After nearly a year spent in the harsh embrace of the Setting Sun Forest—where every rustle whispered of danger, and survival hinged on nothing but strength and cunning—the feel of cobbled stone beneath their feet seemed unnaturally smooth. The city welcomed Fu Huan and Yue with a muffled murmur of voices, the scent of roasted meat and spices, and a riotous stream of stalls, vendors, and passersby. Even the noisy bustle felt like a blessing, a tranquil silence compared to the ever-present vigilance of the wild.
Yue walked with her head tilted back, ruby eyes gleaming with curiosity as she drank in the colorful shop signs and dazzling wares. She tugged on Fu Huan's sleeve now and then, pointing at masterfully carved wooden toys, sparkling ornaments, or steaming pastries. Fu Huan, usually reserved, allowed herself the faintest smile, quietly savoring the innocent delight of her younger sister. After all they had endured, such simple joys had grown unspeakably precious.
They did not rush, relishing the rare peace of simply walking without fearing the sudden pounce of a spirit beast. Eventually, they stepped into a small teahouse and ordered fragrant brews and sweets, settling by a window to watch the city's unhurried rhythm. The fatigue of the long journey slowly melted away, replaced by a serene warmth. In that gentle stillness, Fu Huan's thoughts involuntarily drifted to Shrek Academy. A recent report surfaced in her mind—brought by a wandering merchant who had happened upon a familiar face from the Academy…
Meanwhile, in Suoto, just a few hundred meters from the Spirit Arena, a very different atmosphere reigned within a rowdy, smoke-filled tavern.
The students of Tiandou Academy had claimed several tables to celebrate their tenth consecutive team victory. The air was thick with drunken laughter and the clink of wine cups. Yu Tianheng (Spirit Elder, 41st rank, Azure Thunder Dragon), noticeably tipsy, raised his cup with a self-satisfied grin.
"Ten in a row! Let this be proof of an unshakable truth—our academy, forged in noble blood and tempered through strict discipline, shall forever reign supreme. The rest can do naught but trail in our shadow."
Li Wei (33rd rank, Steel Blade), seated nearby among his comrades, smirked.
"Noble blood? More like stagnant waters. At Shrek, we value spirit and perseverance. We shape our own destiny—not inherit it like a faded coat of arms."
Dugu Yan sneered as she sipped her wine.
"Upstarts without name or pedigree speaking of strength? How amusing. True power is passed down through bloodlines. Our veins run with the legacy of masterful cultivators."
Mei Ling (33rd rank, Shadow Cat) cast her a sidelong glance, her voice laced with sarcasm.
"Inheritance is all well and good, but even the finest gem dims without proper polishing. At Shrek, they hone us into blades sharp enough to pierce any armor—be it ancestry or arrogance."
Tianheng flushed red.
"Do you even understand who you're speaking to?! We are the pride of the Heaven Dou Empire, its future incarnate—you are nothing but dirt beneath our feet!"
Zhang Kai (33rd rank, Tactical Golem) answered with quiet firmness.
"Empires need more than arrogant nobles. They need those who think beyond the obvious, who dare to risk all in pursuit of greatness. That's what Shrek cultivates."
"Risk your pitiful lives in the first real fight, that's all you're good for," Dugu Yan spat with venom. "Your so-called freedom is merely the absence of discipline—and respect for true power."
"Respect must be earned through action, not demanded by birthright," Li Wei retorted, his hand gliding toward the hilt of his Steel Blade.
Tianheng's fury crackled like a stormcloud torn asunder.
"You'll regret that insolence!" he roared, lunging at Li Wei with lightning-charged claws, each strike ringing with electric wrath. Li Wei barely managed to parry, but every clash sent jolts of pain rippling through his joints.
Mei Ling, vanishing in a flicker of speed, activated her second skill—Shadow Step—weaving past the stunned Tiandou students to strike Dugu Yan. Her claws raked across the girl's arms and thighs in blurs of silver light. Enraged, Tianheng countered with his own second skill—Thunder Strike—blasting Mei Ling backward and slamming her into the wall.
Zhang Kai, whose golemic form was barely holding back the onslaught of the Tiandou Academy students, knew their strength was nearing its limit.
Dugu Yan, having recovered from Mei Ling's assault, glared at the trio with icy fury. "Did you really think you could humiliate us?" With a wave of her hand, she released a dense cloud of emerald-green poisonous mist.
