The Story Was Nothing Like It Was Supposed to Be

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

Chen Doudou chuckled, the sly curve of his lips looking very much like he was deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.

Ma Xiaotao, who was straightforward by nature, hated people who spoke in riddles. She couldn't help rolling her eyes. "What an annoying little brat."

Truthfully, she felt a little disappointed.

Shrek Academy wasn't somewhere just anyone could attend. Even among the Inner Court's geniuses, not every single one had Innate Full Soul Power.

But this kid, who was clearly homeless, acted as though he had everything figured out, as if her kindness were completely unnecessary.

Chen Doudou said nothing more. He just lowered his head and continued chewing on his flatbread, while quietly mulling things over:

I wonder who Dad assigned to protect me, and when they'll show up... They should be here soon, right?

The day before he awakened his Martial Soul, his father, the Asura God, had told him that his protector would keep him safe.

But half a day had already passed, and there wasn't even a shadow of them.

Could they have... gotten lost?

At the thought, he couldn't help glancing up at the dark forest around them.

Night had fallen deep. The bonfire's light reached only a dozen or so meters; beyond that lay endless darkness and the faint, distant howls of beasts.

Tsk, this was kind of creepy.

"Doudou."

Ma Xiaotao still wasn't ready to give up. She tried a different way to persuade him. "Cultivation isn't something you can accomplish overnight. I admit your talent is incredibly strong—stronger, even, than everyone else here."

"But without sufficient resources, your cultivation speed might not even match that of some Soul Masters with innate Soul Power of level eight or nine."

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

Chen Doudou's refusal was as crisp and decisive as before.

Seeing this, everyone felt a little helpless.

Who could have imagined that the mighty Shrek Academy, hailed as the best in the world, would invite someone and get rejected again and again?

"Xiaotao, don't pressure Doudou."

Zhang Lexuan's cool voice carried a certain weight. "Everyone has the right to choose their own path."

"But..."

Ma Xiaotao was about to say something more.

Suddenly, a hearty voice came from above. "All right, Xiaotao. Since the kid doesn't want to join, leave him be."

At some point, an unkempt old man with a head of white hair had appeared on a nearby branch, gnawing on a chicken leg.

"Elder Xuan."

Everyone stood and greeted him respectfully.

Elder Xuan waved a hand, signaling that they needn't bother with formalities. "All right, it's late. No need to be so fussy. Go get some rest."

Then his bleary, half-drunk gaze fell on Chen Doudou before turning away indifferently.

Even Elder Xuan, who had seen plenty, had to admit the kid's Martial Soul was top-tier.

In fact, the life attribute it possessed was so potent that nothing like it had ever appeared anywhere on the Douluo Continent.

But at the end of the day, it was still only a healing-type Martial Soul, not the kind of powerful Martial Soul—like those of the Power Attack System, Agility Attack System, or Control System—that could directly decide the outcome of a battle.

Shrek's resources were limited. Spending such a great price to cultivate a healing-type Soul Master was a losing bargain.

It wasn't an Ultimate Martial Soul that could guarantee the wielder would reach level 99.

Besides, turning someone down once could be called careful consideration; turning them down twice would be a slap in the face.

So he couldn't be bothered to try recruiting him again.

"All right."

Elder Xuan had spoken, and no matter how reluctant Ma Xiaotao was, she could only let it go.

Still, even though Chen Doudou had chosen not to join Shrek Academy, the people around him looked at him with goodwill. A few students came over with smiles, hoping to strike up a conversation, build a rapport, and befriend Chen Doudou in advance.

No one who made it into Shrek's Inner Court was a fool.

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

Put it this way: level-nine innate Soul Power could make someone a Titled Douluo, but Innate Full Soul Power meant they were bound to become one.

The difference was only two levels, but it was enormous.

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

And Chen Doudou's Martial Soul was a top-tier life attribute, too. His potential was limitless.

Making friends early and planting a good seed could only bring benefits, never harm.

Late that night.

Something that left Chen Doudou rather helpless happened.

