The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the hotel corridor in a layer of warm gold, and Xuan Zi's back cast a long shadow along the hallway.
The gazes of Xu Tianhao and the others followed his departing figure, their expressions varied.
"Elder Kong, who is he?" Xiao Hongchen was the first to break the silence; the young man's brows were slightly furrowed, his eyes full of confusion and curiosity.
"You are the strongest expert of our Sun Moon Empire, after all, how could you be so polite to him?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Tianzhen, standing beside him, cleverly stood on her tiptoes and said:
"Elder Kong just called him Elder Xuan. I guess he must be that legendary Gluttonous Douluo from Shrek Academy!"
Upon hearing this, Kong Deming turned his head to look at the young girl beside him, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
He then raised his hand and gently patted her head, his tone teasing:
"Oh my, I didn't expect our little princess to actually recognize Xuan Zi's identity?"
A bright smile blossomed on Xu Tianzhen's small face, revealing two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth:
"It was all Hao Hao who told me to learn more about the experts in the Spirit Master's world! He said that when you're out and about, knowing more about the deeds of powerful figures will always help you avoid getting the short end of the stick."
She paused, then recalled Xuan Zi's appearance just now and couldn't help but stick out her tongue:
"But this is my first time seeing the real Gluttonous Douluo. I really didn't expect this top-tier expert to be such a slovenly guy."
As she spoke, she gestured quietly: "Look at his messy hair and the robes stained with wine; he looks just like a drunken old alcoholic on the street, not at all like a Titled Douluo."
Kong Deming couldn't help but laugh as he listened to her, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out: "You girl, you are certainly honest."
"Actually, when Xuan Zi was young, he didn't look like this." He looked in the direction where Xuan Zi had left, a sense of distance flashing in his eyes.
"Back in the day, Xuan Zi was considered one of the top geniuses in Shrek Academy, the center of attention wherever he went."
"It's just that time spares no one, and more importantly, the people who could keep him in check have likely passed away after all these years."
Kong Deming's tone softened, carrying a faint sense of melancholy: "Without restraints, his nature was always free and unrestrained, so now he is naturally even more casual and free-spirited, doing whatever is comfortable for him. Why would he care about other people's opinions?"
Although Xuan Zi came from Shrek and was an adversary of the Sun Moon Empire, he was one of the few people older than Kong Deming.
Seeing someone from the same era, Kong Deming couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.
Standing to the side, Xu Tianhao listened to their conversation, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
He secretly complained in his heart: Teacher really has a good eye for people; Xuan Zi is more than just slovenly; he has simply taken being casual to the extreme.
When he saw the description of the Gluttonous Douluo in the book in his past life, he thought it was artistic embellishment, but seeing it with his own eyes today, he realized the rumors were true.
That messy hair was like a bird's nest, and his robes were not only stained with wine but also had some unknown stains on them, and he swayed as he walked.
If he didn't know the original story, who could have imagined that this slovenly guy, who looked like a beggar, was actually a Super Douluo who had lived for over two hundred years?
Shrek Academy's slow development over the years, come to think of it, was at least half due to Xuan Zi.
Although Xuan Zi was strong, his temper was very eccentric, especially towards genius Spirit Masters; he had almost harsh requirements, which could even be called over-hasty.
Over the past two hundred years, the number of genius Spirit Masters who accidentally died at his hands probably already exceeded the number of fingers on two hands.
The netizens in his past life jokingly called him the Chicken Leg Douluo, which was quite fitting, but the other nickname, Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult, carried a bit of irony.
Xu Tianhao thought of the plot in the original story and felt even more absurd in his heart.
The Holy Spirit Cult was notorious in the Spirit Master's world, reviled by everyone, and could be called synonymous with evil forces.
Yet Xuan Zi, this veteran Elder of the Sea Gods Pavilion at Shrek Academy, could actually write secret letters to the Holy Spirit Cult's Chief Venerable, Long Xiaoyao, and the two had an unknown friendship.
Or perhaps it could be said that the entire upper echelon of Shrek had an unclear relationship with the Holy Spirit Cult.
