Heading to Martial Soul City

The competition has entered its final stage, and all teams that have advanced must set off for Martial Soul City, located in the center of the continent.

At the Heaven Dou City Gate, a team of knights in standard Heaven Dou Empire armor was spreading out in a fan shape, guarding the surroundings.

Inside this knight formation, teachers and students from various academies were bidding farewell to their friends and family before boarding their respective carriages.

Shrek Academy's carriages were at the rear of the convoy. This time, in addition to the regular participating students, four teachers would accompany them to Martial Soul City: Flender, Liu Erlong, Vice Principal Zhao Wuji, and Poison Douluo Dugu Bo.

Since Dugu Bo had already settled his personal affairs, he had returned to Shrek Academy. Upon hearing that Shrek Academy had reached the finals, Dugu Bo felt honored and decided to accompany the academy's team to Martial Soul City to show his face.

Zhao Wuji, the Vice Principal, felt the same way. This was Shrek Academy's first time reaching the finals of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition, so he naturally had to come and witness it.

However, one figure was conspicuously missing from the Shrek Academy team. Yu Xiaogang, the Wisdom Horn of the Golden Iron Triangle, was nowhere to be found.

Inside a carriage, Liu Erlong sat with a vacant expression, clearly distracted. Her thoughts were consumed by a night from half a month ago.

Shrek Academy, a lake behind the woods.

Soft moonlight shimmered on the lake's surface. A gentle breeze stirred, rippling the once mirror-smooth water and shattering the moonlight. The entire lake was filled with sparkling colors, like countless tiny silver fish darting about.

On the shore, two figures leaned against each other. The man was strong and tall, with short, side-parted hair. Though not handsome, his appearance was resolute and courageous, exuding an aura of both stability and vibrant vitality.

The woman nestled in his embrace was tall and curvaceous, with a cold beauty that was now softened with tenderness. Her left arm was around his waist, and her right hand rested on his chest.

Feeling the powerful heartbeat beneath her hand, a blush crept onto the woman's face. She looked up at the man and said, "Xiaogang, I think you've gotten much stronger."

Yu Xiaogang smiled and looked down. "It must be the effect of the immortal medicine Xiao San gave me. My body has undergone a complete transformation and returned to my twenty-year-old state."

"That's wonderful, it feels like we're back over twenty years ago," the woman said, closing her eyes and snuggling closer into Yu Xiaogang's embrace.

Yu Xiaogang tightened his grip, then his expression turned serious. "Erlong, I plan to go to Martial Soul City in advance to see Bibi Dong."

"What!"

Hearing this, Liu Erlong, who had been full of tenderness moments before, immediately broke free from Yu Xiaogang's embrace. In an instant, she transformed into a Female Tyrant Dragon.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with coldness as she stared at Yu Xiaogang, a faint killing intent even appearing in the air.

"Why are you going to see that woman?" Liu Erlong narrowed her eyes slightly and asked in a low voice.

Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but shiver. He then smiled and stepped forward, ignoring her resistance, and pulled Liu Erlong back into his embrace. "Xiao San is about to graduate and will eventually venture out into the world. I haven't fully figured out the cultivation of Twin Martial Souls yet. To understand this, I can only go see Bibi Dong. After all, she is the first soul master in history to cultivate Twin Martial Souls to the Titled Douluo realm."

After saying this, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

This feels like I'm being a scumbag.

Yu Xiaogang shook his head and quickly banished the thought from his mind.

This is all for the System Mission. The system is betraying me!

After using the system as a shield, Yu Xiaogang's guilt was significantly alleviated.

When Liu Erlong heard Yu Xiaogang's words, her frosty face softened again, and her eyes began to show a thoughtful expression. The killing intent in the air completely dissipated.

Since taking Xiao Wu as her god-daughter, Liu Erlong had devoted a large part of her energy to Xiao Wu, and naturally saw her feelings for her daughter clearly.

Although Xiao Wu and Tang San always claimed to be siblings to the outside world, anyone with discerning eyes could see that they were actually a couple, they just hadn't explicitly stated it.

Therefore, out of love for her daughter, she naturally extended that love to Tang San's affairs, helping him whenever she could.

Moreover, Tang San was Yu Xiaogang's personal disciple, representing Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul concept. Under the combined influence of both, Liu Erlong found herself unable to utter the rebuttal that was always on the tip of her tongue.

"Then when do you plan to leave?" Liu Erlong asked, looking up.

"I'll set off tomorrow morning, to arrive before the finals start, so as not to delay the competition."

Yu Xiaogang looked into Liu Erlong's eyes and saw a trace of worry, so he smiled, "I have the Martial Soul Hall Elder Token left by Tang San's father, so there won't be any danger."

Liu Erlong's brow immediately relaxed. She nodded and said no more.

The two continued to embrace, watching the moonlight ripple on the lake before them, enjoying the tranquility.

On the carriage.

Seeing Liu Erlong staring blankly at the floor beside her, Xiao Wu immediately stepped forward and said, "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Oh, Mom is fine."

Liu Erlong snapped back to attention, replied with a smile, then stroked Xiao Wu's long hair and said, "You're also about to break through to Level 40. When the time comes, Mom will personally accompany you to obtain your Soul Ring."

"Okay." Xiao Wu smiled and nodded, then leaned her head on Liu Erlong's shoulder.

Liu Erlong hugged Xiao Wu, her thoughts drifting elsewhere again.

"I don't know if Xiaogang has arrived yet."

One day later, inside Martial Soul City.

A carriage passed through the gates of Martial Soul City and headed towards the center of the city.

The overall layout of Martial Soul City was similar to Heaven Dou City, with a layered structure from the inside out.

However, Heaven Dou City was only divided into an inner city and an outer city, while Martial Soul City was divided into three parts: the inner city, the middle city, and the outer city.

The outer city was naturally for ordinary residences and commercial activities. The middle city inside was the administrative office and living area for Soul Masters of the Martial Soul Hall. The most central inner city was the highest center of power and faith for the Martial Soul Hall. The legendary Papal Palace, Elder Hall, and Douluo Hall were all located within the inner city.

As Yu Xiaogang traveled, the most profound impression he had was the strict hierarchy within Martial Soul City.

From the vibrant, lived-in atmosphere of the Outer City's marketplaces, to the orderly Middle City, and finally to the solemn, heavily guarded Inner City.

This stark contrast along the way was extremely profound for an outsider.

The carriage was no longer permitted to enter once it reached the Inner City gate. Yu Xiaogang alighted from the carriage. To avoid causing a disturbance, he first took out a Third-class Pass from his bosom, displaying it to the guards at the city gate.

Upon seeing the three patterns on the token, the guards retracted the spears they had placed across the road and gestured for Yu Xiaogang to enter, though their expressions remained indifferent.

Yu Xiaogang put the pass back into his bosom and walked through the city gate alone, then headed towards the location of the Papal Palace.