Douluo: Wuhun Qimen Formation, control everything!

Words spoken are like water spilled; although the item was indeed precious, Elder Xuan didn't really care much about using it on Zhou Xuan, since the entire Shrek Academy would belong to him in the future.

"Okay! I agree to this."

"Mei'er." Elder Xuan turned to Cai Mei'er and said, "I'll leave this place to you for now. Stay here and guard it closely until Zhou Xuan returns."

Cai Meier took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Elder Xuan, I understand."

Her husband's mistakes had already been made; now, saving her disciple was the only thing she could do, and the thing she had to do well.

Elder Xuan said no more, and with a flicker of his body, he transformed into a blur and disappeared from the spot.

He wanted to go to the treasury himself and retrieve what Zhou Xuan needed.

Zhou Xuan did not linger there.

"Master Cai, although the evil fire on Senior Sister Xiao Tao's body has been temporarily suppressed, you will have to take extra care to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Okay!" he said, then turned and walked out.

Zhou Xuan stepped out of the room. The cold night wind of Poseidon Island blew on his face, making him more awake. He looked up at the bright moon in the night sky.

Yan Shaozhe's impulsiveness ruined him, but it was all his own doing.

Now, all he needs to do is cure Ma Xiaotao. He knows Ma Xiaotao's personality. Although she seems a bit mean, she is definitely a grateful person. If he saves her, she will never go against him about Yan Shaozhe's matter.

That's enough.

Elder Xuan was incredibly fast; in less than a quarter of an hour, he reappeared before Zhou Xuan.

Without any unnecessary words, he handed over the two items directly.

One was a jade box carved from ten-thousand-year-old cold jade. The moment the lid was opened, a chill that seemed to freeze the soul rushed out. In the center of the jade box lay a small handful of milky white viscous liquid, which was the ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing Marrow.

The other item was a piece of left arm bone that was completely black and exuded a heavy aura.

The moment this soul bone appeared, the gravity in the entire room seemed to increase.

"A 100,000-year-old soul bone, the left arm bone of a swift wolf. Fusing it doesn't require high physical fitness, so it shouldn't be a problem for you. It's the most suitable one for you in the treasure vault."

Zhou Xuan nodded and accepted the soul bone.

"Thank you, Mr. Xuan."

He sat down cross-legged, held the handful of Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Profound Ice Marrow in his palm, and swallowed it without hesitation.

The icy torrent rushed down his throat and into his limbs, instantly causing a thin layer of frost to condense on Zhou Xuan's body.

The sense of depletion caused by forcibly activating the Snow Emperor's essence was quickly filled by this pure energy.

As for the soul bone, he didn't plan to fuse with it now, but instead put it away.

"I need to leave the academy for a while." Zhou Xuan looked at Elder Xuan. He had never intended to tell Shrek Academy about the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Elder Xuan nodded, probably guessing that it was about Xiao Tao.

Everyone has secrets, and he doesn't intend to pry into them.

"Go ahead. With Mei'er and us old folks there, nothing will go wrong with Xiao Tao. As for what happens afterward, I can only leave it to you. Be careful yourself."

"Don't worry, if all goes well, she should be back in about two days. By then, most of Xiaotao's problem should be solved, and at least she should regain consciousness."

After bidding farewell to Elder Xuan, Zhou Xuan left Seagod Island without lingering for a moment. He did not stay at Shrek Academy for long, and his figure quickly disappeared on the official road leading out of the city.

A few hours later, the outline of a brand-new city appeared on the horizon.

Zaire.

Compared to the dilapidated and desolate scene I saw last time, the city of Sai is now completely transformed.

The city walls have been renovated. At the city gate, the guards, dressed in uniform armor, are in high spirits. They carefully inspect the passing caravans and pedestrians, but their attitude is gentle and polite.

Zhou Xuan noticed that many of the young people entering and leaving the city wore a brand-new badge on their chests, which was a pattern of a sword and a book crossed.

That was the emblem he personally designed for the Soul Master Academy of Sai City before he left.

As you enter the city, the wide streets are clean and tidy, with shops lining both sides, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter filling the air, creating a thriving scene.

Looking at just one city, it does evoke a sense of a past life.

He walked towards the direction of the Soul Master Academy.

The academy has been expanded, becoming at least three times larger than before, with brand-new teaching buildings, training grounds, and dormitories springing up.

Even before you go inside, you can hear the students training.

