The Air Suddenly Fell Silent

"Ease the relationship between Shrek Academy and the Body Sect?" Mu En pondered briefly before asking in return.

"Exactly!" Qingyi nodded, her expression solemn. "Old Dean, based on the intelligence gathered over the years, this student suspects that the Sun Moon Empire is actively preparing for war."

Mu En's expression turned grave as well.

Seeing this, Qingyi immediately told him about the imperial budget allocations the Sect had learned from the nobles and noblewomen of the Sun Moon Empire, especially the funds granted to Mingde Hall, comparing them with the number of finished Soul Tools Mingde Hall had sold externally over the years.

"The gap between the allocated funds and finished product output is indeed enormous. There are grounds to suspect war preparations." Mu En frowned.

"It seems this continent is about to become restless again."

He sighed, looking deeply worried.

He was already old and did not know how much longer he could live. If war broke out after he was gone and the Academy suffered beneath the flames of war, he could not predict what its fate would be.

"And that is not what worries this student the most." Qingyi's face was also clouded with concern as she said gravely.

"Old Dean, although Mingde Hall has concealed things very well, disciples of my Sect still uncovered some clues while dealing with Mingdu's Underground Chamber of Commerce. According to the intelligence we currently possess, Mingde Hall has developed Level 9 Fixed Soul Tools, and not just a few of them."

Mu En's expression immediately grew even graver. The Academy's Soul Tool Department was also researching Fixed Soul Tools. Although their finished products had yet to reach Level 9, the power displayed by their existing creations indicated that Level 9 Fixed Soul Tools could absolutely threaten a Titled Douluo.

"Old Dean, although this student has never personally witnessed the power of a Level 9 Soul Tool," Qingyi continued.

"According to a Soul Engineer from the Sun Moon Empire's Underground Chamber of Commerce, once a Level 9 Fixed Soul Tool has finished charging, a single shot is enough to destroy a medium-sized city."

"Old Dean, forgive this student's bluntness, but this is something capable of threatening your life. At the same time, it is capable of destroying Shrek Academy. Perhaps the Sun Moon Empire developed Level 9 Soul Tools specifically to target the Academy."

"After all, the greatest reason the Sun Moon Empire lost that war back then was because the Academy joined the battle."

"Besides that, there is another piece of information."

She paused, lowering her voice. "The Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters appears to be within the Sun Moon Empire. Over the past few years, the Body Sect has been relentlessly hunting Evil Soul Masters, and our Sect noticed that many Evil Soul Masters fled toward the Sun Moon Empire."

Then she noticed grief appear on Mu En's face.

Xiaoyao, Xishui, are you truly going to aid the tyrant in committing evil? Mu En unconsciously closed his eyes, sighing mournfully within his heart.

The Holy Spirit Cult truly existed, and Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui were both in the Holy Spirit Cult. Old Mu knew. Qingyi stood quietly in place without saying a word.

The Evil Soul Master organization known as the Holy Spirit Cult had originally only been mentioned in passing by the Sect's disciples stationed in the Sun Moon Empire. However, she had taken it seriously and had always ordered covert investigations.

But the Holy Spirit Cult had hidden itself too well. There had been no leads at all over the years.

Then, two years ago, the Body Sect launched a massive campaign to eliminate Evil Soul Masters and finally learned something from a captured Soul Douluo Evil Soul Master.

Its Sect Leader was named Zhongli Wu, and his Martial Soul was the Death God Demonic Puppet.

Ye Xishui's Martial Soul was also a Demonic Puppet. When she participated in the tournament in her youth, that was the name she had used for her Martial Soul.

In fact, before Qingyi had even been born, nineteen-year-old Mu En and Long Xiaoyao had participated in the Soul Master Tournament and encountered Ye Xishui, whose strength was evenly matched with theirs. Back then, the Azure Family had already noticed that Ye Xishui's Demonic Puppet Martial Soul possessed the potential to become that of an Evil Soul Master.

The immense blood aura it emitted when its abilities were unleashed was simply too conspicuous.

If she had merely suspected before that Zhongli Wu and Ye Xishui might have some sort of relationship—

Then now, from the changes in Mu En's expression, she could already be certain.

Zhongli Wu was the Sect Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult. As for Ye Xishui, did she even need to think about it? And Long Xiaoyao had disappeared together with Ye Xishui back then.

