"Zhuqing, you're finally back!"
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong rushed over, taking the pack from Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders, their voices lowered.
"Ma Hongjun's been crippled."
"The Grandmaster and the Headmaster are both in a foul mood."
"Be careful what you say."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained calm. She nodded lightly.
"Got it."
—
As she stepped back into the academy—
A wave of suffocating tension slammed into her.
The moment Dai Mubai saw her, he shot to his feet, eyes blazing, fists clenched.
"Zhu Zhuqing! You went to Heaven Dou City to meet that Sword Wine bastard, didn't you?!"
"Do you even realize—"
"Fatty got crippled because of him!"
Zhu Zhuqing ignored him completely—
And continued walking toward the girls' dormitory.
"Stop right there!"
Being treated like air made Dai Mubai's face darken.
His Spirit Power surged violently, the faint sound of a tiger's roar echoing around him—
Then he pounced, like a wild tiger lunging at prey, arm extended to grab her.
Tang San's expression remained cold and unreadable.
Oscar opened his mouth as if to speak—
But only let out a heavy sigh.
"Dai Mubai! What are you doing?!"
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong shouted in alarm and fury:
"Zhuqing, watch out!"
The rushing wind was already at her back.
Zhu Zhuqing finally moved.
Her graceful figure flashed into a streak of black light, effortlessly slipping past Dai Mubai's outstretched hand.
"What?!"
Dai Mubai's strike missed completely. His pupils shrank in disbelief.
Zhu Zhuqing was an agility-type Spirit Master, yes, but his Spirit Power was stronger. The speed gap shouldn't have been this large.
But as that thought crossed his mind—
A powerful surge of Spirit Power suddenly rippled from Zhu Zhuqing's body.
"Level thirty-seven?!"
The Grandmaster, Flender, and Liu Erlong all shot to their feet in shock.
Cold light flashed!
Zhu Zhuqing's slender hand had already drawn a blade from her waist.
Both the Grandmaster and Flender shouted at once:
"Stop!"
Zhu Zhuqing ignored them.
The blade swung—not to slash—
But to strike.
The flat of the icy blade swept out with a piercing whistle—
And smashed directly into Dai Mubai's face.
Smack—!!
The sound rang through the courtyard like thunder.
Dai Mubai was sent flying several meters, staggering before Tang San caught him just in time.
"You bitch!!"
He clutched his face, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Fury exploded in his eyes as his muscles bulged and white tiger fur sprouted madly across his body.
Just then—
Flender and the Grandmaster stepped in front of him, shouting:
"Enough!"
Dai Mubai's chest heaved, Spirit Power gradually calming.
He glared at Zhu Zhuqing, grinding his teeth.
"Zhu Zhuqing, you owe us an explanation."
"Ma Hongjun, one of the Shrek Seven Monsters, was crippled—yet you went to meet his enemy."
"Is that how you treat your teammates?!"
All eyes turned toward Zhu Zhuqing.
She didn't even glance at them.
Instead, she simply wiped the flat of the blade—
The one that had struck Dai Mubai—
On the ground.
The gesture made Dai Mubai's face go even darker.
"Ma Hongjun brought it upon himself."
"You call it voluntary, but over all this time, how many girls have been too scared to speak up? You know the truth."
That final line—
Was directed squarely at Yu Xiaogang and Flender.
Flender opened his mouth, but in the end, only let out a weary sigh. His shoulders slumped with guilt.
"Ma Hongjun…"
"This was my failure as a teacher."
Yu Xiaogang narrowed his eyes, studying Zhu Zhuqing with suspicion.
"Zhu Zhuqing, how did your Spirit Power leap so drastically?"
"And… your Martial Soul—it's been enhanced?"
"I was fed by someone."
Zhu Zhuqing replied flatly, just four words—
Then turned and walked away.
Behind her, Yu Xiaogang's low voice echoed:
"This time, I hope you've all learned—there's always someone better, always a sky beyond the sky."
"But don't lose confidence. Each of you is a rare genius. I'll draw up the harshest training regimen."
"We won't be going to Heaven Dou City anymore. Blue Tyrant Academy is merging into Shrek. We'll qualify for the Spirit Master Tournament."
"Remember the shame of a teammate being crippled—just as I'll remember the humiliation of being driven out of Heaven Dou City."
