Tianhui Grand Canyon.
Zhu Ziyang's group passed directly through the outer perimeter and entered the middle region of the canyon. As a soul beast habitat, Tianhui Canyon shared the typical layered structure of such places across the continent. It was divided into three zones. The first layer was the largest—the outer region—home to ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts, covering seventy percent of the entire canyon. The second layer, the middle region, housed soul beasts under five thousand years of age—this was where Zhu Ziyang had obtained his second and third soul rings. The third layer, the core area of the canyon, was only accessible to soul beasts over five thousand years old.
Currently, they were in the middle region, searching for a suitable soul beast for Zhu Changhe.
"Ziyang, you said Shrek Academy's dormitories aren't even as good as the ones in our Anyang City Primary Academy. Is that really true? You're not just trying to make me feel better, right?" Hong Zhen asked while clearing the way.
"Uncle Hong, you don't trust me?" Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile. "Shrek Academy's dorms truly aren't as good as our primary academy's. Just two beds and two desks. Not even a washroom."
"No way…" Hong Zhen's fantasy of Shrek Academy shattered instantly. People are like that—when they believe something is great, they assume everything about it must be great too.
"Hehe~ Uncle Hong, don't be fooled just because Shrek is the number one academy on the continent. It's not the best in every single aspect," Jiang Nannan chimed in with a giggle. "The cafeteria doesn't even have tables or chairs—we all have to eat standing."
"What?!" Hong Zhen was completely stunned. "Could that actually be the reason Shrek became number one? Training students' willpower through hardship? Should our Anyang Academy do the same?"
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan were dumbfounded by his words, their faces full of helplessness.
Hong Zhen was truly a devout admirer of Shrek Academy—his view was far too idealized. Perhaps this was the charm of distance. Countless low-ranking noble and civilian soul masters across the continent held such idealized views of Shrek. That too was one of the reasons Shrek Academy had stood tall for thousands of years.
"Uncle Hong, don't go copying blindly. The outer court's dorms might not be great, but the inner court's dorms are the best on the continent. Also, the dining hall is divided into sections—not all areas are without tables," Jiang Nannan explained.
"Inner court?" Both Hong Zhen and Zhu Changhe looked puzzled, hearing the term for the first time.
"Yeah. Shrek Academy is split into an outer court and an inner court. The inner court is the core of the academy. Only students who reach the Soul Ancestor level before turning eighteen can enter the inner court," Jiang Nannan elaborated.
"Eighteen years old, Soul Ancestor?" Zhu Changhe and Hong Zhen were both speechless. It was their first time hearing that Shrek had such a division and that the requirements for the inner court were so harsh.
"Then… Ziyang, doesn't that mean you can enter the inner court?" Zhu Changhe asked excitedly after a moment.
"Yes. Once we return, I'll be able to start studying in the inner court," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, not hiding anything.
"That's fantastic! Looks like our Anyang City is about to produce a real big shot!" Hong Zhen clapped and cheered in delight.
"Two big shots, actually. I can enter the inner court too," Jiang Nannan said proudly.
—
In a dry, thorn-covered riverbed, a massive porcupine-like boar with sharp bone spikes along its back was fleeing in panic. A gruesome wound gaped on its abdomen, dripping blood onto the cracked ground. The bloody scent lingered in the air. It was a Thornback Boarhog.
Roughly five to six hundred meters behind it, a pack of snarling wolves gave chase.
There were eleven of them in total. Their fur was bluish-black, striped with faint yellow patterns. Each one was over 1.5 meters long, with dual rows of sharp fangs and blade-like claws. Their eyes glowed faintly purple with ferocity.
This was a pack of Saber-Toothed Light Wolves. The alpha was over two meters long, significantly larger than the others, clearly the pack leader.
The Thornback Boarhog was quickly surrounded. With no way out, it roared in fury and charged forward, goring one of the wolves to death. Despite its injury, it was still powerful. Its cultivation was four thousand years, while the pack leader of the wolves had reached 3,500 years, and the rest hadn't broken 3,000. Though wounded, the Thornback Boarhog was no easy target and kept the wolves at bay. They circled, waiting for a chance to strike but not daring to rush in recklessly.
The boarhog pressed its back tightly against the canyon wall to prevent attacks from behind, keeping its eyes locked on the alpha wolf ahead, fully alert.
Neither side noticed that they were already being watched by an even stronger presence.
At the canyon's edge, Zhu Ziyang and his group silently observed the unfolding hunt. Their target was the Thornback Boarhog. With its light attribute, powerful strength, and razor-sharp tusks and back spikes, it was an ideal soul beast for Zhu Changhe.
"So, should we make a move?" Hong Zhen asked. Despite being a Soul King, he instinctively deferred to Zhu Ziyang, letting him lead their operation.
"No rush. Let the wolves and the boarhog wear each other down. We'll swoop in afterward and take advantage of the situation," Zhu Ziyang said calmly.
"What if the boarhog gets killed by those wolves?" Jiang Nannan asked with concern.
"It won't," Zhu Ziyang said confidently. "The Saber-Toothed Light Wolves would need at least a full day and night to exhaust the boarhog's stamina before making a successful kill."
"In that case, let's wait," Zhu Changhe agreed.
"Mm." Both Hong Zhen and Jiang Nannan nodded.
Time passed quietly. The sun began to descend into the west, and the crimson glow of dusk slowly spread across the sky.
Suddenly, Zhu Ziyang noticed something. At the canyon's left edge, two figures had appeared. Alert, he nudged Hong Zhen and said, "Uncle Hong, look over there!"
"Huh?" Hong Zhen turned to look and saw two people—an elderly woman and a young girl—who hadn't been there earlier. The old lady looked to be in her sixties or seventies, with white hair and a graceful air. She didn't look frail at all. The younger one was about twelve or thirteen, tall and slender, with flowing golden hair and a soft, beautiful silhouette—most likely a budding young beauty.
"Uncle Hong, can you sense their strength?" Zhu Ziyang asked calmly.
"The old lady is probably about the same strength as me. The young girl is only around level thirty," Hong Zhen replied.
"Looks like they're here for the soul beasts too. The question is whether they're after the boarhog or the wolves," Zhu Ziyang mused, rubbing his chin. "If it's the wolves, then we can stay out of each other's way. But if it's the boarhog… we might have a conflict. I'll be relying on you then, Uncle Hong."
"Don't worry. Even if she weren't an old woman but a big burly man, I could still take him on!" Hong Zhen pounded his chest confidently.
Meanwhile, the old woman and the young girl had also spotted Zhu Ziyang's group.
The old lady's face darkened. Clearly, she had sensed Hong Zhen's strength and was unsure of their intentions. Her gaze flickered rapidly as she weighed her options. Finally, she made a decision. Taking the girl's hand, she walked toward Zhu Ziyang's group. Faced with such uncertain circumstances, she had no choice but to make the first move and negotiate.
"Grandma, where are we going?" the girl asked in confusion. It was only after walking a dozen meters that she noticed Zhu Ziyang's group up ahead. Her delicate face revealed a trace of surprise and nervousness.
Zhu Ziyang immediately understood the woman's intention and warned the others. They all prepared to act at a moment's notice.
(End of Chapter)
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