Preparing to Register

The tree's curses came to an abrupt stop.

It fell silent for two breaths, its crown swaying gently as if weighing whether this deal was worthwhile.

After a few more breaths, it finally spoke in a muffled voice. "...Really?"

"Really."

The tree was quiet for a moment, then let out an incredibly faint sigh from deep within its trunk. "Then... fine."

Tang Wulin led Na'er forward for a while, found a relatively flat patch of grass, released her hand, and sat down cross-legged.

"Na'er, sit a little farther away. Just wait for me a moment."

Na'er nodded obediently and retreated to sit beside the roots of a large tree. With both hands resting on her knees, she watched him quietly.

Tang Wulin lifted his chin at the Myriad Demon King. "Bring that tree over."

The Myriad Demon King immediately dragged the Life Tree over to Tang Wulin. The instant its roots touched the ground, they seemed to stretch slightly, only for the Myriad Demon King to smack it into behaving again.

"Go on, sacrifice yourself to him!" The Myriad Demon King's voice carried undisguised jealousy. "Why can't I sacrifice myself? Boohoo..."

After all, one could preserve one's soul through a sacrifice. This fellow not only bore the identity of the Child of Nature, but also carried the aura of the Life Goddess.

If he became a god, then as one of those who had sacrificed themselves, perhaps it could become a divine official, just like those two soul beasts ten thousand years ago.

Sigh, suck up long enough, and you get everything!

The Life Tree ignored him.

All its branches and leaves slowly tilted toward Tang Wulin. Every leaf in its crown glimmered faintly with green light, a green so pure it embodied life itself.

Suddenly, it froze!

How had it failed to notice?!

This was the great Child of Nature! He even carried the aura of the great Life Goddess!

"Great heir to the God of Life," a deep and devout hum sounded from within the tree's trunk. "Great Child of Nature, being able to offer my body as a sacrifice to you is the highest honor of our tree kind."

It paused, then tilted its crown slightly toward the Myriad Demon King and added, "Myriad Demon King, you are not a traitor to humanity. You are a beneficial member among plant soul beasts."

The jealousy on the Myriad Demon King's face intensified.

Boohoo!

At that moment, the Myriad Demon King was practically one handkerchief away from standing there sobbing and wiping his tears.

After saying those words, the Life Tree's enormous body began to collapse from its roots. Dense green motes burst from the severed roots like a gushing spring, carrying warm and vast life energy toward Tang Wulin's brow.

Tang Wulin closed his eyes. The Blue Silver Emperor martial soul within him appeared of its own accord, azure vines unfurling from behind his back. Fine golden patterns of light curled around every vine.

The instant that green torrent entered his martial soul, a warm burning sensation suddenly came from his right leg, as though something were growing out through the gaps in his bones.

He instinctively looked down. A pale green pattern emerged on the skin along the outside of his right leg, winding along the direction of his leg bone before gradually forming the outline of a palm-sized soul bone, radiating a gentle jade-green glow.

A right leg soul bone.

At the same time, something deeper within his body suddenly trembled.

Dark golden light exploded from his chest, as though some long-sealed living creature had been awakened by that life energy.

The dark golden light burst from his body, drawing out a long, violent phantom in midair.

It was a Tyrant Dragon.

The phantom, covered from head to toe in dark golden scales, raised its head and roared. Its thick tail swept sideways, snapping two small trees as thick as bowls, while its short forelimbs lashed through the air with sharp claws, carving three fierce streaks of light.

After raising its head and releasing one final earth-shaking roar, it plunged without hesitation into Tang Wulin's newly formed red soul ring.

The red light on that soul ring flared violently for an instant before calming down. Its color became deeper and heavier, with a faint ring of dark golden patterns flowing across it.

Tang Wulin slowly opened his eyes. He looked down at the Hundred Thousand Year red soul ring beneath his feet, now completely stabilized, then sensed the warm, pulsing soul bone in his right leg. The corners of his mouth curved up unconsciously.

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

As for soul bones, he had never considered Dragon Valley soul bones. Dragon-type soul bones were indeed powerful, but from the very beginning, he had never intended to rely on the Golden Dragon King bloodline.

If he did not possess the inheritance of the twin God King divine positions, then his path would definitely have to rely on the Golden Dragon King!

He turned to look at Na'er, who sat quietly beneath the tree roots some distance away.

At some point, the little girl had fallen asleep against the trunk. Her silver-white hair spilled over one shoulder, her breathing even and long. Her hands remained propped on her knees, but her head had already tilted to one side.

Tang Wulin stood, walked over, and crouched in front of her. He reached out and tucked the loose strands that had fallen beside her face behind her ear.

"She really fell asleep."

He muttered softly, then tried gently taking her hand.

In her sleep, Gu Yuena instinctively tightened her grip around his fingers. It was not strong, yet it carried an almost instinctive dependence.

Then, smiling, Tang Wulin picked Na'er up and glanced at the Myriad Demon King beside him. "Until we meet again."

The Myriad Demon King stretched out a hand, looking exactly like someone desperately reaching out to stop a departing lover!

"Master! Where are you going, Master?" The Myriad Demon King looked utterly reluctant to part with him, though his voice was very soft.

After putting on that performance, he ran off along the branches.

"Beast God, Master was taken away by a Shrek Academy disciple. That person seems to carry the aura of the Golden Dragon King." After returning to the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Myriad Demon King knelt on the ground and spoke toward Di Tian.

"Very good. What we must do is clear away every obstacle for Master, then welcome the descent of Lord Dragon God!" Di Tian's eyes burned with fanaticism.

One day later.

At the gates of Shrek Academy.

"Brother, is this Shrek Academy? Can I become one of its students?" Excitement showed on Gu Yuena's face as she curiously looked at the magnificent buildings before her.

Tang Wulin smiled and rubbed Gu Yuena's head.

"Come on. I'll take you to register." Tang Wulin smiled as he led Gu Yuena over to the stalls outside the school gates.

"Senior Tang is here. Have you finished the paperwork?" A girl asked with a smile, a hint of shyness on her face.

"It's done, just finished it. Oh, and this is a junior sister I picked up in the Star Dou Great Forest. Help her get registered. Gu Yuena, martial soul: Elemental Envoy. She controls six elements and is currently at three rings." Tang Wulin said with a smile.

Before long, those senior students had prepared everything and handed it over.

As for a city lord's letter of recommendation?

How could a city lord's recommendation letter compare with one recommended by Shrek Academy's little inner court genius and certain future heir?

Besides, her talent was so exceptional that she could enter even without a city lord's recommendation letter. She would merely have to take an examination.

"Na'er, let's go. Brother will take you to the Academic Affairs Office. After that, we'll have to go to the dormitory, and Brother won't be able to stay with you anymore." Tang Wulin said with a smile.

"Brother, can you take me to the cafeteria first? I'm hungry!" Gu Yuena lowered her head, seeming somewhat shy.