Shrek Academy's Predicament
Before he finished speaking, the man in the green robe flickered and leaped over the courtyard wall, disappearing into the night. Only a half-cup of cold tea remained on the stone table, gleaming faintly in the moonlight. He had poured himself that tea sometime earlier, but hadn't drunk a drop.
Xiao Wu poked her head out from the kitchen. "Senior, you're leaving already?" She came out and sat down next to Lin Chen, holding a cup of warm tea that she had just warmed up, and put it into his hand.
Lin Chen took the teacup, his fingertips gently stroking the rim.
Moon-Eroding Nether Poison, Blood Moon Devil Lotus...
Judging from its name, it's no ordinary thing, but why haven't I seen it in the original work? Could there be some unpredictable change in this world?
What Dugu Bo solemnly referred to as an "opportunity" must be related to the path of poison, and its difficulty is definitely not low.
The Nether Blood Pool —just the name itself sounds ominous, suggesting a place fraught with danger. But at the same time, it also implies that great risks can lead to great rewards.
"Brother Lin Chen, shall we go?" Xiao Wu squatted down beside him, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him, her eyes showing no hesitation, only the composure of waiting for his decision.
"Let's do some research first." Lin Chen nodded slightly. "Since Master wants us to understand first, he must have his reasons. We'll figure out what kind of opportunity it is before we talk about anything else."
The moonlight fell on his eyebrows and eyes, covering them with a thin layer of silver frost.
The same moonlight shone into the warm pavilion of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, where officials held their official duties.
The calming incense in the gilded beast-shaped incense burner had burned down to its last bit, the smoke as thin as a thread, curling up and wrapping around the cooled teacup.
Xue Qinghe, dressed in a moon-white casual robe, sat behind his desk, holding a newly delivered secret report in his hand, his fingertips casually tracing the surface of the paper.
Ye Weiyang emerged from the shadows, bowing respectfully. "Your Highness, Prince Xue Xing personally attended the academy's victory celebration banquet today, publicly announcing that the Imperial Fighting Team would be directly guaranteed a spot in the main competition, with all training expenses covered by the royal family. After the banquet, he summoned Lin Chen privately and bestowed upon him a Star Feather Token."
"Star Feather Token?"
Xue Qinghe raised his eyes, a faint, slightly mocking smile playing on his lips.
A cold glint flashed across his gentle eyes, like a frigid pool beneath an icy surface.
"Your Royal Uncle is truly a cunning old fox." His voice was clear and gentle, still in its usual mild tone, but there was no warmth in his words. "Busy trying to win over young geniuses and cultivate his own power. He's probably already suspected me, but hasn't found any solid evidence, so he doesn't dare to act openly."
Prince Xue Xing is in charge of the military and the Soul Master Academy system of the Heaven Dou Empire, wielding great power. He has always been at odds with the Spirit Hall. Over the years, the Prince has tested him, the Crown Prince, both openly and secretly.
"Should we send more people to Lin Chen's side?" Ye Weiyang asked in a low voice.
"No need." Xue Qinghe waved his hand, casually tossing the secret report onto the table. "Keep an eye on him if you can, otherwise withdraw. Dugu Bo's disciple isn't so easy to keep an eye on."
He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze falling on the two words "Lin Chen" on the secret report, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.
In four months, they went from level 37 Soul Elder to level 43 Soul Ancestor. In half a month, the entire team achieved Gold Soul Fighting and swept through the Bronze Arena with a 19-game winning streak.
This progress is comparable to that of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.
"Tell your men to be careful during this time," Xue Qinghe said calmly. "Don't make any rash moves during the competition."
"Yes." Ye Weiyang bowed in response, her figure flickering as she disappeared back into the shadows.
Xue Qinghe stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the myriad lights outside the palace walls. The smile on his lips was so faint as to be almost invisible.
Suotuo City, Shrek Academy.
The dean's office was small and simple, with mottled earthen walls. Several training targets leaned against the corner. A dim oil lamp sat on a worn wooden table, its flame flickering gently in the night breeze, making the palindrome stamped with the vermilion seal of the Spirit Hall Branch on the table appear particularly glaring.
Yu Xiaogang sat behind the table, his brows furrowed, his fingers repeatedly tracing the eight characters on the palindrome. "Qualifications do not meet the requirements, no reporting allowed," until his knuckles turned white.
After working for half a month, organizing team information and verifying Soul Master levels, what seemed like a straightforward matter turned into a stumbling block at the last minute due to the academy's aptitude.
Shrek was originally a small, fledgling academy, lacking even proper official registration. In previous years, it managed to get by on small, informal scale.
This year's Continent-Wide Elite Tournament has stricter vetting procedures, and the Spirit Hall Branch directly rejected them. Without the academy's registration qualification, it means they can't even get past the preliminary rounds. No matter how talented these kids are, they won't even have a chance to compete.
"Damn it, those guys from the Spirit Hall are such a handful!"
Zhao Wuji slammed his hand on the table, making the oil lamp flicker. His eyes, as big as copper bells, widened in disbelief. "If that doesn't work, go to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy! Talk to them, let's register under their names and borrow their qualifications. With the talent of our students, they'd be eager to accept us!"
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is a top-tier academy directly under the Heaven Dou Empire, boasting comprehensive qualifications and a powerful background, so registering for the competition is naturally not a problem. In Zhao Wuji's view, this is the most direct method.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head, his tone resolute. "No."
He stood up, his back to the crowd, his thin figure stretching long against the earthen wall. "The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is an official system, with many rules and regulations, and strict discipline. Our Shrek's teaching philosophy and training methods simply can't fit in. Being dependent on others, constantly constrained, will only dull the children's spirit in the end."
He didn't reveal the deeper reason.
Tang San stood in the shadows, his eyes lowered, and said nothing.
Upon hearing the words "Heaven Dou Royal Academy," his fingertips, hanging at his sides, twitched slightly.
Lin Chen, he was all too familiar with that name.
Geniuses of the same age, standing on a top platform like the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, enjoy boundless glory.
If he were to actually go to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy to be registered under someone else's name, not only would he be living under someone else's roof, but he would also inevitably be compared to that person by others. Tang San's inherent pride made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
Why are you all looking so gloomy?
The door opened, Flender strolled in. He wore a grey robe, his hooked nose casting a sharp shadow in the lamplight, but his face carried a confident smile. "It's just a registration qualification, no big deal."
"Flender, do you have a solution?" Yu Xiaogang quickly turned around.
Flender nodded, tapping his fingers on the table. "I know an academy in Heaven Dou City. It has all the official qualifications, so registering for the competition won't be a problem. The dean and I have some old acquaintance; the rules are lenient, and they're easy to talk to. We can just be registered there, without being subject to their control. We can train as usual; we're just using their name."
"Which college?" Yu Xiaogang pressed.
"You'll see when we get there." Flender kept everyone in suspense, chuckling, a shrewd glint in his eagle eyes. "I guarantee it'll be more comfortable than the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and no one will boss us around. Pack your things tonight, and we'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."