*****
Great Spirit Arena,
No one could deny how excited the audience had become.
The battle unfolding before them was undoubtedly one of the most entertaining fights they had witnessed that day. The two young Spirit Masters had continuously displayed abilities far beyond what their age would suggest, leaving the spectators completely captivated.
However, what happened next left everyone utterly stunned.
"I-I thought your spirit was a dragon... H-How?"
Zhu Zhuqing's mind was already in complete chaos.
She stared at Lev in disbelief as his body underwent a transformation that was unmistakably similar to Dai Mubai's White Tiger Body Enhancement. She was extremely familiar with the White Tiger Spirit and could not possibly mistake it for something else.
Yet the person standing before her was supposed to possess a dragon spirit.
"When did I ever say that?"
Lev casually replied.
His expression remained calm as he continued blocking every attack Zhu Zhuqing launched at him.
He could have ended the battle at any moment.
However, that was not what he wanted.
There were several reasons why he was deliberately prolonging the fight. Most importantly, he still wanted to learn all of Zhu Zhuqing's abilities. As long as she continued using her skills, the system would have more opportunities to copy and analyze them.
Besides, there was no need for him to reveal everything he was capable of just yet.
Meanwhile, the spectators and the Shrek students were equally shocked.
"How is he using Boss Dai's ability?"
Oscar stared at the arena with his mouth slightly open.
Everyone had originally assumed that Lev possessed a powerful dragon spirit, yet he had suddenly displayed an ability belonging to the White Tiger Spirit.
The situation had completely exceeded their understanding.
However, among everyone present, no one was more shocked than Dai Mubai.
'I-Impossible...'
Dai Mubai's expression became extremely complicated.
'Did my family send Lev here to observe me?'
His thoughts immediately became chaotic.
'Could he be an illegitimate son of my father?'
The possibility sounded ridiculous, but the more Dai Mubai thought about it, the more uneasy he became.
The White Tiger was the spirit of the Star Luo Imperial Family. Someone outside the family possessing an identical ability was already strange enough, but Lev's overwhelming strength made the situation even more suspicious.
Another terrifying thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
'Could my brother have sent him here to eliminate me?'
A chill ran down Dai Mubai's spine.
On the other hand, Tang San was also staring intently at Lev.
Unlike the others, his thoughts went in a completely different direction.
'Could Lev also possess another spirit... just like me?'
Tang San clenched his fists.
He couldn't think of another reasonable explanation.
"Boss Dai, is Lev your relative or something?"
Ma Hongjun could no longer suppress his curiosity and directly turned toward Dai Mubai.
Although it wasn't unheard of for people to possess similar spirits, Lev's situation was simply too strange.
Hearing this, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar also turned toward Dai Mubai.
They had all thought of the same possibility.
Perhaps Lev was somehow related to the Star Luo Imperial Family.
"I-I don't know."
Dai Mubai hurriedly denied it.
His voice sounded noticeably nervous.
"Enough."
Flender finally intervened.
"Shut up and watch the battle."
Although Flender appeared calm on the surface, his mind was anything but calm.
He was just as shocked as everyone else.
Lev's identity had already been mysterious from the beginning, but after witnessing him use White Tiger-related abilities, everything had become even more complicated.
What kind of clan could produce someone like him?
What exactly was his spirit?
And, more importantly...
How many secrets was this young man still hiding?
Flender narrowed his eyes as he continued watching the battle.
Hearing his words, Tang San and the others stopped discussing the matter and once again focused their attention on the arena.
Dai Mubai, however, remained silent.
His fists were tightly clenched as countless thoughts raced through his mind.
For the first time, he realized that Lev Hendrix might be far more troublesome than he had originally imagined.
*****
Inside the Arena,
While everyone in the audience was occupied with their own thoughts, Lev and Zhu Zhuqing continued exchanging blows.
The battle appeared intense from the outside, with the sounds of the audience roaring throughout the arena. However, amidst the chaos, the two were quietly conversing in voices that only they could hear.
"You want to become strong so that you can decide your own fate, right?"
