Shrek City—home of Shrek Academy.
As the largest city on the continent and the location of the number one academy, it was a place countless people longed to set foot in.
The grounds of Shrek Academy were vast—it was not just an academy anymore, but an entire city.
In truth, in ancient times, what is now the academy itself was Shrek City. Later, with the founding of the Spirit Transmission Tower, its first tower master—Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao—proposed the expansion of Shrek City. From that expansion grew today's continent's largest city.
The original Shrek City had been completely absorbed into the academy, transforming it into a city-sized institution.
Every three years, Shrek Academy held its student entrance exams—the single most important event for soul masters across the continent.
To even qualify to take the exam was considered an honor. There was even a saying in the soul master world: Anyone who earns the chance to sit for Shrek's exam, even if they fail, will be admitted directly into a higher-level academy elsewhere.
And indeed, the saying was true. Only the absolute elite are qualified to attempt Shrek's entrance exam.
But even among these elites, only a handful managed to pass—and even then, most only entered the Outer Court.
Every three years, Shrek admitted only two hundred Outer Court students. Of those, fifty slots were reserved for those who failed the Inner Court entrance exam.
The Inner Court exam had only fifty slots per cycle. Passing it was the pinnacle of achievement, but even failing granted admission into the Outer Court, with the opportunity to retake the test for the Inner Court in the future.
Graduating from the Outer Court alone already marked one as a top-tier talent across the continent. Any organization or clan would compete to recruit them with astronomical offers.
As for the Inner Court… that was another world entirely.
It was said in the academic world: Every Inner Court disciple of Shrek will one day become a Battle Armor Master.
And in the Federation, every Battle Armor Master was considered a strategic asset.
Although very few Inner Court disciples ever left, those who did were all courted as super talents.
At Shrek City's railway station, passersby couldn't help turning their gazes toward the entrance.
There, a beautiful black-haired, black-eyed young girl walked slowly forward with a small suitcase in hand.
The bustling flow of people seemed to pause with her arrival. Even those walking ahead of her instinctively slowed their steps, stealing glances at her from the corners of their eyes.
Beauty attracts attention—it was human nature. Men stared openly, but even many women couldn't help sneaking looks at her.
This girl was Forsi Wall.
After parting ways with Lu Fa and the others upon leaving Tianhai Academy, she had come to Shrek City alone.
"My first time in Shrek City… where should I stay? Never mind. By now, Fusheng-1 should have arrived. I'll just ask him to recommend a place."
Thinking it, she immediately sent a mental ping to @Fusheng-1.
Because all four avatars had been created using Nanfusheng's blood, they shared this ability to mentally @ one another. But—
"Fusheng-1 isn't here. Right now, this body is occupied by Nanfusheng."
"Eh? The main body? You came to Shrek City, too?"
"Yes and no. I only pushed Fusheng-1's consciousness aside to take over for now. My real body is still in Tianhai City."
"Terrifying. Way too terrifying! You won't do that to me someday, will you?" Forsi crossed her arms dramatically, feigning fear.
Even in her loose clothes, that movement drew the eyes of nearby men. Two men walking by, distracted, even collided headlong into each other.
"I just switch consciousness with Fusheng-1 occasionally to experience life. Otherwise, do you think I could stand being cooped up in the Spirit Transmission Tower for three years straight?"
Nanfusheng ignored her theatrics and asked matter-of-factly, "What did you need Fusheng-1 for?"
"Oh, right. I can't find anywhere to stay. The exams aren't for a few more days, so I was hoping you'd help out this weak little girl."
"No. Goodbye."
"Wait, wait! At least come pick me up! Otherwise, if a delicate, defenseless girl like me wanders around Shrek City all alone, aren't you afraid I'll run into bad people?"
"..."
Too lazy to argue, Nanfusheng just sent her his location pin.
The inn they were staying at had been chosen by Wu Zhangkong, which meant, predictably, it was completely without luxury. It was a small, rather old hotel not far from the soul train station, with only three rooms.
Its stone-and-wood facade was already worn with age.
When Forsi arrived, she stood speechless at the sight of the outdated interior. Still, she didn't complain and went straight to check in.
Fortunately, she had the "privilege of beauty." The manager, dazzled by her looks, charged her only half the price of a double room—even though the inn had no singles or triples available.
"See? Being good-looking really is different." She hummed cheerfully as she carried her suitcase upstairs.
After dropping her things in her room, she skipped straight toward Nanfusheng's door. She could clearly sense that his main consciousness was inside.
Knock knock knock.
The door opened to Nanfusheng's weary face. "What are you doing here?"
"Not even going to invite me in?"
"…Fine. Come in."
With graceful steps, Forsi entered his room.
"Huh? Just you here?"
"No. Xie Xie's here too. But he and Tang Wulin's group went out to eat."
"Then why didn't you go?"
"Because I knew you'd come find me."
"Ehehe~."
Once inside, they didn't speak aloud. Instead, they simply sat down on the sofa, meeting each other's eyes in silent understanding.
This was the special telepathic link between Nanfusheng and his avatars—allowing them to converse mentally, free from prying ears.