Chapter Twenty-Nine: After School

Course Schedule for the Junior Division.

Generally, theory lessons take place in the mornings, while the afternoons are reserved for meditation and cultivation.

As for whether to cultivate or where to do so, that is entirely up to each student; the academy does not impose or interfere.

Thus, after morning classes conclude, most members of the Solar Class return to their respective homes. Only a small number of students from modest backgrounds, who entered thanks to their talent, remain behind to meditate and cultivate at the academy’s specially constructed simulated training grounds.

Walking along the academy's green pathways, Xu Yucheng glanced around to ensure no outsiders were nearby before curiously asking, “Boss, what exactly did you do in Tiandou City? How did your soul power suddenly jump three levels?”

Hearing this, Xue Liushuang and Weng Daimin also pricked up their ears, waiting for Xu Zhao’s answer.

“Oh, nothing much,” Xu Zhao replied casually, as if recounting an everyday event. “I killed the guardian of the junior Ascension Spirit Platform in Tiandou City. It dropped a thousand-year-old external soul bone. After absorbing it, my soul power rose by three levels.”

“Impressive! No wonder you're the boss,” the three said, although they didn’t know what a guardian was, it was obviously formidable.

After all, if soul bones could be easily obtained from the Ascension Spirit Platform, the Spirit Transmission Tower would have long gone bankrupt.

“By the way, boss,” Xue Liushuang’s mind raced with ideas, “since the junior Ascension Spirit Platform in Tiandou City has a guardian, our junior Ascension Spirit Platform here in Mingdu should have one too.”

“How about we go to the Ascension Spirit Platform now, take down our guardian, and then grab a soul bone from the Spirit Transmission Tower as well?”

“Not a bad idea, but no,” Xu Zhao vetoed the proposal. “Freeloading off the Spirit Transmission Tower like that is a one-time thing. Do you think it’s some charitable institution?”

“However, I can’t take on the guardian battle again, but if you three can handle it yourselves, I might be able to arrange for you to take the soul bone.”

“But don’t even think about it now; you’re no match for the guardian yet. I was able to kill the guardian in Tiandou because its defenses were weak, and its psychic power, which it relied on most, wasn’t stronger than mine—so I was able to suppress it.”

“Enough about that. How about you?” Xu Zhao turned to Xu Yucheng and asked, “After resolving your soul backlash, how much has the lifespan of your Demon Flower Mantis improved?”

“Well,” Xu Yucheng said as a glow appeared behind him, transforming into a four-winged mantis. “My Demon Flower Mantis has improved from a 300-year lifespan to 700 years.”

Before awakening his martial soul, no one knew that his awakened martial soul would be the Dark Demon Scythe, which would cause backlash to his body.

Because of this, Xu Yucheng had consumed numerous spiritual treasures that enhanced his physical constitution since childhood.

This was why, even after the backlash from the Dark Demon Scythe, he could still absorb 300 years of soul energy.

Now, with full mastery over the Dark Demon Scythe martial soul and under the family’s care, his physical condition quickly recovered to the level before the soul awakening.

Afterward, he teamed up with Xue Liushuang and Weng Daimin. The three wreaked havoc in the junior Ascension Spirit Platform of Mingdu, and after just one expedition, the soul spirit Demon Flower Mantis’s lifespan was boosted to 700 years.

A 700-year lifespan was already close to Xu Yucheng’s current maximum capacity.

Beside them, Xue Liushuang chimed in, “My Cold Jade Sword Bamboo has also improved to over 700 years, nearly 800, while Daimin’s Snow Mist Flower is a bit lower, only over 600 years, not quite reaching 700.”

“So, boss, what about your Howling Moon? It should have broken past a thousand years, right?”

“Mm.” Xu Zhao nodded lightly.

He then crossed his arms, and after a flash of white light, Howling Moon was cradled in his arms.

“Six wings? I thought it was four!”

“Boss, can the wings of your mutated soul spirit increase as the lifespan breaks through? It kind of looks like the Holy Angel martial soul from the Angel family.”

“Speaking of the Angel family, their current heir, Le Zhengyu, is only a year older than us. Should we bring him into our fold? That would effectively gain us the support of the Southern Legion.”

Each of the three spoke in turn.

Xu Zhao shook his head slightly upon hearing the last suggestion.

“No need. Le Zheng’en, the Southern Legion’s commander, is a sharp strategist and would never easily take sides, even if his grandson Le Zhengyu joined us.”

“But being sharp also has its advantages. As long as future benefits lie with us, Le Zheng’en will maintain a relatively neutral stance that slightly favors us.”

Looking at the bigger picture,

Le Zhengyu, an heir of the family and one of the Seven Wonders of Shrek, has had Le Zheng’en do very little for Shrek—whether openly or secretly, actions that can be counted on one hand.

Therefore, the most direct way to gain the Southern Legion’s support would be to eliminate the Angel family entirely, wiping out the high-ranking officers loyal to them and seizing power.

But that’s unnecessary.

With favorable winds, the Southern Legion does not lack a member like him; against the wind, one more Southern Legion is not particularly meaningful.

...

Xu Zhao steered the conversation back to the Solar Class.

“Our class president and vice president are both under our control.”

“Liushuang, one month from now, I want you to defeat Long Chen and take his vice president position. Confident?”

“That’s a bit difficult,” Xue Liushuang hesitated. “Long Chen’s martial soul grade is above mine, and my soul power is a level lower than his, so I can’t guarantee a win, but I will do my best to defeat him.”

“But if my Split Light Sword could be elevated to the Moonlight Sword now, I’d have absolute confidence to defeat Long Chen.”

Her gaze toward Xu Zhao carried a hint of expectation.

“Don’t think about it.” Xu Zhao saw that look and replied calmly, “Martial soul elevation isn’t something done overnight. It takes at least a year or two.”

“However…”

Seeing Xue Liushuang’s eyes dim, he shifted tone.

“One month from now, before your battle with Long Chen, I can use my martial soul’s power to maximize and temporarily awaken that portion of your Split Light Sword’s power belonging to the Moonlight Sword, temporarily transforming your martial soul into the Moonlight Sword.”

“But this technique can only be used once a month, as overuse damages the martial soul's origin. Each time it lasts only three minutes.”

“So, you must defeat Long Chen within three minutes.”

Xue Liushuang’s dimming eyes brightened once more, and with full confidence, she answered, “Three minutes is more than enough.”

“As long as my martial soul won’t be outshone by Long Chen’s Bright Holy Dragon, I can show him the power of the Xue family’s Split Light Sword Technique!”

“As long as you’re confident in winning.” Xu Zhao nodded in satisfaction.

“As for the four major class committee positions, I intend to take the Forging Committee seat myself. As for you three, I won’t impose any demands.”

“Getting it would be great; if not, it doesn’t matter much. Since you three all focus on mecha manufacturing, no matter who secures the Mecha Manufacturing Committee seat, the other two will be left out.”