Alien Beast Academy, Girls' Dormitory.
"…Ranran, don't tell me you're actually transferring schools?"
Meng Yiran, suitcase open on her bed, hummed happily as she folded her clothes. "Didn't you see me packing?"
The other girls crowded curiously. "Transfer? To where?"
Yiran's lips curled smugly. "Tiandou Royal Academy."
The dorm went silent, before bursting into disbelieving laughter.
"Ha! Tiandou Royal Academy? Stop joking. That's the nobles' playground!"
"Your grandparents, Dragon and Snake, they're renowned, sure. But connections to actual nobility? Come on—don't blow smoke at us."
Yiran only chuckled. She had been waiting for this moment. With a flourish, she produced a scroll stamped with the royal seal.
All laughter froze midair.
The girls crowded in, mouths wide. "A noble certificate?! This is real!"
"How… how did you pull this off?"
Pride lit her face. "Lucien helped me."
The dorm fell dead silent.
"…Lu Yuan?" whispered one girl.
"Yes! The very same. The one you keep saying we'd give monkeys for," another muttered, stifling a laugh.
Pfft—everyone broke into giggles.
"Ranran, please. That guy's the most famous monster in Douluo right now. You expect us to believe he became your guardian angel after a chance meeting at Star Dou?"
Yiran lifted her chin stubbornly. "Believe it or not, he personally gave me noble status."
"Then have him show up here, personally."
"Hahaha, yeah!"
—
Right then, the door slammed open.
"Ranran—why so long?"
Lucien staggered against the frame, wine jar in hand, eyes blurred and voice booming.
The dorm went utterly still.
"…L-Lu Yuan?!"
The infamous devil of Tiandou Royal Academy, a Soul King at twelve, standing alive in their doorway!
Meng Yiran's proud smile widened gorgeously. "See? Sisters, facts don't lie."
Lucien tilted his head. "Who called me just now?"
Every girl in the dorm swallowed hard, silence crashing onto them.
Meng Yiran grabbed his sleeve. "Okay, you've seen enough! Bye!" She whisked Lucien away in triumph.
Behind them, the girls collapsed into squeals and shrieks. Today was destiny.
…She had bragged—and the deity himself had walked through the door.
Shrek Academy.
In the dim office, Zhao Wuji finished recounting their Star Dou trip.
"…By the way, we ran into someone there," he sighed dourly. "Lucien."
The name alone coiled tension through the room.
Yu Xiaogang—Master—straightened instantly, scalp prickling. Ever since tales of Lucien reached him, his nights had been restless. A twelve-year-old Soul Sect? Then Soul King? With three purple rings and one black?
Everything about him spat in the face of my theories.
"Wuji," Yu Xiaogang pressed, notebook already open, "tell me every detail. Carefully. Leave nothing out."
Flender squinted skeptically. "You even fought him?"
"Mm." Zhao Wuji's face twisted. "Old Zhao stepped up… and didn't gain a damn thing."
"You mean you lost." Flender smirked.
"I said I yielded—on account of Seven Treasure Sect's face and that hammer Tang Hao gave me earlier!" Zhao Wuji barked.
"Pfft, a Soul Sage yielding to a Soul King," Flender muttered with disdain.
"Flander, can you shut it!" Wuji slammed the table.
But Yu Xiaogang ignored them completely, eyes alight. "Teacher Zhao, what's your greatest takeaway from facing Lucien?"
Zhao Wuji grew serious. "His strength is terrifying, yes. But it wasn't him alone. It was the sword. That sword in his hand—evil. Beyond words. Even I felt fear."
Yu Xiaogang's pen nearly tore the page, scribbling furiously. The sword… anomalous Martial Soul? Could this explain the ring anomalies?
At last, he put his book away as though it were sacred.
Then his sharp eyes flicked to Flender. "This brings me to a thought. Shrek cannot stay as it is. Our environment is too poor. No resources, no backing, no noble support. My training plan must continue—but after it, we'll migrate. To Tiandou Royal Academy."
Flender's expression snapped. "You're crazy. Shrek Academy is mine. My creation. You want me to abandon it and wag tails for nobles? Not happening!"
"Flander! Stop lying to yourself. We're broke. Our students? Talents burning away like candles in the dirt. If we want proof for my theories, they must see the wider world!"
"Bullshit!" Flender roared. "I won't be a dog beneath Tiandou!"
"…"
"…"
Zhao Wuji rubbed his forehead. "Uh… question. Has the Tiandou Royal Academy even invited us yet?"
Both men stopped mid-shout.
"…No."
"Then why the hell are you two fighting already?" Wuji groaned.
The debate raged long into the night. At last, weary but unwilling, Flender exhaled. "Fine. We'll at least send feelers. See what Tiandou offers."
Yu Xiaogang nodded sharply, eyes flickering with ambition. His theories, the chance to prove them, and maybe… to stand across from Lucien again.
If Shrek joined Tiandou, paths were fated to cross.
--
Check out my pa**on to read 50 advanced chapter for just 7$. Link is in synopsis/description of this fic.