The Peach Tree, So Lush (Seeking Follow-ups!!!)

The moment Jiang Che stepped into the Sea God Pavilion, he felt several gazes land upon him.

In the main seat, Mu En remained in his usual frail state, half-reclining in his chair with his dim, yellowed eyelids drooping slightly as if he were dozing off.

"You've returned?" Mu En opened his eyes, a faint smile appearing on his aged face, a glimmer of relief flashing through his cloudy pupils.

"Teacher." Jiang Che stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Mm." Mu En nodded, his gaze lingering on Jiang Che for a moment. After a long while, he chuckled and said, "Level 93? It seems your harvest on this trip was not small."

Jiang Che smiled along; Mu En was truly a Limit Douluo, seeing through the changes in his cultivation at a glance. Of course, this was also because he hadn't made a deliberate effort to hide it.

"It was alright. During this trip to the Far North, not only did I obtain my ninth Soul Ring, but I also encountered some fortuitous opportunities, which raised my soul power to level 93."

"Ninth Soul Ring?" A hint of interest flashed in Mu En's eyes. "What is its age?"

Jiang Che did not hide it. He raised his hand to activate his Ice Dragon King martial soul, and nine soul rings rose slowly from beneath his feet. The first six deep black rings were steady and heavy, while the seventh, eighth, and ninth rings—all brilliant red—hung beneath him like three inextinguishable flames.

In particular, the five clearly visible golden patterns on the ninth soul ring radiated a heart-stopping pressure that directly alarmed the other elders within the Sea God Pavilion. They had initially thought a soul beast was attacking, only calming down slightly once they sensed Mu En's presence.

Mu En's eyelids snapped fully open, and a terrifyingly sharp light erupted from his dim eyes, his entire aura suddenly becoming piercingly intense.

He stared fixedly at Jiang Che's ninth soul ring. Even having lived for over two hundred years, he had never seen a soul ring of such high age with his own eyes. For the first time, Mu En's voice carried a note of doubt: "This... is this a 500,000-year soul ring?"

Jiang Che nodded: "I entered the depths of the Far North and stumbled into a certain place, where I encountered a dying ancient Ice Dragon. This soul ring was obtained from him."

He hadn't told the whole truth, but he hadn't lied either. The Ice Dragon soul ring was indeed a system reward, but since the aura of that ring perfectly matched his Ice Dragon King martial soul, claiming it came from an Ice Dragon was perfectly logical.

Mu En was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter that echoed through the quiet Sea God Pavilion.

"Good! Very good!" Mu En laughed until his eyes grew slightly moist. "A 560,000-year soul ring, Ultimate Ice, level 93 cultivation—Little Che, you are even more outstanding than I imagined. But what about your other soul rings?"

Jiang Che had known Mu En would ask this, so he recited the explanation he had prepared: "That Ice Dragon had suffered extremely severe injuries and could not exert any of his true power. Seeing that he was no match for his fate, he offered to sacrifice himself on the condition that I help him complete a few tasks."

"I don't know if it was because our origins were the same, but after he sacrificed himself, a portion of his origin merged into my soul ring, causing its age to increase continuously."

Mu En nodded, believing Jiang Che's explanation; after all, nothing else could account for a change in soul ring age. He calmed his emotions and looked at Jiang Che again, his gaze filled with relief and expectation: "You are only twenty-two this year, yet you possess such cultivation and foundation. You have already taken the most critical step on the road to becoming a Limit Douluo."

Jiang Che bowed his head slightly: "This disciple dares not slack off."

"Slack off?" Mu En shook his head and laughed. "If you call this slacking off, then every student in Shrek Academy should go find a crack in the ground to hide in."

He waved his hand, signaling for Jiang Che to sit, his tone returning to its usual calm: "Alright, tell me, what else did you encounter on this trip to the Far North? You mentioned fortuitous opportunities—surely it wasn't just that soul ring?"

