On the Battle Soul Stage, Tuoba Yu stared blankly as the calm-faced Xu Zihuang sat down beside him.
From the very start, he had suspected that someone with such extraordinary bearing as Xu Zihuang must come from one of those great soul master clans with deep heritage.
Earlier in class, when Mu Jin mentioned that Xu Zihuang was already at the Soul Elder level, it had confirmed his guess.
But seeing was believing. Only after personally witnessing Xu Zihuang's clash with Wu Feng did he truly realize just how powerful Xu Zihuang was among his peers.
So much so that he could not suppress a wave of crushing defeat within himself.
Yet this sense of frustration did not overwhelm him.
There are times when one's strength simply runs dry. Some things cannot be achieved by desire alone. The White Armored Earth Dragon martial soul his clan had passed down could only barely squeeze into the category of high-grade martial souls. He could not compare to those prodigies born with innate full soul power.
Within Shrek Academy, where geniuses gathered, his talent could by no means be called top-tier.
All he could do was give his utmost effort.
Thirty years, forty years, or fifty years later—someday he would become a Titled Douluo, render service to his country, and wash away the shame his clan had borne for ten thousand years.
The blood debt of his forebears could not be erased. He would neither deny it nor run from it.
With this thought, Tuoba Yu's gaze grew incomparably firm.
Xu Zihuang, with his spiritual-attribute Golden Eyes martial soul, keenly noticed the change in Tuoba Yu's expression from the corner of his eye. But he quickly refocused on the center of the battle stage before him.
Everyone had their secrets. There was no need to pry and invite resentment.
At this moment, under the care of the healing-type teacher, Ning Tian had taken Wu Feng to the academy's infirmary.
But the actual combat session of the new Class Nine continued.
Just as Wang Yan had said, the talents of Class Nine's students were indeed outstanding among this year's freshmen.
Including Ning Tian and Wu Feng who had already left, there were ten Grandmasters above rank 20.
Four boys and six girls.
Xu Zihuang, who had just sparred with Wu Feng, was one of them.
He saw all manner of strange and varied martial souls—ones he had heard of but never before witnessed firsthand.
Such was Shrek Academy, a place that gathered geniuses from all across the continent.
What began as idle curiosity soon turned into genuine immersion. These were precious experiences.
Unlike the increasingly heated atmosphere of the battle arena, Wu Feng slowly regained consciousness in the infirmary with the help of the healing-type teacher Lv.
The instant she awoke, she instinctively looked toward her left arm. Waves of piercing pain immediately broke sweat across her forehead.
"Feng, how do you feel?"
At her bedside, Ning Tian looked at her with concern. Wu Feng was not only a bodyguard nurtured for her by the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—they had grown up together, their bond was deep.
"I've repaired the fractures in her left arm, but she mustn't use her martial soul for at least a month. She needs to rest well."
Teacher Lv offered a reminder before tactfully leaving the room.
"Thank you for your trouble, Teacher Lv." Ning Tian rose respectfully to see her out, then locked the door behind her.
Seeing Ning Tian's grim expression, Wu Feng opened her mouth as if to speak, then hesitated.
"Ning Tian…"
Slap!
The crisp sound rang through the room. Wu Feng clutched her burning cheek, staring at Ning Tian in disbelief.
Though reluctant, Ning Tian, raised from childhood as the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's sole heir, had no choice but to harden her heart.
"Do you realize what your recklessness could have caused? It was fine here in Shrek, with teachers to restrain things. But elsewhere, against soul masters without scruples, you might not have lived through it. Don't let emotions rule you. The sect cannot always shield us. Do you understand?"
"This time it was my fault, Ning Tian." Wu Feng lowered her head meekly. Always fiery in front of others, she became uncharacteristically docile before Ning Tian.
Seeing her yield, Ning Tian's tone softened. Gently, she caressed Wu Feng's slightly swollen cheek.
"Since you understand, find a chance to apologize to Yu Tianhuang."
"Apologize? To him?!" Wu Feng's face filled with grievance at once.
Ning Tian sighed, shaking her head.
"Feng, don't you see? Yu Tianhuang's talent isn't just among the best of this year's freshmen—few in the entire outer court could match it. A genius like him is bound to draw the academy's high-level attention, his future limitless. Such a person—if you cannot befriend him, you must at least not offend him. Do you want our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to gain such an enemy for no reason? Besides, this time you were the one who provoked him first."
"You think so highly of this Yu Tianhuang—don't tell me you like him? I saw how you were in class earlier…" Wu Feng trailed off, lowering her head uncomfortably. Clearly desperate to know, she dared not meet Ning Tian's eyes.
In the end, her voice fell to a whisper, lips pressed tight.
Ning Tian frowned slightly. Though still young, children of great clans matured early. She could vaguely guess at Wu Feng's thoughts.
"Feng, you're overthinking it. We're still young. The future is uncertain. And besides, that was the first time I'd met him—how could I fall in love at first sight?"
Hearing this, Wu Feng smiled in relief—only for her smile to freeze instantly at Ning Tian's next words, plunging her into an icy abyss.
"But Yu Tianhuang is indeed a perfect choice. You know I'll one day inherit the position of sect master. My future partner must be a strong soul master. Feelings can be nurtured with time. As long as Yu Tianhuang's talent and strength remain unmatched among his peers, what harm would there be if I pursued him myself?"
Wu Feng's face went pale. She wanted to object, but Ning Tian cut her off directly.
"Just rest here. I'll fetch food from the cafeteria for you."
With that, she left the room—leaving Wu Feng staring blankly at the door, eyes empty.
She longed to run after her and voice her true feelings, but lacked the courage.
What held her back was not only the bond of master and servant between them, but also that unbreakable taboo.