Douluo Jueshi: I Don't Want to Be an Evil Soul Master

Chapter 401 Old Place, New Times
"Was it really you who single-handedly repelled the combined forces of three great empires?"

A voice suddenly sounded beside her. Lin Xiao was not surprised. She turned her head and the first thing she saw was a head of long hair that seemed to shimmer faintly in the moonlight.

Just like back in the Starry Sky Forest, when I saw the person in front of me lightly touching the branch, as if walking out of the moon.

"The news from Heaven Dou City has already reached Shrek Academy?"

Lin Xiao withdrew his gaze, and although he did not respond, it was tantamount to acknowledging the matter.

Zhang Lexuan, who was beside him, seemed to be silent for a while. "You...you're not hurt, are you?"

Lin Xiao suddenly smiled upon hearing this, "No."

"After all, the original Douluo is a well-established master."

“I know.” Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, recalling the battle during the day. “His second awakening was indeed difficult to deal with. He was defeated more because of his arrogance as a Soul Master.”

Zhang Lexuan fell silent upon hearing this, seemingly recalling Shrek Academy, which also didn't place much importance on soul tools.

The two were silent for a moment. Zhang Lexuan opened her mouth several times, but didn't know what to say.

Are you trying to ask me why I'm helping the Sun Moon Empire?

Zhang Lexuan turned to look at him and nodded slightly. "I've actually thought about it too. Maybe you wanted to give the disciples of the Tongming Sect a chance to go out and explore."

"You always think too highly of me." Lin Xiao shook his head with a smile, but did not answer directly. "Have you ever thought about what kind of realm lies above the level 99 Limit Douluo?"

Zhang Lexuan paused slightly. Her talent was already remarkable, and with the unwavering support of Shrek Academy's resources, her soul power level had now broken through to level ninety-five, seemingly not far from becoming a Limit Douluo.

But she knew that the last step, though only one level, was a threshold that many people could never cross in their entire lives.

As for what happened after that, she never thought that there were only a handful of people on the entire continent who were qualified to think about Soul Masters beyond level 99.

If Moon were still alive, he would probably have some thoughts on this.

However, although Zhang Lexuan had never thought about it, upon hearing Lin Xiao's words, some memories subconsciously surfaced in her mind—her encounter with Lin Xiao in Qiankun Wenqing Valley.

That kind of technique is probably something you can achieve after level ninety-nine.

Turning her head, Zhang Lexuan saw that Lin Xiao was also looking at her. In just one glance, she understood what he was thinking.

"Is your help to the Sun Moon Empire related to the realms beyond Limit Douluo?"

"It's not a direct connection, but I need a unified Douluo Continent." Lin Xiao didn't hide his purpose, only omitting the fact that it involved one of the gods.

“You could have deceived me.” Zhang Lexuan’s voice rose slightly. “You could have told me that a unified continent wouldn’t be filled with war like it is now…”

“I know.” Lin Xiao nodded. “Having grown up in the Holy Spirit Cult, I’ve seen and told too many lies, but I don’t want to deceive you too much.”

"Although 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." "What I want you to see is the real me, the me without any masks."

“But…” Zhang Lexuan shook her head, “But if the Sun Moon Empire really unifies the Douluo Continent, how will those people from the original three great empires conduct themselves? Given the Sun Moon Empire’s style, I’m afraid they…”

"No, that won't happen." Lin Xiao sighed softly. "The only one in the Sun Moon Empire who has gone mad is the already deceased Xu Tianran."

"Actually, before I joined the Holy Spirit Cult, I also had some different views on the Sun Moon Empire. But now that my teachers, classmates and friends are all in the Sun Moon Empire, I have realized that the Sun Moon Empire is not much different from the Three Great Empires."

"Everyone shares a common language. Over thousands of years, they have become more integrated, sharing the same festivals and similar customs. The biggest difference is probably just their different views on soul tools."

"Even if the Sun and Moon Empire unifies the continent, the three great empires will not disappear. Their festivals, customs, and traditions can still be preserved."

"Even more so, different cultures may collide and merge with each other, and perhaps in the future they will become a new whole. That may take a long time, but at that time, Douluo Continent will definitely be a colorful world."

“You…” Zhang Lexuan didn’t know how to respond. She also knew what benefits a unified continent would bring, and Lin Xiao’s words had already persuaded her to some extent.

Before she could think it through, Lin Xiao suddenly reached out her hand.

Zhang Lexuan only heard a strong heartbeat in her ear, and her mind went blank. Only her cheeks felt a little hot.

After struggling a few times, Lin Xiao showed no sign of letting go.

"You always have so many excuses," Zhang Lexuan muttered softly, then made no further move. Perhaps when Lin Xiao revealed her true thoughts and she didn't turn away, she had already made up her mind.

Lin Xiao paused slightly when he heard Zhang Lexuan's suddenly softened tone, as if a fairy in the moon had been touched by a touch of mortal air. He simply hugged the person in his arms even tighter.

“This is no excuse. You said back then that we are all changing, becoming more and more like the people we want to become.”

“Having grown up in the Holy Spirit Cult, I’m grateful that I didn’t fall completely into the same cult as other evil spirit masters. And that’s why I don’t want to see too many people like me appear.”

“I dare not call myself a selfless sage; of course, I have things I need to accomplish. But in the meantime, I hope that the impact I have has will not make the world a worse place.”

As Zhang Lexuan heard Lin Xiao's words and the sound of his heartbeat, she gently raised her hand and wrapped it around his waist. "You really are still the same as before."

“Even if I am now the vice dean of Shrek Academy, I don’t have the final say in Shrek Academy’s affairs. The elders in the academy may not understand your ideas, nor will they give up their resistance against the Sun Moon Empire just because of your needs.”

"Then let them come to me. I'm ready to accept their challenge anytime."

“You—” Zhang Lexuan paused, “Even the True Form Douluo is no match for you…”

Lin Xiao sighed softly, "Although I have my reasons, this war has really been going on for far too long for ordinary people."

As the voice faded, the moonlight remained the same, just like that night years ago, with whispers quietly rising in the woods.

(End of this chapter)