Shrek Prepares to Settle a Score

Yu Xiaogang and Xiao Wu hurried along the entire way, finally returning to Shrek Academy.

After the first phase of high-intensity special training, the atmosphere at Shrek's grounds had become much more relaxed than before.

Although the seven monsters still could not be considered close, and barriers remained between them, they had toned down their former hostility and rarely erupted into arguments at the slightest provocation as they once had.

On the open ground in the courtyard, Ma Hongjun stood on tiptoe and draped an arm over Dai Mubai's shoulder. Wearing his usual greasy grin, he chuckled softly, his eyes brimming with barely restrained restlessness.

"Boss Dai, you coming? Let's head to Suotuo City and relax a little."

The harsh training of the past several days had nearly left him unable to breathe. He had not let loose in a long time, and now that he had finally gotten some time off, he could barely endure it any longer. All he wanted was to leave the city and blow off some steam.

"If you want to go, go by yourself. Don't drag me into it."

Dai Mubai crossed his arms and put on the upright, self-controlled air of a proper gentleman. He raised a hand and casually shoved Ma Hongjun aside, deliberately keeping his distance from him.

As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze instinctively drifted toward the two breathtakingly beautiful girls nearby, his eyes carrying a hint of cautious probing.

"Scumbag."

Wearing a simple casual dress, Zhu Zhuqing snorted coldly at his words. She could not even be bothered to spare him a sideways glance before turning and walking away, her aloof and frosty attitude fully displayed.

Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, was entirely different. A sly, punchable smile appeared on her little face as she decisively gave Dai Mubai the middle finger, then giggled and ran off.

After this period of training, Ning Rongrong's spoiled temperament had indeed become somewhat restrained, but only on the surface.

A demon pill's nature could not be erased by a little training.

What was more, she still clearly remembered how Dai Mubai had threatened her back then. Now that she saw him hit a wall, she naturally had to mock him properly, feeling utterly satisfied inside.

Watching the two girls leave one after another, Dai Mubai's face instantly darkened. Anger surged within him, but with everyone present, he forcibly suppressed it and did not lash out on the spot.

Just then, a slightly surprised cry rang out.

"Xiao Wu, Master, you're back!"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Ning Rongrong stop in her tracks, staring at Yu Xiaogang and Xiao Wu, who had just entered the courtyard, with a face full of surprise.

Oscar, who had been silently watching Ning Rongrong daydreaming, suddenly snapped back to his senses. He quickly craned his neck to look behind them, but when he did not see that familiar figure, he asked in confusion, "Huh? Master, why didn't Little San come back with you?"

At those words, the smile on Xiao Wu's face instantly vanished, and her little face fell.

She then proceeded to recount Tang San and Chen Ling's duel, adding plenty of embellishment along the way.

In her version, it was no longer a fair sparring match. Chen Ling had deliberately used his strength to bully the weak, wantonly crushing and bullying Tang San in a one-sided beating.

Yu Xiaogang then solemnly repeated the details of the entire battle, clearly laying out everything that had happened.

After hearing their accounts, everyone present wore different expressions, their hearts churning with shock.

They were all utterly stunned that Tang San, who had used every trump card he possessed, had lost so miserably.

As for avenging Tang San?

Their relationship was decent enough, but the one who had lost was Tang San—Tang San at full combat strength. Had they not heard Yu Xiaogang? Hidden weapons, Spirit Bone, Second Martial Soul—he had used them all. Yet the other guy had only summoned his Martial Soul, then casually struck once and instantly defeated Tang San.

Among them, Ning Rongrong's expression was the most subtle.

As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she was extremely familiar with Sword Martial Soul masters. The strongest Sword Martial Soul master universally acknowledged on the continent was Sword Douluo Chen Xin of her sect.

Therefore, upon hearing of Chen Ling's record, she was far more perceptive than the others and immediately became deeply interested.

"Xiao Wu, do you know his exact Soul Power Level?" Ning Rongrong hurriedly asked.

