En Ci's Plans

"If you knew your future in advance, it would be rather boring." En Zuo remained perfectly composed as he tapped Demon Ding on the head. "Isn't the uncertainty of the future precisely what makes it so captivating?"

A faint ripple stirred in Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes.

"What if it's a bad future?"

En Zuo was very confident about that, a confidence born from his faith in his own talent. "I believe that by then, I'll already be strong enough to wipe out every last problem."

"Even if I were unfortunate enough to die young, my senior brother would avenge me."

Long Yue had not merely inherited the Mountain Dragon King martial soul. As the recipient of the Mountain Dragon King's inheritance in Dragon Valley, his bloodline had long since been transformed into that of the Mountain Dragon King.

It could be said that other people's martial souls were merely superficial imitations, while Long Yue was a genuine humanoid ferocious beast.

His future achievements were destined to surpass En Ci's, and he would become a quasi-god of the Star Luo Continent.

As for who was stronger between En Zuo and Long Yue,

Monster Academy had always had its debates. Even Bibi Dong, who had only just entered Monster Academy, had overheard some students quietly arguing over it.

Most students believed that En Zuo's current combat strength was likely inferior to Long Yue's, but judging by the speed of his soul power cultivation, he might surpass Long Yue in three years.

Bibi Dong muttered, "Is your senior brother really that powerful?"

"Once we've gathered the team members, I'll personally take you to have a friendly match with Monster Academy's Heavenly Kings."

En Zuo activated the virtual training space, and the figures of the four gradually blurred.

With a flash of light and shadow, three figures tumbled onto the field. Tang San was drenched in sweat and touched his neck. In the virtual training space, he had truly thought En Zuo had beheaded him.

Blue Silver Grass that had not evolved into the Blue Silver Emperor was too fragile. It simply could not restrain En Zuo.

The three were mentally dazed, as though they had entered another world.

En Zuo's first soul skill alone had descended like a sudden natural disaster. Even when they joined forces to resist it, they could only struggle on for a short while.

The difference of one soul ring was actually this enormous.

Even Bibi Dong, who had already experienced it once, could not help bringing it up.

"En Zuo, what kind of soul skill is that? Is it the legendary domain? Why is its coverage so vast? Our soul skills didn't even have a chance to touch you."

"Even Tang San's Blue Silver Entanglement couldn't last a second against your Storm Blade."

En Zuo answered blandly, "Wind Element Control. Just a useful little trick."

The others were left speechless. How could he say something like that as if it were perfectly natural?

If that was a little trick, then weren't their soul skills nothing more than third-rate circus acts?

"Big Brother En Zuo... when we spar, could you..." Huo Yuhao raised his hand, pinching two fingers close together with a tiny gap between them. He said quietly, "Lower the intensity a little? We can't quite keep up with your progress."

Tang San nodded in strong agreement. "Facing you doesn't feel like facing a Soul Ancestor. It feels like facing a Soul Sage who has activated his Martial Soul True Body."

"Is it really that terrifying?"

En Zuo tilted his head and exchanged a look with Demon Ding on his shoulder. The latter shook its head and gave two perfunctory squeaks.

Then it flapped its short, fleshy wings, pointed at Bibi Dong, and then pointed at the ground.

A trace of disdain flashed through Demon Ding's eyes.

This woman was too weak, and she loved to talk despite being weak.

"Ahhh!!"

Wisps of white smoke rose from Bibi Dong's hair, and a blush spread across her fair cheeks. She grabbed Demon Ding from En Zuo's shoulder and clenched her teeth as she kneaded it in her hands.

"Do that gesture again!"

Demon Ding panicked and tried to escape Bibi Dong's clutches, but she held it tightly. Its round face was kneaded into an oval, forcing it to send En Zuo an emergency message.

"Waaah, meow!" (En Zuo, save me! At this rate, the bat is going to die!)

The next instant, its entire body went dim.

En Zuo wrapped his arms around Tang San and Huo Yuhao's shoulders, laughing heartily as he turned his back on Bibi Dong and strode toward the training room exit. His voice was not as dull as usual, carrying a hint of worry.

"What should we eat today?"

"I heard the snack street has opened an all-you-can-eat barbecue place called Long Yue Treats You to Barbecue. Senior Brother mentioned it to me. Apparently, it tastes pretty good."

"That was where the Monster Academy Heavenly Kings went for their last team-building event."

Tang San and Huo Yuhao were forcibly dragged farther and farther away by En Zuo. Suddenly, he stopped and waved behind him.

"Hey, Bibi Dong, keep up. Don't fall behind. We're teammates in a soul master squad. What would it look like if you got left behind?"

"I'm coming, Captain... En Zuo."

Holding Demon Ding in her arms, Bibi Dong hurried over with light steps and joined the three in their serious discussion about food.

It was close to sunset. The lingering glow stretched their shadows long and merged them together.

Atop the main teaching building.

Long Yue stood at the edge of the rooftop, watching En Zuo's group depart. His tone was full of gratification for En Zuo. "Teacher, it seems Junior Brother has found some good teammates and made a group of companions he can truly trust."

En Ci still wore that old-fashioned white robe. His shoulder-length pale hair was tinged slightly red beneath the setting sun.

He sighed. "That child simply takes Monster Academy's honor too seriously."

"Isn't that your wish?" Long Yue turned around. Just as when he had first enrolled, he held the most sincere respect for En Ci. "Under Junior Brother's leadership, Monster Academy will surpass Shrek and rise to become the number one academy on the continent."

En Ci slowly shook his head.

"Actually, my greatest wish is to see you two martial brothers reach the quasi-god level one day, free from the constraints of worldly rules and restrictions."

"To pursue lives that belong to yourselves."

En Ci had been bound by his identity as the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Preceptor for his entire life. In his youth, he had been a useless soul master in other people's eyes.

Later, he cultivated diligently and painstakingly. By the time he reached the realm of a Super Douluo, he realized that his body no longer possessed the vigor of his youth.

Even when he tried things that had interested him when he was younger, he no longer had that same passionate courage.

Afterward, he became the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Preceptor. Once he took on that identity, En Ci could no longer act as he pleased.

He had personally handed away his freedom.

To put it selfishly,

Long Yue could become the pillar of the Star Luo Empire and protect Star Luo for a hundred years, so En Ci could personally make that promise before Dai Tianling without reservation.

Because Long Yue was his disciple, En Ci could calmly entrust him with the position of Imperial Preceptor.

But En Zuo was different.

En Ci regarded En Zuo as his own son. He could not bear to personally place the shackles of honor upon him. The Star Luo Empire was simply too small; living here would not make for a life exciting enough.

En Zuo's talent should not be confined here. His future belonged to a far broader world. He should experience a more wonderful life and spar with stronger peers. That was the life meant for him.

The Star Luo soul master world simply could not provide that.

En Ci's gaze was complicated.

"After the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, I intend to transfer you martial brothers to the Douluo Continent, where you can experience the strength of powerful soul masters your own age."