Nine Scenic Wonders (2)

Nine Scenic Wonders (2)

True Meaning Tree?

Sword intent made up the most, accounting for about one-fifth?

Ning Rongrong thought of a fact she was unwilling to admit, one that sounded like complete fantasy. Her glass-like eyes trembled faintly. "Wait, the true intent and sword intent you mentioned... are they the true intent and sword intent I think they are?"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened as well.

Sword intent was not common, but neither was it rare.

Almost every Titled Douluo with a sword-type Tool Martial Soul could comprehend sword intent.

Among them, Sword Douluo Chen Xin of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was a typical example.

Spirit Hall collected books from across the land.

Naturally, it had records describing sword intent.

And they were extensive records at that.

But as for seeing it with his own eyes, he truly never had.

In that regard, Ning Rongrong, who had been doted on by Chen Xin, knew more than Yu Xiaogang. What one learned from books always felt shallow; only through practice could one truly understand. Yu Xiaogang had never even seen sword intent. Even if he could recite Spirit Hall's research findings word for word, how much substance did he really have?

However, compared with Flender and the others, who knew nothing at all, Yu Xiaogang, who knew only a little, instantly became a highly learned scholar!

The reasoning was simple: gaps only existed through comparison!

To show off his knowledge and prove his worth, Yu Xiaogang looked smugly at the bewildered Flender and the others. He put on a humble air, but his tone, brimming with the desire to show off, had already exposed his thoughts. "Sword intent is a spiritual power that only Titled Douluo can comprehend, but not every Titled Douluo can comprehend it. Among all Titled Douluo, those with sword-type Tool Martial Souls have the highest chance of comprehending sword intent. According to the findings of investigations and research, sword intent is the key to opening a sword domain. A Titled Douluo who comprehends sword intent is not only unstoppable in battle and supreme among those of the same realm, but once they open a sword domain and master a domain of their own, they can even use level ninety Soul Power to defeat some level ninety-five Super Douluo without domains. For example, Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a Titled Douluo with sword intent. He is also a level ninety-six Super Douluo, a powerhouse standing at the pinnacle of the continent!"

Ning Rongrong waved her hand modestly.

Yu Xiaogang was exaggerating too much.

If she did not know that Yu Xiaogang had no social awareness, she would have thought he was trying to ruin her through excessive praise.

Besides, before Ye Qingcang, even precious sword intent was not worth mentioning. Hadn't Ye Qingcang said there were more than twenty kinds of sword intent here?

More than twenty kinds of sword intent!

Sword intent suddenly did not seem so valuable anymore...

What was more, Yu Xiaogang was not entirely correct.

However, before Ning Rongrong could correct the mistakes in Yu Xiaogang's explanation, Zhu Zhuqing's surprised voice had already drawn everyone's attention away.

Including Ning Rongrong's.

"Look..." Ye Qingcang had already walked some distance down the Flower Path, so the Shrek group following behind him had gradually stepped onto it as well. While Yu Xiaogang was flaunting his knowledge, Zhu Zhuqing, who was usually quiet, sharply noticed something strange on a tree trunk. Pointing at the writing there, she called the others over. "Someone else left words here!"

"Child of the Qin clan, left behind."

"Abyssal Serpent Blade Intent."

"At sixteen years old, with the Tendons and Bones Chapter perfected, I hunted Whale Sharks outside Vast Sea City and happened upon a 10,000 Year Nether Water Dark Serpent. I watched it transform into a flood dragon and comprehended the Dao. I fought it thirteen times in succession. On the day I advanced from level thirty-eight to level forty, I took one 20,000-Year Soul Ring and one 20,000-Year Soul Bone from it, fused them into my body, advanced to Soul Ancestor, absorbed the meaning of the dark serpent becoming a flood dragon, and created the Abyssal Serpent Blade Intent. It is unpredictable and ever-changing, skilled at using finesse to overcome force and technique to break momentum."

"Credits required for one comprehension: one hundred."

The Shrek group surrounded the pitch-black Dragon Blood Tree and stared at one another.

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrived.

They had just been discussing sword intent.

Now, sword intent was right before their eyes.

But was the introduction to this sword intent not a little too exaggerated?

Sixteen years old, with the Tendons and Bones Chapter perfected—they would not comment on that. They had never practiced the Tendons and Bones Chapter, nor did they know whether it was easy to master.

Encountering a 10,000 Year Nether Water Dark Serpent was also common enough in the Soul Master world. There were more Soul Beasts in the sea than on land, and they were more vicious by nature. One could occasionally encounter a 10,000-Year Soul Beast taking a stroll in the Star Dou Great Forest, so encountering a 10,000 Year Nether Water Dark Serpent at sea was perfectly normal.

But the next few lines were not quite right!

He fought it thirteen times, then on the day he reached level forty from level thirty-eight, took its Soul Ring and Soul Bone, absorbed them into his body, became a Soul Ancestor, and casually absorbed the meaning of a serpent becoming a flood dragon to create the Abyssal Serpent Blade Intent?

