A New Journey (With Some Thoughts)

"Are you crazy?"

Inside the Soul Guidance Department's Forging Department, Xian Lin'er roared at Mu Baobao, looking as though she hated that he had failed to live up to her expectations.

"The Soul Guidance Department and the Spirit Department were originally equals, but now Tie Wuji gives them one more seat than us. Yan Shaozhe and Cai Meier are still on the same level as us. If you joined, we'd directly leave those two behind by two places."

"An eighteen-year-old Sea God Pavilion member—do you know how significant that is?" Xian Lin'er went on and on. Qian Duoduo could only shake his head helplessly and say that he respected Mu Baobao's choice, though he still found it regrettable.

"Teacher, that's your real concern, isn't it? Maybe Dean Yan doesn't even remember that he once abandoned you after getting what he wanted. He only knows he feels a little guilty."

Mu Baobao shook his head as he spoke. Some people clung to power, some wanted to drift like idle clouds and wild cranes, and some took the world upon themselves... becoming saints. Cold sweat ran down Qian Duoduo's back. This brat really dared to say anything.

"Ah!" Yet the expected scolding never came. Xian Lin'er did not fly into a rage.

At first, she had indeed been delighted, thinking Yan Shaozhe would feel frustrated and regretful. In the end, he had not taken it to heart at all and simply continued doing whatever he needed to do... She had been dejected for a long time, feeling like a clown.

"Teacher, I didn't mean to!"

Mu Baobao had directly silenced Xian Lin'er. Realizing things had gone wrong, he could only apologize through cold sweat.

"I'm actually the same. I was happy when I became a Sea God Pavilion member, but that excitement still couldn't compare to making another breakthrough in forging. Everyone has their own pursuits. What matters to you may not matter to others."

Tie Wuji spoke. He had originally been somewhat displeased with Xian Lin'er. After Yan Shaozhe abandoned her after getting what he wanted, she had found Qian Duoduo to take over, yet she had become disappointed after seeing Yan Shaozhe remain unmoved. Still, Tie Wuji could not help feeling a little sorry for this female Martial God.

After all, she had managed the Soul Guidance Department in perfect order. Yet there was still some resentment over her having delayed Qian Duoduo's life, even if that fellow was extremely happy about it.

There was no banquet, no citywide celebration. Some Sea God Pavilion members were unknown even to outsiders. When Huo Yuhao attended the Sea God Fate Conference, it was only after Zhang Lexuan introduced him during its second occurrence several years later that the students learned how remarkable their junior was.

It merely meant more work and being responsible for many people's lives. Mu Baobao did not think he was crazy... for taking on such a thankless task. In the end, the group simply invited a few friends to have a meal at the Forging Department.

None of the students attended, lest they be accused of forming factions, but they still sent their heartfelt gifts. Mu Baobao did not have any, nor did he like drinking...

"Do you really not regret it?"

Zhang Lexuan asked, an indescribable emotion in her eyes. How many people treated this as their goal?

They could not refuse now anyway.

But... even if he regretted it and wanted to join later, they would surely still agree. His talent was not poor to begin with, and he also had Mu En's connection. At most, this had merely been an early choice; it did not represent the future.

Beibei was also utterly bewildered at the side. He had only just heard about it... His older brother had actually refused this supreme honor, as well as the Battle Armor that could replace Soul Bones. Mu Baobao had said they would send a set when they entered the Inner Court... yet Beibei had likewise gone crazy and refused it.

He could not say he regretted it.

"I thought about it for a day. Other than making myself more tired, I couldn't think of any benefits. Sitting in a high position and controlling the development of an entire city—if you do well, you cannot expect gratitude; if you do poorly, a wave of condemnation is unavoidable."

"Battle Armor was entirely an accident. I haven't even pursued advanced studies in the Soul Guidance Department. I don't want to spend my future working hard to maintain it either. Forging is the only thing I have any real skill at."

