Outside Heaven Dou City, banners fluttered and armor gleamed brightly.
Along the imperial road, five hundred elite soldiers of the Royal Knights had already assembled in formation. Clad in shining silver Bright Light Armor that glittered under the sunlight, the red tassels on their helmets swayed gently in the wind, exuding an aura of solemnity and lethality. Mounted on Heavenly Soul Horses—snow-white steeds with exceptional vigor, possessing Soul Beast bloodlines, and renowned for their endurance and speed—they were the standard mounts of the Royal Knights, each one immensely valuable. This contingent represented the dignity and strength of the Heaven Dou Empire, sufficient to deter any troublemakers along the way.
Before them stood the fifteen Soul Master academy teams, totaling over a hundred individuals, who would represent the Heaven Dou Empire in the Grand Finals at Spirit City. Despite the fierce battles and numerous upheavals of the Promotion Tournament, every person standing here was an elite of the empire's Soul Master Realm. At this moment, each face bore expressions of anticipation, tension, and a solemnity befitting those about to embark on the final battlefield.
Emperor Xue Ye personally attended the send-off, standing atop a high platform. His authoritative gaze swept over the young faces below as he declared in a resonant voice, "You are all the future hope of the empire's Soul Masters! Today, I dispatch Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and the master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Fengzhi, along with five hundred elite Royal Knights, to escort you to Spirit City! May you unite sincerely, strive with all your might, and uphold the prestige of our Heaven Dou Empire! I, your emperor, shall await good news in the imperial capital!"
"Uphold our empire's prestige! Uphold our empire's prestige!" The Royal Knights roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and stirring the hearts of the academy students, filling them with fervor and passion.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, clad today in a simple silver-white martial attire with a light golden cloak draped over it, stood beside Emperor Xue Ye. His handsome face wore a gentle and refined smile as he nodded slightly to the assembled teams below, exuding an air of grace and dignity. Beside him stood Ning Fengzhi, master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, still dressed in his moon-white robe and radiating an ethereal aura, as well as the silently attendant Bone Douluo Gu Rong, whose presence was as profound as an abyss.
After Emperor Xue Ye's address, Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi descended the high platform together and approached the front of the teams. Xue Qinghe's gaze swept through the crowd before finally settling on the direction of Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One—more precisely, on the strikingly conspicuous black-clad figure of Marco Lee. His smile unchanged, he strode over.
"Junior Marco, this journey is quite long. If you find yourself with leisure during the trip, why not accompany me? It would help alleviate the boredom of travel," Xue Qinghe said gently, like an elder brother caring for a junior.
Marco nodded slightly without refusing. This crown prince gave him a somewhat peculiar impression—outwardly gentle and refined, yet always carrying a faint sense of distance and a deeply concealed aura. Nevertheless, accompanying him was preferable to engaging in hollow pleasantries with others.
Meanwhile, in the Shrek Academy team, the atmosphere remained somewhat somber. Although Tang San's injuries had stabilized enough for him to walk with difficulty, his face was still pale, and deep within his eyes lay an unshakeable gloom and a trace of obsessive coldness. Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and others silently guarded him. Xiao Wu's disappearance cast a massive shadow over everyone's hearts.
However, when Ning Fengzhi brought Ning Rongrong toward the Shrek team, it still caused a small stir.
"Master Ning, Rongrong, you've arrived." Flender stepped forward to greet them, but when his gaze fell upon Ning Rongrong, he paused slightly. He keenly sensed that the Soul Power fluctuations emanating from her were far more condensed and robust than before! Moreover, her entire demeanor seemed to have undergone subtle changes—less of a young girl's willfulness, and more of a restrained brilliance.
"Father brought me back," Ning Rongrong said obediently, bowing to Flender and Yu Xiaogang. Her eyes swept over her companions, and when they landed on Tang San, a flicker of concern passed through them, but she quickly concealed it.
"Rongrong, your Soul Power..." Flender couldn't help but ask.
A genuine, somewhat mysterious smile appeared on Ning Rongrong's face as she stuck out her tongue. "Dean, this time when I went back, Father gave me a huge surprise! He had me consume a very special Purple Ganoderma, and it helped me immensely! My Soul Power has already broken through to level 45!"
"Level 45?!" Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others were astonished upon hearing this. Ning Rongrong had been at level 42 before. In just a few days, she had jumped three levels?! This rate of improvement was terrifying! Moreover, judging by her demeanor, it seemed the Soul Power increase wasn't even the main gain.
