Three days later, Zhang Lexuan finally made her decision — she agreed to carry out the plan proposed by Mu En and Zhu Ziyang.
Thus, at the next Sea God Pavilion meeting, the operation titled "Empress Descends" was classified as the highest-level confidential project of Shrek Academy, with full authority to utilize any and all academy resources. Over the next ten to twenty years, this operation would become one of the academy's primary long-term objectives.
Following its approval, Shrek Academy did not act rashly but chose to first gather intelligence. At all times, information was one of the most decisive factors. For the plan to succeed, the academy needed to investigate and verify a vast amount of intelligence. Most of their network inside the Sun Moon Empire was focused on soul tool-related matters — their understanding of the empire's internal political landscape was minimal. Gathering that knowledge would take time.
Since the "Empress Descends" plan was still in its preparation phase, Zhu Ziyang remained at the academy for a week before setting off to complete the fourth trial of the Death God.
Through the academy's intelligence system, Zhu Ziyang had identified four evil soul masters with death-attributed martial souls. All four had emerged within the past six months. Whether they were truly guilty remained unknown — Zhu Ziyang would have to judge for himself upon encountering them.
His first destination was Yibo Mountain, an unremarkable peak within the Dou Spirit Empire. Roughly four months ago, a self-proclaimed "Grand Duke of Hell," an evil soul master, had slaughtered an entire village of a hundred households — a massacre that sent shockwaves through the soul master world and caught Shrek Academy's attention. According to intel, the Grand Duke had been spotted around Yibo Mountain.
Upon arriving, Zhu Ziyang went to the only town in the region — Yibo Town — and began investigating. It didn't take long to confirm that the Grand Duke of Hell had likely established a lair on the mountain.
Without hesitation, Zhu Ziyang climbed the mountain. In the forest midway up, he discovered traces of battle.
"A soul skill infused with light elements," Zhu Ziyang muttered, gazing at a felled tree faintly glowing with divine energy. "There!"
In a flash, he pinpointed the exact battle location and dashed forward. Before long, he saw the two combatants. One of them — his target — was unmistakably the Grand Duke of Hell.
The Grand Duke had six soul rings behind him: three purple and three black — an eerie configuration. His figure was enormous, standing three meters tall and just as wide. All four limbs were twisted into black, clawed limbs, and a single horn protruded from his head. His mouth was full of jagged fangs. His martial soul resembled a Dark Demon Bear, but its aura was even more vicious and malevolent.
The flower-shaped mark between Zhu Ziyang's brows flashed three times — confirming that this man met the criteria for the Death God's fourth trial. Although he didn't yet know what sins the Grand Duke had committed, the moment Zhu Ziyang confirmed his guilt, his fate was sealed.
To Zhu Ziyang's surprise, the person battling the Grand Duke wasn't another man or elite warrior — but a girl who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen.
Golden-haired and radiant, she was strikingly beautiful, exuding an angelic grace. A pair of pure white wings extended from her back. Five soul rings danced behind her — two yellow, two purple, and one black. She wielded a sword of holy light and radiated a divine, untouchable presence.
"It's her," Zhu Ziyang immediately recognized the girl. Though it had been three or four years since their last encounter, her image had remained vividly in his mind. She was a descendant of the Qian Clan — the girl who bore the Seraphim martial soul.
There was no mistaking it — the angelic figure before him was Qian Lingyi.
Despite only being a Soul King, Qian Lingyi used the Seraphim's holy nature and its overwhelming suppression of evil to match the Soul Emperor-level Grand Duke blow for blow — even faintly gaining the upper hand.
Neither of them noticed Zhu Ziyang's arrival, which suited him just fine. He intended to steal the kill.
As Qian Lingyi's fifth soul ring lit up, the holy sword in her hand grew larger and brighter, infused with a powerful aura of judgment.
"Haah!" she cried, swinging the sword down toward the Grand Duke's head.
The Grand Duke instantly activated his sixth soul skill. His two bear paws surged with deathly energy and accurately caught the descending holy sword. Light and darkness clashed in a fierce struggle.
Both entered a tense deadlock. A single misstep or moment of weakness from either side would lead to a fatal counterstrike.
This was the moment Zhu Ziyang had been waiting for.
