"Thunderbolt Bodyguard!"
A layer of blue-violet lightning formed a shield in front of him. The nine bamboo leaves struck it and were flung back by the flashes of electricity. With a series of sharp crackles, they fell to the ground.
Bei Bei stepped out from behind the lightning shield and looked at Bai Lan. "Bamboo Flying Knives. Not bad, but they can't break through my lightning defense."
Bai Lan nodded, undaunted.
He was only six, and had awakened his Martial Soul just a few days ago. Being able to spar with a two-ring Soul Grandmaster who wielded the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was already thanks to Iron Core Bamboo.
But that wasn't enough for him.
Sharing activated.
Iron Bone!
A warm current surged through his body. His bones grew heavier, and a faint silvery-gray metallic sheen appeared across his skin.
Bei Bei's eyes lit up. "Oh? So this is Sharing?"
Bai Lan didn't answer. He charged straight at Bei Bei!
He wasn't fast, but every step was steady.
When he reached Bei Bei, he clenched his right fist and punched straight at his face!
Bei Bei raised an arm to block.
Their arms collided with a dull thud.
Bei Bei swayed slightly, surprise deepening in his eyes. "That's a hard fist, and..."
He glanced at his arm, where a faint white mark remained.
It was the impression left by Bai Lan's punch. It hadn't broken the skin, but it was enough to show how powerful the blow had been.
"A body strengthened by a Hundred-Year Soul Ring really is extraordinary."
Bai Lan said nothing and kept punching.
One punch, two, three...
Every blow carried Iron Core Bamboo's Iron Bone power, heavy and forceful.
Bei Bei blocked as he retreated, his steps still unhurried.
But the surprise in his eyes continued to grow.
This six-year-old's combat awareness was nothing like that of someone who had only just awakened.
He was calm and decisive, neither greedy for a quick win nor reckless.
Knowing he couldn't break through the lightning defense, he kept probing for an opening.
"Interesting." Bei Bei smiled.
He stopped merely defending and began to counterattack.
He struck with one palm, faint sparks of electricity dancing across it.
Bai Lan dodged, but the force of the blow swept across his shoulder. Numbness instantly spread through half his body!
He staggered back a few steps and steadied himself. Rather than charging in again, he retreated to Iron Core Bamboo's side and activated Sharing: Healing, dispelling the numbness.
"Half the time has passed." Mu En's voice drifted over.
Bai Lan glanced at the incense burner.
The incense stick had burned halfway down.
He took a deep breath and looked at Bei Bei again.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon had powerful attacks and could numb its opponents with lightning.
He couldn't win by meeting it head-on.
He could only stall.
He looked at Iron Core Bamboo and sent it a thought.
Iron Core Bamboo trembled faintly. New leaves began growing rapidly at its tip.
The nine leaves that had fallen earlier were regrowing.
Bei Bei saw this, but didn't stop him.
He simply stood there, waiting.
Tang Ya whispered from the corner, "Bei Bei's so nice."
Xu Sanshi snorted. "He wants to see what that kid can really do."
"Otherwise, this would've been over already."
A moment later, the nine new leaves had grown.
Bai Lan made the leaves float once more.
But this time, he didn't rush to fire them.
The nine leaves hovered around him, slowly revolving like nine flying knives suspended in the air.
Bei Bei raised an eyebrow. "Got a new idea?"
Bai Lan didn't answer. He just watched him.
Then he charged again!
The nine leaves followed close behind, carving nine silver trails through the air.
Bei Bei's gaze sharpened, and he activated Thunderbolt Bodyguard again.
But this time, Bai Lan didn't send the leaves straight at the shield.
The nine leaves swept around from the side, behind, and above, attacking Bei Bei from all directions at once!
Bei Bei twisted aside, dodging three. He used a sweep of his electrified palm to knock away two more, but another two still skimmed past his clothes, leaving a tiny tear.
"Beautiful!" Tang Ya couldn't help shouting.
Xu Sanshi said nothing, but his chin had finally dropped back into place.
