Douluo Continent II: You're an evil spirit master, but also a philanthropist?

"I'll contact my eldest and second uncles right now and have them arrive near Shrek City as soon as possible. They'll come and pick us up personally when we have time off!" Wang Dong comforted Xiao Xiao, his eyes resolute.

……

"You mean... Elder Xuan has a problem?"

The inner court.

In a room.

Zhang Lexuan was surprised. She glanced at Ma Xiaotao, who was looking serious, and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

"Xiao Tao, really, you easily suspect Elder Xuan based on just some unsubstantiated evidence..."

"Sister Lexuan, I want to ask you something," Ma Xiaotao said seriously.

“Okay, go ahead and ask,” Zhang Lexuan said with a smile.

"Ten years ago, when Elder Xuan took you to the Star Dou Great Forest, what exactly did you experience?" Ma Xiaotao stared intently into Zhang Lexuan's eyes. "I was only ten years old that year, and I didn't feel much about the fact that out of more than ten of you left, only three or four returned. In recent years, the academy has kept this news tightly under wraps, and I haven't been able to access much of the truth..."

"Sister Lexuan, I don't want to reopen your wounds, but..."

The smile on Zhang Lexuan's face slowly disappeared.

Instead, a sense of sorrow prevailed.

Faced with that 100,000-year-old soul beast, countless former companions perished tragically.

To this day, she still remembers how everyone was playing around before they set off. As the senior sister, she watched her junior brothers and sisters play around with a smile. But those seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys and girls who respected her immensely, who laughed and joked in front of others but restrained their smiles and respectfully called her senior sister, were also very respectful.

Corpses lay strewn across the field, each dead in a different manner...

There was a young girl who had just entered the inner courtyard, her body half-eaten and barely clinging to life, murmuring that she wanted to go home.

One had been pierced through the heart, struggling, trying to whisper more in her ear, but instead coughed up blood, his throat choked with it, and closed his eyes in despair…

She still remembers how her junior brothers and sisters fought desperately against that 100,000-year-old soul beast. They were at the prime of their lives, yet they were all willing to die for their companions.

They used each and every one of their own lives to resist the attack of that 100,000-year-old soul beast.

Not a single person fled in fear, nor did anyone break away.

Until the last three...

Whenever these images flashed through her mind, she, as the senior disciple of the inner courtyard, felt a piercing sense of powerlessness.

These children trusted her so much, but she was powerless to help those children who were on the verge of death...

She has rarely laughed since that incident.

"Xiao Tao," Zhang Lexuan said, her head bowed, her expression unreadable, her voice trembling, "Please don't ask anymore, I'm begging you..."

Chapter 131 Zhang Lexuan's Shock

"..."

Ma Xiaotao walked along the shore of Poseidon Lake, kicking small pebbles as she pondered.

She only knew a vague outline of the truth from back then, and even when she asked her teacher, she was only given a few words to brush it off. Today, she wanted to learn some details from Sister Lexuan, one of the parties involved, but…

"Ugh, this is such a headache."

Ma Xiaotao pouted, "How does that guy Xu Cheng know all this? I should have asked him directly at the competition..."

"No need, young lady, you can go to the Sun Moon Empire now... and ask them in person."

A voice suddenly rang out.

Ma Xiaotao's eyes narrowed.

She looked up and, without her noticing, several figures in black robes had surrounded her, leaving her nowhere to escape...

A gentle breeze is blowing.

The black-robed figures had their sleeves fluttering, and the leader lifted his hood to reveal a smiling face.

"Holy Maiden, come back with us..."

……

Mingde Hall.

Jing Hongchen handed Xu Cheng a list.

"The list for this exchange may have to be changed. Shrek Academy said that apart from a few reserve team members who have participated in the competition, the rest of the students they sent for the exchange are all elites from the inner academy. They require that the students we send should not only include Ah Xiao, but also other genius students... such as Ma Rulong."

"Oh wow, the list has already been finalized?" Xu Cheng asked in surprise as he took the list.

"Not yet. Shrek Academy told me to wait a little longer. They'll give me the final list before summer vacation, but it'll definitely be substantial enough." Jing Hongchen stroked his chin.

"Looks like they've made up their minds." Xu Cheng glanced at the list.

