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When Tang San's Divine Sense peeked in, Feng Zaixing's angel spirit soul in his Sea of Spirit shrieked a warning, as if some filthy thing had glanced at it.
"The dirty thing's awake? I hope it won't come courting death."
Alerted, Feng Zaixing muttered inwardly and swept his gauze around; people from Shrek entered his sight.
Although Shrek City had been relocating with great fanfare for some time, several hundred thousand civilians simply couldn't move in a day. The leader dispatched by Shrek Academy was the Scarlet Dragon Douluo, Turbid World; Wu Changkong accompanied him, along with nearly ten students.
Yun Ming and Ya Li held the coastal line, continuously ferrying the population.
Qiangu Zhangting was exceptionally eager, seemingly longing for deep exchanges with Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy: "Everyone, the Star Luo Empire's Spirit Transfer Pagoda overseer, Douluo Youyan, is on excellent terms with our family. He especially wishes to meet you all—do find time to visit."
"All right, we will." Feng Zaixing gave a slight nod, his vigilance rising.
Douluo Youyan—Zhang Geyang, Clan Chief of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda's Third Great House, Vice Pagoda Master, level-98 Super Douluo—possessed spirit souls of no small repute, among them a forty-thousand-year Thunder Hell Vine.
Feng Zaixing's own Thunder Hell Vine had absorbed lightning freely and broken past the ten-thousand-year mark; pity its attitude clashed with his, so he never absorbed it as a spirit soul.
"Then I won't disturb you further." Qiangu Zhangting, seeing their lukewarm warmth, flashed an obligatory fake smile and turned away.
The Bright Capital group boarded the ship; Luan Hongchen led Feng Zaixing into a pre-booked private chamber. "After the Star Luo Empire learned of our Federation's three-academy tripod balance, they specifically invited each to send delegations for exchanges. What do you think?"
Feng Zaixing fished out a snow-pear-like Spirit fruit and munched idly. "I don't mind; meet soldiers with generals and water with earth. I'd love to see our academy's prodigies make a name in Star Luo."
Luan Hongchen said, "You don't feel like taking action?"
Feng Zaixing replied, "If I fight, it'd just be bullying."
Luan Hongchen grinned, flashing white teeth. "Just for fun."
Feng Zaixing shook his head. "Not really interested; let fate decide."
"Fine." Luan Hongchen nodded, somewhat disappointed, then asked, "You didn't secretly bring any experts, did you? Long Tianwu and Su Mengjun are already holding the fort here."
Feng Zaixing instantly smiled. "Knowing me, of course I invited a master to come along."
Luan Hongchen's mouth twitched. "This is a visit, not a war; military intel has its own specialists. What are you planning?"
Feng Zaixing folded his arms, looking relaxed. "Offering international humanitarian aid: Star Luo's largest anti-government outfit, Green Skeleton, is a branch of Holy Spirit Cult."
"They've given Star Luo Empire plenty of headaches—Crown Princes assassinated and all. The villainy they can't eliminate, I'll eliminate; the Evil Soul Masters they can't kill, I'll kill."
"Of course, I'll charge Star Luo a modest fee for services rendered. Don't you think I could be an ambassador of peace?"
Luan Hongchen: "————( )——"
You want to work even on vacation—how do you think us daily slackers feel?
Feng Zaixing gave a soft laugh and gazed out the window, nostalgic.
"The ocean is a fine place—rare to visit again——"
Before he finished, a "thump-thump" knock came from outside the chamber.
"Senior Brother, the sea is truly blue, and the Silver Whale pod is gorgeous—come see!" A girl's bell-bright voice rang out.
"Coming." Feng Zaixin answered, opened the door, and saw rippling jade waters setting off silver hair. A petite girl stood on the forehead of a Silver Whale at sea, darling of the ocean, waving delicately, eyes smiling breathtakingly beneath bright pupils.
Boom!
