Chapter 118: The Return Journey, the Dejected Xuan Zi
The next day, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting pillars of golden light into the room. Tiny specks of dust floated in the light like countless small Martial Souls dancing.
On the large bed, a graceful body was curled up under the quilt.
The black lace nightgown had long since disappeared, replaced by a thin quilt wrapped messily around her body.
The quilt barely covered the critical areas, revealing large patches of snow-white skin, rounded shoulders, exquisite collarbones, and the heavy, soft curves faintly visible beneath them.
A long, straight leg poked out from the edge of the quilt, resting on the side of the bed.
The leg was as white as jade, shimmering with a soft luster in the morning light; the ankle was slender, and the toes were slightly curled.
Sunlight fell on her neck, where several faint red marks were faintly visible. Those red marks spread from her neck all the way to her collarbone, even disappearing deeper into the quilt.
Ling Luochen's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes, her ice-blue eyes still glazed with the confusion of just waking up.
She stared blankly at the ceiling, her brain seemingly still in a lagged state; her mind spun in circles for a long while before it finally finished booting up.
Then, memories flooded into her mind like a tide.
Those images, those sensations, those sounds...
Ling Luochen's cheeks instantly turned crimson, and she suddenly pulled the quilt over her head, shrinking entirely inside.
But the unusual sensation coming from her body was constantly reminding her that everything last night was real.
It wasn't a dream, nor an illusion; it was real.
She bit her lip, a flicker of complex emotions crossing her blushing face—shyness, satisfaction, and a trace of inexplicable pride.
"So... is that what it feels like?"
Ling Luochen quietly lifted a corner of the quilt and looked beside her; it was empty, and even the bedding had grown cold.
Lin Xuan had already left at some unknown time.
Ling Luochen was stunned for a moment, then she gently bit her lower lip and gave a soft hmph.
"He certainly ran away quite fast."
Then she rolled over, her gaze falling on the nightstand where a glass of water and a breakfast were placed. A small note was pressed under the glass with only one sentence written on it.
"Eat."
It was Lin Xuan's handwriting. Ling Luochen stared at those two words for a long time, and her lips suddenly curled upward slightly.
She sat up, the quilt sliding down to reveal her body covered in red marks, yet she didn't hide it. She simply picked up the glass of water and drank slowly.
The water temperature was just right, neither too hot nor too cold.
On the other side, in Ning Tian's room, she opened her eyes groggily. Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling, she was stunned for a good while before realizing where she was.
She remembered that she had drunk too much last night and Lin Xuan had brought her back, and then she had rambled on with silly talk. Ning Tian's face couldn't help but turn red.
She sat up while clutching the quilt, and then she suddenly thought of something and abruptly looked down at herself.
Her clothes were intact and perfectly tidy.
She was stunned for a moment, then she didn't know whether she should be happy or disappointed.
At the same time, in the room next door, Ma Xiaotao suddenly opened her eyes and sat up, the quilt in her arms sliding down to reveal her pretty, pink face.
Her brain seemed to be lagging a bit, and it took a while for it to finish booting up.
Then, fragmented memories flooded into her mind like a tide.
She remembered the meaningful smile Ling Luochen gave her when handing her the wine yesterday, and how after drinking that glass, her mind became more and more muddled until she finally seemed to pour out all her inner thoughts.
That bastard Ling Luochen had asked her with a smile what kind of girls Lin Xuan liked, and then she had foolishly told her everything...
Ma Xiaotao's face fell, and she said through gritted teeth, "If I ever drink again, I'm a dog!"
Then she looked down at herself; her clothes were intact, and her body felt no different. Seeing this, she couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief.
"Fortunately, fortunately. It seems that bastard Ling Luochen was just fishing for information and didn't do anything else."
But soon, she frowned again.
Wait... what did Ling Luochen want to do by fishing for that information?
Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes as an uneasy feeling welled up in her heart.
Without time to think carefully, she got dressed, quickly rolled out of bed, and headed straight for Ling Luochen's room.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Ling Luochen, I'm counting to three. If you don't open the door, I'm kicking it down!"
The next moment, the door opened.
Ling Luochen stood at the doorway with a faint smile on her face, looking to be in an extremely good mood.
She was already fully dressed in an elegant dress, and her hair was combed meticulously, though there was an extra silk scarf around her neck.
The scarf was light blue, made of a soft material, and loosely tied around her neck.
"What do you want so early in the morning?" Ling Luochen's voice was still in that same cold tone, but if one listened closely, there was a trace of a faint smile in it.
Ma Xiaotao didn't bother arguing with her; she pushed past her and strode into the room.
She looked around: the bed was neat, the quilt was folded tidily, the curtains were drawn back with sunlight filling the room, a used breakfast sat on the table, and the water in the glass was half-gone.
