Four years later.
The sun blazed overhead, scorching the ground and causing it to crack from the intense heat.
On the wide street, two figures stood side by side. They appeared to be about twelve or thirteen years old. The boy wore a sleek black outfit, looking sharp and neat.
Beside him was a girl with a scorpion braid that reached down to her calves. She was shorter than the boy, wearing a pink top. Her naturally curved eyebrows framed her large, watery eyes, and her delicate face continuously drew the attention of passersby.
Those who harbored intentions of flirting quickly reconsidered after seeing the boy, whose arm the girl had wrapped around with both of hers. They were nothing more than ordinary people; to provoke a Soul Master was to court death, and they would not even know how they died.
The girl, Xiao Wu, raised a hand to gently wipe her slightly damp forehead, complaining, "What's with this weather? Why is it so hot? I feel like I'm about to melt."
Cheng Xiao smiled faintly and said, "But this is what you agreed to. After graduating, you said we'd return to the Star Dou Forest to train. Only when your spirit power reaches rank sixty can you return to human society. Otherwise, if you run into a high-level Soul Master, you'll end up as their soul ring or soul bone."
Xiao Wu gave Cheng Xiao a sidelong glance and retorted, "As if high-level Soul Masters are so easy to come by! Do you think Title Douluos are as common as cabbages, growing everywhere?"
"I'm just thinking about your safety. Or do you want Da Ming and Er Ming to lose their sister?" Cheng Xiao chuckled.
"Of course not! Stop saying such things," Xiao Wu pouted. "When we left Nuoding Academy, Tang San invited me to a city called Soto. He said his teacher recommended a place there called Shrek Academy. Supposedly, they only accept 'monsters,' not ordinary people. I wonder if it's even true."
"So, do you want to go?" Cheng Xiao asked with a light laugh.
Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "No. Tang San and I are just regular classmates. If you're going, I'll follow. If you're not, then there's no way I'm going."
Cheng Xiao thought for a moment and said, "I've heard that academy doesn't even have ranked divisions. It's probably just some third-rate school trying to scam people by claiming they only accept 'monsters'."
Xiao Wu nodded. "Exactly. I don't know what Tang San's teacher is thinking. Before we graduated, several intermediate Soul Master academies offered to admit us without any conditions."
Cheng Xiao laughed. "Let them do as they wish. I'm planning to train in the Star Dou Forest for a while anyway, and it'll give me a chance to master the skill I gained from my third spirit ring."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. "Then let's hurry!"
Cheng Xiao nodded slightly and glanced at the sun hanging in the sky. In a few hours, it would set, and by then, they should reach a small town near the Star Dou Forest.
...
Spirit City, Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong wore a Nine-curved Golden Crown and a ceremonial gold robe as she reclined on her throne, reviewing the reports from Spirit Hall.
Ever since her visit to the Douluo Hall, her workload had increased significantly. To maintain a firm grip on the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong personally handled all matters, believing this was the only way to truly control the institution's power.
"Pope, we have received a report from the Nuoding City branch. Apart from Tang San, the two other innate full spirit power geniuses did not go with him to Soto City but instead headed to the Star Dou Forest," reported Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, as he suddenly appeared in the hall, golden petals fluttering around him.
"I see," Bibi Dong replied, her face showing a trace of fatigue. "Elder Chrysanthemum, you will handle this. According to the plan, if they refuse to join Spirit Hall, then they must die."
"If innate full spirit power geniuses won't serve Spirit Hall, then no other force should have them either. Understand?"
"I understand, Your Holiness," Yue Guan nodded. "Shall I go to the Star Dou Forest immediately?"
"Go. Use every means at your disposal to convince them to join Spirit Hall. After all, such talent would be a waste if they died too easily," Bibi Dong said as she resumed reading the reports, her eyes narrowing slightly.
After acknowledging Bibi Dong's orders, Chrysanthemum Douluo respectfully withdrew from the Pope's Palace.
"Heh, innate full spirit power geniuses. If I can control them, they would be a powerful asset. But if they cannot be controlled, I will destroy them."
A faint smile appeared on Bibi Dong's face, though it carried a bone-chilling coldness.
As the Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong knew exactly what needed to be done. Tang San had the protection of both Grandmaster and Tang Hao, making him untouchable for now. But for the other two, she had no such concerns.
...
Meanwhile, in Soto City.
A boy entered the city through the west gate. His clothes were plain, and a belt with twenty-four embedded gems was tied around his waist. Although he wasn't particularly handsome, he exuded an approachable air.
Tang San, now alone, couldn't help but feel a bit downcast as he arrived in Soto City. He had originally planned to invite Xiao Wu to go with him to Shrek Academy, but she had refused him outright.
Tang San didn't fully understand why his teacher insisted that he get closer to Xiao Wu, hoping she would attend Shrek Academy with him. No matter how much he tried to persuade her, her answer remained the same.
"I'm not going. If Cheng Xiao isn't going, then neither am I. If he goes, I'll go too."
This left Tang San feeling quite helpless. His relationship with Cheng Xiao wasn't bad enough to cause an outright conflict, but they had sparred many times, and he had never won a single match.
Because of this, Tang San had developed a certain resistance to Cheng Xiao. While he wanted Xiao Wu to accompany him to Shrek Academy, asking Cheng Xiao to go as well made him feel like it would be beneath him.
And so, Tang San embarked on a lonely journey. Fortunately, in his previous life, he had been somewhat of a loner, so traveling alone wasn't too difficult for him.
"Sigh, the entrance exam is the day after tomorrow. I guess I'll explore for now. I'm a bit hungry, too." As he walked through the streets, glancing at couples holding hands, Tang San felt even more dejected. Originally, he had planned to go to an intermediate academy, but Grandmaster had insisted on sending him here. As a respectful disciple, Tang San had no choice but to obey.