A Promise Impossible to Refuse (Part 1)

The dazzling radiance of the Angel Domain faded, revealing Ling Bai and Du Gu Lin.

"What—what did those two do?"

Wu Ming rubbed her eyes, disbelief written all over her face. Han Ruoruo and Chu Qingtian were equally stunned, while whispers rose from the Inner Academy students in the stands.

There was no other reason—it was simply that the two of them looked far too intimate.

Ling Bai wore only a plain white undershirt. His academy uniform had vanished without a trace.

In sharp contrast, Du Gu Lin was wrapped in a loose red academy uniform. It was clearly larger than her actual size, hanging baggily on her in a classic no-pants look. Sunlight glinted off her smooth, snow-white legs, creating a dazzling sight.

"You're amazing. We'll meet again."

Du Gu Lin blew Ling Bai a kiss, then skipped barefoot out of the Inner Academy Soul Arena, leaving the spectators in utter disarray. They were intensely curious about what had happened inside the Angel Domain to cause such a drastic change in Du Gu Lin's attitude.

"Du Gu Lin's challenge has failed. Ling Bai wins and earns one point!"

The referee dutifully announced the result. Ling Bai nodded in acknowledgment before leaving the arena and returning to the rest area.

Meanwhile, Chu Qingtian quietly leaned toward Wu Ming and said mysteriously, "Senior Sister Wu, I'll let you in on a secret."

"Hm?" Wu Ming raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Lowering his voice until only the two of them could hear, Chu Qingtian said, "Yesterday, I lasted longer against Brother Ling than either Ling Luochen or Du Gu Lin did!"

That was the truth. After all, Ling Bai had not been serious at the time.

Wu Ming fell silent for a moment before finally murmuring two words.

"Impressive."

"Senior Sister, you flatter me... Hey, calm down! Don't roll up your sleeves! Don't roll up your sleeves!"

Chu Qingtian was smug at first, then his expression changed dramatically. The Inner Courtyard Living Volcano was about to erupt!

"Come on, get up to the Soul Arena with me! I want to see just how thick your skin is and whether you can withstand my Golden Crow Holy Fire!"

"Senior Sister, black badges can't fight white badges! Follow the rules! Shrek's rules!"

"Cut the crap. If you win, I'll give you a hundred times the points!"

Amid Wu Ming's furious scolding and Chu Qingtian's desperate cries, Ling Bai returned to the stands with a bewildered expression. Pointing at the departing pair, he asked Han Ruoruo, "Senior Sister, what's wrong with those two...?"

Han Ruoruo calmly replied, "I'm not too sure. But they seem to have a pretty good relationship."

Ling Bai gave her a skeptical look. Good Senior Sister, where exactly did you see Wu Ming and Chu Qingtian getting along?

Chu Qingtian was about to be beaten to tears!

"Forget about them."

Han Ruoruo smiled and shook her head. Her deep black eyes settled on Ling Bai, studying him carefully before she teased, "Junior Brother, you defeated Du Gu Lin and Ling Luochen, the next Shrek Seven Monsters, despite being at a lower rank. You're about to make a name for yourself."

"You praise me too highly, Senior Sister."

"I'm not."

Han Ruoruo said seriously, "The Soul Master Competition will be held in one year. Ling Luochen and the others from the previous reserve team will compete as the main team members, but Inner Academy students of the appropriate age are qualified to challenge them. It is also a form of motivation for them.

Setting aside Ma Xiaotao, who cannot control her evil fire, Du Gu Lin and you are, in my view, the only two students currently qualified to threaten their positions among the Seven Monsters."

"Who can say what will happen a year from now?"

Ling Bai merely smiled. As long as he wanted to, replacing one of the main team members would be as easy as turning his hand over.

"Are you going to keep fighting?" Han Ruoruo asked.

"No."

"Then let's go. I'll take you to see the Mimetic Cultivation Zone."

"Alright."

The two left the Soul Arena and headed for the Mimetic Cultivation Zone. They found a room built specifically for light-type soul masters. A branch from the Golden Tree hung inside, and the dense power of light could probably triple Ling Bai's cultivation speed.

"Ling Bai, this is the heavenly treasure that can help you suppress the evil god power of the Death Prison Spider Emperor." Electrolux's voice suddenly rang out.

"So it really is the Golden Tree..."

Electrolux added, "But this small branch is nowhere near enough. You must find a way to approach the Golden Tree's main body."

"I understand, Old Yi."

Ling Bai responded before quickly entering meditation.

As the sun set, Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo finished cultivating. After having dinner together, Ling Bai escorted Han Ruoruo back to her residence and prepared to return to his own cabin.

After spending the entire day exploring, Ling Bai had gained a basic understanding of the Shrek Inner Academy. Though it maintained a strict elimination system, its atmosphere was rather free and open, placing few restrictions on its students. He was very satisfied with that.

An icy gust of wind suddenly swept past. Ling Bai paused slightly and looked with his golden eyes toward an earthen-yellow ball of light atop a towering tree by the lake.

