Evil Soul Masters?

She did not finish, but her meaning was already clear.

Dai Hao closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"The future?

That is a matter for the future."

"At least for now, he is safe, and so is his mother."

"They are a hundred times safer than they were by the side of a coward like me."

"Heh, putting on this act of fatherly love now?"

First Madam sneered coldly.

The White Tiger Duke answered with silence.

Outside the courtyard gates, the two servants frozen into ice statues still stood amid the snow, becoming the most conspicuous—and most glaring—sight at White Tiger Duke Mansion that winter.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao had already followed Shen Zhou to the entrance of Martial Soul Academy.

White Emperor thoughtfully let the frail Huo Yun'er ride on his back, leaving her overwhelmed by the favor.

The main gates of Spirit Hall Academy stood wide open. A white jade path stretched straight into its depths, flanked by neatly trimmed spiritual plants.

Though it was a winter of heavy snowfall, those spiritual plants remained lush and verdant. The ice crystals on their leaves refracted seven-colored gleams beneath the faint light.

"Is that... an evergreen Spirit Locust Tree?" Though Huo Yun'er had not seen much of the world, she recognized this precious plant.

At the Duke Mansion, only two stood in the main courtyard. Yet here, more than a hundred had been planted along both sides of the path.

"And over there—that is a Spirit Gathering Array Pattern capable of gathering Heaven and Earth Origin Power."

Golden Crocodile Douluo crouched down, running his fingers over the marks carved into the ground. A trace of shock flashed through his eyes.

"This is no ordinary Spirit Gathering Array. It is at least an ancient-grade formation. I have never seen patterns this exquisite."

Shen Zhou smiled faintly without explaining.

An Academy Construction Card produced by the system was naturally extraordinary.

The group proceeded down the path and passed through a moon gate. The view before them suddenly opened up.

An enormous lake came into view. Its water was so clear that the bottom could be seen, while a faint mist drifted across its surface, condensed from dense Heaven and Earth Origin Power.

A seven-story tower stood at the center of the lake. It was the Spirit Pagoda.

At that moment, the Spirit Pagoda radiated a gentle blue light, reflecting against the lake water in a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Different areas were arranged around the lakeshore.

To the east lay a Martial Arts Arena. Dense array patterns were engraved across the ground, capable of simulating all kinds of combat environments.

To the west was the Mimicry Cultivation Area, containing dozens of separate Cultivation Rooms. Each could simulate a different setting: extreme cold, extreme heat, thunder domains, wind caverns, and more.

To the north were the Soul Tool Workshop and Battle Armor Forging Room. Through the windows, all manner of sophisticated devices and tools could be seen on display.

Shen Zhou knew that some of those devices were products beyond the current era. Even the Soul Tool Research Institute of the Sun Moon Empire could not compare to them.

To the south was the residential area, where exquisite little buildings stood in orderly rows, their white walls and dark tiles half-hidden amid bamboo groves.

"This... this is not an academy. It is practically a legendary immortal realm."

Huo Yuhao stared wide-eyed, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

He had grown up in a woodshed. The finest residence he had ever seen was the Duke Mansion's main courtyard, but compared to this place, that courtyard was little more than a chicken coop.

Huo Yun'er was equally dumbstruck. Holding onto Golden Crocodile Douluo's arm, her lips trembled slightly.

"Master... are we really going to live here from now on?" Huo Yuhao tugged on Shen Zhou's sleeve, his voice shaking.

"Not merely live here."

Shen Zhou patted his head. "This will be your home. You will cultivate here, grow here, and become a true powerhouse."

Er Ha was already frolicking by the lake, his four legs racing through the snow and leaving trails of plum blossom-shaped prints behind.

Even after running around, he was still not satisfied. He plunged headfirst into the lake, sending water splashing everywhere.

"Awesome! Soaking in this water feels great all over! This Emperor will live in this lake from now on!"

"You are a dog, not a fish."

Guangling Douluo called out from afar.

"This Emperor is willing!"

Qian Daoliu stood by the lake with his hands behind his back. Gazing at the Spirit Pagoda, he fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"Eighth Brother, will building the academy beside White Tiger Duke Mansion be too conspicuous?"

Shen Zhou shook his head. "Big Brother, that is precisely the effect I want.

"If Spirit Hall is to rise again, it must first make a name for itself.

"White Tiger Duke Mansion is a military stronghold of the Star Luo Empire. Countless dignitaries and powerful Soul Masters come and go here.

"With the academy standing here, it is the finest signboard we could have."

"Besides..." He glanced in the direction of the Duke Mansion. "Dai Hao treated Huo Yuhao like that. I want Dai Hao to look up every day and see our academy, to see just how well the son he cast aside with his own hands is living here."

Qian Daoliu nodded slightly and said no more.

Just then, Mighty Lion Douluo suddenly furrowed his brow and sniffed the air.

"There is a smell of blood."

Everyone's expressions changed instantly.

Not because they were afraid, but because that bloody scent carried a nauseating stench of decay—the distinctive aura of Evil Soul Masters.

It was a filthy smell mixed with resentment, deathly energy, and rotten Soul Power.

"Southeast. Three... no, five."

Azure Luan Douluo closed his eyes and sensed for a moment. "They are approaching the academy."

"Good."

Qian Daoliu gave a cold laugh, and killing intent flashed through his golden eyes.

In this era, Evil Soul Masters actually dared to operate openly near human settlements. It was simply the greatest mockery of Spirit Hall.

One had to know that ten thousand years ago, once an Evil Soul Master was discovered, Spirit Hall would immediately dispatch an enforcement squad to wipe them out. They killed every one they found without mercy.

Before long, five figures burst from the Snow Forest to the southeast and landed in the open space outside the academy's main gates.

All five wore gray-black cloaks, with black mist faintly swirling beneath them.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a face as pale as paper, deeply sunken eye sockets, and strangely red lips, as though he had just drunk blood.

Six Soul Rings circled him—two yellow, two purple, and two black. He was clearly a six-ringed Soul Emperor.

The other four had three or four Soul Rings respectively.

"Boss, look at this place!" A gaunt Evil Soul Master pointed at the academy gates, his eyes filled with greed.

"When did an academy like this appear? It looks like it has plenty of loot!"

"That rumble just now must have come from this thing."

Another Evil Soul Master licked his lips. "The Soul Masters inside must have fled in fright. This is perfect for us to use as a base.

"This place has such dense spiritual energy. There could not be a better place to cultivate."

The leading Evil Soul Emperor swept his gloomy gaze across the academy, a cruel smile curling across his lips.

"Not bad.

"Kill everyone inside first. Keep the women, feed the men to Soul Beasts.

"What is that blue light in the lake? Tear it down and take it with us."

"Boss is wise!"

The five of them laughed and joked as they headed toward the academy gates, utterly unaware that they had entered Death God's territory.

Shen Zhou and the others had already reached the main gates.

Qian Daoliu stood at the front with his hands behind his back, watching the five Evil Soul Masters expressionlessly.

"Who are you people?"

The leading Evil Soul Emperor froze for a moment. He had not expected anyone to be inside, much less people who carried themselves so impressively.

But relying on his group's numerical advantage, he assumed few people would dare to provoke him and spoke brazenly.

Qian Daoliu did not answer his question. Instead, he asked, "Are you Evil Soul Masters?"