Vast Sea Divine Might Barrier

Shrek Academy had already exploded into chaos over Tang San's disappearance.

Xiao Wu had gone completely mad.

Her eyes bloodshot, like a wounded lioness, she tore through Suotuo City inside and out, digging three feet into the ground.

The blacksmith's shop—the place Tang San frequented—she had already searched six times!

Just as she was burning with anxiety and about to charge in for a seventh round of interrogation—

Thump!

A dull, strange sound stabbed into her ears, piercing straight through her heart.

"Third Brother!"

A blood-bound tremor made her scream, her figure turning into a pink blur as she lunged madly toward the back alley.

Tears blurred her vision instantly. She rushed to the person struggling to crawl, her hands hovering in midair, trembling violently, afraid to touch.

"Third Brother! Third Brother! How are you? Who? Who did this?!" Her voice carried a sob and boundless hatred.

Hearing the familiar voice, Tang San's taut nerves loosened a fraction. He lifted his head with difficulty, forcing a smile uglier than crying:

"Xiao... Xiao Wu... don't be scared... take me... back... find... teacher..."

Before he could finish, his head lolled to the side, sinking completely into darkness.

"Third Brother!" Xiao Wu cast aside all caution, scooping up Tang San's cold, heavy body and sprinting toward Shrek Academy.

Heaven Dou City, Duanmu Ci's residence, training ground.

Duanmu Ci's gaze fell on the silent girl before him.

Dugu Yan's emerald eyes had lost their usual sparkle, her delicate face etched with resistance, her tightly pressed lips hinting at grievance.

"Since your grandfather entrusted you to me," Duanmu Ci's voice carried a hint of amusement, breaking the oppressive silence, "it means the past must be wiped clean. Don't waste his good intentions." He paused, his eyes sweeping over the girl's stubborn profile. "Follow me."

He turned and walked straight toward the training ground behind the residence.

Dugu Yan bit her lower lip, silent for a few seconds, but eventually lifted her feet and followed.

At the edge of the training ground, ancient trees towered with canopies like umbrellas, beside a man-made lake shimmering with ripples.

Ignoring Dugu Yan's puzzled gaze, Duanmu Ci walked straight to a giant tree that would take several people to encircle.

He lifted his foot.

Steadily, he stepped onto the nearly vertical trunk.

One step, two steps, three steps...

He walked as if on flat ground, his body parallel to the earth, defying gravity, straight up into the canopy several zhang high.

"!!!" Dugu Yan's pupils shrank to pinpricks, her mouth slightly open.

This... how was this possible?

Duanmu Ci's figure drifted down lightly.

He walked to the lake's edge, and under Dugu Yan's horrified gaze, he stepped onto the calm water.

Ripples spread from the tip of his foot as he stood steadily atop the waves.

"Watch carefully." Duanmu Ci's voice came, utterly calm. "Tree climbing. Water walking. This is your entry-level training."

"Entry-level? How... how is that possible?" Dugu Yan's voice was hoarse, her worldview crumbling.

Duanmu Ci raised his hand.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" A sharp gale howled forth.

"Wind Release: Thousand Blade Wind!" Countless tiny wind blades sliced through the air, screeching sharply.

"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!" A high-speed rotating sphere of chakra, radiating destructive energy, condensed in his palm, its shriek piercing.

"Wh... what?" Dugu Yan was completely speechless, her mind blank. All the resistance and grievance on her face were instantly replaced by utter shock and disbelief.

What kind of power was this?

Where exactly was she?

What her grandfather sent her to learn... was this?

"This is what comes later." Duanmu Ci chuckled lightly. "What you'll learn goes far beyond this."

"I... I..."

"Enough. I'll take you to meet the other three. Study with them for now." Duanmu Ci said no more, turning and walking away.

"I... I..." Dugu Yan's eyes widened, wanting to say more, but finding he had already left, she could only hurry after him.

Quiet room.

He handed Dugu Yan over to Shana and the others, then returned to the cultivation room to sit cross-legged.

Women, pleasure—none of it mattered as much as strength.

Strength was always the top priority.

He began to quietly tally the opportunities he had already obtained and what he still lacked.

So far, he had the Blue Silver Emperor's Right Leg Bone, an Immortal Herb, and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm...

As for the Blue Silver Valley, with Qian Renxue as a lead, it was only a matter of time. If worst came to worst, following Tang Hao would naturally reveal it.

The Ice and Snow Two Emperors in the Extreme North were already in his grasp.

That left the Heaven Dou Empire's treasure, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, and the crucial Asura Sacred Sword in the City of Slaughter.

These two were essential for becoming a god, making them his top priority for now.

The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud should be in Emperor Xue Ye's hands—either carried on his person or hidden in a secret place.

Where exactly? The original story's details were fuzzy in his memory.

But to him, this was just a trivial matter.

On the other side, Dugu Yan's gaze swept over the three people before her, carrying a trace of barely perceptible vigilance.

Having lost her parents at a young age and with her grandfather often away, she had grown used to living alone. It wasn't until she joined the Imperial Dou Team that her personality improved somewhat.

Now, abruptly left behind by Duanmu Ci and facing three strangers, she instinctively donned her protective mask.

Across from her, Zhu Zhuqing was naturally aloof, simply staring fixedly at Dugu Yan.

Standing beside Zhu Zhuqing, Xiluo seemed at a loss.

His eyes darted between Dugu Yan and Shana, his face written with the confusion of "What do I do?"

He could handle training and fighting, but taking the initiative to greet a wary girl was a bit beyond his scope.

Only Shana, the team's "little sun," keenly sensed the subtle tension in the air.

She turned to see Xiluo's troubled expression, couldn't help letting out a "pfft" of laughter, quickly covering her mouth with her hand as her shoulders shook slightly.

Shana stepped forward, a warm and approachable smile blooming on her face as she looked at Dugu Yan:

"Hi there, I'm Shana. Welcome to our team!"

Then, naturally turning to the side, she introduced the others:

"This is Zhu Zhuqing. She's quiet, but she's a really good person and incredibly strong.

And this one, still spacing out, is Xiluo. Don't let his goofy look fool you—he's no slouch in a fight. He's our solid backbone."

Dugu Yan's cold exterior seemed to crack just a little under the pure warmth of Shana's enthusiasm.

She might have felt wronged or angry before, but faced with this outpouring of goodwill, the tension and wariness of being new here involuntarily loosened.

She tried to keep her face calm, but the tight line of her shoulders visibly softened.

Taking a light breath, she nodded to the three and spoke, her voice still carrying a hint of coolness: "Hello, I'm Dugu Yan."

Shana's smile grew even brighter. "Don't be so formal! From now on, we're training partners under the same roof!

Since Brother Mu entrusted you to us, we'll make sure to teach you well.

Come on, let me show you the basics first. I promise you'll pick it up quickly."

Looking into Shana's eyes, so full of genuine warmth, the last bit of unease Dugu Yan felt from the unfamiliar environment melted away like snow under a warm sun.

She gazed at Shana and nodded seriously, her voice soft but clearly conveying a sense of relief and gratitude at being accepted:

"Thank you!"