Chapter 40: The Favorite Episode

At present, the application of soul guidance devices has not yet been popularized within the Shrek Academy Inner Court, so the group had to travel on foot for the time being. However, bolstered by soul power, their speed was not significantly slower than using flight-type soul guidance devices.

The only drawback was that they had to detour around complex terrain rather than maintaining a straight line as they would while flying through the air.

As they traveled, Ye Xixuan proved the reason for his self-confidence through his actions. His pace was by no means lagging behind the other inner court disciples, remaining nearly on par with Gongyang Mo, a support-system soul king.

Ma Xiaotao was, of course, the undisputed leader, followed by the two assault-system battle soul kings, Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng. Although Xi Xi was an agility-attack system battle soul master, her strength lay in sudden bursts of speed. This type of long-distance endurance travel, which required greater physical stamina and resilience of soul power, was actually a disadvantage for her. Consequently, her speed was about the same as that of Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng.

Ling Luochen and Yao Haoxuan, the two newly promoted inner court disciples who had not yet reached the soul king realm, ended up trailing at the back. Remembering her earlier boast that she would look after Ye Xixuan, even with her cold and aloof temperament, Ling Luochen could not help but feel her cheeks burning, and she became even more silent along the way.

As for Yao Haoxuan, being able to walk side-by-side with Ling Luochen made him feel spirited again. Looking at his occasionally unfocused, vacant eyes, it was clear he had spent a fair amount of time lost in daydreams.

While running at high speed, Gongyang Mo laughed heartily and complimented Ye Xixuan, who was beside him: "As expected of a soul master with a soul ring configuration that defies convention. Xixuan, your physical strength and the density of your soul power are likely not much inferior to mine. When you break through to level forty, you should at least be able to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring."

"Senior Gongyang, my third soul ring actually already reached eight thousand years," Ye Xixuan said, not out of any desire to show off, but simply to be sincere with the group.

Gongyang Mo’s eyes widened in astonishment.

"An eight-thousand-year third soul ring?!"

Except for Ma Xiaotao, who was already aware, the three running in front—Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, and Xi Xi—all cast frequent glances toward Ye Xixuan.

The combined age of Ye Xixuan's three soul rings was likely nearing that of a five-ring soul king like them, who had graduated from the Shrek Academy Inner Court. It was no wonder his physical constitution was so astonishing; after all, the higher the age of a soul ring, the greater the enhancement to a soul master's physique.

As for Ling Luochen and Yao Haoxuan, who were trailing behind everyone, the combined age of their soul rings did not even equal Ye Xixuan's third ring.

To accommodate Ling Luochen and Yao Haoxuan, the group gradually adjusted their speed, maintaining a more stable formation.

Ma Xiaotao sidled up to Ye Xixuan and teased him with a wink: "You brat, you’re feeling pretty smug right now, aren't you?"

"What's wrong, Sister Xiaotao?" Ye Xixuan looked at Ma Xiaotao, feeling puzzled.

Ma Xiaotao let out a hum and curled her lip, saying, "Ling Luochen treats all other male students in the inner court with a cold attitude, yet she is remarkably warm toward you. You must be secretly thrilled right now, don't think your Sister Xiaotao doesn't understand the psychology of you adolescent boys. An ice beauty who seems to have no connection to the mortal world, tsk tsk."

"Sister Xiaotao, how can you make assumptions about my aesthetic preferences?" Ye Xixuan appeared shy, but his courage had been growing lately, and he immediately retorted with a playful tease.

"Is there a possibility that compared to an ice beauty like Senior Ling, I actually prefer a passionate and straightforward big sister like you?"

"At least you’re sensible," Ma Xiaotao beamed with delight and asked with interest, "Then tell me, who is prettier, me or Ling Luochen? Oh, and what if you include your Eldest Senior Sister?"

"That would be the Eldest Senior Sister, of course." Ye Xixuan feigned thought for a moment, then gave his answer before Ma Xiaotao could react, laughing as he picked up his pace and ran ahead.