Zhou Xuan stood in the shade of a large tree, watching a group of seven- or eight-year-old children cultivating under the guidance of a middle-aged teacher.

Their martial spirits may be ordinary, and their talents may not be outstanding, but every single one of them has two words written on their face—fighting with all their might!
Just then, a familiar figure walked out of the teaching building.

It was the same old headmaster, still dressed simply, but his identity had changed drastically. The old headmaster should now be called Lord Sai.

When his gaze inadvertently swept over Zhou Xuan's location, he was suddenly jolted.

An incredulous light flashed in the old man's eyes. He rubbed his eyes, and after confirming that he hadn't misread it, his face lit up with ecstasy.

He strode over and stood before Zhou Xuan, his lips trembling with excitement.

"Young Master! You...you're back!"

Zhou Xuan smiled at him: "Lord City Lord, how have you been?"

"Thanks to your blessing, everything is well, everything is well!" The old city lord waved his hands repeatedly and bowed respectfully. "If it weren't for you, there would be no Sai City today, and no me today!"

"I said before that the empire would not make things difficult for a titled Douluo and a thriving city for the sake of a dead parasite," Zhou Xuan said calmly.

As he had predicted, Qian Xing's death did not cause the slightest ripple in the empire. When the officials sent afterward saw the state of Sai City, they wisely promoted the old principal to the position of city lord, thus both doing him a favor and saving him trouble.

In any case, it's just a small town, insignificant to the empire.

"I'm not really here today for anything specific. Where's Gao Hongyu?"

The old headmaster immediately understood: "So you've come to see His Majesty Gao. Please come with me; he's teaching the children swordsmanship."

After saying that, he led Zhou Xuan toward the training ground, and introduced the rebuilt academy to Zhou Xuan along the way.

"Young Master, look, that's our newly built Soul Master trading market, and over there, that's the expanded academy dormitory. Now, any child from the city with Soul Master talent can come in! It's all thanks to your sponsorship that the academy is what it is today!"

The old city lord, his face flushed, pointed out every brick and tile in the city, his excitement and reverence coming from the bottom of his heart.

A few years ago, he would never have imagined that Qiming Academy would become what it is today.

Every time he introduced a place, it was as if he was reporting his achievements to Zhou Xuan, but in his words, he attributed all the credit to Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan listened quietly, occasionally nodding in response.

He could feel the changes in the city, its vibrant life. Compared to the lofty and imposing atmosphere on Shrek Island, he preferred this tangible and down-to-earth vibrancy.

Soon, the two arrived at a secluded training ground deep within the Soul Master Academy.

"Ding! Ding! Clang!"

Before they even got close, the crisp sound of wooden swords clashing, accompanied by the youthful shouts of the boys, could be heard.

On the fencing field, dozens of children, around seven or eight years old, were practicing in pairs. Their movements were still a bit clumsy, but they were all very serious about each move.

A man dressed in gray, with a blade of grass in his mouth, leaned against a tree, watching the children below practice.

The man with a blade of grass in his mouth, leaning against a tree, looking nonchalant, was Gao Hongyu.

Zhou Xuan did not deliberately conceal his presence upon arrival, and Gao Hongyu noticed him almost immediately.

"Hey kid, what are you doing here?"

Gao Hongyu appeared in front of Zhou Xuan in a flash, his face full of surprise and joy.

Seeing this, the old city lord smiled knowingly and said, "Young master, Your Excellency, please continue your conversation. I have some matters to attend to at the academy, so I will go and take care of them first."

After saying that, he respectfully withdrew, leaving the two of them alone.

"What, can't I, as the boss, come and inspect the place?" Zhou Xuan replied with a smile.

"Sure, why not?" Gao Hongyu looked him up and down. "But with your habit of only coming here when you need something, tell me, what is it this time?"

Zhou Xuan did not answer immediately, but instead turned his gaze to the training ground.

His gaze quickly settled on a little girl.

The girl was about seven or eight years old, with two pigtails. Her little face was taut, and she held a wooden sword that was taller than herself. Her movements, though immature, were precise and skillful, revealing a sharpness that was not seen in her peers.

There were many children on the training field, but she was undoubtedly the most outstanding one.

Gao Hongyu followed Zhou Xuan's gaze, his face beaming with undisguised pride.

"Xiao Nuan".

he shouted.

Upon hearing the sound, the little girl immediately sheathed her sword, turned around, and ran over. Her big, dark eyes lit up when she saw Zhou Xuan.

"Brother Zhou Xuan!"

