Seeing the arrangement Xuanzi had made, Yan Shaozhe asked again:
"But aren't we trying to make them stay at Shrek Academy? If we do this, won't they feel as though we're deliberately targeting them?"
Xuanzi only smiled and shook his head.
"They won't. They're still young. At this age, people are full of blood and fire — direct confrontation often earns respect more easily than soft words."
His confidence was unshakable.
Perhaps this confidence was something inherited through the Shrek lineage itself.
After all, in those years past, when the very first Shrek Seven Devils enrolled, didn't the great Lord Sea God himself fight a battle against the Soul Sage Zhao Wuji on the very day he entered? And afterward, didn't he lead Shrek Academy onto the road of glory?
There was precedent!
Which meant: fighting upon first meeting wasn't the problem. The problem was how matters were handled after the fight.
So long as the follow-up was dealt with properly, there was no problem at all.
"Shaozhe, you take care of this. Bring Meier with you. As for the name… call it a Friendship Tournament!"
Thinking of Tang San, Xuanzi couldn't help but place his hopes on Jiang Shengyu — that this boy might become another "Tang San" to lead Shrek into an even more brilliant future.
"Yes, Elder Xuan."
Yan Shaozhe bowed and took his leave.
Watching him depart, Du Bushi, standing at Xuanzi's side, said:
"This Martial Soul Department Dean of yours is no good. You plan to hand him the position of Pavilion Master of Sea God's Pavilion after you're gone?"
Xuanzi sighed.
"Who else, then? Elder Song is already aged. Zhang Lexuan damaged her very foundation by forcefully absorbing a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring; even breaking through to Super Douluo is now nearly impossible for her. If something were to happen to me, in that period before Beibei has grown into his own strength, if not Shaozhe, then who?"
Xuanzi let out a deep breath.
"We all know Shaozhe has his flaws, but there's simply no better option at present."
Until the new generation rose to maturity, Shrek really had no one else suitable to entrust.
Du Bushi chuckled.
"When you put it that way, the dilemma of your Shrek Academy is not so different from that of my Body Sect!"
Xuanzi shot him a sidelong glance.
"What's there to laugh about, old poison? Even in our worst days, Shrek still has talents like Beibei and Jiang Qingtong. And perhaps even Jiang Shengyu will join us! The future is far brighter than your Body Sect's."
Du Bushi snorted.
"That boy's relationship with Di Tian is still uncertain."
But Xuanzi only shook his head.
"As long as he isn't a soul beast in human form, no matter what ties he may have with Di Tian, I believe he will ultimately stand with humankind. And that's enough."
Seeing Xuanzi's confidence, Du Bushi didn't press the point.
In the tens of thousands of years of recorded Douluo history, there had never been a single case of a human abandoning humanity for the sake of soul beasts. Soul masters, after all, had to hunt soul beasts to advance their cultivation. By nature, they stood on opposite sides.
To Xuanzi, Jiang Shengyu's "connection" with Di Tian was most likely nothing more than coincidence.
That evening, by the shores of Sea God Lake, Jiang Qingtong and Meng Hongchen were strolling with Ai Cao.
Under their gentle prodding, Ai Cao finally revealed why she had reacted so fiercely to Ning Tian and the others' provocations.
Bathed in the orange-red glow of the sunset shimmering across the lake, Ai Cao said softly:
"Actually, I once had an elder brother. His dream… was to study here, at Shrek Academy."
Hearing this, Jiang Qingtong instantly understood where the story was going.
Sure enough, Ai Cao's following words confirmed her guess.
Her brother, lacking talent in soul tool crafting but gifted in his martial soul, had wished to attend Shrek Academy.
But to enter Shrek required a recommendation letter from a major city lord. For citizens of the Sun–Moon Empire, where could they possibly obtain such a recommendation from one of the three former Douluo continent nations?
Her brother, unwilling to give up, left the Sun–Moon Empire behind and set out to seek opportunity among the three nations. That departure lasted ten long years. At first, a few letters reached home. Then… nothing. No news at all.
A clichéd story, perhaps — but one that left Ai Cao's heart heavy with bitterness toward Shrek Academy.
"The so-called 'Number One Academy on the Continent'… and yet, to enroll you need a city lord's letter of recommendation. No matter how exceptional your talent! Commoners are still just commoners, with no chance of entry. Is an academy like this really worthy of being called number one?"
She kicked a pebble into the air. A rift in space cracked open beside her, a violet-glowing chain lashing out to smash the stone into fragments.
Looking at the shattered pieces, Ai Cao muttered:
"That's why I can't stand those Shrek students. Their talent might not even surpass mine! But because of their family backgrounds, they were pushed into the Academy… and now they strut around, arrogant under Shrek's name!"
After listening, both Jiang Qingtong and Meng Hongchen fell silent.
A long moment later, Meng Hongchen said evenly:
"Then let's beat them properly."
Ai Cao bowed in gratitude.
"Thank you, Junior Sister Hongchen."
Three days later, Yan Shaozhe arrived with the competition arrangements for Jiang Shengyu's group.
"Hmm? Not only the outer court students want to challenge us, but the inner court too? And they're splitting into two teams, meaning we'll fight twice?"
Xiao Hongchen blinked at the list, clearly surprised.
Yan Shaozhe explained:
"It's just a Friendship Tournament. Sparring with both inner and outer court students will allow the Academy to better assess each of you and tailor training accordingly. You'll also be given adequate rest between matches. Back when Qingtong was a freshman, in her year-end exam she led Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao to face the entire outer court freshman class of several hundred students, all by themselves!"
At this, Xiao Hongchen's competitive spirit immediately flared.
"If Qingtong could do it, then so can I! Inner court, outer court — bring it on!"
Seeing his eagerness, Yan Shaozhe smiled, then turned to the others.
"What about the rest of you? Any objections?"
Jiang Shengyu answered with calm confidence:
"We have no objections. If Shrek's so-called prodigies are dissatisfied with our arrival, then we'll prove with strength that we are worthy of being here. More worthy than they are."
He smiled, composed and sure.
Yan Shaozhe gave a small approving nod.
"Very well. The announcement will be released tomorrow. The tournament will take place in half a month. Prepare yourselves."
After he left, Xiao Hongchen clapped Jiang Shengyu on the shoulder with a grin.
"So what you're saying is… we're basically challenging the entire new generation of the number one academy on the continent, all by ourselves?"
Jiang Shengyu nodded.
"Of course we are."
"Then we're about to get famous!"
Xiao Hongchen stretched lazily, his smile wide.
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