Subsequent tests continued.
The Soul Tool stream students emphasized soul power, with weaker physical stats by comparison. The Forging stream, however, broke records: Mu Qiu'er, Lou Yingying, even Wang Dong'er were all extremely strong in physical attributes—over-spec, relatively speaking—while their soul power didn't lag either. After all, thirteen-year-old Soul Kings—across the Sun–Moon Empire—even those with pill-inflated, hollow levels, couldn't compare.
This string of Forging stream data stunned not only the Sun–Moon Empire but also Ye Xiaosheng and the others. If not for the two pillars—the divine craftsman Elder Du and rising star Su Wen—the newly formed Forging stream would have been ridiculed. But now, it seemed these disciples truly had stronger innate talent.
"Please move this way."
The recorder suppressed his shock and led everyone to another area.
"This is the strength testing zone. Please punch the target at the center..."
"Who's first?"
All eyes turned to Su Wen.
He nodded slightly and stepped forward.
He held his breath and focused.
The tester standing aside suddenly felt something was off. His pupils trembled. In slow motion, he clearly saw a faint white bloom form around Su Wen's seemingly casual punch, quickly diffusing into a misty halo. And then... was that a sonic boom?!
The tester reflexively took a step back, raising his arm to shield himself.
"Boom!!!"
With a thunderous roar, his ears rang into numb silence. He stood there dumbly.
He saw the group of students opposite showing looks of shock, mouths forming O's, but he couldn't hear a thing—until white smoke began to curl up from the side. Su Wen gave him a tap, and his temporary deafness gradually faded...
"Huh?"
He hurriedly looked at the panel.
A cascade of garbled characters hammered his mind.
"Strength... unknown?!!"
...
"Did this assessment draw out some real material?" In Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen sipped tea leisurely.
"Uh..." Lin Jiayi's expression was complicated; he handed over a test report. "See for yourself."
"Hm?"
Jing Hongchen glanced up suspiciously, then looked down at the sheet.
First name: Su Wen.
But the data...
His face froze as his gaze slid to the bottom.
Overall: Soul Sage peak (suspected). Body toughness: Soul Douluo (suspected). Physical power: unknown.
"What is this... 'suspected'? And 'unknown' what does that even mean? He didn't cooperate?" Jing Hongchen was baffled.
"No, on the contrary, he was very cooperative," Lin Jiayi said, conflicted.
Then he added a line that shut down Jing Hongchen's rebuke: "He blew up the strength tester."
"What are you... huh? Say that again?!" Jing Hongchen sprang to his feet, stunned. "What the hell do you mean 'blew it up'?"
"As in, exceeded the machine's tolerance limit, black smoke came out, and then 'poof'... ow." Lin Jiayi rubbed his head, aggrieved.
"Nonsense! You think I needed that explained?" Jing Hongchen snapped. "I mean—did those bastards cut corners under my nose? Daring to meddle with testing equipment—getting it blown up by a Shrek student? That's disgraceful. Find out who's responsible!"
"This..." Lin Jiayi looked at the fuming Jing Hongchen, torn.
"If it's not corner-cutting, then what? Are you telling me Su Wen threw a punch with the raw force of a Title Douluo's body..." Jing Hongchen's angry tone trailed off, because he saw Lin Jiayi nod in agreement.
"Ah???"
...
Sixth-year dorms.
Su Wen sat cross-legged on the bed. The golden core in his arms receded and hid within his body. He exhaled a long, turbid breath and opened his eyes.
Was he showy this time?
Very much so. The path of physique practically overturned the soul master world's norms—especially for the Sun–Moon Empire, where Mingde Hall had more precise research into soul master bodies. They would have an even deeper understanding of how broken his ability was.
But it didn't matter.
The culprit Zhongli Wu of the Holy Spirit Sect had been beaten half to death by Elder Mu. As for Long Xiaoyao—Elder Mu's old friend—although he followed Ye Xishui of the Holy Spirit Sect, as long as Elder Mu lived, he wouldn't touch Su Wen and might even protect him in secret.
That's why Elder Mu dared to say this trip would be safe.
The only trouble was the old witch Ye Xishui and the Sun–Moon Empire's crown prince—Xu Tiannan.
From the original story, this one was absolutely a lion among men—patient and calculating, then erupting after long accumulation. The way he eliminated numerous royal brothers immediately after the emperor's death meant he had iron-blooded methods.
Of course, since he was part of the inspection team, Su Wen hadn't come empty-handed.
He opened his palm, looking at the diamond ring inside.
His expression grew solemn.
He and the Holy Spirit Sect were mortal enemies. Since those beasts had tried to kill him over and over—bold enough to raid Shrek Academy—he didn't mind teaching them a lesson.
And incidentally... show the inner court what slaying evil and defending the weak really meant.
Set a small goal first.
Within three years, raid the Holy Spirit Sect's main base!
"..."
