The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the bustling school courtyard as graduates celebrated their newfound freedom. Laughter and chatter filled the air as students hugged their friends and bid farewell to their teachers, eager to embark on their own journeys beyond the school's walls.

As the crowd thinned out, leaving only Eli Shan and Feng Qiang behind, the headmaster approached them. "So, both of you are also going now?" he inquired.

Feng Qiang nodded gracefully, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Yes, headmaster," she replied, her tone filled with excitement for the adventures that awaited her beyond the school grounds.

But Eli Shan hesitated, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Headmaster," he began, "before we depart, there is someone I wish to bid farewell to. May I have permission to visit Teacher Fu Chen in the first-year area of the school?"

In this school, the area of new students was separated. No senior students were allowed to go into their area. The headmaster used this rule because he didn't want seniors to bully those students of first year.

But, it was hard for him to reject Eli Shan's request too. He was his favorite student, and moreover, they won the first rank just because of him, how could he reject the request of such a student? The headmaster thought for a moment before replying, "It's against the rules of this school. However, how can I reject the main character of the tournament? You can go and meet Teacher Fu."

Eli Shan bowed respectfully, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Headmaster," he murmured, before turning to Feng Qiang and holding her wrist, taking her with him, "Let's go together to meet Teacher Fu, he would be happy."

Feng Qiang smiled, nodding in agreement, "Yes, let's go," she agreed, her heart fluttering with anticipation. "It's been too long since I last saw Teacher Fu."

With that, both of them soared into the air, flying through the mountains, reaching the area of the first year in a breath of time.

With a graceful descent, Eli Shan and Feng Qiang landed in the first-year area, and without wasting any time, they dashed toward the classroom where Teacher Fu Chen used to teach.

Along the way, they passed through a field filled with students diligently practicing their swordsmanship. Among them stood a figure, instructing the students with ease. Eli Shan's excitement bubbled up as he recognized the familiar figure.

"Teacher Fu!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his joy.

Hearing the voice, Fu Chen turned to look behind him, where he saw a figure calling out to him. Although the person seemed familiar, Fu Chen couldn't recall who they were.

Eli Shan and Feng Qiang approached him respectfully, bowing before him.

The students in the field couldn't feel the cultivation of these two newcomers, so they thought that they were just ordinary people. However, Fu Chen could sense an undeniable strength emanating from the two visitors. "Why are these strong people bowing before me?" No matter how much he strained his brain, he couldn't understand it.

He extended his hand, touching their shoulder, helping them stand straight, "Why are you bowing?" Fu Chen asked, puzzled. "And I apologize to offend you, but who are you, sir, madam?"

Hearing him, Eli Shan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He couldn't contain his emotions any longer and stepped forward, enveloping Fu Chen in a tight embrace.

Fu Chen thought that Eli Shan was attacking, but his eyes widened to find out that, before he could even move, Eli Shan had already hugged him.

Just too strong!

Fu Chen realized that, if this handsome man wanted to kill him right now, no one could have saved him, not even the headmaster! Yet, despite exerting immense pressure on his mind, he couldn't recall this familiar figure.

As his mind raced with possibilities, Fu Chen watched as Eli Shan knelt down before him. "I apologize for hugging you so suddenly, teacher, but didn't you say that we are like friends?"

Hearing this sentence, Fu Chen's hand began to tremble. "Teacher? Friend?" Throughout his teaching career, there was only one student with whom he had shared a bond of friendship, and that student was none other than Eli Shan!

Eli Shan's smile widened as he gazed into Fu Chen's eyes, the warmth of their shared history shining through. "Don't tell me that you have forgotten me, teacher," he said playfully, his voice filled with affection and nostalgia.

Fu Chen gazed at Eli Shan in disbelief, his expression reflecting his overwhelming emotions.

Meanwhile, Feng Qiang stood to the side, silently observing the heartwarming reunion between teacher and student.

"Little Eli?" Fu Chen finally whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. Eli Shan nodded with a smile. "Yes, teacher, or should I say, my oldest friend?"

Fu Chen's eyes brimmed with tears of happiness, his heart overflowing with emotion at the sight of his former student. "Little Eli, you are really little Eli! How big you have become," he exclaimed, his voice choked with emotion as he reached out to embrace Eli Shan.

"Why are you kneeling down? Your place is here!" Fu Chen insisted, pulling Eli Shan into a tight embrace as if afraid to let go. "I thought that you had already forgotten this old teacher of yours."

Returning the hug, Eli Shan held back his own tears of reunion. "I'm sorry, teacher. I wanted to see you many times, but the school rules didn't allow it."

Fu Chen pulled Eli Shan away, examining him from head to toe. "You've completely changed, huh? You've become stronger and more handsome."

Then, he turned to Feng Qiang, making an educated guess. "If you're with him, then you must be Feng Qiang, right?"

