Chapter 178: Shrek's Decision

In the center of Mingdu, Ye Xinglan, Le Zhengyu, and the others entered a hotel and made their way to a certain room on the third floor.

"Teacher, we've arrived."

"Come in."

The group entered the room and unexpectedly saw three people.

Besides their teacher for this session — Luomeng — there were two others.

One was a handsome man, in his twenties, wearing Shrek Academy's Inner Court school uniform.

The other was a woman of average appearance, also in her twenties, with a smile at the corner of her mouth, very approachable.

Their positioning between each other was very intimate; they were clearly a couple.

Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi looked at the two with some surprise.

Coming from the Inner Court, they recognized these two.

Lan Muzi, Inner Court Senior Brother, Three-Word Battle Armor Master!

Tang Yinmeng, Inner Court Senior Sister, Three-Word Battle Armor Master!

Becoming Three-Word Battle Armor Masters in their twenties — one could imagine their strength.

Among them, Lan Muzi held a transcendent status in the Inner Court, faintly already showing the momentum of the next Sea God Pavilion Master successor; even the Sea God Pavilion's various elders praised him endlessly.

Xu Lizhi asked curiously: "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, why are you here?"

Tang Yinmeng smiled: "This isn't Shrek City; your opponents are still the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, which has a grudge with the Academy. The Academy worries you'll be at a disadvantage on away ground and face difficulties, so it sent us to hold the fort for you."

"Besides this reason, there's also the matter involving the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well. We'll be bringing some people there... do you want to go to the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well?"

This entry into the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well is due to an agreement with the Spirit Pagoda two years ago, but since the Well is being opened anyway, the Academy also intends to let suitable candidates enter.

Including the two of them.

The seven students all held their breath; even Luomeng, this Shrek teacher, felt somewhat surprised.

Ice Fire Yin Yang Well?

These kids might go to the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well?

That's Shrek Academy's holy land, the crucial opportunity where the first Shrek Seven Monsters became gods; even they, first-year students, have a chance to enter?

Ye Xinglan took a deep breath, frowned, and said: "Senior Sister, we're only first-years... is this possible?"

The opportunity Yu Longheng had yearned for so long was placed directly before her, making Ye Xinglan feel somewhat unreal.

"This is the Academy's decision; your class is already the most outstanding in recent years. Among future candidates to enter the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, several of you are the most likely. Moreover, even if you enter, with your current cultivation, wanting to gain the recognition of those immortal herbs won't be easy, so you don't need to carry any burden."

Tang Yinmeng wore a faint smile, softly interrupting Ye Xinglan's words; her gaze swept over her junior brothers and sisters, pausing for an instant on four of them.

Le Zhengyu, martial soul HolyAngel.

Long Chen, martial soul HolyLightDragon.

(Note: Long Chen in the original work is a Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy student, but his situation is special; his original goal was Shrek Academy, but he was poached at great cost by Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy... in this book, Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has no need to do such a thing.)

Ye Xinglan, martial soul Star God Sword.

Xu Lizhi, martial soul Steamed Bun.

Duanhunxiao, martial soul HeavenlySoundFlute.

Hexiaopeng, martial soul BaixuehuaHammer.

Baihanying, martial soul CherryBlossom.

These seven are the contestants representing Shrek this time; among them, four have the chance to directly enter the Inner Court. Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi's situations need no further elaboration; the focus is Le Zhengyu and Long Chen. One HolyAngel, one HolyLightDragon — from their martial souls one can see the clues; both have the potential to become Four-Word Battle Armor Masters.

If the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well can make them thoroughly integrate into Shrek, that would also be a good thing.

Tang Yinmeng and Lan Muzi exchanged a glance; Lan Muzi stepped forward and said gently yet indisputably:

"The grudge between Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and our Academy goes way back; this exchange competition is not only a contest of strength, but also a battle for the honor of the two great academies."

He scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering momentarily on each student's face, and continued:

"In the showdown three days from now, the three among you seven who perform most outstandingly will gain the qualification to enter the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well with us. This opportunity — I hope you grasp it well."

Lan Muzi's words were like a spark falling into dry tinder, instantly igniting the fighting spirit of the seven young Soul Masters.

The air in the room seemed to grow scorching from their rapid breathing.

Blazing light flared in Le Zhengyu's golden eyes; he subconsciously clenched his fists. "Ice Fire Yin Yang Well?"

He murmured lowly; the records of that miraculous place from his family's ancient texts surfaced in his mind — the legendary fairyland that could let one shed their mortal body and exchange their bones, the key to the Sea God's ascension.

Long Chen, standing beside him, likewise couldn't hide his excitement; he turned to look at Le Zhengyu, their gazes met, and each saw in the other's eyes an eagerness to fight.

"We'll definitely win."

Long Chen said softly; his voice was low but full of determination.

"Of course." Le Zhengyu's mouth curled into a confident smile.

In the room, morning light filtered through sheer curtains, sprinkling down and gilding the tranquil space with a layer of soft warmth.

Huo Yuhao stood before the dressing table; his slender fingers gently shuttled through Snow Empress's silver hair that poured down like a star river, combing her strands.

"Xue Er, how is it?"

The woman in the mirror raised her eyes slightly; a trace of ripple stirred in her ice-blue pupils, and she said softly: "Mm, pretty good."

The corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth lifted slightly; he continued combing gently. "Speaking of which, back in the Extreme North, you also helped me tidy my hair."

Snow Empress glanced at him askance. "Who let you live a bit unkempt back then."

"Besides you, I Lao, Tianmeng Ge, and Ice Empress in human form, everything in sight were soul beasts; naturally I didn't care much, and there were no 'people' watching me."

Huo Yuhao laughed and shook his head, stepping back. "Done."

Sunlight filtered through the window gauze, scattering fine specks of light on Snow Empress's silver hair, like the radiance refracted by the polar ice and snow that never melt. She tilted her head slightly; her hair swayed gently with the motion, flowing with a dreamlike luster in the sunlight.

Glancing at herself in the mirror, Snow Empress smiled and rose; her skirt hem flowed like water.

"You're going to the Spirit Pagoda today, right? Don't keep Sister Na waiting. I'll wait for you at home."

The moment Huo Yuhao stepped out of the door, he saw Gu Yue Na leaning against a pillar in the corridor, her silver-purple long hair glowing with a soft luster in the morning light. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her toes lightly tapping the ground.

Huo Yuhao naturally extended his hand. "Let's go. Xiao Yan and the others should already be at the Spirit Pagoda."

"Mm."

Gu Yue Na placed her slender fingers into his palm, glanced back at the Snow Empress's room, curious about what the two of them had been doing in the room so early in the morning, but didn't know how to ask.

However, Huo Yuhao noticed this and said softly, "I was combing Xue Er's hair... afterward, I'll comb yours."

Gu Yue Na's eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded.

(End of Chapter)