Three Years Later, Shrek and Everyone

Time flies like a white horse passing a crack, and three years have vanished in the blink of an eye.

Sea God Island, the clearing on the west side.

"Reign Over the World!"

"Boom!"

The bluestone ground was covered in fine cracks, spreading from the center outward like a dried-up riverbed.

In the morning light, the young man stood barefoot in the center of the clearing, his black hair dampened by sweat, sticking to his forehead in strands.

At twelve years old, Mu Tianyi had grown taller than he was three years ago, now nearing one meter seventy.

His shoulders were broad, his waist lean, and his limbs long and powerful, with muscle lines as fluid as a leopard ready to spring.

He kept his eyes closed, his breathing long and steady.

Behind him, two dragon shadows, one black and one white, slowly emerged.

The dragon shadows were not physical entities, but light and shadow hovering between reality and illusion.

They intertwined and rotated, finally merging into a slowly flowing Yin-Yang pattern.

Yin-Yang Divine Dragon Transformation.

After three years of refinement, this Self Martial Soul Fusion Skill was no longer limited to lasting only the time it took to drink a cup of tea as it had been at the start.

Now, he could maintain the fusion state for nearly half an hour, and the consumption was far less intense than it once was.

But this was not what he was practicing today.

Mu Tianyi opened his eyes.

In that instant, his entire temperament changed.

If the Yin-Yang Divine Dragon Transformation was a fusion of power, then what he released now was a crushing of will.

The young man simply stood there quietly, and the Yin-Yang pattern behind him did not even accelerate its rotation.

Yet, within a radius of several dozen meters centered on him, the air seemed to solidify.

An invisible sense of oppression spread outward like a tide, as if an unseen mountain were pressing down upon this clearing.

Reign Over the World.

A Self-Created Soul Skill created by Mu En with his life's work, it combined both spiritual and physical attacks to completely suppress an opponent on the level of will.

Mu Tianyi spent half a year mastering the basics, and another two years initially fusing this ultimate technique with the Yin-Yang Divine Dragon Transformation.

What he was using at this moment was the product of that fusion.

Reign Over the World in the state of Yin-Yang Divine Dragon Transformation.

Mu Tianyi took a deep breath and slowly drew his right fist back to his waist.

The punch had not yet been thrown, but the momentum had already arrived.

The Trial Stone, a piece of bluestone half a person's height located three meters in front of him, already had fine cracks appearing on its surface, as if it were enduring some kind of invisible, heavy pressure.

He threw the punch.

There was no sound of breaking air, no shockwave, and not even any flashy special effects.

There was only the punch.

Unadorned, straightforward, and direct.

But the moment that punch was thrown, an incomparably domineering will erupted from his fist as if it were tangible.

It was as if an invisible giant dragon had rushed out from his fist, carrying the momentum to suppress all things, and slammed into the Trial Stone.

Crack—

The Trial Stone split from the middle, "cleaved" in two by the domineering will of Reign Over the World.

The cross-section was as smooth as a mirror, as if sliced by an invisible blade.

Mu Tianyi retracted his fist and slowly exhaled.

The Yin-Yang pattern dissipated, the momentum of Reign Over the World receded like a tide, and the clearing returned to calm.

He walked to the Trial Stone, reached out to touch the smooth cross-section, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

It was done.

The fusion of Reign Over the World and the Yin-Yang Divine Dragon Transformation had finally reached a true entry-level stage today.

Mu En had said that Reign Over the World was the crystallization of his life's work.

The old man had spent the better part of his life creating this ultimate technique.

Yet, from his first contact to this initial fusion, Mu Tianyi had taken only three years.

Among that time, Mu Tianyi had learned Reign Over the World in the first six months, while the remaining time was spent studying the fusion and refinement between Reign Over the World and the Yin-Yang Divine Dragon Transformation.

This speed was enough to make even Mu En, the creator of this ultimate technique, click his tongue in astonishment.

At the edge of the clearing, beneath a parasol tree.

A stout, tiger-headed little boy was squatting on the ground, holding a twig and earnestly drawing something in the dirt.

Seven-year-old Bei Bei was dressed in a light blue training uniform.

He had already completed his martial soul awakening; just as in the original work, his martial soul was the Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon, and his current soul power was at level fifteen.

This cultivation speed was top-tier among his peers.

More importantly, Bei Bei was now cultivating with exceptional diligence, almost entirely following in the footsteps of Mu Tianyi.

Mu Tianyi had once felt surprised by this, but upon reflection, he felt relieved.

In the original story, Bei Bei's talent was not lacking, and the Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon was a top-tier beast martial soul, but his attitude toward cultivation had always been lukewarm.

Later, after meeting Tang Ya, he had poured all his focus into romance, causing his strength to stagnate for a long time.

Now...

Mu Tianyi glanced at Bei Bei, who was drawing intently under the parasol tree, and thought to himself:

Having a goal to chase after really is more effective than anything else.

"Brother Tianyi!" Bei Bei looked up, saw Mu Tianyi finish his session, and immediately tossed the twig aside, trotting over excitedly. "That punch you threw just now was amazing! When will you teach me?"

Mu Tianyi reached out and flicked him on the forehead:

"Wait until you reach level forty."

