Setting Out for Shrek

Tang San thought they were watching Qian Yu absorb a five-thousand-year purple Spirit Ring. In reality, the Divine Eye was devouring the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Spirit Ring.

Qian Yu had also used Spirit Simulation to make Tang San and Yu Xiaogang believe he was suffering terribly as he absorbed it.

It looked as though he might explode at any moment.

Tang San badly wanted to rush over and finish Qian Yu off, but Xiao Wu's instincts as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast told her something was very wrong.

Xiao Wu tugged at Tang San and shook her head, signaling him not to act rashly.

"Xiao Wu, don't tell me you've fallen for that guy already!" Tang San couldn't help roaring at her.

"Third Brother, I haven't." Xiao Wu looked so aggrieved she could have cried.

Tang San felt he'd gone too far. He didn't know why, but today everything had left him feeling stifled. First, his Spirit Ring had been stolen, then his Spirit Bone. He'd even lost the duel he'd been so proud of winning—and had lost his beloved Xiao Wu to the man standing before him.

Tang San wanted to lash out, but when he saw Xiao Wu's miserable expression, he held himself back.

Yu Xiaogang neither encouraged nor stopped him. Deep down, he faintly hoped Qian Yu would succeed, even though his theories told him it was almost impossible.

Using Spirit Detection, Qian Yu watched everyone's expressions. Fortunately, nobody did anything rash. Otherwise, they would have been met with the dark muzzle of his gun.

"Phew."

Half an hour later, the Divine Eye finished absorbing the five-thousand-year Spirit Ring and all of its essence. Qian Yu pretended he was still absorbing it.

The simulation disappeared.

The Divine Eye began returning its gains.

"Current Soul Power: Level 35."

"First Spirit Ring: Yellow (846 years). Returned at twice the maximum limit. Current maximum: 100,000 years."

"Second Spirit Ring: Purple (1,528 years). Returned at twice the maximum limit. Current maximum: 100,000 years."

"Third Spirit Ring: Purple (3,400 years). Returned at twice the maximum limit. Current maximum: 100,000 years."

"Third Soul Skill—Metal Storm: Bullets carry terrifying blades and can pierce armor. Martial Soul form: AK47."

"Kid, isn't this Divine Eye of mine amazing?"

After finishing the return, the Divine Eye bared its teeth at Qian Yu.

It was clear that it had gained a great deal too. The only question was when it would reach the fourfold return stage.

"Phew."

Hearing the Divine Eye's incredible return, Qian Yu felt as if he'd struck the jackpot.

Not only had his Spirit Ring ages increased, but his Soul Power had also risen by five levels. Even more amazingly, his third Soul Skill's Martial Soul form was an AK47—the ultimate man's weapon.

Qian Yu's resentment toward the Divine Eye gradually ebbed.

He thanked it earnestly. "Thank you, Divine Eye."

"Oh, cut it out. That's so cheesy."

The Divine Eye bounced around like a person, as if it really did find the gratitude embarrassing.

With that done, Qian Yu was about to withdraw his attention and head back to Nuoding Academy with Xiao Wu and the others.

Just then, Tang San's dog luck kicked in again.

"Look! What's that?" Tang San cried.

Sunlight filtered through the trees and fell on the still body of the Terrorclaw Bear. A golden glimmer shone from its right hand.

"It's a Spirit Bone!" Xiao Wu gasped, covering her mouth.

Yu Xiaogang was even more astonished. He hurried over and pulled out the Spirit Bone.

Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and Xiao Wu were all being careful, clearly afraid of alerting Qian Yu.

It was a tiny finger bone.

Unlike a torso bone or an arm bone, it wasn't easy to spot. Without the sunlight shining on it, they might not have noticed it at all.

"Teacher, give it to me," Tang San said to Yu Xiaogang.

"Yes, Little San. I'd intended to give this to you anyway." Yu Xiaogang handed it over reluctantly.

Just as Tang San's dream was about to come true, Qian Yu ended the simulation and sprang to his feet, shouting:

"Wait. Isn't this the Spirit Beast I killed?"

There was no way he'd let them get away with it. He strode quickly up to Yu Xiaogang, held out his hand, and summoned his Desert Eagle. Its black muzzle pointed straight at Yu Xiaogang's head.

Seeing Qian Yu appear out of nowhere, Yu Xiaogang felt as though he'd seen a ghost. "He really did manage to absorb it? That was a five-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear!"

Yu Xiaogang was shaken to the core.

He was speechless. Could you please stop pointing that thing at my head? This is putting me under a lot of pressure.

Tang San wanted to say something, but when he thought of Qian Yu's terrifying strength—and his ability to absorb a Spirit Ring beyond his limit—he lost his nerve. Besides, Qian Yu had the truth on his side.

