Mu En's Calculations, Yuwen Tuo's Oath

The tightly shut door, closed for so long, was finally opened.

Since Yan Shaozhe had allowed him to cultivate in the outer academy, there was no need for him to keep imprisoning himself.

Although he harbored hatred, Yuwen Tuo did not want to be controlled by it like Huo Yuhao. He would have his revenge, but beyond that, he hoped to remain a cheerful youth—not grow gloomy because of hatred, nor give up on himself because of setbacks.

Inside the dean's office, Yan Shaozhe stood before an old man and said respectfully, "Teacher, that Yuwen Tuo has left the room where he was confined for six years. You allowed him out. Aren't you afraid he might find a chance to escape?"

In truth, this was the real reason Yuwen Tuo had been released. Ling Luochen's plea had not meant much; the true key was the approval of Dragon God Douluo Mu En.

"It doesn't matter. Xiaotao's evil fire has already been resolved by ninety percent. She can basically control it herself now. This child has been trapped by us for far too long. With his talent of Innate Level 20 Soul Power, if he had cultivated normally, he would be at least above Level 40 by now. In this regard, Shrek has indeed wronged him." Mu En said, "There is one more thing. I once judged that he had no value worth cultivating. That was my own rashness. I thought his Supreme Pure Fire would eventually be tainted and lose its power. Yet now, despite being scorched and eroded by evil fire for six consecutive years without even a Soul Ring, the supreme purity of his Supreme Pure Fire has not wavered in the slightest. It seems that is no ordinary Supreme Pure Fire."

"This time, both Xuan Zi and I misjudged him. We both overlooked the fact that a fire capable of giving rise to Innate Level 20 Soul Power could never be ordinary. Our ancestor, Master Yu Xiaogang, once said that a Martial Soul's Innate Soul Power was directly proportional to the quality of that Martial Soul. In my opinion, like Xiaotao's fire, his fire has the potential to become Ultimate Fire."

"If that is the case, should we cultivate him anew? But he likely harbors resentment toward Shrek now, so I fear..." Yan Shaozhe hesitated.

Mu En said, "There is no rush. Let him cultivate in the outer academy first and experience Shrek's atmosphere. If he can let go of his resentment in the future and join the Shrek Inner Academy, then we will focus on nurturing him. If he is unwilling, let him return to his room. After all, he has absorbed too much of Xiaotao's evil fire and possesses such tremendous potential. If we let him go, he may very well catch the attention of Evil Soul Masters. Should he fall into their ranks, he would surely become a calamity for all living beings."

"Yes, Teacher!" Yan Shaozhe replied.

He understood Mu En's intentions. If Yuwen Tuo willingly joined the inner academy in the future, it would mean that he had more or less let go of the resentment in his heart and truly become a member of Shrek. But if he refused, the fear that evil fire might turn him into an Evil Soul Master was certainly a legitimate reason. In reality, however, they simply could not let such a genius leave. Were they supposed to wait until he had grown powerful, then let him return to settle scores with them?

It would be better to let him remain an ordinary person for the rest of his life, living in Shrek City. At the very least, they would ensure that he never lacked food or clothing.

Yan Shaozhe could guess the Sea God Pavilion's decision. Naturally, Yuwen Tuo could guess it as well.

Back then, what his teacher—the true Yuwen Tuo—had taught him was not merely Daoist arts and swordsmanship, but also the arts of power.

Although Xiao Tuo had not learned much because he had no interest in political schemes, he was not incapable of seeing through such a simple calculation.

Master, the things you taught me were useless before, but now I finally have use for them. I wonder whether master and disciple will ever meet again in this lifetime. Yuwen Tuo stepped out of the room and gazed at the azure sky. In his Sea of Consciousness, he sensed the Noble Carriage Sword floating silently there, encircling a Soul Ring.

As Yuwen Tuo gradually came to understand the truth behind this "Noble Carriage Sword," he recalled many things as well.

In the battle of Tears of the Sky, he had been severely wounded and on the verge of death. His body had reverted to fragments of the Noble Carriage Sword, while his soul had nearly scattered. At that time, three people should have saved him.

Two of them were the people who had sent him through time a second time. The last one could only have been his master, Yuwen Tuo.

Although the current Xiao Tuo had lost the powerful body formed from the Noble Carriage Sword fragments, because he had fused with the Noble Carriage Sword back then, he seemed to have gained something even more precious.

The reason his soul had been able to gather again was that someone had explored the River of Time, extracting a thread of soul power from Xiao Tuo across different timelines and completely reassembling his scattered soul.

Only Yuwen Tuo could have done such a thing, because he was the reincarnation of the Kunlun Mirror.

That mirror's power was the ability to freely travel through time and space.

Xiao Tuo closed his eyes. Within his Sea of Consciousness, he slowly walked to the Noble Carriage Sword, crouched down, and gently stroked the yellow Soul Ring. "Master, you're always so sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. This Soul Ring is the opportunity you left for us master and disciple to reunite in the future, isn't it? It is also a chance for me in this present world to make up for my regrets."

"Don't worry, Master. The people of the village, and those two fellows who sent me through time as well—I will definitely fulfill all my wishes. I won't disappoint any of you." Xiao Tuo opened his eyes.

After six years of silence, the moment he stepped out of that room, all the grief and resentment that had accumulated in his heart over those six years vanished completely, replaced by confidence.

Of course, he had not forgotten his enemies or his hatred.

He simply would no longer allow hatred to control his mind. He would work hard to grow stronger, then one day reclaim every debt of hatred, one by one.

"Are you Yuwen Tuo?" A rough voice snapped Yuwen Tuo from his thoughts.

Yuwen Tuo opened his eyes and saw a burly man with rugged features.

"I am Yuwen Tuo. And who might you be?"

"I am Gong Changlong. I assume you have heard of me," the burly man introduced himself.

"Gong Changlong? I know. You are known as the Beast King, possess a high-grade Fire Attribute Beast Martial Soul, are a Level 92 Titled Douluo, and serve as the person in charge of Shrek Academy's Beast Fighting Arena. Every Soul Beast captured alive by Shrek Academy is cared for by you." Yuwen Tuo recited Gong Changlong's information clearly.

"Mm, it seems you have done some research on Shrek Academy." Gong Changlong nodded. He was something of a famous figure at Shrek Academy, so it was not strange for Yuwen Tuo to know him.

"Then may I ask what business Beast King Senior has with me?" Yuwen Tuo asked.

"By the dean's order, I am to take you to the Beast Fighting Arena and select a hundred-year Soul Beast as your First Soul Ring," Gong Changlong said.

In truth, he was somewhat reluctant. After all, the Soul Beasts in the Beast Fighting Arena had all been carefully raised by him. However, Yan Shaozhe had said this child was rather special and should not be casually allowed to leave Shrek Academy.

Xiao Tuo smiled. "Heh, you won't even let me go to the Star Dou Forest? Selecting one of the academy's Soul Beasts will do, then. Please lead the way, Senior."

Seeing that Yuwen Tuo seemed to look down on the Soul Beasts he had raised, Gong Changlong grew somewhat displeased. "Hey, kid, don't underestimate the Soul Beasts of our academy. Although they lack the ferocity of the Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Forest because they have been raised in captivity, there are still quite a few with strong bloodlines among them. Besides, absorbing a Soul Ring like this is safer."