Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Empire.
Ten thousand years ago, internal problems within the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial family had ultimately split the nation into the Dou Ling Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire.
As a result, Heaven Dou City had become the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
After half a day of arduous travel, Jiang Chen and his companions arrived in Heaven Dou City.
As soon as they landed, Golden Body Douluo turned to Jiang Chen and said, "I've already informed His Majesty about this matter. Someone will be here to receive us shortly."
"My young friend, you're the greatest contributor this time. His Majesty won't shortchange you."
Jiang Chen nodded. "Sorry for the trouble."
Golden Body Douluo chuckled, gesturing that there was no need to stand on ceremony.
He enjoyed talking to polite juniors like this.
Although they had let a few Evil Soul Masters escape, killing so many had made it worthwhile.
Meanwhile, Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng felt uncomfortable all over, as though they were living under someone else's roof.
Jiang Chen had come to collect his reward. What had they come for?
To watch someone else collect a reward?
That was worse than killing them.
Dai Yueheng turned toward Ma Xiaotao, whose expression looked rather unpleasant, and whispered, "I think we should sit this out, don't you? We didn't really contribute anything. It doesn't seem right to follow Jiang Chen in to collect a reward."
"Sit what out?" Ma Xiaotao gave a haughty snort and said shamelessly, "We contributed to this mission too! We stayed behind to support Jiang Chen. Otherwise, how could he have completed the mission so smoothly?"
Dai Yueheng's lips twitched at her words. He felt his dignity slipping away.
Hanging around Ma Xiaotao had thoroughly disgraced him as a duke's son.
Before long, the palace gates opened, and two columns of armored soldiers emerged, led by Princess Vina and the experts of the Body Sect.
Upon seeing them, Vina first bowed, then said, "Thank you all for helping our Heaven Dou Empire eliminate those Evil Soul Masters. His Majesty has specifically instructed me to invite you Shrek students into the palace."
"I presume this is Brother Jiang Chen?"
As she spoke, she and the younger disciples of the Body Sect beside her all turned to Jiang Chen, curiosity showing in their eyes.
Such a young genius, and he was so... so handsome!
The Inner Court student beside Jiang Chen was also so lovely that anyone would be moved by the sight of her.
Jiang Chen cupped his hands in greeting and replied, "I wouldn't call it eliminating them. We just happened to be carrying out a mission and lent a hand along the way."
"Besides, everyone took part in this mission. The credit doesn't belong to any one of us alone."
A flicker of surprise crossed Vina's eyes.
This Shrek student was different from the others. He was actually so modest and polite, even sharing the credit with Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao. That was truly rare.
Jiang Chen added, "I'm from the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Oh," Vina said, her expression turning into that of someone meeting a fellow countryman.
So he was from the empire. That made him one of their own.
Vina then led them to the Imperial Study, where they met the renowned Heaven Soul Emperor.
The Heaven Soul Emperor already knew the whole story. With a grand wave of his hand, he allowed Jiang Chen to choose any treasure he liked from the Heaven Dou Empire's treasury, awarded him ten million Gold Soul Coins, and added a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone.
Ling Luochеn likewise received ten million Gold Soul Coins.
Although Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng had contributed little, the emperor awarded them two million Gold Soul Coins each out of consideration for Jiang Chen.
Once the rewards had been distributed, the Heaven Soul Emperor instructed Vina and Long Aotian to entertain their honored guests together.
Vina took the opportunity to lead Jiang Chen and his companions on a tour of the Body Sect, using it to demonstrate the empire's formidable strength.
Before long, Jiang Chen and his companions reached the mountains behind Heaven Dou City, arriving outside the main hall of the Body Sect, the sect that protected the nation.
It was a magnificent sect, with all manner of training equipment arranged around the grounds and across the plaza. Yet there were only a few dozen disciples, a testament to how rare body Martial Souls were.
Jiang Chen glanced around casually, paying little attention.
Now that he had collected his rewards, he wanted to head home rather than linger here engaging in official social niceties.
The Body Sect and Shrek were hardly on good terms. Although Golden Body Douluo had a reasonably favorable impression of him, that did not stop the other disciples from being hostile toward Shrek.
After all, the grudges between these two powers had been tangled together for a long time.
Just then, a burly man approached from ahead, accompanied by several Body Sect disciples.
Vina stepped forward and introduced him with a smile. "Jiang Chen, this is Long Aotian, the strongest disciple of our Body Sect's younger generation. He's of the same generation as us, and he's already a high-level Soul King."
"Beside him are Senior Brothers Lang Ya and Yu Tao. I grew up under their guidance."
Jiang Chen walked slowly up to them and bowed in greeting.
Long Aotian merely nodded impassively before turning to Vina. "Your Highness, don't bring outsiders into the sect's restricted grounds, especially people from Shrek."
"Aotian, these are His Majesty's instructions."
Vina gave Long Aotian a meaningful look.
Long Aotian sighed.
Forget it. They're already here. Hopefully, the sect master won't get angry.
At that moment, Ma Xiaotao could no longer hold back. Placing both hands on her hips, she said coolly, "Don't look down on people. You may be the strongest disciple of the Body Sect's current generation, but standing before you are Shrek's strongest student of the previous generation and its strongest student of this generation."
Her words piqued Long Aotian's interest.
So Shrek's strongest disciples from two generations were both here?
Long Aotian asked, "Who's the strongest of the previous generation, and who's the strongest of this one?"
Jiang Chen's lips twitched. He inwardly reflected that nothing good ever came of being with Ma Xiaotao.
This woman's ability to stir up trouble was terrifying.
Sure enough, Ma Xiaotao stepped forward with her hands on her hips and her nose tilted high. "Naturally, the strongest of the previous generation is yours truly. As for the strongest of this generation, that's Jiang Chen, standing right in front of you."
Long Aotian frowned at Jiang Chen, noticing that the fluctuations of his Soul Power were weaker than his own.
This was enough to be called the strongest of his generation?
Shrek really was getting worse with each generation. Sooner or later, the Body Sect would replace it.
Seeing that Jiang Chen was ignoring them, Ma Xiaotao grew anxious and urged him, "You can't disgrace the academy when you're away from home. Hurry up and introduce yourself."
"Not interested," Jiang Chen said.
So you won't say anything, huh... Ma Xiaotao bit her lip and said in a low voice, "Then let me introduce him to you. He's the number one freshman of this generation, possesses the top-tier Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, and commands ultimate ice."
Long Aotian and Vina abruptly turned, staring fixedly at Jiang Chen.
Shrek had actually produced another Soul Master with an ultimate attribute!
Jiang Chen coughed. "Ma Xiaotao is exaggerating. I'm just a nobody, not nearly as strong as everyone imagines."
Ma Xiaotao scoffed.
Why was Jiang Chen so polite to outsiders, yet came out swinging against Shrek's own students? Now he was even acting humble.
Yet just then, Long Aotian suddenly placed a hand on Jiang Chen's shoulder and said, "Brother, there's no need to be so modest. If you've got strength, you don't have to keep a low profile. I thought you were a rookie."
"Since you're the strongest student of this generation, how about a spar with me?"
For some reason, whenever he saw someone from Shrek, he remembered the sect master's instructions.
Shrek and the Body Sect would always be rivals.
Long Aotian wanted to see just how strong Shrek's number one student of this generation really was.
Jiang Chen, however, refused.
He did not want to fight Long Aotian, not because he was afraid, but because he did not want to stir up too much trouble.
Beside them, Vina suggested, "Brother Jiang Chen, why don't we have a two-on-two Soul Fighting match? If I'm not mistaken, this Inner Court senior beside you should be your girlfriend, right?"
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