On the way to the cafeteria, Qin Chuan and Meng Hongchen ran into Qian Renxue, who was wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
"Little bro, you've got a letter here. Mom sent it."
"Thanks."
"Oh, my sister-in-law's here too. Perfect timing—I'm hungry as well. Let's go eat together."
Qian Renxue dragged Meng Hongchen away. Meng Hongchen had wanted to stay by Qin Chuan's side every moment.
After watching the two women leave, Qin Chuan headed back to his dorm first. Only after closing the doors and windows did he open the letter from Bibi Dong.
There were only two things in the letter:
First, the eight large characters Qin Chuan had left hanging in the sky above Shrek Academy three months ago.
"A blood feud of ten thousand years, settled today."
The moment the message appeared, it set the entire continent ablaze.
There was no doubt about it: someone had declared war on Shrek Academy.
Some people also secretly pondered the meaning behind the words. A lineage had formed a feud with Shrek Academy ten thousand years ago, and now, ten thousand years later, its descendants were seeking revenge.
All kinds of theories were circulating. No matter which one was true, Shrek Academy took the matter very seriously. It had already sent people to investigate across the continent and would not let even the slightest clue slip by.
At present, Bibi Dong was in Shrek City. As the Hall Master of the Soul Hall, she was relatively safe.
Bibi Dong warned Qin Chuan to be extremely careful when entering the Douluo Continent, including Shrek City. The words he had left behind—"A blood feud of ten thousand years, settled today"—had caused such a tremendous stir that Shrek Academy was furious.
The three great empires had also dispatched people to investigate the matter in secret. If they discovered anything, they would nip it in the bud.
Qin Chuan understood. He was already mentally prepared to make enemies of Shrek Academy and the three great empires.
In Qin Chuan's eyes, they were all Snow Hatred Value, leaping around as they waited for him to harvest them.
Second, the latest developments at Shrek Academy.
For instance, the champion team in this year's freshman assessment had consisted of one One-Ring Soul Master and two Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters. In the finals, the two teams' Martial Soul Fusion Skills had clashed.
Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.
A familiar trio.
Qin Chuan gazed at the three names on the letter, all of them so familiar. His eyes lingered on Wang Dong's name for a little longer as he murmured, "I wonder how much Snow Hatred Value killing them would give me."
The rest of the letter contained basic information about the Inner Court Students at Shrek Academy. It was more or less the same as he remembered.
Qin Chuan put the letter away and then recalled that after absorbing the Million-Year Soul Bone, his physical strength had increased dramatically, but his Soul Power and other attributes had not improved.
"System, what's going on? Absorbing a Soul Bone should increase Soul Power. And this one was an unprecedented Million-Year Soul Bone."
"Ding-dong. The Million-Year Soul Bone the host absorbed this time surpasses every Soul Bone in history. You should know that Soul Beasts have basically become gods by the time they reach a million years of age. But ever since the Dragon God fell, Soul Beasts have lost the qualification to ascend to godhood. Therefore, only when the host reaches godhood will the Mountain Dragon King Million Year Torso Bone that fused with you help you take that step and advance to the realm of a God King. You can increase your Soul Power now if you wish, but the consequence would be... like a balloon bursting after being filled with more and more air."
After hearing this, Qin Chuan asked no more.
His thoughts turned to the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, which would be held in Star Luo City a year later. That would be where he began to make a name for himself across the continent.
Spring passed and autumn came; a year flashed by in an instant.
For nearly a year, Qin Chuan's life continued to alternate between studying how to make Soul Tools, flirting with Meng Hongchen, and cultivating at night.
He had not set foot on the Douluo Continent. He had remained in the Sun Moon Empire, where, just as Jing Hongchen had said, no one dared attempt an assassination in Bright Capital.
Ever since Jing Hongchen learned Qin Chuan's secret, he had invested even more in Spirit Hall. He had sent over many advanced Soul Tool blueprints, as well as some notes he had written about making Soul Tools, doing his part to promote Spirit Hall's development in the field.
Xuan Ziwen had also firmly established himself in Spirit Hall. With the help of the Immortal Herbs Qin Chuan had provided, he had recently broken through to become a Titled Douluo and advanced to Grade 9 Soul Engineer. His ninth Soul Ring was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast hunted personally by Qian Daoliu—a clear sign of how highly Xuan Ziwen was regarded.
It had proved that talent shone wherever it went.
One day, Jing Hongchen summoned Qin Chuan, Qian Renxue, and Ye Guyi to his office. Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were already waiting there.
Jing Hongchen rose and looked around at the five of them before speaking slowly. "I called you all together so suddenly today. I'm sure you know what this is about."
Qin Chuan spoke up. "The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament."
"Correct. That's exactly why I called you here."
Jing Hongchen nodded and continued, "The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament has a history of ten thousand years. For nearly the past thousand years, our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has always had to settle for second place, while Shrek Academy has held firmly to first for a thousand years."
