As the sun set, students dispersed in small groups across the square outside the Spirit Ascension Platform hall.
"Phew... it's finally over."
Wang Dong'er stretched, her long pinkish-blue hair swaying gently in the evening breeze, looking exceptionally eye-catching.
She glanced around before walking toward the edge of Shrek Academy.
She planned to wait at the edge of Shrek Academy for Da Ming and Er Ming to pick her up; although she possessed the Light Goddess Butterfly Spirit, a height of several thousand meters was still quite taxing for her.
"Donger, see you tomorrow!"
Xiao Xiao and Xi'er were preparing to head toward the dormitory buildings in the living area.
They planned to go back and digest the black steamed bun given by the school, which they hadn't finished yet.
"Hey, wait!"
Just then, a soft voice called out to them.
Xu Xiaoyan jogged to catch up, a sweet smile on her face:
"Donger, Xiao Xiao, Xi'er, are you all planning to head back?"
"Yeah."
Xiao Xiao nodded.
"I'm a bit tired and want to go back to rest, and grab something to eat while I'm at it."
"Then let's go to the cafeteria together. It's completely free, and I heard they have many precious ingredients you can't find anywhere else!"
"It's not just delicious; it also helps with cultivation!"
"Really?"
"Since it's free..."
Wang Dong'er cleared her throat, trying her best not to look too gluttonous.
"Then there's no harm in checking it out."
"Heehee, let's go then!"
Xu Xiaoyan said happily, and the four girls formed a beautiful sight as they walked toward the cafeteria.
On the way, Xu Xiaoyan glanced at Wang Dong'er and asked curiously:
"By the way, Donger."
"The direction you were walking just now didn't seem like the way to the dorms?"
"Everyone is heading back to the dorms, so where were you planning to go?"
At those words, Xiao Xiao and Xi'er also looked over curiously.
Indeed, they were all freshmen, and logically, they should all be living in the dormitories arranged by the academy.
And it had to be said, the dormitory conditions at this New Shrek Academy were outrageously good.
Even the ordinary double rooms were quite luxurious.
Hearing this question, a flash of unavoidable embarrassment crossed Wang Dong'er's exquisite and pretty face.
"That..."
Wang Dong'er's eyes darted around, and she smiled somewhat unnaturally:
"Uh... I don't actually live in the school dorms."
"I... I live at home."
"Live at home?"
Xiao Xiao was stunned for a moment, blinking her large eyes in confusion:
"Isn't it good to live in the school dorms?"
"The conditions here are the best I've ever seen."
"And..."
"Our academy is thousands of meters up in the sky."
"How troublesome is it to go up and down? Unless you take the school's specialized Titled Spirit Tool or have flight abilities yourself, wouldn't it be exhausting to commute every day?"
Facing Xiao Xiao's questioning, the smile on Wang Dong'er's face became even stiffer.
What could she say?
Was she supposed to say it was because her two unreliable dads, Big Dad and Second Dad, insisted she disguise herself as a boy to sneak into the boys' dormitory for the sake of her "safety"?
As a result... that foolish plan had directly and severely offended Cai Yue'er, and she had subsequently lost her eligibility for housing.
Consequently, she was now the only poor soul in the entire class without a dormitory room.
"Cough, cough..."
Wang Dong'er coughed awkwardly and gave a vague explanation:
"Actually... it's mainly that my family isn't very comfortable with me living alone outside."
"You know how it is, parents are always worrying."
"Haha... right?"
Seeing Wang Dong'er's awkward expression, the others quickly sensed something was fishy.
"Oh, I see."
Xiao Xiao gave an understanding smile and didn't dwell on the topic further.
"By the way, this school doesn't just waive our tuition; they even gave us gold coins upon admission and lots of cultivation resources. Now the cafeteria is free too. With such massive expenses, how does this school turn a profit?"
Wang Dong'er asked with great curiosity.
Xiao Xiao and Xi'er beside her were also quite curious.
This kind of "pie in the sky" good fortune always made one feel a bit uneasy.
"Oh, why worry about all that?"
Xu Xiaoyan, however, was very open-minded. She walked with a light step, hands behind her back, and said:
"Those are things for the principal and teachers to worry about. What does it have to do with us?"
"Anyway, as far as we're concerned, as long as the school is willing to give, we're willing to take."
"Using the resources the school provides to work hard and become stronger, not letting those resources go to waste—isn't that the best way to repay the school?"
"Thinking too much about it just makes one seem pretentious."
Hearing this, everyone was stunned for a moment.
Then, Wang Dong'er gave a relieved smile.
"True."
The atmosphere became relaxed once again.
As they walked, Wang Dong'er suddenly remembered the battle inside the Spirit Ascension Platform.
"By the way, Xiao Xiao."
Wang Dong'er turned her head to look at the petite girl beside her, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes:
"Earlier in the Spirit Ascension Platform, things were too urgent for me to ask in detail."
"It turns out... besides that flute, you have another Martial Soul?"
Earlier, when facing the Iron Wall Ape's lethal strike, if Xiao Xiao hadn't summoned the Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron in time to block it, Xu Xiaoyan would likely have been injured and forced to withdraw.
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao lowered her head in embarrassment, her small hands twisting the hem of her clothes:
"Um... sorry everyone, for hiding the fact that I have Twin Martial Souls."
After all, within a team, hiding one's strength can sometimes be seen as a lack of trust.
However, a warm hand gently patted her shoulder.
"Hey, it's no big deal."
Wang Dong'er waved it off with an indifferent expression, sounding almost affectionate:
"It's okay."
"Who doesn't have a few secrets?"
"I didn't mean to blame you."
Wang Dong'er thought to herself that she also had twin spirits and hadn't mentioned it yet; of course, a Spirit without any added Spirit Rings wasn't of much use anyway.
"Everyone has their own secrets; it's perfectly normal."
Xiao Xiao looked up, her heart warming at the sincerity in Wang Dong'er's eyes.
"Thank you!"
The four of them chatted and laughed, soon crossing the garden and arriving before the grand doors of the cafeteria.
"We're here."
Xu Xiaoyan pointed to the magnificent, golden doors ahead.
Although they had prepared themselves mentally outside, when the four of them actually pushed the doors open and saw the scene inside...
"Wow—!!!"
A collective cry of amazement couldn't help but escape from the four girls' mouths.
The dazzling ingredient area was filled with all sorts of delicacies they had never even seen before.
Emerald Cabbage, Blazing Beef, Deep Sea Spirit Fish...
"This... this is way too luxurious, isn't it?"
Xi'er blinked, feeling as if she had stepped into a royal palace.
"Are these... really all free?"
Facing this buffet-style supply of top-tier resources, Wang Dong'er still felt a sense of unreality.
"Of course they are!"
Xu Xiaoyan was already getting impatient:
"Go, go, go! I can already smell the aroma!"
"I'm definitely going to eat to my heart's content today!"
...
Inside the Principal's office.
[Ding!]
[Detected: Key character Wang Dong'er's recognition of "Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy" has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a reward: Special Teacher Template — Ye Zhi!]
[Character Introduction: Ye Zhi (Ye Zhi's counterpart), Level 94 support system Titled Douluo, Spirit: Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!]
[Detected: Key character Xiao Xiao's recognition of "Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy" has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a reward: 1,000-Year Vitality Fruit x10!]
[Detected: Ordinary character Xi'er's recognition of "Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy" has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a reward: Special Pill Recipes — Soul Ascension Pill Refinement Method, Profound Water Pill Refinement Method!]
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.