Zhu Zhuqing's dark brows knitted tightly, and a flash of disgust passed through her eyes.
"Chen Jin could stay true to himself and refuse to wallow in the mire with others. That kind of integrity is the rarest thing of all."
Though Zhu Zhuqing's expression was calm, her tone carried admiration for Chen Jin's refusal to cross his bottom line.
In her eyes, Chen Jin would rather endure the pain of Evil Fire backlash than indulge his desires like Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai.
Such purity of character was far nobler than that of anyone in Shrek.
Beside her.
Tang San slowly shook his head, a dismissive sneer appearing on his face.
"Zhu Zhuqing, you're wrong."
"This world has always been one where the strong devour the weak. Only the truly strong have the right to speak of character and conviction."
"As for Chen Jin, he can't even overcome the defects of his own martial soul. He's nothing but a weakling."
Tang San held one hand behind his back, his expression cold and aloof.
"A weakling's convictions mean nothing before absolute power."
Chen Jin's early departure had set off a series of butterfly effects.
The predetermined course had been disrupted.
To this day, Tang San had yet to encounter the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in Sunset Forest.
Naturally, the immortal herbs that could have utterly transformed everyone in Shrek were out of the question.
At this point, the Shrek Seven Devils' soul power levels were generally somewhere in the thirties.
Tang San's soul power was also only in the thirties, far from having advanced by leaps and bounds.
Even so.
Their undefeated record at the Soto Great Soul Arena had still inflated Tang San and the others' confidence to the extreme.
In Tang San's eyes, even without immortal herbs, Shrek remained invincible among their peers.
"A mediocrity who ruined his own future isn't worth our time discussing."
Tang San delivered his final verdict and dropped the subject.
Dai Mubai also sneered and agreed:
"San is right. At the tournament, we'll prove with our strength who the real geniuses are."
Watching his students brimming with fighting spirit, Flender nodded in satisfaction.
"Move out! Our destination is Heaven Dou City!"
Everyone from Shrek strode out through the academy gates, their spirits soaring.
Zhu Zhuqing trailed at the very back of the group. She looked back at the desolate Shrek Academy and sighed silently.
In her mind.
The figure of that young man in white lingered like a brand that would not fade.
Chen Jin.
Where exactly are you now?
Heaven Dou City.
The imperial capital stood majestic and imposing, its towering gray walls stretching across the plain like a sleeping dragon.
Crowds streamed through the broad city gates amid an endless procession of horses and carriages, displaying all the prosperity and grandeur of a great empire's capital.
The Blazing Fire Academy group entered the city without trouble and reached their previously arranged temporary lodgings.
After putting away their belongings together, everyone gathered in the courtyard.
Huo Wushuang rubbed his wrist and looked at the young man in white beside him.
"Chen Jin, we need to register our information at the Great Soul Arena before the tournament. We can familiarize ourselves with the venue while we're there."
Chen Jin nodded, his expression calm.
"Then let's go."
The Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.
It was a truly magnificent building, its enormous dome thrusting into the clouds, its surroundings adorned with exquisite reliefs that lent it an air of antiquity and solemnity.
"It's huge..."
Huo Wu tilted her head back and exclaimed in wonder.
Today, Huo Wu was not wearing her prim academy uniform. A fitted red minidress outlined every inch of her graceful figure.
Her waist was slender, too delicate for a single hand to clasp.
Beneath her skirt, a pair of long, jade-white legs shone with an ivory luster in the sunlight. Their contours were smooth and straight, and every step carried a breathtaking sense of motion.
Delicate strappy sandals set off her fair ankles, and her rounded toes were painted with red nail polish, exuding endless allure.
Huo Wu naturally slipped her arm through Chen Jin's, her beautiful eyes filled with admiration and attachment.
"Chen Jin, with you here, our Blazing Fire Academy will definitely shine this time."
Her warm, delicate body pressed close, bringing with it a faint orchid fragrance.
Chen Jin turned to glance at the lovely face beside him. The corners of his lips lifted in a gentle smile.
"We just need to do our best."
A blush spread across Huo Wu's pretty face. She pressed even closer, her proud curves brushing against his white sleeve in a thoroughly alluring sight.
Many passing Soul Masters turned to look, their eyes full of envy.
With Huo Wushuang leading the way, they soon arrived at the registration desk.
Inside a VIP box high above the Great Soul Arena.
Behind the one-way crystal glass, a pair of bright, beautiful eyes quietly looked down over the registration hall below.
Their owner wore a luxurious pale-gold robe, with an exquisitely flawless face and an elegant bearing. He was none other than the Heaven Dou Empire's eldest prince, Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe stood alone in the spacious box.
Gazing down below, Xue Qinghe spoke into the air:
"Elders, do you know who is registering right now?"
His words had barely fallen.
In the shadows of the box, the air warped, and two figures appeared.
They were Snake Lance Douluo She Long and Porcupinefish Douluo Ci Xue, who guarded him at his side.
She Long bowed and answered quietly:
"Young Lord, that is Blazing Fire Academy, one of the Five Elemental Academies."
A gleam of interest flashed through Xue Qinghe's eyes.
"Blazing Fire Academy? I heard they've recently achieved impressive results at the Great Soul Arena in Blazing Fire City."
She Long nodded, his expression growing more solemn.
"According to the intelligence I've gathered, Blazing Fire Academy recently recruited a terrifying genius."
"He possesses a powerful Phoenix Martial Soul never seen before. He has even challenged Soul Ancestor-level experts one after another with only Soul Elder strength, achieving fifty consecutive victories."
Xue Qinghe's heart jolted, and astonishment filled his exquisite face.
"Fifty consecutive victories? And every match was against someone of a higher rank?"
"Could there be any errors in the intelligence?"
She Long sighed, shock still lingering in his eyes as well.
"At first, I also thought the figures were wrong. But after repeated, careful checks, they proved absolutely true."
"Blazing Fire Academy has indeed recruited an extraordinary monster."
Ci Xue stepped forward beside him, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes.
"Young Lord, would you like me to act and suppress him in secret?"
Xue Qinghe raised a hand to stop Ci Xue's proposal and gently shook his head.
"No need."
"A heaven-sent talent like him may not remain loyal to Blazing Fire Academy forever. Bringing him into our service would be the best course."
Xue Qinghe turned around, fixing his gaze once more on the registration desk below.
His eyes swept over the team members dressed in red before finally settling on the only young man in white.
The moment he clearly saw that incomparably handsome face and its transcendent bearing, Xue Qinghe's heart abruptly tightened.
At once, a thought became a certainty in his mind.
This man is Chen Jin!
However.
Just as Xue Qinghe was watching intently.
The young man in white below sensed something and turned his head, his gaze flashing like lightning as he looked straight toward this concealed VIP box.
Their eyes met.
Through the one-way crystal glass, Xue Qinghe's heart shuddered violently. For a moment, he actually lost his focus.
He noticed me?
How is that possible?
Before you continue