Ning Fengzhi now regarded Lin Yi as a treasure of the sect, and as the greatest contributor to solving a problem that had plagued them for centuries. Naturally, he had no reason to refuse. He simply reminded Lin Yi again and again to be careful, and asked him to tell Ning Rongrong that all was well at home so she could focus on her cultivation.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin still escorted him personally.
This time, he made no effort to conceal his movements. He summoned the Seven Kill Sword and carried Lin Yi through the air on it.
A Super Douluo at level ninety-six could fly on his sword with breathtaking speed. Mountains and rivers rushed backward beneath them, and in just over half a day, they had reached the outskirts of Suotuo City.
However, when the two of them found the familiar village by following their memories, all they saw was a desolate scene, with no one in sight. The already humble school buildings had fallen into even greater disrepair, and weeds grew everywhere. There was no trace of an academy left.
"Hmm? They've moved?" Chen Xin furrowed his brows slightly.
Lin Yi understood. Given the time, Shrek and the others should indeed have arrived in Heaven Dou City and settled into the new Shrek Academy, renamed from Blue Tyrant Academy.
He deliberately put on a thoughtful look and said to Chen Xin, "Teacher, Dean Flender and the others may have moved to Heaven Dou City to seek better opportunities, with the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament coming up.
"I remember there's an academy in Heaven Dou City called Blue Tyrant, and it has ties to the dean. Perhaps they went there."
Chen Xin nodded, without a hint of suspicion.
The sword flashed again, turning toward Heaven Dou City.
The capital of the Heaven Dou Empire was far more prosperous than Suotuo City. Following the directions they had gathered, the two soon found a sizable cluster of academy buildings in the western part of the city. On a brand-new sign, five bold, flowing characters read: Shrek Academy!
Sensing several familiar auras within the academy, Chen Xin brought Lin Yi straight down into the grounds.
Their arrival immediately alerted the academy's senior staff. Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji soon came out to greet them.
Seeing Sword Douluo himself, they were all taken aback and hurried forward to bow respectfully.
"Your Excellency, Sword Douluo!" Flender pushed up his glasses, a polished, professional smile spreading across his face. "We didn't know you were coming, so we failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive us!"
Chen Xin gave a slight nod in return. His gaze swept over the academy's transformed grounds, and he said evenly, "There's no need for formalities. I brought Lin Yi back so he can continue protecting Rongrong."
Only then did everyone turn their eyes to Lin Yi.
Though Lin Yi still had the youthful appearance he wore in disguise, they could all sense that, after several months, something indescribably profound had settled over this guard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. His Soul Power also seemed to have grown a little more robust.
"Brother Lin Yi, you're back!" Zhao Wuji laughed heartily. He had a favorable impression of Lin Yi, especially after the incident in the Star Dou Great Forest, when Lin Yi's healing had left him feeling indebted to him.
Yu Xiaogang also nodded at Lin Yi, his expression complicated.
He still resented Lin Yi's refusal to help with the training, but he also knew the man had powerful backing and didn't dare show his displeasure.
"Rongrong and the others are cultivating in the simulated environment. They're all well," Flender said quickly, afraid Sword Douluo might think they had mistreated Ning Rongrong.
"Mm." Chen Xin gave a brief reply. He had no interest in such trivial matters. Having confirmed that Ning Rongrong was safe and Lin Yi had been delivered, he had no wish to stay. "Since I've brought him here, I'll take my leave."
"Your Excellency, why not stay a little longer and let us show you some hospitality?" Flender hurriedly offered.
"No need." Chen Xin was succinct. He gave Lin Yi a slight nod, and the next moment, swordlight soared into the sky. He vanished on the horizon in an instant, arriving and leaving just as quickly.
Lin Yi knew his teacher, Sword Douluo, was in a hurry to return and help Ning Fengzhi hunt a Soul Beast for his Eighth Soul Ring...
Only after Sword Douluo had left did Flender and the others breathe a sigh of relief. The pressure of standing before a Super Douluo had been immense.
Flender turned to Lin Yi, his smile growing warmer. "Lin Yi, you've come back at just the right time!
"Our new Shrek Academy has only just gotten on its feet, and we're short on capable instructors.
