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After nearly two weeks of recovery, Huo Yuhao finally healed from the injuries he sustained in the earlier explosion.
To ensure the safety of Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, Shrek Academy dispatched several Title Douluo to Mingdu to escort them back to the academy.
When Huo Yuhao returned, he brought with him several promising talents. Initially, he intended to take Ji Juechen along, but unfortunately, Ji Juechen remained in a coma.
According to estimates from the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, Ji Juechen would remain unconscious for at least six more months. This forced Huo Yuhao to abandon the idea of taking him back to Shrek Academy.
At this time, the public was paying little attention to Shrek Academy's movements. The aftermath of the Mingdu explosion was quickly fading from the headlines.
The reason for this shift in focus wasn't arbitrary; it was because a blood-soaked war was brewing.
Sun and Moon Empire, Border Region.
In the bitter cold, a brightly lit military tent stood firm, housing the gathered commanders responsible for guarding this frontier.
"Duke, over the past two months, the Sun and Moon Empire has stationed troops outside the border. Although they haven't launched a full-scale assault, there have been over a hundred smaller skirmishes," one staff officer reported, holding a file.
"Out of those, our forces have won 65 times..."
Seated on both sides of a long table were officers of various ranks, all in military uniforms. At the head of the table sat a tall, imposing man in white armor, with a white tiger emblem on his left shoulder.
This man was none other than the White Tiger Duke of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Hao.
As the officer finished his report, everyone in the tent, including the Duke, wore solemn expressions.
While their victories in the skirmishes seemed promising, everyone knew that the overall battle situation was precarious. Any misstep could lead to disaster.
However, just as the atmosphere grew tense, another officer stood up.
"Duke, I have intelligence from the Sun and Moon Empire that might interest you."
"Read it," the White Tiger Duke replied calmly.
"Our spies within the Sun and Moon Empire have confirmed that Lu Wenjing, the commander at the Sunset Fortress, was indeed injured by the Blue-Clad Douluo," the officer reported. "Additionally, at least seven enemy Titled Douluo were severely injured by the Blue-Clad Douluo and are currently unable to fight."
"The unknown master who caused the Mingdu explosion has also been confirmed to have close ties with the Blue-Clad Douluo."
As the officer spoke, the expressions of the other officers in the tent turned to surprise.
"Excellent," the White Tiger Duke said with a grin. "Issue my command: focus all efforts on tracking down the Blue-Clad Douluo and the unknown master. A reward of 100,000 Gold Soul Coins will be given to anyone who provides information on their whereabouts."
The White Tiger Duke was elated. He had heard about the Blue-Clad Douluo's reputation before, but he hadn't expected him to cause such chaos within the Sun and Moon Empire.
For one person to seriously injure seven Titled Douluo, the White Tiger Duke assumed that the Blue-Clad Douluo must be a Super Douluo-level powerhouse!
That same day, Huo Yuhao and his team finally returned safely to Shrek Academy, where they were immediately welcomed in the Sea God's Pavilion.
"Huo Yuhao, you've had a challenging journey to the Sun and Moon Empire," Elder Mu greeted him with a warm smile as he looked Huo Yuhao up and down.
"I feel undeserving," Huo Yuhao replied respectfully, shaking his head. During his time in the Sun and Moon Empire, he spent most of it in deep meditation or recovering from injuries. However, he did achieve significant gains during his journey.
"Tell us everything about your time in the Sun and Moon Empire," Elder Mu said with a gentle laugh.
Huo Yuhao then recounted his experiences in the Sun and Moon Empire, though he kept some personal secrets to himself.
When he mentioned the group of people he brought back from the Sun and Moon Empire, the elders in the Sea God's Pavilion burst into smiles.
"Yuhao, you've done well. The people you brought back from the Sun and Moon Empire have immense potential. You've accomplished something significant."
"Haha, the Sun and Moon Empire suffered a heavy loss this time!"
"..."
Next, Huo Yuhao spoke about the Blue-Clad Douluo and the Unknown Master.
