Chapter 71: Dragon's Carefree Wander

(The protagonist will appear in the next chapter.)

After Jing Hongchen whispered a few words with Xu Tianran, he seemed to receive something from Xu Tianran's hand. Xu Tianran left under his attendants' guard, and before departing he again saluted Fan Yu and the Shrek Academy students. At least on the surface, the Crown Prince still makes a good impression.

"Huo Yuhao, come over," Jing Hongchen walked up close and waved at Huo Yuhao.

I'm coming! Huo Yuhao felt a slight stir, gave Fan Yu a perfectly normal look, and hurried to Jing Hongchen.

"Hall Master." In terms of etiquette, he is certainly not lacking.

Looking at the youth before him, Jing Hongchen's eyes showed a complex expression. "Fifty percent, just as you said. Thirty silver dragon scales—that's the maximum I can secure. If you still disagree, there's nothing I can do. If you're okay, give me the design diagram."

While speaking, he extended his right hand toward Huo Yuhao; in his palm rested a star‑light blue sapphire ring. The gem on the band was far larger than Huo Yuhao's own, and its star lines were clearer. The ring alone was probably worth several million gold soul coins, and it was priced but unsellable.

Huo Yuhao didn't linger this time; he took the ring, slipped it onto his hand, and said, "Deal." As he spoke, he reached into his Twenty‑Four Bridges Moonlit Night pocket, pulled out a small box, and handed it to Jing Hongchen.

Jing Hongchen didn't dare be careless; he hurriedly opened the box to inspect. Inside was a roll of schematics, drawn with great precision. With a quick glance, Jing Hongchen judged it to be authentic, and the contents instantly gave him a sense of enlightenment.

Finally in hand. Huo Yuhao and Jing Hongchen felt exactly the same.

"Aren't you going to check it?" Jing Hongchen looked at Huo Yuhao with a half‑smile.

Huo Yuhao chuckled, "I trust you. If you were still to play tricks with me on this, you wouldn't be the Mingde Hall Master, would you?"

Jing Hongchen snorted coldly. "You weren't like this yesterday. Do you know how hard I worked to persuade the Crown Prince to secure so much material?"

Huo Yuhao laughed, "You still managed to persuade him, right? One below the ruler, above ten thousand!"

Jing Hongchen also laughed, patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder, sighed, and said, "It would be great if you were my disciple. Let's go, I'll see you off."

Even Fan Yu and Cai Tou didn't know what Jing Hongchen and Huo Yuhao had discussed. Jing Hongchen led several teachers from the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy, released flying soul guide devices, and escorted Huo Yuhao's party upward, heading east.

Along the way, the Shrek Academy students mostly showed eager and excited expressions. Finally they could return; to them, Shrek Academy is truly home!

But there was also heaviness. Where exactly has Chen Qiye vanished to? The constant vigilance required at the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy feels unsettling. Yet the two‑and‑a‑half years of study have exposed them to many cutting‑edge soul guide device designs and philosophies, and everyone has benefited greatly. How much they actually learn now depends on their own effort.

Jing Hongchen said little during the journey, silently operating his flying soul guide device. Huo Yuhao quietly inspected the contents of the star‑light blue sapphire ring.

He could only describe it as dazzling and bewildering. In fact, even he hadn't expected Jing Hongchen to produce so many items. Though the trigger mechanism of the Zhuge Divine Crossbow is excellent, it could never be worth this many precious materials. Securing twenty percent already satisfied Huo Yuhao. If Jing Hongchen hadn't approached him today, Huo Yuhao would have sought him out, agreed to his price, and never imagined such a pleasant surprise. At the same time, Jing Hongchen's generosity gave Huo Yuhao a hint of wariness.

After several hours, guided by Jing Hongchen's precise coordinates, they arrived at the pre‑arranged exchange site.

Jing Hongchen led the group to glide down slowly; on the other side, the Shrek Academy party had already arrived.

The ones coming to complete the exchange were still Dean Yan Shaozhe of the Shrek Academy martial soul department, accompanied by Dean Xian Lin'er of the Shrek Academy Soul Guide Department. The two deans arriving together showed the importance of this exchange. Only the two came; the rest were exchange students from the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen showed little change; after all, they were already adults when the exchange began, unlike Huo Yuhao who was in his adolescent growth phase.

The siblings' gazes became more focused, and they immediately fixed their eyes on Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao, however, wore a smile, appearing indifferent.

