Xiao Xiao Withdraws from School, Shrek's True Nature?

To Xiao Zhen, what he said afterward was somewhat against his conscience.

He had no choice. He had witnessed Lin Yuan's terrifying strength.

He also understood that, given the current situation, Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Empire were bound to clash.

And when that time came, if his daughter became one of the so-called Shrek Seven Monsters—

The outcome of facing Lin Yuan was practically obvious without even thinking about it.

That was why Xiao Zhen said those things. At the same time, he felt heartache for her.

That was his own daughter. If she won, then fine.

But she had nearly paid the price of her martial soul, only for Shrek to be forced to concede in the finals.

What meaning would her sacrifice have had then?

He hoped his daughter could stand on her own, but he did not want her to waste herself in meaningless sacrifices for some position.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao hesitated briefly, her expression somewhat dazed.

There was no denying that, though she had originally been a control-type soul master, she had chosen to give everything for Shrek.

She had even considered whether her Twin Martial Souls could perhaps take the support route.

Of course, that had been for the sake of her teammates.

It would have been fine if such dedication had been acknowledged, but the outcome after the match, along with Shrek's cold attitude toward them—

It seemed that her efforts had not been recognized.

"Father, who persuaded you?"

After letting out a breath, Xiao Xiao stared directly at Xiao Zhen. After a brief hesitation, Xiao Zhen gave a bitter smile and decided not to hide it anymore.

"Because I saw hope for blacksmiths—and even for our family—to rise and prosper."

"You may see it for yourself later. All I can say is that Soul Tools have become something from an entirely different era than what you imagine."

Thinking back to the terrifying enhancement Battle Armor gave a person, Xiao Zhen had to admit that he was convinced for the first time.

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao felt even more dazed and stunned.

Good grief, could something really earn even her father's admiration?

Perhaps the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tools truly were no longer the same things as those they used?

They might even help the Blacksmith Association rise. Though Xiao Xiao could not imagine how, seeing that her conservative father was even willing to accept Soul Tools—

The difficulty involved—or rather, what Soul Tools had actually become—might truly be beyond her imagination.

"Father, can you give me a little more time?"

Xiao Xiao's thoughts were in turmoil. In the end, she looked at Xiao Zhen, who merely sighed.

He did not continue forcing the matter, though he hoped his daughter would come around. If she truly could not, then he could only force—or compel—her to withdraw from school.

After returning to her dormitory, Xiao Xiao's thoughts remained confused and lost.

Shrek truly seemed to be losing its momentum now. Though she could not see this hidden war, she—

Could still sense Shrek's reputation, or rather, its influence gradually declining.

Perhaps for Shrek, this was not merely a simple loss in one match.

It had lost many, many things.

Xiao Xiao had also considered her own path. She could accept sacrificing for the team. But that sacrifice absolutely had to be seen; if it was meaningless sacrifice—

Then it was stupidity.

This was a lesson Shrek had taught her.

Thus, after her brief confusion, Xiao Xiao finally remembered her identity: she was also the hope for the Xiao Family's rise.

Perhaps when she represented Shrek, she would not necessarily be acknowledged every time. But when she represented the Xiao Family—

She would certainly be acknowledged.

With that realization bringing her clarity—

Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth, sought out her teacher Zhou Yi, and calmly announced her decision to withdraw from school.

After a moment of stunned silence, Zhou Yi instinctively stood up and looked at Xiao Xiao, demanding in disbelief, "Xiao Xiao, have you lost your mind?"

Although Xiao Xiao's brilliance among the new generation had been somewhat overshadowed by Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, she was still a genius with Twin Martial Souls. Zhou Yi naturally could not accept her withdrawing for no reason. After all, she was someone guaranteed to enter the Inner Academy, perhaps even become Shrek's hope in the future.

Realizing that her wording was inappropriate, Zhou Yi quickly added,

"I don't know what you've heard, but this is your own future. You can't let a momentary impulse, or whatever others may have said, affect you."

