Celestial Destiny Academy, Star Observation Platform.
The chaotic surge of stellar energy gradually subsided, and both Xu Xiaoyan and Ye Xinglan woke up one after another as the stellar power dissipated. Their eyes sparkled with an unusual brilliance.
"Senior, I'm really sorry for troubling you today," Jing Shaoyu said directly to Li Zhilong, not rushing to inquire about the girls' gains. "We'll take our leave now."
"It's no trouble," Li Zhilong replied with a smile, shaking his head. "This junior's situation is unique, and my students have also benefited. I wonder if this junior could visit our academy more often in the future to explain the mysteries of stellar energy to our students?"
"Of course, I'll definitely come often," Xu Xiaoyan replied with a smile, her eyes curving. Her gains this time were substantial, and she naturally wouldn't refuse Li Zhilong's request.
The group quietly left Celestial Destiny Academy, preparing to head to the next city. Before that, they needed to understand the gains Xu Xiaoyan and Ye Xinglan had made.
"Let's talk here," Jing Shaoyu said as they arrived at a secluded small park surrounded by flower beds, with only a couple of elderly people sitting on benches a few hundred meters away. He stopped and looked at Xu Xiaoyan and Ye Xinglan. "Xiaoyan, Xinglan, how do you feel now?"
"Hehe, I feel better than ever!" Xu Xiaoyan said with a laugh, her voice filled with joy and excitement. "I've never seen so much stellar energy before. My Soul Power directly reached level 40, though I'm not sure exactly how much it improved. I'll need to wait until I fuse my second Soul Spirit to know. But, I didn't just use the stellar energy to boost my Soul Power."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Wu Siduo asked curiously, seeing Xu Xiaoyan's mysterious and proud expression.
"Hehe, it's this!" Xu Xiaoyan smiled proudly, raising her hand to reveal a small kitten—her first Soul Spirit, Bai Xue. Originally a three-hundred-year-old Mystic Ice Cat, it had mutated as Xu Xiaoyan's Martial Soul evolved into the Star Staff, gaining a faint stellar attribute.
"It's so cute!" Wu Siduo exclaimed in surprise. This was her first time seeing Xu Xiaoyan's Bai Xue, so she was a bit taken aback.
"Bai Xue has completed its evolution!" Jing Shaoyu's eyes lit up. "This should eliminate the discord between it and your Star Staff Martial Soul. Excellent, truly excellent!"
"Yes!" Xu Xiaoyan nodded happily, her eyes filled with joy as she looked at Bai Xue.
This time, thanks to the massive release of stellar energy during the chaotic surge, Bai Xue had undergone its final transformation under Xu Xiaoyan's deliberate control, completely shedding its ice attribute and evolving into a stellar Soul Spirit.
Though its body remained white, its eyes had turned a brilliant gold, and golden patterns had appeared on its tail. Most importantly, it seemed more lively and intelligent, nuzzling Xu Xiaoyan's palm like a real kitten.
"What about Xinglan?" Jing Shaoyu turned to Ye Xinglan, asking.
"Like Xiaoyan, my Soul Power has also reached level 40," Ye Xinglan said calmly. "As for how much it improved, I'll need to fuse my Soul Spirit to know."
"That's good," Jing Shaoyu said, his gaze still fixed on Ye Xinglan's face. "No other gains?"
"Yes," Ye Xinglan paused, then raised her hand, summoning her Star God Sword. The group's attention was immediately drawn to it.
"This… doesn't seem to have changed much?" Na'er tilted her head in confusion.
"It seems brighter?" Wu Siduo said uncertainly.
"More than that," Xu Xiaoyan's eyes flashed as she immediately added, "I can feel that the stellar energy within the Star God Sword has become purer."
"Exactly!" Shen Yi couldn't help but interject. "Ye Xinglan's Star God Sword Martial Soul has undergone a second awakening. Look at the blade—do you see the seven stars aligned there?"
Only then did the group notice that on the previously flawless blade of the Star God Sword, seven sharp, golden stars were now neatly arranged, each emitting a cold, killing aura. The sword's presence had also become sharper. Though it lay calmly in Ye Xinglan's hand, its sharpness seemed capable of slicing through the surrounding space.
Jing Shaoyu looked at the composed Ye Xinglan with some surprise, realizing that he still didn't fully understand this girl.