Jiang Che sat down and gave a brief account of his trip to the Far North, mentioning only his encounter with the Holy Spirit Cult's Evil Soul Masters and the discovery of the God-Sealing Platform and the Silent Frost Ice Phoenix embryo in the ice cave.

After listening, Mu En remained silent for a long time, as if recalling something.

"The Holy Spirit Cult..." the old man murmured the name, a cold light flashing in his dim eyes. "Two Title Douluo, three Soul Douluo, ten Soul Saints—they certainly went to great lengths."

"This disciple suspects that the Holy Spirit Cult may have other strongholds in the Far North," Jiang Che said.

Mu En nodded: "You did the right thing. Leave those storage soul tools for the Supervision Group to handle. The academy will send people to the Far North to investigate; you should not intervene further for the time being."

"Understood," Jiang Che replied.

Mu En leaned back in his chair and looked at Jiang Che: "You mentioned earlier that there was a child named Huo Yuhao who also obtained a Silent Frost Ice Phoenix embryo?"

Jiang Che gave a brief summary of Huo Yuhao's situation, including how he had discovered the God-Sealing Platform in the ice cave, taken the initiative to alert him to investigate, and, with his help, fused with the embryo to obtain a second martial soul. Likewise, Jiang Che omitted any mention of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

After listening, Mu En was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "That child is quite clever. To remain calm under such circumstances and take the initiative to alert you to investigate the ice wall shows a meticulous mind; he is no ordinary youth."

Jiang Che agreed with that point—a youth with a cheat code was certainly no ordinary person.

"There is one more thing." Mu En suddenly remembered something, his tone becoming solemn. "Your return this time happens to coincide with a major event for the academy."

Jiang Che raised an eyebrow slightly: "What event?"

"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament," Mu En said. "It is a tournament held every five years, and this time it is the Star Luo Empire's turn to host. I had originally planned to have Xuan Zi lead the team if you hadn't returned, but since you are here, I am handing this task to you. You can have Xuan Zi assist you from the back."

Mu En's intention was to have Jiang Che get out more and let the other high-level figures understand that he was the future leader of Shrek.

At the same time, it was a form of deterrence, letting those who harbored ill intentions toward Shrek know that the academy had not declined and that it had figures like Jiang Che to hold up the sky in the future.

Jiang Che's heart stirred. He knew of this tournament; in the original story, it was here that Huo Yuhao rose to prominence and became famous in a single battle.

But was he serious about having Elder Xuan lead the team? Jiang Che complained inwardly, recalling the line that had gone viral online: "I am the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult—Xuan Zi!"

Although Jiang Che knew it was a joke, it was true that every time Elder Xuan led a team, they were attacked by the Holy Spirit Cult. A group of losers who hadn't even reached the Title Douluo level could actually run rampant right under the nose of a 98-level Super Douluo.

"Teacher, I have some matters to attend to recently. Could you let Elder Xuan continue to handle the selection of the reserve team? He doesn't have anything else to do anyway."

Jiang Che felt there was no need for him to personally select the reserve team. He would be leading the team to the Star Luo Empire anyway, and he could crush those Evil Soul Masters with ease, meaning there would be no such thing as the main team getting injured.

If the main team didn't get injured, what was the point of having substitutes? It would be a waste of time for him to do the selecting.

"That works too." Mu En couldn't help but laugh; he knew his own disciple. He understood that Jiang Che was simply too lazy to go. He waved his hand, signaling that Jiang Che could leave.

Jiang Che stood up, bowed to Mu En, and turned to walk out of the Sea God Pavilion, only to suddenly remember the real reason he had come.

He quickly turned back, a smile appearing on his face. Seeing this smile, Mu En knew Jiang Che still had something on his mind.

"Right, Teacher, there is one more thing I need to tell you," Jiang Che said ingratiatingly.

"Speak, what is it?" Mu En asked with a wry smile, having no way to deal with Jiang Che.

"Um... I brought someone back from the outside. Could you arrange an identity for her?" Jiang Che rubbed his hands together, looking like a child asking for a toy.

