Zhu Lu remained quietly by Dai Huabin's side, like a shadow.
Among the group, Dai Luoli was the most troubled.
His talent was indeed mediocre. Even with Caelus's small group occasionally helping him, his Soul Power still increased slowly. While his peers were breaking through to the second ring, he was still stuck at around level ten, needing a considerable amount of time to officially Breakthrough to the second ring.
This made him somewhat disheartened, but under Xu Yun's urging, who hated to see him fail, he never truly gave up.
As for Xu Jiujiu... the frequency of this Star Luo Princess appearing by Caelus's side did not decrease with time; instead, it became even more natural.
She would still inquire about his Cultivation progress, discuss the mysteries of Martial Souls with him, share insights from Imperial Family's treasured ancient texts, and in her leisure time, like any ordinary friend, she would stroll through the garden with him, sipping tea and chatting.
However, that initial investment and calculation, in their day-to-day interactions, seemed to have quietly settled, replaced by an indescribable closeness and tacit understanding.
Xu Jiujiu herself might not have fully realized that when she looked at Caelus, the calculation deep in her eyes, characteristic of a member of the Imperial Family, was gradually being replaced by a more personal gaze, filled with appreciation and warmth.
Graduation was imminent. The Elementary Academy's journey was about to end, signifying the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of a new one.
Caelus stood on the academy's bell tower, overlooking the familiar scenery below, his shattered golden eyes calm and unmoving.
Eleven years old, thirty-eighth rank Soul Elder.
In the Star Luo Empire, he was already a rising star, attracting much attention.
However, only he knew that this seemingly glorious achievement was merely a beginning compared to the heights Castorice had reached in the Evil Demon Forest on the other side of the continent.
The night was deep. Caelus sat alone on a stone stool in the courtyard of Listening to Snow Pavilion, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table.
With Elementary Academy graduation approaching, a crucial choice lay before him.
Should he remain in Star Luo City and enter the Star Luo Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, or travel far to Shrek City and apply to Shrek Academy—the Holy Land in the hearts of all Soul Masters on the continent?
This choice was far from simple; it concerned his future Dao and plans.
Staying at the Star Luo Royal Academy had obvious benefits.
He would undoubtedly become the core focus of the academy, even the Empire's full cultivation, enjoying top-tier resource allocation and the most stable Cultivation environment.
With his current displayed talent and his increasingly close relationship with the Imperial Family, especially with Princess Xu Jiujiu, his future prospects were bright.
Perhaps, in the end, he could, as those court dramas depicted, marry a beautiful and wealthy woman, be enfeoffed as a prince, and become a figure second only to one in the Star Luo Empire.
But this, precisely, ran counter to his deep-seated ambition of "ruling the world."
"A peaceful environment means a lack of tempering, and without the pressure of competition, one will only become dull."
Caelus analyzed calmly.
What could he learn by staying at the Star Luo Royal Academy?
What the academy could teach him was probably not comparable to what Ye Xishui taught Castorice. Although Ye Xishui specifically taught Castorice, she was, after all, an Ultimate Douluo and a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, and Caelus's main body also benefited greatly.
Resources? The Star Luo Imperial Family indeed spared no effort for him; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to advance from Rank 24 to Rank 38 in three years, steadily surpassing Dai Huabin, who had the support of the Duke of White Tiger's mansion.
This was like Tang San in the original work: despite having twin spirits and Innate full Soul Power, plus the Mysterious Heaven Skill, he couldn't Breakthrough to Soul Elder by age twelve due to a lack of early resources, while Dai Huabin, with Innate Rank 9, could Breakthrough early with resources.
Caelus never underestimated the importance of resources, and the Star Luo Imperial Family was not stingy in this regard.
So, what did he truly value about Shrek Academy?
It was the connections, the circle, and the potential future team that transcended imperial boundaries.
Shrek Academy gathered elites from all over the continent.
Those who could enter, apart from a few exceptionally talented commoners, were mostly wealthy or noble, with complex networks of power behind them.
Staying at the Star Luo Royal Academy meant almost exclusively interacting with people cultivated within the Star Luo Empire's system; they were loyal to the Imperial Family, loyal to the Empire.
No matter how close Caelus's relationship with the Imperial Family was, his surname was not Xu, and the Bloodline of the Star Crown Martial Soul did not flow within him.
The peak he could reach might be to become a high-ranking official, or even become one of the Imperial Family through marriage, or even, after becoming the strongest, usurp power and gain sovereignty over the Empire, but this was not what he wanted.
The Star Luo Empire was a top power, the strongest among the original three Douluo Empires in terms of national strength, but it wasn't as strong as it appeared.
The Holy Spirit Cult, the Sun Moon Empire, the Body Sect, Shrek Academy—these were the forces that could influence the continental landscape.
Compared to the truly pinnacle forces, the Star Luo Empire was still a step behind.
Shrek Academy, however, offered a whole new platform.
In the outer court, he could meet young talents from the Heaven Soul, Dou Ling, and even various great Sects.
If he could enter the inner court, he would step into the circle of the continent's top elites.
If he could establish his prestige and network of connections there through his own strength and cunning, he might even... have the chance to reach the core of the Sea Gods Pavilion in the future.
"If I could become the Sea Gods Pavilion Master..."
A sharp glint flashed in Caelus's eyes.
Then, Shrek Academy, one of the continent's three giants, would become his to command.
He was not from this world, possessing a natural immunity to Shrek's calls of glory and belief. He could purely view it as a powerful tool and organization that needed to be controlled.
Shrek Academy's transcendent status and unique composition were the best leverage points for him to influence the continental pattern.
However, he was not a cold-blooded and ruthless person.
The Star Luo Imperial Family, especially Xu Jiujiu and Emperor Xu Jiawei, had genuinely invested resources and emotions in him over the years.
If he chose to leave for Shrek, it would undoubtedly disappoint them, and might even be seen as a betrayal.
This personal favor and consideration were shackles he could not easily cast aside.
As far as he knew, the people he was familiar with—Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and even the Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo sisters—had all decided to go to Shrek.
Xu Yun could not go to Shrek due to her Imperial Family status, and Dai Luoli's talent was insufficient.
"Shrek..."
Caelus softly chewed on the name, weighing the pros and cons repeatedly in his mind.
Going meant stepping out of his comfort zone, facing more intense competition, but also gaining the possibility of weaving his own network and plotting a greater hegemony.
Staying meant stability and the continuation of vested interests, but the ceiling was also clearly visible.
This was not just a choice of academy; it was a crucial choice for his future Dao.