Chasing Down the Evil Soul Master Assassin Group Mission, Xiao Changfeng's Parting Gift (Happy New Year)

The stars shifted and the sun and moon changed places. A new day had arrived.

Xu Tianxi emerged from a night of meditation. He rose tall beneath the morning sun and gave Xiao Changfeng and Yue Lao a gentle smile, his expression bright and full of vitality.

"Senior Martial Uncle, Yue Lao, this journey has ended perfectly. Let's head back."

"Alright."

Xiao Changfeng nodded and called Yue Lao back onto the Soul Guidance Ship, then brought Xu Tianxi to the deck to keep watch.

He had protected Xu Tianxi and Yue Lao throughout the night, yet showed no hint of fatigue. He handed Xu Tianxi a Soul Guided Ring with an enormous storage space.

"Tian Xi, these are the pills and Soul Tools I selected for you, along with several Gold Soul Cards and our Black Tortoise Merchant Guild's Offering Token. See if there's anything else you're lacking and tell your martial uncle."

"Our Black Tortoise Merchant Guild ranks among the top merchant guilds on the continent. We also have some businesses in the Sun Moon Empire. With this token, you'll be able to mobilize resources with the highest authority, which will make things more convenient for you in the future."

"You'll soon be traveling the continent to gain experience, and afterward you'll have to go alone to the Sun Moon Empire. What are your thoughts?"

"I don't have many thoughts. I'll just overcome every obstacle and defeat every enemy in my path."

Xu Tianxi accepted the Storage Ring and extended his Spiritual Power into it. The corner of his eye twitched involuntarily.

There were twenty boxes containing Mystic Water Pills alone. Was Xiao Changfeng expecting him to eat them like candy?

Still, eating a few more of these things wouldn't hurt. They wouldn't damage his foundation, after all.

His Spiritual Power reached deeper, and a flood of pill boxes entered his view, each with its own label.

Five boxes were labeled "Supreme Healing Medicine, Black Tortoise Divine Pill." One was labeled "Soul Ascension Pill," while several others were labeled "Tears-Inducing Pill"...

Xu Tianxi: "...???"

Tears-Inducing Pill? What kind of effect did this thing have? He had never heard of such a bizarre item before.

"Don't forget your persona. The third young master of the Xuanming Sect, who lost his mother in childhood, suffered countless hardships, left home, and swore revenge. Even if you're not consumed by hatred and resentment, your heart should be filled with suffering. When you meet people from the Sun Moon Empire, you'll inevitably need to wipe away a few tears while discussing your past."

Xiao Changfeng's voice was light and lively, and the corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile.

"But you can't just cry whenever you want. So you'll have to borrow a little external assistance. This pill is a secret remedy your teacher dug up, and I refined it myself. It speeds up the circulation of Soul Power and stimulates the production of tears.

"This pill is extremely reliable. Even if a Titled Douluo investigates, they'll only find the false appearance of disordered Soul Power circulation. It also provides some benefits to Spiritual Power."

Upon hearing this, Xu Tianxi's mouth twitched slightly, and black lines seemed to appear across his forehead.

So before going to the Sun Moon Empire, I still have to train my acting skills?

On Douluo's grand stage, if there's a show, you come?

It made things sound like a Spring Festival Gala Sketch, solely intended to amuse audiences from every direction. The only one suffering was the actor—himself.

Xu Tianxi rubbed his aching brow and sighed, "Senior Martial Uncle, you really have thought of everything."

"Praise is unnecessary, praise is unnecessary. As an elder, I naturally have to consider everything for the younger generation. As for the Evil Soul Master intelligence you requested, I'll definitely deliver it to you within half a month."

"For the next while, familiarize yourself with the strength you gained after breaking through. You should also practice using Thunder Attribute Soul Power. If you can fully master it, your combat power will certainly rise another level."

Xiao Changfeng stood against the wind with his hands behind his back, gazing forward. He accepted Xu Tianxi's praise without changing expression, his bearing utterly free and natural.

