Farewell, Laying the Groundwork at Shrek

Qian Renxue turned and sat down, looking at Bai Yu. "Have a seat. What else did you need? You didn't come all this way just to see how I was doing, did you?"

"Actually, I did. And I brought you something, too." As Bai Yu spoke, he took a box from his Soul Tool.

He handed the box to Qian Renxue and said, "There are two Spirit Bones inside, along with an Immortal Herb called the Sacred Sunfire Flower."

"An Immortal Herb?" Qian Renxue's expression turned curious as she opened the box.

Bai Yu nodded. "That's right. The Sacred Sunfire Flower has sixteen petals when it blooms, covered in golden patterns, with Heavenly Flames accompanying it at its center."

"To use it, hold the flower in your hands and absorb it with Soul Power until the petals wither and the Heavenly Flames merge into your body."

Qian Renxue picked up the Sacred Sunfire Flower. Looking at its exquisite petals and the golden flames dancing within it, she could not bear to absorb it and wanted to keep it instead.

Bai Yu was somewhat helpless. "This Immortal Herb is extremely compatible with your attributes. It can temper your body, purify your Divine Soul, and leave you flawless and untainted."

"It can also increase your Soul Power and enhance your fire attribute and purification abilities."

"Alright, alright, I understand. I'll absorb it later. By the way, what are these two Spirit Bones?"

Qian Renxue hurriedly waved her hand, changing the subject.

Hearing Qian Renxue's words, he scratched at the corner of his mouth and said somewhat speechlessly,

"These are for you to reward your subordinates with. One comes from a sixty-thousand-year Vajra Bear, and the other from a fifty-thousand-year Five-Striped Golden Python."

"Elders Pufferfish and Snake Lance have protected you for so many years, and they will likely continue to do so for years to come. They deserve a reward."

"Come to think of it, the Vajra Bear Spirit Bone was a reward from your grandfather when I became Spirit Hall's Holy Son."

Qian Renxue looked at him in surprise, then spoke in an odd tone.

"You don't need Spirit Bones yourself? Even if their attributes don't suit you, you could trade them. The treasures collected by the Grandfather Worshippers in the Elder Hall are quite abundant."

"This Holy Son is gifted beyond measure. They're just a few lousy Spirit Bones—I don't need them!" Bai Yu raised his head, looking proud.

Qian Renxue looked at him and laughed. "Hehe, you should take them back. I'll speak to Grandfather about the rewards."

Seeing Qian Renxue unable to hold back her laughter, Bai Yu looked somewhat embarrassed and said,

"I really don't need them. I just had Salas send more than three hundred Spirit Bones back to my teacher."

"I discovered before that my domain is quite special. It can sense the fluctuations of Spirit Bones, so finding them is very easy for me."

Qian Renxue stood up and exclaimed in disbelief, "Doesn't that mean you can get as many Spirit Bones as you want in the future?"

Bai Yu shook his head. "It's not as exaggerated as you think. The drop rate for Spirit Bones is too low, and most are low-grade. High-year ones are rarely seen."

Qian Renxue gradually calmed down and looked at him. "Even so, it's incredible. Most Soul Masters in the world can only dream of obtaining Spirit Bones, yet for you, they are everywhere."

"Then if you don't lack Spirit Bones, why not absorb them?"

Hearing Qian Renxue's question, he pointed at himself and said,

"The yin and yang within my body are already balanced, and my Soul Power is endlessly self-renewing. Aside from granting me a Soul Skill, Spirit Bones serve no other purpose for me."

"As my cultivation increases, so does the strength of my body. The enhancement is no worse than that of a Spirit Bone."

"You've also cultivated my Self-Created Soul Skill, so you know I don't lack Soul Skills. Spirit Bones are useless to me—maybe they even have side effects."

Qian Renxue blinked her large eyes as she watched him boast so seriously, an odd feeling rising in her heart.

When Bai Yu's voice fell silent, Qian Renxue came back to herself and said,

"In that case, I'll accept the Spirit Bones. Do you have a place to stay in Heaven Dou City? Would you like me to give you an estate?"

