The Glory of the Sun and Moon in the Peerless Tang Sect

Xu Zihuang casually brushed aside the golden-red leaves that had fallen into Ning Tian's hair.

Ning Tian snapped out of her reverie, pursed her red lips, and tiptoed to wrap her arms around Xu Zihuang's neck, recreating the scene from that night.

What was different was that it was drizzling that night, and Huo Yuhao was walking through the drizzle, breaking the ambiguous atmosphere between them.

And coincidentally, Huo Yuhao has appeared once again.

"Bang, bang, bang—" Deep, hurried footsteps rang out as Huo Yuhao, looking disheveled, rushed over from the Soul Guidance Department of the Outer Court of Shrek Academy.

He was the same age as Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian, ​​but his height was just over 1.7 meters, even shorter than Ning Tian. Long black hair covered his forehead, and you could vaguely see his bloodshot eyes below.

At this moment, Huo Yuhao was covered in blood and his face was pale. He was even staggering.

"Why?! Why?!"

Huo Yuhao wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, roaring incessantly in his heart.

"I worked harder than all of you, so why am I the only one who failed the graduation exam?! Why did I work so hard to cultivate, only to get this result?! Why?"

Having studied in the Soul Guidance Department for so many years, he clearly demonstrated considerable talent in the creation of soul tools. Yet, whenever he was filled with hope, it was always shattered by cruel reality.

Unlike the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, Shrek Academy's outer academy's Soul Guidance Department is not divided into such detailed divisions. Furthermore, according to Shrek Academy's long-standing tradition, the graduation assessment for the outer academy's Soul Guidance Department still focuses on practical combat skills.

Graduation requirements for the Soul Guidance Department of Shrek Academy's Outer Court include a Soul Power cultivation level exceeding 30 and defeating a thousand-year-old Soul Beast using a self-made Soul Guidance Device. Fixed Soul Guidance Devices are not permitted during this period.

With his own spiritual attribute soul skills combined with his soul tool, Huo Yuhao's combat ability is quite good among three-ring soul masters.

But that only applies to three-ring Soul Masters. Normally, thousand-year-old Soul Beasts are stronger than three-ring Soul Masters.

Ultimately, they suffered from low soul power cultivation. Even among Soul Masters, the higher the soul power level, the more powerful the soul tool can be. Especially among low-level Soul Masters, soul power level is directly linked to combat power. This is why many Soul Masters in the Sun Moon Empire equip themselves with soul power-enhancing soul skills.

Huo Yuhao, whose soul power barely reached level thirty-two, was at a complete disadvantage and, unfortunately, drew a thousand-year-old soul beast that excelled in defense. He was unable to break through the thousand-year-old soul beast's defense and was toyed with from beginning to end.

Looking back on his six years at Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao felt it was all a farce.

His traumatic experience made him realize that coming to Shrek Academy might have been a mistake.

Suffering blow after blow, he fell into intense self-doubt. Despair and his mother's hatred overwhelmed him completely.

Just then, Huo Yuhao caught a glimpse of Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian beside him out of the corner of his eye.

Ning Tian closed his eyes, deeply moved, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, glistening with a few drops of moisture; all his actions were driven by instinct. Xu Zihuang noticed Huo Yuhao's presence and glanced at him indifferently.

He never expected to run into Huo Yuhao here. It was as if he were being guided by fate.

Xu Zihuang didn't do anything intentionally, but ever since he successfully condensed a spirit attribute soul core, soul masters with weaker mental strength would feel a sense of loss of composure when they looked at him.

Huo Yuhao, already in poor condition, lost his balance and leaned forward, about to fall to the ground. But just as he made contact with the ground, an invisible energy supported him and stabilized his body.

A low groan startled Ning Tian. But when she opened her eyes, all she saw was a small, thin figure staggering away.

Xu Zihuang's state of mind remained completely unmoved by Huo Yuhao's appearance. He didn't care whether Huo Yuhao was hostile to him or not, because he simply didn't care what Huo Yuhao would do. His intervention to help Huo Yuhao stabilize himself wasn't to gain anything from him; he merely felt that this whole affair had started because of him.

He took Ning Tian's hand again, and with a gentle smile on his face, he started walking.

"Let's go."

"Hmm." Ning Tian didn't seem to care much as he looked away, a smile playing on his lips as he gave a soft reply.

What Xu Zihuang didn't know was that his actions this time only further wounded Huo Yuhao's heart.

