Night fell over the ravaged grounds of Shrek Academy like a shroud. The moon, a cold silver disc in the sky, illuminated a scene of chaos and destruction. The faculty and students had retreated to their huts, leaving the smoldering crater and the collapsed gate as a grim monument to the day's trial.
In the simple, two-person dormitory room, a profound silence reigned. Tang San sat cross-legged on his bed, his eyes closed, his breathing deep and even. He had already entered a state of deep cultivation, working to recover the spirit power he had expended and to solidify his understanding of the day's battle.
On the opposite bed, Zhang Tian was also seated in a meditative posture, his expression serene, his blue hair cascading over his shoulders like a frozen waterfall. To any observer, he would appear to be doing the same as Tang San. But his consciousness was not within the room. It was everywhere.
His Blood Silver Domain was a silent, invisible web cast over the entire academy and beyond. Through the countless blades of Blue Silver Grass that grew on the grounds, he felt everything. He felt the exhausted, resentful breathing of Dai Mubai in the medical hut, the drunken snores of Ma Hongjun, and the curious whispers between Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
Then, he felt a shift. A presence, so immense and oppressive it felt like a mountain had silently materialized within the forest bordering the academy. It was a power he had sensed before, from afar. Tang Hao.
A moment later, he felt the panicked, terrified thrum of Zhao Wuji's spirit power. The Immovable Bright King was being confronted. Through the vibrations in the very soil, conveyed through the roots of the grass, Zhang Tian experienced the "fight." It wasn't a fight. It was a beating.
He didn't see it, but he felt it. He felt the terrifying pressure waves that made the grass blades tremble in fear. He felt the muffled, sickening impacts that resonated through the ground, each one a testament to an overwhelming, brutal force. He felt the primal terror radiating from Zhao Wuji, a Spirit Saint being treated like a child's toy. It was a lesson in what true, unrestrained power looked like.
'So this is the Clear Sky Douluo,' Zhang Tian thought, a sliver of cold respect mixing with his calculations. 'All rage and grief. A broken hammer, but a hammer nonetheless.'
He turned his attention away from the one-sided punishment. It was a useful data point, but not his primary objective for the night. His focus shifted entirely to the boy meditating just a few feet away from him. Tang San.
The spore he had planted on Tang San during the chaotic fight was a silent, undetectable key. Now, with his full concentration, he used that key to unlock a door. His perception flowed through the connection, not into Tang San's mind—an act that would be easily detected—but into his body. He began to trace the flow of energy.
It wasn't the simple, slow gathering of ambient spirit power. It was a complex, intricate circuit. He could feel the energy being drawn in, then guided along a specific, sophisticated network of meridians, circling, refining, and purifying itself before settling into his dantian.
It was like watching a master watchmaker assemble a timepiece of impossible complexity.
'This... this is the Mysterious Heaven Skill,' he realized, his mind working furiously to memorize the entire circulation path, every twist, every turn, every subtle nuance.
He projected his findings into his Spiritual Sea, sharing the intricate map with Ah Yin.
'Ah Yin, look at this. It's a cultivation method far more advanced than simple meditation.'
Ah Yin, who had also been observing the "fight" outside with a complicated mix of emotions, turned her full attention to the energy schematic he presented. Her garnet eyes widened in genuine surprise.
'How fascinating,' she mused, her voice filled with wonder. 'This is no simple breathing technique. The way it purifies and compresses the spirit power... I have never seen anything like it. Not even Tang Hao or the elders of the Clear Sky Sect possessed such a profound internal cultivation method. My son... where did he learn such a thing?'
'A secret he must possess,' Zhang Tian replied mentally. 'And one we will now share.'
He withdrew his senses from Tang San, the complete blueprint of the Mysterious Heaven Skill now perfectly etched into his memory. He decided to begin immediately.
The first challenge was immediate. The pathway he had copied was Tang San's current level of cultivation—likely the third or fourth tier of the skill. Attempting to force his own spirit power through such an advanced circuit without mastering the fundamentals would be like trying to run a marathon without learning how to walk. It would only lead to ruptured meridians and internal chaos.
'Ah Yin, I need your help,' he requested. 'I have the complete map, but I need to start from the beginning. Guide my spirit power through the first-level circulation. Your experience is far greater than mine; you can see the blockages and imbalances I cannot.'
'Of course,' she agreed instantly. 'Your body, fortified by my spirit bone, is strong. It can handle this. But be prepared. The first cycle could be quite painful as it will forcibly widen your meridians.'
He took a deep breath and began. He guided a sliver of his potent spirit power to the starting point of the circuit. Then, following Ah Yin's gentle mental nudges, he began to push it along the primary pathways of the first level.
