Three Years Later

Yaoyang publicly announced a year later that he had found a clansman who had been scattered abroad, causing quite a stir across Yueshu Island at the time.

But since this so-called clansman had never appeared in public, he gradually faded from everyone's attention.

Spring gave way to autumn, winter to spring. In the Yuenan Islands, where it was summer all year round, the changing seasons were hardly noticeable, but the river of time never stood still. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.

Over those three years, the Yuenan Islands appeared as peaceful as ever on the surface, yet some observant people had keenly noticed the undercurrents swirling beneath.

Yaoyang, Viscount of Yuennan, was one of them.

In the past, he would visit the castle where Xu Zihuang and the others lived every few days. Recently, however, nearly half a month often passed between visits.

Even Xu Zihuang, who had immersed himself in cultivation and paid no heed to worldly affairs, gradually noticed something unusual.

The edge of the Inner Sea Bay before the castle was formed entirely from smooth massive boulders fitted tightly together, creating a sizable Port Plaza. Though it was Yaoyang's private harbor, not a single ship was moored there at the moment.

Rock walls at either end blocked the crashing waves, making this crescent-shaped inner sea much calmer. Brilliant sunlight spilled across the gently rippling surface, making it resemble a translucent sapphire refracting dazzling colors.

A youth who appeared to be eleven or twelve stood quietly at the edge of the bay. His clear deep-purple eyes stood in stark contrast to the azure sea before him. He was around one meter seventy-five tall, slender and upright. His smooth, medium-length black hair draped down his back, while a few bewitching strands of purple hair at his temples and forehead adorned his handsome face.

His exquisite, flawless features bore not the slightest imperfection. Though still young, the contours of his brow gave him an air of natural authority even without anger. There was not the slightest ripple of emotion in his profound, noble eyes, making him impossible to read.

The youth was Xu Zihuang, who had devoted himself to cultivation on Yueshu Island for three years.

Over those three years, his features had fully matured. Having inherited more of his mother's looks, he resembled an aristocratic youth from the Three Great Empires of the original Douluo Continent. His skin was as fair as jade, enough to make most women feel envious, and he looked nothing like someone with the Imperial Family bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire.

Steady footsteps sounded behind Xu Zihuang. The newcomer was Lin Long, whose Cultivation within the Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps was second only to Wang Xiao's. Having lived with Xu Zihuang for so long, he had naturally benefited from the dense Heaven and Earth Elemental Power around Xu Zihuang. Within three years, his Soul Power had broken through two levels in succession, reaching Level 73.

Wang Xiao had entered seclusion three months ago, so Lin Long had been responsible for Xu Zihuang's safety during cultivation ever since.

Whether it was the Tidal Body Refining that had begun three years ago or the practical combat training against Soul Beasts that had started half a year ago.

Lin Long stopped half a step behind Xu Zihuang and reminded him softly.

"Young Master, everything is ready. This time, there are five Thousand-Year Sea Demon Elephants."

"Mm." Xu Zihuang nodded calmly. Five Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were enough to put a Soul Ancestor-level Soul Master in danger, but to him, they were nothing out of the ordinary. He was no ordinary Soul Master. Not only did he possess Twin Martial Souls, but both of his martial souls could be considered among the finest in the world. One was the Spiritual Attribute Body Martial Soul, Golden Eye. The other was the Purple Sun Thunder Prison Dragon, possessing both destruction and the Extreme Thunder Attribute.

More than half a year ago, his Soul Power Level had already reached Level 30. Moreover, because of his Ultimate Martial Soul, the quality of his Soul Power far surpassed that of ordinary Soul Masters.

Though his Soul Power was only at Level 30, his total reserves of Soul Power were already comparable to those of an ordinary Soul Ancestor.

Combined with two Thousand-Year Soul Skills that he had become increasingly proficient in using, he had always held the upper hand in his battles against Soul Beasts over the past half year.

Xu Zihuang removed his purple-gold robe, revealing the form-fitting black clothes beneath. His physique was not the sort with exaggerated bulging muscles, but one with restrained strength. The muscles of his chest, abdomen, arms, and legs were sharply defined, and every movement brimmed with power.

This was all thanks to the uninterrupted Tidal Body Refining of the past three years.

Along the edge of the Inner Sea Bay before him, soldiers of the Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps stood at intervals, ready to provide rescue at any moment.

In the distant sea, an icy-blue hue rapidly spread outward. A massive iceberg instantly condensed into shape, linking up with this crescent-shaped Inner Sea Bay and completely sealing off the inner sea extending into Yueshu Island. Immediately afterward, several soldiers of the Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps atop the iceberg threw five pitch-black Thousand-Year Sea Demon Elephants into the inner sea one after another.

All five Thousand-Year Sea Demon Elephants radiated a pale-blue glow, with two long, pointed tusks protruding from the corners of their mouths.

Sea Demon Elephants were a type of Sea Soul Beast. Their greatest characteristics were their exceptional Defense Power and strength. An adult Sea Demon Elephant could exceed seven meters in length. By adult, it meant possessing more than a Hundred-year cultivation.

These five Sea Demon Elephants, each with more than a Thousand-Year cultivation, were over ten meters long. Their skin alone was more than fifteen centimeters thick. Their hides were extraordinarily tough and possessed extremely strong resistance to any physical attack.

Compared with other Sea Soul Beasts, Sea Demon Elephants had relatively gentler temperaments.

But no matter how gentle they were, being captured and brought here by Xu Zihuang and the others inevitably stirred up their ferocity.

The instant Xu Zihuang jumped into the seawater, the five Sea Demon Elephants' eyes immediately turned red. Churning up great swathes of seawater, they swam toward him.

Every Soul Beast had its strengths and weaknesses. Sea Demon Elephants possessed formidable Defense Power, but Attack Power and speed were their weak points. However, when in water, even their weakness in speed was compensated for.

Bzzzz—

In almost the time it took to breathe, the five Sea Demon Elephants had crossed the inner sea. They let out low roars and rammed their massive bodies into Xu Zihuang.

Complex, obscure brilliant-gold patterns covered the area around Xu Zihuang's pupils, while two purple Soul Rings appeared at the same time.

Having prepared for this, Xu Zihuang showed no intention of dodging this enraged strike from the Thousand-Year Sea Demon Elephant.

Clenching his right hand into a fist, he swung it with a roar like a tsunami and collided heavily with the Sea Demon Elephant's body.

A great mass of seawater was thrown into the air. Feeling the immense force transmitted through his right fist, Xu Zihuang still did not panic. The skin across his body undulated rhythmically like waves, perfectly dispersing the force.

This was the true benefit he had gained from three years of Tidal Body Refining. It was not a Soul Skill, but the manifestation of a perfect union between physical strength and his own Soul Power, somewhat similar to the Body Sect's unique combat techniques.