The sun climbed higher, its scorching rays blanketing Shrek Academy's training grounds. The practical combat drills arranged by Flender and Zhao Wuji were in full swing. The punishing intensity had nearly drained the Soul Power of Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun. They slumped to the ground, drenched in sweat, their ragged gasps rising and falling in waves as they looked utterly bedraggled.
Compared with the three men's exhaustion, Lin Chen, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong seemed remarkably at ease. Beneath their calm, though, lay a secret mystery. Lin Chen stood at the edge of the training grounds with his eyes half-closed, seemingly meditating. In truth, he was quietly circulating his Soul Power through a subtle method, carefully sensing the fluctuations around him while keeping a close watch on the three girls. The medicinal power of last night's Immortal Herbs had yet to fade completely, and was subtly transforming the foundations of their Martial Souls. He had to keep everything under control, making sure the three could perfectly suppress their surging strength without revealing the slightest abnormality. At the same time, he used the opportunity to secretly circulate his cultivation method, tempering his body and Soul Power.
Xiao Wu engaged Dai Mubai in combat, her agile figure tracing light arcs beneath the sun. Each step carried the wondrous rhythm of the physical transformation granted by Lovesick Heartbreak Red. Even when the shockwaves of Dai Mubai's Soul Power swept over her, she felt no discomfort at all. Still, she pretended to struggle, knitting her willow brows as she called sweetly, "Brother Mubai, go easy on me!" She perfectly disguised her strength as it had been before. From the corner of her eye, she kept sneaking glances at Lin Chen. When she caught the youth watching her with gentle concern, sweetness bloomed in her heart. The dependence and affection in her eyes vanished in an instant, tucked away so thoroughly that no one noticed a thing.
Zhu Zhuqing clashed with Ma Hongjun at close range. She pushed the Hell Spirit Cat's ghostly footwork to its limits, yet deliberately suppressed the speed and strength granted by the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, keeping every strike precisely within her former capabilities. After being tempered by the Immortal Herb, her endurance and physical strength had greatly increased; even after a long battle, she felt not the slightest trace of fatigue. Her cool face remained placid, but whenever her gaze happened to meet Lin Chen's, the tips of her ears would flush a faint pink. All her wariness had vanished, leaving only the tenderness and trust she kept hidden deep within. She could clearly sense that whenever her Soul Power faltered, Lin Chen would quietly steady the medicinal power and smooth its flow with an almost imperceptible ripple of Soul Power. His silent protection made her feelings grow ever stronger, and made her all the more careful to hide her transformation.
Ning Rongrong stood in the safe zone, holding the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda with seven tiers in both hands. Its radiant support light spread evenly over everyone on the field, its boost no different from before. But she alone knew that the source power of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda within her was continuously nourishing her in return, making her Soul Power reserves astonishingly deep. Even after releasing her Martial Soul for an extended time to support the others, she showed no sign of running out of Soul Power. She would always nudge the support light a little more toward Lin Chen, her eyes brimming with admiration and fondness whenever she looked at him. The formerly headstrong little princess had become entirely sweet and obedient, faithfully remembering Lin Chen's warning and never once considering revealing the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Oscar watched the three girls grow ever more composed, then glanced at the exhausted Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun beside him. He couldn't help muttering, "This is strange. The three of us are about to fall apart, but you're getting more and more relaxed. Your improvement is just ridiculous." Dai Mubai wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded in agreement. His gaze instinctively turned to Zhu Zhuqing, only to find that she had been focused on Lin Chen the entire time. A trace of disappointment crossed his heart, but he chalked it up to her naturally aloof temperament and thought nothing more of it. Ma Hongjun, meanwhile, was sprawled on the ground, focused on recovering his Soul Power. He hadn't noticed the hidden strength or the subtle feelings concealed on the training field at all.
In the distance, Flender and Zhao Wuji watched the group on the training grounds and nodded with satisfaction, their faces full of pride. "These youngsters are improving at a remarkable pace, especially Lin Chen. He's calm and measured, and his control over Soul Power far surpasses that of others his age. The three girls have grown much more mature in character, too," Flender said with a smile, his voice full of hope. "Once Tang San returns, Shrek's overall strength will surely rise to another level." Zhao Wuji agreed in a deep voice, recognizing Lin Chen's great potential. The two men were completely fooled by appearances. They had not noticed Lin Chen and the girls' astonishing transformation, nor did they know that Tang San, whose return they eagerly awaited, had already abandoned any intention of coming back to the academy.
During the break, everyone rested in their own way, while the three girls instinctively gathered around Lin Chen, their special closeness impossible to miss. Xiao Wu was the first to approach, naturally offering him her water flask. Her voice was sweet and considerate. "Lin Chen, you've been standing for so long. Have some water and take a break." Her easy familiarity showed the special care she reserved for the one she loved. Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak first, but silently set some clean food beside Lin Chen. She met his eyes, then quickly turned away, a faint blush spreading across her cool cheeks. Her wordless concern was plain to see. Ning Rongrong bounced over, her eyes curving with a hint of pride. "I gave you the strongest support just now. You felt especially smooth in your movements, didn't you?" Her eyes held the bashful anticipation of a young girl, her thoughts filled entirely with Lin Chen.
