Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky.

"Not at all. On the contrary, there's something I need to trouble you with," Yan Shaozhe chuckled and shook his head, sitting down first. "I wonder if you could write to Senior Dragon Emperor to inquire about this Limit Douluo with a Light Attribute Martial Soul? Senior Dragon has traversed the continent for over two hundred years; perhaps he knows about some hidden powerhouses we don't. Judging from the annihilation of the Xuanming Sect, we're worried it might be related to evil soul masters."

"Senior Dragon Emperor is elusive, only appearing and disappearing like a dragon. He's the only one who ever seeks me out; I can't possibly figure out where he is," Kong Tianxu said without batting an eye.

Yan Shaozhe didn't expect to get anything out of him, so he nodded and changed the subject: "To be honest, I'm really sorry. A lot has happened recently. Xu Sanshi suddenly encountered a major change and acted a bit too impulsively. I apologize to you on his behalf. Also, Le Xuan has given me a detailed report on the Soul Hunting Operation in the Star Dou Great Forest. If it weren't for your heroic efforts, Le Xuan would probably be in grave danger. The academy will reward you for this."

Kong Tianxu remained noncommittal: "Judging from the glorious deeds of the Xuanming Elders, it's hard to say whether it's a major change or just the revelation of their true nature. As for the reward, Dean Yan is planning to let me enter the Golden Tree?"

"It will happen, don't worry, we'll talk about it later. Let's talk about your reward first," Yan Shaozhe said with a sly smile. "I wonder if you've ever heard of the Treasure Appreciation Festival?"

Chapter 186 The Sea Soul Pearl and the Mermaid's Tears (Part 1)

"A treasure appreciation event?" As he spoke, Kong Tianxu took a dark red invitation card with gold foil stamping from Yan Shaozhe's hand. It was clearly not a soul tool, but it actually emitted a faint soul power fluctuation when he touched it.

“A top-tier treasure appreciation event,” Yan Shaozhe nodded, “is a small-scale centralized transaction organized by some large merchants. The one you have is not only exclusive to the Inner Academy, but also the highest-level event in recent years. It has everything: pills, rare medicinal materials, soul bones, and even custom-made soul rings… There are treasures worth more than ten million gold soul coins. I’m sure there will be something to your liking.”

"Based on your contributions, the academy has decided that you may choose any treasure at the event, with the academy covering all costs. In addition, all other purchases will be discounted by 40%."

Based on the experience in the original work, this so-called treasure appreciation event is divided into three levels. The lowest level is for Shrek Academy to purchase rare metals and ingredients. The other two levels are for students. The event for the core disciples of the outer academy is slightly lower, and the event for the inner academy is naturally the best. Yan Shaozhe should not have lied to him on this point.

But isn't Yan Shaozhe being a bit too sloppy? For him, what's the big deal if money can buy it? In fact, for someone like him who is destined to become a god, money is really just a number.

After all that fuss, the so-called reward was just an admission ticket? Kong Tianxu looked at Yan Shaozhe speechlessly.

Yan Shaozhe seemed to have expected this, but seeing Kong Tianxu's completely unmoved appearance, the smile on his face still froze for a moment almost imperceptibly.

Faced with someone who could throw out hundreds of millions of gold soul coins without batting an eye, his previous reward tokens, which would have made ordinary geniuses ecstatic, seemed rather inadequate.

He coughed lightly and explained, "Tianxu, you don't know this, but the inner academy's treasure appreciation event is the highest in scale. However, some items can only be purchased by inner academy students by participating in the inspector mission. Many students can only accumulate the corresponding contribution points by graduation. This is already an exception made specifically for you, and it is the only one of its kind."

On the surface, Kong Tianxu seemed uninterested, but in his heart, a sense of amusement quietly arose, while his vigilance deepened.

It's worth Yan Shaozhe making the trip himself and going to such lengths to throw out the bait... There might really be something at this treasure appreciation event that can move him. But is it just a sugar-coated promise of goodwill, or a carefully laid trap?

But it doesn't matter. With the Myriad Origins Domain by his side, he is absolutely confident that he won't be ambushed. And if Shrek Academy really has the guts to make a move, then the Snow Empress will teach them a lesson.

"Then thank you, Dean Yan." Kong Tianxu casually put away the invitation. "Now, can we talk about entering the Golden Tree for enlightenment?"

“Of course,” Yan Shaozhe rubbed his hands together. “But before that, I have another idea. Tianxu, if I remember correctly, you were one of the main players in the last All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, right?”

Kong Tianxu shook his head and said, "I wouldn't call myself a main player, I'd only be considered a substitute."

Yan Shaozhe's eye twitched slightly. A substitute? A substitute can beat my Xiaotao? Aren't you deliberately trying to disgust me?

He suppressed his slight embarrassment and cleared his throat:

"That's right. Although you've been enrolled for a while now, and a few people know about your performance in the Star Dou Great Forest, most of your classmates still have some misunderstandings about you. They think you're just relying on the power of your soul tool, and the Xuanming Sect incident has also affected you."