Bei Bei looked at the tear in his clothes and smiled.
"You win."
Bai Lan froze.
Bei Bei pointed to the incense burner.
The incense stick had just burned out.
A final wisp of smoke curled upward and vanished into the air.
"Time's up." Mu En's voice rang out, tinged with amusement. "Bai Lan, you lasted through the whole incense stick."
Bai Lan stood there, breathing slightly hard.
Iron Core Bamboo flashed and turned into a streak of light, returning to the Contract Book.
He faced Bei Bei and bowed earnestly. "Thank you for the guidance."
Bei Bei smiled and waved a hand. "You're the one who's impressive. At six, you can already fight like that. I couldn't have done it at your age."
Tang Ya ran over, her eyes shining as she looked at Bai Lan. "You were amazing! Especially that last move—going around the defense and attacking from behind. How did you think of that?"
Bai Lan thought for a moment. "Since I couldn't break through from the front, I had to find a way around."
"That makes sense!" Tang Ya nodded emphatically, then turned to Xu Sanshi. "You said he wouldn't last half an incense stick. What do you say now?"
Xu Sanshi's face reddened. He stuck his neck out and said, "That's because Bei Bei was going easy on him! If I'd gone up..."
"You wouldn't have managed it either," Tang Ya cut in. "You're two levels below Bei Bei."
"You!"
Mu En smiled and waved a hand, stopping their bickering.
He walked over to Bai Lan, his gaze deep. "Bai Lan, you performed even better today than I expected."
"You made good use of the Contract Book's abilities."
"Iron Bone for close combat, bamboo leaves to keep your opponent at bay, Healing to keep yourself going. Your tactics were clear, and your execution decisive."
"Most importantly, you kept thinking throughout the fight, adjusting your approach and looking for your opponent's weaknesses."
"That's better than many Soul Masters who've trained for years."
Bai Lan lowered his head. "You're too kind, Elder Mu."
"I'm not. It's the truth."
Mu En patted him on the shoulder. "Train hard. Shrek won't let down any child with talent and determination."
Bai Lan nodded.
Mu En turned to leave. When he reached the door, he suddenly looked back and said:
"Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Xu Sanshi, you three should look after him from now on."
Bei Bei smiled and agreed.
Tang Ya nodded vigorously.
Xu Sanshi snorted and turned his head away, but didn't refuse.
Bai Lan stood there, looking at the three people who would become his companions, and let a faint smile tug at his lips.
His first day at Shrek had gone better than he'd imagined.
Night deepened.
Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.
Mu En sat by the window with a cup of tea in his hands, gazing out at the quiet lake.
Moonlight spilled over the water, shimmering across its surface.
A faint smile from the day's battle still lingered at the corners of his mouth.
"Only six, awakened just a few days ago, and he lasted a whole incense stick against Bei Bei..."
He set down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
He knew Bei Bei's abilities better than anyone.
With the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul and twenty-four levels of cultivation, Bei Bei was a Soul Grandmaster whose combat experience and awareness far surpassed those of ordinary peers, even with his strength suppressed.
Bai Lan had kept his footing in those circumstances without panicking. In the end, he'd even landed a move that sent bamboo leaves around Bei Bei's back and tore his clothes.
That wasn't luck.
It was brains.
"The Contract Book..."
Mu En murmured, "One contract for every ten levels, and each contracted creature can evolve independently. Their abilities can be shared... That child's Martial Soul has terrifying potential. If he's properly nurtured, one day he could be the equivalent of ten Titled Douluo, or even Super Douluo. As for a Limit Douluo, that'll depend on his fortune."
He stood and walked to the window.
In the moonlight, his shadow stretched long behind him.
"Unfortunately, he's too weak in the early stages. He'll need time to grow."
"But the one thing Shrek never lacks is time and resources."
He paused, a glint flashing in his eyes.
Turning around, he picked up the paper and brush on the table and wrote a few lines.
A moment later, a paper crane flew from his hand, passed through the window, and vanished into the night.
Before you continue