Heaven Dou Royal Academy

Jiang Huai and Gu Yue spent another year at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. During that year, Jiang Huai refined an incredibly powerful pill.

He called this pill the Emperor Heart Pill. After taking it, a trace of Imperial Dragon Qi would briefly appear around the user, but it would last only one shichen—two hours.

The Imperial Dragon Qi increased every one of the user's physical attributes by as much as three hundred percent. If a Soul King took it, they could contend with a Soul Saint. This boost applied to all attributes regardless of Soul Power Level.

Some time ago, while digging up Immortal Herbs, Jiang Huai had discovered the dragon vein of the Heaven Dou Empire. Without damaging it, he extracted a tiny sliver of the vein and placed it in his pill furnace.

Then, using the heat of the extreme Yang Spring to crush dozens of medicinal ingredients, he finally produced this single Emperor Heart Pill.

Jiang Huai had made eight pills in total, but the rest had turned to black charcoal. Only one remained, its surface marked with dragon patterns.

Jiang Huai gave the pill to Gu Yue. A few days earlier, the Goddess of Life had told him that the first Asura God had once wielded the Sword of the Three Realms Judgment. That strike had split the Dragon God in two: the Golden Dragon King had been sealed in a forbidden place in the Divine Realm, while Gu Yuena had suffered grave injuries.

Jiang Huai hoped the pill could help Gu Yue recover. He had been by her side for nearly seven years, and during that time, the restorative power of his first Soul Skill, Hamburger, had already healed all her serious injuries.

In Gu Yue's eyes, Jiang Huai was the only person capable of inheriting the Food God's divine position. The Food God, a Second-Level God in the Divine Realm, thought so too. But when Jiang Huai's ancestor and the God of Destruction got involved, the Food God immediately abandoned the idea.

Three days later, Jiang Huai gave the pill recipe to Dugu Bo. Dugu Bo also allowed him to take some of the herbs. Jiang Huai nodded and took only one Immortal Herb, the flower king Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

Dugu Bo didn't know what the flower was for. Although Jiang Huai had told him about the plants and flowers at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo wasn't the sort of person to be startled into taking a closer look.

So Dugu Bo had left the pill recipe and his knowledge of Immortal Herbs to gather dust. Meanwhile, Jiang Huai took Gu Yue and left the Sunset Forest for Heaven Dou City.

Since Flender had already brought the students and teachers here, his temperament meant he would either go back or be persuaded to stay by the others.

So Jiang Huai and Gu Yue wandered the streets of Heaven Dou City. The curtain of the most luxurious carriage on the road was lifted, and a refined-looking man in Heaven Dou Royal attire gazed at Jiang Huai greedily.

He could tell Jiang Huai's Soul Power and age. At just thirteen, Jiang Huai was close to becoming a Soul King. If he could recruit him, Spirit Hall would rise to an even higher level.

Jiang Huai had no idea he was being watched. He was simply out shopping with Gu Yue on the streets of Heaven Dou City.

The world was a small place. Sometimes, you ran into exactly the person you wanted to see. Jiang Huai and Gu Yue spotted Dai Mubai.

Jiang Huai and Gu Yue went over to greet him. Dai Mubai was delighted to see Jiang Huai again, so he took them to their academy in Heaven Dou City.

It wasn't Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but Shrek Academy, renamed from the former Blue Tyrant Academy. The current vice dean was Liu Erlong, the former dean of Blue Tyrant Academy. Dai Mubai also said that the Golden Iron Triangle had reunited.

Jiang Huai nodded and followed Dai Mubai, holding Gu Yue's hand. Dai Mubai told him that his Soul Power Level had reached thirty-eight.

Jiang Huai smiled. "Mubai, take me to see everyone. Gather them together. I've brought you all gifts."

Dai Mubai nodded and led Jiang Huai and Gu Yue to a wooden cabin. He said it was where Vice Dean Liu used to rest.

Dai Mubai soon left to fetch everyone. Jiang Huai and Gu Yue looked around inside and spotted a photograph of Liu Erlong with a woman Jiang Huai found familiar.

Jiang Huai studied it in confusion. Gu Yue came over for a closer look and also thought he looked a lot like the woman.

Soon, the former members of Shrek arrived, along with Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang.

Liu Erlong froze when she saw Jiang Huai's face. She thought of her dear friend Lin Ruoyu, who had married the current Jiang King and become Princess Jiang. Less than two years after the wedding, the couple's youngest son had gone missing. The Jiang King had flown into a rage and dispatched the strongest military force in the Star Luo Empire at the time, the Changkong Divine Machine Battalion.

Since Liu Erlong had been friends with Lin Ruoyu, she knew the whole story of what had happened in Jiang Kingdom.

Yu Xiaogang nodded at Jiang Huai and smiled. "Well, it's good to have you back."

Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a few words with him, then the brothers crowded around, embracing him and bumping fists.

Jiang Huai told them he'd brought gifts, and their eyes lit up.

He didn't keep them waiting. Taking out the pills he'd refined over the past year, he reached into the pouch at his waist. Several pills flew out.