"Decide that for yourself. You are a member of the Sea God Pavilion now; don't let such a small matter hold you up."

"Alright, then I'll be off. Goodbye, Teacher!" With that, Jiang Che left the Sea God Pavilion.

"Let's go. I'll take you to where you'll be staying." Jiang Che left the Sea God Pavilion and walked over to the Ice Empress's side. "Starting tomorrow, you must begin adapting to human life."

The Ice Empress gave a soft "mm" and followed behind Jiang Che, stepping onto the path of Sea God Island.

Moonlight spilled over the two of them, casting two long, slender shadows.

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, Mu En remained seated in the main chair, his cloudy eyes gazing in the direction Jiang Che had departed, lingering for a long time.

He slowly closed his eyes, a faint smile appearing on his aged face, as if he had already foreseen Shrek becoming even more powerful under Jiang Che's leadership.

The night breeze brushed across Sea God Island, carrying the damp mist from Sea God Lake.

In the distance, Shrek City was brightly lit, the faint sounds of its bustle drifting over, yet Sea God Island remained as tranquil as a paradise.

Jiang Che led the Ice Empress past several pavilions and arrived before a detached two-story building.

"This is my residence. You will stay on the first floor for now, and I will stay on the second." Jiang Che pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped aside to let the Ice Empress enter first.

The Ice Empress walked into the courtyard, her diamond-yellow eyes scanning the surroundings.

The courtyard was small but kept spotlessly clean. A few unnamed flowering trees were planted in the corners, emitting a faint fragrance, and there was a stone table with several stone chairs, a tea set resting upon the table.

"You certainly know how to enjoy yourself." The Ice Empress glanced at the tea set, her tone indifferent.

Jiang Che smiled without responding and led her into the first floor.

The ground floor consisted of three rooms: a living room, a bedroom, and a cultivation room, all furnished simply yet elegantly.

The Ice Empress walked into the bedroom and saw clean bedding on the bed, several books on Soul Tool theory on the table, and a green plant on the windowsill.

"These books were left behind by the person who lived here before. You can flip through them if you're bored." Jiang Che gestured toward the books on the table.

The Ice Empress picked one up and leafed through it, discovering it was a book explaining the basics of Soul Tools. The content was written in a very accessible manner, suitable for beginners.

"Soul Tools?" The Ice Empress raised an eyebrow slightly. "You have an interest in this?"

"Mm." Jiang Che nodded. "I am currently a Level 8 Soul Master."

A flash of surprise crossed the Ice Empress's eyes. A Level 8 Soul Master was already considered top-tier in the world of Soul Tools, and Jiang Che was only twenty-two years old.

"You really do learn everything." The Ice Empress put the book down, her tone carrying a rare hint of admiration.

Jiang Che turned his back to the Ice Empress and chuckled: "There's never any harm in learning more."

He walked to the window and pushed it open, letting the night breeze blow in.

Moonlight spilled into the room, coating the floor in a layer of silvery-white radiance.

"Ice Empress." Jiang Che spoke suddenly, his voice very soft.

"Mm?"

"From this day forward, this place is your home."

The Ice Empress was slightly startled, a complex emotion flickering in her diamond-yellow eyes.

Home?

She had lived for four hundred thousand years and had never possessed the concept of a "home."

The Far North was merely her territory, and the Ice Jade Scorpion clan was merely her subjects; she had never considered any place a "home."

Yet, at this moment, standing in this small room, looking at the moonlight outside the window and the flowering trees in the courtyard, a strange, indescribable feeling surged in her heart.

Was that... warmth?

"Mm," the Ice Empress replied softly, saying nothing more.

Jiang Che turned and left the room, gently pulling the door shut behind him.

He had intended to return directly to his own room, but within his spiritual range, he sensed a familiar aura.

He paused for a moment before leaving the small building calmly, following the direction of that aura.

The night on Sea God Island was very quiet, with only the rustling of the wind through the bamboo forest and the faint, delicate sound of Sea God Lake's ripples lapping against the shore.