"With your abilities and background, if you'd be willing to stay on as an instructor, the compensation would certainly—"
"Thank you for the offer, Dean Flender." Lin Yi cut him off and declined outright, his reasons still perfectly sound. "My duty is to protect the young lady, not to teach. Besides, the sect has matters I need to attend to, and I have to keep up with my cultivation. I can't take on the position of instructor as well. I hope you'll understand."
A trace of disappointment crossed Flender's face, but he didn't dare press the matter. He could only laugh awkwardly. "I understand, I understand."
Lin Yi said no more. After asking where he would be staying, he headed straight there to settle in.
Later that evening, the Shrek Seven Devils, having finished a day of training, also heard that Lin Yi had returned.
They gathered together for dinner.
Dai Mubai had already reached level forty Soul Power. He only needed a Soul Ring to advance to Soul Ancestor.
Tang San was close behind at level thirty-nine. Xiao Wu and Oscar were both at level thirty-eight, Zhu Zhuqing was at level thirty-seven, Ma Hongjun was at level thirty-six, and Ning Rongrong, who hadn't slacked off during Lin Yi's absence, had reached level thirty-five.
At any advanced Soul Master academy, such a rate of progress would have been terrifying. It was also proof that Yu Xiaogang's hellish training was paying off.
When she saw Lin Yi return, Ning Rongrong's feelings grew complicated. She gave a soft snort and didn't speak to him first, but her gaze kept drifting toward him.
Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others greeted Lin Yi politely. After the Bu Le incident and the crisis in the Star Dou Great Forest, they had gained genuine respect for this powerful guard with his formidable backing, no longer viewing him with their initial distance and scrutiny.
Lin Yi noted the group's progress and silently made his calculations.
At this rate, if they got the Immortal Herbs, then by the time the Soul Master Tournament began, the Shrek Seven Devils should be as strong as they were in the original story, or even a little stronger.
Unfortunately, he had already snatched the Immortal Herbs...
He briefly asked about Ning Rongrong's cultivation and, once he had confirmed she was fine, didn't pay her any further attention.
Now that Shrek Academy had moved to Heaven Dou City, at the heart of the empire, its security had greatly improved. With three Soul Saints—Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Liu Erlong—stationed there, Lin Yi truly didn't need to stay by her side every moment.
His thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
Early the next morning, Lin Yi left Shrek Academy alone and headed straight for the imperial palace in Heaven Dou City. He remembered clearly that Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, as a guest of the Heaven Dou Empire, had a residence near the palace.
With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's identity token, he easily passed the outer guards' inspection and arrived at Dugu Bo's somewhat gloomy, solitary residence.
After Lin Yi gave his name, it wasn't long before Dugu Bo came out in a dark green robe, his face sullen. When he saw Lin Yi, surprise flickered in his eyes, along with a wariness he barely concealed.
"It's you, boy? What, Sword Douluo didn't come?" Dugu Bo's tone was unfriendly. He clearly still held a grudge over the pillaging of his herb garden.
"Teacher has returned to the sect." Lin Yi remained calm and cupped his hands in greeting. "I came alone today to tell you something and ask you for a favor."
"Oh?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow, motioning for him to continue.
"Are you planning to look for a boy named Tang San soon, Senior?"
Dugu Bo's pupils shrank, and suspicion crossed his face. "How do you know?"
He had indeed planned to find Tang San. Ever since Lin Yi had ransacked his herb garden, the poison backlash in Dugu Bo's body had grown increasingly severe. Remembering the boy he had met at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, who had been able to decipher his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison, he had hit upon an idea: capture him and force him to reveal a cure—or kill him.
Lin Yi thought, Just as I expected. Then he said solemnly, "Senior, I advise you not to go after Tang San."
"Why?" Dugu Bo's voice turned cold. "Just because he might have some connection to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Boy, don't think having Sword Douluo backing you gives you the right to order me around!"
"That's not it." Lin Yi shook his head. "I'm stopping you for your own good. Do you know who Tang San is?"
"Who?"
"His father is Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect."
Those five simple words struck Dugu Bo's ears like a thunderclap!
