Entering the Inner Courtyard, First Attempt with Soul Tools

Ling Feng had no idea that his arrival had already caused a tremendous stir within the Sea God Pavilion.

Although Ling Feng only had two rings of cultivation at present, having been born into the Ling Family, he had long mastered the use of ice-element soul power.

Led by Ling Luocheng, the two of them walked across the lake.

Unlike Ma Xiaotao, who lightly tapped the lake's surface and used its tension to move forward, they froze a layer of ice beneath their feet the instant their feet were about to touch the water.

Though both were crossing the lake on foot, Ling Feng and Ling Luocheng's method was far more difficult than Ma Xiaotao's.

Even Ling Luocheng's gaze toward Ling Feng was filled with pleasant surprise.

This way of walking across the lake placed extreme demands on a soul master's control over the ice element. For Ling Feng to accomplish it with merely two rings of cultivation, he had already far surpassed soul masters of his own age.

At the very least, Ling Luocheng knew that when she had been at two rings, there was no way she could have done it.

"This little fellow is already this strong!"

A few minutes later, the outline of Sea God Island appeared before Ling Feng's eyes.

Even though he had a basic understanding of Sea God Island, Ling Feng was still somewhat surprised upon seeing it in person.

It was not because of the island's grandeur or magnificence. On the contrary, Sea God Island was too plain.

At a glance, it was only about two square kilometers in size. The island's terrain was uneven, with pavilions and towers built across it. The overall style was quite simple, carrying the feeling of an earthly paradise.

"So this is Sea God Island..."

Looking at the buildings nestled among the towering vegetation, beautiful and elegant, Ling Feng found himself rather taken with this scenic place.

"You're surprisingly calm."

Ling Luocheng had been observing Ling Feng's reaction the whole time.

Seeing that Ling Feng's expression was almost no different from usual, Ling Luocheng could not help but speak.

"Those students who earned their way into the inner court through their own ability practically want to jump for joy when they first arrive."

"Even I shouted out in excitement the first time I came here."

"But you're acting like nothing happened."

"Perhaps because you didn't enter the inner court through your own strength, you're missing that sense of feeling?"

Ling Feng did not deny it. He even felt that Ling Luocheng was right.

He could not really be said to have any feelings for Shrek Academy. He had only been at the academy for a few days, so how could he possess the same sense of belonging and identification as they did?

To him, this was merely a place with nice scenery.

Nothing more.

"Forget it. You'll understand when you take the inner court exam."

Ling Luocheng said nothing more. She led Ling Feng through the winding paths, and before long, they arrived at a densely packed residential area.

Everywhere he looked was a sea of emerald green.

The inner court disciples' residences were located amid this vegetation, which had stood for thousands of years.

Before long, Ling Luocheng brought Ling Feng to a stop before an unnamed giant tree.

Ling Feng looked up and examined it. Its height alone exceeded thirty meters.

Following Ling Luocheng, Ling Feng entered the interior of the tree.

The space inside was even more spacious, exceeding three hundred square meters and divided into two floors. Yet its furnishings leaned toward a modern style, making it look exactly like a small villa.

Such a large residence was occupied by Ling Luocheng alone, making Ling Feng sigh at Shrek Academy's immense wealth.

"Don't underestimate this seemingly simple residence. There's much more to it than meets the eye."

Seeing that Ling Feng had misunderstood, Ling Luocheng began giving him a brief tour.

"This is the main cultivation room. It has Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow suited to my attribute, so cultivating here gives twice the result with half the effort."

"Besides cultivating soul power itself, you can't neglect mental power training either."

"There's even a soul tool room, though I haven't used those things much."

When it came to soul tools, Ling Luocheng did not pay much attention to them either.

"After all, what Shrek has always needed are powerful soul masters. Soul engineers... without soul masters, they are nothing."

Ling Feng frowned slightly at Ling Luocheng's words.

Even the battle with the Sun Moon Empire a thousand years ago had failed to awaken Shrek Academy as a whole to the importance of soul tools.

However, Ling Feng did not speak up to refute Ling Luocheng.

Only after Ling Luocheng had introduced every room one by one did she stop at the final room.

"I've basically explained what all the rooms are for. As for how to actually use them, that will depend on you..."

Before Ling Luocheng could finish, Ling Feng interrupted her.

"Sis, it seems you haven't shown me this room yet, have you?"

Ling Feng was rather curious about the room behind Ling Luocheng, but Ling Luocheng lightly rapped him on the head.

"Idiot, a home is a home. How could there be no place to live?"

Ling Luocheng's pretty face flushed slightly as she said somewhat embarrassedly, "Of course, this is the room where I usually rest!"

"You can rest in my room too when you're tired from cultivation later on."

"But for now, you'll have to wait for me to tidy up."

Ling Luocheng opened the door just wide enough for herself to slip through. After tossing out a "Look around by yourself first" to Ling Feng, she squeezed inside and shut the door tightly behind her.

Ling Feng awkwardly rubbed the spot Ling Luocheng had knocked earlier, seeming to understand something.

"I'd always heard that girls' dorms were messy. I thought Sister Luocheng would be an exception."

The sound of rustling and tidying came from inside the room. Ling Feng had no habit of eavesdropping, so he began wandering around on his own.

After only a few steps, Ling Feng stopped in front of a room.

"This seems to be a soul tool room?"

Pushing open the door, he saw sunlight streaming in through the window opposite, falling onto the room's only table.

Ling Feng walked over to the window and gently pushed it open.

He let the sunlight spill over him. It was warm and comfortable.

From this angle, he could see not only the broad Sea God Lake, but also vaguely make out the teaching buildings in the distance.

With mountains and water complementing one another, Ling Feng's mood inexplicably relaxed considerably in such an environment.

"Shrek's inner courtyard does have something to it..."

Ling Feng sighed, his gaze falling onto the table.

Several design drafts were scattered messily across it, along with a carving knife and several pieces of rare metal.

Two or three of them seemed to have already been ruined and had been placed in a box filled with rare metal shavings.

The others retained their original shapes. On the piece in the very middle, half of an array pattern had been carved.

"This is..."

Ling Feng picked up the half-carved piece of rare metal and glanced at the design drafts beside it.

The complicated annotations and lines on the draft gave Ling Feng a headache at first glance, making him use his Spirit Eyes to continue examining them.

Very quickly, Ling Feng found the lines on the design draft corresponding to the rare metal.

Picking up the carving knife at the side, Ling Feng followed the annotations on the draft and continued carving along the half-finished pattern.

Compared to the first half, the lines Ling Feng carved were straight and crisp, creating a stark contrast between the two.

He had only intended to give it a simple try, yet Ling Feng unexpectedly became completely absorbed in it.

Who knew how much time passed.

"Little Feng?"

Ling Luocheng pushed open the door. Seeing Ling Feng seated at the table, she initially thought he was merely interested in her soul tool assignment.

But when she came to his side and saw that Ling Feng was recreating the design draft exactly, her pupils suddenly constricted!