Don't hurt the harmony!
After the independent cultivators hurried off, Nan Liujing took the initiative to chat with Li Qiankun and Mo Jue.
After all that, he finally understood why this group had gathered together.
Aside from a few independent cultivators, the rest were outstanding first-year students of Shrek Outer Court. They had entered the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform this time to test their actual combat ability. It was both a reward provided by the academy and an assessment.
The class monitor and vice class monitor were responsible for supervising them.
As for the three reserved Inner Court students—Yu Jiutian, Xu Cang, and Xu Lizhi—they had come together because of Yu Weinan's invitation.
Li Qiankun looked at the few remaining classmates and said helplessly, "Now it'll be hard to explain things to our homeroom teacher."
Mo Jue smiled with her eyes. "You're the class monitor, so you can carry the burden. I'm not afraid."
Li Qiankun shot her an annoyed look.
He knew exactly what those students who had stepped out to help Yu Jiutian were thinking. To put it bluntly, Shrek Academy was a miniature society built on connections.
After entering the Outer Court, students only needed to make progress in two areas: cultivation and relationships.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan that Yu Jiutian came from held an extremely high status in Shrek City, mainly because of Dragon God Douluo Bei Bei from ten thousand years ago. One of his children had rebuilt the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan after it was destroyed during the Sun Moon Empire's invasion.
Those students merely wanted to make an impression on Yu Jiutian. Whether they had actually helped or not did not matter; at least the gesture had been made.
They simply had not expected Nan Liujing to actually dare strike them instead of backing down because there were so many of them.
Li Qiankun cupped his fists. "At least a few people need to complete the assessment set by our head teacher. Otherwise, we really can't report back. We'll be leaving now."
Nan Liujing nodded. "Take care."
Li Qiankun and Mo Jue exchanged a glance before quickly leaving with the remaining six students, including Xu Lizhi.
The others could not wait to leave, but Xu Lizhi seemed rather absent-minded.
"Those two aren't bad," Ye Xinglan said softly.
"They're decent enough." Nan Liujing nodded in agreement. If he went to Shrek Academy in the future, he could casually get them some Spirit Forged Metal. It was no trouble at all.
Hearing their conversation, Wu Sidao said faintly, "So, what do we do next? Do the three of us stay together, or should I leave on my own?"
Nan Liujing clearly noticed Ye Xinglan's delicate brows twitch at Wu Sidao's words. No matter how clueless he was about romance, he caught on somewhat and hurriedly introduced the two of them to each other.
Your fathers are sworn brothers. You two should become sworn sisters too.
We're all family.
Maybe we'll even sleep in the same bed someday.
Inside the Spirit Ascension Chamber, Xu Cang stared coldly at the image on the Soul Guide Screen. His body trembled from time to time, and he had not yet fully recovered from the agony of being torn apart.
Soon, one Spirit Ascension Pod after another appeared. A group of people woke up together, all of them pale and trembling. They were unmistakably the Shrek Academy Students who had been struck to death by lightning.
The staff inside the Spirit Ascension Chamber hurried forward to comfort them and use tranquilizing devices to ease their mental trauma. They were worked to the bone.
"Jiutian." Xu Cang, pale-faced, walked toward Yu Jiutian, directly ignoring everyone else.
Yu Jiutian was still immersed in the excitement of being suppressed. He glanced at Xu Cang and said, "You acted impulsively."
Xu Cang frowned and said in a deep voice, "I wasn't impulsive. If that person isn't an Evil Soul Master, I'll eat... Anyway, I'll report this to the higher-ups."
"But what about you? How did you lose so easily?"
He had been ambushed and chain-controlled to death, but Yu Jiutian should not have been defeated so easily.
Since he had not been inside the Spirit Ascension Platform World, Xu Cang naturally could not sense the Attribute Suppression Yu Jiutian had suffered.
Yu Jiutian did not explain. Instead, he changed the subject. "Take my advice. Let this matter end here."
