The Xuanming Sect's Choice, First Meeting with Xu Sanshi (Please Recommend and Collect)

After Xu Xiaoyun finished speaking, the secret chamber fell silent for a while before Xu Fu's somewhat hesitant voice rang out:

"But Great-Grandfather, we are, after all, from the Heaven Dou Empire. This..."

Xu Xiaoyun stared at Xu Fu, calmly interrupting his unfinished words as he said leisurely:

"You are a Heavenly Soul person, but Tian Xi isn't. He has half the bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire.

"In the Heaven Dou Empire, he's a Heavenly Soul person. In the Sun Moon Empire, he's a Sun Moon person. What's the problem?

"If your junior apprentice sister's family hadn't been exiled by the previous emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, they would probably still be listed in the Sun Moon Imperial Family's genealogy. You weren't born into the Heavenly Soul royal family, so why are you worrying about this?"

Xu Fu was rendered speechless. In the end, he nodded bitterly. "...You're right."

Xu Xiaoyun snorted softly, then sighed.

"Don't think what I'm doing is too excessive. Your first wife is a Princess of the Dou Ling Empire. A few years ago, you took San Shi to acknowledge his relatives there. And what happened?

"The Dou Ling Imperial family considers their bloodline noble. When have they ever looked highly upon our Xu Family?"

"Although they don't know that I'm still alive, and they're unaware of our Xuanming Sect's full strength,

"you're the head of the Xu Family and represent our family's dignity. How could you allow them to humiliate you like that?"

"They should think about this: if having a noble bloodline were useful, how could half of the Xue Family's empire have been seized by rebels, with even Heaven Dou City lost?"

"If that's the case, why should our Xu Family press our hot faces against their cold butts and throw our lives away fighting for those fools? Maintaining contact is enough."

Hearing this, Xu Fu respectfully cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Understood."

To the Xuanming Sect, the sect's interests came above all else.

"Also, Tian Xi lost his mother not long ago and cried himself unconscious. He's in a terrible mood now. Isn't that child San Shi returning from Shrek? Have him visit Tian Xi when he has time. Young people can communicate more easily."

"Understood. Your grandson will remember."

Half a month later, the sky cleared.

The Xu Tianxi Trio walked out of a towering building that reached into the clouds. Xu Tianxi smiled into the sunlight, Yue Lao followed respectfully at his side, and Chen Wu yawned, his listless face filled with doubt about life.

"Third Young Master, you don't have to work so hard just to become a Soul Master. We've been staying in the Library for half a month. Isn't this a little too boring?"

Half a month earlier, Xu Tianxi had woken up and immediately wanted to come to the Library. As his book attendant, Chen Wu naturally had to accompany him. But he was still only a little over six years old, and remaining indoors for half a month without going out had been truly unbearable.

"Books are good things. It's good for you to read more." Xu Tianxi patted Chen Wu's shoulder with his right hand and comforted him with a smile.

Having just arrived, becoming familiar with the situation was the top priority. The Xuanming Sect had a history of more than ten thousand years, and its collection of books was vast as the sea. It was precisely the best place to learn about the circumstances.

He only vaguely remembered the original novel from his previous life. He knew even less about Martial Souls and soul beasts, and his predecessor's memories contained little information either.

After cramming for half a month, he had gained some understanding of the histories of top continental powers such as Shrek, the Body Sect, and Mingde Hall, as well as information about various Martial Souls and soul beasts.

Perhaps this was a benefit of being a transmigrator. He discovered that he had an eidetic memory. After asking Yue Lao, he learned that this was a manifestation of powerful Spiritual Power.

"Besides, if I can't even distinguish the species and Years of soul beasts, how will I find and hunt suitable soul beasts in the future? Yue Lao, don't you agree?"

Xu Tianxi first lectured Chen Wu, then turned toward Yue Lao with a smile.

"Young Master is right." Yue Lao replied with a face full of smiles, growing more gratified the longer he looked at Xu Tianxi.

After Miss left, Young Master had become much steadier. His Spiritual Power had also improved after being stimulated by the experience of separation and death. It could be considered a blessing in disguise.

At that moment, a puzzled voice came from above the trio, making all three stop.

"But Tian Xi, you're a direct heir of the Xuanming Sect. You're practically guaranteed to awaken the Profound Tortoise Martial Soul.

"The soul skill configuration of the Profound Tortoise hasn't changed even once in the more than ten thousand years our Xuanming Sect has inherited it."

The trio looked toward the voice and saw an agile figure leap down from an ancient, luxuriant tree beside them, landing firmly on the ground.

The person rolled once to disperse his momentum, then flashed the trio what he considered a handsome smile. With a slightly obnoxious expression, he waved and greeted them. "Hey! What do you think, Tian Xi? Is your big brother handsome?"

Xu Tianxi got a clear look at the person's face. His eyelid twitched, and he pointed expressionlessly at the other boy's hair. "There's a leaf stuck to your head. Your hairstyle is a mess."

"Huh? I've been in the tree too long, and my hairstyle got messed up?"

The boy who called himself "Big Brother" had a very childish face. Judging by his features, he was no older than ten. Upon hearing that his hairstyle was messy, he hurriedly took out a small mirror and comb, then began fussily grooming himself in front of it.

