Not Yet in the World, So How Could One Transcend It?

Coming back to his senses, Yaoyang looked at Zhu Yao, whose expression had instantly changed from gloomy to sunny, her face brimming with smiles. How could he not realize that she had set him up?

Still, he did not find it objectionable.

People were just that hypocritical. They tended to be more tolerant of those they cared about and felt close to.

Zhu Yao did not tactlessly continue pressing for Xu Zihuang's true identity. She was a smart woman.

All she wanted was to be with Yaoyang. Everything else had nothing to do with her.

But Yaoyang's words—"To me, Zihuang is my own little brother"—remained in her heart.

Night fell, and the starry sky cast down a sea of silvery light.

The castle built into the mountainside seemed draped in a veil of starlight, like a paradise on earth.

At the edge of the flowerbeds before the castle stood a cliff jutting outward, where a pavilion rested in silence. The Soul Tool Streetlights on either side stretched the two figures' shadows long, while the crisp sound of chess pieces being placed rang out from time to time.

"Clack—" A slender index finger and middle finger pinched a smooth black chess piece and set it down on the Zhenlong Chess Game before him. The cool sea breeze stirred several strands of purple hair over Xu Zihuang's forehead, revealing his handsome features.

"Zihuang, do you know what you lack most right now?" Sitting opposite Xu Zihuang was Yaoyang, who had not visited this castle for nearly half a month.

A person's style of play best reflected their character.

Looking at where Xu Zihuang had placed his piece, Yaoyang suddenly dropped his own chess piece back into the bowl and sighed softly.

"If you have never entered the world, how can you speak of transcending it? Whether you or I, we are both merely one among countless ordinary people."

Xu Zihuang raised his head blankly to look at Yaoyang across from him, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

Yaoyang's words jolted him awake.

"Brother Yang, I understand what you mean."

Ever since recovering the memories of his past life, he had always harbored a faint sense of superiority. It was not only because of his distinguished birth. Knowing the future had subtly made him believe that he was someone special, someone favored by heaven.

Maintaining such a mindset would be extremely fatal.

Of course, Yaoyang did not know that Xu Zihuang had awakened the memories of his past life. In truth, he merely wished to warn him against exposing the pride born of his status as Sun Moon Empire royalty.

"It is not too late yet." Yaoyang smiled faintly, rose to his feet, and gazed out at the boundless sea in the distance.

"The world takes countless forms. Starting tomorrow, go and immerse yourself in the mundane warmth of life that you have never experienced. Let the trials and tribulations of the secular world carve and temper you. With your talent, you are destined not to be ordinary. You must keep the superiority of your imperial birth restrained within your heart. Only then will I feel at ease letting you study at Shrek Academy."

Xu Zihuang also rose and walked to the edge of the pavilion.

"Brother Yang, but Shrek Academy begins in only half a year. Wouldn't that be a little rushed? To enroll at Shrek Academy, I'll also need a personal letter of recommendation from the lord of a main city in the Heaven Dou Empire, Dou Ling Empire, or Star Luo Empire."

"Young Master, I may have a way to resolve the matter of that recommendation letter." No sooner had Xu Zihuang finished speaking than a somewhat deep voice abruptly sounded from behind them.

Xu Zihuang and Yaoyang instantly tensed, only relaxing after they saw who had arrived.

The visitor was none other than Wang Xiao, who had entered seclusion half a year ago to cultivate.

Seeing Wang Xiao, who seemed completely fused with his surroundings, Yaoyang asked in delighted surprise, "Uncle Wang, you broke through?!"

With his Cultivation, he had not sensed even the slightest trace of Wang Xiao's presence earlier. That alone explained everything.

Wang Xiao nodded with a complicated expression. The bottleneck that had troubled him for nearly ten years had been broken through in one stroke. Even with his state of mind, waves of emotion could not help rising within him.

As long as he obtained a suitable Soul Ring, he would reach the Title Douluo realm that every soul master dreamed of.

"This is all thanks to the Young Master. Because of the Young Master, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Elemental Power became exceptionally dense. I never expected to successfully condense my Soul Core in one go." Wang Xiao solemnly bowed to Xu Zihuang from the bottom of his heart.

"After my Soul Power broke through Level 90, the power of the Soul Core condensed within my body will also allow the toxins that have spread throughout me to be easily dispelled."

"Elder Wang, there is no need for such formality." Xu Zihuang quickly helped Wang Xiao up.

Yaoyang stepped forward with a smile and congratulated Wang Xiao. "Congratulations, Uncle Wang, on becoming a Title Douluo."

Wang Xiao waved a hand. His once weathered face was now glowing with vitality. Breaking through to the Title Douluo realm had even made his blood and qi far more vigorous.

"The Young Master's talent is truly heaven-defying. If he enters Shrek Academy, he will inevitably draw the attention of Shrek Academy's upper ranks. Given the influence Shrek Academy possesses across the continent, it would be difficult to guarantee that they could not uncover some information about the Young Master's background."

"If the Young Master wishes to fabricate a legitimate identity, perhaps we can begin with the Heavenly Dragon Gate, where Princess Consort was born. The old master of the Heavenly Dragon Gate has always held a grudge over Princess Consort's affairs and has many prejudices against us. However, his eldest son—your uncle, Young Master—has always secretly used the Heavenly Dragon Gate's power to help us search for news of you. If I personally make a trip to the Heavenly Dragon Gate, he should not refuse our request to fabricate an identity."

Xu Zihuang froze slightly, then closed his eyes and waved a hand without much interest.

"Elder Wang, I'll leave this matter to you."

Family affection... what a distant thing that was to him.

Yaoyang and Wang Xiao exchanged glances, then knowingly left the pavilion together, leaving Xu Zihuang alone.

Early the next morning, Wang Xiao left Yueshu Island by himself.

His journey would be long. Not only did he have to cross the waters between the Yuenan Islands and the Star Luo Empire, but he also had to travel across the entire Douluo Continent from south to north.

His agreed meeting place with Xu Zihuang was Shrek City. On one hand, it would save them an extra trip; on the other, it would make it easier for him to help Xu Zihuang obtain his Third Soul Ring.

The Star Dou Great Forest lay beside Shrek Academy. If Xu Zihuang wanted a Soul Ring that satisfied him, there was no place more suitable than this continent's greatest gathering ground for Soul Beasts.

As for Xu Zihuang, he stopped his former self-torturing cultivation and traveled throughout Yueshu Island, tempering his state of mind.

Just as Yaoyang had said before, as someone born into Sun Moon Empire royalty, every gesture Xu Zihuang made exuded the noble air unique to those in high positions. It was difficult for him not to draw attention while walking through Yueshu City.

What he needed to do during this time was experience the countless facets of life, understand how to become more like an ordinary member of the masses, and maintain an ordinary heart.

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