A trace of gloom flashed through Xu Cang's eyes. Before he could speak, another Spirit Ascension Pod suddenly appeared. A fat boy sat up inside it—it was Xu Lizhi, who had just left with Mo Jue, Li Qiankun, and the others.
"Lizhi, why did you come out?" Xu Cang was clearly stunned.
Xu Lizhi scratched his head. "I'm not familiar with those people, so I just came out. By the way, brother, how are you feeling?"
Xu Cang said coldly, "I'm fine, but someone else might not be. Since you're out too, perfect. Come with me."
Both of them came from the Xuan Ming Sect. The difference was that Xu Cang had awakened the clan's inherited Martial Soul, while Xu Lizhi had awakened a rare Food System Martial Soul.
It was also because of the clan's recommendation that Xu Lizhi had been marked by Shrek Academy at a very young age. After reaching the Second Ring, Cai Yuer selected him as a reserved Inner Court student and gave him focused training.
After saying that, Xu Cang turned to Yu Jiutian again. "These people will probably need some time to recover. Lizhi and I will leave first."
Yu Jiutian's gaze was deep as he silently nodded, no longer trying to persuade him.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had a close relationship with Shrek Academy, and the Xuan Ming Sect was the same. It all traced back to their respective ancestors from ten thousand years ago.
Watching the brothers leave, Yu Jiutian shook his head and thought to himself, How could there be so many Evil Soul Masters? It's just a convenient excuse to get rid of someone.
"Jiutian, did he suppress you?" Yu Weinan, who had come out early, asked in a low voice.
"Yes." Yu Jiutian did not hide it from his elder cousin.
Yu Weinan's expression hardened. "It's been so many years. Is he the first person capable of suppressing our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul in terms of attributes?"
Yu Jiutian's eyes flickered. "I'll apply to the academy for leave and return to the Ancestral Land to temper my lightning attribute. I believe that one day, I'll meet him again. When that time comes, I'll fight him openly and fairly to determine whose attribute is superior."
"Brother, are we really going to report this to Silver Moon Crown? If that person isn't an Evil Soul Master, won't we be falsely accusing him? If we're punished, we'll be finished."
On the way back to Shrek Academy, Xu Lizhi could not help asking Xu Cang, whose expression was grave.
Xu Cang said coldly, "My instincts can't be wrong. Just report it with me. With both of us testifying before Silver Moon Crown, it'll be easier for us to be believed."
Xu Lizhi opened his mouth, understanding that nothing he said would make Xu Cang abandon the idea. Ye Xinglan's valiant yet proud face appeared in his mind, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Brother, compared with our Xuan Ming Family, which is stronger, the Star Saint Family?"
"Why are you asking about that?" Xu Cang asked curiously. Then he quickly understood and smiled knowingly. "What, are you interested in that girl from the Star Saint Family?"
"No, no." Xu Lizhi panicked and hurriedly shook his head in denial.
Xu Cang did not expose him and merely said, "If I'm not mistaken, that girl should be the daughter of Elder Ye Changming, the head of the Ye Family. Her name seems to be Ye Xinglan. Her Martial Soul not only has astonishing penetrating power, but it can also trigger explosions through a special method. It is most likely the superior Martial Soul of the Star Saint Sword—the Stargod Sword."
"Brother, how do you know so much?" Xu Lizhi asked in surprise.
Xu Cang said indifferently, "Last time, I went to Xuan Shi Tangmen Technology Company to see Third Uncle and happened to run into Elder Ye. He was probably summoned back to headquarters as well. I heard he had a daughter, so after putting it together, I was basically certain that the girl just now was his daughter. I didn't expect her talent to be so strong. In a few more years, she'll probably comprehend Sword Intent."
As he spoke, he seemed to recall something, and a strange look appeared on his face. "Lizhi, if you really are interested in her, your brother can help you."
Xu Lizhi's tiny eyes immediately lit up, though he still spoke awkwardly. "Brother, I really don't mean that."
Xu Cang looked at him. After a moment, he shook his head. "Then it seems I, your older brother, misunderstood. What a pity. I just thought of a good way to help you get closer to her."
