn't foolish. If they gave away the Immortal Herb, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would no longer be beholden to them, unless they merged into the Tang Sect."
Long Chen spread his hands and shook his head, indicating that many people in the Tang Sect were top-tier shrewd merchants, well-versed in the art of fishing.
By offering a glimmer of hope, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would cling to the illusion of "maybe if I try harder, I can get the Immortal Herb," sending Geniuses to Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect for generations, and even habitually making concessions to the Tang Sect in commercial competition.
But if the Tang Sect truly gave away the Immortal Herb, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would fully learn its lesson, have a multitude of children to perpetuate the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and the entire Sect would be transformed, ushering in a new dawn.
Coupled with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's business acumen, within a few hundred years, not to mention a shift in power dynamics, Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect would no longer be able to maintain their formerly superior stance towards the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"As expected of an international arms dealer, quite insidious."
Feng Zaixing gave a thumbs up, and Long Chen gave a sheepish smile. How could he not hear the sarcasm in Feng Zaixing's words?
The two spoke softly, just loud enough for Yu Minglong and Ning Yue in the back two rows to hear.
Ning Yue's eyes dimmed. Everything Feng Zaixing and the other person said was true; the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's situation was indeed that awkward and helpless.
The Upper Three Sects, once renowned two millennia ago, had long since declined and retreated, on the verge of losing their reputation as a first-rate Sect.
"Yue'er, don't worry. I believe the academy and the Tang Sect will surely remember the two-millennium friendship between the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and them. If you didn't get the Immortal Herb before, you definitely will in this generation."
Yu Minglong comforted her in a low voice.
"I hope so..."
Ning Yue softly hummed, but her expression remained lost.
After ten millennia of unfulfilled longing, she too felt a bit of despair.
At the back of the train, Shen Yi, the second-year class teacher of Shrek Academy's outer court, who was secretly accompanying them for assessment, heard these words and shook her head slightly.
She sighed in her heart, "The Tang Sect once considered giving you a chance to obtain the Immortal Herb, but the Qiluo Tulip is a Vicious Beast and cannot be forcibly consumed; forming a Spirit soul contract is even more impossible..."
As one of Shrek Academy's Twin Holy Dragons, and a Disciple of the Scarlet Dragon Douluo Zhuo Shi, Shen Yi knew some of the secrets of Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect.
The highest-cultivated plant Vicious Beast in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was the Qiluo Tulip, which had taken human form and could converse as an equal with the Tang Sect's Passionate Douluo. Swallowing it or having it sign a master-servant contract with a Young Lord of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was absolutely impossible (in Douluo Dalu 3, the Qiluo Tulip and the Fragrant Qiluo Immortal Herb were conflated into the same Immortal Herb, and it was the head of the six great plant Vicious Beasts).
Not to mention that the Tang Sect could not accept such a loss, a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Spirit Master also could not fuse a Vicious Beast-level Spirit soul through a master-servant contract at the quasi-seven-ring stage; their head would explode like a watermelon.
An equal contract had a small possibility of success, but equal contracts were almost lost in the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, and only absolute core powerhouses would learn them.
To have a core powerhouse from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda preside over an equal contract in Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect's most prized location? That's impossible even in a dream!
Therefore, as expected, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would become the Ning Family's eternal unattainable ideal. Blame your ancestors for not having children; the Tang Sect can't do anything about it.
"Instead, those two young Geniuses heading to Mingdu, with such great talent, why not wait two years and apply to our Shrek Academy?"
No longer paying attention to the powerless Yu Minglong and Ning Yue, Shen Yi turned her attention to Feng Zaixing and Long Chen. The two could walk alongside Xu Miao, so they were definitely not ordinary Geniuses.
Due to their Spirits, both developed very quickly, but their faces still bore childlike features.
The veteran teacher Shen Yi immediately saw that the two were only eight or nine years old, but both were Spirit Grandmasters. Long Chen's spirit power was active, while Feng Zaixing's Qi was restrained.
