Chapter 132: Shrek Has Arrived

After hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly and took out a file.

"I happen to have some information regarding Zhuang Zhou here."

"Teacher is truly worthy of being Teacher," Xue Qinghe praised, then took the file from Ning Fengzhi's hand.

"It is merely luck on my part; that little one, Rongrong, had dealings with this Zhuang Zhou before."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, a hint of curiosity appeared in the depths of Xue Qinghe's eyes, and he immediately looked at the file in his hand.

"Shrek Academy?" Xue Qinghe raised an eyebrow. "He is on good terms with someone from the Nether Spirit Cat Family and is aware of the internal strife of the Star Luo Royal Family. Teacher, do you mean to say that Zhuang Zhou is from the Star Luo Empire?"

"It is hard to say. It is just that, based on current investigations, it is a relatively high possibility."

Ning Fengzhi watched Zhuang Zhou's figure. "Moreover, this Zhuang Zhou has been very low-key until now. I sent people to investigate, and after this child left Shrek, he disappeared for several months. No information about him was found in any of the major cities. Now that he has suddenly appeared in Heaven Dou City and is acting so high-profile, I feel his motives cannot be simple."

Xue Qinghe said, "Over this past month, many people have taken the initiative to approach Zhuang Zhou, but every one of them has been rejected by him. It seems he is waiting for someone."

……

After Ning Fengzhi's voice faded, a moment later, a dry, hoarse voice filled with a hint of surprise sounded from behind Ning Fengzhi.

"These two lords are none other than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master, Lord Ning Fengzhi, and the Heaven Dou Empire Crown Prince, His Highness Xue Qinghe."

"I have already sent people to investigate the Star Luo Empire side. Such a genius is indeed worth recruiting, but if he has already joined another faction, then this Zhuang Zhou cannot be left alive..." Ning Fengzhi maintained his amiable appearance, but his voice gave people a feeling of chilling dread.

Ning Fengzhi turned to look at the Bone Douluo beside him and continued, "Uncle Bone, I will have to trouble you to keep a close eye on him next time."

Furthermore, he had intentionally passed the message to Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe, just to hint to the two of them that Zhuang Zhou was waiting for him—that is, Shi Quan—or more accurately, for the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone that Shi Quan had brought.

The supervisor then said, "Lord Zhuang Zhou, there are two lords outside who wish to see you."

"Sorry for the trouble." Shi Quan raised his hand to take the badge, and sensing the supervisor had not moved, he asked, "Is there anything else?"

"Interesting. Even we are not the people he wants to wait for? Then who is he waiting for? Could my deduction be wrong? Is he not doing this to protect Zhu Zhuqing?" Ning Fengzhi's eyes were full of curiosity.

"If I don't want to see them, I don't. Just tell them that the person I am waiting for is not them." After saying this, Shi Quan stood up and vanished from the spot, turning into a phantom.

Shi Quan asked indifferently, "Who?"

Inside the VIP lounge.

Ning Fengzhi asked, "Who do you think he is waiting for?"

Therefore, even though Shi Quan had returned to the academy, no one knew he was back.

During this month, Dugu Bo and the other two had been staying at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"Let's go, let us go and meet this Zhuang Zhou." Ning Fengzhi stood up confidently.

Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Let's go, Qinghe. Since this Zhuang Zhou has already left, there is no need to stay here any longer."

Bone Douluo nodded. "No problem, this time was an accident."

Watching Shi Quan disappear, the supervisor hurriedly turned and walked out of the room, immediately relaying the news to Ning Fengzhi.

It was not until the second time they went that the three of them returned.

When Shi Quan returned the first time, Dugu Bo had taken the two women to hunt a Spirit Beast and had not yet returned.

"Uncle Bone, can you find that kid?"

If he went again, Shi Quan knew it would likely not be so easy to slip away.

Upon hearing the supervisor's report, Ning Fengzhi was visibly stunned, and a strange meaning flickered in the depths of his eyes.

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi could not help but be startled. "Uncle Bone, even you cannot lock onto his aura?"

His primary purpose for using the name Zhuang Zhou and not hiding his appearance while participating in Soul Fighting at the Great Soul Arena was to build up the reputation of Zhuang Zhou.

In a dark alley outside the Great Soul Arena, Shi Quan's figure slowly emerged. Looking at the brightly lit Great Soul Arena, a faint smile curled at the corners of Shi Quan's mouth. "Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe already know of Zhuang Zhou's existence; there is finally no need to come to this Great Soul Arena anymore."

