Chapter 694 A Choice Will Eventually Be Faced

Lu Yu smiled, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Perhaps, someone instructed them to do so."

He didn't say much, but simply patted Zhao Wuji on the shoulder, "Teacher Zhao, take me to meet this Crown Prince."

Inside Shrek Academy's main hall, sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a golden glow on the floor.

As Lu Yu followed Zhao Wuji into the hall, his gaze immediately fell on the figure standing in the center.

He was a young man dressed in a light gold robe, with a handsome face that was almost otherworldly. His features were so exquisite that they resembled a finely carved piece of jade, and his eyes and brows exuded an innate nobility.

His long hair was tied back, and with a slight smile, he exuded a gentle yet undeniably dignified air.

"Lu Yu, with the potential of a Contra Douluo, has achieved so much at such a young age. He is truly the pride of Shrek Academy."

Upon seeing Lu Yu, Xue Qinghe stepped forward and said in a gentle tone with a hint of admiration, "I am Xue Qinghe. I have long admired Brother Lu's name and have come to meet you today."

Lu Yu smiled slightly, returned the greeting with a cupped hand, but his gaze subtly swept over Xue Qinghe.

The "Snow-Clear River" before our eyes

Just as rumored, he was so handsome that he seemed almost too good-looking for a man, even more so than a woman.

He sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, saying indifferently, "You flatter me, Your Highness."

"I am but a mere Soul Master; how could I possibly deserve such high praise?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe's eyes flashed with a strange light, and then he smiled and said, "Brother Lu is too modest."

With your talent, your future achievements are limitless.

He paused, a deeper meaning appearing in his eyes. "The reasons for this visit are twofold: first, to witness the genius of Shrek Academy; and second... to make friends with Brother Lu."

"make friends?"

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery, "Your Highness's appearance is even more beautiful than a woman's. If I didn't know you were a man, I would probably think you were some fairy dressed as a woman."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

Zhao Wuji's expression changed slightly, and he quickly coughed, trying to smooth things over.

Xue Qinghe's smile faltered slightly, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and laughed, "Brother Lu, you're too kind. I take that as a compliment."

Lu Yu sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

He said those words on purpose to test Xue Qinghe's reaction.

Sure enough, although the other party concealed his expression very well, the momentary panic did not escape his eyes.

He was almost certain that the person in front of him was Qian Renxue.

"Brother Lu, I have something I would like to discuss with you privately today."

Xue Qinghe paused, glancing at Zhao Wuji and the others beside him. His tone was gentle yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "May I have a word with you in private?"

Zhao Wuji glanced at Lu Yu, and seeing him nod slightly, he led the others out of the hall.

In the huge hall, only Lu Yu and Xue Qinghe remained, and the atmosphere suddenly became subtle.

Xue Qinghe's gaze lingered on Lu Yu for a moment before he suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with a hint of probing: "Brother Lu, what you just said...did you know something?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu's heart stirred, but he feigned confusion and said calmly, "What do you mean by this, Your Highness? I was just speaking casually. If I have offended you, please forgive me."

Xue Qinghe stared at him for a moment, a complex look flashing in her eyes, but in the end she just smiled.

"Brother Lu is indeed witty."

"Well then, this is only our first visit today; we'll have plenty of time in the future."

He paused, then stood up to take his leave, saying, "If I have time, you are welcome to visit me in the Heavenly Dou Imperial City."

Lu Yu watched his departing figure, a deep light flashing in his eyes.

Lu Yu stood on the spacious training ground of Shrek Academy. A gentle breeze blew by, bringing the fresh scent of grass and trees in the morning, with a hint of damp earth in the air.

His gaze slowly swept over the Shrek Academy students training not far away. The boys' figures appeared energetic in the morning light, and sweat glistened on their foreheads. Accompanied by Zhao Wuji's loud commands, the training ground was a scene of bustling activity.

However, Lu Yu's gaze lingered for a moment, landing on a familiar figure—the woman with whom he had a special encounter in an unexpected incident.

She was adjusting her wristband with light, graceful movements, her profile appearing soft and focused in the morning light.

Lu Yu's gaze paused slightly, a hint of strangeness in it. The scene of her being held in his arms that night involuntarily surfaced in his mind, and he could almost hear her slightly flustered breathing.

