"Well, let me go first," Tang San said calmly.
"My name is Tang San. Rank 29 — Spirit Grandmaster. Control-type. Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass."
"Blue Silver Grass?" Ning Rongrong blurted out.
"I didn't know Blue Silver Grass could even be cultivated."
"Oh, hell—my turn!" Xiao Wu cut in cheerfully.
"I'm Xiao Wu. Xiao for little, Wu for dancing. Rank 29 — Spirit Grandmaster. Soft Control-type. Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit."
Then Ning Rongrong straightened herself slightly.
"My name is Ning Rongrong. Rank 26 — Spirit Grandmaster. Support-type. Martial Soul: Seven Treasure Pagoda."
"What?" Tang San exclaimed.
Both Tang San and Xiao Wu stared at her.
"Hey—don't look at me like I'm some kind of ghost," Ning Rongrong said defensively.
Then, almost at the same time, they turned their heads toward the alluring woman behind them—the one who hadn't spoken a single word and was still scanning the surroundings.
"And what about you?" Ning Rongrong asked.
"What's your name?"
Zhu Zhuqing finally felt their gazes. With a deadpan expression and a serious tone, she asked instead,
"Have you seen a woman with purple hair? She came here early."
Her words stunned them.
Nearby, Dai Mubai had been silently listening.
He had been curious from the start—why this woman from the Star Luo Empire had chased him all the way here. Ever since he ran away, he assumed only one thing:
She's here for me.
When Zhu Zhuqing entered the final evaluation area, Dai Mubai had been shocked.
Why… why is she here?
He avoided her the entire time, yet couldn't stop himself from stealing glances at her.
But every time he looked, she wasn't looking at him.
She was scanning the area—searching for someone else.
That realization made his frustration boil.
If she's here for me… then why isn't she even looking at me?
His pride couldn't accept it.
Then he heard it.
She was looking for a purple-haired woman.
It felt like an arrow piercing his chest.
So all this time… he was just assuming things.
She wasn't here for him.
Not at all.
Dammit… then who is she looking for?
Dai Mubai clenched his teeth.
Relief mixed with frustration—relieved she wasn't chasing him, yet furious that she wasn't here because of him.
Fuck… even I don't understand myself, he cursed inwardly.
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged glances.
This black-clad woman… was clearly looking for Lili.
That alone sparked their curiosity—what kind of connection did these two have?
Xiao Wu, being Xiao Wu, spoke up immediately.
"You know Lili too?" she asked Zhu Zhuqing.
"We were looking for her yesterday, but she vanished. We thought she already came here."
Tang San nodded and added,
"She said she was going to enroll at Shrek, so we came here to check. But we haven't seen her at all."
"Y-you know her?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
For the first time, her eyes sharpened—like she had finally found a lead.
"Well, yeah," Tang San replied.
"We came to Suotuo City together."
"And why are you looking for her?" Xiao Wu asked eagerly, her curiosity completely exposed.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't answer.
She only clenched her fists tightly.
"Hey," Ning Rongrong cut in, tilting her head.
"What are you guys talking about? And who is this Lili anyway?"
♤
But their conversation was cut off by approaching footsteps.
An elderly voice chuckled lightly.
"Ohoho… so you all know the purple-haired woman as well?"
Oscar turned his head—and his eyes widened.
"Dean?"
"Oh, Dean, you're here?" Oscar said casually.
"What was that pressure earlier? Don't tell me you lost big money again."
"Hahahaha—" Flender laughed loudly.
Everyone turned to look at the man standing before them.
"Wait… isn't he the scammer?" Xiao Wu blurted out, pointing straight at Flender.
"Yeah," Tang San added after a moment of thought.
"He was the one selling things at the stall… but he's the Dean of Shrek?"
Ning Rongrong merely glanced at him and said nothing.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, didn't bother with any of that.
"You're the Dean, right?" she asked coldly.
"Then tell me—have you seen the purple-haired woman?"
"Hahaha, calm down," Flender said, amused, as he looked at the gathered students of Shrek.
Then his gaze landed on the woman he had seen earlier at the hotel.
He smiled knowingly.
"Yes," he said. "I've seen her."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes sharpened. She cut straight to the point.
"Where is she? Did she come here?"
With a smirk, Flender replied,
"Yes. She came here to enroll. That pressure earlier? That was just part of her evaluation."
"And if you're curious—yes, she passed."
"W-what?" Tang San exclaimed.
"She passed already?" Xiao Wu asked.
Ning Rongrong also looked surprised.
All three of them were curious—what kind of test could the Dean possibly have given her?
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't hold back anymore.
"Where did she go?" she demanded fiercely.
As she spoke, her soul power surged outward.
Everyone felt it.
"Oh?" Zhao Wuji muttered, impressed.
"What dense cultivation… at her age, this is truly exceptional talent."
Tang San stared at her in shock.
Her rank… is higher than mine? How old is she?
Xiao Wu simply smiled in acknowledgment.
"Wow."
Ning Rongrong felt it clearly as well.
As a support-type Spirit Master, her cultivation speed was already considered fast—but this was different.
If I can recruit her into the Seven Treasure Pagoda…
A plan quietly formed in her mind.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists.
"W-what… this is impossible," he muttered.
"She's as strong as me… a Spirit Elder."
"Well," Flender said lazily, adjusting his glasses,
"I can't say much more than that."
"But if you really want to see her…"
He smirked.
"Then maybe tomorrow. She should be attending class."
Zhu Zhuqing stared at him for a long moment.
Then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and whispered to herself,
"…Tomorrow."