"Hall Master Hongchen, we meet again," Yan Shaozhe walked forward with a smiling squint; although he addressed Jing Hongchen, his gaze fell on Huo Yuhao.

Even though Huo Yuhao's physique had changed considerably, and his aura shifted a bit, Yan Shaozhe naturally recognized him.

His essence is restrained, his eyes plain and unadorned; judging by that, the boy's progress is indeed impressive! Xian Lin'er's gaze is even more eager than Yan Shaozhe's. She knows better than Yan Shaozhe how huge a contribution Huo Yuhao has made to Shrek Academy over the past two‑plus years. One could say his abilities have propelled the academy's Soul Guide Department forward a millennium.

Jing Hongchen never imagined that the vast soul guide device schematics from Mingde Hall and the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Mentor Academy had been perfectly replicated by Huo Yuhao through mental power. Over the past two‑plus years, thanks to Shrek Academy's own research and production, the Soul Guide Department has made a qualitative leap! One could call Huo Yuhao the academy's hero! "Dean Yan, hello. Your charisma remains," Jing Hongchen smiled faintly, stepped forward, and clasped hands with Yan Shaozhe. The two old foxes wore beaming smiles; anyone unaware would think they were close friends.

Yan Shaozhe smiled, "Hall Master Hongchen, I have safely returned your grandson and granddaughter. Over the past two‑plus years they have been diligent and made great progress; I am pleased. I hope we can continue such exchanges in the future."

Jing Hongchen chuckled, "We'll discuss back home and see if this exchange can become routine. If so, it should benefit the development of both our academies even more."

"As for Chen Qiye, we do indeed feel a slight regret."

"Remember what you said: unless you find his corpse, you must keep the search open all day, a full sweep."

"Naturally."

Yan Shaozhe released Jing Hongchen's hand; both smiled courteously at each other and simultaneously gestured toward their own people.

Fan Yu hurried with Huo Yuhao's group to the rear of the two deans; Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen did the same, each swapping positions.

After two and a half years of exchange learning, only they know how much each side actually learned and gained. At this moment, the exchange study finally concluded.

"Farewell!" Jing Hongchen seemed reluctant to linger. After greeting Deans Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er, he released flying soul guide devices with his students and rose straight up from the city into the sky, unbothered by attention. Yan Shaozhe watched them vanish into the distant sky, then lowered his gaze, smiling as he surveyed the students who had completed the exchange. "Children, welcome home."

A simple sentence warmed every Soul Guide Department student's heart, some even with tears welling up. Yes! It's time to go home.

"Dean Yan, I have something to tell you," Huo Yuhao hurried to Yan Shaozhe's side and whispered.

"Hmm?" By seniority, both being disciples of Mu Lao, Huo Yuhao could still be considered his junior brother. Moreover, over the past two‑plus years Huo Yuhao's efforts and the valuable data he brought back are well known to him.

"Fan Yu, take everyone to that hotel over there for a bite. We're not in a rush like Jing Hongchen; we can eat first and then set off."

"Alright." Fan Yu is now Deputy Dean of the Shrek Academy Soul Guide Department and a member of the Sea God Hall, a status far different from before.

The others left, leaving only Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er. Yan Shaozhe, with a pleased tone, said, "Yuhao, what is it? You may speak now."

A gentle mental ripple appeared silently; without any visible motion from Yan Shaozhe, a barely perceptible layer of spirit power already enveloped the three. Even if someone stood nearby, they could not hear the conversation.

Truly a Super Douluo. Even Huo Yuhao, a Soul Master of the mental department, admits he cannot achieve such delicate spirit‑power control.

"Dean Yan, Dean Xian, it's like this. I think Mingde Hall may act against us on the return journey..."

"Oh? Then is Jing Hongchen about to..." Xian Lin'er said skeptically.

Huo Yuhao said: "He's just too concerned about saving face. Before he returned, I sold him a design diagram, charged a high price, and extorted many rare metals from him. He was very unwilling at the time, but before we left today he still agreed and didn't haggle any further. I think he will likely try to seize them back from me on the road."

Yan Shaozhe asked curiously, "Yuhao, exactly how much rare metal did you extract from him? As the Mingde Hall Master of the Sun-Moon Empire, does he lack such generosity? Also, when you sold him the design diagram, could it…"

…

The weather was fine today, clear skies stretching endlessly, yet at this moment, far on the horizon a massive cloud mass drifted toward them at astonishing speed. Moreover, the cloud seemed to keep expanding, bearing an ominous, city‑crushing aura.