Lev's eyes remained fixed on Zhu Zhuqing as they exchanged another series of attacks.
"I know a little about why you came here."
His expression became serious.
"Zhuqing, follow me. I'll help you achieve what you desire."
That was all Lev said.
He didn't try to explain himself further.
Zhu Zhuqing already carried a secret deep within her heart, and Lev felt that being straightforward was the best approach.
Hearing his words, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened slightly before quickly returning to their usual calmness.
Although they had only known each other for a short time, she could already tell that Lev was hiding countless secrets.
His strength alone was enough to prove that.
However, she wasn't foolish enough to immediately believe everything he said.
There had to be a reason behind his offer.
"1st Spirit Ring Ability: Hell Rush Stab!"
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly accelerated.
Her body transformed into a black blur as she shot toward Lev, her sharp claws aimed directly at him.
She pushed Lev's words to the back of her mind.
Regardless of what he was planning, she first wanted to understand the difference between them.
More importantly, she wanted to know just how powerful this mysterious White Tiger ability of his truly was.
[Spirit Ability: Hell Rush Stab has been learned.]
The system notification echoed inside Lev's mind.
"Spirit Ability: White Tiger Shield Body Barrier."
Seeing the determination in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, Lev smiled faintly.
He had already said what he wanted to say.
Whether she believed him or not was ultimately her decision.
A brilliant shield appeared before him.
Bang!
Zhu Zhuqing's claws struck the barrier, but her attack was completely blocked.
Lev didn't even move.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes narrowed.
She didn't retreat.
Instead, she immediately changed her position and prepared another attack.
"2nd Spirit Ring Ability: Hell Hundred Claws!"
Her figure suddenly became even faster.
The acceleration from her first spirit ability allowed her to unleash a barrage of claw strikes, each attack coming from a different angle.
However, Lev remained completely composed.
His White Tiger Shield Body Barrier was fundamentally different from Dai Mubai's.
With the enormous difference between their physical strength and cultivation, the barrier's defensive capabilities were on an entirely different level.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Zhu Zhuqing's claws repeatedly struck the barrier.
Yet despite her relentless attacks...
Not even a scratch appeared.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened.
'How strong is his defense?!'
Before she could think any further, she suddenly noticed Lev moving.
"Spirit Ability: White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
A powerful beam of light erupted toward her.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately twisted her body and narrowly avoided the attack.
However—
She suddenly felt something behind her.
Her pupils contracted.
'He's behind me?!'
Lev had already used another ability to increase his speed, allowing him to appear silently behind her.
Zhu Zhuqing tried to turn around.
But it was already too late.
Lev struck her with a precisely controlled attack, enough to knock her unconscious without causing serious injury.
Her vision began to blur.
As she lost consciousness, she heard Lev's calm voice beside her.
"You'll see it if you give it a try."
Her body finally went limp.
"The battle has ended!!!!"
"Winner: Lev Hendrix!!!"
The announcement echoed throughout the Great Spirit Arena.
The spectators immediately erupted into cheers.
"LEV!"
"That was amazing!"
"What kind of spirit does that kid have?!"
"He's too strong!"
Amidst the deafening cheers, Lev calmly walked toward the exit.
Zhu Zhuqing had already lost consciousness, so he carefully picked her up and carried her in his arms.
His expression remained calm.
However, deep inside, he was satisfied.
Another ability had been learned.
And perhaps more importantly, his conversation with Zhu Zhuqing had finally planted the first seed.
Now, all he had to do was wait and see whether she would choose to follow him.
*****
Waiting Room,
After returning to the waiting room, Lev walked inside as though nothing had happened.
He paid little attention to the complicated expressions on everyone's faces. Instead, his first action was to carefully place the unconscious Zhu Zhuqing onto an empty seat.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he subconsciously reached out and gently caressed her cheek.
That simple action immediately made the atmosphere even more tense.
"Y-You!"
Dai Mubai could no longer restrain himself.
"How can you use my spirit abilities?"
His voice carried a mixture of anger, confusion, and fear.
He still hadn't completely dismissed the possibility that Lev had been sent by his elder brother. However, there was something else that bothered him even more.
