Undercurrents

Shrek Academy, rear mountain.

As the days passed, Yi Chen's teaching began to hit its stride. Under his guidance, his three disciples saw their proficiency with the Golden Spatula advance by leaps and bounds, while their soul power cultivation also steadily improved.

Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was being utilized with increasing finesse, Xiao Wu's combat instincts had grown sharper, and Zhu Zhuqing's speed and explosive power had reached new heights.

However, beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were already beginning to surge.

Boys' dormitory, late at night.

Tang San lay on his bed, eyes tightly shut. He appeared to be asleep, but his consciousness was exceptionally clear. For the past few days, he had been secretly observing every move Yi Chen made.

That man's daily routine was astonishingly regular: rising at dawn to meditate on the rear mountain, then teaching the three girls the Golden Spatula, resting in the afternoon, continuing training at dusk, and leaving when the sun set. It seemed flawless, yet Tang San always felt something was off.

He turned over, the changes in Xiao Wu over these past few days surfacing in his mind.

She had become more cheerful, more confident, and her soul power had increased significantly.

This should have been a good thing, but whenever he saw her circling around Yi Chen, sweetly calling him "Master," a nameless, indescribable emotion surged in Tang San's heart.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record stated: "Only by calming the heart and restraining the temper can one achieve great things." He could not act rashly yet. Yi Chen's strength was unfathomable; a head-on conflict would be no different from seeking his own death. He needed more information and more preparation.

Tang San opened his eyes and fished a slip of paper from under his pillow. He had received it that afternoon from an unexpected source.

There was no signature on the note, only a single line: "If you want to know Yi Chen's origins, meet at the Old Locust Tree Teahouse in Soto City at noon tomorrow."

He stared at the words for a long time, then crumpled the paper and gripped it in his palm. With a surge of internal energy, the note disintegrated into fine powder, drifting away through his fingers.

Regardless of who had sent the note, one thing was clear: he was not the only one who had taken notice of Yi Chen.

The next day at noon, Soto City.

Tang San wore a bamboo hat, pulling the brim low as he navigated the bustling streets and stepped into the Old Locust Tree Teahouse. The teahouse was clamorous, and a storyteller on the stage was spitting enthusiastically while recounting the legendary tale of a certain Titled Douluo.

He found a seat in the corner, ordered a pot of the cheapest coarse tea, and scanned his surroundings with a calm, unreadable gaze.

Before long, a figure sat down across from him.

The person wore a gray cloak with the hood pulled low, obscuring their face. But judging by their build and aura, it appeared to be a middle-aged man.

"Tang San, is it?" The man got straight to the point, his voice hoarse and low. "I know you've been investigating Yi Chen."

Tang San neither denied nor confirmed it; he simply lifted his teacup and asked coolly, "Who are you?"

"Who I am is unimportant," the man shook his head. "What matters is that I have the information you want."

Tang San set down his cup and looked the man straight in the eye. "Let's hear it."

The man was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "Yi Chen's origins are unknown. About two months ago, he suddenly appeared on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest. Upon his first appearance, he displayed strength at least at the level of a Titled Douluo. Afterward, he went to Spirit Hall, reached a cooperation with Pope Bibi Dong, and was hired as an honorary elder of Spirit Hall. Then, he went to the Sunset Forest and subdued the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo. Following that, he came to Shrek Academy and took your three classmates as his disciples."

Tang San's brows furrowed tighter. He had already guessed or deduced most of this information. Yet, the fact that this person's intelligence was so detailed made him even more vigilant.

"Is that all?" Tang San asked, his expression unchanging.

"Of course not," the man lowered his voice. "I also know that Yi Chen is planning a transformation that will affect the entire continent. That game called the Golden Spatula is merely his first step. His true goal is to use this game to completely alter the existing power structure of the Douluo Continent."

Tang San's fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I do not wish to see this continent turned upside down by an outsider," the man's voice carried a hint of coldness. "You wouldn't want to see your friends deceived either, would you?"

Tang San did not answer.

The man stood up and placed a slip of paper on the table. "If you want to know more, meet me at the abandoned blacksmith shop south of the city at midnight tonight."

With that, he turned and walked away quickly, disappearing into the crowd.

Tang San sat in his original spot, staring at the note on the table, motionless for a long time.

He had a gut feeling that this matter was not as simple as it seemed.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Shrek Academy.

Dai Mubai blocked Zhu Zhuqing as she returned from the rear mountain.

"Zhuqing, I have something to say to you." Dai Mubai spread his arms, barring her path, his golden pupils flashing with a hint of overbearing refusal.

Zhu Zhuqing stopped and looked at him coldly. "Move."

"Let's talk properly." Dai Mubai did not move; instead, he stepped forward and lowered his voice. "About our engagement."

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze turned even colder. "There is nothing to talk about. That engagement was forced by the imperial family; I do not acknowledge it."

"You know that's not what I meant." Dai Mubai's tone grew somewhat impatient. "We have been betrothed since childhood; this was decided long ago by the Star Luo Empire's imperial family and the Zhu family. What is the meaning of you following that Yi Chen around all day?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him expressionlessly. "Who I choose to learn from is my own freedom. It has nothing to do with you."

"Nothing to do with me?" Dai Mubai's voice rose a notch. "You are my fiancée, how could it have nothing to do with me? What kind of love potion did that Yi Chen feed you to make you like this?"

Zhu Zhuqing did not answer; she simply bypassed him and headed straight for the dormitory.

Dai Mubai reached out to grab her arm, but she dodged him with a swift movement.

The current Zhu Zhuqing's speed and reflexes were more than a notch faster than before; Dai Mubai's grab had missed entirely.

"Zhuqing!" Dai Mubai turned to watch her retreating back, his fists clenched tight, a flash of annoyance and resentment in his eyes.

He slammed a heavy punch into the wall beside him, leaving a deep indentation.

"Yi Chen..." he gritted his teeth as he spat out the name. "Just you wait."

Not far away, in the shade of a tree, Yi Chen leaned casually against the trunk, taking in the entire scene.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips, yet he made no move to intervene.

Let the young ones handle their own affairs.

As long as they didn't cross that line, he couldn't be bothered with such petty squabbles.

But if anyone dared to lay a hand on his disciple—

Yi Chen's gaze turned slightly cold.

Then they shouldn't blame him for being impolite.