Shrek Academy's Eve

The small village south of Suotuo City was exceptionally peaceful under the setting sun. Ning Xiaochuan stood before the stone tablet at the village entrance, looking at the crookedly carved characters reading "Shrek Academy." The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily. This legendary academy for monsters was hidden in such an unremarkable little village?

"Hey, what are you spacing out for?" Ning Rongrong tugged his sleeve. Her glazed-tile colored skirt swayed gently in the evening breeze. "Are we really going to live in a place like this?" She glanced disdainfully at the dilapidated thatched huts not far away. "Even the stables at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are nicer than this..."

Just as Ning Xiaochuan was about to answer, a hoarse voice suddenly came from behind them: "If you don't like it, you can leave, Miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

The two spun around abruptly. A middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses had appeared behind them at some point. The man was tall and thin, with a cunning smile on his face, resembling a poised owl.

"Dean Flender?" Ning Xiaochuan asked tentatively.

The man pushed up his glasses, and the lenses reflected a sharp glint. "Not bad, you recognize me." He sized Ning Xiaochuan up and down, his gaze lingering on the Milk Dragon for a moment. "Dai Mubai said you were coming, and I didn't believe him. Why would the jewel of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect fancy a country academy like ours?"

Ning Rongrong snorted. "I came with Xiaochuan. Wherever he goes, I go!"

Flender let out a meaningful "Oh" and suddenly leaned closer to Ning Xiaochuan. "I heard your Martial Soul is very special? Capable of causing Ma Hongjun's inner fire to backfire?"

The Milk Dragon on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder immediately raised its scales alertly, but it didn't show hostility. Instead, it curiously observed Flender. This dean had a peculiar aura that made the Milk Dragon both wary and intrigued.

"It was just a coincidence," Ning Xiaochuan said modestly.

Flender burst into laughter. "Coincidence? A 'coincidence' that can make a Rank 76 Soul Sage's Martial Soul react?" He turned and walked towards the village. "Come, I'll show you the real Shrek."

The interior of Shrek Academy was not much better than its exterior. The training ground was compacted dirt, the dormitories were simple wooden structures, and the only decent building was a two-story structure in the center – the dean's office.

"The conditions are limited, so make do," Flender said as he showed them around the campus. "However, the teaching quality and faculty strength are absolutely on par with any advanced Soul Master Academy."

Ning Xiaochuan noticed a proud glint in Flender's eyes as he spoke. He suddenly recalled the description of this dean in the original work – stingy yet loyal, cunning but upright.

"Your test is scheduled for tomorrow," Flender said, pushing open the door to a dormitory. "You can stay here tonight. Dai Mubai and the others have already returned to the academy. Oscar and Ma Hongjun are staying next door."

Ning Rongrong looked at the simple double room, her brow furrowed so tightly it could trap a fly. "Just one room?"

Flender spread his hands. "The academy's resources are limited. Besides, aren't you two 'that kind of relationship'?" He deliberately emphasized the last part, his eyes full of teasing.

Ning Rongrong's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, but she stubbornly lifted her chin. "One room is fine!" She grabbed Ning Xiaochuan's arm. "Anyway, we... we..."

Seeing that she was only making things worse, Ning Xiaochuan quickly intervened. "Dean, I'd like to ask about the breathing technique."

Flender's eyes lit up. "I was just about to ask you. Dai Mubai said your Martial Soul changes with a special breathing rhythm?"

Ning Xiaochuan nodded and briefly explained the principles of the modern abdominal breathing technique, omitting his identity as a transmigrator, of course. Flender listened intently, interjecting occasionally to ask for details.

"Interesting..." The dean stroked his chin. "This breathing technique seems to be able to stimulate the potential of a Martial Soul. I'll have to observe it carefully during the test tomorrow."

As they were talking, a commotion suddenly erupted outside. Dai Mubai's voice could be heard from afar: "Dean! There's an anomaly in the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest!"

Flender's expression changed, and he quickly walked out of the dormitory. Ning Xiaochuan and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance and followed him.

In the open space at the village entrance, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun had already assembled, looking grimly towards the distance. On the distant horizon, a dark red pillar of light could be faintly seen shooting straight into the clouds, dyeing half the sky blood-red.

"What is that?" Ning Rongrong asked in surprise.

Flender's brow furrowed. "Beast tide warning. With this level of energy fluctuation, at least a Soul Beast over fifty thousand years old is going berserk."

Even stranger, when the red light appeared, the Milk Dragon on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder became unusually agitated. It spread its wings, let out a long cry towards the light pillar, and the golden patterns on its scales flickered erratically.

"Your dragon..." Flender keenly noticed this phenomenon. "Seems to react to that energy?"

Ning Xiaochuan's heart jolted. Could that red light be related to the Milk Dragon's origins? Or... related to the source of the breathing technique?

