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"Fight! They're fighting!"
Inside Dorm 161, Chen Junting—deep in conversation with Dugu Xin—was suddenly distracted by the commotion outside.
"What's going on out there?"
He rose slowly, about to step out—then glanced back at Dugu Xin, still seated on his bed. "Want to go take a look together?"
"I'll pass."
In that instant, Chen Junting felt Dugu Xin change.
The once talkative, open youth had withdrawn—retreating into solitude so abruptly it left Chen Junting stunned.
From being talkative just now, he had become withdrawn.
"I'll go check it out," Chen Junting said. "I've got things to do afterward—might not be back until evening." He opened the door, checked the sky, then added gently, "If you're hungry, I can bring you dinner."
With that, he closed the door quietly behind him.
Dugu Xin's face softened into a rare, genuine smile.
This was the first friend he had made since he was born.
…
Downstairs, a crowd of freshmen had gathered in a tight circle.
At the center stood Huo Yuhao—and his roommate, Wang Dong. Huo Yuhao was clearly losing.
"I told you," Wang Dong sneered, chin lifted in arrogance, "with your strength, I don't even need to activate my martial soul to beat you into the dirt." His eyes flicked to Huo Yuhao's ten-year soul ring, now pulsing faintly—and a sliver of caution flashed in his gaze.
He might mock Huo Yuhao's power, but their earlier clash had forced him to acknowledge one thing: if this kid used his soul skill suddenly, even Wang Dong could be caught off guard.
Just then—
Huo Yuhao's head snapped up.
First Soul Skill: Soul Shock!
A flash of white light erupted from his golden-tinged eyes. Wang Dong's brain felt as if pierced by needles—
Agony.
His mind went blank.
But thanks to his earlier wariness, in the split second before impact, a pair of blue butterfly wings unfurled behind him—breathtakingly beautiful, flawless in their radiance.
"Whoa—!"
The crowd gasped. Such splendor was overwhelming.
Even Mu En, watching from his lounge chair through spiritual perception, was struck—not with awe, but with deep, complicated emotion. His ancient brows, usually furrowed like clenched fists, softened into something unreadable.
"These kids nowadays… so flashy," he murmured. "The Light Goddess Butterfly—the most beautiful martial soul…"
Then, as if noticing something, his voice dropped to an inaudible mutter—words lost to all but himself.
But soon, he seemed to dismiss it entirely.
Back in the courtyard—
"You little—!"
Wang Dong's wings flared, lifting him into the air. Clutching his throbbing head, he glared down at Huo Yuhao—humiliation burning in his cheeks. The crowd's admiring cries about his "gorgeous martial soul" now sounded like mockery. The more they praised, the more ashamed he felt.
A Soul Grandmaster… nearly beaten by a mere Soul Master? Even if he hadn't used his martial soul, the sting was unbearable.
His eyes blazed with unwillingness and fury—
Until—
"Hey! You shameless jerk!"
A roar—and a blast of dragonfire shot toward him!
Before Wang Dong could react, the flames seared past his shoulder.
"Who's there?!" he bellowed, already seething from his loss to Huo Yuhao. Now this? His temper exploded.
He whirled around—
To see a fiery red-haired girl standing on the second-floor balcony, still in martial soul manifestation.
It was Wu Feng.
From the sixth floor, she'd spotted Huo Yuhao being bullied by a Soul Grandmaster—and her infamous temper had ignited. Ignoring the stares of male students, she'd stormed down to the boys' dorm and unleashed her wrath.
"That's me!"
Wu Feng leapt from the balcony like a comet.
The crowd scattered instantly, clearing a path for her.
"You dare bully Huo Yuhao? Don't you know he's under my protection?!" Two yellow soul rings circled her—proof she, too, was a Soul Grandmaster.
"Wu Feng…" Huo Yuhao's heart warmed.
"Think you're something just because you're stronger?" Wang Dong scoffed. Though Wu Feng's cultivation surpassed his, her soul ring configuration—a yellow and a purple—was inferior to his own. With his dazzling wings shimmering behind him, his arrogance returned full force.
He'd held back against Huo Yuhao out of pride—but now, a fellow Soul Grandmaster had challenged him? Perfect. Time to vent his frustration.
Just as tension peaked—
"Enough. Don't you know Shrek's rules? 'No dueling outside the arena.'"
A wave of piercing aura—laced with overwhelming killing intent—engulfed Wang Dong midair, forcing him to still.
Mu En, watching from the shadows, narrowed his eyes slightly.
"The seed of Intent… and mastery of Aura already. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect found a true prodigy." His voice turned wistful. "Pity Shrek has no heir worthy of succession…"
Wang Dong, caught completely off guard, nearly plummeted from the sky. But seeing Wu Feng unaffected, his mind screamed:
They're targeting me! It has to be!
"Look!" someone shouted.
Wang Dong turned—to see two figures of impossible grace step into the circle. The golden-haired girl walked straight to Wu Feng and chided her gently:
"Feng, this is Shrek Academy, not our sect. You were right to defend Yuhao—but we must follow Shrek's rules. Remember, we're students now."
But this only deepened Wang Dong's resentment. These four are clearly part of the same group!
And that white-haired guy staring at him? Strong. And undoubtedly the one who'd just humiliated him with that aura.
Unaware he was being cursed in Wang Dong's mind, Chen Junting calmly withdrew his gaze.
He'd already heard the full story from other freshmen on the third floor.
Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao are roommates again?
If this wasn't the hand of God-King Tang, he'd eat his sword.
Of course, he didn't believe Tang San was personally puppeteering events. But if he wanted Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao together, manipulating just one side—Wang Dong—would suffice.
What troubled Chen Junting more was why.
Given the current tensions in the Divine Realm, orchestrating this wouldn't be easy for Tang San.
Yet he'd done it anyway.
Which meant:
Chen Junting's interference—diverting Huo Yuhao from the Tang Sect to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—was a change Tang San deemed acceptable.
But Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao as roommates? Non-negotiable.
In other words—
"Minor currents may shift, but the great tide remains unchanged."
And that "great tide"?
To ensure Huo Yuhao fell in love with Wang Dong'er—so that Tang Wutong, bearing the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's Golden Dragon bloodline and the Golden Dragon Spear, could become the chain binding Huo Yuhao… or rather, Dai Yuhao.
Everything else? Mere ripples.
'If that's true…* Chen Junting mused, 'then I needn't fear Tang San's interference in certain matters.'
Like the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well—perhaps they could now claim all the immortal herbs except the Yearning Heartbroken Red.
"Alright, everyone—break it up," Chen Junting announced, snapping back to the present. "No more fighting. Go on, scatter."
Disappointed but respectful, the freshmen dispersed—some back to their rooms, others to explore the academy.
Soon, only five remained: Chen Junting's group—and Wang Dong.
"This little dispute ends here, junior," Chen Junting said, turning with a faint smile—though his eyes remained calm as still water.
Wang Dong deactivated his martial soul.
Not out of fear—but pragmatism.
He glared at Huo Yuhao, jaw tight. "I lost. Fair and square."
Huo Yuhao stepped forward, voice icy. "I'll follow your five rules—out of respect for our roommate bond, not your threats. And I won't be cowed by them."
He turned to the three behind him. "Brother Junting, Sister Xiao Tian, Wu Feng—let's go."
Leaving Wang Dong frozen in place—and Mu En, still lounging in his chair, watching the scene unfold like a silent play.
Moments later, the old man's voice drifted through the air:
"Little one…"
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