Setting Out to Find Zhang Lexuan

When Zhongli Wu's personal appearance was mentioned, along with the things Feng Ling had said to Yan Shaozhe, Mu En simply closed his eyes.

The quiet room remained silent for a long time.

Mu En looked at the gradually brightening sky beyond the window and let out a soft sigh.

"If I had killed her back then, there wouldn't be this disaster today."

He spoke very softly, as though he were saying it to Chen Xuan. Yet only he himself knew that this was not what he truly meant.

If he had truly killed Feng Ling back then, how could Yan Shaozhe have endured it?

Though Yan Shaozhe could be petty, he valued loyalty and affection deeply. If Feng Ling had truly been killed, his life would have been ruined as well.

In the end, it was simply fate.

Chen Xuan watched from the side. His expression did not change, but inwardly, he gently shook his head.

"No matter how you handle this, it's wrong. A dead end has turned into a trap on both sides."

Mu En said nothing further.

He turned back, took an ebony token from beneath his pillow, and handed it to Chen Xuan.

"This is the Sea God Pavilion Internal Affairs Token. Leave all the follow-up matters to you.

Conduct a thorough investigation of the academy and purge the hidden operatives. The Inquisitorial Legion will remain suspended. As for the resources that should be allocated to the Soul Tool Department, handle them as you see fit. Use this token to mobilize anyone you need."

Chen Xuan accepted the token with both hands and replied, "Rest assured, Elder Mu. I'll make arrangements for all of this soon."

Mu En nodded and said nothing more, seeming somewhat tired.

Holding the token, Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment before awkwardly speaking up.

"Elder Mu, once these matters are settled, could I go out and wander around for a while?

Staying in the academy is honestly rather stifling."

Mu En looked at him and suddenly chuckled softly.

"Indeed. You wouldn't be able to stand being cooped up in the academy forever."

He paused before speaking quietly.

"How about this? Hand the token and all the handover work directly to Yunzhi. She'll take care of it then.

You can go wander around, and while you're at it, see if you can find an opportunity to break through to Limit Douluo."

Chen Xuan immediately relaxed and nodded with a smile. "All right, then I'll go find Yunzhi later."

Mu En waved a hand. "Go. Be careful when passing through those countries.

Their courage can't bear having a level ninety-eight Super Douluo wandering around within their borders."

"Don't worry. Don't you know me? I'm the most honest person there is."

After saying that, Chen Xuan rose to his feet and bowed to Mu En.

He turned and walked to the door, then paused and looked back at the old man reclining against the couch.

Morning light slanted in through the window and fell upon Mu En, seeming to gild him with an extremely faint rim of gold.

Chen Xuan said nothing more and pushed the door open before leaving.

After leaving Sea God Pavilion, Chen Xuan hurriedly began searching for Song Yunzhi. To him, leaving even one second earlier was a good thing.

Elder Song was in a side hall of the Inquisitorial Legion, facing a pile of testimonies and name lists. Two senior elders from the Outer Court stood beside her.

The sky was already fully bright, yet two soul tool lamps still burned in the room. When she saw Chen Xuan enter, she merely lifted her eyelids. "You're here."

Chen Xuan did not beat around the bush and handed her the ebony token.

"Elder Mu said that all these messes are yours from here on.

Investigating the hidden operatives, suspending the Inquisitorial Legion, allocating funds to the Soul Tool Department—you'll take the lead on all of it."

Elder Song accepted the token and glanced it over before giving a soft snort. "Elder Mu certainly knows how to make use of people. He's obviously taking you out of the picture."

Chen Xuan gave an awkward laugh. "It's not taking me out of the picture. Mainly, I can't stay put anymore. The academy is too boring."

Elder Song raised her eyes, smiling without really smiling. "Just as expected of you, Xuanzi. You finished fighting last night, and today you're already trying to run away."

"Run away from what?" Chen Xuan said solemnly. "Elder Mu gave me permission to go wandering. I'm following orders and taking a break."

Elder Song scoffed and tucked the token into her sleeve. "Fine, get going. Leave this place to me."

Chen Xuan laughed heartily and did not linger. "Then sorry for the trouble, Yunzhi. If there's anything you're unsure about, send me a message."

Elder Song could not be bothered with him and lowered her head to continue reading the list.

Chen Xuan turned and left the side hall, passed through the main hall of the Inquisitorial Legion, and made his way to the official road outside Shrek City.

With a tap of his toes, he shot into the sky.

The morning wind billowed around him, and the daylight was bright. Sea God Lake grew smaller and smaller behind him, while Shrek City became a gray outline on the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"Zhang Lexuan." Looking toward the Heaven Dou Empire, he silently repeated that name.

He had waited far too long for this journey.

Chen Xuan streaked through the sky like a gray hawk, heading west all the way.

He did not deliberately rush, but the speed of a level ninety-eight powerhouse was truly terrifying.

Mountains and rivers retreated rapidly beneath his feet. Within half a day, he had already entered the Heaven Dou Empire.

The farther west he traveled, the flatter the land became. Fields and towns grew denser, and more carriages and horses appeared on the official roads.

Chen Xuan concealed his Soul Power, changed into a plain, worn gray robe, and blended into the crowds traveling north and south.

He stopped to rest in a small city in the southern region of the Heaven Dou Empire called Azure Mist.

The city was not large, but its streets were lively. Every sort of news was passed around in its tea shops and taverns.

Some spoke of recent unrest along the western border, some mentioned merchant caravans encountering soul beasts, while others discussed a talented youngster who had emerged from a nearby soul master family.

That was exactly what Chen Xuan wanted to hear.

He sat at a roadside tea stall, ordered a pot of coarse tea, and drank leisurely while pricking up his ears. Several men at the next table were talking about the Zhang Family in the south of the city.

"Have you heard? That girl from the Zhang Family broke through to Two-Ring when she was only nine."

"A nine-year-old Second-Ring Soul Grandmaster? What kind of talent is that?"

"They say she has Innate Full Soul Power. The Zhang Family has been down and out for half a lifetime, but they might finally make a comeback."

"Tsk, Two-Ring at nine. Give her a few more years, and won't she be entering Shrek?"

Chen Xuan set down his teacup, the corner of his mouth curling ever so slightly.

Zhang Lexuan, nine years old, Innate Full Soul Power.

She was already a Second-Ring Soul Grandmaster. That was even faster than he had expected.

"That makes sense," he thought.

"She's ten years older than Beibei, and Beibei hasn't even been born yet.

By my calculations, she should be a little over nine now.

In another year or two, the Zhang Family will face disaster. Good thing I got here early."

He gently shook his head and poured himself another bowl of tea.

He planned to first see what she was like. What he had seen in the original work was ultimately only from the original work. He still wanted to see a more genuine side of Zhang Lexuan.

"Whether someone has talent is decided by heaven. But to me, temperament matters far more than talent."

Chen Xuan set down the payment for the tea, stretched lazily, and rose to head south through the city.

"I'm not an idiot. I don't want to raise another Tang San.

Ah! Novels are always embellished. Only human eyes can see the truth. I hope Little Lexuan won't disappoint me."

With that in mind, he headed toward Zhang Residence.

It was already dusk, and the setting sun had dyed the entire street golden red.

The two stone beasts at the entrance of Zhang Residence gleamed in the light as several servants swept the front gate.

Chen Xuan did not approach. He merely stood at a distance for a while.

Faint sounds of martial practice came from within the residence, as though young men and women were sparring in the courtyard.

After listening for several breaths, he turned and left. He needed to think of a way to approach Zhang Lexuan.