He coughed lightly and quickly looked away, trying to suppress that memory.

Just then, a faint aura came from his side. Lu Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, and his perception spread out like ripples.

Before he could even turn around, he sensed someone silently approaching.

The man's aura was calm and restrained, as if he were one with the surrounding environment. If Lu Yu's perception were not extraordinary, he probably would not have been able to detect him.

He slowly turned around, his gaze falling on a woman dressed in an elegant long dress.

The woman possessed a gentle and graceful demeanor, with a hint of composure born of years in her eyes and a faint smile on her lips, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

However, Lu Yu's eyes became more wary—he couldn't fully see through her strength, and could even vaguely sense that there were invisible powerful guards beside her.

This unfathomable depth of knowledge made him shudder, and he secretly began to guess the other party's identity.

"Young man, your eyes are not quite well-behaved."

The woman's clear, slightly teasing voice broke the tranquility at the edge of the training field.

She approached slowly, her skirt swaying gently with each step. Her pace was unhurried, as if she were strolling leisurely, yet she exuded an undeniable air of authority.

Lu Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Madam, may I ask how you are addressed?"

The woman stopped and glanced at him for a moment, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes.

“My surname is Su, and everyone calls me Madam Su.”

She paused, then her smile deepened. "It's quite a coincidence that we share the same surname. Isn't that a bit of a coincidence?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu's heart stirred slightly.

Madam Su? He had never heard of this name before, but the composure and confidence she exuded made him certain that this person was no ordinary person.

He replied calmly, "Madam Su is too kind. The idea of ​​fate is too mystical."

I'm just curious, why is Madam here at Shrek Academy?

Madam Su smiled gently, but her gaze turned to the training ground in the distance. She said casually, "I'm waiting for someone, a very pretty girl."

I will leave once I see her.

Her words were understated, yet carried a profound and enigmatic meaning.

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow, a sense of doubt rising in his heart.

A pretty girl? The question sounded simple, but it always made him feel that there was more to it than met the eye.

He asked tentatively, "Oh? May I ask which young lady has the honor of making Madam wait for her personally?"

Madam Su turned her gaze and gave him a half-smile, half-smile, "He's an interesting child."

If there's an opportunity in the future, perhaps I'll introduce you to them.

Her words carried a hint of sarcasm, but Lu Yu felt a strange sense of unease.

He wanted to ask a few more questions, but Madam Su waved her hand and said in a relaxed tone, "Alright, young man, aren't you going to instruct those students? Go ahead, I won't bother you any longer."

Lu Yu was slightly taken aback, his gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and finally chose not to ask any further questions.

He bowed and took his leave, then turned and walked towards the training ground. His steps were steady, but his back view carried a hint of contemplation.

Behind him, Madam Su's gaze followed him the whole time, her smile growing ever deeper, as if she had seen through something, or as if she was hiding some unknown secret.

On the training field, Zhao Wuji stood to the side, arms crossed, his eyes fixed intently on the trainees who were undergoing physical training.

As Lu Yu approached, Zhao Wuji's gaze involuntarily drifted towards the figure in the distance—Madam Su.

He frowned and lowered his voice to Lu Yu, "Lu Yu, that Madam Su... do you know why she came?"

Lu Yu stopped and glanced at Zhao Wuji, saying indifferently, "We just bumped into each other on the way and chatted for a bit."

Teacher Zhao, you seem to know her quite well?

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji's face flashed with embarrassment, and he chuckled dryly twice, saying, "Not at all, not at all. In her eyes, I am just an insignificant little person. How could I dare to say that I understand her?"

He paused, seemingly unwilling to discuss further, and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, I'll go check on the trainees' training over there. You go ahead and do your work."

After saying that, he strode away, his back view showing a hint of haste.

Lu Yu watched Zhao Wuji's departing figure, his brows furrowing slightly.

Zhao Wuji's reaction was somewhat unusual, as if he was deliberately avoiding something.

A slight doubt arose in his mind, but he didn't dwell on it and instead turned his attention to the trainees on the training field.

"Brother Lu Yu!"

A clear voice came from the crowd. Lu Yu looked in the direction of the voice and saw Lu Jun waving and running towards him with a big smile on his face.

