Senior Sister Lexuan

"Someone?"

When Mu Baobao returned to his Inner Court residence, he found the room brightly lit. Someone had to be inside.

Beibei had accompanied Tang Ya out to hunt soul beasts, and Ma Xiaotao had only vented her Evil Fire through him last night. That made it obvious who it was. He quietly opened the door.

On the second-floor balcony sat a table and chairs meant for resting. Hot tea and some pastries had been laid out on the table, while a figure leaned against the railing.

Her white gown accentuated her flawless figure. Moonlight spilled over her in rays, and a look of enjoyment appeared on her gentle face. Her aura was visibly increasing.

"Big Sister Lexuan, you're back from your inspection mission? Honestly, Shrek Academy is our home. Why work yourself so hard?"

"At this rate, you won't be graduating—you'll be renouncing worldly life!" Mu Baobao muttered. The girl who looked like a fairy descended from the Moon Palace was none other than Zhang Lexuan, the chief disciple of the Inner Court and the future Master of Sea God Pavilion.

Her Silver Moon Martial Soul allowed her to draw slightly on moonlight for cultivation and amplify her own abilities.

"You even made pastries. I worked out late and haven't eaten yet." He unceremoniously picked up some pastries and hot tea, then began eating and drinking with abandon.

High-level soul masters could go without food or water for long periods, extracting nourishment from Soul Power... but some people, like Xuan Zi, were already Rank 98 and still ate and drank ravenously—eating every kind of food imaginable!

Douluo Continent on the Tip of the Tongue?

Mu Baobao felt that Xuan Zi could definitely write that monumental work. It was also related to his Taotie Divine Ox Martial Soul, a martial soul that grew through eating.

"Your cooking is as good as ever!"

Mu Baobao said through a mouthful of food. Both brothers had been raised by Zhang Lexuan, so naturally, her cooking was beyond reproach. Ma Xiaotao, on the other hand, could blow up a pot in minutes.

She and Zhang Lexuan were like the sun and moon.

"Working out?" Zhang Lexuan was briefly stunned. Mu Baobao often used this trendy phrase. "Working" meant doing something, and he loved using it for all sorts of things.

"You're already this grown up, yet you still have no proper manners." Zhang Lexuan spoke fondly and helplessly. She was endlessly tolerant toward both brothers, and she treated the other students the same way. She was very gentle.

No one objected to her position as the senior sister of the Inner Court.

Her strength also surpassed all others. At twenty-four, she was already a Rank 80 Soul Douluo, and she possessed a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring and Soul Bone. If this were the era of Douluo Continent—

Mu Baobao wanted to spit in the faces of Shrek Academy and Flander. A bunch of teachers had only been Rank 50 or 60 despite being ancient... the Golden Iron Triangle had only reached Rank 70 Soul Saint in their fifties or sixties, and none of them had achieved Rank 20 at twelve. It was understandable.

After all, they needed to pile up geniuses to establish their reputation before they could fool people in every possible way... It was only during the era of Legend of the Dragon King, when Douluo Continent devoured the Abyss Plane and spiritual energy revived, that so many powerful figures emerged.

During the era of Peerless Tang Sect, Shrek Inner Court had the Golden Ancient Tree. Like the Auspicious Beast Three-Eyed Golden Lion of Star Dou Forest, it carried fortune and could accelerate cultivation.

A twenty-year-old Rank 60 Soul Emperor could become a seed student. The requirements were becoming increasingly absurd.

"Ah, what a pity!"

Mu Baobao muttered. Such an outstanding Zhang Lexuan would ultimately grow old alone and never marry.

She had originally been an orphan from a small village in the Heaven Dou Empire. Dragon God Mu En discovered her while exterminating Evil Soul Masters... Many of those who ultimately remained at Shrek Academy were orphans. As for people from the major empires and factions, they had little chance of holding high-ranking positions and could at most become teachers.

In that regard, it was no different from Spirit Hall. Both scoured the continent for talented orphans, but Spirit Hall accepted all who wished to learn, whereas Shrek Academy only accepted the gifted. If Zhang Lexuan had not possessed Innate Full Soul Power—

Mu En probably would have only sent her somewhere safe... That was Shrek Academy for you!

"I'll marry you when I grow up!"

Mu Beibei had said it as a childhood joke, yet Zhang Lexuan remembered it. More than that, she wanted to repay Mu En's kindness. After Qiankun Asking-Clear Valley made her realize that she and Beibei had no possibility, she chose to forget. Zhang Lexuan was six years older than Mu Baobao, while Mu Beibei was nine years old.

Hu Liena was thirty years older than Tang San, while Qian Renxue was twenty years older than Tang San... That was even more outrageous. She had met Tang Buddha Ancestor only a few times, yet she was willing to become a traitor for him and abandon Spirit Hall's foundation. She was truly love-brained.

"What's such a pity?" Zhang Lexuan asked.

"It's a pity that some bastard will get such a bargain."

"What are you talking about?" Zhang Lexuan's face reddened slightly as she recalled certain happy memories.

Back then, Mu Beibei truly had nearly spoken those words. Mu Baobao had mercilessly beaten him up. How could such a promise be made so casually?

Zhang Lexuan had known then that this younger brother was different from the rest. More than anything, he was probably afraid that she would become troubled over it!

"Big Sister Lexuan, you really don't need to agonize over your debt to Ancestor Xuan. I believe others would have saved you too. Shrek Academy has plenty of such cases."

Mu Baobao looked at Zhang Lexuan solemnly. What he truly wanted to say was that if she had ulterior motives, then to hell with it—but that would earn him a title for defiance.

"You should have a life of your own!"

"If you absolutely have to marry, then..."