Pain, sharp and immediate, lanced through him. It felt like he was trying to force a river through a garden hose. His meridians, though strong, were not accustomed to this kind of forced expansion.
'Endure it,' Ah Yin's voice was a soothing balm against the pain. 'This is the price of power. It is purging your impurities.'
He gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. He pushed through the pain, and as he did, he felt something else. A dark, murky sludge was being squeezed out of his very spirit power. Impurities. The remnants of the life force and energy he had devoured from hundreds of different sources.
While his devouring ability was powerful, it was not clean. He had been accumulating a subtle spirit impurities without even realizing it. The Mysterious Heaven Skill was acting as a purification filter, burning away the dross.
The first cycle completed with a final, agonizing push. A wave of profound relief washed over him, followed by a feeling of incredible lightness and clarity. His spirit power, though slightly diminished in volume, felt denser, more potent, and cleaner.
Now, the true advantage came into play.
Tang San had to rely on the slow, painstaking process of absorbing ambient energy from the air. Zhang Tian had a cheat code.
He activated his Blood Silver Domain, not for sensing, but for devouring. He sent out a silent command, and the tens of thousands of Blue Silver Grass blades covering the academy grounds became extensions of his will. They began to absorb ambient life and spirit energy, not for themselves, but for him.
A thousand tiny streams of energy began to flow into him from all directions. It was a flood of raw power. He immediately channeled this torrent into the second cycle of the Mysterious Heaven Skill. This time, the process was smoother, faster. The river was now flowing through a canal, not a hose.
Cycle after cycle, he refined the immense energy he was drawing in. The impurities were burned away, and pure, gentle, nourishing soul power was packed into his dantian. While Tang San was adding a cup of water to his bucket, Zhang Tian was connected to a fire hydrant.
The night wore on. As the first hints of dawn touched the horizon, Zhang Tian felt a distinct shift within him. His spirit power clicked into place, reaching a new state of condensed purity. He had reached the peak of the First Level of the Mysterious Heaven Skill. In a single night.
He opened his eyes. The world seemed sharper, colors more vibrant. He could feel his own spirit power, now compressed and potent, ready to be unleashed with far greater efficiency. His cultivation speed had just taken another qualitative leap.
Just as he was absorbing this new state, he felt a change in the air. Through the window, he saw the eastern sky beginning to glow with a deep, mesmerizing purple. And he felt Tang San's spirit power begin to circulate in a new, strange pattern, focusing on his eyes.
'The Purple Demon Eye,' Zhang Tian recognized it instantly. 'A technique to cultivate mental power.'
He repeated the process. His spores were still a silent passenger on Tang San, and through them, he mapped the unique circulation method for the eyes.
'Another one, Ah Yin. Look.'
'Fascinating,' she breathed in his mind. 'To use the nascent energy of the rising sun... my son is truly full of wonders. This will strengthen your spiritual sea and my soul as well.'
Zhang Tian didn't hesitate. The window of opportunity was small; the purple qi only lasted for a few precious minutes at dawn. He faced the east and began to cultivate the Purple Demon Eye.
Again, his advantage was absurd. Tang San had only his own body to absorb the mystical energy. Zhang Tian had his entire domain. He commanded every blade of Blue Silver Grass to turn towards the dawn and absorb the purple qi for him.
Tens of thousands of tiny lenses focused the energy of the dawn, and a colossal river of pure purple qi flooded into Zhang Tian's eyes, being refined and absorbed by the technique. His mind felt like it was being bathed in a cool, refreshing spring. His mental fortitude, already strong, began to skyrocket. Ah Yin, residing in his spiritual sea, let out a sigh of pleasure as she too was nourished by this energy.
The purple hue in the sky faded, and the sun broke over the horizon. The window was closed. Both he and Tang San stopped their cultivation at the exact same moment.
Tang San opened his eyes and looked across at Zhang Tian. He had been vaguely aware of his new roommate's intense cultivation throughout the night. 'He works just as hard as I do,' Tang San thought, a measure of respect forming for the handsome, mysterious boy. 'Perhaps he is not just a pretty face.'
"Good morning," Tang San said, his voice even. "We should probably go and meet the others. The Dean will likely have instructions for us."
"One moment," Zhang Tian said, swinging his legs off the bed. He felt a thin, sticky film on his skin. The impurities purged by the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
He went to the small washroom first, the cool water washing away the black, grimy residue. When he emerged, he felt cleaner and lighter than ever before. Tang San followed suit, his own routine just as disciplined.
Clean and refreshed, they left their room and found the others already gathering outside.
