Hiding One's Edge to Pass the Days, Hidden Currents Conceal Startling Thunder

The morning sun pierced the night, casting its first rays into the woods of Shrek Academy. Crisp birdsong replaced the silence of the night, and the quiet courtyard gradually filled with the scent of breakfast. Everything returned to its usual state, as if the clandestine meeting from last night had never left a trace upon the world.

Lin Chen rose early, his aura as calm as ever. With no trace of soul power leaking out, he appeared no different from the steady, reserved student he had always been. He walked slowly out of his room, his fingertips gently stroking his storage Soul Tool. Giving away three peerless immortal herbs last night might have seemed like a massive expenditure, yet his eyes remained filled with composure and certainty. With Tang San taken away by Tang Hao, the greatest variable was removed. The three girls had all pledged their hearts, and his trump cards were quietly taking shape. Now, he only needed to wait for the right moment, keeping his edge hidden, so that he could stir up a tempest when the time was ripe.

The academy's morning training began on time. Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun arrived at the training ground sluggishly, still weary. Having slept soundly until dawn, the three were completely unaware of what had transpired in the dead of night. They were still grumbling about Tang San's sudden departure, feeling that without their comrade to fight alongside, even training lacked its usual spirit. Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the other instructors stood to the side, their gazes sweeping over the students. They looked as usual, completely oblivious to the fact that the children before them had undergone a transformation overnight that others would struggle to achieve in a lifetime.

Xiao Wu skipped onto the training ground, looking as lively and playful as ever. With her hair in a perky ponytail and her eyes curved into crescents, she flashed a sweet smile at Lin Chen, appearing no different from before. Yet, only she knew of the warm, gentle power circulating within her chest, masking the origin aura of her Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast at every moment. Even if a Soul Saint or Soul Emperor were to inspect her at close range, they would find absolutely no flaws.

The look she gave Lin Chen held a depth of tenderness and reliance that could not be melted away, yet she deliberately restrained her emotions, not daring to reveal a hint of anything unusual. She merely leaned in close to Lin Chen and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Lin Chen, with you here, I'm not afraid at all." Her tone was soft and sweet, yet carried absolute peace of mind. The warmth of being protected with everything someone had last night lingered in her heart, allowing her to finally let go of all her unease.

Lin Chen nodded slightly, a flicker of softness in his eyes. He gave her a reassuring look, signaling her to focus on training and not to expose anything. Xiao Wu understood immediately, pulling herself together and throwing herself into the morning drills. Her movements remained light and agile, but her speed and physical resilience had quietly increased several times over. She deliberately suppressed her strength, keeping every action consistent with her past self, terrified of drawing unwanted attention.

Nearby, Zhu Zhuqing remained cold and taciturn, standing alone in a corner to practice her Hell Hundred Claws. Her figure was ghostly, her speed so fast that she left only afterimages behind. After the tempering of the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, the origin of her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul had been sublimated, and the shackles of her physical body were completely shattered. Her speed and stealth were far beyond what they had been, but she was always meticulous and cautious. She kept her transformation completely hidden, controlling the force and speed of her strikes to their original levels. Her cold expression remained, though her gaze would occasionally flicker with a trace of imperceptible tenderness when looking at Lin Chen—the deep affection in her heart was firmly locked beneath her sharp exterior.

She knew how top-secret Lin Chen's plans from last night were, and she understood that this heaven-defying opportunity must never be revealed. She focused entirely on her training, speaking to no one, and played her part perfectly. Even Dai Mubai, who kept a close eye on her, only felt that her temperament had become more composed, never suspecting that her strength had been reborn.

Ning Rongrong stood to the side of the training ground. Usually lively and spirited, she was a bit more steady today. She subconsciously raised her hand, wanting to summon her martial soul, but as soon as a faint glow appeared at her fingertips, she remembered Lin Chen's warning from last night. She forcibly restrained her soul power, summoning only the seven-storied Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Its brilliant light flowed, looking exactly as it had before.

She looked down at the pagoda in her hand, her eyes hiding uncontrollable excitement and ecstasy. Overnight, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, breaking the thousand-year shackles of her sect's martial soul. This opportunity was something Lin Chen had exhausted his efforts to secure for her. Her gaze toward Lin Chen was filled with worship and admiration. The usual wilfulness had faded, replaced by a sense of obedience and compliance. She trained with extra diligence, fully cooperating with her partners' support, while keeping the secret of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda locked deep within her heart.

Oscar watched the unusually obedient Ning Rongrong and couldn't help but scratch his head in confusion. "Rongrong, why are you so well-behaved today?" Ning Rongrong glanced at him, but instead of bickering as she usually did, she simply said, "Focus on your training and talk less." With that, she turned her gaze back to Lin Chen, her affection undisguised yet measured, never spilling over into the open.

The entire morning training session was calm and uneventful. Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun remained in a daze, and the instructors noticed nothing. No one discovered that among the Shrek Seven Devils (excluding the departed Tang San), four had undergone a shocking transformation overnight.

Xiao Wu kept her identity secret and felt completely at ease; Zhu Zhuqing shed her martial soul's defects and gained immense strength; Ning Rongrong broke the fate of her sect and held a heaven-defying trump card; and Lin Chen had firmly secured the devotion of the three, gaining control of the entire situation. The three girls kept their secrets, understanding each other without words, hiding all their transformations and feelings beneath the veneer of daily life, revealing not a shred of their true edge.

After the morning training, the group headed to the cafeteria together, noisy and full of youthful spirit. Lin Chen walked among them, seemingly listening to their idle chatter, but his mind remained taut. He secretly monitored everything around him, confirming there were no anomalies and no signs of secrets leaking. The last shred of worry in his heart dissipated completely.

He knew that this brief peace was only temporary. Tang Hao would return in a few months or half a year after taking Tang San away for training. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was also drawing near, and various forces would gradually focus on Shrek Academy. By then, undercurrents would surely surge, and danger would lurk everywhere.

Yet he had already laid out his chessboard. The transformation of the three girls was his most solid trump card, and their devotion was his most stable backing. Now, he only needed to wait patiently, hiding his sharpness and gathering strength. When the tournament began, it would be the moment he revealed his edge, shocked the entire audience, and seized control of the situation to protect those around him.

During the meal, Xiao Wu subconsciously picked food for Lin Chen, Zhu Zhuqing silently passed him water, and Ning Rongrong sat obediently to the side, watching him with a smile. Their actions were natural yet secretive. It looked like ordinary interaction between companions, but it held a tenderness and intent belonging only to Lin Chen. Others merely thought it was normal care between friends and suspected nothing.

Lin Chen felt the devotion of the three girls beside him. A faint, imperceptible smile curled his lips as he lowered his head to eat, though a sharp, piercing glint flashed in his eyes.

The peaceful days continued, but beneath the calm, undercurrents were already surging. Lin Chen quietly plotted his subsequent layout, while the three girls silently improved their strength and hid their transformations. Everyone was waiting for a catalyst—a catalyst that would shock the entire continent with Shrek and allow Lin Chen to truly reveal his brilliance.

Meanwhile, far away in a hidden place, Tang San was being strictly tempered by Tang Hao, grinding the Clear Sky Hammer day and night. He remained completely unaware of the earth-shattering changes occurring at Shrek Academy, and he would never imagine that his former companions had already acquired power and strategies far beyond his imagination during his absence.