"After evaluating the performance of all freshmen during the assessment, the academy has finalized the list of core disciples: Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo."
Du Weilun stood on the stage, reading from a document.
The students: !
The crowd exchanged glances, confusion evident in their eyes. Among the three team leaders of the top-ranked squads—An Zhen, Huo Yutong, and Huang Chutian—not a single one was on the list. Almost instinctively, everyone turned to look at the most dazzling figure of this freshman assessment.
An Zhen: Expressionless.
But not because of himself. Earlier, he had already told the girls beside him that he had been made a core disciple. His concern was for his little Yutong.
An Zhen glanced toward another team, meeting a pair of teary, aggrieved blue eyes. The once-bright stars in them now seemed dimmed.
Why?
Ever since entering Shrek Academy, she had poured in all her effort. While others rested, she worked. While others slacked, she pushed forward. With An Zhen's ability to refresh her condition, aside from eating and traveling, she spent nearly 23 hours a day striving.
The young girl swayed slightly on her feet.
Huo Yutong felt as if all her efforts had been denied in this single moment.
An Zhen suddenly felt a suffocating weight in his chest.
"Move aside."
He slipped out of the line.
At his fastest speed without activating his spirit, An Zhen rushed to the dormitory building.
There, a stunning black-haired beauty was pushing the wheelchair of an elderly man with snow-white hair.
An Zhen blocked their path.
An Zhen sat down on the ground.
An Zhen: (#￣～￣#)
Mu En: ...
The dissatisfaction on the boy's face was palpable—like a child throwing a tantrum in front of a doting elder.
"Ai~"
Mu En sighed, his expression one of helpless indulgence, as if dealing with a spoiled grandchild.
Zhang Lexuan watched the scene with an amused smile.
"You're unhappy that Shao Zhe didn't include that child in the core disciple list?"
"Extremely unhappy!"
An Zhen scooted closer to the old man's side. "Grandpa, I'm a reasonable person, but this time, Dean Yan was wrong!"
"Explain. If Shao Zhe truly made a mistake, I'll ensure justice is served," the elderly voice responded with a mix of patience and resignation.
"Teacher Zhou Yi and Fan Yu can attest to Yutong's efforts. Even at night, in my dream world, she's reviewing knowledge and practicing the Tang Sect's secret techniques. She's pushing herself 22 to 23 hours a day."
"Just that alone—no one else in the academy can match it!"
"Mmm." Mu En nodded slowly. "She is indeed a hardworking girl."
But that wasn't enough.
A white spirit ring brightened, and Huo Yutong's starlit eyes gleamed. "Even though Yutong only has a ten-year spirit ring, its ability is extraordinary."
Mental Detection.
Mental Sharing.
"And this range grows as she improves."
"Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao's exceptional performances were partly due to this. Tell me, how valuable is a control-type spirit master with such a skill?"
Mu En's cloudy eyes flickered with interest. "A natural commander for spirit masters."
*Full-map, 360-degree awareness.*
Anyone with basic tactical knowledge understood how overpowered this was.
Sure, the Skydream Iceworm was "trash" by million-year spirit beast standards—but the abilities she granted were undeniably powerful.
"If this detection is condensed into a single line, it can unleash a Soul Impact."
An Zhen repeated the excuse Yutong had once used to fool Wang Dong.
A pulse of spiritual energy shot into the air.
Others might not have sensed anything, but the Dragon God Douluo saw it clearly.
"That's really from a ten-year spirit ring?!"
Zhang Lexuan felt such an ability would only make sense on a hundred-thousand-year ring.
An Zhen activated his white spirit ring.
Believe it or not, this is the color Yutong's ring showed when it manifested. My replication just copied the disguise too.
"And the Spirit Fusion Skill that can dismantle a Soul Douluo's defensive spirit power—isn't that more impressive than the Netherworld White Tiger? Why is Zhu Lu on the list but not Yutong?"
"Because of her talent, boy."
A disheveled old man appeared beside An Zhen, munching on a chicken leg. Elder Xuan spoke slowly, "For a Body Spirit, the most crucial factors are potential and mutation. Even with your Mysterious Water Pills, her innate spirit power is too low."
"With your dream world, she might keep up in the early stages. But can every spirit ring she absorbs be as miraculous as her first?"
An Zhen opened his mouth but said nothing.
"Of course, the academy could grant Huo Yutong the status of a core disciple in the Spirit Department," a refined middle-aged man interjected. Yan Shao Zhe looked at An Zhen meaningfully. "Because of you, An Zhen."
"?" An Zhen.
Wait, why are two Super Douluos here?
Do you guys have nothing better to do?!
"Forget it."
An Zhen shook his head.
Huo Yutong would never accept a core disciple position obtained this way.
An Zhen turned to leave.
An Zhen was lifted off the ground.
An Zhen was placed back where he stood.
"What now?"
An Zhen glanced around—a 95, a 98, and a 99. I'm not Di Tian, why are you surrounding me?
"Shao Zhe, explain."
"An Zhen." Yan Shao Zhe's gaze was almost expectant. "Aren't you going to fight for that girl's opportunity?"
"No."
An Zhen's expression turned serious. "I'll convince Huo Yutong to never aspire to be a Spirit Department core disciple."
Today, you ignore me.
Tomorrow, you won't be worthy of me.
Yan Shao Zhe: ?
