"Yu Yan, why do you keep asking about Shrek Academy? What's so special about that place?"
After Yu Yan had pumped her for so much information, Ning Rongrong looked him up and down, trying to figure out why he cared.
Xiao Wu also turned to Yu Yan; she wanted to know why he was interested in an obscure academy.
Besides curiosity, Xiao Wu was impressed by Shrek's quality—five students, four Spirit Elders and one Spirit Grandmaster.
"I have some old business with them. When I heard you were attending, I got curious." Calm as ever, Yu Yan shrugged. "After you left Heaven Dou Royal Academy, how did you end up at Shrek?"
"I just followed the main road. They were recruiting—ten gold coins, under thirteen, spirit power above rank 21, both spirit rings century-old."
"Such strict requirements, and the line was huge, so I queued for fun and joined to see what a village academy could offer."
"The rest I already told you."
Ning Rongrong spread her hands, recounting her colorful weeks.
Her bright smile said it all—she loved every minute and was happy to share.
After being cooped up in Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, finally roaming Douluo Continent was pure joy.
As a support system Spirit Master in a dangerous world, she strolled carefree only because powerful guardians shadowed her.
Golden light flickered in Yu Yan's eyes as he spotted her escorts in a corner: one Spirit Douluo, two Spirit Saints, several Spirit Kings—proof of the school's value for her.
"Quite the adventure!"
When she finished, Xiao Wu applauded enthusiastically.
Pretty sure why she'd come, Yu Yan still asked, "So why Exotic Beast Academy?"
"To enroll, of course. I'm in no rush back to Heaven Dou City."
She stated it plainly: outside academies were unreliable; one with friends was perfect.
"Sure, let's register you."
Ning Rongrong's enrollment would boost Exotic Beast's championship odds, and Yu Yan had no reason to refuse.
Jiang Jing clapped once, fast-tracking the paperwork for the Seven Treasure princess.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the premier support Spirit in Douluo Continent.
With it on the team, their win probability jumped another thirty percent.
As expected, Yu Yan led her to Zhu Zhuqing's room; the lone Zhuqing could use a roommate, provided she handled Rongrong's spoiled streak—unlikely with guidance.
Yet her arrival caused no uproar; she was far less arrogant than in the original timeline.
Main reason: she was now the weakest in spirit power.
Ye Lingling, also support, was a three-ring Spirit Elder. Proud Genius Ning Rongrong couldn't stomach being the lone Spirit Grandmaster, especially beside a cultivation-maniac roommate.
In Heaven Dou City, Ning Fengzhi read her letter, beamed, and wrote Jiang Jing while donating funds—same request as to Flender: mold the girl's character.
Relieved, Jiang Jing intensified the special training.
Exotic Beast's regimen was no village jog; it spanned stamina, Spirit control, combat, mindset, mimic environments—plus Nine Heart Begonia's healing pushed cruelty to the max.
Beyond Yu Yan and Xiao Wu, every team member averaged three or four Begonia treatments daily.
In their growth prime, the squad's coordination and strength soared under pressure.
Cultivating frantically toward Spirit Saint and Martial Soul True Body, Yu Yan and Xiao Wu one afternoon heard their team had beaten Heaven Dou Royal Academy at Ice Soul City's arena.
When they learned Dugu Yan had crushed Yu Tianheng head-on, Yu Yan nearly sprayed his drink—half a year before the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament.
At dawn two weeks prior to the tourney, after absorbing Essence of Sun and Moon, Yu Yan broke through; one more ring and he'd be a Spirit Saint.
"I broke through. You?"
On a hill outside Ice Soul City he exhaled, opened his eyes, and shared the news.
"Still rank 69, a sliver away." Xiao Wu, long finished, answered then asked, "Picked your Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast? The one in Star Dou? Let Da Ming and Er Ming help."
Yu Yan had shortlisted three; one lay in Star Dou. Xiao Wu wanted the shortcut.
"No need to trouble them. The 130-thousand-year Nine-Segmented Fish Dragon west of Vast Sea City suits me best—spotted recently."