Shrek · Sharp Edge

Shrek City.

It was livelier than Tianhun City.

The streets were crowded, shops were dense, and the air was a mix of roasting meat and the humming of operating soul tools.

Quan Cangtian did not look around much.

Quan Cangyue followed behind him, arms crossed and an unwilling expression on his face.

"We're here."

Quan Cangtian said.

The academy gates were ahead.

There were stone walls, iron gates, and two soul masters standing at the entrance.

Quan Cangtian was about to walk over.

His footsteps paused.

It was not because of the gates.

It was because of a person.

A girl was standing at the entrance.

She was around ten years old.

She was not very tall, wore her hair in a ponytail, and had a small cauldron and a xiao tucked into her waist.

She had been about to leave.

She glanced at Quan Cangtian.

Her footsteps paused.

Her gaze lingered on his face for two seconds.

Then she looked away.

The tips of her ears were a bit red.

Quan Cangtian did not notice at all.

"Which way to Shrek Academy?"

he asked.

The girl froze for a moment.

"You... are also enrolling?"

Her tone was a beat faster than usual.

"Not enrolling. I have business."

"Oh."

She said oh with her lips, but her eyes looked him over once more.

Quan Cangtian noticed the small cauldron and xiao at her waist.

He did not point it out.

"The academy is right ahead."

The girl pointed at the gates.

"Who are you...?"

"Quan Cangtian."

"Xiao Xiao."

She paused.

"How old... are you?"

"Six years old."

Xiao Xiao's eyes widened.

"Six years old?!"

She looked at Quan Cangtian, then looked at Quan Cangyue.

The aura of a ninety-seventh-rank Titled Douluo was no joke.

Xiao Xiao's mouth opened and closed, and she asked no more.

They requested an audience with Shrek's higher-ups.

The soul masters at the gate went to report.

They waited for about ten minutes.

A person walked out.

He wore a grayish-brown robe covered in grease stains.

He held a roasted chicken leg in his left hand and a wine gourd in his right.

His hair was as messy as a bird's nest.

He was barefoot.

Yet his crimson-red eyes were blindingly bright.

Elder Xuan.

The Sea God Pavilion Deputy Master.

A ninety-eighth-rank Super Douluo.

He took a bite of the chicken leg and shook his wine gourd.

He glanced at Quan Cangtian.

Then he glanced at Quan Cangyue.

An oppressive aura descended.

The pressure of a ninety-eighth-rank.

It was heavier and denser than Quan Zhenshan's, carrying a primitive sense of oppression.

Quan Cangyue took a step forward.

The pressure crashed into him, but he remained completely motionless.

The corners of his mouth hooked up slightly.

Quan Cangtian stood behind him.

His expression did not change.

Elder Xuan narrowed those crimson-red eyes.

"Ninety-seventh-rank? People from the Quan Family?"

Quan Cangyue did not answer, merely glancing at Quan Cangtian.

"Quan Cangtian."

Quan Cangtian said.

"Young Patriarch of the Quan Family. I request an audience with the Sea God Pavilion Master."

Elder Xuan took another bite of the chicken leg.

He chewed twice.

"You want to see Elder Mu?"

He took a sip of wine.

"You're only six."

"I know."

"Elder Mu doesn't see children."

"Then make him see me."

Elder Xuan looked at him for a moment.

Those crimson-red eyes looked as though they were weighing something.

"What ability do you have to make Elder Mu see you?"

Quan Cangtian did not speak.

He bent down.

His fingers brushed against a withered strand of Blue Silver Grass in a flowerpot.

Emerald green light flowed.

The grass blades sprouted.

It bloomed in three seconds.

The chicken leg in Elder Xuan's hand stopped near his mouth.

He did not take a bite.

He stared at that stalk of Blue Silver Grass for five seconds.

He raised the wine gourd to his mouth and took a swig.

"Interesting."

"Speak. What are you here at Shrek for?"

"A transaction."

Quan Cangtian said.

"I can cure Ma Xiaotao's evil fire."

Elder Xuan's chewing stopped.

