Word Count: 3,081 Words
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Ning Tian covered her red lips with her hand, her azure eyes shimring with crystalline tears like ripples on a clear spring. Her delicate, rounded shoulders trembled as silent tears rolled down her face, glistening like precious gems.
She gazed dazedly at the figure before her. His features were clean and gentle, as if embodying the last rays of late spring sunlight. Those dazzling golden eyes shone like morning stars, and the smile deep within them seed to encompass all the beauty in the world.
Ling Bai had defeated everyone like a god descending to the mortal realm, yet he personally admitted defeat to her. What Ning Tian cared about wasn’t the spirit bone itself, but the feeling of being specially favored by him.
This sensation was akin to being struck by Cupid’s arrow—but more like being hit by an artillery shell. She was left dazed and surrendered with her hands raised.
"Bai-ge, I..."
Ning Tian’s red lips parted slightly, as if about to say sothing. But Ling Bai knew her too well. He placed a finger on her lips and said with a light chuckle:
"Xiao Tian, I’ve noticed your mood and actions recently, and I understand what you want to do. The dusa Skull is a spirit bone with a fixed spirit skill. dusa’s Gaze will definitely be an excellent aid on your future path.
Besides, I’ve already given it to you, and so many people are watching. Don’t make lose face, okay?"
"Mm!"
Ning Tian nodded vigorously, solemnly vowing in her heart not to disappoint him!
For ten thousand years, every generation of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had sent direct disciples to enroll at Shrek Academy, so they had beco familiar with certain patterns of the academy.
The Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournant was held every five years, and next year happened to be the ti for the next tournant. At that ti, Shrek Academy would send two teams—the Shrek Seven Monsters and the Reserve Seven Monsters—composed of students from the Inner and Outer Courtyards respectively.
In the Reserve Seven Monsters, she and Huo Yuhao’s trio would inevitably clash once again!
Ning Tian wasn’t the type to swallow her grievances; she wanted to wash away the humiliation she had suffered in an upright and honorable manner!
At this mont, the two of them appeared deeply affectionate, feeding more than 400 first-year students with a mouthful of the exclusive bitter taste of single dogs.
Cao Jinxuan slowly regained consciousness, and as soon as he turned his head, he witnessed Ling Bai and Ning Tian’s public display of affection. He imdiately turned to his good brother Zhou Sichen and said with grief and indignation:
"Brother Zhou, do I have ’punching bag’ written on my face? Why do I get hit with a critical blow as soon as I open my eyes!"
"There, there. Let’s not look."
Zhou Sichen pulled down Cao Jinxuan’s eyelids and muttered, "It’s not us who are wrong; it’s this world that mocks us single dogs."
"Brother Zhou, I feel awful. It’s bad enough that we can’t beat him in a fight, but we can’t even compete with him in love!"
It wasn’t just Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen; all the first-year male students wore sour expressions as if they had eaten two pounds of sour plums. Whether in appearance, personality, talent, or background, Ning Tian was considered impeccable.
Therefore, many male students had resolutely embarked on the journey of becoming lapdogs. When senior students learned that the heir of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had appeared, quite a few of them also launched fervent pursuits, hoping to climb onto a branch and transform into a phoenix.
The male students felt bitter in their hearts. Ning Tian had always been indifferent to her suitors, leading them to believe they still had a chance to win the beauty’s heart. What if the goddess beca blind one day?
Now their hopes were shattered. A monstrous freak of the sa age, with talent and looks that eclipsed their own, had erged out of nowhere. He and Ning Tian were mutually attracted; their feelings flowed naturally, and with just one glance, their intentions were set!
Ling Bai seed to be spoken for already, and the female students naturally felt it was a pity. But their innate talent for gossip and shipping brains took over, making them temporarily forget about the handso guy and their defeat in battle. Led by the Lan sisters, the shipping-obsessed girls gazed from afar at the well-matched pair while their faces displayed pink-tinged, perverted ’hehehehe’ grins.
Everything seed harmonious and amicable, except for the sound of Wu Feng’s frenzied teeth grinding, which sowhat ruined the atmosphere.
