Changes in Haiyuan City

"Teacher, is this really Haiyuan City?" Two years had passed, and Ma Xiaotao's figure had become even more voluptuous, her curves exquisitely shaped.

She stared at the metal buildings towering into the clouds, each over a hundred meters tall, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Soul Tool Trams darted through the streets like nimble fish, emitting soft hums.

The commercial district nearby was even more bustling, crowded with people. Hawkers' cries and laughter intermingled, forming a vibrant picture of everyday city life.

The sight before her left Ma Xiaotao completely stunned.

Yan Shaozhe was equally astonished. The corners of his mouth twitched unconsciously, and his eyes were full of bewilderment.

He simply could not imagine that this city on the frontier of the Star Luo Empire could be so prosperous, its flourishing state not inferior in the slightest to the Shrek City they took such pride in.

Shrek City had a history stretching back ten thousand years, and with Shrek Academy, one of the continent's foremost institutions, supporting it, it had risen to the forefront of the entire Douluo Continent and become the center of attention.

Yan Shaozhe had visited Haiyuan City before. Back then, it had merely been an ordinary, somewhat dilapidated coastal town. Compared to its completely renewed appearance now, it was like heaven and earth.

What shocked Yan Shaozhe most was undoubtedly the Soul Tools visible everywhere throughout the city.

In the past, the Original Three Douluo Kingdoms and Shrek Academy had always looked down on Soul Tools. Although they conducted related research, a city like Haiyuan City, where Soul Tools had been widely popularized and integrated into the daily lives of ordinary people, had previously only existed in the Sun Moon Empire.

Watching the passersby, every one of them wearing happy smiles, Yan Shaozhe could not help but sigh inwardly. The people of Haiyuan City must be living happy and peaceful lives now.

"I really underestimated that little fellow. He truly is a qualified City Lord." Although Yan Shaozhe still harbored some prejudice against Soul Tools deep down, he had to admit that their emergence had indeed improved the quality of life for ordinary people.

That fact shook his once-stubborn views. He began to realize that Soul Tools were not as worthless as he had once believed.

Yan Shaozhe could not help but think of his teacher, Dragon God Douluo Mu En.

Mu En had always strongly advocated the development of Soul Tools, even repeatedly directing academy resources toward the Soul Tool Department.

Yan Shaozhe had never quite understood it before. Yet now, standing in bustling Haiyuan City, he seemed to grasp some of the reasoning behind his teacher's actions, though he had not fully comprehended their deeper meaning.

Ma Xiaotao's expression was exceedingly complicated.

The thought of soon meeting Lu Jingming—the "little brat" whose overbearing attitude had once infuriated her—made her feel rather uncomfortable.

On top of that, they had come to ask for help, and having witnessed Haiyuan City's prosperity, her emotions became even more mixed.

"Let's go. We'll pay a visit to Snow Moon Douluo and that young City Lord." Yan Shaozhe keenly noticed his disciple's discomfort and gave a casual chuckle.

In his view, these little conflicts between young people were merely minor episodes in the course of growing up. They might even become an opportunity to deepen their bond, making them a good thing instead.

Without realizing it, two years had passed. Ma Xiaotao had made a major breakthrough in her cultivation and successfully advanced to the Soul Ancestor realm.

Just before coming to Haiyuan City, she had successfully obtained her fourth Soul Ring.

It had to be said that if not for the cold aura Jing Liu had released, which had inadvertently suppressed the rampant evil fire within her, along with the abundant cultivation resources provided by Shrek Academy, she might not have broken through so quickly.

Ma Xiaotao was only thirteen years old. At that age, many so-called geniuses had at most reached the Soul Elder level, while ordinary soul masters could not even attain the rank of Soul Grandmaster.

It was clear just how astonishing Ma Xiaotao's talent was once she had escaped the trouble caused by her evil fire.

No wonder Yan Shaozhe placed such high hopes on her, sparing no resources or effort in his determination to completely remove the evil fire within her.

With Shrek Academy's vast intelligence network, Yan Shaozhe had already investigated Haiyuan City's circumstances when he returned to Shrek Academy two years ago.

That was precisely why he had not rashly come to visit back then. Only now, two years later, when the evil fire in Ma Xiaotao's body had once again erupted beyond control and her condition had grown increasingly critical, did he hurry to Haiyuan City with the precious heavenly treasures he had collected over the past two years.

Recalling the first conflict with Jing Liu and the others, Yan Shaozhe knew full well that Shrek Academy's usual prestige would be of no use whatsoever before someone as unfathomably powerful as Jing Liu.

Thus, he could only lower his stance on this visit, seek help with a gentle and humble attitude, and bring along costly heavenly treasures.

Fortunately, the two sides had only had a minor disagreement back then and had not entered into a serious conflict. Otherwise, Yan Shaozhe truly would not have known what to do. He would probably have been left wanting to cry without tears.

After two years, the City Lord's residence that had once stood in the center of Haiyuan City had moved to a seaside cliff. It had been built into a Sea Cliff Villa, far from the clamor of the city.

The three-tiered Sea Cliff Villa had a main building that spiraled upward like a seashell, its exterior covered in ocean-blue Soul Guiding Metal.

Its roof was pieced together from hundreds of hexagonal Soul Guiding Crystals. During the day, they absorbed sunlight and stored energy; at night, they projected the light and shadows of a star map, condensing the vast night sky upon that small roof.

At the center of the dome was embedded a small Soul Guiding Core. Like the villa's heart, it continuously supplied the entire building with the energy it needed, ensuring that its various Soul Tool facilities could operate normally.

Led by a Golden Guard clad head to toe in black Soul Guiding Armor, Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao slowly entered this incomparably luxurious City Lord's residence.

All Golden Guards wore the same black Soul Guiding Armor, so few people knew their true identities.

The moment he stepped inside the City Lord's residence, Yan Shaozhe could not help but marvel inwardly.

With his wealth of experience and knowledge, he naturally recognized at a glance just how precious the villa's materials were.

Whether it was the Soul Guiding Metal used as the foundation of the building or the Soul Guiding Crystals that replaced a traditional roof, every last one was a priceless Soul Guiding material.

Constructing a Sea Cliff Villa of such immense scale and ingenious design would require an astronomical sum.

After a rough estimate, Yan Shaozhe was certain that it would take at least a hundred million Gold Soul Coins to build such a luxurious residence.