Night hung heavy over Shrek Academy. All was silent, and every light in the students' dormitories had gone out. Only Lin Chen's room still glimmered faintly.
He sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, repeatedly turning over his plans for what came next.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was fast approaching. His current efforts alone would not be enough to crush the young geniuses across the continent and eliminate the threat of Tang San's revenge once and for all. Only the peerless Immortal Herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well could help his companions undergo a heaven-defying transformation and make up for all their weaknesses.
But he absolutely could not let a single word of this slip.
Tang Hao lay low in the shadows, cunning and ruthless. If he learned of the opportunity to obtain the Immortal Herbs, he would surely try to seize it—and might even attack the Shrek group with murderous intent. Besides, the secret realm of Immortal Herbs was a closely guarded secret of heaven and earth. The more people involved, the greater the risk of exposure. One careless move, and this heaven-defying opportunity could turn into a catastrophe.
After turning it over in his mind, he decided that going alone was the only safe choice.
He would tell the others that his Soul Power had reached its limit and that he needed to leave the academy to train alone in search of a breakthrough. He would be back as soon as possible, and he would tell no one his true destination or let anyone suspect the purpose of his trip.
With his plan settled, Lin Chen wasted no time. He closed his eyes to regulate his breathing and gather his strength, preparing for the secret realm journey the next day.
At dawn, before the first rays of sunlight had pierced the clouds, Lin Chen had finished packing and headed straight for the main gate of Shrek Academy.
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the Shrek Six Monsters had already come after hearing the news. Concern and confusion showed on everyone's faces.
"Lin Chen, are you really going to train alone? The tournament is just around the corner, and the situation around us is complicated. It's hard to feel at ease with you out there by yourself." Flender furrowed his brow, his voice full of concern. The academy was already preparing for the tournament, and sending a core member away alone was a serious risk.
Zhao Wuji nodded in agreement. "Why not have Dai Mubai go with you? At least you'd have someone to watch your back. If you run into danger, you could help each other out."
Lin Chen shook his head gently, his expression calm. The excuse he had prepared came smoothly. "Dean, Teacher Zhao, I'm going out to temper my spiritual sense and break through my Soul Power bottleneck. I need peace and solitude. Having someone with me would only interfere with my cultivation. I'll be back soon, and I won't linger. I'll return to the academy safely before the tournament preliminaries begin. I won't hold up our preparations."
His tone was firm and his gaze steady. There was not the slightest hint of anything amiss. He looked every bit like someone focused on cultivation and preparing for the tournament.
Seeing this, the others found it hard to press him further.
They had always trusted Lin Chen's strength and judgment. If he insisted on training alone, he must have his reasons.
Dai Mubai stepped forward and clapped Lin Chen on the shoulder. "Be careful. If you run into trouble you can't handle, send word to the academy at once. We'll come get you right away."
"Make sure you take care of yourself. We'll be waiting for you here," Ma Hongjun added hastily.
Xiao Wu stood among the group, her clear eyes fixed on Lin Chen. Reluctance shone in her gaze, but she was considerate enough not to say much. She only reminded him softly, "Remember to come back soon. I'll be waiting."
Lin Chen looked warmly over them all and nodded. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. You should focus on training at the academy and refining your team battle tactics. There's no need to worry about me."
Without further goodbyes, Lin Chen turned and set off. Dressed simply and traveling alone, he headed toward the woods outside the academy. His figure soon disappeared along the forest path, looking no different from any Soul Master setting out for a routine training trip.
The others stood at the academy gates for a long while. Only after Lin Chen was completely out of sight did they return to the academy and resume their preparations for the Soul Master Tournament as planned. They had no idea that Lin Chen's trip was no ordinary training journey. He was going to gather peerless Immortal Herbs that could change the fate of all Shrek.
Once he was beyond the academy's sight, Lin Chen immediately concealed every trace of his presence. Without another moment's delay, he sped toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He chose remote mountains and forests, traveling by day and hiding by night. He avoided every town, village, and gathering place of Soul Masters. He kept his journey so well concealed that even a Soul Emperor would have struggled to detect his trail.
He sped along, avoiding several wandering Soul Beasts and groups of passing Soul Masters. In just three days, guided by his precise memories, Lin Chen reached that forbidden land between heaven and earth: the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The scene before him was a study in stark contrasts. On one side, lava churned beneath a scorching heat that warped the air. On the other, a thousand miles of ice stretched under a piercing chill, everything sealed in ice. Yin and yang energy met in the middle, forming a vast mist. Rich spiritual energy mingled with an invigorating medicinal fragrance and washed over him.
This was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a secret realm of Immortal Herbs rarely seen in the world. Just as he remembered, aside from the overbearing yin and yang energy, no powerful Soul Beasts guarded the place. It was perfectly suited to a lone visitor.
Lin Chen did not hesitate. Carefully avoiding the violent currents of heat and cold, he steadily advanced into the heart of the secret realm, his control over Soul Power far beyond that of an ordinary person.
His gaze swept across the plants: the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Aromatic Silk Beauty, Lovesick Heartbreak Red... One peerless Immortal Herb after another, each suited to a member of the Shrek group, came into view.
He did not rush or falter. According to his companions' Martial Soul attributes, he gently picked the herbs one by one and carefully placed each in a sealed jade box he had prepared in advance. The boxes kept their medicinal aura contained and prevented their potency from fading. He took no more than he needed and coveted no extra opportunities.
In less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, he had collected every Immortal Herb he needed.
After checking that everything was in order, Lin Chen did not linger. He immediately retraced his route and slipped away from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well without a sound. Concealing his trail once more, he traveled day and night at full speed back to Shrek Academy.
After returning, Lin Chen made no announcement. He continued telling people that he was training in seclusion outside the academy, then quietly went back to his quarters and hid the jade boxes containing the Immortal Herbs. He would wait for the right moment before secretly arranging for everyone to refine them.
Meanwhile, in a secluded canyon thousands of miles away, Tang San continued to train with the Clear Sky Hammer day and night.
His body was covered in wounds, and sweat soaked through his clothes. Every swing of the hammer sent pain tearing through his meridians, but the obsession and hatred in his eyes only grew more intense. He thought only of mastering his cultivation as soon as possible, so he could take revenge on Lin Chen in the Soul Master Tournament and wash away every humiliation.
He had no idea that while he was still laboring over the basics, Lin Chen had already used his foresight to secure a peerless opportunity for the Shrek group—one capable of defying fate itself.
The seeds of a decisive gap between their strengths had already been planted during this secret journey, unknown to anyone.
Shrek's hidden transformation was about to begin, and the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was destined to end in a way that would overturn all expectations.
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