Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky.

She paused, seemingly considering her words, "The temporary decision is to take him back to the academy for further consideration."

After Zhang Lexuan finished speaking, she carefully observed Kong Tianxu's expression.

Kong Tianxu's face remained expressionless, only uttering a faint "Oh," revealing neither joy nor anger. He stood up and stretched; in just a few hours, he had fully recovered, the formidable power of the Life Gold unmistakably manifesting.

"Take me to see him."

Zhang Lexuan hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded and said, "Okay."

The place is actually not far away.

The fat man was in a very sorry state. Not only did Xian Lin'er personally seal his soul power, but he was also pressed under a large rock and forced to eat dirt. The three-meter-tall Jin Yehuan sat on top of him, monitoring his movements at all times.

He looked dejected, his previous arrogance long gone. Jin Yehuan lifted the stone, finally giving him a chance to catch his breath. Upon seeing Kong Tianxu, his listless eyes lit up with excitement, and he knelt down with a thud.

"Father, I was wrong."

"Pfft—" Kong Tianxu kicked Xu Bo in the chest, without using much force, but it made him spit out a mouthful of black blood.

Xian Lin'er's eyes flickered slightly, but closed again the next second. If it weren't for Elder Mu's dying wish, given her temper, the other party would have died a hundred times over.

Xu Bo coughed for a long time before catching his breath, then knelt up and kowtowed again with a resounding thud.

"Grandpa! Your grandson was wrong! I was blinded by greed and didn't know you were a top student from Shrek Academy. Please, be magnanimous! If you want to hit me, scold me, ask for money or gifts, the sect has some savings. Just treat me like a fart and spare my dog's life! I won't dare to do it again, I won't dare to do it again!"

He wept bitterly, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead was a bloody mess.

Zhang Lexuan looked away in disgust. Kong Tianxu didn't reply, but just watched him quietly.

"I'm only curious about one thing: you clearly swore an oath with your martial soul before, how dare you prepare a soul skill right after you finished saying it? That would shatter your martial soul."

When Kong Tianxu finally spoke, Xu Bo felt as if he had been granted a pardon. When he raised his head, there was more sweat on his forehead than blood.

"My Xuanming Turtle Martial Soul is primarily water-based. When I was young, I learned a trick where the Martial Soul transforms into a bursting water bubble, so..."

He forced a fawning smile, his words utterly humble. But as he looked into Kong Tianxu's cold, purple eyes, the smile froze on his face, unable to be maintained any longer.

Not only him, but Jin Yehuan was also watching Kong Tianxu's movements nervously, his face showing some unease. Xian Lin'er said directly, "The academy will have him and the Xuanming Sect provide you with satisfactory compensation."

Fortunately, Kong Tianxu didn't let the cold stalemate last too long. He seemed amused by Xu Bo's appearance, gently patted the other's thick shoulder, and turned to leave.

Jin Yehuan and Xian Lin'er exchanged a glance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but for no reason, they felt a chill—Kong Tianxu was far too calm.

"Tianxu, I believe he will receive a fair judgment after returning to the academy," Zhang Lexuan comforted him, seeing that Kong Tianxu remained silent and was equally indignant.

"Yes, I believe it will too." Kong Tianxu's voice was slightly cool in the night.

"After all, not everything can be corrected and redeemed."

As soon as it was light, everyone began their return journey.

In stark contrast to Kong Tianxu's awkwardness upon arrival, although a strange atmosphere remained, it was clearly unrelated to malice. By the time he returned, he had become the most sought-after member of the entire team.

This is not only because he saved Zhang Lexuan, but also because of his formidable strength!

His captures of anacondas, feathered serpents, black-armored jade-horned rhinoceroses, and even 100,000-year-old soul beasts have earned him the respect of everyone.

Li Zhuangyun, in particular, who was always cold and distant in front of the Shrek Academy students, was unusually warm towards Kong Tianxu.

Aside from Zhang Lexuan, he spent the most time sticking to Kong Tianxu's side, and the two would discuss something from time to time, which even made Xian Lin'er a little puzzled.

