Boasting of Controlling Destiny

Dai Huabin stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the flow of people on the street. Hearing Ning Tian's retort, he turned around and let out a soft chuckle.

"What I seek is nothing more than to control my own destiny and break free from the cage imposed upon me."

Dai Huabin's tone was flat, devoid of any agitation. "And incidentally, to protect those I love."

The words were light, yet they struck Ning Tian's heart like a massive boulder.

Control destiny?

These four words were easy to say, but doing so was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

How many brilliant, peerless geniuses in this world had ultimately ended up as mere pawns in the power struggles of major factions?

Even she, the young mistress of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, had to personally recruit young powerhouses for the sake of the sect's future, and might even be forced into a political marriage later on.

Ning Tian looked at the young man who was only a few months older than her.

There was an indescribable air of confidence about him—a composure that truly held no regard for worldly rules.

"Then what do you need me to do?"

The words slipped out before Ning Tian could stop them, and once spoken, she was stunned by her own impulsiveness.

Dai Huabin pulled out a chair and sat back down at the table.

"As the saying goes, a hero needs three helpers. While I consider my own talent to be decent, many things require the support of allies. You and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect are an excellent choice."

Ning Tian curled her lip, her tone tinged with defiance:

"You just spent the last moment belittling our sect as worthless, and now we're an 'excellent choice'?"

"One thing at a time."

Dai Huabin spread his hands, his tone becoming remarkably candid.

"Your sect does indeed lack top-tier combat power, but you have money. In this day and age, cultivation resources for high-level soul masters, expensive soul bones, and top-tier soul tools—which of these isn't built on cold, hard cash? My strength, combined with your financial resources and support, makes this a guaranteed win-win deal."

Ning Tian calculated rapidly in her mind.

What the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect lacked most right now were supreme geniuses capable of anchoring the foundation.

Dai Huabin had reached level thirty-three at age eleven, and his Martial Soul Fusion Skill had even mutated to manifest wings; such talent was rare even if one scoured the entire history of Shrek Academy.

Investing early in a future top-tier powerhouse was nothing but beneficial for the sect.

"Fine."

Ning Tian extended her right hand with great decisiveness.

"I agree to this alliance on my own behalf. As for the sect, I will write a letter to my mother specifically to explain the pros and cons."

Dai Huabin reached out and shook her hand, pulling away the moment they touched.

The alliance negotiations had gone exceptionally smoothly, with both sides obtaining the results they desired.

The afternoon classes were relatively relaxed.

During the first three months of the freshman term, the afternoons were primarily dedicated to basic cultivation. Mu Jin was a rather gentle person.

Instead of making students wear iron vests and run laps like Zhou Yi of Class One, she arranged for everyone to practice soul power meditation and basic physical training in the shade of the woods.

Dai Huabin leaned against a thick tree, circulating his soul power while watching Zhu Lu, who was meditating intently beside him.

A gentle breeze blew, stirring the girl's long black hair, creating a scene of quiet beauty.

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, the sky began to darken.

The bell signaling the end of class rang throughout the Outer Academy.

Dai Huabin brushed the grass clippings off his clothes and took Zhu Lu's hand as they walked out of the training area.

Passing by Shrek Plaza, he caught a glimpse of two people standing at the edge of the Class One training grounds from afar.

One was Tang Ya, dressed in a blue tight-fitting outfit with a slender figure.

The other was Huo Yuhao, covered in dust and grime, hunched over as he packed up heavy iron vests.

Dai Huabin paused and rubbed his chin.

He remembered now.

According to the original timeline, tonight was the night Huo Yuhao would set up his grilled fish stall at the academy gate for the first time.

This was a crucial plot point where a minor incident would trigger a chain of conflicts.

Xu Sanshi, the Outer Academy's number one defender, would go berserk at the grilled fish stall after being rejected by Jiang Nannan, ultimately smashing Huo Yuhao's stall.

Afterward, to defend Tang Ya and his junior brother, Bei Bei would fight Xu Sanshi in the Soul Fighting Zone, using Huo Yuhao's "Spiritual Detection Sharing" to cheat and quickly win a Mystic Water Pill capable of cleansing the marrow and cutting the tendons.

Dai Huabin had no interest in that Mystic Water Pill.

Although the White Tiger Duke Mansion wasn't what it used to be, he had consumed Mystic Water Pills before.

However, Dai Huabin was quite interested in the grilled fish in Huo Yuhao's hands.

As a transmigrator, he was truly too curious.

What kind of magic did this legendary God King Grilled Fish possess?

How could it make the genius girls from the original Douluo Continent so infatuated? Could there be some secret hidden within the fish meat?

"Huabin, what are you looking at?" Zhu Lu followed his gaze, but only saw a few first-year students cleaning up the field.

"Nothing, just saw an acquaintance." Dai Huabin withdrew his thoughts and turned his head to say to Zhu Lu, "Let's not eat at the cafeteria tonight. I'll take you to stroll through the snack street outside the Outer Academy's east gate."

Zhu Lu naturally had no objections: "Alright, I'll listen to you."

Night had completely fallen, and the snack street outside the east gate of Shrek Academy was already brightly lit.

This was the place the Outer Academy students loved to visit most every night.

Both sides of the road were lined with all kinds of small vendors, the sounds of hawking and the clatter of iron spatulas against woks weaving together, filled with a rich, bustling atmosphere of daily life.

At this moment, three other girls were also walking toward this area.

Wang Dong'er was wearing a very form-fitting white casual outfit. Her powder-blue long hair was draped casually over her shoulders, and her exquisite, flawless face held a hint of excitement.

She was tugging on Xiao Xiao's sleeve, walking quickly at the entrance of the street.

"Dong'er, slow down! The food in the cafeteria won't grow legs and run away." Xiao Xiao was being dragged along at a jog and couldn't help but complain.

"Who said we were going to eat at the cafeteria?"

Wang Dong'er lifted her smooth chin, "I just heard from someone in the neighboring dormitory that a new stall selling candied haws opened outside the east gate, and the sugar coating is supposed to be super crispy and sweet. This young lady is determined to eat one today!"

Cui Yajie followed behind the two of them at a leisurely pace.

Her signature pink long hair and the bewitching temperament that came with her Nine-Tailed Fox martial soul caused passing male students to glance at her repeatedly.

As for why Cui Yajie was following Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao, it was naturally because Dai Huabin had brought Zhu Lu along.

Hearing Wang Dong'er's words, Cui Yajie covered her mouth with her hand and let out a light laugh:

"Oh my, classmate Wang Dong'er. That excuse of yours is a bit too far-fetched.

You didn't happen to find out that our class monitor was going to the snack street and come here on purpose to manufacture a chance encounter, did you?"

"Pah! Who wants to have a chance encounter with him!"

Wang Dong'er bristled instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "I'm just going to eat candied haws! The road is so wide, he can walk his path and I'll walk mine. What, is this Shrek City owned by his Dai family? Am I not even allowed to go shopping?"

Xiao Xiao covered her mouth and giggled from the side:

"Yes, yes, you're just going to eat. But the snack street is so big and crowded, whether you'll actually run into him is hard to say."