Chapter 345 The Three-Eyed Golden Lion and the Nine-Treasured Glazed Pagoda

Shrek City is situated on the vast Lima Plain.

The view outside the city was very open, and coupled with the pleasant climate, everything in sight was lush and green. It was a stark contrast to Dragon City, where Xu Zihuang and Ye Guyi had spent some time before.

A wide, smooth official road encircles Shrek City, leading to its various gates. Exquisite wind chimes of various colors hang from the orderly rows of soul-guided streetlights lining both sides of the road. A gentle breeze blows, and the melodious sound of the wind chimes fills the air.

Every year as the year draws to a close, the soul-guided streetlights on both sides of the street are decorated with wind chimes. This is a unique custom in Shrek City.

With a smile, Xu Zihuang recounted his experience of this training trip to Ning Tian.

On the way to Qianling City, they encountered Vina and others. They set sail from Qianling Port, killed the flock of Golden Flame Birds in the sea, and helped Ma Xiaotao obtain her seventh soul ring, etc.

Of course, he omitted anything related to oranges and leaf buds.

Ning Tian tilted his head back, listening attentively to Xu Zihuang's story, his eyes reflecting only Xu Zihuang's image, his gaze unusually gentle.

Their relationship has rapidly deepened and become incredibly stable. Although Ning Tian still sees Ma Xiaotao as a potential threat, she no longer feels the same anxiety she once did. Instead, she is more concerned about Vina and Mu Xue's situation.

"I never expected that Vina would have twin martial souls, and her second martial soul is a top-tier spiritual attribute physical martial soul like the Brain. She never showed any of this when I interacted with her before. The Body Sect has become the guardian sect of the Heavenly Soul Empire, which means they must have felt threatened by the Sun Moon Empire."

"Tianhuang, if the Sun Moon Empire really launches a war in the future, what are your plans?"

“I will likely help the Heavenly Soul Empire resist the invasion of the Sun Moon Empire. After all, I am a citizen of the Heavenly Soul Empire.” Meeting Ning Tian’s gaze, Xu Zihuang said solemnly.

Although his motivations differed, he was indeed prepared to do so.

He was leveraging the power of the three kingdoms that originally belonged to the Douluo Continent, but which had weakened Xu Tianran's control. The greater the losses on both sides, the more advantageous it would be for him. This was also why he was willing to take the initiative to contact Vina. With Vina's connection, and given his public identity, gaining the approval of the Heavenly Soul Empire's higher-ups would be incredibly easy.

Even with the decline of the royal family, he might still have a chance to control the Heavenly Soul Empire with the help of Vina.

However, these are all just hypotheticals at the moment, and the actual future will depend on how the situation develops.

Ning Tian pursed her lips in silence. Before she could say anything more, Yu Tianhuang's gentle voice rang in her ears again.

"You don't need to be in a difficult position. I know your position. My help to the Heavenly Soul Empire against the Sun Moon Empire is based on what I can do. Don't worry, I won't put myself in danger. Besides, who can predict what will happen in the future? Maybe by then we will have started a family, and for your sake, for the continuation of our bloodline, I will change my mind."

Xu Zihuang's words undoubtedly touched the softest spot in Ning Tian's heart. Yu Tianhuang's consideration for their future precisely demonstrated his sincerity and longing for her. She felt the same way.

Girls are often more emotional. Her vision of the future was even more detailed than what Yu Tianhuang described.

"I haven't even married you yet, how can you be thinking so far ahead?" Ning Tian said, her pretty face flushed with a charming blush, though she didn't mean what she really meant. But the sweetness growing in her heart could be seen in the way she looked at Xu Zihuang.

Xu Zihuang suddenly stopped, leaned close to Ning Tian's ear, and chuckled softly with an enigmatic meaning: "Is it that far away? If I had chosen to go to the Nine Treasures Pavilion with you that night, perhaps everything I said would have come true."

The warm breath on his ear and the teasing tone in Yu Tianhuang's words made Ning Tian feel a tingling sensation all over his body.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Ning Tian bit her red lips and clenched Yu Tianhuang's hand.

"Shall we go tonight?"

This statement is not what it literally means.

Hearing this, Xu Zihuang looked down at Ning Tian in surprise. Ning Tian's light blue eyes were misty, but his gaze was exceptionally firm.

Xu Zihuang reached out his left hand and gently stroked Ning Tian's cheek, his thumb flicking at Ning Tian's moist lips.