"Xiao Yi, thank you for telling this old man all this, and thank you for everything you have done for the Academy. You did the right thing. Given the current situation, the former Three Great Empires truly should unite and face the coming crisis together." Mu En spoke after regaining his composure.

"Old Dean, you praise me too highly. When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? This student is also thinking of her own clansmen." Qingyi replied sincerely.

Mu En nodded slightly, gazing at Qingyi's face with deep emotion.

"Xiao Yi, if Shao Zhe had even half your steadiness, this old man would be able to rest easy."

If only he had amounted to something and married her into the family. With her keeping him in line and correcting that impetuous temperament of his, Mu En would be far more at ease now.

No such fortune, no such fortune. He sighed to himself.

"You jest, Old Dean. Senior Shao Zhe simply has yet to see the light." Qingyi smiled and casually brushed the matter aside.

"He's nearly ninety already. If he still hasn't seen the light, when will he?" Mu En shook his head in a tone of disappointment, then smiled and continued, "Enough about that disappointing fellow. Let's talk about your Hui'er instead."

"Since you did not bring him to meet this old man today, Xiao Yi, then when you return later, do not mention this old man to Hui'er either. That way, things will not become awkward between us in the future."

"Just keep things as they are. Let this old man watch the children grow up from here."

Without thinking too much of it, Qingyi nodded slightly. "Yes, Old Dean."

"Alright, we have discussed what needed discussing. Xiao Yi, you should return and keep the child company." Mu En added.

"Since you have come all this way, take Hui'er to the Inner Court later to see Lin'er and the others. That girl has been talking about you all these years too."

A smile rose on Qingyi's face, and reminiscence flashed through her eyes. Xian Lin'er was straightforward by nature and had been one of Qingyi's few close friends at the Academy. She was just a little too obsessed with love, somewhat stubborn, and rather muddleheaded when it came to relationships.

"And Xiaotao. Have Shao Zhe call her back later so the two children can get acquainted first."

Mu En continued.

"Xiaotao's temper is not very good, but she is kind at heart. Please be more understanding when the time comes."

"This student understands." Qingyi agreed to each request, then took her leave.

"Ah." Only after she had gone far away did Mu En sigh. He looked toward the Sun Moon Empire, his expression complicated.

Meanwhile, beneath the freshmen teaching building.

"Name." The instructor in charge of registration had long since gone numb. After calling for the next person, he spoke without even looking up as footsteps approached.

"Minghui. Ming as in bright, hui as in radiance." Seeing that the instructor had not even raised his head, Minghui thoughtfully gave a more detailed answer.

There was no organization like Spirit Hall in this era to conduct unified registration, so there was naturally no universally recognized identification. Enrollment relied entirely on verbal declarations. He could fully understand how these instructors felt at this moment.

The instructor swiftly wrote down the name and continued, "Martial Soul."

"Eye of the Soul," Minghui said.

The Pineal Gland was the point where the soul expelled Spiritual Power toward the Spiritual Sea, so calling it the Eye of the Soul was perfectly reasonable.

More importantly, it sounded much cooler than saying Pineal Gland!

"Hm?" It was clearly the first time the instructor had heard of such a strange Martial Soul. He instinctively looked up, then was mildly surprised.

He was around one meter sixty-two tall, with an adorable baby face and a rosy, lustrous complexion. Judging by his features, he looked only eight or nine years old. His hair, brows, and eyelashes were all white, even the fine hairs on his body, though their whiteness was faint enough that they appeared almost transparent.

It was the first time he had seen someone who looked like this.

But that was not the important part. His expression quickly turned puzzled. "What kind of Martial Soul is that?"

"A Body Martial Soul." Minghui pointed at the center of his forehead as he spoke. "It's inside here."

"A Body Martial Soul?!" And it was in his brain. The instructor was immediately startled. That was an extremely important location!

It also meant that this child's talent in his Body Martial Soul would not be low.

At once, he perked up and straightened his posture. Glancing at white-haired Ming Chen standing nearby, he assumed he was some student who had just returned to the Academy and had brought his little brother from home to register. He spoke amiably.

"Student Minghui, how old are you?"

"What level is your Soul Power?"

"I just turned ten. My Soul Power is level thirty-four," Minghui answered truthfully.

The previously noisy air suddenly fell silent.