As dusk deepened, the cool evening breeze slipped through the gaps in the window and sneaked into the bedroom. It brushed across the tabletop, gently shifting a casually placed map and revealing a spot circled in red.
Eastsea City.
Nan Liujing sat in a chair. The glow from the computer screen illuminated his handsome face, inherited from his father. Yet at his young age, his features still carried a trace of childishness.
His nimble fingers entered a website address, then clicked it.
"Ming Capital," "Heaven Dou City," and "Star Luo City"—one regional name after another appeared before Nan Liujing. He paid no attention to those top-tier major cities, searching onward until his gaze finally stopped on a red box labeled "Eastsea City."
He clicked the mouse.
The display changed, revealing the various Soul Master Academies under Eastsea City's jurisdiction. At the top was the introduction for Eastsea Academy, whose dean was named Yu Zhen.
Clicking into it would reveal more detailed information, as well as the academy's address.
But that was not Nan Liujing's goal. He dragged the mouse downward.
At last, his gaze settled on an academy called Red Mountain Academy.
Within the Sun Moon Federation, academies in different regions started and ended their school years at different times. A typical example was that Ming Capital began classes two months earlier than Heaven Dou City and likewise went on break two months sooner, staggering their schedules.
Eastsea City, which belonged to the Skysea Alliance, was naturally the same.
As Nan Liujing's deep dark blue pupils swept over Red Mountain Academy's introduction, a faint ripple passed through them. He leaned back, interlaced his hands behind his neck, and looked up at the ceiling.
He did not know exactly where he was on the Timeline, so he planned to make a trip to Aolai City himself. If he could meet the people he wanted to see, it would be much easier for him to start laying plans early.
There were still a few days before the new term began—enough time for him to head there after his Martial Soul awakened.
Under the astonished gazes of countless pedestrians, a Hover Soul Guide Vehicle whose appearance and performance far surpassed the surrounding cars sped past.
Nan Liujing sat in the back seat, quietly observing this city with a history of more than twenty thousand years. After only a few glances, though, he lost interest.
Compared with Heaven Dou City, which actively preserved ancient culture and had almost no skyscrapers, Star Luo City was the complete opposite.
At a glance, this city seemed to have no fewer skyscrapers than Shrek City. Humans moved back and forth through this vast steel world like busy worker ants.
Ancient buildings were almost nonexistent.
The Hover Soul Guide Vehicle smoothly left the bustling downtown area, winding through the roads until it arrived outside a beautiful estate.
The estate's main door stood open. More than fifteen guards stood nearby, all carrying fairly powerful Soul Tools.
The driver had come here with Sun Kong many times and knew the route well. Under the guards' respectful gazes, he drove straight inside and finally stopped before the main door of a luxurious villa.
Several people had already been waiting outside. They looked to be about the same age as Sun Kong.
When Nan Liujing got out of the vehicle, he saw a completely different side of Sun Kong.
The few grown men embraced one another as though they had not met in a long time, utterly lacking their usual steadiness and the imposing manner they carried when in positions of power.
"Liujing." After briefly speaking with his four old friends, Sun Kong called out to Nan Liujing, who stood nearby.
Nan Liujing stepped forward, drawing everyone's attention.
Today, he wore a simple grayish-white tracksuit. His short black hair was soft, neat, and clean-cut. Though his young age made his handsome facial features seem somewhat childish, his dark blue pupils and the faint smile naturally curving at the corners of his lips gave him a gentle air that made people's eyes light up.
His Mental Power had always far surpassed that of ordinary people. Moreover, these people could not possibly be guarded against a child like him. Because of that, Nan Liujing keenly noticed that one of them was studying him with a trace of scrutiny. He found it rather puzzling, but did not mention it.
"So this is the nephew you mentioned?" Wu Jingru asked with interest as he sized up Nan Liujing.
"Mm." Sun Kong nodded.
Nephew?
The other three distinguished middle-aged men all showed looks of surprise.
As far as they knew, their old brother had neither wife nor children and had devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. At barely over forty, his cultivation had already reached the realm of a Titled Douluo. Yet somehow, a nephew had suddenly appeared.
"Liujing greets all of you, uncles." Though he did not know what they were thinking, Nan Liujing understood what to do and stepped forward to offer his respects.
No matter how curious they were, as elders, they could not ask directly. Everyone smiled and nodded in response.
After Sun Kong gave a simple introduction, Wu Jingru led everyone into the villa to begin his daughter's Awakening Ceremony.
As they passed through the hall, Nan Liujing's gaze paused briefly.
A very special portrait hung on the wall directly ahead.
The portrait depicted a lifelike White Tiger. But that alone would not have made him stop. Beside the White Tiger was an illusory Beast Shadow that resembled a cat somewhat, though it was much larger and had dark purple fur. Perhaps because of the paint, it looked faint and indistinct.
Only after going deeper inside did he realize there was more to the place than met the eye.
A corridor gradually appeared before Nan Liujing, leading somewhere unknown. After proceeding dozens of meters, a hall resembling a cathedral came into view.
The hall was not as luxuriously decorated as the villa's main hall, but it carried an added solemnity tempered by years.
On the left and right stood two beast-shaped statues.
Just like the portrait Nan Liujing had seen in the hall.
They were a White Tiger and a Hell Spirit Cat.
The identity of this Wu Family was obvious.
By then, around thirty people were already standing in the hall. Every gaze was fixed on a girl kneeling with her palms pressed together before her, her eyes closed in prayer.
From Nan Liujing's perspective, his gaze was drawn to her in a single second.
As though her prayer had been answered, countless tiny rays of light slowly filtered down from the stained-glass window above the hall, falling entirely upon the girl in the pure white dress. Her surroundings were dim, yet she alone radiated holy white light, as if she were the only one left in the world.
The entire hall fell silent for several minutes. At last, the girl separated her clasped hands, stood up, and turned around.
This time, Nan Liujing saw her appearance clearly.
Her face was exquisitely delicate and fair, with hardly a flaw to be found. Her reddish-brown hair was cut to her shoulders, its ends slightly curled. Combined with her facial features, it gave her a coolness that did not belong to someone her age. Yet what drew the eye most was her pair of heterochromatic eyes.
Her left eye was white gold, while her right was dark purple. Amid the scattered light drifting down from the stained-glass window, they were as gorgeous as gemstones.
Before Nan Liujing could look at her any longer, a tall old man stepped out and said to Wu Jingru, "Jingru, it is time."
"Yes, Second Uncle." Wu Jingru was very respectful toward the old man. Then, beneath everyone's gazes, he walked over to the girl and said, "Qiming, Chengyu, come over here too."
Two children around Nan Liujing's age soon stepped out from the crowd. Both were boys. Interestingly, compared to the girl, the two of them were so nervous that their bodies were trembling slightly.
Nan Liujing stood to one side with Sun Kong and the others, watching with great interest.
Especially the girl, because he had vaguely guessed her name.
Once the three children were in position, white Soul Power rapidly surged out of Wu Jingru's body like an arrow and slammed into the stained-glass window above the hall. After receiving the Soul Power, the window seemed to come alive. As it twisted, the scattered light originally visible within it gathered into lines that spread along the ceiling and all the way down to the floor.
They finally settled beneath the feet of the three children.
For a moment, everyone's gaze locked onto the three of them.
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