"Very sharp senses."

An aged voice came from within the earthen-yellow light. In the blink of an eye, it had appeared before Ling Bai.

"You seemed pretty capable during the day. How about this old man tests you?"

"Test me?"

The earthen-yellow radiance blocked Ling Bai's vision, but why did it sound as though the other person had something in his mouth?

"Kid, take this!"

As the old man spoke, a long object shot out from the earthen-yellow light and stabbed toward Ling Bai's chest.

A chicken bone?

Ling Bai saw the object's true form. Brilliant golden light condensed into the Angel Holy Sword, which swept sideways against the chicken bone.

Boom—

The deafening clash of sword and bone was like the explosion of a soul cannon shell. The ancient trees on Sea God Island, comparable to hundred-year plant-type soul beasts, could not withstand the terrifying pressure of the two combatants and bent outward beneath the shockwave.

At the same time, Yan Shaozhe concealed himself in the air. The old man within the earthen-yellow light was Xuan Zi, and they had been approaching Ling Bai step by step according to their plan.

Soul Power as heavy as the earth wrapped around the chicken bone, keeping it from snapping beneath the Angel Holy Sword's sharp edge. Xuan Zi inhaled slightly, and a surging, boundless force burst forth.

Just how great was the strength of Xuan Zi, the Taotie Douluo?

With brute force alone, he could pin a Titled Douluo known for immense strength to the ground and grind him into the dirt. He would not use his true abilities against Ling Bai, but this strike still carried the full power of a strength-type Six Rings Soul Emperor. Yet Ling Bai was actually able to match him evenly, without falling even slightly behind!

"The physical qualities of a humanoid ferocious beast..."

Xuan Zi silently made his assessment of Ling Bai's body. Though Ling Bai's Soul Power was only Rank 41, his physical strength had already fully reached the level of a Soul Emperor!

After a brief stalemate, the Angel Holy Sword suddenly unleashed a sword aura that shattered the chicken bone. Ling Bai retreated several steps and said pointedly, "You are a Titled Douluo senior. Isn't it boring to bully a Soul Ancestor junior like me? The dean of our Shrek Academy's Spirit Soul Department is a Super Douluo. Why not spar with him instead?"

Xuan Zi froze for a moment, then dispersed the earthen-yellow light covering his body and laughed heartily. "Hahaha, interesting! Stop hiding, Shaozhe. This little monster is smart enough to have guessed you were here too!"

Yan Shaozhe descended from the sky. There was not the slightest displeasure on his face; instead, it was full of satisfaction.

The more outstanding Ling Bai was, the more he felt that all this effort had been worthwhile.

"Ling Bai, this is Elder Xuan of Sea God Pavilion, the Taotie Douluo."

Yan Shaozhe introduced Xuan Zi to Ling Bai. For the moment, Xuan Zi put away his sloppy appearance of a chicken leg in one hand and a wine gourd in the other, assuming the bearing of an esteemed master.

"Greetings, Elder Xuan."

Ling Bai bowed. The Taotie Douluo was a Rank 98 Titled Douluo, and respect was necessary.

"I'll get straight to the point. Elder Xuan and I have come today to offer you a tremendous opportunity!"

Yan Shaozhe stared intently at Ling Bai's face, his eyes seeming to burn with fire. The dean of Shrek Academy and Rank 95 Bright Phoenix Douluo could barely suppress his excitement at this moment!

Shrek's fourth age of glory was within reach!

"Please go on, Dean."

"Ling Bai, Elder Xuan's name as the Taotie Douluo resounds across the continent. He is already over two hundred years old, yet he still has no successor to inherit all his abilities."

At this point, Yan Shaozhe slowed his pace. Xuan Zi nodded in agreement, a trace of regret flashing across his face at the thought of his greatest skills vanishing with the passing years.

"I specifically asked Elder Xuan to accept you as his final disciple. Just now, Elder Xuan was testing your abilities."

Xuan Zi took over, his voice booming like a great bell. "Your talent is excellent. A god-grade martial soul, extreme attributes, an innate domain, outstanding swordsmanship, and physical qualities far beyond the Soul Power in your body—you are qualified to become this old man's final disciple and inherit my legacy!"

Take him as a disciple!

This was the plan Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe had devised to snatch Ling Bai away from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!

On Douluo Continent, blood relations came first, master-disciple ties second!

A master was like a father.

If Ling Bai became Xuan Zi's disciple, it would mean that he bore Shrek Academy's mark. In the future, he would surely become one of Shrek's own, inherit Mu En's position as master of Sea God Pavilion, and lead Shrek Academy into its fourth age of glory!

"Ling Bai, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and kneel to acknowledge your master!" Seeing that Ling Bai did not react, Yan Shaozhe urged him.

Ling Bai stood quietly in place, looking at the two Titled Douluo who wore hopeful expressions. Then he slowly but firmly shook his head.

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Xuan and Dean Yan. I'm sorry, but I already have a teacher."