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Buzz~
Under everyone's watchful gaze, the Lightning Element continuously struck the purple-black Soul Bone, coating its surface in dark blue lightning patterns.
A scene that slightly changed Yun Ming, Ya Li, and Leng Yaozhu's expressions appeared. The Soul Bone seemed to have received a summons, lighting up with a faint purple-black glow that resembled a black hole as it devoured the Lightning Power.
The nearby space seemed to cave in, as though it had suffered some terrifying impact.
A change meant there was a chance the test could succeed!
Yun Ming's eyes flashed with a trace of surprise. Using the Soul Bone to draw Nan Liujing in was one of the second steps in his plan. He had thought the odds of failure were high, but he had not expected there to truly be a chance of success.
Nan Liujing focused his mind and activated his Soul Power. Suddenly, a surprised female voice rang out beside his ear. "The aura of a Super Divine Artifact? Kid, you found a Divine Artifact so quickly? No, that's not right. This Divine Artifact's aura has nothing to do with the Sea God."
"Sister Xia?" Nan Liujing's consciousness immediately entered his Sea of Consciousness.
The moment he entered, a peerlessly beautiful figure appeared before him. It was Xia Mi, the Martial God-like Sea God from another world.
Xia Mi grabbed Nan Liujing by the shoulders, her beautiful face filled with astonishment. "What did you come into contact with? I actually sensed the aura of a Divine Artifact even stronger than the Super Divine Artifact I control."
Looking at her exquisite face, Nan Liujing instantly thought of a Super Divine Artifact matching her description.
The Scepter of Destruction!
But the God of Destruction had already handed the God Position inheritance seed to Tang San. Shouldn't he have handed over the Super Divine Artifact as well?
Did that mean the Scepter of Destruction had been left behind on Douluo Continent?
Just what unknown secret was Devil Island hiding?
Although Nan Liujing was also shocked, he remained calm. "Sister Xia, calm down."
Xia Mi released him and stared at him intently. "Do you know that many God Kings in the universe do not have the support of a Super Divine Artifact? Yet you were lucky enough to encounter one. Although it is impossible for you to wield it in your current state, this Super Divine Artifact is clearly ownerless. You can take it away completely, then refine it into your own exclusive Divine Artifact once you are strong enough in the future!"
"Back then, I traveled across more than ten star systems just to gather enough materials for my own Super Divine Artifact. You... comparing people to gods really makes gods furious!"
Xia Mi angrily pinched Nan Liujing's cheeks. He was still young, after all, with plenty of collagen.
Feeling his face kneaded like dough, Nan Liujing did not resist. He had to let his sister enjoy herself for once.
Xia Mi quickly got her fill and said in a deep voice, "This Super Divine Artifact should be sealed by some powerful force. You can absorb it into your body first. I can help you figure out how to remove the seal later."
"Sister Xia is the best sister in the universe!" Nan Liujing immediately gave her a thumbs-up.
"Of course."
Xia Mi crossed her arms over her impressive chest and raised an eyebrow, without the slightest trace of a god's arrogance.
Suppressing the surprise in his heart, Nan Liujing's consciousness quickly withdrew from his Sea of Consciousness.
By then, the wooden house had already been covered in purple-black and dark blue light. The Dragon Subduing Staff Martial Soul had nearly fused into one with the Soul Bone.
Ya Li's words carried a hint of surprise. "Could it really be succeeding?"
This Soul Bone had been sent back to the academy from Devil Island, yet no one had been able to activate it for all these years. Today, they might witness a change.
"Liujing?"
Suddenly, Leng Yaozhu cried out.
Yun Ming and Ya Li had been staring intently at the air. Hearing her voice, they instinctively looked over, only to discover Nan Liujing's body trembling uncontrollably, with a layer of purple-black glow spreading over his head.
"Don't touch him." Yun Ming said in a deep voice, "This child's Martial Soul is compatible with the Soul Bone. The Soul Bone is merging with his Martial Soul Origin."
Leng Yaozhu forced herself to calm down and stared intently at Nan Liujing. Her Mental Power was fully unleashed. If any possible problem arose, she would solve it immediately.
But clearly, that would not be necessary. As the Soul Bone in midair fused into the Dragon Subduing Staff, Nan Liujing's body gradually calmed down as well.
More than ten seconds later, the Soul Bone completely vanished, leaving only the Dragon Subduing Staff suspended in the air.
At that very moment, Nan Liujing suddenly opened his eyes. Within his pupils, the phantom of a scepter flashed past.
"How do you feel?" Leng Yaozhu's wine-red pupils were filled with concern.
Yun Ming and Ya Li were also rather curious.
Nan Liujing raised both hands. He appeared calm, but he felt as though he were in a dream. "I don't feel anything. Aside from the Soul Bone positions that were already occupied, the rest are still empty." He had somehow obtained a Super Divine Artifact just like that, even if he could only look at it and not touch it.
"What is going on?"
Leng Yaozhu immediately questioned Yun Ming, with none of the tenderness from her youth left in her eyes.
She had truly changed... Ya Li suddenly realized.
It was clearly Yun Ming's first time seeing Leng Yaozhu question him in such a tone. He froze for a moment before explaining, "Throughout the generations, Shrek Academy Students who went to train on Devil Island received more or less reinforcement from the Destruction Attribute. Besides using the Destruction Attribute gained through tempering to enhance themselves, the goal was also to fuse with this Soul Bone and uncover the greater secret hidden behind Devil Island."
"But no one had succeeded in a thousand years. After a Sea God Pavilion Meeting, we unanimously concluded that to fully uncover Devil Island's secret, one had to fuse with the Soul Bone first, then undergo the trials. Perhaps only then could the power behind the Soul Bone reveal itself."