Xue Qinghe asked, "Teacher, should we mobilize our secret agents in the Star Luo Empire to investigate information about Zhuang Zhou? This Zhuang Zhou's talent and strength are clear; if he can be recruited, he will surely be a great help to Heaven Dou."

Only about once every week would Shi Quan revert to his original identity to visit the three of them at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Bone Douluo's figure appeared behind Ning Fengzhi. "He must possess some kind of treasure capable of shielding and hiding his own aura."

"I won't see them." Shi Quan shook his head in reply.

However, they would only associate these things later.

……

The supervisor of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena respectfully handed the badge in his hand to Shi Quan, who was sitting quietly on the sofa.

"Waiting for someone who can protect Zhu Zhuqing." Xue Qinghe looked at the file in his hand with a smile, his gaze resting on the name Zhu Zhuqing.

"That kid used some kind of method; I have also lost my lock on his aura."

"Respected Lord Zhuang Zhou, congratulations on becoming the first person in the history of our Great Soul Arena to obtain a Purple Gold Badge at the Soul Elder level. This is your badge; please keep it safe."

Hearing this answer, the supervisor was visibly stunned and said in surprise, "Lord Zhuang Zhou, are you sure? These two lords..."

His figure shifted, and under the cover of night, Shi Quan left Heaven Dou City and headed toward the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. He did not return to the Imperial Fighting Team's dormitory, but instead came to the Mimicry Cultivation Environment at the foot of the mountain. He ate and slept there; this was Shi Quan's exclusive Mimicry Cultivation Environment, and normally, no one else would come here.

And now, Zhuang Zhou's reputation had been established within this short month. Everyone knew of Zhuang Zhou's existence, and for Shi Quan, that was already enough.

Hearing this answer, Ning Fengzhi nodded with satisfaction. "Since this Zhuang Zhou is so high-profile, I think he is doing it to prove his own ability. As for Zhu Zhuqing... if one can gain a future Title Douluo, what does it matter if one offends the Star Luo Empire?"

With Dugu Bo's help, Dugu Yan hunted a 7,500-year-old Purple Jade Dragon Lizard, and Ye Lingling hunted a 6,800-year-old Saintess Fruit Flower.

After both absorbed their Soul Rings, Ye Lingling's strength reached level 41, and Dugu Yan reached level 44 directly.

Both had significant improvements in strength.

A few days later.

Outside Heaven Dou City, at the foot of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy mountain.

"Rongrong, are you sure it's here?" Looking at the towering mountain before him, Flender gasped slightly.

"Yes." Ning Rongrong nodded. "The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy couldn't have moved, could it?"

"But this is clearly just a mountain." Flender clicked his tongue.

"This entire mountain belongs to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Oh, and that forest behind it, as well as the lake at the foot of the mountain on the left, are all within their jurisdiction as far as I know." Ning Rongrong looked ahead. "If we walk a little further, we will enter the academy grounds."

Flender was instantly dumbfounded.

"Nestled against the mountains and by the water, it is indeed a good place," Yu Xiaogang glanced at him and said with leisurely contentment.

Flender only then came back to his senses, curled his lips, and said quite unconvinced, "What is so great about a good environment and a large space? Can it cultivate so many powerhouses? In terms of potential, aside from that little monster Shi Quan, the others in the Imperial Fighting Team are far inferior to our Shrek Academy. Although our Shrek is small, the monsters we cultivate are many."

He scanned the Shrek Seven Devils around him, his expression very proud.

Yu Xiaogang nodded in deep agreement, "Flender, to be honest, over these years you have indeed recruited many students with outstanding potential for Shrek Academy; this is very rare."

"However, I am more curious about what method you actually used to trick them into joining?"

"Of course it is..." The smug Flender was just about to blurt it out when his face changed in a second, turning stern.

"Xiaogang, you can question my taste, but please do not question my character and eye for talent."

"What do you mean by trick? I call that personal charisma!"

While lost in thought, he did not even look at Yu Xiaogang's expression, waved his hand, and said with his head held high, "Let's go, we are going up the mountain! Looking at the time, it is dinner time; it is just right to go in and experience how the food is here. If the treatment is not good, I would not want to stay."

Then, the group had only walked a few steps.

They saw a familiar figure appear within their field of vision.

"Woo... woo..."

Shi Quan's figure was seen standing directly in front of their path, and in front of Shi Quan were ten straw men.

Why they were called straw men was because these ten people were all tightly wrapped on the ground by Shi Quan's Blue Silver King Vine, with their mouths and below all covered, leaving only a pair of eyes and a nose, constantly making whimpering sounds in the direction of Shi Quan.