He spread his hands. The two still looked at him with admiration. Even knowing they might not do well, many people could not resist the temptation. At worst, they could withdraw when their virtue did not match their position. At least they would have enjoyed it.

"Also... let me give you a heads-up. In a while, I might leave the academy for around half a year!"

He suddenly said.

Inner Court students often went out on inspection missions, but those lasted at most ten days to half a month. Outer Court students would be physically punished for being late to class.

Major matters were usually handled during summer break, yet Mu Baobao said he would be gone for half a year. "It might be sooner, but six months at the latest. By then, you'll know what day it is—the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."

At the end of the semester, Huo Yuhao had gone to the Far North Ice Plains to obtain his second Spirit Ring. No one would forget such a grand event. Shrek's combat team was the Seven Devils, divided into official and reserve squads.

The reserve team usually went only to gain experience; the next tournament five years later would be their stage. This time, because of that old fool Xuan Zi's negligence, several people had died and others were seriously injured. When he was younger, he had nearly wiped out an entire team, yet he still had not learned his lesson... If not for Teacher Mu's nephew, who knew how many times they would have died?

It was already outrageous enough that Huo Yuhao could lead a group of three-ring Spirit Masters to victory. Even though several people had suffered only light injuries, they ultimately gained lifelong honor.

"Brother, where are you going, then?" Mu Beibei asked. Mu Baobao replied, "To witness the splendor of the three great sects of the Douluo Continent's past."

"Or rather... to go home!"

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had been nearly exterminated in the era of Douluo Continent, leaving only four survivors. It barely had any role in Peerless Tang Sect, which only stated that Mu En came from this clan. In Legend of the Dragon King, Tang Wulin had disguised himself as a disciple of this clan to participate in Gu Yuena's martial contest for marriage, showing that it had regained a certain scale.

Among the third generation of the Shrek Seven Devils, Yuanen Yehui was a descendant of the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming and a famous human woman. That had only happened a few thousand years ago... perhaps even only a few hundred years ago, yet it had already formed into a clan, with two Limit Douluo among them. Twenty thousand years of recovery was more than enough for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to restore itself.

Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong had both broken taboos, resulting in Mu En's branch... Yu Tianlong and Yu Tianheng had probably not been idle either. There might not be many people now, but there were still dozens of them—enough to form a clan later.

The Clear Sky Sect and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had plenty of screen time and appeared frequently in Douluo Continent... As for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, it was only said that they had been exterminated.

"Have a safe journey!"

Several days later, outside the Sea God Pavilion of the Inner Court, eleven members watched Mu Baobao and Ma Xiaotao.

"Hey, I'm not going out to have fun. Why are you following me?" Mu Baobao asked helplessly. Ma Xiaotao had apparently latched onto him. "I'm going to seek opportunities too. Following you can't be wrong. Don't even think about leaving me behind."

"Haha!" Everyone laughed. Ma Xiaotao and Mu Baobao were both descendants of Shrek's First Generation Shrek Seven Devils and their teachers, so they were quite a fitting pair.

"Take good care of this girl," Yan Shaozhe told Mu Baobao, then his attitude turned cold. "Xiaotao, don't cause trouble for Little Mu either."

"Little Mu isn't as promiscuous as certain people. Or are phoenixes naturally promiscuous... The Phoenix God of the First Generation Shrek Seven Devils was reportedly the same in his youth!" Xian Lin'er said mockingly. After all, Ma Xiaotao and Ma Hongjun were troubled by Evil Fire.

Yan Shaozhe possessed the Bright Phoenix. If he were affected, then he should have gone around playing the saint instead. "Or is someone using the Phoenix God's name to fool around?"

"Say less!" Cai Meier finally spoke. "The Soul Guidance Department can now contend with the Spirit Department. We even select students and send them to your side. He has behaved himself for decades already."

Mu Baobao had to admit that Cai Meier's figure, appearance, and character... were all excellent. She had kept the extremely promiscuous Yan Shaozhe under control.

