Five Years

Xu Yuan, Hu Liena, and Gui Mei stayed in Holy Soul Village for three months before returning to Spirit City.

After returning, Xu Yuan advanced to the third grade.

After all, he was now a two-ring Soul Grandmaster.

As expected, Milk Tea sold like hotcakes, though its sales were somewhat lower than Happy Water's.

Still, it was deeply loved by the Empire's noblewomen, some of whom even drank it as water every day.

Spirit Hall made a fortune from it, and the mid- and upper-level officials all filled their coffers.

According to Pope Bibi Dong, over the past two months, the number of memorials reporting corruption and bribery had fallen by nearly ninety percent.

After all, corruption and bribery only brought in so much money, and they came with risks.

But by helping the Hall sell Milk Tea and Happy Water, they received hefty commissions without taking any risks. It was all legitimate, lawful income.

Of course, there were still some who made money while secretly reaching their hands outside.

But before long, they were seized by the Punishment Hall under the Worship Hall and publicly executed.

Back when the Hall had no money, you needed to live, so the Hall could turn a blind eye to minor graft. But now that there was money and you still pulled this kind of thing, that was a problem with your character.

The more serious offenders were executed outright, while those guilty of lesser offenses were sent to Slaughter Town to guard Slaughter City.

As Spirit Hall flourished and grew stronger by the day, the Two Empires did not remain idle either.

They issued edicts far and wide to recruit talent.

After Spirit Hall's forceful coercion of the Heaven Dou Empire last time, they had come to understand that iron had to be hard before it could strike others.

Spirit Hall's many Title Douluo were a sharp blade hanging over the heads of the Empire's nobility, and they needed shields to match them.

The Two Empires began frantically recruiting all kinds of talented Soul Masters and searching everywhere for children who had yet to awaken their Martial Souls, helping them undergo Martial Soul Awakening.

As the three great powers competed against one another, the common people instead gained a few small conveniences.

The most notable changes were the reforms at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and Star Luo Royal Academy.

The two academies, once open only to nobles, were now also open to talented commoners.

They also established scholarship benefits for commoners. Civilian students with outstanding performance could receive generous rewards.

And after graduation, they could directly enter imperial service. The higher their cultivation, the more important their position.

This series of measures truly caused Spirit Hall no small amount of trouble.

The influx of fresh blood joining Spirit Hall visibly dropped by nearly a third compared to before.

The reason was simple.

Spirit Hall had indeed done many good things for commoners before, but now the Two Empires had begun doing the same. If they could receive the same, or even greater, benefits without going so far from home, who would still want to join Spirit Hall?

Behind the scenes, blades flashed and swords crossed. On the surface, everyone remained cordial.

All three powers developed steadily.

And so—

Five years passed in a flash.

Spirit City.

The Spirit City of today was vastly different from the Spirit City of the past. Although there were still quite a few stalls selling Soul Beast pelts, claws, and fangs along the streets, there were even more food stalls of every kind.

There were stalls selling Happy Water, Milk Tea, Latiao, Silkworm Potato, rice noodles...

Other than selling themselves, people sold just about everything. It was incredibly lively.

Take a casual stroll through the streets, and you were guaranteed to gain three or four pounds.

Farther out lay Spirit City's gates.

At this moment, a group stood outside the gates, fully equipped and ready to depart. The leader was none other than Yue Guan, dressed in golden armor.

After all these years, his appearance had not changed much. He still looked as soft and effeminate as ever.

More than twenty people followed behind him, including over a dozen Archbishops.

Then came the Golden Generation Team, whose fame had eclipsed all others at Spirit Academy over the past few years.

There were seven people in total.

Captain Xu Yuan, a level thirty-eight Assault System Battle Soul Master.

Vice-captain Hu Liena, a level forty-five Assault System Battle Soul Master.

Team member Xie Yue, a level forty-two Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master.

Team member Yan, a level thirty-nine Assault System Battle Soul Master.

Team member Xu Hu, a level thirty-one Assault System Battle Soul Master.

Team member Yu Xian, a level twenty-six Assault System Battle Soul Master.

Team member Lin Yuwei, a level thirty-seven Support System Tool Soul Master.

Unlike conventional lineups that combined Assault System, Agility Attack System, Control System, Support System, and Defense System Soul Masters, they followed the path of extreme offense.

Anyone who had played games knew that while balanced development was certainly reliable, playing by the book only got you beaten.

Only an extreme build could claim the top spot!

Five years later, Xu Yuan had grown to over 1.7 meters tall. His long hair was tied atop his head with a white jade crown, the rest flowing down behind him.

He wore an ornate robe completely out of place with everyone else's attire, giving him an ethereal, immortal air.

Hu Liena had not changed much from before. She had grown taller, and her figure had become even better. Looking down, she could not see her toes at all.

Having shed her childish innocence, she had become far more mature and alluring, her charm greater than ever.

"Everyone's here, so let me say a few words."

Yue Guan lightly coughed into his clenched right fist.

"This trip to the Heaven Dou Empire is by invitation, for study and exchange. Remember not to stir up trouble recklessly.

If others provoke us, we won't start trouble, but we won't fear it either.

In short, don't hide from trouble when it comes. We cannot tarnish Spirit Academy's reputation!"

Xu Yuan let out an exasperated cry.

"Elder Yue, hurry it up. Every time, you drag it out and keep talking forever. Pick up the pace, got it?

It's always the same old three lines. You aren't tired of saying it, but we're tired of hearing it.

You still don't trust us to handle things? Just put your heart at ease. We'll make sure everything is perfectly proper."

Hu Liena nodded in agreement. "Xiao Yuan is right!"

Yue Guan: "..."

What did she mean, this brat was right? He was most worried about this brat. Everything that had happened over the years—

Those were all bloody proofs!

Take that time they received word to surround and suppress a group of evil Soul Masters. They had agreed beforehand to attack together and coordinate properly.

Yet as soon as this brat arrived, he was like a wild dog off its leash, flashing forward alone in a blur.

You were a long-range Assault System Soul Master, yet you charged faster and farther ahead than close-combat fighters. What the hell was wrong with you?

Then, in less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea—

A group of battered, bruised evil Soul Masters came running out crying for their fathers and mothers, asking to turn themselves in. They said their sins were too grave and that they were willing to be imprisoned in Slaughter City.

Just look at how vicious he was. Even evil Soul Masters feared him.

How could Yue Guan not be cautious?

Still, he had watched them grow up. How could Yue Guan fail to understand Hu Liena's feelings?

Whatever Xu Yuan said, she said it was good.

With a sigh, Yue Guan rubbed his aching temples and waved toward the outside of the city.

"Depart!"

This time, they were going for study and exchange, while also showing the Heaven Dou Empire a little of their strength, so they traveled by ox cart.

Though it was called a cart, it looked more like a moving palace.

The entire vehicle was a cube over twenty meters on each side, pulled by seven thousand-year Iron-Horned Giant Rhinoceroses. It could travel a hundred li in a day.

When it ran, it rumbled with deafening force, a truly spectacular sight.