Qian Yu turned the muzzle toward Tang San. Tang San held back for a long moment, but didn't dare say no. All he could do was grunt, "Hmph."

And so the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear fell into Qian Yu's hands.

The finger bone felt warm and smooth as jade in his palm. Qian Yu thought it would pair perfectly with his third Spirit Ring.

"Divine Eye, why didn't you notice the Spirit Bone this time?" Qian Yu asked it through their connection.

"Uh, I was busy absorbing the Spirit Ring and Soul Power. I forgot about such a tiny thing," the Divine Eye said casually.

Qian Yu was speechless. He'd almost missed a mountain of treasure.

With everything settled, Qian Yu planned to return to Nuoding Academy with Xiao Wu and the others. On the way back, Yu Xiaogang still forcefully arranged for Tang San to absorb a six-hundred-year Lone Bamboo as his second Spirit Ring.

At Nuoding Academy, it was easy for Qian Yu to enroll with his Level 30 Soul Power at age twelve. He also threw money around to force Xiao Wu out of Dormitory Seven so she could take care of his daily needs.

Xiao Wu had no choice. She was the wager Tang San had lost.

And so Xiao Wu stayed by Qian Yu's side. In the blink of an eye, three years passed. Qian Yu would tease Tang San now and then, then find a chance to beat him up. Tang San, meanwhile, mysteriously disappeared for a while.

The Divine Eye had it easy. With Xiao Wu right beside Qian Yu, it absorbed her Hundred-Thousand-Year essence day and night.

The Hundred-Thousand-Year essence was astonishingly potent. Even after three years, the Divine Eye had absorbed only a small portion of it.

Three years later, the Divine Eye recovered to its second stage: the threefold return stage. Qian Yu's Spirit Ring ages broke through once again.

"Fantastic! Hehehe, this Divine Eye has finally advanced again and reached the second stage: threefold returns!"

The Divine Eye spoke to Qian Yu excitedly.

"First Spirit Ring: Purple (1,269 years). Returned at three times the maximum limit. Current maximum: 100,000 years."

"Second Spirit Ring: Purple (2,292 years). Returned at three times the maximum limit. Current maximum: 100,000 years."

"Third Spirit Ring: Purple (5,100 years). Returned at three times the maximum limit. Current maximum: 100,000 years."

As for the Spirit Bone, Qian Yu chose to absorb the Dark Gold Right Claw and gained the Soul Skill Sky-Ripping Claw. At last, he had a way to fight at close range.

As for the torso bone, Qian Yu thought its age was too low and tossed it to the Divine Eye to absorb and devour.

His Soul Power had also reached an astonishing Level 39, and all his Spirit Rings were purple.

To avoid drawing attention, whenever Qian Yu used a Soul Skill, he paired it with the Spirit Simulation Soul Skill from his Second Martial Soul, making his first Spirit Ring appear yellow.

As for Tang San and Xiao Wu, thanks to Qian Yu's interference, they were both only Level 25. That was far below the original story's Level 29.

Tang San's slow progress infuriated Yu Xiaogang. He thought Tang San was too preoccupied with women and had neglected his training, so he kept piling more tasks on him. That left Tang San and Xiao Wu with even less time together than before.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were like a pair of tragic lovers: though they were close by, they were worlds apart.

Over the years, Yu Xiaogang had also tried to use what little charisma he had to win Qian Yu over and take him as his disciple. But Qian Yu wasn't about to play along. Yu Xiaogang was lucky Qian Yu hadn't killed him.

He ignored Yu Xiaogang completely.

Things couldn't go on like this forever, so in the year Tang San and Xiao Wu turned twelve, Yu Xiaogang decided to have Tang San take Xiao Wu to Shrek Academy and seek out his good friend Flender.

He refused to believe that at Shrek Academy, with his good friend Flender—a Level 78 Soul Saint—around, they still wouldn't be able to bring Qian Yu, a mere Soul Elder, to heel.

"Qian Yu, just you wait. I'll have you kneeling before me, begging me to take you as my disciple," Yu Xiaogang thought cheerfully, lost in his daydream.

Qian Yu didn't object to Yu Xiaogang's suggestion. After all, following Tang San and Xiao Wu meant Spirit Rings, Spirit Bones, and Soul Power—and Tang San's unfathomable dog luck.

In Suotuo City, under the blazing afternoon sun, Qian Yu entered the only hotel in the city—the Rose Hotel—with Xiao Wu beside him and Tang San following behind. They had been traveling for days.

They were there to check in.

A blond punk with two alluring women in tow was shouting furiously at the receptionist. "Are you new here? Don't you know you're supposed to keep a room for me?"

Then he looked toward Qian Yu and the others, who were checking in.