Donghai City Soul-Guided Train Station
A long whistle pierced the air as a deep-blue soul-guided train glided into the platform.
Whirr…
Metal wheels hummed against tracks.
Doors hissed open.
"Passengers to Shrek City—prepare to board…"
The station announcement boomed through amplifiers.
Wu Zhangkong—impeccable in white, ice-blue hair flowing—led Fang Yang's group through the crowd onto the train.
Inside, soft lights bathed the clean aisles.
"Sit by ticket number," Wu Zhangkong ordered coolly, tapping their tickets.
Eight seats split into two groups:
- A six-person booth (three facing three)
- A window-side double seat.
Gu Yue claimed the window seat without a word.
Xu Xiaoyan grinned, snagging Fang Yang's other side.
Opposite them:
- Xie Xie winked exaggeratedly at Zhang Yangzi
- Wang Jinxi was already napping, arms crossed.
Tang Wulin and Wu Zhangkong took the double seat.
As the train accelerated, silence settled.
Second-class seats cramped their growing frames—yet all cherished the journey.
Outside, landscapes blurred.
Inside, breathing deepened—passengers drifting to sleep.
Even the energetic Xie Xie yawned, head lolling sideways.
Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi followed, Wang Jinxi's head resting on Zhang Yangzi's shoulder.
Fang Yang glanced at his girls:
- Gu Yue slept peacefully
- Xu Xiaoyan curled like a kitten, steady breaths.
He smiled softly, gently wrapping an arm around each.
Gu Yue didn't resist.
Xu Xiaoyan nuzzled closer, sweet smile on her lips.
Wu Zhangkong kept vigil, eyes closed but alert.
Tang Wulin slept against his shoulder, youthful face serene.
In the shadows, Xiong Jun stood guard, arms crossed.
The beast-king feigned slumber—but every whisper in the carriage echoed in his senses.
---
Dawn broke.
As the first sunlight pierced the clouds, the train slowed entering Shrek City.
The onboard announcement rang out:
"Esteemed passengers—we now enter Douluo Continent's greatest metropolis: Shrek City!
This ancient city, famed for Shrek Academy—the continent's premier institution—is also one of the Sun Moon Federation's political and economic heart!"
Fang Yang rubbed sleep from his eyes, roused by the broadcast.
"Look left—there stands the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters!"
All but Gu Yue turned to the window.
In the distance—a tower piercing the heavens.
Too far to see its base—only its midsection gleamed with silver light, eight-sided, peak lost in clouds.
Heavenly Spirit Tower—Spirit Pagoda HQ!
The continent's tallest structure—by federal law, no building may surpass it—a mark of reverence!
If the Tang Sect was the continent's greatest "dealer," Shrek Academy its most storied institution, then the Spirit Pagoda reigned supreme.
With unrivaled wealth, exclusive Spirit Ascension and Soul Spirit tech, it commanded the largest, strongest corps of Soul Masters and Battle Armor Masters.
Its top researchers, vast resources, and elite powerhouses cemented its dominance:
- 7 of 108 Federal Council seats
- Countless allied legislators—its power undeniable.
As the train rolled on, architecture shifted: ancient temples beside sleek modern towers.
Unlike Tian Dou's primordial stone or Donghai's metallic newness, Shrek City embraced all eras—vast, inclusive, boundless.
A metropolis stretching beyond sight!
Only the capital Mingdu rivaled its scale.
After an hour, the train halted at Shrek City Station.
All of them gaped in awe.
Compared to Donghai's station, this one was five times larger—yet teeming with crowds.
Grand domes, weathered stonework, carved statues everywhere, a city steeped in legacy.
Only Mingdu matched its grandeur.
"Teacher Wu, are we going straight to Shrek Academy?" Xie Xie burst, barely containing his excitement.
(Even his wealthy upbringing couldn't dull this awe!)
Wu Zhangkong's face remained icy, but complex emotions flickered in his emerald eyes.
"We find our lodging first."
His chosen hotel defied "luxury."
Near the station stood a modest, aged inn—stone-and-timber walls, faded paint, decades of history in its bones.
Inside: simple, spotless, sparse.
Each room held:
- One bed
- Two nightstands
- A wardrobe
- A desk
- One chair
- A bathroom.
Bare white walls, views of the station.
Room assignments:
- Gu Yue & Xu Xiaoyan
- Fang Yang & Xie Xie
- Zhang Yangzi & Wang Jinxi
- Tang Wulin & Wu Zhangkong.
"Ahhh—so comfy!" Xie Xie collapsed onto his bed, limbs splayed.
Fang Yang walked to the window, gazing at the unfamiliar streets below.
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