Shrek Academy was not what Shen Yuan expected.
The buildings were barely standing. The training field was half overgrown with weeds. And yet… the moment he stepped onto the grounds, the air felt heavier, alive with spirit energy. Like the land itself had grown used to hosting monsters.
"You there," came a drawl.
Shen Yuan turned—and met the golden gaze of Dai Mubai. Muscular. Blond. Arrogant. The kind of guy Shen Yuan would've ignored back on Earth… if not for the clear pressure radiating from him.
"You're the new one with two spirits?" Dai asked, cracking his neck.
"Yeah. Problem?"
Dai stepped closer, smirking. "You carry yourself like you're better than us. I don't care what kind of genius you are. In Shrek, respect is earned."
Shen Yuan tilted his head, his voice cool. "And here I thought it was intelligence that made monsters."
The atmosphere shifted. Oscar and Ma Hongjun quickly backed up. A spark flickered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes—she didn't move, but she watched.
"Want to test that?" Dai growled, already releasing his White Tiger spirit. Golden fur began to coat his arms. Spirit rings—two yellow, one purple—lit up around him.
Shen Yuan didn't flinch.
---
[System Alert: Host challenged by Dai Mubai (Rank 39)]
[Recommended Response: Defensive Analysis + Controlled Reveal]
[Auto-cultivation syncing with pressure environment...]
---
Without a word, Shen Yuan released his First Spirit.
Silver light burst around him as his muscles tightened, eyes sharpened, and skin took on a faint metallic sheen.
> Full Body Form—activated.
Then came a subtle pulse—he invoked Blink, just for a second.
The world shifted.
In the blink of an eye, Shen Yuan appeared behind Dai Mubai, a hand casually tapping the older boy's shoulder.
Mubai spun, growling.
"How—?"
"Distance is irrelevant to me," Shen Yuan said softly, his second spirit flickering for just a moment. Ultimate Space hadn't fully activated—but the message was clear.
This wasn't a fight. It was a warning.
Flender's voice cut through the tension. "Enough!"
The Headmaster appeared on the balcony, arms crossed. "Dai Mubai, if I have to remind you again not to break the new ones, I'll have Liu Erlong train you personally."
A flash of fear crossed Dai's face. He backed off.
Shen Yuan turned and walked off toward the dorms—quietly victorious.
---
🛏️ Later – Shrek Dormitory
His room was small but quiet. The system hummed softly in his mind.
---
[Environment Stable. Auto-Cultivation: Active.]
[Nearby Emotional Signature Detected: Zhu Zhuqing]
[Mini-Quest: Establish Rapport – Progress: 4%]
---
He looked up. There was a soft knock at the door.
Zhu Zhuqing stood there, hands behind her back. "I saw the fight."
He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't hit him."
"You didn't need to," she said. A long pause passed. "The way you moved… your body control. It's clean. Precise."
He nodded slowly. "You noticed that?"
"I train alone. I notice everything."
There was something unspoken between them—an unspoken respect. No bravado. No flattery.
"I train after midnight," she added. "If you're not afraid of the dark… come."
She disappeared down the hallway, silent as a shadow.
---
🌌 Elsewhere – Heaven Dou Empire, Spirit Temple
In a lavish hall of white and gold, Qian Renxue—still disguised as Xue Qinghe—stood before a glowing scroll of spirit activity across the continent.
"Two spirits… one of them space-type," she murmured.
Behind her, an elder bowed. "We believe the boy is at Shrek Academy."
Qian Renxue's golden eyes narrowed, her tone icy.
"Another anomaly," she whispered. "He's not part of Tang San's story… which makes him mine to deal with."
She turned toward the window, her angelic spirit humming faintly within.
> I'll watch you, Shen Yuan. And if you're a threat... I'll erase you.
---
To Be Continued...