In the Heavenly Soul Empire, east of Heavenly Soul City a majestic mountain peak pierces through the sea of clouds. This peak, known as Haotian Peak, stands at an extraordinary altitude.
Its residents are members of the Tang clan, descendants of the once-renowned Haotian Sect, one of the three great sects of Douluo Continent ten thousand years ago.
The mountain winds here are fierce, and the air is heavy with humidity. Yet, no matter how the winds howl, the castle perched atop the mountain remains unshaken, exuding an aura of ancient grandeur and indomitable strength.
This imposing gray castle is called Haotian Castle (Clan's headquarter). It embodies a timeless simplicity and carries an air of unparalleled excellence.
Within Haotian Castle, Tai Tan and Niu Tian, the principal and deputy sect leaders of the Haotian Sect, were engaged in a conversation, their expressions tinged with curiosity.
In just a year, Wang Dong had become more diligent than ever, constantly seeking their guidance for special training to rapidly enhance her strength and soul power.
This sudden change left Tai Tan bewildered. The carefree days of playful bonding between "father and daughter" seemed like a distant memory.
Wang Dong had even questioned Tai Tan's prowess as a Title Douluo: "Second Father, is your strength as a Title Douluo real?"
How could Tai Tan endure such a challenge? He immediately demonstrated his abilities, transforming into the Titan Giant Ape to show Wang Dong the true might of her second father.
From that moment on, he became her dedicated sparring partner. It wasn't until Wang Dong returned to Shrek that Tai Tan was finally freed from this demanding role.
"Brother, what's going on with Xiaodong? She's so motivated now—studious and hardworking. Could a trip to Shrek really change her so much?" Tai Tan asked, his confusion evident.
Niu Tian smiled contentedly. "Isn't this a good thing? After training at Shrek, Xiaodong has finally understood the importance of strength and the truth that there's always someone stronger. I'm quite relieved."
Normally, the two doted on Wang Dong excessively, rarely letting her endure hardship. They had always indulged her every wish. Tai Tan, however, sensed something deeper. "But why do I feel like Xiaodong is in love..."
Tai Tan, who prided himself on his experience, had noticed subtle changes in Wang Dong's behavior. He could detect hints from her usual remarks.
"I wonder if Yuhao successfully obtained his soul ring."
"I should be as strong as Yuhao by now, right?"
"I miss the days when Yuhao grilled fish."
"Follow Yuhao's footsteps! Work hard!"
The name "Yuhao" frequently slipped from Wang Dong's lips. Niu Tian sighed, "How did you figure it out? Our little cotton-padded jacket is about to be stolen by that boy!"
Tai Tan scratched his head, still puzzled. "But when I asked Xiaodong, she said they were just classmates. Why?"
Niu Tian looked at him as if he were a fool. "Did alcohol ruin your brain? Do you believe everything Xiaodong says? Don't listen to her words—watch her actions."
Before returning to academy, Wang Dong had even considered moving into the Wanzai Wenyu Bed, almost leaving Haotian Castle altogether.
Niu Tian couldn't help but see the shadow of Xiao Wu in Wang Dong, who had been similarly infatuated with her "third brother (Tang San)" in the past. When questioned, Xiao Wu had also claimed it was just a sibling relationship. The parallels were uncanny.
Tai Tan suddenly realized, "No wonder Xiaodong plans to reveal her true appearance this semester and stop disguising herself as a man."
Niu Tian nodded. "This is also part of that person's arrangement. Xiaodong no longer needs to maintain her male disguise. Moreover, the guardians we assigned to her reported that in just one semester, she's gained quite a reputation at the academy as a 'girl killer,' often attracting unwanted attention from other girls."
After a pause, Niu Tian added, "It's good that this hasn't led to any major misunderstandings. Otherwise, if the princess of the divine realm, disguised as a man, were to break the hearts of countless girls, it would be quite the scandal."
"But big brother, our Xiaodong's heart is about to be taken by that lucky boy. What should we do?" Tai Tan frowned.
"Let nature take its course," Niu Tian replied calmly. "When that boy enters the Haotian Sect, we'll keep a close eye on him... ahem, guide him properly."
"I understand!" Tai Tan nodded, already planning to give the boy a tough time when the moment came.
…
Back at Shrek Academy, the girl sitting next to Huo Yuhao was Wang Dong, now in her true form—Wang Dong'er. She was tall and graceful, with long pink-blue hair cascading down to her waist.
Her striking appearance, accentuated by her bright pink-blue eyes, was captivating. Though her figure was modest, her beauty was undeniable.
At that moment, Wang Dong'er felt uncomfortable under the gaze of her classmates, especially the boys, whose eyes gleamed with admiration.
Boys: Brother, you smell so good!
Wang Dong'er: I thought we were brothers, but you're actually trying to take advantage of me?
