Shrek Academy – Hillside.
Zhao Wuji braced his bulk, seven rings blazing.
"Martial Soul: Body of the Diamond King!" Golden halos wrapped him in shields. With doubled defense under True Body, he thought, Surely I'll survive this time.
But across from him, Liu Erlong drained a jug, wiped her lips, and roared.
"Seventh Soul Skill — Martial Soul True Body!!"
Her form twisted into blazing azure dragon scales, fist wreathed in thunder‑fire.
She charged.
Yu Xiaogang muttered nervously. "Her sixth soul ability — Exploding Fire Dragon. Attack ascension, speed ascension, and continuous burn… it's her strongest single‑target strike. Wuji must be cautious."
Caution? Flender's eye twitched. "Brother Wuji's just gonna get roasted again."
BOOM!
First contact sent both reeling. Zhao Wuji spat dust. Flender signaled furiously: "OL' ZHAO, LET HER WIN!"
Zhao Wuji wanted to cry. I don't even get to fight back? Am I human or a sandbag?
Another vortex of dragon flame churned over his head.
"Boss F," he muttered, staring at the roaring tornado sliding toward him. "If I let her win here, I won't even have a corpse left."
Bear paws sprouted as Zhao Wuji unleashed Second Ability – Vajra Palm, Third Ability – Gravity Enhance. The hillside trembled.
Liu Erlong staggered slightly, gravity pressing… and in that moment she calmly chugged half her jug.
Zhao Wuji's jaw dropped. "D-Drinking mid‑fight?! That's LU YUAN's style…!"
The Azure Dragon's real body bloomed a moment later. "Old Zhao, you've lost school already!"
Dragon's Roar.
A thunder‑fireball launched point‑blank. Zhao Wuji pretended to take it, smoke rising from his singed robes.
"Enough! I lose!" he waved desperately. No more…
But before he could retreat—
The tail came down.
BOOM!
He was blasted down the hillside like a cannonball, chest caved, armor ruined.
Liu Erlong exhaled, eyes shining. "Strong! That felt right… hah! Wine truly is the secret! Next time, Lu Yuan — I'll smash you!"
At Shrek's gates.
Lucien leaned on his jug. Zhu Zhuqing stood at his side, light smile playing on her lips — far freer than before.
"Kitten," Lucien teased, "you don't need to come back here. Should've come to me at Tiandou."
She shook her head gently. "No. Just here for my things. After the annulment… nothing here belongs to me anymore."
For the first time, Zhu Zhuqing's cold jade mask had cracks of warmth. She was free.
"Zhuqing?!"
Dai Mubai ran forward, bandaged arm still stiff. His heart leapt upon seeing her return — only to be blocked by Lucien stepping in front, sword leaning casual.
"You! Bastard. Stay away from my kitten!"
Mubai froze. "What?"
Lucien's grin widened at the sight of the bandaged arm. "Hahah! So it WAS your hand that got broken. Served right!"
Mubai's teeth gnashed. Cursed Lu Yuan again. Always in my way! He stepped forward but then hesitated; one arm busted already thanks to Shrek's accidents, and he didn't dare risk the other.
Still he flared. "Zhuqing, you can't truly say we are finished. Our marriage is sealed by royal decree! It cannot dissolve so simply!"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes went ice once more. "It already has. We are over."
Mubai's world tilted. In all of royal Star Luo history, only two princes had ever been annulled. To be the third? Impossible.
But the truth, already spread across every tavern and clan, was undeniable.
And right outside Shrek's gates, Mubai stood staring at Zhu Zhuqing by Lucien's side, while his classmates whispered in horror: Lu Yuan — drinking jug in one hand, sword in the other — had even stolen royal contracts away from the Dai clan.
"School… is abandoned."
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