“There’s no need to rush. I heard from my senior sister that the Sea God’s Fate event will be held on Sea God Lake tomorrow. Let’s go and participate, so that the academy’s senior teachers and all the inner disciples can witness our relationship.”

He knew Ye Guyi's personality well. Ye Guyi might have her own reasons for participating in this Sea God's Fate event, but she would never make him feel embarrassed.

From his conversation with Ye Guyi last night, he could vaguely discern Ye Guyi's attitude.

"And I have another gift for you. Consider it a belated seventeenth birthday present."

Ning Tian hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily with a sweet, nasal tone, his eyes full of tenderness.

"Ah."

Even the most rational girl would hope to have everyone witness their relationship.

Before they knew it, the south gate of Shrek City had come into view.

"Let's go."

Xu Zihuang smiled slightly and led Ning Tian toward the direction of the South Gate.

Every year as the year draws to a close, Shrek City is at its busiest. Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian blended into the crowd, strolling leisurely through Shrek City's bustling commercial district.

Although they had already established a relationship, they were usually busy with their own cultivation or other matters, so they rarely had such an opportunity.

Ning Tian's beautiful face radiated a gentle smile as she linked arms with Xu Zihuang. She looked around, occasionally exchanging a few words with him. At that moment, she was just like an ordinary girl, strolling through the city with her beloved.

"Tianhuang." Ning Tian cut a roasted sweet potato he bought from the stall in half and handed one half to Xu Zihuang beside him.

The bright orange-red roasted sweet potatoes are steaming hot, and the steam carries a sweet aroma that is extremely tempting.

Xu Zihuang took it casually and then took a bite of Ning Tian's half of the roasted sweet potato.

Ning Tian glared at Yu Tianhuang feigning anger, then gave him a sweet smile. Xu Zihuang, understanding the gesture, offered his own portion to Ning Tian.

Just then, Xu Zihuang's gaze froze, focusing on a figure in the crowd.

It was a woman, tall and slender. Long, wavy, light blue hair covered her entire back, reaching down to her hips and concealing nearly half of her rounded curves. She wore a white, fitted outfit with silver trim, and a veil covered her face.

But the veil that concealed his face had no effect on Xu Zihuang.

Without even using the abilities of his Golden Eyes martial soul, he could clearly see the woman's face. Her eyes were a strange pinkish-blue, her eyelashes long and curled, and her flawless beauty made her seem like a goddess descended to earth. Her lips were pink and luscious.

But her expression was cold, as if she had an innate sense of distance, making her difficult to approach.

"The Three-Eyed Golden Lion," Xu Zihuang murmured to himself.

Indeed, the woman before him was the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in human form. Moreover, her appearance was identical to that in Xu Zihuang's memories of his previous life; she was modeled after Wang Dong'er.

From the fluctuations in soul power and aura, Xu Zihuang could determine with certainty that this woman was not the same person as Wang Dong'er. It could only be the Three-Eyed Golden Lion Emperor Beast.

What puzzled him was that the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had never had any contact with Wang Dong'er, nor did it know the appearance of the so-called Goddess of Light, so why did it still take on this appearance?

Seeing Xu Zihuang looking somewhat dazed, Ning Tian asked in a low voice, puzzled.

"What's wrong, Tianhuang?"

Xu Zihuang snapped out of his daze and chuckled softly.

"nothing."

"Let's go explore somewhere else then."

Xu Zihuang's actions were subtle, and Ning Tian, ​​without suspecting anything, pulled Xu Zihuang away from there.

Shortly after the two left, the woman suddenly looked in their direction. Her gaze sharpened slightly, then she frowned and looked away.

Next, while spending time with Ning Tian, ​​Xu Zihuang pondered these questions.

After much thought, he came to only one conclusion: A certain selfless god-king had once again targeted the three-eyed golden lion. But now Huo Yuhao was no longer the chosen one, so Tang San's scheme was...

Thinking of this, Xu Zihuang's heart sank slightly. However, he would not show any of this in front of Ning Tian.

Regardless of whether Tang San intended to scheme against him, he could only try his best to avoid getting involved with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and Wang Dong'er.

With these feelings in mind, Xu Zihuang accompanied Ning Tian on a tour of Shrek City for several hours until nightfall.

Shrek City, shrouded in night, was brightly lit and its vibrant flowers remained undiminished.