Xuan Zi's Comfort, a Big Shot's Recommendation Letter

Sunset Forest, somewhere in the Core Zone.

Under Xuan Zi's lead, some of the disciples had already hunted Soul Rings for themselves.

Though a minor mishap had occurred along the way. Xuan Zi had carelessly overlooked the age of several disciples' Soul Rings a few times and failed to assess them properly, causing the rings to exceed the limits their bodies could bear.

As a result, those disciples had nearly failed to suppress the baleful energy contained within their Soul Rings.

Fortunately, nothing serious happened in the end. Xuan Zi promptly released his terrifying aura and suppressed the baleful energy within the rings, allowing the disciples to absorb them successfully at the small cost of disordered Soul Power.

As night fell, Zhang Lexuan directed the disciples to help one another set up tents, just as they had yesterday.

"Xiao Ya, the Thousand-Year Binding Spirit Vine you absorbed this time exceeded your body's endurance limit by several hundred years, yet you still held on. Your future is surely bright."

"Mm. For the Tang Sect! This little hardship is nothing."

Tang Ya felt the aura brought by the Binding Spirit Vine Soul Ring, delight written across her face as she nodded heavily.

Bei Bei was still somewhat shaken. The Soul Ring Tang Ya had absorbed just now had exceeded the limit by several hundred years, making the entire process extremely arduous.

Fortunately, Tang Ya had relied on an unwavering, almost stubborn resolve to grit her teeth and endure until the end. Sweat rolled down her forehead like beads from a snapped string, soaking the tips of her hair.

She wanted to grow stronger too badly.

A beautiful hope rose in Tang Ya's heart, her eyes reddening slightly. If she continued developing the life attribute and resilience of her Blue Silver Grass like she had today, then perhaps before long, she would be able to reclaim the Tang Sect's former grounds and avenge her parents.

Before leaving the academy, her close friend Jiang Nannan had told her that she had rented a place for the time being in Heaven Dou City. She had also said that Tang Ya could go find her there after obtaining her Soul Ring.

Yet Tang Ya had subconsciously kept avoiding that city, because it held too many painful memories.

And she was far too weak. If she went to Heaven Dou City, scenes of the Tang Sect's foundation being taken away and her parents being murdered would inevitably surface in her mind, while she remained powerless to do anything.

But after absorbing today's Binding Spirit Vine, Tang Ya had pulled herself together. She clenched her fists and encouraged herself. "My Blue Silver Grass isn't bad either. If I keep going, I'll definitely become very, very strong."

Seeing Tang Ya so full of confidence, Bei Bei was sincerely happy for her.

"Xiao Ya, whatever happens, don't keep it bottled up inside. And you absolutely must not act rashly on your own. I'll always help you."

Tang Ya nodded repeatedly. "Good thing Yuhao woke me up back then. The Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul shouldn't have fused with a poison-attributed Mandala Snake in the first place. It seems the path our ancestors took wasn't necessarily completely right."

Bei Bei smiled. "The fact that the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, as a plant-type Martial Soul, can fuse with a Mandala Snake shows that it has tremendous adaptability."

"Since that's the case, why fuse with poison attributes? With such strong adaptability, it should try other types of plant Soul Beasts instead."

Bei Bei himself possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, and he knew how powerful lightning-attributed attacks were.

Even if she did not absorb life-attributed plants, if there were lightning-attributed plant Soul Beasts, they would be far better than poison-attributed Mandala Snakes in every respect.

After all, compared with having Blue Silver Grass fuse with a snake Soul Beast, fusing with plants would certainly be more compatible.

At that moment, Zhang Lexuan walked over and asked in a cool tone, "Tang Ya, are you going to Heaven Dou City after obtaining your Soul Ring? I can go with you."

Tang Ya stubbornly shook her head. She wanted to avenge herself.

Bei Bei froze. "Eldest Sister, why are you going to Heaven Dou City?"

Zhang Lexuan frowned slightly and replied coldly, "To honor my ancestors."

Only then did Bei Bei come to a realization. A trace of self-reproach and guilt appeared in his eyes. Come to think of it, he should not have forgotten Eldest Sister's background and this matter.

Zhang Lexuan had originally been born into an aristocratic family in the Heaven Dou Empire, only to later be persecuted by another powerful noble house.

Bei Bei had heard from his Xuanzu, Mu En, that Zhang Lexuan had happened to be playing hide-and-seek at the time and survived by hiding beneath a bed. Mu En later rescued her and brought her back to Shrek Academy.

(PS: Although surviving by hiding under a bed while playing hide-and-seek is a little ridiculous, like treating the enemy Soul Masters as idiots, that's what the Original Work says... so, yeah, that's how it was.)

Zhang Lexuan turned gracefully, her back facing Bei Bei and Tang Ya, and asked in an indifferent voice, "Bei Bei, I'm going to Heaven Dou City. Are you coming?"