The three girls clustered around Lin Chen, their undisguised favoritism leading Dai Mubai and the others to assume it was simply the deep bond between companions. They couldn't see the affection hidden in the girls' eyes at all. Lin Chen calmly accepted Xiao Wu's water flask, smiled as he ruffled Ning Rongrong's hair, then gave Zhu Zhuqing a slight nod. His voice was gentle but firm. "You've worked hard. Keep your strength under control and don't rush to reveal it. I'll help you fully absorb the Immortal Herb's medicinal power later." His simple reminder filled the three girls with confidence, and they all nodded in agreement.
Lin Chen looked at the three girls, whose hearts were entirely set on him, and a hint of tenderness passed through his eyes before deeper thoughts took its place. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was drawing near, and the spies of Spirit Hall and the great clans were everywhere. One careless move, and the opportunity presented by the Immortal Herbs—and the secret of the girls' transformation—could be exposed, bringing disaster upon them. He had to help the girls stabilize their strength and secretly temper his own, while also making preparations in advance to guard against every potential threat. He would move carefully, step by step, and leave no opening for any enemy.
The sun sank in the west, and the day's training came to an end. Everyone headed back to the dormitories together. The orange-red afterglow stretched their shadows long. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong quietly followed Lin Chen. They exchanged glances, silently concealing their sharpness and continuing to pretend they were as they had always been. They guarded one another's secrets and held fast to their feelings for Lin Chen. Walking ahead, Lin Chen felt the warmth behind him and lifted the corners of his mouth. Their current concealment was only to build strength for the moment they would break through. One day, he would bring this hidden power into the open on the Soul Master Continent and clear every obstacle from his path.
Meanwhile, a thousand miles away, a hidden mountain valley seethed with bloodlust, a stark contrast to Shrek's peaceful grounds. Under Tang Hao's nearly cruel and relentless training, Tang San was covered in wounds both deep and shallow, his clothes soaked with blood. Yet the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand was wrapped in ever more violent Soul Power, and his strength was soaring at a terrifying pace. The murderous aura around him grew heavier, stripping away every trace of his former youthful gentleness.
Tang Hao stood to one side, his hard voice echoing through the valley. "The Soul Master world is a place where the strong prey on the weak. Mercy is the road to death. Anyone who knows your secrets or threatens your future must be rooted out completely, or the danger will never be gone. You must never show them the slightest mercy!" These ruthless teachings shattered what little false hope Tang San still had of Shrek, while magnifying the malice and selfishness buried in his heart.
During this period of seclusion and bitter training, Tang San had never once thought of returning to Shrek Academy. Instead, under Tang Hao's guidance, he sensed something amiss at Shrek through his Soul Power: Lin Chen had emerged from nowhere, his strength mysterious and unfathomable. He had not only taken all three girls' affection—Xiao Wu's, Zhu Zhuqing's, and Ning Rongrong's—but had also seemingly caught glimpses of his core secrets, including his Twin Martial Souls and the Clear Sky Hammer. Everyone at Shrek knew about his past, and every last one of them had become a potential threat to his path to power.
Tang San had always possessed an overwhelming desire for control and placed extreme importance on his secrets. He would never allow others to discover his trump cards, and he could not tolerate Lin Chen taking his place or the three girls turning their backs on him completely. A reunion at the academy was nothing more than Flender and the others' wishful thinking. At that moment, only one cold, merciless thought remained in Tang San's mind: kill everyone who knew.
Bone-deep killing intent surged in his eyes, and his Soul Power suddenly erupted. He slammed the Clear Sky Hammer into the ground, sending shattered rock flying through the valley and splitting the earth with deep cracks. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and a vicious plan had already taken shape in his mind. Once he had fully mastered the power of the Clear Sky Hammer and secured his strength, he would never set foot in Shrek Academy. Instead, he would lie in wait and slip into the academy unnoticed, then slaughter everyone who knew his secrets or stood in his way. He would leave not a single one alive!
Whether it was Flender and Zhao Wuji, who knew the secrets of his past, or Lin Chen, who had taken the three girls and glimpsed his trump cards—or even Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong, who no longer depended on him and knew too much about his past—anyone who threatened him or crossed the line around his secrets had to die. He would erase every threat through the most complete massacre, bury all his secrets forever, and clear his way to the summit with blood. He would leave no survivors and give no one a chance to strike back.
The icy killing intent completely shrouded the silent valley. Tang San's hand, hanging at his side, trembled faintly—not from fear, but from his fanatical obsession with a bloody cover-up and his ruthless cruelty. A deadly plot targeting all of Shrek, aimed directly at Lin Chen and the three girls, had quietly taken shape in his heart. Once the time was right, it would become a monstrous killing intent and descend upon the unsuspecting members of Shrek. A life-and-death catastrophe was already drawing near.
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