Amidst such conversations and complex thoughts, the group finally arrived at their destination.
Qin Ming stopped, pointed ahead, and said with a hint of complexity in his voice, "We've arrived."
Lin Kong nodded, confirming, "Yes, we've arrived."
Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng, and the others looked in the direction he was pointing, but they were all stunned, their faces filled with bewilderment and... confusion.
Before me was simply the entrance to an ordinary, even somewhat dilapidated, village, with a few crooked farmhouses and a dusty path. There was no trace of an "academy" at all; there wasn't even a proper gate or sign.
"This... is Shrek Academy?" Yu Feng couldn't help but question, wondering if he had come to the wrong place.
Seeing them looking around, Lin Kong calmly reminded them, "Lower your gaze, don't look up."
Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively did as he suggested, shifting their gaze Lou Gao...
Sure enough, next to an old tree at the village entrance, they saw a simple, almost shabby, gate frame. The wooden gateposts were only three or four meters high, and a weathered wooden plaque hung on it, with the words " Shrek Academy " engraved on it, now somewhat blurred.
They had subconsciously assumed that the gate of a Soul Master Academy should be at least ten meters high, imposing and conspicuous. Who would have thought that it would be so "low-key" and "hidden" at the entrance of the village, its height even less than the gate of many ordinary wealthy households.
At this moment, the Imperial Fighting Team's understanding of " Shrek Academy " was completely re-evaluated, and shock, confusion, and even a sense of absurdity were intertwined on their faces.
"Dean Flender!"
Qin Ming.
The two sides met in front of the Shrek Academy's simple "gate," greeted each other, and wore polite smiles. The atmosphere was peaceful, as if the heated conflict at the Great Soul Arena the day before had never happened.
On Flender' side, neither Yu Xiaogang nor Tang San showed up, clearly intending to avoid the situation.
However, the other teachers— Zhao Wuji, Shao Xin, Lu Qibin, and the Shrek Seven Devils members excluding Tang San —were already present.
" Brother Lin!" Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing greeted Lin Kong almost simultaneously, their voices filled with natural warmth.
The two sides nodded to each other and exchanged a few pleasantries. The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious, and yesterday's tense standoff was deliberately put aside. After all, the only one who was truly bothered by yesterday's "reckoning" and had personally "experienced" the whole process was Tang San, who had not yet shown his face.
Qin Ming and Flender, who were old friends and teachers, quickly went to the side and began to talk in hushed tones, occasionally bursting into hearty laughter, seemingly enjoying their conversation.
After exchanging pleasantries, Flender took the initiative to suggest, glancing at the eager young people on both sides, and said with a smile, "It's no fun just standing around talking. How about we let the kids on both sides have a friendly match, test each other's skills, and exchange ideas to see who's better?"
This suggestion is reasonable. Yesterday's planned team battle turned into a farce due to Lin Kong's personal grudges. Today's serious sparring will not only make amends but also truly test the strength of both sides.
Qin Ming readily agreed and looked at his team captain, " Tian Heng, you go first and show the Shrek Academy students the style of our Emperor Dou."
Yu Tianheng stepped forward in response, his posture upright. He nodded slightly to the Shrek Academy students, his voice steady and powerful. " Yu Tianheng, Martial Soul Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Level 39 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."
Flender then called out, " Mubai."
Dai Mubai took a deep breath, strode forward, and stood opposite Yu Tianheng, a competitive flame burning in his eyes. " Dai Mubai, Martial Soul: Evil Eye White Tiger, Level 37 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."
After briefly exchanging names and Martial Soul, the two didn't waste any more words. Almost simultaneously, they shouted, " Martial Soul Possession!"
Yu Tianheng's right arm transformed into a dragon, covered with blue-purple scales, and the dragon's claws were ferocious; Dai Mubai's body swelled, with white hair and black stripes, and the word "" appeared on his forehead.
The next second, the two figures collided like tigers and dragons, and the booming sound, the low roar, and the shockwaves from the collision of Soul Power instantly exploded on the simple training ground.
However, this was a formal sparring match, not a life-or-death struggle. Both fighters maintained considerable restraint in their attacks, displaying powerful and expansive moves while avoiding vital points. They focused more on showcasing the use of Soul Power, combat skills, and adaptability. The scene was intense, yet remained within a controllable range.
Taking advantage of the fact that the two captains were fighting and had attracted most people's attention, Lin Kong whispered to his Emperor Dou teammates, "You guys keep an eye on things, I'll go talk to a few of them."
He was naturally referring to Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others from Shrek Academy.
After receiving understanding nods from his teammates, Lin Kong quietly walked towards the side where the Shrek students were gathered.
" Xiao Wu, come with me for a moment." Lin Kong's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of the Shrek Seven Devils.
These words startled everyone around, who looked over in surprise.
Ning Rongrong, in particular, blinked her big eyes, a hint of surprise flashing across her face—she had thought Lin Kong had come to find her or Zhu Zhuqing.
Xiao Wu herself was a little confused, and subconsciously responded with, "Huh?"
Looking at her dazed expression, Lin Kong raised his voice in exasperation, "You're so stupid, come here!"
"Oh, oh." Xiao Wu finally realized what was happening and quickly responded, walking away from Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, and following Lin Kong, who had already turned and walked to the side.
Under the curious or puzzled gazes of the crowd, Lin Kong walked ahead, with Xiao Wu following closely behind, her head down. The two arrived at a relatively secluded old tree at the edge of the playground.
After stopping, Lin Kong got straight to the point, lowering his voice. " Shrek Academy will most likely be merged into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Xiao Wu looked up, her eyes somewhat blank, as if she hadn't fully grasped what this meant. She simply followed the conversation and asked, "Oh... and then? Brother Lin, you... came to tell me this?"
Lin Kong looked into her large, still clear but confused eyes and sighed softly, "You really are a bit slow. Haven't you figured out the key point yet?"
Xiao Wu frowned, racking her brains. Heaven Dou Royal Academy... the Empire's premier academy... elite Soul Master... a veritable sea of powerful figures... Suddenly, a terrifying thought struck her mind like lightning!
Her delicate body trembled violently, her face turning deathly pale in an instant. Her lips trembled, and her voice was filled with terror. "This... this is... there will be many there..."
Lin Kong picked up where she left off, confirming with a solemn tone, "That's right. Soul Douluo- level expert, or even... Titled Douluo, could appear. And not just one or two."
" Titled Douluo..." Xiao Wu's body trembled slightly uncontrollably. Those words seemed to carry Qian Jun weight, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
She knew all too well what would happen if her identity were exposed to the perception of a powerhouse of that level—absolutely no chance of survival, not even the slightest hope of escape.
"What do you want to do?" Lin Kong asked in a deep voice, looking at Xiao Wu, whose face was pale and who seemed completely lost.
Xiao Wu suddenly raised her head, tightly gripping Lin Kong's sleeve as if it were her last straw. Her eyes were filled with urgency, fear, and a faint glimmer of hope. " Brother Lin! You... you know something? Especially about me... my..."
She bit her lip, unable to utter the word that concerned her life—"identity."
Lin Kong looked at Xiao Wu, who was so close to him and whose eyes were already glistening with tears, remained silent for a moment, and finally slowly shook his head.