Feng Qiang nodded respectfully, kneeling down. "It's an honor that you remembered my name, Teacher Fu."

Fu Chen smiled warmly. "I'm glad to have students like both of you. You can stand up, Feng Qiang."

Feng Qiang rose to her feet, her face beaming with joy. She glanced at the training field and noticed the new students. "Are they new recruits, Teacher?"

Fu Chen confirmed, "Yes, they're new students of the school. They may not be as talented as both of you, but they're not bad."

Eli Shan burst into laughter, "Of course, they can't be as good as me. Hahaha."

Fu Chen chuckled at Eli Shan's confident boast, shaking his head in amusement. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?" he remarked with a fond smile.

As Fu Chen finished speaking, they heard an angry voice from the training field. "Who do you think you are? Just because you're a senior, do you think you can get away with mocking us like that?"

Eli Shan turned to look at the owner of the voice and saw a kid, nearly in the age of ten, clad in luxurious clothes, holding a sharp sword, glaring at him in anger.

Fu Chen also directed his attention towards the boy, shouting, "Xu Haoron, don't you dare utter another word."

Despite Fu Chen's warning, Xu Haoron persisted. "But teacher, I'm from the sword sect. He may be older and more advanced in cultivation, but he's nothing compared to me in terms of sword-wielding."

Before Fu Chen could respond, Eli Shan intervened. He moved toward Xu Haoron, and with each step toward him, Xu Haoron felt an overwhelming pressure. Eli Shan's presence alone brought him pressure that he didn't even feel from his teacher Fu. Till the time Eli Shan reached him, Xu Haoron gulped, "D-don't come near me." At this moment, he began to regret his outburst. However, he looked into Eli Shan's eyes, his hands trembling in fear but he didn't take a step back.

Seeing this, Eli Shan's lips curled up in amusement. He extended his hand to touch Xu Haoron's head, but Xu Haoron, who was already trembling in fear, couldn't help it and in a moment of panic, he instinctively swung his sword, aiming it at Eli Shan. "No!" Xu Haoron shouted, realizing his sword might cut through Eli Shan, and attempted to stop the blade, but it was already too late. However, to his astonishment, even though the blade made contact with Eli Shan's hand, it failed to leave even a scratch on his skin. Shock and disbelief washed over Xu Haoron as he stared at Eli Shan in astonishment.

Eli Shan sat before him, smiling at him gently. Xu Haoron thought he was there to beat him for what he said, but, in the next moment, he felt a hand on his head. "You have got good potential, work hard and you might reach my current level. And, I apologize for what I said, I was just joking with my teacher, I didn't mean to hurt any of your feelings."

Xu Haoron's initial hostility melted away in the face of Eli Shan's unexpected kindness. As Eli Shan extended his hand, a wave of warmth washed over Xu Haoron, stirring emotions he hadn't felt before. "Even my own father had never taught me with such gentleness. He had always shouted and beaten me for every single mistake," Xu Haoron thought, his heart softening towards Eli Shan. With a mixture of admiration and gratitude, he looked at Eli Shan with eyes that reflected the reverence of a son gazing upon his gentle father. Slowly, he bowed his head, his voice barely above a whisper as he murmured, "I-I'm sorry for what I said." But in that moment, a spark of determination ignited within him, lighting up his gaze with resolve. "One day," he declared, his voice firm and unwavering, "I'll become as strong as you. Strong enough that swords won't even scratch my skin!"

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Eli Shan laughed heartily. "Hahaha, good, good kid. I will come back here in a few years, at that time, be ready to have a duel with me!"

"Yes!!! I will win at that time!"

"Hahaha, I believe you will."

Then he stood up and came back to Fu Chen. But he saw Feng Qiang and Fu Chen looking at him with a weird smile.

"What's going on?" Eli Shan asked.

Feng Qiang replied, "Looks like someone has grown up a lot."

Eli Shan laughed, a wide grin spreading across his face, displaying all of his teeth.

The trio continued to laugh and chat, enjoying the warmth of their reunion. After a while, Fu Chen's expression shifted as a thought crossed his mind. "I've heard the news about our school's victory. How did your battles go?" he inquired, directing his question to Eli Shan and Feng Qiang.

Before Eli Shan could respond, Feng Qiang eagerly chimed in, her voice brimming with admiration. "Eli Shan single-handedly destroyed every single school. He even trampled over the top-ranked school as if they were nothing but mere ants."

Fu Chen erupted into hearty laughter upon hearing this, his eyes twinkling with pride. "Hahaha, I had no doubt Eli Shan would achieve such feats. He's always been a monster!"

Hearing this, Xu Haoron's eyes lit up with admiration. Destroying all schools single-handedly? Trampling over the strongest as if they were nothing? How incredible! "I also want to be like big brother Eli Shan," Xu Haoron resolved to himself.