"Now, my Martial Soul is truly the complete Star God Sword," Ye Xinglan said. "I thought I'd need to reach Soul Saint level to achieve this, but this trip to Celestial Destiny Academy and the stellar surge allowed me to accomplish it ahead of time!"
As she spoke, her eyes grew brighter, resonating with her Star God Sword. The sword's light and her gaze intertwined, making Ye Xinglan's presence even sharper—truly like a divine sword!
"Excellent!" Jing Shaoyu clapped his hands. "This means our team now has two new Soul Grandmasters. Na'er, it's just you left now. Keep it up!"
"I know, brother," Na'er said softly, her silver eyes shimmering faintly.
Gu Yue spoke up, "So, do we continue the exam, or go buy Soul Spirits for Xiaoyan and Xinglan first?"
This question made everyone ponder. Xu Xiaoyan and Ye Xinglan naturally hoped to fuse their Soul Spirits and become true Soul Grandmasters as soon as possible, but they didn't want to delay the group's final exam, so they remained silent.
"Everyone, I think…" Jing Shaoyu began, intending to suggest they first let Xu Xiaoyan and Ye Xinglan fuse their Soul Spirits before continuing the exam. Adding two new Soul Grandmasters to the team would undoubtedly be a significant boost. However, before he could finish, he was interrupted.
"Students, though it may seem a bit harsh, during the final exam period, unless the exam requirements are met, returning to Shrek City is not allowed," Shen Yi said apologetically, cutting Jing Shaoyu off. While she was happy that her class had gained two new Soul Grandmaster students, exam rules were absolute, especially under Elder Cai's watch.
Though Shen Yi's words left Jing Shaoyu and the others a bit stunned, they directly resolved their dilemma. Xu Xiaoyan and Ye Xinglan exchanged a glance before Xu Xiaoyan said, "Then we'll wait until after the exam to fuse our Soul Spirits and Soul Rings."
Xu Xiaoyan's second Soul Spirit was already prepared at the Spirit Transfer Pagoda headquarters. If they couldn't return to Shrek City mid-exam, she'd have to wait until after the exam to fuse it. As for Ye Xinglan's second Soul Spirit, though she hadn't decided yet, being a key talent in her family, it would naturally be prepared by her elders. She could fuse it once she returned to her family in Shrek City.
"In that case, let's continue the exam," Jing Shaoyu said, not showing any disappointment, and smiled lightly. "Let's head to the location of the seventh advanced Soul Master academy!"
"Yes!" the others replied in unison.
On the twelfth day of the final exam, Jing Shaoyu's group and Shen Yi arrived in Mingdu.
Mingdu, the most modern, technologically advanced, and developed city on the Douluo Continent, was the capital of the Douluo Federation and the core city of the western part of the continent, alongside Shrek City in the east, collectively known as the two centers of the Federation.
While Shrek City was nominally a center, Mingdu was the true heart of the Douluo Federation. This was evident from the fact that the federal government, parliament, military committee, and other institutions were all located here. Since the unification of the Douluo Continent, Mingdu had been the absolute political, military, and technological center.
As Jing Shaoyu's group stepped out of the Mingdu Soul Train Station, they immediately felt the charm of the Douluo Federation's capital.
Mingdu's architectural style was completely opposite to Shrek City's. If Shrek City was a green city where man and nature coexisted harmoniously, filled with humanistic charm, then Mingdu was a sci-fi city woven from high technology and soul tool industries.
Before their eyes was a forest of steel—towering buildings, bustling streets, various lights, and peculiar shops. Walking on the sidewalk, looking around, the group felt like country bumpkins, curiously taking in the sights.
Jing Shaoyu felt somewhat uncomfortable in Mingdu's environment. His Primal Spirit Martial Soul was somewhat suppressed, and his expression showed a hint of displeasure. However, his Doomsday Godslaying Spear Martial Soul was unusually excited. This world of steel seemed to bring it great joy.
"Eh? Teacher Shen, is this your first time in Mingdu too?" Xu Xiaoyan noticed that Shen Yi was reacting similarly to them and couldn't help but ask.
"No, this is my second time," Shen Yi replied with a shy smile, sighing. "But my last visit was ten years ago. Mingdu's development is truly rapid!"
"I see. What was Mingdu like ten years ago?" Xu Xiaoyan continued.
