Journey to the Star Dou Great Forest

The next day.

Everyone gathered on the training ground early.

When they saw Zhao Wuji,

the students were all somewhat stunned, wanting to laugh but not daring to actually do so.

Zhao Wuji did look rather bedraggled.

At least three bruises on his face had yet to fade, especially the panda-eye blackness around his left eye. It was truly hard not to laugh.

Everyone tried their best to hold it in, their faces turning red from the effort.

Zhao Wuji let out an imposing cold snort.

The sound scared the smiles right off their faces.

Zhao Wuji did not want to dwell on such an embarrassing matter either.

"Alright, everyone, get ready to set off."

"We'll run there. Consider it physical training."

The blazing sun hung overhead.

The group of nine ran along the dirt road leading to the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Everyone, gather together! I'll buff you!"

Ning Rongrong gave a sharp cry, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in her hand flickered with light.

"The Seven Treasures are renowned. First: speed!"

Several streams of light landed precisely on Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, and Oscar.

Everyone's speed immediately increased by a considerable amount, their bodies feeling as light as swallows.

Only Ye Liuyun received nothing at all.

"Oh dear, sorry."

Ning Rongrong looked at Ye Liuyun with fake apology on her face, though her eyes were full of the thrill of revenge.

"Classmate Ye Liuyun, you're a Soul Elder, so your stamina must be much better than ours. My Soul Power is limited, so I need to conserve it. I won't buff you, okay?"

At the same time, Oscar made several large sausages and handed them out to replenish everyone's stamina.

When he reached Ye Liuyun, Oscar shrugged and said in a strange, sarcastic tone:

"Oh, I'm out. I made too many earlier, so my Soul Power is exhausted. Besides, a great expert like Ye probably doesn't need this sort of low-grade food, right?"

Such blatant targeting and isolation instantly froze the atmosphere.

Tang San nodded secretly to himself as he ran.

Ye Liuyun usually acted so falsely aloof and never fit in. It was time he got a taste of what it felt like to be separated from the team.

A team needed mutual support. Since you disdained to associate with us, don't blame us for not including you.

"What are you doing?!"

Xiao Wu's pretty face flushed red with anger as she viciously threw the sausage in her hand to the ground.

"You're deliberately targeting Cousin!"

"Xiao Wu."

A hand rested on Xiao Wu's shoulder.

Ye Liuyun looked calm, and even his breathing had not become unsteady.

"It doesn't matter."

"They're right. I am indeed an expert."

Xiao Wu, who had been furious moments earlier, was amused by his mood-breaking remark and muttered to herself.

Of course he was. Even after taking human form, his former cultivation had not completely vanished.

He was merely slowly adapting to a human body. As he grew, it would gradually reveal itself.

How could the foundation of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast compare to that of ordinary people?

Once she thought of that, she was no longer angry. Ye Liuyun really was an expert. Even if Ning Rongrong and Oscar ran themselves to death, he would not get tired.

Ye Liuyun continued running at an even pace, as though the two people's targeting meant no more to him than air, without causing the slightest ripple.

That dismissive attitude made Ning Rongrong and Oscar even angrier.

Keep pretending! Let's see how long you can keep this up!

However.

After some time.

As support-system Spirit Masters, even with Soul Power reinforcing them, Ning Rongrong and Oscar ultimately had the weakest physiques.

Their breathing began to grow heavy, their footsteps became increasingly sluggish, and their speed visibly slowed.

Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun, who had been isolated and received no assistance whatsoever, remained completely unruffled, his breathing as steady as if he were taking a stroll.

He slowly overtook the panting Ning Rongrong and Oscar.

As he passed them, Ye Liuyun mischievously turned his head slightly. A faint mocking curve appeared at the corner of his lips as he muttered softly.

"You really should conserve your Soul Power."

"You!" Ning Rongrong was so angry that she nearly lost her breath.

Oscar's face flushed red as well, yet he did not even have the strength to retort.

Xiao Wu laughed merrily beside them. "Haha! Cousin is right! Some people only have themselves to blame!"

Tang San frowned as he watched Ye Liuyun's back, displeasure rising in his heart.

