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In the heart of a dense forest, a boy who appeared no older than twelve stood calmly. His handsome features, accentuated by a slight smirk, betrayed no fear. Before him was a pack of wolves, their numbers totaling twenty-five. Their eyes glinted with hunger, but the boy remained unbothered, almost dismissive of the danger.
He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. Casually tossing it into the air, he watched as it spun in the sunlight, sparks of electricity crackling between his fingers as he extended his right hand.
The wolves, unaware of what was coming, focused on the coin as it dropped. For a brief moment, they believed the boy was mocking them, and with a collective growl, they prepared to lunge. But before they could react, his hand flicked ever so slightly. A sharp burst of energy shot out, and within a blink, half the pack was obliterated. Some vanished without a trace, while others were left with missing limbs or half-disintegrated bodies.
His eyes, glowing red with the distinctive pattern of three tomoe in the Sharingan, fixed on the remaining wolves. With a mere thought, he commanded them to turn on each other.
"The test seems successful," he whispered to himself, observing the carnage. "But it's not as effective against larger groups. I can't use it often, either. It puts too much strain on my hands, shoulders, and mental strength. At most, I could perform this technique four times in a single battle."
This was Uchiha Enlil. Four years had passed since his journey began, and now, at twelve, the same age as when Tang San graduated from Notting Academy, Enlil had honed his skills to a terrifying degree. Among the many techniques he mastered, the electromagnetic cannon and shadow clone stood out the most—skills that had taken him years to perfect.
During those four years, Enlil spent much of his time with Qian Renxue, training alongside her. Unlike the original story, she never neglected her swordsmanship, and under Enlil's guidance, she had become a formidable swordswoman. Their relationship had grown deeper over time, even culminating in a soft kiss on her cheek. Yet, they had chosen not to take it any further. They talked often, and he shared with her the things her grandfather had told him. Although concerned, she found solace in his promise that he, too, would become a god, erasing her worries for the future.
Now, Enlil had set his sights on Soto City, home to Shrek Academy. His main goal was simple: to observe Tang San and see how the story might unfold. If any changes occurred along the way, he might also seize the opportunity that Tang San was meant to find in the Shrek Academy's dean's shop.
A few days later, he arrived in Soto City. It was far less crowded than the capital, and after a quick tour of the city, he asked a passerby where he might find a shop that sold spirit tools. He was warned that the place sold mostly fake or useless items, but Enlil thanked him and headed there regardless. On his way, a girl with pink hair caught his eye, wandering around the shops with wide-eyed curiosity.
As he watched her, a plan began to form. "If I take her with me, the Seven Shrek Monsters will lose a crucial member. That would also mean losing the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
With his mind made up, he approached her. "I didn't expect to see you again," he said with a smirk.
The girl turned, her expression suspicious at first, but then recognition flashed in her eyes. "Ah, yes. You're the boy from the restaurant."
"That's right," Enlil replied smoothly. "What are you doing here, all alone?"
"The sect is boring. I snuck out. I heard there's an academy in this city that only accepts monsters, so I wanted to check it out."
"You mean Shrek Academy?"
"Yeah, do you know about it?"
"I do. The academy's dean is a miser, the training grounds are nonexistent, and even the food is said to be inedible."
"Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"Follow me, and I'll show you."
She agreed, and together, they made their way to a run-down store. As they entered, they found an old man dozing off in a chair. Ignoring him, Enlil scanned the shelves. He spotted a dilapidated storage ring and asked for the price, only to be quoted a ridiculous sum of 200 gold spirit coins. Even the pink-haired girl, though wealthy, was shocked by the blatant attempt at extortion.
"Forget it," she scoffed. "He's just a scammer."
The shopkeeper shot back with venom, "Be silent, girl. You don't know the true value of what's here."
Unfazed by the bickering, Enlil continued searching until he found what he was looking for—a small crystal. When he asked for the price, the Shrek Dean replied that it cost 100 gold coins. Enlil was surprised, as the price differed from what happened with Tang San, but he chose to ignore it, paid the money, and left the store with Ning Rongrong by his side, ignoring Flender's delight in tricking some kids.
As they walked away, the shopkeeper muttered with a hint of excitement, "Interesting kids... Their spirit power is quite high for their age. It seems they'll be joining Shrek Academy, especially since they arrived in the city just in time for the enrollment."
At this time, Enlil led the girl to a nearby restaurant. While waiting for their food, she asked, "Why did you give him 100 gold coins for just a piece of crystal?"
Upon hearing Ning Rongrong's question, Enlil replied, "It's not just an ordinary crystal; it's a treasure that can be crafted into a weapon capable of harming a Spirit Saint."
Ning Rongrong was shocked to hear this but said, "So, does that mean everything in his shop is authentic and valuable?"
"No," Enlil answered, "He's actually a scammer. This crystal must be something he doesn't recognize the value of. If I hadn't seen it in an old book, I would have thought it was just an ordinary crystal."
Ning Rongrong nodded as if she expected that. She then asked, "Can you give me the crystal for a moment?"
Enlil was surprised by her request but handed over the crystal. After taking it, she activated her spirit and sensed the crystal for a short while before returning it to Enlil. Enlil looked at her with a questioning expression.
Ning Rongrong explained, "I wanted to make sure it was indeed a treasure. I might have been misled by the old book, but after checking, it seems it is truly a special treasure."
"Thanks for checking. Now, what are your thoughts on the shopkeeper?"
"He's just a con artist. If I had my guards with me, I'd have ordered them to teach him a lesson."
