"Changqing! The outer court's first-year classes will start in another year. You only need to finish the second year."
"After all, you've already finished the outer court's basic theory courses for years one through six!"
Mu En stood up with his hands behind his back, his deep eyes fixed squarely on Mu Changqing's face.
It made no difference whether Mu Changqing attended the outer court, but Mu En had plans of his own. He hoped Mu Changqing would build his own core team through his own efforts, making preparations for the future.
"Sure!"
Mu Changqing nodded quietly. Entering the outer court's first year a year later would be a dimensional strike against the competition. Among people his age, few were three-ring Soul Elders.
If Mu Changqing fought the outer court's first-year students, he would be nothing more than an old man toying with unruly children...
"Great-great-grandfather, I'll head back first!"
After bidding Mu En farewell, Mu Changqing stood and strode toward the Sea God Pavilion's entrance. Once outside, he looked up at the Golden Ancient Tree overhead.
If Mu Changqing remembered correctly, there seemed to be a wisp of Buddha Lord Tang's divine consciousness inside the Golden Ancient Tree as well. He paid it no further attention and headed home.
Ten days slipped quietly by, and the All-Continent Soul Master Tournament was about to begin. Shrek Academy's team was a favorite to win this year-as it seemed to be every year.
Shrek City had undergone earth-shaking changes over the past year, even opening Martial Soul awakening rooms that offered free awakenings. Many people had poured into Shrek City over the past ten days.
"Sister Lexuan! Good luck!"
Na'er raised her hand to wave goodbye to Zhang Lexuan. Zhang Lexuan smiled at Mu Changqing and Na'er in front of the gate, then turned and left for the Sea God Pavilion.
Zhang Lexuan was the captain of this generation's Shrek Seven Monsters, as well as its only Soul Sage.
"You could say we have a one hundred percent chance of winning this time."
Mu Changqing leaned by the entrance, his hands in his pockets as he gazed at the clear blue sky.
This year's Shrek Academy team could be called its strongest in nearly twenty years. Of its seven members, one was a Soul Sage, four were Soul Emperors, and two were Soul Kings. They could sweep through the entire Soul Master Tournament.
Over these ten days, with the God King of Destruction's divine will present and two Seas of Spirit as well, Mu Changqing had quickly comprehended Mu En's first supreme technique, Sovereign's Descent.
Then, using Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Rift as a foundation and the Golden Dragon King's power as its source, Mu Changqing had created a new supreme technique called Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Fist. This fist technique would continue to grow stronger as his rank rose.
The first core of Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Fist was Mu Changqing's Golden Dragon King power, and its second core was Soul Beast manifestations.
Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Fist could currently unleash four punches in total. The first punch contained the power of one manifestation, the second combined the power of two manifestations into one, the third contained the power of three manifestations, and the fourth combined three manifestations with a Golden Dragon King phantom.
People like Mu Changqing were the shrewdest. He clearly hadn't comprehended anything, yet insisted that he had comprehended Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Fist to avoid losing face. It was purely brute strength.
"Na'er, I'm going to see Elder Xuan. Be good and stay home. Don't run around."
"Okay, big brother!"
After giving her a few reminders, Mu Changqing turned and walked out the gate, striding toward Xuan Zi's apartment. He wanted to test the power of the Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Fist he had created.
Once Na'er saw Mu Changqing disappear into the distance, she immediately set her lovely legs in motion and ran back inside. A fragrant breeze swept past, leaving the place completely deserted.
Xuan Zi's apartment was east of the Sea God Pavilion, some distance from Mu Changqing's home. Using a flying Soul Tool, Mu Changqing finally reached Xuan Zi's front gate.
At that moment, Xuan Zi was lying peacefully in a comfortable rocking chair, basking in the sun. With a large chicken drumstick in his right hand and a bottle of fruit juice in his left, he was utterly at ease.
The task of leading and escorting the team to the All-Continent Soul Master Tournament always fell to Xuan Zi. Since the team had yet to depart, he could not be bothered to go over for now.
"Elder Xuan, since you haven't left yet, help me test the supreme technique I just created!"
Mu Changqing jogged up to Xuan Zi's rocking chair. Xuan Zi opened his languid eyes, saw that it was Mu Changqing, and immediately smiled.
"Sure! After a year, your strength must have improved quite a bit!"
Xuan Zi quickly finished the large chicken drumstick in his hand and set the fruit juice on the stone table beside him. Then he stood and stretched.
"Let's go under the big tree!"
Xuan Zi raised his hand and pointed at the open lawn beneath the large tree. It was not only spacious but cool as well.
Mu Changqing and Xuan Zi walked side by side into the tree's shade, then Mu Changqing strode away in the opposite direction from Xuan Zi.
"Sovereign's Descent!"
Mu Changqing activated his Martial Soul possession, covering his entire body in golden blood Qi. He clenched his Golden Dragon Claw into a fist, and his entire golden dragon fist began gathering power, covered in golden blood Qi.
Mu Changqing raised his golden dragon fist and hurled a punch at Xuan Zi. An enormous golden dragon fist formed in front of him, the punch brimming with spiritual power and offensive power.
The golden dragon fist crackled through the air as though it would tear apart time and space. Two enormous golden dragons hovered above it.
"Roar!"
The two enormous golden dragons beat their wings and roared as they charged toward Xuan Zi, as though they would devour him completely.
Xuan Zi frowned. His Martial Soul was completely suppressed, and a Taotie Divine Bull phantom automatically appeared behind him.
Xuan Zi had never felt this kind of pressure even when facing Mu En's Sovereign's Descent. It truly lived up to the Golden Dragon Martial Soul's name. Xuan Zi took the blow head-on and retreated one step.
"The imposing force of your Sovereign's Descent is even stronger than Elder Mu's!"
"Truly, the blue drawn from indigo surpasses indigo itself!"
Xuan Zi applauded, looking at Mu Changqing with conviction. Mu Changqing raised his hand to indicate that his attack was not over.
"Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Fist!"
Mu Changqing threw another golden punch. This time, the Tyrannosaurus manifestation behind him merged with the golden fist. Then he threw three more punches in succession.
All ten Soul Beast manifestations erupted forth, their power surging like a vast, rolling sea. The power of each layer of golden fists stacked upon the others.
Xuan Zi's eyes widened at the manifestations before him. The Taotie Divine Bull Martial Soul behind him automatically engaged the incoming attacks, and before long, his Martial Soul vanished.
"You developed this from Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Rift, didn't you? This ability suits your Golden Dragon Martial Soul perfectly!"
"Although you may seem to be a three-ring Soul Elder right now, you can absolutely defeat an ordinary Soul King!"
Xuan Zi could not help marveling that Mu Changqing was a goddamn talent. Originally, only Soul Masters with the Holy Dragon of Light Martial Soul could unleash Dragon Emperor's Evil-Shattering Rift. He had never expected Mu Changqing to modify it.
"Xuan Zi, thanks. I'll head back first!"
Mu Changqing turned and left Xuan Zi's residence. He needed to go home and pack, then set off for Dragon City with Na'er.
Once Mu Changqing returned home, he immediately began packing. Then he took Na'er's fair little hand and went to the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion.
There were actually two people on the Sea God Pavilion's first floor: Bei Bei and Mu En.
"Let's go!"
Mu En was the first to leave the Sea God Pavilion, with the other three following close behind.