"When the tournament comes—we will reclaim our honor!"
—
Heaven Dou Empire.
Seven Treasure Mountain.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan stood here.
Surrounded by mountains and dense forests, the sect was dotted with lotus ponds. Its red-tiled and green-walled buildings were built one after another according to the mountain's terrain. The domes of all the buildings were covered with seven-colored glazed tiles, which refracted a dreamlike halo under the sunlight.
Inside an elegant pavilion—
Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo Gu Rong were playing chess.
Gu Rong placed a black piece onto the board—
Reviving his failing position. A massive dragon-shaped formation began to take shape.
"Hahaha!"
"Fengzhi, you miscalculated!"
"With this move, the skies are mine to soar!"
A flicker of surprise flashed in Ning Fengzhi's gentle eyes.
Then he composed himself, placing a white piece steadily.
On the board, the white pieces had already formed an unshakable formation—solid and deeply rooted.
"The game's already decided. Let the winds blow from all directions—I remain unmoved."
"Besides…"
He paused briefly.
"I never wished for bloodshed."
Gu Rong looked up, puzzled.
"No bloodshed? Then why play the game at all?"
Ning Fengzhi gently brushed his hand across the board, scattering the pieces—
Dismissing the unresolved battle.
He rose to his feet, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the magnificent expanse of his clan.
"In the end, people have feelings. Life is not a chessboard."
"Interesting…"
He sighed softly.
"A vast Heaven Dou City has been stirred up by Sword Wine... that foolish Zhexian boy. If not for Uncle Sword's imminent breakthrough in his sword path and our need to protect him, I would have truly gone to the Imperial City to witness Zhexian's elegance."
Gu Rong chuckled and shook his head.
"I remember when we all thought that Zhexian was a disappointment and unworthy of Rongrong. It seems we were short-sighted. Fengzhi, do you have any regrets?"
Ning Fengzhi was silent for a long moment.
"Regret?"
"Perhaps… just a little."
"Looking back now, it could've been a perfect match for Rongrong."
"I never stopped her. I even allowed her to distance herself from Zhexian… I only hope, in the future, she won't blame me."
"I can tell—she doesn't feel nothing for him."
He thought of his daughter's dazed, soul-lost state the day Li Zhexian left the sect.
Gu Rong seemed to recall that as well, sighing softly as he shifted the topic.
"But Heaven Dou City… has the Ye Clan and their Nine Heart Begonia."
"Fengzhi, aren't you worried?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head, his expression certain.
"Uncle Bone, you and I both know—"
"Zhexian wouldn't help the Ye Clan against us."
"Just as we both know—he'll never return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"That boy's stubborn to the core."
"And more importantly—"
His gaze turned toward the towering, sword-shaped mountain in front of the pavilion, his voice full of reverence and confidence.
"With Uncle Sword here…"
"Who in the world could shake the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
"Zhexian may be dazzlingly talented—"
"But the supreme master of the sword in this world… is Chen Xin."
Gu Rong nodded in agreement.
No one knew just how far Chen Xin had walked on the path of the sword.
Ning Fengzhi gazed toward that mountain, steeped in sword intent.
"I remember—before Uncle Sword entered seclusion, that mountain was just an ordinary peak."
"Now, just a few months later… the entire mountain has shifted, refined into a sword aimed at the heavens."
"Uncle Sword's realm… is truly unfathomable."
Gu Rong sighed with emotion.
"Indeed."
"But you know… Uncle Sword truly feels regret for Zhexian."
"He genuinely considered Zhexian his heir. If he knew Zhexian's talent had returned… I imagine he'd be delighted."
As he finished speaking—
BOOM—!!!
The towering sword-shaped mountain shattered.
A small figure in white now stood quietly atop the clouds.
Fingers forming a sword, he sliced gently through the sky.
In an instant—
The sea of clouds rolled back.
The heavens cleared.
The sky turned a brilliant, ocean-deep blue.
That white-clad figure vanished like a whisper—
And reappeared—
Like a falling leaf—
Landing silently in the pavilion.
Chen Xin.
Dressed in plain white robes, his aura calm and still, like a deep ancient well.
No sword intent leaked from him—he seemed just a gentle middle-aged scholar.
His gaze swept over Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong.
"Zhexian?"
"What were you just saying about Zhexian?"