After the intense trial in the forest, Shrek Academy returned to its regular training schedule—but something had changed.
Tang San's leadership during the trial had earned him the respect of his peers—not because he was the strongest, but because he had guided them with clarity, discipline, and calm under pressure. Even Dai Mubai, proud and seasoned, looked at Tang San differently now.
In the days that followed, Grandmaster called Tang San alone for a private conversation.
"Your performance was exceptional," Grandmaster said without preamble. "But I noticed something else… Your control over spirit energy and physical movement has changed. Subtly—but unmistakably."
Tang San bowed respectfully. "Yes, Teacher. I've been training a physical enhancement technique. It helps me adapt to prolonged combat."
"Not from a spirit ring?" Grandmaster pressed.
Tang San paused for half a breath, then nodded. "It's a method I discovered by meditating through the connection with my second spirit ring. A sort of… blood resonance. It strengthens my muscles, bones, and senses incrementally."
Grandmaster's gaze sharpened. "Spirit refining… an extremely rare path. Dangerous. But if you're cultivating this method slowly and safely, it might evolve your body to match your spirit power more efficiently. Do not neglect safety, understand?"
"I will be careful," Tang San replied. "I'm not trying to rush my strength."
The Grandmaster nodded. "Good. You're walking a thin line. Talent is nothing if you burn out early."
Outside the classroom, the atmosphere was more relaxed. The trial had broken down invisible barriers between the students. Fatty no longer complained as much. Zhu Zhuqing spoke a bit more. Ning Rongrong even stopped calling Oscar names—for a while.
And Xiao Wu…
She was livelier than ever. She often trained beside Tang San, joining him for morning exercises and late-night meditation. Her laughter became a constant melody in the dormitory courtyard.
But sometimes, in the quiet hours, Tang San would catch her staring at him—eyes thoughtful, almost sad. He never questioned her. He simply stood beside her, offering a silent sense of security.
One evening, while the others were resting, Xiao Wu found him alone by the lake behind the academy.
"You're stronger again," she said, skipping a pebble across the water.
"Not stronger. Just more precise," Tang San replied, eyes closed in meditation.
"You know, you scare people sometimes. Not because you're cold, but because you're… controlled. Like you never lose focus. Not even for a second."
Tang San opened his eyes. "If I lose focus, I lose time. And time… is something I can't afford to waste."
Xiao Wu tilted her head. "Why? What's chasing you?"
He didn't answer. Not directly.
Instead, he turned to her. "Would you stay… even if I became someone different?"
She blinked. "What kind of different?"
"Someone who's… no longer kind. Someone who keeps walking forward, even when the road is soaked in blood."
She stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. "If that's the path you have to walk, I'll walk beside you."
Silence.
Then, Tang San smiled faintly. "You always say the right thing."
She grinned. "That's because you always look like you're carrying the weight of the world. Someone's gotta keep you human."
They stayed there, side by side, as the moonlight shimmered across the lake.
The next day, Flender announced a new trial.
"This one's different," he said. "It's not about strength—it's about survival, infiltration, and restraint. You'll be sent into a nearby city under false identities. Each of you will receive a unique mission. No spirit powers unless necessary. Complete your task without exposing yourselves."
Oscar raised a brow. "Is this training or punishment?"
"It's what separates true soul masters from simple brawlers," Flender growled. "Adapt or die."
Each of them received a scroll. Tang San's was sealed with the Shrek emblem. When he opened it, the task read:
"Infiltrate the merchant house of the Fei Clan. Retrieve a hidden ledger of stolen spirit resources. Do not be seen. Do not kill. Leave no trace."
Tang San folded the scroll, eyes narrowing.
He knew the Fei Clan. A mid-tier noble family with ties to rogue soul masters. They had wealth, reach, and secret defenses. This mission wasn't just a test of skill—it was a test of his patience, his stealth, and his ability to play the long game.
Perfect.
That night, Tang San left the academy under a civilian disguise. Dressed in dark blue robes, a bamboo hat masking his face, he moved through the city like a shadow, every step calculated.
He scouted the merchant house from a distance. Two guards at the front. One on the roof. Four inside. Each spirit master around Rank 20.
A challenge—but not impossible.
It took him two nights of silent observation. On the third night, he struck.
His Blue Silver Grass slithered through the ventilation ducts, spreading like fine threads across every hallway. He didn't engage. He avoided every guard, every trap. His goal was one: the hidden ledger beneath the clan master's study.
The room was sealed with a spiritual lock—but Tang San's second spirit skill, Resonant Pulse, allowed him to feel the frequency of the lock's energy. He adjusted his spirit thread vibrations until it clicked open like a whisper.
Inside, he found the ledger.
Dozens of stolen materials catalogued over three years. Enough to cause political waves.
He left without a trace.
When he returned to the academy the next morning, Grandmaster met him with a rare, approving nod.
"You're learning what it means to be precise."
Tang San bowed.
And far in the distance, Xiao Wu waited on the training ground, a lunch basket in her hands and a bright smile on he