The love triangle between Mu En, Long Xiaoyao, and Ye Xishui.
Yan Shaozhe might be the descendant of Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao...
There were even rumors that Ma Xiaotao was not a descendant of Ma Hongjun, but the granddaughter of Yan Shaozhe and the Holy Spirit Cult's Deputy Cult Master Feng Ling...
Because the two had dated when they were young, and whether they had done the deed was not detailed.
But based on Yan Shaozhe's style, he definitely would have done it.
Xu Tianhao shook his head; he could only say that this World was also a huge amateur production.
If even the Sea Gods Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy and the Supreme Master of the Holy Spirit Cult could call each other brothers, what else was impossible?
The so-called distinction between good and evil seemed to become blurred in the face of absolute strength.
"With this Gluttonous Douluo personally overseeing things, it seems this year's Shrek Academy is also quite formidable."
Xu Tianhao pulled back his thoughts and spoke slowly, his tone carrying a somewhat objective assessment.
With Xuan Zi there, Shrek Academy's foundation would only be deeper than it appeared on the surface, and the strength of this year's participating team certainly could not be underestimated.
Kong Deming nodded in agreement upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping over the three people beside him, his eyes filled with expectation: "Indeed, it is no accident that Shrek Academy has been able to stand tall in the Spirit Master's world for ten thousand years."
"With the Gluttonous Douluo overseeing them this year, the strength of their younger generation must be extremely strong."
He paused and said earnestly: "You little ones must watch and learn more when the time comes. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles."
"Yes, teacher." Xu Tianhao nodded respectfully, keeping Kong Deming's words in his heart.
Kong Deming looked at the three young people's vibrant appearance and smiled with satisfaction: "Good, it's good to have that Spirit."
Returning to their respective rooms, Xu Tianhao had just pushed open the door when he saw Xu Tianran sitting on a chair by the window, holding a scroll of books in his hand, looking at it with a focused expression.
The light in the room was soft, spilling onto him through the window lattice, outlining his tall and upright figure, and his white-gold robe made his temperament appear even more gentle.
For the past few days, the two brothers had been sharing the same room.
Firstly, it was convenient to exchange cultivation experiences, and secondly, Xu Tianran also wanted to take advantage of the time to guide Xu Tianhao more on the techniques for using the Purple Blazing Heaven Dragon Martial Soul.
Although Xu Tianhao was currently mainly cultivating the Sun Moon Divine Pupils Spirit, he had not yet added a spirit ring to the Purple Blazing Heaven Dragon Martial Soul.
But as a top-tier attack system Beast Spirit, the potential of the Purple Bright Heaven Extinguishing Dragon was infinite, so Xu Tianhao naturally would not slack off.
Every night after finishing his cultivation, he would take time to patiently listen to Xu Tianran explain the Spirit characteristics, power-generating techniques, and some basic methods for using Spirit Abilities of the Purple Bright Heaven Extinguishing Dragon.
Even without the addition of a spirit ring, it could allow Xu Tianhao to better control this powerful force.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Xu Tianran raised his head, closed the book in his hand, and his gaze fell on Xu Tianhao, carrying a hint of a gentle smile: "You're back?"
"Yes, big brother." Xu Tianhao walked into the room with a smile and closed the door behind him: "We just ran into Xuan Zi outside."
"Xuan Zi?" Xu Tianran's eyebrows lifted slightly, a flash of surprise in his eyes, but he quickly reacted: "Are you talking about that Gluttonous Douluo from Shrek Academy?"
Xu Tianhao nodded, walked over to the table and sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and moistened his throat: "It is him."
"I didn't expect to meet him here; judging by his appearance, he must have come specifically for this year's tournament."
"With him personally overseeing things, it seems this year's Shrek Academy is indeed full of geniuses."
Xu Tianran heard this, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, and he took out a neatly folded table from the drawer beside him and handed it to Xu Tianhao: "You are right."
"I have already inquired about the situation of this year's Shrek Academy participating team; their captain is named Zhang Lexuan, and just like me, she is nineteen years old and is now at the Seventh Ring Soul Sage cultivation level."