Lev didn't merely possess abilities similar to his White Tiger Spirit.
He could actually use his exact spirit abilities.
That was simply too abnormal.
"What about it?" Lev glanced at him indifferently. "Do you have a problem?"
His tone carried a faint hint of provocation.
Although Lev knew that Dai Mubai would eventually become one of the stronger members of Shrek's generation, he had never particularly liked him.
His personality and the things he had done in the original story were enough for Lev to dislike him.
If there was one thing he wanted to change in this world, it was Zhu Zhuqing's fate.
She deserved far better than being tied to Dai Mubai and his complicated relationship with the Star Luo Imperial Family.
"You—"
Dai Mubai's expression darkened.
He was about to step forward when a cold voice suddenly stopped him.
"Enough, Mubai."
Flender stood between them, his expression becoming serious.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists but eventually stopped.
His hatred toward Lev had already grown substantially, especially after seeing Lev carrying Zhu Zhuqing into the room and casually caressing her while she was unconscious.
Flender glanced between the two before speaking.
"Your first lesson ends here. Return to the academy and rest. I'll overlook what happened today."
He then looked toward Ma Hongjun.
"Ma Hongjun, follow me."
Flender hadn't expected today's lesson to develop into this situation. As the Dean, he naturally wanted to investigate Lev properly and understand exactly what kind of background and abilities the young man possessed.
But he felt that today wasn't the right time.
Before leaving, he gave Lev and Dai Mubai one last look.
Then he turned around and walked away with Ma Hongjun.
After Flender left, Dai Mubai glanced at Zhu Zhuqing before turning his eyes toward Lev.
He said nothing.
He simply walked away, his fists tightly clenched.
The force was so great that his fingernails dug into his palms, causing a thin trace of blood to appear.
Once Dai Mubai left, the waiting room became strangely quiet.
Xiao Wu was the next to speak.
"Brother San, let's go back too."
Her expression was complicated.
"Yeah. Let's head back."
Tang San sighed before taking her hand and walking away with her.
However, his brows remained slightly furrowed.
The more he thought about Lev, the more mysterious the young man became.
He had originally believed that Lev merely possessed a powerful spirit.
But after witnessing everything today, Tang San could no longer make such a simple conclusion.
Soon after, Oscar and Ning Rongrong also bid their farewells before leaving together.
Eventually, only Lev and Zhu Zhuqing remained in the waiting room.
Lev glanced at the seemingly unconscious girl.
"I know you're awake."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyelashes trembled slightly.
After a brief silence, she finally opened her eyes and slowly sat up.
She first looked toward the direction where Tang San and the others had left before turning her attention toward Lev.
"You're the same age as me."
Her voice was calm, but there was still a trace of confusion within it.
"How were you so certain that you could make me stronger?"
Lev stared at her for a moment before answering seriously.
"That's true."
He paused.
"But I'm not normal."
His tone was calm and confident.
"If you follow me, you won't have to worry about anything."
"Your family, Dai Mubai's family... I don't care about any of them."
Lev's eyes became sharper.
"All I need are companions who are willing to follow me."
"In exchange, I'll make them stronger."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression changed slightly.
Lev then released his spiritual pressure.
Boom!
An overwhelming pressure instantly spread throughout the room.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened.
Her body instinctively stiffened as an intense sense of danger surged through her.
This wasn't ordinary spiritual pressure.
It was something far beyond what someone his age should have been capable of releasing.
Zhu Zhuqing had encountered powerful Spirit Masters before, but she had never experienced anything like this from someone who was supposedly the same age as her.
"H-How..."
Her voice trembled slightly.
She quickly regained her composure and stared directly at him.
"No."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Who really are you?"
She tried to process everything that had happened today.
Lev possessed multiple strange abilities.
He could use Dai Mubai's White Tiger abilities despite having a dragon spirit.
He had overwhelming physical strength.
His battle experience was frightening.
And now, he was displaying spiritual pressure that completely contradicted his apparent age.
It was simply too much for her to comprehend.
"I'm Lev Hendrix."
Lev calmly replied.
