Chapter 523 - 523: Reunions, Rebirth, and Rare Talent

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--- chapter 523 ---

As Han Yuan, Mu Xi, and Xing Lan walked through the grounds of Eastsea Academy, their arrival unexpectedly caught the sharp, attentive gaze of a teacher on a distant balcony.

It was a tall male teacher with striking blue hair, dressed in a clean white-and-blue suit. He gazed solemnly into the distance, and a distinct purplish tint flickered within his deep yellow eyes.

"...This is," He inhaled a sharp, cold breath under his breath. "There's no mistake. That energy signature... it's actually a Title Douluo."

"What is a powerhouse of her level doing in Eastsea City? And why is she bringing two children along... Is she planning to enroll them here?"

A fraction of a second later, however, the male teacher felt a sharp, heavy pressure collide with his consciousness—a stern, unyielding warning from Xing Lan.

He sighed, lowering his gaze as the purple light in his eyes receded. "As expected of a Title Douluo..."

"She detected my spiritual probe instantaneously."

"Fortunately, she merely delivered a warning rather than taking genuine offense."

"Her realm... might even be higher than my teacher's... sigh, Teacher..."

On the other side of the campus park, Xing Lan snorted softly, her stern demeanor softening as she continued walking beside Han Yuan and Mu Xi.

Xing Lan snorted lightly. "Hmph... a mere Spirit Emperor certainly has a lot of nerve these days."

'Tch, another reckless individual from the Tang Sect,' She added inwardly with mild disdain.

"What's wrong, Auntie?" Han Yuan asked innocently, as though he hadn't also sensed the subtle spiritual power probing them a moment ago.

He was all too familiar with the signature techniques of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Record—that brief pulse of pupil energy was clearly the Purple Demon Eyes.

In fact, Han Yuan possessed the true, complete version of the Mysterious Heaven Record stored inside his mind, courtesy of Alpha's assistance, just in case he ever felt like crafting his own custom cultivation techniques or developing a unique Divine Art.

He hadn't gotten around to it yet because he was far too lazy.

Even then, he hadn't expected to encounter a practitioner so quickly upon arriving at Eastsea Academy, but knowing the lore of the story, this person's identity was obvious.

Wu Zhangkong—the future instructor of Tang Wulin and the rest of his main team.

He was not only an elite outer disciple of the Tang Sect, but also a famed genius from Shrek Academy, had his life not been derailed by the tragic loss of his lover a few years back.

'Based on the current timeline, his lover must have passed away roughly two or three years ago,' Han Yuan mused silently. 'It won't be for another three years that he meets Tang Wulin... or rather, his female counterpart in this world.'

Xing Lan maintained an aloof, unbothered expression. "It's nothing. Just a rude young man testing his boundaries. Let's head over and meet Mu Xi's friend."

"She should be at the running tracks around this time!" Mu Xi chimed in cheerfully, smiling broadly.

She remained oblivious to the fact that someone had been spying on her from a distance, but that wasn't surprising due to the gap in cultivation between a Spirit Elder and a Spirit Emperor like Wu Zhangkong.

They soon arrived at the vast track field and spotted a fairly tall, spirited blonde girl in pink athletic wear jogging around the track.

'Oh, wow...' Han Yuan blinked and couldn't help but admire the view—this girl was practically the textbook definition of a bright senior class crush.

Even at just eleven years old, Ouyang Zixin already possessed the faint, charming, dependable aura of an affectionate older sister.

"Interesting..." Xing Lan observed the running girl, a small smile touching her lips as she sensed a faint yet enduring vitality radiating from her. Her Martial Soul clearly belonged to the life attribute.

"Zixin!" Mu Xi called out, sprinting onto the field.

Ouyang Zixin paused, turning around with a dazed look as she spotted the crimson-haired girl rushing toward her. "M-Mu Xi?"

Before the pink-clothed girl could process it, Mu Xi tackled her straight to the track grass. Mu Xi grinned brightly. "Long time no see, Bestie!"