"Hmm, not bad." Zhou Xuan squatted down and patted her head.

Gao Hongyu chuckled from the side, "I have to say, you're really lucky. This little guy is a natural talent for swordsmanship. No wonder he has the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul."

"It seems our little Nuan really is a little genius." Zhou Xuan smiled and patted Nuan's braid.

The latter also looked at Zhou Xuan with a smile.

Gao Hongyu laughed heartily: "Of course! How could my disciple, Gao Hongyu's disciple, not achieve great things in the future?"

He patted Xiao Nuan on the shoulder: "Go on, keep practicing, don't slack off just because your brother Zhou Xuan is here."

"Yes, teacher!" Xiao Nuan nodded vigorously, gave Zhou Xuan a sweet smile, then turned and ran back to the training ground, gripped the wooden sword tightly, and her eyes became focused again.

Looking at the girl's retreating figure, Zhou Xuan's mood improved considerably.

To put it bluntly, this is all his family's wealth. Although it's not a huge amount, it still represents a promising future.

"Alright, stop looking at my apprentice." Gao Hongyu's smile faded, he leaned back against the tree, picked up a blade of grass again, and said, "Let's get down to business. You definitely didn't come here just to see us."

He knew Zhou Xuan too well; he was a man with extremely strong motives.

"I need to go somewhere," Zhou Xuan said without beating around the bush, "It's a bit dangerous, and I need a helper."

"Oh?" Gao Hongyu glanced at him sideways. "Where? Your butler isn't weak either. Is he dangerous?"

"It's not that dangerous, don't worry, your strength is definitely enough," Zhou Xuan said calmly. "After thinking it over, I think you're the most suitable."

Gao Hongyu feigned seriousness: "Oh, I see. Then we'll have to pay extra!"

Zhou Xuan chuckled and shook his head: "Okay, no problem. I wonder what you're going to do with all this money."

In fact, Gao Hongyu was just joking. Ever since he accepted Xiao Nuan as his apprentice, his relationship with Zhou Xuan has become very complicated.

Although they weren't as close as Wang Bo, they had at least some trust in each other.

Otherwise, Zhou Xuan wouldn't have taken him to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

"Now that you mention it, I'm a little curious. What kind of place is it? You trust me that much?" Gao Hongyu joked.

"You're Xiaonuan's teacher, so we're practically family now. We're all family, no need to be so polite."

The phrase "one of our own" made Gao Hongyu laugh heartily: "Alright! I'll take this job!"

"Then get ready, we'll set off immediately."

He waved his hand and turned to walk towards the training field.

He walked over to Xiao Nuan, gave her a few instructions, and then handed over the training arrangements to another teacher from the academy.

Xiao Nuan nodded sensibly, then ran over to Zhou Xuan, looking up at him with her little face.

"Brother Zhou Xuan, are you going out with the teacher?"

“Yes, I have some errands to run.” Zhou Xuan squatted down and tidied her slightly messy braids.

"Then...you must come back soon." The little girl reached out her small hand and stuffed something into Zhou Xuan's hand.

It was a small ring woven from grass leaves, roughly handmade, yet it carried the warmth of the girl's hand.

He solemnly placed the grass ring on his little finger: "Okay, we'll be back soon."

Gao Hongyu had already made the arrangements, and he walked to Zhou Xuan's side: "We can go now."

After visiting Uncle Wang and Gou Dan, Zhou Xuan left with Gao Hongyu. Before leaving, he also took some soul tools from Uncle Wang in case of emergency.

The two figures transformed into two streaks of light and disappeared into the night.

Sunset Forest.

Two figures darted through the forest, moving so fast that they left only faint afterimages.

Gao Hongyu was in front, and Zhou Xuan was behind.

The deeper you go into the heart of the forest, the quieter it becomes; even the chirping of insects and birds disappears.

"Are you sure this is the direction?" Gao Hongyu's voice was somewhat serious.

He could feel his sense of crisis growing stronger.

"Yes."

After walking for about fifteen minutes, Gao Hongyu suddenly stopped and raised his hand to stop Zhou Xuan.

The woodland ahead was shrouded in a thick, multicolored fog, the swirling mist exuding an aura of extreme danger.

"What a domineering poisonous miasma!" Gao Hongyu's expression changed slightly.

He released a wisp of sword energy that probed into it, and in the blink of an eye, the indestructible sword energy was completely corroded by the poisonous mist.

"Even a Title Douluo wouldn't be able to hold out for long in this place." (End of Chapter)