Two days later, the group arrived in Heaven Dou City.
This had been the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire ten thousand years ago, and it was now the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Within the Heaven Dou Empire, it was the undisputed political, economic, and cultural center.
Its permanent population alone numbered several million, while its maximum capacity could reach ten or even twenty million.
However, with the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament about to be held here, this supercity was somewhat crowded.
Every hotel was fully booked. Even some private residences and official estates had been opened as temporary lodgings for visitors.
Of course, the competing academies did not need to search for accommodations alongside the tourists.
The Heaven Dou Empire had specifically set aside a Royal Hotel for them.
As the continent's foremost academy, Shrek Academy's group was naturally assigned luxurious rooms on the top floor, along with a fully equipped private conference room.
The atmosphere in the conference room was solemn.
Yan Shaozhe sat upright at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping across the young faces representing the academy's future before he spoke in a grave voice:
"Now, we will hold the final full meeting before the tournament.
"I trust everyone has already memorized the tournament's basic procedures and rules?"
Everyone nodded together, including Xia Ming, the youngest among them.
"..."
Yan Shaozhe then elaborated on matters such as teamwork, adaptability in battle, taboos regarding soul skill usage, and tactical essentials for facing different opponents.
"All right." At last, he rose to his feet, unquestionable confidence ringing in his voice.
"Remember, we are Shrek. As long as we display the strength we should possess and remain united, victory will never fall into anyone else's hands!"
After the meeting ended, Xia Ming took the initiative to approach Zhang Lexuan and looked up as he suggested:
"Lexuan, it isn't often that we come to Heaven Dou City. Since it's still early, shall we go take a look around?
"I heard there are many ancient sites dating back ten thousand years in the city. You have to introduce them to me."
At his words, Zhang Lexuan's brows and eyes curved gently as she readily agreed. "All right. It has been a long time since I properly looked around this city myself."
Thus, the two left the hotel together and strolled through the streets of Heaven Dou City.
Compared to the Sun Moon Empire, where Soul Tool technology advanced with each passing day, and even Shrek City, which embraced all things, the Heaven Dou Empire's rejection of Soul Tools was especially apparent.
As they walked through the streets, Soul Tool lamps, Soul Tool vehicles, and other daily facilities were few and far between.
There were more traditional buildings and modes of transportation powered by human labor or beasts of burden.
If not for the depth of their traditional Soul Master heritage, they would probably have been destroyed by the Sun Moon Empire long ago.
Of course, they had indeed produced a great many talented Soul Masters. Leaving aside the well-known Body Sect for the moment—
Even Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao was a native of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Zhang Lexuan introduced the famous locations throughout Heaven Dou City while Xia Ming listened beside her, nodding from time to time.
Before long, they arrived at their next destination.
"Not far ahead is where the Tang Sect is located." Zhang Lexuan pointed toward a somewhat quiet street, her tone carrying a trace of respect and sentiment.
"The Tang Sect and Shrek Academy share the same roots, both possessing a ten-thousand-year legacy.
"Although it has long since declined, that historical foundation remains."
However, when they reached the entrance of the estate, they both stopped at once.
The plaque hanging above the gate did not read Tang Sect. Instead, it bore the three words Iron Blood Sect.
Has it already happened? Xia Ming's heart sank.
The original story had mentioned that the Iron Blood Sect bribed the city defense army, launched a nighttime assault on the Tang Sect, wiped out the entire family, and seized its estate.
In the end, Tang Ya alone escaped alive.
Although he did not know how the Tang Sect had declined to such a state that a single Soul Emperor and two Soul Kings could wipe it out, that was the reality.
Thinking it over carefully, Bei Bei was already ten years old, and Tang Ya should have been around the same age.
The timing of the massacre should indeed have been before this.
Unlike Xia Ming, who had already understood what had happened, Zhang Lexuan was stunned.
She quickly stepped forward, stopped an elderly man passing by, and urgently asked:
"Sir, wasn't this originally the Tang Sect's residence? Why has it become the Iron Blood Sect?"
The old man glanced at the plaque, then at Zhang Lexuan's anxious expression. He sighed and lowered his voice.
"Young lady, you're from out of town, aren't you? Something major happened here around a month ago!
"No one knows whom the Tang Sect offended, but they were wiped out overnight. I heard it was terrible.
"The very next day, people from the Iron Blood Sect moved in with great fanfare and put up their sign."
