Changes Over Nearly a Year

Eight and a half months later...

Yang Xiu woke from his cultivation.

"I finally broke through to level 50. Give me another year, and I can master the Nine Yin Manual too."

"Congratulations, Host. You have completed the mission. Your reward is now in the System Shop and can be purchased for free."

"Heh. That was the longest mission yet. The Special Soul Power Pills can raise my strength and theirs."

Once someone reached the eighties and pushed toward level 90, gaining a single level could take years. A Special Soul Power Pill was therefore precious to them, especially Dragon One and the others. Many of them had not improved at all this past year; their natural talent had its limits. Dragon Two, though, had become a Titled Douluo a month ago, making him the strongest of the eighteen brothers. After reaching level 90, he had entered the Sect Secret Realm. He had failed to obtain a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring and had even failed a mission, but he had received an Innate Soul Power Pill. It raised his Innate Soul Power to level nine and sent his Soul Power soaring to level 93. Even so, given his Innate Soul Power, level 95 might be his limit. Without the pill's help, even Dragon One would have no hope of becoming a Super Douluo in this lifetime.

Knowing that anyone outside the Sect who entered the Sect Secret Realm might be killed or driven out, Yang Xiu had not kept Dragon One and the others stationed there.

Over nearly a year, Dragon One and the others had traveled the continent, and the Flame Emperor Sect had made quite a name for itself. Though it had clashed with some forces, no large-scale war had broken out. When Dragon Twelve broke through to Soul Douluo, Dragon One and Dragon Three helped him hunt a Soul Beast. They came into conflict with several Soul Douluo, exposing Dragon One's Titled Douluo strength to the entire continent—and revealing the Flame Emperor Sect's existence.

After Dragon Two reached level 90, they made no attempt to hide it. With two Titled Douluo, the Sect's fame soared. Many forces searched for its location, but apart from the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, who suspected roughly where it lay, no one knew.

Xue Ye had once sent people to investigate the mountain they had bought, but they found nothing.

Thus, in the eyes of the world, the Flame Emperor Sect was both powerful and mysterious.

Spirit Hall, however, made no move. Perhaps it thought Dragon One and the others posed little threat as newly risen Titled Douluo. Or perhaps it was still gathering strength to achieve its own goals.

In almost a year, the Sect had recruited no disciples, and the system had issued no missions. Zhao Wuji had been sent out and had become Shrek's vice dean. Though stronger than Flender, he had not founded the academy. Besides, Yang Xiu had only tasked him with going there to teach.

"Time to get a Soul Ring. I might as well visit Xiao San and the others on the way. I'll bring Hua Xiong. He has nothing to do and keeps running off to Shrek. He's idle all day."

"Hua Xiong!" Yang Xiu called loudly.

A figure suddenly appeared in Yang Xiu's villa.

"What is it, Sect Master?"

"I've reached level 50. Come with me to get a Soul Ring, and we'll visit Xiao San and the others while we're at it."

"We're going out? Great! Let's go, let's go!"

Perhaps Hua Xiong had spent too much time around Zhao Wuji, because he had become a bit of a clown himself.

He had once been arrogant, confident, and proud. Right after being summoned, he had even spent a while in a deep slump.

Now none of that showed, and he was a little goofy. But anyone who took that to mean he had grown weak would be the one to die.

Before long, Yang Xiu and Hua Xiong arrived in Nuoding City and found Hong Tian.

"Sect Master, what brings you here?" Hong Tian said excitedly when he saw them.

Yang Xiu looked around. The courtyard was spacious, covering two or three hundred square meters.

"You've been living well here. Looks like you've been working hard lately, too. You've gained a level."

"By the way, where's Guan Sheng?"

"Heh, thank you for the praise, Sect Master."

"He's at Notting Academy. I hear he's teaching Tang San some martial techniques."

"Sect Master, did you come here with any instructions for us?"

"Heh. Sounds like Guan Sheng and Xiao San get along well."

Otherwise, with the pride passed down from Second Master Guan, why would Guan Sheng teach Tang San martial techniques?

"We're just passing through and came to see how you were doing. There's nothing we need you to do."

"All right, I won't keep you. I'm going to the academy to see them, then we'll be off."

"Sect Master, let me see you out."

"No need." Yang Xiu shook his head.