He bypassed a bamboo grove and saw that familiar figure.

Ma Xiaotao was sitting on a large rock by the edge of Sea God Lake. Her long, fiery-red hair drifted slightly in the night breeze, and her red dress clung to her slender frame, resembling a flame-red lotus blooming quietly in the evening wind.

Moonlight spilled over her, illuminating her beautiful face, which was filled with longing. Yet, the moment Jiang Che approached, that longing vanished into thin air.

As if sensing something, Ma Xiaotao turned her head abruptly. The moment her fiery-red eyes caught sight of Jiang Che, she was slightly stunned, and then a look of intense joy surfaced.

"You're back!" she said excitedly.

"I'm back." Jiang Che walked up to her, his silver-blue eyes appearing exceptionally gentle under the moonlight.

The two stared at each other for a moment, neither speaking. The wind from Sea God Lake passed between them, catching a few strands of her red hair and brushing them against his cheek.

"Are you hurt?" Ma Xiaotao suddenly asked, her face full of worry. She reached out with her fair, delicate hands to pat him all over, terrified that he might have sustained some injury.

Jiang Che laughed helplessly, catching one of Ma Xiaotao's wandering hands and saying, "My strength might not be invincible, but how could I be injured so easily?"

"Hmph! Who knows with you? You told me the same thing before, but what was the result? You had no idea how many bones you'd broken. If Teacher hadn't let it slip, I really would have been fooled by you." Ma Xiaotao huffed, speaking in a bossy tone, as if the person who had been full of worry just a moment ago wasn't her.

"Haha." Jiang Che gave a sheepish laugh. Having had his old accounts brought up, he carefully recalled the past and realized it was indeed true, leaving him awkwardly at a loss for words.

"Alright, alright, it's getting late. Time to head back and get some rest," Jiang Che said after calculating the time.

"Then will you walk me back?"

"I will, I definitely will!"

Jiang Che walked Ma Xiaotao toward her living quarters. Her residence was not in the same area as his. Ma Xiaotao walked in front while Jiang Che followed closely behind. From time to time, a breeze would blow by, carrying Ma Xiaotao's fragrance into Jiang Che's nose.

Neither of them spoke, walking along in a leisurely manner. After a while, they arrived at Ma Xiaotao's place. Jiang Che had intended to watch her go inside before leaving.

However, Ma Xiaotao only took two steps before stopping. What Jiang Che could not see was that throughout the entire journey back from Sea God Lake, Ma Xiaotao's face had been filled with hesitation.

Now that she had reached her doorstep, she stopped and took a deep breath. As if summoning immense courage, the hesitation on her face transformed into resolve.

She turned around to look at Jiang Che and said, "Um, you... do you want to come in and sit for a while?" After saying this, her face grew even hotter. She was so embarrassed she could barely stand it, and she fled into the room like she was escaping, though she left the door ajar.

???

After hearing Ma Xiaotao's words, Jiang Che was completely dumbfounded. He glanced at his surroundings: late at night, a lone man and woman, a house—good heavens, all three essential elements were present.

Ma Xiaotao's invitation was no different from a female colleague living alone in his past life asking him if he wanted to come upstairs for a cup of tea; what would happen next was self-evident.

Perhaps seeing that Jiang Che remained frozen in place, Ma Xiaotao, hiding behind the door, peeked half her head out and asked, "Are you coming in or not? If you don't, I'm closing the door!"

She made a move to shut the door, but Jiang Che understood the principle that opportunity must not be missed; if he didn't go in now, he might never be able to enter again.

Moving with his greatest speed, he arrived at the doorway as if teleporting and said with a smile, "Mercy on the door, I'm coming in!"

Before Ma Xiaotao could react, Jiang Che slipped inside like a loach.

Ma Xiaotao had been afraid that Jiang Che wouldn't be able to get in, so she hadn't dared to close the door too firmly. Now that Jiang Che was inside, she carefully shut the door, terrified that someone might discover them.