"Teacher, is this really Haiyuan City?"
Two years had passed. At this moment, Ma Xiaotao's figure had become even more striking—fiery and alluring, her curves graceful and well-defined.
She stared at the towering metal structure before her—hundreds of meters tall and reaching into the clouds—with disbelief in her eyes.
On the streets, soul-powered electric vehicles zipped past like nimble swimming fish, emitting only a faint buzzing hum.
Not far away, the commercial district bustled with life—crowds weaving through the streets, hawkers calling out their wares, laughter and chatter intertwining into a vivid, thriving portrait of city life.
This whole scene left Ma Xiaotao momentarily dazed, her mind stunned by the transformation.
Yan Shaozhe was equally shocked, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily, his eyes filled with confusion.
He found it hard to believe that this city, once situated on the fringe of the Star Luo Empire, could have become so prosperous and vibrant—its level of development now rivaling even the Shrek City they had always taken pride in.
Shrek City had ten thousand years of storied history, further bolstered by Shrek Academy, the continent's most prestigious institution. It stood as a symbol of excellence, a beacon on the Douluo Continent.
Haiyuan City, on the other hand—Yan Shaozhe had visited it in the past. Back then, it was nothing more than an ordinary, slightly weathered coastal town. Comparing that old image with the vibrant city before them now, the difference was nothing short of heaven and earth.
What astonished Yan Shaozhe the most, without a doubt, was the ubiquitous presence of soul tools throughout the city.
In the past, the original three nations of the Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy had all held somewhat dismissive attitudes toward soul tools. Though research had been conducted, scenes like this—where soul tools were widely adopted and deeply integrated into daily life—had only ever been seen in the Sun Moon Empire.
Looking at the crowds passing by, their faces glowing with joy and contentment, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The citizens of Haiyuan City must now be living peaceful and happy lives.
"We really underestimated that kid... He truly is a capable city lord."
Though Yan Shaozhe still harbored some lingering bias against soul tools deep down, he had to admit—at this very moment—that their presence had undeniably improved the lives of ordinary people.
This reality began to shake the stubborn beliefs he had once held. He started to realize that soul tools weren't as useless or inferior as he had once thought.
His thoughts drifted to his own teacher—Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
Mu En had long advocated for the development of soul tools, even going so far as to favor the Soul Tool Department during academy resource allocations.
Back then, Yan Shaozhe had struggled to understand those decisions. But now, standing in this flourishing Haiyuan City, he began to comprehend his teacher's reasoning—perhaps not entirely, but the insight had taken root.
Ma Xiaotao's expression, meanwhile, was far more complicated.
Just thinking about meeting that overbearing, pushy brat Lu Jingming—who had once infuriated her to the point of rage—left her feeling uncomfortable.
On top of that, they had come here seeking help. Witnessing the current prosperity of Haiyuan City only made her emotions more turbulent and difficult to express.
"Come on, let's go visit Snowmoon Douluo and that young city lord."
Yan Shaozhe, sharp-eyed, had already sensed the discomfort in his disciple. But he only chuckled lightly, unfazed.
In his view, such little conflicts among young people were nothing more than passing episodes in the process of growing up. They might even become sparks that brought people closer together. In that sense, it could be a blessing in disguise.
Unknowingly, two years had gone by. In that time, Ma Xiaotao had made significant breakthroughs in her cultivation. She had now advanced to the level of a Soul Ancestor.
Just before this trip to Haiyuan City, she had successfully obtained her fourth soul ring.
Truth be told, if it weren't for the cold energy accidentally released by Jingliu two years ago—which had temporarily suppressed the raging evil fire within her—and the abundant resources Shrek Academy had provided, she might not have advanced so quickly.
It was worth noting that Ma Xiaotao was only thirteen years old. At that age, even among so-called prodigies, most would be no more than Soul Elders, and many ordinary soul masters might not even reach the level of a Grand Soul Master.
This alone showed just how frightening Ma Xiaotao's talent was, once freed from the torment of the evil fire.
It was no wonder Yan Shaozhe had pinned such high hopes on her, sparing no effort or expense in his quest to help her rid herself of the fire completely.
Thanks to Shrek Academy's vast intelligence network, Yan Shaozhe had already investigated Haiyuan City thoroughly upon returning to the academy two years ago.
Precisely because of that, he hadn't rushed over at the time.
It wasn't until now—when Ma Xiaotao's internal fire once again flared out of control, reaching a critical point—that he had hurried to Haiyuan City, bringing along the rare and precious natural treasures he had spent the past two years collecting.
He still remembered vividly the conflict with Jingliu and the others during their first encounter. Yan Shaozhe knew full well that the usual prestige of Shrek Academy meant little in the face of someone like Jingliu, whose strength was unfathomable.
So, this time, he had no choice but to humble himself—adopting a respectful and earnest attitude, carrying valuable offerings in hopes of gaining their assistance.
Fortunately, their previous conflict had been only a minor clash and hadn't escalated into a true confrontation. Otherwise, Yan Shaozhe didn't even dare imagine the consequences—he might have been left with nothing but regret and helplessness.
In the span of two years, the former city lord's mansion—once located in the heart of Haiyuan City—had since been relocated to a seaside cliff. There, it had been rebuilt as a coastal villa, far removed from the city's hustle and bustle.
The seaside cliffside villa stood on three terraced levels, its main structure spiraling upward like a conch shell. The exterior was clad in a soul-guided metal that shimmered with a deep ocean-blue hue.
The roof was a magnificent mosaic, composed of hundreds of hexagonal soul crystal panels. By day, they absorbed sunlight to store energy; by night, they projected a dazzling star map into the sky—condensing the vast expanse of the cosmos onto the small canvas of the rooftop.
At the very center of the dome was embedded a small soul core—a compact yet powerful device, beating like the heart of the entire villa. It supplied a constant flow of energy to the residence, ensuring the seamless operation of all soul-tech systems throughout the estate.
Led by a Jinwei Guard fully encased in black soul armor, Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao slowly stepped into the lavish city lord's residence.
All Jinwei Guards wore identical black armor, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to discern their true identities.
The moment they crossed the threshold, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
With his wealth of experience and insight, he immediately recognized the staggering value of the materials used in constructing this villa.
From the soul-forged metal that formed the building's very skeleton, to the soul crystals replacing traditional roofing—every element was worth a fortune.
To construct such a vast and intricately designed cliffside villa would require not just vision and craftsmanship, but a veritable fortune.
Even with a rough estimate, Yan Shaozhe was certain: crafting such a luxurious residence would cost no less than hundreds of millions of gold soul coins.