The Promised Plot Isn't Like This At All

"Heh, you don't need to worry about that."

Chen Doudou chuckled softly, the cunning curve of his lips looking for all the world like he was deliberately keeping people in suspense.

Ma Xiaotao, who had a straightforward personality, hated such riddles and couldn't help but roll her eyes: "What an annoying little brat."

In truth, she felt a bit disappointed.

Shrek Academy wasn't a place just anyone could enter; even among the geniuses of the Inner Court, not everyone possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

Yet this kid was something else—clearly homeless, he acted as if he had everything under control, making her good intentions feel entirely superfluous.

Chen Doudou didn't offer any further explanation, simply lowering his head to continue gnawing on his flatbread while secretly pondering:

I wonder who the guardian my dad arranged for me is, and when they'll show up... It should be soon, right?

The day before he awakened his Martial Soul, his father, the Asura God, had said a guardian would protect him at all times.

But half a day had passed, and he hadn't even seen a shadow.

Could it be... that they got lost?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look up and scan the surrounding Star Dou Great Forest.

The night was deep, and the light from the campfire could only illuminate a dozen meters around them; beyond that lay endless darkness and the faint, distant roars of beasts.

Tsk, it was more than a little creepy.

"Doudou."

Ma Xiaotao still wasn't ready to give up, trying a different approach to persuade him: "Cultivation isn't a matter of a single day. I admit your talent is indeed strong, perhaps even stronger than everyone here."

"But without sufficient resources, your cultivation speed might not even match that of some soul masters with innate level eight or nine power."

"You're right, but I'm still not going."

Chen Doudou remained firm and concise in his refusal.

Seeing this, the group felt quite helpless.

After all, who would have thought that the prestigious Shrek Academy, the number one institution in the world, would be rejected twice in a row after personally extending an invitation?

"Xiaotao, don't pressure Doudou."

Zhang Lexuan's cold, clear voice carried a sense of weight: "Everyone has the right to choose their own path."

"But..."

Ma Xiaotao still wanted to say something.

Suddenly, a resonant voice echoed from above: "Alright, Xiaotao, since the kid doesn't want to join, leave him be."

Before they knew it, a disheveled old man with a head of white hair had appeared on a nearby tree branch, clutching a chicken leg as he ate.

"Xuan Zi."

Seeing him, everyone stood up and bowed respectfully.

Xuan Zi waved his hand, signaling them not to stand on ceremony: "Enough, it's late, don't be so formal. Everyone go get some rest."

Following that, his half-drunk gaze fell on Chen Doudou before drifting away with indifference.

Even the well-informed Xuan Zi had to admit that the kid's Martial Soul was truly top-tier.

One could even say that such a dense, top-tier life attribute had never appeared before in the entire Douluo Continent.

But at the end of the day, it was just a healing-type Martial Soul, not a power-attack, agility-attack, or control-type that could directly decide the outcome of a battle.

Shrek's resources were limited; spending such a high price to cultivate a healing-type soul master was simply a losing business.

It wasn't an Ultimate Martial Soul that could guarantee a 100% chance of reaching level 99.

Moreover, being rejected once was a matter of consideration, but being rejected twice was a slap in the face.

Therefore, he couldn't be bothered to try and recruit him again.

"Fine."

Since Xuan Zi had spoken, no matter how unwilling Ma Xiaotao was, she had no choice but to give up.

However, even though Chen Doudou hadn't chosen to join Shrek Academy, the gazes around him remained friendly. Several students walked over with smiles, hoping to strike up a conversation and build a relationship with him in advance.

No one who could enter the Shrek Inner Court was a fool.

After all, everyone knew better than anyone what Innate Full Soul Power meant.

To put it simply, a soul master with level nine innate power could become a Titled Douluo, but one with Innate Full Soul Power was destined to become one.

A difference of just two levels, yet the gap between them was massive.

Throughout history, which genius with Innate Full Soul Power hadn't left their mark on the world?

Not to mention that Chen Doudou's Martial Soul possessed a top-tier life attribute; his future potential was limitless.

Building a good relationship now could only bring benefits, never harm.

Late at night.

Something that left Chen Doudou feeling rather helpless had occurred.

Because he had joined on such short notice, no one had prepared an extra sleeping bag for him.

