Lingsha stepped into Shrek Academy.
The academy, nestled in a small village on the outskirts of Soutuo City, resembled a pile of rotting timber more than an institution of learning. The air hung thick with the smell of mud and sweat, a stark contrast to the sterile cleanliness of Sweet Home.
She followed a wary-looking student to the Headmaster's office, a cramped, cluttered room that could more aptly be described as a storage shed.
In the midst of the chaos sat Flender. His eyes, as sharp as his Owl Martial Soul, scanned Lingsha from head to toe. He was a man accustomed to reading people, and the young woman before him radiated an unnerving aura of calm and confidence.
On his worn-out desk, among stacks of yellowed scrolls, lay a small white porcelain bottle—Schicksal's opening gift.
Flender had already inspected it. As an experienced Spirit Sage, he could sense the pure, potent life energy locked within the pill. It was a genuine treasure, enough to fund his perpetually underfunded academy's operations for an entire year.
"So," Flender broke the silence, his voice raspy. "Schicksal. I've heard the rumors. Nouveau riche merchants with strange technology. Now you send a charming envoy. What do you want with my poor, old academy?"
Lingsha smiled, a polite, practiced expression that betrayed no hint of disturbance at the office's sorry state.
"Headmaster Flender, we come with respect," Lingsha said, her smile unwavering. "Schicksal has analyzed your methodology: ignoring background in favor of raw talent—'monsters,' as you call them. This philosophy, at its core, aligns with our own."
"Don't flatter me, girl," Flender cut in, his tone sharp but not unkind. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the creaking desk. "I know what I am. A stubborn, poor educator. You're merchants. What do you know about shaping the souls of the next generation of Spirit Masters?"
"We know that talent isn't limited to those born with high-ranking Martial Souls," Lingsha's voice remained calm. "Our vision is broader than that. Schicksal believes in progress—progress born not just from spirit power, but from knowledge and technology accessible to all."
She paused, letting her words sink in.
"We don't want to change Shrek Academy, Headmaster. We want to empower it. With our funding, you could have the best facilities on the continent. Laboratories, training arenas, even better food for your students."
Her eyes shone with the vision she painted. "Imagine an academy where every student is given the chance to reach their full potential. A combination of traditional spirit cultivation and cutting-edge technological education. That is what we offer."
Flender was silent. The offer was incredibly tempting. He was tired of constantly counting every copper coin, tired of seeing his students train with makeshift equipment. But his idealism was the anchor that had held him for years.
"And in return?" he asked, his eyes narrowing to slits. "What's Schicksal's price? Blind loyalty? For my students to become pawns in your grand game?"
"We ask for a partnership," Lingsha corrected gently. "Your top graduates will be given a choice—not a command—to join Schicksal. We will offer them resources no empire can match. We want to build the future, not control it."
Flender stared at Lingsha for a long moment, trying to find the lie behind her words. He was an idealist, but the world had taught him to be a cynic.
"I only accept monsters," he repeated, more to himself than to her. That principle was the foundation of everything he believed in.
"Your principle is noble, Headmaster. However, from an efficiency standpoint, it's suboptimal." Lingsha's tone was still gentle, yet now it held an analytical edge. "How many 'monsters' do you find in a year? One? Maybe two? Schicksal believes that monsters can be made, not just found. We can give you the tools to polish coal into diamonds."
The argument struck a chord with Flender. He thought of all the children he had turned away, children with a spark of potential that wasn't quite bright enough. Yet, his conviction was too deep to be swayed. For him, Shrek was about exclusivity. Opening its doors to everyone felt like diluting the very essence of what made it special.
"I appreciate your offer, Miss Lingsha." His voice was heavy with his decision. "And I thank you for the pill. But my answer is no. Shrek will remain Shrek. We are not for sale."
A flicker of disappointment, almost imperceptible, crossed Lingsha's face before she concealed it behind a mask of professionalism. She had failed.
