When Zhou Sicheng saw that the siblings didn't respond, he didn't press the previous topic any further. Instead, he changed the subject, his friendly smile returning.
"Let's not talk about that anymore. As friends, let me give you two a few suggestions."
Meng Hongchen's eyes immediately brightened. The slight disappointment from their interrupted conversation vanished, replaced by curiosity and anticipation.
"What kind of suggestions? Are they about martial soul cultivation?"
Her tone carried a hint of eagerness—she was genuinely curious about what Zhou Sicheng had to say.
Zhou Sicheng nodded lightly, his calm and unhurried motion radiating quiet confidence, as though he had everything under control.
Seeing this, Meng Hongchen couldn't help but chuckle. Her laughter was crisp and melodious, like the ringing of silver bells echoing through the private room.
Tilting her head, she gave him a mischievous look and teased, "You're surprisingly generous. Aren't you afraid that after listening to your advice, we'll improve faster, and the next time we meet on the battlefield, we'll beat you?"
Her words were half-joking, but the underlying confidence in her own potential was unmistakable.
Zhou Sicheng raised his glass with a calm, confident smile. After taking a slow sip, he said evenly, "I'm the one who broke your Martial Soul Fusion Skill all by myself. What would I have to be afraid of?"
His deep voice carried an undeniable authority—every word echoed with confidence.
The siblings' smiles froze instantly. It was as if time had stopped at that exact moment.
An awkward silence settled between them. Zhou Sicheng's words had struck right at their sore spot.
Xiao Hongchen gave a wry smile and shook his head helplessly. "Brother Zhou, you really know how to hit where it hurts."
He waved his hand lightly, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.
But he quickly regained his composure. A spark of genuine curiosity lit up his eyes once again.
"Still, I'd like to hear your advice. As one of Shrek Academy's top talents, you must have some unique insights on cultivation and improving strength. Please, enlighten us."
His tone was sincere and humble—completely different from the proud arrogance he usually displayed. In that moment, he resembled a student earnestly seeking guidance from a mentor.
Zhou Sicheng didn't hold back. Setting down his glass, his expression turned serious, and his gaze grew sharp and focused.
Clearing his throat slightly, he began, "You two reached the Soul King realm before the age of fifteen. From what I know about the Sun and Moon Empire, your cultivation methods are closely tied to the Empire's traditions."
"I'd wager that you've taken quite a number of soul power–enhancing medicines, haven't you? Perhaps even developed specialized cultivation techniques tailored to your unique martial souls to accelerate your growth."
"And with your powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill boosting your strength, it's no wonder you've achieved such impressive results."
His voice was calm and steady, every word deliberate and well-reasoned. His analysis was so thorough and logically sound that it left no room for doubt.
Xiao Hongchen nodded slightly. There was no surprise in his eyes—only acknowledgment.
He had already expected Zhou Sicheng to see through their background. Without such keen insight and profound understanding, Zhou Sicheng wouldn't have become the leader of this generation's Shrek Seven Devils.
In Xiao Hongchen's mind, Zhou Sicheng's achievements were clearly backed by an extraordinary depth of perception and intelligence.
Zhou Sicheng cleared his throat again before continuing, "My suggestion is that in your future cultivation, you should focus more on refining and strengthening your martial souls themselves."
"Remember, all medicine has its poison. Unless you're using the highest-grade elixirs that minimize side effects, it's best to avoid relying on external substances."
"Your martial souls are already incredibly powerful. Once you develop them to their full potential and pair that with your expertise in Soul Tools, your overall combat strength will far exceed what you'd gain through rapid soul power growth alone."
Xiao Hongchen nodded once more. Zhou Sicheng's words echoed perfectly with the lessons their grandfather often taught them.
Thinking back to their battle, when Zhou Sicheng had shattered their proud Martial Soul Fusion Skill with sheer strength, they had already realized the limitations of relying solely on cultivation speed—and the true importance of perfecting one's martial soul.
They had long since resolved to focus on deeper cultivation, and hearing Zhou Sicheng reaffirm that only solidified their determination.
Xiao Hongchen smiled bitterly, speaking with genuine honesty. "Brother Zhou, we understand. That's exactly what we were planning to do. Our defeat against you this time truly opened our eyes to our own shortcomings."
His smile carried both self-awareness and newfound clarity about the direction they needed to take.
