Elder Jin!

Sure enough, the instant the thought crossed Xiang Jun's mind, Gu Yuena made her move.

"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it." Gu Yuena gave a soft laugh and turned toward an empty seat in the corner without exchanging a word with Xiang Jun.

Their confrontational stares drew everyone's attention. After all, what onlooker didn't enjoy watching two beautiful girls fight?

The morning's classes passed in an unusually tense atmosphere. Though Tang Wutong and Gu Yuena sat on opposite sides of the classroom, everyone could still sense their silent rivalry.

For instance, Tang Wutong, who usually slept through class, eagerly answered quite a few questions.

Most of her answers were wrong, though not by much.

The morning slipped away. After letting Huo Yuxi know where he was going, Xiang Jun headed straight for Han Ruoruo's office.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in."

Inside, Han Ruoruo took off her glasses and rubbed her aching forehead.

Seeing the blue-haired figure approach, she smiled. "Xiang Jun, today's your day to train in the Inner Court again, isn't it?"

Xiang Jun nodded with a smile. "Yes. Sorry to trouble you again, Teacher Ruoruo."

"How many times have I told you? When we're alone, just call me Sister Ruoruo. Honestly, you're no fun at all."

Han Ruoruo shot Xiang Jun a playful look. "Let's go. We can still make it to the Inner Court Cafeteria."

Although Xiang Jun could train inside the Sea God Pavilion three days a week, he was only allowed near the Golden Ancient Tree. That was why Han Ruoruo had to guide him whenever he went to the Inner Court.

At the shore of Sea God Lake.

Xiang Jun glanced at Han Ruoruo's pleading expression, his eye twitching. In the end, he could only extend his right arm in resignation.

Well, it's not like I'm losing anything.

"Hehe, little brother Xiang Jun, you're as considerate as ever." Han Ruoruo winked and slipped her arm through his.

Hum!

His first Spirit Ring quietly lit up. Using the flight granted by his spirit skill, the two of them rose into the air and sped toward Sea God Island.

Now, some of you might be wondering: why did Han Ruoruo need to hold Xiang Jun's arm?

Because, as a Soul Sage, she couldn't fly yet...

As for a flying Soul Tool, Han Ruoruo was Shrek through and through. She would never use one unless she had no other choice.

After they crossed the vast Sea God Lake, the outline of Sea God Island gradually came into view.

Compared with the Outer Court, the Inner Court truly lived up to the title of the continent's finest academy. Beyond the Golden Ancient Tree, which made cultivation almost effortless, even its least powerful teachers were Soul Douluo. At an ordinary academy, they could easily serve as principals.

Guided by Han Ruoruo, Xiang Jun went straight to a room deep inside the Sea God Pavilion. It lay extremely close to the Golden Ancient Tree's core, where the dense energy could improve meditation efficiency by thirty percent.

"Well then, Xiang Jun, I'll be going. If you need anything, come find me in dormitory seventeen!" Han Ruoruo winked and slowly left the room.

Taking in the room's spare furnishings, Xiang Jun thought nothing more of them. He sat cross-legged on the cushion and entered a meditative state.

At that very moment, the trident mark between his brows gave off a faint golden glow.

Outside, several huge branches of the Golden Ancient Tree stirred without a sound.

A golden vortex brimming with life appeared inside the room. Xiang Jun noticed nothing.

When the vortex faded, an elderly man with white hair, a youthful face, and a vigorous bearing stood in the room.

Looking at the boy cultivating diligently before him, the old man stroked his white beard in satisfaction. "A living being born of the ocean? He is well suited to the Sea God Godhood."

The old man smiled and extended a finger, lightly tapping the air toward Xiang Jun's forehead.

Xiang Jun's already efficient meditation improved dramatically. Like a black hole, he drew the surrounding energy into his body in an instant.

Time passed. Three days went by in a flash.

Finishing his meditation, Xiang Jun slowly breathed out. The moment he opened his eyes, he spotted an unfamiliar old man in the corner, smiling as he studied him.

Someone's here?!

Xiang Jun frowned. This was inside the Golden Ancient Tree. Could this old man be one of Shrek's elders?

"You're awake, child?" The old man stroked his beard. He looked like such a kindly grandfather that Xiang Jun instinctively felt at ease around him.

Sensing no malice from him, Xiang Jun breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He bowed slightly and asked, puzzled, "Senior, may I ask who you are...?"

"Hehe, child, aren't you inside me right now?"

Inside you?

Xiang Jun blinked. "Are you Elder Jin?"

"It seems that fellow Poseidon truly intends to raise you as his successor. He even told you my name." The old man did not deny it, and with a single remark, he revealed Xiang Jun's greatest secret.

Well, would you look at that. You're the Life Ancient Tree itself—the poor fellow Ah Yin will devour someday!

"This junior, Xiang Jun, greets Elder Jin."

Elder Jin grew even more pleased with Xiang Jun.

Yes, much better than that Tang fellow from ten thousand years ago. After all, who would appreciate being forcibly moved by someone else?

At the thought of a certain Tang God King who shall remain nameless, Elder Jin ground his teeth.

Forcing me to Shrek Academy was bad enough. What did you mean by sending your mother down here?

Do you want her to replace me as Douluo Star's core of life?

Thinking of the Blue Silver Emperor entrenched around his roots gave Elder Jin a headache. Worse, there was nothing he could do about her.

After calming himself, Elder Jin looked again at the curious Xiang Jun and smiled. "I don't know what method Poseidon used to give you a sliver of authority over the Sea God Godhood, but that's nowhere near enough to replace its current holder completely."

Xiang Jun said nothing. The true Sea God Godhood was in Tang God King's hands, and even Poseidon, who had created it, could not strip it away completely.

"First, child, tell me how much you know about gods." Elder Jin's kindly expression gave way to a solemn one.

"Well..."

Xiang Jun froze. Apart from titles like God King, First-Level God, and Second-Level God, he really knew little about them. Poseidon had not told him much, either.

Elder Jin was unsurprised. Gods were far beyond the reach of ordinary people. If Xiang Jun had not happened to meet Poseidon, even as the Spirit of the Ocean, he would not have learned much of use.

"Apart from the divine ranks everyone knows, gods can broadly be divided into two categories."