Xiao Wu immediately latched onto Tang San's arm.
Oscar was making doe eyes at Ning Rongrong, who was studiously ignoring him.
Ma Hongjun was keeping a wary distance from everyone, especially Zhang Tian.
Zhu Zhuqing stood alone, her arms crossed, but her eyes flickered towards Zhang Tian with a flicker of acknowledgement when he appeared. Dai Mubai was nowhere to be seen.
"Now that we're all here," Oscar said, deciding to take the lead. "We should probably introduce ourselves properly."
They went around the circle. Tang San with his Blue Silver Grass and Xiao Wu with her Soft Boned Rabbit. Oscar and his sausage. Ma Hongjun and his Evil Fire Pheonix. Zhu Zhuqing and her Hell Civet. And Zhang Tian with his Blood Silver Grass. Finally, Ning Rongrong revealed her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
When it was Ning Rongrong's turn, she looked directly at Zhang Tian, her eyes sparkling. "Ning Rongrong. And Zhang Tian, about yesterday... I would like to discuss a deal regarding those fascinating exploding balls."
Her next words made Oscar's jaw drop. "My father is the leader of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. I am certain he would pay a great price for such weapons."
Zhang Tian considered it for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "I am open to a deal. In fact," he added, his words capturing everyone's attention, "I have many other weapon designs. I would be willing to provide your sect with the blueprints for my entire arsenal."
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up with brilliant light. "Truly?!"
"However," Zhang Tian continued smoothly, "this is not something that can be bought with mere gold coins. I would require your sect to put forward something of equal value. Rare resources, unique cultivation methods, privileged information... we can discuss the specifics later."
As Ning Rongrong was practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect, Tang San frowned. A deep, disapproving line formed between his brows.
'Selling blueprints?' he thought, a sense of indignation rising within him. 'This is something that should never be done. I would never sell the blueprints of the Hidden Weapons of the Tang Sect, only the finished products. And if forced to give the blueprints, I will only provide those of the lower-grade ones. If his weapons are all as powerful as those grenades, they could disrupt the entire balance of power! What if they fall into the wrong hands? This could reduce the value and uniqueness of my own hidden weapons when I eventually establish the Tang Sect here.'
Unable to keep his thoughts to himself, he spoke up, his voice taking on the tone of a moral arbiter. "Zhang Tian, have you considered the consequences of your actions? Aren't you worried that your weapons will be sold to unsavory people who will use them to commit evil? As the creator, you have a responsibility to think about the impact of what you unleash upon the world."
Zhang Tian turned his calm, blue eyes on Tang San. There was no anger, no defensiveness, only a placid, unshakable logic.
"Firstly," he said, his voice even. "I am not selling them to 'unsavory people.' I am offering them to the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. They are primarily a Support Type Sect. As you can see from Ning Rongrong, their direct combat ability is limited. These weapons would not be for conquest, but for self-preservation. To allow their support masters to protect themselves from opponents and in emergencies. Providing them the blueprints allows them to produce these tools cheaply and efficiently for their own people. It saves me the trouble of manufacturing and is a great service to a powerful and generally respected sect."
He paused, letting his first point land. Ning Rongrong beamed, looking at Zhang Tian with immense gratitude and approval. He understood her sect's plight perfectly.
"Secondly," Zhang Tian continued, his gaze unwavering. "Let us entertain your hypothetical. Let's say the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect decides to mass-produce and sell these weapons. If a person with evil intent buys them, is that my responsibility?"
He shook his head slightly. "A blacksmith forges a sword. If a bandit buys that sword and uses it to rob someone, is the blacksmith at fault? He sold a tool. The intent lies with the user, not the creator. To hold me responsible for the actions of every potential future owner is a flawed and childish moral argument."
Tang San's face flushed. He wanted to argue, to talk about the responsibility of power, but Zhang Tian's cold, clear logic left him with no room to maneuver. He sounded preachy and naive, while Zhang Tian sounded pragmatic and intelligent.
Zhu Zhuqing, listening intently, nodded slightly. Zhang Tian's reasoning made perfect sense. Tang San's argument, while noble on the surface, seemed skewed and impractical.
"You-!" Xiao Wu, however, saw only that her brother was being contradicted. Her face turned red with anger. "You're just making excuses! My Elder Brother is right! You're just a greedy merchant who doesn't care who gets hurt!" she yelled, brainlessly defending Tang San without understanding the first thing about the debate.
Zhang Tian simply ignored her outburst as if she were a yapping puppy, his attention already elsewhere, leaving Xiao Wu fuming and Tang San looking even more foolish by association.
The first crack in the 'monsters' of Shrek Academy had appeared.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon