The dawn sun crept over the treetops, bathing Shrek Academy in golden light. A cool breeze swept through the courtyard, scattering flower petals like whispers of yesterday miracle. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well bounty had settled within their bodies, and now came the awakening.
Zhu Zhuqing stood with her arms crossed, back straight as ever. Her long black hair swayed slightly with the wind. A faint, icy aura radiated around her. Li Wei, arms behind his back, observed each of the girls with calm interest.
"Zhuqing," he said. "You've broken through."
She opened her eyes. They glinted like onyx. "Yes. Rank forty."
Her voice was steady, but a hint of satisfaction peeked through. Her aura had grown leaner, sharper. There was a new edge to her movements—faster, more precise. She didn't smile, but Li Wei nodded, knowing she was pleased in her own quiet way.
"Me too!" Meng Yiran said, her serpent cane tapping lightly on the stone floor as she stepped forward. "Rank forty. Finally! I can start looking for my spirit ring soon."
She grinned, her violet eyes gleaming. The venomous air around her had condensed. Even her movements seemed more fluid—less raw, more controlled.
Li Wei looked at Xiao Wu. She stretched her arms and gave a playful yawn.
"I only reached thirty-nine," she said, placing her hands behind her head. "But I didn't take the herb, so I guess I'm not falling behind too badly."
Li Wei offered a small smile. "You didn't need to. Your foundation was already solid."
"Mm~" she hummed, her gaze flicking toward him with a teasing glint.
Then Ning Rongrong stepped forward, looking both excited and a little nervous.
"Li Wei, I think something strange happened," she said. "When I called out my spirit just now... it felt different."
"Let's see it," he said simply. Already expect it.
Rongrong nodded and held her hand forward. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared with a flash of light. But immediately, a stillness fell over the group.
"Wait," Meng Yiran muttered. "That… that's not right."
"Count the floors," Li Wei said, his eyes narrowing.
Everyone leaned in.
One, two, three… seven…
"Nine," Zhu Zhuqing whispered.
The pagoda shimmered softly with an additional tier, its brilliance more refined, the spirit power it radiated far denser.
"It look like your martial spirit has evolved," Li Wei said. "Congratulations Rongrong,you now have the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as martial spirit."
Ning Rongrong jaw dropped. "But... that's supposed to be impossible!"
"Not impossible," Li Wei corrected. "Rare. Unheard of, maybe. But not impossible."
Joy slowly spread across her face, tears prickling in the corners of her eyes.
"I… I did it? Father said I might never reach this form even with decades of training…"
Li Wei gave her a nod. "You did."
The constraints of the clan of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda that can only have to up seven ring now has been broken. They never got Soul Douluo not saying Title Douluo as their martial spirit has constraints them.
Now with Ning Rongrong Martial spirit turn into Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, they now able to have a Title Douluo in their rank.
The spot of the strongest support will no longer be undisputed for them as their rank constraint now will not be their backbenchers.
In that instant, overwhelmed by elation, she dropped her spirit and leapt at him.
"Thank you, Li Wei!!"
He braced himself for a hug—he had felt this coming. Rongrong was always expressive in her emotions, especially with joy.
But he did not expect her lips.
Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, and in her leap, their faces collided—her lips meeting his. Soft, warm, lingering just long enough to be unmistakable.
His body froze.
Behind him, he felt it immediately.
The temperature dropped. Not physically, but in the kind of way that made the hairs on the back of his neck rise.
Zhu Zhuqing eyes narrowed into slits. Her whole body was rigid, unmoving, but her spirit pressure, barely restrained, began to bleed into the air.
Xiao Wu smile faded slowly. Her eyes widened slightly, then turned cool and unreadable.
Meng Yiran arched an eyebrow, then tilted her head with amused disbelief.
Ning Rongrong pulled back, still beaming. "Ahahaha—wait…"
Her eyes widened.
She had just kissed him.
Not on the cheek.
Not by accident.
Full.
On.
The lips.
"I—I didn't mean to—that wasn't—I wasn't thinking!!" she cried out, hands flying to her mouth. Her cheeks burned bright red, like fire had exploded beneath her skin.
Li Wei took a small step back, still stunned. "It's alright."
"It's NOT alright! I just kissed you! In front of everyone!!"
Then she spun on her heel and bolted.
"I'm sorry!!"
She ran away from the place and if one follow her long enough they will be able to see her dormitory door slammed shut a few seconds later, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.
Li Wei stood there, his expression unreadable.
Then he felt it.
Three gazes.
Three different kinds of pressure.
Zhu Zhuqing gaze pierced him like blades. She didn't say a word. She didn't need to. Her silence was louder than anything.
Xiao Wu walked past him, brushing her shoulder against his. "You better not make a habit of that," she muttered, the edge in her voice barely hidden.
Meng Yiran gave him a half-smirk. "Well. That happened."
Then she turned and walked away, cane tapping behind her.
Li Wei let out a long breath.
"I fought Spirit Kings," he murmured to himself. "I summoned legends. But nothing prepared me for a girl heart."
In the distance, the morning birds sang, blissfully unaware of the storm that had just begun.