Mu Baobao's voice stalled. Considering his age from his time on Blue Star, he was much older than Zhang Lexuan, so he naturally did not care about that. Her appearance, talent, and personality... were all beyond reproach. Who wouldn't love her?

Zhang Lexuan asked with great interest.

"Then what?"

"Nothing. When the time comes, I'll threaten you with my life!" Mu Baobao said with a smiling, teasing expression.

"Hehe."

"You little brat, you dare threaten your big sister now!"

Zhang Lexuan covered her mouth and laughed. Mu Baobao stared blankly at her, as though she were a fairy who had descended from the Moon Palace.

"You're already an adult, and you have the qualifications. Ma Xiaotao sneaks into your room every so often. Why haven't you taken her?"

This matter was no secret to the Mu brothers, Zhang Lexuan, or many others. After all, Shrek Academy had only one person with Ultimate Ice. There was also a senior sister surnamed Ling in the Inner Court with an ice-attribute Martial Soul.

Ultimate Ice could amplify her, and she had tried to snatch Huo Yuhao during the Sea God Fate Conference, only to be rejected.

Xu Sanshi's Black Tortoise Shield possessed both water and earth attributes, and its suppression of Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire was even stronger than hers. That was why Ma Xiaotao moved so skillfully whenever she sneaked around like a thief.

At that thought, Mu Baobao secretly felt that something was wrong. Kyurem was also Ultimate Ice... He was older than Huo Yuhao, and he was even the great-grandson of Dragon God Douluo Mu En. Would that Senior Sister Ling come looking for him too? Was this the rhythm of building a harem?

"Hey, you actually see your little brother that way? Just as I stopped Beibei from saying those words to you back then, if you can't fulfill something, don't casually make a promise. Besides, this is Shrek Academy. Breaking one's word and betraying trust will earn everyone's scorn!"

Mu Baobao spoke while putting on the air of someone exceptional who simply did not wish to be promiscuous. Zhang Lexuan was amused, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

His room had clearly been tidied again by this senior sister. Both brothers gave her free access. Mu Beibei had no bad habits anyway, and his temperament was as refined and gentle as Zhang Lexuan's.

Mu Baobao, however, wanted to keep some things unsuitable for children. Ma Xiaotao always slipped into his room, and Zhang Lexuan would have to clean up after them.

This... he really could not mess around recklessly!

"Got it, you devoted and lovable, self-important big boy. Go to sleep early."

Zhang Lexuan smiled and stretched, displaying her perfect figure without reservation. Bathed in the silver moonlight, she was as breathtaking as ever.

"Good night, Big Sister Lexuan."

The next day,

Mu Baobao stood Xian Lin'er up again.

She had said she would specially train him yesterday, but he had forgotten... If he went looking for her today, his bones would probably be crushed.

"Teacher, I need your help with something."

He pushed open Qian Duoduo's office door. A Title Douluo's senses were terrifyingly sharp, and some could even foresee danger. The students normally knocked out of respect for the rules, but Mu Baobao was directly this rude.

"Oh, my little Baobao. You didn't come yesterday, and your mistress was furious. But I heard from the students that you successfully forged Spirit Refinement metal?"

"As expected of my good disciple!"

Qian Duoduo had been preparing to visit the Forging Department and mock Tie Wuji when Mu Baobao came looking for him.

"Teacher, can you engrave miniature Soul Tool formations? Rank 5 or 6 is fine." Mu Baobao asked. Qian Duoduo immediately puffed up with pride. "Are you joking? Your teacher is one of the few Level 9 Soul Engineers on the continent. Miniature Soul Tool formations are difficult, but low-level ones are manageable. What is it?"

"Just engrave an ice-attribute Soul Tool formation on this!" As he spoke, he took out the gauntlet he had forged yesterday from his storage Soul Tool.

A wave of spiritual coldness spread out, instantly piquing Qian Duoduo's interest. This was indeed Spirit Refinement metal.

"Why is it a gauntlet? What a waste! Spirit Refinement metal can be used to make Rank 8 or 9 Soul Tools. I have to beg that bastard Tie Wuji for ages just to get some!" Qian Duoduo hated that iron could not become steel. His chest felt tight, and he nearly coughed up blood.

"Come on, what kind of Soul Tool can you make with such a tiny volume? Besides, it's far more badass than that."

Mu Baobao complained. Soul Tools were essentially weapons of various kinds, divided into long-range, melee, and Fixed-Station types. The difference between the first two was merely range; their power was about the same, though there were slight differences in evasion.

Fixed-Station Soul Tools could only be assembled on the ground, similar to artillery and missiles on Blue Star.

They were absurdly powerful. Even if enemies noticed them, they might not be able to escape. Their drawback was that they required a long assembly time. During the eras of Legend of the Dragon King and Ultimate Douluo—

Mechas and warships... could carry Fixed-Station Soul Tools around everywhere. The difference between them and Battle Armor was that one was massive, cumbersome, and inflexible.

Battle Armor was flexible, but its Soul Tool formations had to be compressed into very small armor pieces, like explosives squeezed to their limits. One slight mistake could cause a massive explosion, so the quality requirements for the metal were extremely high.

At the very least, a single engraving failure would not immediately render it useless. Spirit Refinement metal could be forged into Rank 90 Soul Tools... With Heavenly Refinement, even Huo Yuhao's Necromancy Tower, capable of harming gods, would probably not be a problem.

Tang Wulin forged the metal, Huo Yuhao made the Soul Tools, and Lan Xuanyu operated them... That combination was simply unbeatable. It was a complete system.

Mu Baobao slowly explained this concept.

Qian Duoduo was dumbfounded. If it succeeded, it would absolutely change the era. How did this kid's brain even work?

"That's right. Small Battle Armor is highly flexible, while large mechas are clumsy—but if they can carry Fixed-Station Soul Tools around everywhere, just how thrilling would that be..."