Chapter 25 — Yun Ming: You Share a Fate with Shrek!
This wasn't just a generous sponsor—this was the key to Eastsea Academy's rise!
For years, every prodigy they nurtured ended up being shipped off to Shrek Academy.
But now… now they finally had a chance to stand tall on their own—maybe even crush Shrek in the upcoming Continental Tournament.
"I've already arranged your lodgings," said Director Long Hengxu. "You'll all be staying at Huahai Residence, East Campus. Private rooms, of course."
These four weren't ordinary students—they were VVIPs.
Letting them stay in the standard dorms would've been absurd.
"I'm not living on campus," Jiang Chen said lazily.
He wasn't here to play student. His goal was to walk the path of cultivation again properly. His power, gained through devouring others, far outstripped his actual combat sense.
In truth, he wasn't much different from the Heavenly Dream Iceworm—except his raw talent as a soul beast gave him marginally higher battle ability.
Back then, choosing to become a soul spirit had cost him his body, but he was once a million-year entity, cultivated through devouring Soul Cores of Ultimate Douluo.
Shrek Academy had scorned that path—calling it evil, a heresy worthy of punishment.
The Federation, the Spirit Transmission Tower, and the Huo Clan, however, had protected him.
Ever since then, every Huo Clan heir who reached Ultimate Douluo made it a tradition to publicly challenge Shrek's Sea God Pavilion Master.
After all, whether something was "evil" or not was ultimately decided by fists.
And it was clear who had the stronger one.
With million-year soul spirits backing them, even the Huo Clan's weakest douluo stood unshaken.
For ten thousand years, Shrek had never won—not once. At best, they achieved a tie.
The Federation no longer viewed Shrek Academy with the reverence it once commanded—they had fallen below even the Tang Sect in real influence.
Gone were the days Shrek dominated half the continent.
Federation positions were strictly capped per faction. Graduates still associated with Shrek were marked as part of its influence forever.
Even taking a single class there made you one of "theirs."
Other great families now treated Shrek like a political stain rather than a prestigious school.
The Spirit Transmission Tower, by contrast, had spread throughout Douluo Continent, handling all martial soul awakenings. As a result, they recruited prodigies the moment they appeared.
And with exclusive control of the soul contract system, there were only two ways left to gain soul rings in this era—
hunt sea soul beasts, or buy one from the Tower.
Consequently, Shrek's student base had dwindled.
Their only consistent recruits came from loyal bloodlines—the Evil Eye Phoenix, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and steadfast allies like the Yuanen Clan, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, or the Star Luo Empire's Dai Family.
Those houses alone kept Shrek's "Number One Academy" title alive.
They still accepted only monsters—not mediocrity.
Long Hengxu handled Jiang Chen's decision calmly. He still handed over the room keys regardless.
"I'll listen to Ancestor," said Huo Yuner quickly.
"I'll still be forging at night," added Tang Wulin.
"Understood," Long Hengxu said. "Still, take the keys. If it ever gets too late to return home, the rooms are yours. Housekeepers clean daily—no hassle."
Gu Yue glanced left, then right, her mood darkening before silently accepting her key and walking off. Even she wasn't going to trouble Di Tian for a private mansion.
Meanwhile, at the Spirit Transmission Tower—
Huo Tiangang brought Na'er to form her first soul contract. Her mental force testing results stunned even him—Spirit Connection Realm, 101 points.
She was a Silver Dragon King, after all. Even Gu Yue, with her sealed God-King power, had only scored 119.
"With a first ring, she can contract a thousand-year soul spirit," he murmured in awe. "No wonder the Ancestor treasures her so much. Another absolute prodigy…"
He smiled kindly. "Your martial soul is the Silver Dragon Spear, and you have strong spiritual power. Let me see… A dragon-type soul spirit would suit you best."
Huo Tiangang frowned.
Dragon-blooded soul spirits were exceedingly rare. Their long lifespans made them unwilling to serve as spirits—few ever agreed to it willingly.
There were hardly any living dragon spirits under a few thousand years old. That left only one option—
an artificial soul spirit.
But dragon-type artificials were even more expensive.
Na'er's brows pinched. Her face had gone pale.
"What's wrong?" Huo Tiangang asked. "Something bothering you?"
Na'er's voice was very small. "A thousand-year soul spirit? How much does that cost? Maybe… just give me anything, a random one."
She almost said a ten-year one is fine.
Tang Wulin's eight-hundred-year dragon spirit already had her working for a lifetime to repay it.
Another thousand-year dragon? She'd owe him for eternity.
Then again, she thought bitterly, she was the Silver Dragon King—her lifespan was infinite. By the time she paid those debts off, Jiang Chen would probably already be long gone.
Huo Tiangang tried not to laugh. "Don't worry. Our Huo Clan can afford one tiny thousand-year spirit. Let's go, I'll help you contract."
"Wait!"
A serene voice interrupted.
A young man in pure white robes stepped forward—elegant, measured, his smile gentle as calm water. No aura leaked from him, and yet his mere presence seemed boundless.
Huo Tiangang's expression stiffened.
He hadn't even sensed the man's arrival.
And that meant only one thing.
"Sea God Pavilion Master," Huo Tiangang said tightly. "The First Spear of the Continent, Heavenly Sky Douluo Yun Ming. To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
Yun Ming smiled faintly. "Yours is a familiar face, Lord Tiangang."
Then he turned his gaze toward Na'er, eyes softening with interest. "This girl… she's extraordinary. I believe she's destined to be my disciple."
In an instant, Huo Tiangang's martial soul flared to life.
Evil-Eyed White Tiger—Possession!
A nine-ringed aura roared to life behind him.
"Impressive," Yun Ming said approvingly. "The Huo Clan's new generation stands tall. You're only a step beneath me."
He chuckled lightly. "Relax. I'm not here to cause trouble."
Truth be told, he had only come out of curiosity—to glimpse the latest heir of the Huo Clan and the bearer of a god-level spirit.
For generations, the Huo heirs had reached Ultimate Douluo and then stormed Shrek's Sea God Pavilion to duel.
It was tradition.
But Yun Ming, known as the strongest man on the continent, had nothing to fear—not even from a line of soul masters with million-year spirits.
By the time their next heir matured, he himself might have already ascended into godhood.
Even if not, they would need decades to reach his level. He had plenty of time.
Instead of waiting for another challenger, why not train one of his own?
And then, when he saw her martial soul—
a gleaming silver spear shining like moonlight—
understanding struck like lightning.
The Silver Dragon Spear.
His own weapon, the Heavenly Sky Spear, resonated faintly in response.
Fate.
This girl was Heaven's chosen.
Stepping closer, Yun Ming smiled down at her gently.
"You," he said. "You share a bond with Shrek."
"Would you like to join our Academy?"
(END CHAPTER)
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