Under Yan Shaozhe's leadership, a total of eleven exchange students from Shrek Academy flew toward the border between the Sun Moon Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire.
At the border city of Maple Leaf City, the group had already landed. They planned to rest for the night and conduct the student exchange the next day at Maple Leaf Plaza.
Yan Shaozhe arranged for the students to stay at the Maple Leaf Grand Hotel and then dismissed them to rest. At that moment, among the nine soul tool department students, one young man was glaring resentfully at a red figure walking away with Yan Shaozhe.
"Damn it. What is a martial soul department person doing here as an exchange student?"
Ye Xiaosheng gritted his teeth. As a level six soul engineer, he had a strong presence among the other seven soul tool students and had taken a leader-like role among them. But he never expected that the martial soul department's fierce inner courtyard student—the Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Xiaotao—would show up too! As the strongest among the six-ring Soul Emperors of Shrek, her presence completely overshadowed him.
"Why is someone from the martial soul department meddling in soul tool affairs?"
Helpless, he decided to curry favor with those he could still influence. Ye Xiaosheng cast his gaze toward two people sitting nearby—Wang Dong and He Caitou. Though they were seated together, they weren't chatting, giving off a vibe of familiarity and unfamiliarity all at once.
Putting on a friendly expression, Ye Xiaosheng waved at them, motioning them over.
He Caitou glanced at Ye Xiaosheng, then at Wang Dong, who remained indifferent. He hesitated.
"Wang Dong, aren't you going?"
Wang Dong snorted dismissively.
"Hmph. That guy's been staring at Senior Sister Xiaotao the entire journey. Who can't tell he's just a petty, power-hungry opportunist who wants to grab a few scraps of influence? I won't bother playing along with that sort of person. Go if you want, Senior Caitou."
Sighing, He Caitou said nothing and walked over. He didn't want to get isolated by the other soul tool department students over something so petty. After all, he came to study soul tools—unlike Wang Dong and Ma Xiaotao, who clearly had other motives.
Meanwhile, Yan Shaozhe led Ma Xiaotao outside to discuss the serious matter of purging her evil fire.
To be honest, Ma Xiaotao was extremely unwilling to accept help from Huo Yuhao—the one who had killed her fellow Shrek Academy members. But she had no choice. The academy had already paid a high price for a chance to rid her of the evil fire, and if she lost control again, she could easily turn into an evil soul master and endanger the world.
"Xiaotao, you must be extremely careful this time. Our intel shows that the Sun Moon Empire has an evil sect called the Holy Spirit Cult. Be sure not to let them learn about your evil fire. No one knows what they might try if they find out."
In front of Yan Shaozhe, Ma Xiaotao obediently nodded. With so many teachers and elders at Shrek caring for her, she couldn't let them down.
"And that Huo Yuhao… try to treat him a bit more kindly. At the very least, don't say or do anything that might offend him. We need his help, and he's a rising star at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. If he's displeased, it could attract Jing Hongchen's attention, and that old fox would surely target you. I know it's unfair, but bear with it."
Ma Xiaotao clenched her jaw, recalling the scene on the tournament battlefield where Huo Yuhao and his female partner Meng Hongchen killed Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu without mercy. She longed to incinerate them on the spot.
But she couldn't. She had no choice but to nod firmly, saying nothing.
Yan Shaozhe sighed, though a cold gleam flickered in his eyes. Once Xiaotao's problem was solved, they had to find a way to eliminate Huo Yuhao.
Coincidentally, a month ago, a royal member of the Sun Moon Empire named Xu Mochen had come to Shrek Academy, claiming to represent the Third Prince. He offered a deal—asking Shrek and the Three Kingdoms of Douluo to protect the Third Prince from the Holy Spirit Cult, which had already pledged loyalty to the royal family, and assist him in securing the throne.
Although Shrek publicly rejected him, insisting on their neutrality, they had secretly welcomed Xu Mochen into the Sea God's Pavilion to discuss cooperation.
Surprisingly, the negotiations went smoothly. Sending strong individuals to secretly aid the Third Prince was in Shrek's interests, and the confidential soul tool blueprints Xu Mochen offered were too tempting to refuse.
With the Third Prince's help, several Titled Douluo loyal to the Three Kingdoms were now hidden in the eastern regions of the Sun Moon Empire. A certain 97th-rank Super Douluo elder from the Sea God's Pavilion was among them.
This would make it much easier to make a move against Huo Yuhao when the time came. And with an elder from Shrek watching over Ma Xiaotao in the Sun Moon Empire, Yan Shaozhe could rest easier regarding her safety.
