The two groups reached an agreement and continued onward together.
Xiao Wu walked at the very back of the group, not saying a word.
There was 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 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, and not bad quality."
Zhao Wuji, however, frowned.
"Senior, Zhuqing was the first to discover this Soul Beast."
Chao Tianxiang gave a cold laugh.
"You found it first? Did your family build this Star Dou Great Forest?"
Seeing that the two sides were about to quarrel, Meng Shu raised a hand to stop them.
"Enough. Let's settle this with a match. Whoever wins gets the serpent."
Zhao Wuji thought it over.
"How do we compete?"
Meng Shu glanced 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 looked at Meng Yiran.
"Yiran, you go."
Meng Yiran stepped forward and summoned her Martial Soul, the Serpent Cane.
Zhao Wuji turned back to the Shrek students.
"Who's up?"
Tang San stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
Seeing this, Xiao Wu immediately grabbed his arm.
"Brother, your injury..."
Tang San shook his head.
"It's nothing."
As he spoke, he walked to the middle of the clearing and looked at Meng Yiran.
Meng Yiran sized Tang San up, a faint, mocking smile tugging at her lips.
"So you're Tang San, the one who got bullied by Omphalos Academy?"
Tang San didn't answer.
Meng Shu raised his hand.
"Ready."
The two summoned their Martial Souls at the same time.
Two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath Tang San's feet.
Meng Yiran also had two Soul Rings, both yellow.
Meng Shu swept his hand down.
"Begin!"
Omphalos Academy.
Ye Qiong led everyone through the teleportation gate and back to the Academy.
Wang Sheng plopped down on a stone bench in the garden and let out a long sigh.
"We're finally back. The Academy's still the most comfortable place."
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 others dispersed, each returning to their dormitory.
Ye Qiong went back to his office and opened the system inventory.
A special card lay in his backpack.
He took a deep breath and clicked to claim it.
The next moment, golden light flashed.
The system displayed the card's information:
[Level 1 Herb Garden Card: Opens up a plot of land within the Academy for growing all kinds of rare herbs and treasures. They will grow three times as fast, and there is a chance of obtaining double materials when harvesting.]
After reading the description, Ye Qiong's eyes lit up.
The system had really brought him a pillow just as he'd started to doze off.
With this herb garden, he could grow rare herbs and treasures that improved people's aptitude.
Bai Chenxiang, Jiang Zhu, Wang Sheng, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan—the five of them all had varying levels of talent.
Wang Sheng was the worst. At fourteen, he was only at level twenty-one. If his aptitude didn't improve, 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.
Warping!
Ye Qiong first went to bathe and change, then hung up the Statue of Fuli Lian and lit three incense sticks, bowing before it.
Ever since last time, he'd become a firm believer in the mysticism of Warp pulls.
"Cyrene, bless me. Cyrene, bless me."
Once he was done, he placed the incense in the burner and opened the Warp screen.
He had five thousand Star Jade now, enough for fifty pulls!
Last time, he'd gotten Tribbie and Phainon. Who would it be this time?
Ye Qiong took a deep breath and tapped the ten-pull button.
The train rolled in, Pom-Pom appeared, and the doors opened.
Purple light.
Skip.
He did another ten-pull.
Purple light.
Again.
Still purple light.
Ye Qiong frowned.
The fourth ten-pull.
Holy crap! Gold light!
Ye Qiong's pupils contracted, and he immediately opened the card to inspect it.
But when he saw who was on it, he froze.
It was her?!
Early the next morning, in the Academy courtyard.
The usually empty stone-paved grounds now had a long red carpet laid across them.
Two rows of metal stands lined either side of the carpet, each holding an ornate ceremonial cannon.
Phainon and the others had only just arrived, and they all stopped in surprise.
"What's going on? Who's coming today?"
At Wang Sheng's question, Phainon shook his head.
Jiang Zhu came forward from the back and looked at the scene, baffled as well.
"Teacher didn't mention any event today."
Huang Yuan scratched the back of his head.
"Are we getting ready for a war or something?"
Jing Ling looked at him and waved his hand.
"With a setup like this... they must be welcoming some big shot."
Wang Sheng heard him and went over.
"Hey, it's probably some noble from the kingdom coming to visit our Academy."
Phainon glanced at him.
"How do you know?"
Wang Sheng scratched his head and grinned.
"I'm just guessing. Look at the red carpet and the ceremonial cannons. No ordinary person would get this kind of welcome."
Hearing that, Phainon scanned the decorations and nodded in agreement.
Wang Sheng had a point. They wouldn't go to this trouble for just anyone.
But who could make the Dean arrange such a grand welcome?
Just then, Ye Qiong approached in a neat white suit.
He stood on the steps and clapped his hands.
Everyone immediately quieted down and looked at him.
Once he had their attention, Ye Qiong made an announcement.
"I have something to tell you."
"Our Academy will be welcoming a very important new student today. She has a special status, so I hope you'll all put on your best and give her a warm welcome."
Wang Sheng couldn't help asking.
"Teacher, who exactly is this student? Isn't this a bit over the top?"
Ye Qiong didn't answer. Instead, he pointed toward the gate.
"Come on. Follow me to the entrance to welcome her. She's already here."
Everyone exchanged baffled looks.
Already?
They followed Ye Qiong to the Academy gate.
As they stepped outside, Ye Qiong motioned 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 pulled by Soul Beasts approaching.
It looked incomparably luxurious, its entire body a deep blue, decorated with gold patterns.
A string of bells hung from each of its four corners, ringing clearly as the carriage rolled along.
Two squads of armored guards flanked it, holding long spears and marching in perfect unison.
Passersby quickly moved aside at the sight of the procession, but their eyes stayed 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 the royal family's emblem from the Balak Kingdom."
Phainon's heart stirred.
The Balak Kingdom?
Wasn't that the kingdom where their current home, Soto City, was located?
Was Teacher welcoming someone from the Balak royal family?
The carriage slowed to a stop in front of the Academy gates.
The guards immediately lined up on either side, clearing a straight path.
Everyone fell silent and held their breath, staring at the carriage curtains.
The next moment, a hand lifted the curtain.
Then a red-haired woman stepped out.
Everyone from Omphalos Academy froze when they saw her.
"Teacher Tribbie?!"
Before you continue