Heading to Shrek!

"Alright, you have a plan, so we'll do it your way. Remember, don't push yourself too hard. If you run into danger, call out immediately. Your teacher is nearby and can charge in at any time."

Dai Tu nodded without saying anything else. He turned and headed toward an alley beside the academy's main gate.

He did not use the front entrance.

Shrek Academy's main gate was for new students, visitors, and honored guests. Inspections were strict, and identification was required. For an outsider of unknown origin like him, sneaking in was nearly impossible.

But he had another way.

At the end of the alley, after confirming that no one was watching, Dai Tu stopped, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

Then he raised his head.

A crimson glow quietly lit up deep within his eyes.

The shuriken-like pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan slowly rotated in his pupils, eerie and cold, brimming with an air of mystery.

"Kamui: Intangibility."

Dai Tu murmured as Soul Power poured into his left eye.

His body began to blur like a reflection in water, rippling and Distorting through the air before... slowly disappearing.

It was neither invisibility nor Teleportation. His existence had truly been "erased" from this world as he entered another dimension—the Kamui Dimension, overlapping reality yet separated from it.

The process was quick, taking less than three seconds.

Three seconds later, Dai Tu had completely vanished from the alley.

The alley stood empty. Only the wind rustled the weeds at the foot of the walls.

Shrek Academy, outer courtyard dormitory district.

Huo Yuhao stood outside the dormitory building. Looking up at the sun that had just risen over the horizon, he took a deep breath of the cool morning air, and a rare, heartfelt smile appeared on his face.

I'm back.

He had returned from the icy, perilous deadlands of the Far North to this place that had many rules and restrictions, but was at least... safe, warm, and filled with the presence of people.

And this time, he was different.

He was no longer the boy with only rank eleven Soul Power, whose Spirit Eye Martial Soul was publicly considered useless, the illegitimate son of the White Tiger Duke Mansion whom anyone could trample on.

He was now a rank twenty-two Soul Grandmaster. He possessed Twin Martial Souls—Spirit Eye and the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion. He also had the million-year soul beast Sky Dream Ice Silkworm as his Wisdom Soul Ring, as well as the four-hundred-thousand-year soul beast Ice Empress as the Soul Spirit of his second Martial Soul.

Yes, Ice Empress.

That unruly Ice Jade Empress Scorpion who had ruled the Far North had, after seeing his potential and under Brother Sky Dream's "persuasion" (relentless pestering), ultimately chosen to fuse with him. She had become his second Martial Soul and one of his strongest trump cards for the future.

It all felt like a dream.

A few months ago, he had still been worried about the new student assessment, anxious over his pitifully slow Soul Power growth, and lost over how to take revenge and survive in this man-eating world.

A few months later, he had been reborn, possessing a heaven-defying foundation that would make any force burn with envy.

"Yuhao, don't get carried away." Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's lazy but slightly stern voice sounded in his mind.

"With your current strength, you're still nothing before true experts. And you have too many secrets. Once they're exposed, they'll bring you endless trouble. So keep a low profile. You must keep a low profile."

"I know, Brother Sky Dream." Huo Yuhao replied inwardly. The smile on his face faded somewhat, and his gaze became firm and calm again.

"I won't lose myself in pride. I still have a long road ahead of me. My revenge has not yet been taken. The White Tiger Duke Mansion, Zhu Yue, Dai Hao... they are all still living well. How could I possibly slack off?"

"Mm, it's good that you understand." Sky Dream Ice Silkworm snorted in satisfaction.

"Let's go. Head to registration. The new term has begun, so let's see whether there are any new missions or resources. What you lack most right now is time, and... Soul Power."

Huo Yuhao nodded. Without lingering any longer, he turned and headed toward the outer courtyard teaching district.

He did not walk quickly, observing his surroundings as he went.

On the first day of the new term, the academy was bustling. Older students gathered in twos and threes, discussing what they had seen during the break, showing off their newly acquired soul rings, or complaining about having too much homework.

Most new students, meanwhile, looked curious and excited. They looked around everywhere, filled with yearning for this legendary "monster academy."

Huo Yuhao blended into the crowd without drawing attention.

Today, he wore an ordinary gray training outfit, the standard uniform issued by the academy. It had no distinguishing features. Though his body was sturdier than it had been three months ago, he still looked somewhat thin.

There was little expression on his delicate face. Only his eyes were especially bright and clear, like the sky after rain, as though they could reflect the secrets hidden in one's heart.

This was the state he deliberately maintained.

Low-key, ordinary, inconspicuous.

This was the survival wisdom he had bought with blood and tears over more than ten years in the White Tiger Duke Mansion: before you possessed enough strength, do not reveal what made you special, do not draw others' attention, and do not... become a target.

"Yuhao!"

A crisp, delighted voice suddenly called out from behind him.

Huo Yuhao paused and turned around, seeing the familiar figure hurrying toward him.

Her pink-blue short hair gleamed softly in the morning light. A radiant smile lit her exquisite face, while her pink-blue eyes, like two flawless gemstones, stared at him without blinking, filled with... undisguised joy?

It was Wang Dong.

Huo Yuhao's heart skipped uncontrollably.

After not seeing her for three months, Wang Dong seemed to have... grown a little taller? Her skin seemed even fairer? Her eyes seemed... brighter?

No, that's not right.

Huo Yuhao shook his head, suppressing those chaotic thoughts and forcing himself to calm down.

"Morning, Wang Dong." Huo Yuhao nodded. His voice was calm, but only he knew that his heart was beating a little too fast.

"What do you mean, morning? I've been waiting for you forever!" Wang Dong ran up to Huo Yuhao and casually patted his shoulder. It was not hard, carrying a certain... intimacy.

"Where did you go during the break? You didn't even reply to my messages. I thought something had happened to you!"

Huo Yuhao froze for a moment.

Messages?

Oh, right. That "sound-transmitting Soul Tool" Wang Dong had forcibly stuffed into his hands before he left for the Far North, saying it would make keeping in touch easier.

But in a place like the Far North, Soul Tool signals could not be sent out at all, so he had never replied.

"I went to a... rather remote place. The signal was bad." Huo Yuhao gave a vague explanation, then changed the subject.

Huo Yuhao said vaguely, "Let's go. It's time to register. If we get there late, there'll be too many people."

"Mm!"

Wang Dong did not press the matter. She naturally moved to Huo Yuhao's side and walked shoulder to shoulder with him, chattering nonstop about the amusing things that had happened during the break.