Their appearance filled the room with a rich medicinal fragrance. Jiang Huai explained, "I've prepared a pill for each of you."

He continued, "I made two pills for Fatty. They'll help him break through and strengthen his physique. They'll also suppress his Evil Fire completely, so it won't flare up again."

Flender asked with concern, "Will they harm his body?"

Jiang Huai shook his head. "No, they'll only do him good. You all know what a stroke of luck it is for a fire-attribute Soul Master to raise the temperature of their flames, right?"

Jiang Huai reached into the air, and two red pills dropped into his hand. He gave them to Ma Hongjun. "One is the Pure Yang Pill, and the other is the Phoenix Transformation Pill. Take them both, then sit cross-legged on the floor and refine them."

Ma Hongjun accepted the pills with trembling hands. Tears brimmed in his eyes as he choked out, "Thank you, thank you, Brother Huai. From now on, I'll follow your lead in everything."

Jiang Huai laughed. "Ha ha! What you need to do now is raise your Soul Power Level."

Ma Hongjun nodded. "I understand."

Just as Ma Hongjun was about to leave, Jiang Huai stopped him. "Wait until everyone else has received their pills. Don't be so rude."

Ma Hongjun turned around, grinned, and returned to where he'd been standing. Flender could only shake his head at him.

As he spoke, Jiang Huai reached toward the pills floating in the air. "Mubai, the pill I've prepared for you is important. You said you're already at level thirty-eight, didn't you? I'll raise you another two levels and help you master the complete Indestructible Diamond Body."

A Diamond Body Tempering Pill soon appeared in Jiang Huai's hand. He gave it to Dai Mubai, then turned his gaze to Oscar.

Jiang Huai smiled and raised a hand. Another pill floated down. "Oscar, the pill I've made for you can raise you four levels. You're currently at level thirty-three, so I'll take you to level thirty-seven and make you a Soul Elder."

A Marrow Cleansing Pill appeared in Jiang Huai's hand. He gave it to Oscar, then looked at Tang San.

Tang San called out, "Brother Huai." Jiang Huai stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder. "My little brother is very talented too—a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power. Have you hit a bottleneck with your control? The pill I'm giving you today is called the Foundation Establishment Pill. It can improve your mental strength and enhance your control."

Jiang Huai gave Tang San the pill, then turned his gaze to Xiao Wu. He smiled and said, "Everyone knows Xiao Wu is my little sister. Today, I'm going to preserve her youth forever. This pill is called the Everlasting Spring Pill. It can keep you young and even raise your Soul Power Level by a few levels."

After giving the pill to Xiao Wu, Jiang Huai looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhu Zhuqing, we haven't had much to do with each other, but we're on the same team. The pill I'm giving you can evolve your Martial Soul, but you'll need the perseverance to see it through. If you use your own way to unlock its potential, this pill can elevate your Martial Soul. Are you willing to try?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded firmly. "I want to become stronger, so I'll try."

Jiang Huai nodded and handed her the Ghost Shadow Pill. Zhu Zhuqing accepted it and held it carefully in both hands.

Jiang Huai looked at Ning Rongrong. "Things haven't always been smooth between us, but you stayed and showed me that you could let us protect you. So the pill I'm giving you now is important and will help you greatly. It might even let you break through an entire major realm."

Ning Rongrong looked at Jiang Huai in confusion. He didn't need her to answer. He simply squeezed his fingers together in the air, and a pale green pill appeared in his hand.

Jiang Huai smiled. "I refined four of these pills. I originally made eight, but four broke during the process. One was damaged, and three turned out perfectly. All of them are for you."

Ning Rongrong stared at the four pills in her hand in disbelief. Jiang Huai explained, "The damaged one is still edible; it just won't work as well. But remember why I named it the Heaven Mending Pill. Taking it can correct congenital deficiencies and might even change your Martial Soul. You can take only one perfect pill; its enhancement is permanent. You can take the damaged one more than once, but it will only provide Soul Power."

Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Zhao Wuji, and Liu Erlong had all received their pills. Jiang Huai took Lovesick Heartbreak Red out of his soul tool. Tang San's eyes widened when he saw the Immortal Herb.

But Tang San set aside his greed and stepped forward to tell them the flower's tragic story.

Then everyone turned to Jiang Huai and Gu Yue. Tang San said, "The stone beneath the flower is called Wu Jue. Only someone who loves one person with all their heart can truly pluck this flower."

Jiang Huai understood what Tang San meant and handed the flower to Gu Yue. She looked at it in confusion, unsure what to do.

Tang San told her to let a drop of blood fall on it. If the flower truly chose her, Wu Jue would come loose on its own.

At his words, Gu Yue let a drop of blood fall. Lovesick Heartbreak Red began to glow red.

The light flickered once, and everyone thought it was going to fail. But then Wu Jue came loose, and Jiang Huai caught the stone.

Lovesick Heartbreak Red had been plucked successfully. Jiang Huai smiled, and Gu Yue beamed as she hugged him and leapt up.

Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with envy. The two of them had also been thwarted by fate; otherwise, they would have married long ago.