Exchange

Qin Ming's gaze slowly swept over the Shrek Seven Devils, a flicker of admiration flashing through his eyes. Although Imperial Dou had won this battle, he knew full well that in terms of age and talent, the potential of these children before him even surpassed that of his own students.

They're all geniuses like Little Feng. He sighed inwardly, though a gratified smile appeared on his face. Seeing his alma mater cultivate so many geniuses filled this Imperial Dou instructor with heartfelt pride.

"All right," Flander said with a chuckle, throwing an arm around Qin Ming's shoulders. "This isn't the place to catch up. Let's head back to the hotel where we're staying and talk properly." He gave Yu Xiaogang and his nephew a meaningful look, then thoughtfully led the others away first, leaving the space to these relatives reunited after a long separation.

The next day, as dawn broke, Feng Yao finished a night of meditative cultivation and arrived at the hotel restaurant feeling refreshed. He chose a seat by the window and ordered a pot of tea along with several delicate pastries.

"Morning, you two."

The Shi Family Brothers, who had already started eating, set down their bowls and chopsticks when they saw Feng Yao looking over, revealing their signature honest smiles.

Before long, the Imperial Dou Team members arrived one after another:

Yu Feng showed up with two dark circles under his eyes and weakly greeted them, "Morning." Clearly, he had gone on another date with some noble young lady the night before.

Oslo gave everyone a cool nod, then ordered his own breakfast.

While everyone was eating, Dugu Yan arrived gracefully with Ye Lingling on her arm. Feng Yao looked up with a faint smile. "Good morning, Sister Yan, Sister Ling Ling."

"Strange." Yu Feng looked around. "Why haven't Teacher Qin and the captain arrived yet?" By rights, today should have been the day they set off to return to the academy.

As he spoke, Qin Ming entered the restaurant with Yu Tianheng. He lightly clapped his hands, and the crisp applause immediately drew everyone's attention.

"Good morning." Qin Ming's gentle gaze passed over everyone present before settling on Feng Yao. "There's something I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on."

The Imperial Dou Team members exchanged looks, their faces full of confusion.

"I plan to arrange for you to attend Shrek Academy..." Qin Ming paused, carefully observing the changes in their expressions, "for a week of exchange study."

"I agree," Yu Tianheng was the first to state his position.

Yu Feng, Oslo, and the Shi Family Brothers remained silent. As children of Heaven Dou nobility, they had long been accustomed to following their teachers' arrangements. Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, however, were different. The special status of the Nine Heart Begonia line passing down through a single heir, along with the presence of Dugu Bo, a Title Douluo, meant that almost no one in the Heaven Dou Empire dared provoke them.

"Teacher Qin, is this really necessary?" Dugu Yan frowned slightly. Shrek's sore-loser behavior yesterday had left her rather displeased.

Qin Ming looked toward Feng Yao somewhat awkwardly. Feng Yao glanced thoughtfully at Qin Ming and Yu Tianheng, recalling Dugu Bo's earlier request, then said with a light smile, "I have no objections."

Dugu Yan looked at Feng Yao in surprise. After pondering for a moment, she nodded. "For Teacher Qin's and Little Feng's sake, I agree."

Qin Ming cast Feng Yao a grateful look, visibly relieved. "All right. We'll set out after breakfast."

In the morning light, Qin Ming led the Imperial Dou Team toward the outskirts of Suotuo City. Feng Yao walked alongside Dugu Yan within the group, and she lowered her voice to ask, "Little Feng, you were clearly eager to return to cultivation. Why did you agree to this?"

The corners of Feng Yao's lips lifted slightly. "What if Teacher Qin is going there as a senior to guide them this time? Would that make you feel better, Sister Yan?"

"Just for that?" Dugu Yan curled her lips, her green eyes full of disdain. "Are they worthy?"

Feng Yao chuckled and shook his head. "One must fulfill one's duties according to one's position." His gaze turned distant as he looked at Qin Ming's back. "There's never anything wrong with doing one's duty as a student."

Dugu Yan narrowed her emerald eyes slightly, studying Feng Yao suspiciously. "No, you brat, you're definitely hiding something from me." She leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Tell me honestly. What exactly are you plotting?"

Feng Yao merely smiled without answering, lightly plucking a string. "Since it's an exchange study program, we should bring something worthwhile back with us."

"What can you learn from that bunch?" Dugu Yan snorted disdainfully. "It'd be more practical to have Grandpa teach you a few more things."

"It's only seven days," Feng Yao said with a meaningful smile. "How much one can comprehend depends on one's own fortune."

Seeing that Feng Yao was unwilling to say more, Dugu Yan shot him an annoyed look, but she let go of her prejudice. Just as Feng Yao had said, it was only seven days. She would treat it as giving Teacher Qin some face.

Before long, they arrived at Shrek Academy, hidden within the village. Sensing their arrival, Flander and Yu Xiaogang had already brought all the students except Tang San to wait at the entrance.

