Shrek Academy was no longer just a place of cultivation for Tang San—it was becoming a living web of relationships, ambition, and hidden potential.
A month had passed since the new term had begun, and under the guidance of Grandmaster, the special class had continued its rigorous schedule. Training became increasingly personalized. As their talents began to emerge and solidify, so too did their individual paths.
Tang San's daily life had fallen into a firm pattern. Morning meditation with his Mysterious Heaven Technique, practical combat training with Zhao Wuji, and cultivation sessions under Grandmaster's watchful eye. The spirit bone attached to his body—the growing Fox Emperor Soul Bone—had fully fused with his second ring. Although he kept it hidden, it subtly enhanced his combat agility and mental strength.
But Tang San didn't live in isolation anymore.
Each day, Xiao Wu would walk with him to and from the training fields. Her gentle voice and teasing laughter reminded him of a world beyond discipline and battle. They often sparred alone late at night, under the moonlight by the lake behind Shrek. Though he always held back, she could tell when he was distracted—and she never let it go unaddressed.
"You're thinking too much again," she whispered one night after pinning him down in a rare victory, sweat glistening on both their foreheads. "I know you're trying to protect everyone, but don't forget we're your companions, not burdens."
Tang San looked into her eyes. A flicker of warmth passed between them. He nodded, but the weight on his shoulders didn't lighten.
Meanwhile, the other members of the class were beginning to shine in their own ways.
Oscar, through focused effort and improved training resources, developed his third spirit ring—a rare auxiliary ring that enhanced the duration and potency of his sausages. While still mocked for his odd abilities, he now stood as an irreplaceable support in team battles.
Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix cultivation had stabilized under Tang San's indirect guidance. After Tang San shared a heat-dispersing herbal formula with him, Hongjun's rampaging flames became more controlled. His second spirit ring—now a mature 700-year Fire Claw Eagle—boosted his explosive mid-range attack capabilities.
Ning Rongrong, though still proud, had begun to develop a bond with Xiao Wu. The two often trained together in agility drills, and Rongrong, inspired by Tang San's calm diligence, had pushed herself beyond what her clan had expected. Her third ring was nearing, and she quietly confided in Tang San that she wanted it to be a ring earned, not gifted.
Dai Mubai remained the most physically dominant among them, but even he noticed the subtle changes in the others. He and Tang San sparred more often now, often ending in stalemates. Tang San's use of Blue Silver Grass had grown cunning—its reach, speed, and piercing power reinforced by his second ring's evolving nature and the blood refinement technique he used sparingly. But it was his precise timing and terrifying battle control that made him so hard to counter.
As they grew, so too did the attention on them.
The outer students had begun murmuring. Some said this year's special class would be the one that redefined Shrek's legacy. Others quietly wondered if Tang San was something more than human.
Rumors or not, Tang San paid little attention. He had begun crafting again.
In his small workshop, hidden deep behind the east training field, he started refining metals—spirit alloys infused with his cultivated energy. He began crafting the core structure of a hidden weapon. It would take months, perhaps years, to complete.
Not just for him—for them all.
---
One afternoon, Grandmaster summoned them.
A test.
"In three days," he said, voice grim, "you will enter the spirit beast forest again. But this time, no teachers will intervene. You will be monitored from afar, but your teamwork and survival skills will determine if you're ready for the next stage."
Xiao Wu's expression tightened. "Will it be like the first test?"
Grandmaster shook his head. "Harder. There are already ranked mercenary groups failing to survive these forests. You must not only protect yourselves—but each other."
Tang San looked around at his companions. For the first time, he didn't see them as a group of mismatched prodigies. He saw a team.
He stepped forward. "Then we will return stronger."
The others nodded.
---
That night, as Xiao Wu rested with her head on his shoulder beneath the stars, Tang San whispered, "I don't know where this road leads… but if I have you all beside me, I'll walk it without fear."
She didn't reply.
But her fingers closed around his.
And that was enough.
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End of Chapter 49