They were all classmates. Why did he have to be so petty?

It was a fact that Ning Rongrong and the others lacked stamina. As a stronger person, not only did he refuse to help, he even mocked them. His heart was far too narrow.

"Mubai, Fatty, take turns supporting them," Tang San instructed.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun immediately stepped forward and helped the two support-system Spirit Masters.

At the back of the group, Zhao Wuji watched the scene and shook his head helplessly.

This Ye Liuyun was strong, but his personality... he was another problematic genius.

At last, around sunset, everyone arrived at a small town on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

After entering a restaurant, they collapsed into their chairs like dead dogs from exhaustion.

"Boss! Bring out your best dishes!"

Ning Rongrong waved a hand grandly, looking exceptionally generous.

"This young lady is treating! Eat whatever you want!"

"Long live the host! It's great when someone else is paying."

"As expected of the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Then we won't hold back."

Before long, a table full of sumptuous dishes was served.

Everyone was already starving and quickly picked up their chopsticks.

Ye Liuyun was hungry as well. Just as he was about to reach for a piece of braised pork with his chopsticks—

Smack!

A pair of chopsticks blocked him.

Ning Rongrong looked at him, her eyes full of pride and provocation.

"Ye Liuyun, I paid for this meal."

"Weren't you acting pretty arrogant while running earlier? Didn't you say you didn't need our support? Why are you so eager when it comes to eating now?"

Oscar echoed her while gnawing on a chicken leg, his words muffled.

"Exactly. Some people do nothing when it's time to contribute, but rush to the front when it's time to eat."

Dai Mubai gave a cold snort. Because of what had happened at the Rose Hotel and the Spirit Fighting Arena, he had long disliked Ye Liuyun. Naturally, he took the chance to kick him while he was down.

"You're so unwilling to fit in, so I think you should stop eating. Shrek's food doesn't feed ungrateful wretches."

Tang San said nothing and merely continued picking food, tacitly approving this behavior.

In his view, this was a form of "education" for Ye Liuyun.

"You've gone too far!"

Xiao Wu suddenly slammed the table and rose to her feet, her eyes red.

"I'm not eating this meal! Cousin, let's go!"

"It's fine."

Ye Liuyun pressed a hand onto Xiao Wu's shoulder and pushed her back into her seat.

There was no anger on his face, no embarrassment, not even the slightest emotional fluctuation.

He simply withdrew his chopsticks calmly.

"Fine."

Ye Liuyun stood and moved to an empty table nearby.

"Boss."

"Bring two bowls of Yangchun Noodles with two eggs. I'll pay for them myself."

He did not want to involve himself in this group of children playing house.

What isolation? What mockery?

He had arrived in this world by a strange twist of fate. His first reaction had not been happiness or excitement, but despair.

People always talked about transmigration, but when something like that truly happened, the emotions in one's heart became impossibly complicated.

When he had been a Spirit Beast, he had cultivated diligently.

He had endured crushing loneliness and the agony of heavenly lightning tribulations burning him alive.

That was nothing.

After becoming human, he had continued cultivating diligently.

He had risked being killed by a Title Douluo and endured the pain of Soul Power shattering his bones.

That was no big deal either.

Could it be that he had fought so desperately just to get angry with children?

Whether the Shrek Seven Devils became gods or failed to do so,

everyone had their own path to walk.

His life belonged only to him as well.

There was no need to trouble himself over things that were not worthwhile.

There was no need to be sad over people who were not worthwhile.

Ye Liuyun did not care.

When his food arrived, he quietly ate his noodles.

His movements were elegant and composed, as though the surrounding clamor had nothing to do with him.

However.

As Ning Rongrong watched that unconcerned figure sitting alone in the corner, the anger in her heart not only failed to fade—it burned even hotter.

Why?

Why did he not react at all?

Shouldn't he be angry? Shouldn't he be ashamed? Shouldn't he come begging her?

This attitude of completely refusing to take her seriously... was even more infuriating!

"Ye Liuyun!"

Ning Rongrong gripped her chopsticks tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"I will make you bow your head to me!"