As the three of them reminisced, their minds drifting back to the past, they couldn't help but recall Eli Shan's remarkable journey within the school. They remembered how Eli Shan had arrived at the school with an unrivaled talent, quickly establishing himself as a prodigy who shattered every single record in the entrance exam. Teachers competed to mentor him, eager to claim him as their disciple. However, their enthusiasm waned when they discovered Eli Shan's inability to cultivate, leading them to retract their offers and even refuse to teach him. In the midst of this adversity, there was only a single teacher who remained steadfast in his support for Eli Shan and taught him swordsmanship with all he had got—Fu Chen.

As they continued their conversation, the sun began its descent, casting a warm glow over the courtyard and signaling the approaching evening. Eli Shan and Feng Qiang rose from their seats, realizing it was time to bid farewell. "We'll be sure to disturb you from time to time, Teacher. For now, we have to leave and visit our house."

Fu Chen chuckled, waving them off with a fond smile, "Don't forget your promise to disturb me then, hahaha."

"Yes teacher," both of them replied in unison.

With their goodbyes exchanged, Eli Shan and Feng Qiang gracefully propelled themselves through the air, traversing the mountains until they reached their destination. There, they found the headmaster and bid him farewell, bowing respectfully. "Thank you for everything, headmaster."

The headmaster smiled warmly. "Both of you, come and visit this old man again when you have the chance."

They nodded and cupped their fists in respect before leaving the school grounds.

The headmaster watched their departing figures and sighed.

As they left the school behind, Eli Shan turned to Feng Qiang with a gentle smile. "What are your plans now?" he inquired.

Feng Qiang smiled softly. "I don't particularly enjoy fighting, so I'll help my father with our business and continue cultivating."

Eli Shan nodded understandingly. "Let's make sure to meet again soon."

Feng Qiang felt a hint of reluctance as they parted ways, but she could only nod in agreement. "See you soon, and feel free to stop by our inn anytime."

Eli Shan nodded in agreement, and with that, both of them went on their separate ways.

Before leaving the city, Eli Shan decided to revisit the place where he had stayed when he first arrived in the city. Walking through the familiar streets, he eventually found himself at the edge of the forest that had witnessed the early stages of his cultivation.

This forest was where Eli Shan had initially cultivated when he first arrived in the city, unable to find any other place to stay.

As Eli Shan stood amidst the towering trees, memories of his past flooded back. He recalled how small and weak he had been when he first arrived in this city. Back then, he couldn't even find an inn to stay at. But now, as he thought about his journey, he realized how much he had grown. He had surpassed his former limitations and become even stronger than the city lord himself. If he were to showcase his cultivation now, he could easily get a place as a chief guest in the city lord's mansion.

"Time passes so quickly, huh?" Eli Shan mused. "Oh wait, I promised Xie Meng that I would take her out of the soul universe, but I forgot." Eli Shan slapped his hand on his forehead. He used his soul power to vanish from his current location and reappear inside the soul universe.

There, he spotted Xie Meng sitting on a rock, deeply engrossed in her cultivation. Dragon, lying nearby, turned his gaze towards Eli Shan and inquired, "You're back so soon this time. It seems there are no longer any time restrictions on you, Huh?"

Eli Shan smirked, "Big brother, since I gained recognition from the former master of this universe, many restrictions have been lifted."

Dragon nodded in understanding. "That's good. So, are you here to take Xie Meng outside now?"

Eli Shan nodded in confirmation, "Yes, I came here specifically to fulfill that promise." He turned his gaze towards Xie Meng, who also opened her beautiful eyes, turning her gaze toward Eli Shan.

As their eyes met, Eli Shan again fell into a daze. No matter how many times he looked at her, he couldn't get used to her ethereal beauty.

"I can't take her outside like this," Eli Shan thought to himself.

Slipping his hand behind his back, Eli Shan swiftly retrieved a beautiful veil.

Dragon looked at him incredulously. "Where did you get that from?"

Eli Shan shrugged. "From behind my back, of course."

"You keep things like that back there?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"Y-You..."

No one ever discovered the origin of this mysterious veil... It remained the biggest unsolved mystery, destined to remain shrouded in secrecy forever.

Eli Shan approached Xie Meng and handed her the veil. "Wear this. Otherwise, anyone won't be able to take their eyes off you."

Xie Meng accepted the veil and replied with a mischievous smile, "Like you?"

Eli Shan blushed and couldn't come up with a retort.

Dragon laughed heartily. "Hahaha, this time Eli Shan finally found a worthy opponent!"

Xie Meng put on the veil, hiding half of her face, but still, looking into her eyes which were more beautiful than auroras and more deeper than the ocean, Eli Shan could only control himself. "Sigh, even this veil can't hide her beauty," Eli Shan thought to himself.