Everything looked normal, with nothing suspicious.
Ma Xiaotao wrinkled her nose slightly and discovered that an indescribable, faint scent was permeating the air.
"What is this smell?"
Ling Luochen leaned against the doorframe, her expression composed and her tone relaxed as she said,
"I ordered a dinner last night; perhaps it's the lingering scent of the meal."
Ma Xiaotao's brow furrowed slightly as she turned to stare at her. "What dinner? Tell me clearly, I want to order one too."
Ling Luochen spread her hands and smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, it can only be ordered at night, but we have to leave right now."
Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth. She walked up to Ling Luochen, stared dead into her eyes, and said word for word,
"It had better be that way."
She paused and warned, "Everything has an order of arrival; don't even think about using tricks!"
Ling Luochen looked at her, the smile on her face deepening.
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
She was in a great mood right now, especially seeing Ma Xiaotao's suspicious yet evidence-less appearance, which made her even happier.
Ma Xiaotao glared at her for a long while before finally giving a cold snort.
"You'd better truly not understand."
With that, she turned around and strode out of the room. Ling Luochen watched her departing back, her lips curling upward slightly.
Then, she turned to close the door, but the moment she took a step.
"Hiss..."
She suddenly gasped, her brow furrowing slightly.
Ling Luochen looked down at herself, a complex expression flashing across her face.
"Doesn't he know how to be gentle at all?" she murmured softly. "He still wanted more even after I fainted..."
Before she could finish, her own face turned red.
...
That afternoon, outside the East Gate of Shrek City.
Yan Shaozhe stood quietly beneath the city gate with his hands behind his back, a gentle smile on his face.
As the sunlight fell, he looked up slightly toward the distant sky, seemingly waiting for something.
The next moment, a golden flash of Soul Power plummeted from the sky at extreme speed, like a meteor streaking across the firmament!
Just before hitting the ground, the light decelerated sharply and came to a steady halt in mid-air.
The golden light dissipated, revealing the figures of the Shrek group along with a familiar figure—the Heavenly Fiend Douluo, Huang Jinxu.
Since Xuan Zi was injured and could not ensure the safety of the Shrek group on their return journey, Xu Jiawei went with the flow and did Shrek a favor by having the Heavenly Fiend Douluo, a Titled Douluo, personally escort everyone back.
Yan Shaozhe strode forward and bowed slightly to Huang Jinxu, saying with a warm smile,
"The Heavenly Fiend Douluo has come a long way to escort them. On behalf of Shrek Academy, I thank you."
The expression on Huang Jinxu's cold, hard face softened slightly. He shifted his body slightly to sidestep half of Yan Shaozhe's salute, his voice remaining stiff.
"Dean Yan is too polite. Entrusted by others, I remain loyal to the task. Since they have been delivered safely, I shall not stay. Farewell."
With that, he didn't wait for Yan Shaozhe's response, turning to fly into the sky and vanishing into the horizon as a streak of light.
Yan Shaozhe withdrew his gaze, turned around, and strode toward Wang Yan and the others. His gaze swept over those young faces as he smiled.
"Welcome home, heroes of this competition."
Wang Yan immediately led everyone in a bow, saying in unison,
"Dean Yan, you flatter us. Bringing glory to the academy is our duty."
Yan Shaozhe laughed and waved his hand. "Enough, enough, don't give me that. The academy won't forget your contributions."
He paused and continued, "After such a long journey, everyone should hurry back and rest. The academy's rewards for you will be distributed later."
Everyone nodded and prepared to leave. Just then, Yan Shaozhe's gaze passed through the crowd and landed on one figure.
"Lin Xuan, stay for a moment. My teacher wants to see you."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. Dean Yan's teacher? Dean Yan was a Titled Douluo, so what kind of terrifying powerhouse must the teacher of a Titled Douluo be?
Everyone's gaze fell upon Lin Xuan with looks of awe, though they weren't too surprised.
Given the heaven-defying talent Lin Xuan displayed in this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition, it was only natural for him to be highly regarded by the academy's upper echelon.
Ning Tian walked to Lin Xuan's side and gently tugged on his sleeve, her beautiful eyes full of concern.
"I... I'll head back first."
Lin Xuan looked at her and nodded slightly.
Ning Tian pursed her lips, turned to leave, and couldn't help but look back after a few steps.
Ma Xiaotao folded her arms and glanced sideways at Lin Xuan with a soft hmph.
"Come back early once you're done; there's still a Celebration Banquet waiting for you."
With that, she also turned and left. Ling Luochen was the last to leave, her footsteps pausing slightly as she brushed past Lin Xuan.
Those ice-blue eyes looked up at him—just a single glance, but in that glance, there were too many things that couldn't be put into words.
