Inner Court

"The teacher is currently in the Inner Court, and we need to cross the Sea God Lake to reach her. Are you alright with that? Or... do you need me to take you?"

The journey was silent until they reached the banks of the Sea God Lake, where Ma Xiaotao finally turned her head to ask.

In truth, she knew well that Yang Jian did not need her help. If Yang Jian, who possessed the Ultimate Water attribute, required someone to carry him across a lake, it would be far too pathetic.

She had only brought it up because the atmosphere felt slightly awkward, and she was proactively looking for a topic of conversation.

"No need, just go ahead yourself."

As he spoke, Yang Jian ignored Ma Xiaotao and stepped forward, lightly placing his feet upon the surface of the lake.

The calm surface of the lake did not produce any turbulence from Yang Jian's contact; not even a single ripple spread outward, as if what lay beneath his feet was not water, but solid ground.

Seeing this, Ma Xiaotao's pupils constricted slightly.

Such a display was only possible for someone whose control over the water attribute had reached a certain level.

A look of growing joy could not help but emerge in Ma Xiaotao's eyes.

This meant that she might truly have hope of eradicating the Evil Fire!

Thinking of the plan her teacher had proposed, a flush of crimson immediately rose to Ma Xiaotao's cheeks. However, Yang Jian was already standing in front of her and did not notice the change in her expression.

Seeing that Yang Jian had already walked quite a distance, Ma Xiaotao finally snapped out of it. She hurriedly activated her Martial Soul and sped across the surface of the Sea God Lake, arriving at the Lake Heart Island in the center.

Ma Xiaotao did not have to wait long, however; Yang Jian quickly accelerated his pace, running across the lake surface, and arrived at the Lake Heart Island not long after her.

"So this is the Inner Court?"

Yang Jian curiously examined the various sceneries and furnishings on the small island, a look of interest appearing in his eyes—on the Douluo Continent, there had always been a saying that only the Inner Court could be considered the true Shrek Academy. Yang Jian had been somewhat skeptical at first, but having truly arrived here, he realized that the outside world had not been wrong.

Setting aside the gap in teaching resources between the Outer Court and the Inner Court, the scenery alone was several grades higher in the Inner Court.

Beside the path paved with bluestone, bouquets of flowers emitting a faint glow were planted, swaying gently with the breeze.

These flowers were called Bell Flower, a type of soul beast flora. They were mutated from century-old soul beasts and emitted an inexplicable, refreshing fragrance, while their pollen had the effect of attracting soul beasts. Not far away stood teaching buildings covered in green vines, and the entire area was surrounded by lake water, shimmering and sparkling like pure jade.

"This is the true Shrek Academy."

Ma Xiaotao explained to Yang Jian with rare patience: "The entire Lake Heart Island covers an area of twenty thousand square kilometers, featuring various pavilions and towers, including teaching buildings, the Mimicry Training Ground, the Soul Fighting Arena where students challenge one another, and the Library Pavilion."

"With your strength, it shouldn't be long before you can enter the Inner Court. Let's go, I'll take you to familiarize yourself with the environment first."

With that, Ma Xiaotao stepped onto a bluestone slab and led Yang Jian toward the teaching building ahead.

"The teacher rarely appears in the Outer Court; most of her time is spent in the Inner Court's teaching buildings or the Sea God Pavilion."

Ma Xiaotao paused slightly, pointing toward a towering tree over a hundred meters tall not far away, a look of respect appearing on her face: "That is the Inner Court's Golden Tree. The dormitories for Inner Court students are built right next to it. Relying on this Golden Tree, the cultivation speed of all students is significantly increased. Our Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion is built inside the Golden Tree itself."

Yang Jian's gaze followed Ma Xiaotao's explanation to the hundred-meter-tall Golden Tree.

Even at a distance from the Golden Tree, Yang Jian could still feel an extremely pure aura of light and the massive amount of heaven and earth energy in the surroundings.

Feeling this aura, Yang Jian felt the bottleneck of his soul power loosen significantly.

Moreover, this sensation continued to amplify as the distance decreased.

Yang Jian's heart stirred slightly; he reached into his Soul Tool, pulled out a jade bottle, and casually tossed a Xuanqing Pill into his mouth, not forgetting to feed one to Little White in his arms as well.

Indeed, habits are contagious.

Ye Qingyuan was always feeding Little White Xuanqing Pills, and it had rubbed off on him as well.

Noticing Yang Jian's actions, a look of astonishment appeared in Ma Xiaotao's eyes. One had to know that even outstanding Inner Court students would not eat Xuanqing Pills like candy, let alone feed them to their little dog so casually!

However, the teacher had said that Yang Jian's little puppy seemed to be his Martial Soul...

It was truly a rare thing for a Martial Soul to be able to consume medicinal pills.

But... why would Yang Jian take a Xuanqing Pill at a time like this?

Even with the backing of the Star Luo Empire's Offering Hall, there was no need to be so extravagant, was there?

Yang Jian suddenly let out a long breath.

In Ma Xiaotao's perception, Yang Jian had merely taken a Xuanqing Pill, closed his eyes for a brief moment, and then opened them again. Yet, in that simple process, the aura around Yang Jian had suddenly become much more refined.

Noticing the puzzled gaze beside him, the corners of Yang Jian's mouth could not help but lift slightly: "I've broken through."

Yang Jian was truly in a pleasant mood.

He had been stuck at level thirty-seven for quite some time, nearly over a month. He hadn't expected that simply feeling the aura of the Golden Tree and the massive heaven and earth energy here would allow his soul power to break through from level thirty-seven to level thirty-eight.

The Golden Tree was truly a good thing.

"Broken through?"

In just that short amount of time, he had broken through?

Ma Xiaotao could not help but take a deep breath.

Even while plagued by the Evil Fire, Ma Xiaotao's cultivation speed was not slow; otherwise, she would not have been able to break through to become a Soul King and approach the level of a Soul Emperor at her current age.

But she could not do it as easily and gracefully as Yang Jian. Every time she broke through, she was tortured by the Evil Fire, to the point where each time felt like shedding a layer of skin—it was excruciatingly painful.

She was truly envious of this.

But... in the future, she might never have to endure the pain and torment brought by the Evil Fire again!

Ma Xiaotao raised her head, a brilliant light flashing in her eyes once more.

Thinking of this, she could not help but feel excited, wishing she could pull Yang Jian aside right now to have him help her suppress the Evil Fire within her, or perhaps even eradicate it completely.

"Let's go, the teacher is waiting for you in the teaching building."

Ma Xiaotao bit her lip, suppressing the emotions in her heart, though her slightly flushed cheeks betrayed her true thoughts.