Zhang Lexuan Returns to Star Dou

Within Sea God Pavilion, Lin Yi told Mu En that he wanted to take part in this Soul Hunting Operation as well.

To everyone's surprise, Mu En immediately agreed to Lin Yi's request.

The father and son beside him were both dumbfounded. Mu En chuckled. "What? Did you think I wouldn't agree?"

Lin Yi nodded instinctively.

Mu En said with a light laugh, "Although your current strength is no weaker than that of an ordinary Inner Court student, your actual combat experience is even lacking compared to some Outer Court students. It will do you good to go out and gain some experience this time."

"But, Elder Mu, isn't it a little too risky to let Xiao Yi participate in a Soul Hunting Operation in the Star Dou Great Forest right away?"

Mu En did not answer directly, instead asking, "Qingxuan, you probably don't know Xiao Yi's current strength, do you?"

Lin Qingxuan froze, then nodded.

"Hehe, then this operation will let you see the strength of your son—the greatest genius on the continent in ten thousand years."

Hearing Mu En's extraordinarily high praise, Lin Qingxuan knew that Mu En truly agreed to let Lin Yi join this Soul Hunting Operation.

"Then isn't this operation's combat strength a little lacking? Do you think perhaps..."

Mu En smiled. "You don't need to worry about that. Xuan Zi has already come out of seclusion. He will be accompanying you on this trip."

"But Elder Xuan's Martial Soul flaw..."

Mu En glanced at Lin Yi. "That is something you should ask your precious son about. What he said a year ago benefited Xuan Zi greatly. At the very least, Gluttony can no longer affect him now."

Joy appeared on Lin Qingxuan's face. The sense of security brought by a Level 98 Super Douluo in peak condition was unimaginable.

But Elder Mu had said that Lin Yi had said something earlier. What major thing had his son done now? And when had his son gotten involved with Elder Xuan?

Hearing this, Lin Yi recalled the old man who had drooled over his Dragon Scale Rice Field. A sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

"Master, is Elder Xuan reliable?"

"What? You don't believe in the strength of a Super Douluo?"

"I've never seen a Super Douluo's strength, so whether I believe it or not doesn't matter. It's just that Elder Xuan doesn't seem very reliable."

Mu En burst into laughter.

Lin Qingxuan hurriedly said, "Xiao Yi, don't be disrespectful toward Elder Xuan!"

"How was I disrespectful?" Lin Yi retorted indignantly. Then he turned to Mu En. "Master, you should think this through. This Soul Hunting Team has Shrek's hope—me—as well as Senior Sister Xiaotao, the greatest genius besides me, and my father and mother, the two Vice Deans. We're all pillars of the younger generation. If anything happens, Shrek's future will be in trouble."

A glint flashed through Mu En's eyes before they returned to calm. He said with a smile, "Don't worry. I will naturally make proper arrangements."

Since Mu En had said so, Lin Yi could not say anything more. After all, even judging only by the strength visible on the surface, this team was already quite formidable.

As they were leaving, Mu En suddenly called out to Lin Yi. "Xiao Yi, didn't you say earlier that Xiaotao's Martial Soul problem needed to be resolved through a Soul Ring? Then the choice of Xiaotao's Fourth Soul Ring will be left to you this time."

Lin Yi paused, seeming to recall those pale pink eyes again. He nodded. "Understood, Master."

Now that the matter had been decided, preparations for the Soul Hunting Operation officially began.

Three days later, a team of more than a dozen people gathered by the lake on Sea God Island. Before long, Lin Yi arrived to join them with Lin Qingxuan and Ouyang Xi.

At a glance, Lin Yi spotted that red-haired, pink-eyed figure. Just as he was about to greet her, another familiar figure suddenly entered his sight.

She was a woman dressed in white, with black hair falling to her waist. Her exquisite features carried a faint chill, yet her bearing gave off a gentle and tranquil feeling.

"Lexuan Si—"

The woman in white had clearly seen Lin Yi's family as well. The corners of her lips curved upward, but upon hearing Lin Yi's words, the curve instantly vanished. Her gaze sharpened as she stared fixedly at him.

Lin Yi instinctively swallowed the rest of his words and called out again, "Sister Lexuan."

A smile bloomed once more on the woman in white's face, breathtakingly beautiful. She took several steps forward to Lin Yi's side and bent down slightly. "Long time no see, Xiao Yi. Did you miss your sister?"

Lin Yi put on a thoughtful expression before saying, "Since you're asking, then no, I didn't."

"You little brat, are you asking for another beating?"

The woman in white laughed as she scolded him, then straightened and greeted Lin Qingxuan and Ouyang Xi. "Senior Qingxuan, Sister Xi."

The couple nodded with smiles and did not exchange many pleasantries, clearly having known her for a long time.

"Lexuan, is everyone here?"

The woman in white was naturally Zhang Lexuan.

"Yes, everyone has arrived."

"Then let's set off first. We can get acquainted on the way."

Afterward, they joined the team and headed for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Ouyang Xi led the team at the front, while Zhang Lexuan and Lin Qingxuan stayed at the rear. Carried along by Lin Qingxuan's Soul Power, Lin Yi looked at Zhang Lexuan beside him.

"Sister Lexuan, did you know I was at the academy long ago?"

"Yes. Not long after you entered the academy, Sister Xi told me you were there. I didn't expect Xiao Yi to be such a genius."

