Five years later.
The sun shone brightly, the sky was a boundless expanse of blue without a single cloud, and a gentle yet slightly scorching breeze swept across Shrek Academy.
Since Shrek Academy's victory five years ago—when Chen Xiaoming single-handedly fought against the Spirit Hall—Emperor Xue Ye personally visited the academy to meet with Flender and the others. With the support of the Heaven Dou Empire, Shrek Academy rapidly expanded, surpassing even the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy in prestige.
Meanwhile, Spirit Hall, having been suppressed by Chen Xiaoming, dared not interfere with Shrek Academy's growth, perhaps due to the five-year promise he had made back then.
In a short span of time, Shrek Academy had become the undisputed number one academy on the continent.
At this very moment, as the sun stood high in the sky, a young man and woman arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy.
The man appeared to be in his early twenties, slightly older than the young woman beside him. He had long golden hair that flowed wildly down his back, and his eyes, each bearing twin pupils, gleamed with excitement as he stared at the peculiar monster carving above the academy's entrance.
The young woman had a cold demeanor, her striking and fiery figure standing in sharp contrast to the icy expression on her face, only adding to her allure. Dressed in a flowing white gown that concealed most of her fair skin, she was the perfect counterbalance to the man's all-black attire.
With a sigh, the golden-haired youth murmured, "Time flies so quickly. In the blink of an eye, it's already been five years. I wonder how everyone is doing."
"You'll find out when you see them," the young woman replied tersely. Despite her cold exterior, a flicker of anticipation danced within her beautiful eyes.
These two were none other than the eldest of the Shrek Seven Devils, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger Dai Mubai, and the seventh member, the Netherworld Spirit Cat Zhu Zhuqing.
For five years, they had never forgotten the promise Chen Xiaoming had left behind.
In that fateful battle five years ago, Chen Xiaoming had defeated all of Spirit Hall's top experts. Afterward, he seemingly vanished, leaving behind only a single promise for Tang San: "Five years later, we shall meet again at Shrek Academy."
Because of Chen Xiaoming's overwhelming presence, Spirit Hall did not dare make a move against Tang Hao or Xiao Wu. But after the Soul Master Tournament ended, each of them had gone their separate ways.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing returned to the Star Luo Empire. Tang San and Xiao Wu left with Tang Hao. Ning Rongrong was taken back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect by Ning Fengzhi, and Oscar followed her in pursuit of his own happiness.
Ma Hongjun, feeling a bit melancholic, declared his intent to travel the continent and embarked on a journey alone.
Thus, the Shrek Seven Devils had parted ways shortly after their triumph, each following their own path—until now, when the five-year promise had finally arrived. The anticipation of their long-awaited reunion filled them with emotion.
And so, they had returned. The excitement in Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's hearts was already evident in their expressions.
Just as they began to argue with the academy guards at the entrance, a familiar voice laced with amusement rang out from beneath the shade of a nearby tree.
"Oh? This junior has quite the temper, daring to be so rude to our Boss Dai. You've got guts!"
A towering figure, standing at least eight feet tall, with a matching waist circumference, smirked mischievously. His head was round and shaved into a Mohawk, and his expression was nothing short of cheeky. This was none other than the Evil Fire Phoenix, Ma Hongjun.
After exchanging a few words with Dai Mubai, the academy guards still refused to back down, continuing their provocation. But with a single glare, Fatty unleashed his soul power—an overwhelming and ferocious aura that instantly pressed down on them.
Sixty-one levels of soul power.
The two guards, realizing they were outmatched, quickly retreated in fear.
"Five years apart, and you haven't lost any weight, Fatty. But it seems you've gotten even more arrogant!" A crisp voice echoed from the distance.
A young woman in a pink top and trousers, her long hair cascading down to her waist, approached gracefully. She carried herself with an air of nobility and elegance, mirroring the radiance of her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul.
The arrival of Ning Rongrong filled Dai Mubai and the others with joy, yet the mention of Oscar's situation quickly dampened the mood, casting a shadow over their reunion.
Zhu Zhuqing gently pulled the now tearful Ning Rongrong into her embrace, whispering soft words of comfort.
What should have been a moment of excitement and joy had turned into an unexpectedly sorrowful scene.
"I wonder how Third Brother and Xiao Wu are doing… They should be fine, right?" Ma Hongjun muttered, exchanging a glance with Dai Mubai, both of them filled with longing.
At that moment, a tall and broad-shouldered figure, standing over 1.9 meters, slowly approached.
With a calm and composed smile, his dark blue hair flowed freely over his shoulders. His deep sapphire eyes shone with a unique brilliance, and his white robe gave him an air of effortless grace. Every movement exuded the noble demeanor of an aristocrat.
A clear and powerful voice rang out: "Who has made our Rongrong so sad?"
The one who had spoken was none other than Tang San, returning after five long years.
But the changes in him were drastic. His appearance and aura had evolved so significantly that even Dai Mubai and the others struggled to recognize him at first.
Words led to action, and Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others immediately launched into battle against him.
Blue Silver Grass, soul skills, external soul bones—Tang San's abilities soon convinced them of his identity.
As they stood together at the gates of Shrek Academy, their conversation inevitably turned to Chen Xiaoming.
"Xiao San, have you had any contact with Teacher Chen over the years?"
At the mention of the name, Tang San let out a bitter chuckle. Five years ago, Chen Xiaoming had left him with a daunting challenge: "Once you ascend to godhood, we shall fight."
At the time, Tang San had only been in the fortieth rank. Reaching the hundredth rank and becoming a god was still a distant dream. Even after five years of relentless training, he had only barely broken through to Rank 64.
"Sigh, don't stress over it, Xiao San. Teacher Chen was probably just saying that," Dai Mubai reassured him, patting him on the shoulder.
Despite his own years of rigorous training, Dai Mubai had only reached Rank 63. The notion of reaching Rank 100 was simply unfathomable.
But why had Chen Xiaoming made such a declaration before all the Titled Douluo back then? None of them could understand.
"Hmm? Third Brother, didn't Xiao Wu come with you?" Ning Rongrong asked in confusion, scanning the area behind Tang San.
Five years ago, Tang San and Xiao Wu had left together. Though Spirit Hall had been deterred by Chen Xiaoming, they had all still worried for the two.
"Hehe, Rongrong, were you missing me?"
A lively and delicate figure suddenly leaped out, embracing Ning Rongrong in a tight hug. Dressed in a white dress that reached the ground, she possessed an ethereal beauty, her black hair flowing down to her feet.
Her large, expressive eyes sparkled mischievously as she gently stroked Ning Rongrong's cheek.
"Alright, Xiao Wu…"
Tang San sighed, covering his face. Over the past five years, Xiao Wu's playful nature had not only remained unchanged but had grown even more carefree under his constant doting.
As the group laughed and chatted, a lone figure slowly approached.
"Good… It seems you've all arrived."
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