Douluo Continent: Becoming a disciple of Jing Liu, illuminating all the gods

Chapter 58 Mirror of the Mortal World

Chen Qiye quietly followed behind Elder Xuan. When Elder Mu returned to the Sea God Pavilion with his cane, his aura had clearly weakened considerably.

"Qi Ye, come here." Old Mu beckoned to Chen Qi Ye.

Chen Qiye nodded and stepped forward to help Elder Mu up.

"I'm so glad Shrek Academy has a student like you, and I'm so glad I found you. You're young, but your mind is already incredibly mature. I believe you'll be a great leader in the future. I hope you'll think of Shrek Academy's future; that would put my mind at ease. Chen Qiye, now I ask you, if you were to stand against Shrek Academy in the future, could you do it?"

Seeing that things were not going well, Elder Xuan realized that Elder Mu's words were clearly loaded with hidden meaning.

Just as Elder Xuan was about to speak, Elder Mu stopped him with a look. Elder Xuan could only nervously watch Chen Qiye, hoping that Chen Qiye's answer wouldn't be too earth-shattering, after all, this kid...

Chen Qiye calmly said, "As a member of Shrek Academy, I will naturally think about the academy's interests. From the moment I chose to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, I made that decision, and it will remain so in the future."

"Even if I might end up on the opposite side of Shrek Academy in the future, I promise that what belongs to Shrek Academy will never change!!"

"The name Shrek will be passed down across the continent for ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years, and forever."

"Shrek will always be Shrek, still the place that raised me..."

Chen Qiye knew that in order to completely transcend this dimension, he had to deal with one of the five great god kings, the Asura God, and Tang San, the sea god!

The root of everything in this world.

"Good, very good, good boy, I am very satisfied with your answer just now." Old Mu smiled at Chen Qiye, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart.

Elder Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly realizing that Elder Mu wouldn't be so serious unless it was something important.

However, right after Elder Mu finished speaking, Chen Qiye turned around and disappeared from the Sea God Pavilion.

Just then, a look of surprise flashed in Old Mu's eyes, and he said, "Poison Immortal just left, and another friend has arrived. It seems today is truly a good day."

Elder Xuan narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint flashing in them, as if he was about to take action.

Old Master Mu raised his hand to stop him, saying, "The guest is a guest; please invite him in."

Elder Xuan asked in surprise, "Enter the Sea God Pavilion?"

Old Master Mu smiled calmly and said, "Yes, enter the Sea God Pavilion."

Although Elder Xuan was surprised, he would not go against Elder Mu's wishes. However, in his memory, no outsider had ever entered the Sea God Pavilion.

With a flash of light, Elder Xuan vanished from his spot and appeared outside the Sea God Pavilion in the next instant. Looking into the distance, he coldly said, "Since you're here, stop sneaking around. Come out." As he spoke, he made a grasping motion in the air with his right hand, and instantly, a large, crystalline yellow hand appeared. The hand opened and reached out in one direction, immediately causing countless tiny black spatial rifts to appear in the air in that direction.

Although these cracks are far less than those he experienced when fighting Poison Undying, they are still real.

"Elder Xuan, this is not how you treat a guest." A pale golden light appeared, the halo expanded outward for a moment, then rippled for a second. The distorted light patterns and Elder Xuan's outstretched hand canceled each other out at the same time, and a figure emerged from that direction.

The newcomer was short but quite obese, wearing a magnificent black robe embroidered with gold patterns. With his hands behind his back, he smiled at Elder Xuan. Wasn't this none other than the Hall Master of the Mingde Hall of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, and the true head of the academy?

"It's you? Jing Hongchen." Elder Xuan was also taken aback. Although he could sense that the newcomer was very strong, he did not expect that it would be the Mingde Hall Master.

Master Jing Hongchen of Mingde Hall smiled slightly and said, "Elder Xuan, you shouldn't be surprised. Since you wanted something from my Mingde Hall, I had to come and pick it up in person, and also pay my respects to Elder Xuan and Shrek Academy."

Xuan Lao's eyes flashed with divine light as he thought to himself, "Jing Hongchen's arrival is truly timely! Did he come with the people from the Body Sect and deliberately appear at this time, or is it really just a coincidence?"

Although he thought this in his heart, he did not show it. He said calmly, "Since that's the case, guests are guests, please come in." As he spoke, he turned and walked into the Sea God Pavilion.

This time, it was Jing Hongchen's turn to be surprised. He was already taken aback when he was discovered. Relying on his unique concealment soul tool, he was confident that as long as he didn't take any action, no one in the world should be able to find him. But Elder Xuan had seen through his trail in a single sentence. What he didn't expect was that Elder Xuan would actually invite him into the Sea God Pavilion.

