Dai Yueheng soon returned from the military camp—bringing with him a batch of flying soul tools.
They were headed for the Mingdou Mountain Range, over 3,000 miles away. Running there on foot? They'd arrive just in time for the closing ceremony.
While everyone had a basic grasp of flying soul guides, the practice session mainly focused on Huo Yuhao, Wu Feng, and Wang Dong, whose cultivation levels were lower, as well as Beibei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan, who had never flown with soul tools before.
An hour later, they were ready.
Xixi, He Caitou, Chen Junting, and Ning Tian had specialized flying soul tools, so they easily soared into the sky. Together with the rest of the inner courtyard team, they formed a V-formation. Ma Xiaotao led at the front, with Dai Yueheng guarding the rear.
As dusk fell, the group landed for rest.
After another camp-style dinner and recovery session, Xuan Lao strolled out from the woods, sipping wine like nothing had happened.
"You're too slow," he said flatly. "I'll take over."
With a flick of his hand, a soul-powered rope tied itself around everyone's waists. "Get ready to fly!"
The moment he took off, they shot into the sky like comets, buffeted by violent winds. Even the inner courtyard students grimaced.
Chen Junting gritted his teeth through the dizzying force and shielded Ning Tian. Just as he was about to activate his defensive soul tool, Xuan Lao finally deployed a khaki soul shield that wrapped around the group.
The air immediately softened. They could breathe again.
"Xuan Lao," Junting muttered, "we almost died up there."
"I forgot," Xuan Lao replied with complete indifference.
You forgot?!
Chen Junting rolled his eyes. Does Mu Lao know his top general is this careless?
"Uggghh—"
A retching sound cut the air.
"Wang Dong! Don't vomit!" Huo Yuhao's alarmed voice rang out.
"I hate flying soul guides!" Wang Dong groaned.
---
The Western Border of the Star Luo Empire — Midnight
A brilliant white light streaked across the night sky like a blazing comet. It was Xuan Lao's group, cutting through the darkness in a smooth, steady flight—clearly making up for earlier turbulence.
As they landed, the earth softened beneath their feet, buffered by another of Xuan Lao's soul skills. The moment they touched down, everyone exhaled in relief.
Then, without a word, Xuan Lao vanished again.
Just as people were still catching their breath, Chen Junting suddenly turned his gaze toward the distant woods. A moment later, the inner courtyard students followed his line of sight, sensing movement.
Dai Yueheng raised a hand.
"Wait—it's the military," he said, then released his White Tiger Martial Spirit and roared.
His fourth soul ring lit up. A beam of white light shot skyward and exploded—his White Tiger Meteor Shower, used as a signal flare with no power behind it.
In less than three breaths, a squad of thirty soldiers clad in black leather armor landed from the sky.
At the front was a stern-faced elder.
When he saw Dai Yueheng's martial spirit, his face softened instantly. "Young Master, you've arrived! The Duke is expecting you."
"No rush, Old Du," Dai Yueheng said warmly. "We've been traveling all day. Let us rest an hour. Send someone ahead to inform Father."
Du Leisi nodded and dispatched a scout.
—
Meanwhile, Chen Junting turned to Ning Tian and gestured subtly toward Huo Yuhao.
"Remember our original theory about Yuhao's identity?"
Ning Tian nodded. "You thought he might be an illegitimate child."
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had been quietly investigating. All they found was that Huo Yuhao was from near Xingluo City—but had no registered household in the Empire.
That all but confirmed it.
Now, watching Yuhao's reaction to Dai Yueheng—and how tightly Wang Dong stayed by his side—Ning Tian's eyes narrowed.
"Could it be... his father is the White Tiger Duke?"
"Let's ask," Chen Junting said.
They walked over discreetly. When Yuhao and Wang Dong looked up, confused, Chen Junting got straight to the point:
"Yuhao, is your father Duke Dai Hao?"
Huo Yuhao froze.
His face paled. Then, his voice shook.
"My mother told me... he is. But I don't acknowledge him. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is my real home. I didn't hide it on purpose—I was afraid the Sect would reject me."
Chen Junting stared, then burst into a sigh. "Yuhao, you really think we'd reject a genius with twin martial souls and Ultimate Ice because of your background?"
He and Ning Tian comforted him gently. As Huo Yuhao calmed, Chen Junting added with quiet certainty:
"The Sect has ties to the White Tiger Mansion, but it won't interfere with your choices. If one day you seek justice for your mother, the Sect won't stop you. And if the Duke's house comes after you... they won't find us so easy to push around."
Yuhao's eyes lit up.
"I understand."
—
After resting, Du Leisi led the group to the military command post.
There, Duke Dai Hao personally stepped forward.
"Welcome, students of Shrek."
"Greetings, Lord Duke," the group chorused, saluting.
Dai Hao shook Wang Yan's hand. "Please, let me host you."
Wang Yan politely declined. "We just need a place to rest—and all intelligence on the bandit group led by the Death Messenger."
Dai Hao, true to his military background, got straight to business. He gave his soldiers the order to share all data with Shrek Academy.
—
By midday, after a break, Wang Yan gathered the team for a tactical meeting.
"Here's what we know," he began. "The Death Hand Bandit Group operates mainly in the central Mingdou Mountains. They number about 300. Roughly 10% are soul masters. The leader is suspected to be a soul king-level evil soul master called the Death Messenger."
Everyone grew serious.
Then Wang Dong raised a question that briefly silenced even the battle-hardened inner courtyard students.
"If only one of them is an evil soul master… why do the rest follow him? They don't need to use evil methods to cultivate, so why join in?"
No one answered—until Chen Junting spoke quietly:
"Because people crave power and profit. Evil soul masters are terrifying. But human desire? Even worse. These people don't follow him to grow stronger—they follow him to get rich. To take what they want."
"So… they're doing all this for money?" Wang Dong still looked bewildered.
"Not just money," Huo Yuhao said grimly. "Power. Revenge. Control. Greed."
Chen Junting gave a wry smile. "Don't try to understand minds worse than beasts. Just remember—keep your conscience, and don't lose your humanity. As for the ones who help evil…"
His eyes turned cold.
"They're even more unforgivable."
Murderous intent flickered across the group.
And deep in Wang Dong's heart, that final line settled like stone:
Accomplices to the tiger are worse than the tiger itself.
—
(End of Chapter)
---