"Oh, oh, oh! What's going on with you?!"
"You just arrived at the academy, and you're already trying to worship Brother Chen as a teacher? That's not sincere at all."
"How can you be so naïve? You've barely stepped into the academy, and you're already trying to cling to my Brother Chen's thigh?!"
As soon as Taylon voiced his indignation, Ma Hongjun and Oscar stepped forward to stand beside him, their faces showing clear disapproval.
"Indeed, I have no plans to take on disciples for the time being," Yu Chen said calmly, glancing at Taylon with a soft smile.
Although Tyrone was just another student at Blue Tyrant Academy on the surface, Yu Chen was well aware of his deeper background.
"Wait, what?!"
"If Brother Chen ever decides to accept a disciple, he must inform me first!" Tyrone exclaimed, still eager and determined despite the protests.
Even as he voiced his desire, Ma Hongjun and the others lightly pulled him aside, attempting to diffuse the situation.
Not long after, Principal Flender and Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang walked over, wearing satisfied smiles.
"I've got great news for you all," Flender announced enthusiastically.
"Our Shrek Academy has officially been recognized as an Advanced Spirit Master Academy!"
"Not only that," he continued, "we've also completed registration for the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. The exact date will be announced by the Spirit Hall soon."
As previously noted, only advanced academies were eligible for this elite tournament, which gathered outstanding young spirit masters from the three great empires.
Now that Shrek had received formal recognition, they would participate without restrictions.
"This tournament is where the cream of the crop from all three empires will gather," Yu Xiaogang added, standing proudly beside Flender.
"So for now, you all must double down on your training!"
"Yes, Headmaster!"
"Yes, Master!"
As if injected with adrenaline, the students of Shrek erupted in enthusiasm. Pairs quickly formed, sparring and pushing each other to improve.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and others immediately began exchanging blows, pushing their limits.
"Brother Chen, could I challenge you?" Tang San stepped forward and asked with sincere curiosity.
"I've incorporated my father's forging techniques into combat form. I want to test if they can penetrate your third spirit's defense."
Ding! The Divine Selection System has been triggered. Please choose:
1. Step forward and slap Tang San, telling him to get lost. Reward: 1,000-year Phoenix Spirit Ring
2. Ignore Tang San completely. Reward: 10,000-year Soul Ring
3. Accept Tang San's challenge. Reward: 60,000-year Phoenix Spirit Ring
"Please select within 30 seconds."
Yu Chen quickly analyzed the options. The first and second rewards, while not bad, couldn't match the third in potential. Not only was the 60,000-year Phoenix Spirit Ring immensely powerful, but Yu Chen's current relationship with Tang San had been positive. For both emotional and logical reasons, he chose the third option.
"Come."
Yu Chen nodded at Tang San, stepping forward with his right foot, his aura subtly shifting.
Buzz!
As he took his stance, an immense Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) spirit manifested behind him—towering and majestic, radiating indomitable defense.
"Whoa! That's Brother Chen's third spirit?! It feels terrifying!"
"Right! If I'm not mistaken, this must be the true Xuanwu Martial Spirit, far superior even to the legendary Black Tortoise!"
"Brother Chen's talent is really in a league of its own…"
Awe rippled through the students. Taylon could only stare, jaw hanging.
"Please be cautious, Brother Chen," Tang San said sincerely, his soul power rapidly concentrating.
Buzz!
A shadowy form surged into Tang San's right hand—a pitch-black heavy hammer materialized.
"The Clear Sky Hammer?!"
"You're… from the Clear Sky Clan?!"
The moment Tang San summoned the hammer, Taylon's expression froze. He strode forward, eyes filled with shock.
Though he was a student of Blue Tyrant Academy, Tyrone had another identity—he hailed from the Li Yi Clan, one of the four auxiliary clans under the Clear Sky Sect.
The Clear Sky Sect, once the premier sect in the Heaven Dou Empire, had influence rivaling or surpassing the empire's nobility. As someone from a power-type auxiliary clan, Tyrone immediately recognized the iconic Clear Sky Hammer.
"Young master…?"
"Could it really be you?"
But before Tyrone could say more, Tang San, unaware of his own lineage, simply frowned.
"I think you're mistaken."
"Let's talk after I finish this spar with Brother Chen!"
Tang San turned back to Yu Chen with burning determination.
"No… I need to report this to Grandfather at once!"
Tyrone muttered, glancing at Tang San one last time before hurrying out of Shrek Academy.
Meanwhile, Tang San raised the Clear Sky Hammer, dashing toward Yu Chen.
"Haaah!"
He swung with power and purpose, chaining hammer strikes fluidly—this was the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique, a lost forging method transformed into an attack form. Every swing built momentum, compounding force.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Forty-nine swings combined into a single, overwhelming blow!
The hammer barreled toward Yu Chen's Xuanwu shield like a tidal wave of force.
"Royal."
Yu Chen raised an eyebrow, funneling his spirit power into the divine beast spirit.
Boom!!
Tang San's hammer clashed against the Xuanwu Martial Spirit. Tremors rippled through the shell like water, but the defense held firm.
The might of a divine beast-class martial spirit—especially the Xuanwu, said to be the progenitor of the legendary Black Tortoise—was not something that a fledgling hammer swing could overcome.
Even with Tang San's talent, the difference in cultivation and martial spirit quality was too vast.
"…Incredible. I've improved so much!"
"But the day I combine eighty-one hammer strikes into one, I'll return for another match!"
Instead of disappointment, Tang San was full of fighting spirit. He had at least forced ripples from Yu Chen's martial spirit—clear progress.
Yu Chen chuckled and withdrew his spirit. "I look forward to it."
"Brother Chen! I wanna spar too—!"
Before Ma Hongjun could finish, a sharp phoenix cry echoed across the academy.
In the blink of an eye, the sky above Shrek ignited, transforming into a vast sea of fire
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