"Dean." Qin Ming bowed respectfully.

"No need for such formalities." A smile was forced onto Flander's shoehorn-shaped face, though the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. For this reception, he had gritted his teeth and taken quite a few Gold Soul Coins from his private stash. Though it was far from the luxury of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he at least had to maintain a basic level of dignity.

Dai Mubai took the initiative to extend his hand to Yu Tianheng, his eyes carrying sincere admiration. Yu Tianheng readily clasped it, and the two exchanged smiles, seeming to recognize kindred spirits in one another.

Feng Yao gave Zhu Zhuqing a slight bow. "Miss Zhuqing, we meet again." Zhu Zhuqing remained as cold and composed as ever, replying only with a brief, "Welcome." Feng Yao took no offense and maintained his gentle smile.

When Feng Yao turned toward Xiao Wu, she had already been glaring at him for quite some time. "Sister Xiao Wu, it's been a long time." He said apologetically, "I offended you greatly on the Douluo Stage yesterday."

Xiao Wu snorted and turned her face away. Seeing this, Dugu Yan's brows rose as she prepared to lash out, but Ye Lingling gently pulled her back. By comparison, Dugu Yan suddenly found the icy Zhu Zhuqing much more pleasing to the eye. She took the initiative to extend her hand to Zhu Zhuqing. A trace of surprise flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's catlike eyes, and the two shook hands politely.

On the other side, Ning Rongrong elegantly extended her hand to Ye Lingling. "I've long heard of the Nine Heart Begonia." Ye Lingling was also rather surprised. "I didn't expect Miss Ning to be here. I've long heard of you as well."

At that, a trace of discomfort flashed through Ning Rongrong's eyes. The "glorious deeds" she had left behind in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Heaven Dou City were hardly topics she could be proud of.

After the brief greetings, Flander clapped his hands. "Since you're here for exchange study, I hope everyone can learn from one another's strengths and make up for one another's weaknesses." He turned and led the way. "Follow me."

Everyone followed him to the so-called training ground. In truth, it was merely a patch of yellow earth cleared out in the village, with crude wooden stakes and stone locks scattered about. Compared to the training grounds of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it was like heaven and earth.

At that moment, Yu Xiaogang turned to Qin Ming and said solemnly, "Teacher Qin, since this is an exchange study program, why not focus primarily on practical combat training?"

Qin Ming nodded slightly. "That was exactly my intention. At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, practical combat is a required daily course." He paused before adding, "Of course, Little Feng's situation is somewhat different."

Yu Xiaogang raised his brows in surprise. "Student Feng doesn't participate in practical combat training at Heaven Dou?"

Qin Ming looked helplessly at Feng Yao and smiled bitterly. "I'm afraid Little Feng is the only student in our academy who doesn't need a teacher's guidance, because no one can guide his method of cultivation."

Those words made everyone from Shrek turn to look at Feng Yao, their eyes filled with astonishment.

"You'd better explain it yourself." Qin Ming gestured toward Feng Yao.

Feng Yao gently stroked the strings and said warmly, "All my abilities come from improving my zither arts. Playing the zither and meditating each day is the best cultivation. As for practical combat..." A clear note flowed from his fingertips. "An excessive obsession with victory and defeat, along with violent intent, would instead disrupt one's zither heart."

A sharp gleam flashed through Flander's keen eyes as he said thoughtfully, "No wonder you don't even need to reveal your Spirit Rings when using your abilities. If I'm not mistaken, you're following an extreme development path similar to that of the Four Extreme Clans?"

Feng Yao bowed respectfully. "Dean Flander has a discerning eye."

"If that's the case..." Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank, and his voice trembled slightly with shock. "Are all your abilities self-created soul skills?"

Feng Yao nodded with a smile, his fingers gently caressing the strings. "That is indeed the case." He looked deeply at Yu Xiaogang and added meaningfully, "Speaking of which, I have to thank Grandmaster for the inspiration from our exchange back then."

"What?!" Flander's eyes widened at once, his face full of disbelief.

"Xiao Wu, Tang San, and I all graduated from Nuoding Academy." Feng Yao lightly plucked the strings and said gently, "When I spoke with Grandmaster back then, he said that no matter what kind of Martial Soul one possessed, powerful might required ample Soul Power to support it. The foundation of everything lay in one's reserves of Soul Power."

He looked up with a faint smile. "So for all my Spirit Rings, I chose pure Soul Power Amplification."

Flander froze for a moment, then suddenly understood. Yu Tianheng could not hide the pride on his face.

Only Yu Xiaogang's hands, clasped behind his back, unconsciously tightened into fists. Only he understood the deeper meaning behind Feng Yao's words.

"Since that is the case..." Yu Xiaogang forced a smile, his voice somewhat dry. "Could Student Feng demonstrate his usual cultivation method?"