Bei Bei clutched his forehead, puffing out his cheeks:

"Level forty? That's going to take forever!"

"Then practice hard." Mu Tianyi smiled, bent down to pick up his jacket, and draped it over his shoulders. "Your soul power is already at level fifteen. Being level fifteen at seven years old is already very impressive."

Bei Bei's eyes lit up: "Really? What level were you when you were seven, Brother Tianyi?"

Mu Tianyi thought for a moment: "About... level seventeen or eighteen, I suppose."

Bei Bei pouted, fell silent for two seconds, then clenched his small fists and said with a serious expression:

"Then I must reach level eighteen this year!"

Mu Tianyi couldn't help but chuckle, rubbing his head.

This little guy was certainly competitive.

But that was fine.

As long as one is alive, one must have a goal to pursue.

"Tianyi, Bei Bei, take a break."

A soft voice drifted over from the entrance of the clearing.

Mu Tianyi looked toward the sound, the corners of his mouth curving upward involuntarily.

Zhang Lexuan walked over from the shaded path, carrying a bamboo food box.

The young girl had completely shed the awkwardness of three years ago.

Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall to her waist, shimmering with a satin-like luster under the sunlight.

Her features were delicate and gentle, her brows and eyes carrying a touch of intellectual scholarly grace, yet those clear eyes reflected only the figure of Mu Tianyi at this moment.

She wore a pale green long dress, with a ribbon of the same color tied at her waist, accentuating her slender frame.

Her steps were light, and the hem of her dress swayed gently as she walked, like a breeze brushing across a lake in spring.

Upon reaching them, Zhang Lexuan spread a floral cloth under the parasol tree and began taking items out of the food box one by one.

A pot of warm osmanthus honey tea and several plates of exquisite snacks:

Red Bean Cake, Osmanthus Cake, lotus seed soup, and a small bowl of sliced fruit.

Bei Bei was the first to rush over, grabbing a piece of Red Bean Cake and stuffing it into his mouth. With his cheeks puffed out like a hamster, he mumbled, "Thank you, Sister Lexuan."

Zhang Lexuan smiled and shook her head, taking a handkerchief to wipe the crumbs from the corner of his mouth.

Mu Tianyi walked over, sat down beside her, and took the honey tea she handed him, taking a sip.

The warm tea slid down his throat, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus permeated his mouth.

"Did today's cultivation go smoothly?" Zhang Lexuan tilted her head to look at him.

"It was alright." Mu Tianyi leaned against the trunk of the parasol tree, gazing at the dappled light filtering through the leaves above. "The fusion of Reign Over the World and the Yin-Yang Divine Dragon Transformation can be considered officially mastered today."

A look of joy appeared in Zhang Lexuan's eyes as she said softly:

"Congratulations."

She paused, then added: "I knew you would be able to do it."

Her voice was very light, but her tone was as certain as if she were stating that the sun would rise in the east.

Mu Tianyi turned his head to look at her.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the phoenix tree leaves, landing on Zhang Lexuan's profile and dyeing her eyelashes gold.

She kept her head lowered as she poured honey tea for Bei Bei, a faint smile hanging at the corners of her lips, quiet and gentle.

Three years.

From their first meeting by the side of Sea God Lake when he was eight, to her moving into his small courtyard, and up to the present day.

In those three years, their relationship had progressed from initial strangers to acquaintances, from acquaintances to close companions, and from close companions to... an indescribable, unspoken rapport.

She prepared his three meals every day, and he would leave a lamp burning for her whenever she practiced late.

Whenever she was in a bad mood, he would clumsily tell her cold jokes he had heard in his past life.

Although most of them weren't funny, she would always crinkle her eyes and give him a smile that said, "It wasn't funny, but I'm very happy."

Mu En saw all of this, and more than once, he would mutter into the ear of Mu Tianyi:

"That girl Lexuan, Xuan Zu likes her just looking at her. Why don't we pick an auspicious day and hold the engagement banquet first?"

Mu Tianyi would brush him off every time with the excuse that they were "still young."

But in truth, he knew clearly in his heart that this was merely a way to stall for time.

Sister Lexuan was...

He didn't want to refuse, nor would he refuse.

He simply felt that the time wasn't right yet.

He would wait until he was stronger, until he could truly stand firm and provide everything she wanted.

It wouldn't be too late to bring it up then.

Zhang Lexuan seemed to sense his gaze; she looked up, met his eyes, and was slightly startled.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?"

Mu Tianyi shook his head and withdrew his gaze.

"Nothing." His voice was very soft, like the sound of a phoenix tree leaf falling to the ground. "I just wanted to look at you."

The tips of Zhang Lexuan's ears slowly turned a shade of pink.

The young girl lowered her head and said nothing more, simply pushing the plate of Osmanthus Cake in her hand toward Mu Tianyi.

Bei Bei sat between the two of them, his mouth stuffed full of Red Bean Cake, looking left and right, his dark, round eyes filled with confusion.

He didn't quite understand what these two were doing.

But he felt that when Brother Tianyi and Sister Lexuan sat together, there seemed to be a sweet scent in the air, even sweeter than the Red Bean Cake.