This time, the expressions of the elders in the Sea God's Pavilion became complex and difficult to read.
"I once sensed the aura of Shui Yanjun, and it seemed he had just reached the level of Titled Douluo. But I didn't expect him to possess such formidable combat power," Elder Mu said, squinting slightly as he looked toward the distant Sun and Moon Empire. He knew that the Blue-Clad Douluo mentioned by Huo Yuhao was actually Shui Yanjun.
Shui Yanjun had once appeared in Shrek City, wearing a striking blue outfit, leaving a strong impression on everyone.
"That Han Feng is in his twenties and already an eight-ring Soul Douluo, as well as a pseudo-ninth-level Soul master. His future potential is unimaginable," Elder Lin said, clicking his tongue. They suddenly realized that Shui Yanjun's relatives, each one of them, could be considered geniuses.
So how strong would Shui Yanjun's direct descendant, Shui Wuya, be now?
It's been over three years since Shui Wuya left Shrek Academy, and most of the faculty and students no longer considered him a Shrek student.
"Elder Mu, who is Shui Yanjun?" Huo Yuhao asked, his expression showing a hint of confusion as he listened to the discussions and sighs of Elder Mu and the others.
Upon hearing the question, Elder Mu raised his eyebrows and ultimately decided to explain Shui Wuya's background and the events surrounding him to Huo Yuhao.
In just a couple of minutes, Huo Yuhao learned everything, and his heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy blow. He was profoundly shaken.
He had thought that after this trip to the Sun and Moon Empire, the gap between him and Shui Wuya, both in terms of power and status, would be significantly reduced.
However, he now realized that from the beginning, there was an insurmountable chasm between them, as Shui Wuya was the young master of an elite family.
"Huo Yuhao, don't worry. While Shui Wuya is strong, he's just a regular student at Shrek Academy. You, on the other hand, are the future of our academy. I promise to fully support your development from today onward," Elder Mu said, seemingly seeing through Huo Yuhao's disheartened thoughts.
Elder Mu's words not only surprised Huo Yuhao but also caught the attention of the other elders in the Sea God's Pavilion.
"Yuhao, don't be discouraged. You have twin martial souls, giving you a significant advantage later on. You'll have a good chance to catch up with Shui Wuya, and when you become a Titled Douluo, you might even surpass him!" Yan Shaozhe said, stepping forward to pat Huo Yuhao on the shoulder.
"Yes, I'll work hard!" Huo Yuhao replied, clenching his fists, his face showing a determined expression.
"Excellent. Once your body can handle a 100,000-year soul ring, I'll personally take you to the Extreme North to help you obtain one," Yan Shaozhe added, clearly pleased with Huo Yuhao's resolve.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Huo Yuhao bowed in gratitude, recognizing the significance of promises from both Elder Mu and Yan Shaozhe.
...
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
The intense sounds of slaughter, screams, and cries echoed through the fourth layer of the Slaughter Hell, resonating alongside the flashes of blood-red and water-blue light. In the midst of it, Shui Wuya moved with a grace resembling a dancing dragon, brandishing a spear as he tore through dozens of evil soul masters.
Meanwhile, several gazes from the eighth layer of the Slaughter Hell focused on Shui Wuya.
"Shui Yuanchen intends to use everyone in the Slaughter Hell as stepping stones for that young man," said a voice from one of the former Water Family traitors, the 99th-level Ultimate Douluo Shui Songshan.
Shui Songshan was pinned to a stone wall, large steel needles impaled in every acupuncture point across his body. His forehead and cheekbones were held in place by two massive needles, giving him a terrifying appearance.
Soon after he spoke, another voice responded from the eighth layer.
"Hmph, let's see if that young man from the Water Family is up to the task!"
The speaker was another Ultimate Douluo, an evil soul master in a gray robe, whose circumstances were just as miserable as Shui Songshan's. His dark eyes were filled with deathly intent.
(End of Chapter)