Set aside the part about creating the Abyssal Serpent Blade Intent.

It was normal for there to be geniuses whom ordinary people could not understand.

Their comprehension was simply high. Nothing could be done about that.

But how had he used level thirty-eight Soul Power to fight the Nether Water Dark Serpent thirteen times, then at level forty, slain the Nether Water Dark Serpent after it had successfully transformed into a flood dragon, and absorbed its Soul Ring and Soul Bone?

A 20,000-year-old Nether Water Dark Serpent was as strong in the sea as a 30,000-year-old Mandala Snake was on land. A 30,000-year-old Mandala Snake matched a human Soul Emperor, a 50,000-year-old Mandala Snake matched a human Soul Sage, a 70,000-year-old Mandala Snake corresponded to a human Soul Douluo, and a Mandala Snake King over 100,000 years old corresponded to a human Titled Douluo. An ordinary level forty Soul Ancestor could only handle Soul Beasts below ten thousand years. How had he, while still a Quasi Soul Grandmaster who had yet to obtain his Soul Ring, killed a Nether Water Abyssal Flood Dragon at sea?

And if it had been a Nether Water Abyssal Flood Dragon, its value rose even further!

A 20,000-year-old Nether Water Abyssal Flood Dragon was nearly as strong in the sea as a 50,000-year-old Mandala Snake. Even an ordinary Soul Sage could not handle one!

How had he killed it with three Soul Skills?

Or was Stellar Martial Path simply so powerful that a level forty Soul Master with the Tendons and Bones Chapter perfected could kill a 20,000-year-old Nether Water Abyssal Flood Dragon?

And on top of that, he had absorbed its Soul Ring?

According to the optimal Soul Ring configuration proposed by Yu Xiaogang, a Soul Master's first Soul Ring should be four hundred and twenty-three years, the second seven hundred and sixty-four years, the third one thousand seven hundred and sixty years, the fourth around five thousand years, the fifth twelve thousand years, and only the Sixth Soul Ring should be twenty thousand years. Even if a Soul Bone enhanced his physical condition, how could a Quasi Soul Grandmaster absorb a 20,000-year Soul Ring as his fourth ring?

Was he not afraid of exploding from the strain?

Yu Xiaogang's head buzzed.

It was as if a massive iron hammer had struck it.

That blow shattered years of understanding into pieces.

The entire world seemed to vanish from his senses, leaving only the glaring line of writing on the tree trunk and an empty, echoing void.

Only when Tang San and Flender's worried voices broke into his world did he shudder.

He came to his senses as if waking from a dream, dizzy and disoriented.

He instinctively raised a hand to support his forehead.

He could not stop himself from spacing out for a moment.

Only then did he find himself again beneath the scorching sunlight.

When he looked up again and glanced around, the Shrek group had already divided into three parts.

Flender, Tang San, and Ma Hongjun stood before him.

They watched him worriedly.

Qin Ming, Dai Mubai, Shao Xin, and the others were not far away.

They walked while reading, unhurried.

Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Oscar had gone far ahead.

They had no intention of lingering, instead eagerly reading the stories on the various True Meaning Trees.

At the very far end, the person standing at the end of the Flower Path was Ye Qingcang, who had stopped walking. He said nothing, yet it was as though he had said everything. Even without deliberately displaying his strength, he was still so powerful that people could not help but revere him.

More than a hundred students who possessed true intent.

All of them were completely subdued by him alone.

This innate leadership was something Tang San did not possess.

But precisely because of this, they had to join Blue Tyrant Academy!

Otherwise, he would forever be nothing more than trash in everyone else's eyes!

People might remember second place, but the light of second place would always be obscured by first!

Yu Xiaogang estimated the distance between himself and Ye Qingcang. After confirming it was no less than seven or eight kilometers, he solemnly looked at Tang San, Flender, and Ma Hongjun. Though he knew that even with seven or eight kilometers between them, Ye Qingcang could not hear him no matter how sharp his hearing was, he still lowered his voice just in case. "The conflict between Little San and Spirit Hall can never be resolved. Now that Xiao Wu's true identity is that of a 100,000-Year Transformed Soul Beast, the only way to survive is to join Blue Tyrant Academy. And with the little monsters' current strength, even Little San, who has Twin Martial Souls, might not pass Blue Tyrant Academy's entrance examination. Flender, I'm thinking... why don't you go ask Erlong for a favor?"

Flender was completely dumbfounded.

He pointed at Yu Xiaogang, then at himself.

The meaning was obvious.

Yu Xiaogang understood what Flender meant. He forced a helpless, bitter smile. Though it was an act, it looked utterly flawless. "I can't go. The misunderstanding from back then runs too deep. If I went to see Erlong now, she would probably make an exception for me, but that would put her in a difficult position. You are the most suitable person to go. Besides, you are the dean of Shrek Academy. Unlike me, I'm nothing..."

