When Feng Xiaotian woke, a constant hubbub rang in his ears.
He jolted awake, but the sudden movement tugged at his wounds, making him grimace in pain.
He let out a cry.
The crowd surged toward him and helped him sit up.
"How are you, little bro? Does it hurt?"
Murong Ci sat on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, turning a Gold Soul Coin over in his hand. Huo Wu sat beside him, her face... full of admiration.
It was probably because she had never beaten Feng Xiaotian.
"L-Little bro?" Feng Xiaotian was bewildered. He didn't know why the guy who had toyed with him like a dog was calling him that.
Wait! Didn't I make a bet with him?
Feng Xiaotian ruefully slapped his forehead, regretting his reckless behavior.
How had he ended up calling someone even younger than him "big brother"?
"All right, stop regretting what you did. Follow me, and I'll make sure you go hungry nine times for every three days! If I get a meal, you'll get a bowl to wash!"
Feng Xiaotian regretted it even more...
"Enough, enough. Let's get serious. From now on, you can call me by my name. No need for all that 'big brother' nonsense. Just follow my orders in battle."
"I have three requirements. First, stop exchanging glances and getting all touchy-feely with Huo Wu. She's mine."
Huo Wu's ears turned red, and she reached out to pinch the soft flesh at his waist.
"Second—ow... My Martial Soul contains the wind element. After the Five Elements Academies' exchange tournament, I'll need to go to Godwind Academy to study and cultivate."
"Third, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament will begin in about two years. For the final rounds, our Blazing Fire and your Godwind will have to join forces to strengthen our fighting power."
"What do you think? Don't worry, I've looked into the third point. It's doable."
Feng Xiaotian thought it over carefully. It seemed... worth a try?
"All right, that's enough talk. I'm off."
Feng Xiaotian lay in bed, listening to the footsteps recede into the distance.
"That guy's really got something wrong with him..."
It had been more than three months since he'd gained a little brother.
Murong Ci's life was pretty delightful, too. Every day, he'd fight, eat, sleep, and then fight again.
He sparred with Huo Wu, beat up challengers at the Soul Fighting Arena, and occasionally yelped when Huo Wu scorched him with some new variation of Ring Fusion.
This place was so delightful, he'd forgotten all about Shu.
But there was one thing that really annoyed him!
In three months, his Soul Power had only risen by three levels? He was only level thirty-four?!
That was a dreadful blow he absolutely couldn't accept.
"System, what's going on? Why am I leveling up so slowly now? I'd hoped to reach level forty by the exchange tournament. At this rate, I'll only make it to level thirty-six at most."
[...]
The system was clearly at a loss for words.
[Why don't you think about the characteristics of an Ultimate Martial Soul? Haven't you read the original story? It clearly stated that cultivation is fast from levels 0 to 30, drops sharply from 30 to 70, and only gets faster again after 70. That's a constraint imposed by the laws of heaven and earth. My power, in this form, isn't enough to fight against those laws.] [And now you're telling me, how many Ultimate Martial Souls do you have? Do you still think you're cultivating slowly? Besides, are you weak right now?]
"Seems like... I was being a little greedy. And I'm not weak."
[Then that settles it. Get lost and cultivate.]
"Hehe."
Murong Ci gave an awkward grin and went off to cultivate.
Night fell. The bright moon hung high overhead, spilling moonlight across the land.
[Whenever the moon comes out, something's bound to happen. I'll scout the area; you take your time admiring it.]
Sure enough, less than fifteen minutes later, Murong Ci felt a chill down his back. A man in black had appeared behind him.
"Young Master Murong, it's been a while. This is a letter from the young master. He invites you to meet and discuss something."
"Thank you, senior. Please report back that it'll be the usual time and place. And please pass on my regards to the Crown Prince."
[He doesn't have any killing intent. You can trust him.]
Eight o'clock the following evening, outside the Moon-Gazing Tea House.
The storyteller was still holding forth, though this time he was talking about how some 'Yongzhen' had recently stunned the crowds and made a name for himself in Great Soul Arenas across the continent.
