The elder's name was Du Lei, a long-standing member of the White Tiger Duke's household who had followed Duke Dai Hao through countless battles. With his own formidable strength, he had earned great merit and the title of Viscount in the Star Luo Empire.
The reason he called Dai Yaoheng "young master" instead of "heir" was due to the strict rules within the Dai family. Only the most capable of the direct descendants would inherit the title of White Tiger Duke. Though Dai Yaoheng was the eldest, he still had to prove his worth. However, with the recent passing of his younger brother, the title was now all but guaranteed to be passed to him.
"Something happened at Shrek Academy? Did you say the young master… Could it be… he caused some trouble there?" Du Lei's expression shifted, suspecting that perhaps Dai Huabin had caused an incident serious enough to require the Duke's intervention.
Dai Yaoheng sighed and shook his head. "Du Lei, take me to see my father. He'll understand once we speak."
"Understood, young master," Du Lei replied with a nod, though his expression showed some confusion. Raising his hand, he signaled the soul masters to withdraw their martial souls. "The Marshal should be in the camp by now for his morning routine. I'll escort you both." He glanced over at Elder Xuan, who was leaning against a tree, casually drinking and eating.
Elder Xuan let out a yawn and slowly stood, following Du Lei toward the Star Luo Empire's western military camp.
"You, go ahead and inform the Marshal that the young master has arrived," Du Lei ordered a few subordinates. The Soul Kings took flight with their soul tools, racing ahead to deliver the message.
Dai Yaoheng and Elder Xuan followed, with Dai Yaoheng using a soul tool while Elder Xuan simply levitated using his own soul power, indicating his status as a Titled Douluo.
As dawn broke, the golden light of the rising sun cast a soft glow over the vast military camp nestled in the Mingdou Mountain Range. The camp was fortified by steep peaks, with a winding path leading up to its entrance, and every structure was shrouded in thick mist.
At the center stood a tall watchtower, surveying the camp. Sentries were positioned along the mountain ridges, vigilant for any threats.
Minutes later, Elder Xuan and Dai Yaoheng descended into the camp. Du Lei signaled for the guards to clear a path as they approached.
Ahead, a large tent made of dark tanned leather stood out among the others, surrounded only by two squads of thirty White Tiger elite guards patrolling the area.
"Marshal, the young master and a representative from Shrek Academy are here with urgent news," Du Lei announced as he approached the tent.
The flap of the tent was pulled aside, and a tall, broad-shouldered man emerged. He had short golden hair, bronzed skin, and was clad in golden armor, his eyes a deep, sharp blue. This was Duke Dai Hao, the White Tiger Duke.
"Father!" Dai Yaoheng took a few steps forward and knelt before his father, his face somber.
Dai Hao stepped forward and helped his son up, sensing the unusual gravity of the situation. "Yaoheng, what brings you here? Has something happened at the academy?"
Tears welled in Dai Yaoheng's eyes as he choked out, "Father… Huabin… he…"
"Huabin? Did that rascal cause trouble?" Dai Hao frowned, puzzled, and looked toward Elder Xuan.
Elder Xuan stepped forward and nodded respectfully. "Greetings, White Tiger Duke."
Dai Hao's expression grew serious as he greeted Elder Xuan. "Elder Xuan, for you to come in person… did Huabin…?"
Elder Xuan shook his head, taking a swig from his gourd. Then, with a somber look, he waved his hand, and a mangled corpse, reduced to little more than pulp, emerged from his storage soul tool, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
"Is that… Huabin?" Dai Hao instantly recognized his son's broken remains.
As he gazed upon Dai Huabin's mutilated body, Dai Hao's eyes filled with unimaginable grief and fury. His fists clenched, and tears streamed down his face as he roared in silence, his entire being wracked with agony.
"Ahhhh!"
A roar, fierce as a tiger's, erupted from Dai Hao, unleashing a powerful surge of energy across the camp, causing even the soldiers around him to shiver, their skin prickling under his intense killing intent.
"What happened?" Dai Hao demanded, grabbing Dai Yaoheng and lifting him to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury.
Dai Yaoheng trembled. "Father… Huabin was lured outside the academy and… was killed." His gaze turned toward Elder Xuan.
Elder Xuan stepped closer, swallowing a mouthful of food before placing a comforting hand on Dai Hao's shoulder. "Duke, there's nothing that can bring him back. Huabin was drawn out and slain, and the culprit escaped before we could apprehend him."
"The academy will cooperate fully in finding the killer and bringing him to justice."
Dai Hao's eyes turned blood-red, filled with an icy fury as he looked at Elder Xuan. He fought to steady himself before asking, "What happened? Why would anyone want to kill Huabin?"
Elder Xuan sighed and took another drink. "Huabin had a fierce rivalry with a student named Xiao Yan after losing to him in the freshman tournament. They clashed several times, and one night, Xiao Yan lured Huabin out and killed him. By the time we arrived, Xiao Yan had fled."
Elder Xuan added darkly, "This Xiao Yan… he shows signs of becoming an Evil Soul Master, a potential future threat that cannot be ignored."
With those words, Elder Xuan handed Dai Hao a piece of parchment with Xiao Yan's details.
As Dai Hao stared at the image, a sense of familiarity struck him, leaving him dizzy. He passed the paper to Du Lei, commanding, "Issue a continent-wide decree. Xiao Yan is now an enemy of the White Tiger Duke's household. This pursuit will end only in his death."
---
In a dense forest, towering trees spread their branches like webs, casting a shadow over the land below.
A narrow beam of sunlight pierced through, illuminating a young man in a black robe, seated cross-legged in meditation.
"Now that you've obtained your second soul ring, what's next?" asked the voice of his mentor, emerging from a ring on the young man's finger.
Xiao Yan stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The Three Kingdoms have a strong alliance with Shrek Academy, so staying here is dangerous. I plan to cross the Star Luo Empire, go over the Mingdou Mountains, and head to the Sun Moon Empire. They say it's a haven for soul tools, and I'm curious."
"That would be wise," his mentor replied approvingly.
---
Several days later, on the eastern side of the Mingdou Mountains, Xiao Yan walked along a dusty road, sweat beading on his brow under the relentless sun. Strapped to his back was a massive black ruler, with intricate patterns etched across its dark surface, giving it an aura of ancient mystery.
About half a mile away, he spotted a small village. But the eerie silence struck him as odd. There was no one in the fields, and the village was deathly quiet.
A faint scent of blood reached his nose, and his eyes narrowed. "Teacher, I smell blood."
"Yes, I sense it too," his mentor replied. "Use your spiritual sense to scan the area."
Focusing his mind, Xiao Yan's eyes glowed with a soft golden light as his spiritual energy swept through the village.
A horrified look crossed his face as he saw corpses strewn throughout. The ground was soaked in blood, and some figures were impaled on spears.
"Evil Soul Masters?" Xiao Yan muttered, his expression darkening.
While at Shrek Academy, he had read about the Evil Soul Masters—soul masters who used unnatural and brutal methods to increase their power, including consuming the life force, flesh, and souls of others.
As he entered the village, a scene straight out of a nightmare greeted him. Blood covered the ground, and every body bore a gaping cavity where their hearts had been removed.
Clenching his fists, Xiao Yan felt anger boiling inside him. "Teacher, those monsters are still nearby."
"Are you planning to go after them?" his teacher asked, a note of approval in his voice.
Xiao Yan nodded. "Yes. And if things get messy, I may need your help…"
His teacher chuckled. "You sly brat. Go on, these monsters deserve nothing less than complete annihilation."
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