"Tianyuan Pavilion?" Qian Zhiya and Qian Zhenyu looked puzzled. The reorganization of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion into Tianyuan Pavilion had happened less than five years ago. Apart from a handful of top powers, few on the continent even knew about it, so it was perfectly natural that they had no idea what the title of Pavilion Master truly meant.
Still, their attitudes toward Zhu Ziyang changed drastically. They no longer dared to treat him lightly.
Lingyi stayed home for three days, reuniting with her family, before returning to Shrek Academy with Zhu Ziyang. Once Qian Zhiya learned from her granddaughter about the inheritance of a godhood, any lingering resentment about her joining Shrek dissolved instantly. In the face of divine legacy, what did old grudges matter?
At Shrek Academy, Tianyuan Island.
Zhu Ziyang and Qian Lingyi had already been back for several days. Their first priority was visiting the Treasure Pavilion to choose suitable soul bones for Lingyi. After careful selection, she absorbed a left leg bone and a right leg bone. Now, only her skull and torso bones were missing.
Neither of them worried much about it. With their strength and status, completing the set was only a matter of time.
One evening, Tang Ya and Bei Bei came to find Zhu Ziyang, who was reading quietly in Tianyuan Pavilion.
"What brings you two here?" Zhu Ziyang asked. Though he already guessed their intentions from Tang Ya's nervous expression and Bei Bei's calm one, he still asked politely.
"Well, Ziyang…" Tang Ya hesitated, then suddenly grew resolute. "I heard that the rules of this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament have changed—that sects are now allowed to participate. Is that true?"
"Yes," Zhu Ziyang nodded, closing his book. "The exact rules aren't out yet, but the decision to allow sects has already been approved by the four empires. So… you want Tang Sect to enter?"
"Mhm!" Tang Ya nodded vigorously. "Ziyang, you know better than anyone that my lifelong wish is to revive Tang Sect. To do that, we must make its name known again. And what better stage than the tournament? That's why I want to compete on behalf of Tang Sect!"
"And you think the same?" Zhu Ziyang asked, turning his gaze to Bei Bei.
"That's right," Bei Bei replied, his eyes filled with affection as he glanced at Tang Ya before facing Zhu Ziyang. "As Tang Sect's eldest brother, this is my duty."
"But if you two represent Tang Sect, won't that leave the academy short-handed?" Zhu Ziyang asked.
"Come on, Ziyang!" Tang Ya protested. "Don't you think you're underestimating yourself, Nannan, and Lingyi? One Titled Douluo and two Soul Sages—just the three of you could crush every team in the tournament! Please, just let Bei Bei and me represent Tang Sect."
"Uh…" Zhu Ziyang sighed softly. "Even if I agree, wouldn't your team still be short on members?"
"Hehe!" Tang Ya scratched her head sheepishly. "I was planning to recruit Xu Sanshi and Wei Wei, plus Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao. That makes seven exactly!"
"..." Zhu Ziyang could only look at her in silence. He had already anticipated this the moment he heard about the rule change. The revival of Tang Sect was inevitable—whether it was Tang San's grand design or simply fate.
Stopping it would not only be pointless but counterproductive, driving Tang Sect away from Shrek's fold. Better instead to help them rise, binding them firmly to the academy's chariot.
After a thoughtful pause, Zhu Ziyang said, "Very well. I'll allow it. As long as you can persuade Xu Sanshi, Wei Wei, Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, I'll release them to join you."
"Really?! That's wonderful! Thank you, Ziyang!" Tang Ya cheered, jumping with joy.
"But," Zhu Ziyang added with a sly smile, "you must agree to one condition."
"Anything! Even if it's climbing mountains of blades or diving into seas of fire, I'll do it!" Tang Ya replied eagerly.
"Haha, nothing so extreme. It's simple," Zhu Ziyang said. "Make it a rule that the future leaders of Tang Sect must be graduates of Shrek Academy's inner court."
"That's it? No problem!" Tang Ya agreed immediately, seeing no issue. To her, binding Tang Sect tightly to Shrek was nothing but a blessing.
Bei Bei, however, sensed something deeper. He gave Zhu Ziyang a long, thoughtful look but said nothing. First, he was astonished that Zhu Ziyang valued Tang Sect's future so highly. Second, though he was Tang Sect's senior brother, he was first and foremost a disciple of Shrek Academy. Deepening the bond between sect and academy was something he too desired.
Why did Zhu Ziyang value Tang Sect so much? Simply put, he had been influenced by a certain book—Peerless Tang Sect. If even its title proclaimed Tang Sect's glory, then surely its revival to become the continent's number one sect again was destiny itself. He was merely preparing ahead of time.
Overjoyed, Tang Ya and Bei Bei left. Watching their retreating figures, Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but smile faintly to himself.
Tang Sect… didn't the Icefire Well still hold a legacy left by the Sea God Tang San for them? Perhaps it was time to make some plans.
Chuckling softly, he returned to his reading.
Time passed quickly. Another month went by. Three months had now passed since Zhu Ziyang's group had returned to the continent, with nine months remaining before the tournament in Mingdu.
One evening, as Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan returned from visiting their parents in Shrek City, they encountered a striking young girl at the academy gates.
She stood with her back to them, slender and graceful, exuding a unique aura that drew countless eyes. Dressed in a flowing white dress that reached her ankles, she concealed her legs completely, yet the pale, jade-like ankles revealed hinted at their perfection. Her fiery red hair cascaded in waves down her back, gleaming in the fading light.
"Hello there," Zhu Ziyang said as he and Nannan approached, curiosity piqued. "Do you need something?"
The girl turned at the sound of his voice, revealing a breathtaking face. Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan both paused in awe.
Zhu Ziyang marveled at her beauty—clear eyes like autumn water, snow-white teeth, delicate lips, and a finely sculpted nose. She was a rare peerless beauty, and strangely, she felt familiar to him. Jiang Nannan, meanwhile, was struck by the girl's figure—especially her full bosom, which made her feel an unexpected pang of self-consciousness.
"Who are you two?" the girl asked. Yet when her gaze fell on Zhu Ziyang, a flicker of emotion stirred deep within her eyes, subtle but unmistakable. Her voice, soft and sweet, carried a coy lilt at odds with her dignified appearance.
"I am—" Zhu Ziyang began, still suspicious of her origins, when a familiar female voice suddenly interrupted.
"Huany'er, all done? Let's go!"
At that voice, Zhu Ziyang instinctively turned—and there she was, the radiant young woman he knew so well.
"Sister Xiao Tao!" he exclaimed in surprise.
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