The autumn sunlight passed through the thin clouds, casting a soft golden glow on the grand gates of Shrek Academy, the top academy on the continent.
However, this warmth did nothing to ease the cold feeling in Liu Yuan's heart.
"Bang!"
A bundle was roughly thrown out from inside the gate. It landed on the stone path near his feet, raising a small cloud of dust.
That bundle contained all his belongings.
"Get lost! We, Shrek Academy, do not need a student like you—someone who breaks the rules and shows no respect for elders!"
A guard wearing a Shrek uniform looked at Liu Yuan with a mix of contempt and mockery, as if he were driving away a dirty stray dog.
Liu Yuan quietly bent down, brushed the dust off his bundle, and placed it back on his back.
He did not argue with the guard. Instead, he slowly raised his head and looked past the school gate—a symbol of glory and dreams—into the academy.
His eyes were frighteningly calm, but beneath that calm was anger and humiliation, swirling like a stormy sea.
Just half a day ago, he was still a genius student in the outer courtyard of Shrek Academy.
At less than fifteen years old, he had already cultivated to the Three-Ring Soul Elder Realm. His spirit, the high-quality "Wind Spirit Snake" was known as one of the most promising in the outer courtyard.
But now, he had become an "abandoned piece," cast out of the academy.
This sudden change began with a conversation earlier that morning.
Sea Gods Pavilion Elder, Gluttonous Douluo Xuan Zi—a Level 98 Super Douluo who stood at the peak of the continent—had personally summoned him.
Regarding Xuan Zi's summons, Liu Yuan already had a bad feeling. As expected, it was a trial disguised as an opportunity.
Xuan Zi invited him to join the Shrek Supervisory Group.
For an ordinary Shrek student, this might be a great honor.
But for Liu Yuan, a transmigrator, he understood the true meaning behind the words "Supervisory Group" better than anyone.
It was not glory at all, but something like a binding contract—an unpaid duty that would make even a capitalist feel pity.
Joining the Supervisory Group meant taking on the most dangerous and difficult tasks for Shrek Academy, always risking one's life.
You would give your youth, effort, and even your life, yet receive little to no real reward.
All the credit would go to Shrek. If you sacrificed yourself, you would not even have a tombstone with your name. You would simply be forgotten in some unknown place, becoming an insignificant part of Shrek's history.
Liu Yuan was not a saint, and he was certainly not blindly loyal.
He came to Shrek to survive in this world, to grow stronger, and to control his own destiny and not to become a useless cannon fodder for a powerful force.
So, he refused.
He still remembered the faint trace of gloom that flashed deep in Xuan Zi's eyes, despite his kind expression, when he said, "Sorry, Elder Xuan, my heart is not set on this."
The Gluttonous Douluo did not say much. He only waved his hand and let him leave.
Then…
Only half a day later, a notice of disciplinary action was placed in his hands.
The reason was almost laughable: "Seeking quick results in cultivation, repeatedly using medicinal pills, exhausting personal potential, disturbing the academy's cultivation environment, and improper conduct."
If someone wants to condemn a person, they can always find a reason.
Without any investigation or giving him a chance to defend himself, he was immediately stripped of his status as a Shrek student and ordered to leave at once.
At that moment, Xuan Zi stood on a nearby tower, looking out the window and watching everything happening at the school gate with indifference.
He held a chicken leg in his hand, eating it slowly, while a faint and cold smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Hmph, child. Your talent is good, but unfortunately, you are too ungrateful. I personally gave you a chance, and yet you dared to refuse."
"This is the consequence of defying me. Without the resources of Shrek, I will see how far you, this so-called genius, can go."
Liu Yuan did not know Xuan Zi's thoughts.
However, he could clearly feel the heavy pressure and hostility coming from the academy's high-ranking officials.
He took a deep look at the plaque engraved with "Shrek Academy," carving those words, along with the humiliation he experienced today, deep into his soul.
He didn't stay any longer. He turned around and walked firmly into the streets of Shrek City.
His back, lit by the sunlight, looked thin, but it carried a quiet, lonely pride that would rather break than bend.
...
Inside Shrek City, in a restaurant called "Shrek Gourmet,"
Liu Yuan found a seat by the window and sat down, placing his bundle beside him.
To ease the frustration in his heart, he almost angrily ordered many dishes: fragrant roasted Spirit Beast legs, golden pan-seared Silver Cod, and a thick soup made with precious herbs.
The dishes were served quickly, hot and full of aroma.
Normally, his appetite would have been awakened.
But now, he simply picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and put it in his mouth without thinking. It tasted like dirt.
Good food could not comfort the pain in his heart; instead, it made his sadness grow even stronger.
He had transmigrated to this world more than a decade ago and had carefully planned his path.
He cultivated diligently, never allowing himself to slack off even a little, which led to his current achievement of Level 37.
At first, he believed that Shrek Academy was not entirely corrupt. Although Xuan Zi was unreliable, the academy was ultimately under Mu En's control.
Moreover, Liu Yuan had always believed in merit.
He thought that as long as he had enough ability and talent, even Xuan Zi would give him the respect he deserved when dealing with talented individuals.
However, reality struck him harshly.
Mu En did not manage the academy, which made Xuan Zi the most powerful person in Shrek Academy.
Furthermore, Xuan Zi was extremely arrogant and acted as he pleased.