Lin Xuan met her gaze, the corners of his mouth curling into a very faint arc. Ling Luochen's eyelashes fluttered slightly, then she lowered her eyes and continued walking forward.
Nothing was said between the two, but it seemed as if everything had been said.
Yan Shaozhe watched this scene from the side, the smile on his face stiffening slightly.
He had originally been quite happy to see progress between his disciple Ma Xiaotao and Lin Xuan, but when he saw that look exchanged between Lin Xuan and Ling Luochen, his expression slumped.
He was an experienced man; he was all too familiar with that kind of look, that silent exchange. It was as if a gentle pat was all it took for the other party to know it was time to change positions.
There was definitely something going on between these two.
Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, and the expression on his face returned to a gentle look.
Forget it... He couldn't manage the affairs of young people that much. He would just have to remind Xiaotao after this matter was over.
After everyone else had left, Yan Shaozhe walked to Lin Xuan's side.
"Let's go."
He reached out and placed a hand on Lin Xuan's shoulder. The next moment, the two soared into the air, flying toward Sea God Island.
The wind whistled in their ears, and the scenery below retreated rapidly.
Yan Shaozhe's voice came through the wind, his tone extremely sincere. "Lin Xuan, you have worked hard for this competition. First, you saved Xixi and the others, then you exerted yourself to treat everyone, and finally, you turned the tide to secure the championship... The academy will keep all of this in mind."
Lin Xuan shook his head slightly, his expression indifferent.
"I am simply doing my duty. We are all fellow students; it was the right thing to do."
Yan Shaozhe glanced at him, his eyes full of admiration. After a moment of silence, he sighed again, his tone filled with emotion.
"I didn't expect you to have been hiding an Ultimate Light attribute. Sigh, compared to you, you are even more suited to be a student of the teachers."
Lin Xuan just smiled and did not respond.
Crossing the sparkling Sea God Lake, the two landed on Sea God Island.
Yan Shaozhe did not take off again but switched to walking. He followed a winding path, leading Lin Xuan all the way up.
Ancient trees towered all around, birds chirped softly, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of grass and trees. The higher they went, the more solemn the atmosphere became.
Finally, as they approached the top of the mountain, a simple and unadorned pavilion appeared in their line of sight.
Sea God Pavilion, the holy land that countless Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent dreamed of.
At this moment, several figures were standing outside the pavilion.
The two in front were both women.
The one on the left looked to be in her thirties, with a beautiful appearance, a gentle temperament, and eyes filled with a soft radiance. It was the Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Cai Meier.
The one on the right was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, with a cold expression. Between her brows was an air of heroism that commanded respect without anger. Her posture was as straight as a pine, and standing there, she looked like an unsheathed sharp sword. It was the Dean of the Soul Tool Department, Xian Liner.
Lin Xuan was very familiar with the other two.
The Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, Qian Duoduo. When he saw Lin Xuan, his eyes immediately lit up. Taking advantage of the fact that Xian Liner was not paying attention, he quietly gave a thumbs up, his face full of praise.
The expression seemed to say: Kid, well done!
However, the next second, as if Xian Liner had eyes in the back of her head, she turned around and glared at him fiercely.
Qian Duoduo instantly restrained himself, looking at his nose and heart, assuming the appearance of a gentleman.
The corner of Lin Xuan's eye twitched slightly. Was there something wrong with the ancestral graves over at Shrek Academy? Everyone was either henpecked or had issues with their sexual orientation.
As for the last person, Lin Xuan's gaze fell on the figure lying on the grass on the side.
It was Xuan Zi. He hadn't seen him for many days, and this former ninety-eighth-level Super Douluo was now in a completely different state.
He was lying on his side on the grass, his clothes wrinkled and covered with grass clippings and mud. His severed arm had already grown back, but he himself had become increasingly disheveled.
His hair was messy, he was listless, and he was extremely decadent.
He continued to drink alcohol and eat chicken legs, but the movements were like a mechanical repetition, without any soul.
Cai Meier looked at Xuan Zi and sighed softly, while Xian Liner frowned, but said nothing.
Yan Shaozhe walked forward. Looking at Xuan Zi's appearance, a trace of heartache flashed in his eyes.
Lin Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly, and a look of concern appeared on his face at the right time. He spoke softly, his tone full of care.
"Dean Yan, Elder Xuan, he..."
Yan Shaozhe shook his head and whispered to Lin Xuan.
"Sigh... Although the academy paid a great price to have Elder Xuan's severed arm grow back and to have him absorb a top-tier Soul Bone, but..."
He paused, his voice becoming increasingly low.
"Elder Xuan's cultivation level is still temporarily stuck at the peak of the ninety-sixth level. But you don't need to worry, everything is fine at the academy. Besides, even if the sky falls, we tall ones will be here to hold it up for you."
