Time Flies, the Heavenly Sea Grand Competition is Imminent

Nearly half a year had passed since the Spirit Pagoda last shut down its Spirit Ascension Platform services. During that time, Spirit Ascension Platforms across various regions were finally reopened one after another, and the moment the news spread, countless Soul Masters rushed madly to snatch up spots.

The Federation's Soul Masters were terrified that if something went wrong with the Spirit Pagoda again next time, they would be unable to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform for another long stretch.

After all, modern Federation society was far more peaceful than the era ten thousand years ago, when four nations vied for supremacy.

Even the notorious evil Soul Master groups had, for some unknown reason, quieted down recently. For ordinary Soul Masters who wanted to temper their abilities, aside from joining the army or taking part in various competitions, the best option was the Spirit Ascension Platform.

It was low-risk and high-reward. As long as one survived long enough, they could increase the age of their Soul Rings and also hone their ability to fight on the edge of life and death. Even if they died inside, they would not suffer much actual damage.

Regarding the malfunction of the main body of the headquarters' Spirit Ascension Platform, many branch tower masters and council members had protested to Qiangu Dongfeng.

Shutting down Spirit Ascension Platform services had even reduced the sale of high-level Souls. Nearly half a year of this amounted to an astronomical loss for the Spirit Pagoda's regular revenue.

These branch tower masters and Spirit Pagoda council members naturally grew dissatisfied and joined together to request that Qiangu Dongfeng provide a precise answer on the matter.

Of course, Qiangu Dongfeng still withstood the pressure from all sides. The main reason was that his elder brother Qiangu Qingfeng had returned, and with their father Qiangu Dieyan as well, this time, because the matter involved Qian Jue, even Heavenly Phoenix Leng Yaozhu, who had always been at odds with their family, had taken a stance.

The Four Great Spirit Envoys were also Qiangu Dongfeng's people, so the rabble below naturally could not stir up any real waves.

Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, Spirit Ascension Platform Control Room.

"Qian Jue still hasn't woken up? It's already been so long..." Leng Yaozhu walked gracefully to Qiangu Dongfeng's side, her face full of worry as she stared at the silvery-white "dragon egg" not far away, which was protected layer upon layer by all kinds of Soul Tools.

With a wave of his hand, Qiangu Dongfeng summoned a Soul Tool display screen in front of them.

Various data indicators were shown on it, all belonging to Qian Jue.

"Judging from his vital signs and Soul Power fluctuations, Xiao Qian is currently in good condition. His Soul Power cultivation has already reached rank thirty-three, and his physical constitution is even stronger than that of an average Soul King."

"As for why he has yet to wake up, perhaps it is because there are certain powers of law he needs to absorb and fuse with."

Leng Yaozhu sighed. After that, the control room fell into dead silence again.

Because of the love, hatred, and grievances of the past, the two of them only had some common ground when it came to Qian Jue.

Suddenly, an ear-piercing alarm shattered the silent atmosphere.

"What's going on?" Leng Yaozhu looked at the numbers jumping on the display screen and was at a loss for a moment.

Qiangu Dongfeng reacted immediately as well, his gaze landing on the dragon egg that had remained still for half a year.

With a series of faint cracking sounds, the eggshell shattered, and blazing sunlight-like radiance spilled out from within.

When the light faded, a drenched figure tumbled out.

Leng Yaozhu was quick-eyed and quick-handed. She rushed over at once, and the defensive Soul Tools along the way simply could not stop her. She caught Qian Jue just before he hit the ground.

The weak Qian Jue slowly opened his eyes.

What entered his sight was that reassuring face. He immediately said, "Teacher... is it really appropriate for you to hold me like this? Put me down. I feel much better already."

Leng Yaozhu placed Qian Jue on a chair in the control room.

Only after quite a while did Qian Jue slightly adapt to this current body of his.

After all, he had not moved for half a year. He was just like vegetables left in a refrigerator; leave them long enough and they would still grow mold.

But there was no helping it. The power of time law on Shu was far too advanced for the current him.

Generally speaking, Soul Masters who possessed a domain were stronger than ordinary Soul Masters precisely because domains carried a trace of the aura of law.

For example, the reason Three-Word Battle Armor was far stronger than the preceding one-word and Two-Word Battle Armor was not only because the materials used in forging had been upgraded, but more importantly because Three-Word Battle Armor initially possessed the embryonic form of a domain, grasping a trace of the power of law.

Right now, Qian Jue was still only flesh and blood, while although Shu was also only a tiny fragment of divine consciousness, before her death she had already reached the current pinnacle of this universe, the God King realm.

The vastness of the power contained within was absolutely not something the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm from ten thousand years ago could compare to.

Therefore, during the fusion process between the two, they needed to find a point of balance, so that Qian Jue would not be swallowed by this immense source of time law, and the fusion of the domain power would not become sluggish because of Shu's self-seal.

"Xiao Qian, did you really sign a Soul contract with that lord?"

Qian Jue smiled faintly, and Shu's figure appeared behind him.

"I remember you. You're Little Dongfeng, right? After all these years, you've already become a little old man."

"When I first met you as a child, you were still shouting that you wanted to become number one under the heavens. Well? Has your wish come true now?"

The familiar voice rang out. As those warm, spring-breeze-like words fell, Qiangu Dongfeng's body shook, and his old face could not help turning red.

"Lord Shu, you must be joking. Back then, I was young, arrogant, and didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. Now, I'm no longer obsessed with any bullshit number one under the heavens."

Shu floated in front of Qiangu Dongfeng, reached out, and gently stroked his head. "You were never honest even when you were little. Your mouth says you don't want it, but that blazing flame of desire in your eyes, one that could burn everything to ashes, has never gone out."

Having his true intentions seen through, Qiangu Dongfeng only felt extremely awkward. He truly could not compete with Yun Ming, so he had thought up all kinds of ways to bring down Shrek Academy and have the Spirit Pagoda replace him as number one under the heavens.

Decades of self-cultivation and the mask he had forged through the rises and falls of the official world and mortal society were, in the end, seen through effortlessly in front of Mother Shu.

Looking at the bizarre scene before him, Qian Jue also felt rather helpless inside.

Every head of the Qiangu Clan, once chosen in childhood, had to cultivate under Shu for a period of time.

Qiangu Dongfeng was naturally no exception. He had met Shu when he was still very young.

Qian Jue understood Shu's personality best. The maternal warmth on her was practically overflowing. Even though she had still been very lost back then, during that period she had nevertheless cared for and protected Qiangu Dongfeng with the greatest attention.

The pressure of competition within Soul Master clans was already immense, and parents all hoped their children would become great, constantly piling on pressure.

Someone like Shu, who ignored everything else and simply treated you as a child, silently caring for you like the most peerless good mother, was probably hard for anyone not to like.

Beside them, Leng Yaozhu watched Qiangu Dongfeng—usually sinister, cunning, and deeply calculating—actually reveal a shy expression like a child who had never grown up. It was her first time experiencing such a thing, and it put her in a very pleasant mood.

Qiangu Dongfeng also noticed the two of them secretly laughing, so he hurriedly stopped Shu from exposing more of his past and turned instead to ask Qian Jue:

"Xiao Qian, let's talk about what you've gained over the past half year first."

"Do you know? After you left, those classmates of yours in your class worked especially hard. Recently, they're about to represent the Skysea Alliance in the Soul Master youth division competition. When the time comes, you, their captain, must attend."