Li Wei and Zhang Kai immediately began coughing. "Retreat!" Li Wei rasped out. But Mei Ling, already grievously wounded by Tianheng and vulnerable to toxins, collapsed unconscious.
Seeing this, Li Wei and Zhang Kai pushed through the encircling Tiandou students, braving the pain as they carried Mei Ling back toward Shrek Academy.
Upon their return, the sight of the beaten, poisoned second-years ignited rage in Tang San and Dai Mubai. After administering first aid and listening to Zhang's disjointed account of what had happened at the tavern, Mubai and Tang San exchanged a silent glance—then headed toward the exit without a word. Oscar and Ma Hongjun, sensing the storm to come, followed without protest. The girls remained behind at the academy, worry etched across their faces.
Dai Mubai's golden eyes burned with fury as he strode forward, while a wave of icy wrath radiated from Tang San. Ma Hongjun, his body already flickering with the first embers of phoenix fire, breathed heavily, ready to unleash his flame. Even the usually carefree Oscar looked grim, his violet eyes narrowed with anticipation.
"They can't have gone far," Mubai growled, scanning the dusk-covered streets of Suoto City. "Zhang mentioned a tavern near the Spirit Arena. We start there."
Tang San gave a silent nod, his spiritual energy already extending outward, seeking out familiar traces of power. His mind raced, calculating possible outcomes and readying his hidden weapons.
They reached the tavern swiftly. The tension in the air still lingered—faint traces of chaos, spilled alcohol, and the sharp tang of poison.
"They were here," Tang San confirmed, sensing the lingering traces of poisonous energy. "And they haven't gone far. The trail leads north."
Without delay, the four Shrek students took off in that direction. Soon, they spotted a group of youths up ahead. From their arrogant gait and the emblems on their robes, Mubai immediately recognized the students of Tiandou Academy.
"There they are," Mubai snarled, clenching his fists. "Tianheng and that poisonous girl are with them."
The Tiandou group also noticed the approaching Shrek students. Yu Tianheng's face twisted with irritation, while Du Gu Yan smirked with disdain.
"Well, look who decided to crawl back," Tianheng mocked. "Come for another round, you country bumpkins?"
Dai Mubai stepped forward. His eyes, usually gleaming with confidence, now blazed with unrestrained fury, fixed directly on the Tiandou students. Pain and helplessness burned in his gaze—an unspoken accusation. His spiritual energy surged, wrapping his form in a golden aura, a silent promise of retribution.
He launched himself forward like an arrow loosed from the string. Rage boiled in his golden eyes. His body erupted with the aura of the White Tiger Devil God. The roar that tore from his throat was raw, primal fury.
Before the smirk on Yu Tianheng's face had time to fade, Mubai crashed into them like a rampaging beast. In that same instant, while their attention was on the raging tiger, Tang San subtly flicked his wrist. Two slender needles sliced silently through the air toward Du Gu Yan.
Overconfident and caught off guard, Yan barely flinched as the first needle grazed her cheek. But the second struck true—embedding itself into a vital acupuncture point in her neck. A sharp cry escaped her lips as her body convulsed in agony.
Tianheng's expression twisted in shock. "Yan!" he bellowed, but Mubai was already upon them, striking down the nearest Tiandou students.
Ma Hongjun, flames wreathing his figure, unfurled his phoenix wings and took to the air, preparing for an aerial strike. Oscar stayed behind, watching closely, ready to support his friends with his restorative sausages.
"What in the name of the heavens is going on here?!" The commanding voice of Qin Ming cut through the chaos like a blade. A powerful surge of spirit energy rolled across the street—spiritual pressure of the sixty-first rank that made even the most defiant spirits falter. Six brilliant spirit rings shimmered around his upright figure. His gaze, cold and appraising, swept over the fallen Tiandou students and locked onto Tang San.
"My student has been grievously poisoned," he said, his tone hard and uncompromising. "Whoever did this—extract the toxins from her body immediately. Then I will listen to your explanation. But know this," his voice dropped to a lower, more menacing timbre, "if I don't like what I hear, you will regret it."
Tang San's cold eyes drifted from Qin Ming's furious face to Du Gu Yan, who writhed on the ground. He could tell she was truly suffering, and delaying might make it worse. Though his anger at her poisoning Mei Ling still simmered, Tang San was not reckless. A confrontation with a Spirit Emperor was not in their best interest.
