Yan Shaozhe's Invitation

Although this time they had only expelled the evil fire, and Ma Xiaotao could not yet directly become a soul master with an ultimate attribute, with Shrek Academy's deep foundations and abundant resources, helping Ma Xiaotao achieve that goal was only a matter of time.

Moreover, freed from the shackles of the evil fire, Ma Xiaotao's cultivation speed would greatly increase, and her future accomplishments would be limitless.

As for the candidates to spend a year cultivating at the Ancient Golden Tree on Sea God Island of Shrek Academy, Lu Jingming chose Zhang Lexuan and Keqing.

Yan Shaozhe was quite surprised by this. He truly could not understand why Lu Jingming would give up such an excellent opportunity for advancement.

One had to know that cultivating at the Golden Tree on Sea God Island was a shortcut to rapidly improving one's cultivation that countless soul masters dreamed of!

Even if Lu Jingming wanted to focus on nurturing Zhang Lexuan and Keqing, Yan Shaozhe would certainly have agreed if he had simply asked for one more slot.

After all, for Shrek Academy, providing one additional Golden Tree cultivation slot was no difficult matter. There was no fundamental difference between two slots and three.

Yet how could Yan Shaozhe have known of Lu Jingming's deep-seated misgivings?

He did not know whether the Golden Tree of Shrek Academy concealed a contingency left behind by that Sea God.

After all, at some point in the future, that Sea God's mother would actually replace the Golden Tree and become a brand-new Plane Core.

What if, during this period, the Golden Tree truly contained a contingency the Sea God had arranged in advance? Wouldn't Lu Jingming be walking straight into a trap if he rashly went there?

There was naturally no problem with Zhang Lexuan and Keqing going there to cultivate, but Lu Jingming carried the True Authority with him. What if that Sea God sensed the existence of the True Authority during his cultivation? Wouldn't that be the end of him?

Even if that possibility was infinitesimal, only one in ten million, Lu Jingming was unwilling to take such a risk.

Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, Lu Jingming only asked Shrek Academy for two slots and decisively gave up his own opportunity to cultivate at the Golden Tree.

Although he truly coveted the Life Energy within the Golden Tree that could rapidly raise one's Soul Power Level, he still resisted the temptation when faced with such a potentially enormous risk.

With Zhang Lexuan and Keqing's current Soul Power Levels, if they cultivated at the Golden Tree for a year, there was a great chance that they would break through and become Soul Sages.

Once they reached that realm, even if Saint Freya Academy's other teammates were somewhat weaker when the time came to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, Zhang Lexuan and Keqing's formidable strength would make earning an excellent result no difficult task.

They might even have a chance to challenge for the championship throne that symbolized supreme glory. If they truly succeeded, they would undoubtedly make history by dragging Shrek Academy down from its pedestal as champion.

Yan Shaozhe knew nothing of this yet. Once this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament ended, who knew whether he would regret it.

It was as if Shrek Academy had personally created a formidable enemy for itself.

In just half a day, Jing Liu helped Ma Xiaotao expel the evil fire. Although she had not eradicated its root, Jing Liu left behind her Ultimate Ice Soul Power to seal the evil fire. As long as Ma Xiaotao's Martial Soul evolved into Ultimate Fire, the interaction between the two ultimate attribute Soul Powers would allow Jing Liu's seal to completely destroy the evil fire.

Even if Ma Xiaotao ultimately failed to evolve an ultimate Martial Soul, the seal Jing Liu left behind was extremely stable and would remain problem-free for decades.

This way, Ma Xiaotao would no longer need to worry about the evil fire suddenly erupting throughout the long years ahead.

For a highly gifted soul master, several decades were enough time to grow into a Titled Douluo whose might shook an entire region.

By then, even if the evil fire reappeared, Ma Xiaotao would be fully capable of handling it with ease and would face no great threat.

Yan Shaozhe was extremely satisfied with this transaction. As he prepared to leave, he personally extended a sincere invitation to Lu Jingming, hoping that Lu Jingming would go to Shrek Academy for further study. He solemnly promised that, with Lu Jingming's talent and potential, he would certainly be able to enter Shrek Academy's inner court.

As the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe had a keen eye. Naturally, he could sharply perceive the extraordinary talent Lu Jingming possessed.

In his view, the talent Lu Jingming displayed even surpassed Ma Xiaotao's.

After all, Lu Jingming possessed a first soul ring of a thousand years, a rare achievement sufficient to leave a bold mark in the history of soul masters.

However, Lu Jingming tactfully declined Yan Shaozhe's invitation.

In his heart, he simply could not find a reason to go to Shrek Academy. Was he supposed to go there merely for routine running exercises or weight training?

Besides, the greatest attraction of entering Shrek Academy's inner court was nothing more than the opportunity to cultivate at the Golden Tree, and that was precisely what Lu Jingming was desperately trying to avoid.

At the thought of the unknown dangers the Golden Tree might conceal, how could he possibly step into it of his own accord?

Although Yan Shaozhe found Lu Jingming's refusal deeply regrettable, he did not press the matter further.

Afterward, he took the Simulated Universe soul tool device, purchased for over a hundred million Gold Soul Coins, and departed together with Ma Xiaotao.

Before leaving, Ma Xiaotao deliberately walked up to Lu Jingming and glared fiercely at him, seemingly venting her dissatisfaction with his earlier verbal provocation.

Then, she slightly puffed out her chest, intentionally or otherwise displaying her well-developed figure. Her intent could not have been clearer—she was showing Lu Jingming that she was not the "little girl" he had called her.

Clearly, she still held a grudge over the provocative words Lu Jingming had spoken before she lost consciousness.

Lu Jingming was speechless. Who gave benefits to their sworn enemy? She really was still a little girl!

Without noticing that her actions were somewhat inappropriate, nor the strange look in her teacher's eyes, Ma Xiaotao proudly followed behind Yan Shaozhe and left.

Zhang Lexuan and Keqing did not immediately head to Shrek Academy with Yan Shaozhe, because they were waiting for someone else.

"Ningguang, this matter depends entirely on you. I will arrange for one hundred Golden Guards to travel with you to Shrek City. There, they will all obey your deployment and command."

After Yan Shaozhe left, Lu Jingming used the True Power he had painstakingly accumulated during this period to manifest Keqing's colleague—the Tianquan Star, Ningguang—into this world.

He chose Ningguang because Lu Jingming knew that if he wanted to establish a merchant association in Shrek City, he needed an outstanding talent capable of overseeing the bigger picture and well versed in commercial operations to take charge.

Ningguang was undoubtedly a highly suitable choice. Her talent and wisdom in business were beyond question.

From starting with nothing to becoming Liyue's Tianquan Star, wealthy enough to rival a nation, Ningguang's business talent was undeniably formidable.