Shaken!

The morning sunlight streamed through Shrek Academy's dilapidated window, casting a long, slanted beam of light across the floor.

Dai Mubai sat propped against the headboard, every muscle in his body aching and swollen.

His empty gaze stared at the ceiling as memories of last night replayed over and over in his mind. Each replay was like a dull blade sawing repeatedly at his pride.

Third Spirit Skill: White Tiger Vajra Transformation. Fourth Spirit Skill: White Tiger Meteor Shower. He had used them all.

He had thrown everything he had gained from two years of cultivation into that battle, yet he had not even touched the edge of his opponent's clothes.

Three times in a row.

Once three years ago, once a year ago, and once last night.

Every time, he thought he had grown stronger, that he could close the gap. Yet every time, he was crushed even more thoroughly.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands. Those hands had shed countless drops of sweat on the training grounds, clenched and loosened time and again in the dead of night, and supported him through every moment when he had wanted to give up.

But all that effort had seemed so laughable in last night's battle.

Dai Mubai clenched his fists, then loosened them, then clenched them again. In the end, he only whispered, "Am I really trash?"

His voice was so soft that even he could barely hear it.

In another room, Tang San sat beside his bed with his palm spread open, a stalk of Blue Silver Grass swaying gently in his hand.

Huang Yun's words from last night were like needles lodged in his mind, impossible to pull out.

What a waste of heaven's gifts.

Leading others astray.

Blue Silver Grass was developing against its