Chapter 9: The Daily Grind and the "Saturation" Wall
Life at Nuoding Academy became a rhythm of business, study, and secret training. While the other students were worried about exams, the "Shrek Four" were running a literal empire from Room 7.
The Morning Routine (6:00 AM)
Every morning started the same way. Tang San would be on the roof, purple light flickering in his eyes. Ye Chen would be right next to him, but instead of meditating, he was usually doing one-handed handstand pushups—at Mach 0.5.
"You're vibrating again," Tang San remarked, not opening his eyes. "The tiles are rattling."
"I can't help it, San! I feel like I swallowed a lightning bolt," Ye Chen grunted, his body a blur of motion. "I hit Level 29 three weeks ago, and since then? Nothing. Zero. Zip. I'm soaking up the sun like a sponge, but the sponge is full!"
"The Grandmaster calls it a bottleneck," Tang San said, finally standing up. "Your body is incredibly dense, Ye Chen. To reach Level 30, you aren't just gaining power—you're changing your fundamental structure. You have to be patient."
"Patient? San, 'patient' is for people who don't have a country in their pocket and a girl who expects a 5-star dinner every Friday! I've got places to be!"
The Business Day (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
The "Superman's Spirit Solutions" business was now the worst-kept secret in Nuoding.
Ye Chen spent his mid-days acting as the CEO. He'd sit at a small desk in the courtyard, wearing a pair of non-prescription glasses he'd found (to look "intellectual"), while Xiao Ling handled the ledger.
"We have three requests for Century-old rings today," Xiao Ling said, tapping her pen against her chin. "And one noble from the city wants you to 'scare' his rival's carriage horses. He's offering fifty gold coins."
"Scare horses? Tell him I'm a Title Douluo in training, not a professional prankster," Ye Chen scoffed, leaning back. "Actually, wait. Fifty gold? Tell him I'll do it, but I'm gonna wear a mask. I have a brand to protect."
"You have no shame," Xiao Ling laughed, but she tucked the gold into the Spatial Ring.
The ring had become their shared vault. Inside the "Fortress," Ye Chen had actually started organizing things. He'd set up a "Treasury" mountain where they piled the gold, and a "Pantry" valley for Xiao Ling's endless supply of premium carrots and Tang San's iron ore.
The Evening "Wind Down" (7:00 PM)
Evening was the only time Ye Chen slowed down. He and Xiao Ling would often walk the perimeter of the academy.
"You're staring at the stars again," Xiao Ling said, bumping her shoulder against his. "Thinking about where you came from?"
Ye Chen looked up. He knew that somewhere out there was a Blue Star, and somewhere else, a Krypton. "Just thinking about the scale of it, Ling-Ling. This world feels big until you realize how much is out there. I want to see it all. And I want to take you with me."
Xiao Ling's violet eyes softened. She grabbed his hand, her grip surprisingly strong. "Then you better keep working on that bottleneck. I'm not traveling the stars with a guy who gets stuck at Level 29."
"Ouch. Harsh. I love the support, truly," Ye Chen smirked, squeezing her hand back.
The Departure
After six years at Nuoding, the day finally came. The Grandmaster stood at the gates, handing them a letter of recommendation.
"Shrek Academy," the Grandmaster said, his gaze lingering on Ye Chen. "It is a place for monsters. You two... you are the biggest monsters I have ever taught. Don't let the principal's greed distract you."
"Greed? Oh, I like this principal already," Ye Chen said, shouldering his (empty) bag for appearances. "He and I are gonna get along just fine. San, Wu, Ling... let's go. We've got a school to take over."
As they began the long walk toward Suotuo City, Ye Chen looked at Tang San. Both were at the peak of Level 29. One carried the secrets of an assassin sect; the other carried the literal power of a sun.
"Race you to the border?" Ye Chen asked, his eyes glowing blue.
"Don't break the sound barrier, Ye Chen," Tang San warned, already sprinting. "We don't have money for the property damage!"
"That's what the ring is for, baby! Let's go!"