Proving herself to Bibi Dong could be called an obsession buried in Qian Renxue's heart.
Otherwise, she would never have risked disguising herself as Xue Qinghe and spending so many years undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Besides Qian Renxue, someone else had also spotted Zhao Su among the people from Shrek Academy.
Unlike the wariness Qian Renxue had shown upon seeing Zhao Su, this woman's eyes held a burning passion she could not conceal.
She was Tang Yuehua, the mistress of the Moonlight Pavilion, responsible for teaching Heaven Dou Empire Royal Nobility Etiquette.
Nearly half a year had passed since she had last met Zhao Su, and throughout those months, whenever she practiced the Nine Serenities Underworld Art he had left her,
Zhao Su's figure and face would appear in her mind.
What she did not know was that the Nine Serenities Underworld Art and the Nine Heavens Yang Art complemented one another and could also harmonize yin and yang through dual cultivation.
Those who practiced the Nine Serenities Underworld Art and those who practiced the Nine Heavens Yang Art were naturally drawn to each other.
Coupled with the influence of Zhao Su's spiritual power, this naturally drew Tang Yuehua deeper and deeper.
Zhao Su seemed to notice someone watching him, too. He raised his head and looked toward the elevated platform east of the arena, where the Heaven Dou Empire's royalty and nobility sat.
First, he looked at Qian Renxue, giving her a meaningful glance.
Then he turned to Tang Yuehua, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.
During the past six months, her study of the Nine Serenities Underworld Art had not only made Tang Yuehua look increasingly youthful, but had also greatly enhanced her bearing.
Dressed in a well-fitted formal gown, she looked graceful, regal, and more captivating than ever.
A certain part of Zhao Su's body stirred involuntarily.
Over the past six months, Zhao Su and Zhu Zhuqing had often shared intimate moments.
Yet whenever they reached the crucial point, Zhu Zhuqing would refuse and stop him from going any further.
A pent-up flame of lust had long been burning inside him.
Now, faced with such an alluring Tang Yuehua, he could barely contain it.
Zhao Su tore his gaze away from Tang Yuehua and looked at Xue Ye, who sat in the center.
Though Xue Ye wore magnificent robes and a crown, his face was somewhat pale.
He also looked utterly exhausted.
Soon, the match between the Shrek Seven Devils team and the Imperial Team began.
This time, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy suffered an even more crushing defeat.
Their previous defeat could have been attributed to the Shrek Seven Devils' good fortune, but this loss left no room for argument.
The Three Education Committee Members of the Heaven Dou Empire Heaven Dou Imperial Academy sat behind Xue Ye.
As they watched the Shrek Seven Devils effortlessly defeat the Imperial Team, a trace of helplessness flashed through their eyes.
They looked at Prince Xue Xing beside them, their gazes filled with resentment.
Prodigious geniuses like the Shrek Seven Devils should have belonged to their Heaven Dou Empire Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
Instead, they had become the very people who defeated the academy's strongest team.
How could they not resent him?
Yet there was nothing they could do. After all, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy belonged to the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial family. In the end, they were merely employees.
By defeating the Imperial Team, the Shrek Seven Devils team earned the right to travel to Spirit City and compete in the finals.
The finals would take place in ten days.
They therefore had little time to prepare and needed to leave for Spirit City as soon as possible. If they were delayed and missed the competition, it would amount to forfeiting and abandoning the tournament.
Meanwhile, inside the Papal Hall in Spirit City,
Bibi Dong sat upright on the Pope's throne, listening to a subordinate report on the teams from the Two Great Empires that had qualified for the finals.
When she heard that every member of the Shrek Seven Devils team was only eighteen or nineteen, yet had already reached the Soul King realm, a trace of surprise flashed through her cold eyes.
Such talent and such a cultivation speed surpassed even Tang Hao, who had been hailed as the most gifted.
And this was not just one person-all seven of them were like this.
"Bring me detailed information on every member of the Shrek Seven Devils team!"
Bibi Dong's voice carried no emotion and even sounded somewhat cold.
At her command, the subordinate quickly found the detailed files on all seven Shrek Seven Devils and respectfully handed them to her.
Bibi Dong accepted them and leafed through them with seeming indifference, but the more she read, the more shocked she became.
It was one thing for those with top-tier martial souls to cultivate so quickly, but even Oscar, a food system soul master whose martial soul was merely a sausage, had reached the Soul King level at eighteen or nineteen.
Especially when she saw that Tang San possessed twin martial souls and that his teacher was Yu Xiaogang, the aura radiating from her grew increasingly powerful.
"You may leave!"
Bibi Dong handed the Shrek Seven Devils' detailed files back to the subordinate, then reined in her aura and waved him away.
"Yes!"
The man hastily acknowledged her order and respectfully withdrew.
"Yu Xiaogang, your student... I refuse to let you have your way!"
Once she was alone in the vast hall, she no longer restrained her aura.
A deathly killing aura enveloped the entire hall.
That day, the group led by Flender, Grandmaster, and Liu Erlong prepared to set out for Spirit City, traveling light with only a small entourage.
Just as they reached the city gates, someone stepped forward and stopped them.
"Greetings, everyone. May I ask whether Mr. Zhao Su is traveling with you?"
The newcomer was Aude, the Moonlight Pavilion's steward.
Hearing Steward Aude's voice, Zhao Su poked his head out of the carriage. "Steward Aude, is there something you need me for?"
"My lady wishes to speak with you, Mr. Zhao. She said she would not take up too much of your time!"
Aude added that last assurance as he spoke.
"Who is this lady he's talking about?"
Inside the carriage, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze immediately sharpened when she heard Aude mention his lady, and she questioned Zhao Su.
"An old acquaintance. Don't overthink it!"
Zhao Su reached out and stroked Zhu Zhuqing's pouting cheek, then stepped out of the carriage and said to Flender, who was driving, "Dean Flender, go on ahead. I'll catch up with you afterward."
"We're pressed for time, so we'll get moving!"
"All right. Be careful on the road!"
Zhao Su gave Flender that final reminder in a quiet voice.
"Hyah!"
Flender froze for a moment, then nodded without another word and snapped the whip in his hand against the horse's rump.
By the time Zhao Su arrived at the Moonlight Pavilion with Aude, night had fallen. Tang Yuehua was waiting for him personally at the entrance.
When she saw Zhao Su, the smile on her face grew even brighter.
"May I ask why you wanted to see me, Pavilion Master? Have you encountered difficulties in comprehending the Nine Serenities Underworld Art?"
Zhao Su deliberately posed that question to Tang Yuehua.
"Let's talk upstairs. I've prepared tea and pastries, so we can chat while we eat!"
Tang Yuehua stepped forward and casually linked her arm through Zhao Su's, then went upstairs with him.
Upon reaching the top floor, Zhao Su indeed found tea and pastries already prepared, along with a guqin set out in the hall.
"Would you be interested in hearing me play a piece, Mr. Zhao?"
As she spoke, Tang Yuehua went over to the guqin and sat cross-legged before it, gently resting her ten slender fingers on its strings.
"I've often heard people say that the music you play on the guqin, Pavilion Master, is the most beautiful and enchanting mystic music on this continent. It seems my ears are in for a treat today."
Zhao Su had also settled onto the sofa by then, his gaze tender as he looked at Tang Yuehua.
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