"Dean Yan, I believe the results are fair. Yutong truly isn't suited for the Spirit Department's path." The boy smiled brightly.
Something was off.
Very off.
Elder Xuan's murky eyes narrowed. This kid is definitely plotting something.
Was there some hidden talent in that girl?
Had he misjudged?
"An Zhen, I came for the technique you used to defeat the Netherworld White Tiger," Yan Shao Zhe admitted, puzzled by An Zhen's sudden shift. But honestly, he agreed with Elder Xuan—Huo Yutong's talent was lacking.
"I replicated a shadow from Grandpa here." An Zhen pointed at Mu En. "It was like borrowing a fragment of his power through my body. I can't actually use it myself."
"Would you like to learn it?"
Mu En's aged voice cut through the silence.
The world seemed to still.
An Zhen's potential was monstrous.
The makings of a Limit Douluo. Spirit replication. Spirit Fusion Skills. Even replicating Mu En's Monarch's Descent. A three-ringed Spirit Elder who could mimic four-ringed abilities. A spirit power reserve that seemed bottomless.
And the reason Elder Xuan and Yan Shao Zhe had personally come?
Ning Tian.
If they didn't act soon, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan might just take him away entirely.
Lexuan, why didn't you report this sooner?!
"Teacher?"
An Zhen sought Elaic's opinion.
"His strength is acceptable. You may learn from him, but complete my assignments first," Elaic's voice echoed in his mind.
The Death God didn't mind his disciple having multiple mentors. He vaguely recalled having many teachers in his past life—and this old man was on borrowed time anyway.
"I'd love to." An Zhen nodded.
Seems Xu Tianran did a thorough job. No wonder Grandpa was so confident—my background is airtight.
"Teacher." An Zhen pressed further. "What's the name of that move?"
"Monarch's Descent."
Mu En's wrinkled face broke into a smile. He was very satisfied with this final disciple—a perfect heir to his legacy.
Yan Shao Zhe grinned.
Success.
They had investigated An Zhen's origins.
"Junior Brother."
Yan Shao Zhe patted An Zhen's shoulder gently. "You must… stay strong."
Is he fragile or something?
An Zhen blinked.
"While verifying your core disciple status, we traced your biological parents. They… passed away years ago. From now on, we are your family."
"Ah?"
Bullshit.
Xu Tianran's cover story had him as an orphan. Since when did he have parents?
Whatever. As long as my background holds, it's fine. I'll ask Grandpa during break.
Yan Shao Zhe escorted his new junior brother back to complete the assembly formalities, whispering, "The first-place reward is a ten-thousand-year Voidshadow Leopard leg bone. Don't absorb it—Teacher will arrange something better."
An Zhen (registered as an auxiliary-type tool spirit master) and Ning Tian were assigned to Class 3.
"An Zhen."
Ning Tian produced a spirit bone wrapped in leather. "Wu Feng and I barely contributed. You should decide what to do with this."
"My family has already prepared my set, and this doesn't suit Feng either."
Compared to An Zhen, a mere ten-thousand-year spirit bone was nothing.
If you wanted, I could arrange a full set for you.
The words lingered on Ning Tian's tongue—until—
"I just became Dragon God Douluo's disciple."
Ning Tian's smile froze.
…Was I robbed?
Just now?!
"Congratulations."
The golden-haired young mistress smiled sincerely.
Given Shrek Academy's and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's natures, they could never be enemies. Even if An Zhen became the Sea God Pavilion's master, it wouldn't stop him from being the future husband of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's leader.
But it still felt like… she'd been cuckolded.
"I don't need it either. Senior Brother Yan told me not to absorb it. Let's sell it and split the money."
A ten-thousand-year spirit bone.
To others, it was a priceless treasure.
But An Zhen genuinely couldn't care less. Yutong and Wang Dong didn't need it, and using it to woo Xiao Xiao wasn't fair—this wasn't his reward alone.
...
Virtual World.
"Yutong."
An Zhen hugged the blue-haired girl.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never underestimate the girl who's poor today."
"An Zhen gege…"
Huo Yutong sniffled.
"A million-year spirit beast's choice is never accidental."
"You are favored by fate, cherished by the world."
An eleven-year-old girl who lost her mother, burdened with vengeance—she had already been so strong.
"Yeah, yeah!"
A lazy golden-haired woman materialized. The Skydream Iceworm pumped her fist. "Those people are blind. You're my host! Our goal is godhood!"
"Thank you… An Zhen gege, Skydream jiejie."
...
In one leap, An Zhen became the second-highest in seniority at Shrek Academy—equal to Elder Xuan (Mu En's grand-nephew) and Yan Shao Zhe.
Beibei and Zhang Lexuan's great-grandmaster!
…This is so messy.
"Satisfied?"
Flawless cheeks still flushed from earlier excitement, An Zhen released the dark "reins."
"Very."
The black-haired senior sister sighed contentedly.
An Zhen felt they were on different wavelengths.
Black-and-white silk accentuated her shapely legs. Delicate fingers adjusted the slightly askew horn ornament on her head before pulling An Zhen into a soft, fragrant embrace.
"Though they're large… I'm not pregnant. I haven't… done that yet."
A genius, yes—but still just a twelve-year-old boy deprived of family love.
Zhang Lexuan's heart ached for him.
"Mmph—!"
An Zhen struggled to breathe.
(End of Chapter)