Of course, he had to hold back for now. At present, he could kill Wu Yun, but not a Super Douluo. Although Wu Yun was a level-94 Title Douluo, just one step shy of Super Douluo, that single step was a chasm. Not to mention, the Holy Spirit Sect's Super Douluos had the evil soul master buff.
A long road ahead.
Su Wen lay back on the bed.
The soul tool plan needed to be put on the agenda too. Best if he could join Xuan Ziwen's lab. If this research genius could be brought to Shrek Academy, he'd be a powerhouse in the Soul Tool Department. Forget replacing Fan Yu—Fan Yu wouldn't even be fit to wipe his mess.
In the original, Huo Yuhao attracted him with Tang Sect arts and intricate hidden weapons. As for Su Wen—could he use the Battle Armor plan...
It wasn't impossible.
He didn't believe the Sun–Moon Empire had never thought of soul tools + metal forging; but one, the topic was too novel—no predecessors, only feeling stones while crossing the river, with many technical barriers. Two, the Sun–Moon Empire lacked blacksmiths and forgers—that heritage belonged to the original continent.
So even if Xuan Ziwen understood his concept and rejected him, it would still be hard to complete battle armor forging—he was a quirky research type, and in Mingde Hall he wasn't valued. A time-consuming, resource-hungry, high-cost, low-return project like this would likely never get Jing Hongchen's approval.
That's Xuan Ziwen for you.
Give him enough resources and authority anywhere, and he'd jump ship. And as luck would have it... Su Wen had no shortage of money.
As for resources... what a joke.
From the entire Extreme North to the rare metals mined beneath the Star Dou Great Forest—if he stretched out his hand, he could get them.
He had connections among both beasts and humans.
At the highest level, too.
"..."
Just as Su Wen was thinking, a faint sound of a door opening came.
Then, in the moonlight, a graceful figure sneaked in and pounced on the bed like a hungry tiger. A pair of golden eyes sparkled as they stared at Su Wen.
"Ehehehe..."
Mu Qiu'er was about to say something bold, but ended up grinning like a fool. Su Wen's bed was so warm, and being next to him was warm too...
On usual days, Su Wen was either occupied by the Master, or divided up by the other girls. Today, it was finally her turn—Her Majesty the Auspicious Emperor Beast!
Su Wen: "..."
A fool who pounces on your bed and does nothing but grin—who could keep a straight face?
"Su Wen!" Mu Qiu'er suddenly said.
Su Wen: ???
"You know, I left Di Tian and Bi Ji when I was little and came to Shrek to find you..."
Mu Qiu'er quickly kicked off her shoes and socks and outer coat, and slipped under the blanket ahead of Su Wen, leaving only her golden hair and eyes visible. She stared at him expectantly.
"So?"
"You have to take responsibility for me!!!"
Mu Qiu'er finally mustered the courage to shout it.
"You..."
Su Wen looked stunned and quickly leaned down, covering the girl's mouth.
"Keep it down."
"You will, right? You won't abandon me?" Mu Qiu'er's golden eyes were brimming with tears.
"I... mm!"
Su Wen's mouth twitched. He nodded helplessly.
"Then hold me while we sleep tonight. I've seen you hugging Wang Dong'er every day—don't tell me you lack experience..." A sly glint flashed in Mu Qiu'er's eyes.
"That was for cultivation."
"Then we can cultivate too."
"Huh?"
Su Wen froze for a moment, then saw faint golden lines appear on Mu Qiu'er's pristine forehead. A third eye slowly opened.
The girl smiled proudly. "Don't forget what my true body is called..."
Three-Eyed Golden Lion!
Su Wen paused—he really had forgotten about the girl's third eye...
"Want to evolve your Spirit Eye?" Mu Qiu'er raised the corner of her lips. "Then kiss me first!"
"..."
Su Wen lowered his head.
Their bodies were almost pressed together.
His lips brushed something soft and moist, and a fragrant breath washed over him. He wanted to keep it brief—like a dragonfly skimming water.
But porcelain-white arms snaked around his neck, a force pressed his head down hard, his lips sealed firmly to hers, and something sweet flooded his mouth.
The fire in Mu Qiu'er's eyes seemed to ignite.
She took and took, eagerly.
...
Who knew how long had passed.
Su Wen lifted his head, seeing Mu Qiu'er's eyes hazy, gazing at him with deep affection.
"Let's evolve."
With a soft hum from Mu Qiu'er,
their foreheads touched.
Golden light radiated from their bodies,
weaving like a cocoon to envelop them. At the same time, a surge of intense soul power began to ripple.
"No!"
Su Wen's pupils shrank sharply.
He remembered in the original story, when Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye evolved into the Eye of Destiny, it caused quite a commotion!
That pillar of light alarmed the entire Star Dou Great Forest.
Now they were deep in enemy territory—this would be troublesome.
At the last moment before he lost control of his body, he pulled himself and Mu Qiu'er into the Spirit Ball.
"Hum!"
A pillar of light seemed to pierce the heavens.
By the nearby Lake of Life, Azure Luan merely looked on calmly, unfazed...