Lu Jun's face still carried the immaturity of youth, and sweat trickled down his forehead, making him look exceptionally energetic.

Lu Yu smiled slightly and nodded, signaling him to continue.

"Brother Lu Yu, Teacher Zhao's physical training is too tiring!"

Lu Jun, panting heavily, complained, "Running laps and carrying heavy loads every day, my soul power is almost exhausted. What's the point of all this?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu glanced at the other students and saw that they were also looking at him with curiosity, clearly interested in the same question.

He pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "What do you think is the significance of Teacher Zhao's physical training?"

Lu Jun scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said, "How about enhancing the body's endurance? When the soul power is exhausted, the body can still support the battle."

The other students nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right. With a stronger body, even if you run out of soul power, you can hold on for a little longer."

Lu Yu shook his head, a deep meaning in his eyes, "You're only half right."

He paused, his voice growing deeper, "The essence of a Soul Master is indeed Soul Power and Martial Soul."

But have you ever considered that the higher the quality of the soul bone, the higher the requirements for the body?

If one's body is not strong enough, even obtaining a top-tier soul bone will not allow one to withstand its power, and may even result in a backlash.

Upon hearing this, the trainees looked surprised, clearly having never considered this connection.

Lu Yu continued, "More importantly, Soul Masters are not limited to Soul Power as their only path."

A true powerhouse should possess two strengths—in addition to soul power, they should also have a combat ability that does not rely on soul power.

For example, a swordsman, even if his soul power is exhausted, can still defeat a soul master of the same level with his superb swordsmanship.

In fact, some advanced sword techniques are no less powerful than soul skills.

As soon as he finished speaking, the students on the field started discussing among themselves, their eyes lighting up with new interest.

Lu Jun's eyes widened even more, and he asked, "Brother Lu Yu, are you saying that besides cultivating soul power, we also need to learn other combat skills?"

Lu Yu nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Soul power is the foundation, but it's not everything."

Teacher Zhao's physical training is not only to help you last a little longer when your soul power is exhausted, but also to make your bodies containers that can bear even greater power.

In the future, if you can combine your soul power with your physical skills, perhaps you will be able to forge your own path.

After listening, the trainees seemed to be deep in thought, and their enthusiasm for training seemed to increase even more.

Looking at their expressions, Lu Yu sighed inwardly.

He knew that these principles seemed simple, but truly understanding and putting them into practice required time and experience.

He turned to look at Zhao Wuji in the distance, his gaze filled with a complex emotion.

Zhao Wuji's avoidance, Madam Su's appearance, Xue Qinghe's probing... these seemingly unrelated things were subtly connected in his mind.

On the training field, the morning light gradually increased, and the sunlight shone on everyone, casting a golden glow.

Lu Yu stood aside, quietly watching the trainees continue their training, but his thoughts couldn't help but drift back to his confrontation with Xue Qinghe not long ago.

At that time, Xue Qinghe sat in a side hall of the palace, with a gilded screen behind him. The incense burner in the hall emitted wisps of smoke, but the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Xue Qinghe's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, with a hint of scrutiny, as he slowly spoke: "Lu Yu, there have been rumors lately that you have some connection with the Martial Soul Empire. I wonder if it's true?"

Lu Yu was standing in the hall at the time. Upon hearing this, he simply smiled faintly and said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant, "Your Highness, rumors are just rumors."

My interpersonal relationships seem to have no connection with the Heavenly Dou royal family.

Moreover, I am not one to fight against fate, and Your Highness's power holds no sway over me.

A strange light flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, as if he was somewhat surprised by Lu Yu's bluntness.

He put down his teacup, his tone tinged with admiration, "Lu Yu, your talent and potential are truly astonishing."

The Heavenly Dou Empire needs talent like you. If you are willing to serve, I can offer you a high position. What do you say?

Lu Yu's gaze sharpened slightly, but his tone remained calm. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I prefer to be free."

"Your Highness's kindness is beyond my ability to accept."

Xue Qinghe's smile froze slightly, but he quickly recovered.

He stood up, slowly walked towards Lu Yu, and said in a lower voice, "Lu Yu, life is unpredictable, and you will eventually have to make a choice in the future."

Choosing the wrong path could lead to unnecessary trouble.