Xian Lin'er snorted, spun, and slipped out of Yan Shaozhe's spirit‑shielded circle; the flying soul guide device reduced its output, hovering mid‑air.

Yan Shaozhe said to Huo Yuhao, "Yuhao, stay behind me; just watch."

"Understood," Huo Yuhao replied.

The dense black cloud accelerated, drawing nearer, its enormity becoming evident. It gradually coalesced in the sky, forming a massive tiger‑head, and a deep, rolling voice thundered, "Yan Shaozhe, do you still remember an old friend?"

Yan Shaozhe narrowed his eyes, "Zhang Peng, you're still not dead. Are you preparing for me to capture you today?"

"Yan Shaozhe, your mouth is still as foul; today I'll see who captures whom."

The massive tiger‑head cloud let out a deafening roar, its terrifying pressure exploding instantly, sweeping over Huo Yuhao and the two others like a deluge.

At that moment, Xianlin'er moved; she raised her head and let out a long whistle, her figure flashed, and she already shot up into the sky. Intense flames burst from her body. The color of the flames was actually cyan. Xianlin'er's body grew taller; in the blink of an eye, her height became over five meters, and she also gained a layer of cyan armor.

Yan Shaoche gave a faint smile and said, "Zhang Peng, you're getting worse and worse, actually colluding with the Sun Moon Empire, finding a good backer!"

The black-clothed old man angrily shouted, "Bullshit! I don't even know what the Sun Moon Empire is, let alone what the Mingde Hall is. Hurry up and hand over the person, you guys get lost."

Xianlin'er's eyes flashed with cold light: "You're not afraid the wind will blow your tongue away? I want to see what gives you the right to tell us to get lost." Saying that, she let out a loud shout, her body like a cyan lightning bolt flashing in midair; in the next instant she was before the black-clothed old man, her battle spear pointing forward, only to hear a thunderous boom in midair, a huge cyan dragon light shadow flickered behind her and vanished. The tip of her spear had already reached the black-clothed old man's face.

The black-clothed old man brought his hands together in front of his chest, and a black light ball instantly appeared in his palms; two yellow, two purple, five black—nine soul rings rapidly rose from his feet, actually emitting a halo in turn. That black light ball had already blocked Xianlin'er's spear tip.

In an instant, the whole space seemed to collapse; Huo Yuhao only felt his spirit waver, and the sky suddenly darkened.

On the other side, Xianlin'er was already battling the black-clothed old man Zhang Peng.

Zhang Peng's fists are his weapons; each punch he throws produces a thick black mist, while Xianlin'er's fighting style is much wilder—each thrust of her battle spear rings out with a bright dragon's roar, actually forcing Zhang Peng to retreat step by step in midair.

He is also an old man, but compared to the Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng, his appearance is much better. The old man is tall and sturdy, with a head of silver hair neatly combed, his complexion ruddy like a baby's, long eyebrows hanging down both sides of his face, hands behind his back. Just hovering there in midair, he releases no soul power fluctuations at all. Yet not far away, the soul power fluctuations released by Xianlin'er and Zhang Peng in their battle dissipate on their own when they reach ten meters from his body, actually unable to spread to him at all.

Yan Shaoche's expression turned grim, not only because this old man directly mentioned Mu Lao when he appeared, but also because he didn't know this old man.

Given Yan Shaoche's age and his status as dean of the Martial Soul Department at Shrek Academy, he had seen most of the famed Title Douluo of the continent. Yet he not only sensed extreme danger from this old man before him, but also couldn't tell who this person was.

Looking at Yan Shaoche's cautious gaze, the old man gave a faint smile and said, "It's been years since I left the mountain; I suppose most of my old friends are gone now, even Mu Lao has ascended to heaven—what a pity. I came today for you. I want to see whether Mu Lao's senior disciple truly inherits his legacy. I am Long Xiaoyao; do you remember me?"

Long Xiaoyao? Upon hearing that name, Yan Shaoche's body shuddered, a person came to mind, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "You, you are the Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao? You're still alive?"

Long Xiaoyao gave a faint smile and said, "Yeah! This old immortal is still alive. Too bad, Mu En passed away before me." Saying this, a hint of deep sorrow flashed in his eyes.

(End of chapter)