Xu Lizhi froze, then hurriedly asked, "What way?"
Xu Cang smiled from the corners of his eyes. "And you still say you don't mean that? You've exposed yourself, haven't you?"
Xu Lizhi could not care less about that and pressed him, "Brother, hurry up and tell me what the plan is."
Xu Cang's smile vanished as he said solemnly, "If my guess is correct, Ye Xinglan will most likely become a reserved Inner Court student like us. You know that whether they are Inner Court or Outer Court students, they all need to enter the Mimic Training Ground in the Outer Court. Compared with Outer Court students, our greatest advantage is that we can enter without spending Contribution Points."
"Ye Xinglan definitely won't pass up such a perfect cultivation environment, so she'll probably visit often. I happen to know several Outer Court students. Once Ye Xinglan enters the Inner Court and goes to cultivate in the Mimic Training Ground, I can have them provoke trouble. Then you show up and help her—preferably get beaten up a little. Wouldn't that do it?"
Xu Lizhi felt that something was strange, but he could not figure out what was wrong.
Xu Cang continued, "Of course, that would only be the first step in getting closer. Afterward, you can deliberately appear before her looking as if you've been bullied. If Ye Xinglan asks what happened, keep silent. Judging by how she protected that kid just now, she probably values friendship greatly. Then, when you explain, say that those people keep bullying you. She'll definitely help you vent your anger. Wouldn't that bring you even closer?"
Xu Lizhi's eyes lit up.
No wonder you're the older brother and I'm the younger brother. You're incredible!
Seeing that he was tempted, Xu Cang finally revealed his true purpose. "When we meet the Silver Moon Douluo later, just firmly insist with me that the kid is an Evil Soul Master. We brothers help each other out. How about it?"
Xu Lizhi gritted his teeth. "I'm in!"
Xu Cang smiled in satisfaction as a vicious glint surfaced in his eyes. The grudge had been formed the moment Nan Liujing knocked him out of the Spirit Ascension Platform World.
As a candidate for clan head, he knew some old secrets.
In the early years, before the Federal War God Hall and Shrek Academy had fallen out, they would send exchange students to learn from one another every so often.
During that time, the Silver Moon Douluo had become attracted to a peer from the War God Hall.
That person had defeated seven Shrek Academy Students in a row during a sparring competition, presenting the appearance of an unparalleled genius.
At the time, the Inner Court was severely short on men. Quite a few female students liked him, but most restrained themselves.
Only the Silver Moon Douluo had let her love brain take over. Ignoring her teacher's objections, she resolutely planned to leave Shrek Academy and follow him into the War God Hall.
Joining the War God Hall should not have been a big deal. After all, the War God Hall now also had powerful figures who had graduated from Shrek Academy.
But the key was that the young man from the War God Hall possessed a special evil ability that made him powerful. Like a Flower Picking Bandit, as long as he slept with a woman and took her virginity, he could devour nearly half of her Martial Soul Origin, causing her Martial Soul to degrade and turning a genius into a mediocrity.
For the sake of her disciple, the Silver Moon Douluo's teacher had gone to great lengths, investigating him so thoroughly that she even knew the color of his underwear.
But the Silver Moon Douluo refused to believe it. She was convinced that she had fallen for the right person, and she actually left the academy to follow that guy.
There was nothing particularly special about what happened afterward.
When the Silver Moon Douluo discovered something was wrong as she was being seduced into bed, she struggled fruitlessly in despair. Sky Pillar Douluo arrived in time and rescued her, sparing her the miserable fate of losing both her Martial Soul and her body.
After that, Shrek Academy lodged a protest, while the War God Hall also felt deeply humiliated and expelled the man.
Abandoned by the War God Hall, the man was basically socially ruined. Later, he simply fell into depravity and became an Evil Soul Master, causing a wave of cases across the continent in which young women were raped and murdered.
In the end, the Hall Master of the War God Hall and the Pavilion Master of Sea God Pavilion jointly ordered his execution, finally bringing it to an end.