In stark contrast to their previous misfortune of encountering three 100,000-year-old soul beasts, their return journey was remarkably smooth, with almost no trouble encountered. They finally emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest in less than two days.

"Ah! I'm finally back!" Hua Yao exclaimed.

Emerging from the dark forest and catching sight of Shrek City's majestic silhouette, everyone felt a sense of déjà vu. Yes, they were finally back. And everyone who needed a spirit ring had finally gotten their wish.

"Then it's settled." Seeing Gu Fan lead the way into the academy gate, Li Zhuangyun's eyes lit up as he finished speaking, waved to Kong Tianxu, and went in as well.

Only Zhang Lexuan stood at the back with Kong Tianxu, watching the departing figures of everyone, lost in thought.

Zhang Lexuan approached and smiled, "What's wrong, Tianxu? Do you feel that everyone is very attached to the academy? I believe you will feel the same way soon. This place is home to us. Returning home after coming from a dangerous place is always something to be happy about, isn't it?"

"Perhaps." Kong Tianxu nodded slightly, confirming that the mark he left was subtle enough, and followed Zhang Lexuan back to Seagod Island.

"Boom-"

Without exchanging many words with Zhang Lexuan, Kong Tianxu went straight back to his room, closed the door, and shut himself out from the outside world.

A moment later, the temperature in the room subtly dropped a few degrees, and a figure of unparalleled elegance and aloofness quietly appeared—it was the Snow Empress. Her icy eyes were filled with concern:

"Brother, your body..."

"It's alright, I'm almost fully recovered." Kong Tianxu said gently. He walked to the window and looked at the exquisite scenery outside, but his eyes were devoid of warmth.

"Xue'er, go out and tell Shadow," he said in a very calm voice, "that fly from the Xuanming Sect has been buzzing around in front of me more than once, it's really annoying."

He slightly raised his fingertips, and a wisp of silver-gray light, infused with his spiritual imprint and aura of destruction, swirled in his palm like a living thing.

"If Shrek doesn't kill that fat pig, then we'll find the ancestral land of the Xuanming Sect based on the mark I left on Xu Bo."

He turned around and looked at the Snow Emperor, whose eyes had suddenly lit up; deep within his purple eyes seemed an abyss spreading out:

"Tell Ye Xishui that she can do whatever she likes; I just want the result."

"Leave no one alive."

"Yes!"

Snow Emperor responded excitedly, then transformed into a wisp of ice crystal light, passed through the wall, and disappeared without a trace.

Silence returned to the room. Kong Tianxu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, sat down cross-legged, and began to digest the gains of this trip. The sunlight outside the window was just right, and life seemed as peaceful as ever.

Seven days later.

After Xu Sanshi knelt for three days for his uncles and the Xuanming Sect Master personally came to plead guilty and made multiple guarantees, Shrek Academy and the Xuanming Sect reached an agreement: Xu Bo would be given a slight punishment, allowed to return to the sect, and strictly controlled.

The fair judgment Zhang Lexuan spoke of never came. Mainstream soul masters were still quite tolerant of what non-evil soul masters had done.

After a tearful confession and a series of promises, Xu Bo swaggered out of Shrek City.

After sensing the departure of several powerful auras through the Xuanming Ripple, Xu Bo's face was still streaked with tears, and he continued to repent. He even took the initiative to help a bullied civilian along the way, and gave each of the arrogant rich kids a Xuanming Divine Palm that slowly weakened their heart meridians. This made the last elder of the Sea God Pavilion who was supervising him stop in his tracks.

However, the screams in his mind never stopped, and the fire of resentment in his heart burned ever brighter.

Finally, the familiar gilded plaque of the sect was right in front of them.

At that moment, his eyes were red and tears streamed down his face.

He really suffered a lot at Shrek Academy, and hadn't tasted meat for many days.

But now, having returned to the sect, he is like a bird soaring into the sky or a fish swimming in the sea; he is no longer bound by any constraints!

And this blood debt! He had already discussed it with his elder brother. That little wench from Shrek Academy was not easy to deal with, but the people from the Sun Moon Empire?

Hmph! There's more than one hidden sect that has designs on Kong Tianxu.