Xu Tianxi covered his face with one hand, secretly thinking that this Senior Martial Uncle was also a flamboyant man who hid his talents deeply. In his youth, he had probably been a carefree and dashing person.

Then Xu Sanshi's shameless appearance came to mind... Xu Tianxi felt that the Xuanming Sect must have had one culprit who had corrupted the entire sect's style, causing bad examples above to produce bad examples below.

And that person... probably, perhaps, surely wasn't Grandmaster Xu Xiaoyun... right?

One month later.

Inside the simulated cultivation environment of Moon Gazing Platform.

After breaking through, Xu Tianxi accepted a wanted notice from Yue Lao, his brows creasing slightly.

"Star Luo Empire Adventurers Guild Mission: Find and destroy the 'Abomination Demon Soul' assassin group that has long attacked merchants and small Soul Hunting teams on the outskirts of Ming Dou Great Forest.

"Intelligence Summary:

"The leader of the 'Abomination Demon Soul' assassin group is suspected to be an Evil Soul Master who calls himself the 'Abomination Envoy.' During a battle half a year ago, he displayed the cultivation of a top-tier Soul Ancestor. He withstood the attacks of one Soul King and two Soul Ancestors, retreated unscathed, and killed one of them in the process. His defensive power is extraordinarily strong.

"His six 'Demon Soul Knights' possess cultivation ranging from high-rank Soul Elders to low-rank Soul Ancestors. Their Martial Souls possess spiritual attributes, and they excel at Illusions and assassination techniques that are strange and unpredictable.

"In addition, the assassin group includes dozens of Soul Masters and more than two hundred vicious butchers. They burn, kill, loot, and commit every kind of evil. They excel at concealment and shifting battlefields. Adventurers are advised to carefully consider whether they should attempt this mission.

"Recommendation: At least three Soul King Masters should lead and hold the line. Launch a lethal surprise attack with a spearhead formation and destroy the assassin group before they can react...

"After completing the mission, adventurers may bring important physical evidence from the assassin group's members to prove their accomplishment and collect the Gold Soul Coin reward from an Adventurers Guild office..."

"Most of the nobles from the Three Great Empires are involved, while the imperial families of the Three Great Empires oversee its operations. Is this the Adventurers Guild that issues reward missions to all Soul Masters under the heavens? Martial uncle certainly found a target quickly."

After considering the nature of the Adventurers Guild, Xu Tianxi nodded slightly, a serious glint shining deep in his eyes.

In the original story, Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei had craftily auctioned the Snow Empress Embryo for the exorbitant price of one hundred and fifty million Gold Soul Coins, ruthlessly fleecing Mingde Hall. He had then turned around and posted a mission in the Adventurers Guild with a reward of one hundred million Gold Soul Coins—to seize the Snow Empress Embryo—earning a profit of fifty million Gold Soul Coins for nothing.

Two Soul Douluo representatives of the Body Sect accepted the mission on behalf of the Body Sect. Thus began Mingde Hall's first crisis. Du Busi led his people in causing a great uproar at Mingde Hall, while Huo Gua took advantage of the chaos to steal the Zero Mech researched by Jing Hongchen, leaving Jing Hongchen with tears covering his face.

Only the imperial families and highest-ranking nobles of the Three Great Empires possessed the power to establish such a communication platform. Many of Shrek Academy's Inspector missions also originated from it.

In other words: a mercenary guild.

Yue Lao stood respectfully before Xu Tianxi and introduced a somewhat gloomy middle-aged man in a blue robe beside him.

"Young Master, this is the guardian Ice Phoenix Crown arranged for your travels. He is Zhi Sen, a level-78 Control Type Battle Soul Saint, and possesses the top-tier plant-type Martial Soul, Azure Ghost Vine."

"Azure Ghost Vine? I'll venture a guess: Senior Zhi Sen's Martial Soul mutated from Azure Vine, didn't it?"

Xu Tianxi sprang to his feet and gave Zhi Sen, whose hair had already turned gray and whose bearing was gloomy, a warm smile.