"I can neutralize the poison," Tang San said evenly, his voice calm despite the tension. He stepped toward Du Gu Yan. "But I need space."
Qin Ming gave a silent nod and gestured for the remaining students to back away. His eyes, however, stayed fixed on Tang San—watchful and sharp.
Tang San knelt beside Du Gu Yan. His hands, unusually steady, gently touched her neck, feeling for the exact point of entry. From his sleeve, he drew slender silver needles, glowing faintly with bluish light—the result of his secret art and spirit control.
With precision honed by years of training, Tang San inserted several needles into key points around her neck and shoulder. A faint blue glow enveloped the wounds, and soon dark liquid began to surge through her veins, drawn toward the needle sites. Moments later, thick black blood, mixed with a poisonous sludge, began to ooze from a small incision made where the first needle had struck.
Dugu Yan's spasms began to subside. Her breathing slowed, and the pallor on her face gave way to a faint flush. The toxic mist that had surrounded her slowly dissipated.
When he finished, Tang San removed the needles and wiped his fingers on his sleeve. Rising, he met Qin Ming's gaze directly. "The poison is extracted. Now it's your turn to listen."
Tang San's tone was calm, but beneath it lay a steely resolve. Qin Ming's six spirit rings still shimmered, a reminder of the vast gulf in power—but Tang San stood unshaken.
"Your students," Tang San began, voice devoid of emotion, "insulted and assaulted my juniors tonight. Not just with words, but physically. They attacked first."
He paused to let the weight of his words settle. "My teammates tried to defend themselves, but as you see, they were overpowered. One of our own was grievously poisoned by your disciple." He nodded toward the still-recovering Du Gu Yan. "My attack was a response. A necessary act to neutralize the threat and protect my comrades."
Dai Mubai stepped forward, golden eyes still aflame. "They targeted those younger and weaker than them! That's a disgrace to any academy—especially one that boasts of its 'noble bloodline.'"
Ma Hongjun added, fists clenched, "We didn't come looking for a fight. We just wanted to defend our own."
Qin Ming listened in silence, his eyes shifting between each speaker...
Qin Ming looked carefully at each of the present individuals, and finally, his gaze stopped on Tang San.
"Well, all of you deserve respect. Your words, Tang San, truly make one think, and I am willing to give you and your companions a chance. However, do not forget that this path is full of trials and hardships. You must be prepared for the fact that the consequences of your decisions may turn out to be much more complicated than you can imagine."
Tang San nodded, realizing that this warning was far from just words. He felt his determination grow inside him. He was ready to fight for his goal, even though so much remained unknown ahead.
"We will act together," he said, trying to hide the excitement in his voice. "We are all ready to follow this path to the end."
Qin Ming looked at him, his face unchanged, but a spark of approval flickered in his eyes.
Tang San looked calmly at Qin Ming, whose six spirit rings still shimmered, reminding them all of the vast gap in their strength.
"Your students," Tang San began, his voice even and emotionless,
"insulted my juniors at the tavern tonight. Not only with words, but also with their actions. They struck first."
He paused briefly, letting his words sink in.
"My companions tried to defend themselves, but as you can see, the power imbalance was clear. As a result, one of our students was seriously poisoned by your disciple."
He nodded toward the still-weak Dugu Yan.
"My attack was a mere countermeasure—a way to neutralize the threat and protect my teammates."
Dai Mubai stepped forward, his golden eyes still blazing with fury.
"They attacked those younger and weaker than themselves! A disgrace to any academy, especially one that boasts of its so-called 'noble blood'!"
Ma Hongjun added, clenching his fists,
"We weren't looking for a fight. We only wanted to protect our own."
Qin Ming listened silently to their explanations, his gaze shifting between the speakers and his own students, many of whom had lowered their eyes, unable to meet his stern stare.
He could see the signs of the recent battle, hear the disjointed justifications of his disciples. Comparing these with Dugu Yan's current state and the poison used by Tang San—a poison that, by all accounts, was quite effective—Qin Ming began to piece the situation together.
"Tianheng," Qin Ming said, addressing his top student with a firm voice,
"Tell me what really happened."
Yu Tianheng, still panting from his clash with Mubai, straightened and looked at Qin Ming with a haughty expression.
"Teacher, these village upstarts brought it on themselves!" he began, trying to sound confident.
"We were peacefully celebrating our victory when they began insulting us, clearly jealous of our success and noble heritage."