Qian Duoduo, Tie Wuji, and the Four Elders of Xuan, Song, Shi, and Zhuang could only sigh helplessly. Who did not have blemishes in their youth? They did too. It was just that they no longer thought those things were worth bragging about, though they still could not resist gossiping about them in private.

"Stay safe and come back soon." Mu En said with a cheerful smile, and the two set off.

Back then, he had been the backbone of the entire clan. In the end, he chose Shrek Academy and did not return, though he had certainly received plenty of scoldings... A Rank 99 Limit Douluo had brought the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan immeasurable glory.

Yu Xiaogang had trained several gods. During the Douluo Continent era, many people had helped restore the clan. Now Mu En himself was very close to godhood, and the clan had grown powerful once more.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? What kind of sect is it, exactly? I've heard some legends about it."

Ma Xiaotao asked. These hidden clans normally kept a low profile, but when a crisis arose, they would absolutely become the continent's final barrier. Back then, the Star Luo Empire had nearly been beaten into collapse, only for the Star Crown Sect to turn the tide, replace the imperial family, and stabilize the empire.

The Clear Sky Sect, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan... could only be called some of the many hidden sects. Calling them the three great sects of the Douluo Continent was simply boasting.

On the Douluo Continent, the Star Luo Empire barely had any presence, though its national strength exceeded that of the Heaven Dou Empire.

The Star Crown Sect, Earth Dragon Sect, Snow Demon Sect, Black Tiger Sect... a whole pile of them appeared later on. Every version loved introducing some formidable figures, so this was just the usual retconning.

The Heavenly Dragon Gate... even the branch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan that split from the Star Luo Empire had Title Douluo.

"How should I put it? It was once one of the Heaven Dou Empire's three great sects, and it was a sect that suffered miserably after being destroyed." Mu Baobao thought for a long time before answering.

"Not one of the Douluo Continent's three great sects?" Ma Xiaotao did not understand. She had confidence in her knowledge of history.

"Just boasting. Not only were those three sects all within the Heaven Dou Empire back then, they were even all outside Heaven Dou City. The Star Crown Sect helped the Star Luo Empire turn the tide and possessed control and support abilities no weaker than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The Black Tiger Sect often opposed the Star Luo Empire's Evil Eye White Tiger as well. They were no worse than those sects."

"What you said actually makes sense." Ma Xiaotao tried to find a flaw to refute him, but the more she looked, the more correct it seemed.

It's been put on paid release.

It doesn't even have a thousand favorites, so it'll probably do terribly. But as long as I can make around a thousand yuan a month,

that'll be enough for food and lodging. That's roughly the equivalent of a little over a hundred readers, so the odds of dropping it probably aren't high.

How should I put it? I'm the kind of writer who's really terrible. It might take several books before I even get signed... I'm not as amazing as those big-shot authors who can drop a story whenever they want. As long as I can sustain myself, I'll keep writing. Now, let me answer a few questions.

The Light Goddess Butterfly is a second-class god and still has Ultimate Light. The Radiant Sacred Dragon is the race of the Radiant Dragon King, so how could it possibly not possess Ultimate Light?

Search for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and you'll find that it was written that the Radiant Dragon King was one... Ultimate attributes are divided into innate and acquired. The Evil Fire Phoenix became Ultimate Fire later on.

The Black Tortoise, Clear Sky Hammer, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda... all of these are related to gods. Even if they do not possess ultimate attributes innately, later cultivation can turn them into ultimate strength, defense, support...

Regarding Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem, the protagonist helped suppress it; he did not dual cultivate with her like Yan Shaozhe said, so naturally it was barely reduced. Huo Yuhao was practically about to do it and still mutated... As for the protagonist's god position.

I've figured out how to resolve it. It'll be something like Rong Nianbing, between death and life, being emotions... that sort of thing.

I read Peerless Tang Sect in 2017. It's been almost six years, and I'm practically rereading it while writing.

Please bear with me.