"Therefore, I hope to use a method that can both fully demonstrate your true strength as a Soul Master and dispel misunderstandings, and also promote communication and learning between students of the two academies."

"So?" Kong Tianxu was now almost certain that Yan Shaozhe had no good intentions.

"Our Shrek Academy is the number one academy on the continent," Yan Shaozhe's eye twitched again as he saw Kong Tianxu curl his lip. "Or to be more precise, the number one Soul Master academy on the continent. Although we suffered a defeat in the last competition, our students are still too stubbornly proud and haven't faced their own problems. Therefore, I'd like to organize an open sparring session within the academy, with you as the leader. Don't worry, I will select students of similar age to you. Their strength will not exceed that of a Soul Saint. What do you think?"

Kong Tianxu shook his head.

You'll have to pay more.

Yan Shaozhe's expression changed several times. After a moment of contemplation, he seemed to have made a great decision:

"How about this, two items. You can choose two treasures at this treasure appreciation event without paying any price. Consider it my personal reward for your participation in this competition. Think about it. This is the biggest concession I can make within my authority."

"There are no requirements regarding the challengers' cultivation level, but the number should not be too large, so as not to affect my normal cultivation."

Kong Tianxu did not give a direct response, but the implication in his words finally softened. He looked at Yan Shaozhe:

"So, Dean Yan, when did I enter the Golden Tree?"

Does this mean they don't even respect Le Xuan and Ye Huan?

Yan Shaozhe's expression was somewhat unpleasant, but as if he had thought of something, a half-smile gradually appeared on his face, and he looked at Kong Tianxu with a deep gaze:

"The academy will naturally keep Elder Mu's promise. The Golden Tree is an extremely important treasure of the academy, and the opportunity to comprehend it is invaluable... How about this, once this sparring session is successfully concluded, you are welcome to come anytime you wish."

"However, according to our previous agreement, after you comprehend it, Tianxu, you will need to complete a certain number of monitoring tasks as a member of the Shrek Academy's monitoring team. This way, it will be considered a proper conclusion."

It seems you want to keep me firmly tied to Shrek Academy for three years. Besides Huo Yuhao, what else are you planning?

Kong Tianxu's mind raced, and his curiosity was piqued.

He looked directly into Yan Shaozhe's eyes: "I only do tasks related to evil spirit masters, and I have the right to know and choose the content of the tasks."

“Okay.” Yan Shaozhe extended his hand.

"Deal. Just let me know when the sparring arena is ready."

Two hands gently clasped in the air, and an agreement was reached.

Their hands barely touched before parting. Looking at the handsome young man before him, barely fifteen years old yet able to chat and laugh so freely, Yan Shaozhe's gaze suddenly became unfocused, as if he were seeing his former, spirited self. Even his voice softened considerably.

"Tianxu, to be honest, if you're willing, the door to the Golden Tree is always open for you. You can absolutely become a true Shrek disciple, and in the future, you might even be able to shoulder Shrek's glory and responsibility."

He paused, lowering his voice:

"Whether it's Le Xuan or Xiao Tao, their future is closely linked to Shrek Academy."

The pavilion fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of a gentle breeze rippling across the lake.

Kong Tianxu's smile vanished instantly. He and Yan Shaozhe stared at each other, one with eyes as calm as a deep well, the other with eyes as deep as the sea, a turbulent undercurrent beneath their smiles. In the air, it was as if an invisible string had been quietly stretched taut.

To his slight surprise, the Shrek Academy Dean's eyes were genuinely sincere, and even his supreme form failed to detect anything amiss.

"I am a citizen of the Sun Moon Empire." Faced with this temptation that would make any peerless genius on the continent sway, Kong Tianxu refused with utmost decisiveness.

After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, "However, if Dean Yan really can't bear to part with me after three years, he could lead Shrek Academy to become a part of the Sun Moon Empire. That would surely be quite a lively affair."

"Hehe." Yan Shaozhe also twitched the corners of his mouth, a bright smile that was not in his eyes. Seemingly influenced by him, Kong Tianxu's laughter became even more unrestrained. The two, one big and one small, each with their own ulterior motives, gradually began to laugh in unison.

Suddenly, Yan Shaozhe stopped smiling. Looking at the misty Poseidon Lake, he said very seriously, "Shrek will always be Shrek, and will never belong to any country."

"It's hard to say."

Kong Tianxu patted off non-existent dust from his body, as if trying to shake off the dampness of the Sea God Lake, waved his hand, and then turned around and walked into the increasingly dense rain curtain outside the pavilion, his figure quickly becoming blurred.

Yan Shaozhe remained alone in the drizzling rain, his silhouette exuding a strange sense of desolation.

"You're so eager to push your disciples out, and two of them at once. Yan Shaozhe, you're supposed to be a level 96 Super Douluo, yet you're still such a scumbag. You're an old man, yet you still pretend to be a young man in the rain."

Xian Lin'er appeared out of nowhere, her words full of sarcasm and disdain, yet she still subconsciously stood next to Yan Shaozhe.

With a wave of his hand, the surrounding rain and mist stopped a foot away from them.

