Only after the figure had completely disappeared around the corridor corner did Huo Yuhao lower his head and gaze at the warm brass key in his palm. Tang Wulin's palm warmth still lingered on it.
He gently pursed his lips, clasped that trace of warmth tightly in his hand, then turned, raised his hand, and softly pushed open the wooden door to Dormitory 108.
The instant the door opened, dust that had settled throughout the room suddenly billowed up.
Fine dust covered his shoulders, but he did not care in the slightest. He casually rolled up his sleeves, gripped a rag, and stepped into the room.
When Tang Wulin walked out of the dormitory building, the daylight was just right.
Warm sunlight spilled across the entire courtyard, while the shadows of the plane trees along the path swayed gently in the wind.
He narrowed his eyes and stood quietly at the entrance for a moment.
He lightly rolled his neck and stretched his body.
Then he turned and took the bluestone path leading toward Sea God Island.
He walked slowly along the stone path, with towering ancient trees on either side.
Soon, he reached the end of the road and the entrance to the island.
There, he saw Xuan Zi sitting on a bluestone, his head lowered as he gnawed on a chicken leg. He looked thoroughly disheveled.
Seeing Tang Wulin approach, he spoke indistinctly through a mouthful of snacks.
"Yo, you're back?"
Tang Wulin stopped in front of him.
He casually tucked both hands into his sleeves and asked softly.
"Is Teacher in the Sea God Pavilion?"
"He is, he is. He just got back. He's probably waiting for you."
Xuan Zi hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth and reached into his robes for a second piece.
"Just head up. Don't disturb me while I'm eating."
Tang Wulin chuckled softly. Without wasting any more words, he stepped past Xuan Zi and headed toward the Sea God Pavilion.
With half a chicken leg in his mouth, Xuan Zi called after him loudly.
"You brat, your Soul Power fluctuations got a lot stronger after you went onto the island!"
"How old is the new Soul Ring you got?"
Without looking back, Tang Wulin casually waved a hand.
The wind scattered his gentle voice, carrying it faintly back.
"We'll talk later."
He quickened his pace and continued onward.
Before long, he saw the small wooden house half-concealed by the branches of the Golden Ancient Tree.
He raised a hand and gently pushed open the wooden door, stepping inside.
Mu En leaned against a wicker chair by the window, holding a cup of warm tea as steam curled up from its surface.
The old man slowly withdrew his gaze from the view outside.
His eyes landed on Tang Wulin, who had just entered, and he examined him carefully for a moment.
Then he gently set down his teacup.
"Come sit."
Tang Wulin obeyed and took a seat on the low stool opposite him.
The tips of his boots rested lightly against a gap in the wooden floorboards, his posture upright and steady.
Mu En's gaze traveled from top to bottom as he carefully inspected his entire body.
He nodded slightly, his tone calm and certain.
"Your fourth Soul Ring is complete? What is its age?"
Tang Wulin slowly raised his hand.
Emerald vines curled out from his wrist: the unfurled Blue Silver Emperor.
Fine, brilliant golden patterns shimmered among its verdant stalks and leaves.
The next instant, a Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet.
It was a rich, blazing red, like fully molten lava.
Its aura was heavy and majestic, far beyond the foundation a Soul Master of his age should possess. A faint red glow spread through the dim wooden house.
Mu En's hand holding the cup suddenly paused.
He stared intently at the crimson Soul Ring. After examining it for several breaths, he slowly placed the teacup on the table, leaned forward slightly, and the relaxed smile on his face vanished entirely.
His expression instantly turned solemn, carrying a rare seriousness.
"A hundred thousand years?"
"Yes. A hundred thousand years."
Tang Wulin calmly withdrew his martial soul and Soul Ring, then began spinning his story.
"Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, I happened upon a plant-type Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast undergoing its tribulation. Its heavenly tribulation had not fully passed, and even if it survived, it would be left at death's door. It sensed the aura of the Golden Ancient Tree on me, so it sacrificed itself to me. It said it wanted its seed planted beside the Golden Ancient Tree."
"Since our attributes were a perfect match, I agreed and broke through to the fourth ring."
Mu En did not respond at once.
He leaned back in the wicker chair and narrowed his eyes slightly.
An invisible perception quietly spread out as he repeatedly examined the lingering aura on Tang Wulin's body.
Only after a long while did he speak again, his tone carrying some disbelief.
"It was that simple? This luck..."
Mu En suddenly looked up at the sky, as though he had thought of something. He immediately shut his mouth, and even greater excitement flashed through his eyes.
This must be the Sea God's doing!
Perhaps the Sea God took a liking to him and deliberately arranged it!
If Tang Wulin had known what Mu En was thinking, he would probably have been extremely speechless.
Of course, it benefited him that Mu En thought that way. Anything unreasonable could simply be attributed to the Sea God, and it would have nothing to do with him.
Mu En took a small sip of tea. His brows relaxed as a satisfied smile appeared.
"Very well."
"Fortune and destiny have fallen upon you. That is your good fortune."
"A hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring as the fourth ring of the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul..."
"Child, your starting point is such that your future achievements will surpass that ancestor—the predecessor whose martial soul was identical to yours."
He set down his teacup, and his tone suddenly shifted.
"By the way, that little girl named Gu Yuena."
"She has the rare Elemental Envoy martial soul. You said you were confident that you and she could possess a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"
"Yes."
Tang Wulin answered crisply, without the slightest hesitation.
"Though we have yet to try and synchronize, I can sense it clearly."
"The elemental origin within her body is highly compatible with my aura."
"We can definitely activate a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
Hearing this, Mu En lightly tapped the armrest twice with his fingertips.
He nodded slightly and made the decision on the spot.
"Good."
"I approve her status as a core disciple."
"Take her to the island later to register her information."
"Arrange Inner Court housing for her. If the two of you can use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, I will immediately grant her the resources of an Inner Court disciple, and she will not need to participate in Supervisory Corps missions."
"Yes."
Tang Wulin acknowledged the order, rose to bow to Mu En, then turned and slowly walked out of the wooden house.
He paused briefly on the steps outside the door.
The Supervisory Corps...
Having stayed here for so long, he had learned something about it. It could be said that disciples who had clearly joined Shrek Academy received tremendous protection.
People like him did not need to participate in Supervisory Corps activities at all. Meanwhile, those who underwent the most dangerous and difficult experiences were the noble-born students who were bound to leave Shrek Academy in the future...
And whose family backgrounds were not particularly powerful...
Wasn't that plainly a way to eliminate dissenters?
But it made sense. How could such a large organization possibly not have some private agendas of its own?
Of course, this place only deserved to be called an organization rather than an academy. Or rather, it was more like one of those cultivation sects.
The Outer Court students were like outer disciples of cultivation sects, handed over to a group of people for unified management. Once they entered the Inner Court, they became like inner disciples, finally receiving some attention while also carrying out arduous missions.
After being accepted as disciples by the elders of Shrek Academy's Inner Court, these so-called personal disciples received yet another level of treatment.
As for him, he was plainly the sect's successor. Once his cultivation was accomplished, he would go forth and establish his might.
Before you continue