Chapter 241: Shadow Cat: “life, Can You Let Me Off Just This Once?”
“Wow, is this Star Luo City?”
“The rumored capital of the Star Luo Empire!”
“Their city walls are really a hundred meters high and a hundred meters wide!”
Bai E and the others left the Western Group Army camp under the lead of Wang Yan and Elder Song, arriving at the venue of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament—Star Luo City.
Because the tournament was approaching, they couldn’t wait in place for the academy’s support to arrive, so they had to come to Star Luo City one step ahead.
Elder Song looked at Star Luo City’s walls, shook his head, and said:
“These walls look grand, but they actually have little defensive capability left.”
“These walls have been built for ten thousand years; they looked like this ten thousand years ago, and they still do now.”
“Their materials and structure have long fallen behind the times.”
“At best, they can bully some backward armies without flying soul tools.”
“In today’s world with flying soul tools, they have no real effect.”
Mademos unusually took the initiative to ask:
“Hasn’t Star Luo City ever thought of rebuilding or improving these walls?”
A kind smile appeared on Elder Song’s benevolent face as he patiently explained:
“No.”
“These walls were built to the standard of permanent fortifications from the start.”
“Rebuilding them would cost an astronomical amount of money, and no matter how they’re rebuilt, their defense against soul tools would still be limited.”
“We repair Shrek City’s walls every year because we need to guard against beast tides.”
“Star Luo City has no threat of beast tides.”
“The best way to counter soul tools is still soul tools; Star Luo City has a large number of defensive soul tools and investigative soul tools inside.”
“The Hall of Offerings of the Star Luo Imperial Family also has strength unmatched among the three empires.”
“Generally speaking, no one would choose to launch a large-scale attack on Star Luo City.”
“So the Star Luo Imperial Family has no intention of repairing these walls that have stood for ten thousand years.”
“Let’s go, children, we’re entering the city.”
Elder Song walked ahead with his hands behind his back, leading Bai E and the others to the city gate, where a general exuding a murderous aura and wearing silver-glowing armor immediately came before them.
“Esteemed guests from Shrek, Star Luo City has been expecting you for a long time.”
“Please follow me.”
The general immediately led Elder Song’s group into the city, during which he secretly glanced at Shrek Academy’s participating team this year and was suddenly puzzled.
According to past conventions, Shrek Academy should send the main team and reserve team plus two teachers, totaling sixteen people.
But this year there were only ten people.
And weren’t Shrek’s participants this year a bit too young?
He could tell at a glance that these children were definitely no older than fifteen! Their soul power levels were probably not even at Soul Sect; Shrek Academy wouldn’t be fielding this lineup this year, would they?!
Elder Song looked mildly at the general, who felt a chill down his back upon sensing Elder Song’s gaze, quickly recollected himself, and seriously led the way.
Feng Jin and Ti Bao looked around at Star Luo City’s urban landscape, finding it exceptionally novel.
“There are so many wooden buildings here!”
“And no high-rises.”
“But there are so many people here!”
Elder Song gently patted Feng Jin and Ti Bao’s heads and said:
“That’s normal; the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament is about to be held.”
“All eyes on the continent are focused here, with countless people coming for its fame.”
“This city will likely see its population surge to fifteen million without accident.”
This number made Feng Jin and Ti Bao widen their eyes.
Xilu City followed a high-tech development path, with a population of only 1.5 million to date.
Shrek City was mostly Shrek Academy territory, with a resident and transient population of five million.
Even the two super cities on Heaven Dou Plain combined didn’t have as many people as Star Luo City.
The general leading the way ahead also explained to Feng Jin and Ti Bao:
“We have regulations here; building heights in the city aren’t allowed to exceed the Imperial Palace.”
“I won’t explain the specific reason.”
“But rest assured, Star Luo City has thirty thousand soldiers maintaining order inside.”
“No matter how many people, there won’t be problems.”
Bai E, who was being dragged by Mademos nearby, curiously asked; he had just been distracted by novel sights and nearly got swept away by the crowd.
“Huh?”
“Is Star Luo City’s order maintained by soldiers?”
This question puzzled the general.
“Uh, is there a problem?”
Bai E, having just spotted soldiers maintaining order in the distance, said:
“Actually, I always thought everywhere outside was like Heaven Dou Plain, with specialized enforcement teams managing the city.”
The general didn’t pursue the topic, as matters related to systems weren’t for a gate general like him to comment on; that was for nobles and ministers.
The group next passed by Star Luo Plaza; rather than a plaza, it was more like a giant dueling arena, with various ornate sculptures lining the surroundings.
Bold and artistically beautiful murals emitted a misty glow under the midday sun, their unique visual design making passersby think the murals were moving on their own.
“So exaggerated.”