Ma Xiaotao let out a laugh-cry sound and chided him softly.

"You brat! Every day it's Eldest Senior Sister this, Eldest Senior Sister that; I think you really treat her like your own mother."

Hearing Ma Xiaotao’s teasing from behind, Ye Xixuan’s stride faltered for a moment. But upon reflection, he realized that his excessive reliance on the Eldest Senior Sister might indeed stem from the lack of familial affection he had experienced since childhood, so he simply chose not to refute her.

Gongyang Mo approached at some point and said in a soft, delicate voice, "Xiaotao, why does it feel a bit sour in here?"

"You're the one who's sour!" Ma Xiaotao shot a look of disgust at Gongyang Mo.

"I’m warning you, stay away from me. If you come any closer, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Fine, fine, fine." Gongyang Mo waved his hands helplessly, his delicate face filled with sorrow as he thought that there was truly no "place for him" in the entire team.

His situation was quite unique; he couldn't really get along with people like Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng, and furthermore, they tended to shun him—or perhaps they were afraid of him. Truth be told, he was actually more of the same kind as the three women: Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, and Xi Xi.

However, Ling Luochen had a cold personality, and Xi Xi spoke very little, so his relationship with Ma Xiaotao was the best. Yet, Ma Xiaotao’s personality was even more fierce than a man's, and Gongyang Mo was often the target of her disdain, though fortunately, he had become accustomed to it.

The group traveled swiftly, and by the afternoon, they had reached the border between the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Star Luo Empire, having spanned almost the entire Lima Plain.

Once inside the territory of the Star Luo Empire, the landscape turned into an endless expanse of mountains and hills. Ahead, a large military camp of the Star Luo Empire blocked their path.

Everyone stopped to rest, taking out blocks of dark, unappealing food and water from their storage soul devices.

This was essential sustenance for inner court disciples when traveling away from the academy, made from over a dozen medicinal herbs and dozens of high-nutrition ingredients. It was extremely rich in nutrients and could quickly restore physical strength, but it had one problem: the taste was not very good.

Only Dai Yueheng entered the camp mysteriously, and soon returned, nodding toward Ma Xiaotao.

"I’ve already spoken with the Star Luo military; they will let us pass later, but we must cross this mountainous and hilly area before nightfall to reach the heartland of the Star Luo Empire. From there, we will head west toward the Mingdou Mountain Range."

"However, there is a problem. To arrive at the heartland before dark, we can only fly over. But among us, only Xiaotao and Gongyang Mo have the ability to fly; the rest of you will have to rely on flight-type soul guidance devices." As Dai Yueheng spoke, he took out heavy, bulky iron boxes from his storage device. The boxes had folding wings on both sides, which, when fully extended, spanned at least four meters.

Chen Zifeng frowned and asked, "Is this thing safe?"

On the side of the Heavenly Soul Empire, the rejection of soul guidance devices was the strongest, especially among those soul master families with long-standing traditions.

Yao Haoxuan swallowed hard and timidly echoed, "Besides, it should take time to learn how to use a flight-type soul guidance device, right? Why not just have Gongyang Mo carry us across?"

"That's up to you; arrange it however you like. In any case, I know how to use a flight-type soul guidance device myself," Dai Yueheng shrugged, then looked at Ye Xixuan again and smiled.

"Xixuan, it seems I’ll have to carry you this time."

"Senior Dai, I actually have a flight-type soul skill. Furthermore, this skill has the effect of assisting in the recovery of soul power, so I should be fine," Ye Xixuan said with an embarrassed smile.

"It seems I will have to decline your kind offer once again."

Xi Xi walked over to Ma Xiaotao. Her face rarely showed emotional fluctuations, and she said calmly, "Xiaotao, you carry me."

"No problem," Ma Xiaotao replied readily.

Finally, everyone's gaze fell upon Ling Luochen. Unexpectedly, yet logically, she chose Ye Xixuan again. Her cold, ethereal voice carried a tone that brooked no refusal.

"You carry me."