"What an exhilarating battle!"
Du Weilun, the Director of the Martial Spirit Departnt, took the lead in applauding, and soon the stands resounded with approving applause from the teachers.
"Teacher Li, sorry to trouble you."
"It’s no trouble at all."
Teacher Li was a middle-aged man dressed in white. He raised his hands, smooth and fair as a child’s, and gentle green light emanated from his palms. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—seven spirit rings rose from beneath his feet. He was actually a powerful Spirit Saint.
The green light coalesced into the shape of leaves. Teacher Li’s sixth spirit ring flashed, and a gentle breeze seed to sweep through the Spirit Dueling Arena. Exactly 451 erald leaves flew out, each one delicately landing on the foreheads of Ling Bai and the first-year students.
Instantly, a cool and refreshing life essence perated their entire bodies. The weakness from depleted spirit power, the minor injuries sustained during battle, and even their physical stamina—all recovered at an astonishing rate.
A top-level healing-type Martial Spirit: Tree of Life.
The students returned to peak condition under the nourishnt of the Tree of Life. Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Dai Huabin, and others regained consciousness. If not for Ling Bai and Ning Tian standing at the center of the Spirit Dueling Arena, they would have almost believed they had just had a not-so-pleasant dream.
Three gazes instantly locked onto Ling Bai. Dai Huabin’s eyes burned with pure fighting spirit. He and Ling Bai were strangers with no grudge between them. The White Tiger was a Martial Spirit ant for battle and killing. Dai Huabin had previously thought himself unrivaled among his peers, but now he had finally found soone to chase after!
In comparison, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’s feelings were much more complex. The forr’s gaze was a mixture of wariness, disappointnt, fighting spirit, fear, and shock—a veritable pie chart of emotions. The latter carried a hidden deep-seated hatred.
Teacher Li completed his healing and returned to the teachers’ lineup. Du Weilun cleared his throat, and his resonant voice echoed throughout the arena:
"First-year students, do you see now? This is what the Inner Courtyard of Shrek Academy is; this is what a true monster is! A full 450 first-year students, unable to match a single peer!"
The first-year students lowered their heads in sha. No one present was a fool. Ling Bai’s admission of defeat to Ning Tian was rely their flirting. No one would be stupid enough to jump out and say they had defeated Ling Bai with the help of the auxiliary-type Spirit Master Ning Tian.
"I can tell you clearly, Shrek is a paradise for monsters. Only monsters can enter, and only monsters among monsters can graduate!
The Inner Courtyard students, like Ling Bai, climbed their way in by stepping on the heads of countless monsters. Most of you have talent and strength that make it uncertain whether you can even smoothly graduate from the Outer Courtyard, let alone the Inner Courtyard!"
Du Weilun’s words undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to the first-year students. The brutal reality was laid bare before their eyes. These ’monsters’ from all over the continent now knelt before another enormous monster that overshadowed them entirely. The little pride they had from passing the freshman examination vanished like smoke, and they once again felt as if they were treading on thin ice.
Ling Bai leisurely surveyed everyone. Du Weilun was certainly exaggerating, but this was precisely an educational technique. It was akin to giving soone an exceedingly difficult test beyond the usual standard. Suppression was not the ultimate goal; instilling humility and encouraging them to strive for improvent was the essence.
Du Weilun continued, "In light of your poor performance, I’ve decided to add another test on this day next year! All of you will challenge Ling Bai again. If your performance remains this poor, then please voluntarily withdraw from Shrek Academy to avoid wasting several years of your pri, as you won’t be able to pass the graduation examination anyway!"
Huh?
Not right!
We agreed on one match, how did it suddenly beco two?
Ling Bai realized that this Du Weilun fellow, was no good!
Ning Tian had felt utterly humiliated after losing to Huo Yuhao and vowed to regain face. When the over 400 defeated students heard they could have another match with Ling Bai, it ignited an intense fighting spirit within them. An intense, invisible fla burned inside them.
Ling Bai was cursing colorfully in his heart. Du Weilun, you scoundrel, just adding trouble!
