Outside the village where Shrek Academy was located, the sky had already begun to dim as dusk settled in.
After showing off his Title Douluo–level flight ability, Ye Yu couldn't help but smile when Ning Rongrong pleaded for a ride. Without hesitation, he scooped up both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing in his arms and soared through the air, flying straight back to Shrek Academy's outskirts.
By the time they landed, the sun was already sinking below the horizon.
Still brimming with excitement from their airborne journey, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing followed Ye Yu into the academy, heading straight for the Headmaster's Office.
"Dean Flender."
Ye Yu stepped inside with both girls in tow. Inside the office, not only was Flender seated, but Zhao Wuji and Yu Xiaogang were present as well.
"Lord Ye Yu, what a surprise!"
Flender immediately stood up, smiling obsequiously the moment he saw Ye Yu.
Zhao Wuji also rose to his feet, showing due respect. Yu Xiaogang, though clearly unhappy, still forced himself to stand up.
Seeing Ye Yu appear again, Yu Xiaogang felt a sudden wave of excitement. For days now, he'd been racking his brain, trying to figure out how to approach Ye Yu to obtain the secret behind his evolved Martial Soul—how he had progressed from a Spirit Ancestor to the power of a Spirit Saint with just his bare hands.
He had finally come up with a plan. But Ye Yu had been missing from the academy for some time, leaving him no opportunity to act.
Now, finally, Ye Yu had returned.
"I'm here to withdraw Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing from the academy," Ye Yu said plainly.
"What?!"
Flender's expression changed dramatically.
Just moments earlier, he'd been discussing the upcoming Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament with Zhao Wuji and his old brother Yu Xiaogang. For the first time, they had a complete team of seven students.
But if Ye Yu took away Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, then Shrek Academy would be left with only five.
How were they supposed to enter the tournament like that?
"Lord Ye Yu! Rongrong! Zhuqing!"
"What's going on?" Flender asked anxiously.
"Did the academy do something wrong?"
"If there's anything we can improve, just tell me! I promise I'll fix it right away!"
He looked as if his life depended on it.
But from Ning Rongrong's perspective, her goals had already been accomplished: she'd made a true friend in Zhu Zhuqing and found a man she could trust in Ye Yu.
She had no illusions about Shrek Academy anymore, especially since she hadn't been PUA'd by Flender like in the original timeline.
Compared to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan or the academies in Heaven Dou City with their comprehensive training facilities and cultivation resources, Shrek Academy truly had nothing.
Arms akimbo, Ning Rongrong snorted, her beautiful face full of disdain.
"Dean Flender, your Shrek Academy has nothing of value."
"Not even a Martial Soul Mimicry Training Ground."
"Can you build one of those immediately?"
Flender was struck speechless, a pained look washing over his face.
Because even the most basic Martial Soul Mimicry Training Ground started at five million gold spirit coins—a price so far beyond Shrek Academy's means that they'd have to sell the entire academy and still fall short.
With that single sentence, she had completely cornered him. He could no longer protest, especially not with Ye Yu standing right there.
Flender could only grit his teeth and force a smile as he processed their withdrawal paperwork—heartbroken the entire time.
Of course, the tuition fee? Yeah, that wasn't refundable.
Fortunately, neither Ning Rongrong nor Zhu Zhuqing brought it up.
Ye Yu turned to Zhao Wuji with a nod.
"Teacher Zhao, I think you're an excellent instructor."
"I have some connections in Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. I could recommend you for a teaching post there. Would you be interested?"
Zhao Wuji blinked, caught off guard—but clearly tempted.
After all, he wasn't young anymore. Retirement at Shrek Academy wasn't viable—if it wasn't costing him money to stay, that was already a win. A teaching position at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, however, would mean a cushy life and stable income.
Still, glancing at Flender, Zhao Wuji scratched his head and chuckled.
"Thank you, Lord Ye Yu, for your generous offer."
"But for now, I don't have that intention."
"If there's an opportunity in the future, I'll be sure to seek your recommendation—maybe I'll even bring the rest of our Shrek crew with me."
"I hope you won't mind?"
Ye Yu smiled. "Of course not."
Seeing that Zhao Wuji was loyal and didn't abandon his old friends, Ye Yu found himself appreciating him more.
Once the withdrawal forms were processed, Ye Yu turned to leave the office with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
But they had barely stepped outside before a familiar voice called out behind them.
"Lord Ye Yu! Please wait!"
Sure enough, it was Yu Xiaogang.
Ye Yu smirked coldly.
As expected.
He knew Yu Xiaogang wouldn't just sit still after seeing his evolved Martial Soul.
He was curious—what angle would this so-called "Grandmaster" try this time?
And if he dared try emotional blackmail again… then he'd gladly make his left cheek match the right.
Yu Xiaogang hurried over, still dressed in his black academic robe, his square face unshaven and stiff as ever. The swelling and slap mark from last time had faded, and his broken teeth had been replaced.
He forced an awkward smile, gave a cupped-fist salute, and began:
"Lord Ye Yu, I must apologize for my previous misunderstanding."
"I initially believed that your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was the same as Xiao San's—that the changes were due to absorbing beast-type Spirit Rings."
"But after careful thought and deduction…"
"I realized that your Martial Soul has genuinely undergone evolution."
He paused dramatically—his real motives about to be revealed.
"Lord Ye Yu, I've devoted my life to researching Martial Soul theory."
"Even if there are flaws in my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls and the theory of Spirit Ring absorption limits—my goal has always been to help ordinary Spirit Masters understand basic truths about cultivation, to help them change their fate."
His voice turned somber, eyes slightly reddened—an image of righteous struggle, almost like a self-sacrificing martyr.
"Someone like you, born with rank-1 innate Spirit Power and a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul… yet you've not only reached this level of strength, you've even evolved your Martial Soul three times!"
"Such genius and achievement deserve admiration!"
"If this could be made public, you'd become a beacon of hope for countless commoner Spirit Masters!"
"Therefore… may I humbly ask if you would be willing to share your Martial Soul evolution method with me?"
"I want to use it to help more people like yourself—Spirit Masters from humble origins—to evolve their Martial Souls and break free from their fates."
Yu Xiaogang gave another deep bow as he spoke, putting on a show of humility and passion.
But as he bent forward, the corner of his eye discreetly peeked up to gauge Ye Yu's expression.
What he saw was a face that had grown ice-cold—Ye Yu's lips curled into a sneer, the mockery in his eyes unmistakable.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin