Winter

The dormitories provided by Shrek Academy, at least the freshman ones, were mostly dated in decor and sparse in furniture.

Drawing from the experience of his past life, Bai Cai knew that whenever new students enrolled, there would always be upperclassmen setting up stalls to resell miscellaneous items, including furniture, potted plants, and even fitness equipment.

Commoner soul masters at Shrek Academy had low incomes, and even with the stipends issued by the academy, they were rarely well-off. Near Shrek Plaza and along the lakeside paths of Sea God Lake—the mandatory routes for all freshmen—there were bound to be upperclassmen peddling their wares.

Taking advantage of his free time, Bai Cai strolled near Shrek Plaza and took the opportunity to purchase some items from the upperclassmen. These included an elegant wooden nightstand, several lush wisteria plants, an ergonomic desk and chair set complete with a bookshelf, and a set of cultivation notes written in a beautiful hand by a pretty upperclasswoman.

With the various furniture added and the wisteria placed before the window, the old, barren freshman dormitory seemed to take on a new lease on life, filled with the warmth of a lived-in home.

The next morning, Bai Cai pushed open the window to let in some air, stretched, and breathed in the fresh morning breeze.

It was his first night at Shrek Academy, and Bai Cai had managed to relax and sleep in; the feeling of a normal night's rest was wonderful.

The sound of a key turning in the lock echoed, and the door was pushed open gently, revealing a youth with delicate features and fair skin.

"Sorry, wrong room." The youth blinked his large, powder-blue eyes, turned, and left Room 106.

Bai Cai remained silent, waiting for the youth to exit his room before stepping forward to lock the door and returning to the window.

The azure sky and drifting white clouds, the beautiful scenery of Shrek Academy, came into view.

The sound of a key in the lock echoed once more, and the door was pushed open. Large, fluttering powder-blue eyes and neat, short powder-blue hair.

"Room 106?" the youth asked.

"Yes."

"The room is decorated quite well." The youth sat casually on the exquisite desk Bai Cai had spent forty Gold Soul Coins to purchase, crossed his slender legs, and stated as if it were only natural, "It belongs to me now."

"What do you mean?"

"I quite appreciate the layout of this room, so I will allow you to stay here," the youth said coolly. "Of course, there are conditions."

"First, you are not allowed to bring anyone back to the room."

"Second, you are not allowed to be naked."

"Third, you are not allowed to disturb my rest."

"Fourth, you are responsible for cleaning the room."

"Fifth, the bookshelf, desk, chair, and nightstand all belong to me."

The youth held up five fingers one by one, smiling brilliantly. "If you aren't satisfied, challenge me, or leave the room."

A beautiful youth, an arrogant attitude, and harsh conditions. The scene felt hauntingly familiar.

"Your name?" Bai Cai asked cautiously.

"Wang Dong," the youth said, leaning against the bookshelf with an indifferent air.

On the soft, verdant grass by the shore of Sea God Lake, Bai Cai looked up at the deep blue sky and the fluffy white clouds.

Having lost the furniture he purchased and his status in the dormitory, Bai Cai felt a bit dejected.

Huo Yuhao was young and ignorant; his mother had passed away, and he was at odds with his father and brothers, his only conviction being revenge. Even if he knew Wang Dong's background, he probably wouldn't care.

In contrast, his own parents were still young, his relatives visited often, his neighbors were harmonious, and while he didn't have many friends, their bonds were deep and their friendship unshakable.

The surface of Sea God Lake shimmered, and a gentle breeze blew by, dissipating some of his frustration.

"After classes officially start, I'll apply for a room transfer." Bai Cai raised his hand slightly to shield his eyes from the increasingly glaring sun.

Returning to the room, Wang Dong had already laid out his bedding—a thick fur mattress, a soft quilt, and two iron trunks packed to the brim.

"Sweep the floor." Wang Dong lay half-reclined, legs crossed, with the plain-covered notebook tossed carelessly onto the nightstand.

The plain-covered notebook was the cultivation guide Bai Cai had bought, which recorded techniques for using soul power, the potential effects of soul skills, and knowledge points supplemented by senior teachers.

"What's wrong?" Wang Dong turned to the side, tossing away fruit peels and snack wrappers.

"Nothing." Bai Cai put away his notebook, found the broom in the corner of the room, and began to sweep up the trash.

"Why don't you dare to fight?" Wang Dong asked curiously.

"It's nothing." Bai Cai finished cleaning and returned to his own bed.

Summoning Ralts, Bai Cai began to meditate.

As his soul power increased, the meditation method taught by the Farnos Junior Soul Master Academy was becoming less effective. At the soul master stage, he could barely increase his soul power by two levels a year. Ralts's cultivation speed was also affected by the quality of the meditation method, showing a downward trend.

"What is that?" Wang Dong noticed Ralts and asked with great curiosity, "A soul beast? A martial soul?"

"..."

"Can it talk?"

"..."

"How many Gold Soul Coins? Name your price."

"Shut up!" Bai Cai's expression turned cold.

Wang Dong was stunned by Bai Cai's rebuke, his large powder-blue eyes blinking in disbelief.

"What are you being so fierce for?"

Without even retorting, Wang Dong pulled the quilt over himself in grievance, burying his head deep beneath it. The once arrogant and domineering dormitory tyrant was left to sulk all by himself.

I shouldn't have, I shouldn't have said those things, Wang Dong felt a pang of regret.

The chill of the new semester vanished in a flash. With the admissions process finally complete, the freshman dormitory building gradually grew lively. Although the soundproofing of the rooms was excellent, Wang Dong could still hear the commotion of students playing in the hallways.

His roommate had faithfully kept his promises: he hadn't brought anyone back to the room, hadn't walked around naked, hadn't disturbed his rest, and had even cleaned the room at the scheduled times.

Tossing and turning, Wang Dong threw off the quilt.

The bed opposite was empty; his roommate had already left the room. With less than two hours until classes officially began, Wang Dong took out his autumn school uniform and walked into the washroom.

Passing through Shrek Plaza and the lakeside path, Wang Dong entered the freshman teaching building and followed the girls from his class to Freshman Class One.

His roommate was sitting all alone in the front row on the left side by the window, the seat next to him vacant. Wang Dong felt a secret sense of relief and walked unhurriedly toward the front left of the classroom.

The front row was reserved only for excellent students—like himself, with his level 22 soul power and the Goddess of Light Butterfly martial soul.

A boy with an ordinary appearance suddenly ran into the classroom and plopped down into the seat by the window in the front row.

Wang Dong smiled, clenched his fist, and casually sat down next to a pretty girl nearby.

The bell for class rang, and an old woman with white hair and a complexion like a crane, dressed in a white robe, walked into the classroom. The old woman wore her hair in a bun, had a medium build, and possessed exceptionally bright, spirited eyes.

The old woman stood with her back straight as a rod, walking to the podium in a few strides with an air of natural authority. The whispering and murmuring students gradually fell silent.

"My name is Zhou Yi, the head teacher of Freshman Class One. Shrek Academy cultivates monsters, not infants, so my methods will be somewhat rough. Over the next year, prepare yourselves for how many will pass the examinations and how many will be expelled."