At that moment, after hearing Nanmen Yun'er's answer, Ning Tian and Wu Feng both felt a little helpless.
It was a shame Nanmen Yun'er hadn't asked the other person's name. Otherwise, they could have confirmed whether it was Ning Feng.
Although they still couldn't be completely certain, both Ning Tian and Wu Feng felt that there was an eighty or ninety percent chance it was Ning Feng.
So they didn't ask anything more.
"Yun'er, let's go. We'll head back to the dorm first." Ning Tian reached out and supported Nanmen Yun'er by her uninjured arm.
Wu Feng walked on the other side and picked up Nanmen Yun'er's bag from the ground.
But just as the three of them had turned and taken a few steps, an old-sounding voice came from behind them.
"Wait."
Ning Tian stopped and looked back.
An old man with messy hair was walking toward them.
He wore a dusty gray robe stained with grease, and held a half-eaten chicken leg in his hand.
He looked rather unkempt, but his eyes were bright.
"Elder Xuan." Ning Tian and Wu Feng bowed at the same time.
Nanmen Yun'er quickly lowered her head as well.
Xuan Zi came up to the three of them, took a bite of his chicken leg, chewed a few times, and said indistinctly, "I happened to be passing by and overheard your conversation."
He looked at Nanmen Yun'er and asked, "Young lady, did you say the person who saved you really was that powerful?"
Nanmen Yun'er was taken aback, then nodded earnestly. "Yes, Elder Xuan."
"Then tell me more about it," Xuan Zi said. "Start from the beginning, and don't leave anything out."
Nanmen Yun'er glanced at Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Seeing that they didn't seem to mind, she took a deep breath and began recounting the story.
"After I left home, I traveled alone along the road through the Great Rock Forest."
"On the third day, I ran into a group of Evil Soul Masters. There were about ten of them."
Xuan Zi furrowed his brow. "About ten? And you were alone?"
Nanmen Yun'er nodded. "I tried to run, but they blocked the route. I used my Martial Soul to fly for a while, but they still caught up with me."
"My Soul Power was too low, and I couldn't keep going for long. I was injured, too. I thought I was going to die."
"Just then, someone suddenly rushed out from the side and stood in front of me."
Nanmen Yun'er's voice grew more animated as she spoke.
"After he released his Martial Soul, his body changed. Two heads grew from his shoulders, and four arms from beneath his armpits. With his original two arms, that made six."
Xuan Zi stopped chewing and narrowed his eyes. "Three Heads and Six Arms?"
"Yes," Nanmen Yun'er said. "He looked to be around thirty-something levels."
"But facing an Evil Soul Master around level thirty-five or thirty-six, he blew the man's head apart with a single punch."
Xuan Zi's expression changed.
He held the chicken leg in his hand without taking another bite, staring at Nanmen Yun'er as he asked, "One punch?"
"One punch," Nanmen Yun'er confirmed. "That Evil Soul Master didn't even have time to react."
"Then the remaining nine Evil Soul Masters attacked him together, but he still held his own."
"He had two helpers, too. One had a Snow Lotus Martial Soul and could heal and disrupt the enemy, while the other had an ice-type Martial Soul and could restrain them."
"It didn't take long for him to kill all ten Evil Soul Masters."
Xuan Zi stood silently for a moment after hearing her out.
His eyes gleamed with excitement. "That powerful?"
He raised his head and looked at Nanmen Yun'er. "Did you ask which academy he was from?"
"I did," Nanmen Yun'er said, "but he wouldn't tell me. He didn't even give me his name. He left with the two girls."
Xuan Zi frowned, but soon relaxed again.
"Doesn't matter. That Martial Soul is enough to track him down," he muttered. "There isn't another Martial Soul like Three Heads and Six Arms anywhere on the entire continent."
"We have to bring a genius like that into Shrek Academy..."
Ning Tian and Wu Feng stood to one side, saying nothing.
At that point, Wu Feng gently nudged Ning Tian's arm and gave her a look.
The meaning was clear: Should they tell Elder Xuan the truth?
Ning Tian gave a slight shake of her head, signaling her not to say anything.
Wu Feng glanced at her, puzzled, but kept quiet.
Xuan Zi didn't notice the silent exchange between the two girls.
He took another bite of his chicken leg and chewed a few times before saying to Nanmen Yun'er, "All right, young lady. The information you gave me is important. Go back and get some rest."