"Young Master truly is knowledgeable. My Martial Soul did indeed mutate from Azure Vine."

Zhi Sen performed a perfectly proper greeting toward Xu Tianxi. His low voice carried deep respect, and he kept his posture extremely humble.

Xu Tianxi's eyes filled with surprise. Even if his status was noble, it shouldn't have been enough to make a Soul Sage whose cultivation was approaching the Soul Douluo realm so respectful, should it? A powerhouse of this level would be a core pillar or higher in any faction.

Could he have underestimated his own status?

"Young Master, there's no need to be surprised. In the past, Ice Phoenix Crown saved my life and guided my cultivation. This life of mine belongs to Ice Phoenix Crown. You are someone Ice Phoenix Crown values, so I will naturally devote my life to serving you."

As Zhi Sen spoke, his eyes grew dim, as though he had recalled a painful event engraved in his bones.

He seems to have quite a story.

Xu Tianxi's thoughts turned, but he revealed nothing on his face. He took the two of them to bid farewell to Xiao Changfeng.

Vast Sea City Harbor.

Xiao Changfeng stood with his hands behind his back before the coast. He suddenly turned around with a smile as the sea breeze brushed several strands of hair beside his ear, making him appear graceful and dashing.

"You're here?"

"Yes. I've been under Senior Martial Uncle's care throughout this time. Tian Xi will always remember it."

Xu Tianxi approached Xiao Changfeng and bowed deeply, bending at a ninety-degree angle to express his gratitude.

Over the past two years, Xiao Changfeng had taken meticulous care of his martial nephew, providing him with every cultivation resource he requested. Whenever he taught him profound techniques, he had shared every cultivation insight without reservation, suppressing his own cultivation many times to spar with him. He had never acted like a Super Douluo.

Even when dealing with a treasure as precious as a Soul Bone, he had given Xu Tianxi ample respect. Every movement he made revealed a gentle, refined temperament and captivating personal charm.

Even among those facing their own children, few could go this far. Xu Tianxi's solemn bow was entirely deserved.

Xiao Changfeng reached out and helped Xu Tianxi up, then patted him on the shoulder. His deep, pool-like eyes were clear and bright.

"Before you leave, your martial uncle will give you one final gift. Don't be nervous. Relax your mind."

"Remember one thing your martial uncle says: A true man should travel the four corners of the world; all the green mountains beneath heaven are the same. Let the emerald waves carry you, and let your heroic spirit never fade."

With that, blue light flickered in Xiao Changfeng's eyes. Xu Tianxi immediately rose from the ground, surprise on his face but no panic.

In the next moment, Xu Tianxi felt countless finger forces strike the major acupoints throughout his body. Dozens of streams of warm, gentle Soul Power surged into him, filling him with an intoxicating sensation of floating like an immortal. He couldn't help but close his eyes.

"Crack!"

He had no idea how much time passed before the sound of a bottleneck shattering rang beside his ears. When Xu Tianxi's feet touched the ground again, he was delighted to discover that his body had grown even lighter. He merely clenched his hand, and powerful strength surged through it.

His Soul Power had also broken through the bottleneck at level 33, surging from the mid-level of 33 to what seemed to be the peak of level 34. Vaguely, he could already sense the bottleneck of level 35.

More importantly, despite experiencing this kind of forceful infusion, his foundation had not been affected in the slightest. His Soul Power showed no sign of instability; instead, it had become even purer.

Such an inconceivable method could only be accomplished by a Super Douluo like Xiao Changfeng.

Xu Tianxi was about to look for Xiao Changfeng when he saw the crowds flowing through the dock. No matter how far he looked, he couldn't find that elegant figure in blue.

"Senior Martial Uncle truly is Senior Martial Uncle—he hides his achievements and leaves without a trace."

After voicing a heartfelt sigh of admiration, Xu Tianxi turned and waved at Yue Lao and Zhi Sen with a smile.

"Let's go. We have to set out as well. We'll have to trouble both seniors to take good care of me on the road ahead."

"We will obey the Young Master's command."