Yang Xiu and Hua Xiong found Tang San and the others without trouble. They were on the Back Mountain of Notting Academy, in the same spot as last time.

Xiao Wu said, "Xiao San, Brother Xiu and the others have been gone almost a year. When is he coming to see me?"

"Big Brother is the master of a sect. He has a lot to do. How would he find the time?" Tang San stroked Xiao Wu's head.

"We've heard plenty of news about the Sect lately," Hong Tian said. "Father told me that Dragon Two has become a Titled Douluo. The funny thing is, everyone thinks our Flame Emperor Sect has only two Titled Douluo." Since his Innate Soul Power had improved, his Soul Power had reached level 25.

"Really?" Xiao Wu and Tang San exclaimed in surprise.

"All you do is cultivate, kid. You never pay attention to this sort of thing."

"And you, Little Rabbit, all you do is play. Still, your strength has grown fast. You've gained two levels of Soul Power in so short a time."

Guan Sheng was the last to speak. He was very pleased with Tang San. The boy was highly talented: even while learning martial techniques under Guan Sheng's instruction, his Soul Power had risen by more than a level, and he had brought the Dragging-Blade Technique to minor mastery.

Tang San had earned Guan Sheng's recognition, so Guan Sheng had taught him even the Guan Family Ancestral Secret Technique, the Dragging-Blade Technique. He had made no effort to keep it from the other two, but Xiao Wu seemed uninterested. Hong Tian watched closely, yet Guan Sheng had not taught him directly. Without knowing anything about meridians, he could watch all he liked and still never learn it.

Just then, Yang Xiu and Hua Xiong arrived.

"Well, you're all here. I thought it would take ages to find you."

Hearing the voice she had longed to hear for so long, Xiao Wu turned in delight. When she saw Yang Xiu and Hua Xiong, she ran happily to Yang Xiu, took his arm, and said,

"Brother Xiu, I missed you! Why did you take so long to come see me?"

Yang Xiu fondly stroked Xiao Wu's head and said softly,

"I have to cultivate too. See? I came to visit as soon as I had time. Now, have you been slacking off instead of cultivating properly?"

"Brother Xiu, of course not! I'm already level 26. I went up two levels. Xiao San's the one who slacked off—he only went up one!"

Xiao Wu spoke with pride, as though she were also tattling on him.

"Really? Then our Xiao Wu is amazing."

Yang Xiu knew exactly what Xiao Wu was like, but he still humored her as though coaxing a child.

Xiao Wu was thrilled to hear Yang Xiu call her amazing. She bounced around in front of everyone, then started teasing Tang San again.

"Hee-hee! That's right, I'm a genius. Xiao San's a dummy."

"Haha! Yes, Xiao San's a dummy."

Tang San took the teasing in silence. He knew they were joking, though Xiao Wu still left him feeling helpless. He said nothing until Yang Xiu looked at him.

"Brother Yang Xiu, Xiao Wu's been spoiled. She speaks to you with no respect. Please don't mind her."

"It's fine. If you don't spoil her, I'll beat you up. I think of Xiao Wu as my little sister."

Hearing Yang Xiu's words, Xiao Wu raised her little head proudly and shot Tang San a smug look. Her meaning could not have been clearer. Tang San did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"My Soul Power just broke through, and I'm going to get a Soul Ring. I came by to see you first. Looks like you're doing well here."

"Brother Yang Xiu!" "Brother Xiu!" "Sect Master!"

"You've already become a Soul King?"

"Look how excited you are. I'm only level 50—that's still weak. By the time you're my age, you might be a higher level than me," Yang Xiu said, half joking.

"Keep working hard at your cultivation. Don't slack off—especially you, Xiao Wu. The big boss of Notting Academy! Quite the reputation you've made for yourself."

Hearing that, Xiao Wu realized Yang Xiu knew all about what she had been doing. Her face fell.

She lowered her head and pressed her two index fingers together. At last, she said in a small voice,

"Brother Xiu, I'm sorry. I'll cultivate properly from now on."

Yang Xiu burst out laughing at the sight of her.

"All right, all right. I believe you."

After chatting with them a while longer and giving Guan Sheng a few instructions, Yang Xiu left with Hua Xiong.

Their destination was the Sunset Forest.