"Uh, I won't go, Eldest Sister."

"Fine."

Zhang Lexuan did not say another word. She walked leisurely toward her own tent and entered to rest.

Xuan Zi leaned half-reclined against a large tree beside the group. Under his dedicated protection today, none of the children had been killed or injured. He felt wonderfully at ease, taking a bite of chicken leg and a gulp of fine wine, utterly content.

"Teacher Xuan, I may need to return to Heaven Dou City first. As for whether I'll study at your Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, I'll give you an answer in a few days. Is that alright?"

Huo Yuhao did not immediately accept Xuan Ziwen's invitation.

"No problem, Yuhao." The destination where Xuan Ziwen and Xu Sheng were going to honor their ancestors also happened to be Heaven Dou City.

Thus, Xuan Ziwen told Huo Yuhao to think it over for a few days and give him a definite answer before he left the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Yuhao, the Sun Moon Empire is eager for talent. Anyone who contributes to the Empire's Soul Tool technology development can receive quite generous treatment."

Xuan Ziwen tossed out a silver-white cube. The metal block instantly expanded and extended, transforming at tremendous speed. Before long, it had become a Soul Guidance tent.

He took out several metal chairs, familiarly pulled Huo Yuhao over to sit beside him, and used himself as an example.

"I was originally from the Heaven Dou Empire as well. Thanks to my fairly decent research achievements, I entered Mingde Hall and became a senior researcher."

"Furthermore, our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has gathered nearly all the most outstanding teachers in the entire continent's Soul Guidance field. Its Soul Tool technology education system is unmatched across the continent."

"If you're interested in Soul Tools, I can guarantee that nowhere is more suitable for you than our academy."

Xuan Ziwen spoke of the Sun Moon Empire's various advantages and compared it with Shrek Academy. They did not place excessive importance on Innate Soul Power levels, instead focusing more on one's talent and comprehension in Soul Tools.

Even Soul Masters with low Innate Soul Power could be fed drugs until they reached the level of Soul Saint or Soul Douluo, as long as they had strong comprehension of Soul Tools.

Though their foundations would be shallow, if they kept their distance and used Soul Tools, the combat power they displayed would not be weaker than that of ordinary Soul Masters at the same level.

If Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department was the best under heaven, then likewise, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's Soul Guidance Department was unrivaled and far ahead of all others.

Xuan Ziwen repeatedly stressed to Huo Yuhao that as long as he went there and experienced it for a few days, he would surely come to deeply understand how correct it was for someone with a Mental Attribute Spirit Eyes Martial Soul like his to develop at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

"Teacher Xuan, I had actually heard before that your attainments in the field of Soul Tools truly surpass those of every other force on the continent."

Huo Yuhao nodded, indicating that he understood, looking as though he was already fully aware of their Soul Guidance technology's enormous advantages.

One only had to look at how the Original Work ultimately unfolded. The Sun Moon Empire's Soul Guidance technology could utterly crush the original Three Douluo Kingdoms.

Even with Huo Gua siding with Shrek and the original three kingdoms, they had nearly been steamrolled by the Sun Moon Empire. In the end, Tang God King, who claimed that "gods must not interfere with the lower realm," had to descend to save the day, preventing the original three kingdoms from being completely wiped out.

Afterward, Xuan Ziwen asked about some of Huo Yuhao's past experiences.

Huo Yuhao gave a brief account. "To be precise, I should be the illegitimate son of the head of an aristocratic family in the Star Luo Empire."

"After my mother was murdered, I felt that staying at home would do me more harm than good, so I ran away from home..."

Huo Yuhao truthfully recounted certain experiences that would not affect him even if others knew about them. There was no need to hide such things.

Xuan Ziwen nodded slowly. He could clearly sense that Huo Yuhao's Soul Power fluctuations showed nothing unusual while he spoke.

"I understand, Yuhao. Rest assured, at our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, we will definitely train you into an outstanding Soul Engineer and help you fulfill your long-cherished wish as soon as possible."

Xuan Ziwen looked at Dugu Luo. "And this friend of yours—her Martial Soul possesses extremely potent poison."

"At our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, we can combine this deadly poison with Soul Tools, allowing its destructive range to become larger and broader."

Dugu Luo instinctively asked, "Isn't that just a Hidden Weapon?"

Through the storybook passed down through her family, Dugu Bo and Tang San Become Unlikely Friends, she had learned a little about Hidden Weapons.

For example, the Mother-Son Soul-Chasing Deadly Gallbladder used by Dugu Bo ten thousand years ago had been given to him by Tang San.

Its power seemed quite impressive. It had allowed Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, whose combat strength was somewhat inferior to other Titled Douluo, to gain the ability to battle other Titled Douluo.

But Dugu Luo currently had no interest in Hidden Weapons whatsoever.

