Hope Xuan Zi was delayed by eating chicken legs on the road

Shrek Academy, downstairs at the first-year dormitory building of the Outer Court.

Golden sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, spilling onto the quiet path in front of the freshman dormitory.

An old man with graying hair and a hunched frame lay quietly on a tattered recliner, his eyes slightly closed as if he had already fallen asleep.

He looked completely ordinary, just like a grandfather from next door, without a shred of a powerhouse's aura about him.

Yet, who could have imagined that this seemingly decrepit old man was actually the true pillar of Shrek Academy on the Douluo Continent today—Dragon God Douluo, Mu En!

"Great-Grandfather!"

A burst of hurried footsteps shattered the tranquility of the place.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya ran over, panting, their faces etched with a hint of anxiety.

Hearing that familiar voice, Mu En slowly opened his eyes, a trace of kind amusement flashing through his otherwise murky gaze.

"It's Bei Bei..."

"And little girl Tang Ya."

"Why are you in such a rush?"

Mu En teased them gently; though his voice was aged, it carried a strength that put people at ease.

"Great-Grandfather, something major has happened!"

Bei Bei didn't even bother to catch his breath, crouching directly beside Mu En and speaking with a grave expression.

"We discovered an academy thousands of meters above the Star Dou Forest!"

"And... that academy is also called Shrek Academy!"

Upon hearing this, a subtle ripple finally appeared on Mu En's otherwise calm face.

He sat up slightly, a flicker of surprise passing through his cloudy eyes.

"High above in the sky?"

"An academy with the same name?"

Mu En shook his head, his tone laced with a touch of doubt.

"Bei Bei, are you certain you didn't see wrong?"

"In my youth, I once soared through the nine heavens, and I know the high altitudes of this Douluo Continent like the back of my hand."

"But I have never heard of any faction capable of establishing a sect thousands of meters in the sky, let alone one named Shrek Academy."

One had to realize that the resources and technology required to build an academy in such a place were simply unimaginable!

Even the Sun Moon Empire, which currently possessed the most advanced soul guidance technology, likely couldn't achieve such a feat, could they?

"Elder Mu, it is absolutely true!"

Tang Ya, standing to the side, hurriedly interjected with a firm tone.

"We saw it with our own eyes! That academy floated above the clouds like an island in the sky, and they even had those flying cars!"

"If you don't believe us, you can ask Bei Bei; it's impossible for both of us to have been hallucinating, right?"

Mu En looked at Bei Bei, and seeing the latter nod solemnly, the doubt in his eyes deepened even further.

Could it be... that I am truly ill-informed?

Or is this some hidden super-faction that has never stepped into the world?

"And..."

Bei Bei hesitated for a moment, seemingly organizing his words.

"And, we even crossed paths with one of the students from that academy."

"Oh?"

Mu En became somewhat interested, settling back into his recliner and asking slowly.

"What was the result?"

In his view, Bei Bei, as one of the twin stars of the Shrek Academy Outer Court and a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, was undoubtedly a top-tier talent among his peers.

Mu En had already earmarked Bei Bei as a candidate for the next generation of the Shrek Seven Devils.

However.

Bei Bei's next words left Mu En, a Limit Douluo who had lived for hundreds of years, stunned.

"We lost."

Bei Bei lowered his head, a bitter expression appearing on his face.

"And... it was a crushing defeat."

"The most critical part is... the opponent was only a two-ring Soul Grand Master."

"What?!"

Mu En's eyes snapped wide open, filled with utter disbelief.

"Two rings?"

"You lost to a two-ring Soul Grand Master?!"

Mu En's voice rose slightly in shock.

How could this be possible?!

Bei Bei was currently a three-ring Soul Elder, possessed a top-tier beast martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and had mastered the secret techniques of the Tang Sect!

One had to know that challenges across ranks usually only occurred within Shrek Academy, and for someone from Shrek Academy—let alone one of the Outer Court Twin Stars—to be defeated by someone of a lower rank?

It was simply unbelievable.

"Who... is this person?"

Mu En's expression turned slightly more serious; it seemed the matter was not as simple as he had imagined.

"She is a girl who looks even younger than us."

Tang Ya added from the side.

"Her name is Ye Xinglan."

"That girl... is truly strong."

"Especially her swordsmanship..."

"Grand Ancestor, you might not believe it."

"But I am certain that the little girl, who only has two rings, has already reached the legendary realm of Unity of Man and Sword!"

Unity of Man and Sword!

Upon hearing these four words, Mu En's pupils constricted sharply.

As a powerhouse who once stood at the pinnacle of the continent, he naturally understood what this realm signified.

It was a domain that countless sword soul masters struggled their entire lives to reach!

A little girl of only eleven or twelve with only two rings had actually managed to comprehend the Unity of Man and Sword?

This was no longer just talent.

This was a prodigy!

A true monster!

"Haa..."

Mu En exhaled a long, heavy breath.

"It seems... the world is indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

"I had thought our Shrek Academy was already a gathering place for monsters, but I didn't expect... there to be even stronger monsters in this world."

"The heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river; I... am old after all."

Mu En sighed, then seemed to think of something, and his tone shifted.

"Since there is such a miraculous academy with such brilliant students, I truly wish to pay a visit."

"Bei Bei, go notify Xuan Zi, have him come over, and have him accompany me to properly visit this academy with the same name."

Hearing the name Xuan Zi, the expressions of Bei Bei and Tang Ya instantly stiffened.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a trace of worry in each other's eyes.

Mu En intended to visit that Shrek Academy, but... Xuan Zi had already gone to pick a fight, and there was no stopping him.

"We ran into Elder Xuan on our way back, and after we told him about this, he charged straight over. We don't know if he has arrived yet."

"What?!"

Mu En's expression changed drastically, and he sat up abruptly from his recliner. This time, he was truly panicked.

He knew his grand-nephew's temper all too well; he took the honor of Shrek Academy very seriously. If anyone dared to use the exact same name as Shrek Academy, he would surely tear that academy apart.

He might even take some resources from that academy as compensation—though, naturally, those would mostly end up in Xuan Zi's own pockets.

However... that Shrek Academy with the same name was no small fry. If they could enable a two-ring soul master to master the Unity of Man and Sword, it meant the school's resources were definitely substantial.

Moreover... to be able to cultivate such a promising student, the powerhouses within that school must also be numerous!

Mu En now only hoped that Xuan Zi had been delayed on the road by eating chicken legs and hadn't found the academy yet; otherwise, if they had already turned hostile, it would be troublesome.

"Go and call Shao Zhe for me!"

Mu En said to Bei Bei.