Return to Shrek Academy

As he looked at the bustling gates of Shrek Academy before him, Qin Yue's gaze grew somewhat distant. It felt as though the extravagant days of cultivating alongside Qiu'er in the Lake of Life, dining on nourishing treasures at every meal, had only been yesterday.

Realizing that he truly did miss that life a little, Qin Yue laughed silently. Unfortunately, one could not have everything. God King Tang's earth-shattering wisdom was determined to turn Douluo Planet into a family business. Since the day he awakened his Martial Soul, Qin Yue had carried destiny upon his shoulders. There was no way for him to avoid this.

Either he would help Douluo Planet's Plane Will scrape away the poison from its bones and return clear skies to the world, or, like Huo Yuhao, he would succumb to despair after repeated blows and choose to become God King Tang's dog just to survive.

Even setting aside his identity as a Transmigrator, Qin Yue could never wag his tail and beg before trash like God King Tang. A man who could divide even his own daughter's soul into three parts to fulfill his Ten Thousand Year Plan—anyone who believed him had truly wasted their life.

Just then, Ning Tian and Wu Feng, who had not seen Qin Yue for quite some time, emerged from Shrek Academy. Ning Tian's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she quickly stepped forward.

"Brother Qin, long time no see. I didn't expect you to return so soon. Feng Mei and I were even planning to come pick you up."

Wu Feng snorted twice with an unconvinced expression, but ultimately did not speak to refute her.

"Long time no see." Qin Yue greeted them, then smiled calmly. "I didn't expect that simply obtaining a Soul Ring would take more than a month for the round trip. Still, I'm very satisfied with what I gained this time. It was worth the price of more than a month of slow cultivation."

Ning Tian looked curious, but she understood that this was not something she could learn merely by asking, so she did not inquire about what opportunity Qin Yue had encountered.

However, Qin Yue had no intention of wasting such an excellent channel as the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. He immediately took a Pill Formula from his robes and handed it to Ning Tian, explaining with a smile.

"I obtained two precious treasures during this trip away from the academy, but to maximize their effects, I'll need your help, Tianmei."

Ning Tian accepted the Pill Formula and gave it a cursory look. Her breathing immediately quickened. "Brother Qin, the description here regarding the specific effects of the Dragon Extreme Pill..."

"Of course it's true." Qin Yue nodded slightly. The Pill Formula he had provided was incomplete. It contained only the effects of the finished pill and all the required medicinal ingredients. As for the crucial method of refinement and how to obtain the two main ingredients, he had not mentioned a single word.

This was not Qin Yue trying to scam Ning Tian. Each batch of Dragon Extreme Pills produced at least two pills, and the main ingredients he had obtained this time were even more potent. There might even be several extra pills. Naturally, he would share them with a steadfast ally like the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

As it happened, there were at least two people in the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect suited to taking the Dragon Extreme Pill. One was Wu Feng, who stood before Qin Yue now, while the other was naturally the Flame Dragon Douluo who had once delivered the Dragon Core.

Although Wu Feng's Red Dragon Martial Soul ranked among the top Beast Martial Souls, it still had room for improvement. The two main ingredients this time came respectively from Zi Ji, who possessed Hellfire, and the Wind-Fire Heavenly Tribulation. After taking the pill, there was a strong chance Wu Feng would undergo Martial Soul Evolution. Even if she were extraordinarily unlucky, the Crimson Fire she controlled would at least transform.

How could the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect possibly pass up an opportunity to evolve the Martial Soul of their Sect-Protecting Douluo or their next Sect-Protecting Douluo?

Sure enough, Ning Tian carefully put away the Pill Formula without the slightest hesitation. Looking at Qin Yue with delight, she said, "I'm unfamiliar with some of the ingredients listed in the formula, so I can't be certain of the exact time needed. But don't worry, Brother Qin. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will spare no effort to get this done as quickly as possible."

Ning Tian's eyes sparkled. She had originally believed that her investment in Qin Yue would pay off, but that the returns would come much later. Who would have thought that merely going out to obtain a Soul Ring would bring him back with such good news? It was practically divine assistance.

Wu Feng, who had been unable to get a word in, looked at Ning Tian, then at Qin Yue. For some reason, her chest felt stifled. There were clearly three people present, so why did she keep feeling as though she was not even there?

Just as she was about to speak up and make her presence known, Ning Tian took a small black box from her robes and handed it to Qin Yue. "Brother Qin, since you're back, the Thunder Bead should return to its rightful owner."

Wu Feng suddenly froze. The words she had been about to say caught in her throat. Just as she was preparing to pretend nothing had happened, she saw Qin Yue, who had just accepted the box, turn his gaze toward her while letting out two soft chuckles.

He noticed... Realizing this, Wu Feng clenched her fists. An inexplicable fire surged within her, and the face she had missed a little after so long apart suddenly became utterly detestable. If not for the Young Master being present, she would have rushed over and bitten him hard.

Knowing it would be unseemly to tease her any further, Qin Yue stopped at the right moment. He put away the Dragon Core, then suddenly asked, "Feng Mei, I remember you were close to a breakthrough when I left to hunt Soul Beasts. It's been over a month now. Has your cultivation gone smoothly?"

Wu Feng was startled out of her thoughts, and somehow, her anger dissipated. Crossing her arms, she huffed. "I'm only a Soul Elder. How could that possibly be difficult for me?"

Before her words had even faded, Wu Feng had already completed her Martial Soul Possession. Three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—quietly revolved around her.

Ning Tian laughed silently. She did not expose the fact that Wu Feng had only reached Level 30 five days ago, nor did she mention that Wu Feng was merely one step away from Level 35 and might very well break through before the end of the first school year.

Seeing Qin Yue's foolish expression as though he had been "intimidated" by her, Wu Feng curled her lips and blurted out instinctively, "Hmph, hmph! Sooner or later, I'll catch up to you. Just you wait!"

The moment she said this, Ning Tian could not help but rub her forehead. Feng Mei, Feng Mei, why did you become so silly whenever you encountered Brother Qin? He had already plainly said that he had gained a great deal from this trip. Weren't you just walking straight into the line of fire of a Soul Guidance Cannon?

Qin Yue laughed heartily and did not argue with Wu Feng. He silently activated his Soul Power and triggered his Storage Soul Tool. With a flash of light, two Gold Jade Fruits appeared. He handed one to each of them with a smile. "These are also among the gains from this trip. Give them a try."

"These are... Gold Jade Fruits?" Ning Tian was well-informed and recognized the fruits in her hand at once.

Wu Feng, who also knew what Gold Jade Fruits were, swallowed hers in one bite without any politeness toward Qin Yue. As she ate, she stared intently at him, as though she were chewing not a fruit, but an Ultimate Lightning Soul Master who constantly angered her and whom she could never defeat.

Ning Tian instead stored the Gold Jade Fruit in her Storage Soul Tool. She intended to take it while cultivating that night and see whether its help would allow her to break through to Level 35 in one go.

"Oh, right, Brother Qin. The carving knife you mentioned last time has been found. It was at an auction in the Sun Moon Empire and should arrive in Shrek City around next week."