Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao

Meanwhile, after rushing back at top speed, Yan Jingzhe brought Huo Yuhao back to Shrek Academy.

They did not stop until they reached the shore of Sea God Lake.

"Yuhao, absorb the Soul Ring." Yan Jingzhe tossed the Millennium Nine-Colored Illusion Butterfly Soul Beast onto the ground.

"Yes, Master." Huo Yuhao did not dare delay. He drew the White Tiger Dagger and plunged it into the Soul Beast's head. The unconscious Soul Beast felt no pain at all before dying instantly.

A purple Soul Ring rose up.

Huo Yuhao sat down on the spot, crossed his legs, and began drawing in and absorbing the purple Soul Ring.

Yan Jingzhe stood to one side without the slightest worry on his face. What a joke. It was only a millennium second ring. If Huo Yuhao's body were a little stronger, then with the Skydream Iceworm and Ice Empress in his Sea of Spirit, he would have more than enough ability to challenge a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast directly.

Sure enough, in less than an hour, Huo Yuhao successfully absorbed the millennium Soul Ring without experiencing any pain.

"How was it, Yuhao? Tell me about your Soul Skill," Yan Jingzhe said calmly.

"Alright, Master." Huo Yuhao stood up and replied respectfully, "My second Soul Skill makes opponents fall into an illusion. As long as my spiritual power does not run out, they cannot break free from it unless their spiritual power is stronger than mine and they can force their way out. Its effective range is within one hundred meters."

"Mm, it's a good Soul Skill for you. Unfortunately, its range is a little small—only one hundred meters." Yan Jingzhe's tone carried a trace of regret. "Alright, now that you've absorbed the Soul Ring, go back and consolidate your soul power properly. Strive to break through in the selection competition a few months from now."

"A selection competition? Master, what selection competition?" Huo Yuhao asked, utterly confused.

"It will select the final seven people to become the Shrek Seven Monsters Preparatory Team." Yan Jingzhe rubbed Huo Yuhao's head and smiled. "Back then, your master was one of them too. We fought for Shrek's glory and seized the championship in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, held once every five years. So I also hope that Yuhao can become one of them."

"Don't worry, Master. I'll definitely make it through and become a member of the Shrek Seven Monsters Preparatory Team." Huo Yuhao patted his chest confidently.

"Mm, it's good that you're confident. Cultivate properly after you return. If there's anything you don't understand, come directly to the Inner Court to find either me or your mistress. Keep the token I gave you safe—it will let you enter the Inner Court freely. I'll be leaving first." After giving his instructions, Yan Jingzhe turned and vanished from the shore of Sea God Lake.

After leaving Sea God Lake, Yan Jingzhe did not return to his residence. Instead, he went to the place where Inner Court students trained and dueled, intending to offer some guidance.

As soon as he arrived, he saw two women standing on the Soul Duel Platform.

The older woman appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six. Her long black hair fell to her waist, its ends naturally curled, gleaming softly beneath the candlelight. Her fair, flawless face was beautifully proportioned. She did not possess a sharp, dazzling beauty, but rather a gentle and elegant grace. Her bright black eyes were clear and intelligent, yet a faint, lingering sorrow rested within them, like a veil of hazy moonlight.

This woman was none other than the Inner Court's senior sister, Zhang Lexuan, an eighty-fifth-rank Soul Douluo. Her martial soul was the moon, and she usually oversaw the Inner Court students' practical combat training.

Standing opposite her was Ma Xiaotao. The young woman wore a red training uniform, her fiery red hair tied into two buns. A fine sheen of sweat covered her forehead, and her chest rose and fell rather quickly. Yet she stood straight, her phoenix eyes filled with unyielding determination as she stared fixedly at Zhang Lexuan.

The two had just finished their match. She had lost to Zhang Lexuan and was a little unwilling to accept it.

But she was only a six-ringed Soul Emperor. Even though her martial soul had evolved from the Evil Fire Phoenix into the Fire Phoenix and gained an ultimate attribute, she could not cross two major ranks to challenge Zhang Lexuan, who possessed eight rings and a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

"Lexuan, Xiaotao," Yan Jingzhe called out.

Hearing his voice, Zhang Lexuan spotted him first and instinctively straightened a little. "Dean Yan."

When Ma Xiaotao heard those words, she abruptly turned around. The instant she saw Yan Jingzhe's faintly golden face, her eyes lit up. "Martial Uncle!"

Yan Jingzhe walked toward them at an unhurried pace and stopped in the middle of the open space. He glanced at the flames Ma Xiaotao had not fully withdrawn, then at Zhang Lexuan, and nodded. "I just arrived and saw you two dueling. Not bad."

Zhang Lexuan smiled but said nothing. She had a quiet personality and was not good at small talk. She merely nodded faintly at Yan Jingzhe before lowering her gaze.

Ma Xiaotao, however, hurried over. The flames around her steps had not fully dissipated, bringing a wave of hot wind with her. "Martial Uncle, I finished using the Immortal Herb Essence you gave me!"

Her voice brimmed with unconcealed excitement. "My martial soul evolved into the Fire Phoenix and gained the Ultimate Fire attribute. I also don't have to worry about the Evil Fire anymore, so I can cultivate with all my strength. I may even break through to Soul Saint before the next tournament."

Yan Jingzhe looked her over from head to toe before saying, "Not bad. You're already rank sixty-eight. The Immortal Herb Essence suited your martial soul very well."

Ma Xiaotao chuckled, just about to say more when Zhang Lexuan beside her spoke as well.

"Dean Yan, I should thank you too. That Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma allowed my soul power to break through to rank eighty-five in one stroke, and my soul power circulates much more smoothly than before."

Yan Jingzhe looked at her, saw that her aura was stronger than before, and said, "It's good that it worked. You earned it."

Ma Xiaotao hopped in place beside them. "Martial Uncle, where did you get so much Immortal Herb Essence? My teacher searched for years for my sake and still couldn't find any."

"Your martial uncle is lucky. I found a treasured place and had a heart-to-heart with the Immortal Herbs there. They willingly shared some with me." Yan Jingzhe smiled faintly, sounding rather proud.

Ma Xiaotao blinked twice, instinctively feeling that the phrase "heart-to-heart" sounded rather suspicious coming from her martial uncle.

"Alright, keep training." Yan Jingzhe turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he stopped and glanced back at Ma Xiaotao. "Xiaotao, your Evil Fire may be gone, but you should rein in that fiery temper of yours a little too. Understand?"

Ma Xiaotao froze for a moment, then straightened up. "I understand. I'll change, Martial Uncle."

Yan Jingzhe waved his hand without saying anything else and headed straight for his residence, thinking, The Immortal Herbs have evolved Xiaotao's martial soul, so the Fire Phoenix Saintess of the Holy Spirit Cult from the original story should no longer exist. But I still can't let my guard down. Shrek Academy is my foundation. Whether it's joining forces with the three great empires later or establishing the Spirit Pagoda, I'll need Shrek Academy's help. If those Evil Soul Masters still dare to storm Shrek like they did in the original story, then I'll let them find out whether the fists of the Radiant Douluo are hard enough.

A chill flashed through Yan Jingzhe's eyes.