Arrival in Suotuo City

The original timeline had been completely altered, but overall, it was developing in a better direction.

This instinctively made the still-unformed plane consciousness want to elevate the plane to a higher dimension.

Dimensional ascension held the most fatal allure for every plane.

At the same time, it also brought enormous benefits to all living beings within the plane.

For example, if the Soul Land Plane underwent dimensional ascension ahead of time—

Then the limit for soul masters would no longer be Limit Douluo.

Even without ascending to the Divine Realm or undergoing a God's Examination, they could still rely on their own power to become Half-God-ranked, or even God-ranked existences.

Therefore, under the influence of the world's consciousness, those characters who played important roles in the original plot would receive subtle improvements.

"We'll take it one step at a time."

The Soul Land Plane's dimensional ascension was not something he needed to consider yet.

After all, the simplest way to elevate a plane was to start an interplanar war and devour other planes.

If the Soul Land Plane's consciousness proved sensible enough, he might lend it a hand in the future.

For Su Ming at this stage, radically altering the plot and harvesting Votive Power remained the most important things.

Putting those matters aside, Su Ming reviewed the events that had taken place on Shrek's side.

Du Busi was the Alter Ego Su Ming had planted within Shrek Academy.

He had been designed based on Du Busi from Soul Land 2.

Both his name and martial soul were exactly the same.

When Su Ming had created these Alter Egos, he had only designed aspects such as their backgrounds, identities, and martial souls.

Their later development and growth depended entirely on themselves.

Su Ming did not control them like marionettes, making them act according to a script.

The altered plot and the growth of the Alter Egos were both random.

At most, Su Ming had drafted an outline to ensure no accidents occurred along the way.

As for Du Busi, through a series of coincidences, he had unexpectedly gotten on the right track.

Even his martial soul cultivation and Spirit Ring choices were identical to those in Soul Land 2.

He had even become Yu Xiaogang's student.

Fortunately, this Yu Xiaogang had grown. Otherwise, if his Alter Ego had chosen the original Yu Xiaogang as his teacher, Su Ming would have felt thoroughly disgusted.

Seeing that the plot over there had unfolded perfectly, Su Ming stopped paying attention and allowed it to develop on its own.

He, too, returned to a peaceful school life.

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and six years soon went by.

Su Ming and Tang San successfully graduated from Nuoding Academy.

Over those six years, Su Ming had naturally inserted himself into the events that were originally meant to happen and harvested a modest amount of Votive Power.

Tang San and Xiao Wu had also developed as they had in the original story, becoming sworn siblings.

At the time, Su Ming had been a witness to their bond.

In fact, Tang San had invited Su Ming, his elder brother, as well, but Su Ming politely declined.

He even gave Tang San a proper lesson.

It was enough to keep his elder brother in his heart. There was no need to make it so mushy.

Now, they had left Nuoding Academy.

They were heading toward Shrek Academy, located in the Balak Kingdom.

Besides Su Ming and Tang San, Xiao Wu had come along as well.

After a stretch of travel, the three of them finally arrived in Suotuo City.

"Third Brother, is this Shrek Academy really as good as you said?"

The moment they entered Suotuo City, Xiao Wu began chattering away and asking questions.

"Of course. Even someone like Yu Xiaogang changed after going to Shrek, and Shrek Academy's teachers are quite good as well. It's worth checking out."

"If it doesn't suit us, we'll just choose another academy."

The boy called Third Brother was naturally Tang San. He explained it to Xiao Wu with obvious fondness.

Over the six years, all of them had changed greatly.

Xiao Wu, who had been adorable since childhood, had grown even more beautiful.

Tang San had looked ordinary since he was young, but perhaps because his martial soul had taken the right path and he had absorbed the right Spirit Rings, even his temperament had changed somewhat.

He had become calm and approachable, giving people the impression of being mildly handsome at first glance.

As for Su Ming, his changes were even more astonishing.

His looks had already been exceptionally outstanding, while the aura around him had become increasingly extraordinary.

Even a fool could sense that Su Ming was anything but ordinary after feeling that aura.

If Su Ming had not deliberately restrained his aura, the surrounding area would have long since been packed to the brim with people.

"If you don't want to come, you could have gone to another academy."

Su Ming teased Xiao Wu at this moment. "Of course, you definitely can't bear to leave your Third Brother."

"You..." Xiao Wu's little face flushed at Su Ming's blunt words.

She wanted to retort, but when she thought of how frightening Su Ming was, she could only glare at him and stop paying him any attention.

Xiao Wu had always possessed the temperament of a little troublemaker.

After becoming sworn siblings with Tang San and receiving his care, she had become even more unruly.

Yet Xiao Wu alone did not dare throw a tantrum in front of Su Ming.

Because Su Ming never went easy on girls.

If Xiao Wu caused trouble for him, Su Ming really would dare to teach her a lesson.

And since Su Ming was Tang San's elder brother, Tang San was not in a position to intervene. He could only mediate between them.

Over the years, Su Ming had become a troublesome friend in Xiao Wu's eyes.

Even if he was her Third Brother's elder brother.

At this moment, Su Ming spoke with great consideration again.

"Traveling these past few days has been quite tiring, so we'll stay in Suotuo City for the night. This afternoon, everyone can go off on their own and relax."

Among the three of them, Su Ming was usually the one who made plans and had the final say.

Even Xiao Wu had to admit that he handled things very well.

"Yay, Brother Ming!" Xiao Wu, who had just been sulking, instantly came back to life and cheered excitedly.

When it came to what she called Su Ming, Xiao Wu had a flexible moral standard.

Whenever she needed his help, he was Brother Ming.

When she did not need him, he was simply Su Ming.

And when she argued with Su Ming, she replaced his name with a blunt "Hey."

"Alright, I won't interrupt your time alone together. Have a pleasant afternoon. I'll go book a hotel first."

After leaving them with the words, "Meet at the west gate at dusk,"

Su Ming left first, no longer playing the third wheel between them.

"What does he mean, time alone together? Brother Ming, honestly..." Xiao Wu muttered under her breath.

But her words did not match her heart.

She was still very happy to spend some time alone with Third Brother.

"Third Brother, let's go." Xiao Wu immediately pulled Tang San away to browse the streets.

Meanwhile,

After booking the hotel where they would stay that night, Su Ming headed to the Rose Hotel that had appeared in the original story.

He planned to meet Dai Mubai and harvest some Votive Power from him.