The girls' reactions were even more complex—regret, resentment, anger, fear, and even joy. Much of this was due to Huo Yuhao.
Though he was always gentle, the girls felt an unbridgeable distance between them. His frequent absences and leaves meant they had little interaction, leaving Wang Dong'er to bond more with the girls, thanks in part to the deputy class monitor, Xiao Xiao.
Thus, while Huo Yuhao was more handsome, stronger, and had more admirers, Wang Dong'er secretly attracted more attention.
Her sudden reveal before class had shattered many illusions.
"The mountain has collapsed! The house is in ruins!"
"Wang Donger, you liar! How could you deceive us for so long?!"
Only three remained unfazed: Wang Yan, Huo Yuhao, and Xiao Xiao.
Wang Yan had long seen through Wang Donger's disguise via her Light Goddess Butterfly martial spirit. Though exasperated, he carried on explaining the freshman assessment rules.
Huo Yuhao, having known her true identity since day one, was utterly calm. He was only mildly surprised she'd revealed herself so soon.
As for Xiao Xiao, Wang Donger had confessed days prior:"Xiao Xiao, I need to tell you something. My real name is Wang Donger. I disguised myself to hide from Haotian Sect's enemies…"
"I'm the Young Master of Haotian Sect!"
"No more lies. Look—I even have twin spirits! The Clear Sky Hammer!"
Xiao Xiao's mind had gone blank.
Her teammate—her brother—was actually a sister?!
Thankfully, her crush on Huo Yuhao spared her any heartbreak. She quickly accepted the truth.
Now, observing Wang Donger's proud profile, Xiao Xiao sighed. 'She'll be an empire-toppling beauty one day.'
Recalling Wang Donger's behavior around Huo Yuhao, their shared dorm, and Huo Yuhao's aloofness…Detective Xiao Xiao had cracked the case.
'So this is the real CP the class ships?'
A formidable rival had appeared—one with overwhelming talent, looks, and background.
Xiao Xiao's eyes gleamed with mischief. "If you can't beat them, join them."
By helping Wang Donger win Huo Yuhao's heart, she could secure a lifetime of his delicious cooking—just by whispering in her "good sister's" ear.
Besides, rumors claimed Huo Yuhao had already charmed two inner court seniors—one ice, one fire.
With Wang Donger as an ally, their chances would skyrocket!
[Achievement Triggered!]
[Achievement: "Xiao Xiao's Master Plan" – Reward: Power-Charging Gu]
[Power-Charging Gu: A Level 3 Gu that stockpiles energy for a single explosive strike. Requires charging time,
during which the user must remain still.]
[Evaluation: "When autumn comes on September 8th, my flowers bloom while others wither."]
Huo Yuhao: "…"
Checking the system, he saw Xiao Xiao's favorability had reached [Best Friend], with her third task completed.
"Was it Wang Donger's reveal that made her trust me more?" He'd often trained with her and Wang Donger, using his mental power.
Xiao Xiao, a twin-spirit talent, was worth nurturing.
Before the break, Wang Donger had been near Level 30. Now, after eight months, she'd reached Level 33—a staggering pace, even with resources.
Xiao Xiao, previously Level 27, had broken through to Level 30 during the break, likely thanks to Spirit Ascension Pill. With Shrek's promised spirit ring, she'd soon be a full Soul Elder.
This boded well for the upcoming reserve team selection.
Though Huo Yuhao wouldn't participate, Tang Ya's inclusion would stabilize the team.
Thanks to the Man-Faced Demon Spider leg bone Huo Yuhao gifted her, Tang Ya had mastered her Devouring talent. Now, she functioned as a support soul master, draining enemies' soul power and vitality to replenish allies.
Under Yan Shaozhe's guidance, Tang Ya had soared to Level 40, needing only one spirit ring to advance. Her future as an outer court core disciple was assured.
Once the Iron Blood Clan was dealt with, the Tang Sect would essentially belong to Huo Yuhao—soon to be merged into his future Transmission Divine Tower.
Everyone had a bright future.
With this generation's Shrek Seven Monsters, Huo Yuhao's faction was taking shape. Adding Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, Han Ruoruo, Qiu'er, and Xue Di, plus his eventual rise as Sea God Pavilion Master, Shrek would soon be his.
Removing Xuan Zi was only a matter of time.
But controlling Shrek was just the first step.
The Transmission Divine Tower, the Body Sect's allegiance, and an alliance with the Silver Dragon King lay ahead.
The battle for the Divine Realm was still distant.
There was no need to rush.
"Remember, if your chosen spirit beast is powerful and you perform well, even defeat may earn high marks…" Wang Yan's meticulous explanation concluded, and class ended.
The students dispersed to prepare for the afternoon's beast-fighting assessment.
…
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