Before the Martial Soul Ranking finished being revealed, Flender continued to cling to his fantasies.
Shrek Academy only accepted monsters, not ordinary people, and this year, they had only taken in one monster, Tang San.
The current academy had himself and Zhao Wuji, two high-level Soul Sages, many Soul Emperors, and the theoretical master of the soul master world, Yu Xiaogang.
With so many people nurturing these four academy students, it was simply child's play.
"Sigh, I really wonder how the entire continent will look at us when the great name of Shrek Academy appears in the top ten of the Martial Soul Ranking."
"I have roamed the soul master world for so many years. How could some Heavenly Path Academy that no one has even heard of compare?"
The more Flender thought about it, the more excited he became, as if he had already foreseen Shrek Academy becoming the number one academy on the continent.
After all, among the few of them, even the weakest martial soul was the White Tiger martial soul that had been passed down through the Star Luo royal family for a thousand years, an absolute top-tier assault-type martial soul.
As for Ma Hongjun, what he awakened was the emperor among avian martial souls, the Fire Phoenix.
Even though it was tainted with evil fire, what avian martial soul could possibly contend with it? Even his own Four-Eyed Owl martial soul would be suppressed.
Oscar was even rarer, possessing a food-type martial soul with innate full soul power, an absolute pinnacle among food-type martial souls.
As for Tang San, he was even more extraordinary.
"Sigh, I really wonder what kind of shock it will bring to the continent when Shrek Academy alone occupies four spots in the top ten of the Martial Soul Ranking."
"Leaving Mubai and the other two aside, Little San making the list is beyond doubt."
"Twin martial souls with innate full soul power, a twelve-year-old Soul Elder, and his second martial soul is the Clear Sky Hammer, the number one weapon-type martial soul that has shaken the entire continent."
"If someone like this does not take the top spot, who else is qualified?"
Just as Flender was indulging in his imagination, the twelfth-ranked martial soul on the Martial Soul Ranking appeared.
[Martial Soul Ranking No. 12: Twin Nine-Heart Begonia]
[Holder: Ye Lingling (Heavenly Path Academy)]
[Evaluation: Twin Nine-Heart Begonia, evolved from the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul. The second strongest healing-type martial soul on the continent, possessing dual supreme attributes of Life and Annihilation. The power of life heals all beings. The power of annihilation eradicates evil.]
[Reward: Soul power level increased by three levels. All soul ring age limits increased by three thousand years. Companion domain awakened: Nine-Heart Begonia Domain. Choose either the Life or Annihilation attribute to reach the ultimate attribute.]
Heavenly Path Academy, again Heavenly Path Academy!
Everyone was numb!
Aside from those Title Douluo who were famous across the continent and had shaken the soul master world for many years, all the young soul masters with unfamiliar names who made the list belonged to Heavenly Path Academy.
"The second strongest healing-type martial soul on the continent? Does that mean the number one healing-type martial soul will appear later?"
"Most likely. Who would have thought the healing-type soul master circle had such authoritative martial souls."
A two-ring healing-type soul master clicked his tongue in admiration.
"What kind of power is Heavenly Path Academy exactly? Eight people have made the list so far, and Heavenly Path Academy alone accounts for four of them?"
"How is anyone else supposed to compete? They might as well take the entire top ten."
"By the way, I am eighty this year, right at the age to make a name for myself. Can I join Heavenly Path Academy?"
"Village Chief, you must be confused. You may be eighty, but your martial soul is just a wooden stick, and you cannot even bite through a steamed bun anymore. Even guarding the gate at the academy, they would not want you."
Unlike these idle soul masters watching for fun, many major factions had already listed Heavenly Path Academy as an existence of the highest taboo.
"Who can tell this emperor who this Ye Lingling is? Her surname is Ye. What relationship does she have with the Nine-Heart Begonia family?"
Bibi Dong's heart, which had just stabilized, was stirred once again. Four. This was already the fourth one.
Eight people on the list, four from a single faction. How could Bibi Dong, who aimed to unify the world in the future, possibly sit still?
It was still Salas who forced himself to speak and explain.
"Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope, Ye Lingling may be the granddaughter of Ye Renxin from the Nine-Heart Begonia lineage of Heaven Dou City."
"Heaven Dou City again!"
Bibi Dong frowned. "How exactly did you become the Platinum Bishop of Heaven Dou City? Such an academy appeared right under your nose, and you knew nothing about it?"
"Ah?"
Salas was terrified. He dared not accept the blame being placed on him by the Pope.
"Useless trash! What use are you people?"
"Aside from that unknown Meng Hongchen, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling, which one of them is not from the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"I just sorted through the files from the past few years and discovered that not only them, but several people from the Four Great Academies also disappeared without reason."
"And the explanation given to the outside world was unified. They were all taken in as disciples by senior experts."
"Why did you not report this matter? If not for my focused attention…"
"Hmph. Immediately get back to Heaven Dou City. If you cannot find the address of Heavenly Path Academy, your position as Platinum Bishop will come to an end!"
Bibi Dong showed Salas no mercy with her pressure. The other regional Platinum Bishops and Scarlet Bishops all lowered their heads in silence.
"Yes, yes, yes! This subordinate will depart at once."
Salas did not hesitate in the slightest, fearing for his life. He scrambled and crawled out of the Pope's Hall.
Once outside, he immediately activated his martial soul, entered his martial soul true body, and rushed straight toward Heaven Dou City without regard for soul power consumption.
"Useless!"
Of course, Bibi Dong knew these matters were not coincidental. The opening line of those intelligence reports was always the same:
In such-and-such year and month, the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, inspected such-and-such academy.
If someone who knew the inside story were present, they would definitely retort to Bibi Dong.
Who exactly is in Heaven Dou City that makes you care so much?
At Shrek Academy, seeing Heavenly Path Academy appear on the rankings yet again, Flender suddenly burst out laughing for reasons unknown.
"The second strongest healing-type martial soul. Then Oscar… could he be the first?"
"Strictly speaking, he is food-type, but his Sausage martial soul is also used for healing."
"Hahaha, Shrek Academy still has hope! The number one healing-type martial soul. That kid Oscar really brings honor to this old man!"
Flender's blood surged, as if he could already see the continent's reverence for Shrek Academy once Oscar made the top ten.
...
Heaven Dou City, Ye Residence.
Ye Renxin, who had been drinking tea and cracking melon seeds, suddenly sprang up from his reclining chair. Looking at the name of the person on the list, tears immediately streamed down his face.
"Ancestors, do you see this? The curse of my Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul has been broken!"
"Lingling will lead our lineage to true glory!"
Inside Heavenly Path Academy, Ye Lingling, who was usually not very talkative, had also finished receiving all her rewards.
Three purple and three black soul rings, and her soul power rose from level sixty-one to level sixty-four.
At the same time, more intricate patterns were engraved onto the petals of her Twin Nine-Heart Begonia. This was the sign of awakening a companion domain.
As for whether to choose the Life or Annihilation attribute, she still could not make up her mind.
"Teacher, which attribute should I choose as the ultimate attribute?"
Ye Lingling was not unfamiliar with the concept of ultimate attributes. Shui Bing'er's martial soul was an example of the Ultimate Ice attribute.
That terrifying cold was truly frightening.
"Which one to choose?"
Li Tianyi pursed his lips and carefully weighed the pros and cons.
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