"Long... Long time no see!" Ouyang Zixin laughed, hugging the crimson-haired girl with deep nostalgia.

Back then, they were both freshmen in the Eastsea Academy and close roommates. But after their first semester, Mu Xi had suddenly stayed in Heaven Dou City for advanced cultivation training.

Mu Xi was her closest friend, and she had missed her terribly over the past year.

Yet, she certainly hadn't expected her friend to undergo such a complete transformation.

"What in the world happened to you?" Ouyang Zixin asked curiously as they sat up on the grass. "Your appearance... your hair... it's like you've been completely reborn!"

Mu Xi puffed out her chest proudly. "That's because I got myself a handsome, reliable, genius, unrivaled younger brother!"

"In fact, let me introduce him to you right now!"

She turned toward the silver-haired boy and gestured grandly. "Xiao Yuan, meet my best friend, Ouyang Zixin! You can call her Sister Zixin!"

"Zixin, meet my brother, Han Yuan!"

Han Yuan and Ouyang Zixin stared at each other for a second, feeling a brief wave of awkwardness due to Mu Xi's overly dramatic presentation, before exchanging warm smiles and shaking hands.

"Nice to meet you, Sister Zixin," Han Yuan said smoothly.

"Mhm! I really didn't expect Mu Xi to find a handsome younger brother like you, Han Yuan. If I may ask... how old are you this year?" Ouyang Zixin asked, slightly unsure because of how remarkably tall and composed he was.

"Me? I'm seven," Han Yuan replied casually. "My physique is a bit unique, so I look a bit older than most kids my age."

"Oh, seven—wait, seven?!" Ouyang Zixin nodded for a good second, but mid-sentence, her jaw dropped in total disbelief.

Looking at the strikingly handsome silver-haired boy standing at around the same height as her, she couldn't process the math at all.

Even knowing he possessed a special constitution, Ouyang Zixin couldn't help but look him up and down once more. A sudden blush crept onto her cheeks, and she coughed awkwardly to hide her fluster.

'Oh my gosh... I actually had such inappropriate thoughts just now!' Zixin screamed frantically in her mind, her cheeks burning. 'I thought Mu Xi was introducing some ridiculously handsome future boyfriend, but he's seven! Seven! Ah, Zixin, you're going straight to jail!'

"Also, Zixin, let me introduce you to my teacher," Mu Xi added, gesturing toward Xing Lan. "My teacher is a Title Douluo!"

"Title: Nebula Douluo!"

"Hiss... You even have a Title Douluo for a teacher now?!" Ouyang Zixin hadn't even fully recovered from the shock caused by Han Yuan, and this revelation made her draw a sharp, cold breath.

"But this is wonderful..." She smiled warmly at her friend. "With a teacher like this, you'll definitely become a Title Douluo and the very first Female Divine Craftsman, Mu Xi!"

'What a gentle, steady character,' Han Yuan and Xing Lan both thought, observing how genuinely Ouyang Zixin congratulated her friend without a shred of malice.

Although there was a natural flicker of envious admiration in her eyes, she accepted the reality with graceful composure, marveling at Mu Xi's good fortune.

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Excellency Nebula Douluo," Ouyang Zixin greeted politely, bowing her head in deep respect.

Xing Lan nodded lightly, her expression warm. "Mhm. Girl, show me your Martial Soul. If your talent meets my standards, taking you on as my prospective second disciple isn't out of the question."

"T-This..." Ouyang Zixin gasped, unprepared for such an opportunity. She glanced instinctively at Mu Xi, who was grinning and nodding at her like a pecking chick.

"Show her! Show my teacher your Martial Soul!" Mu Xi cheered excitedly. "Don't be nervous—my teacher is very gentle! She can be strict, but her judgment is always spot on!"

Ouyang Zixin took a deep, steadying breath to calm her nervousness. She looked up to Xing Lan and mumbled, "P-Phew... Alright..."

"Your Excellency, this is my Martial Soul..."