"Good thing they weren't. That shopkeeper happens to be the dean of Shrek Academy, and he's a Spirit Saint."I said sarcastically
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Are you joking?"
"Do I look like someone who jokes about such things?"
"But why would someone like him scam people with fake products?"
"He loves money. The academy even charges 10 gold coins just to take the entrance exam, and if you fail, you don't get a refund. The academy has no real training facilities or even decent food."
"Thanks to you, I've avoided ruining my noble reputation by attending such a run-down place."
Enlil chuckled. "Noble reputation? How about you come with me instead?"
"Where are you headed?"
"I have some places to visit, and you can join me. By the way, what's your spirit power level?"
"Twenty-five," she replied.
Enlil frowned. "You've been neglecting your training. For the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, you should be closer to level thirty by now."
"Training is boring, and as I said, I am a young lady; I don't need training."
"You are mistaken. Don't forget why people hesitate to harm you—it's strength. Without strength, you are nothing in this world. Look at these common people: I can eliminate anyone, even if they are from a wealthy family, and no one will intervene because they see me as a master of a spirit above them, and you are the same. If someone comes who doesn't care about your background, they'll simply kill you. Or, if your background is weak, like being the last among the seven sects, or if you die from age or other reasons, no one will care about your background. You must be cautious and avoid meeting someone stronger who might kill you."
"You're right, but I'm just a helping spirit," she said after a few minutes of shock and calm.
"You can develop your own skills" I might have exaggerated a bit, but I wanted to motivate her to become stronger and avoid relying on partners.
"What should I do now?" she asked.
"You can come with me. I'll teach you how to understand human nature and how to judge people."
"Okay, no problem. I was just wandering around for fun."
She agreed, though she was surprised that his suggestion was not about improving her strength. Nevertheless, she accepted, as she was not keen on training anyway.
We rented two rooms at a hotel, and over the next few days, I taught her how to dodge, improve agility, and more. At first, she found the exercises difficult and said they were useless, but with some persuasion, she agreed to continue.
After two weeks, the time finally arrived, and I saw Tang San entering the city with Xiao Wu. You might think I had forgotten about her, but I was waiting for her to stay with Tang San to develop feelings for him. I also entertained the possibility of making her sacrifice for me.
However, the main reason I was waiting was Tang Hao. You might wonder how I knew he was here. When Zhao Wuji bullied Tang San, Tang Hao later intervened and beat Zhao Wuji, so I knew he was watching over Tang San. As for Xiao Wu, Tang Hao wanted her to become a soul ring. His son's situation was similar to Tang San's mother, which is why he left her with him.
Now that I know Tang Hao is here, I can go to the Holy Spirit Village and steal the spirit bone he hid there. It's a 100,000-year-old spirit bone, and I can't forget it.
It grants two valuable skills: the first is flight, which is useful for escaping or battling because few people can fly. The second skill is "Wildfire Cannot Destroy the Grass; It Grows Again with the Spring Wind," a very powerful healing skill that can even treat severe injuries. I focused on this bone because I hope it can cure blindness from the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Before I go, I might visit that hotel to watch the performance between Tang San and Dai Mubai.
"Ning Rongrong, follow me," I said as we prepared to leave.
I saw a beautiful woman with black hair and an air of nobility, appearing cold and aloof. I stared at her for a while.
"What's the matter? Do you like her?" I heard a teasing voice beside me.
"Not exactly, but I think I know her. By the way, Rongrong, would you like to see an exciting show?" Some plans began to form in my mind.
"What do you mean by 'exciting show,' and what does it have to do with your opinion of the girl? Are you trying to avoid the topic?"
"Not exactly, but this girl is the heroine of the show."
"It seems like you're planning something devious. I didn't expect you to be the manipulative type."
"Do you mind?"
"No, I actually like it," she replied with a chuckle.
"Follow me, watch from the side, and gain some experience as I promised you."
Then I approached the girl and said, "Hello, what is your name?" She looked at me coldly and ignored me.
"You misunderstood, miss. I just want to check if your name happens to be Zhu Zhuqing."
"What? Is she from the noble family of the Star Dou Empire?" Ning Rongrong spoke up.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at me warily and astonished and asked, "How do you know that?"
"Well, I know a lot of things, and there are a few things that remain hidden from me," I answered calmly, revealing my Sharingan.
Although she still had three tomoe, her coldness and strength had intensified.
She gazed at my eyes in amazement and took some time to come out of that state.
"Okay, what do you want from me?"
"Nothing, but I heard that you ran away from home and you are alone, so I want to show you where your fiancé is because I know where he is."
"Really? But why are you helping me?"
It seems she had recently arrived in the city and didn't know what Dai Mubai was up to; otherwise, her reaction would have been different.
"Well, you'll find out later. Now, do you want to come?"
"Sure."
We then went with the two girls, and the men looked at me with envy.
We arrived at the Rose Hotel. It was a place of entertainment, but it was beautifully designed.
"Where are you taking us?"
"Why did you bring us to this place?"
Both girls asked together.
"Oh, don't misunderstand. I don't intend to spend the night here. We're just here to watch an interesting show."
I noticed their surprise and ignored it as I entered. After a slight hesitation, they followed me. I entered the hotel, paid some money for food and water, and we sat in the reception hall in a high place that was not easily visible. Then we sat at the table.
"What do we do now?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
"Nothing, we will eat and wait for the scene."
"What scene? Didn't you say you would take me to Dai Mubai? Why are we here?"
"You'll find out soon," I thought. She seemed to believe that her fiancé was training hard to become the emperor. This was good; the more hope she had, the greater the impact of the eventual disappointment.