Bai Yu waved his hand. "No need. Everything I came to Heaven Dou City to do has been taken care of. It's time for me to leave."

Qian Renxue looked at him, her tone pausing slightly. "Alright. If you need anything in the future, come find me. And if... if you see my dear sister, ask her whether she still remembers me."

Hearing Qian Renxue's words, his expression wavered slightly as he said,

"I probably can't help you with that. I snuck away this time, and I won't be going back for at least a few years."

Qian Renxue looked stunned, then could not help laughing. "Hehe, alright then. Be careful out there. Until we meet again."

Balak Kingdom, Suotuo City.

After leaving Heaven Dou City, Bai Yu made his way to Suotuo City, intending to check in at Shrek Academy and make preparations for the future.

As Spirit Hall's Holy Son, he would have to stand with Spirit Hall in the future. Naturally, he needed to lay the groundwork early at Shrek Academy, where Tang San would rise to prominence.

Tang San himself was nothing, someone he could crush with a flick of his hand. But if the Asura God truly stood behind him, that would be rather troublesome.

"What a dump," Bai Yu remarked as he looked at Shrek Academy before him.

He then entered the village that called itself an academy, looking around as he thought,

I originally wanted to go to Nuoding City to see seven-year-old Tang San and Little Rabbit, but that bastard Tang Hao is there too. It wouldn't be convenient for me to show myself.

(PS: According to the original work, Qian Renxue is roughly nine to twelve years older than Tang San. Here, the most widely accepted age gap of ten years is used.)

But it doesn't matter. Tang San's rise began at Shrek. Nuoding City only has Gangzi anyway.

Asura God... I really don't want to go up against you, but by the later stages, you didn't even bother pretending. Without the first eight God Trials, he practically just picked up the sword and inherited it. Isn't that ridiculous?

"Who are you?" As the question rang out, a short but exceptionally muscular man walked over from the distance.

Bai Yu came back to himself and turned to look, thinking, So he's that Big Bear, Zhao Wuji?

He then replied, "I heard there was a Monster Academy here, so I came to take a look. Turns out the reality does not live up to the reputation."

Zhao Wuji froze, then examined him more closely. "You're here to enroll? The admission test is already over. We aren't taking anyone now."

"Oh? You're sure you aren't?" Hearing Zhao Wuji's words, Bai Yu released his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, and four Spirit Rings slowly rose around him.

"A Spirit King... no, that's wrong? A Soul Ancestor with a Ten-Thousand-Year Fourth Ring!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock. What kind of Soul Ancestor had a yellow, purple, purple, black Spirit Ring configuration? Wasn't this a Spirit King missing one yellow Spirit Ring?

After composing himself, Zhao Wuji strode up to Bai Yu, grabbed his arm, and felt his bone age.

"Twelve?" This time Zhao Wuji truly jumped, springing three feet into the air in shock before saying solemnly,

"Kid, do you really want to join Shrek Academy? Do your family elders agree?"

As Zhao Wuji asked, he was deeply puzzled. Which family's young master was this? And why was his martial soul Blue Silver Grass?

Yet for him to become a Soul Ancestor at twelve and possess such a powerful Spirit Ring configuration, Zhao Wuji absolutely did not believe he had emerged from nowhere.

Bai Yu waved his hand. "I make my own decisions. But I came here because of the word 'monster.' Does your academy have any students worthy of being called monsters?"

Hearing the question, Zhao Wuji looked awkward. He grabbed Bai Yu's arm and pulled him toward the village as he spoke.

"Come in first. Wait until the Dean comes back and let him talk to you. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first."

Time passed, and Flender returned to the academy with Zhao Wuji.

"Is what you said true? There really is such a genius? You weren't lying to me?" Flender looked at Zhao Wuji suspiciously.

Zhao Wuji rolled his eyes. "Why would I lie to you? But let me make this clear—he came for the monsters. Whether you can keep him depends on you."

Flender drew a deep breath, looking excited as he said,

"Don't worry. I can definitely fool him... cough, cough, keep him at the academy."

Zhao Wuji curled his lip as he looked at the confident Flender.