Just then, a deafening roar echoed from the distance, shaking the entire land. The sound contained endless rage and pain, as if some ancient behemoth was awakening.

The Milk Dragon's reaction intensified. It broke free from Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, flew into the air, its golden patterns blazing brightly. It let out a dragon's roar towards the direction of the roar, as if responding. The two sound waves collided in the air, creating visible ripples!

"It's... communicating?" Oscar stared dumbfounded.

A sharp glint flashed in Flender's eyes. "Ning Xiaochuan, what exactly is the origin of your Martial Soul?"

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "I don't know." This was the truth. Although he suspected the Milk Dragon might be related to the Silver Dragon King, the specific connection remained a mystery.

The red light lasted for about ten minutes before gradually dissipating. The Milk Dragon also quieted down and returned to Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, but the light in its eyes was brighter than usual, as if some memory had been awakened.

"After the test tomorrow, we need to have a good talk," Flender said meaningfully, then turned to the other students. "Strengthen your vigilance tonight and take turns on guard duty."

The crowd dispersed upon receiving the order. Ning Xiaochuan and Ning Rongrong returned to their dormitory, only to find the room had been rearranged – the simple wooden bed had new bedding, fresh fruit was placed on the table, and a simple dressing table had even appeared in the corner.

"This..." Ning Rongrong looked at the changes in surprise.

Oscar's voice came from outside the window: "Don't thank me~ Sausage stall is always at your service!" Then came the sound of receding footsteps.

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "It seems the food system Soul Master is quite caring."

Ning Rongrong pouted. "He knows what's good for him." She suddenly remembered something and took out two packages from her Soul Tool. "Here, clothes for tomorrow's test."

Ning Xiaochuan opened the packages. Inside was a set of exquisitely made black tight-fitting clothes, with dark gold dragon patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. What made him both amused and speechless was that the inside of the clothes was embroidered with the words "Rongrong's Exclusive" in small characters, with neat and dense stitches, clearly put together with great care.

"This is..."

"Couple's outfits!" Ning Rongrong declared righteously, while showing off her own set – the same style, but in glazed-tile purple. "Wear them for the test tomorrow and let everyone know who you belong to!"

Ning Xiaochuan smiled helplessly, but a warmth surged in his heart. He carefully put away the clothes and suddenly thought of a problem. "Right, you sleep in the bed tonight, I'll just sleep on the floor."

Ning Rongrong's face flushed again. "Who, who wants you to sleep on the floor! The bed is so big..." Her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was barely a whisper.

Just as the atmosphere became awkward, a strange noise suddenly came from outside the window. The Milk Dragon immediately raised its scales alertly, and Ning Xiaochuan instantly entered a state of readiness.

"Who's there?" he asked in a low voice.

There was no response, but a letter slowly slid under the crack of the window. Ning Xiaochuan carefully picked it up. The envelope bore no signature, only a dark red wax seal.

Opening the envelope, he found only a few words inside: "Tomorrow's test, beware of Zhao Wuji."

"What does this mean?" Ning Rongrong leaned over to look. "Is someone warning us?"

Ning Xiaochuan pondered for a moment. "Could it be Dai Mubai? Or another student?"

"No," Ning Rongrong shook her head. "If Dai Mubai wanted to warn us, he could have just said it directly. There's no need to be so secretive."

As soon as she finished speaking, a low beast roar echoed from a distance, closer than before. The Milk Dragon stirred again, flying to the window and letting out a low hum towards the direction of the roar.

Ning Xiaochuan walked to the window and found that the edge of the forest in the night was faintly flashing with blue light—it was the Blue Silver Grass! The grass blades swayed with a peculiar frequency, as if transmitting some kind of message.

"Strange..." he murmured. "Why would Blue Silver Grass be here? And it seems to be trying to communicate..."

Ning Rongrong also noticed the anomaly. "Are they trying to guide us somewhere?"

Just as the two were observing, the Milk Dragon suddenly flew out of the window, heading straight for the glowing Blue Silver Grass. Ning Xiaochuan had no time to stop it and could only watch as the little dragon disappeared into the night.

"I'm going to find it!" he turned to leave.

Ning Rongrong grabbed him. "Wait! It's not safe outside. I'll go with you!"

Ning Xiaochuan hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement. The two quietly left the dormitory and chased in the direction the Milk Dragon had flown.

The forest outside the village seemed exceptionally mysterious under the moonlight. The faint glow of the Blue Silver Grass acted like guiding lamps, leading them deeper into the woods. After about ten minutes, a small clearing appeared ahead. The Milk Dragon was hovering in the center of the clearing, surrounded by countless glowing Blue Silver Grass.

