The Road Ahead

The boy thought that if his parents were still alive, that man would never have dared treat him this way.

Could losing both parents be the fate of every transmigrator?

Xu Tinglan's hair carried a faint golden sheen. His face was handsome, as elegant as an orchid and jade tree, while his posture stood tall and straight as a pine.

Yet his expression was somewhat gloomy at the moment.

The boy shook his head.

He temporarily cast aside those unpleasant thoughts and continued considering his path ahead.

The past was gone. The living should still look toward the road before them.

As everyone knew, once the Mysterious Underworld Turtle made up for the flaws in its martial soul, it could undergo a second awakening.

He knew that the energy contained within Immortal Herbs, Soul Spirits, and Life Gold could achieve this. However, Yin-Yang Attribute Metal contained the essence of Sun Moon as well, and its energy could not be underestimated.

Xu Tinglan knew of several kinds of Yin-Yang Attribute Metal.

He was only troubled by the lack of a method to fuse them with himself.

Though he did not know how, he remembered that someone did.

Xu Tinglan knew of a Level 10 Soul Master named Silver Moon Douluo Kong Deming, who had created the unprecedented Human-Tool Unity!

He suspected that this man had invented the Soul Forging Method.

Soul Forging could grant metal vitality and a soul. It could make a Soul Tool and a Soul Master merge as one.

That aligned with Kong Deming's philosophy.

Once he mastered Spirit Forging and Soul Forging, what difference would there be between Soul Tools and soul rings or soul bones?

Xu Tinglan remembered.

Ye Xishui's martial soul, the Blood Soul Demon Puppet, had fused with the core of the Soul Tool, the Death God Tower.

And with his advantage of knowing future forging methods, perhaps Spirit Forging and Soul Forging could appear ahead of time!

Through forging methods, he could forge another path and fuse Yin-Yang Attribute Metal!

With Yin-Yang essence as the core, he could make up for the shortcomings of his martial soul.

He would transform it into the Holy Beast Black Tortoise, supreme over the world and capable of suppressing the seas!

Didn't Great Emperor Black Tortoise from mythological tales also possess Dharma Treasures—the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag and the Demon-Severing Monster-Slaying Sword?

He could draw upon the myths of his previous life and forge his own Demon-Severing Monster-Slaying Sword!

It would grow alongside him, evolving all the way into a divine artifact, a Dharma Treasure!

The more Xu Tinglan thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

Therefore,

the choice in his heart was obvious: Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

The Sun Moon Empire happened to have no prejudice based on family background, and a considerable number of Soul Masters there came from the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

Xuan Ziwen, Long Xiaoyao, Ye Xishui... all were like that.

The Mysterious Underworld Sect was not close to the Dou Ling Empire either, nor did it have any conflict with Sun Moon.

Of course,

Xu Tinglan would not take only one path. He knew the Mysterious Underworld Sect's secret inheritance technique.

The boy did not consider himself an old-fashioned person. He did not mind using Yin-Yang union for a second awakening, so long as both parties liked each other.

Besides, the union of Yin and Yang followed the natural order. The Black Tortoise itself symbolized longevity and reproduction.

He stood before a familiar door and knocked.

"Nannan, it's me."

After what had happened earlier, Xu Tinglan had already decided to go to Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

Before leaving, however, he wanted to tell Jiang Nannan and see whether she was willing to go with him.

Deep down, he believed Jiang Nannan was actually better suited to become a Soul Engineer.

"Brother Lan!"

The Golden-Haired Girl's surprised voice rang out.

"Come in quickly."

Their eyes met, and they smiled at one another before entering the house one after the other.

"Little Lan is here."

The golden-haired beautiful woman smiled warmly, brewed two cups of kumquat tea, and gestured for them to try it.

Xu Tinglan looked at the woman's rosy cheeks.

He could not help feeling suspicious.

If he remembered correctly, Mother Jiang had a congenital heart condition.

Yet her complexion was excellent, and there was not the slightest sign of illness.

Still, it was no great concern. He had two Black Tortoise Divine Pills, though this kind of pill could only be taken once in a lifetime.