Nanmen Yun'er answered softly.
Xuan Zi turned and walked away, muttering to himself as he went.
Only after Xuan Zi had disappeared at the end of the path did Ning Tian continue toward the dorm with Nanmen Yun'er.
After Nanmen Yun'er had returned to her dorm,
Wu Feng pulled Ning Tian outside and asked, "Miss, why did you shake your head just now? Why not tell Elder Xuan that he might be the young master?"
Ning Tian thought for a moment, then answered quietly, "We still can't be sure that person is my brother."
Wu Feng said, "Three Heads and Six Arms, a boy around our age—could there be anyone else with that Martial Soul?"
"Even if it really is him," Ning Tian continued, "what good would it do to tell Elder Xuan?"
Wu Feng was taken aback.
Ning Tian explained, "You know perfectly well that my brother ran away from home because he didn't want to come to Shrek."
"Father tried everything to persuade him, but it didn't work. He even confined him, and my brother smashed through a wall to escape."
"With his temper, even if Elder Xuan went to find him in person, he wouldn't change his mind."
"If Elder Xuan went and he refused, it would be awkward for both of them."
"Elder Xuan would lose face, and my brother would have another problem to deal with."
Wu Feng considered this, then nodded. "You're right. Better not to say anything."
Ning Tian sighed. "Besides, my brother has probably joined the Body Sect by now, and the people there will surely protect him. If Elder Xuan really went to demand that they hand him over, it could even cause a conflict."
"Forget it. Let's stay out of this."
Wu Feng gave a quiet acknowledgment and didn't bring it up again.
On the other side, Xuan Zi didn't return to his quarters. Instead, he went straight to the Shrek Inspectorate's office.
He pushed open the door, tossed the chicken bone in his hand into the trash can in the corner, and sat down behind the desk.
Someone was already waiting in the office.
A tall, cool-looking woman stood beside the desk, holding a stack of files.
A faint chill surrounded her. She was Ling Luochеn, an inner-court student.
Hearing the door open, Ling Luochеn turned around. When she saw Xuan Zi come in, she nodded politely. "Elder Xuan."
She placed the files in her hands on the desk and said, "I've finished compiling the report on the inspectorate mission I was in charge of last time. Would you like to review it now?"
Xuan Zi glanced at the files and waved a hand. "Put the report aside for now. There's no rush."
Ling Luochеn waited where she was for him to continue.
Xuan Zi leaned back in his chair, tapped the desk twice with his fingers, and said, "Luochеn, I have a new mission for you."
Ling Luochеn's expression didn't change. "What is it?"
"Leave for the Heaven Dou Empire at once," Xuan Zi said.
Ling Luochеn asked, "Where exactly?"
"Search the area between the Great Rock Forest and Heavenly Soul Imperial City," Xuan Zi said. "Focus especially on the Great Rock Forest and its surroundings. Evil Soul Masters have been spotted there recently, and someone saw the target in that area."
Ling Luochеn nodded, then asked, "What's the mission objective?"
Xuan Zi sat up straight, his expression turning serious.
"Find a Soul Master with the Three Heads and Six Arms Martial Soul. A boy, around twelve or thirteen years old. His Soul Power Level should be above thirty, and he has strong combat skills."
He paused, then added, "According to the witness, he can kill a level-thirty-five Evil Soul Master with one punch. Once you find him, don't approach him rashly. Observe him from the shadows and assess his combat ability."
Ling Luochеn asked, "How should I assess it?"
"Use your judgment," Xuan Zi said. "You can find an opportunity to spar with him or watch him fight someone else. In any case, you need to confirm his true strength."
"What if his talent really is as exceptional as the rumors say?" Ling Luochеn asked.
Xuan Zi answered without hesitation, "Then, on behalf of Shrek Academy, formally invite him to join."
Ling Luochеn asked again, "What if he refuses?"
Xuan Zi frowned, fell silent for a few seconds, then waved a hand. "Find him first. A genius like that won't refuse once he sees the resources Shrek has to offer. Set out as soon as possible. Don't let anyone else get to him first."
"Understood." Ling Luochеn nodded.
She pushed open the door and left.
Ling Luochеn glanced in the direction of the Heaven Dou Empire. Soul Power surged beneath her feet, and she shot northward like a streak of blue light.
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