Returning to Shrek Academy

After they entered the Silves Great Soul Arena, there was just half an hour left before the Fierce God Team's Deathmatch.

They witnessed the Fierce God Team slaughter their opponents without hesitation, blood streaming and flesh flying everywhere.

Xiao Wu finally had her first glimpse of humanity's sinister side.

"Xiao Wu! How are you feeling?"

Seeing Xiao Wu's pale face and receiving no answer, Lin Hao led her out of the Great Soul Arena.

They went to a teahouse to rest for a while and settle their emotions.

They sat there for a full half hour before the color returned to Xiao Wu's face.

Once her complexion returned to normal, Lin Hao had originally intended to show her the Slave Market in the Black Market, along with the places where people could torture slaves to death. On second thought, he decided against it.

"Xiao Wu! Feeling better now? Auntie Ah Rou, Da Ming, and Er Ming protected you from childhood, and after you took human form, you had me to protect you.

"You've never witnessed Soul Beasts tearing each other apart, nor have you seen the sinister depths of the human heart."

"You saw it today, didn't you? You should understand the painstaking care behind my intentions now!"

"I originally wanted to show you even more sinister aspects of humanity, but on second thought, forget it. All you need to remember is that human greed knows no bounds."

Xiao Wu looked at Lin Hao and struggled to pull her lips into a smile.

"Brother! I'll remember!"

"Good! Let's go, then. I'll take you around Silves City. It's the capital of the Silves Kingdom. Although it isn't as prosperous as Heaven Dou City, it's still far more prosperous than Suotuo City. This is just the thing to chase away your bad mood."

After that, Lin Hao took Xiao Wu out to enjoy Silves City.

Silves City truly lived up to its status as a kingdom's capital. It had every kind of entertainment imaginable.

Ring toss, cockfighting, flower exhibitions, all sorts of delicious food, and shops selling clothes and dresses-it had everything.

Xiao Wu went from pale and listless to all smiles.

She bought plenty of pretty little dresses, all sorts of lovely clothes, and stockings in every imaginable color.

Lin Hao's favorites were the white stockings and black stockings with lettering. He bought hundreds of pairs outright, tearing them for fun whenever the mood struck him. Hey, it was all for fun!

That night in their hotel room, Xiao Wu wore pink lace sleepwear, a white stocking on one leg and a black one on the other, and a pair of red-soled high heels. Every piece of equipment boosted attack speed.

Lin Hao thoroughly experienced what it meant to pass between the two heavens of black and white.

Xiao Wu was very accommodating, and Lin Hao enjoyed himself immensely.

For the rest of their journey, Lin Hao and Xiao Wu rode Gale Horses and picked up the pace.

By the time the two returned to Heaven Dou City, seven days had passed.

After they entered Heaven Dou City and returned to Shrek Academy, Dean Flender and Dean Liu Erlong were astonished that Xiao Wu had gained more than ten levels of Soul Power in just over two months. Still, neither intended to break the pot to get to the bottom of it.

After all, even setting aside Lin Hao's relationship with Dugu Bo, his relationship with Tang San alone meant Flender did not dare ask.

Nevertheless, Lin Hao explained that Xiao Wu had eaten an Immortal Herb exceptionally well suited to her, which was why her cultivation had risen so quickly.

Flender and Liu Erlong readily accepted this explanation. After all, Flender had personally witnessed his disciple Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul evolve completely into a Fire Phoenix after he ate two portions of Supreme Spirit Medicine.

After reporting to their teachers to end their leave, Lin Hao and Xiao Wu went to the Playground together.

Sure enough, everyone was there.

The roster of Shrek Academy's team for the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament had already been confirmed.

It consisted of twelve people: Lin Hao, Xiao Wu, Tang San, Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Tai Long, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu.

Apart from Lin Hao and Xiao Wu, all the other students were doing Gravity Crush training on the Playground.

Seeing this, Lin Hao and Xiao Wu joined them and began their Gravity Crush training.

Everyone was still astonished that Xiao Wu had gained more than ten levels in such a short time, but they all knew Lin Hao possessed Immortal Herbs and Supreme Spirit Medicine.

Some of them had even personally experienced the surge in Soul Power that came after consuming a supreme Immortal Herb themselves, so although everyone was surprised, they were not overly shocked.

It had been eight or nine months, nearly a year, since they arrived in Heaven Dou City.

Everyone at Shrek Academy had increased their Soul Power.

Lin Hao, level 47, power attack system Battle Soul Ancestor.

Xiao Wu, level 52, power attack system Battle Soul King.

Tang San, level 48, versatile system Battle Soul Ancestor.

Ning Rongrong, level 36, support system Battle Soul Elder.

Dai Mubai, level 44, power attack system Battle Soul Ancestor.

Zhu Zhuqing, level 36, agility attack system Battle Soul Elder.

Oscar, level 37, food system Soul Elder.

Ma Hongjun, level 39, power attack system Battle Soul Elder.

Everyone at Shrek Academy had made progress, and the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament would begin in another year and four months.

That was enough time for Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun to reach Soul Ancestor, and enough for Lin Hao and Tang San to reach Soul King.

At the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament a year later, Shrek Academy could be called the strongest participating team of that tournament, without exception.

The only question was whether Bibi Dong, after learning about the Shrek Academy Team, would help the Spirit Hall Team by giving Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan a high-quality Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone each to absorb and improve their combat strength.

Just a few days after Lin Hao returned, word came that the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, would visit Shrek Academy in three days.

He had specifically requested that Lin Hao receive him, too. Clearly, Qian Renxue was preparing to win him over.

Lin Hao readily accepted. By now, Qian Renxue's greatest enemy, Tang San, harbored barely any hostility toward Spirit Hall.

Once Ah Yin was resurrected, Tang San's hostility toward Spirit Hall would vanish completely.

As for the grudge between the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall, that had nothing to do with Tang San. That was his father Tang Hao's business.

Early in the morning three days later, Lin Hao, Flender, Liu Erlong, and the other teachers responsible for the reception waited at Shrek Academy's gates for Qian Renxue to arrive.

Sure enough, after Qian Renxue arrived, she kept steering the conversation toward Lin Hao, seemingly casually, as she followed Flender and Liu Erlong around Shrek Academy.

After accompanying Flender and Liu Erlong on a tour of Shrek Academy, Lin Hao followed Qian Renxue to the Elegant Tea House in Heaven Dou City.

Once they entered a private room in the teahouse and sat down, the maid began serving tea.

Lin Hao picked up the teacup before him, blew on it, and took a gentle sip.

"May I ask why Your Highness invited me here?"

Qian Renxue smiled softly.

"Can't I simply want to get acquainted with an outstanding young man and Soul Master prodigy like you?"

"You jest, Your Highness!"

"Don't call me Your Highness anymore. I'm a few years older than you, so just call me Brother Xue!"

"Well... then I'll obey rather than stand on ceremony. Greetings, Brother Xue."

"Brother Lin, may I ask if you're confident about the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament?"