The fact that Zhang Lexuan, the senior sister, is on the list shows that no matter what the final list is, she will be quite important.

Of course, no matter how the list is modified, Ma Xiaotao will probably have to be added to the end.

Xu Cheng smiled.

Whether this person likes it or not, judging from the timeline, they're already on their way...

"Alright, with Zhang Wen, Ma Rulong, and Bai Wennian, these three are all Mingde Hall students, with the strength of a sixth-level Soul Master. Besides, Zhang Wen is close to a seventh-level Soul Master, so they should be roughly equal. After all, I really don't believe Zhang Lexuan could come..."

Xu Cheng said calmly.

"Hehe, that's what I was thinking too. But since so many people are going to be the final act, then we don't need to go to Meng's place, right?" Jing Hongchen said with a smile.

“Of course, with Ah Xiao here, the weight is already very high…”

Royal Academy of the Sun and Moon Empire

A certain training ground.

With a series of swift and decisive moves, he swiftly defeated his opponent.

Xiao Hongchen was enjoying his success when suddenly his nose itched. "Achoo!"

He looked around suspiciously, only to find everyone cheering him on. "Who's talking about me?"

……

Poseidon Pavilion.

Fan Yu was about to unleash a massacre.

"Dean Yan, if you have not been obstructing us, then why has the list been delayed? The Sun Moon Empire has already shown its sincerity, and on the surface, Xiao Hongchen, the grandson of the Mingde Hall Master, will be on the exchange student list. Isn't that enough sincerity? As one of the strongest in the Sun Moon Empire, do you really want the Sun Moon Prince to come in person?"

Yan Shaozhe's face darkened.

“Zhang Lexuan is impossible! The senior sister of the inner courtyard is much more precious than that Xiao Hongchen. I can only consider it if Sun Moon Academy really sends Xu Cheng.”

"Heh, you really dare to dream. Not only does he hold military power in the Sun Moon Empire and have a noble status, but he also overwhelms Shrek Academy on the field by himself. Even Xiao Tao in her prime is no match for him. What makes you think he would come?"

Fan Yu snorted lightly, "If we were to send you there, it's not necessarily possible."

"He's not worthy of trading with me!" Yan Shaozhe roared.

"They can pilot mechs and injure even the strongest members of the Body Sect, those with three 100,000-year soul rings. Dean Yan, can you do that? I'm afraid you'd have a hard time even breaking through their defenses, let alone injuring them!" Fan Yu said without any mercy.

"..."

Next to the meeting.

Looking at Fan Yu, who was debating with the group of scholars.

Qian Duoduo shrank back, "I didn't expect Fan Yu to be so fierce, able to push Lao Yan to the brink of madness. This is the first time I've ever seen anything like it."

Xian Lin'er snorted: "Yan Shaozhe is short-sighted and deserves to be criticized. I think Fan Yu is right. This old man looks reasonable and kind, but he's actually just a stubborn old man..."

"Alright, you two have argued enough, haven't you?"

Elder Mu spoke.

He looked at Zhang Lexuan, who was standing quietly to the side, and said with a smile, "Lexuan, seeing how fiercely they are arguing, why don't you give your opinion? The decision of whether or not to go this time is up to you."

"Of course, they both meant well. Fan Yu believes that as the senior sister of the inner court, and someone who will enter the Sea God Pavilion in the future and take over as the dean of the Martial Soul Department, it would be good for you to have some contact with the Sun Moon Empire in advance and see some of the future development trends of soul tools."

"Shao Zhe is worried that your exceptional talent might lead to your being detained by the Sun Moon Empire or encountering other dangers. As the dean of the Martial Soul Department, it is only natural for him to be concerned about his students."

"So……"

Mu En looked at Zhang Lexuan with a smile, waiting for her reply.

Just as Zhang Lexuan was about to refuse.

"problem occurs!"

An alarm blared through the sky.

"This is... the academy's Level One Alarm! It's only sounded in times of major crisis!" Cai Meier exclaimed in surprise.

Most of the people in the entire academy qualified to sound the alarm are here.

Only the deans and vice-deans of the Martial Soul Department, and other high-ranking members, are qualified...

"Ma Xiaotao has been kidnapped by a group of evil soul masters, and Director Du Weilun has been severely injured. We request reinforcements!!!" an urgent voice rang out.

"..."