Battle Bei Bei! Huge Potential!

Thunderbolt Bodyguard!

A layer of blue-purple lightning shield manifested before him. Nine bamboo leaves struck it, only to be deflected by the electric light. With a few crisp "crackling" sounds, they scattered onto the ground.

Bei Bei stepped out from behind the lightning shield and looked at Bai Lan: "Bamboo Leaf Flying Knife, the power is decent, but it cannot break through my lightning defense."

Bai Lan nodded, not discouraged.

He was only six years old and had awakened his Martial Soul just a few days ago. Being able to spar with a two-ring Soul Grand Master possessing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was already a credit to the Iron Core Bamboo.

But he was not satisfied with this.

Sharing activated.

Iron Bone!

A surge of warm power flooded into his body. His bones became slightly heavier, and a faint, silvery-gray metallic luster appeared on the surface of his skin.

Bei Bei's eyes lit up: "Oh? Is this Sharing?"

Bai Lan did not answer, instead charging straight forward!

His speed was not fast, but every step was steady.

Reaching Bei Bei, he clenched his right fist and smashed it directly toward the other's face!

Bei Bei raised his hand to block.

Fist and arm collided, producing a dull thud.

Bei Bei's figure swayed, and the surprise in his eyes deepened: "Such a hard hand, and..."

He looked at his own arm, where a faint white mark remained.

It was the imprint left by Bai Lan's fist. Although it hadn't broken the skin, it was enough to demonstrate the power behind that punch.

"A physical body bolstered by a century-old Soul Ring is truly extraordinary."

Bai Lan did not speak, continuing to throw punches.

One punch, two punches, three punches...

Every strike carried the Iron Bone power of the Iron Core Bamboo, heavy and forceful.

Bei Bei retreated while blocking, his pace remaining composed.

But the surprise in his eyes grew ever more intense.

The combat awareness of this six-year-old child was nothing like that of a novice who had just awakened.

Calm, decisive, not greedy for success, and not reckless.

Knowing he couldn't break the lightning defense, he kept testing, searching for a flaw.

"Interesting." Bei Bei smiled.

He no longer just defended, but began to counterattack.

He struck out with a palm, his palm crackling with wisps of electric light.

Bai Lan dodged, but was grazed on the shoulder by the palm wind. A sensation of numbness instantly spread through half his body!

He staggered back a few steps, steadied himself, and did not rush to attack again. Instead, he retreated to the side of the Iron Core Bamboo and activated Sharing Healing to dispel the numbness.

"Half the time has passed." Elder Mu's voice drifted over leisurely.

Bai Lan glanced at the incense burner.

The stick of incense had already burned halfway down.

He took a deep breath and looked at Bei Bei once more.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon had strong attack power and a lightning paralysis effect.

He had no chance of winning in a head-on collision.

He could only drag it out.

He looked at the Iron Core Bamboo and conveyed his intent.

The Iron Core Bamboo trembled slightly, and new bamboo leaves were rapidly growing on its tips.

The nine bamboo leaves that had fallen off earlier were regenerating.

Bei Bei saw this scene but did not stop him.

He simply stood quietly in place, waiting.

Tang Ya whispered in the corner: "Bei Bei is such a good person."

Xu Sanshi snorted: "He just wants to see how much skill that kid really has."

"Otherwise, it would have been over by now."

A moment later, the nine new leaves were fully grown.

Bai Lan once again controlled the bamboo leaves to hover.

But this time, he did not rush to launch them.

Nine bamboo leaves hovered around him, rotating slowly like nine floating flying knives.

Bei Bei raised an eyebrow slightly: "Got a new idea?"

Bai Lan did not answer, only staring at him.

Then, he charged out once again!

The nine bamboo leaves followed closely behind, carving nine silver trajectories through the air.

Bei Bei's eyes narrowed as he activated Thunderbolt Bodyguard once more.

But this time, Bai Lan did not let the bamboo leaves strike the light barrier directly.

The nine bamboo leaves bypassed the front, attacking Bei Bei simultaneously from the sides, the back, and above his head!

