Zhou Sicheng and Ye Guyi exchanged a glance—they both understood the deeper meaning behind Elder Mu's words.
The immense aura radiating from Elder Mu didn't resemble that of a crippled old man nearing the end of his life. Rather, it felt like the presence of a supreme being, overlooking all creation with unrivaled dominance.
Ye Guyi had received Elder Mu's personal instruction in Monarch of the World, while Zhou Sicheng had developed his own version of the technique. Now, confronted with Elder Mu's overwhelming aura, both felt it resonate all the way to their spiritual core.
Naturally, Elder Mu sensed it as well. His gaze briefly flickered as he looked at Zhou Sicheng.
Zhou Sicheng and Ye Guyi flanked him, each taking one of his hands.
Zhou Sicheng spoke softly, "Teacher, even when the sun sets, there will always be a sunrise. As long as the morning sun shines bright enough, there's still hope."
Ye Guyi nodded. "We are that morning sun. All we need is your guidance, and we'll radiate with even greater brilliance."
Holding their hands, Elder Mu could feel the vitality and promise of youth. Their words stirred something tender and warm in his heart.
"You two…" Elder Mu smiled kindly. "The continent's situation is growing more turbulent by the day. The time you have is short."
Zhou Sicheng smiled faintly. "It's enough."
Seeing the confidence and determination in his eyes, Elder Mu's heart bloomed with joy.
His resolve solidified further.
Ye Guyi added with a smile, "Teacher, not only did I acquire a powerful sixth soul skill, but I also gained a 50,000-year right arm soul bone."
"Because the Light Dragon Turtle carried a trace of Light Saint Dragon bloodline, the skill it granted is Saint Dragon Manifestation. It synergizes extremely well with your Light Saint Dragon Martial Soul."
"With your guidance, I'm sure I can draw out its full potential—maybe even 120%!"
Elder Mu gently patted her hand. "Good. Very good."
"With that soul bone skill, I can pass on to you a secret technique. It's not easy to execute using a soul bone ability, but with your talent, I believe you can master it with effort."
He repeated the word "good" three times, a clear sign of how pleased he was with her gains.
Zhou Sicheng then recounted his encounter with the three evil soul masters. Elder Mu nodded in deep approval.
He wholeheartedly supported Zhou Sicheng's ruthless approach—when it came to evil soul masters, swift and decisive elimination was the only answer.
Ye Guyi hadn't even realized the ambush had occurred—Zhou Sicheng had resolved it so cleanly, and she had been too focused on absorbing her soul ring under his protection to notice anything wrong.
It was only when Zhou Sicheng mentioned the fight that night in the tent that she had felt her heart clench with dread—and silently vowed that one day, she would help rid the world of all evil soul masters.
The two youths chatted with their aging mentor, watching the last rays of sunlight disappear beyond the horizon...
—
After leaving the Sea God Pavilion, they returned to their villa. The entire trip had taken just ten days. The academy remained unchanged.
Ma Xiaotao and Dugu Xianmeng were the first to rush over when they heard they had returned—claiming they were curious about Ye Guyi's sixth soul skill, though their eyes never left Zhou Sicheng for a second.
Soul skills, especially high-level ones, were often kept secret, as they could serve as crucial trump cards in battle. Still, during practice matches between students, those skills would inevitably be revealed.
Ye Guyi didn't explain her skill in detail—only said it was powerful and promised to give them a surprise during a duel.
What truly shocked the two girls was Ye Guyi's soul power.
She had gone out to obtain one soul ring, and returned at level 64? And she was already on the verge of reaching 65?
Was that even human?
If not for Ma Xiaotao having taken the special sunflower seed Zhou Sicheng gave her—purging her internal evil flame and increasing her soul power by three levels—Ye Guyi would've caught up to her by now.
Fifteen years old versus eighteen—and their soul power levels were almost the same?
Naturally, they were full of admiration. While Zhou Sicheng had given them special attention too, it still seemed minor compared to Ye Guyi's treatment.
But thinking from another angle—didn't the fact that they received the same benefits as Ye Guyi mean that Zhou Sicheng also saw them as equally close?
That thought made their hearts soften.
The group shared dinner at the cafeteria and returned to their villas to cultivate.
—
The next morning, instead of joining Ma Xiaotao and Dugu Xianmeng, Zhou Sicheng and Ye Guyi went straight to the Sea God Pavilion. Elder Mu was finally ready to teach them something real.