Then he approached her, extending his hand toward her, "Are you ready to go?"

Xie Meng glanced at his hand, then back at Eli Shan's face before nodding firmly. "Yes, let's go." With a gentle grasp, she intertwined her fingers with his, tightly holding his hand.

Eli Shan nodded, enveloping both of them in the power of the soul universe. As soon as this force engulfed them, she suddenly felt an overwhelming power swallowing her, transporting her from one place to another. "This space power is infinitely stronger than what I felt during our previous teleportation from the cave," she whispered softly.

With that, she closed her eyes and when she opened her eyes again, her surroundings had completely changed.

As Xie Meng looked around at the vast expanse of trees, she couldn't help but feel bewildered. "What is this place?" she asked, noticing that even the laws of the world seemed different here.

Eli Shan gazed at her, explaining, "This is the Tianxia Planet, a different planet and universe from where you were until now."

Xie Meng nodded in understanding.

Eli Shan looked at the forest and told her the story of his past journey. He recounted how he had been alone and without a place to stay, how he had grown and survived in school, and ultimately, how he had emerged victorious in the interschool competition.

After finishing his story, Eli Shan suddenly remembered something important—the promise he had made with the old man from the village!

Well, he hadn't exactly forgotten, but he had come here specifically for this purpose... maybe.

"Xie Meng, let's go to meet someone," Eli Shan said, turning to her.

Xie Meng nodded in agreement. "I will follow you."

Determined, Eli Shan found the direction and led Xie Meng toward the village.

Upon arriving at the village, however, they were met with an eerie silence. The streets and grounds that were once bustling with activity were now deserted. "What's happening?" Eli Shan wondered aloud.

As they continued walking, Eli Shan couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss in this place. The village was not this barren before.

Stretching out his consciousness, Eli Shan sensed that there were not many people even inside their homes, and those who were present seemed to be afraid and hesitant to venture outside.

After a moment, Eli Shan finally spotted the old man he had encountered during his previous visit. After looking around, he understood why not many people were present outside or in their houses – most of them were gathered around the old man inside a cottage.

The old man sat in the midst of a group of people, his eyes filled with tears.

Eli Shan and Xie Meng approached the door and entered.

Inside, they found the old man surrounded by concerned villagers engaged in a serious discussion.

"Master, I will fight with the city lord and bring our sister Luo Xiao back," a teenager declared, his fists clenched in anger.

"Master, we've had enough. We can't risk anything happening to our sister," another teenager voiced firmly.

Suddenly, the group turned their attention to the door and saw Eli Shan standing there. Many of them trembled in fear upon seeing him. "W- Who are you? How did you open the locked door?" the angry teenage boy asked.

Having heard their conversation, Eli Shan understood the essence of their story. Ignoring the teenager, he walked toward the old man and cupped his fist in respect. "I am Eli Shan," he announced, his voice steady and unwavering. "Do you remember me, old master? I came here many years ago as a child."

The old man gazed into Eli Shan's bright eyes and recognized him with a warm smile. "Ah, you're that brave young boy who once offered to help us, aren't you?"

Eli Shan nodded solemnly. "It seems the girl you asked me to save last time is no longer here," he remarked, scanning the surroundings in search of her.

The old man's expression darkened, bowing down his head, replying, "You are right, she's not here anymore."

Last time, the old man mentioned that the city lord wouldn't leave her alone once she turned eighteen, and even at that time she appeared to be around the same age as Eli Shan. Now that he was eighteen, she must be around the same age as well.

The angry young man, hearing Eli Shan's words, thought he was mocking them and glared at him with frustration. "Don't you dare to moc-" But before he could finish speaking, Eli Shan continued by interrupting him, "Old Master, last time I promised you that I would save that girl, and I intend to fulfill that promise now."

The old man looked at Eli Shan with a glimmer of hope, but he couldn't help but feel skeptical. How could this young boy possibly stand up against the city lord?

Sighing heavily, the old man said, "I am truly grateful for your concern for us, but he is the city lord. How could you possibly fight against him?"

Eli Shan smiled confidently and dismissed the old man's concern. "If you're still discussing this matter here, it means they haven't married yet, correct? I'll go speak to her. If she refuses to marry him, then I'll bring her back, I promise."

With that, Eli Shan vanished from the cottage without another word.

As the villagers watched him disappear, their eyes widened in amazement. "He looks strong! I couldn't even follow him with my eyes!" one of them remarked in awe.

"If he's willing to help us, perhaps there's hope after all," another added optimistically.

Meanwhile, Eli Shan reappeared in the forest with Xie Meng by his side. "You wanted to look mysterious by disappearing like that, didn't you?" she teased.

Eli Shan met her gaze with a smug grin. "What's wrong with that? At least now they know I'm strong enough to be taken seriously."

Xie Meng chuckled in response, acknowledging his point with a nod.