Wang Dong looked at the flamboyant murals and the exquisitely decorated features, unable to help clicking his tongue; even as the young sect master of Haotian Sect, he had never seen such artistic architecture.
After all, his family were all about swinging big hammers; in terms of strength, they were unmatched, even a cut above Body Sect, but in art, they went for “livable is good,” with no frills at all.
In front of Star Luo Plaza, Wang Yan and Bai E’s group temporarily parted ways; he was going to register for Shrek Academy.
Though Shrek Academy’s uniforms weren’t like the urea belt-style ones from ten thousand years ago.
Their fame was so great that passersby couldn’t help but glance and scrutinize.
Many were this year’s participants, with countless appraising gazes cast toward Bai E and the others.
Elder Song didn’t block the gazes this time, because they would soon be exposed to the entire continent’s view.
This year’s Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament would be broadcast live on Magic Net.
With Magic Net Live Broadcast having no barriers, reservations had already exceeded 100 million; practically everyone on the continent, including soul beasts, would watch this tournament.
This made many academies put 200% effort into preparing; gaining fame meant dream coins and talent would flow in abundantly!
“Children, let’s head to the hotel first; we’ll have a meeting shortly.”
Elder Song led the reserve team and Ling Luochen to the Star Emperor Grand Hotel next to Star Luo Plaza.
This was the most luxurious hotel in the Star Luo Empire, owned by the Star Luo Imperial Family.
As the continent’s top academy, Shrek Academy was naturally arranged in the top-floor rooms, with all courtesies maxed out, even including a separate meeting room.
During the hotel entry, Xia Die secretly tugged at Ling Luochen’s skirt hem.
Ling Luochen looked at this elf-like beautiful junior sister with some doubt.
“What’s wrong?”
Xia Die asked a bit embarrassedly:
“Senior sister, have your soul rings and soul skills recovered?”
During the battle with the Gelman Bandit Group, Xia Die recognized Amon’s true identity; the features were too obvious, and he had avoided her throughout the fight.
She was somewhat worried if her brother had gotten too carried away and didn’t want to return the soul skills to Ling Luochen.
A look of realization appeared on Ling Luochen’s frosty face as she said:
“I forgot to tell you all.”
“After Elder Song struck and killed all those bandits.”
“My soul skills and soul rings had already returned.”
“To be honest, this time really taught me a lesson.”
“Once I lose my soul skills, I’m basically a lamb to the slaughter, my strength crippled by more than half.”
“After this, I’ll probably need to learn to create my own soul skills from the inner court teachers.”
Xia Die breathed a sigh of relief, nodded slightly, and closely followed the group to the top-floor rooms.
“Meow～”
The moment Xia Die opened the room door, the Shadow Cat rushed straight in, sniffing around to familiarize itself with the new environment and check for any dangers.
Though almost spoiled rotten by Huo Yuhao’s family, the instincts from its former stray life were still there.
After surveying its territory like a lion, the Shadow Cat waddled over to Xia Die, rubbed against her fair and shapely calf, then rolled onto its side to expose its belly.
Xia Die squatted down, a smile appearing on her indifferent face as she gently rubbed its belly, then softly said:
“You just ate.”
“No more eating; Father said to strictly control your diet.”
“Wait until evening.”
The Shadow Cat let out a wail, feeling its cat life hopeless, lying flat on the soft carpet with lifeless eyes.
At that moment, Feng Jin pushed open Xia Die’s room door and said:
“Die Bao!”
“Teacher Wang Yan is looking for us!”
“Let’s go to the meeting room together.”
Xia Die stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on her skirt hem, nodded, and Feng Jin energetically pulled Xia Die’s hand toward the meeting room.
Seeing its little master leave, the Shadow Cat immediately did a fat pig roll and stood on all fours again.
Then it looked out the floor-to-ceiling window at prosperous Star Luo City, eyes lighting up, planning to sneak out for some food.
It gracefully catwalked to the door, using shadows to open it; the Shadow Cat had both darkness and wind attributes, the wind attribute fed to it with Wind God Fruit back then, and of no low quality.
With shadows and wind, don’t let its fat fool you—its speed was actually not slow!
“Meow!”
The Shadow Cat suddenly felt itself bump into a pair of legs, its black cat head showing displeasure; looking up, it nearly activated thornback dragon mode.
Audrey stood before it, wagging her finger gently, a proper smile on her face as she softly said:
“I’ll follow you.”
“The young miss and the Lord both said not to let you overeat, to make you lose weight.”
“So I’ll watch you run three laps around Star Luo City.”
Shadow Cat: “Old Wu, ha!!!”
Though Audrey didn’t use spiritual power to read its thoughts, it was obvious the Shadow Cat was cursing profusely, already starting the three-ha enhanced basic attack.