The night before, Zhou Sicheng had told Elder Mu about his version of Monarch of the World. Elder Mu had been genuinely shocked.
How old was Zhou Sicheng?
To have already developed such a profound self-created soul skill?
Elder Mu himself had taken decades to develop his own version of Monarch of the World. Yet Zhou Sicheng, barely into his teens, had already grasped its essence?
—
Out on the training grounds outside the Sea God Pavilion, Elder Mu sat on his lounge chair and waved at Zhou Sicheng.
"Sicheng, show me your Monarch of the World."
Zhou Sicheng nodded and calmly released his spiritual power—formless yet overwhelming.
His version fused his will into it—soul power, spiritual energy, and a soul force so commanding it resembled a divine decree, all melded into one.
Buzz!
His golden eyes shone as a domineering aura erupted from him. It felt like a massive domain had unfolded, so intense that even Elder Mu's gaze shifted.
Unlike Elder Mu's version, Zhou Sicheng's Monarch of the World was pure dominance—absolute control, unquestioned authority.
It was less of a technique and more of a domain, a personal realm where Zhou Sicheng reigned as the unchallenged sovereign.
Elder Mu smiled in admiration.
This boy had unrivaled self-confidence. His will was terrifyingly resolute—even real emperors might lack such an imposing aura.
Zhou Sicheng never doubted himself. Against future foes, the moment he activated Monarch of the World, his enemies would feel as if they stood before a king—unable to resist the urge to kneel.
The pressure would crush them spiritually, mentally, and even on a soul-deep level. Those with weaker wills might collapse entirely—crushed under the sheer weight of Zhou Sicheng's presence.
Elder Mu didn't know why Zhou Sicheng possessed such an indomitable will, but one thing was clear: this boy would never live a mediocre life.
With such a powerful spirit, submission was never an option.
Whether that was good or bad, Elder Mu couldn't say. But with the continent on the brink of chaos, what Shrek needed most was someone with decisive, unwavering strength.
Only someone like this could lead Shrek through the storms to come.
As Zhou Sicheng's domain unfolded, Elder Mu raised his eyes and met Zhou Sicheng's gaze. His own Monarch of the World began to bloom in return.
An ancient, refined, and immense will clashed with Zhou Sicheng's burgeoning one. The younger's newly formed domain trembled under the pressure.
This was Elder Mu's Monarch of the World.
His calm voice rang out, "Sicheng, feel it well."
Zhou Sicheng focused his full attention, using his own Monarch of the World to sense Elder Mu's in turn.
The two opposing auras collided—similar in strength but different in nature.
Gradually, Zhou Sicheng began to glimpse a glimmer of insight within Elder Mu's aura.
After a long while, Elder Mu withdrew his power. Zhou Sicheng sat down cross-legged, his own domain wrapping around him in a new form.
Ye Guyi walked up to Elder Mu and asked softly, "Teacher… is Sicheng okay?"
Elder Mu chuckled. "His domain is still in its infancy. I just passed along my own understanding through Monarch of the World. If he can truly comprehend it, his own domain will stabilize and become fully formed."
Ye Guyi looked shocked. "A domain? Teacher, isn't your Monarch of the World a special battle technique? I gained my Angel's Heart from it—it's more of a soul skill. How can his be a domain?"
"Isn't it true that aside from innate domains, soul masters usually only gain domains after the ninth soul ring, and even then only a small chance?"
Elder Mu nodded. "You're right. For normal soul masters, domains are incredibly rare. Mine isn't a domain either. But Sicheng's version is different."
"His Monarch of the World is already taking the form of a domain. In some ways, he's far beyond what I was at his age. But he's still young—his comprehension isn't deep yet, so the domain is incomplete."
Ye Guyi frowned slightly. "Then what's happening now?"
Elder Mu explained, "I used my own Monarch of the World to fill in the missing parts. If he can fully grasp it, his domain will become complete."
"In time, as his strength and insight grow, his domain will evolve step by step—until it becomes a true domain."
Ye Guyi's mouth fell open. "A Monarch of the World domain… Just feeling it now gave me so much pressure—it felt like I was kneeling before an emperor. If it becomes a real domain, wouldn't regular soul masters be completely helpless?"
Elder Mu smiled faintly. "Indeed. Sicheng has created yet another miracle—one I've never seen before."
"Even real emperors don't possess a will as commanding as his."
****
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