Even more surprising was that a figure was sitting in the center of the clearing—it was Zhao Wuji! This level seventy-six Soul Sage had his eyes closed, seemingly in a deep meditative state. The phantom of his Martial Soul, the Great Strength Vajra Bear, flickered behind him, exuding a powerful pressure.

Seeing Ning Xiaochuan, the Milk Dragon immediately flew back, anxiously circling him and pointing towards Zhao Wuji from time to time, as if warning him.

"Is he cultivating?" Ning Rongrong whispered.

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "Something's not right." He noticed Zhao Wuji's expression was unusually pained, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and the phantom of his Martial Soul behind him was constantly twisting. "He seems... trapped in some kind of state."

Just then, Zhao Wuji suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils actually blood-red! He let out a roar that was not human, and the phantom of his Martial Soul instantly solidified, a ferocious aura sweeping across the entire clearing.

"Let's go!" Ning Xiaochuan grabbed Ning Rongrong and turned to flee.

But it was too late. Zhao Wuji had already locked onto them, and a giant bear paw swept towards them with a whistling wind! At the critical moment, the Milk Dragon's body swelled, blocking in front of the two and taking the blow head-on.

"Bang!"

The Milk Dragon was sent flying several meters, but surprisingly, it flew back unharmed, only the golden patterns on its scales had dimmed slightly. Zhao Wuji seemed even more enraged, his Soul Rings lighting up one after another.

"Seven Treasures are named, first: Strength! Second: Speed!" Ning Rongrong reacted extremely quickly, the light of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda immediately enveloping the Milk Dragon.

Empowered, the Milk Dragon's aura surged. The dragon breath it exhaled was no longer just ice and fire, but carried a colorful stream of light—it was the Divine Dragon Amplification state, resonating with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!

Zhao Wuji was forced back several steps by the dragon breath, but he quickly charged forward again. His attacks were chaotic, purely instinctive, but the power of a level seventy-six Soul Sage was still terrifying.

"He's being controlled!" Ning Xiaochuan shouted. "Look at his eyes!"

Indeed, there was no reason in Zhao Wuji's eyes, only insane killing intent. Even more bizarrely, a spider-shaped black mark was faintly visible on his neck—identical to the traitor controlled by the Martial Soul Hall that they had seen in the Sunset Forest!

"Martial Soul Hall's hidden move?" Ning Rongrong exclaimed.

Ning Xiaochuan had no time to answer, as Zhao Wuji's fourth Soul Skill had been activated—Tracking! No matter how they dodged, the giant bear paw followed them like a shadow.

In this moment of crisis, the Milk Dragon suddenly let out a sky-shattering dragon roar. This roar contained a special power, and the surrounding Blue Silver Grass moved in response, growing wildly and intertwining to form a thick barrier between the three of them.

Zhao Wuji's attack was temporarily blocked. Ning Xiaochuan seized the opportunity and circulated his Breathing Technique with all his might. The golden patterns on the Milk Dragon's body glowed to their extreme, and a phantom dragon shadow separated from its body—this was the separation ability of the third level of the Breathing Technique!

The separated dragon shadow and its true form simultaneously spat dragon breath, the two forces converging in the air to form a golden-blue beam of light. The moment the beam hit Zhao Wuji, the spider mark on his neck emitted black smoke, making a "hissing" corrosive sound.

"Ah!" Zhao Wuji let out a painful howl, clutching his head and kneeling on the ground. A moment later, when he looked up again, the blood-red color in his eyes had faded, and his clarity had returned.

"What... what happened?" he asked blankly, looking around.

Before Ning Xiaochuan and Ning Rongrong could explain, Flender's anxious shouts could be heard from a distance: "Old Zhao! Where are you?"

Within a few breaths, Flender, Dai Mubai, and others arrived at the clearing. Seeing the scene before them, everyone was stunned.

"What did you do to Teacher Zhao?" Dai Mubai questioned sternly.

Just as Ning Xiaochuan was about to explain, Zhao Wuji waved his hand. "It's not their fault." He touched his neck, where the burn marks from the spider insignia still remained. "I think... I was ambushed."

Flender examined Zhao Wuji's injuries, his expression becoming extremely grave. "It was a mental control type Soul Skill. To control a level seventy-six Soul Sage without him realizing it, it must be the technique of at least a Titled Douluo."

Everyone's gaze involuntarily shifted to the spider insignia that had not yet completely dissipated—it was clearly the mark of a Martial Soul Hall Elder!

"Tomorrow's test..." Flender pondered for a moment, then suddenly announced, "The regular procedure is canceled and will be replaced by a special assessment." He looked at Ning Xiaochuan and Ning Rongrong. "Are you ready to face the real 'Monster Academy'?"

The Milk Dragon let out a firm growl on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, and Ning Rongrong clenched the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. The two exchanged a look and nodded simultaneously.

Under the moonlight, the Blue Silver Grass swayed gently, as if witnessing the beginning of a new legend.