So, as far as Xu Cang was concerned, even if Nan Liujing was not an Evil Soul Master, that special ability alone would be enough to make the Silver Moon Douluo recall the past and fly into a rage.
Let's see whether you can still stay so calm in the face of a Three-word Battle Armor Master and a Super Douluo.
"Thunderclap Nether Vine has been exposed. It's time for you two husband and wife to step in."
Beside the sofa, Leng Yaozhu sat down gracefully, holding a glass of red wine. Her gentle, charming face carried a hint of indifference.
Qiangu Qingfeng stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching the Soul Guide Light Screen.
The image within showed Nan Liujing walking through the Soul Beast Forest with Wu Sidao and Ye Xinglan.
Xia Zheng Leng stood nearby, her face full of warmth as she watched Nan Liujing.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Suddenly, a shrill ringtone shattered the silence.
Leng Yaozhu and Xia Zheng Leng both looked at Qiangu Qingfeng. He casually took a specially made phone from his pocket and answered it.
"Eldest Brother, I think we brothers need to have a talk."
Qian Gu Dong Feng's voice was calm, with no other emotion detectable.
"In your Office. I'll wait for you." Qiangu Qingfeng replied before hanging up and walking toward the door.
After he left, Leng Yaozhu turned her gaze back to the Soul Guide Screen. Her beautiful eyes were slightly unfocused. "This child reminds me of someone."
Xia Zheng Leng's words were merciless. "The vast Phoenix Family fell apart and was left without heirs because of one man. I only find it laughable."
"It is rather laughable." Leng Yaozhu agreed with her assessment, then sighed. "But people are like that. Trapped by emotion, they may never escape it in their entire lives. To be honest, by now, all I have for Yun Ming is the vague affection I had in my youth. What belongs to me will be mine. What doesn't belong to me will only slip through my fingers, no matter how hard I try."
Xia Zheng Leng looked at her in some surprise. "Since you've moved past this impossible relationship, why haven't you considered accepting another one? Those old fossils in the Leng Family are probably urging you to leave behind descendants."
Leng Yaozhu smiled disdainfully. "I, Leng Yaozhu, was willing to shamelessly become a woman behind another man because Yun Ming had the strength to make me willing. As for other men, at least so far, I haven't seen one who could move my heart."
Xia Zheng Leng paused, just about to say something when Leng Yaozhu interrupted her.
"Honestly, I envy you. Qiangu Qingfeng practically pampers you like his own daughter."
She gave a wistful sigh. "So fighting and killing, shaking the world with your power—those are all fleeting clouds. Living each ordinary day well, that is what truly..."
Leng Yaozhu suddenly stopped. Her phoenix eyes narrowed as she abruptly rose to stare at the Soul Guide Light Screen. "Xia Zheng Leng, why does your great-grandson look like he's heading down Yun Ming's path? Shouldn't you do something about it?"
"He's your disciple too." Xia Zheng Leng came to her senses after Leng Yaozhu pointed it out.
Seeing Nan Liujing take the initiative to start a conversation and chat merrily with Wu Sidao and Ye Xinglan, her thoughts inevitably became active.
There was only one blood relative left in this world. The Old Xia Family could not be left without descendants.
For her great-grandson's sake, Xia Zheng Leng decided to temporarily give up her identity as a pure-love warrior and allow her great-grandson to have a few more relationships. The only thing she needed to warn him about was that he could not abandon women after toying with their feelings.
It seemed she needed to find a time to talk with him.
To fit the fanfiction adaptation, I established a background for Xu Lizhi. The original work did not provide much information about him beyond the fact that he had followed Ye Xinglan since childhood.
Xu Lizhi said that he had been bullied since childhood because he was fat. But the problem is that a Food System genius with Innate Full Soul Power—if he were a commoner, the Spirit Pagoda would have helped him awaken his Martial Soul. Would the Spirit Pagoda let such talent go? Could he still be bullied?
So I personally consider him to come from a major family. That way, the Spirit Pagoda would not have known about him when his Martial Soul awakened.
Before you continue