He withdrew his spiritual pressure and once again wore a faint smile.
He wasn't certain whether this alone would be enough to convince her.
But compared to his attempt with Xiao Wu, he felt much more confident about this one.
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent.
She looked at Lev with complicated emotions.
Today had been completely different from anything she had expected.
The mysterious young man before her was clearly far beyond common sense.
Yet precisely because of that, she still couldn't bring herself to trust him completely.
She needed time.
She needed to think carefully before making such an important decision.
For now, Zhu Zhuqing could only keep her thoughts to herself.
But deep inside, one thing had already become certain.
Lev Hendrix was someone she could no longer ignore.
*****
Meanwhile, a group of people could be seen making quite a commotion just outside the Great Spirit Arena.
The group was none other than Tang San and the others.
A small conflict had broken out between them and Dai Mubai, with Ning Rongrong once again becoming the center of the confrontation. Tang San and the others had stepped forward to defend her, while Dai Mubai, already in a terrible mood after everything that had happened that day, had become increasingly irritated.
After several exchanges, Dai Mubai finally turned around angrily and headed back toward the academy.
Tang San and the others could only sigh in relief.
They thought the matter had finally ended.
However, Ning Rongrong suddenly made an unexpected move.
Her eyes immediately brightened when she noticed two people approaching from the distance.
"Brother Lev!"
She stood up and hurried toward them.
Lev, who was walking alongside Zhu Zhuqing, stopped and looked at her curiously.
Ning Rongrong approached him with an ugly expression on her face.
"Brother Lev, I'll hire you to kill Dai Mubai."
Her words immediately shocked everyone.
Tang San's expression changed.
Xiao Wu, Oscar, and even Zhu Zhuqing looked at her in disbelief.
Ning Rongrong, however, continued without hesitation.
"I know you're stronger than him. As long as you kill him, I'll make you an honored guest of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School."
She raised one finger.
"I'll also give you ten thousand gold spirit coins."
Then she added confidently,
"Furthermore, you'll have the unconditional backing of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School."
The surrounding group fell silent.
They hadn't expected Ning Rongrong to go this far.
She genuinely wanted revenge.
For the first time since she had arrived at Shrek Academy, she had been treated this badly. Her pride had been thoroughly wounded, and she wanted Dai Mubai to pay for humiliating her.
Tang San and the others exchanged glances.
Their greatest concern wasn't Ning Rongrong's anger.
It was Lev.
If he accepted her offer, Dai Mubai might genuinely lose his life.
And given what they had already witnessed from Lev, they weren't confident that anyone present could stop him.
Seeing Lev remain silent, Ning Rongrong decided to reveal even more.
"I'm the princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School."
She looked at him confidently.
"My words carry weight."
Lev stared at her for several seconds.
Then he sighed.
"You should solve your own problems."
He calmly turned away.
"If you're really a princess, then killing someone shouldn't be that difficult for you."
Without waiting for her response, Lev continued walking.
At this point, Lev finally realized how much he disliked Ning Rongrong's personality during this stage of the story.
It wasn't that he hated her completely.
He knew that she would eventually mature and become a much better person.
But right now, she was still carrying that spoiled-princess mentality and overwhelming sense of superiority.
If possible, Lev simply didn't want to deal with her at this stage.
"You...!"
Ning Rongrong's face became pale.
"Don't you know how powerful our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School is?!"
Her voice carried disbelief.
She had been treasured since birth.
Almost everyone had always treated her with respect because of her identity.
Yet after coming to Shrek Academy, everything had begun to change.
And now, someone had actually dismissed the influence she was most proud of.
Lev stopped.
For a moment, he didn't turn around.
Then he slowly looked back.
"What about them?"
His voice was cold.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The smile that usually rested on Lev's face disappeared completely.
His eyes became sharp and emotionless.
The surrounding temperature seemed to drop.
Tang San's expression became serious.
Xiao Wu instinctively took a step back.
Oscar's body stiffened.
Even Zhu Zhuqing, who had already witnessed Lev's terrifying strength firsthand, couldn't help but feel her heart tighten.
