Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
After three months of steady cultivation, Chen Tianyuan's soul power level naturally broke through to level 40, despite the slow cultivation of an ultimate attribute. He only needed to obtain a soul ring to truly become a Soul Ancestor.
A fourteen-year-old Soul Ancestor was rare, but hardly enough to shock the world.
Shrek Academy had once had a twelfth-year senior whose cultivation had reached the Soul Saint level by graduation. He had even possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, something every Soul Master dreamed of. That senior had later stayed at the academy to be groomed as its next dean...
Unfortunately, Bei Bei had broken through to Soul Ancestor a month before him. With quite a few other students also needing soul rings, the academy had organized a soul hunting operation. Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan had been part of that soul hunting team as well.
The first thing Xu Sanshi did upon returning from soul hunting was drag Chen Tianyuan onto the Soul Fighting Arena, having been tricked out of a Mystic Water Pill by him last time. He still couldn't beat him, though.
After his soul power broke through to level 40, Chen Tianyuan's first move was to look for Gong Changlong at the Beast Arena. To his surprise, Gong Changlong wasn't at the academy at all-he had gone out to capture soul beasts.
Left in the lurch, Chen Tianyuan had no choice but to seek out Mu En.
Mu En wasn't downstairs at the freshman dormitory every day, either. He only stayed there for the first few days after the freshmen enrolled. Most of the rest of his time was spent inside the Sea God Pavilion, using the Life Element released by the Golden Ancient Tree to slow the ebbing of his lifespan.
Inside the Sea God Pavilion.
Mu En was somewhat surprised to learn that Chen Tianyuan had broken through to level 40. By his estimates, the boy should have needed at least another few months.
Mu En opened his eyes, revealing a gaze that was cloudy yet clear. He looked at Chen Tianyuan, the weight of countless years filling his eyes. "Once you return from this soul hunt, you won't need to attend the outer court anymore."
"Huh? Why?" Chen Tianyuan hurriedly asked.
Mu En chuckled. "The outer court has nothing left for you to learn. It's time I taught you something substantial."
Chen Tianyuan agreed almost without hesitation.
Then Mu En said slowly, "When you fused with your third soul ring, you acquired the Light Dragon Clan's bloodline. That means your plans for your subsequent soul rings need to change as well."
Before Chen Tianyuan could ask further, he spoke again. "I know what you're thinking. You simply want to focus on improving your ultimate lightning."
Chen Tianyuan looked at him curiously. "Shouldn't I?"
Mu En shook his head. "Your lightning is already an ultimate attribute. Further improvement won't make much of a difference. You would be better off seizing upon that light attribute and developing it. If you choose the right soul beasts for your later rings, you might even bring about an evolution of your martial soul."
"Of course, I'm only offering advice. The choice is yours."
Chen Tianyuan fell silent for a moment, then said, "All right. I'll do as you say, Great Ancestor."
Mu En said with satisfaction, "Go back and make your preparations first. I'll have that girl Lexuan take you to obtain your soul ring."
Chen Tianyuan was somewhat surprised to hear this. Since entering the outer court, he hadn't seen Zhang Lexuan in several years...
"Mu En, did you need me for something?"
Zhang Lexuan asked as she looked at the white-haired elder on the reclining chair.
Mu En looked at her with a trace of guilt in his eyes. "Lexuan, are you still unable to let go of the matter with Bei Bei?"
Zhang Lexuan shook her head gently. "You saved my life. I'm merely honoring the promise I made back then."
After a long silence, Mu En sighed and said, "In that case, how about choosing someone else?"
Zhang Lexuan's eyes widened slightly. "Someone else?"
Mu En nodded and slowly said as he looked at her, "At the Sea God Pavilion Meeting a few years ago, Tianyuan was already named the Next-Generation Sea God Pavilion Master Successor."
"He will take my position by the time he is thirty, at the latest. When he first takes over, not everyone will be of one mind. With you assisting him, I can rest easy."
Zhang Lexuan pressed her lips together. As though she had thought of that quiet child, the corners of her mouth gradually lifted.
"All right."
The Freshman Assessment was underway in the outer court. With nothing else to do, Chen Tianyuan simply went over to watch the excitement.
The Freshman Assessment took place at the academy's Soul Fighting Arena. The enormous square arena had been divided into many smaller spaces, allowing several groups of freshmen to undergo their combat assessments at once.
Choosing an open spot with few people, Chen Tianyuan leaned against the railing and watched.
Battles between low-level Soul Masters weren't particularly spectacular. After all, they only had two or three soul skills, had yet to develop a combat system, and were still inexperienced in their approach to fighting. Most relied on teamwork, and few could turn the tide of battle through their own strength alone.
A series of light footsteps suddenly sounded behind him. Before he could turn around, a figure carrying a faint fragrance appeared at his side.
Chen Tianyuan froze when he saw who it was. He still remembered what Zhang Lexuan had looked like when he first met her: young, gentle, and beautiful.
Several years later, Zhang Lexuan was still young, but she now carried an air of maturity and composure. A faint trace of sorrow lingered between her brows. Standing there with strands of hair brushing her temples, she resembled an osmanthus tree swaying in the wind.
"Sister Lexuan, it's been a long time."
Zhang Lexuan looked him up and down and said with a smile, "It's only been a few years, and you've already grown so tall."
As she spoke, she reached out to pinch Chen Tianyuan's cheek.
Chen Tianyuan instinctively dodged, saying somewhat awkwardly, "Sister Lexuan, I'm not a little kid anymore."
At that, Zhang Lexuan raised the arm she had just lowered, reaching her slender, jade-like fingers toward Chen Tianyuan's cheek again. She smiled. "You used to sleep beside me when you were little. What's wrong with touching your face?"
Helpless, Chen Tianyuan could only let Zhang Lexuan have her way.
Just then, three students in freshman uniforms walked over. They were Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and the petite, adorable Xiao Xiao.
Seeing this scene, the three tacitly agreed not to make a sound.
But with her keen perception, Zhang Lexuan immediately noticed the three peeking at them.
She let go, suddenly feeling rather embarrassed.
The three still had their assessment to attend, so they merely exchanged brief greetings before hurrying away.
Zhang Lexuan looked at Chen Tianyuan and said, "Mu En should have told you already. I'll be taking you to obtain your soul ring this time."
Chen Tianyuan nodded and asked, "Will it be just the two of us?"
Zhang Lexuan chuckled. "What? Do you think I'm not strong enough?"
"No, no. I was just asking," Chen Tianyuan hurriedly explained.
Zhang Lexuan was now twenty-five, and her cultivation had already reached the Soul Douluo level. She had even broken a record that had stood at Shrek Academy for three thousand years. At present, she was undoubtedly the youngest Soul Douluo on the continent, and she even stood a chance of reaching Titled Douluo before thirty.
Beyond that, Zhang Lexuan also possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. She took no pride in it, of course, but in terms of actual combat strength, she could absolutely stand shoulder to shoulder with certain Titled Douluo, such as the Giant Strength Douluo of the Star Luo Empire.
"Then when do we leave?" Chen Tianyuan asked.
Zhang Lexuan looked up at the sky and said, "Tomorrow. If we set out for the Star Dou Great Forest now, we probably wouldn't arrive until evening."
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