"Shrek has researched this for many years."

His voice turned deep.

"No one can cure it."

"Your method is suppression."

Quan Cangtian said.

"Mine is purification."

Elder Xuan fell silent.

The chicken leg spun around in his hand.

He took another bite.

He chewed very slowly.

"The price."

He said.

"One entry into the Golden Ancient Tree."

Elder Xuan put down the chicken leg.

"This isn't something I can decide."

"Who can decide?"

"Elder Mu."

He drank a mouthful of wine.

"The Sea God Pavilion Master."

There was a trace of reverence in his tone.

"That old man is still alive."

Quan Cangtian nodded.

"Then please have Elder Mu come."

"Let's see if you can cure it first."

Elder Xuan stood up.

His bare feet stepped on the stone slabs without making a single sound.

"If you can't cure it, there's nothing to discuss."

He walked a few steps, then turned back to look at Quan Cangtian.

"Your ninety-seventh-rank guard can follow. But don't cause trouble in Shrek."

Quan Cangyue snorted.

"Cause trouble?"

"Is your Shrek enough for me to tear up?"

Elder Xuan glanced at him.

A trace of a smile flashed in his crimson-red eyes.

"Interesting."

He turned and walked away.

He took another bite of the chicken leg.

Elder Xuan did not refuse.

There's hope.

Quan Cangtian walked out of the reception room.

Xiao Xiao was outside.

She stood by the wall.

"You're... done talking?"

she asked.

"Mn."

"Just now... that grass..."

"Not now."

Quan Cangtian said.

"I have something to discuss with you."

Xiao Xiao was stunned for a moment.

"Me?"

"The Xiao Family."

Quan Cangtian looked at her.

"The Tianhun Border. Squeezed by three noble clans."

"There is no Titled Douluo in your clan."

"With you cultivating over here, your family gets harder hit day by day."

Xiao Xiao's pupils constricted.

"How do you know?"

Her voice tightened.

"The Quan Family is dispatching a Titled Douluo to station at the Xiao Family."

Quan Cangtian said.

"They will be in place within three days."

Xiao Xiao pressed her lips together.

She did not speak.

Her fingers clenched the corner of her clothes.

"Your cauldron can evolve."

Quan Cangtian spoke again.

"The inheritance of the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron was broken because nobody knew how to awaken it."

"I know."

Xiao Xiao looked up at him.

Her eyes held shock, doubt, and desire.

"What on earth do you want?"

Quan Cangtian did not answer.

He looked at Xiao Xiao.

"Will you come with me or not?"

Xiao Xiao bit her lip.

She thought of the letter that came from home last month.

Another piece of family property had been swallowed up.

Her grandfather had fallen ill from anger.

She was cultivating here and could not help with anything at all.

Her gaze shifted away.

Then shifted back.

"In place within three days?"

She asked.

"Mn."

"...Alright."

Xiao Xiao took a deep breath.

"I'll go with you."

Quan Cangtian nodded.

He turned and walked away.

Xiao Xiao looked at his back.

She took one more glance at him.

Then she followed.

Quan Cangtian found Quan Cangyue.

"Contact the family. Send a Titled Douluo to the Xiao Family. Have them in place within three days."

Quan Cangyue frowned.

"Recruiting people again?"

"Mn."

"You're only six years old, are you getting addicted to recruiting people?"

"Big Uncle."

Quan Cangtian said.

"Three days."

Quan Cangyue muttered a word and turned to handle it.

He did not leave.

He stayed in Shrek to wait for the news.

Toward the Inner Courtyard direction.

Quan Cangtian walked over.

Xiao Xiao followed behind.

In the distance, a huge golden ancient tree stood tall in the center of the Inner Courtyard.

Its light was gentle and brimming with vitality.

The Golden Ancient Tree.

Quan Cangtian glanced at it.

He withdrew his gaze.

Continuing to walk.

Ma Xiaotao.

Evil Fire Phoenix.

Abundance Power, it is time for your appearance.

He strode into the Inner Courtyard.