Xiaogang the Cannon Arrives!!

"I want to... stay!"

Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed crimson as she said this, her body trembling slightly.

"Oh!"

Hearing Zhu Zhuqing's words, Cao Kun paused in surprise.

He knew what Zhu Zhuqing meant, but...

Cao Kun paused, then gave Zhu Zhuqing a faintly amused look. "You're still too young."

"Right now, your priority is to consolidate your cultivation."

"Too small?"

Zhu Zhuqing froze, then glanced down at herself.

I'm not small at all!

Cao Kun shook his head and continued, "Yan'er, take her to the room next door to rest. Explain the basic rules and her training arrangements to her."

"Yes, young master," Dugu Yan replied, giving Zhu Zhuqing a friendly smile. "Come with me, little sister Zhu Zhuqing."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Cao Kun. He had already returned to the table, picked up his wine cup, and turned his gaze toward the window. It seemed he really had no such intentions...

She said nothing more and quietly left the room with Dugu Yan.

Once outside, the cool night air refreshed her.

Looking at the moon growing ever brighter in the sky, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly felt that her future was like that moon, full of uncertainty... yet perhaps full of light as well.

Inside the room, Cao Kun savored the wine remaining in his cup, his smile deepening.

"Ultimate darkness and death..."

"Hmm, legend has it that cats have nine lives. The ancestors of the Hell Spirit Cat had a faint connection to the underworld."

"Pure darkness and slaughter might open a path toward 'Nirvana Netherworld.'"

"Even if that doesn't work, using shadows as a foundation and combining speed with unpredictable movement to become a true 'Shadow Dancer' would be enough to transform her completely."

"As for that so-called engagement and destiny... heh, the Star Luo Empire's little game of breeding heirs through mutual slaughter is far too petty."

"Someone put it well: clenching your fist means grasping power!"

"As long as you're strong enough, you can have the final say in everything!"

Cao Kun set down his wine cup and tapped his fingertips lightly against the table.

"The seed of doubt has been planted in Tang San. Now it's just a matter of when Yu Xiaogang arrives..."

"It's about time I met this 'master and disciple' pair that so many people despise."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Cao Kun did not appear at Shrek Academy again, remaining in the courtyard on the Back Mountain.

Zhu Zhuqing stayed by Dugu Yan's side, attending to Cao Kun's meals and daily needs.

During the day, she learned a maid's etiquette from Dugu Yan and familiarized herself with the basics of Mount Buzhou. At night, she diligently practiced the "Nether Shadow Body Refining Art" and studied the "Introductory Guide to Shadow Perception" Cao Kun had bestowed upon her.

After three days of cultivation, Zhu Zhuqing had fully absorbed the medicinal effects, raising her soul power to level 30.

She only needed to obtain a soul ring to become a true Soul Elder.

Cao Kun casually offered her a few pointers, telling her to strengthen her body so she could absorb an older third soul ring.

Zhu Zhuqing took his advice to heart, tempering her physique under the pressure of Dugu Yan's soul power every day.

Her physical strength and perception of shadows improved significantly, and her demeanor grew increasingly cool and serene.

Besides that,

Over those three days, Cao Kun's check-in rewards were [Indestructible Vajra Divine Art], [one Lesser Soul Power Enhancement Pill], and [one Lesser Soul Ring Age Enhancement Card].

Although they were of little use to Cao Kun, they were still quite good for the members of Mount Buzhou.

Of these, [Indestructible Vajra Divine Art] was suitable for soul masters with power attack system martial souls.

It was an excellent fit for Zhao Wuji!

Cao Kun had already decided to find an opportunity to teach it to Zhao Wuji and bolster his strength.

The [Lesser Soul Power Enhancement Pill] could increase the soul power of Soul Kings and soul masters below that rank. How many levels it granted depended on their strength—the stronger they were, the smaller the increase.

Cao Kun gave the pill directly to Dugu Yan.

After taking it, Dugu Yan gained two levels of soul power, reaching level 57.

Given Dugu Yan's cultivation as a Soul King, even gaining one level would have been a good result.

However, much of the medicinal potency from the spirit liquid she had previously consumed remained unabsorbed in her body. This time, catalyzed by the [Soul Power Enhancement Pill], it allowed her to gain two levels of soul power.

[Lesser Soul Ring Age Enhancement]: increases the age of any one of the first four soul rings by five hundred years.

Most soul masters could use it to upgrade their second soul ring into a purple thousand-year soul ring.

Cao Kun had already decided to give this reward to Zhu Zhuqing, helping her upgrade her second soul ring into a purple thousand-year soul ring.

But not yet.

He needed to find a suitable opportunity.

As for Dugu Yan, she had already used one card. That was how her second soul ring had become purple. Her first soul ring was less than five hundred years old, so even if he gave her another card, it would not raise that ring to the thousand-year level.

Apart from Zhu Zhuqing, the other students spent those three days training according to Cao Kun's guidance—or spurred on by him.

Tang San began trying to use the soul power of the Mysterious Heaven Skill to "communicate" with Blue Silver Grass rather than "drive" it. His progress was slow and fraught with confusion, but the occasional faint "emotional" response from the Blue Silver Grass thrilled him, strengthening his conviction that Cao Kun had pointed him in the right direction.

However, this was completely different from the habits he had developed over the past six years. It was painfully difficult, as though he were rebuilding the very foundation of his cultivation.

Dai Mubai began reflecting on his mentality in battle and tried to train with greater focus and commitment. However, the pressure from the Star Luo Imperial Family and his tangled feelings over his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing were not issues he could resolve in such a short time.

Xiao Wu kept clinging to Tang San, bringing the two of them even closer.

Although Ning Rongrong refused to admit defeat, she secretly began increasing her physical training. Still, her spoiled young lady's temper was hard to change, and she could not endure hardship, so the results were minimal.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun followed the directions Cao Kun had suggested. One began exploring more flexible uses of his sausage martial soul in combat—such as smoke-bomb or flashbang sausages—while the other tried to control the shape and temperature of his Phoenix Flame.

Everyone was somewhat curious about Zhu Zhuqing's "disappearance."

However, Zhu Zhuqing had left a note beforehand, saying she had gained some insights and would spend some time cultivating alone in seclusion.

On the afternoon of the third day, Flender emerged from seclusion.

He pushed open his door, stepped into the courtyard, and took a deep breath of the slightly chilly air. His eyes shone brightly, and his complexion was healthy and ruddy.

Not only had he completely recovered from the injuries caused by Tang Hao's oppressive aura, but his own aura had become more solid and profound than before his seclusion, showing faint signs of a breakthrough!

He was at the peak of level 78, just one step away from level 79!

Moreover, he could feel the lingering medicinal potency of the [Restorative Spirit Liquid] and the special spirit liquid Cao Kun had given him.

With a little more time, reaching level 80 and becoming a Soul Douluo would be far from a pipe dream!

"Mount Buzhou... Cao Kun..."

Flender clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within him. Not a trace of hesitation remained in his heart.

After three days of deliberation and weighing the pros and cons, after witnessing Cao Kun's methods and resources and comparing them with Shrek Academy's dilapidated state and his own predicament of being stuck at Soul Saint for years, the choice was clear.

Just as he prepared to find Cao Kun and formally agree to join Mount Buzhou, at the academy gates...

A travel-worn middle-aged man walked through the gates of Shrek Academy. He wore an old black robe, and his face was stiff and stern, yet his eyes gleamed with determination and wisdom.

The newcomer was none other than Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang.