Shrek's new members, Xiong Er and Liu Qiang

"Gasp... this Little Monster broke through again? And his fourth ring really is a ten-thousand-year ring?!" Bone Douluo marveled.

"How long has it even been? And that strength... fighting the crown prince was like an adult beating up a child!"

Chen Xin nodded, deeply moved. "Indeed."

"Old Bones, after all these years, that boy Lin Ye probably has more secrets hidden away than we ever imagined."

"Let's go. Let the two brothers play chess. We shouldn't interrupt their 'reunion.'"

They withdrew without a sound, leaving the two in the pavilion to their game.

The next morning, the sunlight was just right.

An exceedingly luxurious carriage stood ready outside the gates of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood at the entrance to see them off.

"Dad, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, we're leaving!"

A delighted smile lit up Ning Rongrong's face as she bade the three elders farewell, then became the first to climb into the carriage.

Zhu Zhuqing likewise bowed slightly to the three elders before following her aboard.

Lin Ye looked at Ning Fengzhi and his two masters. "Uncle Ning, Master Sword, Master Bone, we're off."

Ning Fengzhi smiled gently. "Go on, child. Be careful on the road. Qinghe has arranged everything. Once you reach the academy, just focus on your cultivation."

Chen Xin merely nodded. "Cultivate diligently."

Bone Douluo patted Lin Ye on the shoulder. "Boy, don't disgrace our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect at the academy!"

Lin Ye smiled. "Rest assured, Master Bone."

Upon boarding the carriage, he found Xue Qinghe already seated in the place of honor, dressed in everyday clothes and wearing a warm smile.

"Everyone settle in. We're setting off."

The coachman lightly flicked his whip. The four white horses immediately stepped into a brisk trot, carrying their passengers away from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

As the carriage headed toward Heaven Dou City, Lin Ye gazed out the window at the scenery speeding backward.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy... and the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament coming up soon. This should be interesting.

A certain fellow with the Blue Silver Grass martial soul suddenly came to mind.

I wonder how Tang San and the others are doing now.

At Shrek's old campus, not far from Suotuo City, the new Shrek Academy had begun taking shape after over a month of repairs carried out at a feverish pace.

Though its facilities remained rudimentary, nowhere near comparable to the academy that had once resembled a little village,

at least it now had its own training grounds and a few small dormitories.

"Great! Another win today! A hundred Gold Soul Coins for each of us!"

Dai Mubai's face shone with joy. After a month of hard work, their Shrek had finally gotten back on its feet.

"It's all thanks to Grandmashter's special training plan." Oscar sidled up to Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang with a flattering smile.

During this period, they had continually entered team matches at the Soto Great Soul Arena.

With Tang San's hidden weapons providing support and Yu Xiaogang devising their tactics—mostly Tang San's arrangements, summarized by Yu Xiaogang—they had indeed racked up quite a few consecutive wins.

They had not only gained practical combat experience but also earned funds to rebuild the academy and keep it running.

Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, still wearing that "unfathomably profound" expression.

He nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, excellent. This proves that my theories are correct!"

"Only teamwork and complementary martial soul traits can unleash the greatest power."

"Your progress is plain for all to see."

Standing beside Tang San, Xiao Wu said quietly, "My brother still did most of the work this time."

Ever since the academy had been destroyed, Tang San had cultivated like a madman, winning one soul fight after another in the Great Soul Arena. His soul fighting badge now had the highest point total in all of Shrek.

Ma Hongjun looked at his newly earned Gold Soul Coins and licked his lips. "Hehe, I've finally got a little spending money again. Which new place should I sample tonight?"

But the moment he finished speaking, Dai Mubai rewarded him with a sharp rap on the head.

"Boss, what was that for? Ow!" Ma Hongjun clutched his head in pain.

"Take it easy. I know you've been holding your evil fire in lately, but we don't have that much money for you to go vent it," Dai Mubai advised.

"Then when can I go?" Ma Hongjun glanced down at his little junior and asked in discomfort.

"When we have money." Dai Mubai shook his head, somewhat speechless, then looked behind him, deciding to change the subject.

"You two get a share too. Here are your Gold Soul Coins."

Standing behind them were two new team members. One was a tall, powerfully built young man with an honest face. His martial soul was the Yellow Bear, and his name was Xiong Er.

The other was a small, skinny, bald youth whose martial soul was the Sawblade. His name was Liu Qiang.

Both had performed well when Shrek participated in two-person matches at the Soto Great Soul Arena, and had been recruited because the academy was also "short on people."

Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention, including that of the two new members.

"Everyone, the soul fighting training of this past period has begun to bear fruit."

"But this is only the beginning!"

"The real 'hellish training' will officially begin once the new campus is fully completed!"

"Our goal is!"

"To make the entire continent remember the name of Shrek!"

Yu Xiaogang spoke with such fervor that everyone present grew excited, each looking as though they had been injected with chicken blood.

"The training ahead will be arduous and brutal, but your gains will also exceed your imagination!"

"Are you ready?"

Tang San met Grandmaster's gaze, his eyes resolute. "We're ready, Teacher!"

Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun echoed him. "We're ready!"

Naturally, Xiao Wu followed Tang San's lead. "I'm ready too!"

Though the new members, Xiong Er and Liu Qiang, still had little idea what this supposed "hellish training" actually entailed, they could only nod along.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, built along a mountainside on a grand scale.

Under the bright daylight, a luxurious carriage rolled brazenly into the academy without being stopped, drawing the attention of most of the students.

"Who is that? They were let through just like that?"

"It looks like His Highness the Crown Prince's carriage."

"The crown prince is here?"

Inside the carriage, Xue Qinghe looked at Lin Ye and said, "Lin Ye, I'll take you to the academy's academic affairs office next. You only need to show your martial soul and cultivation level. Leave the rest to me."

"I imagine that with your talent, joining the Imperial Fighting Team will be effortless."

Lin Ye nodded. "Sorry for the trouble, Brother Qinghe."

With that, Lin Ye looked out the carriage window at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Imperial Fighting Team... if I remember correctly, a certain Grandmashter's nephew is here, isn't he?

Recalling the later events involving the Imperial Fighting Team and Shrek Academy in the original story, Lin Ye murmured, "Shrek, I wonder whether you've pulled yourselves together enough to face despair once more?"