Lin Yi smiled smugly. "Naturally."

Then he asked with some dissatisfaction, "Since Sister Lexuan knew I was at the academy so long ago, why didn't you come see me?"

Lin Qingxuan interjected, "Xiao Yi, your Sister Lexuan is the Senior Disciple Sister of the Inner Court. Every day, she has to handle Inner Court students' affairs, go out on missions, and cultivate herself. How could she have time to visit you? Besides, your daily training schedule was packed. What would be the point of visiting you? It was better to wait for an opportunity. See? Didn't you meet today?"

Zhang Lexuan smiled gently. "Sorry, Xiao Yi. There really were a lot of matters to deal with over the past two years, and breaking through to Soul Douluo in seclusion also took some time. After we return this time, I'll come visit you often, all right?"

"All right," Lin Yi agreed, before suddenly realizing something. "Sister Lexuan, you broke through to Soul Douluo?"

"Yes."

"But Sister Lexuan is only in her twenties, right? You've already broken through to Soul Douluo?"

After saying that, Lin Yi looked at Lin Qingxuan beside him with clear disdain. "Dad even said he was a genius back then, but he only just broke through now."

"Hey, you little brat! Say another word and you can run to the Star Dou Great Forest yourself."

Zhang Lexuan explained on Lin Qingxuan's behalf, "Xiao Yi, Senior Qingxuan was injured back then, which prevented his Soul Power from increasing. You can't compare it like that."

Lin Yi clicked his tongue, but seeing the dangerous look in Lin Qingxuan's eyes, he ultimately said nothing more.

A group of Soul Masters with Soul King as their minimum level naturally moved quickly. Although Ma Xiaotao was one of only two Soul Elders in the team, she was unexpectedly able to keep up thanks to the physique and physical qualities of her top-tier Beast Martial Soul.

Before noon, the Soul Hunting Team had already arrived near the Star Dou Great Forest and stopped.

Lin Qingxuan said, "All right, everyone, rest up here for a while."

Everyone began resting on their own. Lin Qingxuan continued, "You're all Inner Court students, so this probably isn't your first time in the Star Dou Great Forest. Still, introduce yourselves. State your name, Martial Soul, and Cultivation Level, so it will be easier to coordinate during the hunt."

Lin Qingxuan was the first to speak. "I'll go first. Some of you may not know me well. My name is Lin Qingxuan. I am currently the acting Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department and the leader of this Soul Hunting Operation. I was also once your senior. My Martial Soul is Life Wutong. I am a Healing System Soul Master, a Level 80 Quasi Soul Douluo, and I require my Eighth Soul Ring."

Ouyang Xi spoke next. "Ouyang Xi, Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department, and also once your senior. My Martial Soul is Bright Phoenix. I am an Assault System Battle Soul Master, a Level 87 Soul Douluo, and I have no Soul Ring requirements."

Naturally, Ouyang Xi had not been idle over the past two years. However, the affairs of a Vice Dean had ultimately affected her Soul Power cultivation. After two years, Ouyang Xi had only raised her Soul Power by one level. Still, high-level Soul Masters found it inherently difficult to raise their Soul Power, so gaining one level in two years was not bad.

Suddenly, an Inner Court student exclaimed, "Phoenix Perching on Wutong Tree! I never expected the two Deans to be the Phoenix Perching on Wutong Tree of those days."

Ouyang Xi was somewhat delighted. "I didn't expect anyone to still know about us?"

The student's face reddened slightly with excitement. "Of course I know! Shrek's Seven Devils' first-ever Support System Captain, the Undefeated Life Wutong, and the Bright Phoenix that punished evil—who doesn't know the great name of Phoenix Perching on Wutong Tree?"

Lin Qingxuan laughed heartily several times. "All right, enough about that. Everyone, introduce yourselves first."

Zhang Lexuan spoke next. "You should all know me. Zhang Lexuan, Martial Soul: Moon. Assault System Battle Soul Master, Level 80 Quasi Soul Douluo. I require my Eighth Soul Ring."

"Gu Cheng, Martial Soul: Diamond Mammoth. Assault-Defense System Battle Soul Master, Level 70 Quasi Soul Saint. I require my Seventh Soul Ring."

"Zhang Mingyu, Martial Soul: Earth Demon Bear. Assault System Battle Soul Master, Level 70 Quasi Soul Saint. I require my Seventh Soul Ring."

"Ji Qing, Martial Soul: Wind Riding Bird. Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master, Level 60 Quasi Soul Emperor. I require my Sixth Soul Ring."

"Luo Xiaohei, Martial Soul: Griffin. Assault System Battle Soul Master, Level 60 Quasi Soul Emperor. I require my Sixth Soul Ring."

"Ma Xiaotao, Martial Soul: Evil Fire Phoenix. Assault System Battle Soul Master, Level 40 Quasi Soul Ancestor. I require my Fourth Soul Ring."

After everyone had introduced themselves, all eyes turned toward Lin Yi beside Lin Qingxuan. To be honest, everyone had been curious about this little boy along the way. However, Lin Qingxuan, the Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, and Zhang Lexuan, the Senior Disciple Sister of the Inner Court, had been by his side the entire time, so no one had dared approach and strike up a conversation.

Now, it was finally this little fellow's turn.

"My name is Lin Yi..."