The plan was perfectly concluded. Du Weilun’s heart that had been hanging finally settled down. He turned to Zhou Yi and said:
"Rember to fulfill our bet. I hope to see your transfer application first thing tomorrow morning."
"I know."
Zhou Yi gritted her teeth, seeming to squeeze these two words from her throat.
The position of horoom teacher at the continent’s number one Spirit Master Academy was sothing countless Spirit Masters dread of, yet she had lost it so easily, forced to slink away to do logistics in the Spirit Guidance Departnt.
She couldn’t accept it!
"Director Du, over the years I’ve made significant contributions to the Martial Spirit Departnt. I have the highest graduation rate among all teachers in the academy! Please give another chance. I promise not to expel students arbitrarily..."
The situation was stronger than the individual. Zhou Yi began to soften her stance and list her achievents to Du Weilun, but the latter was not moved in the slightest. He coldly said:
"A word spoken can never be taken back. Teacher Zhou, are you soone who can dish it out but can’t take it?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the imnse pressure of a Spirit Douluo instantly enveloped Zhou Yi, pressing down on her until her bones creaked and her expression was distorted, as if she would shatter into pieces the next second.
Zhou Yi endured the pressure, cold sweat pouring down. She managed to say, "I’m sorry, Director Du. My transfer application will be submitted to you tomorrow."
Du Weilun withdrew his pressure and nodded with satisfaction. Then, rembering sothing, he said, "There’s also the 10,000-year spirit bone in the bet. Please fulfill it promptly."
Zhou Yi’s fists clenched tightly, blue veins popping up on her forehead. She took a deep breath, reached into her Storage Spirit Guidance Device, and took out a white jade box. She threw it to Du Weilun and then hurriedly left. Based on the direction, she seed to be heading to the Spirit Guidance Departnt.
"That’s it for today. Everyone dismiss and return to your dorms to cultivate diligently. Teachers should also get so rest early. Ling Bai, co to the Director’s office for a mont!"
As the sky gradually darkened, Du Weilun dismissed the first-year students and teachers, keeping only Ling Bai behind.
"Today is a good day. So happy that Zhou Yi is rolling away~"
Along the way, Ling Bai suffered the tornt of Du Weilun’s incessant humming. He wore a sullen expression and maintained a five-ter distance from him.
Bang!
Du Weilun closed the office door. His grinning face was flushed red with joy. The Martial Spirit Departnt getting rid of Zhou Yi was like a patient having a tumor removed. From now on, he wouldn’t have to deal with the overflowing complaint box every year or worry about geniuses being inexplicably expelled.
Seeing Ling Bai’s speechless expression, Du Weilun took out a jade box and pushed it toward him, smiling as he said, "This is a 10,000-year Raging Rhinoceros right leg spirit bone. It’s worth at least 800,000 to 1 million gold spirit coins. Consider it your appearance fee."
Ling Bai realized that this Du Weilun fellow, was quite decent!
Making a million in one afternoon? Heh heh, I’ll definitely co again next ti!
"Director Du is too kind. As a senior, I should naturally look after the growth of my junior brothers and sisters in the Outer Courtyard!"
Ling Bai declined verbally, but his movents in accepting the loot didn’t slow down one bit.
"Alright, stop the fake courtesy!" Du Weilun laughed heartily. "You’ve worked hard today. Go back to Sea God Island and rest!"
Ling Bai thanked him with a smile. This ti, he had single-handedly challenged all the first-year students to help Ning Tian regain face and, incidentally, earned a 10,000-year spirit bone. Du Weilun had purged Zhou Yi from the Martial Spirit Departnt and ignited the students’ passion for cultivation.
Both parties got what they wanted. In short, everyone ca out ahead.
...
Night had already fallen when Ling Bai walked out of the Martial Spirit Departnt’s teaching building. A bright moon had risen high in the sky, casting down silvery light.
The night scenery of Shrek Academy was exceptionally beautiful. As Ling Bai bathed in the moonlight while appreciating the view, his soul seed to be cleansed, and his fatigue and worries vanished without a trace.