Jing Hongchen hesitated. Entering the Sea God Pavilion might be easy, but leaving would be difficult! After all, this was Shrek Academy, and although he had enough trump cards, Shrek Academy had been famous for millennia, acting as a stabilizing force among the three kingdoms of the former Douluo Continent. It was precisely because of Shrek that the Sun Moon Empire was hesitant to act, despite having sufficient resources.

Poseidon Pavilion, what a magnificent Poseidon Pavilion!

……

After leaving the Sea God Pavilion, Chen Qiye went to the outer courtyard and learned from Zhou Yi that Gu Yue had left Shrek Academy.

Gu Yue left Chen Qiye with only one sentence.

"You are mine!!!"

Chen Qiye smiled helplessly. "Yours? No, perhaps I don't belong to this world. Maybe Chen Qiye is the one who belongs to you!"

……

Elder Xuan walked to the entrance of the Sea God Pavilion, turned around, and said mockingly, "What? The dignified Master of Mingde Hall doesn't dare to enter the gates of our Sea God Pavilion? If that's the case, then what are you doing here?"

Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow; in terms of arrogance, he even surpassed the Body Sect Master, Du Busi. The reason he appeared at this moment was to avoid being associated with the Body Sect members, lest it diminish his reputation. Provoked by Elder Xuan, he laughed heartily and strode towards the Sea God Pavilion.

A slight smile appeared on Elder Xuan's lips as he secretly admired Elder Mu's grasp of human nature. Simply inviting Jing Hongchen into the Sea God Pavilion had already significantly dampened his aura.

As Jing Hongchen entered the first floor of the Sea God Pavilion, his gaze swept around, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Clearly, he had already discerned the extraordinary nature of the Sea God Pavilion.

Elder Xuan walked to the Golden Tree chair on one side of the first floor and sat down, gesturing for Jing Hongchen to enter.

Jing Hongchen didn't stand on ceremony and sat down opposite Elder Xuan with a smile on her face.

Neither of them spoke first; they just sat there looking at each other, and the air seemed to freeze instantly.

Elder Xuan and Jing Hongchen possessed somewhat similar auras, both being remarkably profound. However, the difference lay in their foundations. Elder Xuan's profundity was like the earth itself, with a solid and stable base. In contrast, Jing Hongchen's profundity stemmed from a suppressed energy that seemed poised to erupt at any moment.

"It seems that soul tools can indeed help soul masters to some extent. You are only around level ninety-three, yet you can sit steadily in front of me," Elder Xuan said calmly.

Jing Hongchen smiled slightly and said, "I have always believed that the research on soul tools has only just entered its initial stage. The future world will inevitably belong to soul tools. When one day, soul tools no longer rely on the soul power of soul masters as their power source, then the profession of soul master will inevitably be eliminated. I wonder if Elder Xuan believes this."

Elder Xuan said coldly, "Whether I believe it or not, you won't live to see that day."

Jing Hongchen casually said, "Whether I can see it or not is not important. As long as this inevitability will ultimately appear in my Sun Moon Empire, that's enough. And it will definitely appear in my Sun Moon Empire. Xingluo, Tianhun, Douling, and even your Shrek Academy are far too far behind in terms of soul tools."

Elder Xuan laughed: "Oh? Is it that far off? I don't think so. Let's see when you can defeat Shrek Academy based on the difference in soul tools. In the recently concluded Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, we only sent half of our main force, but we still won the championship. This proves that, at least so far, your advantage in soul tools is not decisive."

To Elder Xuan's surprise, Jing Hongchen nodded seriously after hearing his words: "You are quite right. I previously received a message from your esteemed academy expressing your willingness to exchange and learn with our Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. I was truly delighted at the time. However, I don't know why your academy ultimately changed its mind. If it was due to the unpleasantness at this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, I think it's unnecessary. Our Sun Moon Empire has that much magnanimity. A competition is a competition, and we will not treat any unforeseen incidents as acts of hatred."

Elder Xuan asked, "Is this the purpose of your visit?"

Jing Hongchen said, "That's part of it. There's another reason: I want to retrieve the Sword of Judgment. This Sword of Judgment is my masterpiece, and it holds great significance for me. I hope you can return it."

"Can!!"

After Chen Qiye recovered, he was able to completely suppress the evil fire on his own, which surprised and delighted Yan Shaozhe.

The happiest person was Ma Xiaotao.

Just then, Old Master Mu's voice came out: "Okay, bring him to the second floor."

Upon hearing this voice, Jing Hongchen's expression immediately turned stern, and he quickly stood up.

Although he did not appear with the Body Sect earlier, he clearly saw the battle between Elder Xuan and Poison Undying from afar, as well as the situation where Poison Undying was intimidated by the golden light in Shrek Academy.

