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Before long, Emperor Xue Ye returned to the imperial study. In his hand was a palm-sized, three-dimensional triangular gemstone. It was deep azure throughout, with a misty treasure light swirling within, radiating strange energy fluctuations. The crystal's surface was etched with patterns resembling ripples of water.
"Teacher Wen, this is my imperial family's greatest treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud." Emperor Xue Ye handed the artifact to Su Wen, a trace of reluctance lingering in his eyes.
He had already made a mental prediction. Once this Shroud was handed over, it would be incredibly difficult to get back. Even if Su Wen did return it later, would the Emperor truly have the courage to take it back?
Sigh, I'll just consider this an investment in Teacher Wen.
"My thanks, Your Majesty."
Su Wen took the Shroud and didn't linger. After finalizing the ten soul skills for the Manual of Myriad Laws as requested by the Emperor, he took his leave. He would deliver the manuals later; he couldn't exactly mass-produce ten pages of V法册 right in front of Xue Ye's face.
"That Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud is no ordinary object," Battle Sky Douluo remarked once they were outside the palace. His gaze was fixed on the blue crystal in Su Wen's hand, his expression grave. "It was likely left behind by a god."
"I know."
"You know?" Battle Sky Douluo realized Su Wen had come specifically for this item and nodded in understanding. "Then, which god left it?"
Su Wen glanced at him and smiled. "Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud... 'Vast Sea.' Which god do you think it belongs to?"
Battle Sky Douluo's jaw twitched as the answer hit him: The Sea God.
Currently, his deepest impression of the Sea God was "filthy rich." Damn it, they even give out God-Bestowed Soul Rings for Yellow Grade trials!
"Once I deal with Tang San, I'll attempt to head out to sea toward Sea God Island. Perhaps you can try to receive a trial from the Sea God there as well."
Battle Sky Douluo's eyes lit up instantly. That sounded perfect!
"Although your soul rings are full, Senior, their cultivation years are still lacking. If you can get a Red Grade trial, I can't guarantee all-black rings, but your first ring could reach at least five thousand years, and your fourth could potentially break the ten-thousand-year mark."
Hiss—
Battle Sky Douluo sucked in a breath. Divine trials could actually increase the age of existing soul rings?
Seeing the Douluo's shocked reaction, Su Wen fell silent. Seriously, which one of us is the God's Protector? How do I know more about this than you?
Su Wen suppressed his inner monologue and began to offer a more realistic prediction. The Sea God was a First-Class God, so his trials were far harder than the War God's. A Red Grade trial would be difficult to obtain.
"Red Grade might be a stretch for you; it'll likely be Black Grade. I'm not entirely sure what the rewards for Black Grade are."
In Su Wen's memory, only the Red Grade and God Succession trials offered ring age increases, while Black Grade trials usually gave soul power boosts or God-Bestowed Soul Rings. However, Battle Sky Douluo's case was unique. If he received a one or two-level soul power boost, wouldn't he hit Rank 99? That was arguably even more practical than ring age.
"It's fine. I'll be satisfied with any reward. One shouldn't be too greedy," Battle Sky Douluo said, struggling to suppress a grin while trying to act composed.
Half a month later, at Shrek Academy.
"I did it!" Tang San finally cracked the protective measures of the Academic Realm. As his mental energy entered the realm and he witnessed the prosperity of this virtual world, he gasped in shock.
After operating for over a month, the Academic Realm had established a clear order. Countless Spirit Masters were engaged in various activities—exchanging academic theories, sparring, or simply meeting friends and family. Some were even using it as a vacation spot to relax.
He didn't stay long. He exited the realm, prepared to share this brilliant news with his teacher and companions.
However, the moment he withdrew his mental energy, Tang San sensed an overwhelming crisis. His pupils contracted as he looked toward the sky above the valley, where two figures were slowly descending.
Yu Xiaogang and the others had already gathered, looking up at Su Wen and Battle Sky Douluo with ashen faces.
"Su Wen!"
How did he find this place? Flend and the others were shaken to the core. They never expected Su Wen to show up at their doorstep now.
"I have no deep-seated grudge with the rest of you. Today, I am only here for Tang San. I hope you won't go looking for death," Su Wen said as he landed, warning the Shrek group.
"Bullsh*t! Little San is our brother. Unless you step over our corpses, don't even think about killing him!"
Flend and Liu Erlong didn't bother with a verbal spat; they stared grimly at the man behind Su Wen. "May we ask which Excellency this is? This is a grudge between Shrek and Su Wen; we hope Your Excellency will not interfere."
Battle Sky Douluo glanced at Flend with an indifferent, "Who do you think you are?" expression. You tell me not to interfere, and I just won't? Besides, do you really think you can stand against Su Wen even if I don't move a finger?
"Fine. Then I shall step over your corpses," Su Wen said calmly.
The moment the words left his mouth, space began to ripple. A silver-white blade of spatial energy manifested, slashing toward Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai's face paled. He released his martial soul, transformed, and his third soul ring flashed. "Third Soul Skill—"
Puchi!
The blade pierced through his chest, clean and cold.
"Just as well. Your elder brother and father asked me to send the two of you back," Su Wen said, looking at Zhu Zhuqing standing beside the falling prince.
Zhu Zhuqing was dazed, her eyes hollow as she instinctively caught Dai Mubai's collapsing body. In a split second that none of them could react to, a Soul Ancestor was dead!
"If I strike, you will have no time to prepare. For the sake of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, get lost," Su Wen said, shifting his gaze to Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong.
He wasn't actually doing it for the clan's sake. He simply didn't want to provoke that madwoman, Bibi Dong, just yet. If Yu Xiaogang died, Su Wen might be able to hide it for a while, but the Rakshasa God who oversaw Bibi Dong's trials would likely know. If her trial turned into a "vengeance mission," Su Wen would be in for a world of trouble.
"Tang San, you wouldn't want all these people buried with you, would you?"
As he spoke, Su Wen attacked again. Dozens of silver-white spatial blades condensed out of thin air, whistling down toward Tang San.
"WHO DARES TOUCH MY GREAT-GRANDSON!"
A thunderous roar echoed, causing space itself to tremble. Yet, Su Wen's spatial blades continued their descent toward Tang San.
"How bold!" the voice screamed in rage.
Despite the roar, the spatial blades were slightly destabilized by the trembling atmosphere. Tang San seized that tiny window, using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps to dodge the lethal blows. The blades pierced various parts of his body, but failed to deliver the killing strike.
In the sky, a blood-red figure plummeted downward, trailing a boundless, boiling aura of blood and slaughter.
(End of Chapter)