Ning Rongrong's pupils contracted.
Her entire body froze.
The man standing before them looked nothing like the handsome and approachable youth they had known.
There was no warmth in his expression.
No teasing smile.
No trace of hesitation.
Only an overwhelming sense of danger.
For a brief moment, everyone felt their hair stand on end.
They couldn't understand how someone who normally appeared so calm, charming, and approachable could suddenly give off such a terrifying feeling.
Lev stared directly at Ning Rongrong.
"Your clan's influence means nothing to me."
His voice remained calm.
And somehow, that calmness made his words even more frightening.
"Don't use your family name to think you're above everyone else."
Ning Rongrong's lips trembled.
For the first time since arriving at Shrek Academy, she felt completely powerless.
She finally understood something that she had never been forced to understand before.
There would always be someone in the world who couldn't be intimidated by her background.
Among them, Zhu Zhuqing was relatively composed, having already experienced a glimpse of Lev's hidden strength. However, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar found themselves completely unable to speak. A suffocating sense of danger had suddenly descended upon them, making every hair on their bodies stand on end.
Ning Rongrong, who was directly facing Lev, was affected the most.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, her legs becoming weak beneath her as an overwhelming sense of fear invaded her heart. She had never experienced such terrifying pressure before. Even though Lev had not physically attacked her, his gaze alone made her feel as if she were standing before a terrifying beast that could devour her at any moment.
"You don't own the world, Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School."
Lev's voice was calm, yet there was an unmistakable coldness within it.
"Not everyone in this world can be bought with money. Remember that."
As soon as those words fell, the terrifying bloodlust surrounding him slowly disappeared.
The suffocating atmosphere immediately vanished, allowing everyone to breathe once more.
Lev didn't say anything else. He simply turned around and walked away, leaving the group behind.
The bloodlust he had released was not something he had developed overnight. It was the result of five years spent surviving in the dangerous depths of Sunset Forest, where every day had been a struggle against countless powerful beasts. He had killed, fought, and survived countless encounters during those years.
That killing intent had already been deeply engraved into his very being.
Even if Lev deliberately restrained it, releasing just a fraction of that accumulated bloodlust was enough to overwhelm people who had never experienced true killing intent before.
Seeing Lev's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar finally released the breaths they had unknowingly been holding.
"That was..." Oscar muttered, his face still pale.
Even Tang San remained silent.
His eyes followed Lev's departing figure with a complicated expression. The more he learned about Lev, the more mysterious he became. From his overwhelming physical strength to his strange abilities, his multiple spirits and now this terrifying bloodlust, Tang San could no longer understand just what kind of person he had encountered back in the Spirit Awakening Ceremony all those years ago.
Xiao Wu also remained silent.
Although she had already witnessed Lev's frightening side earlier, seeing him release such terrifying bloodlust toward Ning Rongrong still made her feel uneasy.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, merely shook her head.
She had already experienced Lev's overwhelming spirit pressure and understood better than the others that what they had just witnessed was only another side of his strength.
Without saying anything, she turned around and left.
Tang San and Xiao Wu eventually calmed themselves before following after her. Oscar hesitated for a moment, glancing at Ning Rongrong who was still standing there in a daze, before finally turning around and following the others.
Soon, everyone had left.
Ning Rongrong was left completely alone.
For several seconds, she remained frozen in place, her hands tightly clenched as she stared at the direction where Lev had disappeared.
She had never imagined that someone would actually reject her offer.
Not only had Lev refused the ten thousand gold spirit coins, he had even completely disregarded the influence of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School.
To Ning Rongrong, who had been pampered and treasured since childhood, this was an experience she had never encountered before.
But what frightened her the most wasn't his refusal.
It was the look in his eyes.
That cold and emotionless gaze had made her realize something she had never truly understood before.
There were people in this world whom money could not control.
There were people who did not care about the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School.
And there were people who were strong enough to make her feel powerless.
The thought alone made her body tremble again.
"Waaaaah!"
Unable to hold her emotions back any longer, Ning Rongrong finally collapsed onto the ground and burst into tears.