After Liu Yuan refused him, Xuan Zi showed him no respect at all. In just half a day, he was directly expelled.
Xuan Zi did not care in the slightest about the talent and ability that Liu Yuan was so proud of.
"GOD DAMN IT!" Liu Yuan roared in his heart, the chopsticks in his hand creaking as he squeezed them tight.
"If... if only I had a System too..." The thought surged uncontrollably from deep within him, tinged with frustration and longing.
In the web novels of his past life, weren't Systems standard for transmigrators? With a System, how could he have been pushed into such a miserable state by that old man?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, a crisp, mechanical voice, emotionless and sudden, rang in his head.
[Ding! Strong will detected from the Host, binding conditions met.]
[Spirit Check-in System binding... 10%... 50%... 100%!]
[Ding! System binding successful! Host: Liu Yuan. This System will serve you wholeheartedly and help you reach the peak of the Douluo Continent!]
Liu Yuan froze, and the chopsticks clattered onto the table.
His eyes widened in shock, unsure if he was hallucinating from his anger?
He tentatively thought to himself, "System?"
[Ding! Host, I am here.]
It was real!
It was really a System!
A wild, indescribable joy instantly washed away all the haze, anger, and resentment in his heart. A huge wave of happiness surged through his entire body like a volcanic eruption!
His body even trembled slightly from overwhelming excitement.
A System! He truly had a Golden Finger!
Having a System meant infinite possibilities!
What did being abandoned by Shrek Academy matter?
What did Xuan Zi's suppression matter?
From today onward, his destiny—Liu Yuan's destiny—would be completely in his own hands!
He no longer had to bow to anyone, and he no longer needed to worry about his future being ruined by refusing some big shots unreasonable demands!
This system was his greatest trump card to change his fate against the heavens! Whatever he had lost, he would surely reclaim a hundredfold, even a thousandfold, in the future!
His excitement settled slightly, and Liu Yuan immediately asked in his heart, "System, what functions do you have?"
[Ding! This System is the "Pokémon Check-in System."]
[The Host only needs to go to various designated locations on the Douluo Continent to check in and receive rewards from the Pokémon world, including but not limited to powerful Pokémon, amazing gadgets, and various special abilities.]
Pokémon? Were they the same Pokémon from the globally popular games and anime of his past life? Liu Yuan's heart raced again.
Before he could ask more, the System spoke again.
[Ding! Detected that the Host has bound the System for the first time. Issuing a Newbie Gift Pack. Open it now?]
"Open it! Open it now!" Liu Yuan didn't hesitate.
[Ding! Newbie Gift Pack opening... Congratulations to the Host! You have obtained a Divine Rank Spirit—Rayquaza!]
[Spirit Description: This Spirit will replace the Host's original Spirit, and all original spirit rings will be cleared.]
[The Host can summon the Rayquaza Martial Soul outside the body at any time to assist in battle.]
[The Host can also perform Martial Soul Possession, transforming into the Rayquaza Incarnation form and gaining all its abilities.]
[This Spirit has infinite growth potential, with an initial strength equal to a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast.]
Boom!
It was as if thunder had exploded in Liu Yuan's mind, leaving him stunned by this Heaven-defying reward.
Ra-Ray... RAYQUAZA?!
That was a legendary Divine Beast in the Pokémon world—the guardian of the sky, the ultimate existence that had ended the battle between Kyogre and Groudon! It was the sky overlord, standing above countless other pokemon!
And now, it had become his Spirit?
What kind of NEWBIE GIFT PACK is this?!
The Spirit System of the Douluo Continent ranged from just a mere ordinary Blue Silver Grass to top-tier beings like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Seraphim, Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, Snow Empress, and Golden Dragon King...
But Rayquaza's status was absolutely not inferior to any of them!
It's initial strength was comparable to a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast, and it could grow infinitely. What did this mean?
It meant that from this moment on, Liu Yuan possessed a mobile "hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast" fighter! And this fighter could continuously grow stronger!
Even more terrifying, a Spirit Master could attach nine spirit rings. Did that mean his Rayquaza martial soul could have nine powerful skills in the future?
A Rayquaza with nine skills—what kind of world-destroying existence would that be?
Let alone the Gluttonous Douluo Xuan Zi—he might even dare to fight a god!
Liu Yuan clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging into his palms. The stinging pain confirmed that none of this was a dream.
The immense joy made him want to howl at the sky.
Shrek, Xuan Zi! I, Liu Yuan, will remember your "kindness" in expelling me today!
Just wait. It won't be long before I make you regret this decision to your very core!
Suppressing the agitation in his heart, Liu Yuan took a deep breath and asked the System: "System, where is my first check-in location?"
The fire of revenge had been ignited, and he couldn't wait to start the journey of becoming stronger.
[Ding! Releasing the first check-in task.]
[Location: Outside Shrek City, under the Three Lives Stone on the bank of the Sunset River.]
[Task Requirement: Arrive at the designated location and stay for ten minutes.]
[Task Reward: ???]
Outside Shrek City, on the bank of the Sunset River?
Liu Yuan's gaze narrowed, and he didn't hesitate.
He quickly settled the bill, not even glancing at the table of nearly untouched food.
Picking up his luggage, he strode out of the restaurant and hurried toward the west gate of Shrek City.
The previous haze was gone, replaced by infinite fighting spirit and endless hope for the future.
A new legend would begin at that riverbank!