Not to mention, the Cloud Recesses, though the once number one sect in the world, the Haotian Sect, has declined, its 20,000-year foundation might hold some surprises.

Although immersed in his own fantasy of revenge, Xu Bo, who was like a frightened bird this time, keenly noticed the gradually cooling sunlight.

He looked up sharply.

One man and three women, four figures with distinctly different styles, slowly landed around him. They all shared one common characteristic—

How is this possible?! His perception of the Xuanming Zhen's ripples received absolutely no feedback!

"This is it? What a den of iniquity! Elder Ye, what do you plan to do?"

Kong Deming gazed in the direction of the Xuanming Sect. He had originally held reservations about such a cruel approach, but after witnessing the commoner boy being destroyed by several noble families who had lost their sons, the father of the Soul Master was now more enthusiastic than Ye Xishui.

"Let Xiao Yin charge in for a while first," Ye Xishui gestured to Cain, whose murderous aura was almost tangible, then conjured a golden flame between her fingers. "Then, follow the formula for the Xuan Shui Pill—"

"Great Refinement of the Profound Netherworld".

The Great Refinement of the Profound Netherworld? What are they planning to do? That's his home, his family!

"No! I beg you, please don't go! It's all my fault, Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor..."

Xu Bo trembled as he watched the four people walk towards the Xuanming Sect, his shouts disappearing into the purple dragon shadow.

Behind Kong Deming, the central one of the three crimson spirit rings flashed briefly before fading away. He sighed slightly:

"Sometimes, soul skills can be quite useful."

Unbeknownst to anyone, the area was quietly filled with the colors of blood and fire.

……

Several months passed quietly beneath a calm surface. Kong Tianxu's cultivation steadily improved, and his relationship with Zhang Lexuan seemed to have gained an indescribable tacit understanding and subtlety because of their shared life-and-death experience and the fusion of their martial souls.

Originally, the two didn't have many opportunities to be alone, but when Xu Bo was released, Zhang Lexuan made a special trip to see him, and the two talked for a long time.

Seemingly to appease him, or perhaps at the behest of the Sea God Pavilion to ensure that Kong Tianxu wouldn't make any underhanded moves, in any case, from that day on, Zhang Lexuan frequently came to see him. Sometimes they would discuss cultivation, and sometimes they would simply sit quietly and drink tea. The two of them tacitly stopped mentioning those bloody and ambiguous moments deep in the Star Dou Forest.

Kong Tianxu seemed to behave himself and did not do anything out of line. Gradually, it seemed that apart from him and Zhang Lexuan, no one else remembered this incident.

Until one day, Kong Tianxu received a letter and a pill.

The letter was burned to nothingness by a wisp of flame rising from his fingertips. Watching the Xuanming Great Pill slowly melt into the Xuanyu Shield, a smile finally appeared on his lips.

The following day, a shocking piece of news shook the entire Soul Master world with explosive speed:

The Xuanming Sect, an ancient soul master family with a history of nearly ten thousand years, residing in the capital of the Heavenly Soul Empire and renowned for its top-tier defensive martial soul, the Xuanming Turtle, is a renowned clan of its kind.

Overnight,

They destroyed the clan and exterminated the family, leaving not even a chicken or a dog alive.

Chapter 185 Treasure Reward Party

"boom!"

The heavy Xuanwu shield, carrying a surge of violent grief and rage, slammed heavily into the muddy ground in front of the door. A near-tearful roar shattered the tranquility of Seagod Island.

"Kong! Tian! Xu—!!"

Kong Tianxu, who was in meditation, slowly opened his eyes. On the small table opposite him, the teacup left by Zhang Lexuan was still warm, and she herself was standing by the window, frowning as she looked out.

Well, it wasn't like they left nothing behind; they still managed to spare one sycophant.

"Don't stop me! Let me fight him!"

With one eye bloodshot red, Xu Sanshi trembled all over, like a wild beast that had completely lost its mind, desperately trying to break free from the restraints of Bei Bei, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Dong.

Jiang Nannan stood a little distance away, seemingly wanting to go forward, but she hesitated and stopped, ultimately just biting her lip and doing nothing.