Since he'd joined them at the last minute, no one had brought an extra sleeping bag.

The temperature in the Star Dou Forest at night was nearly fifteen degrees below freezing. If he slept outside for the whole night, wouldn't he be frozen into a popsicle?

Soul Masters had physiques beyond those of ordinary people.

As the son of a god, Chen Doudou's physical abilities far surpassed those of his peers. This temperature wouldn't kill him, but he didn't want to suffer for nothing, either.

Ma Xiaotao held her sleeping bag and was just about to invite him when she remembered how decisively he'd refused her earlier. A mischievous thought suddenly came to her:

Heh heh, I'll wait until he's so cold he can't take it anymore and comes begging me. Then I'll let him sleep with me. Maybe he'll be so touched that he'll agree to join Shrek.

However.

Her wishful thinking was doomed to fail.

Because, on the other side,

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

"All right." Of course, Chen Doudou chose to follow his instincts and accept.

Ma Xiaotao, who'd been beaten to it, stood frozen, blinking in disbelief.

Wait, w-w-w-wait... this wasn't right.

The story wasn't supposed to go like this!!!

The plot was supposed to have Chen Doudou shivering from the cold, then blushing as he came to act cute and beg her, calling her "Big Sis Xiaotao" over and over. Then she'd pretend to be very troubled, sigh, and reluctantly agree.

How had Senior Sister stolen the show just like that?

This wasn't how the story was supposed to go!

No, she wouldn't accept it!

After climbing into the sleeping bag, Chen Doudou breathed in the rich, sweet fragrance that filled his nose and felt the warmth and softness surrounding him. At first, it was quite pleasant.

After all, who wouldn't want to sleep in the arms of a fragrant, soft, cool yet gentle big sister?

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

The sleeping bag was cramped to begin with, and with two people inside, the air barely circulated.

Chen Doudou's face was practically pressed against Zhang Lexuan's waist, his head wedged against two towering World Cups. The pressure was immense—he was practically drowning in her fragrance.

Unable to fall asleep, he asked the question he'd been wondering about. "Pretty big sister, why has everyone gotten into their sleeping bags? Isn't anyone keeping watch?"

"Doudou," Zhang Lexuan said softly, "Elder Xuan is responsible for keeping watch. We just need to sleep well and get ourselves ready for tomorrow."

Wait, Elder Xuan was keeping watch?

Oh no!

Could they be about to run into that infamous scene?

Chen Doudou's heart gave a sudden lurch.

Zhang Lexuan + Elder Xuan leading the Soul Hunting.

As soon as those key phrases came together, he immediately thought of the disastrous Soul Hunting Operation in the original story.

Elder Xuan shirked his duties, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast ambushed them, the group suffered heavy casualties, and Zhang Lexuan was left with a lasting psychological scar...

Noticing that Chen Doudou seemed to have stiffened in her arms, Zhang Lexuan asked with concern, "Doudou, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing. I'm just a little hot."

Chen Doudou brushed it off casually.

"Then get some sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow."

"Mm."

That was what he said, but he couldn't calm down no matter what.

With Elder Xuan—the man known as the "genius killer"—keeping watch, who could sleep soundly?

All he could do was silently pray: Dad, whoever you sent to protect me, you'd better get here tonight.

Fortunately, the night passed without incident.

The next morning, the dawn mist had yet to lift.

After breakfast, everyone prepared to set out again.

Before they left, Ma Xiaotao suddenly thought of something and spoke up. "Senior Sister, shouldn't we help Doudou get a Soul Ring while we're at it?"

They were in the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, where there happened to be Soul Beasts suitable for a One-Ring Soul Master.

"No problem."

"But we'll have to check Doudou's physical strength first before we can judge how many years old a Soul Ring he can absorb."

Zhang Lexuan agreed readily, placing her slender jade fingers directly on Chen Doudou's shoulder.

She pressed her fingertips lightly, but the moment she felt his bones, her expression changed completely. "Strange!"

"How can Doudou's body be so..."