Douluo Continent: The Ruler of Time, Reigning Supreme

Chapter 42 Choice
Zhu Lu remained quietly by Dai Huabin's side, like a shadow.

Among the group, the most distressed was Dai Luoli.

His talent was indeed mediocre. Even with the occasional help from Yin Chen's small group, his soul power improvement was still slow. While his peers were breaking through to the second ring, he was still stuck at level 10. It would take him a long time to officially break through to the second ring.

This made him somewhat discouraged, but under Xu Yun's exasperated encouragement, he never truly gave up.

As for Xu Jiujiu...

The frequency with which Princess Xingluo appeared beside Yin Chen did not decrease over time; on the contrary, it became more and more natural.

She would still care about his cultivation progress, discuss the mysteries of martial souls with him, share her knowledge of the royal collection of books, and in her spare time, she would stroll with him in the garden, sip tea and chat, just like an ordinary friend.

However, the initial investment and calculations seemed to have quietly settled down in the daily interactions, giving way to an indescribable closeness and tacit understanding.

Xu Jiujiu herself may not have fully realized that when she looked at Yin Chen, the scheming in her eyes that belonged to a member of the royal family was gradually being replaced by a more personal gaze, one filled with appreciation and warmth.

Graduation is imminent, and junior college life is coming to an end, signifying the end of one journey and the beginning of a new one.

Yin Chen stood atop the academy's clock tower, gazing down at the familiar scenery below, his golden eyes calm and undisturbed.

Eleven years old, level thirty-eight Soul Master.

In the Star Luo Empire, he was already a rising star who attracted much attention.

However, only he himself knew that this seemingly glamorous achievement was just the beginning compared to the heights that Xia Die had reached in the Demon Forest on the other side of the continent.

As night deepened, Yin Chen sat alone on a stone bench in the courtyard of Tingxue Pavilion, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.

With junior college graduation fast approaching, a crucial choice looms before him.

Should they stay in Star Luo City and enter the Star Luo Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, or travel to Shrek City and apply to the holy land in the hearts of soul masters across the continent—Shrek Academy?

This decision is far more complex than it appears on the surface; it concerns his future path and plans.

The advantages of staying at Star Luo Royal Academy are obvious.

He will undoubtedly become the core of the academy and even the empire's all-out cultivation, enjoying the best resources and the most stable cultivation environment.

With his current talent and his increasingly close relationship with the royal family, especially with Princess Xu Jiujiu, his future is bright.

Perhaps, in the end, he will be able to marry a beautiful and wealthy woman, be granted the title of prince, and become a figure second only to the emperor in the Star Luo Empire, just like in those palace dramas.

But this is exactly the opposite of his deep-seated ambition to "rule the world".

"A peaceful environment means a lack of challenges, and the absence of competitive pressure will only dull people's senses."

Yin Chen analyzed the situation calmly.

What can he learn if he stays at Xingluo Royal Academy?
What the academy could teach him was probably not as good as what Ye Xishui taught Xia Die. Although Ye Xishui was teaching Xia Die, she was, after all, a Limit Douluo and a level nine Soul Master, and Yin Chen himself also benefited greatly.

Resources? The Star Luo Royal Family has indeed spared no effort in supporting him; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to rise from level 24 to level 38 in three years, steadily surpassing Dai Huabin, who had the support of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

This is similar to Tang San in the original novel, who had twin martial souls and innate full soul power, plus the Mysterious Heaven Skill, but due to the lack of resources in the early stages, he was unable to break through to the Soul Master level at the age of twelve. On the other hand, Dai Huabin, who was at the ninth level of innate talent, was able to break through early on thanks to his resources.

Yin Chen never underestimated the importance of resources, and the Star Luo Royal Family was not stingy in this regard.

So, what does he truly value about Shrek Academy?
It's about connections, circles, and the potential future team that transcends the boundaries of an empire.

Shrek Academy is a gathering place for elites from all over the continent. Apart from a few exceptionally talented commoners, most of those who can enter are either wealthy or noble, and each has a complex network of power behind them.

Staying at the Star Luo Royal Academy meant coming into contact with almost everyone trained within the Star Luo Empire system; they were loyal to the royal family and the empire.

No matter how close Yin Chen is to the royal family, he is not surnamed Xu and does not have the bloodline of the Star Crown Martial Soul flowing in his body.

The pinnacle he could reach might be a high-ranking official, or even becoming a member of the royal family through marriage, or even becoming the strongest and then taking control of the empire, but that's not what he wants.

The Star Luo Empire is a top-tier power, the strongest among the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, but it is not actually as strong as it seems.

The Holy Spirit Cult, the Sun and Moon Empire, the Body Sect, and Shrek Academy—these are the forces capable of influencing the continent's power structure.

Compared to the truly top-tier powers, the Star Luo Empire is still a step behind.

Shrek Academy, on the other hand, provides a completely new platform.

In the outer courtyard, he could meet young talents from the Heavenly Soul Sect, the Fighting Spirit Sect, and even various major sects.

Entering the inner courtyard means stepping into the circle of the continent's top elites.

If one can rely on their own strength and skills to build their own prestige and network of connections, they might even... have the opportunity to reach the core of the Sea God Pavilion in the future.

"If I could become the Lord of the Sea God Pavilion..."

A sharp glint flashed in Yin Chen's eyes.

Then, Shrek Academy, one of the three giants of the continent, will become his possession.

He was not from this world and had a natural immunity to Shrek's appeal of honor and belief. He could simply regard it as a powerful tool and organization that needed to be controlled.

Shrek Academy's transcendent status and unique structure are the perfect fulcrum for him to leverage the continent's格局 (geju, a concept encompassing overall situation, overall structure, and overall dynamics).

However, he was not a cold-blooded and ruthless person.

The resources and emotions that the Xingluo royal family, especially Xu Jiujiu and Emperor Xu Jiawei, have poured into him over the years are real.

If he chooses to leave and go to Shrek, it will undoubtedly disappoint them, and may even be seen as a betrayal.

This sense of obligation and concern is a shackle he cannot easily discard.

As far as he knew, the people he was familiar with—Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and even the Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo sisters—had all decided to go to Shrek Academy.

Xu Yun was unable to go to Shrek Academy due to her royal status, while Dai Luoli lacked the talent.

"Shrek..."

Yin Chen chewed on the name in a low voice, weighing the pros and cons repeatedly in his mind.

Going out means stepping out of your comfort zone and facing fiercer competition, but it also gives you the opportunity to build your own network and pursue a greater ambition.

Staying means maintaining stability and preserving existing benefits, but the ceiling is also clearly visible.

This was not just a choice of a college, but a crucial decision for his future path.

(End of this chapter)