Encounter Again

On the other side of Soto City, Shrek Academy welcomed a group of exceptionally gifted students. However, due to Gu Hengzhi's intervention, Zhu Zhuqing did not join Shrek Academy as she had in the original novel. Instead, she entered Righteous Heaven Academy alongside Gu Hengzhi, an academy that had traveled through time from ten thousand years in the future.

Meanwhile, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong still had to pass the entrance examination by lasting the time it took to burn an incense stick under Zhao Wuji's attacks. Being one person short, they naturally suffered a crushing defeat. However, with the master's mediation and Flender stepping in, the three of them ultimately managed to enter Shrek Academy.

Yet, as satisfying as it had been for Zhao Wuji to beat up Tang San and the other two, his fate afterward was equally miserable. Tang Hao personally took action and beat him so badly that he could not get out of bed for one or two days. If not for the sake of Yu Xiaogang, his son's teacher, Zhao Wuji would probably have been bedridden for ten days to half a month.

A month later, Shrek's six students had gradually developed a preliminary sense of teamwork through continuous running and spirit-fighting training. Oscar also successfully broke through to level 29 and prepared to head to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts for a Soul Ring.

Over at Righteous Heaven Academy, Zhu Zhuqing successfully broke through to level 30 soul power in just one month, while Gu Hengzhi was carefully selecting a soul beast suitable for his third Soul Ring. As for Vice Dean Tie Hong, after being busy for an entire month, he finally settled the enrollment matters and prepared to lead the students who had recently reached their bottlenecks to hunt soul beasts. There were seven people heading to the Star Dou Great Forest this time, including three students who had reached level 20, one who had reached level 30, and the captain of the elite tournament candidate team, a level-40 Soul Master who would also become Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing's future captain.

As the owner of Peace Hotel, Gu Hengzhi naturally was not stingy. He warmly invited Dean Tie Hong and the students who would soon be heading to the Star Dou Great Forest with them.

"Hahaha!" Tie Hong was as bold and uninhibited as ever. Laughing heartily, he patted Gu Hengzhi on the shoulder and enthusiastically introduced them. "This is the captain of our Righteous Heaven Academy reserve team, the candidate team—Xuan Yue!" As he spoke, he introduced the two of them to Xuan Yue as well.

Xuan Yue was a fifteen-year-old boy with a figure as straight as a pine tree. His martial soul was the mysterious Mysterious Mirror, and his soul power had reached level 40. He was already a Quasi-Soul Ancestor, and his Soul Ring configuration was particularly eye-catching: yellow, yellow, purple.

Gu Hengzhi's sharp gaze swept over Xuan Yue. Though he was a man, he exuded an icy chill, as if winter frost had been carved into his bones, making others shudder involuntarily. His face was like a meticulously crafted work of art, no less beautiful than that of most gorgeous women, perhaps even more so. His uniquely feminine beauty made him unforgettable at first glance.

After chatting for a while, Gu Hengzhi found that Xuan Yue was fairly decent and quite friendly toward his own people.

The city where Peace Hotel and Righteous Heaven Academy stood was like a glittering pearl set along the edge of Soto City. It served as an indispensable transit point between Soto City and the Star Dou Great Forest. Originally, this satellite city had been an obscure little place. However, because of its uniquely advantageous location as the closest city to the Star Dou Great Forest, Gu Hengzhi had decisively chosen to establish Peace Hotel here. This made obtaining food ingredients remarkably easy.

Since the establishment of Peace Hotel and Righteous Heaven Academy, this small town had burst with vitality like a blooming flower, attracting increasing numbers of Soul Masters and nobles.

The group from Shrek Academy had traveled all the way from Soto City and naturally could not reach the Star Dou Great Forest in a single day. Thus, they came to this satellite city of Soto City to rest briefly.

"Wow! Third Brother, this place is so prosperous! It is practically on par with Soto City, only on a slightly smaller scale." Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with excitement. Like a cheerful little bird, she darted through the dazzling array of shops, watching the merchants moving through the streets and lanes as she sighed sincerely.

Tang San carefully observed everything around him. The shops and vendors here seemed inextricably connected to Soul Masters and combat. Some specialized in sharp weapons that gleamed with cold light, as if proclaiming their power. Others displayed sturdy armor, as unyielding as steel. Still others laid out all manner of wondrous potions, giving off mysterious auras. There were even shops selling detailed soul beast compendiums, like encyclopedias dedicated to soul beasts.

What was surprising, however, was that the farther they went toward the city center, the fewer items related to Soul Masters and combat they saw. In their place were dazzling varieties of food, fashionable clothes, comfortable lodgings, and other daily necessities.

Ma Hongjun could not help sighing. "I heard that this satellite city of Soto City used to be nothing more than a shabby, cramped city with nothing to offer, and its entertainment industry was practically nonexistent. But after a restaurant renowned far and wide for its cuisine moved here, the city flourished around it and grew into what it is today!" After speaking, he looked expectantly at Zhao Wuji, the Shrek teacher leading the group.

"Why are you looking at me? How could our academy afford a restaurant famous for its food? Let me make this clear: you will all be paying for your own expenses tonight." Zhao Wuji's words were like a basin of cold water, ruthlessly extinguishing Ma Hongjun's fantasies. It was no wonder. Shrek Academy had always been dirt poor. Otherwise, why would it have set up a school in a village?

Left with no choice, Ma Hongjun could only place his hopes on his close friend Dai Mubai. "Boss Dai, your allowance is the highest among us. Could you treat us to the dishes at that restaurant?"

"Do not look at me. I have heard a little about that restaurant too. Even its cheapest dish costs more than a hundred Gold Soul Coins. That is over half a year's allowance. I cannot afford to treat you!" Dai Mubai hurriedly waved his hands in refusal.

Ma Hongjun could only lower his head dejectedly. To him, good food was life's greatest pleasure, and he wanted nothing else. Even seeking pleasure in the brothels could not compare.

"It should be called Peace Hotel, right? The food inside really is exceptionally delicious. I visited it many times in Heaven Dou City. I never expected there to be one here as well." Ning Rongrong blinked her lively eyes and looked over the other team members. "How about I treat everyone to a proper meal?"

Ning Rongrong wore a flowing-cloud dress embroidered with silver thread, a pigeon-blood ruby necklace around her neck, teardrop-shaped sapphire earrings, and a gold bracelet inlaid with jade on her wrist. As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, how could she possibly lack money?

"That's wonderful! Rongrong, you are the best!" Xiao Wu excitedly pounced on her and hugged Ning Rongrong.

The group of seven headed toward Peace Hotel in the city center. Peace Hotel was stately and grand. The materials used throughout the establishment were luxurious without being gaudy, while above the entrance, the words—Peace Hotel, Soto City Branch—were carved in jade.

Like the bathhouses on Blue Star, Peace Hotel offered many services, including bathing, massages, food, and lodging. However, it was most famous for its cuisine. Seeing that the students had all entered Peace Hotel, Zhao Wuji naturally refused to be left behind and could only grit his teeth and rent a room for the night.