Bei Bei twisted his body, dodging three, and used a palm of lightning to blast away two more, but two still grazed the corner of his robe, leaving behind a tiny tear.

"Beautiful!" Tang Ya couldn't help but call out.

Xu Sanshi didn't speak, but his jaw had completely dropped.

Bei Bei looked at the tear in his robe and smiled.

"You win."

Bai Lan was stunned.

Bei Bei pointed toward the incense burner.

That stick of incense had just burned out.

The final wisp of smoke rose curlingly and dissipated into the air.

"Time is up." Elder Mu's voice rang out, carrying a hint of a smile: "Bai Lan, you lasted for one stick of incense."

Bai Lan stood where he was, panting slightly.

The Iron Core Bamboo flashed with light, turning into a stream of light that returned to the Contract Book.

He looked at Bei Bei and gave a sincere bow: "Thank you for your guidance."

Bei Bei waved his hand with a smile: "It's because you're talented. To be able to fight like this at six years old—I couldn't have done it when I was six."

Tang Ya ran over, her eyes shining as she looked at Bai Lan: "You were amazing! Especially that last move, bypassing the defense to sneak attack from behind—how did you think of that?"

Bai Lan thought for a moment: "Because I couldn't break through from the front, I had to find a way to go around."

"That makes sense!" Tang Ya nodded vigorously, then turned to look at Xu Sanshi: "You said earlier he wouldn't last half a stick of incense. What do you have to say now?"

Xu Sanshi's face flushed red, and he stiffened his neck: "That's because Bei Bei was going easy on him! If it were me..."

"You wouldn't do any better," Tang Ya interrupted him. "You're two levels lower than Bei Bei."

"You!"

Elder Mu smiled and waved his hand, stopping their bickering.

He walked up to Bai Lan, his gaze profound: "Bai Lan, your performance today was even better than I expected."

"You used the abilities of the Contract Book quite well."

"Iron Bone for melee, bamboo leaves for suppression, Healing for sustainability—your tactics were clear and your execution decisive."

"Most importantly, you were thinking, adjusting, and searching for your opponent's flaws throughout the entire battle."

"In that regard, you are stronger than many Soul Masters who have cultivated for years."

Bai Lan lowered his head: "Elder Mu is too kind."

"It is not kindness, it is the truth."

Elder Mu patted him on the shoulder: "Cultivate well. Shrek Academy will never treat any child who has talent and is willing to work hard unfairly."

Bai Lan nodded.

Elder Mu turned to leave, but as 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 he did not refuse.

Bai Lan stood where he was, looking at these three future companions, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

His first day at Shrek Academy was better than he had imagined.

The night grew deep.

Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.

Elder Mu sat before the window, holding a cup of clear tea, his gaze fixed on the tranquil lake surface outside.

Moonlight spilled down, and the lake water shimmered with ripples.

The faint smile from the battle earlier that day still lingered at the corners of his mouth.

"Six years old, just awakened a few days ago, and already able to hold his own against Bei Bei for the duration of an incense stick..."

He set down his teacup, his fingers tapping lightly against the tabletop.

He knew better than anyone exactly what level Bei Bei was at.

With a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul and as a level 24 Soul Grand Master, even when suppressing his strength, his combat experience and instincts far surpassed those of his peers.

For Bai Lan to hold his ground under those circumstances, remaining calm and composed, and even landing that final bamboo leaf maneuver that tore the hem of Bei Bei's robe—

That wasn't luck.

That was intellect.

"Contract Book..."

Elder Mu muttered to himself: "Contracting one beast every ten levels, each capable of independent evolution, with shared abilities... This boy's Martial Soul has terrifying potential. If nurtured well, in the future, he alone could be equivalent to ten Title Douluo, or even Super Douluo. As for Limit Douluo, that will depend on his own fortune."

He stood up and walked to the window.

Under the moonlight, his shadow stretched long across the floor.

"It is a pity that he is too weak in the early stages and requires time to accumulate strength."

"However, the one thing Shrek never lacks is time and resources."

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He turned around, picked up the paper and pen from the table, and wrote down a few lines.

A moment later, a paper crane flew from his hand, passed through the window, and vanished into the night.