He shot a contemptuous glance at the Shrek team.
"They were provocative, disrespectful, and acted like fools. Naturally, we couldn't let it slide and taught them their place."
Tianheng conveniently omitted who actually started the argument and what insults had come from their side.
His eyes flicked over to Dugu Yan, who was still recovering from the effects of the poison.
"As for Yan… these ruffians used force first, and she had to defend herself. Her poison is her way of self-defense."
He deliberately left out that it was Dugu Yan who poisoned one of Shrek's second-year students.
"We merely taught them a lesson—to show them their place and to remind them to respect their elders and the stronger," he finished, trying to look innocent, though a note of arrogance still colored his tone.
Qin Ming listened closely to Tianheng's haughty version of events, his expression unreadable, but contemplation flickered in his eyes.
He turned his gaze to Tang San.
"You said these young people are your companions. Which academy do you belong to?"
His voice was calm now, with a trace of curiosity.
Tang San answered steadily,
"We are students of Shrek Academy."
The moment he heard the name, Qin Ming's expression visibly changed.
Memories of the years he had spent at that unusual academy surged back. He recalled the eccentric teachers, the grueling training, and the latent potential that always pulsed within Shrek's students—despite their often unconventional backgrounds.
He knew well that the students of that academy were never ordinary and often surpassed expectations.
His gaze shifted back to Mubai, whose fierce Devil White Tiger aura left no doubts about his strength; then to the cold, calculating Tang San, whose mastery of poison was undeniable; and finally to the other two youths, who radiated the same unwavering resolve.
Qin Ming began to understand just who his own students had crossed paths with.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"It seems this was an unfortunate incident born of mutual misunderstanding and hot-headedness," Qin Ming said, trying to smooth over the sharp edges.
"My students acted rashly, provoking this conflict. I apologize for their behavior."
He turned to Tianheng and the other Tiandou students.
"It's time we returned. This evening has been… instructive."
His tone left no room for argument.
Qin Ming knew that further confrontation with the Shrek students—whose talents were evident and whose academy held a unique status—could lead to undesired consequences. The best decision was to end the conflict here.
The Tiandou Academy students were clearly unhappy with this outcome.
Frustration and resentment showed on their faces. To be so easily put in their place by four unknowns, despite being champions of ten consecutive tournaments, stung deeply.
But the raw strength of their opponents—especially the wrathful White Tiger and the cold youth with poison—left no room for protest.
Even the arrogant Tianheng, despite his indignation, understood that now was not the time for further escalation, not under their teacher's stern gaze.
Qin Ming cast one last look at the Shrek group.
In his eyes flickered a hint of respect for their strength and unity.
"Let's go," he commanded curtly, and his students, reluctantly, followed him back toward Tiandou Academy, carrying with them the still-shivering Dugu Yan.
In the nights that followed, Dugu Yan was plagued by nightmares.
Even when she finally managed to fall asleep, her rest was light and uneasy.
Sharp bursts of pain wracked her body, bringing spasms and convulsions that jolted her awake in cold sweat.
It had happened before, but never so swiftly or painfully—like a thousand needles piercing her skin.
Ye Lingling's healing techniques offered only brief relief, like a weak anesthetic that quickly wore off, leaving behind nothing but agony.
With each passing day, Yan's condition worsened.
Recurring spasms became her tormentors. Dark shadows sank under her eyes, her face grew gaunt, and irritability became her constant companion.
Tang San's poison—formulated to attack the nervous system—had deeply afflicted her already toxin-laced body.
Ordinary healing methods proved useless against its insidious effects.
The once confident and sharp-tongued Dugu Yan gradually withered, becoming a mere shadow of her former self, and it inevitably took a toll on her overall well-being and spirit.
In a quiet teahouse, seated by the window, Fu Huan stirred the last drops of her drink thoughtfully.
A faint concern flickered in her usually calm eyes.
The merchant's tale of unrest at Shrek Academy, of rising competition among students, suddenly gained sharper definition.
She sensed that the atmosphere in the world of spirit masters was heating up, and returning to Shrek might not be as tranquil as she once assumed.
A slight shiver ran through Yue, who had dozed off against her older sister's shoulder.
Fu Huan gently stroked her hair, feeling the weight of responsibility for the young girl's future in this turbulent world.
A vague foreboding clouded her thoughts, urging her to seriously reconsider the upcoming return home.