"Tang Hao... Clear Sky Douluo?!" Dugu Bo's face went deathly pale, his eyes filled with shock and lingering fear. That ruthless man who had even dared to smash the Pope! If he went after his son... Dugu Bo couldn't even imagine the consequences. The entire Heaven Dou Empire might not be able to protect him!
Seeing Dugu Bo's expression change so drastically, Lin Yi knew his warning had done its job.
He continued, "That was the first reason I came. Second, I heard from my teacher, Sword Douluo, that you've been poisoned, and that the source is your Martial Soul. Ordinary medicine won't cure it.
"If you trust me, I may... I may have a way to help. I might be able to ease your suffering. Of course, in exchange, you'll have to agree to a few conditions."
Lin Yi's words were half true and half false. He did know that the source of Dugu Bo's poison lay in his Martial Soul. In the original story, Tang San had used herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, along with the medicinal properties of the Eight Cornered Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, to suppress the poison temporarily. He had also promised to cure Dugu Bo completely once he became a god.
Lin Yi figured he could help Dugu Bo too, if he became a god someday.
He had two deeper reasons for stopping Dugu Bo from going after Tang San.
First, he didn't want Tang San to learn about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Although Lin Yi had already taken most of the Immortal Herbs, the well itself was still a cultivation treasure, and an excellent place for him to train.
If Tang San found out about it, given his nature and protagonist's luck, who knew what might happen? He might even turn the situation to his advantage.
Second, Lin Yi needed to maintain a relatively "good" relationship with Dugu Bo so he could make use of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well whenever he wanted to cultivate. Stopping Dugu Bo from going after Tang San was a way to earn his favor, and to sever the connection that might otherwise form between them. As long as Dugu Bo didn't meet Tang San, Tang San would lose the chance to quickly learn about the Immortal Herbs, gain the opportunity for his External Soul Bone to evolve, and secure the support of Dugu Bo, a powerful ally! The contest to become a god still needed to be planned for in advance...
Dugu Bo stared hard at Lin Yi, as if weighing whether his words were true. The revelation that Tang San was Tang Hao's son made him wary of provoking him, while Lin Yi's offer of a "cure" stirred a faint, distant hope.
The poison in his body truly was nearing the point where he could no longer suppress it.
After a long silence, Dugu Bo finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "You're saying... you have a way?"
"I can't promise a complete cure, but I may be able to ease it and keep it under control." Lin Yi didn't overstate his case. "It'll take time, and I'll need your cooperation. But first, if you don't want to die, you'd better stop going after Tang San. That's just a warning.
"As for my conditions, if I need your help, you must take me to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well whenever I ask. Partly so I can cultivate there, and partly so I can study ways to resolve your poison."
Lin Yi asked Dugu Bo to take him to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. This time, he had an even better excuse, cloaking the request in a promise to treat Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo's expression shifted back and forth. He didn't fully believe Lin Yi could solve his problem, but the threat of Sword Douluo, the terror of Tang Hao, and the torment of his own poison left him with no better choice. At least this boy had powerful backing and seemed to have plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Perhaps... there really was a glimmer of hope.
"...Fine!" Dugu Bo finally gritted his teeth. "I'll trust you once! I won't touch Tang San! And I can take you to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! But if I find out you're playing me..." A vicious glint flashed in his eyes. He left the rest unsaid, but the threat was clear.
"Don't worry, Senior. I don't make promises lightly." Lin Yi felt reassured. He had achieved his aim. "In that case, I won't keep you any longer. I'll make some preparations, then head to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. We can discuss things further when I get there."
As he left Dugu Bo's residence, Lin Yi glanced back toward the imperial palace, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He had already snatched away Tang San's chance to obtain the Immortal Herbs, and now he had cut off Tang San's connection with Dugu Bo ahead of time.
Without the tempering of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the help of the Immortal Herbs, Tang San's growth would inevitably be affected.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi had secured access to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, along with resources and trump cards far beyond anything available in the original story.
With one gaining as the other lost, his path to becoming a God King in the distant future had grown a few degrees more certain.
He turned and headed toward Shrek Academy.
Before that, there were still a few things he needed to confirm. Ning Rongrong was his fiancée, after all. He couldn't let someone steal her right out from under him... That would be a terrible loss.
Before you continue