"Hey! You jerk—if you're going running, why drag me along? I don't want to run and end up drenched in sweat!"
Wang Dong complained angrily. He had thought they were exempt, yet here he was, still forced to run.
"Just moving the body a bit. I was planning to take a bath today anyway, might as well work up a sweat and relax. Want to compete and see who's faster… Xiao Dongzi?"
Su Yunlin's tone was full of provocation.
Wang Dong immediately took the bait. His handsome face flushed red like it had been boiled, and he shouted, "Fine, let's compete! Loser treats the other to a meal!"
"Deal!"
The two quickly started running. This level of exercise meant little to Su Yunlin—it was merely a way to loosen up.
Before long, their speed surpassed that of their classmates. With their physical condition and cultivation, this was effortless.
By the time they reached the ninetieth lap, Wang Dong began to tire, while Su Yunlin maintained a steady, even breathing. Running was something he had "trained" extensively in the past, and now, with his cultivation and exceptional physique, it was even easier.
Although they had started last, they were the first to finish.
At the finish line, Zhou Yi happened to be there. Su Yunlin casually found a place to sit, while Wang Dong collapsed beside him, lying flat and panting heavily, completely exhausted.
"You lost. Lunch is on you."
Wang Dong gasped between breaths, "I… I'll treat… I'll treat! I… don't accept this! Next… next time!"
Su Yunlin smirked, clearly pleased. "Sure. I'll be waiting anytime."
He then looked toward their still-running classmates, his gaze settling on Huo Yuhao, who was on the verge of collapse.
Without her helping you this time, can you still make it?
Su Yunlin pondered this. Originally, Huo Yuhao had relied on Wang Dong's help to finish. But now, this Wang Dong was too exhausted to even roll over, let alone help someone he didn't even know.
Huo Yuhao's steps grew heavier and heavier, looking as though he could fall at any moment—yet he didn't.
Time passed bit by bit. Just as it seemed impossible for Huo Yuhao to complete the test, he suddenly accelerated for some reason, gritting his teeth and sprinting across the finish line at the very last second.
Su Yunlin remained expressionless. Just a typical last-moment breakthrough. He had experienced it himself before—nothing special.
Next came Zhou Yi's announcement: nine students had failed and were expelled.
Su Yunlin had nothing to say about it. Right or wrong? Fair or unfair? That was a joke. In Douluo Continent, strength was everything. If you wanted to blame something, blame your own misfortune.
As for justice? Shrek Academy had no such thing—only strength.
If you lacked strength yet sought fairness, then why come to Shrek at all? To become just another discarded nobody?
At its core, Shrek Academy was an extremely competitive, high-pressure environment. Those who endured would become strong. Those who didn't would be discarded.
After dismissing the nine students, Zhou Yi looked at the remaining ninety-one. Her gaze lingered briefly on Huo Yuhao, showing a hint of approval.
"All of you, return to your dorms, change your clothes, and come back for class. You have fifteen minutes!"
At her command, the students dashed off. Meanwhile, Su Yunlin remained completely at ease—he hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Aren't you going back?" Wang Dong asked.
Su Yunlin waved his hand. "No need. You go change. I barely sweated, I'll head straight to the classroom."
"Alright!" Wang Dong responded, secretly relieved.
During the following lesson, Zhou Yi introduced Soul Tools. Su Yunlin, however, simply rested his head on the desk and slept—after all, he was already a Soul Engineer, nearly Rank 5.
That night—
"Su Yunlin, you're also a Soul Engineer?" Wang Dong asked in surprise.
Su Yunlin nodded. "Rank 4. Close to Rank 5."
Wang Dong was speechless. This guy was absurd—cultivating both as a Spirit Master and a Soul Engineer without falling behind in either. It was honestly infuriating.
"So when I said you were slacking in cultivation, you didn't agree? With your talent, reaching Spirit Elder shouldn't be a problem. Yet you're only Level 21."
Faced with Su Yunlin's blunt criticism, Wang Dong wanted to argue but found no words. He was Level 21. That was a fact—and the truth hurt the most.
"I don't care anymore! I'm cultivating! Don't disturb me!" Wang Dong huffed, sitting cross-legged on the bed, preparing to cultivate.
Su Yunlin glanced at him and smiled. "Then I'll go grab some food. You go ahead. I was planning to take a walk outside too."
The moment he mentioned going out, Wang Dong's eyes snapped open. He jumped off the bed immediately.
"I'm going too!"
Sure enough, the moment "fun" was involved, Wang Dong completely forgot about cultivation.
Seeing Wang Dong's eager expression, Su Yunlin chuckled.
"Raising you like this isn't bad either…"
Wang Dong quickly put on his shoes and asked, "What did you just say? I didn't catch that."
"Nothing. Let's go."
The two left the dorm together, heading toward Shrek City.
Downstairs, Mu En watched them leave, holding two files in his hands.
"Radiant Goddess Butterfly… Dark Night Monarch Moth… Once these two meet, they truly become inseparable. If this continues, the Spirit Master world may see another powerful couple."
Muttering to himself, Mu En opened the files, which contained detailed information on Su Yunlin and Wang Dong. With Shrek Academy's capabilities, gathering such intelligence was effortless.
[Su Yunlin, male, eleven years old. Martial Soul: Dark Night Monarch Moth. Origin: Heaven Dou City, Night Duke's Mansion.
Father: Moth Emperor Douluo Su Jinming, Spirit Power Level 93.
Mother: Sacred Demon Douluo Xu Yunyue, Spirit Power approximately Level 95.
Grandfather: Night Douluo Su Tianxuan, status unknown—suspected to have entered seclusion unto death, Level 97.]
[Wang Dong, female, eleven years old. Martial Soul: Radiant Goddess Butterfly. Origin: Clear Sky Sect. Suspected surname Tang, likely Tang Dong.
The Clear Sky Sect is a hidden sect; internal details unknown. Estimated to be descended from at least one Titled Douluo.]
After reading, Mu En put the files away and sighed.
"These backgrounds are anything but ordinary… So Su Yunlin is that girl Xu's child? No wonder that evil aura on him carries a trace of holiness."
"Back then, Xu girl's Martial Soul caused quite a stir—the Heavenly Evil Sacred Demon Scythe. Who would've thought such a Martial Soul, brimming with evil aura, would deal tremendous damage to evil Spirit Masters?"
"It's likely that child has twin Martial Souls. He must have inherited his mother's Martial Soul—the evil aura I sensed earlier should come from that. As for that dense life force… forget it. Their backgrounds are clean enough."
"I wonder if these two can stay at Shrek Academy. The academy is currently lacking successors, relying entirely on me. If I fall, there will be no one to hold things together… I'll observe a bit longer."
Mu En had devoted his entire life to Shrek Academy. Even now, he held on only to protect it a little longer.
If he were to fall, Shrek would face serious trouble. Not long ago, during his visit to the Sun Moon Empire's Mingde Hall, he had already seen Soul Tools capable of threatening his life.
He had witnessed the future of Soul Tools firsthand. If Douluo Continent continued to stagnate, it would pay a bloody price.
"Sigh… troubled times indeed. Hmm?"
Just as Mu En was lost in thought, Su Yunlin and Wang Dong had already returned—carrying large bags filled with food.