The two groups reached an agreement and continued on together.
Xiao Wu walked at the very back of the group, not saying a word.
She had only one thought in her mind.
She would grow stronger, then kill Ye Qiong.
After walking for a while, they spotted a Soul Beast.
A thousand-year-old Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!
The serpent was basking in the sun, its colorful scales glittering.
Chao Tianxiang's eyes lit up.
"That's the one. This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is perfect for Xiao Ao."
"Mm, a thousand years old. Good quality."
Zhao Wuji frowned.
"Senior, Zhuqing spotted this Soul Beast first."
Chao Tianxiang gave a cold laugh.
"You spotted it first? Did you build the Star Dou Great Forest?"
Seeing that the two sides were about to start arguing, Meng Shu raised a hand to stop them.
"All right, no arguing. How about this? We'll have a match, and the serpent goes to whoever wins."
Zhao Wuji thought it over.
"What kind of match?"
Meng Shu looked at his granddaughter, then at the young people from Shrek.
"Let the younger generation compete, one-on-one. The winner gets the Soul Ring."
"Fine."
When Zhao Wuji nodded, the Serpent Granny turned to Meng Yiran.
"Yiran, you're up."
Meng Yiran stepped forward and summoned her Martial Soul, the Serpent Cane.
Zhao Wuji turned to the Shrek students.
"Who's going?"
Tang San stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
Seeing this, Xiao Wu immediately grabbed his arm.
"Brother, your injuries..."
Tang San shook his head.
"They're nothing."
As he spoke, he walked to the middle of the clearing and faced Meng Yiran.
Meng Yiran sized Tang San up, a faintly mocking smile playing at her lips.
"You're Tang San, the one who got pushed around by Amphoreus Academy?"
Tang San didn't answer.
Meng Shu raised a hand.
"Get ready."
They both released their Martial Souls.
Two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath Tang San's feet.
Meng Yiran also had two rings, both yellow.
Meng Shu waved his hand.
"Begin!"
Amphoreus Academy.
Ye Qiong led everyone through the portal and back to the academy.
Wang Sheng plopped down on a stone bench in the garden and let out a long breath.
"Finally, we're back. Nothing beats being at the academy."
Everyone looked around at the familiar surroundings, their faces relaxing into smiles.
Tribbie clapped her hands.
"All right, everyone's tired. Go back and get some rest."
The group dispersed, each returning to their dormitory.
Ye Qiong went back to his office and opened the system inventory.
A special card lay inside.
He took a deep breath and clicked to claim it.
The next second, golden light flashed.
The system displayed the card's information:
[Level 1 Herb Garden Card: Opens up a herb garden within the academy where all kinds of rare herbs and treasures can be planted. They will grow three times faster, and there is a chance of harvesting double the materials.]
After reading the description, Ye Qiong's eyes immediately lit up.
The system had really brought him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.
With this herb garden, he could cultivate rare herbs and treasures that would improve people's natural aptitude.
Bai Chenxiang, Jiang Zhu, Wang Sheng, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan—their talents varied widely.
Wang Sheng was the weakest. At fourteen, he was only level twenty-one. Without improving his aptitude, his future achievements would be limited.
Now that he had the herb garden, he could solve that problem.
The more Ye Qiong thought about it, the more excited he became.
He was already wondering where he could get some good seeds.
But before that, there was something even more important.
Card pulls!
Ye Qiong first bathed and changed into fresh clothes. Then he hung up the Statue of Fuli Lian, lit three sticks of incense, and bowed.
After what happened last time, he had become a firm believer in the mystic arts of card pulls.
"Bless me, Cyrene. Bless me, Cyrene."
When he was done, he placed the incense in the burner and opened the warp screen.
He had five thousand Stellar Jades now, enough for fifty pulls!
Last time, he'd pulled Tribbie and Phainon. Who would it be this time?
Ye Qiong took a deep breath and started a ten-pull.
The Astral Express rolled in. Pom-Pom appeared, and the doors opened.
Purple light.
Skip.
Another ten-pull.
Purple light.
Again.
Still purple light.
Ye Qiong frowned.
His fourth ten-pull.
"Holy crap! Gold!"
Ye Qiong's pupils contracted. He immediately opened the results to check.
But when he saw the card, he froze.
It was her?!
Early the next morning, at the academy plaza.
The stone-paved grounds, usually bare, now had a long red carpet laid across them.
Two rows of metal stands lined either side of the carpet, each holding several ornate cannons.
Bai E and the others had just arrived, and they all stopped in surprise.
"What's going on? Is someone coming today?"
In response to Wang Sheng's question, Phainon shook his head.
Jiang Zhu came up from behind and looked at the scene, just as puzzled.
"Teacher didn't mention any event today."
Huang Yuan scratched the back of his head.
"Are we going to war or something?"
Jing Ling glanced at him and waved a hand.
"This kind of setup... looks like they're welcoming some big shot."
Wang Sheng hurried over when he heard that.
"Hey, maybe some noble from the country is coming to tour our academy."
Phainon looked at him.
"How do you know?"
Wang Sheng scratched his head and grinned.
"Just a guess. Look, there's a red carpet and cannons. What ordinary person would get a welcome like this?"
Phainon looked over the decorations and nodded in agreement.
Wang Sheng had a point. There was no way they'd put on this display for an ordinary person.
He just had no idea who could make the dean arrange such a reception.
Just then, Ye Qiong approached in a crisp white suit.
He stood on the steps and clapped his hands.
Everyone immediately fell quiet and looked at him.
Once the group had settled down, Ye Qiong announced:
"I have something to tell you."
"Today, our academy will be welcoming a very important new student. She has a special background, so I hope you'll all put your best foot forward and give her a warm welcome."
Wang Sheng couldn't help asking:
"Teacher, who is this student? This is a pretty big show!"
Ye Qiong didn't answer. Instead, he pointed toward the main gate.
"Come on. Follow me to the entrance to welcome her. She's already here."
Everyone exchanged glances.
Already?
They followed Ye Qiong to the academy gate.
Once outside, Ye Qiong gestured for them to form two lines.
They had barely taken their places when they heard the rumble of wheels in the distance.
Phainon looked toward the sound and saw a carriage drawn by Soul Beasts approaching.
The carriage looked incredibly lavish. Its entire body was a rich blue, inlaid with golden patterns.
A string of bells hung from each of its four corners, chiming sweetly as it rolled along.
Two squads of guards in iron armor marched alongside it, holding long spears and keeping perfectly in step.
Passersby made way at the sight, but their eyes remained fixed on the carriage.
Wang Sheng's eyes widened like copper bells.
"Good heavens... what a spectacle..."
Bai Chenxiang glanced over and spoke quietly.
"The crest on the carriage looks like it belongs to the royal family of the Balak Kingdom."
At that, Phainon's heart stirred.
The Balak Kingdom?
Wasn't that the kingdom where Soto City was located?
The person their teacher was welcoming was from the Balak royal family?
The carriage came to a slow stop in front of the academy gate.
The guards immediately lined up on either side, clearing a straight path.
Everyone fell silent, holding their breath as they stared at the carriage curtains.
The next second, a hand pulled the curtain aside.
Then a red-haired woman stepped out.
Everyone from Amphoreus Academy froze when they saw her.
"Teacher Tribbie?!"