The Stillness Fate Ending Scyth appeared in his hand. The curved blade shrank as the circular blade at the center enlarged and shifted position — transforming into a golden scepter.
With the scepter raised high, he activated his second soul skill: Divine Annihilation Liturgical Rite.
A burst of radiant, piercing light shot from the circular blade at the scepter's tip. Like sunlight breaking through thick clouds, it scattered blazing beams of warmth and holiness across the darkened battlefield.
The light bathed both Qian Lingyi and the Grand Duke of Hell. Qian Lingyi felt rejuvenated — all her fatigue and soul power exhaustion instantly vanished.
The Grand Duke, however, felt as though he had been thrown onto the surface of the sun. His body began to melt, his soul howled in agony, and his soul power disintegrated.
It all happened too fast. Before he could comprehend what was happening, the Grand Duke of Hell was completely purified — both body and soul — vanishing into smoke. Only his tattered clothing remained as evidence of his existence.
Zhu Ziyang sensed a gentle return of light energy. His soul power had increased — not by much, just about a tenth of one level — but it was still a reward for his "hard work." After all, others hunted evil soul masters out of righteousness. He, a light-type soul master, did it as part of his job.
"Heh," Zhu Ziyang chuckled softly. Stowing away his scythe, he turned to leave without lingering.
"Wait!" a voice called out behind him.
Qian Lingyi had recovered from the shock and quickly chased after him. Blocking his path, she said, "Hey! You're just gonna leave without saying a word? What if I wanted you to compensate me for the loss?"
"I don't think we know each other that well," Zhu Ziyang replied calmly. He wasn't sure whether Qian Lingyi remembered him, but his smile was relaxed.
"We can get to know each other!" she said brightly. "My name is Ye Guyi. What's yours?"
Oh? Using a fake name?
Zhu Ziyang's expression grew amused. "Ye Guyi? That's strange. I could've sworn your name was Qian Lingyi."
"!?"
Her face instantly changed. She took several steps back, eyes wide and wary. "Who are you? How do you know my real name?"
"Haha, don't be nervous!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "So you really don't remember me. Ouch — that hurts."
"Don't remember you?" Qian Lingyi furrowed her brow and examined his face carefully. She muttered, "You do look familiar... I've definitely seen you somewhere before. Where...?"
After a few seconds, her eyes lit up. "I remember! You're that guy I met in the Tianhui Grand Canyon — your name was... Zhu Ziyang, right?"
"Haha, that's right!" he laughed.
"Ahh!" Qian Lingyi suddenly gasped. "You're that Zhu Ziyang? From Shrek Academy? Are you really him?"
"Didn't think I was that famous," he said, looking quite pleased. "Even you've heard of me?"
"So it is you!" Qian Lingyi's expression was a whirlwind of excitement, curiosity, and awe. "Do you really have five 100,000-year soul rings?"
"Do you believe that?" Zhu Ziyang asked with a smirk.
"Mm-mm. Nope!" she shook her head.
"Then there you go," he replied with a grin.
"I thought so! Who could possibly have five 100,000-year soul rings — and be young enough to compete in the Soul Master Tournament?" she said smugly. "Ugh, rumors get more ridiculous the more they spread."
"So, is there something else you wanted? If not, I'll be on my way," Zhu Ziyang said.
"Hey, don't be in such a rush!" she grabbed his arm and said, "Are you in a hurry or something?"
"Not really," he replied. The faint floral scent from her hair made him suddenly reconsider his answer. "So... are you suggesting we travel together?"
"Mm-hmm! You're probably wandering the continent, right? So am I. Why not team up?" Qian Lingyi smiled brightly. "You've seen my strength — I won't hold you back. Plus, wouldn't it be more fun to journey with a beautiful girl than to go alone?"
"I'm not opposed," Zhu Ziyang said after a pause. "But I'll need to return to the academy soon. Will you come with me?"
"Of course! I've always wanted to see the number one academy in the world!" she answered without hesitation. Her curiosity toward Shrek Academy — and even more so, her fascination with Zhu Ziyang — drove her bold suggestion to travel together after just their second meeting.
There was something about him — something she couldn't quite describe — that made her want to be closer to him.
(End of Chapter)
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