For the first time in her life, the pride she had always carried had been completely shattered.
*****
Meanwhile, far away from the Great Spirit Arena, Lev continued walking toward Suotuo City without looking back.
He knew that his actions today would undoubtedly change some things.
But he didn't care.
He had never come to this world with the intention of simply following the original storyline.
He had his own goals.
His own plans.
And eventually, he would build something that belonged entirely to him.
As for whether the people around him would choose to follow him or oppose him...
That was something only time would reveal.
As Lev made his way back toward the Rose Hotel, his guard remained constantly raised.
Ever since leaving the Great Spirit Arena, he had noticed that someone was following him.
He already had a few guesses regarding their identities, but if he wanted to know the truth, there was only one way to find out.
With a quiet sigh, Lev deliberately changed his route and headed toward a nearby forest. He wanted to confront whoever was following him and eliminate any possible threat before it could become a problem later.
After traveling deep enough into the forest, Lev finally stopped.
The surroundings were completely silent.
He slowly turned around and glanced at the trees behind him before taking a deep breath and calming himself.
Something told him that what was about to happen would not end peacefully.
"How much longer are you planning to follow me?" Lev asked calmly. "Show yourselves."
His voice echoed through the forest.
A moment later, several figures emerged from the shadows.
There were seven of them in total. All were dressed in black cloaks, and each one carried an intimidating aura. Judging from their movements and the spirit power they were concealing, Lev immediately knew that they were not ordinary people.
"Boy," the leader said coldly. "I don't know whether you're confident or simply foolish for coming to this place alone."
He paused before continuing.
"But we didn't follow you here because of that. We came to thank you for teaching our princess a lesson."
His expression suddenly became cold.
"However, you went too far."
"So, you're from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School."
Lev immediately understood.
The leader had referred to Ning Rongrong as their princess. That alone was enough for him to figure out who they were.
"Don't resist, boy," the leader continued. "Since you taught our princess a lesson, we won't make things difficult for you. You'll only receive a beating."
The moment his words fell, one of the men immediately rushed toward Lev.
He moved quickly, intending to overwhelm Lev before he could react.
However—
"You're too slow."
Lev's figure disappeared.
The next instant, his hand pierced directly through the man's chest.
The man's eyes widened.
Shock.
Fear.
Regret.
Those were the final emotions reflected in his eyes before his life completely disappeared.
Lev calmly withdrew his hand and allowed the corpse to fall to the ground.
His hand remained stained with blood as he casually looked at the heart he had ripped from the man's chest.
He stared at it for a moment before throwing it aside.
Then his cold gaze shifted toward the remaining six men.
"E-Evil!"
One of the men shouted in horror.
The others immediately released their spirits and unleashed their abilities simultaneously.
They had completely underestimated Lev.
Never in their wildest imagination had they expected a twelve-year-old boy to possess such terrifying strength.
Unfortunately for them, it was already too late.
Lev's body moved.
Using the various abilities he had accumulated throughout his years of survival, his speed increased explosively. One attack after another passed through where he had been standing only moments earlier.
None of them could even touch him.
"Since you want to fight..."
Lev raised his hand.
"...then I'll end this quickly."
His fingers began writing something in the air.
***Setsuna***
A strange symbol formed before him.
The next moment, a massive dragon emerged from it.
"Roar!"
The dragon released a terrifying roar that shook the surrounding forest.
The six men immediately froze.
"What... is that?"
Their expressions became pale.
They had already seen Lev's strange abilities before, but witnessing another dragon emerge from his mysterious technique still left them terrified.
Lev calmly looked at them.
"Setsuna, open your eyes."
The dragon slowly opened its eyes.
The moment its eyes opened—
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
"Help!"
"NO!"
Five of the six men suddenly screamed.
An intense heat engulfed their bodies.
Their clothes ignited first.
Then their flesh.
Within moments, their bodies were completely consumed by the flames.
Five figures collapsed to the ground before turning into ashes.
The forest became silent once again.
The remaining man stared at the ashes of his companions in complete disbelief.
They had come here thinking that they were the hunters.