She gave a slow nod, rising gracefully from her chair and bowing respectfully. "I understand, Headmaster. Thank you for your time."
With those words, she turned and walked out, leaving Flender alone with his unshakeable principles.
Once outside, Lingsha pulled out her smartphone. "Young Master," her voice was slightly strained. "The negotiation failed. Flender refused. He's too attached to his idealism."
On the other end, Lian Yang's calm voice replied, "I anticipated that possibility. It's alright, Lingsha. Men like Flender are admirable, but they are relics of a bygone era."
There was a brief pause.
"If the monsters won't come to us," Lian Yang continued, his voice now filled with a new energy, "then we will build a better cage. We're moving to Plan B."
---
Lian Yang's command was a proclamation. Plan B became the top priority.
On a vast tract of land on the border of the Star Dou Forest, secured through the influence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, an architectural marvel began to take shape. This was not just an academy; it was a self-sustaining city: St. Freya Academy City.
Advanced construction Soul Tools, designed by Lizelle Einstein and powered by Frederika Tesla's energy reactors, worked ceaselessly.
In the construction command center, a massive holographic screen displayed hundreds of data points. Tesla, with her hands on her hips and her red hair seeming even more fiery than usual, grumbled at the display.
"Hmph! Of course it's working ceaselessly! This genius reactor is my masterpiece!" she complained loudly. "If only these idiot operators could follow instructions properly, we could have been done two weeks sooner!"
Beside her, Einstein sipped her tea calmly, her eyes never leaving the flowing data. "Tesla, the data indicates operator efficiency is within 98.7% of expected parameters," she stated in a flat tone. "The 0.3% delay is due to unforeseen humidity fluctuations, not human error."
"Humidity?!" Tesla shrieked, whirling to face her colleague. "Don't give me that ridiculous excuse! Just admit it—my reactor is too perfect for this backwater world!"
Einstein merely glanced at her. "An illogical analysis."
Despite their endless bickering, the machines on the ground continued their work. This was one of Schicksal's core innovations: machines designed to be operated by Spirit Masters. Instead of clumsy manual controls, these tools were directly linked to the operator's spirit power, allowing them to manipulate materials with a precision and strength previously thought impossible. A crane could lift a multi-ton beam with the delicacy of a sculptor, while an excavator could dig foundations with millimeter accuracy. It was the perfect fusion of technology and cultivation. Land was leveled, foundations were laid, and walls rose at an unprecedented speed.
In a matter of months, a breathtaking complex rose from the earth. Its clean white walls gleamed, glass towers reached for the sky, and meticulously landscaped gardens provided a sense of tranquility. At the heart of this city stood its main institution, and above its gates, a name that would soon be on everyone's lips was engraved: St. Freya Academy.
The facilities within were even more impressive. State-of-the-art laboratories, simulation training rooms powered by Yggdrasil, luxurious dormitories, and a library connected to Schicksal's database.
Recruitment was carried out with surgical precision. Schicksal agents fanned out across the empire, seeking out overlooked talent: children of commoners, youths with 'trash' Martial Souls, radical scholars. Each candidate was approached personally, offered a free education, unlimited resources, and the promise of a bright future.
---
Within Spirit City, Spirit Hall Headquarters...
In the grand Papal Hall, Bibi Dong sat upon her throne. Below her, a Cardinal knelt, delivering a report in a trembling voice.
"Your Holiness, the Pope, the report on 'St. Freya Academy' is complete." The Cardinal dared not look at her. "It was built in less than half a year. The scale... is unprecedented."
Bibi Dong let out a soft, musical, yet cold hum. "St. Freya? A strange name. This merchant organization, Schicksal, they have far too much money."
"They are fully backed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Your Holiness," the Cardinal added cautiously. "And rumors say their technology surpasses anything we have ever seen."
"Metal tools?" Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest in her eyes. "Ning Fengzhi was always cunning. He thinks he can bet on this new horse to challenge us. Let him."