Yan Shaozhe's gaze fell on Xian Lin'er's few glaring gray hairs. "Lin'er, you haven't recovered from the damage you suffered last time, so don't run around. I've already spoken with Elder Zhuang about Zhuang Yun's matter. That child isn't particularly close to the academy, so it's fine for him to go out and explore. You don't need to blame yourself too much."

"Mind your own business. I know that kid's strength and talent are ridiculously strong, but is it necessary to be in such a hurry? Even Elder Lin is angry." Xian Lin'er crossed her arms, covering up a few of the most conspicuous strands of hair.

Yan Shaozhe sighed softly and said, "The continent is not peaceful. A completely unknown Limit Douluo of the Light attribute is so ruthless. It's not just because of that plan; we also need the younger generation to grow up as soon as possible. And, Lin'er, do you know what I just discovered?"

"Ok?"

"Kong Tianxu's physical strength is already at the Super Douluo level."

……silence.

"This is boring, I'm going to cultivate."

Xian Lin'er curled her lips, turned around decisively, and disappeared into the rain in a flash.

Yan Shaozhe remained standing still. The large raindrops, when they came within a foot of his body, silently evaporated into wisps of white steam that lingered and did not dissipate.

A gentle figure approached quietly. He naturally took Cai Meier's hand, but his gaze remained fixed on the direction Kong Tianxu had left in, silently thinking:

"Kong Tianxu, I hope you like this 'gift'."

Chapter 187 The Sea Soul Pearl and the Mermaid's Tears (Part 2)

The rain, sometimes heavy and sometimes light, pattered down all day. Just like the past few months, aside from attending his favorite classes, Kong Tianxu naturally spent the rest of his time cultivating.

However, it is worth mentioning that after Kong Tianxu showed the feathered serpent soul bone to Elder Cui, he confirmed that it might affect the absorption of the torso bones, thus giving up Kong Tianxu's idea of ​​absorbing it himself.

However, this soul bone is not entirely useless. As a race with extremely variable soul power attributes, the feathered serpents produce soul bones that can be considered one of the best mediums for soul bone synthesis. They can even bridge completely opposite attributes, so it is better than nothing.

Perhaps Meng Hongchen could come in handy? Kong Tianxu recalled the charming figure in wine red who had playfully invited him to dinner that afternoon.

After several months of training, some of the exchange students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy have officially passed the inner court's assessment, and Xiao Hongchen and his sister are naturally among them.

Unfortunately, he already has plans for tonight.

Kong Tianxu was not the only one to receive an invitation. Some of the higher-ranking students in the inner academy chose to leave Poseidon Island at different times, and then stopped at Poseidon Lake because of the same person.

Zhang Lexuan stood quietly beside a small boat. She was not wearing her usual smart white outfit, but had changed into a light blue long dress with delicate silver moon patterns embroidered on the hem. The dress swayed gently with the wind and moon, as if embracing a tranquil lake.

What amazed the inner court students the most was that she was wearing very little makeup tonight, which made her already stunning beauty even more breathtaking. Her hair was half-up, with a simple crescent-shaped jade hairpin inserted at an angle, which made her neck look long and slender.

The night sky, which had been filled with the moisture from the daytime plum rain season and a few wisps of rain, had now completely cleared up.

The bright moonlight and the warm lights of the Sea God Pavilion in the distance complemented each other. She just stood there quietly, like a beautiful painting of a lady under the moon, attracting all the amazed and even stunned gazes.

In contrast, Kong Tianxu took a shower to show his seriousness before leaving the dormitory.

Upon seeing the handsome young man arrive under the moonlight, a barely perceptible hint of nervousness flashed across Zhang Lexuan's eyes. She then smiled, a smile that, enhanced by her light makeup, possessed a captivating charm.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Kong Tianxu's gaze lingered on her for a moment, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

"I just arrived too," Zhang Lexuan replied softly, seemingly a little afraid to look at him.

"Hmm." Kong Tianxu looked at the male students who had already gathered around him and nodded seriously.

Zhang Lexuan then realized that there was a loophole in her words. Her cheeks flushed red, but she did not back down. Instead, she stood shoulder to shoulder with Kong Tianxu and calmly boarded the waiting boat.

In just a few short movements, she could clearly feel countless gazes focused on her, and even more so on the boy beside her. Those gazes contained curiosity, envy, and also a subtle mix of complexity and melancholy.

Behind them, countless male students were heartbroken as they watched the small boat sail away. Was their beloved Senior Sister Le Xuan really going to be snatched away by an international student?

Undoubtedly, this made Zhang Lexuan's cheeks, which were already slightly flushed from her unconventional outfit and Kong Tianxu's teasing, even hotter.

Once again, she didn't notice that among those figures was one who was particularly familiar, and his gaze was so melancholy.

“Come on, Beibei, stop looking. A real man is one who constantly improves his strength. When you are truly strong, you can silently protect her. When she realizes that there is such an excellent man who loves her so deeply, she will naturally make the right choice.” Jin Yehuan patted Beibei on the shoulder.

Beibei smiled wryly and looked away. "Senior Brother, we are different."

To his dismay, Jin Yehuan handed him a "I understand, brother" emoji.

"We are really different..."