Night draped itself like ink over the streets and alleys of Lingdou City, the capital of the Dou Ling Empire.
The solemn grandeur of the imperial city faded with the daylight, while the snack street in the south of the city was at its busiest.
Rows of warm yellow lanterns lit up one after another, bathing the level street in a cozy glow.
The savory smell of grilled meat, the sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts, and the rich scent of braised food mingled with the evening breeze, carrying far and drawing passersby to stop and linger.
Xue Yuheng held Xiao Xiao's hand as they strolled through the crowd.
He had returned from Heaven Dou City only three days ago, but he had already kept his promise and accompanied Xiao Xiao home. After dinner, his father-in-law and mother-in-law had sent them out.
They wanted the two of them to go have fun and build their relationship.
Meals at the Soul Suppressing Family's home were all about elaborate etiquette and delicate dishes, with tiny portions.
Neither of them had eaten much. Like an ordinary young couple, they were now on a date, squeezed into the bustling night market and soaking up the everyday warmth of city life.
"Xiao Xue, look! That sugar painting is so pretty!" Xiao Xiao's eyes sparkled as she tugged at Xue Yuheng's arm and pointed to a sugar-painting stall nearby.
Xue Yuheng and Xiao Xiao sat at a makeshift table with some grilled skewers ordered, while the busy owner prepared them nearby.
Xue Yuheng smiled and ruffled her hair. The conversation of two young men in Soul Master uniforms at the next table carried clearly to them.
One slapped his thigh, his voice full of rueful amusement. "This year's All-Continent Tournament was a real spectacle.
"I was at the main arena in Heaven Dou City a week ago. Xu Hao, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy's team leader, really disgraced the Sun Moon Empire!"
The other hurried to chime in, brimming with excitement. "You can say that again! In the final, that Ultimate Attribute Soul Emperor from Shrek completely crushed them. The trump-card Soul Tool he brought out was like paper, torn to shreds by one Soul Skill from that gorgeous girl!"
The ordinary people didn't understand much. They only cared about dazzling Soul Skills, and those six brilliant beams of light were still a hot topic among the spectators who had been there.
"Losing would've been bad enough, but he actually reported Shrek for cheating with drugs right there on the spot, claiming their sudden increase in strength came from banned substances. The tournament committee investigated immediately and found nothing. Instead, they dug up the bet he'd made with our Crown Prince before the tournament!"
"The bet was over that Level 7 Soul Tool! He made it in front of tens of thousands of spectators, so there was no way he could welsh on it. In the end, he had to hand it over, his face turning as purple as pig liver!"
"Our Douling Empire really made a name for itself this time! The Crown Prince was there in Heaven Dou City, and not only watched Shrek take the championship, but also got a Level 7 Soul Tool for free. The Sun Moon Empire took a huge fall this time. I hear even the Sun Moon Imperial Family sent people to hold them accountable!"
"And that's not all!" The young man who had spoken first lowered his voice and leaned closer, looking eager to share a juicy secret. "I've got a friend who worked security at the arena. He saw it with his own eyes!
"After the tournament, Xu Hao was still stubbornly refusing to accept defeat. He was backstage, cursing and grumbling that Shrek had played dirty, when he happened to run into Shrek's team leader."
"I heard she was an old-school Titled Douluo?"
"That's her! The powerful Titled Douluo lost her temper right there and cornered him by the back entrance, then beat him up. He was left bruised and battered, and didn't even have time to pull out his Soul Tool.
"If the people from Mingde Hall hadn't rushed over to plead for him, she might've broken his legs!"
"My God, that bad?"
"What do you mean, 'that bad'? He brought it on himself! You didn't know? Xu Hao and Shrek have been enemies for decades.
"He was a genius back then, too. He and an upperclassman from Shrek both fell for the same girl, but she chose the Shrek student. He's held a grudge ever since.
"He'd planned to use this tournament to finally wipe away the shame of his past, but instead he tried to steal a chicken and lost his rice—he lost his Soul Tool and got beaten up. He's destined to be second best for a thousand years, always stuck in Shrek's shadow!"
The two men traded stories about what they'd seen at the arena and the rumors making the rounds, embellishing every detail. Diners at the surrounding tables leaned over to join in, and soon Xu Hao's humiliating misfortunes had become the night market's hottest joke.
