Shrek Academy's Visit

Luo Chen returned to Tiandou City. He could now enter and exit the Heaven Dou Royal Academy freely, not only because he was Meng Shenji's disciple, but also because he had been hired as a guest lecturer in his capacity as a student.

That afternoon, as he emerged from the Education Committee, he held a cultivation resource application form that Meng Shenji had just approved. With his strength as a five-ring Spirit King, the number of heads he turned while walking through campus far exceeded that of the noble students.

Before he even reached the school gate, he saw the three committee members—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhilin—standing together on the steps in front of the main building. Meng Shenji wore his finest black formal attire, Bai Baoshan had uncharacteristically changed into a clean robe, and Zhilin had even gone against his usual habits to tidy up his messy hair.

Luo Chen walked over. "Teachers, why are you three out here? Has something happened?"

Meng Shenji replied, "Teacher Qin Ming recommended a group from something called Shrek Academy. It's said they have a few good seedlings, so we've come to take a look."

Shrek Academy, huh? So it had reached this point in time already; Luo Chen had almost forgotten.

The plot of the original story was actually intersecting with his own life trajectory at this very moment!

Below the plaza, Qin Ming led a group toward them. At the head was a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes sharp and shrewd. Following behind him was Yu Xiaogang, whom Luo Chen had met before. The remaining few must have been Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, Shao Xin, and Lu Qibin, while the younger ones were naturally the Shrek Seven Devils.

Luo Chen's gaze swept over them. The first to catch his eye was the blond youth walking at the front. At fourteen or fifteen years old, he was already a head taller than his peers. His wicked, long golden hair draped over his shoulders, and his purple-gold eyes held an innate arrogance. Dai Mubai.

Half a step behind him followed a youth in blue. His appearance was ordinary, but his black eyes were as calm as stagnant water. He didn't look around like Dai Mubai; he simply watched the steps ahead, his pace steady and unhurried.

Tang San.

The corners of Luo Chen's mouth twitched slightly. More than two years ago, he had seen this youth on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. Back then, Tang San was only twelve, hadn't yet obtained his second spirit ring, and had had one of his hidden weapons crushed by Luo Chen with a casual flick.

There was also a handsome but slightly lecherous-looking youth, Oscar, and the fat boy with the red mohawk, Ma Hongjun.

The remaining few were girls: Xiao Wu with her pink clothes and rabbit ears, Ning Rongrong in white with long black hair, and Zhu Zhuqing, who had a proud figure in black leather.

The group entered the Education Committee's reception hall and took their seats. Luo Chen did not sit at the end of the table; instead, he stood behind Meng Shenji like a spear. He noticed that the moment Tang San saw him, his pupils contracted sharply, and his fingers pressed against his waist involuntarily. But soon, Tang San regained his composure, though he glanced at him from time to time.

Flender got straight to the point, saying that Shrek Academy was struggling and he wanted to bring his students to merge into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Meng Shenji didn't commit immediately, and the Shrek teachers proceeded to report their spirits and ranks, almost all of which qualified them to be Heaven Dou-level instructors.

Zhilin then stood up and asked, "I hear your academy has a genius Control-type Spirit Master. I wonder which one it is?"

Yu Xiaogang stood up and said, "San, go and pay your respects to the seniors."

Tang San stood up, bowed to the three committee members, and said, "Greetings, seniors. This junior is Tang San."

According to the original plot, Zhilin should have exerted pressure to test Tang San, but Meng Shenji had a plan of his own.

Meng Shenji stood up, interrupting Zhilin, and said, "Our Heaven Dou Royal Academy also has a genius Control-type Spirit Master. I think it would be good for the young ones to exchange pointers. Little Chen!"

Luo Chen was startled when his teacher called his name, then looked helplessly at Meng Shenji's triumphant expression.

He took a step forward.

Lowering his gaze, he said calmly, "Luo Chen."

Yu Xiaogang looked at the young man before him, unable to help but recall the scene in the Star Dou Great Forest two years prior, his mouth hanging open involuntarily.

Another was Xiao Wu, who felt a bit guilty, thinking: Didn't this guy fall into Da Ming's lake? How is he still alive? Will he recognize that I'm a spirit beast?

Tang San's fists were already clenched, his eyes filled with burning fighting spirit as he looked at Luo Chen. Two years had passed; he wondered if this guy had also improved. He himself was now a Spirit Grandmaster, and with his hidden weapons, he could even injure a Spirit Saint like Zhao Wuji if he went all out.

Luo Chen looked at Tang San with amusement. "Long time no see. You're already a Spirit Grandmaster? Not bad, not bad."

Luo Chen offered praise, but Tang San did not take it as a sincere compliment.

At this moment, Dai Mubai stood up and said, "I've heard that the students of Heaven Dou Royal are all useless sacks of wine and rice. I wonder how much weight this brother carries?"

He was furious because he had been harassed by Xue Beng and his ilk earlier; after all, as a prince of a kingdom, being spoken to like that was a blow to his pride.

The room fell into shock at these words. The three committee members looked displeased, Qin Ming looked awkward, and while the Shrek teachers appeared slightly embarrassed, they secretly agreed, as they prided themselves on only recruiting monsters.

Tang San felt a surge of confidence. The reason this person had been able to crush his hidden weapons two years ago was because he hadn't had high-quality materials back then. Now, he had partnered with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and spent two years in dedicated cultivation; he was certain he could surpass this youth.

He spoke first: "Tang San, thirty-third-rank Control-type Battle Spirit Grandmaster, spirit: Blue Silver Grass! Please enlighten me."

"Not bad. Thirteen levels in two years. Luo Chen, fifty-fourth-rank Control-type Spirit King, spirit: Gulu Ball."

As he finished speaking, Luo Chen released his five spirit rings: yellow, purple, purple, black, and black.

What kind of spirit ring configuration was this!

Never mind the people from Shrek; even Bai Baoshan and Zhilin had never seen such a thing!

Tang San was shocked, Dai Mubai was rendered speechless, and even Yu Xiaogang, who prided himself as a master of spirit theory, was stunned. Eh? Why is this different from the theories he proposed regarding the maximum age limits of spirit rings?

Luo Chen glanced at Tang San and retracted his spirit rings.

"Are you sure you want to fight?"

Tang San nodded. Luo Chen said nothing more, walked to the center of the reception hall, and stood face-to-face with Tang San.

"You go first."

Tang San took a deep breath. Blue Silver Grass erupted from the floor, and his first spirit skill, Bind, was activated. The moment the vines coiled around Luo Chen's calves, a silver-white light flashed, and the Blue Silver Grass began to wither and snap from the roots, as if drained of all moisture by time itself.

Tang San's expression changed.

Luo Chen looked down at the withered, yellowed vine fragments at his feet and looked up. "Still want to fight?"

This was time acceleration. Through long periods of practice, Luo Chen had mastered it to the point where he could release it without the Time Indicator, turning it into his own self-created spirit skill.