According to Xiao Wu's description, he was around eighteen years old. If he had only recently become a Soul Elder, there was no way he could possess such terrifying combat power to crush opponents of the same rank. He must have hidden his true strength.

Yu Xiaogang calmly spoke up at this, voicing what he considered the most reasonable conclusion. "His publicly stated level is thirty-two, but in my opinion, he must have concealed his true Soul Power. He is at least a High-Rank Soul Elder, and most likely a Quasi Soul Ancestor. Combined with those strange and unusual Soul Skills of his, that is how he could so easily crush Little San."

Yu Xiaogang spoke calmly. This was the most reasonable explanation; otherwise, Tang San could not possibly have lost so badly.

It was no wonder Xiaogang had reached such a conclusion. After all, no one could have imagined that Chen Ling's actual level truly was only thirty-two.

He simply had not released any Soul Rings throughout the battle, nor had he revealed any Soul Power fluctuations. He had achieved an overwhelming, gulf-like victory using only his Martial Soul and Sword Intent. With strength this bizarre, anyone would assume he was deliberately hiding his true abilities.

Ning Rongrong immediately understood, and her interest grew even stronger.

Such an outstanding young talent, and a Sword Martial Soul master at that—perhaps she could introduce him to Grandpa Sword.

During the era of Douluo One, an eighteen-year-old Quasi Soul Ancestor already counted as exceptionally gifted.

The little devil's eyes spun as a plan formed in her heart.

At this point, Ning Rongrong had not yet been brainwashed by the so-called Shrek spirit. In her current heart, the sect's interests always stood above everything else.

When she heard that Yu Xiaogang intended to seek an explanation from Chen Ling, she immediately decided to secretly send word to the sect guardian accompanying her and contact the sect as well.

In her eyes, it would be far too wasteful to let such a wild, unaffiliated top genius slip away without taking the opportunity to recruit him into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The commotion in the courtyard quickly alerted Flender and Zhao Wuji inside the academy.

The two, who had been drinking tea in the office, walked out upon hearing the noise. They quietly stood at the edge of the crowd and listened to everyone's conversation.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang simply laid out all of his plans.

Flender's face immediately lit up after hearing him. He made the decision without hesitation. "Good! We'll do as you say, Xiaogang!"

In his eyes, an unparalleled genius like Chen Ling was born to belong to Shrek. Only Shrek's philosophy could fully polish him into true greatness.

If they could bring him into the academy, Shrek would gain another formidable member.

"Dean, we're coming too!" Dai Mubai stepped forward and volunteered. Naturally, he did not want to miss such a lively affair.

Ma Hongjun hurriedly moved forward as well and echoed him. "That's right, Dean! The seven monsters are one body. Third Brother has been wronged, so of course we have to go support him! Besides, no matter how strong he is, he's only a Soul Elder. Boss Dai is a Soul Elder too, so it's not like he can't fight him!"

Going to cause trouble by himself was out of the question. Going to cause trouble with a Soul Sage leading the way, though? That was perfect.

"Boring."

Zhu Zhuqing remained as cool and detached as ever. She was indifferent to the matter and could not muster the slightest interest.

Only when she heard Yu Xiaogang mention that Chen Ling possessed a Self-Created Soul Skill capable of countering Tang San's strange movement technique did her heart stir slightly, and a trace of surprise arose within her.

Back when they fought in the Suotuo City Spirit Arena, she had repeatedly lost to Tang San's unpredictable footwork. Now that she heard someone could counter it perfectly, she could not help feeling curious.

While everyone was volunteering and the scene was noisy, Ning Rongrong silently slipped away from the crowd.

She needed to find the sect guardian accompanying her immediately and send word back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, securing this peerless sword cultivator genius in advance.

The so-called unity of the seven monsters, advancing and retreating together, was not worth mentioning before the sect's interests and a top genius who might catch Sword Douluo's eye.

The still-naive yet calculating little devil had always placed the sect's honor, disgrace, and interests above all else. She had never wavered.