Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
"Ah! Xiao Wen, you're back!!"
Shrek Outer Court.
Outside the girls' dormitory.
Su Wen stood expressionlessly as he endured a human cannonball. Ma Xiaotao, beaming with joy, had charged at him, throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly while shamelessly feeling him up. "Let Sister Tao check—you didn't get hurt, did you?"
"With Dean Yan around, how could I possibly get injured?" Su Wen replied helplessly.
Passing female students cast curious glances their way.
It was nearly dusk, but quite a few male students still lingered outside. Some were perhaps planning to sneak out for some late-night "fun," while others were likely waiting for their girlfriends, hoping for a kiss before floating away happily.
The nearby grove, however, was empty.
Those who entered Shrek Academy were rarely commoners; they wouldn't do anything to damage their reputation. And if someone was truly desperate, they would ask their roommates to stay out for the night—like in the original story, where Bei Bei skillfully snuck into Tang Ya's dorm (by climbing through the window). Fun fact: Tang Ya's roommate was Jiang Nan Nan...
But I digress.
Ma Xiaotao was now in her fourth year and a prominent figure in the Outer Court—stunningly beautiful, with a fiery temper to match her explosive figure. Her strength was just as formidable: a level 44 Battle Soul Master. Rumor had it she had nearly beaten a suitor to a pulp in the battle arena just a few days ago.
She usually carried herself like a queen—proud, aloof, and dazzling. But her behavior now was an eye-opener for everyone watching.
"Is that Sister Tao's little brother?"
"It's not the holidays. Relatives shouldn't be allowed on campus, right?"
"She has this side to her? Still, that little brother is kind of cute, hehe…"
"…"
Hearing the hushed gossip, Su Wen frowned. Being surrounded by a crowd of girls felt somewhat suffocating. Especially with all those long legs swaying about. Girls in the Douluo world tended to be tall—1.75 meters was about average. Standing at only 1.5 meters, Su Wen felt more than a little overwhelmed.
"Eh? Is this your brother?"
A calm, frosty female voice rang out.
Su Wen instinctively looked over.
A girl in a pale blue dress was approaching. Her long, slender legs were particularly eye-catching. Her expression was cold, though tinged with surprise. Her skin was exceptionally fair; as she drew closer, Su Wen could even faintly make out the light blue veins beneath her jade-like complexion.
"Luochen?" Ma Xiaotao's eyes lit up.
"Let me introduce you. This is my roommate and bestie, Ling Luochen. She's a level 37 Soul Elder with an ice-type martial soul."
"Senior Ling," Su Wen nodded politely.
"Is he your biological brother?" Ling Luochen's icy blue eyes scanned Su Wen with a naturally aloof gaze.
"Not really, but he lives in the Sea God's Pavilion," Ma Xiaotao said with a playful blink.
"The Sea God's Pavilion?!!" Ling Luochen's expression froze.
Those three words signified the very heart of Shrek Academy. To live there… his status was self-evident.
"Hello."
Ling Luochen's expression became more respectful as she extended her fair hand.
"Senior." Su Wen remained composed.
But the moment their palms touched, Ling Luochen suddenly shivered. Her pupils shrank, and her gaze toward Su Wen was filled with ripples of shock.
"Ultimate Ice?!!"
She immediately grabbed Su Wen's arm, her voice trembling as she sensed the powerful aura that had appeared and vanished in an instant.
"What do you mean, Ultimate Ice?" Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened in confusion. She then recalled Su Wen mentioning he was going to the Extreme North for his second soul beast. She never cared about his strength—only that he ate well, drank well, and returned safely.
"My second soul beast, which I captured in the Extreme North, is an Ice Jade Scorpion. It naturally possesses the Ultimate Ice attribute," Su Wen explained.
"Ultimate Ice…"
With every word Ling Luochen spoke, her cold, frosty eyes burned with a fervent heat.
Watching her best friend stare unblinking at Su Wen, practically drooling, Ma Xiaotao had a sudden, ominous feeling. Maybe I shouldn't have introduced them? My bestie looks ready to rob the cradle!
"Ahem! It's almost lights out. We should get back to the dorms!" Ma Xiaotao wrapped an arm around Ling Luochen and pushed her toward the dormitory building.
Ling Luochen glanced back with every step she took.
Su Wen shrugged. At least he was now acquainted with a senior who had deep ties to the protagonist group in the original story. Not a bad way to expand his network.
…
Two years flew by.
During this time, Su Wen had spent most of his days holed up in the Sea God's Pavilion. Day in and day out, he trained, mooched meals from Aunt Lu, requested high-level soul beast meat to feed Ice Sovereign and Gale, and occasionally helped Sister Tao relieve some... heat (physically, of course).
By the time he turned ten, his strength had soared to Level 30, just one step away from reaching the Soul Elder realm.
Inside a private, high-grade training room…
Sizzle—
Ice and fire clashed, sending steam billowing upward and flooding the room with dense white mist.
A few seconds later, Su Wen wiped the sweat from his forehead. He rested his hands on his knees, bent over, and let out a deep exhale.
From within the fog, a silhouette slowly emerged in front of him.
"Tired already?"
Ma Xiaotao appeared in her "fully unleashed" form. Her bright, snow-white legs were the first thing to come into view, followed by a slim waist and a generously curvaceous figure. The transformation from two years ago was astounding.
Su Wen himself had grown to 1.7 meters by now, but he still felt a certain pressure when facing her.
The beauty smiled like a blooming flower. Seeing Su Wen panting heavily, she blushed faintly and covered her mouth to stifle a soft chuckle.
"Sister Tao, you're already at the peak of Soul King. I'm just a Soul Grandmaster—that's a thirty-level gap!" Su Wen rolled his eyes and casually slung his clothes over his shoulder.
He wasn't afraid of the cold, and since Ma Xiaotao had a habit of burning his clothes, he had taken to training shirtless. As he matured, his body had become more muscular, developing a tapered waist and broad back—a physique a bit like Yone from League of Legends.
…
Stepping out of the high-level training room, they found themselves in Shrek's Inner Court. There weren't many students around, but most recognized Su Wen and greeted him as he passed by on his way to the Sea God's Pavilion.
The two chatted idly as they walked.
"The Academy is forming a team to hunt soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. Dean Yan is leading it himself. I've already signed up. Do you want to join, Xiao Wen?" Ma Xiaotao asked.
"…" Su Wen nodded.
Obviously. This team was most likely organized with him and Ma Xiaotao in mind. Even if she hadn't mentioned it, Yan Shaozhe would probably have invited him personally.
Su Wen's importance to Shrek was undeniable. As a core disciple, the Academy paid close attention to his cultivation. They were well aware of his progress and wouldn't let him waste time now that he had hit a bottleneck.
"It's time to get my third pet beast."
Once he obtained a third soul beast, all his current ones would automatically evolve into their second forms. According to Su Wen's theory, this stage was critical—their bloodlines, skills, and even attributes could undergo massive changes. It would be far more than just a change in appearance…
"Yay!"
Ma Xiaotao threw her arms around Su Wen's neck, thrilled.
(End of Chapter)