Soul King

Today was the day Nezha and Xiao Wu officially graduated from Notting Academy and set off for Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Xiao Wu, Brother Zha, make sure you write to us when you get to Heaven Dou City." Wang Sheng's eyes were a little red. Back then, he had refused to admit defeat even after being beaten black and blue, yet now his voice carried a nasal twang.

Xiao Chenyu slapped him on the shoulder. "What are you crying for? Xiao Wu and Brother Zha are going somewhere better. It's not like they'll never come back."

"I'm not crying." Wang Sheng rubbed his eyes hard.

Xiao Wu looked at the group before her. The corners of her lips curled up, but her eyes stung as well.

She had lived in Star Dou Forest for tens of thousands of years and had never known what farewell meant. Only after Ah Rou left had she understood the weight of those two words.

"Alright, alright, it's not like we're being separated by life and death." Xiao Wu waved a hand, forcing down her emotions. "You lot had better make something of yourselves in Notting City. Don't embarrass us."

"Don't worry, Xiao Wu!" everyone shouted in unison.

Nezha stood beside Xiao Wu and nodded to the group. "Take care."

The two turned and stepped onto the official road leading to Heaven Dou City.

Come to think of it, Qian Renxue had played a part in arranging for Nezha and Xiao Wu to attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Over the past few years, Qian Renxue had put considerable effort into getting close to them.

There had been chance encounters, people sent to act as intermediaries, and finally, under the pretext of appreciating talent, several letters exchanged with Xiao Wu.

Back and forth, they had indeed become familiar with her.

On the eve of graduation, the headmaster of Notting Academy personally spoke with the two of them. He said that with their talent, staying in Notting City would be a terrible waste, and that Heaven Dou Royal Academy was their best choice.

The headmaster had even specifically mentioned that Qian Renxue had recommended them to an important figure in Heaven Dou City. That figure greatly valued the two young geniuses and was willing to personally write them letters of recommendation.

The headmaster was Qian Renxue's man, and the recommendation letters had been written by Qian Renxue posing as Xue Qinghe, but this suited Nezha perfectly.

He had already planned to go to Heaven Dou City.

The Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Eyes lay in Sunset Forest near Heaven Dou City, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, and Divine Slaughter's Domain was in Slaughter City. Everything he needed was in that direction.

Qian Renxue had gone to great lengths to win him over, never realizing that Nezha had plans for her as well.

They were simply taking what they each needed.

However, though they said they were heading straight for Heaven Dou City, Nezha and Xiao Wu first took a detour and returned to Star Dou Forest.

After all, once they left for Heaven Dou City, it would be a long while before they could return.

Xiao Wu would not have been able to settle her heart if she left without spending time with Da Ming and Er Ming first.

The next day, Star Dou Forest appeared before them.

Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, while the damp wind in the forest carried the scents of rotting leaves and moss. The faint roars of Soul Beasts sounded in the distance, startling flocks of birds into flight.

Xiao Wu took a deep breath, unable to suppress the smile at her lips. She looked like this every time she came back.

The two passed through the outer region with practiced ease. Not long after entering the inner region, the ground began to shake.

Once, twice, three times.

Heavy footsteps thundered closer and closer.

"They're here," Nezha said.

The moment he spoke, trees toppled to either side, and an enormous head emerged from between the canopies.

Then, a massive azure figure slithered forth. A bull's head lowered from the treetops, its vertical pupils reflecting the figures of the two tiny humans.

Da Ming and Er Ming.

During the six years in Notting City, Nezha and Xiao Wu had returned every holiday. Da Ming and Er Ming had long figured out the pattern and would wait near the edge of the inner region whenever the time came.

Er Ming bent down, bringing his huge head close to Xiao Wu. He looked her over from head to toe, then from toe to head, repeating the inspection several times before breaking into a foolish grin.

Da Ming was not as exaggerated as Er Ming, but the light in his vertical pupils was much brighter than usual.

Xiao Wu raised a hand and slapped Er Ming's huge head, though she could not stop the corners of her lips from rising.

"You do this every time. What are you looking at? Don't recognize me anymore?"

Er Ming did not dodge. Instead, after being slapped, he grinned even more foolishly.

"Come on, let's go back to Lake of Life first." Da Ming lowered his bull's head, his voice as deep as ever.

Lake of Life.

The lake was like a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds.

Nezha and Er Ming stood facing one another, with an open stretch of ground more than a dozen yards wide between them.

Xiao Wu sat cross-legged on a blue stone by the lake, a blade of grass between her lips and an expression of eager anticipation on her face.

Da Ming coiled around a tree, his vertical pupils half-lidded as the tip of his tail lightly tapped the lake's surface.

Six years had passed, and Nezha had shot up considerably in height. The six-year-old child from back then had grown into a tall, upright youth. Most of the childishness had faded from his face, replaced by a calm sharpness.

Er Ming also knew that Nezha's strength was no longer what it had been. He no longer held back as he had a few years ago. From the first move, he unleashed the true power of the Titan Giant Ape.

Er Ming roared, his enormous fist smashing down with an aura that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth. Wherever the force of the punch passed, the air let out explosive booms as though it could no longer bear the strain.

Nezha neither dodged nor retreated. He clenched his right fist and met the blow with a punch of his own.

The large and small fists collided in midair.

Boom—

A visible ring of force exploded from the point of impact. Waves three feet high rose from the lake, and the grass and trees along the shore were flattened by the shockwave.

The ground beneath Nezha's feet cracked inch by inch, and his legs sank half a foot into the earth.

But he had forcibly received that punch.

A flicker of surprise flashed through Er Ming's eyes, followed immediately by a surge of battle intent. His other fist came crashing down right after it.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three consecutive punches, each heavier than the last. The ground shook violently beneath the force of his fists, and even the blue stones by the lake cracked.

Nezha retreated three steps in succession, each step leaving a deep crater in the ground.

Yet he shook out his numbed arm, and a smile instead curled across his lips.

"Again."

After six years of arduous cultivation, Nezha's Soul Power had reached the Soul King level. Cultivating the Nine-Turn Mysterious Technique had made his body far stronger than others at his level. In terms of pure physical strength, even a Soul Douluo would have to think twice before taking him lightly.

Exchanging blows with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast like Er Ming, one that specialized purely in strength, always left him at a disadvantage. Yet every collision was the best possible tempering for his body.

Xiao Wu spat out the blade of grass and nodded in satisfaction. She had known Nezha's cultivation speed was as monstrous as ever.

And she had not been idle either.

Xiao Wu leaped down from the blue stone. With a thought, three Soul Rings rose beneath her feet—yellow, purple, purple.

During the six years at Notting Academy, she returned to Star Dou Forest every holiday. Following Nezha's suggestion, she condensed her second and third Soul Rings, firmly reaching the Soul Elder level.

Xiao Wu crooked a finger at Nezha.

"My turn."

Nezha had just finished exchanging blows with Er Ming, and the muscles in his arms still trembled faintly. He shook out his hands and turned to face Xiao Wu.

"Come."

Xiao Wu made no unnecessary movement. With a tap of her toes, she transformed into a pink blur. Her right leg lashed out like a whip, tearing through the air as it swept straight at Nezha's face.