Yet from the moment they stepped into this forest, they had already become prey.
***Homura***
Lev raised his hand again.
Another dragon appeared.
This time, its body transformed into a long, fiery whip.
Without hesitation, Lev swung it.
Whoosh!
The whip struck the remaining men.
Their bodies were instantly engulfed in flames, turning them into ashes one after another.
Only the leader remained.
His entire body trembled.
"P-Please..."
He desperately crawled backward.
"Please stop..."
His mind had completely collapsed.
Everything had happened too quickly.
One moment, they were confidently surrounding Lev.
The next, every one of his companions was dead.
He hadn't even realized when his knees had touched the ground.
Lev slowly walked toward him.
The leader's body trembled even more as he looked up at the boy standing before him.
For the first time, he understood the true meaning of fear.
Lev stopped in front of him.
His eyes remained cold.
He could kill this man just as easily as the others.
But he didn't immediately do so.
Instead, Lev began thinking.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School was one of the most powerful forces in the continent.
More importantly, it possessed something Lev desperately needed for his future plans—
Resources.
Wealth.
Influence.
Connections.
He had already decided that he would eventually establish his own organization in this world, and having the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School supporting it would undoubtedly make things much easier.
Originally, Lev had planned to approach them under more peaceful circumstances.
But now...
He looked at the trembling survivor.
Things had become complicated.
'Looks like I'll have to change my plans again.'
Lev sighed inwardly.
He hadn't expected Ning Rongrong's little tantrum to result in this.
He lowered his hand and looked down at the surviving man.
"Relay this message to your clan. I have no intention of creating unnecessary trouble with your organization, and I believe it would be best for everyone if we ended this matter here."
Lev looked calmly at the surviving leader.
"Do not come after me again."
The man immediately nodded before scrambling to his feet and running away as quickly as he could, afraid that Lev might change his mind.
Lev watched his retreating figure disappear into the distance.
Only after he was completely gone did Lev lower his gaze toward his own trembling hand, still stained with blood.
He sighed deeply.
"This is exactly why I hate killing people."
Shaking his head, Lev turned around and began making his way back toward the Rose Hotel.
"What a day."
**********
—The next day—
Rose Hotel,
After everything that had happened the previous day, Lev woke up surprisingly refreshed.
Beside him, Tsunade was still half-asleep, peacefully holding onto his arm. Lev gently caressed her head as he thought about everything that had happened recently.
Before long, Tsunade slowly opened her eyes.
"Good morning, Master."
"Morning."
Lev smiled faintly.
"Master, are you going to the academy today?"
"Yeah."
Lev nodded before becoming slightly serious.
"I'm sorry about leaving you here all day. But I promise that it won't be for much longer. Once I've finished what I need to do here, we'll leave this place together and continue our journey."
Tsunade's sleepy expression immediately brightened.
"Is that so, Master?"
There was a faint smile on her face.
There was nothing she wanted more than to remain by Lev's side. As long as she could continue serving him and accompany him on his journey, she would be satisfied.
"Yeah. Just wait a little longer."
Lev smiled and gently patted her head.
"Before long, we'll leave this place."
Tsunade nodded happily.
"Then I'll wait."
The two remained together for a while longer before Lev eventually prepared himself for another day at Shrek Academy.
There was still much he needed to accomplish.
His plans had only just begun.
*****
Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School,
On the northern side of the main hall, facing south toward the master seat, stood an enormous rosewood-carved chair. An exquisite piece of dark-green jade was embedded into its back, its surface radiating a faint warmth and moist aura. It was clearly a piece of the finest-quality warm jade.
Sitting upright in the great chair was a middle-aged man.
His face was fair and refined, with a straight nose and square mouth. He wore a spotless white robe without a single speck of dust, while his soft black hair naturally fell over his shoulders and back. At first glance, he appeared to be an ordinary man of roughly forty years old.
Yet anyone who knew his identity would never dare to underestimate him.
He was Ning Fengzhi, the Schoolmaster of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School.
At this moment, his normally gentle expression had become slightly serious as he looked at the man kneeling before him.
It was the very same man who had confronted Lev the previous night.