After saying that, the old man shook his head and hurried away from this troublesome place.
"Wiped out? The Tang Sect was wiped out?" Zhang Lexuan repeated numbly, as though struck by lightning, all color draining from her beautiful face.
That was the Tang Sect! Even if it was no longer what it had once been, it was still a prestigious sect with a ten-thousand-year inheritance that had once led the Soul Master world!
How could it have fallen so silently, reduced to a state where everyone rushed to kick it while it was down?
"Lexuan!" Xia Ming tugged at her sleeve at the right moment, suitable shock and unease appearing on his little face.
"This is too serious! We need to hurry back and tell Senior Brother Yan!"
Zhang Lexuan abruptly came back to her senses and nodded forcefully, shock and fury mingling in her eyes.
"Right. We must report this to Dean Yan immediately!"
The Tang Sect had deep ties with Shrek. Now that it had suffered such a catastrophe, the academy could not stand by and do nothing, whether out of sentiment or reason.
This was far beyond what two students could interfere with. It had to be decided by Yan Shaozhe, who was leading the group.
The two no longer had any mood to sightsee. They hurried back to the Royal Hotel, went straight to Yan Shaozhe's room, and anxiously recounted everything they had seen and heard.
"The Tang Sect was destroyed?" Even with Yan Shaozhe's composure, his pupils contracted sharply at the news, his expression turning grim.
He sprang to his feet. "Wait here. I will investigate personally!"
Before his words had even faded, his figure vanished from the spot like a wisp of smoke.
By evening, Yan Shaozhe appeared once more in the hotel's conference room.
Returning with him was a little girl of around ten, her eyes filled with panic and sorrow.
"Her name is Tang Ya. She is the Tang Sect's sole surviving orphan."
Yan Shaozhe's voice was heavy as he announced this to the gathered team members.
"From today onward, she will temporarily be sheltered and raised by Shrek Academy."
"An orphan?"
"The Tang Sect is gone?!"
Other than Zhang Lexuan and Xia Ming, who had already known, every other team member paled in shock.
Dai Yueheng and Ning Feng of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, in particular, were utterly stunned.
"You do not need to delve into the specific details right now."
Yan Shaozhe did not explain the massacre in detail. Instead, he turned toward Zhang Lexuan, his tone softening somewhat.
"Lexuan, this child will stay with you for now. Once the tournament ends, she will return to the academy with us."
"Yes, Dean." Zhang Lexuan accepted solemnly.
As she looked at Tang Ya's timid eyes, filled with unease and pain—
She seemed to see herself from many years ago, when she had likewise lost everything and been left bewildered and helpless. A powerful sense of pity and protectiveness rose within her.
She slowly stepped forward, crouched before Tang Ya, met her gaze at eye level, and spoke as gently as a spring breeze:
"Tang Ya, will you stay with me for now? I will take care of you."
Tang Ya raised her tear-blurred eyes and looked at Zhang Lexuan's gentle face, then at the concerned expressions of those beside her.
In the end, she nodded softly and answered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "...Mm."
"Good girl." Zhang Lexuan took her icy little hand.
"I'll take you to see your room first and help you get familiar with the place."
With that, she led Tang Ya out of the conference room first.
The remaining people were heavy-hearted and gradually dispersed as well.
In the end, only Yan Shaozhe and Xia Ming remained in the conference room.
Yan Shaozhe walked to the window and gazed at Heaven Dou City's nightscape as its lights began to glow. After a moment of silence, he slowly said:
"For now, all the academy can do is preserve this last bloodline and provide her with the upbringing she deserves.
"For the sake of our ten-thousand-year bond, give her a future."
"I understand, Senior Brother." Xia Ming nodded obediently on the surface, but inwardly sighed.
Raising a Blue Silver Grass that had gone down the wrong path into something worthwhile would not be easy.
However, although Tang Ya's Martial Soul appeared to be an ordinary Blue Silver Grass, it actually concealed a little-known devouring trait.
If she were raised through conventional methods, given the innate limitations of her Martial Soul and Tang Ya's current state of mind, it would likely be difficult for her to achieve much.
She might even go astray because of her desire to gain power and fall into becoming an Evil Soul Master.
Therefore, she absolutely could not be allowed to research it on her own. Someone had to watch over her.
As for who that person should be, Xia Ming glanced at his senior brother.
When it came to raising a Martial Soul with evil tendencies, he had to admit that the other man was indeed experienced.
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