Jiang Nannan watched the boy stare at her mother.

For some reason, she felt a little uncomfortable inside.

The girl quietly reached out and lightly pinched the boy's thigh.

"What are you doing?"

Xu Tinglan looked confused as he turned to the girl in puzzlement.

She said nothing, only pursed her lips.

Watching their little movements beneath the table, the woman covered her mouth and could not help laughing.

"Ah!"

When Jiang Nannan saw her mother's reaction, she quickly understood.

Her little move under the table had been seen perfectly clearly by her mother.

Two blushes drifted onto the girl's charming face.

She took a small sip of kumquat tea.

Pretending to remain composed, the girl changed the subject.

"Brother Lan."

"I was planning to look for you yesterday, but I didn't know where your home was."

"What is it?"

Seeing the girl's adorable, pink little face, Xu Tinglan's mood improved considerably.

"I graduated successfully from Jiangshui Primary Soul Master Academy. I met a teacher from Shrek Academy, and she gave me a letter of recommendation."

Jiang Nannan took out a letter from the desk behind her and waved it in her hand.

"Let me see."

"Here."

The boy accepted the recommendation letter and gave it a rough look.

With this letter, she was qualified to take Shrek's entrance assessment.

Mother Jiang rubbed her temples, her expression looking somewhat unwell.

"This morning, I also met people claiming to be from the Mysterious Underworld Sect. They invited Nannan to join them."

"But after thinking it over again and again, I still chose to refuse."

Upon hearing this, Xu Tinglan's brows furrowed slightly.

The Mysterious Underworld Sect had indeed noticed Jiang Nannan's talent.

Their invitation for Jiang Nannan to join was certainly meant to cultivate her favor and loyalty.

Xu Tinglan remembered his parents mentioning before.

The Mysterious Underworld Turtle's second awakening depended not only on one's own talent, but also on a partner's innate aptitude and feelings.

"Auntie has heard of the Mysterious Underworld Sect as well?"

Xu Tinglan asked.

Mother Jiang nodded lightly.

"Her father and I joined a Soul Master team in our younger years. I heard about the Mysterious Underworld Sect during our conversations."

"I remember it being a reclusive sect, but it did not have a good reputation."

Jiang Nannan also said softly,

"Mysterious Underworld Sect... what a frightening name. It doesn't sound like a righteous sect."

"Compared to the Mysterious Underworld Sect, I would definitely choose Shrek."

Hearing the girl's assessment, Xu Tinglan found it hard to keep a straight face.

"Actually, there are good people in the Mysterious Underworld Sect too."

"Hm?"

Mother Jiang and Jiang Nannan turned back to look at him, their faces filled with surprise.

"That's right. My parents were members of the Mysterious Underworld Sect."

Xu Tinglan admitted it openly.

He had never intended to hide it. They simply had never asked.

The expression on Jiang Nannan's little face became even more animated, and she suddenly blurted out,

"Come to think of it, Mysterious Underworld Sect is actually a pretty good name. It sounds quite cool."

"Brother Lan, don't mind what I said."

The boy forced a smile, and his tone became somewhat subdued.

"It's just that people from the Mysterious Underworld Sect told me to get lost this morning."

"What a horrible sect!"

Jiang Nannan reached out and held the boy's hand, silently comforting him.

Mother Jiang watched her daughter's comical string of changing expressions.

She could not help shaking her head, but knowing her daughter was thin-skinned, she did not intend to expose her.

"Little Lan, what did your parents say?"

Xu Tinglan fell silent for a moment, his tone deliberately calm.

"My parents died while carrying out a mission."

Jiang Nannan sat beside him with her head lowered, tears welling in her eyes.

"Ah."

Mother Jiang pulled him into her arms to comfort him. "Nannan's father died resisting a beast tide."

"I do not have any grand wishes. I only hope she can remain safe."

"Your parents must have felt the same way."

He leaned against Mother Jiang's embrace.

Listening to her steady, powerful heartbeat, Xu Tinglan, already grieving inside, suddenly had a terrifying thought for no reason at all.