"In other words, the Soul Bone had been waiting for the right person to appear. Only that person could carry the Soul Bone and dispel all the mist."
"Why didn't you tell us about this earlier?" Leng Yaozhu frowned. "If that is the case, the two of you will immediately come with me and take Liujing there."
After months of companionship, Nan Liujing's carefully prepared breakfasts every morning and his hard work in cultivation had long made Leng Yaozhu regard her disciple as one of her own, rather than merely a link in her cooperation with Qiangu Qingfeng. Once genuine emotions were involved, concern easily led to confusion.
Even knowing that the Soul Bone would not harm Nan Liujing, she would not be at ease until this matter was thoroughly resolved.
Yun Ming shook his head. "Your Spirit Pagoda's information needs updating. Since the incident on Devil Island, those below rank fifty have been unable to enter."
Leng Yaozhu furrowed her brows and was about to flare up when Yun Ming continued, "Taking this opportunity, I would like to ask for your opinion."
Leng Yaozhu looked at him coldly.
Yun Ming said in a deep voice, "A thousand years ago, Devil Island erupted with a Destruction Tide. The Seven Monsters of the Current Generation all perished there. Afterward, they barely relied on their powerful cultivation from before death to become Vengeful Spirits. Since then, unless Shrek Academy Students went there, outsiders would inevitably suffer their rejection. That is also why the Federation and Spirit Pagoda abandoned Devil Island and transferred its jurisdiction to Shrek Academy."
"If this child goes to Devil Island in the future without the identity of a Shrek Academy Student, it will be difficult for him to enter. Even I would gain little advantage in such a special environment. Therefore, I suggest that both sides establish a Cooperative relationship."
"You allow this child to join Shrek Academy and study there. I will open all academy resources to him. If he is capable enough, I will even allow him to become a member of Sea God Pavilion. Then he can rightfully train on Devil Island in the future. What do you think?"
Leng Yaozhu raised a delicate brow, unmoved by his words. Recalling Ya Li's series of actions since they entered Sea God Island, she snorted coldly. "From the very beginning, you wanted my disciple to join Shrek, didn't you?"
"The Soul Bone and the secret behind it were merely one part of your scheme."
"You are right." Yun Ming unexpectedly did not hide it. "If the Soul Bone fusion had failed, I would have considered other methods to make this child join Shrek."
Leng Yaozhu was stunned. She had not expected him to admit it so readily. Nan Liujing, on the other hand, calmly watched how Yun Ming would answer.
I already obtained a Super Divine Artifact. I support whatever you say. Besides, Shrek Academy has things I need to take, and people I need to destroy.
Ya Li sighed. "Beneath the current appearance of peace, undercurrents are actually surging. Shrek and your Spirit Pagoda may seem united in purpose, but we have long been divided, especially after the Qian Gu Family took power. Their ambitions are obvious to everyone."
"The Hawks within the Federation are also watching us like tigers stalking prey. They have repeatedly tried to blockade Shrek City and cut off the city's supply of daily necessities. So, to ensure the academy's future stability after Brother Ming and I pass away, we need to make plans in advance and cultivate a sufficiently powerful young Soul Master. Your disciple is the target we have chosen."
"His background is sufficient, and his talent is sufficient. He is the perfect candidate. But rest assured, we are not making him join Shrek to tie him to Shrek's ship and make him enemies with the Spirit Pagoda and the Federation. We only hope that if Shrek encounters disaster in the future, he will lend us a hand. That is all."
Leng Yaozhu found it difficult to understand. "With your strength, you still need to plan for this?"
If anyone claimed they could destroy Shrek Academy, she would be the first not to believe it. It had stood firm for twenty thousand years; could it really face destruction one day?
Especially placing the hopes of the future on a child was simply absurd.
Ya Li sighed. "No one can remain powerful forever. Wasn't the once-prosperous Sun Moon Empire divided among the powers after a brief period of weakness, becoming the current Federation? Shrek Academy is the same. In fact, too long a period of peace has made many people in the academy forget how to sense danger. Their minds are filled with Ten Thousand Years Glory, yet they never consider that without absolutely powerful strength to support it, so-called glory is merely a castle in the air that will collapse at the slightest touch."
"Not to mention distant matters. The incident of the Seven Devils of Devil Island perishing a thousand years ago forcibly cut off an entire generation of Shrek Academy Students, severely weakening the academy. The Federation then seized that chance to suppress Shrek City from all sides. At that time, Shrek was on the verge of falling apart. These are living examples."
Leng Yaozhu fell silent for a moment. "I need to discuss this with Qiangu Qingfeng and Xia Zheng Leng, but we also need to see what Liujing himself wants."
"Let us leave it at that. There is still the Golden Ancient Tree baptism to complete."
Yun Ming and Ya Li said nothing further.
From the beginning, at Ya Li's strong urging, Yun Ming had agreed to tell Qiangu Qingfeng about the plan. He just had not expected Leng Yaozhu to be the one who came.
Sincerity was always the ultimate weapon. They could gain benefits from Shrek Academy without having to give anything immediately. The couple did not believe Nan Liujing's elders would refuse.
The Spirit Pagoda indeed did not lack resources. In fact, Shrek Academy might not possess everything the Spirit Pagoda had. But by the same logic, the Spirit Pagoda might not possess everything Shrek Academy had.
This plot was adapted from the Destruction and Life Energy on Devil Island in the original work. Yes, that is right—the power on Devil Island was the fragments of power left behind by the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life.
As for why the scepter was left behind, that was foreshadowing. It would not be revealed anytime soon. All that could be said was that this person had kept something in reserve.
Before you continue