"Those few people on the ground should also be from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, right?" Flender looked at the scene before him and said hesitantly.

Ning Rongrong stood out first, looked at the figures on the ground with disgust, and said, "Shi Quan, this group of annoying guys still dares to come and provoke you?"

Shi Quan turned his body, looked at Flender's group, a smile curled at the corners of his mouth, and he thought to himself, "They really came. This information from Xue Beng is truly accurate; it was worth me deliberately lying in wait for them here."

Shi Quan had returned to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy specifically to prevent Xue Beng from driving the Shrek group away.

Only if the Shrek group stayed at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy for a few more days would it be convenient for him to act.

Shi Quan scanned the circle before asking, "Why have you returned?"

Ning Rongrong said haughtily, "Did Qin Ming not tell you that he invited Shrek Academy to come to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy for an exchange?"

Shi Quan said indifferently, "Invited you here for an exchange? With your strength, what is there to exchange?"

"You..." Dai Mubai and the others were instantly furious, but they had to admit that Shi Quan's strength was indeed stronger than theirs.

"You what? If you are not convinced, shall I play with you?" As he spoke, several gently swaying Blue Silver King Vines rose up behind Shi Quan.

Flender frowned and stepped forward, saying, "We were invited to come; is this the hospitality of your Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?"

Shi Quan then rolled his eyes at Flender, "As a royal academy, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy is the pillar of the Empire and a place to cultivate the pillars of the nation, representing the Heaven Dou Empire. You are all in plain clothes, covered in dust, and even have mud on your feet. Coming to pay a visit to an academy that represents the face of the royalty without grooming or dressing up—with such an image, do you respect the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? You cannot even manage the most basic etiquette, and you still have the face to talk about our academy?"

"..." Flender's expression suddenly froze, not knowing how to refute. He had done this entirely to save a day's worth of accommodation and food expenses and had not thought about so much at all. But now that Shi Quan had said this, he had to admit that they seemed to have been a bit negligent. However, they had already reached the academy gate, and turning around to leave was clearly impossible.

"We are like this not out of disrespect for the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, but rather to show respect for the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. The Shrek group traveled quickly all the way without the slightest delay, and came to visit the first moment we arrived in Heaven Dou City; this is enough to prove Shrek's sincerity," Yu Xiaogang said in a deep voice.

"Tch..." Shi Quan waved his hand, "Don't tell me; I cannot represent the academy, and I am not interested in your affairs. Just don't come and provoke me. Especially certain rabbits."

Hearing Shi Quan say this, Xiao Wu could not help but glare at Shi Quan in anger.

"Zhuqing, it is good that you are here too. The thing Zhuang Zhou asked me to find has been found; I will give it to you later." Shi Quan ignored Xiao Wu's gaze and looked at Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment, then looked at Shi Quan and asked, "Where is Zhuang Zhou?"

"I also just returned to the academy."

Just then, a vigorous voice suddenly rang out, "Shi Quan, what are you all doing?"

A figure was seen coming quickly along the shaded path on the hillside; it was none other than Teacher Sun Buyu who appeared in the original work.

"Teacher Sun, I am just playing with them." Shi Quan pointed at Flender and the others behind him and said, "You came just in time; they were invited by Teacher Qin and are from Shrek Academy."

"Shrek Academy?" Sun Buyu's heart stirred, and he looked at Flender and the others with burning eyes, "So it is the friends from Shrek Academy. This is just some minor horseplay by the academy students; please excuse the rudeness, everyone, please come in."

As he spoke, he made a gesture of invitation and simultaneously looked at Shi Quan, saying, "Shi Quan, let them go quickly."

"Got it, got it, I'll let them go in a moment." Shi Quan gripped the Blue Silver King in his hand, pulled the ten people together, walked toward the other side, waved at Zhu Zhuqing, and said, "See you in a bit, we'll talk then."

Everyone watched Shi Quan's departing figure, and they could not help but feel a bit shocked; Shi Quan was dragging not just one person, but ten.

"Zhuqing, what did Zhuang Zhou find for you?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously as she leaned in.

"I am not sure either, but..." Zhu Zhuqing said after a slight silence, "It should have something to do with improving strength."

"Strength?" A bit more curiosity could not help but appear in everyone's eyes.

Only the depths of Dai Mubai's eyes were full of frustration.

Tang San looked back at the direction Shi Quan had left in and could not help but fall into deep thought; he always felt that Shi Quan's appearance was a bit too coincidental, but he could not say where the coincidence lay...