Li Bai!

Above the Heavenly Curtain, the reward descended.

A dark blue beam of light, like moonlight, cascaded down, enveloping Shui Yue'er.

[Reward Issued: Martial Soul Second Evolution!]

[Evolution Direction: Extreme Ice Dolphin!]

[Acquired one God-Bestowed Soul Ring, one fifty-thousand-year Extreme Ice Right Leg Bone!]

In the image.

The originally docile Jade Dolphin, bathed in the blue light, began to swell in size.

Its body became more slender, and ice-blue divine patterns appeared on its skin.

The surrounding seawater instantly froze, transforming into a colossal iceberg.

The dolphin let out a long cry, and wherever the sound waves passed, space itself seemed to crackle with frost.

Extreme Ice attribute!

This was no longer an ordinary Beast Martial Soul, but a top-tier control-type Martial Soul possessing the ultimate attribute!

Chang'an City, Taibai Restaurant.

This was the most luxurious and bustling den of iniquity in the entire Great Tang.

At this moment, in the first-floor lobby of the restaurant.

Dai Mubai sat alone at a table by the window, a pot of strong liquor in his hand, tilting his head back to gulp it down.

His gaze, somewhat hazy, was fixed on the peerlessly beautiful figure on the Heavenly Curtain.

"Shui Yue'er..."

Dai Mubai let out a burp, a lewd glint flashing in his eyes.

Back in the day at Skywater Academy, all those girls were top-tier.

Especially the Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er sister pair.

Back then, he and Ma Hongjun had often discussed in private how intoxicating it would be to get these two sisters into bed.

Alas.

Now, they were top powerhouses of a certain empire, existences that even Titled Douluo had to look up to.

But he, Dai Mubai, though bearing the title of prince, had long lost his former glory.

Looking at Shui Yue'er's perfect figure in the screen, which became even more flawless with her Martial Soul Evolution, Dai Mubai felt a wicked fire rise from his lower abdomen.

The sense of loss from being unable to obtain her made him even more irritable.

"Damn it."

Dai Mubai cursed and slammed his hand on the table.

"Waiter!"

"Find me some pretty girls!"

"I want ones with good figures, especially long legs!"

Since he couldn't have a celestial fairy, he could only find some pleasure in the mortal world to vent.

He just wanted to find some solace on a woman's belly to regain a sliver of his pathetic self-esteem.

At this moment.

A commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the restaurant.

"Is that... the great Gongsun Li?"

"Oh my god, who is that man next to her? So handsome!"

"Shh! That's the Empire's Regent King, Lord Li Xin!"

Amidst the clamor.

Li Xin, holding Gongsun Li's hand, strode into the restaurant.

He was dressed in black, with an extraordinary aura. The nobility and dominance emanating from his very bones instantly silenced the entire restaurant.

Gongsun Li walked obediently by his side, like a little bird clinging to him.

The two walked straight through the lobby towards the VIP room on the top floor.

Dai Mubai stood at the entrance of the stairs, looking at the man who was being surrounded and adored by everyone. Jealousy in his eyes was almost spewing fire.

That was Li Xin.

The man who controlled the Great Tang, the man to whom even the Empress had to listen.

As men, why was the gap so vast?

He, Dai Mubai, could only find common women to vent his frustrations here, while Li Xin was always surrounded by such peerless beauties.

Li Xin seemed to sense something, his gaze sweeping indifferently towards the staircase.

Just that one glance.

Calm, detached.

Like an elephant looking at an ant at its feet.

Then, he withdrew his gaze, not even pausing his steps, and went straight upstairs.

Dai Mubai felt a chill run through his body, half of his wicked fire instantly extinguished, his legs feeling a little weak.

On the top floor of the Taibai Restaurant, in a private room called "Green Lotus Pavilion."

The view here was expansive, offering a panorama of half of Chang'an City.

A man in white, with a long sword hanging at his waist, had been waiting for a long time.

He held a wine gourd in his hand, leaning against the window, his posture supremely elegant.

Seeing Li Xin push the door open, the man in white let out a loud laugh, his figure flashing as he appeared before Li Xin.

"Hahahaha!"

"It's been a long time since we brothers parted ways on the Great Wall."

"Today, we must not return until we are drunk!"

The newcomer was none other than the Great Tang's Poet Immortal, the Green Lotus Sword Immortal—Li Bai.

He carried no imposing aura of a powerful expert, only a sword intent as free and unrestrained as the wind.

A genuine smile also appeared on Li Xin's face, and he stepped forward, clapping Li Bai heavily on the shoulder.

"Brother Taibai, your sword has become much faster again."

"Let's go, let's drink."

"As for this Martial Soul Ranking today, let it rank itself. We'll drink our fill."

For Li Xin.

What Golden Crocodile, what Shui Yue'er.

Were all just fleeting clouds.

Only the wine in his cup and the person before him were real.

Great Tang Guesthouse.

With Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing storming off, the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat heavy.

The remaining Shrek students exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion and unease.

Shui Yue'er's appearance on the list felt like a resounding slap to the faces of these so-called "Monsters."

Even a former defeated opponent could rank in the top twenty and receive such heaven-defying God-Bestowed Rewards, yet they, the chosen ones, remained unlisted.

This sense of disparity gnawed at their hearts like ants.

Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze retracting from the doorway. The profound expression on his face did not crumble with Dai Mubai's departure.

He turned around, looking at the dejected Oscar and Ma Hongjun, his tone calm yet resolute.

"There's no need to dwell on Mubai's departure. As a prince, his arrogance is understandable."

"As for Shui Yue'er's ranking, it's not a bad thing for you all. On the contrary, it's a good omen."

Oscar looked up, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

"Master, what do you mean?"

Yu Xiaogang walked to the table, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the surface.

"Think carefully, what was the strength of the Shui Yue'er sisters from Skywater Academy back then?"

"They were merely your defeated opponents."

"If even soul masters with their aptitude can rank nineteenth on the Golden Ranking, what does that signify?"

Yu Xiaogang paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his voice rising slightly.

"It signifies that the Threshold for this Martial Soul Ranking is not as insurmountable as we imagined."

"If even Shui Yue'er can make the list, how can you Shrek-selected Monsters, whose talent far surpasses hers, not be on it?"

"Especially Xiao San's Twin Martial Souls, which are destined to claim the top spot."

"So, just wait patiently. Your glory will come sooner or later."

These words were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly reigniting the light in the eyes of the previously dejected group.

That's right.

If even that dolphin who only knew how to flaunt herself could make the list, why couldn't they?

Ma Hongjun puffed out his round belly, a lewd smile appearing on his face.

"Master is right!"

"What is Shui Yue'er? If Fatty were to meet her, I'd roast her into dried fish with one fire."

"It seems this ranking is nothing special. Fatty is sure to snag a spot in the top ten."