Tang Ya dragged Yu Beibei toward the cafeteria, while Jiang Nannan headed with Zhu Ziyang toward Sea God Lake.
There was a circular path along the lakeshore, perfect for running. They had already scouted it during dinner the previous day, so there was no need to look elsewhere.
Sea God Lake, a landmark of Shrek Academy, was an irregularly shaped circular lake that took up a third of the entire campus. At its center was an island—the location of the Inner Court. Along the lake was a scenic pathway called the Lakeside Trail, about fifteen kilometers in circumference. It was lined with lush vegetation forming small groves, with clean air and peaceful surroundings. It was also a favorite dating spot for many Outer Court students.
As Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan arrived, a thick morning fog blanketed the lake, and visibility was very low. Few figures could be seen on the trail—hardly any students came here at this early hour.
"Alright, let's start from here," said Zhu Ziyang, pulling out two pairs of iron wristbands from his emerald bangle and handing one to Jiang Nannan.
These were fourth-grade soul tools known as Gravity Bracers. Each was inscribed with a soul skill called Gravity Control, allowing the wearer to adjust their body's gravity and achieve a weighted training effect. The bracers had four settings, increasing gravity to two, three, four, or five times the user's body weight.
These Gravity Bracers were a gift from Hong Zhen, the City Lord of Anyang, to Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan after they both advanced to the Soul Grandmaster level. As rare training-type soul tools of the fourth grade, their market price was at least 100,000 gold soul coins.
Clearly, Hong Zhen had high hopes for them both.
Currently, Zhu Ziyang's physical strength allowed him to handle five times gravity. For someone with a tool-type martial soul at the Soul Elder level, this was astonishing—even many beast-type Soul Elders couldn't endure such intensity.
Jiang Nannan was slightly behind, able to withstand only triple gravity. Even so, her body's strength far exceeded that of her peers and same-level soul masters. The fact that her second soul ring had a nine-hundred-year age already proved this.
The two teens began jogging around Sea God Lake.
Two hours and two laps later, they finished their run and went to the cafeteria for breakfast.
Afterward, both returned to their dorms for a shower. Then they spent the day walking around Shrek Academy, familiarizing themselves with what would be their home for the next twelve years—perhaps even longer.
By the end of the day, they had explored every corner of the academy and formed a clear first impression of its layout and environment.
——
Two more days passed.
Shrek Academy's annual admissions period had come to an end.
This year, there were seven first-year classes, totaling 688 new students—the smallest incoming class in the past thirty years.
And today marked the official start of classes.
After finishing their morning run, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan returned to their dorms to shower and change into their uniforms. They then met up at the dorm entrance.
Jiang Nannan was accompanied by her roommate, Tang Ya, and shortly afterward, Yu Beibei joined them. The four headed together toward the teaching building.
After three days of being roommates, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya had become close friends. Tang Ya's bubbly, talkative personality contrasted sharply with Jiang Nannan's quiet and warm demeanor—yet the two bonded easily despite their differences.
Meanwhile, Zhu Ziyang and Beibei walked behind them. Both were reserved and thoughtful types, and since they hadn't interacted much, they stayed relatively silent.
"By the way, Zhu Ziyang, do you want to join our Tang Sect?" Tang Ya suddenly turned around and asked brightly, "We're the number one sect on the continent!"
"I know of Tang Sect," Zhu Ziyang paused, then smiled. "Wasn't it founded ten thousand years ago by one of the original Shrek Seven Monsters who became a god? Tang San, the Thousand-Hand Douluo?"
"That's right!" Tang Ya's eyes sparkled in surprise. She hadn't expected him to know the sect's origins. In this day and age, few people still remembered. She beamed with excitement. "So, how about it? Join us! I can make you our second disciple!"
"I'll pass. I'm not looking to join any sects at the moment," Zhu Ziyang politely declined with a smile.
'What a joke,' he thought. 'With my talent, why would I join a sect that's been declining for thousands of years?'
"Oh… alright." Tang Ya looked a little disappointed but didn't take it too seriously. She had only asked on a whim and had expected his refusal. So she grinned and said, "But if you ever change your mind, promise you'll consider Tang Sect first!"
"I will," Zhu Ziyang replied with a nod, his eyes flickering with a strange light.
"Xiaoya, why are there only two of you left in Tang Sect—just you and Beibei?" Jiang Nannan asked curiously.
As Tang Ya's roommate, Jiang Nannan had also been invited to join the sect, though she said she needed to consult Zhu Ziyang first. Now that Zhu Ziyang had made his stance clear, she naturally wouldn't join either. Still, that didn't stop her from being curious.
"Sigh." For the first time, the ever-cheerful Tang Ya showed a hint of sorrow. "To tell you the truth, Nannan, Tang Sect has long since fallen. It's just Beibei and me now. Even our ancestral grounds were taken from us."
As she spoke, a flash of resentment crossed her delicate face.
"Don't worry, Xiaoya. We'll definitely take the sect back!" Beibei stepped forward and gripped her hand reassuringly.
"Yeah! We will!" Tang Ya clenched her fists, renewed determination in her voice.
Perhaps sensing something familiar in Tang Ya's situation, Jiang Nannan encouraged her too. "That's right, Xiaoya. You're a student of Shrek Academy now—someday you'll definitely restore the Tang Sect to glory."
"Mm! Thank you, Nannan!" Tang Ya's eyes shimmered with gratitude.
"Tang Ya, since you're the Tang Sect's leader, your martial soul must be Blue Silver Grass, right?" Zhu Ziyang suddenly asked.
"That's right." Tang Ya looked at him in slight surprise. "According to our sect's rules, only Blue Silver Grass soul masters can become the sect master. But why do you ask?"
"No particular reason. Just curious," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile. "After all, you're the only sect still producing Blue Silver Grass soul masters. I've always found that martial soul fascinating."
"...I see," Tang Ya said, momentarily at a loss.
"That's totally normal," Yu Beibei interjected, giving Zhu Ziyang a glance and smiling. "Blue Silver Grass has a legendary status. I'd be curious too if I were him."
"Exactly." Zhu Ziyang nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin and saying no more.
Tang Ya turned back to chat with Jiang Nannan again. Meanwhile, Yu Beibei glanced deeply at Zhu Ziyang, then lowered his gaze, seemingly lost in thought.
Before long, the group arrived at the new student teaching building.
The building had three floors. The first two were classrooms—five per floor, each capable of holding a hundred students. The third floor was for faculty, including homeroom and subject teachers.
Class Four and Class Five were next to each other, located in the two leftmost rooms on the first floor.
"Beibei, we'll go in first!" Tang Ya said, waving at him in front of Class Four's door.
"Alright. Wait for me after class!" Beibei waved back and headed into Class Five.
Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Tang Ya entered Class Four. About seventy or eighty students were already there. As soon as the trio stepped in, all eyes turned their way.
Handsome boy, pretty girls—this kind of group was always bound to attract attention.
Zhu Ziyang ignored the stares and found two open seats, pulling Jiang Nannan along to sit.
Seeing this, Tang Ya pouted. "Nannan, look at Ziyang! He didn't even bother to find a three-person seat. Such poor gentlemanly manners!"
Jiang Nannan looked apologetic. "Sorry, Xiaoya. Maybe you can find another seat?"
"No way! I want to sit with you!" Tang Ya declared firmly.
Then, to the surprise of both Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, Tang Ya walked over to the girl seated next to Jiang Nannan and—without hesitation—pulled her up and chatted away. Moments later, the girl obediently gave up her seat and left.
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan were dumbfounded.
'Is this what they call… social magic?'
Impressive.
(End of Chapter)
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