At that, Xiao Hongchen furrowed his brow and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll make sure to win this year's championship for the academy and let Shrek Academy taste defeat for once."
Jing Hongchen patted Xiao Hongchen on the shoulder and smiled. "Don't let your guard down. Shrek Academy is not to be underestimated."
"You are the academy's strongest group in nearly a thousand years, and the group in whom we have placed the greatest hopes. I hope you won't let the academy down."
"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament will be held in Star Luo City in seven days. Go back and get your things ready; you'll be setting out shortly. The main team members are already gathered downstairs. Although you're reserve team members, you may still get a chance to compete."
One after another, the group left to get ready. Only Qin Chuan stayed behind.
"I'm going to set out alone. There are some things I need to take care of."
After considering this carefully, Jing Hongchen asked, "Does it have to do with Shrek Academy?"
Qin Chuan nodded without elaborating.
Ever since Jing Hongchen learned about Qin Chuan's background, he had been worried. Qin Chuan held a blood feud with Shrek Academy, and the three great empires were no different.
In a very real sense, Qin Chuan was the last member of Spirit Hall still in this world, having awakened in this era burdened with a deep blood feud.
On the other hand, as Jing Hongchen's grandson-in-law, he truly did not want Qin Chuan to put himself in danger.
But he knew that Spirit Hall, connected to another world, would undoubtedly be a tremendous help in the Sun Moon Empire's coming unification of the continent.
So the only thing Jing Hongchen could do was support Qin Chuan with all his might.
"Be careful above all else." Jing Hongchen patted Qin Chuan heavily on the shoulder.
"Mm. I'll be going."
After bidding Jing Hongchen farewell, Qin Chuan did not immediately return to his dorm. He had already packed his things beforehand.
After leaving the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and Bright Capital, Qin Chuan took off with a Flight Soul Tool on his back and flew toward the Mingdou Mountains.
At the same time, on the academy's athletic field.
The seven main team members—led by Ma Rulong, Lin Xi, Chen Fei, Li Yan, Chen An, Mika, and Xiao Xiafeng—had already been waiting for some time.
Qian Renxue, whose strength was that of a Soul Emperor, could have been included on the main team roster. But to keep her strength a secret, they had left her on the reserve team as a trump card.
When Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Qian Renxue, and Ye Guyi arrived on the athletic field, Qin Chuan was nowhere to be seen.
"Strange. Why hasn't my little bro come down yet?" Qian Renxue looked toward the dormitory building in confusion.
The others looked toward the dormitory building too.
"Could he be saving his grand entrance for last to surprise us?" Xiao Hongchen sneered.
But the next second, his younger sister Meng Hongchen stomped hard on his foot, making Xiao Hongchen grimace in pain.
"You're not even married yet, and you're already taking your wife's side this much."
Everyone laughed and thought nothing of it, simply assuming Qin Chuan had more things to pack.
Before long, Jing Hongchen walked over with a tall, burly old man whose short white hair was as bristly as steel needles.
Jing Hongchen introduced him to everyone. "Elder Ma, I'm sure none of you are strangers to him. On this trip to Star Luo City, you'll follow his instructions."
"Yes."
Everyone nodded.
Then Meng Hongchen asked, "Grandpa, where's Qin Chuan? Why didn't he come out with you?"
"I gave Qin Chuan a secret assignment at the last minute. You'll meet up with him once you reach Star Luo City."
A secret assignment?
One given to Qin Chuan at the last minute?
Everyone's minds began racing as they wondered what sort of assignment required Qin Chuan to leave ahead of them.
"All right. Qin Chuan probably went ahead to gather information about the competition. He's resourceful, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jing Hongchen's explanation put the others' doubts to rest.
Only Qian Renxue's brows remained furrowed. She had a feeling her little brother was about to do something earth-shattering.
Hearing her grandfather's explanation, the simple-minded Meng Hongchen finally accepted it.
Jing Hongchen did not give Qian Renxue a chance to press him. He promptly turned and left.
His behavior only made Qian Renxue more suspicious. Her little brother had not left with them because he had gone off alone to do something momentous.
But for the moment, Qian Renxue had no idea where he had gone.
Elder Ma puffed on his pipe and surveyed the group before nodding. "There's no time to waste. Let's set out and try to reach Star Luo City as soon as possible."
The group did not hesitate. Once they had left the academy and Bright Capital, Flight Soul Tools unfolded from their backs, and they all sped toward the Mingdou Mountains.
Shrek Academy, at the entrance.
The main team members were Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, Ling Luochеn, Yao Haoxuan, Gongyang Mo, and Xixi.
The reserve team members were Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong.
Teacher Wang Yan was leading the team, while Xuan Zi was secretly responsible for protecting everyone.
Ever since the tragedy back then, Xuan Zi had rarely drunk. Now, standing in front of the group and looking at the fourteen competitors lined up before him, his heart was filled with conflicting emotions.
"Children, before we set out, there's a task you need to complete."
Before you continue