Everything went exactly as Xiao Zi had expected. Apart from Dai Yueheng, no one could keep Dai Huabin in line, not even the Duchess.
With his credentials as a "lifesaver," Xiao Zi smoothly entered the Duke's Mansion and took up residence next door to Dai Huabin. The Soul Saint sent by Dai Yueheng had some complaints. After all, two fists could hardly fend off four hands, and the plan had already accounted for his presence.
But that did not mean Xiao Zi was safely through. Entering the Duke's Mansion was only the first step. His true objective, Shrek Academy, was still nowhere within reach.
Shrek had been established ten thousand years ago. For much of that time, it had been a sacred land in the hearts of Soul Masters, a place royalty and nobles flocked to like ducks.
Upholding its motto of accepting only monsters, never mediocrities, it had created the Inner Court and Outer Court to maintain a balance among the major powers.
Leaving the former aside for now, the establishment of the latter had brought in quite a few students. Royalty and nobles accounted for a full 80%, while the remaining 20% was divided among the lesser and middling nobility. True commoners did not even make up 1%.
That was why Xiao Zi had not simply gone to apply in the first place. Never mind anything else, the recommendation letter alone would have stopped him cold, unless his brain short-circuited and he exposed his innate full soul power of rank twenty.
Compared with Douluo I, the world of Douluo II was undoubtedly crueler. Either you became a noble's claw and fang, or you worked for Shrek. There was no middle option-Evil Soul Masters did not count.
In short, the Outer Court had relatively relaxed requirements. Anyone who met the threshold of "twelve years old and above rank twenty-one," along with a recommendation letter from an official of city lord rank or a high-ranking Soul Master, was eligible to enroll.
Xiao Zi had been exactly twelve when he revived in the Douluo World, with soul power at rank twenty-six, barely skimming above the baseline. He met the requirements; all he lacked was an admission slot.
In the original story, Huo Yuhao had failed to meet the mandatory requirements and had only entered Shrek through the Tang Sect's admission slot. The White Tiger Duke's standing far surpassed that of the declining Tang Sect, and his ancestors, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, had also been members of the Shrek Seven Devils. Thanks to those connections, the Duke's Mansion received one admission slot for the Outer Court each year as well.
Under Dai Huabin's relentless pleading-which Xiao Zi controlled-the Duchess could not hold out against her son. Since the slot was sitting unused anyway, she might as well give it to someone who needed it.
Most importantly, this was the first time Dai Huabin had taken the initiative to make a friend. His previous study companions had either fallen out with him or been driven away; not one had lasted long. Perhaps Xiao Zi's presence could turn him away from his wicked ways?
Whatever the case, she would consider it finding a companion for her son!
As for Xiao Zi's true identity, Dai Huabin, bound by Soul Enslavement, did not care, and the Duchess could not be bothered to investigate closely. Once she learned that he was an orphan, she left it at that.
Soul Enslavement did not extend to his private life. Dai Huabin remained his old self, listening to songs in pleasure houses almost every day, only now he had an extra "lackey."
To avoid arousing outsiders' suspicions and dispel any doubts in the Duke's Mansion, Xiao Zi held his nose and endured it, accompanying the duke's son from one house of pleasure to another.
Unexpectedly, before he himself had much of a reaction, the first to bristle was actually Qian Renxue?
Fortunately, the holiday was almost over. A few more days passed, and at last it was time to leave for school.
At the main entrance, Dai Huabin dawdled his way outside, followed by a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman. She was none other than the Duchess, a daughter of the Netherworld Zhu Family and Dai Huabin's birth mother.
Despite the rumors that she mistreated sons born to concubines and illegitimate children, her treatment of her own two sons was beyond reproach. She personally packed Dai Huabin's luggage, fussing over him with one reminder after another.
"Huabin, once you're back at the academy, you must cultivate properly. You can't keep being as lax as before. Lu'er, Xiao Zi, you two must keep a closer eye on him too, and remind him often while you're by his side!"
As the only male of the Dai Family capable of performing the Martial Soul Fusion Skill Hell White Tiger with the Zhu Family, Dai Huabin had long been betrothed. His fiancée was Zhu Lu.
Xiao Zi felt nothing toward this young woman, who bore some resemblance to Zhu Zhuqing, the God of Speed. He did not even consider enslaving her, treating her as no more than a passerby.
Listening to his mother's instructions, Dai Huabin merely found her tiresome and interrupted absentmindedly, "I know. How many times have you said all this?"
One look at her son's careless attitude told the Duchess that none of it had sunk in, but she was used to that. Her gaze shifted, settling on the "lackey" behind him in a long, meaningful look.
Xiao Zi understood what she meant. To avoid giving himself away, he put on a serious expression and nodded, while communicating through the soul brand to urge Dai Huabin to hurry up and leave.
Dai Huabin obediently complied. He said goodbye to his mother and quickly climbed into the carriage.
With Zhu Lu there, Xiao Zi did not share his carriage. Servants were normally only allowed to ride horses, but adhering to his principle of never taking a loss, Xiao Zi had Dai Huabin arrange a smaller carriage for him, which followed behind.
This upending of the natural order left Zhu Lu thoroughly puzzled. Even she, his fiancée, did not receive such treatment.
Yet in the Duchess's eyes, it only meant that Dai Huabin truly liked this study companion and could cultivate him into a trusted aide once he grew up.
And so, Xiao Zi finally joined the main storyline. He was about to become part of Shrek Academy, gaining a little social standing and capital.
If he had remained an unregistered nobody as before, his life on the Douluo Continent would certainly not have been easy. He would either have had to flee to the Sun Moon Empire or fall into becoming an Evil Soul Master.
For all its myriad flaws, Shrek was the best solution in this era. At least in the short term, nothing could replace it, just as with Spirit Hall ten thousand years earlier.
Partway through the journey, the Captain of the Guards came forward to report, "Second Young Master, it's getting late. We'll soon reach the nearest town and stop to rest."
Dai Huabin was about to agree, but suddenly changed his words as they reached his lips. "No need. There's still some time before nightfall. Let's travel a little farther!"
The guard was taken aback, a strange sense of absurdity rising within him. The Second Young Master had been pampered all his life and could not bear hardship, yet now he was actually asking to keep traveling?
Not only he, but even Dai Huabin's fiancée, Zhu Lu, was surprised. "Huabin, you've changed. Is it Xiao Zi's influence?"
Her teasing remark had stumbled upon the truth. Dai Huabin had indeed been influenced by someone-the kind of influence that reached deep into his soul.
To keep him from acting out of character and exposing the truth, Xiao Zi controlled Dai Huabin to explain, "I just want to get back sooner and find Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong to wash away my past humiliation!"
Thus, the convoy continued along the main road, stopping only briefly to rest along the way. The jolting was hard to endure, but the controlled Dai Huabin kept swallowing his discomfort without a word, allowing the carriage to race onward until they reached their destination...
Shrek City.
Finally able to see it in full, Xiao Zi had Dai Huabin stop and gazed at the city from a hillside.
Towering walls stretched for miles, their sturdy defenses far surpassing those of even a national capital like Star Luo City. The walls formed a square, their surfaces mottled with marks that silently recorded the passage of ten thousand years.
Xiao Zi's gaze was deep and still. He looked past the city and up into the sky, piercing the clouds to stare at the Divine Realm beyond the highest heavens, at the person with whom he shared a blood-deep feud-
Now that I'm here, everything in this world shall be mine to rule!