His clothes were torn, his body covered in injuries, and his face was still pale from fear.
"What happened to you?" Ning Fengzhi asked, his brows knitting together. "And where are your comrades? Has something happened to Rongrong?"
He had specifically ordered several people to follow and protect his daughter.
Yet seeing one of them return in such a miserable state immediately made his heart tighten.
"Reporting to the Schoolmaster..." The man lowered his head respectfully. "We had a conflict with the young miss's classmate."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had already understood something from those words.
If Ning Rongrong had been in danger, that would undoubtedly have been the first thing the man reported.
"Hmm. Tell me everything that happened."
"Yes, Schoolmaster."
The man immediately began explaining everything that had happened.
**********
Several minutes later.
After hearing the entire story, Ning Fengzhi remained silent.
The man lowered his head, his expression filled with shame and lingering fear.
"Please forgive me, Schoolmaster. We never expected him to be that powerful. We couldn't fight back at all..."
His voice trembled slightly.
"Even my comrades died at his hands."
Ning Fengzhi remained quiet for a moment before finally speaking.
"I don't blame you. You were merely carrying out your duty. You may withdraw."
The man's expression immediately relaxed.
"Thank you, Schoolmaster."
He was just about to leave when he suddenly remembered something.
"Schoolmaster, that young man also asked me to relay a message."
"Oh?"
Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow.
"What did he say?"
"He said that we should leave him alone and stop causing trouble for him."
The man hesitated.
"I don't know where he got the confidence to say something like that, but he was completely serious. What if he comes fro—"
"How bold!"
A powerful voice suddenly thundered throughout the hall.
The sheer force behind the voice caused the surrounding air to tremble.
"Fengzhi, let me go and teach that brat a lesson!"
"I'll also bring Rongrong back myself. How can I possibly feel at ease knowing that she's staying beside someone so dangerous?"
As the voice echoed, an old man walked out from the rear of the hall.
His hair and beard were completely white, yet his face was tender and youthful, resembling that of a baby.
With a powerful movement, his figure flashed forward and appeared beside Ning Fengzhi.
The old man's expression was filled with fury.
He was none other than one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's most powerful experts.
Sword Douluo—Chen Xin.
Ning Fengzhi could only reveal a helpless smile.
"Uncle Jian, this is merely a conflict between youngsters. There's no need for you to personally intervene."
His expression then became slightly serious.
"Besides, Rongrong needs to experience the outside world. Perhaps going through some difficulties will help her change her temperament."
"Hmph!"
Chen Xin snorted angrily.
"Remember what you just said."
He narrowed his eyes.
"If anything happens to Rongrong, I'll hold you responsible."
Without waiting for Ning Fengzhi to respond, Chen Xin turned around and left the hall.
The atmosphere gradually returned to normal.
Ning Fengzhi watched his departure before turning his attention back to the injured man.
"Investigate that young man named Lev for me."
His voice was calm, but his eyes revealed a trace of curiosity.
"Find out everything you can about him—his origin, his clan, his spirit, his background, and especially the reason behind his strength."
"Yes, Schoolmaster."
The man respectfully bowed before quickly leaving the hall.
Once he was gone, Ning Fengzhi leaned back against his chair.
His fingers lightly tapped against the armrest as he contemplated everything he had just heard.
A twelve-year-old boy.
Multiple mysterious abilities.
A strange dragon spirit.
The ability to use abilities belonging to other spirit masters.
An overwhelming physical body.
And, most importantly, enough strength to effortlessly slaughter several spirit masters sent by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School.
Yet this same boy had deliberately spared their leader and even sent a warning rather than threatening their entire clan.
That was the part Ning Fengzhi found most interesting.
'Just who are you, Lev Hendrix?'
A faint smile appeared on his gentle face.
'Very interesting.'
Rather than feeling anger, Ning Fengzhi felt something else entirely.
Opportunity.
If everything the man had reported was true, then this mysterious young man might possess potential far beyond what anyone at Shrek Academy currently realized.
And if that was indeed the case...
Perhaps the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School had just encountered someone worth paying close attention to.