Chapter 81 Exchange Student Program_2

Tang Ya felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her complexion instantly turned pale, "I, I..."

Indeed.

She was too weak, unable to handle even a Soul Emperor, so how could she face such a powerful opponent?

A moment later.

Tang Ya's expression changed rapidly, then she stood up, raised her head, and stared at the elder, saying, "I'll go with you."

"Hehehe, that's more like it."

The man in the black robe laughed strangely, "Return with me to the Holy Land, and in at least three years, at most five years, you will have the strength to seek revenge. If you truly become the goddess of our sect, you will receive abundant resources, and revenge will be just a matter of words."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ya's gaze flickered, and she simply said, "Let's go."

Not long after the two left, a large number of city defense army personnel clad in Battle Armor arrived at the scene.

Ugh!

Confronted with the scene that resembled a hell on earth, their stomachs churned violently.

"The entire Iron Blood Sect has been slaughtered!"

"This matter is of great importance, it even involves a high-ranking individual, and must be reported immediately."

After confirming there were no survivors in the Iron Blood Sect, a look of grave concern passed over the face of the army's commanding officer.

An old event crossed his mind, and he hurried away.

...

Three days later.

Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy.

In the dean's office.

Elder Ma, with a grave face, handed a letter to Jing Hongchen.

"Elder Ma, could this be intelligence regarding the Sun-Moon Empire going to war with the other three kingdoms of Douluo? Why do you look so serious?" Jing Hongchen half-jokingly asked from behind his desk.

Elder Ma shook his head gravely, "Hall Master, don't joke. What I'm holding is not intelligence, but I feel it's more troublesome than the latest intelligence."

"Oh?" Jing Hongchen's eyebrows raised at this remark. He stood up from behind the desk and approached Elder Ma, taking the letter from his hands, sceptically saying, "Let's see who has sent this letter."

As he spoke, he directed his gaze onto the envelope.

It was inscribed with these bold characters, To be opened personally by Dean Hongchen of the Imperial Sun Moon Soul Academy...

The signature was...

"Sea God's Pavilion... Mu En?!"

Jing Hongchen's eyes suddenly widened with unmistakable surprise in his voice.

He knew all too well what the Sea God's Pavilion signified.

It was the equivalent of the Mingde Hall of the Sun-Moon Empire.

However, the strength of Pavilion Master Mu En was quite a bit higher than his, the Mingde Hall Master.

"That old guy, he's still alive. What does he want from me?"

A moment later, Jing Hongchen calmed down.

With such doubts in mind, he opened the letter.

Initially, he frowned, but as his eyes moved lower and lower, his frown gradually eased, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Seeing this, Elder Ma couldn't help but ask, "Hall Master, what's happened? Why are you so happy?"

"Hahaha, Elder Ma, do you know what Shrek Academy wants to do?"

If I knew, would I need to ask you? Elder Ma retorted with annoyance, not knowing.

Jing Hongchen wasn't offended by Elder Ma's attitude. As he closed the letter in his hands, he said, "Shrek Academy wants to send some students as exchange students to our academy to learn about soul tools. Meanwhile, our academy can also send ten students to Shrek Academy to learn the traditional knowledge of Soul Masters, with an anticipated duration of three years."

After hearing this, Elder Ma asked in surprise, "That's it?"

Jing Hongchen returned the letter to its envelope and shrugged, "That's it."

A look of scorn suddenly crossed Elder Ma's face, "Weren't those Shrek fellows looking down on our soul tool technology from the Sun-Moon Empire before? Didn't they always rant that soul tools and the like are just external forces, not as reliable as cultivating one's own Martial Soul? I think they're just sour grapes because they can't eat them."

"And now they're drooling on the ground, unable to hold back and coming to us seeking cooperation? Hall Master, I highly recommend rejecting them."

Elder Ma grew more and more animated as he spoke.

He had been holding this grievance for decades.

How could soul tools be inferior, constantly looked down upon by the powerhouses of Shrek Academy?

Did they even build a Soul Guidance Department despite that disdain?

And now, they were shamelessly plagiarizing the soul tool knowledge of the Sun-Moon Empire, weren't they?

Refuse, they must refuse.

