"With your own strength, you really repelled the combined armies of the three great empires?"
A voice suddenly sounded beside him. Lin Xiao was not surprised. He turned his head, and the first thing he saw was a head of flowing long hair, which under the moonlight seemed to emit a faint glow.
Just like back then in the Star Dou Great Forest, when he first saw the person before him lightly touching a branch, as if stepping out from the moon.
"Has the news from Heaven Dou City already spread to Shrek Academy?"
Lin Xiao withdrew his gaze. Though he did not respond, it was tantamount to admitting it.
Zhang Lexuan, beside him, seemed somewhat silent. "You… weren't injured, were you?"
Hearing this, Lin Xiao suddenly smiled. "No."
"A Body Douluo is, after all, a master who has been famous for a long time."
"I know." Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, recalling the battle from the day. "His second awakening was indeed hard to deal with. But more than that, he was defeated by the arrogance he held as a soul master."
Zhang Lexuan fell silent upon hearing this, seemingly reminded of how Shrek Academy similarly did not place much importance on soul tools.
The two were quiet for a moment. Zhang Lexuan opened her mouth several times, yet did not know what to say.
"Are you wondering why I helped the Sun Moon Empire?"
Zhang Lexuan turned to look at him and gently nodded. "I actually also thought that perhaps you did it to give those disciples of the Netherworld Sect a chance to go out and walk around."
"You always think too highly of me." Lin Xiao smiled and shook his head, but did not directly answer. "Have you ever considered what kind of realm lies beyond a ninety-ninth-level Limit Douluo?"
Zhang Lexuan paused slightly. Her talent was already outstanding, and with Shrek Academy pouring resources into her without reservation, her soul power had now broken through to rank ninety-five. The distance to Limit Douluo did not seem far.
But she knew that the final step, merely one level, was a threshold many people could never cross in their lifetime.
As for what came after that, she had never thought about it. On the entire continent, perhaps only a handful of soul masters even had the qualifications to ponder what lay beyond rank ninety-nine.
If Mu En were still alive, he probably would have had some ideas.
Though Zhang Lexuan had never considered it, upon hearing Lin Xiao's words now, some memories subconsciously surfaced in her mind, the experience she and Lin Xiao had in the Qiankun Wenqing Valley.
That kind of method was probably the realm beyond rank ninety-nine.
Turning her head, Zhang Lexuan saw that Lin Xiao was also looking at her. With just one glance, she already understood what he was thinking.
"You helped the Sun Moon Empire because it has something to do with the realm beyond Limit Douluo?"
"Not a direct connection, but I do need a unified Douluo Continent." Lin Xiao did not conceal his purpose, only omitting the matter of one certain deity involved.
"You could have lied to me." Zhang Lexuan's voice rose slightly. "You could have told me that a unified continent would no longer be filled with wars like it is now…"
"I know." Lin Xiao nodded. "Growing up in the Holy Spirit Cult, I've seen and told too many lies. But in front of you, I don't want there to be too many deceptions."
"Even though I know my answer won't satisfy you, I still want to tell you the truth." Lin Xiao paused slightly. "I don't want everything between us to be built on lies."
"I want you to see the real me, the me without any mask."
"But…" Zhang Lexuan shook her head. "But if the Sun Moon Empire really unifies the Douluo Continent, what will happen to the people from the original three great empires? With the Sun Moon Empire's style, I'm afraid they…"
"No, they won't." Lin Xiao sighed softly. "The only one in the Sun Moon Empire who fell into madness was the already-dead Xu Tianran."
"Actually, before I entered the Holy Spirit Cult, I also had some different views about the Sun Moon Empire. But now, with my teacher, my classmates, and friends all within the Sun Moon Empire, I've realized that the Sun Moon Empire isn't so different from the three great empires."
"Everyone speaks the same language. Over thousands of years, they have long since blended together, sharing the same festivals and similar customs. The biggest difference is probably just their views on soul tools."
"Even if the Sun Moon Empire unifies the continent, the three great empires won't disappear. Their festivals, their customs, their traditions can all be preserved."
"Even the collision and fusion between different cultures might create a new whole in the future. It may take a very long time, but at that point, the Douluo Continent will surely be a colorful world."
"You…" Zhang Lexuan didn't know how to respond. She also knew the benefits a unified continent would bring. Lin Xiao's words had already somewhat persuaded her.
Before she could think it through, Lin Xiao, beside her, suddenly reached out his hand.
Zhang Lexuan only heard a strong heartbeat sounding in her ear. Her mind instantly went blank, only her cheeks unconsciously growing hot.
She struggled a few times, but Lin Xiao showed no intention of letting go.
"You always have so many reasons." She complained softly, yet no longer made any other movements. Perhaps from the moment Lin Xiao spoke his true thoughts, and she did not turn to leave, she had already made her decision in her heart.
Hearing Zhang Lexuan's suddenly softened tone, Lin Xiao paused slightly. It was as if the fairy from the moon had been tainted with a touch of mortal dust. He simply held the person in his arms even tighter.
"This isn't just some reason. You once said that we are both changing, becoming more and more like the people we want to become."
"Growing up in the Holy Spirit Cult, I'm very glad I didn't completely sink like other evil soul masters. And precisely because of that, I don't want to see too many people like me appear."
"I don't dare claim to be some selfless sage. Of course, I have things I need to accomplish. But beyond that, in the process, I want the influence I bring not to make this world worse."
Zhang Lexuan listened to Lin Xiao's words mingling with his heartbeat in her ear. She gently raised her hand and wrapped it around his waist. "You really are the same as before."
"But even though I'm now the vice dean of Shrek Academy, the matters of Shrek Academy aren't decided by me alone. The elders in the academy may not understand your ideas, and they won't put down their resistance to the Sun Moon Empire just because of your needs."
"Then let them come find me. I'll accept their challenges anytime."
"You—" Zhang Lexuan paused. "Even a Body Douluo wasn't your match…"
Lin Xiao sighed softly. "Though I have my own reasons, this war has truly gone on too long for ordinary people."
As his voice fell, the moonlight remained the same as it had been years ago on that night. Whispers quietly rose in the woods.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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