"Back then, Mingdu was similar to now, but there weren't as many vehicles in the sky," Shen Yi said, her gaze drawn to the flying objects overhead.
The group also noticed the considerable number of flying objects in Mingdu's sky. These objects resembled cars, and indeed they were—high-altitude flying cars.
Jing Shaoyu suppressed his discomfort and smiled lightly, "Those are high-altitude flying cars, the latest research of the Federation, still in the testing phase. What we're seeing are trial versions. They seem to be operating well. Perhaps in another decade or so, ordinary people will be able to drive such flying cars."
"Really?" Wu Siduo said skeptically. "Class president, are you really that optimistic about these flying cars? Do you truly believe ordinary people will be able to fly in them in the future?"
"Of course," Jing Shaoyu replied. "If the ultimate product of technological development doesn't benefit ordinary people, then it's better not to develop it at all. Like the soul trains we ride—haven't you noticed that nearly seventy percent of the passengers are ordinary people without Soul Power?"
"That's true," Wu Siduo nodded.
"Alright, let's head to the Royal Academy of Sun and Moon. Once we finish this last battle, our final exam will be complete!" Jing Shaoyu clapped his hands, regaining everyone's attention.
The Royal Academy of Sun and Moon, as the spiritual totem of the old Sun and Moon people, was undoubtedly the last emotional anchor for them after the Sun and Moon Empire transformed into the Sun and Moon Federation, and then into the Douluo Federation.
Who could have imagined that the empire would collapse at its peak? The current Douluo Federation, though inherited from the Sun and Moon Federation, had fundamentally changed. The absolute dominance once held by the Sun and Moon people had long since passed into the hands of the Douluo people. But this was inevitable, as the descent of soul tool technology, the development of mechas and Battle Armor, destined that Soul Masters would remain the mainstream holders of power.
The glory of the Sun and Moon Empire was brought by soul engineers, and naturally, it would fade with their decline.
Once the holy land for soul engineers, the Royal Academy of Sun and Moon had now been renamed the Royal Academy of Sun and Moon Soul Masters. "Sun and Moon" symbolized heritage and belonging, naturally unchangeable. "Royal" was to commemorate the former glory of the Sun and Moon Empire and to appreciate the peaceful transfer of power by the Sun and Moon royal family. "Soul Master Academy" instead of "Soul Engineer Academy" spoke volumes.
The eternal second place—this was both recognition and mockery of the Royal Academy of Sun and Moon. Without the support of soul engineers, the academy had completely lost its ability to compete with Shrek Academy. Being second was already good; if it weren't for another academy known for its monsters being on a distant continent, it wouldn't even hold that position.
"Is this the Royal Academy of Sun and Moon?" Jing Shaoyu's group arrived at a cluster of buildings, looking at the towering steel structure before them. Xu Xiaoyan voiced her doubt.
"It should be. Look, there's writing up there," Ye Xinglan pointed to the top of the tallest building.
At the summit of the towering structure, six massive metal characters gleamed in the sunlight: "Royal Academy of Sun and Moon."
The Royal Academy of Sun and Moon was truly unique. If not for those six eye-catching characters, one might mistake it for a commercial district. There was no trace of a Soul Master academy here—several interconnected high-rises formed a cluster, resembling an office complex.
It truly embodied Mingdu's modernity!
"So, what's next? There probably aren't any seniors from our academy here, right?" Gu Yue looked at Jing Shaoyu, asking.
The relationship between the Royal Academy of Sun and Moon and Shrek Academy wasn't exactly hostile, but it was certainly mutually annoying. Thus, while graduates from Shrek Academy could be found in any other academy on the continent, the Royal Academy of Sun and Moon was the one place they wouldn't be. It didn't want them, and the Federation wouldn't allow it.
"We'll just issue a formal challenge in the academy's name," Jing Shaoyu said, his eyes turning to Shen Yi. "Teacher Shen, as our instructor, you represent the academy better than we do. So, the task of issuing the challenge falls to you."
Shen Yi rolled her eyes, somewhat exasperated, and said, "Fine."
Just as Shen Yi was about to issue the challenge, Cai Yue'er, who had been absent, suddenly appeared before them, stopping Shen Yi
.
"Elder Cai!" Shen Yi and Jing Shaoyu's group immediately greeted respectfully.
"I need to make a few points," Cai Yue'er said coldly.