Dai Mubai let out a sigh of relief, yet his heart felt strangely heavy.
"Xiao Wu, here are some radishes you like—eat up!" Tang San placed a small dish of pickled radishes in front of her.
"Pfft!"
Ning Rongrong couldn't help herself; she spat out the mouthful of white porridge she hadn't yet swallowed, splashing it directly onto Oscar, who was sitting opposite her.
"San, these radishes are so salty, how am I supposed to eat more?" Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at Tang San and pushed the dish back. "Besides, these are white radishes, not carrots."
Tang San scratched his head in embarrassment. In his haste, he had forgotten that distinction.
Soon, the group finished their breakfast. Just then, a bell rang, the sound traveling from afar and growing louder.
"What is that sound?" Tang San frowned slightly.
"That's the assembly bell for our academy. The Headmaster is probably already waiting for us in the square! Let's hurry," Dai Mubai said, standing up with a casual tone. He ignored Long Jian, who was still sipping his porridge slowly. Ma Hongjun performed a quick display of his "Dragon Sucks Water" technique before hurrying after them.
"Xiao Wu, we should get going too! It won't look good if we're late," Tang San said with a smile.
Xiao Wu nodded. As Tang San watched, she turned her head and said with a smile to the other three, "Long Jian, Zhuqing, Rongrong, let's go."
Tang San’s already plain face turned dark instantly.
Before long, the group gathered in an open area. Xiao Wu pouted when she saw Flender, who had appeared the night before. She still held a grudge against this profiteer.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Flender, a level 78 agility-attack Combat Soul Saint!" Flender’s hawk-like eyes swept coldly across the eight students. Finally, his gaze fixed on Dai Mubai. "Dai Mubai, as a senior student, you failed to follow the rules and broke into the girls' dormitory in the middle of the night. Run twenty laps around the academy grounds—and you are forbidden from using your Spirit Power!"
Dai Mubai’s face paled, but seeing Flender’s stern expression, he dared not argue. He left the formation and began running outside the academy.
"Zhu Zhuqing, you go and supervise Dai Mubai."
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly. "Why?"
"You are the victim. Surely you want to see Dai Mubai punished?" Flender asked, puzzled.
"I don't need to," Zhu Zhuqing said, turning her head away, her gaze subconsciously falling on Long Jian. Seeing this, Flender didn't force the issue. He could only silently apologize to Dai Mubai in his heart; he had done all he could.
"Long Jian, your Spirit Power has reached level 30, so you can rest today. Tomorrow, the academy will take you to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain your Spirit Ring."
Long Jian nodded. Xiao Wu wanted to say something, but remained silent in the end, thinking she would just find a secret place later to condense a spirit ring herself.
Flender continued, "After we dismiss, go pay your tuition fees. Shrek Academy’s curriculum is flexible—there are no fixed classes! I will take you to your first lesson tonight! Oscar, Ning Rongrong, stay behind. The rest of you may go!"
Oscar heard this and gave a bitter internal smile. He was going to be the example.
"San, let's go!" seeing Tang San standing still, Xiao Wu tugged at him.
"Xiao Wu, let's watch for a bit longer," Tang San consoled.
"How boring, what's there to see?" Xiao Wu pouted and walked back to the group.
"Long Jian?" Zhu Zhuqing blinked her beautiful eyes, looking at him with a questioning gaze.
"Let's go." Long Jian already anticipated what would happen next. Ning Rongrong would show off her "little witch" personality—one that feared nothing. However, over the past two days, Long Jian had felt that this was simply her true nature, not the gentle facade shown in the original timeline. Instead, she was quite similar to Xiao Wu’s mischievous character.
Ning Rongrong saw Zhu Zhuqing leave with Long Jian and wanted to follow, but seeing the current situation, she realized it wasn't possible.
***
In Soto City.
"Zhuqing, do you really think that in this Shrek Academy, you can improve enough to defeat your sister?" Long Jian walked with his hands behind his back, looking straight ahead, his voice soft. Without the help of immortal herbs, it would be impossible for Zhu Zhuqing to reach the rank of Spirit Ancestor by the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. He had his own plans for those herbs.
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head slightly, lost in thought. "I'm not sure yet. But... Long Jian, do you think Rongrong’s suggestion might work?"
Last night, she had laid everything out for Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu. Ning Rongrong had invited her to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, offering to have her father, Ning Fengzhi, intervene with the Star Luo Empire to help her escape her plight. It was then that Zhu Zhuqing learned Ning Rongrong was the little princess of the school and the next heir to the sect.
"It could work," Long Jian nodded slightly. Any of the top three sects could influence the trajectory of an empire. Even the Star Luo Empire would not dare ignore the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
"So, are you planning to give up?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head decisively. "Only by grasping power myself can I truly master my own destiny. Getting stronger and defeating my sister remains my goal."
Seeing her unwavering resolve—that she hadn't grown complacent just because she had a potential escape route—Long Jian felt a greater appreciation for her. "To become a powerhouse, the most important thing is to possess the conviction of one! Zhuqing, you already have the makings of a true warrior."
"Thank you," Zhu Zhuqing smiled faintly. Gaining Long Jian's approval warmed her heart. She had become completely disillusioned with Dai Mubai after last night’s events. The betrothal between them had been a shackle on her heart and behavior. She was already thinking of unilaterally dissolving the engagement and was prepared to leave the Star Luo Empire. She wanted to live for herself, for once, and pursue what she truly desired.
Before long, they arrived at a tall building: The Soto Great Soul Arena.
"Zhuqing, how much money do you have on you?" Long Jian asked. He wanted to pay her back for what he owed. But before that, he hoped she would trust him just once.
"I have about twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins. Do you need to use them? Here." Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing took out a gold card and several money pouches, handing them to him.
Long Jian waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, I just want to participate in a soul duel! You can bet on me to win later!"
Zhu Zhuqing realized his intent after a moment of thought. While she sighed internally, she admired him even more.
"Long Jian, you really don't have to do this."
"I can't just keep spending your money," Long Jian said with a gentle smile.
"It's fine, money is just a worldly possession," Zhu Zhuqing replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.
In the end, she helped him register for the duel. A level 30 Spirit Elder against a level 45 Spirit Ancestor. The odds were one to ten.
Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly in the audience stands, watching Long Jian on the arena stage. He stood calmly, hands behind his back, showing not a hint of panic despite facing an opponent a full major rank higher than himself. As his opponent charged, Long Jian didn't make a single move, yet the entire stage was suddenly engulfed by an irresistible, overwhelming pressure. At the same time, the opponent’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.