An air-burst sounded; Feng Zaixing vaulted through the air, treading waves to land steadily on a Silver Whale's head, not a drop of water on him.
"Such beautiful silver whales—rare indeed."
Finding the Silver Whale beneath him gentle and graceful, Feng Zaixing felt delight bloom in his heart.
Naer smoothed her silver hair and beamed. "Yes, these Shallow-Water Silver Whales are the loveliest of sea Spirit Beasts, the gentlest too—sometimes they even guide lost humans, though they're very rare."
Feng Zaixing grew even happier. "Silver Whales are rare, but a girl like Junior Sister is rarer; even fierce Spirit Beasts warm to you, let alone Silver Whales."
"Silver Whales deserve protection, and Junior Sister deserves it even more."
Environmentalism often has merit; hateful are those who exploit it for profit, tarnishing its name.
Naer's cheeks flushed slightly; her bright eyes slanted in playful reproach. "Since when did Senior Brother learn to tease me?"
Feng Zaixing laughed. "Minor cultivation gains, slightly broader mind—naturally more energy to cherish those close by."
Naer's heart felt sweet, secretly at ease; what she loved most was Feng Zaixing's calm, unhurried ease.
"Senior Brother, let's each use our skills and see who's faster—how about it?"
Naer produced her silver dragon spear, manipulating water elements to speed the Silver Whale.
Feng Zaixing laughed long. "Fine!"
Without another word, he released several strands of abyss-deep mental force, controlling wind elements.
With a flip of his hand he fed both whales thousand-year Spirit fruits.
No words needed; the two whales shot off like race-track steeds, arrows loosed, racing inward along the coast, carrying the youths' radiant faces.
On two ocean liners many caught sight of the youths riding Silver Whales, their looks and bearing celestial; all turned to gaze.
Star Luo Empire's Fourth Prince, Dai Yueyan, had come incognito; seeing the Body Sect senior siblings so free and elegant, he grew greatly interested. "Ash hair over the shoulders, jade-like grace—so this is Sun Moon Federation's once-in-a-millennium Genius, Feng Zaixing? Indeed extraordinary."
Dai Yuner glared with her big, dark eyes bulging beside him, her cheeks puffed up. "Fourth Brother, these are the two who kidnapped me back then. Why are you speaking for them?"
Dai Yueyan said casually, "If they could kidnap a Spirit King like you, it only proves they're capable. We can't deny his strength just because he's from the Sun Moon Federation."
Dai Yuner hissed like an angry kitten: "I don't care, I don't care! You're my brother, you have to stand on my side!"
Dai Yueyan's head spun as his little sister yanked his sleeve. "All right, all right, I'm on your side. But, little sister, I can't beat him—what good does standing with you do?"
He slapped a thick stack of dossiers stamped with Feng Zaixing's photo onto the table and spread his hands. "He's on the Sun Moon Federation's continental storm ranking list. Even if you skin me alive, I'd still lose."
As the prince most likely to become Crown Prince in this generation of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Yueyan knew his limits—he was definitely no match for certain monsters who had already battered Shrek Tang Sect back in the Federation.
Yet from the Empire's standpoint he still had to thank Feng Zaixing: driving all of Shrek to Star Luo had, among other perks, turned their knock-off Monster Academy into an officially licensed branch—and they might even become the next generation of the Seven Prodigies.
So the real question was: how frighteningly strong had Feng Zaixing become today, four or five years after single-handedly wiping out an entire generation of Shrek Inner Academy students? Could he now one-click delete Monster Academy's prodigies too?
Even though the Monster Academy's Eight Heavenly Kings had received unprecedented Tang Sect resources this year, Dai Yueyan still believed only the Dragon King Long Yue stood a chance—and victory wasn't guaranteed.
Dai Yuner's lips drooped listlessly. "Fine. Then help me with another problem—Father Emperor wants me engaged at fifteen. Get me out of it."