"No need, Teacher. I've already made up my mind."

Xiao Xiao gently shook her head, remaining resolute. Zhou Yi, meanwhile, had always been someone who only knew how to carry out the so-called elimination system.

Seeing that her attempts to persuade Xiao Xiao had seemingly failed to make her change her mind, Zhou Yi's face immediately darkened. She said in a deep voice,

"If you're going to waste your talent, then do as you please. Shrek does not lack any student."

As she spoke, Zhou Yi signed the papers in a huff and even submitted the decision directly to the dean of studies. When Du Weilun saw this, he hurried over, intending to persuade Xiao Xiao.

But Xiao Xiao had already made up her mind.

Since her efforts had not been recognized, why should she continue?

Though Du Weilun was somewhat anxious, he quickly informed Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.

When Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong heard about her decision, they sought out Xiao Xiao with disbelief written all over their faces.

"Xiao Xiao, did something upset you? We get along so well."

"Yeah, didn't we agree that we'd enter the Inner Academy together?"

Seeing their disbelief, and even the hurt in their expressions, Xiao Xiao was briefly dazed before finally speaking with a bitter smile.

"I don't represent only myself. I also represent the family behind me. I want to live—or rather, walk—a path that belongs to me."

Xiao Xiao thought of how her father had supported her unconditionally since childhood. Yet this time, he had repeatedly urged her otherwise. Coupled with her efforts going unrecognized, she still gritted her teeth in the end despite hesitating in the face of their persuasion.

"Where is your father? Let us talk to him. Right, that's it, we'll persuade him."

"We've been through so much together, and now you want to withdraw and give up... How can you do that...?"

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were panicking now.

Wang Dong in particular was speaking so anxiously that she was no longer choosing her words carefully.

Yet that only made Xiao Xiao's heart turn cold.

So even her withdrawal was something that could not be accepted?

Did becoming part of Shrek mean being branded for life?

At that thought, Xiao Xiao's resolve only became firmer.

"But... what about everyone? What about the Tang Sect?"

Huo Yuhao looked at Xiao Xiao as though he had been hurt.

But Xiao Xiao merely looked at Huo Yuhao and calmly asked in return,

"But Teacher Xiao Ya has already disappeared. Her talent was not recognized, so she failed to enter the Inner Academy after graduation."

"I was only recognized. What if I hadn't been?"

At that moment, Xiao Xiao seemed to have come to some realization and seen through it all. Tang Ya had left after graduation.

Her inexplicable disappearance could be traced to one point: Shrek had not valued her, and she had failed to enter the Inner Academy.

Even Huo Yuhao fell silent at this.

What he could not understand was why, after they lost that match, one of their close companions had suddenly died, Teacher Xiao Ya had vanished, and Xiao Xiao was leaving too. Was everything going to fall apart?

That feeling of seemingly losing everything made Huo Yuhao stare straight at Xiao Xiao and ask as though it were only natural,

"So you're leaving too? Then what did everything we went through mean? Aren't you willing to persevere? Are you choosing to betray—"

"But were we recognized? We gave so much and sacrificed so much for Shrek's glory."

"When you nearly failed to become a core disciple, and even regarding the assassination attempt against you, did the academy ever give you an explanation?"

This left Huo Yuhao silent instead. As if waking up, he thought back. Right—why had Shrek never given him an explanation for the assassination attempt against him?

He could vaguely guess that Dai Huabin had probably been responsible.

He had already shown his talent back then, yet the academy had not even given him an explanation.

Was this really worth persisting in?

Huo Yuhao was left frozen and uncertain by her words, which even confused Wang Dong. Xiao Xiao, meanwhile, sighed and ultimately chose to leave.

Elsewhere, after adjusting his strength, Lin Yuan hesitated briefly with Gu Yuena before choosing to enter the Star Dou Great Forest and prepare to hunt for his sixth soul ring.