At this moment, after hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, the displeasure on Xuan Zi's face from being disturbed was instantly replaced by a volcanic eruption of ecstasy!
"What?!"
He grabbed Yan Shaozhe's shoulders, his voice rising an octave in excitement:
"What did you say?! Xiaotao... she broke through to Rank 70?!"
"Yes! Elder Xuan!" Yan Shaozhe nodded heavily, the ecstasy on his face no less than Xuan Zi's.
"It's absolutely true! Just this morning, I confirmed it with my own eyes!"
Having received a definitive answer, Xuan Zi was stunned for a moment, then erupted into a world-shaking burst of wild laughter!
"Good! Good! Good! Excellent!"
He said the word "good" three times in a row, each shout containing majestic spirit power that made the entire roof of the Sea Gods Pavilion hum.
"God truly blesses my Shrek!!"
Xuan Zi paced back and forth in the room excitedly.
His mind was racing, with countless thoughts and plans forming in an instant.
So timely! This Breakthrough came at such a timely moment!
Just now, he was still feeling a bit of contempt and boredom due to the "clumsy" performance of that youth from the Sun Moon Royal Academy.
In his view, although that youth had decent talent, his foundation was ultimately too shallow, and he had won far too difficultly.
Even if he faced the current Ma Xiaotao, his win rate probably wouldn't be high.
Who would have thought...
Now Ma Xiaotao had actually leveled up!
This wasn't as simple as just one Rank.
Now that Ma Xiaotao was Rank 70, as long as he personally stepped out to find a seventh spirit ring for Xiaotao with a high enough age and a compatible attribute...
Once the absorption was complete, her spirit power Rank would be guaranteed to reach Rank 71, or even Rank 72!
This was equivalent to jumping two or three Ranks at once!
And that wasn't even the most important part!
The most important thing was the seven rings!
For a Spirit Master, there are two true watersheds in life; each crossing signifies a leap in the level of life.
The first is the seventh ring, the Martial Soul True Body!
The second is the ninth ring, condensing the Soul Core!
Once one possesses the Martial Soul True Body, a Spirit Master's combat power undergoes a qualitative transformation! It is no longer a simple comparison of Spirit Ability strength, but a crushing suppression from a higher dimension and a higher level!
With the stature of a Spirit Saint participating in a Soul Master Tournament where the highest level is no more than a Spirit Emperor...
Xuan Zi couldn't even imagine how they could possibly lose!
He could almost see it: on the arena watched by thousands, no matter what tricks that youth from the Sun Moon Academy played, he would look so tiny and powerless beneath Xiaotao's sky-blotting Evil Fire Phoenix True Body!
The championship of this tournament was already in Shrek's pocket!
This massive joy impacted his mind, making it impossible for him to sit still.
No, this matter must be reported to Elder Mu immediately!
Thinking of this, Xuan Zi could no longer restrain himself. He didn't even have time to give Yan Shaozhe any instructions; his figure flashed, turning into a streak of light and vanishing from the top floor of the Sea Gods Pavilion.
...
Outside the Freshman Dormitory Area, on that familiar Lakeside Lawn.
Mu En was lying in a wheelchair, covered by a thin blanket, eyes closed, quietly enjoying the afternoon sun.
His aged face, illuminated by the sunlight, looked incredibly peaceful, as if he had already merged with the world.
Suddenly, his eyelids, which looked like withered tree bark, twitched slightly.
The next moment, Xuan Zi abruptly appeared before him, his face still flushed with uncontrollable excitement.
"Elder Mu." Xuan Zi bowed in greeting, but the excitement in his tone couldn't be hidden.
Mu En slowly opened his eyes; his gaze was calm and profound, as if he could see through everything.
He didn't ask why Xuan Zi had come, but simply spoke indifferently: "Looking at you like this, do you have some good news to report to me?"
"Elder Mu has a Wisdom Eye!" Xuan Zi chuckled and quickly recounted the matter of Ma Xiaotao breaking through to Rank 70 in detail.
"...That's how it is! Elder Mu, Xiaotao has truly given us a huge surprise! I plan to set off immediately and personally take her to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for the most suitable seventh spirit ring!"
After hearing Xuan Zi's report, even on Mu En's usually calm face, a heartfelt smile of relief appeared.
"Good, very good." He nodded slowly. "Xiaotao's well-being concerns the Luck of my Shrek for the next hundred years. Her being able to complete a Breakthrough at this critical moment is indeed a blessing for our academy."
Mu En also believed that now, the final victory of the Soul Master Tournament was practically set in stone.
An Evil Fire Phoenix Spirit Saint with a Martial Soul True Body was enough to sweep away anyone of the same generation.
However, after a brief moment of happiness, his gaze became profound again. He looked at the excited and eager Xuan Zi and slowly shook his head.
"However, for this trip to obtain the spirit ring, I'm not at ease with you going alone."
The smile on Xuan Zi's face froze instantly, and he said with some displeasure, "Elder Mu, you mean...?"
"With my strength as the Gluttonous Douluo, just taking Xiaotao to get a seventh spirit ring—are you still not at ease?"
He had absolute confidence in his strength as a Super Douluo.
However, Mu En just looked at him calmly and spoke slowly. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a heavy hammer striking Xuan Zi's heart.
"Xuan Zi, your strength is sufficient, but you are unreliable in your actions."
"Don't forget the matter of Lexuan back then."
As soon as the name "Lexuan" was mentioned, Xuan Zi was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly speechless.
The excitement and self-satisfaction on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a deep sense of embarrassment and regret.
That was a mistake he could never let go of in his life.
Seeing Xuan Zi's defeated look, Mu En's tone didn't soften at all; instead, it gained an unprecedented seriousness.
He stared intently at Xuan Zi with eyes that seemed to see through the Soul, reminding him word by word:
"Xiaotao is the future of the academy. This time, there must be absolutely no accidents."
That heavy entrustment weighed so heavily on Xuan Zi that he could hardly breathe.
He took a deep breath, swallowed all his reluctance and excuses, bowed solemnly to Mu En, and said in a low voice: "Yes, Elder Mu, I understand."
Although he agreed verbally, the feeling of grievance and frustration in his heart was impossible to dispel.
Again!
Elder Mu is always like this!
He admitted he had made mistakes in the past, but so many years had passed. Could it be that in Elder Mu's heart, he would forever be that impulsive, reckless, and unreliable brute?
Xuan Zi clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost sinking into his flesh.
A strong desire to prove himself grew wildly in his heart.
Fine!
Since you don't believe in me, I'll show you!
He made a secret resolution that in the future, he would use his performance and impeccable results to prove to Elder Mu and the entire Sea Gods Pavilion—
That he, Xuan Zi, was reliable!
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