Others might not have seen through Yu Xiaogang's act, but how could Flender, who had long held grievances against him, fail to see through it? He sneered and exposed Yu Xiaogang's intentions. "My view is exactly the opposite of yours. You can go see Erlong, but I cannot. You would be going to see her in a personal capacity, while I would represent Shrek Academy. Besides, it isn't as though you don't know that Erlong likes you. If she won't even give you face, there will be no result if I go either. If you ask me, we should never have come to Blue Tyrant Academy. The moment we learned on the carriage that Blue Tyrant Academy's dean was Erlong, we should have said goodbye as soon as we got off. We have already become a huge burden. You say going to Erlong will put her in a difficult position, but why don't you consider that insisting on coming to Blue Tyrant Academy has already put Erlong in a difficult position?"

"Then tell me, what can I do?" Yu Xiaogang became somewhat agitated as well. There were no outsiders here. Tang San was his disciple, and Ma Hongjun was Flender's disciple, so he laid everything bare.

"Do you have the nerve to break up the Shrek Seven Devils?"

"We can't protect Xiao Wu, understand?"

"Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing are already troublesome enough, and Little San's identity is even more sensitive. Ye Qingcang only needs to write a letter of accusation and tell Spirit Hall that Little San is Clear Sky Douluo's son. Then Xiao Wu will fall into his hands and become his 100,000-Year Soul Ring."

"Reason?"

"Justice?"

"The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire is his friend!"

"Haven't you figured it out yet?"

"Those two are already in league with each other!"

"Other than Blue Tyrant Academy, other than Erlong, who else can ensure that we stay safe?"

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Don't be ridiculous. The temptation of one 100,000-Year Soul Ring and one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone is enough to sway even a Titled Douluo. Do you think Ning Rongrong is such a good person that she can restrain her own desires?"

"Do you know what one 100,000-Year Soul Ring and one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone mean to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"It means the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can gain a Titled Douluo who will be utterly loyal to them!"

"We can rely on no one!"

"We can only rely on Blue Tyrant Academy!"

"Have you considered any of this, Flender?"

Yu Xiaogang's barrage of questions rendered Flender speechless.

Tang San tried to speak twice.

He wanted to explain that he had never regarded Xiao Wu as a Soul Ring.

He wanted to explain that Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu had a good relationship and would not betray Xiao Wu.

But Yu Xiaogang's rapid-fire questioning of Flender forced the words back down.

"Even so, we can't do this..." After a moment of silence, Flender looked at Yu Xiaogang in disappointment. "We are indeed carrying a pile of trouble, but if we join Blue Tyrant Academy, then the trouble on us will be gone, while all of it gets transferred onto Erlong and Blue Tyrant Academy. We should be thinking about how to solve these problems. For example, have Erlong speak to that child Ye Qingcang, then have that child Ye Qingcang speak to Xue Qinghe. Then the fact that Xiao Wu is a transformed 100,000-Year Soul Beast can be buried in everyone's stomachs. Also, Ning Rongrong may have a bit of a young lady's temper, but she is not bad at heart. As long as we have a proper talk with her, I'm confident we can keep this from Ning Fengzhi. I also have ways to resolve the troubles surrounding Little San, Mu Bai, Zhu Qing, and the others one by one. Xiaogang, we are men. We can be selfish, but we cannot be too selfish, nor can we think of relying on others for everything!"

"My mind is made up!" Yu Xiaogang quietly listened to everything Flender said. Just as Flender thought he had persuaded Yu Xiaogang, Yu Xiaogang decisively cut off his path, and incidentally gave him a silent slap across the face. "You may disagree, but I can still go plead with Erlong!"

"You, you, you..." Flender pointed at Yu Xiaogang's nose, so angry that he did not know what to say. Seeing Yu Xiaogang's expression like a Dead Pig Not Afraid of Boiling Water, he angrily flung his hand aside, turned, and walked forward. "Xiaogang, you've changed. You weren't like this before!"

Ma Hongjun looked at Yu Xiaogang, then Tang San.

Then he looked at Flender's rapidly departing back.

After standing there blankly for a moment, he jogged after Flender.

Tang San remained where he was with Yu Xiaogang.

Seeing the disappointment in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, he quietly began to form some opinions about Flender as well.

"A very good quarrel."

At the end of the Flower Path.

Ye Qingcang put away the Jade Seal Machine.

The Jade Seal Machine was an imitation of a mobile phone.

It had recording and photography functions.

He turned back to glance at the Shrek group, now split into four batches. His eyelids lowered slightly. "This completes the final part of the trap. The best way to destroy an illusion is never to slander it, but to bring that beautiful illusion into contact with ugly reality. Once they connect successfully, ugly reality will inevitably shatter the beautified illusion, and the beautified illusion will turn into wastepaper, allowing the flames unable to endure that ugliness to burn everything away..."