Then, a spark of curiosity flashed in his eyes. "But I've always wondered—Brother Zhou, you're also under fifteen and already at the five-ring level. Why is your soul power so condensed and your strength so extraordinary?"
It was a question that had lingered in his mind for a long time, and now he couldn't hold back from asking.
Zhou Sicheng chuckled modestly. "Naturally, it's thanks to the Academy's guidance and the teachings of my elders. I can't go into the details, but in the end, it all comes down to one thing—focusing on refining one's martial soul and minimizing reliance on external aids."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Of course, if the external aid is of sufficiently high quality and its benefits far outweigh its drawbacks, there's no harm in using it. The path of cultivation isn't absolute—you must always weigh the pros and cons."
Meng Hongchen listened intently, nodding thoughtfully. "So that's how it is… It's not really that complicated, then. As long as we suppress the urge for rapid progress and take the time to polish our foundation, we'll be fine."
Her tone carried a sense of realization, as if she had just glimpsed the essence of cultivation itself.
Zhou Sicheng nodded approvingly. "It's easy to say, but not easy to do. The path of cultivation requires patience and perseverance. Only by walking it step by step will you truly grow stronger. In the end, the choice is always in your own hands."
As he spoke, he gently patted Meng Hongchen's shoulder, his gaze softening slightly. "However, you're a little different from your brother."
"Oh?" Meng Hongchen immediately perked up, her eyes full of curiosity. "How so? Don't tell me my Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad is stronger than my brother's Three-Legged Golden Toad?"
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation—she had always been confident in her martial soul.
Zhou Sicheng shook his head patiently. "Not exactly. Your martial soul isn't weaker than your brother's, but it carries far more dangerous side effects."
Meng Hongchen's heart skipped a beat. She didn't show much on her face, but her voice grew quieter. "What do you mean?"
Inside, though, she was astonished. How much did Zhou Sicheng actually know about her martial soul?
"The Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad," Zhou Sicheng said calmly, "originates from the extreme north of the Douluo Continent. Although its main attribute is ice, its eyes are imbued with an intense fire element. The Ice-Fire Venom it produces is immensely powerful—but the backlash from that fusion of fire and ice is just as deadly. Am I wrong?"
His gaze fixed firmly on her, as if he could see straight through her secrets.
Meng Hongchen's lips parted slightly in shock.
The details Zhou Sicheng had just revealed were known only to her grandfather and her brother. No one else was supposed to know—and yet Zhou Sicheng had described it perfectly.
For a long moment, she could only stare at him, stunned. Then she finally exhaled softly and gave him a thumbs-up, her voice full of admiration.
"As expected of you. You're absolutely right."
Her tone carried sincere respect. At that moment, Zhou Sicheng seemed even more mysterious and unfathomable to her—someone she couldn't help but want to understand better.
Zhou Sicheng smiled faintly and continued, "At your current level, the fire poison should already be showing signs of backlash. As your cultivation advances, that reaction will only intensify. Eventually, it could even threaten your life."
His voice carried genuine concern, as though he could already see the danger looming over her future.
Meng Hongchen sighed softly, her expression tinged with helplessness. "You're right. Grandfather has tried many ways to suppress it, but he's only been able to keep it under control for now. There's no real solution yet."
Her eyes dimmed slightly. The backlash from her martial soul had always weighed heavily on her heart.
Xiao Hongchen's expression changed sharply. "Brother Zhou, since you can see the problem, does that mean you have a solution? If you can help Meng overcome it, whatever it takes—within our ability to repay—I'm sure our grandfather would agree without hesitation!"
The issue had long been his greatest concern. Hearing there might be hope filled him with desperate anticipation.
Zhou Sicheng chuckled softly. "I can't fix it myself," he said slowly. "But the Academy can."
That single sentence was enough to completely solidify the siblings' decision to participate in the Shrek Academy exchange program.
If Shrek truly had a way to resolve Meng Hongchen's martial soul backlash, then going there was unquestionably the best path forward.
Xiao Hongchen nodded with gratitude. "I understand. Thank you, Brother Zhou, for your guidance."
Meng Hongchen's eyes glimmered with hope as she added sincerely, "Thank you."
In her heart, a new light had ignited—one that shone with the promise of freedom from the pain that had haunted her for so long.
****
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