Xu Tianxi sighed as he watched the boy. The person before him was indeed his elder brother—the Xu Sanshi who had been one of Shrek's Seven Monsters in the original novel, and who bore the title of Eternal Guardian.

His classic achievement was taking the wrong path at a critical moment. Instead of taking the waterway, he had insisted on sailing a boat over dry land.

Xu Tianxi remembered that this fellow had loved acting obnoxious in the original novel. Judging from his current appearance, he had probably been like this since childhood.

"Third Young Master, Second Young Master's sudden appearance won't be bad for you, will it?" Chen Wu was very wary of Xu Sanshi's appearance and reminded Xu Tianxi in a sycophantic whisper.

The Xuanming Sect had been passed down for more than ten thousand years. Its main and branch lineages were innumerable, and internal struggles occurred frequently. There were countless disciples in this generation. He had heard that even Second Young Master wasn't very well received, which was why he had gone to Shrek at such a young age.

Xu Tianxi glanced sideways at Chen Wu and said helplessly:

"Little Wu, remember this: you're different from other people. Never waste your thoughts on speculating about these things.

"Even if you don't trust Yue Lao's strength, surely you trust my second brother's brains, don't you?"

"Looking at him, does he seem like he came to harm me?"

Chen Wu gave an embarrassed smile at that, while Yue Lao proudly puffed out his chest.

Yue Lao possessed the cultivation of a six-ring Soul Emperor. Although he was nothing special within the Xuanming Sect, he was certainly not someone a child like Xu Sanshi could deal with. Releasing his Soul Power pressure alone could leave Soul Masters below the Soul Elder level unable to move.

The trio continued walking away. After finishing his hair, Xu Sanshi immediately caught up in a few strides, familiarly shooed Chen Wu aside, and began chatting up Xu Tianxi, eager to win his little brother's approval.

"Come, come, Tian Xi. Take another look at your big brother's hairstyle. How is it? Handsome?"

"Handsome."

"Hehe, you have good taste! Second Brother will tell you, I'm different now from when I left home a year ago. I'm already a Soul Grandmaster, and my Soul Power is at level twenty-four! I just came back from vacation at Shrek. Pretty impressive, right?"

"Impressive." Xu Tianxi extended a thumbs-up without any change in expression, as if he were holding a lollipop out to amuse a child.

The corners of Xu Sanshi's mouth kept rising. He repeatedly slapped his chest and described his achievements with animated gestures, as if he could never finish talking.

"Haha, Second Brother met quite a few incredible geniuses at Shrek Academy this year. But aside from a rascal named Bei Bei, none of them are more talented than me. There are plenty of people several levels above me in Soul Power who still aren't my match."

"That Bei Bei's Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, known as the strongest Assault Type beast Martial Soul under heaven. But no matter how powerful his Thunder Dragon Claw is, he'll never break my Xuanming Shield Formation!

"Hehe, and he's a little older than me, too. Among all the students in Shrek's Outer Courtyard, your second brother is the youngest and most talented."

"Second Brother has already decided that once I become a Soul Elder, I'll give myself the title of 'Eternal Guardian.' By then, I'll be the number-one Defense Type Soul Master in Shrek's Outer Courtyard. What do you think?"

"...I think that Bei Bei probably isn't as talented as you are when it comes to being obnoxious."

"What did you say, Tian Xi? I didn't hear you." Xu Sanshi narrowed his eyes, revealing a benevolent smile.

"...I said Second Brother's opinion is brilliant." Xu Tianxi replied with a serious expression.

"Haha! Tian Xi, you really know how to talk. You're much more pleasing to look at than the rest of our brothers and sisters. I don't want to see a single one of those people."

Xu Sanshi laughed heartily. Then, acting as generous as ever, he slapped his chest and waved his sandbag-sized fists while hopping around.

"Your second brother is a different man now. If anyone dares bully you, just tell your second brother. I'll definitely use my Xuanming Shield to smash his head flat!"

"There really is someone. Do you want to go smash his head flat for me?" Xu Tianxi walked leisurely in front of Xu Sanshi, a playful curve tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Which fellow in the Xuanming Sect dares disrespect you or me, brothers? I'll go deal with him right now!" Xu Sanshi declared heroically, two flames of conviction burning in his eyes.

With the Xuanming Sect's two Young Masters joining forces, even his eldest brother wasn't someone they couldn't fight!

"That person is Yan Shaozhe, the president of Shrek Academy. A few days ago, before the seventh day after my mother's death had passed, he pushed the blame for the Star Dou tragedy onto her. The Old Ancestor was so enraged that he beat him up, and I even slapped him several times myself.

"Thinking about it now, I'm still not satisfied. It would be even better if you could give his head a few more hits."

Xu Tianxi walked forward with his hands behind his back, speaking calmly, as though he were merely discussing something trivial.

"Cough, cough, cough... cough, cough, cough, cough!"

Xu Sanshi's violent coughing came from behind. Xu Tianxi stopped and turned around, then quickly supported Xu Sanshi, whose face looked as though he had seen a ghost. His eyes were rounder than eggs as he clutched his chest and coughed.

"Second Brother, what's wrong? Could something have gone awry while circulating your Soul Power?"

"Don't call me your brother... From now on, you're my brother!"