Xuan Ziwen shook his head and laughed. "How could that possibly have anything to do with Hidden Weapons?"

He then carefully explained it to Dugu Luo. Integrating poison into Fixed-Array Soul Guidance Shells could be understood entirely as "biological weapons."

Soul Guidance Shells could effortlessly achieve ranges of poison diffusion that Soul Skills could never accomplish.

Finally, from the perspective of humanitarian concern, Xuan Ziwen told Dugu Luo that if she became capable of manufacturing Fixed-Array Soul Guidance Shells in the future, she should avoid using them under normal circumstances unless it was a continent-level war.

That string of extremely intimidating explanations left Dugu Luo utterly stunned. He had practically talked her into becoming someone who could turn the tide of a battle in the future.

Even Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched.

If he remembered correctly, Miss Meng of Mingde Hall, Meng Hongchen, possessed the Jade Sunny Ice Toad Martial Soul, which was likewise a top-tier deadly poison.

Though he could not yet distinguish whether the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison or the Jade Sunny Ice Toad's poison was stronger.

But despite also possessing poison attributes, Meng Hongchen had not followed the path Xuan Ziwen described. She played with Soul Guidance Armor.

What Huo Yuhao remembered more clearly was that during the first Soul Master Competition in the Original Work, Meng Hongchen wore a full set of Soul Guidance Armor and wielded a pair of Ice Blue Longswords, shining brilliantly in the arena.

With the cultivation of a Five Rings Soul King, she had even beaten Dai Yueheng, a Six Rings Soul Emperor, back step by step for a time.

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Get some rest. Tomorrow morning, we'll head to Heaven Dou City together."

With a friendly smile, Xuan Ziwen patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder, politely nodded to Dugu Luo, and then they rose and returned to their respective tents.

As they had last night, Huo Yuhao and Dugu Luo had one person sleep on the bed while the other slept on the floor.

"Yuhao, are you thinking of going to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?"

After hearing Xuan Ziwen's lengthy speech, Dugu Luo felt that the academy seemed quite good. Mainly because he had made her Martial Soul's poison abilities sound so formidable.

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Teacher Xuan is right. My Martial Soul is Spirit Eyes, and your Soul Skill can condense Jade Serpent Poison Spears. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy really is suited for the two of us to make a name for ourselves."

"But I suggest that you wait until the poison issue inside your body is completely resolved before entering the academy. Until then, you can simply cultivate quietly on your own with the Antidote Pills."

Dugu Luo had the same concern. Fully dealing with the hidden danger in her body was the most important thing.

Inside another tent with a metallic texture.

"Hey, Xuan Ziwen, how did Yuhao release that Fire Lotus before and casually condense an Ice Cabinet when his Martial Soul is Spirit Eyes?"

Xu Sheng was deeply puzzled. He had wanted to ask Huo Yuhao directly earlier, but when the latter introduced his past and Martial Soul, he had not mentioned those things. In the end, Xu Sheng restrained his curiosity.

Xuan Ziwen looked as though he were saying, You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?

"Since Yuhao didn't mention it, there's no need for us to dwell on it. We only need to know that he's very talented. That's enough."

After all, everyone had their own trump cards. Perhaps after Yuhao entered the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and everyone became more familiar with one another, he would naturally reveal it.

Xuan Ziwen sat before a Soul Guidance desk and took out two sheets of paper, preparing to write.

Xu Sheng froze and asked in confusion, "Xuan Ziwen, what are you doing? Do you need to write something in advance for honoring your ancestors?"

Several black lines appeared across Xuan Ziwen's forehead. "I'm preparing to write a Recommendation Letter to send to the academy's teachers in advance."

"Oh, so that's what it is." Xu Sheng fell into thought. Having encountered such a promising prospect, perhaps he should do something for the Hall Master...

Xuan Ziwen began writing, and Xu Sheng walked over to watch.

Xu Sheng had been thinking about whether he could learn something, only for Xuan Ziwen to write just two lines.

"I recommend this student to you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. —Xuan Ziwen, direct disciple of Old Kong."

Xu Sheng did not approve of Xuan Ziwen's letter. "Is that how you write a Recommendation Letter?"

"Shouldn't you clearly write out all of Yuhao's strengths? Especially the two key terms, 'Eye Martial Soul' and 'Mental Attribute.' You should emphasize them repeatedly in the letter, so the recipient knows just how exceptional the talent we found is."

Xuan Ziwen slowly shook his head. "You don't understand."

"A Recommendation Letter isn't about the letter. It's about the recommender."

He put away the completed letter. "This is an indirect guarantee. Do I, Xuan Ziwen, need to spell out every strength of a student I recommend?"

Xu Sheng thought for a moment and felt that Xuan Ziwen made sense. Another name for this kind of Recommendation Letter was a recommendation notice.