Lin Xuan remained silent. From ninety-eighth level to ninety-sixth level, for a Super Douluo, this was not just a gap of two levels.
This was decades of bitter cultivation, countless efforts, and the capital that had once allowed him to look down upon all living beings, all washed away in an instant.
Nothing was more painful than once having it and then losing it all in an instant.
Everyone's faces were covered with a layer of worry.
Elder Mu was advanced in age, and on weekdays, he relied on Xuan Zi to support Shrek's facade. Now that Xuan Zi had fallen in rank, if Elder Mu did not take action, Shrek... could already be described as strong on the outside but weak on the inside.
At the very least, in terms of conventional combat power, they were weaker than the Body Sect.
Xuan Zi seemed not to hear everyone's sighs, continuing to drink alcohol in large gulps. The liquor flowed down the corners of his mouth, wetting his clothes, but he was completely unaware.
Just then, an old and peaceful voice came slowly from inside the Sea God Pavilion.
"Since you are here, come in."
Hearing this, everyone's expressions tightened, and they quickly bowed to pay their respects. Lin Xuan understood, took a deep breath, and lifted his foot to walk toward the gate of the Sea God Pavilion.
Pushing open the door, a rustic atmosphere rushed toward him.
The furnishings inside the pavilion were very simple, simple to the point of being crude. There were no gorgeous decorations, no complex ornaments, only the heaviness and tranquility settled by time.
In the center of the spacious hall, there was a long table. There was no one on either side of the table, only at the deepest part, a figure was half-lying there.
Is it finally time... Lin Xuan's heart tightened slightly.
Dragon God Douluo, Mu En, Limit Douluo, one of the strongest people standing at the top of the World. With his current strength, he definitely could not win.
What's more, Mu En's battle intelligence was not like that of a muddled person like Xuan Zi. It was hard to say how long it would take for him to discover Mahoraga's ability to adapt.
As these thoughts turned, Lin Xuan stood still beside the long table. He bowed slightly, his expression respectful, and his voice said steadily.
"Junior Lin Xuan, greets you, Senior."
"No need for formalities, good child, come over."
Mu En's voice was as gentle as a breeze sweeping across the lake. No pressure could be heard, but it made people involuntarily feel close.
Lin Xuan walked forward as instructed. Walking around the long table, the figure half-lying on the lounge chair finally appeared in his eyes completely.
An aged face, turbid eyes, and a set of white-washed cloth clothes.
He lay there casually, as if he were just an ordinary old man nearing the end of his life, completely inconsistent with the resounding fame of the Sea God Pavilion.
However, the moment Lin Xuan saw that face clearly, his footsteps paused slightly. In the depths of his pupils, a trace of well-timed surprise flashed by.
The next moment, he had already put on his acting mask.
"It's actually you?!"
Lin Xuan's voice carried undisguised astonishment. His black eyes widened slightly, and his face was full of disbelief.
Mu En was still lying there, a trace of a smile appearing in his turbid old eyes.
"Oh?" He responded gently, his tone carrying a bit of playfulness. "You are surprised?"
He paused and said with a smile, "The old man thought you already knew me. Otherwise, when you first enrolled, how could you have sat down with purpose to chat with me?"
Hearing this, the surprise on Lin Xuan's face gradually turned into a wry smile. He shook his head, his tone carrying a bit of helplessness.
"I originally just thought that you might be very extraordinary and very likely to be a high-level member of the academy, I just didn't expect that it would be this high."
Mu En became interested. In those turbid old eyes, there seemed to be light flickering slightly. He tilted his head slightly and asked with great interest.
"Oh? Why did you think so? Could it be... that one of your Shikigami told you? Or is it..."
Lin Xuan shook his head, his expression calm.
"No, it's just that in my hometown, many books often write about this kind of plot. An inconspicuous sweeping old man is very likely to be a big shot of a force, or a peerless powerhouse. So I thought, whether there are dates or not, I'll just hit the tree with a pole first to leave a good impression."
The smile on Mu En's face stiffened slightly. He had originally wondered what the reason was, and even specifically checked Lin Xuan's identity for this, thinking he had some special background.
As a result... just this?
Mu En shook his head with some amusement. He sighed softly, but no displeasure could be heard in his tone.
"You child... really makes people unexpected everywhere."
After a moment of silence, Mu En spoke again, his voice still very gentle.
"Lin Xuan."
Lin Xuan bowed slightly. "Junior is here."
"The old man has a question I want to ask you."
Lin Xuan raised his head, meeting those turbid but seemingly all-piercing eyes. Then Mu En's voice came slowly.
"Your Ultimate Light attribute, what exactly is going on? Is it a second Martial Soul? Or is it an ability of your own Martial Soul that has never been revealed before?"
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