Dean Hongchen laughed, "Old Ma, you make a lot of sense. However, Mu En mentioned in his letter that this is called mutual benefit, cooperative and win-win, jointly contributing to the Soul Master cause of the Douluo Continent, striving to push the industry of Soul Masters to a new peak."

"Pah... Listen to that nonsense," Elder Ma was furious, "Anything our academy contributes could easily advance their soul tool technology by leaps and bounds. What do they have to offer us?"

Just like there is a hierarchy of disdain in every profession,

there is one within the Soul Masters too.

However, depending on the region, the hierarchy of disdain is different.

In the original Douluo Three Kingdoms region, orthodox Soul Masters looked down on those who used soul tools.

They believed that true strength comes from within, focusing on increasing cultivation level and solidifying their foundation as their main goals.

In the region of the Sun-Moon Empire, the notions are completely reversed.

The vast majority of soul-guidance practitioners believe that they focus more on the research and use of soul tools. The enhancement of cultivation level is only for the use and research of stronger soul tools.

Most people devote their whole lives to the research of soul tools. Often, their cultivation levels are enhanced through medicinal means.

Over time, even those with exceptional talent in cultivation might neglect their own improvement in cultivation level and study of their Martial Souls, failing to reach the heights they could because they focused on researching soul tools.

Take the former Master of the Mingde Hall, Kong Deming, for example.

He was a rare Twin Martial Souls possessor. Normally, if he were focused on his cultivation and studied his Martial Souls, he could likely have reached level 98 or 99.

But in reality, he stopped at level 95.

Of course,

his talent for soul tools was extraordinary as well.

With his cultivation level of 95 and his life-linked soul tool, Nebulous Divine Light Cloak, he could possess combat strength not inferior to an Ultimate Douluo.

"Old Ma, I actually think this is a good opportunity,"

After pondering for a moment, Dean Hongchen's eyes lit up.

He thought of Qin Xiao.

Wasn't that lad a Twin Martial Souls possessor, and also had the Ultimate Ice Martial Soul?

And didn't Shrek Academy claim to have taught Ultimate Fire, Ultimate Wood, and other Ultimate Martial Souls, boasting extensive experience in that area?

If Qin Xiao could learn the corresponding cultivation methods there, it would definitely be of great help to his cultivation progress.

Thinking about it, if in the future Qin Xiao became a Ninth-Level Soul Master, reached a cultivation level of 97 or 98, and possessed one Ultimate Spirit, his combat power would definitely not be inferior to the current Elder Kong.

'I was just worrying about how to instruct Qin Xiao in the future. Even Elder Kong said that Qin Xiao's Twin Martial Souls were much stronger than his own. To follow his old path, focusing on soul tools and leaving cultivation to fate seems too wasteful. This is an Ultimate Spirit we're talking about, with infinite potential. If cultivated properly, it's very possible to succeed in both soul tools and cultivation.'

'Heh, just when I'm about to doze off, someone brings a pillow. You covet my soul tools, and I crave your cultivation methods. Neither of us loses out. As to who can learn the real skills, that depends on individual abilities.'

'However, Qin Xiao must keep a tight lid on himself, and absolutely must not reveal the Ultimate Ice Martial Soul in front of the Shrek people. Otherwise, a potentially great opportunity could turn into a huge problem. Those fellows from Shrek would definitely be jealous of Qin Xiao and wouldn't let him return to the Sun-Moon Empire.'

Dean Hongchen's mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch, is there?

"A man doesn't get rich without coming by unexpected wealth, and a horse doesn't get fat without grazing at night,"

Dean Hongchen had already made up his mind... but first, he needed to discuss it with Elder Kong.

After all, decisions about Qin Xiao were no longer something he could determine on his own.

"Hall Master, I still think this matter is all harm and no benefit to us," Elder Ma, unaware of the details regarding the Ultimate Spirits, could only see it as their loss.

Dean Hongchen nodded, hurriedly making his way out, "You're right, Old Ma. But I've got some things to handle."

Elder Ma asked subconsciously, "What are you going to do?"

Dean Hongchen replied, "I'm going to ask Elder Kong who they're sending as exchange students."

Elder Ma: "???"

After all this time, you didn't take in a single punctuation mark I said, huh?