Shrek or Sun Moon, That Is the Question

"Jingtian, there are only two paths I can offer you now, and at the moment, there's only one you can take: going to Shrek Academy.

"Our Bai Clan still has two businesses in Shrek City. They aren't enough to bring our clan back on its feet, but they're more than enough to maintain a decent standard of living or serve as starting capital for a fresh beginning.

"Also, my aunt's daughter, Mu Jin, now teaches in the outer court of Shrek Academy. With her position, she'll have no trouble keeping you safe in Shrek City for a while.

"The first path I've prepared for you is to enter Shrek Academy and become an inner court disciple, gradually tying the Bai Clan to the academy.

"I've already prepared a recommendation letter from the city lord for you. With your cultivation and Cousin Mu Jin looking after you, as long as you aren't assigned to that perverted old hag's class and can make it through the freshman assessment three months after enrollment, the road ahead shouldn't be too rough."

After saying this, Bai Jie paused to catch his breath, picked up the water jug, and took a drink before continuing:

"The other path is to go to the Sun Moon Empire.

"If you don't want to continue your studies at Shrek Academy, I'll sell our businesses in Shrek City and take you to the Sun Moon Empire to make a fresh start.

"As for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, which always stands toe-to-toe with Shrek Academy in the tournament, I've heard that whether you enroll normally or transfer in, admission isn't difficult as long as you meet its strength requirements."

Bai Jingtian was stunned. He hadn't expected Bai Jie to suggest going to the Sun Moon Empire of his own accord. And judging by his tone, even though Mu Jin was his cousin, he didn't seem to think much of Shrek Academy.

What was more, Bai Jie had the guts to go to the Sun Moon Empire and fight for an entirely new future.

Even if Bai Jingtian chose to go to the Sun Moon Empire now, he would still need to attend Shrek Academy for a few years first.

On one hand, he needed to use Shrek Academy to improve his strength. It would be even better if he could distinguish himself in next year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament and make a name for himself. After all, only Shrek Academy had the confidence and qualifications to bring students under fifteen to the tournament.

On the other hand, Bai Jie also needed some time to expand their businesses in Shrek City, so he could sell them for a better price when they left and gain more capital to get back on his feet in the Sun Moon Empire.

But this plan suited Bai Jingtian perfectly.

Shrek Academy was already a broken-down ship from the old era. It could only enter the new era with heaven's will on its side and the help of an absurdly powerful man dropped from the sky like Lao Huo.

The current Shrek Academy was beset by troubles both within and without. The Sea God Pavilion had no one to succeed its members, and there were also obvious problems with the academy's atmosphere.

If Bai Jingtian could become an inner court disciple, or even the inner court's eldest senior brother or a member of the Sea God Pavilion, the Bai Clan could certainly rely on Shrek Academy to rise again. But that revival would ultimately be false, and the Bai Clan might also go down the shameful road of becoming "apostles of Tang San" and "Shrek Successors" abandoned by Bai Jingtian, and living by creeds such as "You and I are both of the Tang Sect, born in the Peerless era."

"Dad, then let's go to the Sun Moon Empire.

"But while I'm at Shrek Academy, I'll also make a name for myself and our Bai Clan!"

Bai Jingtian clenched his fist and immediately made up his mind.

First, he would borrow Shrek's chicken to lay eggs, then go to the Sun Moon Empire. That would be his path of growth from now on.

As for every obstacle along the way, whether it was the people of Shrek Academy or the Holy Spirit Cult of the Sun Moon Empire and the imperial family in league with them, Bai Jingtian would blast them all down!

"Good, that's the spirit! You're a true son of the Bai Clan!

"Once I've sold all the land here over the next few days, I'll take you to Shrek City!"

Bai Jie looked at Bai Jingtian with satisfaction, feeling that he seemed to have undergone a transformation he couldn't quite describe.

From a youth who knew little of the world, he had transformed into a hero who looked down upon all under heaven.

A week later, Bai Jie and Bai Jingtian arrived by carriage at Shrek City, said to be the most prosperous city in the three empires of the Douluo Continent.

Yet when they saw the city, with its towering walls and exceptionally prosperous interior, neither Bai Jie nor Bai Jingtian looked particularly surprised.

Bai Jie had visited Shrek City several times before and had grown accustomed to its atmosphere.

Bai Jingtian, meanwhile, had seen cities far more prosperous than Shrek City. By comparison, Shrek City's prosperity was no better than a country bumpkin's.

Besides, these past few days, Bai Jingtian had spent most of his time cultivating diligently and studying Soul Tools.

Both the Sea Tiger's Bai Clan martial arts and Hell-type skills were extremely profound. Bai Jingtian didn't aim too high; he began by learning the most iconic Sea Tiger Blast Fist, as well as lightning and electricity from the Sea Tiger Five Extremes, while trying to cultivate his own electricity-element Martial Soul in the direction of Electric Current Propulsion.

The Bai Clan's businesses also included quite a few things related to Soul Tools, so Bai Jingtian had asked Bai Jie for some Soul Tool textbooks and studied them alongside his cultivation.

Thanks to the "Blue Scientist" option, Bai Jingtian learned this subject very quickly. Although he couldn't work with his hands while traveling by carriage, he soon mastered all the teaching materials he had gotten from Bai Jie, and even gained something extra.

He was ten, or even nine, parts certain that, given an engraving knife and the appropriate metal, he could make a Class 5 Soul Tool—and one that a Soul Grandmaster could use at that!

"Is this Shrek City? Dad, where are our businesses?"

After the carriage entered Shrek City, Bai Jingtian emerged from his cultivation and asked.

"A barbecue restaurant next to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, a Soul Tool shop, and a high-end clothing store. They all belong to our Bai Clan.

"Cousin Mu Jin is already waiting for us. You'll meet her in a little while. She's a senior teacher in Shrek Academy's outer court. With her experience and help, even if you only intend to stay at Shrek Academy for a short time, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble."

Bai Jie explained calmly, though a complicated look had entered his eyes.

Not long ago, he had received a reply from Mu Jin. That perverted old hag had made a serious mistake and been sent back to teach first-year freshmen.

If Bai Jingtian was unlucky, he could very well fall into her hands...

Mu Jin's younger brother had previously been expelled from Shrek Academy after Zhou Yi found fault with him.

Although Bai Jie said he wasn't worried, he was still a little nervous inside.

Even if he could sell off the Bai Clan's businesses soon, if they were pressed for time, he wouldn't be able to prepare enough funds for Bai Jingtian to soar to the heavens at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!

"The poor study, the rich practice martial arts." Training a Soul Master was no small expense. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so few truly independent Soul Masters.