Shrek Academy (Please Keep Reading)

Shrek Academy.

A faint mist drifted over the vast lake, and an island lay at its center.

The towering Golden Ancient Tree rose from the island, which seemed to serve as its base. Its dense canopy blotted out the sky and was large enough to cover the entire island.

The lush green leaves, brimming with life, gave off a faint golden glow. A three-story pavilion had been carved into the thick, dark-gold trunk. This was the Sea God Pavilion, Shrek Academy's highest decision-making body.

Inside a simple room in the pavilion, an unconscious young woman lay on a sickbed, with an old man standing on either side.

One of them was disheveled: Xuan Zi, who had brought Zhang Lexuan and the fallen disciples back to the academy.

When news of the disaster had reached the Sea God Pavilion, even the usually composed Mu En had flown into a rare rage.

Now Xuan Zi pinned all his hopes on the old man across from him. All he wanted was for Lexuan to recover.

The other elder wore a clean, plain robe, his hair and beard impeccably groomed. Nine Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—circled him as several Emerald Vines extended from his body onto Zhang Lexuan's.

Gentle Life Force flowed from them, raising the already abundant Life Force in the room severalfold.

Yet after a long while, he withdrew the vines.

Xuan Zi looked baffled and asked urgently, "Elder Zhuang, why did you stop?"

The elder known as Elder Zhuang dismissed his Soul Rings and sighed deeply. "Lexuan's physical injuries aren't serious. They've mostly healed since she absorbed the Soul Ring. The real problem is damage to her Martial Soul Origin and soul. Those will take time to recover."

Hearing that her injuries were not serious, Xuan Zi breathed a private sigh of relief. But what concerned him most was something else. "When will she wake up? Will this affect her future potential?"

Elder Zhuang shook his head. "It's hard to say. But since Lexuan endured the Soul Shock from a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, I believe her willpower will see her through. It's just that—"

Xuan Zi's heart leaped into his throat. "Just that what?"

"Even if she wakes up right away, she'll be confined to bed for a while. My guess is that avoiding lasting damage will take several months at best, several years at worst." Regret colored Elder Zhuang's voice before his tone turned stern. "Xuan Zi, these children are the academy's treasures. How did this Soul Hunting trip become such a disaster?"

As the Sea God Pavilion's only healing-type Super Douluo, he had always spoken bluntly. Respected as Xuan Zi was, Elder Zhuang made no attempt to hide the reproach in his voice after such a grave mistake.

Xuan Zi knew he was in the wrong. His spirits sank again, and he did not argue. "The responsibility for this incident is entirely mine. I'll submit my resignation as deputy master of the Sea God Pavilion shortly. I'll also take full responsibility for compensation. I won't let the academy's reputation suffer!"

"You don't need to tell me that. It's your business!" Elder Zhuang replied flatly, then turned and left.

Shrek Academy's annual enrollment for new students had begun.

At this time of year, the broad stretch of ground outside the east gate always swarmed with people. Stalls lined the road for over a kilometer, their owners calling out to well-dressed students, eager to make a killing while they could.

"Phew! We're finally back!" Tang Ya squeezed through the packed crowd and stopped at the gate.

She took a deep breath of moist air blowing across Sea God Lake, stretched her slender waist, and gave a contented hum.

Turning around, she eagerly beckoned to the equally travel-worn Huo Yuhao. She pulled him briskly into the academy, impatient to show him around.

After spending the past few days together, she had fallen head over heels for Huo Yuhao's... grilled fish.

The senior students of the Inner Court had been generous. More than a dozen Gold Soul Coins had come in over just two days, and she could see a road to riches opening before her. Taking this disciple had been the best decision she had ever made.

She had already decided that once she passed her advancement assessment, she would have a food cart made for Yuhao specifically for grilling fish.

"Little Brother Lu, I'll leave you here. I'm going home to Shrek City first." Zhu Song patted Lu Yi's shoulder with a hearty smile. "If some fool gives you trouble, tell them my name!"

Bei Bei grinned and threw an arm around Lu Yi. "Senior, I'm one of the mighty Outer Court Twin Stars. Don't worry!"

"Got it, Brother Zhu!" Lu Yi smiled back and waved Zhu Song goodbye.

Ever since Lu Yi had saved him that day, the bold senior had looked out for him. Along the way, he had even taken the initiative to teach Lu Yi the Cultivation Method used in the Inner Court.

Supposedly, the method incorporated the Mysterious Heaven Skill and had been refined by generations of Sea God Pavilion Masters. It involved numerous Acupoints, and its effects far surpassed those of an ordinary Meditation Method.

With Zhu Song's one-on-one guidance, Lu Yi had gained a rudimentary understanding of the method. Given time, he was sure he could master it.

Once they entered the academy, the other Inner Court seniors briefly said goodbye to Lu Yi and Bei Bei, then crossed Sea God Lake to return to the Inner Court.

"Come on, I'll show you around the academy!"

Lu Yi nodded and walked beside Bei Bei.

From a distance, Lu Yi spotted three enormous statues.

He needed no introduction from Bei Bei. From their clothes and appearances, he easily recognized the figure in the middle as Flender, the flat-haired man on the left as Yu Xiaogang, and the woman on the right as Liu Erlong.

Farther ahead stood statues of the First-Generation Seven Monsters.

When Lu Yi and Bei Bei approached, Huo Yuhao drew his gaze away from the leading statue.

As a direct inheritor of Shrek's legacy, Bei Bei clearly took pride in the legends of the First-Generation Seven Monsters. To Lu Yi, they were only stories, but he nodded along all the same.

Yet even after ten thousand years, though new powers had risen across the continent, the Martial Souls that had dominated back then still held their luster: the Clear Sky Hammer, the Evil Fire Phoenix, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda...

This world seemed trapped in a belief that the strongest bloodlines would only grow stronger.

Compared with that, the Wizarding World—well, when it came to this, the two worlds made quite a pair of sleeping dragons and crouching phoenixes.

If I marry and have children someday, will they inherit my Wand? Lu Yi wondered.

Wait!

How had his thoughts suddenly wandered to getting married?

Lu Yi hurriedly shook his head.

He was not about to let this romance-obsessed continent turn him into a lovesick fool!

By the time the four reached the end of the main road, the final statue holding pride of place was, naturally, the Sea God's.

Lu Yi's gaze shifted between Tang San's statue and Huo Yuhao, and he could not help shaking his head.

Using your own daughter as bait just to get your claws into him... Old Huo, no wonder you lost!

Wang Dong should be arriving at the academy around now, too. Lu Yi wondered whether his presence would affect how her relationship with Huo Yuhao developed.

Lu Yi felt like an outsider, yet he had somehow become a piece in someone else's game.

If I accidentally disrupt the God King's ten-thousand-year plan, will he strike me down with divine punishment?

"Brother Lu, the Martial Soul Department is to the left from here. There's still time today, so hurry and enroll!"