"If only Elder Xuan could go too…"
Just thinking about Xuanzi, whose cultivation had declined and who had been responsible for many inner courtyard losses, made Yan Shaozhe fume. That useless old man couldn't go, nor could Mu En—the only one strong enough to ensure Shrek's safety—leave the academy. Thankfully, Mu En understood the academy's dire situation after Xuanzi's decline and forcibly extended his life by absorbing a portion of the life energy accumulated over ten thousand years in the Golden Tree beneath the Sea God's Pavilion.
"Besides purging the evil fire, don't neglect your training. And since you're finally going to Mingdu, even if you don't want to study soul tools, at least try to buy a few useful ones for yourself."
Although he had always looked down on soul tools as a martial soul department member, after hearing Xu Mochen explain the terrifying capabilities of some confidential Sun Moon Empire soul tools, even Yan Shaozhe had to admit they could drastically boost a soul master's power.
"Understood."
Ma Xiaotao responded obediently.
—
The next morning, the group was ready. Led by Yan Shaozhe and another teacher, Fan Yu, they headed to Maple Leaf Plaza in the center of the city.
Wang Dong quickly spotted a familiar face—Xiao Hongchen from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. But oddly enough, his sister Meng Hongchen wasn't with him. Wang Dong frowned. Why wouldn't a sister accompany her brother?
Was she… with Huo Yuhao?
Wang Dong suddenly remembered how close Meng Hongchen and Huo Yuhao had seemed during the tournament. A wave of jealousy unexpectedly surged through her chest, making her feel ill.
She was jealous… because of a man?
Wang Dong shuddered. What is wrong with me?
Aside from Xiao Hongchen, the Sun Moon Academy clearly came prepared. Among the dozen exchange students were many former reserve team members from the tournament. Jing Hongchen seemed quite confident.
At the center of Maple Leaf Plaza, the two groups met face to face.
Yan Shaozhe offered Jing Hongchen a false smile.
"Hallmaster Hongchen, I didn't expect you to personally attend. It seems your academy values this exchange highly."
Jing Hongchen, no stranger to scheming himself, smiled warmly.
"Dean Yan, didn't you come personally as well? Last time you visited our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, I didn't host you properly. My apologies."
Yan Shaozhe's expression twitched slightly. The last visit had left quite an impression—especially how the academy lost a phoenix feather and was forced to agree to purging Ma Xiaotao's evil fire under duress. Not to mention those soul cannons in the reception room…
His face darkened.
"No need for pleasantries, Hallmaster Hongchen. Let's proceed with the student exchange. On behalf of Shrek Academy, I welcome your students."
Jing Hongchen chuckled.
"Of course. I didn't expect you to be so straightforward, Dean Yan. Please take good care of our students."
Yan Shaozhe nodded calmly.
"We guarantee your students will receive real instruction at Shrek. The inner courtyard doors will be open to them. I hope Hallmaster Hongchen will show equal sincerity."
"Haha, naturally. I assure you, your elites will receive the best teaching at Mingde Hall."
"Then it's settled."
As Yan Shaozhe spoke, he raised his right hand.
Jing Hongchen did the same. Their palms met in a firm handshake. On the surface, they smiled, but who knew what thoughts lurked behind their eyes?
"Don't forget our prior arrangement, Hallmaster Hongchen."
As their hands lowered, Jing Hongchen felt a storage soul tool fastened to his wrist—passed to him by Yan Shaozhe.
Smart as ever, Jing Hongchen checked the contents.
"A hundred-thousand-year right leg bone from an Arctic Ice Fox King, a piece of Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice, a Ten Thousand Year Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, and a seed of the Ancient Tree of Life… Hallmaster Hongchen, please confirm everything. We've given you our utmost sincerity. You must help solve Ma Xiaotao's problem."
Yan Shaozhe's heart ached even as he sent the sound transmission. A hundred-thousand-year soul bone aside, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass was unbelievably precious. Thousands of years ago, a Shrek senior had found it deep in the Extreme North and donated it to the Sea God's Pavilion. It had sat in the treasury untouched, since it was toxic when consumed alone and required a matching Fire Apricot.
Now, it was being handed over because they had no other suitable ice-element treasures.
Jing Hongchen was overjoyed. Though it wasn't as valuable as the soul bone, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass was exactly what Meng Hongchen needed most.
"Haha, rest assured, Dean Yan. When this exchange ends, you'll have a reborn fire-element student returned to you."
Jing Hongchen replied via transmission, but inside he sneered.
Returned? After this, will Ma Xiaotao still be Shrek's loyal dog… or Yuhao's devoted 'companion'? That remains to be seen.
The students swapped sides, leaving only Yan Shaozhe and Jing Hongchen standing.
Yan Shaozhe let out a soft sigh and smiled calmly.
"Well then, Hallmaster Hongchen. Farewell."
"Safe travels, Brother Yan."
(End of Chapter)
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