"It's not just Soul Power," Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled with excitement and pride, but then she playfully blinked. "However, the greatest benefit... I'll keep it a secret for now! You'll find out during the Grand Finals!"
Seeing Ning Rongrong like this, and recalling that Ning Fengzhi had personally taken her back, Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and the others already had some guesses in their minds. For a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Master's Soul Power to surge so dramatically in such a short time, and for Ning Rongrong to be so excited about it... it likely wasn't just a simple Soul Power increase. It was probably related to her Martial Soul itself! Considering Ning Fengzhi's long-standing wish to break through the limitations of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, an astonishing thought arose in Flender and Yu Xiaogang's minds. They exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and disbelief in each other's eyes. Could it be...?
However, since Ning Rongrong wanted to keep it a secret, they couldn't press further. Regardless, Ning Rongrong's greatly enhanced strength was an immense boon for Shrek Academy. Everyone was genuinely happy for her, and the heavy atmosphere lightened somewhat.
In the distance, Marco, walking alongside Xue Qinghe, naturally noticed Ning Rongrong's return to the team and the change in her aura. His expression remained calm, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before shifting away. The effects of the Nine Petal Purple Reishi had indeed not disappointed him.
"Master Ning truly spared no effort for Rongrong," Xue Qinghe beside him suddenly spoke, his voice gentle, betraying neither joy nor anger. "I heard that Master recently obtained a rare Immortal Herb. Not only did it greatly advance Rongrong's Soul Power, but it also seems to have... caused some incredible evolution in her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul?"
Marco's steps didn't falter. He glanced sideways at Xue Qinghe. This Crown Prince was quite well-informed, and he seemed to be implying something.
"Oh? Is that so?" Marco's tone was indifferent, as if hearing it for the first time. "To be able to assist in Martial Soul Evolution, it must be an extraordinary treasure of heaven and earth. Master Ning has indeed fulfilled his long-cherished wish these years."
"Yes," Xue Qinghe nodded, his gaze drifting toward Ning Fengzhi conversing with Flender and others in the distance, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his eyes. He then turned back to Marco, smiling slightly, "Speaking of which, I also received a rare herb bestowed by my grandfather some days ago, called the 'Radiant Paradise Herb.' After consuming it, I felt my Soul Power become much more refined and condensed, and my Martial Soul seemed faintly stirred. Grandfather said this herb is also extremely rare, and obtaining it required considerable effort on his part."
He paused, his eyes fixed intently on Marco, carrying a hint of inquiry and deeper meaning, "I wonder if you, Brother Marco, have ever heard of this herb? Or perhaps, do you know of any other miraculous treasures in this world that possess such heaven-defying, life-altering effects capable of evolving a Martial Soul?"
"Your Highness jests," Marco's expression remained unchanged, his tone still calm, "The world holds countless wonders; with my limited knowledge, how could I possibly know them all? As for Immortal Herbs that can evolve Martial Souls, I have never even heard of such a thing. Perhaps it is due to Sect Leader Ning's profound fortune and serendipitous opportunity. However, if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda truly can evolve, I suppose it won't be long before the name 'Seven Treasures' will need to be changed."
He deftly shifted the topic, neither admitting nor denying anything, simply attributing it all to Ning Fengzhi's "opportunity." As for Xue Qinghe's probing, he simply did not engage.
Xue Qinghe looked deeply at Marco, seeing his composed expression and calm gaze, finding no trace of anything amiss, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This young man's temperament is truly unfathomable. He smiled and did not press further, instead turning to other topics of conversation as if their previous exchange had been merely casual chatter.
At the front of the procession, Ning Fengzhi finished his instructions to Bone Douluo, Flender, and the others. He glanced once more at Marco walking alongside Xue Qinghe, a complex look flashing in his eyes, then announced clearly, "The hour grows late. Let us depart!"
At his command, the five hundred Royal Knights mounted their horses in unison, the clanking of their armor ringing out crisply. The various academy teams also boarded the spacious carriages bearing the empire's insignia, which had been prepared in advance. Led by Xue Qinghe, Ning Fengzhi, and Bone Douluo, this vast procession—composed of the empire's elite, sect powerhouses, and young talents—slowly set into motion. They advanced along the imperial highway, heading southwest toward Spirit City in a grand and mighty march.
Wheels rumbled, hooves beat rhythmically. Sunlight gleamed off the polished armor, reflecting dazzling light. This procession carried the glory and hopes of the Heaven Dou Empire, along with countless enmities, secrets, and unknown perils, embarking on the long journey toward the final stage.