Murong Ci chuckled, paying it no mind.
Inside, however, his emotions were already surging like a storm-tossed sea.
The "fame across the land" achievement had been unlocked!
On the second floor, Xue Qinghe was already waiting.
He wasn't wearing his Crown Prince's robes this time. He looked every bit the young nobleman, open and unassuming, with a warm, refined manner.
"Brother Murong, have a seat!"
"Your Highness, why did you summon me?"
"Brother, let's be frank. Have you heard that a powerful seven-person team has appeared in Suotuo City recently?"
[Well, look at that—the timing lines up perfectly.]
"I've heard about them. Are they called the Shrek Seven Devils?"
"Exactly. You're well informed, brother. Ah, where should I begin? We of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy went to challenge them, drawn by their reputation, but suffered a crushing defeat."
"So you want me to challenge the Shrek Seven Devils?"
Xue Qinghe nodded, the smile never leaving his eyes. He poured another cup of tea and took a slow sip.
"Not quite. I'd like Brother Murong to join the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and give Yu Tianheng and the others some guidance. That would put Father at ease and show him that Heaven Dou is no pushover."
Murong Ci tapped his fingers on the tabletop, smiling faintly.
"Your Highness wants me to betray Blazing Fire?"
"No, no. Betrayal is too strong a word. I just want you to give them some guidance."
Murong Ci lightly pinched his fingers together, tracing a line through the air.
"I came from nothing. Blazing Fire took me in, and I wouldn't dare betray them. If that's what you're asking, then there's nothing more to discuss."
Murong Ci stood up to leave.
"Don't be so formal, Brother Murong. Think about it: if you join the Imperial Academy now, you'll be a member of the royal family in the future. You'll even get a noble title."
Murong Ci glanced at Xue Qinghe.
"Does Your Highness hope I'll stand beside you in the future?"
Murong Ci's eyelid twitched ever so slightly, a movement so faint that Xue Qinghe didn't notice.
But Murong Ci sensed a slight fluctuation in the holy light surrounding Xue Qinghe. It was a small change.
If Murong Ci's Yongzhen hadn't been so highly attuned to attributes, he wouldn't have sensed it.
"Brother Murong is clever. That's right, I do have that in mind. What do you think?"
"We'll talk about the future when it comes. But as for you, Your Highness, I'd be very happy to be your friend. I'll take my leave!"
Murong Ci clasped his hands in farewell.
"Brother Murong, put together a seven-person team in the next couple of days. I'll arrange for the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's students to spar with you. I hope you'll do me the honor and share your expertise."
Murong Ci stopped and turned back to Xue Qinghe, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.
"I wouldn't call it sharing my expertise, but I accept, Your Highness." Then he walked out without looking back.
After he left, Xue Qinghe let out a slight breath of relief. His unsteady steps betrayed his true feelings.
In the shadows, Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo murmured to each other.
On a rooftop deep within Heaven Dou City.
"Chrysanthemum Guan, did you bring me here just to watch this three-ring kid?"
"Old Ghost, you don't understand. There's an overbearing aura from a plant Soul Beast about this kid. My Martial Soul trembles slightly in his presence."
"Interesting. His Holiness the Pope has nothing to do these next few days. Let's keep watching..."
Somewhere outside Heaven Dou City.
A girl with the appearance of a little girl stood atop a mountain, gazing toward Heaven Dou City.
She wore a short, ice-blue skirt. Silver-white hair fell to her waist, the ends coated with a thin layer of frost.
"Found you."
She sniffed with her dainty little nose.
"Hm? A human academy with ice attributes? That could serve as this emperor's base."
Then her aura shifted, and an ice-blue light swallowed her.
A moment later, a human girl with two yellow and two purple Soul Rings walked forward.
"I can only blend into human society with this meager Soul Power..."
She suddenly chuckled.
"But if I really wanted to fight... Hmph..."
[Kid, the game... has officially begun.]