She paused, tapping a finger on the armrest of her throne.
"However," she continued, her tone sharpening, "that construction speed is not normal. Watch them. Plant some spies among the applicants. I want to know who the mastermind behind this Schicksal is."
"Yes, Your Holiness." The Cardinal bowed deeply and retreated hastily.
As he left, Bibi Dong gazed into the distance. Schicksal... St. Freya... The names carried a familiar echo of ambition. An ambition that could be a threat, or... an opportunity.
In the Star Luo Imperial Palace...
Emperor Dai Tianxing of the Star Luo Empire paced restlessly in his dimly lit study.
"What is the meaning of this?!" the Emperor growled. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's power is growing at an unnatural rate, and now a colossal academy has appeared overnight on the border! Every day, the Haven Dou Empire advances while we are left behind!"
"Your Majesty, the source of all this appears to be the same mysterious organization: Schicksal," the Prime Minister reported. "Their alliance with the Ning Clan is the source of their new economic strength, and they are the ones who built that academy with impossible speed."
"Schicksal..." the Emperor hissed. "Does Ning Fengzhi think he can hide the source of his newfound power? He wants to monopolize progress for himself!"
"Worse, Your Majesty," the Prime Minister added. "The academy they've built... Its scale and construction speed suggest a level of technology far beyond anything we possess. We don't know what they teach there, and that is what makes it so dangerous."
A cold dread gripped the Emperor's heart. "This is a new arms race, and we are not even at the starting line," he hissed. "I want you to do whatever it takes to acquire that technology. Send spies, diplomats, even assassins if necessary. Find out who leads Schicksal. If we cannot buy it, we will take it."
"Your Majesty, that could mean war..." the Prime Minister whispered, his face pale.
"The war has already begun," the Emperor's voice was ice. "It is just that no blood has been spilled yet."
In Gengxin City, Blacksmith Association Headquarters...
Inside his private workshop, Lou Gao stared at a small metal ingot with a mixture of awe and frustration. The old man, a divine craftsman, couldn't comprehend how it was made. It was a material sample given to him by a traveling merchant, who claimed it came from a massive construction project in the north.
He had tried to cut it, but the metal was harder than anything he had ever forged. He tried to heat it, but its melting point was far beyond the capabilities of his best furnace. Its surface was perfectly smooth, without the slightest trace of forging or casting.
"This... is not the work of human hands," he muttered to himself.
With a heavy sigh, he set down his beloved hammer. His pride as the greatest craftsman had been shattered. But beneath the rubble of his arrogance, a spark of curiosity ignited.
He walked out of his workshop, calling for his deputy, Si Long.
"Si Long!"
Si Long hurried over. "Chief, what is it?"
"I'm leaving," Lou Gao said. "I'm heading for the border of the Star Dou Forest."
Si Long was shocked. "For what, Chief?"
Lou Gao shook his head, his old eyes gazing north, as if he could see the towers of St. Freya Academy. "There is a genius there. Someone who can create this impossible material."
He pocketed the metal ingot. "And I will not die in ignorance. I must meet the person behind all this."
In Sweet Home...
Lian Yang observed all these reactions from the Command Center. Data from various sources flowed into his consciousness through his direct connection with Brahma's Brain. Intelligence reports, whispers from nobles, the news of an old divine craftsman's journey.
He saw the seeds of change he had planted beginning to sprout, spreading to every corner of the continent.
A faint smile touched his lips.
St. Freya Academy was not just a school. It was an incubator for the future he envisioned. A future where power was defined by intelligence, hard work, and innovation.
The war against Spirit Hall might be inevitable, but Lian Yang had no intention of fighting it with brute force alone. He would fight it with progress. He would make their technology and ideology obsolete.
And St. Fraya Academy was the vanguard of that silent revolution. A beacon of knowledge in a sea of tradition, ready to welcome the true 'monsters'—not just those born with power, but those who dared to dream and innovate.