Chapter Seven: Xu Minghuang's Worries

“Immortal” Xu Yucheng, ranked nineteenth on the list of young prodigies.

But this title did not mean that Xu Yucheng was some unkillable “cockroach.”

In fact, due to the overwhelming power of his Dark Demon Scythe martial soul, it would cause a backlash on the soul master himself.

As a result, Xu Yucheng’s defense was as fragile as a sheet of paper compared to soul masters of the same rank, utterly vulnerable.

Therefore, in battles, Xu Yucheng always prioritized ensuring that his opponents’ attacks never landed on him.

Thus, the term “Immortal” did not mean Xu Yucheng couldn’t be killed—it meant that since one wrong move could be fatal, he simply “could not die.”

In terms of Xu Zhao’s past life, this guy was nothing more than a high-attack, low-defense fragile assassin.

However, the “Immortal” Xu Yucheng was a title he earned seven years later.

Right now, he was merely a six-year-old child who had just recently awakened his martial soul.

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The Xu family branch where Xu Yucheng lived was located near the Jingyang Mountains to the south of Ming Capital. Not far from their home stood the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, famously known as the “Eternal Runner-up.”

On the way to the Xu family branch,

Xu Zhao gazed out the window as the scenery blurred by, a question arising in his mind.

In his previous life’s records, before Xu Yucheng applied to Shrek Academy, he was a student at the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and was even hailed as the best under eighteen, or at least under fifteen.

The claim of being the best under eighteen might be exaggerated.

After all, no matter how much the Sun and Moon Royal Academy had declined, its reputation as the “Eternal Runner-up” was not without merit; the academy certainly had soul lords under eighteen who had mastered the One-Character Battle Armor.

But the title of best under fifteen carried more credibility.

If one excluded Long Chen, who had singlehandedly defeated Tang Wulin, Xu Yucheng could indeed be considered the best under fifteen at the Sun and Moon Royal Academy.

So the question arises:

Given how much the Sun and Moon Royal Academy valued its geniuses and Xu Yucheng’s prestigious Xu family background, why did he choose to go to Shrek Academy?

Had he lost his mind? Didn’t he know the grudge between the Xu family and Shrek?

“I just don’t get it. Well, I’ll ask him directly when we arrive to see how he views Shrek Academy.”

Several hours later.

At the Jingyang Mountains, the Xu family branch estate.

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This was an estate covering over five hundred acres, originally one of the Xu family’s main holdings. After the branch family split off, this property was allocated to their line.

“Brother Minghuang, what brings you here today?”

An elder in a crimson robe waited at the estate gate. Upon seeing Xu Zhao and his grandfather Xu Minghuang step out of the carriage, he greeted them warmly.

This man was Xu Mingyao, the head of the Xu family branch, of the same generation as Xu Minghuang, Xu Zhao’s grandfather. His martial soul was the Sun, he was a level ninety-seven titled Douluo, and a master of the Three-Character Battle Armor.

“Brother Mingyao, it’s been a long time,” Xu Minghuang said as he pulled his grandson forward.

“My grandson just awakened his martial soul today. He’s eager to spar with someone his own age.”

“I thought, among the younger generation of our great families, only your son has the strength to compete with mine.”

“So here I am, bringing Zhao’er to pay a visit.”

Xu Mingyao listened carefully, his expression unreadable but his mind active.

His own grandson had awakened the super martial soul, Dark Demon Scythe.

Though due to the backlash from the martial soul, he could only absorb a hundred years’ worth of soul energy, this drawback intensified as the Dark Demon Scythe bearer’s soul power increased.

Therefore, a first-stage soul master was the peak period for the Dark Demon Scythe martial soul, without exception.

“So your grandson has truly awakened both the Sun and Moon twin martial souls?” Xu Mingyao thought. Only such a twin martial soul pairing could dare challenge a first-stage soul master with the Dark Demon Scythe.

From beginning to end, Xu Mingyao never doubted Xu Zhao’s talent or soul power level.

After all, his own grandson, Xu Yucheng, was born with full soul power and was now a first-stage soul master.

Xu Zhao had just turned six today and had just awakened his martial soul. If he did not have innate full soul power, it would have been impossible for him to already be a first-stage soul master.

If he wasn’t even a first-stage soul master, how could he have the confidence to challenge his grandson?

“A spar? Very well,” Xu Mingyao smiled and agreed.

“Brother Mingyao, you don’t know. Ever since my grandson awakened the Dark Demon Scythe martial soul, his pride has been sky-high,” Xu Minghuang said.

“Your visit comes at the perfect time. It’s time my grandson learns that there are always others stronger out there.”

“Nonsense! Nonsense!” Xu Minghuang waved his hand.

“Everyone knows the Dark Demon Scythe martial soul is peerless in offense, nearly invincible at the first-stage soul master level.”

“I brought my grandson to spar partly for practice, but mostly so these two kids can get to know each other.”

Midway through, he suddenly switched to telepathic communication:

“The Douluo Federation appears calm on the surface, but beneath, turbulent currents churn.”

“The Holy Spirit Church is making covert moves; the defense lines in the Extreme North are precarious; Shrek Academy openly flouts federation laws with impunity; the Spirit Transmission Tower and Tang Sect collude with foreign powers, smuggling massive resources to support the barbaric kingdoms of Xingluo and Tiandou.”

“Even the War God Temple is entangled with Shrek Academy due to the current temple master.”

“I have a premonition that the federation will soon face great upheaval.”

“Our two families share the same roots and have produced two geniuses simultaneously. We should support each other. What do you think, Brother Mingyao?”

“Brother Minghuang, your words are not without reason,” Xu Mingyao replied telepathically.

“Though the future is uncertain, the federation’s current state demands we prepare for the worst.”

“The Xu family’s legacy spanning tens of thousands of years must not be broken in our grandsons’ generation.”

Nearby, Xu Zhao, noticing their gaze but silence, realized they were communicating telepathically and interrupted:

“Grandfather, what are you whispering about?”

“Is there something I’m not supposed to hear?”

“Oh, nothing,” Xu Minghuang said. Though he knew his grandson was precocious, he was still just six years old. Some matters were not appropriate for him to know yet, so he chose to conceal the truth.

“Just some private family matters.”

With a spiritual martial soul, Xu Zhao immediately sensed his grandfather was lying.

Yet he chose not to expose him.

After all, on the surface, he was just a six-year-old child, and some matters truly were not suitable for him yet.

Still, from their telepathic exchange, Xu Zhao could roughly guess their topic.

Moreover, with memories of his past life, he understood far more than these elders did.

“Grandfather, if it’s private, then discuss it in private.”

“We’ve been standing at the gate for so long. If you keep talking, when will we get inside?”