A quarter of an hour later, Ling Bai arrived at the shore of Sea God Lake in the Outer Courtyard. Just as he was about to cross the lake, a familiar fiery red figure suddenly appeared in his field of vision.
Wu Feng!
Ling Bai rubbed his eyes in disbelief the mont he clearly saw Wu Feng. This girl was actually running laps around Sea God Lake in the middle of the night!
"Good grief..."
Ling Bai did not know whether to laugh or sigh. Running in the middle of the night—All the nonsensical habits of Shrek had been adopted by that numbskull Wu Feng!
What, trying to imitate Huo Yuhao?
He has a cheat; do you?
For Spirit Masters, running practice was about as useful as a fish with a bicycle.
The effect of running was truly negligible. Huo Yuhao did it to exhaust his physical strength, allowing the Mysterious Heaven Skill to better nourish his ridians. Replacing running with sit-ups would have the sa effect.
So... Wu Feng, what’s up with you?
"Huff... huff..."
Wu Feng’s white school uniform was completely soaked through. Her figure was already fiery hot, and now it outlined those alluring curves even more provocatively.
She saw Ling Bai but had no intention of acknowledging him at all. Panting heavily, she passed by him and continued running forward on her own.
Ling Bai stood with his arms crossed, looking calm and composed.
One lap... two laps... five laps...
Wu Feng ran lap after lap without stopping. She had lost count of how many laps she had run. She only felt that her steps were heavy as if filled with lead. Her body was exhausted, her feet ached terribly, and her breathing was painful like a wheezing bellows. Yet she would rather bite her lips until they turned pale than stop in front of Ling Bai.
Her physical stamina and spirit power were completely depleted. She was relying solely on her willpower to keep going, but there was a limit to what a flesh and blood body could endure. Wu Feng collapsed with a thud in front of Ling Bai.
"Hiss—"
Wu Feng sucked in a sharp breath from the pain. She tried to get up several tis by supporting herself with her hands, but each attempt ended in failure. Then, she noticed a shadow looming over her.
She knew who it was, and precisely because she knew, she desperately wished to stand up again.
"In the basic Spirit Master education of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, there’s no ntion of running to promote cultivation."
Sitting on the ground, she slowly raised her head. Crimson t brilliant gold as their eyes locked. A misty sheen welled up in Wu Feng’s eyes. She tried her best to hold back, but her tears fell like pearls from a broken string. Her fiery red hair was wet and limp, with strands clinging to her pale cheeks.
"Ling Bai, I want to beco stronger..."
She murmured, her lips trembling.
"Speak louder; I can’t hear you."
"Ling Bai, I want to beco stronger!"
From so unknown source of strength, Wu Feng suddenly leaped to her feet and shouted at Ling Bai.
"You bullied , and I endured it for Ning Tian’s sake." Her expression was stubborn. "But now others are bullying Ning Tian. That’s absolutely unacceptable! Ling Bai, I know you’re much stronger than those teachers in the Outer Courtyard. Please, teach to beco stronger! I want to help Ning Tian defeat all her opponents. I’m willing to pay any price!"
On the shore of Sea God Lake under the night sky, the young girl shouted out the unwillingness in her heart and her desire to beco stronger!
"Any price, including your life?" Ling Bai asked.
"Life, soul, I care for none of it. I only want strength!"
The mont Ning Tian had fled covering her face, Wu Feng’s heart had shattered along with her own. She vowed that in this life, she would never let Ning Tian experience the humiliation of defeat a second ti!
"Go rent a private room in the Spirit Dueling Arena. After the Martial Spirit Departnt’s classes end, I’ll et you there. Every night, I will personally train you for two hours through actual combat."
Ling Bai rose into the air, his clear voice seeming to resonate in Wu Feng’s ears.
"Alright!"
A brilliant light shone in Wu Feng’s eyes. If given a choice, who would like to run around foolishly!
"Don’t be like when you were little, crying and wailing whenever you lost."
Wu Feng’s cheeks instantly flushed red upon hearing this. She shouted:
"Impossible!
One day, I will surpass you!"
Four golden words appeared in the air, written in a bold and flowing style.
Looking forward to it.
.....
...
.
END OF VOL 1
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