The Old Tradition of Shrek Returns

"You thought that after arriving at Shrek Academy, you could become a powerful soul master through your own hard work."

"But..."

The Heavenly Screen's tone suddenly turned low.

At the same time, the lowered voice made those watching the Heavenly Screen feel an inexplicable sadness.

The Heavenly Screen slowly played:

"But on the first day of class after enrollment, something happened that destroyed you and your entire family."

"As soon as you entered the classroom, you saw a teacher who seemed extremely difficult to get along with."

"Her name was Zhou Yi. You heard from others that this woman was extremely strict in her training and even expelled students at the slightest provocation."

"Hearing this, you panicked."

"Although you had been at the top of your class back home, after arriving at Shrek Academy, you realized your classmates were geniuses among geniuses, even more talented than you."

"Moreover, you had never received any systematic training since childhood, so you were at the bottom of the class."

"You were very worried—worried you might not keep up, and worried that this teacher named Zhou Yi might expel you for it."

As the saying goes, the more you fear something, the more it comes.

"Your teacher, for no apparent reason, started yelling at you all as soon as she walked in."

"After scolding you thoroughly, she laid down the law: anyone who couldn't run a hundred laps within an hour would be expelled."

"Hearing this, your vision went black."

"Because your martial soul was of the control type, allowing you to manipulate the corpses of dead things. Over the years, you had focused on training your spiritual power, not your physical body."

"If Zhou Yi hadn't set the one-hour limit, it might have been bearable. But she specifically demanded it be done within an hour!"

The voice from the Heavenly Screen grew faster and faster, even trembling slightly.

"With no other choice, intimidated by Zhou Yi's harshness, you dared not utter a single complaint. You could only follow the other students to the plaza."

"Once there, you gave it your all, running with everything you had. Sweat or tears—you couldn't tell which—soaked your entire body."

"You gasped for air, your heart pounding as if it might leap out of your chest at any moment, but you didn't dare slack off."

"Because for you, studying at Shrek was your family's only hope of turning things around. If you were expelled, how could you face your parents, who had sacrificed everything for you?"

"You ran and ran, your consciousness gradually fading, but you forced yourself to keep going. Since you had started too fast, your stamina was nearly gone."

"You ended up second to last, and the one-hour mark was fast approaching."

"Just then, you noticed some students who hadn't finished their hundred laps had stopped."

"Seeing this, you were shocked, but because your parents had taught you to be honest, you only wavered slightly."

"You gritted your teeth and kept running. As time ticked by, less than three minutes remained before the hour was up, but you still had five laps to go."

"At that point, you started to consider whether to skip those five laps. But just then—"

"The last-place student behind you was lifted into the air by his roommate using their martial soul, quickly completing the remaining laps."

"Seeing this, you were stunned. You hadn't known that was allowed. But with that, you no longer hesitated and chose to skip those five laps."

"After all, if someone could openly be flown around by a roommate, skipping five laps on a gamble shouldn't be a big deal."

But...

Zhou Yi called you out of the line and announced your expulsion.

When Zhou Yi declared you were expelled, you stood there completely dumbfounded.

You simply couldn't understand why the student who had been flown by his roommate got off scot-free, while you were the one being expelled.

Not just you, but the other students were also outraged. They demanded to know why Zhou Yi was expelling them while letting that Huo Yuhao go.

Zhou Yi's reason was: "He has a roommate to help him. Why didn't you find someone to help you?"

But... this was only the first day of class!

You and the others who were expelled didn't buy Zhou Yi's excuse. You tried to argue further.

But Zhou Yi coldly dropped a final warning: if you wanted to report her, go ahead to the Academic Affairs Office. If you bothered her again, she would cripple your martial souls.

Terrified by this threat, you were at a loss. With vacant eyes, you followed the other expelled students to the Academic Affairs Office.

At the office, you thought you might get your student status reinstated, or at worst, be transferred to another class.

But there, you heard a name: Fan Yu.

He was the husband of the teacher who had expelled you. His background was immense—he was a leading figure at Shrek.

And so, you were expelled, with no chance of ever returning to Shrek.

The Heavenly Screen's low tone suddenly turned sorrowful, evoking a sense of desolation in everyone's hearts.

At the same time, the clear, cloudless sky over the entire Douluo Continent suddenly churned with dark clouds, flashing with thunder and lightning.

Even the Divine Realm of Douluo Continent was the same.

But those watching the Heavenly Screen paid no attention to the changing weather, as if under some kind of illusion.

Their eyes were fixed on the sky screen, their emotions pulled along by the images playing across it.

Whether it was the lofty Titled Douluo or the common folk at the bottom.

Whether it was the evil soul masters stained with countless innocent souls or the self-proclaimed righteous Shrek Inspection Team.

Under the gaze of the entire Douluo Continent, and even the Divine Realm, the sky screen slowly scrolled again.

"You've been expelled from the academy and kicked out of the dormitory."

"Not to mention, Shrek Academy really doesn't forget its roots."

"For some reason, your tuition hasn't been refunded—the money your parents worked so hard to earn has gone down the drain!"

"You're just an ordinary kid from a small town with no connections, alone and helpless in Shrek City, with hardly any money on you."

"That day, you huddled by the city gate, not knowing how you got through it, only knowing that the sky was dark and the night was cold."

The moment these words were spoken, in Shrek Academy ten thousand years ago, Flender's face changed drastically.

"Flender, you... how could you..."

"Ahhh~~~~"

The surrounding teachers and students looked at him with complicated expressions, wanting to speak but stopping, finally letting out a long sigh.

In response, Flender forced an extremely ugly smile onto his face and shouted with utter helplessness:

"I... I didn't refund the tuition because the academy really couldn't keep running."

"And if a student eleven or twelve years old came alone, I definitely would have given him back his travel expenses!"

Flender argued loudly, but the looks from those around him were tinged with a complex emotion.

Especially Yu Xiaogang, who, to get back at Flender for mocking him earlier, put on a righteous and indignant air.

"Flender, you've disappointed me!"