"These are our class's two transfer students… let's all give them a hand." Mu Ling smiled from the podium, leading applause for two students behind her.
"Welcome, welcome…"
"Wait a minute, aren't they from Shrek Academy? Transfer from Shrek?!!"
Amidst applause, Gu Yue realized something, staring in shock at Ye Xinglan and another boy.
Shrek Academy had been razed days ago.
Only those on missions survived.
Now Shrek Academy was wiped off the map—calling them transfers was almost a cruel joke.
Shrek was gone—transfer to where, exactly?
"Ye Xinglan, she's strong: one of Shrek's Seven Monsters. Though Nightfall beat her last time." Gu Yue sniffed, unconcerned.
"Let it go, Shrek Academy is destroyed," Crimson commented smoothly.
"Hmph~" Gu Yue snorted.
"But about… Su Wen."
Crimson sidled up, whispering in Gu Yue's ear: "Can you introduce me? We're good classmates—can't you help? I'm really craving that Poké Ball."
"But…" Gu Yue hesitated.
"Anything can be negotiated." Crimson's eyes sparkled. "If you introduce us, I'll do all your mecha design homework the whole semester!"
"Cough, cough." Gu Yue gulped, clearly tempted but forced herself to be calm. "That's not it…"
"I mean, you're the Crimson Mother, master of your own abyssal plane. Even in the God Realm, you're a big deal. Is it worth all this for a Poké Ball?"
"Absolutely!" Crimson Mother gritted her teeth.
Her life's goal: devour, evolve, become stronger!
The entire Crimson Plane was just a tool for her growth.
Now, with Su Wen's appearance, her worldview was upended.
So easy to evolve: just form a contract, and your bloodline deepens. Such a thing would tempt even the purest dragons.
Even, you could have your own growing subconscious plane; once you became a god, it would hold your divinity and continue expanding…
She couldn't imagine how vast it could get after divinity.
To her, Su Wen was a starship about to lift off. Miss this, and you'll probably never catch up.
After becoming a god, the abyss would be natural enemies to humans; she believed that human would only want her dead—no chance for mediation.
"Well… okay, I'll mention it to him." Gu Yue nodded. "I appreciate the trust, but I can't promise anything—"
"I'll also do all your mecha forging assignments!" Crimson pressed.
"Gulp…"
Gu Yue swallowed hard.
"Fifty percent chance! I'll do my best to convince him to take you!"
"What if I throw in mecha repairs?" Crimson's smile was dazzling.
"Hundred percent!!"
Bang!
Gu Yue slammed her desk in excitement, smashing it.
"…"
The classroom fell silent.
Everyone stared at Gu Yue, unsure what was going on.
Up front, Ye Xinglan twitched a smile, face expressionless, secretly watching: what kind of "welcome" would this exchange-competition champion give her?
"Gu Yue?" Mu Ling arched her brow.
"Uh… sorry, I just thought of something happy." Gu Yue bowed and sheepishly sat back down, embarrassed.
But she signaled 'okay' to Crimson.
Patting her chest: leave it to me.
Crimson smiled like a flower, nodding, but deep suspicion flashed in her eyes.
Did Gu Yue know Su Wen already wanted to recruit her? Maybe this was all deliberate, to lure her in?
Eh—if the bait is good, she was happy to bite.
Aboard a passenger liner to Star Luo Empire—
Grandly decorated, nobles and dignitaries bustled about. Among them, several young figures went mostly unremarked.
"Wulin, are you sure Star Luo will shelter us?" Xie Xie whispered to Tang Wulin.
"I forged fake IDs on the black market. I never intended to rely on their mercy—we'll join Monster Academy, borrow their resources and strength, and once ready—return and take revenge!" Tang Wulin's eyes gleamed.
"Then… we're not even Shrek students anymore?" Xu Xiaoyan whispered, crestfallen.
"At this point… Shrek's name is a burden. The Star Luo Emperor purged all Tang Sect branches, but at least the local one survived this disaster." Tang Wulin gazed at the stars.
"So we have no choice but to abandon our Shrek honor… for now."
"But I believe, everything will come back—one day!"
"…"
But unnoticed in the corner, a figure watched the group.
Mu Ye adjusted his chef's hat, eyes resigned.
Both sides were unspeakably powerful.
On one: Su Wen, the rising star of the beastmaster craze, now with Spirit Pagoda, army corps, and the Federation behind him.
On the other: the nearly eradicated Shrek and Tang Sect.
Even so, a starved camel is bigger than a horse. The will of the Douluo planet himself had ordered him to train these kids, even making Tang Wulin his own successor in the Body Sect.
Sigh, such a mess.
He didn't want to get involved… but that one person, just wouldn't let him go.