Xiao Xiao covered her mouth to stifle her giggles, her shoulders shaking. She picked up a freshly grilled lamb skewer and held it to Xue Yuheng's lips. "So Xu Hao has all those stories behind him! He's had such bad luck."
Xue Yuheng took a bite of grilled kidney and replied blandly, "He insisted on provoking us. We can't be blamed."
A young woman sat across from them.
She wore a simple white dress embroidered with tiny, ice-blue snowflakes along the hem.
Her silver-white hair fell loosely over her shoulders, her skin was almost translucent, and her ice-blue eyes were crystal clear.
After several months of development, her figure had begun to take shape.
She was Snow Empress, now transformed into Xue Qingwu.
With Xue Yuheng's help, she had not only survived her seven-hundred-thousand-year tribulation and become fully human, but her Martial Soul had also evolved into the God Level Goddess of Ice and Snow.
Xue Qingwu's fingers twitched. A layer of pale blue Soul Power, invisible to the naked eye, quietly spread out, sealing off the corner where the three of them sat from the outside world.
The clamor of voices vanished instantly.
"Qingwu, where have you been going these past few months?" Xue Yuheng asked with a smile.
"I went to see a few old friends. By the way, have you heard of Ten Thousand Beast Ridge, in the Star Luo Empire in the south of the continent?" Xue Qingwu's voice was cool yet gentle.
"I've heard of Ten Thousand Beast Ridge. What about it?" Xue Yuheng asked.
"I have a few friends there, but the Star Luo Empire carried out a massive manhunt, and they're now on the verge of extinction. I was thinking..." Even though Xue Qingwu had now completely become human, she still cared deeply about Soul Beasts.
"Bring them to Star Forest in my Douling Empire. I'll send people from the Offering Hall to escort them."
Nine months ago, the Douling Empire's Offering Hall hadn't even taken Xue Yuheng, the future Crown Prince, seriously.
That changed after his return this time, when Xue Yuheng brought out the ancient method of Martial Soul Evolution.
The Offering Hall, led by Heavenly Sun Douluo, the Elite Hall, the Soul Guidance Hall...
They had all submitted to Xue Yuheng. The old emperor's support had played no small part in it, either.
The Douling Royal Family—or, more precisely, Xue Yuheng's power—was now at its peak in four thousand years.
To certain people, a Limit Douluo was even more tempting than an elusive godhood.
"Thank you, Xiao Xue," Xue Qingwu said gratefully. She had thought Xue Yuheng wouldn't be willing to help.
On the Douluo Continent, Soul Beasts and humans had always been mortal enemies. Peaceful coexistence had seemed all but impossible.
Xiao Xiao munched on a grilled chicken wing, then suddenly looked up at Xue Yuheng, her face full of confusion.
She had been holding this question in for several days.
"Xiao Xue, why are we going to Tianzheng Academy? Wouldn't it be better to go straight to Shrek? With our strength, we could definitely get in."
Xue Yuheng picked up a napkin and gently wiped the grease from the corner of Xiao Xiao's mouth before answering slowly.
"First, its location. Tianzheng Academy and Shrek are in different places: one is on the Lima Plain, northwest of the Star Dou Forest, and the other is northeast of the Star Dou Forest. Apart from Shrek, Tianzheng Academy is the closest academy to the forest."
Xue Yuheng didn't explain further. He needed to go to the Star Dou Forest and test the waters.
It was related to his plan to unite the continent.
If they went to Shrek, it wouldn't be so easy to make things work.
"Second, Tianzheng Academy is highly competitive. It has a unique ranking system among its students, and I think it's worth learning from."
"Third, Tianzheng Academy admits students from every walk of life across the continent.
"The class conflict between nobles and commoners on the Douluo Continent is already deep-rooted. Shrek only accepts geniuses, but many of its students come from noble backgrounds.
"If we go there without thinking it through, Qingwu's identity could easily arouse suspicion.
"But Tianzheng Academy doesn't care about a student's background. It only values talent. We can use that to keep our identities hidden and give Qingwu time to adjust safely."
Xiao Xiao nodded in understanding.
Just then, a series of crisp footsteps approached.
A young woman in a gold outfit walked up to their table.
She had dazzling golden hair tied in a high ponytail, an air both heroic and noble, and a faint sacred aura surrounding her.
Xue Yuheng stood and smiled as he introduced her to the two women.
"This is our future upperclassman, Yu Mengdi.
"She's also a member of the elite hall of the Douling Empire."
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