Although Jing Hongchen's cultivation level hadn't reached that of a Super Douluo, his insight was extremely sharp. He immediately realized that the outside world's perception of Shrek Academy had been wrong. The strongest person at Shrek Academy wasn't the Gluttonous Douluo Xuan Lao, but someone else entirely. And that person was someone even the Body Sect Master, Du Busi, had to give way to—what kind of strength was that? Therefore, he secretly infiltrated Shrek Academy after the Body Sect members left, rather than appearing openly like the Body Sect members.

Mingde Hall Master Jing Hongchen said in a deep voice, "Elder Xuan, and this unknown senior, possess at least three trigger-type level nine soul tools on me. If I am attacked, the power of these three level nine soul tools is enough to raze the entire Shrek City to the ground. And no force can stop it."

In terms of age, he was about the same as Yan Shaozhe, so it was normal for him to address Elder Xuan and Elder Mu as seniors. His revealing of his abilities at this moment was clearly a sign of weakness.

This is Shrek Academy, and as far as Jing Hongchen knows, there are probably more than five Super Douluo here. No matter how powerful his soul tool is, his cultivation level is only ninety-three. In close combat, he has no chance against so many Super Douluo. However, he did come prepared, and he believed that Shrek Academy wouldn't actually attack him. That wouldn't be in accordance with Shrek Academy's consistent principles.

Elder Mu said calmly, "Once you enter my Sea God Pavilion, you are a guest. If I really wanted to harm you, your so-called level nine soul tool might not be able to unleash its power."

Jing Hongchen did not refute, but instead showed a hint of relief, chuckled and said, "I am deeply honored to be a guest of the Sea God Pavilion."

Led by Elder Xuan, he quickly arrived at the second floor.

Old Mu leaned back in his recliner.

……

"Elder Mu, you are truly awe-inspiring." Bowing slightly, Jing Hongchen tried his best to suppress his inner shock. "I have another reason for coming here today. Several months ago, Shrek Academy sent a letter to our academy, promising to exchange students, but for some reason, the matter has been shelved. Our Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and Shrek Academy are both top academies on the continent today. I believe that this exchange is very necessary and can greatly promote mutual understanding and learning between the two sides."

Elder Mu said calmly, "Exchange and learning are fine. But can you guarantee the safety of my students? Also, what will our Shrek disciples actually learn at your esteemed academy?"

Jing Hongchen seemed to have anticipated this question and answered without hesitation, "Safety is absolutely guaranteed. I assure you with the honor of Mingde Hall. During their studies at my Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, your students will receive the best guidance. If they are capable enough, they may even be admitted to my Mingde Hall."

Master Mu said, "Words are no proof."

Jing Hongchen said, "If you are still not at ease, you can send a teacher from Shrek Academy to accompany them. You can send several."

Elder Mu shook his head and said, "That won't be necessary. Exchange learning is fine. You send Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen from your academy to Shrek Academy. Then pick up the disciples we sent. I can guarantee that they will be able to study in our inner academy. After the exchange learning period is over, you will personally send our students back and then pick up your students."

Jing Hongchen immediately shook his head and said, "That's probably not appropriate. Although I trust your character, it's best to be cautious first. What if Shrek Academy..."

Old Master Mu smiled calmly and said, "Then what do you suggest?"

Jing Hongchen said, "There's no rush for this exchange. How about this: we can have this exchange again in two years. The exchange program will be held every three years. That will also be the start of the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament. We can invite your academy's teachers to attend the event, and after the competition, we can bring your students back. We can also send our students back at the same time."

Elder Xuan couldn't help but ask, "How do you solve the same problem?" Jing Hongchen's method was almost identical to what Elder Mu had said before, only the roles of subject and object were reversed.

……

Starry Sky Forest

"bump."

A colossal figure collided violently with Elder Xuan's Taotie Divine Ox Martial Soul, unleashing a tremendous force that caused a terrifying shockwave to explode outwards.

Amidst this astonishing roar, Huo Yuhao and his companions turned and ran. Such fluctuations were already at the level of ferocious beasts; to get involved would be tantamount to suicide.

The shockwave had little effect on Chen Qiye. He crossed his arms and quietly watched the soul beast in front of him. Beneath him lay another soul beast, which Chen Qiye sat on.

This soul beast's entire body seemed to be made of translucent crystal, filled with a strange texture. Its overall shape resembled a lion, but its four claws were like those of a dragon, with a ball of golden flame beneath each claw. Its mouth was also longer than that of lion-type soul beasts, and beneath its fur appeared to be fine golden scales. In addition to its normal two eyes, it even had a third eye.

(End of this chapter)