In the depths of the Star Dou Forest at night, the temperature hovered near negative ten degrees Celsius. If he were to sleep outside for the night, wouldn't he freeze into a popsicle?

Although the physique of a Soul Master was superior to that of an ordinary person.

As the son of a deity, Chen Doudou's physical constitution far exceeded that of his peers; this temperature wouldn't kill him, but he didn't want to suffer for no reason either.

Ma Xiaotao clutched her sleeping bag, just about to speak up and offer an invitation, but then she recalled how this kid had decisively rejected her earlier, and a bit of mischievous spite suddenly welled up in her heart:

"Heh heh, once you're shivering from the cold and come begging me, I'll let you sleep with me then. Maybe you'll be so moved that you'll agree to join Shrek."

However.

Her well-laid plans were destined to fall through.

Because on the other side.

Zhang Lexuan had already laid out her sleeping bag and beckoned to Chen Doudou: "Doudou, since you're the new arrival and no one prepared a sleeping bag for you, you can sleep with me tonight."

"Alright." Chen Doudou naturally chose to accept with his heart.

Ma Xiaotao, having been beaten to the punch, stood frozen in place, blinking her eyes in disbelief.

Wait, this, this, this... this shouldn't be happening.

The plot shouldn't be developing like this!!!

Clearly, the script should have been Chen Doudou shivering from the cold, then blushing as he acted cute and begged her, calling her "Sister Xiaotao" with every breath, while she pretended to sigh in a difficult position and reluctantly agreed?

How did he get intercepted by the Senior Sister directly?

The promised plot was not like this at all!

No, she wouldn't accept it!

After crawling into the sleeping bag, Chen Doudou felt the rich, faint fragrance wafting into his nose and the warmth and softness surrounding him; at first, it was quite pleasant.

After all, who wouldn't want to sleep while holding a fragrant, soft, aloof, and gentle big sister?

However, after a while, he began to regret it a little.

Because the space in the sleeping bag was already small, and with two people inside, the air didn't circulate well.

Chen Doudou's face was pressed almost entirely against Zhang Lexuan's waist, with his head resting against two towering "World Cups"—the pressure was immense, and the fragrance was intoxicating.

Since he really couldn't fall asleep, he asked about the curiosity in his heart: "Beautiful sister, why has everyone gone into their sleeping bags? Isn't anyone keeping watch?"

Zhang Lexuan whispered: "Doudou, keeping watch is Xuan Zi's job. We just need to get a good night's sleep and adjust our state."

Wait, Xuan Zi is keeping watch?

Oh no!

Could it be that he had encountered a famous scene?

Chen Doudou's heart skipped a beat.

Zhang Lexuan + Xuan Zi leading a soul-hunting mission.

When these key phrases were combined, he instantly associated them with that tragic soul-hunting operation from the original work.

Xuan Zi neglecting his duty, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast launching a surprise attack, the team suffering heavy casualties, and Zhang Lexuan being left with psychological trauma...

Noticing that Chen Doudou's body in her arms seemed a bit stiff, Zhang Lexuan asked with concern: "Doudou, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing, just a bit hot."

Chen Doudou brushed it off casually.

"Then go to sleep early; we have to get up early tomorrow."

"Mm."

He agreed with his mouth, but his heart couldn't settle down at all.

After all, this was the watch kept by Xuan Zi, known as the "Genius Killer"—who would dare to fall into a deep sleep?

He could only pray silently in his heart that the guardian sent by his father would arrive tonight.

Fortunately, the night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, the morning mist had yet to disperse.

After everyone finished breakfast, they prepared to set off again.

Before leaving, Ma Xiaotao suddenly remembered something and said: "Senior Sister, shouldn't we help Doudou obtain a soul ring while we're at it?"

They were in the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest, where there were just the right soul beasts for a first-ring Soul Master.

"No problem."

"However, I must first assess Chen Doudou's physical constitution to determine the age of the spirit ring he is capable of absorbing."

Zhang Lexuan readily agreed, her slender, jade-like fingers resting directly upon Chen Doudou's shoulder.

She applied a slight pressure with her fingertips, but the moment she pinched his bones, her expression shifted dramatically: "Strange!"

"How is Chen Doudou's body so..."

Her voice cut off abruptly, as if something had lodged itself in her throat.