Shrek Academy Arrives

But Dugu Yan did not spare him a single glance. All her attention was on Xiao Lin. She carefully supported Xiao Lin and said softly, "I'll take you back to your room to rest."

Then she turned to Yu Tianheng, her expression instantly turning cold. "Yu Tianheng, don't come looking for trouble with Xiao Lin again."

Yu Tianheng opened his mouth, wanting to explain. "Yan, I—"

"And one more thing," Dugu Yan interrupted him, her tone cold yet resolute. "Stay away from me from now on. I'm afraid Xiao Lin might misunderstand."

Yu Tianheng felt as though someone had viciously stabbed him through the heart.

He watched Dugu Yan carefully support Xiao Lin into the courtyard, watched Xiao Lin turn back before entering and give him a meaningful smile. A surge of hot blood rushed straight to his head.

"Xiao Lin! Just you wait!"

Yu Tianheng roared, then turned and strode away, his retreating figure carrying an indescribable desolation and fury.

The onlookers looked at one another, then silently reached a shared conclusion: in the future, they could provoke anyone but Xiao Lin.

This guy was not only powerful, but utterly ruthless as well.

After his battle with Yu Tianheng, Xiao Lin's reputation at Heaven Dou Royal Academy was completely established.

Whenever he walked through campus, girls would cast admiring glances his way no matter where he went.

Some of the bolder ones even approached him directly with flowers, letters, and gifts, leaving Xiao Lin to find ways to politely decline their enthusiastic confessions every day.

His courtyard was piled with all kinds of tokens of affection—handmade pastries, carefully embroidered handkerchiefs, tender love letters, and even expensive Soul Tools. There was everything imaginable, in all sorts of varieties.

Most of the male students looked at him with envy, but because of Xiao Lin's strength, they only dared mutter sour remarks behind his back, such as, "What's the use of being handsome?" and "He's just lucky." Not one of them dared provoke him to his face.

After all, everyone had seen what had happened to Yu Tianheng. No one wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Xiao Lin ignored all of it.

His mind was now entirely focused on cultivation.

He had tried cultivating in the Mimicry Training Grounds, but quickly discovered that the environment there was of little help to him.

The Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute's cultivation method was completely different from that of other Martial Souls. It did not require a simulated environment; instead, it required constant playing to increase Soul Power.

For him, the best place to cultivate was somewhere quiet, where he could practice different pieces without distraction.

Thus, Xiao Lin's daily life became extremely regular. He rose at dawn and practiced the flute in the courtyard, greeting the first ray of sunlight with its melodious notes.

In the mornings, he went to the library to browse ancient texts, studying the relationship between musical rhythm and Soul Power and researching historical records regarding the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute. In the afternoons, he received guidance from the three Education Committee members in turn, learning from their cultivation experience and combat techniques. At night, he continued practicing the flute until late before resting.

Dream Divine Machine, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin, the three Soul Douluo, held nothing back in teaching him.

Though their Martial Souls differed and their styles varied, they were all figures at the pinnacle of the Soul Master world. Their respective cultivation experience and insights were precious treasures to Xiao Lin.

Dream Divine Machine taught him how to combine Soul Power with spiritual power. Bai Baoshan taught him how to remain calm and maintain sound judgment in battle. Zhi Lin taught him various theoretical knowledge and a deeper understanding of Martial Souls.

"Your comprehension is something I have never seen in my life," Dream Divine Machine could not help but sigh after one session of guidance.

"I only need to explain many principles once, and you can draw inferences from them. You can even raise insights that I never considered. Given time, your achievements will surely surpass ours."

Xiao Lin smiled modestly. "It is all thanks to the three teachers' excellent instruction."

"Stop being so modest." Bai Baoshan patted him on the shoulder and said with a hearty laugh.

"The three of us old fellows have taught hundreds upon hundreds of students, but this is truly the first time we have encountered someone as outstanding as you in both talent and comprehension. Work hard. A Titled Douluo will definitely not be your final destination."

Xiao Lin nodded, committing their words to heart.

A month passed swiftly amid his fulfilling cultivation.

Xiao Lin's Soul Power steadily rose from the peak of rank forty-eight. Through unremitting effort and accumulation, he successfully broke through to rank forty-nine.

He could feel that the threshold of rank fifty Soul King was already within reach. Given a little more time, breaking through rank fifty would be only a matter of time.

That day, Xiao Lin was practicing a newly adapted piece in the courtyard. The flute's melody drifted through the morning light, carrying a tranquil strength that seemed to reach far into the distance.

Several small birds landed on branches along the courtyard wall, tilting their heads as they listened quietly, as though they too had been drawn in by the beautiful music.

Suddenly, a burst of commotion came from the direction of the academy gates, shattering the morning's peace.

Xiao Lin stopped playing, frowned, and walked to the courtyard entrance to look outside.

He saw quite a few students running toward the academy gates, their faces full of curiosity and excitement, as though something major had happened. Others gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves.

Xiao Lin casually stopped a passing student and asked, "What happened? Why is it so lively?"

When the student saw that it was Xiao Lin who had stopped him, he hurriedly halted, an eager smile appearing on his face.

"Senior Xiao, you don't know yet? I heard some academy called Shrek Academy came over from the Balak Kingdom and wants to merge into our Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of disdain and contempt.

"Tsk, some tiny academy from the middle of nowhere thinks it deserves to merge into Heaven Dou Royal Academy? They really overestimate themselves. I heard there are only a few of them in total. Teachers and students combined, they cannot even fill a single class, yet they dare come here and make fools of themselves."

Shrek Academy.

Xiao Lin narrowed his eyes slightly.

The timing matched. According to the original timeline, Shrek Academy should indeed have arrived in Heaven Dou City around this time, intending to merge into Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

However, in the original story, Snow Star's obstruction and Dugu Bo's interference had ultimately prevented it from succeeding, forcing them to go to Blue Tyrant Academy instead.

"Interesting." A smile curled at Xiao Lin's lips as he headed toward the academy gates.

A group of people stood in the plaza outside Heaven Dou Royal Academy's gates.

At the front was a lean, sharp-featured middle-aged man. He wore a green robe and a pair of sunglasses, with an unknown grass stalk clenched between his teeth. His entire bearing carried an air of carefree irreverence.

Behind him stood several men and women who looked like teachers, along with seven or eight students.

Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy. Xiao Lin recognized him at a glance.

Among those students, Xiao Lin saw several familiar faces.