I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: Seven Kill Shock the World
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The atmosphere between the three was subtle and tense. Na'er quickly took two steps forward, deliberately putting distance between herself and Gu Yue.
When she noticed the silent disdain in Gu Yue's eyes, she stubbornly straightened her back and returned a sharp glare, even raising her chin defiantly.
"That's enough for today."
Gu La broke the deadlock at the right moment, his tone calm. "Gu Yue, all the spirit alloys you need have already been forged. You can either find someone to make your battle armor or hire one of my clones."
"They possess the exact same forging techniques and memories as me, which will allow them to better utilize the metal properties when crafting battle armor."
This wasn't an exaggeration. Battle armor crafted entirely by the same blacksmith would result in smoother soul power conduction between parts, often improving performance by three to five percentage points compared to collaborative works by multiple people.
Unfortunately, human stamina had its limits, and few could achieve such mastery.
Having suffered consecutive setbacks today, Gu Yue sneered sarcastically, "You certainly seem to distinguish yourself from your clones clearly."
She glanced meaningfully at Na'er, her eyes flashing with cold light. "Aren't you afraid of meeting the same fate as me someday?"
In the past, Na'er would instinctively shrink under the piercing gaze of her primary personality. But now, she stood firm like an indignant little beast, fearlessly locking eyes with Gu Yue, even provocatively tilting her chin upward.
"It's different." Gu La shook his head lightly but didn't elaborate. "My relationship with them is not the same as yours."
He was the original, the only one.
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The next morning, sunlight streamed through the classroom windows.
Shen Yi stood on the podium, tapping her lesson plan lightly against the desk. Once all the students had quieted down, she began:
"Classmates, the first semester of your freshman year has concluded. Following Shrek Academy tradition, the final exam will take the form of a practical assessment."
She scanned the room, pausing briefly on each student's face. "Starting from sunrise tomorrow, you must reach Mingdu within fifteen days."
A collective gasp filled the classroom. Mingdu was a full two thousand kilometers away from Shrek City—a task that was already extremely challenging in itself.
Before Shen Yi finished speaking, she raised three fingers:
"The exam rules are as follows: The clock starts at six in the morning, and you must reach Mingdu within fifteen days. Along the way, you must pass through at least fifteen cities and defeat an opponent whose soul power level is five levels higher than yours in each city."
She gave a pointed look at Xu Lizhi, who was secretly snacking. "All soul conductors, storage equipment, and money must be left at the academy. Teachers will follow discreetly to record your progress, but unless it's a life-or-death situation, they will not intervene."
After announcing the rules, Shen Yi left behind a classroom buzzing with shock and turned to leave.
The freshmen's classroom erupted into discussion as students carefully considered the rules. The first challenge they faced was earning money—without it, they wouldn't even have travel or meal expenses.
Especially for big eaters like Tang Wulin and Na'er, their growth required so much energy that hunger would halve their combat effectiveness.
As for Gu La, he was lost in thought, contemplating the possibility of walking to Mingdu.
At this point, he no longer needed food to meet his daily needs. Walking to Mingdu… seemed pointless, though—it was too foolish.
If he were still an ordinary person, walking might serve as exercise. But now, even lifting a five-ton iron ball couldn't satisfy his training needs, let alone a leisurely walk.
Murmurs of discussion filled the air, mostly about ways to earn money.
Due to Bai Yuan's unique martial soul, he was originally exempt from the final exam like Na'er. However, after Na'er voluntarily requested to participate—and Yunming approved—Bai Yuan decided to apply for the exam as well. Since his creation, he hadn't gone out to explore yet.
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The Next Day
On the first day of the exam, Spirit Ice Square was bustling with activity.
This square, located at the heart of the outer court, was usually a necessary route for students heading to various sub-professional guilds. Now, it has become the perfect spot for freshmen to "raise travel funds."
Ye Xinglan stood in the center of the square, holding her longsword and coldly asking passing seniors to "lend" her money. Gu Yue used elemental manipulation to conjure dazzling lights in her palm, subtly conveying the same request.
A long line formed in front of Xu Lizhi's steamed bun stall, while Xu Xiaoyan blinked her large, watery eyes cutely at passersby. Sparks flew at Tang Wulin's makeshift forging station as he hurriedly produced simple metal parts.
Not far away, Bai Yuan curiously observed everything. The black-haired youth mimicked others by patting an imaginary wallet, a troubled expression on his face.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the square, Gu La's booth stood out for its understated elegance.
A wooden table neatly displayed crystal trays holding fruits of various shapes: jade-like green pears, purple grapes shimmering with starlight, and even icy blue apples exuding a chill.
The signboard in front of the table bore only two gilded characters—"Fruits."
But these were no ordinary fruits. They were all grown from seeds collected from plant-type soul beasts and meticulously cultivated in the Forest Sea Space using divine cultivation techniques.
Though they weren't on par with legendary treasures, under god-level plant nurturing skills, each fruit contained pure natural essence. Most importantly—they left no lingering side effects like pills that could destabilize one's foundation.
Being the Child of Nature, a Divine Grower, and the God of the Forest, how could he resist trying his hand at farming with such vast land at his disposal?
By the fountain in the central square of Shrek Academy, the early spring sunlight filtered through newly sprouted leaves, casting dappled shadows.
Gu La sat in an inconspicuous corner, pulling out several uniquely shaped fruits from his pocket and arranging them neatly on the table. A faint green glow emanated from his fingertips as he gently brushed over the fruits, releasing a delicate fragrance into the air.
"This should be enticing enough."
A sly smile played on Gu La's lips as a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. He covertly circulated Xuantian Gong, infusing a trace of soul power into the fruits to enhance their aroma.
This fragrance differed from ordinary flowers and fruits, carrying an invigorating energy fluctuation that spread tangibly through the breeze.
The first to be drawn in were a group of lowerclassmen who had just finished their morning exercises, along with a few attractive upperclassmen. Their nostrils flared as they followed the scent to Gu La's booth, their eyes brimming with curiosity.
"What kind of fruit is this? I've never seen anything like it." A girl with a ponytail couldn't resist reaching out to touch it.
Gu La cleared his throat lightly. "These are soul power fruits—1 million federal credits each, limited supply."
"One million?!" A chorus of gasps erupted around him. Several students exchanged glances; even for Shrek Academy students, this price was outrageous.
At this moment, the crowd parted as a tall third-year student pushed his way in. The four-ringed emblem on his chest indicated he was a Soul Ancestor, and his face bore obvious disdain.
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