"So the rumors were true. The Lady of the Black Tower in Haiyuan City really is a powerful Rank 9 Soul Engineer—and she doesn't belong to the Sun Moon Empire."
Yan Shaozhe sighed inwardly. He had expected a remote border town of little consequence, yet what he found was a hidden land of formidable figures and astonishing development.
Aside from the formidable Snowmoon Douluo, Jingliu, there was also this mysterious "Lady of the Black Tower"—a name he had heard many times, but had never seen in person.
As he and Ma Xiaotao walked slowly across a transparent, curved soul-glass skybridge, the sights unfolding before them left Ma Xiaotao completely stunned.
Everywhere along the way were marvels of soul tool architecture, their functions so strange and extraordinary that they utterly defied her understanding. She felt as if she had stepped into a far-off world of the future.
The first thing that caught their eyes was a Soul Beast Totem Fountain. The cascading waters from the fountainhead weren't ordinary—they transformed at will into lifelike holographic projections of various soul beasts. The forms leaped and soared with breathtaking realism, giving the illusion that they might spring to life and emerge from the screen of mist at any moment.
Further ahead stood the majestic Tideforce Soul Tower.
This tower had the astonishing ability to dispel storms, ensuring that the area around the City Lord's estate was always bathed in clear sunshine. It was like an earthly paradise, untouched by the world's chaos or foul weather.
Then came a soul power hot spring, its waters sourced directly from the deep-sea volcanic veins below.
Steam curled lazily from the surface, carrying a soothing warmth and radiating rich soul energy. It was obvious that soaking in the spring would offer significant benefits to both cultivation and physical well-being.
Not far from it stood an ecological chamber where a flock of Luminous Feather Seagulls was kept.
These seabirds emitted a gentle glow, their plumage shimmering in iridescent hues. They flew freely within the chamber, adding a vibrant sense of life and serenity to the entire City Lord's estate.
As they walked on, Ma Xiaotao's mind gradually went blank—completely overwhelmed.
She felt like a clueless country bumpkin who had never seen the world, dumbfounded in the face of these wonders.
And yet, in truth, Shrek City was one of the most prestigious and advanced cities on the entire Douluo Continent, known for both its deep history and unparalleled prosperity.
The transformation of Haiyuan City had already astonished them. But even that had remained within the bounds of what they could comprehend.
This—this City Lord's estate, however—its opulence and mystery had thoroughly shattered their expectations. It was so utterly fantastical that Ma Xiaotao even began to wonder if she were dreaming.
Even Yan Shaozhe, despite his vast knowledge and experience, couldn't help but question reality itself. For a moment, he wondered if he had unknowingly fallen under some kind of illusion technique—how else could such a place truly exist?
Led across the spiraling glass walkway along both sides of the villa, the Jinwei Guard finally brought Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao to a quiet private beach.
In truth, the moment the two stepped into Haiyuan City, someone had already informed Lu Jingming.
Lu Jingming had more or less guessed the reason behind their visit.
After all, Ma Xiaotao had long been tormented by the rampaging evil fire within her. And Jingliu, as luck would have it, wielded soul power of the ultimate ice attribute. How could her teacher, Yan Shaozhe, possibly sit still?
Lu Jingming had been mentally prepared for their arrival for some time.
What he hadn't expected, however, was just how patient Yan Shaozhe could be—waiting a full two years before finally bringing Ma Xiaotao to seek his help.
Now, seeing the Jinwei Guard escorting the two guests to him, Lu Jingming calmly rose from the reclining chair on the beach.
Gently, he handed the pink-furred little fox in his arms to Zhang Lexuan, then stepped forward to greet them.
After all, Yan Shaozhe was a Super Douluo, a man of lofty status across the Douluo Continent. A basic level of courtesy was only fitting.
Wearing a warm, welcoming smile, Lu Jingming spoke first:
"Welcome to Haiyuan City, Dean Yan."
As he spoke, his gaze turned to Ma Xiaotao, eyes curious.
"And this young lady…?"
Ma Xiaotao lifted her chin slightly, one eyebrow arched in a subtly provocative way. Her voice was crisp, her tone laced with defiance.
"Ma Xiaotao. Of course, you can also call me Sister Xiaotao."
Lu Jingming acted as if he hadn't noticed the provocation in her words. His expression didn't shift in the slightest.
He withdrew his gaze from her and turned back to Yan Shaozhe, a courteous smile on his lips as he asked:
"To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Dean Yan?"
Being completely ignored by Lu Jingming, Ma Xiaotao felt like her punch had landed squarely on cotton—soft, yielding, and ultimately unsatisfying. The frustration twisted in her chest, leaving her breath short and uneven.
Her lips twitched with barely suppressed irritation, and her chest rose and fell sharply as though weighed down by an invisible boulder. Her pretty face flushed crimson, and to an uninformed onlooker, it might have seemed she was simply embarrassed.
Yan Shaozhe, on the other hand, appeared entirely unaware of the silent contest between the two younger ones. His smile remained composed as he turned to Lu Jingming and spoke in a calm, respectful tone:
"We've come uninvited today for two reasons. First, to pay a visit to Snowmoon Douluo. Second, I must admit, we come with a humble request. I hope we might be fortunate enough to ask for Snowmoon Douluo's assistance."
"What matter requires her aid?"
As the words fell, a strange ripple swept through the air, as if a still lake had been disturbed by a single stone, sending waves across the surface.
In the blink of an eye, Jingliu appeared silently at Lu Jingming's side. Her expression was cool and indifferent, her voice cold as frost.
Seeing her, Yan Shaozhe's pupils contracted sharply. A tidal wave of shock surged through his heart.
He knew all too well that while Super Douluos could begin to grasp spatial power, within the entire soul master world, only a few—those born with innate spatial attributes, or who possessed rare space-type soul skills—could manipulate space with such effortless grace.
In his memory, only one person had ever moved through space like this with such ease: his own teacher, the Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
But Mu En was a figure from over a century ago, a living legend, a Rank 99 Limit Douluo!
Jingliu's sudden appearance shattered all of Yan Shaozhe's carefully laid plans. His original strategy had been to rely on Shrek Academy's illustrious name, along with a generous offering, to persuade the other party to lend her aid.
Yet now, standing before this woman who might well rival his own legendary teacher in strength, he realized that matters would not be so simple. Everything had changed.
But since he was already here, retreat was no longer an option.
Suppressing the storm of emotions within him, Yan Shaozhe straightened his back and forced calm into his voice. His expression grew even more respectful, his demeanor humble.
He lowered his head slightly and spoke with genuine sincerity:
"Senior Snowmoon, as you may have already seen, my disciple has long suffered under the torment of the Evil Fire. Our visit today is to humbly request your help in purging the Evil Fire from her body.
Should this matter be resolved successfully, Shrek Academy will forever owe you a great debt. In addition, we have also prepared a generous gift as a token of gratitude. We hope you will accept it, and kindly grant us your aid."
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