With such talent and background, even in Shrek Academy, they would be top Geniuses with prospects for the inner court. Why did they go to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, wasting their future for nothing?
"Casting pearls before swine, it is indeed a pity. Let them be Shrek Academy's whetstone. The final destination of the outer court's final exams these years has always been Mingdu. Sooner or later, they will meet."
Sighing, Shen Yi no longer dwelled on these two Geniuses who missed Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy would always be Shrek Academy, invincible for two millennia.
"Big Brother, there's an old woman behind us looking at you with a very unfriendly gaze."
By the window of the train, little Na'er, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke, reminding Feng Zaixing.
Over the past two years, Na'er's perception had grown stronger day by day. She could often discern the mood and mind of blacksmiths, helping Feng Zaixing find many easy-going blacksmiths.
"It should be someone from Shrek Academy. Na'er, don't mind them. Those people are always arrogant and don't look at others properly."
Feng Zaixing gently shook his head, his thoughts reaching his Spirit Sea Realm, awakening the Heavenly Sacred Winged God Tiger, who usually slept through the day.
"Heavenly Saint, I'll leave the vigilance of the surroundings to you. If you detect any Evil aura, remind me immediately."
"Got it, got it. No one understands Evil attributes better than this King. If there are really Evil Soul Masters, this King will be even happier than you."
Golden mist swirled in the Spirit Sea Realm. The Heavenly Sacred Winged God Tiger lay sprawled on the beach, suddenly let out a "roar" and woke up, lifting his front paws, his eyes filled with anticipation:
"You've had a Breakthrough in mental force to the Spirit Sea Realm for some time now. When will you let this King advance to ten thousand years? Although nine thousand years of cultivation is good, ten thousand years of cultivation offers a much wider world."
"I'll tell you some good news: once this King sleeps and advances to ten thousand years, he can release his innate Domain when he leaves the body, guaranteeing to make your opponents feel ecstatic."
"How about it? Aren't you looking forward to it?"
"Very much so, my Tiger King brother."
Feng Zaixing offered a compliment, then said with some helplessness:
"But you know, Grand Master Uncle moving from Heaven Dou City to Mingdu requires time for coordination. Without his help to conceal us, we would be exposed. It's best to be careful in all things."
The Heavenly Sacred Winged God Tiger flapped his wings, his large tiger eyes full of agreement: "That's right, to be a King, one must first learn to be a humble tiger, roar."
"Exactly."
Feng Zaixing painted a grand picture: "Grand Master Uncle entered Mingdu for handover half a month ago. The day after we land, we'll go to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda and have a blast."
"This King is so excited, but can I go to the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform to play? I'm tired of the Elementary Spirit Ascension Platform."
The Heavenly Sacred Winged God Tiger rolled over, stood on his hind legs, and rubbed his front paws, coaxing: "Although it's dangerous there, your divine arrows are like clouds, your twin swords like rain, and with me here, what is there to fear?"
"That's right, I'll invite Senior Brother to come along then." Feng Zaixing agreed.
"Good! You can sleep peacefully, no danger can escape this King's eyes! Roar~..."
The Heavenly Sacred Winged God Tiger cheered, taking on all alert duties.
Feng Zaixing breathed a sigh of relief, mentally informed Mu Ye and A Ruheng, then rubbed Na'er's adorable head and hair, and said softly as the latter pouted in protest:
"Na'er, the road ahead is long, rest for a while."
"Brother, really, Na'er isn't a child anymore..."
Na'er protested softly, looking at Feng Zaixing, who was smiling in his sleep for the first time in two years, and whispered in her heart:
"Brother, Na'er wishes she could live with you, Senior Brother, and Teacher Mu Ye forever, but Na'er has remembered many things. If they come, Na'er will have to leave..."
"But Na'er will never let them harm you all. Na'er will always protect Brother, whether it's them or any other bad guys..."