"With pleasure." Feng Yao elegantly took out the Fuxi Qin, gently stroking its strings as he smiled. "Why not play a piece Grandmaster loved most back then—Yangchun Baixue?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Tianheng looked at Yu Xiaogang with even greater reverence. The Grandmaster himself, however, had the skin on his face twitch almost imperceptibly. Under his nephew's eager gaze, he could only force out a stiff smile and nod in agreement.

"Then this junior will make a fool of himself." Feng Yao smiled modestly as he gracefully sat cross-legged on the ground, his moon-white robes spreading across the earth.

Feng Yao gently placed the ancient Fuxi qin on his lap, his slender fingers hovering above the strings. As the first note sounded, the entire training ground seemed to fall silent.

When the first note rang out, the entire training ground fell still. Yu Xiaogang's brows furrowed tightly. He absolutely did not believe this was Feng Yao's cultivation method. Only experts such as Flander and Qin Ming could sense that every note was precisely controlled to a particular frequency. As the strings trembled, faint ripples of Soul Power spread through the air.

As the melodious zither music echoed in everyone's ears, an astonishing sight appeared. A pale blue halo gradually emerged around Feng Yao, flowing endlessly like rippling water. This halo was not merely Soul Power released outward; it contained a mysterious rhythm, brightening and fading with the rise and fall of the music.

Wonderful. Flander could not help marveling inwardly at Feng Yao's exceptionally powerful control over Soul Power. He transmitted his voice to Yu Xiaogang beside him. "Why didn't you bring this kid to Shrek too? With his extraordinary zither arts, this kid is practically an all-purpose Spirit Master."

Yu Xiaogang's mouth twitched. He dearly wanted to tell Flander that Feng Yao's Innate Soul Power had only been rank four back then. He had not been optimistic about Feng Yao's future, only valuing Feng Yao's ability to assist in cultivation. He had even wanted Feng Yao to focus entirely on developing in that direction.

At this moment, Yu Xiaogang stared at Feng Yao as he played the zither, his eyes churning with indescribably complex emotions—shock, regret, resentment, and a trace of jealousy he could not conceal.

He could see it clearly. This youth, whom he had once judged to possess "mediocre aptitude," had not only changed his fate through his own methods, but had also developed an all-encompassing combat system with astonishing talent—support, control, and direct assault, all perfectly integrated within those seemingly simple notes.

At this moment, Yu Xiaogang could not help silently comparing his own disciple Tang San with Feng Yao, and a storm surged through his heart. He had to admit that, aside from the advantage of Twin Martial Souls, Tang San was far behind Feng Yao in his understanding of the essence of Martial Souls.

Every note of Yangchun Baixue silently confirmed what Feng Yao had said on the Douluo Stage: excessive fixation on external techniques could never compare to deeply cultivating the origin of one's Martial Soul. This realization left Yu Xiaogang with a lump in his throat, yet he had no choice but to acknowledge it inwardly.

The zither music gradually faded, leaving a lingering resonance. The field was silent. Aside from Qin Ming and Flander, the two teachers with profound Soul Power and vast experience, everyone from Shrek wore strange expressions, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Was this really cultivation? The same question circled in everyone's mind. Yet when their gazes fell upon the figure still surrounded by the fading pale blue halo, they had no choice but to admit that the strength required to fuse zither arts and Soul Power to such a degree was beyond doubt.

Yu Xiaogang gave Feng Yao a deep look before saying to everyone, "Since Student Feng's cultivation method is rather special, he need not participate in practical combat training."

Just as Yu Xiaogang was preparing to lead everyone away for group training, Feng Yao's voice slowly drifted over. "Grandmaster, I feel deeply apologetic about what happened to Student Tang last night. If Student Tang wishes to hear Yangchun Baixue, then once he recovers, I will naturally play a piece for him as an apology."

A sharp gleam flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. Feng Yao's refined, jade-like face looked especially agreeable to him at that moment. A trace of delight could not help appearing on his stiff face. In his view, Feng Yao intended to use his own abilities to offer some compensation to his disciple.

Yu Xiaogang forcibly suppressed his delight and nodded impassively. "Once he has recovered, I will have him come."

Feng Yao nodded slightly, then turned and found a quiet corner to continue cultivating.

Ma Hongjun scratched his head and leaned toward Xiao Wu. "What's so special about that piece? It doesn't even sound as good as the girls singing at the pleasure houses."

Xiao Wu kicked him irritably. "What do you know? Back in Nuoding City, he could earn several hundred Gold Soul Coins a day just with that skill. Those noble lords loved it!"

"Several hundred in one day?" Oscar's eyes immediately lit up. He only sold his grilled sausages for five Copper Soul Coins.

Hearing Ma Hongjun's words and seeing Oscar's money-grubbing expression, everyone from Imperial Dou could not help revealing looks of disdain.

At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and Ning Rongrong all wore awkward expressions, thinking in unison, How embarrassing. Their feet unconsciously carried them a little farther away.