Dai Yueyan clutched his chest in mock heart-attack fashion. "So this was your real goal! Yun'er, you can't be so willful; it's royal protocol."
"I don't care. If you won't speak to Father Emperor for me, I'll go right now and tell that guy that Tiger King Dai Yueyan wants to challenge him."
She pointed at Feng Zaixing, the corners of her mouth curling like a little fox's. "You just broke through to Spirit Emperor; he was a Spirit Emperor a year ago and spent the year recovering. Perfect time to see whether our White Tiger Spirit or his Angel is stronger."
Because the Sun Moon Federation persecuted Shrek, the Star Luo Empire had gained an unexpected windfall. Dai Yuner and Dai Yueyan were forced to follow Federation news daily—hence their detailed files on Feng Zaixing.
The Star Luo princess had brains; Dai Yuner revved her clever little engine and served her royal brother a death-match question, forcing him to rescue her from the backward misery of an arranged marriage.
Dai Yueyan's face puckered in surrender. "This Spirit Emperor owes Vice Sect Leader Zang for his training—please don't bury me. I'll speak up for you, all right?"
As one of his generation's prodigies, Dai Yueyan didn't mind challenging the strong—but he refused to embarrass himself on this kind of stage; it would cost him huge points with the court and with Father Emperor.
Even if he had to lose, it had to be on a public tournament platform!
Dai Yuner beamed in triumph.
"Deal! It's settled."
Dai Yueyan said bitterly, "Actually, Father Emperor and Mother Empress favor Brother Long for you. Apart from being bald and a bit rough on the eyes, he's decent—"
"Not listening, not listening! I don't like him, and I won't get engaged." Dai Yuner clapped her hands over her ears, then rolled her eyes. "If Father Emperor and Mother Empress force me, I'll just pick someone random to fob them off."
Dai Yueyan's mouth twitched. "We can't be that careless—"
Heavens, this little sister was impossible—and But Father Emperor doted on her most of all.
Among the Spirit Transfer Pagoda's exchange group, Witch Douluo Li Mengjie reminisced, a hint of envy flickering across her face.
Qiangu Zhangting curled his lip in secret. So the smug fellow thinks the ocean is paradise? The Star Luo Empire will be his grave.
"So what if your talent is strong? You have no idea how many people want you dead."
The Feng Zaixing who had burned a century of life was still Feng Zaixing; the terror he'd sown years ago had made too many wary, and they dared not let him leave offspring. Qiangu Zhangting had caught vague wind of a plan—an unprecedented joint manhunt.
On Bright Capital's side, Gu Yue and Yuanen Yehui's bright eyes sparkled; they found to feel the thrill of slicing through the waves. Yu Xin glanced from the two on the sea to the two beside her and arched a brow.
Xu Xiaoyan's sky-blue eyes brimmed with envy. "I wish someone would take me down there to play—"
Faint crackles sounded around Ye Xinglan as her Hidden Edge Sword Intent stirred—she was itching for a fight again.
Just then, a broadcast suddenly blared across the star luo ship they were riding.
"Welcome aboard the Star Luo, an ocean-going liner. Tonight we shall hold a grand reception in your honor. Please dress formally; this will be a friendship gala to promote everlasting friendship between our two continents—"
A friendship gala?
Naer's attention was caught; relaxing her water control, Feng Zaixing—who'd purposely kept pace—suddenly emerged ahead of the distracted girl.
Not noticing, Naer turned eagerly to her Senior Martial Brother. "Senior Brother, you—"
"I've never taken part in such things, nor made any preparations." Feng Zaixing shook his head gently.
In a way, he was out of step with this era; socializing simply couldn't compare to Cultivating until you could blow up the World.
Naer gave a playful smile, fluttering her lashes. "But not preparing yourself won't do—we've prepared for you."
Several question marks appeared over Feng Zaixing's forehead. "???"
What do you mean 'we'? What have you all been hiding from me during the year I was in seclusion?
