Inner Court

"Teacher's in the Inner Court right now. We'll have to cross Sea God Lake to get there. Can you manage? Or... do you need me to take you?"

They'd been silent the whole way. Only when they reached the shore of Sea God Lake did Ma Xiaotao turn her head and ask.

In truth, she knew perfectly well that Yang Jian didn't need her help. If someone with Ultimate Water couldn't cross a lake without being escorted, that would be rather pathetic.

She'd only brought it up because the atmosphere felt a little awkward, and she wanted to find a topic to break the silence.

"No need. Go ahead without me."

As he spoke, Yang Jian paid Ma Xiaotao no mind. He simply strode forward and lightly stepped onto the surface of the lake.

The placid water didn't stir at Yang Jian's touch. Not even a ripple spread across it, as though there were solid ground beneath his feet instead of water.

At the sight, Ma Xiaotao's pupils contracted slightly.

Only someone who had achieved a certain level of mastery over water could possibly do that.

Ma Xiaotao's eyes couldn't help but fill with even more delight.

This meant she might truly have a chance to root out her Evil Fire!

At the thought of the advice her teacher had given her, Ma Xiaotao's face flushed crimson. But Yang Jian was already standing in front of her, so he didn't notice the change in her expression.

By the time she saw that Yang Jian had already gone a long way, Ma Xiaotao finally snapped out of it. She hurriedly summoned her Martial Soul and flew swiftly over Sea God Lake, reaching Lake Heart Island in the middle.

But Ma Xiaotao didn't have to wait long. Yang Jian soon picked up his pace and began running across the surface of the lake. He reached Lake Heart Island only a little later than she did.

"So this is the Inner Court?"

Yang Jian curiously surveyed the island's scenery and buildings, a hint of interest showing in his eyes. It had long been said across Douluo Continent that only the Inner Court counted as the true Shrek Academy. Yang Jian had been skeptical at first, but now that he was here, he realized the rumors weren't wrong.

The gap between the Outer Court and the Inner Court wasn't limited to their teaching resources. The Inner Court's surroundings alone were several tiers above the Outer Court's.

Beside the path paved with bluestone grew clusters of flowers that gave off a faint glow, swaying gently in the breeze.

These flowers were called Bell Flowers, a type of flower Soul Beast. They had mutated from Hundred-Year Soul Beasts and gave off a peculiar fragrance. Their pollen could attract Soul Beasts. Nearby stood a teaching building covered in green vines, surrounded on all sides by the lake. Its shimmering waters gleamed like pure jade.

"This is the real Shrek Academy."

For once, Ma Xiaotao patiently explained things to Yang Jian. "Lake Heart Island covers an area of twenty thousand square kilometers. It has all kinds of pavilions and buildings, including teaching buildings, Mimicry Training Grounds, the Soul Fighting Arena where students challenge one another, and the Library Pavilion."

"With your abilities, it shouldn't take long for you to enter the Inner Court. Come on, I'll show you around first."

As she spoke, Ma Xiaotao stepped onto a piece of bluestone and led Yang Jian toward the teaching building ahead.

"Teacher rarely comes to the Outer Court. Most of the time, she's in one of the Inner Court's teaching buildings or in Sea God Pavilion."

She paused and pointed to a towering tree over a hundred meters tall in the distance. A look of reverence appeared on her face. "That's the Inner Court's Golden Tree. The Inner Court students' dormitories are built beside it. The Golden Tree helps all the students cultivate faster. Our Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion is built inside the tree."

Following Ma Xiaotao's explanation, Yang Jian turned his gaze toward the hundred-meter-tall Golden Tree.

Even from this distance, Yang Jian could feel an exceptionally pure aura of light, along with the vast stores of Heaven and Earth energy surrounding it.

As he felt this aura, Yang Jian sensed that the bottleneck in his Soul Power had loosened considerably.

And the closer he got, the stronger that feeling became.

Yang Jian's heart stirred. He pulled a jade bottle from his Soul Tool and casually tossed an Xuanqing Pill into his mouth. He didn't forget to give one to Xiao Bai, who was nestled in his arms.

It was true what they said: habits were contagious.

Ye Qingyuan was always feeding Xiao Bai Xuanqing Pills, and somehow he'd picked up the habit too.

Noticing what Yang Jian had done, Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened in surprise. Even outstanding Inner Court students didn't treat Xuanqing Pills like Sugar Beans the way Yang Jian did. And none of them would casually give one to their puppy, either!

Still, Teacher had said Yang Jian's little puppy seemed to be his Martial Soul...

It was a rare thing indeed for a Martial Soul to be able to take pills.

But... why was Yang Jian taking an Xuanqing Pill right now?

Even with the Offering Hall of the Star Luo Empire backing him, there was no need to be this extravagant, was there?

Yang Jian suddenly let out a long breath.

From Ma Xiaotao's perspective, Yang Jian had merely taken an Xuanqing Pill, briefly closed his eyes, then opened them again. Yet after that simple act, his aura immediately grew more condensed.

Noticing the puzzled gaze beside him, Yang Jian couldn't help the corners of his mouth from lifting. "I broke through."

Yang Jian was genuinely delighted.

He'd been stuck at level thirty-seven for quite some time, a little over a month. He hadn't expected that simply sensing the Golden Tree's aura and the vast Heaven and Earth energy here would help his Soul Power break through from level thirty-seven to level thirty-eight.

The Golden Tree really was something else.

"You broke through?"

Just like that, in the time it took to blink?

Ma Xiaotao couldn't help drawing in a deep breath.

Even with her Evil Fire troubling her, Ma Xiaotao's cultivation speed wasn't slow. Otherwise, she wouldn't have reached Soul King and be on the verge of Soul Emperor at her age.

But she couldn't break through as easily and effortlessly as Yang Jian. Every breakthrough brought the torment of her Evil Fire, leaving her feeling as if she'd been skinned alive. The pain was unbearable.

She was truly envious.

But... perhaps she'd never have to endure the pain and torment of the Evil Fire again!

Ma Xiaotao lifted her head, her eyes brightening once more.

At the thought, she couldn't help getting excited. She wanted nothing more than to grab Yang Jian right then and have him suppress the Evil Fire within her—or even drive it out for good.

"Come on. Teacher's waiting for you in the teaching building."

Ma Xiaotao bit her lip and forced down her feelings. But the faint flush on her cheeks betrayed what she was really thinking.